The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-23 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY, ' JULY 23, 1857.

The stazdard of revolt is openly &splayed in
the lonian Islands. Nay, more, it has been ex-
hibited in the Legislative Assembly and, amongst
others, by members of the Government, who re-
ceive English pay, and to whose hands the honour
and interests of Great Britain have been confided.
They have declared that " not only is every
lonian ready to make use of every means in his
object to any petition for colonisation,
power to obj
but he is at the same time willing to sign with a
pen dipped in, his own blood, that union with
Greece is their sole wish and desire I" At this
announcement the assembly rose en masse ! The
President got up, and with him an the members
of the House, crying with enthusiasm, yes, yes,
yes I While the Speaker, a certain Signor LOM-
BARDO, lashing himself into wrath, exclaimed
with fervour, "Let us, therefore, prove to the
foreigner, what we have already proved, that
what is most grateful to us, is to get rid of his
protection." Nor was this all ; encouraged by
the extraordinary demonstration above alluded to,
what was the sanguinary declaration of Signor
PADoVNI, Minister of Public Instruction? He said :

4' That if any base creature who shall have part.-
Cipated in the scheme should happen to put his
foot on any part of the country where I have influ-
once he shall find his grave there, for the gravo is
tilie proper place for such abominable and flagitious

b.ings." The speiker continued—" We have voted
to-day unanimously our rational reurreetior.
Th Inks to you, Mr. President, y.ou h tve been the
first to rise and vote for it ; thanks to you, mem-
bers of the house, and particularly to you, Cefa-
lonist4, you have been amongst the first to declare
that you subscribe with your blood the union with
Greece. Who dare now say that the foreigner can
find any support in these islands 1 With enthu-
siasm and unanimity we have voted our national
resurrection ; henceforward, therefore, it is by
force only that the present political system can be
kept up. Order, therefore, that our proceedings
of to-day be printed forthwith." The house una-
nimously ordered the printing thereof; the Ad-
vocate-General on this adding, " We are a Greek
independent State like Greece, with the sole differ-
ence that we are under British protection. We all
wish for the greatness and the glory of the nation ;
but the question as to when a union with Greece
end the whole nation will take place, must be
decided by time and by circumstances."
This incendiary document was signed by the
President and Secretaries of the Assembly, and
transmitted throughout all the Islands,' on the
false and frivolous pretext, " that a petition was
circulating, praying that Corfu may be declared a
colony !" The assertion appears to have been
without the slightest particle of foundation. It
was a wicked and mischievous falsehood, promul-
gated for the sole purpose of eliciting, even from
the paid members of the Government, expressions
of ill will towards England and the English, and
of the determination to become amalgamated with
Greece whenever a favourable occasion should
arise. It is manifest that it has been excited by
Russian propagandists, who have encouraged the
notion that England's difficulty affords the golden
opportunity, not to be wasted or misapplied.
These miscreants have exaggerated the effects
of the Chinese War and the Indian Mutiny,
and hence this "storm in a butter boat." Hence
the mendacious manifesto—the wicked display of
insubordination and bad feeling

The matter cannot be suffered to remain in
statu quo. There has been a most deplorable
exhibition of disaffection and disloyalty. We
are openly told that it is "by force only that the
present political sy:43m can be kept up," and
the delinquents have been feted at the High Com-
missioner's table, on the very day after these
most atrocious proceedings. England is not, as
yet, S 3 humiliated, or so powerless, as to submit
to such proceedings ! We have still sufficient
strength to deal with the lonian Islands. Aye,
and with all who may cast down the gage in their
behalf. It is, however, essential that the national
defences by land and water should be placed on
the most satisfactory foundation. We earnestly
hope that the matter may not be suffered to pass
sub silentio, but that stringent interroga-
tories may be exhibited to the Prenaer
and the Colonial Secretary, in order to ascertain
the course about to be adopted under the circum-
stances. It is not a time when we can tamely
submit either to insult or to injury without for-
feiting the prestige that has constituted a great
portion of our sfrength, and which caused us to
be respected by other nations. Of course we can
easily deal with the lonian malcontents, and we
must be prepared to show their aiders and abettors,
whoever they may be, that we are ready and wil-
ling to deal with them also, and to inflict con-
dign chastisement for their improper interference.
It is not tho first time that the lonian Assem-
bly has displayed a similar spirit. We should
now adopt such means as would make it the
last, or, at least, render any repetition of the
like proceedings, very improbable indeed.

