Star.
London, England, 1826-03-18 00:00:00

USURY LAWS

Mr. BEATITCOTZ suggested it would be convenient to post.
poor till after the holidays the consideration of the Usury Laws.
The Right Hon. Gentleman (the Chancellor of the Exchequer)
having promised to devote his attention to the subject.
Mr. Sergeant ONSLOW was understood to acquiesce.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER observed, that
there appeared to be a disposition to throw upon his hands the
bantling, which certainly was none of his--(A laugh). An that had
' been said on the part of Ministers was, that when the B ll of the
Hon. and Learned Gentleman came .on for the second reading, the
views of Government on the subject could be explained. As the
time when this could most conveniently take place was in some mea-
sure referred to him, he would take the liberty of suggesting thd
10th of April.
After a short conversation between Mr. Hutment, Mr. Ser-
jeant Osscow, and the Cuarscm.t.na of the EXCHOWER, the Bill was
finally ordered to be read a second time on Monday the 17th April.

COMMIFTti OF SUFFLY.-CIVIL CONTINORNCIZS.

The House having resolved itself into a Committee of Supply,
Mr. HERRIES reminded the House that a Vote for £lOO,OOll
bad been already takes towards the Civil Contingencies of the
year. The Vote be had now to move fur, under this head, was
for .41100,000.
Mr. HUME objected to the estimates. He thought the
country was not in a situation to pay half a million of
money a year for Ambassadors. The expense *the Mi-
nisters and Consuls, both in Europe and South America,
was enormous,and he intreated the Committee to consider

whether we could go on in this increasing ratio of expense.
lie thought the Missions to the minor European Courts,
possessing no influence, altogether unnecessary, and
that those to the greater powers were upon a scale of
extravagance entirely unjustifiable. The Mission to
Paris was charged in the estimates the enormous sum of 30,000t.'
a sum greater than was paid by America ter the whole of her• Di.
plomatic establishments, IN the year 17911, the whole of our ex-
pense under this head of service was 115.0001. In the present year
it w#Ettill alitift of half a. railllon. Our Ministers abroad were
014 SO well as to be above their work ; reduce diem iris bar and
the work would be better done. These Estimates wait ess mares.-
ing year after year. He saw there was no less a wits charted, for
repairing the house of the Embassy at Paris, than IS. 1. That
things lama increasing, and he bad no doubt that this espouse of
the Embassy at Paris, would in a very sew years be 50,0001. if 'it
were not checked. The Honourable Member then enumerated
in detail the different sums charged for the expenses of our 'Minis
tars at different Courts, and contendid that in every 'nuance the
charge was excessive.

Mr. Secrerary CANNING said, that he would en-
deavour to follow the Hon. Member for Aberdeen, not,
indeed, through all the particular items which be had
gone into with such laborious accuracy, but only through
the prominent objections which he had made to the
Estimates before the House. He would confess, that
the Hon. Member had made his different objections
with perfect candour and fairness, and he would meet
him in .a similar spirit. He must also confess, that he
felt no little surpri‘e that the Hon. Member should be
so entirely dissatisfied with the present Consular system,
for it might be considered as a child of his own, an
of.pring of his particular fancy. When he (Mr. C.)'
came last into office, he found that the opinion of the
House of Commons had been taken upon the subject
of the system to be pursued in relation to our Miristers
abroad. Whether the opinion had been expressed in a
formal vote, or given in a way which only conveyed the
sense of the House, he was not quite sure, but he found
that he had no discretion to exercise, for it had been
determined, that the whole system relative to our Con-
suls should be done away, and that they should be put
upon a totally different footing. The new principle
was, that fees should be entirely abolished, and that
s darks should be substituted, to the extent of affording
a remuneration for their loss. He begged leave tb state,
that his own it.dividual opinion did not concur in this
arrangement. But he found the point already settled,
and his business was only to carry it into execu-
tion. Had the point been left to his judgment, or
could his , opinions have had any influence upon
the question, he should have expressed an opinion,
that there were many cases in which it would be
better to remunerate for services by fees than by
salary. But Government had only to follow a pro-
scribed ptincfple, that all private charges were abo-
lished, and remuneratory salaries were to be granted in
their stead. With respect to settling this arrangement,
he had attended to the subject himself, and of all diffi-
cult jobs he had ever undertaken, he must confess that
this was the most corn, lete. He had to go thsough
every part of the world, to hear the private cases of in-
dividuals, and, what n as must painful, he had to settle
how much this man's income had been abridged, how
much another had sacrificed, and these points ascer-1
tamed, he had to settle the degrees of compensation.
Tice t •sk of shooting in a crowd without seeing the victim
—of dealing out in de.atl the sentences of execution
,pronounced in the gross, was, he could assure the
House, far f►om a very grateful one. As far as he had
;et proceeded, he had received every day a emonstrance‘
against the system. In the course of the last therm years,
e had received applicati ns on the subject from d ffe.
ene parts of the world; these he had answered, Ana he
would state the result to the House. The buttheria to
which trade had been subjected, in the amount of fees
at different our-ports, according to the returns he had
received, were 61,1201. Tc is ;night be a great deal
Mt re, for lie bud not yet received ad the recut u► ; but he

