The Sun.
London, England, 1822-06-06 00:00:00

CITY, WEDNESDAY
EVENING.

In the debates and conversations which take place in the
House of Commons on the deeply to be lamented subject of
Agricultural Distress, many of its Members, no doubt them-
selves feeling the misfortunes of the situation into which Eng-
land, once happy, is now reduced, assert that the present
flourishing state of commerce has been produced by protecting
duties or prohibitions, and therefore recommend the same cure
for Agricultural Distress.—Unfortunately for those concerned
in trade, the flattering description of their prosperity given
by the Ministers of the Crown is founded either on ig-
norance or deceit. There is no department of trade at pre-
sent prosperous, and there are many classes of commer-
cial men daily sinking deeper into misery and decay. The
shipping interest, which has fostered the Naval glory of Eng-
land, has been depriVed of half its property, and the other
half is hourly becoming less valuable. This class of his
Majesty's subjects cannot complain of want of protection by
heavy duties and prohibitions, unless the future operations of
Mr. WALLACE'S Bill, passed last night, convince them, that
so far from restrictions on foreign competition being favourable
to them, they have, in fact, been partly the cause of their
present depression. Free the English ship-owner of British
port charges, and Custom House, Excise, Lights, and Consu-
lages extortions, he will soon be convinced that free intercourse
betwixt nation and nation is most important to his interest.
The superior quality of his ships, and the industry, energy,
and persevering gallantry of his seamen, will gain his property
a decided advantage in trading with foreign nations. Re-
strictions have certainly not made the ship-owner prosperous,
and a trial of free trade cannot make his circumstances worse.
Lloyd's Coffee House, once the centre of British liberality,
also gives a fatal negative to Lord LONDONDERRY'S asser-
tion, of the great happiness and success at present attending
trade. The Subscribers, in the days of their prosperity, were
the leaders in every work of charity and of patriotism. A few
days ago, however, at a General Meeting, a subscription of 5001.
from the public fund for the relief of starving Irishmen, was ne-
gatived by a considerable majority, and a book opened at the
bar contains only 81. of private donations. Does this arise from
hatred to the Irish ? Forbid the libel every honest heart. It
arises alone from a firm conviction that their duty to their fa-
milies does not, under the depressed state of premiums, allow
them to be beneficent. At the Corn Exhange this day, if it
was possible to add to depression, it has taken place.- Wheat
is unsaleable, though offered 2s. lower, and, on the whole,
it is impossible- to paint things worse than the reality. In
the Sugar-market no sales can be effected, and a decline of
1 to 2s. )per cwt. does not induce consumers to come forward.
The refining trade is almost at a stand. Coffee is also again
rower. Not a puncheon of rum can be transferred, and hun-
dreds of labourers have lately been dismissed from the West
India Docks for want of employment. Lord LONDONDERRY,
' however, asserts that trade is prosperous !—The depression on
the Baltic walk does not yield in extent to any other depart-
ment of British commerce. The trade will not purchase St.
Petersburgh yellow tallow even at 355. as they wait the event
of a public sale of 600 casks next Friday. This article can-
not, at present, be imported from Russia under 40s. PTR
flax is nominally quoted. at 525., and St. Petersburgh 12 head
at 445. Clean hemp on the- spot is 405., and for time 38s. In
short, there is not one department of commerce in a healthy state.
Prices obtained for British manufactures in India and South
America are fair, but the returns are miserable. The same
causes have produced distress, both to the Manufacturing and
Agricultural Interests, and no change can take place for the
better until these causes be removed. The productive classes of
society must receive remuneration for their labour. The 800,000
starving Irishmen must be properly employed. Living wages
must be given to the peasantry in the agricultural districts and
free trade must pay the labour of the mechanic. When the inha-
bitants of the United Kingdom are beneficially employed, the
farmer:will not want a remunerating price for his produce ;
and, until this state of society be established, misery must con-
tinue to increase, for no protection against fbreign importation
of the necessaries of life can be of any service to Agriculture.
The present Ministers are incapable of the mental exertion ne-
cessary to support a falling Empire. They. are possessed nei-
ther of the talents necessary for
_great oocasions, nor of nerve
'sufficient to carry any important measure. They want the
virtue to resign their places, when they are baffled in the _House
of Commons. To be in a minority on subjects which they con-
ceive necessary for the glory and welfare of their country—even
to be left in a minority on the motion for a better administra-
tion of the public laws, after pushing forward his MAJESTY'S
ATTORNEY-GENERAL to defend them, is not considered by
them, whatever may be the opinion of the people, any dis-
grace. From such Councillors what benefit can be expected?—
No Foreign Mails have arrived this day, and there are no
foreign news. Letters of high authority from Vienna mention,
that a loan for four millions has been contracted for, and no
doubt the Royal Exchange in London will hear of it as soon as
the last Russian Loan is properly distributed. This day it is very
dull at 811. The Chili Loan is steady at 761, g, 1,4, g, and
closed at The French Rentes are 89.25. a 89.50. Prus-
sian Bonds, 861, Columbian Old Bonds, 1001 ; New Sixes,
81, and the Scrip, 811. Confidence revives in Spanish Securi-
ties. The Old Fives are noted at 601, 61, and the New at 604,
611, 60k. Danish, 851, and Neapolitan, 721. In the English
Funds, very little business has been done. Consols for the July
account opened at 801, and closed at the same price.—(Morn-
ing Chronicle.)

It is a striking proof of the growing importance
of Liverpool, and of its extensive interest, that a
few days ago there were no legs than five depu-
tations in London, at the same time, from public
or associated bodies in Liverpool.
There will be a conjunction of Venus. and
Saturn early next Tuesday morning, when they will so nearly
approximate as to appear to the eye not more than about twelve
minutes of a degree apart.