The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-04 00:00:00

THE NEW AMERICAN MINISTER.

It is expected that Mr. J. L. Motley, the new
American Minister to England, will be at his post in
London about the Ist of June. Ile intends to sail
from New York in the Cuba on the 10th inst.
The Time Philadelphia correspondent says
his instructions are not yet completed, but Mr.
Motley and the Secretary of State have been
in consultation at Washington. They do
not, however, seem to have made much progress, for
the Government scarcely knows how to deal with this
question, which becomes more and more difficult.
Amid all the bluster of American politicians and
writers, there is no serious design of war. The new
Secretary of State, Mr. Fisk, is indeed decisively of
opinion that it would be foolish to hazard a war with
England, and counsels moderation. What kind of
moderation will be found possible after the rejection
)f the treaty it is difficult to say.

THE MERCHANTS' COMPANY.

Mr. Richard Stuart Lane does not seem to have
learnt well the proverb " Least said soonest mended."
He has been condemned as morally guilty of fraud by
the Lord Mayor of London, but lie dies not let the
matter drop—he will not wait till the world forgets
it. He writes to the Times telling his story over
again, and protesting against the decision of the
Lord Mayor. Ile asks of Mr. Alderman Lawrence
' who made him a judge" that he should decide such
luestions, forgetting, apparently, that the laws to
which Mr. Lane is bound to submit give Mr.
Lawrence, as magistrate in some sort, that office.
Mr. Lane goes on to say that he is in every respect
responsible for what has been done. He sees nothing
wrong in what he has committed. Ilis defence is
that the prosecution has confused two very distinct
things. They point to losses in his business which
we not mentioned in the prospectus. But these
losses,
Mr. Lane declares, were not incurred in com-
missions, the legitimate business of the firm—the
business
sold—but in speculations on cotton and
shares carried on by the firm, but having nothing to
io with its proper transactions ' • and, therefore, not
necessary to be mentioned when the business was
sold.

A JUDICIAL `WIGGING.
A Rev. Mr. Johnson has presented a petition In
the Court of Chancery to wind up a limited liability
company, called the Cheltenham and Swansea
Carriage and Waggon Co. Vice-Chancellor Mathis
administered a severe wigging to the petitioner. It
appeared that some time ago the shareholders were
asked to say if the company should go on or
be wound up, and it was agreed that those
who wished to retire from the company should do so.
Mr. Johnson, however, had not availed himself of
,this privilege, but had actually decided in favour of
going on. The company did go on ; it reduced its
debt at the banker's nearly one-third ; it entered
into a remunerative contract with the Russian
Government, and is now in a position to discharge
its liabilities. The Vice-Chancellor therefore said
that Mr. Johnson had seemed resolved to make
himself as disagreeable as he could, and instead
of applying to the directors for the amount
for which he was liable, which no doubt they
would gladly have paid, presented this petitiop.
His honour then went on to comment upon the
petitioner's conduct in terms of great severity, and
concluded by dismissing the petition.