[calculated that 700001. would cover everything:
.star
, ,
-es fetish.): bed been received, he could state, with -
titickiel icewracy, ;Rat the amount was 613201. -The
tyitem of Government was, that this sum should b.
taken from the private, and cat vied to the public lecOOnt..2
.He did not defend the principle, whether trade, in de-
tail,,could or could not bear fees, or whether fees were
or were not necessary, the system adopted was no decision
of his. When this sum was placed to the public ac-
count, it necessarily followed, that a proportionate in-
crease of charge would appear upon the Estimates.—
The Honourable Member for Aberdeen was aware that
last year the public had bought the Charter of the Levant
Company. The amount of fees that had been levied
by the Levant Company alone amounted to 20,0001.
If these fees were abolished, nut of which the Consul-
General under the Company had been paid, the pub-
lic must sustain the loss. The salaries to Consuls,
under the old system, had been 500001. The Le-
vant Consul's salaries had amounted to 11,0001.—The
Charter had been surrendered only last year, hut there
were extraordinary expences to t! e extent of 18,0001.
making in the whole 79,0001. It would he seen, by
a hal.nce of the extra charges with the fees formerly
paid, that there was a relief to the public of 61,004.
If the public now paid what had been formerly paid
by the merchant, the sum so discharged was to be
considered as a relief to the trade of the country. Thus
the trade was relived to the extent of 61,0001. and all
that had been done under. the old system for 61,000 i.
was now done for 49,0001. so that, in point of fact, the
trade of the country had been relieved to the extent
of 12,0001. a year. With reference to the Consuls ap-
pointed to South America, it would not be necessary
for him to enter into any details, as the Hon. Member
for Aberdeen had been perfectly fair upon that point..
But he would state that he had wished to get the im•
mense mass of matter upon this subject into some
shape and order. This was a new sea to navigate;
there were no measures in Europe which would apply
to the adjustment of these expellees, and a priori, it
was impossible to say what those expences would be.
He had endeavoured to feel his way by procuring the
most accurate returns of every item of expenrst, in
order to form a judgment; and in proportion as
he got information, he endeavoured to shape, as
much as possible, the Establishment of Great Bri-
tain to South America, by ;he other establishments)
of Europe. It was difficult to form any analogies
with a country, where a person might buy a horse 1
for a dollar, and pay two guineas for shoeing I
him. A priori, it was difficult, under such circum-
stances, to adjust any scale of expenses: but he had
come to a resolution of placing the establishments of
our Ministers to Buenos Ayres and Colombia upon the
scale of the second class of the Embassies to the Courts
of Egrope. With reference to the Missions to Europe
generally, he could say that the present Estimates were
precisely on the scale which had already received the
sanction of Parliament in 1816, excepting where he
had effected some reductions; for as to augmentations
there were none. The reductions to which he had al-
luded had fallen on some of the small Courts, such as
Sweden, Frankfort, Saxony, which the Hon. Member
had said were of no importance. To carry this princi-
ple so fir as to withdraw our missions, -because such
Courts were insignificant, and of no political import.
ance, he must say that the Hon. Gentleman was setting'
up a principle which did surprise him beyond all ima-
ginary expression. It never had been the principle of
this,eountry to neglect minor Governments of the Con-
tinent. Although he would not anticipate the crisis in
Wtich those might hold high their heads who were now
made low, the time might come when we should not
repent that we had not withdrawn ourselves from such
States during the period tff their fallen fortunes. From
generals, the Hon. Member had descended to particu-
lars, and he cites, as an example of extravagance, the
Embassy to Paris, and declates that the annual ee-
proses have been 30,00 W. and that going on at the rate of
preceding augmentations it might soon arrive at .50,0001.
The Hon. Member must be aware of the fallacy of citing as a
regular annual expence, disbursements which have fallen within a
