The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-24 00:00:00

IND stnc. LONDON, WEDNESD Y, MARCH 24, 1841.

NATIONAL STORE AND DOCK

BANKS.

This is the title of a pamphlet by Mr. Enderby,
intended to recommend the establishment of
banks issuing paper on the goods deposited in
stores. We will, however, allow the author to
explain his own scheme :
The capital of the Bank of England is all to Govern-
ment, and it is not payable on demand ; it can only be consi-
dered as a security, and not as available assets, of which we
have evidence; for, under the most pressing difficulties of the
Bank of England in 1825, the Government, so far fi om relieving
them by repaying a portion oftheir debt, actually increased the
circulation, by loading the country with Exchequer Bills; and
on a former occasion (acting a more just part), they sanctioned
a suspension of specie payments.
The public would have, as I have before observed, a security
in the value of the Dock premises ; and, if we provide sufficient
accommodation for the trade of London, and the sphere of the
Bank of England operations at Manchester, Liverpool, Bir-
mingham, &c., the amount would infinitely exceed the capital
of the Bank of England lent to Government. In the issue of
their notes, the Dock Banks would have the same facilities of
porchas'ng or receiving gold on deposit, as the Bank of Eng-
land; and their other securities would be better, and more
profitable. My project, therefore, briefly, is to establish Na-
ticnal Store cr Dock Banks throughout the kingdom; as a -
guarantee for the credit afforded in the circulation of Bilis of
Exchange, or the notes, their substitutes.
To carry this plan into operation, the Directors of the Dock
Banks should advance their notes on the produce deposited
with them, taking in addition bills payable at a fixed date for.
the amount borrowed; by doing which, they would add the
per social security of the parties requiring assistance. Mean-
while, there can be no doubt but that three or four times the
value of goods is often advanced by the Bank of England on
bills protessedly for the same commodities, and which have
been consumed before such bills became due. •
In cases where the pledges or goods deposited are not re-
deemed within the period specified in the bill, the Dock Bank
should be at liberty to dispose of the commodities, and call on
the securities for any deficiency. The solvency of such a Bank
could not be shaken, as any run on it could only be for the re-
demption of the pledges.
It may be argued that the above scheme would tend to en-
courage gambling speculations ; and admitting such to be the
case for a short period, yet, it would have the effect of storing
the nation with produce, sufficient for two or three years' con-
sumption, when speculath n would cease : for short importations
of produce would but slightly influence prices, and high prices
would stimulate increased produce aad importation. And
taking rent, interest, &c., into calculation, no advance could be

obtained to meet expenses sufficient to induce a speculator to
attempt to monopolize the market. We might, indeed, under
all circumstances, expect a more regular price for commodities,
—whereas, our present monetary system subjects them to great
fluctuations of price : for, money may be very abundant when
the quantity of produce is small, which must have the effect of
enhancing its value; and, again, when produce is abundant,
money may be scarce, which must tend to its depression.
These operations we have, to our cost, experienced; but
should my proposed views be entertained and generally adopted,
such difficulties could not occur : for, as commodities became
limited or increased in store, so would the circulation of the
notes be extended or contracted.

The plan suggested would require no capital beyond that for
the construction of the Dock, which of itself would be of great
value, and exceed the paid-up capital of other Joint-Stock
Banks ; whilst tl e liabili.ies of such a Bank can only be great
when the Dock is full of goods, and, consequently, paying best.
Thus, then, such an establishment weuldpresent all the benefits
of any other Joint-stock Bank, with increased security.
If individuals choose to engage in the scheme
--- - -

thus,recommended by Mr. knaerby, we see no
objection, nationally speaking, to allow them to
do it. At the same time the scheme does not
appear to us to require national encouragement.
It might be advantageous to holders of goods,
but why should the consumers find means to en-
able the holders of goods to keep them out of the

market ? The interest of the consumer lies in
an opposite direction ; and as Mr. Enderby's
scheme is avowedly intended to enable holders of
goods to keep them out of the market till the
market rises, the consumers—the great body of
the public—have no motives to encourage such a
scheme. We are inclined to think that Mr. En-
derby has overlooked the essential principle of a
bank which is to lend and borrow money, or circu-
lating credit, and thereby enable manufacturers,
merchants, and others to continue and extend their
operations. Mr. Enderby's bank would have no
money, it would have only goods (without the
power to exchange them) and fixed capital.
Such a scheme might answer to a limited extent,
where there were money banks with which to
exchange the notes of the dock banks. But we
cannot suppose that it would be of much service,
beyond ministering to the convenience of those
who have bought and hold large quantities of

goods.

