The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-03 00:00:00

DAVIDGE'S ROYAL SURREY THEATRE.

l'inss Heron's performance creates roars of laughter—The Two
New Pieces, real Surrey MIL
THIS EVENING

Will be repeated a New Drama, called MARGARET CATCH-
POLE. Supported by Messrs. H. Hughes, Hicks, Fredericks, R.
Bonner, S. Cowell, Ileslop, Lewis, Mrs. Daly, Mrs. Lewis, and Mrs.
R, flouter.
After which, THE IRISH TUTOR, in which the Infant Power,
Miss Heron, will appear.
To conclude with THE MOOR MAIDEN, in which Messrs. Hicks,
Neville, Fredericks, Lewis, Mrs. Hughes Miss Martin, and Mrs. 11.
Vining will perform.
Places and Private Boxes to be had of Mr. Kerschner, at the Box-
office, from Eleven to Your.

ROYAL VICTORIA THEATRE.
THIS EVENING, 7*
Will be repeated MARGARET CATCHPOLE, The Female Hone-
stealer. Onega and Pechuana (Red Chieftains), Messrs. Cony and
Blanchard ; Margaret Catchpole, ,Miss Vincent.
After which, THE APPOINTED SPOT.
.To conclude with THE BLOODHOUND ; or, the Orphan's Grave.
In which Messrs. Cony and Blanchard, and their celebrated Dog
Hector, will perform.

THE WEATHER.--SUN OFFICE, APRIL 3.

THEMONETER, Lowest, 37 ; Highest, 53; Noon, 60.

BAROMETER, 10.05.-WIND, E.

N°lll,—The figures which follow the words "Lowest" and
nighltst" denote the lowest and highest state of the
rherotooketer during the preceding twenty-fonr hours. All
the other observations are made at noon.

'HIGH WATER AT LONDON-BRIDGE THIS DAY.
NottAnit • • 19 minutes after 11 I Evening .. 51 minutes after ! I.

read a second time, and ordered to be referred to a
Select Committee.
The Heritable Jurisdiction (Scotland) Bill was
read a second time.
The second reading of the Infeftment (Scotland)
Bill was postponed for a week.
Lord ASHLEY moved the second reading of the
Calico Print- works Bill.
Sir J. GRAHAM would not oppose the second read-
ing of the Bill, because he thought that some legisla-
tive enactment was necessary on the subject, but he
begged to be understood as not pledging himself to
the details of the measure. On the contrary, there
were many of the proposed provisions of which he
highly disapproved, and it would be his duty to pro-
pose several material alterations in Committee.
Lord ASHLEY, although he regretted the loss of
some advantages which he had hoped to attain by the
present measure, yet thought it so important to
secure the co-operation of the masters and of the Go-
vernment that he would accede` to the Right Hon.
Baronet's proposition.
After an interesting discu:sion, in which Mr. M.
GIBSON, Mr. COOPER, Mr. HuME, Mr. T. DUN-
COMBE, Mr. ESCOTT, and Lord F. EGERTON took
part, the Bill was read a second time, and ordered to
be read a third time on Wednesday next.
The order of the day for the House going into
Committee of Supply was then read, when Sir JOHN
EASTHOPE brought forward the case of two persons
imprisoned at Leicester for non-payment of poor-rates.
Sir J. GRAHAM, in reply, stated that he had made
inquiries into the case, and had advised her MAJESTY
to order the immediate liberation of the parties

alluded to.
Mr. T. DuzicomßE said that the intended mercy of
the Right Hon. Baronet would come too late, as the
term of the sentence of the parties imprisoned would
terminate the day after to-morrow.
The House then went into Committee, and a vote
for 1,111 men having been agreed to, the House
resumed.

The Bill for the Protection of the Treasures of
Art in Museums then passed through Committee ;
after which the LORD-ADVOCATE obtained leave to
bring in aßill for the Letter administration of the laws
relating to the relief of the poor in Scotland, which
was read a tirst time, and the House adjourned.

