The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-16 00:00:00

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[PRICE SD.

MR. CHRISTOPHER AND HIS CONSTITUENTS.

The following extraordinary letier has been pub-
lished in a Lincolnshire paper :

"TO TUE ELECTORS OF LINDSST.

"Gentlemen,—Two advertisements appeared in the
last number of the Stamford Mercury, one bearing the
signature of R. B. Christopher,' the other that of
Montague J. Cholineley."The former of these being
an impudent forgery, I pass it by without further com-
ment.

"The latter proceeds from a person who, although re-
jected by you (from his inattention to business and
general incapacity) at the last election, still aspires to
the distinction of representing you in Parliament, and
on that account only do I consider it deserving of
notice.

" The writer commences his letter by a wilful perver-
sion of facts, and draws inferences prejudicial to my poli-
tical integrity and personal honour.
" He states that on my assumption of office my reason
for doing so was my conviction that the Government was
prepared to reverse the whole financial and commercial
policy of the country. He adds, "How often this was
repeated in Mr. Christopher's canvass you well know."
He further states that I uplifted the banner of Protec-
tion at Wainfieet on a late occasion ; and insinuates that
my votes in Parliament have not been in accordance
with my declarations.

"Now, gentlemen, I can safely appeal to you whether
these insinuations of Sir Montague Cholmeley be the
offspring of a distempered imagination, or of a mind in-
capable of discerning the truth—whether they are not at
variance with the tenour of every one of the numerous
addresses I delivered during the last contest. Many of
these addresses are in print, and I defy even the most
prejudiced, if he will refer to them in extenso, and not to
garbled extracts, to arrive at any other conclusion than
the reverse of-the inferences which Sir Montague's slan-
derous insinuations are calculated to convey.
"On my assumption of office I declared that it was
the desire of the Government to reverse the system of
financial and commercial policy which, in my opinion,
had proved injurious to the interests of native industry
and capital ; and I stated, in language too clear to be
misunderstood, that, whatever might be the desire of
the Government, the question would be settled by the
constituencies of the United Kingdom, and that it would
be in vain for Lord Derby or any Minister to oppose
himself to the deliberate judgment of the people, consti-
tutionally expressed through their representatives in the
House of Commons. I placed before you two courses,
either of which the Government might consistently
adopt— the one a Protectionist policy, involving the im-
position of customs duties, if a Protectionist Parliament
were returned'; the other, a readjustment of taxation, if
a Free-trade Parliament were elected.

"The complexion of the Parliament rendered the for-
mer of these courses impossible. The Government have
been compelled to adopt the latter, and have presented
to the House of Commons a financial scheme which,
although there is only a surplus revenue of 1,300,0001.,
will relieve the agricultural interest of a vexatious im-
post to the amount of 2,500,000/.
So far from uplifting the banner of Protection at
Wainfleet on the 13th of November last, I can appeal to
all who were present whether such an assertion is not
the reverse of the truth.

" Sir Montague expresses his surprise that I still re-
tain office. I can without vanity affirm that my personal
honour rests on a more solid foundation than the caprice
of Sir Montague Cholmeley. I shall retain office as long
as I can strengthen Lord Derby's Conservative Adminis-
tration. I am ready to relinquish it at a moment's
notice for the same object; but, inasmuch as I value our
monarchical institutions, I will not relinquish office to
gratify the petty pique of Sir Montague Cholmeley or
his Radical associates.

"Gentlemen, I have the honour to be,
" Your very faithful servant,
" It. A. CHRISTOPHER.

"London, Dec. 6."

AN AFFECTING SCENE IN COURT.

(From Tertian's Autobiography.)

