The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-28 00:00:00

Atm

LONDON, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1844.

The royal procession to the City this day is cha-
racteristic of the habits, the genius, and the indusry
of the English people. No similar display was
made at Paris on the opening of one of the finest
buildings of that metropolis—the Bourse. Royalty
did not go in state for the purpose of encouraging
trade and commerce, and throwing a halo aromse!
the occupations of shopkeepers and merchants ; not
are we aware that any such exhibition, as that which
attracts the notice of two millions of inhabitants this
day, is to be found on record in the history of airy
great country. Possibly the Doge of VENICE, or tla
first magistrates of the commercial Republics on the
shores of the Mediterranean, who lived, and moved
and ha.l their being in trade, might have done similar
honour to commercial enterprise; but it was reserved
for the Queen of ENGLAND to treat with
the same august ceremony the nobles of
the land, the representatives of the people,
and the humble citizens who have toiled and struggled
many a day to raise themselves to independence, and
to establish the character of their country among
commercial nations. Most of the leading men—nay,
all who will be brought into the royal presence this
day, belong to that class. Some of them have bef n
saddlers, others paper-makers or stationers ; all of
them have been engaged in some active occupation,
conferring benefits on themselves and their country.
The class, too, to which they belong, have extended
the fame and the power of the British name into
every quarter of the globe. A few merchants esta-
blished themselves some two hundred years ago on a
small spot in llindostan —that sp increased
to a mighty empire, and now forms the
brightest jewel in the British crown. What have ,
they done, too, in the North American States ?
They peopled the country by their skill and enter-
prise; and if it was finally lost to the Crown, the fault
was not theirs, but that of the imbecile generals, the
mad statesmen, and, the misguided SOVEREIGN, who
urged the country on almost to the brink of rui,
But what remains shows the ability and foresight V% tl;
which our merchant princes carried on their v: St
undertakings. The United States, though separated
from the mother country, furnishes a better market
for English manufactures than any other independent
state. The people have the same habits and the same
wants—there is a constant commercial exchange going
on between the two nations, and England and
America, theu:;ll rivals, are still the best sup-
porters of ( ac's other. Wherever we turn our
e . es, we find nearly the same results. English
s lips are foul d in every sea, exchanging the
productions of the country fur those of others—an
exchange equally advantageous to both. Queen
ELIZABETH, it is true, set the example, and the re-
sult only proves how worthy it is of imitation. It is
needless to contrast the power of England during her
reign with its existing power, its vast wealth, its
countless ships and colonies, its enormous commer-
cial transactions, because every reader can draw the
contrast himself. Commerce has made England what
she is, and the Queen of GREAT BRITAIN, therefor, ,
cannot pay a more noble and more just tribute to its
boundless importance, than by opening in state tint
magnificent structure around which are congregated
so many thousands engaged in the peaceful and en-
riching works of in lustry.

The Anti-Corn-law League is actively bestirring
itself again. After an apparent slumber of ten week
—we say " apparent," for the sleep has been in s
show—this great
pearance only, as we shall presently
national Confederacy has openly resumed the work cf
vigorous agitation. On Thursday evening last it
held its first public meeting for the season in the
Free-trade Hall of Manchester, and a more impor-
tant meeting—whether as regards the numbers, the

