The Sun.
London, England, 1840-11-27 00:00:00

GERMANY.

TRIESTE, Nor. 14.—Just before the post set out the Protette
merchantman arrived from Corfu, the Captain of which just before
his departure heard from travellers from Zante that that island had
been visited by a severe earthquake. Both the town and all the
villages had suffered much, and several persons lost their lives.
Hundreds of houses are said to have been destroyed.
Nov. 15.—1 add to my yesterday's account of the earthquake in
Zante some further, but still incomplete, details which I have re-
ceived from a letter direct from Zante :—" From the 28th to the
30th of October forty-eight shocks, more or less violent, were felt
at different intervals, one of which, at ten o'clock in the morning,
was so violent that many buildings, including the fort, fell upon
the houses, and not a single house escaped without damage. Above
fifty persons, chiefly aged persons and pregnant women, who could
not get out of doors in time, perished. The damage in the town
alone is estimated above two millions of dollars. The extent of the
damage was not known that had been done in the villages, which
are said to be wholly destroyed. The Governor arrived just at the
moment of the catastrophe, and immediately took measures for the
relief the sufferers. He caused 18,000 dollars to be distributed
among them, and offered for the present a loan of 200,000 dollars
to the house •owners. Several engineers and builders have already
arrived from Corfu to direct the rebuilding of the houses. Many
tents have been erected for the people who are without shelter."
BELGIAN I. U NDS—BausaßL.s, Nov. 25.
Actual Debt, 244 per Cent.
Rothschild's Loan, 5 per cent ......
Loan of Thirty Millions, 4 per 88%
(1,40) 97.1
- Thirty-seven 3 Per cent-- ...... (7,42
Loan of City, 1832, 4 per Cent. OO
Society of Commerce, 4 per Cent llO
Bank of Belgium, 5 per Cent BB%
National Society.
•..
.....
Exchange on London (short) 11 35
—Brussels Papers, Nov. 25.
AUSTRIAN FUNDS.—VIENNA, Nov. 17
Five per Cents. Metalliques - 107%
Four per Cents. ..... ....................... 100!
Three per Cents.
Bank Shares 1743
..411genteine Zeitung, Nov. 22
PRUSSIAN FUNI7S.—BERLIN, Nov. 21.
Bo
St. Schuld. Sch., 4L, per cent. lo3il%ls.
1( M
3ney.
Prussian English Loan, 1830, 4 per cent 99%
Exchange on London, three months -- 6 17%
—Prussian State Gazette, Nov. 22.
HAMBURG BORSENHALLE, Nov. 24,
• • Bills. Money
Austrian 5 per Cents.
niclo-Russian Loan
.. 107% lON
Russian 5 per Cent. Ist series, Certificate
inscription, Ist Se.: iGS lO3
Russian 5 per Cent. Hope and Co. 3d and 4th
Series 97% 97
Ditto in Certificates
Dutch Actual Debt, 2104 pa. Cent 4) 437.4
Ditto b per Cent _
Polish Bond.
New picket
Arglo.nanish Loan, 3 per Cer. 73% 73
Norwegian Loan, 1834, 4 per
Spanish, New 3 per Cents. —

EXCHANGES ON LONDON.
HAMBURG, Nov. 24.-13 4),.—Two months, 13 2%
sToertnotm, Nov. 17.—Seventy-five days, 11, 36.
BERLIN, Nov. 21. —Three months, 6. 1714.

FRAN C E.

