The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-07 00:00:00

THE SFN, LONDON, MOND A Y EVENING, APRIL 7, u 45.

have not brought him into any better or more
fortunate position—(we mean always for the nation)—
than this. To return, however, to the debate of Friday,
we find two speeches reported that are most remark-
able for their common-place character, and their
utter want of force and efficiency ; and two, as
much distinguished, on the other hand, by the sound-
fleas of their views, the perspicuity of their state-
ments, the neatness of their argument, and the
sagacity of their deductions.
In the former category we must rank the speeches
of the Earl of RIPON and Lord STANLEY ;
in
the latter our readers will have already classed those
of the Marquis of LANSDOWNE and Lord ASHBURTON.
The speech of Lord RIPON, on proposing the third
reading of the Bill, we cannot help describing as every
way beneath the occasion. The Noble Earl did not
seem to imagine that any extraordinary painstaking
was necessary to vindicate to the Peers the very extra-
ordinary impost which his colleagues had committed
themselves to the course of propounding for a further
term of experimenton the public forbearance orapathy.
His address was accordingly much below even the ordi-
nary run of downright official mediocrity and prosing-
common-plaee. Lord STANLEY'S auxiliary demon-
stration, although relieved by a few touches of that
constitutional vivacity which -not even the heavy
artillery of figures can repress, was yet as
feeble and unfortunate as his efforts on
such service are ever sure to be. He established the
case of hardship with regard to those whose com-
plaints he seemed to think were without foundation ;
and he damaged the defences, such as they were,
which his leader, Lord RIPON, had set up for the pro-
priety of the tax and its continuance. The Marquis
of LANsnowNE completely routed the whole array of
argument which had been brought into the field to
maintain the principle of that tax. Lord AsunuseroN still
more effectually demolished the positions upon which
the defence of its practical working had been at
tempted. The result, however, of the evening was,
that the Ministerial movement was accomplished.
The former of these Peers observed, with great
force, that on former occasions this obnoxious scheme
had been advocated on grounds far more intelligible
than any which Sir H. PEEL had yet attempted to
assign. 'When, at the close of the war of 1815, Lord
LIVERPOOL invoked the Parliament to continue the
then existing property-tax, he did so on the plea that it
was necessary he should have the means of winding
up the expenses of that war to meet the burdens of
which it had been expressly imposed. But the House
of Commons indignantly resisted his appeal, and the
tax was at once extinguished. Two other grounds on
which the tax had now been defended were, that it was
necessary to be raised in order to pay the interest on
the public debt, and to enable Government to keep faith
with the public creditor; and again, that it was a means
of raising the revenue above all other means of
direct taxation. In exhibiting the fallacy of both
these assumptions, Lord LANSDOWNE showed that Sir
ROBERT PEEL had never been in a condition to plead
such an exigency as the former inferred ; and he dis-
puted very forcibly the seundness of any theory which
turned upon direct taxation in dealing with income. A
snore intelligent exposition of sound financial principles
than that comprised in Lord LANSDOWNE'S address it
has not been our fortune to peruse. The mode in which he
played off the solemn protest of the Sir ROBERT PEEL
of 1840, in his penultimate stage of opposition against
the suggestion of an income-tax by the Government
of that day, to snake good a deficiency of income,
against the equally solemn appeals of the Sir Ro-
BERT PEEL, in the zenith of official power, in 1845,
was capital—it was turning the enemy's guns upon
himself after the most approved tactics of the Premier
himself. But in the speech of Lord Asetnuwross, the
extensive practical knowledge, the acute observa-
tion, and the experienced judgment of one
of the ablest authorities that can be invoked on such
a question, we find not only a clear detail of the
actual operation of the Income-tax on various classes
upon whom it is levied--of its injustice, inequality,
and oppression ; but also the causes of, the necessity
which whether truly or falsely, have been relied upon
to jastify the resort to it. 'We are gratified
to find, that Lord ASHBURTON has thus strongly
and distinctly recorded his objections to the
tax in question on grounds both of principle and
of expediency. The most important point established
in his argument appears to be, that in all the thirty
years of peace, since 1815, little or nothing has been
done towards the reduction of the principal of the
debt. This omission he flatly charges as a normal
error in the financial policy of the present Administra-
tion, as well as in that of its predecessors. He shows
that the vaunted financial operations of Chancellors of
the Exchequer have been limited to reducing the
mere rate of interest, not the sum,of our enormous debt,
which he identifies with the main principle of whatever
weakness is occasionally experienced in the working
of our Government and the excessive inconveniences
and embarrassments to which public and private
credit have been occasionally exposed, without any
apparent adequate cause for such convulsions. In
the event of a war we must have recourse, notwith-
standing our unexampled condition of public prospe-
rity, to borrowing, and that borrowing, from the
neglect of diminishing the capital of the debt, we
could not manage except on terms that would be sig-
nally disadvantageous. There may be little chance
of his Lorship carrying with him a majority of his
countrymen in the favour with which he affects to
regard the institution and operation of a Sinking
Fund ; but we are quite certain that that majority
would concur with us in desiring to see the philo-
sophy of finance, as expounded by Lord LANSDOWNE
exemplified in a practical administration of the na
tional resources, and a management of the nationa
liabilities on the bases suggested by Lord Asks-
BURTON.

