The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-03 00:00:00

t

HOUSE OF COA.IMONS-(YESTERDAY.)
SUPPLY.

The house then went into a committee of supply,
On the motion for a crrint for 1,040 additional men;
and non-commissioned officers for the Royal Artillery,
Captain L. VERNON asked, as an act of justice to
Sir J. Burgoyne, why Sir H. Ross should have been
appointed to he Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance ?
Mr. MONSELL assured the hon. member that it was
impossible any slight could be intended for Sir J. Bur-
goyne.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
this was an appointment emanating from the Crown,
and he doubted the propriety of introducing incidental
discussions on such a subject as this. As to Sir J.
Burgoyne, to terms of praise could be too high for his
merits. (Hear.)

Captain LAFFAN believed that the reasons which
had led to Sir H. Ross being appointed over his senior
officer would be honourable to Sir John Burgoyne
himself, and satisfactory to the country. He (Captain
Laffan) bad an interview on this subject with the Mi-
nister for War (the Duke of Newcastle), who said that
Sir J. Burgoyne having made a reconnaissance in the
East, his advice and services were found so invaluable
by the Government on his return to England, that it
was deemed, extremely desirable to retain him at home.
The vote was then agreed to.
A sum of 58,1391. for the payment of the said Artil-
lerymen was then agreed to.
On the motion of Sir J. WALMSLEY, in the absence
of Mr. Hume, returns were ordered of the number of
visitors to the Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral,
Westminster Abbey, and other public institutions, dur-
ing several years.
NEWSPAPER STAMPS.

Mr. CRAUFURD, in the absence of Mr. J. Fitz-
gerald, moved for a return of the number of stamps at
ld. each issued to each newspaper published in London,
Dublin, and Edinburgh respectively, for the second
quarter of the year 1854, specifying the name of each
newspaper, and the number of stamps issued to each (in
continuation of Parliamentary paper No. 238 of the pre•
sent session).

Mr. WILSON would not oppose this return, but
wished it to be understood that the Government would
not be consenting parties to such returns as the present in
future. Even annual returns of this nature were a great
interference with private business, and he thought the
house ought not to consent to such returns for a shorter
period.—Agreed to. -
The house adjourned at six o'clock.

FISHMONGERS'' COMPANY.

The annual dinner of this company, which is ;cele-
brate on the Ist of August; the anniversary of the ac-
cession of the Brunswick dynasty to the throne of Great
Britain and Ireland, was held on Tuesday, at the Fish-
mongers'-hall, London-bridge. Mr. Toogood officiated
for the Prime Warden, who was prevented byfiliness
from presiding.
Amongst the company present were : —Earl Fortescue,
Viscount Ebrington, M.P., Lord Charles Russell, Lord
Ernest Bruce, the American Minister, Sir Charles
Wood, M.P., Vice-Chancellor Sir W. Page Wood, &c.
Lord Palmerston and the Chancellor of the Exchequer
were unfortunately prevented from attending.
After the usual loyal toasts, which were received with
the greatest enthusiasm,
The PRIME WARDEN then proposed the " Health of
her Majesty's Ministers." He said their position at
the present time was attended with the most arduous
difficulties. In the midst of their endeavours to promote
the cause of enlightened and constitution tl reform they
had been suddenly interrupted by the outbreak of hostili-
ties both unforeseen and unexpected. What might be
the result of the war it would- be presumptuous hi him
to hazard an opinion upon ; but in their endeavours to
maintain the honour and interests of the country, he was
sure the Ministry might rely upon the loyalty and pa-
tr4.otism of the people.
Sir CHARLES WOOD returned thanks, and expressed
his regret that some ethers of his colleagues had not been
present to return thanks for the honour done to them,
but he was quite sure that it was only their attendance
upon their duties which had prevented them from ac-
cepting the invitation. He quite concurred in the re-
marks of one of the preceding speakers, that the Minis-
ters were raised to office solely by the confidence of the
country, and as soon as they forfeited that confidence,
they ought to retire from the scene. He (Sir C. Wood)
had been long enough in Parliament to remember
the time when those principles, which they now
saw so triumphant, were advocated only by a small
minority. However firmly, and through whatever
difficulties they had fitught the battle, he felt one com-
fort at least in the fact that in this hall and in this
company these principles had ever been in the ascen-
dancy, and that he was speaking amongst old and long-
tried friends of the principles of liberty. The Prime
Warden had ailuded to the difficulties in which the
Ministers were placed, and had approved of the conduct
they had pursued He (Sir C. Wood) was not ashamed
to say that as long as they thought peace could be main-
tained in a manner compatible with the honour of the
country, they had been most anxious to preserve it. They
were alive to the injuries which a war would occasion to
many interests in the country, and they were not insen-
sible to the feeling of the country, which looked upon
war as one of the greatest calamities: (Hear, hear.) So
long as it was possible to avoid war, the Ministers were
anxious to do so ; when they found it was no 'longer
possible, they were ready toaceept the glove thrown down
to them—(cheers)—and he trusted that the conduct
.9.L.Thel. 411.7 Lod purmncH would '.Low to tha oountry
that, although unwilling to involve the country in a
war, they were not unprepared. He believed that the
fleets and army of this country were the admiration 4,1
the world, and that he was justified in saying that both
the army and navy had never in the proudest day of
their renown been so well equipped. What might be
;he result of their operations no one could be boastful
enough to say. It was no slight task to beard the bear
in his den, but he was sure that whatever human sk

