The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-02 00:00:00

object of a prosecution, when the facts stated do not
apply to French subjects. The law is severe in what
concerns natives; and consequently they alone ought
to be protected by it. The best mode for persons
living in other countries of not being attacked is not to
leave room for attack; and, unfortunately, the accounts
of what passes in the interior of the palace of Madrid
are so contradictory, that it is impossible to know what
to believe. Even in Spain persons do not agree as to
the relations which exist between Isabella and her hus-
band. Thus, a journal of Madrid has recently announced
that the King retired to rest at ten o'clock and the Queen
at three or four in:the morning—one, therefore, would be
about to get up when the other withdrew to her apart-
ment. That does not indicate a perfect accord, but, on
the contrary, leads to the supposition that they avoid
each other as much as possible. Yet the journal in
question was not prosecuted in any way by the law
officers of the Crown at Madrid. We believe, therefore,
that the menace addressed to the Patrie 'cannot be
meant seriously, and the Ambassador will not give any
further effect to the orders which he may have received.
From such a process nothing but scandal could result;
and scandal is always to be avoided, particularly in
France, where the laughers would inevitably be on the
side of the journal proceeded against."
As a specimen of what the laughers will say on the
subject we give the following from the National:--

"If we are to believe certain Spanish journals, the
public are furious in Madrid—the most vehement indig-
nation has seized on all the Don Quixotes of the mo-
narchy. It is true that this is very natural. These
journals, devoted to the innocent Isabella, have read in
the Patric certain insinuations of the presumed inclina •
tion of Isabella for the Progressists, and amongst that
body the Pairie named in particular General Serrano as
the one whom public opinion pointed out. Nothing
more was wanted to cause the chivalrous organs of
Spain to utter loud cries. They want to have that journal
prosecuted, and perhaps they have imagined that, in the
absence of the justice which they demand, the criminal
publication in questior would be delivered up to all
the severities of some captain-general. Our laws,
however severe they slay be, do not sanction pro-
ceedings so prompt and so sure. Her Majesty, the
innocent Issabella, if she desires a process, must run the
risk of having her person as well as her policy discussed
before the jury. The inviolability of the royal person
in France by nomeans protects theiuviolability of Queen
Isabella. French juries are very curious, and as in his-
tories of the kind we are now speaking of they like to go
back to the origin of matters, the proceedings promise to
be exceedingly amusing. Our Madrid contemporaries
have the monarchical epidermis somewhat too excitable,
they ought to be aware that they could gain nothing by
proceeding against the Patric,. The Times, the Morning
Chronicle, the Daily News, and the Morning Post have
been far less circumspect, and since they cannot be
silenced, it is just as well to allow every one to speak. For
our parts, we have taken good care not to repeat either
the details which have come to us from Madrid, or the
gross indiscretions of the English journals. We only
complain of one matter; that the young Queen has not
full liberty to take whom she pleases, to give all her con-
fidence to whom she prefers. It happens that at present
it is a Progressist; to• morrow it may be one of the oppo-
site party. We do not require from ardent youth the
fixity of taste inherent in seventy years. Leave to each
age its character and its humour; there is a dark period
of life, when ideas become contracted and the affec-
tions cool down. The innocent Isabella is not yet,

fortunately for her, at that point; she has not yet
felt affection on conceived ideas; she is making her
essays, she feels, she goes from one to another, she
studies men and things, and throws into her search all

the warmth of her noble blood. 3ut the Moderado party
wishes to confine her within de constitutional circle;
it pretends that the present Ministers having the
majority, she ought not to go beyond that line. But
why should not the Queen, if Caere is nothing there to
satisfy her, seek elsewhere? Why does the Cabinet
suddenly give an order to a general who excites its
jealousy to depart from Madrid i Why do they hasten
to have a declaration of confidoce in themselves voted
by the Chamber.? Is it strange that such proceedings
should give occasion for all kin3s of suspicions? The
Debuts has stt ted, that in disseminating such rumours
ignorance was shown of the habits and morals of the
Court of Spain. It seems to us, however, that since
Maria Christina's time, the morals and habits of that
place are tolerably well known. If even the reign of
Ferdinand VII. was gone back to, there could be found,
without much trouble, morals and habits of an exceed-
ingly edifying character; the innocent Isabella has the
advantage of certain traditions; and, from Godoy to
Munoz, the Court of Spain has shown, without much
effort at concealment, morals and habits all very much
alike. The Debuts is perfectly right to glide lightly over
this subject, and to cover with a thick veil all that can
attack the monarchical dignity. It has its reasons; and
we have ours to act quite oppositely. The falling away
of institutions is revealed by marked signs to the eyes
of the people, and if any idolatry is still felt for the
principle, let the persons now occupying thrones in
Europe be regarded.'
The Debats returns to the subject of the expected
deficiencies of the ensuing harvest, and justifies its
former article by adducing facts which certainly
go to prove that even an average grain har-
vest in 1847 will not supply the deficiencies which
must arise from the failure of the potato crop, and that
the potato crop must fail is evident, because, even ad-

