The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-22 00:00:00

SPAIN.

The Peninsular Correspondence says :—" The
Spanish fleet which is to act in case of hostilities
against the Moors is to remain at Algesiras till the
result of the negotiations with the Court of Fez is
known." A letter says that the departure of M.
Rios Rosas, ambassador at Rome, had at last been.
fixed for the 19th, and that he is specially charged
to endeavour to obtain the Pope's consent to the
sale of ecclesiastical property subject to the condi-
tion of giving the Church consolidated stock for
the proceeds.

As the Archduke Charles Louis, brother of the
Emperor of Austril, was a few days ago visiting a
church at Rome, the horses of the carriage which
had conveyed him there took fright, started off at
a furious rate, and fell into a deep excy,vation.
Although the Archduke was not in the vehicle, a
thanksgiving service for his escape was celebrated
four days back in the cathedral of St. Stephen, at
Vienna, and it was attended by the Emperor and
Empress of Austria and by all the Imperial family.

THE INDIA, CHINA, AND
PENINSULAR MAILS.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY MORNING,

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Alhambra, Captain Steward, has arrived, with the
PeninSular, and also the P era's, mails and passengers.
She left Gibraltar on the 15th, Cadiz the 16th,
and Lisbon the 18th; she did not call at Oporto or
Vigo.

The Alhambra brings £3,000 in specie, 251 boxes
oranges, 500 boxes almonds, 60 boxes indigo, and
sundries

The Pera spoke the Ceylon steamer on the 12th,
140 miles east of Algiers, and at 11 a.m. on the
13th, 150 miles east of Cape de Gatte, her Majesty's
ship Euryalus ; all well.
Gibraltar exchanges on London, 50; Paris, 5 26 ;
Marseilles, 527; Genoa, 5 30.
The American barque Celestia had arrived at
Gibraltar with damage, having been in collision 60
miles from Madeira with the steamer Great Bri-
tain, from Liverpool for Melbourne.
The barque Southerner arrived at Gibraltar on
the 13th with the master and five men of the
American barque Kate Wheeler, abandoned at sea
leaky ; men picked up in lat. 37 30 N., long. 4 10
W. remainder taken by a British barque, bound to
Bombay from Liverpool. The Kate Wheeler was
laden with marble from Genoa, for Boston.

The French Government steamer Coligny had
left Gibraltar, following in the wake of the Spanish
expedition to the Riff coast.

Lisbon exchanges at three months were quoted
on London at 531, paper over, and something done
at 53re,-; Paris, 5 35 ; other places unaltered.
Heavy sales of stock and bank shares ; Three per
Cents. registered at 461 to 461 ; Coupons, 45 ; and
Marton, t ; Deferred, 30 to 31; Bank of Portugal
shares, 81 to 81 pm. ; Oporto ditto, 24 to 25.
The blue-book respecting the French claims had
been published at Lisbon, and a debate in the Lower
House commenced on the reply to the King's
speech.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, TUESDAY MORNING.

THE ARRESTS.

