The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-20 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVRNING, NOVEMBER 20, 1816.

Commerce, not so much, however, for the purpose of
analysing the mercantile incongruities of France, as
to direct the attentim cf the so-called Protectionists
to some of the deductions which must necessarily be
drawn from the facts therein cpntained. -
Among the different objections raised against the
salutary doctrines of free trade, the most incessant
and the most specious was to the effect, that by re-
moving the barriers hitherto raised against the im-
portation of provisions, the markets would be speedily
glutted with foreign produce ; that the interests
of our native growers of corn and fatteners of cattle
would be utterly destroyed ; that, in short, the
farmets of Great Britain would be ruined by this
disproportioned competition of the husbandmen of a
single country against the agriculturists of the rest
of the world combine& We say that this was
about the most specious of the numberless objections
raised against the measures of Sir ROBERT PEEL by
the cavillers of New Bond-street. It was only spe-
cious, however, to those whose ignorance rendered
them. gullible enough to swallow any dismal pro-
phecy, providing it were only advanced with so-
lemnity and uttered with emphasis ; such individuals
as would have brandished their carving-knives among
the ragged regiment of the fanatic Timm, or would,
if that were possible, have rocked the cradle of
JOANNA. SOUTIICOTT to all eternity. Under the
scrutiny of common sense and an unbiassed judg-
ment that most frivolous objection " melted into thin
air," like the reprobate old ghost in the w hite waist
coat, as seen by EBENEZER SCROOGE.
If anything were wanting to demonstrate the
shallowness of this Protectionist argument, the cir-
cular of the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce
would be amply sufficient. From that elaborate
official document it would appear that a harvest of
the most astonishing abundance has been gathered
in the ancient provinces of Poland and
New Russia ; that from Odessa may be readily ex-
ported, 6,000,000 hectolitres of grain ; that a supply
of 1,500,000 hectolitres is derivable, on emergency,
from the sea of Asof ; that 1,800,000 hectolitres
might be drawn immediately from the stores of
Egypt; that 49,280,000 hectolitres of wheat, and
24,640,000 quintals of flour can be exported for Eu-
ropean consumption from the granaries of the
United States. Here, therefore, is that enormous and
accumulated peril which was foretold ! Here is
something infinitely worse than the legendary sword
of DAMOCLES ! Here are prodigious quantities of
foreign grain, and vast bundles of foreign flour ready
to tumble down upon the devoted agriculturists of
England and smother them with the cereal calamities
of free trade ! Surely with these gigantic terrors
hanging about their ears, our tenant-farmers are pre-
paring to appraise their stock and to dispose of their
implements and other appurtenances by auction
Surely our landowners will have to discharge their
estate-agents forthwith ! Surely those tracks of
arable land, which have hitherto nurtured the roots
of rye and barley, will henceforth be prolific of dar-
nels and thistles ! Those would be the only conse-
quences in accordance with the predictions of the
protectionists. But let us ask seriously what are
the effects produced upon our native agriculture by
this pending torrent of foreign produce. Are our
farmers dwindling into a state of irreparable bank-
ruptcy ? Are rents diminishing with a ruinous ra-
pidity ? Are prices falling to such a miserably unre-
munerative point that the cost of seed and cultivation
is not repaid? The contrary of all this is noto-
rious. Rents, instead of sinking, are manifestly
rising; leases are being renewed incessantly at an
amount sometimes double, sometimes treble, that
stipulated in the preceding arrangement. Prices are
sustained to a point which must afford the most satis-
factory profits ; and the tenant-farmers, not merely
upon the estates of the Marquis of LONDON-
DERRY, but elsewhere throughout the island,
are in a more flourishing condition than can
be remembered. Nay, our agriculturists them-
selves show that they are fully aware of their
safety by actually retaining large quantities of grain
from the markets, notwithstanding this threatened
competition from abroad. They are concious of
their superior advantages over the agriculturists of
foreign countries; they are concious that they
themselves are not compelled to support the
expenses of freightage ; that their wheat and cattle
are within the immediate reach of the consumer, in-
• stead of being beyond oceans and mountains. They
are satisfied of their local and scientific superiority
over the corn-growers of distant territories, and that,
- notwithstanding the virtual operation of free trade at
this moment, they are still protected from the danger
of a superabundance of provisions. Experienee will
in time change the protectionists into free-traders.

