Star.
London, England, 1829-08-22 00:00:00

BALANCE OF TRADE BETWEEN FRANCE

AND SPAIN.

This smart political squib, which appears in the Condi!stamens!,
is a very good sample of serious wit ; and, at the same tinw, a clear
exposure of a shameful and ruinous fraud,rrmitted, by the French
Government, to be practised on their own subjects, for the benefit
of Ferdinand VII. '• Since 1823, we have had a trade with Spain,
the balance of which is ruinous tu us. She furnishes us with sheets
of paper, to which she ascribes a certain value, but which she ge-
nerously lets us have at half.price. Sbe says that her importations
of paper into France have not, in six years, exceeded 227 millions
of francs, nominal value (9,C80,0001. sterling). and we must believe
her word, for we have no controul over the operations of her agent,
though he operates ua our purses. It is then a sum of about 114
millions in cash (4,056,000 L sterling) that Spain has received front
us, or 19 millions (760,0u0/.) a year.
N. Roy intended to put an end to this traffic ,• he had frankly de-
clared so on the tribune. We are even assured that he had provi-
sionally stopped the issue of ricks perpeltAthes, by the threat of
suppressing the quotation of them in the Exchange List. But
Roy is no longer Minister, to the great joy of N. Aguado.
The new Minister will have for his rule the public interest and
economy, as the Graxeme says. We say that it will follow, and will be
forced to follow, a rule directly opposed to that ; and we find the
first proof of what we say in the articles published in the Gazelle in
favour of N. Aguado, who yearly and very dexterously takes from
us nineteen millions. Would it not be an incontestible piece of
economy tu compel hint to leave them in our own pockets?
But it has been pretended for some days that there is really no
longer any Pyrenees ; that the two Cabinets are united by a tender
sympathy; that they are not without hope of being able to bestow
on us the happinesses which belongs to Spain ; iind that our new
Ministers, less severe guardians of our maternal interests than M.
Roy, will not disoblige their dear friends the Absolutists of the
Peninsula, by depriving them of a small revenue of nineteen mil-
lions, of which they have an extreme want, seeing that unhappily
absolutism and pOverty go hand in hand together.
We believe, how.ver, that it cannot be very agreeable to our
present Ministers that any Foreign Power should impoverish
France for its own benefit. It concerns them that France should
be rich, that she may be able to pay the thousand millions
(40,800,C001.) which is a capital point in French Finance, or
even more than a thousand ntilliata ; fur it is very possible that
there may be additions to make to the UAW, which is not a
perfect work, as every body admits. For instance, we du not
give the Clew half of what they had before the Revolution
e . de Mandel and Courvoisier may deem this Anti.Catbolic,
Anti- Miiarchic.l, revolutionary, intolerable, or, indeed, a e know
not what. Ws see also that the kiudget, by a saving sun of
economy, unworthy of a civilised people, gives nothing to the cour-
tiers, a race precious for the preservation of high fashion and polite
manners, while in the latter days of the old system, a certain tamily
which did nut render, and had never rendered the least service to
Se State, bat which was in favour at Court, did itself alone, every
*ear, devour 1,800,000 francs (72,008 i.) of the puhlic taxes`.—a fact
I revealed by an authentic document. Nuw we ask, will it be

( From the Journal des Debats of Wednesday.)
It is said that, alarmed at the noble refusal of Admiral de
Rigny, the Ministry of la Bourdonnayc-Polignac is already drivitlg
M. de Cbabrol from the hotel Ricoh to the Marine, and opening
negotiations with M. de Beads, for the purpose of inducing him
so accept the portfolio of the Finances. A man so justly esteemed
by the Chamber as M. de Bettis will not, without doubt, hesitate
in rejecting solicitations which have been unsuccessfully made to
men of worth, honour, and capacity. It would be an ill-under-
stood sentiment of devotedness which would induce him to tong&
In the guarantee of a Ministry which is shunned by the unanimous
cry of France. This would be to ruin one's self without saving
the Ministry.

From the Messager des Chambres of Wednesday.
INDEMNITY TO THE CLERGY.
We yesterday copied an article from the Cearrier des Eleaeurs,
relative to a project for indemnifying the Clergy. Though the
information given by that Paper is in substance correct, the mode
in which it will be carried into execution is wholly inaccurate.
The substance of the statement is as follows It is certain—and
the short-robed Jesuits no longer make a mystery of it—that one
of the preparatory measures which the faction expect from the
new Ministry is an indemnity for the property of the Clergy which
was confiscated In virtue of the revolutionary laws."
The Gazette, delighted at the idea of being able, for once at least,
to give a contradiction founded upon an appearance of reason,
hastened to reply to the statement in these terms
Where is the person who is not aware that the abandonment
of Church property in France was consented to by the Pope and
the Bishops, and consequently is consummated ; and that the 7,5
millions carried to the State Budget for the Clergy, form, in fact,
an imdemnity for the property which they lost ?"
The GaseUe is right. The idts of retrieving old endowments by
the aid of a thousand million of francs Is no longer the order of the
day, or at least it is postponed till better times ; far morunaiu is
equally applicable in respect to the priesthood ; it is an inalienable
possession. which is transmitted to posterity, like the fisherman's
ring—the church postpones, but never abandons. But the words
of the Ministerial Journal ought not, like the thunder-bolt in its
fall to the ground, to be loot in the soil; and, therefore, let tts re-
peruse the last part of the sentence, fur it portends much for the
future.

