The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY IVIORN.ING, FEBRUARY 17, 1847.

cultural economy to expend all our guano, and tillage,
and tilage, and irrigation, and so forth, upon the most
productive portion of a farm, abandoning only those
portions the aridity and barrenness of which most
imperatively demand supervision and cultivation ;
and it would savour still less of political economy to
lavish the whole patronage and munificence of the
Legislature upon the most thriving members of the
community, leaving to their helplessness and wretched-
ness the emaciated and the famine-stricken. And
that alone would be the operation of the Railway
Bill of Lord GEORGE BENTINCE. Enlarge as
Honourable Gentlemen may upon the benefits
accruing to the population of any country from the
systematic introduction of railways and the conse-
quent facilitation of transit, the bestowal of
16,000,0001. at this moment upon that gigantic ven-
ture would only conduce to the pampering of those
who are already in excellent circumstances, and the
detriment of those to whom assistance is most

requisite.
Look at the matter in its homeliest light, and that
alone is the conclusion at which every sensible and
unprejudiced man must arrive. Ireland is not merely
threatened with starvation, she is suffering from an
unparalleled dearth and an inexorable famine.
Hitherto, as Mr. DISRAELI felicitously observed,
" the Irish question has been how Ire-
land is to be governed; now the Irish
question is how Ireland is to be fed!" There is the
difficulty condensed into a sentence. " How Ireland
is to be fed." Not whether Ireland is to be fed, but
how Ireland is to be fed. The matter of dispute,
therefore, is, as to the manner in which provisions
should be placed within the reach of the destitute.
By an unanimous opinion it has been decided a
considerable time that assistance in the shape of alms
and bounties would, if possible, be worse than no
assistance whatever. Employment, therefore, is uni-
versally acknowledged to be the only safe channel
for the distribution of relief to the penniless and dying.
Upon the suggestion of the Government Parliament
is to disseminate employment throughout every
quarter of Ireland, northwards, southwards, east-
wards, westwards, inland, along the coasts
of the Channel and the Atlantic, to the
dwellers in towns and villages and hamlets, to
the farm-servants among corn-fields and to the
peat-cutters among bogs and quagmires. And
this diffusion of employment throughout the length
and breadth of the island is rendered possible by the
succession of measures introduced by the Cabinet
the Poor-law extension, the reclamation of waste
lands, the loans for agricultural improvement, and the
completion of the roads already undertaken. But
the Noble Lord the Member for Lynn is averse to
these moderate modes of unravelling the threads of
Irish distress. He demands a comprehensive enact-
ment ; he wants a measure that will shed
a brilliant though somewhat meretricious lustre
upon the Legislature ; he regards the ex-
traction of wealth and sustenance from mere mo-
rasses and heaths as peculiarly ignoble. Give us the
wizard spells of science, he exclaims, give us the
wand of the mechanician and the magic circle of
the engineer, and we will conjure you up a paradise
of happiness out of this wilderness of misery and
desolation. We will treble the crops of Irish agri-
culturists by a gradient and carry on the affairs of the
nation swimmingly upon the broad gauge. Ireland
has been plunged into its present difficulties by a too
general reliance upon the potato dibble, she shall be
extricated by the theodolite. Literally these are
the arguments and anticipations of Lord GEORGE
BENTINCK and his supporters. They would sacrifice
the interests of the starving peasantry for the eclat
of fattening the robust navigators—be those naviga-
tors gallant, gay Lotharios er Benedicts
with families as extensive as that of the
old lady in the nursery-rhyme, who " had
so many children she didn't know what to
do." Lord GEORGE BENTINCK'S Irish pyramid is
bottom upwards, the foundations upon which it is
built are in nubibus, and its point forms a very un-
stable and ricketty basis. The Member for Lynn is
not destined to extirpate the reptiles of poverty and
famine from Ireland. Lord GEORGE is but a sorry
substitute for Saint PATRICK.

