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

FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 94, • 1852.

moved that the issuing of the writ be postponed for ten days.
What he
should suggest was that the writ he moved for to-
morrow ( this day).—(" Hear, hear," and cries of " divide.")
1 Mr. BRIGHT said that his motion was that the debate be
adj .. urn ed .
Mr. DUNCOMBE said that he should be the last person
to ask the House to break through any understanding; but
the understanding was, that the writ should not be issued
without inquiry. The Hon. Member for Westminster had
moved, for an inquiry, and the House having decided upon
that point, he towed to the opinion of the majority; but
the natural consequence of that decision was, that the elec-
tors of Harwich should not be deprived of their rights
(Hear, hear.) He believed the House was competent to de-
cide the question that night, but if it thought otherwise
he had no objection to postpone the motion till to-morrow
(this day).- (Hear.) '
Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL said that it was of the greatest
importance that the House should not decide upon this ques-
tion hastily and without deliberation. As there could be
no election before the Easter recess, he thought the sugges- i
tion of the Hon. Member for Manchester would meet the ne-
cessity of the case.
Mr. WALPOLE said that when he gave his reasons for
thinking that the writ ought not to be issued, he omitted one
reason, for it might be suppose 1 if he moved for the writ,
that he did so in order to endeavour to obtain an advantage
to the Government. —( Hear, hear.) He had that opinion in
his own mind, though he did not express it. But having
already stated his reasons why he thought the writ should
be issued, he should prefer that the motion should be made
after notice given.—( Hear.)
The motion and amendment was then withdrawn, and
Mr. DUNCOMBE gave notice that he would move the
issuing of the writ to-morrow.
CHURCH-RATES. •
Mr. TRELAWNY then rose to bring on the motion which
he had on the paper respecting church-rates, but
Sir R. INGLIS interfered, and said that he appealed not
so much to the Hon. Gentle:nan as to the clock.—(A laugh.)
It was nowten minutes past eleven o'clock, and he asked the
Hon. Member whether there was any chance of so impor
tact a question as that of church.rates being satisfactorily
discussed at that hour? The Hon. Member himself might
be able to secure the attention of the House, but what chance
was there for those who might follow him r--( Hear, hear.)
Mr. TRELAWNY said if it was the general feeling of the
House he was willing to postpone the motion.—(Hear.)
Motion accordingly postponed. •.
POOR-LAW COMMISSION.
Sir J. TROLLOPE moved for leave to bring in a Bill to
continue the-Poor-law Commission for a limited time.
Sir G. PECHELL complained, at some length, of the con-
duct of the Poor-law Commission in its attempt to abolish
the Gilbert unions throughout the country, and particularly
blamed the Commissioners for the course which they had
pursued with reference .to the parish of Alverstoke with
Gosport. The Hon. Baronet, after having commented at
some length on that case, concluded by expressing his belief
that there was nothing to justify the conduct of the Poor-
law Commissioners in the matter.
In reply to a question from Lord D. STUART,
Sir J. TROLLOPE thought his Hon. and Gallant Friend
(Sir G. Pechell) ought to have deferred his motion for copies
of the report Mr. Hawley made to the Poor-law Commis-
sioners until he (Sir J. Trollope) had introduced his Bill for
continuing the Poor-law Commission for a limited period.
As for the Bill, he only sought by it to continue the Poor-
law Commission for two years, and he should now venture
to ask the House to allow him to introduce his Bill.
Leave was given to introduce the Bill.
Sir J. TROLLOPE moved for leave to bring in a Bill to
continue an Act of the fifteenth year of her Majesty, for
charging the maintenance of certain poor persons in unions
in England and Wales upon the common fund.
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY inquired whether it was the
intention of the Hon Member (Sir J. Trollope) to wind up
the Commission at the end of two years?
Sir J. TROLLOPE replied, the matter did not rest with
him. He now only asked for leave to bring in his Bill.
The Bill was then brought in.
Sir G. PECHELL moved for copies of the report made
to the' Poor-law Board by Mr. Hawley, poor-law inspector,
dated the 20th day of October, 1851, relating to the parish
of Alverstoke with Gosport, incorporated under Gilbert's
Act, with a copy of the order issued by the Poor-law Board
to the visitor and guardians of the said parish, dated the
28th day of February, 1852, with the copy of the letter that
accompanied the same, dated the 9th day of March, 1852 ;
together with the copies of all correspondence which has
taken place since the last-mentioned date oetween the Poor-
law Board and the guardians of the poor of the said parish,
and other parties, on the subject of such order. And, of
the several reports made on the inspection of Alverstoke
workhouse, by Messrs. Campbell and Gaskell, on the 21st
day of December, 1849 ; by Viscount Courtenay, on the
let day of August, 1850: by Mr. Redduck, on the 9th day
of April, 1851; and by Mr. Hawley, on the sth day of June,
1851.
Sir J. TROLLOPE objected to the latter part of the
motion.
Sir G PECHELL must insist on having it.
Sir J. TROLLOPE could not comply, as the papers were
not in possession of the Poor-lass Board.
Sir G. PECHELL withdrew the latter part of the motion,
y
and the amended motion was agreed to.
Sir G. PECHELL moved for a return of the amount of
freight-money received by the treasurer of Greenwich Hos-
pital,ve statinga n ce i n
of what
specie i s
pro-
portionin
tehaec hfryeiegahr,t_sminocneetyhe
for year
rhe 18
clo9n,
divided betweeen the royal hospital, the captains and com-
manders of her Majesty's ships, and the admirals and
commodores of the several stations where the treasure was
embarked.
The motion was agreed to.
The O'GORMAN MAHON obtained leave to bring in
a Bill to amend the Acts for lighting towns in Ireland, and
for promoting trade, commerce, and public revenue by drain-
age and navigation, so far as relates to Ennis and the River
Fergus.
MUNICIPAL CORPORATION ACTS AMENDMENT