In the Free-Trade Hall of Manchester on Wed-
nesday last, a great meeting of the Liberal electors,
pecially convened, pledged itself to take all requisite
steps for returning Mr. BRIGHT, M.P., as their repre-
sentative whenever a vacancy should occur, either by
general election, or the resignation of his seat by
Mr. MARK PHILIPS, whose health has, fur some
time past, rendered him desirous of retiring from
public life. Retire when he may, Mr. MARK
PHILIPS will have the satisfaction of reflecting that,
during the long period he has represented Manches-
ter, and which has been one of stirring national in-
terest, that he has discharged the onerous trust im-
posed upon him, and rEpeatedly renewed by the con-
fidence and esteem of his fellow-townsmen, with un-
flinching fidelity, great public spirit, and unassailable
integrity. Few can be aware, none, completely so,
short of actual experience, of the severity of the duties
.Which attach to the membership of so vast a seat of
commerce as Manchester. They admit of scarcely
my relaxation, and the nature of the questions whictij
have of late so prominently occupied the attention'iif
the Legislature, has cqnsiderably enhanced the:,
'abour incidental to the representation i:of the great
commercial and manufacturing cities of the,
empire. It was from a liheral;se_nse of ,the incessants.
-litigue and domestic interruption to which their re-
presei:4!ttivu yveie sutieetadi thati years ago, Livet:'
pool was induced to be at the expense of maintaining
an office in London, with
.secretaries, with the ex-.
press vie* d lightening the Parliamentary duties of
their Members. Our readers know that the constir
tuency of Manchester were very degrous to return
Mr. ConDEN at the next election. The desire was a
most natural one, and equally honourable to them-
selves and the object of their wishes. Theirs was the
city which generated the monster League, whose his.
tory and triumphant peaceful policy are in-
delibly incorporated in the annals of our country,
to be ever the theme of admiration with the present
and future ages ; theirs was the city where thou-
sands thronged around the master mind which cham-
pioned the great cause of free trade with all the
world. Nothing, therefore, could better have evinced
their feelings of gratitude, and laudable aspiration for
public distinction, than that the people of Manchester,
at the first fitting opportunity, should have shown them-
selves ambitious of returning RICHARD COBDEN to St
Stephen's. And it is not improbable that, had the
League up to this time failed, instead of accomplish-
ing its object, RICHARD COBDEN would not have
declined the invitation which the electors of
Manchester made to him; since, as Member
for that celebrated focus of commercial energy, the
greatest public weight would have been imparted to
his powerful crusade against the forces of monopoly.
But the cause, for which RICHARD COBDEN so nobly
fought, needed not the aid of such a demonstration
Its own rectitude, when elucidated by the convincing'
reasonings of the Member for Stockport and his
chosen band, proved amply sufficient to turn the
enemy's flank, and win the victory. We are, there-
fore, glad that Mr. COBDEN, whose health was much
impaired by the struggle in which he was engaged,
and whoSe absence from the House of Commons we
should esteem a national loss, has decided to remain
Member for Stockport, in which public relation his
chances of convalescence are certainly greater than
they would be, were he to he elected for Manchester.
This city has, however, done the next bent thing, and
has manifested, by the adoption of the resolution at
the meeting we have adverted to, its keen apprecia-
tion of the virtues and services of public men. The
resolution was grounded upon their " grateful ac-
knowledgment of the distinguished services of Joust
BRIGHT, Esq., M.P., in the recent struggle for com-
mercial freedom, and the high sense which they
entertain of his talents and public conduct." This
eulogium has been deservedly gained. A committee
was constituted to carry their intentions into effect ;
the list of the committee contained 340 names,
Mr. BRIGHT AMA feel certain of success. Mr. GEORGE

WILSON, who was in the chair, observed, " that
though he had some experience of election and other
committees, never in his life had he met with one
possessing the like strength and influence." Mr.
BRIG FIT made a long speech which was most favour-
ably received. Alluding to popular representation,
the Hon. Member said :

The subject of popular representation is one on
which I have long and deeply reflected. It has appeared
to me that the prosperity of a country does and must
always depend, to a great extent, upon the intelligence,
and purity, and honesty, of its Government. Ido not
agree with some poet who has exclaimed—

'how few of all the ills that men endure,
Are those which kings or laws can cure!'

I believe, if there is corruption, dishonesty, wickedness,
amongst those in high places and those who rule a coun-
try, it is absolutely impossible that the prosperity of
that country can for any long period be preserved. Our
Government is what the constituency of the empire
makes it ; we have something which approaches at any
rate to a popular representation, and I need not tell this
meeting that a popular representation may be an instru-
ment of supreme good to a nation, or it may be an in-
,trument of the foulest and most intolerable tyranny—
an instrument of supreme good if it be wielded by an
honest intelligent people—an instrument of the foulest
tyranny if it be wielded by electors and constituencies
depraved and corrupted."
With the spirit of these observations our senti-
ments are in unison. It should not be forgotten, how-
ever, that, with the representation which we
now enjoy, vast reformatory changes have
been wrought during the last fifteen years.
That it still has its blots and blemishes is unquestion-
able ; the system of registration is one—but this and
others are rather matters of detail than principle, and
such as we think there is a sufficiency of popular
vigour in the House of Commons to secure the im-
provement of. No doubt,
.hereafter, as wealth and
intelligence become more equally and generally
diffused, it will be found desirable to enlarge the

franchise ; but the English are not given to favour a
rapid succession of fundamental changes in the con-
stitution, particularly without a strong apparent
necessity. Moreover, before we set about extending
our own franchises of what kind soever, we should
place the Irish upon an equality with our-
selves in these respects. Let Ireland be,
in the first instance, invested with the like privileges,

Parliamentary and municipal, that are enjoyed by
England and Scotland. We can then judge how the
machine of Government will work with this fre,h
fusion of popularity in the Legislature, and shall be
better enabled to decide both as to the time and the
extent to which it may be safe and expedient to wilen
the base of popular representation.