The arrival of the mail-steamer Hibernia has
furnished us with intelligence from the United
States and other parts of America. Great com-
mercial excitement, occasioned as well by the political
as the mercantile news received from our shores

during the past month, has throughout pervaded the

r markets of New York and other leading cities.
Greatly enhanced prices have been demanded upon
the chief commodities of trade and commerce. Cotton,
flour, wheat, rye, oats, provisions, and the necessaries
of life, have attained prices which have never been
previously realised. It is considered that these
augmented rates of purchase will not be speedily
diminished. The information which they will gain
by succeeding mails and packet-ships from Europe
was looked for with the greatest anxiety ; and when
they learn the prohibition of the Emperor of Rums
against the further exportation of corn from his
dominions, it may be presumed that prices generally,
will be still further advanced. It is, how-
ever, gratifying to notice that, in the United
States and elsewhere, the resources are ample
to meet the demands which have and will continue
to be made upon them by their European purchasers.
The deficiency of tonnage, and not insufficiency of
stock in the commodities required, is the chief draw-
back to their commercial prosperity. In a short time
the great canals will be freed from their icy thrald•
dom, when vast hoards of grain and bread-stuffs will
be rapidly accumulated in the sea-port towns for
transmission to Europe.

Congress has empowered the PRESIDENT to issue
twenty-three millions of Treasury notes. The pro-
ceeds arising from the sale of the public lands are
expressly mortgaged to pay the interest of six per
cent., and to redeem, at the expiration of twenty
years, the notes, or the stock into which they may be
converted.

The continuance of hostilities between the States
and Mexico embarrasses the PRESIDENT and Con-
gress as much as ever. The perplexity, both
of the war itself and its direct consequences,
political and commercial, is what every
patriot throughout the civilised world will rejoice
to learn the iniquitous invaders of Mexican indepen-
dence are now bitterly experiencing. In the Senate
the general feeling seems favourably to point to the
establishment of a speedy peace. A direct resolution
to this effect, moved by Mr. STEPHENS, and couched in
terms subversive of the grasping policyof Mr. Por.ic, was
only lost by twelve votes. On the other hand, the
Mexican Congress have rejected every overture for
peace whilst a single soldier or ship of the United
States remains in their territory or infests their
coast ; and to this the majority of the Congress have
sworn under the solemnity of an oath.
Canada and the United States are raising handsome
subscriptions to testify their sympathy with the
distressed condition of Ireland and the Highlanders.
This spirit of charitable munificence, beyond the posi-
tive benefit of alleviating human misery, has the glo-
rious tendency of binding the nations of the earth
together ; teaching the afflicted that,:however dis-
tantly severed they may be by a vast expanse of the
ocean from the more favoured portions of the uni-
verse, the voice of distress is no sooner heard than
philanthropy spreads its wings to succour their
distresses.

Madrid journals of the Bth have arrived. They con-
tain no intelligence of importance. It was a holiday at
the Bolsa.

Intelligence has been received from Lisbon of the
oth, and from Oporto of the 9th inst.

Count Bommt and his unfortunate companions have
been sent off to Angola. A guerilla of seventy men
had been dispersed at Thomar by the QUEEN'S troops ;
but, on the other hand, GALAMBA'S guerilla had sur-
prised and taken prisoners Major huAnco and
130 men at Alcacar do Sal, in the,TAlemtejo.
Several small actions had taken place with various
success. SALDANUA'S head-quarters still continued
ui Agueda, eleven leagues from Oporto. CASAL
was entrenched at Viana, closely watched by
DAs ANTAS, who is at Barcellos. Since M'DONELL'S
death several of his officers have joined the Junta. The
blockade of the Douro is very imperfectly maintained.
The British frigates America and Thetis are stationed
off the Bar, and the British war steamers Gladiator,
Polyphemus, and Bloodhound. and the brig-of-war
Nautilus, in the inner waters of the Douro. Eveything

was quiet at Oporto, which was abundantly supplied
with provisions.

