The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-19 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY AIORNING, FEBRUARY 19, 184 g.

LONDON
SATURDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 19, 1842.

It is scarcely necessary for us to recommend to the
notice of our readers the temperate and able speech, as
it was described by Lord JOHN MANNERS, with which
Mr. VILLIERS last night introduced his motion for the
total repeal of the Corn-laws. The Hon. Member is
well aware that, after the declaration of Lord JOHN
RUSSELL in favour of the principles of protection, know-
ing, too, as he must, the secret opinions of many of his
supporters, that he has in the House of Commons very
up-hill work. If only that House were concerned, we
should think, with Sir CHARLES NAPIER, that the
motion, as every person knOws beforehand what will
bo the result, is a waste of the time of the House ;
but the public are to be considered—the public
require to learn at this crisis, who are the friends of
free trade, and who are its enemies ; they require to
know now, when such evil consequences have resulted
from the Corn-laws, what their advocates can say in
their support. Under this more general view the motion
makes a judicious and proper use of the house ; but what
is beneficial to the public, is seldom agreeatsk to it, and
its opposition made the task of addressing it one of
difficulty. 'l'ho debate was accordingly -languid, though
it produced, particularly in Mr. BROTHERTO:eB speech,
and in the speech of the mover, a great number of use-
ful facts. Mr. VILLIERS, by again undertaking a task
which the previous debate on the same subject has-
made somewhat irksome, has again merited well of his
constituents, and of all the great Anti-Bread-tax party,
which now comprises, we are proud to say, the bulk of
the people.

le .ling ,xreat Changes have taken place in the opinions of our
politiciatta of all parties at different times; and
when they have arisen from sincere conviction, and not
from sinister motives, the men have only gathered addi-

tional honour. The Duke of WELLINGTON, for instance,
gained more honour by his conversion to Catholic Eman-
cipation, than by his obstinate adherence to anti-reform.
On the same occasion Sir ROBERT PEEL changed his
opinions, but his motives were suspected, and he for a
considerable period lost the confidence of his own party.
On the very question now under discussion the leading
men on both sides have materially modified their views.
Sir ROBERT PEEL has admitted that the present Corn-law
is susceptible of improvement. Lord JOHN RUSSELL has
gone over from being a strenuous advocate for agricultu
ral protection, when he addressed the electors of Hunt-
ingdon, (to which he the other evening only gave a
qualified adherence), and has become convinced that a
moderate fixed duty, terminating at is., will meet the
circumstances of the case. Lord PALMERSTON who,
on Wednesday, took such a large and philosophical view
of the whole subject, and eloquently contended againsti
the miserable principle of protection, was reproached
last night with being a member of the Duke of WEL-
LINGTON'S Cabinet in 1828, which passed the existing
law. There can, therefore, be no shame in statesmenti
changing their opinions from honest motives, and ther,-1
is no reason, we think, why Whig statesmen, who have
gone so far on the corn question, should not go further,
and give their hearty support to the proposition for a
total repeal. We know not that they mean to adopt
this course, but we know that it would be manly, politic,
and wise; that it would immediately place them at the
head of as powerful an Opposition as any that Govern-
ment ever had to contend against, would soon place
them in office, and long continue them in power.
For making this change they have an admirable reason.
Let them look around them. The situation of the
country calls for it, and warrants it. The distress of
the people cries aloud to Heaven for it. Patriotism and
justice command it. Policy says it alone can prevent
heavier mischiefs to the community than the destruction
of the landed interest, should that be the result. All
our institutions are threatened. Class is taking up
opinions hostile to class ; contention is on every
hand ; demoralisation, poverty, disease, and death
are spreading, from the accursed starvation law, over the
country, and would justify the most rapid and right-
about conversion to the doctrine that the Corn-laws
ought to be immediately and totally repealed. Were
the Whigs to unite cordially with the Repealers on this
point, as' ibey may with justice and honour, in a few
months the good,7ork would be achieved. The Whigs
would deserve and soon acquire the gratitude of the
nation, even including their present opponents, for
having saved it from untold lvils. Let the Whigs change
then, and be honoured in history as the benefactors of
their species.

