The Sun.
London, England, 1833-02-22 00:00:00

• vun„AN\

LONDON,
FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 22, 183 g.

His MAJESTY held a levee this day at two
o'clock in the Palace of St. James's. On
Monday her MAJESTY gives a Drawing-room,
and in the evening there will be a splendid
dinner party to commemorate her MAJESTY'S
birthday.

At the particular desire of Sir ROBERT PEEL,
Lord STORMONT, and other distinguished Con-

servatives, the farce of the " Good Natured
Man, or Principle and Practice," was last night
performed at St. Stephen's, the principal cha-
racter by Lord ALTHORP. In other words,
fellow countrymen, the whole House of Com-
mons, with few exceptions, acknowledged that
Members are responsible to you for the
votes they give, and that you ought to be
informed of what those votes are ; but the
CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER, to please
the Tories, agreed that it was better that the lists
of divisions should be given in the present imper-
fect manner (leaving double dealers a loop hole to
creep out of) than that the SPEAKER should be
requested to take measures to have the votes of
Members more accurately recorded. How stands
the case ? Mr. HARVEY stands upon the prin-
ciple that the people have a right to know how
their representatives vote, says he will not pro-
pose any specific plan to accomplish that object,
as he knows gentlemen would evade the discus
lion of the principle to tear his plan to pieces,
throws out a suggestion that the Members voting
one way, might put their cards into one box,
and the Members voting the opposite way into
another box, but concludes by leaving the matter

entirely to the SPEAKER or to a Committee
of the House. How is this plain, simple, rational
proposition met ? Just as the Hon. Member
had anticipated. Instead of attempting to dispute
the principle that the votes of Members ought
to be known to their constituents, Lord ALTHORP
proceeded to cut jokes upon Mr. HARVEY'S
two boies, whereupon the Conservatives, both
Whig and Tory, laughed. Mr. HUME threw
out another suggestion, and Sir ROBERT PEEL,
in his turn, said something funny ; the Conser-
vatives again laughed, and it was finally decided
that, although the people had a right to know
how their Representatives voted, no means
should be even taken into consideration, much
less tried, to give them this information in an
authentic form. We trust that the subject will
be again brought forward, for we are satisfied,
that in a full House, and upon a proper explana-
tion of the question (for there were evidently
many Members who last night did not under-
stand it, but gave a vote of confidence to Lord
ALTHORP), it must be carried, notwithstand-
ing the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER'S
desire to gratify his Conservative opponents, by
resisting what they oppose, merely because it is
,ian improvement which would sometimes prevent
' the half-and-half Gentlemen who join them when
they safely can, having the opportunity of skulk•
ing from their spoken principles. Sir R. PEEL'S

assertion, that the public looked more to the
debates than to the votes of the House, was a
droll exposition of the Tory plan of operations,
viz., making speeches full of liberality, and
voting directly the other way. The confession
implied in this sentence gives a tolerable
clue to the anxiety of a certain part of
the House not to have their votes and
speeches compared ; but how Lord ALTHortp
could arrive at the same conclusion as Sir
ROBERT PEEL, is a mystery not so clearly ex-
plained. The dummies of both parties, we sup-
pose, who give their votes quietly, without wish-
ing to rouse inquiry among their constituents
as to their doings, want the protection obscurity
gives them. It will not do, Gentlemen ; the real
Reformers in the House, the men who really
desire their constituents to know their every vote
will be too strong for you.

Colonel GOSSET has addressed a circular to

the clerks of the various Idsh Corporations,
calling on them to make a " return of the cha-
ritable funds and other property in the posses-
sion, order, or disposition of each Municipal
Corporation in Ireland—the manner in which
the same have been acquired, and the purposes
for which the same were given—and the mode
in which they are now distributed and applied•"

