The Sun. — 1829-04-14 (London, England)

LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 14, 1829.  In the House of Commons last night, Mr. FYLER descanted at some length on the state of our Silk Manufactures, which he represented as being in the last stage of decrepitude, arising chiefly from the Free Trade system, which, as applied to this particular branch of commerce, had, he asserted, altogether failed. This assertion he attempted to prove by documents, transmitted to him from Congleton, Coventry, Macclesfield, Paisley, Dublin, and other places, where the manufacture of Silk goods is carded on to a great extent; but though he satisfied the House that the distress among the throwsters and weavers, at those different places, was very general just at present, he failed to show how such distress was attributable to, or in any way mixed up with the departure from the prohibitory system. In.. deed, by one observation he made use of, he completely proved the contrary, and committed suicide on his own argument. The distress, he said, was not confined to England, it was felt even in France, at Lyons espedaily, a clear proof that the Free Trade has little or nothing to do with it, but that it arises—as Mr. V. FITZGERALD justly observed in reply—from an over-trading and over-production in both countries. Like other branches of commerce, the Silk business has its sudden seasons of progression and decline—its extraordinary vicissitudes, which no one can wholly foresee, and which few, when they do arrive, can satisfactorily account for. It goes on—as was the case with the bookselling trade the other day—for a dozen or more years, inviting speculation by the luck that has attended it—every thing looks smiling and fortunate about it—the business is pushed to the utmost possible extent—success induces negligence—no provision is made for future contingen. ties, and in this state of artificial prosperity there comes a hurricane, which, on a sudden, lays all waste before it; hundreds are involved in min—the storm rages till the commercial horizon is cleared, and then all goes on as smilingly as before. Precisely in this condition is the Silk Trade now placed. For a length of time it has been speculated in and extended to a degree beyond what prudence or even common sense would warrant; and the consequence has been a smash, in which the weak have been plunged into ruin, and the strong have with difficulty made good their standing. But is it fair—is it just—is it honourable to attribute to the Free Trade system, what has been the necessary result of over-trading ? With ql,ite as much justice might Lord ELDON be blamed for his toleration, as Mr. HusiussoN and the enlightened upholders of his system be condemned for the distress at present existing among the Silk Weavers,  Mr. V. FITZGERALD'S reply to Mr. FYLER'S copious collection of grievances was temperate and convincing. He at once admitted the distress, but traced it to its proper origin, and proved, to the evident satisfaction of the House, that a return to the prohibitory system, instead of assisting would cramp, instead of extending would annihilate the manufacture of Silk. He recommended a reduction pn the duty of foreign thrown Silk, allowing a drawback of sP plush of the duty on such silk am should attach to British mannfc,cture exported. He recommended alio a duty of 20 per cent., ad palorent, for the Silk goods of British India, observing, at the Sallie time, that he held himself and the Government unpledged to any future scale of reduction.  Mr. HuslossoN's defence of himself and his system of commercial policy was one of the most triumphant pieces of sound straight-forward reason:, ing we have ever had the good fortune to read, The eniighteried spirit that pervaded it was equally on a par with the argument, and will convince all but the incurably prejudiced that, in proposing and carrying into execution a generous system of free trade, the ,31:ject of wbiph is to lessen or remove every restriction on out c,:;Onlerce, thq.t tends unnecessarily to . • • cramp the energies of tudiviutta, enterprf without benefitting the Revenue, the Right Hon. Gent. has entitled himself to the lasting gratitude of his country. The debate was adjourned at a late hour till to-night.  Hamhurgh and German Papers have been received this morning, from which we make the following extracts. The Russians and Turks seem determined on resuming the war in earnest :--FRONTIERS OF SERVIA, MARcit 19.—Something disagreeable to the Turks must have occurred lately, for the Turks at Belgrade have as melancholy countenances as on thg removal of Izzet Mehemed from the office of Grand Vizier. The strangest reports are in circulation, which do not merit notice. It is said there have been tumults, attended with bloodshed, in Albania, and Servia is not very tranquil. The order for enlisting all unmarried  men, has given great dissatisfaction ; for if the Servians are not so well inclined to the Russians as people generally believe, they, however, do not shew any inclination to fight against them. The ice in the Danube begins to move, and the navigation will soon be restored, which will be equally favourable to trade, and to the military operations. It is said the Sultan has left Constantinople, and gone to Adrianople, but this does not seem to be quite certain. BUCHAREST, Mtacm 2l.—Wounded soldiers daily arrive here from the other side of the Danube, where hostilities have recommenced, and frequent engagements between the advanced posts take place. In the Russian army the greatest activity prevails, and it seems intended to prosecute the operations with a degree of vigour which may lead to a speedy decision of the campaign. Several divisions of infantry, with light and heavy artillery, have marched against Silistria, to invest that place. Ghuirgevo is now regularly besieged, and the thunder of the artillery from that quarter is incessant. The possession of that place is of great importance. Ghuirgero is the only fortress of consequence which the Turks still hold on the left bank of the Danube, and its fall would bring with it that of Rudschuk, on the opposite bank. Meantime large quantities of timber and other materials are constantly carried through this city to the Danube, for the purpose of throwing a bridge over the river, which it is supposed will be near Ghiurgevo. The guards under the command of the Grand Duke Michael, are expected to enter the principalities, and form the reserve of the army ; but this does not appear to be wholly decided. General Count Pahlen has left Jassy and followed the corps to Silistria. The magazines in Wallachia are daily increased.  VIENItn,