The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-22 00:00:00

'THE SUN,

moment of panic be induced to withdraw their lodg-
ments, and very perplexing and erpersive to the Ex-
chequer. The great object, then, was to set the
public mind at rest, and to restore confidence in the
stability and solvency of those establishments. That
desideratum was attained when Mr. TUFeELL de-
clared that a measure was actually prepared by the
Government, which would be introduced by Sir
CHARLES WOOD on the following Tuesday. The ex-
citement passed rapidly away, the pledge, thus
deliberately and solemnly given, having appeased the
fears even of the most timid.
Unfortunately, however, the Right Hon. Baronet
was attacked before the appointed day with a severe
fit of illness, which deprived the nation of his services
for more than five weeks, and he was unable to ap-
pear in his place in Parliament until the 15th of
March, when he introduced the Brick-dust Budget."
The people, however, remained satisfied with the
assurance that the subject would be brought forward
without any unnecessary delay. Not withstand lag
the, prolonged indisposition of Sir CHARLES WooD,
and his consequent absence from his Parliamentary
labours, there was no desire that the matter should be
taken out of his hands. The duty properly devolved
upon him, and all were satisfied that
he would discharge it with fidelity and zeal.
We regret, however, to be obliged to state that this
reasonable expectation has not been fulfilled. The
public apprehensions being assuaged, and the matter
thus quietly shelved for a time, Sir CHARLES WOOD
was by no means anxious to revive the question.
There was still the same necessity for its introduction
so far as the depositors were concerned ; but there
was no prospect of annoyance or inconvenience to
himself, or of loss to the Exchequer, by a large
withdrawal of funds from these establishments. Such
being the case, day after day and week after week
was suffered to elapse without the slightest allusion
being made to the topic, or any real effort
to redeem the Ministerial pledge. At length,
on Monday, the 15th instant, the Hon. Member
for Kerry considered it to be his duty to revive the
subject. His constituents at Tralee and Killarney,
who had previously suffered severely from the effects
of the potatoe failure and the general distress in Ire-
land, particularly in the south western districts, had
been plundered to the amount of 50,0001. by a series
of gross and systematic frauds and deceptions on the
part of the actuaries of the savings' banks in those
towns—frauds which bad almost been invited by the
culpable negligence of the trustees and managers,
whose well-known respectability of character
induced the unfortunate people to place im-
plicit confidence in the security and safety of
their humble savings. This unpleasant remi-
niscence was not very graciously received. The
answer of Sir CuantEs WooD clearly showed how
very unwelcome was the interrogatory, and that, but
for this interference, the session might- have glided
away without the appointment of a Select Committee
to inquire into and report' on Savings' Banks, or the
introduction of any measure in relation thereto. He
said—" He was as anxious as the Honourable Gentle-
man, or any one, could be to introduce a.Bill on the.
subject of savings banks (!), but it was difficult for him
to command a day, and he could not put measures of
great importance aside to make way for that Bill.
The first day he could fairly take for the purpose he
would bring it forward." This is, however, rather
too vague a response to satisfy the country. The
tone, too, was petulant and unbecoming.

On the 30th of January the earliest day at the
disposal of the Government was set aside for the con-
sideration of the subject, which then, at least, was re-
girded as of the most vital consequence to the well-
being of the labouring population of the country.
But now, after a delay of ten weeks, during more
than four of which the Chancellor of the Exchequer
was in good health, perfectly competent to the dis-
patch of business, we are told that " it is difficult to
command a day," and that "he could not put measures
of great importance aside to make way for that Bill."
Is not this tantamount to saying that this is not a
pressing question ?—that, its postponement can lead
to no evil consequences or disturbance in the public
mind ? The Right Honourable Gentleman seems
to think lightly of the failure of a savings' bank, of the
ruin thereby inflieted upon hundreds, aye thousands,
of hard-working and provident men, whose all had
been deposited on what they fondly believed to be
Government security—the pittance that had been
scraped together as a provision for their declining
years, to retain which they had endured without re-

pining many privations—their entire hope and de

pendence gone at " one fell swoop !" The hear
_ -

sickens at the contemplation of the misery and
wretchedness occasioned by such a catastrophe, which
is no less demoralising -than it is injurious to the
people. Provident and saving habits receive a
serious check, " a heavy blow, and great discourage-

ment." The reckless spendthrift laughs at the suffer.
ings of his more prudent neighbour. He has spen

his earnings as fast as he received them; his " sav-
ings' bank" was the nearest public-house or beer-shop,

but he has sustained no disappointment ; according
to his idea he enjoyed what he had. His money

was not swept away through the dishonesty of one
and the negligence of many—he triumphs over the

victim, who, in the bitterness and vexation of his

heart, says" I will do likewise—l will enjoy the pre

- - -
sent moment and let the morrow take care of itself."

This may be detrimental to the interests of the people
and national prosperity, but what is that to Sir
CHARLES WOOD ? IrOW is he concerned if there be
no loss to the revenue ? and that would be rather

benefited as the consumption of exciseable liquids

would be promoted. Accordingly he finds it " difficult
to command a day," and " could not put measures of
_ _

mportance aside to make way for such a Bill."

