The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-16 00:00:00

,fl fl' I,ONDO'4. sArrlartAy..lANl-TARki 16, IRit.

I RELIEF OF TR01.)11:3 ABU() AID

I() ME ED7 7' 0 R (F THE SUN.

SlB,—Frout the character yeti; Parr has hithort.:
pois,ssod, I fed suro you would not admit into youi-
columni anything which wc.uld tend to create diss4:l,-
' faction in the Army, if you did not believe there ware
grounds for the complaint. Allow me, therefore, to a,—s...t,e
you that the assertions made by "Hector CoUnterscarp,"
in your Paper of this date, are contrary to fact. as the
following extract from the Ar'ny and Navy Register
will show ; and I have only to add, that having wit-
nessed the sailing of the troops alluded to, I ant collect
as to dates, which you can further satisfy yourself to be
true by referring to the columns of The San, the move-
ments haling been copied into your Paper from coin-
munimitions made by me to the Press at the time :
" 79th (Cameron flighianders)—One hundred tried be-
hmging to this gallant corps, embarked at Deptford, id
the Abercrombie Robinson. traosnort ship, for a pas.s::ge.
to Gibraltar. oo the Itith November. 'Tice reme.inder of
the regiment were stationed illoat four wuckx st Wcedoa
and then proceeded by railway to Euston ?quire,
29th December, and marched to Deptford on the same
d.ty, where they embarked, and sailed on 31st for their
destination."
How the above agrees with the statement of " Elec-
tor Countasearp," that '' the 79th are still at home,"
and " the convenient detachment of WO have only
sailed within the last ten days," I leave the Army to
judge, and whether facts known to thousands are oat
better titan arguments. There are two other regitmmo
viewed as " pets" at the Horse Guards, the 7,-.kh
(Highland), and the 92d ( Highland) Regiments, and
yet it is well known the former served a long periail iu
the East, and the latter in the West Indies..

I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
THE EDITOR OF THE ARMY AND NAVY REGISTER

Woolwich, Jan. 15, 1641.

[Countersearp may possibly not be so correct as to
dates as the writer of this letter, but that cireurnstane,!
does not affcct the grievance of which he complains.
Aware of the extensive warlike operations in the East,
the military authorities at home must have known thm.
more troops would be wanted in that quarter, and it
was therefore their duty to keep those regiments in
readiness to take their turn, and not send them out of
the way but a few weeks h2fore, as they knew to a cer-
tainty there would be a demand for them. The oth,r
two regiments, the. 78th and 9:24, are not alluded to in
Counterscarp's letter.]

THE STREETS, PAVEMENTS, &c.

MR. EDITOR,—The state of the streets and pave-
ment in this great metropolis still continues to be hor-
ribk, especially since the fall of mingled snow and sleet
of Wednesday and Thursday, and the subsequent
rapid thaw ; the carriage-way is, for the most part,
almost knee-deep in filth and " slosh," and as for the
pavement, the police regulations for the due cleansing
thereof by the inhabitants are almost entirely disre-
garded. What are the police about, I would ask ?
I have seen many stand gaping, without attempting; to
enforce the " pavement law," as it is their duty to do.
And I would also ask why the destitute poor, &c., of the
metropolis are not employed to clean the streets at so
much per day? A few hundred able-bodied men might
easily clear away the whole in twenty-four hours or so,
and they would he glad to do the work for a small re-
muneration.

St. James's Park, a great thoroughfare, is nearly
knee-deep. Nothing can possibly be worse than the
footpaths within a few hundred yards of the Palace.