We have received the Paris papers of Sunday.
The correspondence between Lord NORMANBY and
Lord PALMERSTON is published in all of them. The
Journal des Debats merely publishes the letters together
with the passage in M. GUIZOT'S speech to which
they refer. The Epoque sneers at the Marquis of
NortmANnY'for " rushing into print," while the Press.,
which on this occasion would seem to be emulous of
out•Guizot-ing GUIZOT in disregard for truth, declares
that " since his arrival in France the Marquis of NOR-
MANBY has been the adversary of the Government, and
the friend of the enemies of the Government." The
National declares that after the publication of Lord
PALMERSTON'S note to Lord NORMANBY, either M.
GUIZOT or Lord PALMERSTON must retire, if it
is desired that any terms should be kept between the
two Governments, inasmuch as Lord PALMERSTON'S
laconic note amounts, in fact, to a posting of M. GUIZOT
as a shameless liar (un eff'ronte menteur). Notwithstand-
ing all the coquetting of M. GUIZOT with the
absolutist Powers, notwithstanding all the sacrifices
which the French Government has made to propitiate
them—sacrifices which have completely alienated from
the Government all the Liberal party of France and of
the rest of the Continent—it is no longer doubtful that
the northern Powers have joined Lord PALMERSTON in
his protest against the marriage. He has completely
turned M. GurlzoT's position, and that not by making
sacrifices, but by persuading those Powers to adopt a
liberal course of policy. Since their junction with Eng-
land, Prussia has had a constitution granted, and
Austria has abolished feudal rights. This has greatly
increased the favour with which Lord PALMERSTON is
regarded by the Liberal party in France, and certainly
his conduct has throughout these transactions been
marked by great ability.
The Three per Cents. were done on Sunday in the Passage
of the Opera at 77f. 70c.
MARSEILLES, FEB. 9.—Marseilles and Avignon, 830 f. ;
Northern, 615 f.

LYONS: Fats. 11.—Paris and Rouen, 878 f. 75c. ; Avignon
and Marseilles, 822 f. boc. ; Northern, 608 f. 75c. ; Paris and
Lyons, 468 f. 75c.

BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, FEBRUARY 15.
Boulogne and Amiens, 14%—Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Cette
(Espelete), % —Dutch Rhenish, 4%—ltalian and Austrian, 2%—
Luxembourg, 2—Northern of France, 12 —Paris and Strasbourg,
3%—Rouen and Havre, 26% ex div.

MR. COCHRANE and the ELECTORS

MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS.
(From The Sun of Last Night.)
The sales of Cotton in the Liverpool market yesterday
were 2,510 to 3,000 bales, including 2,000 bales American at
6id. to 7P., and 250 bales of Surat at 3%d. to 4%d. per lb.
Ilts market closed heavily, and prices were without any par-
ticular al:eratiosa Railway Shares were rather firm.
The sale of Railway Shares to-day, by Messrs. Laissond
and Co., proceeded without much alteration ; prices were
steady, and a good proportion of the shares were sold. The
following are a few of the principal sales :
East Indian ... £o 8 6
Waterford, Wexford, and Valentia. ..... 0 5 0
Great Western of Bengal 0 5 6
Calcutta and St. George's Point 0 4 0
Boston. Stamford, andßirmingham...
South Yorkshire, Doncaster, and Goole 2 6 6
Eastern Counties

