The Sun.
London, England, 1840-12-14 00:00:00

THE'SUN,, LONDON, MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1840.

tion. is hut experiencing a just retribution. " Even-
justice commends the poisoned chalice to hir
own lips." He has converted what might have been
the precursor cf unprecedented national greatness in
the truest sense, into a mere source of personal aggran-
dizement. He has maintained and sought-tb strengthen
the system of centralized government,tin order that all
power might remain in his own hands. So jealous of
his personal authority has be been, that, with a morbid
anxiety, he has shrunk even from that participation of
power which is necessarily attendant upon the calling of
high•minded men of ability to his councils. His ego-
tistical, insincere, manceuvering nature, has rendered it
impossible for any high-minded statesman to to-operate
permanently with him. He has persecuted the press
as bitterly as his predecessors. He too has sought to
flatter the besetting weakness of the French character
—the ill-regulated thirst for military distinction—by
playing out the farce of African conquest. He has
done what in him lay to enervate and pervert public
opinion in France, in order to serve his own selfish ends.
To this it is mainly owing, that the history of the French
Government since 1830 has been little better than a
narrative of as paltry intrigues for place as disgraced
the history of our Second Charles ; and that public
opinion in France has, if anything, retrograded since the
placing of the present dynasty on the throne.

The Spectator, then, agrees in the main with the
opinions we expressed on November 12, when we
condemned Louis PHILIPPE for " neglecting to
set free French commerce, and for fostering NA-
POLEON'S !,,iilitary system." It is clearly set forth
by our Contemporary that the Governments of the
elder BOURBONS and of NAPOLEON were injurious
to France, and lie condemns, as we condemned,
LOUIS PHILIPPE for having trodden in their
steps. He does not, however, go the length of
blaming the surrounding Governments of Europe
for not having set the French a better example,
and not having done what was in their power to
encourage French trade, and so produce a superior
economical condition in France, and ensure the
other States of Europe against the calamities of
To this omission by our Contemporary,
trusting that he may, with five days to look before
him, resume the subject, and treat it with that de-
liberation and research which cannot be commanded
by writers for the daily press, we shall now direct
our attention.

war.

The description which out Contemporary has
given of the Government of Louts PHILIPPE is
applicable, with slight variations, to most of the
Governments of Europe. We do not say this as a
matter of blame—we look on it as a necessity of
their condition. Like Louis PHILIPPE, they have
maintained and sought to strengthen the system
of centralized government, in order that all power
might remain in their own hands. They have per-
secuted the press more or loss, and have sought to
make public opinion subserve their own selfish ends.
This seems to us according to human nature, and
to be the necessary consequence of the general no-
tion entertained of government.
The Tories are right in regarding government
as implying a system of rule superior to the people
and controlling their will. It is essential, there-
fore, to government, whenever a popular power is
likely to oppose or thwart it, or have a will of its
own, in opposition to the Government, that the
latter should use all the covert and open means it
can command to strengthen itself, and be able,
whenever the necessity for a contest arises, to se-
cure power in its own hands. In Prussia this spi-
rit has operated by controlling education, putting
down as much as possible the power of any priest-
hood independent of the Government whether
Catholic or Protestant, by organizing a commercial
league which extended as it were the boundaries
of Prussia, and centered power in Berlin, and
by keeping a complete and tight hold of the army,
and making it embrace in turn every man in the
kingdom. In Austria the same system has long
been established, and is most sedulously followed
up, subduing the somewhat restive Hungarians by
intrigues, bribery, and violence, and beating down
in Italy, by an iron hand, all opposition to its will.
In neither country is freedom of the press known.
In Spain the same spirit has taken the direction of
a civil rsar, which was mainly caused by a foolish
and even wicked attempt to put down the local
privileges of the Basque provinces. We repeat,
therefore, that the description which the Spectator•
gives of LOUIS PHILIPPE'S Government, applies
with sonie variations, to most of the Governments
of Europe.
We wish we could exempt our own Government,
but we cannot. The new Poor-law, however bene-
ficial—the little attempts made to place a small por-
tion of education under Ministerial control—nu-
merous Commissions, and various assumptions of
power, not always by the Executive but by the Le-
gislature--have all tended to centralize power in
the hands of the Government. A prescrip-
tive privilege of discussion, of some stand-
ing, has secured the press from persecu-
tion, till it was recently revived at Bir-
mingham, Manchester, and London, at the in-
stance of the bigots ; while the only symptom of
opposition to the Government, which it was able to
put down, for Toryism has thwarted it in many in-
stances triumphantly—the opposition of the Char-
tists—was suppressed with as much severity, accord-
ing to our manners, as Louis PHILIPPE has
crushed the emeutes at Paris. Nor are the cases or
Municipal Reform in England and Ireland, which
might seem to be exceptions to the rule, such in
reality. The municipalities had local government
before, and municipal reform., only substituted
an improved local administration, while, in both
cases, it was thought to strengthen the hands of the
men in power. We need not add that the govern.
went of England under the Tories was administered
on the same principles, and continually tended to
engross power, of which the establishment of a
metropolitan police, placed under the Home De-
partment, may be quoted as the illustration. Neither
before the accession of the Whigs, nor since, has
the Government of England, any more than the
Governments of the Continent, bee❑ able to sur-
mount the necessities of its condition, and abstain
from grasping at power, and from assuming a wider
and a wider control.