At the Court of Common Council yesterday,
the report of the Farringdon-street Committee,
recom►nending the presentation of a petition to
Parliament for, leave to bring in a Bill for effect-
ing an improvement, by opening a new street
from Holborn-bridge, opposite Farringdon-
street, to the great North road, was negatived
by a considerable majority. This result has
taken us not a little by surprise. It has a close
corporation taint about it, and wears all the
appearance of a sacrifice of public good to
party interests. Any one acquainted with that
portion of the City through which the
line of Farringdon-street was proposed to be
continued, must know that it is one of the
dirtiest, most mephitic, and most densely
peopled portions of the metropolis ; that it
is a perfect sink of iniquity ; the resort of half
the thieves and vagabonds about town, and not
to be passed at any hour, or under any circum-
stances, without the most grievous annoyance to
those who may happen to possess the full
faculties of sight and smell. By continuing the line
of Farringdon• street, this special nuisance would
have beet) done away with. The Augwan stables
would have been cleared out, and the light and the
air of Heaven would have been let in on a spot
which at present knows such blessings but by hear-
say. By what process oflogic the Common Council
were brought to reject such an improvement, we
cannot for the life of us make out. Except on
the score of personal interests, it is wholly inex-
plicable. The question was a simple one. It
was merely whether a pure or a tainted atmos-
phere—whether a respectable or a vagabond
population—were best adapted to the cont-
forts and conveniences of that portion of
the metropolis• This was the sum total—the

sac plus ultra of the question. But this the
Court either could not or would not understand;
and accordingly Holborn and its vicinity is still
to be continued in the full undisturbed enjoy-
ment of the moral and physical advantages of
Field-lane, and its contiguous blind alleys.

The Court of Common Council have come
to this conclusion at a singularly awkward crisis,
for it was only last night that Mr. SLANEY
brought forward his motion (which the House of
Commons, to their credit be it spoken, received
with marked favour) for expanding, as it were,
the lungs of the metropolis, and of large provin-
cial towns generally, by attaching to them certain
walks or gardens, in which the public might have an
opportunity of obtaining fresh air and healthy
exercise. The principle of the two improve-
ments is precisely the same, that of purifying the
atmosphere of crowded cities ; but what seemed
fitting and requisite to the House of Commons
was superfluous in the eyes of the Common
Council.

We have looked over the Ordnance esti-
mates for the year 1833-34, and think, not-
withstanding the reductions which have been
made in this department, that there is room for
more, although not, we admit, to the same ex-
tent as in other departments. Perhaps the only

sources from which we can expect any great
future reduction in the Ordnance estimates,
are a reduction of the army, abandoning
some of our useless barracks, and by a better
management of our colonial possessions, throw-
ing the maintenance of those abroad upon the
parties for whose benefit they chiefly exist.
There are still, however, some very pretty salaries
in the Ordnance Department, upon which the
Hume pruning knife might very properlybe brought
to bear. We will take the emoluments of some
of the higher officers as illustrations of our
meaning. The Master-General has 3,0001. per
annum. Can any one doubt our having plenty
of high military officers, qualified by experience
and education for the duties of supervision re-
quired in this situation, who would be glad to
discharge them for half the salary ? It is not a bad
rule by which to judge of the amount ofduty per-

formed by an officer, to look to his salary.
Under the old system a high salary implied little
labour, and we are sorry to see that in this
instance the rule still holds good. The Master-
General, having 3,0001. per annum, is too great
a man to be fatigued with much business, and
accordingly we find he has a secretary at
1,000/. per annum to take the most laborious
part of it off his bands. There is besides, a
clerk in his particular office, enjoying about
8001. per annum, and another at about 2001.
These are the Master-General's peculiar assis-
tants, for the Board has another Secretary at
1,4001. per annum. This is really " too bad."
We are certain that one of these four clerical
officers might be lopped off, the salaries of the
others reduced, a saving of at least 1,500/. be
effected, and all without the slightest injury to
the public service. The Surveyor-General ought
to be a man of science, and must, therefore, be
well paid, but surely 1,0001. would secure the
object in view as well as 1,2001. per annum. These

observations may be thought hypercritical, but it
must never be forgotten by those who really wish
to see the public burdens lightened, that it was by
disputing every hundred pounds in the votes
that the foundation was laid by Mr. HUME for
the reduction of the millions of taxation which
has taken place within these few years. The
estimates before us present an amount ex•
ceeding, by 30,5351., that voted last year, but
the expenditure of the coming year will be less
by 95,5911. than that of last year, the difference
in the sums voted and to be voted,arising chiefly
from the circumstance of several items last year

having been provided for by the overplus of the
grant of the preceding year. The totals of the
account therefore stand thus ;—expended last
year 1,692,8141.; to be expended next year
1,597,223/.; voted last year 1,424,6881. ; to be
voted this year 1,455,223/. The chief saving
comes under the head of Works and Repairs of
Barracks and other Buildings at Home and
Abroad.

