The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-08 00:00:00

n LoNnoN, SATITIIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER, INA

the thA•a,,lita, z..; sere or would be nuisances or inter- i SAViii=,!GS' BANK :3.
fly, !Pi, ii ,v. of tie tide fir the navigation; and in th:ir ! The late Pariiimentary inveqigntion on. Le prac-
(l( niurr:r for eau,e of dewurrer sti.:i'd tots the. Crown tical working of savings' [allies. has elicited some
hat tot stated stn:ft a case as entitled the Clown to any i strikng
facts ac:ative to these institutions, whit
relief in a c.iurt oft (pity, or to any discovery.
The i deserve the serious consideration of Government.
corporation rested their detence of t 11,7 erections on the ~t appears from the evidence taken before the Com-
op:ni.:ins of harbJur-masters, water-bailiff i
i, and Captain
mittee that the losses sustained during the previous
Bullock, hydrographer to the Admiralty, under whose
i:.speeCon and approvil they had been constructed, year by the sale of stock at a reduced price, compared
alle;4int ti:a.i. they unproved, Cr won!el haprove the natl.. with the rate of pitreb:zsr, amounted to 270,0001, and
gain ~! the river; denying also that the cJrpor:in,n that had the entire of the deposits been with:lrawn—
all, girl ta- pretend, d they had a light to erect or create, a contingency which might happen—the quantity of
or gte e licence to erect. or create, a c .1a111,41 nuisat:ce, on Consols forc,d on the mit ket would have lowered the
the ThAir...s, to the injury of the suljects using it as a quotations, and the deficit exceed four millions—a
highway. On the 4th June, 1845, aster firgum:-nt, the liability which the State was pledged to discharge, as
Master of the Ras held the demurrer to b;-, insufficient, ~•
a were -d
obligation, to the poor.
and it was overruled. Against that decision the corpo-
ration appealed, aid the House of Lords afliacn•d th indispensable.
referred in this vise- ions system is, therefore,
e .
de eisoa of ttie Master o• the Rolls. The subject was i
referred to the Mater to report v. hat answers were to Ile separation of savings' bank affairs from the
i-e given as to the claim set up by the corporation, which Treasury has long been advocated on Folitical as well
the inforolaiion by the At,:orney General sou,;ht to set as flail %cid groun is. According; to the published
~side. The Master in consequence investigated the returns upwards of twenty-eight millions are in-
subject and drew up his repot t, in which he stated the scribed in their name with the Commissioners of the
defendants were bound to mako discovery of their Sinking Fund, and it is fairly objected that so large
alleged title. and ordered inspection of the charters and a sum of a tangible nature, and capable of being
pap,rs. Exceptions were taken to that report diverted from its orLinat destination, should be coin-
by the Cot pora ion of Lorick-n, and upon those excel:- 'flitted to the undefined guardianship of the Exchequer,
tions being acgued, the Master of the Rails, after taking ..
winch may involve the Minister in trouble and em-
time to consider his judgup nt, ord,,red them to be over- ~,
ruled, and from that decision the Curporadon appealed i_%irraisinent at a season of. difficult catty and distress.
1 he example just exhibited in I ranee, under similar
t 9 this brunch of the court.

