The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-18 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TII`U'RSDAY MORNJNG, DECEMBER 18, 1e45.

up to London from Manchester, we denounced
the corn-laws, and called for their repeal. For
years we were alone. Well do we remember the
early meetings of the Anti-Corn-law delegates at
Brown's Hotel. Those meetings we reported fully,
and for some time we alone gave full reports of their
proceedings. Other labourers then entered the field;
but now that the victory is won, we cannot but re-
member with satisfaction the part which we took in
the early part of the contest, when, to quote the words
of Mr. COBDEN, "It was considered by noblemen
who advocated some alteration in the corn-laws, that
it would be easier to destroy the monarchy than to
procure their total repeal." We say, now that the
victory is won—for, in fact, the victory is cer-
tain—the doom of the corn-laws is sealed. They
have:been tried, convicted, and condemned, and we
have now only to pray for speedy execu-
tion, which must be granted by any Go-
vernment that regards its own safety.
The landed aristocracy may move in arrest of judg-
ment, and may repeat the oft-told tale of the pe-
culiar burdens upon land ; but before they do so let
them attentively consider Mr. COBDEN'S speech
of last evening, and " unless they want to
have another League on the death of this
one, let them not force the middle and indus-
trious classes to learn how they have been cheated,
robbed, and bambixizled on the subject of taxation
by the aristocracy." All we ask of the aristocracy
now is the total and immediate repeal of the corn-
laws that will give us security for the future,
and with this we will be content. But
if the aristocracy refuse this, let them be
assured that they will never have such terms
offered to them again. In that case we shall
not be content with security for the future—we must
have indemnity for the past. They know whether it
would conduce to their interest to moot this question.
There was one observation made by 31r. Fox last
evening, which was received with loud cheering, and
Ithe reception of which is significant as pointing out
the determination of the people to exercise henceforth
a more direct influence in the Government
then they have hitherto done. " The country
demands," said Mr. Fox, " that the Commons
of England shall be represented in the Cabinet."
If the Whig aristocracy are wise, they will take the
hint, and seek to identify themselves with the people
more than they have been accustomed to do. We were
much delighted with Mr. COBDEN'S remarks on Mr.
O'CONNELL. He did full justice to the motives and
views of that (with all his faults) great man,
whose course, with regard to this question, has been
uniformly that of a consistent and a patriotic man.
Altogether the meeting of last evening was one of the
most important that has ever been held in Covent-
garden Theatre, and we recommend our readers not
only attentively "to read," but to "mark, learn, and
inwardly digest" the speeches of Messrs. VILLIERS,
COBDEN, BRIGHT, and Fox.

In estimating the difficulties or facilities of form-
ing a new Administration in this country Ireland must
always form an important item in the calculation.
The difficulty which Sir ROBERT PEEL foresaw he
should have in governing that country made him
more backward in taking office than he would have
otherwise been, and throughout the whole of his four
years' administration it was his manifest and constant
wish to reconcile the Catholic population, or at least
abate their antipathy to a Tory Ministry. His
plans were in general well laid and judicious,
but still there were several members of his Ca-
binet to whom the Irish never could be recon-
ciled, and this circumstance, together with the
strong feelings displayed in this country on the May-
nooth question, did much to neutralise the good effects
which might otherwise have ,been anticipated. Mr.
O'CONNELL never could bear Lord STANLEY : even
after condonation, he continued hostile to Sir JAMES
GRAHAM, and the Duke of WELLINGTON, from some
inexplicable cause, was always the object of his most
virulent attacks. In these respects, therefore, Lord
Jons RUSSELL has a great advantage over Sir
ROBERT PEEL. The Government of Ireland during
the greater part of the Whig Administration was on
the whole considered satisfactory, the names of NOR-
MARRY and MORPETH were venerated by the people,
and at no former period was the country
so peaceable and the laws so much respected. It will
be seen from the report of what took place at the
weekly repeal meeting, held at Dublin, on Monday,
that the old attachment is not forgotten, and that
Mr. O'Cornsur.a. promises Lord J. RUSSELL his cor-
dial support in regard to several measures, and espe-
cially the great measure of the day—the repeal of
the corn-laws. He pronounced every man an enemy
to Ireland who would not join COBDEN and BRIGHT.
As Lord J. RUSSELL was pledged to advocate the
repeal of the corn-laws, he would therefore support
the new Administration in their efforts for that pur-
pose. " I will feel it my duty," said he, "to attend
in my seat in London, from day to day, to fight the
battle of the League ; and every Irish Member
ho does not wish to see the Irish people in a state of
starvation will do likewise." Lord Joni..., therefore,
may reckon upon the support of the whole of
that section which absented themselves from Parlia-
ment during the Administration of Sir ROBERT
PEEL, and made ceaseless exertions in their
own country to bring it into contempt.
Of course Mr. O'CONNELL does not give up
repeal. The consummation of that great event must
not be compromised for the sake of any party, but
possibly it will be allowed to sleep in the mean-
time, till some other measures for the relief
of Ireland are disposed of. Mr. O'CONNELL pro-
posed several, and with, perhaps, one exception,
they appear to be judicious and well adapted for secur-
ing tranquillity. Of those we may mention—employ-
ment for the people in constructing railways. What
he proposed on that point was, that whenever 100,0001.
was subscribed, that the Government should put to it
a like sum, and by that means set the line at work,
and be satisfied with one per cent. on it for three
years, after which they should have four per cent., if
it remained unpaid. This plan he said would give
abundance of employment to the people, and it could
be done at once; and, if adopted, he would sug-
gest that the contracts should be entered into for
lengths of line not to exceed 15 miles, in order to
give employment to the people resident in each par-
ticular locality. He proposed also that the Govern-
ment should get mortgages for their advances. He
did not want a gift—he wanted only a loan to be
duly paid. Could some scheme of this kind be
adopted it would have the most beneficial effects in
spreading civilisation, and furnishing employ-
ment—the great want of the Irish people, and
without which they never can be obedient to
the laws. Another point of equal importance was
adverted to—namely, the fixity of tenure—not in
the usual acceptation of the word, but by granting
leases on certain conditions. Without leases, it is
evident, no tenant can improve his farm, for he has
no security for his outlay, and is in Ireland entirely
at the mercy of the landlord, or, what is worse, the
middleman. We give the plan in Mr. O'CONNELeS
own words:—
" The statute law enabled landlords to distrain the
tenant who had no lease. He wanted to take this
power from the landlord, and prohibit him from distrain-
ing, unless the tenant had a lease for 21 years at least.
He would give the landlord the power of suing his tenant
as any other creditor, but not distraining him • unless
the tenant had a lease he would not allow the landlord
to distrain him, and thus would he compel him to give him
a lease. Then as to the ejectment for non-payment of rent,
he would require the landlord to give the tenant a
lease for 31 years, to entitle him to bring an ejectment.
He wanted to stand by the poor people ; he wanted to
support the laborious and industrious, and he desired to
have a good Government working for the good of the
poor and the hungry, who were at the best of times upon
the verge of starvation. If Lord John Russell did these
things he would be popular, and he supposed that he
would have to transfer his green cap to him."

