The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-25 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Some Account of the Life and Opinions of Charles,
Second Earl Grey. By Lieutenant-General the
Hon. C. Grey. Bentley.
An account of the life of Earl Grey, which ter-
minates in the year 1817, reminds the reader at
first sight of the old saying about "Hamlet," with
the part of Hamlet omitted, but on further acquain-
tance the undertaking proves to be less extravagant.
The object of the work before us is rather to show
the character of the great man referred to, to dis-
play the remarkable consistency which was percep-
tible in his life and opinions—a consistency which
could be claimed by few politicians—rather than to
narrate the outward circumstances of his career as
leader of a party. We may hope, from some words
in the preface, that the volume before us is but a
prelude to a more complete and extended memoir
of one who has a high claim to bo ranked among our
English biographies; but General Grey only un-
dertakes at present to give, as his title professes,
some account of his father's life and opinions,
considering that from the unswerving consis-
tency and high-minded integrity with which
he maintained his views, and but even an imperfect
sketch of the earlier years of his public life would
enable the reader to form a correct judgment of his
principles of action down to its close.

"At no period, however, could my father be justly con-.
sidered as a mere party man. With the highest sense of
the duties of men professing to belong to the same party
towards each other, and of the necessity for the exercise of
that forbearance and moderation in urging individual opi-
nions, without which he thought no body of independent
members could be kept together for any useful or practical
purpose; he never came to the consideration of any great
question with a mind narrowed to mere party views :—that
is to say, he was always far above adopting any line of con-
duct with a view to mere party advantage, if not satisfied,
at the same time, that it was such as the true interests of
the country demanded. It has been well and truly re-
marked of him, that, instead of lessening himself to the
stature of a mere Whig, ho would raise Whiggism to his
own level."

The summary of the events of those early days are
interesting, both to the historical student, who loves
to trace the gradual development of his country's
prosperity and sagacity, and to him who takes
pleasure in marking bow the promise of the eager
and enthusiastic young reformer was realised in the
enlightened statesman of later days. The character
portrayed of Lord Grey in these pages is in every
way admirable, and does honour to the affectionate
appreciation of the son no less than to the noble
and endearing qualities of the father. Public life
seems to have possessed few charms for him ; it was
only a sense of duty and a keen perception of tke
national dangers, both within and without, that
induced him to enter the arena. It required
the frequent and urgent entreaties of his
honoured leader, Fox, and other friends, to
draw him from the domestic retirement so
much more congenial to his tastes. On one occa-
sion in replying to a forcible appeal from Fox, he
writes, " I have formed a juster estimate of myself
than your partiality has done, and I know that it is
in my power to do little good—ram tali auzato.
If the career of despotism is to be checked it must
be by a more powerful hand than I can oppose to it
. . . . Indeed if you consider the matter im-

partially, I am persuaded you will think my deci-
sion such a one as a proper examination of myself,
and of the situation of public affairs ought to dic-
tate." The same distrust of himself, and indifference
to public recompense marked his earlier as his
later years, joined to the same enlightened policy
and unshaken convictions. In the concluding
pages of the work Gen. Grey quotes an eloquent
tribute to his father's memory, ascribed with some
appearance of probability to the pen of the late
Lord Strangford.
The old Whig traditions, says this writer, were preserved
by him pure and intact, sacred and complete. Their greatest
modern illustrations were of his achievement. The aboli-
tion of the slave trade in 1807, when he was Foreign Secre-
tary; the abolition of slavery in 1834, when he was Prime
Minister; their long and magnanimous exile from power,
from 1806 down to 1830, for the sake of the emancipation of
Ireland ; the Reform Bill, which he proposed in one cen-
tury and which he carried in another—such were among
the triumphs of his magnificent career. Rare trophies, and
almost unexampled in one public life . . . . And these
great deeds were memorably carried
by artifice, nor
machinations, norstatecraft ; not by the maxims of " the
Prince," here bowing to the monarch, there bending to the
people—here abating a principle, there compromising a
truth—but by a straightforward, open, and honest public-
hearted English course of conduct.
The justice of this testimony will be readily acknow-
ledged by his countrymen, more readily in these
calmer days when Catholic Emancipation and Re-
form have become recognised facts, than in the
stormy epoch in which he won his fame. However
mush we may regret that the volume before us has
not come down to the stirring years of 1830-32,
we may accept it as an interesting, though imper-
fect, memorial of one who deserves to be honoured;
not less for the disinterestedness and high principle
that marked his years of retirement, than for the
firmness, moderation, and statesmanship which
guided the great Reform Bill through an excited
people and a stubborn Parliament.