circumstances, teaches an instructive lesson, and
indicates the remedy to he applied.
Nor is this the only point in which an amendment
is le quired.
The failure of several district banks in meeting
their eegagenients, and the abuses that have crept
into others, has entailed painful sacrifices on the cre-
diture, followed with the usual consequences of
distrust in the stability of these insti'utions. In order
to prevent the recurrence of such evils, by supplying
safeguards fur the future, and to rectify such glaring
defects, e. scheme is suggested for the constitution of
imperial savings banks, on a sure and solid foundation,
organized with modifications for a more extended
sphere of usefulness. The provisions embrace four
departments, with distinct offices, consisting of one
for deposits on Government guarantee; the second for
deposits to be lent out on mortgages secured on landed
property ; the third for the negotiation of loa s, and
the discount ef promissory notes, and the last f. r
conceding provident annuities. The whole to be self-
supporting, without any cost to the empire.
The leading articles of the project are comprised
and embodied in the following resolutions :-
1. That imperial Saving's Banks be established, and
a board of Commissioners appointed by the Crown
for their direction, control, and administration.
2. That the assets of all existing savings' banks be
transferred to the Commissioners in trust, and that
the selection of managers, secretaries, clerks, and
other officers, be confided to their discretion, as well
as the regulation of salaries, and the stipulations of
bail. The Attorney and Solicitor-General in each
Kingdom to be the standing counsel.
3. That from and after the day of
1850, and on the first Monday of every subsequent
month, the Treasury shall be empowered to grant to
the Commissioners, imperial savings' bank debentures,
specially appropriated for that purpose, and marked
" Unalienable ; equal in value to a similar amount
of money or stock, received in lieu thereof, and
bearing a fixed interest at the rate of 31. 6s. 81. a
year, and payable on the expiration of twelve months,
with the option of renewal, for which notice must
be given.
4. That the Commissioners be authorised to issue
in return for deposits imperial debentures for sums
not less than 11, or more than 201., entitled to in-
terest at the rate of 7d. per pound a year, and re-
deemable in twelve months in case the principal is
not demanded, the interest paid to be stamped oil the
back of the debenture.
5. That deposits may be accepted by the Commis-
sioners, for sums not less than 1001, for which pro-
visional certificates shall be given. The proceeds to
be employed in the purchase of old mortgages, or
expended in contracting new ones, secured on landed
property, at an uniform rate of interest of four per
cent. The definitive bonds to be delivered for the
different sums subscribed shall be signed
and sealed by the president of the Commission, with
coupons attached for 3f per cent. dividends, payable
halt-yearly. The difference of interest will cover
arrears and defray incidental expenses.
6. That the several loan societies be amalgamated,
and annexed to the banks established in their respec-
tive localities, and be placed under the management
of the Commissioners. That steps be taken to in-
crease the means at their disposal; the surplus profits
already accrued, amounting to 354,6361., being ren-
dered available for that object; and loans to be
advanced on the lodgment of debentures, as well as
notes discounted.
7. That the Provident Annuity Department be
conducted by the Commissioners in accordance with
well-digested statutes and revised estimates. Tables
containing the rules and terms to be printed and
circulated.
8. That an annual report of the proceedings of the
Commissioners be presented to Parliament.
It is necessary to offer a few observations on the
details of the foregoing plan. As the duties of the
Commissioners will require assiduous application and
undivided attention, the remuneration awarded
should be adequate to the labours performed.
The members chosen must be endowed with the
qualifications of energy, zeal, and capacity. En-
trusted with an arduous task, and armed with
extensive powers in the discharge of their executive
functions, they will of course be made amenable to
the Legislature for their acts.
With respect to the first department, it is well
known that the facility of obtaining a safe
and eligible investment, for the temporary and
permanent deposit of small earnings, encourages
honest industry, fosters economical habits, and
checks visionary speculation. The financial arrange-
ments are peculiarly adapted to accomplish these re-
sults. The substitution of Exchequer-bills for stock,
and of debentures for pass-books, which is the main-
spring of the whole movement, will free the public
from rhk, and relieve the Government from respon-
sibility. The payments being spread over successive
periods, and due at stated times, can be easily liqui-
dated by the Commissioners, instead of being suddenly
subjected to weighty demands at moments the most
inopportune. One, at least, of the disturbing elements
will be removed from the Exchange, and a portion
of the floating debt withdrawn, influences so
sensibly felt during commercial panics and monetary
derangements. The debentures created under the new
law will represent real capital, and possessing un-
doubted solvency, which are the primary ingredients
of credit can never suffer the least depreciation, and
will aid in completing the uses of paper currency in
conjunction with a gold standard. Being readily
convertible into cash, through the medium of the
loan-office, no inconvenience can ever be felt by the
depositors. A plain and simple machinery will sup-
plant a clumsy and complicated apparatus, accompa-
nied with an interminable series of fractional accounts
and an accumulated mass of cumbrous documents.
By pursuing the course recommended the number
of the banks may be reduced without detriment, and
the staff diminished without impairing their effieiency.
Confidence will be restored, the balances regu!arly
adjusted, and the national faith maintained inviolate.
With regard to the Loan Office, it is generally
admitted that a system of the kind, judiciously con•
ducted, has invariably proved eminently instru-
mental in developing hidden resources, and stimu-
lating individual exertion, which seldom fails in
reaping the accustomed fruits of contentment and
wealth. But these advantages being chiefly derived
from banks, the benefits have hitherto been almost
exclusively confined to the affluent ranks, the hum-
bler portion of the community receiving little ac-
commodation, except in Scotland, from bodies formed
for pecuniary transactions on a large scale. And
the same remark applies to Exchequer-bills. It
seems advisable, therefore, to abolish restrictions,
and to extend this branch, in a mode sanctioned by
experience, and conducive to the welfare of the
operative classes, by placing within their reach a
participation in its beneficial agency.
In furtherance of this view, permission should be
accorded to discount promissory notes of an approved
description for su.nis not exceeding 201., or at a
longer date than twelve months, at five per cent.
interest, thereby avoiding all interference with ordi-
nary banking affairs, and by being enabled to advance
loans on the lodgment of debentures, the whole
design will be perfected.
As to the third department, it is certain that a
first charge by mortgage on fee simple estates,
held under a char title, presents the most unexcep-
tionable species of security. In this instance mutual
gain will arise from a reciprocal interchange of be-
nefits. The burdens of the proprietors will be
lightened, and the interests of the tenants become
identified with the soil they cultivate, generating
harmony, and multiplying those artificial links which
bind and strengthen human society.
To facilitate the assignment of deeds and the con-
veyance of indentures, it will be expedient to confer
additional powers on the Court of Chancery in
questions affecting legal and equitable ights, by
which litigation may be prevented and costs avoid. d.
The Incumbered Estates Act passed for Ireland vs ill
serve materially to assist the operations in that qua: ter
of her Aldjesty s dominions. By erecting a cheap
tribunal for the judicial decision of disputed claims,
searches of registration, and other impediments, will be
got rid of, and a final settlement of ownership decreed,
a matter hard to be ascertained amid conflicting
opinions and reversed judgments. With refe-
rence to the last department it is needless to
dilate on the utility of provident associations,
the merits of which are so justy appreciated
whenever tried, holding out as they do inducements,
during the vigour of youth, to prepare moderate
camforts :and independence under the infirmities of
age; but it is desirable that the direction should be

Mr. I3ithell, M. it=rgeant Mereweather, and Mr. Ran-
datli appeared as counsel for the Corporation and in
support of the appeal; and the Solioitor-General, Mr.
James, and M. Mule were on behalf of the Crown.
The arguments appear likely to occupy several days.

ROLLS' COURT.—(THIS DAY.)
The Master of the Rolls sat in ILL; court, in the Rolls-
yard, Chancery-lune, to-day, and was occupied the whole
morning with the further arguments on WI part-heard
case of " Sulomons v. Laing."

Nothing of any iuterist occurred in any of the Vice
Chancel-) Courts.

COMMON PLEAS.-(THIS DAY.)
',Sittings in Banco before Justices MAULE, CRESSWELL
and WILLIAMS)
DOE DEA. STRICKLAND V. STICKLAND.

