The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-15 00:00:00

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ottuita

LONDON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15_ 1846.

claratory of the existence of the forty-shilling fran- Pall-mall, Lord MAIDSTONE dines there re-
chise in England—read the sixth article of the legis- peatedly, drinks freely at the public tables,
lative union, which covenants that from the first day of and, beyond, has divers repasts and sundry dozens
January, 1801, the subjects of Great Britain and Ire- ' of wine forwarded from Crockford's to a convenient
land shall be entitled to the same privileges, and house in Bolton-street. For all these viands and
showed that the treaty of union did not contain any wines, for his entrance lee (101.), and his yearly sub-
proviso authorising the alteration of this covenant. seription (101.), since 1840, Lord MAIDSTONE had
raving made these. proofs, Mr. Eeets argot d at given no payment. On the decease of Mr. CROCHFORD,
great length that the Imperial Parliament is bound to and the windingup ofhis affairs,his widowand executrix
maintain unaltered (except in cases of extreme neces- proceeds against the defendant for the recovery of
.ity) such covenants in the treaty of union—such 961., said to have been so incurred. The jury, after
covenants being, in point of fact, the stipulated price 1 the investigation of evidence and the hearing of
agreed to be paid by England to Ireland in exchange counsel, return a verdict for the full amount, but, at
for her independent legislature ; and that every Act the suggestion of the Lord Chief Baron, that verdict
of Parliament, passed since the legislative union, is to is modified to the reduced amount of 541. 14s. 6d.
be read as if it contained a proviso that nothing con- Those are the simple particulars of this most
tamed in it should be construed to alter or annul any discreditable affair—the incurtnent of the debt—the
matter finally agreed upon and settled by the articles refusal of the liquidation—the demand—the verdict—
of union. and the penalty.
If this argument be correct—if all past Union Acts We should have allowed these transactions to have
of Parliament should be read with this understood made their own impression upon the public mind,
proviso, no doubt that portion of the Act of the 10th satisfied that that impression would be salutary, but
GEORGE IV., c. 8, which abolished the Irish forty- that a letter has been just published by Lord
shilling franchise in fee, is null and void, and the MAIDSTONE which requires the reprehension of
right to this franchise exists in Ireland precisely as it every honest and conscientious journalist. We
exists at present in England. do not remember to have ever perused a more sorry
The entire question plainly hinges upon the al- exhibition of vanity, of spleen, of levity, and of quib-
leged unalterable nature (except in extreme cases) of bling than this extraordinary document affords. It
those portions of the articles of union for the is filled with coarse vituperations upon the press, upon
alteration of which no provision has been made the attorneys, upon the barristers, upon the jurors,
by the treaty of ueion. This is a question upon the departed Mr. CROCKFORD, upon his widow,
of strict law, which we propose to discuss and upon the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer
hereafter; at present we shall merely attempt to show himself. It is beaded by a frivolous quotation from
what would be the result of the establishment of Mr. the last Irish story of Mr. LEVER, and pithily closes
Euas's propositi,m, reserving the consideration of the with—" the case is BanDELL v.Plcswicx over again!"
law, and also of the fairness and honesty of the cases In his splenetic allusions to the counsel for the plaintiff,
fur a future occasion. he at one moment calls him "a proficient in the Buz-
If these articles of the union be legally unalterable fuz school," and at another asks whether it be probable
—if the united Legislature be bound to maintain " that any one would prefer becoming the target for
them, except in those extreme cases of national neces- Mr. HUMPHREY'S slander any more than he would
sity when all covenants must give way, if required, select Duke HUMPHREY to dine with ?" Lord
to preserve the State ; and iF a decision to this effect MAIDSTONE may delude himself into the idea of
shall be given in this case by the legal tribunals of being a capital witling, but, at any rate, he is a mite-
the country, such a decision will declare her MAJESTY'S rable logician. After the consequences of the dinners
Irish subjects entitled, as a right, to every civil privi- consumed by the Noble Lord in Crockford's and
lege, benefit, and advantage of every kind, to which from Crockford's, we rather fancy that even the
her MAJESTY'S British subjects are entitled ; and will starveling Duke HUMPHREY would be somewhat
set aside, as null and void, every Parliamentary shy of inviting him to dinner. But the gist of
enactment that attempts to take from Irishmen any this marvellous epistle is—what does the reader
civil right or privilege which is not also taken ono imagine ?—why, that the plea of refusing to ply upon
Attu from Englishmen. the ground that the club was a gambling house, was
We shall sincerely rejoice at such a result; it a trick of the lawyers ; and that, after all,
would remove the great cause of Irish agitation, it the sum claimed had been paid already !
would make Ireland truly a part of the British em- What, then, Lord MAIDSTONE suppresses the
pire, sharing with us in all our political advantages truth until the sentence is passed, and in lieu
If the results of such a decision stopped here we thereof traduces the plaintiff and her departed hus-
should rejoice at it, and consider the united empire band by proxy ! A trick of the lawyers, forsooth !
strengthened and consolidated by such results ; but Surely, that is a- graceless way of sneaking out of the
`hey would not stop here. reach of a creditor. Lord MAIDSTONE has made
If our judicial tribunals should decide that those matters worse by the publication of his ill-concocted
and ill-tempered letter He has stepped out of the

Of all commodities, ancient and modern, we believe
the one most rare and difficult to be obtained is the
whole truth upon any Irish subject. Isoleted Irish
facts—that is portions of the whole truth—we have
upon almost every Irish matter ; but a full examina-
tion of any Irish subject, conducted from beginning
to end with exact and unshrinking truth, irrespective
a all consequences, is just as rare now as in the days
of GIRALDUS CAJLBZENSIS.
Whenever, therefore, any investigation of an Irish
question has taken place which has the slightest ap-
pearance of having been conducted in the above
manner—so common in England, so rare in Ireland—
we conceive it to be a paramount duty of the press,
as the great advisers of the nation, to publish the
matter, to discuss it, and to endeavour thereby to
grasp some plank of truth, however slight, which may
possibly assist in extricating that unhappy country
from the ocean of misery which at present threatens
to overwhelm it.

