The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-18 00:00:00

A PRACTICAL MAN.

• ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE.
THIS EVENTNG.
Will be performed HEARTS ALE TITKPII.
To be followe,l by ANTHONY AND ULEUA'ATRA.
After which THE UNPROTECTED FEIiALE.
To implode with ALLOW ME TO APOLOGISE.

1", 1,;()Y.J.1. . NPHiTiIEATRE
Under the Patronage of her Majesty and his neyal Highness
Prime Albert.
Pronrtetor and Manager, Mr. W. Ratty.

Extraordinary series of attractive novelties. Second week of the

Revival of TURPIN'S RIDE to YORK.
THIS Ie,VENING.

The Grand new Spectacle of KENNILVS ORTH ; or the Golden Days
of the Virgin Queen. with new and costly costumes.

Together with Batty 's Splendid Scenes of the Circle, introducing
the Magnlticemt Stud and Company of unequalled Arti;tes.

—The whole concluding with the-Equestrian Drama (for the firs,
time these five years) of TURPIN'S RIDE to YORK.

Extensive preparations are now being made for the production •
a new and original Equestrian Comic Pant.mime, written expressly
for this Theatre, by G. H. Rcdwell, Esq.
Box-effico open from Eleven till Four.
Stage Manager, Mr. T. Thompson.

HIGH WATER Al LONDON BRIDGE

Tim DAT —Morning 47 min. after 12 I Evening 11 rain. after 1
To .Mcnotow —Morning 32 min. after 1 I Evening 54 min. after 1

THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, DECEMBER 18,
THEILMOMETER, t THE SHADE.
42—highest since noon yesterday.
29—lowest this morning and during the night.
36—this day, at noon.

BAROMETER, 29.47.
Warn S.W.— cold breeze and fine.

DAILY WEATHER TABLE.

, State of the Wind and Weather at each of the following
places at Nine o'clock yesterday morning.—The stations
are arranged in order of latitude.

KINGSTOWN (DUBLIN)—Wind W.N.W., strong breeze—
partially cloudy.
pLYMOCTII—Wind N.W., strong breeze—rain.
PORTSMOUTH—Wind W., strong breeze—rain.
BRIGHTON—Wind N.W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
HASTINGS Wind W., strong! breeze—partially cloudy.
,S, OUTHAMPTON—Win,' W., strong breeze—overcast.
FoutEszosu—Wind W.., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
BASINGSTOKE —Wind S.W., strong breeze—overcast.
READING —Wind S.W., calm—overcast.
GREENWICH—Wind S.W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
SwniDort—Wind S.W., gentle breeze—overcast.
LEIGHTON —Wind S.W.. strong breeze—overcast.
CAMBRIDGE—Wind S.W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
RUGBY—Wind E., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
PETERBOROUGH—Wind S W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
YARMOUTH—Wind W., hard wind—cloudless.
CREWE—Wind S.W., fresh breeze— partially cloudy.
CoNwAY—Wind W.S.W., strong breeze—partially cloudy.
IIoLYHEAD—Wind W , hard wind—partially cloudy.
LIVERPOOL—Wind S.W., gentle breeze—cicudless.
YORK—Wind S.W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
LANCASTER—Wind S. W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
WHITBY—Wind W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
SHAY—Wind W., strong breeze—snow.
SUNDERLAND—Wind W., strong breeze—partially cloudy.
Caßusr.E—W ind S. W., breeze— partially cloudy.
BEATTOCK —Wind N., gentle breeze—overcast.
BEnwtex—Wind W.—gentle breeze—rain.
EDINBURGH—Wind N., gentle breeze—foggy.
The returna from the following places indicate the state of
the wind and weather on Monday morning at nine
o'clock :

Coin—Wind W., strong breeze—heavy rain.
CARLOW—Wind S.W., hard wind—rain.

The mean daily reading of the barometer at the Royal
Observatory, Greenwich, was highest on Sunday, when it
was 30.212 inches; it was also above 30 inches on the two
following days ; the mean of the week was 29.9311 inches.
The temperature was lowest on Tuesday, when the daily mean
was 32.8°, which is less by 6° than the average of the same
day in seven years. It rose on Thursday, Friday, and
Saturday, when the mean was about 46°, or 61 above the
average. The mean of the whole week was 40'1°. The
wind was for the most part in the south-east on the lint four
days, and in the south-west for the rest of the week.

nation as the successor of ZACEIAEY TAYLOR. That

Message, however, was written, be it remembered,
hurriedly, in the extraordinary exigency of the mo-
ment, consequent on the melancholy event which de-
prived the United States of the ability and integrity
of the conqueror of Mexico. At length the states-
man selected to follow in the footsteps of old Rough
and Ready has been enabled to articulate his real
sentiments ti the Congress newly assembled at
Washington, with due time for serious and earnest
consideration. Hence it is that we regard the
Message now published in our columns as the first
veritable revelation of his views in regard to the ne-
cessities of the Government.