THE WEATHER IN THE NORTH —.Severe
frost and snow continue still to reign paramount in
the north, and have not only " hushed the music of the
year," but have well-nigh suspended business and friendly
communication. The lowest point of depression in the
thermometer has been 8 degrees of Fahrenheit, at which
it stood on Saturday the 9th ; the day previous it was at
9 degrees. The capacious basin of the Caledonian Canal
is wholly frozen over, and of course all the mountain Irrkes
(except Loch Ness, which, from its extreme depth, as is
well known, is never touched by frost) are now sheets of
The._ snow seems to lie deepest on, the.. Highland
Road. Froin --Inverwess to Moyi-.4o€l4taiace ,-Of :twelve
miles; tb passage;,, is so far open that. the'mail-bags
,Can; be' conveyed in it. post-chaise,_lrawaC.bir horses.
Thence to Blair- they are carried on horseback—a
lting.and dreary journey of about sixty miles; One part of the
road, a narrow passage has been cut through snow 14 feet in
depth. Considering these disadvantages, it is creditable to
the parties concerned that the mail has not hitherto (except-
ing one day) been above thirteen or fourteen hours behind the
stated time. The Aberdeen mail coach has, by great
exertion, been kept on the road. On Monday it arri'cd
at half past seven a.m. instead of seven o'clock the pre-
vious evening. The north road is open for the mail coach
as far as Tain ; , but this morning (Tuesday) no Suther-
land or Caithness letters arrived. There has since been
additional snow, and is much feared that farther inter-
ruption sill take place in our means.of communication.
From -Strathspey,
_Widened', and • the. nest Highlands
(where such storms are rare), we have inforination,statieg
that such a heavy tall of snow—uniform and immovable—
has not been experienced for a long series of years. It,
the pastoral districts it cannot fail of proving injurious to
the flocks on the hills ; but as the sheep were in excellent
condition previous to the on full, we trust they will weather
the present season of privation.—lnverness Courier.
A FATHER DROWNED WHILE ENDEAVOUR-
ING TO RESCUE Ins SON.—About four o'cloek on Friday
afternoon last John Halstead, a boy about fifteen years of
age, while in a boat which was near one of the locks of
the canal at Ashton-under-Lyne, owing to the slippary
.state of the boat, fell into the canal, His father, who was
on the canal bank. at the time, immediately threw off his
frock, jumped •into the iwater, and endeavoured to get to
his son, but being unable to swim gotuut of his depth.
He sank and rose again two or three times, and then the
appeared altogether.-- In the mean time the boy clung to
the boat, and Thomas Hill, a boatman, jumped down from
the lock, got hold of him, anti pulled hint out. Immediate
search was made for the body of the father, but half an
hour elapsed before it was discovered, when we hardly
need add life was quite extinct. An inquest was held Ott
the body of the unfortunate man, whose name is flenry
Halstead, on Monday, before Mr. Chapman, the coroner,
when the above circumstances were stated, and the Jury
returned a verdict of " Accidental Death."— Clies:er
Chronicle.
CRIMINAL LUNATICS.—Messrs. ,Mayo and
Southey, the physicians appointed by the Home Secretary
to inquire into the treatment of the patients in criminal
wing of 13ethlent Hospital, made their report last week to •
Mr. Fox Maule. It is ntedle'is to give the document at
length, as its contents consist chiefly of unqualified praise
of the system now in operation in Bedlam. It contradicts,
to almost every instance, the charges made by Mr. Sergeant
Adams, and thus concludes—We have the honcur, Sir, of
transmitting to you this detailed result of our inquiries into
the mode of treatment followed in the criminal wing or
Bethlem Hospital, which, we trust, will satisfy the 'Marquis
of Norrnanby, ,as it has convinced us, that the criminal
lunatics arc well and conscientiously treated. When the
class of lunatics who are to he controlled there is considered
