The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-20 00:00:00

THE SUN", LONDON. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20 1841.

LONDON :
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1841.

DISTRESS IN LONDON,
AND MORE PARTICULARLY

IN SPITALFIELDS.

" the
Well !—lt is said in Scripture that Poor
shall not cry unto the LORD in vain." They
have cried, and their prayer has been answered!
The Citizens of London, headed by their ge-
nerous—their patriotic LORD MAYOR, have
responded to the call of distress in a manner so
noble as to take the heart by surprise, till it found
vent for its emotion in tears of joy ! But there
is no glory in all this—it is only what man
owes to his fellow man, when the hour
of trial comes yet the difficulty is sometimes
to find—

" Men with hearts and hands prepared,
The blessings they enjoy to guard."

" No !" say the free-born and independent
citizens of London, ,c Our purpose is to sur-
mount every difficulty in a good cause,
and what cause appeals so touchingly to the
heart as that of charity ? The condition of the
.poor to-day may be ours to-morrow—above all,
it is our Christian duty to ' do unto others
as ,we would that they should do unto us.' "
The world is wide enough for us all—
each man has the liberty of his own
free action ; but while we sail on the
ocean of circumstance—with all the elements
cheering us on in our adventure, if a portion
more unfortunate than the rest should meet
with shoals, and encounter the danger of ship-
wreck, is it not the bounden duty of those who
are safe, to lend a helping hand to extricate
them out of their difficulties?
This really is the state of the present distress
in Spitalfields—one ship, though a large one—

(taking it metaphorically)—among a whole fleet.
And, suppose the Admiral of that fleet should
allow his ships in succession to perish for want
of timely help—and, in this life, time is every
thing—where would be the end of his fleet and
his command? The ocean of time would an-
swer, " Thou hast been an unwary pilot—come
and share the fate of those whom thou wouldst
not or couldst not protect. Thy race is run, be-
cause thou wouldst not take heed in season."
Even so is it with a great number of the poor
sufferers in SPITALFIELDS and other places—
they basked in the sunshine of prosperity, with-
out making due allowance for the shadows of
the coming night. Their hearts were so full of joy
and gratitude—it may be thoughtlessness—that
they supposed the flood-tide of prosperity would
roll on for ever. People running down the hill
of pleasure never dream of the difficulty of re-
covering their mountain ground of independence !
The flood-tide of enjoyment leaves them on
the dry sands of adversity, where they remain
—to pine and starve !

From such extremity, Providence has wisely
ordained, that one portion of society should,
in brotherly kindness, relieve the other. In
the present case that is being done, and done
with spontaneous generosity.—" By whom?"—
Ask not—but, 'go and do thoti likewise !'
But if thou wilt have value for thy charity—
know that the Citizens of London bestow their
benevolence without value and without price !"
With them—Virtue is its own reward.

Since our appeal of yesterday to the charity
of the humane, we are gratified to learn that the
LORD MAYOR has offered his cordial support to
relieve the distressed; in which he has been most
unanimously supported by the CORPORATION of
London, Aldermen and Sheriffs included. With
such a respectable body, the only question is,
who shall do most?
We understand that Mr. Sheriff ROGERS IS
to preside at a preliminary meeting this day, at
twelve o'clock, to make arrangements for a ge-
neral meeting next week.
In another column, we insert with pleasure
two letters, addressed by that ardent friend of
liberty Mr. NICHOLSON to the LORD MAYOR
and to this Journal. Mr. NICHOLSON is pleased
to give us the honour of originating this good
work in the cause of charity, but we beg respect-
fully to disclaim it. Our maxim has been, and
ever will be, " Honour to whom honour is due."
We may have thought of such a possibility,
and we did ; but we gave it no publicity—we
were pondering overit, when Mr. THORNBORROW,
the active friend of the distressed, called our
reflections into being. We have no other merit
but that of endeavouring to do our duty.
After all, the question is not, in a cause of
benevolence, who was the first to originate a
good idea, but who was the readiest
to contribute his mite according to his
means. One may knock at the door of
charity without hope, because the house is
empty—but it happened to be our fortune to
touch the door of human kindness when the
heart was full; and behold the result!—the ME-
TROPOLIS outspreads her arms to clothe the
naked and to feed the hungry. This is not our
merit, but her benevolence !

(From the The Sun of last night.)

We have just learnt, with inexpressible delight,
that the good work of charity has gone on rejoicing
in the City of London, and promises the happiest
results to those forlorn people who but yesterday
deemed poverty their heritage, but whose hearts
will this day be filled with glad tidings from the
active and untiring benevolence of the gentlemen
who have taken up their cause, among whom
Mr. WILLIAM THORNBORROW deservedly stands
conspicuous.