wealth, the intelligence, the influence, or the respec-
tability of those who attended it—never yet took place
in that great manufacturing capital. Mr. WILSON,
who as usual occupied the chair, opened the pro-
ceedings by some deeply interesting details respecting
the success which the agents of the League had met
with in their efforts to improve the registration of
Lancashire. " The result of these efforts," said the
Chairman, " has been to give us a gain of five hun-
dred and thirty-three votes for the Northern,
Division of the county, and to give us two seats
for the Southern Division ; and to leave the Mono-
polists three seats in the boroughs, or five out of the
whole twenty Members for the entire county ;
and I think you will agree with me, that there
never was, in the history of registration
so complete a sweep of a county as this
has been ! I have also in my hand a list of returns
for seventy out of the hundred and fifty boroughs
over which the League has exercised some influence,
and of these there are sixty-eight in which there has
been a clear gain on the registration ; in some a great
gain, but less or more in all." After a triumphant
statement like this, what becomes of the declaration
of the Monopolists—not once but a dozen times made
during the last few weeks—that the League was fast
losing its hold on public favour—that its funds were
exhausted, its energies enfeebled, in short, that it had
run its allotted course, and was already in the last
stage of decrepitude ? Why, it now appears that in-
stead of being in the debilitated condition alluded to
by its opponents, the League was in reality plying
the work of agitation more briskly than ever, and
quietly stealing a march on the Monopolists,
while they good, easy souls were hugging
themselves in the belief that, like Cardinal
BEAUFORT, it " was dying and making no sign !"
Yes, at the very moment when the opponents of the
Anti-Corn-law League were congratulating them-
selves at their various agricultural meetings on the
" great fact" that this popular Confederacy was on its
last legs—at that very moment it was dealing them
the severest blows they have yet experienced at its
hands! " Look to the Register," said Sir R. PEEL
to his friends in the days of Tory despondency.
Well, the League has taken this advice—nam fas est
ab hoste doceri and the consequence is, that
they have already rescued Lancashire from
the clutches of Monopoly ; and were a general
election to take place to-morrow, the probability is,
that at least a hundred additional Free-traders would
be returned to Parliament. What say you to this,
'Messrs. Monopolists ? You may sneer, if you please,
at the assertion, and hold it in utter discredit ; but
we believe it to be as true, as your late statement of the
exhausted condition of the League is false. This in-
fluential Confederacy, indeed, has never been in so
healthy and vigorous a state—never exhibited such a
decided promise of a long, active, and prosperous
existence, as during the period when it was so kindly
and considerately consigned to the " tomb of the
Capulets" by its opponents. Though it made no noise
or stir on the surface—though it held no prize manu -
facture shows, in imitation of the Monopolists'
prize cattle shows—yet it was actively working,
like the mole, under ground ; and was never so ener-
getic as when to all appearance it was most lethargic.
We now see the fruits of its noiseless exertions, in
the thorough purification of the Register throughout
Lancashire, as well as in several other places where
the constituency has till now been corrupt, or if not
absolutely corrupt, at least oppressed with torpor and
indifference. Of the speeches delivered at the great
meeting of which we have been speaking, the best was
decidedly that made by Mr. COBDEN, who being, like
Mercutio, in " a mirthful vein," read the agricul-
turists some pleasant sarcastic truths, better calcu-
lated, we suspect, to edify than to entertain them.
How he lashed them for their fat prize-ox meetings !
What ridicule he cast upon their ploughing matches,
and their annual thirty shillings reward to him who
stood longest and worked hardest behind the tails of
two bullocks in an unploughed field ! Had an agri-
culturist been present while this cutting exposition of
his favourite system was going forward, it must have
been as diverting a spectacle as mortal optics could
desire, to have watched the varying expression of his
prepossessing physiognomy, and the modest confusion
that must have been diffused over it, when the humi-
liating conviction—thanks to Mr. COBDEN—was first
impressed on him that he had been making a fool of
himself regularly once a year, since he first patronised
cattle shows and ploughing matches, as the best means
whereby to improve the condition of the labouring
classes.

Madrid journals of the 16th have been received,
from which it appears that great interest was dis-
played on that day by the inhabitants, to ascertain
the new measures of the Government. The Cham-
ber of Deputies and all the galleries were crowded
with anxious spectators. Several of the Foreign Min-
isters were present in their official costume—among
others, Count BRESSON and Mr. BULWER, and also
the Duke of GLUCKSBERG and M. DE BROGLIE, and
M. GARNIER PAGES. General NARVAEZ, after a
few introductory remarks, urging serious reasons for
the measure,brought forward the Bill, and entered into
long explanations of the motives of the Government,
and of the principal changes proposed. 'We may ex-
pect a series of long speeches on the new Bill, unless
it may suit NARVAEZ' purpose to cut them short,
which will cause no regret.
Upon the Exchange of Madrid on the 18th, the
Three per Cents. were at 26, ready money, and 2641
at sixty days ; the Five per Cents. at 201, at sixty
days.

