The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-10-14 00:00:00

MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL.

LIVERPOOL, MONDAY EvEsnL.,,
The steamship Asia arrived here this morning'
from New York, whence she sailed on the Ist .7
Her reports respecting the Cotton market do nil%
differ materially from those contained in.
Atlantic's advices, nor do they
bald
exercised any particular effect upon the 1.1
here-when sales to-day amounting to 10,000.
id
were effected, at steady prices. Surats brought *rig
to 57,-,d, and Egyptian 68d to 81d per lb. am° 9
bale
appear to j3.,8;
the transactions to-day there were 2,ut'v ;„ts
taken by speculators and exporters. The reeeltly
at the shipping ports this year, so far, are grevik,
behind those of 1855 at a corresponding
October Ist At this period last year, they Icy
returned at 128,076 bales; this Year hand
are set down at 64,169 bales. The stock on ',so
showed a falling off of 98,397 bales. alien,
received the following extract from a letter, -aboo„
New York Ist October, 1856. It is from an au
us
tic source:-" The Cotton crop is a very serirop
date,
_ore
affair this year, and the estimate of the present
is pointing very much below three millions, 1170" o
do not go further than 2,700,000 to 2,B°°'oncl
bales. That the crop runs great risk is heY„or,
cavil It is fully three weeks later than last
and from the plantation returns of three of the Yoil
largest growers in the United States, their piekl
i
were 8,000 lbs to 23,000 lbs last year. The elihst
Alabama is represented to be very poor, and else
the plant has stopped growing; and I would of
remark, that the new cotton has not the stag
le
last year, the colour is good, but that is all. jot
The Liverpool Shame Market opened to-daY Led
considerable steadiness, and as the day advs.- ith
prices grew better, and the market closed sy
firmness. The sales embrace the folloWing:ire
h
Blackburn, 8 ; Eastern Counties, 8; • Laneas:ll- d
and Yorkshire, 94 1, a ; London, Brighten'
South Coast, 104:1; London and North Wester,.;
Stock, 100, 1, 101, 1001; Midland Stock, 751',tst,
South Eastern, 201, Z, 1; Dutch 111,1e',,160
; Grand Trunk of Canada, 11,i1 • r,,a-fel-
Steam •Co 's new shares, 19/ to 20d. Th deco►
lowing are the closing rates of the day
134 138. Chester and Birkenhead, 151 -aniir
Caledonian, 27 .xd 274. Chester and
head, 151 167,.. Eastern Counties, 81. 8 15-16
Lancashire, 20 20k. Great Northern, 23Z- 231. v-pd
10 101. Great Western, 64 641. Lancashire and
Yorkshire Stock, 94-a 941 Liverpool, CrosbY,tern
;
Southport, 18k 14 London and North wres
Stock, 1001 101. Manchester, Sheffield, aellb,
coln, 31k 32. Midland Stock, 75k 76 North
9 91. North Staffordshire, 51 Sad. South Eastitl
and Dover, 20 7-16 20-1. York, Newcastle, 08/i,
Berwick, 191 20. York and North Midland, 21,*003,
Leeds Capital Stock, 178 178. Buffalo and (~..",est•
Huron, 1 4d. Dutch Rhenish, 4 Bp
Western of Canada, 21 15-16 xd 22 1-16. v°,./3-•
shares, Ixd lkp. Great Luxembourg, 11* 11,,e- et
The state of the Money Market is still a stl,
~."10-
of the most anxious consideration among foist
mercial men and capitalists. For couiree'foli
purposes the enquiry is still strong, and very f the
rates of discount are exacted. The payment, it
October dividends commence to-morrow, anditt
is expected that the amount will speedily 1.1 %tor
way back into the Bank, in repayment of the e',104
ordinarily heavy advances, it is yet believed, ill
the release of the quarterly dividends will ira,,,P;et
some relief to the Money Markets. The Presrn-fid
of permanent improvements, however, must deP"ot.,
upon the progress of affairs on the Con, tinilecloti
Respecting the movements upon the Lo
Stock Exchange to-day, we take the following from
this night's Globe :-The improvement indoela
English Stock Market at the close of last %a--
.
continued at the opening to-day, but the trans- 0
tions are limited. The public, however, sill"ts,
disposition to invest at the present quotatie"oo.
which renders the prices firmer. No alterat'oo•
was exhibited at the commencement of busiherasnor
the final quotations of Saturday. The Nl.,°-,e3;
Market is rather tight on account of the colit'n-tir
transmission of bullion to France, and the WWI- st
val of the Australian vessels now due with gold uu-d
on freight. Consols for Money are now 91ir
for the 6th Nov., 921 92Z. The 3 per Cents Reu,t-eep.
are now open for special transfer at 901 9.46 i-v.
div. ; and the New 3 per Cents 913 911, eS The same authority also says-Notwithstan-na,,
the firmness with which the Stock Market c',.rfeW
a general decline has since occurred owing L°-,1,43
speculative sales. The alteration, however*
sidering the sensitive state of the market, is -till
very important. Monetary affairs in Paris are sof
depressed, and without any decided sympton'atbo
permanent improvement. Until a change for tis
better (lees take place, no material improvernne,7 for
expected here. Consols are now about 911 v"i4sor
Money, and 92 buyers for the account. Therths..
Threes have been dealt in at 911 to Ol ; and 213;
Reduced, at 901 to 91. Bank Stock is Tore
Exchequer Bills remain at 4s. to Bs. pron. f•a"
market for Foreig,d Securities continues (11.118";fl-ilat*
heavy. Turkish 6 per Cents. have been dealt,;i
92Z 921 for. Money, and for the Account at MI 971, $
921; the 4 per cents guaranteed, 991 Sltil.sglf•
per cents, 42. Russian 41 per cents,' gents:
Sardinian 5 per cents, 90. Portuguese 3 Per 44
431 44. Granada New Active 21 per cents,
Dutch 21- per cents, 644. Ditto 4 per cc: 1.0
Certificates 95-1. Greek 5. The Railway s
Market is moderately active, and a fair busines ..h
doing at rather low quotations. Edinburgh, - eat;
and Dundee, are 302. Great Northern
Lancashire and Yorkshire, riNifes;
1031 North Western, 10'1, to 1014 'South roil*
tern, 1024 to 103. Midland, 751. 'North Br orb'
351 36. North Eastern, Bernick, 79; ditto,
561 ; and South Eastern, 671.

