The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-03 00:00:00

CURUNCY AND BANK REFORII.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

(Front the Mina Mail of April 15.)
Horrors connected with the disgraceful coolie trade
have of late proved a fertile source of animadversion
for the press in China ; and not the least atrocious of
these was the holding "in durance vile " of 240
miserable wretches, cooped up in four small rooms
at West Point. The discovery of the confinement of
these men, and the investigations into the cruelties
inflicted on them, led to the committal for trial
before the Supreme Court of Mr. Y. J. Mu-
' row, one Malay, and five Chinese, en charges of false
imprisonment, assault and battery, and nuisance. The
trial took place on Monday and Tuesday last, and ex-
posed details so disgusting, that but for the purpose of
enabling our readers to arrive at a true estimate of the
facts, we would hesitate to admit them into our columns.
Here is a description of the premises, and state of the
unfortunates when discovered :
Dr. B. Caldwell, protector of Chinese—On Sunday,
the let of March, I was passing the door of the E. wo
establishment, the property of Mr. Tarrant. In e nose-
(pence of seeing a placard I had the door unlocked. I
could not see my way at first, it was so dark—this was
between one and two in the daytime. I found the
bows full of coolies. I first found' three or four in an
outer room. I had t 3 lay hold of the man who let me in.
That man was the first prisoner. There is no means of
light from behind ; the room faces the Queen's road, and
there were no windows in it. This was the ground floor.
The prisoner led me up stairs. He led me willingly, I
think. At the top of the stairs I saw a great many men
lying on the floor. It was an open room, like all
Chinese houses, about 40 feet long by 7 or 8 wide.
There was an open bamboo flooring about six feet from
the floor. On the floor itself thus were about 30. and
about Bor 10 on the temporary floor. There were
windows on that fluor, They were closed, and the back
door locked. The only ventilation was through the
crevices of the venetians and of the door. I then
went to another room—through a door in a party
wall ; the windows of this room were also shut, but
the back door was open—it opened on to a terrace ;
there were two terraces, one to each room. Through
the hack door I observed that the terrace was used
as a privy ; there was a temporary house on one used
as a watchhouse ; the other was used as a privy, all
the ordure lying on the tiles. There was a wall be-
tween the terrace and the room ; the terrace ended in a
blank wall—there were no means of egress the way.
There was a very large collection of excrement, in some
parts 18 inches deep, the collection of many days. The
second room was alio dark, except from the light that
came through the back door. The smell was
i very offen-
sive, so much that I intended to report upon t. The se-
cond room was of the same size as the first. I did not go
into a third room on this occasion, but left the premises
without communicating my intentions in the matter to
any one. I reported the matter to Dr. Bridges en Tues-
day morning. We were out together, with the super-
intendent of police in company, and I thought it a good
oppsrtunity to show themlhe place. Mr. Walker, the
surveyor general, was also with • us. On this occasion
we first went into the rooms I had at first visited, and
found them in exactly the same condition—the door
locked, and the venetians closed. The venetians I
found were nailed ; I broke them open myself. The
terrace was in the same state—the filth had not been
removed, it anday. increased. We went out
into the street, went into two other houses and a
passage connecting the houses together ; I there saw
similar rooms and orlop deoks—the rooms the same size
about 7 feet by 20. The outer door was locked ; we had
to go in through the kitchen to get at the door. In these
two rooms and passage I found double the number of
Chinese that there were-.n the first two rooms. There
was also a terrace to these houses—on which there was
a much larger collection of filsh than in the other, and
also large jars overflowing with urine. There were up•
wards of 200 persons in the four houses—not more than
250 I suppose 230
in my
or 240. On this occasion I
spoke to the coolies,
official capacity—told who
we were, and what we had come for. Some said they
were going to lereign countries some to the gold
country---FOlllO did not know where they were going
to ; but they were all anxious about four dollars each,
which had been promised them, and which they had
not received. I asked them if they wanted to go
out I They laughed, and said they dared not—they
would be flogged if they attempted to do so ; and one
man was brought to me who had been flogged for
attempting to get out. I showed them the staircase, and
told them to go ; they would not go—they were afraid
until the doors below, which were barred, were forced
open, when a large number, upwards of 100, rushed into
the street and shook their hands, saying they were not
willing to go to liavannali, Some went away, and some
stood there. Many said, " I'm not willing to go
I'm not willing to go ! " Those who rushed out
escaped. I searched for them next day aloug with the
Tepo of the district, but could not find them, and be-
lieve they have left the colony. I saw the first prisoner
on the first occasion, and I think the second ; he was
sitting at a table in the lower room, where the man
who kept charge of the coolies lived. On the second
visit I saw the first four prisoners ; they were in a lover
room of the tenement, and seemed to be guarding the
door. The statements made by the coolies were made

