The Sun.
London, England, 1837-02-07 00:00:00

I
• eshed merely to see whether the law required amendment ; and if Hon.
Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer. It was of the utmost in"nt'
as possible, t lentlemen meant to ask him whether he placed implicit faith in the di-
aece that Parliament should decide, with as little delay
i ]•
on
rectors, &c. of joint-stock banks, -that was a confession of so unbounded
whether or not it could advantageously interfere with the
osn and a character that he was not inclined to make it. He held in his hand
banks, and make that decision known to the public ; for agitat.
any a statement which had been made soon after the report of tae Cont.
uncertainty on the subject must be productive of as much evil a-do.,e,
mitten came out, which statement, indeed, was published in the shape
that might exist in any ether shape. Nothing of a comrat Maly upon that report. It declared that the Northern
therefore, ought to be
of
the.
refore, which miget have a tendency to protract the labou.rbsle
whe.
And Central Bank had twelve thousand partners, that the whole
Committee; but it ought to be ascei Mine s/. as speedily as 1:0s:di
I th ear proeert y was liable, and that their paid-up capital was 700,0001.;
ti
any. and if any, what legisletive measuse should be
en,: that if any danger of a panic were apprehended, these facts rendered
opt,ed en
the eubject. He w. ..s therefore, to elcvolve,buipoe
GuettihtieeCmoz.
such bank safer than the Bank of England; arid that, from its peculiar
mince more tl.an was
Honourable Gentleman.
fur Mid- sonstitation, the effect of any alarm would be, not to take money out,
preposed by the Right
If the Weise consented to the motion of the Ho
n.
It world extend but to pour it into such joint-stock banks. Then they were told that
ePesex tie inquiry might lc protracted indefinfte.l
the only danger actually would be the intense anxiety of the public to
to the state and conduct of the Bank of England, it would extend to the
sees, and conduct of the Bank of Ireland, it woulid extend to the state lush with their gold to these banks, to deposit it in safety. He held
and coreluct f private lanks• thee, and many
could
d foretell other inquiries, that it was not necessary to inquire into the concerns of theubj Bank of
when their England, because there hail berm an inquiry lately into that sect. He
would devolve upon the Committee, and who
iovestieettione would trminate ? Now, for reasons which he hart thought that there was a great distinction to be drawn between joint_
, stock banks and private banks, for this reason, that in the latter case
a:ready is
ea, lie was (or an eerly report from ti'mCommittee ; and the
only way in which early report could insured. was by limiting the she individuals were using their capital for their own private purposes,
subject to the investigation to which ti.e at
of the 'ommittee was whereas the joint-stock banks were the off-pring of the ease. On these
rounds, whilst he regretted the discuSsion which had taken place, he
to be annlied• There were two propositions before the. House besides g
trusted the House would find no difficulty in acting upon the same prin-
the original motion. There wss the preposition of the Hon. Member
ciple as that which had guided their proceedings last year, when they
for Middlesex to multiply the objects of inquiry ; and there was the pro_ First sanctioned the appointment of this committee.
posit: on of the Hon. Member for Derbyshire, which went to deny the
Mr. WILLIAMS (of Coventry) made some observations in reply,
right of the House to make any inquiry into the subject at all. To nee.
'wh lch did not reach us ; upon which
ther t f those propositions could he give his consent. He had already
stated the rt asons which induced him to oppose themotion of the Hon. The. CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he did not corn_
Member for Middlesex. To the principle involved in the proposition e ain so much of the statement which had been made by the
Hen. Gentleman as he did of the mode in which he had made his obser.
of th e Hon. Member for Derbyshire he could by no means assent
vations, because he had only referred to the amount of bullion in the cof-
Hon. Member for Derbyshire contended that as it was generally allowed
that Parliament ought not to attempt to instruct or control persons ge- fers of the Bank of England, and would, therefore, leave persons un-
nerally in the management of their own business, so it ought not to in. acquaintll e
thd weirith the subject to imagine that the amount earned cam.
were ri a assets.
terfere with the management of joint-stock banks. But the cases
Mr. HUME, in explanation, said that he had declared he was ready to
widely different. Parliament had already interfered with reference p sed
vote for the clause which made bank notes a legal tender (as we under_
to joint-stock banks, and having so interfered it was entitled to carry
-stock stood), because they would have the power to repeal that clause if they
that interference further. If the persons who were engaged in joint
shoo afterwards think fit to do so.
banks were to be considered the best judges of the manner of carrying on
Civil' n business, why had Parliament restricted them in various ways ? The gallery was then cleared for a division, when the numbers were—
For the original motion l2l
Why were they prohibited from issuing five shilling or half crown notes ?
