The Sun.
London, England, 1832-06-29 00:00:00

ft" R

of the debt, its management and cost—the cur-
rency—taxation—and the income and expendi-
ture of the nation, must and will be reviewed by
a Reformed House of Commons. There wi"
be ample time, before the expiration of the Bank
Charter next year ; and the more irritability and
alarm are manifested by the Bank Directors and
their party, the more anxiety we feel to enforce
a full and impartial inquiry before anything i
decided or done respecting the Charter renewal
The public are to be considered ; and even if the
country bankers were quieted by concession, and
" make terms," as is rumoured, the public have
other interests at stake. The Committee have
but one simple duty—to report the evidence,
and recommend a more full.future investigation.
It is impossible to deny that much excitement,
and great contrariety of opinion, among practical
and theoretical economists, prevail throughout
the country, on the subject of the present state
of the currency. We foresee that this will in-
crease ; and that no present legislation can be
" final." The most full opportunity ought,
therefore, be afforded for a re-consideration of
the whole subject ; and the grievous and afflicting
consequences of former legislation demands a
thorough inquiry into the cause of commercial dis-
tress, which no party can now deny to exist. We
trust, therefore, that the industrious endeavours
of certain Ex-Ministers to precipitate the de-
cision of the Committee, and to preclude an ex-
posure of their follies, will fail. The connexion
of the Bank with the Government must be laid
bare. Its singular powers and sinister interest
in alternate contraction and " repletion,"
must be discoverd and cured. This great na-
tion must no longer be a slave at its door,
and dependent on the secret decisions of a
self-elected body of City Merchants and Bank
Stock-holders. We donot hesitate to say that the
Bank ofEngland has either directly or indirectly oc-
casioned all the evils under which the nation groans.
Their monopoly of the circulation—their ac-
commodations to Government—the secrecy of
their concerns—enabled Mr. Pitt (and alone
enabled him) to carry on the war ; and gave him,
and his Tory successors in office, the sole means
of carrying on wars against liberty, and rolling
the immense snowball of the public debt. The
Report of the Lords' Committees (appointed a
Secret Committee in 1797, to inquire into the
causes which produced the Order of Council of
February, 1797,) records a series of extraordi-
nary facts and disgraceful correspondence be-
tween the Directors of this close corporation
and Mr. Pitt, such as exceed all the communi-
cations of a private banker and a debtor in a
" sweating room." They alternately bullied
each other ; Mr. Pitt borrowing, and the Bank
Directors meanly lending, till each became in '
turn a tyrant and a sycopant. When Mr. Pitt
wanted to borrow more money for the " public
service" in December, 1795, to assist the Em-
peror of Germany with loans, the Directors of
the Bank of England set up their backs, and
resolved that " The Court of Directors most
earnestly deprecate the adoption of any such
measure, and they solemnly protest against any
responsibility for the calamitous consequences
that may follow thereupon." Mr. Pitt, in his
answer on this resolution respecting the Impe-
rial Loan, desires a copy of the Board resolu-
tion, " for the purpose of communicating its
contents to the Cabinet, if he found it necessary,
promising that no one should have a sight of it
elsewhere, and that if the Governor would call
upon him in two or three days, he would return
it to him." Mr. Pitt then plucks up courage,
and boldly tells the Bank Directors, that " he
did not see any reason for these resolutions ;
that he did suppose they were adopted in a
moment of alarm, and that he should consider
them in that light." The records of the Bank
and the probe of this Sectet Committee exhibit
Mr. Pitt and the Bank Directors in a strange
light throughout the eventful period preceding
the Bank stoppage. In June, 1795, the Bank
Directors, reminding the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer of broken promises to replace advances
on Treasury Bills paid by the Bank, " express
their concern at being so repeatedly obliged to
trouble him on the subject, hoping he will give
such directions as may in future prevent it." In
July follossing the Directors hint to him that
they will not continue to take up the Treasury
Bills, " as.this Court is determined to refuse
payment of all bills whenever the advance shall
amount to five hundred thousand pounds ;"
and they quaintly remind him of " his
former and repeated promise to reduce the pre-
sent advance as speedily as possible." Mr.
Pitt continuing to draw money and evade the
pith of the correspondence, the Directors
write to him, and " request Mr. Pitt to enter into
full explanations on this subject, which is not
even touched upon in his letter." On the very
following day, this " Pilot who weathered the
storm" has the assurance, in another letter, to
request a further accommodation of 2,500,0001.,
on the growing produce of the consolidated
fund ! The wily Directors resolved not to con-
sider this application till the Treasury Bills
paid at the Bank were reduced under 500,0001.;
but on a shre rid letter from Mr. Pitt, six days
afterwards, " the Court do consent to Mr. Pitt's
request !" On the 10th of October following,
the Directors communicate to the Chancellor of
the Exchequer their " apprehensions" on the
drain for gold and specie. Mr. Pitt consoles
the Bank with letters, and they are again sub-
servient. In August, 1796, the Governor and
Deputy-Governor, however, wait upon him, and
declare positively that they will not honour
37,0001. of Treasury Bills, due in September
and October, unless the political drawer made
provision for them. Subsequently, Mr. Pitt
asks for new loans, anticipating the revenue pro-
duce from " land and malt." Thus this " illicit
intercourse" continued ; and on one occasion
Mr. Pitt excuses a broken promise, on the score
that " in the multiplicity of public affairs it had
been forgotten." The ultimate consequences
are well known. What the subsequent accom-
modation has been Lord Bexley and Mr. Goul-
burn can inform the Committee, and the present
debt due from the Government to the Bank--
nearly 90,000,000/.—will speak for itself. Now,
no national prosperity can be achieved or main-
tained till this state of things is terminated. We
should consider that Minister most culpable who
lent himself to the smuggling renewal of the
Charter without a full expose, and a.complete
termination of this most injurious system. The
circulating medium of the country must be ex-
tricated from the sole direction and control of
these monopolists. The light of publicity on
the past, the present, and the future, must be let
into this close corporation ; no intrigues of ex-
Ministers to preclude inquiry, or blot out re-
sponsibility, must be allowed. We know what
is going on with one party, and we promise the
public that they shall not be ignorant or imposed
upon in any event. Let the Committee report,
and be contented till the whole subject can be
probed, and placed upon a satisfactory and perma-
nent foundation. It is second in importance onk
to the Reform Bills. We recommend the Bank

