The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-28 00:00:00

in the reign of Edward the Third, Henry
the Eighth, Queen Elizabeth, and William the Third.
In 1760 the paper money in circulation amounted to
four millions, in 1785 to seven millions, in 1790 to
eleven millions, and in 1797 to sixteen millions.
This went on increasing, and depreciating the me-
tallic currency, until 1810, when a committee
of this house recommended the Bank of England
resorting to cash payments at the end of two years, but
which fortunately was not carried out. The hon. gen-
tleman then traced the changes that had taken place
since that period, and alluded to the various panics that
had occurred, and to the passing of the Reform Bill,
which he hoped would have been the means of intro-
ducing sensible business-like men into the house,
but in which he had been disappointed. (Laugh-
ter.) After the defeat of the Whigs in 1849,
they had the late Sir R. Peel in office, who sup-
ported in a most extraordinary manner two laws—one
the Corn laws, which were to keep corn at Bs. perbushel,
and the other the money laws, which were to bring it to
ss. per bushel. It became necessary for that statesman
to abandon one or other of these measures, and being
pledged more to the money laws than be was to the
Corn-laws, he gave up the latter. The Bank of England
in 1847 as nearly stop* payment as at any
period of its existence, and had it not been
for that celebrated letter, which was to do everything,
but did nothing, the Bank would never have been
able to right itself ; and in 1844, the act that was
then passed was found necessary to support the act of
1819. After that came the railway speculations, which
the late Sir R. Peel encouraged ; and, featly, the gold
discoveries at a time when the whole monetary system was
about to explode. All he wished for was a fairly con-
stituted committee to examine into the question, se as
to ;rive satisfaction to all classes.
Mr. PEACOCKS supported the appointment of the
committee, but on different grounds from that of the
hon, member for Birmingham. He denied that the price
of gold was fixed, and said he should rather the ounce of
gold was coined into four sovereigns instead of five. The
bon. member proceeded to follow the hon. gentleman (Mr.
Muntz) through what he called his fallacies. He sup-
ported the appointment of the committee, mainly be-
cause the principle of fluctuation in the Bank Act of
1844 had been a failure.
Mr. DRUMMOND recommended that if the house
lin an evil hour appointed this committee, the gen-
tleman forming it should be examined on the bullion
report. This was a difficult subject to be dealt
with, and was as near as any political ques-
tion could be a question of science. The effect of
the discoveries of gold in Australia and other places had
had the same effect on the Bank of England as if it
had issued an enormous mass of paper money, the
effect of which had been to cause speculation,
and set the manufacturers at work, who produced more
goods than there were peo-pie in the world to consume
them, and hence gold went abroad to pay their
debts. After alluding to an amusing romance " that
had lately bee❑ published, and no doubt read by hon.
gentlemen, namely, "The History of England," by
Macaulay—(laughter)—he said that they could not
by law alter the true state of the case, nor prevent
the precious rental from being the measure of value
without increasing the disasters complained of. The
soundest advice to be given to the house on this ques-
tion was similar to that Mr. Arthur Laing gave to
the Convention of Paris. He was asked what was the
beat law they could pass with respect to the
price of corn, and he replied, " My best advice to you
is to order your clerk to put his inkstand down the throat
of the first man who speaks about corn." And if the house
did that with respect to those who spoke in that house
on the currency, it would be the best course they coal i
adopt. (Renewed laughter.)
Mr. MALINS rose to address the house in support of
the motion, and was
[LEFT SPEAKING.]

Parlivanent a. clause to that effect would be inserted in
the bil'.

DINNER AT THE MANSION-HOUSE.

The CHLIRMAN said that the pre.ont directors
possessed double the a.nount of stock mentioned.
The retiring directors, Mr. C. Child, Captain Warren,
Hon. J. Byng, and Mr. A. Kaye, were re-elected.
After some further unimportant business had been
disposed of the auditors were re-elected, and the meeting
separated with a vote of thanks to the chairman and
directors.

