The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-21 00:00:00

tientn nn;

LONDON, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1844.

In answer to a question from the Marquis of Lox-
DONDERRY, the Earl of HADDINGTON said the. Go-
% ernment had altered their determination, expressed
last session, and intended to take a vote for improv-
ing still further the harbours of Port Patrick and
Donaghadee.
The Marquis of CLANRICAIME gave notice that
he would this day move that the Chester and Holy-
head Railway Bill be referred to a Select Committee.
Lord WHAENCLIFFE moved the second reading of
the Factories' Bill, and briefly stated the principal
clauses ; Lord-NoamANur entered his protest against
the Bill ; and, after a few remarks from Lord
EItOI3CHUI, the Earl of WINCnILSEA, and some other
Lords, it was read a second time and ordered to be
committed on the 31st inst.
In the Commons a new writ was moved for the
borough of Buckingham, in consequence of Sir

THOMAS FREMANTLE having been appointed Secre-
tary at War.
The third reading of the Sheffield, Ashton.under-
Lyne, and Manchester Railway Bill was postponed
for a fortnight, in order to make an inquiry into an
arbitration clause introduced into the Bill.

The third reading of the Ashton and Staleybridge
Railway Bill was also postponed for a fortnight.
On the motion of Mr. GLADSTONE, the Standing
Order No. 33 was ordered to be rescinded. It had
an important bearing on railway transactions, and
was at variance with resolutions adopted by the
House of Lords relative to deposits on shares. These
resolutions had been carefully considered by the
Lords, and he thought entitled to the serious attention
of the House. _ _

Sir R. PEEL said the carrying of the motion would
materially facilitate the construction of the Dublin and
Cashel Railway, and he hoped before the close of
the session that the Royal assent would be given to a
Bill for that purpose.
Mr. HUME wished to know if the Right Hon.
Baronet would have any objection to lay before the
House the correspondence which had taken place
between England and Texas relative to putting down
slavery in that district ? Sir R. PEEL said the Go-
vernment was not disposed to follow the example of
another Government, and he must refuse the appli-
cation.

The House went into Committee on the Bank
Charter, when Sir ROBERT PEEL, at considerable
length, entered into the currency question, and gave
some further explanations of the main points con-
tained in the resolutions he proposed on moving a
renewal of the Charter. The measure, he said,
evinced a liberal treatment of existing interests, and
he trusted would tend to prevent those shocks upon
the commerce and agriculture of the country, which
had often proved so ruinous. Mr. CHARLES WOOD
expressed his approbation of the Bill generally. By
the Act passed in 1819, a return was made to a
metallic currency, and he hoped it would continue.
None of the metals was so unchangeable as gold, and
that was one reason why he preferred that standard to
any other. The system of free trade in banking was
dangerous to any State ; it had produced the most
calamitous disasters in the United States ; and the
almost unlimited circulation of paper in this country,
too, had brought monetary affairs to such a state in
1839 that the Bank of England was compelled to
apply for foreign credit.
Some other members afterwards addressed the Com-
mittee, and the resolutions were agreed to.

The consideration of the report on the Customs'
Duties Bill was postponed till this day ; and after the
transactio❑ of some other business the House Ad-
journed at Half-past One o'Clock.

