The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-21 00:00:00

LONDON, Fii,IDAY EVENING-, NOVEMBER, 211 tz356.

PROPERTY 9.ND INCOME TAX ASSO-
CIATION for Obtaining a speedy reduction of the tax from
Is. 4d. to 7d. iu the £, and a more equitable adjustment of the In-
come Tax.

A rEJBLIC MEETING, for promoting the objects of thl4 Asso-
ciation, will be held at the LONDON •TAyERN, on MONDAY
EVEN ENG next, at half-past 5 for G o'clock precisely;
Alderman Sir JAMES DUKE, Bart., M.P., In the chair.
_ _

Mr. Alderman Sidney, E. Clarke, Esq., J. Gadsby, Esq., and other
gentlemen are expected to address the meeting.
C. P. BUOTT, Hon. Sec.
Committee' Room, London Coffee-house, Ludgate-hill. "

RITISH CANDLE COMPANY (Limited).
Capital 200,000/., In 20,000 shares Qf la each, of which it
is only intended to raise 150,000/. in the first Instance.

Bankeis—The City Bank,

Brokers—Messrs. Carden and
Applications for shares are to b 3 addressed to the secretary, at
the offices of the Company, or to the Brokers.

Bach application must be accompanied by a deposit of 11. per
share with the City Bank, Threadueedle-street, to the credit of the
British Candle Company, Limited. This deposit will be applied in
part payment of the first call of V. Ills. per share on such shares as
may be allotted. Should no allotment he made to the applicant,
the deposit will be forthwith returned free of charge.
Prospectuses, with statement of the financial prospects of the Com-
p any, may be obtained at the offices, 75, Old Broad-street.
LIOItATIQ N. GOULTY, Sec.

nIRITISH CANDLE COMPANY (Limited).
fi_Jl Application for the remaining sliaret in this Company muse
Ise made on or before Monday next, the 24th inst.
75, Old Broad-street, City. lIORATIO N. GOULTY, Sec.

THE PROCH PRESS AND THE RUSSIAN

}U. ILWAYS.

The crusade of the French press against the pro.
jetted Russian railroads, which has been expected
for some time past, has commenced, and the Con-
stitutionnel leads the van. After deploring the
ravages committed in Germany by the fever specu-
lation, a contagion, by-the-bye, which proceeded
from this side of the Rhine, that journal offers the
following objections to the investment of French
capital in the new and gigantic project :—" At
this very moment, when the greatest reserve ought
to be displayed, we see the most extensive projects
started by high financial authorities. To allude to
one, and the most considerable, we will mention
that of the Russian railroads. The sum which
has been demanded of the capitalists of England,
France, Germany, and Holland, is not less than
a thousand millions, and this will be sought for
in the various money markets of Europe. Is this
the proper moment, we would inquire, to at-
tempt such an operation ? That Russia should de-
sire to cover her territory with railroads, and that
she wishes to construct these with the capital of ,
other countries, is perfectly natural. But ought not 1
the capitalists, who have bargained with the Russian
Government to have taken into consideration the
pecuniary state of the countries to which they be-
long ? Ought they not to have reflected on the im-
prudence of weighing down markets which are
already so oppres.sed? Should they not rather
have refused, for the moment at least, to entertain
a project which will suddenly add a thousand mil-
lions to the paper now in circulation ? Moreover,
why should they in existing circumstances have
accepted the concession of the entire network of
Russian railroads ? Would it not have been more
simple to have performed what has been done in
every other quarter, namely, to proceed in a pro-
gressive manner and to commence with one or two

lines ? By so deing several advantages would have
been obtained. In the first place, the project would
have been reduced to proportions more in unison
with the actual condition of financial resources. In
a second point of view, it would then have been pos-
sible to examine the working of railways in Russia,
and this would later have offered a basis of calcula-
tion in the event of an extension of the railway
system being deemed advisable. This prudence,
this reserve, which appears to have been wanting in
certain financial regions, will, we trust, be found
amongst those of our capitalists whose co-operation
may be sought. They will, moreover, be aware
that they possess at home both certain and lucra•

tive employment for their capital, and do not re-
quire to incur the risks ;of an uncertain enterprise.
Apart from national vanity, we may assert that our
route' and our railroads, particularly at the low
prices to which they have lately descended, are
quite as inviting as the 'reute' in the railroads of
Russia. Without wishinc, to depreciate the now
enterprise, it is permitted to believe that railroads
traced across so extensive and poorly populated a
country will remain for a long time without yield-
ing a profit. The parties who have obtained the
concession have received, it is true, a guaranteed
interest of 5 per cent. This is doubtless their most
certain and probably their solo income. But then,
•ploperly speaking, this constitutes nothing else
than Russian 5 per cent. stock. Now, by purchas-
ing French 'rento' an equal income may be had ;
whilst, by an investment iu French railroads, a far
greater one will be obtained. Can, then, the choice
remain doubtful i"

SIR ALEXANDER •COOKBURN.

