The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-29 00:00:00

LONDODi", TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1658.

Mr. Jnirs WILSON appeared, last night, as
the champion of a compulsory sinkiug fuud. No
matter how great the embarrmsruent of the
nation —how pressing the emergency—a certain
pottien of t'-,e old debt should be liquidated,
although new • liabilities should be incurred in
consequence, and that at a higher raw. He
,aimed what 'was intended to he a formidable
blow against the chief feature in the Budget—
the very feature, indeed, that had been received
with 01 but univer;al satisfaction.
It is true that he avoided any decided action
during the present session—did not attempt to
interfere with the arrangements already entered
into; but he impeached the principle ventilated
by Mr. DISRAELI, and sanctioned by the guar-
dians of the public purse, and endeavoured to
cast an impediment in the way of the Ministry of
1859, the moat tlifficalt financial year to get
over, of ally that has ocCurred of recent date.

Ile attempt, however,
was a
signal faiiute,
and only biou ht out is a stronger light the
jgstice and txprcliencyof Mr. DISRAELI' s finar cial
scheme. The notion of rel:udiatiou was t to
absurd to be Ti.ut forward by a putlealan *lto,
generally speaking, may be regarded as a high
financial authority. Even Sir G. C. Lzwis-
could not support the resolution on the ground of
any contract, express or implied, with the public
creditor. lie rode off, however, ou his espacial
hobby, a compulsory or "national" sinking fund,
not that which would apply to a certain propor,
tion of the surplus revenue, after providing for the
Agt_l,l impel:Allure of the year, to the redemption

of the'debt ; but rather that which would create I
additional embarrassment in a year of deficiency,
by keeping up inconvenient claims. That system,
so dear to the heart of money-lenders, found a
strenuous advocate in the ex-Chancellor of the
Exchequer. He must have closely studied the
rules of the various loan societies that abound
throuzliout the metropolis, and been a convert to
the principle of," prospective engagements for the
reduction of outstanding debts." This may be
all very well when the borrower cannot obtain
money on other terms ; but where he is in good
credit, where such stringent obligations are not
required, it would be madness to unduly fetter
himself, or to sow the seeds of future difficulties.

How often has it occurred that over-careful
testators have provided that their heirs should
be prevented from entering into the possession
of the properties bequeathed until they attained
some age, generally between 25 and 30. But
such provisions have almost invariably proved
fruitless. They are, indeed, worse than useless,
for, driving the expectant heir into usurious
hands, they make him incur heavier responsibili-
ties than the accumulated assets would liquidate,
while the money goes to enrich a class—the last
whom the testator would wish to profit by his
devise.

As in private, so it is in public affairs. The
effect of the compulsory payment would only be
to drive the nation into the hands of wealthy
capitalists who could make their own bargains.
The best plan is to make both ends meet, to avoid
new debt so far as practicable, and by keeping up
a moderate surplus, gradually reduce the debt
by the operation of an enactment which meets
general approbation. •

The House of Lords has resolved, almost by
acclamation, that the " political" or " State"
services shall be expunged from the Book of
Common-prayer. The members of the Church of
England will no longer be compelled to make
" Guys" of themselves on the sth of November ;
and it is to be hoped that when there is no longer
ecclesiastical authority for the practice, the street
demonstrations that excite so much strife, dissipa-
tion, and ill-feeling, may also cease. The 30th of
January, the anniversary of the execution of
CHARLES 1., and the 29th of May, that of the re-
storation of the greatest profligate that ever
grasped the British sceptre, could scarcely be
cause either for mourning or rejoicing in the
19th century. The three events related to the
dynasty which, of all others that reigned over
Great Britain, had least claim to distinction,
and which was eventually expelled from the
throne. But there was a quasi canonisation.
There was the " ST. Jaates," of the British ca-
lendar, succeeded by the Martyr (!) CHARLES, and
CHARLES the good (1), the pious (!), the amiable O.
• Surely their "happy reigns" should be celebrated
by the pious through all succeeding generations.
It is true that these observances were, by the
greatmajority of pastors, considered more honoured
in the breach than in the observance, that they
were generally skipped over by the most orthodox
divines, save when the anniversaries fell on :Sun-
days. But they were still kept up in Cathedral and
Collegiate Churches and Chapels. The latter
were, perhaps, the most objectionable of any, be-
cease they were addressed to the rising genera-
tion, and taught lessons of bigotry that could
never be quite got rid of.
We are happy to find that the Archbishop of
CANTERLIIRY and the Bishops of LONDON and
OXFORD concurred in the resolution ; and
although the octogenarian Bishop of Baoszoon
mumbled forth a faint dissent, alleging
that the servic©s were not obsolete, but
fell of vigour and beauty, the resolution was
carried without a divisioc. Let the Church now
strive to reform itself—te remove the blots by
which it has been defaced—getting rid of
" vain repetitions," and relying on its sound
and pure doctrines, and the really beautiful
portions of its liturgy. Let it endeavour to win
men who could not agree with its faults, and all
will be well, and all classes of Protestants brought
within one common fold;

