The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-02 00:00:00

APRIL 1852

" With regard to a site near Charing-cross, we aro in-
clined to concur in the opinion of Mr. Pennethorne, who
observes, that if, with reference to the Houses of Par-
liament, or for any other reason, the site of the present
bridge must be moved, then it would, as respects
the general traffic, be most advisable to convert the
present bridge in a light iron foot bridge only, and
build two other bridges at a distance, as it would be
more advantageous to the public generally to incur at
once tile greater cost of building two bridges in connexion
with the new streets contemplated f.;r the improvement
of Southwark and Lambeth, than to expend a large sum
in forming approaches not so convenient as the existing
ones, and which possibly afterwards it would be neces-
sary to extend.'
" Tim sites near Richmond- terrace and the India
Board are • more favourably circumstanced; and if the
block of houses which now separates Parliament-street
from King-street were removed, eitber of these situa-
tions might be preferable to the one which we have
selected. But it is obvious that much additional time
would be lost, and a large additional expense incurred,
hifore either of these could be rendered fit for the con-
struction of a permanent bridge with its requ;site ap-
proaelies.
" Property of centiderahln value must ho acquired
both on the Middlesex and Surrey sides of the river be-
Lore convenient accesses could be made to a new bridge
at either of there points. The time required for there
purchases delay the opening of the' new bridge;
and even when cenaideted, althotrizh it might give au
opportunity for architectural display, it seems doubtful
whether the change of site would be regarded nu af-
fording any general convenience commensurate with its
cost.

Having thus stated our ohj,, ctions to the above-
mentioned rep
.-t we proceed to rert our opinion on
the advantages which would ensue if the third and last
plan were carried into effect—vz , That the new bridge
should be constructed adjoining, or as near as possible,
o the present bridge, either on the north or south side.'
" A new bridge on the south side of the present
structure would be objectionable on account of its proxi-
mity to the Houses of Parliament. This objection
would be increased if the bridge were constructed
with a heigut of headway of twenty-five feet above
Trinity datum. The erection of this bridge would,
moreover, necessitate the immediate purchase of the
entire south aide of Bridge-street, which consists of
27 houses, none of which are the property of the Bridge
Commissioners. The purchase of these houses, inclu-
ding the interests of the tenants, compensation for good-
wili, removal, &c., would very far exceed the cost of
acquiring any property on the north side of Bridge-
street winch might be required for the approaches to the
new bridge, it it were placed to the north of the exist-
ing bridge.
" The property on the north side of Bridge-street
consists of a block of nine houses, extending westward
as far as Caunon-row, and one house westward of Can-
non-row, all of which are the property of the Bridge
Commission. On the west of the last-named house is a
a Mull block extending to Parliament-street, which is not
ihe property of the Bridge Commissioners. The leases
of these houses are either expired or have but a short
time to run.

" So much inconvenience and danger are at present
experienced from the confined approaches and very sharp
tura from Bridge-street into Parliament-street, that it
will be necessary to make the accesses to any new
bridge considerauly wider than they are at the present
time.

" Some information upon the comparative cost of
constructing a bridge with the requisite approaches
upon the sites above-mentioned will be found in the
Appendix, as well as in the evidence of Mr. Hardwick
and of Mr. Pennethorne. The question of cost has
no; been specially referred to our consideration, nor
would it be possible to add a satisfactory opinion
on this matter without a . minute inquiry into the
value of property, which may be variously estimated.
We believe, however, that the north side of the
present structure will be the most convenient and eco-
nomical size ior the new bridge; the most convenient, be-
cause the work could be immediately commenced, and
its erection will therefore be attended with the least ob-
struction to the traffic; and the most economical, both on
account of the smaller expense which would be required
for the acquisition of property necessary for the enlarge-
us ent of the approaches, and because it avoids tho neces-
sity of a temporary bridge.
" Having thus stated the grounds of our opinion as
to the most advantageous site for the new bridge, we
proceed to report to your Lordships our views as to the
best mode of construction, the width, the height of head-
way above Trinity datum, the number of arches, and the
material to be used fur its formation.

