Star.
London, England, 1830-05-14 00:00:00

of the loan intended to have been guaranteed by the Allies.
And we have reason to know, that the government con-
tinues to be in the greatest want of money. We are,
on the other hand, highly gratified to be enabled to
state, that the negotiations for the departure of Prince
LEOPOLD are proceeding as rapidly as circumstances
will admit, and that there is no longer any doubt of his
having accepted the Sovereignty.

Mr. SLANEY'S motion last night, in the House of
Commons, for a Select Committee to consider of and
find out the means to guard and provide against the
fluctuation experienced in the employment, and to im-
prove the health and condition of the labouring classes
iu large manufacturing towns, was agreed to. The
interest evinced in the speech of the Honourable Gen-
tleman, and the great extent of research which it displays,
are creditable to his industry and humanity, while they
are not more than what is required by the magnitude and
importance of the subject. The number of iudividuals
embraced by the motion, he estimates as two to one in
relation to the entire population of the country. That
population we have seen cited in estimates founded upon
official reports, at upwards of 12 millions : of which six
millions are engaged in manufacture, four millions in agri-
culture, and the remainder in professions, or living upon the
labour of others. It was thus to ameliorate the condition
of no less than one half of the population of the country
Mr. SLA NEY stood forward last night ; but even this view
of the subject, however extensive, is short of its actual
limits. So intimate is the connection between all the
parts of society ; the condition of the manufacturers
cannot be improved without communicating a benefit to
the agricultural classes—nothing that affects the one can
be indifferent to the other. The labours of Committees
appointed for general inquiry seldom answer expectation.
We are glad, therefore, to see that while the terms of his
motion are general, he has, in the course of his speech
stated a definite and specific purpose. He does not
send his ship to sea without chart or compass. He has
pointed out its precise destination. The enquiry sought
for he proposes should be conducted with a view to the
extension of Benefit Societies. In pressing this subject,
Mr. SLANEY did ample justice to the establishment of
Saving Banks as a fund to which prudence and
economy among the working classes may resort in
case of any adverse change in their circumstances;
and as a further means of providing against the distress,
attending the fluctuations of trade particularly, be re-
commends the practical example arising from Benefit
Societies, as at present constituted by law, the principle
of which is to enable the industrious classes to insure
themselves against the contingencies to which they are
liable. It is most devoutly to be wished that the object
of Mr. SLAN EY'S motion may not be disappointed, but
we almost despair of a successful result.—The act of the le-
gislature cannot control amanufacturer in the use of his
wages, and direct their application in his domestic economy.
If his wages be inadequate to the immediate support of
his family, he can contribute nothing to a benefit so-
ciety. If he be regardless of his future fate, he will
spend the surplus in the ale-house, or some other place
of amusement. To extend, then, the principle of be-
nefit societies, the amount of his wages must be
encreased, or his moral habits improved. It is to
these sources the country must ultimately look for
security against distress among the lower classes of
its population. To some of the preliminary obser-
vations made by the Honourable Member, we are
not prepared to subscribe. The fluctuation of trade,
arising from change of place and change of fashion, can-
not augment the amount of the general distress. If the
shoe string supplants the buckle, the manufacturers of
Coventry are benefitted in the same degree those of Bir-
mingham are depressed. If cottons give way to silk, it
is only a transfer of success from one branch of industry
to another; the total amount of prosperity or distress is
trade remains the same. The great source of the evil we
fear will be found not in the change of employment from
one kind to another, but in the diminution of the total
amount of employment itself. Until lately we bad a
monopoly of the trade of the world, but now bur ma-
nufacturers have rivals in every country, some of them
enjoying many natural advantages over us.—To com-
pete with such rivals prices are reduced, and conse-
quently the wages of the manufacturer.—Times of pros-
perity may have led to waste, riot, and extravagance among
the lower classes, and in such times a measure that should
have encouraged a disposition to provide against the evil
day, would have had a wider field for its operation ; but in
the present state of trade, we fear the materials that it
affords for the purpose of Mr. SLAN EY'S benign object
are very scanty. We rejoice, however, that there is a
prospect of their improvement, and that it appears to be
admitted an increase in the rate of wages has taken place
generally in the manufacturing towns.

Don Mrour.L sees with pain there are no more prisons
to fill in Portugal. He is rebuilding, at this moment,
the fort of Beni-Suceso, which fell down some months
ago. The state prisoners confined in the tower of St.
Julien are the individuals employed upon this work.
Thus, these unfortunate men are to prepare the dungeons
which they are doomed to inhabit. What delicate atten-
tion on the part of Don Mrou EL ! !—Figaro.
Mademoiselle MARS has set out from Paris for Lon-
don. To fill up the chasm which her absence for two
months will make in the treasury chest, the Thlritre
Fran9ais is preparing two new works—Franroise de
Rimini, a tragedy'.; and Le Mariage d'Amour, a comedy,
in three acts.

Madame Sell ROEDER-DEV RI ENT, one of the hand-
somest and finest singers in Germany, made her first
appearance at Paris on Thursday last, in Weaves
celebrated opera Frcychutz. She proved herself an ar-
tist of real talent, and received unbounded applause.
To complete her triumph fashionable bouquets fell at
her feet, while renewed bravos expressed the rapture
with which she inspired her audience.—. Figaro.
Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli," says the
Figaro, " have formed a league to resist the common
enemy ; and M. de BOLTZ/10NT has in consequence
demanded a reinforcement of 20,000 men to combat this
holy alliance of barbarians."