The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-13 00:00:00

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.

Yesterday the annual meeting of the members was
ho Id, Benjamin Hawes, the treasurer of the Societ), took
the chair, and the minutes of the various committee it-ico-
n:en caving been read and confirmed,
The Secretary (Mr. \Vestropp) reported that in the
lag. veer 224 easel of suspended animation had occurred,
iu the whole of wgich only 11 were unsuccessful.
The question of awarding medals, &c., to parties who
d exerted themselves in saving the lives of others, 17 in
number, had been referred to the general court.
The thanks of the meeting were given to his Grace the
Duke of Northumberland, for the earnest desiro he has
always taken to promote the interests of the Society, and
tae munificent donations his Grace has contributed to the
funds. A letter was read from the Duke approving of
the change of the rooms of the Society from Blackfriara to
Trafalgar-square, and commending the exertions of the
Society in preventing accidents in Hyde Park during the
bathing season, where, notwithstanding more than 260,000
persons bad bathed, only 20 accidents had occurred, of
which but two were fatal.

The silver medal was unanimously awarded to Mr.
Guthrie, for having saved a boy from drowning at Great
Yarmouth. The lad had fallen off a jetty into the sea ;
3,1 r. Guthrie jumped off a height of twenty feet, with his
clothes on, and succeeded in saving the lad.
The next case was that of Mr. M. R. Nightingale, in
.lure last, saved a lad named Charles Cassel, who fell into
a canal. Though in ill health, Mr. Nightingale, on hear-
ing of the accident, plunged in with his clothes on, but did
not find the body. From a discolouration of the water
while below the surface of the stream, he swam near the
bed of the river, and grasped the hair of the youth, but, as
et was short, he could not obtain a purchase, but succeeded
its obtaining a hold on the shoulder, alter which he raised
the body :o the surface, and swam to the shore. Mr.
Nightingale nearly lost his own life in the attempt. The
silver medal was immediately voted to this young man.
A silver medal was also awarded to Captain M. G.
Ifartin, for saving the life of Mr. Keats, at Bideford.
To Mr. Tweedie, the master of the Gilbert Henry, con-
vict ship, a salver medal was voted viva voce for having
saved the child of one of the convicts sent out to Van Die-
men's Land. Capt. Tweedie jumped from the poop of
the ship, notwithstanding there was a heavy sea, and, after
gec at difficulty, recovered the child, who had acciden-
t/ally fallen overboard. This case was recommended to
'the Society by a letter from Lord John Russell, forwarded
by Mr. R. V. Smith, and founded on a recommendation
from Sir R. Franklyn, the Governor of Van Diemen's
Lend.

A commendatory letter was directed to b© sent to Miss
Schneider for bier gallantry, if the term may be used, in
saving her step-mother, who had fallen into deep Aver,
i The young lady rushed n immediately and saved her step..
mother from a watery grave. It was a matter of regret
to many of the members of the Society that a modal 'was
not awarded.

A silver medal was voted to Mr. Charles Duncan, of
the Royal Mail Steam Company's ship, Britannia, fur sav-
ing two lives in K .ngl,ton 11. hour. This young gentle-
snarl had on a former occasion gallar, ~y 4,,i„,1 in saving
the 1;:e of another fellow:ereaturo. To Thomas !farmer,
a fiAherman, a silver rvdal was Atrardcd for saving a youth
at Brighton.
The last case uanod was one of great interest. Two
brothers, while engaged at their business at Brighton,
'fell (the noxious air rendering them insensible) into a
Less-pool. A man named Marchant, descended to their
rescue, but became insensible. Knight, a policeman,
hearing, the calamity, immediately descended, and sue-
ca'" in "^ctin
After aI tg p
g up Marchant, though much exhausted.
tht ause,
up ce.44 of the brothers. Again heescen ain
went down aud grasped
Knight dded ag and drew
141 body of the second unfortunate person, but wasover-
przmored by the noxious air, and dropped the man, Knight
birnself being drawn up insensible. Knight went down a
third time, having recovered his senses, and brought up
the body, but life was extinct ; both brothers died from
the effects of the foul air. The Brighton Branch Society
recommended this case earnestly to the parent association.
The silver medal was awarded to Mr. Knight instantly.
The Duke of Northumberland was re-elected president,
40d Earl Powis and Lord Grey were nominated to offices.
Ile other officers of the Society were re-appointed.
Thanks Isere returned to the Chairman, and the meeting
Adjourned.

