The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-02 00:00:00

SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS.

William Readman, merchant and commission agent,
Glasgow.
Hugh Frazer, merchant and manufacturers' agent,
Girvan.
Alexander M`Farlane and Company, hearth-rug and car-
pet manufacturers and dyers, Glasgow.

COURSE OF EXCHANGE.—THIS DAT.
Amsterdam ............ 11 15N Gibratar ..............
Ditto, three months .. 111734 Leghorn 30 5-4,
Rotterdam ...... • • .... 11 173 A, Genoa ......... • ...• .. 5
Antwerp .......• ••••.. 25 27 ilan ................
Brussels .....• 25 2734 Venice • •
Ilambargh •13 6 ' Naples .••
.•
Altona .. • • ............ Palermo
Paris. ....... •• .... 25 5 Me;sina •
• 130?
Ditto, three months .. 25 30 Lisbon .. •••• • • • 53%
Marseilles ............. 25 30 Oporto ......... • • • 53.7 i
Bourdeaux ..•.... Rio Janeiro ..... ....... Frankfort-on Maine •• .. 117%, Buenos Ayres.... Berlin .......... • • •... New York, 69:days' sight Vienna........ •• • • .... 12 42 Philadelphia
Trie5te........•• •• 12 41 ; PAICES OF BULIICN, PER OZ.
Petersburg ........ •• • • 35 !,‘ Foreign Gold in Btu's £3 17 9
Madrid ......... •• •• • • 5014 I Portugal Gold Coin OO 0
Cadiz .. • ........ •S'OU ; Mexican Doilars 00 0
Barcelona ............ 1 •r•lw Dollars 0 0 0
Silver iu bars . 0 5 1

TILE WAR EPOCH '54.

(Front ac Bankers' Magazine.)

The year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four
a ill occupy a prominent position in the annals of Europe.
It will mark the important period of a transition from a
lengthened continuance of profound peace to an outbreak
of war, to termination of which depends upon a variety of
contingent influences. To those sufficiently advanced in
eye to remember the memorable Wellington campaigns,
.he present crisis exhibits the remarkable contrast of the
ssociation of England and France to repress the designing
ambition of Russia, and to preserve intact the balance
of power in the East ; while to these acquainted only
with the stern realities of belligerent operations since
the despatch of the allied forces to the Crimea, the suc-
cesses obtained must furnish an earnest of the lasting
benefit to be derived from their cordial co-operation.
Amidst the general distress, social and pecuniary, the
fearful loss of life in the one case, and the derangement
of trade in the other, each producing great discourage.
ment, there is, however, the consolation that the attempt
of the Czar to subvert the government of Turkey has
accelerated a union between the two countries whose
natural position and resources entitle them to take the
lead in regulating the destinies of the civilised world ;
and that, if the first exertions to secure an honourable
recognition of their power have been attended with a
heavy sacrifice, it will, in the end, be more than com-
pensated by the advantages which aro likely to accrue
from the favourable nature of the relationship esta-
blished.

