The Sun.
London, England, 1836-02-20 00:00:00

DUBLIN-THURSDAY.

(PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
" Caput inter nubila conclit."—Vi lac.

Curiosity is on the alert to discover the originator of a ru-
mour which prevailed in this city yesterday, and for some
hours created a more painful suspense and anxiety than any
event that has actually occurred for some years past. It was
reported that a hostile meeting had taken place between Lord
Stanley and Mr. Sheil, which proved instantaneously fatal to
the latter distinguished individual. The news pervaded the
reading rooms, Chambers of Commerce, and four Courts like
electricity; and no one could tell whence it came, or the
source of the melancholy information. The Second Edition
of The Sun, and the other London newspapers, were earnestly
inquired for, and conned over with more than ordinary atten-
tion for a paragraph throwing some light on the subject.
Nothing being discovered, however, to confirm the probability
of such an improbable story, and the managers of an Even-
ing Tory Journal, said to have received the intelligence by
express, having promptly disclaimed all knowledge of the mat-
ter, general apprehension and gloom changed into cheerful
and humorous discussions, on the facility with which even a
Putlander may be made the dupe of a malignant fabrication.
Nor would the affair be deserving of furtncr notice, were it
not that it affords a strong proof of the great value and impor-
tance attached to the life and talents of Mr. Sheil by every
class of his countrymen. Indeed, the very circumstance of
the invention of this false news shows the effect on a certain
party here, of his triumphant exhibition of the mistake com-
mitted by his talented adversary, in the line of politics which
he has
,latterly adopted. All the hopes which the Tories
founded on the position of Lord Stanley in the House of Com-
mons are nearly vanished; and hence we can imagine how
some wretch, whose " wish was parent to the thought," con-
templated, as a last timber to cling to, the possibility of a late
debate on the " Carlow" business having led to the fatal con-
sequences just alluded to. It is any thing but consolatory to
the feelings of such a speculator to learn, that every Irishman,
who harboured for a moment an idea of the possibility of Lord
Stanley and Mr Sheil having carried their opposition beyond
the verbal warfare of St. Stephen's, regarded the supposed
catastrophe as a national calamity. Whatever differences of
opinion exist among us on other topics, we are unanimous in
appreciating transcendant talents and an independent spirit.
In the mean time the cause of Reform is daily gaining
ground. Earl Mulgrave's Government proceeding as it com-
menced, in the same uniform course of Whig principles, and
impartiality towards all classes of his Majesty's subjects not
tainted with Orange or other factious influences, is every week
making converts. Five-sixths of the entire nation have sig-
nified, by public addresses to his Excellency since his arrival,
their confidence in the Ministry that sent him here, and their ex-
pectation of benefits to be conferred on the whole community
-during his Lordship's viceroyalty. And though there be still an
.outstanding minority, who, like the clanships of former days, re-
fuse allegiance to the representative of our good King, I can
assure you this minority is becoming less; and were it not for
the " Raphael affair," and other occurrences from which they
think the Liberal party may sustain some injury this Session,
numerous adhesions would have been this winter announced to
the cause of Reform in Ireland. As the matter stands, it is
amusing to hear some of the rankest Tories, and habitual
place-hunters in the legal profession, affecting neutrality in
politic., in the hope, no doubt, that when the present great
struggle between contending principles shall have ceased, men
of moderate politics will be deemed the fittest objects of patronage
in Ireland. A much greater portion of the wealth and intel-
ligence of the Protestant gentry are following this sapient
example of the lawyers, during the last six months, than is vet
publicly known. I have not conversed lately with any candid
man, Catholic or Protestant, Liberal or Conservative, that has
not declared this to be the result.of his observations.

