The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-11 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1841.

also amongst the fore Most, and the penis de chauvee
adopted by Cardinal Richelieu, furnished that country
with good roadS., a whole century before the rest of
Europe. The immense aqueducts of the Romans had
been cited, by a great authority, as pompous monuments
of ignoranee, betokening their unacquaintanee with the
simple fact of water finding its own level; but the Professor
avowed it his opinion that theywere not ignorant of the fact,
but that they would not trust to pipes laid up and down the
hill -sides, Portugal, in laying on water to Lisbon, for
a distance of • 4venty-one miles in length, did it at the
oustof tw9.miilions and a half sterling, or one hundred
and twenty thousand pounds a mile, to supply 200,0•00
inhabitants with water; which, after all, affords but three
average quarts of water a day to each individual, a poor
aiiid miserable quantity. Bonaparte had said to Carnot that
an engineer should be capable of magnificent conceptions,
but the learned Lecturer advised that the student should
always consider the cost of his magnificent conceptions.
Immense fields were open, not only at home, but
abroad, in vast portions of the earth. Ceylon,
. Canada, and China, offered interminable tracts
fer_the skill and labours of the engineer. The canals of
China, visited and described by the Jesuits, in earlier
days, as excellent specimens of mechanical adroitness,
are now, in the present enlightened times of science,
found to be of the rudest and most barbarous construc-
tion ; they possessed no lock, no gate, nor any other
common dock contrivance ; and the great bulk
of taxes drawn from the people was for the
continual reparation of those canals, in a con-
stantly dilapidated state for lack of a little
engineering. There was abundant room for employment,
and Professor Viguoles coneltuled by
expatiating upon
the improvements to be effected in internal communica-
tion in this as
.well as other countries. He enlarged
upon the powers of the science he advocated, in over-
coming the conflicting. agencies of nature, and its
Capacity to administer, in an inestimablewants and comforts of Ain: degree, to the

MONEY MARKET ami CITY NEWS.

FROM THE ➢IORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.

TIMES.—The discontinuance of the second monthly
mail to America during the four months of December,
January, February, and March, is complained of in the
City, as, since the Cunard steamers began to ply, almost
all other conveyances for letters have been disused, so
that, in the event of one steamer failing, mercantile
men are certain to have to wait an additional month for
their remittances.

The practice adopted at the Post-office in Lombard-
street, of closing the windows on foreign post-nights im-
mediately on the clock striking ten, and notwithstanding
the presence of a vast number of persons who have
come with their letters, and who not being the foremost
in the crowd are unable to give them in, is much
complained of among merchants. It is clear that
the parties, by arriving at the Post-office at the
proper hour, have exercised all the punctuality that
can be fairly required, and it is hard that they should
be the sufferers whenever there is a larger concourse than
usual. The liberty of proceeding to St. Martin's-le-
Grand is not considered sufficient, as, besides the danger
of carrying about valuable property at a late hour, the
same evil is repeated there at eleven o'dlock, while at
half-past eleven all means of transmitting the letters is
at an end for the night. An easy method might be
adopted fir the prevention of this public inconvenience.
At the given hour a bar might be dropped preventing
the approach of persons to the offie:, while all those
already there might be allowed the advantage of their
punctuality, although not :so fortunate as to be first at
the window. This would be no more than the public
have a right to expect—namely, a fair benefit from their
own punctuality, and the prevention of a mere chance
operating as a hindrance to important business.
Another complaint that is made by mercantile men in
the City is, that on the mornings on which the foreign
post arrives, the whole of the first delivery of the London
post is delayed until the foreign letters are sorted with
the home communications, in order that both may be
delivered together. Even those persons who have paid
for the privilege of fetching away their letters from the
Post-office have been compelled to wait till this process
is gone through, although their packets may not contain
a single foreign letter. All that these parties require is,
that they may have their packets when they send for
them, and they consider their demand the more urgent,
as, in consequence cf the present facilities of communi-
cation all over the country, orders which arrive in the
morning are expected to be executed in the evening.
The railroad officers require parcels at an early hour, and
this shortens the day to a degree that the merchants can-
not afford to have their time for operation further short-
ened by the delay at the Post-office.
POST.—The Committee of the Stock Exchange have
continued their inquiries from day to day into the cir-
cumstances of the Exchequer bill fraud, and the trans-
actions of those members of the house who are understood
to be directly or indirectly implicated in it. Another
of the individuals has been requited to produce his books
in furtherance of this object. The books are, however,
already in the hands of the Crown officers engaged in
the prosecution of Smith and his accomplices, and are
said to have been kept in a manner that does credit to the
party. The Committee have, we are informed, notwith-
standing this, so doggedly insisted upon the production of
them as to have called forth from the gentleman under
examination an expression of defiance, and from a
higher qurter a rebuff such as was perhaps more than
the case demanded. The Stock Exchange is a Court of
the wisdom of which the public have too much experi-
ence to require that it should trouble itself with the duties
of the Home-office, but yet it is undoubtedly to be
thanked for its virtuous intentions.