THE MILTOWN-ROAD OUTRAGE.—WO (Free-
man's Journal) understand that the cabman who is under
arrest on the accusation of being the offender in the Mil-
town-road case is about to apply for a postponement of his
trial, partly, under tho apprehension that in the present
sent state of feeling he could not hope for an impartial in-
vestigation of his case, and partly on the ground that he is
not prepared. We must confess that we feel that there are
in the two allegations sufficient grounds for an application
for delay. There never was so much indignation exhibited
on any question, and even an innocent man would find the
very accusation enough to overpower, perhaps to convict,
him. Justice can afford to wait, and if the accused even
imagines that he can make a more successful defence by
procuring time to prepare it, he ought to have it.
The Italian Government, in consideration of the
financial pressure at Paris, have. consented to postpone for
a month the payment of half the next instalment of the
loan.—about 15 per cent,—which falls due oa the 15th of
Noyenofri

~~~

3101VEY MARKET AND CITY NEWS.

CITY, Two O'CLOCK.

The Bank of England return completed to the
23d instant, shows some satisfactory changes. The
bullion has been increased by nearly a quarter of a
million, while there is a large addition to the reserve
of notes. The other securities, in consequence of
the greater ease in the money market, have been
slightly reduced, while there is a considerable aug-
mentation to the private deposits. The various
items and the changes they present are shown in
the subjoined table ;
Active Circulation ..
Decrease ..
Bullion ..
Increase ..

.. £20,814,550
.. 307,515
.. 14,106,661
• 211,N4
.. 3,123,887
4,558
.. 3,685,302
• 116,527
.. 14,678,264
• . 267,111
.. 791,076
• . 17,516
.. 12,153,001
•No alteration.
Other Securities .. 16,736,417
Decrease .. .• .. 148,399
Notes unemployed 7,106,885
Increase .. .. 474,195
The current terms for the best bills still range as

Rest .. • • • •
Increase . • • . • .
Public Deposits • • • .
Increase . • • • • .
Other Deposits.. ..
Increase .. • • • •
Seven Day and other Bills
Decrease ..
Government Securities .•

low as 21 per cent.

Owing to the present unfavourable position of
financial affairs in Paris, the Italian Government
have agreed to postpone the payment of half the
next instalment of the loan for a month.

There is still an exceedingly quiet demand for
discount accommodation, notwithstanding the in-
creased facilities now offered by the banks and pri-
vate firms, but while commercial affairs remain in
such an inactive state the inquiries will necessarily
continue moderate.

In the Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday an
extensive business was transacted, and prices ad-
vanced ld. to 2d per. lb. The sales amounted to
fully 30,000 bales, including 16,000 East Indian.
There were:no;bullion operations of importance at
the Bank of England yesterday.
At the half-yearly meeting of the Globe Insur-
ance Company the usual dividend at the rate of 5
per cent., free of income-tax, was declared.
During the last few days there has been rather
less animation in the markets for Foreign and
Colonial Produce. Tea, however, has been in steady
request, and sugars have been dealt in to a limited
extent, without much variation in values. For
coffee, however, the inquiries have been active, and
full rates have been readily obtained. Rice, fruit,
and spices have continued in moderate demand at
about previous values, and tallow has been at steady
prices, for both present and forward delivery.
A further improvement has taken place in the
market for Public Securities, owing to further
purchases chiefly on speculation. Consols have
risen to 92! for transfer, and to 921 93 for the
Yth proximo: The firmness of the Paris Bourse is
the principal cause of this upward movement. The
New Threes are firm at 91 1; the Reduced, 901
9ia; Exchequer Bills, March, at 7s. prem. ; Bank
Stock is 232 ; India ditto has realised 224; ditto 5
per Cent., 1041 1051; ditto 5 per Cent. Enfaced
Paper, 971 ; ditto 51 per Cent. to 104 k.
There has been very little activity in the Foreign
Market, but prices, in some instances, show more
buoyancy. Turkish 6 per Cents. are 80i 4 ; ditto,
1858, 681 1. Mexican are firm at 26i a ; Equador
at 151 i and Brazilian 41 per Cents. at 91} 92.
Russian 4i per Cents. are flat at 92f, and Spanish
at 491.

With reference to the market for American
Securities, Messrs. D. Bell, Son, and Co. give the
following :