The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-14 00:00:00

UPON PETITIONS

It is 'lather evident to your Committee, that on
numerous consecutive sheets the signatures are in one
and the same handwriting.
Your Committee have also observed the names of
distinguished individuais attached to the petition, who
cannot be supposed to have concurred in its prayer, and
as little to have subscribed it.

Amongst such others, the name of her Majesty in one
place as Victoria Rex, April the First, the Duke of
Wellington, K.G., Sir R. Peel, &c., &c.
In addition to this species of abuse, your Committee
have observed another, Equally in derogation of the just
value of petition—namely,
The insertion of names which are obviously altogether
fictitious, such as " Nu Cheese," " Pug-nose," " Flat-
nose," &c.
There are other words and phrases which, although
written in the form of signatures, and included in the
number reported, your Committee will not hazard
offending the House, and the dignity and decency of
their proceedings by reporting ; although it may be
added, that they are obviously signatures belonging to
no human being.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sm—Your paper of yesterday states good reasons for
foubline-, the truth of th© number said to have signed
,he Chartist petition.

But there are other reasons for doubting it. If the
signatures are on skins or parchment as large us the
tiroadside of your paper, and like it divided into seven
columns, and the sigtia'urc-s are written so close togettier
as three to an inch, each skin will contain 525 signatures,
and consequently the petition must have 10,857 skins to
contain 5,700,137 names. It mu.t be four miles and
499 yards in length, and the weight must be two or
three tons.

As I read of the petition having been carriel in a
crab, I have some doubt, of this enormous magn.tude.
Perhaps some of those who have suen it kre better abl
to judge than

A COUN FRYMAN.

April 13, 1848.

TO THE ELI tol? OF THE SUN.
SIR,—As the affair of Monciay has passed over quietly,
and the G'overarnent is rather strengthened thin other-
wise by the d, tu,io.tration, 1 would be,4 :o t., ugge q t the
propriety ut the Npevi ..I con i.:,blys na'2,lln::- io a hod j ,
and expressing themselves in somethitiL, like Lilo follow-
ing terms .
" We, the special constables of London, who have
willingly aid promptly come to the a%sistanee of Govern-
ment for the maint. mince of peace and order, are anxious
to impress upon the Government that in so doing we
have no wish to express any hostility towards the lower
classes; on the contrary, we would beg the Governm, nt
to consider their claims favourably, and concede so
much of them as mny be conceded with safety,"
I enclose my card, and shall be most happy to co-
operate with any gentleman feeling as I do upon the
subject. I am, Sir, &c.,