Matters continue nearly at a standstill, and since
Saturday last the authorities seem to have made but
little progress in the unravelment of the plot—for
a plot there undoubtedly has been, though its pre-
cise objects are as yet by no means made clear.
The Northern Whig, of yesterday, has the annexed
statement in connexion with the Belfast arrests :
"Up to the hour at which we write (Sunday night) not
an additional particular in connexion with the arrests of
seven days ago can be placed before the public, so far as
the movements of the authorities are concerned. Both on
the part of the Crown and the legal advisers of the prisoners
there seems to be an extraordinary desire to abide the events
which may turn up in the course of time. Than this
nothing can be more dangerous to the harmony and the
peace of the community, and there seems to be on both
sides a want of confidence in the merits'of their respective
cases. We are informed that Mr. Tracy has personally
visited the authorities of Dublin Castle for the purpose of
receiving instructions with respect to his future course of
action in this case. Provided that this interview has taken
place, and provided that a magistrate, conversant with
Belfast and Belfast police life, cannot see through this sup-
posed conspiracy, what useful service, under any circum-
stances, may he expect from other persons totally unac-
quainted with the town, or the political and religious tone
which:pervades its inhabitants ? If there has been a blunder
made—as we fear there has been—Dublin Castle is the very
last place to seek for an antidote ; and we would rather
desire to see our local magistracy bearing themselves the
burden of the result—whatever it may be—than appealing
to higher • authorities who can know nothing whatever of
the circumstances of the case. We have not yet learnt
the result of Mr. Tracy's visit to Dublin Castle.. The
public, however may prepare themselves for some extraor-
dinary disclosures in the course of the next few days. It
may be that the prisoners at present in the County Gaol
may be brought before the Petty Sessions Court, and that
they will, upon certain evidence, be returned for trial.
Of this, however, we have not the least hope, inasmuch
as the Crown would have long since prosecuted had
they good grounds to prosecute upon. But, supposing
that the prisoners should be returned for trial, have the
authorities the least prospect of conviction in any one case ?
Supposing they know- far more than the public have yet
learned, and believing that they have information which
none others than themselves are in possession of, why do
they not meet the case boldly in the thee ? Why does Mr.
Tracy visit Dublin Castle? Why do the constabulary
seek after Kearns? And, why do the whole party who
had charge of these arrests appear to be in the utmost state
of doubt and confusion ?"

In the Belfast police-court yesterday Mr. John
Rea, solicitor for the persons under arrest, applied
to the stipendiary magistrate (Mr. Tracy) to know
when there would..be a pablin.inxestiFation into the
charges preferred against the 17 prisoners now in
Antrim gaol, and suggested that Friday would be
a convenient day. Mr. Tracy, however, declined
fixing any particular day, and would make no pro-
mise as to time. After some sparring between the
solicitor and the stipendiary the following conver-
sation ensued :

" Mr. Rea—l hope the magistrates of the county or the
petty sessions district will get notice of the time of holding
the inquiry, for I should consider it my right to address
them, for the purpose of showing that these persons should
not bo returned for trial. From all I hear Ido not think
there is evidence to warrant it.
" Mr. Tracy—You cannot have heard anything of the
case. Nobody knows anything about it except myself and
the parties with whom I have communicated.
" Mr. Rea—l would not address you now, only that it
is the current opinion that the Crown has had sufficient
time to investigate the matter.
" Mr. Tracy—They are not prepared at present to inves-
tigate the case. I cannot be hurried into it, and there is
time enough between this and the assizes. It is in my
power to remand them day after day as long as I consider
necessary for the ends of justice-. I cannot have any per-
sonal interest in the matter one way or the other.
" Mr. Rea said, he was sure his worship was just as much
opposed to the Orange system as to the Riband system.
" Mr. Tracy replied that the Orange system had nothing
to do with it.

" Mr. Rea said, be thought it was a counterpart of the
Orange system, and was surprised to find that it had any
connexion with the Phoenix Club.

" Mr. Tracy—The charge is clearly defined in the statute.
The charge imputed to them is belonging to an illegal secret
society, and I do not want any remarks made about any
other society. No other society has anything to do withit.
" Mr. Rea—Part of my defence is that they are no worse
than their neighbours. If your worship would fix Friday
for it—

"Mr. Tracy--I cannot fix any day. I have several
matters to do in connexion with it that I cannot explain.
It is a very simple inquiry, I take it.
" Mr. Itea—l believe the British Constitution has left
Belfast this last week.

" Mr. Tracy—lf iiese people had their way in Belfast
the British Constitution would have very little to do in it
in a short time.

" Mr. Rea—Maybe we would have a far better one. I
have a clear duty to perform, and I like to perform it,
against the Crown, because I do not think it has done its
duty to the people.
" Mr. Tracy—That exhibits avery amiable propensity.
"Mr. Rea—l do not forget their services to myself, and
I lama to repay thein."