The Sun.
London, England, 1832-11-02 00:00:00

A
nu,

LONDON,
FRIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 2, 1832.

We understand that the official accounts re-
ceived to-day from the Hague do not bring any
information of an important character; but there
are private letters in town, from an influential
source, which mention several circumstances in-
dicative of a more conciliatory spirit on the part
of the King of HOLLAND. This being the last
day allowed to that Monarch for his decision
upon the important points submitted to him, there
are, of course, general versions afloat as to the
probability of his answer being of a more
pacific tendency, but that to which we allude has
obtained credence in the best quarters, although
we are very far from pledging ourselves to the
opinions of those who go on such able conclu-
sions. On the other hand, authentic accounts
from Belgium state that war was there looked
upon as inevitable, and the preparations made at
Antwerp betoken anything rather than a pacific
termination of the present negotiation. The
answer of the King of HOLLAND is not ex-
pected at the Foreign-office until Monday ; on
which day it will probably be discussed in a
Cabinet Council, summonses having been issued,
as we understand, for that purpose.

Private accounts from Paris to-day again state
that Prussia will oppose no obstacle to the
march of the French troops into Belgium. There
is already a strong force upon the frontiers ;
but the troops certainly will not enter Belgium
until after the 12th, however peremptory may be
the answer of the King of HOLLAND. We have
no information from our Correspondents in sup-
port of the letters here alluded to.

The German Papers, which arrived this morn-
ing, contain an article from Berlin, in which
it is stated that the Pussian Cabinet objects to
the entry of the French army into Belgium.
We have no means of ascertaining the source
from which this article emanated, and cannot,
therefore, fix the degree of importance to which
it is entitled, but there is a probability about it
which at this moment recommends it to the at-
tention of the reader. It is at variance, indeed,
with the declarations of official personages in
this country, but we have been so frequently de-
ceived by them, that we ought rather to form
our conclusions from the numerous indications
of a hostile spirit towards France and England
on the part of the Northern Powers, than on
those pacific assurances to which so much im-
portance is attached . by the British and
French Cabinets., The Berlin article says,
" Should the French Cabinet not desist from
its purpose, but send troops against Antwerp,
this might easily lead to a war." That war
might be the result of such a movement is highly
probable ; but how can the French Cabinet de-
sist ? Has it not pledged itself to the nation,
and would it be able to stand an hour after the
meeting of the Chambers if it were to exhibit so
disgraceful a dread of the Holy Alliance, as an
abandonment of the promise made to the King
of BELGIUM to assist him in his attempt to re-
cover possession of Antwerp from the King of
HOLLAND
BERLIN, OCT. 22.—1 n consequence of unpleasant news
from Paris, great activity is observed in the department of
the Minider for Foreign Affairs. It is said that the French
Ministry persists in its intention to let French troops enter
Belgium, and to take the citadel of Antwerp by force,
and that it has *wed a declaration to that effect. The

other Confine Mat powers, which have no deference to pay
to ambitions channe, and look on the dispute between Bel
glum and Holland in a point of view very different from
that in which ft ta considered in France, refuse, as we
hear, to allow this, and in case of extremity will op-

pose force to prevent it. The French Ministry, it is
true, is said to have made proposals which manifest
the disinterested views and intentions of France.
It will give to the other members of the Conference.
especially to Prussia, certain guarantees in case the citadel
of Antwerp should not be quickly subdued, but require a
siege. Considering the frequent changes in the French
Administration, it would certainly be important to have
security for the future retreat of the French from Belgium,
if they should quit with the assent of the Powers. For,
if Louis Philip is very pacific, and entertains the most
honourable sentiments towards all the European Powers,
his words are, however, but individual wishes, and can-
not give the Powers sufficient confidence so long as the
internal affairs of France are in their present state, and the
Executive Government remains under the preponderating
influence of the journals, and the fickle will of the people.
This is felt at Paris, and, therefore, a proposal has been made
that Prussia shall occupy a part of Belgium, and occupy
it till the citadel of Antwerp shall have been taken from
the Dutch and delivered to the Belgians, and the French
troops have returned to France. But this proposal is not
approved by our Court, because the acceptance of it during
the uncertain course of political affairs in France might
lead to collision, which it is wished to avoid. The calling
in of two powerful armies, jealous of each other, to occupy
one territory, might certainly be more likely to lead to
a general war, than if both continued strictly to respect
the neutral territory of Belgium. This appears to be, on
mature deliberation, the opinion formed by our
Cabinet, and it is affirmed that it has rejected the propo-
sal of France, declaring at the same time that Prussia will
most scrupulously observe the neutrality of Belgium, but
not suffer it to be violated by any other Power. Should
the French Cabinet, therefore, not desist from its purpose,
but send troops against Antwerp, this might easily lead to
a war.

