The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-12 00:00:00

,13.1eittlag
_

LONDON, FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1830.

Addressing himself, during the sitting of Tuesday,
to the Legislative Assembly of the French Republic,
M. DE LAMARTINE, from the tribune of that great
Parliament, delivered one of those brilliant and re-
markable speeches, whose rhetorical elcquence tends
not less to enhance his reputation as an orator than
their lofty principles and benignant sentiments are
calculated to elevate his character as a statesman.
The question under discussion was the completion
of the line of railway (either by the State or
by public companies) from Paris to Avignon. In
this subject of debate it should be remembered
that one of the grandest difficulties of the age was
directly involved—that hitherto perilous and in-
scrutable: problem, the attempted solution of which
has convulsed not only the political, institutions of
France, but more or less those of the entire conti-
nent. It was thereupon decided by an enormous
majority of representatives (443 against 205), that
the furtherance of national activity can be better ac-
complished through the aid of private speculation
than with the assistance of an exhausted exchequer
and an embarrassed Government. Toward& the
arrival at this conclusion on the part of the Assembly,
the masterly oration of M. DE LASLARTINE—one of
the most splendid effusions of his oratorical genius—
proved eminently effectual, if it was not, in the ac-
complishment of that end, altogether, or at least
mainly instrumental.
By the closeness of its reasoning, as much as by the
illuminating and persuasive brilliancy of its illustra-
tions—a blending of characteristics somewhat unusual
in the poetical, and generally speaking, the discursive
harangues pronounced by the lips of that illustrious
citizen—the speech delivered on the 9th inst. by M.
DE LAMARTINE could not fail to appeal directly to
the heart, and through the heart to the convictions,
—to the intellect, and through the intellect to the
judgment of the vast majority of his auditors in the
Republican Parliament. It did so. The fruit of his
logic was a majority. The result of his oration
was a success altogether triumphant. 'What cannot
but force itself upon the perception of the many thou-
sands by whom this magnificent harangue will be
perused, is scarcely so much the sound sense impreg-
nating even the most poetical adornments of M. DB
LAMARTINE'S rhetoric—it is scarcely so much the
benignant sentiments and the majestic principles by
which every sentence is beautified and exalted, as it
is the daring evinced throughout by the orator in
dragging forth into the glare of discussion the
dsrkest and the grimmest phantasms by which
the bulk of contemporary statesmen are affrighted.
Sometimes it is true that the mind becomes fasci-
nated by the felicitous grace and exquisite delicacy
of the metaphors, and generally also of the phrase-
ology by which the dry common-place of the theme
is dexterously embellished ; as, for example, when
the orator exclaims in illustration of the necessity of
private speculation for the maintenance of
national activity, for the circulation of mo-
ney, for the encouragement of commerce,
and fur the continual employment of the
industrial population : " When you wish for rain it
is necessary to desire clouds, and the Reservoirs of
Industry are to credit and to cash precisely what the
clouds are to the rain which nourishes and fructifies
the earth F' Yet, charming as are these intermittent
testimonies that the orator continues still a poet even
when most a statesman, it is by reason of other cha-
racteristics that our gladness is heated to the glow of
admiration. It is at other moments than when M.
DE L•AMARTINE is most rhetorical, it is when his
voice ascends to the elevated tone of its most im-
passioned eloquence, rising as it does then from the
sonorous depths of his heart, from the profundity of
his convictions, and from the fulness of his humane
and cultivated imagination, that we listen with the
more earnest attention to one whose career hAs been
as illustrioua as his character has remained unsullied,
Then it is, in those moments of intellectual enthu-

siasm, that be grapples with the most dangerous ideas
of our generation, and, as we have already expressed
it, that he drags into the glare of discussion those
sombre and destructive phantoms by which the rest