—when it is remembered that of the seventy-eight crimi-
nals now in that wing twenty-nine have murdered, and
twenty have attempted murder, that nineteen are thieves,
and three housebreakers, the difficulties opposed to their
moral regulation and rho preservation of their life and
Itsalth are obviously extreme, and the credit given to those
who have adequately performed these duties; ought. to be
proportionate.
Mit. VINCENT STANTON, PRISONER IN
CHINA —Mr. Thomas Stanton, the brother of this gentle-
IWO, gives the following account of him :—lc is now about
three years since, while he was a student of St John's Col-
lege, Cambridge, that his attention was first directed to the
benighted condition of the millions of China. His more
immediate friends felt their duty to repress, at any rate for
a time, the missionary flame which burnt so bright within
him. But it was all in vain. fie soon offered hiss r-
vices to this Church Missionary Society, but not being in
a condition to extend their operations in that quarter of
the globe, hie services were obligingly declined. At
that critical moment ha was offered the charge of two
sons of the late Mr. ft. Turner, a British merchant at
Canton ; and feeling as I know lie did, that it was at. evi-
dent nil: from God, ire accepted the offer, and accompa-
nied his pupils to China. Soon after his arrive', there.
Mr. Turner died, and it was his mournful duty to reed
the burial service over his remains. This melancholy
event led to the return of his palpils, But, unwilling to
he diverted front his rnizaiontiey work, my brother re-
mained behind, where since then he has been with single-
ness of heart devoting his little property to the further,
ante of his heavenly Master's work.
CONVICTIONS vo 7IIE MURDER AT THE
CAPK.—The Circuit Court of Beaufort, Cape of God
Hope, was occupied on the 14th Septemlier be, with the
trial of Jan Lodewyk du Preez and Arnoldua, for the
murder of Marie Darics, and Jac'ob Jacobus Jobannea
Diederiks for being accosaory before the fact. It appeared
from the evidence, which was taken at considerable
length, that the prisoner, Du Preea, in company with
Arnoldus, had deliberately fired at ate 4A:teased with a
gun, and that the ball had passed through the tteg,d, wind,.
pipe, and ribs, inflicting mortal wounds on those and other
parts of her body. The prisoner Diederiks was charged
with being accessory to the crime, by inciting the other
prisoners to it. commission, as it appeared, for the sake of
being revenged upon A.edri.es Durres, the father of the
poor girl, Diedcriks, having sense abort time previously
been cast in damages for an assault upon him. The evi-
dep,CO was, in this respect, however, defective, bad the
Jury foians,!the two principals guilty, but acquitted Diode.
riks. Immediately upon the verdict being returned, the
Judge sentenced Du Paw and Arnoldus to be hanged hy
the neck until they were dead. Pu Preez had at first
Osaded guilty, but was, by the Court, reeeinmended to re-
twit .ekais, plea, and take the benefit of a trial in the re late
far coarse; The culprit Du Preez was only fifteen years
of age, and were tbe,l,i,eyed to have been an instrument in
hands morally more gia.47 than himsalf.
NAPIER IN BA VII, Fre'a- Ig4,er just received
cue
of ,r,he ships—says that they were there-.-.a ni4e
ifireoenti
l the Bay of 6
:pat' 'r:ia:trs I cf:iirls:itnt:hi
ripslaci:" 11;)
4.Ca'l4
arrival he W rAC14194 with cheers from the ships, that
Ile
b y (
his
Najaapier)
led
itte.ad;hrdg:gbi3tiegetihliartripnoco:drueunidlwipwii:,
storming party
hand, and accompanied
nd
T
is
slohuerb
eblolusf
time.ocg.
,hip.
"314146nhatN:ariPoiuen:
trousers)iattnh_.ciepao
er—eotmudy4cB:lll, 14,
daoti,:gtlot
wotc.',:p:er shortits'w and wide.
dfeo'r
papa's favourite, anerdheinnorgnemarkable for his
cour
c.,
besides fighting."
Mr. Hume, M.P. for Kilkenny, has addressed
letter to Mr. Buggy; enclosing a check for 20/., It) be
110 d into the fuel and food funds, for the relief-of the poor.

