The Press.
London, England, 1854-08-05 00:00:00

734

the cover of the coal-cellar. on the pathway suddenly moved, and the
face of a dwarf very dirty and begrimed was popped up through the
hole.
"Is the time come ?" asked the dwarf of the Old Man of the
North. The Old Man did not reply, except by saying, '' Have you
stolen, as you promised, the key of the area-gate?"
" Why," said the Dwarf, " did you suppose that merely getting into
the house was of any use without getting the occupiers out ? Hear
what I did. I went out into the streets, and drew together all that
were houseless and desperate, and said, Behold a snug shelter and
comfortable provision for you!' Then several of the waiters-on• Prov-
idence, and political crossing-sweepers, cried, ' What the Dwarf says is
good, so we will even go and do as he has said.' So I gathered toge-
ther a large body of those who had no habitations, and of those who
came from the Flower of the Earth, by the Great Salt Sea, and I came
before the house and cried, Help ! help ! Behold one is robbing the
public treasury, and is stealing the malt tax Whereupon those within
came out to answer the charge, and, as my followers were the more nume-
rous, we crowded into the house, and slammed the door. Wherefore,
Old Man, I am here to give you admittance, on certain conditions ; and
so, take off your shoes and come down gently !"
So the Old Man took off his shoes, and directed the porter to do
the same and follow him, and the porter, very much marvelling and
sore affrighted, obeyed his commands. When the Old Man and the
porter reached the area the Dwarf appeared at the washhouse window
and said, " Remember, I must not appear in this business : I shall be
without office' iu the establishment, at least for a time, or I will
not open the door." " Agreed !" said the Old Man of the North, and
thereupon the door was opened by the small person, who demanded of
the Old Man of the North why he had brought such a fellow there ;
" for," said he, " the entire number are waiting for you, and each
anxious to tell his tale." Then the porter ascended, as he was bid, by
a back stairs, and in a room looking out upon the opposite side of the
way he was directed to put down his burden. In this room was a
large assemblage of various persons, who, when they saw the Old Man
enter, began to rejoice heartily, saying, " Oh ! day of favourable for-
tune ! Oh ! day of agreeable surprise ! Who could have dreamed that
we should have met here ? Blessed be Chancemedley, our only pro-
phet !"
When the porter had turned out his basket, " This speech is
yours !" cried one, and " This denial is yours!" said another, whereat
each waxed angry and enraged, until a great tumult and disturbance
was the result, and the porter fell into despair, for he remarked that
the Old Man of the North sat down and wrung his hands, and cried,
" Ochone! Ochone ! we canna' stay here if ye rampage at this
gate !"

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HOUSE OF COMMONS.—FRIDAY.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (CANADA) BILL.
At the early sitting of the Commons the second
reading of this bill was moved by Mr. PEEL, who ex-
plained its object. The measure was designed to
enable the Canadian Legislature to alter the consti-
tution of the Legislative Council, or Upper House, of
the colony. The nature of the alteration was not
prescribed, but the intention was that the Council
should be made elective. Similar powers had been
granted to all the other principal colonies belonging
to the British empire.
Sir J. PAKINOTON opposed the bill, declaring that
it tended to convert the Canadian system of govern-
ment into a democracy. The session, he argued,
was too far advanced to afford time for the proper

discussion of so important a measure.
The bill was supported by Mr. Adderley, Mr.
Hume, Sir G. Grey, Mr. V. Smith, and Lord J. Rus-
sell : it was opposed by Mr. Henley.
The debate was then adjourned until the evening
sitting.
The Public Revenue and Consolidated Fund
Charges Bill was read a third time and passed.
The Appropriation Bill was brought in by Mr.
Wlmos, and read a first time.
The house adjourned at four and resumed at six
o'clock.
At the evening sitting, in answer to a question from
Mr. Bright,
Sir C. WOOD said that he should make a statement
respecting the financial affairs of India on Thursday
next.
The debate on the Canada Legislative Council
Bill, adjourned from the morning, was resumed by
Mr. SCOTT, who opposed the bill, and questioned
the authority of the Legislature in Canada, who had
sanctioned it.
After a few words from Mr. Btoos, in support of
the bill, it was read a second time.
On the motion for going into committee on the

Usury Bill,
Mr. CAYLEY opposed the bill, and quoted at great
length instances from the monetary history of the
country, to prove the danger of the artificial scarcity
of money which would result from an unrestricted
rate of interest.
Mr. HttmE admitted the danger of commercial
panics, but did not think that a repeal of the usury
laws would tend to produce them. He wanted free-
dom of dealing in every transaction, and in this
amongst others.
Mr. W. A. WILKINSON ridiculed the antiquated no-
tion that restriction on the rate of intereet would ex-
tend commercial operations.