?animist year. H. would allow that the items complained of did
require explanation. The expenses of the mission to Paris were
swelled by very extraordinary repairs to the hotel of the Ambas-
sador. In order to understand the transaction, it would he needs-
eery to state the whole history of it. In the year 1814, it bad been
thought right to purchase a hotel, furnished, and iu a part of the
capital most convenient for public business. The hotel itself was
to be of a description agreeing with the rank of au Ambassador from
Ragland, and the coot amounted to eighty thousand crowns.—
This purchase was made twelve years ago. No expenses were
Incurred on this subject for the last eve or six years of Sir C.
litewart's mission. In 1824, as large a suns as 5,0001. and upwards
wag voted in the civil contingencies for the repairs of this hotel.
Mita had excited his attention to the subject, and on the first
opportunity, which was on the occasion of a change of the
Minister, he desired that the Treasury would send some English
architect to Paris to survey the house. and see whether it did re-
quire repairs, and to what extent, and to make an English survey
On the state of the premises, and to repair or get rid of the house, as
circumstances might justify. Mr. Smirke had accordingly reported,
first, that such another house was not to be got in Paris, and that if
k was advisable that the British Ambassador should have a hotel of
shat description, it would be impolitic to part with this. lilt
Report further stated, that to make the house sound and weather-
tight, would require between bye and six thousand pounds.—
Upon this Report of Mr. Satiate, the 'l' y issued an order to
the Board of Works to undertake these repairs, and Mr.
Wyatt was accordingly sent to Paris to superintend the work.
To his (dr. Canning's) utter dismay and astonishment, the
Report of Mr. Smirke, which had estimated the repairs at
5,5551. sterling, was superseded by a Report from Mt. Wyatt,
who nsade the expense amount to 17,0001. and the furniture,
which for twelve years had not been renewed, was replaced
.at an expense of £7,000. Thus an expence was Incurred
`4if no less than £23,000; and the only consolation was, that the
architects gave an assurance that the work was done in an English
workmanlike manner. (a laugh.) Orders had been sent to Paris
to see if the house could he sold to such an advantage, that the
interest of the money Tor which the house would be sold, added to
41,000 deducted from the Ambassador's salary, would equal the
rental of auother house adequate to the residence of an English
Ambassador. The Report received from Mr. Wyatt discouraged
the doing of any such thing. The value of this hotel or house had
'risen during these twelve years. That was to say, that the
number of houses or hotels in Paris, of that description, had in the
interim, decreased. It was the same as if Devonshire House, Bur-
Magoon House, Camellord House, Marlborough House, and three or
four others in London (for there were not more than three or tour
ether such houses even its London), he meant such houses as had that
space of ground before them, which, in Paris, constituted' an hotel,
had recently diminished in number to such an extent that it was
dillcult to get one. Inquiries had been set on foot, whether, if this
had of the English Ambassador was to be sold, another could be
hired or bought. Its one instance the demand had been 15 OW
francs a month, or 4251. sterling a month, or about 70001. sterli.og a
year. Another house in the Rte St. Howe was offered at 9,000
francs a month unfurnished. Numerous applications had come to
him front various persons col:nested with aim Government of
France. representing, that if the English Ambassador were to
give up his Hotel, it would argue, that the connectioo between
the two Governments had become less strict, and that the I.:lig-
ht's Ministry was contemplating a dissolution of connectiose—
jThese things would not have stood in the way of any change; but
edging from what Lord Grenville had been obliged to pay tot four
mouths' hue of an hotel at Paris. he had thought it right to incur
the eeperibe charged in the Estinsatss. Lord Granville had paid
for four months hire of an hotel at Park, suited to his dignity and
public sestina at the rate of a,., 101. a year. It Was as wall in state
that use only Ambassadors who kept up such tatablishments at
larts were the English AmbasaaJot a mid Use ItuaLtin Ault,. i wiatturs ;

