The Sun.
London, England, 1832-12-07 00:00:00

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LONDON,
FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 7, 1832.

The General Election will soon be over.
(°-morrow will he the nomination day for most
of the boroughs throughout England, and by
Wednesdav the returns will be received.

`We refer for the last accounts from Antwerp
to another part of The Sun. The siege was car-
tying on with vigour by the French, and with
corresponding inactivity on the part of the Dutch.

There appears to be a very general impression
'll the public mind, that Ministers are alarmed
4t the prevalence of sentiments more liberal than
'they consider consistent with the nature of our
4stitutions, and the stability of Government ;
pfd that, in order to prevent the preponderance
the mouvement party in the House of Com-

mons, the Whigs are, in many instances, culti-
vating an alliance with the Conservatives against
Liberal candidates. We cannot help thinking
that the impression to which we allude, is alto-
gether an erroneous one ; for whatever may be
the views of those Members of the Cabinet who
were so profusely honoured with Court favour,
at a time when Earl GREY was under the shadow
of Royal displeasure, it is not to be supposed
that such men as Lord HOLLAND, Lord LANS-
nowNE, and Lord BROUGHAM, would consent
to remain in a Cabinet, the majority of which
would attempt to interrupt the course of political
improvement, of which the Reform Bill is but
the commencement. That Lord BROUGHAM

and those of his colleagues who, like him, are

thought to be thorough Liberals, are anxious to
prevent the spread of wild doctrines, and to
check visionary plans, we can easily believe ; for
just in proportion as a man desires improve-
ment, he is firm in opposing innovation, which
may prove destructive ; but we cannot believe
that they would attempt to render the political
machine of Reform useless, by locking the wheel
which was to set it in motion.

It is quite true that, with the exception of the

Reform Bill, Ministers have done little in the
way of public improvement and benefit, since
their accession to office. They have neither re-
pealed the taxes on knowledge, nor reduced a
standing army, which, in a time of profound
peace, amounts, with militia and marines on
shore, and the newpolice, to nearly 200,000 men,
and which has cost, in 17 years, 200,000,0001.
sterling, nor reduced the assessed taxes, as might
be done by means of a more general and less
oppressive tax, which would affect those who
derive a great deal from the country, without
contributing any thing towards it; nor abolished
the disgraceful, degrading, and sometimes mur-
derous system of punishment in the army. These,
and a hundred other grievances and abuses, re-
main in force as under a Tory Administration,
and if the present Ministers had not given earliest
of good intentions, public indignation would have
been excited against them. But is it fair to
suppose that they do not intend to bring forward
as rapidly as time will permit, those measures
which men of sense and patriotism have declared
necessary for the good of the people? Could
they have done this already, opposed as they
have been by different factions, and with the
Court influence directly against them ? We
think not ; and we think also that they will con-
sider the Reform Bill as the fly-wheel of the
political machine, and immediately set it in
motion—that they will not regard that Bill as
the end, but as the means, of improvement, and
that they will aim, not at the retention of place,
but at the gratitude of the country.
In the meantime, however, we would seriously
caution Ministers against the display of any
conduct which could warrant a serious belief
that they are labouring under the delusion that
danger is threatened by the Liberal party. Were
every Radical Candidate to be returned to Par-
liament, the preponderance of true Conzerva-

tives—of men who would make the Government
and our institutions what they ought to be, and
not destroy those distinctions of society which
are necessary for its welfare—would be sufficient
for any well-meaning Ministry ; and no other
can, we are sure, ever maintain itself against a
Reformed Parliament.

We have received the Paris Papers of Wed

nesday, but they contain no matter of importance,
in which the English papers have not anticipated
them. Indeed, we showed yesterday that the
French Papers were more likely to find Ant-
werp news in our journals, than we in theirs.
They contain no other intelligence of interest on
this side of the channel.
FRENCH FuNns.-Psals, DEC. 5.-Five per Cents., 97f. 20c.
25c. 20c. 15c. 10c. 20c. 25c. 30c. 40c. 97E 50c. 45c. 40c. 35c. 30c.
25c. 20c.. Loan of 1832. 97f. 25c. 30c. ; Four and a Half per
Cents., 90f. ; Four per Cents., 80f. 80c. 95c. ; Three per Cents.,
69f. 68f. 95c. 69E 68f. 95c. 69f. 69f. sc. 69f. 69t. sc. 10c. 20c. 25c.
20c. 10c. sc. €9f. ; National Loan, 97f. 55c. ; Bank Actions,
1,680 f. ; Rente de Naples, 80E 30c. 10c. 30c. 20c. 30c. 80f. 15c. ;
Roman Five per Cents., 7834 % % ; Rente d'Espagne,
Five per Cents, 131/8 ; Rente d'Espagne, Three per Cents., 30%
ILA % % % ; Royal Spanish Loan, 7934 80 ; Rente Perpetuelie
d'Espagne, 58% % % %i 6 % 58% %Sa % ; Belgic Loan,
753 ; Haytian Loan, 2101. Exchange on London-One month,
paper, 25E 65c. ; money, 25C 65c. ; Three months, money, 251.
55c.-fours Authentique.