VIENNA, OCT. 22.—Five per Cents., Metalliques,
87 546 ; Four per Cents., 76 ; Bank Shares, 1,132.
Allgemeine Zeitung, Oct. 27.

We have just received (three o'clock) the es-
tafette of Wednesday, the only important article
in which is from Berlin, and will be found under
the head of the German Papers.

FRENCH Fu?ins, PARIS Ocr. 31.-Five per Cents, 961.25 c. 40c.
96f. 35c. 40c. 50c. 55c. 50c: 45c. -40 e. 35c. 40c. ; Four per Cents.,
80f. 50c. 25c.; Three per Cents., 681, 67f. 90c. 68f. 68f. sc.
6,9 f. 15c. 10c. 681 ; National Loan, 96f. 55c. ; Bank Actions,
1770 f. ; Rente de Naples, 81f. 40c. 50c. 40c. ; Rente de Romani,
81%;4%}4 ; Rente d'Espagne, Mi% ; Royal Spanish Loan, 79;
Rente Perpetuelle d'Espagne, 57;4 94% % ; Belgian Loan, 77 IA
; Haytian Loan, 200 f.; Exchange on London, one month,
money, 2.5 f. SOc.; three months, money, 25f. 65c.-Cours Au..
thentique.

We have inserted elsewhere a letter from a
correspondent on the subject of a substitution
of a postage for the present Stamp Duty on
newspapers. He appears to imagine, that we
did not in a former article take into our calcula-
tion the benefit to the revenue which would
arise from the increase in the receipts of the
paper duty occasioned by the large increase
in the circulation of newspapers. We
can assure him that we did, and that
we shall, when the proper time comes,
be ready to prove to the CHANCELLOR of the
EXCHEQUER, not only that we have not for-
gotten his pledges upon this subject, and are
prepared to hold him to them, but that the most
profitable course he can pursue is, as we have
before suggested, a large reduction of the Stamp
Duty. With respect to the latter part ofour corres-
pondent's letter, we agree with him that assessed
taxes arc disagreeable things ; but, if fairly ap-
portioned, they would not be of so partial a nature
as an " Excise tax upon any article in universal
demand." Bread is an article in universal de-
mand, but as a man of 40,0001. per annum
cannot consume more bread than a man of
40W., an Excise tax upon it would evidently be
more unfair than a tax levied upon the dwell-
ings of the respective parties, according to
their value.

Thousands have fondly imagined that they
only could stir a fire ; so thousands think that
they solely have hit upon the true remedy
for the disorders of Ireland; the only differ-
ence being that the question is of quenching
and not raising a flame. One of the most
curious of the many plans which have, in conse-
quence, been submitted to the public is that of
an anonymous writer of a pamphlet, just pub-
lished, entitled, " Observations on the State of
Ireland, addressed to impartial Inquirers." The
thirty pages of which it consists are divided into
three chapters. In the first, the writer traces
the misery of the Irish peasantry to their being
contented with existing upon a sufficient supply
of the cheapest article of subsistence, so that
when the potatoe crop fails they starve, and na-
turally become turbulent and unmanageable.
He observes that—
" The permanent depression of wages, which is the
natural consequence, renders it almost impossible for in-
creased exertions to obtain any considerable increase
to the comforts and enjoyments of life. It effectually hin-
ders them, therefore, from being made, and idleness and
apathy become the distincuishing characteristics of the
people. The principle of frugality, the principle which
prompts to save and accumulate, is rendered inactive ; the
desire of bettering our condition, which, deeply seated in
the human breast, has had a beneficial influence in other
countries, loses•its power ; it becomes daily more difficult
for the people to emerge from their distressed condition.
Under such circumstances, it is not surprising that the
Irish peasant, careless of the morrow, and indifferent to all
but his daily stipend and the few wants of his station,
should devote any accidental profits to the purchase of re-
laxation and oblivion, at the fair or the public-house; that,
instead of deferring the period of marriage till a small
capital enables him to provide for a family, he should
rather hasten the time when, with a partner of his miser-
able lot, he may enjoy almost the only consolation which
he has in common with the rest of humanity.
" Thus the difficulty of supplying food for the rising
generation becomes every day greater ; and us the tendency
of population to increase is not checked by moral restraint,
by the prevalence of forethought and prudence, it must be
checked by the prevalence of vice, misery, and famine :
there is no alternative."

