The Sun.
London, England, 1841-08-31 00:00:00

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.

Waterloo-place, Pall-mall, 27th Nov., 1840.
(To the Chancellor of the Exchequer.)
Sir—On the part of the Committee of Deputies from the
Joint-Stock Banks, I beg you to favour me with permission to
obtain from the Stamp-office the quarterly averages of the
Joint-Stock Bank notes in circulation, distinguishing the
amounts in circulation in the respective counties. The object
of the Committee is to trace the effects of agricultural, manu-
facturing, and mining operations upon the circulation of coun-
try notes, and to show that the amounts in circulation are go-
verned by local causes, over which the banks have no control,
and which are beyond the influence of the foreign exchanges.
1 have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
OLIVER VILE, Hon. Sec.
And to Which application the following reply was received :
Downing-street, 28th November, 1840.
Sir—ln answer to your application on the part of the Com-
mittee of Deputies from the Joint-Stock Banks, that I should
give permission to the Stamp-office to furnish them with the
quarterly averages of the Joint-Stock Bank notes in circula-
tion, distinguishing the amounts in circulation in the countries,
I beg to state that I apprehend the Chairman of the Board of
Stamps, who receives those returns confidentially, will not con-
sider himself justified in giving such information without an
express direction from the Government, and that I am not
prepared to give such direction, considering that returns made
as confiden:ial should not be made in any way public except
for the information of the Legislature or Committees appointed
by the two House of Parliament.
I beg you will express my regret to the Committee that I
cannot comply with the request made by them.
'Your obedient servant,
Oliver Vile, Esq. F. BARING.
At the commencement of the last Session of Parliament the
Committee again solicited the attention of her Majesty's Minis-
ters to the imperfections of the law as regards Banking Com-
panies consisting of more than six persons, and on the 16th
February directed the following application to be made to the
Chancellor of the Exchequer:—
Waterloo-place, Pall-mall, Feb. 16, 1841.
(The Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer.)
Sir—The Committee of Deputies from the Joint-Stock
Banks had the honour of communicating with you in the last
Session of Parliament upon the defective state of the law with
reference to such banks, and they have to acknowledge your
courtesy in procuring the continuation of the Act which autho-
rized the Joint-Stock Banks to sue their own Shareholders
civilly, and in adding a clause which enabled such banks to sue
their Shareholders criminally.
Other defects in the law have recently been brought before
the notice of the public, both in England and Ireland.
In England it has been decided that a creditor of a Joint-
Stock Bank who has obtained judgment against the public
officer cannot issue execution against a Shareholder without
taking further proceedings in open Court, and it seems desir-
able that the Legislature should prescribe some process which
should give a speedy remedy to the creditors, without being
oppressive to the individual Shareholders. In Ireland it has
been decided that the Act commonly called the Bankers' Act
(33d Geo. 11., cap. 14) is still in force with regard to the
Shareholders in Joint-Stock Banks, a decision which, if main-
tained, will have the most injurious influence upon the value
of property in that country.
Besides these defects, which have been the subject of legal
proceeding, there are other defects, the principal of which were
enumerated in a letter addressed by the Committee of Depu-
ties to Lord Melbourne, on the 30th January, 1839, a copy of
which is enclosed.
Had the suggestions of the Committee of Deputies at that
period been embodied in a legislative enactment, the evils which
have since been exprienced could not have occurred.
The Committee, therefore, most respectfully request that
you will have the goodness to take measures for obtaining from
the Legislature a general amendment of the law with regard
to Banking Companies consisting of more than six partners. •
In the interview with which you honoured the Committee
of Deputies last Session, you stated that you doubted whether
you could attempt any alteration of the law with regard to
Joint-Stock Banks during the existence of the Committee of
the House of Commons upon Banks of Issue. But the Chair-
man ofthat Committee has stated that the Committee will con-
fine its investigations to the issue of nolee and will in no way
inquire into the law of partnership, and, indeed, it seems obvi-
ous that whatever may be the decision of that Committee with
regard to the circulation of notes, it will in no way remove
those defects of which the Joint-Stock Banks complain. These
defects are felt as severely by those Banks that do not issue
notes as by those that do.
The Committee of Deputies most respectfully submit these
matters to your consideration, and they solicit that you will
have the kindness to grant them an interview, to give them
the opportunity of stating more in detail the injurious opera-
tion of those defects in the law to which they have referred.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
OLIVER VILE, Hon. Secretary.