Letters received this morning from Paris announce
the arrival in that capital of Mr. G. Heald with Lola Montes.

MR. MILNE THE SCOTTISH VOCALIST.—We per-
ceive on referring to an advertisement that Mr. Milne in-
tends giving another of his popular entertainments in Store-
street this evening. Judging from the crowds who attend
his concerts in Crosby-hall and elsewhere, we are very sure
that to-night he will be surrounded by a brilliant audience,
more especially when under the immediate patronage of
several of the nobility. Mr. Milne is decidedly the legitimate
successor of Wilson, and, u such, we wish him success.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRS.—There were present
on Saturday evening at her Majesty's Theatre his Grace the
Duke of' Wellington, the Marchioness of Douro and Lord
and Lady Charles Wellesley, the Prince Lucien Bonaparte,
the Duchess of Leeds and Miss Elizabeth Lane Fox, his
Serene Highness Charles Duke of Brunswick, the Duke of
Cleveland, the Duchess (Dowager) of Cleveland and Lady
Augusta Paulet, his Excellency the Russian Minister, the
Baroness Brunow, the Viscountess Dungannon and party,
M. de Berg, his Excellency the Swedish Minister, the Count
Walhmeister, his Chargé d'Affaires of Belgium, the Count
de Civry, the Count de Barke, the Marquis f Huntley,
the Countess of Jersey and Lady Clementine Villiers, the
Hon. E. Upton, Colonel the Hon. G. Fitzgibbon and Mrs.
Fitzgibbon, Hoc. Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Dillon, Hon. H.
Fitzroy, M.P., and Mrs. Fitzroy, Sir Henry Bishop, Sir H.
Maddocks, Sir George Armitage, Bart., Sir Henry Webb,
fart., Hon. George Milles, Sir William de Bathe, Bart., Sir
John Burgoyne, Bart., and the Misses Burgoyne, Mr. Stratt,
M.P., and Miss Strutt, Sir William Fraser, Bart., Captain
de Bathe, Hon. Theobold Dillon, Sir Jasper and Lady Atkin-
son, Mr. George Mitchell, Mr. W. Miles, M.P., and the
Misses Miles, Colonel Brownlow Knox, M.P., Colonel Blane,
Mr. Knightley, ALP., Mr. Baring Wall, M.P., Mr. H. Gre-
ville, Hon. Major Needham, Mr. Henry Baring, M.P., Mr.
Raymond Barker, Mr. Francis Walpole and Miss Walpole,
Lady Jodrell, Right Hon. Sir George Clerk, M.P., Lady
Clerk, and the Misses Clerk, &c.
ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.—Among the fashionable
company attending the performances at the Royal Italian
Opera on Saturday evening we remarked the Earl and
Countess of Kinnoull and Lady Frances Hay, the Countess
of Lichfield and Lady llarriet Anson, the Earl and Countess
of Beauchamp, the Earl of Falmouth, the Marchesa Branca-
leoni and Mdlle. Brancaleoni, Viscount Dupplin and Lady
Blanche Dupplin, Viscount Mandeville, Viscount Sydney,
Viscount Templetown, Viscount Exmouth, Lord Arthur
Hay, Lord and Lady Wodehouse, Lady Elizabeth Bul-
teelss Bulteel, Lady Wallscourt and party, Mr.
and Lady Harriett Ellerton, Honourable Mr. Chichester,
P. arid Mrs. Upton,
the Countess Colonel
naenl(ltMhei
Earl of Cardigan, of
Cantilupe, Car-
digan,
the Earl and Countes St. Germans,
Cantilupe, Viscount Anson, the Viscount Somerton, the
Hon. A. Upton,
Viscount Clifden, the Viscount Dupplin. Her Majesty's box
was occupied by Lady Caroline Barrington, Lady Georgians
Barrington and party, Lord and Lady Alfred Harvey, Lord
Adolphus Fitzclarenee, Lord George Paget, Lord Sondes,
Lord Gerard Fitzgerald. Lady Georgiana Grey, Lord Rendle-
sham, Lord and Lady Templemore, Lord Foley, Lord Gar-
diner, Mr. B. Disraeli, M.P., and Mrs. Disraeli, the Hon. C.
R. Neville, the Hon Mrs. Dudley Ward, the Hon. Claude
Lyon, the Hon. A. Chichester, lady Harcourt Vernon, Sir
Ralph Howard, Bart., .M.P., and Lady Howard, &c. &c.
CONSECRATION OF A NEW CIIIIRCIL—On Satur-
day forenoon the new church of St. Bartholomew, situated in
Moor-lane, Cripplegate, was consecrated by the Bishop of
London, in the presence of a very numerous and respectable
congregation. The sacred edifice is erected out of and fitted '
up with the materials which formed the Church of St. Bar-
tholomew by the Exchange, which was taken down for the
"improvements adjoining the Royal Exchange. The tower
is of a design similar to the old one, and the organ, with the
font, pulpit, and communion-table, are the same. The Right
Reverend Prelate, after the usual preliminaries were gone
through, preached a sermon from Matthew, chap. v., verse
13. The boys from the choir at Westminster Abbey assisted
at the chants. The Rev. Mr. Denton, senior curate of
Shoreditch, is the incumbent.