The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-01 00:00:00

'atøtltiflt gint

LONDON. MONDAY. MARCH 1, 1847.

Under favour to the Honourable Gentleman the
Secretary to the Admiralty, we conceive that the in-
crease of the naval estimates for the ensuing year by
merely 62,2841. beyond the gross estimate for 1846,
scarcely required the aptogetic explanations with
which he brought the matter before the consideration
of Parliament Not even the extraordinary embar-
rassments consequent upon Irish starvation and
Highland destitution, not even the existence of a
necessity requiring an advance of 10,000,0001. upon
the average expenditure of the empire, not even the
recurrence of an intermittent scarcity, which cripples
the resources of the population and necessitates a
more rigid economy in Government, can render our
naval estimates, as they at present stand, a matter for
either retrenchment or parsimony. In regard to our
maritime expenses, retrenchment would be suicidal
and parsimony ruinous ; for our navy is our
only defence and safeguard. Our marine power
is the main sinew by which our national
vigour is bound together : it is at once
the means by which our insular authority has
been extended throughout the habitable globe, from
the solitudes of the polar snows to the torrid zone of
the equator, and the instrument by which that au-
thority is maintained and confirmed. Stint our ex-
penditure in that particular, and you sensibly weaken
the whole framework of this gigantic empire. Di-
minish th... strength cf our sea service, and you

affect injuriously the very vitality of British in-
fluence. Deteriorate in any manner, however

trifling, the condition of our navy, and you
directly peril a correspondent portion of our
political energy. Nor is it alone requisite to prevent
the diminution of the maritime estimates of the United
Kingdom, something more is necessary to continue
undiminished that preponderance upon the ocean
which Great Britain has hitherto preserved—that
mural and physical preponderance which has raised
hi r from a • übordinate archipelago to the predomi-
nant empire in this civilised generation To effect this
it is not merely incumbent upon the Legiskturerto
avoid any proceeding which might tend to the de-
crease of her naval power, but it is especially and ab-
solutely incumbent upon them to extend her naval
power in proportion to the extension of the naval
power of other maritime empires. In this respect it
is essential that there shall never be any disparity
between the relative naval forces of the earth in pre-
sent and bygone times. Otherwise we shall have
retrograded, instead of having advanced. It is a
fallacy, moreover, to believe that the existence of
peace necessitates the preservation of a balance in the
naval estimates. The supposition is an absurdity ;

and it is an absurdity, because it presupposes that
things terrestrial can remain for any length of time
stationary. Now, it is an immutable law in
mundane affairs, that nations, and principalities, and
separate communities, and distinct individuals must, by
an indomitable necessity of their nature, change.
They must either advance, or retreat—either progress
with the general progression of the age, or retrograde
in an inverse ratio. That has been the presiding
spirit from the primitive days of the patriarchs down-
wards ; it is peculiarly so now. Progress is so
largely characteristic of the present times that it has
become more than ever a necessity ; it is part-and-
parcel with the principle of seli-preservation.

" Not in vain the distacce beacons. Forward, forward let
us range,
Let the great world spin for ever down the ringing grooves
of change."
And progress is perceptible in every grade and de-
partrinnt without exCeption. Among others, it is
especially perceptible in maritime affairs.
If we survey the naval expenditure of France,

we shad observe the extent to which this omni-

pr,-ser:t principle of progres,ion has developed itself.
We shall fold that, notwithstanding the protracted

duration of European peace since 1615, the naval ex-
penses of France have been sensibly enlarged ; —the
increased value of colonial possessions Laving influenced
this advance almost as much as the more extended
employment of steam power in navigation. So
considerable has been the enlargement of the
naval estimates of France, that the estimates of the
current year amount to no less than 5,639,0001.; and
that, be it remembered, irrespective of her fortifieekities,
of her impregnable capital, and of her enormous Na-
tional Guard, amoun:ing to upwards of a million

