The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-18 00:00:00

THE SU N; LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 18, 186 f

have been enhanced in value at least 8 or 10 per
cent., and that all the natural capabilities of the
United Kingdom would have been fully and com-
pletely developed, and that every man able and
willing to labour would have achieved that great
desideratum the certainty of " a fair day's
' wages for a fair day's work." Capitalists would
still receive fair remunerative interest for their
accumulations, but they would not be enabled to
seize the lion's share of the profits, while those by
whom they had really been earned were starving
in the midst of abundance. We should certainly
hear nothing of the impious cant respecting over-
population and over-production, as if any of our
fellow-creatures whom the DEITY had gifted with
an immortal spirit could be got rid of, or there
could be over-production so long as a hungry hu-
man being wanted food or clothing.
It is true that the Bank of England should be
restored to its proper position as a private trading
corporation—that the notice which would for ever
sever the connection between the State and the
Bank should be speedily given. But this created
no alarm even amongst the proprietors of Bank
Stock. The quotations thereof participated in
the general improvement, and on ample founda-
tion, for judging from the profits realised by
other Joint-Stock Banks unencumbered by
State protection, the dividends would be
largely increased, by obtaining free trade in
money and unrestricted competition in legitimate
banking operations. That the issue of notes is not
indispensable to success may be gathered from the
fact that those realising the largest profits are,
under the present law, precluded from sending
notes payable on demand into circulation ; and
although the power, under judicious regulation,
would be beneficial alike to those great establish-
ments and to the community at large, the Old
Lady would not be in any degree worse off than
►,hose who are enabled to obtain and profit by the
business which she turns from her doors, in con-
sequence of the baleful influence of State protec-
tion. In fact protection, in any form, is almost
as injurious to those in whose favour it is enacted
as to the great body of the people. It exercised a
demoralising influence, which prevented the fa-
voured few from striving to deserve the support
which they believed was secured by Act of Par-
liament. Farmers did not endeavour to discover
the best modes of cultivation, because they thought
that the Corn Laws insured a certain monopoly.
They were therefore always grumbling and dis-
contented, while people were writhing under the
intolerable burdens, and since the abolition of the
bread tax they have been better off than during
its continuance, save at the times when, in com-
mon with all the industrial and productive classes,
they suffered from the effect of a tightness in the
Molloy Market, and the withdrawal of pecuniary
accommodation, which the manufacturers of bread
require as largely as the manufacturers of textile
Linics, or the merchants or traders who deal

,herein.

Let then the people, and more especially the
Monetary Reformers, exert themselves to obtain
the great boon, the mere suggestion whereof pro-
duced such extraordinary results in January last:
Let them demand the speedy dissolution of the
ill-omened compact between the Bank and the
Government, which plates the control of the cir-
culating medium—the very life-blood of industry
—in the hands of a private trading corporation,
whose first object must naturally be to secure the
largest amount of profit for themselves, reckless
of the results which their operations may and
must produce on the general welfare and pro-
sperity. Let there be a real National Bank,
placed under the control and direction of a de-
partment of the Government responsible to Parlia-
ment, and let there be an adequate supply of if.,
21., and 31. notes, which, being based on the en-
tire taxation of the country, cannot be depreciated,
but will always maintain a purchasing power; the
only point which the party receiving the "worth-
less rag" would consider. The addition of 20
millions of such currency would, as Mr. JAMES
WILSON some time since declared, " immediately
add to the effective capital of the country, to our
stock of commodities, or, what is the same thing,
our command over them to the extent of 20 mil-
lions, just as much as if we dug that amount of
bullion out of the centre of England." Surely
such a result would be worth a strenuous effort
ou the part of those now suffering under a defici-
ency of the only recognised representative and
measure of value. Let them make the attempt,
and the great object will speedily be accomplished.
-------

" There's many a slip between the cup and the
lip " says the old adage ; and, applying it to
Hampstead Heatb, we would have the population
of the metropolis remember the preservation of
their favourite place of recreation can only

be assured to them when the Heath is

legally turned over to their all - just claims
upon it being satisfiel. Whether this be effected
by the Metropolitan Board of Works, by volun-
tary subscription, by Government, or by the two
latter united, let them never rest satisfied until it
is so. None of these agencies, under the pecu-
liar circumstances, might not with more or lesspro-
priety be appealed to ; the Metropolitan Board in
its representative capacity and as a BoardofHealth,
voluntary subscription as for a charitable object,
involving a great popular benefit, and Govern-
ment, if not in its paternal (?) character, in part
discharge of a debt long owing to the metropoli-
tan population, whose welfare has been sacrificed.
to avoid offence to the Corporation Moloch. So
far as our own feelings are concerned, we should
prefer the purchase of the Heath by voluntary
subscription, considering the many heavy claims
on the Metropolitan Board, and the danger there
is of disgusting Londoners by heavy taxation with
the principle of local self-government. But the
vast importance of shaving the health preserved
overbears any consideration of this sort, and if
Government aid is to be had, the population are
entitled to it on more grounds than we have
indicated, and may fairly seek for it.
All we insist on is—let there be no cessation of
effort until Hampstead Heath is the people's.
It sometimes happens, in the busy course of
life, more especially in great cities, that good sub-
stantial citizens who have turned an honest penny
to some account, forget
"The days they went a gipsying
A long time ago,"
and need the friendly turn of having them brought
to their recollection. Probably these columns
may fall into the hands of some such well-mean-
ing migrates. Indeed we are certain of it. So
let us at once be confidential. You know—it is no
use denying it—you used to take somebody out
au airince to Hampstead Heath, and were wont
to say, after you had peeped under that somebody's
bonnet, how good the bracing breeze, more espe-
cially if taken on the back of a Jerusalem pony,
goaded to persaltatory locomotion, was for the
complexion. You know you did ; and you know,
beside, you anticipated every jaunt a week before-
hand, and chawed the cud of satisfaction at the
remembrance a week after. Our dear fellow, the
Hampstead breeze, is as good as ever it was, the
donkies as nimble, and blushes as rosy and becom-
ing as ever they were ; and, by a strange provi-
sion, thew are young folio pow a 4 there were theu3

only perhaps their faces are a little sallower, and
they want fresh air and recreation rather more
than you did. Give them what help you can
lend them in the way of influence. Honour the
old days by doing your best to enable others to
enjoy the innocent pleasures that enlivened and
consecrated them. Speak out for Hampstead
Heath ; do as were you young again you would
be done by. In case the metropolitan reader has
uo pleasant reminiscences of this sort in connec-
tion with the Heath, still we claim his voice in
his capacity of valetudinarian. Between him and
us and the post the air of the Heath has salu-
brious properties, if taken with reasonable exer-
cise, that would surprise you. Only try, and in
the meantime speak up for the Heath. Badinage
apart, we really cannot afford to lose it. What,
after all, is it among so many ? T wo-and-a-half
millions of population, that is twenty-five hundred
thousand people, with only this really salubrious
spot where air may be had " neat as imported"
to resort to within several miles of the city I
Only think of it ; and threatened with the loss
of that. There's not a Cockney going has reached
man's estate but will deserve the infliction popu-
larly reported to be undergone by adventurous
aspirants to masonic honours if the Heath is lost !

GALLERY,