The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-25 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 1854.

perhaps in both of those seas simultaneously.
GOD grant that the long-dreaded conflict, once
begun, may be terminated as rapidly as satisfac-
torily.

"An Englishman's House is his Castle." It
may be so ; but the owner must occasionally, for
public purposes, submit to a slight interference
with his privileges. An interference against
which no well-disposed person could object--
and which would not be resisted by men en-
gaged in legitimate pursuits. The cry of un-
due intrusion will never be raised by those whose
actions could bear investigation. It is only
criminals that would object to domiciliary visits,
the sole object whereof was the prevention or
punishment of crime. The principle of the
law, the very foundation of the rights of pro-
perty, teaches us that a man " must so use his
own as not to interfere with the comforts or
enjoyments of others," and any private right or
privilege that interferes with the general welfare
must be unhesitatingly surrendered.
The Attorney General has wisely availed him-
self of these principles, in the admirable measure
for the Suppression of Gambling Houses, which,
on Tuesday evening, he introduced to the House
of Commons. We cannot suppose that the pro-
position of the Right Honourable and Learned
Gentleman will meet with any serious oppo-
sition. It seems wall calculated to achieve
the object in view, and to finally close the door
of these dens of iniquity, which have been pro-
perly denominated "Hells," and which have led
to the destruction of many promising youths, and
of the well-founded hopes of anxious parents. It
would have been far better to have allowed the
dangerous and demoralising practice to have been
followed openly and without restriction than to
have sanctioned the habitual and notorious vio-
lation of the law. The very publicity would
have prevented the mal-practices that existed in
many of the establishments, to which mystery
lent a charm. Any person inclined to indulge in
the " forbidden luxury," found plenty of men of
gentlemanly manners, and unexceptionable ap-
pearance, ready to assist at his initiation—who
were, perhaps, equally ready to receive a per-
centage on the sums which he may have lost in
his dangerous experiments. " Rooks" and
" Pigeons" abounded in every direction. Some,
who having lost all that they possessed, were
ready to act as " decoy ducks" to other victims,
and to participate in the plunder obtained from
new gulls--while other " fast young men" were
ready to inoculate their fellows with the
virus of the disease that has uprooted
many flourishing stocks, and reduced to beggary,
perchance to infamy, numerous respectable and
once distinguished families. Between knaves and
fools plenty of victims were to be found to be
sacrificed at the shrine of Mammon victims
who, after a brief career, joined the ranks of the
tempters—prepared to involve others in ruin simi-
lar to that which had blasted their own prospects,
and destroyed their sense of honour and honesty.
There was, then, no difficulty for any person pos-
sessed of the only qualification required—plenty
of money. The portals flew open at his approach.
The janitors made profound obeisance as he passed.
Every luxury was supplied (gratuitously) in un,
restricted abundance. The richest viands tempted
his appetite—tthe most expensive wines excited
the passions, and induced the reckless gambling
that followed. All these things could not be sup-
plied for nothing. If the parties did not pay
directly, they did so indirectly. Men would not
engage in an infamous occupation, and bear a
lavish expenditure, unless certain of large profits,
and if the " pull of the table" was not sufficient
for that purpose, there were few keepers of such
establishments who were not prepared to " make
assurance doubly sure," which, from the mystery
and secrecy necessarily observed, was easily ac-
complished. The existing state of affairs was
even more prejudicial than if the " alluring vice"
were practised openly in the broad light of day,
in place of in carefully guarded apartments at the
" witching" hour of night.
It might be supposed that the laws already in
force would be sufficient to put down the dan-
gerous practice. Very stringent enactments were
passed for the punishment of the keepers and all
the players. The police were authorised to force
their way into any suspected house, and to bring
every person therein before a Magistrate, by
whom—if implements of gaming were discovered—
they could be summarily convicted, and sentenced
to severe punishment. But all these provisions
proved unavailing. The hell-keepers drove coaches
and six through all the enactments. The enor-
mous profits of their nefarious occupations enabled
them to buy off any evidence that might be ob-
tained, or, as it was termed, "to square it" with the
prosecutors, many of whom were bribed with por-
tions of the money which they themselves had
previously lost. They were thus secured against
every danger, save of detection by the police, and
that difficulty was soon conquered. Unscrupulous
men, possessed of unlimited resources, can over-
come most impediments. The precaution adopted
was the construction of barricades, so powerful that
they could not be broken down by any available
force, which might, as the Attorney-General re-
marked, " even afford a lesson to the Board of
Ordnance." During the time consumed in getting
rid of this obstruction, every implement of gaming
—all that could warrant a conviction—was re-
moved or destroyed. The parties found in the
house were taken before the Magistrate, to whom
they gave fictitious names and addresses, so that
exposure was avoided, and by whom they were
necessarily discharged forthwith ; and the law be-
came a source of ridicule to its habitual violaters ;
from constant impunity, it became
" The perch, and not the terror, "
of these birds of prey.
an ytheseAttorney-General
legitimate proposes
b e difficultyTrequired
b y makingfor
defences
that h
purpose,
urt
pao
ot s meete,could
p r
not
facie evidence of illegal gaming, so as to cast
upon the parties implicated the onus of rebutting
the presumption. The fact of having these de-
fences at all is also made a substantive offence
against the owners and occupiers of these esta-
blishments, rendering them liable to punishment.
The giving a false name by any person
present will also subject the party to a
fine or short imprisonment, so that there will be
no chance of avoiding the exposure so much
dreaded by the victims. Besides these, the Ma-
gistrate will be authorised to select those to be
proceeded against, calling the others as witnesses.
Such are the provisions of this excellent bill, pro-
visions that will, we have no doubt, prove as
effective as those last year aimed against the
" betting-office" nuisance, and thus remove one
of the deepest reproaches of the nation, and a
source of terror and dismay to many families.

