The Sun.
London, England, 1841-08-19 00:00:00

SPAIN.

The majority of the Financial Committee has presented
the following report to the Chamber of Deputies:—
" Art. 1. The Decree of the Provisional Regency of
the 21st of January last, ordering the capitalization of
the interests of the home and foreign debts due or to ex-
pire at the close of 1840, is extended to the interests due
ur to expire in the year 1841.
" Art. 2. The Government will report to the Cortes
the result of the capitalization executed in virtue of the
present law.
" Art. 3. The laws of the 17th of April, 1838, and the
21st of June, 1840, are hereby abrogated.
" FERNANDEZ DE GAMBOA.
" CESARIO MARIA SAENZ.
"JUAN ALVAREZ Y MENDIZABAL.
" Palace of Congress, Aug. 4."
The minority presented the annexed counter project :
" Art. 1. The capitalization of the interests due on
the home and foreign debts, ordered by the decree of
the 21st of January last, is confirmed, and the creditors
are to be allowed an entire year from the date of the
publication of the present law to make known their in-
tention respecting that capitalization.
" Art. 2. The coupons of the interests due on the
home and foreign debts, during the year 1841, shall be
received for their integral value in payment of national
property for one-half of the part corresponding with the
respective titles of the Four and Five per Cents.
" Art. 3. The Government will propose suitable
arrangements to insure the perpetual and complete pay-
ment of the interests of the public debt from the Ist of
January, 1841."
M. Mendizabal had called a meeting of fifty capitalists,
to whom he proposed to open a subscription to present
Lord Clarendon with a testimonial of their friendship
and esteem.

A shock of an earthquake was felt at Seville about
half-past ten o'clock in the night of the ith. SimiNl-
shocks were also felt at Cadiz, Puerto de Santa Maria,
Xeres de la Fonteira, Ciudad Real, and Malaga.

---
WEEKLY STATEMENT OF LON-
DON LETTERS, Ave. 18, 1841.
THROUGH TIIE GENERAL POST.
Four weeks ending Aug. 14, 1841
3,971,864
DittoCorre saps onnedai
rnlgy periodbe
given 1840
of
1839
1,620,413
Increase since 1840 on the four weeks' letters 1,505,470
Ditto 1839 ditto 3,856,921
THROUGH THE DISTRICT POST.
Four weeks ending. Aug. 14, 1841
Corresponding period of 1840
Ditto as nearly as can be given of 1839
Increase since 1840 on the four weeks' letters 138,506
Ditto 1839 ditto 627,243

THE REGISTRATION.--It should not be for-
gotten that Wednesday, August 25, will be the last
day for leaving with the overseers objections to county
electors. The Tories bestow much attention on those
matters ; and the friends of Reform should not suffer
themselves to be surpassed by their political adversaries.

WINDSOR, TUESDAY EVENING.—ThiS day
the annual revel in honour of her Majesty's accession to
the throne, and in commemoration of the birth-day of
her Majesty's august mother, her Royal Highness the
Duchess of Kent, was held by the Bachelors of Windsor
and their friends. At an early hour in the morning the
auspicious day was ushered in with the discharge of
several pieces of artillery, which was continued at inter-
vals until the evening. About nine, 4.51., the Bachelors
perambulated the boundaries of the Acre, and walked in
procession through the principal streets of the town, pre-
ceded by a band of music. A variety of rustic sports,
consisting of matches at cricket, back-swording, wrest-
ling, &c., afterwards took place, and for which suitable
prizes were awarded to the successful competitors. At
noon the 72d Highlanders were marched into the Home
Park, and reviewed by Lieut.-Colonel Arbuthnot, the
commanding officer. The celebration was concluded at
nine o'clock in the evening with a grand display of fire-
works in the presence of several thousands of the towns-
people and visitors from the surrounding districts. The
bells of the parish church and St. George's Chapel were
rung almost unceasingly throughout the entire (inv. The
subscriptions for the above fete will this year amount to
nearly 100/., and includes donations from the borough
and county Members, and the resident nobility and gentry
of the neighbourhood.

