The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNvSDAY EVENING, MARCH 21. 1855.

how the Bank Returns for each week indicato fair,
or changeable, or stormy weather for the future,
that each one may be able in his own concerns t(
regulate his course accordingly. We cannot con-
clude without repeating the pertinent interrogato-
ries therein repeated, viz.:—
00 1. Nether the State ought to levy taxes on com-
modities by Customs add Excise, without providing tip-
country with paper money of the realm, in which suet
taxes may be charged by increased prices to the con-
sumer ? Or—

generous sentiments, and con-
trasting so rinairk-;Jiy as it did with the speeches
of red-tapiBbof the tiiplomatic school, had, after
all, as its chif excellence in our eyes, the pre-
sumption afforded, that his views were, to a
lar large ex it
extent, shared by the Government of which
he had becone a member. Regarding it in this
light we maimented on it at the time, and ac-
corded to se•eral of the opinions advanced in it
our cordial 4pproval. And it now appears we were
not wholly 4istaken. From Lord PALMERSTON'S
reply in the House of Commons last night it is not
difficult to g,ther that the affairs of Hungary and
Poland have engaged, and continue to engage, his
Lordship'S rnxious attention, and that he is not
wanting in hood wishes for the liberation of the
'atter, or, it faith, of the possibility and pro-
priety of that liberation being effected.
His Lordship, as we knew before, is of opinion
that it woull be a great misfortune to the world
if Hungary were separated from the Austrian
Empire ; bit with regard to Poland he has no
hesitation it stating, as his opinion, that the
kingdom of Poland, as at present constituted and
occupied, is a standing menace to Germany. " Ifs
is," continws his Lordship, " for the Powers of
Germany to determine how far they may think
the constitution of Poland is or is not dan-
z•erous to them, and whether, under circum-
stances whic'a may lead them into war with Russia,
they would think it for their interest to change
the position )f affairs." Pregnant words unques-
tionably, but ill followed, we conceive, by the
announcement, " that no stipulation in re-
gard to a new arrangement of Poland
forms part of those Points upon which
her MAJESTY'S Government are now in concert
with the Government of France negotiating at
Vienna. We call on the Premier not to omit any
opportunity to press his views on the at-
tention of the German Powers, and, still more,
to press it firmly at the Conference at
Vienna. No more effectual measure to
bridle Russia and stay her in her course
of aggression, he well knows, can be adopted
than that of resuscitating Poland. Not only
would Turkey have less to dread from her insatiate
enemy, but Sweden and Denmark also would be
enabled to breathe in safety, and to assume a
more independent attitude. Nothing in his Lord-
ship's lengthened career can redound more here-
after to his honour as a statesman than would the
freedom of Poland through his instrumentality.

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THE VIENNA CONFERENCES

We have received the following telegraphic des-

patch from Berlin :—.

At the Vienna Conferences on the 17th inst.
the first of the Four Points was definitively

"2. Whether the 14 millions of security notes, which
the Bank is now allowed to issue unrepresented by gold,
being amply secured by the Government debt and other
securities, should not be made a legal tender, and pass
current without reference to gold ?
" 3. Whether other bank?, on giving ample security
to the State in the public funds, might not be privileged
;n like manner to issue security notes to a certain
amount, as a legal tender, by authority of Parliament ?"
We invite the bullionists and friends of the
Act of 1845 to answer these questions. When
they do so in a satisfactory manner there may be
some grounds for asking a renewal of the Charter.
That they can do. Creclat Judants Apella non
ego.

settled and adopted by all parties.

Since then everything hai gone on favourably.

BRUSSELS, TUESDAY.

The Cabinet submitted to the King by M. de

Decker has miscarried. That statesman having
failed, has resigned the delegated permission, and

the crisis is prolonged.

