The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-10 00:00:00

"*.
I intim Ant

LONDON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1846.

Miserably ungenerous as the onslaught upon Mexico
has been from its commencement, our sentiments of in-
dignation thereat are exceeded by our contempt for the
incompetency of the assailants. After a preposterous
amount of bluster the American belligerents are
only negatively victorious. A general, who is re-
ported to have thinned the laurel shrubberies in the
Rio Grande in weaving chaplets for his own glory
and brow, fights with AMPUDIA, gets seriously in-
jured, capitulates for the neighbouring fortifications,
and recapitulates his preceding braggadocio, and then
stands shivering behind the battlements of Monterey
mortally fearful of any further advancement. General
TAYLOR has, apparently, as little inclination to ad-
vance upon Saltillo, as Captain WE AZLE had to
emerge from the carrier's van. A Commodore is
dispatched with an ostentatious squadron to Alvarado,
and what with a vast amount of blundering and lub-
herly seamanship, gets beaten back in a manner
dis-
graceful
to himself professionally, and rather indica-
tive of the pusillanimity of his subordinate officers.
Commodore STOCKTON has endeavoured to ob-
tain the chestnuts, but has only burnt his
fingers in the attempt. It is impossible to recur
to the vain-glorious exultation with which
the news of the battle of Monterey was received
throughout the United States without the gorge ris-
ing at such impertinent egotism. The victory proves
after all to have been little better than a defeat. The
town was only surrendered in consequence of an adroit
capitulation. The Americans were severely injured,
and their adversaries would unquestionably have been
the conquerors providing General AMPUDIA had only
evinced a little more determination. Is any proof re-
quired of these statements ?—the returns of killed
and wounded in the engagement are alone amply
sufficient. But beyond this? testimony there is the
extraordinary moderation of the demands made by
General TAYLOR upon the Mexicans, and, above all,
there is the course pursued by this same redoubtable
commander since his occupation of Monterey.
Farazora describes somewhere i 4 his " Telema-

chus" the miseries resulting to an entire people from
the over-caution of their ruler PIGUALION. He en-
larges, with his eloquent wisdom, upon the perils
consequent upon any systematic tardiness, whether in
a political governor or a military or naval leader.
He paints the previous prosperity of Tyre and its
approaching downfal, in consequence of the cowardice
of PIGMALION. The maxims deduced from those
descriptions are as applicable now-a-days as in the
time of ULYSSES. In the over-precaution of General
TAYLOR there is the forshadowing of the discomfiture
of his fellow-countrymen. It affords an opportunity
to his adversaries which nothing but moral blindness
can overlook. It enables the Mexicans to concen-
trate their forces, to accumulate their resources, to
mature their plans. The way is spontaneously
opened to them, the will alone is now requisite.
According to the intelligence just received by the
Royal Mail steamer Tay, every advantage is being
already taken of this inactivity on the part of the
Americans. The Mexican forces are eagerly rally-
ing round their generous compatriot, SANTA ANNA,
who had, on the departure of the latest dispatches,
assembled together a body of men amounting to
20,000. It is presumed that immediately upon the
completion of his arrangements the Liberator of
Mexico will advance upon the lair of the invaders,
and compel them to retreat beyond the frontiers, or
to conquer. By following a directly opposite course
to that adopted by the army of the Unite.' States,
the Mexicans may most effectually realise their own
independence. By earnestly co-operating with their
valorous commander, by advancing their specie as
well as by enlisting themselves, they will alone be
enabled to redeem their own name, to decrease the
avarice of their neighbours, to establish permanently
the integrity of their dominions. A noble oppor-
tunity now presents itself to the Mexicans, by avail-
ing themselves of which they may arouse the na-
tional character from its protracted torpor. By the
invasion of the Americans, the population of Mexico
may be goaded on to a consciousness of its own
gigantic capacities.
As we had conjectured on its arrival, the last
accusation against SANTA ANNA, to the effect that he
had paltered with the laws of international honesty,
by seizing 2,000,000 dollars belonging to the English,
and appropriating them to his own uses, has been
signally disproved. Instead of acting in this un-
generous and injudicious manner, it would appear
that the traduced General was employing every con-
ceivable means for the protection of the conducta to
whose care the amount had been com-
mitted. Instead of grasping the coin after the
fashion of a brigand or a guerilla, he had merely re-
commended the bearers of the treasure to tarry at
San Luis Potosi until some moment of greater
safety for the transit presented itself. It is gratifying
to discern the baseless nature of these imputations
against a man upon whose individual honesty depends
in a great measure the hope of salvation to an entire
people. If SANTA ANNA. were to prove false—which
we cannot anticipate—the Mexicans would have leant
upon a reed, and the reed would have broken.

