The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-13 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

TIIIS DAY —Morn., 0 min. aft. o—Even., 57 min aft. 11
r ,-Moßßow—Morn. 19 min. aft. 12—Even. 39 min. aft. 12

THE WEATHER—SUN OFFICE, NOVEMBER 13.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
51—highest since noon yesterday.
39—lowest this morning and during the night.
45 —this day at noon.
BAROMETER, 30.50.
WIND, N.E. ; light, with foggy cold weather.

r(if

LONDON, FRIDAY, NOV. 13, 1857.

MR TING OF PARLIAMENT !

THE BANK CHARTER ACT UPSET ! !

Oar predictions have been fully and completely
verified. The Bank Charter Act has again been
suspended, and Parliament will b 3 summoned to
meet at an early day. For weeks past we have
known that these results were inevitable. We
called on Ministers to adopt these obvious pre-
cautions, but our advice was rejected, and an
enormous amount of misery and suffering has been
inflicted on the industrial population, and loss on
our trading and manufacturing interests. For
these serious evils the Government is justly re-
sponsible. They delayed the indispensable relief,
instructing their organs to attempt to deceive the
public--to proclaim that there was no danger
when the peril was imminent, and to repeat
transparent fallacies and pompous platitudes,
vsque ad nauseam. Who that has read the mone-
t try articles in the bnllionist journals even during
the present week—the thunder of the Times and
the shrill squeaks of the penny whistles, can avoid
feeling mingled disgust and indignation at their
audacity and mendacity—their appeals t 3 the
pride of the commercial community, in order that
they may be induced freely to sacrifice themselves
fur the exclusive benefit of the moneyocracy ?

We should have felt grateful to the Govern-
ment had this course been adopted at an earlier
period, and before it was forced on them by the
exigencies of the Bank. But now we do not
thank them for what could no longer be avoided.
They have suspended the act not to save thepeople,
but to save the Bank of England, and that will be
litcynife,sted on, the publication of the returns in ti
Oazette of this evening. It was impossible, as we
stated yesterday, that they could withstand the
internal, as well as the external drain, the de-
mand for gold to Scotland, and Ireland, as well as
to India, China, the Continent, and America.
The OVERSTONE theory has been acted on. The
n
relaxation only took place " i the last extremity,
and when the danger of general confusion lead
become imminent." For this " genera confasion „
we may read a stoppage of payment by the
and the complete exposure of the absurdity of filo
fair weather system, which cannot stand any se-
rious strain.

The Times is manifestly sore at the total failure
of its protegee, and still more so at the exp3sure
of its own fully and fzlsehood. It did not at all
hurt its conscience to lie on behalf of its friend,
but it was exceedingly painful b be found out,
to have the tinsel stripped off its orname,nti, and
itself exhibited in unadorned nakedness.
knows that it has deceived and misled the people,
that the confidence once reposed in its dicta ha.;
been materially shaken, that it is no :longer the infalli-
ble guide And instructor which it pretended to

and the iron has entered into its very soul.
Its spasmodic growls are more stentorious than
usual. It promulgates the wildest notions as to
what should have been adopted to meet the crisis.
The joint-stock banks were to unanimously agree
to refuse payment to their depositors, or rather,
to use the ipsissima verbs of our exasperated con-
temporary, "They could have announced to the
public they had combined to mitigate its COUSe-
tuences ; that not being able to foresee its possible
extent, they had agreed to suspend for the moment
any return, and that to meet the difficulty they
would issue their promissory notes, at three
months, bearing 9 per cent. interest, and secured
by their common liability !! !" And, forsooth,
" All the principal bankers and merchants, in-
cluding the Governors and Directors of the Bank
of England, were to express approval of the wis-
dom of the course, and, before a few weeks had
passed, the notes would be at a premium ! ! 1"
Was there ever such trash uttered by any one
unworthy of permanent lodgings in Bedlam ?
Surely the sapient writer must well know that the
moment such a course was adopted, fiats in bank-
ruptcy would have been issued against all the
parties, and they would have had to submit to
compulsory windings-up at Basinghall-street, and
to have had all their directors and managers
branded as felons and swindlers by the very
Journal that now promulgates this valuable
nostrum !