The author then proceeds to argue that our
object ought to be to teach the Irish to
value the comforts of life, and to dispose them to
defer the period of marriage, so as not to depress
their own condition and that of their children.
This is undoubtedly what we ought to aim at,
but the how is the question. Before answering
this question, our author devotes his second
chapter to an examination of the chief obstacles
which lie in the way of any attempt to improve
the condition of the Irish. We should have
thought that they might have been almost all, if
not all, included in the comprehensive word,
ignorance. But our pamphleteer resolves them
all into the interest of the Catholic priesthood.
His proposition stands somewhat thus :—The
roots of the evil are over-population and want of
providence in marrying ; the priests derive the
greater part of their income from marriage fees ;
they encourage early marriages; ergo, the inte-
rest of the priests is the obstacle in the way of
improvement. No doubt it is very desirable
that the Catholic priests should not have so
direct an interest in the encouragement of im-
provident marriages; but we imagine that if a man
were so educated as to be made to know that
his happiness or misery, as far as having a suffi-
ciency of food. was coneerned,* depended, not

upon the government, not upon his landlord,
not upon the Pro•es4ant parson, not upon the
tithe proctor, not upon his priest, but upon his
own providence and forethought, and nothing
else, he would not be induced, by the influence
or interest of the priest, to prepare starvation
for himself and children. If• our author had
looked to the higher ranks of Catholics, although
he would have found the spiritual influence of
the priesthood sufficiently great, he would not
have found it so far overmastering the prudence
taught by education as to make the boys of a
gentleman's family marry at seventeen. The
writer thus concludes his second chapter.

" And, as it has been shown, a change in the habits
and manners of the lower class is the only remedy for the
permanent relief of this country; the alternative is either
to induce the priest to co-operate in promoting such a
change, or to introduce another influence that may gra-
dually supplant his authority."

We are now brought to the grand discovery—
to the influence which is to overturn the autho-
rity of the Catholic priesthood. It is no other
than the conversion of the Catholic Irish to
Methodism, or to any other sectarian form of
Christianity. How this is to be accomplished
our anonymous friend does not attempt to say ;
but observing that the Dissenters of England are,
generally speaking, some of the best behaved,
provident, and orderly classes of the community,
he at once jumps to the conclusion, that to make
the Catholics Protestant Dissenters will make
them hippy. The writer means well, but he
has clearly mistaken a concomitant for a cause.
The Catholic clergy may occasionally abuse the
influence they have over their flocks, but all that is
wanted to restrain it within proper and legiti-
mate bounds is increased knowledge on the part
of the people.

COURT OF CHANCERY.-(THIS DAY.)

The LORD CHANCELLOR having unfortunately con-
continued to feel unwell to-day, was still unable to come
out. The MASTER of the ROLLS in his Lordship's un-
avoidable absence, met the other' Learned Judges and
King's Counsel in Lincoins' Inn-hall. When the com-
pliments had passed, usual upon meeting after so long
an absence, and the learned party had partaken of a re-
freshment, they repaired to their respective Courts in
Westminster Hall.

The LORD CHANCELLOR confidently expects to be able
to sit in Westminster to-morrow.

ROLLS COURT.-(THIS DAY.)

His Honour the MASTER of the ROLLS sat in his Court
in Westminster, to-day, which for simplicity and conve-
nience, is unequalled by any of the Courts in Westminster
Hall. In its construction the comforts of the bar have not
been forgotten, a room having been appropriated for their
own use.

His HONOUR was occupied with petitions, of no public
importance, up to the period of our reporter leaving.

VICE-CHANCERY COURT.-(THIS DAY.)

This being the first day of Michaelmas Term, his
Honour the VICE-CHANCELLOR sat at Westminster about
half-past 1 o'clock, after having met the other Judges
and King's Counsel, at Lincoln's Inn, where they were en-
tertained by his Honour the MASTER of the ROLLS.