The Spectator speaks of the paltry intrigues
for place which have disgraced the history of
Louis PHILLIPE, but surely those in France
may be matched in England. If there have been
less mere petty intrigues to get hold of the ear of
the Sovereign here than there, it is because here
the Sovereign has much less power than in
France; but the scandalous bribery and cor-
ruption of the Tories, their wicked coer-
cion of the voters, surpasse s in our estimation all
that has occurred in Paris. The intrigues have
taken a different form in the two countries, and
while in France they have only disgraced the class
of statesmen, here they have tended to degrade
great masses of the comr aunity.
Look to the conduct c if our Legislature. What
contests about nothing I 'What squabbling about
that Reform Act, which has answered the expecta-
tions of neither party I V that wretched and pitia-
ble disputes, session after • session, and year after
year, about those two un principled compromises,
the Irish Tithe Act and th e Irish Municipal Cor-
porations Act I Withot it entering into further par-
ticulars, what, let us ; isk, has the mass of the
debates in both Houses been for the last ten years
but factious disputes, which have ended in laws
founded, not on principle, s of equity or justice, but
on the momentary int efei t, or momentary power,
of one or other conteatkinz parties ? It is melan-
choly to think that to laves so originating, and of
such a nature, our postex, :ty will be fast bound,
like ourselves, and that it. will most probably be
held to be of the highest of .der of criminality in
them to pervert, evade, or; reais► such laws, as it is

now held to be in us in relation to laws which had
in former times a similar origin in the compromises
or victories of factions contending for personal
objects. What have our statesmen and our legis-
lators, in fact, done for the real good of the country,
more than has been done in France ? The Corn-
law still blights the enterprise and crushes the
honest energies of the people. The just descrip-
tion of the Spectator is as applicable to the other
Governments of Europe as to that of Louis
PHILIPPE, and not one amongst them all can be
selected as an example which he ought to have
followed.

But all these Governments have meddled very
much occasionally with other States. The inter-
ference with Belgium, the occupation of Ancoea,
the auxiliaries .vent to Spain, the irruption into
Cracow, the cruel measures taken by Prussia and
Austria against the Poles, are all justified on the
ground that such an interference was necessary for
the welfare of the interfering State. On the same
principle, they might and ought to have interfered
with France to guard against the warlike disposition
and that economical condition which are so threat-
ening to Europe—not indeed by arms, nor even
by recommendations, but by setting an example of
establishing commercial freedom, and by allowing
their respective subjects to trade. with one another
to the utmost extent of their liking and their means.
They have done no such thing ; they have
kept up odious restrictions, narrow monopolies,
and plundering duties ; and have fostered in the
French the antisocial dispositio❑ of which all
Europe is now in some measure the victim.
The truth, however, is that statesmen who pre-
tend to provide for everything, are most ignorant
of many parts of society, and of the principles
which regulate them. We doubt whether the eco-
nomical condition of France, in relation to the rest
of Europe, was ever considered by them as worthy
of attention ; and we doubt whether they have ever
thought of commerce as a means of securing the
peace of the world. They regard it only as con-
tributing to their customs duties. Its mighty
power to soften down national animosities, and fuse
into one common humanity all the notions of the
earth, seems to have escaped their notice, and they
have taken no steps to promote peace and good-
will by extending commerce among people politi•
tally separated. They have confined their inter-
ference to protocols and treaties, when they ought
to have opened their ports, put down their cus-
tom houses, and allowed the free exportation
and importation of goods by merchants.
They can interfere to make war, interfere
with ships and armies, with bayonets and
cannon balls ; btit the better, interference by bales
of cotton and silk, the sailiNipd gentle wooing of
nations to peace and frietifilineas—by the inter-
change of their mutual natural advantages—they
have disdained. But ignoritiCor wilfully mischie-
vous as many of them have been and arc, it is con-
sidered an injury to society to throw doubts on their
wisdom and their utility ; and we must, therefore,
leave the further elucidation cf the subject to the
calm and searching inquiries of our Weekly Con-
temporary.