MEETING THIS DAY.
Tbis afternocn a preliminary meeting of the members
of the Currency and Bank Reform Association was held
at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, to elect a
president, vice•preeident, and acting committee. The
announcement convening the meeting, and Explaining
the objects of the association, was to the following

effect : , .
" The object of the association is to diffuse informa-
tion and arouse the attention of the whole kingdom to
this, the most important question of the day. Without
energetic action a high rate of interest will become per-
manent, and revolutionise the value of property of every
description. Railways.—An advance of 1i per cent. on
the mortgage debt of the Great Western Railway would
be a reduction of 50 per cent. in the dividends. Other
railways rateably, as the debts hear upon share capital.
Mortgages.—lf land yields 3 per cent. rental and mort-
gages advance to 5 and 6 per cent., how long
will it require to deprive a large portion of the
present proprietors of their incomes and estates ?
Manufacturers.—lf interest on capital be a cost of pro-
duction, how can we compete with the foreign manu-
facturers when that cost is doubled ? Agriculture.—
By the large importation of foreign corn, &c., the ex-
changes are acted on most disadvantageously. The
remedy is the increase of our own growth. Will this be
done extensively under a ruinous state of interest ?
Shipping.—Steam navigation, mining, and distant un-
dertakings, like irrigation and the growth of cotton in
India—the retail trader, the artisan, and all classes ex-
cept the money-lender, are seriously injured by the
present rate of interest on current money, although
Capital is abundant, and trade sound. To invests
gate the causes are the objects of this proposed
Association, and so urge the remedy upon Gsvernment
and the members of both Houses of Parliament as to
ensure the removal of so great an impediment to the
national prosperity and progress. Co-operation from
all parts of the United Kingdom is earnestly solicited
without delay, as the Committee on the Bank Charter
is now sitting. A low rate of interest is not desirable,
but to avoid the two mischievous extremes—very high
and very low rates—is a consummation most earnestly
desired."
The attendance was very small. Mr. W. Malins oc-
cupied the chair.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the business of the meet-
ing, said that they were met to consider the most impor-
tant subject of the day, and he regretted that some other
person of greater importance had not been called to the
chair. The movement was between a wealthy class
who were opposed to any alteration, andiothers who were
suffering, but did not like openly to complain, of the
present state of monetary affairs, and it was to that he
attributed the sma'l attendance. The hon. gentleman
haying referred to the announcement of the meeting,
that it was a preliminary one for the election of officers,
said that the report of 1843 on the distress of the country
The Cumberland, 72, sailing two-decker, Capt. showed that the panic of 1847 was caused by the want
B. Dickson, flag of Rear- Admiral P. W.P. W al-
Commander-in-Chief for the South East Coast of available capital to pass from has Ito hand, and not
lilyofAmerica Station, arrived at Spithead yesterday from the want of actual capital in the country, and the
morning from Sheerness. lii crossing the Channel question was whether the people of this country would
she fell in with the Admiralty yacht Osborne, have tamely submit to the re-enactment of the Bank Act of
in; the Grand Duke Constantine on board, and, 1844. An important inquiry was, in what capital con-
although under a press of sail before the wind, she elated. Some National Debt was capital, whilst
the
took all in; rounded to, and fired a Royal salute. others said it saidwas only gold and silver represented by
General Sir J. F. Burgoyne, G.C.8., R.E., In- Bank-notes, but in the banking account 14,553,0001.
spector General of Fortifications, accompanied by were put down as proprietors' capital. That was money
Sir F. Head, paid a visit to the head-quarters of
lent to the Government in the reign of King William:
the Royal Engineers at Chatham yesterday for the