,
,orp„01

There is considerable activity in the Liv-doiog
Sugar Market, and large sales have been ..-coir
forward both on Saturday and to-day dil
siderable purchases have also been eiTeeterueto-
unclayed Cuba molasses. The London Ma"
are reported to be steady, and holders of s.
descriptions of produce obtain very full prleeartaiM
There seems to be a temporary lull in the ,d 9
Liff
trade, as we find that business at Mark Lane "ts
was rather languid, and it was difficult for holder
wheat or flour to obtain late rates. 004
The conflict between the Court of Chaneerro r.fll
the Court of Bankruptcy relative to the affilv,,ch
the Royal British Bank; continues to cause TV
uncertainty amongst the parties interested .
tse'
solicitors to the bankruptcy„ by public adverts Isl
ment, require all money due to tb'd Batilc4 der
tad'
paid to the official assignee. On the other
Mr Harding, the interim mar
.ager, acting` .0 o
steB
the authority of the court of Chancery, 1111,-ore
that his receipt alone will. be a sufficient disc,' be
It is to be hoped the question at issue will sc)%ger
settled. We are informed that the interim 109/1
continues to collect the estate at present. 0119
The West India Royal Mail Steam Cc"-,lole
have issued their report preparatory to tbe"..
they
yearly meeting on the 16th instant, wherein half
recommend a dividend of 21 per share for 41
year. The wreck of the Tay has preventefessa.
directors recommending a bonus on the P'
occasion from the Tnsurance Fund. 05°15
During the past week there were ten vtf n
olioli
sailed from the port of London for the An„s:
Colonies, of which four were for Port PiliPY'
to Adelaide, two to Sydney, one to Geelongi' bar'
one to Auckland, New Zealand, of the total
then of 7,864 tons.
t 1
blie
A case of some interest to the commercial P
opto.f
was decided in the London Court of B01:001106
to-day. The parties concerned were Syers, paol??'
and Co., of Bulls-alley, Lombard street, Vole
and also Liverpool. The bankrupts had the'
proposition to wind up their affairs uncle
" Private Arrangement Act." Mr. Connni-sevite
Goulbourne said that the petition was pilled
about four mouths ago, but they had not nloiatsa
accounts until ten days before the time 040.04
for the first meeting, which had been au,J.1.0 vv°s,
until Friday last. The question for ',tide
whether the proposition which had been 11,1-0 0904:
fair and reasonable, and such as ought to be
tioned by the Court. Syers had admitted that
vOO,,
when he joined Walker, he was not onlYb'er, sco;
capital, but was behind hand 2,0001., and t was 81/1)
nothing to show satisfactorily that there 010
capital at any time, but they had gone, he bib' a
enormous amount, raising money on a1,,1 loft Id,
of lading they could get hold of, and idea
tangible assets, so as to leave a very small won's
thing iliat's
Mr. Hart (Mr. Nicholson's clerk) said
be about is in the pound unless anYth don°
realised on the consignments beyond the fl.s st%
on them. His Honour did not think al! oP°
it int° be
for private arrangement, and adjournedbut if
court to be heard as under liankrupte,.P.o,igh4,
would delay the advertisement for a l°lustic'
Ulu bankrupts chose to appeal to the Lords