, It was not to be supposed that the current of finan-
cial and commercial affairs would, at an epoch like this,
assume a steady and undeviating course, or that the
prosperity of the two or three preceding years would,
under such circumstances, be maintained in its
full integrity. From the character of the negotiations
entered upon, and the unflinching perseverance of the
Muscovite interest to achieve the object of their ambi-
tion, almost every one, from the entry of the combined
fleets into the Black Sea, was prepared for the alterna-
tive ultimately adopted. The significant fact of the
retirement of the Russian ministers from the courts of
London and Paris, followed by the declaration of war
in March, brought the actual position of the case pro-
minently before the public ; and even many who had
previously professed an utter disbelief in the probable
commencement of active hostilities, were then compelled
to admit the sombre hues of the picture presented for
contemplation.
But, although a declaration of war had taken place, it
was at the same time felt that the extreme measure had
not been resorted to before every considerate attempt
had failed to induce an honourable adjustment ; and,
although the public were not unanimous, after the issue
of the " secret correspondence," that the Cabinet had,
with the possession of this knowledge, proceeded as
energetically as circumstances required, they cheerfully
accepted the responsibility entailed, and, with an euthu-
eiasre, deserving high commendetion, indorsed it with
the character of "r.. people's cause."
The war announced, preparations were requisite to
oarry it forward. The early budget of Mr. Gladstone,
which provided for en extraordinary expenditure—the
positive result of negotiations not having been then ob-
tained—received support, despite a further increase of
direct taxation ; and the country, while agreeing that it
was prudent to arrange for any emergency, appeared to
regret that the fallacious hopes entertained of any settle.
ment should prevent the Government from seeking a
:arger amount of assistance. The supplemental state-
ment exhibited in May indicated that a larger provision
was necessary, but recourse to a loan was studiously
avoided—the Chancellor of the Exchequer having refused
originally to recognise the principle of rendering posterity
liable for an outlay which should, according to his views,
be discharged from the income of the period. Although the
reasonableness of this position was contested at the time,
and continues to be contested by high authorities, the
majorities acquiesced, and the whole of the plans pro-
pounded were ratified, and speedily put in motion.
While these auxiliary events were taking place, the
presence of our fleets in the Black Sea and the Baltic
exercised an influential surveillance ; and the enforce-
ment of blockades, notwithstanding their temporary
evasion, impressed upon the subjects of the Czar, through
diminished trade and restricted resources, the penalty
incurred by the despotism of their ruler. There was,
however, on his part, no desire to avail himself of the
friendly offices of Austria, who, throughout the whole
of this difficult question, has endeavoured to arrange
terms between the contending Governments ; not pro-
bably from any latent disposition to assist the Western
States, but to avoid, if possible, a personal embroilment
with her haughty and irascible neighbour. In the in-
termediate period, a concentration of forces at Varna
and Constantinople gave breadth to the proceedings of
England and France, and the victories gained by the
Turks over the Russians, under the leadership of Omer
Paella, presented, in a satisfactory light, the effective
resistance of the presumed weakly antagonist.
The retreat from Silistria, and the proposed evacuation
of the Principalities, at once changed, in many essen-
tial respects, the features of the war. Suffering greatly,
as the allied troops had been, at Varna and Scutari,
from disease and inaction, loud complaints were raised
of the absence of an active demonstration against Ni-
cholas. The bombardment of Hangoe and Bomarsund,
in the Baltic, although not considered brilliant achieve.
ments, testified to the anxiety of our naval forces to
distinguish themselves in those waters ; but the diffi-
culty of the navigation, and the want of gun-boats, pre-
vented the attainment of ether desirable objects.
It was at this important juncture that the expedition
to the Crimea was publicly intimated. Arrangerneuts
previously in progress furnished evidence of sonic con-
siderable movement being at hand. No direct infor-
matinn had, however. transpired ; and, until the very
sailing of the fleet, there was a doubt respecting its posi-
tive destination. It was then officially declared to be
Sebastopol-4n announcement that created the greatest
enthusiasm. The intelligence of the landing of the
whole of the forces, without accident, on the 14th of
September, was a cause of congratulation, not the less
satisfactory because of that circumstance, but because
it was believed to present the prospect of an auspicious
campaign. The passage of the Alma, the capture of
Baiaklava, and the celebrated battle of Inkerman,
exhibited, in their strongest colours, the desperate cou-
rage and indomitable perseverance, surrounded by all
