Star.
London, England, 1830-06-19 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

We have received Thursday's Papers. The Constitu-
tionnel of 17th June, has an article from Warsaiv, of 3d
June, stating that neither the affairs of Greece or Por-
tugal, nor other foreign subjects, will occupy the Diet,
as they are exclusively engaged in what regards the
country.

A report was spread at the Palais and on 'Change,
that Government had received advice, of the first division
of the expedition having landed on the coast of Africa;
but the private letters by this Express do not mention a
word of their landing. M. St Atm; V LLE left Paris on
Thursday, with despatches for the army of Africa.
The French Rentes have again improved—Three per
Cents. 78f. 40c. Five per Cents. 104 f. 40c.

The express from Paris this afternoon brings us ac-
counts from Lisbon to the 12th instant. The fol-
lowing is an extract of a private letter, given in
the Constitutionnel :—" We positively learn that the
Cabinets of London, Paris, and Vienna, have no-
tified
to the Emperor of BRAZIL the following re-
solution :—That they will never consent that a consti-
tutional regime shall be established in Portugal ; and in
case DONNA MARIA DA GLORIA is married to DoN
MIC.UEL, it should be indifferent to DoN PEDRO, if
she has, or has not, the right to the Crown of Portugal.
Nevertheless, the children born in marriage will always
inherit the Crown. It being inconvenient that in Por-
tugal a representative Government should be established,
Don PEDRO must not insist on maintaining the rights
of his daughter, or to excite any disturbances in that
country."

In the present distressing times, when there is so little, I
either present or in prospective, to cheer the heart—when
even the sunshine of summer is a little scantily supplied
to us--it is certainly pleasing and satisfactory to observe,
that the legislative improvements promised to us in his
M A JEST Y'S Speech, in opening the Session of Parliament
are, to use a verb introduced to us, we believe, from
across the Atlantic, progressing. Whatever objections
re have seen yet made to Mr. BROUGHAM'S County
Court Bill, we have no doubt whatever, but that it will
prove of great national utility ; and we must express our
sincere belief, that, in the legal improvements which
emanate more directly from the Government, real good is
honestly intended, and, being honestly intended, will be
executed advantageously to the country.
The only portion of our Civil Law, which does not
appear to have yet ever attracted so much attention as it
requires, particularly under the present circumstances of
the country, is the constitution of the Bankrupt Court.
What is contemplated in this department does not to us
appear adequate to remedy the evils at present expe-
rienced. We have seen a remark made, that until an
Alderman had, for the good of the public, been tossed upon
the horns of a bull in its way from Smithfield to War-
rick-lane, the nuisance of driving cattle through
the City had no chance of being abated; and, by parity
of reasoning, we really fear that, until some of our
influential Ministers shall lose his fortune by an un-
fortunate trader, and become a suppliant in the all-
talking and no-hearing court or courts in Basinghall-
street, the nuisance of those courts, for we can give them
no other name, will not be properly abated.
Indeed we can scarcely believe that our legislators can
have ever visited that place, which we would recom-
mend them to do, if only as a study, or such disgrace to
British Legislation could not have so long existed.
We hope, for the credit of the country, that Mons.

Cottu, or any of the French S9avans, who have visited
this country to pick up wisdom in legislation, ever
ventured into those scenes of wickedness and confusion,
yclept a meeting of creditors. If they should have done
so, what would they have seen ? The pencil of an
HOG A Rl' 11 might well he employed on the subject; but,
unfortunately, we can only paint with the pen, and that
too feebly, for the subject.
They would perceive, at a long table, certain men called

Commissioners, distinguished principally by wearing
their hats. They would be told that these men were
judges, wielding almost the power of the highest depart-
ment of our law. They would see them surrounded by a
noisy confused mob, differing only from their judges by
being uncovered. Foremost in the rank, and loudest in
the squabble, they would be shown two or three attorneys
at law, and two or three counsellors learned in the law,
addressing themselves at the same time to the Judges.
They would remark, perhaps, at the corner of this mass
of confusion, a poor miserable man called a bankrupt,
under examination ; which no one could hear except the
few who have been fortunate or strong enough to get
within hearing. Having seen all this, would he not
turn away with that surprise and satisfaction which a
Frenchman always feels, when he can say with Sterne,
" they order these things differently in France."
Who are the men selected for these Judges ? The ma-
jority of them barristers of family interest, but no profes-
sional merit. A few indeed among them are men of distin-
guished talent, and well acquainted with the laws they have
to administer ; and, if paid adequately, to live without
occasionally descending from the very bench they are
qualified to grace, to become the hired advocate of every
pettifogger who pleases to call them first from the stand,
might really dispense that justice which must have been
the intention of the legislature. But we maintain that, did
the commissioners comprise all the legal experience and
learning and sagacity of the country, it would be impossible
for them to dispense justice under the circumstances in
which they act. In the first place, is it not necessary to hear
considerately before determining any question, and can they
bear so as to understand and correctly adjudicate upon
three, four, or five cases, in the course of one short hour—
that hour, too, well known to be almost final, as regards
the interests in competition ? Every plan, it is equally
well known, that sharp practising attornies can adopt, is
used, to defer the important decision till the last con-
fused moment ; when, perhaps, a decision takes place,
more the result of obstreperous clamour and assurance,
than that of cool, deliberate, and unbiassed judgment.