The accounts from Switzerland, which are to the 4th
instant, are highly important. We stated on Saturday,
on the authority of the Journal des Debuts, that the vo-
lunteers and the refugees from Lucerne had attacked
that town on the Ist of April, and, after losing from
800 to 1,000 men, had obtained possession of the place.
The intelligence respecting the great loss of life unfor-
tunately turns out to be true, but the assailants failing
in their attacks, were put to flight by the Lucerne troops
under General SONNENBERG, and completely routed
with the loss of their artillery. An official bulletin,
published by the Government of Lucerne, dated the
Ist instant, announces the defeat of the free corps, who
had left more than 600 men on the field of battle before
the gates. A letter from Berne, dated April 2, gives the
following account of this lamentable affair :
" The corps francs have been completely beaten. General
Sonnenberg allowed them to advance till they got close to
Lucerne, the suburbs of which place had been hastily forti-
fied. He their attacked them with three companies of the
Carabineers of Unterwalden, who at once threw the advanc-
ing columns into confusion, and, after completely putting
them to the rout, it succeeded in capturing the whole of the
artillery, and a large number of horses. The inhabitants of
the country, who had allowed the corps francs to pass
through their districts unmolested, had risen en masse in the
rear of the corps francs. The troops from Argau, which had
started from Zohnguen, but had not advanced so far as the
others, succeeded in effecting a retreat, carrying two cannon
along with them. The number of men killed and wounded
is calculated at a thousand, but this is merely a guess, as the
official accounts are not yet published."
Another letter from Arau, written on the evening
of the Ist, furnishes the following particulars :
" All is lost ! A part of the expedition has just returned,
and we have obtained the following details from an eye-
witness, who came in with the first column. The expedition
set out in the night of Sunday. When at three leagues
from Zofinguen they were attacked by a battalion con-
cealed in the forest. The riflemen soon beat them off. They
continued to advance in good order, but under continual as-
saults, as far as Ettiswyl, where they were joined by a column
that came from Berne. At Russwyl the army divided; one
column moving on towards the principal bridge over the
Emme, and the other went to the right, and passed the Emme
at Wortheastein. It appears that there was some neglect in
keeping up the communication between ithe two corps, and
that hence arose all their disasters. The left column, which
has returned, reached the Emme-bridge about six o clock. It
was known that this bridge bad been fortified and under-
mined, and that every other measure for its defence had
been taken. Consequently the column halted as soon as it
came within view of the bridge. Without being impeded by
the battery, which opened, and kept up an incessant fire, or
by the shots of the riflemen placed in ambush behind trees,
shrubs, and other shelter, the leader ordered 100 of his rifle-
men to ford the river, and they did so without any great
loss. On reaching the other side of the water the riflemen
cleared the bridge, and the Lucerne soldiers were driven in
confusion back into the town. The bridge, which had been
broken down, was soon restored, and the column which had
advanced towards the town took post on the height above it,
after having cleared them of the sharp-shooters who had
endeavoured to defend them. Here they waited for ac-
counts of the other column. Night had now come on, and
the invading troops began to be discouraged, the whole
column, having been marching and fighting for twenty-four
hours, without scarcely any respite, was exhausted with fa-
tigue. While the leaders were doing all in their power to en-
courage their men, a severe fire of musketry and grape-shot
opened upon them. They conceived it probable that it came
from the second column, which, in the dark, had mistaken
but, earning nothing pursued,restored;thesecod column, the retreat was
continued. At day break they were attacked by a battalion

