The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-16 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY ENINq,___FEBRUARY 16 1855.:

PREFERENCE SHARES.

LAW INTELLIGENCE:.-(THIS DAT).

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC; JOURNALS.

, 1

berdeen
Do. No. 2, 7 p. C.
BlythanclTyne 10 per
c. pref. (iced. at 501)
dris. & Ex. 4 p. e. St.
Do. 4 p. c. narcs

99 - 101
90 - 92

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.
SECOND COURT.
(Sittings at Guildhall, before Mr. Justice Wightman and
a Common Jury.)
FALSE I3fPRISONMENT-GREEN V. HUTCHINSON.
This was an action to recover damages for false im-
prisonment.
Mr. Sergeant Thomas and Mr. Sleigh were for the
plaintiff, and Mr. %Youllett and Mr. M'Donald were for
the defendant.

MR.- ROEBUCK'S RESOLUTION.
(From the Times of this day.)

St.
20
St.
15

h -:

Among all the political changes effected or in progress
there is one thing that remains still unchanged, and
that the House of Commons will immediately have to
deal with. Mr. Roebuck's resolution having been car-
ried by the largest anti-Ministerial majority ever known
in the House cannot be sidled out of, or conveniently
forgotten or evaded. There it is, with the country be-
hind to back it up, and such a case for inquiry as there
never was before. What is to be done with it ? In mir
humble opinion, the best thine to he done with it is
that simple, straightforward, and honest course, which
will be most satisfactory to the country at large—tho
appointment of an itnparfal committee, with the urgent
recommendation to inquire to some practical and imme-
diate effect. The particular points on which the system
has broken down are only too flagrant. Indeed, there
is a spirit of impudence in the failure which dares public
opinion to do its worst. It is possible, however, that
the same who resisted Mr. Roebuck's motion the other
night will do so again, either because it matters not to
inquire into the shortcomings of dead men, as the ex-
t Premier and the ex-S.cretary at War may now be cun-
sidereal, or that sonic other course will answer the pur-
pose much better. Nothing is more natural than that
Lord Palmerston, beginning an Administration in
troublous times, and baying his hands full of work,
should desire to be relieved of a committee of inquiry,
taking up everybody's time, and throwing the whole
administration of war into a sort of twilight existence,
between what it has been and what it is to be. Un-
happily, there is too much to be said against inquiries
of a political colour. There is, for example, the cele-
brated Ceylon affair, which was permitted to draggle
on through two sessions, and was eventually con-
cluded by every member of the committee voting true
to his party, and the chairman deciding by a casting
vote. In the present instance, indeed, the decision will
not signify much, as it is rather a full exposure of the
system that is wanted. That once made, there are so
inany thousands of persons of all classes deeply, and
now painfully interested, in our military system, that
we rather look to the decision out of doors than in
doors, and such a pressure as shall compel reform, in
spite ofGovernment opposition and the House of Lords.
Yet there is something to be said against proceeding by
a Parharnentaey committee of inquiry when we know
beforehand what its answer will be. If Government,
therefore, has the wisdom and grace to propose a mixed
commission of Lords and Commons, or any other really
effective substitute for a committee, this will, at all
events, be a iery natural mode of escape from a present
perplexity, and the threatened farce of a merely partisan
report. To such a compromise we shall feel no great
objection, particularly as it is just possible the mixed
commission might consist of men better adapted for the
purpose than a committee of the House of Commons,
composed either of second rate men or of men too much
occupied with the duties of office.
But an inquiry there ought to be, and an inquiry
there assuredly will be. Old gentlemen, and young
gentlemen who have consorted with old gentlemen till
they are themselves even older and stupider, may talk
as they like of the capture of Barlajoz or the retreat
from Burgos ; but the country never will believe that it
was the " regular thing" that a magnificent army
should perish for want of food, clothing, covering, fuel,
and other "shop goods," within six miles of a pert
crowded with our ships full of these very things. It
will insist on knowing the reason why some forty thou-
sand men successfully landed, and scarcely out of
