The Sun.
London, England, 1824-02-17 00:00:00

THE LONDON JOURNALS.

• DAILY
EXII(IaS from the Morning, Papers, Feb. 17.

[rilE TIMES]
Letters from Bahia of the I7th of Decerwher,
nd from Pernambuco of the 31st, were received
yesterday. At Bahia, on the arrival of intelli-
gence of the events at Rio de Janeiro, a protest
N.” 15 prepared and sif,ned by several iudividuals,
expressive of their disapprobation of the Empe-
ror's :_conduct in dissolving the Legislative As-
sembly. On the 17th, however, a general meet-
ing of the principal persons in Bahia took place
on the invitation of the Crt. nertunent, to consider
what steps ought to be taken, hut nothing oc-
curred eticept the passing a resolution to con-
sider the protest above mentioned as null and
void. Those who had signed it addressed the
meeting principally with the view of exculpating
themselves for having done so, by alleging that
they were not aware, at the time, of the real
state of the case. It seems that a strong party
exists in Bahia disposed to adhere to the Em-
peror under any circumstances, so that it was
probable the tranquillity of the place would be
preserved. Affairs remained nearly in the same
state at Pernambuco as mentioned in the last ar-
rivals. The decree for the expulsion of those
Portuguese who had not taken the oath of ad-
.herence was carrying into effect, and a ship was
prepared for their conveyance to Europe.

[surrtsu PRESS.]
Enfeebled Spain, as a last despairing effort,
before her authority over her emancipated co-
lonies, expires for ever, has put forth, on the sug-
gestion of the Paris Cabinet, her last manifesto,
resigning a monopoly no more within her grasp,
and affecting to throw open the vast trade and
resources of Mexico, Colombia, Buenos Ayres,
and Peru, to all Europe, without restriction.--
Can the wretched Ministry, who now hare a
Massing hold of the reins of authority within the
Pyrenees, imagine that this document can recall
South America beneath the despotism of Spain—
that these great and rising States will alter a
single feature of their independence or policy, on
the promulgation of a powerless mandate of this
description ? Colombia, in Congress, has lately
put forth her commercial tariff. Does. France or
Spain suppose that a solitary duty will he changed
on the confederacy against Southern America
of these Cabinets ? Where is the power of Spain
to maintain her supremacy ?—where her arma-
ments and her navy ? Can a single ship of the
line and two, or three frigates, such as the aid of
France has enabled her to dispatch from Cadiz
the other day, recall the parted conquests of
Cortez or Pizarro ? This " Royal Decree," then,
is a mere brutum ficlmen. The thunder, if it
s!:ould reach across the Atlantic, will sink harm-
fess around the American States. Their hest
protection is their own strength, and the power
of great Britain and the United States. They
will resist with their united fleets any confede-
rated attempt against South America ; and Spain
of herself can do nothing. Where was the neces-
sity of this weak decree, to throw open the trade
of her omancipated colonies to Europe, who pos-
sessed it already? The commerce of Great Britain
with these rising countries now amounts to several
Foillions; her superiority only springs from her
greater resources and industry. France is equally
free to trade ; so are " Russiahussia ,and Austria."
South America will admit the flag of every nation
that respects her policy and independence ; she
wars with none whose vessels enter her ports
under friendly colours : but as to the vast con-
tinent of South America again returning under
the despotism of wretched. Spain, or submitting
to the miserable Councils of Castile and the
Indies, it is just as likety.as that the powerful
union of the United States will rescind their
league of strength, and, after the independence
of half a century, again fubmit to be assessed
and governed by the Legislature of Great Britain.
—This Madrid Decree, therefore, is perfectly
Qnixotic, and can be attended with no effect
whateVer.

[Nov TIMES.]
An Evening Paper, which favoured us the
other day with a little criticism on our style, con-
tains the following article :-44 We have been fa-
voured with the perusal of a private letter from
Paris, which reached a most respectable house in
the City this morning by express, having left
that capital yesterday forenoon. This letter con-
tains the important intelligence of the French
Government having received a Telegraphic Dis-
patch from Madrid, announcing that Ferdinand
had put forth a Decree permitting a free trade
between South America and every other Power.
Supposing, however, such a Decree to be issued,
it would in reality be just so much moonshine !!"
—Our worthy Cotemporary will probably in-
form us in his next what is the precise value
of a given quantity of moonshine, and how the
importance of a moonshine Decree is to he esti-
mated. As to the Decree, if any such have
issued, we shall be inclined to view it with
complacency, as indicating a conciliatory spirit
on the part of Spain toward her late colonies.—
All that we want is a free trade; and if both
parties agree to give us that, it is a matter of no
concern to us at all how they settle their other
disputes. The sooner South America is freed
from her intestine wars, the more beneficial shall
swe'tnd. bee trade, whether her independence be
•
modified of complete.

Di CO RPC1,240 MI ER A LD.]
There was 'yesterday a deal of bustle in the
Foreign Stock Market, and the improvement in
the value of every Foreign Security has been to
a moat unprecedented extent. The French
Rentes in. London h.avead sauced to a correspond-
ing price to that annotmzed for them at Paris,
hetifint been done' there yesterday at 992, with
the Exchange at 2450. The Premium- bn the
Erenth Scrip was its high as 112, and closed at
11. ,Russian BMWs have reached 944.-. The
Old Bonds of Prussia bare touched 95‘; and the
.
o'Ww pries brelmen done at 93k. Daniab Bondi
halt been-lrithia a ..balf per cent. of par, whilst
thfiScrip'of the fliWlLoan for. Portittit' fiat ad.