The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-19 00:00:00

than 388,867 tons of flax, worth 19,443,3501.
sterling, were imported during that period ; it will
also be found that there is an average annual im-
portation of 500,000 quarters of flax-seed, and
over 70,000 tons of -oil-cake. The annual drain on
the country may, therefore, be fairly estimated at no
less than 6,000,000/. sterling,, the whole of which
might find its way. to Ireland-tn place of to France
and Belgium. It is needless to speak of the vast in-
crease of national wealth derivable from the retention
of so large a sum in the country. These advantages
that we have enumerated are, however, chiefly con-
fined to the farmer. There are, however, other and
still greater benefits in the employment afforded in
weeding, pulling, rippling, watering, spreading, lift-
ing, drying, breaking, and scutching the crop,
and even when finally converted into yarn, its bles-
sings are still observable. We find from a return given
by Sir ROBERT KANE, in his celebrated work on
" The Industrial Resources of Ireland," that the pro-
duce of three statute acres of flax aflbrded full em-
ployment for an entire year to no less than 216 per-
sons, who received 2,2171. 6s. Bd. for the wages of
their labour, and that, after paying all expenses, it
left a clear profit of 3321. 13s. 4d. for the manufac-
turer. Surely, with such results, it will be admitted
that we have established the truth of our proposition,
that in an extensive growth of flax in all parts of the
country will be found the chief remedy for Ireland's
distress—the means of safety and wealth for Irish
landlords.

Madrid papers of the 11th instant have arrived.
On the evening of the 9th the QUEEN, whilst riding
out on horseback, was surrounded by a number of
women in great distress, who besought her to take
pity on their misfortunes. An aide-de-camp at-
tempted to push them away, but the QUEEN ordered
them to approach, and one of them presented a peti-
tion praying her to give orders to the Minister of
Finance to pay the arrear due to the poorer classes of
the State creditors. Her MAJESTY received the pe-
tition graciously, and promised to take its prayer into
consideration.

General PEZUELA. has obtained permission to reside
in Madrid. -

General DE la CONCHA, Commander-in-Chief of
the army of Portugal, arrived at Zamora on the sth,
and at that place and at Salamanca preparations
were making for the troops to march into Portugal.
The Herald() announces that the insurgents have
abandoned all the coast as far as Viana.

The best feeling is said to exist between the
Spanish troops and those of the Queen of PORTUGAL.
The intelligence that SA DA BANDEIRA had offered
to make his submission is confirmed by the Correo,
the new semi-official journal of Senor SALAMANCA.

The prospects of the harvest throughout Spain are
exceedingly cheering.
The funds necessary for the payment of the divi-
dend on the Three per Cents., due on the 30th of
June, had been forwarded to London and Paris.

The Three per Cents. were dune at 31 for cash; the
Four pr Cents. at 18; the Five per Cents. at 18; the
Debt without Interest at 5:41; and the Coupons at 15.

We have received the Paris papers of Wednesday.
On Tuesday M. DEMESMAY brought forward a
motion in the Chamber of Deputies for the reduction
of the duty of salt. Last session a similar motion
was carried by a majority of 240 to 26 in the Cham-
ber of Deputies, but the Bill was stifled by a Minis-
terial manoeuvre in the Chamber of Peers. None
of the Ministers spoke on Tuesday, and the debate
was adjourned. The following article in the Debats
announces the intention of Ministers to oppose the
motion on financial grounds merely. After almitting
that the tax is one which presses heavily upon the
poor, the Debats says—
"We believe the reform to be useful and urgent, as
well in the interest of the poorer classes in the country
districts, as for the prosperity of our agriculture. We
have no intenticn of undertaking the demonstration of
this double assertion, because it is not seriously con-
tested, and because it has been already frequently done.
But a serious apprehension prevents us from wishing to
see this reform carried out at present, in the midst of
the financial embarrassments which surround us. The
duty on salt brings to the Treasury upwards of
75,000,000 f. a year. The proposition reduces the
duty from 3 dicimes to 1, or two-thirds. The
loss consequently would be two-thirds the first
year, or fifty millions. There can be no doubt
that the reduction in the duty would lead
to an increasing augmentation in the consumption,
which would in the long run make up the loss at first
produced to the revenue. We agree with M. Demes-
may on this point, and fully share his hopes. But what
cannot be contested is, that this reform, so fruitful in ex-
cellent results of various kinds, commences by imposing
on the Treasury considerable sacrifices, the termination
of which we may not see in the fifth, the sixth, or per-
haps the tenth year after its adoption. What will be the
amount of these sacrifices? We cannot say, but cer-
tainly something very considerable. That is a point
agreed on by every one. Is the moment well selected to
undertake a reform the first effect of which is to call for
a sacrifice of fifty millions, or let us say forty millions,
to the Treasury ? That is the question, and it appeared
to us quite enough to ask it to create doubt in the most
determined mind."
The Peers are summoned for the 21st, to hear the
report of the Committee appointed to examine into
the truth of the accusations against General
CUBIERES.

