The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-31 00:00:00

though the means he would resort to for that purpose
might not be productive of the desired results, still
the end and object of his wishes and aspirations are
deeply sympathised with by many who differ from
him widely in other respects. Stronger evidence
could not be afforded of the fixed determination of the
people to resist any retrogression in the commercial po-
licy recently adopted than the groans and interruptions
with which Mr. Burr was received, and which, not-

withstanding the creditable exertions of the LORD
MAYOR and other well known and influential Free-
traders, were continued with rare intervals during
his entire address. The amendment which he pro-
posed, and which was seconded by the Earl of Metro,
was duly put to the meeting and declared by the
chairman to be lost, ss hile the original resolution was
carried almost unanimously. A. subsequent amend-
ment to the second resolution met with no better
fate ; the proposition that " any tax on human food,
having for its object the increase of its price, and
thereby rendering the sustentation of human life more
difficult, is wrong, contrary alike to Christianity and
sound policy, as has been too fatally illustrated in
the history of Ireland for the last half century,"
having been affirmed by a majority so clear, and of

such unquestionable authority, as to amount to all
but unanimity.
After these decisive defeats the Protectionists
appear to have abandoned the field. The remaining
resolutions and the petition to Parliament having
been adopted without any show of opposition, they
were carried nemine contradicente, and with a spirit
and enthusiasm that reflected the highest credit upon
the citizens of Dublin and their excellent Lord Mayor.
Mr. REYNOLDS may well be proud of the valuable
assistance he has rendered to the good cause, by having
thus stripped the Protectionists of the argument which
they might otherwise put forward, " that the people
of Ireland were in favour of a tax on human food, or

that the prices of articles of primary necessity should
be unduly increased, for the exclusive benefit of a

small and insignificant minority."

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
The semi-official Patric, has the following :
" It is positively stated, that tie Government has re-
ceived en a-count that the English Cabir et had again
claimed from the Greek Government the payment f
the arrears paid by England on the Greek loan, con-
tracted under the guarantee of the throe Powers, France,
Russa, and England. In support of tbis demand, an
order had been given, it is addei, t 3 the English fleet to
sail for the Firmal. The Greek Government is said to
have placed itself under the protection of the Minister of
France."

We find the following in the Ordre :
" The news of an ultimatum having been signified to
Switzerland by the Continental powers relative to the
taking el' energetic measures against the manccuvre3
of the refugees, was yesterday the subject of much
conversation in the Assembly. It is said that
the intended sending of a Russian Minister to
Paris to counterbalance the influence of the English
ambassador -is connected with this question. If these
rumours are confirmed, and if the Helvetic Cantons,
some accused of weakness, and others suspected of a
kind of complicity with the foreign radicals, who dream
of the overthrow of Europe, refuse to pay attention to
the demands which have been or are about to be ad-
dressed to them, the French Government will find itself
placed with regard to Switzerland nearly in the same
situation as it was with regard to the Republic of 1111Z-
zini at the moment when the armies of Naples and Aus-
tria threatened to march on Rome. The difference would
be that the present situation would be more serious, as
there would not be in this case the question of protect-
ing a Catholic interest common to the different powers
who might be divided on the subject of political interest.
If the expedition, although founded on the most power-
ful considerations, was attended with immense incen-
venicnces which are even yet felt, we may judge of the
embarrassments and the danger which may arise from
this new complication in European affairs. Never had
our Government greater need of prudence and firm-
ness. We hope that it will pass through the trials
which are preparing for it with glory to itself and
to us."

The Bill regulating the relations of operative
weavers with their employers, was read a second
time in the Assembly on Tuesday.
It is said that the election of Deputies to replace
M. LEDRU RoLLIN and his companions will not take
place until the 10th March. Copies of the judgment
of the High Court of Versailles were placarded on
Tuesday at the doors of the last residences of such of
the condemned as were Members of the Assembly.
M. GOMY DE ROSLAN, First Secretary of the Em-
bassy, and M. ALBERT DE DALMAS, attaché to the
French Mission at Buenos Ayres, left Paris on
Tuesday night for Brest, where they embark for
South America. They are the bearers of instructions
from the Government for Rear-Admiral PREDOUR
and for M. DEvoxzE, the Consul-General at Monte
Video.

