The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-18 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, APRIL 18, 18513,

ism of SALLUST, one of the most philosophic among
the classic historians, as he was certainly the most
sententious. Let us look with confidence upon
the efficacy of this criterion. Interest, not less
than humanity, calls for the continuance of amity
between the two most powerful and enlightened
of the civilised races of Christendom.

If the value of our new judicial courts, as the
Election Committees term themselves, is to be
tested by the effect of their sentences, they cannot
be rated very highly. The established practice of
picking pockets under the gallows is very fairly
urged as an argument, pro tanto, by the opponents
of capital punishment. So far from deterring men
from crime, it affords them, say they, an oppor-
tunity for committing it. Most certain it is that
the Blackburn Committee, and the Lancaster
Committee too, if report be correct, have only
furnished the electors of those boroughs, by unseat-
ing their members, with fresh occasions for repeat-
ing old practices. Political gratitude is proverbi-
ally at par with Spanish or Mississippi credit, but
Blackburn appears in unusual haste to evince that
'it had not even a spark of that quality. Having
got its writ by a kind of special good luck, and
having enjoyed the honour (to save Mr. GLAD-
STONE'S consistency) of throwing Bridgnorth
again into the " charitable " embraces of the
WHITMORE; it forthwith proceeds to prove itself
Blackburn still, and Blackburn with a witness !
Bands of ruffians, hired from adjacent towns, in
addition to a very adequate supply of the same
electioneering agency in the borough itself ; the
grossest violence at the poll ; carrying off voters ;
brutal and literally bloody attacks upon them ; the
reading of the Riot Act ; the calling in of the mili-
tary ; and a whole day of savage riot and violence.
Such were the first performances of a borough
just liberated from the clutches of Parliamentary
justice. And all this being hardly enough to do
justice to the kindness of Parliamentary friends,
they must even have another grand riot on a sub-
sequent day, to take wild vengeance on the vic-
torious party. By way of contrast, Bridgnorth
admitted a Member with most edifying resignation.
It is clear that the family boroughs are the
boroughs for exemplifying the meeker Christian
virtues. They obey well the injunction to "be
subject to the higher powers." We cannot say
that we have heard from our " own correspondent"
at Lankester ; but one, at least, of our paternity
who has reports that " extensive" bribery pre-
vailed. Surely, however, so old a Member as Mr.
GREENE would scarcely incur the likelihood of a
vulgar pun upon his name, by laying himself open
to an election petition. Time will show. Taken
altogether, the elections just over prove most pain-
fully the incurableness of constituencies which
have sold their virtue. They prove, too, that if
they are to be preserved as constituencies, not
only must the most condign punishment be
inflicted on every agent who treats, bribes, in-
timidates, or employs hired ruffians, but the very
nerves of the corrupt or brutal agency must be
cut by the Ballot. Above all things, it ought to
be made highly penal to employ, as was done at
Windsor, Blackburn, Clitheroe, and elsewhere, a
hired force. He who begins it necessitates others
doing it. If -violence is apprehended, let the
magistrates be applied to, and special constables
sworn. Every election where roughs, lambs, or
stickmen are hired, should be ipso facto void. It
should be made the interest of both parties to
refuse such aid.

The facts brought out before the Election Com-
mittees continue to present the same disgusting
aspect. Vulgar bribery and treating are plainly
the weights which turn the scale in too many
constituencies. Tynemouth and Taunton have
furnished some disgraceful revelations in the very
few facts necessary to be proved for unseating a
Member. At the former place treating appears
to have been systematic even for fifteen months
previous to the election. At Taunton, a carpenter,
virtuous in intention, received 21. for a gimlet
which cost him 3id. ; he carried it about for a
fortnight, purposing to return it, but only verified
the old experience of the deceitfulness of Mammon.
Another, who, sitting between two canvassers at
the back-room table of a public-house, found
five sovereigns done up in a piece of paper—
a sum which he considered " stunning "
fortified by the higher virtue of his wife,
actually did return the money, and voted as
a freeman. A charming fact this for the advo-
cates of female suffrage. Let ARISTOPHANES of
old, and his modern threepenny substitute, laugh
at the strong-minded women as they will, a few
Mrs. MOUNTSTEPHENS in these delinquent boroughs
would save our " glorious-constitution" doctors a
world of trouble. Dartmouth although Sir
THOS. HERBERT, by some convenient legal imper-
fection we suppose in the evidence, retains his
seat—does not appear to have been immaculate.
Really, the gallant and veteran Admiral deserved
to win. He spent 5001. on his 146 supporters,
though " he did not know, sailor-like, how it was
expended ;" but best of all, his brother sailor,
Captain CARNEGIE, like a true British tar, came
to his aid. H. M. steam-frigate Barracouta
steamed into the little port of Dartmouth, ordered
thither by some propitious invisible power and
naval jollity, no doubt operated very success-
fully on the electoral opinions of the Dartmouth
voters. Even the Mrs. MOUNTSTEPHENS of Dart-
mouth may have found blue jackets more eloquent
than sovereigns. Who sent such a novelty as a
steam-frigate to Dartmouth Election, Sir THOS.
HERBERT, though a Lord of the Admiralty,
could not divine. The Committee called for
no evidence to enlighten hini. Thirty navvies,
" a rough lot," at 14s. per day ; GOO men
altogether, hired by Sir THOMAS, and brought
into the town ; men so drunk at the poll
that the Mayor could hardly take their votes ;
one of them " kissing his thumb " instead of the
book, to evade the bribery oath. These are
Dartmouth facts for next year's Reform Bill.
Still more so is the case of BROOKING, the agent,
intimidating GEORGE H. GRANT, mason, by
threatening him with the loss of Sir H. SEALE'S
work, and by withholding part of his bill, unless
he would vote for HERBERT. "It was the coercion
Bnoonrica used towards him—he meant the coer-
cion to work, for BROOKING could put as much as
1001. a-year in his way, and he had a young
family of six children to provide for." Let every
Member of Parliament who is a father, think of
GEORGE HILL GRANT, mason, and his six children,
when he has to vote on the motion for the
Ballot.

