The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-12-29 00:00:00

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The Lew egad •' Si A itifACT ." in answer to
A CALM OiSERVEn," is received, and shall appear to-
morrow.

The Balrie• Passe eornmenewl publishing yesteriay musing
St rive o'el...ck.

LONDON, THURSDAY, Dscsitssa 29, 1811.

The Etoile of Tuesday, with the other Paris Papers of
Monday, arrived yesterday. The only intelligence they
contain of importance is that relative to the death of the
late Emperor of Russia. which we have extracted in
another column. We subjoin from the Etude the quota-
tions of the Rentcs on Tuesday.
FRExcu Ft: rms.—Nam, DEc. 27.—Five per Vet ts. 93f. 75e.
0:ito for the end of the month at three o'clock, 95f. 73e. Three per
Cents. W. 30c. t ditto for the end of the month, at three o'clock,
Neapolitan, la.

The Greek cause, which has been so malt' lima on the
brink of destruction, will spin, in all probability, be
rescued from danger, and, perhaps, at the moment when
success appeared the least to beexpeeted it may be crowned
with triumph. The accession of the Emperor CON/TAN-
TIN/ is an event of the greatest importance to the Greeks
at the present crisis of their struggle. From his infancy
Eis since have been directed to that quarter. Latterly the
pacific palicy of the Holy Alliance, of which his brother
ALEXANDER was the author, deprived him of all reason-
able hope of gratifying his ambition of founding afresh the
ChristLn Empire of the East. He is now suddenly re-
leased from this restraint, and invested with absolute power
ta carry into execution the projects which were instilled
into his childhood, and which it is known he has ever since
warmly oherished. There can be no doubt, therefore, that,
witb a rough and ardent temper like his he will, as soon as
1.3 feels himself firmly seated on the imperial throne, turn his
yas towards Constantinople. The insurrection of the Greeks,
tl.e most favourable circumstance he could desire in case of
ties with the Turkish Government, was apparently so
nearly quelled, that unless he manifested his designs at an
euly period, there was much reason to apprehend that he
would lose the important benefits he might derive from
the aid and co-operatian of the Greeks. We have there-
fore been leaking to every arrival from the East, during
. the last twa or three days, for some indication of the
feelings of the new Emperor with regard to the Sub-
lime Porte. It appears by the German Papers received
yesterday, that M. Von MINZIACIY, the Russian Mi-
si.ler, delivered a note to the Rats EFFENDI on the 7th
of November, complaining that the Resent' AGAS, after
Living the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia, had
st only afterwards returned and committed dreadful ex-
cess e. M. lilt MINEIACEY communicated a copy of his
remonstrances to the other Christian ministers, from whom
it was believed strong representations would be made to
the Divan, as to the necessity of acting with good faith in
respect of the evacuation of the principalities, and a strict
• !patina to the other provisions of the treaty of Bucharest.
The Paste, it is evident, was alarmed at the avproecti_of
the Emperor ALEXANDER, and had probably sent pub-
-1;c orders to the BLSCIILI ACAS, accompanied by se-
cret instructions of an opposite character. The Emperor
CONSTANTINE will have no lack of pretences for any
measures to w hich he may be disposed to hare recourse, and
as the coke of M. de MINELACET will very opportunely
warrant him in assuming a harsher :one than Russia has
for many )cars held towards Turkey, he will only have
at wee to denounce the perfidy of the Mussulmans, and
pour upon their enfeebled and distracted empire the over-
whelming tide of his enthusiastic army. Some changes, it
is stated, bare lately taken place in the Turkish Cabinet.
The Grand Mufti was dismi:.s.,d on the ssth ult., but it

was doubtful whether his rcinoval was connected with
ary question of public policy.
'Fhe news from Greece through Constantinople was all
of the most unfavourable nature. The fleet of the CAPI•
AN P•CIIA, it was alleged, had succeeded in m-
ilt-twilling Patras and Lepanto previously to its @sal-
ine fur llliisolonshi, araiust which the whole force
of the 3faitoniet: us, both naval and military, was directed.
The garrison, hov::ver, were undaunted, and resolved to
perish untl'r its ri;as; rather than suffer it to fall into the
hands of it ; ba!barian besic;ers. That this is no vain
bassi, the histu.'y of the first defence of Afiasolonghi would
:r necessity attest. The Samietes who had disembarked
in Candia have, it it, been defeated by the Turks, who
:rel.* a sally from the fortress, and "lidded them all."

