The Sun.
London, England, 1822-03-20 00:00:00

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

PARIS, MARCH 16.-The Aini de la Religion
states, that the Scotch Clergy have just sent to
France one of their Bishops, to claim from the
Government the property they formerly pos-
sessed in the kingdom, and, among the rest, the
Colleges in which the Missionaries are educated
to preach the faith in Scotland. They had made
the same application to preceding Administra-
tions, and failed in all their attempts : but they
hope to be mor.! successful with the new one.—lt
was not the Duke of Montebello,eldest son of the
Marshal, who was hurt by being thrown out of
a carriage, but his two brothers, Messrs. Alfred
and Ernest, the first of whom only received a
slight contusion on the right arm. M. Ernest de
Montebello, who had his arm broken, is much
better, and the accident will not have any bad
*onsetiuences.
The Royal Court of Bordeaux has just made
a decision which will give rise to an interpreta-
tion of the law (a very rare case) according to
the rules prescribed by the law of the 16th
Sept. 107. One Mailles, accused of attempting
t 6 commit a robbery by night, in a church, was
sent before the Tribunal of Correctional Police,

by the Royal Court of Pau, on the 23d July,
1821. This decision was founded on the cir-
cumstance, that in the present state of our Le-
gislation, edifices consecrated to the performance
of Divine Worship cannot be assimilated to
buildings inhabited, or designed for habitations.
This decision was annulled 23d August, 1821,
by the Court of Cessation, and the affair sent
before the Royal Court of Toulouse, which, on
the 15th October, 1821, came to a decision
conformable to that of the Royal Court of Pau.
On a second appeal of the Public Officer, the
Court of Cessation, in a meeting of all the Sec-
.tions, at which the Keeper of the Seals presided,
annulled likewise, on the 29th Dec. 1821, the
decision of the Royal Court of Toulouse, and re-
ferred the affair to the Royal Court of Bordeaux,
-to be decided for the third time.

This latter Court, notwithstanding the two
decisions of the Court of Cassation on the same
affair, has still persisted in the system adopted by
the Courts of Pau and Toulouse.
Thus this affair has given rise to the extremely
rare case provided by the first article of the law
of 16th September, 1807, which enacts—" That
there is room for the interpretation of the law, if
the Court of Cassation annuls two decisions or
sentences in the last instance, given in the same
affair between the same parties, and which have
'been contested on the same grounds."
The Journal of Toulouse mentions a slight

disturbance among part of the pupils of the
'Royal College of Toulouse, in consequence of
their having been deprived of their usual pro-
- rnenade on Sunday the 3d, for some fault. The
next time they walked out, those who had been
,thus punished escaped from those who attended
them,' crossed the. river, and did not return
till eight o'clock in the evening, when the por-
ter refused to let them in, because he per-

ceived that many of them were provided with
stones, on which they proceeded to the front
of the apartments of the Director, and broke
his windows. The police, however, which had
been informed of the circumstance, soon made
them come in, having first taken care to he satis-
fied that they had nothing about them that could
,endanger the public tranquillity. The Rector,
who was in the College, read them a severe lec-
ture, and order was restored. Measures have
been taken to discover the most guilty, and se-
veral of them have been sent back to their parents.

In the Chamber of Deputies, M. Puvrallee
brought ttp the Report of the Committee of the
Budget ou the Petitions which had been referred
to it.

One of these petitions, from the proprietors of
certain salt works, asks a bounty of 10 francs
per 100 kilogrammes for the salt manufactured
by them, as had been promised. The Committee
are of opinion that this petition must be refused,
- or other proprietors of salt works would make the
same demand, which could not be complied with;
the salt tax produces 50 millions to the revenue,
-which could not be made good. The Committee
proposes the order of the day. After some de-
bate, the order of the day was put and carried,
but the report was ordered to be printed, and it
seemed to be understood that the subject should
be discussed at some future time.

Petitions from a great many Land Owners and
cultivators in the Department of the Var and
others, as,k, some an indemnity, some a relief
from taxes, on account of the loss of their olive
trees by the frost.
The Committee find that 50,000 olive trees
have perished, the tax upon which amounted to
halt a million of francs. Considering the distress
to which numerous small cultivators are reduced,
the Committee think it necessary to relieve them,
not by excusing them from the taxes, which
would confuse the whole system, but by relieving
them out of the funds which are at the disposal
of the Ministry, an►i propose to refer the petition
'to the Minister of Finance, which was agreed to.
A Petition from the Knights of Malta, asking
an increase ,of their pension, was referred to the
Minister of the Interior. These Knights are only
86 in number, and most of them at least 60 years
of age.
After hearing the Report on some other Pe-
titions, the Chamber resumed the debate on the
project of law on the finances.

FRENCH FUNDS.
March 16, Five per Cents.
Bank Stock 1588 f. 75 c.