I have elsewhere given one of my yet regretted com-
rade, William Pollock's, amusing tales, and I will take
leave not to dismiss this volume without (as well as I
can) repeating another of a more affecting nature, and
which to hear him tell would beguile even the careless
and callous of their tears. In his clerkship he was tra-
velling to Winchester Assizes, and made acquaintance
with two young men, officers in the army, who were
going to surrender and take their trial on a charge aris-
ing out of a duel in which they had been secondl One
of the principals was killed, and the survivor, Captain
Sooper, was also to be tried. It was understood at that
time (a year or two before 1817, when William 'died),
that the attention of the judges had been called to the
frequency of duelling, and the Government were deter-
mined to make an example, in order to put a stop to this
prevailing evil. The seconds surrendered. Captain
Sooper was already in custody. The grand jury threw
out the bill against the seconds altogether, and did not
put them on their trial even for manslaughter ; but they
found a true bill against Sooper for murder. At the trial
the case was fully proved, that is, that Sooper and his
antagonist met in the field of honour, so called, and the
result was the death of Sooper's opponent. Justice
Dampier presided, and laid down the law with more than
usual firmness and severity. Sooper listened to his
charge with great interest and anxiety. Ho was a married
man with a family of children. He had watched the
earlier proceedings with some indifference. He knew the
grand jury hid thrown out the bill against the seconds,
and, in his own ease, he expected the common result,
either a verdict of acquittal, or, at most, of manslaughter,
followed by a short imprisonment. But the tone of the
judge's summing up roused him from his dream. He
fully understood the import of every word that fell from
the bench, and he listened with increasing alarm. Some-
times there was even a slight movement in his face. as
of a spasm ; but in all other respects he maintained his
perfect composure.
At length the jury were dismissed to consider their
verdict, and were absent about half-an-hour, a delay
which led to the hope of a favourable result. Their
names were called aver, there was the deepest silence,
every one in the court was interested, and the verdict was
waited for with breathless expectation. It was pro-
nounced, " Guilty of Murder ! " and the moment
Sooper heard it he fell down las if shot with a mortal
wound, and, amid the profoundest silence of the audi-
ence, uttered one loud, long groan. It occupied several
minutes to restore the prisoner , but, in a short time,
he was sufficiently recovered to receive the sentence of
the court, and was called upon in the usual form to say,
,‘ Why sentence of death should not be passed upon
him according to law ? " He began by apologising for
the interruption he had given to the business of the
court, which he said he hoped would not be im-
puted to the fear of death, which he had faced un-
moved in the field of battle, and the more fatal
climate of the West Indies. But, he had a wife
and children, to whom he had trusted to bequeath his
only fortune, the unstained character of a soldier and a
man of honour ; but now ho was to die the death of a
felon, and to leave to his children the infamy of a mur-
derer.

STATE OF TRADE.

( Front the Maud-tester Guardian of yesterday )

MANCHESTER, Dec. 14.—The American advices re-
port a giving way during the last week of ic. to ifc. per
lb. in the cotton market at New York and New Or-
leans; but the freight to Liverpool had risen to d. per
lb.—counterbalancing the decline of price. The week's
receipts were 116,085 bales against 67,110, and the total
receipts exceeded those of last year by 273,120 bales.
The estimates of the yield continued to run beyond
3,000,000 bales. Violent rains had occurred in some
parts, whether or not in the cotton growing states re-
mains to be seen. That the accounts from England had
not caused a greater fall in the American markets is a
circumstance that has rather aided the tendency
to pause in the course of decline, which was
just beginning to show itself in the Liverpool market,
where cotton is not to be had at the lowest point
of last week within 1-16 d. to Ad. per lb. In our own
market, the downward tendency appeared to be halting
on Saturday ; and the impression above referred to, as
having been produced by the transatlantic news, has
contributed to a slight recovery of steadiness. Last week
buyers could operate on terms which are either not
practicable to-day. or not to the same extent. This is
more particularly the case with some descriptions o
warps. But, beyond this, there is no improvement ; and
the business of the day, both in yarns and goods, has
been altogether very inconsiderable. We have a tele-
graphic announcement that the Bombay market is ac-
tive, but the letters have not yet come to hand. We
have some little businessdoing in India yarns and goods.
ROCHDALE, Dec. 13.—There has been an extremely
dull market to-day, and the demand for prices has been
more limited than that of the previous Monday. The
wool market is much the same as it has been for some
weeks past, both in demand and price.
MACCLESFIELD, Dec. 14.—There is no new feature to
note since our last report ; the sales made of silk goods
by our manufacturers during the last week are but few.
Thrown Silks--The market is very bare of fine descrip-
tions of Bengal trams and organzines, which continue in
request for shipment to the continent. There is also a
little more doing in China throwns for the home trade.
HUDDERSFIELD, Dec. 14.—We have no change of any
importance to report in our market this week ; we have
had an average one for the season. Job lots still con-