To this extravagant story is appended a report of a mutiny '
in Napoli di Romania, in which three members of the Go-
vernment had been murdered. We give no credence whatever
to thcse vague and unauthorised statements. We learn,how-
erer,from dim that theGreeka had lost no fur durground,and
would be able to maintain the contest until the probable
interference of the Emperor CoNSTAYTIe a would deliver
them from their perilous condition. The arrival of Lord
Co Clfn AN c would also take place about the same time, and

the influence of his name would alone work wonders, even
should Russia, contrary to all present expectation, adhere
to the pacific policy of the late reign.

The important subjects which will come under the con-
sideration of Parliament in the approaching Session, viz.
the Corn Laws, and the Silk Manufactures—and the die- •
cussion which they must necessarily undergo out of doors,
from the vast extent of the interests which they embrace,
and which they touch so nearly, make it essential that
whatever relates to the principles of free trade should be
distinctly understood. The political economists may be
extremely liberal in their views, and their notions may be—
and are—very enlightened; but their practical application
' is what, as a mercantile nation, we are most concerned
with ; if they are calculated to increase the industry and
promote the comforts of our manufacturing population, and
to infuse new vigour into the different branches of com-
mercial industry, in this view they latuset be top highly
praised or too extensively adopted.
That the prohibitory system is an unnatural system we
most readily grant, and if we could not only be safely but
profitably rid of it, it ought not to have—nor in our opi-
nion would it have—a single advocate from one end of the
kingdom to the other. But unfortunately our manufac-
tures have been nursed under this exclusive system—they
have grown up under it to their present girth and strength ;
and the true question therefore is, not how far the opposite
course of treatment is better as a scheme of political econo-
my, but how far it can be safely acted upon in that parti-
cular state of things to which it is intended to apply it.
There is something extremely captivating in everything
which comes recommended to us as involving the principles
of freedom—freedom of the press—freedom of thought—
freedom of speech—and though last not least, freedom of
trade,—all admirable in their way, undoubtedly, and
coming to us with that engaging aspect which inclines us
towards them instinctively. Averse naturally to every
thing which savours of fetterings and restrictions, we erect
our ears whenever we hear that the commercial avenues
which hitherto were closed are about to be thrown open,
and that the mercantile intercourse of nations is to be car-
ried on without curb or restraint. But, after all, we must
descend, whether we will or no, to the matter-of-fact view
of the case. Is it possible to adopt the principles of free
trade, or is it even meant to adopt them ? In the true
sense and genuine meaning of the phrase, we have no
hesitation in saying that this is not possible, and cannot be
intended. Whenever trade is free, every man will buy as
cheap as he can, and sell as dear as lie can. This is the
principle upon which all trade is conducted. If, for ex-
ample, the Corn-factor in England can buy corn on the
Continent at 30s. a quarter, and importing it at that low
price, can sell it—as he of course can at a most ample profit
in Mark-lane—on the principles of free trade, there can
be no impediment whatever to his so doing. The same
principle, in the full swing of its operation, must be ad-
mitted into every other branch of commercial dealing.
What the British Agriculturists or the British Manufac-
turers may suffbr must be thrown wholly out of considera-
tion. The question of free trade does not concern
itself with their resources; they must contend with
the competition each in his own way, anti to the
best of their own means. " No," say the advocates of
ths. free system, "we have no intention to injure
the manufacturing and agricultural interest of Great
Britain—we wish to encourage the growth of her pro-
sperity in both branches: it is therefore intended to save
them both by protective duties against the ill consequences
of. foreign competition." Granted. But the instant you do
this, there is a breach in your system. Trade is no longer
free. Your language to the foreigner, interpret it as you
will, is this—" We will so contrive, by means of a duty to
be imposed upon the article in which you trade, u to force
you to sell it at a certain rate ; we shall, in effect, exclude
its introduction at a price below that which it suits our own
interest to fix ; below that price not a bale of goods of
yours will we admit." It is manifest, then, that we use
the term free-trade in much too wide a sense ; and that
the system upon which we really act is no other than this
—to establish such a commercial intercourse with foreign
nations as may be beneficial to ourselves ; and to prohibit
the admission of all foreign manufactures which might vie
with cur home market, except at a price, whatever it may
be, which shall / ?Tied that market from being undersold.
You may give this trade, so restricted, what denomination
you please, but most certainly it is not free trade, and all
the arguments founded upon it, as such, are erroneous, and
serve only to mislead.
In an article in the Edinburgh Review on the "Reatric-
dons on Foreign Commerce," the writer sums up his re-
mat ks by saying—
" It has been our object to endeavour to point out how
this may be effected; and to show that, by giving freedom
to commerce, those commodities which are now pent up in
our warehouses would meet with an advantageous and
ready market. Instead of having too large a supply of
manufactured produce, it would be found, were we to con-
sent to relinquish our restrictions and prohibitions, and
gradually to recur to the only sound principle on which
commercial prosperity can ever be bottomed--that of-a per-
fect freedom of trade— that we might add indefinitely to
its amount. The market of the world never has been, and
never can be, glutted. The distresses of the manufacturers,
as far as they originate in the want of a market (anti this
is undoubtedly their principal source), are entirely a con-
sequence of our own perverse policy—of our refusing to
admit the cheap corn of Poland and America—the timber
and iron of the Baltic—the wines, brandies, and cambric:
of France—the silks of Spain—the Sugars of Brazil, and
so forth."—Edinburgh Review for May 1620.
We shall have more to say on this perfect system of trade
as we proceed. The subject js one, at this moment, of the
deepest interest, and unhappily it is one, of all others, upon
which the most chimerical notions are afloat.

