The Sun.
London, England, 1822-03-16 00:00:00

provement of Ireland, must be looked upon as
tending to prevent future calamities,and the fur-
ther extension of those now prevailing ; but the
present mischief must be suppressed by means
more prompt, more vigorous, and more decisive.
Lord LIVERPOOL announced, in answer to a
question from the Marquis of LANSDOWNE, that
the subject of Prison-government in this country
was now under the consideration of the Secre-
tary of State. Lord HOLLAND sarcastically
remarked that the present was a most atten-
tive administration—subjects of importance
were constantly under their consideration, but
unfortunately they never brought them forward
in Parliament. Very different is the Opposition,
who frequently bring forward subjects of import-
ance, but do not always make it a point to take
them into consideration first

A vague and singular discussion took place
i❑ tl►e House of Commons upon a communica-
tion, which, it seems, Mr. ARBUTHNOT had sent
to some Members of that House respecting Lord
NoIIMANBY'S Motion. One letter on this subject
had been handed to Lord Jolts RUSSELL by the
Gentleman who had received it, and who was re-
quested in it to oppose the motion as part of a sys-
tem fornied by Opposition (in their despair of get.
ting into power) for breaking down the means
of administering public affairs, and rendering
it impossible to carry on the Government.—
Lord JOHN RUSSELL appears to have been some-
what at a loss as to the use he should make of
this alarming document; and indeed it appears
to us to have been a question of no small diffi-
culty how such a paper could be introduced
at all in the public proceedings of the House.
The Noble—Mover we cannot say, for he
moved nothing—interlocutor we may call him—
summoned Mr. ARBUTHNOT to disclaim or avow
the obnoxious Epistle. The Honourable Secre-
tary admitted his having written Letters of the
nature alleged to several Members ; but declared
them to have been merely private communica-
tions, addressed to individuals with whom he was
personally intimate. Without passing any judgment
upon the contents of the particular document
animadverted on by Lord JOHN RUSSELL, we
may ask, and we do so with great wonder, upon
what principle any Member of Parliament could
call upon another in his place to give an
account of expressions, whatever they might be,
which were conveyed in a private letter to a pri-
vate friend ? Are Members to be wholly denied
the privilege of consulting, advising, and even
persuading one another as to the line they shall
take on measures to be brought before them ?
And if a letter may be noticed, as that of
Mr. ARBUTHNOT was last night, may not a
conversation also become the subject of Par-
liamentary Inquiry, if one of the parties should
be indiscreet enough to reveal it, and if some-
thing should appear to have been said derogatory
to the character of Opposition, and calculated to
thwart their proceedings ? Is it then to be assert-
ed that a Member of Parliament shall be placed
under a controul, a surveillance which no other
gentleman in the country would tolerate for a mo-
ment? We think great deference was:paid to the
personal character of the young Nobleman who
introduced this complaint, when the House of
Commons endured even for a moment the propo-
sition that a member having by some means
picked up a Letter addressed to another Gentle..
man in the House, can enter that Assembly,
single out the Writer of the Epistle,—de-
mand of him a public explanation, and even
refer particular sentences to the judgment
of the Speaker, who might as properly have
been asked his opinion of the last Canto of
Don Juan. Mr. ARBUTHNOT disclaimed the in-
tention of giving offence in any quarter, and
Lord J. RUSSELL declared himself satisfied with
the Hon. Secretary's explanation, being much
pleased, we should imagine, to get rid of this
anomalous affair ; for even if the letter had
contained expressions in the highest degree
offensive, and the author had made no conces-
sion or explanation, we think the oldest Member
present would have been greatly at a loss to
frame any motion, or build any Parliamentary
proceeding upon such a loose and irregular foun-
dation.

The rumours of yesterday, respecting a total
change in the Colonial and Maritime system of
the country, are rather confirmed to-day ; and
well informed persons believe it to be the inten-
tion of the King's Ministers to recommend the
legislature to adopt immediate measures for ef-
fecting this revolution in the old National Policy.
Whatever difference of opinion may exist as to
the ultimate effect of this change on the general
interests of the community, there can be none
as to its immediate effect upon the shipping and
those branches of manufactures which are de-1
pendant upon the trade with the Colonies. The
most violent and bigotted advocates for the new
system must admit that the shock to the Canadas
and the Sister Provinces, and to British Shipping
and the large bodies of men connected with
them, must be most violent, if not ruinous.—
Deeply interested, therefore, as so large a por-
tion of the community undoubtedly are, in the
issue of these great questions, we certainly think
that the course which has been pursued is neither
fair nor worthy of men proposing measures,
which, in order to be adopted, ought to be ob-
viously necessary, as well as certain of producing
a beneficial result. It is said that, even so early
as August last, the West India Interest had some
intimation of the intention of Ministers to extend

the intercourse in American Shipping between
the United States and the British Sugar Co-
lonies. If the Government at so early a pe-
riod contemplated this important change, it
does strike us as a strange inconsistency
that they should not have ventured to com-
municate their views either to the Colonists
or to the Shipowners. If the policy of the mea-
sure was obvious, or if the necessity of adopting
a measure, not defensible upon general principles,
was urgent or apparent, we can see no reason for
observing the secrecy and caution which they
have preserved. We can recollect that in Mr.
PITT'S Administrations, a very different course
was pursued. lie saw clearly the extent and na-

