The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-07 00:00:00

111:fR SUN', LONDON* MON DAY EV.ENIXt}, DECEMBP,R )1440.

faithless and insidious nations with which
we have hitherto maintained a credulous alliance. So

great has this necessity already become, that we are
most solicitous as to its consequences. We are solicit-
ous not so much as to the capacity of our statesmen
to cope with those of the continent, not so much as
to their readiness to compete with external cajoleries,
or their ability to uphold the dignity and honour of
the British empire, as we are solicitous that these
deplorable misunderstandings with our neighbours
may not retard to an indefinite period questions of
the utmost importance to our population.
Let us glance for a moment at the nature of those
international differences to which we have referred,
and the almost simultaneous recurrence of which will
necessitate such prolonged explanations in Parlia-
ment. These differences may be speedily enume-
rated, and their enumeration will at once testify the
reasonableness of our anxiety. Our friendly relations
with France have been scattered to the winds
by the disingenuous machinations of his Majesty
King Louis PHILIPPE. The cincture by which the
bundle of sticks was bound together has been broken ;
the entente cordiale has been destroyed; the alliance of
Albion and Gaul, like the alliance of ALLADIN and
the sorcerer, has continued only as long as the inte-
rests of the latter rendered it convenient. Our friend-
ship with Spain, in like manner, has been cooled by the
shameless hypocrisy of ISTURITZ and Queen CHRISTINA.
With Portugal, again, we have become in some mea-
sure implicated on the occasion of the late insurrec-
tions. Our negotiations with the sanguinary chief-
tains of the Rio de la Plata have signally failed, and
our emissary, Mr. HooD, has returned homewards
without having effected a single compromise. In
India the quietude which had been so dearly bought
by the carnage of Sobraon, by the deathful struggles
of Ferozeshah, and the blood of Sir ROBERT
SALE, has been jeopardized by the temporary incapa-
city of GHOOLAB SINGH, by the instability of the
Durbar of Lahore, and by a fanatical revolt in Cash-
mere. Fortunately, however, these difficulties have
been prematurely dissolved,:and an Oriental tranquil-
lity is again rendered feasible. In the forcible
seizure of Cracow, however, consists the principal
obstacle to the perpetuation of European peace. By
that flagitious act our reliance upon the faith
of King FREDERICK WILLIAM, of the Kaiser FERDI•
NAND, and of the Czar NICHOLAS, has been utterly
dissipated. In that violation of the treaty of Vienna
we recognise the fact that the volcano has only
abated, that it has not been extinguished—that
we have been slumbering during thirty-one
years among the deceptive verdure which has
sprouted up upon the crater—that beneath that
verdure the ashes of the last eruption are yet warm,
and the latent elements are still struggling
to accomplish another catastrophe. Upon the merits
of these unfortunate occurrences the national repre-
sentatives will have to decide. Her MAJESTY'S
Minister for Foreign Affairs will have to shrive him-
self to the Parliament, and through it to the people ;
and the nature of the measures thereupon to be
adopted in each particular will require an instant
decision.

Before any permanent and satisfactory peace can be
arranged in Europe the recent proceedings of the
Courts of Paris, of Madrid, of Lisbon, of Vienna, of
St. Petersburgh, and of Berlin, will have to be defi-
nitively accounted for; and, beyond this, the indepen-
dence of the German principalities, the general re-
forms which are being effected in the Papal States
under Pope Pius IX., and the compromise of the
sectarian squabbles in Switzerland, will demand a
serious investigation, and, if necessary, a cordial assist-
ance. "Until these advantages, or, at least
most of these advantages, be effected there will be no
reasonable hope of an enduring friendship among the
empires and principalities of Europe. On their
settlement the progress of civilization would be won-
derfully expedited ; the humanizing influence of com-
merce would extend to the furthermost limits of the
globe; it would embrace the most distant of the South
Sea Islands as well as the most northern of the
whale fisheries, it would penetrate the interior of
China, it would expose the riches of Japan to the
competition of the most enterprising, it would termi-
nate the troubles and enmities of Itafirland, and
elicit all the agricultural and mineral wealth which
yet remains dormant in Australia. Mexico might
then aspire to safety from American avarice,
it might awake to a consciousness of its
own capabilities for power, it might advance
with the advancement of knowledge and the
diffusion of happiness. In the present condition of
affairs such anticipations are undoubtedly little
better than Utopian, but ultimately, under the
guardianship of a free Commerce, an accessible
Knowledge, and'a generous Morality, mankind will
be in a fair way of reaching that most desir-
able goal.

Meanwhile we are solicitous as to the imme-
diate effect which these European disagreements
may have upon ourselves ; we are solicitous that
whilst Lord PALMERSTON is striving to heal the
wounds recently inflicted by the duplicity and self-
ishness of our psuedo-allies the admirable political
programme of the noble Premier may not be injudi-
ciously postponed. Lord JOHN RUSSELL has guaran-
teed to the citizens of London, and consequently to the
electors of the United Kingdom, sanatory and educa-
tional measures of the highest importance. We
would see nothing interfere with the introduction of
plans so earnestly desiderated. We would see the
miseries of Ireland abated, the ignorance and the
physical wants of the community transformed into
knowledge, and health, and cleanliness. If there was
a necessity for dispatch and exertion in our repre-
sentatives during the session of 1846, there is a yet
greater exigence in that regard during the session
which is approaching.