reach of our ships, from that day till they mi-
serably perished, or miserably survive, were con-
demned to all the tortures of Tantalus for seve-
ral months —to hunger within reach of food, end
to freeze or rot within sight of clothing, covering,
and fuel. Every town, every village, will demand in-
quiry, for the blood of these victims crieth from the
ground. That inquiry, to be effectual and fair, met
embrace the whole of the management of the war, if
only because everybody and every class concerned in it
is now throwing the responsibility on the rest of the
system. At home they talk of Lord Raglan and the
Staff; in the Crimea of the departments at home. Nay,
at the very time when we hear a rumour that inquiry is
to be stifled altogether, if possible, it also reaches us—
from no sufficient source, indeed—that Lord Raglan and
Generals Airey, Estcourt, and Lucan are already re-
called. The news is only too good to be true, but the
bare existence of such a rumour shows how much the
responsibility of these miseries rests, in common opinion,
on the command in the Crimea, and how much justice
demands that no man, no office, no institution, shall be
spared at home. The inquiry, indeed, must, in the na-
ture of things, include what has been done in the Cri-
mea ; but every neglect, every absurd order, every mis-
carriage of supplies, every case of official stupidity, must
be traced to its origin, in the official instructions, in the
appointment of the officers, in the origin of the evil, to
be found only at bogie. Inquiry is the only engine by
which a people too proud and too free to tolerate the
effective simplicity of despotism can obtain anything
like a good management of their affairs. This is only
what has been said a thousand times before—" Public
opinion, or a despot." But public opinion cannot exist
without inquiry ; and whatever resists inquiry, and
claims the privilege of not being known or understood,
is, in fact, a despotism, so far as it goes, and may go
very far. The manner of the inquiry is, indeed, a minor
affair. The tribunal that will do its work the best must
De prererrea.
To us it seems so serious, so portentous a matter,
that inquiry should be resisted, and that an immense
national calamity should still claim a certain privileged
and inviolable character, that we are sure—such is our
trust in the good sense and the' resolution of the British
people,--tho choice lies between an inquiry of the usual
constitutional character now, and one of the very un-
usual, and possibly unconstitutional character, before
long. The results of a refusal are too plain. In the
first instance, that refusal may or may not be submitted
to with some show of patience ; but it will be felt to be
due, and the people will hold Government awl the Legis-
lature deep in its debt. Only too soon there will in-
evitably be new disasters, the results of the same system,
the same management, and the same thoroughly indo-
lent, iselfish, crabbed, unaccommodating spirit. Every
'fresh disaster will renew the demand for inquiry, arid
suggest new forms and orders of a more searching, radi-
cal, not to say revolutionary character. Indeed, that is
the long and the short of it. It is not the Duke of
Newcastle, or Lord Raglan, or a few military gentlemen,
who are the subject of this inquiry ; it is not merely the
arm/ or departments at home ; it is not only the conduct
and administration of the war,—nay, it is not a Go-
vernment, nor is it even a House of Commons. It is
the ißritish constitution that is under trial. It is on
trialinot before the British people alone, but before the
whole'werld. Everywhere is it spoken against. It is
' the jest alike of our enemies and our Allies. Every
Englishman who shows himself abroad is regarded as
the representative of political stupidity and pretence.
Winitis the value, they ask, of a constitution that can
do niothing, and which is no sooner fairly tried in the
common. field of war than its best men are found
pretridere to titles and professional rank they have
no real claim ' to, and whose whole system is a
miserably counterfeit ? That is the talk of camps
' and of 'capitals, and every day these reproaches are
endiired we sink so much lower in the opinion
of the world, and lose all solid strength in the great con-
tests of humanity. Will the nation be content thus to
give, up the prize we have struggled for so long, and
,whiCh we fondly thought we had secured—that of being
foreinost among the free, and all-powerful, not only in
the field, nor yet on the ocean, which we call our own,
but 'in
.thegrander and nobler sphere of the free mind
of man?

