London, Saturday, March 2...
rarzs letters of Wednesday, which we received yester. day, contain some curious facts respecting the opening of the Chambers, and some important information respecting the present temper of the Court of Spain. King Louis \VIIIL was rolled in hia chair from his apartments in the Tuileries to' the hall in the Loufre, fitted up fsr the Royal sitting, as on the t-fo last occasions of opening the session. It will be recollected, that till within thesetwoyears his Ma- jesty met the Legislative Bodies in the Hall of the Peers at the Luxembourg. The infirmities which induced him to alter this arrangement, and to order his Peers and Deputies to assemble before him nearer home, manifested themselves on Tuesday in a manner to make the throne an object of pity during one of the most august pageants of royalty. Wi'hether urged by Ministerial policy, or led by personal fondness for display, his M1ajesty had resolved to appear in public when evidently unfit for thc fatigues of a public exhibition. His memory, which has hitherto been -very good, seemed entirely to have deserted him; he read his speech in an indistinct hesitating manner, and with the air of a man who attached no meaning to the words which he uttered. While the names were calling over, and the -lb sequent business proceeding, he fell asleep several times, notwithstanding the continued though delicately concealed efforts of the Duke of BLACAS, his first ged iljomme in attendance, to keep him awake. On the day of this melancholy exhibition,news are said to have arrived in Paris, that FERaDINANil had issued a PDecree equivalent to a military amnesty, and had given the pledge of the speedy publicarion of an amnesty embracing all classes. This (lecree deterraines the situation of all thos& who have served in the Constitutional Armies as officers or soldierm, wvhether they voluntarily abandoned their standards, were made prisoners of war in the field, or were included in any of the numerous capitulations with the French. A general pardon is extended to them-a pardon for resisting foreign aggression !-and no restric- tions with respect to their place of abode are im- posed, except that they shaU not inhabit Madrid, or any of the places of Royal rosidence. But as they might be dangerous to the state, if left free to settle where they chose, while deprived of every means of support, a hope 1a held out that they may be again recalled to active service; and a pledge is given, that in the mean time all officers, from the rank of capttin upwards, shall receive the half of their former pay, and all subalterns two-thirds. Such is the arrangement formed with respect to the Consti- tutional troops-such are the promises and engagements of the Government, to reconcile them to the existing order of things. We suspect that they know FERDINAND too well to place any reliance on his pardon, and arc toc well convinced of the ruined state of his finances to ex7pct any thing from his liberality. The French funds, in conseqtience of this Spanish news, and probably the arrival of Mr. BARING at Paris, rose to, 102f. 75c. towards the close of the market on Wednesday. The following is their state at thrce o'clock -_ PRECac Fu-NDs, PARIs, March 24.-Fiye per Cents, opened at 100. 80.; Bank Stock, 1,850; NeapolitarL 5 per Cents., in ducats, opened at 94i, closed at 95s; in francs, 100., 100. 50.; Rentes d'Espagne, 22. Exchange on lIondon, one month, 25. 50.; three mronths, 25. 35.-Courrs AN:tique. LONDON, SATURDAY, fARCh 27, 124.