Russia has virtually refused compliance with
the peremptory demand of France and England
for the immediate evacuation of the Principalities.
Virtually refused—because the CZAR declines to
give any reply whatsoever to the ultimatum of the
Western Powers, according to the notification
made to the British Consul at St. Petersburg on
the 19th instant by Count NESSELRODE. A tele-
graphic intimation to this effect was received: last
evening in Paris, stating that on that same day, the
24th of March, an English courier had passed
through Berlin bearing this virtual refusal, on the
part of the Russian AUTOCRAT with all speed to
his Government. After all his vain-glorious bluster-
ing about giving an answer to the ultimatum in six
minutes, the Emperor NICHOLAS gives no answer at
all—his silence having for its object of course the
yet further prolongation of the time which must
necessarily elapse before the actual comm ence-
ment of hostilities. Now, so far as any occur-
rence involving the deplorable necessity of a
general war can be so, this is well. It is well, for
inasmuch as the course pursued at this last junc-
ture by the AUTOCRAT relieves the public mind
from any further uncertainty. It is well, for in-
asmuch too as it enables the Administrators of
France and England to put everything at once in
readiness for the energetic beginning of the
struggle directly the season has sufficiently
advanced to admit of the safe navigation
of the Black Sea by the combined fleet
under Admirals DUNDAS and HAMELIN, and
of the Baltic by the combined fleet, under the
command of Admirals NAPIER and DESCRENES.
That desirable moment is now rapidly approaching.
The arrival of the middle of April will have opened
both seas to our naval armaments. Consequently
there is just the reasonable interval before us to
enable the Allies of Turkey to forward the final in-
structions to the maritime Commanders-in-Chief
in one direction at Beycos, and in the other at
Copenhagen. Those instructions, it cannot any
longer be doubted, will be to adopt the most
resolute proceedings for the speedy settle-
ment of the dread alternative at issue—the
triumph of Russian Barbarism, or the com-
plete, and decisive, and overwhelming victory
of the champions of modern civilisation. The
providence of Ministers, both at Paris and at
London, has happily afforded. the latter cause the
advantage of every national preparation. Squad-
rons of extraordinary force have already in this
way been despatched betimes to the Euxine and
to th 3 Baltic—of such warlike capacity, in fact,
that the most recently organised of these vast
armaments, the one committed to the guidance
of the hero of Acre consists of a fleet carrying
more than one thousand three hundred guns, in
vessels of war propelled by steam of upwards of
nine thousand horse-power, and manned by
more than ten thousand of our gallant sailors.
Armed in this manner, allied both by sea
and by land with her mighty neighbour
across the Channel, entering upon the conflict in
the name of justice, in defence of the weak, in ,
vindication of honour and of truth, and of the I
glory of all civilising influences, England may, I
not without some reasonable confidence, look for- ,
-ward with all encouraging hopes to the ultimate
consequences of the great battle upon which she
is at this moment about to adventure.