which was planted in their way with six pieces of cannon.
The soldiers of Lucerne, however, showed so little courage,
that they were soon put to flight. The column was twice
again attacked in the same manner, and twice beat the
enemy back, without causing him much loss, it is true, since
he always contrived to keep himself at a respectful distance.
The vanguard of the column has arrived at Zofinguen, but
the main body is still engaged. As to the second column, no
one knows what has become of it ; but it is presumed that it
has retired into the Canton of Berne."
The Zurich Gazette of the 2d confirms the intelli
gence :

" The Government received yesterday evening from Lu-
cerne the bulletin of the State Gazette, with jhe following
details On the 31st ult. the conflict was suspended until
the following day. Yesterday the fight recommenced on the
heights which surround the town. The invaders were re-
pulsed, and left 600 men on the field of battle. Several offi-
cers and soldiers were taken prisoners. The contingents of
Obwalden and \iedwalden (900 strong) displayed great
courage on the bridge of Emme. In the evening troops
arrived from Zug, and took part in the conflict, as did also a
battalion of infantry and two companies of arequebusiers from
Uri. The troops of Lucerne had three killed and several
wounded. Some persons whu have arrived from Lucerne inform
us that the volunteers who had been made prisoners by the
troops of Lucerne have been cruelly treated. A great num-
ber of them were massacrel by the solliers without any at-
tempt being made by the officers to prevent it. The hos-
pitals are filled with wounded. Eight pieces of cannon and
several ammunition waggons were taken from the volun-
teers. Although the free corps had been repulsed on seve-
ral points, they had succeeded in opening the road to Lu-•
cerise on the night of the 31st ult., but after the arrival of
the contingents of Uri and Zug, they were attacked and
forced to retreat. It is said that the Councillor Bauman has
been killed, and Dr. Knobel taken or wounded. Colonel
Donatz has arrived here, and assumed the command of the
federal army, part of which will march toward Russaud
the frontier of Argaud." ,

The route appears to have been complete. The vo-
lunteers fled in all directions to their respective homes.
On the 4th no further movements had taken place. The
Extraordinary Diet is convoked with the least possible
delay, and was expected to meet on the sth inst.
M. EnunENEn, the Russian Envoy in Switzerland,
addressed on the 27th ult. a note to the President of the
Diet, in similar terms to those of the other foreign
States. His Excellency thus concludes :
" you will not mistake the nature and spirit of the obser-
vations which I have the honour to submit to you. They do
not attack the independence of Switzerland; they merely
touch on certain points, the ,appreciation of which anarchy
and violence alone could contest to the European Powers.
My Government bas directed me, Monsieur le President, to
expressly before the eyes of the authorities and parties in
Switzerland, the manner in which this affair ought to be
looked at, and particularly to point out the deplorable conse-
quences which' must result froM it, if better councils, and
more in conformity with legal order and justice, and respond-
ing better to the sentiments which ought to exist between
the Confederal States, should not prevail in your country. I
fulfil a painful duty, but i❑ the motives which have imposed
it on me, there is no other intention on the part of my august
Sovereign, the Emperor, than to render Switzerland attentive
to the dangers which she is incurring, and, if it be still pos-
sible, to preserve her from them."

The Peninsular and Mediterranean mails have been
received, but they bring no news of importance. The
dates are Cairo, March 19 ; Gibraltar, 29; and Cadiz,
30 ; Lisbon, April 1. The Viceroy of EGYPT
arrived at Cairo on the 12th from his tour
in Upper Egypt. IBRAIIIM DACHAhas been dan-
gerouzly
ill, but is now better. The Nile is very low—
much lower than last year at this season—and there
is ground to apprehend that the navigation may be
seriously impeded.
Not a single case of plague has occurred at Alexan-
dria for several months.