The speech of Sir CHARLES NArma of Monday
night last, upon that which should have been a mo-
tion for a Committee on the construction of steam
ships-of-war, and the present condition of our steam
navy—was full of details calculated to excite the
most anxious interest in the mind of every English-
man. We can imagine no facts of a more weighty
character than those enunciated by this gallant and
distinguished officer, in that peculiar and effective
manner which never fails to add force and point to
his argument. But there are circumstances in the
present condition of this country's relations with
foreign powers, which impart to them a degree of
intense interest, of unspeakable importance. For, be
it observed, the allegations of which we are about to
give an outline, were not attempted to be contra-
dicted by the official authorities to whom they were
addressed. With some such qualification, only, as

that supplied by Sir GEORGECOCKBURN, who re-
minded Sir CHARLES that, though many of our
armed steamers had now become old craft, one of
them only had been brOken up. These formidable
allegations of erroneous construction, of wanton ex-
penditure, of incessant alterations, cuttings-down,
lengthenings, and reductions, defective principles of
naval architecture, and bigoted adhesion to the school
producing these defective models, were tacitly
affirmed by those parties who are, in fact
responsible for so much permitted mismanagement.
Let us look the hazards we are running, by the
longer endurance of such a state of things, full in
the face. If we do not, shall we fondly ima-
gine ourselves fully prepared for any and all exi-
gences that may arise out of a rupture with America,
or France, or any combination of naval States of
inferior power ? We go all lengths with those who
entertain the most unhesitating confidence in the ex-
tent to which the moral constancy, the physical
courage, and the indomitable resolution of our sailors
can outweigh the enormous odds of material force, by
their calm energy and characteristic prowess. But
there maybe, andin the unhappy event of a war there
speedily would be, in refereLce to that condition of
our navy and its steam arm, described on Monday
night in the House of Commons, such an overwhelm-
ing disparity of means arrayed against us, whenever
circumstances might enable our enemy to collect and
concentrate them—that it is the most imperative duty
of the Government to anticipate and provide against
such a contingency, by securing to this country a war-
steamer force of unmatched efficiency, extent, and
power.

It was not an unreasonable expression of surprise
indulged in by Sir C. NAPIER that there should be
so much reluctance to grant the Committee of Inves-
tigation he was desirous to have appointed, seeing
that, during a peace of thirty years' duration, in the
course of which between forty and fifty millions
sterling had been expended on our navy, it might
have been expected that her Majesty's Government
would have been prepared to submit to all the world
a statement that should demonstrate that navy to be noes
in a condition of the utmost possible efficiency. But
in truth, without invidiously reflecting on the existing
Board of Admiralty, have we not a full right to infer
enormous incompetency or mal-administration in this
important branch of Executive authority, or that
other argument suggested by the same Gallant
Officer to show that the Board in question gave a
better representation of the state of the navy
than facts could warrant. For if, sail he, the
present much increased estimates are not necessary
for repairs, and making good present deficiencies,
there could be no reason for withholding the returns
he wanted. If they were necessary, they would suf-
fice to fit out a fleet of fifty sail of the line. But if
vast sums were now to be expended on repairs, why
was not due supervision exercised over these matters?
If ships were kept in a condition of timely as well as
efficient repair, there would be a great saving of the
public money ; and the enormous number of useless
hulks and other craft in dock might be sold, as they
ought to be, and thus a very considerable sum mould
be raised, applicable to the putting in an effective
condition a great many fine ships which ought to
be thus restored without loss of time. But, was ever
a cage laid more startling or more stringent on this
point for the necessity of such a Commission or Com-
missioner as Sir C. NAPIER would have asked for
" to inquire into the syste.n pursued in the con-
struction of steamers for her Majesty's navy,
and the application of Parliamentary votes for the
building of such steam-ships," than was suggested by
the various cases of failure and mismanagement
be cited? There had been built the Retribution, of
1,640 tons,—larger than a sailing frigate,—which,
when completed, was found to be unable to carry a
gun on her main deck, whilst it was also impossible
to fire off her stern guns. Then there was a still
larger ship of 1,840 tons that had bren so built, it was
not practicable to run her guns out! She had no stern
posts; though he had heard two were afterwards cut
in her. The Samson came under the same category;
though she had the additional defect of having
her machinery worse placed than in any other
craft. So high, in short, that a shot could
not enter her engine-room without utterly
demolishing her machinery. The Firebrand, one
of the experimental squadron, had been pro-
nounced by Captain CORRIE, a most able and compe-
tent officer, who had sailed in her, to be perfectly
useless. The Cyclops had been built for a frigate ;
it was found she could not carry guns on her main-
deck, so she was cut down to a corvette; and the
sooner the same operation was peformed on the Gor-
gon, also a steamer frigate, the better. Then there
had been twenty-four steam-ships built, atcost, for
the whole, of about 462,0001.; the cost of a
their
machi-
nery being, probably, about as much more. The
Gallant Officer entered into many technical details to
show that from the high and exposed position in
which the machinery was placed in each of these
sloops, it would be, in action, liable to the same fatal
disasters as he had pointed out with respect to the
Samson. Eight new steam-packets, built at a cost of
58,0001. each, exclusive of machinery, he objected to
on similar grounds ; and the Admiralty Lords ap-
peared to be neither prepared nor able to inva-
lidate those grounds. The Centaur had been built,
and another new steam-ship was building, on the
same plan as the Vulture, and ha bought their
construction dangerous from 611 defective osition

