The Sun.
London, England, 1839-09-05 00:00:00

Z' .311-X+

LONDON :
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1339.

The Town Council of Birmingham have passed
a resolution very strongly condemning the new
Police Act for that town, and giving a history of
its origin, rather different from that generally pre-
valent. According to Mr. STURGE, the Town
Council never applied for a police; but the MAYOR,
without using the name of the Town Council,
wrote a letter, stating that the loan of 10,0001., to
enable the Magistrates to establish a police, would
be useful. On that hint the Ministers brought
in their Bill ; and on the hint of Sir ROBERT
PEEL placed the police under a Commissioner
appointed by the Crown. The Town Council are
almost unanimous in reprobating the measure and
in requesting that the London Police may be re-
moved. Mr. STURGE, who proposed the resolution
and took the lead in promoting the meeting, read
communications which he had received from seve-
ral persons connected with other Corporations,
condemning the measure and encouraging opposi-
tion to it. In his speech he went so far as to ex •
press a doubt whether or not he would nay the
rates levied under the Act, in which he was fol-
lowed by Mr. SALT and other members of the Town
Council. It is not only the unrepresented or the
Chartists, therefore, who talk of opposing the law,
but those who are represented in Parl.ament, and,
possess authority in Corporations. They say no-
Abing of arming—they mean to act legally—that is,
they will use one part of our incongruous, contra-
dictory laws to defeat the other part; but their plain
and avowed design is that for which the Chartists
have been punished—a consp.racy to bring the law
into contempt.
Nor is the law the only thing which is assailed.
The Committee of the North American Colonial
Association have formally protested against the
exertion of her MAJESTY'S prerogative in appoint-
ing Mr. P. THONISON Governor of Canada. They
told Lord MELBOURNE that it was their solemn
conviction the opinions of Mr. THOMSON would
deprive him of that confidence, without which it
would be impossible for him to administer the
Government of the Colonies with advantage
or safety. They openly remonstrated against this
exercise of the prerogative, and failing in their ap-
plication to Lord MELBOURNE, they are getting
up an address to the QUEEN, to be signed by the
shipowners, merchants, and traders of London.
The Morning Chronicle calls the conduct of the
North American Colonial Association most inso-
lent. But, insolent or not, they beard her :AA-
JESTY'S Ministers, and deny to her MAJESTY
he free exercise of her prerogative in choosing
~voom she likes to fill the office of Governor-Gene-
ral of Canada. The merchants tell her MA-
J,EST"): in their address, that—
They .‘mve, learned with the utmost alarm and dismay,
thatyour Y.Tajesty has been pleased to appoint to the highly
important and diflicult office of Governer-Gtneral, one who
has had no experience whatever in -olonial Government,
who is necessarily unacquainted with the habits, feelings,
and customs of the people whom he is to govern ; and who,
kt.ove al:, from the course which he has utt!ortunately
bikett tim-ughout the whole of his public lite, in opposition
to the ilveres:s of the cslonists, is almost universally he-
lit..yed by ttiern to be the determined enertly of colonial
connection.

After expressing their conviction that they know
they are dig what is unusual, if not wrong, and
the,r regret at the course they are obliged to take,
they add,—

We are, however, so thoroughly impressed wi:h the
conviction that the arrival of the Right Hon. Charies
PoulAt Then:son is Canada, as Governor-General, woFld
create an extensive and dangerous degree of exasperation
in the p.rblic mind—would induce a general opinion that
is is the intention of your Yojestv's Government
to sever the connection of the North American
co/oaies with Ibis country—aud would cause some
desperate course to be adopted that could only
terminaze in a violent disruption of that connec-
tion, tisst we are impelled by a sense of duty to your
ilieje.sty and to on.r country—by the feelings of humanity-
and a trlisiderilton for the Lives and properties of the colo-
nists, many of whom ate connected by the ties of blood and
interest with som,,' t f thee:" who now address your 111.jesty
—by regard for the pecuniary interest of ourselves and
o hers in this country who have large pr,:p.rtics invested in
toe Norlit American Colonies, and in British shipping and
mAnufacturu, which would he serionsTy injured by the lose
of the extensive and growing trade of these colonies—most
eirneistly to pray that your M:,jesty will be pleased to avert
the dan,,:er3 which we anticipate, by cancelling theappoint-
tient in question.
Mr. l'Homsor,r, therefore, will possibly not go to
Canada, and the authors of the remonstrance and
address, shots themselves as determinedly hostile
to the prerogative, when it appears to be inimical
to their views and interests, as the Chartists are to
the iaws. r
Tbey supply another example of men
judging for themselves and disregarding prerogative
and Liw, when respect and obedience appear not to
serve their own purpose. If the Association, and
the merchants and traders here, may be considered
as expressing with tolerable accuracy the feelings
of the Colonists, Mr. P. TitomsoN''s task will be
one from which a man must he very ambitious and
very bold not to shrink. To be sent to a Co-
lway, of which the inhabitants are prejudiced against
hits, is a fate which his worst enemies have no
cause to envy.