Englishmen, we may say unanimously, are in
favour of this war against the Russian AUTOCRAT.
France is allied in the same cause, cordially and
actively allied with England. Justice is on their
side, truth is on their side, honour, right, and
magnanimity. If Russia has been enabled by the
lapse of time consequent upon these abortive nego-
tiations to prepare for the encounter, the same
advantage has been presented by the same inter-
val to France and England—and of that advan-
tage the Western Allies of Turkey have
to the full availed themselves. Insomuch
has this been the case, that we may aver
-without exaggeration, that never were the two
countries more completely armed against their
enemies—the avowal has reference alike, more-
over, to the maritime and military departments of
the public service--to ships and battalions, to
cavalry and infantry, to the ordnance and the
commissariat, to valour and patriotism, to disci-
pline and general organisation.
Superior to Russia in the justice of their cause
and in the perfection of their warlike arrange-
ments, France and England have another and a
very notable advantage over their huge antagonist.
They have a more ample, and a more reliable, and
a more creditable supply of the sinews of war—
meaning money. Is it not notorious that the
CZAR has been compelled to obtain pecuniary
supplies for the payment of the expenses incurred
by his struggle with Turkey, aided by the twogreat-
est Powers of Christendom by a forced loan, that is
to say, by funds accumulated through a wholesale
and direct robbery of the Russian population ?
And is it not equally well known that France and
England have, at once, readily, and as it were
spontaneously furnished the "wherewithal" to their
Governments respectively ? Why in the British
House of Commons the Income Tax—the most
obnoxious of all the Taxes—was immediately
doubled for the next half-year, at the suggestion
of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and without
a murmur from the Opposition ! While among
our neighbours what have we not witnessed
in, the way of a kindred enthusiasm, in the way
of patriotic support to the Imperial Government ?
Why, then, in France as in Russia a loan was
demanded from the population ; but while in
Russia it was a forced loan, in France the loan
was voluntary ! A voluntary loan of 250,000,000
francs—the contributions to which loan, by the
way, have already so far exceeded the demand
that they have reached the enormous total
of 400,000,000 francs ! Justly—beholding
all these things justly may we assert
that France and England never were before
so fully prepared for an encounter with their
great antagonist. That encounter is now in-
evitable. Inevitable we have believed it to be
from the very commencement, and have assorted
as much again, and yet again through every
step of these dreadfully protracted negotiations.
But inevitable it is seen to be by the whole
world-including the long-suffering and long
saalguine French and English Governments.
The latimatum
having been virtually repulsed
by the refusal of the CZAR to give any answer
whatsotwer to the peremptory demand therein sub-
mitted Jo him by the Western Powers for the
immediate- evacuation of the Principalities--
the signal of conflict must very soon becomo
audible, either is the Ewan() or in the Baltic, or

Commodore Sir Charles and the Hon. Lady 111 tham
embark, with their suite, on the 4th of the ensuing
month, on board the Queen of the South steamer, for
Melbourne, where Sir Charles will assume the govern.
ment of the colony of Victoria.
The Earl and Countess Howe, the ladies Curzon, and
'
the Hon. Frederick Curzon, have arrived in South
Audley-street from Gopsall Hall. The Hon. Major
Curzon, of the Grenadier Guards, who has been serving
on the staff at the Cape, is shortly expected to return to
this country with Sir George Cathcart, who comes to
England to assume his duties as Adjutant-General of the
Forces.

The Duke and Duchess of Beaufort and youthful
family, who are staying at Badminton Park, where his
Grace and party are following the pleasures of the chase,
come to Berkeley-square at the close of the ensuing
month.

M,ONEY MARKET

AND
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.