The public cannot fail to have observed that, in the
list of English newspapers permitted to circulate in the Russian
dominions, the Court Journal held a prominent place ; but lest
any erroneous conclusion should be drawn from this circum-
stance, we are requested to mention, that that Journal dis-
owns all intention of being a party paper. The political oc-
currences of the day, of course, form a due proportion of its
columns, but without the least degree of asperity on either
side. The object of the Court Journal is not political—it is
rather intended as a light and entertaining miscellany, touch-
ing on the state of manners and society, on the amusements of
the Fashionable World, the Fine Arts, Literature, &c.—.
sometimes in a satirical vein, but always free from, harshness
or illiberality ; its papers, grave and gay, by some of the first
writers of the day ' • its object, in short is " to present to so-
suety, a Journal that may tend not only to elevate taste and re-
fine manners, but keep its readers in good temper with the
world, and with each other, by finding out a sunny pathway
even in the dullest season."
The increase of seamen, .) 6' -00 over that last
year, will enable the Governmentl to peanat
least o
sixt
line-
of-battle ships and three or four
gene-
rally believed that eight sail of the line frigates. It is
nwill shortly assemble at
Spithead, and enliven the war anchorage.
—Hampshire Te-
l

LONDON,
SATURDAY EVENT.NG, F::ERUARY 20, 1836.

We cannot congratulate either the Noble Secretary
for Foreign Affairs, or the country, on the refusal of
the Government to submit to Parliament the whole of
the documents moved for by Lord DUDLEY STUART
in the House of Commons last night. The speech of
the Noble Secretary was only exceeded in vacuity by
that of the Right Irion. the President of the Board of
Trade. The conduct of the Government on this oc-
casion has caused us equal mortification and disap-
pointment. We had hoped that after having been
made the dupe of Russia in 1831, and with the recol-
lection of his then assurances of preserving the peace
of Europe and the nationality of Poland, the Noble
Secretary for Foreign Affairs would not have ventured
to talk of preserving the general peace by means of
British diplomacy. But here we were disappointed.
For what, in point of fact, was the Noble Secretary's
answer to the unrivalled speech of Lord DUDLEY
STUART ? Why, simply this—" The Government
will see that the foreign policy of 'Jlreat Britain be
worthy of her. Leave the whole matter to me. It is evi-
dent from the thinness of these benches that the country
approves of what has been already done." Surely this
was a mode of getting rid of one of the most important
European questions that could possibly be submitted
to Parliament, quite unworthy of an enlightened Re-
presentative Government. The portion of Lord
DUDLEY STUART'S motion which was rejected by
the Government was by far the most important. The
motion, as proposed by the Noble Lord, ran thus :

Ist. The treaty cf Constantinople, of 9th July, 1833, called
Treaty of Unkiar-Skelessi.
2d. Treaty of St. Petersburgh, of 29th January, 1834.
3d. Any Correspondence between this Government and the
Governments of Russia and Turkey, relative to those treaties.
4th. Any correspondence with the Government of Russia
relating to the remonstrances made by England against the
conduct pursued by Russia towards Poland.

The part of the motion printed in italics was
opposed by Lord PALMERSTON, because the publica-
tion of the correspondence called for would
give rise to bad feeling on both sides, with-
out the possibility of doing any good what-
ever. " With respect to the correspondence," ob-
served his Lordship, " between this country, Russia,
and Turkey, relative to those treaties, he would entreat
the House not *.o call for their production. He was
prepared to say that they could not be produced with-
out great neonvenien.::r! to the pub'ic service, besides
which, if produced, they would accomplish nothing for
his Noble Friends motion. F:am circumstances which
he could rot explain without defeating his own purpose,

they could not be produced without inconvenience; and
when he stated so much, he hoped the House would be
satisfied with that statement, and not press for their
production." This language must have sounded oddly
on the ears of the House. For our part we cannot for
the life of us comprehend the slightest occasion for all
this mystery. The only question to be asked is—Are
the negotiations on these treaties yet pending ? If
they be, what prevented the Noble Lord from saying
so much ? If, on the contrary, diplomacy has con-
cluded its labours with respect to them, why refuse the
people of England a knowledge of the results ? With
England at his back the Minister can have nothing to
fear.