To be thoroughly acquainted with the Act of
Union bet% een Great Britain and Ireland—to be
perfectly aware of all the obligations imposed by that
great international compact, is the paramount duty
of every British senator; for the whole case
of Ireland must be discussed and decided upon
immediately after the assembling of Parliament.
Yet how few of our legislators are instructed upon
this important subject; how few are aware even of
the fact that such things as articles of union between
Great Britain and Ireland actually exist, and are the
terms and conditions upon which the treaty of union
was agreed to, and ratified by the two kingdoms.
A long and elaborate argument on the nature and
proper construction of the treaty of union has been
lately made at the registration court of Clones, in the
county of Monaghan; the argument is reported in
several Irish papers, and, amongst others, in the
Leinster Express of the sth of this month. It is d•-
serving of attentive consideration; for if the argument
does not contain that grand desideratum in Irish
matters,. the whole truth, a careful consideration of the
matters -discussed in it will be extremely likely to
lead a calm and dispassionate reasoner to the disco-
very of the whole truth upon this most important
subject.

articles of union, for the alteration of which no pro-
vision has been made in the treaty of union, are not to
be altered, except in the last resort of national dan-
ger, then the crowns, kingdoms, and parliaments of
Great Britain and Ireland are legally indivisibly;
for the first three articles of the Act of Union declare
that the crowns, kingdoms, and parliaments of Great
Britain and Ireland shall be for ever united, and no
provision for the repeal or alteration of any
portion of the three first articles of union,
at any time, is made in any part of
the treaty of union ; the same decision,
therefore, that would decree the Irish people, by
virtue of the sixth article of union, entitled to every
civil right, privilege, benefit, and advantage, which is
enjoyed by the people of England, would also decree
the union to be indissoluble ; and would thus, by one
memorable judgment, declare the British Parliament
incompetent to repeal the Union, or to enact or re-
tain any law which would make such repeal desirable
to any one except the wildest and most insane en-
thusiasts ; for, beyond doubt or question, the agitation
that has for ages desolated Ireland derives its exist-
ence from injustice inflicted upon that country—it is
the spawn of our own wrong. Put an end to that
wrong, and the agitation caused by it must neces •
sarily cease. Irish agitation holds the same relation-
ship to Irish wrongs that the fabled Hamadryad held to
its native oak—the blow that felled the one dismisse d
its attendant spirit to the winds.

pei ~)pea
frying-pan, and walked incontinently into the fire.

Hitherto we have abstained from commenting
upon the very disgraceful circumstances of the action
brought against Lord MAIDSTONE, in the Court of
Exchequer, on the 2d ultimo, by Mrs. SARAH
FRANCES CROCKFORD. We considered that the re
port of that singular trial, published in our columns,
that the straightforward exposition of the Learned
Counsel for the plaintiff, that the ready and
decisive verdict delivered by the jury, rendered any
observations as to the merits of the transaction
altogether superfluous. The statement of the facts
was the crimination of the defendant. It required no
elucidation to prove that the debt of 961., in the non-
payment of which amount the action had originated,
was voluntarily incurred by Lord .MAIDSTONE ; that
any evasion of such liabilities subjected him to the
penalties of a defaulter, and that the pleas entered by
the legal adviiers of the Noble Lord were
gross aggravations of his original culpability.
Every one must have recognised, without any par-
ticular explanation from the press—without the com-
ments of Mr. HUMPHREY—without even the emphatic
negation uttered by the Lord Chief Baron himself,
that the refusal of Lord MAIDSTONE to liquidate the
sum claimed because " the house in question was a
common gaming-house," was a discourteous, a
flagitious, a shameless, and, we will say so,
1 shuffling prevarication. Every one must
ave recognised this without any adventitious
assistance, because no quibble, however adroit, could
deceive the public judgment in a matter so remark.
ably notorious.
When the celebrated Crockford's Club-house, in
Pall-mall, was first projected, in 1824, it immediately
acquired the character which it maintained till
the recent decease of its founder. That character,
we will admit, was unquestionably not the
most enviable or unimpeachable, but it was a
character which would still have rendered the im-
putation cast by Lord MAIDSTONE upon the dead
principal essentially libellous and actionable. It must
not be forgotten that the members of Crockford's
(numbering between four and Eve hundred individuals)
were men moving in the highest ranks of the nobility,
men who, in many instances, have become remarkable
for their wisdom, and who, in many cases, had ac-
quired for themselves a name of unimpeachable in-
tegrity. They were statesmen, not sharpers : they
were members of our national Legislature, not
swindlers and blacklegs. They were such men as the
Dukes of WELLINGTON, BUCCLEUCH, RUTLAND, and
ARGYLE, Such men as Lords SCARBOROUGH
and STUART DE ROTIISAY, not the villanous
and abandoned persons Lord MAIDSTONE
+,/‘ uld render them by his aspersions upon
the establishment. It is indisputable that the
illegal and odious passion for gambling there found
opportunities for its exercise ; that the lust of play
was ministered to by the deleterious atmosphere of
that society ; that the roulette ball and the dice-box
were not forbidden to the frequenters. It is even
notorious that the magnificent appurtenances of
Crockford's, the lavish splendour of its decorations,
the exquisite piquancy of its repasts, :lid the con-
tinual circulation of its wine-cups, were in a great
measure subordinate to the delights of hazard and of
similar games of chance. Still it could not, in
the common acceptation of the word, be called "shell ;"
it did not come within the limits of what is punishable
by the law; it could m t literally be said to harbour
"certain idle and evil-disposed persons," who con-
gregated therein for the enjoyment of illegal amuse-
ments; it was not, as the Lord Chief Baron of the Ex-
chequer himself maintained on the 3d ultimo, a com-
mon gaming-house under the meaning of the Act."
In this establishment Lord MAIDSTONE is enrolled a