A telegraphic summary of Gen. Osten Sacken's
report of the Bth instant, current at the beginning
of the week, stated that two squadrons of Russian
Lancers and 400 Cossacks had completely defeated
eight squadrons of Turks near Eupatoria. We
have received from St. Petersburg the text of the

Although the County Courts Act—the modern
code for the recovery of small debts—has in many
respects worked well, there can be no doubt that
in certain districts it has, through a culpable abuse
of the discretionary power reposed in the Judge,
been converted into a fearful instrument of oppres-
sion. In some instances the presiding functionary,
inflated with self-conceit, arrogates to himself the
power of overruling the decisions of judges of cc-
ordinate jurisdiction, men superior to himself in
every respect. In others, by almost incessant
persecution, he breaks up the homes and drives to
desperation the miserable wretches who happen to
be a few shillings behind in the world. Numerous
committals, repeated at intervals of a few weeks,
or months, before the unfortunate debtor has been
enabled to recover from the effects of his previous
incarceration, costs heaped on costs, complete his
degradation, and render the ruin of his family ir-
reparable. From being perhaps a well-disposed,
industrious man, the debtor becomes an idle, im-
provident sot. From association with good-for-
nothing, reckless men, the sauntering habits ac-
quired during his forced inaction, and the passion
for think, stimulated by a short .compulsory absti-
nence, he plunges into dissipation and vice, is
unable to obtain employment, and eventually
sinks into a premature grave, a victim to the mis-
chievous crotchets of a County Court Judge.
What, in the meantime, are the consequences
to the ill-fated family ? On the first imprison-
ment of the general provider, and the total with-
drawal of the funds for their support, they may
be enabled to obtain assistance from friends, or
possibly credit from the different tradesmen with
whom they have been in the habit of dealing. The
husband and father returns home ; he may possibly
again obtain work at remunerative wages, and be
anxious to the utmost of his power to retrieve his
position. Before he has done so, however—before
the debts incurred during the first imprisonment
are liquidated—he is again summoned, again com-
mitted for twenty, thirty, or forty days. But
friends are now exhausted. They consider the
man incorrigible, just as if it was his fault, occa-
sioned by his recent wanton extravagance, in
place of being the result of the erroneous and
distorted judgment of the County Court Judge.
The natural consequences follow. They decline
further interference, refuse assistance, while
tradesmen will no longer give credit. The wife
and children, driven to the tender mercies of the
union workhouse, lose the feeling of honourable
independence, which is the characteristic of the
families of English operatives, and become the
willing recipients of sloPincnynnry aid, porn)anent
burdens on the parochial rates ! We can assure
our readers that the above are by no means exag-
gerated pictures of the fearful consequences aris-
ing from the combined action of vindictive and
short-sighted creditors and imbecile and preju-
diced Judges, who suffer themselves to be made
tools of for the gratification of malevolence and

general's report, in which it is simply said that the
outlying pickets of eight squadrons had been thus
defeated, having ventured too far into the plain.

The general declares that the new rockets, men-
tioned in Admiral Bruat's report as having set
Sebastopol on fire, had scarcely done any harm
and that the general situation of affairs in the

Crimea had not changed.

FRANCE.

PARIS, TUESDAY.
The Emperor reviewed to-day in the Court of
the Tuileries different corps of the Imperial
Guard, to whom he presented colours, and whom
be addressed in the following speech :
" Soldiers The army is the real nobility of
our country ; it preserves intact from age to ago
the traditions of the national glory and honour.
Behold, then (pointing to the colours), your gene-
alogical tree ! It marks a new victory for each
generation. Take, then, these colours. I intrust
them to your honour, to your courage, to your
patriotism."

- These words elicited the most enthusiastic
applause.

