The Sun.
London, England, 1837-12-16 00:00:00

COURSE OF EXCHANGE YESTERDAY.

Amsterdam C. F. 12 4% i Gibraitar 46
Ditto, at sight
botterdam ........ -.......5. U l2 4% IGenoa 26 10
Are.werp...
Hamburg........ Id.R. 13 1354 1 Venice eo
Altnna..-. ..........»........... 13 IS% I lcaples Si)
Paris, 3 days' sight
Ditto ....... ............. ..3 Ms. £5 PO Lisbon .f,31,
Marscillez. ..... ..-.......- ...... 26 0 Oporto S3N
Bourdeaux
Frankfort on Maine, Ex. M. 153 I Bahia ... 25
Petcrsbuigh, ruble ..... .3 Us. 10 Buenos Ayres --
Berlin
Vienna, effective 11......2 NI. 10 11 Cork ....... .. :.. ..... ....... ......
Teieste ditto ................ 10 12 PRICE OF BC ELION, PER OZ.
Madrid 'sl Peitugal Gold, c0in....... E 0 0 0

C.sdiz 95
B
Rarceilna 94
...... 34

Forein Gold;in bars S )7 9
New Doubloons
New Dollars
Silver. bars, standard 0 4 11

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE To-MORROW.
unrniu, l9 minutes after 5 j Evening 38 minutes after 5.

This day was published in fcp. Syo. price Half-a-Crown, neatly
done up in eloth, gilt edges,
PLAIN DIRECTIONS for making WILLS
in conformity with the New Act, comes into operation on
the Ist January, 1838, and the strictest conformity with which
will be indispensable in every Will made after that date.
By J. C. HUDSON, of the Legacy Duty Office, London.
London : Longman, Orme, and Co.

The COURT and TIMES of QUEEN ANNE.
Just ready, in 2 vols. Bvo. with Portraits.
THE DUCHESS OF MARLBOROUGH'S
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE.
Illustrative of the Court and Times of Queen Anne;
WITH HER SKETCHES and OPINIONS of HER
CONTEMPORARIES, &c.
Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street.

The publication of Tun Sum NEWSPAPRR commenced this da
at 30 minutes past Three o'clock.

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LONDON :
SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 16, 1837.

In the HOUSE of Loans yesterday the sitting was short, the
business being confined to the presentation of two petitions,
each of -.vhich, however, involves objects of considerable im.
portance.
The Earl of RADNOR presented a petition from the prin-
cipal London booksellers, praying for a general reduction in
the present rates of postage.
Lord BRCUGHAIS presented a petition from the Lord Mayor,
ARen-nen, and Cornirons of the City of London, in Common
Council assembled, Praying that the provisions of the Muni-
cipal Officers' Declaration Bill might be extended so as to
embrace all classes of her MmesTv's subjects.
In the House of Cr W:AGNS petitions for the Ballot were
presented from Bridgewater and from Ashtcn-under-Line.
Sir F. FRENCH gave notice of a proposition for altering the
position of the Houses of Lords and Commons.
Sir S. WHALLEY gave notice that on an early day after the
recess he would move for leave to bring in a Bill to repeal the
window tax.

Sir M. WOOD gave notice, that he would on Tuesday next
move for a Select Committee to inylire into the propriety of
certain proposed metropolitan improvements, and that he would
also move en the same day for leave to bring in a Bill for the
better regulation of Hackney C:,acbcs and Cabriolet:, similer
to that which he had brought in last Session.
in answer to a question by Mr. MacRINNoN, Mr. BALING
stid that " a plan for a large communication by:steam with
the Colonies generally nas at present under the cfmsider,tieu
of Government—tht that plan was not confined TO the West
Indies alone; but that it had reference to the whole 33 stem of
intercolonial communic4ltion."