FURTHER MORTALITY AMONG TIIE CON-
VICTS AT WOOL Is•rctr.—On Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock
an inquest was held at the Duchess of Wellington,
wich, before Mr. J. C. Carttar, on the bodies of four
convicts, named George Francis, William Fullien, James
Turner, and William Hamilton. From the evidence of
the surgeon, Dr. Bossy, it appeared that three of the
men died from inflammation of the chest and fever, and the
other from scrofula. Dr. Bossy added, that when any of
the ccnvis complain of illness, they are remanded from
work until seen by the surgeon ; and as their state of
health will allow they are employed accordingly. Those
that are not very ill are sent into the oakum ward, The
Jury expressed themselves satisfied with the evidence, and
returned a verdict--"'l'. at the deceased men died from
nateral causeqi It was mentioned that a treat number of
the convicts are-suifering from coughs and' colds. The
Jury spoke very highly ot. the cleanly state in which they
found the hospital ship.

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' SO-
CIETY OF SCOTLAND.

The Annual General Meeting of this Society was held
at the Black Bull, Glasgow, on Friday the Bth instant,
at three o'clock in the afternoon, for the purposes speci-
fied in the Articles of Constitution, when the following
gentlemen were elected Office-bearers for the current
year, viz.:

James Lumsden, Esq., of Yoker Lodge, President,
Mr. Geo. Robson, merchant, Glasgow, Vice-President.
Messrs. John Smith, John Reid, James Morrison, and
Patrick Scotland, Directors in room of the four who
retire.

Mr. James Gourlay, Treasurer.
Mr. Alexander Borland, Actuary.
Mr. E. Railtin, Secretary.

JOINT STOCK BANKS IN

SCOTLAND.

The returns of the circulation ofto 8
the
Ijoi3n9t-.lsatciocuk.
banks in Scotland, for the year 18
i sive, are much relied upon by the advocates_ of free
' issues. By the accounts furnished to the Comm! ce
on Banks of Issue, these establishments give a circu-
lation of 3,497,7951., in November, 1834, from twenty-
one banks ; and 3,559,5091., in November, 1839, from
twenty-eight banks. These accounts also show that
during the immediate years the circulation has
generally been lowest in the month of March, that
it has risen in July. and at its maximum in No-
vember. Mr. Gilbert places great stress upon these
tables, and the " beautiful regularity" which they
exhibit. He says that it must arise from the local
circumstances or habits of the country, and that it
has no influence on prices. He is partly right, but
more wrong than right in that statement. The periodi-
cal expansion of the currency in Scotland from July to
November is occasioned by the increase in trade, which
begins in July annually from the herring fishery. The
herring curers require a large supply of 11. notes annu-
ally to pay the wages to the fishermen, coopers, boat ma-
kers, and other persons employed by them. This demand
is supplied by the discount of bills and issue of their
notes in exchange by the various branch banks in
the towns along the line of coast ; and, again, in
November the currency is further increased by the
quantity of produce which is brought to market by
the farmers, whose grain rents in the northern coun-
ties are payable on Martinmas Day, the 15th
day of November. Mr. Gilbart says that Mr. Loyd's
system would destroy this regularity. " In sonic y cars
the circulation would advance from March to No.
vember, and in other years it would retrograde." We
do not think so. Mr, Loyd'a system would keep
the circulation altogether more even and steady,
but it would not stop the Scotch herring fishery,
nor prevent the tenants from selling their corn and
cattle. Mr. Gilbart is mistaken in supposing that
the periodical expansion of the currency in Scot-
land has no effect on prices. Every one who
has had an opportunity of observing the effect of 1
the flush of money produced by the bills distributed
along the coasts of Scotland, during and at the termina-
tion of the herring season, knows that prices are thus
invariably enhanced ; and that the easy accommodation
given by the banks has led to overtrading in that
branch of commerce, followed in the spring season by a
tightness of demand and want of money when the bills
fall due, which causes a reaction and fall of prices.
No one will dispute that the Scotch banks have been
generally well managed, and that they have tended much
to the improvement of that part of the United King-
dom. They are part of the system of society, here.
They are indeed, we may say, an elementary portion of
it, for every man in Scotland who has scraped 501. to-
gether is generally a shareholder in some joint-stock
bank ; and the Scotch have a confidence in their paper
issues which is born with them from the cradle. Such
confidence does not exist in England in paper-money ;
and we have to consider the best means for regaining
confidence in the eyes of the people of England towards
the monetary system of the country which it has lost.
We shall not likely obtain that object by mere analo-
gous reasoning from the Scotch system. We do not
believe that the people of England would place
faith in our opinions if we were seriously to argue that
the surest way to stop fluctuations in prices, and to
obtain safety for the public in their banking operations,
would be to do away with all legislative control as re-
gards banks of issue, and to let any class of men who
chose commence the trade of money making who were
able to get circulation for their promises to pay. What
would be the immediate result of such a system in the
metropolis and throughout the country ? Why, banks
would spring up as numerous as mushrooms in sum-
mer, and as ephemeral in their existence. Ultimately,
it may be said, the thing would cure itself, and find
its proper level ; that these fictitious establishments
would speedily perish, and houses of immense capital
and with most numerous proprietors would take their
place. Be it so. That is quite possible ; but let U 3
reflect a moment on the cenvulsions which would
first be suffered—the panic, the misery, the swell of
prices in the first instance, and the reflux in the sequel,
which the commercial interests of the country would
have to undergo before we could reasonably ex-
pect to reach the land of promise, and before the
troubled waters would settle calmly down. The experi-
ment is too dangerous to be attempted ; and although
there may be some risks in the change of placing the
whole currency in the hands of a board of responsible
officers appointed by the Crown, yet it is compara-
tively trifling ; and, as all are agreed that an alteration
must take place, and that something decisive must be
done, the best way is to adopt the simplest, and
that which is attended with the smallest peril. Uni-
formity and steadiness are the two chief objects
sought for, and to find them there must be
but one controlling power. As Mr. Gilbert
has referred to Scotland for a favourable elu-
cidatio n of the effects of competing issues, as
giving rise to regularity, and keeping the currency within
proper limits, we shall, on the other hand, contrast the
state of things in the United States, when the currency
in that country was under the control of a State bank,
and when it was open to the free action of the various
banks chartered by the separate States. The pic-
ture is thus drawn by Mr. Daniel Webster :
" From 1820 to 1830, a period of ten years, there
were created in the United States twenty-two new
banks, and their creation added to the banking
capital of the country but eight millions of dollars.
During this period the Bank of the United States was
in full operation, and nobody entertained a doubt but
that it would be continued. How was it in the next
ten years ? From 1830 to 1840, the increase of banks,
instead of twenty-two, as in the preceding ten years,
was three hundred and forty-eight ; and the increase
of banking capital, instead of eight millions, amounted
to two hundred and sixty-eight millions. Such has
been the progress of bank expansion during the charm-
ing, the successful years of the experiment,"
We do not bring forward this extract from the
speech of Mr. Webster with the view of attributing
merit to the Bank of the United States. We have
frequently pointed out the errors of the past conduct
of that institution, and called upon the Directors to
observe prudence and economy for the future. But
we have in the above extract evidence that the Bank
of the United States, faulty as it was during the pe-
riod when it existed as a national institution, and, acted
as a controlling power, was the means of repressing
over-issues, and that, when it ceased to possess the im-
press and influence of a national establieement, banks
sprung up to a most mischievous ex'„eat in the United
States.