Mr. SEED, a straightforward and consistent
monetary reformer, has brought a very important
resolution under the consideration of the Belfast
Chamber of Commerce. It is in the form of a
memorial to the House of Commons, to the effect
"That this Chamber, believing that the frequent
'actuations in the state of the money market
arise from an imperfect monetary system, respect-
fully request your Honourable House will appoint
a committee for the purpole of considering the
question in its entirety." After some discussionl
it was finally decided that the mater sleuld be
referred to a select committee, who were to report to
the Chamber at a future meettng on the subject. The
question thus raised is one of the most important
that can be brought under the consideratior. of a
commercial body interested in the welfare and
prosperity of the industrial community, and we
rejoice that it should have fallen into such com-
petent hands. We have already had occasion to
notice the clear and distinct views taken by Mr.
SEED on the all-important topic, and by his very
able speech at the meeting he has exhibited fur-
ther evidence of his fitness for tie self-imposed
task. He has shown that dear money is exceed-
ingly prejudicial to the trade and commerce
*f the nation, inasmuch as, assuming
the average circulation of bills of ex-
change to be 600,000,0001. in the year (by
no means an exaggerated estimate) the increase
of 1 per cent. in the rate of discount, is a l)ss
to the trade profits of the nation of 6,000,0001.
But this is not all. A still greater loss is oo-
casioned by the absence of facilities for legiti-
mate pecuniary accommodation. The circula-
tion is unduly curtailed at one period, while it
is impropsrly expanded at another. At one
time traders and manufacturers are like the
children described by LocKEI, as " pulling at
a scanty coverlet, insufficient for all, and
each striving to protect himself at the ex-
pense of his ;"neighbour." At another the
wildest and most extravagant speculations are
stimulated, because money is a drug in the market.
Hence these extraordinary fluctuations iu the
value of money, which Mr. COBDEN described as
having occasioned more mischief than the failure
of all the banks of issue that ever stopped
payment.
Under the Charter of 1844 new banks of
issue are virtually prohibited. No matter how
perfect the security they offer. Notes of small
and convenient denomination are not permitted
to circulate, and thus, " the life-blood of indus-
try is rendered stagnant and inadequate for the
work required." The amount of the paper circu-
lation might have been sufficient for the export
and import trade of 1844, but it is totally inade-
quate to that of 185'7, which has increased by at
least 150 per cent., to say nothing of our inter-
nal trade, which has expanded in a still greater
ratio.

The amendments suggested by Mr. SsED were
to. the following effect :

"Ist. That all restrictions upon the quantity
and value of the notes issued be rescinded, leaving
them to be regulated by the natural law of supply
and demand, the convertibility of the notes being
retained as at present, founded upon a basis of
one-half or three-fourths of the amount being
lodged with Government, either in specie or other
approved negotiable security. 2J. That the Bank
of England and Bank of Ireland notes be made
legal tender throughout the -United Kingdom. 3d.
That the possibility of a deficiency of the legal ten-
der arising be provided for by the Government."
The first resolution applied to the question of
Free Trade in currency. It is impossible to jus_
tify the exiting restrictions which establish pro-
tection, and that of the most objectionable de-

scription for the moneyucracy ! Why, if adequate
security be given for the convertibility of the note,
should there be any restriction on the amount ?
Nu one can explain or justify the prohibition, for
it is a prohibition, for no matter how great the mar-
gin, and perfect the guarantee, not a single note
can be issued. Industry is starved that usury
may thrive and grow M on the blood of its
victims.

