The Sun.
London, England, 1842-10-21 00:00:00

SPAIN.

MADRID, OCT. 11.—The comparative peace which
we have enjoyed here since the closing of the Cham-
bers is fast breaking up, like the ice in spring. The
Cortes is summoned ; party politics have received a
personal stimulus in every province, and all is pre-
paration for the ensuing struggle for place and power.
The Iberia, which claims to be a Ministerial paper,
publishes to-day a very curious estimate of the state
of parties in the Congress, from which it would ap-
pear that "the old majority," which supported the
Gonzales Ministry, still stand aloof, and have not yet
deigned to enter into any terms with the Rodil Cabinet;
—that " the new majority," w hichturned out Gonzales,
are preparing violent measures of opposition upon all the
recent topics of Moderadoand Republican outcry, from
the " tyrant-7 of Zurbano" down to the dismissal
of the Queen s writing-master : that this very exigeant
band of Deputies lately assembled, and previous to
the journey of Senor Olozaga, called that remarkable
individual before them, and demanded categorically, if
he would or would not join them ?—if he would or
would not accept the Presidency of the Congress
and, par consequent, the Presidency of the Council—if
he could get it ? The Iberia states that Senor Olozaga,
reduced to the necessity of speaking positively, yes or
no, said " Yes"—a conclusion upon which the Iberia
offers no comment, as if it were quite a thing of course
that Senor Olozaga should continue in opposition this
session as well as he did the last one, enjoying all the
while a confidential position and a good salary !
The Minister of Finance appears to be the most
useful and active one at present, having mustered
a month's pay for the passive classes throughout
Spain—no trifle, as will be seen by the circular in
the Gaceta of to-day, which estimates the month's
pay of those in the province of Madrid alone at
4,200,019 reals (above 42,0001.) sterling), while the
active classes on full pay in the same province only
draw 5,931,408 reals (about 60,0001.) Senor Cala-
trava has wisely directed the Intendants in all the
provinces to publish similar expositions of the quaki-
tities of money which their Treasuries pay to these
" empleados out of office," that the nation may know
what burdens hang upon the public purse, and whai
difficulties the Minister of Finance has to encounter
to meet all his liabilities.

The Heraldo again assures us, that the Countess of
Mina has been made a grande f Spain, and that tht
fact is known in the Palace; although the Gacetu say,
nothing about it.
Don Juan Lacarte, Brigadier-General, has been ap-
pointed to the command of the troops in La Mancha,
destined to extirpate " The Twelve Apostles" and othe;-
bands of robbers—a very necessary and very tryinL
campaign.

FORMATION OF THE ISLANDS IN
THE SOUTH SEA.
It is still a question whether the polypes originatt,
the stoney bodies they inhabit, or whether they find
them prepared for their occupation by the hand nt
nature. Forster, whose experience gives some weight
to his opinions on this subject, was inclined to be-
lieve that the little creatures actually form the mate
which composes the coral masses, and consequent]:
that, by their means, new islands are in a constant
process of formation. The great Captain Cook, after
is careful investigation of facts, had arrived at tll,.
same conclusion. Dalrymple, on the other hanW
thinks that these rocks take their rise at the botton:
of the sea, from which they are detached by current.
or tempests, and thrown on the sandbanks. This,
doubt, may take place in some localities ; but the
principle most assuredly cannot apply to those reet':
which rise like walis in the midst of the ocean.
Around New Holland, for example, the rocks in que:..
tion ascend, like perpendicular ramparts, frown a ver,
great depth. Such structures, it is obvious, must do
rive their origin from the animals themselves;,
unless we attempt to account for them on the ground:,
of a new hypothesis, which intimates that they may
grow in a manner similar to the common sea-weed,
and that the insects found on them are analogous t,
those which take up their abode on trees and herbs
a conclusion to which the arborescent appearance of
some corals, and the fungous forms of others, art
supposed to give a certain degree of countenance.
By some authors these animalcules are called saxi-
genous. or rock-making, polypes. They are supposed
to begin their operations by selecting a suitable spot;
such as the summit of a volcano, or the top of a sub-
marine mountain. Having chosen their site, with
reference, it should seem, to an ultimate object, the,
work with incredible diligence until they reach the
surface, above which, as we have already stated, their
nature and habits do not permit them to proceed.
Mr. Lyell remarks, that the circular or oval forms of
the numerous coral isles of the Pacific, with the lake:
in their centre, naturally suggest the idea that they
are nothing more than the crests of submarine voi-
canoes, having the rims and bottoms of their crater:.
overgrown with coral. This opinion is strengthened
by the conical shape of the islands, and the acute
angle at which they plunge on all sides into the sur-
rounding ocean. t has also been observed, that al-
though within the circular reefs there is usually
nothing discernible but a lagoon, the bottom of whic;i
is covered with coral, yet within some of these basins.
rocks, composed of porous lava and other volcanic
substances, rise up, resembling eminences of igneous:
origin which have been formed in an epoch not beyond
the limits of human observation.—Edinburgh Cabine,
Library,
Polynesia. No. XXXIIL