We understand that gentleman waited this
morning on the LORD MAYOR, who received
him in a most enthusiastic manner, and promised
ail the support a CHIEF MAGISTRATE of Lon-
don could give in his official capacity. But
Alderman PIRIE went further (we hope shortly
to have the pleasure of adding Sir JOHN)—the
LORD MAYOR said that his purse and his per-
sonal services were at the command of the
Committee in so good—so praiseworthy a cause I
Really this is true charity, and does more honour
to Mr. PIRIE'S heart, than all the dignity of
London could confer on the First Magistrate of
the first metropolis in the w ()rid !

The CORPORATION Of LONDON have also taken
up the cause as their own ! Nor are
the SHERIFFS, as we anticipated, behind-
hand with their fellow-citizens. Heart and good
will are the order of the day. The only
wonder with them all is, that they had
not thought of it before. But better late than
never ; and now they are setting about it
in earnest, as if anxious to make up for
lost time. Certainly everything looks very aus-
picious, and the public Press will cordially fan
the flame which benevolence has awakened in
the heart of pity.

But while time flies, the poor starve. Acting
on this maxim, we understand that a preliminary
meeting will be held to-morrow at the London
Tavern, at which that modest but generous phi
lanthropist, Mr. Sheriff ROGERS, has handsomely
consented to preside, in order to make arrange-
ments for a general meeting of the citizens of
London, and the friends of the poor throughout
the metropolis. We heartily wish their bene-
volent endeavours the most distinguished suc-
cess. "Whoso ,giveth to the poor, leaded' to
the LORD."

The schemefor transporting the people on a
large scale, in order to put an end to Corn-law
agitation, to which we have called public atten-
tion, finds great favour with a large body of per-
sons in the City of London. To their disgrace,
and to the eternal dishonour of a metropolis that
was wont to take the lead in every good cause,
they have never given the repeal of the bread
tax the least assistance. They have, however,
got up a requisition to the LORD MAYOR to call
a public meeting, and have prepared resolutions,
petition the QUEEN and the Par-
liament to promote emigration. We never
doubted that numerous classes, such as are de-
scribed in the letter of our
Leicester
oltt
Correspon-
dent, would be most desirous to
ve promotern thee,
scheme. By every kind of loan
or Government
expenditure, these gentlemen find their advan-
tage;
and to borrow money partly from them
carry out labourers to fertilize the untilled lands
they have acquired, or expect to acquire, in the
colonies, is a scheme abounding in attractionq.
Looking on emigration, when voluntary, as
essential to the national prosperity, we shall regret
to see it jobbed by landlords and money lords, to
stifle the piercing demands of the bread-taxed
people.
Since the world began, the history of mankind
has
tions.
The
system
which has been
g a
go-ahead
d scale,
latterly spoken of as peculiarly characteristic of
the Anglo-Americans, in contrast to the some-
what stationary population of Europe, is as old
as the dispersion at Babel. In obedience to the
command, Increase, multiply, and replenish the
earth, the generations of men spread themselves
gradually over its surface, one empire being
destroyed and another founded as the successive
waves of population rolled over and impelled
one another, and, as they came from different

directions, crossed and were jumbled together in
one destructive confusion. We consider migra-
tion, therefore, to be natural to man, and as ne-
cessary to the welfare of his race, and the ful-
filment of the great purposes for which he has
been created, as the continued propagation of the
species. We make no objections to emigration ;
we rejoice to see the time-honoured name and
noble language of Britons spreading over the
whole world ; but we protest against the Govern-
ment undertaking to promote it as a remedy for
the existing distress. We shall protest at all
times against Government meddling with the
matter; but to meddle with it in order to
get rid of the difficulties which at present result
from improper legislation, deserves the most
earnest opposition..

