The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-22 00:00:00

S `l7 Ef, MARCH 22, 1847.

THE WEST INDIA MAILS.

The Royal Mail Company's steamer Forth, C. M.
Chapman commander, arrived at Southampton on S, a-
r.urday afternoon, at five P.m., bringing mails of the fol-
lowing dates, in charge of Lieut. Brown, Admiralty
tgent:—Puerto Cabello, Feb. 19 ; St. Jago de Cuba,
Feb. 23; Jamaica, Feb. 25; Puerto Rico, Feb. 27; Deme-
rara, Feb. 18; Tobago, Feb. 19; Trinidad, Feb. 20; Bar-
aadoes, Feb. 24; Grenada, Feb. 20 ; St. Vincent, Feb.
26; St. Lucia, Feb. 26; Martinique, Feb. 27; Dominique,
Feb. 27; Guadaloupe, Feb. 27; Antigua, Feb. 28; Mont-
,errat, Feb. 28; Nevis, Feb. 28; St. Kitts, Feb. 28; Tor-
Alar;lls unlo;Sete.sl6Thomas,cvta of gold ;
larchl. Her freight con-
ists
of 22
168 i ounces old
illver, and 1051. silver bullion; 74 tierces, 2 casks, and
14 barrels of coffee; 6 serons of indigo, and packages of
itindries; 1 tierce and 1 cask of beeswax; 35 packages of
IrFewroot ; 45 pckages of saccades ; 3 casks of tor-
wseshell, &c., and 51 passengers, iccluding General
Nfiddlemore and family.
The Forth left her Majesty's ship Vindictive, Admiral
Sir F. Austin, proceeding to Jamaica; her Majesty's ship
[(ileum, her Majesty's sloop Electra, her Majesty's
iehooner Pickle, and her Majesty's steamer Vesuvius,
at Port Royal, Jamaica; her Majesty's steamer Hermes
cruising in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Spanish ship Soberano left St. !Jag° on the 9th
February, with an Ambassador for La Guayra and
Central America.

The Royal Mail steam-packet Avon left St. Thomas
on the Ist March for Jamaica, the Tav down the Spanish
Main the Thames leaving liavannali for Jamaica, the
Tweed down the Gulf, the Reindeer at Trinidad, the
Eagle ou slip at St. Thomas's, and the schooner Larne
undergoing repairs.
A slight shock of earthquake was felt at Halberstadt,
Port Royal Mountains, on the 22d of February, at half-
past seven P.M.

The crops are in a satisfactory state throughout the
Lslands.

The Court of Spain had sent an Ambassador to the
states of Central America, being their first recognition
of these states since they asserted their independence,
and it is believed the British Admiral intends following
the ship conveying the Ambassador, to watch proceedings.
There was fever at some one or two of the islands, but
they were generally healthy.
The Forth has made an excellent voyage, although
she experienced strong winds from St. Thomas to Fayal,
and bad weather at the latter place, since leaving which
she has had fine weather. She exchanged colours at sea
with the barque Britain, March sth, lat. N. 23.9, long. W.
57.30; and on the 13th, with the Indian Chief, lat. N.
37.0, long. W. 32.14.
We have our usual files of West India papers by this
arrival, but we gather from them but little intelligence
of general interest. Addresses had been presented to his
Excellency Sir C. Grey, on entering upon his office of
Governor-General of Jamaica; and the Hon. General
Berkeley, late Commander-in-Chief, had left Kingston
in the steam-ship Thames, attended by every demon-
stration of respect and attachment, to enter upon his new
appointment.
The right wing of the 38th Regiment, under command
of Lieut.-Colonel Sir. J. Campbell, arrived at Kingston
in her Majesty's ship Vesuvius, Commander La Touche,
from Montego• bay.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
(From De Cordova's Mercantile Intelligencer.)
JAMAICA, FEB. 23.—We have to report our market as
being in a yet better position than it was when we last went
to press; the intelligence brought by the packet from Eng-
land, which came in on the 16th instant, of the high rates of,
and increased demand for, American breadstuffs and provi-
sions having caused a corresponding demand and advance
in prices here.• Speculators are coming forward freely, and
the market is being cleared of large quantities of flour, pork,
and rice (the two former in particular), which are taken at
even better rates than those reported in our issue of the Gth
instant. _ .