The ease to which we allude is short, simple, and
striking. Mr. ELLis, of the Irish bar, as counsel for
$ person of the name of JACKSON, applied to have his
client placed upon the roll of Parliamentary electors
for the county of Monaghan as a forty-shilling
freeholder in fee, notwithstanding the Act of the 10th
GEORGE IV., c. 8, which abolished the forty-shilling
franchise in fee. In support of his case 111 r. Eras
proved that his client was possessed of land in fee
within the county of the value of forty shillings
yearly—gave in evidence the Acts of Parliament de-

The present deplorable condition of the peasantry
in Ireland arises, first, from the failure of the potato
crop, the total loss of their usual and ordinary de-
scription of food, and, secondly, from the want of
employment and an adequate rate of remuneration
for their labour, so as to enable them to purchase a
sufficiency of food to replace that which has been lost
to them. The principle is now universally admitted,
" that the property of Ireland must be responsible for
the poverty of Ireland ; that every estate must sup-
port its own poor ; and that every man shall be secured
in the means of living by the exercise of his honest
industry." There is no evading the question ; to that
length the Legislature must go. There may be some
difference as to the manner of carrying out the pro-
position, as to the details and manner of bring.
ing it into operation, but none as to its
absolute necessity. No man can be suffered
to perish in a Christian country for lack of
food, of the common necessaries of life. With
pain and deep regret we are compelled to acknow-
ledge that several deaths, fairly imputable to want,
have recently taken place. Every one of these la-
mentable cases appeals trumpet-tongued to our ilm-
pathies, and loudly demands that steps should be
adopted by which the possibility of similar occurrences
should be prevented. The landowners have hitherto
shrunk from the enactment of any law on the subject.
They are terrified at the probable cost of providing
for so large a number. They fear that the entire
produce of their estates would be thereby consumed,
and that they themselves would be reduced to a state
little better than that of the paupers for whom they
would be compelled to provide. We are satisfied that
in a very short time the absurdity and ground-
lessness of these fears would be fully demonstrated,
and that they themselves would, in fact, be the
greatest gainers by the change—that it would add to
the value of their property, and give an increased
security to its possession.
We shall admit that the population of Ireland is
daily increasing, while the quantity of land from
which they must be supported is stationary—the
breadth of the soil, the number of acres, cannot be
extended : means must, therefore, be devised to im-
prove the productiveness of that soil, to secure
profitable employment for the people. They must
be sustained, either in idleness, a burden on the
charity of the country, unproductively consuming
the resources of the kingdom; or they must be use-
fully occupied, by which they will increase the
national wealth. When this necessity is fully
recognised, when it is ascertained that the
responsibility can no longer be evaded,
means will readily be discovered of turn-
ing that vast quantity of labour to beneficial pur-
poses, and it will be found that there is plenty of
room—an ample field for its profitable employment.
We are not singular in this opinion, those most com-
petent to form a sound judgment have repeatedly
made similar statements. The Committee cn Public
Works, in the second report which they published in
1835, combat the idea that the social disease of Ire-
land is occasioned by an excess of population. They
say—

"It may be doubted -whether the country does
contain a sufficient quantity of labour to develop its
resources, and while the empire is loaded with taxa-
tion to defray the charges ,of its wars, it appears

most politic to use its internal resources for the pur-
pose of improving the condition of the population, by

which the revenue of the Exchequer must be in-
creased, rather than encourage emigration, by which
the revenue would suffer a diminution, or than leave
the labouring classes in their present state, by which
poverty, crime, and the changes of Government must
be inevitably ectended."
Ausox, too, in his work on population, proves by
statistical tables, compiled from official returns, that
even if one-half the land in the United Kingdoms
were reserved for the purpose of luxury, and that
the residue were freed from the restrictions by which
it is fettered, and its capabilities fully de-
veloped, that sufficient food could be obtained from
the soil to support six times the amcunt of the pre-
sent population. If these statements be true, there
is little to fear from a surplus population for ages to
come.

The present position of Ireland exhibits a super-
abundance of unemployed labourers, more than six
millions of acres of larul wholly uncultivated, and
more than nine-tenths of the fourteen million acres
already in tillage, so badly cared for, that it is the
opinion of the best judges, that by the employment of
more labour in thorough draining, and bringing it
into high cultivation, its produce might be qua-
drupled. In addition thereto there is an abundance of
unemployed capital in the United Kingdoms, the posses-
sors of which are anxiously seeking favourable channels
for its investment. If these elements can be brought
in harmonious co-operation, every object -will be
attained, an abundant supply of food will be procured,
not merely sufficient to provide the common reces-
saries of life for the people, but to add some of the
comforts. The capital that now lies idle and unpro-
ductive will be fully occupied, and return a fair dividend
to its owner, and the able-bodied pauper will no
longer be in a destitute and starving conditi ;he
will be turned into the industrious and con ented
labourer, with a sufficiency of plain, Wholesome food,
and fair remuneration for his toil ; in place of ' being
clothed in rags, he will become a good custo er to
our manufacturers. The barren wastes, n vv the
secure haunt and impenetrable refuge of the o utlaw
or robber, will be turned into fertile gardens, the
abodes of peace and tranquillity.

member in 1840; he is enrolled of course
with a will prepense ; he voluntarily becomes an
habitual frequenter of the club-rooms ; he gambles
with an extraordinary recklessness, and is in con-
sequence a loser to an enormous amount. So much
for his Lordship's recreative connexion with
Crockford's. It is with his business con-
nexion with that palace of idleness and
debauchery that the Court of Exchequer had to deal,
and it is to that same business connexion we are in-
duced to make this particular allusion. Besides
availing himself of the apartments of the club in

I The state of society in these kingdoms has been
I happily compared to a pyramid, standing on a brood