THE TAX ON SUGAR.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—Having, seen it asserted by a Noble Lord, that
the diflivential duties on sugar are only some 3-sths of
a penny, I determined to examine the subject myself,
and I find that they are nearly 4d. in the pound. The
protection which the West Indies possess, and which
protection operates as a tax upon the British public,
amounts to a greater sum than the poor-rates of the
country. I will endeavour to demonstrate the truth of
this proposition : West India sugar is admitted into this
country on the payment of 245. for each hundred weight :
Brazilian sugar is admitted on paying 635. for every
hundred weight; so that the West Indian has an advantage
of 395. for each hundred weight of sugar. I use in my own
house, on an average, 41bs. of sugar each week, which
will be, for the year, 1. cwt. and 6-7ths i and as I pay
395. per cwt. more for my sugar than what I should have
to pay if there were a fair trade in sugar (that is, the
Brazilians paying the same amount of duty as the West
Indians, and as the Brazilians buy a million and a half
more of manufactured goods from u's than what the West
Indians do, they are entitled tt) sell on the same terms),
the tax upon myself and family. amounts' to 725. Gd. per
year for the benefit of the West Indian interest. The;
poor-rate upon the house I live in, is this year 365. ; so
that I am taxed for the -benefit of my own country' nen
365., and for the benefit of the blacks in the West Irldian
islands I am taxed 725. 6d.

We are often told that the West Indians ate good
customers of ours. They buy from. us 3,303.441/. of
manufactured goods annually, and we have bought from
them on an average of the last two years, 3,079,f 64 cwts.
of sugar ; and as we have given them 395. per cwt. more
than what we could have purchased it at from. the Bra-
zilians, if we multiply the quantity imported bry 395., wo
shall then see what we pay for,the 'privilege of selling to
the West Indians the cheapest inannfactured guods in the
world. The amount will stand:thus:-3,079,664 cwts., at
395. per cwt..-6,000,3441. 16s. ; add" to this sum the
cost of governing the West 1ndie5,:605,670/., and there
will be a total of 6,606,014/. ; which sum we pay for
the privilege of selling 3,399,441/. 'of manufactured
goods. In other words, 2s. for the privilege of selling
Is. worth of goods ! Now, what shopkeeper could keep
his shop open on such a principle ?' No one could ;
for the more business he did, the -sooner his trade
would end.

The total amount of poor-rate for England and
Wales, in 1838, was 4,123,6041. ; being 2,482,4101. less
than what .we are taxed in the shape of protection for
the benefit of the black labourerS. And if we divicle
this tax. by the number of the blacks) on the West. In-
dian Islands, it will be about Bt. for each—a sum double
what is allowed for the maintenanob of an Ergiish
pauper in an union workhouse: :

For whose benefit do we submit to an indirect tax of
6,606,1041. each year ? Is it for the furpose.of further-
ing the ends of humanity ? Is it Air the purpose of
striking a blow at the slave trade ? Is it because the
law-makers of this country have a strong desire to bene-
fit the condition of the 800,000 black, men who live in
the West Indian islands ? No such .thing. The great
monied men, the members of :the 'House of Common.%
and the landed aristocracy of this country, own the soil
of the West Indies, and it is for their benefit that we arc
taxed. In consequence of this tax,-the,blacks are enabled
to pay a greater rent to the owners of the soil ; in short,
it is another Corn-law.

Before this party will be conciliated, we must compen-
sate them in the same manner that we compensated them
with 20,000,0001. for the emancipation of the black
slaves, which, if they reckon at the rate of twenty years'
purchase, will be more than 100,000,000/. If they can
only persuade Its to compensate them'for the loss of their
high rents, we shall then be at liberty to grind the black
men into coffee if we like.—l remain, yours respectfully,
JOHN HEYW 00D.
Oldham-road, Aug. 11, 1841.

LIBERIA.

CLARENCE, FERNANDO Po, APRIL 5, 1841.

Dear and highly esteemed Friend,-,--As I am aware of
the deep interest you take in the state of Africa and her
children, I proceed to give you a few particulars:—First,
in reference to Liberia; and next in reference to the state
of this island, on which myself and Dr. Prince have fur
about three months resided.

The persons from whom I had those particulars which
I did not myself ascertain, have resided long at Cape
Palmas and other parts of the colony, and were chiefly
Missionaries of the Episcopalian, Presybyterian, and
Baptist persuasions.
The extent of the territory claimed by the colonists
reaches from Cape Mount River to the river Cavally.
The map of the colony goes to the river Solymon, in the
7th degree of north latitude ; and Mien off the Cavally
river, a paper signed by a Dr. Hall; was handed to me
from King Bappo, in which the said King was recom-
mended to the favourable considei'ation of traders, on
account of having granted gratuitonsly a large tract of
land on the Gamily river, to the Maryland Colonization
Society. Cavally river is twenty miles to the south of
Cape Palmas, so that the line of coast claimed and par-
tially occupied by the different Colonization Societies,
and comprehended under the term Liberia, is nut short
of 300 miles.

