The Sun.
London, England, 1831-02-26 00:00:00

although the term of his imprisonment expired
on the 9th instant, is still confined in Newgate
in consequence of the heavy fine, securities,
and other claims of the Crown ; the former
imposed by his sentence, the latter by
the after consequences of the prosecution.
Without knowing anything of the parti-
culars, or whether any steps have been taken to
obtain his release, we nevertheless cannot but
think that the Government of Lord GREY,
some of the leading Members of which depre-
cated the proceedings of SC A RLETT in the
strongest terms, ought not to delay remitting the
remainder of the sentence. There never was a
State prosecution more generally condemned by
the public out of doors, by Members of the
House, by men of all parties, than that against
The Morning Journal. Even the authors of it,
we have reason to know, are heartily ashamed of
it, and exceedingly regret having commenced it.
Nay, so strong was this feeling on the part of
one or two distinguished members of the late
Administration, that it is now openly said they
intended to liberate Mr. ALEXANDER, by the
remission of his fine, at the expiration of the
twelve months. We are sure that the new
Ministry, possessing more liberal sentiments
than their predecessors, will not render that
prosecution apparently more vindictive, certainly
more severe in its effects, than was intended by
its authors."

Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS, the Governor of
New Brunswick, has taken advantage of his
presence in England, at the moment of the
reduction of the timber duty, to publish a pam-
phlet in condemnation of that reduction, as
being contrary to what, as Sir HOWARD DOUG-
LAS considers, ought to be the policy of Great
Britain towards her colonies. The pamphlet
shows so much attachment to the interests of
New Brunswick, that we cannot but consider
that colony fortunate in having so warm an advo-
cate, and so excellent a friend, as her present
Governor. Nevertheless, the principles main-
tained in the said pamphlet are so erroneous in
our judgment, that we cannot suffer it to pass
without a few observations.

The question is simply whether the interest of
the British consumer, or of the colonial timber
grower, ought to prevail with the British Go-
vernment—whether it be really for the public
benefit that colonial timber should enjoy a mo-
nopoly in our market—and whether an
equalization of the duty, accompanied by a
reduction of ss. per load on the duty on Euro-
pean timber, be not for the general advantage ?
The landed interest, the shipping interest, and
the manufacturing interest, will alike be bene-
fitted by the diminution that has taken place,
though it be not to the extent that was required,
and the increased consumption will undoubtedly
prevent any considerable decrease in the revenue.
But then, it will be said, the Canada timber will
be driven out of the market,—the only reply to
which is, that it ought to be driven out, if it
only retained its market by means of a privileged
exemption from the taxes levied on the other
sorts of the same commodity. It has been esti-
mated by. competent judges that this system of
protection—this forcing into the market of infe-
rior timber has cost the public a million and a
half sterling per annum. It was, therefore,
high time that some effort should be made to
bring it to a close.
The present timber duties are among the mo-
numents that remain to attest the folly of the
whole tenor of that VA NS ITTA RT regime, under
which it was solemnly propounded that a one
pound note and a shilling were worth the guinea
which was currently sold at 275. Mr. VAN-
SITTA RT destroyed a trade which in 1809 gave
employment to one-fourth of our whole com-
mercial navy, or 428,000 tons of shipping,
under the vain pretence of bolstering up a colo-
nial trade, so as to render us independent of
foreign aid. For advantages of a most doubtful
and contingent kind, a great branch of industry
was crushed, and after the result has shewn the
error, and an effort, though a partial effort, is
made to remedy it, the Governor of Ness Bruns-
wick protests against the change, as an innova-
tion of political economists ! This is, how-
ever, the ordinary cry of all those numerous
interests, which advocate and approve of free
trade in every matter except that in which they
are themselves concerned. 'They laud RicAnDo
and MAC-CuLLocrr, so long as they come not
into actual contact with them ; but when such !
contact arises they pour forth a torrent of abuse
against " shallow and cold-blooded theorists."
The late Mr. 11 usKissoN used to say that a
history of the various deputations and represen-
tations he had received against his measure in
particular instances, was the best commentary
that could be given of the general soundness of
the principles which he put into force.
But, says Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS, the
colonies are large consumers of British manu-
factures. True—and why are they so ? Because
British manufactures are the best and cheapest
they can get, and not because they have a mo-
nopoly of the timber trade. The case is the
same as that of Portugal and the wine duties,
wherein it has been so general an error to be-
lieve that the Methuen treaty was the cause of
the consumption of British stuffs in Portugal.
The truth is, that our colonies are an actual
impoverishment to us, and drain us of more
money for their civil and military establish-
ments than ever can be repaid us in any possible
shape. Two-thirds of our whole army arc des-
tined for no other service than that of our colo-
nial possessions, and their civil expenditure
has long been notoriously burthensome. We
fear those who talk of " the grandeur of our
colonial empire" give too great scope to their
imaginations, and are too disdainful of the plain
evidence of facts.