Some remedy of this kind is wanted. These
ejectments are the bane of Ireland, and the horrid
system of letting land may be pronounced as the
most intolerable of all grievances. Should Mr,
O'CoisisExa, thus devote his time to such praise-
werthy labours, and endeavour to assuage the suffer-
ings of his countrymen, in place of inflaming their
passions and urging them to demand what they never
can obtain, he would establish a name, not among
his countrymen (for with them it is already suffi-
ciently ihigh), but with foreign nations and distant
posterity, which would far eclipse that of every Irish
patriot, and shed an imperishable lustre on the close
of a long and active life.

Our readers will probably remember the coin.
pulaory resignation of Mr. PARICLE, the .Assistant

Poor-law Commissioner, who conducted the Andover
inquiry, shortly after that inquiry was closed.
Mr. PARKER has published a letter to Sir JAMES
GRAHAM in his own vindication, an attentive
perusal of which has convinced us that Mr. PARKER
has been extremely ill-used by the Poor-law Com-
missioners, and that the Poor-law Commissioners
have some reason to fear Parliamentary investigation
(which there can be no doubt will take place) into
their conduct with reference to the Andover inquiry.
As regards Mr. PARKER'S dismissal (for virtually
it was a dismissal) it appears to have arisen from his
recommendation of a Mr. PiticE to fill the office of
master of the Andover Workhouse temporarily, on
M'DouGALL's resignation. We will give Mr.
PARKER'S own account of his recommendation.
M'DOUGALL, our readers are of course aware, is the
master whose conduct was the subject of the Andover
inquiry. _ _

" Having been informed on returing into the Board-
room, from which I had been called, that the guardians
had determined to allow Mr. M'Dougall to remain in
charge of the workhouse for a month, when his successor
was to be chosen, I rose to address the guardians; and,
after adverting to the Commissioners' recommendation
to them to suspend Mr. M'Dougall during the investiga-
tion, I proceeded to urge upon the guardians that the
Commissioners' objections to Mr. M'Dougall continuing
in the workhouse pending the inquiry was much aug-
mented by his resignation. Whilst I was addressing the
guardians, my observations were interrupted by expres-
sions of contempt for the Commissioners, and one of the
guardians said the Board knew no one to whom the
care of the workhouse could be entrusted, if Mr.
M'Dougall were to leave it. I replied that, if there was
no one in the town whose services were available, that I
knew a workhouse master then out of employment—Mr.
Price, formerly master of the Oxford House of Industry
—who possessed high testimonials, and observed that Mr.
Price had written to me offering his services. I then
went on to enforce the propriety of Mr. M‘Dougall's re-
moval from the premises, but the chairman, vice-
chairman, and guardians left the room, and so dissolved
the meeting."

Mr. PARKER had formerly been Assistant Poor-
law:Commissioner for the district including Oxford,
and had thus known PRICE officially ; both he, and a
former Assistant Poor-law Commissioner on the
Oxford district, Mr. MOTT, had highly approved of
PRICE'S conduct as master of the Oxford House of
Industry. Paws had high testimonials from Lord
BARRINGTON, chairman of the Faringdon Board of
Guardians, from three successive chairmen of the Ox-
ford Board of Guardians, from the chaplains of the
workhouse, a testimonial signed by nearly 200 inha-
bitants and rate-payers of Oxford, and several others :
he had produced these, at the beginning of the present
year, when candidate for the mastership of the work-
house of the Swindon and Highworth Union, and Mr.
PARKER had then seen them. PRICE did not obtain
that appointment, and Mr. PARKER had since (in May,
1845,) recommended him for other employment to
the Poor-law Commissioners ; and lastly, PRICE,
who was still out of employment,. hearing
during the progress of the Andover inquiry
that M'DOUGALL was to be suspended, had
written to Mr. PARKER, offering his services tem-
porarily in Mr. M'DOUGALL'S place, and Mr. PARKER
recommended him to the Andover guardians. But it
appears that in 1844, after Mr. PARKER had left the
Oxford district, some charges were made against
PRICE, which were investigated by Mr. AUSTIN, the
present Assistant Poor-law Commissioner for that
district, and that PRICE resigned his office. Mr.
PARKER was not aware of this. In consequence of
PRICE'S resignation, Mr. AUSTIN never sent the
papers relating to the investigation to the Poor-law
Commissioners : so that there was nothing recorded
against PRICE in the Somerset House archives. But
after the excitement of the Andover inquiry, and Mr.
PARKER'S recommendation of PRICE being reported
in the papers, scandal raked up the charges made
against PRICE ; and for having thus recommended a
man of whom everything that he knew was good,
and of whom he knew much good, but in connexion
with whom there was one unfavourable incident,
which he did not know, Mr. PARKER has been dis-
missed from his office of Assistant Poor-law Com-
missioner.

