The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-08-16 00:00:00

with other nations. If the conspirators had aimed at no•
thing but the establishment of a defined system of law,
founded upon the principles of justice and individual
rights, their object would have been proper and avowable ;
but to talk of a Republic in Russia, or even of a govern-
ment like our own, while society is in such a state as it is
at present in that country, is highly ridiculous, not to say
criminal. Too little attention is in general paid by those,
who wish for the advancement of the cause of rational
liberty, to the effect which the propagation of sound prin-
ciples has upon the individuals themselves who are placed
at the head of affairs. It is generally supposed that Sove-
reigns cannot possibly have any feelings but those of hosti-
lity to the cause of the people; but the fact is, that Princes
are themselves as much influenced by the state of public
opinion as private individuals. Those who are sensible to
flattery must be sensible to blame ; and even flattery at
present cannot be administered with discretion, unless
dashed with a sprinkling of liberalism. The descendants
of the flatterers of Lor:ts XIV. would not praise his pre-
sent successor for his palaces, his splendour, his conquests,
his absolute power, or any of those subjects which used to
form the topics of pretended admiration during the old
regime ; they would not praise his spirited conduct in
going booted and spurred to dissolve the Parliament of
Paris; they would not talk of the revocation of the Edict
of Nantes as a measure of sound policy. If they did
choose such awkward subjects of panegyric, they would
miss their object, for such praises would be received as
insults, as the bitterest of sarcasms, as proofs of their con-
tempt for the understanding of the person addressed.
Flatterers at this moment, even in the Court of the GRAND
SEIGNIOR, must in some degree be liberalists, and serve to
imbue the minds of Sovereigns with those principles which
will tend equally to promote the interests of Sovereigns and
of subjects. In the Court of Russia, at no very distant
date before the late reign, it is very certain that the most
illiberal principles prevailed, and that the CZAR considered
himself as the master of a flock of men, with whose lives+
properties, and feelings, he thought himself at liberty to
do as he chose, with no consideration whatever but that of
his own good-will and pleasure. The French Resolution,
and the subsequent conquests of that nation, had one good
effect—they made people and Princes more intimately ac-
quainted with each other. They forced absolute monarchs to
listen to the language of a pstentate bred in the democratic
school, and placing one great support of his power and ore
great means of extending his influence in the effect which
he calculated on producing on the minds of the multitude.
The praise of the people (not that of courtiers) began then
to be considered.by Princes as true fame, and not only as
fame, but as power, and the only real power of Sovereigns.
The proofs afforded by history showed them that monarchs
are not finally estimated by the opinions of courtiers or of
hired panegyrists, but by the unbought voice of the people,
by whom and for whom Kings reign ; and they determined
to trust for respect and power to them alone, as the real
and the only source of their power. In these observations
we do not refer to this country, whose Sovereigns have for
more than a century uniformly identified themselves with
the people. We refer to Russia, where, after a long course
of despotism, the late Monarch began to labour studiously
for the good of his country ; and the present testifies a still
more decided inclination to attach himself to public opi-
nion, as the best guard and security of his throne. He has
sbown this by his anxiety to give publicity to the facts
which rendered the executions at St. Petersburgh neces-
airy, and by the g: ncral tone of his state papers on this
subject. The Emperor Pact. would never have published
a manifesto like that of the Emperor Nt c FOL.% S.

CITY, TrESDAY EVEYINo.

Consols openzd this morning at 7sl„ but it was some
time before any business was done: they, however, went
up to V•q, with a very heavy market. At this period the
broker of an eininent individual in the money market made
his appearance, and purchased largely, which sent them
for the moment up to isi : a reaction, however, shortly
took place, and they closed finally at 7Si.
The report which has prevailed, for the last day or two,
of it being the intention of his Majesty's Government to
put an Act in force which was passed last year, for the
prohibition of the entrance of ships into the ports of the
British colonies of those countries who shall deny to Eng-
lish ships the most extensive privileges in their ports, is
to-day confirmed. It appears that British ships frequent-
ing the ports of America have not been placed upon the
same footing as more f..voured nations, and the Act in
question is to be put in force from the tat of January next
as respects American ships, which will not, after that pe-
riod, be allowed admission into any of the ports of the
iVest India Islands. This proceeding on the part of his
Majesty's Government is a moat necessary one, as, if the '
American Government are determined to impede the march
of reciprocity, then Englan I must protect herself from the
consequences resulting from such a mistaken and illiberal
line of policy.
Exchequer Bills and India Bonds are so plentiful in the
market, that the former have declined to 143. and the latter
to V2s. premium.
Titis was settling day in the Foreign Stock Exchange,
and was a Bear account. From the decline in Colombian
gull Mexican Bonds during some days past, in consequence
of She accounts received of the doubtful state of their
fiOnces, and also of the disturbed state of Colombia from
internal dissension, in addition to a probable attack on
Carthagena by the Spanish force then in its neighbourhood,
there were some very heavy accounts to settle; but it was
understood that they went off without default. Colombian
closed it 30 to 30; and Mexican showed a still further
depression, bearing a quotation of 444 only.
There has been little doing in Shares, in consequence of
the more weighty business of the settlement. Brazilian
are at 16, and Tlalpuxalma at 30. premium.
Iu the course of exchanges there is no alteration.