The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-15 00:00:00

tution. Murmurs and complaints were heard
on every side,:and the conclusion -of the war,
in place of being regarded as a subject for joy and

mutual congratulations, was looked upon as a cala-
mity of no ordinary magnitude. We were told by
Mr. HAUMAN, a Bank director of;great acuteness and
intelligence, and considerable experience in monetary
affairs, that the year " 1816 was a period of very
considerable commercial and agricultural distress,
which rendered it necessary to relieve the public by an
increased issue of banh-notes." Tne fallen Nitro-
LEON was generally toasted as the farmers' friend, and
the millions, who wore not competent to understand the
currency question in its various ramifications, erro-
neously supposed that it was the cessation of war that
occasioned the palpable evils that were really owing
to the wanton contraction of the currency and the
reduced issue of bank notes

At that period, the bucolics were grumbling as
loudly as at present. On every side were heard
curses both " loud and deep." The agricultural in
terest was involved in ruin owing to the diminished
prices of produce, and the farmers, who had
entered into improvident bargains in a de-
preciated currency, saw nothing but ruin
before them. Tne territorial aristocracy, however,
had the game in their own hands. They possessed
powers which have long since been taken from them.
Rotten boroughs flourished in rank luxuriance, and a
Gatton or Old Sarum had as much weight in the
Legislature as the West Riding, or Lancashire, or
even the county of Middlesex, which then contained
populous districts that have since been erected into
separate constituencies, as metropolitan boroughs,
while Manchester and Birmingham were wholly
unrepresented. But this was not all. No person
was qualified for a seat in the Legislature who was not
in possession of real estate. The " landocracy" were, in
fact, omnipotent,- and could rule the nation as they
pleased, could construct or pull down Ministers—
so influential a body must necessarily be conciliated
at any sacrifice. Truth and justice was as
nothing in the scale. Measures were there-
fore immediately adopted to satisfy the com-
munity in general, and the agriculturists
in particular. The general body was restored
to good humour by an increased issue of notes,,, the
country banks followed the example afforded by. the
Bank of England, and everything went " merry as a
marriage bell." Something more was neceseary, how-
ever, to appease the discontent of the sturdy yeomen. A
land-tax was imposed, 'that enhanced the price of food
to the war level. Tao infamous corn-laws were en-
acted, and the people generally were taxed for the
exclusive benefit of the privileged few. The " worth-
less rage," as inconvertible bank-notes were termed,
gave " plenty to the labourer, profit to the trader,
productiveness to the revenue, and strength and
security to the State." The latter end of 1817 and
the entire of 1818 were years of great and general
prosperity, but unfortunately the currency theorists
would not permit the people to enjoy that prosperity
long. The agriculturists had been purchased by the
corn-laws ; the bargain was, as Sir JAMES
GRAHAM declared the other night, "an impro-
vident one," but still it was a " bargain,"
and carried into full execution. As " Lord Feenix"
might say, they thought that " they were regulan'y
bought, and they found themselves regularly sold."
The fatal Act of 1819. was passed, notwithstanding
Abe unanimous pro!est of the directors of the Bank
of England, and the strenuous opposition of the
merchants, bankers, and traders of the city of Lon-
don. The warnings of experience were, however,
disregarded—the currency quacks triumphed. Mr.
RPOANDO gravely assured Parliament that " the
alteration in value would only amount to four or
five per cent., which did not appear very
formidable to him," and the bribed agri-
culturists carried the change. The prosperity
of 1818 proved indeed to be but fleeting
and evanescent. The calamities of 1816, were renewed
with increased intensity. The manufacturing popu-
lation were the first sufferers, but the distress
speedily spread to owners and occupiers of land.
They found that they had indeed sold their birthright
for a mess of pottage, and even that poor compensa-
tion has been most justly and properly taken away ;
and as Mr. DRUMMOND truly stated, " they find
themselves exactly in the place where they were in
1819."
' What, then, remains for the agriculturists ?
How are they to obtain a restoration of their
former prosperity, and to hope for its per-
mit ence and stability ? Manifestly in one
mode, and one only, by a return to the former system
of currency, and by the total repeal cf the Acts of
1819 and 1844. In these struggles they will not be
arrayed against their countrymen—they will not be
seeking to gain a selfish object ; they will struggle
for a real " protection to British industry" of every
description, and they will have the good wishes of
the community in general, and their cordial and
friendly co-operation, in place of their decided hos-
' tility and antagonism.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
The following is the complete state of the poll for
Paris :

