The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-18 00:00:00

agitator; and, on his side, the advocate of the repeal of
the union constitutes himself the preacher up of the
fraternal union of Ireland and Great Britain. Behold
him forming an alliance with the Saxons, and turning
against the aristocracy his eloquent and sarcastic
anger ! Nothing is finer, in our opinion, than this
intervention of England between her Government and
Ireland."

Several of the papers have articles on the conver-
sion of the Three-and-a-half per Cent. Stocks, and
' express not a little astonishment at the apathy with
which such a vast financial change is viewed even by
the parties who will' suffer by it. These French
writers are beginning to understand the character of
Englishmen, and will at last do them justice. We
have, therefore, .great pleasure in giving the following
tribute to their honour, from the Siecle :
" It is assuredly a fine sight, an operation -so colossal as
this; done, •as it is, without more trouble or embarrassment
in the finances of the country, than it would cost a banking-
house to effect a simple operation in the funds. This proves
not only the solidity of public credit, when it has for its
basis the wealth of individuals and the -good faith of States,
but, still more, it proves the progress that must have been
made in the science of finance, when a measure, which in
the preceding age would have been sufficient to have put a
Government in peril, should now be a simple matter, which
causes no derangement in the machinery of the Adminis-
tration. Whilst England is entering, with prudent courage
and perfect loyalty, upon the reduction of its debt, certain
Continental States, such as Belgium and the Neapolitan
GovernMent, think to follow its example by simply violating
the engagements which they have contracted with their
creditors. There is the same difference between the proceed-
ings in the two cases that there is between a merchant who
pays his debts and a bankrupt who gives so much per cent. to
his creditors."

The reduction of the interest on the French Five
per Cents. forms also a topic of discussion in the
journals. A great majority of the Chambers, it is
said, is in favour of the plan, but the Government is
opposed to it. This belief has had a favourable effect
on the -Funds. On Saturday the Five per Cents
closed at 121 f. 75c., and the Threes at.B3f. 15c.
THE BOURSE—SATURDAY, MARCH 16.
First Highest Lowest Last
. .
French Five per Cents: ex cliv 121 Price 45 .. 12P1rice 75 • • 121 Price. 45 • • 1211ce. 60
Three per Cents.— •83 ••8315.. 82 95 83 10
Bank of France • .3245 . • 3245 ..3240 ..3240
Laffitte Bank, 5,000 f 6haresso9o • • 5090 . • 5090 ..5090
Belgian Fives...
1840 .... •• • • 104 • • 108 k .. 108 k • • 108 k
1842 •• •• •• 1091 .. 1091 .. 1091 .. 1091
Spanish Active .. •••• • • 34 •• 34 . • 331 • • 331
Threes ............36 • • 361 •• 36 •36
Portuguese Five per Cents • . 48 • • 48 • • 48' • • 48
Neapolitan . 102 15 .. 102 35 .. 102 15 .. 102 30
Roman

• RAILWAY SHARES.
Versailles, R. 8... • —•• 383 75 .. 385 •• 383 75 .. 385
L.B 175 .. 175 .. 175 .. 175
Rouen 890 .. 895 .. 890 .. 895
Rouen to Havre• ••••.• • • • • • 685 • • 685 • • 682 50 • • 682 50
Orleans
Strasburg to Bale 245 .. 246 25 .. 245 .. 246 25
RAILWAY SHARES, FOR THE ACCOUNT.
St.. Germain •• • • • • •• • • 837 50 • • 837 50 • • 837 50 • • 837 50
Versailles, R. 8.•• ••..• • • •
Lit,. •• • • • • 176 25 .. 176 25 .. 173 75 • • 173 75
Rouen 890 . 895 .. 890 • • 895
Rouen tojHavre 687 50 .. 687 50 .. 681 25 .. 681 86
Orlearni • • •••••• • • •• •• • . 887 50 .. 891 25 .. 887 50 .. 888 75
Strasburg to Bale.. 246 25 .. 246 25 .. 246 25 .• 246 25
Avignon to Marseilles.... • • 768 75 .. 770 • • 763 75 .. 770

MEETING of PRIVATE COUNTRY

BANKERS.

The Deputation of Private Country Bankers were
very courteously received, on Saturday, by Sir
Robert Peel, who expressed his willingness to attend
to any suggestions which the Private Country Bankers
were prepared to make. He added, that he consi-
dered it inconsistent with his duty to.disclose the in-
tention of Governmen—t, having declined
to make any communication in answer to similar
applications. Sir Robert Peel also stated that no
measure would be proposed until after the Easter
recess,-
,and that ample time would intervene for the
consideration of the details of the measure after it
should be proposed.

O'CONNELL BANQUET A.T COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.
—We have just seen an engraving illustrative of this
memorable public banquet, which, it may be remem-
bered was under the sole superintendence of Mr. Rouse,
of the White, Conduit Tavern, who gave great satisfac-
tion by the completeness and liberality of his arrange-
ments. The engraving is very cleverly executed, and
gives a very vivid idea of the splendour and imposing
character of the grand banquet in question. The theatre,
as was actually the case, is represented as crowded to
the ceiling; pit, box, and gallery, all overflovving:with
occupants. 'On the stage, and' acrois the boarded pit,
are placed long ranges of table, at which the numerous
guests are seated ; -and the moment selected by the
artist for representation, is that when the guest- of the
evening, Mr. O'Connell, has just risen to-return thanks
for the enthusiastic reception he has met with. The
plate is a highly creditable one,,, and will, no doubt, find
a ready sale among all-who were present_ at the grand•
banquet which it commemorates. - - -

----
ILLNESS OF THE KING OF
• SWEDEN.
The follovving are the latest bulletins of the King's health :
" MAncii 4.—His Majesty has had - a tolerably quiet
night, and is nearly the same as for the last few days?'
" MAncii s.—His Majesty had some:good sleep, and felt
pretty well when he awoke, but at eleven o'clock this morn-
ing he fell into a fainting fit, which continued till a quarter
before one o'clock, when he recovered, and is now, though
very weak, in the same state as in the morning."