Out of resistance to Corn-law repeal, Chartism is
making a rapid progress. At a great meeting held at
Bradford on Thursday, a resolution was unanimously
adopted, declaring the Corn-laws unjust in principle,
cruel in their operation, and oppressive alike to both
master and workman ; adding that they will never be
repealed until the principles contained in the People's
Charter, viz., Universal Suffrage, Vote by Ballot, An-
nual Parliaments, No Property Qualification, Pay.
meat of Members, and Equal Electoral Districts, be
made the law of the land.

Similar resolutions have been adopted at Manchester,
and other places. A greater impetus has been given by
the deceitful conduct of Sir R. PEEL, and his denial of
justice, to a desire for a greater political change than
we ever remember. It took more than a year to work
the people up to Reform heat, though they had then
many grievances to complain of, and the Government
was on their side ; but it has not taken a week now to
inspire them with almost universal indignation.
At a great meeting at Walsall on Wednesday, this
resolution was moved :

" That the original compact by which our ancestors sur-
ren'iered a portion of their natural rights to their own and the
general good, and subjected themselves to the authority and
control of the governing power, a as reciprocal in its obligations
and duties, one of the most essential conditions being th.!
guarantee given by the governing power to protect the rights
of persons and property, in return for the concession made by
the people."

The following is a specimen of the language by which
Mr. WILKINSON supported it :
" When it became evident that the interests of the many
were to be sacrificed to those of the few ; when it was clear,
beyond the possibility of a doubt, that Sir Robert Peel was
about to proceed upon that plan of class legislation which had
already inflicted such grievous evils upon the country, he cer-
tainly did think that it behoved them to look back to the
origin of all government, to examine_ the first principles of
legislation, and to investigate the tenure by which they claimed
the surrender of the people's liberty—(Cheers)--for let it never
be forgotten—and., be wished to impress this, upon their iitten-
five consideration—let it never be forgotten—and he spoke it
on the authority of that great legal commentator, Blackstone—
' when legislation ceased to regard the interests (,f the witch.,
body of the people, it became pure and unalloyed tyranny,"
That resolution was carried though it was not strong
enough for the Chartists. We are entitled,:then, to tell the
landed aristocracy that they are provoking a serious and
searching investigation into the very foundations of poli_
tical society ; and we must add, as the practices of obr
Legislature conform to no theory of government which
has ever found approval in England, we believe that the
Government cannot stand the test of the examination.
Sir ROBERT PEEL and his friends trust know whether
they hold power by any other tenure than prescription ;
and if they do not, they must be convinced that power,
founded on prescription, nods to its fall whenever its
origin is investigated.

Lord AIAnoN thought he made a capital hit last night,
when he proved, by his own experience, that the people
of Warsaw are badly off with cheap food, while the
people of Amsterdam are well off with dear food. There
was distress at Poland when he was there, and plenty in
Holland. We should have expected from a scion of the
house of STANHOPE, the grandson of one of the most en-
lightened and liberal men of the last age, the great-
great-grandson of one of the boldest and best statesmen
of England, that he would at least have remembered
that at Warsaw there is unmitigated despotism, and at
Amsterdam a tempered freedom—that at Warsaw there
are great restrictions on industry, and at Amsterdam
trade is nearly free. But the Noble Lord, with
a sadly degenerate spirit, could see nothing
but the cheapness of bread amongst the sera's
of Poland, and its dearness amongst the freemen of Hol-
land, as the cause of distress in the former and of pro-
sperity in the latter. His view was limited, if not unjust.
But, passing by the degeneracy of this STANHOPE—
though he seems not to have sunk much below his im-
mediate predecessor—did it not occur to this intellectual
Lord that these two cases are really amongst th,..
strongest arguments which can be adduced in favour
free trade. and a manufacturing population ? The people
of Poland are at once serfs and almost exclusively agri-
culturists, and thepeople of Amsterdam are commercial-
ists, manufacturers, and free labourers. If the Noble Lord
can find nothing better than such cases as these to 'rest
the oppression of the landlords on, he should remain
silent. His party would reduce England to the condi-
tion of Poland ; the free traders aim at making it re-
semble, but become superior to, Holland. Freedom of
all kinds, but notably free trade, was, and is, the soul of
Holland's superiority to every part of Europe, except
England ; and the more we give freedom to trade, the
more wealthy will our people become, and the more we
shall rise superior even to Holland.