"I attended to all Mr. Lewis's reproofs respecting Mr.
Price, and received from him directions, conveyed in a
tone and manner which our relative positions by no
means entitled him to employ, to read no letter on this
subject to the Rev. C. Dodson, Chairman of the Andover
Union, until I had produced the draft to him. Such a
direction conveyed in such a manner is the only instance
that I am aware of wherein an Assistant-Commissioner
has been so treated. I promised compliance with his
directions, and undertook to show him the draft of a let-
ter to Mr. Dodson on the following day. The next day
I was confined to the house by indisposition."
When Mr. PARKER again saw Mr. LEWIS, who, our
readers of course know is one of the Poor-law Com-
missioners,

"Mr. Lewis opened the conversation by reproaching
me for not attending with the draft letter to Mr. Dodson
on the previous day, and I explained to him that illness
compelled me to remain at home, and I promised to show
him the draft letter to Mr. Dodson in the course of the
afternoon. Mr. Lewis then adverted to the Andover
ease generally, and having ascertained from me that I
had informed Sir Edmund Head, prior to the 20th Sep-
t, tuber, that I had mentioned Mr. Price's name to Mr.
Dodson, he observed ' that I had been guilty of an act of
indiscretion, which the Commissioners must notice in
some marked manner.' I then stated to him that I first
taw Mr. Price at the Oxford House of Industry."
[Here follows an account of his knowledge of Mr.
PRICE, and of his testimonials, as we have detailed
above.]

" Moreover, I reminded the Commissioners that Mr.
Price's name had been mentioned by me to them shortly
after I bad seen him at the Highworth and Swindon
Union, as a person who, having formerly farmed the
poor at Faringdon, was likely to be a competent person
to undertake the care of boys in a school on board ship,
an institution recommended by me to be established
under the sanction of the Commissioners, in a report
transmitted by me to the office on the Bth of May, 1845,
and that the Commissioners, in consequence of such
mention of Mr. Price's name, had desired an interview
with Mr. Price, who had attended them on the 17th of
May, 1845.

" Having reminded Mr. Lewis that this was the same
Mr. Price, and that he had frequented the office not only
for some months, but for some years, and that no one,
either in or out of the office, had ever said a word to me
in disparagement of his character, Mr. Lewis again ob-
served, in a tone and manner which could not be mis-
taken, that I had been guilty of great indiscretion in
mentioning the name of Mr. Price to Mr. Dodson and
the Board of Guardians, and that the Commissioners must
mark their sense of my conduct. Mr. Lewis repeated his
remark a third and fourth time, and I then observed that,
when all the circumstances were taken into consideration, I
did not think the indiscretion amounted to more than an
untoward event. Mr. Lewis repeated his remark for the
fifth time in tone and manner more offensive than before,
and I then replied, I have no doubt that I shall have an
opportunity of showing that the indiscretion is not so

very serious. My frie;ds tell me it is certain there will
be Parliamentary inquiries into the case in both Houses.
It is my interest to court inquiry, but whether it is the
Commissioners' interest that the whole of the case should
be investigated before Committees of both Houses of Par-
liament is very questionable.' Mr. Lewis threw himself
back in his chair, as if he was greatly offended, and, as
I retired from the room, said, Then, Mr. Parker, we
require you to show us the draft letter to Mr. Dodson
before it is posted.' "
We confess to astonishment at Mr. rinwis's idea of
a great indiscretion. The draft letter to Mr. DODSON
was shown, and passages in which the Commissioners
and Mr. AUSTIN, Assistant-Commissioner, were men-
tioned, were struck out.
"The letter, as altered, having been read, Mr. Lewis
made some observations respecting the relative official
station of Commissioner and Assistant-Commissioner, in
all of which I readily concurred, and Mr. Lewis added
that if I had sent the letter to Mr. Dodson as it originally
stood, the Commissioners would have dismissed menext
morning. To this I only replied, for he addressed me as
if he expected an answer, that I should always be pre-
pared for the consequences of my ovvn acts. Such was
my last interview with the Commissioners."
This was on the Bth of October. On the 16th
Mr. PARKER received the following letter from Mr.
NxcHoLts, one of the Poor-law Commissioners :-
6. My dear Sir,—Looking at the importance and
peculiar nature of the functions delegated to an Assistant-
Commissioner, we have, after full consideration, come to
the conclusion that we oannot, consistently with our
public duty, retain you any longer in your present
office. It is, therefore, incumbent on us to request
that you will send your resignation to the Commis-
sioners.

" We wish to assure you that we take this step with
the utmost reluctance ; and we willingly acknowledge
the zealous and efficient services which you have, on
various occasions, rendered to the Commission.
I remain, my dear Sir, ever yours faithfully,
" GEO. NICHOLLS."

" Soft words butter no parsnips." Mr. PARXER
has for nine years been a laborious servant to the
Voor-law Commission, for three years as assistant
Fecretary, and for the remaining six. has
Assistant-Commissioner. He left the bar in 1838,
and has now to return to it, after having lost some
of the best years of his life, with a view to advance-
ment in his profession. We think the public will
say with us, that there has been no sufficient reason
for Mr. PARKER'S dismissal, and that Mr. LEWIS
appears to have acted arLitrarily and tyrannicaily.
It looks as if there were some reason behind of

wounded vanity or pique. Lest any persons shou'd
have been imposed upon by attempts to represent
Mr. PARKER'S publication as of a crouching cha-
racter, we think the following extract from his
preface, addressed to the Bar of the Home Circuit:
will be a sufficient answer to such a charge :—" One
circumstance connected with the case, which is not
alluded to in these letters, has excited in my mind
emotions of scorn and indignation. It is this: Mr.
GEORGE CORNWALL LEWIS, one of the Poor-law
Commissioners, has sent me an authorised message,
`that the Commissioners do not wish to injure me,
and will give me a recommendation for other em•
ploy ment.' "