The decision of the Court of Queen's Bench in the
case of Mrs. SHUTTLEWORTH is, as affecting the
liberty of the subject, one of the most important that
has ever been delivered. Lord DENMAN has declared
the law of lunacy to be this, that if any medical
man, that medical man being the proprietor of a
lunatic asylum, and therefore having a direct in-
terest in the incarceration of any supposed lunatic,
,declares that such supposed lunatic is required to be
put under the care of some one because such sup-
posed lunatic labours under mental delusions, a cer-
tificate from the medical man to that effect, even if

such certificate does not set forth such delusions, is
sufficient to authorise the detention; of such lunatic ;
and that if that certificate is backed by the-certificate
of another medical man, stating the person so incar-
cerated is lunatic, these two certificates are sufficient
to authorise the detention, for an indefinite period,
of such ,t:supposed lunatic. Far be it from us
to dispute the law, as laid down by the Lord
Chief Justice of England. Such is the law,
and so long as it continues to be the law,
it must be obeyed. But then we come back to the
public declaration made by Mr. LUKE JAMES HAN-
SARD, the President of the Society for the Protection
of Alleged Lunatics, at the anniversary meeting of
the society, in the month of June last, which public
declaration was corroborated by Mr. BENJAMIN BOND
CADDELL, M.P., who was present when it was made,
and who testified to the truth of it—that those certi-
ficates of lunacy can be purchased in the market,
from medical men, at the rate of ss. each, and from
these data we conclude that it is perfectly open to
any rascal to get any individual put " out of the
way" at the cost of 103. We will put a case. A
cause is entered for trial on a certain day. There is
one person whose evidence will determine that
cause one way or the other. One of the parties
to that cause, on the evening of the day
before that on which the trial is to come
on, purchases two of these medical certifi-
cates, and on the morning of the trial arrests and
incarcerates the principal witness of his opponent as a
lunatic. What is to prevent it ? The certificate
merely sets forth that the alleged lunatic is labouring
under delusions, without descending into particulars.
The cause may be a trial of right of way, the witness
may be a very old man. How is it possible to declare
that an old man may not be labouring under delusions
and that old man may be perfectly sane ? The cer-
tifier may well declare that he cannot enter into
a minute statement, because, to quote the words of
Lord DENMAN, " it is impossible to suppose that in
all cases whatever, a third party should be able to give
a minute account of the former history of the deranged
person," and if the " skilful person" certifying, declares
that in his opinion the party is " labouring under
mental delusions," that is quite sufficient, without
setting forth those delusions in the certificate.
It is not necessary to set forth delusions, be-
cause, says my Lord DENMAN, " many things
may be considered by some persons as delusions,
to which others would not give the same character.
That would depend on mere difference of opinion."
Such being the state of the law, what is to prevent
Welnearceration of the judge himself? Two bohrha'd
"skilful persons" travel doein in the same train with
*lay- liorik DENMAN, who, going a circuit, is about to
I try treat in which they are interested. They stop'
the train ,at some intermediate station " convenient"
to a madhouse ; they certify that their fellow-
traveller is lab9uring„.under ." certain delusions."
AccordinifiVmy Lord DENMAN'S own showing, it
would be " monstrous' to expect Pat glt the par-
ticulars of:these delusions" sbob/d be set forth in
the certificate, and the juke, is himself incarcerated
Madman, and if, he sues out his hizbeas
corpus, he cannot be discharged,, for in. the case of
Mrs. SnierrLuwoafix the 'Court of Queen's Bench
has decided that such certificate . is sufficient.
Let it not be supposed that such is a
mere extreme case. In the case of a judge, parties,
• most probably, would not proceed to such extremities,
although in the case of an important witness they, no
doubt, would, and, if the law continues in its present
state, will. There is this great fallacy running
through the whole of the judgment of Lord DEN-
MAN. He assumes that the "skilful persons" are
also " honest persons." Now let us look to facts.
Mr. FLETCHER, the will-forger, was one of Lord
DENMAN'S " skilful persons." Would not Mr.
FLETCHER, for a consideration, have certified that
any person, one, for instance, who thought him dis-
honest, was labouring under mental delusions ? Is
it stretching the truth to imagine that, among the
whole host of physicians, surgeons, and apothecaries,
Mr. FLETCHER might have found his double ? If so,
those two might have incarcerated any sane person
they chose, without any hope of release. IA
is true, my Lord DENMAN says that these
certificates are not final, that the object
of all of them is only to put matters in a train of in-
quiry. The inquiry to which his Lordship alludes,
is the inquiry instituted by the visitors of lunatic
asylums, but that inquiry is, to use his Lordship's
own words on another occasion, "a mockery, a delusion,
and a snare." To show the nature of this inquiry, we
refer to an article copied from the Lancet, which will
be found in another column, and which is entitled,
" Experience in a Private Lunatic Asylum," and
there we find that the visitors " came into the ward,
accompanied by the house-surgeon and two keepers
that they passed through the ward, in which were
twelve patients, Ns ithout speaking a word, or making
an attempt to ascertain whether any of the patients
were in a fit state to have their liberty." It stands
to reason that such must always be the case.
Considering the immense number of patients in
every lunatic asylum, and the small number of
visitors, it is physically impossible that if the
visitors in the country districts, and Commis-
sioners of Lunacy in the metropolitan dis-
tricts, were to devote twelve hours a day for 365 days
in the year to the investigation of individual
cases of lunacy within their districts they could pro-
perk investigate one half of the cases in which, ac-
'.cording to Lord DENMAN, it is their duty to put

things in a train of inquiry. The records of our
courts of law give us proof of this. There was the
case of Mrs. CUMMING. The " skilful persons " cer-
tified to her lunacy; Dr. MILLINGEN received and in-
carcerated her. The Commissioners during their
visits never dreamed that she was not insane, s
commission de lunatico was issued against her, and
yet so soon as she consented to make a disposition of
her property in favour of those who had set the
"skilful persons" in motion, the certificate of the
" skilful persons " was thrown to the winds. Dr.
MILLINGEN was content to accept the guarantee of
Master BAuLow, and Mrs. CUNNING, who,7according
to the " skilful persons" was labouring under delusions
was at once set at liberty. How comes it that the
visitors did not discover the error into which the
" skilful persons " had fallen ? How was it that Dr.
MILLINGEN, one of the " skilful persons " in Mrs.
SUUTTLEVFORTII'S case, became so suddenly enlight-
ened ? Again, there was the case of Mr. CAMPBELL•
For fourteen years he was incarcerated as a lunatic
upon the certificate of two " skilful persons." At