For the amendment
The moment that Parliament interfered with them in one respect, it ac-
Majority in favour of the original motion —.79
qUired the right or contracted the obligation to interfere with them in any
following
The Committee was then appointed :
other respect in which such T a interference might be considered advanta- Hamilton. O. A. Peel, Sir R.
goons to the public. No onecould deny not only the right, but the sound po-
Attwood, M. Jephson, C. D. 0. Shaw, F.
licy and justice, of acting on this principle. For instance, could any man Baring, F. T. Loch, James Smith, J. A.
doubt that the recent transactions of the Northern and Central Banking
Clay,re W.
Morrison, J. Strutt, Edward
Fremantle, Sir T. O'Connell, D. Thomson, C. P.
Company justified an inquiry into the nature of those transactions Whero
Goulburn, H. Pattison, J. Wrottesley, Sir J.
a company had been invested by the Legislature with the power of Graham, Sir James
coinage, or with the power of issuing money—a power affecting the Mr. P. STEWART obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend an Act
interest not merely of the share-holders, but of those who took their of the ninth year of his late Majesty King George IV., for the preserve-
notes—and when that company was found to have made an application tion of the salmon fisheries in Scotland.
to the Bank of England, and to have declared that they should be ruined FICTITIOUS VOTES IN IRELAND.
unless the Bank advanced them a hundred thousand pounds, surely Mr. SHAW, in pursuance of the notice which he had given, rose to
that was a very different transaction from a speculation in sugar or move for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the prat.
tobacco.—(hear, hear.) The moment that the Legislature devolved tice of creating and registering fictitious votes in Ireland, and in doing
upon any body of men the power of issuing money (a power ab- so the Hon. and Learned Gentleman said that he freely admitted that
solutely regal in its character), that moment it acquired the right abuses had prevailed on all sides with reference to the creation of fiat.
of taking care that the interests of those whom such a proceeding tious votes. He did not think it necessary to enter into any lengthened
'affected should be protected.—(hear.) The Honourable Gentleman statement at that late hour of the night, seeing what had been the feeling
opposite said that no one could doubt the disinterested and judicious expressed by the House on a former evening.
conduct of the directors of the joint-stock banks. He (Sir Robert Lord Viscount MORPETH said that after what appeared to have
Peel) doubted it. He had not so much confidence in their wisdom been the sense of the House the other night, it would be useless on his
as the Hon. Gentleman had. Let the House look at the Report of the part to offer any opposition to the appointment of this Committee. The
Committee of last year. They would there see an account of a bank, intention, he presumed, was that the proceedings should be the same in
the directors of which had made a large dividend of profits for a course both countries. He would, however, suggest to the Hon. and Learned
of years, although they knew that there were a great many bad debts Gentleman the propriety of altering the words of the motion thus :
on the books of the company. They never deducted those debts from o That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire how far the objects
their calculation, but made their annual dividend of profits, as if those of the Reform Bill have been defeated in the registration of voters iii
debts were bona fide assets. The facilities enjoyed by the directors of Ireland."
joint-stock banks to act in that manner were facilities granted to Mr. H. GRATTAN was much astonished that the Hon. and Learned
them by Act of Parliament, and Parliament was, therefore, en- Gentleman should not have entered at some length into the grounds
titled to inquire into the manner in which such facilities had been upon which he intended to proceed, as had been done on a former similar
used. The moment that Parliament gave to any body of occasion by the Hon. Member for Cockermouth.
persons virtually a monopoly, legal or practical, that moment Parlia- Mr. HODGSON believed that the Hon. Gentleman who had last
ment acquired a right to inquire into the conduct of those by whom addressed the House was perhaps the only Member who would have ex_
that monopoly was enjoyed, and to ascertain the expediency or inexpe- pressed disappointment at the Hon. and Learned Gentleman not entering
diency of its continuance. The Honourable Gentleman who proposed into a long speech at that hour of the night.
an universal inquiry into the state and conduct of the Bank of England After a few words from Mr. O'CONNELL, expressing his concurrence
. should recollect that, so far as the relations between the Bank of Eng- in the motion of the Right Hon. Gentleman, the following Committee was
land and Government were concerned, a laborious Parliamentary hives- appointed :
tigation had taken place three years ago, the result of which was the Somerset, Lord G. Hogg, J. W. Rice, 'l'. S.
renewal of the Bank charter. No man now proposed that the Ball, N. Jackson, J. D. Sanford, E. A.
Bank Charter should be revised. Why then enter into the universal Ferguson.
JSi;i.Robert 1407411;
D. Strutt, Edward
Tennent,
