Star.
London, England, 1831-02-16 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE JOURNALS.

g* Iw coma/maw; of the length of Ae Parliaweagwy Debates an,'
Foreign Intelligence, we are obliged go *setae souse ezerciets from
the Journals qfvestirday with the Spirit of Ow Journals of to-day.

Meas.—The affairs of Belgium have from the beginning been felt
to involve the question of peace or war,--of the territorial aggrandize.
meet or inaeaaed power of France, with all Europe as her enemy,—or
of her moderation and controlled ambition, with the preservation of the
General Alliance. Hence the intense interest excited by every move-
ment or word of a set of inexperienced Belgic adventurers, who call
themselves statesmen because they are placed in a situation to em.
broil their betters; and hence the legislative assemblies of four neigh.
bouring nations—the only nations of Europe which have free It.
gislative assemblies—entertain the same inquiries at the same time.
Almost every day the French Chamber of Deputies, the Belgic Con.
gress, and the States General of Holland, are called upon to hear some
statement, or provoked to enter into some discussion, on these agitating
affairs. The Parliament of England has, till last night, abstained front
demanding disclosures, and the information which our Minister has
conituunicated was, very properly, scanty and reserved. The answEr
which Lord Palmerston gave to the questions put by Sir R.Vy eyan last
night was no departure from the usual course. The letter of Gen. Selma-
tiani seemed so extraordinary as to warrant some doubt of its authenti-
city, and the preparations on the French frontiers have been so emblazoned
as to require some explanation of their amount. The Foreign
lleactary having removed the former, and given the latter in the short-
est compass philitee, put an end to the conversation. The letter of the
chief of the Bei deputation at Paris, which fully accords with that
system of publicity to which we have above alluded, is a very singular
composition. It announces to the wondering Belgians what great men
their Deputies have become at Paris—bow they have been treated by the
Minister, and received by the King. It moreover informs them, that they
do not despair of yet inducing Louis Philip to give them his son for their
newly erected throne. Then the chief of the deputation dextrouly attacks
the interest of both rivals of the Duke of Nemours, by telling Congress
that the Duke of Lenehtenberg would not be acknowledged by the Allied
Courts, and that the entensions of the Prince of Orange would be op-
posed if he stifled. -What does all this mun ? Doss the French mi-
nistry intend, by this cajolery and coquetry, to keep the Belgic deputa.
don i n Paris till they can find some pretext for breaking their engage.
aunts with the rest of Europe, and accepting the proffend
crown ? If they are honest and sincere, why not have given an
answer at once ? Why =peon so many regrets about the
necessity of declining, fee the sake of pease, an offer, the refusal of
wMuchyd faith and seism pledgee a inevitable ? What other
Sowers can afterwards piss ransom the Belgians, so wheedled and
tied at the Fable' Nepal ?If we hod nit se great a reliance en
the character of the 11.12. et the French, we *add inspect a dish/met
juggle in tie winds alai peessedkg from the beibmkg to the end.
Fem.—We have often painted eat to ourtakes die diMMIIKS be-
tween practical statesmen and political charlatans; bat never until the
appearance of Lord Ahhorp's budget has the truth of our opinions
been so forcibly Illustrated or so usiversally admitted. Those persons
who were wont to complain of the quiet 4 unpretending, insioess-like
administration of public affairs by our late ministers, are now foremost
to attack the rashness and imbecility of their successors.
HZILIILD.—The Government deserve =Alt for having so promptly
yielded to public opinion in withdrawing the proposed duty upon trans.
fens of fended property. They have admitted their error, and by that
ready admission, atoned for it. We do not expect infallibility even in
ministers of state. To retract a mistake, is no discredit. The disgrace
attaches only to an obstinate perseverance in error. It was a detami.
nation not Ito go right, whenever they were convicted of being wrong,
and a wilful resistance to public opinion, which wrought the downfall
of the late administration.

Pries.—The subjsd et hes trade was busk before the House of
Commeas bet edght by Albumen Wai4:l:B"e twhich above all
°them Mem& the coosideratien of the with a view to the
expense of that system of imq Llioreaty and Political
Beseseep. It is our MHbmate elevision the the free trade
system is the ow poet evil to whisk any be traced all the
distress and ombaneomeent that at peolost Aids the country.
Nearly thirty millions of taxes have hose ratmed, yet the pre-
sure upon trade and ern the industry ot the people Is con-
tinually becombe nem beeiorabk. And taxes um usW be reduced
and all other expeditious Wad with no pmoer begat this bee hitherto
attended them, till the alma selt.eul ut selesipls issemishowl due
every branch of the trade sod saanuilecture or the Gaits, las aright
to the monopoly of the beer 4asobst.
Aersasiona--Tbe mew we renal on the abandonment ot the
tax on the Ands by the Chansdler of the Exchequer, the more are we
inclined tb meet that any bestestel junta should have prsvailed upon
him to &Weft it. 'The prepesd at the tax was a gait improvement
in the priaelblis of taxman hitherto pripomd e and however much a
tax on the tads, or a tax on land, may be maimed by those who hold
property Is din, there is as ens wbo bob at ohs real situation delft
country—the doormen& load ot
igi property which presses upon it, sad the
dreadful &gnosis. of
ils -every braaek—wbo will not ale-
measly aft is is that the tax which presses most on
1" asessilulde,. " mashes hot amps for the "span ion of "
hibilibehy, is the best fee thits=s The pops is abuts-
abandsnt emewites to et industry are
dim at hal se um be pesshessill by us awn than by any abet
pispb—ine strablany seat meg swum that of every other
eszehat ems, estratry weal' mime them m, If we mid sell at •
he ties na am de ;adis it est evident inn them fans, that
tll:BldElviiii "sold be *plod weld& be a tax on papacy, and
a et setionles dthe amiss which pram ea hideout ? How
somp mould net new he implored, who are wholly destitute
lle Ala how little injury weld be wastabsd by those who
tool PooPooll ?
This afternoon a Cabinet Council and a Conference were
held at the Foreign Office, in Downing-street.
CITY, ONE (YCLOCE
This morning Consols, which left off yesterday at 801 for
the account, opened at the same price ; and at present they
are 8031.
In the Foreign Market, little doing at present.
We have no arrivals this morning either of foreign mails
or ship letters.
CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.
The Funds continue steady. The highest price they have
reached this morning, were 801 for the Account ; and the
lowest, 801 to with little doing. —Consols are now
801 i.
There is not a feature in the Foreign Market worth ob-
servation. Prices mach the same as reterday.

Their Mu mine 711111011411 y extended their carriage air-
ing as far as flisishia, accompanied by Lady BEDING-
1111ILD, loath' the Palace soon after three and returning
towards five o'clock.
Prince LIOPOLD returned to the Palace last night.
Capt. Frreci.Ansics took leave and went back to towa
yesterday.
The Baron LINDRIMMIG arrived at the Palace last aigat.