The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-07-13 00:00:00

FRENCH P.4/'ERs.

[From the Drapeasi Ipso: of Sunday.]
Same journals treat the question of the independence of St.
Domingo with great levity. According to them the French Go-
vernment is at this moment negotiating with the power which
governs that country, and the pecuniary conventions are said to he
already fixed. Nothing eon be leu certain or authentic than the
source of this news, and we think we muy be perniitted to contra.
diet it without borrowing anything else titan the use of common
sense. The pure and simple recognition of the independence of
St. Domingo, abstractedly considered, is nothing, because it al-
, ready exists in fact, and every day weakens ancient rights, while it
strengthens new ones ; but this concession acquires much more
weight when we consider the position of this iland in the American
Archipelago, and the inauence which such an act might have on
the fate of other colonies. Taken in this point of view, it may be
said that the question becomes entirely European.
We may express wishes for the freedom of the Iberians, as we
do for that of the Greeks. althom.;h there is a great difference be.
tween the Turks and the French, and the Helenists and the
negroes ; out the colonists of Jamaica, Guadeloupe, Cuba, Mar-
tinique, Porto Hien, St. Thomas, St. Bartholomew, and Antigua,
have also an existence to preserve, and a property and a liberty
whicb cannot be exposed to the dangers which might arise frost
stich an event. To grant independence without restriction, and
without any other advantages than a feeble indemnity in the way
of compensation for property, is to sanction the appeal to force,
and to open in a manner the way to insurrection. In this way the
question presents a very simple combination, bus it becomes more
complicated if we consider the greet interests which depend on it.
St. Domingo is not the only colony which has detached itself
from its mother country 4 one part of this island belongs to &pair.
Mexico, Peru, and Brazil ate similarly situated. The isleud of
Cuba is in a stole of ferment, and Jamaica, and other Europeon
possessions in America, and even in Asia and Africa, mini.
test a great inclination towards enfranchisement. For a period
of forty years, during which England has recognized by treatit I
the independence of the United States of America, no other power,
however circumstanced, has renonneed Its rights Over distant pos-
sessiohs—would it then be becoming that a derogation from priori.
plea which have hitherto remained unchanged, should be commerx-
ed by Prance, at the risk of what might result tram it. and fur a
eoleny whose political importance is very much beneath that of
South America, as respects Spain and Portugal ? Nothing. with.
cut doubt, is more to be desired for the mother country than an ho.
notirable and advantageous arrarigeniert with St. Domingo. But
such arrangement can only be the result of a great system, in which
other interests would be combined, and thus we may easily con-
ceive that much a treaty requires touch mature consideration; and,
above all, &good understanding between the interested patties.

(From the Journal de Paris of Sunday.]
•
NUREMBERG. JULY 3.
The last mail from Milan brings word that the Emperor and
Empress, after leaving that city, will visit- stver:.l cities of Upper
Italy, and then go to l'enice.
'1 he Cabinet of Vienna is at this moment much engaged with a
new financial operation, relative to the interest of the public debt,
which will be reduced from five to fonr per cent. The Govern.
meet. it appear-4, has resolved to pay ofi' in Nil all the stock bor.
rowed at five per cent., utiles% the holders will consent to the above
!reduction. Negoti:.tions have already been commenced with se.
reral hankers, at the head of whom is •liothschild. -to contract
r,st a loan, the amount of whirdi will be employed in paying oil
those who dissent front the proposal.