Directors, for their own sakes, and for decency
sake, to cease their importunity and affected
alarms for the public. Many considerations in-
duce us to treat this subject with caution, and
not to say all we know or think ; but the public
interest is paramount.—Morning Chronicle.
The question of the treatment of Poland by
Russia was discussed at considerable length last
night in the House of Commons, on a motion
by Mr. C. Fergusson, who brought forward va-
rious charges of oppression and barbarity against
the Russian Government. On this es-parte
statement the " liberal" Members of the House
manifested their regard for truth, justice, and
honour, by denying to the calumniated Emperor
of Russia that privilege which is accorded to
the meanest criminal at the Old Bailey ; the
privilege of being heard in his defence before
sentence is pronounced, the right of being held
innocent till he is proved to be guilty. The
Emperor of Russia is accused of atrocities
which are not only revolting in themselves, but
which must have been committed for their own
sake, having no conceivable object in view ; yet
on the bare assertion of these atrocities, without
one tittle of proof to bear it out ; nay, when the
probabilities are all unfavourable to the accusa-
tion, the liberal Members of the House
of Commons do not scruple to employ
terms of 'low abuse wholly unbecoming the
character of the House or the dignity of
Legislators. Mr. O'Connell was pleased
to denounce a Sovereign in alliance with
our own as " a miscreant ;" the person who does
so much credit to the electors of Middlesex, im-
proving upon his worthy predecessor, employed
the terms " miscreant," and " monster in human
shape ;" and as for Mr. Sheil, he, notwithstand-
ing all his command of language, would apply
no abusive epithets, as he could find none suf-
ficiently strong to express his feelings. And
can this creditable trio and those who backed
them really imagine that language so gross and
indecent will terrify the Emperor of Russia, or
have any influence over the people of Europe ;
" disseminate the spirit of liberty throughout
Europe," to use the words of one of them ? With
what respect, we would ask them, would the votes
and proceedings ofthe British House of Commons
be viewed by foreign nations were there not men
like Sir Robert Peel and Sir Robert Inglis to rescue
its character, as on this occasion, from degrada-
tion and contempt ? Do they suppose they will
promote the cause they have in view, whatever
it may be, by substituting scurrility for argu-
ment ? If so, they are mistaken. They will
not even promote the cause of their own elec-
tions, their most probable object ; for, as Mr.
Baring well observed, the unjustifiable votes by
which they supported and countenanced the pay-
ment of five millions of public money to Russia
will go further and be more explicit as to their
real merits than all the Billingsgate they can
now bring into action. The general tone of
the speeches on the liberal side amounted to
this—that England is called upon peremptorily
to intervene between Russia and Poland ; to as-
sume the position of an arbitrary mediator ; to
dictate to Russia as to the treatment of her sub-
jects, and, in the event of any demur, to declare
war. So much for the non-intervention system,
so lately cried up by this party ; but we have
here only another example of the ease with
which liberal " principles," as they are called,
are taken up or laid down to suit the purposes of
the moment.—Morning Post.