Oregon, which we The remarks on the subject of
have transferred to our columns from those of the
Boston Atlas, of Nov. 22, are understood to express
the opinions of Mr. EVERETT, the late Ambassador
from the United States to this country. Thus
we see that Mr. EVERETT joins with Mr.
WEBSTER in deprecating the intemperate
and reckless line of conduct which President POLK
has, it would appear, determined to recommend Con-
gress to pursue with regard to the Oregon question.
From all that we can gather, Mr. CALHOUN also is
opposed to the rash proceedings recommended
by the President, and Mr. POLK is unsup-
ported by any American statesman of name
or talent. We believe also that the majority
of the American people, as well as of the American
statesmen, are against President POLK on this ques-
tion. That the semi-savage squatters in the "far west,"
the enemies of all law save Lynch law—whose only
argument is a thrust with a bowie knife, and who,
having nothing to lose, have everything to gain from
a war, which, as far as they are concerned in it,
must be of an essentially predatory character—that
these men would, to use a phrase of their own, " go
the whole hog" with President PoLic, we' are will-
ing to admit ; but that they constitute the majo-
jority of the American people, we cannot believe.
The sober, industrious, law-regulated, orderly inha-
bitants of the northern and southern States outnum-
ber far the plunder-seeking Lynch law-loving despe-
radoes of the " far west." The north and south are
fully aware of the awful responsibility which
those will incur who shall needlessly plunge
America into a war with England. They
feel that England would make any sacrifice,
except her honour, for the preservation of peace be-
tween the two countries ; but they also know that
" the sleeping lion " will not allow either a Monarch
or a President to tread on his toes without rousing
himself to action and to vengeance. 'We are rejoiced
to find the leaders of the American nation thus
coming forward to put a curb on the insane
and selfish ambition of President POLK, who
would, for the miserable gratification of secur-
ing for himself the Presidentship of the United
States for another term, involve his country in a war
which must exhaust her resources, and " drive her
back in her career of prosperity quite beyond the
point from which she started at the close of the last

war."

We have received Madrid journals of the 9th, but
we find no news in them of the slightest interest.
The Chapter of the Knights of the Order of Charles
111. had been held with great magnificence. Her
MAJESTY was resplendent with jewels. Near her
stood the INFANTE, Don FRANCISCO DB PAULA and
his son, the new Dukes DE RIANZARES and VALENCIA,
and the old Duke DE BAYLES and M. MARTINEZ DE
LA Rosa. Sixty Knights were present. The Grand
Crosses distinguished themselves by the white fea-
thers in their caps. The other Knights wore blue
feathers. The Archbishop of TOLEDO officiated on
the occasion. On the 9th the Three per Cents. closed
at 36i, at 60 days ; and the Five per Cents. at 23i
for cash, and 24i at 60 days.

The downfal of the PEEL Ministry has been a most
fortunate event for the writers in the Paris papers.
For the previous ten days they appeared to be abso-
lutely starved out for matter to comment upon, and
were forced to have recourse to the expedition to
Madagascar, or the dismissal of a Receiver-General,
.or the paltry dispute between M. SALVANDY and M.
QUTNET about the University lectures. The crisis
in England came, therefore, opportunely, and they
are resolved to make the most of it. M. THIERS'
paper, the Constitutionnel, is extremely cautious and
moderate in its remarks, and evidently shows
a disposition to cultivate friendship with a
Whig Ministry, and even Lord PALMERSTON.
The National writes in a different strain, and tries
to excite prejudice against the late Foreign Secretary,
as well as his colleagues. The Journal des Debats of
Monday contains an article, written in a manly and
friendly spirit towards England, and displaying con-
siderable knowledge of the position of affairs:—" We
persist," says the writer, " in thinking a conflict be-
tween the two Houses inevitable. The Lords will
not consent to yield without a prolonged combat. In
the House of Commons the issue of the contest is more
doubtful. It is possible that, with the support of Sir
ROBERT PEEL, and with the impulse communicated
from without, the total abolition of the corn laws
may find a sufficient majority. Naturally the
attempt will be made. Lord Join( RUSSELL will
keep the present House of Commons, and will not
have recourse to the extreme measure of a dissolution
unless he meets with insurmountable obstacles. But

in either case, whether he can go on with the present
House of Commons, or be obliged to summon a new
one, if the Lords persist in their opposition, the
situation is a most grave one. What renders it par-
ticularly so, is that the measures to be taken admit
of no delay, and that each moment's postponement
adds tl the danger. Why has the Tory Govern-
ment, so powerful a few days since, fallen all of a
sudden ? Because it was forced to immediate action.
It was not with men, not with parties and their
systems, that it had to struggle, but with a superior
power—with the rain, with the sky, with the earth,
with GOD himself! The new Government arrives
at power, carried in, as it were, by a cry of
famine. It must respond immediately to that
popular cry ; such is its sole mission ; other•
wise what was it called upon to effect ? Let it
he understood that we regard this great crisis
without any other sentiment than the sincere desire
to behold England get out of it happily. We can-
not rejoice at the misfortunes of a country which is
our ally. We have not in our policy a question like
that of the Oregon, which may cause us to behold a
source of advantage in the domestic embarassments
of England. We desire simply to point out here the
differences which distinguish the present crisis from

