The Sun.
London, England, 1852-07-27 00:00:00

eUtraix"

LONDON, TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1852.

Scarcely anything
to be learnt in re-
ference to the General Election. Orkney is the only
constituency in Scotland, and Donegal in Ireland,
from which we still await intelligence as to the candi.
dates elected as representatives. Three out of the
654 Members constituting the House of Commons
(now that St. Albans has been disfranchised as well
29 Sudbury) alone remain to b© inscribed upon the
catalogue of politicians recently nominated to the
Lower House of the Imperial Legislature. It
is already manifest, therefore, in what
Position the
various parties will be in regard to each other on the
assembling of the new Parliament. October can
scarcely render their position more comprehensible
than it is at present, in height of midsummer. Ac.
cording to a very rational calculation, the Cabinet
has secured to itself somewhere about ten or twelve
below three bundred--whereas ten or twelve
above three hundred have been obtained
by the Opposition. This is remarkable, as the
most recent estimate made, and singularly enough
it accords with that advanced by ourselves before the
final return had been received from the counties of
England or from the boroughs
and counties conjointly
of Ireland. It leaves a clear majority of about
,
twenty or tour-and_twenty to the opponents of her
M.ATEiTY'S Government. This, of course, excludes
a doubtful cluster of from fifty to sixty " doubtful"
Members—otherwise designated as p
ee i-
ites or Liberal
Conservatives. What the course assumed by this
section of the House is likely to be cannot remain
long matter of uncertainty. From the first moment it
eau be readily cojectiod, There is A more eazily

traceable affinity between these occupants of the
cross benches and the occupants of the benches of
the Opposition than between the former representa-
tives and the strenuous upholders of the DERBY
Administration. Upon the one great question of the
day—the question upon which Ministers originally
entered office—the dominant and absorbing ques-
tion of Free Trade—the Liberal Conserva-
tives are identical in their sympathies with
the leading men of the Opposition. Upon
the yet more remarkable questions of reform in re-
ference to the organization of Parliament, and the
extension of the franchise, and the better distribution
of electoral districts, the Peelitea are more intimately
associated with the ultra-Liberals of the Opposition
than with the ultra-Conservatives of the Administra-
tion. Whatever may be the result of the delibera-
tions now going forward in the camp of the
" Doubt-
fuls"—there can be little hesitation on their
part, when the " tug of war" commences,
as to whether their votes shall be given to the mea-
sures of the Cabinet or to the measures of the banded
foes of the Government.
Foremost among the difficulties of the Opposition
is obviously thee of its divided leadership. Never-
theless, while In thin particular there are discoverable
the pruvocati yes of divisions among the anti-Minis-
terialists—a. similar source, first of confusion and sub-
may be discerned in the ranks faf disbandment,
not so meech of the Ministerialists themselves, as of the
very meimbers of the Administration. An extraordi-
nary vsariety of subjects might be enumerated in re-
gard to which the different members of the Cabinet
are diametrically opposed to each other upon prin-
c;.ple. Inaomuch has this proved the case ever since
February, that the leaders of the Government have
delayed the necessity of clearly defining their
intended policy from time to time by a series
of adroit and singularly ingenious postpone-
ments. It was maintained by them to this end,
for example, that the Cabinet would re-
frain from speaking out plainly and with any
degree of generally satisfactory explicitness until
such time as the country bad pronounced its
decision, either in the negative or in the affirmative,
as to the continued existence of the DERBY Govern-
' ment. As if the necessity for a Ministerial expla-
nation were no greater before than after any such
national demonstration ! As if the patriotic course
could be other than a candid avowal of the views
of the Ministry prior to the dissolution of the
Parliament ! As if common justice did not
require that the appeal to the country
should be preceded by the announcement of the
views entertained by the councils of the Govern-
ment ! But no—in the silence preserved in this
emergency by Lord DERBY, his prudence and not his
patriotism was implicated. He could not by any
possibility have framed a Ministerial document an-
nouncing their intentions, upon which he purposed to
carry on the affairs of the Administration, without
instantly scattering confusion amongst the other-
wise apparently compact body of his colleagues. In
this respect the Cabinet has been situated es a man is
situated who is labouring under the affliction of mo-
nomania. Talk to him upon the ordinary business
of life and he is agreeable enough, and rational
enough for practical purposes. But whisper a word
about the themes upon which he happens to be
due), and there are speedily evidenced the most irre-
fragable testimonies that the silver chord is frayed
and jarring, if it be not altogether loosened, and that
the golden bowl is cracked, if not irreparably
broken. So with the Cabinet. It maintains
a decent appearance so long as the routine
business of administration is all that is required to be
accomplished by its members ; but so soon as it be
compelled to define, with something like accuracy, the
nature of the principles upon which it builds up the
scheme of the new Government, so soon will the signs
of its inherent incongruity become visible. The Op-
position will then appear a compact and cor-
dially united body, when compared with the
divided views and interests of the Administra-
tion. The Opposition, thereupon, will not only
appear, it will actually become " compact and
united" in the hope of destroying the energies of a
tottering and hesitating Government. It is with
these confident anticipations that we look forward with
eagerness to the first assembling of the new Par-
liament. During the brief session of the ensuing
autumn it is possible, no doubt, that the Ministry
may gain their Ligny-but after Ligny, in the more
formidable session of 1853, comes Waterloo!

