The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-26 00:00:00

we increase the moral force of

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wisdom of the Legislature is enhanced in the opinion
of the people, whose affections for their lawgivers is
augmented or diminished in a ratio corresponding
with the perfection or imrerfection of the laws to
which they are expected to show an implicit obedience.
In the House of Commons, on Wednesday evening,
Mr. WATSON moved the second reading of the Ro-
man Catholic Relief Bill, of which the object is, first,
to abolish the obsolete statutes that were left remain-
ing in 1844, when an Act was passed repealing a
great number of laws quite inconsistent with the
political status which has been conceded to the Roman
Catholics during the present century, and particu-
larly since 1829. The next object of Mr. WaTaoN's
Bill is to repeal some of the provisions of the Act of
1829; and the last is to get rid of penal enactments
against certain religious orders. Upon the two latter
subjects we do not now propose, neither have we
the space at present, to enter. They both of them
present matter for serious reflection. But, as the
second reading of the Bill in question has been car-
ried chiefly on account of its provisions in further-
ance of the first above-mentioned object, we so far
rejoice that antiquated, inconsistent, and oppressive
laws will very probably be soon eradicated
from our code. The clauses affecting the
second and third objects will undergo con-
siderable discussion in Committee, and, if
desirable, can be easily struck out, so
as not to endanger the passing of the measure for the
accomplishment of the first. It is idle to attach
penalties to the acknowledgment of any other
spiritual supremacy than what is professed by Pro-
testants, seeing that, by the common law of the
land, spiritual supremacy is vested in the Crown,
and seeing, moreover, that there is no power by law
to enforce any other spiritual authority. If Roman
Catholics are not obliged to take the oath of supre-
macy to entitle them to seats in the Legislature, it is
a glaring absurdity to continue a severe law, of a de-
grading and invidious character, towards the great
body of the Roman Catholics.

The Journal de Constantinople publishes a decree sub-
jecting vessels corning from Greece, which have not
their bills of health tilled by the Ottoman Consul, or by
a consul of some state in alliance with the Sublime
Porte, residing at the port of departure, to the same
quarantine to which vessels coming from a Turkish port
without having their bills of health vised by the Greek
Consul, or, in his absence, by some European consul, are
subject in Greece.
Madrid journals of the 18th have arrived.

The Gaceta publishes a decree appointing a commis
sion to inquire into the expediency of establishing rail.
roads in Spain.

The Heraldo announces the arrival of a French
squadron of six ships at the Balearic Isles. It is said
that General TACON, Captain-General, was by no means
pleated with their arrival, and received the officers
coldly. The Spaniards, in the meantime, are fortiiyinp
Port Mahon, and reinforcing their other garrisons in
these islands. In commenting on this intelligence the
Heraldo says—
" The Spanish Government does its duty by taking that
determination (receiving the French squadron and fortifying
the place), and as for the French Government, we are not
surpriMed that in its own interest even, all consideration fur
the affairs of Spain apart, it should do its utmost :0 prevent
any attempt or pretext for the taking possession of these
heautifal islands, the key of the Mediterranean, by England,
or by any other nation that might be disposed to.further her
views."

The Phare de Bayonne of the 20th has the following:—
" It appears that Cabrera bad abandoned the cause of the
Count de Montemohn, and has retired for the present to Nice.
The Carlists attribute this defection to different motives, but
particularly to the tolerant language held by the son of Don
Carlos. It to this be added the impossibility of raising pecu-
niary resources at London, and the dissensions subsisting
between the principal leaders of the absolutist party, it will
be easy to conceive the complete disorganisation of this
party, notwithstanding all the reports of a levee de boucliers
being prepared for the spring."
Maputo Boise, FEB. lB.—The Three per Cents, were
done at 3174 for cash; the Five per Cents, at 201 i ; Debt
without Interest, 644; and the Coupons, at 18%.

