The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, APRIL 2B, 1845.

RAILWAY NEWS.

of separation is come, what regards does it cast on the past
—with what sentiments will it look to the future? This
high assembly has, undoubtedly, done but little, according
to the views of a great number of persons, who, animated
with a noble enthusiasm, overleaping the limits of the
existing law, would desire to obey only the inspirations
of their own heart, and unjustly consider the Diet as an
individuality, to which they attribute not only sen-
timents and sympathies like their own, but still more, an
entire liberty of will. Tke Diet has, however, performed
much, if the real and not imaginary sphere of its possible
action be borne in mind, and if it be admitted in all confi-
dence, that it will find submission and.support where it may
demand it, and a friendly and confederal attention -where
it has interceded in a pressing manner for the benefit
of a great number of unfortunate men, and for the pa-
cification of the whole country. The horizon at present is
far from being free from these clouds which are the precur-
sors of a tempest; the waves that havebeen lashed into fury
by the storm of passions which has burst over the Con-
federation, are not yet calmed down. However, the salu-
tary influence of time has contributed, in the short in-
terval during which the Diet has been sitting, to diminish
men's anxieties ; it will still continue to exercise its in-
fluence, if the authorities and citizens are animated with
the firm determination energetically to oppose all vio-
lence directed against legal order, and if the hearts of
the confederated bodies show an inclination to alleviate
as much as possible the disquieting condition of so many
wretched men. If, as is my firm opinion, the members
of this high assembly, composed of influential magistrates
of all the cantons, share in this conviction, and separate with
the intention of using every exertion for the purposes I have
just stated, I can then venture to hope that the most dange-
rous crisis is past, and that at the opening of the ordinary
Diet we shall be able to regard the future with greater se-
curity. Thanking you, gentlemen, for the indulgence with
-which you have greeted my entrance on the eminent func-
tions with which my fellow-citizens have invested me, I now
declare the Diet to be prorogued indefintely."

allowance of 255. notes to circulate in Scotland, and to
the calculation of the monthly averages, we feel no
doubt that, in practice, these deposited gold specie se-
curities could not be so made. On the other hand, we
have no fear— after the statement of Friday last, com-
paring its proposals with his announced determinations
of last summer—that Sir ROBERT will be found num-
able enough on this, or any other points of exception
which 'such an influential and determined body as the
representatives of the moneyed and banking interest of
Scotland have shown themselves to be, may hereafter
take to specific details of his plan.
There is one very notable concession, if we rightly
collect Sir ROBERT'S meaning in a (somewhat obscure)
passage of his speech, of his extreme and overruling
principle of a deposited gold equivalent to be always
forthcoming on demand for paper note circulation. It
is, that he seems disposed to allow a large infusion of
the silver element into this specie " security." If we
are correct in our interpretation, we are glad of the fact.
The necessity for recognising such an inconsistency in
its action must go far to impress Sir ROBERT'S mind
with a clear, though it be a tardy, conviction of the
fallacy of his gold standard principle, If this be good
for anything, it must be good altogether, not partially.
It is an organic statute in his monetary legislation. To
relax its application, if enforced at all, is to demolish
the whole Lags of controlling necessity upon which
alone he has ever ventured to rest so vast an interference
with existing contracts, and the value or wages of labour,
as is involved in the whole theory and working of his
bullion standard of currency. Ile so well understands
that unity is at once the indication and the essence of
truth, that such a deflexion from the base-line of his
system must prove to him its inherent fallacy. But are
we at liberty to augur any favourable result from such
nbe, when, on the
convictions,
oi cft i otnhse,
fhoorfeiture,
rofw;
ietvuerrestrongth the
t sacrificehey maoyf interests, and the
destruction of property, and the fearful blow he has in-
flicted on the great community of industrial labour in
England and Wales, by his abolition of a small
note circulation here, and by his rigid en-
forcement of the , convertibility of all paper
issues into gold at a pre-determined and
arbitrary st Indard of value, he permits, to Scotland and
Ireland, the very privilege he has thus withdrawn from
us, at so vast and still continued a sacrifice, admitting
that it is essential to tieir prosperity ? We will fain
hope that the day is nut far distant when some moral
force, of a nature like that which has been so honourably
and emphatically exercised on this occasion by the
gehtlemen of Scotland and of Ireland, shall induce hint
to extend, in the same matter, " justice to England," by
the removal of his Currency Act and its " complement"
from the Statute-book. What such moral influence,
however, may fail to accomplish, we greatly fear must
soon be granted to external or internal pressure. The
reckoning day, which the frenzied speculators of rail-
way share gambling are assuredly precipitating, and the
ominous aspect of some of our foreign relations, may but
too soon violently necessitate that which sound policy
and provident statesmanship would long ago have con-
ceded,