To this letter no reply has been received, nor has any Act
been passed to remedy the serious evils which result from the
continuance of the Act 33 Geo. H., cap. 14, as regardsbank-
ing in Ireland : but it having been found that the enactment
correcting in England the clergy disqualification which affected
Joint-Stock Banks, did not extend to Ireland, the Act 4 Vic.,
cap. 14, was passed on the 18th May last, whereby the law in
both countries on this point is now assimilated.
The Deputies present at the last general meeting approved
of the nomination of Mr. Stuckey and Mr. Gilbart to be ex-
amined by the Parliamentary Committee on behalf of the Joint-
Stock Banks, and requested the Committee to exercise their
own judgment in selecting such additional witnessess as might
be deemed expedient.
The Committee, having had this subject under their mature
deliberation, and being deeply impressed with the importance
of affording every possible information to the Parliamentary
Committee, resolved to present for examination other persons
connected with various parts of the country, who, from prac-
tical experience, were enabled to give the most conclusive
evidence, and to place unreservedly before the Parliamentary
Committee the working of Joint-Stock Banks throughout the
kingdom.
The Committee, therefore, requested Mr. Daniel Robertson,
Manager of the National Provincial Bank of England ; Mr.
Barnes. Manager of the City and County Bank, York ; Mr.
Hill, Manager of the Staffordshire and Wolverhampton Bank-
ing Company; Mr. Wilson, General Manager of the Wilts and
Dorset Bank; Mr. Bates, General Manager of the West of
England and South Wales Bank, to attend as witnesses when-
ever the Parliamentary Committee would receive their evi-
dence; and, to accomplish this object, the Committee directed
the following letter to he addressed to Charles Wood, Esq.,
M.P., the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee :
Waterloo-place, Pall-mall, 17th February, 1841.
Sir—During the last session of Parliament the Committee
of Deputies from the Joint-Stock Banks had the honour of re-
questing that Mr. Stuckey and Mr. Gilbart should be exa-
mined on their behalf before the Committee of the House of
Commons upon Banks of Issue.
In consequence of that application it was understood that
these gentlemen should he examined in the present session,
after the examination of those witnesses that might be pro-
posed by the private bankers.
The Committee of Deputies have now further to request
that, after this examination of Mr. Stuckey and Mr. Gilbart,
you will have the kindness to examine the following gentle-
men :
Mr. Daniel Robertson, manager of the National Provincial
Bank of England (London); Mr. Robert Barnes, manager of
the City and County Bank, York ; Mr. Henry Hill, manager
of the Staffordshire Banking Company, Woverhampton.
The Committee of ;Deputies are desirous of producing wit-
nesses from several districts to show the practical evils that
would result from one Bank of Issue. It is the intention of
the Committee that all their witnesses should be practical
ab rikers.—l have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
C. Wood, Esq., M.P. OLIVER VILE, Hon. Sec. •
, To this letter Mr. Wood sent the following answer, and con-
sequently the only persons examined on the part of the Joint-
Stock Banks of England were Mr. Stuckey and Mr. Gilbart :-
86, Eaton-square, Feb. 18, 1840.
Sir—l have had the honour of receiving your letter, sug-
gesting the names of three other gentlemen as witnesses to be
examined before the Committee on Banks of issue.
I have no doubt that these gentlemen might afford valuable
information, but I am sure you svirt see there must be some
limit to the number of witne—s examined, if we hope ever to
1
briqittilsethelabours of the Committee to a close.
and I should ho
anar.unt-of local it
witne_sses on the part of the Private and Joint-
Stock Bankers Ir. England, the Scotch Bankers, Bank of Ire-
land, and Isieh Ban
kers, we have work enough for some time,
efotrhat we may obtain from them a sufficient
I will, however, bear
r•
, in mind the names of the gentlemen
suggessed incase the Committee should think it d
nafi b
uy r stage of proceeding
their dcall for fa "sa-
ble,
ence.the i you,
Your
most.orboecd
ienzgs,
The Cerarai to urther
Oliver Vile, Esq.
ttee have been inforinSeidg
evid
amensi D r y
a.
atehdal the Pca. Parliamentary
Committee examined Mr.
Hobhouse and Mr.
Rod well on the
part of the private bankers ; Alr. Wilson, on the part of the Bank
of Ireland; Mr. Robert Murray, of
the Provincial Bank of
Ireland, on the part of the Joint-Stock Banks of Ireland; and
that- they also examined Mr. Paul Moon James manager
of the Manchester and Salford Bank, and Mr. Wright, a
i-
vete banker, from Nottingham. The two last-named wit-
nesses are connected with banks that issue notes of the Bank of
England.