All the fire-eaters of France seem to have taken
great alarm at the plain and honest statements made
by the sailor-son of Louis PHILIPPE. They have
not, however, surprised the rational and thinking men
of France. They have not surprised the merchant
seamen, nor the builders of steam-vessels, nor those
who forge engines for the French steam navy. These
men know the vast resources of this country for any
maritime purpose, whether with sails, or paddle-
wheels, or Archlmedean screws. They know also
that English sailors, and English engineers, and
English admirals, too, are a subborn and persevering
race, and that if they were by some mischance to
sustain one defeat, the country would only be roused
to more activity, and never rest satisfied till the dis-
grace of a naval defeat was wiped away, and
England asserted, as she has done for no
small number of years, the supremacy of the
seas. Tho Prince DE JOINvILLr admits the
fact. " I will suppose," says he, " that
which is unexampled I admit—that twenty ships and
fifteen thousand English sailors are brought prisoners
into Toulon by our victorious squadron. Will they be
the more decisive ? Shall we have vanquished an
enemy who suffers himself to be crushed by a first
blow, to whom resources are wanting to retrieve a
defeat, and who, when an outrage is to be avenged,
is accustomed to reckon his sacrifices ? To all
such as know the English people, it is evident
that, in such circumstances, they will see them
animated with an immense desire of avenging a
reverse unknown in their annals—a reverse affecting
their very existence. All the naval resources of
that immense empire, its numerous personnel, its
physical riches, will be united to efface the stain cast
upon the honour of the British navy. In a month,
one, two, three, squadrons, as powerfully equipped
as the one we have captured, will appear before our
ports. What shall we have to oppose to them ? No-
thing but wrecks." And what would follow ? The
remaining French sailors would enlist on board pri-
vateers, and try the more profitable trade of capturing
stray vessels, and gaining a temporary livelihood as
marauders in creeks and channels. The French
fleets, as in former times, would be locked up in their
harbours, and all the commercial advantages which
France now enjoys, and which has increased her re-
venue to an unusual extent, would, in a few months,
be annihilated. For, be it remembered, that even if
sailing squadrons were to get out of fashion, if one-half
of our numerous and hardy sailors were laid on the
shelf, and if the contest were to be decided by steam,
England has still a greater superiority in that respect
than she even had in the days of JERVIS and NELSON•
We have an abundance of iron and coal and every
material for the construction of steam-vessels; we
have—and the fact is admitted on all hands—the best
mechanics for forging engines, and the best engineers
for managing them ; nay, what is more, we have at
present a larger sea steam navy than all the world
together. Has any other nation but England tried
the experiment ? We have brought steam into prac-
tical use both in war and peace. We have steamers,
fit for every purpose of war, traversing the Atlantic
Ocean, the seas around the countless British islands
in the west, and at the same time keeping at bay the
vast population of China, and the whole of the Asiatic
continent. England gave a striking proof of her
skill in this new engine of war when the British
navy swept the Syrian coast like a hurricane, and a
handful of men penetrated into the heart of the Chi-
nese empire. Has any other nation yet tried war
on the new system? We do not put forth these
facts as matters of boast. We state the simple truth ;
no one can refute it, and even the bitter enemies of
England, the writers in the Paris National, who vaunt
so much the power of the French navy, losing confi-
dence in their own resources, look for aid to the Ame-
ricans. The Prince DE JOINviLLE, who may lose some
popularity by his candour, thus admits the fact—
"lt has cost me much, in the course of this brief
article, to subject my country to a painful comparison
with a country which precedes it at so great a dis-
tance in the knowledge of its interests ; it has cost
me much to disclose the secret of our weakness as
contrasted with British power. But I should deem
myself happy if I could, by this sincere avowal of
these melancholy truths, dispel the illusion which so
Many sensible persons entertain as to the real state of
the naval-forces of France."

At a meeting of Roman Catholics which took place
yesterday in the Concert-room adjoining the Princess's
Theatre, for the purpose of adopting measures to ex-
tend the operations of the Catholic poor-schools in
St. John's-wood district, Mr. O'CONNELL, who was
in the chair, after making some pertinent and forcible
remarks respecting the gradual spread of education
both in Great Britain and on the Continent, proceeded
to observe :—" But turn to France and to the state of
public instruction in that country. He considered
that more diabolical conduct had never been pursued
than that which Louis PHILIPPI had adopted in the
case of the French University. It was equalled
only by some of the monstrous atrocities of the
French Revolution. It would appear that he was
determined that none- but infidels should educate the
people of the kingdom which he ruled. But such
apnudrsbure
disgraceful conduct was not surprising, when it was
:be
ut coming
ther
revolution.
odubgyhto tohne. class that fomented
vroolmuti the bishops
and clergy of France, however, LOUIS PHILLIPPE
would meet with the most uncompromising opposi-
tion." This constant
abuse of the KING of the
FRENCH comes with a very ill grace from Mr.
O'CoNslzix, whose great boast of late years has
been, that he is a lover of peace and order, and
a sworn enemy to all war. If he be really in earnest
in his boast—if it be something more than a mere
empty flourish of words intended to tickle the ears of the 1
community, he should entertain sentiments of the '
sincerest respect for Louis Paimeu, who, whatever
may be his other faults—and we are by no means
blind to them—has at least the merit—and a merit it