Mr. STANLEY brought up the report on the Houses of Pat-
liament Bill.
In answer to the question whether it ivas intended to give
effect to the recommendation of the Commissioners of the
Post. office relating to the reduction of postage, and the intro-
duction of penny stamps,
The CITANCF.I.LOR of the EXCHEQUER said that he intended
to adopt the principle of stamped covers, and to try it as an
experiment by itself. He would not definitively alter the
rate of the twopenny-post until he saw the result of the expe-
riment of the stamped covers, for he could not consent to try
the stamped covers as a principle, unless the amount of revenue
derived from the twopenny-post were secured to him. The
assertion now was that the public would profs the stamped
covers to the payment of postage, and that 11(13 the experiment
to he tried.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER having moved the
Order of the Dty for the House to resolve itself into a
Committee on the Civil List Bill,
Sir G. SINCLAIR moved, as an amendment, that the nomi-
nation of the Committee on the Pension List he proceeded
with ; but after a short conversation the amendment was ne-
gatived.
Mr. HARVEY then moved " That it be an instruction to the
Committee that due provision be made in the Civil List Bill
for the protection of the right of Parliament to invire into
and to :appropriate the revenues of the Duchy of Cornwall and
the Duchy of Lancaster respectively."
A debate ensued, to our report of which, in connexion with
some observations on the subject in one of our leading ar-
ticles, we refer the reader. It will be seen that that the
CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER strorigl) re,isted the intro-
duction of Mr. HARVEY'S clause, and that ultimately the mo-
tion was withrawn.
Mr. BULLER then moved as an amendment, that the Bill be
committed on Monday. After art animated discussion, the
House divided, when it appeared that there was a majority of
184 to 52 for going into Committee.
The House accordingly went into Committee on the Civil
List Bill, when, on Clause 3 being read, Mr. HUME moved the
reduction of the grant from 385,0001. to 335,0001., with a view
to bring the expenditure back to the standard of 1792. But
out of a House of 218 Members, 19 only voted with the Hon.
Member for Kilkenny; and Mr. BULLER'S subsequent effort
to reduce the grant by 10,0001., was also negatived by a majo-
rity of 132. All the remaining clauses were agreed to, ex-
cept the sth, the con.ideration of which was postponed till
Monday, when the third reading of the Bill will be taken.
The Court of Sessions (Scotland), and the Sheriffs' Courts
(Scotlend) Bills, were read a second time.
The House did not adjourn till half-past two o'clock.

It is a singular fact, and one which ought to be
pressed on the attention of anti-Reformers, that a re-
formed House of Commons shows more loyalty
(taking liberal provision for the dignity and splendour
of the Crown as a test), than any the most corrupt
House ever acted upon by all the power and influence
of the SOVEREIGN. The present Civil List—for it
may be regarded as fixed—nominally exceeds that
given to WILLIAM THE FOURTH, and far exceeds it
virtually, if we take into account the relative circum-
stances of the two Sovereigns. Not contented with
this, however, the CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER
says, we will go farther : we will enquire into the
revenues of the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall—
we will order returns to be laid before Parliament, and
adopt a new system of management, by which the reve-
nues will be greatly increased. Bills for that purpose will
be introduced. When ? After the recess—that is, after
the Civil List is positively determined, for a period in
all probability of half a century 7. And who gains by
this ? Not the country, but the Crown. Whatever
may be the increase of these revenues, JOHN BULL
is to have his usual share—not a penny goes into his
pocket ; and he must continue to pay, to the last day
of the reign, the full amount of the Civil List, though

NEmtirpmeas of the two Duchies should increase to
,'..--lutit--Citurfibn a year. Of what use will be the r
bRe-
(4.,, -4 :;.,.-,, ,4_ y Lord BROUGHAM, unless they are

Ala :3

to be acted on for the benefit of the people, and for dimi-
nishing the enormous burdens of the country? Sup-
posing the revenues of the Duchies are the private
hereditary property of the Crown, and not subject to
the control of the Legislature—(which the soundest
lawyers deny)—is it not preposterous to say that the
Civil List must be voted without any reference to
their amount ? How they came into the possession
of the Crown it would be difficult to discover ; but all
admit that they were taken originally, and handed
down from Sovereign to Sovereign for the purpose of
maintaining the dignity, and supplying the wants of
Royalty ; and if they are sufficient for these purposes,
why should the people be called on to vote half a
million a year in addition ? They may be worth
100,0001. or 200,0001. a year, for they are involved
in such mystery that no one can tell their value ; but
whether it be small or great, a reformed House of
Commons will grossly neglect one of its first duties, if
it follow in the track of its corrupt predecessors, and
pass a vote involving a sum of some thirty or forty mil-
lions without inquiry or explanation.