men. What meanwhile has been the proportionate
advance of the naval estimates of Great Britain,
bearing in mind that her maritime force is her only
defence, that fortified cities she has none, that her
metropolis is not guarded by a single fosse, that her
militia can in no manner be compared with the
National Guard of her Gallic neighbour ? Why, it
is indisputable that the naval estimates of England
have been long characterised by an undue niggard-
liness. In 1816, for example, those estimates
amounted to no less an amount than 9,516,3251.,
though it must be remembered that in that year our
victories upon the ocean were consummated
by the heroic bombardment of Algiers. In 1822
they had diminished to 5,042,6421. In 1832 they had
decreased still further to 4,882,8351. Beginning
with 1840, they were 5,597,511/., and in 1844 they
merely amounted to 5,858,2191. The parsimony
evinced by the Legislature towards the only bulwark
of our national defence has been, indeed, of too long
continuance to be persisted in without entailing upon
the empire effects of the most injurious description.
In his perspicuous speech to the House of Commons,
Mr. WARD formally announces the intention of the
present Government to abandon this destructive
policy. We are heartily rejoiced at this, and we are
rejoiced that the Government has not been deterred
from at once undertaking the good work of innova-
tion by the circumstance of the existing famine,
with its horrible concomitants. The additional
money vote upon the past year of 77,0001.
is not to be rejeated as exorbitant, while 10,000,0001.
are being obtained and expended for the relief of a
temporary calamity. Those 77,000/. are for the per-
benefit, and
teal advantage of the empire ; it is for tie
ent-
smtraenngthening of its barriers, it is for the per-
British Constitpurtolopncs.,teant.osicil,rin'
-lid greatness of th
_a, sum on the whole of g, rrior eover, the sume to which it is
o
delet y 7,560,948/., of which
merely
our :Elva' estimates
ilStet:talPerYl l‘te tiact)Awlh' thei Honourable
1,6A,948/. w
Gentleman the
nenenani services "—there ra ty a-tl-• ie I termed
0 substantial teasou

for cavilling at the proposed advance. Peace or war
—the naval estimates must not be grudged.

If not from the number of prospective measures
enumerated in the Royal Speech, certainly, from their
important, and, in some instances, novel character,
seldom has any session of Parliament, for a long pe-
riod past, been opened with greater probable demands
upon the time and grave attention of the senators,
popular and hereditary, than the present. It is of
considerable, benefit to the public that economy of
time should, as far as is compatible with due deli-
beration, be consulted to the utmost in the conduct
of the proceedings in both Houses of the Legislature,,
inasmuch as when not engaged within the precincts
of St. Stephen's, Peers and Commoners have impor-
tant duties to attend to in their several localities
throughout the country, the proper discharge of
which have, in a variety of ways, a direct tendency
to promote the social happiness and prosperity of the
people. This is always the case in the best of times.
Peers and Members of the House of Commons have
for the most part, by reason of the special commis-
sions with which they are personally entrusted, to take
an active and leading part in the judicial, magisterial,
and other ministerial systems established for the
good order and general welfare of the community.
The advantages, direct and indirect, of having the
nobility and influei.tial gentry constantly residing on
their extensive properties, are inappreciable. Under
the auspices of their personal supervision, general
improvement progresses most favourably. Schemes
of a desirable character, relating to important public
objects—whether they be for the spread of religion,
promotion of education, maintenance of charitable
institutions, preservation of the public health—over
and above the conservation of the public peace
and the suppression of crime, are felicitously
developed by the immediate presence of an affluent
and intelligent proprietary. Therefore, even in
periods when the general condition of the country
bears a healthy appearance, the sittings of Parlia-
ment should never be prolonged beyond what may
he absolutely necessary. But, at a moment like the
present, when a large portion of the United Empire is
stricken with dire distress, the labours of the session
should be concluded with the utmost feasible dis-
patch.
On Friday evening, in the House of Lords, Lord
STANLEY drew attention to the state of public busi-
ness in the Upper House, and regretted the proba-
bility which presented itself of there being scarcely
anything for their Lordships to legislate upon until
after Easter. The complaint is not a novel one, and,
we regret to say, that neither is it an unreasonable
one. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE well replied, first,
with the observation that, during the past six weeks,
there has been a greater amount of business trans-
acted, and of a more important range, than could
easily be indicated in the commencement of
any other session ; and next, his Lordship
clearly and satisfactorily explained, by referring
to the past and future proceedings in the
House of Commons, that no blame can be attached to
the Government for the delay that has occurred with
respect to the progress of measures connected with
the permanent welfare of Ireland. It was indis-
pensable, in the first instance, for Parliament to de-
cide as to the adoption or rejection of Lord GEORGE
BENTINCK'S railway project. It is equally indis-
pensable, in the next, to obtain the sanction of the
Lower House as to the Ways and Means, since, till
the financial questions be settled, the Government
cannot reasonably proceed with the other measures
which they have in contemplation for Ireland.
But, whilst we admit all this to the full,
and concede that the comparison of prompt
legislation between the existing and preceding
Ministries, is decidedly in favour of the former, it is
an undoubted evil, for the reasons we have already
alleged, that the House cf Lords should be kept in
a state of inactivity. This idle posture of the Upper
House is frequently produced by the known jealousy
which the Commons entertain against the Peers
taking the initiative in measures of a particular
character. We think this jealousy is pushed to a
prejudicial extreme. However, there are other
measures against which such an objection could
not be started, and which the Peers could
primarily undertake with greater advantage. than the
popular branch of the Legislature. The mea-
sures we allude to are chiefly of a legal mature;
and, as & general rule, we hold that Governments, in
future, should take care that during the recess all
schemes of this character should be fully prepared, so
as to occupy the time and attention of the House of
Peers before the Easter recess. It is, nevertheless,
due to the Government to notice, that the Marquis of
LANSDOWNE on Friday evening communicated, that
&Es for enabling Irish proprietors to sell their estates
to pay off incurnbrances, for the better administration
of the penal law, for the improvement of prisoners, and
the reformation of offenders, would be shortly laid
upon their Lordships' table.
Madrid papers of the 20th have arrived.