c

And it was thought proper that tire Thresh Amhassador *should
hold his bead as high as the Russian Ambassador. Ti 4 Hon.
Member for Aberdeen had stated that the expenses bad in this
year swelled from 6,0001. to 23,0001. ; but be wished the
Honourable Gentleman to recollect, tkat, in the last summer
en Extrao dinary Embassy bad been lent to. Paris, to am.
gratulate the King of France upon his accession to the
Throne. This had occasioned an increase of expence. Now be
wished to inform the House, that the Noble Duke (Northumb.,.
land), the moment he was nominated to that Embassy, had at once
offered to defray the whole of the expence of it oat of his own pocket
(hear). 'lbis he felt It but justice to the Noble Duke to state ;
but he (Mr. Canning) should hate felt ashamed if Governmen:
had allowed themselves to accept of -so generous an offer (hear,
hear). lu looking to the molar( of such .an expenditure as this,
it became necessary to look back to forgoer periods of a similar
nature upon which to found a bask and he found that the cal-
culated expence would be from 20,000iL to 10,0001. Ile did not
mean to say that such an expenditure upon former occasions was a
wise one, or one proportioned to the country's means; but he felt
that while, on the one hand, it would nut be right to incur such
an expense to the country, it would, on the other hand; be unjust to
allow one of the first Nobles of the laud, when called to represent
his Sovereign, to pay the whole expense, or that the King and
Country should be served gratuitiously upon such an important or.
casion. It was therefore agreed upon to present the Noble licks.,
in the name of his Majesty, and as a mark of respect and esteem for
his services, which might be handed down to his family, a diamomi
sword, valued 10,00(K., a sum not amounting to one-half of •••114
the Embassy cost his Grace. The sword was presented, and ca-
tered down as a testimonial of the country's sense of the Noble Duke's
services. He thought the House must feel with him, that after the
very generous offer of the Noble Duke, some tribute was due to
him, which might beperpetuated in his family--(Hear,hear).--He
believed he bad now answered all the inquiries of the Honourable
Member ; if nor, he was ready to give suck further explanations as
might he required. He should therefore conclude as he had begun
as to the Consular regulations; with respect to those which were
new, they were matters of trial and experiment ; arid be could not,
of course, answer for them. The Committee would perceive that
he bad regulated the whole of these matters to the Dist of his
power, but be felt at the same time. that he would hate been
perfectly justified an taking the whole of the Consular fees, and
distributing them among the Consular establishments. his he
had not done, but had saved to the country £l2 000 annually.
Mr. BERNAL said, be found in Class Ne. 2, of thes: Bs•r-
mates, two items upon which be begged some explanation. They
consisted of Presents for Rereign Ministers. The first vra.,
" Meurs. Rundell, Bridge, and Rundell, in discharge of their
bill for a gold snuff box, as a present Irom his Majesty to the
Danish Minister, on the exchange of the ratifications of a Com-
mercial Convention, signed in London on the 16th of June, 1824,
10tie1. ISi." The next was, " luool. to the Russian Cbaucery, on
the exchange of the ratifications of a Convention, signed at St. Pt.
tersburgls on the 28th of February, 1825." This was a very large,
and, he conceived, an unnecessary expenditure or public ntoney.
Mr. Secretary CANNING said that these were diplomatic pre-
sents, and had been given upon such occasions for a very great
length of time throughout Europe. He wished, while on his leg',
to explain a mistake into which he had fallen with respect to the
expenditure of Lord Granville at Paris. He had described it to
be one-half more than the sum allowed by this country, but since
he had sat down, be had been informed that the expenditure of
drat Nobleman was double the suns allowed for bid embassy.
' Mr. BAILING expressed his disapprobation of the system of
appointing Consuls at fixed salaries, and restraining them from
commercial occupations.
Mr. Secretary CANNING did not entertain a genera; objection
to the union of the commercial profession with the office of Coe-
sul. His rule extended only to the exclusion of new Coln
from commerce.

......
Mr. HU MR again adverted to the subject of the repairs of the
Ambassador's house at Paris. He understood it was fitted up in
as splendid a style as any house in London. (Mr. Canning said
" Very welL"—A laugh).—lt was not very well, but very ill.
He could see mend of the extravagance. He should like w have
seen a detail of the 73,0004 that was over and above the estimate
of last year.
Mr. HERRIES said, the particularscould not be stated in the
estimates of this year, as it formed part of the unexpected e.ti.
sates. It was therefore included in the 700,0001. The particulars
should be at the Hon. Gentleman's service to-morrow, if be likes.

Mr. HUME inquired upon what principle the sum of lirO,Ourg.
for the outfit of Foreign Ministers Jew calculated.
Mr. BERRIES replied, that whets perms* see* advanced to a
situation of higher valueobey merely received the dikerence be-
tween the allowance, not a double outfit.
Mr. HUME observed, duo there was a sum charged far chapel
plate and furniture for the Governors of Antigua, Dominica, and
Sierra Leone; and silver boxes for the Great Sisal.—(A laugh.)—
Good God ! said the lion. Member, does the preservation of the
colonies depend on these silver boxes,
Mr. HERKIES teplied, that they were perqui4tes attached to
the office ; arid not metely so, but necessary adjuncts.
Mr. H U al E then put various questions relative to the outfits of
Ambassadors, the appointment of a Consul at Algiers, and the ex-
pense of plate and a canopy of state for the -Embassy at Madrid.—
lie protested against silver boxes being given to the Coeditors of
such places as Sierra Leone, Antigua, and Dominica, and to the
Great Seal, upon new appointments. He also complained of the
item of charges for the Life Guards on account of the extravagant
frippery of their dress. Nothing could be more painful to a mai, of
feeling than to Ste the gaudy and expensive frippery in which the
band of the Guards were dressed when they assembled he:ore the
King's Palace, surrounded by thousands of squalid, starving people
who bad to pay for these gewgaws. The expense of these kettle
drums was enormous. He understood that a trumpeter's jacket
cost upwards of seventy pounds. He next complained of the esta-
blishment at Bethke for supporting Slaves, which had came inns
the hands of Government, and which cost the country nearly £4OOO
a year, thrre being only about 3UU Negroes. lie wished to k•iii3,
whether any arrangement was to be made for ridding the cOliit.
of this expel", (These questions were each put as the ChArni;.:
was in the aci of reading the vote, and each received a sattsfac-
, tory answer.)
Mr. HUME remarked, that 13,0001. was charged on account
of expeditions for discoveries. He hoped that some public betiens
would accrue from this charge.
Mr. WI la M OT.HOKTON said that the individuals bad con-
ducted themselves With great talent.

