Star.
London, England, 1817-10-24 00:00:00

THE EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1817.
THE FUNDS.
pike of Stocks this day at Twelve o'aotk
Reduced 801—Cons. Sit—Cons. for Nov. 811
4 per Cent. 9711—Navy,1071—Intlea Bonds 99 190 pr.
Etebequer 1311 M, 17* to 335. pr.

In noticing yesterday the depression which had
taken place in the price of the Funds. we laid before
our Readers the various rumours which occationed,l
or which rose out of the fluctuations at the• Stock
Exchange. We could not possibly ascertain the de-
gree of credit due to the different rumours which fol-
lowed each other in such quick satcession ; but we
are now able to give a positive contradiction to some
of them. No fleet of British men of war has been
ordered out, nor have any agents of Government been
taking up transports for troops, nor have any con-
tracts for provisions been proposed or executed.
We eke find that we were right in refusing credit
to the report that there were 10,000 men on board
the Russia(' squadron from Revel. Indeed the most
eonfident report now is, that these ships have actually
been sold to Spain—that power being in want of men
of war, and Russia having mole than she needs.
They are, it is said, old ships, and have been dis-
posed of like any other article of commerce. It is
arca reported that this country end Holland hate
also been applied to by Spain for a similar purchase-'
of any such ships as may be to be disposed of. Such
is the account that is now chiefly insisted on respect-
ing the Russian ships. It is true that there are no
troops on board, and it may be true that the ships
bare been actually sold to Spain ; but, should the
latter fact not prove correct, the question wilt again
recur, wbat is the ulterior destination and object of
this armament ?
As to the alarms excited by the posture of affaiee
between Spain and Portugal, some of our contem-
poraries express themselves thus t
Much uneasiness has been sacked in the public
mind by the reports which arrived from Spain and
Portugal with respect to the march of troops on the
frontiers of those kingdoms. It is well known, that
unfriendly discussions have for a length of time ex-
isted between the two Courts. occasioned by the ad-
vance of the Portuguese forces on the left bank of the
River of Plate; but we are sure it will be satisfac-
tory to the public to learn, on information on which
they may entirely rely, that both of those Govern.
elitists have agreed to accept the mediation of the five
Powers who are parties to the Grand Alliance, and
we may, therefore, look with confidence to the speedy
and amicable termination of all those differences
which were tending to disunite the Crowns of Spain
end Portugal. It is with peculiar satisfaction that we
feel ourselves enabled to make this statement, which
must certainly remove all uneasiness on the subject."
s. Tisis Ailment remove all uneasiatu am the saYect 1"
What is there, in this statement, calculated to pro-

duce such an effect 1 ?his tiateaust does not pretend
to contradict the repels from 'Simla and Portugal
*NUN: the march yfrotiu ion the freatiffs of thou Eat,
doses. To tell the p(blic that the mediation of the
Allied Powers had been accepted to terminate the
differences between these kingdoms, is only to repeat
what has been known to all the world for many
moths. And to admit that, notwithstanding the pro.
fessed acceptance of such mediation, the Spaniards
have since marched a hostile army to the Portuguese
frontier, is at once to avow that one at least of these
Powers, in spite of the accepted mediation, has not
relinquished the use of other means to enforce its
claims. In a word, the march of the Spanish troops
in disregard of the proffered and accepted mediation
is, in common language, a relinquishment of every
hope from mediation, and an appeal to arms. We
mean not to alert that mediation and prudence may
not yet be able to avert the mischiefs of a more in.
veterate rupture, but we do think that to state a Ara-
vioady auspice/ nufiatioa, as an answer to apprehea
sions excited by a niburseat as of aginwioa, is to in-
salt common sense. The facts respecting the recess
suovemenss of the Spanish troops, c3nnot..be altered
by any thing that took place several months priori
Stough it be possible that the timely and friendly{
hsterposition of other Powers, may yet prevent more
angry displays of resentment—exactly as a similar,
interference might do had there been no previous
talk whatever about mediation.
In the City, however, the alarm about tke inter-
ruption of Peace bas subsided a little, as our Readers
will see from the improved price of the Funds since
yesterday.