ture of every measure which he intended to bring
forward, and he knew its certain effect upon
every class of the community which it was
likely to affect, and consequently he entertained
no fear of confusion in his original plan by hear-
ing the arguments of those who apprehended it
might he injurious to their interests. He gave
the earliest intimation of his views to all parties
—he heard them patiently and candidly, and it
is well known that no Minister ever more con-
ciliated the esteem and respect of the Manufac-
turers and all classes in the country than Mr.
PITT did, for they knew that in his hands their
interests would not be lightly sacrificed for some
temporary purpose ; and that if any sa-
crifice was necessary for the general wel-
fare, he would endeavour to discover some
means of repairing the injury, or at least take the
trouble of convincing them of the necessity of the
sacrifice. We believe there is no doubt that a
change in the Colonial and Maritime policy is
seriously entertained, but we trust that no mea-
sures will be adopted in this Session of Parlia-
ment to effect it. The relief to the West India
Planters is uncertain ; the injuries, and even
ruin, to the British North Am•.2rican Colonies,
and to the Shipping, is'certain. We have seen
in a Morning Paper some observations tending to
disclose the scheme which is said to be in agita-
tion, but they are so vague and so 'unsatisfac-
tory, as well as inconsistent and improbable, that
it weuld be useless to enter into any comment
upon them.

Mr. CALVERT, according to the Parliamentary
Reports, stated last night, in the Committee on
the Repeal of the Malt Duty, that he some time
since informed the Chancellor of the Exchequer
that the price of Porter to the Public would not
he diminished by the repeal of so small a sum as
a shilling a bushel. This is a very strange de-
claration, if truly stated ; and the public at large,
as well as retail venders of porter, may well be
surprised that the loss of so great a sum to the
revenue should be of no advantage to the public
in the sale of an article of so much importance
to the community at large. It is reported that
the Publicans in general have resolved to petition
Parliament on the subject.

The latest intelligence from Ireland, received
this day, will be found in another part of our
Paper.

PORTUGUESE CONSULATE GENERAL,

Great Winchester-street, March 15, 1822.
Excellency the Portuguese Minister, having trans-
mitted to me an order regarding the exportation from this coun-
try of Portuguese produce to Portuguese ports, in British and
other foreign vessels, I herewith beg leave to hand you a copy
•of the same, for the information of the Gentlemen at Lloyd's,
and all others whom it may concern. The following is the
order :
His Most Faithful Majesty's law, prohibiting the impor-
tation of Portuguese produce and merchandise in foreign
bottoms, either from port to port of the Portuguese dominions,
or imported in foreign vessels for foreign ports, to be re-exported
for the Portuguese, not having hitherto been executed in the
country, you are desired to make it public that consular papers
will not be granted to any foreign vessel bound to any of the
said Portuguese ports, having on board produce of the Portu-
guese growth, and that no entry will be permitted to any such
produce at any of the ports of the Portuguese States imported
on board of any foreign vessels. Under said denomination of
Portuguese produce are likewise included all East India goods,
wares, and merchandise, imported from Madeira and Portuguese
bottoms into the Portuguese dominions, to which also no con-
sular papers in the ports of this United Kingdom, nor entry
into the ports of the Portuguese States, shall henceforward be
permitted. I have the honour to be, Sir, your very obedient
Servant, • ANTHONY LOPES DA CUNHA.
John Bennett, jun., Esq., Secretary
to the Committee of Lloyd's.

Cuuttcuctt's COLLEGE.—The hearing of the
interesting cause of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL
against H. JOLLIFFE, Esq. M. P. and the other
Trustees of this College, is fixed for the 23d of
next month. This is by far the most important
case that has occurred since the passing of Mr.
BROUGHAM'S Act.
BRIGHTON, MARCH I-I.—The.KING took a
carriage airing in public yesterday, from two to
four o'clock in the afternoon, and was greeted
by the most affectionate salutations of all ranks
and descriptions of people.
Letters from Pernambuco, dated January 23,
mention that things there were in a very un-
settled state. For several months a spirit of insu-
bordination and discontent has prevailed,although
without assuming any revolutionay aspect, and',
has shewed itself lately in several serious affrays
and partial commotions. It has not subsided,
land in a fresh disturbance several white persons
were wounded. The provisional Government
continue to exercise their functions, but they are
weak in moral power, and have scarcely any mi-
litary force to support thorn ; the last troops
which sailed from Lisbon not having yet arrived
at Pernambucco.

We understand that two persons who have
signed their dissent, one for 50 thousand and the
other for 70 thousand, petitioned the Bank to be
reinstated again, to which the Bank could not
give their consent.

The 41st Regiment embarked on Wednesday
at Gravesend, for the East Indies.

A company of the 71st Regiment of Foot
marched on Thursday morning, from Dover
Castle, on their route for Chatham.
The Hon. and Rev. Thomas Coventry, at his Tithe Audit
on the Nth ult. abated 15 per cent. upon all small as well as
lsrge payments due at Michaelmas lost.
Wednesday last, two turtles were picked up
alive, near the Pier, at Sheerness, supposed to
have been washed off the deck of an Indiaman.
QREEN'S.SQUARE.-1111S morning J. W. PAR-
KINS, Esq. attended at this office, in consequence
of a charge brought against him by HANNAH
WHITE of being the father of a child, with which
she is now cnseint. Mr. PARKINS solemnly
avows . that the charge is wholly without
foundation, but as it was made on oath, he was
bound in a penalty of 401. and two sure-
ties of 201. each, to appear at the next Session.
MARKT:AND, Esq. was the Presiding Magistrate,
and after the official business was settled, he jocu-
larly said, he might probably congratulate the
country on the prospect of a young Sheriff, who
in due time would perhaps manifest as much
public spirit as the father. Mr. PARKINS took
this pleasantry in good part, and answered with
equal humour. The ground of the charge was
alledged to have taken place on the day of her
late, MAsEsT y's funeral procession, which induced
the Ex-Sheriff to say that it was a black transac-
tion, and that the child would probably resemble
the Knight of the Woeful Countenance.