mitting that the rot should not manifest itself, and
that it has already done so is but too apparent, still
there is not a sufficiency of sound potatoes left for
seed to plant the usual acreage of ground devoted
to the cultivation of that esculent. The following
extract from this article is well worthy the attention
of the Government, the Legislature, and the shipping
and mercantile interests of this country. It behoves
us to take care that France shall nut forestall us in
the grain market of the world.
" We shall want flour this year unless we have such a
prodigious harvest, as it would be madness to reckon on.
Our supply will be short, because the potato crop will,
in a great measure, fail, and nothing can replace the loss.
This is a point of fact; in order to remedy the evil there
is but one means, and that is, to purchase corn abroad.
Suppose there be iinportei into France ten millions of
hectolitres, in order to make up for the incomplete har
vest, it is well known that this supply must be principally
drawn either from the Black Sea, or from America;
and on account of the ice, which at the commencement
of December closes the Russian ports and the American
canals, this quantity ought to be embarked before the end
of November. Ten millions of hectolitres will employ
800,000 tons of shipping. In order to prepare this mass
of corn for shipping, six months will be required from the
date of the promulgation of a law for extending the time
for free importation, even supposing it to be brought
forward within a week. We beg the Constitutionnel, who
wishes for nothing to be done in haste, to reflect on
this subject : 800,000 tons of shipping is the trade of an
entire state ; it is the loading of from three to four
thousand vessels of ordinary tonnage. The delay of six
months is, theretore, very little for purchasers to such
an extent, or even for operations for half the amount,
particularly when it is considered it is not France alone
which may require a supply of corn. England, whose
wants will be still greater than ours, since Ireland con-
sumes more potatoes than any part of France, will go
into the foreign markets at the same time as ourselves,
and probably before us, and to supply the wants of En-
gland, France, and other countries which may require to
replace by corn the failure of their potatoes, it will not
be too much to expect that the producers may sell their
crop of 1847 with that of 1846. In fine, in order to
secure ships de ,tined for the transport of this unusual
mass of corn, it certainly is not too soon, if it be even
soon enough, to begin immediately."
The price of corn, however, still continues to de-
cline in the markets Of France. The Reforme states
that flour underwent another important diminution
in the Paris market on Tuesday. " The offers," it
says, " 'vere numerous, and the purchasers very cold.
It would be
'-eipossible to fix, with any degree of
accuracy, the pr.,
es of the market; but we calculate
at from 6 to 6 francs she fall in the value of the sack
of flour since last week." The price of wheat had
increased 2f. per hectolitre at Compeiegne, if. 60c.
to 2f. at Meaux, 21. at Beauvais, 2f. 50c. at Douai,
sf. to 6f. at Vernon, sf. at Arcis-cur-Aube, Bf. at
Blois, Brissac, and Saunnur, 4f. to 41.50 c. at Dieppe,
2f. to 9r Aoc. at St. Quentin, if. 50c. at Le Mans,
2f. at Chateaugoutier, 6f. at Montargis, il., to 2f. at
Chalons-sur-Marne, sf. at Sezanne, and lf. 50c. at
Cambrai. The Journal des Debats publishes a letter,
dated Toulouse, 27th ult., which states that a fall had
been produced there in the price of wheat to the ex-
tent of 2f. 26c., and in Indian corn of 2f. the hecto-
litre. Of 800 hectolitres of wheat offered for sale on
the last market-day above 600 remained unsold.
In the Chamber of Peers, on Monday, a short dis-
cussion took place on certain petitions praying for
the immediate abolition of slavery in the French
colonies. It being generally admitted that the con-
dition of the slave population had improved since the
passing of the late colonial measure, the Chamber
decided that the prayer of the petitions was uncalled-
for, and passed to the order of the day. A short al-
tercation of a personal character took place between
the Prince DE LA MOSCOWA sod General FADVIER,
relative to an expression appliei the previous day by
the latter to some assertion a* the Prince's. The
matter was, however, ultimately arranged. In tke
Deputies, the Civil Pension Bil was brought under
discussion; and some of the articles adopted. At the
commencement of the sitting the Minister of Finance
presented a Bill demanding the crest to pay the la.
terest on the Greek loan.

In the Chamber of Deputies the Committee on the
proposition for postal reform determined to adopt an
uniform postage of 20 centimes per sitgle letter. M.
EMILE DE GIRARDIN was appointed reporter of the
Committee.