The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at 4,000 bales, all to the trade. The
market closed heavily. Railway Shares were dull
and heavy.
The state of the produce markets is thus com-
mented on by Messrs. H. W. Jewesbury and Co. :

" We have again to report a general flatness in the
foreign and colonial produce markets, which, considering
the serious aspect, and more certain prospect of war that
the Eastern Question has for some time assumed, is only
what must have been expected. The demand for produce
has been exceedingly limited, and where holders have de-
termined to realise, they have been obliged to accept lower
prices ; the exceptions to this state of things are articles of
Russian produce, and those which come into consumption
with them. Hemp of all descriptions has advanced mate-
rially in price, and higher rates still are demanded. Salt-
petre has also improved in value, as the prospects of peace
have declined. The deliveries from the warehouses con-
tinue large and satisfactory for home use and for export ;
they also rather exceed expectation than otherwise. The
importations for the month have been considerable, but the
stocks generally do not show any material alteration.
Dyes and dyeing materials have experienced the same want
of demand as other articles, and at the late public sales
prices have ruled in favour of the buyers, particularly fur
cochineal and the lower qualities of lac dye. The finer qua-
lities of lac dye being comparatively scarce, maintain their
value, as also does indigo, but the extent of sales made
is very trifling. From the continental produce markets
the late accounts report the same want of demand and
general flatness as has , been experienced in our own.
In the cotton manufacturing districts there has been a
falling off in the demand both for export and home use, and
prices are rather easier. The woollen districts have also
been under the same influence, and very little business
has been done, but prices are without alteration."

The following is an account of the Liverpool wool
market, by Messrs. Browne, Hunter, and Co. :
" The inactivity in the wool market which prevailed at
the date of our last circular still continues, which is attri-
butable to the dull state of trade in the manufacturing
districts, but with the exception of English wools and long
descriptions, there is no change in value to notice. The
East India wool brought forward in London at the
eud of last month sold well. The large Government con-
tracts for army clothing, and the demand for blankets,
carpets, &c., gave an impetus to this description of wool,
and an advance of d. to ld. per lb. was realised, above
the rates obtained there in January last. The China wools
are still very unevenly packed, and much mixed with un-
washed ; and it is of great importance that this serious
drawback should be remedied, for until this wool is sent
over well washed and properly packed the full value can-
not be realised. The sales consisted of 2,224 bales East
India, and 477 bales China, which sold at the following
prices :—East India, fine white 12d. to 131 d., good 10d. to
110., low to middling Bd, to 9d.; yellow, low to middling
6d. to 7d., good to fine Bd. to 101; pieces, 3d. to 5d.;
China, fair to good 7d. to sid , middling 7d. per lb. About
5,000 bales of East India will be brought to auction here on
the 29th instant."

Upon the Russia trade Messrs. T. J. Smith and
Charles make the following observations :
" Our friends must be guarded against drawing the
hasty conclusion that, in consequence of the decision of
our Government, any quantity of tallow will find its way
to England from Russia during the present year. This is
most improbable-Ist, because, as we showed on the 3d
inst., it is physically impossible to bring any considerable
quatity of goods overland ; and it must be remembered
that there are other descriptions of Russian produce that
would bear, better than tallow, the serious expenses of
such a route ; 2d, because the utmost uncertainty prevails
as to the political course Prussia may take in the coming
struggle, and, should she ultimately determine in favour
of Russia, British property in era/4841G would be placed in
great jeopardy—a consideration that will deter many mer-
chants from embarking in so hazardous a trade ; 3dly,
supposing that the neutrality of Prussia could be relied on,
and that it were possible to bring overland any large quan-
tity of Russian produce, it is doubtful whether the people
of this country and of France would long tolerate so obvi-
ous an evasion of a blockade, maintained at an enormous
expense, and by which evasion Russia would be enabled to
carry on the war with British capital."

The reduction in the amount of bullion held by
the Bank of England during the week to the 18th
inst. was very large, although not quite equal to
that which took place in the previous week. The
nest return will probably show a falling off of
arnaller amount, as the gold imported by the steamer
Sydney from Australia will have served partly to
meet the export demand. The circulation is rather
smaller on account of an increase in the deposits.
The loans and discounts were largely increased, an
indication of the pressure, and so far explanatory
of the impression that the min,invoia charge might
be raised. Compared with the previous week, the
changes are as follows :--ag

Active circulation
Decrease
Bullion
Decrease
Rest

£20,783,850
230,575
14,822,839
573,846
3,730,877
12,649
3,678,817
779,220
11,305,383
417,987
1,128,507
2,075
11,844,700

Increase
Public Deposits
Increase
Other Deposits
Increase
Seven-Day and other Bills
Increase
Government Securi;,ies
Increase

Other Securities..
Increase..

