The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-12 00:00:00

own t 7Zilittion

SUN OFFICE Three o' Clock.

From the time of King JOHN to the preset.t.
day, monopolies have been the bane of this coun-
try. In the more early ages the Sovereigns
granted exclusive privileges to deal in
certain articles, to Court favourites, or sold
them to companies to raise money for their pri-
vate uses. What the Sovereigns in those days
did, has, to a certain extent, been continued by
the Legislature. Without adverting to those re-
strictions on trade, and that class legislation
which benefit a few to the injury of the great
body of the public, we may state, that within the
last fifty years more monopolies have been esta-
blished by Acts of Parliament, than during any
similar period in any former reigns. We have
water monopolies, gas monopolies, railroad mo-
nopolies, and twenty others, which, though placed
under certain restrictions, cause nearly as great
inconvenience, and levy as exorbitant profits, as
those established by the most needy Monarchs.
We hear from almost every quarter of the me-
tropolis loud complaints against these evils.
The inhabitants of Lambeth complain of the
water monopolists, who have conspired, as they
assert, but who certainly from being bitter rivals
have become good friends, and laid their heads

together to fleece the public. These complaints
are re-echoed by the populous and extensive
borough of Marylebone, which, it would ap-
pear, is fleeced by the gas monopolists, they
also having found it convenient to form a friend-
ship at the expense of their customers.
In the eastern parts of the metropolis,

too, the same grievances existed to such
an extent that the trades people were compelled
in self-defence to establish associations, in order
to put down the monopoly. Thus, there are three
or four companies who have each been at the
same expense (that ultimately falling on the con-
sumers) in constructing works of great magnitude
for the supply of gas and water, which one, if
properly regulated by Act of Parliament, could
have done equally well, and at much less ex-

pense. Railroads, too, may be said to be great
monopolies. A road that costs some ten millions
sterling, is in little danger of a rival, even if
Members of Parliament were sufficiently virtuous
to forego their selfish interests, and grant other
companies a charter for a competing line.
It is needless to say that these corn-
panies are placed under certain restrictions,
as to the charges per mile, and the convenience
of passengers; for it is well known that Acts of
Parliament are easily evaded, and that a coach
and four, in the words of Mr. O'CONNELL, may
be driven through the best of them. No one
can grudge ample remuneration to those enter-
prising companies who have established such
magnificent national works as the Great Western
and Birmingham Railways ; but is it reasonable
or just that they should have the power of
charging rates which raise the shares to 100 per
cent. premium? That, however, is not the least
evil, for, from the partiality of secretaries and
managing directors, facilities and favours are
given to one class to the prejudice of others.
Loud and • just complaints were made
against, the Birmingham Railway direction, if
we recollect right, by a carrying company, on
the ground that it was not allowed the same pri-
vileges granted to a rival concern. If this is done
in one instance, it may be done in fifty, and
render these great highways the most dangerous
monopolies ever established in any country.
We will give a proof. The proprietors of rival
newspapers are anxious to send expresses
by rail way, but the one that bids highest,
or has Shares in the company, or has

some other means of procuring a preference, is
enabled to outstrip all the rest. No Act of Par-
liament can prevent this, fbr there is an infinite
variety of methods, which cannot be provided

against, for effecting the object of the monopo-
list. The managing director can refuse a special
train, or if he grants it, can interpose delays, pur-
posely intended, so as to suit the arrangements of
the favoured party. This is a grievance for which
a special remedy is required. Railroads have

driven all coaches off the road. They were in-
tended by Parliament for the benefit of the
public, and if preference of this kind is continued
Parliament will be justified (and will carry a
measure to that effect, too), in disfranchising, or,
if we may coin a word, in dischartering all corn-
.

panies which do not allow their lines of railroad
to be as free and open as the Queen's highway.
What Parliament gave it can take away, on good
cause being shown that any company has
abused its powers, and perverted a system, which
was intended fbr the benefit of all, to party pur-
poses, or, what is worse, to the pecuniary ad-
vantages of the more venial directors.

