The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-22 00:00:00

RECALL

Slit ROBERT PEEL.

The following appeared in our Third Edition el

Saturday Evening :

The formation of a Ministry by Lord Joni Rug-
SELL is, for the present, at an end, and the Court
Newsman will announce the departure of the mem-
bers of the might-have-been Cabinet, for their country-
seats, instead of chronicling their arrival in Downing-
street.

With them will go the tribe of sucking statesmen,
and expectant placemen, who have haunted BROOKE&
and the Reform Club for some days past, full of
pleasing visions of power and of self-importance.
The break-down of the Whigs, in attempting to
form a Government, will, we hope, prove a lesson
to the narrow-minded aristocrats of the LANs..
DOWNS class, that they cannot move without the aid
of the true Liberals and free-traders.
The desire to extend the basis of the Administra-
tion, and to give Mr. COBDEN a place in it, or rather
to OFFER him one, with some minor disputes about
particular offices, have been the rocks upon which
the wreck took place.
Lori JOHN has done his duty in all, save in dis-
carding his ancient drags. The Whiggism of 1830
will not do in 1845.

The people have gained by the last ten days.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL may lead the van, but he must
not put his heavy artillery in the front.
Sir ROBERT PEEL may try to govern—he can
only do so by adopting free-trade measures.
The QUEEN has been throughout in favour of the
people and of popular measures ; her words and
actions have been most cheering, and it is gratifying
to know that a Liberal Administration would have
found a firm friend in her MAJESTY.

(FILOM A CORRESPONDENT.)

Sir ROBERT PEEL received this morning a► com-
munication from Lord Jona RUSSELL, and imme-
diately svmoned together to his residence all the
Ministers in town.

After the meeting, messengers were dispatched to
such members of the Cabinet as are out of town, re-
quiring their immediate return to the metropolis.

As soon as Sir ROBERT PEEL returns from Windsor
Castle, it is expected a Cabinet Council will be held.

Lord JOHN RussaLes throwing up of his commis-
sion after he had accepted it has given rise to many
rumours ; and we are free to confess that, looking to
the reputation of the leaders of the Liberal party, as
well as to the great public interests at stake, we
should have been better pleased if, on Thursday last,
Lord J. RUSSELL had declined, when he accepted,
the task of forming an Administration.
We believe we may state confidently that Lord
J. RUSSELL'S refusal to proceed has not been
caused by any disagreement on the question of the
corn-laws. We have learnt on excellent authority,
that on Friday a distinct proposal was made to Mr.
COBDEN to join the new Administration. We do
not believe that Mr. COBDEN would have accepted
office, and we are sure that the position of greatest
usefulness and honour for him is the independent
position. Re named his own proper function at the
Covent-garden meeting of Wednesday—" Watchman
while there were any bad characters abroad." But
it was right that the offer should have been made; and
we derive this consolation at:least, from the events of last
week, that the union of the aristocratic members of the
Liberal party and Mr. COBDEN'S free-trade hosts will
be greatly strengthened by what has happened.
When conjecturing, on Saturday, the cause of Lord
Jones RUSSELL'S renewed hesitation, we expressed
doubts respectin; the policy of Lord LANSDOWNE,
which we are glad to learn are not well founded. We
are assured that Lord LANSDOWNE has shown no
timidity on the question of the corn-laws, but that the
weight of his influence has been zealously used for the
, formation of a Ministry on the broad principle de-
clared in Lord J. RUSSELL'S letter, of total and imme-
diate repeal.
A rumour that the Liberal Cabinet broke up in
consequence of a difference about the Irish Church,
we believe to be hardly worthy of notice. Repeal
the corn• laws, and the Irish Church would take care
of itself. Sir R. PEEL'S resignation would have ren-
dered it as imperative upon him hereafter to support
a Liberal Ministry in settling the Irish Church ques-
tion, as to support them at starting in repeal of the
corn-laws. On the Irish Church question also has he
abandoned, as Minister, the policy of his party. An
ingenuous and manly course on the corn-laws, which
Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S acceptance of the Premiership
prepared us to expect, should have guaranteed an in-
genuous and manly course also on the question of the
Irish Church.
We come, then, to the cause of the sudden termina-
tion of the Chesham-place conferences ; and, we fear,
there is no reasonable doubt of its being an objection
urged at the eleventh hour, and then persisted in by
Lord Gaur,to Lord PALMERSTON 8.3 Foreign Secretary.
Lord Jour,' RUSSELL would not give the Foreign Se-
cretaryship to any one else ; Lord GREY would not be
a member of the Government if Lord PALMERSTON
were Foreign Secretary ; Lord PALMERSTON placed
himself at Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S disposal, to be or not
to be Foreign Secretary, but if he were not Foreign
Secretary, he should decline any other office, and out
of office would cordially support Lord Jowl Rua-
SELL'S Aministration. Such is said to have been the