Numerous deputations from the influential meet-
ings lately held in our leading cities and towns, in
favour of a reduction in the duty on tea, had an inter-
view on Saturday with Lord Jonsi RUSSELL and the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, at the official residence
of the former. Whether we regard the number of
the deputations, the importance of the places they
severally represented, the extent to which it is likely
to affect the commercial, manufacturing, and shipping
interests, as well as the views, social and moral,
which are necessarily bound up with its considera-
tion, the proposed diminution of nearly 100 per cent,
of the existing tax upon tea is as grave a question as
can well be propounded for the reflection of the Go-
vernment. The united voices of Liverpool, Edin-
burgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Dublin, Leeds, Black-
burn, and Norwich, were echoed on Saturday in
Downing-street, on behalf of an immediate and ex-
tensive approximation towards establishing freedom
of trade in tea. What power, influence, and intelli-
gence were here represented ! Whatpublic bodies more
competent to suggest and advise with the Government
upon fiscal matters ! We had not here the mere
representative of numbers, which Mr. COCHRANE, in
his recent interview with Sir G. GREY upon the
question of opening the ports, seemed to think the
one essential for forcing the Executive to adopt any
measure ; but we had the concentrated intelligence of
our leading marts of commerce, indicating, under
the auspices of moral force, "an extraordinary ne-
cessity, by a certain class of statistical facts bearing
on the condition and circumstances of the country."
That the Premier felt the pressure of the argument
built upon the mass of figures brought under his
notice, is evident from the short reply which he made
to the memorialists. His Lordship was "fully im-
pressed with the importance of the subject, and pro-
mised it should have the early consideration of the
Government. More he could not say, nor could it be
expected of him." A more favourable response could
not, we admit, have been reasonably anticipated,
veing that concession to the desired reduction must
be mainly influenced by the interests of the revenue.
Had we no other guarantee than the Minister's
promise, upon which we place every reliance, that
this question shall have the early reflection of the
Cabinet, we should find a sufficient one in the present
state of our trade with China, which is deplorably
reduced.

Few can forget the universal joy which was
diffused throughout our mercantile community by
the announcement of the masterly treaty which Sir
POTTINGER effected on our behalf with China
at the conclusion of the late war. The liberal tariff
which we thereby secured with the Chinese was
hailed as the harbinger of unprecedented prosperity.
Why has this tide not set in ? Simply because we
(have maintained such an extravagant duty upon tea,

that all commercial reciprocity became nipped in the
bud. The folly of our fiscal proceedings is rendered
glaringly manifest in this : that whereas, by our own
arms, we placed not only ourselves, but other nations,
upon a most favourable footing with the Chinese, in
regard to mercantile intercourse, America, for in-
stance, and other countries, where either no import
duties on tea prevail, or only in a very moderate de-
gree, are prosecuting a flourishing commerce, whilst
our own is seriously declining. Were there any
probability of regularly obtaining teas from China
at lesser prices than what our merchants now pur-
chase them for, a ray of hope for commercial im-
provement, of a very mitigated character, might be
let in ; but this, we know, is not the case. An ex-
tract from the observations of Mr. HORSEALL, of
Liverpool, to Lord JOHN RUSSELL, will be service-
able, as showing the high sense of honour by which
our merchants are uniformly characterised :

" We had secured for other nations the same advan-
tages in China that we ourselves possessed; but whil-t
iu no other country was tea charged a higher duty than
6d. per lb., and in some it was entirely free, our con-
sumers had to pay 2s. 21d. per lb. He then pressed on
the Government the injustice of our forcing upon the
Chinese a tariff, the lowest of any nation with whom
we trade, whilst we impose on the principal article of
their manufacture so exorbitant a duty. It was contrary
to the feelings of Englishmen to oppress the weak, the
powerless ; and he hoped that so great a blot on our national
character would soon be wiped away."
Again, in the memorial of the East India Associa-
tion of Glasgow, adverting to the point of the pre-
sent duty being at variance with the principles on
which the commercial relations of our country are
now based, it is happily observed, that the duty is " so
inconsistent, indeed, as must induce the suspicion
amongst nations, whom it is desirable should follow
our footsteps in free trade, that the principle of reci-
procity is only to be practised when not interfering
with the Exchequer, and to be laid aside when dealing
with a vanquished and comparatively weak nation."
In their promised revision of these duties we hope
the Executive will not be unmindful of the unfair
manner in which, by the principle on which they
are at present levied, the poorer classes are oppressed.
At this moment the affluent and the needy pay the
same rate of duty on what they consume, whatever
be the difference in the value of the tea which they
respectively purchase. This is the reverse of justice.
Neither would it be politic to adhere to this leviable
rule. The Exchequer must suffer a temporary loss
whenever a reduction is sanctioned. We have advo-
cated that the reduction should be a large one,
because, although the deficiency in the public finances
would in the first instance be thereby increased,
it would nevertheless, by the extended demand for
tea, be more readily supplied. Any reform, then, of
the tea duties should be an ad valorem. It is in this
way only that the Government can look successfully
to invite the humbler orders to use an article to such
an extent as that they may safely face all apprehen-
sions touching the revenue, consequent upon a con-
siderable abatement of the existing noxious duties.