" And, first,Wiiii—respeCitothe width necessary in
the construction of the now bridge. The opening of
the new line of street celled Victoria-street, which
forms a direct and convenient communication between
Chelsea, the Borough, nod the City, the formation of
the south. Western Railway terminus in the vicinity
of the bridge, and the increase of the metropolis on
both aides of the river, render it necessary to afford
greater facilities for the traffic over the new West-
rainstbr-bridge, the width of the present bridge, 42
feet, being found to be totally insufficient.
We are of opinion, therefore, that 60 feet, including
the footways, should be the minimum width to meet the
requirements of the increasing traffice and the comfort
and safety of the public.
" The width of the other metropolitan bridges over
the Thames is stated to be as follows; via

Feet.
... 54
... 42

... 43

... 36

" The Committees of 1846 and of 1850 both recommended
that a Bill should be brought into Parliament for Transfer_
ring the estates and property of the Bridge Commissioners
to the Commissioners of her Majesty's Woods, &c., due con-
sideration being bad to the claims of the officers of the bridge
estates, in the event of their serv'ces being discontinued.
We concur in the views of the Parliamentary Committees as
expressed in these reports.

" SEYMOUR.
" LONSDALE.
" SUDELEY.
" R. GROSVENOR.
" ROBERT HARRY INGLIS.
" C. T. D'EYNCOURT.
" J. HUMPHERY."

PARLIAMEN TAR Y DIVISIONS,

.From the Votes and
ccccccccccccc of the Home of Commons,

THURSDAY, APRIL 1.
HARWICH BOROUGH.
Motion Made, and Question put, " That leave be given
"„o bring in a Bill for appointing C)mmissioners to inquire
!Ito the existence of Bribery in the Borough of Harwich."
Ile House divided:

MINORITY—AYES, 95.
Adair, Hugh E. Greene, John Ricardo, Osman
Adair, It. shatto Hall, Sir B. Hominy, Colonel
Alcock, Thomas liardcastle, J. A. Salwey, Colonel
Anderson, Arthur Tlarris, Richard Scholeffeld, William
Baines, M. I' Haste, Alexander Scol,cll, Captain
Butiverie, E. P. Hervey, Lord A. Smith, Vernon
Doyle, Colonel Heywood, James Smith, M. Tucker
Bright., John IlieginF., G. G. Stanton, W H.
lirockletifirst, J. Hindley Charles Strickland, Sir G.
Brotherton, J. Hobhouse, T. B. Stant, E.
Bunhury, E. H. Howard, C. W. G. Stewart, Admiral
Carter, J. B. Humphery, Aid. Stuart, Lord D.
Cavendish, C. C. Hutt, William Talbot, C. it.
Childers, J. W. Kershaw, James 'raiment, R. J.
Clay, Sir W. King, P. J. Thompson, Colonel
Clifford, H. M. Langston, J. H. Thornely, Thomas
Cockburn, Sir A. Martin, J. Townsheud, Captain
Cowan, Charles Matheson, Colonel Trelawny, J. S.
Davie, Sir IL Milligan, Hobert Verney Sir H.
Dawes, Edwar Milner, W. M. Wakley, Thomas
D'Eyncourt, C. T. Moffatt, George' Walmsley, Sir J.
Duff, George S. Molesworth, Sir W. Wawn, J. T.
Duff; James Morris, David Willcox, Brodie
Duke, Sir J. Mowatt, Francis Williams, John
Duncan, George Norreys, Lord Williams, W.
Duncombe, T. O'Flaherty, Anthony Willyams, H.
Ellis, John Ogle, S. C. Williamson, Sir H.
Enfield, Viscount Osborne, Ralph Wilson, Matthew
Evans, William Pechell, Sir G. Wyvill, Marataduke
Ewart, William Peto, Samuel M.
Foley, J. H. Pilkingtou, James
Geach, Charles Price, Sir R.
Glyn, G. C. Ricardo, John L.

