The Sun.
London, England, 1822-05-10 00:00:00

CITY, TiII:RS:DAY EVENING.

Advice, have been received by the way of Trieste from
Smyrna, of so late a date as the 11th April. They give a me-
lancholy description of the power of fanatical opinions over the
huinan mind. The murder of Greek and Christian was the
only employment of the Faithful, and every shop was closed.
The town was filled with human butchers, part of them under
the name of Asiatic troops, who ha'A been sent down for em-
barkation from the island of Scio. The Greek fleet prevented
the expedition from sailing ; and, for the sake of humanity, it
is to be hoped that the barbarians will be driven from the Cas-
tle of Scio before these miscreants can join them ; for the but-
chery in that island will be immense should the followers of
the Prophet gain the ascendancy. What gratitude will the
Emperor ALEXANDER not lay the Christian and civilized
world under to him,, if he persevere in his declared resolution
to protect freedom of worship amongst the Greeks, and drive
this banditti out of those fields which they have cursed by
their presence for more than four hundred years. The
history of the dark ages in Europe
,presents nothing so
wretched as the state of that country, once the seat of every
thing liberal, airtuous, and great, in what is now thought to be
the most enlightened period of the world. How melancholy to
think that this country should have endeavoured to perpetuate
this dreadful state of things, and that the eyes of all liberal
men in every country are now turned to the Czar of :Mus-
covy, whose inclinations, no less than his interest, will, they
trust, induce him to befriend the efforts of the Greeks.—Consols
for the Account opened at 78 1., and remained without any
fluctuation during the day. An eminent broker, however, the
agent of the great man, sold very largely at the closing of the
market, and the last price was about to under the vulue of the
day. The South Sea Company, who began their great operations
something more than a hundred years ago, by buying Navy
Pensions, are to meet to-morrow, and it is supposed that the
propriety of a contract with Government for the farming of the
present Pension and Half Pay List, is to be submitted to the
Proprietors of their stock. There are strong doubts entertain-
ed whether the majority will sanction the scheme of contract
as this day exhibited on the Stock Exchange. Should they
refuse, the Minister will probably be obliged to give the
benefit. of the contract to the Sinking Fund,; indeed, most
people are of opinion that .he would have done so ea first if
he had seen any advantage resulting from it, and consea
quently, the formation of no private lists has even been attempt-
ed for taking this,most extraordinary plan for raising money.
—A new account in the Consols for the 18th July has been
opened, and the price is 74 It began two days ago at 791 R
Foreign securities are extremely heavy. The French Rentes
are nearly nominal at 88 a 88.25 ; Prussian Fives 861. The Old
Columbian Bonds maintain the price of 100/, and the Sixes
85A /. the Scrip 86i /. The Spanish Fives are so low as
62fis / for the Old, and the New cannot be sold above 63.
Danish Fives are quOted 84i 85. Neapolitan 68/ a 69. Rus-
sian Sixes 82, and Fives metallics 76. In Austrian Securities so
little is doing that 74,i _is a nominal quotation far their Metallic
Fives, the price from Vienna on the 26th of April having de-
clined under 74. American Sixes 1814, are noted 101
The chance of South Sea Bonds coming into the market is the
chief cause for the dulness in foreign securities. The debates in
the House of Commons, added to the increased conviction that
the peace of Europe cannot be maintained, sufficiently account
for the extreme flatness in the British funds. People connected
with agriculture and commerce have had another day's amuse-
ment in reading the opinions of the learned in the House of
Commons, respecting the present general distress. The discussion
has one advantage, and that is probably theionly one, it saves its
readers from the expence of going to the playhouse at half-
, price, and thus it encourages economy. The on. Gentleman
who does not wish to see commerce further extended, but thinks
that all should be sacrificed to rents, tithes and taxes, made last
night a most prominent display ofintellectual sagacity. There
are, however, in the City, some ignorant men, who ask how
the consumers will be able to pay, without an increase of com-
merce, arts, and manufactures, for an increased price of agri-
cultural production ? If -the Member for Corfe Castle would
fora moment lend his mind to the real question, he probably
would find that the only relief for the producer must arise
from the ability of the consumer to pay. The liberal part
of mankind therefore hope that the House of Commons will se-
riously turn their attention to the state of the consumer, for when
he is prosperous the producer never can want a remunerat-
ing market. No person can doubt that the British Empire
owes its elevation amongst the nations of the earth entirely to
its commercial connection with them, for neither its climate,
soil, nor production, could ever have made it great. What-
ever happiness may exist in an agricultural nation, great-
ness never can. To maintain the grandeur and glory of
England inuaa be the wish of all ; but that wish never can
be gratified by sacrificing general to particular interests. To
make agricultural labour prosperous the consumer must first
be made prosperous. In the British Empire this can only
be done by giving the greatest encouragement to productive
labour and commerce ; free unrestricted commerce can alone
supply the productive labourer with such a return for his labour
as will enable him to keep his family in comfort, and pay a re-
munerating price to the agriculturist for his food and raiment.
One Resolution on the part of the Commons, in favour of free
trade, will do more good to the landlord and landholder, than
all their plans for prohibiting or restricting the importation of
foreign grain can ever be of service to thena—The public, and
, particularly. the poor, observe with the greatest satisfaction
the notice given by Mr. BENNET of his intention to introduce
into Parliament a Bill for altering the present system,of Li-
censing Public-houses. Its effect must be to reduce the price,
and increase the consumption of beer. The nation has a right to
hope, that no private property in licenses will be held out as a
cause for withholding this benefit from the people. Another
measure equally beneficial will also soon be brought under. the
consideration of the House, and that is, opening the British
Spirit Trade to public competition. This measure must be
of immense benefit to the revenue, and cannot in the
slighteSt degree injure the gentlemen (and they are all
most respectable) who are at present engaged in the dis-
tilling trade. To introduce into the English market Bri-
tish spirits of the best quality, at moderate price, will in
a great degree check the vicious smuggling system, at pre-
sent carried on, and rendered almost necessary, from this
desideratum, for no smuggled Hollands or Brandy will be used
when a cheap and good home made spirit can be obtained. It
can also in no manner interfere with the consumption of Beer.
. It will only take the place of 'smuggled spirits. The improve-
ment in the_ licensing system, and a fair competition in spirits
must. increase the consumption of Barley, probably to the ex-
tent of inure than half a million of quarters, and which will put
as many pounds sterling into the pockets of the Agriculturists,
without injuring one British interest. —Oliver:lag Chronicle.)