THE EDUCATIONAL TEST.

A sensible pamphlet has appeared, entitled, "A
Letter to W. Lovett, sometime resident in War-
wick Gaol, by a Non-Voter," which contains a
number of shrewd remarks on political topics,
which all political students should read. The
writer is very caustic on the Church, describing
it as "hostile to human progress and human
good," and counselling the people " ever to
cherish a lively sense of the injuries which the State
Church has inflicted upon the country." We must
content ourselves, however, by passing over his
out-spoken remarks on " this unswerving foe of
popular rights and popular happiness," and with
quoting his acute observations on the educational
test. This is a subject on which the popular
stream sets in a direction adverse to the writer,
but he knows this, and he breasts it and forces
his own way a-head in the following language:—
Whatever hollowness there is in finality, there is much appa-
rent plausibility :in the educational test. Those who argue
that it is a rational safeguard against the voter's mal-exercise
of the trust reposed in him are listened to with eagerness, arid
too often with conviction. But who is to decide in what this
test consists, and by whom it is to be applied? Mere intellec-
tual training is not education in anything like a complete
sense of that word. The educational institutions of this coun-
try, from the lofty university to the humble pat ish school, are
conceived in too narrow a spirit to send forth men able to un-
derstand rightly the richest or the poorest privileges of citi-
zenship. But they believe themselves educated, and the bulk
of society, especially the labouring classes, uneducated, and
hence the adoption of the educational test as a means of ex-
clusion. The working men are, I know, on their guard
against this sophistry, and remembering what these self-styled
educated men have done, dread what they may do. "Educuted
men" have hitherto had the monopoly of the Government of
this great country, and from one end of the land to the other,
complaint, bitter, energetic complaint, is daily growing louder
and louder. It is " educated men" who have, in the course
of the last century, imposed upon us the enormous debt of
eight hundred millions of money, to pay the interest of which
every article of the poor man's food and the poor man's cloth-
ing is taxed to an extent unknown in the most despotic coun-
tries of Europe. It is "educated men " who by their restric-
tions have nearly ruined trade and commerce, and who now,
supporting the infamous Corn-law, are driving our manufac-
turers, our artizans, arid our capitalists abroad, whilst they are
inflicting starvation upon us at home. It is " educated men"
who have planted in Ireland a Protestant Church amid a Catho-
lic population, who have upheld that Church by force and
massacre, and who, in doing this, believe that they have acted
upon the pure and holy principles of Christianity. It is edu-
cated," aye, " highly educated nien," who have blessed us with
a Protestant Church in England, which in her principles and
practice is the most Popish institution in Christendom, de-
priving men of their liberty and property with the unscrupu-
lousness of a felon, and which dares to pretend that Arch-
bishops and Bishops, with their tens and twenties of thousands,
roaring their mitred fronts in courts and senates, are the de-
scendants of the meek and lowly Jesus; or that the preachers
of hebdomadal sermons are the religious teachers of a civilized
community. It is "educated men' —but why need I unroll
the catalogue of wrongs heaped upon the people of England by
men self-styled educated, and who only arrogate the charac-
ter as ptiests have been wont to claim superior sanctity, in
order the more easily to impose upon the rest of mankind. The
simple truth is, that the term "educated" is employed with-
out being understood. No account is taken of that large class
of influences which intercourse with society and the daily per-
formance of our duties supply. The character of a man is
more operated upon by these than by the barren studies of his
youth, and it is no exaggeration to assert that they are a fir
better index of his fitness to exercise the elective franchise
than the most profound acquaintance with classic or scientific
lore. If any such test as this is to be the criterion of the right
of voting, a moral would be infinitely preferable to an intellec-
tual qualification.
We know nothing of the author, but his pam-
phlet indicates both an inquiring and a fearless
mind. It will do good by "defecating the stand-
ing-pool" of the public mind.