Sundry meetings have already taken place for pro-
moting the repeal of the malt-tax, and it is indicated
that many more are likely to be held. That advan-
tageous results would flow from the abolition, partial
or entire, of this duty, is not to be doubted. Yet is
it a strange fact, as announced by the Duke of RICH-
MOND and others, that though this question must, for
ultimate success, be unanimously espoused by the
tenant-farmers, they are nevertheless at this moment
not exactly of one opinion upon the subject.

It is anticipated, that by virtue of various cir-

culars, to be issued to their several county committees,
the farmers will, by the 12th January next, be brought

to a full understanding of how beneficially the repeal

of the impost on malt will operate on their behalf.
The last meeting, convened by the Anti-Malt•tax
Association, assembled yesterday in New Bridge-
street, Blackfriars. Mr. B. B. CADDELL, M.P., there

observed, that he thought Sir ROBERT PE EL

had not brought the question of free trade fairly be-
fore Parliament, when he omitted to deal with the
extinction of the malt-tax. In the first place, regard
being had to the dead set made by the Protectionists
against giving the sanction of the Legislature to prin-
ciples of free trade, especially where corn was con-

cerned, is it likely, judging from the virulence with
which they conducted their opposition, that, even if
Sir It. PEEL had embodied in his plan some reduction
of the tax on malt, the agriculturiAs would have
desi.ted from thwarting the late Premier's mas-
terly policy ? All we can say is, they never held

out such a hope to the Minister, and we must fur•
ther observe, that supposing the propriety of first
establishing free trade in corn, or malt, had been
nicely balanced—which could not have been reasonably
entertained by the veriest tyro in political economy—
by the course they pursued, and the shameful
animosity in which they indulged, the landed mono•
polists fairly precluded themselves from the equity or
expediency of any preference being manifested in
their favour. Again, the random talk in which these

territorial gentlemen revel, is painfully pal-
pable. Their argument amounts to this—that,

if, in furtherance of free trade, one tax is to
be removed from the statute-book, all others
should be simultaneously swept off. Then, what is to
become of the revenue, whereby the maintenance of
our national credit is honourably sustained ? Could
Sir IL PEEL, with the remotest chance of success,
have met the Senate, in the early part of this year,
with a proposition for the joint repeal of the duties on
foreign corn and malt, home grown or otherwise ?
It' olnsiderations of revenue had not stood in his way,
why should he not, with equal reason, have at the
same time submitted the entire abolition, or, at any
rate, large reductions in the duties affecting tea, salt,
tobacco, &c.? It is obvious that no enlightened
statesman, or sound financier, such as Sir R. PEEL,
could have been guilty of such insanity. Are, then,
these braggart Protectionists, presuming them to have
some respect for the interests of the public creditor,
prepared to wait till the recent relaxation of many,
and abolition of other duties, shall have been justified
by a rapidly accruing revenue—till the various voids
in the public finances, necessarily created for a time,
shall have been filled up, as, we doubt not, they will—
or, are they ready to consent to an irrmeased
income-tax ? If so, let them at once proclaim it ;
for the whole question lies in this nutshell, and it is
idle to beat about the bush. Equally idle is it, for
Mr. CHEETTIAM, or other self-sufficient orators at
these agricultural associations, to dilate upon the
rapid consumption of calicoes, glass, and other ar7
tides, that has attended the relaxation of the duties
which formerly attached to them. Tout ca va sans
dire. We always predicted such would be the case.
There is scarcely any taxable commodity, but
what, if it were freed from fiscal regulations,
would entail considerable benefits upon the
community. Malt, lilee tea, tobacco, coffee, and
salt, et hoc genus omne, will all be respectively con-
sidered, with respect to the meliorative principles of
unshackled commerce, so soon as the state of the
Treasury will encourage the revision of their several
fiscal impediments. In the meantime it behoves the
representatives of each interest to make out the best
case they can with the Government for the time being.