the end of that time he comes into the possession of
property, and a commission de lunatic() inquirendo is
rendered necessary. It is positively an unopposed
commission. Mr. CAMPBELL appears before the jury
as a matter of course, and on the mere examination
of the supposed lunatic so convinced are the jury of
the error of the two " skilful persons " that they de-
clare Mr. CAMPBELL sane and fit to be trusted with
the management of his own affairs, and he has now

been a free agent for two years, and yet no " skilful
persons" have been found willing to run the risk of
again testifying to his insanity. Then, again,
there is the case of Mr. PATERNOSTER. He

was a man of courage and firmness, he battled
the watch with the " skilful persons," and
beat them. He afterwards entered as a student of
the Middle Temple, was called to the bar, and is at
this moment a member of Lord DENMAN'S own pro-
fession. We merely adduce these facts to show the

necessity of an alteration in the law of lunacy. We
accept the law as it at present stands from the mouth
of Lord DENMAN, but we contend that the law re•
quires alteration—that the principle of that alteration

should be that no one should be incarcerated as a
lunatic without the institution of some public pre-
liminary inquiry ; and we suggest that the most
satisfactory public preliminary inquiry that can be
instituted is an inquiry to be instituted by the
coroner and his jury, and that the warrant of the
coroner should be the only document which should
authorise the detention in an asylum of any alleged
lunatic.

It has already been announced that the Pontifical
Government had appointed several Commissions,
charged with preparing important projects of reform.
In maintaining the Commission already appointed by
his predecessor, GREGORY XVI., for the amelio-
ration of the penal and criminal codes, the POPE
has added M. Alberghini, Auditor of Rota ;
M. Bertoli, Advocate-General of Taxes ; M. Cigog-
nani, Consistorial Advocate ; the Advocates Silvani,
of Bologna; M. Pagani, of Imola ; M. Guiliani, of
Malrata ; M. Leoncilli of Spoleta ; M. Dionsi, Public
Defender ; M. Pagnoncelli, Substitute of the Cham-
ber, and M. Borghi, Doctor of Laws. The Com-
mission instituted ad referendem to propose
ameliorations in provincial and communal govern-
ment, is composed of M. M. Quaglia, Auditor of
Rota; Savelli, Clerk of the Chamber; Mertel, Lieute-
nant of Tribunal; Pellegrini, Assessor of Tribunal;
the Marquis Potengiani, President of the Chamber of
Commerce ; Count Carleschi, Member of the Congre-
gation of Revision ; Aldrobandini, Odescalchi, and
Torlonia. Nearly all the persons in these Commis-
sions belong to the moderate party, and occupy by
their well-known talents a distinguished place in
public estimation. One of them, M. Silvani, formed
part of the provisional Government of Bologna in 1831.

Madrid papers of the 12th have been received, but
those of the 13th have not yet arrived. They contain
very little news. It appears, however, that the
Spanish papers have hit upon a most amusing way
of revenging themselves on Count BRESSON
for his demand of the interference of the
Spanish Court against the Tiempo. The Clamor
Publico publishes an address from several loyal
Spaniards to the QUEER, beseeching her MAJESTY
to demand satisfaction from the French Government
for the many attaAs which have been made upon her
in the Charivari and other French journals

A letter from Barcelona states that M. GAMINDES,
formerly aide-de-camp to General PRIM, and several
other Progressists of note, with a Carlist Colonel,
named AMAT, have taken advantage of the amnesty,
and returned to Spain. From Berga, it is stated,
that JUAN TRISTANY, brother of the celebrated chief
MOSEN BENITO TRISTAN; has also availed himself of
the amnesty.

The Progressistas were very active preparing for
the approaching elections.
The British ship-of-war Vanguard arrived on the
7th from Malaga at Carthagena, where an English
corvette and a war-steamer had been lying for some
time. A few hours afterwards the Virago came in
from Gibraltar, and, the captain having had an in-
terview with the commander of the Vanguard, left
for Malaga.

MADRID BOLSA, Nov. 12.—The Three per Cents.
were done at 331 ; the Four per Cents. at 211 ; the
Five per Cents. at 211 ; the Coupons at 20 ; the
Vales at Bi. ; and the Debt without Interest at 6t.

We have received the Paris papers of Wednesday,
from which it appears that M. GUIZOT bids high to
secure the approbation of the northern Powers for the
Mentpensier marriage. Poland is the price which
M. GuizoT is prepared to pay for their support of his
policy. Already has he joined the spoliators of
Poland in their crusade against the Polish language,
and has suppressed three journals which have appeared
in that language in Paris regularly for some years
past. The Constitutionnel thus remarks upon this
miserable piece of tyranny, as petty and pitiful as it
is odious :