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES, Nov. 25.
DISCUSSION ON TIIE ADDREsS.
The discussion about to commence excited an extraordinary
curiosity, and, as M. Thiers was expected to be the first to at:dress
the House, all the tribunes were occupied at an early hour. Seats
had been prepared for the Peers in the interior of the hall, and
nearly one-half of the Members of that House were present. The
privileged tribunes were crowded with ladies, and that reserved for
the diplomatic body was entirely full. •
At a quarter to two, the Assembly being in numbers, the dis.
cussion commenced, and Marshal Soult, President of the Council,
having asked to be allowed to offer some observations, mounted the
tribune.
The Marshal said, that he was President of the Council when
the difficulties of the Eastern question originated, and he had again
accepted that office, with the responsibility attending its conclusion.
France, he said, was ready to engage in war, provided it was dic-
tated by justice and the dignity of the country; and was deter-
mined on maintaining unimpaired the balance of power in
Europe. The object France had always had in view was to secure
Constantinople from the exclusive protection of one Power, and for
that purpose it nas necessary to arert the explosion of hostilities in
the East. As President of the 12th of May, his efforts had ever tended
to maintain the integrity of the empire ; but at the same time to
protect both Constantinople and Alexandria. He felt bound to de.
dare that the Treaty of July 15 was not intended as an insult
against France. He had witnessed himself the feeling of the Eng.
lish people towards his country, for he never considered the honour
paid to him in England as addressed to him, but to the nation he
represented. France might rest assured that he would not compro-
mise her dignity at the close of his career. He had formerly served
her with his sword, he now served her as a citizen.
M. Thiers succeeded the Marshal, and a solemn silence ensued.
He said the Chamber would appreciate his motives for addressing
it at so early an hour ; he felt it necessary to give the country an
account of his administration, and whatever he asserted he would
support with unanswerable proofs and documents. Ile would ab-
stain from all recrimination, and merely state facts, and not tin
pute to his predecessors the reponsib.lity of the present situation.
France before the Ist of March last, had not been fortunate in
several negotiations ; she had failed in Poland, in Italy, and
Spain.—(Mutmurs from the Centre.) In the East she could m
export to he more successful. France always desired tin
Constantinople slimed be taken Porn the exclusive protector
ship nd secured against the supposed projects of Russia, am
vished et the same time for the consolidation of the existence o,
the Pacha of Egypt, which Was menaced by England. Francs
had accordingly those two Powers to encounter, and, knowing this
to be the case, she shsted have Lot embarked in the affair, if she
were not determined to abide by the consequences of such a reso
lution. Although the alliance between England and France had
been greatly sliakrn by the hesitation of the latter in regard to
Spain. she was nevertheless disposed to give up many points in or
der to remove the protectorship of Russia over the Ottoman-ern-
Ore England then proposed to France to unite the two fleets on
the coast of Syria, to summon the belligerent parties to lay down
their arms, and when this result was obtained, td proceed to the
Dardanelles, and command tho Russians to evacuate Constantino.
ple, if already occupied, or atop in their march if they were on their
waythither ,threatening them with extreme consequences if they did
not comply with the injunction. The French Cabinet replied, on
the 30th of May, 1839, that it was not ready to explain itself re•pect
ing the intentions of France; that England did not herself ap
pear very resolute, since she limited her actions to more
summonses. Lord Palmerston, on the 14th cf June, replied that
the Cabinet had deliberated, under the painful impressiGn pro-
duced by her despatch of the 30th of May, and repeated his
former proposition. He proposed again to unite their fleets at the
mouth of the Dardanelles; and, if the Russians were marching
on Constantinople, to summon them to stop, and if they re-
fused, either to demand the entrance of the passage, or force
it conjointly. To this plan the French Cabinet did not accede, al-
though it uould have then been perfectly easy to eLgage England in
a war with Russia. France, in her turn, proposed to open a Con.
greys in Vienna fhr the adjustment of the question, but Russia
would not agree to this offer, and it was only when it became evi-
dent that the Sultan was disposed to grant the Paella everything
lie required that she consented to join the London conference. The
tiole of the 27th of Juty gave great pleasure in England, but
from that day the alliance between the two countries was no
longer the same. England made to Fiance a number of pro.
positions contrary to her interests, dangerous even, which the
Cabinet of the 12th of May honourably refused. Amongst them
was the proposition to wrest by force the Ottoman fleet from
the Padre. On the 21st of September France proposed to leave
to the Viceroy the hereditary possession of Egypt and Syria,
and the government during life of Candle, and to invite him to
give up Adana and the holy cities. To this pie nH. de Fig uelmont
gave his adhesion on the part of Austria t I'russia, disinterested in
the question, concurred in the opinion of Austria; Russia ex.
pressed the utmost indifference on the subject; but England alone
would not consent to grant the Pacha anything but the hereditary
possession of Egypt. This led to some coolness between France
and England. Russia took advantage of the circumstance, and
sent an able diplomatist to London, who told Lord Palmerston
that his Sovereign fully adhered to his views. The Russian di-
piomatist then proposed that the fleets of England, France, and
Austria should unite to coerce Mehemet Ali in Syria, whilst the
Russian fleet should alone be allowed to protect Constantinople.
To this France strenuously objected, as it would have been sanc-
tioning the continuation of the Treaty of Milder 'Skelessi, she had
no trouble in prevailing on England to reject it. It was about
that time that Lora-Palmerston made a formal proposition to that
Cabinet to grztit Mehemet Ali the hereditary Government of
Egypt and of the Pachalic of Acre. On the 14th of October France
declined acceding to that arrangement, and shortly after.
wards, Lord Palmerston had a conversation with General
Sebastiani, in which he declarcd to him in a glacial tone that the
British Cabinet had come to the resolution of withdrawing
the concession of the Pashalic of Acre to the Paella. Such
was the situation of the question when M. Thiers catered
office, and he perfectly remembered that M. Guizot, on
leaving for London, was instructed to propose and obtain for
the Viceroy the hereditary possession of both Egypt and Syria.
that bde
rasy
kFnreawn ctehfaotu
Fn dr
ahnecres chl
da 1 odni
earge
da nws t
ht h et
hFeo
ru ro
wPs.
and even called it a national policy. The Cabinet of the Ist of
thatTF rhm "e Clt a
point
and yet in its address it had approved her conduct,
houFgrhancaefihmad
i 5.1
therc h could nu ot
it;
orsitoar
ofwould
yneoat
r,
, altertaufitihuagt, pa yt.