NATIONAL OALLERY.
Mr.-HUME adverted to the sum of 4,6431. on account of the
National Gallery, and inquired the mode in which the purchases
were made, and under whose opinions?
Sir C. LONG observed, that two years ago .eke Honourable
Member had been one of the warmest advocates of this gallery,
and said it was disgraceful to the country that it was not established
before. It was his (Sir C. Longs) opinion that it was unedvi.able
to purchase whole collections; but that individual pictures should
he purchased. The pictures were purchased according to the opi-
nions of persons whom the Treasury thought competent; .these
persons were the -Earl of Aberdeen, Sir George Beaumont, S;r
Thomas Lawrence and Mr. &quiet.
Mr. HUME remarked, that there was a charge of 3501. for %Ir.
Fitileissiti. lie did not object to this; Mr. Finlatson was a man ui
ability ; but he wished to know when the duty upon which he w.s
employed would be completed. Your years had elapsed since he
had commenced his laborious and useful undertaking in making
calculations for annuity tables.
Mr. lIER II t ES replied, that he was unremittingly employed In
a very arduous duty; but it was impossible even fur Mr. Finiaason
to tell when it vloallikely to be completed.
CHOKER bore testimony to the great diligence and
talents of the individual in question. He had beets in his office
at one period, and his heel never in his life known a man ut
greater industry. Beyond the ordinary business of his %itill-
tion he sat up at nights and rose early in the mor 1111 l g, to
indulge in the put suit* consonant with the bent of his natulai
genius. He had dune great good by his labours, especially in the
errors he had discovered in Dr. Price's tables.
Mr. COURTENA Y also bore testimony to the assiduity of Mr.
Finlaison. _ _ .

Mr. 11 UME next objected to the charge of 1,5001. for defraying
the expenses attendant upon the investiture of John VI. King of
Portugal, with the Order of the Garter.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that there
were fees payable upon all public appointments. lie hint elf, he
believed, had paid about 5001. upon his own.
Mr. HUME further wished to mesinon an item of 1661. for en-
graving two seals for the Island of Tobago. If the colonies desired
to have seals, they ought to pay for them themselves.
Mr. WI LEI OT-HORTON said that the custom had been con-
stantly f.,r Government to pay.
Tnc vote of chg. tor making an index to the Statutes respecting
Ireland, was objected to by Mr. Hews as extravagant.
Mr. GOULBURN said, that the work wa-i of great utility,
and by no means of easy construction.—The vnte'veas then agrr, d to.
The twat was fur a sum of 15,1,0410 r theennsular Eitablishmen...
Mr. HUME ebbed why Me. Waft bad been put un a reit. Lti
potsioa.
. Mr. *They CAN NINP thalk that b, found Mr. Wist's o fire
useless, and he houfithell tt. Ily tamicing Mr. Wit& {lOll

1
.:

. THE EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

•
SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 1526.
STOCK EXCHANGE, TWELVE O'CLOCK.
The Bulletin publibked yesterday afternoon, of the improving
state of his MAJZSIT'S health, has entirely dissipated the many
various reports in circulation yesterday, and has disconcerted tke
speculations of the Bears. Consols opened this morning at 774 j
fur the Acuount, and plain steady ; they are now at 77j to 78.
The operations in the Como! Market are very limited, and there
Is scarcely a bargain doing.
In the Foreign Market, Colombian, Mexican, and Chilian Stock
have improved, and the Market is rather brisk in the above Se-
curities. 'ln Old Spanish nothing is doing.
Current Prices: Mexican 66j 67, Colombian new SO, Russian
784, Greek Bonds 174 181, Exchequer Bills 4 to ‘premium.

PRICK OF STOCKS AT FOTJIt O'CLOCK.
Bank Stock Shut.
3 i.ci Cent. ked. Shut.
3 per Cent. Cons. 77N 78A 78
31 per Cent. Shut.
3i per Cent. Red. Shut.
4 per Cent. 95% 96
Long Ann. Shut.
India Stock Shut.
India Bonds. 3 4 prem.
£l,OOO Excheq. Bills 5 6 4 5 prem.
A.:509 ditto 5 6 4 5 prem.
(x) and nut) ditto 5 6 4 5 prem.
Cow. for Acct. 77 A7B 78 71A

THE KING'S HEALTH.