of his contemporaries are dismayed and affrighted.
In this circumstance we recognize a moral va-
lour and audacity worthy of the heroic tri-
bune who confronted with his unarmed bosom
the infuriated rabble of February. "Of what,"
he inquires in this mood, "is this doctrine of
Communism composed ? It is composed of three
elements perfectly distinct from each other : it is
composed of the veriest chimeras, of doctrines which
have been dreamed about during upwards of a thou-

sand years, and which have nevertheless been unable
to survive three days of realisation ; it is composed,

moreover, of certain evil passions which, notwith-
standing their malignity, can yet be easily re •
pressed by the hand of society ; it is composed
in fine, and above all (let this not be
forgotten !) of very visible and real idleness, misery,

and suffering. Behold the three elements of the

social malady by which we are devoured ! Well,
gentlemen, as to these evil doctrines, as to these dreams,
as to these phantoms, as to these chimeras, do
you wish for my opinion ? The more they shall be
exposed to the broad daylight of the discussion of the

press and of the tribune, the snore - rapidly shall
these miasmas evaporate in the surrounding
atmosphere of beaven---" [No marvel that
those simple but noble words were greeted with
acclamations ; no wonder that the orator was encou-
raged to proceed when he apologised for the necessity
of repetition]—" I say, gentlemen, that as to these
doctrines I would only introduce them into the

light, to dissipate their darkness; for the more facili-
ties you afford those miasmas to evaporate in
the atmosphere of day, the more speedily
will those phantoms vanish away from the
gaze of the population. They exist not -by
their own valour, permit me to say, but by
the terror which they inspire in the minds of
men remarkable only for their timidity.
Look them boldly in the face and they will all dis-
appear!" Such are some of the more striking
passages in the splendid oration delivered, in the

Assembly on Tuesday, by M. DB LAMARTINE—

an oration in which he proved that the lightnings of
his genius are not less luminous, and the thunders of his

eloquence not less impressive, than in the days when he
redeemed Vrance from an inundation of bloodshed by
his valour, and when, for three months with his bold
and untremulous hand upon the helm of the Govern-

•
went, he guided the vessel of the State through the
tempest of the Revolution.

Uninfluended by the " three impressive warnings"
hey have received within the present week, we still
find Minister&anxions to procrastinate and adjourn
the consideration
,of necessary reforms. Although
admitting the existence of evils requiring legislation,
nay, although a particularsubjectatistbhreousgphetciaulndine.r
the consideration of Parliament,
stance of the Government itself, in which the present
system is confessedly erroneous, the matter is coolly
adjourned to " some future opportunity," which will
probably arrive with "the Greek lialends."
When the lion. Gentleman the Member for the
county of Limerick offered his valuable suggestion
for enlarging the borough constituencies in Ireland,
by adopting ti e principle already in force in Scot-
land and Wale s, and uniting several of the smaller
towns, so as to form a respectable body of electors in
every case, it was received with great approbation
from all sides. ,of the House. Never, perhaps, was
greater unanimity apparent on any question of Parlia-
mentary reform The Noble Premier himself attached