Last night the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress
assembled a numerous party of distinguished ladies and
gentlemen at the Mansion-house to meet Mr. Buchanan,
the American Minister, previous to his Excellency's de-
parture from the Embassy in London for his own coun-
try. Great disappointment was, however, occasioned to
the guests by the unavoidable absence of the principal
personage in whose honour the banquet was given, Mr.
Buchanan having received a gracious invitation to dine
with her Majesty at Buckingham Palace on the same
evening, a summons, we need hardly add, to which
Court etiquette gave the precedence over all other en-
gagements. The company at the civic festivity con-
sisted of those members of the House of Commons who
represent the largest commercial constituencies of the
country, together with the loading merchants of London
connected with the American and the Canadian trades.

Among those present were—Lord Elgin, Sir William
Clay, M.P., Admiral Walcott, M.P., Mr. Scholefield,
M.P., Mr. J. B. Smith, M.P., Mrs. J. B. Smith, and
Miss Holt, Colonel and Mrs. Wyndham, Sir J. Paxton,
M.P., Mr, Mackinnon, M.P., Mr. GoreLaugtoo, M.P.,
Mr. If. Berkeley, M.P., Mr. Jackson, M,P., Mr. and

Mrs. Philip Sal;mons, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Bevan, Mr.
Mowbray Morris, Mr. Robert Gillespie, Mr. and Mrs.
Viregg.. Mr. T. H. Brooking, Mr. Bonus, Mr. H. Bliss,
Mr. W. R. Chapman, Mr. G. }'enuing, Mr. G. T.
33rooking, Mr. E H. Chapman, Mr. C. Bischoff, Sir C.
Roney, Major Kirkland, Mr. W. G. Smith, Mr. C.
Morris, Mr. Gillespie, . jun., Mr. and Mrs. Meinertz-
linen, Mr. Broughton, Mr. and Mrs. W. Haigh, Mr.
and 'Ars. Gabriel. Mr. and Mrs. Buckle, Mrs. Shewill,
Mr. 4ontefiore, Mr. M'Gaul, Mr. Kennard, Mr. S. D.
Powles, Mr. and Mrs. Uzielli, Mr. Sampson and Mrs.
Heartley, Mrs. G. Green and Miss F. Jones, Mr. J.
Dillon, Alderman Sir J; Musgrove, Mr. Ald. Cubitt,
M.P., Mr. Aid. and Sheriff H. Kennedy, Mr. Ald. and
Sheriff Rose, Mr. Ald. Lawrence, Rev. Dr. Mortimer,
8.D., Mr. W. Davidson, Mr. and Mrs. Parkes, Mr.
Field. Master of the Coopers' Company, Mr. Sutton,
Mr. Jones, Mr. Carter, Mr. Woodbridge, Mr. Lewer,
Mr. Osmond, Mr. Perry, Mr. Stewart, Mr. and IVIrs.C.
E. Fuller, Mr. and Mrs. Locke, Mr. Deputy Bowers,
Mr. W. William, Mr. and Mrs. C.swston, Mr. Deputy
Stevens' Mr. Deputy and Mrs. Peacock, Mr. Johnston,
Mr. S. W. Foster, Mr. and Mrs. Millard, Mr. and Mrs.
Laurie, Mr. and Mrs. Snell, Mr. and Mrs.Hartridge, &c.
On the removal of the cloth the usual loyal tow ts were
given from the chair, and enthusiastically responded to.
The LORD MAYOR then proposed " the Army and
Navy," which wits duly acknowledged by Colonel
Windham and Admiral Walcott.

The LORD MAYOR, in prefacing tho next toast—viz.,
" the Canada Club," expressed the great pleasure it would
have afforded him, and he was sure that company also,
to have been honoured with the presence of his Excel-

lency the American Minister that evening, and to have
testified to him how deeply the inhabitants of that me-
. .

