The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-23 00:00:00

HOLLAND.

THE HAGUE, SEPT. 21.—1 n consequence of a reso-
lution lately passed by the Netherlands Government,
all the duties, octrois, and tolls hitherto imposed by
the Government on the Netherlands Rhine were abo-
lished in favour of every flag on that river on the 15th
instant.

The Government has, however, reserved to itself the
privilege of claiming the various dues from those Ri-
verian States which shall impose less favourable
conditions upon the Netherlands flag than upon
their own. The energy of the Government in
taking this step while the question relative to aboli-
tion, whole or partial, of those dues is a matter of
intricate deliberation by the Rhenish Navigation
Company Commissioners, will very materially lessen
the difficulty of their task. There can be no doubt
that the other Governments will do the same. The
Netherlands Government has likewise abolished all
transit duties on its territory, and the navigation
dues on the Yssel ; similar measures are in progress
relative to the duties levied by France and Belgium,
the Riverain states of that river.

The commission charged with the liquidation of the
succession of his late Majesty William IL, has ap-
pointed some members to examine the accounts and
the works of the edifice which his Majesty had built
at the Hague.—Dutch Papers.

. DE LAROCHEJAQUELIN AND

THE LEGITIAIATISTS.

The following is a translation of the letter addressed
by M. de Lirochejaquelin to the editor of the .F4yene-
ment in reply to the manifesto of the Count de
Chambord :

" Monsieur le Redacteur,—Neither the officious
articles published in several journals, nor the semi-
official letter of M. Ponjoulat (of which I was not
aware until after that which I wrote to the journal
the Ordre on the 4th of this month), obliged me to
break be respectful silence which I intended to pre-
serve, but now, in presence of the mad document
which you have published, I am compelled to reply
to my excommunication. As regards the Logiti-
matists:of France, the circulars signed De Barthelemy
contain the authentic signature of the five persons who
are named in the manifesto which you publish.
" All denial on that point would be a falsehood. It
is therefore to my great regret that I must reply to
an official document. I accept my excommunication
in full. It is evident that we do not hold the same
principles. I do not believe that legitimacy is a
mystery—that the representatives of France ought to
obey the erdera of the King under the Republic no
more than under the Monarchy. I never had any
doubt on that theory. Parliamentary faults must in
future ascend higher than their authors—such is
the consequence of the orders which have been
issued. The legitimacy of national right com-
prised the expression of the national sovereignty of all
the 'generations which have preceded us during 900
years. I could not End any titles more noble or
more French, or rights more respectable, than those
cf an institution sshfch constituted the Lw of our
fathers during so many centuries. I demanded that
the nation should return to the national principle—
I never demanded to create it. The right of legiti-
macy is now represented to us as a mystery which
must not be discussed, which it is dangerous to
fathom. It is represented to us that the national
will, freely expressed, is an attack on the rights of
legitimacy. In politics I cannot defend what I
do not understand. If the man holding a private
station could at a respectful interview, during
which no discussion was permitted, personally make
his love and his unbounded devotion subservient to
the desire expressed by an exiled Prince in such
terms as merely suppressed, but did not repudiate,
his honourable convictions, the politician cannot
accept, either for himself or for his friends, the
humiliation of this indescribable public manifesto,
whose consequences would be as fatal to the principle
of authority as to the principles of liberty. This is
no longer a question of persons—it is a question of
principles. I have a right to say that mine are not
those of the men under whom I should have to make
an act of discipline. The appeal to the nation is not,
as has been said, a revolutionary act; it is the nation
itself in its sovereignty putting an end to the era of
revolutions. I (lid not demand an appeal to the nation
on the principle of legitimacy. Every body can recollect
that the question was thus stated, ' Republic or
Monarchy.' The Legitituatists, by supporting them-
selves on the solid popular basis of an appeal to the
nation, :evened all the barriers which had been raised
more formidably then ever. If Monarchy had been
proclaimed in principle, there would have been no-
thing more necessary than to show the reason, tra-
dition, glory, and the passed utility of legitimacy.
Political parties could not, in the position which cir-
cumstances had placed them, do otherwise than sub-
mit honourably in presence of the national law of
France of nine centuries, acknowledged and remem-
bered by the nation. They do not wish it. I
cannot help that. The severity of the language
of the manifesto is not moderated by a single
world implying good intentions. I leave to others
henceforth the care of defending those doctrines,
which, in my ignorance, I believed I could main-
tain without being placed outside the pale of public
opinion. I shall ever remain faithful to the interests
of my country by obeying the laws which govern it,
without troubling myself in wishing for or anticipat-
ing the authority to which I shall have to submit
hereafter. It will be permitted me to guard religi-
ously in reserve, for the satisfaction of my conscience,
the political symbol which has hitherto formed the
faith of my whole life ; but I admit it never can be
possibly applied Pf the manifesto which you have pub-
lished take effect.

«' " H. DE LAROCHEJAQUELIN.
Paris, Sept. 21, 1850.'"

COURT-MARTIAL ON CAPTAIN

STEEVENS, 44nr REGIMENT.
MALTA, SEPT. 15.—A general court-martial as-
sembled on Thursday last, by order of Lieut.-General
Ellice, commanding the troops, when Capt. William
Steevens, 44th Regiment, was put on his trial on the
following charge :—.For having been drunk on duty,
and when under arms in command of the main guard,
on the 7th Sept , 1850.
The Court was compo3ed of Lieutenant-Colonel
Emmett, R.E., President; Lieutenant-Colonel Warde,
R.A. ; Major A. L. Cole, 69th ; Captain Calleja,
R.M.F. ; Captain Maltei, R.M.F. ; Captain Browne,
44th ; Captain Fielden, 44th ; Captain Bowen, 69th ;
Lieutenant-Colonel Paxton, 69th ; Captain O'Hallo-
ran, 69th; Captain Tylee, R.A.; Captain Messiter,
69th ; Captain M'Mahon, 44th ; Captain Fenwick,
44th ; and Captain Baker, R.E., members. Captain
Gardiner, R.A., officiating as Deputy Judge-Advocate.
The evidence for the prosecution tended to show
that Captain S. was drunk at the time expressed.
Lieutenant Cooper, his subaltern on duty, swore also
to that point, but he also swore that half an hour be-
fore, at the club, he was not drunk.
The prisoner's orderly, who was behind him from
his leaving the club till his arrival cn the square, where
the main gukard is situated, also swore that he had not
seen him drink anything.
A sergeant cf the guard swore he was drunk.
Captain Spring, 4411, who placed him under ar-
rest, also swore to the same fact, as did ere or two I
others.

For the defence, Lieut. Tdiclethwait, 44,h, . swore
that at twenty minutes to balf.past eleven he and
prisoner were yachting. The prisoner steered the
boat and was exposed to the sun. That from the
time iof embarking till their return to Ricasoli, at
half-past three P.M. they had drank three glasses of
brandy and water between them, and Captain S.
was sober. That he was sober at five P.M., when he
left Ricasoli for the dub; 'and again at eight P.M.,
when he returned to Ricasoli under arrest, as he said,
for being drunk, he was sober.
Ensign Blood deposed to prisoner being sober at
the club before going to main guard.