CITY, WEDNESDAY EVENING.

The appearance of the British Funds to-day indicated,
at one period, an improvement. The opening price of
Consols was 821, and they subsequently advanced to 1,
from which quotation they afterwards, however, declined
to BV, which closed the market.
In Foreign Securities there wat also an advance in the
early part of the day ; but they drooped towards the close•
Colombian Bonds were 614 64; Mexican 6 per Cents,
651 6 ; Bruit Scrip 15 dia. ; Russian Stock 731 9
There was no business in the other Foreign Stocks.
Sharer were sought after again to-day. Anglo-Mexican

• 4
THE BRITISH PRESS.

Shares were at 5 premium ; United Mexican ditto 7 ;
and Itcal del Monte 130 to 130.
Money is much more abundant than it was on the Stock
Exchange ; and in consequence of returning confidence.
large sums arc remitted from the country to the town
Bankers. Exchequer Bills and India Bands continue at
par to 2s. discou►►t. The immediate effects of the panic
are fast dying away, although the remote consequences of
it moat be long and severely felt.

1 The Plate of Tuesday contains the following para-
graph relative to the story we published front the horning
Post, announcing the death of the Emperor Alexander:—
" We have noticed the decency with which the English
journals 'poke of the death of the Emperor Alexander ;
the Itforning• Past alone has related an absurd tale about
the death of this great Monarch : so infamous did this ar-
ticle appear to us that we would not translate it. Other
journals have been less scrupulous—all the English papers
concur in ridiculing 'this news of the assassination of the
Emperor Alexander. The Post itself does not appear any
longer to insist upon it, for it says—" Whether the news
be true or false, we had it from excellent authority." Now
we know that it is always upon excellent authority that
the English journals generally relate their falsehoods.
The Oriental Spectator of the 18th of November con-
tains a note from Colonel Accourti, Commandant, re-
lative to the land and naval forces of Ibrahitn Pacha. We
do not perceive anything very new in it. The land forces
of I brahhn in the Morea on the Ist September, consisted,
according to M. d'Accourtl, 415,8.30 Egyptians, of whom
eiglity were artillery-men, $3l pioneers, and 1385 cavalry,
independent of the Torkish garrisons, which were there'
before his first landing. Ile had lost in combats 14,000
men, and 300 by sickness. With respect to the number
of vessels, as it has been given by all the papers, we remark
only that they comprise in their enumeration two steam
vessels, whereas everybody knows that one of them sank
as she was leaving Alexandria.
Havannah Papers of the 16th ult. notice that the Spanish
squadron destined for the relief of the garrison of St. Juan
had returned to Havannah without effecting their object,
as the Mexican squadron was too strong for them. If the
Mexicans can maintain their naval superiority for a little
while, it is quite clear that the castle of St. Juan must fall.
The safe return of the squadron was more titan was ex-
pected at Havannah, as there were great fears that it had
fallen Into the power of the Mexicans.
We have received Charleston Papers to the 2,1 instant.
Surveys of roads between Mexico and the United States
have been ordered, and the first report of the commissioners
' on the practicability of this important communication has
been read :it is favourable as to the project. One of these
papers mentions that the changes in the laws of Mexico are
vexations, no less than three cargoes of American shipping
having been confiscated on account of the changes in the
revenue laws.

We have received the Singapore Chronicle of the 4th of
August. An expedition had been sent, by order of the Go-
vernment at Singapore, for the purpcse of taking formal
possession, as it was understood, of several adjacent islands
ceded to the English by the late treaty with the Sultan of
Singapore. Although the circumference of Singapore is
not great, yet the small islands to be landed upon are nu-
merous ard little known, and the objects of the expedition
would therefore occupy a considerable lime in being accom-
plished. According to accounts from Penang, received at
Singapore, Captain H. Burney hail been appointed as Envoy
of the Governor-General, to proceed on a mission to Siam,
should a fit opportunity offer for opening a negotiation with
the people of that country, extremely jealous of any inter-
course with foreigners, and therefore difficult of access.

