The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-13 00:00:00

Corn cannot be brought in, at least in any great quantities,
from America, because the internal canals of the new conti-
nent, by which it must be brought to the ports, are frozen.
From a similar cause, the present is not the period at which
the port of Odessa draws from the country from which
it is supplied the quantity of corn it exports. We have
in onr granaries and stores enough to enable us to wait
for arrivals, however long they may be delayed. But the
absence of large quantities of imported corn in the entrepits
is not the less felt, and nothing more is necessary to cause a
rise in price. As long as this cause subsists it cannot be
expected that the rise should stop. Such is the rule of trade.
Whenever the demand exceeds the supply in a large pro-
portion, the prices increase. Nevertheless, if there be dis•
turbances to aggravate the state of things, and the effect of
which would be to convert into au absolute dearth what is
now only a rise in price, but against which every precaution
has been taken by the Government, and which the good
sense of the citizens would immediately put down, there is
every reason to hope that the probability of large arrivals at
the end of April will moderate the rise."

The Debats concludes by arguing in favour of
free trade, as one of the greatest remedies for the
calamities of bad seasons, as it tends to keep up
such an intercourse between nations as to enable them
to rely upon each other for the mutual supply of their
wants.

The Constitutionnel has the following on the Bill before
the Chamber of Deputies, authorising the employment
of steam frigates in towing ships laden with corn:—
" The committee, charged to examine the demand of
1,037,386 f., for the keeping up for six months of steamers
to be employed in towing vessels laden with corn, has ter-
minated its labours, and the Bill will be discussed to-mor-
row. The committee proposes to accord the credit asked
for. However, the report does not omit pointing out certain
objections that may be brought against the Bill. First of
all, astonishment is expressed that the royal navy is not in
a position to effect from its own resources the towage of
vessels laden with corn. The Chamber is by no means
sparing of funds when the object is to develope the re-
sources of this department, but it is on condition that it will
be able to suffice for all eventualities, and that so simple an
incident as towing ♦essels in the Dardanelles, the Straits of
Gibraltar, and the Channel, shall not take it unawares, and
cause it to ask fur fresh aid. Secondly, the motive cannot
be understood which has caused a preference to be givon for
this duty of towing to large frigates of 450 horse-power,
over steamers of from 160 to to 220 horse-power. The latter
burn less than half the quantity of fuel, and they can tow
several vessels together; they, in fact, do this daily in Al-
geria. They are, no doubt, less rapid; but, OR the other
hand, it is easy to increase their number. These steamers of
160 horse-power are more useful for this service than a frigate
of 540, such as the Vauban, which is to be so employed,
and they consume a much less quantity lof coals. Besides,
there are at the present moment several steam corvettes
of from 160 to '220 horse-power, lying unemployed, to make
use of which would effect a great economy. Is it not to be
feared that the desire to give high commands has had much
to do with the choice of vessels, of from 450 to 540 horse-
power ?"

It is not alone the desire to give high commands that
has had to do with the choice of these large steam
frigates as tug boats. Under pretence of tugs, France
will have a large fleet of steam frigates in the Darda-
nelles, ready to take advantage of those hostilities which
her Ambassador, M. PIS CATORY, is endeavouring to
excite between Greece and Turkey, and to aid the Bey
of TUNIS against his liege lord ; while, at the same
time, by having a similar fleet, under a similar pretence,
in the Straits of Gibraltar, the Mediterranean will, for
a time, be completely blockaded, in fact turned into a
French lake. We trust that the movements of these
steam tugs will be narrowly watched.
"It is rumoured," says the Courrier Francais, "that
the suppression of the native regiments forms part of
a complete plan for re-organising the army of Africa,
which is to be carried into execution at the beginning of
spring."

The Chamber of Deputies held no public sitting on
Thursday. The Peers were occupied with the consi-
deration of 'various Bills recently passed in the other
House, but which only possessed a local interest.

The Three per Cents. closed on the Paris Bourse on
Thursday at 78f. 10c. ; the Five per Cents. 115 f. 90c. ; the
Orleans Railroad Shares, 1,2731 75c. ; Rouen, 866 f. 25c.;
Havre, 685 f. ; Great Northern, 623 f. 75c. ; Avignon, 817 f.
50c. ; Vierzon, 5701. ; Bordeaux, 520 f.; Boulogne, 4011 f. ;
Basle, 205 f. ; Dieppe, 330 f. ; Paris and Strasburg, 4461. 25c. ;
Tours and Nantes, 445 f.; Paris and Lyons, 480 f. ; Lyons and
Avignon, 480 f. ; Bordeaux and Cette, 451 f. 25c. ; Troyes and
Montereau, 305 f. ; Domestic Debt, 291.