The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-12 00:00:00

TO THE _EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sift,—ln a recent number of you paper you in-
serted the complaints of a Colombian Bondholder. I
hope you will not refuse to extend the same indulgence
to those of a New Granadian.
Bad as the conduct of the South American States
has been towards their foreign creditors, that of New
Granada has been he most iniquitous. In 1845 it
had wearied, or rather bullied its creditors into an
acceptance of 1 per cent. instead of 6 per cent., as
stipulated in the original bonds, the payment of
which was to be guaranteed by an assignment of
the net proceeds of tobacco and half the Customs duties;
but, with the usual disregard of their most solemn
engagements, these duties were appropriated to any
and every purpose but those for which they were
specially hypothecated; and the paltry pittance of
has not been forthcoming, there
being three dividends entirely unpaid, and
al6,
OO
already
portionO /. , hafolfyearly,
a fou
rth. What a picture of national
degradation ! It is hardly possible to conceive a
nation so dead to its own honour as to barter it for a
mess of pottage, voluntarily submitting—as the late
Sydney Smith said—to the heaviest load of infamy,
but shrinking from the lightest burden of taxation,
for their, mean's are ample—integrity in their appli-
cation alone is wanting.
Whilst the holders of Mexican, Spanish, and other
Bonds are exerting themselves to obtain their rights,
those of New Granada are exhibiting the most unac-
countable apathy ; no public meeting to re-
monstrate against such injustice, or to solicit
the aid of Government in our favour—no
communication of any kind to the bond-
holders since February last, when it was stated in a
note of Messrs. Baring, to Mr. Robinson, they had
then in hand on account of dividends 13,385), and
further, that the Minister had informed them that his
last dispatch, dated Bogota, Dec. 13, 1848, in-
structed him that the Government had directed
500,000 francs to be remitted here for the dividends.
Whether the whole, or any part of that, may have
been received we have no intelligence.
My only motive in intruding on your columns,
and through them on the public, is the hope that it
may meet they eye of those to whose hands our
interests are intrusted, and induce them to ocnvene a
general meeting of the bondholders, when measures
may be adopted the most likely to obtain for us what
has been so long and so unjustly withheld.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
A GRAN ADIAN BONDHOLDER.
Abergavenny, Dec. 8, 1849.

THE ASSIZEB.—OPENING or THE COMMISSION.—
On Saturday the Special Commission of Assize for the
northern division of this county was opened with the
usual formalities. Mr. Justice Wightman and Mr. Jus-
tice (late Sergeant) Talfourd, who has Leen recently
appointed, arrived in town by railway, in the afternoon.
The Sheriff, J. Smith Eutwisle, Del., of Foxholes, met
their Lordships at their lodgings in St. Anne-street, and
escorted them :to the Crown Court, where the commis-
sion was formally opened by Mr. Justice Wightman.
The Court was then adjourned to twelve o'clock on
Monday (this day), when the Bench will proceed
with the usual business. In the evening their
Lordships, accompanied by the Mayor, dined with Sir
T. B. Birch, Bart, M.P. Yesterday the Judges attended
Divine service at St. George's Church, accompanied by
the Mayor, several members of the Council, and the
Corporate officials, bearing the municipal regalia. The
sermon was preached by the High Sheriff's chaplain,
the Rev. Mr. Ffarington, Vicar of Rochdale, from the
text, Deuteronomy, chapter 4, verse 6.—" And say
surely this great nation is a wise and understanding
people F' The church was crowded. This morning the
charge will be delivered by Mr. Justice Wight man in
the Crown Court, after which the trials will be pro-
ceeded with. The calendar, an analysis of which we
gave in our last, contains no case of special interest.—
Liverpool Albion.
WREXHAM.--A correspondent urges us (Builder) to
point out the great and increasing demand for detached
houses of respectability in the immediate neighbourhood
of Wrexham, a market town situated in a healthy dis-
trict, and surrounded by picturesque scenery. There is
a station of the ShrewsLury and Chester Railway
within a few minutes' walk of the town.
Scorns,' MIDLAND JUNCTION RAILWAY.—It will
be observed that arrangemeres have been made for the
running of a through train to Aberdccr, in connexion
with this railway and the Scottish Central. The trains
from Glasgow start from the Caledonian terminu ,
Buchanan-street, at noon, each day. The journey be-
tween Aberdeen and Glasgow, by this route, may Low
be performed in seven hours and three-quarters.—
North British Mail.