The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-11 00:00:00

ITALY.

The Piedmontese Gazette, of the 7th, contains a
long report addressed to the King of Sardinia by
Count Cavour, Minister of Finance and President
of the Council of Ministers, concerning the state of
the corn trade. The Minister states that it was
his intention to wait for the meeting of Parliament
to introduce a comprehensive measure on the sub-
ject ; but that, owing to the situation becoming
daily more serious, lie recommends his Majesty to
issue a decree, to be subsequently laid before Par-
liament for its approval, reducing the duty on corn
to one-fourth, and that on other grain to one-half
of its present amount. The report is followed by
a royal decree to that effect.

A- letter from Rome of the 17th ult., in the Cor-
riere Italiano, states that the examinations of the
persons implicated in the conspiracy lately disco-
vered will shortly be terminated ; the number
accused is 36. The investigations set on foot at
Rome have led to some arrests at Naples and Sicily ;
but the persons most compromised had fled in time
to Malta.

SPAIN.
It is reported that General Narvaez is to be
nominated President of the Senate.
The Three per Cents. were done at 43k.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER AT
MANCHESTER.

The Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., Chancellor
of the Exchequer, arrived at Manchester yesterday after-
noon, at 4 o'clock, by the London and North-Western
Railway, as had been expected. Large banners were
hoisted at the top of the principal warehouses in the
square where the infirmary and the new statue to Sir
Robert Peel stand—•the same banners that were used to
celebrate her Majesty's visit on the 10th of October, two
years ago, and considerable preparations have been made
for the visit. Several noble guests arrived by the train
for Heaton-park, the seat of the Earl of Wilton, whose
daughter, Lady Elizabeth Grey Egerton, is to be united
to Capt. de Ros, son of Lord de Roo, at Prestwich
Church, on Wednesday morning.
Nothing is known of Mr. Gladstone's movements to-
day, except that he will probably visit some of the lead-
ing manufactories, and the Exchange.
A meeting of the council was held in the afternoon,
to consider the propriety of presenting an address to
Mr. Gladstone, in the name of the corporation. There
was a very numerous attendance of members of the
council, and the Mayor (Mr. Robt. Barnes) having
briefly intimated the object which had called them
together,

Ald. NEILD rose to move the following resolu-
tion :—"That an address be presented to the Right
Hon. W. Ewart Gladstone, on the occasion of his visit
to this city." He had felt great pleasure at receiving
the circular convening the meeting, for it occurred to
him that if the council of the city of Manchester omitted
that duty which they were now met to carry out, it
would have been a thing most unworthy of them, and
very much to be regretted.

IClr. Councillor HEYWOOD seconded the resolution,
which was supported by Mr. Councillor HITCHCOCK, and
was carried unanimously.
An address, previously agreed upon by a committee
appointed for the purpose, was then read, but it was
held, as a matter of etiquette, undesirable to publish it
before its presentation.

Mr. Alderman SHOTTLEWOBTH had the greatest plea-
sure in moving the adoption of the address, believing
the right hon. gentleman to whom it was proposed to
present it to be the ablest Chancellor of the Exchequer
this country had ever known. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Alderman HOPKINS seconded, and Mr. Councillor
GIBB supported, the resolution, which was carried
unanimously.
Alderman Sir JOHN POTTER moved a resolution which
was carried, requesting the mayor to make the necessary
arrangements for the reception of the right hon. gentle-
man, and this concluded the business.

INQUIRY IN REFERENCE TO THE SUPPLY OP
PROVISIONS FOR THE FORCES.

On Monday last an important inquiry was held at the
Court-martial room of the Royal Marine Artillery Bar-
racks, Portsmouth, in reference to certain alleged im-
proper practices connected with the reception of provi-
sions for that corps. The practices alleged, which
seriously affect two sergeants of the Artillery branch of
the Royal Marines, consist in the soliciting and receiving-
bribes from the contractors for passing provisions sup-
plied by the latter without reference to their being of
the quality contracted for; and in their rejection of the
provisions that were of the quality specified in the
contract, such rejection arising from the contractor
refusing to present them with the usual gratuities of
money or provisions. The inquiry was private,
reporters for the press not being admitted. We
gather, however, that. it arises out of an alleged
continuance of the vicious practice that formerly ob-
tained to so great an extend in the services, of the officers
whose duty it was to see to the food supplied to their
men being of suitable quality, receiving and accepting
bribes from contractors for passing without too nice an
examination the provisions supplied by the latter. This
system which at once robbed the country of its money,
the troops and seamen of proper food, and placed the
honest contractor at a ruinous disadvantage in compari-
son with the dishonest one, was, it was thought, almost
eradicated, but every now and then facts come to
light, proving that a large amount of jobbing and cor-
ruption still exists. On the present case we make
no remarks, as not being allowed to take the evi-
dence, we know neither the facts nor who are the
parties examined ; but we believe we are correct in
stating that a prima facie case has been made out for
further inquiry in the shape of a court martial ; Sergeant
Mills, one of the inculpated, being under arrest in re-
ference to the case. It will, however, be for the Board
of Ordnance (who have properly taken the initiative in
the matter) to decide as to what further course should be
pursued. As we have said, we wish not to prejudice
this case in the slightest degree ; but it is a matter of
most serious moment that any such case should receive
the most searching inquiry, whether it refers to the
army or navy. Complaints are continually being made,
either by the consumers of the food of its inferior quality,
or else by the contractors on their having perfectly good
food returned, as not up to the sample, merely because they
will not present a joint of meat daily, or give some other
gratuity, to the persons who have to perform th e duty ofexa-
mining the provisions on their being sent in. These corrupt
practices sometimes involve the ruin of a contractor. A
baker, for instance, knowing the bread supplied under
certain government contract is not of the quality specified
for, but that it is still received, and knowing the contract
price paid for it, feels that he can supply the same qua-
lity at a lower figure. Accordingly on a new contract
being opened, he puts in, a low tender; receives the con-
tract, but disinclined, or unable from the lowness of his
price, to bribe the examiners, he soon finds the bread he
supplies is rejected, and other bread, of the character
nominally understood to be contracted for, is purchased
at his cost, his contract is withdrawn, and his sureties
forfeited. The system that admits of so much corrup-
tion obviously requires amendment. It is not to be ex-
pected that all men will refuse to accept bribes, or that
others will refuse to further their interests by giving
them ; but it is to be expected that the Government and
the country, who are so much interested, not only in a
pecuniary point of view, but in the wellbeing of the men
who are the ultimate sufferers from the corruption we
have alluded to, will adopt some measures to preven
the mischievious system being continued any longer.
With all our progress in the arts of life is it impossible
to invent a system which shall supersede that which has
nothing but the rottenness of antiquity to recommend it,
and so place the internal economy of her Majesty's
forces on a sound and wholesome basis ?—liampshire
Telegraph.
MARKET NEWS—(THIS DAY.)