Railway legislation, to be worth anything, must differ
as widely as the Poles from the ordinary legislation of
Parliament. The Acts of Parliament are very few in-
deed, which from their extreme wordiness, their excep-
tional clauses, their repeals of fragmentS of former Acts,
and their troublesome modes of enforcement, might not
be mistaken for legislative devices to confound common
sense, increase litigation, and thus give Parliamentary
protection to the growth of lawyers. Statute-law in
England might be defined to be a Parliamentary collec-
tion of words of doubtful and disputed meaning. Such
legislation is altogether unsuitable to the management
and control of railways. Laws for their regulation
should be brief, plain, universally intelligible, and capable
of the cheapest and the most expeditious enforcement.
They ought to be so framed as to leave no room for
cavilling either on the score of length, doubtful meaning,
or difficulty of access. For these reasons then it is
impossible that we could support the Railway Amend •
ment Bill, laid before the House of Commons by the
Right Hon. the President of the Board of Trade. As we
stated on another occasion; this Bill proposes to amend an
Act already in operation. Now the way to amend a bad
law is not to patch it up, as a Monmouth-street tailor
would an old coat, but to repeal it altogether, and re-
place it by a good one. It is less troublesome to Par-
liament to pass a complete Bill than to decide faithful].)
about the patching of one which perhaps does not happen
to be in the hands of a dozen of Members. Legislative
patchwork is uniformly bad, but in no instance does it
threaten to be attended with so many evils, if persevered
in, as in the case of railway enactments. We contend
against the principle of passing any Act to amend a
Railway- Act. Where the. necessity of brief and simple
legislation is so urgent, let the law requiring amend-
ment be repealed, and a more perfect measure substituted.
The provisions of the proposed Railway Amendment
Act are easily enumerated. - It vests the supreme direc-
tion of Railways in the Board of Trade. No new line
can be opened before a month's notice has been given to
the Board by the Railway Company.. If, upon an inspec-
tion of the line, by order of the Board of Trade, danger
to the public be apprehended from opening it, the Board
may at its discretion postpone the time of opening it for
a month, with power to renew the postponement monthly
till the danger shall have ceased ; violations of the
orders of the Board, punishable by a fine of twenty

pounds daily while the line is kept open. The Board of
Trade is likewise authorised to order and enforce returns
of all railway accidents ; to compel Companies to make
bridges or viaducts over turnpike• roads ; to submit the
disputes of rival Companies to arbitration, appoint um-
pires, and enforce awards ; to regulate the junction of
branch lines ; and to cede to Companies compulsory
powers to purchase and take immediate possession of
lands, either for extending their lines, or for providing
for the public requisite accommodation for the protection
and transit of goods. The Act concludes with giving
constabulary powers to all railway servants, for the ar-
rest and detention of each other if found drunk, or com-
mitting any act dangerous to the safety of railway pas-
•sengers, their goods, or destructive of the property of rail-
way Companies.
These regulations are all important, and no doubt de-
sirable for the public protection ; but as the Bill which
contains them does not embody all that Parliament
chooses to enact upon the subject, we cannot accept it as
a full and perfect treasure. We want one good Act, not
two bad ones. The parable of mending an old garment
with a patch of new cloth, and so making the rent
worse, is directly applicable to this Railway Amendment
Bill. Besides the evil will not stop at one advance.
Every Session will call for its own Amendment Act, and
thus railway legislation will become as perplexed as the
law of titles to real property. Now is the time to pre-
vent the growth of this monstrous abuse. All requisite
railway legislation might easily be embodied in one
Act of not more than ten or a dozen clauses, in words as'
simple as the Lord's Prayer.

