The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-01 00:00:00

THE BANKRUPTCY BILL.

A meeting of the general committee of mercan-
tile legislation of the National Association for the
Promotion of Social Science was held at Birming-
ham yesterday (Tuesday), in order " that such
alterations in the Bankruptcy Bill as may be agreed
upon may be incorporated with the bill before it is
again introduced, and to make arrangements for a
vigorous support of the measure in the next session
of Parliament."

The attendance included Mr. G. Hastings, who
presided ; Mr. Samuel Morley and Mr. Andrew
Edgar, of London ; Mr. Heath, of Liverpool; Mr.
Johnson, of Leeds ; Mr. Hewett, of Sheffield ; Mr.
Bruton, of Bristol ; and Mr. Van Wart, Mr. Samp-
son S. Lloyd, Mr. A. Ryland, and Mr. Browett, of
the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce.
The CHAIRMAN, in introducing the business,
explained the present state in which the measure
now stood. The bill, as agreed upon by the mer-
cantile community, was introduced by Lord John
Russell in the late parliament, and was passed
through a second reading, when some amend-
ments were proposed by Mr. Morley and a com-
mittee of London merchants. These alterations
merely related to some of the details of the mea-
sure, more particularly relating to the election
of the trustees, which, under the bill was vested
in the general body of creditors, while the amend-
ment proposed to vest the appointment in the
inspectors, who would be elected by the creditors.
By this means it was anticipated that much trouble
and annoyance to creditors from persons canvassing
for office would be avoided, while the interest of the
estate would not be jeopardised. It was thought
desirable, Parliament having been dissolved, and as
the bill would have to be again introduced into
Parliament, that a general meeting of the
com-
mittee should be called to consider the proposed
amendments, and, if approved of, to incorporate_
them
with the bill, which might then be carried
without the necessity of its being referred to a select
committee. Mr. Hastings noticed some of the ob-
jections which had been urged against the bill by
the officials of the present courts; amongst others,
the statement that the passing of the bill would
entail an expense upon the
country of £lOO,OOO per
annum, and would sweep awaythe present fund of
£1,500,000, now standing in the name of the Ac-
countant-General in Bankruptcy. This sum, which
Mr. Hastings remarked was the accumulation of
unclaimed dividends, would still remain under
another name, and the interest be applied, as at
present, in the payment of the salaries of the judges
of the court ; so that the statement about the addi-
tional expense that would be thrown upon the
State was quite fallacious.
Mr. MORLEY having at some length explained
the nature of the pro posed alterations a lengthened
debate ensued, and it was ultimately resolved that
the amendment should be incorporated in the bill
which should be re-introduced into Parliament ;
and a sub-committee was appointed to take steps
for obtaining the vigorous support of the various
Chambers of Commerce to the measure.

task to avoid comparison with Macaulay's eloquent
description. In alluding to Burke's reflections on
the French Revolution he remarked that he thought
his views on that subject entirely mistaken, as
most Englishmen did at the present day. In his con-
cluding observations on the present state of affairs on
the continent, Mr. Mason Jones strongly upheld
the policy of neutrality. and the loud applause of
his audience testified that they shared his opinion.
The room was crowded, and the audience appeared
to be highly gratified by the discourse. On Satur-
..

day, June 4th, and on Friday, June 10th, Mr.
Mason Jones will give his two concluding orations
on Sheridan and Curran. Those who have not

yet heard him should take those opportunities of
judging of an eloquence which is entirely natural,
and which, with experience and -cultivation, pro-
mises future distinction.

TILE FRENCH LOAN.-REPORT TO
THE EMPEROR.

The Moniteur of yesterday contains the follow.
ing:—

PARIS, May 28.
SIRE,—The administration has just received the
ast communication touching the loan of 500
millions. I hasten, as in duty bound, to render an
account to your Majesty of the final result of the
subscription, and make known to the. public the
bases upon which the renter that have to be sub-
szribed in the ledger of the national debt will be
distributed amongst the subscribers. On the day
after the closing of the operation, when I had the
honour of addressing my first report to your
Majesty, the returns from the departments had
only partially arrived. I could tnen only indicate,
as 1 took care to announce, temporary estimates,
which have been since found to be far below the
reality, and are now completely ascertained. As
the subscription approached its term, the desire of
the public assumed more and more the nature of a
patriotic demonstration. The annexed list, which
states for each department the exact number of the
subscribers and the amount of the capital subscribed,
is an eloquent testimony to the sentiments of
confidence and' devotedness that have impelled the
people to enter the subscription offices ; I have
much happiness in laying it before your Majesty.
According to this list the number of persons who
took part in the subscription by paying into the
receiving offices of the State the earnest of one-
tenth, amounts to nearly seven hundred thousand
(690,190).
In itself alone this total surpasses by more than
a hundred thousand share-takers that of all the
subscribers to the three first loans taken together.*
I need not point out the full importance of this in
a political and financial point of view.
It is thus divided :
At Paris
In the departments 445,165
The sum subscribed is above two milliards five
hundred millions (2,509,559,776 fr.) ; it is equal to
more than five times the sum demanded.
Paris has supplied
The departments
The " coupurcs" of 10fr.
The superior subscription at
lofr.
The deposit of a tenth to be paid in nine days, at
Paris and in the departments, is more than two
hundred and fifty-one millions (250,955,977fr.)1-
I immediately adopted the necessary measures for
restoring to circulation as soon as possible that
portion of this sum which has to be returned to the
public. The reimbursements made at Paris amount
already to upwards of seventy-three millions.
The data required to serve as a basis for the
liquidation being now possessed by the administra-
tion, this intricate labour will be carried on with
the greatest activity.
I have the honour of submitting for your Ma-
jesty's approbation the principles in accordance
with which the distribution will have to be made.
The loan authorised by the law of the 2d of May
instant comprises a principal sum of 500 millions
and a supplement of 20 millions, intended to facili
tate the liquidation and cover the expenses of dis
cowl-

On this sum of 520 millions we have first of all to
strike off—

.1. The amount of the 10• franc subscriptions that
are irreducible.