The Government is already overwhelmed with
business, and all that it undertakes, from consti-
tuting a National Church to issuing an Exche-
quer bill, is done so as to disappoint the public
hopes. It seems for ever trying a 'prentice hand
on some new scheme which never succeeds. It is
the most vague, gigantic, unfeeling projector that
ever existed, carrying its crude schemes into exe-
cution—whether they relate, like the present in-
trigues of LOUIS PHILIPPE, to an ambitious ex-
tension of external influence and power, or, like
the existing Corn-law, to some supposed aggran-
disement of a class at home—at the expense of the
lives and property, the health and happiness of
the people. We are, on principle, decidedly op-
posed—contrary, we know, to the Frenchified
disposition which now unhappily prevails—
to extending the operations of Government.
With emigration it has hitherto had little to do,
and it ought to be repelled if it endeavour to
make that subservient to its purposes.
Our great master, and we know none of his
disciples who have yet equalled him in sagacity,
taught us this important precept : " THE
STATESMAN," said Dr. ADAM SMITH, " WHO
SHOULD ATTEMPT TO DIRECT PRIVATE PEOPLE .IN

WHAT MANNER THEY OUGHT TO EMPLOY THEIR
CAPITALS, would not only load himself with a
most unnecessary attention, but ASSUME AN
AUTHORITY WHICH COULD SAFELY BE TRUSTED

NOT ONLY TO NO SINGLE PERSON, BUT TO NO
COUNCIL OR SENATE WHATEVER, and which
would nowhere be so dangerous as in the hands
of a man who had folly and presumption enough
to fancy himself fit to exercise it." What, how-
ever, is a scheme of emigration in the hands of
a Government but an assumption of authority to
direct private people in what manner to employ
their capitals ? The Government has no ca-
pital, and in the proposed case would do this:
It would assume the direction of a capital tanta-
mount to the sum it borrowed, and would
undertake to direct all who must use
and all who must be sustained by that capital, to
employ their industry and to use that capital in
cultivating the land of some distant settlement.
If the Government were not to assume that au-
thority, and were not to undertake this direc-
tion, it is clear that the capital and labourers
would not go where the Government would di-
rect them. So to direct them, therefore, con-
travenes the soundest, the best established, and
most thorough-going principle of the science
first reduced into order by SMITH— the principle
that every man is the best judge of his own in-
terest, and the most advantageous mode of em-
ploying his own capital and industry. The con-
travention is, however, only a continuation of
the system of attempting to direct men to em-
ploy their labour and capital in agriculture in-
stead of manufactures, which the Tories approve
of, but which the Liberals condemn. To carry
out their system to all its conclusions is con-
sistent in them; but for the Liberals to object
to the Corn-laws, and to support the Govern-
ment in directing emigration, is as silly as the
recruit who mutilates himself to escape military
service, and is made to pass his life in the galleys.
On these general principles we oppose the
plan of Government taking up the scheme of pro-
moting emigration. We should oppose that at
all times; but for the Government to adopt it
as a panacea for the existing distress, is an at-
tempt to bolster up one gross interference with
capital and industry by another. The object of
it is to prolong an act of oppression and injustice.
If Ministers adopt the plan, it is to give a respite
to the Corn-laws—to maintain and extend the
dominion of the aristocracy and the priesthood.
It is doubtful, at the same time, whether it will
relieve the national distress. The number of
persons who emigrated in 1840 was no less than
83,746; and, according to the accounts from the
manufacturing districts, which state that our
best workmen are fast emigrating—looking, too,
at the vast number of uninhabited houses in the
kingdom, 162,756, or one-seventeenth of the
whole—we cannot assent to the assertion that
emigration requires to be fostered by a bounty, or
promoted by the interference of Government.
We find from Parliamentary Returns that the
number of emigrants who went to North
America alone, in the eleven years ending with
1839, was 545,216, of whom 273,723 went to the
United States, and 271,493 to the British colonies;
which gives an annual average emigration to
America, during the eleven years ending with
1839, of 49,564. Last year the number was
65,520.• We have not under our hand any ac-
count of the emigration to all our colonies for
the same period, but we should set it down at a
low figure if we were to state it at 10,000 per
year. Our readers are aware that, within a few
years, several new colonies have been founded,
and bounties have been given, from the sale of
lands and other sources, to induce considerable
numbers to emigrate. We may state, therefore,
in round numbers, that 700,000 persons have
emigrated during the last twelve years. Of late
the average number of emigrants has in-
creased. Instead of any relief being the result,
the difficulties of the country have increased
year after year. Notwithstanding the formation
of so many new markets, which, according to
the Chronicle, should be so instantly ad-
vantageous, the distress and poverty at
borne have in no wise diminished. It
may be doubted, therefore, whether the fur-
ther transportation of labourers, and the further
exportation of capital, will tend in any degree to
lessen the distress; and unless that were quite
certain, there is-not the shadow of a reason for
the Government undertaking to promote emi-
gration.