Subscribers and others i►,terested in Railways will find a
FULL ACCOUNT of the PROCEEDINGS
before the RAILWAY COMMITTEES in the
THIRD EDITION of THE SUN, reported up
to the CLOSE of EACH DAY.
Sun-uOice, 112, Strand.

We have intelligence from Lisbon to the 20th inst.
by the Peninsular mail. On the previous day the
business of the Cortes was brought to a termination.
The Bill for the establishment of Savings' Banks, and
several other new laws, had received the royal assent.
The reports of the Spec'al Committees relative to the
finances had been presented to the Chamber cf Deputies,
and are entirely in favour of the Ministerial plans.
Meetings had been held in different places, preparatory
to a general election, which is to take place in May.
On Sunday, the 20th, the QUEEN in person closed
the Cortes with the usual ceremonies. All the Foreign
Ministers were present. The following is her Majesty's
speech :

" Noble Peers and Senhors, Representatives of the Portu-
guese nation—At the close of the present session, the last of
this Legislature, it gratifies me to give you a public testimo-
nial of your title to my entire confidence and that of the
nation.

" The many an 4 important measures which you have ap-
proved of, for the maintenance of liberal institutions, of peace,
and of order, anti those which you have adopted for the
organisation of the finances, and for the rendering available
of divers fountains of public wealth, will be a living evidence
of your devotion to the Throne, and of your solicitude for
liberty and the happiness of the people which Divine Provi-
dence has committed to my care.
" Although the labours of Parliament are at an end, it is
still your incumbent duty to instruct the people to fulfil its
duties, and to obey the laws. I confide in your patriotism
and fidelity.
"I thank the Chambers for the supplies which they have
voted, to enable my ministry to meet the expenses of the
State; and also for the dotation of my much-loved children,
the Prince Dom Pedro and the Infant Dom Luis Filippe.
I have the satisfaction to assure you of the perfect tran-
quillity which reigns throughout the kingdom and Ultramar
possessions." The session is closed.

