The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-07 00:00:00

or other Government securities deposited by them
with the Commissioners.

"And, lastly, the Committee would observe that
it might be a matter of after consideration, whe-
ther, at the expiration of the Bank Charter, the Com-
missioners might not act as bankers to the public
departments, whereby a saving would Le effected,
or that the management both of this business and
of the National Debt should be undertaken by
1 any of the principal banking firms ?"

Does Sir G. C. LEWIS consider that this was
not " recommending any alteration of the Act ?"
Whether his mistake proceeded from a suppressio
yeti, or, what is far more probable, gross and cupl-
able ignorance, it is perfectly clear that he is
perfectly incompetent to discharge the duties of
the arduous and important situation which be oc-
cupies. We shall on a future occasion expose
the fallacies to which he has resorted, and which
are merely a rechauffee of the sophisms of Merca-
tor and his leading disciples. The battle of the
currency must now be fought in the Committee ;
and we earnestly hope that the Lords may re-ap-
point their Committee, from which the country
can alone hope for fair and impartial justice.

Although the Royal Speech had reference
almost exclusively to our Foreign Relations, it is
remarkable to observe how entirely these topics
have been overruled by others of a more home
character in the preliminary discussions at once
of the Upper and of the Lower Chamber of the
Legislature. It is, nevertheless,:of the utmost im-
portance that public attention should not be altc-
gether absorbed in the vigilant observation of the
Parliamentary " Sayings and Doings" during the
earlier ,part of the present session, in reference

even to subjects of the imminent value of the
Income Tax, of the Bank Chait3r, of Law Reform

generally, and of particular notions of improve
ment, or modification, in the rigid schemes of our
Criminal Jurisprudence. Something—quite ob-
viously--must be done at once in regard to the
diminution of the Income Tax of 16d. in the
pound, in regard to the abolition of the War Tax
of 9d., in regard to the generally iniquitous man-

ner of its assessment. Something—as evidently
—ought to be done in regard to the reconsidera-

tion of the working of the 7th and Bth VICT., C.
32, as well as in reference to that of the Bth and
9th VICT" c. 37 and 38. Something, too,
it is perfectly clear, is imperatively required
at the hands of Peers and- Commons, by way
of realising some at least of the rational hopes
awakened by the Law Amendment Society, as
well as in fulfilment of the expressed promises of
legal reform given to the country by the Lord High
Chancellor. Something instant and vigorous in
the revision of the Criminal Code of England
being no less urgently demanded with a view to
the immediat3 avoidance henceforth of the many
frightful consequences of the Ticket-of-Leave Sys-
tem by the adoption of some more rational system

of secondary punishments. All these matters are
undeniably forced at the present moment upon the
prompt and conscientious consideration of the
Legislature. We deny it not. We—on the
centrary—insist upon the rea'ly extraordinary
urgency of each one of these remarkable themes
for discussion ; doing so, in fact, by a reiteration
the most sustained and pertinacious.
Yet, are we, at the same time, most solicitous
also that public attention should not be allowed to
slacken in its vigilance in regard to the Foreign
Relations subsisting at this moment between our
own and many an European and Asiatic Go-

verument.
A Parliamentary investigation must, sooner or
later, as a matter of course, take place in reference
to the origin and progress of the Chinese war, inau-
gurated by the born bardmen t of Canton, and in refer-
ence likewise to those of the Persian war, already
signalised by the seizure of Bushire and the pro-
bable occupation soon afterwards of Bender Ali
and Mohammrad. The proximate settlement at
last of the tedious Neuchatel difficulty must ne-
cessitate, moreover (when it comes), a Ministerial
explanation as to the precise nature of the policy
pursued by the Allies in their diplomatic endea-
vours to bring about a reconciliation of the con-
flicting claims advanced in regard to that princi-
pality by Prussia and by Switzerland. Besides
which, Her MAJESTY'S Opposition will infallibly
" have it all out"—or if not "all," at any rate
as much as possible—in reference to our bungling
at Naples, in reference to our blundering at Wash.
ington, in reference to the Outline at least of what
occurred at the Paris Conferences, and in refer-
ence, among other things, to the withdrawal
from the Pirams by the Allies of their
little Greek Army of 'Occupation. The last
mentioned incident, and with it the consideration
of the whole political situation of things at
Athens, it will be observed, has been hitherto of
late altogether overlooked. Not a whisper of it
in the Royal Address at the opening of Parlia-
ment ! Not an allusion to it as yet—good or
bad, vague or explicit—in either branch of the
Legislature ! A little while longer, however, and
we doubt not the whole Greek Question will in due
course be properly ventilated in the Lords and
Commons. A consummation devoutedly wished
for, we do not hesitate t 3 believe, by Her Bri-
tannic MAJESTY'S Ambassador at, the Court of
OTHO—a diplomatist placed during the last three
or four years in a situation of surpassing difficul-
ty, and one of all but overwhelming responsibility.
There can be no question at all about it, that it
is the bounden duty of Ministers to make a clean
breast of it upon these and other scarcely less
important particulars. It behoves the commu-
nity at large, at the same time, to be no less (on
their part) alive to the necessity and importance
of these eminently requisite explanations being
extorted, at as early a date as possible, from her
MAJESTY'S Government.

Her Majesty held a Privy Council this afternoon at
Windsor Castle.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Stafford arrived at
their mansion in Hamilton-place, a few days since, from
LiHoban, Salop.
We regret to announce the demise of the Marquis Per-
dinando Incontri, who married a few years since Miss
D'Arcy Irvine, sister of the Viscountess Dungannon.
The marquis expired at Florence on the 24th ult.
The Countess of Caledon and youthful family are ex-
pected in town in a few days, from Gorhambury, Herts.
Viscount and Viscountess Sydney left town yesterday
for their seat, Frognall, near Footscray. The noble vis-
count and her ladyship will return to town in about ten
day?.
Viscount and Viscountess Bury have arrived in town
from Qniddenham Hall, Norfolk.
Lord Stanley of Alderley arrived in town yesterday,
from a visit to her Majesty, at Windsor Castle.
Lord 0 verstone leaves town this day, to join the
family circle at Wickham Park, Surrey.
Mr. a W. and Lady Jane Rspton are exp;:cted in
town in a few days from Dorsetehire.
THE CHINESE AND PERSIAN WARS.—Norwioh, Friday
Evening.—At a public meeting Leli here this evening,
a very decided feeling was manifested against the Chinese
and Persian wars. _ _

A deputation, consisting of Messrs. J. Taylor, Haw-
kins, Verrey, Heath, Abbess, Tozer, Donne, Wood ward,
Crane, Failay, and G. Singer, guardians of the City of
London -Union ; Mr. Baylis, solicitor to the guardians ;
and Mr. H. L. Morgan, accountant, had an interview
with the Right Hon. E. P. Bouverie yesterday at the
office of the Poor Law Board, on the subject of the frauds
committed by officers of the union.
Dr. Slattery, titular archbishop of Cashel, died at
Thul les on Thursday last _ _ _

ADMISSION OF ATTORNEYS.—In the kte term oat of
110 persons who tendered themselves for examination as
many as N were not allowed to pass.
In the Bankruptcy Court yesterday the certificate of
Mr. Simonds, of the firm of Cuylitz and Simonds, was
ordered to be suspended for five years, without pro-
tection for twelve months.