The Sun.
London, England, 1859-11-23 00:00:00

possibly, of course, resist the temptation to crack
a joke upon the fog at the commencement of the
proceedings. The noble lord's inquiry, "Well,
gentlemen, have you any more light to throw upon
the subject ? " being responded to by Sir JOHN
RAMSDEN in a speech fully and clearly- explana-
tory of the wishes of the deputation. Several
others having afterwards expressed their views,
more or less distinctly, and at more or less length,
Lord PALMERSTON followed the last of them
with a Ministerial elocutionary flourish, full
of sound, if not of fury, and like the
vast majority of those same Ministerial flourishes
signifying nothing. Recollecting that the question
under consideration, the necessity, namely, for a
reform in the laws relating to bankruptcy and
insolvency, involved some allusion direct or indirect
to the two legislative attempts made to that end
during the last session of Parliament—the one by
Lord JOHN RUSSELL proposing the repeal of all
existing statutes, and the substitution for them of
a new act consolidating the whole of the laws in
one comprehensive enactment—the other by Lord
CHELMSFORD simply suggestive of the addition to
the thirty statutes or thereabouts already in exist-
ence upon the twin subjects of bankruptcy and
insolvency—it is no wonder the Premier, during
the course of his remarks, referred somewhat
pointedly to the bygone participation of his noble
colleague in the efforts made in behalf of
this particular legal improvement. From the
reference made to Lord JOHN by his chief, a lively
notion may certainly be formed of the hazard there
is of the far larger question of Parliamentary
Reform " falling through," by reason of that noble
lord's pre-occupation in regard to foreign affairs
generally. Viscount PALMERSTON observed, "He
coald not undertake to promise that Lord JOHN
RUSSELL would in the next session undertake the
matter, for those who read the daily nevispapers,
and saw what was passing in every quarter of the
globe, knew that lis lordship had enough-upon his
hands connected with his department without em-
barrassing himself with other questions !" How-
ever sinister an augury this sentence may reveal in
regard to the far grander necessity of a • compre-
hensive measure of Parliamentary Reform—it
is satisfactory to know that the minor, but
still vitally important need there is for a bold and
sweeping reform in the laws relating to bank-
ruptcy and insolvency, Government has wisely
entrusted to the very ablest man that could by
possibility have been selected to that end within
the range of the three kingdoms.
Whenever Lord BROUGHAM shall unhappily be
constrained, by the still further advance of years,
to retire from one among the many high posts of
honour he has so long and resplendently occupied—
when the noble and learned lord shall have been
compelled to withdraw from his prominent
position as the First and Foremost of all
living Law Reformers —it will be upon the
shoulders of Sir RICHARD BETIIELL that
Lord BROUGHAM'S mantle will have descended.
Whatever Mr. HASTINGS may, by a ludicrous
lapsus Unglue, provocative of " great laughter,"
observe to- the effect that the commercial commu-
nity do not regard Sir RICHARD BETITELL as a
lawyer, Sir RICHARD being about the ablest and
the ripest lawyer in the land—as about the first
lawyer in the land, we may rest perfectly well
assured that Sir RICHARD BETHELL is looked to
confidently, not merely by the commercial, but by all
ranks and classes of the general community. His as-
surance, therefore, as the First Law adviser of the
Crown—in reference to the projected measure of re-
form in respect to the cumbrous relating tobaulL-
ruptcy and insolvency—will carry a peculiar weight
with them in every syllable, and can hardly fail to be
regarded wherever these same assurances are read as
fraught with impressive and substantial encourage-
ment. Speaking frankly yesterday to the depu-
tation, Sir RICHARD observed among other things,
" I agree with you that this subject is not to be re-
garderl as purely and exclusively one of a legal cha-
racter, but that it is one in which the commercial
interests are chiefly involved, and that it should be
so disposed of that the law of bankruptcy and
insolvency may be brought into harmony
with the convictions and feelings of the com-
mercial community, and the whole system of
its administration based upon their interests
and made consistent with the principles of
justice." And later on he said, " Since I entered
Parliament it has ever been my aim, so far as my
humble efforts could go, to reduce the whole body
of our laws into a state of simplicity, order, and
consistency; but in our bankruptcy. laws, as they
now stand, there is neither simplicity nor order."
And-further, he remarked, "In my opinion the
foolish and illogical distinction between traders and
non-traders ought to be abolished ; and, addressing
myself to the task before me, I have come to that
determination." Having referred to several others
among the chief principles to be embodied in the
new enactment the Attorney-General added, in refer-
ence to that enactment. "That measure," said he, "so
far as it has grown to completeness under my hands,
has been based on the views I have mentioned to
you, and embodies the advice which we have re-
ceived from several quarters. When ready for
legislation it will be submitted to the Cabinet and
be fully considered, and; so far as the expression of
my own opinion will be a sufficient assurance, you
may rely that its consideration_will be approached,
not with a view of protecting or consulting legal
interests, but to make the measure satisfactory to
the great trading interests of this country." Remem-
,
bering which explicit assurance from the lips of no
one less authoritative upon the subject than Sir
RICHARD BETTIELL, her Majesty's Attorney-Gene-
ral—the commercial part of the community must
already seem to be at length fairly closing its
grasp upon this long looked-for and most desirable
legal improvement.

The Volunteer Rifle Movement has spread
throughout the country with a rapidity almost
unparalleled, and has excited the enthusiasm of
all classes from the highest to the lowest. The
mere whisper of an attempted invasion has evoked
the old national spirit which has never been found
wanting when the honour and interests of the
country were really at stake. The enthusiasm
manifested among us has already produced
its effect on the other side of the Channel. The
instructions given to the French Prefects to re-
strain the abusive attacks so constantly made on
this country, in the columns of the French journals,
show that the Imperial ruler of our warlike neigh-
bours is desirous of allaying the storm he has raised.
But although there be extra demands upon
our resources, we must not allow our efforts
to slacken when the hour of excitement and
threatened danger may seem to have passed by.
However ready may be the friendly assurances of
the RAIPEROit and his Ministers, the restless, ex-
citable army, whose rancorous feeling towards us is
admitted on all sides, and the daily increasing
fleet are standing menaces. Our statesmen must
not suffer themselves to be deluded by fair
speeches, or even by the promised assistance
in China. We have little security that
the alliance of French and English forces in
China would be allowed to interfere with the
EMPEROR'S movements if other circumstances rei.-