The Sun.
London, England, 1821-03-20 00:00:00

" that of the best timber of Europe," enter upon
various speculative reasonings, with which we shall
not fatigue our readers, .but proceed immediately
to the consideration of that part of their recom-
• mendation to the House of Commons, which is
[ to make a reduction of ten shillings per load on
the present duties on foreign thnber. We have
looked in vain for the evidence on , which this
proposition is founded, and we cannot trace it ;
but by referring to the testimony of Mr.. HoL-
LAND and several other witnesses, it will appear,
that they all concur in the opinion, 44 that if. the
" duty on foreign timber is lowered, it will raise
" the price of it in the countries from whence it
44 is imported :" and which is confirmed by the
last advices received from the North of Europe.
We, therefore, in common with these well inform-
ed individuals, cannot but deprecate any reduc-
tion in the present duties on foreign timber, for
it cannot be productive of any advantage what-
ever to us, as its certain effect will be to raise
the price in Norway and the Baltic ; and thus
it will only lessen the revenue—depress the
British Ship Owner—and destroy the timber
trade of British North America. On no grounds
of public policy can this recommendation be
sustained ; nor, can we divine the reasons which
have led to its suggestion, unless it is to redeem
Some improvident pledge which may have been
given to the Prussian Government on this subject.
The qualified answer of Mr. EDWARD PA.TZCIi ER,
as it now appears in the plated evidence, is by
no means satisfactory to us on this point ; but -we
shall defer any further comment upon it until
another opportunity, when we shall resume it for
reasons which we will then state. Independent
of the advantages which this reduction will give
the importers of foreign wood over those who im-
port timber from the Colonies,we must not overlook
the great facilities which they have, from their
proximity to this country, and their means of in-
undating it with Norway and Baltic goods, long
before the' first ships can arrive from the King's
Colonies. We do not, however, conceive it ne-
cessary to add any further observations at
present on this branch of the subject, for all
the arguments in support of the existing system
are so concisely, so ably, and so powerfully,
thongh plainly, stated in the petition which
we yesterday inserted from the Ship-owners of
Leith, &c., that it would be a useless waste of
time to reiterate them now, and the mote parti-
cularly as -19,e must so soon revert to the subject.
In conclusion, therefore, we have only to observe,
that we cannot but think that this report, though
we believe it not to be expressive of the
unanimous opinion of the Committee, tco
strongly upon the whole evinces a deter-
mination to abandon the principles upon
which the old policy of the country was
founded ; and to adopt a system founded on the
speculations of theorists, which, however spe-
cious and liberal it may at first appear, will,
without doubt, prove altogether illusory and de-
structive of our best interests. For our own
parts we shall ever protest against it, convinced
that we shall be supported by the public opinion,
which must, we are persuaded, concur with us
in deprecating It, as injurious to the Revenue
and the British consumer, and at the some time
tending to increase the depression of our Home
and Colonial interests, whilst it can only benefi
foreigners.

•
POPERY.—We refer our -Readers with much
satisfaction to the result of the Devon County
Meeting on this subject on Friday last ; the pro-
ceedings of which will be found in another part
of our Paper. We are convinced a little more
energy on the part of the Protestants will lead to
a better and more liberal consideration and at-
tention by the. Legislature of their claims for
protection against the innovations.now proposed
to be made on the Establishment in Church and
State, and therefore as the Committees on Mr.
PLUNKETT'S two most unaccountable Bills are
postponed until Friday next, a respite is given
to the Protestants, and an opportunity afforded
to them of appealing to the Legislature, which
we are satisfied will not be made in vain. This
delay is of the utmost importance to the cause of
civil and religious liberty, and. we have no doubt
the spirit which has been roused by the conduct
of the advocates of Popery will, in the end pre-
vent any further, inroads on the Constitution, and
consolidate the liberties and immunities of the
Protestants of all denominations.

SE RrsK.—Lffe Assurances.—We wish very
much that some of our intelligent Correspondents
would inform us why the Premiums on Sea Risk
in Life Assurances are so very high ? They pre-
vent thousands making Assurances on their lives,
which is a great injury to the families of Sea-far-
ing and Naval Men.
The statement of a Cabinet Council having
been held at Fife House on Sunday night, to
which some of the papers affected to attach great
importance, is entirely unfounded. No such
Council was held.
Sunday morning a Messenger arrived in town
with dispatches from Naples, when the Earl of
LIVERPOOL had a consultation with several of
the Cabinet Ministers, at his house in White-
hall. The Noble Earl afterward gave dirictions
for summoning a general Cabinet Council, which
assembled yesterday at two o'clock. The Mem-,
bers continued in deliberation till about half-past
four o'clock.

The Active frigate has arrived iu sixteen days
from the Bay of Naples, bringing papers and
letters to the 2(1 instant. Sir H. LUSLIIN6TON,
the English Cousul-Geineral at Naples, came
home in her.

BRIGHTON, MARCH B.—The KING leaves tl3
for Carlton Palace late to-morrow, or early on
Tuesday. His MAJESTY purposes returning at
the latter end of the week. His MAJESTY, ac-
companied by Sir BENJAMIN BLOOMFIELD, was
in public yesterday, leaving the Palace grounds
on horseback, towards two o'clock in the after-
noon, and returning between, four and five. His
MAJESTY appeared in good health and spirits ;
the most affectionate and joyous salutations met
him in all parts of his ride.

Sir Wir.r.lAn MANNERS is become Viscount
JIUNTINGTOWER) -by the. decease of the Earl of
DYSART.