In a part of our impression yesterday we inserted thel
Second Bulletin of the KING'S Physicians, anncuncing
the happy improvement in the health of his MAJESTY;
and we feel additional gratificau in announcing to
our readers that that we have received ac ounts from Wind-
sor this forenoon, which state that colt beloved Monarch
passed a good night, and is much better this morning.
The moment the third Bulletin arrives, we shall com-
municate it to our Readers, who may, however, impli-
citly rely on our statement as to his MAJESTY'S health.
The following are copies of the bulletin received yes-
testerday afternoon, and of a letter from Windsor,
written last evening:

" NINO'S LOBOS, WIIIIIIOII4 MARLIN 17,1826.
" The lime has bad a quiet night.—His Mai/Ant is
almost free from fever and is better.
(Signed) " HENRY HALFORD,
" M.ATTIIEW JOHN TIERNEY.
" HENRI HERBERT SOUTHEY."

.4 WLVDIOII, M•IICII 117.

" You will be gratified to hear t hat the &Retie' of this day states
that kis MAJILSTV has passed a quiet night ; is this morning almost
free from fever; and is pronounced by his Physicians to be better.
I have the pleasure to add, that asp to s►e moment of nit writing,
kis M aatsry mistletoes to improve. His Royal Highness the Duke
of YORK visaed his Mists Ir at the Royal Lodge yesterday after-
noon, at two o'clock, sad continued with his Royal Brother nearly
two *ours, after whic► be retuned to London."

The unpleasant rumours sh'ch were afloat in the
City yesterday, in reign-ace to the is:dispel:lft d we beloved

Monarch, though without the slightest rbundation, had the eitek
of 'temporarily depressing the 'Wide; which is little to be tion-'
dered at in the present feveri.h state of the. money estirliei.,
With an impending roan, the dine and condititins or effecting
which are not yet clearly ascertained, the mere breath (If
opinion Will agitate the Stuck Exchange in a moment. The
Loan, however, is of such small extent, thlt It cannot der, mush
affect the price of Stocks fur anv length (lame. It will; however,
call in so mush of the circulation now existing in the `arm of Bank
paper as will be equal to the price which may be obtained fcir the

new Stock. The six millions of Exchequer Bills, already 'with-
drawn from circulation by the Bank,-had been replaced by so much
Bank notes. The repayment of that sum will return the same
amount to the Bank, by withdrawing it from the Capitsliats who
may purchase the intended new Stock. But this sum being re-
turned will enable the Bank to enlarge its discounts to such a point
as prudence may justify, and thus place that great Corporation in a
state to begin immediately the system of Branch Banks in the Pro-
vincial Towns. We presume therefore that the Loan will not exceed
sig millions, and that the other three millions owing to the Bank for
advances to the Sinking Fund, will be discharged from time to time
in the course of the three ensuing quarters by the growing pro-
duce of the latter; and thus nine millions of the ordinary circula- ,
tion heretofore existing in the shape of Exchequer Bills will be
withdrawn, and replaced as circumstances may require, by notes
convertible into gold. It is of course to be expected that the paper
medium must be somewhat curtailed in consequence. But this must
promote a metallic currency to the extent of the deficiency.

SECOND EDITION.

STAR OFFICE, THREE O'CLOCK.

We stop the press to insert a copy of the official Bul-
letin of the Kr ties health, just received from Windsor
it is of the most gratifying description, and its b. ing
signed by only one Physician is the most striking evi-
dence of his MAaerry's convalescence.
" Kusa's LODGE, WISDOM& PARE, MARCH 18, Nooa.
" The KING has had another good night, and con-
tinues better:*
(SiPed)

" HENRY HALFORD."

Besides the official announceme►►t of a Regency in
Portugal, we have seen a private letter from a British Nasal Officer
of high rank in the Tagus, which states that there was not the
smallest probability of the Knies recovery; according to all ap-
pearances, therefore, we may conclude that his MAOIST?, dissolu-
lution has taken place ere now, in which cue we may pay the
memory of that Prince this just tribute of praise, that a more sin-
cere friend to Englishmen, and a mere affectionate ally of the British
nation, never
It is beyond doubt that a strong party existed and still exists
in Portugal, hostile to the interests of this country, which they
ignorantly imagine has made undue advantage of the commercial
treaties by which the connexion between both nations has for so
many ages been.cemented,from the sordid motive of mercantile gain.
These opinions have ever been fostered by French influence. But
the Kw., and the more rational part of the Portuguese. justly
considered that in the first place, their existence as an independent
Kingdom, was exclusively owing to the powerful protection of
Great Britain, and in the next place, that the vast consumption
of their otkly exportable products, such as wine, was eminently
promoted in this country by its being admitted at only Two-
thirds of the duties _impo.ed on the wines of the most favoured
nation, and that a market was thereby created for it in England,
which was more than ten, times as great as the whole world beside,
could have presented. The means of raising those productions were
moreover afforded by British capital--ed that in truth the whole
wealth and iiade of the country bad its source and being in its tom-
merce with this country.

