The Sun.
London, England, 1825-01-28 00:00:00

[TILE PUBLIC LEDGER.]

The question of augmenting our standing army
to, the amount of 15,000 men, in addition to the
5,000 raised last year, wholly engrosses public
attention ; and no one can wonder at this exclu-
sive interest, who reflects on the pacific assurances
volunteered by the Earl of Liverpool and Mr.
Canning at the Bristol Dinner. The surprise
must still increase on looking at our domestic
situation, which, on account of the profound
"tranquillity, general contentment and increasing
prosperity, of which it presents a picture, would
allow of a considerable reduction in our millitary
establishment, instead of the proposed increase.
At the same time, its apparent incongruity with a
•solemn resolution of the House of Commons,
on the subject of economy, as well as with. the
professions of Ministers on the same topic, has,
as may be • well supposed, stimulated public
curiosity to an extraordinary degree ; and every
one asks, have our foreign relations become sud-
denly clouded, so as to render this extraordinary
.measure imperiously requisite ? The country in
-general thinks so favourably of the present Ca-
binet, as to take it for granted that only impe-
rious circumstances could wring from Ministers
their assent to a plan of this importance. But the
mystery in which these imperious circumstances
are veiled, contributes most to the anxiety that
prevails ; and if the veil- were raised, the Public
would, with their characteristic spirit, heartily
concur in a proceeding, when they learned that it
was not a case of artificial urgency ; but one
-recommended by motives so commanding, that
'all ordinary objections must give way. Let us
hope, therefore, that the mystery will he speedily
removed T and should it prove true that Fo-
reign States have taken umbrage at the course
his Majesty's Government have thought it their
duty to adopt towards South America, it is un-
necessary to say that they might fully count on
that support from the country, which they are
when, as in this instance,
always sure of receiving,
they have been guided wholly by an enlightened
regard for the public welfare. In the meantime
it is the general opinion that the emergency, in
which the proposed levies have originated, has
110 connection with the internal affairs of the
Empire, with the exception perhaps of the five
thousand men that are spoken of for India ; but
as reference wholly and solely to the state of
our foreign relations. If this supposition be
correct, it cannot be doubted for an instant
that the cloud which has so suddenly interven-
ed to clamp Our lutercourse with the members of

the Holy Alliance, has arisen out of our recog-
nition of South America. It certainly appears
to have produced an immoderate sensation on
the Continent ; though the difficulty is how to
believe that our Government are already in pos-
session of intelligence respecting the sentiments
of Foreign Powers, to justify their adoption of
so energetic a measure. They possibly may,
though it is not probable, have had an opportu-
nity of sounding the feelings of the French Court :
but that they can have ascertained the senti-
ments of any other leading Cabinet, is extremely
doubtful. However, if the French Government
has replied in an evasive, and particularly in an
insidious, manner to our communication, it is
clear we ought to take such a position as
should convince that Power that we are de-
termined to support, with all the means that
God has placed at our disposal, the resolu-
tion we have deliberately and honestly taken.—
France would not venture, we should imagine, to
reply evasively, unless she had previously bound
herself by some engagement, opposed to our po-
licy with respect to the late colonies of Spain.—
But her Government must be aware, that in
moving in this direction it proceeds on grounds
so very slippery, that a fall beyond recovery may
be the fatal consequence. This country has not
the slightest disposition to provoke hostilities ;
hut she is fully prepared to repel attack ; and, as
she would not be the aggressor, she would trust
the issue with confidence to the justice of her
quarrel. The issue too would not be long doubt-
ful : for, such is the inflamed state of some por-
tions of the continent, in consequence of gross
misgovernment, and pledge shamefully violated,
that if we were only to throw a brand amongst
them, a frightful and perhaps unextinguishable
conflagration would be the consequence.

[BRITIsII PRESS.]