The Espanol announces that a band of 200 Carhsts,
under the cotnaland of Cabccellas, Alosen, Bouet, Tris•
tany, Ros de Eroles, El Greser,lella, and others, had
entered the town of Cervera, in Catalonia, which, how-
ever, they did taut attempt to hold. They levied contri-
butions on the inhabitants before taking their departure.
CABRERA was reported to be at Forecdena. It is said
that General BRETON will be recalled from Catalonia.

Carlist binds have also appeard in Galicia, Avila, and
Old Castile.

A leuvr from Bayonne say-.

" The Count de. Hernan Pulaco, ex-commandant under
Espontero, and Don Celestino Paredes, his Intendant, or
Steward of the Household during the Regency, have arrived
here from London, and leave to-morrow for Madrid. They
are included in the amnest.) ; and theirjourney, it is said, is
connected with certain negotiations going on for the return
of Espartero to Spain."

MADRID Bot.sw, Fars. 20.—The Three per Cents. were
done at 31% for cash ; the Five per Cents , at 20; Debt
without Interest, 61/i, ; and the Coupons, at 18%.

We have received the Paris pup •rs of Thursday.
The state of parties iu Engiand is the subject of the
leadin article of the Journal des Dibats. It expresses
it; belief that the result of the recent attempt of I.old
GEORGE BENTINCR to oust the Ministry has been
greatly to streinthen the Russell Cabinet, and to prove
to the Protectionists that they have no chance of becom-
ing influential unless they again place themsdves under
the leadership of Sir ROBERT PEEL.
If we can place any reliance on the following article,
which appears in the Constitutionnel, the French Ministry
is falling to pieces from inherent weakness. It says—
" The Ministry appears on the road of complete decompo-
sition, either from disinclination on the part of the new ma-
jority to certain members of Cabinet, or from the following
causes :—M. Martin (du Nord) cannot resume his portfolio,
as the state of his health forbids his again entering for a
length of time on the active and multiplied labours of his ad-
ministration. The Cabinet was in consequence bound to
think of filling up his place. Whilst doing so it occurred to
the directing Ministers that it would be advantageous to the
Cabinet for several of the members, considered not very able,
fit inreenatiitedi mmaikneisteroorsmufonrfeyrtouunnagteerly, more act
andin
the most able Deputies are not in.the ranks-
and not very successful in their Parliamentary displays, to re-
nivae,reand
wanting,
•
of the majority.
' M. Lacave-Laplagne has provided for his family ; no person
has met with more Parliamentary cheeks; his old functions
can easily be restored to him; the retreat of a man so de-
voted to his relations might pass for a reform, and the tt is
nistry, freed from such an orator, would deem itself delivered
from the most useless part of its unpopularity. M. Cunin-
Gridaine is very inoffensive, but he is in bad health, and the
famous programme of the coalition, which he formerly signed
with full devotedness, has been long enough consigned to
oblivion for the temporary importance whirl: M. Cunin-
Gridaine had obtained for his platonic adhesion to reform
principles to have entirely disappeared. He is not abs,lutely
in the way of the Ministry, but he occupies a place without
filling it; and nothing prevents his being sacrificed to any
combination that may be ador2tett. M. de Salvandy is every
day inventing some new project embarras.ting for his col-
leagues. M. Moline St. You invents nothing, but he has
no credit, no authority.. The Minister of Public Instruction
acts too much, the Minister of War not enough; the first is
a difficulty, the second a burden. Both could be sent to the
right about without any inconvenience. However that may
be, several combinations, in which these members of the
Cabinet were by turns sacrificed, preserved, or displaced, have
been proposed during the last few days. M. Hebert was at
first thougl.t aim. the Administration of Justice ; but M. He-
bert had spoken too energetically in favour of the Ministry,
and of a firm execution of the laws; he has been considered
for some time as necessarily rejected by the clergy, and im-
possible. M. Dumon, Minister of Public Works, desired to
become Minister of Justice. Tiii4 matter was much spoken
•f for some days. Had this combination been adopted the
Ministry intended seeking amongst the young members, the
most laborious and most practical of the Conservative
party, for Ministers of Public Works, Commerce, and Fi-
nance; the persons thought of were, it was said, M. Vitet,
M. de Morny M. Muret de Bort, and M. Bignon. It was
even in the hope that M. Vitet was about to become Minis-
ter, that M. lawyer showed so devoted a ministerial zeal and
so exclusive a Conservative-ardour. Whether it was that
refusals were rnct with, or for other reasons, it is no longer a
question at present of M. Dimon for the department of
Justice, M. Hebert has been come back to. It WAS first
determined to entrust to hitn the portfolio of Justice alone,
aril to separate front it tke &par:meat of Public Worship, I
which was to be either itri,ed with that of Public In-
struction formed info a spe. ial •V.ittistry. But these Iwo
expedients rai. ed such objectittos in the Cabinet that they
were given-up. It is even 5..i.1 that de Came hopes to ,
become Director of Public V"urship, in crier to give *way '
satisfaction to the Catholic party. bleanwhile the succession