TIER SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY yORNING, DECEMBER, 15, 1846

and enlarged foundation, and gradually tapering to a
point. Our SOVEREIGN is at the summit, the hard-
working and laborious classes form the base. On
their condition must depend the state of the entire
structure; if the base is in an unsound and decayed
condition, there can be no security for the more ele-
vated portions of the building. If it sink and fall
into ruin, the loftier parts cannot be maintained, and
their fall will be the greater in proportion to the
height at which they are placed ; but, on
the other hand, it is impossible to raise
the condition of the labouring classes, without the
beneficial influence being extended and its advan-
tages diffused amongst all other ranks. The great
object then is to improve the social condition of the
labourer. Every restrictive law that stands in the
way, or obstructs the attainment, of that great de-
sideratum must be modified or abrogated; the laws
that were suitable some centuries ago, when the po-
pulation was not one-half of what it is at present,
will require attentive consideration and revision.
The monopoly of land must be got rid of ; land-
owners, as well as other important interests in the
State, must submit to new arrangements. The glorious
principles of free trade must be extended to the soil
as well as to merchandise. Commercial freedom
with all the world is an invaluable blessing ;
but we must also look for domestic freedom,
for the full and free employment of British and Irish
industry in their native land. Enlarged and compre-
hensive measures will be necessary to secure these
great blessings, and we have a Government that will
not be restricted by antiquated prejudices, but will be
prepared to legislate for the country in a spirit of en-
larged and statesmanlike enlightment. To their hands
we fearlessly entrust the necessary arrangements.
We shall not be wanting in pointing out what may
appear to be desirable or necessary.

coal imported by sea was subject to a duty of lf. for
2001 b. weight, but at that period coal possessed scarcely
any value for manufacturers. We had neither steam-
engines, nor steam-boats' nor gas. Coal was only used
in iron works ; imported by land it paid less than 20
centimes the 200 pounds, and by the frontiers of the
Mearthe. the Moselle, and the Ardennes, it entered
free. Subsequently came the turn of the Convention.
At first the tariff fixed by the Constituent Assembly
remained entire. Subsequently France, being in a diffi-
cult position, had an extraordinary want of certain ma-
terials, and a law of the 12 Pluviose, year 3, struck the
duty temporarily off several articles of first necessity.
Some were reduced one-half, and others four-fifths, and
others even nine-tenths. The duty on fixing a mark on
iron and steel was definitively abolished. But a new
element was shortly afterwards introduced into our ta-
riffs, and completely changed their character. We shall
complete this historical sketch in our next article."
The same journal gives the following account of
the food riots which are every day taking place in the
French provinces:—
" Bands of mendicants continue to spread terror in the
whole of the Bocage. These individuals, dressed in gray
blouses, their faces smeared with soot, six or seven or
more together, obtain grain and money, uttering the most
horrible threats against those who venture to make any
observation to them. They generally apply at lonely
farm-houses. They have robbed persons in the night on
the highway—amongst others, a miller, whom they
threatened with death, after having stripped him of his
money, if he denouneed them to the authorities. Similar
scenes have taken place in the district of Parthenay. In
the neighbourhood of Melle a waggoner, driving his
waggon from Poictiers to Saintes, was attacked, knocked
down, and stripped of everything, and his life is in danger
from the ill-usage he received. The authorities have
taken strong measures against such outrages, and it is
hoped that quiet will be soon restored. About 20 arrests
have taken place."
While the people are starving the national funds
are wasted in intrigues at foreign Courts. In allusion
to the 2,247,000 f. recently allowed to M. GUIZOT by
royal ordonnance as secret service money, the
Journal de Rouen says—
" It must be admitted that these funds, placed at the
disposal of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, have not
tended much to get the republic of Cracow respected, to
maintain the cordial understanding with England, to
obtain for our Government the good graces of the Em-
peror of Russia, the friendship of Austria, and give
France a weight in the affairs of Portugal. One must,
however, find out what was done with the money. Now.
under whatever appellation these credits may have been
issued, travelling expenses, couriers, unforeseen ex-
penses, secret services, extraordinary missions, the major
part of the amount; if we are rightly informed, and
we have good reason for believing it was intrusted to the
discretion of M. Bresson, our Ambassador at Madrid.
No idea can be formed of M. Bresson's display and
lavish expenditure. In his hands, a courtier of yes-
terday, ignorant of true dignity, of the rules of gootl
taste, money flowed out in streams in futile and ridi-
culous expense. It was said at Madrid that the money
laid out by him amounted to 300,000 francs in the
fortnight alone that the Princes were at Madrid. We
shall add that we have these particulars from a persoi,
who was at Madrid at the time, who was present at all
the rejoicings, who saw M. Bresson nearly every day,
who was himself astounded at the extent of the means
at his disposal, and still more of the use be made of
it. We might say something about an Ambassador
and an important member of a Foreign Cabinet, re-
specting the large sums of money which paid for their
mysterious negotiations. But we are not, according
to the accounts circulated at Madrid, sufficiently in-
formed on the point, and the September laws are but
little in favour of the discovery of truth, and too severe
against writers."
The Constitutionnel has the following on the sub-
ject of the proposed line of steamers between Havre
and New York
"A new obstacle appears likely to retard the deci-
sion which the Council of State has to come to on the
propositions of the company offering to undertake the
correspondence between Havre and New York. This
obstacle comes from rival ports, such as Bordeaux, where
the accession of importance that must fall to the share ot
Havre from this regular communication is viewed with
uneasiness. It appears that the Ministry must expect a
strong resistance from the representatives of Bordeaux.
But before Havre can enjoy all the advantages which
certainly the correspondence with New York would
confer on it, it ought to be able to receive in its docks
the four 450-horse powers steamers destined for the ser-
vice. Everyone is aware that works of this nature do
not get on very rapidly, and Bordeaux will have time
enough to establish its correspondence before the dock
for the trans-Atlantic packets is finished at Havre.
Besides, Bordeaux is warranted in complaining, as well
as Marseilles, of the delay in executing the law of 1840
relative to the trans-Atlantic service."
The French papers of all parties sneer at the move.
tnent now going on among the religious bodies in
England on behalf of the unfortunate inhabitants of
Otaheite. The Journal des Debats says—
" The religious societies, which have not yet kst the
desire to mix themselves up with the affairs of Otaheite,
have lately held a great number of meetings, at which
they have adopted addresses to Lord Palmerston, pray-
ing him to intervene as regards the French Government,
in order to protect, as much as possible, the innocent
Otaheiteans and the virtuous Queen Pomare. One would
say that there is in this a conspiracy of all the saints of
Great Britain."
The National has the following::—
" The Methodists of England have not lost all hope of
ree mquering Otaheite from Popery and France. T,
effect this they have just discovered a carious means, and
which does honour to their diplomatic innocence. After
having appealed to all the saints in the calendar, they at
present apply to Louis Philippe, and, in a memorial pub.
lished in a Leeds journal, appeal to his religious senti-
ments in favour of the Otaheiteans, persecuted as martyrs.
flow is it possible not to yield to the powerful reasoning
of folks who gravely declare that the establishment of
French colonies by force, both in past times and at
present, is in formal opposition to the precepts and
principles of Christianity as taught by the New festa-
tnent?' No persons in the world, except the English
Protestants, could imagine such pretty things. We do
not know precisely the part of the Bible where colonies
are spoken of, but evidently our memory fails us. The
idea is amusing; only we regret that the English mis-
sionaries have not preached it up with better success
amongst their own countrymen. What famou- subjects
for sermons they would have in the incessant conquests
in India, the war against China, and the violent occu-
pation of so many different countries! If France has
some peccadillos to reproach herself with, how numerous
and extensive are the national sins which England has
committed! Let them first obtain from her a confession
of her faults, repentance, and restitution of what they
call their neighbours' goods, and then France, through
respect for the principles of right revealed in the divine
word, relative to colonies, will enter on her examination
of conscience."
The writer seems to forget that where England
colonises she does not attempt to extirpate the inha-
bitants, neither does she by force impose upon them
her own State religion.
The price of wheat rose in the Paris Corn Market
on Wednesday last from lf. 50c. to 2f. the hectolitre,
and oats lf. Rye and barley were likewise in good
demand.
The Three per Cents. closed on the Paris Bourse on
Friday at 81f. 20c. ; the Five per Cents., 118 f. 55c.; the
Orleans Railroad Shares, 1,265 f.; Rouen, 895 f.; Havre,
652 f. 50c.; Great Northern, 648 f. 75c.; Avignon, 890 f.;
Vierzon, 592 f. 50c.; Bordeaux, 563 f. 75c.; Boulogne, 450 f.;
Troyes and Montereau, 385 f. ' • Basle, 220 f. ; Paris and Stras-
burg, 481 f. 25c. ' • Tours and Nantes, 492 f. 50c.; Paris and
Lyons, 510 f.; Lyons and Avignon, 485 f.; Bordeaux and
Cette, 475 f. ; Spanish Three per Cents., 38%; Ditto Do-
mestic Debt, 32%; Ditto Passives, 6.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, DECEMBER 12.