We see it stated in the papers that a jobber of the
Paris Bourse has just disappeared, and that he is
strongly suspected of having been concerned in the Ex-
chequer bill affair. This idea is encouraged by the
knowledge that Rapallo carried on an active intercourse
with the French capital, and it is assumed, as highly
probable, that the suspected jobber may have absconded
to avoid the consequences of the late disclosures, as
there is no doubt that the frequenters of the Bourse must
be more or less affected by them.
SUN.—The Market for our own Securities wore rather
a dull aspect to-day, and prices were n )t so well sup-
ported. The accession of the Exclu quer Bills pro-
nounced as genuine at the Government office causes the
Market, however, to wear a snore lively appearance for
this particular Security, and the premium was supported.
Consols for immediate transfer realised 89 to 894 ; and
for Account, 89k to 891. Bank Stock realised 165 ;
India Stock, 246 to 247 ; the New Three-and-a-Half per
Cents., 99+ to ; and India Bonds 2s. premium.
In the Spanish and South American Stocks there was
a slight rally, but except in Chilli' this only amounted
to fractional denominations. Spanish Active Bonds
realised 21 to 21i ; Portuguese New, 29 ; the Three
per Cents., 18,i- ; Mexican, 251 ; Brazilian, 571 ; and
Colombian, 191 to ; Belgian Bonds were at 1001 ; and
Chilian at an advance to 71 and 71k.
Shares are temporarily rather less in request. Rates
much the same, however. Great Western were 144 to
15i ; South Western, 14i ; and York and North Mid-
land, 321 premium. Brighton Shares were 13A discount.
London Joint Stock Bank Shares were 21 premium.
From all sides we hear complaints against the Custom •
house examiners of France, and English travellers,
whether on business or pleasure, arc particularly annoyed
by the rigorous search imposed upon them on landing in
that country. The Boulogne Gazette of Monday last
contains a paragraph upon the subject which it may
perhaps do good to transcribe. It runs thus :
" We regret to hear that loud complaints are still
poured forth against the Custom-house examiners in
this town. The sifting of every article and the prying
into the contents of every trunk and bag is disgraceful
in itself, but when its consequences are considered, we
look upon the object in view to be that of driving tra-
vellers from the town: A boat arrived on Tuesday at
two o'clock P.ISI;; will it be believed that so scrupu-
lously exact were the searchers in undoing every
thing, prying into trousers, examining ladies' dresses, in
fact overhauling every article, that some of the
passengers who had intended to start, for Paris
the next morning at nine o'clock could not do so,
as their baggage was not examined ! ! Is this petty
huxtering worthy of a great nation.? Can the heads
of the douane in the town imagine that the law of
search ever contemplated such. odious measures, such
an inquisition, or such vexation ? We are certain it
never did,; the spirit and not the letter of the law
should be regarded. What follows, however, from
this rigid. examination ? Why, it occupies so much
time, that when it is finished the contents of every
trunk is bundled helter skelter back, to the annoy-
ance of ladies and gentlemen who have spent
their money in having them neatly washed, ironed, &c.
We have been visited by two respectable gentlemen,
during the past week, from the Hotel des Bains, com-
plaining of this in no measured language, and we must
say it is abominable. And why is it done. Because
people attempted to smuggle at Calais ! Let them pay
their men better, make their situations worth pre-
serving, and they will find that a far more certain mode
of preventing collusion between the douaniers and the
smugglers, than unnecessarily annoying travellers, and
particularly ladies, who never think of smuggling into
France, whatever they may do when on the point of re-
turning home.

SUDDEN DEATH OF A GENTLEMAN IN THE
STREET.—On Wednesday Mr. Wakley held an inquest,
at the Marylebone workhouse, oa the body of a gentleman,
name unknown, about the middle age. It appeared that
on Friday afternoon last, deceased was observed to be
walking at a slow pace along Oxford-street, apparently
in good health, when arriving at the corner of Orchard •
street, he fell to the ground as though shot. Being
picked up he was carried to the house of a surgeon, when
life was found to be extinct, and he was subsequently
brought to that workhouse. Deceased was well dressed,
and of very gentlemanly appearance, but nothing was
found on him which could lead to a clu6 as to his name
or connections. Verdict--=Natural death.
ANTICIPATED METEORIC PHENOMENA.—
Should the evenings of the. latter end of the week (about
the 12th and 13th of November) prove clear, the appear-
ance which has of late years attracted so much attention
—that of falling stars in great numbers, may be looked
ig (g
ft oh re,
ne
the
ee c ial
change)as
the
renders absencedrs this
of.
y e allar moonl ht it bein
particularly favour7
able for their observation. Similar appearances have fre-
quently been observed at another period" about the 11th
August, and this year there occurred in Hungary a very
extensive shower of meteoric iron, in millions of small
l fragments, from the size of mere grains to that of peas.
e

MEETING AT ST. LUKE'S.