We are glad to see by a Minute of the Board of
Treasury, dated August 23d, that the first step
has been taken to bring into operation the Uniform
Penny Postage. . The minute show a laud-
able desire to obtain as much information as pos-
sible, and to make the change as advantageous
as possible to the public. Artists, men of science,
and the public in general, are invited to point out
how the stamp may best be brought into use with
the greatest convenience to the public—the greatest
security against forgery—the greatest facility of
being checked and distinguished at the Post-office,
and the least expense. Judging from the
communications we have received on the subject,
we should suppose that the Treasury will be over-
whelmed
with communications, and from the mass
____ _

we hope that something will be selected of eminent
advantage.

lAmongst the operations of the New Police Act,
i we notice that it has already been directed against the
audience and performers of a minor theatre.
The charge appears to have been, pit 3d., gallery
2d. It is plain that the frequenters of the place.
therefore, must be the poor. It is, in truth, against
that class of persons that all the provisions of
the New Police Act are directed. Not one of its
sections or clauses affect the opulent. The
Legislature has, in fact, taken the poorer classes
under its special tutelage, and it must follow out
the principle through all the ramifications of social
life. It must prescribe all their duties, and see that
they perform them. In a despotic government
like that of China, the scheme might be
feasible, but our government is a government
of the middle classes, and it will be for
their purposes that the lower classes will
be degraded to mere machines. But the middle
classes generally have no other object in view than
to make money ; they know nothing of the means
to promote the general welfare, and the people
therefore will be degraded into the puppets or ma-
chines of a most sordid system. Though as much
in love with order and regularity as our fellows, we
cannot look on the factitious order obtained
by such means with any approbation. They will
make a host of administrators necessary, and the
dispositions of the power classes will be soured
and embittered against the other classes beyond the
hope of reconciliation or cure. In the olden time
the nobility and gentry mixed in the sports of the-
people, and invited them to their own games.
Even in our boyish days the mass of that rural
population who are now poachers followed
_the
squire's hounds, and were we:come assistants in
running down the game. Now all the amusements
of the poor are restricted or suppressed, to gratify
a puritan zeal in those above them, who appear to
envy the honest hearty joyousness which they are
too fastidious to share. If such be the motives,
as we believe they are, for many of our Police re-
strictions, it cannot be expected that envy and in-
tolerant zeal, which in private life are injurious, can
produce national prosperity when embodied into
laws.

A rumour has prevailed for some days that if
the pressure in the money market does not abate
speedily, there will be an issue of one-pound notes.
This can, and probably will, be done by an Order
in Council, if the drain on the Bank for gold to
the Continent continues. We cannot see why
such a course should not have been adopted long
ago. In Ireland and Scotland one-pound
notes are allowed to circulate, but are pro-
hibited in England to the great annoyance
of the commercial and agricultural interests.
In Scotland the system of issuing small paper has
been of great advantage, and so much are the cau-
tious and clear-sighted people of that country con-
vinced of its utility that an attempt on the part of the
Legislature some years ago to abrogate it, produced
a universal excitement which, if not allayed by the
concession of the Government, would have led to a
cry for repeal, not so loud, perhaps, but more pow-
erful, and more to be dreaded than any that the Pre-
cursor Society has yet raised. The people there
know that the banks are 'perfectly secure—they in
fact prefer paper to gold, and a run on banks for
specie is as rare as an earthquake. If this system
is good for Scotland, why should it not be good for
England, if the banking system here were placed
on a proper footing ? It is evident from the finan-
cial derangements which take place in England
periodically, and which ruin thousands who have
ample property to meet all their engagements, but
who cannot convert it into gold on a sudden
pressure, that some steps must be taken by next
Session to provide a remedy. It is an utter absur-
dity to make gold, considering how small is
the amount in circulation throughout the whole
world, the representative of the enormous wealth of
England.