2. The capital of the Rentes due to the subscribers
of 20, 30, 40, and 50 francs, who, by means of the
minimum of 10 francs of Rentes established by the
decree of the 3d inst., will receive more than their
proportional quota.
These two sums added together amount to
116,561,956 f.

The surplus, or 2,393,997,820 f., will have to be,
as far as it is practicable, distributed at the rate of
a franc to the mark amongst all the other
subscribers.

The mathematical share accruing to each would
be 170 f. 4c. per cent. of the sum subscribed.

But the rules that regulate the ledger of the pub-
He debt, and the principles laid down by the above
mentioned Ministerial decree that determines the
conditions of the loan, would not pennit me to
follow out so strict a calculation. As in the pre-
vious loans, the liquidation having to be made by
multiples of 10 francs for the discountable rentes,
and by multiples of 100 francs for the other category,
certain subscribers will receive—a, -little more, and
others a little less than the nominal quota.
From all these differences a disposable balance of
no great importance will result. From motives of
equity I think this remanet ought to be assigned to
the small subscribers of 70, 80, 140, 200, 260, 320,
and 380 francs, they being least favoured by the
reduction scale.
Should the Emperor accept these propositions I
beg his Majesty that he will deign to invest with
his approbation the present repqrt.
I am, with the most profound respect, sire, your
Majesty's most humble, obedient, and faithful
subject,
Approved--NAPOLEON.

Loan of 250 millions
Loan of 500 millions
Loan of 750 millions

No. of Subscribers.
.... 99,124
.... 170,820
316,976

586,920
t The sum of 45,302,703 fr. 58c. was paid moreover in
advance, or in all 296,358,680 fr.

MELANCHOLY Stamm—Yesterday evening a
long inquiry took place in the board room of King's Col-
lege Hospital, before Mr. Bedford, coroner for Westminster,
relative to the death of Frederick Schrader, aged 27, a Ger-
man, who put a period to his existence by shooting himself
with a pistol, in consequence of disappointed affections. It
appeared from the examination of several witnesses that
the deceased was a tailor and draper, and carried on his
business at the West-end of the town. He had lately been
paying his addresses to a young lady residing in Lamb's
Conduit-street, and it appeared that every preparation was
made for their nuptials, when she informed him that she
had altered her mind, that she did not intend to enter the
marriage state, and she was going with some friends to
Australia. The intelligence evidently shocked the de-
ceased most severely. On the evening of Tuesday, the
24th alt., he had his last interview with his " betrothed,,
when he was deeply affected, and implored her in the most
affecting manner to alterhermind, and not go to Australia.
She, however, stated that every arrangement was made,
and that she must go. From this time a most decided
change took place, the unhappy young man became dis-
tracted, and in company with his friends on the subse-
quent day said "that he had received his death blow—that
his love was unbounded for the young lady, and that he
would die for her." About ten o'clock on Tuesday night
last Edward Parish, 3SI E, was on duty in Lamb's Con-
duit-street, when he heard the report of a pistol, and on
going to the spot he found the deceased on the pavement;
a pistol was near him—he was conveyed to7a surgeon's,
and subsequently removed in a cab to the above institution.
Mr. Ashton, the house surgeon, who attended the deceased
admission,on proved that death was caused by the pistol
shot gs. Thwehtjuleryuhredteurrnteedmpaereverrydinictetnhtaatl
deceased
committedoughthe lungs.
the act l
derangement

ORATIONS BY ME, T. MASON JONES.

Mr. Mason Jones gave his oration on Edmund
Burke at Willis's Rooms, on Monday evening, to a
large and fashionable audience. He delivered his
discourse without any note or memorandum, and
Toke throughout with the greatest readiness and
fluency. Several passages were eloquent and
forcible, and the general tenour of the oration
showed extensive reading and reflection. lie
briefly enumerated the chief incidents in Burke's
political career, his acquaintance with Fox, John-
son, Garrick, and the other celebrities of his
time; his vehement defence of the American
colonists against the reckless policy of Lord North ;
his speeches on Indian questions, his impeachment
of Warren Hastings ; his reflections on the French
Revolution, and his policy on that occasion, con-
cluding the lecture with some remarks on the
present state of Europe. Mr. Jones's excellent
memcry enabled him to quote several passages from
Burke's speeches, many of which produced great
effect, and his oration throughout was listened to
with marked attention, and frequently applauded.
In speaking of Burke's junction with the Rocking-
ham ministry, and his exclusion from the cabinet, he
remarked that the real reason for his ignominious
position was not to be found in the professed
excuses of Lord Rockingham and Mr. Pox, but in
the fact that he did not belong to any family of
territorial dignity or political influence-,--an allu-
sion to the well-known tendency of Whig states-
men which was loudly applauded. In treating o
the trial of Hastings, the speaker had a difficu