The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-04 00:00:00

EXCHANGE.

On London at 6 months' sight ... ls. 10d. per rupee
Ditto at 2 months' sight ... Is. 94d. ditto.
Ditto at 1 month's sight ... is. 9id. ditto.
Ditto at 1 day's sight ... Is. 9d. ditto.
Circular Notes payable throughout Eu-
rope, and Drafts on Ireland and Scot-
land, at 1 day's sight ls. 9d. ditto.
COMMISSION.
Charged on the purchase or sale of Govern-
ment Notes, Shares in Public Companies
or other Securities ••• ••• ft per cent.
COMMERCIAL BANK OF INDIA.
Exchange on London:
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5 months' sight Is. 9VI.
4 months' sight ...............is.
3 months' sight ... Is. 9%d.
2 months' sight ... Is. 9Nd.
1 months' sight Is. WO.
Sight
Discount on Private Bills, without rebate :
At 2 months' sight ••• ... 8 per cent. per an.
At 3 months' sight .. ... 8 per cent. per an.
At 4 months' sight ... ••• 8 per cent. per an.
Ditto with rebate ..• ... 1 per cent. more.
Interest charged :
On fixed Loans on Government paper ... 6 per cent.
Cash credits, secured by Government paper... 7 per ct. per an.
Cash credits, on Bonds and other securities... 8 ditto.
Interst Allowed :
On Current deposit accounts payable on demand 2 per cent.
On Money deposited with one month's notice of
withdrawal ... ... 3 per cent.
On Current Deposit Accounts payable on de-
mand, subject to a charge of per cent comn. 5 per eent.
On Money deposited for three months certain .. 4 per cent.
On ditto for 6 months certain, with one month's
notice of withdrawal ... .. 4 per cent.
On ditto for 9 months certain, with 3 months'
notice of withdrawal ..
... 6 per cent.
Commission on purchase and sale of Government
and other Securities ... per cent.

TO THE SECRETARY OF THE
METROPOLITAN REFORM ASSOCIATION.
Sir,—On Thursday the 31st of May the House of
Commons met again after the Whitsuntide recess ;
and, on the principle on which a general in India
makes a short march on the first day, broke up at
9 o'clock, after getting through a quantity of routine
business, in the course of which nothing very remark-
able took place.
On Friday a rather perplexing question was thrown
before the Liberals and Free Traders of the House,
and, as was to be expected, they took different sides.
Each will of course think the other wrong, and each
must trust for its justification to the degree in
which it can carry public opinion along with it.
The case was this. In the Committee of Supply,
the Protectionists advanced, that a great diminution
in the prices of everything having taken place, attended
by a diminution of every man's income and every
man's profits, it thereby became desireable that the
salaries of the Treasury and officers connected, should
be reduced by 10 per cent; for which purpose a di-
munition of 5,0001, was moved in the grant.
What was a Financial Reformer and Free Trader
to do under such circumstances ? 'Was he bound to
run without further question, into every course pro-
posed by the Protectionist body, merely because the
words " reduction of salaries" were attached to it ?
Might he not fairly argue,—the effect of this measure
is to obtain an acknowledgment from the House, that
"a diminution of every man's income and every man's
profits" has taken place in consequence of the aboli-
tion of the Corn-Laws and the alteration of the Na-
vigation-Laws. The words;between inverted commas
were not employed by the mover, but they were
brought out literatitn by his principal supporter, which
makes them parcel of the case. The Protectionists,
with a little imagination, may be conceived hold-
ing a council of war, as all men have a right
to do in their own cause, and saying to one another,
" Move that the Ministers' salaries be reduced on the
ground of national loss and damage by the alteration
of the Corn and Navigation-Laws, and see which of
the Manchester school will go against us. Those that
go with us, will help to set up our side. And those
that do not, will lose caste and be run down as men
who will not vote for retrenchment; only wait and see
what the Northern Star will say to them." There is
nothing in this but what is quite allowable on the part
of political opponents. It was an excellent good piece
of war-craft, worthy to he ranked by a parliamentary
Frontinus among his "Strategemata," and very likely
to have a fair effect on the Third Reading on the Na-
vigation-Laws in another place. But this does not
prove, that anybody was bound to give into it unless
he liked.
A young Member (Simeon, a name of mark with
ancient Cambridge men) who habitually sits on
the Conservative side, made the ablest exposure
which was given, of the weakness of the claim for
support to the motion before the House. The motion
was finally negatived by 84 to 33, and the division
list will present an appearance of some interest.
A debate of a more amusing kind than ordinary,
took place on the vote for the expenses of the so-called
colony of Labuan. An enterprising yachter goes and
plays the part of "Illustrious Stranger," under cir-
cumstances, to say the least, of very doubtful morality.
Commercial men in England thereupon petition that
he may be established in a colony; as they are likely
enough .to be disposed to favour any experiment,
which other people are to pay for. And thereupon is
set up what a Catholic might call ,a ..government in
partibus, a 'government to govern not what. there is,
but what there Onght to be; a Governor at a high
salary,. and because he has nobody to govern, a Lieu-
tenant• Governor to help him; a Postmaster because
there is nobody to write; and a Consul, who lest he
should quarrel with the Governor, is the Governor him-
self. Meantime the Navy gets promotion and boun
ties, for acting against what are denominated "Pi-
rates," such pirates being, as there is reason to believe,
the different tribes or nations carrying on war with
one another as well as they know how; so that the
Governor has only to chuse the side that suits him,
and the other are the " Pirates."
The last time the subject was raised in the House,
it was stated with great simplicity and open-
ness by some of the supporters, that the intended re-
sult was to effect a footing in what may be called
the continent of Borneo; and on Friday a Member
interposed for the preservation of claims existing on
the part of Great Britain to portions of its coast.
Great pains are evidently taking, to find Punjaubs for
our posterity.
For some reason no division was called for, though
there was every appearance that a considerable num-
ber would have supported.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
AN OLD REFORMER.
London, June 4, 1849.