those which preceded the Catholic Emancipation Bill,
the Reform Bill, and the Negro Abolition Bill. At
these various periods there were great popular agita-
tion, and a prolonged and desperate resistance of the
various interests involved in the question. But these
reforms, although ripe for a length of time, could
without danger wait for the hour of realization. This is
not the case at present. Questions of food do not belong
to the class of those which can take patience. That
the fears of famine or scarcity have been exaggerated,
we certainly believe ; but there must have been some-
thing of truth at the bottom of these alarms, since
they have been sufficient to overturn the strongest
Government that England has seen for a great length
of time. When the matter under discussion was re-
ligious exclusions, or electoral corruption, or the ini-
quities of the slave-trade, however crying were the
abuses, one, or two, or three years could not visibly
augment the danger. But it is hunger which now
speaks, and who will say to those who have no ears,
wait ? Who will tell corn to germinate, and harvests
to ripen ? Perhaps it is in the very imminency of
the danger that will consist the strength of those who
are assuming the reins of Government."
The National, after adverting to a report that the
Earl of CLARENDON was to be substituted for Lord
PALSLERSTON in the Foreign-office, in order to please
the Court of France, draws the
following character
of the late Foreign Secretary
T.Ei England it is in general not easy to find a man
who fit for all trada, who can put on any coat, and
wear it with equal ease as another. People have a mis-
trust of these encyclopaedic minds, believing that to be
master of foreign affairs a man must have special ac-
quirements, and be initiated into all the complicated re-
lations which exist between different nations, from
having studied treaties, and obtained a notion of the
rarely interrupted traditions by which England infer•
prets treaties, according to maxims of her own, the
beginning, middle,
and end of which is how to turn
them to her own benefit. Lord Palmerston has,
more than any one else, a sense of this peculiarity
of British diplomacy. Headds to this, no doubt, the
fatuity of hid habits, the presumption cf his c,piniOns; and
the petulance of his character. But as he is insolent to
the foreigner only, this is a, defect which the aational

spirit will easily excuse ; and even when Lord John
Russell shall have greatly corrected it, enough will re-
main to render the new Minister of the Foreign Affairs
at times very pertinacious. This, moreover,. is a pre-
sentiment which: M. :Jarnac has felt and,; not con-
cealed, and we learn that M. Guizot has received a com-
munication from London of great significance. He has
been told that the bonds of friendship between England
and France will be held ae tight by the new Admi-
nistration as by the last, and that 'Lord Palmerston
will do nothing that may tend to disturb the entente cor-
diale. Lord John Russell takes pleasure in repeating
expressions of esteem for M. Guizot, and, as well as his
colleagues, entertains a sincere desire of preserving
those relations of friendship with France which are so
necessary for the peace of the world.', Such a declara-
tion is well calculated to subdue the alarms and We. s the
new marriage. Unfortunately, as much was said to M.
Guizot himself on the very eve of the signing of the
treaty of July 15th, and that eminent Ambassador fell
into the snare. Age and experience render us all less
credulous, and the Ambassador whom Lord Palmerston
thus deluded has in the five years since passed had
time to learn enough of diplomacy to become less easy
to deceive, because he has been taught to mistrust.
If he wishes to know what Lord Palmerston thinks of
the French Government, and the little faith lie believes
it to possess, M. Guizot has but to read the speeches
delivered by his Lordship since he has been in the Oppo-
sition. To telk again of the entente cordiale, to play over
the same game, when he it is who holds half the cards in
his hand, would manifestly excite the derision of the
whole world, and be the very saddest of political tricks,
being one of those which make no dupes. Nothing is more
easy than to disguise one's meaning by language, and
the power of speech has been given to Ministers for this
purpose alone, but ideas, sentiments, opinion 9, and charac-
ters never change. Lord Palmerston is convinced that
no reliance can be placed in the French Government, and
that to frighten it is only necessary to make it pass
through the needle's eye. He has not only expressed
and repeated the firmness of his convictions—he has
done more—he has proved it by his acts. That he may
talk hereafter of friendship is very possible, but that he
will be believed here is what we can never persuade our-
selves. If then the Whig Ministry enters into commu-
nication with that of France through this intermediary,
our external policy must be modified unless it is wished
to demonstrate to Europe that it has lost even the
semblance of dignity and shame. This is so far as re-
gards us."

The French Funds improved considerably on Monday.
The Three per Cents., which were quoted on the previous
day at 80f. 80c. closed at 811. 15c. ; the Five per Cents., at
117 f. 70c. ; the Orleans Railroad Shares, 1,147 f. 50c.;
Rouen, 925 f.; Northern, 6921. 50c. ; Havre, 7501.; Avignon,
850 f. ; Vierzon, 630 f. ; Bordeaux, 590 f. ; Boulogne, 497 f. ;
Basle, 230 f. ; Dieppe, 8-15 f. Spanish Three per Cents, 387 i.
The following are the quotations for other lines:-
Paris and Lyons Railroad (Laffitte), 51. premium ;
ditto (Calon), 41. 50c.; Union, 12f. 50c.; ditto (Ganneron),
4f. 50c.: ditto (Lapinsonniere) 3f. 50c.; Messageries, 3f.;
Ardoin, 21. 75c.; ReceVeurs-Gineraux, 3f.; Paris and Stras-
bourg (Ganneron), 21. 50c.; ditto (Bechet), 50c.; Tours and
Nantes (Mackenzie), sf. ; ditto (Drouillard), 41. 50c.; ditto
(O'Neill), 4f. 50c. ; ditto (Carette), 51. 50c.; ditto (Lefevre),
4f. 50c. ; Lyons and Avignon (Talabot), 7f. 50c. ; ditto
(Lecointe), par; ditto (Compagnie Meridionale), par ; Bor-
deaux and Cette (Mackenzie), par ; ditto (Espeleta), 4f. ;
Creil and St. Quentin (Kysaens), par; Charleroi (Kysaens),
4951. The Lyons Definitive Shares sold at 65f. premium ;
the Strasbourg ditto, 201.; Tours and Nantes, 40f.
MARSEILLES, DEC. 11.-Marseilles and Avignon, 8551. ;
Boulogne, 510 f.
LYONS, DEC. 13.-Marseilles and Avignon, 8701. ; Paris
and Orleans, 1,1451.; Paris and Rouen, 9351. ; Orleans and
Vierzon, 6201.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE

LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, DEC. 16.
Anglo-Belgian — !Madrid and Valencia...
Barbadoes

