The Sun.
London, England, 1869-10-05 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 5, 1569.

nowhere tobe foundhalf-a-dozen republicans through-
out the whole of the peninsula. Immediately after-
wards, the crown of Spain, it may be said with perfect
truth, went a-begging among the Royal an-I Im-
perial families of Christendom. No one would con-
sent to have it. It was, at once, declined by every
one to whom it was proffered. Not aPrince in Europe
would venture upon picking it up out of the dust,
rather than the blood, of the last triumphant revolu-
tion. The ex-King Consort of Portugal was almost
importuned to accept it ; but resolutely refused to the
very last to be either a Royal Puppet or a Constitu-
tional Sovereign. Wistful eyes were turned, now
towards France, now towards England, now towards
Italy, now towards Germany. But no glimmering of
encouragement could be discerned, whether the notion
of the hour was that the future King of Spun was
discernable in an Italian Duke or in an Austrian
Archduke, whether in the stripling form of his Royal
Highness Prince ALFRED, or in the more matured
person of his Imperial Highness Prince NAPOLEON.
The throne of the Iberian peninsula continued, as for
that matter it still continues, not only vacant, but
without one reasonable reliably prospect of its being
voluntarily filled by any one. There was a wild
notion afloat, at one time, of clothing with, corona-
tion robes the venerable form of BALDOMERO EsrAß-
TErzo. But this idea was only discussed for a moment
and then dismissed. The ex- QUEEN meanwhile declined
to abdicate. Her MAJESTY would listen to no one's ad-
vice, who hinted at her resignation of her own rights,
and of those of her eldest son, the boy, Prince of
the ASTURIAS. Meanwhile DON CARLOS, the son of
Dox JUAN, the grandson of the DON CARLOS, put for-
ward his claims upon the allegiance of the Spanish
people. In a purely dynastic point of view, those claims
are of courseperfectly undeniable. But, when they were
submitted to the population of the peninsula, they
would have none of them. The Carlist insurrection
fizzed and sputtered like a damp firework and then
died out. Another Royal aspirant, who has all along
been looking askance, and with longing eyes, to the
sceptre now lying idly by in nobody's grasp, is
the Orleans brother-in-law of the last reigning
Sovereign, now exiled beyond the boundary line of
the Pyrenees, the husband of the Infanta, the
youngest son of the late ex-KING Louts PHILIPPE,
11.R.H. the Due DE NIONTPENSIER. That candida-
ture, however, among them all, appears to be the
least acceptible to the revolutionised people of
Spain. Rid of the Bourbons, they would not
dream of delivering up the sovereign authority
to a scion of the long-discarded Orleans dynasty—.
the son of the old pear-head, the grandson of the in-
famous, regicidal, fratricidal, Egaliti. Finally there
has been a rumour very recently that the unclaimed,
or, at any rate, the un-awarded Crown of Spain will
be offered to a boy-student, now at the great English
School at Harrow, to a younger son of King VICTOR
EMMANUEL, to H. R. H. the Duke of GENOA.
Scarcely is the intention of this avowed, when, as a
sort of response to those among the Spanish Leaders
who meditate submitting the name of the Duke of
GENOA to the ordeal of a plebicite, for its rejection
or acceptance, according to the will of the Spanish
multitude, when that multitude in various directions
gives evidence of its reluctance to entertain any such
proposition, namely, by a new and more formidable
outbreak than any that has taken place since the
expulsion of Queen ISABELLA and her family beyond
the Pyrenees. This outbreak, moreover, wonderful to
tell, is unmistakably Republican in its character.
The half-dozen Democrats that the champions of
Democracy had, a few months since, despaired of
finding anywhere in Spain, from the frontier lines of
France and Portugal, to the shores of the Mediterra-
nean, have not only become at last visible, but have
within this interval multiplied with astounding rapi-
dity, mil are still, to this moment, manifestly fast
multiplying. They are not only in existence—these
Spanish Republicans—they are in arms. It
remains, now, to be seen how this new difficulty will
be dealt with by the Prime Minister, Marshal
PRIM, and by the Regent, Marshal SERRANO.
Everything will depend upon the loyal adhesion to
their command of the Spanish army hitherto loyally
martialled under their banners. To the telegrams,
now dropping in from hour to hour from the penin-
sula,we shall continue to look with eager solicitude.

