The Sun. — 1824-02-17 (London, England)

MORNING POST.]  French Papers to the 15th instant reached us last night ; but an express, which left Paris at two o'clock on Sunday, had previously arrived with later and more important intelligence than any which they contain. It announces the receipt of a telegraphic dispatch from Madrid, by which the French Government were informed that Ferdinand had issued a Decree, permitting a free trade between South America and all other countries. This measure has been considered by some as showing a spirit of concession ; by others as a forerunner of the complete acknowledgment of the independence of the new States. To us it appears the reverse of both. What concession is there in granting to other nations a free trade which they have enjoyed for the last ten years, and which it is not in the power of Spain to repress ? And what kind of preparation for recognising the independence of emancipated colonies is that which consists in a distinct re-assertion of sovereignty over them ? For what is the meaning-of this Decree ? That Ferdinand is sole master of the Colonies, and that retaining all his rights over them, he chooses to depart from the policy by which his ancestors ruled thern,in order,not to increase their prosperity and secure their welfare, but to make other Powers less anxious about the recognition of their independence. This measure is one of evasion, and worthy of the Jesuits by whom Ferdinand is surrounded. They imagined that in the great question between Europe and America all the States of the former were solely guided by motives of interest, and that if they were allowed the benefits of trade, they would stand neutral, or perhaps assist in the re-conquest of the New World. But they have been mistaken in their calculations ; and the paltry offer of a bribe which they cannot even five, will not, we are convinced, induce any Government to aid them in an enterprise, the success of which, were it possible, would be a general calamity. That it will have no effect on that country which alone could turn the scale in their favour it not a matter of surmise, but of certainty.  It is again our painful duty to record an additional commission of crime since our last. Can his Majesty's Ministers—we mean his Cabinet Ministers, receive any thing like correct information from this country ? Within two days, the Provincial intelligence received, brings accounts of five men actually murdered, four desperately wounded, and four houses burned ; and yet the same packet that conveys this sheet, containing the particulars of these ferocious proceedings, will no doubt bear a Government dispatch, describing the improved and tranquil state of the country. Something must be done.—(Dublin Correspon... dent, Feb. 14.) A letter dated Hamburgh, 31st January, says, " As an extraordinary phenomenon of the present winter (which for mildness exceeds any thing ever recollected) it is deserving of notice, that, at a country house, five English miles distant, •the proprietor perceived hundreds of cock-chaffers flying about in the garden, (an insect that seldom makes its appearance before the month of May !)—ln order to convince those who might otherwise have been incredulous, he brought several of them to Ilamburgh." Some bodies having been stolen from the church" yard of a remote parish in Northumberland, the owner of the estate, to prevent such depredations in future, hasdirected the graves to be made rather shorter than the coffin, and to be excavated at the bottom, so as to admit the head Under solid ground. It is then impossible to raise it by the feet, and the ghound must be cut away above the head— a work of more time than could always be commanded forthe operation. In addition, a mixture of percussion powder and gunpowder, placed .on -a wire in -the inside of the coffin, to explode on its being OpiMed,- has been resorted to. 'Phis 'will retain; s explosive• power fur a month, in which,time Rip corpse, will generally be unfit fur (AO?* journ4l.),''