96,972
14,512,895
1,458,240

Notes unemployed
Decrease....

7,278,665
347,990

The official statement of the Turkish loan was
issued yesterday afternoon by Messrs. N. M. Roths-
childs and Sons. The exact amount, it appears, is
2,727,4001., and Monday will be the last day for
applications. There must be 15 per cent. paid
upon allotment, 10 per cent. a month aftowards,
and 20 per cent. in the three succeeding months,
and the drawings for the redemption will take
place half yearly.

There was yesterday afternoon a slight improve-
ment in the rates for bills of exchange upon the
principal continental cities. Paris, 90 days, was
taken at 25 271 to 321 ; Trieste, at 13 40 to 50 ;
Hamburg, 13 5 to 51 ; and Amsterdam, 11 15
to 151.

Bar silver is at ss. igd. per ounce, Spanish
pillar dollars are ss. sd. to ss. 7d., and Mexican
and South American ss. Old.
Thip exportation of gold from London direct dur-
ing the week to Thursday last was large, being 8761
ounces, and 50001., all for the continent, and of
silver 193,357 ounces, all for the continent, and
1061. to Sierra Leone.

The English Funds have not recovered from the
lower point to which they receded yesterday before
the close of business. Consols have been 871 to 88
for transfer and account, the determination of Rus-
sia not to give any answer to the summons of the
Western Powers being fully anticipated. Exchequer
Rills are par to 2s. prem.
Foreign securities have been quite neglected,
and are merely nominal. Spanish New Deferred
have been 17i; Russian 5 per Cents. are 84 ; and
Dutch 21. per Cents. 521.
Railway shares are rather more elastic, as some
of the parties who sold on speculation are buying
back to realise their profit. The French lines have
been much the same.

HAMMERSMITH.—THE POOR-LAW REMOVAL BILL.—
A large and influential meeting of the vestry of the
parish of Hammersmith was held on the 23d inst., to
consider Mr. Baines' new Poor-Law Settlement Amend-
ment Bill, when, upon the motion of Mr. Galbraith
seconded by Mr, Brown, it was resolved to petition
against the bill, and to be heard in support of the peti-
tion should the bill be sent to a committee of the house.
The petition was presented last night by Mr. Hors-
man, M.P.

Pa vies are still heavy. Oriental Bank and London
The shares of the Mining, Bank, and Land Coin-
Joint Stock are
cheaper; also British American
Land.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.—CLOSING PRICES,
( Prom the Official List.)
Business done.
3 per Cent, Consols Annuities B7i 8 7i
Consols for Account 18th April B7i 8 7i
Exchoquor Bills, 2d.
21000
£5OO 2 p 2 d 2 p
Small 3 p par
PRICE OP FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY.

NUMEROUS AND EXTENSIVE ROBBERlES.—Yesterday
information was received by the police that 21, New-
street, Covent-garden, had been plundered of 1281. in
gold, 1501. in silver, 2 101. and 1 51. Bank of England
notes; also, 24, Tottenham-court-road, of 1401. in cash;
also, the Cloudesley Arms, Cloudesley-place, Liverpool-
road, Islington, of a tin cash-box, containing 501. in gold,
a 101. and a 51. Bank of England notes ; also, from St.
Mark's College, Chelsea, a quantity of jewellery, value
70/. ; also, from the Windmill Tavern, Upper Ground-
street, Blackfriars-road, jewellery, value 30/., 111. in
gold, and 61. in silver ; and from 7, Gloucester-terrace,
Regent's-park, silver plate, marked "J. E 8.," of the
value of 1501.

_ ----- ---
Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. £St B4 x d
Ditto 4i per Cent 73
Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 3si 5
Spanish*New Deferred, 3 per Cent. l7,}
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Dutch Exchange, 2i per Cent. 12 Gull s2f 3.}
TWO O'CLOCK.
Consols B7l 3
Ditto April Account B7f 3

TICE SUN, .BOWL/ON, SATVRDAY EVENING', MARCH i@LIC

LATEST FOREIGN NEWS.