The Sun.
London, England, 1837-04-22 00:00:00

13114.

LONDON,
SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 22, 1837.

In the house of Lords last night, after the Royal Assent
had been given by Commission to several Bills, a great
number, as usual, of petitons relating to the absorbing sub-
ject of Cimrch-rates chiefly, were presented. The Oxford
and Great Western Junction Railway Bill was then read a
second time.
On the presentation of a petition by Lord WILTON in favour
of Church-rate,,, Lord Baouonam remarked that the numbers
on the other site of the question preponderated.
Lord ALVANLEY soon after delivered himself of an all but
interminable speech en the subject of our relations with Spain,
and the civil war raging there. The Noble Lord, like a
mountain in labour, brought forth the following small motion;
he moved " for a copy of the despatch from Lord John Hay
relative to the affair of Hernani." The motion was, as a
matter of course, agreed to.
In the House of Commons, the discussion which grew out
of Mr. HARVEY'S reported breach of privilege, and especially
the debate which took place on the Canada question, were
deeply- interesting and important. We have noticed these
subjects elsewhere.

We had in the House of Lords last night a repeti-
tion—happily on an abridged scale—of the debate
which had for three nights occupied the House of
Commons.. We sincerely wish the Commons would
take example from the Lords in the matter of speechi-
fyin ; it would be an important benefit to the country
in the saving of time, and we are sure that it would
redound infinitely more to the credit of the speakers
themselves. In the short speeches of Lord ALVAN-
LEY and the Duke of WELLINGTON, and in the re-
plies of Lords MELBOURNE and HOLLAND we have
every topic urged—every argument advanced of which
the subject would admit—unweakened by tllat everlast-
ing verbiage, with which everything is overlaid and
suffocated in the House of Commons. We purposely
omit Lord A BERDEEN, the only other Peer who
spoke at any length in the debate, because he went
over, in a prepared oration, which we suppose he
could not readily adapt to the exact necessities of the
case, the ground which the Noble Duke and the Noble
Lord who opened the debate, had pre-occupied. We
do not mean to insinuate that Lord ABERDEEN was
not perfectly original in every idea which he uttered ;
but his misfortune was in having to follow abler men
then himself. He was, therefore, in the awkward pre-
dicament of being obliged either to relinquish the op-
portunity of delivering a speech, which had cost him
much time and no small labour to concoct, or to say
that which had been much better said by others be-
fore him. He chose the latter alternative—it is not a
matter of much consequence either way.
We need not remark that this motion of Lord AL-
VANLEY, ostensibly for the production of a document
which had already been officially laid before the House
of Commons, was in reality part and parcel of the mo-
tion or amendment which Sir HENRY HARDINGE
brought forward on Monday last, the object of which
was to pave the way by a vote of censure
on the foreign policy of the Government for
the advent of Sir ROBERT PEEL. The tactics of
the Opposition have been, as every sensible man knew
they would be, completely foiled, and the effect of the
attack has been to strengthen the position of Ministers,
as well as to confirm and encourage them in pursuing
with even greater vigour than they have hitherto
done, the course of policy which our alliance
with Spain, and the best interests of this coun-
try which dictated that alliance, equally demand.
1. his is the actual result of one of the most disingenu-
ous ,and dishonourable attempts that ever was made by
a polijcal party to possess themselves of power.
What We real ground of objection to the foreign
policy of the Government has been brought forward
during this kirotracted discussion which is worth a
moment's consi,'?eration ? Allowing that we had in-
terfered in the inianal affairs of Spain, is it for Tories
to object to such interference ?—is it for those whose
disastrous interference in the strictly national con-
cerns of a neighbouring State cost this country more
blood and treasure in twenty years, than all our pre-
ceding wars since the conquest, entailing on Europe
greater calamities than can be described, and leaving
to us and to our posterity an interminable legacy of
national debt, and its inevitable consequence, national
suffering—is it for them, we ask, to accuse Mi-
nisters if " interference" as a crime ? Yet this
is the whole gist of their argument. To " in-
terfere" in the cause of despotism—to give all the
aid in our power to tyrants when they are en-
deavouring to trample upon the rights of man
and to crush the advocates of freedom—this is praise-
worthy—this is true English policy ! But to lend
assistance to the cause of liberty, even when it is to
support a throne—to be instrumental in establishing a
Constitution which breathes the least sympathy
with rational freedom—this is indeed a crime
that must not go unpunished ! This is the of-

fence charged against Lord MELBOURNE and his
associates. They have faithfully fulfilled the stipula-
tions of a solemn treaty entered into with other
Powers—that treaty is found to stand in the way of
Don CARLOS restoring Toryism in Spain—therefore
the English Tories find.it contrary to English interests 1
As to the quibbling about the difference between ma-
rines and sailors, it is unworthy of serious notice.