- The troops were all in marching order.
The Cent Gardes will set out on Saturday.
The Moniteur of this morning has the following :
" VARNA, Feb. 27.—The colonel of the 4th Regi-
ment of Hussars, his staff officers, and a squadron,
set out this morning for the Crimea, on board the
Sully. Two days before the Labrador started with
the artillery horses on board."
The Roland left Marseilles on the 18th with in-
fantry, artillery, and horses for the Crimea. On
the 19th the Duperre left Toulon with troops and
provisions.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. —A few years ago,
a society was formed under this name, its object
being to investigate the history, nature, causes,
prevention, and cure of epidemics, such as
cholera, scarlet fever, and small-pox. The labours
of the society, we understand, have been exten-
sive, and have been rewarded with a large mea-
sure of success. One committee, we are told,
is now engaged in collecting information from all
parts of the world relative to cholera, and another
has undertaken an inquiry into the feasi-
bility of training and employing the able-bodied
inmates of workhouses as nurses for the poor.
It is very desirable that objects like these should
be accomplished, and, as this cannot be done
without considerable expense, we trust the appeal
of the society for aid will be liberally responded
to by a philanthropic public.
THE ORDER OF THE GARTER.—It is rumoured, and we
believe with truth, that ere long the Queen will present
her Majesty's ally, the Emperor of the French, with the
honorary decoration of the above illustrious order. The
number of Knights is limited to 25, exclusive of the
foreign potentates.
Hia Excellency the Earl of Carlisle left Dublin last
week, and is at present at Castle-Howard, where he will
pass a few days before coming to London. Upon his
return to Grosvenor-place his lordship will remain in
town until his final departure for Troland, whioh will
take place about the end of the present month.
The Countess Walswska had a "reception" last even-
ing at the residenea of the French Embassy, Albert-gate
House. His Serene Highness Prince Nicholas of Nassau
attended the reunion,
The Duke of Rutland is receiving company at Belvoir
Castle, the noble dtlei having quite recovered from his
recent indisposition.
The Countess Dowager Granville, who has been
visiting the Countess of Carlisle, returned to -town, yes-
terday, from Castle-Howard.
Lady Doves left Castle-Howard on Monday, and has
returned to town.
His Grace the Duke of Leeds has left the Clarendon
Hotel for Hornby Castle, Catterick, Yorkshire.
The Earl and Cotntess of Clarendon will give a se-
lect dinner party on Saturday evening.
The Countess of .innoull will hold a "reception" to-
morrow evening, at Hampden House.
The Earl and Countess of Clare, who have now been
in town for some weeks, are likely to return to the
country in about a fortnight.
General Addison Momas and Mr. J. Appleton have
arrived at Edwards's Private Hotel, in George-street,
Hanover-square.
DEATH OF LORD ERSKINE.—This nobleman died on
Monday last, at his house, in Sussex. 11;s lordship was
son of the great Lord Erskine. He is succeeded by his
eldest sone,the Hon. Thomas Americus, now third Baron
Erskine.
THE LATE Elul, SUANHOPE.—At the last weekly meet-
ing of the West London Anti-enclosure Society, 19th
lest., at the Banner of Peace, South-wharf-road, Pad-
dington—Mr. George Stubbings in the chair, a letter
from Earl Stanhope was read, returning thanks for the
address of the society on the death of his beloved father
(rejoicing to think that the labours of so good a man
should be so highly appreciated), and enclosing a dona-
tion for the 'minting of 2,000 copies of the same, in fur-
therance of the promoter's desire to record his virtues.
A vote of thanks having been awarded to his lordship
for his kind and benevolent response, books in memory
of the late good earl were presented to the library of the
society, wits promises of more.
It is said to be the intention of the Government to in-
troduce their bill this week for the abolition of the testa-
mentary jurisdiction of the ecclesiastical courts.
A rumour was current in Vienna on the 16th that a
telegraellic despatch had been received to the effect that
the Emp,ror Napoleon was shortly to visit that city.
A deputation from the Committee for the Reduction
of the Duties on Wine had an interview with the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official resi-
dence in Downing-street. The deputation consisted of
the following members of Parliament, viz. Mr.
Oliveira (chairman of the committee), Mr. Cebbold, Mr.
Wickham, Mr. Thomas Chambers Mr. George Thom-
son, Mr. Milligan, Mr. Apsley Pelfatt, Major Reed, Sir
George Goodman, lar. Mr. Kershaw Mr. Pilk-
ington, Mr. Crook, Mr. Swift, Cowan,Sir James Anderson, Mr.
Montagu Chambers, Mr. John Macgregor, Mr. Jack-
son, Mr. Heywood, Mr. Kirk, Dr. Mitchell, and Mr.
Brady ; and Messrs. Henry Pownall, F. Sparrevv, H.
M. F. Langton, Jeremiah Evans, the Rev. M. Sherman,
and Mr. John M. Deere (secretary).
AMATEUR Swan MUSICALE.—A benevolent party of
amateurs engaged tee Hanover-square Rooms, last night,
and gave a concert For the relief of the sick and wounded
soldiers at Scutari. The selection was of a popular kind,
consisting of a round of songs, ballads, glees, &c., chiefly
drawn from such sauces as Baits, Donizetti, Cooke,
,arnhdeySdhiidehdanod with
languish
occesional deviations in favour of Spohr,
zeal,Mendelssohn, and other of the " brighter lights." The
singers and plaeers exerted themselves with commend-
able their efforts
wantwere nf moreen coorulreasgs
ameritorious.
plause was administered unreservedly, and the anony-
mous artistes were one and all supported with the most
invigorating civility. The attendance was large, and
there will, we hope, be something to send to Miss Night-
ingale, who is destined, we see, to be the recipient and
distributor of the profits.
LIVERPOOL ELECTION.—Sir S. George Bonham, the
Conservative candidate for Liverpool, made his first ap-
pearance in that town yesterday, and addressed the mer-
chants on 'Change from the window of Messrs. Little-
dale's office. He was introduced by Mr. C. Turner.
Tie new candidate's address and personnel created great
disappointment among hiS supportsrs. His speech,
which was unusually brief, gave little information be-
yond the fact that he had lived for 20 years in Singa-
pore, and that he was consequently well acquainted
with commercial matters. He made no allusion either
to the war or politics, and with respect to religious mat-
ters, on which Liverpool candidates have generally been
somewhat explicit, he avowed himself an ardent sup-
porter
sainnnd
nafdhmisirearddorfetshsesPirroGteasntragnetEin-enlihgaiomn.weAnttitnhtee

