The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-18 00:00:00

portions of the river between Quebec and Mon
treal, through which delays of a fortnight or more
in the arrival of goods perpetually occur. The
communication between Montreal and Brockville
is, during the period of navigation, by steam-
boats, which ply on the river St. Lawrence ; on
the opening of the section of railway a journey of
24 hours will be converted into one of 4i. The
average daily number of passengers is 200 in each
direction. From Montreal to Toronto, and places
west of it, the most expeditious route now is to
make a circuit by railway in the United States of
592 miles, with several changes of carriages, by
which a saving of 12 to 15 hours over the St.
Lawrence line is effected—at, however, an in.
creased expense. When the Grand Trunk is
complete to Toronto, the distance from Montreal
will be 333 miles, and this will be traversed in
12 or 13 hours. Besides the cases enumerated,
there are many others in which a similar saving
of time will be effected, the whole clearly
showing that a vast amount of passenger
traffic may legitiinately be expected. To these
considerations, however, must be added
others of almost equal weight. The citizens
of the United States are uniformly remarkable for
their travelling propensities, and from the facili-
ties offered by the railway and the temptations to
pleasure-seeking by the Canadians, a large
revenue may be looked for from this source. The
average contribution of each resident within the
influence of a railway in the United States is, it
would appear, 12s. 6d. per annum, and the popu-
lation on and within 15 miles of the Grand Trunk
Railway being about 1i million, and rapidly in.
creasing, it is computed that, making the most
ample allowance for competition by water, an
annual income of 600,0001. will be derived from
this source. A gross revenue of 375,000/.
from the export of flour from Upper Canada is
also expected—the foregoing traffic being exclu-
sive of that to be derived from the lines tributary
to the main one. Next in importance to the
Grand Trunk line is the Great Western Railway
of Canada, which will meet the Grand Trunk at
Toronto, at a station common to both lines ; so
that if the immense traffic combinations of these
railways are carried into effect, not only will the
business of that city be immensely increased, but
the development of the resources of the neigh-
bouring district and the country at large will be
wonderfully promoted. We shall return again
to a notice of the reports.

Has the Bank Charter Act of 1844 worked
well, or proved conducive to the welfare and
prosperity of the industrious classes—the real

Thews and sinews of the country? Is its pracfl

tical operation such as to admit of the ful
development of the national resources, so tha

the energetic and determined efforts maybe made
which the magnitude of the existing emergency,

.mperatively demands? These are questions tha

require speedy and decided answers. The im-
portant and interesting preblem must be solved
during the present session of Parliament, more

than half of which has already elapsed withcu

the slightest intimation of the Ministerial inten-
tions respecting the renewal of the Bank of Eng-

land Charter being afforded. Indeed, according

to present appearances, it seems to b© the object

of the Government to let the matter remain in

abeyance, without notice or observation, until the

last month of the session, when the golden oppor.

tunity will have slipped away, and people will be
compelled to submit to a renewal of the present

iniquitous code, without modification or improve-
ment, or to an emasculated and diluted measure
of little practical utility.
We must confess that the auguries at this mo-
ment are not very auspicious. A Minister less
calculated to overcome the difficulties of the case
than Sir G. C. LEWIS could scarcely be found.

It would, to use a vulgar but significant expres

sion, be "a toss up" between him and Sir CHAS,

WOOD. Their defects are of
,very different de

scriptions, and yet they lead to results equally

prejudicial' to the community.

The quondam

Financial Minister ignored every passing circum
stance, and perversely clung to the status in quo
however inapplicable to the actual state of affairs
The present Chancellor is blown about by
every gale, he can scarcely make up his mind on
any subject, and should he do so, the chances are
that he will completely change his earlier opinions.
Perverse obstinacy was the chief characteristic of
Sir C. WOOD ; vacillating instability of Sir. G. C.
LEWIS. Nothing save the pressure from without
can influence the latter, and it is therefore a
matter of paramount importance that monetary
reformers should spare no efforts to excite the
nation from the apathy and indifference so long
displayed on a subject so materially affecting its
welfare and the happiness of the people.
The inhabitants of Nottingham have enti-
tled themselves to the thanks and gratitude
of their countrymen for coming forward
at this pressing emergency—for inaugurating
a movement which will, we trust and believe,
progress throughout the length and breadth
of the land. No time should be lost in following
the example which they have afforded, of com-
pensating even at the eleventh hour for the
apathy heretofore displayed. Let every mai who
feels the pressure of the extra taxation ask him-
self how the burden is to be alleviated ? Let
every man who feels that the honour and safety
of England, and of the Anglo-Indian empire, as
well as the cause of truth and justice, are in-
volved in the result, consider how peace can be
conquered, and the haughty and rapacious aggres-
sor be brought to his senses. Every disinterested
and unprejudiced person must see that the pecu-
niary part of the subject is by no means the least
important, and that, unless that be duly attended
to, all our other exertions, all the valour of our
gallant soldiers and seamen will be literally
wasted and misapplied.
We do not, now ask parties to commit them-
selves to any peculiar views ; we merely implore
inquiry. Our own opinions have been too fre-
quently and too unequivocally expressed to per-
mit any doubt or difficulty with respect thereto,
and we shall be still found amongst the most
energetic labourers for the good cause. But we
ask those who have not yet arrived at a conclu-
sion to investigate the subject—to ascertain the
extraordinary influence which it must exercise on
coming events, and honestly and faithfully to
strive to form an impartial and unprejudiced
judgment. If the question be sufficiently ven-
tilated truth must ultimately prevail. The
different constituencies should not suffer their
representatives to be taken by surprise, when,
at the fag-end of the Session the Chancel-
lor of the Exchequer brings forward his proposi-
tions. They should be prepared to argue Vie
topic, and not to yield a tacit assent to the feella-
cies that may be put forward by the Financial

Minister.
Mr. KNOTT clearly and distinctly explained the
subject to the gentlemen and tradesmen of 'Not•
tingham and its vicinity. He has stepped for-
ward as one of the leaders of the vanguard. Are
there. not others desirous- of achieving similar dis-
"tipctionvybo feel themselves qualifiedlos enlighten-
their friends—and neighbours-td stimulate the
agitation that is so imperatively required 3 It is