The Sun.
London, England, 1827-12-17 00:00:00

•
" MINISTRY ur ~ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS

, AND „OF JUSTICE.
" It havinte reached the knowledge of her Mos,
Serene Highness the Infanta Regent that there are
in this city merchants, money-changers, and gold-
smiths, who purchase for snore than their; value the.
silver -crrisadoi naves, in ordefllß—exptirt them" froniA
the kingdom,, either in the shape of money, or melted
down and reduced to bars—while at the same time
they clip and throw again into circulation others, which
they find of greater weight; which acts are Rot only'
contrary to sound political economy, inasmuch as,
by those criminal and prohibited means, an ex-
haustion is caused of the circulating metal, of
which there has already Peen a great deficiency,
but which deserve the severest punishment, as
they commit, at the same time, a manifest rob-
bery on the nation and on individuals :.her moat
Serene Highness, in the name of the King, com-
mands that, without the least delay, you proceed' to
institute a competent inquiry, as the' laws require in
such cases—by not sparing any examinations or pro-
ceedings whatever which may be necessary for the
discovery of the delinquents, that they may be sen-
tenced and chastised with all the rigour which jus-
tice prescribes. Of the progress which may be ef-
fected by you in this important affair, in which her
Highness orders your greatest activity to be exer-
cised, as also of whatever may occur in regard to it,
you will, every four days, without fail, until its con-
clusion, giVe in a report to this Secretary of State's
Office,in order that it may be laid before her Most
Serene Highness.
" May God preserve you. "
" Palace of the Ajuda, Dec. 7, 1827.
(Signed) " JOSE FREIRE DE ANDRADE.
" Addressed to the Corregidor of Crime in the
district of Romulares, and to each of the Criminal
Magistrates of the other districts of the city."
This Dame has kept the Gaitlte office open all
day; but it is thought of no public utility—for,
though some few may be taken up on suspicion, it
cannot be put into effect against men of wealth,
when the whole corps of men connected with
justice have each their well-known price for shutting
their eyes and letting any criminal escape. There is
priedliictuieleelcoencennecotmedy hdyis
p*rihnocipprolesnooufnetheasts
some
displayed by
i t h tthhee
mknionrslteedrgNevhoof
d
fwrtratedat teh
ti sh
eDieecuree , os
cdi
eongerne,a toifc at lhl ye
breach of which they consider the Minister of Fi-
nance guilty. It sounds, too, rather odd indeed to.
hear a Minister say that the silver coin of the coun-
try was bought at more than its value.
I have been assured that this'Government, after
a variety of doubts and difficulties, have come to a
decision to issue a Decree, commanding the ..circula-
tion of the bank notes at the value of the. metal cur-
rency. Thus Portugal will be placed with, five sorts
of currency—two dpaper, and three of metal. The
two first are the Treasury notes, now Selling at 20
discount; Bank notes, at from one to two discount;
gold, which is now about 25 per cent. pfemium on
its original value : silver, which is about eight pre-
mium on its first issue; and copper, which may be
taken as the standard, as being the lowest denomina-
tion of circahiting medium, to which all the metals
arc reducible.
Thcro is a great variety of reports respecting the
time at which the Bank will resume its payments;
some think on Monday—others think later ;but there
is nothing but conjecture on the matter : all, how-
ever, agree in condemning this act of -the Bank Di-
rection, Which, it is said, is contrary to the specified
articles of the Charter. Some say that- this is a
speculation on the part of the Bank Directors to
lower their own notes and the Treasury notes in the
market, which their agents, who have a great quan-
tity of specie at command, may purchase at much
lessened price and send soon into the Bank at the
first value. If the Bank Direetors dared to form
such a speculation, they would merit hanging as
much as the infamous judges—for, while the latter
traffic in the sale of justice, the former would attempt
to profit by the sale of public honour, individual ho-
nesty, and commercial credit. That the -Bank Di-
rectors are ignorant and inexperienced is beyond
question ; but it is to be hoped that they are not
knaves into the bargain.