The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-17 00:00:00

THE SoN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EV eN IN OCTOBER 17 1855,

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-THE ACTUAL RESULT OF THE HARVEST

IN FRANCJi!.

The Revue Contemporane publishes a remarkable
article on the provision question. The writer, M.
A. Villedieux, evidently has derived bis informa-
tion from authentic official sources, and his appre-
ciation of the actual result of the harvest in France
may, consequently, be relied upon. The followit,g
extracts from this article will be read with in-
terest :

" It appears from the information we have received
that the deficit will amount on an average to a falling off
of 15 per cent. on an ordinary crop in the worst dis-
tricts, and of 10 per cent, in the others ; consequently
we have an average proportion of 12 or 123/4 per cent.
for all France. As the total consumption of the coun-
try is on an average 82,000,000 hectolitres, including
the grain required for seed, not more than 10,000,000
hectolitres will have to be drawn from abroad. Wheat
and rye present unfortunately a proportionate deficit.
The result of our inquiries, which are perfectly conclu-
sive on this point, shows that, if the wheat and rye
crops have been deficient in quantity, they have been
everywhere, with very few exceptions, of a superior
quality. The ground is sound and full, it yields a much
larger produce than last year, and the flour leaves no-
thing to be wished for with regard to its nutritious
properties. We could mention a department where,
judging from the first specimens ground, it is con-
sidered that the superiority in quality is so marked that
it will compensate, in the estimation of the most com-
petent judges, the deficit in quantity to the amount of
a 12th or even of a 10th. A still more important re-
source will be derived from the spring cereals, which
have produced everywhere excellent crops. The supply of
barley, which on an average amounts yearly to about
17,000,000 hectolitres, the half of which only is need as
food, is most abundant. The crop of this year exceeds by
from 15 to 20 per cent. the ordinary produce. The maize
or Indian corn offers also, in the districts where it is
meet cultivated, a favourable appearance. It has suffered
only in two or three departments of the south; in others
the surplus is estimated at 25 or 30 per cent. above the
average. It is particularly fine in the eastern districts.
Maize contributes, one year with another, to the amount
of 6,000,000 of hectolitres for human consumption. The
accounts from the east of France are also very favour-
able as respects the buckwheat, there cultivated on an
extensive scale, which supplies each year about 6,000,000
hectolitres to the support of the rural population. The
departments of Brittany and the centre of France are san-
guine in their expectations as to the results of this useful
crop. Chestnuts, which the inhabitants of Limousin, Ce-
vennes, and Brittany consume to the same extent as the
cereals durining a great part of the year, present an ap-
pearance of extraordinary abundance. The same may be
said of vegetables, and chiefly of broad and kidney beans.
If to all these we add the oat crop, the produce of which
will be very large, we way boldly state that tbe defi-
ciency in the wheat and rye crops will be in a great de-
gree compensated. We receive from all sides the most
satisfactory accounts of the potato. The disease with
which it has been attacked for the last 10 years is on
the eve of completely disappearing. It has scarcely shown
itself at all is a great number of departments the most
remote from each other, and in those where it has ap-
peared the injury it has inflicted is very trifling,
Nevertheless it has attacked certain localities with
more or less intensity ; hut it has lost, even in these,
a great part of its venom—a symptom of its speedy
disappearance. The potato crop will be the more
abundant, as the marked decline of the disease ob-
served in 1814 induced the farmers to plant it more
generally. To complete this arpos6 of the state of the
crops throughout the country, we must add that the
grape will yield considerably more than the last few
years. It is by no means uninteresting either to observe
that.fodder has been generally abundant, and that cir-
cumstance may have a beneficial influence on the price
of meat. We may also mention a circumstance calcu-
lated to lessen the attending difficulties—natnely, the
tardiness of this year's harvest, which came in three
weeks or a month later than usual. During that space
of time the country has lived oa the pr educe of 1854.
If, then, as there is every reason to hope, the next har-
vest be not retarded, that of 1855 will have to supply
the country only during a period of 11 or 113/4 months
instead of 12 "

THE CArALItY AFFAIR NEAR
ELIPATORIA.