A long and animated debate took place last night
in the House of Commons on the subject of the reve-
nues of the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster. Mr.
HA RVEY opened the discussion, by moving that due
provision be made in the Civil List Bill for the protec-
tion of the right of Parliament to inquire into, and to
appropriate, the revenues of the Duchy of Cornwall,
and that of Lancaster respectively ; bet finding that
this motion, so worded, could not be entertained,
he proposed an amendment to the effect that " the
debate be adjourned, until Ministers shall have
signified to the House, her MAJESTY'S consent that
due provision be made in the Civil List Bill, for
the protection of the right of Parliament to enquire
into and appropriate the revenues of the aforesaid
Duchies." The Hon. and Learned Gentleman made
a most efficient, business-like speech in support of his
proposition, arguing very justly that if ever there was
a chance of the present race of Legislators interfering
successfully, it was on this occasion. This is an
obvious truism, but not the less valuable on that ac-
count. Now or never is the time to come to some
definitive settlement on the complicated question of
the Duchies. As for interfering with them at some
future period, or remedying their manifold abuses, as
occasion may serve—all this is pure moonshine. It
may serve the interests of posterity, but questions of
this nature should be regarded, rather with a view to
consult the known wishes of the present, than the un-
authenticated ones of the future. Why should we,
looking forward as a matter of course to a long
reign, legislate for the close of the century, in-
stead of for the present period, whose interests
are quite important enough to engross all our
attention ? Such a notion, in a case like that
before us, involves an absurdity on the face of it ;
Mr. HARVEY, therefore, is quite right when he ob-
serves that the question of the Duchies should be
settled at the present moment. Still more have we a
right to expect such definite settlement from those who
now hold office, because on all matters, whether bearing
directly or indirectly on the Civil List, they have been
notorious for their love of searching inquiry. When
in Opposition, who so fierce—who so persevering—
who so sternly uncompromising with the Tories, on
this very point ? The Whigs have ever been perfect
Ajaxes as regards their hostility to the abuses of the
Civil List ; and turned out the WELLINGTON Ad-
ministration, on this ticklish question, and no other. Is
it for them then to slumber, now that they have suc-
ceeded in planting themselves on the Treasury bench
Is it for them to advocate the little-as-needs-be—the
enug, temperate, bit-by-bit, Reform seven years after
they ejected the Tories for adopting the same accom-
modating system ? From Mr. SPRING Rica's
speech last night, in reply to the vigorous home-thrusts
of the Honourable and Learned Member for South-
wark, we can gather nothing more satisfactory
than that from time to time the abuses in the
revenues cf the Duchies will be enquired into with a
view to improvement ; but that for the present, nothing
definite or decisive will be attempted. We must bide
our time for an effectual remedy ; we must be content
to see Corruption touched with a tender hand—ap-
proached with an apologetic and commiserating coun-
tenance—removed by slow degrees—and with a caution
and courtesy clue to its respectability and venerable
character. So say the Whigs as regards the abuses
of the Civil List, but far different was the doctrine they
held, when, having just succeeded in ousting the
WELLINGTON Ministry, they called out, in a
paroxysm of cestacy and patriotism, " The age of
patronage is past. Corruption is at end. Henceforth
commences a system of disinterested and enlightened
Government r We hazard these remarks more in
sorrow than anger ; but the plausible and ambiguous
conduct of Ministers last night, with their soft, velvet
phrases, and their pretty Tory prattle about the
" decent splendour of the Crown," convinces us that
on the question of the Civil List at least, we have,
at present, nothing to hope for from them in the way
of vigorous, searching Reform.

