The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-24 00:00:00

and to lay the foundation of a secure and lasting pros-
perity, I cannot but deeply lament the reverses which
have so grievously, during the last three years, injured
the fortunes of individuals and tho credit of the colony ;
and I shall continue, with your assistance, to give my
most anxious consideration to the means by which per-
manent relief may be afforded.
_ _ _

Really this is a chilling portrait of the actual con-
dition of a magnificent colony, whose advance,
hitherto, in agricultural improvement, the develop-
ment of a native staple, and the commercial rela-
tions consequent on such advantages, and the inci-
dents of its geographical position, have been hitherto
almost without a parallel in the history of European
settlements. It is important to the best interests of
civilisation, and to the great cause of colonial policy,
that the erroneous principles which, alone, can have
worked out so lamentable a conclusion as this from
beginnings so auspicious, should be corrected, or re-
placed by others of a sounder and more beneficial
character. To this end, as we argued in a former
paper, some weeks ago, the absurd and suicidal dis-
abilities and amercements proposed to be inflicted on
the great flock owners, or squatters—the pioneers of
territorial discovery, and the true founders of Aus-
tralian greatness and opulence—must be at once re-
pealed, and the notion of reimposing them for ever
abandoned. The Colonial Government must relax
and diminish its tariff of official license fees, and
other duties and imposts; and with the other must
deal out more sparingly and discreetly the grants, of
which the liberality and the extent have hitherto
been followed by results so little commensurate.

The Dutch -mail, which arrived this morning,
brings us the Speech of the King of the NETHER-
LANDS on opening the States-General at the Hague,
on the 21st of October. The general state of the
country is represented to be flourishing, the only ex-
ception being the West Indian Colonies. After al-
luding to the saving effected by the reduction of the
interest on the National Debt, and by the Convention
with Belgium, the speech announces an intention to
make certain alterations in the tariff in the
following words :—" The tariff of import, export,
and transit duties, already provisionally communi-
cated to you, will now bleome a subject of your de-
liberation. Holland will not confine itself to bare
words, when the successive improvements of our com-
mercial legislation shall have to be considered." This,
and the announcement of the necessity of a reform
in the monetary system, are by far the most impor-
tant portions of the speech, which will be found at
length in another column.

The following telegraphic dispatch from Madrid
was received on Tuesday by the French Govern-
ment:—

" MADRID, OCT. 18.—The Bill relative to the re-
form of the Constitution has been this morning pre-
sented to the Congress.
" The Ministry have, at the same time, demanded
of the Senate permission to decree some organic laws."

These two measures—the reform of the Constitu-
tion,—and new organic laws—excite great interest.
Every friend of liberty believes there is a deep-laid
scheme not to reform, but to overturn the Constitu-
tion. The result will soon be seen, as the " Reform
Bill " was the first to be discussed by the Cortes. In
the Senate scarcely any business had been transacted.
the following is the speech of the President, Mos-
CORO DE ALTAMIRA, on his taking the chair :
" Senators,—Upon occupying for the fifth time this
eminent post, it is a pleasure to me to reflect that I owe
this honour to the kindness of her Majesty. My posi-
tion as President will recal without ceasing to my recol-
lection the imperious duty imposed upon me to protect
the rights and liberties of each senator in this meeting,
by faithfully observing the regulations of the assembly.
The prudence and wisdom of Senate will probably
render my task a light one. I trust that without re-
nouncing; his independence of opinion, each senator will
know how to reconcile it with his elevated position and
lignity. Such a line of conduct is the only means of in-
suring this illustrious body the consideration and respect
that are due to it."

The inquiry respecting the sinking of the Rayo
appears to exonerate the English officers from blame,
is the Spanialrvessel was proved to have been within
the limits of British water.

Madrid Bouree of the 16th.—Threo per Cents., 2Gi
for Account; Five per Cents., 20g for Account;
Floating Debt, 62i fur Account.