" With regard to a site n ear Charing-cross, we are in-
clined to concur in the opinion of Mr. Pennethorne, who
observes, that if, with reference to the Mines of Par-
liament, or for any other reason, the site of the present'
bridge must be moved; then it would, cas rt spews
the general traffic, be most advisable to convert the
present bridge in a light iron toot bridge only, and
build two other bridges at a distance, as it would be
more advantageous to the public generally to incur at
once the greater cost; of building two bridges in conniption
with the new streets contemplated for the improvenient
of Southwark and Lan.ibeth, than to expend a large sum
in forming approaches not so convenient as the existing,
ones, and which possibly afterwards it would be neces-
sa►ry to exceed.' _

"Tee sites near Richmorid‘ terrace and the India
Board are more favourably circumstanced; and if the
block of houses which now separates Parliament-street
from King-street were removed, either of these situa-
tions raignt be prelorable to the one which we have
selected. But it is obvious that much additional time
would be lost, and a large additional expense incurred,
,before either of these could be rendered tit for the con-
struction of a permanent bridge with its requisite ap-
proaches.

" Property of considerable value must be acquired
both on the Middlesex and Surrey sides of the river be.
tore convenient accesses could be made to a now bridge
at 'either of these points. The time required for these
purcnases would delay the opening of the new bridge;
and even when completed, although it might give au
opportunity for architectural display, iG seems doubtful
whether the change of site would be regarded as af-
fording any general convenience commensurate with its
cost.

"Having thus stated our objections to the above-
mentioned sites, AU proceed to report our opinion o❑
the advantages which would ensue it the third and last
plan were carried Into effect—viz., That the new bridge
should be constructed adjoining, or as near as possible,
.o the present bridge, either on the north or south side.'
" A new bridge on the south side of the present
structure would ne objectionable on account of its proxi-
mity to the Houses of Parliament. This objection
would be increased if the bridge were constructed
wish a height of headway of twenty-five feet above
Trinity datum. The erection of this bridge would,
moreover, uecessitate the immediate purchase of the
entire south side of Bridge-street, which consists of
27 houses, none of which ace the property of the Bridge
Commissioners. The purchase of these houses, inclu-
ding the interests of the tenants, compensation for good-
w►lt, removal, &c., would very far exceed the cost of
acquiring any property on the north side of Bridge-
street which might be required for the approaches to the
new bridge, if it were placed to the north of the exist-
ing bridge.
" The property OR the north side of Bridge-street
consists of a block of nine houses, extending westward
as far as Cannon-row, and one house westward of Can-
non-row, all of which are the property of the Bridge
Commission. On the west of the last-named house is a
small block extending to Parliament-street, which is not
the property of the Bridge Commissioners. The leases
of these houses are either expired or have but a short
I time to run.