93 - 98

5 - 6.1

i - 1
ti - i
12 -13

The defendant pleaded not guilty, and that he had
just reason for having given the plaintiff in charge.
The proceedings arose out of the plaintiff having
been given into custody by the defendant, a solicitor in
Barnard's Inn, under these circumstances :—Plaintiff
had been a baker at Wisbeacla, and came up to
town to carry on business in partnership with
a man named Bays, who, after some negotia-
tion, paid over about 801. Bays became bank-
rupt, and a person named Tyler, who is clerk to defend-
ant, after the bankruptcy, gave plaintiff into custody for
having stolen 47 sacks of wheat. Upon this charge
the defendant was locked up in the station all
night, and, upon being taken before the magistrate,
-was, at the request of the defendant, remanded for
A week, and at the end of that time was dis-
charged ; upon which the defendant again gave him
into custody for stealing a horSe, and also embezzling
361. upon this charge. The magistrate at the South-
wark Police-court, where the charge was preferred, held
the defendant to answer the •charge at the Surrey Ses-
sions, where the grand jury ignored the bill upon which
these proceedings were commenced.

GO - 65

115 - i.i''

109 - 111
1101 - 103

i - ip

- OA
95 - 97
87 -8)
88 - 90
10 -10 i
16 - 164
10 IN
70 - 72
181 -19 i
91 - 9i
14 - 14}

The case was proceeding when we went to press.

31,1-8-1"!;:e WN—atILS DAY.:

CORN EXCHANGE.

A very limited supply of English wheat has been re-
ceived up to our market this week, coastwise and by land
c..rriage. The show of samples here to-day was trifling ;
yet, owing to the difficulties of navigation, the demand for,
all kinds was very inactive. In prices scarcely any change
took place.
For foreign wheat, the show of which was moderate,
there was very little inquiry, on former terms. Importers
generally were firm.
Malting barley was scarce, and quite as dear as on Mon-
day. Grinding and distilling sorts were heavy.
The malt trade was dull, on former terms,
e had a steady demand for oats, and fine corn was
rather dear.

1 ^ id
133 135

n• - 3 i

. - •..

Beans, peas, and flour commanded very little attention.
ARRIVALS TOW WEER.
Barley. Malt.
1,85) 1,180

12 -12 A
g - in

English ..
Irish ..
Foreign ..

Wheat.
1,110

Oats.
1,970
150
25)

Floqr.
430

920 ( 4-2 0

SMITHFIELD.

1:33 - 135
14 -

Although the supply of beasts was very moderate, the
demand for all kinds ruled heavy, at Monday's prices.
There.was a slow sale for sheep, but we have no change to
notice in their value. The show was rather on the increase.
Calves, though in but moderato supply, were very dull,
and per 81bs lower. In pigs, scarcely any business was
doing.
Mulch cows sold heavily, at from 141, to 191. each, in-
cluding their small calf. _

($.7 - 89
104 - 103

101 - 103
90 - 92
3 -

Per Sibs to sink the offals.

s. d. s. d. s. d. a d.
Inferior Beasts.... 3 4to 3 6‘PrimeSouthdown 410 5 0
Second quality.... 3 8 4 21Large crse. calves 4 0 4 8
Prime largo oxen 4 4 4 6 Prime small d 0... 410 5 4
Prime Scots, dr.c. 4 8 4 101arge hogs 3 0 4 0
Inferior Sheep ...3 4 3 BlSmall porkers 4 2 4 4
Second quality ...3 10 4 2SuAling calves.. 24 0 29 0
Prime crse.-wlled.4 4 4 81Quarter old pigs 20 0 25 0
TOTAL SUPPLY. FOREIGN SUPPLY.
1,040 Beasts •• •• •• •• •• ••.. • 90

,•• -- •••
1 Ad

112 - 114

12 14
id pai

rteasts

23 - 24

. .
Sheep ................... 8,450 1 Sheep ..•• •• •• .. •.......
Calves ................ 87 Calves.. •• •• . •• •• ........