•
A general meeting of Deputies from the several banks
in Scotland was heist at Edinburgh, on the 16th of A ril,
and after adopting several resolutions approving of the pre-
sent system of banking in that part of the kingdom,
appointed a deputation, consisting of Mr. Anderson, of the
Glasgow Union Bank; Mr. Findley, of the Glasgow arid
Ship Bank ; Mr. Kennedy, of the Ayrshire Bank ; Mr. nine.
of the Dun'tee Bank ; Mr. Crosbic, of the National Bank of
Scotland ; .31r. Patterson, of the North of Scotl Ind Bana,
Aberdeen, to proceed to London, to offer themselves for ex-
amination by the Parliamentary Committee, and to protect ,
the interests of the banks in Scotland.
The Parliamentary Committee examined only two of these
proposed witnesses—Afr. Anderson and Mr. Kennedy.
During the stay of this deputation in London, several of your
Committee were in frequent communication with the respec-
tire members, and your Committee have reason to hope that
' this friendly intercourse will tend to promote a spirit of union
among the Joint-Stock Banks throughout the kingdom.
The examination of witnesses from England. Scotland, and
Ireland occupied the Committee during almost the whole of
the last Session of Parliament.
The only results that have been made public are the presen-
dune'tation to the House of Commons of two reports.
[ADVERTISEMENT '
The first report was confined to the object of making prevs- PERSONAL 0 LI •
RNA A 1 ENT.—A itiesiiitss
5 interest-
sion for more frequent andrnore accurate returns of the average workmight amount of promissory notes in circulation payable on demand, i log
modes of personal embellishment and the amount of bullion in the Bank of England. practised among different na-
tions and the chapter devoted An Act (4 and 5 Vic., chap. 5) has passed through Parlia- I , . to the teeth could not but prove
ono of the most ultras •
ment for these purposes. • ein the volume. Among many savage
The second Report is not at present printed for the use of nations the practice is well known to prevail of dying the teeth
the public, but it is understood to apply only to the evidence i black, which is esteemed_ a high degree of ornament; while, on
taken before the Parliamentary Committee, which is to be 1 the contrary, our British fair, relying on nature for their at-
printed therewith. tractions, seek only to preserve the charms which she has so
,
From these Parliamentary Reports, and from other sources, bestoWed on them, and endeavour simply to preserve the
,
your Committee are led to believe that the project of establish.- 1 white and pearly character of the teeth. Among the various
ing one Bank of Issue for the whole kingdom is not likely to means suggested for this object, we wouldselect the celebrated be carried into effect. ' Odonto," prepared by Messrs. Rowland, of Hatton-garden,
The Committee have deemed it expedient to call this genera as the most admirable and perfect dentifrice yet submitted to
the public.

TING TO CONSIDER THE
CASE OF MR. M‘LEOD.
A meeting of the Colonial Society was held yesterday at two
o'clock, at the Ceonial Club House, St. James's-square,
the Right Honourable the Earl of Mountcashel in the
Chair' ior the purpose of considering certain resolutions
-':nick had been some to by the North American Com-
mittee on the case of Mr. M'Leod. The resolutions,
which were of a strong. character, stated that the Committee
had forborne to interfere while there ever had been 4piti hiipe
of M'Leod's release, but since the decision of the New York
Courts to send him to trial had become known, they felt bound
to protest against the unparalleled outrage to which Mr.
M'Leod had been subjected, and that in the event of any further
atrocity being committed against him, they trust her Majesty
would direct all the energies of • her empire to the
vindication of the national honour, as it was only by so doing
that we could ensure the safety of the inhabitants of our vast
Colonial po-sessions.
These resolutions were all confirmed by the meeting, which
was addressed by Sir D. M'Dougal, Mr. M. Martin, and seve-
ral other gentlemen. The attendance was by no moans ne-
merous.

RAIL WAY RETURNS.
We extract from the Railway Magazine the sums re-
ceived on the principal railways of Great Britain for the
week ending on the day of the month prefixed to each.