Comprehensive as the document before us is, un-
questionably, in its actual dimensions, MILLARD FILL-
MORE has only been enabled to indicate briefly, and
sometimes incidentally, his opinions in reference to
the various subjects therein payed under scrutiny—
so numerous are the topics alluded to, and so pecu-
liarly diversified in their character. Even a hasty
glance through the Presidential Message will be suf-
ficient to show that several of its themes are
of more than usual interest, and some of
them of a more than ordinary importance.
They relate to one or other of the different
departments of the administration. In one instance,
indeed, they even go beyond those widely-extended
limits ; we mean where the PRESIDENT recommends
to the Congress the establishment of an agricultural
bureau in the Government. Generally speaking, the
language employed by him throughout is of a highly
satisfactory kind, gratifying as to the past and en-
couraging as to to the future ; filling the minds of the
American citizens with confidence in the intentions of
his Government. At the very outset of his
observations Mr. FILLMORE intimates clearly
enough his fixed and unalterable determina-
tion to abide in all things by the obvious
principles of the Constitution. Insomuch, indeed,
would this appear to be his resolve, that he announces
his intention to submit all questions of a dubious de-
scription to the judicial decision of the Supreme
Court of the United States, so that a guarantee will
be thereby afforded to the public that in no case will
the polity of the nation be marred by false precedents
or by unnecessary encroachments. In the event,
moreover, of any enactment passing through both
Houses of Congress which may seem to, him to be un-
constitutional in its nature, or an infraction of the pri-
vileges of any one department, the extraordinary
powers of the veto, confided to the PRESIDENT by the
Constitution, will, it is intimated, be employed
by him for the purpose of guarding against
any injurious consequences. Having satisfied his
conscience by this bold and explicit declara-
tion, Mr. FILLMORE proceeds to the elucidation
of his ideas in regard to the various points likely to
be brought under the consideration of the Republican
Legislature. He informs the Congress that in re-
ference to the subject of Foreign Relations little is left
to be accomplished in the carrying out of the treaty,
lately ratified between Great Britain and the United
States, as to the construction of a ship canal connec-
ting the Pacific with the Atlantic, and passing through
the American isthmus at the territory of Nicaragua.
He asserts, even, that that little may be said to refer
merely to the indication and construction of a free
port at each end of this canal, and the designation
of certain boundaries from shore to shore, within
which all belligerent operations must terminate. He
proclaims, in reference to the Slave Question, that the
laws as they now stand shall be rigorously adminis-
tered, and accompanies the declaration with remarks
of an admonitory kind, addressed to the connoting
parties in the United States, the Abolitionists and the
Non-Abolitionists. He gives a satisfactory sketch of
the financial condition of the Republic, pointing out
a considerable reduction in the National Debt as
having taken place since the last annual report from
the Treasury department. He presents, likewise, a
rapid outline of the contemplated Tariff, by which it

is intended to raise a large portion of the revenue
needful towards the support of the Government, by
.the levying of certain moderate duties upon articles
of importation—expressing, at the same time,
his preference for duties rather specific than
ad valorem. Added to the foregoing should be
mentioned one or two other intimations embodied in
this remarkable Message of the American PRESIDE ST.
He suggests, for example, that a mint should be
organized and forthwith established in Califormia.
He recommends a reduction of charges in the Post-
( ffice department. He advises the ixtending of pro-
tection to American commerce in Asia. He
avows bimseif favourably disposed towards
various schemes of internal improvement, among
which may be enumerated the creation of
a pension fund for the naval and military profes-
sions, and the construction of houses of refuge for
those who have distinguished themselves by their pa-
triJtic and meritorious behaviour. Throughout the
whole document may be discovered an ever-present
solicitude to fulfil, to the best of his energies, the
vast responsibilities of his position—a solicitude
which must prove the best safeguard from error and
the most wholesome incitement towards reforms of a
constitutional character.

Those who were so long indifferent to the suffer-
ings of the industrious classes, who regarded as the
triumph of legislation the mischievous and iniquitous
enactments that imposed undue restrictions on the
issue of bank-notes, thus rendering money scarce,
and, of course, dear, are already startled from their
propriety on discovering that the tide has already
turned, and that there is every reason to suppose that
owing to the abundant supply of gold from Cali-
fornia, to which we have already alluded,
the idol which they have set up will be
overturned, and that its votaries and worshippers
will share in its prostration. The most ridiculous
suggestions, worthy of a semi-barbarous age, ignorant
of the first principles of econowinal science, have
already not only been thrown out, but seriously
canvassed, and if the advice, freely tendered, should
be followed, we should behold in the middle of the
19th century a repetition of the commercial absurdity
by which the inhabitants of the Spice Islands en-
deavoured to keep up and enhance the pi ices of their
commodities, by the wilful and deliberate destruc
tion of a great part of their produce. The
Dutch colonists then decided what quantity of nut-
megs, &c., would be sufficient for the supply of the
world on the scale suited to their own narrow views,
and the remainder of the crop was solemnly burned
in the presence of the authorities, thus neutralising the
bounties of PROVIDENCE for their own short-sighted
purposes ; and their admirers and would-be imitators
of the present day would, as far as practicable, follow
their brilliant example. " Protection to bullion" is
now the cry, and that by persons who would not for a
moment sanction protection to any of the natural pro-
ductions of their own country. Much has not as yet been
said in England on the subject. As silver is only a legal
tender to the extent of 405., and the change in its
value has not as yet amounted to the enormous
seignorage charged by our Government on its coinage,
which, in ordinary times, when silver could be ob-
tained at 4s. 110. per ounce, amounted to more than
11 per cent., the pound troy of standard silver being
coined into 66 shillings, or the ounce into is. 6d.,
we have not as yet experienced the natural results
of the change. It has not as yet become a pro-
fitable speculation to withdraw our silver
currency from circulation, and export it largely to
the continent. That period must, however, speedily
arrive, and then active measures will become es-
sential.