" So much inconvenience and danger are at present
experienced from the confined approaches and very sharp
turn from Bridge-street into Parliament-street, that it
will be necessary to make the accesses to any new
bridge considerably wider than they are at the present
time.
",Some information upon the comparative cost of
constructing a bridge with the requisite approaches
upon the sites above-mentioned will be found in the
Appendix, as well as in the evidence of Mr. Hardwick
and of Mr. Pennethorne. The question of cost has
no; been specially referred to our consideration, nor
would it be possible to add a sat
intoinquiry the
value of property, which may
be variously. estimated.
We believe, however, that the north side of the
present structure will be the most convenient and eco-
nomical size for the new bridge; the most convenient, be-
cause the work could be immediately commenced, and
its erection will therefore be attended with the least ob-
struction to the traffic; and the most economical, both on
account of the smaller expense which would be required
tor the acquisition of property necessary for the enlarge-
ment of the approaches, and because it avoids the neces-
sity of a temporary bridge.
" Having thus stated the grounds of our opinion as
to the most advantageous site for the new bridge, We
opecosetemedodt
eo
of
fe pc
oo
nr tutrou
ey
toiou
,L theo r dws
di pt
hs otuhre vhieeiwgsh
tit s
of tho the
d.
way above Trinity datum, the number of arches, and the
material to be used for its formation.

" And, first, with respect to the width necessary in
the construction of the new bridge. The opening ot
the new hue ot street called Victoria-street, which
forms a three; and convenient communication between
Chelsea, the Borough, and the City, the formation of
the South Western- Railway terminus in the vicinity
ot the bridge, and the increase of the metropolis on
both sides of the river, render it necessary to afford
greater facilities for the traffic over 0 the new West-
minster-bridge, the width of the present bridge, 42
feet, being found to be totally insufficient.
" We are of opinion, therefore, that 60 feet, including
the footways, should be the minimum width to meet the
requirements of the increasing traffice and the comfort
and safety of the public.
" The width or the other metropolitan bridges over
the Thames is stated to be as follows, via .

Feet.
" London-bridge
Blackfriars ridge ... 42

Waterloo- bridge ... 43
Vauxhall-bridge 36
" With respect to the height of headway of the centre
arch of the new bridge, we have considered the conve-
nience of the navigation, the proper inclination of the
road for the purposes of truffle, and the effect which the
struc:ure might have on the architectural appearance of
the New Palace.
" In his evidence, given before the Committee of 1850,
Mr. Barry stated certain conditions which he di emed
indispensable if the bridge were to be retained in is
present situation; these were—' That the roadway of
the bridge should be level from shore to shore; this the
width of the roadway should not be less than 100 fret;
that the height of the roadway of the bridge above Tri-
nity standard should not exceed 20 feet.'
" This last condition, if complied with, would leave
for the purposes of navigation a headway of only 16
feet if the bridge were of iron, and of only 12 feet 6
inches if the arches were constructed of stone. Such a
bridge as Mr. Barry recommends would undoubtedly
improve the arebitectual appearance of the Nov
Palsee, by relieving that building from the effects of
the low situation in winch it is placed, and, if other
considerations did not interfere, we should agree
with Mr. Barry that the proposed lowness of the bridge
would be an advantage, and that a width which would
give it the character of a terrace, or, as Mr. Barry says,
a grand promenade, would be in itself an ornament to
the metropolis, and a convenience for the communica-
tion across the river.
" A bridge of this limited height and of this ex-
tended width would, however, we believe, be a serious
obstacle to the passage of vessels, while the increase of
the metropolis to the westward renders it important that
every encouragement should be given to the navigation
of the river.
The height of the centre arch of Westminster-bridge
is 25 feet.