I THE PORTS AND THE PACII,IJ

The Bthish and Foreizu Review just publisil,
has an article on Eastern affairs, the object of
is to prove that Russia alone has profited by the
commotions in the Ottoman Empire ; that they
were chiefly instigated by her, and that owing to
the intrigues of the same power, England has em-
broiled herself with France, and contrary to the in-
terests, policy, and professions of a Liberal Govern
ment, united herself with the " Holy Alliance,and
the partitioners of Poland." It traces with great
minuteness the crafty policy of Russia, ever since
Nicholas came to the throne, up to the treaty of the
kith of July, and thus sums up the results of this
famous Convention :
The object or Russia in this convention was the en-
tire roalization of her system of state policy throughout
the world.

i. She arrayed the Sultan and Mehemet tlli in hosli
lity, whet eas they were at peace, thus lighting the iluwe
of war and convulsion in Condia, Adana, Syria, Arabia,
and Egypt,

2. Slie. leagued England ivith the partitioners of ro-
land, to the exclusion of France from all influence or
participation in European affairs, whilst dismembes,ing
the empire she pretended to support.
2. She made England the enemy of the southern hall
of the Octomau empire, Prance the foe of the northetn
half.

4, She made England violate a series of treaties %vial
France, which see rail to France a coequal share of in-
tluencewith England.

,
„ --
5. She produced animosity between England ano
France.

6. She arra3ed France against Austria, and Austria
against France.

7. Prussia against France, and France against
Prussia.*

8. She depressed the national credit of England and
France, to the elevation of her ownt
9. She secured to herself the arbitrement of the
affairs of the world from a position of guaranteed secu-
rity to herself, resulting from these combinations in their
aggregate and fractional characters, which can occasion
her neither the sacrifice of a rouble nor the loss of a
man, wh►lst entailing a waste of treasure and of blood
on those she dreads.

Finally, the sole excuse which can be alleged by the
Minister of Englacd for this Treaty, is the dread of the
advance of the Egyptian army and navy towards Cow=
stantinoplc, because it would entail on Turkey the ex-
clusive protectorate of Russia, which he admits would
he, mortal, and which he nevertheless lends the power of
ELTland to Russia to secure by the guarantee and sup-
port of three disinterested allies.

The writer then states a circumstance on certain
authority, which certainly appears strange, though
rumours to that effect have prevailed for some time.
We can with difficulty conceive a Cabinet led by
one Member, and that Member neither a Welling-
ton nor a Prime Minister, in opposition to tl►e
wishes and judgment of his colleagues. Such,
however, appears to be fact :
The Convention of July the 15th, 1840, so far from
warranting hostilities, did not even contemplate them.
The " prevention of the effusion of blood" was the very
object professed by the Alliance in the preamble of the
Convention drawn up " In the name of the all-merciful
God."

Fortunately for the repose of the world, for the inte-
rests of peace, which have never yet been so fearfully
perilled, England is not yet a party to these acts. Tax
treaty is unknown to the British Parliament, from whom
it was concealed. The people of England have voted
no supplies for its execution. Its successful issue is
rendered impracticable by the very terms in which it it
drawn up, and on the shoulders of one man alone, whom
we state, on certain authority, to have enforced the
rupture with France single-handed against every one of-
his colleagues, rests the exclusive responsibility of wits
alike subversive of the prerogatives of the crown, the
practice of the_constitution, the faith of existing treaties,
.and the rights of war andVaelt. --+'
The following extra'ets. relative to the course
which our Government ought now to pursue towards.
France, and the defence of Lord Holland's policy,
will he read with interest