inquiry ? But the House had a perfect right to see how the conduct of Hamilton, G. A. O'Ferrall, More Villiers, Charles
the Bank of England affected the particular subject which was to be sub- Mr. WORTLEY obtained leave to bring in a Bill to empower the Re-
mitted to the examination of the proposed Committee. It was impossi- corder in corporate towns to divide his court in certain cases.
ble with justice to exclude from the inquiry of the Committee any rela- The Bill was then brought in, and read a first time.
tions subsisting between the Bank of England and joint-stock banks. On the motion of the SOLICITOR-GENER 1., a Bill to extend the
If, fur instance, it were alleged by the Directors of any joint-stock bank remedy of creditors against the property of debtors, and to abolish im-
that the conduct of the Bank of England had been the copse of any evil prisonment for debt, except in cases of fraud, was brought in, read a first
which they had suffered, it would be impossible for the Committee to time, and ordered to be read a second time (as we understood) on Friday
resist entering into an inquiry as to the relations between that joint- ' next.—Adjourned at one o'clock.
stock bank and the Bank of England. Why, the very authority
given to joint.stock banks to pay their notes in Bank of England paper
instead of gold was a subject which, whether profitable to the Bank of
England or not, could not be excluded from the investigations of the com-
mittee. The Committee were bound to ascertain the effects of that
permission : they were bound to ascertain whether it had had a tendency
to diminish the evil of a crisis, or whether the evil which it created of a
fluctlia!ion in the value of money preponderated. On these grounds he
should vote for the original motion ; dissenting both kora the motion of
the Hon. Member for Middlesex, and from the motion of the Hon.
Member for Derbyshire. Into the statements of the Hon. and Learned
Member for Kilkenny with reference to the transactions of 1819, he
would not enter. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman appeared to hold
it to be unwise in a time of prosperity to look forward and provide for a
possible period of danger. If they chose to have a large quantity of
convertible paper, and a metallic standard of gold or silver, they might
proceed without looking to what might occur under the influence of
foreign exchanges and other circumstances. But if their paper were
inconvertible, no averting the look from the hour of peril would secure
escape from that peril. He (Sir R. Peel) had never denied the evils
which necessarily accompanied the measure of 1819. He had always
sincerely regretted those evils. But it was the previous existence of a
paper currency, and not the re-establishment of a metallic currency,
which had been the real cause of those evils.—(hear, hear, hear.) In
justice to those by whom the measure which he had alluded to had been
supported, he had always said, and lie would never cease to say, that he
slid not believe any measure had ever been adopted by Parliament so
conducive to thee omfort of the labouring classes as a measure which
compelled their employers to pay them their wages according to a certain
fixed standard.— (hear, hear.)
Mr. WA KLEY contended that the evils complained of had arisen
not from the conduct of the joint stock banks, on which it was unjustly
attempted to cast a stigma, but from the old system of banking, which
had on a former occasion led to so many bankruptcies. There might be
defects in the system of the joint stock banks, but those defects arose
from the old system of banking. By throwing out a suspicion of their
soundness, and by limiting to them the proposed inquiry, the House
would victimise them, while the evils of the old system would escape
detection. The evil originated with the Bank of England. But the
Right Hon. Baronetmaintained that if the Committee were empowered
to investigate the whole subject they would never make a report. He
would ask the Right Hon. Baronet whether, if lie had a complaint in
his circulating system which operated upon his extremities, and these
produced swelling and pain, he would require his physician to cure him,
hut without allowingthat physician to apply his remedies to the heart
of the disorder, telling him that it might be necessary at some other
time, but not then, for reasons known to himself? Yet such was the
course which it was proposed to pursue in the present case. The joint
stock banks were to be persecuted with inquiries, when the real evil,
which existed iii Threadneedle-street, was to pass uninvestigated. He
protested against the adoption of such peddling, patch-work legislation,
instead of attempting to ascertain where the real cause of the mischief
ley. He showid, therefore, support the motion of the Hon. Member for
Middlesex ; and he hoped and trusted that the House would not confine
the inquiry to joint stock banks, as proposed by the Right Hon. the
Chahcellor of the Exchequer, but would extend it to the whole existing
system of banking.
Mr. PEASE disclaimed ail hostility to joint-stock banks. Inquiry
would be beneficial to those which rested on a firm foundation ; and
against those which did not so rest, it was fitting that the public should
be guarded. He was satisfied with limiting the inquiry to the original .
object of the Committee, and did not think it necessary to extend it, as