Several years ago, new life was suddenly im-
parted to two gigantic colonies it distant parte of
the world—the one a British colony, the other a
colony in the posses ,ion of the United States. Almost
simultaneously, gold dust and gold nuggets, gold
in quartz and gold in river sands, gold here, there,
and everywhere was found yonder by the Yankees
in California, yonder by the Britishers in Austra-
ha. Tie ti.,,,;orety was—if ever a discovery may
with the strictest truth be so descrined—
Providential. It occurred in the very
nick of time in regard at once to the commer-
cial, political, and social hopes and wants of two
enormous populations. According to the deliberate
verdict already pronounced upon these great events
of history, it has been observed in reference
to the Californian and Australian gold mines that
" they promise in their ultimate effects not only
to obviate many of the greatest evils under which
society has long laboured, but to bring about a
new balance of power in every State, and relieve
industry from the worst part of the load which
has hitherto oppressed it." The remark is that
of Sir ARCHIBALD ALISON—a remark occurring
in the masterly and comprehensive resume
preceding the introductory chapters of
his continuation of the " History of Eu-
rope." As directly illustrative of the tenth of-
his observation, the annalist goes on to remark
how often, in the records of the human race,
there have appeared the like extraordinary and
wholiy unanticipated events—events which have
extricated nations from supromeemergencies, from
difficulties apparently overwhelming. Thus at
the close of the fifteenth century —when the
labouring easses throughout Europe were more
than ever grievously oppressed by the feudal
institutions—Coeuemus crossed the Atlantic—
America was opened to the energies of the
uld eastern hemisphere—the mines of Peru and
Mexico were discovered—wealth poured into the
exhausted coffers of Christendom. Precisely in a
like moment of peril—immediately upon the mor-
row of the monetary crash of IC4B—the Ameri-
cans being driven by the very force of their finan-
cial embarrassments into a career of military
conquest, after annexing Texas, absorbed Cali-
fornia into the compass of the republican
dominions, and suddenly held within their
grasp a treasure as magical and seemingly
as inextraustible as the purse of Fortunattes.
So too, yet more appreciably among ourselves,
has it seen with regard to EL/gland and her most
opportune discovery immediately afterwards of
the g(11 diggings in Auy.tralla. The enormous
unemployed surplus of the population soon found
she desired field for indolent energies,—being
shipped away in thousands for the golden wastes
of the antipodes.

Another movement of a similar character is
now suddenly opening up to view in a totally
opposite direction, in another of our vast colonial
poszessions. The Hudsou'A Bay territories yield
in their turn a providential crop of gold,
and lure the adve aturous gold diggers and their
beasts of burden yet again to " fresh fields and

pastures new." The' pre( ions metal having been
just discovered in most unexpected abundance
both on Fraser's river and' Thompson's river—
there is a reasonable prospect at last that the
irresistible contagion of the gold fever will
yet empower the millio ne at last to break
down the obstructive ba criers hitherto raised
by the odious monopoly cwf the Hudson's Bay
Company—leading at last t. the happy colonisa-
tion of those neglected lea most fruitful pee-
sessione. It is amusing to think now in
these times of wholesale gpld discoveries, north,
south, east, and west—r.-len the dreams of El
Dorado are surpassed by the fasts of San Fran-
cisco, where the romantic visions of Cathay and
Cipango are wholly eclipsed by the more radiant
realities of New South Wales--it is amusing enough,
we say, to think of th e old midimeal wiseacres,
wasting their time over; their alchemical experi-
ments in a vain and maddening search after the
Philosopher's stone that was to turn the baser
metals into gold—'hen gold was all the while
squandered about int the then undiscovered regions
of the Hudson's Bay Territory, of Australia, and
of California.

Colonel and Mrs. Plunkett Burton entertained at
dinner last evening at their house in Grosvenor-square,
the Earl and Countess of Dartmouth,. Earl and Countess
of Bradford, and Miss Moncricffe, Viscount Newark,
M.P., and Viscountess Newark, Viscount Boyle, Hon.
Mr. and Lady Augusta Fiennes, • Hon. Mr. and Mrs.
Bertee Percy, and Miss Percy, Hon. Frederick
Calthorpe, Hon. Gilbert Htathcote, M.P., and Admiral
Ryder Berton.
It is said a coinage of double sovereigns is shortly to
be issued.