The last published return; by the Board of Admiral

of the total number, description, force, &c., of all the
vessels of war now building in her MAJESTY'S dock-
yards, we have not perused without strong feelings of
surprise, and some of disappointment. The force of
these impressions can be but little subdued or altered
by the assurance which the returns convey, that these
vessels are building "on the most approved and scientific
principles." Approved by the Lords of the Admiralty,
and by the Surveyor General of the Navy they may be,
but how far the principles of their construction would
meet with the apprubation of those practical and scien-
tific authorities in naval architecture, who have
recently demonstrated the capital errors incor-
porated into Sir WILLIAM SYMONDS'S ships ; and
who have shown at how vast a cost of public
money her defective craft have been first built, and after-
wards cut down, altered, even widened, lengthened,
shortened; or broken up,—is quite another question.
The revelations of Sir CHARLES NAPIER and the state-
ments of Captain Roos, upon-these subjects, have in-
fused intous a degree of scepticism about Admiralty
testimonials to the properties of men-of-war and steamer
shipping, which makes us, probably, unreasonable. But
though we find a summary or recapitulation of near 600
ships of war, of from 6 to 120 guns each, all
of them announced to be in a very considerable state of
forwardness, we tremble at some of the details. The
example of our last maritime war—that with America
in 1812—of which the• successes we achieved towards
its conclusion' to some extent compensated for, though
giver. vt411,1,1g,
tenffanciel, thetne disastrouswnri reverses our naval
a mat tne-ineapacir,
obstinacy of the Admiralty of that time were the imme-
diate causes of these disgraces. They sent out to
encounter the enormous and heavy-metalled frigates of
the United States' navy, British ships-of-war of very
far inferior size, metal, sailing qualities, and manning.
Our brave officers and gallant crews were fearfully over-
matched on all the occasions to which we allude. The
inexcusable carelessness and official mismanagement
which seemed to take especial care in mismatching our
sm milWre to be
meen of-"llraginst superior odds, wherever those
odds encountered—which dispatched, for ex-
asnple, one of our small 36-gun frigates to engage a finis
American one, on the than new construction, being, per-
haps, nominally of 40, but carryieg 50 guns of over.
whelming calibre as compared with Ours, or assiduously
laboured to cause disgua and annoyance to officers in
command, by fabricating new, or enforcing obsolete old
regulations, calculated to discourage, instead of to che-
rish, a spirit of generous and disinterested emulation
among them. It was under the very unpopular secre-
taryship of Mr. CROKER (if we recollect rightly), that
the reverses we reluctantly allude to occurred,
and we have heard of the simultaneous severity with
which all the powder expended beyond the regulation
allowance was charged to every officer by whose order
it had been so consumed. The late gallant Captain
BROKE, who captured the Chesapeake, after a most de
e must
termined but rapid action, perceived all the consequences
that must ensue where this rule, when enforced with
such absurd strictness,
to make them-
e produce on the gunnery of
the crews,
deductions from their pay—forbore
texercises
both at small arms and great guns.
palye w
tof comparative indifference to him;
them-
selves r
ssar liable
an object
wothbtohjoe large
escem
and every day, in alrpost all weathers, he exercised bis
men till he brought their gunnery to a pitch of precision
and coolness never since surpassed. Every shot of the
which determined the conflict in the short
Shannon told, in that memorable breach of the Obese
spacep
emNayko
minutes.
twenty
ythese Admiralty returns, we infer that
ewLos,fsrtfiddrws°P,e;n9are like the effete race of the Bourbons, of
whom TALLEYEAND said "that they had forgotten no-
thing, and had learned nothing." They seem still
wedded to that ancient and most favourite crotchet of
building 12, 16, 18, and 20 gun craft in abundance,
which only take the sea in nine cases out of ten, in times
of peace, to be blown over; in times of war, to be captured
by the enemy. It is impossible, as we have before had oc-
casion to observe, to speak of the exigencies ofour navy,and
the course which a wise policy would dictate as proper to
be adopted with respect to them, without assuming the
possibility, we by no means say the probability, of a war
at no distant day with the same Power which so much
exalt. d its maritime reputation in that war of 1812.
Instead of appl3 ing all that they could spare from the
Parliamentary votes for the service of the present year,
to the immediate cure of those organic defects in the
war-steamers already built, and theimprovement of those
in course of construction, by removing machinery and en-
gines as much as possible out' of the reach of shot— by
fitting screw-propellers and Archimidean screws, and
better adapting the decks for the working of the
powerful 68 and 86-pounders, swivel, and other
guns
;—by
at once supplying the deficiencies
which they have admitted to exist in some
of the most recently built men-of- war of the
first, second, and third rates; and by adopting the ad-
mitted excellencies of models, whose superiority over Sir
W. SYDIONDeti they have also acknowledged; what are
the Admiralty doing? Frittering away, as it seems to
us, the public money, and perilling the national reputa-
tion, by persevering in a course of building vessels that
must be almost utterly useless in any future struggle
which the steam arm of great navies will assuredly hate
to decide, in conjunction, not with ships either too large
or too small for mere cruising service, but of a force and
of dimensions equal to the demands of naval warfare,
under such circumstances as those in which it must in
future be carried on.