Mr. O'CONNELL has often asserted that "he is the
best abused man in the kingdom." The Hon. and
Learned Gentleman might have added, not only in
the kingdom, but in the world, and his claim to the
title would long since have been fully established.
There is no form of calumny, no measure of invective.,
that has not from time to time been freely poured
forth upon his devoted head. If a public meeting was
held of his political opponents, good, hearty, unmiti-
gated abuse of Mr. O'CONNELL was sure to form
the chief subject of debate; it usurped the place of
reason and argument; if sufficiently gross, it was
sure to be received with the most rapturous applause.
The widest scope was afforded to the fancy of the
orator ; it was not at all necessary that
his arguments should be founded on facts ;
the most ridiculous, the most absurd non-
sense, was swallowed with the greatest avidity.
If Mr. O'CONNELL was made the hero of the tale,
there were no bounds to the credulity of the hearers.
A statement that the speaker had heard somebody
somewhere say that he would not be surprised if Mr.
O'CONNELL had formed certain projects, was forth-
with looked upon as " confirmation strong as proof
of holy writ." Of late years, however, though still
the butt at which many shafts were aimed, there
were not so many direct accusations hurled against
him. The triumphant vindication of his character,
by which he so often exonerated himself from every
foul imputation, and heaped shame and con-
fusion upon his slanderers—the more perfect know-
ledge of his true conduct, character, and
the motives by which he was actuated—the
generous and disinterested assistance which he
was ever ready to extend to the injured and
oppressed, no matter what might be their creed or
politics, removed in a great degree the bitter feelings
of personal hostility with which he had been regarded
by many ; the improved tone of society, the greater
degree of liberality which has existed of late years,
has made such accusations less acceptable, and justice
has been rendered even to O'Comearx, and some
proof has latterly been demanded of the authenticity
of the charges before general credence has been given
to them. The direct and positive charge has, there-
fore, generally speaking, been abandoned, but it has
been replaced by
" The shrug, the hum, or ha! these petty brands
That calumny cloth use;"

and scurrilous insinuations are thrown out, and hints
whispered that are almost as injurious to the reputa-
tion of the venerable patriot as the more direct and
tangible aspersions of former times.

One of the chief grounds of attack, at all periods,
has been an alleged mal-administration of the funds of
whatever association Mr. O'CoNDIELL for the time has
been connected with. In olden times, " when
GEORGE the FOURTH was King," it was openly as-
serted that " the Catholic Rent" was entirely applied
to his private purposes, that the National Fund was
pocketed by him with the most undisguised and un-
blushing effrontery. The same story was told of
every other fund, by whatever name it might be des-
signated, that was collected from the Irish people for
political purposes. The winding-up of affairs, the
final auditing of the accounts, the satisfactory
explanation of every expenditure, and its end
and object, that was invariably afforded,
crushed the falsehood at the moment ; but
scarcely had it been suppressed when another of a
similar description, of equal virulence, and equally
unfounded, sprung up, like another head of the
fablel hydra. Within the last few days a like in-
sinuation has been promulgated with respect to the
funds of the Repeal Association. The organ of
" Young Ireland," of the " physical force phalanx,"

has backed and supported the organ of the ultra-
Tories in the hints which it has thrown out with
respect to what it calls the " missing funds" of the
Association. A prompt and ready justification of the
Learned Gentleman was at hand. Even at the
moment that the poison was wafted on the wings of
the press throughout the length and breadth of the
land, the antidote was in readiness. The accounts were
made up, the books posted, the vouchers, not only for
the present year, but from the time of the very foun-
dation of the society, for the most trifling and in-
significant sums, were retained, and were open to the
inspection of any member who wished to see them,
The accounts, as the Learned Gentleman stated, might
challenge a comparison with those of any mercantile
house in the city, nay, with those of the Bank of
Ireland itself. Every item, even to the amount of
three halfpence, had its corresponding voucher,
amounting in all to no less a sum than 73,3481.
sterling. All the documents were to be seen posted
in the books, numbered, dated, and easily referred to.
Here is a plain and distinct statement, susceptible of
immediate contradiction if anything erroneous has
been asserted. Surely "Young Ireland"has the means
of testing its accuracy in the most satisfactory manner
if any part of it can be cavilled at or impeached. They
have clearly proved that they do not want the will to
injure the man to whose extraordinary sagacity, sound
judgment, and indomitable perseverance they owe the
liberties, the privileges, they now possess—the man
who had, as the acknowledged head of the party to
which they themselves until within a few short
months belonged, during a period greater than that
ever previously enjoyed by a leader of the people,
been placed in circumstances of the most extraordinary
difficulty, and who achieved a bloodless victory, a
social revolution, a total change in the condition of
the people by moral force alone, and has not in his
hale and vigorous old age to reproach himself as
being the cause of the spilling of one single drop of
blood. If, therefore, the statement remains undis-

puted, it may be 'ascribed to the want of ability to
controvert it.