We think it necessary here to mention, that, in the event
of there being a rupture between the House of Assembly and
the Council, arising out of the discussion on the Retrench-
ment Bill, it is not unlikely that there will be a dissolution
of the House before the Revenue Bill, which will expire on
the sth of April, shall have been gone into. Should events
take the turn which it is conjectured they will, the Revenue
Bill must remain in abeyance until the differences between
the two branches of the Legislature shall be arranged; but
we cannot at this moment hazard even a surmise as to the
period which will elapse between its expiration and its re-
newal or amendment.

Unless specifically stated to the contrary, long or duty•
paid prices are always given, and are to be considered as
wholesale prices.
Flour The following parcels have been moved on specula-
.

tion :-200 barrels New Orleans, at 30s. 6d. ; 1,000 ditto, at
315.; 330 ditto, at 32i.; 700 ditto, at 325.; 600 ditto, Alex-
andria, at 335. ; 500 ditto, Georgetown, at 335. ; 503 ditto, at
343. ; 600 ditto, Philadelphia, at 345. ; 5 ditto, at 36s ; 200
ditto New Orleans, at 36s ; 300 ditto BaltNore, at 355. cash ;
300 ditto Georgetown, Philadelphia, and New Orleans, at
3Ss. ; 200 ditto each New Orleans and Georgetown, taken
together, at 365. and 365. 6d.; 385. is now generally de-
manded, and prices, it is not unlikely, will keep up for some
time, the greater portion of the stock, which is not very
heavy, being in the hands of speculators. [Since the above
was in type, we have heard that 38s. has been refused for
20:) barrels of Georgetown.]
Cornmeal—Previously to the arrival of the packet, 300
barrels in lots were taken at 245.; but subsequently 200
barrels commanded 265.: which rate is now refused. The
supply is light.
Rice—The sales before the packet came in were 200 bags
cargo, Bengal, at 17s. 6d. • subsequently 1,000 bags Madras
commanded 21s. 6d. per 1001 b.; but holders are now asking
225. In Carolina, 10 tierces were moved at 245. per 1001 b. ;
and for a lot of 30 tierces, 30 half-tierces, and 200 bags, 26s
has been since obtained.

Bread—All descriptions are scarce and in demand; a
parcel of 70 barrels navy has changed hands at 16s. per
barrel.

Butter—About 270 firkins of the last arrival of Irish have
been parcelled at 12d.—some previous.lots were disposed of at
the same rate and id. under—but the stock is getting light
and holders are wanting more than 12d. Nova Scotia has
been sold at Bd. and 10d., and upwards of 900 kegs Ame-
rican have changed hands at from bid. to Bid. per lb.
Lard—The sales have been 250 kegs Philadelphia at 6%0.,
100 kegs Baltimore at the same figure, and 180 kegs New
Orleans at 6d. We have nothing to report in Irish. Both
descriptions are scarce.

Can.dles—American are wanted. Several large parcels have
been taken at Bd. for 6's, B's, and 12's; and at 7%d. for
10's. Sales to the extent of 250 boxes of olive-oil wax
have been made at 12d. per lb.
Codfish—The arrivals since our last have been rather free,
and several cargoes have been taken at 135., 13s. 6d., and
14s. fur casks, and 175.. 17s. 6d., and 18s. for boxes. The
stock on hand is fair. The last cargo has just been sold at
13s. and 17s. in casks and boxes.

Mackerel-The last sales were at 225. per barrel for No. 3,
and 265. for N 0.2. The stock is becoming light.
Alewives-are wanted. The last parcels were moved at
225. per barrel for No. 1.
Herrings-No. 1, with roes are in demand, and are taken
at 225. per barrel.
Salmon is plentiful and dull. No. lis worth 50s. to 525.,
and No. 2, 465. to 485., in barrels. Tierces are unsaleable.
Soap-Very few transactions have been effected, in con-
sequence of the desire of holders to obtain better rates than
those last quoted, and the disinclination of the trade to give
them. The only transactions which have reached us are-
-100 boxes Steele's double crown (561 b) at 15s. 6d. ; 400
boxes feather, same weight, at 135.; 100 boxes Olden's
(601 b.) at 14s. 6d.; and 100 boxes Olden's (501 b.) at 131.
per box.
Pork-The great demand for speculative purposes has
raised the price of this article. We quote the following sales
of prime at advanced rates :-500 barrels New Orleans at
665., 100 barrels Quebec at 675., and 100 ditto at 685.; 725.
is now demanded. We quote also 130 barrels mess at 745.
4d.. for which 80s. is now asked.
Hams-The stock of American is very heavy; 420 inferior
have been taken at 414 d. per lb. cash, 1,400 at 514c1., and
200 sugancured at 5Ad. to 6d. Some superior parcels com-
mand 7d. English are scarce, and worth 10%cl.
Pigs's Tongues-are wanted.
Cheese-English may be quoted at 9d. to 10%d., accord-
ing to quality and condition. American at from 6d. to 61Aid.
per lb. Both sorts are plentiful, American in particular.
Corn-Several large sales have been made at 45., and re-
sales of small parcels at 4s. 6d. to se. per bushel. A lot to
arrive has been engaged at 4s. 6d.