difficulties, of both the English and French troops, who
having fought side by side with a valour comparable
only to that recorded in the classic age, elicited the mu-
tual encomiums of their commanders, on the field and
in their published despatches. But these brilliant vic-
tories, each of which may be veritably described in the
pages of history as among the mightiest of the existing
generation, have not been unaccompanied with a
great sacrifice of blood and treasure ; and the deplo-
able situation in which the army has been reduced, the
wreck of supplies in the Euxine, and an unfavourable
alteration in the weather, have increased the impe-
diments already encountered to a vigorous prosecution
of the siege. Russia's old ally, winter, through alleged
negligenoe on the part of our general war administration
has proved, as in former cases, more antagonistic than
was nntioipated ; since, had ordinary prevoyance been
exercised, the rigours and inconveniences of a Crimean
climate might have been mitigated, and the operations
against Sebastopol effectively prolonged.
The war, and its influence upon trade and finance, is
a topic which has been much canvassed. Extreme par-
ties express extreme views, and consequently very
different opinions have been current. The support-
ers of Government maintain that business trans-
Actions have not received so great a check as that
which was predicted would ensue when hostilities at
first appeared imminent ; while opponents, on the other
hand, declare that the country is plunged in a state of
deep distress, the whole burden of which is attributable
T
to the vacillating policy of the Aberdeen Cabinet.aking a more moderate estimate of the war and its
t
consequences, a nearer approach to the truth is likely
be arrived at. Generally admitting the inexperience
of the administration in naval and military tactics—
conceding the point, that blunders have been made in
perfecting preliminary arrangements, and which might,
in all probability, have occurred had other parties been
in power—it is impossible to conceal the fact that,
considering all things, affairs have moved forward in
a tranquil and satisfactory manner. While allowing
this, it must, at the same time, be remembered that no
struggle of this momentous description could be engaged
in without creating some effect upon commerce, the re-
lations of which are invariably disturbed whenever such
events take place. The inactivity of trade, and the
dullness which has, more or less, overshadowed every de-
partment within the last four months, have been provoked
by other circumstances than the war. And these colla-
teral incidents are, in themselves, of almost equal import-
anoe to those which may be supposed to have sprung out of
the contest now going on with Russia. Taxation to defray
the expenses of the war has, of course, been increased,
and the weight has fallen on the public. But, unfortu-
nately, in addition to this unfavourable state of things,
Australia and America, the two principal customers of
Groat Britain, have been passing through phases of
pressure, which have affected, not only the credit of
mercantile and trading establishments in those loca-
lities, but also that of agents and correspondents re-
sident here. Failures and other commercial disasters
which have not arisen from these proximate causes,
will be found to have been few and far between.
With suck an excess of business, mostly speculative, as
is represented to have been transacted through these
connections, it was scarcely possible to avoid the effects
of the revolution recently witnessed.
Eut if business has been heavy, and in the majority of
cases unremunerative, great disposition has been exhi-
bited to stretch forth a helping hand to those in difficul-
ties, where the least lope of recovery existed ; and the
occasional symptoms of panic presenting thenssslves have
thus been allayed, without being permitted to reach a
height to endanger legitimate and healthy trade. With
keept he nu ea Sorelya
antecedents such as these, it was to be expected that mo-
ney, would, on the average, command full rates, and
I there has been active employment for the whole 'avail-
' 'Lich amount of capital, both in Lombard-street and
at a moment otfin
Melbourne,?Ya,v and California, have not decreased,
of the Bank threatened
generalei,du banking circles. Although the supplies from
been sufficient at particular periods to
ence, so nicely
g balance, requisite to create confidence
count been regulatesd,thth
nd when the metallic reserves
hato undergo a rapid diminution.
Bank authorities have not varied alteration in the rate of dis-
the minimani terms of the
having
more than one-half per
cent.—the rate in May
agndb9irAaduvanced from five
to five-and-a-half per sent. ;
050138,000/.
quotation ; while the stock of bullion has August having
fluctuated
c:tvui
an
tge
d been
reduced from five-and-a-half to five
be-
tween 16,286,000/. (25th of February) and
the present
(20th May), now standing (December 16th)171'
One essential element in inducing the public te:01200041
might
up against prophesied adversities was the abundant
Iharvest, which provided for a contingency that in'
otherwise have been attended with disastrous
resultsl ;
and, fortified with this certainty, they wore
121:•Paroci to
A