" A puerile and odious persecution has just been
directed against some journals of Paris, which are
written in the Polish language. The responsible editors
of the Polish prints, entitled Le Trois Mai, Le Nation
Polonaise, and Le Democrate Polonaise, were on Monday
summoned to appear on Friday before the Tribunal
of Correctional Police, to answer for the non-accom-
'plishment of the formalities imposed on political
publications—that is, for not having lodged with
the Treasury a caution-money of fifty thousand
francs. It is evident that the object aimed
at is the suppression of the three journals.
One would imagine, on hearing of this summons, that
the journals in question had only just been started, and
that their existence has for the first time come to the
knowledge of the police. But these are the facts. The
Trois Mai, a journal not appearing periodically, but
three or four times a month, has existed for six or seven
years, and replaced another journal called the Chronique,
which commenced in 1834, with the perfect knowledge
of the police and of the law authorities. The Nation
Polonaise has been published these six years, and ap-
pears once a week. Finally, the Democruee Polonaise,
feunded in 1837, has never interrupted the course of its
publication since that time. The Government was fully
aware not only of the existence of this journal, but also
of that of the society of which it is the organ; it knew
that, being
devoted exclusively to Polish affairs, and
studies on the social state of Poland, it has never madean
excursion on the ground of the domestic policy of France.
The other journals summoned have confined themselves
within the same limits; so that, by a constant tolerance
of all Ministries, paragraph 4 of Art. 3 of the Act of
July, 1828, exempting from caution-money journals not
written in French, and avoiding political matters, has
been applied to them. How comes it to pass that, after
twelve years of a tolerance of which no one in France
ever complained, the Ministry sends the editors of these
publications before the Correctional Police? Why de-
mand 50,000 f. caution-money, which the Government
knows well these poor refugees cannot pay? Have these
prints passed the limits within which they were origi-
nally started? Certainly not. The only question refers
to the pecuniary conditions of publicity. 'this persecu-
tion, therefore, has no plausible pretext. It is evidently
to please the journals which oppress Poland that these
journals, written in their language, this common bond
(if exile, this last image of their absent country, have
been taken away from the remnant of a generous and
proscribed nation. By suppressing here this vestige of
Polish nationality, our Government endeavours to give a
first pledge of entente cordiale to the absolutist powers.
It will be seen that, sooner or later, the Poles will pay
for the Spanish marriage!"
The National goes at great length into the subject,
and in the following article gives expression to the
honest indignation which all honourable and high-
minded men of every nation, of every shade of poli-
tical opinion,
must feel against those who without the
excuse which the Northern Powers: have for their
conduct, aid, assist, and abet them ini extinguishing
the last remains of Polish nationalit3 r, and in cold
blood, with malice aforethought, for th eir own mere
private and pecuniary advantage, becce lie accessories

before the fact to the murder of a nation. The .Na-
tional says

" The three Northern Powers have decreed the de.
itruction of the independent republic of Cracow, and
this is announced as a fact accomplished. Well, then I
what is accomplished is a most flagrant violation of
'ormal treaty—it is a violation of a most solemn promise
renewed in the month of March last, and repeated pnb
!icly by M. Guizot in the Chamber of Peers. The treaty
which we are obliged to invoke at present, is that of
1815. France and England are parties to it, together
with Russia, Austria, and Prussia. Now, the 7th article
of that treaty guarantees ir. the most express manner tlu-
.ndepencience of the republic of Cracow. Where, then,
are the subsequent conventions which rescinded that en-
ttagement contracted by the five powers ? Have Russia,
Austria, and Prussia a right to dispose according to their
pleasure of the fate of a city placed under the protec-
tion of the five Powers who signed the treaty ? To
read the Augsburg Gazette it would appear that England
and France are not concerned in this affair. But let
1.16 inquire what occurred at the period of the late insur-
rection ? At the moment when the troops of the three
Powers invaded Cracow, a report was raised that it was
intended to destroy that republic, and to incorporate ii
with Austria. Public opinion was strongly excited, and
M. Villemain, in the Chamber of Peers, having referred
to the existing treaties, M. Guizot replied—' The re-
servations made by those treaties, the guarantees which
are inscribed in their articles, the honourable M. Ville-
main may be well assured have never been forgotten or
abandoned, either at present or fifteen years since. All
the reservations, protests, or precautions which legiti-
matelybelong to the King's Government have been made
at different epochs, and have not been, nor will be, for
gotten—(Applause)—the only thing that the lion. M.
Montalembert demanded has been effected.' The fol-
lowing day he was still more explicit As to the re-
public of Cracow, we have maintained our reservations,
and our protests which we made ten years since, we
have renewed, and strengthed them. M. Vil-
lemain may be assured that the rights stipu-
latee for by us in the year 1815 will not be either
forgotten or abandoned by us. As I have already stated
so much, I will Low. state further, that I have already
received the assurance that those rights shall not be for-
gotten or abandoned by any party.' This occurred on
the 20th of March, and those rights which were not to
be forgotten by any party, according to the solemn as-
surance given by M. Guizot, are now trampled under
foot. Is there any doubt as to the text of the treaty?
We do not wish to fatigue our readers with citations,
but we wish to enable them to judge the question.
Read merely the two following articles of the treaty of
Vienna:—

" ' Article 6. The city of Cracow, with its territory,
is declared in perpetuity a free, independent, and strictly
neutral city, under the protection of Russia, Prussia, and
Austria.'