He then adverted to the circumstance of the duel,
which had come out in part during the trial, that his
adversary was the aggressor, and had publicly offered
him an insult which he dared not overlook; that he had
been willing to accept any apology, but could get none ;
that he had no alternative but to send a challenge or
lose his commission ; that it was well known, he averred
to every one acquainted with the army, that if he had
not sent a challenge to vindicate his honour, and the
honour of the service, the next post would have brought
an intimation from the Horse Guards that the King had
no further occasion for his services ; and he pointed out
strongly the strange contrast between the practice of
the army, not only authorised and encouraged, but ex-
pected and exacted by the highest powers, and the stern
sentence of the law with reference to the same transac-
tion. He spoke of the deceased with affection and re-
gret, and declared that nothing but a sense of what he
owed his profession would have led him to send the chal-
lenge ; and he bitterly lamented that a false idea of
honour had precluded a friend, whom he esteemed, from
yielding the apology which would have prevented the
result he now deplored.
This is but a faint outline of Captain Sooper's ad-
dress, and, ever so feelingly repeated, nothing equal in
effect to the manner in which my dear informant de-
scribed it, as delivered with a firm voice, and in a manly
style of speaking to an audience, which was moved be-
yond all example. Scarcely a dry eye was seen, and in
many parts of the crowded court sobs proclaimed the
deep sympathy excited. The judge was taken quite by
surprise. He was an able and a good man, and full of
the kindest feelings. He listened attentively, and was
obviously much interested. Soon he stooped forward,
and leaning on his elbow, resting his chin upon one hand
clenched ; presently he added the other, clenching both
hands, apparently to control his emotions. At length
tears started from his eyes and rolled down his fine
manly face. He raised his head, unclenched his hands,
and covered his face, still leaning on his elbows, and
thus awaited the end of Captain Sooper's appeal. At
the conclusion, he omitted all comment on the offence,
and made no remark of any sort, but simply said, "The
sentence of the law is that you," &c. But, whilst the
judge was moved, and his face covered with his hands,
as I have stated, during Captain Sooper's address, when
the prisoner, after alluding to the necessity of his posi-
tion and his sorrow, said, "And for this I am to be led
to execution like the vilest felon and murderer," Dam-
pier, overpowered by the appeal, said to himself, but
loud enough to be overheard by the High Sheriff, who
sat close by, " I'll be
lieve he had some difficulty in procuring a remission of
the sentence ; but it was understood, at that time, that
no capital punishment was ever inflicted against the
opinion of the presiding judge. Dampier was firm, and
Sooper was ultimately pardoned!