triangular duel which arose on Friday afternoon, after
everything was supposed to be settled. It is clear
that Lord J. RUSSELL, who has always supported
Lord PALMERSTON'S foreign policy, could not avail
himself of the latter generous offer, and so sanction
what he would think an unjust imputation. On the
other hand, having from the beginning looked upon
his task ns an arduous one—seeing difficulties before
him, which to be overcome must be met by union and
the absorption of all differences in the one great ques-
tion of corn- law repeal, he was not prepared to pro-
ceed, if deserted by Lord GARY. Whatever differences
of opinion there may be as to the result, all must be
agreed that Lord J. RUSSELL has acted a generous
and disinterested part. He did not snatch at office
greedily ; he accepted it onlyafiean
after having
of meeting
them
m welling weighed all the difficulties, and his means
them ; and one new difficulty afterwards arising,

. _
which under other circumstances would have been of
little account, he has felt that he could not longer
keep her MAJESTY and the country in suspense, and

has immediately resigned his - charge. After

this the most unscrupulous libeller will hardly
dare to charge Lord JOHN Russsi.r. and his
friends with greediness for office. Two un-
forseen events of the last week would have
influenced appetite for power, if such had been their
ruling motive. Lord AlErcaLres return from Canada
placed the Governor- Generalship of that province, and
Lord WHARNCLIFFE'S death the Lord-Lieutenancy
of the West Riding, at their disposal. These two
great bits of patronage were in their hands, and are
now in Sir ROBERT PEEL'S.

As to Lord GREY and the part which he has taken,
it would be unfair to prejudge him, before the meet-
ing of Parliament has given him the opportunity of
making the explanations which will be looked for.
But we cannot help observing, that the objection
with which Lord GREY has thwarted his political
friends might have been made sooner, and seems not
to have been made till after Lord Jowl. RUSSELL had
undertaken to form a Ministry ; and that the objec-
tion to Lord PALMERSTON'S foreign policy has come
from one who was for a very short time a mem-
ber of Lord MELBOURNE'S Cabinet, and ceased
to belong to it in 1839, before the most critical
period of Lord PALMERSTON'S administration of
foreign affairs. Of all those assembled at Chesham-
place, Lord GREY bad probably had the fewest oppor-
tunities of studying Lord PALMERSTON'S policy. Nor
can we forget that Lord GREY, who, after having, of
all the leading Whig politicians, been the most pro-
mhier•t advocate of free trade, hae null- upset n free•
trade Ministry, left MELBOURNE'S Cabinet in 1639,
complaining of its tendencies to Radicalism, after
much flirting with Lord MELBOURNE'S Radical
supporters.

We believe that the cause of free trade will gain,
and not suffer, by Sir ROBIRT PAHL'S return to
power. But we do not affect to rejoice at the manner
in which his return to power has been effected ; and
we deeply regret the part which Lord Glint' ii repre-
sented to have acted.

The speech delivered by the Queen of SPAIN, on
the 15th, to the Cortes cannot fail to excite surprise
and satisfaction among a numerous class of readers.
It contains much good sense, some plain truths, not
usually found in Spanish harangues, and a tolerably
fair account of the state of the nation at the present
time. Though we deprecated at first the violent
measures of NARVAEZ, and still retain the same
opinion regarding the unconstitutional manner in
which he expelled ESPARTERO from the kingdom,
we are ready to admit that his measures latterly
have been of a very different description, and
that for many years Spain has not exhibited
such fair prospects of a steady and regular Govern-
ment as at the present time. It certainly appeared a
perfect anomaly that a ruler, like the late REGENT,
who conducted himself generally according to the
principles of the constitution, should have been so
utterly deserted, not by the army only (for that cir-
cumstance might have been accounted for), but by the
whole nation. No town of any note raised its voice
in his favour, and the last which he visited while in
power (Seville), made such a resistance to
his authority that he was forced to use
towards it a degree of severity that lowered
him greatly in public estimation. Since that period
his name has been forgotten, and no party of the
slightest weight has displayed any attempts to restore
the constitutional REGIINT. Whether this is owing to
the inaptitude of the people for representative govern-
ment, and their national predilection for old institu-
tions and despotic government, we cannot say, but
one fact is evident to all the world, that, since the
death of FERDINAND, Spain has not enjoyed such
tranquillity as under the dominion of a SOVE-
REIGN who has not yet reached her sixteenth year.
We merely state facts, without attempting to ac-
count for them. And the country is not only tranquil,
but to all appearances prosperous. The finances are
placed in some order. New taxes have been imposed,
and submitted to. The national credit is rising.
Treaties of reconciliation, peace, and friendship have
been entered into with the republics of Chili and
Venezuela, with a view to establish relations of
amity and commerce with other countries. The
old haughty bigotry and vain pretensions of
the mother country have disappeared, and, fol-
lowing the example of England, Spain has
resolved to make the most of revolutions which it
could neither control nor prevent. Much, however, yet
remains to be done in that long distracted country
to restore order, and compensate for the dilapidations
which have been going en for centuries. But we do
not despair of the people, nor of a thorough regenera-
tion of their habits and system of government. They
have many good qualities; they have performed a dis-
tinguished part in the affairs of the world, and we
trust that in due time reforms will be introduced,
which will not only be useful to the Spanish nation, as
regards trade and commerce, but extend their influence
to all the neighbouring States.

