The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-30 00:00:00

rfiE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY MORNING, MAY so, 1844.

seventy-seventh year. From all accounts, he was a
man of very high character, uniformly consistent in
his politics, the unbending friend of liberty, and a
real lover of his country. Few men ever made such
sacrifices for the public good. That the Royal Family
of France know well ; and they also know that to
him, more than any one individual, Louis Prmarpu
owes his throne, though latterly this excellent man
was seldom or never seen at the palace. The follow-
ing just tribute to his memory appears in the Na-
tional :—" M. JACQUES LAFFITTE died last evening,
at seven o'clock, contrary to the hopes enter-
tained a few hours before of preserving him.
At four his state appeared more satisfactory, and it
was only at six that the change came on which in a
short time terminated his existence. Up to the last
moment M. LAFFITTE preserved his intellectual
faculties fully, and he had the consolation of once
more embracing those members of his family whom
he loved the most. The deep and sincere grief that
reigns at this moment in his house would prove, if it
was necessary, how excellent was his disposition.
Death, in fact, has rarely struck so noble a victim.
For more than a quarter of a century the name of
M. LAFFITTE has shone forth amongst us at the
head of the list of the purest patriots, and for fifty
years all persons in distress were accustomed to
turn their eyes towards him as towards a Provi-
dence. M. LAFFITTE committed errors in politics.
The generosity of his heart was such that he
could not believe in the perversity of which some
men are capable, and this generosity rendered
him more than once their dupe. But the people,
whose feeling is so sure, never ceased to regard M.
LAFFITTE as one of their best friends, and they were
not mistaken. Every one has still in his recollection
the speech by which this great citizen bade farewell
this year to the place of President of the Chamber,
feeling a presentiment that he should no more ascend
that chair, where he had just uttered such unaccus-
tomed truths. France will not forget those words,
which are, as it were, the political testament of
M. J. LAFFITTE. She will not forget the man
to whom misfortune never applied in vain. It
may be asserted that if all those on whom M.
LAEFITTE has showered his benefits should attend
his obsequies, never will a prince's funeral have
drawn together in a concourse greater in number,
and formed of persons in a higher rank of life."
The funeral was fixed for Wednesday (this day), and
as it would to a certainty be attended by vast crowds,
the authorities were making every preparation for
preserving order. The Funds were slightly affected.
by his death, but soon recovered, and the Three per
Cents. closed at the prices of the previous day-
84f. 65c.

We learn by the Swiss journals that the fighting
in the Valais had entirely ceased. The forces of the
Upper Valais have been completely successful in their
conflict with those of the Lower Valais, which are so
disorganised that there is little chance of their being
able to rally. Mcst of the other Cantons have called
out troops for the protection of their respective terri-
tories. The Canton of Vaud have even sent a batta-
lion into the Valais. The question of convoking an
extraordinary Diet for the adoption of measures for
the maintenance of general tranquillity, has been re-
solved affirmatively by several of the Grand Councils.
The Nourelliste Vaudois of the 24th has the following,
under the head of Levey, May 21 :

" The engagenient which took place this morning in the
defile of.the Trient was an effort made by the entire column
of the Lower Valais to effect their retreat to St. Maurice.
The conflict appears to have been long. About 400 men suc-
ceeded in passing, by wading across the water up to the
waist, under a very sharp discharge of musketry. The rest
turned back to Martigny, to the number of about 200.
There, after having ascertained that they were surrounded on
all sides, thepzlispersed, with a view to escape separately,
though without much hope of succeeding. Messrs. Barman
and Joris formed part of this second troop ; the latter was
slightly wounded in the forehead. It is understood that they
have both succeeded in effecting their escape. The cause is
entirely decided, and the struggle is even finished. The
Valaisian volunteers who occupied the position in front of
St. Maurice have just returned, in consequence of the de-
mands made on them to do so. The prefect has given orders
not to allow any man in arms to leave the canton. They are
now bringing to the infirmary the wounded of both sides,
taken up from the place where they lay ; there are at present
sixteen of them. The number of killed in the last engage-
ment is supposed to be about twenty."
Under the head of Lausanne, May 23, the same journal
says The mail from Italy yesterday passed the Valais
without obstacle. The conductor of the diligence has brought
word that the Upper Valaisians are in number about 2,400
men, well armed and well organised, under the orders of M.
de Kalbermattan, and that they have provisions in abun-
dance. It was only yesterday, at four o'clock, that those
troops occupied Martigny. In taking possession of it, M. de
Kalbermattan issued a proclamation, inviting the inhabitants
to return peaceably home, promising them protection for
their property and persons. The population of Martigny
viewed with great satisfaction this occupation, because it
placed them under protection from any attacks from the in-
habitants of the lateral valleys, particularly Salvan, which
they dreaded very much. M. de Kalbermattan is operating
a general disarming of the Lower Valais. The troops under
the orders of this chief were to occupy St. Maurice to-day
towards eight in the morning. They are also to occupy
Monthey and the other communes as far as St. Gingolph.
There is no truth in the report of the burning of villages.
The only fires were those of the bridges, and of a few de-
tached buildings."
We read in the Courrier Suisse :--" In the midst of the
sad scenes of the combat of the Trient, where several Lower
Valaisian leaders were killed in crossing the torrent, we are
well pleased to cite the following fact :—M. Duvay passed
without being wounded, but he was made prisoner. The men
who had taken him wanted to shoot him on the spot. A
cure, whose name, we regret, we are unable to state, pene-
trated into the midst of them, and said, Unhappy men,
what
to
sotpdb w
ooe iatl
loDon to
Do you forget that before a pri-
soner
ed
him to prepare for death ?
i
he took him by the arm,
some bushes which grew
on the banks of the Rhone, and where they were soon hid
from sight. The cure returned alone, and when the men
asked him what he had done with the prisoner, he replied
et
d m
ledi are
as
cshohyi no
m oftue
ltsvis aboutmi
ti hie om'l nut Thereuponp
that he had escaped.*