THE "MILITARY KNIGHTS OF

WINDSOR.

in consequence of the main-guard at the Castle not
" turning out" to pay the usual marks of respect t..) the
' corpse of a military knight in the progress of the funeral
cortege to St. George's Chapel, Colonel Molyneux, the
Commandant of the 60th Rifles, was applied to on the sub-
ject by Colonel Bassett, the Governor. Colonel Moly-
neux, however, not having received any instructions from
the Horse Guards, declined to give any orders in re-
ference to the matter. The Military Knights (through
their Governor) then made a representation to Lord 11111,
the General Commanding in Chief, through Lieutenant-
General Sir John Macdonald, the Adjutant-General,
which caused an order to be issued by Lord llill (and
which was promulgated at Windsor on Saturday last) to
the following effect :
The Military Knights of Windsor are to be paid the
same compliments by the troops in garrison at Windsor es
if they were on full pay ; and on the decease of a Military
Knight, upon the Governor making an application to the
officer commanding the garrison for a funeral escort, a
firing party is to be granted according to the rank, or re-
lative rank, of the deceased Knight."
During the period the Ist battalion of the Rifle Brigade
was stationed at Windsor (which was succeeded by the
60th Rifles) the usual honours and marks of respect were
invariably paid (by order of the commanding officer, Co.
lone) Brown) by the main guard, at King Henry the
Eighth's gateway. Greater mortality has taken place
amongst the Military Knights within the past twelve
months than during the &line period since the founda,ion
of the institution. Within the time referred to four
and one is now so dangerously ill that
his
n;'gdieelulstfi• havena ttiniasdt diedo
a(i'llye ;
rge S
expected.ick er, late of the 11th Light D
the embassy
vrbalisocycoimn mcahni f
e,r,l then
17!!,111, r tt
is oft
oLord
ra :Nilsaecda rftrnoncyl and
he
o undation, vice Captain Holmes, de-
lower to the upper
ceased.

GRESHAM COLLEGE.-11911daV being the first
day of Hilary Term, the Rev. Mr. Pullen, Professor of
Astronomy to this endowment, delivered his introductory
lecture to an audience of forty-five persons. The prin-
cipal subject of the discourse was, the mode of taking ob-
servations from the earth's surface, with a description of
the Transit and Mural instruments, with other objects of
astronomical investigation.
The Operative Anti-Corn-law Association have
resolved to call their fellow-townsmen together at the
Music Hall next Wednesday, where they will lay before
them the workings of these laws, and expose the fallacies
by which they are attempted to be defended. Sir Joshua
Walmslcy, as an efficient and leading member of the
Anti-Corn-law League, has consented to take the chair.
—Liverpool Times.