We have received Celeutta Government Gazettes to the
Ist of November last, by which we learn that the army at Procne
continues in excellent health, and is well supplied with provision
and cattle. The accounts from the Doug) indicate an intention
of carrying on hostile operations there on a great scale. Orders
bad been received at Agra and Muttra to provide for an army
of twenty-five thousand men.
The Supplement to the Gazette of the list October, coqtains a
curious account of the meeting of tbe English and Burmese Pleni-
potentiaries to treat of the preliminaries of peace. It appears that
the British Commissioners reached Nembeeziek on the evening of
the 30th ultimo, where the ground was found prepared fur the
encampment of the respective Chiefs, and a Lotoo, or ball of
audience, erected its the intermediate space, equi-distant from the
British and Burmese lines.

At two o'clock Major-General Sir A. CArrizu. and Commodore
Sir J. Bonus*, accompanied by their respective suites, pro-
ceeded to the Lotoo, and met the Burmese Commissioners, Kaz
Women and LAT Mart; Woes* entering the hall, arrayed in splen-
did state dresses. After much shaking of bands, Sir A. Castrate'.
opened the conferences with an appropriate address to the Woen-
gees, who replied in courteous and suitable terms, and expressed
their hope that the first day of their acquaintance might be given
up to private friendship, and the considefaticn of public business
deferred until the next meeting. This was readily assented to, and
a desultory conversation then ensued, In the course of which, the
Wong's* conducted themselves in the most polite and conciliatory
manner, inquirfng after the latest news from England, the state of
the King's health, &e. and offering to accompany Sir A. Calmat!.
to Rangoon, England, or wherever be might point out.
On the forowing day the appointed meeting took place, for the
purpose of discussing formally the terms of Peace, at which the
following Officers were present on our side, viz.—Major-General
Sir A. CAMRiltit. K.C.B. Commodore Sir J. Bansaire,
Brigadier-General Corpon, Captain Aexxitinen, C. 13. Brigadier
M'Cnaann, C.B. Lieut.-Colonel Tsar, C.B. and Capt..Satonaaass.
On the part of the Burmese there was an equal number of Corn
missionerL In the discussions which took place on this important
occasion, the Woongem endeavoured to persuade the British Com-
missioners to withdraw the demands for territorial cessions, and
indemnification for the expences of the war. They dwelt on the
Chinese war, which had terminated, they said, with" exaction or
permaner. sacrikea on either part, and the two countries had.
ever since lived in peace and friendship. Finding that no ma.
terial relaxation cobld be obtained in the terms originally offered,
the Woongees requested a prolongation of the Armistice, to
enable them to refer to their Court on points of so much im-
portance. This request was granted, and an extension of the Ar-
mistke was accordingly agreed upon until the 2nd of November.
&fore parting, an exchange of prisoners was proposed by Sir A.
Casstam.e, and assented to. The Burmese Commissioners promised
that the whole of the British and Anierican subjects in their bands
should be liberated, and sent to the British bead quarters without
delay. Sir A. Campsite, having invited the Burmese Commission-
ers to dine with hint on the following day, at 12 o'clock, on the
4th instant, a repast was served up in the Lorne, now converted
into a banqueting-hall. The Wongeee, Atawoons, and Waft-
docks, twelve in number, were punctual in their attendance, and
did ample justice to the dinner, in the course of which a buMper
was drank to the health of the Krum and Royal Family of Ara.
The Burmese Commissioners appeared to be much delighted with
the attentions they esperiaked, observing, that the meeting of
the Chiefs dills; two contending armies at a paddle entignain-
,.nient, in the made! tit *tar! VICS an extraordinary proof of mutual

iirod!d f..itii and ceinflilenCe, anti Worthy of two lertis gme ate
clei/iati 'taking, who, they hoped, would never encounter each other
nitain its arms. And Awrwocut added, that the sun and moon were
under an eclipse, but that, when peace *as restored, they would
thine in the astonished sends, wkh increased brilliancy and spien.

,dour.—Further negoelations and proceedings were, of course, sus•
petled, until decision of the Court of Ava should be known on the
14communleatioos made by its Commissioners.