combat with minor difficulties in a spirit worthy of the
occasion. The subsequent fluctuations in the value of
grain, through operations for export, have not dimi-
nished the confidence in the adequate nature of the
home supply ; and, although quotations may exhibit
firmness at the average advance, there is little appre-
hension of lengthened scarcity. A remarkable feature
to notice, in the midst of this general perturbation, is
the almost inflexible stability of the funds. No doubt
can be entertained that the greater number of capitalists,
especially of the investing community, are less excited
by war or war rumours than they were half a century
since. It is true that, during the agitation occasioned
by the declaration of hostilities, Console sank to S 5, but
the fall was principally produced through heavy specu-
lative sales, which ultimately ruined many who engaged
in them; The reaction, afterwards apparent, which
caused a rise to within a fraction of 96, establishes a
range of about 11 per cent., but there has once more
been a change, and the nearer quotation is 911.
Doubtful as the future seems to be—and it is very
hard to attempt va,ticination on points so complex as
those involved in the existidg state of foreign relatioes—
there is yet a gleam of hope that, if Austria and Prussia
be brought to a proper sense of their true interests, a
peace may at no distant date be concluded. But it must
be distinctly understood that victory or defeat does not
depend upon those powers. Their acquiescence may
facilitate an arrangement which is likely to be beneficial
to themselves and also to Russia. An expenditure such
as England and France, out of the whole European
family, can alone bear, will probably be necessary to
carry out the war, should their policy dictate a different
plan ; but each of those two nations, now they have
once pledged themselves to the conflict, will most cheer-
fully exhaust their resources rather than succumb to the
proposed aggression of the all-usurping Nicholas.