- The armament of the Hanoverian troops is pro-
ceeding rapidly, and the Confederation is called on
to hasten its preparations in order efficaciously to
assist Austria.

The following private telegraphic despatch has
been received :—" M. de Bismark has protested
against the assertion of the Moniteur relative to the
declaration which he is said to have made to the
Diet. He states that such a declaration, which
however was not made, could not be disavowed by
the Prussian Government."

BOURSE, 111Aum 20.—CLOSING PRICES.
Cash. fr. c. End of Month.
4 per Cents. (xd) 94 5 94f. Me.
3 per Cents 6B 93 63f. 80c.
Credit Mobilier 763 75 Roinan
Credit Fonder 540 Austrian
Belgian Fives — Spanish Threes —
Piedmontese B5 50 Home Debt 3l
RAILWAYS—FOR CASIL
fr. C. fr. c,
Orleans - Lyons
Western 650 Rouen -
Cette 6lO Strasburg -
Mediterranean 950 Havre 565 -
Northern -

RUSSIA.
The New Prussian Gazette reports that a speech
made by the Emperor Alexander IL in the Senate
had produced a great sensation at St. Petersburg.
The Emperor had communicated to the senators
that he had for the last ten years taken a part in
the government, and had cognisance of the plans
of his father, according to which there could be no
expectation of a change being made in the policy
or in the administration. The Emperor Alexander
had, at his father's command, drawn up the pro-
clamation of his own accession to the throne in his
presence, and had read aloud the draft of it to him.
The Journal de St. Petersbourg announces that
General Berg is appointed ,Governor-General of
Finland, and Aide-de-Camp General Baron de
Lieven Quartermaster-General of the Imperial
Staff. An Imperial order places the eastern por-
tion of the Crimea from Theodosia and Arabat to
Kertch under the orders of Prince Gortschakoff.
By an ukase, dated March 10, General Yermo-
loff has been appointed commander of the militia
of the government of Moscow, and Prince Scha-
choffski to the command of the militia of the
government of St. Petersburg.
A letter dated Hamburg the 14th inst. says :
"Our last accounts from Odessa, of the sth, state that
the General-in-Chief, Prince Gortschakoff, was preparing
to quit his head-quarters at liischeneff on a military
-bur of inspection through the Crimea, being anxious to
judge from personal observation of the situation of the
army, and of the works erected for the defence of the
positions it occupies. Snow has again fallen in
the neighbourhood of Odessa, and interrupted
the communications. Considerable reinforcements had
been sent to the corps of observation of General
Pa'lloff, in order to oppose the forward movement
of Omer Pasha from Eupatoria. An entire division of
Russian light cavalry, under the command of General
Nitzoff, had already reached, and was encamped on the
road leading from Simpheropol to Eupatoria. It was
believed that General Read would assume the command
of that corps, which is now a regular army. Three new
regiments of Dragoons had passed the isthmus of Pere-
kop, proceeding in the same direction. A park of artil.
lery was also on its way thither, and immense convoys
of provisions were daily forwarded by the same road.
The intention of the General-in-Chief is evidently to
neutralise the action of the Ottoman army, and to pre-
vent by all means its advance upon Sebastopol."