to M. Hebert in the Cour Royale is already an object of dis-
pWe. M. Di-langle was on the list- of. candidates to become
Procureur General, but M. Hebert proposes M. Boucly. We
do not think it necessary to enunnirate all the candidates
whose nanv-f,, have been quoted in several journal, for
the portfolios of finance, commerce, war, or public in-
struction. The Ministry must be much weakened to mo-
dify itself so profoundly. \o complete combination has
at: the present moment a character serious enough to be
reckoned on as worthy of notice. But what may be affirmed
is, that if there is any doubt about the composition of the
Cabinet there is none about its decomposition. The weak-
ness, the incapacity, the despotism, the unpopularity, the
idle, or too inventive mind of the secondary Ministers will
carry away with them the head ones, and thatbefore long."
The alioniteur contains royalordonnances, sanctioning
the Bills recently passed by the two Chambers. The
same journal also contains a comparison between the
numbers of the population of France, as taken in the
census of 1841 and 1846. In the former year, the num-
bers were 34,230,178, and in the latter 35,400,486, being
an increase in the five years of 1,170,308.

During the month of January the general receipts of
the Customs duties upon importations amounted to
9,797,362 f. In 1846 the produce iu the corresponding
month was 10,820;838E ; and in 1845, 11,360,022 f.
The falling off this year, as compared with the receipts
of 1846, has arisen chiefly from the reduction of the
duty on corn. Although the consumption of foreign
corn has bet n much greater this,,,yvar, the, duty has
amounted to only 202,925 E instead of 1,122. 858 E, as in
January, 1846. Al compared with January,lB46, there
was in the last inonth a diminution in the consumption
lead, copper, tin,
coloiic'ffecie,:tacononr:lnlw: ecaoto-islp:_elfrinocsnleo,etdh,hog;ta,aslllolidwa:tdh,ceooraleil::aoSil:pll:7l:ielkisn,
colonial sugars, and zinc.
Serious apprehensions are entertained of the conse-
quences of the falling off of the trade of France, and the
enormous financial deficit. The Committee on the
Budget have, it is said, been requested bI• the Ministry
to mitigate appearances and realities as much as pos-
sible in their report, so as to make the deficit not appear
more than 16,000,0001. sterling, the actual deficit being
double that amount. • In the meantime bankruptcies are
hourly occurring, the small traders are nearly all ruined,
and the large firms are now beginning to experience
difficulties. The scarcity of provisions is frightful, and
the price is hourly rising. La Reform deems it pos-
sible that within two months from this date the 41b. loaf
will cost 40 sous (20 pence). Grean fears are in conse-
quence entertained of interruptions of the public tran-
quillity.
The Journal du Haute of Wednesday, after announc-
ing the arrival at that port of the Elizabeth, whale-ship,
from Otaheite, which she left on the 12th of November,
says:—