We have a file of the Demerara Royal Gazette to the
Ist May. Tbey contain a proclamation of the Lieu-
tenant-Governor, Sir BEWJA MIN D'URBAN, respecting
the capitation tax for the year, by which those possessing
one slave are to pay 3g. 10s. and 1 guilder for all chil-
dren between three and twelve years of ago ; those pos-
sessing 4 slaves, 10 guilders, those 5, 15 guilders, those
6, 20 guilders, those 7, 25 guilders, those 8, 30, and
those 9, and upwards, 40 guilders ; from which increased
rate are exempted all planters residing on their estate,
the Lieutenant-Governor to the extent of twenty do-
mestic slaves, and the civil and ecclesiastical func-
tionaries, and others, in public employ. Tradesmen are
to pay for each slave employed in their several trades, 7
guilders. By an account of the receipts and expenditure
of the colony for 1829, it appears there was a great de-
ficiency. The former were 849.248.2.12, while the
latter was 896.942.12.8. The number of slaves was
68.519. Another proclamation of the Governor orders
that each person do pay a poll tax of 6 guilders for every
slave, excepting such as are employed in plantations,
trades, &c. and fines a certain tax upon estates in culti-
vation, the income derived from which exceeds 2000
guilders. Also, a colonial duty of 60 guilders per pipe on
wine in wood, of 2 guilders per dozen on wine in bottle,
(port excepted, which pays 1 guilder,) and 1 guilder per
gallon on all town spirits. A drawback of 50 guilders
to be allowed per pipe on wine re-exported. All
transient traders to pay au ad valorem tax of 5 per cent.
on their wares and merehandize. The beacon and ton-

nage duty of 6 slivers per ton, and 22 guilders on every
merchant vessel entering the port, to continue in force.
A tax of 22 guilders on every horse, except brood mares,
is to be levied, and 50 guilders on every two-wheeled
carriage, and 100 for every four-wheeled one, and the
following tax on produce:-3i stivers on every 100
Dutch lbs. of sugar; from 24 to 33 on every 100 gallons
of rum, according to quality ; 12 slivers on every 100
gallons of molasses ; 71 on every 100 Dutch lbs. of
coffee ; 931 on every 100 Dutch lb. of cotton; and 4
per cent. on account of all plantains sold, and cattle.

We have a series of the Tobago Gazette to the begin.'
ing of May. From the heavy rains which had fallen
there, the most serious apprehensions respecting the
crops were entertained. The Houses of Legislature
were sitting, and the following Message had been sent
'to the Legislative Council by the Governor :
" I have the honour to request that you will submit,
for the consideration of the Legislative Council, the Act
which has recently been passed in Parliament for reliev•
ing his Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects from all civil
and military disabilities, with certain specified objections;
and, to remove all possibility of doubt, whether this Act,
upon so important a subject, extends to the colonies. I
have to recommend to the Legislature to pass an Act de-
claring—that this statute extends to, and is in force in,
this Island.

(Signed) 4 4 NATH. BLACKWELL,
" Governor."
The Bill has passed the House of Assembly.
A day school, for the education of slaves, had been
opened at Grenada. Most of the Islands had had an
abundance of rain : at Antigua, so rapid a succession of i
rains had not fallen for many years peat; but, as re-1
garded this colony, they had produced a very salutary ef-
fect. The Houses of Legislature there had adjourned]
for one month. With the exception of two or three'
more clauses of the Slave Laws Consolidated Bill, little

or no business had been transacted. It was reported, at
St. Vincent, that Major-General Sir CHARLES PRATT
had been appointed to the government of that colony.—
No official intimation of this event had, however, reached
the colony, and the information was looked for with con-
siderable anxiety.

. CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK.
Consols opened this morning at the same price they
left off yesterday, 92i to 93 for the Account, with scarce
a bargain doing as yet ; the speculators are waiting the
arrival of an express from Paris, as by the last arrivals
from the above capital, it was expected that a further im-
provement would take place in the French Rentes. The
report of his Majesty being again much indisposed, has
damped the Consol Market. In foreign securities little
or nothing doing; at present the prices are much the
same as yesterday.
We have but little to communicate this morning,
owing to the non-arrival of mails and ship letters.
The last accounts from Buenos Ayres, state that Mr.
Miudeville, the French Consul there, has written a long
letter to the Government, in which he complains of ill
treatment, to which foreigners, and particularly French-
men, are constantly exposed in that city. He states
that the indignities and injuries to which they and their
property are subjected, are beyond endurance ; and calls
on the Government to adopt prompt and effectual mea-
sures to prevent their taking place in future. Tho Go-
vernment have promised to do every thing in their power
to detect the authors of said outrages.
LivEarooL, JUNE 17.-.--The Cotton market has ex-
hibited an animated appearance within the last two days,
the stock was considerable, and the prices were steady.
Sales of yesterday were 5,000 Bags.