Madrid journals of the 20th instant have been re-
ceived. On the 19th the Chamber of Deputies was en-
gaged in discussion on the supplies for the Finance De-
partment, when, in answer to a question from Senor
LLORENTE, relative to the large expense of the coast
guards, the Minister of Finances said great services had
been rendered by that body and the Carabineros in pre-
venting smuggling. Not fewer than 94 feluccas,
laden with contraband goods, had been cap-
tured by them since February, on the coast of
Huelva and Motril. With regard to any alteration in
the.tariff, he observed, that considering the state of the
manufactures, and the serious interest; connected with
them, he ha 1 refrained from submitting any reforms to
the appreciation of the Cortes during the present session.
The question, however, had been under consideration,
and would be brought forward at some future period.
..The Three per Cents. closed at 351 at 60 days ; the
Five per, Cents. at 25Lat 60 days ; and the Debt with-
out interest at 8f at. 60 days.

Most of the R.ris Opposition journals contain articles
on the affairs of Greece, to which a brief discussion in
the Chamber of Deputies on Friday had given rise. On
the motion that the sum of 527,241 f. be granted for
paying the half-year's interest on the Greek Loan, M.
DUVERGIER DE HAURANNE caged the attention of the
Government to some remarks injurious to France, which
had been made in the British Parliament by Mr. Cocn-
BANE, and which Sir ROBERT PEEL seemed rather to.
approve of than condemn. "At the commencement of
fly; vetwitie:, sW the atakei::::"Eco.itnE..tthe speech
was flourishing most vigorously, yet, two months
after, the Mavrocordato Ministry was overturned,
and She head of the new Cabinet was au illustrious di-
plomatist well known for his friendly inclinations to-
wards France. From that moment the hotel of the
English Minister at Athens became a hotbed of opposi
tion against French influence. It is well known that
England rarely disavowed her agents, but the Chamber
must hear how the conduct of French agents was spoken
of in othey,countriii. Id a. late sitting of the House of
Commons, Mr. COCWRANE, in demanding explanations
frdiri the English Ministry relative to the policy followed
with respect to England, had alleged that the conduct of
M. PISCATORY, the French Minister at Athens, was dis-
graceful and degrading. Sir ROBERT PEEL, in place of
sharply reprehending this improper language, contented
himself with reply big that it was not within the bounds
of propriety to remark on the conduct of a foreign
agent. Everybody knew what be meant. Under these
circumstances he bad to ask the Ministry if it bad con-
sidered the proceedings of the English Cabinet as being
in conformity with the sentiments of reciprocity and good
feeling which it had asserted were existing between
France and Eegland ; he had, in particular, to demand
whether the Government was disposed to afford support
and strength to the French Minister in Greece ? The
question, in fact, was to asct.rtain whether the influence
of France in Greece ought to be lost, as undoubtedly
must be the case it the present state of things was to be
maintained." M. DucrtATEL, the Minister of the Inte-
rior, in the absence of M. GUIZOT, said—" The French
Minister at the Court of Athens had done nothing but
conform to the views of the Cabinet, which gave its
compltte approbation to M. PISCATORY for his conduct
during the changes of Ministry alluded to ; and he
was happy to declare this publicly before the Chamber.
As to the future, he had to state that the Government
would steadily pursue the same course as it had
adopted dtiring the time that had elapsed. It would
not renounce in any way its influence in Greece, or re-
sign the part which it was its duty to fulfil. This was
all that the Hon. Deputy could expect him to say, fur
nobody could suppose that he would proceed to discuss
the conduct of a foreign Government, or enter into any
explanations relative to words pronounced in a foreign
Parliament, not possessing any official character. If he
had not entered into any remarks on the conduct of the
English agent at Athens, it was because such observations
appeared to him inopportune. The essential point was,
that the French agent in Athens had defended the policy
of France with respect to Greece." After some further
conversation on the subject, the grant was agreed to by
a majority of 248 to 4. On Saturday M. ALLARD
presented the report of the Committee on the Bill for
arming the fortifications of Paris, and recommending a
grant of 17,000,000 f. for that purf.we. M. TRIERS gave
notice that on Friday next he would put some questions
to the Government relative to the Jesuits. We may
therefore look forward to an interesting discussion, as
besides M. TRIERS, M. DUPIN will probably speak, and
open all his wrath upon this intriguing sect. M. TRIERS
and his party have judged it expedient not to wait for
the discussion of the Church estimates to bring the sot,.
jest before the public, and are therefore resolved to
have a special debate upon the encroachments of the
clergy.