of their machinery. This long catalogue of fearful
blunders—disgraceful, we might rather call them, in
the first maritime Power in the globe, was wound
up by the repert of the Queen—a much-cracked
first-rate, on the Surveyor's new construction, which
had been taken into Sheerness-yard, where it was
found necessary to give her a new bow, and a fake
stern. The Boscawen, a new 70 gun-ship, had been
taken to pieces again. The Union, the Severn, the
Porcupine (20 guns), the Sea-lark, (10), the Tigris,
and the Iris, had been likewise all pulled to pieces.
'We assume that this scandalous exposition is also a
true one. It met with no denial. It can never chal-
lenge an adequate degree of indignation and surprise
in the public. It is a lesson from which, if the Ad-
miralty do not profit, the country will, by dislodging
the Admiralty. But we have better hopes of the latter
now, thanks to this exposition. Sir GEORGE COC-f -
BURN made the best fight he could for it ; and he did
better. He admitted that many of Sir CHARLES
NAPIER'S hints were most valuable, and pledged him•
self to the immediate and careful attention of his de-
artment to this vital subject, with a readiness to call
for and receive information, which induces us
to hope that we shall soon be rid of that
incubus on naval architectural improvement—
the " intuitive " principle of Sir WILLIAM
SYMOND'S construction—and all the absurdities and
failures to which his " wedge" has been driven. The
"discovery" has now had a full and often-repeated
trial; and it consists neither with the dignity nor the
safety, the renown nor the power of Great Britain,
to put the noblest of her national inheritances, the
grandest element of her political and natural power,
the supremacy of the seas, on the maintenance of an
uninterrupted Admiralty patronage to the most costly,
as well as unlucky, Surveyors-General of her navy,
of whom we remember to have read.

Accounts from Madrid of the 26th ult. state that
twenty persons had been arrested on that day in the
capital, and committed to prison without being allowed
to communicate u ith their friends or counsel. One of
the persons arrested, a notary, named PONTADA, fired a
pistol at the police and wounded one of the constables.
According to the Government journals, the parties were
implicated in a plot to restore EseanzEao, but we be-
lieve this statement to be entirely without foundati.m.
At the meeting of the Senate on the 26th, SenorCAßMco
asked the Minister of Finance whether any concession
had been mace to France injurious to the Spanish tariff,
or was incontemplation ? Senor MON replied in the nega-
tive. No concession had been made to France, but if the
Noble Peer alluded to the refusal of the French Ministry
to allow the Spanish Three per Cents. to be quoted on
the Bourse, he must decline answering the question.
The Three per Cents. c'wed at 34 3 16 for cash, and
344 at 60 days ; the Five lYsr Cents. at 251. for cash, and
23 15-16 at 60 days ; the Coupons at 2t4 at 60 dai s ;
and the Debt without interest, at 8, at 56 days.