THE SUN; _LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 2,186 b:

unfaltering steadfastness and deliberation. For rot/eh:and
ready justice, as it is called, I always entertained, arid dei
entertain, a horror. And as for any interfering with a
ptisoner's counsel, I cannot do so. My heart recoils from
interrupting a gentleman to whom an unhappy prisoner
has intrusted his charater and liberty, and who has a most
anxious duty to perform. The length at which this shall
be done, must, however, bo left to the discretion and taste
of the counsel themselves. Gentlemen, both the criminal
and civil business of this borough is much increasing ; and
I am, and always have been, delighted to do everything
in my power to despatch both as quickly, but also as
satisfactorily as possible. My distinguished predecessor
here, Mr. Justice Cressweil, was appointed recorder in
1831. Tha population was then 53,744. In the year
1833, the average number of criminal cases at each sessions
was 29, with three appeals. In the year 1832, the civil
business consisted of 4 cases for trial, and two writs of
inquiry in the whole year. Now I was appointed in 1851,
and then the eliailation was increased by upwards of
30,030 that is, it was 84,690. The average number of
criminal cases for last year, each session, was 47, with one
appeal ; and in the same year there were 13 civil causes
tried, and one writ of inquiry. Thus you see, gentlemen,
that as the population has greatly increased, so has the
criminal and civil business of the sessions ; and, moreover,
many of each class of cases are of difficulty and importance,
with many witnesses, and r© luire that attention which I
am resolved they shall always have, as far as I am con-
cerned. I have yet, gentlemen, one other matter to men-
tion to you :—that in order to obviate as much as pos:Able
the inconvenience and loss of time of which the
Venire juryman have of late so much, and I doubt
not juetly, complained, I intend fcr the future to
appoint a certain day, before which they need not
attend, and on and after which they may attend and dis-
patch consecutively whatever business there may be for
them. Whether this fixed day shall be for the future im-
mediately before or after the sessions I have not yet de-
te.rinined. The Christmas sessions are rather exceptional,
as far as regards myself, and some of the gentlemen at this
bar who also attend the Beverley sessions. Desiring to
accommodate them as I deemed fair and yeas enable, I
have named Wednesday, the 3d of January, for the sitting
of the Venire Court; which will admit of the members of
the bar attending on the Tuesday, at Beverley, en which
day the greater portion of the business of their sessions is
transacted, and the bulk of the bar released from attend-
ance. I hope to finish the criminal business here by Sa-
turday next, or at latest on Monday ; and cheerfully sacri-
fice the one or two intervening days, remaining here idle,
to consult ' the convenience of those members of the bar
who may have business at Beverley. I repeat, gentlemen,
what I said in a letter recently read before the Towe-coun-
cil, that I feel a warm interest in the Venire Court, and
am delighted to see the Town-council of the same
mind. The Venire Court is a very ancient court of
civil justice hero, absolutely unlimited in jurisdiction,
except in respect of locality. It sits throughout the year ;
the deputy-judge is your able and experienced Town-clerk,
whose decisions I have never once hitherto had °cession to
overrule ; there is as free audience for attorneys and soli-
citors as for the bar; and I have soon eentlemen in both
departments of the profession discharge the duties of ad-
veteites in this court, in the most able and satisfactory
wanner, and in cases of no little difficulty and importance,
end I never saw jurymen di:sell:up their duties better.
Tiering adverted to jarymen, allow me to say that their
duties, alike in criminal and civil cases, are equally
important and honourable. Nay, they are very elevating,
for they train the mind to grave, patient, dispassionate
inquiry,—teachieg the noble lesson of keeping the judg-
ment suspended, uninfluenced by mere assertion, by ,so-
phistry, by prejudice, by prepossession; and while doinz
this, becoming also familar with the system of judicial invess
tigation, and the great leadingprinciplesof our civil and cri-
minal law. No juryman who forms a proper estimate of his
position.—one which trains and prepares him admirably to
fill municipaloffice—will feel impatient while called on by his
country to exercise such interesting and momentous public
functions. The learned Recorder then proceeded to say
that he regretted to find that, although little more than
two months had elapsed since the last sessions, there were
not less than 46 or 47 distinct cases for trial, involving at
least 49 prisoners. And he was sorry to find that among
these cases were some which he had hoped would have
been decreased by the wholesome severity which he had
felt it his duty to exercise. There were no fewer than 10
cases of servants robbing their masters. That must be put
down. He would venture to remind the grand jury that
they had not to try cases, but simply to ascertain whether
on the blush—on the first aspect of the case—there was
enough of. suspicion of guilt to warrant them sending the
case into the court for trial. There was ono or two cases
of felonies by youthful offenders, and it might occur to
some of them that these might have been disposed of sum•
warily by the excellent gentleman (Mr. Travis) who eat
by him. But ho (the Recorder) presumed that the magis•
trate acted upon the principle of the Act of Parliament
which enabled justices to deal summarily with juvenile de-
linqueuts. That Act did not apply to compound felonies,
but in the express terms of the Act to simple larcenies
only. And if a child unfortunately committed a compound
felony as it was called, he (the Recorder) and the jury
alone could deal with it—as in the case where a child stole
from the person—that took the matter out of the hands of
the stipendiary magistrate, and compelled him to send it
there. There were one or two cases involving only a small
amount of property. But the amount had nothing to do
with the matter. If the grand jury, in their sworn judg-
ment, believed that there had been a felony, the value of
the goods had nothing to do with it. Property was neces-
sarily exposed on wharfs, railroads, fie., and if only a sin-
gle apple, or orange, or piece of rope was stolen, the value
of it was not for consideration. Alluding to a case of rope
stealing, where the rope had not been removed wholly from
the premises, the Recorder pointed out the law that, if
with a felonious intent property was oily removed a hair's
breadth, that constituted a stealing. The Recorder then
dismissed the jury to their duties.