It will be seen, by our Parliamentary report,
that Earl GREY brought in a Bill to
provide for the more impartial adminis-
tration of justice in Ireland, by changing the
venue in certain cases.

Mr. BUCKINGHAM, we see, in his Parliamen-
tary Review of this week, has entered, at con-
siderable length into the question of the new
arrangement of the business of the House, and
his reasons for proposing the plan he himself
(lid. They are well worthy of consideration,
but the crowded state of our columns precludes
ihe possibility of our adding anything to what
we said yesterday on this subject.

We are assured, from an authentic source,
that the despatches from Madrid, which were
received by the French Government on Monday
last, were very satisfactory. It would appear
that M. ZEA DE BERMUDEZ has recovered his
ground, and that his line of politics is at present
agreeable to the French Cabinet.

We perceive, by the reports of the discus-
sions in the Chamber of Peers, that the Etat
de Siege is likely to be withdrawn. We per-
ceive also, by the French papers of Tuesday and
Wednesday, that the Chamber of Deputies were
then engaged in no discussions of public moment,
and that a report was current on the Bourse
on the 18th and 19th, that the Carlists were
about to attempt a rising in the Southern pro-
vinces, which had consequently set the Govern-
ment on the alert. We give this report, without
attaching the slightest credibility to it. The
Berlin State Gazette announces that the ice on
the Rhine suddenly broke up on the 4th instant.
For further accounts from the French Papers
we refer our readers to the following extracts :

(From Galignani's Messenger of Tuesday.)
The Courricr de I'Europe says, " The bill of the Etat de
Siege is not yet withdrawn, but it is suspended in the Chamber
of Peers, from the numerous amendments, and the counter-
bill of M. Mounier being referred to the committee. It seems
that Ministers shrink from the discussion of the articles, and
that they intend to suffer their ill-omened measure to expire
quietly, with the permission of the committee-men. It is said
that M. Guilleminot, in moving its being referred back to the
committee, acted as the authorized agent of Marshal Soult, who
found that it was impossible to carry the Bill."
Dr. Meynier has just been sent off by the Government to
attend the Duchess of Berry. He is directed never to absent
himself from the citadel.
The Augsburg Gazette of the 15th inst., states, after a letter
of the 9th from Vienna, that the new Austrian loan was con:
tracted for at BSi per cent.
The Echo du Nord relates a curious scene that lately occurred
at the Hotel de Gand, at Lille. An Englishman, said to be a
superior officer in the British army, found in that hotel his
wife, whom he had been in search of for six months. It ap-
pears that the lady, discontented with her husband, left the
conjugal residence, and refuses to return. Although the hus-
band made the kindest proposals they have hitherto proved of
no avail. The lady objects to a reconciliation.

(From Galignani's Messenger of Wednesday.)
It is reported that the Minister of War contemplates an im.
mediate reduction of the army, to the extent of nearly :00,000
men, equalling about one squadron or battalion in every regi-
ment. The skeleton of these battalions will be preserved
and remain in depots, of which there will be one for every de-
partment. It is also said that it is in future intended to have
but two classes of superior or subaltern general officers, those
in activity and those in non-activity. A new scale for the pay
of officers is also spoken of.
The Constitutionnel says, " We have heard one of the Mi-
nisters state, that the abandonment of the bill on the Etat dc
Siege was nearly decided upon."
(From the Messager des Chantbres of Wednesday.)
PARIS, FEB. 19.—1 t is confirmed that a project of law will
be very shortly presented to the Chambers to obtain a dowry of
a million for the Queen of the Belgians.
It is affirmed, however, that a very influential deputy, and
who has often been proposed for an eminent place in the
Council, has energetically declared against such a project,
which, however, has not been abandoned.
The Courrier Francais makes us acquainted with some
clauses of the marriage contract of the Queen of the Belgians.
The following are the reports in circulation relative to the por-
tion of a million which has been promised to the Queen of the Bel-
gians. The clauses of the contract have been kept secret even
from those who are intimates of the Palace ; nobody has been
consulted ; now by the cession made by the King to his chil-
dren, of his private fortune, the Princess brings, as a mar-
riage portion, to the King of the Belgians her share in the
patrimony of the Orleans family, which is estimated in landed
property at six millions ; the million in money will be asked of
the Chambers, and a curious circumstance is, that Bel-
gium owing, us sixty-five millions, including the ex-
penses of the expedition which it has cost us, the
million for the Queen's dowry will not be deducted, but that
it will be given over and above. This is carrying generosity
very far.