"It has been stated that the largest vessel navigating
the Thames above London-bridge is of 300 tons, and
also that a vessel of that tonnage could pass under an
arch of 25 feet 6 inches of Trinity datum, without any
inconvenience, provided that the arch be of sufficient
span.
" We are informed that it would be an advantage to
the coal trade and to consumers, if facilities were af-
forded for the passage of larger vessels, which might
then possibly supersede the smaller craft now employed
in the coal trade of the river. Regarding, therefore,
the interests of the navigation, we are of opinion that
the height of a headway should be limited only by the
easy inclination required for the roadway over the
bridge, and we recommend that the height of headway
of the centre arch should not be less than 25 feet 6
inches above Trinity datum.
" We subjoin the height of headway of the other
bridges across the Thames :
feet. inches. -
"London-bridge
Blackfriare-bridge
Waterloo-bridge 27 6
Vauxhall-bridge...
•" The width of the arch, for the purposes of navigation, is
as important as the headway.
" In an arch of a large span the extent of the headway
is not confined to the exact centre of the arch, but extends
over a wider space, and thereby facilitates the passage of the
vessels.
" The fewer the number of arches adopted, the less will be
the resistance to the current of the stream, and, conse-_.
iluently, there will be the less pressure against the piers of
a
the bridge. The fewer the piers the less also will be the te
present bridge contributes to the formation of eddies
n"
ob-
struction to the navigation. The number ' of piers
.in _i_',,
shoals in the river. We would, therefore, recommend that,
of more
in constructing the new bridge it should not cools.
than five arches. . 'ded money
" In our choice of materials we have been go!
time an
isace for the
in the completion of the bridge, and
coses of naeiga..
traffic over the bridge, as well as for the purei inight have pre.
tion. Under different circumstances following consideratips i—Economy of
onves d
W that such a bridge
ferred a bridge of stone; but considering and and would re-
would be attended with an increased,.
aUr'
d further, that its
quire a third more time to conastrzt
ditional rise of 3 feet
adoption would necessitate a
the
bridge, we feel no hesi-
-6 inches for the roadway (wer
the , ~,, ,
bridge should be an
tation in recommending that
to„ piers. An iron arch being
iron structure resting "
'flstone, there will be a less pressure
so much lighter than one of eight' A greater span of arch
from the superincumbe el
than in stone. Twenty months is
can be obtained in iron
would be required for the
completion
said to be the time that
tree years the period for
'd ,e ae" '''' the erection
of
of the iron bri i, ,
of a stone structure..
th the views here expressed, we sub-
In resolutions, which were
mit the following
e unanimously
ag.refe.d.to
That; the present bridge should be used as a tam o-
bridge until a new bridge shall have been constructed.
anew bridge should be
6, 0. That constructed adjoining
or as near as possible, .
to the present bridge on the north side,
that Is, lower down the river.
~ 1 That the new bridge should not be less than 60 feet
in width, including the footways,
" 4. That it be constructed of iron, with stone piers.
" 5. That it consist of no more than five arches.
" accordance wi .
" 6. That the height of headway of the centre arch above
Trinity datum be not less than 25ft. Gin.
. 7. That it is desirable that no time should be lost in
making preparation for the commencement of the work.
~ Wconclusion, e beg, in with reference to the 7th reso-
lution the uncertain expense of maintaining
it, even as a temporary structure, and the inconvenience of
this bridge,. both to the land and river traffic, render it
highly desirable that . the permanent . bridge should be
, coimeaced . ituci wished with a 4 lithe. *by arposeiblc;
oluftithone
psuresbmenitttebdridby us, to state that the dilapidated state

and we have it in evidence that. if the work were com-
menced early in the ensuing year, the bridg6inight be open
to the public in less than two years from the period of its
commencement.
" The Cormuittees of 1846 and of 1850 both recommended
that a Bill shou'd be brought into Parliament for transfer-
ring the estates and property of the Bridge Commissioners
to the Commissioners of her blajesty's Woods, &c., due con-
sideration being bad to the claims of the officers of the bridge
estates, in the event of their serv'ces being discontinued.
We concur i❑ the views of the Parliamentary Committees as
expressed in these reports.

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

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS.

---- .
(From the Votes aid Proceedings of the House of Commons )
THURSDAY, APRIL 1.
HARWICH. BOROLIGII.
Motion made, and Question put, " That leave be given
to bring in a Bill for appointing Commissioners to inquire
into the existence of Bribery in the Borough of Hamich."
The House divided:
MI NORITY—AtES, 95.
Adair, Hugh E. Greene, John Ricardo, Osman
Adair, Ir. Shaft° Hall, Sir B. Romilly, Colonel
AlcocK, Thomas Ilardeastle, J. A. Salwey, Colonel
Anderson, Arthur Harris, Richard Scholeffeld, William
Baines, M. T Hastie, Alexander Scobell, Captain
Bouverie, E. P. Hervey, Lord A. Smith, Vernon
Boyle, Colonel Heywood, James Smith, M. Tucker
Bright, John Higgins, G. G. Staiiton, W H.
Brocklehurst, T. Hindley Charles Strickland, Sir G.
Brotherton, J. Hobliouse, T. B. Strutt,E.
Bunbuiy, E. H. Howard, C. W. G. Stewart, Admiral
Carter, J. B. Humphery, Ald. Stuart, Lord D.
Cavendish, C. C. Hutt, William Talbot, C. R.
Childers, J. W. Kershaw, James Tennent, It. J.
Clay, Sir W. King, P. J. Thompson, Colonel
Clifford, 11. M. Langston, J. IL Thornely, Thomas
Cockburn, Sir A. Martin, J. Townshend, Captain
Cowan, Charles Matheson, Colonel Trelawny, J. 3.
Davie, Sir IL Milligan, Robert Verney Sir H.
Dawes, Edwar Milner, W. M. Waitley, Thomas
D'Eyncourt, C. T. Moffatt, George Walinsley, Sir J.
Duff, George S. Moiesworth, Sir W. Wawn, J. T.
Duff, James , Morris, David Willcox, Brodie
Duke, Sir J. Mowatt, Francis Williams, John
Duncan, George Norreys, Lord Williams, W.
Duncombe, T. O'Fiaherty, Anthony Willyams, IL
Ellis, John Ogle, S. C. Williamson, Sir H.
'Enfield, Viscount Osborne, Ralph Wilson, Matthew
'Evans, William Pechell; Sir G. Wyvill,' Marmaduke
Ewart, William Peto, Samuel M.
Foley, J. H. Pilkington, James TELLER('
Geach, Charles Price, Sir R. Evans, Sir De Lacy
Glyn, G.C. Ricardo, John L. Clay, James

