The Sun.
London, England, 1851-05-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 17, 1851.

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of a regular system, we may readily imagine to
ourselves before long the possibility of one of the
bay-window bucks traversing the deserted saloons of
the Conservative, and exclaiming, like the hero of
0 !SIAN—" I passed through the halls of Balcleutha,
and they were desolate !" More particularly is there
a likelihood of this on the supposition that there are,
among the remaining members of the club, men as
sensitive of their independence as the Honourable
Gentleman upon whose conduct we have here eagerly
pressed forward to pronounce some few words
at least of earnest commendation. Let the
admirable example of Mr. WALTER be emulated,
and we will answer for it that the exchequer of the
club will experience the consequences. It is not
every one, however, who possesses spirit sufficient to
set the arrogance of a majority at defiance, even
when the injustice of that majority is glaringly re-
cognisable. We do not, therefore, anticipate that
much emotion will be excited in the south-eastern
corner of St. James's-street beyond that of dismay,
mingled, perhaps, with a dread of falling in like
manner under the condemnation of the so-called
Conservatives. Should the individuals who have
recently acted towards Mr. BETIIELL and Mr.
TINDAL, in this very extraordinary manner feel in-
cited to persist in a similar course of proceeding towards
their remaining associates, we rest assured, however,
that they will find ample reason of a like character for
requesting them to withdraw from all further con-
nexion with the Conservatives. Only upon the
supposition thrown out by Mr. IVALTER in his
energetic communication to the secretary, that
Conservatism and Corn-laws arc really conver-
tible terms, is the treatment of the two gen-
tlemen already particularised comprehensible
under the circumstances. Supposing this to be the
veritable principle upon which the majority of
the club have acted in the present instance, ample
opportunity will remain to them for multiplying
the number of persons thus gratuitously insulted
from two to two hundred, and of provoking others,
besides the Honourable Representative of Notting.
ham, to an indignant tendering of their resignation
We cannot but suspect, however, that the prompt
independence of Mr. WALTER will somewhat mo-

derate the fanaticism of the more enthusiastic, in-
ducing the majority, who have been thus precipitate
in their arrogance, to place themselves a more ac-

curate construction upon the veritable significance

of Conservatism.