The Learned Gentleman also refuted another dale
petty and vexatious attacks that was made upon him.
It was a matter insignificant enough in itself, and
one would think scarcely of sufficient importance to
form the foundation of a weighty accusation ; but
anything appears to be considered fair in the
guerilla warfare that has been carried on against
him. The gravamen of the charge was, that on a
former occasion, some twelve months since, Mr.
O'CONNELL had been invited to a dinner by " the
Reform Club" of Dublin, of which be is a member,
and that he then refused to attend unless " the repeal
of the Union" was given as a toast ex cathedra, but
that recently he consented to preside, and gave from
the chair the toast of " Prosperity to Ireland," with
out in any degree alluding to the repeal of the Union,
from which, they asserted, it clearly followed that he
had abandoned the policy to which he had pledged
himself in the most solemn manner. Now, we
are no advocates for the repeal of the Union ; we
are honestly and conscientiously opposed to any
proceeding by which the integrity of the empire—
the national strength—might be impaired or dimi-
nished; but we give full credit to the honesty and
sincerity of those entertaining different opinions, and
who do not dread the dangers which we fear
would result if the project was carried into
execution ; and we should deeply regret
to see anything which could take away from
the respect we entertain for Mr. O'CONNELL, and
which his great and important services to the cause
of freedom entitle him to. He himself fully explains
the causes of the refusal on the first, and the omission
on the last occasion : the first was a dinner proposed
to be given to himself, a tribute of honour to his
political character. He refused to accept that honour
unless the toast of "Repeal" was given. The pro-
priety of the dearest object of his life was recognised,
as he felt that no entertainment would be a compli-
ment to him if it was not drank. On the second occa-
sion, he attended as an ordinary member of the Club;
he could, of course, make no stipulation as to the
toasts that should be given ; nor could he, with pro-
priety, as chairman, give a toast likely to occasion
differences in the convivial party over which he was
invited to preside. We congratutate Mr. O'CONNELL
on his triumphant refutation of these, the latest
calumnies by which he has been assailed.

The Nuremberg Correspondent of the 30th ult.
says there is reason to believe that the French
Government was not kept in entire ignorance of the
intentions of the Northern Powers respecting Cracow,
and quotes the following from the Mannheim Jour-
nal :-

" If the incorporation of Cracow did n•ot take place
with the consent of the French Ministry, it was at
least, if we are correctly informed, apprised of it before-
hand, and the Russian Cabinet undertook to convince
the French Government of the necessity and propriety
of the measure. This appears to have been perfectly
successful, for Louis Philippe and M. Guizot have made
reservations and objections merely for the purpose of
sheltering the Government from the attacks of the Op-
position. Russia is said to have given the French Go-
vernment to understand upon the conduct of France
in this affair would depend that of the three Powers re-
specting the Spanish marriage."

A letter from Cracow of the 23d ult., says—
" Five Polish women have been just arrested. In
Galicia the peasantry are more closely watched than
ever. An ordonnance from the Austrian Govern-
ment forbids every peasant to leave his dwelling after
sunset, to hold any communication with his neigh-
bours, or to attend any assemblage. The whole
country, in fact, is militarily occupied, like a place in
a state of siege."
A Frankfort journal states that great financial
difficulties exist in Electoral Hesse and the Duchy
of Brunswick. In the former the Ministry has
exceeded the budget voted for the army, and the
States have refused to allow the excess. In Bruns-
wick there is a deficit of 230,000 crowns in the
budget of 1845. There is said also to be great
want of money in Wurtemberg, and that a loan is
impracticable.
A letter from Berlin, of the 28th ult., in the
Cologne Gazette, says—"lt is confidently stated that
the Provincial States will be soon convoked. A sort
of fundamental law, it is said, has received the assent
of the agnates of the Royal Family. According to
this law, the Provincial States are to be convoked
every three years, like the States-General. The
budget and all important organic laws are to be sub-
mitted to them, but they will only have a right to
give advice. It is beyond a doubt that this constitu-
tion will be considered as a gift from the Throne, and
that it will not be permissible to discuss it, or to
examine if it ought to be accepted."
The Universal German Gazette gives the following
as the composition of the present Russian Ministry :
Minister of the Imperial Household, General Prince
Volchonski ; Foreign Affairs, Count de Nesselrode ;
War, General Prince Tschernitscheff; Marine, Ad-
miral
Prince Mentschoff ; Interior, M. Perowski ;
Public Instruction, Count Uwaroff; Finance, M.
Wrontschenko ; Imperial Domains, General Count
de Kiselew ; Justice, Count Paniz.

The statements published in the Russian papers of
the defeat of SCRAMYL are contradicted by letters
which have been received from Talk
is and Trebi-
sond. In fact it impossible to place the smallest
reliance on anything which appears in the official
journals of St. Petersburgh. These letters state that
the cholera, after ravaging Bagdad, was progressing
towards the north.

Madrid papers of the and 29th ult. have
arrived.

The Gazette of the 29th contains the following
letter from Don EN RIQUE to the QUEEN, dated
Brussels, Nov. 19:

"Madam,--Desiring on the one hand that my conduct
may cease to appear obscure, and on the other to give to
your Majesty on the day of your fete a testimony of
respect and attachment, of patriotism and profound de-
votedness to the constitutional will of your Majesty, and
the decisions of the legitimate representatives of the
nation, I have resolved of my spontaneous will, free from
all influence, and yielding only to the impulse of my
conscience, to annul solemnly my protest signed at
Ghent on the 9th September last, so that it may at no
time have force, or produce the least effect. Deign,
Madam, to receive with favour the expression of my
sentiments of devotedness, and the respectful homage of
the attachment and fidelity of your affectionate and sub-
missive cousin, who kisses the feet of your royal Majesty."
The Progressistas will return about forty Deputies
to the Cortes, and the Absolutists six or eight. There
will be an increase in the number of the Deputies be-
longing to the Moderado Opposition, but, notwith-
standing all this, the Ministerial majority in the new
Cortes will, according to El Tiempo, be immense.