1 The Committee on the Budget received a commu-
nication on Tuesday from the Minister of Public
Works of the treaty concluded betwen the Govern
ment and the directors of the St. Etienne and Lyons
Railroad. This treaty authorises the company to
construct a double line of rails from Lyons to Guion,
parallel to the Lyons and Avignon line. The ma-
jority of the Committee declared themselves fa-
vourable to the treaty. A Bill presented by M.
DUMAY, the Minister of Commerce, authorising the
PRESIDBICT of the Republic to dispose of the produce

west, they • determined to make a final attempt in
the heart of the metropolis. Sufficient, however, ap-
peared to induce the principal requisitionists—those
entrusted with the preparation of the arrangements
for the contemplated gathering—to consider " dis-
cretion the better part of valour," and to avoid the
inevitable defeat that must have been sustained if all
classes and denominations of the citizens of Dublin
had been admitted to " the Round Room."
the care and attention bestowed upon the distribution
of the tickets, which rendered what might otherwise
have been considered a "grand national demonstra-
tion," a mere " hole and corner" assembly of no
practical value or efficacy.
The LORD MAYOR was, however, resolved that the
reactionaries should not escape so easily. He would
not permit them to obtain even the negative credit,
which was all they ventured to seek. He was well
aware of the sentiments of the great body of his
fellow-citizens, by whom he had been so
honourably selected to fill the mayoralty cf their
important city, thus exhibiting their approval of his
conduct in his private capacity as a merchant, and his
public situation as their chosen representative in the
Imperial Parliament. He could, therefore, entertain
no_doubt as to the result of a general appeal where all
would be at liberty to attend and give expression to
their opinions, whatever they might be. He accord-
ingly convened the great meeting, which took place
on Monday, and which might, indeed, be hailed as a
grand national demonstration with as much truth as
the former assembly was falsely and mendaciously so
denominated.
The proceedings on Monday fully confirmed the
soundness of his judgment. The " large room" was
crowded to suffocation, and every nook and cranny was
thronged by a dense and anxious multitude. The
Protectionists, indeed, showed some degree of fight.
Mr. BUTT, the eminent Queen's Counsel, incompa-
rably the most talented and eloquent member of the
party in Ireland, who as far exceeds his Irish asso-
ciates in mental capacity and oratorical power
as the distinguished Member for Buckinghamshire
surpasses the stolid herd of English Protectionists,
came forward to move an amendment to the original
resolution. Although personally as popular as his
political creed is obnoxious and unpalatable to the
great body of his countrymen, even he was unable to
obtain a patient hearing. There was no personal
violence attempted, no stones
,or brickbats were re-
sorted to, as exponents of public opinion In that
respect the meeting afforded a favourable contrast to
some of those recently held in this country ; but
" groans, hissing, whistling, cockcrowing, and a
medley of indescribable noises" prevented the as-
sembly from hearing the speeches of Mr. BUTT, the
Earl of MAYO, and of those who followed on the same
side. If any person could have obtained an audience
on such a subject, Mr. Burr would have been the
man. The earnest zeal and professional ability with
which he defended the political prisoners—the
learning and research which he exhibited on these
occasions—the great and unexpected success
which had attended his exertions on behalf
of Mr. DUIFY, and which, probably, saved
that gentleman from the melancholy expatriation
that awaited so many of his political frimds—above
all, his disinterested generosity to the unfortunate
PATRICK OTONOGRUE rendered him a general fa-
vourite, notwithstanding his political mistakes and
errors. He is also generally believed to be infinitely
more sincere and honest in his views than the great
majority of those with whom, unfortunately for him-
self and for the country, he is associated. He is also
reputed to be a zealous " nationalist," anxious to
elevate his native land in the scale of nations, and