Boulogne and Amiens.. 81
Bordeaux &Mediterran
Bordeaux and Toulouse

Namur and Liege
North Jamaica ... .
Orleans and Vierzon

Do. & Cette (Espeleta)
Do. ( Mackenzie's) —
Callao, Lima, and Pa-
cific Coast
Central of Spain
Ceylon .
Demerara

Orleans and Bordeaux
Over Yssel OOOOO ..•
Paris& Lyons (Laffitte)
Ditto (Ganneron's).
Ditto (Calon's)....
Ditto (Sud Est)
Paris and Orleans

Dendre Valley ...
Dutch Rhenish ..
Dieppe & Paris Janet —
Dijon and Ma'house
East Indian
__ _

Paris and Rouen
Paris and Strasburg
(Ganneron's)
Do. (Compe de L'Est)
Do. (Aymard's)

Fampoux & Hazebrouk
Grt Northern of France
Constituted ll%
Do. Pepin le Halleur —
Great Paris and Lyons —
Great Western Bengal
Great Western Canada
Jamaica S Mid. Junction
Do. North Midland —
Do. Extension
Jersey
Louvain and Jemappe —
Lyons and Avignon —
Luxembourg

Paris and St. Quentin.
Rouen and Havre......
'Royal North of Spain.
Sambre and Meuse ....
Strasburg and Basle ...
Tournay,Jurbise, Lan-
den, and Hasselt
Tours and Nantes
(Mackenzie's)
Do. (Lefebvre's)
Do. (O'Neill's)
Trinidad
Verona and Ancona
I West Flanders

COURT CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, WEDNESDAY.—The Queen and Prince
Albert took their early morning walk in the vicinity
of the Castle pleasure-grounds.
The Riyal Family went out for their usual riding and
walking exercise before the rain came on this morning.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert took equestrian
exercise in the riding-school this forenoon, attended by
Major-General Sir Edward Bowater.

'the...unfavourable state of the weather has prevented
her Majesty and the Royal Family from taking their
afternoon airings.
Her Royal highness the Duchess of Kent visited her
Majesty this afternoon. Lady Fanny Howard and the
Baroness de Speth were in attendance on the Royal
Duchess.

There was no addition to the royal dinner circle a
the Castle this evening.

The Duke of Cambridge visited her Royal Highness
the Duchess of Gloucester yesterday, at Gloucester-
house.

The Marquis of Lansdowne had an interview with
Lord John Russell yesterday evening, at his residence
in Chesham-place. The Right Hon. Edwar.l Ellice and
the Right Hon. F. T. Baring had also interviews with
his Lordship yesterday.
Lord John Russell dined with Mr. Russell on Tuesday
evening, at his residence in Belgrave-square.
The Earl of Aberdeen, Sir James Graham, the Earl
of Lincoln, and the Right lion. Sidney Herbert, had an
interview with Sir Robert Peel yesterday.
The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England had a
meeting yesterday afternoon, at the office in Whitehall-
place. There were present the Archbishop of Canter-
bury, the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Ely, the
Bishop of Llandaff, the Bishop of Rochester, the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, the Judge of the Prerogative
Court, and the Right Hon. Sir George Grey.
Mr. Wickham, Chairman of the Stamps and Taxes,
had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer
on Tuesday, at his official residence in l )owning•street.
Dispatches from the Governor-General of Canada, and
also from the Governors of the other North American
Provinces, were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office. Dispatches were also received yesterday from
the Governor of Gibraltar.

Sir Charles and Lady Mary Fitzroy and Mr. George
Fitzroy left Farranee's Hotel, Belarave-street, yester-
day, for the Duke of Grafton's seat, Wakefield Lodge.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
BETTING AT MANCHESTER—TuEsnAy.
DERBY.-15 to 2 agst Sting, 16 to 1 agst Brocardo, 30 to 1
agst Ingo, 30 to 1 agst Spithead, 30 to 1 agst Ginger, 30 to 1
agst Malcolm, and 40 to 1 agst Fancy Boy.
GUESTER CUP.-50 to 1 each agst The Baron, Hope, and
Intrepid. _ _

COURSING.
TARLETON MEETING.

The Bank Hall Cup (for 16 dogs) was wou by Mr. Bux-
ton's Sarah; Sir T. Hesketh's Harold ran up.
The Tarleton Cup (for 16 dogs) was won by Mr. Coupe's
Clara; Mr. Landless's Ranger ran up.
The Radcliffe Hall Cup (for 12 dogs) was won by Mr.
Craven's Canto; Mr. Graham's Curatore ran up.
The Bretherton Stakes (for 8 dogs) were won by Mr.
Howard's Glideaway; Mr. Landless's Albert broke his leg.
The Craven Stakes (for 8 dogs) were won by Mr. Swift's
Smuggler; Mr. Hardman's Trip the Daisy ran up.
The Rufford Hall Stakes (8 dogs) were won by Sir T. Hes-
keth's Hope; Mr. Jackson's Regretted ran up.
ESKDALE (CANOBIE) MEETING.
The Dalkeith Cup (for 16 puppies) was won by Mr. Mein's
Ivanhoe; Mr. Church's Callumdarig ran up.