To Lord Palmerston himself we would fain point
out a great and honourable course. The vigour of our
acts has in some degree atoned for the error of or
conceptions ; it is, indeed, lamentable, that we shoulTh
have been the instruments of so much evil as has heat'
effected, but the daring and decision which we have
shown in its execution has placed us in a favourable
position for withdrawing, and secured to us an honour-
able retreat,. • The shells and shot of Acre have been.
heard of on the banks of .tlee • Danube and the Dniester,
and as .the star of England culminated the strength of
Russia dwindled. Though France was neglected,
Europe has been taught that Russia was not needed'
and if he knows how to improve his position, the Se-
cretary for Foreign Affairs may yet speak out the aaati-
inands of England in a voice not to be misunderstood
or cont tuned. The Germanic Confederation has beefs
aroused and excited ; the marching of troops and can-
non has been heard, accompanied by songs breathing
(and creating) national hatred, and six hundred thou-
sand men are now burning to revenge on France the
horrors of the Revolution and the empire. Who doubts
that the first cannon fired on the Rhine may spring a
mine whose echoes our sons' sons may yet live to hear
and tremble at ? This it is .still possible for England
to prevent, if she will honestly and earnestly ally herself
to the only cause that brings a blessing with it—the
cause of free institutions and national development, the
cause of peace and commercial ircedom, in one word,
the cause of the ',Eons:: throughout the world.
We should leave this subject here, but that we are
bound to say a few words in behalf of one of the best
men this country possessed ; who has been snatched
rum us at a moment when a clear head and upright
{Heart were never more needed, and over whose tomb,
hardly yet cold, the obscene raven-croaking,s of calumoy
hive sounded. It is for entertaining views similar to
those which we assert to he the unshaken conviction of
the true patriots in all European states, that the late
Lord Holland has been made the object of restless pos-
thumous hostility. We feel no surprise at the attack ;
it was worthy of the
quarter from which it came ; but
we do feel indignation and shame that the attack should
not at once have been rebutted by those organs which
not only prokss to be the mouthpiece of the Liberal
party, but even to be in communication more or less
strict with members of the Liberal Cabinet. Could not
even a pretended, a superficial answer, have been ven-
tured, if not for the sake of truth, at least with the pru
dentist object of concealing hostilities whose existence
threatened the stability of the Government ; or had
death fought the battle of party well enough, and left
the survivors scornfully and fearlessly to dis ide the spoil ?
To this an answer is yet to be given upon the floor of.
the House of Commons, and we wait for it.
That Lord Holland took a deep interest in the settle-
ment of the Eastern Question, was well known to his
personal friends, although he had enjoyed no opportunity
of giving his public support to the side which he had
adopted. He saw, and saw clearly, what the objects
of the principal actors on the scene were, and considered
the affairs of Egypt as of minor importance when com-
pared with the vast interests now in jeopardy, however
important a portion they might be of the whole stales,
played.
for. He did, as every honest Englishman ought,
earnestly desire that the good understanding of France
and England should not be disturbed ; on the mainte-
nance of that good understanding he knew the hopes Of
the Liberal party throughout Europe to depend : the
destruction of that good understanding he well kneiv
to be the anxious, the never-forgotten object of Russian
intrgue, to gain which she was even ready to sacrifice
her exclusive protectorate of Turkey, and allow the
treaty of IJirkisti Skelessi (a nominal rather than a real
advantage) to be cancelled. France and Eagland,
once brought into a potitian of hostility, she could at
any moment assert, and make good claims which yet
were, at best, but insolent' pretensions ; and knowing,
what is not even suspected in England, the secret of the
weaknessa of Austria and Prussia, she has nothing to
fear from them. it was therefore Lord Holland's duty
as
an Englishman, as a Peer of the couptry which is the
on the Continent, to Oppose every
example, and ought to be the best support of the con-
stitutional party
measure wliielr tended to the destruction of that friend.
ship which alone emold keep Russia in cheek. He did
so, and so far M. Tniers was speaklng °DIY the truth
when he asserted that Lord Holland was with Prance.
But M. Tiliers did not'apeak the truth when he
iva-
nuate;:
that, because Lord Holland was with Frisn4
he was wish yr,npe Tints: eP was labouring to
make iS, or With lg. rah as
4r," h/Telf: lie wag not speak-
ing the trait., or hoe pile p4rfy
, grgans of this country
spoken the truth, in criaswis4 a 1144Pher of the British
Cabinet with intriguing against his colleggnosfnn
n adopt-
.separate line of action fOr himself in opposition. to
mg a
thew. WP believe the respectable members of the
Tory party to look with i !nut horror as we do our-
selves upon the dastardly accusation of peajatas, the per-
fectly gratuitous assertion that a Minister revealed •to
• his country those private the enemy of ate acts of the Ca-
binet rahich his oath of office bound him to conceal !
iMiwowir,fqr honour of figtish rntry, that
some Tory gentleman had carne forssawi
irpacilf and
for his party solemnly to repudiate the hateful calumev!

Vh are six hundred thousand men at this moment
undo- ii.rms in tgeHth4
See the fail in the fnad . s oh 111; _
iigi4-0 Frquce, and
the terms G.
*lie Nytheaming new Russian loan of four per

Cent.

E1.E.,10L4 p!qpcifi MI:10:11:11:d.:Yt:sat::saiys
no;.fuine. At three o'
"TH":lvefreerrerr:illedsx:si:Cibitedale4 " Yig""slY
the contest was
ers
clock
utsi throughout
eflololnoGwsiuti)nbetghsh
.........
.........
1,182
Ledger 950

Majwity for (Aim 23:2

FRANCE:.

