The Sun.
London, England, 1842-10-14 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 14,

the complaints of the proprietors of vine-bearing pro-
perty, and, we must confess, they appear to us per-
fectly well founded. Three causes together contribute
to render the condition of the wine-producing coun-
tries excessively hard: first, the exorbitant duties
fixed by foreign countries; next, the duties levied by
the Government ; and, lastly, the entrance duties into
towns. As to the foreign taxes, it is impossible to
estimate their amount even approximately ; we only
know that the English and American customs have
overburthened our wines beyond measure, and have
in a manner prohibited our brandies. It is nearly
the same in almost other States, and the duty of
the Government on this point consists in concluding
commercial treaties, allowing the wine-producing
departments to find an easy issue for their produce in
foreign markets. Our wines, justly esteemed all over
the world, would find plenty of purchasers if it was
agreed to open for them the frontiers of other coun-
tries, which are now shut. It is evident that, in or-
der to arrive at this result, it will be necessary to
make concessions to foreign nations, and admit reci-
procally such objects as they furnish and we want.
But to effect this, the most serious difficulties arise,
for whenever it has been desired to touch the prohi-
bitive system, the interests which profit by it rise
against this step, and it has been impossible to pre-
vail against their formidable coalition. A Govern-
ment, which was worthy of the name, could alone
struggle against these selfish oppositions to the gene-
ral advantage ; but our Ministers, busied above all
with the care of their personal preservation, have not
dared to break down those obstacles. Besides, the
wine question is only a detail of the general subject of
our commercial alliances. We have had occasion to treat
this important matter, and shall again recur to it, and
therefore shall not insist more on it at present. If it
was not possible to obtain from other countries advanta-
geous terms for our wines, it appeared, at least, easy
to treat them better at home. Far from that, the
duties on this article amount to 96 millions, and, if
the land tax and the octroi duties be added, it will be
seen that each hectare (two-and-a-half English acres)
of vine ground pays in all 80f. The wine business
cannot support so exorbitant a charge. In analysing
the different taxes, one is struck at the first glance by
the prominent part which the octroi occupies in the
total amount. In fact, not less than 25 millions pass
to the municipal authorities, to the great injury of
the producers and consumers. It has been felt a
matter of necessity to put an end to the incessant in-
crease which this kind of duty was continually under-
going. The Chamber was occupied last session with
the care of warding off the inconveniences arising
from the truly abusive execution of the law of 1816.
Thus, out of 1,070 communes subject to octroi duties
on potable liquors, 455 have been surcharged, Of which
the amount was, in 1840, not less than 10,281,000 f.,
of which sum 7,989,000 f. were for Paris alone."
The Messager has a long answer to the Oppo-
sition papers on the subject of the colonisation
of Algeria. They accuse the Government, of
course, of setting this, with other questions, to
sleep. It denies that the question has slept.
Committees and sub-cotnniittees have examined
the subject, and Government is engaged in exa-
mining their reports, in order to discover what
may be done in the way of colonisation imme-
diately.

The Impartial of Denain states, that on Thurs-
day night last a shock of an earthquake was felt
in that town. The shock, which lasted nearly
two seconds, was accompanied by a dull sound,
which was mistaken for thunder. The oscillation
appeared to be directed from east to west.

A letter dated Macon, published in the Com-
merce, announces that the vintage in Burgundy
is concluded, and that the crisp is deficient in
quantity, but that the wine will be of superior
quality. The vintage in Champagne was in full
progress, with the advantage of the finest wea-
ther ever experienced in October.
Le Glandier, the mournful theatre of the LA-
PAIGE drama, has been purchased by a M. BON-
NEL LA BORIE, a notary at Vigeois, for 81,000 f.
Twenty-two Sisters of Charity were on the
point of leaving Paris for Algiers, where they
are called to attend the civil hospital.
The Brethren of St. Jean de Dieu, an institu•
tion revived by Colonel MAGALON, who himself
-entered the order, and is now its superior, are to
be put in possession of the hospital of La Calle,
the adjoining coast of which is so celebrated for
its coral fisheries. The Trappists have likewise
been authorised to found an establishment in
Algiers.
The proceeds of the Customs at Marseilles
amounted, during the first nine months of 1842,
to 24,689,6301. As compared with those of 1841,
there was a diminution this year of 1,275,8221.

The Semaphore de Marseilles of the Bth inst.
announces, that the Minister Secretary of State
of Foreign Affairs of the Regency of Tunis was
on board the French steamer of war Lavoisier,
which ran aground in the Gulf of Ajaccio on the
30th ult.

BOURSE--PARIS, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11.
First Highest Lowest Last
Price. Price. Price. Price.
French Five per Cents. 118 90... 118 90... 118 85... 118 90
4I per Cents. 106 50... 106 50... 106 50... 106 50
Four per Cents. 102 25... 102 25 .. 102 25... 102 5
S per Cents. BO 20... 80
20... 80
15... 80 20
Bank of France 3275 —.3275 ...3275 .. 3275
Laflitte Bank I,ooof 1040 ..1040 —.1040 ...1040
5,000 f 5045 ...5045 —.5045 ...5045
Belgian Bank 795 ... 800 795 795
Belgian 110034
1041840 3 :.• 103104 ... 104 lo3i
Dutch 21 per Cents 521 ... 521 ... 521 ... 521
Spanish Active....... 22 ... 22 211 ... 22
New Deferred 91 91 91 9i
Portuguese Fives 333 •.. 313 ... 31 ... 31
Neapolitan...
Roman ............... 1051 ... 1051 ... 1053 ... 1053
RAILWAY SHARES

St. Germain 8536 25... 1-36 25... 836 25... 836 25
Versailles, R.B 260 ... 260 ... 258 75... 258 75
LB 98 75... 98 75... 93 75... 98 75
Rouen 563 75... 563 75... 561 25... 561 •2o
Orleans.... ......... 585 ... 586 25... 585 ... 586 25
Strasburg to Bale 206 25... 208 75... 206 25... 208 75