The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-06 00:00:00

sent at the reception of New Year's-day. One may there-
fore ask one's self with the Presse, the King of the
French weighed less in the balance where all is weighed
than Lord Palmerston ?' and one may even resolve the
question in a different manner from what the Conserva-
tive journal has done. It is curious to see how the
Debats takes up the thing. You will never divine, and
the Presse which throws itself on the emphatic tone of
the reply of the throne, the Presse is outdone. Listen
rather to the organ of the Camarilia :—' We call the
attention of our readers to the address of the Nuncio, a
speech imprinted, with a noble and candid cordiality,
and which expresses faithfully we are convinced, the
true opinion of all the nations of Europe.' There is
more under this than words. Admire, in th:l first
place, the noble candour of the Apostolic Nuncio, who
does not even mention the name of the Duke de Mont-
pensier, and who, in presence of the King of the
French, affects only to address himself to the Pere de
faindle I If this noble and candid speech of the Apos-
tolic Nuncio expresses faithfully, the true opinion
of all the states of Europe, there remains nothing

for M. Guizot to do but to send to all the Governmenta
the double renunciation of the Duke and Duchess de
Montpensier—a renunciation which the Powers demand.
Then, the Pere de famine may accept at his ease the
diplomatic compliments on another daughter-in-law.
Since the Debats shows itself so satisfied with the speech
of the Apostolic Nuncio, the double renunciation is, in

fact, decided on. What has given so much offence to
the Powers, particularly England, in the marriage, is
the political importance which has been attributed to it.
It was therofore necessary to remove all cause of offence
to the Powers, and the following is the manner in which
it is said the thing is to be effected. A European Con-
gress was, it is known, earnestly solicited by the Cabinet
of the Tuileries. Austria refused to submit the incorpo-
ration of Cracow to this congress, and why ? It was the
question put forward by the Cabinet of the Tuileries, and
the following, according to the German journals, is the so-
lution a new European Congress were to be assem-
bled, Spain must naturally form part of it. But Queen
Isabella has not been recognised by the Powers, and it
is this which renders the congress impossible. What is
to be done? Obtain from the Powers the recognition of
the Queen of Spain. But how ? In renewing the re-
nunciation cf the Duke of Orleans to the throne of
Spain by that of the Duke of Montpensier, and in ac-
cepting the bases of the peace of Utrecht. This plan is
very simple, and England will content herself with it.
The interdiction which weighs on the Queen of Spain
would no longer remain as an objection for the Powers,
and the much-desired congress would become possible.
This congress is, in fact, the prevailing idea of the
Government ; it would stand in history as the first
great European act of the new dynasty. Besides, all
the difficulties resulting from the Spanish marriages,
and the incorporation of Cracow, would be thus re-
moved. By the double renunciation, the mouth of Eng-

land would-be closed; by a congress, that measure would
be j ustified to the country, and to those who should ask
what has been done about Poland, the reply would be
noes congressons."
The following account of the transactions between
the Banks of France and England appears in the
Presse. Having stated that M. HOTTINGUER, the
banker, came to London, authorised by the directors
of the Bank of France, to purchase bullion to the
amount of 20,000,000 francs, it says—
" That which is most remarkable in this important
operation is that the Bank of France has not had re-
course to the Bank of England, except to purchase
from it purely and simply the precious metals at
the price fixed for any ordinary purchaser, a price
which secures to the seller a very considerable
profit. In order to pay for this specie, the
Bank of France has procured the necessary funds by
contracting a loan with certain English capitalists, to
be repaid at a distant period, which may be extended if
necessary. It will be easily conceived that this mode
of proceeding will not present the inconvenience of a
purchase for ready money, which would produce to a
certain degree the export of specie, and would, con-
sequently, neutralize to a certain extent the advantages
of this immediate importation of the precious metals.
If, as we have reason to believe, this information be
accurate, we must congratulate the Bank of France on
having avoided incurring any obligation towards the
Bank of England. No doubt the directors of the Bank
of France would have found the same accommodation
from the Bank of England which they afforded the latter
in the year 1839, but it was better fur many reasons
that they should not claim that reciprocity, and that
the respective situation of the two banks should remain
such as it was created by the precedent to which we have
referred."

The following account of various experiments,
made for the purpose of testing the effect produced
by shot on steam frigates constructed of iron, appears
in the Constitutionnel :

" It appears that the employment of iron-built steam-
ships will be given up, at least for ships of war. The
English Aduiralty has come positively to this decision.
In France the question has long been under discussion,
and although it is not yet determined to relinquish
them, the results of trials made at Gavms lead to a
belief thst the same resolution will be come to on both
sides of the Channel. The experiments made were
for comparing the advantages and disadvantages at-
tending ships built with iron and timber. It was
proved that balls in striking them made larger rents in
the sides of iron ships than in those constructed of timber,
but that the first are lighter and more durable than the
others. The latter quality has created a desire to over-
come the great objection, and
trials have been
upon a wall formed of double sides of iron plates, filled
up with coal. But this experiment, from which much
was expected, has entirely failed. The wall was com-
pletely pierced by the balls. This result is much to be
regretted; nevertheless, a new idea leads to a hope that
iron may still be used in the construction of ships of
war. A French ship-builder has laid down a plan for
building first-rate ships partly of iron and partly of
timber; suggesting that such part as is below the water
line be constructed of iron, and all the works above that
line of timber. We cannot tell whether this combi-
nation of the two materials will have the promised
advantages, for that part of the ship which is under
water is precisely that which requires the greatest
protection from damage. At the same time we would
encourage every experiment which may tend to render
the management of our war-steamers more light and
easy. It would be a great saving of timber, which has
become scarce and proportionately costly."
The price of provisions continues to rise through-
out France, the markets are badly supplied with
corn, and the greatest apprehensions are entertained
of famine. On this subject the Reforme says—