it is said, sweep clean, especially the bosom of destruc-
tion. The demand of these great institutions for be-
coming the gratuitous tax-gatherers of the State is to
have a new solicitor of Customs fastened upon the
country, and a perfectly unprecedented quarrel upon
the docks. And if those alone who have been either
too credulous of the tale-bearing lies of traitors, or
too ready to corrupt the servants of great public com-
panies, and spread disaffection and unfaithfulness
among their dependents, were the only sufferers by
the fatal rigour and pernicious energy of the abettors
of the Government prosecutions, the verdict " carved
'em right," would be the unanimous finding of pub-
lic opinion. " 06, mother !" exclaimed CORIOLANUS,
"you have saved Rome, but lost your son !" The
London Dock Company have gained their cause,
but lost 13,5004 of costs—they have rescued their
two boxes of sugar at the sacrifice of about two
thousand times their whole worth.
Fortunately, at the back of all this, a Special
Committee of the House of Commons is sitting.
They have already discovered that the machinery of
the Board of Customs consists of an endless and intri-
cate system of futile forms and labyrinthine rules and
regulations, apparently devised for rendering profi-
ciency in the mysteries of the Customs business im-
possible, except by becoming the exclusive study of a
separate profession of Custom-house ,gents; and
certainly calculated as much as possible to obstruct,
retard, and discourage, the entire trade and commerce
of the country. A complete case has been made out
for dispensing with the whole apparatus of the board,
and transferring its functions to the heads of depart-
ments in London, as it already is with signal advan-
tage at the outposts. It is proved that there is no
contriving heed and methodical mind among the Com-
missioners. Simplification and precision, the unfail-
ing evidence of the presence of thoughtful intellect
and vigorous understanding, are utterly ignored in
the existing system ; and a certain maze of meaning-
less officiousness overlays all real work with a suffo-
cating burden of the modes of transacting it. Ships
detained, goods stopped or seized, cargoes procrasti-
nated in the delivery, confiscations of merchandise
for the purpose of converting the Custom-house into
a retail shop for underselling the fair trader,—these
are a few of the beauties of our fiscal theory. The
establishment whose aim should be to facilitate trade
and extend commerce, is a perpetual drag upon the
skill and enterprise of both. This not only prevails,
but at lost its existence has been found out and ex-
posed. Before 53. 9cl. of overpaid duties can be reco-
vered from the Crown the merchant has to obtai❑ the
signatures of twelve officers, and wait twelve months
for his money. Fifteen thousand complaints of tra-
ders are sent to the petition seat every year. The
Board of Trade and the Treasury are overburdened
with memorials, on which neither of them can manage
to give a satisfactory deliverance. In short, things,
have come to that worst pass which proverbially
is the prelude to amendment. The Board of
Customs, we venture to prognosticate, will be entirely
remodelled. Half of the members (the whole would
be still better) will probably be requested to prolong
their fifteen weeks annual vacation through the whole
fifty -two. The rest will be endured until they are
legally superannuated. One or two men of
real capacity, experience, and vigorous men-
tal power, will be clothed with absolute au-
thority and undivided responsibility. Small in-
formalities and regulation traps will not be per-
mitted to reward pettifogging officers with " fines" or
"satisfactions." The scandalous huckstering in ad
valorem duties, ruinous to the fair profit of the im-
porters, carried on confessedly at a loss to the Crown,
and destructive to the retail trade of perfectly inno-
cent shopkeepers, who with rent, taxes, and fixed ex-
penses to pay, cannot compete with the Custom-douse
broker's bazaar,—all these abuses will,
_doubtless,
meet with summary correction.
Above all, the uniform civility, obliging spirit, and
prompt assistance which earn for foreign, and
especially American Custom-house officers, the good-
will even of those they tax, will be strictly enforced
in our own. The public will be ensured a plain
and satisfactory answer to simple questions. The
merchant or the stranger will not be fobbed off with
the insolent direction to employ a Custom-house
agent, cr, when he goes to the petition seat, in-
formed that he will neither be enlightened on the sub-
ject of the reasons for having injured him, the pretext
on which redress is denied, the statements he is to
meet, nor the tribunal to which he is to appeal. The
reign of Jacks-in egtice has come to a violent end,
and we may look for a little common sense and com-
mon civility from those whe are paid well for giving
us both, and seem, for that very reason, to be habitu
ated never to give us either.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We Lave received the Paris journals of yesterday.
The Constitutionnel publishes another long article
advocating the repeal of the Electoral Law of the 31st
May, 1850, and a consequent return to the regime
ot universal suffrage. It is rumoured that serious
differences exist between the PRESIDENT of the Re-
public and M. LEON YAUCHER on this subject, in
consequence of which it is considered probable that
the latter will resign the Ministry of the Interior, to
which M. DR LAMARTISE will be appointed, wbo
will in that case at once propose the repeal of the
Electoral Law.
General DURRIEU has been returned for the
Landes.
The Assembly was occupied on Thursday in dis-
cussing the Sugar Bill.
The nineteenth Committee of Parliamentary Initia-
tive has decided on recommending the rejection of
the proposition of M. HUGUENIN, for taking the fire
insurance offices into the hands of the State.
The Committee, to which was referred the propo-
4tion of M. DESMAUSSEAUI DE Givor for regulating
the presentation of petitions, unanimously adopted the
following resolution :
" No petition brought or transmitted by an assemblage
of persons can be received by the president or laid on
the bureau. Any representative whu shall make him-
self the intermediate agent between such assemblage and
the Assembly shall be subjected, according to the gra-
vity ot the case, to the penalties provided for in Art.
113 of the regulations."
At the last monthly dinner of the Republicans of
the Tie/le they invited M. DuroNr (de l'Eure) as
their guest. Although the party had not been in the
habit of giving toasts on these occasions, the rule was
in this case departed from, and M. ARMAND MAR..
EAST proposed the following one :—" To the health
of DUPONT (de l'Eure), to the venerable and vene-
rated DUPONT (de l'Eure), to the model of French
citizens." M. DUPONT (de l'Eure), who notwith-
stand his great age (eighty-four) still enjoys vigorous
health, rose and replied :—" I cannot express to you,
gentlemen, how much I am moved, and deeply
affected by the fresh proofs of sympathy and of at-
tachment which you have just given me. I cannot
better express to you my sincere gratitude than by
saying that my last sigh shall be for the Republic."
The agents of Russia are busily intriguing in
Paris to promote the fusion and restoration of the
Comte DE CHAMBORD. On this subject we read the
following in the Patrie :
" We think we are well-informed in announcing that
General Changarnier will be present to-day at a fusionist
dinner given by Mme. Pozzo di Borgo, and not, as
has been stated, by M. Pon° di Borgo, who, as is known,
is kept from the political world by the state of his mind.
MM. Guizot, DucElvel, Vitet, Damon, de Noailles, do
'Palmy, and de Pastoret will be among the guests."
Socialist intriguers are at once deported from the
territory of the French Republic, why does the Ex-
ecutive hesitate to treat Absolutist intriguers in the
same manner? Is the Executive timid, or is it act

