The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-19 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY

evasions that were constantly practised, it is only
miraculous that it should have been so long retained.
And yet some of the most mischievous enactments
may fairly be inscribed to its insidious operation.
The real estate qualification was imposed at the be-
ginning of the last century for the purpose of weak-
ening the power of the House of Brunswick, and of
preventing, if possible, the accession of her MAJESTY'S
ancestors to the throne of these realms. It was in
fact a Jacobite plot intended to strengthen the hands
of the " territorial aristocracy," who were gene-
rally speaking the steadfast adherents of the expelled
dynasty, and to exclude the commercial and trading
community from seats in the Legislature. This it
partly accomplished, for, however brilliant the other
qualifications of a candidate, he could not take his
seat unless he was the proprietor of a free-
hold landed estate of 6001. per annum if
elected for a county, or 3001. per annum,
if elected for a city or borough. This necessity, it
was supposed, would induce him, on all occasions, to
advocate the interests of the landocracy at the ex-
pense of all other classes of the community, and ge-
nerally speaking it had that effect.

The penal code was enacted in the last century by
duly qualified legislators. The natibnal debt—that
stupendous monument of national extravagance—
sprung from the same source. The system of indi-
rect taxation was introduced and fostered under the
same influences. It was a Parliament composed of
gentlemen of real
,estate, who considered that the
precarious and fluctuating incomes arising from trade
or commerce, or the exercise of skill and industry,
should be taxed as highly as the dividends
of funded property, or the rents of well-circumstanced
real estates. It was the same body who by a cor-
rupt compact with the moneyocracy passed the
iniquitous monetary code, that double-rivetted the
chains of the debtors, and took away the very life-
blood of industry, in order that they might in return
be allowed to carry the infamous corn-laws, which
they erroneously supposed would maintain the
prices of agricultural produce at the near level that
would obtain the same nominal rents and rates in a
gold currency worth 20s. that were obtained with a
paper currency worth 13s. only. They have suffered
long and bitterly for their unaccountable and preposte-
rous delusion. An avenging Nemesis has followed
their footsteps, and made them fall into the pits and
snares which they laid for their neighbours.
A tree which produced such fruits could not be
suffered to cumber the earth much longer. Measures
were accordingly taken for its overthrow ; but, un-
fortunately, these steps were not sufficient. In
place of striking at the roots of the unsightly weed,
and grafting it up from the soil, they
attempted to prune some of its rotten branches ;
in other words, in place of abolishing the
property qualification altogether, they enlarged
its basis, and rendered the possession of
chattels, real or personal property, to the above
amount, sufficient to entitle the possessor to a seat in
the popular branch of the Legislature, if he could
obtain the confidence of any constituency, so as to
be duly elected as its representative.

Now this is bad in theory, and useless in practice.
Bad in theory, because no restriction whatsoever
should be imposed on the free exercise of the fran-
chise. Why should an independent constituency be
prevented from selecting the person best qualified to
represent its wants and wishes, and who is not, and
should not be chosen on account of the length of his
purse-strings, or ofpounds, shillings, and pence merely ?
It is for other and higher qualities—for the integrity
of his character, the variety and magnitude of his
attainments, or the coincidence of his political views
with those of the majority of the electors. He may,
too, be in the enjoyment of a handsome income ob-
tained by the exercise of honourable industry in any
trade or profession. That will qualify him to pay the
income-tax just as fully as if it were arising from
landed property or Three per Cent. Stock ; but there
the line of demarcation is drawn. It will not qualify
fur a seat in the Legislature, or for any beneficial
purpose connected with the "rights of property."
What a cruel and impudent mockery is this, and how
could it possibly be defended ?

But it is also useless. Any man desirous of be-
coming a candidate may obtain the necessary quali-
fication of 3001. or 6001. a year, as the case may be,
for 50/. or 1001. It has never any efficiency in
keeping out persons of small fortunes or ne fortunes,
if they can otherwise get in. Those who are noto-
riously without means have always unimpeachable
qualifications—everything is prepared scion les regles,
and though a man may be really penniless, his quali-
fication will bear the strictest investigation, the most
trying ordeal. It is those who, conscious of possess-
ing ample means, disregard the snare, and are occa-
sionally caught in its trammels. For every reason,
therefore, we rejoice at the determination of the PRE-
MIER, and are willing to give him every credit for the
prompt and gtaceful manner in which he avowed his
opinions on the subject.