THE ALLEGED NEW CHURCH BILL.—We obserss
that our Contemporary the Scotsman announces tha
a new Bill for the settlement of the Church questior
is in preparation. We profess to have no back-doss
communication whatever, and no authority to touci
on the purposes of our State Counsellors ; but w(
venture to say, reasoning on the paragraph referre,
to, that it presents a tissue of incredibilities, w (
would say almost impossibilities. We can hard)
suppose, that after the recent experience in negotia-
tion with the stionslntrusionists, an experience most
strikingly illustrative of their equivocations a'
strange inconsistencies, the Government would agaib
enter on a treaty to be conducted, without doubt, is
the same way, and to end in a similar manner. 1\
cannot believe, either, that Sir George Sinclair, hav-
ing had all his zealous endeavours at adjustment re•
warded with ingratitude, insult, and vituperation.
would feel disposed to incur similar thanklessness,
abuse, and contumely. We never will believe, CI,
we see it, that concessions are to he made by tip
Government which shall contradict their own pro
ceedings, enlarge irresponsible power, and strength'
the hands of ecclesiastical despotism. And further, ;
the "high legal functionary" refers to one who dpi
attempt in vain to heal the divisions of the Church
previous to his elevation to the honoured scat he nos.
holds on the Bench, we are thoroughly persuades
that his entering on his high and responsible offics
put an end to all such extraneous and extra judiciis
affairs. We repeat our belief; therefore, though w
do not pretend to have communication with those wls,
are to manage the arrangements of the Church ques-
tion, that the announcement in the Scotsman bears al:
the impressions of mere conjecture, and a most im-
probable one.—Edinburgh Advertiser.
THE FREE TRADE THAT IS RUINING ENGLAND.--
The cask of ordinary Bordeaux wine of 300 bottles; s
which is sold in Paris for 140 francs, costs in carriagt
and in octroi duty nearly half that sum. If the Eng-
lish duty were reduced to about 31. per cask, the
people of London could drink French wine as sheaf
as those of Paris : and for one cask that is consumes'
now, at least six would be used. The revenue won's;
be the gainer, even as regards the duty, and import-
ant concessions in favour of English manufacture:
would be granted, in return for such a boon to the
wine growers of France. Good French ordinary
wine could then be had in England at the rate of 6d.
to 7d. a bottle, and the better sorts at 10d. to ls.
bottle. St. George, chateau neuf du Pape, and other
wines of the south, could be had for Is. to ls. 6d. per
bottle, at the outside ; for the finer qualities of these
wines may
be purchased, in the countries where they
are grown, for 150 francs a cask. Add to 150 francs.
50 francs for carriage and expenses of every kind, and
75 francs for duty, and the cask of 300 bottles will
cost less than 12/. Picardan and other white wines
of the south, which are strong-bodied wines, ap-
proaching
Sherry in flavour, :and highly agreeable,
may be had at the same price. Many of these wines
are sold in
England, under different names, at this
moment by wine merchants at the rate of 3s. and 3s.
6d. per bottle,
for only a few persons are engaged in
the trade ; but if the duties were lowered, they would
find their way in a regular manner into the English
market. A large reduction of duty would increase
the sale of
French wines in England at least five-
sixths. As to Brandy, the present rate of duty is
enormous and absurd. Duties which keep out the
wines and brandies of our neighbours, are the sort of
free trade which ruins England, and foments hostility
between her and other countries.
THE TAarm—Mr. Turle, of Taunton, on Monday
last, opened for sale several casks of pickled pork and
beef, brought from America, of which he sold up-
wards of 8 cwt. in the course of a few hours, at 30.
per lb. for the beef, and 4d. the pork- The poor in-
habitants were eager customers. The meat is in
junks, or pieces of from 31bs. to 51Us., and though not
in the prime condition in which it may be expected
when more recent articles and prompter sales occur,
the quality, particularly that of the pork, was suffi-
ciently good to content the humble purchasers.—
Bath Herald.
VERY LARGE CANNON FOR THE PACHA. OF EGYPT.--
Yesterday much interest was excited in the town of
Brentford by the arrival, in one of the country mon-
key-boats on the Grand Junction Canal, of a large
cannon, intended for the Pacha of Egypt, which has
been cast at the Gospel Oak Factory, near Birming-
ham. Its dimensions are—length 15 feet, cireumfer-
ence at the breech 12 feet, bore 1 foot 3 inches, and dia-
meter of the nose 2 feet 7 inches. It was, in he course
of the day, raised from the monkey-bort and sh;ppei
in a barge,
and was from thence conveyed to Wool-
wich Arsenal, where a pair of shearlegs have been
I ereCt44_l4.the plump piCIViPg it Oil the Worrell.

NEW BANKRUPTCY COMMIS-

SIONERS.

There has lately been much speculation in legal
circl€s as to the location of the new Commissioners of
Bankruptcy in the several districts provided by the
Act of Parliament. Considerable difficulty has been
experienced in meeting the wishes of the gentlemen
appointed as to their ultimate destination, but an ar-
rangement has at last been made, and the following
are the appointments :
Birmingham—Mr. Balguy, Q.C., and Mr. Daniell.
Liverpool—Mr. Skirrow, Q.C., and Mr. C. Phillips.
Manchester—Mr. Sergt. Ludlow and Mr. Jemmett.
Leeds—Mr. M. J. West and Mr. Montagu Bere.

Bristol—Mr. Sergt. Stephen and Mr. St-ephenson.
Exeter—Mr. Sergeant Goulburn.
Newcastle—Mr. Ellison.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, Oct. 20.

Mr. Charles Phillips, In his new capacity as Com-
missioner of Bankruptcy, took his seat in the course
Jf the day on the bench beside the Learned presiding
Commissioner.