fisof a high order—of having maintained peace in
France, and consequently in Europe, for a troublous
and excited period of fourteen years, despite a thou- '
sand difficulties, and in the face of a thousand hazards.
Had it not been for the decided check which this
sagacious, but not very high-principled, Monarch put
upon it, the headstrong republican spirit, so prevalent
in France in the memorable year 1830, would have
made the tour of Europe ; convulsion and anarchy
would have followed in its train ; the antagonist mo-
narchical and aristocratical spirit would have been
roused to the utinest ; after a sanguinary though perhaps
protracted struggle it would have prevailed as a mat-
ter of course ; and the cause of well regulated, consti-
tutional freedom would hare been thrown back at
least fifty years. For rescuing Europe from the
horrors of such a warfare, which, as being a war of
principle, would have called forth a host of reckless
and fanatical passions and prejudices, Louis PniLrrrß
deserves the thanks of every wellwisher to the cause
of liberty and humanity ; and by none should he be
held in greater esteem than by Mr. O'CONNELL, who
is always deprecating the shedding of blood, and
assuring his hearers, both in England and Ireland,
that that revolution is purchased at too extravagant a
cost that is purchased by the loss of human life
in war. For our own part, we are no very excessive
admirers of the French KING ; we think that he has
in many instances wantonly abused the powers en-
trusted to him by a confiding people; played fast-
and-loose with their liberties ; and gone far beyond
the limits assigned him by the Constitution ; still, we
cannot forget that he was placed in a situation of pe-
culiar difficulty ; and that if he had indulged, instead
of restraining with a firm hand, the fierce, despe-
rate, propagandist spirit of the French republicans,
with their chimera of universal brotherhood and
equality, he would have lighted up the flames
of the most ruinous and extensive war that Europe
has known since the outbreak of the first French
revolution. But the cause of Mr. O'CoNNELL's
strong enmity to Louis Piluares is no secret. It
is not his state policy, but his educational policy,
that is the object of the Honourable and Learned
Gentleman's special abhorrence. Rightly appreciating
the temper of the times, and the habits and tastes of
his subjects, the KING of the FRENCH has refused to
allow the claims of the clergy to their old national
supremacy; he has compelled them to lower the tone
of their ;pretensions; and, if they exercise au-
thority at all, he is resolved that they shall exercise
it by the influence of common sense instead of the
jugglery ofpriestcraft- This enlightened and decided
conduct on the part of a Monarch who—unlike his
bigoted, priest-ridden predecessor, CHARLES the
TENTH—is a consummate man of the world, Mr.
O'Corszumu can neither forget nor forgive. And the
reason is obvious. He himself, however great the
moral influence which he exercises over his country-
men, is yet, in no slight degree, subject to the autho-
rity of the Catholic clergy of Ireland, and dare not
run counter to their opinions; and as they naturally
entertain a strong fellow-feeling for their discomfited
clerical brethren in France, he has no alternative but
to chime in with their feelings and sympathise with
their professional prejudices.

The Madrid papers of the 13th contain further
accounts of the preparations made for the departure
of the Court to Barcelona. General NARVAEZ was
to quit Madrid on the 18th for that place, in order to
make the necessary arrangements for the journey.
The Ambassadors of England and France were to
accompany their Majesties to Barcelona, and after to
the baths of Caldes. The Madrid Gazette contains a
circular letter from the Home Secretary, addressed
to the Political Chiefs, calling upon them to use every
exertion to put down the bands of malefactors in
various parts of the country who intercept the com-
munications and endanger persons and property.
The Funds show not the slightest symptom of im-
provement, and were lower on the 13th than they
have ever been since the commencement of the panic.
This is a bad omen for the peace and security of the
country, and proves that the public have little confi-
dence in the new Cabinet, and the military, unconsti-
tutional system adopted by NARYAEZ.
The' Three per Cents. closed at 27 for cash, and
27+ at 60 days; and the Five per Cents., at 20 for
cash, and 20i at 60 days.

The French Chamber of Deputies has at last
brought the discussion on the Prison Bill to a con-
clusion. On Saturday the Chamber divided on the
whole Bill, and it was passed by a majority of 231
to 128. The Government papers, in general, ap-
prove of the Bill ; and one of them describes it as

the most important measure of the session, while
others justly condemn its main principle, the silent
system, as unnecessary and cruel. The forthcoming
debate on the supplementary vote of credit for the
navy was looked forward to with much interest.
Several of the leading speakers, among others,
BERRYER, DUFAURE, and BARROT had inscribed their
names to address the Chamber on the subject.