SPAIN.

CORTES.—SITTING or MARch 4.

A report was made of a letter frOm the Secretary for the de-
partment•of Grace and Justice, in which he informed the Cortes
that the King had appointed one o'clock this day for receiving
the answer of the Cortes to his Majesty's speech on the opening
of the Session.

• Senor Secretary Prat stated, that the Cortes had, in the se.
~,cret sitting of yesterday, ordered that the following resolution
:shoulAlbe publicly read, viz. :—" The. deputies of the present
Cortes, desiring to contribute to the alleviation of the public
Atrauts, unanimously concede in favour of the nation one fourth

part of the allowances allotted to them by the former legis-
lature."

Senor Canga observed, that this resolution would manifest to
the nation the spirit of economy which animated the Cortes, as
they began with reforms which affected.themselves. lie then
moved another Resolution having for its object the execution
.6f the former. This motion__was ordered to be taken into con-
sideration, and approved.
Senor Saravia said—Convinced of the state of the nation, and
the impossibility of its discharging its obligations, from the
want of means, I take the liberty of giving up for. the public
benefit 2,620 reals velon, due to me in consequence of the settle-
nient of accounts ordered in the preceding year. Senor Saravia
concluded by handing to one of the Secretaries the document
which certified this debt due from the State.

The President said that the Cortes had heard with pleasure
the generous sentiments expressed by Senor Saravia, and ap-
preciated the donation he had made to the nation.
A letter from the Secretary for the department of Grace
and Justice informed the Cortes that Don Manuel de Bodega
could not be installed in the Ultra-marine 'Ministry, and that
_his Majesty had pro tempore appointed Don Jose Maria 'Mos-
6so do Altamira to that office.
The list of the Deputies appointed to present to his Majesty
the reply of the Cortes to his opening speech was read. The
reply is conceived in the following terms : •

" 'SP:Non—The Deputies of the nation, united in Cortes,
approach your Majesty's Throne, to give that testimony of at-
tachment and respect which is due to it, and to declare their
sincere desire of contributing, in concert with your Majesty,
and by,those means which the constitution has marked out, to
consolidate the liberty and the felicity of the Spanish people,
who have confided to them their destiny.
" The Cortes concur with your Majesty in congratulating
themselves on the solemn opening of this Cones, notwithstand-
ing the secret and declared machinations of the enemies of your
Majesty and of the country ;' and notwithstanding also the late
dissensions which had their origin in that want of confidence
produced by the causes which the Cortes pointed out in their
message of the 15th of December.

" The Cortes lament with your Majesty that these dissen-
sions should have occurred, and will exert their efforts to pre-
vent, by all the means in their power, their renewal. With
this view, the Cortes will study to remove the multiplied and
powerful obstacles which have hitherto withheld from the na-
tion the enjoyment of the advantages which the constitution
ought to afford, and will endeavour to
,succeed by acting in
accordance with the public opinion, without which there can
be neither confidence, nor security, nor power.
" The Cortes do not fear the efforts which may be made to
counteract their just resolution, by imprudent men, who are
ignorant of the influence of time and things ; and, supported
by the immense moral force which now surrounds and
strengthens them, they will fearlessly advance in the constitu-
tional path, and complete the great work which was prepared
in 1812, and re-constructed in 1820.

" The Cortes hear with particular satisfaction that our rela-
tions with other Powers promise a durable peace, and they
trust that it will be maintained by the only means which can
secure peace—namely, by causing the name of this great, free,
and sovereign nation to be respected by Foreign States.
" The Cortes arc aware that it is not yet time to expect that
the internal state of the nation should exhibit remarkable ame-
liorations ; they are, notwithstanding, convinced that some mus;
result from the fulfilment of the beneficial enactments of former
legislatures, and fur such purpose they will devote themselves
to inquiries into the real situation of the nation, and to dis-
cover the evils which afflict it, in order that a prompt and effi-
cient remedy may be applied.
" The Cortes will endeavour to render themselves worthy of
the flattering hopes which your Majesty entertains of them ;
and they are confident that your Majesty, exercising your
powers for the consolidation of the liberties of the nation, will
co-operate in promoting public felicity, which rests upon the
bases of freedom and order, and which cannot exist without
the most perfect confidence between the throne, the legislative
power, and the nation."

The Members appointed to present this answer went forth
to execute their mission, and soon after returned. The Duke
del Parque, President of the Deputation, stated that they had
delivered the answer of the Cortes into his Majesty's hands,
and that his Majesty had received it with that affability and
graciousness which were natural to him.

The President stated that the Cortes were satisfied with the
punctual execution of their instructions, and had heard with
pleasure the account of the gracious reception which his Ma-
jesty had given to the deputation.
EXTRACT OF THE ORDINARY SITTING OF MARCH 5.