We have great satisfaction in referring our read-
ers to a letter from Mr. BOTCH, the Middlesex
Magistrate, published in The Sun this day. It re-
lates to a subject of vital importance to the commu-
nity travelling by railroad, and from the simplicity
of the invention proposed by Mr. ROTCII, and his
well. known scientific skill, we have little doubt that
the plan he proposes for giving the alarm of danger
will be ultimately successful. The expense of the
whole apparatus will be very small, and if it is
properly adapted to the signil whistle (barring the
negligence of the officer on duty) it cannot pos-
sibly fail. Mr. ROTCH deserves great credit for
the active part he took in the inquiry at Harrow,
and we confidently trust that he will yet wake the
public still more largely his debtor, by carrying into
effect au improvement which will effectually pit:vent
all such fatal accidents for the future.

Madrid Journals, of the sth instant, have been
received, but their contents are of comparatively
little interest. ESPARTERO was greatly incensed
against the press, whose attacks on the army were
making a great impression on the populace. "It
is reported," says one account,*" that the Regency
is about to suppress several journals in consequence
of their opposition. It is said that the Duke of
VITTORIA is dissatisfied with MM. DE CORTINA
and Gom ES DE BECER RA, whom hesuspects of hav-
ing secret interviews with M. DE CALA TRA VA.
There have been lately some strange converts from
Liberal principles to Conservatism, amongst others
General VALDEZ and M. D'ARGUELL ES. 71‘1.
OLOZAGA had not left Madrid for Paris. M.
ANTONIO GONZALES, the friend of Mr. ASTON,
the British A.eabassador, Was to go to London as
Ambassador to the British Court. M. CORRADI
will fill the same position in Portugal."

FIRE AND LOSS OF LlFE.—Between two and
three this morning a fire broke out in the White Horse
public house near the old church, Chelsea, which, with the
stock, was totally consumed. The fire was first discovered
by Police constable, No. 115, N division, who immediately
alarmed the inmates, ten in number: by the time they were
made conscious of their perilous situation, all communica-
tion with the lower part of the house was cut of, when the
cries of the children, and the shrieks of the females were
most heartrending, there being no other alternative for
them to effect their escape than by dropping into the
street. They were advised to do so, and we regret to
state, several of them were injured by the bruises they re-
ceived, but from the confusion which existed it was im-
possible to ascertain to what extent. The brother of Mr.
Beale, the landlord, is missing, and no doubt remains that
ha has perished in the times. The firemen, upon being
informed of this melancholy fact, began to dig up the
ruins, but in consequence of the heat they could only pro-
ceed slowly, and up to half-past eight o'clock tbe;r search
had been unsuccessful. 111 r. Beale is insured in the
British Fire Office, but we understand not to the amount
of his loss.