CITY, HALF-PAST ONE.

This has been a very idle morning in the operations of
the Funds, and Consols have continued, to the present
time, 921 i for the Account. We have no information
to be depended on in regard to the French expedition to
Algiers, nor any other political intelligence.

, THE KING'S HEALTH.

(From the London Medical Gazette of June 19.)

About eight or ten days ago a very important change
began to manifest itself in his MAJESTY'S symptoms.
The diuretics, which had so long been inert, at length
came into full operation, in consequence of which the
dropsical effusion rapidly diminished, and the respiration
became proportionably improved. This event, which we
not uufrequently witness in such cases, after the most
active remedies have for weeks seemed altogether ineffi-
cient,has excited so much astonishment in the public
mind, that a variety of absurd and contradictory explana-
tions have been offered to account for it. One is, that
an abscess had burst in the chest, and the matter been
expectorated ; another, that his Majesty never had dropsy
at all ; and a third, that the relief had been produced by
a surgical operation—" an incision in the chest, in the
region of the heart," by which the water was removed.
None of these rumours are founded in fact, and the cir-
cumstance which we have above mentioned renders
the case sufficiently intelligible without them. The
operation of puncturing the chest is one occasionally
performed for the evacuation of fluid within the
chest, and which has recently been practised at seve-
ral of the London hospitals. We mention this because
it must serve to convince those who have suggested this
measure to hi Majesty's attendants that the idea must
have been familiar to their minds, and would, no doubt,
have been adopted, had the nature of the case rendered it
advisable. It is very seldom, however, that in cases of
dropsy such an expedient can be admissible. Indeed, it
is only where there is a circumscribed collection of fluid,
unattended with organic disease, that any encourage-
ment is held out for its performance. In a case of this
kind, which we attended a few weeks ago with Mr. Law-
rence, a collection of fluid within the chest was evacuated
by puncture, and the gentleman speedily recovered ; but
some idea of the general result of this operation, if adopted
at all indiscriminately, may be formed from the fact, that
in the practice of one of the most experienced physicians
in London, it has succeeded once only out of 12 times.
It is curious that it does not strike those who inundate
the palace with proposals for His Majesty's relief, that
their suggestions proceed upon the improbable supposi-
tion that they who do not know the exact condition of
the royal patient should be better able to minister to his
disease than the experienced and skilful men who are
constantly with him. Nay, some have insinuated that
the nature of the disease itself had been altogether mis-
taken ; founding this imputation on the very extraordi-
nary grounds of His Majesty having obtained so much
relief, when all hope seemed to be nearly at an end ;
but they forget that, by how much the more unexpected
the favourable change, by so much the more does it show
the excellence of the treatment ; for a single false step in
an individual labouring under the symptoms which His
Majesty is acknowledged to have had, could scarcely
have failed to prove fatal.
But it has very naturally been inquired why the phy-
sicians have not given a specific name to his Majesty's
complaint—why they have not spoken in language more
familiar to the public ear ? Let it be remembered, how-
ever, that they are not the only parties concerned, and
that there may exist obstacles to more explicit communi-
cations, such as they are unable to overcome. The con-
fidence which, even in private life, professional men are
accustomed to hold sacred, may here be strengthened by
express declaration of the Royal will. Nor can those
who regard the circumstance wo have just hinted at with
an impartial eye, find any difficulty in accounting for the
absence of more detailed information in the bulletins,
without imputing either a disregard of public opinion or
any other dereliction of their great and most responsible
duty to those talented and honourable men, to whom, and
to whom alone, by his own special desire, the care of the
Sovereign has on this occasion been confided.

With regard to the prospects of the future, held out by
the change in the symptoms which we have above de-
scribed, we lament to say, that the mere disappearance
of the effusion does not by any means justify the san-
guine hopes which some have entertained ; the evacua-
tion of the fluid can only give temporary relief, while the
organic cause which produced it remains behind. We
are under the painful necessity, too, of contradicting
the statements about his Majesty's returning appetite
and improving strength : though they have been current
in the highest circles, and given on the authority of those
who might be supposed to be well informed, yet are these
reports lamentably exaggerated ; and so fur from being
able to walk across the room, or to breakfast on " broiled
chicken," we know that two days ago his Majesty con-
tinued in the most urgent state of debility, and that his
sustenance almost exclusively consisted of clove-tea, and
candle with a little brandy. Till, therefore, there be more
decided renovation of the vital powers than has yet been
manifested, we greatly fear that the confident anticipa-
tions of the King's permanent recovery, which are in cir-
culation, must be looked upon as indicating the ardent
wishes of his people, rather than the reasonable hopes of
his attendants.