After some preliminary business, the President announced
that the Secretary of the Treasury was prepared to read the ac-
counts of his ministry.

The Secretary of the Treasury said, that the shortness of
the time during which he had enjoyed office did not permit
him to enter particularly into the contents of the statement ; and
as men were not obliged to think all in the same way, he repre-
sented that he was not answerable for the opinions contained in
the said statement.

Senor Galiano said, that to judge by the expression of the
Minister of the Finance, he did not consider himself responsible
for the accounts he presented.

The Secretary of the Treasury replied, that he only consi.
dered himself as not responsible for the opinions expressed in
the memorial ; but as to the data which it contained, it was re.
gular to draw them frOm entries in the office of the Treasury.

Senor Calderon said, that in this case the statement did not
possess the character which it ought to possess ; and that it
would not express the views of Government, but of an in-
dividual.

Senor Sarra observed, that it was well enough for the Secre-
tary of the Treasury not to be responsible for the opinions con-
tained in the memorial or statement, but he ought to be made
so, as far as facts were concerned, as it was the duty of Govern-
ment to give an: account to the Cortes of the state of the public
treasury; and as the Cortes had no other means than those sup-
plied by the Government of obtaining the data necessary to form
a judgmeint.

Senor Galiano again mentioned that the Secretary appeared
to give an account to the Cortes of the state of the nation in re-
spect to its finances ; and that in consequence he could not do
less than ask of his Excellency whether he was responsible or
not for his statement.

The Secretary of the Treasury replied, that the statement
was drawn up by different Secretaries who had preceded him
in the course of the year, and consequently was conformable to
their ideas and opinions. He added, that observations were
made on various points, and that some restrictions were pro-
posed, for the whole of which he was not responsible, and could
not be responsible. But so far as the facts were at issue, he
believed them to be correct, and that in theoftice of the 'Trea-
sury there existed the documents to which they referred.
Senor Infante was of opinion, that the assembly ought to
proceed to the reading of the Memorial, without considering the
notice of the Secretary as any obstacle, that notice perhaps

springing from his delicacy in . not wishing to appropriate the
glory due to those who drew it up ; but that, if after it was read
it should be thought proper to require responsibility from its
author, it should be done.
Senor Prat was of the same opinion.

Another Deputy thought the statement could not be read, as,
from the notice of the Secretary of the Treasury, it did not ap-
pear to be official.
Senor Adan observed, that the Minister presented a state-
ment formed by his predecessors, and that if the Cortes, after
examining it, found reason to require responsibility from any
of these Secretaries, they might do it at any time ; but that be-
fore any thing was done, the statement should be read.
Senor Arguelles observed, that the discussion which had
taken place was exceedingly vague, and pointed to no object.
He therefore proposed that a vote should be taken as to whe-
ther the paper should be read or not. This question being put
by one of the Secretaries, leave was given to read the state..
ment. The Secretary of the Treasury therefore mounted the
tribune, and read the said memorial.

It appeared from it, that the estimate of state expenses for
the coming year amounted to 861,591,645 reals. To cover
the charge, the ways and means are—
Reals.
Land Tax - - - - 150,000,000

~.
Tax on the Clergy - - - - 20,000,000
Deduction from Tithes - - 10.000,000
Duty on Houses - - - - 10,000,000
Patents - - -- 1.2,000,000

-----
Duties on consumption (of excise) - - 100,000,000
Duties on Tobacco 6,000,000

on Salt- - 26491,000000,000000
- -
- Customs - I
Registration :10,000,000
Writing-paper - 18,000,000
Balls - , 12,000,000

Lottery - - 10,000,000
Post-office - 10,000,000
with various other items, which make up the sum of 664,162,913
This being deducted from the expenditure of 861,591,645
Leaves a deficit of - - 197,828,732
Notwithstanding the apparent magnitude of this sum, it was
stated in the memorial, that perhaps the revenue would be suf-
ficient to cover all the charges after the retrenchments that
might be made, and which the Government would propose to
the Cortes.

•. The reading of the memorial having been concluded, dif-
ferent members offered themselves to the attention of the As.
sembly.