There are signs in sundry places of much
uneasiness under the Income-tax, though they
are not so numerous as we would wish them to
be. They would be, however, with efficient
help, enough to make the Ministry, uneasy,
There can be no doubt too that the landowners
and farmers, who are suffering very much, and
many of whom attribute their sufferings to the
Ministry, would readily join with the inhabitants
of towns to put down the Income-tax. On this
subject all the tax payers have a common in-
terest. But the people want leaders. There is
uo Anti-Income-tax League. There is no for-
midable opposition, desirous of exposing the
errors of PEEL, and occupying his place. All
our great Parliamentary men have been so care-
less of the public expenditure, and they delight
so much in a large revenue, that while they
think they may have to administer that, both
shame and hope will keep the Whigs from taking
an active part in getting up opposition to the
Income-tax.

If any stir were visible in the country for an
object which they could take part in, and which
would serve their purposes, the Whig agents
and hangers-on, scattered through every town
in the kingdom, would soon be set in motion,
and public meetings would rouse the whole com-
munity to a due sense of whatever injustice it
was thought fitting to complain of. It is at pre-
sent, however, a public misfortune that the
wishes and wants of the public and the de-
signs of politicians, whether in opposition or in
the minority, do not harmonise. There is
no union betwixt them, and though the
country has been in a worse condition during the
last twelve months than for many years befbre,
there have been no public meetings to which the
leading statesmen of the day have lent their
countenance, or given their support. The people
are Chartists, Complete Suffragists, Anti-Corn-
law Leaguers, Monopolists, Dissenters, Church
Extensionists, &c., &c., while our politicians are
Whigs and Tories, and seem to have lost many
of the sympathies, and weakened their connexion
with the people.

Even that most durable of all connexions, the
tie between landlords and tenants, is becoming
very feeble. They no longer have the same
political views. Throughout the country the
tenants feel that they have been sacrificed to,
and by, the landlords, and they have ceased to
hearken to them as oracles whichit would be im-
pious to doubt. The unenfranchised say that
they have been sacrificed to the ten-pounders,
and between them and the middle classes, to
whom they used to look for their political opinions,
there is even more estrangement than between
landlord and tenant. It has become in fact, ob-
vious to all that the interest of each class is the
parent of its opinions; mistrust and jealousy
have taken the place of confidence, and no one
class will any longer take another for its guide.
This general rule extends to statesmen, who
are the expounders rather of their own indivi-
dual opinions than of the opinions of a party.
The Peelites, Melbournites, Stanleyites, or Rus-
sellites'are each amazingly few ; and the man at
now rather borne with
he head of the Ministry is

from the opinion that society would fall into dire
confusion without a Government, and that he is
the only person who can at present administer
our affairs, than because the public coincides
with his opinions or regards him as infallible.
There is not a single journal which heartily sup-
ports him, and not an individual who swears by
him or who does not, though nominally one of

is party, continually attack his opinions and

fis measures. That the persons complaining of
the Income-tax are without leaders, therefore,
only one instance of the general state of poli-
tical decomposition in which society finds itself.
For those who hate the Income-tax, the lesson

this circumstance teaches is, that they must help
themselves. They must plan something like an
Anti-Income-tax League; they must appeal to
farmers, tradesmen, and landlords for support;
they must establish committees and societies in

different places; and if they cannot get up the
steam themselves, we can venture to assure them
that they will receive no aid from any party
politicians. Both Whigs and Tories are too
desirous of a large revenue—the former are too
sensible that their proceedings gave a colourable
pretext to the Income-tax, and the latter are too
eager to appropriate it—for either of them to
take an active part in proposing its repeal. If
the tax payers cannot accomplish that object,
themselves, they will probably have to bear the
tax for the whole three years.

Madrid journals of the 3d and 4th inst. hav*
been received. Those of the Opposition in ge
ral censure the letter of the English Consul for
refusing to receive Spanish refugees on board
English ships at Barcelona, though he had.
offered a reception to other foreigners. We can-
not see any good grounds of complaint against
such a principle. Are Republicans, and Chris-
tinos, and Carlists to be encouraged to harass
the-established Government, by promises of pro-
tection when unsuccessful ? This would be hold-
ing out an inducement to rebel. The following
is a portion of the Consul's letter on the subject
to General VAN HALEN :