A QUESTION of great public moment was involved
in the proceedings in the Court of Chancery on
Saturday, touching the European Assurance Com-
pany. The case itself terminated in a compromise ;
but the opinion expressed by Vice-Chancellor JAMES,
taken in connection with others of like import, really
amounts to an unjust restriction on that most important
privilege—publication of facts and criticisms. A few
days ago, just after the petitions for the winding-up
of the European Assurance Company were brought
forward, the Times published two articles bearing on
the affairs of that offir. The first was a review of
the company's general position, and expressed pretty
strong opinions as to the species of management under
which the business had been carried on. The second
detailed the leading features in the two balance-
sheets of the office for the years 1868 and 1869,
affirming that they were " such as should have
awakened at a glance the entire distrust of anyone to
whom they might have been presented," and inti-
mating, amongst other matters, that one of the
pamphlets issued by the company quoted opinions
of the press which had never been given.
On Saturday a motion was made to commit
to prison the proprietor of the Times on the ground
that these articles, published during the hearing of
the petitions, amounted to a contempt of court. The
VICE-CHANCELLOR, like other legal authorities,
decided that the articles were objectionable, as con-
taining criticisms which had a clear tendency towards
" swaying the mind of the court." The press,
he thought, ought to refrain from interfering in cases
which were under judicial consideration.
The proprietor of the Times in a manner pleaded
guilty by offering an apology and paying the costs of
the suit. The case, however, affects not merely one
journal, but the entire " fourth estate," and in its
general bearing the dictum of the VICE-CHAN-
CELLOR must be regarded as decidedly unsatisfactory.
There is just reason for complaining that the judges
are pushing a sound legal maxim beyond its proper
limits. It is well, as a rule, that nothing should be
done to bias the mind of the public, and especially
juries and courts, against persons who are concerned
in legal cases. But this principle may easily
be carried to an injurious extreme. It is by no means
certain how far the articles in the Times can fairly
be regarded as an illegal intervention in the European
suit. The one expressed the opinion that the com-
pany was in trouble largely through the pernicious
amalgamation system ; the other stated that the com-
pany's balance-sheets were of a palpably unsatisfactory
kind. Doubtless these strictures would never have
found their way into print if proceedings against the
office had not been commenced; but, clearly, they
were not intended to serve the purpose of comments
on those proceedings. Their mission undoubtedly was
to inform the public on the position of a com-
pany of great importance, affecting the interests
of many thousand persons. Nor did they give any
very recondite information. It was stated in a
pamphlet that the European Office had been favour-
ably noticed in the Times, when no such notice had
been inserted. Ought not this ftilsehood to be made
known? Every person is aware how liable the balance-
ssththoeeoeldtesbaodyfitncAhgoostmfrgeapstanies are to be overlooked or misunder-
unfni
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shoulde
nidtsnd public.: if it
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itwrongoin unreasonablen ga
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mentasticles
mention, under any circumstances, of mat-
ters which are under the consideration of a
court, No matter how lengthy or trivial the

proceedings may be, from the time that " justice "
steps in the public voice is to be hushed. Surely
the VICE-CHANCELLOR and his colleagues can-
not have weighed the full consequences of this
decision. Is it not clear that evil-doers
can always manage to keep up a litigation of some
kind, and thus continue permanently to avert criti-
cism ? Secrecy is so valuable to commercial offenders
that the costs of many lawsuits would be cheerfully
paid to avert it. In brief, the VICE-CHANCELLOR'S
decision amounts to a highly-injurious restriction on
the most important of British liberties. No privilege
which this nation has hardly won is more valuable
than the right of free publication, and no misfortune
can be greater than its restriction beyond those fair
limits of which all approve.