AU honour to Mr. Commissioner PHILLIPS ! Al-
though firmly convinced of the propriety and justice
of the rule which he had established, " not to admit
any insolvent to
bt;ille heor persons onac cb°iws chdeadtii;len; he
bills
or liabilities for c
has bowed to the decision of his brother Commis-
sioners in order to obtein an uniformity of proce-
dure in ell such matters. This is es it should be.
The Lion. and Learned Gentleman, by so doing, has
made no inconsiderable addition to the many valuable
services which he has rendered to the community. It
require 3 no ordinary amount of moral courage to ac-
aaowiedge a fault, but there is a still higher quality, a
readiness to yield in a matter where you are still
satisfied of the correctness of your own views, and the
beneficial results that would attend their general
adoption. There is a forbearance in the act deserving
the highest approbation, and which we have no doubt
will be generally
appreciated.
Although we
differed from the Learned Gentleman
on the propriety of the regulation, we freely and
willingly admit the fearful extent of the nuisance
which it was intended to abate ; most justly and
s'
totteringste a 1 "
truly it was designated as " a desolating
a desperate expedient of propping up a
credit with delusive paper. Anything that could
even mitigate, if it could not altogether abolish, the
glaring grievance, would be exceedingly valuable,
not only to the parties who are defrauded by means
of such acceptances, but even more so to the un-
thinking and luckless young men, who seal their own
ruia the moment they become parties to such trans-
actions. It was with the hope of inflicting a heavy
blow and a great discouragement to the entire system,
of checking the " fatal facility" which has lured and will
stulilla luren
vi many victims to the sacrifice, that the re-
gti,3 so
as adopted and propagated. In that respect
ma:iva was unimpeachable, and we could scarcely
object to any means that could achieve the great
desideratum
not believe sT:a!a as we have already stated, we do
tha
first, because it wiotulwdouhlad hv
e abveee n tohnelyi n tpe
anrdtei
adl eiffne citts;
operation,
and secondly, because it would add to the
number of the tempters, by giving
di
secu-
rity to their demands. Men who becaodmetin
involved
in
such transactions seldom contemplate insolvency. They
are still disposed to hope against hope, to believe the
some almost miraculous occurrence will lead to the
liquidation of the liability. The hopemay appear
perfectly absurd to any prudent and reflecting mind,
but it is indulged in ; and we are thoroughly eeue
vinced that the only way of diminishing the evil—it
can never be wholly eradicated—is to direct all the
powers of the tribunal against the creditors in place
of the debtors, unless the former can come into court
with perfectly clean hands, and show that their con-
duct in the transaction has been entirely blameless.
There will always be borrowers if lenders can be
met with. The latter are generally of prudent and
calculating dispositions, they charge sufficient to
become their own insurers, and to provide amply
against any possible loss. But if satisfied that the
victim must undergo a lengthened imprisonment,
either by way of a remand or by the refusal of bail,
they will consider it
as an additional guarantee and
enter more freely into such transaction.
There is a wide difference between different classes
of accommodation bills.
A fatheraave becomemhiasyohi
in-
volved through a desire to
ruin, or a son to rescue his parent. If the
whom the security is given be aware of the nature
ld
party from
to
of the transaction he cannot be injured, nor can
he justly complaim of
thbeeenconindfluncetnceodf hisby
ere- are.
principles
debtor, who may have
the highest and purest feelings and
Again, there may be cases where, althoughth
no such extenuating circumstances, there is
deception, the creditor being pefectly cognizant of
all the circumstances of the transaction. There un-
questionably is a grievance, but both parties are in
fault, both are worthof pu •
punishment, but which will
best serve as an exempla to deter others from of-
fending in like manner.