MAJORITY—NOES, 137.
Acland, Sir T. Dkye East, Sir J. B. Maxwell, Hon. J. P.
Adderley, C. B. Edwards, Henry Miles, William
Archdall, Captain Egerton, Sir P. Mitchell, T. A.
Arkwright, George Estcourt, J. B. B. Morgan, 0. ,
Bagot, William Farrer, James Muthugs, J. R.
Baillie, H. J. }gluier, Sir E. Naas, Lord
Baldwin, Barry Forester, G. C. Napier, Joseph
Bankes, G. Freshfield, J. W. Newdegate, C. N.
Baring, Thomas Fuller, A. E. Newport, Viscount
Barrow, W. 11. Gallwey, Sir W. P. Noel, Gerald J.
Bennet, Philip Galway, Viscount O'Brien, Sir Lucius
Bentinck, Lord H. Goulburn, Henry Ossuiston, Lord
Beresford, William Gore, W. 0. Parke, C. W.
Blandford, MarquiS Greene, Thomas Palmer, Robert
Boldero, H. G. Grogan, Edward Portal, Melville
Bowles, Admiral Gwyn, Howel Reid, General
Bramston, T. W. Hale, R. B. Renton, John C.
Brenaridge, Richard Raiford, Sir Henry Repton, G. W.
Bridges, Sir B. Hallewell, E. G. Rushout, Captain
Brooke, Sir A.B. Hamilton, G. A. St. George, Chris.
Bruce, C. L. C. Hamilton, Lord C. Seynter, H. K.
Buck, Lewis W. Harris, Captain Smollett, A.
Buller, Sir J. Y. Heald, James Somerton, Viscount
Burrell, Sir.C. Heneage, G. H. IV. Sotheron, T. li.
Cabbell, B. B. Henley, J. W. Spooner, Richard
Carew, W. P. Hildyard, It. C. Stafford, Augustus
Chandos, Marquis Hill, Lord E. Sutton, J. 11.
Child, smith Hope, Sir J. Taylor, Colonel
Christopher, R. A. Hope, H. T. Teunent, Sir J.
Christy, Samuel liothain, Lord Thesiger, Sir F.
Clerk Sir G. Hughes, W. B. Trevor, G. R.
Clive, R. R. Inglis, Sir R. IL Trollope, Sir J.
Clive, H. B. Jolliffe, Sit.W. G. Tyler, Sir G.
Cobbold, J. C. Jones, Captain Tyrell, Sir J.
Codrington,:Sir W. Knox, W.' S. Vesey, Thomas
Collins, Thomas Langton, W. li. Villiers, Viscount
Compton, H. C. , Lennox, Lord A. Walpole, Spencer
Cotton, W. H. Lewisham Viscount Whiteside, James
Cubitt, William Lindsay, Lewisham,
Wigram, Loftus
Davies, D. A. Lockhart, W. Willoughby, Sir H.
Decdes, W. Long, W. Wodehouse, Edmund
Dick,,,Qtlilltill Lygon, General Wynn, 11. W.
Dod, J. W. Manners, Lord C. Yorke, E. T.
Duckworth, sir J. Manners, Lord J.
.Duncombe, W. E. March. Earl of
TELLEL9.
Dunne, Colonel Masterman, John Bateson, Thomas
Mauusell, T. P.
Du Pre, C. G. Lennox, Lord R. G.
--

MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS ACTS AMENDMENT
BILL.
(IN THE COMMITTEE.)
:
Clause 1 (Proprietors of Newspapers not to be deemed
Contractors by reason of Advertisements) Amendment
proposed, in page 2, line 15, to add the words, ~ or in any
Banking Company which may have had or may hereafter
have dea'ings or transactions with any such Council, Com-
missioners, or Trustees of such Borough: "—Questioo pat,
"That those words be there added." The Committee
divided:—
MINORITY—AYES, 13.
Anstey, Thomas C. Ilindley, C. Thompson, Colonel
barrow, W. H. Hobhouse, T. B.
Bell, Jacob Mullinge, J. R. TILLEIB.
Carter, John B. Pilkington, James Readlam, T. B.
Greene, Joha Scholelleld,_Willlam Hutt, IVO=
Ballewell, E. G. Tennent, R. J.