A very important meeting was held during the past
week of the " Society for Promoting the Improve-
ment of the Law." The chair was filled by Lord
BROUGHAM, who has already distinguished himself
for the great ameliorations he has introduced into our
statute-book, and whose past services, as well as his
great industry and zeal, his talent, ability, and extra-
ordinary acquirements, eminently qualify him for the
prominent place assigned to him amongst legal
reformers. Associated with his Lordship were many
distinguished members of the profession, who brought
their experience and learning to assist in the difficult
task—the cleansing of the Augean stable from the
impurities and imperfections that had accumulated
and sprung up during a succession of ages.
The ¶uestion which had been referred to the com-
mittee was one of peculiar interest at the present
moment. The admirable letters of Mr. STEWART to
members of agricultural societies and others ad-
vocating the necessity of a " free trade in land itself,"
awakened the public attention to the great evils occa-
sioned by the present state of the law, and the diffi-
culties and expenses attendant on a transfer or mort-
gage of real property, not only to the owners of such
estates, who are thereby prevented from enjoying the
full benefits that they would otherwise obtain from
their possessions, but also to capitalists, who are, from

the same causes, debarred from a secure and desirable
mode of investment. One of the chief difficulties in
the way of effecting such transfers cheaply and ex-
peditiously is occasioned by the doubtful character of
the titles, and the necessity of a close and searching in-
vestigation for a period of sixty years into every deal-
ing connected with the lands about to be disposed of,
or charged, which each purchaser or lender requires
to be made on every new dealing, by a conveyancer
nominated by himself, and in whom he has confidence,
although a similar inquiry had, perhaps, a short
time previously been conducted under the auspices of
another gentleman of competent skill and learning.
Anything, therefore, that could obviate the necessity
of those repeated investigations would be most
beneficial to all parties interested, or in any manner
concerned in that description of property. It had
been suggested that by a system of insurance this
great object might partially be attained, and the com-
mittee were therefore requested to consider " whether,
in connexion with a general register, the principle of
insurance of titles might not be introduced."
Their report on this important reference was read
to the meeting. It is an elaborate and able document,
and entitles the committee to the marked thanks of
the Society and of the public generally. It was
stated by Mr. STEWART, in proposing its reception,
that its consideration and preparation had occupied
about three years, and that it was not desired that
the Society should at once adopt it, but only that they
should receive it, and give it their serious and candid
consideration.
The report sets out by stating that " the opinion of
a competent conveyancer as to the safety of a title is
a satisfactory test of its validity; that lands are
purchased and money advanced on the faith of these
opinions, and that it is very rarely indeed that the
title to the lands is afterwards invalidated." It then
takes up the question as to the necessity of a second
investigation extending over the same ground, and
whether up to the time at which such investigation
took place the title might not be insured, the only
risk being, when the title was pronounced a good one,
the fallibility of that opinion. The subject is then
divided into three classes of titles, to which is is con-
ceived the principle of insurance might be extended,
viz.:-Ist, Those titles which now pass current as
good titles both at law and equity; 2d, Titles which,
although considered good holding titles, are technically
unmarketable; and, 3d, Titles subject to some specific
defect, greater or less in extent, according to the
particular circumstances of the case.
In the first class of those titles a very great facility,
and a diminution of the expense of future transfers,
would be attained by the fact that it would be suffi-
cient to take up the examination from the period at
which it was so examined and ascertained by counsel
to be a good title ; and the opinlft of Sir EDWARD
SUGDEN is quoted, who says, ti that the present
expense in regard to titles is, in 49 cases out of 50,
superfluous; but, as every one may be in danger, all
are guarded against it." The risk in such a case
would be very trifling indeed. If we consider the
small proportion of cases in which titles pronounced
to be satisfactory have subsequently been disturbed,
it will readily be conceived that a very moderate pre-
mium would be amply sufficient to remunerate the
parties insuring. Every day, too, as the report states,
" would diminish the risk, until it vanished altogether,
so soon as a good title under the present Statute of
Limitations was gained by the purchaser or mort-
gagee, and all persons claiming under him."
The committee suppose that either the State or a
public company would be willing to undertake this
risk, and suggest that, in the latter case, "it would

be more for the interest of the public to distribute the
business among such of the principal insurance offices
already established as would be willing to under-
take it."