TRIALS FOR MURDER IN IRELAND.—The
verdict of the jury in the case of Hughes, who was tried
la,t Tuesday at the Armagh Assizes for the murder of, Mr.
Powell, is freely commented on and condemned by the
Mail; while the acquittal of the notorious Sam Gray at
the Monaghan Assizes is regarded with equal disfavour by
the Dublin Evening Post, the Maits political antagonist.
Speaking of Hughes's trial, the Mail, amongst a mass of
angry sayings, has th,,, following :—" Another farce, similar
to that enacted at Tullamoore. has just been played off at
Armagh, and another person, charged with a most le-
"long murder, has been enabled, for a time et least, to
frustrcte the ends of justice, through the weak and per.
nicious policy of the Crown. Mr. Powell was murdered
in cold blood, at his own door, in the presence of his daugh-
ters, ore of whom clearly identified the prisoner as being
active in the perpetration of the foul deed. Another wit-
ness saw the same man retiring from the scene of slaughter
immediately after—and, on his capture, his clothes were
found to tear the traces of recent blood, and these clothes he
at first denied to be his. The conclusiveness of the case may be
judged of from the fact that, although the Crown, as usual,
declined to exercise their right of challenge, one individual
only was found true encugh. to the popular system to hold out
against the conviction of his companions, The construction
of the Jury, however, was sufficient to make it notorious,
from the moment it was sworn in, that there would be no
verdi t. Before a word of evidence was given, it was
known to every one in the Court-house that a conviction
was hopeless. We do hope and trust that this gross case
will have the effect of compelling the Crown to return to
their old and constitutional exercise of the right of chal-
lenge. It is the grossest case that has 3et occurred. The
Government should send down special commissions for the
trial of those caceg in which the Julies ail be selected
from the gran 1 panels of the country. This we say will
be the duty of the Government ; but, at the same time, we
are bound to declare our conviction that, unless the Jury_
bixes of the country be purged r f lie case th.gt
human testimony can make will ever be sufficient to pro_
cure a verdict in prosecutions of this description."

MARKET INTELLIGENCE

(From the London New Price Current of March 23.)
SUGAR.—For British Plantation Sugar there has been a
somewhat better demand from both grocers and refiners, and
prices have become more settled; still buyers have operated
with much caution, the purchases for the three market days
amounting to only 240 hhds and tierces, at prices much the
same as those previously quoted; good and fine brown Jamaica
have been disposed of at 63s to 70s ; good middling yellow
St. Kitt's, 763 ;_ good bright brown, 72s ; good brown St.
Lucia, 68s ; rather better grayish, 70s ; and 68s have been re-
jected for strong middling grey Demerara ; the scanty business
done in this market may be in some measure ascribed to Mau-
ritius and Bengal telling 4s to 5s under the rates current for
West India.
To-day holders of British Plantation evinced firmness, and
the rates previously established were fully supported, but the
transactions were extremely limited, and the sales are not
worth enumerating : the scanty business done may be princi-
pally attribdted to the trade having been engaged at the public
sales of Mauritius and Bengal.
REFINED.—To-day there was a good demand from the home
trade and prices have improved, sales of standard lumps were
made at 93s 6d to 945, Treacle is, however, dull of sale at 30s
to 38s. In Bastards and Pieces the operations were on a more
extended scale, and prices are firmer. Bonded crushed sugar
sells more freely, and prices are firmer, sales of first quality
made at 32s 3d to 32s Gd per cwt.
MAuftiTrus.—This afternoon the public sales attracted a
large attendance of the trade, and they were anxious to pur-
chase ; the total quantity offered amounted to 4,922 bags ; the
principal part was disposed of with fair spirit, establishing an
advance on the rates of the last public sale of 2s to 4s, fine
yellow went la 73s to 765, good 67s to 70s, middling and low
middling 64s to 66s 6d, fino brown 59s to 60s 6d, middling to
good 53s to 58s per cwt.
EAST INDIA. --1 his afternoon the home trade were desirous
to buy Bengal; at public sa'e 5,376 bags were offered, besides
100 bags Khaur uncleared from a former sale, nearly the whole
found buyers with fair spirit, but the advance cannot be quoted
more than 2s as compared with the prices of the last auctions,
lew white sold at 66s 6d to 675, middling 67s 6d to 68s
6d, good 69s to 71s, fine 72s to 735, damps and washed 63s
6d to 70s ; Khaur taken in at 50s. for damps.
FOREIGN.—This afternoon there was less business trans-
acted by private treaty in most descriptions, but prices were
firm. At auction 1,086 boxes Havannah were offered, an in-
different parcel, all the sound taken in at full prices, viz, mid-
dling white at 325, soft dingy 26s 6d to 295, low soft yellow 23s to
245, brown 21!, washed 20s 6d to 21s, several lots of damaged were
however disposed of at fair prices, viz. washed white at 23s to
26s 6d, low dabs 19s to 21s 6d, brown 17s 6d to 18s, a few lots
sound low soft'sold at 21s to 22s per cwt.
MOLASSES.—Prices have suffered no further depression for
West India, but the transactions have been extremely limited,
28s to 36s is the value of low to fine quality ; several parcels
have arrived.