The following appears in yesterday's Moniteur :
" The Minister of War has received the following re-
port from Marshal
M. le Marichal,—ln my despatch of the 29th of
September I stated to your Excellency that I had sent
General d'Allonville to Eupatoria with three regiments
of his division of cavalry (the 4th Hussars, the 6th and
7th Dragoons, and a battery of Horse Artillery); I then
expressed the hope that the able activity of this General,
seconded with seal by the Muchir, Ahmet Pasha, would
succeed in dispersing the troops the Russians have re-
tained in the vicinity of Eupatoria, and afterwards in
threatening the chief line of the enemy's communication
between &mpheropol and Perekop.
" brilliant cavalry engagement took place on the
29th of September at Koughill (five leagues north-east of
Eupatoria), in which the Russian cavalry under Gen.
Korf was completely defeated. This action inaugurates
very auspiciously the series of operations of which Eupa-
toria will nnw be the pivot.
"'According to a previous arrangement between Gen.
d'Allonville and Ahmet Pasha three columns quitted
Eupatoria on the 29th, at 3 in the morning, to march
against the enemy.
" The first, directed to the song-east, took up its
position at the extremity of the isthraus, towards Saki.
It had only a few squadrons of the enemy before it,
wliich it amity drove back with the aid of two guns,
which supported the column by their ire.
" The second, commanded by Abmet Pasha in per-
son, passing by Oraz, Atchin, and Teisch, advanced upon
Djollchak, destroying in its march all the stores of the
enemy.
" The third column, at the head of which was Gen.
d'Allonville, was composed of 12 squadrons of his divi-
sion, of Armand's Battery (of Horse Artillery), 200 irre.
gular cavalry, and six Egyptian battalions. It or )ssed
one of the arms of Lake Sasik, and marched by Chiban
upon Djoilchak, the general rendezvous, where the two
last columns joined each other about 10 in the morning.
" These columns had driven before them the Russian
squadrons, which had successively fallen back upon their
reserves. During the halt ordered to refresh the horses,
Goa. d'Allonville observed the movements of the enemy,
who, with 18 squadrons, several troops of Cossacks, and
artillery, endeavoured to turn his sight by advancing be.
tween him and the lake.

" General D'Allonville, supported in the rear by
two regiments of Turkish cavalry, and the six Egyptian
battalions, immediately directed his force upon the point
of the lake, so as to surround the enemy himself. The
promptitude of this movement enabled the 4th Regiment
of Hussars, the first line of which was led by Geo. Wal-
sin-Esterhazy, to make a close attack on the enemy, while
General Chatnperon, with the 6th and 7th Dragoons, in
the second and third line, advanced on the Russian Lan-
cers, and compelled them to a precipitate retreat, during
which Our troops harassed them for a distance of more
than two leagues.
" The enemy being unable to keep their ground on
any point and flying in every direction, General d'Allon-
',Tulle halted the squadrons, and, before retiring, collected
all that the Russians ha,l abandoned on the field of battle.
"`As the result of the action we have taken six guns
(three Bannon and three mortars), 12 caissons) and one
field forge, with th, it horses and harness ; 169 prisoners,
of whom one is an officer, Lieutmant.Procopvitch, of the
18th Lancers ; and 250 horses.
" rho enemy left on the field about 50 killed ; among
them was recognised Colonel Andreowski, of the 13th
Lancers, of the division of General Korf, who com-
manded in this engagement, and who has the reputation
in the Russian army of being a cavalry officer of great
merit. Our loss, in comparison, is very small ; we have
six killed and 29 wounded ; M. Pujade, aide-de-camp of
General Walsin ; and M. de Sibert de Cornillon, ordon.
nance officer of the same general, are among the latter.
" 'This brilliant action does honour to the regiments
engaged iii it, as well as to General Walsin and De
Champeron, and to General D'Allonville, who speaks in
high terms of the support he received, from Achmet
Pasha, and the Turkish troops under his command.
" Receive, Monsieur, &0.,
" PELISSIER, Marshal, Commander-in-Chief."'

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS DE BRABANT
AT ST. CLOUD.