Yes, the 3b millions carried to the State budget d., indeed, form
an indemnity for the property which they lost; and it is this sum
which must be rendered immoveable, at whatever price.
Happily, we do not live iii those calamitous times when religion
itself was menaced, and we shall never again have occasion to witness
them. Let the Clergy turns an integral part of the people whom
they are called upon to console • but let them not exalt themselves
over every thing and every body. This, however, is what those
who now hold the reins of monarchy desire. The Gexeefe in a few
lines predic:s what the future will bring forth. Yes, it is in con-
templation to make the expense of maintaining the Catholic faith
figure perpetually in the Budget, and to found a Civil List for the
Clergy. And—repeat all the echoes of the party—is it not shameful
to see the Church annually holding out hs band to the nation?—
Is it not frightful to think that the caprice• of a majority of
Jews or Dissenters, and even Atheists, may by some trick or
scrutiny, destroy the free exercise of religion in France? Hia you
dare each year, in the face of day, to bring Goo before an earthly
tribunal? No. gentlemen, do not be uneasy ; banish those fears
which are so loudly proclaimed only to frighten the weak-minded.
Do not any longer lend year support to that divine Christianity
which certainly does not stand in need of it ; and do not be uneasy
about the interests of the faithful people and your own. As to
principles, the majorities may now make grave attacks upoe them,
it is true; but they would he powerless when made upon the wants
of masse.. The majorities would stand no more chance of destroy-
ing the Church than the Army, the Tribunals, and the Adminis-
tration itself. If it was possible to read your hearts another fear
would be discovered there. It would be seen that your feat of
majorities is that they would distinguish limits from prodigality,
and establi.ll an equal distribution of the just tribute to the State.
Thus let us endeavour to avert this future while fortune favours
IT, and let us begin by making sure of a clear and unincumbered
revenue of 35 millions, without imposts or tents; but do not let us
a.k for it in the funds. This would be wise, for they may fall or
rise according to the degree of public confidence; and, besides, in
whose name could we inscribe them in the Treasury ?

Thanks to the antiquated system that every thing conies home
and nothing goes out—we god contributors may hope in our old
days to see again established those old monasteries with their little
surrounding kingdoms; and that day, if the measure were adopted,
mly not be so far off as may be (maxi red. We have before said
the endowments multiply in an enormous progression ; and, mas-
ter of so many millions of which they would give no account, the
Cleriy might have used that economy In their expenses agani,t
which they cry out so much wisest we desire it.
Gradually their immense capital would bring to them 'all pro-
perty ' • one by one the fields would revert to them. Th. woods
would resist lonise, perhaps, but they would at least eerie to the
attraction of this immense body. Then vassalage would again rise
up of right upon the sod ; for, being no longer able to purchase an
bumble field for his family, the labourer would be forced to sell his
labour to his unremovable proprietor, and would become Chernme
lige de sew .4661
Thus, by this single measure, the clergy would be raised to the
rank of kings. for they would divide as immense prerogative, that
of a perpetual endowment; and, master of the half of France,
which they could feudalise as they pleased, they would continue to

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make the rest of the inhabitants pay a tithe of thirty-five millions,
without reckoning another sum of thirty millions which the clergy
receives from various sources, independent of the Budget. It will
then be for the Chamber of Peers to consider if it is worth while
to purchase by such sacrifices the advantage or hearing it said that
the misfits tunes of the Revolution have been slightly alleviated.
Accounts from Naples, dated Aug. 2, give reason to hope that
the unfortunate Gallotti will be sent back to Corsica ; but it seems
that a decree of perpetual proscription will be issued against him.
In the absence of the King, it is said the functions of the Lieute-
nant of the kingdom will be exercised by the Prince of Salermo. A
great deal of gold coin has been struck to supply the expenses of
the journey of the King and Queen, who, it is known, are about
to accompany their daughter to Spain.
M. Courvoisier has not arrived at Paris, as was thought ; and
the courier who was appointed to be the bearer of his nomination,
found him at Useful. It is said that M. Courvoisier was very
dilatory in giving his answer to the dispatches, and that it was
understood be had some private business to transact at Lyons be-
fore be set out fur Paris. The same courier was charged with
another dispatch for 31. Guernon de Renville, Procureur-General
at Grenoble, who would have been appointed Keeper of the Seals,
in the event of the refusal of M. Courvoisier.

THE EVENING STAR.

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