The Sun.
London, England, 1837-05-13 00:00:00

THE SPANISH PRESS.

Extract of a letter, dated the 29th ult. observed on
:I former occasion that the new laws which came into opera-
ion on the 15th ult. had given dissatisfaction, and that
'many prosecutions bad taken place under these regulations.
These prosecutions continue to an unnecessary extent, and
lerm the subjects of animadversions much more injurious tothe Government than thoie they were intended to suppress.
The consequence of these regulations has been the iuppres-
sion of a considerable number of journals,, which sprang up
immediately after the Press was declared free, by the pro-
clamation of the Constitution of 1812. The tendency of
these regulations will be best appreciated by giving the
substance of the eight articles into which the new law
is divided. This law ordains that no periodical can
he published in Madrid without having one or more re-
sponsible editors. The editor or editors must have con-
stantly deposited with the proper authority
_the sum of
4,000 reals (about 4001. sterling) in Madrid. In Barce-
lona, Cadiz, Seville, and Valencia, the sum of 3,000 reals ;
in Granada and Zaragosa, 2,000 reals ; and for every other
periodical published in the Peninsula, and not specified in
the law, the sum of 1,000 reals, provided the periodical ap-
pear once or oftener in the week. If published at indefi-
nite periods longer than a week, then the deposit is to be
but half the sum stated. In all cases four times the amount
of the sum required in cash will be received in the four
per cent. Consols, or a proportional sum of five per cent.
as a substitute. The deposit is to be immediately re-
turned. on the suspension of the periodical. The second
article declares every publication a periodical which ap-
pears at certain or uncertain intervals, under the same
title and not exceeding six sheets Of foolscap paper.
The third article declares that to he an editor proofs of
the following conditions are to be laid before the political
governor That the individual is a citizen in tl:e
exercise of all his rights, and the head of a family, when
the publication appears. 2d. That he shall have made the
deposit required in the first article. The political governor
is to decide on the proofs laid before him within the period
of forty-eight hours ; in the event of'his not doing so, the
person claiming to become editor may appeal to a jury
with respect to the validity of the proofs offered by him.
The fourth article requires that the editors of all journals
existing before the publication of this law shill comply with
its terms within fifteen days after its appearance in the
Gazette. The fifth article declares that the persons"Yespon-
sible for article, are-Ist, the person who may have signed
the original document denounced, provided he has the
rights of citizenship ; 2d, the editor of the periodi-
cal, when tbe persons signing the article is not in
the exercise of his rights as a citizen, or when the
responsible person does not appear when called up-
on. At the end of each periodical the name of the re-
sponsible editor is to be placed, under the penalty of 500
reels to the printer. Penalties are to be deducted from
the deposit, leaving the editors and publishers to re-
cover the amount from the authors whose productions
may be denounced by the ordinary proceedings at law.
The sixth article holds the proprietor of the establish-
ment responsible for the publication of all pamphlets, &c.,
the authors of which are unknown, insolvent, or cannot
be found. If the paper or periodical shall appear with-
out the name of the printer, proceedings are to be taken
against the venders of such periodical. The seventh article
explains what is to be understood by persons evading the
penalties of the law, and absolves the editor or printer on
the appearance of the proper authors. The eighth ex-
empts from these deposits all official publications and
periodicals for advertisements alone, and all those which
do not treat of religion or politics. But if these latter
publications should insert articles on politics or religion,
then the political Governor is authorised to suspend the
publication of such journal until the editors have fulfilled
the provisions of the third article of this law, unless a jury
declares that they have not treated of religious or political
subjects. If, on the contrary, the jury declares that they
have done so, then the proprietors will have to pay a fine of
3,000 reals for infringing the law, in addition to the penalty
which maybe impose if the article be declared libellous."
The operation of the law has certainly altered the tone of
the Madrid journals, which, previous to its enactment, might
be considered licentious in the extreme. But while it re-
presses the sallies of satire, and blunts the fangs of personal
malice, it has made the enemies of the Government still
more formidable by a coerced moderation. The reasoning
of the El Plumb may inflict more severe wounds on the
Cabinet than its former jokes.

NEWSPAPER STAMPS.

Extract from " Returns of the number of Stamps issued
monthly to each of the London Newspapers, from 1 Jan.,
1837, to 1 April, 1837.

Titles of Newspapers.

January.

February.

March.