The Sun.
London, England, 1832-09-27 00:00:00

NATIONAL POLITICAL UNION.

The weekly meeting of this Union took place last
evening at Saville-house. Mr. Sault was voted into
the Chair.

Mr. DETROSIER, the secretary, read the minutes
of the last meeting, which were confirmed.
Mr. Fox SMITII, on the adjourned question of
the currency, said that if Mr. Hickson's freedom of
banking meant anything, it meant an unrestricted
power of coining, which in the bands of any man or
body of men would be the most unfortunate thing
for the community in general. As for a National
Bank, he would not object to it, provided it were
under the control of a Government that possessed
the confidence of the nation.

Mr. CHURCHILL, in addition to what he had
stated in the former discussions, had but one more
objection to make to a paper currency, which was,
that it would always be a strong incentive to forgery.
Mr. DETROSIER considered that, according to the
resolutions of the mover, the main question was
whether banks should be established or not. He
presumed that the trade of banking should be li-
mited, and that the country bankers should deposit
adequate securities. Much had been said about a
currency which should have the same invariable no-
minal value, without considering that in order to
have a fixed currency, it would be necessary to stay
the march of invention and improvement. As to
adopting the scheme of National banks, according to
the resolutions, he saw, he mist confess, many in-
surmountable obstacles.
Mr. RocEes said, one reason why he did not wish
to embark upon the sea of a paper currency was,
that the price of labour could not rise in an old
country until it was first forced down by the misery
attending a circumscribed currency. Another of his
objections to a paper currency arose from the fact,
that foreign countries in time of war would cut up
the sinews of the country, by distributing among
the people a large quantity of forged notes. It was
pretty generally known, that Pitt and Dundas had
recourse to such vile means during the war with
France; that they had sanctioned the forging of
assigeats; and that Lord Kenyon had justified the
morality of the measure. If, in a future war, France
should retaliate upon us, it would not be consistent
to complain of a measure justified by one of the
Learned Judges of the land. A national bank had
been mentioned, to be instituted under a Govern-
ment that had the confidence of the people; he
hoped never to see a Government possessing
the confidence of the people, for the mo
meat it did, it would be sure to oppress the
people. He always desired to see the people suspi-
cious and jealous of their Government. It had also
been suggested, that Government should have the
power of increasing the circulation of the currency
in certain cases of exigency. He entirely objected
to such suggestion ; for if Government had that
power, it would be continually creating the cases of
exigency, and consequently injuring the whole com-
munity.

Mr: AIONGIifiDIU Said, that if it wcre true that

Mr. CARPENTER expressed himself decidedly fa-
vourable to a paper currency, but not to such a on,.
as Mr. Hickson advoca•ed.

Mr. HICKSON said, the United States possessed
an excess of paper currency compared with this
country, vet the necessaries of life were mud,
cheaper there than in England. He believed tha'
the liberty to re-issue 1/. notes would raise prier.
perhaps 10 per cent., but that he considered essen-
tial to the interests of the producers. That conk
not be termed robbing the fundholders, for the latter
were now living upon the losses of the mingle.
timers and farmers. If an unexpected foreign de•
mand were to raise prices in a similar manner, that
might be equally termed robbing the fundholdel.
He acquiesced in the amendment for the previous
question, his only object having been a full d►scussion
of the subject.

Mr. CIIURCIIILL then moved the previous pies
tion; which being assented to, the meeting separated. I "Imp,

ARCTIC LAND EXPEDITION.

We rejoice to learn that an expedition to the
shores of the Polar Seas, for the purpose mentioned
in the following statement, is at last finally deter-
mined upon—to proceed, without delay, under the
command of Captain Back, by way of Canada, and
early in the spring to move towards the territories
of the Hudson's Bay Company, who take a warm
interest in the success of the enterprise. It is in-
tended that Captain Back, without deviating from
the main object of his mission, shall avail himself of
every opportunity that may occur to enrich the sci-
entific world, and that before his return he will have
explored those unknown regions between Point
Turnagain, where Captain Franklin finished his
journey, and the furthermost point to the west,
reached by Captain Parry, and thus wind up the
main object of those two expeditions—it being sup-
posed, from rein deer and musk oxen being found
on Melville Island, that the land is either continu-
ous, or divided only by narrow straits.
Government, it will he perceived, have agreed ti
contribute 2,0001. towards the expense upon three
conditions, two of which, we are happy to say, are
already complied with, and the third (that of ras-
ing 3,0001. amongst the friends of Captain Ross), it
is thought they will be able to accomplish without
any appeal to the public; but if it should be found
impracticable without, we are persuaded that men
who have risked their lives and sacrificed their for-
tunes (as Captain Ross and sons have done) for
the pure sake of science and honour of the nation,
would be deemed by their countrymen deserving of
some sympathy in the perilous situation in which
they are placed
Without wishing to detract from the merit of the
other projectors of the enterprise, we may observe,
that the zeal and perseverance displayed by Mr.
George Ross, the brother of Captain Ross, on this
occasion, reflects the highest credit on that gentle-
man.