COFFEE.—Holders of West India have displayed firmness,
and former rates have been sustained for all descriptions, but
the demand has been limited, and nearly the whole of 200
casks 100 barrels at public auction was taken in (mostly St_
Lucia and Berbice), holders not being disposed to submit to
lower rates ; the trade on the other hand were for the most

Dart not disposed to purchase excepting at prices rather under
those of this day week; the large supply of the lower sorts of
East India operates against the demand for West India.
This afternoon prices were supported for both East and
West India; for the former there was a fair demand privately
from both shippers and the home trade, but in the latter few
purchases were made • none of either kinds were offered at
auction. Foreign is held firmly, and the demand is improving.
At public sale 334 bags Brazil were disposed of at full rates ;
low good ordinary mixed went at 40s to 41s, good ordinary 42s
to 42s 6d, sea damaged 35s to 43s 6d per cwt.
Cocoa.—Holders of British Plantation have refused to
lower prices. Trinidad taken in at 50s to 54s for ordinary and
good rcd. Foreign at firm prices. The rate at which the
Government contract was taken has not been allowed to
transpire.
TEA.—There has been a good demand for Free Trade Tea

to supply both town and country orders, and the rates previ-
ously established have been fully supported for Congou and
Twankay, but at the public sales prices gave way Id to
2d per lb for Imperial, Gunpowder, and Hyson, the prin-
cipal part offered consisting of these sorts. The
total quantity submitted to public competition amount-
ed to 11,034 packages, 5,000 of which were disposed of
with fair spirit at the following rates, Congous mixed black-
ish leaf, Is 7i to is 74d, blackish leaf Is 84:1 to Is 9d, strong
to Pekoe flavour Is 9id to 2s 3d, Hung Aluey is 6d
to Is 6d, Pouchong Is Bd, fine 2s Bid, Souchong mid
mixt If is Bd, good mid blkish if 2s 5d to 2s Bd, fine
blkish if 3s 4d to as sd, Orange Pekoe good 2s 6d to 2s Bd,
fine '2s 10d to 3s 34d, Twankay yellowish leaf Is 7id to
Is 7id, brightish leaf Is 70 to Is Bd, Hyson skin very
low is 2d, yellow leaf is sid, Hyson low ordinary is lid to
Is 71d, coarse yellow leaf 2s 30 to 2s 4d, middling 2s 8d to
3s, good middling brightish leaf 3s 41jd to 3s 6d, good 3s 9d,
Young Hyson Twankay flavour is 10d, Imperial middling
coarse 2s 5d to 2s 80, good middling brightish leaf 2s 11d,
Gunpowder coarse 2s 10d, mid 3s 2d to 3s 7d, good 4s, scented
Orange Pekoe 2s Bid to 3s lid, Twankay skin is 2d per lb. By
private contract several purchases have been made, the lower
sorts of Congou, however, have been most in request, com-
mon for cash has been selling at is lid to is 'lid per lb. The
deliveries of tea for home consumption have fully equalled the
averag-e, and large 'parcels have been again exported. In the
speculative market, a fair amount of business was trans-
asted in the early part of the week, and Company's Congous
produced ls 7d to ls 7jd cash, but during the last few days
the market has been inactive, and prices have declined to Is
7P to is lid cash.
To-day the demand was limited for Free Trade Tea, and
but few purchases were made in either black or green descrip-
tions, holders, however, were firm and refused to sell except-
ing at former rates • common Congou for cash is with diffi-
culty to be purchased under Is lid per lb. Company's Con-
gou met with a slow sale, and closed at Is lid cash.
Russ, BRANDY, AND HOLLANDS.-West India Rum has
been taking very sparingly for both home consumption and
shipping ; the total sales have amounted to only 150 puns since
this day week, fine Jamaica from 7s to 7s 3d, of which the sup-
ply is very small, have brought former rates, while middling 30
her cent at 6s is about lid to 2d lewer ; proof Leewards are,
owever, not to be purchased
_under 2s 3d per gallon. In
East India the transactions have been on a more extended
scale, being 240 hogsheads Calcutta at is 6d proof
strength. Brandy has been taken sparingly, old sorts have
_ brought former rates, but new kinds are 2d cheaper ; we
quote Cognac, first brands of the vintage of 1836, 5s 4d in
hhds, and puns 5s 2d; do 1837, hhds 5s 2d, puns ss; do
1838 hhds as, puns 4s 10d; do 1839 hhds 4s 7d, puns 4s
5d ; do 1840, hhds 3s 6d, puns '3s 4d. Geneva has sold
i teadily at former rates. British Corn Spirits have met with
a w sale at 9s 10d to 9s lid cash. _ _

