The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-21 00:00:00

shall not be induced to tamper with the
solemn oaths they are required to take—a
precedent of the: most mischievous description
and character—no time should be lost in bringing for-
ward measures sufficiently stringent for its suppres-
sion. As we have already stated, it is not the possi-
bility of any punishment, no matter how great it may
be, but the certainly of its infliction, that is found to
be efficacious for the prevention of crime. In the
case of duelling the severity of the punishment sanc-
tioned by law, in the event of a conviction, has
the practical effect of giving a total im-
punity to the guilty parties. In France
in a similar proceeding, there is a third
party before the Court, and although the pri-
soner may be acquitted of the crime of murder, lie
may yet suffer heavily in a pecuniary point of view
by the amount of damages given against him to the
friends and relations of the deceased party, for the
loss they have sustained by his death. In a recent
case in that country, Mons. BEAUVALLON WaS con-
demned to pay a sum of 20,000 francs to the
relatives of his opponents, although ha was
absolved from the criminal consequences of his act.
The adoption of such a provision, which would only be
a slight extension of the principle of a measure now be-
fore Parliament, viz., the Death by Accident Corn-
pensation Bill, would be highly useful, and do much
to take away from the frequency of such occurrences ;
but nothing can give the practice its death-blow but
an enactment declaring it to be a specific offence, and
providing a severe penalty in every instance, no
matter what may be the result of the hostile meeting.
Should such a course be adopted, and all the parties
to a duel punished on one or two occasions by fine
and imprisonment, the public feelings will no longer
be outraged by a repetition of an offence so grave in
its nature, and by which the laws of GOD and man
are equally outraged and violated.

Accounts from Lausanne of the lath instant state
that the authorities of the canton De Vaud have
interdicted all commercial relations between the in-
habitants of that canton and those of the canton of
Berne, a measure which is considered by many as
contrary to the federal compact.

Letters from Berlin of the 12th announce the re-
signation of M. PLOT TWELL, the Prussian Minister
of Finance. A Ministerial crisis in Prussia is ex
petted.

Madrid papers to the 13th have been received

The Gazette of the 12th publishes two decrees, one
establishing an office, limier the direction of M.
CAYETANO CORTES, in which an exact return is to
be kept of the wealth of the kingdom ; and the other
uniting several of the branches of the public revenue
under one board.

A brother of the Duke of MANZ ARES (MuNoz)
has been appointed Minister to the Republic of
Venezuela. The Herald() has published an article
against the marriage of the QUEEN with a Prince of
Coburg, which it is said has attracted the attention of
Mr. B ULIVEN, who has interfered to prevent such publi-
cations for the future. So much was Mr.BuLwER offended
by the conduct of the Camarilla on the subject of the
marriage question, that having received an invitation
to a ball at the palace, he declined it on the plea of
illness, suffering severely in one of his legs. Her
MAJESTY, however, it appears, was not inclined to
dispense with his company, and sent a message that
one of the royal carriages would be sent to bring him
to the palace. He was thus compelled to exert him-
self, and after arriving in the royal presence found
himself so recovered as to be able to dance with her
MAJESTY.

We have received the Paris papers of Friday and
Saturday.
They are principally occupied by electioneering
matters. It would appear that the opposionists of
Al shades have united against the Ministry, and that
ultra-Republicans and Legitimatists will vote for
aach others' candidates.
The Polish Emigrants also appear disposed to take
part in the electoral war.'
The Courrier Francais of Friday states that
Russia is about to dispatch a secret mission to Pekin,
for the purpose of negotiating a treaty of commerce
with China. M. DEMETRIUS WASSIGEN is to be
the chief of ‘'-
appears," ry
says. LOlhrtiEr..-7....nuitita a consider-
Puelinserchandise from which the Chinese may at
all times draw the supplies they want, and she hopes to ob-
tain from the Celestial Government a treaty of commerce
securing to her the free admission through that part of the
frontier of all Russian merchandise, and moreover the
monopoly of certain articles which the English and Amen-
cans were beginning to import. Such, we are informed, is
the object of the mission of M. Wassigen, and we may safely
assert that the convention about to be entered into will con-
tain some of those secret articles which Russian diplomacy is
so expert in introducing in all the treaties it concludes."
It is said that the Prince DE JOINVILLE'S squadron
will visit Tripoli, Malta, and Naples before its return
to Toulon, and that it is probable it may proceed
to the Levant should Turkey evince, any intention of
attacking Tunis. The Toulonnais states that the
Prince was instructed to leave two of his squadron at
Tunis.

The vintage promises to be the finest since 1811.
The strike among the miners at Anzin still con-
tinued. A strong military force is concentrated at
Valenciennes, to be ready in case of disturbances.
Accounts from Algiers are satisfactory.
The Three per Cents. closed on the Paris Bourse on Satur-
day at 83f. 15c. ; the Five per Cents., 121 E 70c. ; the
Orleans Railroad Shares, 1,2721.50 c. ; Rouen, 982 f. 50c.;
Havre, 690 f.; Great Northern, 708 f. 75c. ; Avignon, 8761.
25c.; Vierzon, 622 f. 50c. ; Bordeaux, 5501.; Boulogne, 460 f.;
Fampoux, 4151.; Paris and Strasburg, 485 f.; Tours and
Nantes, 491 f. 25f.; Paris and Lyons, 510 f.
The following are the quotations for the new lines :
Lyons and Avignon Detinitives, 480 f.; Bordeaux and
Cette ditto, 480 f.
LYONS, JULY 16.—Paris and Orleans, 1,271 f. 25c.; Lyons.
522 f. 50c. ; Great Northern, 720 f.
BuSLNESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE. Jux.r 18.
Boulogne and Amiens, 12% Central of Spain, N,—Dutch Rhenish,
7—East Indian, lA—Jamaica South Midland Junction, 36 —Louvai,
and Jemappe, I%—Luxembourg, 2—Narnur and Liege, 3,Ai —North-
rn of France Constituted, 12% ex d.—Orleans and Bordeaux, 81,4
Over Yssel, dis.—Paris and Lyons Constituted, 5%--Parkand
Rouen, 38 %—Sambre and Meuse, 4.

HE T WENT Y -FOURTH REPORT
FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON RAIL-
WAY BILLS CLASSIFICATION,
The Select Committee appointed for the Classification of
Railway Bills according to the resolutions adopted by the
House, have further considered the several matters re-
ferred to them, and agreed to report as follows:
Your Committee recommend that the Lynn and Ely Rail-
vay (Extension to Spalding) Bill, and the Lynn aiid Ely
Railway (Extension to March) Bill, be referred to Group
No. 69.
Your Committee recommend that the Manchester and Lin-
!oln Union Railway, and Chesterfield and Gainsborough
Canal Bill, be referred to a distinct Committee, Group No. 71.