" Article 9. The Courts of Russia, Austria, and ,
Prussia engage to respect, and to cause to be respected
for ever, the neutrality of the free city of Cracow and of
its entire territory. No armed force can ever be intro-
duced into it, under any pretence whatsoever.'
" In the presence of such precise language, do you
not admire the audacity of the Augsburg Gazette, which
represents this independence of the free city as a trial
made by the three Northern Courts ? They had deigned
to allow a shadow of Polish nationality to remain in a
corner ! A shadow was too much. It became neces-
sary to annihilate that shadow I And this feat is exe-
cuted under the eyes of the other Powers of Europe,
sunk in their materialism, under the eyes of France,
which assists, like a body possessing neither muscles,
brains, nor blood, at this last act of despotic violence.
Well I be it so ; let us confess that we are exhausted
and about to die ; the voice of nations has no longer
any echo ; French society is become a species of herd
which feeds and fattens. Is that what you wished,
noble citizens, overfed monopolizers, sovereigns for the
moment ! But you have still the pretension to pos-
sess a machine of a Government ; you speak still of
laws, treaties, regular relations, but you possess no
life. What signify laws, if they are to be out-
raged ? What the utility of treaties, if they are to
be torn to shreds when they interfere with our pro •
jects ? What becomes of international law, if stipu-
lations guaranteed by five Powers are to be violated
by three ? Is it brute force that you proclaim ? Say so,
and proclaim it loudly ; we will repeat it in a still louder
tone, and until the nations hear us ! But if conven-
tions or treaties have any meaning or possess any value,
ihy are they abandoned to the caprice of Government ?
M. Guizot pretends that he had received the assurance
that the rights of the free city of Cracow should be
respected by all parties. He said so publicly at the tri-
bune. His language was therefore false, or, if he was
sincere, an act ot unworthy violence was being prepared
under the mask of the most contemptuous mockery.
Every one knows that the opinion of the Chambers is
not doubtful on that question ; and it is still better
known with what unanimous emotion all France protects
with her most profound sympathy the sacred cause of
Poland. They have mocked the Chambers and railed at
France in her chains. But this Government—in fine, this
Government, on whom the Northern Powers smile since
England has become cold—this Government, which re-
ceived assurances,and which renewed and strengthened her
protests—this Government, which, pressed by the irre-
sistible force of public opinion, announced a short time since
that it would secure for the unfortunate Poles a sure asylum
and a benevolent hospitality—what has this Government
done, and what will it do ? Ah we can guess, for it
is no secret. The Chambers are absent; politics appear
to be smothered ; the alliance with England is broken ;
we must beg from others, and we must beg with bowed
head, and pay the price beforehand. But, do you know
what is passing? At the moment that we learned the
attack of three Powers on the free city of Cracow we
likewise learned that the most incredible persecution was
recommencing in France against the proscribed Poles.
Eight days since a Commissary ot Police entered the
apartment of a refugee Pole connected with a Polish de-
mocratic society, and seized all his papers. They were
transferred to the Prefect of Police, thence to the Mi-
nister for Foreign Affairs, and by him they were handed
to the Austrian Ambassador. Spies are multiplied
round the refugees, who, it is supposed, are naturally
labouring for the resurrection of their country. This
incessant, but concealed, action was not sufficient for
Austria and Russia ; they wished for a public act
which might demonstrate the zeal of M. Guizot. This
act is being executed, and you will see whether
silly persecution could be carried further. During
more than ten years the different fractions of the Polish
emigrants published journals in the Polish language,
which was the sole mcde by which they could communi-
cate. It may easily be conceived that it was a consola-
tion to the wrecks of that noble nation, scattered through
England, Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, and
even Algeria, to meet thus, through the medium of
written ideas. The same faith, the same hopes in their
country, were revived in their national tongue. France,
which permitted them to enjoy her soil and to breathe
her air, did not forbid them the liberty of speech. That
continued more than ten years, and there was equal tole-
ration for all. The partizans of Prince Czartoriski had
their organ in the Third May; the Poles who were occu-
pied with religious questions published the National;
the Democratic Society patronised the Dentocracie Polo-
naise. Those journals, illegible for us ignorant persons,
and assuredly perfectly inoffensive to the peace of the
country, were addressed exclusively to those scattered
members of a numerous emigration, to whom they
spoke of Poland! Whilst Nicholas is endeavouring
to denationalize the duchy of Warsaw—whilst he
forbids the use of the native language—whilst
Austria brutalizes the Galicians, and causes
their nobility to be murdered—the Polish language
was cultivated in this country, and those different jour-
nals, united as to one object, although using different
means, incessantly called to mind the rights of the Polish
nation. Did any one, or even M. Guizot himself, since
his accession to the Ministry, think of interfering with
them? No; but now on a sudden he finds them danger-
ous, and he for the first time recollects that those jour-
nals treat of political questions, and that they had not
deposited any money as security, and three editors are
cited for Friday next before the Court of Correctional
Police! . . . . Such is the energetic reply of M.
Guizot to the destruction of Cracow! Such is his pro-
tection against the violation of the treaty of Vienna!
Oh the noble heart, how easy it is to recognize him!
He lived ten years on the alms of England, and you
know how he gained there! He must now live, if he
can, by the grace of Russia and of Austria! Well, let
us suffer the free city to be absorbed—let us deliver up
what remains of Poland, and let us deprive the unfortu-
nate Polish exiles of the only consolation which they
possess—the liberty of speech. . . . Those journals
might escape the severe Custom-house authorities at
Posen, Tarnow, or Warsaw, let us crush them in their
cradle! Behold now the matrimonial advantages are
beginning to develop themselves in the broad day ! We
were told that it was a great dynastic success; we shall
see more and more that it is a great national advan-
tage!"
On this subjeet men of all parties in France ap-
pear to be united. The Legitimatist Univers is quite
in accordance with the Republican National. Re-
ferring to the annexation of Cracow to Austria, the
Univers says—
" We have often cited the articles of the Treaty of
Vienna, which guaranteed a shadow of independence to
• Poland, and it is now useless to repeat them. This last
violation of the treaty derives additional gravity from
the declaration made by the Minister for Foreign
Affairs, during the last session, who protested, in the
name f France, that the Republic of Cracow should be
respected. We trust that no eventuality will make him
forget that engagement. The important intelligence
given by the Augsburgh Gazette may, perhaps, be re-
garded as a new consequence of the Spanish marriages.
The rupture of the entente cordiale between France and
England might have induced the Northern Powers to
believe that they might now deal with Poland as they
thought proper. England, however, on that question is
as much engaged and interested as we are."
The Univers may rely on it that England will do
her duty in this occasion, and we trust that no even-
• tuality will make the French Minister for Foreign
Affairs forget his engagement, although after the
manner in which M. Guizo-r has found it convenient
to forget his engagement at Eu, we must confess
that we entertain no very sanguine expectations of
his remembering his engagement to the Chambers.
The P resse has an article on the affairs of the Rio
de la Plate, condemnatory of the conduct of Baron
DEFFAUDIS in seeking to thwart Mr. HOOD, conduct
which, it intimates, will not be sanctioned by the
French Government ; and it concludes by declaring
that it will be found that Mr. HOOD'S mission Will not
have failed.
A Cabinet Council was held on Tuesday,
at which
Marshal sonza was present.

