The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-20 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 20, 1

the Marquis of LANsnowNE---will be driven
to extremities of hurry in the labour of or-
ganising the new Administration. These oc-
currences we cannot but regard as disastrous
in their probable and ulterior effects upon
the machinery of the State. Accurately speaking,
they are shocks to the Constitution. They result
necessarily in exciting the most disorderly move-
ments among the Members of the Legislature.
They preclude the rulers- of Great Britain from
the possibility of adequate deliberation. They
render the confusion of political parties yet worse
confounded. They paralyse the more calm and se-
date energies of patriotism within the walls
of the Imperial Parliament energies which
we believe to be rife both in the ranks of the Op-
position and in the ranks of the Government.
They compel even the more sagacious spirits among
the eminent statesmen of the age to vie
with each other, not by wisdom, not by
logic, not by argument, but by a contest of con-
cessions, by a struggle to gain popularity with the
bribes of ill-considered innovation, by a competi-
tion of loosely-arranged and immethodical changes
calculated to loosen the fabric of the State by injuries
rather than to stabilitate it by improvements.
Ruinous shocks of this character have, we repeat
it, been incurred twice within this present year
by the British Constitution. In February it
arose, remember, from an abrupt resignation—a
resignation originating in the irritability of a
Prime Minister whose discomfiture upon the Mi-
litia Bill, showed that a colleague, recently ex-
pelled from his Cabinet, had already, almost
within a fortnight, been avenged. In December,
on the other hand, it must be sedulously borne in
recollection, that the shock administered to the
delicate mechanism of the Constitution arose not
from any culpable petulance on the part of the
First Lord of the Treasury, but from the adroit
manoeuvres of a coalition which had forced his
Government--literally in a committee of ways and
means—into a minority, and had thereby given a
sudden victory to the leaders of Her MAJESTY'S
Opposition.

Rumours unnumbered, in reference to the new
Ministry are, of course, at this moment in very
general circulation. But, considering that the
very circumstance of who may be the next PRIME
IVIINISTER of England, is still in a state of ad-
mitted uncertainty ; considering that the public
are dubious in this very instance, as to the defi-
nite choice of the SOVEREIGN ; considering that it
is doubtful whether the new Pilot of the State
Vessel is to be the "travelled thane, Athenian ABER-
DEEN," or the venerable and revered Marquis of
LANSDOWNE—it were obviously premature to cal-
culate upon the colour or shape of these vague
official contingencies. Happily, there is one re-
flection at least, which is at this juncture upper-
most in our minds. Thank Heaven there is no
fear of the Family Party " ruling the roast"
again in undisputed supremacy ! That Old
Man of the Sea, has, in fact, not only
been shaken off the shoulders of JOHN BULL—but,
politically speaking, he may be considered to have
been comfortably brained during the course of
last February by the SINBAD of the Nations.
Fortunately the Whigs cannot by any chance re-
turn to power without a leaven of the Peelites.
The Cabinet cannot be simply that of a clique
known by the composite title of GREY-ELLIOTT-
RUSSELL. Together with Lord JOHN, we may
have Sir JAMES, and the country is by this time
tolerably familiar with the fact that the Right
Hon. Baronet the Member for Carlisle is about
the ablest administrator of our generation. To-
gether with the name of Sir JAMES GRAHAM, the
public instinctively calls to mind the names
of such men as the Right Hon. WILLIAM
GLADSTONE, and the Right Hon. SIDNEY HER-
BERT, and his Grace the Duke of NEWCASTLE,
associating them, under the emergency, not only
with the name of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, but with
the names, also, of the Earl of CARLISLE and of
the Marquis of LANSDOWNE. But can such mot-
ley elements coalesce permanently, so as to yield
the country the benefit of a strong and liberal
Government ? It is a momentous problem—a pro-
blem none the less unacceptable, from the circum-
stance of " that dear ABERDEEN" of Louis
PHILIPPE—" that excellent ABERDEEN" of the
Spanish marriages—being actually spoken of at
this moment as the possible First Lord of the
Treasury. Supposing that really to be the case,
we should regard it as not only an event perilous to
England, but as an event disastrous to Europe—
an event fraught with incalculable cala-
mities to Christendom. Lord ABERDEEN
Prime Minister ! And with this declaration,
is actually coupled the suggestion that Lord PAL-
MERSTON is to proceed as Viceroy to Ireland ! In ,
that case, never could a great statesman have
more quietly or more egregiously allowed himself
to be shelved. What ! the Earl of ABERDEEN to
be in supreme authority—with Dublin chosen as
the place of banishment for Viscount PALMERSTON !
The proposition appears to us scarcely within the
limits of credibility. It would be like the last of
the Barons taking up his abode in the Isle of