" We copied, yesterday, the official document of the
Moniteur, indicating that the price of wheat had risen in
all the markets of France during the month of Decem-
ber. It was hoped, during the last ten days, that the
price of corn would either decrease or remain stationary,

as is generally the case after a continued rise. The news
received from the departments, for two or three days,
preclude such a hope. The markets were everywhere
badly supplied, the quantities of wheat exposed for sale
being barely sufficient for local consumption; and
in many places the millers wanted grain, and the
bakers could not procure flour. As to trade, it was
entirely at an end. In a great number of localities
the small farmers have nothing in their barns, and
find it extremely difficult to live until the next crop.
Should the cold continue intense the embarrassments
will necessarily augment. Not only is the navigation
interrupted by the ice on the canals, and the internal
circulation impeded, but the arrivals from foreign
countries have considerably decreased in conse-
quence of the ice and the inclemency of the
season. Marseilles and Bette, in the south ; Havre
and Dunkirk, in the north, that is, the principal harbours
of importation, have seen scarcity succeed to abundance.
At Marseilles a deficiency has already manifested itself,
and the price of wheat had increased, and now ex-
ceeded what it was previous to the fall. At Havre

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the price of wheat and flour was also augmenting. The
barrel of American flour, which sold for 40 francs eight
days ago, now fetches 42 francs. In the districts ad-
joining Paris a rise took place on Saturday in most of
the markets, and the supply was extremely scanty. At
Rouen, Montivilliers, Provins, Melun, Charleville, and
Lille, wheat increased in value one franc per hectolitre ;
and at Nogent- le -Roy, Orleans, Clermont, Chateaudun,
Coulommiers, Lagny, Pont St. Maxence, Etampes, Ram-
bouillet, and Beauvais, the rise was from 33 to 66 cen-

times per hectolitre. This augmentation, which is nearly
general, will certainly affect the Paris market, where
the prices were very firm during the last Reek. Bread
is already very dear. In 1839 it had net reached the
present price, 47c. per kilogramme, the highest having
been 45c. It was apprehended that it would undergo
another augmentation in the month of January."
The Three per Cents. closed on the Paris Bourse,
on Monday at 80f. 15c. ; the Five per Cents., 118 f.
' 40c. • the Orleans Railroad Shares, 1,260 f. ; Rouen,
911 f. 25c. ; Havre, 680 f. ; Great Northern, 638 f. 75c. ;
Avignon, 865 f. ; Tierzon, 606 f. 25c. ; Bordeaux, 565 f. ;
Tours and Nantes, 487 f. 50c. ; Paris and Lyons, 508 f. 75c. ;
Lyons and Avignon, 485 f. ; Bordeaux and Cette, 450 f. ;
Spanish Domestic Debt, 31% ex div.
MARSEILLES, DEC. 30.-Marseilles and Avignon, 885 f.
75c. ; Northern, 653 f. 75c.; Paris and Lyons, 510 f.
LYONS, JAN. 2.-Paris and Rouen, 915 f.; Avignon and
Marseilles, 872 f. 50c. ; Northern, 641 f. 25c. ; Paris and Lyons,
508 f. 75c.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE

LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, JANUARY 5.
Boulogne and Amiens, 153/4—Dutch Rhenish, 43/4—
Mauritius, 3%—Northern of France Constituted, 12 jq—
Orleans and Bordeaux, 83/4—Rouen and Havre, 27—Sambre
and Meuse, 434—West Flanders, 3.

THEATRE ROYAL, EXETER.—We cannot but inform
our theatrical readers, that young Oliver Twist, of the
Royal Surrey Theatre, Mr. George Owen, the youthful
tragedian, appears on Monday next at the above theatre
in Hamlet. He is just returned from Ireland, where ho
was highly admired.
THE SMITHFIELD NUISANCE.—At a late hour in
the afternoon of Monday two accidents occurred through
the still existing nuisance of Smithfield market. The
first occurred in High Holborn, opposite Kingsgate-
street : a gentleman was knocked down by a very
powerful bull, and before he could recover himself he
was severely trampled upon and gored by the infuriated ,
beast. The second accident occurred in Long-lane, I
Smithfield : Henry Bennet, a lad of scarcely seven years
of age, in attempting to cross the road, was knocked
down by a bullock proceeding from the market, and be-
fore he could be rescued wounds of a most shocking
nature were inflicted.

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EXPLOSION OF BOILERS.—The constant occurrence
of accidents to steam boilers is disgraceful to us as a
nation, in a nwellani-al p,,int of w, !I,nci et3lis for in..
quiry. 1c would stem to oe met ssary- that every boiler
should be examined by a public officer before it is sent
out.— The Builder,