TELLERS.
Evans, Sir De Lacy
Clay, James

MAJOR! TY—NOES, 137.
Acland, Sir T. Dkye East, Sir J. B. Maxwell. Hon. J. P.
Adderley, C. B. Edwards, Henry Miles, William
Archdall, Captain Egerton, Sir P. Mitchell, T. A.
Arkwright, George Estcourt, J. B. B. Morgan, 0.
Bagot, William Farrer, James Mullings, J. R.
BaiMe, H. J. Filmier, Sir E. Naas, Lord
Baldwin, Barry Forester, G..C. Napier, Joseph
Bankes, G. Freshileld, J. W. Newdegate, C. N.
Baring, Thomas Fuller, A. E. Newport, Viscount
Barrow, W. U. Gallwey, Sir W. P. Noel, Gerald J.
Bennet, Philip Galway, Viscount O'Brien, Sir Lucius
Mantilla, Lord H. Goulburn, Henry Ossulston, Lord
Beresford, William Gore, W. 0. Packe, C. W.
Blandford, Marquis Greene, Thomas Palmer, Robert
Boldcro, 11. G. Grogan, Edward Portal, Melville
Bowles, Admiral Gwyn, Howel Reid, General
Bramston, T. W. Hale, R. B. Renton, John C.
nreturidge, Richard Halford, Sir Henry Repton, G. W.
Bridges, Sir B. Hallewell, E. G. Rushout, Captain
Brooke, Sir A. B. Hamilton, G. A. St. George, Chris.
Bruce, C. L. C. Hamilton, Lord C. Seyiner, H. K.
Buck, Lewis W. Harris, Captain Smollett, A.
Buller, Sir J. Y. Heald, James Somerton, Viscount
Burrell, Sir C. Heneage, G. H. W. Sotheron, T. 11.
Cabbeli, B. B. Henley, J. W. Spooner, Richard
Carew, W. P. Hildyard, R. C. Stafford, Augustus
Chandos, Marquis Hill, Lord E. Sutton, J. 11.
Child, *math Hope, Sir J. Taylor, Cu;onel
Christopher, R. A. Hope, IL T. Tennent, Sir J.
Christy, sainuel Ilotharn, Lord Thesiger, Sir F.
Clerk Sir G. Hughes, W. B. Trevor, G. R.
Clive, R. H. Inglis, Sir R. IL Trollope, Sir J.
Clive, H. B. Jolliffe, Sir W. G. Tyler, Sir G.
Cobbold, J. C. Jones, Captain Tyrell, Sir J.
Codrington,:Sir W. Knox, W. S. Vesey, Thomas
Collins, Thomas
Lewisham, Viscount
WlW'ihailliftpeeorsslie'd,e
Langton, W, H.SpencerJames Viscount
Compton, H. C.
Cotton, W. 11.
Cubitt, William Lindsay, Colonel Wigram, Loftus
Davies, D. A. Lockhart, W. Willoughby, Sir H.
Deedes, W. Long, W.
Wodehouse, Edmund
Dick,:Qui ntin Lygon, General Wynn H. W.
Dod, J. W. Manners, Lord C. Yorke,,
E. T.
Duckworth, Sir J. Manners, Lord J.
Duncombe, W. E. March, Earl of
TELLRS.
Dunne, Colonel Masterman, John Rateson, Thomas
—Du Pre, C. G. Maunsell, T. P. Lennox, Lord 11. G.

MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS ACTS AMENDMENT
BILL.
(IN THE COMMITTEE.)
Clause 1 (Proprietors of Newspapers not to be deemed
Contractors by reason of Advertisements) :---Amendment
proposed, in page 2, line 15, to add the words, " or in any
Banking Company which may have had or may hereafter
have dealings or transactions with auy such Council, Com-
missioners, or Trustees of such Borough :"—Question put,
" That those words be there added." The Committee
divided

MINORITY—AYES, 13.
Anstey, Thomas C. Hindley, C. Thompson, Colonel
Barrow, W. H. Hobhouse, T. B.
Bell, Jacob Mußings, J. R. TELLEI44.
Carter, John B. Pllkington, James Ileadlam,;T. E.
Greene, Joint Scholefleld, William Butt, William
Rallewell, E. G. Tennent, R. J.

MAJORITY-NOES, 87.
Arkwright, G. Gwyn, Rowel Smollett, A.
Bernie, H. J. Hamilton, G. A. Spooner, Richard
Bankes, G. Hamilton, Lord C. Stafford, AugastuS
Beresford, William lienley, J. W. Tennent, Sir J.
Brotherton, Joseph Hili, Lord E. Thesiger, Sir F.
Bruce, C. L. C. Jolliffe, Sir W. G. Trollope, Sir J.
Chandos, Marq. of Knox. W. S. Vyse, It. H. R. H.
Chichester, Lord J. Lennox, Lord H. G. Walpole, S. H
Christy, S. Mahon, O'Gorman Willoughby, Sir H.
Cotton, W. S. Naas, Lord
Duckworth, Sir J. Napier, Joseph TELLERS.
Dunne, Colonel Newport, Viscount Bateson, T.
Edwards, Henry Packs, C. W. Bunbury, Edward
Grogan, Edward St. George, Chris.

THE uUktICENC Y.
THE QUESTION « WHAT IS A POUND ?"