(Hear, hear.) In 1844 the Bank was allowed to issue
purpo.e of inspecting the new buildings for the
married men of the Royal Engineers and paper to that extent, so that if the proprietors' stock
the stables for the engineer train which have was to be taken as capital, he thought the national debt
recently been erected, together with the field- should be considered as capital also. It was stated that
works which are now being carried on by the troops. the whole commerce of thecountry required nine thousand
The visit of Sir Francis Head to Chatham is under- millions per annum, and the whole capital of the country
stood to be for the purpose of making arrange- was only five thousand millions, consisting of fixed pro-
merits for instructing the men of the mounted A perty of various descriptions, of which the national debt
troop of the Royal Engineer Train in the use of
formed about eight hundred millions ; and the question
the 1a5,,,0, in order that they may be acquainted
arose what portion of that eight hundred millions
with it previously to embarking for foreign service.
should be available for the use of the public
The annual inspection of the Royal Marine
morning on
whenever they required it for carrying on the
Light Infantry will take place this mornin
Chatham Lines by Major-General Lord Rokeby. ordinary operations of trade. After alluding to
Captain Pigou's company of the 2d battalion the fluctuations in the issue of bank notes, and
Royal Artillery assembled yesterday in the mortar the rate of interest, the hon, gentleman said that the
battery on Woolwich-common and practised shell Bank of England bad greater powers in taxing the coup-
firing over a flight of 800 yards. The result of the try, in interest, &c., than were possessed by the Queen
firing was successful, some of the shells alighting and her Ministers, and which tended to the injury of
in close proximity to tire target, while the widest the people, and to the advantage of the Bank proprie-
range did not exceed 40 feet.
tors. An i
Admiralty instructions were yesterday issued to important modification had taken place since
Capt. Noddall, in command of her Majesty's screw 1544, in abolishing silver from the Bank coffers. No
steamship Agamemnon, cancelling her recent order person could hold silver without effecting a loss, because
to proceed to Birkenhead, and directing that thefor- the legal tender of silver did not Exceed 40s. In 1847
mer order to ship the Transatlantic cable from East it was much felt, and he knew of a gentleman who had
Greenwich shall hold good. The United States' a large amount of silver in his possession, but who
ship Niagara having been inspected by Mr. Dallas, could not convert it, and suffered in consequence. He
the American Minister, it was decided that the ne- (sir. Malius) thought that silver was applicable for the
cessary
arrangements should be entered into by the requirements of the trade of the country, and he saw
shipwright department of the dockyard, 80 as to
no reason why it should not be accepted by the Bank as
adapt that vessel for the reception and transport of
a security as much as gold. He objected to the bill of
her intended portion of the electric cable from
Liverpool. 1844 from the great revolution it had caused in the value
Colonel Brown, commandant of the Royal Ma- of property, and he proceeded at great length to illus-
rine force at Woolwich, has received notice front trate his assertion, and said that previous to 1814 the
the Admiralty that their Lordships have decided highest rate of interest charged was 6 per cent., but
on granting to sergeants of the' Marine corps the since then it had risen to N per cent., and without limi-
good-conduct pay, on an equal ratio with the ser- tation under peculiar circumstances it might get much
geaute of the Royal Artillery, the regulation to date higher by the present Bank Act. Our exports
from April 1, 1857. of gold exceeded the imports, and therefore it
The Archer, 14, Captain Heathcote, left Spit-
was not likely we could obtain reref from that
head yesterday for the eastward to be paid off. She
sailed from Greytown April the 15th, and Port quarter. It was high time foe the traders of the