MAJORITY-NOES, 37.
Arkwright, G. Gwyn, !Jewel Sinollett, A.
Baillie, H. J. Hamilton, G. A. Spooner, Rickard
Bankes, G. Hamilton, Lord C. Stafford, Augustus
Beresford, William Henley, J. W. Tennent, Sir J.
Brotherton, Joseph Hill, Lord E. Thesiger, Sir F.
Bruce, C. L. C. Joiliffe, Sir W. G. Trollope, Sir J.
Chandos, Ilarq. of Knox, W. S. Vyse, R. H. it. H.
Chichester, Lord J. Lennox, Lord HG. Walpole, S. 11
Christy, S. MahOn, O'Gorman Willoughby, Sir E.
Cotton, W. S. Naas, Lord
Duckworth, Sir S. Napier, Joseph TELLERS.
Dunne, Colonel Newport, Viscount Bateson, T.
Edwards, Henry Packe, C. W. Banbury, Edward
Grogan, Edward St. George, Chris.

THEc UkiRENCY,
THE QUESTION « WHAT IS A POUND ?"

ANSWERED.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—The recent di,co series in Calif ornia and Australia
render it extremely probble that we shall have to suff,r
the evils of a &pre ciated currency, if gold long continue
to be the standard of value. It is, therefore, advisable
to consider whether or not some substitute cannot be
found which will be more perfect as a standard.
In the first place, then, it may be remarked that
there is no snore absolute necessity for the standard of
value to possess intrinsic worth than for the standard of
weight or measure; and in the next, that the experience
of the last few years has shown that, however abundant
may bo the amount of money at the source of issue, the
active circulation of the country cannot be materially
increased beyond a certain amount, however low the
rate of discount, or however strenuous the efforts to
force it. Money, like other commodities, is governed by
supply and demand; and, like them, if supplied in too
great a quantity, or if not required as the instrument of
exchange, lowers in price, and becomes a drug iu the
hands of the owners or possessors.
If gold, then, ought not to be the standard, what
ought ? and what ought to be the mode of issue?
As regards the standard, instead of making the pound
sterling to represent " a certain amount of gold, of a
certain fineness;" that is to say, instead of making tt to
represent the exact RESULT of a certain quantity of
labour, I would make it the representative, or money
value, or money expression of that certain quantity of
labour itself, instead of the representative of the result of
that labour; and thus avoid the necessity of selectirg
one description of commodity from the rest, fixing Its
price, arid making it the exponent of value for .11Llaz
To illustrate:—Let us suppose that the Avgoin ,'ty
-
value of adult male labour throughout the king d
two shillings per day, twelve hours' labour to the
:ptauap,
The pound sterling would then be th
or money expression, of the averageve rsbeP e
a eif w ten day
'
ould
adult male labour; and consequently tton,
5/ o s
of hie days'
be the representative, or money expres
sixpence, of a
labour; one shilling, of half a n
quarter of daholur; a p
an Lienny
ra '
quarter of a day; twopence,
orinciple of a standard
(3t
rrd,
half an hour; and a halfpenny,
I•bnitsc ;hat the pound sterling
&c.; and, therefore, if
of gold, of a certain
were adopted, instead of earntity
Veal_
quantity of
ofit
labour;"ropresented "the
represented " a certain
andE
RESULT
fineness," we should thee gig
exa exact
average value of a certainrep"a
resentin
the "pound," instead of
labour, would thethen represent the
of a certain...Ha, vs!. of that exact amount of labour
average exishanges
could then be left, like
se find its ow
itself. and, cog
neatly, gold
other comnio..l
_or..r_atitehnes of s n proper level in price
by the naturrej, upply and demand.
Now, as..._..leub`os a
nationalmode of issue. I would pro-
bank established; and,
pose that, spare
that this, bank beofthLounely bank of issue, and that
it be only, whose notes, of
:one pound and upwards should be founded 'upon
the principle above stated—its first issues to be
issued in simple exchange for the gold coin and bul-
lion now in circulation and in the banks, The notes
'thus issued should form the nucleus or body ,of the
new circulation, or currency. All issues above these
to be issued -upon approved solid security only—
at a fixed and uniform rate of interest, or
discount, and for limited periods solely. The Bank of
I„sbscuen,kinP
thowever, ought to have nothing at all to do with
in the general acceptation of the term. All
banking Y
operations, with the exception of issuing,
ought to be left as at present, viz,, to individual compe-
tition and exertion. We should thus have a perfectly
safe and legitimate system of currency—fixed and steady
in its nature—and peculiarly adapted to all the , varied
requirements of trade and commerce. No one commo-
dity would then have a preference over another, in re-
ference to fixing its price or making it the exponent of
the rest; but all would be placed exactly alike, and upon
precisely the same footing. Part of the proceeds
of the gold thus liberated might be applied in
pa)ing off the debt owing to the Bank of Eng.-
1 aid, and the remainder to national purposes. The
yearly profits of the National Bank of Issue might also
be appropriated to diminishing the national burthens.
And lastly, there would be no loss from wear and tear
of gold, iu coinage or circulation—nor any disturbance
of existing money contracts and engagements by the
, change in the standard, whilst the discoveries of Cali-
fornia and Australia might then go on.ad infinitum with-
out in the least affecting the value, steadiness, or sta-
bility of our currency.—l am, Sir, &c.,
C. E. ROC.II.