They consider the steps that might be taken in the
event of a company undertaking the risk. The person
wishing to dispose of, or encumber his property,
would have to make out his title to the satisfaction of
the insurer. The abstract of title should be sent to a
conveyancer, selected by the office, in place of one
selected by the purchaser. If that conveyancer ap-
proved of the title, a certificate would be given by
the office that might be dealt with at any time after-
wards, without any further inquiry as to the title
previous to that date. In fact, it would form a new
starting point from which any subsequent deduction
of title might originate. The purchaser would be
spared the expense and delay of investigating the
portion of the title that had been insured.

The expense of the investigation would, in the
first instance, fall on the vendor; but as the
purchaser, and those deriving under him,
would be freed from all expense as to title, and would
have a better and more marketable title, easily avail-
able for future sale or mortgage, it might fairly be
presumed that a larger price could be obtained, which
would more than indemnify the vendor for the in-
ereased cost. It would also be peculiarly advan-
tageous in cases where trustees were either the ven-
dors or purchasers.
The committee consider that the second and third
classes might also be insured at a higher rate of
premium commensurate to the greater risk that
would be incurred. To these classes the principle of
insurance would be highly beneficial. After com-
batting and disposing of several objections that might
possiblfbe taken to the system, the committee state
their opinion, " That the plan for the insurance of
titles to real property is well deserving of serious
consideration, as the suggestion of a principle, and
that it seems capable of being employed either in
connexion with a registry or without it. But
if a registry were established, it would greatly
facilitate it." They think that a well-arranged
system of insurance might make the benefit
of the register immediate, in place of its
being deferred for twenty years, or that, if retrospec-
tive titles be an evil necessarily consequent on the
existing state of English society, it might be alle-
viated by shortening the period of inquiry. They
thick that in order to carry out the plan properly
legislative assistance would be necessary, but that it
wouldnot be withheld under proper restrictions, and
they by
a summary of the great benefits
thereby attained as follows :
tha t
would c on c l u
bd
ee

" Tproposed would set free and bring into the
of property, which might he imme-
diately edepgalrlatenawPtirtiPases°ither for sale or mortgage, and a fund
to provide against loss
forgo
ththaut
thus
her) pe el
adni yp
abreticrualiasreldy.
marketh
a
facilitates the transfer of small freeholds, which, under
Neither should it be for
the present system, are nearly unmarketable if a rigid
investigation of title takes place."
These are advantages that must be obvious to the
meanest capacity, and if they can be realised (and the
high character of the gentlemen by whom the plan
has been recommended give the fairest hopes that it
is practicable), a valuable change will be effected in a
matter of universal interest, in which it is admitted
that extensive reformation is required.

A letter from Bale, of December 5, says—

" The Ambassadors of Russia, Prussia, Austria, and
Bavaria, have transferred their residence from Berne to
Zurich. In announcing this resolution some time back,
they declared it was caused by the state of anarchy into
which the canton of Borne was thrown. The Zurich
journals announce that M. de Bois-le-Comte, the French
Ambassador, is also to fix his residence in that
town. The success which the Conservative party of
Bale has just obtained in the election, leads to the
expectation that the revolution of October will only
end in moderate constitutional reform. The purchases
of arms and ammunition lately made by the Govern-
ment of Lucerne, in consequence of the extraordinary
credit voted by the Grand Council, are estimated at
190,000 f. The elections of the Grand Council at Berne
are nearly terminated, and show a certain change in
public opinion, although the majority is still radical.
Out of 36 nominations, 23 belong to that party. There
was lately a radical congress at Mouthey (Lower
Valais). A manifesto was there drawn up and addressed
as a circular to the several cantons, protesting against
the Catholic alliance of which Valais forms a part."

