The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-18 00:00:00

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LONDON, TUESDAY. AUGUST 18, 1846.

Extraordinary measures are being taken by the
present Government to alleviate the misfortunes, to
conciliate the population, and to meet the many im-
portant exigencies of Ireland. Never did the legis-
lators of Great Britain evince a greater readiness to
ameliorate the sorrows of that afflicted hiand. What
Sir ROBERT PEEL so earrestly recommended in his
farewell address tl)rms the guiding principle of the
succeeding Administration in reference to Irish legis-
lation—lreland is henceforth to be governed as an
integral portion of the United Kingdom. The re-
membrance of the inquitous and coercive policy of
many centuries is to be obliterated by a policy of
justice and leniency.
Our readers have already observed that the Arms
(Ireland) Bill—aßill which has continued in almost un-
interrupted operation during nearly two hundred years,
ntmely, since the Revolution of 1688—has been sud-
denly withdrawn by Lord JOHN RUSSELL. Every one
will have recognised in the abolition of that antiquated
specimen of despotism, the dawning of fresh benefits
across St. George's Channel ; and every one will, in

like manner, have discerned in the candour and the
courage with which the Prime Minister acknowledged
the blunder of his Administration, in endeavouring to
obtain tha temporary renewal of that Bill, something
akin to the Ministerial magnanimity which has already
been evoked by this ac4e of political liberality and of
social re-organization. Lord JOHN RUSSELL declared
it to be the determination of Government to annihilate
this system of vagrant inquisition, because his col-
leagues coincided with him in regarding such mea-
sures " as useless and unnecessary, and an interrup-
tion to the peace." He confessed that they
had arrived at that resolution from having
carefully deliberated the operation of so obnoxious an
enactment ; that they were impelled to make an im

mediate announcement of that resolution from the
circumstance of the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland
having declared himself fully prepared to undertake
the government of the sister country without such
tyrannical and superfluous assistance; and that they
were satisfied no pernicious consequences would
result from such an abolition, especially
as the recent returns have displayed a very consider-
able diminution of the dreaded offences. It is im-
possible not to rejoice in a determination so gene-
rously conceived and so valorously avowed. The
Arms Bill may now be numbered among those
blundering pieces of legislation which have retreated
into oblivion proportionately with the advancement
of civilisation. If remembered at all, it will only be
remembered as another of the melancholy bygones of
an ignorant and pusillanimous tyranny.