much weight to the proposition, which then at least
seemed perfectly unobjectionable, and he voluntarily,
promised that the serious attention of the Govern-
ment should be directed to the subject. The Re-
formers were perfectly satisfied with the pledge thus
freely given, and no step was taken by independent
Members to press for the insertion of clauses embo-
dying the principle of Mr. BloNsELL's suggestion.
The Government bad taken up the subject, and that
was all that could be desired. But " 0 cceca mens
mortalium," alas for human credulity! the Government
have considered the point, and they have decided on—
what—on postponing it for an indefinite period, and
" carrying the Parliamentary Voters (Ireland) Bill
through the Legislature in its present form," which,
according to Lord JOHN RUSSSELL, will "give the
House the opportunity of considering the question in a
future session, should it be deemed necessary to raise it
again" ! ! !
This is, undoubtedly, a great concession—a most
kind and liberal act of condescension on the part of
Ministers. '• The House may have the opportunity
of considering the question in a future session, should
it be deemed necessary to raise it again"! We
are really astounded at the gracious permission thus
afforded to the chosen representatives of the people.
Be good boys, do as you are told—do not torment
your rulers by forcing on an inconvenient topic, and
you shall actually be allowed to bring it forward at
" some future session," that is—for even that unpa-
ralleled concession could not be made without some
qualification—" if it should be" deemed necessary to
raise it again. In our innocence we had heretofore'sup-
posed that any question that " was deemed necessary"
might be introduced without the sanction of Minis.
tern being first had and obtained. But the First
Minister of the Crown appears to think otherwise. 'A
Government veto would be exceedingly desirable ; it
would prevent the possibility of any disturbance of
the balmy and peaceful slumbers of the occupants of
the Treasury benches. The complaints of the
assistant- surgeons of the Royal Navy might then
be treated with contumelious indifference ; the
window-tax might still be maintained in
all its enormity ; the delays and expenses of law
would be perpetuated. Justice would still be a dear
luxury, beyond the reach of the less wealthy classes.
But will the independent Members be satisfied to
bow down before the .Ministerial footstool, and to
permit what they believe to be of great importance
to the national welfare to b 3 thus shelved. We hope
and believe they will not do so. They, too, have learned
a valuable lesson since the recess. They have seen the
Ministerial phalanx—thirty-two in number—although
assisted by all the "waiters on Providence," and seekers
after patronage —defeated, decisively and unequivocally
defeated by an overwhelming majority of more than
two to one. They have at length discovered their real
power, and why should they not avail themselves
thereof ? If Mr. MONSELL'S suggestion be calculated
to benefit the country, if there be really ten boroughs
in Ireland with small and inconsiderable constituen-
cies, why should not adequate means be at once
adopted for remedying the acknowledged evil? It is
perfectly manifest that the Government will not be
more willing to deal with the subject in
an enlightened and liberal spirit on any fu-
ture occasion than at present. There can
be no more fitting opportunity. The state of the
Irish franchise is before the House and the country.
It requires a large and comprehensive measure of re-
form ; but why should not.tbe'entire question be dii-
posed of together—why should there be a reform by
piecemeal, or petty instalments ? It is true that the
Parliamentary Voters Bill has gone through Com-
mittee, but it may be re-committed. Let Mr.
MONSELL himself frame the clauses that may be ne-
cessary to effectuate his object ; he is perfectly
competent for the duty. He will then obtain
for himself the honour of the amelioration, to which
he is fully entitled. Ministers, through their devotion
to the laisser faire policy, have let slip the golden op-
portunity that was afforded, through the kindness of
the Honourable Gentleman, of gaining for themselves
the approbation of the Irish and—if the provision
were extended to this country—of the English electors.
No further indulgence should therefore be shown,
and the present Bill should not be read a third time
until the deliberate opinion of the House of Commons
be taken on the question ; and we doubt not that that
opinion would be in accordance with the views of the
Honourable Gentleman the Mdmber for the county
of Limerick.

POST-OFFICE NOTICE.—Some misapprehension ap-
pearing to exist with respect to the payment of the postage
of letters for the Papal states, intended to be forwarded by
the French Mediterranean packets, it is necessary to state
that no portion of the postage upon such letters should be
paid in this country, as the entire postage, British and fo-
reign, is collected on delivery of the letters.
BRITISH MUSEUM.—From a return made to the
House of Commons, relative to various matters connected
withithe British Museum, it appears that all the moneys re-
ceived by the institution, including various Parliamentary
grants, from Christmas, 1848, to- Christmas, 1849, was
50,6121. The estimated expenditure for the 'same period
was 50,9091. The actual expenditure was 41,7911. The
estimated charge, from Lady-day, 1850, to Lady-day, 1851,
is 47,1921. The number of persons visiting the British
Museum, from Christmas, 1843, to Christmas, 1844, was
575,754. In every intervening year there was a steady in-
crease in the number of visitors, until it reached, in the year
ending Christmas, 1849, 979,973. In 1810, the number of
visits made to the reading-room, for the purposes of study
and research, was 1,9,50. The highest number any interven-
ing year was in 1842, when it was 71,796. Last year it was
70,371. The number of visits made.by artists and students to
the galleries of sculpture, for the purposes of study or re-
search, was 6,804.