We are weary of repeating the announcement that the
debate on the Address is not yet closed in the Spanish
Chamber of Deputies. On the 9th inst., it was proceeding
as heavily and as dully as ever. In a letter from Madrid
of that date, the following is given as the state of the
Money Market
MADRID, FEB. 9.—Notwithstanding the sensation produced
by the movement in Portugal, Spanish Stock remains firm.
here was no transaction in the 'Three per Cents. In the
Five per Cents. 27 bargains were effected for a sum of
17,016,000 reals, of which two were for cash, at 31 15-16 and
%, and the remainder for the Account at 331/ at 60 days. In
the debt without interest three operations took place for
4,344,446 reals, of which one was for cash at 6, and the remain-
ing two for the Account at 6 1-16 and 65-32 at 60 days. Ex-"I,
change on London at 90 days, 37t/. The business done to-
day amounted, in English money, to about 220,2101.

The French Government has found no difficulty in
again shelving the question of Electoral Reform. M.
Ducos' motion for including in the list of electors pro-
fessional men not qualified to vote by right of paying
the requisite amount of taxes, has been rejected by a
majority of 41 votes-193 votes being given for,
and 234 against it. We have pleasure in stating
that M. DE LAMARTINE, sympathising with the
claims of literature to , direct representation, ably
supported M. Ducos' proposition. But by far the
most eloquent as well as the most powerful oppo-
nent of the measure was the Minister for Foreign Affairs
M. GuizoT. He began by denying that the movement
in favour of Parliamentary Reform was the spontaneous
movement of society. It was superficial, factious, and
false, and got up by Journals and committees.
Those who supported it belonged to two fac-
ticTns labouring for the overthrow of the esta-
blished Government, the Republicans and the Royal-
ists. Both together constituted a miserable mino-
rity in the State, and he warned honest men to be upon
their guard when they saw them uniting in any scheme,
however specious a name they might give it. Having
abused the Republicans and Carlists to his heart's con-
tent, the Minister next proceeded to discuss the question
of the suffrage. The substance of what he said upon
this question, may be gathered from the following short
extract from his speech :
Formerly, when the interests of the different &asses of
society were divided, and there were privileged classes amongst
them, a large number of electors was essential ; but there
is nothing of this kind now. In a society where the
aristocracy is strong and powerful, it is necessary
that democracy should find its weight in the number
of the electors; but we have no powerful or numerous
aristocracy to contend with, and it is not necessary that we
should seek to augment the number of electors. For my own
part I repudiate the idea of universal suffrage, and with all
the respect that 1 feel for a great nation I will take the liberty
of saying that the great and imminent danger which menaces
the United States of America arises principally from the exis-
tence of universal suffrage. Not only do 1 disapprove of um •
versa' suffrage, but I dread its tendency. The arguments
which are adduced in its favour do not convince me, and, al-
though they emanate from a more honourable source than the
factions of which I have spoken, they do not on that account
carry any weight.

But M. GUIZOT did not long confine himself to the
abstract question of principle. Having bid open de-
fiance to the Opposition, he with equal openness chal-
lenged the support of the Ministerial majority, He took
care to tell them that he had no notion of quitting office,
and consequently that his means of rewarding their Ole.
giance was as extensive as ever. As such appeals are
somewhat novel, we shall again quote an extract from
the Minister's speech :
An attempt is made to overturn the Cabinet; the Opposi-
tion is desirous of striking a death-blow at the Ministry. We
all see what is meant, and where is the use cf mystery ? I
will say to those who entertain this intention, that .so long as
the Chamber shall not change the policy on which it has acted,
since we came into office, so long will the Cabinet take care
tha it shall not be overthrown. The Cabinet of October 29
was ormed under the influence of two principles : the re-estab-
lishment of harmony between France and Europe, and of order
and Conservatism at home. These two Principles have been
recognised and acted upon by the Chamber, and so long as the
majority shall continue to act on them will we avail ourselves
-of our institutions and of the plenitude of our rights to remain
in office. 1 have spoken of our enemies, I will say a few words
to our friends. I will say to them—You have engaged in and sup-
ported us in a heavy task ; I feel convinced that you will continue
to support us as long as we shall remain faithful to a cause
which is equally yours and our own. Take care that you do not
weaken, for insufficient motives, the power that you desire
to sustain ; take care not to diminish the strength of the Mi-
nistry, whilst you do not diminish the task which you have
called upon it to perform. You have duties to fulfil as well as
we have. Like us you are members of the State; do not
hastily throw off your share of responsibility. I may venture
to affirm for my colleagues and for myself, that we shall never
be wanting in courage and perseverance ; but alone we can do
nothing. We are to need of your aid—your persevering aid.
I can only repeat to you—Do not diminish the strength of the
government, if you do not diminish its burthen at the same
time. If the day should arrive when the strength neeessary
for governing should be insufficient, wa should not hesitate to
retire even before you should be apprised of what we intended
to do."