The Earl of Durham, Lady Mary Larnbton, and
the Hon. Colonel and Mrs. Grey, left the Brunswick Hotel,
Jermyn-street, on Tuesday, for Hastings, with the intention
of wintering at that watering .place.
GENERAL WASHINGTON V. GENERAL THUM/3.--
We understand that General Tom Thumb visited the Lion
King yesterday at his private residence, and remained with
him till precisely three o'clock, when Thumb stepped into his
diminutive carriage, and went with all possible speed to hold
a levee at Egyptian Hall. We do not presume to be possessed
of Thumb's secrets, but when so many Cabinet and other im-
portant rumours are afloat: we may mention one that was cir-
culating pretty freely at the clubs to-day, to the effect that
little Thumb, finding himself entirely overshadowed and
eclipsed by "General Washington," offered the Lion King a
heavy purse for his mammoth rival.
CHARGE Or POISONING.—NEWCASTLE, DEC. 15.
At a late hour on Saturday evening a body of police appre-
hended Ralph Joicey, a hind in the employment of the Duke
of Portland, at Cockle• hall, near Morpeth, on a charge of
causing poison to be administered to his father, from the
effects of which he died. The prisoner was immediately
conveyed to Morp,th, and will be examined by the county
magistrates on Wednesday. It is Tl4lllollrod that he has
made important disclosares as affecting himself, but they
have not yet been made public. The poison, it appears, was
procured at the shop of Mr. Crighton, In Morpeth, about two
months ago.
A. letter from Hanover, of the Bth, states that the
Prince Royal has been indisposed for some time, but not so
seriously as some of the journals had represented. His
Royal Highness is now convalescent, and is able to take out-
door exercise.

ETON POLICE, DEC. I.6.—Po.mairNo.—,j, Moare,
James Lewin, and James Bridgeman, labourers, were brought
up in custody before the Rev. Thomas Carter, charged by
*ott, land-steward to the Duke of Buccleuch, with
being found, armed, in his Grace's preserves, at Ditton Bark,
near Datchet, in the night time, for the purpose of taking
game. It appeared from the evidence of the keepers, that
while they were watching far poachers, at about twelve
o'clock on Saturday night, they heard voices in the pre-
serves near the Datchet Lodge, leading into the park.
Shortly afterwards they beard the report of a gun, and on
going to the spot where they saw the flash, they discovered
three men, two of whom were the prisoners Moore and Bridge-
man. The other man, from his appearance, answered the
description of the prisoner Lewin. The men Attempted to
make their escape, but, upon being pursued by the keepers,
Moore and Bridgeman were overtaken and captured.: Lewin
was taken into custody the following morning. A hen phea-
sant, d‘ad, but quite warm, was found a short distance from
where the gun was discharged. The whole of the prisoners
were tally committed to Aylesbury gaol to take their trials
at the ensuing eeelions for the county of Bucks.

MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS.
(From The Sun of Last Night.)
There was a very quiet market for Cotton at Liverpool
yesterday. Sales 3,000 bales, all to the trade. Shares were
quiet, and prices remained unchanged. Only a small busi-
ness was done.
The example which has been set by the Committee of
Management of the Midland Grand Junction Railway Com-
pany, of requesting all creditors to forward their accounts,
with a view to an adjustment of claims that may be found
correct, is a fact honourable to the parties concerned to men-
tion ; and we trust that similar conduct will be followed by
the managers of those projects which have not been able to
prepare themselves sufficiently early in conforming with the
provisions of the Act of Parliament, in lodging their plans,
&c., before the 30th ultimo. The course taken by the Com-
mittee named is, at the present moment, of peculiar value,
as we fear there are not a few of the Committees of Manage-
ment who are desirous of shirking the responsibility which
they have legally incurred by permitting their names to
appear as Provisional Committeemen, after expenses have
been entered into.
The accounts from the United States, by the steamer, lead
many to hope that there may yet be an improvement in the
tone of the President's message, and that the very beneficial
trade which the Yankees are now driving with us
may prompt them to be a little civil. Not, however, that it
comports with the dignity of any nation, much less
with that of England, to bribe other powers into peace and
friendship, and we venture to affirm that there is not a
British merchant in the City, however extenstve his trans-
actions with the United States, but would scorn to evade
the injury of " horrid war," by such means as these. On
the contrary, we must play our part, say they, honestly and
discreetly, trusting to the good sense and good feeling of bro-
ther Jonathan to do the rest. If he fail to recognise the claims
of humanity and civilization, why on his head be the heavy
blame of all that follows.
In advices to October 22, from the Cape of Good Hope, a
very satisfactory report is given as to the state of the colony,
now unquestionably as flourishing as any possession of the
British Crown.
The Public Securities have been rather less buoyant than
yesterday. Consols realise 92% to 92% for the opening, the
New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents. 9418 to %, and the
Three per Cents. 92% to %. Bank Stock is less firm at
199%, and India Stock at 261. Exchequer-bills have been
dull at 21s. premium. It would be idle to expect anything
like a steady market until a Cabinet is formed.
The foreign investments have been generally very well
supported. Spanish Five per Cents. have been 281/2, and the
Three per Cents. 385/8 3%. Portuguese Converted Stock has
been marked 591/. Mexican Bonds have been up to 293/
and 30%. Grenada Stock is 20%; and Brazilian New
Bonds are 7714. French Five per Cents. have beee done at
117 ,with the exchange at 25 70.
There is scarcely anything doing in Shares, but they are
firm, and the French scrips have again been rather higher.
oicz CLOSING
PRICES OF BRITISH FUNDS. O'CLOCK. PRICES
Bank Stock 19914 1991/2
3 per Cent. Reduced
New 3% per Cents
LongAnnuitiestoexpireJan.lB6o 10% 5-16 10 5-16
Ditto 30 years, Oct. 10,1859
India Stock 261 261
South Sea Stock
Ditto Old Annuities
Bank Stock for Account •••
Consols for Account
Exchequer Bills, 1,0004, I%d 2l
Ditto 5001.

