The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-18 00:00:00

man probability, be more than realised.
A new mine is about to be opened, and although the
richness of the concealed ore cannot as yet be accu-
rately ascertained, the indications are such as to afford
a certainty of handsome returns to the speculators.

The British Bank offers facilit!es to a very nume-
rous class, who at present are wholly excluded from
the benefits of banking accommodation—viz., to the
small traders, men who cannot afford to keep large
balances lying idle in their bankers' hands. The
accounts of those who have not considerable balances
at all times available will not readily be accepted by
private establishments; the proprietors do not desire
small transactions. Even the joint-stock banks, that
were instituted for the purpose of providing a remedy
for the acknowledged evils arising from the failure of
banking accommodation, although their operations
have been highly beneficial, do not meet the full
extent of the deficiency. There is, in fact, a hiatus
between the legitimate banks and the savings' banks,
which are exclusively for the humble classes, which
it is the object of the British Bank to supply. For
this purpose it is intended to allow interest at the rate
of 1 per cent. on all balances on drawing accounts
exceeding 1001. and not amounting to 2001., and of
2 per cent. on all exceeding 2001 ; and these balances
will, as in Scotland, be calculates from day to day,
and not on the smallest. balance on any day during a
month or six months, as in the metropolitan jont-
stock banks. It is also provided " that no fee for
clerks shall be charged to nor be allowed to be ac-
cepted from customers," although, " for the con-
venience of the less wealthy cutomers, deposits of
any amount not less than cue pound in one sum"
will be received. In addition to these great ad•
vantages money will be received to any amount
(in sums of not less than 205.) on deposit accounts,
the principal not being repayable for six months,
whereon interest will be allowed at the rate of 3 per
cent., payable monthly or weekly, or at longer periods,
as desired. As 3/. Os. 101. is the highest amount of
interest allowed by law to be paid by savings' banks,
andivery few pay the maximum rate, and as no more
than 301. can be received in these valuable institutions
in
each year on any single account, and no more than
1,501, altogether, it may fairly be anticipated that this
new feature will be made largely available, and that
many who would otherwise have deposited in sayings'
banks will resort to the British Bank.

In addition to the usual discount accommodation af-
forded to all classes of customers, the British Bank will
also make advances on " cash credits" and on promis-
sory notes, convertible securities being also deposited,
with a power of sale in case of default. These have
been found most profitable sources of revenue in
Scotland, as well as most beneficial to the parties
accommodated, and there is no reason why the results
in this country should not be equally favourable.
The committee calculate on paying the share-
holders dividends at the rate of six per cent. per
annum, after setting aside considerable sums to form
a "bad debt fund account," a " clerks' fund account,"
and a " surplus or reserved fund account, for balance of
undivided profits." Under such circumstances we
cannot doubt the permanent welfare and prosperity of
an institution starting under such propitious auspices

The moralist need never look far for an example of I 2
the vicissitudes of life. They are readily to be met
with on every side ; nevertheless recent circumstances
have furnished us with some remarkable illustrations
of the vanity of human wishes. Not very many
months have elapsed since, conspicuous among all
other popular favourites for their individual virtues,
and for the almost unparallelei adulation which en-
compassed_ them, were ALPHONSE DE LAMARTINE,
PIO NONO, and CARLO ALBERTO. How much. that
enthusiastic homage was worth, let the mournful
deathbed at Oporto, let the exile at Gaeta, let the
sale—no, not the sale, GoD forbid !—but the adver-
tisement of the sale of the estates of hilly, tell. It
ls the old rule, established from time immemorial,
and it will continue so to the end of the chapter, men
weep over the graves their hands have helped to dig ;
nations erect trophies to the memory of those whom
they have hurried broken-hearted to the tomb. Sar-
dinia, in token of her tardy gratitude to CHARLES AL-
-11"; will erect a statue to his memory, on the
marble pedestal of which shall be engraven in letters
of gold the words pronounced by him in answer to
the address of the Senate, which was presented to
him at Oporto. Moreover, the name of the dead
KING, is henceforth to be " CHARLES ALBERT the
21.2agnanimous! Thus will the royal hero be recom-
pensed, and thus will the Sardinians be self-exempted
from the stigma of ingratitude. In like manner, we
doubt not, if (which Heaven avert ! ) the illustrious
patriot of France were to-morrow no more, the whole
nation would wear the mourning of the heart, and
France would resound with lamenting admiration for
LAMARTINE—