tropolis, and indeed the entire British nation, felt inte

rested in the uninterrupted maintenance of the most
friendly relations between this country and that great
kindred people on the other side of the Atlantic whom
Mr. Buchanan had so worthily represented during his
sojourn in England. His Excellency, however, had ad-
dressed to him on Monday a very kind letter, explainlog
that a gracious summons to attend the hospitable board
of no less a personage than the S )ve.reign of the coun-
try would necessitate his absence from that gathering.
(Hear, bear.) Every true-hearted Englishman scorned
to harbour any unworthy feeling of jealousy of the
greatness and prosperity of our transatlantic kinsfolk.
Oa the contrary, bound together as the two peoples
were by the ties of common origin, common traditions,
similarity of institutions, and the most intimate
cenamerdell relations, the rapid growth and develop-
ment' of the United States excites universal feelings
of rejoicing and pride in the hearts of the English nation;
and whatever big words of defiance might, from time to
thee, be heard across the wide ocean which separates
the two cognate communities, and however those words
might be more or less faintly echoed by some on this
side of the water, there could be no doubt that all who
understood anything of the extensively ramified and re-
ciprocal interests of England and America must be
firmly persuaded that the moat perfect terms of amity
were essential to their mutual welfare, and that a war-
fare between them would be most disastrous to both, and
nothing less than a species of fratricide or parricide.
(Cheers.) Therefore he could have wished that Mr. Bu-
chanan had been present that evening to hear the sen-
timents of friendship that wou:d have been expressed on
all sides towards himself and his country, as he would,
in that case, have been enabled to convey with him to
the United States, to which he was about to return, the
assurance that it was the sincere desire of that impor-
tant commercial community, that nothing consistent
with the maintenance of our national honour should be
left undone to insure a settlement of oar differences with
his country without a recourse to the dread arbitrement
of the sword. (Cheers.) The Lord Mayor then con-
cluded by proposing "The Health of Mr. Robert Gilles.
pie, and prosperity to the Canada Club."

SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY.

Meeting This Day.

Mr, GILLESPIII having acknowledged the compliment,

Tii......(4.....k..1411.,=..pADAY.ef1P5Nifit1, FEBRUARY ta, 1856.

his travels he once asked an enthusiastic American lady
why her country could not rest satisfied with the immense
unoccup:ei territories it already possessed, but must ever
be lusting after the lands of its neighbours ? Her
somewhat remarkable reply was, "Oh ! the propen-
sity is a very bad one, I admit ; but we came honestly
by it, for we inherited it from you." There was, he
thought, a great deal of truth in that answer. The
greatest difference between the two countries consisted
in this—that a great deal more care was taken of the
ladies in America than in England, and a great deal less
core of the men. If the respect shown to the fair sex
was a true criterion for estimating the chivalry of any
country, certainly in the present age the palm must ba
conceded to America in regard to that amiable quality.
In illustration of this American characteristic, he might
mention that when in Boston, United States, on the an-
niversary of the American declaration of independence,
he was anxious to gain admis4ion into a church where one
of their most distinguished orators was to deliver a poli-
tical address appropriate to the occasion. The beadle
who guarded the door steadfastly refused him access
until the corporation had arrived ; aid on his (M:r. Cob-
den's) remarking, after waiting some thaae, that other per-
sons were being admitted while he was excluded, the
beadle naively replied, "Oh ! but these gentlemen have
ladies with them and you have none ; but if you bring
a lady with yoh I will let you in also." (Laughter.) After
adducing further examples of the same national trait,
and likewise illustrating the carelessness evinced on Ame-
rican rail ways and elsewhere as to the safety of the sterner
sex, the hon. gentleman concluded by comparing the oc-
casional quarrels between Eaglet-id and the United States
to the internal disputes of a private family, which might,
indeed, produce slight temporary estrangements, but
were sure to end in increased friendliness and warmer
endearments. The two branches of the great A nglo•Saxma
family in this respect were like Dr. Johnson and Oliver
Goldsmith. The doctor would abuse poor " Goldie "
himself whenever he pleased, but he would not allow
any one else to do so. (Laughter.)
The Lord MAYOR then gave "The House of Com-
mons," .coupling with the toast the name of Sir W. Clay.
Sir W. CLAY briefly returnel thanks.
One or two other unimportant toasts wound up the
proceedings of the evening.

ROY AL WARRANT.

SIR J. INPNEILL AND. COL. TULLOCH'S
REPORT.

CHARGE 01! CHILD MURDisiR.