• -
( From the Times. )
The announcement of the elevation of Sir Alexander
C ckburn to the Bench,, in. the, place of the late Chief
Justice of the Common Pieas, will he received with the
highest aatisfaction by the profession: and the public.
Step by step, by honourable exertion, and by the most
undeniable ability and industry, he has won his way to
one of the highest posts which are open to the ambition
of a lawyer. Had Sir A lexander Cockburn, however,
been a mere lawyer we should have passed, over the ap-
pointment with a few .words of decent commendation :
but he is something more. . Had he never kept or
".eaten " his terms--had he never held a hrief—he
would certainly have acquired distinction as an oratot
and a politician. The two points which mainly arrest
attention when we look at the career of this gentleman
are, first, the union of abilities which qualify hini equally
for service in the law courts and in the House of Com•
cons ; and, secondly, that as a lawyer his mind never
sweheimch, if they have. seems to singularlybeaeriei
asdi, theschar practicegednfthose technicalities '
of law into a
science, have degraded it into a curia) to mankind. On
each point we will say a very few words. It is strange
at first sight that so few lawyers, so few of the men
whose trade it is to speak in public asseiablies,
should have won the ear of the House of Commons.
Tae few that have so done—as Brougham and Denman,
for example—have achieved their Parliamentary reputa-
tion somewhat at the cost of the forum's esteem. Follett
was far more lawyer than statesman. _ That wonderful.
old man, Lord Lyndhurst, is the only instance which
occurs to us in our time of a man who has maintained a
firm footing on either arena. Even he has rather shown
himself as a statesman in what, if we were speaking of
another man, we should describe as the decline i f life,
than while engaged in the contentions of the bar or
charged with the anxieties of the judgment4eat. In the

House of Commons be was a p.le,iciau, a debater, ant
no one who remembers those terrible summaries.of Li, at

the close of a session will deny his talents as a partisan ;
but view of policy so deeply impregnated with the ripe
wisdom of a statesman as those to which he, has recently
given expression have been the triumph of the later and
unprofessional period of his remarkable career. There.
are very few exceptions indeed to the ordinary rule that
the successful barrister is a failure in the House of Com•
mons. Many reasons have been assigned for this seem-
ing anomaly, some of them flattering to the vanity of
lawyers, others very much the reverse ; but the chief
reason of all we take to be that a man must make public
affairs the business of his life if he wishes for success in

this career. It will zot do, save in extraordinary eases,
to give to them a divided attention ; it will not do to
make a brilliant speeck upon public) matters once arid
again ; a man must make hirils'elf a politician, and no-
thing else, if he would earn favour and respect from the
House of Commons. Now, Sir Alexander Cockburn
has won the ear of that assembly,• although for many
years past he has been arduously engaged in the duties
of his profession. His remarkable oratorical talent would
not be sufficient to account for this result. We must
give him credit also for hearty and unfeigned earnestness
iu the Liberal cause, for great breadth of view,
and for determined energy in maintaining what he be-
lieves to be right in the face of Parliament and of the
country. We have not among us so many statesmen,
or members of either House who give promise of be-
coming statesmen, that we can afford to lose the services
of such a man as Sir Alexander Cockburn. He will be
a great loss to the House of Commons ; we trust shortly
to see him an honourable member of the House of
Peers.

There is a second reason why we should wish to
see Sir Alexander Cockburn in the Upper House. We
require in that assembly the presence of a competent
lawyer to take share in the legal business which; anoma-
lously enough, is cast upon it. Sir Alexander Cockburn
and Lord Wensleydale together would be a great addi-
tion to the legal strength of the house. This would, of
course, be but a palliative for a crying and:acknowledged
evil, but, since we cannot at once secure the right re-
medy, we must endeavour to tide over the period of dis-
cussion with as little injury to suitors as possible. To
the establishment of an ultimate Court of Appeal, of a
Cour de likssation, removed altogether from the turbu-
lent atmosphere of politics, we must come at last.
Whether the change be effected next year or ten years
hence matters but little ; it certainly will in the long
run be brought about: Meanwhile, so great is the reluc-
tance of the Queen's advisers to add unnecessarily to the
ranks of hereditary peerage-20 determined the opposi-
sition of Peers to the creation of Peers for life or for a
term of years, that the question will probably stand for
some time in abeyance. What better can we hope to do
than to secure the service of two or three competent
lawyers until the moot point shall receive
its final settlement ? The peculiar turn of
Sir Alexander Cockburn's mind would 'seem to indicate
him as a fitting counterpoise to Lord Wensleydale.
They aro both what is called "good lawyers," but the
one is a man of general principles, the other of legal
technicalities. Combined they would be of the greatest
assistance to the Peers, considered as a Court of Appeal.
In all discussions', too, which may occur upon legal re-
form we should have considerable confidence in Sir
Alexander Cockburn, as a man of liberal opinions and of
sound judgment. The awkward side of the question is
that if the legal strength of the House of Lords be so far
reinforced, the Minister of the day may be apt to tide
over a troublesome affair, and to adjourn for an indefi-
nite period the constitution of a proper Caurt of At peal.
With the addition of'a couple of vigorous lawyers, such
as Lord Wensleydale and Sir Alexander Cockburn, the
present system might be maintained for a while. It
will, however, be maintained for a while at any rate, so
it is just as well to spare ourselves the inconvenience
that must result from an absolutely bare beach. We
can have no doubt that the Government see
the necessity of adding to toe legal strength of the
House of Lords by the elevation of Sir Alexander
Cockburn to the Peerage, and just as little that the late
Attorney-General or the present Chief Justice of the
Common Pleas will cheerfully accept the honour. In
such a case the cry of "Non vult episcopari" is com-
monly raised by the friends of the future Peer, but, no
doubt, the Premier and the public will estimate this just
at its proper value. The fact is that, according to
modern practice, Sir Alexander Cockburn has fairly
earned his Peerage, and, we presume, will be very glad
to receive so honourable a mark of distinction. He has
deserved it, and it will be for the public advantage that
be should receive it—there is nothing more to be said
about the matter. In conclusion, we may add that we
still have reason to believe that Mr. Stuart Wortley
will be the new Solicitor-General. It would have been
difficult to make a better appointment. Mr. Stuart'
Wortley is not only a sound lawyer, but an English gen-
tleman in the largest acceptation of the term. We
sometimes wish that our forensic friends would consider
how highly this character is estimated by the great body
of their fellow-subjects.