revenge.
The above cases, however, are by no means so
objectionable in point of law as those in which a
person who has obtained his discharge from the
Insolvent Court, or whose whole conduct is at the
moment sub judice, is committed to prison under
a County Court warrant ! In the one a certain
degree of discretion is conferred by the Legisla-
ture ; and although there may be a great abuse
of authority, still the Judge possesses
the power, and may exercise his own
will and pleasure, without conflicting with the
recognised jurisdiction of any other person. But
it is otherwise with matters in insolvency. There
the party has been compelled to give up his pro-
perty of every kind, and must make a full state-
ment of his affairs, without reserve or conceal-
ment. The Learned Commissioner hears the com-
plaint, not of a single creditor, but of any one
who thinks proper to come forward ; and if any
impropriety should be established, he sentences
the wrong-doer to a suitable punishment.
Let us then suppose that a man, against whom
some one or more County Court judgments have
been obtained, is compelled to petition the Insol-
vent Court. Should he satisfy the amount of the
judgments, he is very properly remanded by the
Commissioner for the serious offence of giving a
fraudulent preference to some of his creditors.
Should lie not do so, he may be committed to
prison for repeated terms of forty days.• The
judicious and humane policy that dictated the
various acts for the relief of insolvent debtors pre-
vented the perpetual incarceration or incessant
annoyance of persons willing to surrender all
their effects for distribution amongst their credi-
tors is practically disregarded. And why ? Be-
cause Parliament committed an oversight in giv-
ing undue power to County Court Judges, and
some few of the number abuse the authority
thus unwittingly conferred.
It is time that this serious nuisance should be
abated—these flagrant grievance; prevented. We
earnestly hope that Lord BE,OUGHAM or some
other Legal Reformer may bring in a measure to
provide an adequate remedy for the acknowledged
evil. Should any doubt exist as to the facts, a brief
in quiry-ae to the working of the County Court system
in some of the metropoli tan districts, or even a return
of the persons committed to prison more than once
for the same debt, or after they had been dis-
charged by an Insolvent Commissioner,
,or while
their petitions were pending, will prove beyond
the possibility of doubt the necessity for imme-
diate legislation on the interesting and important
topic.

If Lord W. GRAHAM took little in a direct way
by his question whether the Austrian Ambassador
had called upon Lord CLARENDON for any expla-
nation of the words stated to have been used by
a member of the Administration (Sir ROBERT
PEEL)--" That no settlement of the Eastern
question would be satisfactory unless Hun-
gary and Poland were restored"—we are 'in-
debt©d to him, though ho may deserve no thanks,
for bringing the subject of Hungary and Poland,
their condition and prospects, once again before
the public,
and'also for eliciting from the PREMIER
some indications of his views respecting these
down-trodden countries.
The spooch of Sir ROBERT PEEL, charged as it i

the Exchange newsrooms, where he was rather coolly
received, his opponents hissing and shouting, " Warm-
ing-pan," "Go to Singapore," &C.
RovAr. GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.—The next evening
mating will take place on Monday next. The following
are the papers to be read :-1. Extract of a letter re-
ceived by Admiral Smyth from Admiral Matthieu, on
the Progress of the Survey in the Straits of Gibraltar.
2. Despatch from Loanda respecting Dr. Livingston's
Exploration in Central Africa, communicated by Consul
Brand. 3. On the Ruins of Tical, near the Lake of

Peten, in Central America, by Don Vicente T. D. B.

Caqteilanos.

The statue of Lord Clarendon, hitherto placed opposite
that of Hampden in the principal entrance to the Houses
of Parliament, was ye,terday removed to another pe-
destal, and Foley's new datne of Sel(fon was raised in
itd" place,