LATEST INTELL LGENCE

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

THE INSURRECTION IN SPAIN.

MADRID, Oct. 4, 12.40 p.m.

A great debate followed upon the Government's
proposal to suspend individual rights, and very
warm speeches were delivered by the Republican
Deputies Castelar and Orense, and by Senor
Margall and the Minister Sagasta. After which
the Chamber adjourned.
The Volhnteers of Madrid have formally ten-
dered their support to the Government to sustain
order, and some battalions left to-day for the scene
of operations.

The insurrection continues, according to the im-
perfect information received here.

The Government reports that the movement is
diminishing in importance, the rebels in some places
being defeated, and in others are flying before the
advancing columns. Madrid is tranquil.

AAIERICA.
(Per French Atlantic Cable.)

NEW YORK, Oct. 4.
The Inman Royal Mail steamer City of Brooklyn
arrived out to-day.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
CLOSING PRICES.

Gold closed at 128; ; the highest quotation dur-
ing the day was 130 ; the lowest, 128 g.
Sterling Exchange on London lO9.
5-20 U. S. Bonds, 1882 ll9k.
44 " 1885 ll9.
14 " 1867 ll7l.
10-40
Illinois 1331.
Erie 33.
Cotton—Mid. upland 2Bc.
Petroleum—Standard White
Flour, extra state, $5.70c. to $6.30c. Corn, old
mixed, sl.lc.

FRANCE.
BOURSE, Oct. 4.—Three o'clock—The market
closed as follows :

4f per Cent.
End of month... Ital4an Fives 52 70
3 per Cent
End of month.— 71 221 Ottoman Loan ... 822
Credit Mobilier
Transatlantic 263 75 Spanish Threes ... 261
Credit Foncier 1660 Home Debt
Paris Gas 1595 Deferred —
RAILWAYS. Cash
Orleans
Western
Northern ... 1095;
. Strasburg
.
Lyons and Mediterranean
Southern.... 615
Sardinian
Austrian 762k
Lombard 5121
North of Spain
Saragossa
Roman

TILE IMPERIAL GUARDIAN ASSLTRAIVCE
Ca3IPANY.

The very extensive Distillery now being erected
at Belfast, with all recent improvements for the manufacture of
Irish whisky, by Messrs. DIThINTLLLE & CO., who have gained
a world-wide celebrity for their fine old Irish whisky, is to be
called "The Royal Irish Distillery."

TILE CORN TRADE.

The Magi* states that business in the grain trade
has again been of a very moderate character, and,
notwithstanding that the supplies of produce in
the leading markets have been far from ex-
tensive, sufficient quantities have been brought
forward to satisfy the demand. In the case of wheat, the
transactions have been quite of a retail character, and,
in order to induce purchases, factors have been
compelled to accept fully Is. to 2s. per qr. less money.
The downward movement has thus continued since the
harvest, despite the shortness of supplies; that it
must shortly cease, however, is very evident. Further
accounts do not improve on those already received in
reference to tho harvest. The yield in the Middle States
of Germany was below the average, but in the Southern
States it was better. In Austria the yield of corn is
considerably smaller than in the last two years. Advices
from California state that wheat is coming forward in
large volume, the bulk of which goes directly on board of
ship, as has been the case ever since harvest. A marked
inferiority is, however, apparent in the quality of the
produce, a great proportion of the grains being poor
and shrivelled ; so that the actual weight of wheat
secured is not so great as was recently anticipated, and
cur receipts from that quarter will not prove nearly so
extensive as we have been recently led to suppose would
be the case. The barley trade has been steadier. Fine
malting produce has realised full currencies with a fair
demand ; and grinding as well as distilling sorts
have been held with more firmness, although the transac-
tions have not been extensive. Malt has been inactive.
For oats, the demand has been quiet, and inferior foreign
produce has been lower to sell. Beans and peas have been
quiet, but firm.