This appeal at once decided the fate of M. Ducos'
motion. M. DE LAMARTINE attempted a reply to K
GulzoT, but the Chamber would not listen to him.
He proclaimed himself a child of the Revolution
f 17e2, and contended that M. Ducos' motion
Was a natural consequence of the Revolution of
July, and one of the safest measures of reform
ever proposed. It would infuse new blood into
the stagnant frame of the body politic, and pre-
vent the very changes so much dreaded by the
Cabinet. But the majority had made up its mind to
support a Ministry so tenacious of office. The result we
have already stated.
The persevering resistance of the French Cabinet to
every project of electoral reform is fraught with the great-
est dangers to the State. M. GUIZOT admits that there
are two active, dangerous factions in France, who regard
with deadly hatred the ORLEANS dynasty,and who are
constantly labouring to overthrow it. Yet by excluding
young professional men from the list of electors,
he virtually throws them into the arms of these factions.
The suffrage is surely the cheapest, as it is the best,
bribe that can be given to every young man qualified by
education to enter upon the duties of a legal, a medical,
a scientific, or a literary profession.
BOURSE—PARIS, WEDWESDAT, FEB. 16.
First Highest Lowest Last
Price Price. Price. Price.
French 5 per Cents... ....... • 119 35 ... 119 45' 1:9 3v ... 119 35
4 per Cents lO3 5e ... 1 3 50 ... 103 50 ... 103 50
per Cents B9 85 ••••• Se 40 ... 8, 30 ... 80 30
Loan ..........
Omit or France
Lamle I.ooot. Si.ares 1025 ...1t25 _too
•—•5 —1025
Reiman Bank
5.000 r. Shares UP2 80 ...5042 50 ..4032 50 ......5032 50
812 50 ... 812 50 ... 810 .. •
Belgian 5 per Cents...... 116% mg • 810
103
Active i 5% ... 25% ...
Neapolitan lO6 25 ... SSII6 2
1
enen
Dutch 234 per Cents. ....
ItAILWAv SHAstga,• 53
Versailles. R. R 342 50 ... 34b ... 342 50 315
21! 50 ... 215 3 212 GO 213 75
Rouen
.515
Orleans ..
arasburg to Bale 235 ... 238 75 . 235 238 '73
BEI,OI A N 11 NDS—BaussaLe. FEB. 16.
Actual Debt, 2% per Cent.
Rothschild's Lean, 5 per Cent 102%
Loan of Thirty Millions, 4 per Cent. 934,
3per Cent.

---- Thirty.seven------- ~ 733x.
(1340) lO4
Loan of City, 1.32, 4 per Cent 9sx
Society of Commerce, 44per Cent B4
Bank of Belgium, 5 per CenL...... ......
National Society. -
Exchange on London (shot t) —
.—. Brussels Papers, Feb. 16.
AUSTRIAN FUNDS.—Vrammat, FEB. 9.
17 treper Cants. Idetalliques
Fonr per Cents. lOO%
Three par Cents.
Bank Shares ...
--Aitgemeine Zeizu Feb. 12.
sg.