It may be necessary, for, the'safety of the lives and
property committed to their charge, that captains of
merchant-vessels when at sea should be: entrusted
with despotic powers over their passengers and crew ;
it may be necessary that the mutiny-laws should be
so stringent as to punish with death any attempt to
resist the most tyrannical abuse of this power;
but it is also necessary that the man to whom this
power is entrusted should be held responsible to the
law for the exercise of it the instant he sets foot on
shore, and that the administrators of the law should,
in every case in which that power has been abused,
make such an example of the evil-doer as shall
operate as "a great discouragement" to those who
may be inclined to tread in his footsteps. We are
led to make these observations in consequence of the
conviction of Captain GORDON, of the barque Nea-
thesis, at the Old Bailey, for an assault on 'WILLIAM
SCOTT, an apprentice boy on board that vessel, during
the voyage, for which he was sentenced to pay a fine
of 101. We intend not to reflect upon Captain
GORDON, whose case was one that, in the opinion of
Mr. Commissioner BULLOCK, did not call for any
great extent of punishment, and who, according to
the admission of even the counsel fcr the prosecution,
left the Court with an untarnished character.
It is against the system which entrusts power

in the hands of men who have never
been trained by a strict moral discipline to the
proper exercise of it, that w protest. That
the boy ScorT was flogged most severely, both by

the captain and the mate, there can be no doubt ; and
that, as was contended for on the part of the defence,
this cruel torture was merely " the ordinary treat-
ment" of boys, who, like SCOTT, fall asleep on watch,
there can be as little doubt. But what shall we say
of the system—the atrocious system—which, as " or-
dinary treatment," suljects young lads to the inflic-

tion of these tortures ? And it i , from among these
very lads, thus brutalised by repeated floggings, that
the captains of our merchant-ships are chosen. Can we
wonder at the perpetration of those atrocities on board
°ship, with the relation of which the public is every
now and then horrified? The slave entrusted with
despotic power always becomes the most cruel and
remorseless of tyrants. Now, what is the remedy for
this state of things ? Clearly to secure the services
of a better educated and superior class of men as
captains of merchant-vessels. This the Legislature
can, and ought to do, by enacting that no man shall
be appointed to the command of a merchant-ship with-
out having previously obtained a license, such license to
be obtainable only after having passed a satisfactory
examination in navigation and seamanship, and having
produced testimonials proving good moral character,
command of temper, and fitness for the exercise of
authority. If it is necessary that the Legislature
should entrust captains of merchant-ships with des-
potic command, it is their duty to see that none are
appointed to that office but those who can safely be
entrusted with its exercise.

We have received Madrid journals of the 13th and
14th, and also the QUEEN'S Speech addressed to the
Cortes at the opening of the session, on the 15th inst.
This document is drawn up with considerable skill,
and with little of that extravagant language for which
the Spaniards are distinguished. It refers to the
peaceable state of the country in these words :—" At
home in the Peninsula, order and respect for the laws
have been maintained, so that every attempt at trea-
son has been defeated by the vigilance and firmness
of the authorities, as well as by the fidelity of the
army, the subordination and discipline of which might
serve as a model for the world ; and, in fine, in the
excellent spirit of the people—tired and worn out by
revolt, and anxious to enjoy fully the benefit of peace,

under the shade of the Throne, and under the pro-
t'etion of our national institutions." It also adverts-
with satisfaction► to the state of the finances, the ad-
ministration of justice, and the reforms in the de-
partment of public instruction. We have given the
speech at length in another part of the paper. The
Gazette publishes instructions of the Minister of
Finance, relative to the mode of valuing the terri-
torial produce, in order to assess in a more equitable
manner the tax on property in 1846. The appraisers
are to be appointed by the municipalities.
On the 13th the Three per Cents. closed at 37 at
60 days; and the Five per Cents, at 241 at GO days.