A Paris letter of the 14th, in the Independance
of Brussels, gives the following details of the grand
dinner of between 60 and 70 covers given to the
Duke and Duchess de Brabant at St. Cloud on
Saturday :
" The Empress, from her interesting position, did not
attend, and it was the Princess Mathilde who did the
honours. The Emperor and her Imperial Highness went
to the apartments of the Duke and Duchess to accom-
pany them, and his Majesty presented the Princess to
the Duchess, and the guests to the Duke. At table the
Duchess occupied the centre place opposite the Princess
Mathilde ; the Emperor was on the right hand, and the
Prince Napoleon on her left. The Duke de Brabant was on
the right of the Princess Mathilde, and the Minis' er of Bel-
gium on the left. Lady Cowley was on the right of the
Emperor, and Mme. Rogier. the Belgian ambassadress,
on the left of Prince Napoleon. The other places of
honour were occupied by the Minister of Foreign Af-
fairs, the Minister of State, and Mine. Fould, Marshal
and Mine. Magnan, the Minister of Justice, and the
President of the Senate. Amongst the other personages
present were the secretaries of the English and Belgian
Legations, and General Canrobert. In the evening
there was a reception, and the Empress joined it. Danc-
ing to the piano took place, but the Duke and Duchess
de Brabant being in mourning did not take part in it.
The Emperor danced with the Princess Mathilde.
Amongst the guests were the Countess de Montijo,
mother of the Empress, the Duke and Duchess de Alba,
and the Ambassador of Turkey. The Emperor and the
Empress, and their Royal guests retired at half-past
eleven."

EMBEZZLEMENT BY A SERJEANT OP THE 36TH.—Yes.
terday (Tuesday) morning a warrant was granted by R.
Blunt, Esq., one of the Windsor borough magistrates,
for the apprehension of Pay-Serjeant George William
Bennett, of the 36th Regiment, charged with em-
bezzling and absconding with certain monies belonging
to his company. It appears he left his lodgings in com-
pany with his wife, about a quarter to ten o'clock on
Monday evening in a cab, and has not since been heard
of. In the morning, on his absence being discovered,
information was immediately given to Mr. Eager, supe-
riaendout Qf police. Hip dafalootiona exceed 1001.

*144
t, 0-44,

SUN OFFICE, Seven o'clock.

WARWICK RACES.—(This Day.)

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPII.)

SCURRY HANDICAP.

Little Davie
Emigrant
Five ran.
HANDICAP PLATE.

Sauve-qui-peut
Noisette
Six ran.
SWEEPSTAKES.

Ear-ring filly
Vine
OPEN STEEPLECHASE

Forest Queen
Odiham

Eleven ran.

DISGRACEFUL ATTEMPT TO ASSAS-
SINATE.

DUBLIN, Tuesday Morning.—The following ac-
count of the barbarous attempt to assassinate a
lady, who was, unfortunately for herself, the pro-
prietor of land in the county of Cavan, a short re-
port of which was forwarded yesterday by tele-
graph—is supplied by the correspondent of the
Evening Mail. Since the memorable massacre at
Finnoe, in which one of the victims was a lady, the
annals of Irish agrarian crime present no similar
scene of atrocity to the one here recorded :