We do not, of course, allude to commercial bills,
which 512910 be treated in 11 ;.totally different

way, but in those where professional money-
lenders are concerned, we believe that the
object which the Commissioners are desi-
rous of achieving would be best advanced by
reversing their former rule, and not only admitting
to bail, but discharging from custody every person
against whom no more serious charge can be pre-
ferred than that he has become a party to accommo-
dation bills.

The magistrates at Derby, after a careful investi-
gation into the charges against Tuomas llouGAN—
a bricklayer imported from Shrewsbury during the
recent election at Derby—have bound him over to
appear in due season. The charge is a very serious
one—that of actually bribing certain electors, and it
is alleged that he, in fact, was caught in the very act.
The particulars of the case are interesting, and may
be briefly stated.

In the ancient town of Shrewsbury there resides a
hair-dresser and barber named JOHN Dram, who
also is "clerk of the course" at the races there. This
person has been " concerned," for many years past,
in most of the contested elections in and near to the
county of Salop. It may be recollected that his
name was brought into public notice at the Ludlow
election inquiry in 1839-40. Although a man of
very scanty education, of profession not very exalted,
and of appearance not very inviting, Faye has
been so fortunate (by reason of his election con-
nexions and tactics) to be on a footing of some inti-
macy with political personages in his own neighbour-
hood, and his fame having reached London, it is said
that he has got into correspondence with certain
eminent members of the Carlton Club—that famous
purity-of-election confederation !
On Thursday, on the inquiry at Derby,
Pro-
duced an envelope, bearing the seal of the Carlton
Club, addressed to " Mr. JOHN FRAIL, Clerk of the
Course, Shrewsbury," and containing the following
letter : was "
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 one Whom
you can trust in your place. Let him go to
receiving this, and find the County Tavern in the centre
of the town. Send his card to Cox, Brothers, and Co.
That will be
lead works—as coming from Chester. 'O7. B.
enough.—Yours, Derby on
" Monday."
Mr. Joine KEOGH (brother to the excellent and
distinguished Member for Athlone) was examined at
Derby, and stated—" I reside at 85, Ting
Wllliam-
street, London-bridge. I am now out of business.
I was the secretary of the Reading and Reigate Rail-
way Company. Major Wm. BEILESFODD, the present
Secretary at War, was the chairman of the board of
directors. Major BERESFORD is a member of the
Carlton Club; he is the gentleman who sat for a di-
vision of the county of Essex, and
who has been
again returned for that division. I have had frequent
opportunities of seeing Major BERESFORD S hand-
writing. The whole of the letter now produced is in
the handwriting of Major BERESFORD. The direction
on the envelope is also his writing." Thie, we rather
think, fixes the authorship of the FRAIL epistle on
Major BERFSFORD, of " rabble" celebrity, who holds
a public situation in the Ministry as Secretary at
War, and has another appointment quite as ostensible
ES " Tory whipper-in."
It would seem that the Salopianfriseur was unable
to comply with the urgent request of the Carlton
Club " polite letter-writer." FRAIL did NOT go to
Derby. Somebody else went—for, on the polling.
day, THOMAS MORGAN
Was caught in a back room at
the County Tavern, with
gold and notes in his posses-
sion to the value of some hundreds. The man thus
rejoicing in this plethora of cash is—a bricklayer !
l3ur, in all likelihood, he was the "good and safe
man with judgment and quickness," whom W. B.
" wanted immediately at Derby."
It appeared, from the evidence, that Police-sergeant
FEARN, of Derby, apprehended MORGAN, 011 the Bth
inst., having got into his room by using certain pass-
words which had been confided to him—we presume,
by some one who had " split ;" that he found the
money on his person ; that he also found a card in-
scribed " Mr. T. MORGAN, Chester;" that, the next
day, the prisoner said—
His name was Themes Morgan; but that he did not
come from Chester. Toe reason why he put Chester
upon the card was because Frail wished him to do 87. He
then said that ho came to Derby on Tueseav; that Frail
sent for him, and said he wanted him to come to Derby
to the election; and he (Frail) gave him the letter, and
that he came direct to the County Tavern according to
his instructions. That when he got there he sent his
card to Cox, Brothers, and Co., at the lead works; that
he did not know them at all, and, therefore, dd not'
gold end the
if he had ever seen then,. That nobody, came to
bmroirege.ht Ttonehilmouseovgcorlanwigahstialit-shags
Owasbnotr
him for two days. He said the gold in the 1-3 g
the
omfogroelhdiswthar
f,man;
Tavern, and the other bug of
otTthhienyk
rfooloimov:ibeug:mhoerndiindgn.
the man who brought them. no
a,BO
told e to identify
was to wait in the room and pay the, moneyme that he
wheeres hoguiviteinbteoabhil"ns on the
to persons
who T;rought cheques; which he did, and entered entered it in
the book with the numbers. As he as a stranger here,
he did not know whether they were l
e ectors or not."
On the Bth the prisoner was remanded, but on his
way back to the lock-up a letter was •
written for him
a• .
at his coctation (the " good and safe man" is pro-
bably. directed - not much of a scribe), 1- —Tis DALE
Esq., Mountfields, Shrewsbury :
understand there
is an auctioneer named TISDALE in
Shrewsbury,
but certainly not any Esquire so named. MouGAie
was very communicative to the police-officer,
and
(to quote the very words)—
. ._ . _

