Star.
London, England, 1819-05-27 00:00:00

words be made actually heavier at one time than it
is at another. _ _ .

This point being set at rest, the only question on
which, there can be any difference among rational
men is, whether Gold or Silver would be the prefer-
able standard of value ? As to the direct effect which
the preference of either may have on the value of
other commodities there is no difference whatever ;
for the result, in the long run, must ever be the same,
in measuring quantities and comparing values, whe-
ther we measure by a golden or by a silver can, our
invariable standard, whether gold or silver, perform-
ing only the office of a measure.
But, in looking to the greater or less facility with
which the return to Cash Payments might be effected
by adopting the one metal in preference to the other,
we ate decidedly of opinion that Silver being the
standard of all the world except Britain, this metal
should be preferred as the immutable measure of
value, because, by adopting another, we partly in-
cur the inconvenience in relation to other States,
which we experience at home by having different
measures of capacity in different Counties ; and be-
cause by adopting Silver for our standard, the period
for the Resumption of Cash Payments might, for rea-
sons which we have stated oftener than once, have
been hastened.

But whether gold or silver be absolutely preferable
as a standard, is a matter of but secondary considera-
tion. One is absolutely necessary—one is now re-
cognised : indeed it was 'so by law before, only we
had got men among us who were maintaining, and
as far as their influence could go, endeavouring to
have it received, that our pound sterling had no mea-
sure of its value, but was its own measure. This de-
lusion is set at rest, and the great object now is, how
most speedily to ensure our return to the pr ictical
use of our legal standard of value, namely, gold.
As a powerful and infallible mean for the Com-
mercialits and Agriculturalists to insure for them-
selvetand the public generally the perfect and un-
assailable benefitaof a metallic currency, we have re-
commended the establishing of a new Bank on sound
commercial principles. This idea has, we learn,
been seriously taken up in the City, and some of our
first merchants aril monied men are now actually
occupied in digesting a plan which will soon he sub-
mitted to the public.

A Flanders Mail arrived this forenoon, and brought
Continental Journals to the 25th instant. The Brus-
sels Papers arc chiefly occupied with details relating
to the termination of the Session of the States General
which was closed on the '22d by a suitable Speech of
the Minister of the Interior, is the name of the Kt \G.

The Paris Papers of Monday arrived this morning.
The KING had as usual a grand Levee on Sunday;
after which he gave a private audience to Prince
LEOPOLD of SAYE COBOURO, who was attended by
the British Ambassador Sir CUARLES STUART. 1-115
Serene Highness intends, it is said, making a stay of,
some weeks at Paris.

The Moneeur has adopted the paragraph which
appeared in another Journal, stating that the Corona-
tion of Louts is positively fixed for the 25th August
next. The announcement may therefore be regarded
as next to official. The ceremony will take place, it
is said, in the New Church of St. Genevieve.
Another article from Copenhagen, of the 11th,
alluding to the same subject, observes :—" We see
that all the Gazettes of Europe are much occup'ed
with our secret discussions with Sweden. Most of
them have pushed their conjectures so far a. even to
compromise a Throne in the quarrel. We believe we
may safely affirm that none of the Courts who are
guarantees of the Treaty of Kiel have proposed to
CHARLES XIV. to establish himself in a less non; :ern
climate ; but we believe it is equally certain that he
has been strongly urged to pay the debts recognised
by the said Treaty. The affair will be arranged at
London by the Ministers of the Great Powers. It is
said that CHARLES XIV. has addressed to the PRINCE
Rimer a letter, in which he complains warmly of
[the oppression of certain Courts."
A letter from Stutgard, of the sth of May, says,
"Mr. Hamilton has set out within these few days for
London. He is the bearer of important dispatches
received from Italy."
The following is an extract of a letter from Rome,
of the Bth of May :—" The religious ceremonies of
Passion Week have greatly fatigued the Holy Father.
It is hoped, however, that his strength will not wholly
fail him, and that the pretensions of those who aspire
to the succession are fated to experience yet a longer
delay. Many caedidates are already designed; but
it is thought, that amid the parties which are starting
up, Cardinal Fontana is the likeliest to prevail, for
this very reason, that he holds himself aloof from
all party !"
We subjoin another interesting extract from a Letter,
dated Rome the 10th of May The Envoys of the
Protestant Princes, who have taken part in the con-
ferences of Frankfort, have been very honourably re-
ceived here, but their negociation has not yet com-
menced. The visit of the Emperor of Austria has
been made the pretext for putting it off; but the

Cardinal Gonsalvi now declares, that it will be neces-

sary to wait the return and second departure of that
Monarch before the conferences are opened. These
diplomatic delays cannot, however, have any influ-
ence on the decision of these affairs; for the Emperor
of Austria has no authority over the States 'of Ger

many, and we know besides, that the Envoys of the
Protestant Princes have peremptory instructions which
do not, in reality, admit of negotiation. They are
simply charged with presenting to the Pope the
Ecclesiastical Constitutions prepared by the Catholic
Clergy of Protestant countries and approved by their
Sovereigns. These constitutions maintain the invio-
lability of doctrine, but they re-establish the rights of
the German nation, such as they were fixed by the
Council of Basle."
The same letter adds :—" All the accounts which
have an ived here from Tunis agree in presenting a
frightful picture of the ravages which the contagion
has committed. The milady, it is said, is more ter-
rible than the ordinary plague, and it is seldom that
it does not carry off the person attacked in twenty-
four hours. The city of Tunis has lost more than
half of its population. The greater part of the vil-
lages of the interior are deserted : the flocks, aban-
doned, wander at large through the country : the
crops perish on the ground, and the general distress
is increased by want of the means of subsistence. As
if all these plagues were not enough, we learn that
the Arabs of the Interior have collected in a body of
.5000 horsemen, and are marching on Tunis, under
the command of a Tripolitan, named Califa el Haver.
The Tunisian Minister, Soliman Caya, has taken the
field with a body of troops to repel this invasion."
The German Journals complain loudly of the ex-
traordinary secrecy preserved with regard to Sand.
Whether he is yet alive or dead, none of them can
venture positively to affirm.

The Burghers of Meiningen, in Saxony, have re-
cently driven every person of the Jewish persuasion
out of that city.
The General Diet of Switzerland is expected to
have a long Sitting this year. Several matters of
the highest importance are about to be submitted
to them.