" Without being so alarming as the first rumours stated,
the news from Otaheite, by the Elizabeth, is not without
gravity. It is far from confirming the hopes of pacification
which the last official note founded on the dispatches of
October 5. But if the state of things be not sensibly ame-
liorated, it visibly tended towards a compromise, which the
general lassitude of all parties made desirable. As the
official note indicated, open hostilities had not been resumed,
but in truth ' they bad not ceased. The defensive works
raised in the insurgent vallies kept in fact the natives in
check, but at the same time tequired a constant vigilance,
and occasioned partial collisions, which harassed thegarrison,
and kept it perpetually on the alert. In this war of ohservas
tion, in which the fatigues exceed the dangers, Governor
Bruat has displayed an activity and an energy not very
common. Presenting himself in turns at every post, and di-
recting in person the most painful marches, he has given an
example of devotedness which have left traces of failing
health and strength in his counterrance. Persons who saw
him shortly before the last arrivals, coming from the en-
campments in the interior, have remarked upon the ravages
which his watchings, his fatigues, and privations of all kinds
have made upon his person. Notwithstanding all his ex-
ertions, Captain Bruat his not failed to use, in compliance
with his instructions, all his endeavours to bring
about a reconciliation with Queen Pomare, and by
inducing her to return to I'apeita, to put an end
to the insurrections which her absence perpetuated by seem-
ing to authorise them. After having in vain tried various
modes of conciliation through his own agents, he decided,
however repugnant to his feelings, upon having recourse to
the interve,,tion of several persons whose connexions, or
rather whose quality of English subjscts, seemed to insure
for them a favourable reception by Pomare. The months
of September and October were employed in these "nego-
tiations, which were by turns interpreted by Mr. Salmon,
Mr. Notte, and a missionary, Mr. Thompson, all English.
These steps were without any result, the Queen per-
sisting in her obstinate refusal to hold any species of
communication with the French authorities. Finding
this, Captain Bruat, in despair, resigned himself to acs
cepting the proffered good offices of her Britannic Ma-
jesty's frigate the Grampus, in going to Raiateia, and
there negotiate the arrangement of which the English
journals lately gave us an account. Accosting to the infor-
mation now 'waive, that attonpt had no great:q. etThct
than those which preceded it. In her puerile wilfulness the
Queen, who wishes for nothing more earnestly than tr., resume
her royalty, has taken Capt. Bruat en grippe, and with that
childish vanity which is the peculiar characteristic of savages,
she has refused to listen to any proposals from him. She has
personally, ifswe can believe the accounts we receive, no
aversion to tires,Frenth people or Government, but she de-
, tests Capt..Bruat, and her animosity against him is so great
that in September last she wrote to the King of the French,
making his t oF.AL. the only. condition of her submission. But
this letter Waif not transmitted: If these details are correct,
and we have every reason to believe theta to be so, a 3tidg-
ment may be formed of the abnegation shown
.by M. Bruat
in reiterating his propositions for an arrangement. and of
the strange position in which he is placed. Besides this,
it is notorious at Otaheite that. Pomare has communicated
to a French resident, in whom she has great confidence, a
conciliatory treaty, dated October 22, and signed by her own
hand, stipulat:tig for her return to Otaheite, on acceptable
conditions, provided a new governor was appointed. This
overture had apparently reached the Govemment, when it
resolved to replace Captain Bruat, and, •no doubt, to satisfy
the infantim, capriciousness of Nitrate, this officer, who,
'from his fwrvices, and the dignity of his character, deserves
so will of his country, will be made a sacrifice. however
this may be, the news of kis recall reached Papeite on No-
vember 6, by the English ship Jeannettee, which brought
the French mail of July 15. The selection of M. Lavaud,
already known to Pomare, by former relations, was received
as a certain pledge of' a change of measures, and his con-
ciliating character will, .no doubt, on his arrival, reap the
fruits planted by the firmness and perseverance of his prede-
cessor, in an undertaking which his laudable efforts have
brought to maturity."
The most complete stagnation prevailed on the Paris
Bourse on Thursday. The Three per Cents. closed at 78f.
60c. ; the Five per Cents., 118 f. 85c. ; the Orleans Railroad
Shares, 1,276 f. 25c. ; Rouen, 872 f. 50c.; illavre, 682 f. 50c.;
Great Northern, 6321. 50c.; Avignon, 840 f.; 587 E.
Loc. ; B ' ordeaax 535 f.; Troyes and Monteresu. 305 t., Basle,
210 f. ; Dieppe, 3351. ; Paris and Strasburg, 4681. 75c.; Tours
and Nantes, 4681. 75c.; Paris and Ls our, 492 f. 50c.; Lyons
and Avignon, 480 t.; Bordeaux :mid Cette. 450 t.; Belgian
'two-and:a-Balt' per Cents., 54; ditto, Three per... Cents., 35/.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, FESILUART 26.,
Boulogne and Arnlena, t 4'Q—Luxembourg. 2!E—Namur and Liege,
3 —N °Ahern of France, t3—Orleans and Bordeaux, 7%.