and daring could effect would be accomplished both by
the army and navy. (Cheers.) The issue was not in
the handskof men, but in the hands of One far above all,

and as he (Sir C. Wood) was convinced of the justice of
the cause, so did he firmly believe that they would,
sooner or later, be found successful. Tue right honour-
able baronet sat down amidst loud cheering.
The PRIME WARDEN then gave the. " Health of the
American Minister."

The AMERICAN MINISTER returned thanks, and said
he could not feel himielf a stranger in a strange land, so

great was the kindness with which he had been every
where treated, not on account of his own humble merits,

but from the affection entertained by the parent state
for r, distinguished and promising child on the other
side of the Atlantic. He had read the history of Oil
country carefully and diligently, and although he took
no part whatever in its politic-i, he thought that there
never had in any former time been two more honourable

parties than the Whigs and Tories of Great Britain.
(Cheers and laughter.) The devotion of thee parties and
their leaders to their principles did credit to them, and,
whether right or wrong, they had evidently acted upon
principle. Now, however, when he came amongst them,
he found an amalgamation of parties—the lion lyirg
down with the lamb, and all united in carrying on a
great war. About this war he should say nothing.
although he confessed he entertained a very strong
opinion. (Hear.) When the might and power of this
country were directed by wisdom and talent, and when
its vast resources were devoted to one object, it was very
hard if that object could not be accomplished. In Ame-
rica they spoke the same language as the English, and
they read the same hooks, and he thanked God that there
was not in the United States a child born which hail
not as good a right to come to school and learn to re id
as to breathe its native air. (Hear.) They were, there-
fore, able to read the books of this country, and there
were many standard books comparatively little known
in England which were to be met with in every-cabin in
America. He might mention, for instance, such works

aR " Tue Pilgrim's Progress," and "The Vicar of Wake:
field." (Hear, hear.) He begged to return thanks for
the honour done to him, and in his humble position it
should always be his endeavour, whilst. maintaining in a
.
proper spirit toe honour of his own country, to promote

ihealliance of kindred nations which were—bound toge-
ther by the ties of mutual interest, but Which he desired

o see united by the still stronger ties of mutual affec

on. (Cheers.)
The company separated at a late hour.

STATE OF TRADE.