(From the Constitutionnel of Wednesday.)
PARIS, FEB. 19.-The Minister of War has caused a re-
port to the King to be distributed in the Chamber, of the
military administration and financial state of his department.
It results from it that on the Ist July, this year, the effective
strength of the army was 421,494 men, and 82,057 horses. The
materiel is composed of 834 field-pieces, divided into 139 batteries,
all on the new system. To these must be added 625 cannon actu-
ally possessed by the National Guard. Those 1,459 guns are ready
for active service, with their parks of reserve, and a double
supply of ammunition. These equipages form a total of 7,200
gun carriages or waggons. France has other cannon in the
arsenals, but the caissons and waggons not being ready, they
are not yet formed into batteries. There are besides five parks
of heavy artillery, of 100 guns each ; the cannon in the for-
tresses are to be added.
The Minister estimates the expense of the army of the Na-
tional Guard, as it now is, at 35 millions; it has received
918,986 muskets, and 247,087 sabres ; it is to receive 200,000
sabres.
From this report we may appear without fear to our friends
or our enemies. It remains to be seen whether these advan-
tages might not have been obtained on less costly terms. The
Chambers will have to discuss this question, and will decide it
in their wisdom.
FRE IP:II FUNDS, PARIS, FEB. 19.-Five pet Cents., 104 f. 103 f. 95c.
104 f. ; Loan of 1832, 104 E; Four per Cents., 93f. 93f. 50c. ; Three
tiEs;,,,
per Cents., 77f. 95c. 90c. 80c. 75c. 80c. 85e. 90c. 95c. 78f. 77f. 90c.
9 C. 78f. 78f. Sc. 10c. ; National Loan, 104 f. ; Bank Actions,
1,90
Rente de Naples, 68f. 50c. ; Roman Five per Cents.,
544
pf %
a.; g
Rente d'Espagne, Five per Cents., 12%; Rente
d,
Three per Cents., 40 397 40 4014 14 40 .40!(, ;
Royal Spanish Loan, 86; Rente Perpetuelled'Espagne, Five per
Cent., 64 64% 3/4 4a ; Belgic Loan of 1831, 86% %67 ;
Haytian Loan, 215 f. Exchange on London, one month,rnoney,
.25f. 75c.; three months, money, 25f. 65c.-Cours Authentique.
FEB. 20.-Five per Cents., 104 f. 103 f. 90c. 104 f. 104 f. 10c. 104 f.
104 f. 10c. 104 f. 103 f. 95c. 104 f. 104 E sc. 104 f. ; Loan of 1832, 104 f.
9c. ; Four and a Half per Cents., 1001. ; Four per Cents., 93f. 50c.;
Place per Cents., 76f. sc. 78f. 77f. 95c. 90c. 80c. 90c. 77f. 85c. 78f.
77f• 95c. 90c. 80c.; National Loan, 103 f. 80c.; Rente de Naples,
SSE 50c. 70e. 60c. ; Roman Five per Cents., 8414 N 85 8461 ;
Rente d'Espagne, Five per Cents., 12%; Rente d'Espagne,
'three per Cents., 401 s %1A % ; Royal Spanish Loan, 86;
Rente Perpetuelle d'Espagne, Five per Cent., 643' 1, %; Bel-
gian Loan, 1831, 87 86i4 ; Haytian Loan, 215 f. Exchange on
London, one month, money, 25f. 75c. ; three months, money,
25f. 65c.-Ibid.

German .z Papers speak confidently of an
approaching change in the Papal Cabinet, and
allude to a reinforcement of Russian troops,
which is shortly to be thrown into the province

of Moldavia. Their contents, generally speaking,
are of little or no importance.
VIENNA, FEB; 11.—Five per Cent. Metall., 92 4-stbs ;
Four per Cent. 82,i ; Bank Shares, 1,231, 1,238.

COURT OF CHANCERY.-(THIS DAY.)

The LORD CHANCELLOR said it might be convenient
for him to state, that as he found the Privy Council would not
sit to.morrow, he would sit in Lincoln's Inn-hall, as usual, at
ten o'clock. He also intimated, at the sitting of the Court,
that it would be necessary for him to go away at two o'clock.