PiEPOIZT OF M. TrilEIZ ON TIIE FORTICA

TION BILL.

tie questioo of the nvees,lty
_fortifj,ing Paris is

one of eireamst:inces ; it oceopieri the- attention o!
Vauban half a century ago, and a quarter of a century'
ago it also entered the mind of Napoleon. It is im-
pwisible, therefore, to say it is a question of circum-
Atances. Vauban thought of it in the midst of the pros-
pea ity of Louis XIV., and Napoleon turned his atten-
tion to it at the moment when his power and that of
France seemed to be fully established, after the battle
of Austerlitz. Vauban thought of fortifying Paris at a
time when the necessity for doing so seemed to be much
less urgent than in the present day. Vauban, who was
a,; good a politeian and administrator as be was an en•
jtoter, employed his whole life in creating a frontier for
.France, and although in his time wars of invasion had
Tiot yet startled the world, it was easy to perceive that
the! powerful Monarchy of Louis the XIV.. which had
• excited the jealousy of all Europe, and had had to con-
tenil with at the satne moment, England, the House of
Austria, the House of
.Spain, and the greatest part of
Germany, might one day be attacked at its core. " The
capture of Paris," says he, " would be one of the
heaviest mi,fortunes that could befit' the kingdom, and
ona front which it would not soon recover, if ever."
Daring the whole of the ISth century, in which France
eas in a coalition with almost the whole of Europe,
sometimes against Marie Therese, and sometime against.
Frederick the Great, no fear could be entertained for
the capital. The American war, more fortunate than
arose which preceded it, and which was of a naval cha-
racter, did not, of course, attract any attention to the
interior of the kingdom. But as soon as the revolution
•of 1789, by placing us in contradiction with the whole
of Europe, gave birth to a war of principle and con-
quest, serious thoughts of fortifying Paris were enter-
tained ; but, as:usual, the thoughts were ill-formed, and
formed too late. The revolution soon became victo-
rious, and the idea of fortifying Paris was no longer
thought of. Napoleon came. It has been said that
Napoleon did not think of fortifying Paris until the
year 1814. We shall see, however, by turning to
page :38, vol. 9, of his memoirs, that he entertained
this idea on his return from Austerlitz, but the fear
of wounding the susceptibility of the Parisians, and the
extreme rapiaityof the course of events, prevented him
from carrying it into execution. It' Paris had been fortified
in 1814, it would perhaps have been the means of saving
France. We should be culpable if- we neglected the
aid of experience, but we cannot conceal from ourselves
that the project contains many grave questions, of which
the following arc the principal :-Ist. Is not the state
of things in which Paris should be menaced by the
enemy an exceptional one ? 2d. Supposing that Paris
were thus menaced, ought it not to be defended by per-
manent works ? 3d. If Paris is to be defended by
permanent works, is it to he hoped that, in arming the
population, there can also be imparted to it the courage
and sang Paid that arc necessary for the defence of
ramparts? 4th. Supposing this question to be answered
affirmatively, might not such a work, by the enormous
expense it would occasion, exceed the means of a
great nation ? sth. Might not the advantages to be de-
rived from the fortifications become dangerous to the
cause of liberty ? With respect to the first question we
must observe that Vauban was the first man who thought
of fortifying Paris in a regular manner, and assuredly
France at that time was not in a revolution. Coalitions
were formed against France in 1792,1798, 1805, 1809,
18 Mand 1815,under pretext of combating our revo-
lutionary principles. This state of hostility ceased under
the restoration, because Europe then hoped that the
elder branch of the house of Bourbon, transported from
exile to the throne, would keep within bounds the spirit
of the revolution, and would not seek to recover what
France lied lost. But the revolution broke out afresh
iu 1830, overturned the dynasty charged with keeping
it' 'lowa, and gave itself a new Government. What
has this Government done within the last ten years to
justify the patent in latent hostility of Europe? Nothing
assuredly, for it has neither been ambitious, nor has it
son& to provoke disorder. And yet at the present
Moment it stands alone in Europe, as it did during the
coalitions of 1792 and 1813. If our fortresses in 1790
-protracted the invasion, and gave France time for or-
ganisation ; if in 1815 they occasioned the enemy
much loss of time and blood ; if they diminished one-
fourth the armies advancing on Paris—they did not do
all that was requisite, for our capital, owing to its being
exposed, was finally invaded. What is to be inferred
from this? Why, that however useful and indispensable
fortified frontiers may be, they are not all-sufficient,
And that capitals should be defended. In support of
this argument we have the authority of Napoleon, who
-•:
wits aware that if Vienna, Berl n, and Madrid had
been fortified, he would have failed in his campaigns of
Austria, Prussia, and Spain. Having shown that Paris
ought to be fortified, the next and a very important
question is the means of execution. Some persons
have said that all that is necessary is to protect France