We once borrowed a volume of the " Fairy
Queen" from a college library at Cambridge; and though
the book had, according to a note in it, been in the library
nearly one hundred years, the leaves were uncut.—Library
of Fine Arte.
DAVID GARRICK was once on a visit at
Mr. Ric sv's seat, Alistley-hall, Essex, when Dr. Gouou
formed one of the party : observing the potent appetite of
the learned doctor, GARRICK indulged in some coarse Jests
on the occasion, to the great amusement of the company,
the doctor excepted, who, when the laugh had subsided,
thus addressed the party :—" Gentlemen, you must doubt-
less suppose, from the extreme familiarity with which Mr.
GARRICK has thought fit to treat me, that I am an
acquaintance of his, but I can assure you, that, till I met
him here, I never saw him but once before, and then I
paid ss, for the sight." Roscius was silent,— The Ori-
ginal.

EXTRAORDINARY DREAM.—In 1813 there
were 7,000 prisoners of war confined at Rochester Castle,
in Hampshire. One of them, an Italian, was celebrated
among his companions as a discoverer of hiddtn treasure.
The place where they were confined was surrounded by a
very high wall, and occupied nearly two acres of ground.
The Italian dreamed one night that, if he should dig near
the middle of this enclosure, to the depth of twenty-four
feet, he would find coins of immense value. He applied to
Captain LOCK of the Navy, for leave to dig. The Captain
was a Scotehman, and likely as superstitisus as the writer
of this—at all events he believed in dreams, and readily
granted permission to dig. Many of the prisoners, who
knew the Italian, declared that to their knowledge he had
frequently found out concealed treasure by dreams, and
eagerly volunteered their services. When they had dug
to the depth of 18 feet a quantity of female's hair was
found in perfect preservation, and nearly 3 feet long. At
the depth of 22 feet a large key, 11 inches long and 3
inches in circumference, was dug up ; and at the depth of
21 feet, a bag containing several thousand coins was
found. The Italian, however, declared that the money
he had dreamed of was not found, which was generally
believed. The communicator (J. C—, Esq.) of this cu-
rious circumstance, was an eye-witness.
GEORGE IV. AND LORD YARMOUTII.—I
was told that Lord YARMOUTH once playing with an il-
lustrious personage in England, lost with such continual
regularity that there seemed to be something unfair.
re was, however, no one near him, the cards were
good, and he played better than his adversary. At length,
by dint of observations lie discovered the secret of his
losses. The Court was either at Windsor or at Brighton,
and the PRINCE REGENT brought into fashion blue coats
with polished steel buttons as big as crown pieces. By
this means, whoever played with the PRINCE, had seven
or eight small mirrors on his coat, which reflected every
card in his hand. All this was no doubt the effect of
chance, but it was a chance which made Lord YARMOUTH
lose thousands of pounds, and, however large a man's for-
tune may he, he always prefers winning to losing. As
sooa as Lord YARMOUTH with a rapid glance detected the
snare, he unbuttoned his coat and said, in answer to the
PRINCE'S inquiring look—" Sir, it is too hot for me
here."—From the 2lfemoires de la Ducliesse d'Abrantes.