-.'-•---___

FRANCE.

(FROM OUR OW N CORRESPONDENT.)
ACCOrl' PARIS, SATURDAY EVENING.
hesis- • ( ing to the Independence, of Brussels, the
.
,atio
ado h, or rather the refusal, for. such it
Rellentts to, of France to join England in sending
Net. to Naples has led to " very violent
the Ililinations" and " very bitter complaints" on
not
Part of
our Cabinet to that of France. It is
thinilthiPossible that the English Cabinet may
bticki,,itscif aggrieved at the French Ministry
so far out of an affair in which it was advanced
to 8ir4,,4(1 Promised to go further; but it is absurd
tertn'll°se that it has addressed itself in any suc
Cab.' as the Independance describes to the French
Cabin
e
bardv er,al Giulay, the Austrian Governor of Lom-
b lv,"se presence in this city I have announced
ty.,lll"'LlS treated with marked distinction, not only
Sotoent" ministers, but by the -Emperor himself.
arld perEions see in this fact a proof, that France
have Ai, ustria, as has long been suspected, really
th„-°lne to a secret understanding with respect
Rener,,, Policy to be followed towards Italy in
Tho"'.l4.d towards Naples in particular.
~,t11;° —thlrlnan Ambassadors (there are, I believe,
n—lein who bear that title), went yesterday
ii
44er "Tholerous suite, to pay a visit to the Ad n-
-1,4r Pore;
gn Affairs, and they were,followe by
OR „till native attendants carrying refreshments.
-n`criing the Ministry they threw themselves
I'll teli,gtu °"1 the ground and kissed it ; and they
i‘i-n,'aine on leaving. Their conference with
,7°ll-4ster, whiCh ,was necessarily carried on
"thin-- an interpreter, presented, I am told,
assetir's riCinarkable. In the streets by which they
;11 titeit strange costume naturally excited
; but, on the whole, their pres.einecael
I,il'elearisi,c3ccites in the higher and in the polit
t,s'elell 8 -,thing like the sensation that was to have
re "alet,od• It is at present doubtful,
_I
.am
they will obtain the honour of hem
th-thee lot. (13' the Emperor.
e 1 urirse is gradually becoming.firme-,
e'e— circumstance will suffice to cause. aiall
1414111- • The Threes to-day have risen 35c for
`4l'. —l4 20e for • Bank of France Shares,
15,,e . time v hat 7%1t Mobilier, 20f (time), and there has
)lA4 hirtosuing rise in railway shares.
to del oil' sculptor, named Hogan, has sent a
it oe en statue of Daniel O'Connell to this city,
iBgt in bronze.
r/e:°4l'l,W,„°lllY of note that the official: Moniteur, in
" tile recent political condemnations at
'Tigy,',np's that there was a probability that the
At 111141 commute them.
viveb ware the sales of cotton during the week
I,lcese: 400 bales, and there were no imports.
"Nes rose if to 2f. The stock on hand is 56,700