Lot the Leviathan, however, rave as it will,
the Bank Charter Act of 1844 has been un-
equivocally condemned by its second failure, and
never again can it be re-established. "It is
proved to be a fair-weather-law—a law for times
of steady trading and easy credit. Its provisions
are like the pasteboard defences of the Chinese—
strong to look at, painted with heavy masses of
stones and guns of enormous power, but in reality
a weakness and a sham." We " thank the;
Jew," for the invective. It is your own state-
ment, and it truly describes the condition of
your pet. It is really "a tveaknes3 and a sham."
But that does not sufficiently express its failure.
It is not merely useless. It is positively and
actively mischievous, producing the panic it was
intended to counteract, and rendering the notes
inconvertible, which were always to be redeemed
on demand.

What, then, can be thought of the doctrine of
Sir G. C. LEWIS, that "no dispensing power
should be allowed to the Government I" It is
the second time that the law of the laud has been
deliberately and, we may add, necessarily violated.
We do not blame the Government for this.
But we blame them for one thing. The precau-
tion that would have enabled the Government to
act legally was deliberately rejected by the
Chancellor of the Exchequer. He declared, on
the 6th of February, that he was " entirely hos-
tile to any dispensing power." He thought
it more prudent that the Executive should
act when the emergency arose. It is, however,
a dangerous precedent to establish. Lours
NAPOLEON very properly stated that a coup-d'etat
could not be twice resorted to. For as the Lords'
Committee declared "the absolute necessity for
such a step is its sole justification." If Govern-
ment is to interfere too often, the precedent may
be tortured to purposes not very acceptable to
the nation.

We must thank our numerous correspondents
for the very flattering opinions, expressed in many
communications, respecting the course we have
adopted, and the views we have put forward in
reference to the all-important question of the cur-
rency. If we do not publish each, it is solely
because our space would be totally inadequate.
We believe that we have merited the compliments
that they have so freely offered. Through good
report and through evil report, we have steadily
and consistently opposed the unwise and impolitic
enactments, which have occasioned so much in-
convenience and ruin to the nation. The Derby-
shire Courier and the Belfast Mercantile Journal
have boldly and efficiently cooperated, and there
are many of our contemporaries entitled to great
credit for the opinions which they have
put forward. We need not say how long
and how steadfastly we have persevered
in the good cause—the most important of all the
duties that rested on the public journalist. It
may be appreciated by the commercial community,
when they are at last awakened to a true sense of
their position, and can understand the real diffi-
culties they have endured from quack theories.
In any credit that may be given to us, we are
proud and honoured in associating with ourselves
two such honest and consistent journals as the
Derbyshire Courier and the Belfast Mercantile
Journal.

Another telegram has been received through
the East India }louse, which will be found in
another pact of our impression. It shows that
all is not yet quite smooth at Lucknow, that the
relieving troops are, in fact, besieged in the city,
and that although they have saved the beleaguers
garrison and the numerous fugitives from im-
pending destruction, they have not been enabled
to remove them to a secure position.
We are told that " the insurgents are
too strong to admit of withdrawal from Lucknow.
Sick and wounded, and women and children,
number more than 1,000." After making dis-
positions for the safety of the garrison, General
OurnAM purposes to "retire on Cawnpore ;" add-
ing, that "two additional brigades, with power-
ful field artillery will be required to withdraw
with the garrison or reduce the city."
This is a sad drawback to the general satis-
faction occasioned by the glad tidings of the
relief of Lucknow. It is, however, satisfactory
to know that HAVELOCK had arrived with the
much required reinforcements, just at the nick of
time. We have no apprehensions as to the ulti-
mate result. Indeed it could scarcely have been
anticipated, that all would, at once, have been
coleur de rose, and that no impediment would
have remained. The heroic garrison have been
exhausted by their indefatigable ex.:rtions, and the
awful responsibility cast upon their shoulders,
and HAVELOCK, the illustrious HAVELOCK, lost no
time in proceeding to their succour, with the avail-
able forces. We may feel thankful for what has
already occurred, and fearlessly leave the issue in
the hands of that Providence that has so power-
fully protected the sufferers. Another day will
give more complete information, and that we
shall patiently await, convinced that the ardent
hopes of the nation will not be disappointed.