Royal the 27th, and had an excellent run from that country to consider whether something should not
station, with strong westerly winds. She brought be done to prevent their being rode rough-shod over by
home six naval invalids from the We.st India squa- the moneyed interest. What was wanted was a just
dron. meciinm that would fairly remunerate the money-lender
The Mariner, 12, sailing sloop, Com. Palliser, and not rob the borrower. He refei zed to free trade,
left Spithead yesterday for the eastward to be paid to the requirements .of cotton, large interest paid
p
off. She arrived on theprevious day rom
on joint-stock banks' deposits, &c., as having
f the
West India station ; sailed from Port Royal March
produced an effect on the Bank of England. The
10th ; arrived at Real Bay, Greytown, March 24th,
sailed 26th ; arrived at Havanah April Bth, sailed meeting
to et an attendance, believing the whole
was called without previous arrange-
mlBth ; arrived at Nassau, New Providence, on the
meat g
22nd, sailed 28th ; made the Land's End May 25th. country was interested in this question, and he had no
She brought home a mail from Nassau, and 34 men doubt that by combined action they would be able to
effect an alteration in what they complained. Many
from her Majesty's ship Orion, late of the Im-
perieuse. She has been nearly three years in corn- members of Parliament had intimated their readiness to
mission, during which time she Lest only four men,
'• support the objects the meeting had in view.
into-
one only of whom died of yellow fever, three from
accidents. Since she left England she sailed over
rest throughout the country from Mr. BELL said the questionfexmcitaedbtehliee
belief
rtehaatte st
double
52,091 miles of ocean.
The Exmouth, 91, Captain Ilyres, C. 8., the han formerly, begnd that they were
Colossus, 81, Captain Thompson, and the 'risk, the amount of interest had now to paid for money by
the producing classeshata
14, Commander Curtis,.have left Spithead for De- Paying
reference to this question, it was
money was worth. If legisla-
vonport, to be paid off ; and the Eurydice, 28, tion was bad in
it
more for it t
Capt. Tarleton, C. 8., and the Malacca, 17, Capt. their duty to get remedied as soon as -pos.
Farquhar, have proceeded to Sheornes.s to be paid eible. The present system. told most inju-
off. riously in the end on the working classes, because if
The Volcano steam-vessel (floating smithery), an employer of labour could not pay 10 ur 12 per cent.
Master Commander Hockley, will. Fail from Spit- for money, he must discharge his hands. He considered
head this day for China. it a subject demanding the fullest investigation. We
The Brune, 2, paddlewheel vessel, tender to the
owed the present law to Lord Overstone, who instructed
Vesuvius, arrived at Spithead feLom Sheerness
Sir R. Peel on the question ; but he and those who went
yesterday. with him had failed to show the reasons why interest
The Wellesley Indianian, 1,150 tons, Captain
should be double what it was before 1844. He (Mr.
Smith, embarked her passengers rf,t Spithead on 1
Monday evening, and sailed subeequently for
uld Bell) asked f
be obtained or a full and
t impartial ipnvresentestigat commition. That
Madras and Calcutta, calling at the IVlauritius. co not from he tee,
The Hastings, 60, screw blockehiP, Captain many of their number being ignorant of monetary
Mends, C. 8., went out of Harbour to Spitheadmatters, whilst those who did understand the ques-
yesterday, and after trying her speed xeturned ands'
tion were bound up in the present system. He
anchored.
had no doubt that, when the objects of the meeting be-
The following appointments were, made yester-
\ came known, it would receive the support of the public.
day at the Admiralty : and G. G. Nve.b.. l He moved the following resolution :—" That this meet-
C. C. Hassan, E. B. H. Bea-an,
its pledges itself to use every effort to form an associa-
ber, midshipmen, to the Cordelia ; Henry Freeling 1
and W. S. Bailey, midshipmen, to the Cumber- tion sufficiently powerful to resist the renewal of he
land ; C. R. .E.-. Smyth,
midshipman, to the Corn- Bank Charter Act of 1844, experience having doe
one
etrated its injurious action on railways, on ag
ivalliic.riculture,