German Papers contain no news of moment.
An article, dated Turin, Nov. 20, mentions that

it is in contemplation to raise the Sardinian army
to its full complement of 60,000 men. The rest
of the article consists of mere rambling specula-

tion :

SPIRES, Nov. 26.—1 t is well known that conformably
to the resolution of the German Diet, a very considerable
tete de pont was to be erected at Gemersheim. This
plan has not yet been executed, on account of the very
great expense, which is said to be estimated at nine mil-
lions of florins. We now hear, however, that the pro-
ject is to be carried into effect, and that commissioners are
already appointed by the Diet.
STUTTGARD, Nov. 21.—The permanent Counsellors of
the States met to-day to examine, as the Constitution pre-
scribes, the account of the public revenue and the expen-
diture of the year 1831-1832, and to discuss the account
which is to be laid before the Assembly of the States in
their next session.
CAssEL, Nov. 23.—1 t is reported that the Govern-
ment will convoke the Assembly of the States for the sth
of January, and not wait till the 26th, the latest date
fixed by the Constitution. It is impossible to predict the
the results of this next Session, as all will depend on the
possibility of an accommodation between the Ministry and
the Estates. There can, however, be but little hope of
affairs taking such a turn, if it be true that a considerable
number of the newly-elected deputies intend to begin by
proposing to impeach the Ministry, which would be fol-
lowed by a new refusal of the budget, which was not ac-
eepted last year. If an arrangement should be effected,
the approaching Session may be very important and long,
for there are many laws to be discussed.
TURIN, Nov. 20.—The arrest of the Duchess of Berry
has caused a great sensation in our Court; it was thought
that the Duchess was out of France, and in safety, when
the news of her arrest arrived ; now fears are entertained
respecting the proceedings against her, and many disclo-
sures which may lead to disagreeable discussions. We
often hear people say that M. Thiers would have done
better and have more proscribed the interest of his Go-
vernment, if he had favoured the retreat of the Duchess,
and suffered her to escape unmolested. It is affirmed that
she was on the point of going to Italy, and would have
fixed her abode in Modena. The juste-milieus, they
say, will derive no advantage from the capture of the Prin-
cess, but get into difficulties, which might have been averted
by a little prudence. Military preparations are again
making here; it is in contemplation to raise the army to
its full complement of 60,000 men ; whereas at present
there are only 28,000 men under arms. This increase is
rendered necessary by the present state of things, which it
is evident cannot continue. A general reduction of the
armies of Europe, the favourite plan of the juste-milieu,
is not to be thought of, but, on the contrary, we must be
ready for un,oreseen events. The spirit that prevails in
Upper and Lower Italy is not the best, and manifests itself
on every occasion. The Governments are on the qui vire,
and they have especially increased their vigilance since
the correspondence of Mr. Seymour, published in the Eng,

lish journals, gives to the discontented a kind of moral sup-
port which they had nct viwte, and which is very favour-
abl, to their plans. One would think that the English
Government was seeking to revolutionize all Europe.
Considering the usual secrecy of English diplomacy
and the rigorous superintendence of its agents, it is not con-
ceivable that the documents should be published without
the previous knowledge of the Government, which must
contribute to inflame people's minds and keep up that party
spirit which is already too much excited. It is affirmed
that Lord Palmerston has expressed great displeasure at
the publication of Mr. Seymour's correspondence; but we
shall doubt the sincerity of this displeasure till he seriously
urges the punishment of those who are to blame. The
leaders of the liberal party in the legations triumph in
this publicity, by which they are in some degree en-
couraged in their hostility to the Papal Government. I►t
is a dangerous game that the English Ministers are play-
ing, for notl,ing is more easy than to excite discontent ;
and if we are rightly informed a part of the Swiss troops
in the Papal service have already been exposed to the se-
ductions of the liberal party. What misfortunes may ac-
crue to the Roman states, if, in new troubles, the armed
force should be wanting in its duty !
VIENNA, Nov. 26.—Five per Cents. 83 9-16 ; Four
per Cents. 724 ; Bank Stock 1076.—Allgemeine Zeitung,
Dec. 1.

The last official accounts from Brussels state
that the present Belgian Ministers are likely to
remain in office, the senate being entirely in their
favour, and many of the Members of the Cham-
ber of Deputies, who voted against them, having
expressed a wish that they should remain.