'M. GulzoT is much better, and on Saturday had an
interview with the KING. The Revue de Paris says:—
"The health of the Minister for Foreign Affairs is not so
encouraging as the organs of the Cabinet proclaim. M.
Guizot, we are happy to announce, is not dangerously
ill, but his recent indisposition has had sufficiently serious
consequences to make him feel the necessity of repose.
Should he not proceed to Vichy, as we were told, he will
certainly repair to his estate at Val de Rocher.
We have even been assured that he would not appear
itithe Chamber before his departure,. His intimate friends
and family advise him to take advantage of his situation to
resign his portefruille. 'You have shown,' they say, •your
condescension towards your party in yielding to the en-
treaties of the deputies of the Lemardelay meeting; now, you
owe it to those who love you not to compromise your health
any longer in the service of a cause which may be said to be
almost desperate.' "
•

The Swiss
Diet on the 22d inst. closed its proor•ed-
ings, when tie whole of the foreign Ministers left for
Berne. It '" as generally believed that in a few days
they would proceed to Lucerne. Affairs are still in a
very unsettled state. The following is the address of
M. Funutn, President, at the prorogation of the Diet:—
" The extraordinary Diet this day terminates its la-
bours by
t"tifying its confidence in the Directory,
which it has every reason to be well pleased with—
it has charged that body with the ulterior execu-
tion of the decrees which it has passed, and with the
duty of providing generally for such matters as
press most. It is under the immediate impression
of the most afflicting events, and in the midst of the most
active fermentation , that the Diet met for the purpose of
devising the best means of arriving at the pacification of the
country; and for that purpose it judged the aid of imposing
Military forces absolutely accessary, Now that the rootlleut

-- •
The Funds fell on Saturday, oning to a rumour on
the Bourse that M. GUIZOT had obtained from the KING
1 ave of absence for two months.
THE BOURSE--SATUnDAY, APRIL 26.
Phs. Ilit h .st Lowest Last
Price Price. Price. Price.
French Five per Cents. •••• 119 35 .. 119 45 .. Is 9 15 • • 1i 9 20
Pours. •
Three per Cents ••. 85 75 •• 85 85 .. 85 60 84 60
Loan •• • • • 86 35 .. 86 35 .. 8i 35 .. 86 35
Bank of France ••• • • • • 3260 —3260 • • 3260 35.60

Gouln Bank I,ooof Shares.. 1107 50 ••1107 51 • •1107 50 ..1107 50
Belgian Bank . ..... 635 635., .. 63i 63i

Belgian Fives, 1,3 10314 • • 103 •• 10.3%
1842•••••••• 1054 •• 10.5% •• 1054 105%
Four-and-a-llalf.•• 101% •• 1:,1% 10134 •• 14134
•• 62 15 •• 62 20 •• 62 10 .. 62 20
Spanish Passive ......... 7% • • 7 • • 7% • -7%
biNpOlt.it lO2 •• 102 •• 102 102

Rowan.

10634 JUG% 1061,6
RAILWAY STIARES
St, • • ••• • • • tow ..jO2U

•.1090 .4090