Ditto Small

91%
200

92%
pm. 21
pm. 21
pm. 19
CLOSING
PRICES

PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS
Brazilian Bonds
Ditto, New, 1829 and 1839...... 771%
Equador Bonds
Granada Bonds, 1 per Cent. 2014
Ditto Deferred
Mexican, 5 per Cent. 1837 ......
Ditto Account 30%
Ditto, Deferred —
Portuguese Bonds, 4 per Cent
Spanish 5 per Cent. 1840.
Ditto, Account ... 284
Ditto, 3 per Cent 3Bl
Ditto, Account 385
Dividends on the above payable in London.
French Rentes, 5 per Cent.
Exchange 2sf. 70c. 25f. 70c.
French, 41/ per Cent: llof. —c. 110 f. —c.
Exchange 2sf. 70c. 25f. 70c.
Belgian 4% per Cent
Dutch, 21/2 per Cent
• Ditto. 4 per Cent. Certificates ' 93
PRICES OF PAID. BUSINESS DONE CLOSING
LtAILWAY SHARES AT ONE O'CLOCK. PRICES.
Aberdeen
Aberdeen, Banff, &Elgin 2%
Armagh, Coleraine, and
Portrush l%
Aylesbury and Theme.. 1%
-
Belfast & County Down 2% ..... .
Bideford andTavistock... 1,6 - • -
Birmin and Gloucester. 100 123
Ditto New I7IA
Birmingham and Ox-
ford Junction
Birmingham & Leicester
Direct 42s. _.—
._.

OXE
O'CLOCK

314
2014
4%
2934
30_14

591/

281,./z
38•T4
39

Boston, Stamfd, & Birm. 225.
Bridgewater & Minehead 423. ... ..
Bristol and Exeter 7O
Ditto; New
Bristol and Gloucester... 30 ...... ... .. —
Bristol and Liver. June . VA.__
Buckinghamshire
Caledonian
Ditto Extension
Cambrian & Grand June 42s
Cambridge and Lincoln 11%
00. New
Cambridge and Oxford.. 1%
Canterbury and Dover.. I,f
Central Kent 2%......
Chelmsford and Bury ... 1%
Chester and Holyhead... 15
Chester and Manchester 425.
Cheltexham and Oxford 2
ClydesdaleJunetion ..... 5
Cork Blackrock, and
Passages
Cork and Killarney ... 2%
Cork and Waterford ... 11/
Cornwall
Coventry, Nuneaton, Bir.
and Leicester l4 ......
Dartmouth, Torbay, and
Exeter
l }erby and Crewe
Derby, Gainsbro', and
Great Grimsby ... 1%......
Derby, Uttoxeter, and
StatTord 2%...... ........ ......
Direct Manchester
(Remington's)
Ditto (Rastrick's) 5 %...... 35/ 3%
Direct Northern
Direct Norwich
Dublin and Armagh 1%.....
Dublin and BelfastJunc. 5
Dublin, Belfast, and
Coleraine
Dublin and Galway..... 4
Dudley, Madely, and
Broseley ... ..... 25/8
Dundalk & Enniskillen 21/2 _
Eastern Counties 141. 16s 193/4 %
Ditto New 6/. 165....... 6% p 6% p
Ditto Perpetual, 5 par
Cent, No. 1.......61.135. 4d....
Ditto ditto, No. 2... 4/. 13s. 4d...
EastDereh'in andNor'ch 1
Eastern Union
25
Ditto, Quarter Shares VA •
Ditto Extension
Do. Ipswich and Bury 4
'h '

Do. Exten'n tolsTorw' 21/2
Do., Camb. and Ely.. 21/2 —
East Lincolnshire
East & West of England 1%......
Edinburgh and Glasgow 50 ......
Ditto, Quarter Shares 121/2
....
Ditto, New
Edinburgh & Northern.. 1
Edinburgh and Perth... 11/(2
Ely and Huntingdon ... 5
Enniskillen and Sligo ... 21/2
Essex and Suffolk .. ... 1% —
Exeter, Dorchester, and
Weymouth
Exeter, Yeovil, & Dorset 234
Glouc.,Abeiystwith, and
Central of Wales 1%......
•••
Goole and Doncaster .. 425• ...... ......... .. ...
Grand Junction ...100
Ditto Half Shares 5O
Ditto Quarters 25
••
Grand Union... l% —
Great Eastern &Western 21/2..,...
••• ••
GreatGrimsby and Shef-
field
Great South. and West.
(Ireland)
Ditto Extension ...... 7% -
Great Munster 2l/2 -
Great North of Scotland 21/2
Great North of England..100
Ditto New 5 —
' Do. New .... .. ......
.. 2 ......
Great Western BO ...
Ditto 1/ Shares 5O
Ditto Vi Shares 2%
Ditto Fifths
Guildford, Fare'm, Ports. 5 .....
Harwich
Hull and Selby 5O lOO ... ....... ... 100
Ditto 14 Shares
Do. Half Shares
Inverness and Elgin 1
Yarmouth 2
••
Irish North Midland lx, -
lsle ofAxholme 25/
Killarney Junctions ...... 114' —
............
.. _ ...... .
14 _

Kendal and Windermere 1
Lancaster and Carlisle... 30
Lame, Belfast, and Bal-
lymena
Leeds and Carlisle
Leeds and West Riding
Junction
.........
Leicester & Birmingham 225.
',eleester and Bedf3rd... 225.

_
%P

Leicester and Tarnworth 425.
Liverp: and Manch-

iester.loo .
Do. t/ Shares
Do. Quarters 25 Liverpool & Leeds Direct 2% .. —
...
Lpool,, linohstr, & New-
castle Junction
London and Birmingnmloo 213 210 ...... ...... 210
Do. Thirds
Do. 4 Shares
Ditto Fifths
Ditto Extension ...... 14,1
London and Blackwall. 161. 133.4 d.
Do. New
Ditto Extension ~ :Et ......
Londor, and Brighton
Do. consolidated Bths... 40
Ditto, Sixths
London and Croydon, 131. 15s. 9d. 201/2 20
Do. Guaranteed 5 per
Cent. „ .... ... 8 -
1.4pu., Chel.„ bx.,Gle., and ••• •• •• •• •••
Hereford -
London and Greenwich 12115 s 4d... -
Do. Preference ...18/17s 2d — -
London Hounslow, and
Western -
Lond. & S.Western 411 6s 10d
Do. New Consol. Bths 20 —

23
1
8

61 Vs
46