Accounts from Paris announce a considerable rise
in every kind of security on Friday. On Saturday
there was a slight decline, but still the market had a
firm appearance. The articles in the papers relate
chiefly to the proposed reductions in the tariff on iron
and cotton. We have already quoted from the Presse
articles against the scheme, and we subjoin an outline
of one from another Opposition paper, of a quite dif-
ferent character. The Courrier Francais contends
that there is a vast superiority in iron vessels over
those of wood, and that if the mercantile navy of
France is to be restricted to timber, whilst her neigh-
bours use iron, it must be beaten in the race cf Coln-
petition. Assuming then that there is this superiority
in iron over wood for vessels, the writer asks how it
could be possible for the shipowners in France to con-
tend with those of England, if they were compelled to
purchase iron at the pre,:,-=at dear rate in France.
The number of vessels to be built of iron, accord-
ing to the statement made by the Ministec of Com-
merce, would, it seems, amount eventually to 4,779,
representing a total tonnage of 532,357. The iron
required for this would amount to 239,056 tons. Now,
the price of sheet-iron in England, says the (Ammer,
is at this moment 292 f., whereas in France it is 460 n,
showing a difference of 168 f. per ton. Multiplying
by this difference the number of tons that would be
required for the change of system in the mercantile
navy, the amount would be 40,320,000 f. If there-
fore, the ship-owners, in order to keep pace with
those in England, substitute iron for wood, they will,
if compelled to purchase the iron from the French
ironmasters, have to pay to them a tax of more than
forty millions, and, consequently, having to pay at a
much higher rate than the English for their ships,
they must, in order to cover themselves, demand a
higher rate of freight. Under these circumstances
the Courrier says—" We hope that for once our great
ironmasters will show themselves bons princes,
and royally consent to sacrifice their privi-
leges in favour of the mercantile navy.
France expects this from their patriotism."
The intelligence from Algiers is still very unfavour-
able. No progress is made in subduing the revolt,
and symptoms of discontent have shown themselves
in the provinces. The French colonists are also be-
ginning to rebel against the despotism of Marshal
BUGEAUD. Relative to the expedition to Madagascar,
the Constitutionnel says :
" The expedition against Madagascar appears ad-
journed. Orders had been given to the Maritime Pre-
fect of Brest to have the vessels ready to sail in the be-
ginning of January, but now the time spoken of is the
end of February, a period at which the Chambers will
have said what they think of the project. The real
cause of this postponement is the Mihisterial crisis in
England. The followinr are said to have been the ar-
rangements :—Fifteen hundred men were to have been
furnished by the English, and as many by us. Ours
were taken from the infantry and marines, and a com-
pany of engineers was added to them. Genera llnyivier
is at present engaged in inspecting them. The French
contingent was to be raised to 1,800 men ; for it was
supposed that, after a voyage of three or four months,
all the troops would not be equally fit for active service.
Besides, allowance was made for the sickness that was to
be expected in a new climate."
The following are miscellaneous extracts from the
different papers :
" A treaty of commerce, it is said, was signed on
Dec. 3, at Naples, with the United States. The Ameri-
can cotton, it is said, is not to pay more than ten ducats
entrance duty, in place of twenty, so that it is placed
on the same footing as that of the East Indies or
Egypt. The wines of Naples and Sicily are- to be ad-
mitted into the Union on paying the same duties as the
wines of other nations.
"Accounts have been received from Otaheite to the
middle of August. Admiral Seymour had arrived at
Papeiti in the Collingwood, and saluted the flag of the
Protectorate.
"As we have announced, the Triton man-of- war pro-
ceeds to the Levant, and the Neptune to Madagascar.
By the removal of these ships, the evolution squadron is
considerably reduced, but it will be re-organised, it is
thought, before the spring. The three-decker the SI)-
vereign, and the Hercule, of 100 guns, are destined, it
is said, to form part of it. In fine, the report has circu-
lated, but we mention it with all fitting reserve, th,.t Ad-
mits! de Maekau intends coming to take the command
in person, in place of Admiral Parseval Desch4oes, whose
period of command is near its close. It is supposed that
several steam-frigates will be attached next summer to
this squadron, which may be called on to fulfil an im-
portant mission on the coasts of Africa.
" The Emperor of Russia left Palermo on the sth in
a steamer for Naples, accompanied by Counts Nesselrode
and Orloff.