ROYAL SEA-BATHING INFIRMARY.—The general
meeting of this charity took place yesterday, at the London
Coffee-house, Ludgate-hill; Mr. Alderman Gibbs in the chair.
It appeared from the report that the receipts for the past
year had amounted to 2,4011., and the expenditure to 2,1371.
The number of patients relieved amounted to 676, besides
a considerable number of out-door patients who had been
visited. The cause of the present depressed position of this
company arose principally from the prevalence of the cholera
which had existed amongst them last year to a fearful ex-
tent. The retiring directors and auditors were re-elected,
and a vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the business
of the day.

WINCIIELSEA.—The sagacity of a sheep dog be-
longing to Mr. Smith, of the Crutches Farm, was strikingly
exhibited on the 30th of March. Some suspicion being ex-
cited by the appearance of a man coining from the direction
of the farm-house with a box and a piece of silk, an over-
looker of the farm, Henry Burtonstock by name, desired his
dog to get before him, which the faithful animal did so effec-

tually that he was stopped, taken back to the house, and
handed over to a policeman for stealing from the promises.
He was indicted at the sessions at Lewes on Tuesday, and
sentenced to six months' hard labour, except three weeks in
sulitary confinement.—Brighton Gazette.

WEYMOUTH.—During the past week a number of
coins have been picked up or. the Chesil beach by the
islanders, some gold and others silver. We were shown some
Chinese pieces, which were valued at 30s. each. Some were
in excellent preservation, and others are much worn by the
constant attrition against the pebbles. The heavy ground
seas during the past week have no doubt washed them up.
Sher borne Journal.

„,,
ST. MART, WHITECHAPEL.—ine result of the poll
for the election of guardians of the poor for this parish was
made known on ‘Vednesday, when the old guardians were
declared elected.

SADLER'S WELLS TIIEATIIE.—The lessees of this
theatre have announced their intention of giving a dramatic
representation, in aid of the funds of the Exhibition in 1851,
which will be under the patronage of his Royal Highness the
Duke of Cambridge.
SOCIETY OE ANTIQUARIES.—The auditors' annual
report was read last night before the society, by the Right
Hon. the Earl of Jertnyn. It was highly satisfactory, both as
regards annual income arising from fees, and as showing a
surplus fund of nearly 7,000/. invested in the Three per Cent.
last
k 0 REMOVAL
witnessed
e sxs e 'dLAt
hRoGE 0
removal x
fTan
largea E .
Consols in the name of the society.
t Dr
eel fromring Thethe
Oaks to Mr. Mason's new grounds at Graisley. This tree
( which is a remarkably fine specimen of the Turkey oak) is
upwards of 40 feet high, the trunk is 45 inches in circum-
ference, and the branches more than 40 yards. It was well
rooted, and had what nurserymen term a "good ball" of
earth, the weight of the whole being about three tons. No
proper apparatus for the removal of the tree could be pro-
cured, and the attempt was first made by a pair-wheeled
timber carriage, but this broke down in the attempt. A
regular „ high-wheeled timber carriage was then procured, and
by means of triangles and pulley blocks the oak was fairly
hoisted and moored. A new difficulty new presented itself;
the ground having been recently drained, the wheels sunk
deeply into the drains, and it required a stout team to haul
the machine and its load on to firm ground. This was at
length effected, and, after lashing the branches to prevent
the windows from being broken in passing through the streets,
the tree reached its destination, and now stands firm in its
new location, where we hope it will do well.— Wolverhampton
Chronicle.