THE SHARE MARKETS

BRITISH R/LXIMTAYS.

Paid. Nominal Prices. I Business done
to-day.
Australian 4 1% 234
Baroesa Range • 1 13 0 334 —8%
Blaenarvon Iron and Coal all • • —• •
Bolanos Scrip — ••
British Iron , 13 5 • • —• •
Brazilian Imp. (is. 51. p ) 24% —••
Do. Cocaes and Cniaba all • •
Do. St. John del Rey •• 15 17: 193 ad
Cobra Copper 4O 39% 41
Copiapo ...•. • • .... • • • 14 6%
General• ....... all 13% 14
Mexican& S. American 9 334 435
Real Del Monte, Unreg. %
Do. Black Debentures. .• —a •
Do. Red Debentures — •• —• •
Santiago de Cuba lO 334 —3%
Tin Croft 7 6% 8
United Mexican. • .......28 2 8% —2%
JOINT STOCK BANKS.
Aastralamia ....• all 33 34%
British North America 50 45% 46
Colonial ......... • 25 10% 12
Commercial of London 20 25 25%
London Joint Stock le 18% 17%
London and Westminster 20 2734 28%
National Provincial Eng. 35 .. ••
Do. New
National of Ireland 2234 18% 20%
Provincial of Ireland.. • - 25 42 —44
Do. New .. • • • • all 15% 15
Union of Australia .. • • all 85 36%
Do. New 234 3
Union of London •• •• •• 10 12% 13%
Union of Madrid -•-- all
MISCELLANEOUS.
Canada . . .
Gen. Steam Navigation
Penin. & Oriental Steam all 6954 —7l
Ditto ditto 5 11 934 ad
Royal Mail Steam .. • •
(We cannot be answerable for the errors of the Official Lists, and
will not be influenced by interested correspondents.]

MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS

CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.

The weekly return of the Bank of England is im-
portant in rebpect to the changes that occurred up to
the 12th inst. The quarterly official and dividend pay-
ments led as usual to an important decrease in the public
deposits, and the receipt of dividends enabled parties in
turn to increase the balances at their bankers. This
will account likewise for the repayment of advances
and loans made upon other securities. The more ex-
tended employment of notes and gold in meeting the
dividend payments is in the ordinary course. Compared
with the previous week the following results are cx
hibited:—
Notes Issued ...
Decrease ...
Best ••• ...

... 27,450,155
.., 131,365
... 3,192,194
▪ 63,677
... 4,319,348
... 4,612,014
• 10,440,830
... 1,745,028
1,175,054
19,848
... 13,464.021
... 81,214
... 12,389,725
• 1,861,467
~. 7,259,180
... 777,085
Bullion ... 14,017,655
Decrease ... ... 195,060
Active Circulation... ... ... 20,190,975
Increase ... 645,720
The transactions in Bills of Exchange on the princi-
pal continental cities were yesterday afternoon at steady
quotations generally.
The sales of Cotton at Liverpool yesterday were esti•
mated at from 6,000 to 7,000 bales, with a steady mar-
ket at previous rates.--Railway Shares were dull, at
lower prices.
The markets for textile fabrics in Lancashire and
Yorkshire have been rather brisk this week.
The Amsterdam Steck market, on the 17th inst., was
tolerably animated, and the Dutch Two•and•a-Half per
Cents, were buoyant. Spanish Bonds were rather heavy.
The exportation of specie from London direct, during
the week to Thursday last, was 117,000 oz. of silver, and
41,774 cz. of gold—all to the continent.

