The Sun.
London, England, 1848-10-28 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—The Legislature has, out of paternal regard to
the morality of the lieges, abolished lotteries and enacted
severe penalties against public gambling, but left thimble-
rigging and " bearing" stocks as still lawful games. We
class both pursuits together, as we can conceive no dif
ferenco between cheating with a thimble and pes and
cheating without them. " Bearing" cannot be successfully
prosecuted without resorting to practices as disreputable
as thimblerigging, and it is melancholy to reflect that so
respectable a body as the members of the Stock• E-
xchange collectively are, should lend the influence of
their name to statements so very fallacious as have ap
peered in their Weekly Share List. It is notorious that,
notwithstanding the great depression in railway stock,
there has been no corresponding amount of transfers
sent in for registration. This is also confirmed by the
experience of all purchasers, that it is extremely difficult
to get delivery of any stocks bought. This shows that
brokers generally must lend themselves to the conspi-
racy that has been entered into to depress prices. It is
necessary, therefore, that the public should take the
initiative in protecting themselves. It is simply this—
let every purchaser of shares, in sending an order to his
broker to buy, intimate that unless the transfer with
certificates are sent to him within ten days from his
order, he will consider his order cancelled, and the shares
bought to bo at the risk of the broker. Brokers may
make any law they choose, but as one of the Learned
Lords recently told them, they can make no law incon-
sistent with the laws of the country. This simple rule
would instanter produce a favourable reaction. It is
obviously the interest of all respectable brokers to set
their face against a system so injurious to their own
character and so destructive of the interests of their
employers. Let them always recollect that a deprecia-
tion of property is beneficial only to the few, and disas-
trous to the many, so that their own interest is identified
with what contributes to the prosperity of the majority.
The insertion of this will oblige, Sir, your obedient
servant, AN OLD SUBSCRIBER.
Edinburgh, Oct. 26, 1848.

" THE YOUNG COUNTESS."—Mrs. Trollope's new
novel, " The Young Countess," is just published, and
promises to become one of the mist popular of her
stories. It is an illustration of aristocratic life, in
which the two powerful passions, love and jealousy, are
made to produce incidents so extraordinary, that, as de-
scribed by the talented authoress, they cannot fail to
leave a very strong impression upon the reader; indeed,
" The Young Countess" may be said to be one of the
most remarkable works of liction that have been pub-
lished for some years.—Evening Paper.
BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVINCIAINNT OF
SCIENCE.--BIRMINGHAM, FRIDAY.—A meeting was held
yesterday at the Philosophical Rooms, Cannon-street, in
this town, for the purpose of adopting resolutions with
regard to the meeting of the association, which is ap-
pointed to take place in this town in September
next. Mr. Geach, the Mayor, occupied the chair.
Mr. Phillips, the secretary of the association, then
entered at great length and with great clearness
into the history, the present condition, and the pros-
pects of the association. This speech was listened to
with great attention, and seemed to excite general ap-
probation. The meeting was afterwards addressed by
the Rev. J. C. Miller, rector of Birmingham, the Rev.
J. C. Barrett, the Rev. J. A. James, Independent. Mi-
nister of Can's-lane; W. Wills, Esq., W. Chance, jun.,
Esq., J. Russell, Esq., and other gentlemen interested in
promoting the objects of the institution. They were all
unanimous in offering accommodation to the distin-
guished scientific guests who would visit the town on
that occasion. The meeting will take place the week
after the Birmingham Festival.

FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES OF THE WESLETAN
MISSIONARY ►SOCIETY.—The treasurers of this society
hare just published a most " urgent and important "
appeal for immediate assistance, stating that they are
under acceptances to the amount of about 10,0001. A large
portion of which becomes due within the next ten days,
whilst the funds at their disposal are entirely exhausted,
so that they have not the means of meeting their im-
mediate responsibilities ; and further, that they antici-
pate that their entire payments from the present date to
the 31st of December, will amount to 30,0001. (if they can
g©t it).