The Moniteur publiettles the followins:—]
" Most of the Paris journals announce, from a paper
of the Mauritius, that th e French settment of Nossi
Bey was evacuated in December last, )3T order of the
Government, and assign as the real cane the insalu-
brity of the climate. No order for the evacuation of the
island of Nossi Bey hu , been addressed to,he authorities

of Bourbon and Mayotte ; the recent dispatches from
whom represent, on the contrary, that this small, island,
under present circumstances, has become of increased
utility from its affording the means of collecting flocks
and herds for the consumption of Bourbon. As to the
salubrity of Nossi Bey, the following is a report made
in a letter of October 27, from Chef de Bataillon Passot

The Plateau of Hellville is becoming healthy. The
small garrison of the island, after having been stationed
there for twelve months, has returned to Bourbon with-
out the loss of a single man out of 58.'"

Don ENRIQUE, it is said, intends embarking at Mar-
seilles for Italy.
Wednesday being the first day of Longchamps, the
Champs Elysees were crowded with carriages, eques-
trians, and pedestrians. The weather was fine, though
cold.

The Three per Cents. closed on the Paris Bourse on
Wednesday at 781. 55c. ; the Five per Cents., 116 f. 500. ;
the Orleans Railroad Shares, 1,273 f. 75c. ; Rouen, 862 f.
50c. • Havre, 672 f. 50c. ; Great Northern, 625 f. ; Avignon,
800 i; Vierzon, 5601. ' • Bordeaux, 510 f. ; Troyes and
Montereau, 2901.; Basle, 203 E 75c. ; Dieppe, 3151. ; Paris and
Strasburg, 420 f. ; Nantes, 4161. 25c. ; Paris and Lyons, 427 f.
50c. ; Lyons and Avignon, 460 f. ; Cette, 447 f. 50e.
The following are the quotations for other lines :--
LYONS, Dimwit 29.—Paris and Rouen, 8701. ; Avignon
and Marseilles, 845 f. ; Vierzon, 571 f. 25c.; Northern, 635 f.;
Paris and Lyons, 4451.

BUSLNESS DONE IX FOREIGN RAILWAtS-AT THIS
:LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, APRIL 1.

Dutch Rhenish, 4 —Northern of France, 12X—Orleans and
Bordeaux, 65i—Paris and Lyons, s—Sambre and Meuse, 6.

HEALTH OF THE KING OF HOL-

LAND.

THE HAGUE, MARCH 20.
The following bulletin of the health of the King was
published this morning:—
" His Majesty passed the whole of yesterday in a state
of great tranquillity, and slept at intervals through the
night, till this morning, when very slight symptoms of
fever manifested themselves.
(Signed)

" BECKERS, M.D.
" EVERHEERD, M.D.

" The Hague, March 30, 1847."
The following was also issued this afternoon, at half-
past six :
" A slight change for the better has taken place in his
Majesty's health."

MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS.
CITY, QUARTER TO THREE.

In the Liverpool Cotton Market there was not much
done yesterday. Sales, 3,000 balm.—Shares were flat.
This is a strict holiday in the City.
There is no longer any doubt that the Bank of Eng-
land at the present moment is seriously drawn upon for
specie to send abroad, and that restrictive measures of a
more sweeping character than perhaps ever before were
adopted, and which are necessitated by the new cur-
rency law, by which the Bank must now regulate itself,
have been resolved upon. The Bank, in order to keep
a stock of bullion up to the proportion allowed against
its circulation, has intimated to the bankers and dis-
count houses in the City that they must no longer ex-
pect any but temporary accommodation, and that loans
upon bills will be made only till the 17th inst., and then
not for the full amount. We shall have discounts up
therefore to 6 or 7 per cent. currently until the Bank is
in a situation to relax from this "screwing" process.
Had the Bank put on an extra 1 per cent., the public
would have been much less inconvenienced, but to refuse
to re-discount for the City bankers will compel the latter,
cautious as they have been of late, to decline advances
upon half the paper offered to them. Now, therefore,
comes the " tug of war," and the trial of the Bullion
Currency Act, which, though it may secure the Bank
by compelling the maintenance of a large reserve of
coin, will derange commerce and cause immense losses.

MARKET NEWS.—(THIS DAY.)
This being Good Friday, no business was transacted either
in Mark• lane or the Borough.

SMITHFIELD.

For a holiday market the supply of beasts on sale here was
unusually extensive, viz., 1,225 head. Still,however, owing
to the large number of buyers in attendance, the Beef trade
was steady, and a good clearance was effected at Monday's
quotations. From abroad we received 104 Beasts, 140 Sheep,
and 20 Calves. There was less activity in the Mutton trade
than on last market day. In some few instances a slight
depression was submitted to in prices; yet a full average
amount of business was transacted. The number of Lambs
was seasonably large, or about 6,000, while the trade was
firm, at from ss. Bd. to 7s. per 81bs. From the Isle of Wight
120 came to hand. Calves were in good request, at previous
currencies; but Pigs, though quite as dear, commanded very
little attention. Mitch Cows were dull, at from 161. to 18/.
each, including their small calf.