15 —is'

NEWGATE AND
The trade ruled heavy, at
supported.

LE ADE/MALL.
Id prices were with difficulty

par -- 1p

Por Blbs by

the carcass.

s. d. s. d.
Beef, inferior 3 2 3 4
Do., middling 3 6 3 8
Do., prime large 3 10 4 0
Do., do. small 4 2 4 4
Pork, large 3 0 3 8

5. d. a. d.
Mutton, Inferior 3 2 3 6
Do., middling 3 8 310
Do., prime 4 0 4 2
Veal 3 10 4 10
Pork, small 4 0 4 4

BOROUGH HOP.

The imports of foreign hops this week are 110 bales from
Ostend. Fine hops are very scarce, and quite as dear as
last week. Other kinds, owing to the large quantities of
foreign on offer, are very dull. Mid and East Kent
pockets, 141 Os to 2110 a ; Weahi of Kent ditto, 141 to 16' ;
Susses ditto, 141 Os to 1n1.; Yearlings ditto, 91 to 121;
American ditto (in bond), 71 to 91 per cwt.

COLONIAL.
StlOAß.—There has been a dull but steady market for
British Plantation this week. Barbadoes sold publicly at
36s to 37s Gd for good yellow, at 32. 64 to 35s 6d for low
to mid, and at 28s 6d for foots. East India—Mauritius
for distilling purposes has been in some request, and
brown brought 24s Gd to 30% Gd, yellow 31s to 35s 6d, and
refining 36s per cwt. Bengal realised 37s to 37s Gd, for
white Bonares mid to good, 2,44 to 36s for damp. of
Bengal there have bean no public-sales. Foreign—Porto
Theo, owing- to the scarcity of grocery sorts, has com-
manded high rates, viz., 388 to 40s for good and find bright
yellow grocery, 34s Gd to 378 6d for low mid and mid, 32s
to 37. for grey, and 30s 7d to 32. for brown. Good brown
Bahia went at 30s per cwt privately. Yellow Savannah
sold at 30s to 335, yellow low to fine at 32s to 378 6d, and
florettes were taken in at 37s 6cl to 395. Manilla mid to'
good clayed brought 30s to 31s 6d per cwt.
COFFEE—There has been less doing in Plantation Cey-
lon, and the prices have ruled heavy. At auction f fine
ord small brought 52s to 545, low mid and mid pale greyish
55s to 58s, good colory 645, ord to good ord brownish 45s
to 48s, triage 42s to 50s, and peaberry 53s to 60s per cwt.
Native Ceylon has been steady at 45s 64 to 46s 6d for ord
to good ord. At auction good and fine ord went at 3d to
6(1 decline, viz., at 48s 64 per cwt. In foreign the dealings
have been very small.
RlCE—There has been a good inquiry, and rather firmer
prices have been current. Bengal mid to good has realised
13s 6d to 15s, low mid white afloat went at 13. landed.
SPICES—The market has been very quiet. Calicut gin-
ger, at auction, sold to a limited extent at 29s for small,
and at 37s for fair. .
TEA—Dealings have bean cleferred tills the public sales
commence, and the prices, therefore, have been almost
nominal.
Rum—The high rates askedlave checked buSiness.
SALTPETRE—BengaI has been held fer full values, , ord
14i per cent. being taken in publicly at 225. Bombay ord
and low brownish realised 198 6d per cwt for 1.7 i to 12,}
per cent refraction.
TALLOW—P.Y.C. is firm, at'SGs 64 per cwt on the spot.
GREEN FRUlT—Several cargoes of oranges have been
received from the Azores, three of, which, sold by Keeling
and Hunt at public sale, went at an advance of 2. to 3s per
box. The continued easterly wind keeps the market bare
of stock. More enquiry exists fp- nuts. Seville sours ad-
vanced 5s per chest. Lemons without alteration.