MADRID BoLsA, Nov. 28.—The Thrae per Cents.
closed at 34 9-16ths ; the Four per Cents. at 21 ; the
Five per Cents, at 21i ; and Coupons not Capitalized,
at 19i.
The 29th being Sunday the Bolsa was closed.

idcba t oinus
frriPrt
eroTth
ror. m s a r e
We have received the —Paris papers of Friday and
Saturday.
The French protest against the annexation of
Cracow to Austria was dispatched to Vienna on
Thursday. The Presse publishes the following as
the substance of it :
h_afdert protestiloymfu wwo feit
lthat
Caabrtroeeaf
col.
iotfl i I
dwto IFryadrs
dispatchede
informed,
snecnh
tt Cabinetooffß etor
Palmerston,
Berlin
hnii
seaaindnngnodaaacsi
Su:).
document
yesterday,
and secrttnhheetret
tdehari
willanys _t-,
more explicit than those used by the
English Government. The question of necessity will
be found discussed in it by M. Guizot, without
neglecting that of right, on which the Minister princi-
pally insists. The incorporation was not necessary for the
tranquillity and security
this, it is a manifest violation
of the possessions of the three
Courts; and putting aside
of the treaty of Vienna. Such are said to be the two
points insisted upon by M. Guizot. We may add that
the Government has considered, as we do, that this act
of the three Courts gives henceforth to France a com-
plete freedom of action
occasion arise, it mays turn greatly to her advantage.
This is stated in the clearest terms in the following and
most important passage of the protest :--‘ The Cabinets
of Vienna, Berlin, and St. Petersburgh, having ceased to
hold themselves bound by the treaty of 1815, as is the
manifest result of the incorporation of Cracow with the
states of Austria. France from that moment considered
herself released from the obligations of the same treaty;
and should any case occur in which her interests should
make her disposed to act as if they were abrogated, she
would not hesitate to do so.' "
The Constitutionnel of Friday
journals, again reiterates its
assertion, notwithstanding the denial of the Minis-
terialthe interruption of the entente cordiale with England,
endeavoured to get up an alliance with the Northern
Courts, and was
that the French Government, after
prepared to sacrifice the cause of
liberty in Europe to the formation of such an alliance.
After speaking of the Montpensier marriage as a
fault, it thus continues : •
" Once that the fault was committed, you turned