Carnot .
Vidal
De Flotte ... 127,005
Foy . 125,908
La Hitt°
Minjean
The above statement gives a considerable increased
majority to M. CARROT.
The election of the whole of the Democratic can-
didates for Paris has produced a profound sensation
at the E'ysee, and would, it was rumoured, lead to
a change in the Ministry; indeed, it was confid;ntly
stated on Wednesday, that the whole of the Ministry
had resigned, a statement which is at least prema-
ture, although it is not improbable that some mo-
difications in the Ministry may take place ; indeed,
it was confide fitly stated last night, and the state-
ment was not contradicted, thlt General DE L,
HITTZ had retired from the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. The following appeared in the evening
journals of Wednesday:—
" A Council of Ministers was held this morning at
the Elysee, at which the President of the Republic pre-
sided. The Prefect of the Police and General Changer-
nier were present.
" General Chsngarnier, and M.M. Thiers, Mold, Pis,
catory, De Broglie, Montalembert, and the principal
members of the majority, met in one of the committee-
rooms of the Assembly during the sitting of yesterday;
to confer on the present state of affairs._

" Special letters of convocation were last evening ad-
dressed to all the Members composing the new Parlia-
mentary club of the Rue Richelieu."
The Presse states that M. CAELpER, has been
dismissed from the Prefecture of Police. CARLIER
was an old employs of the Orleanist faction, and was
brought up in the corrupt school of M. TEsTs. He
is at present the man of all work of General
CIIANGARNIER.

The PRESIDENT of the Republic visited the Place
de la Bastille on Wednesday afternoon in an open car-,
riage, accompanied by the Minister-at-War and two
orderly officers. He was attended by the usual escort of
cuirassiers. He was everywhere well received.
The Debats gives the following as the positive re-
sults of the elections in the departments from which
returns have been received :

"MODERATE CANDIDATES.

" ener al Pelet.
"IsxnE•—M. de Barra.
" HAUTES PYRENEES.-M. de Goulard.
" VAR.-11M. Clapier and Simeon.
" A lIDECHE.—M. de la Tourette.
" ALuza.—M. Dufour.
" CHER.—MM. Poivle-Desgranges and De Vogue,

"SOCIALIST CANDIDATE,.
"BAS Earti.—MM. Gerard, Vidal, Vidal, Valentin,
Laboulaye, Hocbtalb.
"Loin ET de Etcheyozen.
" NIETRE.—M. Charles Gambon.
" HAUTE VIENNE.--.M. Ducoux.

5110241 G sT LOIRE.—MM.; qui TO F, Mad lOr ee
Montjan, sen., Charassin, Butiguier, Ramequin, and
Dain.

" HAerT Ilmnr.—(Result known). Two candidates Of
the party of M. Dodfus and M. do Berkheim have a
majority over the Socialist candidate."
It will be seen from the above statement that M.
VIDAL has been elected for theßas Rhin as well as for
Paris. He will choose to sit for that department, so that
there will soon be another and a single-handed elec-
tion for Paris.

, -
The reactionary journals lire quarrelling among
themselves as to the causes of the ill success of their
candidates for Paris. The Pairie says—
" A small number of Legitimists—yea know not whe-
ther we do not offend the true Legitimist party by giving
that name to some revolutionary Whites—have voted for
the Red list, and diierted a great number of electors
from taking part in the ballot. That is a political con-
duct. which the Legitimist party itself ought to do justice
on. We are certain that the conscience and the good
faith of the true beads of that party have already
judged that defection snore severely than we ourselves
could. do. The Gazette de France a-Al the Opinion