A ktwitl PARIS, SUNDAY EVENING.whch
% -41etanding the friendly relations
_s
,kilepeat I° exist between France and
.Austria, it. i.
STaLthat the former will be obliged to join
118 d ti.siil/41 Russia in calling Austria to a prompt
I)lthe'nvere account for her prolonged occupation
ilf ft,,iatrubian Principalities,
in spite of the treaty
to 4n114. and in spite of her solemn engagementst
the
RNafee'titad and France. In diplomatic circles,anl .
n44,rPrit I,loPortance is attached to this matter; d
bee
11,,- '8 expressed that the press and the. public_ t
aille have paid so much attention to it. . I
ea bv .-1•
Ce tile V diplomatists to be of as much gravity
tPtttte. "eapolitan question, perhaps even of
The4i,
1
444 h. \'''Netlia journals say that Admiral Dundas
441101118 °facers, whose arrival at Ajaccio has been
4,414 blieed, had been received with marked cordi
population.
'lle p3' ~the French authorities and the
11111:), and had visited the Admiral on ard his
4taad (111.4 had invited him and his officers to a
, ht, yin and ball.
h4int-1343008 papers say that, at a place called
;4,8 b ;114. ear that city, a Protestant congregation
f''',ln tnad,,,,:,‘4 chapel shut up, and been prevented
ie.lthr,-`43g by force.
Place (11glithis is Sunday horse races have taken
clll)aritiFetlie ellalnp de Mars, and a vast multitude
lit 'l4oa has been to see them
at ere are ' Dreseilt, a great number of foreiggripeia' ,A weell especially of English and
psnerii.anrdPsa.ris
-taller i' Y colnmercial report, taking haptisena,
1)1143'4 t112(t) bc'Peful view of the commercial situation,
r4llce ''' the recent resolution of the Bank of
kotiv, hot to discount bills at snore than. ta,vo-
hieh gs (late ..
b ..ce ~, , \NM only cause temporary income
1,,Y. ' ten,,,,'ut how much harm may be done in trade
111tliat-trva°cirarY inconvenience?'.,
dWahnadt is certain
reh eis very slack, Ina te ,
tt asee „
v -.kes "811 ally made about this epoch b.y retail
.ear. ' are considerably less than they
Ap
la 'cord' %%e re last
.4Rea ttitig to a telegraphic despatch from Coperan-
net,, tote,
oe(' by ' question of Sound Dues
been
hasen
1)4.4i ofthe intervention. of England,
..
. gEi, 7 reduction of these and of the Transit
411elt 4141 announcement to this effect has been
prleentistPtthill„ the Stock Exchange at Hamburg.
474h.tee of -unople accounts to the 2nd, say that. the
141b-ittlllheat was rising. The Conferences in the
11v° ta n Principalities were to be postponed for.
I,lle oft3RT/114. The Russians had not evacuated the
1:4 tn 1,-`4"Pents. The report that a French flee
I:bad
II- be sent into the Black Sea continued, but
„b,t,ait°„at beet
confirmed The English had not
,Nl‘lll‘' Lee formal concession of the Euphrates
t
jilY tii:„44, 'was announced a few days back,
pbeur.
oti Iv" NIA to make surveys for it. The ,
1 Ak ere about to send an Embassy to Paris.
1,4 s rnaadraeilles fl
"Lespatch says that the Bey ofTunis.
-'ellie -4° elrcuses to the French Consul for having
tho 4,,ted to fire
salvos of artillery on the day of
4,, -.Aeroes fete.
I brt
ti(lep -s`raOrdinary
411 t elkignee statement is made. in the
(10i„ed to ~, ' of Brussels, and on what is repre-
tcpte r 1 "fe good authority too—it is, that the
-1r (1-81411ve to the possesOon of the town
.of
I)llR,f!eiltni has be een settled- by the Allies and Russia,
halt itetfuLat i/istead of
.givtnag.it toe Moldavia, or
oti:`erretiT,,Lel.3rthe latter, it shall be divided—one
i of Russia, the
44 bitirlestigin the
But this
Of tt4 too iilteltiisegivenpopssteo Moldavia.
decisionu of Solomon, in the case
disputed child to be true. 011 b
4r I..erlillt!.°l, Of Oude, with a numeroluasstsuwitee:kt.wicelvnisstietaedd
aiii;Jtelieg le; cirlr Zoological Gardens. k itlti,i aded, the Princes are in the habit of con-
,latt444 41t out.
te .4 h
I.! or loan GAMEKEEE.—On Sunday morning
ofilee 0f1114e.-rreePer. named William Cumberland, in the
lift, ttoili, v. Giedstanes, E5q..J..., .
b ut three hours
P was shoto bypoachers
DoraTl'4'l44llll %la mountain. He died in a
It 41 ved the wounds.
1 Q 41414 BAGPIPER AT
thnefilit 41111°4118 14er, was in attendaMncoesc'ionwt.h—e Moscow.
-Irisotoemr:
1141.10b1e Zto. kilt, and philib-,g, it thethe intentiondane e thoef
qap4l44 gite,,oB4„.t that in some interval of
1/I`4.4ellite,rist-le,7:fhoilild be made acquainted with the peculiar
!'e r. 'lter v,,..-, Richland music.
But the herdic
esgelnotsf
frettlllained" fit Patient of restraint. For some tile VititY teaaitatkling in the ante-room, beating time to an
pallt' Until.'" told champing like a war horse impatient of
Nil.. at ia,,t. . pal Nil..
the,__lvnt yfith the strains of rival musi
be ins °thy:tett frortotxicating influence of a thousand
bright
D lain walls, and the
I:4Bleircle.red ElRnti;htiltaltt eith„teed-toereaen.d fro before the gaze of the
tiP
4 abthe inapir, °der, flesh and Woo
his pipes, and, striking.
tt4heN,e(riech that 11 Gael shoulderedblood could hold out no
1,. brill. tread Ptlid awaken the. dead, marched, witht.
we 44 •'4Bif at the bead of his clan, in the centre o
there
at
that tibra g t°1111(1 which grand dukes and duchesses
khan tt4l,44atilY attZett dancing the polonaise. I,
:the wild
k'heir inn notes °lig of catgut and brs?
rotbrew down
ti",.(11.46,.,r,1in1ent ,e_ kagpipes. The
tole
e,seiste,,
w'ainfleaspmaiarm, the 0 centremusicians dancing,
ethige of an admiring
4e r vitil'ilPletely' in
/.-048 as ~, absorbed in his pibroch. , and. beating
ebslfe. loy th,"leh accuracy and sang frozd ats
eif uncon-
h world's
I.44eetitlvatchetlVience of the foresntiroasntgeof
music on the
thhiitl' h'ivael?eillaet4fireZseve?rftTicet Russianso rtlls
with great interest.
4 lid 4 4"8 to th • d
1 ently astounded, the officers putting
k qt. ti and Da, ell' ears, and t e ladles crossing their
mute surprise.
n,.„; .0a„- b``l3l4 on the kilted lEolus in 8
mpalhy
s'lle '1 414, eearne evident that there was y
%ttSsc _Etlike race on the one sideanadnad the war-
gentlemen 1
131.il 41148,411euidt:hae otllseT. . listened; and
nrdwiesen,
h shortly after, 1
4„11:141.1111%,,I)Ochess Constantine, one of the
apartment,
.k,oti:qttt f: -ken in Russia, retired to an
i34,atiii„
i?‘l. ApAllister, who played heWhite
NISN4 gr,i' a Manner that elicited her Imperial High-
ill'e tti, Zurit,cotnmendation. Prom that moment he
110 Ari,l'e 11,, Aimed,
and several times in the course of the
,1140413-pPLaYed again to admiring audiences. I may
)Ivli„lrivltt fore Partin with ou sical friend, that since
ttkrkho4lo,,,' hientsi beener
ow
crowds
through
lionagii zilmeosntgrsetettbs
.e RTherie
is
illit4lta fueri°l4ion among the mujiks as to his real ehara.c-
that 'l% is 4titons, but the most prevailing impression la,
lb,;lNOvith
~
,e chief of all the foreign ambassadors, and
i'ltig, o'fi fastidious refinement of hauteur, he prefers
lotted enou the ground that none of the carriages are
'''' fro Rl' for his notions of personal dignity.—
"' 198 cow.