The Journal des Debats publishes a summary of
the Bill presented by the Spanish Government for
remodelling the Constitution, and prefaces it with
thi3 significant remark :—" We confine ourselves to
publish it to-day without comment." It will require
some time and some ingenuity for the organ of a Go-
vernment, which has encouraged this inroad upon
Spanish liberty, to make this outrageous attempt sup-
portable even by the adherents of the French Court.
The outline published by the Journal des Debats
differs in no respect from that which appeared in The
Sun on Friday. The Republican journals of France
display the highest state of excitement on the occa-
sion. The National is furious, and calls for a general
rising throughout /Spain to put down the despots. A
correspondent of that paper thus writes from Ma-
drid :—" Rest assured that a counter-revolution is
proceeding, escorted by the representatives of Eng-
land and France, and that M. BULWER greatly out-
runs M. BRESSON in this race towards perdition.
Rest assured, also, that at the end of this month, or
the beginning of the next, the Cortes will have disap
peared from Madrid—that the Chambers will be
closed, and that MARIA CHRISTINA will remain abso-
lute mistress of affairs, either with the consent of the
Deputies, or by the means of a coup d'etat." A cor-
respondent of the Siecle says :
" I do not know what day the conflict will commence,
but there certainly will be a battle. The Spaniards could
not, in fact, without forfeiting the esteem which their
national character has acquired, suffer with impunity the
insolent and ridiculous re-action sought to be imposed
upon them. A Bonaparte might effect an 18th Bru-
maire, to which a naion might submit without abdicat-
ing their dignity ; but that a Narvaez, aided by men all
remarkable for the insufficiency of their talents and the
impotence of their character should dare to say :—' Re-
nounce your national sovereignty, which broke the chains
forged by monkish and monarchical despotism ; give me
unlimited authority to make laws by ordinance, and
answer for all'—such conduct is intolerable, odious, and
absurd. The Minister has, however, presented his plan
of reform, and is determined to support it, if necessary,
by military force."

Queen CHRISTINA'S paper, of course, is delighted
with the bold scheme, asserting that it is absolutely
necessary for defeating the disloyal intrigues of
Young Spain." " These young men," says the
Presse, " are neither Royalists, Conservatives, Pro-
gressives, nor Republicans. Between a party of Monte
at the Cassino, and a dinner at GEVIE'S, they have
picked up a certain jargon of Atheism which they call
philosophy, and it is in the name of this philosophy
that they mock at all political movement," Notwith-
standing the unfavourable aspect of Spanish affairs,
the French Funds slightly improved.

THE BOURSE--THURSDAY, OCT. 24.

First Highest Lowest Last

Price. Price. Price. Price.
FrenchFiveperestits 118 40 .. 118 50 .. 118 40 .. 118 45
107 25 .. 107 25 .. 107 25 .. 107 25
ThreeperCents....• 82 25 .. 82 25 .. 82 25 .. 82 25
Bank of France....... 3060 ..3060 ..3060 ..3060
Lafattallank, 1,0001. Sharesll2o ..1120 ..1120 ..1120
5,000 f. Sharesso4s ..5045 ..5045 ..5045
Belgianl3ank 657 50 .. 657 50 .. 657 50 .. 657 50
Beigian/Ives,lß3l.
Apanish Passive .. 51 .. 5f .. 51 .. 51
Active...... 321 .. 321 .. 321 .. 321
rEngT,Thr'"--* ••• 341 35 .. aft 35
Nea 11 .ese Five...... "•'•• 358150 9:160 98450 17150
..... ........ 1051 .. 1051 .. 1051 .. 1051
RAILWAY SHARER-
, Versailles, R. 33... 390
LAI . 28. 390 390 .. 390
4 50 . 287 50 .. 286 25 .. 286 25