It appears by the report of the proceedings of
the Convention, given in another part of The Sun,
that this body is about to be dissolved. What was
yesterday- said makes it !lithe apparent that the
dissensions amongst its members are of old stand-
ing, and are quite incurable. Should another Con-
vention, which is talked of, ever be elected, a de-
finite and more limited idea of what it can accom-
plish than was formed by the members of the still
existing body, may be of essential service to it.
Although the House of Commons represents only
one-sixth of the people, a proscription of many years
extends its .authority our the whole nation.
The power of the Parliament is as much
obeyed by the unrepresented as by the represented.
Such cannot, however, be the case with the Con-
vention, though the members appear to suppose it
may, and act as if those whom they do not repre-
sent were to be as obedient to their commands as
those who voluntarily submit to their leadership.
They can, however, scarcely control their own
constituents, and the rest of the community laugh
at their power. It will be wise for them in future,
therefore, to confine their authority, if they have
any, to those who elect them, and not seek
to extend it over those who own them not.
By so limiting their functions, and not attempting,
nor even talking of coercing others, they may effect
some good. They may organise their constituents
into a separate power, and, after the successful
example of Mr. O'CoNNEr.L, may advocate a
repeal of the union which now exists be-
tween the different classes, and may win
for , their canttituents some more advan-
tages of the social union than they now enjoy.
The main principle of the future conduct of the
Convention should be to confine its exertions to its
own constituents, by which it may effect more good,
and provoke less hostility. Moderation has of late
found favour in their eyes. The leaders of the
Chartists are sensible that they lost a golden oppor-
tunity by not rallying with the middle classes to
procure the repeal of the Corn-laws. They now
say that this is to be their battle-cry. Let them
act on that principle, and if they can raise them-
selves into a separate body, they may perhaps sti-
pulate some advantages for themselves.

The dissolution of the Precursor Society is a
prudent measure. It had no distinct or practical
object in view. It could not be rendered instru-
mental in working out for Ireland those amend-
'ilts in her civil and political institutions which
arc necessary to her social well-being, and which
should, therefore, be the great aim of the Irish
Reformers. The reason which Mr. O'CoNNELL
assigns for the breaking up of this short-lived
Association is, that it has been put under the ban
of excommunication by the Government. The
Government, he states, had proclaimed its deter-
mination that no member of the Precursor Society
should obtain any of its countenance or patronage,
and had thus so crippled the exertions of the Pre-
cursors that little or no benefit was to be expected
from them. This, by the way, is not a proof that '
the Government is so slavishly bound to do O'CoN-
NELL's bidding as our Tory Contemporaries would
have the public believe. The arbitrary and des-
potic ruler of the QUEEN'S Ministers, as he is re-
presented by the Orange Press on both sides of the
water to be, would hardly have permitted so favourite
a plan to be rendered null and void by his obse-
quious servants. But be that as it may, Precur-
sorism exists no more, and we are glad of it.

We are still more glad to find that the energy and
influence which were thrown away upon the inde-
finite objects of the defunct Society are to be turned
into a channel where they cannot fail to produce
the most beneficial results. The establishment of
a Reform Registry Association is an excellent idea,
capable of being realized to almost any practical
extent, and embracing the co-operation of men of
all shades of Liberal opinion. The Lord Lieutenant
himself may without blame become a member of
such an Association. To watch over the registra-
tion of the electors in the various counties of Ire-
land—to guard the register against the intrusion of
unqualified persons—to urge on the indifferent and
encourage the timid to claim the privilege of enrol-
ling_ themselves in the list of their country's defen-
law
ders—these are objects equally in harmony with
,with good order, and with the spirit of the
Constitution.
These are objects in the prosecution
of which all good men of all ranks may join—in the
prosecution of
which it is the bounden duty of all
good Irishmen to
'4r. join. Knowing the energy which O'CoNNELL
with which he canPoinsssepsisrees,hiasntfloltlloieweerns,thNuvseiaasrme
sanguine in our anticipation that the new Associa-
tion, organized, as we doubt not it will be, on a
most efficient plan, will produce incalculable advan-
tage the Liberal cause in Ireland, and will conse-

quently tend greatly to promote the best interests
of the Irish people.