leaving the_ I-lons:ono!
The Duke of Wellington, or!
Peers last night, was followed into the Park
.by a
siderable number of persons who vented their ill temper
on his Grace by applying to him sundry opprobrious
epithets. It is a pity to see the days of the veteran
coming to a close amidst popular dislike.
We understand that some of Sir Robert Peel's sup-
porters threaten further inroads on his sliding scale,
much to the annoyance of the Right Hon. Baronet.
It appears from a list of some seventy veteran Peers,
published in The Sun, that their ages range from 72 to
92, the greater proportion of them approaching 80, and
more than a dozen considerably exceeding that age.
Among the clergy the proportion is nearly as high, and,
probably, also the result would be found the same, if we
had returns of the ages of all persons in easy circum-
stances from their youth upwards. We do not envy them
such blessings, but at the same time cannot help con-
trasting these with the sufferings and the short
span of life which are the lot of the great

body of the working classes. In many trades
few reach the age of 50, and not a few die at
35, from diseases brought on by severe or un-
healthy employments, scanty food and bad clothing. This
melancholy fact cannot fail to make a painful impression
on every humane mind, and ought to be an induce-
ment to those who live at ease, and especially our vete-
ran legislators, to sink their selfish interests for the be-
nefit of the community. The great mass of the taxes is
paid by the labourers; they contribute most also to the
trade, commerce, and general wealth of the country,
while one-half of them have barely the means of exis -
tence, and thousands at present are pining away for want
of the necessaries of life. This is an anomalous and dan-
gerous
osntsaitdeeorfatsronieoTourie-ciNuvehailntify lawgivers.

SUMMARY
DOF NEWS
AN
public eptuton.

" Who runs may read."

FOREIGN.
A majority of-forty-one Totes in the Chamber of
Deputies has negatived the question of the extension of
the suffrage in France. The Paris Journals are full of
the subject. The Journal des Debats thus proclaims the
triumph of the Cabinet :—" The result of the debate
must have confounded many hopes, and deranged many
intrigues. It was evident that the Opposition considered
itself pretty sure of a victory ; we know not hoo- they.
will attempt to explain their defeat. The pretence which
they have so frequently set up of the absence of a certain
number of its Members is now too old to be repeated, and
the Chamber wus, perhaps, never more numerous than
it was yesterday. Our anticipations have been realised.
A majority of 41 on a question in which the Conserva-
tive majority was reduced to its own strength is a signi-
ficative result."

The Presse pays the same homage to the eloquence of
M. Guizot as the Debuts, and expresses its regret at the
support given by M. de Lamartine to the proposition of
M. Ducos. It blames M. de Lamartine for applying ar-
guments for the necessity of reform to the support of a
measure so narrow and ill-conceived as that of M. Dims,
and says, that the Chamber in refusing to take it into
consideration his not intended fo close the door for ever
against useful, rational, progressive reform.
The Constitutionnel says:—" General expectation has
been disappointed. The prise en consideration of the
proposition of M. Ducos has been rejected by 234 votes
to 193. This result afflicts us profoundly ; not because
it was of much importance to us whether the Ministry
received a check or not, fur M. Guizot had expressly de-
clared that whatever might he the result of the ballot,
the Cabinet would not resign; because a decision in
favour of the proposition would have been a concession
to public opinion, and would have raised the character
of the Chamber and of representative government in the
estimation of the country. Ministers, however, have
carried the day, and the decision will not be gratifying
to them alone. The factions_ against whom M. Guizot
yesterday pronounced his eternal philippic, will rejoice
as he does at the result. Partial reforms are not what
they want; it will answer their purpose much better to
see satisfaction withheld from the demands of the country.
The Courrier Francais is very violent against the Mi-
nistry, and in particular against M. Guizot. This
Journal says it is quite evident that no satisfaction will
be given to public opinion by the present Chamber of
Deputies, and therefore it calls upon the Opposition to
organise their force well for the next general election.
" M. Guizot will certainly," says the Courrier, " employ
corruption and intimidation on the most extensive scale.
No scruple will, assuredly, be allowed to restrain either
him or his colleagues or his agents."
The Carlist Quotidienne observes :—" We felt for a
moment a movement of indignation which we cannot
describe, when we heard M. Guizot, branded its he is
With his apostacies, audaciously insulting adversaries who
would be despicable in their opinion, if they had not for
him the repulsiveness with which he inspires all honour-
able men ; but, under the effect of his emphatic but
empty speech, in spite of the effrontery of falsehood in
his argument, and of his ardent notice of the most silly
passions of parties, the majority remained silent and
cold ; it did not even reply to his humble supplications
by the modest murmur of applause, which is indicative
rather of consent of the will than of adhesion of the con-
science. We recalled to mind the words which were
once addressed to M. Guizot by the Debats—'You shall
have our support, but never our esteem,' and the only
feeling that AI. Guizot- excited in our mind was one of