Wight, at the very epoch when, as King-maker,
he was the most capable of building up or
pulling down the fortunes of the SOVEREIGN. For
is there not an analogy of some sort between
WARWICK and PALMERSTON-if one was a King-
maker, is not the other a Minister-maker, the
destroyer and the architect of Administrations ?
At this critical moment we cannot remain alto-
gether dumb as to the merits and demerits of the
Earl of DERBY'S Government. Looking eagerly
forward, as we cannot fail to do, into the Future,
we cannot remain blind or indifferent to
the Past. We can speak, moreover, at this
juncture yet more unreservedly than ever—
if that be possible—of the fallen Administra-
tion. And this simply because it is fallen. Called
abruptly to power, as we have shown, not through
their own official cupidity, but really through th e
_ _

weakness of their predecessors, the Members of the

departed Cabinet fulfilled, to a very great eaten

all the duties of their various posts promptly and
manfully, with a sense, it would seem, not so

much of the prerogatives of their administrative

position as of their profound and weighty re-

sponsibilities. We say this explicitly and
boldly, now that they are down, now that
they are defeated, • now that, for the time,

their ranks are totally scattered. During the

nine or ten months in which they have held office
they have shown activity, promptitude, and deter-

mination. Justice compels us—although instinc-
tively antagonists of Toryism, although bound

heart and soul to the cause of the Liberal Re-
formers by the force of ineradicable predilections
—justice compels us, we say, to speak thus can-
didly of the course pursued in a large diversity of

instances, by the principal Members of the late

Government. Every one admits the consum•

mate abilities displayed in debate by the Righ

Hon. the ex-CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER,

The glaring faults of his Budget cannot close our

eyes to a recognition of its extraordinary ingenuity,

It would be as idle to deny, that as it would
be to gainsay the value of the very con-

siderable v reforms introduced into the Cour

of Chancery by that illustrious lawyer, the

Baron St. LEONARDS.

As to the Ministerial con.

duct of the Noble Earl, the ex-Foreign Secretary

we are•bolci to declare that it contrasts, in almOsi

every single particular, most advantageously, as

far as his reputation is concerned, with the

boasted intent, but (in that department at least),
wholly undeniable mediocrity of the Earl GRAN-
viLLE. We cannot forget—now that the DERBY

Cabinet has fallen asunder—we cannot forget that
the Earl of MALMESBURY has opened up to the

commerce of Great Britain the neglected
riches of the South American Continent ; we
cannot forget that it was in consequence of his
bold and judicious policy that British rights were
defended in the North American Fisheries ; we
cannot forget, in fine, that he it was who, in
the course of this present month of De-
cember, delivered that noble and patriotic
oration in the House of Lords, which, if nothing
else had done so,•would have shed lasting honour
upon the Derby Administration. Numerous other
illustrations might be adduced, but these will
suffice for present consideration. They are
satisfactory at any rate, for inasmuch as
they provethat the nation has not from
February to December been Buffering from another

dead-lock in the once rapid march of improve-
ment. Remembering, indeed, that we are
indebted 'to them for formally confirming
the Free Trade system, and for carrying
out a variety of important reforms, besides
those above enumerated, we cannot but
be aware that we have some reason at least for
gratitude to the Earl of DERBY'S Government.

But that Government is no longer in existence.
It has disappeared. And now, of course, the
people must be supposed to be somewhat in the
position of a timid man inside a shower-bath—

with eyes closed, and teeth chattering, and atti-
tude crouched—in the very act of pulling the
string ! For now, to be sure, there is coming crash
upon us—the Deluge of Lord MAIDSTONE !

