The Sun.
London, England, 1834-04-09 00:00:00

BILLS OF EXCHANGE.

(From Gilbert's History and Principles of Banking.)
Bills of exchange are said to have been invented
in the fourteenth century, by the Jews or the Lom-
bards, for the purpose of withdrawing their property
from the countries from which they were expelled.
The drawer and the accepter of a bill were two per-
sons, residing at two distant places, and the bill was
probably nothing more than a written order de-
livered to a third person, who was going to visit the
place where the debtor resided, and who would re-
turn with the money to the drawer. But it might
happen that this person was riot going to return ;
in this case he might advance to the creditor the
amount of the order, and receive the money again
from the debtor when he arrived at his journey's
end. But this third person might not be going to
the place where the debtor resided—he might
be going only a part of the way, and
he might then fall in with some other per-
son who was going the other part ; he
would then request this other person to advance
him the money in exchange for the order he had re-
ceived from the creditor, and the order would then
be transferred. It would thus be discovered that as
a creditor might give an order upon his debtor to a
third person, this third person might transfer the
order to a fourth, the fourth to a fifth, and so on.
To effect these transactions it would be necessary
that each person receiving the order or bill had con-
fidence in the drawer or some of the indorsers, and
also that each person receiving it should have some
compensation for the trouble it occasioned him. If
the order were not payable on demand, but at some
months after date, the compensation would be
increased by the amount of interest for the time the
order had to run before it would be payable.
Such is at present the case. The drawer of a
bill on a person residing in 'the country sells it on
the Exchange. Foreign bills are never said to be
discounted, but to be sold ; for the person who
gives the drawer the amount is supposed to deduct
not only the interest on the bill but also the expense
of its transmission. The buyer of a bill is a person
who awes a sum of money to a person in another
country (say in France), and who wants a bill to
remit thither to Tay his debt. The seller of a bill
is a person who has exported a quantity of goods to
France, and who draws a bill for the amount ; it
will be for the convenience of these two people to
deal together : the buyer will give his money in
exchange for the -bill, which he will send to his
creditor in France, and the seller will give his bill in
exchange for the buyer's money by which he is paid
for the goods he has exported. If this money be equal
to the amount of the bill, minus only what may be
deemed equal to the discount and the expense of
transmission, the exchange is said to be at par ; but
there are various circumstances which may cause
the exchange to be either above or below par, and
the price given for bills of exchange will vary ac-
cordingly.
When two nations exchange their commodities
with each other to exactly the same amount, the
buyers will be just as numerous as the sellers. The
demand for bills and the supply of bills will be
equal ; the exchange will now be at par ; but it
rarely or never happens that the exports and im•
ports between any two countries are precisely the
same ; and as gold is the medium of traffic between

The price of bills in the market is usually called
the rate of exchange, and when the baTance of trade
is against a country and gold must be remitted to pay
that balance, and consequently the price of foreign
bills rises beyond their real value or par, then the
course of exchange is said to be against that country.
Thus, for instance, if in London I can sell a bill on
Paris for more than the amount for which it is
drawn, then the course of exchange is said to be
against England and in favour of France ; but if I
am obliged to sell my bill for less than the amount,
then the exchange is against France and in favour
of England. The price of bills is regulated entirely
by the proportion that may exist between the de-
mand and the supply, and the demand and the sup-
ply are regulated chiefly by the state of trade be-
tween the respective countries.

A DINNER WITH LOUIS PHILIP AND

HIS FAMILY.

(From an Edinburgh Paper.)
(The following graphic and pleasing account of a
dinner party at St. Cloud, is given by an American
naval officer, one of the party, in a letter to his
sister. It is copied from the New York Journal
of Commerce.)
Extract of a letter from an officer of the United
States ship Delaware :
PARIS, SEPT. 28, 1833.—1 have a picture in my
eye, dear D—, the image of which I should be
happy to transmit to you by letter,- were it in my
power—that of the family of the King of the French
as seen at St: Cloud. I had no idea, till my visit
to Paris, that a regal residence here could so far
exceed all the magnificence and splendour of the
palaces of England, as those of France do. In the
whole display they fully meet the imagination of the
luxury and gorgeousness of the highest " pride of
life." A suite on the garden front is interesting, as
that is usually occupied as the family apartments.
In it is the bed room of Bonaparte, on taking pos-
session of the palace—the same in which Louis the
Eighteenth died, and now elegantly fitted in blue
and gold ; that in which her present Majesty re-
ceives evening company on ordinary occasions dur-
ing the winter. Adjoining it are a writing room,
library, and the King's Council room, communicating
with the grand room through which we entered the
Hall of Diana.

