Star.
London, England, 1830-11-17 00:00:00

FOREIGN INEXCLUSIVE.

PARIS, Nov. 13.
S —Th e approach of winter, which is always, in this
city, a period of distress, especially if long and severe, with
the working classes, always causes the municipal body to
be prepared for the exigencies that may arise. Poor laws
are unknown in France, and her numerous paupers are sup-
ported by the collections made in the churches, and by
voluntary contributions collected in the different
cities. The immense proportion in this city, of those
inscribed on the books of the Bureaux de Charity,
are almost beyond belief, and of the annual number of
deaths, those who die in its different hospitals, bear a very
large proportion. The last winter was excessively long,
and unparalleled in its severity. The Seine was twice
completely frozen, and had it not been for the excellent
dispositions taken by the engineers of the city, its breaking
up or debacle, from the multiplicity of bridges, might have
led to a frightful destruction of life, and property.
The Seine runs rapidly downwards, and had an
accumulation of Boating ice occurred at a bridge, the
im-
prisoned water, and mimic ice-bergs, would have over-
whelmed the city, and from the solid construction of
several of the bridges, they would have borne an immense
pressure ere they gave way, if that circumstance would
have taken place at all. From the severity of the wea-
ther, all building was brought to a total cessation, and
the labouring masons, a most numerous class, were desti-
tute of employment. It was then, that the charitable nature
of the Parisians was called into full exercise, and although
no compulsatory law provides for these unhappy partners of
our kind, I firmly believe that in no capital of Europe did
they suffer less. The dethroned monarch setting the ex-
ample, subscribed largely for their relief, of whatever faith,
a great stretch of liberal feeling in him, Who was so com-
pletely priest-ridden, and his subjects were not slow
in following his footsteps. Even vanity and frivolity
were made subservient to the calls of humanity.—
Masquerades, balls, and private theatricals, yielded con-
siderable sums. Every theatre joined in the glorious work,
and the whole, united, furnished the unemployed, and the
incapable, with the necessary supplies, until milder weather
enabled them to return to their own resources.

I must not omit the House of Refuge, established by
that excellent Prefect of Police, De Belleyme, who now
fills the office of President of the Court of Premiere Instance.
His great popularity drew large sums from the pockets of
the public, and having taken the extensive buildings of an

old convent, at a rate amazingly small, many hundreds of
the poor found shelter and food. He availed himself of the
chemical knowledge of the age, and extracted gelatine
and nutritious aliment, from various substances, not before
supposed to yield them. It is true that the priests op-
posed this benevolent plan ; they even preached
against it. They asserted that the poor were the care
of the church, and that the priesthood were the almoners
established by Christianity. That the constant exercise of
charity would be lost to those who subscribed a certain
sum, and imagined that their contributions at mass and
confession were no longer requisite. In short, these reve-
rend dist, ibutors of the bounty of their parishioners, ima-
gined that a great part of their power would be surren-
dered by this innovation upon former and fixed custom.
Any stranger, whom curiosity tempts to enter a Catholic
church, must be struck with the general want of respecta-
bility in the appearance of the congregation. The fact is
that the greater part are dependent upon the Tronc de M.
le Cure, for subsistence, and the moot regular attendants
upon the numberless ordinances and festivals of the church,
are the most favoured recipients of his bounty. Without
this, I apprehend, the priest would be too often " Vox cla-
mantis in deserto," and we cannot wonder at their jealousy,

of any attempts at
niched power.
However from the combination of these efforts, the winter
was passed with much less of individual suffering than was
apprehended, and we were not shocked, as the feelings of
many in your charitable metropolis must have been, by
wretches found dead, from want of the necessaries of
life, of which the English papers furnished several melan-
choly examples. When the Archbishop of Paris, Hyacinth
de Quelen, published his usual pastoral, and admoni-
tory letter at the celebration of Easter, he took notice, that
even those amusements and dissipations pursued by the'
young and unthinking, and which would have met with
his decided reprobation, had their produce been otherwise
employed, had been converted, like poisonous substances,
into medicinal purposes, into the means of rendering mare
tolerable the sufferings of the poor. This was a great con-
cession, from a man so bigotted as the Archbishop. Already
have the municipality begun to issue bread tickets, which
will continue the whole winter. This is an excellent mode
of distributing relief at a small expense, and is one among
many other hints, which we might take from our neighbours.
Any person or family applying at the Maisie, may purchase
as many tickets as he thinks fit, entitling him to tour
pounds of beat bread (the pound is eighteen ounces) for
fifteen sons, or sevenpence halfpenny, and whatever the
Assize may be, the city pays the baker the difference.
In a capital where bread is the staple of existence, this is
a great alleviation of distress, especially if a family be
large. The consumption of this provision is astonishing le
an Englishman. A four pound loaf being the usual guess
tity eaten by a labouring man, and his wife, and children in
the same proportion. Experience has taught the Govern-
ment, that nothing
,causes an insurrection among the
populace, so readily as a scarcity of this article, and it is sur-
prising to a stranger, to see the bakers shops barricaded
with iron bars, and strong means of defence, where the jew-
ellers and the money-changers are totally exposed to depre-
dation,

upon their already din

The debates of Saturday did not contain much of inte-
rest; and from the hour when the post-otlico closes, I must
defer the pleasure of writing any more until to-morrow. In
the mean time, I am, Sir, yours, J. L.