A public meeting of the inhabitants of the parish of
St. Luke was held on Monday, in the spacious hall of
the Royal British Institution, Cowper-street, City. road,
to consider the propriety of forming an Anti-Monopoly
Association. A very large and respectable body of the
parishioners (nearly 2,000 were present), including- many
of the most i►:fluential inhabitants of the district. Shortly
after eight o'clock Colonel THOMPSON was called to the
Chair, amidst loud cheers. _ _ _

_ .
Mr. STAFFORD ALLEN read an address on the evils
of class legislation, and calling upon the people to come
forward and assert their natural rights. They had
asked for a repeal of the Corn-laws ; they had failed
and they now extended their operations, and sought the
abolition of all monopolies. They invited all classes to
join them.—(Cheers.)
Mr. WALKER said that the meeting had been callad
by h Committee appointed to take measures for the
formation of an Anti-Monopoly Association, in place of
the local Anti-Corn-law Association, which had been
dissolved, as the national will had been sufficiently indi-
cated, without producing the slightest effect upon the
Legislature. He concluded an energetic speech by
moving the following resolution :—" That in the opi-
nion of this meeting the skill and industry of the la-
bouring portion of the community are entitled to be
fairly and fully represented in Parliament, on the prin-
ciple that representation should be co-extensive with
taxation, and that this meeting resolve itself into an
association, under the title of the St. Luke's Anti-
Monopoly Association, to abolish, not only the Corn
and Provision-laws, but likewise all other monopolies."
A. R. SHAW, Esq., seconded the resolution.
Mr. GOODFELLOW having also addressed the meeting,
A Chartist of Birmingham attempted to gain a bear-
ing. This-was opposed by the Committee, great confu-
sion ensued, and the proceedings were interrupted for a
considerable time. Ultimately he was expelled from
the platform. Order having been restored,
Colonel THOMPSON said it was customary for the
Chairman to address the meeting on opening the busi •
ness of the evening. He had been prevented by a mis-
apprehension from doing this, but he would endeavour
to atone for it by making a few observations now.—
(Loud cheers.) They were met in order to try if'
something could not be done in order to further the ob-
jects in which they-all could agree, and act with common
utility. The difference of opinion lay in the mode of
advancing the People's Charter, the best document, as
it regarded the people's rights, that had ever proceeded
from the pen of man.—(Cheers.) What was it that
oppressed them all ? The power of an unjust aristo•
cracy.—(Cheers.) Why then did they run against and
impede each other, in bringing that aristocracy to the
grindstone ?—(Cheers.) He begged of them to consi-
der whether they would not lay aside their hostility,
and not run against each other on those points in which
they were agreed. Why could not one party agitate
against mischief at one end, and the other party at the
other ?—The time might come when they would arrive
at a solution of both.—(Cheers.) Was it the part of
sensible men to say to each other, " You shall not ad.
vance in any direction but our own ?" The Corn-law
repealers did not blame the Chartists for not coming
over to their cause ; but the Chartists could as little
expect the Corn-law repealers to come over to them.—
(Hear, hear.) He did not come there to ask either
party to come over to the other ; but to ask them to
consider whether it was not advisable to agree to let
each other alone.—(Cheers.) He came to make no
concession, nor to ask anybody else to do it ; but simply
to invite them to let each take their own way.—( Hear,
and cheers.) When each party separately petitioned
for their rights, the aristocracy replied to both " Half
the people are against you." If they could not act to-
gether, he begged of them not to oppose each other.
They should not oppose anybody until they knew they
were their enemies.—(Cheers.)
Mr. KNIGHT. a working man, then came forward and
moved an amendment to the effect—" That the Charter
was the hest remedy for .the evils of the corn and all
other monopolies, and that the way to abolish these
evils was to extend the suffrage."

Mr. WILLIAMS seconded the amendment.
Mr. PALLISER said that the resolution went to the
principle of the Charter, namely—universal suff:a;e.

Considerable discussion ensued, which at length ended

in the withdrawal of the amendment.

The original resolution was then put, and carried
unanimously.