Increase
Public Deposits ...
Decrease ...
Other Deposits
Increase ...
Seven Day and other Deposits ...
Increase ...
Government Securities
Decrease ...
Other Securities ...
Decrease ...
Notes • •
Decrease

The Funds have given way merely through Bear-
ing operations, as no real sates are made. Consols
have been 96i for Transfer, and 96i for Account.
The New Three-and-a• Quarter per Cents. have realised
98i Exch. quer-bills have been quoted 518., to 545.
premium. India Stock is at 262 to 263.
Foreign Securities are also lower. Spanish Five per
Cents. 20i and the Three per Cents. 38i. Mexican
Bonds have been 301 to 30i. Equador are French
Three per Cents. have beta quoted 56 50, with the ex-
change at 25,

Railway Shares suffer still, but inquiry fully justifies
the assertion that the fall is solely produced by the
gambling operations of a knot of speculators, who pro-
fit by the temporary absence of the public as money
buyers. North-Western and Great Western are rela-
tively firmer than the others.

QUARTER TO THREE.
Consols ... .. ... ... 965 it
Ditto Account, August 12... ... 961 i
BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
(From the Official List.)
8 per Cent.lteduced Annuities 971,41,ti
8 per Cent. Console Annr. 9692%
3 per Cent. Annuities, 1726
New 31,4 per Cent. Anna. 9850,4
tndis. Stock 262 263
India Bonds under 1,0001
Consols for Account 96%%
EKcheauer Bills. ) %d.
1,000,... 54 51 p
500/ — 54 51 p
Small — 54 51 p
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Equador Bonds 3%
Mexican 80ni5,1846, ex Jan. Coupons 30 )4 ex d.
Ditto Account . 304, 14 ex d
Ditto. Small
Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent —
Ditto 41,4 per Cent. lOO%
Spanish Bonds, 5 per Cent Cent
Ditto Account
Ditto Passive Bonds 5 lis
Spanish Bonds, S per Cent,lB4o
Ditto fir the Account ....
Dividen4s on the above payable in London.
French Rentes, 3 per Cent
Exchange .. 2sf.

•
COURSE OF EXC
Amsterdam ...,.••••• 11 16%
Ditto, three months.. 11 18
Rotterdam .. ••.. • • 11 18
Antwerp • • ........ 25 22%
Brussels ••• • .. •... 25 22%
liambargh .... • • M.B. 13 7%
Alfons.
Paris, 3 daye'sight .. • 25 2%

211ANGE.-FRIDAY.

Gibraltar• • • • •• • • • • • • • •
Leghorn ... •—•• .. •• 30 35
Genoa .. ••••—•• • • • • .. 25 2734
Venice........ • • • •
Naples .. —•••• • • ••
Palermo, peroz • • • • • • • •
Lisbon.... • • ...... ....

Ditto. 3 months .... 25
Marseilles •• •• •..•.. •• 25 0
80urdeaux......... •
VrankfortonMains...• 119 U
Vienna, effec. Ito •••• •• 11 46
Trieste, ditto.... • 11 47
retersburgh, SU. Ebbe.. 37%
Madrid •• •• •• •• •• •• •• 49%
Cadiz •• •• •• •• •• • • •• .• 60%
Barcelona •• •• •• •• • •
14/11100 • •• •• •• •• •• • • ••

Oporto •• • • •• 1.• • • •• •• ••
Rio Janeiro •.........
Buenos Ayres ........
New York, 6O days'aight
Philadelphia ..........

41%
124

1244
635
63)4

PRICES OF BULLION, PER OZ,
Foreign Geld in bars.. £8 17 9
Fortbtgal Gold Coin • . 0 0 0
Spanish Doubloons .. 0 0
New Dollars .• .. • • 0 4 11U
Silver in bars 0 5 0%