" A letter from Rome on the 6th, in the Augsburg
Gazette, states that some of the refugees fr..m Rimni,
in the states of 'Tuscany, have been detected in a con-
spiracy to seduce a battalion of the line, nud enter with
it into the Roman States. Twenty soldiers who had
been seduced by the conspirators have fled, to avoid
punishment."
On the Paris Bourse the market was not quite so firm on
Saturday es the preceding day, and towards the close
prices receded, the Three-per-Cents, leaving off at 81f. 50c.,
and the Five-per-Cents. at 117 f. 80c. The market closed as
follows :—Three-per-Cents., for cash, 81f. 50c., for account,
8111fif.5080c.c;.
;Fivßea•npker-oCfenFtsra,nfcoor csahsahr,e43l,l7k3Bsoocl:; for account,
1011. 40c. ; Spanish Threes, 37. Neapolitan,
had given way a
littTleh,glS,ahrairsea.nßdarokertle,awnisthloeuatvinbgeinogffat weak,11751.;
Paris and
Rouen, 9671. 50c. ; Avignon, 897 f. 50e. ; Viezron, 655 f. ; Stras-
bourg and Buie, 238 f. 75c. ; Northeni, 715 f.; Bordeaux,
627 f. 50c.

The following are the last quotations we have re-
ceived for the other lines :

Slid Est, 4f. ; Messageries,
Paris and Lvons Railroad (Lapltte), 7f: 50,. pramiam ;
ditto ((Ilion), .f. ; Union, 16f. ; ditto (,Ganneron), 6f. 50c.;
Paris and
in 50c.; ditto (Drouillard), 4f.
ditto (Lapinsoaniere), 61. 50c.;
I,yems and
sSfiras; Strasbourg oive)c,e2vf."srOse.-G; einietrtae.n(xßicerd;), if ; Tears
and Nantes (Mackenzie),
t; CreilThe Lyons
.i.
and St.
501:i.g;ndenitt(oT(aOlit'Nuoeti)11,)6,1,1510;e.di.lttodit(tLoef(eLvecreo)i,iistee);,
1,. ; ditto
(Cornrgnie Meridionale), 50f.; Bordeaux and Cette (Mac-
Qkenneznitei)n,, 500a0rf.
;; dittochar le(rEoispricetyas)A,sn4,t), 5409c0._
Definitive Shares sold at 90f. premium ; the itratdourg
ditto, 25f.; Tours and Nantes, 55f.
Lvoxs, Dkic. 17.—Marseilles and Avignon, 846 f. 25c. •
Parii and Orleans, 1,140 f.; Paris and Rouen, 925 f.; Orleans'
and Vierzon, 30f.

BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCIIANGR, DEC 20.
Anglo-Belgian ,Madrid aid Iraleaeia...
Barba does
Bnalogne and Amiens.. Namir and Liege ......
Bordeaux &Mediterraa Nerth damaica .....
Bordeaux and Tealeuse Orleans aid Tifirou

Do. & Cott. (Espeleta)
Do. (Mackenzie's) —
Callao, Lima, and Pa-
cific Coast

Ditto (Calon's)...,
Ditto (Sad Est) —
Paris and Orleans
Paris and Rouen .
Paris and Strasbarg
(Gannermes)
Do. (Compe de L'Eat)
Do. (Aymard's) —
Paris and St. Quentin _
Rouen and Havre...,
Royal North of Spain —
Sambre and Manse 48)
Strasburg and !Life
Tournay,,Jurbiso, Lin-
den, and Elaszeit....
Jamaica S. Mid. Jttnetion Tours and Nantes

lOrleans and Bordeaux 101
Over Yssel •••
'Paris & Lyons (Lattte) 214
Ditto (Gannerou's).

Central of Spain —•
Ceylon .
Demerara
Dendre Valley
Datch,Rhenisk ....
Dieppe & Paris Janet.
Dijon and Malhowe
East Indian
Fampenx & Hazebrenk
Grt Northern of France
Constituted lB3-8
Do. Pepin to Hallett —
Great Paris and Lyons 24
Great Western Bengal
Great Western Canada

Do. Nortk Midland...

(Afackenzie s) ........

Do. Extension

Do. ( Lofelpvr es)

Jersey —
Leavaia aid Jemappe —
LyQllB aad,Avignor —
Luassatbearz

Do. (O'Neae). ......
ITrinidasi
Verona anil Ancona....
Wert Flanders .........