The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-01 00:00:00

ilturtditt _.''--I.Ant.

LONDON, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 1844.

The House of Commons met at Twelve o'clock,
when a great number of Bills were read a third time
and passed. Most of them were Bills of little im-
portance to the public.
On the House re-assembling at Five o'clock, Sir
C. NAPIER put some questions to Sir R. PEEL rela-
tive to the strange proceedings of the French at Ota-
heite. Sir R. PEEL said the Government had re-
ceived dispatches from that island relating to the events
which had taken place, and he had no hesitation in
saying that a gross outrage, accompanied by a gross
indignity had been committed by the French officer,
on the station. The British Government has lost no
time in making such communications to the Cabinet
of LOUIS PHILIPPE as the circumstances required.
lie had no doubt the French Government would
make the necessary reparation for such conduct.
Lord INOESTRE moved for copies of the correspon-
dence which had taken place between the Govern-
ment and Captain WARNEa.relative to his invention.
Sir R. PEEL did not oppose the motion, and entered
at considerable length into the communications which
had taken place between Captain WARNER and the
official authorities, as well as to the experiments
which had been made. The speech cannot be
abridged,but evidently the Right Hon. Baronet had
DO great faith in the discovery, and stated some facts
which Captain NVARNIt must answer.
,Aftex a few observations from other Members, cer-
tain of the papers were ordered.
The Insolvent Debtors Bill was read a second
time ; to be committed on Friday.'
Mr. GIBSON moved that the petition of Mr. JOHN
HEATHCOTE, who was dismissed from his situation of
superintendent of factories, on the charge of having
written an anonymous letter to It,
...ERnAND, be
taken, into consideration. This gave rise to some
discussion, and an explanation from Sir J. GRAHAM.
On a division the motion was lost by a majority of
seven.

The other orders of the day were then disposed of,
and the ,House adjourned at a Quarter before Twelve
o'clock.

If LOUIS PMILIPPZ and his Prime Minister, M.
GIIIZOT—both men of great tact, prudence, and ex-
perience—do not become more circumspect in their
appointment of officers to distant stations, we fear
the peace of the world cannot be much longer pre-
-served. Every now and then an escapade is com-
mitted by some half-fledged Prince, or junior officer
—.ands but very lately, a veteran Admiral was equally
guilty—circumstances which lead to one of two con-
eluii4l4, either that no proper selection is made, or
that
the Xing of the -PazNeff it not displeased to see
a little bruaquerie displayed by 'his son's and his I

