The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-04 00:00:00

Commence at 7 o'clock.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE,
Westminster-road.
Sole Lessee, Mr. William Cooke.
The New Tariff :
Dress Circle, 3s. ; Upper Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, ls. ; Galleries, &L
Great and Extraordinary Sensation produced by the new and
brilliant Decorations—Splendid Act Drop—Magnificent
Chandelier—Appropriate Scenery.
Durinz the week the new and successful drama of
THE: BATTLE OF BOTHWELL BRIG.
With THE SCENES IN THE CIRCLE, comprising the
evolutions and equitations of the first Professors in the world
and their unequalled Stud of Horses.
To conclude with a Farce called FAMILY JARS.
No fee for booking.
Stage Manager, Mr. It. Phillips.

CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.—
Pro-pee tor—C. MORTON.
The public is .most respectfully informed that the FINE
ARTS GALLERY, n connection with the above Hall, IS NOW
OPEN DAT AND NIGHT, from 11 o'clock a.m. until 12
o'clock p.m. The New Gallery contains an extensive Collec-
tion of Victims, by Ancient and Modern Masters, and is also
devoted to Art prouections generally. The Proprietor feels
he may confidently assert that, viewed altogether, the exist-
ing- Music Hall, the New. Fine Arts Gallery, and the recently
added Ante-Hall, will present an attraction which, whether
as regards the architectural.beauty-of the structures them-
selves, or the varied and hitherto unattempted combinations
within, will be found to be wholly without parallel in the
Kingdom.
The Music,t.r. ENTERTAINMENT commences as usual at
Seven o'clock.

THE IVEATHER.-SUN OFFICE, Nov. 4.

THERNUMETER, IN THB SHADE.
53—highest since noon yesterday.
49—lowest this morning and during the night.
51—this day at noon.

-BARomETrit-29.79.
Wrvr, South-Easterly ; light and foggy, with rain in
the morning early.

THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 4, 1858.

"What is apound. ?" That was the question by
which Sir ROBERT PEEL mystified Parliament and
procured its sanction to a code, which has twice
produced the most fearful distress and misery
throughout the entire country, and brought it to
the verge of bankruptcy and ruin; which occasioned
within a few months greater loss and pecuniary
trouble than the whole of the British outlay on the
Russian war. Sir ROBERT PEEL thought that he
solved the problem by producing a yelloW coin
weighing 123 grains of gold of 22 carats. That
was unquestionably "a. pound" according! to the
present law, but the fallacy was in representing it ,
as the only possible pound that could be pl.)duced,
and in which every promise and liability must
eventually be liquidated. This was a grave mis-
take, and one that has been productive of very
that led to the ill-considered law of 1819, and
to the still more mischievous supplement thereof
in 1814. It produced the panic of 1847,
when many of our merchant princes, whose firms
had taken generations to build up and
consolidate, were compelled to suspend pay-
ment when £60,000,000 to £70,000,000; worth
of property was brought within the juris-

diction of Basinghall-street, and virtually

. .
sacrificed—wlfen pro4getion ceased, mills.. and t
fac-
tories were closed, anit the labouring class were
converted, from the,cieators and produ era of
national wealth into, unprofitable consuiners—

when the provident persons who had saved, a por-
tion of their "earnings were compelled to expend
their cherished stores to sustain existence; and less
prudent' lal-psnirers to cast themselves and their
families on the tender mercies of the union, work-

houses----When, finally, the Bank of England was

on /y saved frora stopping payment by a promised
'indemnity for the -v-ielotiell..og the law that had
produced, or at all events greatly anra:vated, the
evils.

These were the terrible consequences of the
'erroneous answer to the interrogatory, " What is a
pound ?" Had there been a more philosophical
inquirn, it would at once have been discovered that
:Aceu -
" a PoWicr was anything which conveyed to the
possesS6i 6ieh a command over the'neCessaries and
comfortf of life -as; the sovereign, or " pound of
amdunt," gave on:. "the average of transactions.

Every Patolamilias well knows that no inconsi-

derable portion of his income is required to satisfy
the claims of the tax=collectors and rate•collectors.
Whatever will content these inexorable creditors
will be gladly received, n,o matter of what mate-
rial it may-be Made, whether of coined gold, stamped
leather, or • 6ngraved paper. But it may be said
that he may receive a larger portion of these notes,
or tokensi4han. would be required to liquidate his
proportion of the public burdens. If so, the issue
of these notes or tokens, being scrupulously re-
strained within proper limits, under the authority.
of a department responsibig to Parliament, some of
his, neighbours will require that which he has to
spare -and it will be freely accepted by-landlord
and tradesmaii. The butcher and baker will gladly
exchange meat or bread for that which will satisfy
the salesman or miller. And the hatter, tailor,
hosier, and boot:maker would rejoice at being asked
change their commodities for the "rags,"
which, althouol. intrinsically " worthless," would
still possess the purchasing power;
Indeed, as the Times itself admitted two years
4Picqiithe WhOte of the internal commerce of the
co*ty might be carried on without a single ounce
of gold ! A deposit of. Ceusols,'or the fact that the
notes would be received. in
payment of taxation,
'universally
would render 'them acceptable. This
doctrine cannot be impeached ;
and
yet, to the
lasting disgrace of our Legislature, it has not been
acted on. We, do not economise the precious
metals. There are at leait fifty millions of sove-
reigns passing from hand to hand, the purpose
whereof would be far better answered by £1
notes. In Ireland or Scotland sovereigns are
scarcely ever seen, save in the hands of
some wandering „ tourist, and, When received
in course 'of business, are paid away as speedily
as Possible. The notes for £l, xi 55,, £1 10s ~
and :11 15s. are greatly preferred, and gloat or
plundered the value can be more easily recovered
than the sovereign, whi;l cannot be identified after
it has mae passed from the hazis of the ,

VI ,t~ off ti

cuts'

---:.-i, ...,• , _
- n. , ;J... v i
`)t,l ‘• ~,. , _--,/ • r ,
r till 1& ' •'•
-lA' -3 ' -a: Al G.,.' ..4 -, F ' I ** f,e0,1-
4,....0 ;.., v T0rt,..0.. -.-, , ,„4- -,
..:, . ''''
''''..„,-"i`ii.:o' 4. it
e. ./ <.-,, ;;:•••••,, 401111 urol_lesiet
4, Mik ;;, 4jlllllll4ElainpA. ' , :Z. 0415, . liOrt , , • V
' r•

THE SUN.