- The France says, the power of the Government must
be very feeble, very slippery, to dread thus the slightest
fissure in the electoral edifice ; and intimates that, al-
though M. Guizot has been successful in the Chamber,
the Journals, which had power enough to raise the dis-
cussion there, will be much more powerful in their ap-
peals to the public at large.
The Temps, whilst it deplores the result of the motion
for taking into consideration the proposition of M. Ducos,
says that the speech of M. Guizot produced -a, deep im-
pression on the Chamber, and to this the Temps seems
to attribute the result that has been obtained:
" A treaty of commerce and navigation," says the
Courrier Francais, " has just been concluded between
France and Denmark. For a long time, the King- of
Denmark has manifested a desire of seeing the two
nations united in their interests, and it is to his solici.
tude that the bases of this treaty are due. The project
will shortly be communicated to the Chamber."
Perpignan letters state that the French Government
has forwarded three millions of francs to the frontiers of
Catalonia, for the purpose of encouraging the organiza-
tion of Christino guerillas-.
Since the Spanish Ministers obtained certain informa-
tion that attempts are making in Spain to get up
another conspiracy, aided by recent occurrences in Por-
tugal, one hundred alabarderos mount night guard
within the loyal Palace, commanded by their Captain-
General the Marquis de Yallehumbrosa, and the pre-
caution of not permitting the Queen's drives to extend
beyond the gates of the capital, are strictly adhered to.

PARLIAMENTAUY.
Lord Kinnaird last night, in the House of Lords, pre-
sented several petitions for the repeal of the Corn-laws,
and drew their Lordships attention to the great distress
which prevails at Paisley and other places.
Lord Campbell announced his intention of bringing
forward a Bill for the improvement of the jurisdiction of
the Privy Council.
In the Commons a great number of petitions were
presented for the abolition of the Corn-laws.
Lord Eliot gave notice that he will introduce a Bill to
legalize marriages by Dissenting ministers in Ireland,
on the 24th instant.

Idn
been
aly
atoet3ufarily Buller,sentenced to death in Ireland for
killing a goat, but he was set at liberty by the Govern-
ment. The Noble Lord promised to introduce a Bill to
abolish the ancient law under which the man was sen-
tenced to death.