Oil—Cod continues scarce—and is still worth 2s. 6d. per
gallon.
Malt-400 casks London porter and ale have changed
hands at Bs. per dozen. Lane's Cork commands 90s. to 955.
per hhd. 63 hogsheads Scotch have been moved at 82s.
per hbd.
Lumber—A cargo of W. P., deliverable at an output,
has been taken at 120 s. per M feet, and 245. per M for
Shingles. 20,000 feet United States have also been parted
with at 100 s. The stock of W. P. is still light, and that of
P. P. only fair.
Brandy—Best brands are worth 6s. 9d. to 7s. per gallon,
short price.
article Rung—We
isnow held quote
fors eryalvesofad6voanpcuenacrhaetoes.
puncheons at 4s. 3d. This

EXCHANGES ON LONDON.
Planters' Bank-90 days, par.
60 days, per cent. premium.
" 30 days, 1 per cent. premium.
Jamaica Bank-90 days, par.
Colonial Bank—GO days, per cent. premium.
" :30 days, 1 per cent. premium.

We understand that an amateur theatrical perform-
ance, in aid of the funds of the Printers' Pension Society, will
take place on Saturday, April 24, at the Royal Olympic
Theatre.
MONUMENT TO LORD BYRON.—WO have much
pleasure to learn that the British Government are about to
pay a just tribute of respect to the memory of our immortal
bard Shakspere, by the purchase of the house in which he
was born, at Stratford-upon-Avon ; and we hope the same
noble and generous feeling may extend to Missolonghi,
where Lord Byron died. The erection of a monument at-
tached to the Vice-Consulate on the spot would tend to per-
petuate the memory of one so renowned. Indeed, we hear
from a correspondent who recently visited Missolonghi that
the actual house in which Lord Byron died no longer exists,
having been totally destroyed, as it will be recollected that
on the Turks storming that garrison, seventy aged men,
women. and children, entered a magazine and 'blew them-
selves up, preferring death to cruelty and slavery. With
this heroic act fell the house sacred to our last immortal
poet. The proprietor of the site not only generously offers
to give it for the erection of a monument, but also will give
a handsome sum towards it, and surely the friends, the rela-
tions, the Government, and the admirers of his Lordship will
at once set on foot a subscription for so noble a purpose.—
] Malta Paper.
NORTH OF ENGLAND JOINT-STOCK BANK..—The
directors of this establishment at Newcastle-upon-Tyne have
made a call of 51. per share, to meet engagements which can-
not be postponed, and they propose calling the shareholders
together at an early day, when a statement of the
liabilities
of the bank will be laid before them, and the course of future
action determined upon.

PRICE SD.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.

FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.