A SPECIAL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sits,—The inhabitants of this weiropulis having
proved to the world on Monday last their loyalty to the
'forone, and abhorrence of all v.olent means to obtain a
reform in the laws of this country, are now doubly bound
to come forward, and i❑ legal and constitutional meet-
ings show to the Government that it must not stand still
—that while the Government aro passing Coercion Bills
for England and Ireland, it must at the same time intro-
duce such measures as the growing wants of the commu-
nity require, in order that, with God's blessing, such
Cuerzion Bills may not have to be put in force. The
middle classes are much in favour of a reduction in the
expenditure, equaliz.ttion of the taxation, alterations in
the currency system, extension of the franchise, vote by
ballot, &c., and other things too numerous to mention;
and therefore iS behoves a Government to put its shoul-
der to the wheel, to grapple with the monster nuisances, ,
and thoroughly cleanse the Augeau stable, so that the
Mitchel O'Briens, and others, may cease to agitate and
inflame the people, by having no real grievance s to talk
about. This, therefore. is the time that the middle
classes must be up and doing.
I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
A COMMISSION MERCHANT'S CLERK.
4, Liverpool terrace, Liverpool-road,
April 13, 1848.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
LIVERPOOL, APRIL 13.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Aberdeen, 22—Great
Northern, 10 dis.—Great Western, 171. 'hares, 11/./2 dis.—
Lancashire and Yorkshire, Fifths (late West Riding Union),
dis.—Liverpool, Alanchester' and Newcastle Junction,
23's dis —Londun and Nurth-Western, 125 c.—Ditto, New
Quarters, 1% p.—Ditto, Fifths, 5 p.—Ditto, Quarters (A and
B), p.—. itto (C), 2l p.— Manchester, Sheffield, and
Lincolnshire, Quarter', No. 2, 15--Ditto, Preference, 1,4 i dis.
idlaud, 95 Ditto, Halves, dis.—Ditto, Consoli-
dated Birmingham and Derby, 75—Newcastle and Carlisle,
100—North StaflOrdshire, 31/8 dis.—Shrewsbury, o.,westry,
and Chester, Preference. 2 p. South-Eastern and Dover, 22
—Ditto, No. 3, 11 dis.—Ditto, No. 4, Thirds, 735. 9d. dis.—
York, Newcastle, and Berwick, Extensions (N. and B.),
No. 2, dis.—Ditto, G. N. E. Purchase, 14 dis.
MANCH E S lEli, APRIL 13.
STOCK EXCIIA NG K.. —The sales are—Birkenhead, Lanca-
shire, and Cheshire Junction, 67k dis. - East Lancashire,
New, 8 dis.—Lancashire and Yorkshire( \Vest lti iir.g Union),
c. dis. --Dittc, Pres:on 4,a1 lialvLs (A), 2 7-16 p.
Leeds and Thir k, Prefer r,tia . 2 is.— Lariion and No. 03-
Western (Manchester and Birmi..ghain), Quarters (A and B),
BELOirtisitetietps,rhin—ii,saTiDinihirdteitrpodiosu:dvire2tirt7odNsi(sboC.,—.4)h:N23oll,2lc.hp.:lr.).6stdailss.ia,.hiriadclrsteiheosts:rtkee4,rl/4Studeisffi......eicoarttihd
an3ddNiao.—rthStt
land, 62.

BIRMINGHAM, APRIL 13.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Loudon and North-
Wrgern, 126 itto, New Quarters, p. —Ambergate,
Sottingh.4in, and Boston, 56s sd. dt3. Biiminghatn, ol-
verhamp. on, and Stoui. Valley, 314 dis.—N-rth Staffordshire,
611. 3d. dis.—Strrewsbury and Birmingham (B), 3j4 dis.
LEEDs, APRIL 2.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—Rather more business has been done
to-day than yesterday, at the following prices;—East Lan-
cashire, New, 8 dis.— itto, Quarters, 40s. die.—Great North-
ern, 97,6 dis.—Luncashire and Yorkshire ( West Riling Union ),
745. dis —Leeds and Thirsk, 22% dis.—Ditto, New, 205 p dis.
—North British, Thirds, ')9s. 6d. dis.—North Staffordshire,
31/8 dis.—York, Newcastle, and Berwick, No. 2 (New Bet,'
wicks), 10s. dis. Ditto, Preference, 10s. dis.
HULL, APRIL 13.
STOCK EXCHANGE —The sales are—Ambergate, Notting-
ham, and Boston, s—North British, Extension (scrip), 3s.
—Ditto, Thirds, 233.

YORK, APRIL 12.
STOCK EXCIIINGE.—The following were the quotations
to-day—Great Northern, 3 Ipswich and Bury St. Ed-
munds, 334—North British, Thirds, 235.—York, Newcastle,
and Berwick (Original), 27 iii—Ditto, No. 2 (late New Ber-
vricka), 9:l4—Ditto (G. N. E. Purchase), 7:A.
EDINB URG 11, Arnm_l2.
STOCK EXCILLNGE.—The sales are—Edinburgh, Leith,
and Grantor), 91. 10s.—Edinburgh and Northern (Newport),
51. 2s. 6d.— Great Northern, 3—North British, Quarters,
733. 6d.—Ditto, Thirds, Vs.
GLASGOW, ArsuL 12.

STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Caledonian, New, ss.
—Duvdee and Perth, 261,4—Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr,
691.—Ditto, Halves, No. 1, 35,—Glasgow and Greenock,
Preference, s—North British, Thirds, 225. 6d.

in the Sunday school
late Miss Sarah Johnson Garrad, of
SMALL ACCEFT.4.nLsE, BEQUESTS.-T 0
is childleft
will of the.
Prayer-book, or some other religious
apiticbblea'sed by the vicar, the Rev. Arthur
en to the chil tren at his discretion
parish,
given
in
the be laid out
of the Sunday school ; the testatrix has
:also book,ilbhyaanttbhleat
101.rro y-i
to
for the children
also directed the executors to pay over to the vicar 251.,
which, under his superintendence, is to be given in sums
of 5/. to the treasurers of the undermentioned societies :
The Bures National School, the Butes Pal ochial Lend-
ing Library, the Bures Friendly Society, the Society for
Promoting Christian Knowledge, and the Church Mis-
sionary Society,
Yes.terilay their Royal Ilighntsses the Duke and
Duchess of Cambridge, with Princess Mary, accompanied
by the Baroness B„se, the Hen. Miss Mitford, and Cap•
tam 111ildnaay, honoured the New Society of Painters in
Water Colours by viewieg the fourteenth annual exhibi-
tion of their pictures, at their Gallery, 53, Pall-mall,
previously to its being opened to the public. They ex-
pressed themselves much gratified at the great progress
the Society has made since the last year, as well in the
increased number and excellence of their works.
TUE PRINCE OF PRUSSIA.—His Royal Llighpes
the Prince of Prussia was entertained at dinnenr on Wed-
' ncsday evening by his Excellency the Prussiabßinoisbteerrt,
at his mansion on Carlton-house Terrace. Sir
~
In-
bled
Sir James Graham. and a 'elect circle wereezniu,
bled to meet his Ito% al Higime's. Y'''tera",r grand en
his Excellency the Prii....ia:. Minister gave
,a
.a. u e
in
tertainuent to a circle of tin! corps chpiotin.ca,
lio::our of his Royal Highness the Prince of Prussia.the
Chere were assembled to meet his Reyel Highness
Austrian Ambassador, the Belgian Mmistevi,,Tutrhieeißnns:ra-
fion Minister, the Swedish Minister, the . g.
\Heist, r, the Hanoverian Minis.etr, and the Cbarge
d'Affaires. To morrow evening his Excellency will bay.
another grand banquet.

r4ll he nfr2rei to c2r77 fhn :Nfiehtelrnas
Term of the pre,•e,...a

THE CIIA ttTIsT PEE i LION.
ItEPUR Eit) M E SELECT (M N 1 EE

The Committee upon Petitions, in conformity
with the instructions of the House on the 26th of No-
vvmher last, in all cases to set forth the number of sig-
natures to each petition; and also hating regard to the
po.Aer at the came time delogatc d to them, to report their
olanion and ol,strvazion:; thi reupon to the Home, have
4greed to the lb ltrA it. •

SPi CIAL REPORT,
That On TO (3.,).tpit instapt. R pet,:t'n !cr
[mirk-Nal snffe; of tlie inliatiit::.ifis of the Brito.h
[,l,s an i bub j,e of the Biiti,h Has presented to
he floinita.
r.tir C.,,n-ani•tee str, ugh r.c. Ihe v_ 1!:o the right of
pPloion: consider Vie i•xerci,e of i! one of the tri•sr im
portuw; privileges of the subj; ets 01 the realm, and feel
the rie:es,ii:y of preserving :he -xerci,eeft crich priviteges
from it bu;(-; end ii,ving a due regsrd the un-
port.qt,e, of a very trutnerfit-l. signed forming
,he vubiect :he present report, they it d hound re-
present to the nous,—
"Inat in the matter of signatures there has been in
their opinion a very gross abuse of that privilege.
The Honourable Member for Nottingham stated, on
presenting the petition in question to the House, that
5,706,000 signatures were attached to it.
Upon a most careful examination of the number of
iignatures in the Committee-room, in which examination
thirteen law-stationers' clerks were engaged for upwards
of seventeen hours, with the person ordinarily employed
in counting the signatures appended to petitions, under
the superintendence of the clerk of your Committee,
The number of signatures has been ascertained to be
1,975,496.