ANSWERED.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—The recent discoveries in Caliturnia and Australia
render it extremely probable that we shall have to suffer
the evils of a depreciated currency, if gold long continue
to be the standard of value. It is, therefore, advisable
to consider whether or not some substitute cannot be
found which will be more perfect as a standard.
In the first place, then, it may be remarked that
there is no more absolute necessity for the standard of
value to possess intrinsic worth than for the standard of
weight or measure; and in the next, that the experience
of the last few years has shown thaf, however abundant
may be the amount of money at the source of issue, the
active circulation of the country cannot be materially
inert ased beyond a certai❑ amount, however low the
rate of discount, or however strenuous the efforts to
force it. Money, like other commodities, is governed by '
supply and demand; and, like them, if supplied in too
great a quantity, or if not required as the instrument of
exchange, lowers in price, and becomes a drug in the
hands of the owners or possessors.
If gold, then, ought not to be the standard, what
ought ? and what ought to be the mode of issue? _

As regards the standard, instead of making the pound
sterling to represent " a certain amount of gold, of a
certain fineness;" that is to say, instead of making it to
represent the exact RESULT of a certain quantity of
labour, I would make it the representative, or money
value, or money expression of that certain quantity o 1
labour itself, instead of the representative of the rest
that labour; and thus avoid the necessity of selectings
one description of commodity from the rest, nap its
price, and making it the exponent of value forA all.
vERAGII
To illustrate:—Let us suppose that
mine of adult male labour throughout
to the day. ,
thtehekingdom is
two shillings per day, twelve hours' labourre
presentative
of ten days'
The pound sterling would then be theaue
or money expression, of the overage t
nv
shillings would
- expression, of five days'
adult male labour; and consequently
be the representative, or money
aexpliy;
sixpence, of u
qtahaerpteoruonfa
labour; one shilling, of haleff
Dna
hour; a penny, of
and a halfpenny.btis principle of a standard
quarter of a day; twopence,
an
st e: hour,lin g
half au hour;
&c., &c.; and, therefore, if
Baying
otfhaat
were adopted, instead of
asatity of gold,of
a certain
represented " a certain quantity
that it
fineness," we should then , _ represented "the
_ertau, quantlty of labour;" and thus
averagevalue 01 a u
d of representing the exact RESULT
the " pound," instaa f labour, wold
of a certain amount 0
of u then represent the
ble value that exact amount of labour
average exchangeseuntY• gold
could then be left, like
itself, and, van! -to find .
other commoditteo.
i. its own proper level in price
..1 operaaons of supply and demand.
by the natural
eats
the
mode
Now,
tastbreerf be a of issue. I would pro-
pose that bank be the national bank established; and,
that this only bank of issue, and that
it be a bank of issue only, whose notes, of
one po.und and upwards should be founded upon
the principle above stated—its first issues to be
issued in simple exchange for the gold .
coin and bul-
lon now in circulation and in the banks, The notes
thus issued should form the nucleus or body of the
new
.circulation, or currency. All issues above these
to be issued upon approved solid security only—
at a fixed and uniform rate of interest, or
discount, and for limited periods solely. The Bank of
Issue,. however, ought to have nothing at all to do with
! banking," in the general acceptation of the term. All
banking operations, with the exception of issuing,
ought to be left as at present, viz,, to individual compe-
tition and exertion. We should thus have a perfectly
sate and legitimate system of currency—fixed and steady
in its nature—and peculiarly adapted to all the varied
requirements of trade and commerce. No one commo-
dity would tun have a preference over another, in re-
ferenee to fixing its price or making it the exponent of
the rest; but all would be placed exactly alike, and upon
precisely the same footieg. Part of the proceeds
of the gold thus liberated might be applied in
pa) leg off the debt owing to the Bank of Enz.
lsnd, and the ressainder to national purposes. The
yearly profits of the National Bank of Issue might also
be appropriated to diminishing the national burthens.
And lastly, there would be no loss from wear and tear
of gold, in coinage or circulation—nor any disturbance
of existing money contracts laud engagements by the
change in the standard, whilst the discoveries of Cali-
fornia and Australia might then go on ad infinitum with-
out in the least affectieg the value, steadiness, or sta-
bility of our currency.—l am, Sir, &c.,
C. E. ROCS._

I' This, I believe, is suniewhere near the truth; but
the principle above laid down would not be at all less
cttective were the exact fact only assumed. Nor do I see
why the same, or a similar principle, might not be
adopted by other nations, and thus a sort of foliversal
standard be established.

------
MISCHIEF BRawniG.—Sir Jsrnes Graham, the
expeetaut Premier,
and his Secretary-at• War, Mr. Cobden,
were observed last night,
in the House of Commons, in
close and earnest conference for some considerable thne...-
Ronda.

and we have it in evidence that, if the work were com-
menced early in the ensuing year, the bridge might be open
to the public in less than two years from the period of its
commencement.