The return applies only to railways with a revenue ex-
ceeding 1,000/., and includes the money received for pas-
sengers, parcels, carriages, horses, mails, and merchan-
dize

Aug. 21. Birmingham and Derby
20. Birmingham and Gloucester
22. 'Eastern Counties
21. Glasgow and Ayr 1,622
21. Paisley and Greenock
14. Grand Junction and Chester and Crewe 10,268
23. Great North of England 1,486
22. Great Western
21. Hull and Selby 1,027
20. Liverpool and Manchester
21. London and Birmingham 18077
2G. London and Blackwall
1,221
26. London and Brighton ' LB4B
24. London and Croydon
11. London and South-Western 6,762
6. Manchester and Leeds
1. Midland Counties 2,803
Newcastle and Carlisle 1,848
. Northern and Eastern
1,096
North Midland
4,851
North Union
1488
,
York and North Midland 1,822

18 15 3 - 213 4 7

Balance remaining, subject to some outstanding
charges for printing, &c. ............ £7lO 18 10
EDWARD SMITH, Esq. a Director of the Sheffield Banking
Company, moved the adoption of the first resolution. (For the
resolutions see our advertising colu.i.ns.) He said the acts of
the Committee had fully borne out the statements of the reso-
lution, and it was gratif) ing to the Joint-Stock Banks to know
that their afftirs were under the constant attention of gentle-
men of first-rate talents, who, at the same time, received no
kind of compensation. He was sure the operations of Joint-
Stock-Banking in the country were not at all understood in
London. The issues of country banks were regulated by the
slate of trade in its district ; and were a Bank not to issue its
own notes, they would have to issue notes of the Think
of England, or gold. And it was a fact that the
inhabitants of the country districts preferred notes issued
by banks with wham they were acquainted, to those
issued by the Bank of England. If the state of trade demand-
ed an increase of the circulation it would be the height of
folly for a Bank to say—we cannot issue notes because the fo
reign exchanges are become unfavourable. The country cir-
culation could not be regulated by the foreign exchanges, but
must be governed by those laws which regulated the trade of
the respective localities.
rHOMAS PRICE, Esq., in moving the second resolution,
confirmed the statement of Mr. Smith, that the notes of local
Joint-Stock Banks were preferred by the people( to the notes
of the Bank of England. It was absurd to suppose that Banks
could force out their circulation to an amount beyond what the
wants of the district required.
The CHAIRMAN, in putting this resolution, observed that
he did not anticipate that the latter part of this resolution
would ever be called into operation. It was his opinion that
as soon as Parliament met for the dispatch of business, which,
he believed, would not take place till after Christmas, the
charters of the Bank of Ireland and of the Bank of England
must come under the consideration of the Legislature, and
then a general law relative to banking companies would be ob-
tained. No Government could refuse to entertain the subject.
This resolution, however, would give the Committee the power
and the means of fighting their own battles.
Sir PETER LAURIE observed that, as the resolution referred
to a letter that had been sent to Lord Melbourne, he was de-
sirous of hearing the letter read. It was accordingly read by
the Secretary, when Sir Peter Laurie said that he approved of
every word of it.
ROBERT SCOTT, Esq., M.P., suggested that if the Commit.
tee should be compelled to bring in a Bill of their own, he
thought they should omit any reference to the charter of the
Bank of Ireland, or to the acceptance of hills by the Joint-
Stock Banks of London. It was observed, however, by
several of the deputies, that if the Directors and' Managers of
the London Banks were to fight the battles of 'the country
banks, the country banks ought in return to fight the battles of
the London banks.
The CHAIRMAN did not imagine there would be any diffi-
culty in this case. In the renewal of the Bank of Ireland
charter, proposed by Mr. Spring Rice, the right of accepting
bills was conceded to the joint-stock bills of Dublin. In fart
there could be no doubt that the Legislature intended the
Joint-Stock Banks of London to have the right of accepting
bills ; for the right of carrying on banking in London impelled
the right of accepting bills, which was one means by which
the business of banking was carried on. If the Committee
introduced a bill, they would, of course, introduce such a bill
as they wish to be carried, but it would be competent in the
legislature to strike out whatever clauses they pleased, and the
Committee would not abandon the whole bill because some of
the clauses might be lost.
JOSHUA WALKER, Esq., in proposing the fourth resolution,
paid a handsome compliment to the gentlemen who were exa-
mined before the Parliamentary Committee; and Mr. SMITH,
in seconding the motion, observed that to be examined by a
committee of the House of Commons upon such a subject
was a position in which, whatever talents he might possess,
he should not liked to be placed. In reading the examina-
tion, he was strongly impressed with the idea that the ques-
tions were proposed merely with a view to embarrass the wit-
nesses. But no doubt this was a mistake. Of course the Hon.
Members asked these questions merely to• increase their own
information, and improve their own knowledge of the subject,
and he hoped they would profit by the information they had
received.