proposed by the Hon, Member for Middlesex.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied. He saw no
reason to alter the opinion which he had already expressed to the House
on the subject. He deprecated any inquiry at present with respect to the
Bank of England, except as to its connection with joint-stock banks.
He confessed that he thought the Bank of England had not been fairly
and justly dealt with by some Hon. Members. Among other charges,
it haul been said that the Bank of England had done wrong in giving
assistance, at a time of great emergency, to the Northern and Central
Banking Company. But what would have been said if the Bank of
England had not given that assistance ?—(hear, hear.) Would it not
have been declared that assistance ought to has c been given, not for the
&Are of the establishment, but for the sake of the public ?—(hear,
hear.) Would it not have been said that the Bank of England had been
induced by a mean jealousy to take the first opportunity of crushing a
rival, and of compelling Parliament to look into the whole question of
joint-stock banks li—(hear, hear, hear.) Suppose the Company in ques-
tion had failed in consequence of the inertness of the Bank of England,
and suppose that failure had been followed by other failures, what
would then have been the cry ? Justice ought xt least to be done
to the Bank of England, and to the principles upon which they had
uniformly acted. And then with respect to the operations of the Bank
of England in time provinces, by the establishment of branch banks, if '
they were wrong; that House—the past and present Governments—
were responsible for the consequences. He contended that the adop-
tion of that principle had originated in the time of the Administra-
tion of the Rapt of Liverpool, which had not tally invited the I
adoption of That system, but bad encouraged it in every way ;
and consequently the Bank of England had acted upon the sug-
geetien and proceedings of She Legislature. They were not then
acting justly by the Bank if they consented to the extension of the in.
quiry. With reference to the observation which had been thrown out by
the Hon. Member for Yarmouth (whose opinion lie was always dis-
pcscd to treat with profound respect), he had taunted him (the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer) with having met this subject last year in the
language of caution, but that he should have been more precise in the
language he had used. On the occasions to which reference had been
made, namely, on the Gth and 12th of May last, low what were his
(the Chancellor of the Exchequer's) words P Why, on the Gth May,
on making his speech on the Budget, he had said—" I cannot
sit down without again stating that, whilst we have the greatest
reason to be grateful for our present state of prosperity, at
the seine time there are indications at the present moment
which call for every Honourable Gentleman's close inspection. The
House must see, in the great extent of speculation which prevails, in
the number of banks which are rising up in all directions, grounds for
the exercise of vigilance, caution, and prudence." Then, on the 12th
May, on the occasion of the discussion upon the motion of the Hon.
Member for the 'rower Hamlets (Mr. Clay), his remarks were to this
effect :—" The House is aware that a general spirit of speculation is
abroad; that joint-stock companies are formed for all kinds of purposes,
some for purposes to which such co-operations are by no means appli-
cable; and the House will feel that this rage for speculation will hardly
fail to extend itself to the banking business as well as others. *
In proportion, then, as we allow the application of the joint.stock prin.
ciple to sound and legitimate objects, we are bound to see that, under the
colour of joint-stock banks, the country is not imposed upon by a number
of bubble companies, representing 'no property, and incapable of af-
fording the smallest security." He was, therefore, at a loss to
con-
ceive how any caution could, by possibility, have been given in more
direct terms. But he must beg more particularly to call the attention
of the Reuse to the declaration made by the Hon. Member for Middle-
sex, on the 6th day of May last. On that occasion the H
man, in addressing the House, said, " On the whole, I thinr sv. eGoenugtlhet.
to be gratified with the real state of the industry and commerce of the
country. The Right Hon. Gentleman seems to anticipate
wszeh now great and
rt unfounate crisis from the extensive spirit of speculation per-
vades the country. I confess that I have no fears upon that score. As long as
the Bank of England continues to be conducted upon the principles upon
which it now is governed, there need be no apprehension of a crisis or of
a panic." The Right Hon. Gentleman expressed his regret that his Hon.
and Learned Friend the Member for Coventry (Mr. Williams) should in
the course of his speech have made use of observations silsich were liable
AstintaVati-. tion out of doors. His Hon. Friend had declared
fet pe. gland had really only 7-6ths in the pound to meet
e• .; ettt in stating this he had adverted to the amount of
r(eAutrir ins ,:,*4llrire t every person who should vote for the ori t the Bank only. Now he had heard a kind of
4 c
s see • ltflf inal
4.1:41 g
upposition that there was a distrust of joint-stock
N.:',.;:-tiajaireffels'eptafTo)/: certainly did not vote without principle. He