tinue to be bought up at prices that are far from being
remunerative. Some of the shipping houses are very
busy with orders both for the American and Canadigi
markets. The wool market is firm, but not much is
being done in the staple article.
HALIFAX, Dec. 14.—We have had very few mer-
chants in our piece hall to-day, and scarcely any goods,
either plain or fancy, have changed hands, The yarn
market has not undergone any material alteration. The
higher rates asked by the spinners check business ; and
the advance which they are able to obtain is not suf-
ficient to cover the increased cost of the raw mate-
rial. There is not much activity in the wool market.
The quotations gradually creep upwards ; and the high
prices demanded by the staplers deter the spinners from
purchasing, except to supply immediate wants, as they
run out of stock.
BIRMINGHAM, DEC. 13.—The trade of Birmingham is
active. The hardware trade have more orders on their
books than they can execute, and find themselves mate-
rially embarrassed in the scarcity of raw material, and
the great advance in the prices. In addition to the rise
which has taken place in iron and copper, the article of
tin, which constitutes an essential ingredient in Birming-
ham manufactures, is rapidly increasing in price, the
prices being upwards of 2/. per ton above those of last
week, and a scarcity of the article in the market is re-
ported.

FLOODS IN THE RIVERS TAY AND EARN. Owing to
the heavy rains in the end of last week, and the strong
westerly wind, which had the effect of driving the water
out of Loch Tay, the river Tay rose to a very alarming
height on Saturday, and threatened a repetition of the'
damage caused by the great flood of October, 1847. On
Saturday afternoon the water had risen so much that it
was found necessary to remove the whole of the horses
in the Royal George hotel stables, which were laid
under several feet of water.. The flood also found its way
supthroughewers ;
an
dthe
severaldrains, of
towwn.;3silng p a
ad es , andrtc'f(th the
such as the North Port,
Thee wholetewn the sunk areas „in_ Rose-terrace
and Prince's-street were laid under water•common
of the lower part of the North Inelr wig also inundated,
and presented the appearance of a large lake. During
Saturday night the wind and rain had both abated, and
by Sunday morning the river had begun sensibly to
abate, thus relieving the minds of many from apprehen-
sions of further damage being occasioned. The river
Earn, which flows into the Tay a few miles below Perth,
has also risen very high in consequence of the rain, and
a large tract of the level grounds of Strathearn is stated
to be completely coffered with water.7-Scotsntait.
UPPER INDIA RAILWAY.—The directors of the Upper
India Railway Company have determined to call for sub-
scriptions for three millions of additional capital, over
and above the million already subscribed. The shares
will be as before, namely, 201. each, and will conse-
quently number 150,000. Of this number 75,000 shares
will be appropriated to the present scripholders, being at
the rate of three new shares for every two now held ;
60,000 shares will be allotted in India ; and the remain-
der, and all such as may not be taken up here, will be
distributed as the directors may think advisable.

The United States mail steamer Pacific, Captain
Nye, commander, left Liverpool yesterday shortly before
noon, with the mails for both the United States and
Canada, and about 64 passengers. Great dispatch has been
used in getting the Pacific ready for sea, as she only arrived
from Now York on Saturday morning.