"Benvoosbrin, Oct. 13.—1 n the annals of assassi-
nation and Ribandism I have not, I think, read of any-
thing equal in atrocity and barbarity to the act which I
shall now endeavour to give you an account of. Miss
Charlotte Hinds, on Friday last, about 4 o'clock, when
returning from Ballyconnell, was met in the lane or
avenue leading to her house by two demons in human
shape, who at once dragged her off the car, knocked
her down with loaded sticks, and then deliberately fired
no fewer than three pistol-shots into her face and head,
after which they walked quietly away, leaving her for
dead. The unfortunate lady was shortly afterwards
carried on a door to her own house, where she now lies
in the most excruciating pain and agony, having, besides
the beating from the sticks, received no less than four
bullets in the face and head, one of which is lodged in
the brain. Her medical attendants entertain not the
slightest hope of her recovery. Some 18 months ago
sworn information was gives that this lady was soon to
be shot, and a communication to that effect was trade
to the Government, who ordered that she should get a
police escort at all times she might call for such, but she
only availed herself of the privilege on one or two occa-
sions. Poor, unsuspecting creature, who set herself
down to live in the midst of her property, thinking that
at least a lone and unprotected woman might be safe
among her tenantry, but alas I no. Neither age nor sex is
now, nor ever was, respected by the hellish Riband code,
which is unchanged and unchangeable.' It will be
asked, in what did the unfortunate lady offend ? She
dared to exercise the rights over the property which she
had purchased in the Encumbered Estates Court. She
dared to look for and enforce payment of her rentsfrom
refractory tenants, and she dared against others to bring
an ejectment which would have been tried at the ap•
proaching sessions of this town. Yes, all this she had
the temerity to dare to do, and, notwithstanding
her many acts of kindness—and they are admitted
to be numerous—to her tenants and neighbours,
she has paid the penalty of daring to look for
her own. Such a heinous, cold-blooded, cowardly act is
enough to make one's blood run cold to contemplate.
This locality is in a frightfully bad state. It is well-known
to some of the magistrates that another was on the list
for assassination, and would have preceded poor Miss
Hinds, if the dastardly agents of the Riband system could
have taken him unawares. Let the Government, then,
do what they can at once. They can station an active
and determined stipendiary magistrate, and a sub-in-
spector of the same stamp, at Ballyconnell ; and they
can, under the act, form a police station on the lands of
Tubberlion (where the deed of blood was perpetrated),
making the land liable for all expenses. When they de
this, then I will give them credit for a desire to protect
life and property in this doomed locality."
Referring to this terrible outrage, the Mail
remarks :

" Miss Hinds (a Protestant), a lady possessing a small
property in Cavan, generally resident in Dublin, could get
no rents from her reluctant tenants, who thought they
should anticipate Parliament in enforcing tenant-right,
and appropriate the whole proceeds of their farms to
their own use. After a struggle, seeing poverty staring
her in the face, she ejected some of the non-paying
tenants, and went down to occupy the farms herself,'
preferring to till the ground for subsistence to starving.
Coming home on a car from Ballyconnell market she was
fired at by two ruffians going up a narrow lane leading
to her house by the verge of Currea-wood. Dr. Roe, of
Cavan, was sent for, and found her in a hopeless state.
Reports differ. Some say she still lives, some that she is
dead. Property has its duties as well as its rights.'
By property, the agrarian philosopher who uttered the
axiom meant the owners of property. They have their
rights—so the law says, and so the public in England
suppose ; but they enforce those rights at the risk of their
lives. If they dare to ask for their rents, they are re-
fused ; if they enforce them, they are butchered. The
day of their execution is generally publicly known, and,
as they pass on to the slaughter, curious faces pop out
of cabin-doors with a demoniacal grin, and are hastily
withdrawn."

There are a few additional particulars in the sub-
joined account :
"This horrid outrage was committed in open day,
shortly before 4 in the afternoon, in a populous place,
with several houses immediately contiguous to the
place, but, until the deed was done, and the fellows se-
curely off through a neighbouring wood, not cne made
their appearance. it was also committed beside her own
property, but it was remarked that almost if not all the
tenants on the land made their appearance in Ballycon-
nell market that day most conspicuously, in order to be
out of the way. One of her tenants, an old lame man
named Andrew Reilly, Miss Hinds took up on the way;
but as his life is in some of the leases on the lands he
escaped, though he says he was fired at, but this is not
believed. Miss Hinds' servant boy is committed to the
Bridewell here for further examination, as be prevari-
cated, and told a most improbable story. Miss Hinds
was a most kind, good, religious woman ; her only crime
was endeavouring to get her rights from a banded law-
less set of tenants, who thought to hold the lands with-
out the payment of rent. She had an ejectment served
a few days ago on one Stephens here, on the 26th inst ,
which is the cause of this deed of blood. When the
report came in here to the market it seemed to ho no-
thing more than an every-day occurrence, and was
received with savage exultation by many—even women.
If the Government do not send an active, efficient, and
determined resident magistrate and sub-inspector of po-
lice at once here, it is feared there are more such acts in
contemplation ; indeed it is well known there are. If
some strong measures are not taken in time with
these murderers neither life nor property is worth a day's
purchase. Why not at once send a party of police to these
lands under the Crime and Outrage Act. Miss Hinds is
still alive. She has considerable property of cattle and
crops on the land, which will be all taken off if not
protected, and she is in a low backward place, unable to
be removed. She lies in a most precarious condition,
all battered with blows, and many bullet wounds in the
head. Are we in a Christian country, or among the
Kafire ? but even these would respect a woman."