One pleasing new fact we gladly record in Par-
liament. Mr. WALPOLE will bring in a Bill against
treating ; he will include it amongst the subjects
into which the Commissioners are to inquire. An-
other, that Ministers were left in a large minorityin
the case of Clitheroe, by Mr. DISRAELI, the Liberals,
and the hOnest Conservatives, on including treat-
ing and -violence amongst the " corrupt prac-
tices" for which a Commission ought to issue.
One painful fact has also come to light, the com-
plete and systematic subversion of the indepen-
de,nce of the Borough of Rye by a system of
loans, ranging from 11., 21., 201., 501., and even
6001. A practice dating nearly from the time
of the Reform Bill.

We would earnestly invite public attention to
the report of the meeting of the joint Committees
of the. Perth and Inverness, and Inverness and
Elgin Railway Companies. It will appear that
the prospects of these interesting and important
undertakings are very auspicious, and that we
may now look forward to their speedy realisation.
The mere traffic of the district would unquestionably
render the speculation very remunerative to those
embarking their capital therein. But there is a
still greater inducement not merely to the inha-
bitants but even to strangers. It will open up
the most romantic and beautiful districts hitherto
only accessible to pedestrians, to the more luxuri-
ous and wealthy tourists—those who wish to
carry with them all the comforts and appliances
to which they have been too long accustomed to
relinquish without a considerable effort. Even
the Duke of ATHOLL has recognised the propriety
of the movement ; for, - notwithstanding his
Grace's almost morbid anxiety for privacy, and
his well-understood desire that there should
not be any railway through Atholl, he has de-

dared, that "if it is thought that the in-
terests of the public require a line, he will
not allow his own personal feelings to stand out
against it, however much he may otherwise re-
gret it." This is as it should be ; affording, as
it does, almost • a certainty as to the ultimate and
complete success of these meritorious projects.

MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL
INTELLIGENCE-(TIIIS DAY.)

CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.

The sales of cotton at Liverpool on Saturday
were estimated at 6,000 bales, of which 1,500 Ame-
rican were taken for export and on speculation.
The market was tame, but closed steadily at pre-
vious rates. The sales comprised 4,500 American,
230 Pernam and Maranham at 6id. to 7d., 500
Egyptian at 51{1. to 7d., 700 Surat at 3id to
4/d., and 120 Sea Island at ls. 9d. to 2s. 6d. per
lb. Railway Shares were quiet but steady.
At the quarterly meetings of Irenma,sters last
week there was a very full attendance, and prices
were well maintained. Orders are given reluc-
tantly, but railway wants are expected to be large.

The Board of Inland Revenue have directed
that in future Birmingham shall 'be .entered as a
first-class district for revenue purposes.
By the steamer Tay there are later advices from
Brazil and the Argentine provinces. The vessel
has on board 12,0001. in specie. Buenos Ayres
was still besieged, and trade was at a stand still.
The hopes entertained of a rising trade between
Paraguay and Europe seem likely to be realised,
and the production of cotton will receive a great
impulse from the free navigation of the Parana.
At New York on the 6th inst., money continued
in active demand at full rates, and bills were
wanted, the rate being up to 91, and expected to
go higher. Importers were in the market for loans
to enable them to make remittances. The new sil-
ver coin had been issued, and was 9 parts silver
and one part alloy. The amount of specie imported
into New York during March, was, 6,471,258 dol-
lars.

From Canada, the accounts to the 2d inst. state
that the Inspector-General proposed to reduce the
duties on raw sugar from 9s. to 65., and on refined
from 14s. to 10s. He also proposes to allow goods
going upwards through the St. Lawrence Canal to
pass the Welland Canal free, and vice versa.

The Newfoundland accounts state that 175 ves-
sels manned by 7,000 men, had sailed for the seal
fishery.
In a communication from Toronto it is stated :
" As an evidence of public confidence in the pros-
perity of the Bank of Upper Canada, the undis-
posed balance of its new stock, amounting to
75,0001., to complete its subscribed capital to the
amount of 500,0001., the limit of its present char-
ter, was all taken up last week by citizens of
Toronto. We have no doubt that with an increas-
ing dividend next July, which, we trust, the Bank
will be in a position to give, the stock of this old
and popular Bank will soon be at the same pre-
mium as most of our other well-managed banking
institutions."

The stock of the Toronto and Hamilton Railway.
Company, which was reserved for Canada, was im-
mediately absorbed upon the- subscription books
being opened there.
By way of the United States, Demerara papers
have been received, which mention that the weather
had been very dry. An enormous number of rats
had appeared, and one bite by them caused the
canes to wither and die, both stalk and stool.
Dogs and head-money had proved ineffectual in
stopping the nuisance. The combined Court had
determined to import yearly, at least, 4,000 immi-
grants.
The railway meetings announced are the fol-
lowing :

Company.
Aberdeen

Data. Place.
April 19, Aberdeen.

Belgian Eastern Junction April 18; Brussels.
Demerara

Dieppe and Fecamp April 29, Paris.
Dijon to Besancon April 18, Paris.
Glasgow Harbour Mineral April 18, Edinburgh.
Grand Junction of France April 30, Paris.
Great Indian Peninsula April 27, 3, New Broad-st.
Lyons and Mediterranean April 30, Paris.
North of France April 30, Paris.
Paris, Caen, and Cherbourg May 4, Paris.
Paris and Rouen May 3, Paris.