When Sir ROBERT PEEL, on Thursday morning,
in giving his reasons for supposing that Ministers in-
tended to resign, uttered with due pomp and solemnity
the words, " the town was full of reports," the House '
resounded with shouts of laughter. A statesman, said
to be cautious, prudent, and guided not by every idle
rumour but by matters of fact, charges the Ministry
with a design to desert the vessel of the State, an-
nounces that others from a sense of public duty are
ready to save her, and when forced to declare on what he
rested such assumptions, solemnly avers that his authority
was the greatest of all liars—public rumour. Notwith-
standing all his professions of disinterested motives,
and of his great reluctance to undertake the Government
of the country, involved as he imagines it in such difficul-
t*, it then appears that he is noless anxious than the very
lowest Tory place-hunter to get a second time into office.
He is so blinded by the dazzling glare of power and
authority, that he believes every idle tale collected at
clubs by his whippers-in, and imagines himself again
Prime Minister of England, though on calm reflection
he must see that the majority of the House of Com-
mons is against him on every great question. How
long it may be before such an event arises we cannot
prophecy ; but knowing the firmness of Lord MEL-
BOURNE, and the vast interests depending on his re-
tention of office, we believe him incapable of deserting
his post. He has declared that while the Commons
support him, he will brave all the opposition of Bishops
and Lords, and notwithstanding their menaces, and
their avowed determination to resist further reform,
persevere in attempting to carry out measures neces-
sary for the welfare of the community. The House of
Commons has not deserted him—with the exception
of two dissatisfied Radicals who did not vote—perhaps
the same number of whimsical Radicals who did vote !
and one or two professed Liberals, but actual Tories,
he had the whole support of the Liberal Members of the
House on the late division. It is true the name of the
Hon. Member for Worcester stands in the list itnme-
mediately before that of Mr. CHARLES Ross—the
very essence of Toryism personified—but that neither
excited surprise nor regret. Indeed it is rather fortu-
nate that the Hon. Member so unequivocally declared
his political sentiments. An open, manly, and declared
enemy is infinitely preferable to a professed but trea-
cherous friend. What the Liberal electors of Wor-
c::ster may think of such conduct is another question.
A few more such voters would have decided the fate
of the Ministry ; and what would have been the re-
sult ? The triumph of Don CA RLOS and despotism
in Spain ; the return of Don MIGUEL to Portugal ;
the appointment of a batch of Orange Judges in Ire-
land, to pollute the source of justice in that unhappy
country ; and, to sum up all, the transfer of power,
which ought to be rested in the Commons, to an oli-
garchy in the House of Lords.