Let US give the Rev. A. G. EDOUART, him cf
St. Michael's, the redoubtable challenger of Exeter
Hall, and the champion of the Anglican parish
s t em --1 e t us give him his due. We do like
puck, whether in a black uniform or a red one ;
and it is not every man who ws:Juld have had the
pluck to brave E%/is and Honourables, Right
Rev. Fathers in GOD, Rev. Deans, and Revs. of
rank and file, and not them only, but the great
public, and the greater Times too----the Ray. A.
G. EDOUART braves them all ! Here's indeed an
ecclesiastical LEONIDAS for you, determined to hold
in check the whole army of magnates, of the press,
and of the plebs, and to make Exeter Halt the
Tbermopylce Qf the Fine Old Parish System.

Martyrs, nor-a-days, and in this country, don't
stretch on the rack or burn at the stake; that's
out of fashion ; public indignation is the fire
which all now dread—even the COBURGS don't
like it—and the press is the rack that agonises
public men ; and agony it is, too, to be stretched
upon it —the groans of Lord CANNING and of
Lours NAPOLEON can attest that. When COB-
DEN, BRIGHT, and GIBSON fell, hot as was our
wrath at their perversity, we yet did relish the
pluck of the fellows ; and if we wish them in
again, it is not only because we want them to do
duty in the Indian and Representative Reform
battles, but because we like a public man in these
days who has a mind and will of his own.
Amongst so many time-servers, a stiff old Tory
or a pugnacious Peace Society man, who will turn
out rather than turn, has no small value. They
keep up the morale of public men, so far as pre-
serving examples of public consistency. That is
something. If their notions are of little worth,
their unflinching assertion of them is worth much.
You can hardly find such men in Yankeedom ; and
it is the glory of Old England, as compared with
Yankeedom, that we like and honour our men
who will breast public opinion. If we turn them
out, we don't lynch them, or gag them, but cry
out, as they retreat face towards us, "And good,
good fellows, too, after all."
Now, why should we not acknowledge the Rev.
A. G. EDOUART, incumbent of St. Michael's, for
one of the " Good fellows ?" He may be right or
wrong in his law—that knotty point we leave
our legal betters to settle. He may be right or
wrong about the virtues of the Parish System—
that we leave the advocates of the Old and the
New, the " Just Word" and the " Unjust Word,"
to decide. We take the Rev. A. G. EDOUART,
incumbent of St. Michael's, for what he is—for
a parish clergyman—a clergyman who undertook
the cure of the said parish of St. Michael's bccause
he thought he was able to cure it—who thinks
the plan of every clergyman for his own parish,
and every parish for its own clergymen, the apos-
tolic, or, what is the same thing, the Anglican
system. Did PAUL, he indignintly would ask,
venture into the parish of JAMES, the incumbent
of Jerusalem, till he had his sanction ? and even
with that sanction the result does not quite com-
mend the intrusion system. Nay, Mr. EDOUART,
the incumbent of St. Michael's, might fairly
say the thing was permitted, providentially, to
show at once the supreme parochial au-
thority of incumbents, and the un-wisdom
of resident incumbents licensing too easily
the services of alien incumbents. The Rev.
A. G. EDOUART has been, no doubt, also grievously
annoyed with the famous Bethell clause—that
clause which SAMUEL of Oxford, and the Unifor-
mity Act memorialists, cannot stomach—that
clause which unlocks the Church doors of the re-
fractory incumbent, and permits the supple in-
cumbent of the adjoining parish to walk in and
re-marry divorced persons. Lord SHAFTESBURY
and his clique consented to that clause, and the
Rev. A. G. EDOVART, satisfied that the parish
system is the very primal essence of the Anglican
Ecclesiastical system, will read Premiers and all
trimmers to Premiers, a lesson which they need
to learn.