By the arrival of the packet ship Virginian, at
Liverpool yesterday in 21 days from New York,
we have received a file of American Papers to the
14th ult. inclusive—being three days later than
the last arrivals. Business was then rather dull,
partly in consequence of the extreme caution of the
Banks, and partly from most of the leading mer-
chants having gone to recreate themselves at diffe-
rent watering places. President VAN BUREN and
Mr. CLAY, the candidate for the Presidency,
with several of the leading Statesmen of the
Union, were at Saratoga springs", which had in
consequence become the focus of political intrigue.
The Countess of WESTMORELAND was likewise
there, and from her rank excited no little curiosity
among the Republican visitors.
Letters were received in Philadelphia from Vera
Cruz, stating that though the demand for European
goods was very great, thei e was no supply, and that
the paucity of foreign shipping was amazing.
The Florida war had actively recommenced.
The whole number of Seminole Indians remaining
in the Peninsula is estimzted at from 800 to 1,000.
Several Journals recommend their utter extermina-
tion. We regret to state that the whites are imi-
tating the barbarities of the savages, and that the
use of the scalping knife is not wholly confined to
the red Indian.

We find no news of any importance from the
Canadas in these Papers. Subjoined is the latest
commercial intelligence :
NEW YORK MONEY MARKET, Auo. 12.
There is a little relief in the Money Market, but it is
trifling. The rate of exchange on England is below that
requiring any shipments of specie, which has caused a fall
in silver. Gold commands vo premium. The little relief
expressed has a favourable effect on stocks, which continue
to improve.

This is packet-day, and bills on London have fallen to
1084 a 109, and there are more sellers than buyers. The
demand is quite moderate.

The Philadelphia North American, in adverting to a
statement from Bicknell's Reporter, viz., that the United
States Bank had closed brokers' accounts, states the facts
to be these :

" That a broker in New York established a branch in
Philadelphia, and opened an account with the Bank of the
United States. The bank, finding this account used for
the mere purpose of depositing the notes of other banks on
one side of their office to be drawn out in their own on the
other, and not receiving from the account the slightest
benefit iu return, did what any man of business would do,
declined continuing this particular account. Their notes
are the only Philadelphia paper which is uniformly received
et par in New York, and as a remittance of them was the
great object for which this account was used, the bank Ce-
dined keeping it."
The Detroit Advertiser of the 7th says no favourable
change can take place in business matters there till after
the harvest, which promises to be abundant beyond prece •
dent. Iris estimated that the entire circulation of the
bank in Michigan at the present time does not exceed
150,000 dollars. About the same amount is supposed to
be in circulation of bills on New York, Canada, and Ohio
banks. Every branch of business is languishing for want
of a currency._ _

.
STOCK S. —MONDAY, P.M.—Stocks have improved con-
siderably. Delaware and Harlem continue to advance,
and everything on the list is better.

RATE OF SALES AT THE STOCK EXCHANGE.

50 Shares United States Bank S 3 d 1101
25 do. North AmeriCan Trust Co 734
10 do. American Exchange Bank
50 do. Delaware and Hudson Canal Co., cash 67

5 do. Bank of Commerce full stock 100

50 do. American Trust Company
50 do. Vicksburg Bank
15 do. Bank of Kentucky cash 77,1-
5 do. Morris Canal Company

20 do. Long Island Fire Insurance Co. 9O
50 do. Mohawk Railroad 5,41
`-'4
50 do. Paterson Railroad b. 10 days 53
7 do. Stonington Railroad
50 do. Harlem Railroad .S. 30 days 461
50 do. Long Island Railroad 5l
30 do. Canton Co., Baltimore
SPECIE—SaIes at the Stock Board this morning of
20,000 Mexican dollars, at 11 per cent. premium, seller
one week.

There was a tolerable fair business transacted at the
Stock Exchange this morning, the sales showing a slight
decline in prices. United States Bank fell -; North
American Trust Company ; Kentucky Bank and Canton
Company f ; and • Mohawk Railroad, and Delaware and
Hudson, each It per cent. ; Vicksburg Bank closed at an
improvement of i per cent. since Saturday.

Letters from Constantinople of the 14th ult.
have arrived. They contain no political news, as
the answer of MEHEMET ALI had not then
reached the Porte. The houses destroyed by the
late fire are estimated at 2,500.