In commenting on Wednesday last on the motion
brought forward by Lori JoHN RUSSELL in the
House of Commons last night—pronouncing the
publication of evidence taken before Select Committees,
before being reported to the House, a breach of the
privileges of Parliament—we distinctly stated that
the Press contended, not for the right of publishing
eviderte given before Secret Committees, nor any evi-
dence affecting the pecuniary credit of the country, or
the character of individuals. All we sought to int 7.
press upon the mind of the Noble Lord was, that it
would defeat the very purposes for which Committees
of Inquiry are instituted, to prevent the Press from
publishing any part of the evidence before assuming a
form in which nobody would look to it. The publica-
tion of the evidence taken before any Committee ought
to be decided by a vote of the majority of such Coin-
mittee from day to day during its sitting, and not be
left to the vote of an assembly, nineteen-twentieths
of whom know nothing at all about it. A
Committee capable of conducting a Parliamentary In-
quiry cannot be presumed incapable of judging what
portion of the evidence given before it ought to be
withheld from the immediate knowledge of the public.
Besides, it ought to be borne in mind that the high
moral tone and character of the public Press of this
country is a sufficient guarantee for a wise discretion in
the selection of the evidence to be published, allowing
that Committees were slow to put their veto on the
publication of such evidence. This fact was entirely
overlooked by Lord J. RUSSELL in his speech last
night ; and yet it is one which Parliament ought to be
the first public assembly in the Kingdom fully to
acknowledge. It is a gross and wanton libel
upon the respectable portion of the British Press to
suppose that it is indifferent to the publication of docu-
mentary or verbal evidence ruinous to public credit, or
to the private character of individuals in high or low
station ; or that the gentlemen whom it employs
ate influenced by feelings which would discredit well
informed and experienced persons charged with the
performance of a great public duty. We question not
the power of the House of Commons to maintain in-
violate the privilege which it assumed last night ; but
we deprecate the wisdom, and deny the necessity of
exercising it. We maintain that the publication of evi-
dence given before open Committees, from day to day,
is as necessary to the promotion of the ends of justice
as the publication of the evidence given in courts of
law and equity, and the debates in the two Houses of
Parliament.

We regret Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S determina-
tion to carry his Canadian Resolutions through
Parliament. The Noble Lord might have safely
conceded their postponement last night, without com-
promising the dignity of the Government. Having
convinced the House of Assembly of Lower Canada
of his power, and of the support which his Lord-
ship's Canadian policy would meet with from
the Imperial Parliament, it would have been
generous in him to hare allowed the Canadians
an opportunity of adopting a more moderate course,
before depriving them of the merit of a voluntary con-
cession. The delay of a few months, under circum-
stances so well calculated to impress the Canadians with
the dangerous consequences of drawing down upon
them the open hostility of the mother country, would
be attended with many great advantages.

The French Journals of Thursday have been re-
ceived. The Chamber of Deputies has already 'ap-
pointed a Commission:to inquire into, and report to
the Chamber the additional annual revenue to be voted
to the Duke of ORLEANS, on the occasion of his mar-
riage with the Princess HELENA of Mecklenburg
Schwerin. On Thursday a deputation named by the
Chamber waited on his Royal Highness, and in the
name of the Deputies of France congratulated him on
his approaching nuptials.
In the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday, M.
BAUDE directly charged Marshal CLAUSEL with
occasioning the reverses experienced by the French
troops in Africa. M. BAUDE attended the army in
its expedition to Constantine in the character of a
Royal Commissioner, and was therefore an eye-witness
of its defeat. The Chamber heard him with the most
profound attention. He commenced by stating that
under Marshal CL AusEL, the colony had cost France
eight millions sterling, for which no corresponding ad-

vantage was gained ; that the Marshal had maintained a
"turbulent and rash" system wherever his power extended;
that he had by tacitly encouraging robbery and rapine
alienated the affections of the natives from the French,
and cast disgrace upon the French character ; that he
had extorted vast sums from the Coulouglis, the friends
and allies of France ; that he had encouraged financial
oppression on the part of the native authorities ; that
he had unjustly raised Youssouf, an enemy of
France, to the dignity of Bey of Constantine, to pro-
voke a war with that City ; that the troops, before
taking the field, had been confined in unhealthy, over-
crowded barracks at Bona ; that there were only 430
mules to carry the provisions, stores, and baggage,
when it was known to the Marshal that not less than
1,500 mules so laden were absolutely necessary ; that
the men suffered from excessive hunger, and that on
the evening of the second day the artillery had only
ammunition for thirty more shots ; and, finally, that
many of the men exclaimed, during the retreat, that
under General BUGEAUD the army would not have
been exposed to such dreadful and foreseen disasters.
The effect of this speech upon the Chamber
cannot be described. In the sitting of Thursday,
Marshal CLAUSEL rose to reply to it; but his utmost
seemed to make very little impression on the Depu-
ties. He was ever for a decided course, and he had
followed one in Africa. He only took from the Afri-
can friends of France what they had pillaged from her
enemies. He was for humbling the power of ABD-
EL-KADER ; and if he failed in the expedition
against Constantine the failure was attributable to
the misconduct of Ministers, who bad promised him
a reinforcement of 30,000 men, but afterwards broke
faith with him. He had been impelled by a love of
glory to undertake the expedition at all hazards.
The President of the Council, Count MOLE, said
that Ministers took the responsibility upon themselves.
He for one, however, had never promised Marshal
CLAUSEL the reinforcement stated. On the con-
trary, he had refused it, hoping that the refusal would
induce the Marshal to resign a command, the duties
of which he discharged in a way not approved of by
the Government. Unfortunately, the Marshal had
not resigned, and without waiting for the consent of
the Government, be undertook an expedition which
ought not to have been undertaken under such cir-
cumstances.