The stock of West India Rum is 2,643 puns and 598 hhds
larger than at this time in 1840.
Sric ES. —This afternoon there was less demand for Pepper
by :private contract, but holders were firm. 160 bags Black
aft 75 bags White were offered at auction, the former taken
in at 3id for good brown Penang but dusty, being the full
value, the lattersold at 6id to 10d for low ordirary to middling.
TA LLow.—Prices continued on the decline all last week.
On the spot for Petersburgh Yellow Candle, holders accepted
45s 3d to 45s 6d, which was 3d under former rates. For de-
livery towards the end of this and for all next month prices
declined from 44s 3d to 44s 6d. For the last three months of
the year at 45s 9d. South American at 36s to 43s 9.t for low
to good hard quality. Town Tallow and Rough Fat is rather
cheaper.
To-day there was a fair business transacted in P. Y. C. on
the spot at 465, but for delivery there was little passing, prices
however were supported.
OILS.—In common descriptions of Fish Oils prices have
given way for all kinds. Pale Seal 311 lOs to 311 15s, Cod
261 to 261 ss, and common Southern 251 to 251 lOs ;
good middling and fine pale sweet quality taken in at 271 to
29!. For Sperm prices have further given way; ,fine quality
sold at 941 per tun. For Linseed Oil prices have further im-
proved ; sales on the spot have been made at 29s 6d to 29s 9d,
and for delvery at 30 to 30s 6d. Prices remain high for Rape.
Cocoa Nut 011 at 36s to 38s. Palm Oil is not cheaper. Olive
at previous rates.
This afternoon 783 casks E. L Cocoa Nut Oil at public sale
only a small part sold at 38s to 38s 6d.
RlCE.—Java Rice at easier prices for the lower kinds, the
better sorts brought former rates, low and good yellowish
mixed with Paddy went at 8s to 9s 6d, low middling to good
middling white 9s to lls 6d. Bengal has maintained previous
rates, middling white Bengal 12s 6d per cwt. Carolina has
maintained former rates.

SUDBURY ELECTION COM-

MITTEE.

(Continued from The Sun of yesterday-)

The witness was then cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Mere-
wether, but nothing important was elicited.
Mr. AUSTIN then summed up the evidence, and contended
that the Committee must decide the election of Mr. Tomline
to have been a good and valid ore, •and that if they should be
of opinion the nomination of Mr. Bagshaw was in time, still,
as the petitioners had neglected to prove that the proposer and
seconder were electors of the borough, they could take no legal
cognizance of the fact.
Mr. Sergeant MERYWETHER being called upon to reply,
begged the Committee (it being nearly four o'clock) to allow
him until to-morrow to prepare himself.
Ma. AUSTIN and Mr. Sergeant WRANGHA m opposed the
application, and said that as there would be two other Commit-
tees sitting to-morrow, it would be for the convenience of Coun-
sel, as well as for that of the Committee, to bring the inquiry
to a close that evening.
The CHAIRMAN said it would he particularly so, as several
members of the Committee wished to attend her Majesty's first
Levee for the season to-morrow. .