The second suggestion aims at a great anomaly.
Why should not the notes of the Banks of Eng-
land and Irelaud, so long as they are maintained,
and are regarded as quasi national establishments,
not be constituted legal tenders throughout the
whole of the United Kingdom ! No mischief
could possibly arise from the regulation
which would be mutually beneficial to both
establishments as well as the people of Eng-
land and Ireland. The third is, however,
the most important point of all. We want a legal
tender sanctioned and guaranteed by Government,
and receivable in payment of all public obligations.
if really national notes for 11., 21., and 31. were
issued, the use of gold would be economised. It
would be made available for our foreign trade in
place of lying idle and unproductive in the
vaults of Threadneedle-street, or circulating
uselessly—from hand to hand—exposed to
considerable wear and tear. If these mad
ters can be placed on a satisfactory foun-
dation, the welfare and prosperity of the nation
will be ensured, and such will be the case if we
find other duly qualified persons and institutions
to followt ho example afforded by Mr. SEED, and
the Chamber of Commerce at Belfast.

LYCEUM THEATRE.-ROYAL ITALIAN
OPERA.

Last night Madame Ri-tori performed Lady Macbeth
at this house for the last time, and notwithstanding the
fine personations on former occasions, that of last even-
ing surpassed them all. The audience was perfectly
electrified by the grandeur of her earnestness in stimu-
lating Macbeth to consummate the witching glory of
her daring ambition. Many of the scenes were splec-
didly executed, to the unspeakable admiration of a
crowded house. Madame Ristori was hailed with en.
thuaia.tio applause at the termination of the play. She
is, indeed, a first-rate aniute, and treads the stage with
the consummate confidence of one who feels the in-
nate promptings of irrepressible genias.
She plays Bianco in " Fazio" to-morrow.

The success of Mademoiselle Victoire Balfe, as Lucia
in Donizetti's opera of that name, on Tuesday evening,
was complete. Our contemporaries are unanimous in
saying that the acting and singing of the charming
young debutante was remarkable for artistic feeling and
originality. Her performance in the last act was a
etef d'oeuwe, and her brilliant execution of the exquisite
fioriture she introduced i❑ the arias of her rade wa4 the
tueme of universal admiration. She was recalled several
times during the evening amidst showers of bouquets.

A Cabinet Council .eas held yesterday at the official
residence of the First Lard of the Treasury in Do wnin g-
street. The Ministers present,were—Viscount Palmer.
ston, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, the Marquis
of Lansdowne, the Earl of Harrowby, S r G. Grey, the
Earl of Clarendon, Mr. Secretary Labouchere, Lord
Panmure, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Right
Hor. R Vernon Smith, Lard Stanley of Alderley, the
Right Hon. M. T. Baines, and the Duke of Argyll.

The Duke of Devonshire has Taft Chiswick for his ♦illa,
in the neighbourhood of Sydenhatn, where his grace in-
tends residing a few weeks, previously to going into
Yorkshire.

The Duchess of Wellington will give a dinner to her
Majesty the Queen of the N therlands at Apsley House
on Monday next. The dinner will be followed by a con-
cert, to which a small circle of the aristocracy have been
invited.

The Duchess of Somerset's morning party at Wim-
bledon Park, announced for Thursday, the 30th inst.,
will not take piano. The duchess will receive, as usual,

to-morrow.

The Duke and Duchess of Hamilton, with the youth-
ful -Marquis of Douglas, arrived in town on Tuesday
night from the Continent, after a protract-A absence.
The Earl and Countess Spencer and the Lady Sarah
Spencer have left town for ..4.!thorp Park, Northampton-
shire.

The Earl and Courts of Abergavipny and Lady
Caroline Nevill have left their house in Portland-place
for Birling Manor, near Maidstone.
Lord and Lady Lyndhurst and the Hon. Miss Cophy
intend to leave town at the (lose of the Parliamentary
session for Sr. Leonard's-on-Sea. His lordship has
taken a mansion there for three months.