FIRE AT THE KATESGROVE IRON FOONDET.—Be-
tween one and two o'clock this morning a fire broke out
in a range of sheds at the extensive ironfoundry of
Messrs. Barrett, Exall, and Andrewes, the large iron-
founders of this town. The inhabitants of the neigh-
bourhood were dreadfully alarmed, but two engines were
speedily on the spot, and owing to there being but little
wind, the games did Rot extend to any other buildings.
There were a considerable number of new agricultural
implements, chiefly plough; in the sheds, but the greater
part were removed without injury, and a cart together
with a few other implements comprise the only property
destroyed, in addition to the out. buildings. It is almost
miracelous, notwithstanding the stillness of the wind,
that the fire did not communicate to the workshops and
timber lying in the yard; and the extensive premises of
Messrs. Philbrick, tanners and curriers, are situate only
a few yards on the opposite side to the burnt sheds, and
where some years ago a most fearful conflagration
.tot?k
place. As it is, the damage done has been comparatively
small, but the origin of the fire is unknown.—Berkshire
Chronicle of Saturday.
r
THE ASCOT RACE Curs.—The "Royal hunt cup,"ot.a
which will be run for this week at Ascot, is a cup
ones which have been the prises of a race
nted in
novel design, and of a shape different frcoomurasne.y tloirmisea
relief devices emblematical of field Tazza, supported on a foot, on whidchspaorertrce
prTesheere are
the heads of stags, and does,
and the mark of buck-
elegant.eha a
cr The
style theta
and
re.
t e a
buck-
hounds, and on the summit ofsttehrei
ncgorgeartaogf
.thirehceuwpoirska
very spirited group of dogs
manship is very elaborate,
style partakes of andth the design
ibgent hau
I
istic. It has been modelled at the establishment of
Messrs. Hunt and Roskell, of Bond-street, under the di-
r
•ion of Mr. Bailey, R.A., and is one of the best spe-
cimens of this species of art hitherto produced. It was
last week submitted to the inspection of the Queen ard
Prince Albert, who expressed their approbation of it.
The Emperor of Russia's vase is the production of Mr.
Cotterill, and has been manufactured at the establish.
meat of Messrs. Gerrard, of the Haymarket. Of this
cup, and of the " Queen's cup," also the work of Mr.
Cotterill, and manufactured by Messrs. Garrard, we
have already made favourable mention. They are both
very elegant pieces of modelling and workmanship in
silver.

A ROYAL Fisu.—On Friday afternoon a fine stur-
geon was caught in the Medway, at a place called Bream
Hole, near Snodland, between Maidstone and Rochester,
by Richard Baker and John Orpin. The fish, a fine
baited specimeu of its species, was brought to the mayor
of Rochester, and was by his orders packed in ice, and
forwarded to her Majesty cu Saturday morning. It
measured 6 feet 11 inches in length, and 2 feet 9 inches
iu circumference.