General CORDOVA appeared publicly on the
Bourse on Thursday. He was received with hisses,
and obliged to make his retreat with all expedition.
Arrangements have been already made by M. AR-
DOUIN and Co., to pay off the dividends on the
Spanish 5 per cent. Stock due on the Ist of May.
This is the best proof that can be offered in favour
of MENDIZABAL'S financial administration.

The Paris journals bring no news of any interes
from the North of Spain.

FRENCH FUNDS.-PARIS, APRIL 29.
Five per Cents., 1(161 9,)c. 75c. Ssc. 80c.
Four per Cent., 9Sf. 10c. Sc. 98f.
Three per Cents., 7Sf. 95c 9 c,.
Bank Actions, 2,410 f. 2,407 f 50c.
Rente de Naples, 99f. 9Sf. 95c. 90c. 85c.
Roman Five per Cents., Ic2si,
Spanish Actives, 2tS 25%
Spanish Differes, 9.
Spanish Passives. 634 6 61/4.
Belgian Loan, Five per Ceuta., 100 N.
Portuguese Loan. Three per Cents, 30 29%;7;.
Haytian Loan, 3301.
EXCHANGE ON LONDON.
One month, paper, 125 c. 15c. ; money, 25t. 423fe
Three months, paper, 251.27!4c. ; moo, y, 251. 2234 c
-C'ours Authentique.
LAST PRICES.
Five per Cents., 1 10f. 85c.
Three per Cents. 79f. sc.
Bank Actions, 2,44,7 f.
Rente de Naples, 99f. sc.
Roman Five per Cents., 10234.
Belgian Loan, 1fr0,./..
Portuguese Three per Cents., 29%.
Haytian Loan, 33. f.
Spanish Actives, 2534.
Spanish Passives 634.
Spanish Differes, 754.
New Differes, P.

An Evening Paper published yesterday a letter
from the North of Spain, announcing the murder of
the San Sebastian Correspondents of our Morning
Contemporaries, the Times and Herald, by the Carlists.
The letter is dated the 14th ; but letters from Bayonne
of the I6th, received to-bay, make no allusion to eve❑
a rumour of so dreadful an occurrence. We sincerely
trust and believe the writer of the letter conveying
such shocking intelligence was misinformed. The
veracity of the San Sebastian Correspondent of the
Evening Paper which published the letter, has recently
been proved to be not above suspicion ; but we cannot
believe that any person could be so depraved as wil-
fully to trifle with private and public feeling on a
matter of such importance.

New York Papers to the 26th ult., one day later
than those received on Thursday, have been forwarded
to us. Whatever is important in them will be found
in our City article.

THE FUNDS.-(THIS DAY.)

CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK.