In this case, which was part heard ye.terday, it ap-
peared that the defendant, Sir George Strickland, and
Henry Eustachius Strickland, are sons of the late Sir
George Strickland, who died at Boynton, in the county
of York, in the year 1808. The deceased Ba-
ronet executed a will on the 18th July, 1776, which,
in the course of the argument, was denominated " the
Yorkshire will," by which he devised certain estr.tes

to his four sons, with remainder tot he survivors. Anothcr
son, the plaintiff, was born early in 1778, after the testa-
tor had executed his will, and on the 15th May, 1778,
the testator, by a codicil, provided for the plaintiff by a
devise, and also by t x!ending to him the benefit of re-
mainder, as to the devises in his first will in the event
of his surviving his brothers. In the same year, 1778,
the testator executed duplicate copies of this will and

codicil in London, without altering their original dates,
which were duly attested. Lady Strickland, upon
the testator's decease, handed over his keys to
his sons, who found the Yorkshire will in a
portfolio upon the testator's writing-table, and the
London will was discovered in a drawer of the same
table. In the codicil to the Yorkshire will the devise to
the plaintiff was foiled to have been obliterated; whilst
in the Loudon will it remained entire; and the question
was whether the alteration in the one will was in-
tended by the testator to operate as an alteration of
the other. On the trial of the cause at York the ver-
dict went fur the defendant. On a former day, on the
motion of Mr. Martin (with whom was Mr. Ciwling), a
rule nisi was obtained calling upon the defendant to show
cause why there should nut be a new trial on the
ground of misdirection on the part of the Learned Judge
who tried the cause.

Mr. Knowles, Mr. Watson, and Mr. Hugh Hill, noA
showed cause against the rule, contending nt great
leng,h that the ruling of the Judge at nisi priu; was
righ,.

Mr. Justice MAULE, in giving judgment, said he
thought the rule should be discharged. The question
was as to the direction of the Learned Judge to the jury,
who lett it to them first to say whether the Lonlull
will was a separate will, or whether the London and
Yorkshire wills, with the duplicate codicils annexed,
formed cre will in two parts? It such a question as
that was raised by the evidence there could not be a
doubt that it was a material question to be determined
by the jury. It was suggested by Mr. Hill that there
being a variance in one passage, not in question at all
in the ejectment, between the London and Yorkshire
wills, those wills were not strictly duplicates. But it
seemed to him (Mr Justice Maule) quite unnecessary to
consider whether they were duplicates or not i❑
the rigorous sense of the word. That was
really no more than to enter into a critical discussion
as to the word duplicate. lie conceived there was
nothing at all to show there might not be one will
consisting of two papers, which were contemporaneously
executed, and were intended each of them to be the
testator's will, although there was a variation between
them. The Learned Junge at the trial then left it to
the jury say if those two wills, with the duplicate
colic :r, w?re intended to form one will, and if the

ci\litcratior. and alteration in the one was intended
to alt' r the disposition of the property, or was in
ellect an obliteration and an alteration of both. Now,
inasmuch as with respect to that property, if each of
these documents was intended to operate simultaneously,
and not by way of superseding the other, then the can-
cellation of one of those papers was he (\lr. Justice
Maule) thought on principle and authority a cancella-
tion of the other. Then the Learned Judge le! tit to the
jury to say whether these obliterations were intended by
Sir George Stricleand to be &all as his then will until
he should determine on making another, or whether
they were made whilst he was deliberating on
what will he should malv. Now, that was
leaving to the jury the question of the intention of
the testator, which was undoubtedly a question of fact.
Upon the whole it appeared to him (Mr. Ju,tic,
Maule) that this case had been rightly decided, and that
the ruling of the Learned Judge at the trial was correct.
He thereforc, thought that the rule should be discharged.

Mr. Justice CRESSWELL and Mr. Justice WiLLrems
both concurred.

Rule discharged accordingly.

BOW-STREET.--(THIS DAY.)

A man named Hollis was charged with theft.
Sergeant Thompson stated that last night, about a
quarter to six o'clock, he was passing down Upper
Wellington-street, when he met the prisoner with some
thing under his arm, covered with a sort of black cloth.
He asked him what he had got there, and prisoner re-
plied, a desk, which he was going to take to a French
polisher's in a neighbouring court, adding that it be-
longed to his master. Mr. Brown, a cabinet-maker in
East street, near to Covent-garden Theatre. He told
the prisoner that he had some doubts of the truth of
this, and requested him to return with him to Mr.
Brown's, but the prisoner no sooner heard the request
than he threw the desk down, dashing it to pieces, and
took to his heels. Ile, however, pursued, and soon over-
took him, and when they reached the station-house the
owner of the desk had just arrived, to give infoi mation
of his loss. Toe owner was a broker in Whitehart-
street, Drury-lane and the value of the desk was esti-
mated by him at 15s.
Mr. HENRY asked the prisoner if ho had anything to
say ? Prisoner—Noling.
Mr. HENRY—What are you ? Prisoner—A labourer.
Mr. HENRY—Where do you live ? Prisoner—Any
vi,here.

Mr. lIENRY—Whert and when did you work last ?
Prisoner—At Be-rwick, aliout nine months ago, on the
No% castle an.l Bor wick hallway.
Mr. HENRY—How long have you been in London?
Prisoner—Three months.

Mr. HENRY—What have you been doing during that
Lm, ? Prisoner—Begging.
The prisoner was fully committed for trial.

