The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-13 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 13, 1855.

they are anti-christian. They are a resort to
weapons forbidden to Christians in defence of their
cause. It were quite another thing had the foolish
Father taken a Protestant's Bible from him and
burnt it, or had he caused him any personal an-
noyance and injury. The law should protect
every penny of our property, and hold our per-
sons inviolate ; but this saint, with a Russian
name, only burnt bibles, which were his own,
either by gift or purchase, and surely he had a
right to do what he would with his own. Grave
Judges and Crown Lawyers, however, manufac-
ture a civil crime out of a Catholic's ill-bred and
irreverent use of his own property. The pro-
perty belongs to the Catholic, but he must con-
sult Protestants as to his use of it. This appears
to us to be sheer folly. The worse folly, how-
ever, is the elevation of a vulgar bigot to the rank
of a martyr or a victor, and defending Divine
Truth by the profane weapons of common law.

If the Bible be of GOD it wants not the official
protection of Mr. KEOGH and Judge CRAMPTON.
Its dignity is lowered by their interference. It
was burnt by DIOCLETIAN and others long before
the time of the Redemptorist Father and the
Judge, but it never yet sustained dishonour by
the fires of the hater, or despiser ; too precious
to be purified, too heavenly to perish, the flames
have but proclaimed its immortal worth ; and at
the present time the Sacred volume enjoys an ex-
tent of circulation, with a degree of honour and
influence, which it never had. before. All that
could burn at the hands of those who fear it
can be replaced in a few revolutions of the steam-
press, by the mechanics of trade ; but the holy
revelations the book contains are beyond the
power of Father PECHERINE to disgrace, or of
our courts of law to defend. The Popish fanatic
could wheel the paper and print in his barrow to
the fire, but he could do no more ; the judge
could protect the paper and print by law, but
could do no more. The mistake of each was kin-
dred ; one thought he could discredit eternal
truth by physical insult, the other that he could
defend it by physical force. Divine truth itself
smiles equally on either vain attempt ; of the
two it fears more from such a defender than from

the enemy.
As to the trial itself, it is clear the jury could
but acquit ; no one doubts that the accused was
guilty of the act, but it is equally free from doubt
that it was not brought home to him by legal
evidence ; whether this were by " management"
or not, we are unconcerned to inquire, since we
are glad of the result. His conviction and punish-
ment would have made him a far greater man,
and created more bitterness against the sacred
book which would have been the innocent causo
of it. It is worthy of note that his escape was
just by those means in which Irish peasants, and
many Irishmen above that rank, exceedingly de-
light. Nothing pleases Paddy more than beating
the law in its own courts. It is pleasant to him
to defy it by force, but to fight it, and evade it,
when beyond all doubt guilty, is with him
the masterpiece. He exults infinitely more
in acquittal though evidently guilty, than in
proved innocence ; so now it is three cheers for
The Redemptorist Father, and three more for
the Bible burner who beat the Judge and his
Attorney-General—if, indeed, he really beat the
latter.

We earnestly commend the admirable letter of
Mr. J. C. SALT-which will be found in another
part of this day's impression—to the attentive
consideration which it so eminently merits. Mone-
tary Reformers are greatly indebted to the Times
for having elicited this clear and convincing state-
ment on a topic of such vital consequence to the
best interests of the community. Mr. SALT is not
the man to be put down by sneers or sickly
attempts at wit. He grapples fairly with the
question, and points out distinctly and unequivo-
cally the serious evils which the industrious
classes have endured, and are enduring, through
the effects of the unwise and impolitic law now in
operation—a law more injurious to the best inte-
rests of the community than the War in which we
are involved. The bullionist organ having thought
proper to indulge in a little jocose personality against
Mr. SALT, could not refuse from publishing his
reply, and our readers will concur with us in
thinking that the Leviathan has by no means the
best of the contest.

The Times fancies that it has ma to a hit in
catching at the words " I promise to pay," as if
that payment could not possibly be made in any-
thing but gold. It seems to forget that for
twenty-two years such promises passed current
throughout the country, and that by means
thereof England was able to maintain the gigantic
struggle in which she was then involved, and to
bring it to a successful termination. Gold was
then a commodity which varied in price like any
other article of merchandise, which was bought
and sold in the market. The 1/. notes, which
circulated freely from hand to hand, although
merely issued by a trading corporation, were never
refused, or treated as " worthless rags," simply
because the parties to whom they were tendered
knew that they could get rid of them at any mo-
ment, and that the possession thereof gave the
fortunate holder a command over all the nece*
saries and comforts of life proportioned to the
nominal amount thereof. These notes were re-
quired solely for our internal commerce, and, as
' the Times has acknowledged, there was no neces-
sity for gold " being held against them." When
gold was required to adjust the balances of trade with
other nations it could easily be obtained at its pro-
per price, and we believe that from 1797 to 1819
there was not a single instance of persons who po3-
seseed Bank of England notes being unable to convert
them into bullion at its fair market price. There
was, therefore, no inconvenience nor annoyance.
Our merchants
prospered, and every well-disposed
operative was certain
of obtaianirindgatyli,satwwagheicshfowraa
Industry was
his highest ambition—" f
fair day's work." y thrived, and the na-
tion was enabled to sustain enormous burdens
dao "promisesof
every
o
through the beneficial operation of
pay, " that were accepted in liquidation
public charge or duty, although not redeemable
in bullion.