Captain BEECHEY, R.N., had the honour to
present to his MAJESTY, at the lite levee, a copy of his
Narrative of a Voyage to the Pacific. This work com-
pletes the Account of the Series of Expeditions undertaken
by order of the British Government. The plates,
which are numerous and beautiful, are engraved by FsNnEN,
in his bust manner, The work will be issued to the public
on Monday.

FROM LLOYD'S.

....t

DEAL, FEB. 25..—Wind N.W.--Arrived from the
liver, the Lady Nugent, Wimble, for Madras.

PORTSMOUTII, N.W. to W.—Sailed
his Majesty's slip Childers, for Lisbon; also his Majesty's
ship Onyx, on a cruize.

FALMOUTH, FEB. 24.—Wind W.S.W. to W.N.W.—
Arrived the Camden packet, from the Leeward Islands,
sailed from St. Thomas's the 26th ult.
TOPSHAM, FEB. 24.—Arrived the Ebenezer, Holman,
from St. Sebastian.
BRISTOL, FEB. 25.—Arrived the Portea, Martin, from
Odessa ; Lady Emma, Dodd, from Denia ; and Hawk,
—, from Genoa.
LIVERPOOL, FEB. 24.—Arrived the Olinda, Robinson,
from Pernambuco; and Vernon, Durrell, from New
Orleans; and Seaflower, —, from Trieste.

THE FUNDS.-{THIS DAY.)

CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK

A Dutch mail has arrived this morning, as also a Lee-
ward Island mail, which sailed from St. Thomas's on the
26th of January. By the former we have received ac-
ccoonfiuntrsmfrtohe
gm \i,en'aerrsaalwto reporttlre on 'Change
lst h
yesterday, which
thatdo notthe
Russians had entered Warsaw, or that, as yet, the Poles
had given up the contest.
The Dutch Papers contain a long detail of various skir-
mishes between the Poles anti Russian out-posts, in which
the Poles claim the advantage. It appears that the roads
have become very bad, owing to the thaw, which has ren-
dered all military operations very difficult. General Chlo-
p'eki has joined the army, and is going to serve as a com-
mon soldier in the advanced guard of the Poles.
This is paying and receiving day in the Censol market
of the differences of accounts. We hear, at present, of
one or two failures in the House, but they are not as yet
declared. These failures are in consequence of the heavy
one which took place out of the House. Consols, which
left eff yesterday at 78 to opened at the same price this
morning with little doing, and they may be quoted at
present at 78i to a.

- We do not hear any news of consequence by the
Leward Island mail.

In the Foreign Funds nothing doing as yet.
BRITISH FUNDS.
Ditto, Reduced,
Ditto, New, 87N
Four per Cent. (1828) 9714
India Bonds, 4 6
Exchequer Bills, 17 18

flank Stock, 198 9
India date, 204 5

3 per Cent. Cons. 731.4 I,‘
Ditto, for:the Acct. 78%
3 per Cent. lied. 78% %
3% per Cent. 87%

HALF-PAST ONE.
We have just received the Constitutionnel of Thursday,
by express :
The Austrian garrisons have not as yet been attacked
in Italy ; but, it is said, the Austrians are going to Mo-
dena, if the Duke requires it.
FRONTIERS OF ITALY, FEB. 15.—Several Austrian
regiments have received orders from General Fiimont to
be ready for marching. 30,000 men from Styria are
going to reinforce the army of Lombardy. He has de-
manded from the several Italian Governments to enforce
the treaty with Austria. The Austrian Government is
determined to re establish tranquillity.
BOLOGNA, FEB. 11.—Letters from Milan, of the 14th,
state that the authorities there have officially announced
the resolution of the Cabinet of Vienna not to acknowledge
the principle of non-intervention ; according to which
General Nugent is to proceed with 60,000 men. On the
9th official news was received of the revolution of Pesaro
and Urbino.

Armaments in all Catalogne continue with great acti-
vity : they are placing cannon on the ramparts of different
towns, and a forced loan is to be demanded from the com-
mune of Barcelona, to sustain the expenses of the armies.
By a ♦essel arrived at Havre, from Lisbon, it is stated
that six hundred persons had been sent to prison, amongst
whom are several superior officers.
The accounts from Naples, of the 12th of F.bruary, an.
nounce that all was quiet in that kingdom.
On Wednesday there was a debate in the Chamber of
Peers on the finances.