Mr. Wakley read a letter from the late Lord Pre-
sident Hope,stating, honourably to Mr.Wakley, that as he
appeared to have acted on public grounds, the Lord
President informed him that during eleven years he
had been absent from only three jury trials. Sir
Robert Peel added, that the Lord President had not
applied to him in 1834-5, to be released from his duties.
Mr. Fox Maule made a proper apoplogy for his error.
The Speaker would not allow Mr. Milner Gibson to
read a declaration from his constituents, signed by
20,000 persons, against Sir Robert Peel's plan.
On the Belfast Election petition, which involves a
question of privilege, as it was signed by a Peer, it was
settled that the petition having been received by the
House, it had no option but to refer the petition to the
General Election Committee. Mr. Thesiger thereupon
withdrew his motion, and the petition was referred.
On going into a Committee on the Corn-laws, Mr.
Villiers brought forward his motion for the total repeal
of all duties on corn, and the House was occupied with
that subject the remainder of the evening. A consider-
able number of Members spoke, but- none of much
weight, except the mover Mr. Leader and Mr. Bro-
therton made good speecles. At twelve o'clock the
debate and the House were loth adjourned.
Rill assert
h i
his
motion, its potency.
h alis e only
PUBLIC OPZNION.
The Post is angry with Mr. Roebuck for his late
speech in the Commons, observing, " this gentleman, like
others of his sect, fancies himself a thinker. He affects
to scorn authority, and professes to try all institutions,
and all systems of opinion, by their conformity with cer-
tain first principles. Yet Mr. Roebuck is all the while
merely moving in a eircle'of chalk—a circle described by
Bentham and Bentham's t upils."
The Advertiser is of opinion that the present political
crisis is an awful one, and. adds, " it is not the fate or for-
tune of one class or section of the people that is menaced
with mortal damage ; it is the fate or fortune of the
country itself—of her people
occupations. We much mistake th• character of English-
men,of all classes, and of all
assisted
if the time has not now arrived when Nature's first
law, self-preservation,
The Herald insists that Lord John Russell, so far
from assisting his party 7
to bring forth the strength of the Ministry. " Messrs.
Villiers, Cobden, and C 0.," pursues our Contemporary,
little-go this " are to be permitted to have their
of
even-
ing, for the satisfaction of their confederatest_Ministerialthe
League; but the important debate
proposition, and on those principles which. shall govern.
practical legislation on the Corn-law, is over.
present wit the late
The Times, comparing the
owing effect :—"Th
Ministry expresses itself to the following e
late Ministry had no strength, except what they derived
from the support of men of extreme opinions, pur
chased by a subservienq to party views and party pur-
poses. Steady moderation was a phrase which had no
place in their system ; their Government was a com-
pound of humiliating dependence and insolent defiance.
The present Ministry, on the contrary, are characterised
by a rejection of all extreme views, of whatever kind.
They are the champions of no particular interests, though
they may decline to sacrifice them.
The.,Chronicle says :---‘, How miserably has the Right
Honourable Baronet floundered in trying to produce a
cause to serve as a feasible substitute for the Corn-law,
in accounting for the distress of the country ! Mr.
Hastie, the Member for Paisley, on Wednesday night
made sad havoc with some of his causes. In fact, he
convicted Sir Robert of nearly as great ignorance of the
true state of things in accounting for our commercial
distress, as he had formerly displayed when denying
its existence."
The Wilts Independent observes of Sir Robert Peel :-
1 "He has placed himself in a most unenviable position—
he has pleased no one. He has broken faith with those
who looked upon. the present Corn-laws as something
sacred, and on himself as their sworn champion ; he has
disappointed the Whigs—the fixed duty men—and he
has done any thing but throw oil on the troubled waters
.o/ total repeal. He is like the old man and his ass--in
trying to please every one, he has pleased no one ; and
it will be well, if, like his prototype, he do not lose his
beast of burden."

The Derby Reporter thus alludes to the Ministerial

Corn-law measure :—" Nothing can exceed the dissatis •
faction which the proposal has excited in all places and
with all people. The very journals of the Tories
trumpet it into popularity with their own party—the Li-
her.]: prosB is unanimous in discountenancing the trea-
chery. No one believes for a moment that this is the
settlement of a great question ; even the Tries accept it
simply as a first instalment: Lord John Russell's
amendment may not be successful now—but a concession
has been made, an impulse has been given to the party
which demands an entire repeal of the Corn-laws."
The following is from the Sherbourne Journal :—" We
think that Sir Robert Peel has acted with as much libe-
rality, if not more, than he could with safety ; but we
infinitely prefer Lord John Russell's proposal for a fixed
duty, because, whilst it offers a protection to the agricul-
turist, it opens a new clittnnel for our manufacturing in-
dustry, and it would lead to the lands being let at corn
rents, and under fair and reasonable leases."

The Cork Southern Reporter has the follow ing- obser-
vations, suggested by the recent debate :—" The English
people carried the Tories into power ; and, in the midst
of unheard of distress, waited calmly and patiently fur
the promised redress from their favoured Minister. They
have been disappointed ; and they are now about to
commence the agitation in good earnest, but, unhappily,
at a time when Sir Robert Peel, protected by the majo-
rity which the people gave him, may aflbrd to laugh at
their threats and demonstrations ; and when the Duke of
Welling:on, entrenched within so secure a protection, may
once more, with scornful defiance, call their meetings and
their conferences " useless farces."