TIMES.—The law of nations has not hitherto in-
cluded any comprehensive chapter upon bankruptcy and
insolvency. Though the great community of Christen-
dom has most justly been considered by publicists as one
largo commonwealth, in the system of which nations
played the parts of families or individuals in separate
states, yet it was conceived that their relations would n
descend to transactions of swindling and embezzlement,
and that a general congress might part without settling
a small debts act, or establishing an insolvent court for
states. We fear, however, that the particular attention
which this particular department of law is found to re-
quire in our own country is now still more imperatively
demanded in the code which regulates the intercourse ul
states and kingdoms. When monarchies conceal their
property, and republics obtain money under false' pre-
tences, it is time that some commissioner should act for
Europe as Mr. Fane acts for Middlesex; and that Spain,
as soon as such machinery can be brought into opera-
tion, will be suspended from her certificate for two
years without protection is unhappily as clear as that
she once filled the most respectable place in that
great society which she now so terribly scandalizes.
The case of Spain, which Lord G. Bentinck is to
bring before the House of Commons to-morrow, is,
indeed, one of those which the gentlemen we speak of
are accustomed to characterise es " the very worst in -
stance of misconduct and dishonesty lately brought
under their knowledge." At a time when the very exis-
tence of her constitutional freedom was a stake she bor
rowed large sums of money to aid her in the struggle
she was manfully conducting. The money was liberally
advanced to her, on the security of the country, pledged
by the very Government which, thus aided and
strengthened, was placed in a position to perform its
promises. Had King Carlos V. repudiated the engage-
ments contracted by Isabella 11., some reason might La
alleged for his conduct, but none for that of the claimant
who succeeded in the venture for which the money was
borrowed. Yet, within three years of Isabella's acces-
si n, payment of the dividends ceased. The subsequent
conduct of the indebted state it would be hard to
match by any example from Portugal-street. Four
years after the first defalcation, viz , in November,
1840, the Spanish Government at length yield to
the importunate entreaties of its helpless creditors,
and, without going to the length of actually paying
the interest duo on the bonds, did condescend to ca-
pitalize the arrears, and consider them as chargeable
with interest thereafter. This, however, is all that has
been done, for the division of the stock into " Actives,"
" Deferred," &c., has effected nothing beyond the
variety of nomenclature, and the present state of the
account, in round reckoning, is this :—Spain owes the
bondholders 45,000,000/. of capital stock entitled " Ac-
tive ;" 13,000,0001. of capital steck entitled "Passive ;"
7,000,000/. of the arrears of interest added to the prin-
cipal in 1840, and 12,000,000/ arrears of interest now due
in cash, making near 80,000,000/. of money, principally
British, on account of which sums she neither pays, nor
has paid for these twelve years, a sixpence of interest
beyond a miserable 3 per cent. on the last capitalized
sum of 7,000,000/. Conceive a man's figure before Mr.
Fonblanque, who should plead, that though he had
borrowed 10,000/. on which he paid no interest, yet that
he had very handsomely capitalized one year's arrears,
fur which he was religiously paying 15/. per annum.
The case is really infamous. Every single particular
that comes to light concerning it aggravates the
deformity of its features. 'lhe indebted party is
under no disabling difficulties. Partly by the aid of
these very loans, and partly by the resources of a
kingdom so naturally exuberant and elastic that the
grossest misgovernment cannot check them, the pros-
perity of Spain has increased as rapidly as under the
Administration of Alberoni. Its revenue, which, when
these loans were contracted, was under 6,000,0001., and
when the first arrears were capitalized was under
10,000,000/., is now publicly stated to exceed 12,000,000/.
It is a most extraordinary proof of what national as
well as human constitutions will occasionally do for
themselves ; but it is nevertheless a fact, that Spain has
actually, at this moment, a surplus revenue of near half
a million, while France has a large deficit, and England
may, perhaps, just bring both ends together. Nor is it
denied that by the commonest use of sagacity--by the
mere recognition of principles which are now poli-
tical axioms, this surplus might be multiplied
twentyfold ; insomuch that it was admitted by one
of her Ministers nearly ten years ago, that "the re-
sources of Spain were more than sufficient to pay her
debts ten times over." Indeed, though she has
not applied her acquisitions to the agintttal of her
obligations, she has availed herself of her noto-
rious competence to obtain further credit, and has lately
borrowed such money as she wanted on easy terms from
fifer own subjects. At iich domestic liability she very
punctually attends to. The creditors' case is as strong
as the debtor's is weak. They have not been " trouble-
some." They lent their money in an hour of need, and
only ask for it in a day of wealth. They do not exact
the letter of their bonds, regardless of means or conse-
quences. They urge the capabilities of the borrower as
well as the claims of the lender, and ask for a small
share in the prosperity which they contributed so largely
to produce. To these moderate representations Spain
replies by the very conduct of a dishonest jobber. She
amuses them by promises which she never fulfils, eludes
their claims and ignores their petitions, while she
indulges herself in the full swing of political
extravagance, going to the hills every summer
for an insurrection, and returning to the capi-
tal every winter for a revolution. Imagine a
man borrowing 100,000/. to recover an estate, winning
his cause, furnishing his house, extending his establish-
ment, marrying his daughters, contractirh, new loans,
and then, after 10 or 15 years' abjuration of the claims
upon him, calling his family together and announcing
that " the solemn moment was approaching when he
might occupy himself with the settlement of his debt!"
Yet this is the allusion which Senor Mon accorded in
the Cortes to the claims against him of 78,000,0001., and
interest of many years' standing. Spain is precisely in
those circumstances against which, in private life, the
compulsion of the law is justly provided and righteously
exerted. She will not pay till she is obliged to do so.
She has abundance of means, but she prefers employing
them in novel speculations to absorbing theta in obsolete
charges. When payment is inevitable it must
be made, but every postponement is so much
gain, and may perhaps conduce to an ultimate
escape frcm the liability altogether. In humble
life this class of debtor is at once served with a writ; he
bows his head to the Erman of necessity, and resigns his
purse to the mute of the law. To such a resource the
Spanish bondholders are now looking at last, and, though
the international code does nut provide very emphati-
cally for such popular dishonesty, yet there are both
clauses and precedents pointing to a remedy against the
general contingency. An appeal is now before the Bri-
tish Parliament from these sufferers, entreating the in-
terposition of the Government either to help them, or to
authorise their helping themselves; and it would indeed
show a magnanimous indifference to the source where
charity begins, if, after so thorough a discussion of na-
tional contracts, we should exempt others from the obli-
gations which we so freely assume ourselves. We pre-
sume there can be little comparison between the claims
of the Russian Emperor and the claims of the Spanish
bondholders, nor would there be much greater difficulty
in maintaining the one than in satisfying the other. There
would be ne necessity for the " reprisals" so ominously
spokes of by the indignant creditors; matters would
hardly come to a distraint upon the Philippines or a
sequestration of Cuba. The first process would termi-
nate the business, and a single serious word from our
Cabinet would at once intimate that there was no more
room for trifling, and that the money must be paid.