Ma. ARTIB'S ELOCUTIONAUY ENTERTAINMENT.—
Last evening this talented gentleman gave another of
those attractive entertainments at the Freemasons' Hall,
at which place he is now delivering a series. Han. ci
was the tragedy read last night. It would be stale praise
to say Mr. Artis reads beautifully and tastefully—we
prefer recommending a visit, promising all those who do
Eo a delightful evening...

oTEPISEY RELIEF SOCIETY.—On Tuesday evening
last a concert took place at the Philosophical Institution,
Beaumont-square, Mile-end, in aid of the funds of .this
excellent charity, which has for its object the relief of
the deserving- poor during the winter months. The
Distin Family were engaged for the occasion, with Mr.
George Ford, and other artistes. Every part of the in-
stitution was filled with a highly respectable company,
and many friends of the society who had not previously
taken tickets were unable to obtain a seat in any part of
the house. The Matins were repeatedly encored, and
lost none of their well-merited fame upon this occasion;
Mr. George Ford was also well received, and encored in
every song. Au address written for the occasion was
well delivered by one of the members of the society, and
much applauded, printed copies of which were afterwards
distributed to the company. There were upwards of
elaven hundred persons present. Altogether it must
have been highly gratifying to the management to find
their praisv worthy exertions so completely successful.
Great credit is due to the committee of the Beaumont
Institution for the success which attend their labours in
rendering the accommodation to the public most com
plete.
Riches are but ciphers; it is the mind that makes
the sum.—L .liza Cook's Journal.

The Marquis of Northampton, accompanied by
Viscount Alford, M.P., and Lady Matianne Alford,
Lord Aboyni, and Lady Margaret Compton, by the last
letters received in town, bad left Malta after a sejour of
three weeks, for Alexandria, with the intention of
making a tour in Egypt, in the course of which the
Noble Marquis and party intended to vi-it the Pyramids.
We unchrstand the Noble Marquis returns to this
country abut March, also Viscount at,d Lady Varianne
Alford, for his Lordship to attend to his Parliamentary
duties.

MANNA CAOUP.—Some large arrivals of the article
known as manna croup are now taking place, the supplies
of which have hitherto been of a very limited eh acter.
The vessel Helen M'Gregor, from St. Petersburgh, has
brought 50 packages, and the vessel Ides, arrived in the
docks from St. Petersburg h, has brought 101 bags, con-
Agned, an-1 also 305 packages of the a; tide to order. By
a recent general order of the Custom.' board, the article
known as manna croup, which is now understood to be
wheat gr.'und by a particular opercion, is to be admitted
as wheat meal at the nominal duty of 4f per cwt., which
will account for the greatly increased supplies of the
article which are now taking place from Jinni%

LITERATURE.
DAVID COPPERFIELD. .No.
Charles Dickens.
7t3(ri
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pror
duced
i r i
bte
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uy
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t than
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perfectly
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sfoiedituts4nhts,gbeh,
at;
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none haceuetatrzaid:rett_eoeenrsr.st
scribA as truthfully, or with such a miraculous
particularity, the effects of a " first dissipation."
As a delineation of drunkenness it is actually
marvellous, and may rank with the happiest descrip•
tive passages in the language. It falls out thus :
Daisy having been installed by Aunt Betsey in
certain furnished apartments in Buckingham-street,
Adelphi—chambers consisting of " a little half-
blind entry where you could see hardly anything,
a little stone-blind pantry where you could see
nothing, a sitting-room and a bed-room"— is
visited by his friend Steerrorth, and thereupon re-
solves to have a housewarming; to that end inviting
as his guests the said Steerforth and two of his college
friends, Grainger and Markham. The latter personage,
who "always spoke of himself itidefinitely as a man, and
seldom or never in the first person singular," is a
slight outline, but oae touched off to the life. Mrs.
Crupp, who is very great in her garments of nankeen,
with a flounce of flannel petticoat, comes out in grand
style on the occasion of the banquet, advising her
lodger to obtain the aid of a handy young man to
wait, and "a young gal" to wash the plates in the
pantry; recommending him also to obtain all the pro-
visions at the pastrycool's except two descriptions of
alitnent—" leaving her to concentrate her mind, on
the potatoes, a„d to serve up the cheese and celery as
she could wish to see it done." Among the more im-
portant features of the dinner are the circumstance of
the mock turtle soup proving what Steerforth face•
tiously calls "rather a tight fit for four"—Daisy
madly taking so much snuff out of Grainger's box,
that he was obliged "to go into the pantry and
have a private fit of sneezing ten minutes long,"
and the catualities arising from the inquisitive
disposition of the "young gal," who thereby
was unable to confine herself to the pantry, was
constantly peering in at the festivity, and
constantly imagining herself detected, "in which
belief she several times retired upon the plates (with
which she had carefully paved the floor) and did a
great deal of destruction." But the account of the
rise and progress of the various phases of intoxication,
as evidenced in the person of Daisy, is the best of
all. His declaring passionately, in two words, to his
principal guest, on the occasion of proposing his
health, " Steerforthyou'retheguidingstarofinyexist
ence"—his indignantly objecting to the toast of
" Woman " in lieu of " The Ladies "—his finding
himself smoking with the others, " and trying to sup-
press a rising tendency to shudder"—his resting his
nead against the cool stone parapet outside the bed-
room window, and remonstrating with himself for
smoking, by the name of Copperfield—his seeing the
resection of his face in the looking-glass, where " his
eyes had a vacant appearance, and his hair—only his
hair, nothing else—looked drunk "—his turning the
lamp off 'as they were about to sally
into the streets, when, " owing to seine
confusion in the dark, the door was gone,
and he was feeling fur it in the window curtains "
are all equally felicitous. As the four boon compa-
nions are going down the stairs, near the bottom
somebody fell and rolled down, somebody else saying
it was Copperfield. "I was angry at that false report,"
says Daisy, " until finding myself on my back in the
passage, I began to think there might be some foun-
dation for it." Further on, after being dusted under
a lamp-post, and getting his hat put into shape, he
observes that Steerforth then said, " You are all
right, Copperfield are you not ?' and I told him
Neverberrer.'" His entrance into the theatre, where
" the whole building looked as if were learning to
swim,"—his recognising Agnes .in the same box,
with the exclamation " Lorblessmer,"—his say-
ing afterwards, " rmafraidyou'renorwell,"—and his
finally wishing her " Goori," (which he intended for
" Good night,") and thereupon stepping at once out
of the box-door into his bedroom,"—are only equalled
by the account of his subsequent sensations and repent-
ance in the morning. He remains at home all the
next day, when at night Mrs. Crupp, coming in to
take away the broth basin, " produced one kidney on
a cheese-plate, as the entire remains of yesterday's
feast, and Daisy was really inclined to fall uponr her
nankeen breast in heartfelt penitence.', The last
chapter has so monopolized our attention that we
have left ourselves scarcely room to mention the two
preceding ones, though they are scarcely less excel-
lent. In the twenty second, entitled, " Some Old
Scenes, and some New People," we take leave once
more of Yarmouth and the Peggotties ; previously,
however, making the acquaintance of a knowing little
blade of a dwarf, one Miss Movvcher=. a vendor of
rouge and general renovator of hair and whiskers.
Her "Bob Swore" is almost as good as David's
"Goori." Mr. Littimer is left at Yarmouth by
Steerforth, who has purchased a boat before his
departure—preparations evidently made towards the
abduction of little Enfly. In the twenty-third
chapter, Daisy selects his profession, Aunt Betsey
meeting him in London, and conducting him for
that purpose to Doctors' Commons, in order that
he may learn the duties of a proctor. The sketch
of Mr. Spenlow—" Punch again"—is capital ; also
the following happy description of the firm under
whom Daisy is to be placed :