It seems almost an act of insanity to discard an
instrument that proved so useful in a very serious
emergency. The currency quacks were not, how-
ever, content to leave well alone. They inter•
fered with that which was really beneficial to the
country, and practically doubled their own for-
tunes and the burden of every public and private
debt throughout the entire Kingdom. They made
the national industry dependent on the possessors of
a commodity not procurable in England, or by
British labour, and paralysed the creators and pro-
ducers of national wealth by unfair and impolitic
restrictions on the circulating medium, which has
been truly described as the very " life-blood of in-
dustry." We have witnessed the calamitous re-
stilts. We have seen working men cast out of
employment and starving with their families, un-
profitably consuming the resources which, under
a wiser and more equitable system, they might be
largely augmenting. We have seen men of un-
questionable honesty and talent brought to
the verge of ruin from fluctuations in the

supply of bank-notes, and consequently of the

value of money. We have seen even the Bank
of England itself reduced to the most serious straits,
and only saved in 1825 by the accidental disco-
very of a box of 1/. notes, and in 1847 by the
virtual suspension of the Act of 1844.
We wish to prevent the recurrence of such
serious calamities—to provide a currency adequate
to the wants and exigencies of the country, which
will not be liable to such constant alternations.
This can be accomplished solely by the issue of
a really national note, based on, and
proportioned to, the taxation and charges
which the people will have to meet. If such
notes be the only ones receivable in payment of
taxes or duties, they must maintain their value.
There will be a constant demand, and a with-
drawal from circulation of at least a million, or
possibly a million and a quarter, per week. The
issue should, of course, be controlled by parties
responsible to Parliament. This would surely be
better than placing it under the management of
a body unconnected with the State, and who can
act as their own fancies or personal interests
indicate.:
"I

At present Great Britain is practically a partner
with a trading corporation. By the Act which
authorises the issue of the 475,000/. additional
notes the profits thereof are to go to the Exche-
quer. This participation in profits practically
constitutes a partnership. The nation is, there-
fore, liable for every debt c,f the Bank of England.
This is not very creditable, even to a nation of
shopkeepers. If notes are to be issued, they
should be those of the State. Neither more nor
less than Exchequer Bills, of convenient amount,
the issue whereof should be regulated by Parlia-
ment itself.

Hew the drainage of the metropolis can best be
effected is still a great mystery. Long as the
sanitary question has been before the public, and
ample as have been the time and the opportunities
for experiments calculated to lead to a definite con-
clusion, we have nothing before us but rival plans
and a mass of contradictory testimony. Reliance
we can place nowhere. On whichever side we
turn there is cause for suspicion that the interests
of the public are subordinated to the vindication
of a theory. Moot the subject when you may,
to any one who pretends to understand it, and
you meet at once with the challenge, " Under
which King, BEZONIAN ?—speak or die !" Do
you side with the engineers or Mr. WARD ? Good
cause have the public to reply, "A plague on both
your houses." Such a state of things is most
discreditable and injurious.

If either of the rival plans were a monstrosity
the task of selection would be easy. The mischief
of the matter is, both have claims to attention,
and we have no trustworthy data to enable us to
decide as to their respective feasibility. Who
wins or who loses, who triumphs or ►vho is abased,
is per se a matter of indifference, but it is of the
last importance that, when we are about it, we
should have the work well and substantially done.
The question of cost at the outset is altogether a
minor consideration, since, if the work be ill done,
a frightful expenditure will assuredly be entailed.
Were iti otherwise Mr. WAaD's scheme would
challenge immediate adoption. Instead of de-
manding more than a million and a half for
the execution of what is required, he asks for
little more than one-half that amount—a serious
consideration as times go, if you could be satisfied
that the scheme would answer. Lean, however,
to it but for a moment, and an all but overwhelm-
ing weight of engineering authority drags you
back, however temporarily, something beyond
your balance. " The quart into the pint
bottle system " assails your ears, and you
are stunned with the most emphatic assurances
that the pipes are sure to be a failure, and a
source of never-ending expense. That the pres-
sure from above in crowded streets will speedily
demonstrate their fragility, and the operation of
their contents the insecurity and permeability
of their cohesion, if the introduction of an old
beaver has not already demonstrated their utter
inapplicability by choking them up. That, in
brief, Mr. WARD is the legitimate successor of the
renowned conjurer, who set the million agog by
promising to jump into a pint bottle ; but with
th's difference—he would try.
If in your state of vacillation, you turn to Ms:
WARD and direct his attention to the scheme of.
the Engineers, pointing out the all-sufficing area
and substantial construction of the tunnels, you
are met with the assurance that the scheme
involves a frightful waste—that tubes of a vastly
smal!er diameter at half the cost would suffice,
and that the scheme further involves the utter
waste of the sewage, and in all probability does
worse than nothing towards the purification of the
Thames, objections not in the least applicable to his
plan, experience having shown that it will answer
while it provides for the separation of the sewage
from the general drainage, in order to be sold for
agricultural purposes, and suffers nothing but the
harmless surface and subsoil drainage to low
into the Thames.