Mr. PALLISER moved the second resolution—" Tnat
the means hitherto employed to obtain a repeal of the
food taxes having proved ineffectual, from the indispo-
sition of the Parliament to grant the just demands of the
people, the middle and working classes of this parish
henceforth engage to enter into a solemn compact to
unite their energies for the attainment of their natural
rights."
Mr. CARR seconded the resolution, and it was then
put and carried unanimously.
There being loud cries for Mr. Wakley,
Mr. WAKLEY, M.P., came forward amidst loud
cheers. He said it afforded him unbounded satisfaction
to have the opportunity of addressing a few words to
the meeting, as he wished to disabuse their minds as to
certain false and malicious statements that had been cir-
culated as to his parliamentary career. He thought that
to the great majority that was unnecessary.—(A voice,
" But it is necessary.") Every elector had a right to
call for an explanation, and when that was done, he
should always cheerfully respond.—(Hear, hear.) It
bad never been his practice to deal in deception. He
always disclosed his sentiments freely, as it was his duty
to do. It had been charged against him that he had
ratted—(Cheers and laughter)—he did not find, how-
ever, that his tail was lengthened.—(Laughter.) Pie
had been maligned because he thought, and honestly
thought, that the greatest possible injury would accrue
to the country if Sir Robert Peel was forced to bring
forward measures before he was prepared—(A voice.
" But you asked time.") Mr. Wakley—" That's false."
He bad stated in the House, and he again said so there,
that if Sir Robert Peel were not prepared, it was better
that he should have time than that ho should bring for-
ward crude and imperfect measures. And were they
afraid to give him time? He (Mr. Wakley) did not
join in the Whig cry, because it was a factious cry. It
was a mean and pettifogging cry. He had been in the
midst of the battle, and he knew that the cry had been
raised to restore to office a faction that had betrayed
and insulted the people. Was not that true ? It had
been said that he had betrayed the pledge given to his
constituents, and was called upon to resign, but had any
portion of them ever made that call ? Had it been
made, he would have resigned his trust within twenty-
four hours after.—(Cheers.) What more could a re-
presentative do ?—( Hear, hear.) What was the course
they ought to pursue in future ? They had been op-
pressed by two aristocracies, each of which had had the
skill to play upon the people for its own interest.
By a series of events, one of these aristocracies had got
itself into a rather awakward position. He had helped
to place it there, and it was his policy to keep it there.
If it was restored, the people would gain nothing but
misery. But it was said, restore them ; they are in fa-
your of the repeal of the Corn-laws. That was untrue ;
they were only in favour of an Bs. duty, and even that
they could not carry if restored to power to-morrow.
What could the Wbig faction do with regard to the
Tory faction and the House of Lords? He complained
of them when they mooted the question. He, as a Re-
former, deplored the time at which they brought their
late measures form ard, because the people would not
then take them up, and support them with that spirit
which their importance merited. There was but one
line of conduct for the people to pursue. if the Ss.
duty were carried to-morrow, he feared that in a very
short time the people would be as miserable as before,
because Parliament legislated for the rich and not for
the poor. It ought to reverse that practice. The in-
terests of master and workmen were identical. Then,
what ought to be done ? He had not refrained from
joining in the Corn-law cry because he was inclined to
support those lsws. On the contrary, he believed
that it was utterly impossible for the people of this
country to be happy or the nation prosperous till those
laws were repealed ; but he believed that it was impos-
sible to effect any permanent good without an extension
of the suffrage.—(Cheers.) They must not attack the
Ok3 ,(onoo:oojvoters,
there
inhabi-
tantsu rne
Corn-laws, for if they did they would bring the Whigs
bac
k wereagain.in the
notb oC 13r oc utog, of
h: rof Finsbury,
a l?o,
at m
men who had the franchise.—(Cries of " shame.") Ile
wished a radical reform, in which should be embodied
the principles of the Charter.—(Loud cheers.) These
p as
tt, i on 4 0 and
O of
working
were his views, and if the tradesmen of Finsbury said
" Resign your scat," he would do so instantly.—(Loud
cheers.) He wished to see what the aristocracy would
do for them. They had given the Whigs ten years.
They would now give the Tories time, and if they pro-
posed good measures should he refuse them?—(Cries
of "No !" and cheers.) He would place every man
in England who paid taxes wain the pale of the Con-
stitution.—(Cheers.) The manufacturer asked the
working man to join in asking for a repeal of the Corn-
jaws ; but the working man wanted the suffrage for his
own future protection. He would join in no agitation
which was not for giving the suffrage to the working
classes of the country.—(Cheers.) He was glad that
the gentlemen around him on the platform bad seen the
error of their ways and had come round now to join
them.—(Cheers.) Let them not call the new Society
Anti-Monopoly Association, but the Suffrage Associa-
tion,—(Cheers.) If it was known throughout the
country that the St Luke's Anti-Corn-law Association,
in consequence of failure, had become a Suffrage As-
sociation, it would do more to further the cause than
any other step whatever.—(Loud cheers.)