legalls,:d under the -F uperintendence of the C3trni3•
sionei-s, in prcieretiee to being left to the voluntary
care of private persons, however benevolent, prudent,
and correct.

This brief outline of the distinguishing features in
the proposed enactment is submitted for examination,
more to attract attention to the inquiry, than from
any relia.ice on its intrinsic worth. It remains for
statesmen versed in such matters, to legislate on this
important subject. It is impossible to deny that
the prosperity of a country mainly depends on the
intellig,nce of its inhabitants and the wis•
dom of its institutions. An anxiety to better
their position in life is an instinctive feeling prevalent
among mankind, but the fault usually committed lies
in vainly aspiring to grand things which few can
attain, and erroneously neglectit,g minor things
which every one may command. For reasons like
these, it is essential that the policy of rulers, in the
guidance of domestic concerns, should be based on the
broad ani comprehensive principle of opening equally,
to all, without exception, sources of suitable occupa-
tion and channels of reproductive employment,
strictly to preserve internal order, to spread the arts
of civilization and peace; and while the varied grada-
tions must ever exist and be upheld, to connect and
unite its component parts, when broken and
scattered, by cementing and moulding them :into
the prop..rtioned shape of a great joint-stock com-
pany, in which every citizen might hold a share.
When the body politic is thus healthy and sound,
poverty will decline, dissatisfaction cease, a salutary
tone pervade the national character, and that pure
patriotism, which is best evinced in genuine devotion
to one's native land, become universally cherished.
Much is expected from the present Cabinet. They
fortuna,ely possess both the power and the will to do
good. Under circumstances so auspicious a confident
hope may be indulged that another session will not
be permitted to pass without their devising a matured
and well-digested measure, calculated to ameliorate
;he condition of the people, and tending to promote
he progressive improvement of the United Kingdom.
MICHAEL J. KEATING,
Archdeacon of Ardfert.

Aug. 1, 1849.

