The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-16 00:00:00

CHILEAN LOAN.—The THIRD DIVIDEND expeditious. We doubt much whether any inter.
due on this LOAN on the 3lst instant, will be PAID by ference on the part of the Legislature would have the
Messrs. GEORGE and JAMES BROWN and CO., the Agents for the
Loan, on MoNnAy, the Ist April, and on every succeeding Monday, slightest effect in repressing this pernicious practice ;
Wednesday, and Friday.
The Coupons, with lists, must be left two clear days for examina- on the contrary, we think it would be very apt to make
ton, and forms of lists may be obtained on application. matters worse, by giving undue importance to a silly,
N.B. In conformity with instructions from the Government of
Chile, the Agents hereby notify that they only engage to retain the barbarous custom for which, among -other blessings,
funds appropriated to the payment of the Dividends for the period of
12 months after they respectively become due, and that accordingly we have to thank the " wisdom of our ancestors:'
they will not hold themselves responsible for the payment of any The question had much better be left to the good
Coupons of the present Dividend after the 31st March, 1845.
No. 5, St. Mildred's-court, Poultry, 16th March, 1844. taste of society, and the silent operation of that
common sense which is gradually making itself felt
among all classes. Even fashion—the despotic ruler
of us all, who exercises a power far greater than that
exercised by Sir ROBERT PEEL, with a majority
of ninety at his back—even this arbitrary tyrant is
beginning to set her face against duelling; and
we may safely infer from this undoubted fact
that the practice, like other absurd practices,
must ere long fall into desuetude, provided
Parliament will but keep a still tongue in
its head, and make no more of the matter
than it deserves. When a usage manifestly ridicu-
lous in its nature—more ridiculous, indeed, than
dangerous, inasmuch as, in seven cases out of ten,
duellists quit the field just as sound as when they
entered :it—when such a usage is gravely and for-
mally discussed among Legislators, an air of conse-
quence, and even dignity, is imparted to it, which
gives it a sort of sanction in the eyes
of fools, and strengthens, rather than checks, the
vulgar prejudice in its favour. As for Mr. COWPER'S
remark that "he would suggest the appointment of
a Court of Honour; a jury might be selected
who were as nearly equal as possible in station to the
parties concerned, and who would, therefore, be able
to decide, in a satisfactory manner, upon the question
brought before them ;" we can conceive nothing more
ridiculous than this suggestion, to say nothing of its
impracticability. Suppose, for instance, that two
attorneys quarrel—for even attorneys are not
wholly free from the frailties of humanity—
how is .it possible for them to get twelve
more of their amiable fraternity sufficiently
disinterested to neglect their own business, in order
to sit as a jury, and listen to the long story of the
dispute ? Is it likely that a dozen attorneys will allow
themselves to be called out of Court or chambers, in
order to decide upon the wrongs of a brother, whose
mishap it may be to have had his nose pulled, or a
horsewhip shaken over his head ? Impossible. • They
will pity him, no doubt; and if his story be not along
one, they will, perchance listen to it with attention ;
but as for going gravely and minutely into the merits
of the case, they will repudiate the horrid idea of
such a tax on their time and patience, and leave the
injured man to get out of his quarrel as he got into
it. Courts of Honour might be all very well in the
olden time when Englishmen had plenty of leisure
on their hands, but in these hard-working days, when
time is money, it is not to be expected that any
twelve men, no matter from what class, can be
brought together to listen to the statements and decide
upon the claims of a gentleman "in trouble." For our
own part, if it be-found impossible at once to put a
.stop to duelling, we should recommend that all quar-
rels. should, be. settled, as one was actually settled some
years since' by a British merchant in Portugal, who
conceiving himself insulted by some remarks con-
tained in a letter from a correspondent in London,
wrote to the latter to " consider himself horse-
whipped." Whether the Londoner did so or not,
we cannot say ;. but the conception was a bright
one, and worthy of general imitation, for it would be
an effectual preservative of human life, and prevent
the unpleasant necessity of gentlemen getting up at
day-break to be shot at, and carried on shutters into
agonized interior of Chalk Farm.

MR. LEVER'S NEW WORK. ILLUSTRATED by CRUIKSHANK.
A Immediately, in 3 vols., post Bvo.,
BTHUR O'LEARY;
HIS WANDERINGS AND PONDERINGS
IN MANY LANDS,
Edited by His Friend,
HARRY LORREQUER.
WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS BY GEORGE CRUIK-

SHANK.
Orders received by all Booksellers.
Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street

NEW NOVEL BY TIIE AUTHORESS OF " THE FLIRT."
In the press, in 3 vols.' post Svo.,
THE WILFULNESS OF WOMAN,
By the Authoress of
" THE HISTORY OF A FLIRT," " THE MANCEUVRING
MOTHER," &c.
Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street.

Accounts from Madrid of the 7th announce that the
QUEEN and her sister had arrived on that day at
Aranjuez. The progress of the QUEEN-MOTHER
through Catalonia is described as the triumphal pro-
cession of a conqueror, or saviour of the country. Al-
most divine honours are paid to her. She is styled " a
great Queen," " a magnanimous Princess," and the
" Mother of all Spaniards." Poetical effusions are ad-
dressed to her, some of which are ornamented with cuts
representing her entering Barcelona conducted by an
angel, and trampling the demon of anarchy beneath her
feet. And this takes place in a city from which she
was but three years ago glad to make her escape.
The Three per Cents. were done at 30 for cash, and
30;44 at 60 days, and the Five per Cents. at 224 for cash,
and 223 for 60 days.

The intelligence brought by the Paris papers possesses
little interest. On Tuesday the Committees of the
Chamber of Deputies were engaged in considering seve-
ral lines of railroad—namely, a continuation of the Or-
leans line to Vierzon ; the second from Paris to the Bel-
gian frontier, with branch lines to the coast opposite
England ;, and a third from Montpelier to Nismes. The
opinion of the Members was generally against the con-
strnction of the works by the State ; and, as regarded
the northern line, seven out of the nine voted that it
should be left to public companies, but with short leases.
It is not probable, however, that companies will enter
into such a hazardous undertaking with the prospect of
a short lease, and little security that they shall be remu-
nerated for their outlay and risk at the option of the
State. The Minister of Justice has addressed a circular
to the prefects of departments, in which he recommends
that in all eases full protection shall be extended to Pro-
testant congregations, whilst in the quiet exercise of a
right respected_ by the principle of religious toleration.
The Minister's circular has been rendered necessary by
some attempts to throw obstacles in. the way of the
public worship of Protestants. He desires that the
principle. Of religioui liberty may be, at all times,
acted upon with great liberality. The subscription for
a sword to Admiral DUPETIT THOUARS is still making
progress, and boys and girls who hate the English vie
with each other in subscribing half a franc each. The
boys of another Paris school have subscribed 51 francs.
The Duke of NEHCURS had completely recovered from
his late attack of illnegs; and, whether from this result
or some other cause not stated in the reports of the
Money Market, the Funds have had a considerable rise.
On Wednesday the Five per Cents. advanced 45e., and
the Threes 30c., and closed respectively at 122 f. 30c.,
and 83f. 10e.