A letter from Schleswig, of the 4th, in the New
Hamburgh Gazette, says—" Thirty-four Deputies
of the States have withdrawn from the Chamber, and
declared that they will no more take part in the dis-
cussions, as they consider that the right of petition
has been suppressed, the Royal Commissioner having
returned to the President the petitions which had
been presented on the subject of the independence of
the `tates."

Russia and Prussia have each appointed a consul at '
Cracow, but none of the German Powers have fol-
lowed these examples, notwithstanding the wish ex-
pressed by Austria. Their declining to do so is
regarded by a German journal as a tacit protest
against the incorporation.
On the occasion of the death of the Grand Duchess
MARIA the Emperor of RUSSIA has issued the follow-
ing manifesto :
" By the grace of God, we, Nicholas 1., Emperor and
Autocrat of all the liussias, to all our faithful subjects
make known :—lt has pleased Divine Providence to try
our Imperial House with a new affliction. The eldest
-daughter of our well-beloved brother the Grand Duke
Michael Paulowitch, our dear niece the Grand Duchess
slaria Micaelouna, died on the 7th (19th) of this present
month of November, at Vienna, after a short but serious
illness, with which she was attacked on her return into
Russia. Partaking in the deep grief of her august
parents, we pray the Sovereign Dispenser of all good to
pour into their hearts the consolation of faith in his
holy and unsearchable providence, and to receive the
soul of the deceased Grand Duchess to eternal repose in
the heavenly abodes of the just. We call upon our
faithful subjects to join their prayers to ours. Given at
Tzarskoe Zelo, this 13th day of November, in the year
of grace, 1846, and the 21st of our reigH.
"NICHOLAS."

Intelligence has been received from Lisbon of the
sth. In consequence of the rainy season having set
in it was supposed SALDANISA would be forced to
suspend his operations before Santarem ; SCRWAL-
BACK had joined SALDANIIA with 2,500, and DAs
ANTAS, it was said, had been reinforced by the
arrival at Santarem of BOMFIM at the head of 2,000
men. Colonel LAPA, at the head of the column, en-
tered Coimbra on the 4th, thus cutting off the
communications between Sa DE BANDEIRA at Oporto
and DAs ANTAS at Santarem. CASAL was at Ama-
ranthe. According to some accounts, he intended to in
vest Oporto, which is perfectly prepared to repel hi.
attack; according to others, he was to join SAL-
P?NHA : but as an extensive Miguelite guerilla,
commanded by General MACDONNELL, has proclaimed
Don MIGUSI. at Braga, it is probable that CABAL will
have to disperse them before he will be at liberty to
act either against SA DA BANDEIBA or DAS ANTas•
The Junto of Oporto were expecting reinforcements
of money and men from the Island of St. Michael's.