Mr. GILBART, in returning thanks for the compliment, ob- '
served that Mr. Stuckey was absent in the country or he
would have attended that meeting. The Committee before
which they had been examined, instead of directing its inquiries
into the conduct of the Bank of England in producing the
pressures on the money market in 1836 and 1839, had become
an instrument of attack upon the circulation of the country
banks. The banks were thrown upon the defensive • but
although it was not a very desirable position to. be called
to answer any questions that might be proposed by six-and-
twenty men who had previously studied the subject and picked
out the most knotty questions to put to a witness, eet he did ,
not believe that the cause of the Joint. Stock Banks had suf-i
fered in his hands. All the witnesses examined last session
were practical bankers, and he thought the evidence when it
came out should be purchased by the Banks, and those Banks
which had branches should purchase one for the manager of
each branch, for the funds of a Bank could not be better
employed than in purchasing the means of knowledge and
information for those who were entrusted with the ad•
ministration of its affairs. He thought, too, that managers I
should read the evidence with a pencil in their hands, and
mark those passages which might be applicable to the local ,
affairs of their own bank, and get those extracts inserted in
the local newspapers for the instruction of the inhabitants of
the districts. The public press governed the country. and if
we wished to influence public opinion in our favour it must
be_by means of the public press. He should be ready at all
, times,
the interest eitherof the Joints- as a witnesStock Banks or in any other capacity, to promote
Mr. GEACH, in moving the fifth resolution, observed that
as the resolution came into his hands it closed at the word
" communication," but he thought it wss only an act of jus-
tice to lengthen it by the addition he had made. He had never
known Mr. Vile until he had become connected with this
association ; but the longer he had known him the more re-
spect he felt for the excellence of his character. His duties
had been arduous, and he had performed them efficiently, ho-
nourably, and gratuitously, and he thought it was due to
themselves that they should present him with some token of
their respect.
This resolution was seconded by Mr. HILL, and carried by
acclamation.
The CHAIRMAN observed that the sense of the meeting was
so clearly shown that it was hardly necessary to put the reso-
lution. He had known Mr. Vile for a long time, and in darious
capacities, and he was happy to say that in every respect in
which he had had the opportunity of meeting Mr. Vile he could
not discover anything about him that was vile but his name.
Mr. VILE, in returning thanks, observed that he should have
felt himself amply compensated for his exertions by the resole.
tion as it originally stood, but the munificent addition which
had been made to it deserved his most grateful acknowledg-
ments. He had undertaken the office of Honorary Secretary
from a desire of promoting the interests of the Joint-stock
Banks, and, although the duties had been in some cases ardu-
ous, he had considered that he was discharging a public duty.
He should preserve the testimony of regard which the meeting
had voted him as a memorial of the services he had been
enabled to perform, and as a stimulus to any future exertions
he might have the opportunity of making on behalf of the in-
terest of Joint-Stock Banking.
The CHAIRMAN closed the meeting by acknowledging the
rote of thanks which had been passed to him with acclamation.
He said that, now he was again in Parliament, he should most
zealously devote himself to the interests of the Joint-Stock
Banks. In his youth he had seen the excellency of that sys-
tem of banking in Scotland. He wished to see that system,
with all its excellencies, and none of its defects, extended
throughout England. His had been the means of extending it,
and he should certainly never desert it. Among all the im-
portant interests which demanded the attention of the Legisla-
ture, there was none more important than this, and none to
which he should more zealously devote every energy he might
possess.
MEE"

FROM THE DAILY PAPERS OF YESTERDAY.
CHRONICLE.—Out of evil cometh good. All men who,
like Mr. Roebuck, are not very partial to the Whigs, but have
no disposition to desert their principles, will have their dis-
satisfaction satisfied by the turning out of the Ministry, and
their alarm roused by the coming in of the Tories. To these
will be joined the Reformers who have been over-confident,
and the Reformers who have been asleep. If an honest un-
derstanding prevails in the ranks of the Liberals, the majority
of ninety-one will form a powerful bond of union. An oppo-
sition will be formed—not an " unscrupulous opposition," as
that "forcible feeble" elr. Christmas, the present member for
Waterford, Ventured to wheeze out ; but a national opposition,
animated by a hearty and sincere spirit, and determihed, by all
legitimate and constitutional means, either to drive Sir Robert
Peel onwards, or to drive him out. Overwhelming, then, as is
the Tory majority in the House of Commons, the ground of
encouragement and of union for a national opposition is very
strong. Sir Robert Peel is himself perfectly sensible of this.
He feels keenly that his Goverument will be, what Mr. Hawes
described it, a Government of " coalition and compromise."
Lord Stanley and Sir James Graham did not dare to open
their mouths in last week's debate. If such was their position
before entering into office, what will it he when in it? They
present points of attack for every opponent ; and scarcely a
speech can be made without damage and disaster to them, and
consequently to the Government of which they are to be mill-
hers. Not only will the future Government be one of coali-
tion and compromise ; it will also be one of disunion.