Senor Canga, who • spoke first, said—The Cortes will have
observed with satisfaction that I did not desire the reading of
the Treasury Memorial in vain. The nation now sees the dis-
tressed and melancholy situation in which we are placed, and
it likewise sees the justice of the observation, that the state of
the finances is the first subject to which we ought to turn our
attention. It is necessary, therefore, that from this moment
we should devote ourselves with all our zeal to the attempt of
rescuing the nation 'from the state of debt in which it is. But
this is not the point on which I wish to speak. The proper
time will arrive. for such a discussion. I rise for the purpose
of stating that, along with the memorial which has been read,
there have not been presented the necessary documents. There
is wanting, among other things, the plan of the contributions
which are to be imposed. It only says that there will be re-
forms, but where are the estimates which ought to accompany
it, for the purpose of enabling us to decree the necessary ways
and means ? , It is said thereiwill be retrenchments ; and cer-
tainly there will. The National Congress has set the example,
which will be followed by the other classes ; but it is not
enough to speak about them-,they should be proposed by the
commission appointed to examine the memorial. Why has
not the Ministry presented the plan of reform ? This is a great
constitutional defect, and I hope the Finance Minister will
supply it as soon as possible. The Constitution, besides, re-
quires that every Secretary of State should present the account
of the expenditure of his own department. These accounts
have not been presented. What imports it to say; for example,
that the Magistracy are without pay ? It is necessary to say,
that so much has been set apart for such a Ministry, and so
much has been paid which has been employed in such a man-
ner. I therefore require that the Secretary present the account
of these expences. Speaking of the couriers (or Post-office),
we know that the Cortes ordered the Ministers to prepare a new
tariff for the postage of letters, and a new plan of administra-
tion. We hear of nothing of this in the memorial.
The Secretary of the Treasury replied—lt may be desirable,
perhaps, that the Government should devclope the plan of con-
tributions for which it takes credit, but there is no constitu-
tional detect, as has been supposed. The Ministry has stated
that the estimate of the supplies amounts to 861,591,645
reals, and that these, by the intended retrenchments, may be
lowered by the 664, 162, 913 reals which compose the revenue
intended to be continued. Regarding the deficit of 197,828,732,
the Government makes no proposition to supply it, because it
thinks that it may be annulled by the retrenchment which, in
its opinion, may be effected. It has been justly said, that
these retrenchments are not mentioned in the memorial ; but
some of them may be here announced. In the estimate are
included considerable sums for roadS and canals, for the con-
struction of boats, for various public establishments, &c. By
deducting these from the estimates, the deficit in a great mea-
sure disappears. The documents on which the memorial rests
had bean presented along with it ; copies of them only were
connected with the estimates which were still under the consi-
deration Of the Council of State, and there remained. The
Government, therefore, had fulfilled its duty in furnishing all
the estimates with their corresponding accounts.
Senor Canga still insisted that the plan of the proposed re-
trenchments should have been presented along with the esti-
mates. _

Senor Adan expressed nearly the same opinion, and said the
accounts of the different departments should have been pre-
sented. _ _ _ _ . .

The Secretary of the Treasury replied, that the Constitution
required the accounts of the year to be presented to the Cortes,
and this, therefore, was an indispensable obligation. But a
doubt occurred to his mind whether the obligation was personal
to the heads of the different departments as individuals, or
attacked to them as composing jointly the Government or
Administration. 'lf the former was the case, the individuals
at present composing the Ministry have received and disbursed
nothing ; and therefore, not being able to give the accounts,
would be obliged to call upon their predecessors to present
them. If the obligation was imposed upon the moral body of
the Government, the present Ministers would present the ac-
counts as far as they were made up.
Senor Ferrer said, he would not enter into the metaphysical
reasoning of the Minister. The Constitution recognized no
such distinction as that which he had stated. The misfortune,
however, was that a change had taken place in the Ministry at
the very time that their accounts were due, and those accounts
could not be so well defended as by those who had managed
the operations to which they referred. Entering on the ques-
tion, he would say that to the vices pointed out by the two last
speakers, he could add what was, perhaps, the fundamental
one— he meant the loans. Two operations of great importance
had taken place in August and Nov. last, of which the memorial
laid before the Assembly said nothing. It was only said inci-
dentally that the national burdens were increased by the obli-
gation to pay the interest of these loans. Perhaps the last
operation, covered till now with the veil of mystery, produces
a great portion,of the enormous deficit of which mention was
made. We hear (said the speaker) in the memorial, of a sink-
ing fund of 24 millions. By what authority is that fund creat-
ed ? We see that the interest of the national debt has been
infinitely increased ! Whence proceeds that increase ? We
have heard of perpetual annuities—who has authorised them ?
I find nothing about this in the memorial.
The Minister of Finance replied that there was an express
article in the memorial respecting the loans, which answered
the questions of the prev-ious speaker. lie added, that if the
presenting of the accounts were the duty of the Ministers as a
Government, they would present them as soon as possible ; if
the duty of individuals, they would call upon their predeces-
sors to do so.
Senor Arguelles denied that the distinction drawn by the
Minister of, Finance Iva; an useless or metaphysical one. The
present Ministers were sot responsible for the acts of their pre-
deCessors.
A long and interesting conversation ensued, in which vari-
ous economical arrangenents were proposed for 'he court, for
the clergy, and for the nilitia, without any useful result. The
President announced the presentation of various financial ac-
counts for the following lay, and the Cortes adjourned.
On the 6th, no particdar business of importance was trans-
acted.