Madrid papers of the 29th and 30:11 ult. have been
received. The Gazette of the latter date publishes an
arrangement with the Bank of San Fernando for the ad-
vance of 180,000,000 reals to be applied to the wants of
the State during April, May, and June, at the rate of
sixty millions per month. The security upon which the
credit is given for the month of April cDnsists of public
effects, producing at the current price from twelve to
fifteen millions in cash, and twenty millions in delega-
tions upon quicksilver. The Committee on the esti-
mates had made their report, which was entirely favour-
able to the schemes of the Finance Minister.
On the 29th the Three per Cents, closed et 33 11-16
for cash, and 344 at 60 clays ; the Five pers Cents. at 254
at 60 day's ; the Debt without Interest at 8 at 60 days ;
and the Coupons at 282 at 60 days. Oa the 13th a good
deal of business was transacted at the Puerta del Sol,
the Active selling at 264 at 60 days, and the Three per
Cents. at 35.

The Paris papers are chiefly accupied with the affairs
of Switzerland, which excite much interest. Both
Chambers met on Saturday. The Peers were still occu-
pied in discussing the Colonial 8.11 relative to the state
of slavery, but had come to no vote on the question of
emancipation. In the Chamber of Deputies, an addi-
tional Tariff Bill was under consideration. The new
law fur raising the duty on oleaginous seeds
had created great dissastiafaction at Marseilles.
At a general meeting of the oil manufacturer,
it was unanimously resolved that, in consequence of the
ruinous measure lately passed by the Chamber'of De-
puties, respecting the import duty on sesame, it was im-
possible to carry on their business ; and that, conse-
quently, their mills should be stopped, their workmen
discharged, and that all the manufacturers without ex-
ception should go immediately up to Paris, and appeal
to the Chamber of Peers against the decision of the
Deputies.
The Bill for arming the fortifications of Paris con-
tinues to meet witb opposition. About seventy officers
of the National Guard have petitioned against it, and
the list is daily increasing. The Ministry, however,
have resolved to check this attempt at insubordina-
tion. On the report of General JAQUEaiINOT, the
Commandant of that corps, the officers who signed the
protest against the arming of the fortifications are to
be brought before a Court of Discipline, and they are,
in the meantime, suspended from their functions.
The Patrie gives the following account of a duel,
which took place in the Bois de Boulogne,
on Wednesday, between the Duke d'U— and the
Marquis de C--, in consequence of a dispute which
arose between them on the preceding day, at a sporting
dinner. A toast having been given in English by the
Marquis de C—, the Duke observed that among
Frenchmen French ought to be spoken. To this the
Marquis replied—". The English language ought not to
be disagreeable to you, and you should comprehend it,
for you, who are a PRITCHARD'S man, have voted in fa-
vour of the English Ministry." This was followed by a
violent altercation, which led to the meeting, which was
with swords. The sword of the Duke passed near the
heart of the Marquis, whose wound, however, though
severe, is not considered to be dangerous. The Duke
was also slightly wounded on the hip, and is for the
moment confined to his bed. The names of the parties,
itE CNIE
noAIa-PPReaR. appears, are the Duke iellzes and the Marquis
D he wound of the latter will, it is expected,
confine him to his room for some days.
The news from Switzerland on Saturday had a favour
able effect on the French Funds.

