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 AL➢IIGHTY 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 7'HE SUN. _

- - - - - -
SIR,—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 person. 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.Tehoat.t
would leave, therefore, for England, Wales, and
s
land, a population of 18,527,439. Of this latter number,
one fifth only, or 3,705,487 are male adults. Supposing
that every oue of those persons had signed the petition,
there would still be left to be accounted for, no less
number than 2,094,650.

But the inquiry can be 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 666,316.

The case would then stand thus:—
Male adults in England, Wales, and Scotland 3,705,487
Electors oppused to the Charter

3,0 39, 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. F.
O'Connor be correct, the signatures of 400.000 more
than the entire male adult population of the whole United
Kingdom.
Doubtless Arr. F. O'Connor can solve this difficulty.
In the meantime,
I remain, your obedient servant,
E. D.

MONEY--
ARET.—By advices from Hamburgh
the MIL
price of gold is 439 k per mark, which, at the English
hange of 13.12-i; and the exchange at Ham-
it
than followsinthatam
Mint priceeof 31. 17s. 10. . per ounce for standard gold,
sdheoarrte dearer in beingLlo3n.lid2,
Landon gold is
The course of exchange at New York on London
bgivesurgha
on
a xc
m Londonper
r cent.
atnt.
is 10-9 i 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 being for
bills at 60 days' sight, the interest must be deducted from
the:above difference.
ROBBERY BY A POST-OFFICE CLERIC—A clerk con-
nected with the Post-office at Derby has just been taken
into custody, charged with extensive robberies of money
and jewellery. A large sum in notes was found in his
possession, and it is believed that the system has been
carried on by him to a great extent. Suspicions were
xcited by his being seen to burn some pspers resem-
bling letters. lie has been remanded for further exa-
mination.
Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office, _ from the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian
Islands.