The Select Committee on the -Derby Petition
has terminated its labours, and its Report has
been duly submitted for the consideration of the
House of Commons and the community at large.
We are no. longer, therefore, precluded from com-
menting upon all the facts and circumstances of this
very extraordinary case—a course from which we
carefully abstained, so long as the matter was still
sub judice, or from questioning the decision at
which the Committee finally arrived. It is to be
regretted that the investigation was conducted
with closed doors, and the public carefully excluded
from the committee-room. The speeches and ar-
guments of the learned gentlemen, and, what was
more important, the evidence adduced on either
side were thus suppressed, for the time being at
least, or such portionsof the latter as were brought
to light were only obtained through iregitimate
channels, and thus wanted the authority which the
almost invariable accuracy of Parliamentary re-
porters confer on publications made on their re-
sponsibility. This had an exceedingly injurious
effect ; more particularly after the clear and con-
vincing statement of Sir A. COCKBURN—a state-
ment which bore with such terrible force upon
the Right Honourable Gentleman, whose name
was so unpleasantly mixed up in these disreputa-
ble transactions. Englishmen have felt at all
times an intense dislike to secret tribunals ; a
dislike which has been handed down from genera-
tion to generation, since the time of the Star-
Chamber to the present day. There is an impres-
sion abroad that secrecy is only resorted to where
there is an intention either of evidently oppress-
ing the innocent, or of shielding the guilty. And
much delicacy was not used as to the supposed
object for which it waS enforced on the present
occasion. It is true that an order has been made
for the publication of that evidence ; but it might
have been suppressed, or in some degree garbled
—and even under the most favourable circum-
stances it would not command the same publicity
which it would have obtained had it been circu-
lated while the public curiosity was excited to the
highest degree and the result still doubtful. It is
unnecessary to say that we fully and completely
exonerate the members of the Committee from
any improper motive. Those who are acquainted
with the high and unimpeachable characters of
Lords BARRINGTON and HARRY VANE, of Sir
WILLIAM MOLESWORTH, and Messrs. GOULBURN
and DEEDES, will feel that such a dis-
claimer is needless. All we say is, , that
these Noblemen and Gentlemen committed an
error of judgment, and afforded a precedent which
might become dangerous in the hands of persons
whose reputations rested on more precarious foun-
dations. On the part of the public we protest
against a repetition of such conduct, which has led
to very unpleasant insinuations and surmises, and
proved exceedingly prejudicial to the interests of
the parties concerned.
The inquiry was of a twofold character : first,
as to the existence of an organised system of
bribery and corruption in the borough of Derby
at the late election ; and secondly, as to the guilty
knowledge and participation of the Right Hon.
WILLIAM BERESFORD—a Member of the Commons
House of Parliament, and of Her MAJESTY'S Privy
Council, and also a Minister of the Crown, hold-
ing the high office of Secretary-at-War—in these
disgraceful and illegal transactions. The charge
was one of the gravest character, —accusing a
Member of the Government of a deliberate at-
tempt to defile and pollute the source of legisla-
tion, and an habitual disregard of the purity of
election, which should, above all things, be most
jealously and vigilantly guarded. If convicted, it
would be ruinous to his character as a public man,
and would most probably lead to his removal
from the important situation which he then filled.
The consequences to him would necessarily be
very serious—the more so, indeed, because he
had retorted upon his accusers, and charged
Messrs. FLEWKER and E. P. Cox, of Nottingham,
with conspiracy and wilful and deliberate men-
dacity.
The facts of the case 'are so well known, that a
brief allusion thereto is only necessary. From
information received by the police, a serjeant and
some private constables, dressed in plain clothes,
proceeded to the County Tavern, in the town of
Derby. The door of the room to which they were
going was guarded by a strange man, who, how-
ever, on receiving a signal previously arranged,
allowed them to enter the enchanted hall. There
sat the High Priest of the Mysteries—a man of the
name of MORGAN, who had in his possession 2651.
in gold, and 40/. in notes, and a book with the
names and numbers of the voters, and sums paid
to each. But this was not all ; there was also a
letter—the celebrated W. B. effusion—in his pos-
session, to which. we shall hereafter refer at
greater length. On being thus captured in fia,
grante delicto, MORGAN did not venture a denial.
Armed with such authority, he made light of the
offence, expressing only his contempt for those
who were satisfied with such paltry sums as 21. or
31. each, while the high-minded men of Shrews-
bury would reject with indignation anything less
than ten or twenty times the amount. He was
brought before the magistrates, and after a remand
of a week was liberated on bail, two sureties
being readily found. From this, there could be
but little doubt that an extensive system of bri-
bery had been carried on through the agency of
MORGAN ; and the letter, which was in the hand-
writing of Major BERESFORD, afforded prima facie
evidence of his complicity in the transaction. It
was subsequently shown that money had been for-
warded from a Mr. G. H. R. Cox, through a
person of the name of LUND, to MORGAN, and

that a person of the name of RADFORD was
deeply implicated in the transaction.
The Report of the Committee on the first issue
declares that " the evidence satisfied them that
an organised system of bribery existed in the
borough of Derby at the last election"—a matter

on which much doubt could not have existed,
when the facts attendant on the discovery of
MoRGAN with the materials for bribing, and the
names of those whom he had corrupted, and
the price paid to each, were before them. On the
second and more important point they are, how-
ever, by no means so explicit. Their verdict is

something analogous to that frequently returned
in Scotland of " not proven," which, while it
recognises the suspicions to which the defendant
is liable, yet gives him " the benefit of the
doubt" as to his actual guilt. It also in some
degree resembles the celebrated Irish verdict, in

which the jury, after declaring a prisoner not

guilty, emphatically cautioned him. " not to do so

again." How far the censure conveyed at the

termination of the Report may lead the Right
Hon. Gentleman to adopt sounder precautions on

future occasions remains to be seen.