..... 11801677
5700
....: 11801677
6705
....: 11801677
5605
......
11801677
5655
THE BOURSE-SATURDAY, APRIL 5•
First Illah.st Lowest Last
Price. Price. Price. Price.
.......... 3230 ..3230 •• 3230 •• 3230
64855 75
..
64785 :50 :: 6458 75
Ti 64875 5800
French
LoanThreeF Fiveo il
Fours
s per...
...
per.C. Cents.
e..n . t
s.
.. •
... . .
Grioaunik. FranceEofai,k. 1
,00Of Shares-1090 —lO9O ••1095 ..1095
Belgian Bank . • • •• • • •• •• ••
Ite.gian Fives, 1840.- •• •• •• 11+314 .. 1034 .. 10314 •• 103%
1842•••••••• 104% •• 105 .. 104% .. 105
Four-and-a-Half ... lel% .. 101% •• 101% .. 101%
Two-and-a-Half 62 40 .. 62 40 .. 62 40 .. 62 40
Spanish Active ••••• • • •••• 4+% .. 4616 .. 40% .. 40%
Threes •••••••••••• 41% .. 41% .. 41% .. 41 4
Passive ....••• •• •• 7% .. 7% •• 7% •• 7%
Nea001itan............. lOl • • 102 .. 102 • • 102
Roman ... •••••• •• ..... lO4 10 .. 104 10 .. 104 .. 104
RAILWAY SHARES.
St. Germain 1197 50 ..1197 50 ..1197 60 ..1197 50
Versailles, R.B 649 .. 640 .. 640 ~ 640
397 50 - 397 60 .. 390 .. 3‘...0
Rotten .....••• ..... . •.1150 . 1151 25 ..1135 1135
Rouen to Havre...
970
Orleans ..•••. ..... -- - 1305 —1305 ..1282 50 .•1282 50
Strasburg to Bale.. •••• 336 25 .. 336 25 .. 330 .. 330
Avignon to MarBeilles• 1:25 ..1125 ..1117 50 . 1117 50
Pordeaux to Teste •••••• •• 220 222 50 .. 220 .. 221 25
Paris to Sceaux
680 .. 680 .. 680 .. 680

Versailles, R.R......
RAILWAYS FOR THE ACCOUNT.
St. Gerrnain ...............1202 50 ..1202 50 ..1202 50 ..1202 50
.......
L. 8.. .......... ..... 397 59 .. 397 50 .• 892 50 .. 392 50
1155 .•1155 "1137 50 ..11<7 50
647 50 .. 647 50 .. 635 .. 635
Rouen to llavre ..........
1333067
2550 ::1333°77
5500 ..1280330 . 975 ~ 975 .• 970 • • 970
.... 1323.05
Strasburg to 8a1e...
Avignon to Marseilles .. ... . 1125 .. 1125 . • 1112 50 ..1112 50
Bordeaux to Teste .. .. •• • 232 50 .. 222 50 .. 222 .. 222
C,

Midland Railw
'OLLISION ON THE YORK AND NORTH MIDLAND
RAILWAY.— A collision took place on the York and North
frightful disasters. The mail train left York a few minutes
later than its time (half-past six o'clock), as a great number
an on Thursday evening, .which threatened
of passengers were 'waiting to proceed by it. It had two
engines attached to it, and proceeded at a rapid rate. When
it reached Burton Salmon, the Hull and Selby train was
just moving forward, but had scarcely left the station. The
manager at the station states that he was engaged with
needful arrangements, expecting the Hull train, and had
not had time to show any signal to the next train, which,
being ten minutes before its time, he did not then expect.
The driver of the York train whistled very loudly for a
man, said to be Mr. Hewitt, French Consul at Hull, left
York in the unfortunate smashed coupe; but had, for what
reason he scarcely knew, got out of it, and entered another
carriage at the Tad, aster station, and thua saved his life.
The passengers in the second-class carriage, which mounted
the carriage truck, were considerably bruised, but no life was
lost, and no bones appear to have been broken, which indeed
seems almost miraculous. The runaway engine stopped only
when the steam and water were exhausted. It passed Nor-
manton at a Speed supposed to be about sixty miles an hour,
and from this station an engine was sent in pursuit. The
York train was put back as far as Milford, when it got upon
the up rails, and was put upon its proper track a short dis-
tance above
,Burton Salmon, and passed the disabled Hull
train, and reached Masborough in safety about half-past ten
o'clock.--TOSthstfleld Independent.
s
UGAR-MARKET, APRIL 4.—The market
has been rather quiet this week, and the sales only reach 400
hhds. West India, and 1,000 mats Mauritius ; in some cases
at rather easier prioely.,Brigoixercurs,.