HAT SECURITY has a SAVINGS'
BANK DEPOSITOR ?
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—Since the recent defalcation of the actuary of
e Rochdale Savings' Bank, I have been at the pains
,o peruse carefully the whole of the statutes relating
o savings' banks, with the view to ascertain the pre-
cise position of depositors in those banks, as it respects
the nature of the security they possess for the money
they have lodged in them; and I conceive, at this
moment, an essential service would be rendered to
the industrious orders of the community, more espe-
cially to such of them as stand in the relation of de-
positors in savings' banks, by stating clearly what
is the legal position of a depositor. This is the more
necessary, as a very erroneous notion generally pre-
vails that the Government is responsible to depositors
for any loss they may sustain by the fraud or defal-
cation of any officer or party connected with the
management of savings' banks. This is a very great
mistake, though, as I shall presently show, depositors
do possess the security of the Government in a
scarcely less important sense.
It was shortly after the commencement of the
present century that savings' banks dated their rise in
this country; and for some time after their origin
they were not the subjects of any legislative
enactment. The benevolent individuals in a locality
who associated themselves together for the establish-
ment and management of those laudable institutions,
and who were usually as affluent as they were philan-
thropic, were in the habit, in the first instance, of
pledging their own joint and personal security to the
depositors. But in the course of tune an aggregated
sum of money flawed into those, savings' banks, far
greater in amount than their most sanguine founders
could have anticipated, and thence arose the necessity,
for some more solid security to maintain the confi-
dence which had been shown towards those
institutions ; and it was in the year 1817, when there
were about eighty savings' banks existing in Eng-
land, that the first Act of Parliament wis passed
with the view to encourage and protect them.
That was the 57 Geo. 111., c. 130, under the
authority of which a fund was (inter aliu) established
in the Office for the Reduction of the National Debt,
entitled " The Fund for the Banks for Savings,"
and to this fund the trustees of savings' banks were
bound, from time to time, to transmit the amount of
all deposits made with them, when the sum amounted
to 50/. or more. For the sums so invested the
trustees received debentures carrying interest at the
rate of 41. 1 le. 31. per cent. per annum, payable half-
yearly. By a subsequent Act, passed in 1828
(9 Geo. IV., c. 92), that rate of interest was reduced
to 3/. 16s. per cent. per annum, whilst the interest to
be paid to depositors was settled at 3/. Bs. Si. per
cent. per annum, the difference being allowed to be
retained by the trustees to defray the necessary ex-
penses of carrying on the savings' banks. A still
later Act, passed in 1844 (7 and 8 Vict. cap. 83),
reduced the interest paid by the Commissioners for
the Reduction of the National Debt to the trustees
still further, namely, to 31. ss. per cent. per annum;
and the highest rate of interest to be
paid to depositors was settled at 3/. Os. 10d.
per cent. per annum, the difference, as before,
going to defray the current expenses of the bank. I
believe the rate of interest which is at present paid
by savings' banks is 2/. 17s. ad., and whatever sum
remains, after defraying all charges and outgoings, is
allowed to accumulate as a surplus fund.
This, then, is the state of the case. The depositors
in savings' banks hold the security of the Government
for whatever sums the trustees invest in its hands
under the terms of the Acts which I have quoted;
and those sums will, or ought, in all cases to consist of
the whole of the deposits beyond the sum of 50/,
which is allowed to be kept in hand to answer the
exigencies of the bank. It can only be by some gross
and culpable negligence on the part of the trustees, as
in the case of the Rochdale Bank, that an artful and
fraudulent actuary or other officer can be permitted,
for a long series of years, to abstract an enormous
proportion of the deposits. But even with respect to
frauds of that description, the Legislature has
by no means left the depositor defenceless
or without remedy. The statutes to which
I have referred, and others bearing upon the
same subject, provide that every paid officer, such as
a treasurer, actuary, cashier, or secretary, shall give
good and sufficient security, by bond, for the due
performance of his duties, and especially for his right-
eously accounting for any funds that may pass through
his hands; and in cases of defalcation, the depositors,
by their trustees, are not only empowered to sue the
sureties of the defaulter, but the statute of Victoria
expressly provides that he shall be adjudged guilty of
a misdemeanour. Nor is this all. The trustees
themselves, under certain circumstances, are made
responsible for defalcations. Section 6of the Act of
Victoria, to which I have referred, enacts, "That no
trustee or manager of any savings' bank shall be
liable to make good any deficiency which may here-
after arise in the funds of any savings' bank, unless
such persons shall have respectively declared by
writing, under their hands, and deposited with the
Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt,
that they are willing so to be answerable; and it shall
be lawful for each of such persons, or for such persons
collectively, to limit his or their responsibility to such
sum as shall be specified in any such instrument.
Provided always that the trustee or manager of any
such institution shall be and is hereby declared to be
personally responsible and liable for all moneys
actually received by him on account of, or to and for
the use of such institution, and not paid over or dis-
posed of in the manner directed by the rules of the
said institution."
From all this it will be abundantly evident that
the depositors in savings' banks have no good or
reasonable ground of alarm. I have shown they have
an ample and solid security for the surplus earnings
they may have lodged in those institutions, namely,
the security of the Government of the country itself,
than which none more certain or safe can surely be
found ; but, beyond this the Government is in nowise
responsible to savings' banks. This, being so, depo-
sitors may rest contented. Now and then an un
principled actuary may practice fraud on those
benevolent institutions, but in general he will
never have scope or opportunity for so demeaning
himself. In no case of defalcation in • the
savings' banks in England that I know of have the
depositors eventually sustained any loss. In the in-
stances of both the Nottingham and St. Alban's
savings' banks, a few years ago, the deficiency occa-
sioned by the dishonesty of certain paid officers was
made good to the depositors by the trustees, to-their
lasting honour, out of their own private fortunes, and
it remains to be seen whether the trustees of Roch-
dale will emulate so nob'e an example. The popular
mistake seems to have been that the Government was
responsible for the defalcations of the officers of
savings' banks, whereas the truth is, that it is only
answerable for the re•payment with interest of such
sums as the trustees of those institutions shall invest
in its hands.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
MATTHEW SOULSBY.
Dec. 8, 1849.

VIII. By

We understand that the funeral of her late Majesty
the Queen Dowager will take place on Thursday,
the 13th, instead of Tuesday, the Times.
THE ETIQUETTE OF MOURNING.—Although the
deepest mourning has been ordered by authority, i►.
does not follow that persons attending the reunions of the
season are expected to appear in other than half-
mourning. This fact may be fully relied upon, the
Messrs. Jay, the purveyors to the Court, in Regent-
street, having been fully instructed upon the subject,
and in consequence of which the acknowledged taste
and ingenuity of their artists are actively directed to the
production of recherche novelties for this express pur-
pose.—Post.

MESSRS. SPEN LOW AND JORKINS.
" I was quite dismayed by the idea of this terrible
Jorkins. But I found out afterwards that he was a
mild man, of a heavy temperament, whose place in the
business was to keep himself in the back-ground, and
be constantly exhibited by name as the most obdurate
and ruthless of men. It a clerk wanted his salary
raised, Mr. Jorkins wouldn't listen to such a proposi-
tion. If a client were slow to settle his bill of costs, Mr.
Jorkins was resolved to have it paid; and however
painful these things might be (and always were) to the
feelings of Mr. Spenlow, Mr. Jorkins would have his
bond. The heart and hand of the good angel Spenlow
would have been always open, but for the restraining
demon Jorkins. As I have grown older, I think I have
had experience of some other houses doing business on
the principle of Spenlow and Jerkins!"
Here also is another admirable picture—Dickens's
description of the Court in Doctor's Commons :
" Mr. Spenlow conducted me through a paved court-
yard formed of grave brick houses, which I inferred,
from the Doctors' names upon the doors, to be the
official abiding-places of the learned advocates of whom
Steerforth had told me; and into a large dull room, not
unlike a chapel, to my thinking, on the left hand. The
upper part of this room was fenced off from the rest;
and there, on the two sides of a raised platform of the
horse-shoe form, sitting on easy old-fashioned dining-
room chairs, were sundry gentlemen in red gowns and
grey wigs, whom I found to be the Doctors aforesaid.
Blinking over a little desk like a pulpit-desk, in the
curve of the horse-shoe, was an old gentleman, whom, if
I had seen him in an aviary, !should certainly,have taken
for an owl, but who I learned was the presiding judge.
In the space within the horse-shoe, lower than those,
that is to say, oa about the level of the floor, were
sundry other gentlemen, of Mr. Spenlow's rank, and
dressed like him in black gowns with white fur upon
them, sitting at a long green table. Their cravats were
in general stiff, I thought, and their looks haughty ; but
in this last respect I presently conceived I had done them
an injustice, for when two or three of them had to rise
and answer a question of the presiding dignitary, I never
saw anything more sheepish. The public, represented
by a boy with a comforter, and a shabby-genteel man
secretly eating crumbs out of his coat pockets, was
warming itself at a stove in the centre of the court.
The languid stillness of the place was only broken by
the chirping of this fire and by the voice of one of the
Doctors, who was wandering slowly through a perfect
library of evidence, and stopping to put up, from time
to time, at little roadside inns of argument on the jour
ney. Altogether, I have never, on any occasion, made
one at such a cosey, dosey, old-fashioned, time-for-
gotten, sleepy-headed little family-party in all my life;
and I felt it would be quite a soothing opiate to belong
to it in any character—except perhaps as a suitor."
The incident of Aunt Betsey's encounter with an
unknown beggar in St. Paul's Churchyard is unac-
countably mysterious.