If the cause of the distress were inability
on the part of the people to feed themselves,
emigration might be a suitable remedy; but they
are capable at this moment of buyingmore food, by
the exertion of their vast mechanical power, than
they could consume, did not the unrighteous and
impious Corn-laws prevent them. There is no
surplus population in England, there is yet
plenty of land unfilled, plenty of mines un-
wrought, and plenty of persons in other coun-
tries ready and willing to purchase our pro-
duce. The cause of the national distress is
a whole series of unjust laws, of which
the Corn-law is one of the worst. There
is no want either of a disposition in our people
to emigrate, or places to move to. The wide
world opens its arms to English artisans, and
some are now to be fbund in almost every exist-
ing empire. They should rather be wooed to
stay at home, by amending our legislation, than
be tempted or driven in greater numbers abroad.
Ali Act to raise a loan to promote emigration,
horwever temporary might be its provisions, would
wily add to the mass of unjust legislation. which
already encumbers the statute-book, and. would
inc rease the evils under which the people groan.

'_'he promised letter from a Correspondent at
Edinburgh, respecting the persecutions carried
on :against the middle and lower classes in that
city, is withheld, in order not to expose the
writer to the tender mercies of the Inquisition.
It may be convenient, however, to notice the
prcccedings of the Town Council regarding the
imprisonment of the Shop-keeper, for selling
swe tatmeats on Sunday, in whoe behalf Lord
KENTNAIRD generously subscribed three guineas.
Evidently aware of the public odium incurred
by :well relentless severity, the Corporation ap-

pointed a Committee to investigate the matter,
who conclude their Repprt in these words :
There is a suggestion they would respectfully make
to the Magistrates in regard to future cases of a similar
kind. The present prosecution was, it seems, gone into
at the earnest solicatiou of St. John's Kirk Session. The
Sub-Committee suggest, that when a similar application
shall be made in future, it shall be in the perfect option
of the Magistrates to accede to it or not, just as they may
see fit; and either to refuse their authority altogether,
or to grant it under such conditions as they may think
proper.

It thus appears that the Kirk was the insti-
gator of these persecutions; and, like the Ca-
tholic Church in the dark ages, made the arm of
the civil power subservient to its malignant
spirit. The Committee, sensible of the dan-
gerous practice of allowing ecclesiastics to point
out how the law shall be adminished, rebuke
the LORD PROVOST and his Non-Intrusionist
colleagues ; and, in language not to be misunder-
derstood, tell them to beware of listening a third
time (another victim is still in prison) to " the
earnest solicitation" of Mr. GUTHRIE'S Kirk Ses-
sion. But these cases are only two out of ten thou-
sand. The inhabitants of Edinburgh are tor-
mented in every possible way by men who pro-
fess to be the followers of the Great Founder
of Christianity, but who in practice are rebels
against his divine laws and example. He
loved little children—he rebuked, not his dis-
ciples who plucked the ears of corn, but the
wicked Pharisees, Who made the observance of
the Sabbath a cloak for every crime—he was
forgiving and merciful, lenient to the frailties of
human nature, and abhorrred the hypocrites
who would inflict imprisonment or death for
the slightest breach of vain rites and ceremo-
nies. " His yoke was easy, and his burden was
light." Is that the character of the religion
which these modern Pharisees are vainly at-
tempting to establish in a land of liberty ? The
following statements, for which we have the best
authority, will testify :—A man of the name of
Bullock has been imprisoned since the 31st of
October, for selling one halfpenny-worth of lolli-
pop to a child during divine service—all the
principal reading-rooms in Edinburgh have
been closed during the entire Sunday—
a stop also has been put to the sale
of milk, biscuits, and sweetmeats, to chil-
dren in the King's Park, a place frequented by
the humbler classes on the afternoon of Sunday.
For the last four weeks the police have entered
and pryed into every room of all the second-rate
hotels, in order to see what is going on—even
the bed-chambers of the proprietor's wife and
daughter are not secure against these myrmidons
of the Inquisition. Not a drop of spirits or wine
is allowed to any resident at an hotel, should he
find it convenient to dine during church service.
The Church in that devoted place is everything
—the very press of Edinburgh appears to be
muzzled, and Lord Provost FORREST and Mr.
GUTHRIE, and the other ministers of the Gos-
pel, seem bent only on making people take
seats in churches, in order that the ministers'
stipend may be abundant. A day of reckoning,
however, will come; the over bent bow will re-
lax ; scoffers and infidels will spring up in thou-
sands, as in the days of CHARLES II.; and even
the divine religion of the New Testament will
be brought into contempt by the outrageous
conduct of these madmen. Are we to blame
for calling them madmen, when we find one of
the principal speakers at the meeting of the
Town Council addressing his colleagues (and
listened to patiently) in the following absurd
language ? No Mormonite could indite greater
nonsense :