" Lie then repeated to me, that Frail had sent hint to
Derby; he said he thought he was coming to Derby to
boa poll-clerk; if ho hnd known that they bad wanted
him for the job he was come for he would have seen
them d—d before ho had come; he said he was vic-
timised. I then said to Mellor, Why, that letter has
no poet-mark upon it.' The prisoner said, ' But there's
the seal, that has not been broken.' I eaie, the letter
has been opened; he said, The seal has not been broken,
and the crest i 3 upon it, and that will tell where it came
from: He said the money was not his, but that as it
wfts given to him ho should claim it. He said, that
many a man fixed as he was would have gone off with
the money. He told me he was a bricklayer, and came
from Sht ewsbury. He said there were three news,papers
is Shre, Asbury ; one would expose him, and the other
too would try to smother it up. He said, there was a
new law for bribery, but he did not knot' what it was;
he said he exp,,eted they would make a witless of him,
and he should speak the truth. He said, the figures in
the book was the amount of money that he had paid,
end the numbers; that if we had not found the book we
bhonld have keen bothered. He said, the figures were
in his hladwriting."
A voter named SHARROCK proved that he had
voted for HOESFALL, the Tory candidate, on a pro-
mise of Ttvo Pounds—that he theo we:Lt up-stairs to
a back-room in the County Tavern, where (he says)
—"I found a man at the top of the stairs ; he allowed
the stoutish man to pass by him into a room at the top
of the stairs, but he would not allow me to pass. The
stoutish man remained in the room two or three
minutes, when he came out again, and called me up
to the door, and putting his hand on my shoulder,
turned me round with my back towards the door, the
stoutish man put my right hand behind me, the door
was opened, and some one in the room put two sove-
reigns in my hand. I was not allowed to see the
person who put the soyereigns in my hand ; the per-
son inside the room shut the door, and I went down
Stairs." The room at the door of which SHARROCK
received the two pounds was that in which MORGAN
was apprehended.

Asia the facts there can be no doubt. The pay-
ment to SEIARROCK is marked off in the briber's
book, and the briber (who seemed to 'think that his
Salopian employer had led him into jeopardy) has
admitted the the truth of the evidence adduced. He
in his fright, that he would tell the truth. He
may, if ever produced before a Parliamentary Com-
mittee. But is it probable that this MORGAN will be
allowed to remain in England ? He is personally
bound in 3001. for his appearance, with two sureties in
150/. each. Can any reasonable man expect that he
will appear ? The amount of bail is insufficient. The
Carlton Club correspondents can readily pay the
amount, and allow MORGAN to retire to Boulogne, as
EDWARDS did. FRAIL, we observe, has arrived in
London—whether en route to the Continent we know
not.
The part which
Major BERESFORD is said to have
taken in the transaction indicates such intense folly
tde
that we really can scarcely imagine how that astute
and acute tactician could have been so concerned.
It is for him to rebut, promptly and publicly, the
ahneday.4yveiamkpmliaonatnieorn,
heagainsthas
him. In fl
given a
sort iikoolf' flimsy,
and
simply is a round-the-corner declaration that the
newspapers have maligned him, and that in his place
the charge. This was in a speech at Braintree. It
in Parliament he will undertake to show his inno-
cence. In like manner the police reports tell us that
before the magistrates i‘ the prisoner reserved his
&d ace."