t towards the friendship of' the Northern Powers. It is
in vain that you deny this ; to your formal dentesation
we oppose an energetic persevering, and certain atlirma-
Hen. Let us be told, in fact, if a phrase of the Emperor
of Russia, pronounced on hearing of the marriages, has
not been announced as if a piece of political news com-
mented on, and repeated with joy. What has not been
said, in the same sense, of the language used by the
Russian Minister at the official reception of the Duke
and Duchess de Montpensier ? Let the negotiations
entered into with Austria relative to Switzerland be
borne in mind ; let the provincial Ministerial journals be
referred to, proclaiming us they did, under the inspiration
of the Government, that the time for new alliances had ar-
rived; it will then be seen if it is possible to deny the ad-
vances made to the Northern Powers. We direct attention
to these facts, not to add to the embarrassment of the
Ministry, but because we are forced to do so. Finally,
in order that this policy may be completely judged of,
let us recal to mind in a few words what an internal
situation has been produced for France, at the very time
that she has been isolated from the rest of Europe. Was
not the Government warned of the risks that our
finances and credit must incur, from public works being
commanded, as they were, without measure, and from
the money market being loaded with such masses of
=hares ? It paid no attention to these warnings. At
present the Northern and Lyons railways are only at
their second calls, and yet a crisis is declared ; capital
is withdrawing ; public credit is shaken ; the companies
are abandoning a great number of railway lines, and by
their withdrawal condemn you. The disasters of the
weather complicates the situation. It is not certainly
your fault if the harvest is bad ; yet not long since you
reckoned the fertility of the country amongst the merits
of your policy. But what is a just cause of complaint
against you is that you paid no attention to the counsels
of foresight and prudence, which were so lavishly given
to you both in the Chambers and by the press. Thus
then, by your own acts, a financial embarrassment is
added to scarcity of food ; and both coincide, in point of
time, with the most serious of political positions—the
isolation of France."
The financial crisis which is evidently at hand in
France, and which seems to have taken the French
Government completely by surprise, is now attracting
the attention of all political parties, and will ere
long, probably, engross it entirely, to the exclusion of
questions of foreign policy.
The following extract from a long article on the
affairs of the Bank, which appears in the National,
represents the monetary affairs of France in a very
gloomy light :
" We, a few days ago, mentioned the great projects of
the Bank, and we had hoped not to have had occasion to
return to the subject. Yesterday, however, the directors,
continuing under the influence of the same panic, enter-
tained the question of raising the rate of discount. A few
days since they debated as to whether they should not
limit their discounts to bills having thirty days to
run, instead of three months, as at present. Plans
abandoned and resumed, fatal agitation, which,
coming from the Bank itself, throw difficulties in
the way of business and lessens credit—this pri-
vileged establishment, whose principal duty is to create
security, produces fear, uncertainty, and distrust. She
ought to have foreseen, more than three months ago,
the effect to be produced in Paris by all the causes which
she was acquainted with in common with every one else.
Is the shortness of crops a new fact? Was it not known
that a certain quantity of specie would be applied to the
purchase of wheat and other grain? Was it not known
what a weight the railroad shares would be on the
market? As for us, we called attention over and over
again to these subjects. All other circumstances which
at present exercise their influence on credit were as well
known then as now. The Bank ought to have taken
measures and been prepared for all contingencies, for
she is in possession of all means, and is richer than
necessary. If she had been sufficiently foreseeing to
render her capital available, she would not now expe-
rience any inconvenience. What does she do now?
Frightened at the increasing diminution of bullion
in her cellars, she wishes to limit her transactions and
reduce the amount in hand of discounted paper.
She ought to prevent, but she creates a crisis.
Whence arises this panic under which she labours?
Have speculations been carried to excess? Is production
beyond measure? Have we had here the counter-shock
of those great crises with which the trade of other
countries is sometimes visited? Have we seen in France
the imprudence of production create those perturbations
which shake the strongest house: and overturn the
rotten? Nothing of the kind. The quantity of specie
in the hands of the Bank is reduced ; it does not exceed
80,000,000 of francs. The quantity has never been so
low ; and as the decrease goes on the Bank gets
frightened, and threatens to make the trading public
victims of a state of things which has been caused solely
by her imprudence, and which is daily increased by her
indecision. She has been more than a week negotiating
a loan of 50,000,000 francs from the Bank of England,
and nothing is done. If there is so much fear it is time
to come to a decision. Nothing is so fatal to credit as
these fluctuations of fear, and, instead of coming quickly
to a conclusion, they shuffle, they discuss upon gold or
upon silver ; the Bank does not see that the most im•
portant and urgent thing is to quiet the mind of the
public and her own. They do not see that when the
Bank has 50,000,000 more in her cellars she will
have no occasion to touch them, and that she will soon
see her stock of specie doubled. Is it by acting with
_timidity that a great establishment is to be conducted ?
Is it expected that little means and digging little gutters
will bring money back to the only reservoir of credit ?
Is this the way in which the directors understand the
importance of an exclusive privilege, and the obligations
it imposes ? Many causes have been mentioned as ac-
counting for the disappearance of specie 4 the amount
rt quired for the purchase of wheat has been greatly
exaggerated, but it has not been said that for several
months French money has been been going to Bavaria, '
Prussia, and Austria, to be employed in support of the
projects of our enemies. Nothing is said about the loan
of 80,000,000 of florins contracted at Vienna with the
house of Rothschild ; nothing has been said of the specie
taken from the bank by M. d'Eichthal for a similar pur-
pose. No notice has been taken of our five franc pieces
converted into bars, to supply the wants of Germany,
which was exhausted. Our confiding and blind country
looks with indifferenbe on the warning givenby the press
in days of quiet ; and like the swallow in the fable, only
believes in danger when it is come."
The prosecution of the three Polish journals has
been virtually abandoned, the Court having deferred
giving judgment sine die. On this subject we find
the following remarks in the Constitutionnel of
Saturday :
" The trial of the three Polish journals is over. The
Court has not delivered judgment, but has contented
itself with deferring it au premier jour (in other words
sine die). The public Minister, in fact, abandoned the
prosecution. This is an act of good sense, upon which
we congratulate the magistracy. We, indeed, always
thought that in this affair it did not play an active part.
It is now quite evident that the magistracy is too clear-
sighted not to perceive that it is too late to punish for a
pretended offence a periodical publication which has ex-
isted for ten years, and every number of which has been
deposited at the office of the Procureur du Roi. If, in the
course of these ten years no prosecution has been insti-
tuted, it certainly must have been because no infraction
of the law was discovered. These journals, written in the
Polish language, and confined solely to giving the news
from Poland and to discussing the acts of the Russian
Government, ought to participate in that exceptional
position which our legislation has made for the Polish
refugees. Was it reasonable, was it just, to subject to
the most impitiable exigencies of the fiscal law exiles
deprived of their fortunes, and to whom France granted
succour ? Would it not be much better to leave to the
Poles, scattered over all Europe, journals in their own
language, forming a common tie between them, as a last
souvenir of the country they have lost ? It is evident
that this prosecution of the three journals at the moment
when the Government was endeavouring to conciliate the
Northern Courts was a purely political measure. It was
wished to make a public reply to some friendly expres-
sions fancied to have been received from the Emperor of
Russia. The events of Cracow have spoiled these petty

tactics, as they have falsified many other calculations,
and, when too late, it has been found that the unlucky.
moment had been chosen for persecuting the journals of

the exiled Poles."

The Russian Presse is, of course, outrageous at
finding that both the Journal des Debats and the
Constitutionnel admit the necessity of an alliance
with England, and differ only as to the means by
which it may be renewed.
The accounts from Algiers are to the 30th ult. A
telegraphic dispatch, received from General DE BAR,
states that eleven French, prisoners who had remained
in the power of AD:tEr ,
KA DER had been liberated
by order of the E
and conducted near to Melila,
I
where they were admirably well received by the
Spanish authorities. They were embarked on the
27th at Djemma-Ghazahouat.
Nothing was known of the movements of Ban-
-3.IAzA. ABD-.EL-KADER was at Ain Zobra.
A letter from Bordeaux of Nov. 30, states that the
Marquis DE VALDESPINA, Colonel Mvizsito, and the
ecclesiastics GONZALES and Jinni, Spanish refugees,
whom the Government had confined in the citadel of
Blaye, have obtained permission to leave it.
The Moniteur publishes a report to the KING, from
the Minister of Commerce, recommending a modi-
fication of the duties on corn in the French West
India Colonies. The report says—
" Our Antilles and the island of Bourbon usually obtain
their corn from France.. This is rather an important
market for our agriculture, and the tariffs have been
applied in such a way as to preserve it by taxing at a
high rate the foreign corn imported into our colonies.
But under existing circumstances, the mother country
having in the first instance secured a supply for herself,
that of the colonies would become difficult if the present
duties were not reduced until a new harvest shall permit
the corn trade to resume the regular course of exports.
I have therefore the honour to submit to the approbation
of your Majesty the draft of an ordonnance substituting,
provisionally, simple duties of control for the taxes es-
tablished on the Antilles and the island of Bourbon upon
wheaten flour, and also upon Indian corn (mais), and
dried vegetables."