TlMES.—However reasonable it may appear, from the
division which took place between two and three o'clock on
Saturday morning, from the non-attendance of Ministers at the
debate of Saturday neon, and from the visit pa d by Lord
Melbourne to her Majesty in the post-meridian of the same
eventful Saturday, that the Whigs have by this time expressly
surrendered their offices, we are unable to lay before our
readers any positivs assurance that the fact has actually taken
place. In ail probability, however, it will be announced this
afternoon by Lcrd Melbourne and Lord John Russell 'to their
respective Houses that they hold their situations only till their
successors shall be appointed. Whether they have expressly
resigned or not, can be material only in one point of view.
Virtually, they are defunct ; but until their formal res;gnation
shall have been actually given in, there is stili a danger of some
malversation in the shape of patronage—some jobbing to
make vacancies for friends—some new batch of Baronets,
or, it may be, of Peers. Beware of the spent ball.
A thousand speculations are afloat as to the formatit n
of the new Government. One thing only is clear, that
Sir Robert Peel, whether sent for in the first instance or not,
must be its actual practical head,and must decide upon the dis-
tribution of offices to be submitted to her Majesty. But of the
details of that distribution nothing is, and nothing can be,
known. The same decorum and the same caution which have
restrained him from specifying his measures, will of course re-
strain him from specifying his men. lie may contemplate the
offer of office to some who may decline it altogether, or who
may desire some different post from that proposed to them, or
who, by possioiltty, may be unacceptable to her Majesty. He
may wish for the assistance of some to whom, nevi rtheless, he
can propose the positions intended for them only in case cer-
tain other influential claimants can be otherwise satisfied. To
have disclosed his intentions beforehand would, therefore, have
exposed him to all sorts of difficulties, would hare wounded
the self-love of some candidates, would have given to others a
clue for counteracting his arrangements, and, above all, would
have had an air of assumption with reference to the Queen's
choice which his enemies would have been sure to represent as
disrespectful.
HERALD.—To the general views on the subject of the
Corn-laws, expressed by Sir Robert Peel in his most impres-
sive address on Friday night, we subscribe ; and for this simple
reason, they are based on the principle of adequate protection
being given to that section of the community which excels all
others in the magnitude of the population and property belong-
ing to it. All that we demand is a Corn-law which will fully
convey such protection, whilst it removes every unreasonable
obstacle to the easy importation of that amount of foreign corn
which the deficiency of the harvest and the badness of
seasons, may render absolutely necessary. We shall,
however, continue to offer a most uncompromising op.
position to any amendment of the present law which shall
realize the ends sought either by the manufacturers,
or Earl Spencer,—the lowering of wages at home,
or the raising of wages abroad. With Sir Robert Peel we ad-
vocate a graduated scale of duties in preference to a fixed
tax ; because either the amount of the latter must be so low as
not to convey protection to British agriculture, or so high as
to be intolerable when importations of foreign grain are indis-
pensable. Besides, we repudiate the making a prime neces-
sary of life a permanent source of revenue, as leading to
greater irritation and exacerbation of public feeling, and to
more flagrant misrepresentations than even now exist as to
causes of distress and industrial suffering. A fixed duty would
be perfectly unbearable in years of scarcity, and its imposition
is therefore only a long stride to a perfectly free trade in corn,
and a complete dependence for food on foreign countries. It is
impossible to name a fixed duty which is not obnoxious to one
of these insuperable objections.
ADVERTISER.—So long as the people only suffered from
the defective and corrupt consitution of the representative body,
so long have the Whigs pertinaciously adhered to the positions,
—that the Reform Act should be regarded as a final measure,
and that organic change should be deprecated as something
equivalent to, if not worse than, revolution. Now, however,
that the Whigs themselves have been expelled from office by
the same perversion of the representation which had long kept
the people excluded from their just rights, the late sticklers for
finality may view from the opposition side of the House the
Reform Act and organic change in a light far different from
what they did when seated on the Treasury Benches. In ex-
pressing their hostility to a further Reform of the House of
Commons, and delaying to bring forward measures for extend-
ing and protecting the franchise, the Whigs—as we at the
time warned them, in frank but friendly terms—became acces-
sories to an act of political suicide, which the recent decisions
of the Houses of Parliament have completed, and upon
which the inquest of public opinion can pronounce
no other verdict than that of fdo de se. That they foresaw
the consequence in which their anti-progressive policy must
have resulted, was evidenced by their fitful indications of a more
liberal course of action ; but these virtuous intentions—the
evidence of a suicide pausing in the act of self-destruction—
always failed, from the absence of that moral courage neces-
sary to subdue their aristocratic predilections, to brave the
reproaches of their class, and votantarily and boldly to take
that position to which they are now driven, by the decision of
profligate, corrupt, and despotic majorities an both Houses of
Parliament. By a just retribution, Ministers have fallen by
the same hands which they refused to deprive of the power of
mischief whilst employed only in the spoliation of the people.