from a coup-de-main. Napoleon, they say, did not
contemplate any more than this in 1815, but if he did
not, it was because he had not time. His intention
was to establish permanent fortifications at a later
period. What we should never lose sight of is the ne-
cessity of protecting the capital against the chances of
a coup-de-main. With permanent fortifications it would
no longer be a coup-de-main or a battle that Paris
would have to dread, but a regular siege. Now an army
does not carry on a siege in an enemy's country with
ordinary means. It is difficult even in one's own coun-
try for an army to carry with it all that is necessary for
a siege; and ,it is still more difficult to do so in an
enemy's country. This is the consideration which
bus induced the Committee to adopt the principle
of permanent fortifications. Paris once capable
of resisting a siege, is for ever delivered from the
dangers and terrors of a seige. But, it is said, it is
impossible to think of making Paris a fortified place,
and to expose a million of inhabitants to all the horrors
of a siege, and of a bombardment. How, it is said,
could you in such extremities lock yourselves up in
Paris with its inhabitants, the Government, the Cham-
bers and the agents of publicity ? How could you
block up all these elements, and subject them to mili-
tary Government? These objections vanish on exa-
mination. If we succeed in making the capital capaUe
of resisting a siege, we at the seme time deliver it from
all the dangers of a siege. But again it is said, the
inhabitants of large cities are not capable of resisting a
siege, and why not? We deny this positively and
openly, in the name of the inhabitants of Paris. Reml
to mind how many combats have taken place in Paris
within the last 50 years. Have you not seen in all
thpse events the most striking proofs of the bravery of
the Parisian population ? In 1830 they. fought for the
charter, and
,triumphed. In 1832 and 1834 the nati-
onal guard fought bravely for order and the laws, against
those deluded men who,in this contest displayed a de-
plorable courage. In these events, was a sense of dan-
ger exhibited by either the attacked or the attacking
party? But without dwelling upon these reminis-
cences of civil war, let us go back to the year
1814. Did the Parisian then show that he was afraid
of danger ? We have consulted ocular witnesses of
these events, and they have told us that on all hands
the people of Paris demanded arms. Officers have
told us that under their eyes the inhabitants of the fau-
bourgs placed themselves near the walls, and profiting by
their position, bravely acted the part of tirailleurs. In
such circumstances an energetic and zealous chief has
only to present himself, and to stamp with his foot
upon the earth, and soldiers will spring forth. When
in 1723, Lille and Valenciennes underwent a siege, in
the sacred defence of the country, the inhabitants
thought little of the inconveniences of the siege for
themselves, and Paris would do the same. Wti are
asked, however, how such a capital as Paris could find
provisions in a state of siege ? We have consulted all the
necessary documents, and have arrived at the conviction
that if a capital has more wants it has also more resources.
Traders, in the hope of gain, would not hesitate to esta-
blish large depots. Russians knew this when they burnt
Moscow. 'lle Chamber will now permit me to quote from
documents. The flour which the bakers are com-
pelled to have in reserve, and that deposited in the grenier
d'abondance, must always suffice for a consumption of
thirty five days. There arc besides commercial depots
which bring up the store of flour to the consumption of
forty-six days. Paris has generally a large quantity of
salt meat. The greatest difficulty would he itts to
the fresh meat t of this I shall speak by and by.
There is always in Paris a six months' store of fuel,
wines, and spirit. These facts being known, we have
inquired whether it would be possible to proyisit,,,
Paris for 40 days, supposing a population of 1,300,000
souls. Phis fact appears, in our opinion, to be quite
possible. Now no enemy could ever besiege Paris for 60
:ria,ys. For supposing its army to consist of ooly
250,090 men, the invaders, 4P4 kic4 tO.P itlbabitants
of Paris, wopld be starved, for to provision a besieg-
ing army of 250,000 men, several analog and
mag4ines would be necessary i bqt tlae hypothesis of
a siege of po days la net to be contemplated. We
have supposed a population of 1,300,000 inhabitants,
whereas the regular population within the walls
would not he more than VOO,OOO. When we add.
300,000 for the inhabitants of the environs who
might seek refuge in Paris, and for the garrison, we
are evidently going beyond what would be possible,
It has been said, that in order to fortify aria there
moot be five hnnclfed fronts of fortifications, and that
these would cost each 1,000,000 f., labour and mate-
riali being dearer in Paris than elsewhere. Here it is
said, is at once an expense of 500,000,000f.1n the
first place, we must observe that the expenditure of
500,000,000 f. would, in 1815, have appeared a great
economy. if by that we could have orevetated the say-
meat of a milliard and half to the enemy. On ail the
essential points there is an unanimity between us and
' the dovernnient. We are all agreed on the advantage
of fortifying Paris, and surrounding it with a continkto9l
wall and ou,ter works, 4 ditrlc4lty Grote?,llo,o
distaPee 14-whi;ah the COO wor4 sbeN _
be placed, but We withdrew all objection on this heal
on receiving from the Clovernaieat. declaration
which it has promised to renew before you, that no
external work shall be nearer to the continuott
wall than Vincennes,: We have asked iu our