DOMESTICATED OTTER.—About a year
ago, Mr. LaucurasoN, Burnside of Dunscore, captured a
p sir of young otters in a cleft of the bank of the Nith,
near Dalswinton. One of them died shortly after its ad-
mission into civilized society, but the other has thriven
nearly as well as if under the tutorage of its natural
guardians, and at the present time is the greatest natural
curiosity in the district. In the early days of its captivity,
Mr. LaucilusoNi sent the otter to mess with his collie,
and though it agreed with the fare passing well, her ot-
tership early showed a predilection for aquatic exercises,
and may be new considered one of the best fishers in the
N,th. The first fish it will on no account part with, and
Mr. LAuciitusoii considers it as much as his fingers are
worth, to attempt using an argument per force in this
case ; but all succeeding spoils are willingly rendered up.
Water-bens, eels, frogs, &c. are all regarded as prey in the
otter's vocabulary, and, in short, when on her amphibious
prowl, all is fish that comes to the net. She is not noted
as a worrier, but yet displays no fear of the canine race ;
disports in the same lake with her master's dogs, evince'
a novel penchant for waggishness, and has been observed,
when in deep water, to mount on the back of a large cur,
and get safely ferryed to the landing place. Mr. LAUGH
Lisoli has bestowed considerable pains in the tuition of his
and is requited
luitcd. s'by
_e
followsall the
him about,
attachment that
knowndumb protegee, pro tegtoe ea,o
otters h
fondles him with many winning arts, and but for the
stickling anent the first fish, might be regarded as in a
better state of training than a lady's lap.
dog,_ Kendal
Chronicle.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, JUNE 28.

(Conducted from The Sun of yesterday.)
THE KING V. EDWARD JOHN HOWARD.

Thompson, the clerk of the defendant, stated that
he received the 4001. from llessrs. Jenner, and the
2781. from Messrs. Cox and Greenwood, and that
he must have made a mistake in giving credit only for
1781. though he believed he had paid it to the de-
fendant as well as the 4001. He had never appro-
priated any person's money to his own use. The
witness detailed the practice of the prosecutor in
sending for and obtaining money from the de-
fendant.

The clerks of Messrs. Jenner, Messrs. Cox
and Greenwood, arid Ladbroke, the bankers, proved
the payment of the respective sums of money to the
defendant.
Sir JAMES SCARLETT addressed the Court on be-
half of the defendant, and contended that there
was no evidence to support the two first charges,
and that as to the last it must be taken to be a
mere error.

Mr. KELLY called and examined T. Mash, Esq.,
of the Lord Chamberlain's Office ; T. Dawson, Esq.,
the Barriqer; - Walsh, Esq., a Magistrate ;
and Dr. Money, who all spoke to the defendant s
character for honour and integrity.
Mr. Justice PATTESON summed up the evidence
very minutely, and the Jury at half-past six o'clock,
returned, after deliberating in the box for ten mi-
nutes, a verdict of Not Guilty.
Lady Astley was in the gallery of the Court dur-
ing the whole of the trial.