The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-12 00:00:00

ROME.

The POPE has issued a proclamation, dated the
30th ult., addressed to the people of Italy, in which,
after recognising the will of the ALMIGIITY in the
extraordinary changes that are taking place in the
condition of the Italian peninsula, he exhorts the
people to moderation after victory.

THE NATIONAL PETITION.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sia,—As considerable excitement has existed for
some days past upon the subject of the presentation of
what is called the National Petition, I think it
would not be altogether useless to inquire into the
truth of the statement made in the House last night by
Mr. F. O'Connor, to the effect that the petition in ques-
tion was signed by 5,700,137 persons. Now, Sir,
it appears that the population of the whole United
Kingdom, according to the last census, was
26,702,563. From this number is to be deducted
the population of Ireland, amounting to 8,175,124;
as no portion, or, at least, a very inconsiderable portion,
of the petition is made up from the Sister Island. That
would leave, therefore, for England, Wales, and Scot.
land, a population of 18,527,439. Of this latter number,
one fifth only, or 3,705,487 are male adults. Supposing
that every one of those persons had signed the petition,
there would still be left to be accounted for, no less a
number than 2,094,650.
But the inquiry can bo carried still further. The
number of electors upon the register in England, Wales,
and Scotland, according to the last returns which have
been made up, were 944,473. Presuming that two-
thirds of this number are opposed to the six points of
the Charter, and the remaining one-third had signed
it, a further deduction would have to be made amounting
to 666,315.
The case would then stand thus:—
Male adults in England, Wales, and Scotland 3,705,487
Electors opposed to the Charter

3,039,172
I believe also that no portion of the pe-
tition has emanated from the Orkney and Shetland
isles, the Isle of Man, the Highlands of Scotland,
and a considerable portion of Wales ; and it
must also be obvious to any person that a great portion
of the agricultural districts have not contributed
largely to the great " muster roll." Without making
any deductions for the population of these districts,
but simply deducting the number of electors opposed to
the Charter, it is clear that the petition contains the
signatures of nearly twice the number of male adults in
England, Wales, and Scotland; and taking into calcu-
lation the population of Ireland, the National Petition
would then contain, if the statement made by Mr. I.
O'Connor be correct, the signatures of 400,000 more
than the entire male adult population of the whole United
Kingdom.
Doubtless Mr. F. O'Connor can solve this difficulty.
In the meantime,
I remain, your obedient servant,
E. D.

MONEY-MARKET.—By advices from ilamburgh
the price of gold is 4391 per mark, which, at the English
Mint price of 31. 17s. 100. per ounce for standard gold,
gives an exchange of 13.121; and the exchange at Ham-
burgh on Lornfon at short being 13.12 ii, it follows that
gold is 0.06 per cent. dearer in Landon than in Ham-
burgh. The course of exchange at New York on London
is 1091 per cent., and the par of exchange between Eng-
land and America being 109 23.40 per cent., it follows
that the exchange is 0.08 per cent. against Eng-
land; but the quoted exchange at New York beim-, for
bills at 60 days' sight, the interest must be deducted from
the above difference.

ROnBERY BY A POST-OFFICE CLERIC.—A clerk con-
nected with the Post-office at Derby has just been Wiwi
into custody, charged with extensive robberies of money
and jewellery. A larg sum in notes was found in his
possession, and it is believed that tho system has been
carried on by him to a great extent. Suspicions were
excited by his being seen to burn some papers resem-
bling letters. He has been remanded for further exa-
mination.,
Dispalc,-5 w,r2 ye7tordny 't the Colonial-
office, from the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian
Islands.

-.