From the Manchester Guardian of yesterday.)

lower counts of water
t in the medium and firm market
MANCHESTER, Aug. I.—We
have to report a decidedly
and mule yarns; indeed, for some descriptions slightly
his,
u lied their gene-
ral.imme-
But it is found that, having p
to operate further
higher prices are required ; 1
diate wants, the buyers now hesitate
however, is not
sP
is particularly the
at the extreme rates demanded. This
l the same pro-
either not risen at all, or not in near y
case with the home manufacturers of such cloths as have
portion as the yarns from which they are made—a state
of things which is-much too wide-spread. The result is
that the business of the day has
been a good deal
re-
stricted in amount. The want of demand for China is
felt in these numbers of water twist, which are usually
e
sent thither.
HALIFAX, July 29.—The aspect of trade in our Piece
Hall to-day exhibits no improvement, either in demand
or price ; and there is very little disposition to purchase
any description of goods. The spinners have a large
proportion of their machinery wholly or partially unem-
ployed ; but they are, in general, unwilling to enter into
contracts, as the prices offered are not remunerative.
The wool market is inactive, with the quotations firm.
ROCHDALE, July 31.—On account of the upward ten-
dency of the raw material, the manufacturers ask more
for their goods, which has limited the amount of business
transacted. English wool is scarce at present, and the
dealers have very light stocks on hand.

[ADVERTISEMENT.I—HoIIoway's Ointment and P.llB
essentially beneficial for healing Wounds. Mr. Paul
Spencer, of West Brunswick, informs Professor— Holl'l
o
way, in a letter dated May 26, 1854, that a friend of his
residing in New-street, in that town, and well known
there, was affiicted for a length of tine with ten running
ulcers, and although he had the best medical advice for
milesrounJ, yet he was not benefitted by the same ; there-
fore, as a last resource, he was induced to try Holloway a
Ointment and Pills, and, after persevering with them
for three months, the wounds all healed, and he was
completely cured, to the wonder of every one that knew
him.—Sold by all vendors of medicine, and at Professor
Holloway's establislinient, 244, Strand, London.

. THR PUBLIC-HOUSES SCOTLAND)( ACT.-
WHAT IS A TRAVELLER?-TEETOTAL IN IN THE CASE OP THE YEO-
MANRY RACES.-TBE POLICE SOPERIN-
TENDENT, MIP-LOTHIAN, AND THE SECRE-
TARY AT 11741. R.,,
e-4
<"7r LETTER.II:

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. ,
SIR,—I again take the liberty of addressing you as to
the state of matters in Scotland, produced by the opera-
tion or influence of Forbes Mackenzie's Public-houses
Bill. I write at once to expose the affair and to put the
people of England on their guard, lest they also become
the victims of a mean and demoralising fanaticism.
I mentioned to you the case of Mrs. Ross, a licensed
victualler at Portobello, more than three miles from
Edinburgh. Three apparent travellers had come to her
house and obtained some refreshments. They had
walked' the distance betwixt the two points at the very
least. A policeman, called the police superintendent
(there is likely another constable or two in the district
besides himself), raised a prosecution against the woman,
and she has been fined for violating the act of Parlia-
ment. The question now comes to be, What is a tra-
veller within the meaning of the statute ? This is a nice
point, and reminds one of the poser of the ancient sophist,
How many grains make a heap I To the weary pedes-
trian, it may be on a journey of necessity and mercy,
this is a very serious matter. To the entertainer of the
individual it may involve the loss of capital and of bread,
as I believe three offences against the tyrant statute sub-
jects the offender to deprivation of his license. What a
travelleriaissaotdefined by Forbes Mackenzie in hie bill,and
regarding actualities the feeble foot-passenger who walks
one of two miles might want a glass of beer more than
the first-class passenger from Carlisle to Glasgow (per
Caledonian line) requires his claret or champagne in a
first-rate hotel in the capital of the west. But how is the
licensed victualler to discriminate a traveller ? Fielding,
himself a London police magistrate, thought a thief
looked like other people ; and although a man may have
dust on his shoes and sweat on his brow, and declare
he is a traveller literally fainting from fatigue, he may
only have come from the town to the country village
two or three miles distant, and the innkeeper, recollect•
ing the penal decision just promulgated, may refuse the
wayfarer a mouthful of refreshment. A person depen-
dent op a bench of justices will dread the effect of con-
duct which may be dictated by motives of compassion.
So happily is Scotland situated under the rules imposed
by her moral reformers. If I recollect aright, the bill in-
tended for the benefit of England contained a saving
clause in favour of travellers. Your readers will know
how to appreciate the generosity of the exception.
I need scarcely say that the bill of Forbes Mackenzie
has emboldened the abstainers. In my last letter I men-
tioned some of their pranks. In Edinburgh they have
taken up a locus standi somewhat resembling that of
public officials. Once a year the Mid-Lothian Yeomanry
Cavalry assemble for six drays' drill. After "deploying"
fur this time, the business isconcluded with races over the
course at Musselburgh, about six miles from Edinburgh.
There are few public amusements in the Scottish capital,
and parties flock to the scene of recreation as your friends
do to the Goodwood races. A most daring proclaina-
tion was issued by the abstainers, warning publicans
against the crime of having tents for refreshments on the
grounds. But not content with this, the following let-
ter was addres-ed to a licensed v;ctualler who was about 1
to set up a tent near the race course :
" 17, South-bridge, Edinburgh, July 26, 1854.
Sir,—l understand that you are one of the parties who
yesterday took a f.tance for the erection of a tent on the
Musselburgh Course on Saturday, the 29th inst. From the
public intimation given, you must have been aware that,
under your certiticste and license, you have no power to go
to Musselburgh and there sell exciseable liquors. By doing
so, you commit a breach of the terms of your c rtifieate,
for which, depend upon it, you will be called in question.
Three such acts will render you unfit ever after to hull a
license in this country. With yourself, therefore, you are
playing a dangerous game ; the law, I assure you, will be
enforced against you an I every other individual who at-
tempts to transgress its provisions by opening tents at the
races an I there selling drink.—l am, &c.,
" JOHN STRACHIN."
The hint as to "three such acts" is eutficiently significant
and obvious. There is the will, whether the way exists
or not. Certain it is, a correspondent of one of the local
journals, the .Scottish Press, has averred that in this ape-
c,al case, Forbes Mackenzie was not sharp enough, and
the abstainers (will they pardon the figure ?) have
counted without their hest.
I have already mentioned that generally the police in
Scotland are converted into spies, for the purpose of
carrying out that oppressive measure. In certain cases
they are aided by what is called the " peeping volunteer,"
or member of an abstinence local committee, as also
backed by a vicious and restless fanaticism. But, Sir, I
have specially to call attention to an act of gross inso-
lence on the part of the Inspector, or, as he is termed,
superintendent of Mid-Lothian county police—a person
of the name of List. It would seem as if the barrack
canteens were in some way exempt from the operation
of the Mackenzie Bill, and this official has discovered,
not drunkenness, be it remembered, but some drinking
on the part of civilians in the canteen of Leith Fort on
Sundays. Perhaps the soldier would have had a glass
of beer with his father or brother on the evening of that
day, in the only place the article could be obtained. On
ascertaining this fact, either from personal observation,
or through some of his minions, List wrote to the Secre-
tary at War, and had in return the following letter :
" War Office, 24th July, 1854.
" Sir,—l am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter of the 20th lust., relative to the admission of civilians
into the canteen in Leith Fort on Sunday, and to acquaint
you, with reference to the communication from this de•
partinent of the lst inst., that the Secretary at War has
taken such steps, through the medium of the general
officer commanding the troops in Scotland, as will, it is
hoped, prevent a repetition of the often .o complalueti of.
"I am, Scc.,
"JOHN CROON'S."
The description I have given of the conduct of the
mover in th:s business will be evident from the few sen-
tences which follow in the connection. Either this was
a legal action—to wit, the business in the canteen—or
it was illegal. If legal, what had a police-officer to do
with the case ? Nothine ; and he only evinced the
grossest audacity in interfering. But if illegal, there
was an instant remedy. You must know that here we
have various sorts of prosecutors for the public interest,
from the Lord Advocate of Scotland to the town or
county procurators-fiscal ; and descending from these,
generally men of standing in society, we come to the
police superintendents. List is a justice of peace pro-
curator, and could have brought the canteen affair before
the local bench, if any. irregularity, That this was nut
done clearly showed that even the Mackenzie bid, or its
predecessors, did not reach the action. Nor did the
Mil Lothian police official even refer the point to his su-
periors, the magistrates, but at once applied to an-ex-
traneous authority, the war department of the Govern-
ment. In London, I apprehend, were a sub-inspector
to act in this way, the result might be serious. But
anything is lawful and right in certain quarters, so that
it carries out the anti-public-houses fanaticism. It is a
pity that the Secretary at War condescended to reply to
such a conrnunication. It ought to have been referred
to the Lord Advocate, who is virtually Minister of Jus-
tice and (if Police for Scotland, or to the principal sheriff
of the county, Mr. John Gordon, in ()e'er that this
esteemed and upright magistrate might have passed a
befitting judgment on the impudence of his servant.
Is not this a fine state of matters—police espionage to
ascertain where an oppressive law has been even acci-
dentally broken—police intermeddling where there is no
offence—a faction assuming legal powers and menacing
;he citizen with penalties and ruin, and watching his
premises as detectives do houses suspected of harbouring
thieves or containing stolen goods—and fanaticism ram-
pant and exulting ! Will the English people allow of
such an infliction ? Their antecedents belie the assump-
tion. Let them, therefore, watch carefully against their
moral reformers Messrs. Patten and C.., and the ami-
able bill of these worthy &meters. If off their guard,
they may, before the ctisie of the present session, find
themselves in for the pains and penalties, the confusion
and annoyance, to which Scotland has been subjected by
a paltry individual accidentally occupying a place in the
Rouge of Commons.
Again expressing my earnest wish that your contem-
poraries would honour me by copying this letter, solely
dictated by public motives—l remain, Sir, your obliged
and obedient servant,