New York papers one day later, to the 26th March, have
been received at the North and South American Coffeehouse.
The New Yorh Express of the 25th March states that the
arrival of the Utica brings good news, which makes many a
face look cheerful. The advance of a halfpenny on Cotton,
with some account of sales in Manchester, by private letter,
together with more favourable accounts of the British money
market, were good news. All this will not be without a favou-
rable effect upon the banks and merchants. Previous to the
above intelligence having transpired from Eurepe, Stocks had
declined ; but after the intelligence was known, they recovered
again. The packets for Liverpool and Havre were detained,
and it was supposed that the high rate of exchange might in-
duce shipments of specie. Exchange, 111 ; Bank Stock, 119.
The following are additional remarks :
Since our last, we have received later advices from nearly
all parts of the world, and of a very important character. In
England the Money Market was in a most agitated state—
failures common—and confidence impaired. The worst news
is the decline of Cotton in England and France. This must
have a very unfavourable influence on our staple here. The
South particularly will suffer heavily. Our tidings assure us
that Mexico would commence the war anew against Texas.
In New Orleans the commercial distresses appear to be very
great. The failures have been followed by otherg less im-
portance. There appears: to be no evidence that the banks
would give their aid to certain great establishments, which are
closely allied to certain houses here and in Philadelphia ; and
there is no improvement in the state of commercial matters.
" MoNRY.—The failures that took place last week, together
with those in New Orleans and Philadelphia, have shaken
confidence. Exchange on London has gone up to a point
that alarms our banks, for fear that specie may go. The
pressure has in no way abated—on the contrary it has increased.
" STECIE.-There is a good deal of alarm that there will be
a call for specie by the next packet. The banks stand in
much fear, although the Exchange remained at 111 - yester-
day ; yet there was not a call for dollars. The merchants ap-
pear unwilling to call on the banks. Specie for the last two
weeks has been gradually finding its way here.
" STOCK. —There has been a steady fall this week of al.
most every description."
Our arrivals this morning are the French mails; and a
Halifax mail, by the Alert, sailed on the 4th April.
(From the Halifax Papers.)
Housit OF ASSEMBLY.-The Lieutenant-Governor lays
before the House of Assembly a copy of a communication from
the magistrates of Pansburgh, representing the extreme dis-
tress of many of the inhabitants of that town for want of pro-
visions."

By the New Brunswick Papers to the 12th February, we
learn that nothing has as yet transpired relative to the contents
of the dispatches from the Colonial Office to his Excellency,
received by the February mail; but it is thought that the an-
swer of Lord Glenelg is not at all to the liking of the Executive.
We have an arrival from New York one day later than the
previous accounts, by the St. Andrew packet, which we un-
derstand brings 10,000 sovereigns ; we do not hear of any fur-
ther important failures, although it is not doubted there are
many of minor importance.

TIIE FUNDS.

Consols opened this morning at the dosing quotations of
yesterday, 90i3/ for the Account ;90 Money, with little
doing; Exchequer Bills, 42 44; India Bonds, 40 42; Bank
Stock, 204 k• 2051 ; Spanish Active, 23i ; Portuguese, 48i ;
Three por Cents., 311.
HALF-PAST ONE.
We have perused the following letter from Philadelphia,
of the 23d March
:
The news just received here of \Varett's failure has created
fresh excitement, and many more of our large houses are ex-
pected to stop. If the cotton bills come back there will be
some awful smashing."
Consols have been during the morning at 90i for the Ac-
count ; Money, 90a 4, with very little doing. Exchequer
Bills, 42 44, 41 premuim ; India Bonds, 42 40 premium ;
Bank Stock, 204 k 205 k ; India Stock, 259.
In the Foreign Market Spanish Active, 231; Portuguese,
48 ; Three per Cents., 31 ; Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents. ,
531. Spanish Deferred 94 ; Passive, fit.
THREE O'CLOCK.
Consols for the Account, 901.

LONGFORD COUNTY ELECTION
COMMITTEE.-(THIS

The Committee met this day at eleven o'clock.

The CHAIRMAN said he was requested by the Committee to
inform Counsel that in their opinion the cross-examinations
had been carried on by both sides at much too great a length,
and if that course were not discontinued the Committee
would feel it their duty to take tnc examination into their
own hands.

Mr. LAWSON—We certainly do think it not only desirable
but absolutely necessary, that Counsel should limit their exa-
minations, or else this enquiry will become almost inter-

minable.

Mr. HARRISON admitted the propriety of Counsel limiting
their cross-examinations as much as possible, but it was very
difficult to regulate the limit within any fixed boundary.
The question of the substitution of notice in consequence
of the alleged disturbances in the county of Longford was
further deferred, as the evidence offered on the part of the
sitting Member was deemed by the Committee to be in-
sufficient.

The CHAIRMAN, at the request of the Committee, intimated
to the reporters for the newspapers that they would not object
to a fair abstract of the proceedings before them, but they ab-
solutely prohibited the publication of evidence. He hoped this
intimation would be attended to.

The examination of witnesses as to the validity of the vote
of Thomas Magee was then gone into.

CHANCERY COURT.-(THIS DAY.)