port that the works to be undertaken shall be a
continuous wall and outer works, that both shall be con-
structed at the saute time, that a guarantee shall be
elven to the communes within the wall that they Lila!!
not be included in the oetroi of Paris, and certain special
exceptions with regaiel to miliary servitude. On al
these points we are pettedly in unison with the Go-
vernment. 1 roust now inform the Chamber of some
difficulties that arose in the Committee, but which have
been removed. We were desirous that the precise situ-
ation of the external works should be stated in the Bill,
hut we .gave way, lest we should embarrass the execu-
tion oldie plan, contenting ourselves with the engage-
ment made as to the continuous wall, the expense of
which is sixty-nine millions. Some persons have feared
that we might have a Grovel nment which, for its per-
sonal preservation alone, would bombard Paris. But,
Gentlemen, could there ever be a Government which
would bombard its own capital Murmurs at the left
al' the Chamber. Our task is now completed. .In our
own conviction, there is no more patriotic work than
fortifying the capital, and of the propriety of doing this
there can be no doubt, after what his been sail by two
such judges as Vauban and Napoleon. 10 the name
of my colleagues, I implore your adoption of the Bill.
Never was an enterprise of greater grandeur or im-
portance proposa to a great people. In ordering its
execution, you will take away from our enemies the pre-
tence which they would deduce from a pretended want
of firmness on the part of the French nation, and you
will endow the capital with an enclosure which will ren-
der the country invincible.

UNSOUND ANNUITY AND ASSU-

RANCE COMPANIES.

(From the Sects Times of Wednesday.)
Extract from a letter dated London, Jan. 7, 1841,
received by a gentleman in Edinburgh :
" The Independent and West Middlesex Annuity
Company, have stopped, and the Acting Managers are
off. It is said upwards of 200,000/. has been invested
with them.

"I do not say stopped on report. I was in their
office in Baker-street to-day, and I was told the above
by the clerks."

We understand that a meeting of parties in this
quarter who have sunk money on annuities with the
above concern, is to be held in Glasgow to-day.—Glas-
gow Argus of
,yesterday.
By a letter from one of our London agents we learn
that the " Independent West Middlesex Assurance
Society" suddenly suspended business on Tuesday last.
Our agent expresses great alarm as to loss on the part
of those who placed confidence in this Society.—Lceds
lotelli;gencer.
[ln reference to the above, we learn that a meeting of
the annuitants in Glasgow, of whom there about a
dozen, was held yesterday in the BI sck Bull ; that Mr.
Livingstone, late agent of the Company here, appeared,
and wished authority to employ an accountant for them in
London, which was declined, and the meeting adjourned
without any farther proceedings being gone into. 'lucre
arc, we understand, about 350 annuitants altogether,
and the Company, it is said, have lifted upwards of
98,000/. of annuities. Comparatively a small sum of
this is out of Scotland.]