AUSTRALIA.

IIE

ARRIVAL OF THE CHAMPION OF THE

SEAS

The Black Ball clipper ship Champion of the
Seas, Captain WlCirdy, which sailed from Hobson's
Bay on the 16th of July, arrived in the Mersey
yesterday afternoon. She brings 92,000 ounces of
gold, valued at £368,000, 170 passengers, and a
good general cargo of Australian produce.
The Champion of the Seas reports the arrival of
the clipper ship Lightning at Melbourne, on the 14th
of July, after a passage of 69 days. The Red Jacket,
which sailed from Liverpool 15 days before the Light-
ning, had not arrived out when the Champion of the
Seas left. The James Baines was to leave Mel-
bourne on the 6th of August, and would bring
120,000 minces of gold, valued at £420,000 sterling.
The political and general intelligence by this
arrival is' of little moment. Attention has been
directed to the approaching elections. In the
addresses of some of the candidates we find that
what is termed the elementary provisions of the
Constitution—that which relates to the qualifica-
tion of members—is condemned, and also the
duration of the Colonial Parliament to five years.
We take the following from the Melbourne Argus
of July 12 :

We are happy to find that the preliminaries of the
intended gold search 'are being energetically pushed for—
ward. At a meeting of the committee, held on the 26th
June, it was resolved to submit a plan to his Excellency,
prepared by the commissioners, embodying the outline of a
very comprehensive exploratory search