The Noble Lord's arguments, in favour of with-
holding the publication of the official correspondence
between Great Britain and Russia, on the subject of
Polish nationality, are still less defensible :—" With re-
gard to the correspondence with Russia upon the sub-
ject of Poland, it was to be remembered," continued
his Lordship, " that the occurrences referred to took
place three years ago, and the Government at that
time stated that there were reasons which rendered it
not expedient to produce the correspondence. The
papers were then moved for, for the purpose of urging
the Government to protest against the change
which Russia had made in the Constitution of
Poland, which Constitution had in fact been abo-
lished. He had upon that occasion stated that
the British Government had remonstrated against that
change, and he had expressed his opinion that the
course pursued by Russia was not consistent with the
treaty of Vienna. He would then repeat that opinion,
and as far as that went, his Noble Friend had all the
advantage of the declaration ; but still he thought that
no good could arise from publishing to the world, after
a lapse of three years, the correspondence which took
place, when nothing had happened to call for its pro
duction. If the country should go to war, then it
would be necessary to prOduce everything to show that
their cause was good and just ; but if they wished that
the country should keep at peace, they ought not to°
call for the production of a correspondence, the publi-
cation of which must necessarily create irritation on
both sides, and lead to no good whatever."
The substance of all this may be given in a very
few words. When these documents were moved for
before, the Noble Lord was hatching some state pro-
ject—they were called for too early, and now they.
are prayed for too late. Does not the Noble Lord
perceive the drift of the lesson which he here teaches
the country ? In the fall of Poland, we recognize the
fruit of his former secret diplomacy. Are we to await
a similar result in the case of Turkey ? The Noble Lord
talks of " irritation on both sides." Why should the
people of England feel irritated if, as his Lordship
assures us, the Govern:n:•nt has done its duty in a way
creditable to the nation ? In 1831, Parliament, in
compliance with his Lordship's desire to that elfe::t,
allowed him to cope in secret with the Cabinet of St.
Petersburg. He now acknowledges that the result
was disgraceful ; and yet there was not a Member in
the House who supported Lord DUDLEY STUART'S
motion, with sufficient readiness, to cite his former
failure, as a reason why the House should not again

trust to secret negociations.
As we have not been able to touch the pith of the
question in Lord DUDLEY STUART'S motion, we
shall retur❑ to the subject on Monday. We are pat ti-
cularly anxious to notice the observations made. by
Lord PALMERSTON, and the President of the Board
of Trade, with respect to the German Commercia
League. Our peace-preserving statesmen labour under
strange delusions on the most important questions of
foreign policy.

The second reading of Mr. BUCKINGHAM'S Com-
pensation Bill is fixed for Monday next. Having
lately, and at some length, expressed our opinion of
the justice of Mr. BUCKINGHAM'S claims, it is only
necessary at present that we should remind Non.
Members of what the country expects from them.
Mr. BUCKINGHAM'S claim to compensation, for the
losses and wrongs inflicted on him by the servants of
the East India Company, has been acknowledged by
the unanimous decision of a Select Committee -ap-
pointed by the House to enquire into the sub-
ject. This Committee consisted of men of ail
parties, for we find in it the names of Lord ALTHonP,
Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET, Sir ROBERT PEEL,
Mr. CHARLES GRANT (now Lord GLENELG), Pre-
sident of the Board of Control, Loid ASHLEY, Mr.
HumE, Mr. W. WYNN, &c. En conformity with the
decision of the Committee a Bill was-introduced into
Parliament last session, and passed the second reading
Without opposition ; but was witndravvn on account of
an informality, by which it had been made a public in-
stead of a private Bill. _

Parliament has therefore already sanctioned the
principle of the Bill in question, and we can hardly
conceive it possible that any serious opposition will be
made to it on Monday night. The East India Com-
pany, we are aware, intend to petition against it,
and Sir JOHN I-loutiousE is to present the
the petition ; but we cannot believe it possible that the
Right Hon. Baronet is anything more than the mere
passive channel through which the petition passes
from the Company to the House. But be that as it
may, it is the duty of every Hon. Member who is a
friend to the liberty of the Press, in the cause of which
Mr. BUCKINGHAM was sacrificed, to support the
Bill, which is intended to do him what after all will
be but tardy justice.

For a long time past, it is well known, the Tea
Trade have been striving to get rid of the inquisitorial
system of permits and surveys attached to the Excise
Laws. It must therefore be gratifying to those inte-
rested, to learn that these efforts have been crowned
with success—an order having lately been issued from
head-quarters, to abolish this useless and cumbersome
piece of machinery. In carrying this order, however,
into effect, a certain tardiness has been discovered in
some quarters, from which much difficulty has been
experienced. A deputation of the dealers therefore
sought, and this morning obtained, an interview with
some of the principal Officers of Excise, who, afier
consulting with the Commissioners, assured them thL,
from this day, the Excise Establishment all over the
country would be directed to make no more seizures
whatever in the article of Tea, and that the dealers
would no longer be exposed to the unnecessary trouble
and vexation of either drawing for, or receiving, any
more permits in their sales and purchases, or of keep-
ing account of their stock for the Inspection of other
parties. But it is understood that the Excise are still
to have the power of some surveillance, for the pur-
pose of detecting spurious Tea, an examination to
which no honest dealer can entertain any objection.
This, however, be it recollected, has reference to qua-
lity, and not to quantity.

