The Sun.
London, England, 1824-03-01 00:00:00

FOR THE SUN.

ON ADDRESSES.
MR. EDITOR—The practice of assailing the
Throne with loyal and dutiful Addresses has now
become so prevalent, and this method of express-
ing the public opinion, or that of any parlii, upon
the measures of Government, is so likely to be
soon put into practice that I trust I shall be ex-
cused for offering some cursory observations upon
this subject.
I am not prepared to state at what period of
time this laudablet, custom arose, nor -t6 trace
its regular progress from its origin to its pre-
sent universal prevalence. Suffice it to say, that
almost, from time immemorial, the City of Lon-
don, both of the Universities, the Societies of the
Temple, and of Lincoln's Inn, that of Gray's Inn,
and some of the principal Corporate Bodies of
the kingdom, have enjoyed the privilege, upon
all great and extraordinary emergencies, to bring
their petitions or addresses to the foot of the
Throne. It has been, however, only since some
reigns past, that most of the inferior corporations
have exercised this privilege, to which they seem
to have an equal right.

The original intention of this practice, was it
is evident, to open a free communication between
the Sovereign and his subjects ; and to enable
the former to make himself acquainted with their
wishes and with their sentiments, upon the mea-
sures adopted and pursued by his Ministers.
The system is, therefore, in itself, most excel-
lent, and worthy of being adopted and preserved
by a free people. It, indeed, affords the subject
almost the only means they can have of commu-
nicating to their Sovereign the real and general
sentiment of those over whom lie is placed, and
whose happiness it is his duty to secure. As
Monarchs, owing to the high rank they hold in
the community, are necessarily confined to a
small sphere of privileged individuals, and are
therefore precluded from ascertaining the various
opinions of mankind, by mingling in every class
of society, it is necessary that they should be
made acquainted with the general sense of
the nation, upon all important occasions. If
this privilege be advantageous to the subject it
may he not less so to the Sovereign. Since it
affords him a fair opportunity of judging for him-
self, and secures him against the passible misre-
presentations of selfish favourites, or of corrupt
Ministers.

Since such was the true and original intention of
theright of the subjects to address the Sovereign,
it is evidently absolutely requisite that all such
addresses should express the unbiassed and spon-
taneous sentiments of the people, and be perfectly
free from nny sort of influence or management
whatever. If this be not the case, the avowed
object cannot be possibly attained. For every
address procured in any other way can tend only
to mislead the judgment of the Prince, instead of
en lightening it, and to alienate the affections of
his
people,
is led to believe are either
reprehended or recommended by the majority of
the nation.
by
inducing him to abandon, or to pur-
sue measures w hich he

That too many addresses are got up in this man-
ner, it is impossible to deny, and it is no less true,
that such a practice must have the most perni-
cious tendency. Daily experience proves that
this practice, however otherwise beneficial in
itself, has been made of late years, the tool by
means of which ambitious or mischievous dema-
gogues, have attempted to further their owe views,
by irritating the public mind. The method
employed to accomplish this end is sufficient-
ly obvious. Artful men find not the least diffi-
culty in drawing up petitions, addresses, &c. and
it is equally easy to procure an immense number
of signatures. Every possible description of per-
son is welcome to inscribe his name, and, as
quantity is all they want, when this is not
found to be sufficient, the deficiency is easily
supplied, many names are put down, whose
owners never existed, whilst different signatures
are either put down in the very same hand, or
else in disguised and counterfeited characters !
That addresses and petitions will soon pour from
all parts, we cannot doubt for a moment, how
far the above method will be employed, it is not
difficult to surmise.

A. P.

A commercial letter slated Kiel, Feb. 9th,
says—" Our great entitle' fair is just over without any mishap
in the money market. Various loans were negociated, and in
fact there was no want of money when the security was dee►red
good. The general rate of interest was 4 per cent., although
some negociat►ons were effected as low as three and a half. The
prices of grain have lately experienced a considerable rise. The
university here, by the bye, has seldom been so flourishing as
at present. A very great number of students are here from all
parts. With a view to greater accommodation, his Majesty has
g►ven his consent for the erection of a new building wherein to
deposit the large library that is at present in the Royal Castle.
And what further inspirits us in the Duchies (Holstein and
Sleswick,) is the very general idea entertained that the Crown
is about to remit a considerable part of the existing taxes.
Justly popular as the King is, this will doubtless tend to aug-
ment the affection of a faithful and a loyal people."

The celebrated commercial firm of VAN DER
Smlssocl4, of Altona, which lately suspended its payments,
owing in a great measure to the depreciated value of West In-
dia property, has succeeded in making arrangements to liqui-
date the affairs of the house without being declared bankrupts.
Their debts amount to about two millions 200,000 marks banco,
some where about two hundred thousand pounds sterling. It
is not expected that the estate will pay more than tie per cent.

MUNICH, FEB. 6.--The will of the late
Banker, Baron Von Ercirrum., has engaged the public at-
tention a good deal. It is certainly a curious one. He leave-
about five millions of florins, equivalent to five hundred thous
sand pounds sterlings. This large Capital is to remain 113
years under the joint administration of Mr. Simon Von
Eichthal and his Book-keeper. The Legatees, till the expiry
of the time mentioned, are to be no further benefited than re-
ceiving the annual interest. Aniong the Legacies are two
pipes of very old stock, which are bequeathed to the • King of
Bavaria. About one thousand pounds sterling are left to the
Poor, and the like sum to the society for extinguishing fires.