favourite officers. Believing that the able and far- r
geeing Prince bes rr:, wish to embroil him-
self with this country, and that he looks
upon a fri-ndly alliance with England as the
st safe-guard of his dynasty ; we must con-
clude that the objectionable acts of the French officers,
1 which have occurred within a few years are to be
ascribed to their own incapacity or vain conceit.
The Prince DE JOINVILLE committed himself in a
most extraordinary manner on the coast of Mexico,
by arresting a pilot on board of an English vessel of
war. He, of course, was obliged to apologise for his
ignorance, and the affair was hushed up. Then came
the affair of Admiral D UPETIT THOUARS, which was
no less irregular, and at once disowned. The Bri-
tish Government rested satisfied with the explana-
tions of M. GUIZOT, and trusted that there would be
no occasion to complain a third time, when unfor-
tunately a still more atrocious breach of the law
of nations is committed by MM. BROUAT and D'Au-
BIGNEY—the one a naval officer, and the. other the
acting protector of the Otaheite islands. The British
Consul is made a prisoner, treated as a felon, and,
after a disgraceful arrest and lengthened incarcera-
tion is banished from the island. We know not what
his offences are, further than from the laconic an-
nouncement of M. D'AUBIGNEY :—" A French sen-
tinel was attacked on the night of the 2a. and 3d of
March. In reprisal, I have caused to be seized one
PRITCHARD, the only daily mover and instigator of
the disturbances of the natives. His property shall
be answerable for all damage occasioned to- our esta-
blishments by the insurgents; and if French blood
is spilt, every drop shall recoil on his head."
Such language is insulting, and totally indefensible.
It is the language of a man who thinks himself per-
fectly safe, and may play any pranks in such .a remote
region. The French Government cannot defend it.
They must make ample amends for the outrage, not
only by disowning the conduct of their agent, but by
degrading him, or bringing him to trial for what Sir
ROBERT PEEL last night justly described:as a gross
outrage, accompanied by a gross indignity. The
people of this country will not be satisfied with an
apology. France invaded Algiers, because the
French Consul, in an altercation with the Dey, re-
ceived a slap on the cheek with a fan—no great
annoyance in a hot climate—while the British
Consul is arrested, imprisoned, and banished.
We sincerely regret this unfortunate and mad pro-
ceeding. England has no wish to go to war with
France, but France must teach her agents better
manners, more knowledge of the laws of civilised
countries, and more respect for a nation that she
knows will never brook an insult. There are other
circumstances, however, but too well calculated to
rouse the jealousy of Englishmen. France has occu-
pied a vast extent of the African coast, on the plea
that a French Consul was insulted ; but, not content
with that she is advancing towards the Straits of
Gibraltar. She is at war with Morocco, and in a few
days we may hear that Tanjiers and Tetuan are
occupied by French troops. These are all sus-
picious circumstances ; and if Lord ABERDEEN does
not soon clear up the mystery, perhaps he
may find some morning that Lord PALMERSTON and
Sir C. NAPIER will relieve him from his labours.
One thing is certain. England can allow no great
maritime nation to form settlements and build for-
tresses along the Straits of Gibraltar. Her posses-
sions in the Mediterranean and in India are of too
much importance to allow such an aggression. We
trust the French Government will see the real rosi-
tion in which they are placed by their agents, and do
justice to a country which is anxious to remain a
peace—but peace on honourable terms.

Accounts from Madrid of the 23d state that the
Court was expected to return to the capital on the
6th or 7th of August. The two Ministers, who had
gone to Barcelona, were to return on the 28th of July.
The Three per Cents. were done at 26} for cash,
and 26i at 60 days ; the Five per Cents. at 181 at
60 days.

The Paris papers bring no intelligence of import-
ance. There had been no later arrival from the
African coast, but we learn, from another source, that
the Prince DE JoraviLLE's squadron is not yet wanted
at Tangiers. It sailed from Cadiz, as we stated yes-
terday, for that port, and after a very brief stay re-
turned on the same day to its former station. Some
of the Opposition journals contain articles on the
speeches made by Lord ABERDEEN and Lord CLA-
RENDON, relative to the slave-trade, but we find in them
nothing worth remark, unless it be a less rabid tone
towards this country. "It may be seen from the
speech of the Foreign Secretary," says the National,
" that the British Government considers it necessary
to take into account the just irritation produced
throughout France by the inquisitorial proceedings
of the British navy, but it will not for that reason
renounce the right of search ; and wishes merely to
organize it in such a manner as to avoid complaints."
On Monday, the third and last day of the July
fetes, the Bourse was closed, and also the Post-office
at half-past twelve, so that there are few particulars
of the proceedings. They were likely, however, to
pass off without any disturbance.
The following are extracts from the papers :

" The merchants of Paris La who trade with Plata, either
as exporters, commission agents, or manufacturers, to the
number of 117, have (says the Constitutionnel) signed a peti-
tion calling the attention of the Chambers to the deplorable
situation of the French at Monte Video and Buenos Ayres,
and the prolonged interruption of the French commerce in
that part of America.

" The Globe mentions a report that the British Cabinet
has obtained an important concession from the Austrian Go-
vernment. viz., the reduction of a penny in the pound on the
duty on cotton threads.
" 'The Provincial Council of Liege has voted a petition to
the King of the Belgians, deploring that his Cabinet did not
prevent the late Prussian Decree, whereby Belgian iron is
struck with a prohibitive duty of fifty per cent. The Council
declares that this duty deprives Belgium of the markets of
the Zollverein for the benefit of the English, who alone
(says the Council) from the cheapness of their produce,
may, notwithstanding its inferior quality, supply Germany
with iron.