The French Papers of Tuesday bring ns no
fresh intelligence from any part of Europe; and
as the Chambers are still discussing the projects
of law in the Committees, we have nothing to ex-
pect of much interest from France. The papers
are filled with the observations of the editors,
and with that sort of news which, in our weekly
Journals, is classsd under the head of accidents
and offences. Amongst other topics which
engage the Parisian coteries, the late equa-
lity of votes in the Upper Chambers of _ the
States-General of the Netherlands has given
rise to a question which may for some time
serve to amuse the political triflers of the French
Metropolis. The Duke de - Narbonne-Pelet
figures in this argument. The practice in our
House of Lords is that dictated by reason, viz.
that where a measure has not the support of a
majority at any one stage of its discussion, it shall
proceed no further. But the Noble Duke con-
tends, that in such a case the proposed measure
should be considered to be in stalu quo, and that
the Chamber should divide again and again,
until a majority appeared on one side or on the
other. The Editor of the Journal des Debuts,
hoWever, thinks that the renewal of tl►e de-
bates should be limited to the consideration
of amendments in projects before the Chamber,
and to cases in which the question is, whether
the whole subject should be further discussed ?
But when the debates on a measure are finally
closed, and the Chamber is equally divided, the
Journalist decidedly approves the English prac-
tice. It appears to us, that where the necessity
or propriety of legislating is not supported by a
majority, we have the best reason in the world
for making no alteration. No mischief can be
greater in a State than that of passing experi-
mental or unnecessary enactment.

[MORNING CHIIONICLE-]

Yesterday there was a general gloom over both'
Money Markets, for which no political cause
was assigned, except we notice a rumour which
is current in a respectable quarter, that notwith •
standing the professions of M. de Villele, who is
represented to have gone so far on the question
of South American independence, as to say that
the French Government was only prevented fol-
lowing the example of England by delicacy to-
wards Spain, whilst French troops remain in the
territory—the English Cabinet has felt it neces-
sary to provide against any possible rupture. This
rumour has probably caused ['he dullness in the
Securities; but it is proper to state, that some of
our leading capitalists, who are generally well
informed, appear quite easy as to the course
France will adopt. Consols for the Account,
which closed on Wednesday at 938, 94, were
done, soon after the opening yesterday morning,
at 931,33-, and are now 9350 buyers.—ln .the Fo-
reign Market, the S:)uth American Securities are
Much, lower than on Wednesday, Colombian
Bonds being 891, and Mexican 80,t. Some in-
terest has been excited among the holders of
Spanish Bonds by a statement in the French
Papers that Ferdinand has consented to receive,
in payment of taxes, &c. the bonds of the forced
Loan of the Cortes. This statement has created
much hope, but we fear it will be found that the
forced Loan in question was chiefly intended to
press upon the Royalists, who are now to be re-
lieved from the loss which they would have sus-
tained, although compelled to give their quota
towards the exigencies of the state under the
Government of the Cortes. The Mining Shares
have fallen considerably, as. will be seen by re-
ference to the Share List. In the Companies
for the investment of capital at home, there
was little doing, but the same gloom did
not hang over them as over the foreign
schemes. The Provincial Bank of Ireland
Shares are at 21 premium. The Rail-road
Shares were steady ; little, however, was doing
in them, as their value mustdepend much upon
,the discussion on the Bills in Parliament. The
Rail:road and Canal interests are using all pc:i-
sible exertion, and it is said that the former are
certain of success in the House of Commons, but
by no means easy as to their fate in the Lords.—
A Meeting of some of the leading men in the dif-
ferent companies will be held next week, to de-
termine on some co-operation for the support in
Parliament of the Rail-road Bills, the notice of
which were given in time for the present Session.
Consols for the Account have fallen to 93H;

Mexican Bonds were at 80 to 80-1- ; Colombian 89
to 894.

NEW TIMES.]
Although there were no Foreign arrivals yes-
terday, and no political information of the slightest
interest transpired during the day, a decline of
full one half per cent. took place place in Con..
sots, which closed at 93111 for the Account.
The increase of the Army has been stated
as the subject of alarm ; but the principal
capitalists continue to rely with the utmost
confidence on those measures which the British
Cabinet deems it expedient to adopt, for
the preservation of that state of profound peace,
the blessings arising from which are so manifest
and so generally acknowledged. The South
American Securities were rather on the decline.
Colombian Bonds closed at 8941, and for the Ac-
count 89 4. Mexican Bonds 80;} Chilean Bonds
881, Brazilian Bonds were 1 per cent. higher;
and the Scrip of the last Loan at 3 premium.—
The Shares of the Mining and other Companies
in which any business was transacted, were
lower, as will be perceived by our list of prices.

