The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-02 00:00:00

CALIFORNIA. '

Whether the gold of California is destined or not to effect
a material change in our currency relations, time will show,
but it is certain that in many quarters there is an idea that
such will be the case. It is natural, therefore, under such
circumstances, that suggestions should be made as to the
adVantage of a mixed currency of gold and silver, and the
following portion of some " reflecticns" by a merchant may
interest :

" The danger is thus evident, and it appears to me the
means of escaping it are equally so. We have but to
change our standard from gold to silver—from a medium
that is likely to fluctuate to one that is likely to be eta-
tibnary. This measure has already been advocated on its
own merits by most of our own leading authorities on cur-
rency, so that, whether Californian prospects be realised or
not, we should probably not go far wrong in assimilating
our standard to that of the rest of the world. But what is
to be done should be done quickly, for, if accounts
from America continue unchanged, gold will begin
to fall by anticipation (like any other article
in the same position) before it actually appears to
any extent on the European market, and we know, by the
experience of 1822, how great would be the outcry were the
standard to be raised after it had become depreciated. With
a silver standard, gold coin would be received here as else-
where, at its intrinsic worth, and in the event of a fall such
as I have supposed, the only losers by it would be the holders
at the time of sovereigns and gold bullion, who would be ex-
posed to this loss under any circumstances.
" It may be objected that the additional demand for silver,
caused by the transfer of the standard, would have a ten-
dency to raise its value, and so lead to some disturbance of
the currency in that direction ; but it would by no means
follow..that sovereigns would disappear, because the standard
was changed ; they would continue to circulate like any
other article, at their value, and would still be preferred to
silver, from habit and convenience.
. " Another objection to the change might be, that the
price of the sovereign would be a subject of constant dis-
pute ; but we do not find this to be the case in
countries whose currency is in this position. In
any case. however, my suggestion would be, that the Mint,
with us, publish a weekly bulletin of the price at which the
sovereign should be a legal tender for the ensuing week. A.
practice somewhat similar actually prevailed in England (see
Jenkinson on Coins) for upwards of four hundred years,
subsequent to 1250, ki hen the value of the gold money then
existing was regulated by proclamation, though at too dis-
tant intervals to produce altogether the desired effect, which,
indee4, was often rendered quite impossible from the erro-
neous principles on which the proclamations were based. A
weekly bulletin, now that the relative value of the
precious metals is known to the smallest fraction, would ob-
viate all these difficulties, and secure us at once the benefit
of a silver- standard, and the convenience of a gold circula-
tion, while the Bank would be enabled to hold its bullion, in
both metals, in the proportions that circumstances might
call for.
" The seignorage on silver would of course have to bere-
duced from-its present rate of 6,4 per cent., either to nothing
or to about 1 per cent., as charged by the French, and I be-
lieve by most of the continental mints."

•CALIFORNIA.—Extract of a letter from an officer to
his agent in London:--"H.M.S. Herald, Mazatlan, 27th
Nov., 1848.—Nothing is talked of here but the extraordinary
gold mines discovered by the Americans in Upper California.
The quantity of gold found is unprecedented in the annals of
history. Millions on millions of dollars' worth of hold are
ntoir arriving here from St. Francisco. I have seen a large
quantity of it; it is found in a very pure state. One lump I
saw weighed 251bs. Soz. The quantity found is so great as
to cause the idea of a depreciation in the value of the precious
metal."

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
INTELLIGENCE EXTRA.
LIVERPOOL GREAT NATIONAL STEEPLE-
CHASE.
Handicap for the Grand National Steeplechase Stakes of
20 sous. each, h ft, and 5 only if declared on or be-
fore the 10th inst.

at lb
Nimrod, aged lO 8
Peter Simple, aged lO 8
Little Fanny, aged lO 8
Clonardon, 6 yrs
Abd-el-Kader lO 8
Knight of Gwynne, a 10 7
Dicky Misfortune
Chatham, aged lO 6
Shinbone, 5 yrs lO 6
Fisticuff, aged lO 6
Redstreak, aged lO 6
Coriander, aged lO 6
Alfred, 5 yrs lO 6
Boxkeeper, aged lO 4
Red Lancer, aged
Miss Burns, aged
Jerry, aged
10 4
Canary, aged lO 2
Vulture, aged lO 2
Thurgarton, aged
Venom, 5 yrs lO 2
Marengo, aged
Bold Dairy, aged
Ballybar, aged
Tim Whiffler, aged 9 12
) Gamester 912
) Spem Gregis, 5 yrs 912
Pendeunis, aged 9 12
I Equinox, aged , ....... 912
1 Khondooz, aged...... 910
Miss Brown, aged . 9 10
Mignionette, aged ... 9 4
Sparta, aged ......... 8 12
Crown Prince paid.

at lb
Chandler, aged l2 2,
The Curate, aged
Proceed, aged ll 11
The Doctor, aged ll 7
St. Leger, aged
Wolverhampton,aged 11 5
British Yeoman, aged 11 4
Mathew, aged ll 2
Arab Robber, 6 yrs .. 11 2
Mulligan, 4 yrs
The Iron Duke, 5 yrs 11 0
Shamrock, 6 yrs ll 0
Rilfane, aged ll 0
Brunette, aged
Sir John, aged ll 0
Father Mathew, aged 10 13
Splendid, 6 yrs
Salute, aged ....... 10 13
The Victim, aged
Agitatioti, aged ...... 10 10
Prince George, aged 10 10
Charm, aged ......... 10 10
Subduer, aged......... 10 10
Sir John, aged
Clarinda
The Page, aged
Edward thiaklrst, agd 10 to
Sobriety, aged .... . 10 t.)
La Sylphide, aged lO 9
Tipperary Boy, 5 yrs lO 9
Napoleon, 6 yr 5..... 10 88
Flycatcher, 6 yrs ..••
10 B
g by Young Rain-
bow, 6 yrs