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION.

JOINT STOCK BANKS.

(From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.)

MONDAY; Fil3. 6.
Motion made, and question proposed—" That a Select
Committee be appointed to inquire into the the operation of the
Acts permitting the establishment of Joint Stock Stock Banks
in England and Ireland, under certain restrictions, and whether
it be expedient to make any amendment in the provisions of
those Acts :"—( Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer :)—Amend-
ment proposed, to leave out from the word " inquire" to the
end of the Question, in order to add the words, " generally
into the state of Banking, and the causes of the changes in the
'circulation since December 1833," instead thereof;--(Mr.
Hume:)—Question proposed, " That the words proposed to
be left out stand part of the Question :"—Question put :—The
House divided—

Adam, Admiral
Agnew, Sir A.
Alsager, Richard
Angerstein, John
Bagshaw, John
Haines, E., E.

MAJORITY-AYES,
IGladstone, W. E.
Gordon, R.

Pease, Joseph
Peel, Sir R
l'erceval, Colonel
Philips, N.
Poulter, J. S.
Power; J.
Pryme, G.
Ramsbottom, J.
Reid, Sir J.
Rice, T. S.
Richards, R.
Rickford, W.
Robarts, A. W.
Robinson, G. R.
Roche, D.
Rolfe, Sir R. N.
Rushbrook, Robert
Sanderson, R.
Seymour, Lord E.
Shaw, F.
Smith, J. A.
Stanley, E. J.
Stewart, J.
Stewart, P. M.
Strut, Edward
Thompson, W.
Thomson, C. P.
Troubridge, S.r T.
Tulk, C. A.
Vere, Sir C. B.
Vesey, Hon. T.
Warburton. H.
Wason, Rigby
%Vest, J. B.
Williams, Robert
Wood, C.
Wortley, J. S.
Young, J.

Gordon, Hon. W.
Grattan, H.
Grote, G.
Hamilton, G. A.
Hamilton, Lord C.
Hawes, B.
Hector, C.
Hinde, J. H.
Hogg, J, W.
Horsman E.
Houstoun, G.
Howard, R.
Howielt. Lord
Hutt, William
Ingham, Hobert
Irton, S.
James, W.
Jephson, C. D. 0.
Laboucliere, H.
Lawson, A.
Letrov, Dr. T.
Lennox, Lord G.
Loch, James
Longfield, It.
Lowther, J. H.
Lucas, E.
Maclean, D.
Marjnribanks, S.
Maule, Hon. Fox
I%lorpeth, Viscount
Murray, J. A.
O'Connor Don
O'Ferrall, More
Ossulston, Lord
Oswald, J.
Packe, C. W.
Parker, J.
Parrott, J.
Pattison, J.

Bannerman, A.
Barclay, David
Baring, W. B.
Baring, T.
Barnard, E. G.
Bellew, It M.
Berkeley, C.
Biddulph, R.

BM, T.

Bowes, J.
Bramston, T. W.
Brocklehurst, J.
Brownrigg, J. S.
Chalmers, P.
Chichester, J. P. B.
Clay, W.
Clive, Viseount
Clive, R. H.
Cooper, E. J.
Cowper, W. F.
Crawford, W.
Dalmeny, Lord
Davenport, J.

iiiiiii", Sri It.
Dundas, J. D.

Eaton, Richard J.
Elley, Sir J.
Ellice, Hon. E.
Fector, John Minet
Fergus, John
Fergusson, R. C.
Fort, John
Fremantle, Sir T.
Frbshfield, J. W.
Gaskell, D.

TIILLRP.S.
Steuart, It.
baring, F.

Attwood, T.
Bewes, T.
Blake, M. J.
Bowring, Dr.
Brady, D. C.
Brotherton, J.
Cayley, E S.
Collier, J.
Cooker, T. H.
Elphinstone, Howard
Ewart, W.
F.elden, J.
Finn, W. F.
Fitzsirnon, C.
Forbes, W.

