The Sun.
London, England, 1833-05-25 00:00:00

in as great a proportion as they had previously fallen
below them.
- - -

" These imposts and their result c +used the Board of
Trade, and other departments of Government, to be as-
sailed with representations from all quarters connected
with the shipping trade of England, ag.iinst the heavy
charges imposed upon British ships in the ports of Prussia.
What was to be done ? We remonstrated with the Prussian
Government, and the answer was such as might have been
expected, 'Of what can you reasonably complain? We
are only imitating the example you set us, and have ex-
tended to our own subjects a system of protection similar
to that which you have so long given to yours.'
" Grieved we might be, but we could not be offended at
the course of policy which Prussia chose to adopt. She
is an independent nation, and discriminating duties are
altogether a question of power. The commerce of Prussia
is as necessary to us as ours is to her. Were we, then, to
declare war, and risk the loss of that commerce, and in
addition, entail upon ourselves those burdens which we
know, by fatal experience, war always brings in its train ?
What then remained to he done ? A treaty was entered
into, mutual imposts were removed, and the rapidly grow-
ing disproportion betwixt British and Prussian vessels
received a controlling check."
It is merely the relaxation we have been corn-
pelled to make, that has been made, and yet
the shipowners call out that they have been
ruined by theorists. How little our ancient
laws in their favour, giving them a monopoly
which no other interest has, no not even the
landed interest, may be judged of by Mr.
Mooßsom's brief view of what remains to
them. He says, truly,
" Ir. conformity with the ancient Navigation Law, Bri-
tish ships enjoy all the coasting trade and the fisheries;
they have exclusively all the North American timber trade,
and all the Wt st India trade for the supply of the mother
country ; all the carrying trade betwixt England and the
East Indies, China, and Australia ; in short, wherever
England can command at both ends, and where, therefore,
bas real power, the British ship-owner enjoys a com-
plete monopoly, a' d meets with no rival. Perhaps in
this manner he has not less than five-sixths of the whole
of our carrying trade, and of the remaining sixth as much
as possible is secured for him by negotiation and other ami-
cable means. lam truly sorry that he cannot have the
whole of this latter portion, but he should remember that
this never was the case. I should rejoice if foreign flags
could be banished from our harbours; but I do not think

it prudent to rush headlong intq war, for the purpose of
adding one-half of one sixth of the carrying trade to that
o 'lion which we alread7 securely and exclusively enjoy;

nd with the certainty, by our attempting to do so; of
ac ttering ruin over a smiling land.'" .

Sound policy dictated the changes which
have been made, but none have been made
going further than necessity obliged us to go.
Mr. MOORSOM follows up his statement of
these notorious facts by showing from official
documents that we have not suffered in conse-
quence of having been compelled to yield to the
just claims of foreign powers, for since the re-
ciprocity treaties have been in force, foreign
shipping entering our ports has either declined
in amount, or not increased in the same propor-
tion as our own. These are plain facts, the in-
ferences to be drawn from which no sophistry
can set aside. Whatever report, therefore, the
shipowners may have interest enough to procure
to be made by the Committee now sitting, they
must bring something beyond vague assertion to
prove either that they have been hurt by the
reciprocity treaties, or that we have not been
compelled to enter into them. Nay, more, they
must tell us why it is that not only they, but the
Americans, go on building ship after ship to en-
gage in a trade they declare to be ruinous. We
must either suppose the shipowners, both
English and American, to be fools, or the over-
cunning supporters of the former, liars. As
the shipowners have at stake capital (which is
worth something), and their hireling writers only
their words (which are worth nothing), we
strongly incline to the opinion that our latter
supposition approaches nearer to the truth than it
would be courteous in us more directly to intimate.

Our attention has been particularly called to
the advantages that would be derived by the in-
habitants of the metropolis, and particularly the
Sirand, were the western dial of St. Mary-le-
Strand illuminated with gas. From the manner
in which the spire of the church has been built,
and from what has been done at the Royal Ex-
change, Glasgow, we are informed that this can
be effected in a manner superior to anything of
the kind in the metropolis, and at a mere trifle
of expense. We recommend this to the atten-
tion of the church wardens and parishioners.

THE FUNDS.-(THIS DAY.)

CITY, T-Ti7ELVE O'CLOCK

Madras Papers to the 10th February, Montreal to the 26th
April, and Quebec to the 24th April, have been received at
the North and South American Coffee-house.
The Madras Papers state, that during the last fortnight
there has been much stir in the opium market, and large
speculative purchases have been made at advanced prices, in
spite of the failure of Messrs. Mackintosh and Co., whose
dealings in this drug were always extensive. Teerut Singh,
ex-rajah of Nunklow, with whom we have been at war ever
since the massacre of Lieut. Beddingfield, has surrendered to
the force under Capt. Lister, on condition that his life should
be spared.
The Quebec papers have the following :—" The North Ame-
rican Land Company letters were yesterday received from a
very credible source, which state that the negotiations of the
Committee with Government have been renewed, with every
prospect of success."

. .
Jamaica papers to the 20th April have been received ; they
are chiefly filled with the elections.

KINGSTON ELECTION.

The election for three Members to serve in the new Parlia-
ment, took place yesterday morning. The poll was opened as
usual, and the contest was carried on with the greatest spirit ;
and we are happy to state that no disturbance took place.

Price Walker 232
John Campbell
Hector Mitchell
Alexander Bravo
Barnaby Madden. 94
The three former were declared elected.
The New York papers state, that Ex-sheriff Parkins is now
confined prisoner in that city, on several suits for slander.