Your Excellency having replied that you .could
not extend the delay granted beyond the morning of
the 4th, I ordered immediately the English vessels to
hoist their flags, and to prepare for the reception
of English subjects, and also that of the subjects
of other foreign Powers who might seek an
asylum. At the same time I issued severe orders
that no Spaniard should be admitted, and I have
delivered no passport or granted the slightest pro-
tection to any of the subjects of her Catholic
Majesty. In replying, therefore, to the dispatch of your
Excellency of this day's date, and which I have this in-
stant received through the French Consul, I assure your
Excellency that I shall rigorously maintain the same
neutrality if any English vessel should enter this pert,
believing, as I do, that if I were to grant the protec-
tion of the British flag to any of the insurgents I
should be guilty of an act of hostility against the
Government to which my Sovereign has accredited me.
(Signed) " JOIIN ESTRORY PELENCORE.
"Barcelona, Nov. 26."

At Madrid the Three per Cents. were done on
the 2d at 21i for cash, and at 21 at GO days;
and the Five per Cents. at 261 for cash, and 26-
at
60 days. On the 3d the Three per Cents. were
done at 24 11-16 for cash, and 22 at 60 days;
and the Five per Cents. at 261 for cash, and-26i
at 60 days.

•
We have received intelligence from Lisbon to
the sth inst., brought by the Royal Tar steamer.
There had been dreadful gales on the coast of
Portugal, by which two English vessels were
driven on shore. On the 26th ult., at Pedras
Negras, 25 miles south of Figneira, the ship
Chatham, SARGENT, Master, from London to
Sidney with a general cargo and ten passengers,
was stranded, and three seamen with two pas-
sengers perished. The barque Wexford, from
Newport to Malta, with coals, ran ashore inside
the bar of St. Übes, crew all saved. Hopes
were entertained of saving the cargo of the Chat-
ham; but it was very doubtful whether either of
the two vessels could be got off.

The municipal elections at Lisbon and Oporto
had terminated in favour of the Government;
and throughout the districts of Douro and Aveiro
the general result, it was believed, would be
the same.

The Paris Moniteur of Saturday announces the
capitulation of Barcelona in the following dis-
patch, addressed to the French Government :
PERPIGNAN, DEC. 6.—Accounts from Perthuis, re-
ceived this morning, state that Barcelona capitulated
the day before yesterday. The inhabitants of Girona,
who were marching on Barcelona, returned home on
hearing the news. There are neither letters nor pas-
sengers from Barcelona.
This result has been foreseen for some days,
for a more wanton and ilbadvised outbreak, or one
exciting so little sympathy throughout Spain, and
even Europe, has never taken place in that coun try.
The telegraphic dispatch received at Paris on
Thursday, and published in The Sun on Satur-

day, announcing a general rising in Catalonia,
has turned out, as we suspected, a shameful stock-
jobbing affair. It bore on its face evident marks
that it was of French manufacture, and was not en-
titled to the slightest credit, yet it has answered
its purpose. The intelligence published in a
Government paper caused great alarm at Paris,
and occasioned a fall of per cent. in French
Stock, and in Spanish Five per Cents. This is
disgraceful conduct on the part of the French
authorities. The telegraph is now used, not for
conveying speedy and authentic intelligence,
but as an instrument for depressing or raising the
funds. The Government must be aware of this
from the false, or at least greatly exaggerated
accounts, transmitted to Paris from Marseilles
and the Spanish frontier, and as they still allow
their agents—officers, we believe, of the army—
to retain their situations and delude the public,
we can only infer that some of them have good
reasons for keeping up this nefarious system.
The bombardment of Barcelona commenced at
eleven on the morning of the 3d, lasted all the
day, and on the evening of the 4th inst. the
town capitulated. Next morning the troops
entered the place. It appears that in the course
of the first day (the 3d) 520 bombs were thrown
into the town, but no particulars are given of the
'damage done, or the number of persons killed.
Some of the Liberal papers, and the Carlist
Quotidienne, blame the REGENT for having re-
course to this extremity. Though their remarks

are in general so extravagant and so unjustifiable
as to merit only contempt, we however give a
few extracts, to gratify the curiosity of our
readers. The Quotidienne infers that ESPARTERO
was induced by the British Ambassador to bom-
bard Barcelona, in order that the only manufac-
turing town in Spain might be exterminated:—
The explanation of Espartero's implacable conduct
may probably be found (says this rabid journal) in
certain rumours afloat at Madrid, and which appear
exceedingly likely. According to a letter in the
Courrier de la Gironde, it was stated at Madrid that
Mr. Aston had urged the Government to display the
greatest severity agai4ist Barcelona, and even to de-
stroy that town, if it dared to resist. We can con-
ceive the great interest of England to exterminate the
only manufacturing town in Spain, the products of
which offer such an obstacle to the mercantile ambi-
tion of British subjects.