According to the Univers ARD-EL-FADER has en-
tered the province of Oran, at the head of 800 cavalry.
The Bey of Turns has announced his intention of
not visiting England, as he had originally intended.
The reason for this alteration in his resolution is
stated to be his objection to be presented to Queen
VICTORIA by the Turkish Ambassador.
The Moniteur announces that the British Cabinet,
having recognised the claims of the owners of the
French brig Charles Auguste, which was run down
on the coast of Sicily, on the morning of the 13th of
July, 1845, by the British steam-vessel Polyphemus
Commander Spark, which claims were supported by
the French Government, have allowed an indemnity
of 57,000 f., to be divided between the sufferers by the
accident.

The liberality of the Duke of BORDEAUX 15 pro-
ducing its effects. He is becoming excessitely
popular in Paris. The Quotidienne says :
" The marriage of the Count de Chambord is assuming
the character of a really popular event. The dames de
la Halle have been warmly impressed with the news of
an event which may mix sweets with the bitterness of
exile. These worthy women, always prompt at good
orks, have felt in their hearts the admirable consecra-
tion of charity which the noble Prince has given to his
marriage. They have wished to offer him a testimony
of that faithful affection they vowed him in his cradle on
the 29th of September, 1820. A letter, in which this
reminiscence is recalled in the most touching accents of
the heart, will show to the descendant of Henry IV.
that the people of Paris never forgot those who re•
member them. To this letter, which is already gone to
its destination, is added a magnificent bouquet, which,
we are assured, will be prce•ously preserved."
That the marriage is considered as a most impor-
tant political event, is proved by the folloving ex-
tract from the France :

" All the provincial and foreign journals and letters
testify the importance attached to the marriage of the
Count de Chambord. It is in vain for the Ministerial
journals to attempt to persuade any of their readers that
politics have nothing to do with this union, so redoubt-
able in the eyes of the ultra-dynasties. The Count de
Chambord is the representative of a principle. An event,
which ensures the perpetuity of this principle incarnate
in the House of Bourbon, has all the characters, all the
proportions of a political act."
The Courrier du Havre announces, on the au-

thority of letters received from the Ile du Prince,
via Bahia, that Rear-Admiral MONTAGNIES DE LA
RoQuE, commanding on the African station, has re-
ceived orders to return to Toulon. The crews of the
vessels on the station are said to be unhealthy.

It is stated that the departure of Captain LA.
VAUD for Otaheite is adjourned on account of it
health.

The Three per Cents. closed at 82f. 20c. ; the Five per
Cents., 117 f. 35c.; the Orleans Railroad Shares, 1,212 f. 50c.;
Rouen, 875 C ; Havre, 670 f.; Great Northern, 627 f. 50c.;
Avignon, 860 f. ; Vierzon, 562 f. 50c. ; Bordeaux, 540 f. •
Basle, 215 f. ; Dieppe, 352 f. 50c.; Paris and Strasburg, 477 i.
50c. ; Tours and Nantes, 485 C ; Paris and Lyons, 496 f. 25c.;
Lyons and Avignon, 485 f. ; Bordeaux and Cette, 475 f. ; Spa-
nish Three per Cents., 38; Spanish Domestic Debt, 32i.
LYONS, Nov. 16.-Paris and Rouen, 885 f. ; Avignon, 860 f. •
Marseilles, 867 f. 50c. ; Vierzon, 566 f. 35c.; Northern, 642 f.
50c.; Paris and Lyons, 501 f. 25c.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
_ LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, NOVEMBER 19.

Boulogne and Amiens, 13% ex d.—Demerara. 31/2—Dutch
Rhenish, 4 %—East Indian, % Italian and Austrian, 2%—
Jamaica South Midland Junction, 1%—Luxembourg,
Namur and Liege, 34—Northern of France Constituted,
9318—Orleans and Bordeaux, 7%—Paris and Lyons Consti-
tuted, 4%—Sambre and Meuse, 434.

INSURRECTION IN PORTUGAL

FALMOUTH, Nov. 19, HALF-FAST 9 A.M.