TILE BOURSE-MONDAY, MAY 27.
First Highest Lowest Last
. - Price. Price. Price. Price.
French Five per Cents ...... 131 70 .. 121 80 .. 121 70 .. 121 75
Fe ar per Cents ••••• 107 75 •• 107 75 .. 107 75 .. 107 75
Three per.Cent3.— •• 84 50 .. 84 60 .. 84 50 .. 84 60
Bank of France•••••• •••• •• • 3°75 ••3075 .•3065 ..3065
Latlitte Bank, I,ooor. Shares 1080 „logo "1080 ..1080
i,ooof. Sharesso62 50 ..5070 ..5062 50 —5070
Belgian 85ui1t..1•8•4•2•
.i.• ii I:: 610695
1841_,......111250 ..1112 50 —1112.50 ..1112 50
Belgian Fives, 1840 •••• • • • • 106 ..
.. 665 .. 665 .. 665
106 .. 106 .. 106
geapolitan •. 109 .. 109 .• 109
. 102 70 .. 102 70 .. 102 70 .• 102 70
Roman, ex ay....
RAILWAY SHARES.
St. Germain ...
....1005
Versailles, R. 8.• • • • • • • • • • " 386 25 • • 386 25 • • 386 25 .. 386 25
L.8.............250 .. 251 25 .. 250 .. 251 25
Roues . ......... .......... 982 50 .. 987 50 .. 982 50 .. 987 50
Rouen to Havre.• ••••• • • • • • 775 • • 775 • • 772 50 .. 775
0r1ean5.........
••1007 50 ..1003 75 ..1007 50
Strasburg to Bale• ••••• • • •• 261 25 .. 262 50 .. 260 .. 261 25
Avignon to Marseilles.• •• 775 .. 785 k . 775
.. 785
RAILWAY SHARES, FOR THE ACCOUNT.
St. Germain
Tersailles,R.B... .... •• •• 385 .. 385
.. 385
.. 385
L.B. ....... . •• • • 252 50 .. 252 50 •• 251 25 .. 151 25
Rouen •. •• •••••••••• •• •• • • 985 .. 987 50 .. 985 . 987 50
Rouen to Havre. • - 775 .. 775 .. 770 .. 775
Orleans lOO5 • .1007 50 ••1003 75 ..1007 50

Strasburg to Bale.•. 261 25 •• 262 50 .. 261 25 .. 262 50
Avignon to Marseilles.• • • • • 777 50 • . 785 • • 775 .. 785

MORTALITY IN TILE METROPOLIS.—The return for
the week ending the 25th was a slight increase as
compared with the previous week, but is still under
the average. The total number of deaths was 876,
previous week 862, average 883 ; and, taking the
average for the last five years, the number was 946.
This shows that though the weather has been unu-
sually dry, and there have been keen east winds, the
general health of the population of London has not
suffered. Indeed we hear from the different hospitals
that at no former period were there so few cases of
disease in these establishments. The beds for pa-
tients in one establishment are nearly empty. In one
hospital where they have beds for twenty-six, only
two patients were received. In cases of small-pox,
scarlatina, and croup, the amount is considerably
above the average, which is 161, while last week it
was 206. In diseases of the lungs there is a consi-
derable diminution, the averag3 being 286, while last
week it was only. 239. Thirty-six persons died of
small-pox, and of these twenty-four had not been vac-
cinated. The number of violent deaths was 12—ave-
rage 24. Of these there were two cases from frac-
ture or contusion by falls—one by a carriage, one from
swallowing a needle, four from drowning, one from
murder, and only two from suicide. The thermometer
was highest on Friday, 66.8, and lowest, on Satur-
day, 42.8.

PORTUGAL.
PARIS, MAY 28.
The French Government has received the fol-
lowing

TELEGRAPHIC DISPATCH.
BAYONNE, MAY 27.
We are assured that the Portuguese Ministry has
been modified as follows :

M. COSTA CABRAL, Minister of the Interior and
President of the Council.
Brigadier CORDEIRO T,ENTARDO, Minister of War.
Baron DE CATAINA, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
M. LOPEZ PASTRRO, Minister of Finance.
M. TERRAGUSTO, Minister of Justice.
M. DUGUE DE TORESECA, Minister of Marine.
—Times.

DUTCH AND GERMAN MAIL.
THE 14WJE MAY 25.---
Though the Belgian
journals deny the fact, we know for certain that the
Cabinet of. London has sent an energetic note to that
of Brussels respecting the system of differential duties
contemplated at Brussels.
The Government has presented to the Chamber a