STATE OF TRADE.

MANCHESTER, OCT. IG.

The market this morning has been flat. Yesterday a
disposition to operate, which had manifested itself some
little on Saturday, led to more business than of late from
a belief that the greater steadiness in the raw material
at Liverpool might lead to some reaction in prices here ;
but this morning the intelligence gleaned from the tele-
graphed summaries of the money articles contained in
the morning papers had a disheartening effect, and the
business done has been very light. To some extent the
downward course of prices has been checked, but while
sellers are less willing to make concessions, buyers are
again manifesting a disposition to withhold their orders
where there is no temptation in the shape of easier
prices. Both in cloth and yarn the feeling is the same,
and the transactions throughout the day have been on
a small scale.

Messrs. John Slagg and Co. say :
" Since Thursday last, when it became known that
the Bank had made no further advance in the rates for
discount, there has been a better feeling in the market,
and a fair amount of business has been done in most de-
scriptions of goods. In Frices there is no change to
notice since last Tuesday—the full extent of the improve-
ment being to check the downward tendency which then
existed."

Messrs. George Fraser, Son, and Co., report :
" There is no improvement in our market whatever
to-day either in price or demand. Yesterday there was
a more animated feeling, and a larger amount of business
was done, but this has entirely passed away, leaving the
market stagnant at the lowest previous prices. The
threatening aspect of the money-market seems to augur
a very unsettled state of business.
LEEDS, 00T. 16.
Considering the period of the year, the state of the moner
market, and the price of corn, the business transacted in
the cloth-halls this morning has been fully as good, both as
to extent and prices, as could be expected. Winter goods
have sold to a fair extent, and among them several arti-
cles suitable for the outer apparel of women- There is
undoubtedly some contraction of work in the woollen
mills in several of the villages in this district, and some
persons express fears of a very indifferent winter trade ;
but the general feeling is one of confidence that there
will continue to be little less than an average business
done, and at remunerative prices. There is little or no
diminution in the demand for woollen goods for the home
trade, and there are many indications that the great
bulk of the people are well employed, and that even the
present high price of bread will not be much complained
of by the working &am

Ml?. SIDNEY HERBERT AT WILTON.