Dr. Macaulay said, some people might think it a small
matter to buy and sell such things as had been bought
and sold in this case on the Sabbath-day, but both
Scripture and experience warranted them in viewing
Yfiry differently even so small a matter as the purchase
of a few sweeties. If not taught better, did not such
practices whet the children's appetite for spirits ? and
did not spirits excite to quarrelling, and lead to trial and
imprisonment ? What was the use of inviting the chil-
dren to a Sabbath school, if immediately opposite the
school there was a shop with sufficient temptation in it
to break at least one of the commandments, which, in
the school, they were taught to respect ? He demurred
entirely to the sympathy expressed for a man who would
thus tamper with one of the divine commandments.
Much had been said about the misery which had fol-
lowed the prosecution. Undoubtedly sin must breed
sorrow ; but that should be considered before the sin was
committed.

Had such men as Dr. MACAULAY and Lord
Provost FORREST, and the Rev. T. GUTHRIE,
lived in Judea during the reign of TIBERIUS, and
been the chief men of the Synagogues, our
SAVIOUR would have been crucified before his
divine mission was completed, and the people of
Christendom would have been still heathens, or
Pagans, or circumcised adopted Jews.

We direct attention to the energetic resolu-
tions adopted, with unabated hope, by the Anti-
Bread-tax League at Manchester, on Wednesday,
and inserted in another part of The Sun. We
are rejoiced to see that the League continues
steady to its resolve to promote measures, with
all its power, for the total and immediate repeal
of the Bread-tax. Nothing less will satisfy the
justice of the case, and nothing less will they
get so easily as that which justice commands.

The Morning Post seems fairly to have lost its
wits since it became aMinisterial Journal,and gives
itself as many pert, ridiculous airs as a flaunting
lady's-maid would be apt to do, who should sud-
denly find herself raised above her natural level.
We can imagine how such an unduly elevated
baggage would act. She would turn up her
nose at all whom she absurdly imagined were
her inferiors in station; talk ofher gentility ; and
abuse the rabble in language borrowed—and
vulgarised in the borrowing—from the fashion-
able Exclusives of the West-end. Just so
is the Post now acting. It is a lady's-maid
fancying herself turned into a fine lady, and
called up from the butler's pantry into the draw-
ing-room. To drop metaphor, our shallow-pated
Contemporary cannot get over the fact that it
is thought worthy to be considered a Govern-
ment organ. It no longer knows itself; is ut-
terly oblivious of the past; and imagines that its
political existence is now first begun. It dates
from the day when the Tories, like the Goths
and Vandals of old, made a successful irruption
into the rich and sunny Italian clime of the Trea-
sury Bench. We hear no more talk of sympathy
with the people,who were declared to be oppressed,
trampled on, and 'deluded by the triumphant
Whigs; all this is clean washed away from the Post's
recollection ; and it now sees no party worth
an instant's thought, but that which acknow-
ledges Sir ROBERT PEEL as its head, and is
graciously vouchsafed to consider our Contem-
porary as an inferior organ. The " shocking
vulgarity," "the Satanic ingenuity," the " dia-
bolical spirit" of that "crew of miscreants," the
Opposition Press, who are doing all they can to
disembarrass the country of the heavy load of
Toryism under which it
is labouring, like the
Titan of old beneath Mount ,Etna;—these are
the themes which our fair Contemporary has now
most at heart, and which she discusses with a
flippancy that betrays the Parvenue in every sen-
tence. And wherefore all this vixen spite?
Simply and solely because the Liberal Journals,
The Sun among the number, are daily blurting
out more strong, bold, home truths than suit the
delicate sensibilities of Toryism ! They are
making too deep an impression on the popular
mind; they are stripping the mask off cant and
hypocrisy; they are teaching the people to dis-
criminate between the true and the false in
legislation; and are consequently making
M inisters so
seats, that our Contemporary deems it her
bounden duty exceedingly uneasy in their
to come to the rescue
of these unhappy
men. " A Marmion to the
rescue, Ho!" Alas, our Contemporary is no Mar-
sy for her genteel neighbours,
Mar-
rnion, but rather a Mrs. Partington, who, full
of a fine sympathy
once rushed out of doors with a mop-stick ill her
hand, to stave off the encroachments of that
vulgar Radical, the Atlantic ! We should strongly
advise the Post to stick to its old line of duty,
and cultivate a gentle, decorous demea-
nour, as becomes a prim lady's-maid.
It was always great in fashionable tittle-tattle;
always so laudably pains-taking in its announce-
ments of aristocratic " Arrivals and Departures,"