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—( THIS DAY.)
LONDON, JULY 19.—Wind at noon S., light breeze, and
dull cloudy weather.
LYNN, JULY 18.—The Fame, of this port, which was
laid on shore at Gibraltar, has had her leaks stopped
and brought in here 16th inst.
PILL, JULY 18.—Wind E.S.E.—Arrd. Thomas, St.
John's, New Brunswick; Countess of Durham, Quebec;
both for Gloucester.
PETERHEAD, JULY 18.—The Commerce, from Green-
land, and arrived here leaky 16th inst. with 4,000 seals,
and three fish, about 78 tons, and reports the following
up to Ist June :—Columbia, seals and two fish ;Dublin,
DO fish, 84 tuns; Eclipse, no fish, 116 tuns; Hamilton,
Ross, 2,000 seals; North of Scotland, 2,000 seals and one
fish; Resolution, 2,000 seals; Traveller, 10,000 seals and
two fish, about 110 tuns; Victor, seals and one fish,
about 50 tuna; Flamingo, of Hull, 2,000 seals; Ger-
manica, of Hull, 7,000 seals; Rose, of Hull, 3,000 seals;
St. George, of Hull, 2,000 seals and one fish; Sarah and
Eliza, of Hull, clear; Hebe, seals and one fish.
COWES, JULY 18.—Wind W.—Arrd. Ellangawan,
Bahia; Almirante, Havannah; Powhattan, ditto.
POOLE, JULY 18.—Wind N.W.—Sld. Nelson packet,
Newfoundland.
OFF THE START.—Ragasthan, Calcutta for Ham-
burgh; Pope Pius IX., ditto for Havre.
LivEarooL, JULY 18.—N.N.W.—Arrd. Wilhelmina,
Mauritius; Sci Fratelle, Buenos Ayres; Magician, La
Guayra; Emma, Macao; William Patten, New Orleans;
Eli Whitney, Savannah; Jemsetjee Cursetjee, St.
John's, New Brunswick; Equator, Miramichi; Luconea,
Quebec. Sld., Express, Valparaiso; Margaret, Monte
Video; Lucille, Demerara; Heinrich Sorensen, St.
Thomas's; Christina, Singapore; Darisana, Calcutta;
Salvador, Porto Rico; Chaos, Savannah; San Pedro,
Havannah; Elias and Susan, Cape Breton; Princess
Victoria, Quebec; Montreal, Montreal. Off port,
India, Quebec; Lady Constable, Morning Star, Helen,
and Euclid.
GRIMSBY, JULY 18.—The brig Janet, of Lynn, sprang
a leak yesterday off the Sisters on the Holderness shore,
and sank; crew saved.
PARIS, JULY 17.—The Astres, Port Lanny to Lon-
don, struck on a rock in Brest Bay, and sank, but will
probably be raised. Her topmasts appear above water.
FALMOUTH, JULY 18.—Wind variable.—Arrd. Thor-
waldsen, Havannah; Don Antonio, Lagos, from Ham-
burgh; Devereux, Quebec.
DEAL JULY 18.—Wind at noon variable from S.E. by
E.—Arrd. Albert, Porto Rico. Arrd. from the River
and sld. Sir George Pollock, Port Lyttelton ; Dido,
Swan River; Pauline, Houghton, Mauritius; White
Mouse, Newfoundland.
GLOUCESTER, JULY 18.—S1d. Nautilus and Agnes,
Quebec.
CLYDE, JULY 17.—Wind N.W.—Arrd. Sophia, St.
John's, New Brunswick; Ocilla, Mobile; Lady of the
Lake, St. John's, New Bruswick. Sid. Caledonia,
Quebec.
DUBLIN, JULYl7.—Wind variable.—Arrd. Alexander,
St. Lucia; Malabar, St. John's, New Brunswick.
PORTSMOUTH, JULY 18.—Wind N.E. to W Sld.
Northumberland, New York; Amstel, Batavia, but
since brought up in St. Helen's Roads.

THE THEATRES AND THE VISITORS TO THE Ex/It"
nrrtoN.— The great influx of persons from all parts of the
country to the metropolis to see the Great Exhibition, is now
having a palpable effect on the theatres, which are nightly
crowded, and elso the several public gardens, which receive
a large proportion of the general prosperity. We can state
from personal experience that at a quarter past seven on
Thu sday evening, it was impossible to obtain admittance
to several of the theatres, in cousequesice of their crowded
state, and the two great operas on the same evening were
tO etlfibeAtiQn in every part.