The National has the. following :
The bombardment of Barcelona is not merely a
fault, it is a crime, and we are not surprised that this
crime has caused the whole of Catalonia to rise. We
should not be astonished if the insurrection were to
gain the other provinces, and become general. Why
did the Regent quit his usual place of residence ?
What was the use of his presence, if, when he arrived
before Barcelona, he was to conceal himself behind his
Generals and his Ministers, enveloping himself in Iris
glory like an Olympian Jove, and playing the ridi-
culous game of representative sovereign ?
The Commerce asks—
- - - - -

What are the causes of this new and redoubtable
episode ? Could the Regent have avoided it ? These
are questions which ulterior information will enable
us to answer, no doubt. At present wa do not
hesitate in declaring, that, if Espartero, by his impla-
cable threats, his refusal to give guarantees, or
at least to show some signs of clemency or modera-
tion, has driven the Barcelonese to desperation, he has
committed an enormous, and perhaps an irreparable
fault.
•

The Courier Francais, an ultra-Liberal jour-
nal, is equally severe on the REGENT, and as a
matter of course, implicates England in the

affair:—

The' dispatches which the Government has re-
ceived from Spain are of the gravest character. The
inhabitants of Barcelona, who were treating with the
Regent, and to whom Espartero dictated too severe

conditions, refused to submit. The Regent, in place
of reducing them, as he might easily have done by a
bldckade, has come to the rigorous and deplorable
determination to bombard this populous city. There
are occasions where a government ought to avoid
urging to the last extremity the execution of the
laws. It is a sad renown for the first Magistrate of a
country to strew the soil with the smoking ruins of a
town which had raised him to the steps of the throne. ,
The Regent ought to have shown himself the more
humane in repressing this revolt from the knowledge
of it 3 having been provoked by a national sentiment.
The project of introducing English cottons into
Spain was the first cause of this fermentation, and -
the appearance of English vessels before Barcelona
increased the indignation of the people. At present,
if the telegraphic news be true, alt Catalonia has risen.
The Presse thus attacks England and the
French Ministers :
While France has thought only of saving Spanish
emigrants of all parties, England brings cannon and
gunpowder to ruin the industry of Catalonia. And
yet, notwithstanding all this, the French Ministry,
that it may dispense with taking a part against this
odious invasion by England, labours to disguise its
existence. God grant that this unfortunate business
of Barcelona may be shortly brought th an end, for,
if it last only a little while longer, it will give birth
to some terrible questions.
The Journal des Debats and the Constitu-
onnel abstain from all comment. We admit
that the bombardment of the city was a measure
4 severity, and ought to have been avoided, it
possible. But if the Barcelonese refused
to yield
!hat could ESPARTERO do? He had not ships
to blockade the place by sea, and he could not
grant an amnesty to men who had killed souse
500 of his troops, for no assignable awe'
Delay, too, might be dangerous and after
all, it is extremely probably that no
great
injury was done to the town. The REGENT
too, has already shown his leniency by per-
mitting those implicated to quit the country-
" We learn," says the Constitutionnel,
"that the
REGENT had formally declared to the authori-
ties of Barcelona, that he would permit the
nper-
sons compromised in the revolt to withdraw 11.°
the vengeance of the laws by quitting Spain't.lo.
r
consequence of this declaration a great number
of persons, amongst others the President o
Directing. Junta, MANUAL CAnsv, had left naTr:
celona, and retired to the French territory•
is difficult to make this account square With the
bombardment, and yet it cannot be well doubteu,
since the intelligence of the arrival of the rf
fugees at Perpignan has been received, and, °f
their having been sent to Clermont-Ferrand.
;ull
We shall be able, we hope, to give the
particulars of this unfortunate affair to-morrow•
The French papers contain no domestic news
of importance.
BOURSE—PARIs, SATURDAY; DECEMBER 10.
Priceb.s
Price. Price. Price.
French Five per Cents. 119 55... 119 60... 119 55... 119 25
First Highest Lowest La.s.t
Threes, ex div. 79 20... 79 20... 79 10... 79
3340 r A
Four per Cents. 101 25... 101 25 .. 101 25... 101
00
Bank of France 3340 —3340 —.3340 ••
Latlitte Bank 1,0001-1057 50 —1057 50-1057 50—.1°57 ';()
Belgian Bank 807 50... 807 W... 807 50... 80,,,7
Belgian Fives 1034 1034 1034 ..•
1840 1044 ... 1044 ... 10-14 ••• "0314/ 101!
Spanish Active. . ..„, 234 235 235 ••• #llO
Portuguese Fives 32 ... 32 ... 315 "• 10
Neapolitan, ex div lO7 10... 107 10... 107 10... I,°•
Roman, ... 1045 ... 1045 ... 104 ••• 10

AILWAY SHARE.
St. Germain ... ...... R 378 50... 842 50..5. 837 50... 842
5o
50,.
270 ... 270 ... 267 Versailles, R.B ..,9
5 50... •-. 0
L.B B5 ... 97 50... 85 ••• 645
Rouen
Orleans.... 615 ... 615 ... 615 ..• 615

LLOYD'S SHIPPING—(THIS DAT
LONDON, DEC. 12.—Wind this day at noon, S." g
light airs, and hazy.
DEAL, DEC. 11.—Wind E.—Arrd. Marquisßute
tt,
Lamont, Calcutta. Arrd. from the River, Bunt,
,
Maria, St. Helena; Elma, Monte Video; G°l' , .
Fleece, Pernambuco; Isabella, Demerara.
o S.? •
PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 11.—Wind E.S.E. t
fresh breezes.—Arrd,, Alcyon, I Sahlactuer, Mazatlan;
for Harnburgh ; Noma, Shields, for Sierra Leone;
her Majesty's ship .Cambridge, Plymouth; ne'fi
Todd, Rio Janeiro, Sld. Sappho, China. Arrd.
Switzerland, Chadwick, New York. i.
SOUTHAMPTON, DEC. 11.—Arrd. Royal Tar earner
with the Mediterranean mails. Sid. Montrose steini
for Gibraltar.
PLYMOUTH, DEC. 11.—Wind E.S.E. to S.S.I.
Arrd. Tory, Lakey, Quebec ,_• Her Majest4s 6';lrP.
Thunderer, Eastward. Arrd. off, Castries, Clarb-e+
,
Lucie
DEC. 11.—Wind E.S.E. , fresh West
FALMOUTH,
and squally.—Sld. City of Glasgow steamer for
oD.Ec(iuleOen.
Indies.
Iv ERP
L
moderate.—Arrd.—Wind- Victoria, S
being ashore ; David Carnegie, Hillman, Chili ; Gc.or&
IV., Brownless, Bahia, sailed Oct. 22 ; AmittY' Little,
Honduras ; Lancashire, Lyon, Savan"ab
rd, _
pernerara :
Robert Benn, Bombay ; Isabella, Thorpe,
Zeno, Jamaica ; Gossipmen and Hope,ew Orleans.
F. Depare and Caledonia, Savannah ; za Warwtelc,
Charleston. Sld. Tartar Mobile; Guntra7 singapore
~ofmoderate.--11
Cantab, La Guaym ; Amelia, Trinidad°. ehee ;
Diiblin, der
DUBLIN, DEC. 9.—Arrd. St. Lawrence, Qu
Dublin Bay, Naparina, Wilson,
Oditto. tsollo
Kober
ANGER.—Arrd. The John 'Gaunt,
Liverpool in 92 days. hence
hencerears
GALWAY, DEC. 9.—The Factor, Elliott,
London, which was ashore at Kenmore poi
been got off without damage, and will proceed. .
__.
KINSALE, DEC. 8.-Sld. Lord Sandon Charlestem
HULL, DEC. 10.—S1d. Eliza Keith, dobile.
OFF FALMOUTH, DEC. 9.—Florence, Madeira.
JERSEY, DEC. 9.—Arrd. Damon, Gaspe. for salt
OFF THE GALLOPER.—Isabella, Bremen,
YorYk. A trti'
ARMOUTH ISLE OF WIGHT, DEC. -.---
Apollo, Grenada.
Surinam'DARTMOUTH, DEC. B.—Sld. Amphitrite,
Brazilian, Port-au-Prince Arrd. off, Mali's' Clarke
OFF PENZANCE, DEC. 9.—Anglicania, A, ;
Quebec; Pegasus, Schaffer, Para, for Hobo*
Ernst Gustaf, Beurman, Virginia, for J3rercea,._, • pl.
BRISTOL, DEC. 10.—Arrd. Lune, Miramiefa
or
Eliza, Warwick, Virginia. Waters, f
OFF MARGATE, DEC. B.—Leontine,
Nn
New Orleans; Andromache, Odessa. r ige'
COWES, DEC. 11 .—Arrd. Louise Fredericka,
H lavannah. c. .• gel"
OFF PORTLAND, DEC. 6.—Erfprinses oop.i,a
. las, Batavia, for Amsterdam
IN THE CHANNEL, DEC. 10.—Arrd. Monsoon'
lett,-New Orleans, for Antwerp. Sew'
MILFORD, DEC. 10.—Arrd. Ebenezer, FOY' ff St.
port, for Southampton, having been in conta Landono_
Gowan's Head. The George Watson, for ing
is reported to have taken the ground' in dropping
down the River, but had been got oft. ~,; Crag,
KINGSTOWN, DEC. 10.—Arrd. Cynt...s,
Demerara; Constitution, Wilson, Quebec.u.„ e"
LIMERICK, DEC. 9.—Arrd. China, Que''-sew'
LOCHINDAIL, DEC. s.—Arrd. British Queen,
foundland. -
from London to Sydney, New South Wales' d, the
at San Pedro on the 26th ult., haS been saveosed
FIGUERA, DEC. I.—Part ofthe cargo of the Cliaitellavend
vessel is nearly full of water. A vessel, saPtPcieared
brig, was seen on the 29th ult., diSinaSted, hilt
with a
the coast. the, 13'iv'r.
It is blowing strong from on the • ~
heavy sea on the coast, and a heavy fresh
Iter NM
ST. ITBES, DEC. 3.—The Wexford, Tong a. gale
Newport to Malta, in entering this port ,i,u,„ Ear, an
harbo- concor-
29th ult., struck on a sandbank inside "'" dre
iir, an
was driven on the rocks outside the
mains fast ; crew and materials saved. The hid, put
dia, Permantier, from hence to St. ITheso ws„rveyea,
back to this port 26th ult., leaky, has been led,
and is discharging to repair ; cargo (fruit) spjj ate
wking,
oi
CADIZ, DEC. 2.—The Jane and Mary,
gelfrom Seville to London, was driven ashore
westward of San Lucca de Barrameda during a e
a l_
25th ult., but is expected off; cargo (oraug°s)
charged.

BRUSSELS, DEC. B.—A letter from Bruges, 0f tile
says—" This morning, between two and: three
o'clock, during a thick fog, the fine Bel
the Antwerpen ,Captain Jackson, coming from London,
and bound for Antwerp, ran aground a league An!
half to the west of Blankenburge ; it had thirty 133,';
sengers and a cargo of merchandise. Front
to eatv
hour in the morning cries were heard, but the fog
gian steamer,
was so thick that it could not be ascertained precisell.
where the vessel was. At noon it was perceive Blau
the coast to be a steamer. A fishing-boat from
kenburge rendered important assistance to Captaill,
Jackson. After taking on board the anchors and
chains, to lighten the vessel, it greatly contributed to
relieve it from its dangerous situation. The Ant-.
werpen could not be removed till high water.
K I ARNOCK.—A rumour has been put into cireu-
lotion here, once and again, that it was the intention
of our worthy Member, Alex. Johnston Esq., to re:
sign the representation of the Kilmarnock District of
Burghs. We are able, on the best authority, to con-
tradict this statement, the wish is father to the
thought, and to state for the satisfaction of his friends,
and the discomfort of his opponents, that lie still pur-
poses taking his seat next session of Parliam
Ayr Advertiser.
We understand that Lieutenant-General Sir Mali'
rice Charles O'Connell, K.C.H., commanding
fore( ai n New South Wales, is to succeed to the
lonelcy of the 81st Regiment, vacant by the decease
of the late Lieutenant-General Sir John Waters!
United Service Gazette.