"A letter from Dresden states that some disturbance took
place on the 20th, among the workmen on the Saxo-Silesian
railroad. They were paid for their work as had been agreed
on by contract, but they found the sum too small, and about
a hundred entered the city, and collected in front of the hours
of the contractor. The next day the same scene took place,
but with tb.e addition of some disorders; a tavern was pil-
laged and torn down."

MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS.—There has been
a considerable increase in the number of deaths during
the last week, the total number being 1,066, while
during the previous week it was only 896—average
900. The increase has taken place chiefly in deaths
from scarlatina, small pox, and diarrhoza ; of the 40
persons who died of small pox 35 had not been vac-
cinated. The following is the analysis of the list of
violent deaths :—Falls, two cases ; wound, one case
(suicide); swallowing pins, one case ; hanging, two
cases (suicides) ; drowning, fifteen cases, of which
six were accidental in bathing, and one suicide; and
suffocation in bed, one case. Total, twenty males
and two females. The thermometer was highest on
Thursday, having reached the unusual height of 85.1,
and lowest on Monday, 53.7 deg. The barometer,
with the exception of two days, was below 30, while
the fall of rain is marked nil. There must be some
defect in these observations.

PREPARATIONS FOR A GRAND FETE AT DIEPPE:-..
BRIGHTON, TUESDAY EVENING.—We learn by the arrival of
the General Steam Navigation . Company's packets from
Dieppe, that the Dieppois are making the most extensive
preparations to celebrate the erection of a statue to the
memory of Admiral Duquesne. The King of the French
has accepted an invitation from the Dieppe authorities to
be present at the ceremony, which is to take place at the
latter end of next month. The fete would have taken place
earlier, but the King is desirous of waiting till the
accouchement of the Princess de Joinville, which is expected
in about a fortnight. We understand there will 'be three
days' rejoicing. All the spare troops from the north of
France are to be present, and several ships of war are ex-
pected in the roads to salute his Majesty on his arrival.
Steamers will run daily between Brighton and Dieppe during
August and September.
BRIGHTON, TUESDAY, Six O'CLOCK, P.M.—Soon
after twelve o'clock this morning a stiff breeze sprung up,
and the sea was considerably agitated, and in the course of
the afternoon the hull of the John o' Gaunt, the vessel de-
stroyed by Captain Warner, was seen drifting with the wind.
Hundreds of persons followed its progress down Channel, and
at this hour a large portion of the devoted vessel is drifting
juSt off the Chain-pier, and in the course of an hour will, in
all probability,' be on shore. There are thousands of persons
on the beach, anxiously waiting to examine the hull of the
ship. Captain Pechell's feats'respecting the danger to vessels
going down Channel will nose, of course, be removed.
DETBRMINED SUICIDIL—On Tuesday Mr. Wakley,
M.P., held an inquest at the Camden Head-, Camden-street,
kitchen
hntec artist,hs Sunday
nnr
deceaseded
sb
Islington, on the body of John Bradley, aged 24, late an
stated
resembling
attention tthhea t
eaotu
whoaalisfn-
gpaosft
attracted tahir r
so'clock
ge
ian'esgnvioeaaintnseid2nir'goeC,rsd,uemhmbeiland-row, Islington. Mr. Green,
mheotwheern,tfrtoanwtiacradslly the kitchen,
for a
itchen,he
surgeonw to asmassetist her by deceased's
s‘ec_dh'os
had, she said, burst a blood-vessel. He immediately sent for
a surgeon, and then went to the kitchen, where he found de-
ceased sitting on the kitchen floor, with his head resting
against his brother's legs, and quite dead. It appeared that
he cut his throat in the presence of his mother, He had
been many months out of einpioy, which greatly 'affected his
mind, and in consequence of which his mother kept his
razors from him. It was with his brother's rum that he out
his thrust; Yordict--." Temporary Lassuhr..'