The public

will judge for itself how far " the doubt" was

ustified, or whether the Committee might not,

without any undue severity towards Major BE-

RESFORD, have satisfied their minds that he was
aware of the general arrangement, scheme, and

object referred to in the Petition.

The letter written by a gentleman of rank and
position in society to a person who had at one
time officiated as a barber in a provincial town
was to the following tenor and effect
"A good and safe man, with judgment and quickness,
is wanted immediately at Derby. I suppose that you
cannot leave your own place ; if not, send some one whom

you can trust in your place. Let him go to Derby on
receiving this, and find the County Tavern in the centre
of the town. Send his card to Cox, Brothers, and Co.,
as coming from Chester. That will be enough.

" Yours,

Monday."

" W. B.

That letter, it was distinctly proved, was re-
ceived by FRAIL in a parcel on Monday evening,
and MORGAN was dispatched the following morn-
ing, in order to act in cbedience to the instruc-
tions therein contained. He did so, and from Mr.
Cox he received two wcels of money, through
the hands of a person named LUND. The vera-

dons MORGAN declared his belief that FLEWBER
was the person through whom he received the
money ; and when he and LUND were brought
together, they were unable to identify each other,
though several hundred pounds had passed from
one to the other. He also declared that he was
told his business was to pay " legitimate expenses"!
Sweet innocent ! He MS stationed in a guarded
room, to which no one vas admitted without giv-
ing a preconcerted signal. He handed sums of
money to each person who brought him a slip of
paper. He had lists of voters before him, but did
not look at them (?) and all his statements to the
police were " chaff"--tie overflowing of his exu-
berant spirits, and hilarious temperament. " Cre-
dat Juelccus Apella." Even the select committee
could not swallow that, although they could not
satisfy their minds that " the arrangement, scheme,
and object, referred to in the Petition, were known
to, or concurred in by, he Right Hon. W. BERES-
FORD." A slowness of apprehension, of which
few country gentlemen would be guilty, if a sus-
pected poacher in a smock-frock were brought be-
fore their worships for laying down wires, in
which hares were subsequently captured.
Why again, we ask, vias Mr. G. R. Cox, who
provided the money, not examined. His evidence
was surely the most important of all. He alone
could have exonerated Major BERESFORD, by
proving that he was totally ignorant of the final
instructions given to MORGAN, or of the money
he received for the " very legitimate expenses."
RADFORD, too, was allowed to escape examina-
tion. Although he could drive in his gig about
Derby the day before his presence was required,
he could not safely attend at Westminster, and
thus he evaded the interrogatories which it might
be inconvenient to answer.

It was, however, elicited that FRAIL, the
tonsor, had been for many years in the employ-
ment of Major BERESFORD, the manager of the
Carlton Club Election Fund, at a salary of 3001.
per annum—that he had visited St. Alban's during
the election, " just to get an inkling of what was
going on in dat notorious borough," that he was
at Aylesbury, Carlisle, and other places, a useful
agent, "to prevent kidnapping, personation, and
other illegal acts," which, as a stranger in the
various localities, he would have peculiar facili-
ties of detecting. We fear all this will scarcely
go down with the public. Major BERESFORD has
not succeeded in the complete vindication of his
character which his friends anticipated, nor has
he established the charge of conspiracy against
FLEWKER and Co; of Nottingham. If innocent,

he cannot rest under the public censure contained
in the Report. He will, therefore, endeavour to
obtain a more stringent investigation, conducted
with open doors, and at which G. H. R. Cox and
RADFORD shall be forthcoming as witnesses.

MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS.

CITY, Two O'CLOCK.
The sales of cotton at Liverpool on Saturday,
were estimated at 6,000 bales, all to the trade.
The market was tame, but firm, at previous rates.
The sales comprised 5,000 American, 100 Pernam
and Maranha,m, 6d to fild, and 800 Surat at 3/d.
to 4id. per lb. Railway shares were firm, at
higher rates.