TEETOTALISM IN 'MONTGOMERYSHIRE., in
the parish of Llanbrynmair, and the adjoining districts,
nearly all the inhabitants arc (or rather were) disciples of
Father Mathew, and for some two or three year, rigidly
observed the pledge. Juat previous to the lamented
death of the late Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, arrange-
ments were commenced and subsequently continued for
( quelising the rents upon his extensive estates in North
of the
estates trifling, and the
pec
Wales. Notices were, of course, served upon the whole
of the tenantry, in order that a renewal of the tenantcv
should take place subject to the altered rental; and we
are informed that the old occupiers, with scarcely an ex_
appened, however, that in
the
esc.ipr tiNovna,tkaigoa.i,n, belctamsoe willing tenants to the " Your.
g
pariah of Llanbrynmair, and its contiguous districts the
rents heretoforet
agent
had
forthat been comparatively
(who also
valued the other portions) was reluctantly .compelled ha
furtherance of the principle of equalization to increase in
some instances considerably, the old rents.
respected About a week
or a fortnight ago,the rent-day (the first since the increased
portion
rental) was fixed to be held at Llanbrynmair where the
agent attended, and where the tenantry repaired to pay.
Each accepted the customary invitation to dinn condi-
ti, be allowed • Cr,
ienally that they should teetotal drink, and not
to be urged to take any intoxicating beverage ; but pre-
vious to the hour for dinner, the agent communicated the
gran information that he was directed to repay them
4 ) ~
the several amounts with which they had been charged
upon ~ •
their former rents, an instruction which he then and
Reader, they all broke the pledge I
there complied wish.
d and •
All ware soon " good humoured fairly tipsy !" and
continued, to the no small amusement of " mine host" of
Arms Inn, to acknowledge the kindness of
the Wynnstay
"Glorious" sever
their landlord by getting al days succes-
'ivelY.—Carnarcon Herald.
The rehearsal, or repetition, of Mozart's
Requiem, preparatory to its performance at the Chapel of
the Invalides, on the sepulture of Napoleon's remains, took
place at the French Opera-house, on Saturday, and was
attended by all the fashion of the French capital. The
Duchess of Orleans was sufficiently recovered from her
late confinement to attend. The singers were Lablache,
Tamburini, Duprez, Grisi, Mesdames Niadot, Eugene
Garni, Damoresu, &c. ; but the church was wanting for
effect, and the organ for accompaniment. No quantity of
horns and trumpets, nor yet the voice of Lablache himself
could compensate for the absence of an organ. At the In-
valides, however, this will not be wanting.
BRENCHLEY.—On the night of Sunday last,
the 6111 inst., seine dogs entered a field on Bullen-farts,
East Peckham, in the occupation of Mrs. Cheesman, in
' a hick was a flock of fifty lambs, and actually killed the
whole of them.--Sussex Express.

LLO YD'S SHIPPING-(THIS DAY.)

LONDON, DEC. 14. —lt blew very fresh last night at d
part of this morning front the eastward, with violent squalls
at times. Wind, this day at noon, fresh breezes from the
eastward, with fine clear weather and hard frost.

DEAL, DEC. 12. —Wind E, S.E., moderate; 13th,
E., fresh breeze.—Sailed the Alexandr Baring, Hall, for
Bombay; General Evans, Madeira; Wilberforce steamer,
Macdougal, Gibralter; Duke of Bronte, Payne, Bom-
bay ; General Brock, Saskbrook, Cape Coast Castle;
Ealing Grove, Falconer, Dominica ; British Merchant,
Park, Jamaica ; Quebec, Hebard, New York ; Victory,
Brooks, Bermuda.

DOVER, Dac. 10..—Off port Maria, Nay, Havannab.
Onas, Dec. 10.—The Henry, 11I'Callam, of Glasgow,
bound to Easdale, has put in here with considerable da-
mage, having struck on the rocks.
WHIT6TABLE, DEC. 13.—The Felize, Istuloh, frcm
Bremen, bound to Tampico, has been assisted in here with
damage, having been on the Kentish Knock last night.
DUBLIN, DEC. 11.—Ar:ived the Perseverance, Scott,
from Quebec ; Carleton, Summers, ditto ; Recovery,
Conway, ditto; Margaret, Balfour, ditto; Mary Reid,
Llanelly, with loss of boat, bulwarks, and two
of the crew, having been struck by a sea.
WATERFORD, DEC. 9. Arrived the Cornwallis, DaviF,
from Newfoundland.

CORK, Disc. W.--Arrived the Trinidad, Sardon, from
Honduras ; Welcome, Jackson, Newfoundland—sailed
22d ult. ; St. George, Stewart, Cuba; Queen Victoria,
Connor, Bombay. Sailed tho Jane, *Combs, for Africa;
Kinguloch, Stanton, Newfoundland.