We had scarce reached our hotel on the day of
our.presentation, before the verbal invitation to din-
ner received from the King was followed by official
notes to each of our party, from the aide-de-camp
in waiting, according to the etiquette of the Court
on such occasions, stating that he had " the honour
to inform us that we were invited to dine at the Pa-
lace of St. Cloud on the 27th instant, at six o'clock."
A quarter to six, therefore, last evening, found us
alighting at the f►vourite residence Of the monarchs
of France, beautifully situated on the Seine, some
four or five miles west of Paris, beyond the woods
of Boulogne. Mr. Harris was of the party, and
led the way from Paris in his chariot, with Captain
Ballard.

The evening being damp and chilly, and our car-
riage being closed; we had little opportunity, in the
approach of night, to observe much that was around
us, till we drew up at the entrance. This is a vesti-
bule paved with marble, and ornamented by a mag-
nificent staircase to apartments on the second floor,
with an exposure in the direction of Paris.
Servants of the household in full livery, were sta-
tioned in the vestibule staircase, and landing above,
the last of whom ushered us into an ante-room of
great magnificence and beauty in the painting of its
ceiling, the walls and furniture, at the further door
of which, we were received by Generals Ber-
nard and Rumigny, and by them led into
the principal saloon, or drawing-room, in which
we were not sorry to see a bright fire
blazing. Admiral de Rigny, the Count St. Maurice,
and three or four Aids of the Generals, were the
only persons in the apartment. The central window
commands an extensive and beautiful view, in the
midst of which the domes and towers of the prin-
cipal buildings of Paris, are seen to fine effect ; and
while admiring it, we were told that in the Revolu-
tion of July, 1830, Charles X. was amusing himself
with cards on the spot in which we were stand-
ing, during the hottest of the fight, little believing
how soon he would be in flight from this place and
his throne.

At the end of a few minutes, while clustered near
the windows, foot steps were heard in the ante-
room, and Au roi, " to the King," in an under tone,
was pronounced by the Aid of his Majesty and the
Count St. Maurice, and in turning to the direction,
according to this intimation, we perceived him ap-
proaching, unattended, in the full dress of a Major-
General—scarlet pantaloons, and a blue coat richly
embroidered in gold, with the decorations of his
rank—having his sister, the Princess Adelaide, upon
his arm. Our salutations were received by him
with the simplicity of a private gentleman, and with
all the affability, vivacity, and kindness, which we
had so much admired on the preceding day, and,
after presenting each to the Princess, who speaks
English with equal fluency, entered indiscriminately-
into conversation with those who happpened to be
nearest him.

In a few moments afterwards, the Queen entered
from the same direction, accompanied by the Mar.
chioness of Chanteret, the principal lady of the
Court, followed at a short distance by the eldest
daughter, the Princess Mary, and Madame Malet,
a maid of honour—while the youngest daughter, the
Princess Clementitia, entered from the opposite
door, attended by the lady of the household, who is
her governess and guardian, and followed by the
thild son of the King, the Prince de Joinville, a
midshipman in the navy, of sixteen or seventeen.
Thus completing the party.