►
vanced posts of the town were fired upon. All these
manifestations cannot, however, improve the nature of the
resistance which the populations of the Sahel will be able
to oppose to our troops. This resistance vas carried to
its utmost extent during the expeditions of 1843, 1847,
and 1819. That of 1851, undertaken with very superior
means, and with the advantage of the influence acquired
by the first successes, will certainly complete what the
others had commenced. Letters from Bugia state that
secret preparations were making for an outbreak among
the tribes who only last year submitted themselves to
General de Barrel. The false Cheriff Bon-Bargbela is
said to have turned his efforts to that side, and had been
listened to by men who impatiently support our recent
domtnation. Nothing in fact is more probable than the
first success of these attempts, but we have every reason
to hope that the first blows dealtiby General de St Ar-
naud, and the approach of a column sufficiently strong
arriving from Setiff under the orders of General Camon,
will promptly restore order. The Governor-General,
par interim, will embark on the 13th for Bougie and
Djidjelli, where he will meet General de St. Arnaud,
on the 15th or 16th, and decide on the measures which
are to be taken.",
The following are the chief items in the weekly
bank account :

•
Specie in Paris Francs.
415,150,160
Ditto in branches ... ••• ... 140.893,147
Bills in Paris portfolio 46,452 911
Bills in branches
... ••• ••• 73,182,748
Bank-notes in circulation ... ... 414114.900
Ditto in branches ... 102,,818,775
Credit to Treasury ... ..• ... 105,558,965
Private credit accounts ... 85,298,179
Ditto in branches . ••• ... 28,154,101
Gold has increased in Paris 41 million, but is less
by 2fr millions in the departments. The portfolio
has increased nearly two millioms, and for the de-
partments 1:11 million. The bills in circulation have
increased million in Paris, and 24 in departments.
The credit to Treasury is upwards of 5 millions more.
The Bourse was feeble. The Five per Cents, opened
at 89f. 90c., fell to 89f, 80c., rose subsequently to 90f,
25c., and losed at 90f. 10c. ; the Three per Cents.
closed at 54f. 95c. Orleans Railroad Shares, 8101.;
Rouen, 6121.50 c.; Great Northern, 472 f. 50c.; Avignon,
2231. 75c.; Vierzon, 420 f ; Basle, 143 f. 75e.; Bordeaux, '
4001.; Paris and Strasburg, 3621. 50c.; Tours and
Nantes, 2731. 75c.
BUOINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, MAY 16.
Boulogne and Amiens, 9% Dutch Rhenish, 3%—Luxem-
bourg, 1 —Namur and Liege, 7 —Northern of France, 14:14
—Paris and Strasbourg, 103s—Tours and Nantes, s%—West
Flanders, 3.