The account which we copied yesterday from
the Times, relative to the proposed establish-
ment of a daily estafette with Paris, appears to
have excited much interest in a particular quar-
ter, where its correctness is denied. We have
reason, however, to believe, that the statement
of obstacles having been thrown in the way of the
proposed arrangement by some of the persons con-
nected with the Post-office here, who derive an
advantage from the non-estafette days, is not
unfounded ; but we are able to assert positively,
that similar obstacles exist on the other side of
the water. This is denied by the French jour-
nals, but the fact is easy of proof. It is to be
hoped, however, that neither the Duke of RICH-
MOND nor the Director of the Postes in France,
will allow a few interested subalterns to prevent
the accomplishment of an object so important
to the mercantile interest in both countries.

We have received a small pamphlet by Mr•
MUNDELL, entitled " A Supplement to an Exa-
mination taken on the Bank Charter." The
objects Mr. MUNDELL has in view in this Sup-
plement are to reply to objections which have
been urged against his examination of the evi-
dence taken before the Committee of Secrecy on
the Bank Charter, to explain errors attributed
to him, and to bring under the notice of the
public the results of the account, No. 6 of the
Appendix to the report of the evidence taken
before the Committee. Mr. MUNDELL very
clearly establishes, in his examination of the last
named document, that the Bank has conti-
nually abused its power of issue, but, were it not
always desirable to have the opinion of men like
Mr. MUNDELL, who have devoted time and la-
bour to the consideration of financial and statis-
tical details, it would really be a work of supere-
rerogation to show that the Bank can be no
longer safely trusted with the uncontrolled power'
it has so long exercised to the public injury.
Upon this point the public mind is made up.
There is another, however, touched upon by the
writer, with respect to which the same unanimity
is far from prevailing. We allude to the esta-
blishment of a Government Bank. Mr. MUN.

DELL having been charged with dismissing the
proposition as absurd in too cavalier a manner
in his last publication, now sums up the ob-
jections to it in a series of interrogatives. As
this is a question of vast importance, necessarily
soon to be brought into discussion, either directly
or indirectly, we copy some of the most formida-
ble of these difficulties :
" Ts the amount of Government paper to he limited or
unlimited? Even if limited at first, is there any certainty
that it will not be extended afterwards?

" Is the receipt of Government paper to be voluntary,
or is it to be compulsory ?
" If it is to be voluntary, will any one take it, unless at
a discount ?

" If it is to be compulsory, will it not necessarily be at
a discount ?

" Is the Government bank to be the sole bank of issue in

the country ?
" If it is to be the sole bank of issue in the country, are
all the existing Banking Companies now issuing notes to
be put down ? and how are they to be put down ? and
what are to be the consequences of their being put down ?
and are they to be put down without compensation? and
if with compensation, where is the compensation to come
from ?

is the exchangeable value of its paper to be
maintained ? Is payment always to he demandable in gold
and silver coin ? If so, how is the Government to purchase
the gold and silver required for the coin ? If it is not to be
always demandable in gold and silver coin, must it not ne-
cessarily be at a discount ?
' How is the State to make its issues or its payments?
Is it to appoint managers for this purpose, and are these
managers to be confined to the metropolis, or are they to
be extended to every part of the United Kingdom ?
" And what may be the political consequences?
" Will not an engine be thereby placed in the hands of
Government, which may be as fatal to the liberties as it
will be to the prosperity of the country?"
Had we been without a reformed Parliament
we could not have hesitated for a moment in say-
ing that these objections had overwhelming
weight. There cannot be a doubt that Minis-
ters would, upon the slightest show of tempta-
tion or necessity, have abused the power which
would have been in their hands with as little
hesitation as they passed the Bank Restric-
tion Act, relying upon the protection of a cor-
rupt Parliament. The danger of abuse of that
kind is, thank Gon, now considerably dimi-
nished, and if PROPER SECURITIES could be
fbund against the political evils which might
arise
i from placing a power of issuing paper mo-
ney n the hands of the Government, our fears,
as regards the possibility of an assignat crisis,
would be, perhaps, much less than, we confess,
they are at present. At the same time, we can-
not see how the objection, in principle, can be
overcome, of the Government carrying on any
trade whatever ; for, after all, banking is as much
a trade as any carried on in the city of London ;
and, notwithstanding all we have heard said in de-
fence of the Government carrying on this parti-
cular trade, we should look upon its doing SO
with as little approbation as we do upon the Go-
vernments of the continent carrying on manu-
factories of salt and gunpowder. If a Govern-
ment Bank were limited in its operation in such
a manner as would remove these objections, we
admit it might be made highly advantageous to