The coast thus occupied is not so unhealthy as is the
Bullom shore, and Sierra Leone on the north, or as Cape
Coast Castle, Popor, and the Delta of the Niger on the
east. With these exceptions, and keeping off the mouths
and marshy sides of rivers, the coast of Africa from Rio
Ponga to the Coanga is much alike in point of insalu-
brity. In reference to the colony of Liberia, one fact
appears evident from the united testimony of all I have
heard speak on the subject, viz., that the health of chil-
dren born in the colony is better than it was at first ; and
that coloured persons, after seasoning, enjoy better
health than they (lid some years ago. Whites are still
in danger from the accumulating fever, and for the most
part look sickly and feeble, some, of the Missionaries
have good health, and speak as if they could walk fur-
ther and bear more fatigue than they formerly could
in their native country.. •
I was informed that to enter into the causes of the
wars with the natives would require a long explanation,
in which different parties wou!d give different accounts,.
according to their prejudices and interests. But one
cause certainly was the prohibition under which many
of the natives near Mesurado were placed in reference
to the trade with the wsiels that visited their coast.
This prohibition arises out of the selfish policy of the
Colonial Government, which has induced them to lay a
fine on vessels found trading with the natives, and to in-
crease the expenses on foreign trade by harbour dues,
and the employment of a commissioned agent, so that
goods are sold one-ninth higher, at, and near Monrovia,
than on other parts of the same line of coast, and all im-
pediments and hindrances to trade are thrown in the
way of the natives to force them to obtain their aupplies
through the merchants settled in the Colony. This has
been felt keenly, and in some cases has met with resist-
ance by the natives.
Another cause is the attempt made to prevent the
natives from fishing in Bassa Cove and other places,
where they formerly employed themselves in fishing
without molestation. In agreeing to allow the Ame-
ricans to settle, the natives never. .contemplated a curtail-
ing of their own rights, and privileges, but looked for
great advantages from the trade promised them with
America and Europe. They now feel themselves griev-
ously disappointed in these their too sanguine expecta-
tions. It is also candidly admitted that the Colonists
have frequently acted unjustly towards the natives and
oppressed them, and that injustice and oppression still to
a certain extent continue.

A considerable number were lately slain, at a station
belonging to a Methodist Missionary, some way in the
country behind M'esurado. The account has appeared in
the Monrovia newspaper, and also in a Boston
newspaper, in one of which I doubt not
the statement has been seen by you. Dr.
Prince and myself were distinctly informed that
the tribe among whom the Missionaries resided gave
them time to fly with their wives, children, aged people,
and property ; and, instead of flying, the Missionaries
sent to Monrovia for guns and ammunition, and resolved
to risk life in the protection of their property. When
the hostile tribe appeared the attack commenced, and
the people were beaten off with considerable slaughter.
When the defence for a time ceased, the assailants made
an attempt to carry away their slain, but at this time the
firing recommenced, and much injury was done to the
flying natives. An unfeeling letter appeared in the
Liberia Herald, written by one of the principal actors in
this bloody seen, in which the Missionary disgraces him-
self by showing an utter want of the spirit of the Mas •
ter whom he professed to serve. The Editor lauds him
as a hero ; but his brother Missionaries highly disap-
prove of his conduct, and those of them with whom I
conversed appeared much to regret the spirit of revenge
that had been manifested on this mournful occasion.

A short time ago a native who thought himself wronged
by a colonist, who resided near to Cape Palmas, com-
plained, and from the Governor obtained redress ; this
exasperated the colonist so much that he took his gun
down, and as the native passed his farm, he fired, and it
is said lodged a few small shots in the shoulder of the
man he had injured. The native went to his tribe, and
brought with him a band, who entered the house of the
colonist, cut off his head, and the heads of two of his
children ; the wife and the other children. escaped the
fury of these barbarians. They left the place without
any further attack upon the people, and escaped speedily
to their country several miles distant in .the interior.
I was assured that the late wars have had the worst
possible effect on the minds of the natives, that they. are
increasingly jealous of the power and influence of the
colonists, and highly displeased at their proud and over-
bearing conduct. When their Kings or Headmen gave
away or sold a part of their territory, they did so from
the immediate advantage of a large .‘ dash" or present,
or the future prospect of an increase of trade. They had
no idea of curtailing their own comforts, or of being
overrun by persons from a foreign land. Then they
saw only the favourable side, but they now see the op-
posite ; and, living in a part of Africa already teeming
with a native population, and not very rich in soil, they
find that the rising power of the colonists must be kept
down, or that they must be driven inland among hostile
tribes, jealous of any such encroachment upon their hunt-
ing or provision grounds. It was stated, as a thing self
evident, that as the colony increased, wars would also
increase, and that the spirit, cherished on both sides
would make these, as much as possible, wars qf artermi-
natipn. The agreements made with the Afticans are
nearly all decidedly unjust. A mere trifle is given for
thousands of acres of land.
The benefits of trade are put before the ignorant
people in a fascinating manner, a footing is obtained,
and force is used to retain it, and to extend, if y necessa-
the boundary lines, as far as the aggressors think proper
to wish or desire.
A small provision-ground, producing rice, plantains,
is deemed a farm, and such provision-grounds are
common in the colony, but as to the growing of cotton,
sugar, or the like, no such thing prevails to any extent in
any part of Liberia. Horses, mules, &c., arc not nu-
merous, and are seldom put in harness, and oxen are too
small to be thought of for the yoke. The hoe is the
agricultural instrument in general use, and man is the