Eastern Counties, York Extension 4 11 6
Shropshire Union and Canal 1 6 6
Reading, Guildford, and Reigate... 3 15 0
Newmarket and Chesterford 9 6 0
Cornwall
North Staffordshire
Manchester and Southampton 1 11 0
North British, Extension ...... 1 6 0
Great Northern (London and York Reg.) 3 16 0
Buckinghamshire . ... 4 11 0
Taw Vale Extension and Dock .. 3 5 0
The accounts from the United States, per Hibernia, have
set people quite in a ferment here, and some of the more
cautious bands, remembering the former American revul-
slams, predict violent fluctuations in the produce markets ere
long, attended by the usual consequences to those who have
bought high and may have to sell low. There is, at
any rate, very little fear of short commons while spe-
culators force up prices, and if sufficient supplies be secured
before prices fall, consumers here may have no reason to
complain. The danger in these cases generally is that the
losses incurred by the rashness of speculators check others
from entering into the business, and thus the supplies would
not steadily continue. The state of affairs generally in New
York, New Orleans, &c., was favourable in other respects,
and the money market was easy, while the exchange had
been steadier. The packet has some fair orders for goods, as
far as we can yet learn.
We are happy to see that active steps are being taken
at Toronto to form a Joint-stock Forwarding Establishment.
It is to be called the Canada Steam Navigation Company.
It was stated, at a meeting held there, that the freight of a
barrel of flour between Toronto and Liverpool, was, and had
been for a long while back, two dollars per barrel ; if this
Company succeeds, one half of this will be saved, and
thereby an increase on the price of wheat effected of
no less than one shilling currency per bushel 1 The
public revenue from the canals was dependent on it also, and
consequently every tax-payer was directly interested. If
this company succeeds, the canals, even at a greatly reduced
rate of toll, will be profitable; but unless the forwarding by
the St. Lawrence is put at the lowest rate, the public works
will be a burden on the country. The speakers at the meet-
ing expressed themselves confident that the enterprise would
be heartily responded to throughout the province, and espe-
cially in Montreal and Quebec.
In a report of the business of the Champlain and St. Law-
rence Railroad it is stated that the nett gain for 1416 was
10,2031. ; the number of passengers having been 52,177,
and of goods 17,969 tons. The St. Lawrence and At-
lantic Railway is likely to require all its capital in this and
next year, and is to apply to the Legislature for power to
borrow money—a curious omission in the charter already
obtained.
The Stock Market has experienced a re-action again, and
the improvement of yesterday is lost. Consols for present
transfer have been marked 90% 3/ ; and for Time about %
per cent, above those values. The New Three-and-a-Quarter
per Cents. have been 921/ to 923/4 ; and the Three per Cents.
91 to 91%. India Stock was at 2491. Exchequer-bills
have fallen very decidedly, viz. to as. premium, and it is
probable that the Bank of England is parting with more of its
Government Securities.
The Foreign investments are wholly neglected. Portu-
guese Four per Cents. realise 341/ to 35. Spanish Three per
Cents. are 35%. Russian Bonds have been firm at 112.
Railway Shares have nominally been very steady, but evi.
dently sales to any extent would lead to a depreciation, ex:
cept in special instances.
BRITISH FUNDS.

ONE

TUESDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, FEB. 13, J 847.

This day had an audience of her.Majesty,'Senor. Toro, to
deliver his credentials as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary from the Republic of Venezuela
To which he was introduced by Viscount Palmerston,
G.C.8., her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, and conducted by the Hon. Colonel Sir
Edward Cust, K.C.H., Master of the Ceremonies.
ST. JAMES'S PALACE, FEB. 12.
The Queen was this day pleased to confer the honour of
Knighthood upon Colonel Thomas Le Breton, of the Royal
Jersey Militia.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 16.
The House of Lords sat again to-day to hear appeals.
The Peers in attendance were the Lord Chaticellor, Lord
Sidney, arid the Bishop of St. Asaph.
WILSON V. WILSON.
The further argum( Iva in this part-heard appeal from
the decision of the Vice-Chancellor of England occupied
their Lordships the whole of the morning.

PRIVY COUNCIL, Feb. 16.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council were occu-
pied the whole morning in hearing appeals from the Ad-
miralty Court, none of which possessed any points calling
for a particular report. The Lords of the Judicial Com-
mittee in attendance mere Lord Brougham, Lord Campbell,
Lord Langdale, Sir Herbert Jenner Fust, and the Chancellor
of the Duchy of Cornwall.

VICE-CHANCERY COURT, Feb. 16.
(Before Sir J. K. Baum)
His Honour was occupied to-clAy in hearing petitions
which were of no public interest.

COURT OF EXCHEQUER.—Feb. 16.
(Sittings in London.)
The Court was occupied a considerable portion of the day
lin hearing undefended causes. The few defended causes
which were disposed of did not present any feature of public
*iiportanee.
From the list it appears that there are 43 remanets, 27
of which are for special juries; new causes, 112, of which
number 32 are special jury causes—total, 165 causes, of which
special juries are appointed for 59.