-At Birmingham great excitement prevails in
the iron trade, and it is expected there will be a
further advance when the next quarterly meeting
takes place.
The letters by the West India mail represent
the weather as having been very boisterous.
The Cornwall Chronicle says of the weather:
"The rain, if continued, will retard the progress of
the present crops. As yet, though they have been vio-
lent, they were of short duration. A large portion of
the mill lead at Fairfield was carried away on Thursday
last—such accidents are attended with much inconven-
ience to the planter ; for if canes be already cut, they
soon suffer from exposure to the weather, and a neigh-
homing mill is then held in requisition to grind them.
The roads in several parts are very greatly damaged.
From Hanover we have received several accounts of
their being almost impassable ; and in some places large
avalanches have slid down from hill slopes and filled up
the space below, rendering the road quite impassable for
carriages. The rains have been general in Westmore-
land. Our messenger was detained on his return by
heavy falls in the plains.
" The inclemency of the weather has prevented a good
dealiof mercantile intercourse between Falmouth and
Montegro Bay. Drizzling showers continued here
during Sunday night and yesterday morning ; and rheu-
matisms, coughs, and colds, have greatly prevailed
during the last ten days, occasioned by the uncongenial
state of the atmosphere."
Notice had been given in the House of Assembly
of a motion to reduce the expenditure of Jamaica,
if the Imperial Parliament grants no efficient
relief.

The steamer Hermann, from the United States,
advises us of an intended alteration in the iron
duties—fixed duties being adopted in lieu of the
ad valorem system. The exchange on London was
110 to Flour was firm.
The First Chamber of Holland has resolved to
continue the circulation of the 10,000,000 florins of
Treasury Bills issued in 1849.

The English Funds have been very firm this
morning. Consols realise 1001 g for the Account,
and the New 31 per Cents. 1.04 k to g. The Re-
duced 3 per Cents. have been at 104 to it. Ex-
chequer Bills have been marked 60s. to 635., and
India Bonds 765. to 80s. ~premium. The political
changes about to take place, having been antici-
pated, have not much further influence.
A letter has been received from Mr. Mocatta
stating, that the Government of Ecuador is sur-
rounded with financial difficulties, but that if tran-
quillity continues, they are likely to be surmounted.
The Columbian claims on Peru are likely to be
adjusted.

Foreign Securities are not very active. The news
from Madrid of another change in the Cabinet, has
affected Spanish Bonds by improving them to the
extent of about to ft" per cent. The Deferred are
24 to 1, the 3 per Cents. 501 to I, and the Certi-
ficate 31, to .4. The Swedish Loan has been at I
discount, and the Turkish has declined to 1
premium. Mexican Bonds have been marked
241, being heavy. Equador have. improved to
s#. Grenada Deferred are worth 13i to /.
Brazilian Old Bonds have been worth 102 i to
103. Dutch 4 per Cents. are 991- to / ; and Sar-
dinian 5 per Cents. 95i to 96.
The Railway Share Market is buoyant ; and
although the purchases have been small, prices are
looking up. Midland, North Western, Great
Western, and Caledonian, are about dearer.
French Shares are quiet, but well supported.
The Gold Mines are exceedingly brisk, and the
Californian Companies higher.
Australian Agricultural Shares are firm ; but
Van Diemen's Land are lower.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.
(From the Official List.)

Business done
Bank Stock 2234
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities
New 34 per Cent. Annuities. ............
Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 6s 7-16
India Bonds, £lOOO 76 80
piDitto, under £lOOO 76 80
Consols for Account IOOE
Exchequer Bills 10. March. June,
£lO00.
£5OO 63 60
Small 63 60
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY.
Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Ditto for the Account lO2l
Ditto 4 per Cent 9813 i
Ecinaclor Eon dm sa I
Grenada Bonds, 1 per Cent. —
Ditto Ex. Dec., 1849, Coupon 22
Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent l3l 413
Mexican 3 per Cent.
Peruvian 6 per Cent.
Portuguese 4 per Cent.
Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Ditto, 42 per Cent.
Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 6Ol i i 1
Ditto Deferred, 3 per Cent.
Ditto Passive (Converted)
Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun, 384i3pc
Swedish Loan lB d
Turkish Loan, 6 per Cent., 1852
Ditto for the Account l4 p
Dutch Exchange 2i per Cent 6B
Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates.
• THREE O'CLOCK.
Consols for Opening 18th January 1044 i ex div.

E'us- ~