. _ .
The dress of the ladies is always a point of some
importance.on such occasions, especially to those of
your sex and age, dear D_, and I may as well
make mention of that of the principal personages at
this place as at any other. It did not differ from
that of ladies of rank and wealth, on any occasion
of ceremony in private life. The Queen, Princess
Adelaide, and Madame Malet, wore hats of white
chip, ornamented with plumes—those of her Ma-
jesty being pink, that of her sister from a bird of
Paradise, and those of the lady of honour, white.
The Queen was in a dress of straw colour of light
material, sprinkled with gold ; the Princess Mary in
silk of a similar hue, and a pelerine of black lace
!Jew ath, epaulets like her dress ; and the Princess
Clementina in simple white muslin, with blue trim-
mino', and scarf of gauze. The hair of both was

group, till the distant breathings of the sweetest
music announced the dinner in readiness ; and Cap-
iain Ballard, conducted by the King to the Queen,
led her Majesty through a saloon furnished as a
billiard room, into the dinner hall—the King fol-
lowing with his eldest daughter, and Mr. Harris
leading the Princess Adelaide, succeeded by the
Prince de Joinville and the Princess Clementina.
Every thing was so admirably arranged, that not
the slightest confusion or embarrassment in being
seated occurred ; and notwithstanding the num-
ber of officers in our party, each, I believe, re=
ceived a chair according to his rank. The Queen
occupied the centre of the table on one side, with
Captain Ballard, the Princess Clementina, and the
Prince de Joinville, one of the Ladies of the House-
hold, and Lieutenant Macomber of the Marines,
on the right; and Admiral de Rigny, the Mar-
chioness Chanteret, and Lieutenants Seton and Lee
on the left. The King sat immediately opposite,
with the Princess Mary, Lieutenant Buchanan,
'Madam Mallet, and ►nyself on the right ; and the. '
Princess Adelaide. Mrs. Harris, 'one of the Maids
of Honour, and Lieutenant Magruder on the left ;
while General Rumigny and his Aid, and the Count
St. Maurice, were at their head, and Gen. Bernard
and his suite at the foot—making about 30 plates.
The dining-room is a magnificently painted anti
lofty hall, with an admirable representation of Bo-
naparte on horseback, crossing the Alps. There
was a 'servant to each chair ; one half in full livery.
of scarlet and lace, with powdered head, small
clothes, stockings and shoes, and the other in plain
dress, in the same style of plain black, each wearing
white gloves, and holding a napkin in his hand, and
all uncommonly fine looking men. I will mention
one dish only out of the hundred passed round dur-
ing the two hours we were at the table, and that
expressly ordered by the King, in compliment to his.
guests, and in remembrance of fare which he had
met with in our own country. It was a preparation
of Indian meal, very excellent in its taste ; but dif-
fering from any of which I had before partaken.
Fortunately for our party, only one of whom
speaks French, almost every one of the company
spoke English ; and I was fortunate in having a
most intelligent and interesting companion at table,
in Madam Mallet, posseising this acquisition so dif- •
ficult to a foreigner. In rising from the table, the .
King gave a complimentary toast, which I lost at
the time, to Captain Ballard and our country, and:
each presenting an arm to the lady beside whom he
had been seated, returned to the drawing-room. I
supposed that we should at once take leave ; but
the most interesting and charming part of our visit
was still in reserve. Coffee was served, of which we
partook standing. The Dukes of Orleans and Ne-
mours, the eldest sons of the King, are at present
in Belgium ; but the two youngest Princes, the
Dukes D'Aumale and Monpensier, eight or ten
years of age, now entered, each running to the King,
who was at the time conversing with me in the re
cess of a window, and kissing him, hastened with the
same salutation to their mother.
This seemed a s►gnal for the domestic amuse-
ments of the evening. The ladies became seated at
a work table, and each, from the Queen to the
youngest Princess, produced some fancy article,
which she was completing for a fair, or something
of the kind, for the benefit of a charity. The gen-
tlemen became grouped around, conversing with the
ladies whilst at work, or falling into clusters with
each other ; and in the perfect simplicity of every
thing in view, we forget almost that we were the
guests of one of the most brilliant Courts of Eu-
rope and the world, and not in the midst of some
long known and well beloved circle of elegance and
refinement in private life. No hauteur, no frivolity,
no affectation of dignity ; but the highest dignity
itself, with sweetness, intelligence, amiability, kind-
ness of heart, and every domestic virtue.
It is customary, I believe, for the King to re-
ceive his Cabinet Ministers every evening after din-
ner, with such of their ladies as may have it in their
power, or feel at liberty, to visit the Queen ; anti
about half past 9 the Duke and Duchess of Dal-•
matia, the Duke de Broglie, and others came in,
The interchange of salutations, as we followed Mr.
Harris, And Captain Ballard, through the circle,
from the Queen to the ladies of the Court, in
taking leave, did not differ from those in private life
—both their Majesties and the Princess Adelaide
saying it would give them pleasure to see us on any
future visit we m►ght make to Paris.