England as the only country In which the arts can be
permanently and securely fostered.'"
The Art-Journal altogether is one of the most brilliant
and deserving of our periodicals.

EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS.
(PRIVATE VIEW—THIS DAY.)
In the admirable gallery, recently opened by Mr.
J. L. Grundy at No. 130, Regent•street, a copious
and charming collection of " Sketches in Oii
and Water-Colour Drawings" has just been
opened. The private view, which we have
had the gratification of attending at the very
commencement of the exhibition, has afforded us
very peculiar pleasure. Considering the variety and
multiplicity of the productions with which the walls
of the apartments are adorned, we have seldom
witne,sed an exhibition displaying so little to
which we could seriously make exception. liav:ng
examined these paintings and drawings almost before
they were cl-finitively placed in their p:mitions, wu
have unfortunately missed the assiitance of a cata-
logue
.in commenting upon the different com-
positions, and must consequently fur the present rest
c,ntented with a general reference to their ability.
George Catterinule, as usual, has been pulinently suc-
cessful, not rm.rely in h s mill scenes, but also, and
especially in his armorial and ecclesiastical groups—
groups, under his hand, alw !ys rendered strik-
ingly dramatic. " Columbus explaining his scheme
for discovering a new world to the monks assembled
in the Spanish convent," and another exquisite draw-
ing representing the farewell of a knight and his lady-
love, are admirable examples of his happiest style, the
latter being eminently graceful and effective. Frost
in two small compositions proves, to our thinking,
not so successful as is his wont even upon these
smaller occasions for the display of his peculiar
and indisputable genius. Poole, on the con-
trary, shows himself as ever marvellously
true to nature and loyal to art; his rustic
figures are charmingly felicitous, above all the
one pourtraying a little girl laughing slyly from
under her eyebrows, with all the archness of the little
Ilebes, who seem to hare been somewhat favourites
with the great Murillo. In one corner of
the principal room we observed a fine and
singularly clever specimen of Pyne, while on an
opposite wall hang three glorious little drawings from
the easle of Clarkson Stanfield. The centre one
forms a perfect bijou of coast scenery. The
principal feature of the exhibition, however,
remains yet altogether unnoticed, namely, the
screen fronting the chief window of the
gallery. On this screen are arranged, besides
three extraordinary drawings by Edwin Landseer,
the most conspicuous production in the apartments—
namely, a very admirable and brilliant painting by
Topham. In th:s work he has been eminently successful,
whether in regard to colouring, grouping, manipula-
tion, sentiment, or character. The story is told
in a word, as it is recognized at a glance.
A poor Irish family, a young man and his
young wife, are seated by a " holy well,"
the mother is administering a portion of the
miraculous water to her sick infant, the father looking
on with a listless indifference singularly expressive
and characteristic. In every respect the painting
will tend to raise the reputation of Mr. Topham, and
cannot fail to prove one of the main attractions in the
present very interesting and most diversified exhi
bit ion.

INDIA.

NORTH-WEST PROVINCES.

We copy from the./llnfassilite of the 18:h inst., the
follov‘ing programme of the intended movements of
Sir C. Napier during the period he has to remain in
India, which, we dare say, will be found correct,
should nothing turn up in the meantime to cause a
change in the arrangements resolved on. The state-
ment that Sir Charles is to be succeeded by Sir W.
' Gomm may be doubted. It is towards Bombay the
present sojourner in Ceylon looks as the place on which
to rest the soles of his feet.
" We are at length enabled to announce that his excel-
lency the Commander-in-Chief leaves Simla on the morn-
ing of the 20. h instant, and proceeds on his tour to Agra
and Delhi. His Excellency's camp starts from lialka on
the sth proximo, for Loodianab, where Sir Charles
overtakes it by dank. He crosses the Sutlej at Phillour,
traverses the Jullundhur Doab, and visits Lahore. He
afterwards inspects the several military stations and
posts between the Bane and Indus, and proceeds as far
as Peshawur. From thence he returns by a cross route
to Moultan, where his Excellency dispenses with the
further attendance of head-quarters staff, who returns to
the provinces, whilst Sir Charles pursues his journey to
Bhawulpore, and goes down the Indus to the point where
ho crosses to Kurrechee. A steamer will bo in attend-
ance there to convey Sir Charles to Bombay, and there
he takes his leave of the army in India, and embarks for
England in March next. Sir William Gomm, we be-
lieve, will be Sir Charles Napier's successor."