The pamphlet of the Prince DE JOINVILLE still
attracts much attention. The Presse and the Quoti-
dienne have noticed it at some length, and admit that
the main facts as to the state of the French navy can-
not be refuted. The following contrast between the
steam navy of France and that of England appears
in the Presse, and is extracted from an appendix to
the pamphlet :

" The Prince de Joinville's pamphlet on the steam navy of
France has made a great sensation in Paris, and must do the
same throughout the kingdom. In the sea ports, above all,
where the justness of his views and the accuracy of his
stated facts can be better appreciated than elsewhere, atten-
tion will be excited in its highest degree. At the end is an
appendix full of curious information on the material condition
of our steamers, which we regret to be obliged to analyse. It
shows that the 103 steam-vessels put on the official list are in
reality reduced to 43, constituting what can be called the war
portion of our steam-fleet. Of these 43 there are 16 or 18 in
permanent requisition for the service of Algeria, and 9 others,
too weak to serve as war-ships, are appointed to local duties.
Consequently there remain only 16 or 17 steamers for occa-
sional missions and foreign stations. Of this number 3 aro
of 450-horse power, 1 of 320, 6 of 220, and the rest of 160,
or less. Such is the force of this description, that at the com-
mencement of a war France will have to enter upon all the
chances of battles. In face of this statement, let us place the
resources of England. From this, as the Prince observes,
useful ideas may be elicited. In official publication tells us,
in the first place, that the number of these armed vessels was
in March last 77. Of these the Mediterranean station employs
10, viz.-1 of 450, 4of 340, 4of 228 horse-power, and 1 ofless
force. On the Western coast of Africa, there are 9, viz.—l,
the Penelope, of 700 horse-power, 4 of 320, 1 of 220, and 3
of from 80 to 100 horsepower; on the coasts of Ireland 12,
of which 8 are from 220 to 230 horse-power, and 4 of minor
force ; in North America, Canada, the llerniudas, and the
Antilles, 3 of 220 horse-power; in India and China, 3 of 320
horse-power; in the South Sea station, 2 of 320 and 220
horse-power, and 9 others employed on hydrographic surveys.
These make a total of 48. Now we devote only Bto the same
services! The difference between these two amounts shows
the respective values put by each country on a steam -navy.
The other ships, making up the number 77, are ready for ser-
vice in the ports to go on eventual missions, local antics, or
to be used as transports. In this number 77, neither the ves-
sels constructed on the lakes of Canada, nor those in the
colonies for local services, nor those of the East India Com-
pany, are included. Nor does it comprise the 11 ships laid
up in ordinary in the ports—a state of things in a steam-navy
hitherto unknown, and which we have no equivalent for.
Indeed, our number is far from being adequate to our wants,
and it is good to point out this difference between us and
England. After signalising the evil, the Prince prescribes
the remedy. He developes a new plan for organising our
maritime force, which, if followed, would place our steam-
navy on the footing it ought to stand upon, and he calcu-
lates the expense of a fleet composed according to his ideas,
comparatively to the sum put down for the same purpose in
the budget for 1845. According to the Prince's plan the
expense of our ships of war would be 24,135,672 f.—viz., for
sailing ships 15,219,107 f., and for steamers 8,916,565 f. Ac-
cording to the budget for 1845, this expense is to be
24,070,620 f.—viz., 18,533,616 f. for sailing ships, and
5,517,001 f. for steamers. So that the plan of his Royal
Highness would cause no greater addition to this expense
than 65,052 f. This difference is insignificant in money, but
would produce results of very great importance."

The following are additional extracts from the

papers; --

" The Courrier Francais says it is assured that Lieutenant
Reine, who brought the last dispatches from Admiral Dupetit
Thouars, has quitted Paris for Brest, where he is to wait for
the orders of the Government.

" The Phare of Bayonne states that General Zurbano, who
has been for some time past residing at Bayonne, is about to
return to Spain, having, it is said, received a letter from
General Narvaez, in which he announces the Goveinment
reckons upon him in the event of its having need of his
services for the defence of the throne and the maintenance
of order. _

" The Marseilles journals contain accounts from Athens of
the 30th ult. ; they confirm those which had previously
reached us as to the disturbed state of the country, and attri-
bute it to the intrigues of the Russian party.
" A letter from Vienna says :—' We are going to have a
trial of an atmospheric railroad. A company has been formed
here to construct one between Vienna and Huttelsdorf, by
Hiertzing and Miedberg, on the left bank of the Wein. The
expense will be 1,200,000 florins (3,000,0000 All the shares,
each of which is 10,000 florins, were disposed of the very day
the prospectus of the company was published.' "
THE BOURSE—SATURDAY, MAY 18.