COURT FOR THE RELIEF OF INSOL-

VENT DEBTORS.

The matters of the Petitions and Schedules of the Prisoners
hereinafter named (the same having been filed in the Court)
are appointed to be heard at the Court-house, in Portugal.
street, Lincoln's Inn-fields, on Monday, the 14th of April,
1834, at Nine o'clock in the Forenoon.
Pestell, J., miller, Stotfold, Bedfordshire.
Caswell, R. D., farmer, North Fen, Spalding, Lincolnshire,
Wood, W., riding-officer to his Majesty's Customs, Bognor,
Lawrence, G., beer retailer, Horsomonger-lane, Newington,
Bcatt, G., assistant to a linendraper, Holborn.hi 1.
Mason, J., cattle drover, Britannia-street, Battle-bridge.
Newman, H., commission-agent, Balaam-street, Plaistow.
Dalgarna, J., porter, Godfrey row, Sha,klewell-gre n.
Ekins, W., taUor, Finsbury-street, Finsbury-square.
Poulton, C., general shopkeeper, Earl-street East, Lisson-groce.
Jury, R., lighterman, Wells-street, Ratciiff highway.
Richold, A. J., coach.maker, Maickn.lane, Cheapside.

On Tuesday, April 15.—Same Hour and Place,
Hitler, J. N., warehouseman, Great Castle street, Regent.st,
Lancaster, E., carp .nter, Great Bell-alley, Coleman-street,
Larey, L, toyrnan, Stah.street, City.
H egi nbotbam, R., colottrman, Wirksworth, Derby.
Rye, S., labourer, Starch-green, Hammersmith.
Edwards, H., le..ther.dresser, Whiting's-rents, Dock-head.
Reynolds, W., hat-manufacturer, St JohlA-st., Clerkenwell,
Smith, G., comedian, Clarendon.street, Somerstown.
Narraway, T., shoemaker's foreman, Hendon-street, Pimlico.
0 citerill, F., carpenter, Mary-street, Hampstead.
Griffiths, 1)., milkman, Castle-court, Cioak.lane.
Martin, W , victual.er, Grat Swan-alley, Coleman-street.

The Russian journals give a statement of the
present population of St. Petersburgh. The number
of male inhabitants is 291,290, and of females
153,845 ; total amount 444,135. In this number,
1,968 are ecclesiastics, 38,994 belong to the nobility,
and 47;548 to the army.
. The masquerade on Monday evening
last at
the Opera House was, as usual, most numerously at-
tended. Some of the characters were well dressed
but we might suggest a little less noise in their perso-
nification. There was some clever slack-rope dancing
to add to the evening's entertaiment.
EMIGHATION.—Our Penrith correspondent
states that several families in the neighbourhood of
that town are preparing to leave their native land for
America, this season. From Brampton, Bewcastle,
&c., many very respectable families are also preparing
for departure to the same country.—Carlisle Journal.
A man named Roach died suddenly at Pen-
zance an Monday evening last. He tool supper a;
Leone following amusing
sailors, usual, but was found dead in his chair. Verdict--
" Died of apoplexy,"—Cornwall Gazette.
Sierra ' TheeLeofo l,o,ghouehaoppcecnuordretdo
ba
et
on the military parade when the soldiers were at drill,
going through the evolution of marking time, a military
manoeuvre by which the feet as well as the whole body
of the person are kept in motion, presenting asimilar
appearance to that which they exhibit when they are
actually marching. One observed the other watching
the movement of the corps very attentively, with his
eyes fixed, and his arms akimbo. " What the devil
are you looking at ?" he inquired. " Wify, Jack," re-
plied his companion, " lam thinking there must be a
very strong tide running this morning; for these poor
beggars have been pulling away this half- hour, and
haven't got an inch a-head ,yet."-1101mon's Travels.