We find the following in a letter from Berlin of the
3d inst.:—

4, The deputations from Silesia, charged by the manu-
facturers of that province to point out to the King the
serious injury which they will suffer from the incor-
poration of Cracow with the Austrian States have been
most graciously received by his Majesty. It is certain
that our Government will take steps to obtain the main-
tenance of Art. 8 of the convention of Nov.s, 1815, which
stipulates for the preservation of the status quo in all
matters connected with the Castom-house. If those
steps produce the desired result no line of custom-houses
will close the Cracovian territory to the products of the
neighbouring states, and the complaints of the Silesian
manufacturers will thus be redressed."
46 •
Madrid papers of the 2d have arrived.
_ _ _

It is said that serious divisions have taken place in
the Cabinet in consequence of the intrigues of Senor
Mor to secure for himself the Presidency of the

Council. MON is supported by PIDAL and ARMERO,
ISTURTTZ by CANEJA and SANz. Don ENRIQUE, it
is said, is to be married to a Neapolitan Princess,
and to be appointed to a high command in the navy,
as a reward for his treachery.
Baron RENDUFFE, the Portuguese Ambassador,
had his last audience of the QUEEN on the Ist.

The following extract from a Madrid letter gives
some further account of the fire at the War-office :
" It commenced in the archives of the Minister of
War, and, spreading with fearful rapidity, soon de-
stroyed the buildings occupied by those offices, and
communicated to the portion of the edifice now used
for the sittings of the Council of State. The archives
and valuable furniture have been totally destroyed. The
silver inkstands and the cash-box of the Minister of
War were either melted by the flames or have become
the prey of the first persons who entered the place.
The loss of the archives of the War department is a
truly national calamity. The keeper of the archives
left his office as usual between four and five o'clock,
after seeing all the stoves put out with which the place
was warmed. Fortunately all the papers conne,ted
with periods antecedent to the present century heve
been saved, but various documents relating to the per-
sonnel of the army and military and judicial affairs,
have been destroyed. No cause can be assigned for this
calamity."
It was believed that Senor LUJA and Senor MEN'
DIZADAL would be re-elected for Madrid. They are
both Progresistas.
MADRID BOMA, DEC. 2.—The Three p,r Cents.
were done at 3.4 ; the Four per Cents. at 21; the
Five per Cents, at 21; and the Coupons not capitalised
at 20.

We hare received the Paris papers of Tuesday.

The Presse contains a long article, in reply to the
statement of the Augsburgh Gazette," that the Govern-
ment of France and England could not have been

surprised at the measures adopted by the Northern
Powers on the subject of Cracow, as it had been un

fait accompli for several months past, and must have
been perfectly well known to the Foreign Ministers
of London and Paris." The Presse says—
" The Augsburgh Gazette is in error. The occupation
alone of Cracuw was known. France and England made
just objections on that head, and they might have ex-
pected that their representations would not have been
answered by a sudden violation of treaties. If it be
true, as asserted by the German journal, that it was
those representations which induced the three Powers
to adopt a resolution which they fouled would
not receive the assent of their allies, it is a
strange manner of comprehending and carrying on in-
ternational relations, and one which is on a par with
the respect which they showed fot treaties. One fact,
however, appears from this statement, which we ought
carefully to remember, and which is, that the Spanish
marriages and the rupture of the cordial understand-
ing had no reference to the resolution of the three
Courts, since that resolve preceded those events.
To this clever argument, which consists in justifying
the suppression of Cracow on the ground that France
and Eng:and must have expected it, the Augsburgh
Gazette adds another of a similar nature and of equal
value. It enumerates all the changes made in the
constitution of Cracow since 1830, which were so many
violations of the treaty of Vienna. It remarks on the
refusal made to receive a British Consul at Vienna, and
on the notice given by France and England of the in-
contestable right given to them to interfere by the
treaties of Vienna, and their unwillingness to avail them-
selves of that right. Thus a series of petty usurpations
are referred to to justify a definitive and complete spolia-
tion, and the little respect paid to the remonstrance of
the two constitutional Powers is alleged as a justification
of the absence of all consideration for their past and fu-
ture reclamations. Such is this new justification I We
know not what importance is to be attributed to this ar-
ticle of the Augsburgh Gazette, written in a scoffing
style, ill-suited to persons who are endeavouring to jus-
tify an act which may produce very serious conse-
quences. But it is of a piece with every communication,
more or less official, made to the present time in the
name of the three Northern Powers. It crowns them
wonderfully well, and we regret that its length does not
permit us to join it to the other documents which we
have collected on this affair, and which is only the com-
mencement of an end from which we have much to gain."
The Epoque announces in very grandiloquent style
that M. GUIZOT will " fully respond to the exigen-
cies of his situation ;" that " he will be faithful to
that policy of grandeur and conciliation, as well as of
firmness and of dignity, which has hitherto prevailed,
notwithstanding the clamours of ambitious men, and
the deceptions of anarchy," and that his protest will
be found "to respond to our expectations." We