that he must have been a shrewd Lord who
could have moved a yard from his door without
our Contemporary gaining cognizance of his
movements; and we can bear testimony to its
early intelligence whenever a West-end elope-
ment was on the tapis. Let it return then to
these amusing chroniclings, and cease to
embark on a crusade against the Opposition
Press. The sword is not for the hands of a fine
lady's-maid. The needle, the thimble, and the
thread, are her fittest implements of power.
Should our fair Contemporary, however, despise
our friendly warning, and persevere in her pre-
s Pent ridiculous hallucination, we shall certainly
feel it no more than our duty to advise the issu-
ing of a Commission de Lunatico Inquirendo
against her.

We have little room for comment on the meet-
ing held at Plymouth on Wednesday, to vote
an address of congratulation to Lord JOHN
RUSSELL, on his arrival in that quarter. We can-
not, however, omit to notice the impartial
and judicious conduct of the Chairman, Mr
SOLTAU, the Mayor of the Borough, during
the occasional interruptions caused by the
Chartists. He gave a fair hearing to all parties,
allowed the Whigs to praise Lord J. RUSSELL,
and the Chartists to abuse him and his party, and
thereby secured that respect and authority which
are invariably the reward of even-handed jus-
tice. Mr. SMITH told some truths which Lord
JOHN and the old Whig party would do well
to remember. They had in 1833 the most
glorious opportunity that ever fell to the
lot of any Government, of rooting up
the seeds of Toryism, and improving and
rendering popular the institutions of the
country but they became afraid of the people
who carried them into power, they truckled
to their political enemies, and are now
reaping their reward. Let us hope, how-
ever, that they will be benefited by adversity,
and see that, without the lower classes, their prin-
ciples of government can never prevail against
the grasping power and selfish interests of the
Church and the aristocracy.

By the Quadruple Treaty of 1834, France
recognised the abolition of the Salic law in
Spain. While Duke of ORLEANS, King Lours
PHILIPPE signed a protest against the aboli-
tion of that law, as a junior Member
of the BOURBON family, in conjunction
with the then reigning Sovereigns of
France and Naples; but when revo-
lution placed him upon the Throne of
France, he united with England in acknow-
ledging the validity of an act by which the
Crown of Spain was made to descend upon
the head of an infant female to the
prejudice of the claims of the brother of
the late Sovereign. Upon this inconsistent
conduct the Times of yesterday has a
clever article, which we notice for the purpose of
correcting a very serious error into which the
writer appears to us to have fallen. The Times
says:—

The only solution which we can suggest to the inex-
plicable and inconsistent course which has been pursued
by the Cabinet of the Tuileries on Spanish affairs for the
last ten years, is that the interest or policy of the family
has invariably been thwarting the policy and in-
fringing the good faith of the nation. As long
as Don Carlos held the mountains of Bissay,
the Quadruple Treaty was a dead letter, and Queen
Christina's Ambassador, the Duke of Frias, was
told in the most positive manner that the assist-
ance she had a right to claim would not be given, either
then or ever. But when Don Carlos is safely lodged in
the custody of the French police, and Queen Christina
duly under the personal influence of her Royal uncle, his
zeal in her behalf knows no bounds, and he is willing to
lend to the unavowed intrigues and paltry plots of a fugi-
tive that encouragement which was utterly denied to the
open necessities and official demands of the Queen-Re-
gent. In other words, the French Government will do
for a Princess of the House of Bourbon against Spab,
what it would not do for Spain against a Prince of the
House of Bourbon—nay, more ; for it appears as much
disposed to lend succour to Christina against the exist-
ing Spanish Government without either pretext or
warrant of treaty, as it was to withhold all succour from
her against Don Carlos in spite of an acknowledged
right and an existing treaty.
_ _

The mistake here is palpable. The King of
the FRENCH was not less favourable to Queen
CHRISTINA in 1835, and the three following
years, than he is now; but his MAJESTY was then
in no condition to stir, as he was endeavouring to
form an alliance with the Great Northern
Powers. His hopes of a marriage between
one of his sons and the young Queen of SPAIN
dated from his acceptance of the Quadruple
Treaty. Had family ties such an influence
over Louis PHJLIPPE, he would not have
figured in the Grenoble conspiracy, and
the Revolution which drove CHARLES X.
from France to die a neglected exile in Austria.
Besides, does not the writer in the Times see
that, in assisting CHRISTINA against CARLOS in
1835, the King of the FRENCH would be exalt-
ing one branch of the BOURBON family in the
person of the EX-REGENT and her daughters?
_ _