On the continent the question as to "the pro-
priety of interfering by legislative means with the na-
tural results of the Californian discoveries" is already
seriously discussed. In Holland the gold currency—.
the five and ten guilder pieces—have already been
called in, and the double standard of value has been
abolished. A large sum, about 4,000,0001., has thereby
been released, which will naturally find its way
to England, the only nation in the world where gold
is the exclusive standard. The greater portion of
the produce of CAliforuia will eventually follow to
the same market. Our coin will become seriously
depreebteci, its relative value with the currency of
other nations will be completely changed. We con-
fess that we can look upon this contingency without
apprehension. When gold is cheap and plentiful our
foreign corrfspondents will no longer take it
in exlb,: ge for their commodities. In place
of instructing their agents to forward the amount to
which they are entitled in gold they will receive it in
our manufactures, the prices of which will rise in
consequnce, and so will every other article. The

wages of labour will participate in the general im-
provement,
and the pressure of taxation will be mate-
rially lightened. The drones in the national hive will
alone be the sufferers. The income of the fundholder
will practically be diminished to one-half its
present amount, but he will still receive as
much as he was entitled to, according
to the scale in operation when the obligation was con-
tracted. It must not be forgotten that money was
abundant at the time the debt was incurred ; the
bank-note was inconvertible ; the labour of the
country was fully employed; corn maintained an
average price of Bfs. 10d. per bushel. The pound
note was practically only worth 1311. in specie, and
the amount of the liability should, in common justice
to the tax-payer, have been liquidated at the same
rate. But the intneyocracy were in the ascendant ;
their influence prevailed in the national councils,
and the Acts of 1819 and 1844 were pasoed, the
effect of which, according to the admission of Sir
CHARLES WOOD, was to double the purchasing power
of the pound sterling, to give it a twofold command
over necessaries and comforts, and thus to give
double payment to the public creditor; or, to look at
the reverse of the picture, to make the over-toiled
artizan or operative, whose labour was mortgaged be-
fore he came into the world, work twice the number of
hours, in order to satisfy the demands of the public tax-
gatherer. gross and palpable injustice will at last
be remedied, and some of the fetters struck off from
the limbs of the "English slave." Yes, " slave," for
what is a slave but one who is compelled to give his
labour for the benefit of another, to toil and work at
the direction of his taskmaster ?
But England will in one respect be a heavy loser—
the gold of which we are the holders, of which there
is some 16,000,0001. lying idle in the coffers of the
Bank, and the further sum of 50,000,0001. now
circulating from hand to hand, in consequence
of our absurd prohibition of a small note currency
will be reduced to about one-half its present nominal
value. By our present laws we are prevented from
using this bullion while its value remains, and it can
only be relieved by the issue of notes of small deno-
minations, and the abolition of the restrictions as to
silver. At present the Bank of England is limited in
the amount of silver which it is allowed to retain on
hand. The injurious tffects of the restrictive enact-
ment were painfully perceptible during the
commercial crisis of 1847, when a merchant,
with a large quantity of silver bul-
lion, was unable to' obtain an advance upon
it or to sell it. This drove the silver, which is now
likely to become so valuable, out of the country. A
great and comprehensive measure of monetary reform
is now clearly essential. The bullionists per-
ceive that necessity as clearly as any others in the
community, and, therefore, there is every reason to
suppose that the question will be brought under the
consideration of Parliament during the ensuing
session. The industrious classes must, however, be
vigilant in order to guard their own interests, and to
se• that they are not again sacrificed at the shrine of
Mammon by their ruthless takmasters.

t• I
1;
441)
1 A
It ~... )rk. A
-,•<;td...14` 4170Mitisi -•'7'..-
_ 5.....,,...,,,_,..„,;_
........,. ‘Y, .. . • - '-, • . "' .......:.
, 101,,r.1,;',;.' al Pi ei',P4,.. i, ,1".;.„ 4.- At C...'
~ ~,, l'.lo, • ' .!larra. ' -, ',14,1 „ '''.