The trial of the Duke DR MONTMORENCY for the
listribution of seditious medals took place on Mon-
lay before the Paris Court of Assize. The Duke (or
Vrince DE ROUECQ) was defended by M. BERRYRR,
And was accompanied to Court by the Duke of
FITZJA NIES, the Marquis DE LA ROCHE JAQUELIN,
And several other distinguished members of the Legi-
timatist Party. It is needless to give any details of this
trumpery trial. M. BERRY FR asserted that there
was nothing political in the affair, and the jury coin-
•ided in his view, for, after consulting only five
minutes, they returned a verdict of "Not guilty."
The Prince was loudly cheered when ho left the
Court. The speech of the Prince is the only inte-
resting part of the proceedings, and does honour to
the ancient and noble House of MONTMORENCY :
" Gentlemen," said he, " the charges which have just
been brought against me by the Avocat-General will
certainly riot be deemed by you of a nature to justify
the abuse which the Government have made of the
law. What is the question submitted to you ? My
devotedness to the Prince to whom (and I do not
wish to conceal it) I have sworn fidelity inviolate—
some busts made in the court-yard of my house
since 1840—busts which have been exhibited to every
body, in a house open at all hours—and a sale that
never had the secresy just ascribed to it. Did
this require that my dwelling should be visited by
the police, that my locks should be picked or
broken open, that my seals should be torn up, that

my family papers should be read, and that a

parcel of documents, which was to be opened but
after my death, should bo carried away, in order to

Yet at these busts ?I do not think so. If I had been
ipplied to, I should have at once avowed
all I had done. These searches have been
hut a pretext. What makes me suppose it is
that, at the same moment similar searches were made
at the dwelling of a Lieutenant-General who broke
his sword in 1830, and, also, at the dwelling of a
brave officer, who has since appeared before a jury
lxnd been acquitted. That gentleman's only offence
was, that he had been a member of a charitable asso-

ciation, whose objects he had admirably promoted.
['his work of charity has been impugned, and it
not the first time such an attempt has been made, for
they have expressed a determination to crush it. I

take this opportunity of appealing to the generous
tnd humane feelings of such as may be disposed to
promote this charitable association which I am doing
my best to promote. I hope that our defence will

emerge victorious from this severe trial. Already
have the jury duly disposed of an accusation which,
as I have already observed, was but a mere pretext.
What is aimed at and expected is, that you will strike
at convictions which all honourable men respect—
faith in adversity—attachment to glorious past times.
They wish to attain all—to venturO everything—to
lefy public opinion—and to 'drive us to a despotism
the more dangerous as they will cover it with the
mantle of legality. -For us, they may persecute and
brand us, but they never shall accomplish their
object."

We really thought the Opposition journals had
done with the royal visit, but as they have not yet
found another hobby they will probably ride this one
to death. The National, so bent on war, of course, is
highly indignant at the KING for presuming to say,
before the Knights of England, at the investiture of
the Garter, " I swear to abstain from unjust wars."
Phis honest men consider a very honourable and hu-
mane vow. Not so this rabid journal, who thus
attacks his MAJESTY, while professing to attack M.
GUIZOT

" M. Guizot assisted officially, in his quality of Mi-
nister, at the investiture. We have the right to make
'dm account for the imprudent words spoken on that
,ccasien. At the moment the Chßupllor read the
words, I swear never to make an Wil`at or unfair war
)gainst the Sovereign of the Order,' the Xing interrupted
him by exclaiming, more than once, with the greatest
-,nergy, ' Never, never. I never will.'
"As Louis Philippe is not at an age when men are
carried away by their feelings, all that he said was no
doubt arranged beforehand with M. Guizot, and we can
no more render the King accountable for these words,
tad of the warmth with which they were spoken, than
we can attribute to him alone the discourse pronounced
by him from the throne on the opening of the session.
Therefore, we say, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has
thought proper, before the British aristocracy, to allow
the Constitutional King to take a solemn engagement
never to make war against the Sovereign of the order of
the Garter. _

"-In order to givennother meaning than that of a vain
etiquette to this pompous comedy, it was necessary for
Louis Philippe to liAerrupt the Chancellor by a new