At the "triennial commemoration" of the opening
of the Wilton Parochial Library and Reading-room,
public tea party was held in the National School-room,
on Tuesday last ; the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, M.P.,
- in the chair.
The room was tastefully decorated with Rags, ever-
greens, and pictures, many of the latter being et.gravings
of scenes and incidents in the Crimea. In addition to
the family and visitors of Mr. Herbert nearly all the
leading families in Wilton and its vicinity were present.
Considerable additional interest was excited by the pre-
!. Bence of the Hon. and Rev. S. G. Osborne, and the pro-
mised narration by that gentleman of some of his expe•
riences in the East. Mrs. Bracebridge, the coadjutor of
Miss Nightingale in her labour of benevolence in the re-
formation of the military hospitals, was also present, in
company with Mrs. Herbert. The preliminary business
• of tea-drinking being over,
The Right Hon. S. HERBERT, M.P., said he had been
asked by the committee to preside over that meeting,
and had great pleasure in complying with that request.
Three years since a meeting was held to consider the
best means of establishing in Wilton a parochial reading-
room, which might give to all classes the opportunity of
getting access not only to books, but also to those
periodicals which were of so much interest by their ac-
counts of those occurrences which from day to day were
taking place around us. The result of that meeting had
been the establishment of the reading-room, which he
believed had been eminently successful, the members
now numbering 80. They had a good supply of books,
but that supply was limited, andit was of importance to
find means of increasing the library by obtaining fresh
works when the old ones had been read. This might,
he was informed, be done by connecting themselves with
a similar society, and so making an exchange of volumes
when the old stock was exhausted. He had himself
brought some books with him, which he hoped the
committee would do him the honour of accepting, as
some contribution to the stock of the library.
(Cheers.) Another subject they would have to consider
was, haw to obtain the means of having a series of lec-
tures at their reading-room. He was informed that by
putting themselves in communication with the Society of
Arts they could get lecturers from London, perfectly
masters of every subject on which they were selected to
lecture, and supplied with extensive apparatus for illus-
trating them. In 'considering the suggestions he bad
just made, it had occurred co him to write to a gentle-
man who had always taken the liveliest interest in mat-
ters of this kind, and he.had asked him to come over and
give them a lecture on the present occasion on those
great events which, during the last 12 months, had filled
every household either with the greatest exultation or
the deepest grief. He felt proud of the courage and
conduct so nobly displayed by our army during the war
in the Crimea. He confessed that he was not one of
those who were disposed to find fault or to depreciate
the efforts made by the English army in the late siege.
He thought, on looking back upon the history of British
war, they would hardly find an instance in which in so
short a time such eminent and decisive successes had
been gained as those lately achieved by our army in the
Crimea. (Cheers.) When did they ever see in so brief
a period such victories as were commemorated by the
names of Alma, Balaklava, and Inkerinan—names which
would ever be household words in England ? (Cheers.)
They had on the walls of that room pictures of these
battles and these great events, and they had also the
portrait of a lady whom they all knew—Miss Florence
Nightingale, whose exertions, whose sacrifices, and
whose self-devotion had won for herself an undying
name. (Cheers.) Miss Nightingale was not among
them that evening, though they had among them a
friend of hers, who bad shared with her, and could bear
testimony to, the dangers and horrors which, in the dis-
charge of her high mission, she had gone through. To
that friend he would tender his thanks on their common
behalf, but yet they might believe him when he said that
whatever thanks—whatever honour—whatever reward
they might give here, were as nothing compared
with the reward hereafter. When he wished to open
that evening's meeting by some observations from one
who had himself visited those scenes of interest, it oc-
curred to him that the Rev. S. G. Osborne also went out
on a mission of mercy. To Mr. Osborne he also would
tender his thanks for the efforts he had made on behalf
of the suffering army. That gentlemen had witnessed
those scenes of suffering, and bad shared in their allevi-
ation. He had consented to come over to Wilton that
evening, and he was glad of introducing him to his
friends present. He was sure they would give Mr. Os-
borne every attention while he made some observations
on what he had seen. They would listen to him with the
greatest pleasure while he was addressingthem on a sub-
ject of so much interest as those scenes which he bad
personally witnessed, and was now about to describe.
(Cheers.)

The Hon. and Rev. S. G. OSBORNE, who was re-
ceived with loud cheers, said he had unexpectedly re-
ceived a letter from Mr. Herbert, asking him to come
over and give the people of Wilton a little Crimean talk.
The only mistake Mr. Herbert made in that application
was that he had never been in the Crimea, and conse-
quently could not of his own experience tell anything
about it. But if he had not walked in the scenes of war
'himself, he had walked in the dark shadow of war—if
he beta not witnessed the charge and the glory of the
battle-field, he had seen the wounds and sufferings
which succeeded it. Allusion had been trade to one
not here present, Miss Nightingale, but there 'was one
among them, 'Airs. Bracebridge, who had nobly sup-
ported her in her labours. The work they had done,
the toils they had endured, would have been too much
for the endurance of an Englisman, but they were not
too much for that of an Englishwoman. (Cheers.) When
the future historian shall give in a future reading-room
his account of this campaign, not the least proud pas-
sage in it will be that which tells at once how English-
men fought at Inkerman and Alma, and in the fear-
ful fire of the Redan, and how nglishwomen also
were found to shrink from no work, however appalling,
to which duty called them. (Cheers.) To those works
they were moved by no motives of worldly fame, but
by those only of tried Christian feeling. There were
some things in which, when men failed, women could
succeed, and Miss Nightingale and Mrs. Bracebridge,
who supported her, would not be the least honoured in
the history of that Eastern campaign. To turn to
lighter subjects, he had brought with him two or three
things—trophies of the war—which might possibly be
of some interest. Mr. Osboiue then exhibited several
interesting trophies, and after expressing his deep re-
gret that he had too short a notice to prepare a more re-
gular lecture, and thanking his audience for the kind-
ness with which they had received him, proceeded once
more to advert to the conduct of the English army in
the East. He (Mr. Osborne) well to the East with a
very different feeling towards the soldiers than the one
he now entertained. He now honoured the soldiers, for
he could realise the feelings under which they went forth
to suffer and to die in the discharge of their duty to
their country. (Cheers.) He did trust, then, when the
war was over, that honour would be done to all alike—
that they should not have some greeted like the stars of
a theatre, while others were neglected, but that one and
all i.i the English army would receive the honours and
rewards to which their valour entitled them. Mr.
Osborne then proceeded to notice the beneficial work-
ings of such institutions as the one whose members and
friends he was addressing, and concluded an eloquent
address by avowing his belief that no class had any more
right to a monopoly of education than to a inenop sly of
the light of heaven. (Cheers.)
Mr. H. BLACKMORE, on behalf of the company, begged
to thank Mr. <.tsborne for his interesting lecture.