The Calcutta and. China mails are expected to be de.
livered in London to-morrow morning.
The steamer Royal Charter, from Melbourne, with
405,0001. in gold, has now been at sea 78 days.
It is believed that the shipments of specie to Calcutta
by the steamer of the 4th July will be considerably
below the sum—viz., 202,3751., despatched by the last
vesael for that port.
Messrs. C. A. Jonas and Co,, Swedish merchants,
who failed in December lea, will pay a first dividend of
in the pound on the 7th July.
Captain Hyde, who so skilfully navigated the Austra-
lian mail steamer Oneida, when she broke down last
year between King George's Sound and Ceylon, has
been appointed to the command of the Tasmanian, the
new steamer just built for the European and Australian
Mad Company.
TWENTY-FOUR Houns DAYLICHT.—Last Tuesday was
the longed day in the year, and during the whole 24
hours, as has been the case each day for a week or two
past, the smallest print might be read by the light of the
sun at any hour a.m, or p.m. The weathefin the mean-
time continues most agreeable,—John &Groat Journal.
Tau NatY.—The following is the expense of refitting
the undermentioned ships for re commiesien in 1858, as
shown by a return from the Admiralty jest issued—
viz., the Duke of Wellington, 17,6501. ; the Arrogent,
10,913/. ; the Cressy, 7,3131. ; the Nile, 13 7731. ; the
Eurya!u', 10,828/. ; and the Exmouth, 11,912/.
BUIGHTON ATLIEN.EUM.-11r. Elwin Jams, Q. 0.,
Recorder of Brighton, has offered three prizes of 51.
31. 35., and 2/. 2 respectively, for an Earley on the fol•
lowing sulejsct :—" Is a constitutional form cf Govern-
ment, adapted to the character and genius cf the French
nation ?" The competiticn to be open to all members
of the Athenwltli wnose subscriptions commence on or
before the Ist of July, 1853.
CRYSTAL PALACE —The Rosary is now in the highest
perfection. Hundreds of thousands of the richest speci-
mens are in the fullest bloom and fragrance. The g era-
n iums, calceolarias, petan'as, and other choice plants aro
at their best, presenting' a scene of gorgeous beauty
which delights: he crowd of visitor; now thronging there.
and real:see, as far as earth can, the fabulous eardees f
Elysian fame, where Penis spend their leisure in chasing
golden moths, and flinging flowers at each other.
ALARMING FIRE AT THE GLOUCESTER COUNTY Lw-
eTATIC ASYLUM.—GLOUCESTIM, Monday.—Last evening
an extensive fire broke out at the Lunatic Asylum, as
above, situate at Wootton, about a mile on the east
from Gloucester, which at one time threatened the
utter destruction of that extensive establishment, con-
taining over 500 pauper lunatic patient=, but which
was fortunately kept confined to the internal destruc-
tion of the north wing, a comparatively new erection,
130 feet in length, four bagels in height, and con-
taining nearly .40 warde fir patients, lavatories, &c.Tae poor inmates of that part were fortunately- re-
moved eafely. The entire loss is estimated at 2,0001.,
but the bending is insured.
DREADFUL ACCIDENT AT TUE ADELPHI THEATRE.—On
Saturday morning a dreadful accident occurred to James
Brown, aged 30 years, who resided in White-Areet,
Bethnal-green-road, under the following circumstances :
—lt appears he was engaged with some other men in
pulling down the Adelphi Theatre, when a piece of tim-
ber gave way, and ho fell on his heal a depth of 60 feet
He was picked up in a sate of insensibility and con-
veyed to Charing-cross Hospital, where Mr. Pelmer, the
house surgeon, on exaneinatem, Lund his skull fractured,
besides other very extensive injuries. Not the slightest
hopes ere eeteriained of his recovery.
' Accordiug to a private telegram from Bombay the rate
of exchange had receded 2s. 0;;a1., being a further move-
ment of 1. per cent. in favour of this country. Tema
within a month the fall had been equal to 3 per cent., a
circumstance that must tend effectually to check the ex-
port of silver from England. The present advises also
mention an improvement ,of 2 per cent. in the price of
Government securities, which way be accepted as an in-
dication that the latest military and political news re-
ceived from the interior was not considered unsatisfac-
tory. From Shanghai there were dates two days later
--namely, to the 25th April, when the rxeharige had
agein returned to 64. ld,, showing a favourable altera-
tion equal to about 1i p r cent.
At a special meeting of the Port Phillip and Colonial
Gold Miciue Company, yesterday, Sir C. Rich in the
chair, a etc.tement was read by which it appeared that
the quartz-crushing operations at Ciunes on the ewe.
Paoy's estate are proving rennin retive, the total receipts
j from that establishment during the month of March
being 3,2201., while the r xpenditure, including several