The simple facts of the case are these :—Louis
PHILIPPE protested, as Duke of ORLEANS,
against the abolition of the Salic law in Spain,
because it was then a matter of no con-
sequence to him, and was agreeable to the
Royal branches of his family. When KING
he consented to the abolition of the law
because it was agreeable to England and Spain,
and paved the way for the accession of one of
his sons as KING-CONSORT in Spain. He first
withheld support from CHRISTINA, because he was
afraid of offending the Great Northerm Powers
with whom he was negotiating alliances, and he
afterwards lent underhand support to Don
CARLOS, because the Spanish Liberals
were carrying out their principles to
an extent which threatened the exist-
ence of Monarchy in France. He now
espouses the cause of the ex-REGENT for the
same reason, and because unless she be re-in-
stated at the head of the Government of
Spain his dreams of an alliance between his
son and the young QUEEN must end in
smoke. Throughout this affair, the guiding star of
Louis PHILIPPE'S policy has been hisown interest
and that of his children. For the BOURBONS, male
or female, apart from his own aggrandisement,
and that of his sons and daughters, he cares not
a rush; to place his on upon the Throne of Spain,
there is not a BOURBON breathing, himself and
his children excepted, whom he would not see
buried till the day of judgment at the bottom of
the Red Sea.

The Paris Journals are filled with the
conclusion of the Report of the Committee
of the Court of Peers, in the case of QUENISSET
and his co-conspirators. They are, altogether, a
set of as miserable devils as ever gave em-
ployment to a public executioner ; and an
enemy of the French Government might sup-
pose that it was with a view to bring the Peers
of France into public contempt, that they
were summoned to sit in judgment upon such
a gang of revolutionary scare-crows. To pub-
lish any more of the Report would be to
fill our columns with trash, which no
Englishman would have the patience to
read. But for the September laws against
the press, and the laws against public meet-
ings, such conspirators as QUENISSET and his ac-
complices would have no existence in France.
The forcibly and openly-expressed opinions
of the industrious classes at public meetings
would soon convince such incendiaries that they
had no sympathy to expect from the bulk of the
community, and thus they would be checked
at the very outset in their wild career of revolu-
tionary anarchy. Where the open expression of
all opinion is proscribed, the wickedest men attri-
bute to the gagged multitude the sentiments of
evil entertained by themselves ; and it is
only the failure of their mad attempts
at revolution which, convinces them of
their error. Had virtue no voice, vice
would soon act under the impression that all
men were ready to walk in her footsteps. In
proportion, therefore, as public opinion is si-
lenced, is an encouragement held out to that
treason which aims at the subversion of religion
and Government.

Yesterday his Excellency Lord,Cowley was visited by
the Papal Nuncio, the Sardinian, Ottoman, Neapolitan,
Belgian, and Greek Ambassadors, and the Bavarian,
Brazilian, Hanseatic, and Austrian Ministers.
The subjoined miscellaneous news from Smyrna is

given by the Oriental Observer, of the 20th ult, :—" On
Saturday a melancholy accident happened on board the
Inflexible. A man and boy were employed aloft, when
the boy, losing his hold, fell upon the man, and he in his
turn losing his hold both fell into the sea. No sooner
was the accident seen from the deck, than 12 or 14 of
their messmates jumped overboard. The boy was saved,
and but slightly injured. The man sank to rise no more.
His body has not, we hear, been found.
The Gazette de France states that General Cabrera
was upset in a carriage, near Lyons, a few days ago, but
was not hurt. " The falls of Kings"and heroes," it adds,
" are now-a-days not of bad omen.''
The citadel of Barcelona," observes the Gazette de
France, "which the Barcelonese are now pulling down,
seems to have been built in order to exercise the skill of
the French in taking fortresses." Ili 1649, under the
Comte de Marsin ; in 1697, 'under M. de Vendome; in
1808, and 1823 the flag of France has floated over this
remarkable fortress. Barcelona, as everybody knows, is
on the sea-coast ; it contains 110,000 inhabitants,
10,183 houses, 360 streets, 2,000 gardens, and 7 churches
besides the cathedral. The Palace of the Governor, the
Exchange, the arsenals, and the dockyards, are admirable
monuments."

The Brussels Observateur state: that Mme. Vander-
smissen, wife of the General, is no longer in secret con-
finement, but has been allowed to communicate with her
husband in presence of the keepers of the prison. Messrs.
Parent and Decrehen have been again interrogated. Up-
wards of 200 witnesses have been examined concerning
this affair.