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
OLD COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice COLERIDGE and Mr. JustESSWELL.
it-
)
RAPE. —John Wiseman, a tailor, aged 28, was indicted for comm
ting a rape on the person of Jemima Bate, a young girl aged 15.
The particulars of the case are unfit for publication. It would
seem from the evidence that the offence was attended with great
violence ; but the prisoner protested that the girl consented to his
overtures.
The jury, after a lengthened inquiry, wished to convict the pri-
soner of a common assault only ; but
Mr. Justice COVERIDGE told them that they must either find him
guilty of the capital offence or acquit hi
Therjury Acquitted him.

NEW COURT.
(Before the.Rxcoanza.)
Henry Albert, 30, a porter, and Henry Howard, else 30, and a
porter, were indicted, for stealing 10 yards of carpeting, valued at
• 20/.,, the property of Messrs. 'Wood and Co., wholesale carpet dealers,
in Watling-street.
Some moths ago the prosecutors were robbed to a serious extent
by one of the parties in their employ, which led to inquiries being
set on foot to ascertain how Um stolen property had been disposed
' of, arid in the course of that investigation the carpet
in question was traced to the shop .of Mr. Shaw, a re-
. spectahle carpet seller, carrying on business in Bishopsgate-
- street Without, who stated that he had purchased it from a Jew
deaier named Jules Jacobs, for le. 6cl. a yard, who in his turn had
bought it from another dealer whim the prisoner Howard had em-
ployed to dispose of it. Upon Howard being taken into custody, he
protested that he was innocent of the robbery, declaring that he had
received the carpet from Albert, the other prisoner, who had pre-
viously filled the situation of porter to the prosecutors, and that
statement, coupled with the fact that Albert had called upon .Hyam,
the party engaged by Howard to dispose of the stolen property, to
know if Howard }sad bees
Paid•the proceeds of the sale, led to hie
being arrested, and charged as the principal in the transaction.
The jury convicted Albert of stealing and Howard of receiving the
property, knowing it to, be stolen.
Mr. BALLATTINE, who appeared for the prosecution, intimated
that an investigation was going on In a police-court that was likely
o implicate the prisoner Albert in a similar robbery; and, under
those circumstances,
The COURT deferred passing sentence on loth, prisoner&

:SEQUESTRATION OF AN INCUMBENCY IN THE CITY.
notice has been posted on the doors of the ehurch of St. Mary,
Wood-street, that in consequence of the decease of the late incum-
bent, and no appointment haying been Vie. the Bishop of London
has sequestered- the tithes, protitn,-&c., and nominated certain per-
sonS as sequestrators. A proceeding of this kind is somewhat un-
usual in times .when every one is looking out for a livelihood, and a
goed "'wine is apparently going beggin,g.
-,„ACRRI7 HARMONIC SOCIETY.-ExETER HALL.-
Heethovet.'s Service in C., and Mendelsshon's " Hymn of Praise,"
watse perioriped nnder the direction of Mr. Costa, at Ezeter Hall,
on Friday; Fbbrnary 9.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 1.

The Speaker entered the House, attended by Lord Wm.
Russell, the Sergeant-at-Arms, and took the Chair at Half-
past One, when the attendance of Members was by no means
numerous. The Attorney-General, Mr. Ward, Mr. Wilson,
and Mr. Fox Maule were the only members of the Govern-
ment present; but at a later period, after prayers had been
read by the Speaker's Chaplain, there was a much fuller
House. The back seats both of the Opposition and Minis-
terial sides, however, remained quite empty.
Amongst the Honourable Members who were earliest in
their places we observed the following :—Lord Lincoln, Mr.
Hume, Mr. Feargus O'Connor, Lord Dudley Stuart, Mr.
John O'Connell, Mr. Gladstone, Sir De Lacy Evans, Sir
John Pakington, Colonel Thompson, Sir; R. H. Inglis, Mr. C.
Anstey, Mr. Stuart Wortley, and Mr. Brotherton.
At half-past-two o'clock, Mr. Pulman, the Deputy Usher
of the Black Rod, appeared at the bar, and summoned the
House to the' House of Lords, to hear her Miijesty's most
gracious Speech from the throne.
The Speaker, in obedience to the summons, left the chair,
and, attended by:nearly all the Members present, proceeded to
the bar of the House of Lords.
After an absence of about ten minutes, the Speaker re-
turned to the House, and again resumed the chair.
The House then adjourned till a Quarter before Four
o'clock.

The House resumed at a Quarter to Four o'clock.
The SPEAKER informed the House that during the recess
be had issued writs for the election of Members for King's
Lynn, in the room of Lord George Bentinck, deceased ; for
the West Riding of Yorkshire, in the room of Lord Merpeth,
who had succeeded to the Earldom of Carlisle ; for Liskeard,
in the room of Mr. Buller, deceased; and for Truro, is the
room of Mr. Turner, deceased.
SLIGO ELECTION.
The SPEAKER also informed the House that he had
received a letter from the agent of the parties petitioning
against the return of Mr. Somers for the.porough of Sligo,
stating that it was not their intention towproceed with such
petition.