The French Chamber of Peers, after discussing for
several days a modifiel Bill against jobbing in railway
Companies, rejected it, on Tu?seay, by a majority of 86

against 51. Count D'ARGOUT, Baron Durex, and almos

every practical man in the Chamber were oppozed to

die scheme, and the result, consequently, was placed

beyond doubt, even at the introduction of the measure.
The Deputies were engaged in the Sardinian treaty.
An amendment was proposed, to continue the high dot)

on cattle imported from Sardi►,ia, and resisted by the

Government, on the ground that it was necessary t.,
protect the consumer as well as the agriculturist. The
former duty on cattle was far too high, and the conse-

quence was, that the price of butcher's meat had
greatly increased throughout the whole of France. The
Chamber rejected the amendment, and adhered to the
lower scale of duty In resisting the amendment, M. G tazoT
thus stated his opinions, and the resolution of the Go•

vernment to make the carrying of the treaty a Cabinet
question:—" In 1842, when the amendment was carried
on the right of search, the Government could accept the
amendment, after having opposed it, the general policy
of the Cabinet not being involved in it, as the results had
proved.—(llissent.) Three days back why had the
Government accepted the amendment on the Del-

gian treaty? Because the rights of the Crown were re-
spected. In the question at present before the Chamber
that was not the case, for if the amendment of M.
MAURAT BALLANGJ were adopted, the treaty would fall
to the ground at once, and the policy of the Government

beyond the Alps would be compromised. We eanno'

lend ourselves to such weaknesses. When two months
back we remained in power, at the solicitations of our
friends, we felt that we must expect difficulties and an-

We have more than once despised vain
clamours, in order to maintain our policy and steer it
s tfely through difficult trials. But to support trials and
disappointment in order to behold this policy compro-
mised and perhaps destroyed—that we shall never con-
sent to. In the amendment which you discuss, it is our
policy itself that is involved. 'We shall defend it firmly
to the last extremity; and if it is to be changed and de-
stroyed, that destruction shall n't be attempted under
my name and by my tiaras."
The Ministerial paper, the Globe, thus ridicules the
attempt of the Opposition to raise the price of meat:—

"The Hall of Conference resembled on Monday the tent of
Napoleon during the night that preceded the battle of Aus-
terlitz; the emperor, M. Thiers, was surrounded by his mar-
shals; he gave his instructions, and dispatched his aides de-
camp. The corps of M. Maurat Ballange was to attack on
the left; M. Billault was to make a strong demonstration in
the centre, and the moment the enemy's racks were thrown
into confusion, M. Thiers was to charge in person and deckle
the victory. But, alas! the Opposition experienced the fate
that befel the unfortunate Melas the day of the battle of
Marengo; the couriers who were to carry the news of the
victory left too soon, and he had to send off others to an-

nounce his defeat. The corps of M. Maurat Ballange was
overthrown ; that of M. Dezeimeris was routed; another, under
M. Gautier de i nmilly was put to flight; and, after the
speech of M. Guizot, the coalesced army shamefully retreated,
without noise, reserving their last cartridges, which they
were afraid to fire. The rout was so complete, that they (lid
not even dare to avow their intention to give battle. Poor
M. Maurat Ballange, who devoted himself; like Curtius, was
completely abandoned, and his own friends, heedless of so
much courage thrown away, only witnessed his ridicule."
The latest accounts from Swi; z-rland lead to a belief
that a collision will soon take placs between the parties.
The Journal des Dehats says :
" According to the news we receive from Switzerland the
free corps hare made their first move. In the evening of the
29th the Bale. country volunteers are said to have taken two
cannon and a quantity of ammunition from the arsenal of
Leichthal, and with thorn joined the free corps of Arau. It
was generally reported that Lucerne was to be attacked on
the 30th, on which day the volunteers of Soleure were also
to march. The Government of Berne had on its part taken
energetic measures for preventing the free corps of that
canton from leaving it. It is certain that the radical com-
mittee at Arau has been in permanent sitting for the last
fortnight, and has publicly enrolled the refugees from Lu-
cerne and volunteers from other cantons. In the cantons of
Argau, Berne, Soleure, and Bale country., no obstacle has
been thrown in the way of men moving to join the free corps,
and who were easily recognised by the shape of their hats
and their arms, which they conveyed in carts. On the other
hand the Government of Argau is restrained by the fear that
during the excursion of its volunteers the Catholic party may
rise. The Vorort had also called out the whole of the federal
contingent, and had taken measures to mobolise the Land.
Sturm. The first battalion of the Austrian troops, intended
to form a corps of observation on the Voralberg frontier of
Switzerland, had amved at Feldkirch."
We have accounts also from other parts of Switzer-
land, describing the unsettled state of the public mind,
and the preparation of the adjoining States to cut off all
communication with the country unless these civil broils
are speedily settled.
THE BOURSE--TUESDAY, APRIL 1.