English

The supply of English wheat in to-day's market was only
moderate. For most kinds the demand ruled inactive,
yet Monday's prices were well supported. The general
condition of the samples was by no means first rate.
A very large supply of foreign wheat-38,230 quarters,
chiefly from the Baltic—has come fresh to hand. The
transactions in all kinds were trifling, at about stationary

prices.
Floating cargoes of grain sold at very full currencies.
Barley moved off steadily, and prices were well sup•

ported.
Malt was in moderate supply, and fair request, at Mon.
day's quotations.
The imports of foreign oats being very extensive-
-63,350 quarters—the oat trade ruled heavy, and prices
were barely supported.
Beans, peas, and flour sold to a moderate extent, at
Monday's prices.

ARRIVALS TtHS WEEK.
Wheat. Barley. Malt. Oats.
1,730 I 2,720

Foreign..... 135,230 1 16,490

WHITECHAPEL.

Flour,
730

7 The trade generally ruled steady, as follows :—Beef,
from 35 2d to 4s 6d; mutton, 3s 4d to 4s S 1; lamb, 5s 41 to
6s 0.1; ♦eal, 3s 8d to 4s 8d ; pork, 33 6d to 5s Od per Sibs.,
by tho carcase.

BOROUGH HOP.
Oar market is steady, and prices are well supported.
Duty, Duty, 150,C00/.

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—(This Day.)

LONDON, June 3.—Wind this day at noon, S.W.; mo-
derate breeze, and cloudy at times.
PORTSMOUTH, June 2.—Wind S.E. to S.S.E—Arrived
—Her Majesty's ship Cumberland, from Sheerness. Sailed
—Wellesly, for Mauritius and Calcutta.
COWES, June 2.—Wind variable—Arrived—Favorita,
from Bahia for Hamburg.
OFF MOUNT'S BAT,—Arrived—Engracio, from Cuba.
NEWPORT, June 2.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Augusta,
from Rotterdam for St. Thomas's. Sailed--Negade, Que-
bec ; Joseph, St. Thomas's.
CARDIFF, June I.—Sailed—Froiskens, for Ceylon ; Hat.-
mouie, Alexandria.
BELFAST, June I.—Arrived—lda, from New Orleans.
WESTPOINT, May 30.—Wind S.—Arrived—Juliet
Erkine, from Philadelphia.
CLYDE, Juno 2.—Arrived—lndian, from Bombay.
OFF SCILLY, May 30._Arrived—Sydenham, from Mel.
bourne.
-,1.01,7 CAPE CLEAR, May 31.—Arrived—Humphrey, from
Valparaiso, for Liverpool.

(PER ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
SOUTHAMPTON, Wednesday Morning.
Wind W. ; occasional showers.
Arrived—Vanderbilt steamer, from Havre; Argyll
steamer, Carentan ; Lo Coq, Cherbourg; Comet, Madeira;
Alarm, Gertrude, and Albatross, Newport.
Sailed—Clementina, for Newport; Marquis of Bute and
Caledonia, Caledonia.
LIVERPOOL, Wednesday Morning

Wind W.
Arrived—Astoria, from New Orleans ; Duke of Lan-
caster, Marseilles ; Humphrey Nelson, Valparaiso ; Bor-
land. Buenos Ayres ; Earl Powis, Cuba ; Aleppo, screw
steamer, Alexandria ; Beirut, screw steamer, Beirat ;
Anemono, Matanzas ; Champion, Barbadoes ; Spirit of
Trade, Rangoon ; Trinity Yacht, Porto Rico ; Columbine,
Callao; Chasely, Alexandria ; Sultana, Venice ; Leda,
and Dundreman, Smyrna; Delhi, Calcutta; John Bar-
bour, St. John's, N.B.
Sailed—Bonita, for Labrador ; Conquest, Archangel ;
Packet de Guayaquil, Riga ; Fraternitas, Wadsoe ; Au-
gusta, Newfoundland; Arva, Diga ; North American (s.s).,
Quebec ; Bragauza (a.s.), Lisbon ; British Queen (s.s.),
Genoa; Demetrius (s.s.), Beirut; Sandbach, Demerara;
Mjosen, Rio Janeiro.

QUEENSTOWN, Juno 1.

Arrived—Glanure, from Darbadeos ; Margaretta, from
Ilantillan ; Reward, Havannah ; Anne Henderson, Calloa.
DUBLIN, June L

Wind S.S.E.
Arrived—Utility, Villa Nuova ; Eliza., Memel; Paul
and Maria, Memel.

(BY SUBMARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH.)
DEAL, Wednesday, 9.15 a.m.
Wind W.S.W. ; moderate.
Passed—Her Majesty's brig Mariner, from West Indies,
for the river ; Claudia, Demerara, London ; Jeuna
Everista, London, Havre ; Avon, Trinidad, London.
Anchored—Bosphorus, from London, for Port Phillip ;
II Trovatore, London, Algoa. Bay.
Sailed—Alex andrina, for Algoa Bay.