ostensibly interfered in this revolution, it cannot be doubted, considering their power in Spain, that it has been effected at least with the acquiescence, if not by the authority of Napoleon.

Mr. Rose is returned from America, without having effected any thing material towards restoring a good intelligence between the countries. English ships of war are still refused admittance or relief at the ports of the United States. The embargo occasions numerous failures among the mercantile people of that country, but there seems no probability of its being taken off during the present state of European politics.

A great expedition, probably for the northern seas, under Admiral Saumarez and General Moore, is preparing, and the embarkation of troops is diligently going on at Ramsgate and Harwich.

In parliament the principal business before the Easter recess was the Chancellor of the Exehequer's introduction of his Ways and Means for the current year. He proposed the issue of four millions of exchequer bills in lieu of those funded, and a loan of eight millions, the interest of which is to be raised by certain additions to the stamp duties, and regulations in the assessed taxes.

Lord Castlereagh, secretary at war, has introduced a new plan of national defence, of which the particulars will be given hereafter.

MONTHLY COMMERCIAL REPORT.

We know of no period in the midst of an extensive war, and when nothing was said about negotiation, at which stocks stood so high as of late. The average rate of the 3 per cent. Consols during last month has been 66. Various causes have contributed to this. The sinking fund is now so powerful in its operation as to sweep off a large proportion of the floating stock; the loan, it is ascertained, will be small; money is not scarce, and since the issue of the April dividends, may be said to have been plenty; but above all, the non-employment of capital in various branches of foreign commerce, such as the Baltic, the Mediterranean, the American trade, creates a new fund which can no where be so conveniently vested as in the stocks.

The mercantile world were in hopes that Mr. Rose would have brought back decisive intelligence in regard to our dispute with America, but there are now scarcely any expectations that it will be brought to a speedy decision. The general idea, however, is, that war will not ensue, and that the effects of the embargo on the minds of the Americans have been salutary, by teaching them to prize the blessings of peace. The mission of Mr. Rose was, in our opinion, not only a proper, but a wise measure. It gave satisfaction to the Americans without causing any abasement to us. Both sides will now proceed to the dis. cussion of the points at issue with calmness, and free from the irritation which the unfortunate affair of the Chesapeak would otherwise have left behind it. It will be in vain for the Americans to insist on our giving up the right of searching merchant ships for British seamen, for we never will vill relinquish it.

The manufacturing and mercantile interests are deeply occupied with the rumoured expedition against Spanish America. Government very properly observes considerable secrecy both on the destination of this expedition and on the particular mode in which it may be carried into effect; but if we are to judge from certain indications of a pretty positive nature, it is intended for Caraccas, and is likely to be conducted on the liberal plan of giving a separate and a free government to the Spanish colonies. Conquest by this country is out of the question. It would be an extremely difficult and expensive undertaking in the case of a people so different from ourselves in religion and in manners. But emancipation is a much more simple and practicable measure, and its political as well as its commercial results would be far more advantageVOL. III.

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ous to us than those of conquest. We should thus be relieved from the expence of protection; the progress of an independent state is always more rapid than that of a colony; its inhabitants would consequently be better customers to us in the one case than in the other; they could both buy more and pay us quicker. No fear but they would continue to trade with us, however much they might be left to their own choice. The United States of America afford a case in point, to show that merchants will always traffic where they can buy goods best. After the American war, there was a strong prejudice against us in that country, and a no less strong one in favour of France. The governments both of France and the United States wished the two countries to trade together to a great extent; but all in vain. The Americans found the British manufactures better in quality; sometimes cheaper, and at all times likely to be afforded at a longer credit. National predilection, therefore, gave way, as it always has done, to national interest. If we apply these remarks to the question of future connexion with the inhabitants of Spanish America, we shall find that there will be no necessity, in the event of their emancipation, to tie them down to trade with us by treaties of commerce. Of all arguments the evidence of their own interest will be the most powerful and lasting.

The other great question which occupies the mercantile world is one to which we have more than once adverted before the proposed introduction of sugar into the distilleries in lieu of grain. Of all plans, the best for the country would be, to open the distilleries to both equally; but this would be incompatible with the due collection of the revenue, and one or other must be exclusively adopted. The Committee appointed to inquire and report upon this matter have decided in favour of sugar, and the question will soon be brought very seriously before parliament. It is an important fact, that the majority of the Committee were country gentlemen; and the case must be a strong one to win over men proverbially attached to their own views. In ordinary times it is not likely that it would ever have been proposed to substitute sugar for barley, but in our present peculiar situation, the probability is, that parliament will consider that there are very cogent reasons for this measure, taking care, however, scrupulously to protect the landed interest from injury. This it is proposed to effect by introducing a clause in the bill to enjoin the Privy Council to stop the distillation from sugar in case barley falls below a reasonable price; and to resume the distillation from barley within thirty days from that date. It appears that we have been in the habit of importing yearly 800,000 quarters of grain from abroad, but it is not probable during the present year that we shall receive the hundredth part of this quantity, since not only the Baltic but America are sealed up, and likely to remain so. Apprehensions, therefore, are entertained, that grain will be scarce and dear; and it seems of great importance to husband our stock by saving as much as we can by the substitution of other articles, whenever substitution is practicable. It is computed that about 300,000 quarters of grain would be saved to the country by the use of sugar in the distilleries. This measure would also lessen considerably the distresses of the West India planters, and render them more able to pay their share of the public burdens. The property tax, for instance, which at present is next to nothing from this class of the community, because their incomes are next to nothing, would, in the event of relief being afforded, supply at once a fund greater than the new taxes of the present year. We have certainly no disposition to extend relief to the West India planter at the expence of the British farmer; but in the present case it seems to ns that the farmer neither is nor can be a loser, unJess he account it a loss that barley is prevented from rising to an exorbitant price. We trust that he is too patriotic to desire individual profit at the public expence; or to wish, in a season when the burdens of war are so severely felt, that these burdens should be aggravated by scarcity.