Intimately associated with this most important
withdrawal was the Ministerial announcement as to
the distress at present existing in Ireland. On Satur-
day last we took occasion to particularise the various
indications of deficiency in provisions, and upon the
vegetable contagion which is now scorching up
into a poisonous pulp the leguminous food of the po-
pulation. Extravagant and exaggerated as the de-
scription might have appeared, appalling as were the
details, dismal as was the general picture, our state-
ments have been fully corroborated by the declara-
tions of Lord JOHN RUSSELL. The pestilential disease
which last season infected the potatoes has re-ap-
peared at a much earlier period than on the for-
mer occasion, it has extended itself much wider over
the crops, and has developed itself much more vio-
lently than heretofore. It withers the foliage into an
unsightly and pestiferous rottenness —it cor-
rupts the very core of the tubers —it causes
foul and intolerable exhalations to rise from
the soil—it deprives thousands of their natural
nourishment, and produces fever and cholera, as
well as penury and famine. As to the authenticity
of this account, the letter of Colonel JONES to Mr.
Under-Secretary REDINGTON, must be regarded as a
conclusive testimony. " The conclusion on my
mind," says he, " is that the potato crop is unfit for
human food to the extent of three fourths r
In introducing this matter to the attention
of Parliament, the Premier took occasion to enume-
rate the various extraordinary measures adopted by
the late Government for the alleviation of the suffer-
ing consequent upon the previous emergency. We
have, ourselves already catalogued those measures,
and, consequently, any recapitulation is altogether
superfluous. Excellent, however, as were the
proceedings of the Peel Administration during
that important juncture—the importation of Indian
corn, the presentments for the purpose of public
work.;, and the bounties on several imminent occa-
sions—Lord J. RUSSELL acknowledged himself un-
prepared to resort to any arrangements of the same de-
scription, considering them, as he did, only authorised
by moments of extreme and alarming difficulty.
The purchasing of provisions in foreign mar-
kets from the resources of the Treasury was, to
his thinking, a precedent likely, if continued, to
prove most pernicious to individual entcrprize, and
calculated to disorganize the system of commerce
generally. In like manner, he considered that espe-
cial grants for the prosecution of public works would
have an effect detrimental to the national interest, be-
cause the labouring classes would abandon their private
employers to seek occupation under the patronage of
the Government officials. For these reasons, and
from a moral conviction " that the prospects of the
potato crop are even worse and more distress-
ing than they were last year," Lord Jour
RUSSELL deemed it advisable to endeavour, by
some rational and systematic arrangement, to
overcome the difficulties which were promised
for the ensuing winter. He proposed that public
works should be undertaken, but that the expenses of
those undertakings should be defrayed by loans, to be
repaid by the barony or county wherever the baronies
or counties were sufficiently affluent to meet such
requisitions. He proposed, moreover, that in the
case of such districts as were so destitute as
tol preclude the possibility of such repayment,
the charge of undertaking works for the employ-
ment of the poorer class, should be covered by a
sum of 50,0001., proposed to be granted for that pur-
pose by especial Act of Parliament. There are
sundry details in this proposition, such as the interest
upon the moneys borrowed from the Treasury being
simply 3i per cent., the summoning of a barony
session and a county session, by command of the
Lord-Lieutenant, the obligation of that sessioh to
find adequate employment for the necessitous, and
the levying for the purpose of repaying these
advances being made according to the valuation
or assessment of the county, so that the more
indigent classes of occupiers might be relieved from
assessment; but those measures, while they modify
the application of the plan, are merely the filling up
of the outlines. The proposition in short, nothing
more nor less than a demand for a description of
extraordinary poor-rate, and one which, considering
all circumstances, is fully and especially justified.
As a means of binding the whole complication
of these arrangements together, a multitude of com-
missariat officers will be scattered throughout the
island in direct and constant correspondence with Sir
RANDOLPH ROUTH, the Chief of the Commissariat
Department in Dublin.
The Irish population will be grateful to Govern-
ment for so immediate and earnest a response to their
supplications for assistance. And we are unhappily
convinced that the scheme of Lord JOHN RUSSELL is
in no respect premature, as it is not difficult to per-
ceive the shadows of famine and pestilence now im-
pending over Ireland.

Previous to going into a Committee of Supply last
night Lord G. BENTINCK called the attention of the
House to the subject of the carrying trade between
this country and the Spanish colonies. It is un-
doubtedly a question of grave importance to the ship-
ping interest; and, although we totally disapprove of the
means suggested by the Noble Lord for accomplish-
lig the desired object, we must admit that if the sub-
jects with which he has recently so often taken up
the attention of the Legislature, and the end and
object of his speeches, were as valuable to the country
as that last evening brought forward, his absence from
his accustomed relaxation and amusement on the
moors would not be so deeply to be regretted by
the nation. A new broom, it is said, sweeps clean,
and Lord GEORGE i 3 unwilling that anything
should remain unenlightened by his wisdom.
In his new capacity, as a statesman, he ex-
hibits the same activity anddid
a desire
a sportsman.esireforfull
occupation that he formerly
Race meetings are neglected ; the moors are de-
serted, while Lord GEORG E rehearses a variety of
figures, which being far beyond the comprehension of
the greater number of the gentlemen who have
selected him for their leader, are, of course, supposed
by them to be something very profound indeed.
They are quite willing to take " Onine ignoturn pro
magnyico," and to suppose that the man who has so
fully succeeded in puzzling themselves, must be quite
competent to fill the post of Prime Minister, or
Chancellor of the Exchequer at the very least.
Lord GEORGE cannot, however, get rid of his affec-
tion for the old system, his horror of free trade; he
can see no way of setting aside the restrictions
affeciing our commerce w ith Spain, save by
the adoption of similar measures on our own
part ; he cannot conceive that a juster and a
wiser mode of proceeding on our part will
probably be met in a similar spirit by Spain.
He cannot see that hitherto sugar, the principal
staple production of the Spanish colonies, has been
practically excluded from the English market by the
high differential duties. Our own policy towards
Spain has been one of restriction ; and it is little to
be wondered at if a corresponding systeru has grown