agent by whom it; is employed. Only one saw-mill ex-
ists in the colony, anct no flour-mill, or other article of
machinery, has yet been introduced.
Formerly alavurs did visit the colony, but not now, ex-
cept at those places distant from settlements where slave
faetories exist. Colonists, however, are not chargeable
with giving encouragement to these factors, nor are
they known to trade: with them at present in any direct
or indirect way.
At Cape Palmas there is no jetisdiction exercised over
the natives or acknowledged by them, but several tribes
are in amity here, and-on otfAer parts of the coast with
the colonists. The native towns close to the settlements
at Cape Palmas, remain '4uite distinct from the colonists,
keep up their own cost ams, and appear as far from any
approach to civilizar_on or religion as if they had never
seen the colonists r,r heard the Gospel preached amongst
them. The peop'.e wear a small cloth about the loins, and
are ornaments a with rings and gregres. One or two of
the colonists have married natives at Cape Palmas, but
these have rather receded towards the natives than suc-
()ceded i,t improving the aboriginal inhabitants. Few
attend worship of God, and these few are offended
ley
lte pride of the colonists, who show the same dispO-
i siA,ion to make distinctions in the House of God, that
whites in America do towards their coloured brethren
• there. In sending the children to school, the natives
look for some advantage, and have not yet come to value
learning for its own intrinsic worth. A few have em-
braced the Christian religion, but most of these arc from
among the school children, who have for several
years enjoyed the advantage of daily religious
instruction from the devout servants of God, who
have long laboured amongst them. Since the Bibla
and other books have bean used in the school in the
native tongue, as well as in the English,
,knowledge
has been on the increase, even among the parents at
home ; and it is hoped that the reading of these books
at home by the native children, in the native tongue, will
ultimately be blessed of God, to the benefit of many of
the adult population.
All here are engaged in trade except the Missionaries,
Even the Governor has not enough to keep him, from
those by whom he is appointed ; he is, in fact, the
prin-
cipal merchant at Cape Palmas. There are four places
of Nvorship,—a Presbyterian and Episcopalian, a Metho-
dist, lind a Baptist. All the Missionaries are from Ame-
rica. The Presbyterian and Episcopalian are sent to the
riatives ; the Methodist and Baptist are chiefly employed
among the colonists. The Presbyterian Missionary has
a printing press, speaks and preaches in the Grebo
tongue, and has translated and printed several books iu
that language.
Temperance prevails in the Colony, and no rum is sold.
Governor Musewarm is esteemed and loved, and unites a
few of the colonists with him in the administration of
justice. The colonists arc not in the least jealous of him
on account of his appointment by the Society in America.
They are content, not yet having confidence in them-
selves. The desire manifested by the colonists to return to
America is so great, that if the vessels were supplied, such a
number would leave in them, that those willing to remain
would find themselves too few to protect themselves from the
natives, and would therefore leave on this account. No ob-
stacle but the want of means prevents the return of the
colonists to America, but this is a sufficient one, and con-
fines them to the land of their exile.

It is readily admitted that individuals•have been found
in the colony, who for present interest, have given incor-
rect views of its flourishing state, and that such state-
ments have appeared as must have been known to the
writer at the time to have been contrary to the real facts
of the case.

I shall conclude this brief account of Liberia by giving
it, as my opinion, from all that I have seen and heard,
that the good set forth by the Colonization Society will
never be attained, unless a complete change of plan be
effected. The colonists must be men chosen for their
work, and well supported in it. Righteousness, mercy,
and love, must regulate the conduct of all towards each
other, and towards the natives ; good and equal laws
must prevail, and a great object aimed at must be the
benefit of the native, -before any good will arise
to him, from strangers on whom he looks at
first with an eye of suspicion. and jealousy.
As to any benefit arising to the colonists themselves,
this is out of the question. Had their temporal good been
sought, America would have been found sufficiently large to
contain them all. If a few native Africans had desired to
be sent back to their county}, it would have been bene-
volent to have done so, for their security and usefulness
in the land that gave them birth ; but to ship off native
Americans, almost, if not altogether by force, was at
once cruel and unjust, and cannot have resting upon it
the blessings of the Most High.