The Sun.
London, England, 1825-04-01 00:00:00

lion. A discussion in the Chamber of Deputies,'
in the sitting of the 28th, on the subject of a Pro-
ject of Law for farming certain salt mines in the '
Departments of La Meurthe, Le Bas Rhin, La
Haute Saone, Doubs and Jura, throws a curious
light on the manner in which the Government
in France interferes with private property.—
The discovery which a proprietor may make that
his estate contains minerals, is of no use to him ;
for the Government immediately interferes and
claims them, and regulates the manner in which
they shall be wrought, regulating also at the
same time the indemnification to be allowed him.
It seems, shortly after the Peace, a mine of salt
was discovered in Lorraine,capable of supplying all
Europe. Gen. Foy, after alluding to the mining
operations of their neighbours, the English and
Germans, who derived great advantages from
them, observed—" With us, under the pretext
of particular laws respecting mining, we will not
allow individuals to .enjoy the fruits of their
discovery. We are obliged to solicit from the
Legislative Power an authorization, which is a
downright usurpation on private property.—
What ! because the Mine of Vie is a source
of wealth, shall the Government be per-
mitted to seize it ? " M. de Villele's ob-
servations, in answer, are characteristic of
the notions entertained in France, by men
in power. Individuals could not conduct such
extensive operations ; t.iey required a powerful
Company; and then as the mineral salt would be
so much better and cheaper than that obtained
from the salt marches on the west coast of France,
it was necessary to guard against the evil of the
people employed there being thrown out of work.
The furnishing cheap salt, according to him, is
not of so much consequence to the countries in
which it has been discovered, as are certain ob-
jects which he specifies. The French Govern-
ment leaves nothing to the discretion of indi-
viduals.

`NEW TIMES.]
It is no part of our duty, as Journalists, to in-
terfere with private speculations, or assume to
ourselves any right of indicating the proper
channels in which the vast mass of accumulated
capital this wealthy country possesses, may be
most beneficially employed. While, therefore,
we have regretted to see wild and visionary
schemes set on foot, which promised most mar-
vellous returns of profit from undertakings in
distant and unknown countries, where all
controul over their property was wholly
beyond the reach of the speculators, we have,
nevertheless, carefully abstained from all remark
either in the way of advice or of caution. The
case is different, however, when we can call
public attention to undertakings at home, where
prudence and good sense appear to guide the
persons embarking in them, and of which the
tendency is advantageous to the community,
while the individuals engaging in them, seek,
it is true, their own benefit and a profita-
ble way of employing their capital. Of this
description seems to be a company, lately formed,
under the title of " The Leasehold Estate
Investment Company," the object of which, is
to place money advantageously in the purchase
of Leasehold Property, when it is offered for
sale upon profitable terms, and to advance capital
to enable tradesmen to carry building undertak-
ings into effect, upon good and ample security for
the money so advanced. The Company calcu-
late their profits at a moderate rate, expecting
a return of six or eight per cent., and pro-
pose making a half-yearly dividend at the rate
of 51. per cent., leaving the surplus profit to be
invested in creation of a fund, to be divided at
future periods among the proprietors. Such a
plan as this seems formed on secure and tangible
grounds, and holds forth to persons of moderate
fortune, and to retired capitalists, who are na-
turally fearful of risking their property in hazard-
ous schemes, a safe investment of money, and a
steady and permanent source of income.

[MORNING HERALD.]
An attempt, we see, has been made to feel the
pulse of the House of Commons on the subject of
a new project—that of building official residences
for his Majesty's Ministers. With the exception,
perhaps, of the Lord Chancellor and one or two
more, none of the working parts of our public
officers are overpaid ; and, as far as increase of
salary went, we have no doubt but the nation
at large would agree to it in many instances
without a murmur ; but this plan of lodging
the Ministers is of a novel description, and
not very likely, we should think, to take
effect. Indeed, the very circumstance alone of
the Ministers being temporary servants of the
Crown, liable very often to sudden turns-out,
would, we should think, be a reason with them-
selves for preferring to live in their own houses,
rather than, like the Lord Mayor, subject to
move and seek a new residence in the midst of a
cold November. Besides, would it not he shock-
ingly degrading to see a Cabinet Minister's
chairs, dripping-pan, and cradle, mounted up in a
caravan like those of a lodger at quarter-day ?To
obviate this, to be sure, John Bull could furnish
the houses as well as build them ; and if a hand-
some service of plate were supplied as an ap-
pendage to each residence, why so much the
better for the occupiers, as well as Messrs.
Rundell and Bridge. But besides all this,
we do not see with what grace the Mi-
nisters can talk of building houses for them-
selves, while we are constantly told that
the nation is too poor to build a Palace for its
Sovereign. We are old-fashioned enough tO
'think that the master ought to be served before
the servant,; and especially in a case where, like
this, the wants of the master have been so long
felt and acknowledged, and those of the latter
have only just occurred during this period of exube-
rant wealth and prosperity—for such, we suppose,
the present must be considered in spite of the
debt and taxes we are still burdened with. We
wish, however, that before any more considerable
sums were expended in public buildings, some-
thing like that of taste and science could be
consulted in the designs, and less of Custom-
house instability insured to the execution. Of
all the arts architecture happens to be at the
lowest ebb ; and it is the more unfortunate that