should be more inclined to believe that M. GUIZOT

was in earnest in his protest if he had not made this
flourish about it. "In the name of Prophet—Figs 1"
The Courrier Fraugais says—

" The Czar has already broached the question of com-
pensation for the violation of the treaty of Vienna. A
letter from Warsaw, in the Gazette of Aix-la-Chapelle,
of the 6th inst., apprises us of the measures adopted by
Russia. It appears that, on the 10th of January next,
the line of custom-house existing between Poland and
the Russian empire will be suppressed. Trade will be
free, and the Polish manufacturers will derive vast ad-
vantage from it. At the Russian new year the kingdom
. . .

of Poland, after having lost its constitution by an ukase
of the Emperor Nicholas in 1831, and after having been
since governed by the organic statute, will lapse formally
into a Russian province. All the necessary preparations
are already made."

The DaKits has a long article on the worn-out sub.

jest of the violation of the treaty of Utrecht by the
IlLontpensier marriage, in which it merely repeats
what it has'said any time since last September.
On Monday there was a Council of Ministers at
the Tuileries, which was presided over by the KING.
A letter from Frohsdorff, in the qtotidiennl, says—

" The Archdukes of Austria on the 27th ult. paid
visits to the Duke and Duchess de Bordeaux on the oc-
casion of their marriage. Soon afterwards the Duke and
Duchess went to Vienna.and dined en female with the
Emperor and Empress. The Countess de Marnes
(Duchess de Berry), so tried by misfortune, is at this
moment enjoying all the felicity which Providence has
just granted to the exile. She seems to find in her new
daughter her whom she lately lost, when married to the
Prince de Lucca."

COSTA CABRAL, the ex-Minister of Portugal, is
said to have arrived at Bayonne.
The Moniteztr contains a royal ordonnance, de-
claring, that though, according to the treaty of Com-
merce and Navigation concluded in 1826, between
France and England, which ordains that the products
of Asia, Africa, and America, imported in French
vessels into England, and in English vessels into
France, were to be admitted only in bond for re-
exportation ; yet, under present circumstances, as it
would not be advisable to throw any obstacle in the
way of obtaining additional supplies of corn, the said
treaty is suspended until further orders in what re-
lates to American corn and flour imported from
British ports.
The state of monetary affairs in Paris, still con-
tinues to excite alarm.

The Three per Cents. closed on the Paris Bourse on Tues-
day at 80f. 60c.; the Five per Cents., 118 f. ; the Orleans
Railroad Shares, 1,245 f. ; Rouen, 872 f. 50c.; Havre, 640 f. ;
Great Northern, 637 f. 50c. ; Avignon, 872 f. 50c. ; Vierzon,
581 f. 25c. ; Bordeaux, 557 f. 50c. ; Troyes and Monteresu,
3351: ; Basle, 2201. ; Dieppe, 3521. 50c. ; Paris and Stras-
burg, 478 f. 75c. ; Tours and Nantes, 488 f. 75c.; Paris and
Lyons, 503 f. 75c.; Lyons and Avignon, 4901. • Bordeaux
and Cette, 4751. ; Belgian Two-and-a-Half per dents., 55%;
Spanish Actives, 33%; Ditto Domestic Debt, 32%.
The following are the quotations for other lines :-
MARSEILLES' DEC. 1.-Marselles and Avignon, 8631. 75c.;
Northern, 631 f. 24c. ; Paris and Lyons, 497 f. 50c.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE