The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-26 00:00:00

UNITED STATES.

LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
We have Boston papers of the sth inst., by the
Concordia, arrived to- day.
The President's message had little or no effect on
the Boston Stock Exchange or markets.
The Boston Atlas thus alludt s to it :
" We suspect, from a hasty perusal of the docu-
ment, that it will not turn out to be sufficiently belli-
cose on the Oregon question, to suit the taste of the
rampant war loco focos of the west—and we ver3lmuch
doubt whether the frigid acknowledgment, that there
is a manufacturing interest in the country, which
deserves some incidental encouragement from the
Government, will be quite in accordance with the
views of Mr. Polk's South Carolina supporters.
" If the Whigs in Congress do their duty fully
and faithfully, as we have no doubt they will, we
think there is little danger of any essential change
in the tariff of 1842—and we think there need be
no very serious apprehensions of any war opera.
tions, for a year at least, upon the Oregon question.
We are rather inclined to the opinion that Mr.
Polk, and his peculiar adherents, have pretty much
made up their minds to be satisfied with ' the spoils of
office'—and to let Oregon and the tariff take care of
themselves. It was incumbent upon him to say
something on these questions—and he has rid himself
of them as summarily as any loco foco President,
situated as he is, could well be expected to have done."
The New York Express says :—" The President's
Message is now spread before the public, and will be
extensively read. It will not be pretended that its
remarks in relation to Oregon are of the most pacific
character, nor will his views in relation to the tariff, or
Independent Treasury, or a change in the rates of post-
age, be received with
-much favourlby a large portion, of
the mercantile community. It appears that the con-
dition of the Treasury, up to the Ist of July last, was
in a very prosperous state. Its condition since that
period is not stated. We shall now have to wait until
the receipt of the secretary of the Treasury's re-
port for the present receipts and future prospect of
that important department. The commercial public
have so long been accustomed to look upon the Presi-
dent's message as a matter of course, and as the opi-
nim of an individual only, that it has long since
ceased to have much influence on the operations of in-
dividuals. If the course marked out by the Presi-
dent was to be pursued, very few merchants would
project any long voyages, particularly to India or the
Pacific Ocean, and yet we see that vessels are depart-
ing every day for those distant portions of the globe.
The insurance offices are taking these risks without
the least hesitation. These are strong indications as
to the feelings and the views of the merchants, as to
the belligerent tone of the message. It will take a
day or two for the stock-market to be affected—we
shall be very much mistaken, if the document in
question should make any serious impression on it."
The stock-market at New York closed on the
evening of the 4th, at fully as firm rates as before the
receipt of the message.

THE PRESS AND THE LEAGUE.
(From the Morning Advertiser.)
Mr. Cobden, and the chief speakers at the great
Manchester meeting, have been summing up the
vast machinery and increased power they possess by
their princely subscriptions, towards effecting the
repeal in the corn-laws. Let us see if there be not
another power, perhaps equally great, moving to
the same end, but riot by the same machinery. The
newspaper press of the kingdom is the public organ
as well as the public instructor. The masses sup-
port those journals generally that mirror their own
minds, hence the press may be said to reflect rather
than create public opinion. Such being the case, it
is an important, as well as a curious, inquiry, how
far the press indicates public opinion upon the tre-
mendous question to be brought before Parliament;
or, in other words, what are the relative numbers of
newspaper readers for or against the repeal ,of lithe
corn-laws, as proved by the last return to the House
of Commons of the stamps issued to each. We
may premise that, in adopting this " last return,"
which extended to the 31st of December, 1843, we
are adopting a test of public opinion very far
below that which a return made at this moment would
furnish, if, as we consider very likely, other Liberal
journals have increased in circulation in a similar pro-
portion to the Morning Advertiser. Taking the cir-
culation, therefore, as it was just two years ago, we
find the following results :—ln the metropolis there
are five morning papers, classed in the Parliamentary
return as follows :—Advertiser, Chronicle, Herald,
Post, Times. Now, three of those journals, viz., the
Advertiser, Chronicle, and Times, are for repeal, and
two of them, the Herald and Post, against it. The
circulation was as follow :--
The three free-trade morning journals, per day,
30,561. The two monopolist morning journals, per
day, 8,327. Exhibiting a majority of nearly four to
journals
above of the readers of the free-trade morning
above the readers of the monopolist morninu journals.
There are four evening journals, classed as follows :
—Globe, Shipping Gazette, Standard, Sun. Three
of these, the Globe, Sun, and Shipping Gazette, are
for free trade ; the Standard for monopoly. The
following are the comparative numbers :
The three free trade evening journals per day 7,416
The one monopolist evening journal
Exhibiting a majority of free trade readers of con-
siderably more than two to one.
Of the weekly metropolitan papers, chiefly pub-
lished on Saturday and Sunday, we find the follow-
ing results:—
Fifteen free trade weekly journals, per
week (casting aside the units) .... ..... 214,000
Five monopolist journals (casting aside the
units) per week

Exhibiting a majority of free trade readers of more
than seven to one !
This last list does not include Punch, which, not-
withstanding its drollery, has rendered great and
good service to the cause of the people, or the
League, and Eonomist, which being the organs of
the League itself, may be said to come within its
machinery, rather than that of the separate and in-
dependent body of the metropolitan press, sustained
by the public voice.
iWe find now this grand result--
The morning journals, circulated chiefly in Lon-
don, though largely in the country, more than three
to one in favour of free trade.
The evening papers, circulated chiefly in the coun-
try, though largely in town, more than two to one
in favour of free trade.
The weekly journals, circulated about equally in
town and country, more than seven to one in favour
of free trade.
Of the provincial papers there appears to be nearly
a similar result.
We have taken all which are at, or above the cir-
culation of the lowest London morning paper, viz.,
the -Post.

There are eleven provincial papers, the circulation
of which equalled, or exceeded that of the Morning
Post, daily, viz. :—the Bristol Mercury, the Hamp-
shire Telegraph, the Leeds Mercury, the Leeds In-
telligencer, the Leeds Times, the Lincoln and Stamford
Mercury, the Liverpool Mercury, the Manchester
Guardian, the Manchester Courier, the Manchester
Times, the Newcastle Courant, and the Staffordshire
Advertiser. The whole of these journals, save the
Leeds Intelligencer and the Manchester Courier, are
for free trade. The result stands thus :
The nine provincial journals above the cir-
culation of the Morning Post, for free trade,
circulated weekly...
The only two provincial journals above the
circulation of the Morning Post, that are
against free trade, circulated weekly 11,347
Exhibiting more than four to one of newspaper
readers in the provinces, in favour of free trade.
We trust that these newspaper statistics will prove
that the mind of the nation is working to the same
result as the money and machinery. of the League,
and is, thank God, fully as encouraging.

IFAMINE 1N TURKEY.
CONSTANTINOPLE, DEC. 7.—The panic, which
this moment pervades so many countries of Europe,
on the subject of a scarcity of grain, has at length ex-
tended to Turkey. The Government, with the fear
of famine before its eyes, has just shut its ports, and
the foreign embassies, convinced, no doubt, of the
reality of the danger, have acquiesced in the prohibi-
tion, though, strictly speaking, opposed to treaty.
The demand for the English market had up to this
time been very extensive, but this source of supply
will now be completely cut off. The Turkish Go-
vernment, there can be no question, has acted very
prudently in imposing these restrictions, though it
may perhaps be accused of want of foresight in
neglecting to have done so before. The demand from
abroad, combined with its own operations in the
market, have had the effect of raising the price of
wheat from 16 to 27 piastres the kilogramme in
the conrse of six weeks. As a proof, however, that
this advance has been chiefly produced by the in-
creased demand fur home consumption, we may
observe that prices have not declined since the closing
of the ports was announced, but just the contrary.
The fact is that since the Government took the alarm
it has been buying corn with the greatest activity,
since it was discovered, all at once, that there was
not more than two months' supply for the garrison of
Constantinople in the public granaries. On being in-
formei of this the Sultan immediately commanded
that a provision should be made for eight months;
and as there was a deficiency of funds fbr this pur-
pose in the public treasury, he, with his usual bene-
ficence, advanced the greater part of the purchase
money from his privy purse. In the meanwhile the
apprehensions of a famine, which had at first been ex-
cited by the failure of the crops in Anatolia, have been
seriously confirmed by the sudden elevation of prices.
A :general cry of distress has been raised in the
provinces of Asia Minor and Syria, where the price
has risen to thirty piasters the kilo. ; and what
tends to aggravate the evil is the difficulty of trans-
port, in consequence of the badness, or rather the
complete want of roads. Owing to this circumstance
the population of some parts of the empire are pos-
sessed of superfluity, while that of others is perishing
from starvation. If we add to this, not only the
improvidence and apathy of local authorities, but in
many instances the cupidity which prompts them to
speculate on the public distress, we may have some
notion of the unmitigated horrors of a famine in
Eastern countries. At Mosul, for example, the
Pacha, who is of the true Tartar breed, has been
profiting by the advanced price of provisions, to make
a compulsory sale of some thousands of famished
sheep, which he insisted on the butchers taking at the
high market price. Rather than accept these tyran-
nical and ruinous offers, the whole corporation have
taken to their heels, or concealed themselves. The
Mussulman part of the population irritated by,
though not daring to resent the oppression of their
Pacha, had as usual vented their fury on the
Christians, who are in daily fear of another massacre.
For the correction of these abuses, as well as the
timely adoption of a policy suited to the emergencies
of the present crisis, financial, political, and agricul-
tural, the eyes of the public are now directed to
Reschid Pacha. We shall now, it is confidently ex-
pected, have something more substantial in the way
of reform than firmans and vizieral letters. These
things have long been laughed at by the governors of
provinces, and the marchings and countermarchings
of deputies and commissioners to and from the capital
have been attended with no practical results whatever.
A little wholesome severity, however, might do won-
ders, and Reschid Pacha, if we may judge from his
measures, when previously in office, is not the man to
overlook a specific so salutary.—Post.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster are
entertaining a large party at Eaton Hall. Earl Gros-
venor and the Noble Marquis's guests enjoy the sports
of the field daily.
Earl Granville, we are sorry to learn, continues
very much indisposed at his mansion in Bruton street.
Mr. George William Hope, M.P. for Southampton,
is about to resign the office of Under-Secretary for the
Colonies.

Tit a CALIFORNIAS.—LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY.—Ac-
counts from Vera Cruz to the 6th November, published
in the American journals received by the packet ship
Sea, Captain Freeman, report that the Special Minister
delegated by the Eecutive of the United States to nego-
tiate the arrangement of the difficulties existing between
the two countries had submitted the following proposi-
tions:-1. The Rio del Norte to be the boundary 2.
An indemnity or 5,000,000 dolls. 3. Upper California
to be ceded to the United States as far down
as the head of the Gulf ; the river Gila, which empties
into the Colorado of the west, to be the boundary.
These terms, it is stated, were under discussion in the
Mexican Senate.
NORFOLK RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—The unfortunate
fireman died yesterday afternoon, about two hours after
the accident occurred. His remains, as well as those of
the engineer, are now at Rolverstone, near Metford,
awaiting the Coroner's inquest. Both the men were
married, and resided at Ely. The engineer has left two
children, and the fireman one, with which his wife has
been confined only a fortnight. The passage of the
trains was interrupted yesterday after the accident, but
we believe the railway is again open.
ALARMING FIRE NEAR BERKELEY-SQUARE.—Last
night, shortly before nine o'clock, a fire, which at one
time threatened very serious consequences, broke out in
the premises occupied conjointly with Mr. Muff, a bird-
stuffier, and Mr. Cashmead, a hat manufacturer, at No.
29, Davies-street, B,rkelev-square, The first discovery
was made by police-constable 120 C, who saw smoke is-
suing from the area grating. An immediate alarm was
raised, and the inmates, who were in the upper part of
the building, were apprised of their danger. On reach-
ing the staircase, the smoke was ascending in such dense
volumes, and the heat was so oppressive, that had it not
been for the policeman keeping the doors closed until the
parties reached the street door, they must have been
burnt to death. Engines of the London Brigade, with
the one belonging to the County Office, and another from
Marylebone parish, promptly attended, as did also the
escape of the Royal Society for the Protection of Life
from Fire. An immediate and abundant supply of water
was obtained, from which the engines were set to work,
and, after labouring incessantly for an hour, the firemen
succeeded in extinguishing the flames, not, however,
until very serious damage had been done to the lower
and upper part of the building and its contents. The
origin of the disaster could not be learned.