It is true it was not the same House of Commons, but it was
a House of Commons elected under auspices similarly and more
excessively corrupt, that rejected almost all measures even ap-
proaching to practical and efficient reform, and declared their
want of confidence in the Cabinet now in articulo mortis.
POST.—The speech delivered on behalf of his party by
Lord John Russell on Friday night, will naturally be read with
great interest throughout the country. We are happy to be
able to afford it the !praise of being more temperate, more
business-like, and less disingenuous, than the speeches of the
Noble Lord generally are. In every respect it was much more
worthy of a leading Statesman than was the written Address
from Mine). We do not mean to say anything peculiarly
harsh or offensive to the Noble Lord, when we say that his
speech was less disingenuous than usual. We do not believe
that the Noble Lord,is a man indifferent to truth, but it seems
to us that he has (perhaps unconsciously) adopted the habit
ever since he became a leading Minister, of resorting to disin-
genuousness in his speeches,_ as if that were a part of the legi-
timate artifice of Ministerial dtid Parliamentary leadership. If
we did not feel fully convinced of this, and think that it was our
duty to point out such a fault in a public man, we should cer-
tainly not advert to it merely for the sake of casting dis-
credit upon the Noble Lord, or of giving him annoyance, The
Noble Lord has complained that the Conservative Opposition
gave no sufficient reason for the vote of want of confidence
which it proposed to the House. But presently afterwards the
Noble Lord admitted that reasons had been given, first by the
mover and seconder of the amendment, and then by Sir
Robert Peel at the close of the discussion. Was not this
enough ? The Noble Died says. however, that there was a
great differenee anti discrepancy between the reasons given by
Mr. Wortley, the mover of the amendment, and those given
by Sir Robert Peel. Undoubtedly there was a difference, for,
as the Noble Lord himself took notice, the reasons advanced by
Mr. Wortley applied to the general conduct of the Govern.
ment as the successors of the Government of Lord Grey;
while the reasons advanced by Sir R. Peel applied to the pro •
positions of the late Budget. tittt there etas no discrepancy in
these rea-ons—no disagreement or contrariety. They were
merely different reasons gathered from different portions of time.
GLOBE.—Sir Robert Feel has succeeded, thus far, to
a miracle in the gable he has played, and by mira-
culous means • for thispeWeitul eloquence that
has been -usd in his behalf has been his own silence,
while his abstaining from any declaration of what
he shall do has given rise—we will not say with how
much reason—to the hope that he will accomplish
everything. He has up to this moment been wearing,
in different eyes, the different hues of the camelion ;
but he must now stand forward in his true colours,
and declare the real complexion of his political principles.
Some of the adherents pretend to find in his speech
of Saturday morning the desired solution of the pro-
blem that has long divided the opinion of the public
as to how Sir Robert meant to act ; and as the last
scene of a melodrama generally brings to light a number
of close relationships that have never been declared before,
it is contended that the now no longer proximate Pre-
mier' when winding up his lung and arduous part in
The Siege of Downing-street, discovered unreservedly
the nature of his relationship to all the subjects that
have lately occupied the stage of politics. Bat we deny
the fact ; and we affirm, that to us, at least, it is,
as mysterious as ever what are the ties by which
the man in the mask will for the future consider
himself bound ; and though he declares himself
wedded to the sliding scale, we are not sure that he
does not sieritemplate running off from the present
idol of affections as soon as circumstances may ren-
der such a trick practicable and expedient. Sir Robert
has been wedded, before now, to so many objects which
he has afterwards thought propee to put aside, that
we shall not be astonished at his divorce from the slid-
ing scale, when he finds the connection likely to interfere
with more desirable alliances. He has already given
notice to the friends of the probable victim that he
does not mean to be particularly tender in his future
treatment, and has refused d'atrance the support of
those who expect from him " the irrevocable mainte-
nance of the present Corn-law in all its details." We
are told that this is " a candid and manly avowal,"
" leaving no sort of doubt" upon what his policy will be
with regard to the matter to which it refers ; but we
take leave to say that he must be an CEdiptis indeed who
can divine from the above expression what will be the
course of the new Minister.
STANDARD.—Short as has been the experience of
the first decidedly Conservative House of Commons elected
under the Reform Bill, its conduct presents a striking
contrast to the conduct of its predecessors of the last
nine years. First, the unanimous election of a Whig
speaker upon principles of justice and constitutional duty.