SAUNDERS FITZSAUNDERS.
Klinburgh, July, 1854.
P. S.=—A. word about our celebrated Provost or Mayor,
Mr. Duncan Maclaren—the grand conservator of so-
briety withih the ancient and extended royalty. He has
published some statistics about the Public-houses Act,
meant, to show its successful working. The greater the
blockhead the more naturally he resorts to such data,
in every case to be received with hesitation, especially
where moral agency is concerned. Your contemporary,
the Scotsman, has taken up the tabular calculations of
this gentleman, and in better hands our civic chief could
not be—that is to say, he will figure as a puling child in
the bands of a strong man. Mr. Maclaren has now
ben three years in office, and, if reports be true, lusts
for an incumbency of three years more of dignity and
importance as "My Lord !" A little cant may concur
with other more mundane agencies in promoting his
views. Now, the bill before under notice is much of a
landed interest affair—a boon from that exalted and vir-
tuous body to the multitude—good and cheap, fruitful
in happiness, but costing nothing but a little trouble in
fining offenders. The Evening Post, landed interest
journal, however, professes to appreciate the zeal of the
ally of its party, Mr. Maclaren, in the moral crusade or
Quixotism of the squires, and attributes it to a hanker-
ing after the civic chair. Says the Post (of 26th July).—
" They [the citizens] cannot but be aware with whit
craft and industry he [the Lord Provost] is working up
a kind of claim to a renewed tenure of office— * * *
with how much anxiety he has endeavoured to appear as
the patron of the anti public-house operations, ostensibly
to ingratiate himself with the supporters of the tem-
perance cause."

1,518