(From the Cours Authentique of Thursday.)

Five per Cents., 92f. 20c. ; Three per Cents., 58f. 15c.
By the above the French Funds have got up.
The report at Paris was that Marshal Soult had resigned.
The French express having arrived, Consols are at pre-
sent 78*1 for the Account. It brings the French Three
per Cents. 58f. 15c., which is an improvement on the last
prices. It was generally said at Paris that Soult had re-
signed. One defaulter has been declared in the house, but
of minor coniequ! nce.
In the Foreign Market there is little or nothing doing.
THREE 0' CLOCK.
Consols, 78* I.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.-(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly after Twelve
o'c'ock, at which time there were a considerable number of
Members present.
Mr. Fennell, from the Admiralty, brought up a return
of the amount of marine establishments.

Mr. FRAIL presented five petitions from places in Scot-
land, praying for Reform in Parliament.
Sir ROBERT GORDON presented a petition from a
place in Wiltshire, and another from Gloucester, praying
for Reform and vote by ballot. In the prayer of these pe-
titions he fully agreed.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
had a great number of petitions to present, praying for
Reform, and he must confess that, without a Reform is
Pai liament there was no security for his Majesty's present
Government.—(Loud cries of hear, hear, hear.)—When
he and his colleagues took office, it was on the express
understanding that they would not continue, unless a Re-
form in the representation of the people should take place.
--(Hear, hear.)—But as a measure on that important
subject (which had been prepared by Ministers) was so
soon to he submitted to the consideration of the House, it
was unnecessary for him then to enter into or provoke a
discussion on the merits of the question. The Noble
Lord then presented petitions from Manchester, Mon-
mouth, Bristol, D ighton, Wigan, Preston, and several
other places.
Colonel Bailey, Mr. John Wood, Sir John Sebrigbt,
Mr. O'Connell, Mr. Portman, and several other Members,
supported the prayers of the petitioners, and expressed
their firm conviction, that without Reform no real benefit
would be felt by the country.
The petitions were then brought up and read. Besides
the places before named, they were from Montgomery,
Salford, Crompton, Ludlow, Leamington, Titchfield,
Wellingborough, Christ Church, Kilkenny, Woolwich,
and about forty other places. Most of the petitions prayed
for vote by ballot.
A New Member took the oaths and his seat.

Mr. HART DAVIES presented a petition from I3ris-
tol against Reform. It was agreed to at a public meeting
of the Merchants, Bankers, &e. of that city. He (Mr.
Davis) regretted exceedingly that the Noble Chancellor of
the Exchequer should have left the House, and more par-
ticularly so as there was not a single Minister present when
petitions were presented on this important subject. He
regretted that Government had thought proper to agitate
such a serious question in the pr, sent state of the country.
He agreed with the petitioners that the Reform meant
little less than revolution, and was calculated to destroy
the fabric of the British Constitution. The Hon. Member
then read the petition amidst loud cries of "hear, hear, hear."
Mr. HUNT spoke to order. The Hon. Member for
Bristol never could b.; permitted to call Rermers revo-
lutionists. Mr. Hunt was proceeding, when

The SPEAKER said, the Hon. Member for Preston
was himself out of order. If he had any objection to
make, it must be when the petition was brought up.
The petition having been brought up,
Mr. HUNT said, it was not the petition of the mer-
chants and others of Bristol, for he knew as a fact, that
the meeting was a hole and corner one, and no public no-
tice was given. It was afterwards sent to the overst era
of parishes within fourteen miles of Bristol, and they in-
duced their parishioners to sign it under the representation
that it was a petition against the Roman Catholics of Ire-
land.--(Laughter.) He hoped the petition would be re-
ceived not as of the merchants of Bristol, but of those
from whom it really cause.

Colonel BAILLIE said the signatures were most re-
spectable.
After a few words from an Hos. ME3FuEtt whose name
we could not learn,
Mr. HART DAVIS said, that out of nearly 5,000
names there were not more than 700 that did not reside
in Bristol. If any sweeping plan of Reform was to he
introduced, it should have his most determined and stre—
nuous opposition.
The petition was then read, it prayed that no Reform
likely to violate the spirit of the Constitution might take
place, (LEFT strrisG.)

On Thursday last Mr. P. GEHAGAN, of
Gort, on his way home from Enn's: wts met by six men,
convenient to Crusbeen, who beat. ban in a most desperate
manner. GEHACIAN bas since died from the effects of the
beating.