We extract from our respectable Contemporary the
Morning Advertiser, an able article on the Currency
and Joint-Stock Banking, in all of which we heartily
concur. There is, however, one slight mistake. It
is stated that the London Joint-Stock Bank, the re-
port of which seems to have elicited our Contempo-
rary's remarks, is composed of partners holding 30,000
shares of 1001. each. We believe the fact to be
that there are 60,000 shares of 501. each, but
the amount being the same, the mistake is not
material. The application of the sage remark of
BACON to the subject might have been still
more pertinently made to the Bank of England, had
it been stated that on all occasions of mercantile de-
pression or public fear, vast masses of money and
negociable securities are deposited in the Bank of
England, which locks them up just at the period they
would be the most useful, and only lets them out just
when the tide of prosperity is returning, producing as
much evil by the expansion as the collapse. This
selfish, grasping, and overgrown monopoly is not entitled
to the true character of a Joint-stock Bank, as it acts
upon opposite principles.

We have received the Paris Papers of Thursday ;
they bring us no news of any great importance. The
apprehension of HUBERT, the man charged with hav-
ing entered into a conspiracy against the life of Lours
PHILIPPE, does not appear to have produced a great
sensation, and the funds are not in any degree affected
by the event.
A Correspondent of the Times says that the inten-
tion of constructing an infernal machine to destroy
Lours PHILIPPE was discovered some months ago.
A person with whom our Correspondent was ac-
quainted received the information from France, and
instantly forwarded the letter to Lord PALmEnsToN,
who forthwith made a communication to the French
Ambassador, and a Courier was, without delay,
despatched to Paris.
The Courier Francais states that the allegation of
the Judge of a provincial town is compromised by the
papers seized at Boulogne.
Letters from Toulon, of the 9th inst., stated that the
Szdfren, ship of the line, had arrived on that day from
Cadiz with despatches for the naval Prefect. It was
reported in Toulon that serious disturbances had si-
multaneously broken out on different points of Italy :
but the Perle frigate, which had just returned from
Leghorn, brought no confirmation of the rumonr.
The Moniteur mentions the delivery at the Tuileries
of letters from the Emperor of AUSTRIA and King of

BAVARIA, in reply to the notification of Princess
MARY of Orleans's marriage.
The Duke de NEMOURS is stated to be fast reco-
vering from his late accident.
FRENCH FUNDS.- PARIS, Do 14

Five per Cents., ICE 90c. 10Sf.
Three per Cents., 79f. SOc. 35c.
Bank Act lons, 2,51,10 f. !,577f. 5Ce.
Bente de Naples, 9Sf. 15e. 10c. ISc.
Roman I Ire per Cents., 100%.
Spanish _Actives, 20N % Ti •
Belgian .3ank, 1,530 f.
Portugu,f.so Three per Cents., 19%
Haytian Loan, 37uf. 365 f.
lIXCIIANONI OX LONDON.
One m•nth., paper, —f. —a. ; money, 25f. 42%c.
Three months, paper, —f. —c.; money, 25f. 27%c
—CouP* Authentigue.
LAST PRICES.
-Five per Cents. 109 f. 20e.
Three per Cents., 7Sf. 45c.
Bank Actions, 2,577 f. 50c.
Romans, 1003 .
Belgian Bank, 1,51:f.
Portuguese Three per Cents., 19.
Spanish Actives, 2074.
Haytian Loan, 365 f.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

There being forty Members present at five minutes past
twelve o'clock, the SPEAKER took the Chair at that hour.

ELECTION PETITIONS.

Mr. PRYAIE gave notice that he would on Monday bring
before the consideration of the House the petition of William
Mereivether Turner respecting the election for the borough
of Dudley.
The SPEAKER then informed the House that John
Kelly and others, who had petitioned against the late return
for the borough of Portarlington had not entered into the re-
quired recognizances, and the petition was accordingly dis-
charged.

CITY OF LONDON ELECTION.
The SPEAKER also informed the House that the peti-
tioners against the return for the city of London had not en-
tered into the required recognizance!, and their petition was
accordingly discharged.
CAPTAIN MITCHELL'S MISSION INTO THE