The Paris Papers of Tuesday and Wednesday,
which we were prevented from receiving sooner, owing
to the stormy state of the weather, together with tlle
'journals of Thursday., have all been received. The
Court of Peers sat till 11 o'clock on Monday night
to pass sentence on FIESCH I and his accomplices. A
report of the sentence, and its communication to the
accused, will be found 'in another part of The Sun.
FIESCH I, MoREY, and PEPIN, have been condemned
to death—the first to be executed as a parricide.
BOIREAU has been sentenced to 20 years' imprison-

ment and hard labour ; and BESCHER, against whom
no charge was substantiated, ordered to be liberated
forthwith. By Monday we expect to learn the parti-
cullers of the execution, which was expected to take
place on Saturday morning at the latest.
The Cabinet has been re-constructed, although the
official announcement has not yet appeared in the
Moniteur. The following list of the new Ministry is
published as correct by the Journal des Debats of
Wednesday _ _

M. TRIERS, President of the Council and Minister of Fo-
reign Affairs.

Count D'AacouT, Minister of Finance.
Marshal MAIsoN, Minister of War.
Count Ds MONTALIVET, Minister of the Interior.
The Duke DE MoN rEBELLo, Minister of Public Instruction.
M. SAUZET, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals.
M. PASSY, Minister of Commerce and Public Works.

Admiral kOSAMEL, Minister of Marine.
The Journal de Paris denies the correctness of this
list, without, however, pointing out any particular
error in it. The new Ministry is decidedly Doctrin-
naire, though only three members of the late Cabinet
are included in it—MM. THIERS, MAISON, and
D'ARGODT. The retirement of MM. de BROG-
LIE and PERSIL is a most fortunate event. The
late Minister for Foreign Affairs is a man of great
information, and personally commands universal re-
spect ; but as a Minister he was the mere mouth-
piece of the KING. As to M. PERSIL, he was con-
temned by every body, with the exception of the Mem-
bers of the Royal family, whom he flattered by his
obsequious acquiescence. His successor, M. SA
ZET, is as obstinate as a mule—full of prejudices—and
never easy but when he is treading upon the heels of
those above him. A Minister less capable of holding
the Portefeuile of the Department of Justice could not
have been selected. We regret M. GulzoT's retirement
from the Department of Public Instruction. With the
single exception of Lord BROUGHAM, there is not a
man in Europe better qualified to preside over the
public instruction of any country. Of his successor,
the Duke DE MONTEBELLO, we know but little, save
that he is a liberal and well-intentioned man. MoN-
TALIVET succeeded CASIMIR PERIER as Minister
of the Interior in 1832 ; but he quitted office too sud-
denly to enable us to -form a decided opinion as to his
qualifications. We can hardly account for the retire-
ment of ADMIRAL DUPERRE. In the late Cabinet
his voice was hardly ever raised, and few troubled
themselves about what he thought on any question not
immediately connected with his department.
The appointment with which we are most pleased is
that of M. THIERS to the office of Foreign Affairs.
THIERS is well acquainted with the foreign relations
of France, and is strongly opposed to the system of
Russian aggression, tacitly submitted to by his prede-
cessor in the Department of Foreign Affairs.
By accounts from Bayonne, we learn that. St. Sc-.
bastian was besieged by the Carlists on the 10th inst.
The garrison, which is in the greatest want of rein-
forcements, endeavoured by a sortie to prevent the be-
siegers from approaching the city, but the enemy drove
them back with some loss. The British legion is in-
active at Vittoria, and suffering much from cold and
sickness. Great blame is attributed to General Con-
DOVA, who is reported to be so jealous of General
EVANS as to take every opportunity to thwart the
movement of the troops under his command. •