items of an exceptional character, was 1,8481. About
48 tons a-day have been crushed in the first three
months of the year, at a coat of rather less than 294. a
ton, R ference is made to a report by Mr. Selwyn, the
geologist to the Colonial Government, and Mr. Thomp•
LI., rrine weent, as to the abundance of
the veins of quartz aria tau good •c 7 'y of water on the
property, which it is calculated will provide tur a tenni-
, nuance of erafi-able operations. The three:ors express a
1 confident hope that sufficient may be realised to enable
them to declare a dividend in January.
ASYLUM FOR FEMALE ORPHANS, WESTMINSTER-ROAD.
—CENTENARY THANKSGIVING.— This institution, which
was established in 1758 through the prai-eworthy exer-
tions of Sir John Fielding, and subsequently honoured
with the patronage of her Majesty Queen Charlotte, as
also by her present Majesty, and having the late and
present Duke of Cambridge as presidents, had this morn-
ing an assemblage in the chapel of the apprentices and
those brought.up within its walls (some cf the latter being
mothers and even grandmothers of the scholars now
there ; but although seveal are in service a considerable
,'umber have attained a better position iu society) for
the. purpose of offering up a thank-giv ng as a centenary
creemernoiation of its establishment. His grace the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury having kindly consented to honour
iheinstitution arrived shortly before 12 o'clock, and was
received by several of the vice•preidents, committee, aid
cilium and conducted to the chapel where the thauks-
giviug service appointed for this occasion was performed,
I and his Grace then addressed the past and present echo•
fare, and with the most fervid eloquence dilated upon
I the past services the institution bad rendered to•society,
eulo:ising the exertions of the ctncera by tabors it had '
been cc.ndactesl, and expressed hopes fur its continuous
prosperity. Tne congregation, :Jeer the benedictiou had
been given by his Grace, retired from the chapel, the
greater portion etteoding his Grace in procession round
to the priucipal can/vice gatee, and passing through an
elegantly draped corridor to the pavilion, the whole
I erected by B. Edgingt sr, of London- br;dge, for the pur-
pose of being present at the dinner of the past and pre-
sent scholar:, and the number which partook thereof
being nearly 400, comprising 150 present selio!ara, a.
also 36 apprentices, and about 190 former pupils it
various ages. Tim whole affair went eft with great (eat.
and highly gratifying to the friends and supporters of
this admirable charity.
I:IOSPITAL FOR CONSUMPTION, BROMPTON.—On Sun-
day the claims of this valuable institution were most
ably advocated by the Lord Bishop of Limerick, who
preached au eloquent sermon in the chapel of the hos-
pital at Brompton. Tne beau iful chapel was thrown
open to the public on this occasion, and a numerous
congregation attended. His lordship selected for his
text Mathew x. 5 —"To the psor the gospel is
preached," and detailed in glowing terms the duties of
Christians, as exemplified by the L ird, in assisting
-their poorer and afflicted brethren. He drew a vivid
picture of the state of the p ;or people suffering
from the peculiar disease of consumption, au
aftlict'ion which caused most patient endurance
on the part of the friends and relations of the
sufferer, to say nothing of the expense and incapability
of ploperly tending to their wants, and called on bee
heerers t'. cmeider the great benefits which must accrue
to the sufferers and to their relations by havirg thou
removed to the comfortable salubrious wards r f the
beautiful mansion under which roof they were assembled.
It:was a matter of regret that the funds of toe charity
were inadequate to the wants of those already in the
hospital, and prevented the possibility of admitting as
many patients as the ceunnittee of the institution wished.
Taere were SO beds which could not be filled re aingto the
want of fiends, but it was trusted that those who wore
blessed with meaus would give what they could, and in
should
at bs
said
and
C
nee ing them to do so it was only to give as it were the
crumbs from their table,
of suchsothat a praiseworthy
it
s hd a
tbheantefiacniya
io oinnestoitfutthe portalsn
should be kept closed to the nu-
merous sufferers who were clamouring for admission and
relief. At the conolnsion of the service his lordship's
eloquent appeal was responded to by a large and liberal
cnltection, including the handsome domition of 501. from
John Hardy, Esq , of Grafton•street. A sermon was
also preached at St. James's Chapel, York-street, St.
I James's, by the Rev. Thomas Beat:nes, M.A., in aid cf
te funds, and a liberal cAlectioa was wade.