:NORITY-NOES,
Gillon, W. D.
Gisborne, T.
Gully, J.
Hall, B.
Harland, W. C.
Harvey, D. W.
Hastie, A.
H.iwkes, T.
Hindley, Charles
Holland, Edward
Leader, John Temple
Lewis, D.
Lister, E. C.
i►larsland, H.
Molesworth, Sir W.

Nagle, Sir
O'Brien, C.
O'Connell, D.
O'Connell, J.
O'Connell, Morgan
Potter, R.
Roebuck, J. A.
Thompson, Colonel
Wakley, Thomas
Williams, W.
Worsley, Lord
Young, G. F.

T2LLEKB
Hume, Joseph
Villiers, Charles P.

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY.

DEAL, FEB. 6.—Wind S. E., steady breezes.—Arrived the
Honduras, Weller, from Honduras ; and Conuba (steamer),
Ward, from Exeter. Sailed the Duke of Manchester, for Ja-
maica ; and Shannon, Mills, for Dublin.
PORTSMOUTH, FEB. 6.—Wind S. E., fine.--Arrived, Mutt-
den, from Leghorn, sailed the 30th ult., and Gibraltar the 31st
January ; and Amiable, V!ctoire, from Barfleur. Passed by
the Asia, from Calcutta for London, sailed the 15th July,
Mauritius the 19th October, and Cape the 19th November.
PENZANCE, FEB. s.—Off port the St. Ann, Curren, from
St. Andrew's; and Msaria, Robertson, from Smyrna.
GLOrCESTER, Fsn. 6.—Arrived the Swinemand Packet,
from Stettin ; and Johanna, Twedliam, from Lubeck.
LIVERPOOL, FEB. 5. —Wind S. S. E., fresh.—Arrived the
St. George, Crawford, from Mauritius ; Canopus, Steer, from
Bahia ; Rialto, Holmes, and Ceres, Blanshard, from Savan-
nah ; Europe, Marshall•, from New York ; Conductor, from
Gergenti ; and Christian, Furze, from Copenhagen. Off port
the Mandarin, Donald, from Calcutta ; Broad Oak, and Ga-
zelle, from Bahia ; Regular, Bond, from Berbicc ; Watt,
Clegg, from Africa ; and Calcutta, from St. John's, N. B.
CORK, FEB. 4.—Arrived the Frances Ann, Hey, from Ma-
nilla ; and Spanish Planter, from Genoa.
BALTIMORE, JAN. 11.—The Brozembo, from Liverpool, was
brought into port last night by the ice-boat ; she has suffered
much damage, having been driven abuut the last ten days.

The Retrench, from London to Honduras, was on shore
previous to the 6th December at Ambergris.
The Michael, from Leer to London, was totally lost on the
Sheepwash yesterday ; the mate and one man saved.
The Thomas, from Sunderland, arrived at Scarborough the
sth instant, leaky, having struck on the Smithwick.
The Fly, of Guernsey, arrived at Newhaven the 4th instant,
leaky, bound to London.

• BENTLEY'S MISCELLANY.—The Miscellany of
the spirited bibliopole for this month is characterized by all
the liveliness and piquancy which distinguished the opening
Number. " Boz," as usual, leads the van, and puts the reader
in "most excellent humour" to relish the succeeding articles
of wit and pathos; for, with a judgment much to be com-
mended, the Editor has taken care that, although the predomi-
nant characteristic of the " Miscellany" shall be " lively," yet
a due admixture of the "serene" is offered, to please the tastes
of those who may not be in a very mirthful mood. To select
from a stock where every article is a sample of excellence
would appear invidious, but we think " Plunder Creek," and
the " Fragment of Romance," are very good. " Handy Andy"
must excite every lover of true Irish wit, and " The Spectre of
Tappington" must be admitted to be the most laughable ghost
story that was ever told. " The Wide-awake Club" shows that
the writer, Rigdum O'Funnidos, has not been asleep all his
life. The idea is not a bad one, and admits of being amusingly,
nay, instructively, followed out. The graphic illustrations are
perfect. "._Age.
FRENCH PLAYS AT DRURY-LANE THEATRE.—
To the lovers of the French Drama it will be gratifying to
learn that the lessee of Drury-lane Theatre has succeeded
in securing, for a season of forty nights, the unrivalled
Jenny Vertpre, and also many of the first-rate Parisian
performers. The French Plays will be enacted every Mon-
day and Friday during the season. The arrangement is
excellent.

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