This report is followed by a royal ordonnance, fix-
ing the duty on wheaten flour at if. the 400 kilo-

grammes, on dried vegetables 25c. ditto, Indian corn
in grain 50. ditto, in flour 10c.

The decline in the price of wheat and flour in the

Paris corn market has received a check, and prices
are again rising. The Presse accounts for this in the
follo‘ling manner :
" Exaggerated fears first caused all species of corn to
rise beyond their real value, but a sudden change in
public opinion, caused by the circular published by the
Minister of Commerce, produced a panic in a contrary
sense, and then the price of wheat fell suddenly 3f. and
4f. the hectolitre. The panic seized several large
growers, who endeavoured to realise the current
prices, as the circular of the Minister left no
doubt as to France being sufficiently supplied. But
unfortunately this panic was but momentary ; and,
after a few days' reflection, it was discovered that the
Minister's circular was not correct, and the fall in
prices was checked. At Provins, for example, it lasted
but one day, when it was found that buyers came from
the department of the Aube to supply themselves. At
Paris the millers have raised their prices in consequence
of the want of flour in the department of the Marne. At
Marseilles the price of corn has risen, and in Germany
prices have risen at Dantzic and at Mentz."

It betokens on the part of 'the Minister of Com-
merce great carelessness, or something worse, to have
issued an incorrect circular on such a subject.
Coupling this admitted incorrectness of the Ministerial
circular with the rise in price, notwithstanding the
recent large importations of corn into France, it
would appear as if there were some foundation for the
following " Questions to the Ministers," which appear
in the National of Saturday:—
" Is it true that Algeria, in consequence of razzias and
bad government, is at this moment suffering from
famine? Is it true that M. Rothschild has been engaged
to provide for the provisioning of Algeria, and that one
of the conditions imposed on him is, that he shall cause all
his ships to touch at Marseilles before proceeding to the
Algerine coast, the object of this manoeuvre being to deceive
the people of France by fictitious importations of foreign
corn?"
The Patrie has the following :

" Several journals have alluded to a species of conflict
which has arisen in the Mauritius between the Consul
of France, M. Barbet de Jouy, and the English Admiral
Dacres. According to the Cerneen, a journal published
in the island, the following are the circumstances :
On the 15th of August last the French Consul received
from Captain Stanley-and his officers an invitation to a
ball on board the frigate President, bearing the Ad-
miral's flag, but commanded by Captain Stanley. On
the following afternoon two officers of the frigate, in uni-
form, presented themselves at the French Consulate, and
withdrew the invitation, which they informed him had
been sent under the erroneous impression that the Consul
had paid a visit to the Admiral. Surprised and in-
dignant at such a proceeding, M. Barbet de Jouy had
great difficulty in suppressing his feelings. He returned
his ball-ticket to the officers, after having given them
his opinion of the nature of the message which they had
taken upon them to deliver, and reproached them with
having extended the principle of passive obedience be-
yond its natural limits.' Notwithstanding appeals to
the Governor upon this outrage, it does not appear that,
at the date of the last accounts, M. Barbet de Jouy had
received any reparation. The Governor of the island
of Bourbon, on being made acquainted with this incident,
sent the steam-ship Crocodile to the Mauritius, which
came to an anchorage outside the space covered by the
flag, and her boat went into the port to hold a communi-
catian with the Consul, but did not salute either the forts
or the English ships."
The Three per Cents. closed on the Paris Bourse on
Saturday at 82f. 45c. •, the Five per Cents., 1181. 40c. ; the
Orleans Railroad Shares, 1,258 f. 75c. ; Rouen, 8951. ;
Havre, 6551. ; Great Northern, 648 f. 75c. ; Avignon, 8901. ;
Vierzon, 590 f. ; Bordeaux, &571. 50c.; Boulogne, 445 f. ; Basle,
221 f. 25c. ; Dieppe, 355 ; Paris and Strasburg, 4831. 75c.;
Tours and Nantes, 4921. 50c. ; Paris and Lyons, 50Sf. 75c. ;
Lyons and Avignon, 492 f.; Bordeaux and Cette. 475 f. ;
Belgian Two-and-a-Half per Cents. 55%; Spanish Three
per Cents., 37/2 ; Ditto Domestic Debt, 32%; Ditto Pas-
sives, 5%.

BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE

LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, DECEMBER 5.

Direct Bombay and Madras, %—Luxembourg, —Na%.
mur and Liege, 3%—Northern of France Constituted, 10 lA
—Orleans and Vierzon, 123%—Orleans and Bordeaux, 73,
—Paris and Lyons Constituted. 4% —Sambre and Meuse, 4%4