We have a file of Dominica papers, this morning, which
are interesting. They announce a circumstance highly ho-
nourable to the slave owners of that colony : namely, that a
return had been made to the Governor, to be transmitted to
the Colonial Department, exhibiting a list of 606 manumis-
sions, between the let of January, 1825, and the lit of
August, 1830; of which 481 have been by Government ;
119 by bequest ; and only 6 by purchase. These papers
contain the draft of a bill, introduced into Trinidad, providing
for the removal of slaves from one British colony to another,
by an amendment of the laws relating to the abolition of the
slave trade.

We find, by the advises from Martinique, that the Gover-
nor had issued a decree, prohibiting the entry of all vessels
under sixty tons burthen, from Dominica and St. Lucia. It
is said that this measure has been adopted, to prevent the
escape of slaves from the former, to either of the latter
islands.

We have a file of the Newfoundland Royal Gazette, to
the 26th Oct. The Governor had returned from his excnr•
sion round the island, the account of which is interesting.
The population of St. George's Bay was found to be three
hundred and fifty. The country in the interior exhibited no
great depth of soil, but was better wooded than at St. John's.
After visiting the Dead Islands, his Excellency proceeded to
the Borgeo Islands. They bear a barren and rocky appear.
once, being barely studded with a slight scalp of verdure.—
Some days were spent in intercourse with the simple inhabit-
ants of these islands, and in exploring their numerous reaches
and inlets. The population of the bay is estimated at eight
hundred. His Excellency then proceeded to the extreme
head of Bay Despair, where the woods, for several miles in
the interior, are of a bolder description, from which place his
Excellency returned to St. John's.

A mail has arrived from Lisbon, by which the Lisbon
Gazettes have been received. Nothing can be gathered, of
course, from them, as to the condition of that miserable counwi
try. For some particulars on this subject, we refer to the
private correspondence of a morning cotemporary, inserted
in a subsequent column.

Mr. BROUGHAM'S MOTION.—BO great was the anxiety
to hear the intended motion, and introduction of a plan for
Reform, by the shore learned gentleman, that seats were en-
gaged some time before the appointed day, and so much as
a guinea given for admission. The gallery, yesterday even-
ing, was crowded to excess, and the disappointment occa-
sioned by its not coming on, may be more easily imagined
than described.

There was a very numerous attendance of landed proprie-
tors end capitalists yesterday at the Mart, attracted by the
sale in twenty lots, of the celebrated Staunton Park Mute,
three miles from Harrow, Middlesex. The first lot com-
prised Stanmors House, mansion, and park, with gardens,
pleasure grounds. numerous domestic and other buildings,
plantations, woods and land, in a 11446 acres, predusimg an
estimated mute! of 1,2061. per annum. The timber sod
fixtures to be paid for at a valuation in addition to the par.
chase money. This important property was loathed down
at 35,0001.
The pupils of the Royal Academy of Music had e assent,
on Saturday atteroom, at their rooms. Miss Willow soil
the recitative and air, " Dore sone (Le Nam Firaro),
Mozart ; and Mr. Segue the air, "Ve se beinsuado, '
( Faust), Spohr. Both these piens were mush applauded.

CITT, ONS O'CLO(

The Public are now waiting for an official account of the
formation of the new Ministry which at present greatly
excites their attention, in the meantime we shall be ineel
dated with reports on the subject. Although there is no
want of talent to form the Cabinet, still it may take some
time to make choice of those who will act in unison, lnd
for the welfare of the State, and during which period %,
cannot expect any stability in the Funds, which at pr,s"
are continually fluctuating.

Consols, which left off yesterday at 831 for the Account,
opened at 82f ; 83, soon after lowered to 82i ; at prey,u
thew are 824 ; and for next Account 82ii.

The variation in the Foreign Market is very unimportal„
at present ; in fact, the quotations are chiefly nominal, a,
there is no business doing, the attention of the spec,.
lators being entirely given to the English Market.
Ltv IRPOOL, Nov. 15.—The Muscovado Sugar Market
has continued dull all the week. The purchases are esti
mated at 2,000 hbds. end tierces: in several instance a
reduction of 6d. to le. has been submitted to. The Rum
Market is dull, but the holders do not force sales, as tiler
expect a renewal of the demand. There is rather more
inclination to do business in Cotton, but the purchases are
still inconsiderable.

East India sales, 800 tons of Company's saltpetre, one
and half to three Ter cent, reaction 40 to 42 6; 300 bale,
of pepper, middling 31d. nnsifted 3d. Up to the present
hour no reports, or any thing to be depended upon in the
City in regard to the new Ministry.

curr, TWO O'CLOCI:

Consols continue at 821 83, and 83 to I for Money.
Consols are better for Money than for the Account ; there•
is still a great scarcity of money stock.
The express from Paris brings the French 3 per cents,
much higher, an improvement of two per cent. 64 80.
This is owing to the new Ministers declaring that they are
determined to maintain a general peace in Europe.
Little doing in the Foreign Market. Spanish bonds 144
to 1:5.