" When Ms bark lie buried deep
Would Envy be the first to weep."
Then statues would be erected to his honour ; then
complimentary epithets would be showered upon
his name; then pilgrimages would be made to
the terres de Milly. Now France can afford
to be forgetfuI—LAMARTINE lives. His birth-
Place may be sold by the auctioneer to pay for
debts which but for France would long since have
been liquidated. It is an old story, but to us an
inexpressibly mournful one. Ingratitude may surely
be reckoned as the most dishonourable of crimes. In
individuals ingratitude is always base, in nations it
is always unworthy. If any men are, above others,
entitled to the hearty appr)b.ation of their country.
men, it is they who have fought for the popular cause
through good report and evil report—who have stood
as resolutely on the people's side when thero was
" not a shot in the locker," as on the day of victory.
And to whom are the French people more indebted
than to LAMARTINE ? 'We have already said what
Would, in our opinion, be a suitable act on the part of
France. We would have the terres de Mills, in-
deed, bought and sold, but not knocked down to any
ordinary purchaser. We would have France herself,
Who is alone responsible for the violation of the con-
tract, which ensured them to LAMARTINE, become
the possessor of those lands, and transfer them as h:r
gift to LAMARTINE. We say we would have this,
but we do not expect it. If a monument or a
mausoleum were in question, it would be different.
Still we would fain believe there are in France many
noble harts who individually sympathise with the
Poet-statesman, ruined by his patriotism. Let them
Come forth and prevent the consummation of that
ruin ; it will be better than to hang a trophy over
his tomb. If it be otherwise, however, if LAMAR-
TINE'S birthplace be consigned to strangers, his
feelings, disappointed though he may be, will be en-
viable ones. He will feel that it was for France—
France for whom he has always planned, and toiled,
and written—that his beloved home has been sacri-
ficed. He would not wish to be the possessor of
Alilly, and have the revolution of February unaccom-
plished. His conscience will console him under any
personal sufferings, but how shill France console
herself hereafter when the record of these things is
ineffaceable ?
14

iONDoN, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH
COAST RAILWAY.
I RETIREMENT OF BUCKTON.
the i* with great regret that we perceive. Mr. Buckton,.
- active and intelligent secretary of this company,
Isout to leave their service. We suppose that this. tep
in
• n consequence of the new functions of the. chatr unit-
11.‘g therewith those of a resident and managing director.
3believe that Mr. Buckton has been with this company
neatlyaccountant tight years, his first occupation being
.that. of
hiseoseuntant and secretary to a committee of investigation,
lust] nid accountant and general superintendent, and,
of thy' ler More than four years, the fficient secretary
serv•° penY• The notice to Mr. Buckton that his
hihs 'Lees ere no longer required, no doubt, came upon
at;
‘'',Y surprise; but we trust that the investigations
,•;:na.n, Res in railway management that are now taking
will speedily afford to the railway world an oppor,
4uity of securing his valuable services.

ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS.—The telegraphs on the
Midland, North-Western, and other lines suffered consi-
derably in the recent storms, but in no instance were the
vcore munications permanently interrupted. Wires are
the
extended from the central station at Lothbury to
,e Post-office, so as to give instantaneous intelligence to
the authorities of the arrival of mails at the outports.
LIVERPOOL FRIDAY.—The Bishop of St. David's
whilst passing through Liverpool on Wednesday last was
se'z'A with a severe attack of cholera. We are happy
to ktue that on inquiry at the George Hotel to-day we
were informed that his Lordship had so far rt covered as
to bA able to leave tbe town.
\V"i(sor —Several agriculturists hereabouts have
--.o.rnnaenced cutting barley and oats, yet the unsettled
state of the weather has prevented the onward progress
Of the harvest hitherto. The crops generally are con-
fered to be abundant, and it the weather proves
writ we may expect above an average yield. There
writ be no lack of ormv.— Nottingham Journal.