ROBBERIES ON THE EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW
RAILWAY. —ln consequence'of repeated complaints made to
the authorities on the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway of
robberies of goods and of the breaking open of packages and
abstraction of the contents, the management instituted an
inquiry, but nothing was discovered which could fit suspi-

•
cion on aoy of the 1;ople employed on the railway. Circum-
stances have, however, recently occurred, which have brought
to light the guilt of a man named Bayle, a servant in the
truck department, and -of another man named Smith, the
manager in the same department. A search was made ha
their houses, and large quantities of property missed were
discovered and identified. The police are still prosecuting
their search, and it is supposed that much more property
will be regained. The confidence that Iva placed in these
men, and the opportunity afforded them from the positions
they held on the railway, have enabled them to commit their
depredations with great facility and without distrust. They
have been sent to prison, and are waiting their examination
before a court of justice.

MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS,
CITY, QUARTER 10 THREE.
The sales of Cotton at Liverpool yest4.,rday were e.•ti-
mated at 10,000 bales, of which 1,000 American were
taken for expert, and 2,500 American and 1,500 Bahia
on speculation. The tnarket closed firmly with an t;p-
ward tendency in prices.—Railway Shares were dull and
heavy, with' but little alteration in prices.
The Corn-trade in Mark-lane is exceedingly dull
again to-day, and foreign Wheat is lower. The arrivals
of foreign Wheat are 19.980 quarters; of Barley, 12,660
quarters; and of Oats, 47,280 quarters.
This week the transactions in produce have not been
of magnitude, and although a large quantity of Sugar
&c., has been submitted to public competition, this has
not stimulated business, but rather induced buyers to
hold back, unless some concession in price were made.
The result has been a decline in the leading staples,
and from the exceedingly numerous arrivals within the
last three or four days, including vessels from all parts,
and laden with Grain, Sugar, and every principal article,
a rally in price is scarcely looked for, except in spec,al
cases. Certai❑ commodities used for manufacturing
purposes here been more inquired after within the last
few dap, and apparently in expectation that the slight
revival of activity iu Lancashire and Yorkshire may con-