TO THE SECRETARY OF TIELE,
BRADFORD REFORM ASSOCIATION ".
Sir,--On Monday, the 10th, the Petition for the
Charter to he presented by Mr. Feargus O'Co 3nor
was on the floor of the House before the Spea'
arrival. It consisted of five rolls, each a bout
as large as could be conveniently lifted by
man. Mr. O'Connor's name stood third ,or
fourth upon the list, and the petition was T rre-
sented with no visible deviation from the usual fo cuts,
and no expressions either of approbation or the ,
trary from any part of the House. Lord Mol.'peth
rose end said, that the absence of the Secretary of
State for the Home Department was occasion od by
urgent business at the moment, and must not be con-
strued into any want of the respect whicfi the Go-
vernment was desirous of showing to the petitions of
large bodies of the people.
On the renewal of the debate on the progress of
the " Crown and Government" Bill, Mr. Smith
O'Brien made an explanation of the plainest, of sin
his deeds and intents with respect to Ireland, and
his late visit ti the Provisional Government of France.
The days are certainly gone by, when anything
need be concealed. It will be a discredit to the Go-
vernment if it insists on driving men back to the old
necessity of doing their revolutions privily.
of
Persevering efforts were made by about thirty
the Liberals in the House, to stop th,e bur'
'ied progress of the Bill ; but with little ap-
parent success. On the following day (Tuesday)
their object was to a certain point conceded, by the
Government offering to postpone to the morrow".
Whether this proceeds from any desire to ,eon-
suit the feeling of the country, further linr,
will show. The opposition concentrates i tsen
almost entirely on the making of words fel LAP
as contained in the phrase " or by open and ads rised
speaking." For the sake of what is to be gc tby
these words, the Government sacrifices all it miglht
gain by a character for moderation, and the alt [teat
unanimous consent of the House to its Bill.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
T. PERRONET THOMPSON.'
Blackheath, London, April 12, 1848.

CHANCERY.—(THIS DAY.)
The Lord Chancellor sat in the old hall, Linpolt '5
Inn, to-day, for the first time after the short recess.
THE ATTORNEY. GENERAL V. ROBSON AND OTHERS.
Ills Lordship was occupied the whole morning vrilt
the further arguments on this part-heard petition, wbi' 1,7
our readers will recollect relates to the claim of tyro o'l4
ladies, of the name of Ainslie and Robson, as the v e xt
of kin of Samuel Trontbeck, to his residuary es We,
amounting to upwards of 400,000/.

SECONDARIES'.—(THIS DAY.)
This Court did not sit to-day.

BANKRUPTCY.-(THIS DAY.)
(Before Mr. Commissioner GOULBURN.)
IN RE RAINEY'.

This Bankrupt had carried on business as an.' estate
agent, in Regent-street, and applied for his certificate'
The charges made agaitist him wore the raisappr •opris.'
tion of a sum of 800/. received by him on acctsunt of
the Rev. Dr. Ogle, and which he was directed to pal
into Mr. lioare's bank, but, instead of doing so, hi
passed it into his own bankers, and it was eve etually
expended for his private purposes, and it was cot atended
by Mr. Lawrence that this was a felony under the 71k
and Bth George IV., cap. 29. He was also charge]
with reckless trading and extravagant personrJ exPen-
diture. He had also assigned the whole of his propertil
and when Dr Ogle took proceedings against him, sea
just when he declared himself to be insolvent he gave
notice to Messrs. Coutta, who held the security flu
1.0001., received from Earl Grey on behalf of De'. All
Sir Charles Ogle, so that they took possession lof .11,6
furniture. &c.
His Hoz-roue, in an elaborate judgment, held that
the charges of misappropriation were substaletiated;
but he did not sit there to try a erica/DT
question, for which the bankrupt might be indicted'
Whatever the custom of the trade might be, an title'
tioneer or agent had no right to constitute hioweelf
banker, and retain money in his hands, unless be kept
it so securely that he could pay the same at any time '"
was demanded. He also considered that the bankrupt:B
trading generally had been very reckless, and his Pr'
vale expenditure excessive; and this large expenditure
,
had been incurred at a time when he was utterly itle°L
vent, and was only supported by retaining the money efi
his customers. He considered undue preference h.te
been clearly proved. Under all the circumstances, the
certificate must be suspended for threo years, 11.04 2
June last.