The Presse still continues its attacks against M.
GUIZOT. From the tenor of the following article it
would appear that the intrigue for the substitution of
Count MOLE for M. GUIZOT is revived. The article
commences with the following extract from an
address from M. GUIZOT to his constituents, pub.
lished in 1839 :
"The affairs of the country are neglected. The
Government is null. All questions remain in suspense.
Railroads—the conversion of the Five per Cents.—the
abolition of slavery, and that all-important one, public
instruction. Neither are material interests better com-
prehended nor better treated than moral interests, and
all this, too, at a period of profound p,,ace—in the pre-
sence of the most pliant Chambers and the most favour-
able circumstances, without the occurrence of any great
obstacle or any great danger! If the Ministry remain in
office, what will be the consequence? That which has
happened during two years (' read seven years' says the
Presse)—the SaILYIP simultaneousenfeeblement of the public
powers—the same confusion amongst them—the same
adjournment of questions—the same decline of our in-
fluence—the same increase of our embarrassments. On
some day—l know not on what day, but infallibly on
some day—St reaction will be produced, which will sud-
denly rouse the powers which are degraded, those
feelings now despised, those interests neglected and
(that which will add to the evils intended to be re-
moved) its own evils and its own dangers. The feel-
ing of this present danger, and the anticipation of
future misfortunes, have determined my opposition."
" Thus," observes the Presse. "M. Guizot expressed
himself in the year 1839, when addressing his consti-
tuents. The reasons which he gave at that period to
justify his opposition, are exactly those which we might
adduce to justify ours at the present day, with this single
difference, that he accused a Cabinet having only two
years' existence, and having to contend single-handed
against the entire coalesced force of the Tribune—
against an oratorical holy alliance, whilst the Cabinet
of the 29th of October reckons seven years of existence,
and has to contend solely against its own impotency.
When we compare those two periods, when we compare
the two Cabinets of the 15th of April and of the 29th
of October, there is one reflection which we cannot
avoid making; which is—that according as Count Mole
found his majority diminishing, he himself became
greater during the contest, whilst, on the contrary, M.
Guizot appeared more feeble according as his majority
became greater." -

The report of M. BIGNoN on the Budget of Ex-
penses of 1848 was distributed on Tuesday to the
Chamber of Deputies, in the name of the Committee.
The ordinary budget amounts oto 1,544,072, 627 f.,
and the Committee proposes a reduction of 7,000,000 f.
The reductions on the extraordinary credits are much
greater, they amount altogether to 92,768,000 f., and
are in the credits for extraordinary works in the de-
partments of Public Works, War, and Marine. The
Government had demanded 472,288,939 f.
The Courrier Francais contains an announcement
(which may be considered official) that it is the in-
tention of the Opposition Deputies to call the atten-

tion of the Chamber to the conduct of M. GuizoT as
regards Switzerland, and to move a formal vote of
censure on the Ministry.
the Union Monarchique says that " Lord and
Lady NORMANBY, on their return from England, will
make but a very short stay in Paris, but will leave

almost immediately for Germany. The appointment

of a successor to his Lordship in the post of Ambas-

sador in France will shortly take place. Among the
political personages mentioned as likely to replace
him, Lord CLANRICARDE, Lord BEAUVALE (brother
of Lord MELBOURNE), and Lord HOLLAND, are more

particularly cited. This last choice, which hitherto

appears to have the greater chance of success, would
be, on the part of the British Government, an act of

courteous gallantry towards France, which has not
forgotten the pious recollections that connect so
honourably the name of Lord HOLLAND with the