up in her colonies. Now, however, happily a dif-
ferent course has been adopted. The Sugar Duties
Bill last night received its third reading in the House
of Lords, and, on receiving the royal assent will, in
a few days, become the law of the land. Much benefit
must result therefrom to Spain ; and there is every
reason to suppose that we shall, in return, receive
some concession for the advantages thus afforded.
The moment we take the produce of these colonies in
exchange for our manufactures, every encouragement
will be given to induce British vessels to come
fur that produce. This was the real rea-
son why the American vessels were freed from
the disadvantages, the higher rates of duties, to which
the British were still subjected. Every American
vessel taking a cargo into the Havannah received in
return a cargo of sugar, and thus there was a mutual
advantage obtained from the traffic by both Spaniards
and Americans. This, however, was not the case with
England. We wished to have a market for our own
goods, but were not satisfied to yield reciprocal be-
nefits. Now the conciliatory policy has been
adopted, and we doubt not that ere long the effect
will be apparent to all. A system of retaliation is
vicious in principle, and productive of the worst re-
sults. It is calculated to impede and injure com-
merce. Perfect and entire freedom of trade is what
is wanted by our; mercantile men, and that is incom-
patible with measures of restriction cr retaliation. It
is not because one nation adopts foolish or inconsi-
derate rules that we are to do so likewise. The error
of our brother is no reason why we ourselves should
fall into a similar one. England has lately decided,
by an overwhelming and triumphant majority
both of the Legislature and the • people at
large, that duties are no longer to be
levied for purposes of protection, or of fostering
and sustaining monopoly, but merely for the sake of
revenue. We must not run counter to that wise
policy ; we must not do evil that good may follow
Retaliation, as stated by Lord PALMERETO74.I, may pos-
sibly prove successful, but, at the best, it is a bad
method of curing the evil, and it is far, very far, from
being a certain one. Should the other country, in
place of at once yielding, adopt an attitude of defiance
or obstinacy, the consequences may be very injurious
to ourselves. That which took place with
respect to Naples some time time since affords
a valuable lesson to statesmen of the impolicy
of such a course. When we resorted
to retaliation by imposing a high duty on her oil, be-
cause she did not do as we expected, it had no effect,
hut, on the contrary, it subjected our manufactures
to such inconvenience that we were obliged to retrace
our steps, and to abstain from collecting that duty—
not a very dignified course for the British Govern-
ment, it must be admitted. We are, therefore, sin-
cerely gratified at the statement made by the Foreign
Secretary, " that the Government were not prepared
to resort to the retaliatory policy in regard to foreign
commerce, but that, at the same time, they would do
their best to place the commercial relations of the
two countries on the most satisfactory footing."

Letters from Rome of the Bth state that the Port
grants audiences once a week in the Quirinal Gardens
to persons of every class of society. Cardinal MAT-
TEI, the late Under- Secretary of State, has been in-
triguing against the system of reform adopted by his
POPE. On Cardinal Gizzi taking possession of his
office he found replies from several provincial autho-
rities to official letters by Cardinal ALITTEI, in
which, after deploring the amnesty, he recommended
them to put an end to the public rejoicings. Had
such an official intrigue been discovered against the
Government of the "good old times," the intriguing
cardinal would most infallibly have been sent to the
Castle of St. Angelo. Thanks, however, to that spirit
of liberality, the existence of which Cardinal MATTE'
so much laments, the intriguer has in the present in-
stance been permitted to escape without punishment.

According to the Gazette of Aix la Chappelle, the
Grand Duke of OLDENBURGII, as well as the Princes
of GLUCKSBURG and AUGUSTENBURG, have pro-
tested against the letters patent of the King of DEN-
MARK, regulating the succession to the Duchies of
Schleswig and Holstein. On the subject of the
Duchies, we find the following in the Swabian Mer-
cury, dated Carlsrhue, Aug. 11 :

" In the sitting of the Chamber of the States, to-day,
Deputy Kecker demanded whether any steps lad been
taken by the Germanic Diet, in consequence of the letters
patent of the King relative to the succession to the Duchies,
and whether a handful of Danes will dare to defy Ger-
many. He designated the letters patent as a coup d'etat
against the rights of the Duchies, and as tending to compro-
mise their existence. lie then moved an address, praying
the Government to act energetically with the Diet, that the
integritf.of the Duchies should be maintained. M. D'ltzstein
declared that Germany should interfere, and not allow itself
to be partitioned like Poland. Mr. Baarden said that France
had declared in favour of Denmark, and Russia against her,
but not in the interest of Germany. England had made no
declaration, but Prussia, Hanover, Saxony, Wirtemburg, and
Bavaria, had declared against the letters patent.
"The proposition of Deputy Kecker was unanimously
adopted."