You turn to the Engineers, and the alleged result
of Mr. WARD'S experience meets with a flat contra.
diction. Under favourable circumstances piping,
it is admitted, may be resorted to in connection
with brick drains, but so far as the instances to
which Mr. WARD refers are concerned the use of
piping has proved a failure, while in reference to
the sewage it is of no commercial value, and dis-
charged in admixture with the general drainage at
Barking Creek, will be carried out to sea without
a risk of its return to pollute yet further the
already over-polluted stream.

In this maze of contradiction which way are
the public to turn for escape ? The time fast
approaches when the Metropolitan Board will be
called upon to pronounce a decisive verdict on
the matter. If that verdict be arrived at under
present circumstances, th• chances greatly pre-
ponderate that they will give their countenance
to an enormous blunder. Would it not be well
if the ratepayers, who have to pay the piper,
called upon their respective representatives to
urge the institution of an inquiry into the work-
ing of pipe drainage in the various parts of the
Kingdom in which it has been tried. An inquiry
which should be conducted by honest and intelli-
gent men, perfectly free from bias in either
direction ; and should the results be con-
flicting, or should the peculiarities of
London seem to render it advisable, to
make trial of the plan in one or more localities?
It may be worth their consideration, nevertheless,
whether a better scheme than either may not be
available, each on the face of it being open to ob-
jection. Apart from the possibility of a third
scheme, possessing distinctive features, being forth-
coming, is it altogether without the range of pro-
bability to have either improved in a satisfactory
manner by borrowing somewhat from the other ?
It is high time that the ratepayers should bestir
themselves as actively as they can ; for, let them
depend on't, if they don't they will see cause to
rue their indefensible neglect.

LIVERPOOL, Dec. 12.—THE Snir CONSTITUTION.—
The Constitution, which was burned and sunk in the
river this day se'nnight, was righted last evening's tide,
and will be placed on thu beach.

THE PEACE RUMOURS.

The following is from the Times (Second Edition)
Paris correspondent's letter :
" The public has been naturally surprised,
seeing that the rumours of peace have now been in
circulation for many days, to find that no additional
information has confirmed or contradicted them.

If I may credit what is said here, it would appear
that, not until very lately has a perfect accord
prevailed between England and France on the ad-
missibility of these conditions. Some time, I believe,
has been spent in removing the differences which
have arisen between the two Governments on
that important point. For the reasons which I
have mentioned more than once, the English
Government was not so desirous of making peace.
It was thought, no doubt, that we have some-
thing to do for the glory of our arms, and there
was a moral certainty that in any future cam-
paign, either in the north or south, we should am-
ply ake up for any past shortcomings. The pre-
cise conditions on which France and England
would accept peace are as yet kept a profound
secret, and will probably be so for some time ; but
I am assured that if they were known to the Eng-
lish people, if they could consistently with the good
of the cause be made public, they would be ac-
cepted by a vast majority in England. They have
been already described as not only such as we might
now accept, but such as we could not reject even
after another successful campaign. If this be the
case there ought to be no reason for refusing ; and
the difference of opinion that existed betweea the
two Governments can under such circumstances
only be explained by the consciousness on our part
that the prestige of our arms can yet be fully and
completely redeemed. Whether this be a just
ground for refusal I do not pretend to determine.
Nevertheless, whatever may have been the differ-
ence of opinion, I am informed, on good authority,
that it no longer exists, and that England and
France are at this moment agreed On these import-
ant points.

LATEST NEWS,

FIGHTING IN THE CRIMEA.

Despatchlfrom Marshal Pelissier.
" PARIS, THURSDAY, 8.30 A.M.
" The Moniteur announces that the Minister of
War has received the following telegraphic de-
spatch from Marshal Pelis sier
:
" 'SEBASTOPOL, DEC. 8, 1 P.M.
" I have received the following despatch from
the General in command of the I.st Division of

the Ist Corps :
" A body of from 2,000 to 3,000 infantry,
and about 400 or 500 horse, at daybreak this
morning attacked Baga-Ourkousta-Skvaka.
" The enemy beat a retreat after a sharp
fusilade, which lasted for an hour and a half.
" Some thirty prisoners were left in our
hands, two of whom were officers.
" lam not aware of the number killed and
wounded.

" ' Our loss is insignificant."

THE NEW RUSSIAN LOAN.
HAMBURG, DEC. 12.

The new Russian loan of 50 millions of roubles
has been concluded at the price of 82, with 5 per
cent. interest. A third part of it will bo issued
at Hamburg, and the others at Berlin and
Amsterdam.

A money panic has commenced in Russia.
At Moscow, Nishni-Novorod, Astrakan, and
other places, bank notes are refused.
People are hiding money.