Mr. Sergeant MEREWETIIICK repeated his application, and
assured the Committee that he would be as brief in his reply
as pos,ible.
After some discussion it was arranged (Mr. Sergeant Mere-
wether undertaking that his reply should not occupy more
than an hour), that the Committee should adjourn until to-
morrow at ten o'clock.
Mr. AUSTIN-1. shall hold my watch in my hand, and time
my Learned Friend tomorrow.—( Laughter. )
*The Committee then adjourned.

the Queen Dowager has given 25/.
subscribed 1001.,y, andand thethe DHunkne
.
alEylbagortilwOhnfasa donation of 50/. ; and the Bishop
towHaredrs IN'thleajreessroyration ofll
raSersrt .01
arwl ivobloya. :
cyl%,liasnon
stdreCil
contributors. The
Bradford,ST tahffe orrde..
Mr. Jesse Watts
ohTfahvee Sutherland,
pr le co tfi l
Ferrara,
8,000/ ;
andopfa
re-
pair; sßacive. Lichfield,eA 3. t i EarinacatTalbot,e
dFetrroa
Russell, of Iltrn Hail. givilig- the munificent sum of 5,000/.
for the restoration of the interior of that venerable edifice,
and to have it rc-pevied-
CWMBRANE.--IL has been truly said that no
district in the known world abounds with such natural fa-
cilities for manufactures as South Wales. To furnish the
great moving powers of the world, iron and steam, Nature ha 3
done all; human industry and enterprise are alone wanting
to evclop the riches of the district. Another product of our
mines, we find, is no.s added to our list of exports; and
begins to assume the place of an important branch in the
trade of this port. Nve allude to the manufacture of fire-
clay. About two years past a stratum of clay, bearing an
exact resemblance to thavfound around the Lye, in Staf-
fordshire, and known by the name of Stourbridge Clay,
was found at Cwrnirane, on the estate of R. J. B!ewitt,
Esq., M.P.
EDINBURGH.—An adjourned meeting of the
Assembly's Commi3sion took place hero on Wednesday.
The object of the adjournment was to afford as oppor-
tunity to the Strathbogie ministers to compear
personally, and admit the facts in the libel ; but
the summons not has ing been complied with, it
was resolved to report the case, as it stands, to
thensuing Assembly. The proposal to hold an ad-
erel meeting at Bundy, in the event of the seven
ministers not appearing bete, wen abandoned. The pro-
ecedings on Wednesday are chiefly remarkable for a lugu-
b ' ;us speech by Mr. Dunlop, on the present deplorable
LLite of the Church, which is noticed in another Column.--
Semmes

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS

FRODI TILE EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERDAY.
(From the Globe.)
We think it right not to leave unnoticed one or two points
in the discussion of last night upon the Poor-law Amendment
Bill. To the principle of the amended Poor-law we have
always been favourable ; and, indeed, it would seem that
no parties adventure to avow themselves host le to it. We
say this; because we observe that every critic of the pre-
sent system takes care to disavow any ilea of sever:lag to
the old one. Now the principle of the amended law is,
in fact, nothing else but a negation of the abuses that in-
hered in the unamended one. Those abuses were insepa-
rable from the unch:cked machinery of relief; and in fact
that machinery was framed to facilitate those abuses. It
was no venerable immemorial system ; it was no older than
the Pitt Ministry ; and the years of high prices at the
commence:nest of the last war. The absolute power of
rebel' entrusted to a single unpaid Magistrate ; the Mr-
gisterial allowance system, pauperising the whole mass of
the peasantry—these were abuses, it is now said. Yes—
but abuses carri,d on systematicaly. Any Ma istrate
(and there would always be one or more such characters in
a district) who was ambitious of the title of the poor man's
friend, by the cheap and easy process of putting his hands
in the pockets of the provident and industrious, to supply
weekly donatives, wlthout discrimination or scrutiny, to all
who applied for them—any such personage could buy
popularity, et the cost of otters, wi host restraint. The
consequences arc notorious to every one in his own Le'gh-
bourhood. It was a matter of indifference to many to
seek, or deserve, employment. Others, fully employcd,
and well paid, Isere see( ivera cf parish allowances ; and that,
in many easei round London, unknown to their employ era.
All this, be it remembered, was at the charge of the pru-
dent and well disposed; not only the great land-owner,
but the small tradesman, and even the labourer, were taxed,
and often stinted in the honest wants of their own families,
to pay the path pension list of able-bodied idleness or im-
providence. We are told, indeed; that such a cha,aeter
must not be ascribed to pauperism—that the condition is
involuntary; and must not be treated as criminal. We
say, that neither must it be treated as the regular andnormal
condition of any large masses of the British people. It
must not be erected, as some " poor man's friends" seem
to desire, into a recognised status in society, to be made