We have received the Paris papers of Wednesday.
Tha Epoque, the death of which had been announced
on the preceding day, has become suddenly resuscitated.
It appears that M. DEVILLE, the gerant, had sold it to
M. Minix a a GIRARDIN, the proprietor of the Presse,
without the knowledge of the shareholders, and had
transferred to him the list of the subscribers, &c. The
shareholders have applied to a court of law for redress,
and have commenced the republication of their journal.
The Presse gives another verson of the story,
but as bath M.DevieLE and M. EXILE DE GIRARDIN
are disciples of M. Guiz .T, they, of course, " finding
themselves in the presence of adversaries," to wit the
shareholders, act upon his principles, and "do not feel
called upon to tell more of the truth than serves their
purpose."
The Debats has a long atticle on Prison Reform, in
which it strenuously advocates the adoption of the cellu-
lar system.
The French mission to Morocco has turned out a
failure. The Constitutionnel publishes the following let-
ter from Tangiers :
" The embassy sent to the Emperor of Morocco arrived
here on the 3d ult., in rather a sad condition, and without
having realised any of the illusions which were entertained
before its departure. The embassy had set out on Nov. 15,
forming a tolerably large body,
Roches, SecretaryDechasteau,
of Legation ;h the private
M. Dechasteau ; an interpreter, belonging
to
11 fiure. It isted of M and cutting a respectable
.Consul.
ni‘l cons
so uf.late ; M. Maisonneuve, captain of the Acheron
secretary General;th e (3 o
steamer ; four naval officers, and twelve seamen. In addi-
tion, there were a non-commissioned officer and six artillery-
men, escorting the field battery given to the Emperor ; also
four grooms, leading the five mares sent by the King to the
Emperor. That made in all between thirty and forty persons,
who expected wonders from this journey. The embassy
siunegwihti which they had undergone ; the best of
them l Some of these animals have since
died
brought back fourteen horses, given as presents to the several
persons composing
the fatigue
estimated here to be worth more than 70f. ; also
ofwas
thas
three hyenas. two vultures, and six gazelles. On the other
hand, the embassy expended a large amount of money, and
the generesity of M. Dechasteau has become quite a proverb
in Morocco. As to the political results of the mission, they
are are on a par with the rest. The Sultan had sent to
meet the
embassy a splendid escort, which accompanied it going and
retiring, and caused the tribes to pay all the Moorish honours;
he give them plenty of flourishes of trumpets, and buret
powder in abundance, but nothing more. 'lhe embassy had
to obtain two things. The first was the extradition, or at
least the confinement in the interior of the country, of Abd-
el-Kader. It was impossible to draw from the Emperor
a single serious word on the subject; he made some fine
promises, but be turned the conversation each instant, to
tall into ecatacies respecting the five mares sent him, and
still more to express his admiration of the field battery, de-
claring that his country was too poor to worthily acknow.
ledge so fine a present. The second object of the embassy
was to recommend the Emperor to organise his army in the
European fashion, in order to be better able to oppose Abd-
el-Kader or any other usurper. French instructors were to
be offered him, and amongst them a superior officer who has
been at Tangiers for upwards of a year in expectation of this
mission. The Sultan fell back on the low condition of his
finances, on the want of discipline of his troops, and the
prejudices of his subjects, whom the llouans, or members
of the religious orders, have filled with a fanatical admira-
tion of Abd-el-Kader and hatred against the Christians.
The mission has not been less sterile with respect to com-
mercial matters than political ones. It desired to get all
monopolies abolished,;and have a measure of free trade estab-
lished. At the very time that M. Dechasteau returned
to Tangiers, the monopoly of leeches, which had just
expired, was renewed for a year to the person who
had been previously in possession of it. The French
Consulate solicited ineffectually for certain houses in Mar-
seilles liberty to export to Algeria, on the payment of duty,
wheat, barley, and cattle. One concession only was ob.
tained, and that in consequence of a complaint made on ac-
count of a misadventure which had occurred to one of the
persons of the embassy ; it is a decree declaring that every
European not owing money to the Emperor may for the
future travel freely in Morocco. It remains to be seen if
any one will place confidence in it. What is still more an-
noying is. that M. Dechasteau has not been able to obtain
anything in favour of the French merchants who have a right
to an indemnity, and who for three
years have been waiting
for the reparation due to them. The Emperor imposed
enormous imposts on the tribes which pillaged Mogadore,
and has for a long time had the money in his hands; but, in
lace of giving it to the merchants whose property was in-
jured, he employed it to his own profit, and replied by sub-
terfuges to the representations of DI. Dechasteau."
It was rumoured in Paris that Count BRESSON bad
applied to the Spanish Government to permit France to
occupy temporarily the Balearic Isles, a proposition
which had been coldly received by the Duke of SOTO-
HATER. Certain it is, that a French squadron is at this
moment at Port Mahon. We understand what tem-
porary occupation means in the language of French
diplomacy. Lord ABERDEEN was assured that Algiers
was to be only " temporarily" occupied, and Lord
ABERDEEN accepted the assurance. No wonder that
M. Guizor regrets that Lord ABERDEEN is not perma-
nent Foreign Minister of England.
In the sitting of the Chamber of Deputies, on Tues.
day, the Minister of Public Works presented a Bill
(which he alluded to some days ago), enabling the Go-
vernment to return the railway companies the caution
money which they are required to lodge in the hands of
the Government. The caution money is to be returned
in the proportion of tenth parts on the whole amount, on
the companies being able to show that they have laid
out money to double that amount on the works.
The Elizabeth, a whaler, has arrived at Havre from
Otaheite, which island she left on the 12th November.
The negotiations with the native chiefs had been broken
off, and hostilities had recommenced.
The I.?(fforme states that the price of wheat has risen
50c. the hectolitre in the market of Cambrai; at St.
Quentin, le :tsc.; Nogent le Roy, lf. 33c.; Melun, 2f.;
Bourges and Meux, If.; Verdun, 50c.; Cherbourg,