Madrid papers of the sth have been received.
The conflict between MoN and ISTURITZ still conti
nues, and it is said that Don ENRIQUE has demanded
the dismissal of the latter, who was the principal cause
of the expulsion of the Prince from Spain. MoN
seems to be intriguing with PacuEco ; and the
Clamor Publico states confidently that the entire oj
the Isturita Cabinet have resigned, and that a Mon
and Pacheco Ministry is in the course of formation.
MADRID BOLSA, DEC. s.—The Three ptr Cents.
at 21; the Fire per
centd
s. a2ti3;4clo;ntphoensF, olu9ri. per Cents.,

We have received the Paris papers of Friday.
The Courrier Francais says that, in consequence of
the representations of Lord PALMERSTON, M. GUIZOT
and his colleagues have decided that M. BARBET DE
Jour, the French Consul at the Mauritius, shall be
removed to another post.
From the tenor of an article in the Journal des
Debats, on the subject of the tariff, we should ima-
gine that the French Ministry are beginning to see
the necessity of gradually adopting, or rather revert-
ing to, the principles of free-trade. After reminding
the protectionists that COLBERT never imposed any
prohibition on the import of articles of foreign manu-
facture, and that the highest import duty imposed by
him was only 10 per cent, the Debats thus pro-
mo& :

" Let us quote a few examples chosen amongst arti-
cles which have given rise to the greatest difference of
opinion. An import duty of 6f, a head was imposed by
Colbert on oxen. Another example,—iron was taxed in
1664 and in 1667 at 1 livre 15 sous for 1,000 pounds
weight of cast metal, and 3 livres per 1,000 pounds
weight of bar iron. Between the years 1667 and 1791
the tariff was frequently altered, but always in the same
,pirit, and if prohibitory enactmentscawttelree sometimes
tnhe duties imposed on
introduced, it was accidentally, and on articlewswoaosfrtprs theilaficineg
changes importance.
which have We
taken 6
shall69i
tnphdleai indicate e i t
y on a few d
in
cattle and iron. In
momentarily at 6 livres the bead on oxen, and in 1688
at 12 livres; in 1698 it was reduced to 3 livres, and in
1713 to 1 livre 3 sous. We see the same variations
with respect to iron. In 1687 all descriptions of hard-
ware and iron were made sulject to a duty of 4 francs
59 centimes per 100 kilogrammes ; but in the year
1701 cast metal paid 53 centimes, bar iron 1 franc 53 cen-
times, heavy hardware 3 francs 6 centimes, fine hard-
ware 6 francs 12 centimes. The tariff of 1664 continued
on the same footing, more or less amended, until 1791.
It was, as a commercial system, extremely defective.
Not that the duties were too high, for they did not
average higher than one-fourth of the existing duties.
and the prohibition which now excludes so many article,
did not exist. But Colbert. all-powerful as he was.
with the assistance of Louis XIV., had failed in the
principal object at which he aimed by his ordinance of
1664, viz., commercial unity in France. The spirit of
expiring feudality was stronger than he. His tariff was
carried into effect in only a certain number of provinces,
denominated the 'Five Great Farina.' A second cate-
gory of provinces was classed under the title of Ile-
outed Foreigners,' and each maintained its ancient
customs. In fine, a third category, that of the pro-
vinces treatedTheclasses as foreign countries, comprised Alsace ;
the three bishoprics, Dunkirk, Bayonne, and Marseilles,
preserved a perfect freedom in their foreign relation,.
d from certain
consequence 94 ofthtehisesdtaivbilsisiohnmeonfttohfe
aprmovuilnticteusde ofinto
.custom-houses in the interior. Merchandise con3ine to
Madn provinces to pay 15 different d u ties.
had
Some of those L duties were divided between the rown
and certain noble houses. The system of taxation,
combined with the bad state of the roads, rendered it al-
most impossible to transport merchandise from one
quarter of France to another. It may easily be eim-
c-ived GI
that the COVitolopt ASS( V was emNi
60 revi▪
se the tariff. It abolished all internal custom-
houses and prepared an uniform tariff, which became
the law of the State on the 15th of March, 1791. The
spirit of that tariff was consistent with the glorious ge-
neration of which the select sat in that illustrious as-
sembly. They agreed to favour national industry, but
they understood that phrase differently from our aboli-
tionists ; they consequently suffered articles of the. first
necessi▪ ty to enter free of duty. They were convinced
that commerce is the bond of nations, and they felt as-
sured that an enlightened 'nation feels no necessity for
exorbitant protecting duties in order to become prosper-
ous. They, consequently, imposed but moderate duties.
The heaviest duties were imposed on articles of luxury,
and for the purpose of producing a revenue. Of prohibi-
tions there were but two—one on linen thread and spun
hemp, which had scarcely any importance; the second,
more serious, regarded glass, but bottles and mirrors were
excepted. To take a few examples, cattle of every descrip.
tion, as well as provisions of all kinds, entered free of
duty under the tariff of 1791. Cast-iron was likewise
free. Bar-iron paid 20 sous the quintal ; cast-steel, 6f.
16c. Cotton wool was, likewise, exempt from duty, as
well al do-woods in gross. By a singular anomaly,'

Boulogne and Amiens, 1314—Central of Spain, %—Deme-
rara, VA—Jamaica South Midland Junction, VA—Northern
of France Constituted, 1014—Paris and Lyons Constituted,
5 Vs— Sambre and Meuse, 414.