Viscountess Goderich, with her infant daughter, are
going on Eati•fact)riiy.
SounwirroN, Wednesday.—His Royal Highness the
Prince Consort, attended by Captain the Hon. A. de
RO9, Equerry-in-Waiting, landed in the docks this morn-
ing, about half-past 11, from her Msjes:y's yacht Fairy,
Captain the Hon. Joseph Denman, and proceeded to
Salisbury by special train, for the purpose of visit-
ing the Royal Agricultural Society's annual show,
now being held in that ancient city. His Royal
Highness was received on landing by Messrs. P. Hed-
ger and J. Levy, on the part of the Dock Com-
pany; and Messrs. Crombie, Scott, and Watkins, of
the South-Western Rail way Gimpany, who accompanied
the Royal train to and from Salisbury. The Prince ro-
urned to Osborne by the same route about G o'clock
in the evening, embarking in the D6n, Mister-Com-
mander Baliisten, from the dock third. Her Majesty
and the Royal children came up at the earns time in the
Fairy for an evening cruise, the latter yacht lying to in
the river until the Elf' cams alonvide, when the
Prince joined the royal party. We understand that the
Prince Consort leaves 0 ihorne on Sunday for Belgium,
to be present at the marriage of the Prioce=s Charlotte,
daughter of the King of the Belgians, and returns
again on Wednesday.

ANTIQUITIES YOB TEE BRITISH MUSEITM.—The Gorgon
steam-sloop, Com. Towsey, was yesterday removed into
basin at Woolwich. She has on board a large collec-
tion of Greek and Roman antiquities, which will be
forwarded to the British Museum. Amongst these the
most important are two immense stone statues obtained
from the tomb of King Manselus. These statues are a
lion weighing about six tens and a horse of immense
proportions, which is said to be a fine specimen of art.
The latter statue is broken, but the three detached por-
tions comprise the whole of the animal. The weight is
about 13 tons, and the entire length of the statue, if con-
nected, is 13 feet. The remainder of the cargo c nnprises
mosaio statues, fragnienta of the architecture of Halicar-
nassus, add several cases of btautifully carved frieze
work, sx Abiting figures of amazons on horseback, &c.
THE RIFLEMEN OF SWITaERLAND.—The annual federal
rifle match at Berne terminated on the 15th by the dis-
tribution of prizes, which led to a curious coinci-
dence, deemed worthy by the president of the central
committee of being alluded to, namely, that the first
prize, consisting of 3,000 francs in gold, was awarded
to Captain Tschanz, of the Company of Neufchatel
Carbineers, who had distinguished himself on Septem-
ber the 4th by mounting first to the assualt of the
Castle of Neufchatel, when in possession of the Prussian
party. M. Tschanz is one of the largest manufacturers
of watches in the Neufchatel mountains. The second
prize of 2,500 f. was carried of by a gunrnakerof Thal wyl
(St. Gall) name,' Knuti. The town of Zurich is fixd
for the next federal shooting match, which will take
place in two years.
THE JEWELLERY ROI3BERIES IN EDINBURGH.—At
the High Court of Justiciary, on Monday, Thomas Kerr
and Thomas Gilbertbon, artisans, were charged with five
acts of housebreaking and theft committed within the
city of Edinburgh. The particulars of this case have
been frequently published. The jury found the charges
proved in so far as they applied to the housebreaking's
at Calder's, Darling's, and Lennie's, no evidence on the
other charges having been called. The Lord Justice
General, who expressed concurrence in the verdict,
sentenced the prisoners to 21 years' penal servitude
each.

PU➢LIO MEETING OP WOMEN.—On Tuesday evening
a public meeting, composed exclusively of women, was
held in the town-hall, Leicester, to consider the question
of women's rights generally, more particularly in refer-
ence to the measure now before parliament. The ball
was nearly filled, and the meeting appeared to be com-
posed exc usively of women belonging to the working
classes, although it was understood that the expenses
bad been defrayed by some ladies in the higher circles
of life. Mrs. Woodford acted as president ; and the
meeting was addressed by a Mrs. Watts and
Mrs. Wingfield. The latter lady was the speaker
of the evening, and addressed the meeting with
great ability for upwards of an hour. Quoting copiously
from the Old and New Testament, she contended that
in every respect, except physical strength, woman was
equal with man, but that the laws and social customs did
not give her fair play. Mrs. Wingfield proposed the
adoption of an address to the women of England, which
was carried by acclamation. At the conclusion of
the meeting thanks were voted to the pre
sident, and to Lord Lyndhurst for his reply to
the Bishop of Oxford in the House of Lords. It was
also decided to present a petition founded upon the ad.
dress. The meeting closed with singing the national
anthem shortly after 10 o'clock.