Who is The Rev. A. G. EDOITART, same of our
contemporaries sneeringly ask ? To which his
answer is—Clericus Anglicanus sum. Lash me
if you will, redouble your lashes if you like, lash
me to death, crucify me—atill, my only cry
is, Clericus Anglicanus sum.
,All the rights of
English clergymen, of English parish clergymen,
of beneficed incumbents, all the first elements of
ecclesiastical government of the laity, all are re-
presented in my person. Treat me as you please,
but one day some CICERO will make the walls of
Exeter Hall tremble. The Rev. A. G. EDOUART
is no doubt profoundly sensible of what is due to
a Bishop, but incumbents are stuff that Bishops
are, or should be, made of, and he feels what is
due to the former. Let Bishops plead for Bishops,
it is incumbent on an incumbent to sustain iu-
cumbonts. He, the Rev. A. G. EDOUART, may
not be able to speak for incumbents, but he can
say, NO, to those who would poach on their
manors. He has a right to warn off even those
who can show a license from a bishop, and he
will do it. There shall be no battue preaching,
at least on his preserve. Who is Mr. EDOIIART,
indeed,—what signifies that ? Who was he of
the Auchterarder oase—we really forget his name,
and the name of the place we never heard of be-
fore—but it was of importance enough to
break up the Scottish Kirk, or to make
two churches out of one. Who was Mr.
GoßHAM—never heard of before—yet did not
his firmness, and HARRY of Exeter's firmness,
settle for ever the question that in baptismal
theology white is black, and black white—at
least that so they are in the Articles and in the
Prayer-book.

The system then, Mr. EDOIIART may say, not
my humble unknown self, is what I defend—and,
defending it, assuredly I shall not be altegethir
unknown to posterity—non omnis moriar.
Wherever the Anglican Church extends its
branches to our great Southern colonies, to the
vast Eastern or far Western empire of Britain, I,
the despised A. G. EDOIIART, shall live in the
praises of parish clergymen. Even if lam over-
powered by the Premier's hosts, and by treachery;
if our rights perish under new Acts of Parliament,
I shall be mentioned as having headed the forlorn
hope in defence of the parish system—.Exegi moni-
mentum aere perenulas—whioh, in the parish of
St. Michael's, means, "I have immortalised my
brass."

And let Lord SHAFTESBURY, and the Bishop,
and the Premier, think twice before they hold
another Conventicle service in Exeter Hall, and
and so compel Mr. EDOUART—for he means fight
—to try the case. All England will ring with it,
Parliament will re-echo the discussions without ;
and Courts Christian and Courts un-Christian, or
non-Christian at least, will have glorious work of
it ! And then where is the end to be if the
Spiritual keeper of every parish may not warn off
intruding clergymen ? Are the SPURGBONS
within the Church—and there are some, and will
be more if wanted—are they to go up and down
through the length and breadth of the land getting
up Evangelical revival meetings in High Church
parishes, and High Church exhibitions in Puritan
parishes? Or are we to have High Church and Low
Church, and Broad Church, and the Church
moderate, all bidding for favour in the same
parish ? A rural parish it may be, too, of some
thousand inhabitalits.

Some will say let the Bishop have
,a veto.
Well, and what then? HA.Balt of EXETER enters
ou his beatification, for that awful time must
come, notwithstanding innumerable Anglicans'
prayers —Serus in, co'um recle,',3. Well, suppose
Sr. HENRY in heaven ; much do we fear that St.

- .
HENRY would be powerless übDve against St.

SHAFTESBURY below, for the Maker of Bishops is
supposed to pray to the latter. A. Low Church
Bishop would be enthroned in the seat of S.
.HENRY I Forthwith the parishes of his diocese
, 'would be inspected for conversion. Low Church
~ clergymen would demand entrance iuto all parishes
-where the "soul-destroying" dogma of baptismal