[MORNING HERALD.]
Tuesday's Paris Papers, received last night,
contain no French intelligence of any interest.
There are rumours from the German Papers
.that
the Emperor of Russia is seriously indisposed,
but there seems nothing authentic. The serious
indisposition of this Prince would excite a livelier
interest than that of any other Sovereign of the
Continent. It is not merely from the extent and
force of the empire which he rules, but from his
peculiar character, and its contrast in all that
is most favourable to that of his brother and ap-
parent successor. It will be recollected that
the arrest of a French Professor, named
Cousin, by Prussian authority, in the Saxon
territories, and his imprisonment in Prussia,
under the charge of being an emissary
of revolutionists, caused a short time since
some sensation on the Continent. The ar-
rest was not alone oppressive, but a vio-
lation of the independence of Saxony. It was,
however, justified by the heinousness of the
crime charged. After solitary confinement, and
the whole machinery of the judicial police of
Prussia have been duly worked, it turns out that
this Professor was a harmless traveller, and
had nothing to do with revolutionists—he is
accordingly to be released. But how wretch-
edly stupid, as well as oppressive, is the
Continental police. This is the fifth or sixth
instance of persons arrested or proscribed—
especially in the Austrian dominions, by some
blundering or malicious denunciation of the spies
of the police. Accounts from Vienna state, that
Count A ppong, a Hungarian Noble of great
wealth, is appointed Austrian Ambassador to
London. Ile is on his way to Naples for the
purpose of condoling with the new King on the
death of his father, and proceeds thence to Lon-
don. Prince Esterhazy, who had been Ambas-
sador here, is to represent the Emperor of Austria
at the Coronation of the Kiisg of France.
♦
[THE TlmEi.]
That obscene little personage (Slr. KEAN) is,
we see, announced to make another appearance
this evening. The ladies of the lobby, and the
" Wolves" from the Coal-Hole, have under-
taken to hear him triumphantly through his ordeal,
and he—fit head of such a sacred band—once
more ventures to brave the indignation of the re-
spectable and decent part of society. Some of
his defenders allege, especially an Evening Pa-
per lately smitten with " the nice morality" (as
Lord Foppington calls it) of the slang school
that Mr. Kean does not offend against decency,
because decent people never go to the theatre.—
We are ready to allow, that if persons like Mr.
Kean continue to exhibit themselves, decent
people must stay away ; but we were not aware
that the theatre had hitherto become quite an in-
terdicted place of amusement for modest persons
of either sex. And we question whether there is
more strength in another position of our worthy
cotemporary, that people who do not like the
actor or actress have nothing to do with the matter
except to stay away. On the contrary, we are in-
clined to think that a monopoly, supported by
Royal or Parliamentary favour, is bound, so long
as it is so supported, to furnish meals of enter-
tainment suitable to the taste and habits of the
moral and decent part of the community ; and
this, because that entertainment cannot be got
elsewhere : and, by analogy, a theatre ought to
be punished, not by a mere change of in-
decent for decent visiters, but by the forfeiture
of its licence, as well as a public-house, if it
persists in obtruding disgusting nuisances be-
fore the public eye. It is equally wrong in
our worthy cotemporary to say, that we have
nothing to do with Mr. Kean's private conduct.
His conduct is no longer private : while it was,
we never alluded to it ; but it has now become,
through legal and regular channels, a matter of
notoriety to the whole nation ; and is, therefore,
a fit subject for public animadversion. Mr. Kean
has, however, chosen his side : his real friends
and supporters, who have hitherto upheld him
because they thought his frailties overbalanced
by his talents, must now desert him, when they
see him dead even to that lowest degree of
shame which distinguishes human from animal
nature. We suspect he will scarcely find ade-
quate consolation among his " Wolves," and
we need not add the alliterative adjunct.

Our much respected and worthy County Mem-
ber, E. P. BASTARD, Esq. accompanied by his lady, passed
through Exeter on Thursday last for London (his health
being corhpletely re-established), to attend to his Parliamentary
duties. There is not the least foundation for the rumour
which has been very industriously circulated, that, 'at the
approaching General Election, Mr. Bastard will not again
come forward.—( Exeter Paper.):
WM. LAWLESS, Esq. a General in the French
army, and Knight of the Legion of Honour, died
at Paris on the 25th of December, in the 53d
year of his age. This gallant officer was a native
of Dublin.

The operative cotton-weavers of Carlisle have
issued an appeal to the manufacturers of Cum-
berland, on their present degraded situation, in
consequence of the low rate of wages with which
they are paid.
.e They
shillingscannot,
a.w
theyee k say, Parrs(ne
more than six or seln
Mercury).