as comfortable as possible. And for this simple reason—
every comfort you afford, without labour, is a temptation to
become an applicant fur gratuitous maintenance.
(From the Standard.)
The division upon Mr. Easthope's amendment may
be taken as a notice to the Poor-law Commissioners
tl at their reign approaches its terminati,m. They
have ind, ed obtained, ostensibly, a respite for five
years, by a majority of 39, in a House of 314 Mem-
bers; but they have obtained it upon terms which
leave them but tenants-at-mill in fact, and through
the influence of supplications almost abject. The new law,
or the Commissioners—for practically they are identical—
have been now tried for seven years; and the resuit
is (to use the words of Lord John Russell's very well
guarded adrrii=sion) "It cannot be denied that a
very strong feeling against the continuance of the law
by the Bill before Parliament pervades the country."
The feeling is strong, and it will be stronger. The divi-
sion of last ❑ight proves its force already, but the whole
strength of the feeling will be imperfectly appreciated
from insulated divisions. We must look to the period
during which this feeling has been progressively advancing.
The New Poor-law Bill was carried in 1834 by ttiumpe-
ant majorities ; the law has beer, nearly :even years
in operation, and the vote for its continuance is obtained
by a majority cf no more than thirty-nine. We are not
of the school who oscrile absolute wisdom to the decisions
of any people ; but there is this distinction to be taken ;
though the people of England may tan, and often arc, deceived
in their estimate of the merit of untried measures, they
rarely are mistaken in the judgment they form upon measures
which they have seen tried for so long a period as
seven years. It cannot be disputed that the New
Poor-law has been steadily advancing in the extent
of its unpopularity. It is very true that from the first
many persons denounced the law as angrily, perhaps
more angrily, than any one denounces it Et pi esent ;
but their number was far less than the number
by whom the law is now condemned ; and this was the
natural course of an oppressive system. Men cf clear
foresight and strong feelings see through the character of
such a system almost intuitively, and as promptly ex-
pose it ; but the many arc less far-sighted and mere
apathetieal, and they wait for practical testimony.
If that practical testimony prove favourable, or even
if unfavourable testimony be absent, the result is sure to
be to the advantage of the mt asure upon its trial, and the
earlier accusations re-act to its honour ; but where, at the
end of seven years' experiment, the public feeling against
the system is seen becoming progressively stronger and
more diffused, there can be no doubt that th© practical
testimony has demonstrated its oppressive character.
(From the Courier.)
The new Poor-law discussion was resumed in Committee
last etesing, and as the discussion proceeds so also Is
at interminable succession of new Poor-law h srrors
consccu ively evo.ved. Nay more, as if the thou-
salsas of hideous cases, already matter of history, were
not sufficient cr appaliing enough to open the eyes wad
move the hearts of the Members of the House to
the exterminatory principle of the new law, and the
accordant practice of the commission of administra-
tion, not one day passes over their heads in which
the everlasting processes of new Poor-law murder are
not repeated and gazetted, with, however, loathing re-
pugnance by the daily press, in all the frightful varie-
ties of death by new Poor-law starvation ia the
workhouse, suicide out of doors rather than submit to
it, and infanticide by heart-stricken, desperate mothers,
f antic with the pangs of want and the refusal of even new
Poor-law relief. We hold the present occurrence of such
cases to be almost an especial interposition of Providence,
by way of warning to the hard of heart, and the wilfully
blind of understanding, that resistance to new Poor-13w
barbarism may be policy as well as mercy, for it is not in
the nature of things that innocent life wantonly sported
with and slaughtered should long cry out for vengeance in
vain. The people may one day arise in their wrath and
sweep away both the odious Jaw, its authors and abettors.
To be just betimes is to be wise to salvation.