DEC. 11.—Sailed Georgiana, Watson, Tobago.
LIVERPOOL, DEC. 12.—Wind S.E.—Arrived Mary
Ann, Hutton. from Quebec, with loss of sails, bulwarks,
&c. 13.—Oriental steamer, Say, Alexandria, left 26th
ult., Malta, lst inst., and Gibraltar, 6th. Sailed Cam-
bridge, Dickinson, for Demerara; Isabella, Thorpe, ditto;
Lord Glenelg, Simpson, Trinidad ; Ganges, Henderson,
Charleston ; Hermes, Oliphant, Lima ; Garrow, Ling-
ham, Africa. The Dinah, Dick, from hence to Palermo,
put into Douglas, Isle of Man, with loss of boats, bul-
warks, &c., having been struck by a sea. The
Earl of Harewood, from Cuba and Nassau,
to Swansea, was spoken, 3d inst., ton. 23, very leaky,
with loss of boats, sails, bulwarks, &c., part of crew laid
up, and 200 tons of copper thrown overboard, having ex.
perienced very severe weather, by the Souter Johnny, ar-
rived here. The Emerald, Dempsey, from Liverpool to
Bordeaux, was driven on shore at Sanday, near Campbel-
town, Bth inst. and was expected to become a wreck.
PORTSMOUTH, Dec. 12 AND 13.—Wind E.N.E.—Ar-
rived the Courier, Havigborst, from Rio Janeiro. Sailed
the Persia, Stevens, for Ceylon. Off port, the Euxine,
Nichol, from Miramichi.

Cowl/8, Duo. 13. .—Arrived the Lynher, Browse, from
the Mauritius.
PLYMOUTH, DEC. 13.--Wind N. E.—Sailed the Susan,
Neatley, Sydney, New South Wales ; Neptune, Ferris,
ditto ; Bussorah Merchant, ditto ; Siam, Smith, Port
Adelaide. Sailed the Reward, Hogg, for Jamaica ; Kers-
well, Gower, Demerara.

FALMOUTH, DEC. 11.—Wind E., fresh gale.-12. Wind
N. E. to E. N. E.—Arrived the Vigilant, Leggett, from
Dalhousie, with decks swept and loss of boats, Sic. ; Iberia
steamer, Cooper, Gibraltar. Sailed the Ide, Mauritius;
Superb, Hamilton, Adelaide; Dryden, Launceston.

MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS.

CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK.

LIVILIIPOOL COTTON MARKET, SATUIDAY.—We have
hada fair Litmand for Cotton and, yesterday's quo-
tations have been fully maintained. The sales were from
4,000 to 5,000 bags, chiefly Americans.

A Lisbon mail has arrived by the Iberia, which sailed
from Gibraltar Dec. 3, Cadiz Dec. 4, Lisbon Dec, 5;
Oporto, no communication ; and Vigo Dec. 9.
The Oriental left Alexandria on the 26th Nov.,
Dec. 1, and Gibraltar Dec. 6.

By the overland mail from India we have received paperF.
Accounts from Manila of the 4th June state that the
market for British goods was very dull, and very little
doing in produce. Opium Ind improved, chiefly in conse-
quence of the demand for the junks then about leaving ,
Patna had been sold at 360 380 drs. and Nlalwa was
%anted at 500 drs., per chest. There was not any
kind left in the market.

COTTON Gcons.—The demand for all sorts of Cotton
goods is very small, as is usual in this season of the year.
WOOLLENS. —Such as are proper for the junks continue
in demand, but without any improvement in price, on ac-
count of the heavy stock.

:MARINE STORES.--TlO market continues well supplied
with every article, except European rope, which is still in
great demand. Heavy stock of canvas on hand.
WINES, &c.—Good English bottled beer, gin, English
brandy, and French claret are inquired after, and the first
arrivals will do well.

SUGAR.—There is no demand whatever for clayed sugars.
Inferior qualities continue in demand.
INDIOO.—No transactions, and very little in the market.
HEMP.—Some small lots have been sold at 31. 55., un-
screwed.

EXCHANGE —l,OOOl. Treasury Bills have been done at
ss. id. Private bills on London, six months' sight, have
been negotiated during the week at 4s. 7d.
SIAM _By the arrival of the Fairy during the
week from Siam, we have letters from Bankok,
which contain very unfavourable accounts of the state of
affairs in that quarter. Business was altogether at a stand,
produce scarce and high priced. The King had prohibit-
ed the exportation of rice, the grand staple of the
county, by everybody but himself. The cause assigned
for this prohibition is the condition of the upper provinces
of the country.
‘Vo have received the Journal of Antwerp of yester-
day's date.
Bovhsis OF AMSTERDAM, Dxc. 11.—The rise in the
Funds at Paris and London has sustained the prices in our
National Funds, which have in general improved. The
business in the Integrales were greatly animated ; Al-
doin'A Spanish, owing to some purchases, are better.