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

MLSCHiII" James Graham, the
expectant Premier, and his Secretirrat.War, Mr. Cobden,
were ' observed last night, in the Ji.ouse of Conlmo.tis, in
close and earnest confereps for Dome considerable tun..
licrakit •
•

LITERATURE.

HISTORY OF PHYSICAL ASTRONOMY.

By Robert Grant, F.R.A.S. Baldwin.

A comp:chews:ire work like the present, embracing
in its rdoge a complete narrattse of the most sublime of
all the-seierxes, from the moment of its rise to the period
of its latest duvelopment, has long been desired by the
more earnest among the students of Physical Astronomy.
It must be mat,ikst that the resl,zition of some such
enterprise was absolutely requisite before there could be
any possibility of systematising in the minds of more
than: a self et iew the whole of those apparently compli-

catsd;but, in reality, thost simple and symmetrical laws
which theoretical philosophy, aided by the revelations of
the telescope, had revealed in their beauty and their
grandeur as regulating the movements of the celestial
bodies, and elucidating the phenomena of their organ'.
ZitiOn. Without sews assistance like that we
have indicated, the generality of inquirers,
-unless they. consented to dedicate their intellects
almost Rxciusive)y to the consideration of astronomy,
were doomed obviously enough to the acquisition of
knowledge either very confused or very superficial.
Thanks to the laborious compiler of the volume here
submitted to our examinatien, the intelligent public will
at length be enabled to appreciate the majesty of the
science unfolding the mechanism of the heavens, and to
comprehend without any remarkable exertion in the
way of research the consecutive stages of its develop-
ment—from the earliest ages, extending back oven to the
' limits of the bielical records, down to the most recent
discoveries made in the middle of this nineteenth century.
The volume before us comprehends, indeed, according to
the euegestive intimation of the very tithapege, a de-
detailed description of the esmblishment by Sir Isaac
Neesion of the:theory of gravitation, as well as of its illus-
, leaden by several soccer dies philosophers, together with
an teecouut of the progress made in the researches of man-
kind among all the other departments of the study of
celestial physics. So minute is the exposition of the
theory of gravitation by Mr. Grant in the very outset of
' his • highly meritorious en erprise, that be has (not by
any means iejudiciously) - xtended it from the commence-
' meet of the 'first chapter to the close of the thirteenth.
Atimeg the prefouodly inter, sting subjects treated of in
this pertamlar division of his History of the Celestial
Mechanism, Mr. Greet enumerates -prominently and
explains with considerable lucidity—the law of the
areas, the motion of a body in an elliptic orbit, its motion
in an orbit
.of variable curvature, the attraction of a
spherical Mass of particles, the general effecta of pertur-
bation, the computation of the moon's inequalities,
the aid afforded by the infinitesimal calculus, the
attraction of spheroids, the precession of the
Ecriincotes—and all the other marvellous and
suggestive themes pointed out to the scrutiny of
man by the immortal " Principle." It were difficult to
decide upon this matter whether our author has suc-
ceeded best in his exquisite account of Newton's inductive
ascent to the principle of gravitation, or in his masterly
record of the development of its almost innumerable
consequences. Having specified the reasons impeding
the early acceptance of the Newtonian theory, he goes
on to show the precise nature of its reception, first in
England and subsequently on the continent, enumera-
ting in addition to the foregoing facts those researches
in analysis and mechanics which subsequently exercised
such a remarkable influence on physical astronomy.
Thereupon are particularized the problem of three bo-
dies, the motion of the lunar apogee, the secular varia-
tions of the planets, the invariability of their