First 1111 hst Lewest Last
Price. Price. Price. Price
French Five per Cents..... 117 90 .• 117 90 .. 117 80 .. 117 80
Fours. •• 107 107 107 .. 107
Three per Cents •• •• 85 70 .. 85 90 .. 81/2 70 .. 85 90
Loan ......... •• •• 86 55 .. 86 55 .. 86 b 0 .. 86 50
Bank of France ...... •. • • 3200 ..3210 —3200 .•3210
Muhl Eank I,ooof Shares • • 1090 ..11.90 ..1085 1085
Belgian Bank 642 50 • • 645 •• 641 25 .. 645
Be gian Fives, 'B4O. .• •• •• 1051,E •• 105% .. 105% .. 1051‘
1842•••••••• 1071,E .. 10715 .. 107% •• 107%
Four and-a-Half ..• 104 • • 104 .. 104 .. 104
Spanish Active...... ••• • • • 4 .. 40%, 415; ..
Passive •• ••• • •• 7114 • • 7% • • 714 .. 7!'
Roman • . 106 • • 106 .. 106 • • 106

---
RAILWAY SHARES.
St. Germain 1202 50 —l2 2 50 ..1202 50 —l2r2 50
Versailles, L. 8.....• •... 402 50 . 405 .. 402 50 .. 402 0
Rouen ll6O . 1160 .•1160 —ll6O
Rouen to Havre...•
Orleans 1316 25 ..1316 25 ..1307 50 ..1310
Strasburg to 343 75 .. 733 75 .. 311 25 .. 341 25
Avignon to Marseilles.. 1:35 ..1135 .•11*!0 . 1132 ';0
Bordeaux to Teste •• ...• •• 2 0 •• 232 90 .. 230 .. 231 25
RAILWAYS FOR THE ACCOUNT, APRIL 3

St. Germain ..........1205 —l2 2 50 ..1505 —1205
Versailles, LB ..... 678 75 .. 678 75 .. 650 .. 650
L.B ••••....•• 405 .. 405 .. 402 50 .. 40`2 50
Rouen ... •• .......• —1167 50 ..1172 20 • • 1167 50 ..1172 50
Roue►► to Havre ..• • • •• • • 930 .. 9 0 • • 980 .. 9 0
Orleans
Strasburg to Bale • •
Avignon to Marseilles • • ...• 1137 50 . 11A7 1i 35 ..1135
Bordeaux to Teste .•• •• .. 232 50 .. 232 50 .. 232 50 . 232 50

I -•occasion to call
J. F. Marsden la\•ing
forenoon, Captainhe Rev. Dr. Wilmot, Holland-place,
at the residence of t
CAUTION TO EQUESTRIAN GENTLEMEN. —Yester-
dayspirited animal, in the ca
leftthe house, after an absence of
' •
When Captain Marsden
horse or
Hampstead-road, ineautiroeuosltyalebfotvliivishoh
ten minutes, he could perceive log se 'loitering a
young
about. all
boy. On inquiry, however, he
boy, another youngster came
the horse had been left with the
lie holding of the animal,
up, and put forward his claim to., t .
ascertained
ert
a vestigeii ed
Marsden from tipper
otlfiaetitsiheorrtlyafter
on the plea of haying followed Captain
Baker-street. The first boy stoutly resisted.
the horse galloped off. After the lapse of nearly
an hour,
ment on his right of posses3ion, and during the contention
the Captain succeeded in recovering his steed, with both its
the infringe-
knees broken, and numerous cuts and dislocations in various
parts. The horse had run nearly four miles before it was
secured, and had knocked down and severely kicked a man
who had attempted to arrest its progress.
'lt is reported, says the Co:amerce, that the Prince
de Joinville is to take the command, in the month of June,
of a small squadron for evolutions in the mediterainan.

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