tinue.
The foreign arrivals comprise only the usual Conti-
nental mails. The Bank of the Pays Has has declared a
dividend of 3 per cent. The funds at Amsterdam were
tolerably animated on the 10th inst., but the tendency of
prices was slightly to decline. Spanish Bonds were
lively. Peruvian were decidedly lower. At Frank-
fort, on the 9th inst., Austrian Bonds were 79i, and
Spanish Three per Cents 301.
The Hamburgh mail of Tuesday last brings the rate
of exchange at 13 9, being I lower. Bills on London
were in request.
The meeting of Mexican bondholders is now in pro-
gress, and the following explanation of the cause of the
rupture and virtual dissolution of the new committee,
to be succeeded, it is hoped, by a much stronger body,
though it can hardly be by one that has worked harder,
and accomplished more within the time, is given by the
seceder, M. Gutdalla:—
.. Gentlemen,—Observing that the second report of
the committee of Mexican bondholders contains no allu-
sion whatever to my resignation, nor to the subject-
matter which led to i', I think it proper, in justice to
myself, to address yon thereon, prior to the public meet-
ing,3ou may be in possession of the
saet. Some time back, Mr. Francis
Mills, one of my colleagues, feeling dissatisfied at the
non, ratification of the Robertson convention,
facs in
of orderthe
ete that
up to that period, brought under the notice of the board
the propriety cf taking acme immediate steps to secure,
by legal proceedings in the United States, a portion or
the s,ehole of the indemnity money still due by that
country to Mexico. The board authorized that gentle-
mare'in conjunction with Mr. A. B. Richmond (to whom
the bondholders are much indebted for the zealous
aid he has always afforded them in his public and
private capacity), to consult Mr. Hoffman, an American
barrister of first-rate standing in this country and well
versed in international law. After numerous inter-
views, a course cf action was recommended to be
adopted, the main point of which consisted in a sugges-
tion to send, without loss of time, an envoy to New
York, with a memorial to his Excellency the President of
the United States, from the bondholders, a copy cf which
is annexed, in order to intercept, it possible, that
portion of the indemnity money which is due on the
Ist of May next to Mexico. This measure was ap-
proved of by all the members of the board, except the
chairman, Mr. William P. Robertson, and he did not
give a decided negative to it at first but requested
that the public meeting, necessary for a decision on the
subject, might be postponed till after the arrival of the
West India packet, which was expected at Southampton
on the 25th March, as he anticipated some favourable
intelligence might come by it, which would render the
meeting unnecessary. Such however not being the case, on
Thursday, the 28th March, the committee was convened
for the purpose of deciding on which day it would be
advisable to call a public meeting. Having taken a decided
tone throughout all the discussions relative to the me
morial, I deputed Captain Ross (being unaviodably ab-
sent), should the que:tion come to a division, to vote
for me in favour of calling the meeting on the Ist of
April, being the latest day to which it could be post-
poned, as it was necessary that the envoy should sail
in- the packet of the sth inst. for New York. Not
having been present on the occasion, I cannot give per-
sonally an account of the proceedings; but I hear from
indisputable authority that a warm discussion ensued, in
the course of which the chairman, who stood alone in
his opinion, threatened to resign in care the question was
decided in the affirmative. Nevertheless a resolution
was carried, ordering the advertisement for the
meeting to be inserted in Saturday morning's paper.
When I came to town on Saturday morning, believing
that the chairman and secretary had exceeded their
powers in keeping back the advertisement, I de-
termined' to resign ; and I requested Mr. A.
B. Richmond to communicate verbally that from that
time, Saturday, 30th March, I ceased to be a member of
the board, feeling I had no other course to pursue under
the circumstances. It must be evident to you that a
board, constituted like the present, ought to be the last
to assume to itself the deciding affirmatively or nega-
tively questions of such momentous interest to the bond-
holders without previously consulting them.
"After these brief remarks, I have only to add a
few words in conclusion. Being one of the principal
parties who effected to successfully the recent movement,
I beg to say I have no wish to retire permanently from
the management of your affairs; on the contrary, I shall
feel proud to continue zealously those humble services
I have afforded you since my election in January last,
should you consider them entitled to your approbation.
I have the honour to remain, gentlemen, your most
obedient servant,
" April 11, 1850." " H. GITEDALLA.”
The Funds have been flat again, and it would appear
that the account is not yet wholly arranged, and that the
uncertainty about the result of the further trial of NH
nisterial strength checks operations for the rise, and has
even icduced some few sales of real stock. Consols
have been 951 to 96 for Transfer, and 95j to 96i for Ac-
count. The New Three-and-a- Quarter per Cents. have
been 97 to 97k, and the Three per Cents. 941 to 9.51.
Bank Stock has been at 205 k to 207. Exchequer-bilis
have been quoted 68s. to 70s. premium.
Foreign Stocks are not active. Mexican have been
29 to being heavy. Spanish Five per Cents. have
touched 134. Peruvian Deferred are 26; to 27k. Buenos
Ayres Bonus are 534. Danish Scrip has risen to 41
premium.
Railway Shares are worse again, and there are many
who predict a further depression, though without assign-
ing any reason beyond the decided want of confidence
which unfortunately presails.

ONE CLOSING
PRICES OF BRITISiI FUND 3 O'CLOCK. Pincus.
~auit Stock ... ... 2051/2 207 207
pert ent. Reduced Anna ....... ...... 95113 94% 951,4
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities........ 953 A 96 957/4 95%
New 314 perOent. Anna...,.,........ 97 97,4 97
97%
Long Anna. to expire Jan. 1860
Ditto, 30 years, Oct. 10, 1859
India BondN 1,000/. ........ -
Ditto under 1,0001.. .....
Consols for Account .. ..... •... 93 961/4 95% 96
Exchequer Billf. 11/4(f. cc 20
1,000/. June ..... .. ....... .. June............. 66 68 70 p
Sinstll. June .............. 65 p