The French Papers of Wednesday and Thntsby
have reached us, hut thee contain nothing of interest except chi
*perch by which Viscount CHATEAUBRIAHR put an end to the legality
of the odious traffic in Christian Slaves, which, since the war in
Greece, existed in the Levant. The eloquence of M. CHATEAU.
IRIAN° seems to have inspired the Paridans with wonderful enthu-
siasm, for subscriptions are going on vigorously in their behllf.
The Greek Chronicle of onghi, of the 28th of
January, contains a correspondence between Captain Assort., of his
Majesty's corvette Rose, and the Authorities of Nliss..longhi. It
appears that the Captain PACHA had requested Captain Assorr to
inform the Greek Authorities, on the 27th of January. that in the
space of eight days from that time, all the preparations would be
ready to give the assault to Nlissolonghi ; hut as the Captain Not*
desired to avoid the effusion of blood, he wished to know if the
garrison of Muolonglai would capitulate, and on what conditions?
' The Gr:sek Chiefs returned for answer, that nothing could indem-
nify Greece fits her sufferings, but liberty and-independence—that,
as for the threatened attack, they were ready fur it, and trusted,
with the help of Gon, to be able to oppose it, as they did that of
Ittoscmio Pacua in .July last. They conclude their letter by saying,
" The Captain Pacha is alto aware that we have a Government, in
compliance with whose decrees we are bound to fight and die. To
that GOVtinmein let hint therefore address himself, and negociate
peace or war."

Letters have been re:rived from Lisbon, dated one
day later than the Oaxaca One of the letters states that the
King of Postruciat. died on the morning of the Bth inst., hut there
is reason to doubt the correctness of this statement. The following
'is so extract from a letter received by the last Mail :-
1 " LMaOa, Mason 7.

" We have been on the eve of some confusion here ' • the Kink
was takeig suddenly ill, and during the course of the day (yester-
day) it As very doubtful whether he would recover ; indeed, be '
was so ill that all hopes of it was given up, and having made I
no testamentary disposition, the Queen would have come into
power at once, as Regent ; when probably a system of vengeatice
would have followed, in the event of the King's death.—
Happily, however, yesterday noon he got relief, and his Ministers
having suggested to him the necessity of providing for the worst, he
signed a decree appointing a Regency, and placed his daughter (the
Infanta Isabel Maria) at the head of it. They are to act until the
King's recovery ; and in cue of his death, until the pleasure of
Don Pedro (who will be proclaimed King) is known. The King's
recovery is ardently hoped for by everybody, with the exception of
the Queen's party, which is an insignificant one. The nomination
of the Regency has given' universal satisfaction; the Princess. is
highly esteemed, and the other members are also popular."
No measure ever proposed to Parliament has given
more univeraal satisfaction than that of Mr. Pam. for the reform of
our Criminal Law. " There is," as the The Morning Mean&
says, " but one voice on the subject." The Dublin Evening NW
says, " He bas done more for the laws of England, for their just
administration, and even for the liberty of the subject, than any
Minister, •we will fearlessly assert, since the Revolutlbn ;" and
The Scatspian, speaking of the measure to which we have alluded,
says. " We laud him by whom this good_ is new effected—we hail
the times in which it has been accomplished." These testimonies
from three Journalists, who are very slow in ascribing merits to
Ministers, are but the echo of the public voice, which is unanimous
on the subject of those improvements Mr. Pam. is introducing in
our Criminal Law.
Private letters from St. Petenburgh of the 28th inst.
give evidence of the pacific views of the new Essrmioa, who has
declared to his Senate, his wish to maintain peace and his determi-
nation to reduce the Army,and turn his attention to the improvement
of tbeKtnpire,by plicing the finances on a good food ng,and reforming
suclrbranches of the Administration as require it. These letters state
that the arrests continue, not only in Russia, but in Poland aid
Prussia; mid that there are now 15,000 persons in prison, charged
with being concerned in the late conspiracy.
'
fr:ie: .8 . . • CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.
Within this half hour the Mat ket has experienced an
alteration, and has hther-dieclined. Consols, which were at one
o'clock id to 11, have since been at 781, kid are, up to the present
dale, 78 Sellers.

FOREIGN VIJNOS, TWO O'CLOCK
Ilonds,6 p Ct. 50 11 1 Ditto Acct. 65 71 Of 71 sk
Do. Aect. 4s SO I Peruv. 'kis. 6 p C. 31 S 1$
Colonthiaft lids, 6 p C. Portuguese Bonds a p C. 741
Do. Bds 1124,49 50) 491 50150 Russ. Bds, 1849,6 pC. 741
Do. Acc. 49 50 491 503 50 Ditto Aect. 7111
Danish Bonds, 5 p C. 541 55 Span. S p Ct. Cons. 93 101 9j
Ditto Acct. 543 Span. sp. Ct. C. tux.% 7
Mexican lids, 1895, 5pC. 65 7 Pru55.11J4.18.22, Sp C.
661 74 611 Ditto Acct.
tSIII FISH AND FOREIGN SHARKS, TWO O'CLOCK.
PHA 1111. PAID.
490 50 61
100 10 7

Balms
ltraziHan

British Iron Company 10n 30 14

100 5

100
40

10 2i
20 -

40 15 12 13
25 20 Y
20 2 li