mean distances, the oscillations of their eccen-
tricities and inclinations, and the sublime de-
monstration of the stability of the whole
planetary system—a demonstration begun by the hypo-
thesis of Lagrange, but triumphantly completed and es-
tablished by the elegant and ingenious theorem of La-
place. By such advances as these does the compiler of
the present history adventure upon the revelation of the
loftier and abstruser mysteries of physical astronomy.
Setting out with the divine researches of Newton he
estimates the extent to which the world of science is
indebted to the prior, the contemporaneous, or subse-
quent labours of Huygens, Leibnitz, Clairaut, Mayer,
Ruler, Lagrange, Laplace, Lambert, Halley, Dunthorne,
Maclaurin, D'Alembert, Legendre, Bradley, Galileo,
Hevelius, Caysini, Hodierna, Borelli, Walmaley, Bailly,
Delambre, Lfirfel, Poisson, Burcbardt, Binet, Damoiseau,
Airy, Carlini, Lubbock, Hansen, Herschel, Bouvard,
Bessel, and a multiplicity of others, going as far back as
Tycho Braise and Kepler, and coming as tar foiwards as
Adams and Leverrier, • beginning with the Chaldeans
and ending with the Astronomer Royal. A variety of
enthralling problems, as might be felt certain, before
turning over a single page of the volume are considered
in the course of its investigations, and that with a
caution which inspires confidence, and a clearness that
of hl s
rs
uuuabnbslal
eiemttr
0 re-
vealedoo-
- attention. Nut the least interesting among
these curious topics is the one having reference to the
solution of the great problem of the longitude. Fasci-
nating as all these very accurate accounts necessarily
must be, furnishing us with the actual results of the re-
searches, many by various geometers, perhaps among
the most fascinating will be found that chapter in which
Mr. Grant describes the manner in which the sagacity
of Laplace led to the detection of the physical cause of
the gradual acceleration perceived in the moon's
,ngular velceity round the earth—an accelera-
tion first hinted at by the comparison of the
records of certain eclipses seen at Babylon
nearly 700 B. c., with others, observed about the tenth
century by the drabiau astronomers. Especial mention
is made by the author of the present history of the
luminous powers and the premature death of Horrocks,
who is gracefully spoken of by him as the morning star
of that galsxy of nom of genius who continued for nearly
a century to adoru the annals of these blends by their
contribudons to the sciences, . both physical and mathe-
mstical—sech testi as Gascoigne, Brouneker, Barrow,
Wallis, Wren, Gregory, Hooke, Teyler, Bradley, Simp-
son, Maclaurin;
ton. The narrative gi v es, in the tweelietb chapter of the
volume, the curliest intilietion made of the knowledge
of the principle of the telcseope, as revealed in Roger
Becen'e Opus ITIU/US, in Digges' Fantometria, in
D-e's edition of luclid in Porta's Magia Natu-
ralil, and in ;he posthumous work Be fladiis
Visas .of detente de Domini!. This portion of
the work describes the improvements made in the most
wonderful of optical instruments, trout the first rude tube
in trio bands of Galileo to the colossal reflsctive telescope
of Lord H :see, with a focal length of 54 feet and a blii
feet aperture. Due reference is made before the clotsehoe
tens extraordinary production, of the solution o_
at
ta
eieni of the nebulae, and of all the my:omlrhaeautaherirttaue.tum
pro a Neptune,nrls_b
tic's connected with the discovery of
by M. Leverrier. Throughout the whole
undertaking,
wtaekiieneg—eoagnat have deterred .
the
ener-
giesanyo.caltdaear,iintgorddiittinacuryltiest,f
him at.
sroaamaina
sat
ststetremornpyotiotrinfecishr:i.stsasour,..ebia_.el
eiaz
t.isiat:tonl
il —a, thex
ftri't Grant h
,-1 calculated rely materially
thHierebygl; eu_has arson con-
department of -Pillic"PbY'rests of e
advance the information of
a ot
n®
celes•ial mechanism
trived to forward the iatut'a, P.P ler. education by
contributing to the see!.
~, ,
of adornieg the national literatere.
a work capable