The length or

time which the tour of exploration would occupy is
estimated at three months, and the cost is set down at £6OO
or £7OO. Application will be made to the Government
for an advance of the needful amount at present, which we
doubt not his Excellency will assent to. The plan is for
Mr. Babbage and Mr. Bonney -to set forth upon an
exploring journey, accompanied by three practical miners,
and supplied with 'all the equipment necessary for prac-
tically testing the localities visited. The route to be taken
is by way of Mount Torrens, Tanundah Creek, Clare, and
so to the north-went to Mount Remarkable, and
passing beyond the -head of Spencer's Gulf to
Mount Arden and Mount Serle. From Mount Serle
the party propose to return home by way of Black
Rock, following a line to the eastward of the outward
journey. Mount Serle is situated midway between the 30th
and 31st parallels of latitude, and lies in the centre of the
Great Torrens Basin. The mountain itself is 3,000 feet
above the sea level, and at a short distance is Mount Decep-
tion, also 3,000 feet high. Many other mountains of
considerable altitude range between the head of Spencer's
Gulf and Mount Serle, in addition to Mount Remarkable
and Mount Arden, before mentioned. Mount Serle is more
than two degrees northward of Mount Remarkable.
It will be seen from this outline that the proposed
exploration will cover a very large extent of country,
including most of the localities most favourably
spoken of by the advocates of a search northward.
The flat on the Bendigo-road, which last week presented
such a busy mining scene, is now, after being destroyed,
altogether abandoned, it having proved unremunerative.
The camp ground alone remains untried in the immediate
vicinity of the town, and many eyes are turned longingly
thitherward. A petition to the Town Council, asking per-
mission, under conditions, to continue mining in Turner-
street, has been rejected. At a meeting of the Thomson
committee the fund subscribed to prosecute the authorities
on account of his conviction for the camp rush, was, on the
suggestion of Mr. M`Donogh that it was insufficient for
legal fees, agr ed to be handed over to the " victim." The
Local Court is still advancing propitious measures for the
reanimation of our paralysed diggings. A memorial in aid
of their requisition to government for £l,OOO grant to
institute prospecting, is going the round of the town and
neighbourhood. The amount of gold sent down last week
was . the smallest on record, and has occasioned much
discussion as to its immediate cause.

Our Sydney dates are July 8. The ministerial
plans of organisation and reform are kept singu-
larly quiet. Nothing definite or reliable has
transpired in reference to them. We have reason
to think, however, that there will be an attempt to
create a separate chancery jurisdiction, with a
separate judge and officers. Some such change as
this is absolutely necessary, unless the equitable
jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is wholly
abolished, for while the separate jurisdictions are
mixed up as at present, equity business is made to
subserve the convenience of the Bench and Bar to
such an extent as completely to mock the hopes of
the unfortunate suitors. It is understood that a
bill will be introduced for the admission to the
Bar, without examination, of attorneys of 10 years'
standing. The object of this measure is, there can
he no doubt, to authorise Mr. Nicholls, our present
Auditor-General, to wear the " curious covering of
horse-hair." The post for which Mr. Nicholls was
intended was that of Solicitor-General; but the
determined opposition of the Bar prevented him
from receiving this appointment. Mr. Nicholls,
there cannot be a question, would make an
excellent barrister. His long and successsful
career as an attorney, and as an advocate in the
courts of secondary rank, place his competency
beyond doubt. But it is one thing to be a good
practical and experienced lawyer, and quite another
thing to he able to pass through the ordeal of
examination in Greek, Latin, and mathematics—a
parce of lore utterly useless in the after-practice of
the candidate for admission. The bill I
allude to is scarcely likely, however, to pass ; it
too closely resembled that of Mr. Martin, which
was most contemptuously kicked out of the House
a session or two ago. It will raise, too,
a storm of objections out of the House
as interfering with vested interests. A less
objectionable measure would be to authorise the
judges, for good and sufficient cause— such as the
possession of an university degree or previous
admission (after examination of course) as an
attorney, to dispense in particular instances with
the examinations in classics and mathematics.
But I dare say this would be still more opposed,
for it is mainly, I think, upon these examinations
in the dead languages that reliance is placed to
keep down the number of aspirats for forensic
honours. No examination in essentials—that is
in legal knowledge—however rigid, would effect
this, but grown men find it very hard to read up
and get by heart the lore of their boyhood.