NICHOLAS AND LOUIS PHILIPPE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—lt may help us to understand a thing done to-
day if we regard a similar thing done some time ago.
In the panic of 1825-6, a City millionaire, who had
not been on the best of terms with some City bankers,
called on them unexpectedly, and, after expressing his
fear that they might have an inconvenient run on them,
and his anxiety to serve them, begged them to accept a
deposit of (it was said) 1,000,0001. in Exchequer-bill.;
and notes. The deposit was accepted with many ex-
pressions of thankfulness. In the Bank parlour the cir-
cumstance was discussed, and it was resolved that the
bills and notes should be sealed up and put in the strong
room till called for. When the run on the Bank came
the millionaire called, as had been expected, for his de-
posit, and had the mortification of finding that he was
baulked of his intended revenge by being paid off with
his own sealed packets.
Will Louis Phillippe seal up Nicholas's 2,000,000 Z?
Will Nicholas call for his deposit when the run comes?
Yours, i&c., QUERY.
March 20.

ARTISTS BENEVOLENT FUND.-0O Saturday th..
37th annual meeting of the subscribers to the above fund,
founded in the year 1810, for the relief of the widows and
orphans of deceased artists, was held at the Freemasons'
Tavern, B. B. Cabbell, Esq., M.P., in the chair. From the
report read by Mr. Thiselton, the secretary, it appeared that
her Majesty and other members of the Royal Family still
continue their patronage to the institution. The receipts
during the past year amounted to 1,2481. 7d. ; of which suns
7601. was expended in gratuities of 20/. to 38 widows, and
115/. in gratuities of 51. each to '23 orphan children of deceased
artists. The report concluded by stating that, in consequence
of the ordinary income of the past year having fallen off to
the extent of 244/. 15s. 7d., the committee deeply regretted
they would be compelled to reduce the gratuities to the
widows for the present year from 201. to 141., in order to in-
crease the permanent security of the fund. The following
noblemen and gentlemen having been elected Vice-Presidents
for the year—the Duke of Sutherland, Earl of Ripon, Sir R.
Peel, M.P., B. B. Cabbell, Esq., M.P., R. IL Solly, Esq
imeetinga mu . r
sseparated.
day Theldaes
deer took
line
R ol i
F.R.S., &c., and Peter Legh, Esq.—the usual compliment
t
was
iid.s hounds c
theA c ,p E s
met T anda.—t
Rt
Oboe
wn s
T 1
hßierton, and when near Mr. Eustace's house, Mr.
chairman,
towardsth SERIOUSae h
Vyse, in taking a fence near the road, fell fromi foot s his horse in
consequence of the saddle slipping round. u
unfor-
tunately hung in the stirrup, by which he Was dragged
at full speed and
up-
wardsbeating o f
theloo
unfortunate theg
gentleman's
gallopingata ile
tgaacien stth e ground.
. disengagedJohnaEfursoam the stirrup, and
, was thought
At length his foot became
e understand
he was carried to the house of Mr. John
advisable , from whence,
he is
at
to
hrizenlovehi
residencem
after a short period, it
to London by railway. W
`in town in a very alarming state..—Bucks Herald.