partisan of British alliance, the moment he (M. Thiers) per.

ceived that France could not retain a real influence at Constar

nople, he had sought to establish her supremacy at Alexandria,
because he considered that she should have a point d'appui in the
east to maintain her ascendancy in the Mediterranean. The Cham-
bers, besides, made it imperative for him to conform with their solemn
vote; his policy,on the other hand,was commanded by public opinion,
and could not accordingly be departed from. England, from what had
taken place for several years, was persuaded that the menaces of
France were not to be apprehended ; that she had only to insist,
and that France, sooner than break off' the alliance, would submit
to her wishes. He was aware that such was the conviction of the
British Cabinet, and he would have considered himself unworthy
the confidence the King and country had placed in him if he had
not assumed an imposing attitude. In this position, he thought it
his duty to keep aloof and gain time, and his instructions to M.
Guizot were to abstain from making any proposition, to discuss

those that might be brought forward, but in all cases to impress the

negotiators with the idea that if any violence were offered, France

would resist and not yield. M. Thiers than vindicated himself
against the charge of having wished lightly to embroil his country
in a war with Europe, and summoned M. Guizot to declare if he

did not speak the truth. (M. Guizot made a sign of assent.) He
then read a despatch of M. Guizot, dated March 10, 1840, in which
the latter said, that having called on Lord Palmerston, he dis-
covered that the settlement of the Eastern Question was little ad-
vanced ; that nothing would be done until the arrival of the Turkish
Minister, that England preferred acting with France, and would
make concessions, and that by gaining time the British Cabinet
might be induced to acquiesce in some of the views of France. He
(M. Thiers), however, thought that there was nothing to be ex-
pected from London, and he turned his attention to Constantinople
and Alexandria, where he also discovered that nothing could be
achieved : but he declared he never favoured, or thought of, a di-
rect arrangement between the Sultan and the Pacha. Had he
done so, he would frankly confess it, and take pride in it. That

arrangement was certainly the most natural; it was implied in
the note of the 117th of July, 1539, but he had never given instruc.
tions to that effect to his agents. In England, even, that arrange-
ment was favourably received. It would have avoided many cala.
unties ; but, not wishing to afford any pretext for breaking off
the negotiations, although he knew at the time that British agents
Were calling the Syrians to revolt, he had formally forbidden M. de
Pontois and M. Cochelet to promote any such arrangement. In proof
of his statement M. Thiers read a despatch addressed by him to those
two diplomatists, in which he told them that England appeared to
be animated with conciliatory intentions, that a rapprochement was
probable, that France, however,was determined not to make any pro. ,