The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-18 00:00:00

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THE SPANISH DEBT. '2l;e; '' • '--
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The Madrid correspondent of the Morning . . -• ... " r 11-=.- ('.
comm'tnicates the following extract from a letter . :o'lllolr
Cobden's, addressed to Mr. Henderson, from Cal mva &Mild
reply to a letter received from the latter gentleman. Mr.
Cobden says, " You are strong in the justice of your
claim, and you must try every appeal to the honour and
honesty of Spaniards, and, if necessary, endeavour to
ehame them into the payment of their debts. I agree
with your circular as to the ability of the Government
to meet its engagements, provided ordinary talent and
integrity preside over its finances. Never was there a
country whose resources were so neglected and wasted
as those of Spain. Its tariff is a ruinous farce, fulfilling
no rational object, but failing ridiculously as a measure
of protection, as a means of revenue, and as a national
policy. Instead of affording the proposed protection to
the Catalans, everybody (manufacturers included) in
Spain is an avowed contrabandist when opportunity
offers; and I am convinced that a duty of 20 per cent.
on foreign goods, honestly levied, with the accompanying
facilities to the Catalonians for the free admission of
their raw materials, would be more favourable to the
manufacturers than the present system. Ido not think
you overrate the direct loss to the revenue from the
prohibitive tariff. While in Madrid I had the opportu-
nity of speaking to M. Mon upon this point. I told him
if he would farm his customs duties for 20 years I would
undertake to guarantee him four times the amount of net
revenue at present derived from that source, upon one
condition only, that I should be allowed to reduce the
duties at discretion, but not to have the power of in-
creasing the taxes upon any article in the tariff. Indi-
rect gain to the revenue would, however, be only a part
of the benefit of a modification of the tariff. With free-
dom of exchange, and ten years internal tranquillity,
Spain would increase in wealth and population faster,
probably, than any nation in the world, and her present
debt would become, in proportion to her resources, the
lightest in Europe. I wish you success in your applica-
tion to the Madrid treasury.'

DEATH OF THE RIGHT HON.

-
THOMAS GRENVILLE.
This venerable and distinguished statesman expired
at seven o'clock last evening, at the advanced age of 91.
The lamented gentleman had resided for some time
back at his town mansion in Hamilton-place, and up to
a week since was in the enjoyment of very good health;
but an ordinary attack of influenza was too much for one
so old, and after a few changes the complaint hastened
to a fatal termination.

The deceased was the second son of the Right
Honourable George Grenville, by the daughter of Sir
William Wyndham, Bart.; consequently he was brother
to the first Marquis of Buckingham. His birth took
place in the month of December, 1755, George II
being then the reigning Sovereign. At an early age he
entered the political world, principally, however, direct-
ing his attention to diplomatic affairs.
In 1782, a critical period, and when but 27 years of
age, he was appointed to the responsible office of
Ambassador to the court of France. In the ,March
of that year the Marquis of Rockingham was ap-
pointed Premier, and in the July following he died,
being succeeded by William first Marquis of Lans-
downe. Having completed his term of service in France,
he returned to England, and was returned for the
borough of Buckingham by his kinsman, the Marquis of
Buckingham. In 1790 he was elected for Aldborough.
In 1794 he was appointed by Mr. Pitt Minister Ex-
traordinary to Vienna ; and under the direction of the
same Minister, in 1799, he proceeded to Prussia. In
1800 he was appointed Chief Justice in Erye, South
of Trent. From 1806 to 1807 he was First Lord of the
Admiralty.
___

Mr. Glenville was appointed a member of the Privy
Council in 1798, and, with the single exception of the
Earl of Harrowby, was the oldest member of that body.
He was never married.