The following convention, concluded on the 6th of
July, between Denmark and Prussia has been ratified
by the respective Governments:—

"Art. 1. The stipulations of the treaty of commerce be-
tween the two contracting parties, concluded in June, 1818,
shall remain in full vigour until July 1,1857, with the modi-
fications hereinafter contained.

" Art. 2. The stipulation of the 3d article of the said treaty
of commerce shall not apply to traffic on the coast, the con-
tracting parties reserving to themselves the right to regulate
such transactions by special clauses.
" Art. 3. In the trans-Atlantic colonies .of Denmark
Prussian vessels and cargoes shall be admitted on the
conditions enjoyed by the most favoured nations. The
same conditions shall apply to the islands of Ferroe, Iceland,
and Greenland, within the limits prescribed to other nations.
"Art. 4. It is agreed that during the continuance of the
present convention of the Sound and Belt dues, published on
Jan. 1, 1842, accompanied by the regulatory clauses, shall
be applied to Prussian vessels and to their cargoes, in such a
manner that the trade and navigation of Prussian subjects,
as far as concerns those dues, shall be treated according to
the terms of the said tariff. Prussian subjects are to be
always treated as those of the most favoured nations, and it
is agreed that any reduction of the above-quoted tariff which
may be hereafter made to any nation, shall also be made in
favour of Prussian subjects.
"Art. 5. In the navigation of the canal of Schleswig
Holstein, and by the Eider, Prussian ships and cargoes shall
be placed on the footing of the most favoured nations.
"Art. 6. The Danish Government engages to facilitate as
promptly as possible the clearing of Prussian vessels in the
Sound and the Belts, and to prevent any unnecessary delay,
without, however, departing from the usual plan of clearing
the vessel in the rotation of their arrival.

" Art. 7. The regulations of the navigation of the Elte
shall continue as set down by the conventions of June 23,
1821, and April 13, 1844.
"Art. 8 confirms the provisions of the former treaty with
regard to vessels entering ports by stress of weather or other
causes, and not landing their cargoes.
" Art. 9 relates to the identification of the nationality of
the vessels of the respective states of Denmark and Prussia.
" Art. 10. Prussian vessels entering the Sound or the Belts
for the Baltic, and which are bound to a Prussian port, with-
out entering into a Danish port, may pass without being
subjected to any quarantine.
" Art. 11. The present convention shall remain in force and
vigour until July I, 1851, unless a notice of six months be
icen by one of the contracting parties."

Madrid papers of the 11th have arrived. The
Espanol gives currency to a rumour that Mr.
BULWER, the English Minister, had read to M.
ISTURITZ, the Spanish Prime Minister, a note from
Lord PALMERSTON, declaring that England would
not support any other candidate for the QUEEN'S hand
than Don ENRIQUE. The Heraldo, however, denies the
truth of the statement made by the Espanol. Don
FRANCISCO D'Assis was expected at Madrid on
the 12th.

It is reported that the differences between Spain
and Portugal have been arranged. Portugal has
undertaken to remove the Spanish refugees to depots
in the interior of the country, and Spain has with-
drawn her troops from the frontier. COSTA CABRAL
had a private audience of the QUEEN on the 10th.

MADRID BOLSA, AUGUST 11.—The Three per
Cents. were dune at 341 for cash; the Five per Cents.
at 221-; the Four per Cents. at 21f ; the Debt with-
out Interest, at 6i; and the Coupons at 20.

We have received the Paris papers of Sunday. As
Saturday was the feast of the Assumption, the
Courrier Francais, the Democratic Pacifique, and the
Commerce, were the only papers published. The
speech of the KING on the opening of the Chambers
will be found in another column. The Chamber of
Peers meet on Tuesday for the trial of HENRY.
No business was done in the Passage de rOpera on
Sunday.

LYONS, AuG. 14 —Paris and Rouen, 9521. 50e. ; Vierzon,
t32lf. 25c.; Northern, 703 f. 73c. ; Paris and Lyons, 313 f. 75c.;
Orleans, 1,270 f.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, AUGUST 17.
Boulogne and Amiens, 1214—Dutch Rhenish, ;t —East Indian,
—Orleans and Bordeaux, —Paris and Lyons Constituted, 5%
—Rouen and Havre, 27—Sambre and Maus., 4,4—West Flanders, 4.