We are greatly gratified at finding that our learned and
distinguished recorder, Me. Warren, has devoted so much
time and inquiry to ascertaining the extent to which, tho
magistrates, grand jurors, and people of Hull are morally
bound to provide a good Reformatory School for the recep-
tion of juvenile criminals with a view to their ultimate
restoration to the. pe.tha of social intercourse, rectitude,
and virtue, It is a new thing in Hull for our magistracy
to be invited from the judicial bench to take as early a part
in the discussion of grea.t reformatory questions as their
brethren in London, Birmingha,ru, Manchester, and Liver-
pool. Tho active intelligence of our excellent recorder is
net content to leave us to grope our way by the dim tra-
ditional light of precedents drawn from courts not superior
in jurisdiction to his own ; he nobly dares to ask us to ad-
vance boldly, and under his safe guidance, to claim for oar-
selves the distinction of setting an example to towns lass
populous and less influential than the borough of Hull. Wo
feel confident that there is not a person ()fatly reflection in the
East Riding of Yorkshire, who will read the recorder's charge
but who will thank him very heartily for the pains which
he has bestowed upon the consideration of this important
subject, and for his eloquent and foreible recommendation
of it to the adoption of the Hull grand jury. Most of our
readers will be aware that the question was strongly urged
upon public attention in some letters which recently ap-
peared in this journal, purporting to be part of a series in
preparation on Reformatory Schools. These letters were
from the pen of a magistrate of much experience in cri-
minal matters; and very great will be the delight of the
writer to find his views supported by the lucid intellect
and blackletter lore of the author of a "Diary of a Late
Physician." After the charge of the learned recorder, we
consider that there is really an end of the theoretical part
of tiiis question. What we chiefly want now is some ma-
gistrate to take the load in convoking a meeting of the ma-
gistrates, preparatory to a meeting of the whole borough, to
consider the desirableness of commencing forth with the esta-
blishment of aRe 'ornaatory School. Perhaps the most proper
person to take the initiative would be the stipendiary, Mr
Travis; who is exceedingly well acquainted with the whole
bearings of the proposed system, and who has himself de-
voted much thought to the applicability of such a system
to the wants of the youthful criminals in our Borough
gaol. The practical question, as regards the public, can
be best dealt with by a lawyer conversent with all the
details of prison discipline, and capable of showing in what
way the system would work in a pecuniary point of view.
We have ourselves a very strong conviction that, properly
managed, all Reformatory Schools might be made self-
euppertiag, if not actually sources of national income.
Labour was the first, and it should ever be the chief
punishment of sin. God set us the example, in the per-
sons of our first parents, how all future transgressors ought
to be punished ; and la mature wisdom guided the judi-
ete
hui atal
nc(11
sel,ficoboremr a(pi taei
compelling
g(oi.
tfahmoenvir,d
leffathers,onsetsoi nftght
dungeons,he lwimo nb l
sc,l haveam pl
withe syun
heavyeb,as
nt
i-
s
s
for the duplication and triplication of that earth•subduing
toil, which won from the red furrow of the field the
golden grain which still forms the great staple of human
sustenance.
As regards the suggested Maritime School we feel
very sure that it would appear to the Recorder less neces-
sary if he were practically acquainted with the educational
establishment conducted here, ruder the auspices, and at
the expense of, the Hull Corporation of the Trinity Howse.
What is really wanted is an industrial school under the
inspection of the Poor-law Board, for the reception and
training of all the destitute children of both sexes in any
given number of poor-law unions. The law already pro-
vides for the establishment of such schools, and enables
boards of guardians to lay rates for them at a sum not ex-
ceeding ono penny in the pound ; but when the opportu•
fifty of establishing one in this neighbourhood was pre-
sented, and recernmeaded, a number of very zealous, but
not very sagacious, individuals succeeded in charging
themselves for ever with the burden of a ragged school,
which no efforts ever can render half so valuable as an
industrial Government school, to a large community like
that of Hull. An industrial school might be made to train
np five thousand boys either as seamen or husbandmen
without more expense to its patrons than if it only con-
tained fifty children ; whereas a ragged school must always
depend for support upon the variable offerings of
persons liable to all the caprices of fortune, and all
the variations of individual opinion. Moreover, an
industrial school would offer undoubted guarantees
to pareats anxious about the religious train* of their
children ; whereas, Ragged Schools must necessarily com-
pel the giving a general preference to teaching 'ef certain
creeds. It may bo that the Hull Ragged School will form
an exception to such institutions elsewhere, and that its
utility will be as extensive as the benevolence of its foun-
ders. In that case no other schools of the kind will be
required. But if it fail there is still in reserve the legal
provision for the establishment of a Quatt's Farm School
adequate to the industrial training of all the poor chil-
dren in the East Riding of Yorkshire. _ _ _

The other points touched upon in the Recorder's charge
are more of an administrative character, aid though
highly important, cannot be handled here. We venture
to assure the learned judge there is not the least occasion
for any defence of the groat care which he bestows upon
the trial of the great body of prisoners now brought before
him. The R,ecordership of Hull is a ♦ery onerous office
now compared to what it was when Mr. Cresswell sat here,
or even when Mr. Baines so worthily presided as chief cri-
minal judge in this borough. Many of the cases tried. in
Hull involve questions of law and of fact as complicated,
and affecting interests as momentous, as any short of capi-
tal trials brought before the judges at York, and yet, such
is the ability manifested in our Quarter Sessions court
that in uo place is the law administered more satisfac-
torily.