Secondly, the adoption, by a majority of 91, of en
Amendment more loyal and respectful in tone than the
Address for which it was substituted. Thirdly, the re-
jection of a revolutionary addition to the Address by a
majorityco n ne e emf eno
t oless
thtehanwo2r4k-tinglo'hfisa ispaarnliaamusepnitc:iotoisf
which, since the election had determined its character,
it was predicted that it would be violent, disloyal, and
overbearing. If we pass from the acts of the House,
which are, indeed, the acts of the majority, and for which,
therefore, the majority, when it is great, must claim all
the credit—if, we say, we pass from the acts of the
House to the speeches of those by whom it has been led,
we find exactly the same spirit of moderation and loy-
alty. The speech of Sir Robert Peel, who has been
justly called by Messrs. Ward and Roebuck the repre-
sentative of the majority, does not excel the speeches of
his friends in these characteristics, although it surpasses
them in extent, depth, and eloquence. The
Ministers and their organs of the press have been
flattering themselves for months with the prespect

The Lord Chancellor has presented the Rev. Henry
Hardinge to the Rectory of Theberton, in the county of
Suffolk.

THE FAUBOURGS OF BRUSSELS A QUARTER

OF A CENTO!Y AGO.- The embellishments and improve-
ments
going
on in tife dtY of Brussels within the last twenty-
five years, have been gairieo,.t must be confessed, at a sacrifice
of the picturesque. During the wi;.r the fines views met our
eye immediately after quitting the rtes of the city. At the
period we speak of, from the city to
..._",'aerbeek
.church, a
nearly continuous line of houses had not yet b-:,`'ldln,o exist:
ene.e. A few country-seats and cottages, scattere, ..,„„re; and
there, filled up the landscape, without spoiling it. After ..`ag-
ing the ramparts, the road to Mon Plaisir presented a mole
charming country walk than is now to be met with at two or
three miles distance. Outside the Louvain gate, the densely-
populated faubourg of St. Josse-ten-Noode consisted of little
more than the High-street and the ponds of Etterbeck, at pre-
sent comparatively dried up, rivalled the most delightful parts
of Boitsfort. Th o faubcurg beyond the Namur gate was limited
to the angles of the rues des Minimes and de Belle-Vue :
a few paces further, and you were completely in the country,—
at the ponds of Lxclles, or at the wood of La Cambre, which
then extended to upwards of 500 yards on the city side of the
Mendicity Depor. The faubourg, de St. Gilles was termi-
nated at the church and the wood called " The Forest," the
last vestige of which has been purchased by a merchant anti
converted into a delightful park. On either side, too, of the
Alice- Verte were pleasant views; but now a street runs parallel
with this fashionable promenade, and houses and shops inter-
cept our passage to the old chaus3ee de Laeken. While
calling to mind what once was, let us not be understood to
complain of what now is ; our only object being to invite the
attention of the Brussels magistrates to the necessity of think-
ing a leetk about preserving or restoring to Brussels a portion
of that picturesque scenery which has been, perhaps, too
heedlessly sacrificed. It does seem as if the magistracy
had not sufficiently borne in mind in how great a degree
foreigners, and especially our own countrymen, have been
attracted hither by the pleasant walks and drives around this
capital. If we might be allowed to 0176.: an opinion upon the
matter, we would say that, previously to the coin:action of the
buildings now erecting along the boulevards du Midi, (los Abet-
toirs, Barthelemy, and de l'Entropont, it would be well for the
municipal authorities—if they have left themselves the power—
to stipulate with the owners of houses that a garden should he
planted before each mansion. A like condition was made com-
pulsory, a few years ago, on every purchaser of land for build-
ing on the boulevard du Regent; the same obligation might le
again enforced in the ease of the streets erecting on the boule-
vard des Abettors. It is reasonable to believe if the land in
the neighbourhood of the north station, as well as the quarters
Leopold and Louise, were laid out as parks and pleasure
grounds, the measure would have the effect of inducing an
influx of respectable and wealthy families to the metropolis of
Belgium, and he no inefficient substitute for the rural rides and
walks which have been curtailed of their fair proportion. This
above all—let not the threatened uprooting of the Botanic
Garden, and the destruction of its hot-houses, take place as a
sacrifice to the building mania of the day. Before quitting the
subject, we trust that too great liberties will not be taken with
the view from the rue Royale, behind the statue of General
Belliard. Brussels Gazette.

A circular order has just been issued by the
Board of Admiralty, directing that all ships and vessels are in
future to be fitted with wire-rope lightning conductors, on
Mr. Edey's plan, which will not cost one-twelfth the expense
of Mr. Snow Harris's. 011 the special application of the Cap-
tain, the latter may be fitted, should their Lordships approve
of it.—Naval and Military Gazette. '• ,