Yesterday, at the Southwark Police-court, Elizabeth
Path week; a young woman of respectable appearance,
nineteen yearn of age, was brought before Mr. Ceinbe,
by Sergeant Squire, M division, from St. Olave's Union
Workhouse, charged with the wilful murder of her
illegitimate offspring.
The prisoner was in such a weak and dejected' state
that the magistrate desired her to be accommodated
with a chair while the depositions were being taken.
William Henry James said—l am a tailor, and reside
at No. 47, Fair-street, Hoeselydown. The prisoner is
me niece, and lived with me and my family about a fort-
night after leaving her situation. I did not know at
that time that she was pregnant. The prisoner slept in
the adjoining room to me, and about 7 o'clock in the
morning of the 31st of Jan., I heard her moving about.
I called out, " Why are you moving about so early,
Elizabeth ?" She answered, "I am going down to the
yard." She then went down stairs, and about five minutes
afterwards returned, when she made some complaint
about being cold. I had a fire in my room at that time,
and I tell her to come in and warm herself. See then
came and stood before the fire, and I went down stairs
to fill the kettle, when I heard a singular noise on the
other side of the wall, which was about five feet high,
and divided the two houses. I cliaibed the wall, and
looked over, when I was much surprised at seeing a
new-born infant lying on the stones in tee next yard.
There were also marks of blood on the wall. I immedi-
ately went and called a constable, who took the infant,
then alive, to the workhouse. We afterwards examined
the water-closet in my yard, and found blood in the pan,
and traced blood from the latter place to the wall on
each &de to the spot where the infant was found. I
afterwards heard the prisoner say teat it was her child,
but I was much confused and alarmed, as I had not the
least idea that she was in the family way.
John Squire, police sergeant 17 M, sail—About 20
minutes past 7 o'clock on the morning of the 31st of
Jan., I was called by last witness, and went into the yard
of No. 46, Fair-street. I saw Mr. James there, and near
the water-closet I perceived a child lying on the ground
crying. It appeared to be a new-horn infant, and was co-
vered with blood. I obtained a piece of flannel, and having
wrapped it up in that, I hastily conveyed the infant to
St. Olave's Workhouse, where prompt attention was paid
to it by Dr. Mackintosh, the medic ,1 officer. I after-
wards returned to No. 47,Fa;r-street,and saw the prisoner
standing close by the fire-place. There were several spots
of blood on her dress, and I asked her how they came
there. She answered, " I have been down in the yard."
On further examination more blood was discovered on
her clothing in the presence of her aunt, who told her
that a new-born infant had been found below stairs, and
if it was hers she had better tell the truth. The aunt
said, "Is that your chill ?" The prisoner hesitated a
little and said, "Yes, it is mine. I was getting over
the wall into the next yard, and it fell from ice." I then
took her to St. Olave's Union, where she was admitted
into the iofirmary, and attended to by Dr. Mackintosh.
I again returned to the house, and traced blood from the
water-closet of No. 47, over the wall, to the yard of No.
45, where T found the child lying. It appeared to me
that she had either thrown the child over, or it had fal-
len from her on getting over the wall. The child's skull
was fractured, and it lived about 12 hours afterwards.
The prisoner has since remained in the workhouse until
this afternoon, when, by the consent of the doctor, I re-
moved her and took her into cu=t Ay. She has since
acknowledged to me that the child in question was hers.
Mr. James Thrice Mackintosh, M.D said—l reside
at the infirmary in St. Olave's Union. On the morning
of the 31st of Jan., about a quarter to 8 o'clock, I was
called into the receiving-ward to examine a new-born
infant. It was a full-grown male infant and in a healthy
condition, and onlv a few hours old.
Mr. Cornbe—Was the chill alive then ? Witness
T es, sir. I looked at it and found a bruise on the back
of the head, which was the cause of death.

Mr. Combe—How long did.the infant live after you
saw it ? Witness--About 12 hours. After its deans I
made a post mortem examination, and found that the
skull was fractured and a quantity of clotted blood under
the scalo, which was the cause of death. The cord was
quite entire, and the afterbirth was attached to it. As
soon as I saw the infant I placed it in a warm bath and
administered milk, &c., but nothing wild save its life.
Mr. Combe—Do you think it was thrown over the
wall after the birth ?

Witness—No, sir ; my belief is that she climbed the
wail and the child fell from her.

Mr. Combe—Would that have been sufficient to have
caused the fracture?

Witness—l think so, but still she might have thrown
the infant over the wall. I spike to her about it, when
she told me that pains of labour came on her suddenly,
and feeling ashamed on account of her family, she got
over the wall to the next house with the view of conceal-
ing it, and in climbing over the wall the infant fell from
her. The prisoner has since then been under my care in
the workhouse.

Mr. Combe, to the constables—Have you examined
the prisoner's boxes ?