The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 28, 185 4.

ceived a lesson, which we know that he, personally,
is not unwilling to adopt ; we only request of him
to enforce it on his colleagues_in office, and on the
House of Commons.

A meeting was held last week by the liberal
electors to decide which from amongst four claim-
ants for their suffrages they would select for the
candidates of their party. The Hon. Mr. CA3IP-
BELL, by letter, Mr. ADATR, Mr. Mow,ITT, and
Mr. EDWIN JAMES, Q.C., personally, laid their
views before the electors. The latter gentleman's
name is well known to all our readers by its fre-
quent recurrence in the proceedings of Election
Committees of the House of Commons ; indeed,
he referred to his exertions in unseating twenty-
six Members of Parliament against whom corrupt
proceedings had been proved, as evidence that his
exertions might have been of some use in staying
corruption at Cambridge itself. It is this gentle-
man's statement to which we would invite the at-
tention of Sir ALEXANDER COCKBURN, and his
leader Lord JOHN RUSSELL. Were the question
one of general or European statesmanship, we
might allow Lord JOHN'S claim to superior infor-
mation and knowledge, but it is just of that prac-
tical kind in which a man like Mr. JAMES, whose
chief business has lain in investigating and scruti-
nising the details of so many cases, must know better
than our most justly valued statesman. Now
he, like Mr. COPPOCK, to the great value of whose
opinion we have before adverted, is fully satisfied
that the ballot is indispensable to complete the
pacification of constituencies, even should pecuni-
ary bribery be to a great extent repressed. He
tells us that he has been consulted, from his posi-
tion as counsel, as to the best means of making
the intimidator as responsible for his conduct as
the person who gave a pecuniary bribe ; but it
was a practical difficulty never to be overcome,
that conviction of intimidation was almost im-
possible ; the nod, the look, the hint, or even the
known wish, is sufficient. Who, for instance,
could compel a customer to say why he deserted
one shop and went to another ? He might reply
with SHVLOCK, " I shall not answer that ; it is
my humour." " I have," said Mr. JAMES, " well
considered the subject, and can see no way in
which the voter can be really and practically pro-
tected but by the ballot." A conclusion which
was received with loud cheering, cheering which
would be consistently followed, byapetition to grant
the ballot to Cambridge at least. As the learned
gentleman further observed, it was not properly a
party question, but a social one, and that if we
gift a man with the franchise, it is our plain duty
to give the means of exercising it freely and con-
scientiously. We do not wish to bore our readers
with reiteration of arguments but too well known,
for they have never been refuted, and must there-
fore be insisted on till they are ; but we call the
attention of the large class of plain, common-sense
men, with whom the names of practical persons
naturally weigh so much, and perhaps go farther
than argument, to the fact that, not only have
the Attorney-General and Solicitor-General ex-
pressed themselves favourably in regard to the
Ballot, but the two leading working Liberal
lawyers in election matters have now avowed it
as the result of experience and honest reflection,
that the ballot is the only practical remedy for
bribery and intimidation. We must think that
impartial men will attach . more weight to such
testimony than to the scoffs of even the "leading
journal."

We may just add, that the course pursued by
the Liberal party in Cambridge, and which has
been successfully pursued elsewhere, is one most
important for Liberals to follow throughout the
kingdom. Except during the protection contro-
versy, the Conservatives have been a tolerably
united party, and hung well together, notwith-
standing their party squabbles. Not so the Libe-
rals. They always contain a very large propor-
tion of Radical Reformers, and the Whigs have
been but too apt to give their more zealous allies
the cold shoulder, squeezing them out at elections,
and refusing them, unless they wished to give
them a quietus, all the sweets and advantages of
office. Too many seats have in this way been
lost to the Liberals. Nothing can be more fair
that when in any place the Liberal party
consists, as it generally does, of Radicals
and Whigs, whose union is essential to
success, the two members should represent the
different degrees of Liberalism existing in the
constituency. The Cambridge people ratified their
declarations in favour of the ballot, by a resolu-
tion to adopt it at the adjourned meeting, when
they were to determine which of the four candi-
dates they should combine to support. Is it not
clear that if a vote of electors of the same party
was confessedly best taken in this way, a fortiori
the votes at an election contested between rival
and angry parties were better taken in the same
manner ?