SPAIN.
Madrid journals of the 11 th have arrived.
Tne elections had passed off in Madrid without dia.
arbanco.
The Bolsa was closed on the 11th.

PORT UGAL.
The Madrid lieraldo, of the 11th, publishes a cir-
cular which was sent by the Duke of SALDANHA to
all the civil governors of Portugal, on his receiving
official notice that he h3d been appointed by the
QUEEN President of the Council of Ministers. He
desires that it may be immediately made known in
every district of Portugal that his object is to conso-
lidate the throne of DONNA MAnIA IL, and the liber-
ties guaranteed by the charter of the Monarchy ; as
eso to introduce such reforms as experience may
have shown to be necessary.

GERMAN Y.
The Breslau Gazette says :—" The Emperor of
Austria will leave Vienna on the 22,1, to visit the
northern part of his empire. INIAJoa KELLER, his
aide-de-camp, has already proceeded to Warsaw to
compliment the Emperor NICHOLAS, aid to invite him
to an interview, not on the Polish territory, but at
Frappau. It is hoped that the Czar will accompany
the Emperor to Olmutz, where grand military ma-
meuvres will take place. I: is thought that the
object of this proposed conference is to bring about
a closer connexion between the Emperor of AUs-
TRIA and the King of PRUSSIA, and to decide on the
line of policy to be observed towards the French
Republic."

Accounts from Frankfort of the 15th state that
M. DE Rocuow was formally introduced to the Diet
on the previous day by Count DE THORN.
The Prussian Gazette has the following from
Elberfeld, dated the 13ch :—" In the night of Satur-
day last placards were sent to different places in the
environs for the convocation of an assembly of the
people between Elberfeld and Kronenberg on the fol-
lowing day. The authorities adopted
measures to
prevent this assemblage, which was for a criminal
object. The attempt to hold a meeting, however,
continued, and revolutionary pamphlets, supplied by
the central committee of European democracy, and
subscription Este, for political refugees in foreign
countries, were put into circulation. A great num-
ber of persons appeared wearing the well-known
emblems of the party of anarchy. Whenever
the agents of authority presented themselves, the
crowd, which was composed of from 1,500 to 2,000
persons, gave way, but did not disperse. It was
found necessary, therefore, to proceed to the use of
force, and some slight wounds were inflicted. Three
persons, who had seriously compromised themselves,
were arrested. In a few hours tranquillity was re•
established. The burgomaster has just published a
proclamation, in which he relates what had occurred.
The assemblage was formed in a field near Trubsal.
Copies of a revolutionary appeal from RUGE, KINILEL,
ROIiGE, and HANG were distributed."

ITALY.
The Prague Gazette states that the PorE has so-
licited the Austrian Government to send a strong
reinforcement to its army of occupation in the
legations. The Indipendance of Brussels goes still
farther, for it publishes a long note which it states to
have been sent by the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs of his HOLINESS to the Austrian Cabinet,
declaring that he had accepted the aid of France only
under the influence of necessity, and is now much
alarmed lest a successful movement of the anarchists
in France should convert into enemies the French
troops who had been sent for his protection. The
object of the note, therefore, is to induce Austria to
adopt effectual measures to preserve the Papal Go-
vernment from the eventuality that it dreads. The
lndependance does not guarantee the authenticity of
this note, but states that the sourca from which it has
received it is such as to induce it to believe that it is
authentic.

DEATH OF THE DOWAGER EMPRESS OF
BRAZIL.
The Duchess AMELIA 01 Leuchtenberg, Dowager
Empress of Brazil, widow of Don Pao 1., died at
Munich on the 13th, in the 39th year of her tge.

THE HUNGARIAN REFUGEES IN
TURKEY.
The SUBLIME PORTS has, says the Cologne
Gazette of yesterday, delivered its ultimatum to the
Court of Vienna on the subject of the refugees.
It declares that on no pretext will they be detained
in the interior of the kingdom longer than next
autumn.