The Gazette of Upper Germany has the following
from Vienna :---" On the 7th instant, the grand fete of
the musicians of :he Empire was celebrated is the large
Winter Riding-school. The orchestra was composed of
1,072 musicians. The oratorio Paulus, by Mendelssohn,
produced an admirable effect. The receipts are to be de-
voted to the erection of a monument to Haydn, Gluck,
Mozart, and Beethoven."

The King of Prussia has just conferred the decoration
of the Red Eagle (3d class) on Baron Desnoyers, Mem-
ber of the French Institute.

The Municipal Council of llaguenau has voted the
sum of 500,000 f. towards the formation of the proposed
railroad direct from Paris to Strasburg.
BOURSE—PARIS, WEDNESDAY, Nov. 17.

first Highest Lowest Last
Price Price. Price. Prict.
French 5 per Cent/ ll6 15 ... 116 30 116 15 ... 116 25
4 per Cents lOl 25 ... 1,11 50 ... 101 25 ... 101 50
3 per Cents PI 25 80 25 80 15 ... 80 13
Loan
Bank of France
LaMtte Bank I.ooof. Shares 1038 75 ...1(38 75 ...1138 75 ...1038 75
5,000 f. Shares 5085 —.5085 ...5085
Rpssnan Bank,lBl.l 765 ... 770 ... 765 770
Belgian 5 per Cents.
5 per Centt., 1840 IO2M ... 10214 ... 102% ... IQ2
i!‘singh Active F2% .. ti2j4 2;:a56 ... 1234
Neapolitan lO6 60 ... It;6 ... 101'60 tO6 68
Roman, ex. div .... 10234 ... 102 k" ... 1d34 ... 102%
RAILWAY SHARES.

Versailles. L.B. - 24)5 ... 205 ... 205 205
Orleans .. 481:50 ... 482 50 ... 4b2 50 ... 48! 60
itrasburetoßale,shares red. 2:32 50 . 232 50 ... 231 25 ... 231 25

THE EXCHEQUER BILL AFFAIR.—Itis generally
believed in the City that Mr. E. Beaumont Smith
will be admitted Queen's evidence in the Ex-
chequer bill affair, and that many disclosures
have been made that will implicate other parties
besides those already in custody.--Times. •
The Gazette of last night contains a Treaty
of Navigation between her Britannic Majesty and.
the King of Sardinia, signed at Turin, Septem-
ber 6, 1841, which has already appeared in The
Sun.

DISTRESS
IN SPITALFIELDS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin—Accept my hearty thanks for your ex-
cellent article in The Sun of this morning in
behalf of the poor and really distressed people
of Spitalfields. It is, indeed, a glorious Sun to
the poor and suffering people in this district.
I have enclosed to you a copy of a note I sent
to the Lord Mayor on the 18th instant.

You, Sir, deserve, and may justly claim the
first prize in this great and good work, for ori•
ginating this public undertaking. You have
thus justified my feelings in favour of the
press, expressed in my note to the Lord Mayor,
namely—" That the public press, to its great
honour, is always unanimous in pleading the
cause of the poor and distressed."
Now, Sir, the amount of the distress in this
kingdom is most dreadful. The people of Scot-
land were the first to appeal to the benevolent
people in London. The press placed that appeal
before us. The answer was prompt, and the
first fruit came from Sir Robert Peel, followed
by some others of her Majesty's Ministers.
Now, Sir, may we not fairly calculate upon
Sir Robert's sanction and liberal support in favour
of our own distressed fellow-subjects, and all her
Majesty's servants ?
May we not also calculate on the benevolence
of all our Bishops and Clergy, our Princes.,
Dukes, Lords, and Commons, and all in authority
over us?

May we not fully depend on all our rich
bankers, the great and wealthy merchants, and
the thousands of private individuals who are
blessed with the riches of this world?

It is, Sir, to the higher_orders we must look to
raise such a subscription as will be equal to meet,
or in any degree mitigate, the awful distress
which now exists in this once happy old England.
It is not in the power of the middle classes to
contribute. The distress now existing amongst
tradesmen and shopkeepers is so great, that it is
notorious there are many thousands in the City
of London and its neighbourhood, who are unable
to pay their Assessed Taxes, so that there is only
one step down to place them on the list of charity.
Your obedient servant,
JOHN NICHOLSO N.

dil,
''')\ :,:.* i , , 1-3, 21f, A •.>" sOl
410 , ‘iii,st, ("1.
_ _ _

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