FIRE AT THE YORK HOTEL, BRIDGE-STREET,
BLACKFRIARS.—Yesterday morning, about half-patestix•
l:
a fire was discovered in the coffee room of the YorkHesteve,
Blackfriars. It commenced under a newly-erected
and is supposed to have been occasioned by
som
burn
The fire-
ing
coal having penetrated through the floorng.,r,
and they
ft
men from Farringdon-street were senti
were busily employed for some time before the establish-
wa! found necessary list-
went was considered safe. It
pull up a great portion of the flooring before the cause
a.d no doubt the fire had
of alarm could be ascertained, n
been smouldering from the previous night.
Hundreds of acres in the neighbourhood of Bridg-
water and Lanpport are under water. The moor lands
these foggy moroincs
present a picturesque view, though
the sight is a verychilly one.--,Somerset Gazette.
DEATH OF GENERAL SIR MARTIN HUNTER,
„ ..., o.m.G,—Tins. the oldest officer in the
G.C.H., AND Lir
British army, expired on the 9th instant, at Anton's-hill,
in the 90th ye;,r of his age, and after a military service
of 75 years. He was the second son and heir of Cuth-
bert Hunter, Esq., of Medomsley, Durham, by the
daughter of the Rev. John Nixon, vicar of Haltnwhistle.
In 1797 lie married the daughter and heiress of James
Dickson, Esq., of Anton's-1111, Berwickshire. lie en-
tered the army August 30, 1771, and his other commis-
sions were thus dated :—Lieutenant, June 18, 1775 ;
Contain, November 21, 1777 ; Major, October 30,
1790 ; Lieutenant-Colonel, July 19. 1794 ;
January 1, 1800 ; Major-General, October 30, 1805
Lieutenant-General, January 1, 1812; and General, May
27, 1825. He also held the appointment of Governor
of Stirling Castle. Sir Martin served in the first
American war, including the battle of Bunker's-hill.
Brooklyn, and Brandywine, where the British troops,
commanded by General Home, were successful. He also
took part in the storming of Fort Washington and in
the night attack on General Max-ne's brigade. On tln.,
latter occasion he was wounded. He subsequ ntly pro-
ceeded to the East Indies, and commande 1 the 52d at
the siege of Cannamore, being the leader of the party of
light infantry that stormed the breach. He subsequently
took part in other Indian engagements, including those
of Seringapatain and Bangalore, and the night attack on
Tippoo Saih's entrenched camp, under the walls of the
former town, where he was severely wounded in the body
and arm; and in 1797 he commanded a brigade at the
capture of Trinidad and the siege of Port Rico. At the
blockade of Malta. in 1800, he commanded the 48th re-
giment He filled the office of Commander in Chief at
Halifax several years since, and was also Governor of
New Brunswick. He was the last of the British officers I
that survived the battle of Bunker's-hill.

MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS.
(From The Sun of last Night.)
The sales of cotton at Liverpool on Saturday were
15,000 to 20,000 bales, chiefly on speculation, at previous
rates. Shares were better.

In the commercial letters received by the Great West-
ern steam-ship there is not much of interest, if the ar-
ticle of cotton be excepted. As usual, up to the eleventh
hour, the representations relative to the probable produce
of the crop of the season are very conflicting. In one
statement it is said " no estimate made places the crop
beyond 2,000,000 bales, while others fix it not more than
1,800,000 bales. A letter shown to us from a competent
and not a speculative authority, gives the probable yield
at 2 100,000 to 2,200,000 bales. It is perfectly notorious
that the growers and the speculators are always desirous
of having the "wolf-cry" of deficient crops raised, in
order that prices may be unduly enhanced, the old stocks
on hand cleared off, and a fair market made for
the new crops. With the asserted fact of a short supply,
what was the state of the New Orleans market
at the latest date. A letter states, dated from that city:
—" Our market (for cotton) is inactive, and sales for
foreign export made only to a limited extent. The crop
will probably settle down at about 1,900,000 bales.'
Very strange this, if the crop is really believed as likely
to be as short as stated. But why are not shipments
made more freely to Great Britain, if such be
the case ? Why, it is asserted that " freights
are too dear;" that " short time " is to be adopted
on this side the Atlantic by the manufacturers
owing to the advanced prices of Cotton. And after
speakindwith almost a prophetic symbol, that the crop
must be short inevitably, we are advised, in the same
breath (to use a technicalism) thus, under date of New
York:—" In the present state of commercial affairs the
market may be considered completely parakeet], in which
condition it must remain till doubts about the extent
of the crop are cleared up." This is nothing
more or less than a transcript of advice, sent out
by the Great Western. The speculators at Liverpool
will probably ere long, learn to their cost that they have
been gulled by representations of the yield of the
cotton trade—that it will be ample for all legitimate
wants for the season 1846-7, and that the mania for
time bargains has been carried to too great a length.
From Canada we learn a break has occurred in the
Welland Canal, at a most unfortunate season of the year.
Sixty vessels, all laden with grain and provisions, are
detained in consequence of this deplorable accident; and
it is now almost certain that they will be compelled to
remain there all winter, as the cold season is moving on
apace, the navigation of all the canals is liable to be sus-
pended at any moment. Advices from Montreal to the
25th November, and from Quebec to the 24th, report
the gradual withdrawal of the shipping. Snow storms
and several very cold nights have admonished the people
to prepare for an early closing of navigation. The New
York canals were navigable throughout their whole ex-
tent up to the 25th of November.
Stocks have been flat this morning. Consols for the
Account have receded to 93k, and a money bargain has
been done at 94t, with the dividend. Exchequer- bills
command 1 ls. to I4s. premium. The Three-and-a-
Quarter per Cents. are flat at 965.
There has been a shade of an improvement in Mexican
Stock to-day, a few purchases having been made at 23i
Now the rate is rather lower. Russian Metalliques are
IA 1104, the Dutch Four per Cents. at 921 4, Grenada
Bonds at 20, and Portuguese Four per Cents. at 37i.
The Railway Share Market has been very tranquil
his morning. The official uuotations are annexed.

ofrr, CLOSING
PRICES OF BRITISH FUNDS. O'CLOCK. PRICEs.
3 per Cent. Reduced Anns 94%14 94%
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities 943/4 94%
Neer 314 per Cent. Annuities 96% 96 96
L.ong Annuities to expire Jan.lB6o 95, 15-16 9 15-16
Consols for Opening 93.3/4% ex div 93%
Exchequer Bills, 10001. 11/Qcl. ... 11 14 p 14 p
Ditto, 500/ — P 14 p
Ditto. Small

MkE C L °SIN
O'CLOCK Pli IC F.