Dutch, Belgian, anil German Papers, have beeil
ieceiyed this morning, but they contain no news o
any engrossing political interest.

Letters and Papers from Madrid, of the 27th
ult., have reached us. In cnnsequence of the good
.news from the Northern 'Provinces, the Five per
Cents. Active rose on the previous day from 222
to 26 for cash, and to 292 at sixty days. We
have received with these papers copies of addresses
from the Spanish patriots to Lord CLARENDON,
for which we may perhaps find room in our Second
Edition.

The French journals of Tuesday confirm the
news previously received of the failure of the nego-
ciations between Generals MAROTO and EspAn-
TERO. At 10 o'clock on Tuesday morning the
Government caused the following telegraphic de-
spatch, just received from Bayonne, to be posted
on the Bourse :
" Maroto and Espartero had not como to an under-
standing at an interview they had together on the 26th
ult., between llngara and Villareal. Since that time,
however, Maroto and Don Carlos are separated, although
without any positive or open quarrel. Don Carlos is at
Lanz, and disposes of all the Navarrese battalions. Those
of Alava incline also to his side. The others obey Ma.
roto."

The first effect of this despatch was to cause
a decline of per cent. in the Spanish funds.
The fall would have been still greater but for the
general conviction that the peaceable settlement of
the question was only delayed, and that no further
hostilities on a great scale would take place.
MArtoTo's conduct is a riddle to every party.
The Journal des Debuts, in order to place it in
an intelligible light, publishes a summary of the
late events in Spain from the 25th to the
29th ult., of which we shall endeavour to give
an abstract :—On the 25th the schism arose
between Don CARLOS and MA RO TO on the
occasion of the review, of which the details
appeared in The Sun of yesterday. Don CA RLOs
left the ground in a rage before the review was half
over, because the troops in cheering him, chem.('
also their General. The day following, IVIAROTO at-
tended a conference of Carlist Generals at 'Villa-
real, where he proposed to them a plan for the paci-
fication of Spain. The Generals insisted, among
other conditions, that the article of a marriage be
tween the young Queen and the son of Don CAR-
LOS should not be relinquished. MAROTO
expressed his fears that it would not be conceded,
as it had been already refused, but promised to
communicate with EsPARTERO on the sub-
ject. One officer denounced this as treason,
but the conference broke up without any further
act of violence. On the 27th EspARTERO de-
clared the conditions of the Carlist conference inad-
►nissible, and made a forward movement upon
Elorrio and Bergara at the head of a strong force.
MAROTO, unable to oppose him, marched with his
division to Aspeitia, in order to cover Tolosa.
Don CARLOS, not comprehending this movement,
raised the cry that he was betrayed, and fled in the
utmost terror from Bergara. On the 28th he
crossed Guipuzcoa, and continued his flight through
the valley of the Borund-a. It was supposed that
he was making for Estella, but the more probable
opinion is that his design was to join CABRERA in
Arragon. Nothing could be more ludicrous than
the fear he manifested in his flight.
Neither journals nor letters have been received from
London. _ _ _ _

The Dover packet was detained by bad weather.
The Tenips, under the head of " Secret News from the
Chateau of Eu," says—" A letter front Eu informs us that
the report of a change of Ministers is whispered among
the inmates of the Palace. This change is said to be
preparing for the °peeing of the Session, when the
Foreign Department will be restored to Count Mole, and
the Interior given to M. 'Tiers, and Marshal Soult again
becomes Minister of War, leAvine• him the nominal Pre-
sident of the Council, where it is hoped there will be three
to oue against him to keep him in check.
Thus, while the party of the left centre of the Mi-
nistry thinks of strengthening itself iu a manner by which
it would approximate to the left of the Chamber, that by
just concessions it would meet with support and sympathy,
a combination is premeditated elsewhere to defeat its pro-
jects; if the reports are to be trusted, M. Passe would be
got rid of, and succeeded by M. Duchatel, M. Teste by
M. Dupin, and M. Dufaute would also be set aside." •
The Tenips discussing the probability of these reports
concludes by declaring that itf does not believe them enti-
tled to any credit. —La Gazette de France.
The accounts from the 4Ratier are full of contradictions.
Some affirm that a treaty has been concluded between
Maroto, Espartero, Lord John Hay, and Don Carlos.
Others say that nothing is decided, but every body reckons 1
on peace. As for the movement of troops, the details I
which we receive only add to the obscurity in which all '