DEATH OF SIGNOR GABUSSI, THE COMPOSER,-.
This clever musician expired on Saturday morning, after a short
illness of thirty-four hours, having long laboured under a diseased
liver. He was a native of Bologna, and was in his 45th year. He
visited London (luring the musical season far some years past, and
was universally respected fur his talent, of which ltowini had the
highest opinion.

OPENING OF THE FRENCH
CHAMBERS.
PARIS, MoNDAY, Aua. 17.
At one o'clock the Icing opened the session of the
Chambers by the following speech:—
" Gentlemen, Peers, and Deputies,

" I experience a lively satisfaction at seeing you assem-
bling around me with so much eagerness. At.the usual
period of your labour I shall communicate with you
respecting the internal and external affairs of the State. 1
At present, in convoking immediately the two Chambers,
in compliance with that charter, in summoning the
Peers appointed since last session, and the Deputies,
whom France has just honoured with her suffrages, to
take the oath before me, I am anxious that you should
receive at the same time the assurance of my active
and unchangeable devotedness to our country, and of
my confidence in your sentiments towards me and my
family.
" I learned from my earliest youth to love and serve
France. Called to the Throne by her wish, for the sal-
vatien of her liberty, I devoted my existence to the
regular maintenance of her institutions, and to the
peaceable development of her prosperity and grandeur.
There is no trial that I am not prepared to submit to,
and that I shall not endure, in order to attain an object
so dear to my heart. Providence, I hope, will permit
me, with the co-operation of the Chambers, and the
national ascent, to insure the success .of that patriotic
labour.

" My children and yours will reap its fruit, and, if
France, free and happy, retain an affectionate recollec-
tion of our common efforts, it shall be, Gentlemen, our
brightest and noblest reward."

CRIMINAL COURT.-.(THIS DAY.)

OLD COURT:

The Court was occupisd throughout the morning with
cases of uttering counterfeit money, but none of them pos-
sessed any interest whatever.

NE TV COURT.

Thomas Lirermore was indicted for embezzling two trifling
sums of money from his master, Mr. W. Lamprell.
Mr. DOANE. who appeared for the prosecution, stated the
case, from which it appeared that the prosecutor was a
licensed victualler, and that the prisoner was in his employ,
his duty being to carry beer to his customers, and to make
up his accounts daily. The latter he omitted to do in July
last, and gave no account of the money he had received
from one of the customers, with the embezzlement of which
he was now charged.
The payment of the money to the prisoner having been
proved, and the witnesses cross-examined by Mr. Ballantine,
who appeared on the part of the prisoner,
The COMMON SERGEANT summed up, and
The jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty.
UTTERING A FORGED ORDER.—Janzes Russell, a lad, ap-
parently about 15 years of age, was indicted for uttering a
forged order on the 23d of July last, with a view to obtain
goods fraudulently.
Mr. CLARKSON, who appeared on the part of the prosecu-
tion, stated the case. The afence with which the prisoner
stood indicted was very common, and one from which re-
spectable persons in business had suffered very severely. The
prosecutors, Messrs. Ellis and Co., who carried on a respect.
able business, had amongst their customers a gentleman
named Owen, who was also in business in Great Coram-
street. On the day in question the prisoner came to the
shop of Messrs. Ellis and Co. and presented an order, which
purported to be from Mr. Owen, and which was as follows :
" Gentlemen—You will oblige me by sending by the bearer
a piece of satin of each of the enclosed patterns, each piece
not to exceed in price 4s. " D. W. OW EN."
These facts having been proved, the prisoner, who
was called on for his defence, said that he had
been the dupe cf another person, with whom previously be
had had some acquaintance, and who' met him on the day
in question, and represented himself to be in the employ of
Mr. Owen. This person gavo him the order, which he told
him he had just received, and desired him, as soon be had
obtained the goods, to meet him at a place which he speci•
fled. He was quite innocent of any intention to commit the
crime with which he was charged.
The CosniloN SERGEANT summed up. He said the
points which the jury had to try were, whether
the prisoner had presented the order in question,
whether that order was forged, and whether the
prisoner at the bar was cognizant of the latter fact. The
two first had been clearly established ; and he thought that
there was little credit to be attached to the statement of the
prisoner.
The jury returned a verdict of Guilty ; and, it appearing
that the prisoner was well known at the Court, he was sen-
tenced to be transported for seven years.