BY HIS EXCELLENCY TEE COMMANDER•IN CRIER IN

INDIA.

Bead-Quarter:4, Simla, Oct. 16, 1849.
With the sanction of tho Most Noble the Governor-
General, his Excellency the Commander-in• Chief is
pleas«•d to direct the following movements and changes
of quarters of corps of the army, to be carried into effect
in the order specified:—
ARTILLERY.-Ist Brigaale.-I.st Troop, from Jullundur
Wuaeeraba(l, to more whoa relieved by the 3d troop
21 Brigade.
21 Brigade, from Hosheyarpore to Pesbawur, to
move on the 15th November.

4th Brigade, from WiLverabad to Hoshiarpore, to
move when relieved by Ist Troop Ist Brigade.
sth Brigade, from Aluttra to 11,:twu1 Pindee, to move
the 15th November.

2d Brigaie, 3d Troop, Ferezepore to Jullundur, to
move on the 15th November.

4th Brigade, from Rivvul Pindee to Ferevpore, to
move %hen relieved by the sth Troop let Brigade.
3d Brigade 4th Troop, from Wuzeerabad to.Sluttra, to
move on the 15ih November.

Ist Battalion, 2d Company, and No. 14 camel battery,
from Nusseerabad to Moultan, to move when relieved
from Bombay.
4th Company, and No. 8, bullock battery, from
11how to Agra, to mDvo when relieved from Madras.
2d Battalion, Head-quarters, from Cawnpore to La-
hore, to move on the 22d O,tober, as already ordered.
6:h Battalion, 2d Company, and No. 9 horse battery,
from Agra to Jullundur, to move on the 15th November.

4th Company and No. 10 horse batter•, from Boodee
Pind to Peshawur, to move on the 15th November; to
halt at Jullundur, until the arrival there of 2d Company
tth Battalion and No. 9 horse battery.
7th Battalion-Ist Company, from Almorah to At-
tcck, to move on the 3d of December.
2d Company and No. 6 horse battery, from Jhelum to
Boodee Thud, to move on, being relieved by the sth Com-
pany, 7th Battalion, and No. 13 horse battery.
3d Company and No. 5 horse battery, from Wurzeera -
bad to Bareilly, to move on the 15th November; two
guns of this battery to be posted at Moradabad.
4th Company and No. 1 horse battery, from Bareilly
to Wtwerabad, to move on, being relieved by 3d Com-
pany, 7th Battalion, and No. 5 horse battery.
sth Company and No. 13 horse battery, from Delhi to
Jhelum, to move on being relieved by 6th Company, Btb
battalion, and No. 15 horse battery.
6th Company, from Attock to Meerut, to move when
relieved by Ist Company, 7th Battalion,
Bth Battalion.-2d Company, and No 2 bullock bat-
tery, from Neemuck to Lahore, when relieved from
Bombay.

3d Company, from Cawnpore to Govindghur, to move
on the 15th November.

_ .
4th Company, from Govindghur to Almorah, to move
on being relieved by the 3d Company, Bth battalion.
sth Company, from Bangor to Cawnpore, to move
a hen relieved from Madras.

6th Company, and No. 15 horse battery, from Lahore
to Delhi, to move on the 15th of November.
LIGET CAVALRY.—Ist Regiment, from Peshaw•ur to
Cawnpere, to move when relieved by the 7th Regiment.
3d Regiment, from Muttra, to Nowf,ong, to move on
the 20th November.

4th Regiment (lancers), from Cawnpore to Wuzeera-
bad, to move on the 20th November.
sth Regiment, from Wuzeerabad to Nakodah, to
move when relieved by the 4th Regiment.
7th Regiment, from Jullundur to Peahawur, to move
on the 15th November.

9th Regiment, from Mhow to Muttra, to move when
relieved from Madras.

IRREGULAR CAVALRY..—tat Regiment, from Nee-
much to Lahore, to move on the 15th November. If in-
dispensable, the duty of detachments from the corps to
be taken by the cavalry of the Mulwah contigent, until
relieved from Bombay.
2d Regiment, from Hoshearpore to Jhelum, head-
quarters and right wing to move on the 15th November;
left when relieved by right wing of 7th Regiment.
3d Regiment, from Jhelum to Bireilly, to move when
relieved by head-quarters and right wing of the 2d Re-
giment.

4th Regiment, from Segowlee to Jhansi (for civil
duties), head-quarters and right wing to move on 20:h
November ; left wing when relieved by right wing of
10th Regiment.
_ .

sth Regiment, from Bareilly to Moultan ; left wing
to move 15th November ; head quarters and right wing
when relieved by 3d Regiment.
6th
.Regiment, from Saugor to Wuzeerabad, to more
when relieved from Madras.

7th Regiment, from •Yuzoerabad to Hoshearpore,
head quarters and right wing to move 15th November ;
lwft wing when relieved by 6th Regiment.
9th Regiment, from Loodianah to Peihawur. One
wing of this regiment will join the escort with the
Governor-General's camp, and be relieved at Lahore by
a wing of the 17th Regiment; and one ressalah will join
the escort with the Commander-in-Chief's camp, and be
relieved at Peshawur; the head-quarters and remainder
of the corps to march on 20th November.
10th Regiment, from Jhansi to Segowlie; head-
quarters and right wing to move on 15th November; left
wing when relieved by right wing 4th Regiment.
12th Regiment, from Rawal Pindee to Jullundur;
head-quarters and right wing to move on 15th No-
vember; left wing when relieved by right wing 16th
Regiment.

13th Regiment, from Peshawur to Molterian, to move
when relieved by the 15th Regiment.
14th Regiment, from Lahore to Hoshearpore (for
civil duties); head q carters and right wing to move on
18th of November; left wing on arrival at Lahore of lct
Regiment.