ANOTHER FRAUD ON TIIE GREAT
NORTHERN RAILWAY.

Yesterday the Clerkenwell Police Court was crowded
to excess by parties anxious to hear the charges against
Mr. Wm. Snell, late the chief clerk in the accountant's
office of the Great Northern Railway. Prisoner, a very
respectably-dressed man, aged 27, residing at Nightin.'
gale-place, Hornsey, was brought up in the custody of
Mr. Williams, the inspector of the line, charged with de-
frauding the company of about 1,000/. He appeared to
treat the matter very lightly.
Mr. Leech, of the firm of Johnson, Farquhar, and
Leech, the solicitors cf the company, appeared for the
prosecution. The prisoner was undefended.
Mr. Leech stated the case at some length, ard said
that as he was not prepared on that occasion to complete
the case he should only produce evidence sufficient to
justify a remand. Ho then called
Mr. Thomas Reynold, who stated—l am the chief ac-
countant of the Great Northern Railway Company. Snell
has been for some time my chief and confidential clerk.
He has been in the employment of the company since
1851. He had the care of the cheques drawn by the
directors, and in the course of business'they came into
my office, and I then transferred them into the prisoner's
the directors in
custodyproduce taintcibleigt
uweafsornescoeosls.ardyratwonpabyy them away. I
favour of the Proiident Fund. It is dated 11th of July
last. That cheque was passed to the prisoner in the
ordinary way. I instructed the prisoner to ascertain
from the secretary how it was to be disposed of. The
secretary, as I was informed, said it had better wait, as
the rate of interest was low. I told the prisoner to put
it with the other cheques in the cash-box, of which he
had the key. I went out of town, and returned on the
21st of September, at which time, as far as I know, the
cheque remained in his custody. The cheque, if paid,
ought to have beep paid in alone. I recollect giving
que was not paid in.
Pay the cheque into
directions
aryt to
etchoeu
njt.).ris prisoner
cthoe
On the 9th of October the prisoner came to me and said
3', on his own account,
he
for
hadso received
10g.,ve d a cheque
which,
d esinthe C
ir
ng toi City,
up,
and it being
late in the day, be had paid into the ordinary account of
the company. He then asked•me to sign two cheques
which he bad drawn, one for 4601., and the other for
421. 10a. They were taken out,of the company's cheque-
book. I expressed my displeasure that be should pay
money into the private account of the company. He
said that he was very sorry, and that he regretted it
very much, and would never do the like again. , Before
signing the cheques, I satisfied myself as far as I could
that tbee
on
accountmoneywas
m paid in. All cheques on the com-
pany's
cheque
us drawing
are signed by e. I signed this
the faith of the prieoner's statement that the
an,
money had been paid in on the previous day. A few
days since I gave directions to Snell to proceed as
rapidly as possible in making up the drawing accOUrit)
and bringing it as clear up as possible, He said he
would have it done by Tuesday night. On Wednesday
morning, finding that it was not done, I called Snell
into., my private office, and 'complained that the work
bad not been done. He came towards me, and then
turned back, and shut the door.' Ile then said, "There
is' something wrong—l -am 'a 'defaulter." I expressed
my regret, and said, "To what extent ?" He said, "A
little under 1,0001." I asked him if the 5001. was his
own money, when he said, "No

the 500/.

WfLR th

company's money." I have ascertained that the cheque
was stolen from the cash-box. On examining the docket-
book I find that between the Bth and 10;1 of October,
two of them have been taken out. The docket on the
note returned' from the Union Bank is of a different
colour to those in the book.
Mr. Tyrwhitt to the prisoner—Do you wish to ask
this witness any questions?
Prisoner (in a firm voice)—No, rot at present.
Mr. Leech said that was all the evidence he was
pr,.pared to adduce on that occasion, and he therefore
asked that the prisoner might be remanded for a few
413 F.
Mr.
Tyrwhitt then remanded the prisoner.