MONEY MARKET

AND
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, TWO o'CLOCK

The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at 5,000 bales, all to the trade. The
market closed heavily with very little change in
prices. The sales comprised 3,500 American, 90
Pernam and Maranham at 60. to 7d., 80 Bahia at
cid., 600 Egyptian at 52d. to 10 d., 700 Surat at
3d. to 40., and 20 Sea Island at Is.lld. to 2s. 2d.
per lb. Railway Shares were very quiet.
Not much has been. done in colonial produce
this week,—sugar, coffee, and spices being quiet.
Russian staples are rather dearer, but more caution
is exercised by speculators.

The Corn Market is dull this morning, the arri-
vals being large.
The ship Vimeira has arrived from New South
Wales, which she left Jan. 24. She is stated to
have on board about 30,000 ounces of gold. The
Joshua, from Port Philip, with dates of Jan. 27,
has also gold.
The letters and papers by the Overland Mail,
delivered yesterday afternoon, do not represent
business as being brisk for imports either in India
or China, but except that money was dearer in
Bombay, no important change seems to have oc-
curred.

The Bank of England not having advanced its
minimum rate of discount yesterday, as many
anticipated, there seems to be a better tone
in the money market this morning, and the
large bullion arrivals prove a sensible relief, and
will counterbalance the shipments. The Bank
returns to last Saturday, however, will, as we
stated three days since, exhibit a marked reduction
in the amount of specie, and it is only a continu-
ance of the Australian arrivals which can prevent
a decline probably of another million or two. The
success of the Chancellor of the Exchequer de-
pends, to a certain extent, upon the course of events
between this and Tuesday next, although whatever
temporary buoyancy might arise, persons tendering
would look to the future also, and not expose them-
, selves to a loss within: a short time after they had
subscribed. If the great insurance offices take up
a portion of the Bonds, and the Bank of England
views them in a favourable light, it would be no
difficult matter to absorb an amount that would
pave the way for the more general acceptance of
the security hereafter. As we have before re-
marked, anything novel, however good intrinsi-
cally, is charily participated in by the monied in-
terest during periods of uncertainty.
The markt for English stocks has been quiet,
but firm. Consols bring 871 to i for transfer, and
svg for account. The New 3i per Cents, have
been 871 to and the 3 per Cents. 864 to 1. Bank
Stock has been very heavy at 2051. Exchequer
Bills have been 2s. discount to 2s premium, and
hadia Bonds Gs. discount.

In Foreign Securities there is an almost entire
absence of business. Peruvian are not quite so
good, having been 59i, to 60. Mexican aro de-
pressed at 2311. The settlement of the account is
in progress, and is very light.
For Railway Shares the inquiry is restricted.
Great Northern have been rather firmer, Great
Western a shade lower, Midland at an advance of
and South Eastern and Caledonian supported.
The French lines are ) steady but dull.

In the Mining Share Market, prices are about
the same. Australian Consols are still purchased
freely for investment, and are scarce.
The Joint-Stock Bank Shares are a shade firmer.
The Land Companies' Shares are quiet.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
(Front the Official List.)

Bank Stock

Business done.
...... ....... ..... 2034

per Cent. Reduced Au-Tait:es 864
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities B7
New 34 per Cent. Annuities 873
Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860
Ditto 30 Years, Expire 10th Oct., 1859 4 7-16
India Bonds, £lOOO '
Consols for Account 11th May 874
Exchequer Bills, 2d.
£l000
£5OO 2 d 2 p
Small 3 p
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK.
\lexicon 3 por Cent.
Peruvian Bonds, 44 per Cent.
Dividends on the above payable in London.
HALF,PAST TWO.