MARKET NEWS.-(THIS DAY

CORN EXCHANGE.-HONDA Y

During last week the arrivals of English wheat, barley,
and oats for our markct coastwise were on a very extensive
scale ; but a large portion of the former article went direct
into the hands cf the millers. Fair average supplies of oats
were received from Scotland ; but the only arrival from Ire-
land was 900 quarters of barley. The imports of Foreign
wheat and flour were only moderate, but those of ba:ley and
oats were unusually large. Taken collectively, the receipts
of grain in the port of London were very great.
Fresh up, the receipts of English wheat, coastwise as well as
by land carriage and sample, were seasonably good, and of fair
average quantity. Notwithstanding the actual quantity of
wheat of home produce on offer was large, the trade with
that article was by no means so heavy as might have been
expected, arising chiefly from many of the larger millers
being rather short of stock. Still, however, the sale must be
considered inactive, at barely, but at nothing quotable
beneath, the currencies obtained on this day se'nnight.
Although several purchases " were effected for the
Irish markets, a clearance had not been effected at
the close of business. Very little Indian Corn
was on show, and as much as 625 per quarter
was paid for a very superior lot of American.
We ware by no means heavily supplied with free Foreign
Wheat. Selected parcels of both red and white moved off
steadily, at fully last week's prices; but all other qualities
were a mere drug, though we cannot call them lower. In
Corn, under lock, we have very few sales to report. In the
currencies no alteration took place. Owing to the immense
influx of Barley, both English and Foreign, the Barley trade
was excessively dull, at a depression in value of quite Is per
quarter. Although we had a large quantity of Oats on show,
the Oat trade was tolerably firm, at full prices. In Beans, a
full average amount of business was doing at late rates The
sale for Peas was steady, at previous quotations. The Flour
trade was dull, yet prices were supported.

CURRENCY PER IMPERIAL MEASURE
Wheat—Essex & Kent, Malt—Chevalier...... 733 to 745
Red, New.... 52s to 628 Oats—Yorkshire and
Ditto,White, New 598 71e Lincolnsh., Feed. 27s 282
Norfolk and Lin- Potatoe 3ls 34.
coin, Red.. •• . 55s 598 Youghal and Cork,
Ditto, White.... • • 565 64s 81ack....... 258 26s
Irish, Red .. • • —8 —s Cork, White ... • . 24s 328
Ditto, White ••• • • • —s —8 Scotch, Feed. •. • • 29s 318
Eye—Old • . . 39s 41s Beans—Tick
New... •• ..
Barley—Grinding ....• 328 36s Pease—Grey . ........ 438 45s
Malting . ........ 378 42s Map1e........... 453 478
Chevalier .... • • 438 448 White........... 53e 58s
Malt—Suffolk and Nor- Boilers ......... 605 64s
folk •..•• . • . • ... 64s 698 Flour—Town-made... 54s 568
Brown ..... 538 56s Suffolk •. • . 44s 488
Kingston and Wars 708 72s Stocktn & Norfolk 448 468
SMITHFIELD.
The following is a statement of the imports of foreign
stock into London during the past week:—
Whence. Heifers. Oxen. Cows. Sheep.

Boulogne . 30

Lambs. Calves,
252

Rotterdam 57 ... 270 .. 1,179 ...

New Deep ... 32 ...

-517 ...

Total 3O 57 ... 309 .At Hull about 180 Oxen have been landed from Rotterdant
.. 2,023 .. 252 40
stoooBls 10
Sheep,
pp,e chiefly
11 headlll
We had on sale about s
and Hamburgh. At Yarmouth 100 head of Beasts and
S
heep, and at Plymouth 20 Heifers have come to band from
France,` and were disposed2oo Beastsofat andfrom 51
from Holland. As is almost invariably the case on the
Monday immediately preceding the great Christmas market,
which will be held on Monday next. The supply of home.
fed Beasts on show this morning was very extensive, though
not of very first-rate quality. Comparatively speaking, the
Beef trade was in a very inactive state, still, however, the
primest Scots were mostly disposed of at last week's prices;
but all other kinds of Beef suffered a decline of quite 2d per
Sibs. The northern droves comprised 2,200 short
horns; while, from the western and midland dis-
tricts we received 1,000 Herefords, Runts, Devons &c. ;
and from other parts of England, 1,200 of various kinds.
The numbers of Sheep being considerably on the increase,
and of very superior quality, the butchers held off, and would
not purchase except on easier terms. The Mutton trade
was, therefore, exceedingly dull, and it was with difficulty
the very primest old Downs realised 5s 2d per 81bs., being 2d
lower than on this day se'nnight. Half-breds and Leicester's,
as well as other breeds, were 4d per 81bs. lower. The supply
of Calves was small ; yet the Veal trade was dull, at barely
:ate rates. In Pigs very little was doing at our quotations.
Per bibs. to sink the offal.
s. d. s. d. •
Inferior Beasts .... 2 6 2 8 Second quality ditto s 4. do, to
42 .
d.
Second quality ditto. 210 8 2 Coarse-woolled ditto 4 4 8
Prime large Oxen.. 3 4 3 8 Southdown Wethe.. 410 5 2
Prime Scots 310 4 4 Ditto:, out of the wool Large coarse Calves 38 4 2 Large Hogs ... •38 4 4
Prime small ditto •• 4 4 4 8 Small Porkers ... • 4 6 4 8
Suckling Calves • .18 0 30 0 Quarter old Pigs —l6 0 19 0
Inferior Sheep .a 8 310 Lambs ...... .0 0 0 0
SUPPLY AT MARKET.
yeasts. I sheep. I Calves. I Pigs.
4,608 27,900 103 250
NIIIVIGATE AND LEADENHALL.
A considerable increase has taken place in the arrivals of
country-killed Meat for these markets during the past week,
while the supplies slaughtered in the metropolis have been
seasonably good. Still, however, the general demand has
ruled very steady, and, in some instances, the primest Beef
and Mutton, owing to the favourable state of the weather,
have realised a trifle more money—the value of all other
kinds of Meat being well supported. Nearly 1,100 carcasses
of foreign Beef, Mutton, and Veal have been disposed of at
fair quotations.