( From the Morning Herald of yesterday.)
Pelopidas freed his country, because his foe, -the Lace-
demonian, put a letter under the pillow for next
morning's perusal. If patriotic politicians do not, at
this emergency, without delay, hearken to a plain, sim-
ple, and energetic counsel, the day is already at hand 1
when the State must undergo strange alterations. Let
not Pelopidas, in his turn, put the letter under his pillow.
In all history, and, we might add, in all fable, there
is hardly one picturesque occurrence, or one startling
event, which does not seem to be a good and faithful
type of some portion of the destinies of our more prosaic
modern society. We have now reached a time of " last
words." Old politics are obsolete, old parties are ex-
hausted; the momentum imparted by great minds of
another day to the machine of Government, and the di-
rection impressed upon its movements, are at last spent.
Happily, at this momentous conjuncture, the power of
the state fell into the hands of men for whom it is not
necessary to arrogate any unreal merits, or any factitious •
claims to applause. Be it—(and let our concession
put an end to idle and irrelevant wrangling at a
moment so serious as the present,) —be it that
" adversity " and political humiliation may have
schooled that party which is now in power to address
itself so prahetically to jurisprudential and general re-
forms, and limy have stimulated it to enter upon a new •
and extensive career of measures "wise, just, and bene-
ficial,"—for the commercial, the manufacturing, and
the social advantage of the nation. If it be agreeable,
let selfish objects be ascribed to a generous and noble,-
to an active and prosperous policy ; and (according to a.
venerable rule) let the worst motives be found for the'
best acts. What we would submit is—that something
more pressingly important than motives is at this mo-
ment under adjudication. What policy are we to have
How is the business of the nation. to be transacted ?
What reforms may we hope to gain, and, at the same
time, what portion is to be retained of our stout old
constitution, which has been the prolific parent of so
many diversified and progressive ameliorations ? Such
is the question to be answered now, and such the
problem to be solved. For, to proceed methodically,
here we have a Ministry who are Reformers, because
they are Conservatives ; that is, z Ministry whose prin-
ciple it is that our institutions work well, and whose
very existence is, therefore, committed to the proof
that those institutions possess within themselves a recu-
perative and rejuvenescent power, capable of meeting -
the emergencies.olt more epochs than revolutionists
imagine. We have, in fact, a Ministry who, while they
cannot help being Conservative, have done infinitely more
for the cause of just- reforms, and have paid a far more
earnest attention to the reasonable wishes of the con-
stituencies, than those who preceded them, and who
enjoyed fuller opportunitie, greater means, and more
stringent pledges; The meaning of all this is plain
enough , the parties who threaten to convulse the state
unless grievances be reformed, live and flourish by those
very grievances. Those evils are a stock in trade. Why
do pulic meetings assemble ? Why are petitions signed ?
Why is he who convenes the one and recommends the
other the great man of a day ? Because there is some
anomaly, deeply felt, of which he forms the capital of his
influence, the spell of his power, and the material of his
reputation.. Is he reallly anxious to abolish what
constitutes his only source of importance ? In
other words, is he anxious to annihilate himself ?
This is no more in the nature of a professional
Reformer than it would be in the nature of a sincere
Conservative to leave one abuse unreformed or one
grievance unredressed. He stakes his political exist-
ence upon the real inherent merits of our constitution,
and engages to stand or fall by our system as it is in the
main. Prove to him some real and perilous defect
in that system, and it is, we do not say his profession,
but his evident interest to apply a remedy. Self-pre-
servation and the very instinct of his proper advantage
make the Conservative a willing and tractable Reformer;
the very same motives impel the self-styled Reformer
not to amend, but to cherish and to extend and to per-
petuate abuses. In proportion as they are removed his
very occupation departs. When there is nothing to re-
form what becomes of the Reformer ? The less there is
to incriminate, the less field is there for the demagogue.
It is the difference between two men, one of whom wishes
to preserve the house in which both live, and the other
to build a new dwelling. The former repairs—the lat-
ter encourages every deficiency; for the former is the
friend of the edifice, and the latter of its decay. And
have we not plainly beheld this truth illustrated by the
conduct of the Whigs when they had the power to effect
reforms, and when they merely talked and declaimed..
Abuses are their staple; grievances are their capital.
At this moment, however, something more serious is
to be considered than the risk of letting back make-be-
lieve Liberali into power, and of ousting those Conser-
vatives, from whom the people can always obtain every
just enactment, and by whom even within so brief a
tenure of office so many inestimable measures have been
passed already. Here is the case :---Let faction precipi-
tately and wantonly subvert the present Government,
because it has introduced the most liberal budget that
scientific economists evet'yet obtained in England, and
three results are inevitable and obvious. First, there
will be a dissolution of Parliament ; secondly, there will
be a: new reform bill ; and, thirdly, there will be, as a
matter of course; another dissolution of Parliament to
fulfil the purposes of that very reform act itself. It is
easy to show that all the real advantages of these events
can be gained without their actual evils. •, and not less
easy to prove that those evils must ensue if, at this criti-
cal juncture, faction be permitted to overthrow an active
and public-spirited Administration.