The smack Marys, Captain M'Lennen, arrived in
this port last night from Lisbon, having left the
Tagus on the 11th inst., at 3 P.m. From informa-
tion procured from Captain M'Lennen, it would ap-
pear that Lisbon was in a state of great confusion and
excitement when she sailed, and fears were generally
entertained that the success of the Queen's troops
was very doubtful, although no news had reached of
any decisive engagement having taken place between
Saldanha and the popular faction. The British
squadron was in a state of instant preparation for re-
ceiving and protecting the Queen and family, if
necessary, and no sailors or marines had landed. The
American frigate which had sailed for Oporto was not
only not allowed to enter, but had been fired upon by.
the batteries and totally dismasted, and had been
towed into a neighbouring port. Whether any loss
had occurred Captain M'Lennen did not learn.
Business was completely at a stand-still when the
Marys left. The Marys has brought no letters
whereby to gain detailed information.—Times.

[The American frigate met with what she deserved.
Her commander, when he sailed from Lisbon, knew
that Oporto was blockaded, and therefore he had no
right to attempt to force a blockade. He must
have gone either as a spy or a mere braggadocio, to
show how completely a Yankee could set all the
laws, customs, and usages of civilized nations at
defiance. If he went as a spy, it is to be re-
gretted that he escaped with so little damage. If he
went as a braggadocio, we cannot but feel rejoiced
at seeing the bully meet with the sound thrashing
which it seemed was administered by the Portuguese
to "Brother Jonathan" in the present instance. It
was "richly deserved, and well laid on."—En. Sun.]

ANOTHER TREMENDOUS TIRE
AT GRAVESEND.-FORTY HOUSES CON-

SUMED-REPORTED LOSS OF LIFE.

Shortly after twelve o'clock last night, or rather this
morning, the town of Gravesend, which has of late years
suffered severely from frequent fires, was, we regret to
say, the scene of another calamity, the greater in magni-
tude, as regards the destruction of property, than any of
the former, consuming no fewer than forty houses, and
numerous other buildings to a very great extent.
Singular to say, its locality is the same as the former
fires. West-street extending along the water side from
near the Town Pier to the Rosherville Gardens, and it
is supposed that at least half of the street, with the
houses on each side is laid in ruins, including several on
the west side of High-street, and those bounding the
courts at the back.

From inquiries made it appears that about half-past
12 o'clock some watermen, who were at the Town Pier-
stairs waiting the arrival of a foreign steamer, observed
a body of smoke hovering over the premises occupied by
Mr. Garretcs, tea-dealer, adjacent to the Pier Hotel, at
the corner of West-street. Not having seen anything
of the kind before—their duty at the stairs being almost
nightly—they suspected all was not right, and deter-
mined to arouse the inmates. Before however they
could accomplish this,the flames burst forth from the back
premises with such violence as to light up the whole
town and the opposite shore, creating a general alarm.
The inmates having been got out in safety, steps were
taken to bring the Corporation engines, which were soon
on the spot, into operation ; but this for a time was im-
practicable, owing to the defective state of the water
mains and the inefficiency of those placed in charge
of them. The result was that the fire, which might have
been confined to the back premises with the aid of one
engine, extended itself to the buildings on each side,
hence the destruction commenced with frightful rapidity,
sweeping every house in that portion of West-street at
the north east corner to the water-side. The Mayor
and most of the Town Council arrived within a
quarter of an hour after the discovery, by which period
at least four houses on the west side ot the street were in
flames from the basement to the roof, and the houses on
the opposite side were igniting. The excitement at this
juncture had increased to a most painful extent, it being
too evident that a vast number of the surrounding build-
ings would fall a sacrifice, if some stringent measures
were not adopted. The engines had been got to work,
but not effectively. The consequence was, that an order
was given for the engines stationed at Dartford and
Northfleet to be sent for, and expresses were
accordingly dispatched. The military at Tilbury
Fort had been previously mustered by the
commanding officer of that fortress, who, with
every promptitude forwarded them to the assis-
tance of the townspeople, and it is but justice to
observe, the men, throughout the trying occasion, ex-
erted themselves in a most energetic manner for the
preservation of property. Their efforts, however, were
of little avail in stopping the career of the conflagration,
for at least four hours the wind, which was blowing a
violent gale, completely baffling their operations, and
increased the magnitude of the fire to a frightful de-
gree. The scene, by four o'clock, was most awful, the
flames had crossed the street, and seven or eight houses
were in flames, beside the whole of the premises from
the Town-pier to considerably below the Talbot Inn,
which was also amongst the number. From the
south side of West street the tire raged upwards in the
direction of the centre of the town, destroying in its
course a great nnmber of low dwelling-houses in
the various courts. These were principally tenanted by
poor fishermen, hawkers, labourers, &c., and the distress
that ensued amongst them in their endeavours to save
their lives and their trifling chattles, was of the most
poignant character. In one court their was no thorough-
fare, except from the approach in West-street, and that
was stopped by the dense body of fire. The greatest
sensation was entertained for the safety of the poor
creatures who tenanted it. The police and soldiers,
however, bravely exposed themselves towards rescuing
them, and which they succeeded in, by dragging them in
at the back windows of the adjacent houses. From their
excited state, and the dense suffocating character of the
smoke, it is impossible to say whether the whole of them
were saved. On this point there are many doubts, three
parties, up to the period of the account leaving, being
missing. In addition to the Gravesend engines, several
from Chatham and Dartford were brought to play
in the most available positions. The checking of
the fire in the direction It woks extending, towards the