RILES OF FOREIGN FUNDS.
Chilian Bonds 6 per Cent...... —
Ditto Deferred
Granada Bonds, 1 per Cent. 19% 20 20
Ditto, Deferred 3%
Mexican, 5 per Cent. 1846 2314%% 2.314
Ditto, Account . — 233/4
Portuguese Bonds, 4 per Cent
Ditto; Account
Russian BOnds .. ....... 1101/2 1104
Spanish 5 per Cent. 1840
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Belgian, 21/2 per Cent —
Dutch, 2% plir Cent .
Ditto. 4 per Cent. Certificates 92% 1/
Ditto Bonds -

PRICES OF BUSINESS DONE CLOSING
PAID'
RAILWAY SHARES AT ONIi. O'CLOCK. PRICES.

lberdeen
Amber.. Nott., Boston,
and Eastern Junction 2%..
Armagh, Coleraine, and
Portrush l% -

Belfast & County Down 4N
Birmingham and Dudley 495. . ..... 55/8 p
Birmin. and Gleucester..100

Ditto New 17%
Birmingham and Ox-
ford Junction
Birkenbead, Lancashire,
and Cheshire June.— 23%.
Boston, Stamfd, & Birm. 225
,nietol and Exeter ..... 75
Ditto, New
iristol andPloucester... 30 . ..
Bristol and Liver. J unc.. 21/4 ..„ „,
Buckinghamshire
Caledonian
Ditto Half Shares...-. 2112 — ......... .....
Cambrian & Grand June 425
4,:hester and Holyhead... 271/
Claurnet and 81ythe...... 2 ••• .....
Chester and Manchester 425.
Cheltexham and Oxford 2
Clarence .. 100
Do. Ist Class, 6 per Ct. 10
Do. 2d Class, 5 per Ct. 10
Do. Government Loan,
4 per Cent.
Clydesdale Junction 2O
Cork and Killarney ... 21/2 -
Cork and Waterford ... 1% — -
Cornwall
Ditto, Half Shares ... 2% ......
Direct Lincoln, East Ret-
ford, and Sheffd. June. 2%
Direct Northern
Direct Norwich
Dublin and BelfastJunc. 12% — .
Dublin, Belfast, and
Coleraine
Dublin and Galway..... 4
Dundalk & Enniskillen 10
Eastern Counties 14/. 165....... 223% Ts 22%
Ditto New l2l. 165 7IA p 714 P
Ditto Perpetual, 5 per
Cent, No. 1....... 6/. 13s. 4d...
Ditto ditto. No. 2... 61. 13s. 4d... % p...
Do., York Extension.. 2 ...... 3% 3%
EastDerelem andNoech 1
Eastern Union 35 .. ...
Ditto, Quarter Shares 83/4 ...............
Do. Exten.(Harwich) 1% — ......... ••••-
_ _...
2%..

1/2 dis.
231%i

Do., Camb. and Ely 21/2...... ............
East Lancashire - •• ••••
Ditto. New
Do., do. (late Preston
and Ormskirk)... .. 5 .....
Do., do., New Scrip... 11,4 .....
East Lincolnshire ... • 114•••••• 2
East & West of England 1%..••••
Edinburgh and Glasgow 50 •••••• •••••••••••• ••
Ditto Half Shares ... 10 ...... 204 20
Ditto, Quarter Shares 12% •••••• --. ..... • • ••••
Edinburgh & Northern.. 12,E ...... .••••••••••.
Edinburgh and Perth... 3 ...... 1%
Ely and Huntingdon ... 121,i...... 13% ..... ..
Enniskillen and Sligo ... 24 — ...............
E x eter,Yeovil, & Dorset 5% ...............
Glasgow, Kilmar., & Ayr 50
, Ditto New ......... .. 15
Do., 1% Shares (5 per
cent. guar.) .. ....... 12%,.., _
......
.........
Goole, Doncaster, ice... 2
Grand Union (Notting- -- ..............
and Lynn . .............. 1%
..
Great Eastern &Western
272141 h
..
...
..
..
.................
......
..
..
Great South. and West.
(Ireland)
Great Munster
Great
n....g..1..a....n.. d
...........i10052215
v!
............
Ditto New .... ••--
; rr
e aai ,:rest tN-
Ditto,-tW°
Fifthsisle s:
e i tsdehruitat ;
e• •s
....... .. .. 8550 - 131
a upDppd
iiiidtttt
etttt
000ros,
••.
I>N4eBwhar.:l.l—c.ll..e. ... 2113 g
Half
Shares
Extensionh a r e s
2523 3O
Ditto,Huplol.ard Selby
IpsDwiitetho
50
8,1%
BSuhryaresst.
Edm. 11211/2% 1—
Do., do., and Norwich 2th —
Lancaster and Carlisle... 50

~•• 18
~•• 30

Do. New
Leeds and Bradford 3O
Leicester and Bedfard... 165....... ...............
Leeds, Dewsbury, &c.... 22►% ........
Do., Branch (Blue) ...
Do. Extension( Green ) 2%2.....
Leeds and Thirsk l7l/2- • •
Ditto, New
Lpool., 181nchstr &New:
castle Junction
London and Blackwall. 16/. 13s. 4d.
Do. New
Ditto Extension ~ — .
London, Brighton, and
South Coast
Ditto, Fifths
Do. Consol. Eighths lO
Do. 6..7.arant. 5 per ct. 9
Loridon and Greenwich 12/ 15s4d
Do. Preference ...18117s 2d —
London, Hounslow, and
Western
London and N. Westernloo 194 193% 195
Do. Quarters ..

Do., ao., New
Ditto Fifths ..... .... 2
I'o. LA Shares (G. J.) 5
Do 40/.Shetres(L.M.) 8
Do. 40/. (M. & B.) ... 40
Do. 10/. (M. & B.) A. 5
Do. 10'. (M. & B.) B. 5
Do. 10/. (M. & B.) C. 1
London, Oxford, and
Cheltenham

Lond.& S.Western 41/ 6: 10d 63 62 .
Do. New Consol. Bth:, 40
Do. New
Do. New
Ditto Tenths
Ditto Tenths ... ..... 4
Ditto Scrip
Ditto ditto ...... . .... 4
Landon and York . 214
Do. Extension
Lcndon and Wnadanr . , 1,4.... um.