Three cheers were then severally proposed and given
for Mrs. Bracebridge and for Mr. and Mrs. Ilerbeit,
who, as was observed by Mr. Blackmore, had done so
much for Wilton.

MITIGATED NATIONAL BANKRUPTCY.

( From the Derbyshire Courier. )

" The question whether the war expenditure is be-
yond the means of the country must, therefore, be boldly
met. If it be upon a scale to involve a permanent drain
of gold there is no alternative but to lower it, or to
prepare for that mitigated form of national bankruptcy
which consists in a suspension of specie payments."
Here is an "alternative" truly ! Having been forced
into a great war, we are decidedly against having it
starved. Therefore no surrender, no reduction ! Let
us by all means have a "mitigated national bank-
ruptcy."
The writer in the Times, from which paper we have
made the extract which stands at the head of this article,
is sufficiently prolix, but not very logical. If, says he,
the war expenditure exceeds the means of the country,
we must either reduce our expenditure, or proceed to
" a mitigated form of national bankruptcy," to enable
us to do without such reduction of expenditure.
mitigated form of national bankruptcy" is, therefotrie,zi.
a
specific for raising the war expenditure of a great ntia to
a r
What then is this splendid financial
° eri 3
which so important and advantageous subsitkru bankruptcy
of
attri-
buted ? " A mitigated form of nationales
ans on a
consists," says the Times oracle, "Masuspension
specie
We are payment
nots."without precedentsa. liOtnhelstth March,
1848, the French Government, . gloomn and
terror of an unparalleled Revolution, issued a decree
which involved " the actual suspension of cash pay-
ments." The Times, three days afterwards, affirmed
n guished under
that this measure could hardly " be disti •
the circumstances from general act of bankruptcy,"
produce the worst effects." But, behold !
which must
on the 10th February, 1849, less than a year after
this "act of general b.ankruptv
Y the Times told us that
passer
have"the reason to be proud, was this
which the Frolic
this " act of general banhruptcy"--whlch was
decree—
aid to be a "masterly operation," a heroic re-
now said
adverse circumstances," which "rescued the
sistance
country from the jaws of bankruptcy, and society itself
from dissolution l" We conclude that multitudes who
allow the 7' imcs to think for them, read, believed, and
admired both these statements—at the time when they
were written.
Now let us refer to our own precious experience in
this country. On 27th February, 1797, the stock of
bullion in the Bank of England had fallen to 1,272,0001.
Everything looked gloomy. A foreign invasion was
supposed to be impending. "In addition," says Mr.
Francis, "to foreign force, domestic treachery was jus-
fiably feared. Corresponding classes, Friends of the peo-
ple, and Jacobin societies were spreading a poison and a
pestilence through the minds of the nation. It was well
known that a number of discontented men would gladly
hail the appearance of a French fleet off the English
coast. Ireland was approaching an open insurrection.
Disaffection bad seized upon our seamen. The Nore
witnessed an active mutiny." "The wooden walls of
Old England" tottered.
What saved our country in this perilous hour That

