The Sun.
London, England, 1842-06-14 00:00:00

back. Rir R. Peel knows better than we do, that French
wines are already taxed in England to the amount of 400 per
cent., and that oar brandies pay the British Exchequer the
enormous tax of 700 per cent. It would be the extreme of
folly to aggravate such a condition of things, tinder the pre-
text that with us a manufacture just springing into existence
which we cannot do without--for could wa possibly give up
the cultivation of flax and hemp ? which evidently
wastes away under the competition of England, is about to
be protected by a ditty of from 15 to 20 per cent. in place of
10. A protection of 20 per cent. in such circumstances
ought to be considered rather as a testimony of our admira-
tion, for which the English manufacturers should thank our
Government. 20 per cent. ! Why, it is the minimum of the
English tariff ? England keeps up duties of from 20 to 30
per cent. to protect her cotton aad woollen manufactures,
in which she is without a rival, and she is astonished forsooth,
that we should endeavour to shelter our first attempts at listen
weaving by machinery, by a duty of 20 per cent. ! Were this
pretension put forward seriously—and we are confident that
such will not be the case—it would deserve to be treated with
severity. But whether it be serious or not, we repeat that
the determinatiOn of the Ministry is irrevocable. As to Bel-
gium, we do not see what she can gain by the maintainance of
the actual state of things, for day by day, her threads are
banished from our market to the profit of England. The Bel-
gian Minister of the Interior, has announced that negotiations
have been commenced to protect Belgian manufactures
from the effects of the Royal Ordonnance, which is to be
issued. Belgium, therefore, in place of being injured, has a
chance of being benefited. We for our parts desire most ar-
dently that she may obtain the exemption which she asks for,
for she has a thou-and claims on us for an exceptional treat-
ment. To sum up the whole circumstances of the case, we
have to say that a wise and indispensable measure is about
to take place. Unless some foreign Governments, particu-
larly those of England and Belgium, be swayed by the blindest
and most intolerant selfishness, there is no bad consequence to
be expected from it. But, whatever may be the language of
those Governments, our own has taken its resolution. Such
is our situation—simple, but sound and honourable."

'The receipts of the Customs at Marseilles during the month
of May last amount to— Francs.
Duties on Cotton... 2,412,056
Salt

Total
They were in May, 1841 3,017,113

Decrease 393,151
The bounties on exportation were in May, 1842. 850,999
In May, 1842 BBl,OBl
Ships arrived. Tons. Sailed. Tons.
1842 ... 745 66,841 ... 808 77,161
1841 ... 794 75,456 ... 752 67,548
A letter from Geneva, June Bth, says :—" The Electoral
College vetted yesterday' on the draft of a new Constitution.
The Constituent Assembly is convoked for six o'clock to-day,
in order to examine the vote of yesterday. Though at the
time of our writing we have not received any information, vie
are persuaded that the draft of the Constitution will be found
to have been accepted by the majority of the Geneva people.
A letter from Tessin announces that the reform of the Con-
stitution of that canton has just been voted by a great majority
of the Great Council sitting at Locarno."
The Moniteur publishes different laws authorising several
departments to raise extraordinary taxes for local purposes.—
Commerce.