First Highest Lowest Last

Price. Price. Price. Price.
French Five percents 122 25 .. 122 30 •. 122 25 .. 122 30
Four per Cents.
Three per Cents B4 55 • • 84 55 .. 84 45 .. 84 50
Belgian Bank.. • • • • • ... • • • • 675 • • 675 • • 675 • • 675
Belgian Fives, 1840

1842 108} .. 108* .. 1081 .. 1061
Spanish Threes
NeaP01itan•..•.........
Roman, ax (UT .. 1041 .. 1041 .. 104 j .. 1041

RAILWAY SHARES.

St. Gennain 815 .• 815 .. 813 .. $l5
Versailles, I{.B. t. ..... .. 377 50 • • 37V 50 .. 375 .. 375
•• .• •• •• 250 .. 250 .. 250 .. 250
Rouen • • • • • ... • ....• ......1001 25 ..1002 50-..1000 ..1002 50

Rouen to Havre•• • ....... •• 761 25 .. 763 75 .. 757 50 .. 762 50
Orleans.• .............••••1010 .:1012 50 —lOO2 50 ..1012 50

Strasburg to Ba1e•• -• •• •• •• 270 .. 270 267 50 .. 267 50
Avignon to Marseilles.. •• 766 50 .. 767 50 . 767 50 .. 767 50
RAILWAY SHARES, FOR THE ACCOUNT.
St. Germain •••• . • •• • • •• •• 815 .. 815 :• 815 .. 815
Ver^allles,R. 13.•• •• ..
L•B••••••••••••• 248 75 .. 24t 75 .. 247 50 .. 247 50
Rouen •• •• .• •• ••••••1019 ..1010 .. 997 50 . 997 50
Rouen to Havre.• ..... ••• • • 765 .• 765 .. 757 50 .. 757 50
Orleans lOl7 50 ..1017 50 ..1002 50 ..1015

Strasburg to Bale •• •• •••• •• 271 25 .. 271 25 .. 267 50 .• 267 50
Avignon to Marseilles• • •• • • 7G7 50 •• 7G7 50 .. 765 .. 765

THIS DAY'S NEWS.

BOW-STREET.-(THIS DAY.)

A woman named Hannah O'Brien, whose clothes were
hang inn- about her in rags and tatters, and whose appearance
indicated that she was the victim of intoxication, was charged
before Mr. Jardine with begging and annoying gentlemen at
one o'clock this morning in Parliament-street.
The case was fully proved against the prisoner, and it ap-
peared that she had frequently before been charged at this
office with a similar offence. On the 19th of last month she
was sent to the House of Correction for a month, so that she
had only been out of prison one day.
She said that she was unable to obtain employment, aad
she was compelled to beg.
The inspector said that all the money the prisoner obtained
from humane persons was immediately spent in drink.
Mr. JA.RDLNIS sentenced her to one month's imprisonment,
and intimated to the prisoner that should she be again brought
up she would be imprisoned for three months.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
(THIS DAY.)
Mary Ann M' Grath, a young woman of colour, and one of
the lowest grade of prostitutes, was charged on suspicion of
stealing from the person of a gentleman unknown two sove-
reigns and half a sovereign.
It appeared that between three and four o'clock this morn-
ing, as Police-constable No. 136 of the C division was pro-
ceeding on duty along White Horse-street, Piccadilly, the
prisoner was given into his custody by a gentleman, who
charged her with having robbed him of the amount above-
mentioned. He said she had taken the money out of his
trowsers pocket while he was standing talking to her. He
wished that she might be searched on the spot, and his money
which he was confident she had about her, returned to him.
The constable told him it was necessary, before searching
her, that he should go to the station-house with them, and
enter the charge in the usual manner. The gentleman said
nothing would compel him to do that, as he was a nobleman
and a Member of Parliament. On hearing this the prisoner
abused him in the most disgusting manner, and made
imputations against her accuser of an abominable nature.
The constable on that account took the prisoner into custody.
The gentleman did not accompany them to the station-house.
On searching the prisoner the money was not found, and the
constable said he believed she had swallowed it. She was
detained.