FOREIGN EXCIIANGES.—Letters from Alexandria of
the 7th ult. sta:a that the Exchange is nearly nominal at
73, and that bills on England were not to be had at the
moment. Advicts from Messina of the 2d, and from
Naples of the 6th inst. inform us that at Mes,ina the ex-
change was 57 j, and Naples 569. Letters from Trieste of
the Bth inst. quote the exchange at 914.
The principal London bankers are doing all in their
power to lessen the circulation of one and two pound notes
in the country; and instances have occurred in which a
positive refusal has been,giveft to continue to conduct the
agency for country banks, unless the small notes within a
given time shall be withdrawn from circulation. The ob-
, ject is, if possible, to exclude all country bank-notes under
the value of 5!. each.

LOCAL NOTES.—On Monday week a meeting was held
in the Exchange Coffee-room, Preston, to consider of the
best means of clearing" 'the town of every description of
provincial notes, that the circulating medium might be
confined to the coin of the realm and Bank of England
notes A considerable number of manufacturers, mer-
chants, tradesmen, and others, being assembled, Mr. Gil-
bertson was requested to take the chair, and having opened
the business, ,jr. Clarke stated that the main object of the
present meeting was to find out some mode of getting rid of
the provincial notes now in the town. They had long been
a nuisance and a clog to trade, and the sooner they were
sent to their proper limes the better. It had been men-
tioned, and he considered the plan a good one, that a depot
should he appointed where the notes might be taken, and
forwarded to their respective issuers, making a charge upon
each note to cover the expense of transmission. This would
at all events clear the town for a time; as to puting a stop
to them altogether, he was afraid that could not be accom-
plished. After a desultory conversation, chiefly as to
whether a temporary or more permanent depot should be
established, it was finally agreed that the operations of the
plan should be limited to the next Monday.—Manchester
Mercury. _ _ _

A letter from Liverpool mentions the arrival at that port
of Dr. Fiarks, from North America. This gentleman was
sent out by Government to assist in arranging the boundary
line between the United States and the British possessions
in Upper Canada, particularly as to the territory in the vi-
cinity of the lake the in woods. The letter mentions also
that authentic accounts had been received (by the return of
the canoes belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company), of
the safe arrival of the North \Vest expedition, tinder Capt.
Franklin, at Athabasca, where they had flxcd their winter
quarters. The party were, all in good health and in high
spirits.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES:It is of importance to the
trading part of the community to know, that the Weight
and Measure Offices at Guildhall are now open to the
public for the purpose of sizing and marking the new im-
perial standard weights and measures, which are to be
used after the first day of January next. All weights and
measures brought to these offices should be in u correct a
suite as possible, in order that no unnecessary time may be
taken in regulating them by the standard.

REM•RICAIiaItriORICAL Fncrs. -Itiasingnlartltat
Parliament has assembled on a Sunday, in consequence of
the death of the Sovereign, no less than three times during
the present and the three preceding reigns; in George I on
occasion of the death of Queen Anne; In George 111 on
occasion of the death of George 11 ; in George IV on occa-
sion of that of George 111. It is also equally singular that
the reigns of the first three Edwards should have occupied
a space of time considerably exceeding a century ; and that
the reigns of the first three Georges should also have occu-
pied a similar period ; Edward I ascended the throne Nov.
16, 1272; Edward 11, July 7, 1337; Edward 111, Sep-
tember 21. 1327. These three monarchs ruled England
for 104 years, 7 months, and 12 days. As the reign of the
late King terminated on Saturday the 29th of January,
1820, the time occupied by the reigns of the three Georges
was 105 years, 5 mouths, and 29 days.

14iANCI1ESTER AND LIVERPOOL RAIL-WAY.—The
re-
port mentioned by our Liverpool correspondent is confirmed.
We observe in the prospectus of thellanchester and Liver-
pool Railway Company, in the Liverpool papers of Tuesday,
that the Marquis of Stafford has become a subscriber to that
undertaking, to the extent of 1,000 shares. The state-
ments made by die Committee with regard to the single
article of coals is so important, that, when combined with
other saviags, we can hardly suffer ourselves to dou'A the
success of the Bill in the next Session of Parliament. The
charge made on the Stockton and Darlington Rail-road for
the carriage of passengers, inside, is only ld. per mile, and
they travel at the rate of eight miles per hour. Should this
scale apply to the Liverpool and Manchester road, the
charge would (only be about s. 7d. per head, instead of the
present rate of les.