At a Meeting of the Friends of Captain Ross, held
at the Office, 267, Strand, London, 20th Sep-
tember, 1832

Read—A communication from Mr. George Ross'
stating, that upon having found that his Majesty's
Government did not intend to send out any expedi-
tion to ascertain the fate of his brother, Captain
John Ross and son, commander James Clarke
Ross, R.N., who, with a crew of nineteen men,
sailed about three years ago, on a voyage of disco-
very, to the Arctic Regions, he had lately been
using his best endeavours to get up a private expe-
dition for that interesting purpose, acting on a plan
of operations suggested by Dr. Richardson and
other scientific and experienced men—that the Hud-
son's Bay Company, in furtherance of his views, had,
on his application, promised their cordial co-opera-
tion and valuable assistance; and that they had, by
their last ships which sailed in June, sent out in-
structions to the respective factors in their territory,
to prepare and forward the necessary stores and pro-
visions to the different stations through which the
intended expedition might be expected to pass, and
also to provide canoes and other conveniences for
its use—that Mr. Ross, in the next place presented
a Memorial to the King, humbly praying his Ma-
jesty's gracious sanction of the measure, with leave
for certain officers of the Royal Navy to accompany
the expedition, and such other aid as his Majesty
might humanely be pleased to afford; to which a
favourable answer had been received. That Cap.
tain Back, the able and intelligent companion of
Captain Sir John Franklin, in two similar enter-
' prises, had since accepted the command of the Ex-
pedition, and that the Hudson's Bay Company
had most liberally promised to furnish certain pro-
visions (Pemican) and canoes, necessary for the
occasion, free of expense.

Submitted—A letter from Lord Howick, convey-
ing the reply to Mr. Ross's Memorial to his Majesty,
of which the following is a copy :

" Downing-street, Aug. 30, 1832.
" am directed by Viscount Goderieh, to
acquaint you that his Majesty having been pleased to
refer your petition to his Lordship's consideration,
Lord Goderich has felt himself justified in recom-
mending to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury
to grant the sum of 2,0001. in aid of the expenses of
the expedition, provided that it is commanded by
Captain Back, it being understood that the Hud-
son's Bay Company will furnish the supplies and
canoes free of charge, and that the remainder of the
expense, which is estimated to amount to 3,0001.,
will be contributed by Captain Ross's friends. On
receiving an answer from the Treasury, the result
will be duly communicated to you.
" I am, Sir, your most obedient Servant,
" To George Ross, Esq. " HOWICK."

" Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meet
ing, from the best information they have been able
to collect, that a confident hope may still reasonably
be entertained, that the Captains Ross and their
adventurous companions may yet be in a place of
safety ; and that, although very probably exposed to
great hardships and dangers, still, that the beneficial
effect of this expedition may in all likelihood afford
the means of granting them timely relief; and this
expectation appears to be strongly encouraged from
the circumstance that they did not calculate on be-
ing able to return to this country sooner than three
years from the time they sailed, which is now but
little more than expired—that they were amply sup-
plied with provisions and stores for three years, and
if they reached the wreck of the Fury, which was
the first object they had in view, there they would
Clod supplies which would last a considerably longer
period, independent of what they might expect to
derive from rein deer, musk oxen, and various other
sorts of fresh provisions, supposed to be found in
those regions, it being a well-known fact that the
crews of two vessels (the Albany and Discovery)
existed for nearly three years on Marble Island,
solely on whale blubber , seal flesh, and train oil,'
occasionally supplied by the native Esquetnaux.
" Resolved, That although the ostensible and
primary object of this expedition is for the humane
purpose afore,aid, yet it is the opinion of this meet-
ttg that so favourable an opportunity should not b
lost, in per,uing, as far as may be practicable and
convenient, the desirable ends of science, to which