Both an East and a West India convoy have sailed during last month, and another East India convoy of small extent is on the point of departure. The expected, fleet from Bengal and Madras arrived all well about three weeks ago. The latest letters from Calcutta arrived by the Surat Castle, armed ship, and come down so late as the middle of December,

PRICE

The Average Prices of Navigable Canal Shares, Dock Stock, Fire Office Shares, Sc. in APRIL 1808; at the Office of Mr. Scott, 28, New Bridge-street, London.

The Staffordshire aud Worcestershire Canal, 6351. dividing 401. per share per annum, clear of the property tax. Leeds and Liverpool, 176l. with the half yearly dividend of 41. per share. Grand Junction, 921. to 931.-Grand Junction Loan (not optional) 81. per cent. discount.-Trent and Mersey Navigation Bonds, 101. per cent. discount.-Derby Canal, 941.-Croydon, 551.-Ellesmere, 541.Grand Surrey, 461.--Huddersfield, 171. to 191.--Kennet and Avon, original shares, 221.-West India Dock Stock, 1431. 10s. to 1491.-London Dock, 1091.-Globe Insurance, 1111.

AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR APRIL, 1808.

Sowing the Lent corn may now be said to be generally finished, excepting the late-sown barley; and never was the business of the spring wore successfully performed in all or most respects, nor have the fallows ever worked better, or the lands displayed a finer tilth.

Corn and crops of every description look well, shewing the want of nothing but rain and warm weather, the former of which has been, it is supposed, universal within the last few days.

In the great scarcity of cattle food experienced this season, the thousandheaded cabbage, mentioned in the last report, has been of inexpressible service wherever used. This plant has produced heads upwards of a yard in diameter, and of great weight. They were introduced from the South of France by Mr. Gibbs, of Half-Moon-street, Piccadilly, seedsman to the Board of Agriculture. In North Britain the distress for food for their stock has been this year beyond all late precedent, and as the thousand-headed cabbage resists the severest parts, in all probability it would there be a most valuable article in addition to their turnips.

Both fat and lean stock in vast plenty; pigs in plenty at present; but it is judged that fat meat will be scarce in summer, from the backwardness of the grass. In Yorkshire cattle are cheaper than has been known for some years, which is also materially the case in Scotland, not more from the scarcity of keep than the vast extension of the breed of all kinds. The same cause also subsists in Wales.

Smithfield.-Beef, 4s. 6d. to 5s. 4d. Mutton, do. Veal, 4s. to 78. Lamb, 6s. to 8s. Pork, 5s. to 6s. 6d. Bacon, 6s. to 6s. 2d. Irish do. 5s. 2d. Fat, 4s. 8d. Skins, 12s. to 20s.

FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.

The weather being dry and favourable for sowing in the early part of the preceding month, the greater part of the spring corn is nearly sown, excepting the barley, which is to follow the crops of Swedish turnips; the lands having been well frosted, work kind and mellow. But the cold winds we have recently experienced, accompanied with storms of hail, rain, and snow, have considerably checked vegetation, and caused the winter grain and early-sown spring corn to appear much chilled and very sickly, particularly so on cold moist soils. The meadows and pastures equally suffer.

Winter tares, rye-grass, and clovers, so much wanted for feeding sheep, ewes, and lambs, are very backward. Hay and all kinds of fodder both scarce and dear, from the severity of the spring, which has also had a considerable effect on the sales and prices of lean stock at the recent fairs and cattle markets, where buyers have been scarce, and the value of lean cattle much reduced, more so than usual at this season for some years past.

Cows and calves sell well, and are in demand, as are also cart horses and small stores for the dairy.

In Mr. Hope's paper, p. 410, 1. 16. for same read former.

THE constitution of the general system of education throughout the French dominions, the recent edict for which appears in the last number of the Athenæum, developes an important part of that plan for subjugating every exertion of the human faculties to the immediate controul of government, which is to be traced in all the institutions of the present monarch of France. It cannot, therefore, be uninteresting to bestow a few remarks in elucidation of its nature and tendency.

By the word university is here understood not a single local institution, but the entire system or general establishment for the purpose of national education, as laid down in a code of regulations. Of this system, every part has a reference to the whole: it is a machine consisting of a great number of subordinate movements, but all having the same spring of motion, and conspiring to a common effect. The fundamental principle is announced in the article that "no school or establishment for education of any kind can be formed apart from the imperial university, or without the authorisation of its head." On the will of this head, therefore, which, in the last resort, is the emperor himself, is to depend whatever shall become matter of public instruction to the rising generation throughout the French empirean immense and incalculable source of power over men's minds, as the military system is over their bodies! Something like an exception seems to exist with respect to the ancient diocesan seminaries; these, however, are bound to conform to regulations approved by the sovereign.

What are denominated academies are subordinate systems, each en-. tire in itself, and comprehending the whole circle of education, from the studies of what are usually termed universities, down to those of schools

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