Consols 874
Ditto May Account

MORE RUSSIAN PRIZES.

PORTSMOUTH, Thursday.—At 11 a.m. this day, her
Majesty's revenue cutter Peterel, Mr. John Hughes,
deputation officer of the revenue service, in command,
captured the Russian bark Fama, of Vasa, laden with
salt, from Sardinia, John Ostman, master, said by those
on board to be bound to some port in Russia, then to
Elsinore, and, afterwards, that they were ❑ot bound to
any particular place—they were going where they
thought proper. She is a fine ship of nearly 500 tons
English measurement, and has more than 600 tons of
salt on board, with a crew of 14 stout hands. The
Peterel had 13 hands in all on board. At noon to-
day she safely anchored her prize at Spithead, with-
out the assistance of either pilot or steamer, wind
blowing fresh from W. N. W., weather squally.
She was boarded by Mr. Hughes in the Channel,
St. Catharine Point bearing N. by E. five or six leagues.
Messrs. Garrett and Gibbon, agents to Lloyd's at this
port, being the receivers of droits of Admiralty, have the
possession of this prize for the Crown. She will be
brought into harbour to-morrow.

The Port-Admiral's cutter, Fanny, Mr. Scarlett,
second master in charge, returned from her cruising
ground this evenino. at 5 o'clock, bringing the intelli-
gence that she had taken a fine barque of 400 tons,
laden with salt, yesterday at noon. Flag-Lieutenant
Hankey (who specially commanded the Fanny on this
occasion) remains in the prize with part of the Fanny's
crew, and is navigating her to this port. She will be
in to-morrow morning. The. Fanny brought in a por-
tion of the captured prize's crew.

LATEST FOREIGN NEWS.

THE WAR.

The Moniteur of this morning announces that,
according to a telegraphic despatch from Belgrade,
of the 27th, the Russians had experienced a con-
siderable check at Chernawoda, in the Dobruscha,
and that they had evacuated Lesser Wallachia.
CONSTANTINOPLE, April 17. -- The steamers
Cambria and Indus have arrived, with the 49th,
73d, 41st, and 33d Regiments. _ _

Another English steamer arrived to-day.

THE DOBRUDSCHA.

It is now evident, says a letter dated Shumla,
April 8, that if Omer Pasha ever had any idea of
acting on the offensive, he has abandoned it for the
present at least, and resolved to collect all his
available forces and make a stand within the in-
trenchinents of Shumla until the arrival of the
allied army ; and, although this delay will give the
enemy an opportunity of bringing up a greater
number of troops, it is the most judicious and politic
measure the Turkish General could adopt. The re-
ports that have been current imputing to him a
feeling of jealousy towards the French and English
generals have been very much exaggerated, and
arose, probably, from his having expressed himself
in confident and sanguine terms as to the result of
the ensuing campaign, naturally enough identifying
himself with it. He is fully aware of his inability
with the force now at his disposal (about 40,000)
to contend successfully against even that portion
of the Russian army which occupies the Dobrudscha,
as well as of the great disadvantages he labours
under in the absence of a well-organised staff,
efficient cavalry, and the deficiency among the
great body of his officers of that energy and those
chivalrous feelings which are found in individuals
forming a similar class in the armies of Western
Europe. Typhus fever is making frightful ravages
among the troops at Kalafat. From 30 to 40 deaths
a day are reported, and if its course is not speedily
checked it will prove as formidable a foe as the
Russians. The cavalry of that garrison are en
route for Shumla, and may be expected here in a
few days. Several English officers who have lately
taken service in the Turkish army have arrived here
within the last few days. Among the number are
Colonel R. Cannon ; Capt. Hyde, of the Bengal
Native Infantry ; and Mr. Balfour Ogilvie, late of
the Madras Native Infantry. The presence of a
large force is beginning to be felt in rather an
irksome manner by the inhabitants. Grain, pro-
visions, and carriage are more than doubled in price,
and sometimes not procurable. This state of things
exists with 40,000 men. What will be the case when
that number is doubled ?