Yesterday morning, according to annual custom,
the gifts of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland
were distributed amongst the poor of St. Martin-in-the-
Fields to the number of 800 poor men and women that
have not received parochial relief, and are members of
the Church of England. The donations were to each
man and woman 2s. 6d., 1 cwt. of coals, 56ibs. weight of
potatoes, 41bs. of bread; and to the females a new pair
of blankets and flannel petticoats. The applicants had
all a neat and cleanly appearance, and were provided
with tickets to obtain the charity , which was received in
the most grateful manner.
SHOCKING CRUELTY TO HORSES.—The Animals'
Friend Society, of 18, Strand, last week charged James
Lyon, who had been convicted before by the Society for
cruelty, with having hired a horse from Mr. Geddins,
the knacker, and worked it so that it fell exhausted
under its load, and, after lying a considerable time, was
barbarously battered to death by a number of unskilful
blows with the pole-axe, and the poor animal's back
being a mass of wounds. James Lyon, however, not
having been the driver at the time alluded to by the
complainant, Mr. Henry dismissed the case. The Society
also charged George Anson, at the Southwark Court,
with having very cruelly beaten a horse with the butt-
' end of the whip. The case was proved by W. Clarke,
Esq., and Anson was fined 10s. and costs.
ALARMING FIRE IN CIIEAPSIDE.—A fire of rather
an alarming character broke out, between the hours of
seven and eight on Christmas-eve, upon the extensive
premises belonging to Messrs. N. and T. H. Rolfe,
pianoforte-manufacturers and music-sellers, situate at
61, Cheapside, near Bow Church. It originated in the
first floor, occupied by Messrs. Lewis and Co., tailors.
When first discovered the flames had obtained a firm
hold of the pattern-room and its contents. The neces-
sary intelligence was promptly forwarded to the engine
stations, and in a very brief period two engines from
Watling-street, with a powerful body of firemen,
and Mr. Braid wood, the superintendent, arrived ; these
were quickly followed by other engines of the brigade
from the A, B, and D sections ; and also the West of
England engine and firemen, with Mr. Connorton.
There being, fortunately, an abundant stream of water
supplied by the New River Company, the brigade set to
work most vigorously, but a considerable time elapsed
before the firemen succeeded in entirely extinguishing
the fire. When that was accomplished it was found
that that portion of the premises in which the fire
began was burned out, and the contents destroyed. A
middle compartment, belonging to the same firm, is
likewise much damaged by cutting away, and the con-
tents of the stock-room are also severely damaged by
water and removal. A store-room, belonging to Messrs.
Rolfe, is seriously burnt, as well as the contents. The
attics and roof, with the skylights, are broken in, and
the valuable stock of pianos in the shop and other con-
tents are extensively damaged by water. As to the
origin of the fire nothing certain is known, but it is sup-
posed to have been caused by the gas-light in the pattern-
room coming in contact with the patterns. Messrs.
Lewis are insured in the Alliance office, and Messrs.
Rolfe are similarly protected by a policy in one or two
of the metropolitan offices.

WINDSOR, THURSDAY EVENING.—Her Majesty
and his Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by
the Ro3 al Family, will take their departure from the
Castle, for Buckingham Palace, according to present ar-
rangement, on Tuesday the 20th of next month, two
days before the meeting of Parliament, which will le
4(:lZet have) opened beenMajestyher tiiry ‘ar -iti person. Instructions to this
tlled to Buckingham Palace, in
order that the extensive alterations and embellishments
at the Sovereign's town residence, which have been for
ime time in progress, may be completed by that period.
A splendid baron of beet, weighing upwards of three
hundred pounds, was the principal dish, according to
usual custom on Christmas-day, at the palace upon the
royal banquet table at the Castle this evening.
DEATH OF SIGNOR GIUDILEI.—Signor Giubilei,
the vocalist, formerly of the Opera-house and Drury-
lane Theatre, died lately at Naples, where he had gone,
in hopes of improving his health, but: in consequence of
a second operation for the dropsy, he sunk under it, at
the residence of his sister.