--
mitigated form of national bankruptcy which consists in
a suspension of specie payments."
Thus it was. On February lift, 1797, an order i
council empowered the directors of the Bank of England
to suspend cash payments. The next day came the trial.
The bank note ceased to be " convertible "—" national
bankruptcy" commenced—" an act," as Mr. Fox said,
"was done which struck at the'foundation of publiet
credit." The timid were in a state of consternation.
But Government was firm. The Bank was guarded by
soldiers. But there was no need of them. The mer-
chants in the city assembled to support the Bank, for
they wanted bank notes—the instrument of exchange—
and cared nothing for gold. The people immediately
understood that the bank note was " convertible" into
all the necessaries of life. In the afternoon—we speak
on the authority of one who well remembers the event••
the troops were quietly withdrawn from the city, and
" national bankruptcy" became for twenty years a mere
bugbear of the financial imagination.
One solitary individual remained for a few hours,
musing--like Marius amidst the ruins of Carthage—
over the fallen grandeurs of his country's commercial
credit. It was a young man of lofty literary and finan-
cial aspirations, engaged by that great organ of public
intelligence, the Times newspaper, which was then com-
mencing its giant course of fame. But there was nothing
to be done, and little to be said about the affair. Aril
so the young reporter slowly wended his way to his ac-
customed retreat—the Goose and Gridiron, St. Paul's
Church-yard—and there converted his " inconvertible "
11. Note into the supplies of beef-steak and brandy which
the exciting occurrences of the day had rendered
requiclic

How for nearly twenty years this country prospered
and progressed under the suspension of Cash payments,
how from this day of "mitigated national bankruptcy"
we bore up against all adverse circumstances at home
and abroad,—the gigantic enterprises in which we bore
a distinguished part, the hundreds of millions which this
country raised and expended 'in the prosecution of the
great European war,—are matters of history with which
all are acquainted.
Waste he Bank Note ever, for a moment, "inconver-
tible !" The idea is simply ridiculous. Money ceases
to be money the moment it ceases to be convertible.
With this inconvertible paper money we raised armies,
subsidised foreign legions, carried on commerce with the
world, and developed and expanded the industrial
energies of the nation at home. But was the Bank Note
" cpnvertible " into gold and silver 4 It was—in the
proper manner—viz., at the market price. The Order
of Council for the suspension of specie payments was
issued on 27th February. On the 6th of March follow-
ing, the Bank issued a notice that, "in order to accom-
modate the public with a further supply of coin for
small payments, a quantity of dollars were ready to be
issued." On the first day of the issue of these dollars
the people crowded to get them • but the Bank was
amply provi:ted ; the call for dollars decreased every
day, "and on th 31st October, 1797, these dollars, of
which 2,325,099 had been issued in eight months, were
called in." (Francis.) Representative paper money
will purchase gold, iron, tin, copper, or silver at plea-
sure, as easily as a check with the signature of Roths-
child is " convertible " into an estate in the Highlands
or a ship of war. It was the mistake which was made
after the Peace, in 1819, of enacting that the Bank note
should always be exchangeable for gold at a fixed rate,
that has produced a greater amount of ruin, misery, and
disaffection in the country than the world's history has
ever exhibited.

The events of the day confirm all that has been said
for years on the absurd and pernicious effec's of the
Peel Monetary System. Why are discounts at 5/ per
cent. ? Why are France and England fighting for the
pozsession of a few millions of a particular metal, in the
struggle to retain which the trade and commerce of both
countries are severely injured ? Why do we pat it in
the power of the Emperor of Russia, by the abstraction
of a few millions of gold, to strike a heavy blow at our •
commerce and trade. All this is permitted by the mid-
taken
principle of making the circulating medium of
nations rest on a metallic basis. What would have hap,.
pened in this country had not the gold discoveries of
California and Australia mitigated the effects of our
false principles of currency ? But an accidental, though
most extraordinary, circumstance, such as the vast dis-

eovery of gold, proves nothing in favour of a metallic

currency, or of. paper money Cased on metal, though it
may as,,ist us for a time. A nation's money should not
be an article of merchandise, but purely representative,
exchangeable into every commodity at the market price.
To relieve the pressure of the day, and while the prin-
ciples of monetary science are under the investigation of
the nation, we should therefore hail with satisfaction

that "raitigated form of national bankruptcy which con-
sists in a suspension of specie payments." But we go
much further : we wish to see not the "suspension "
only, but the total abrogation of specie payments at a
fixed rate.