The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-01 00:00:00

WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 1, 1850.

nature of the duties to be performed, or the qualifica-
tions required. It did not affirm that all officials
received exorbitant remuneration for their ser-
vices. No such thing. All that could be
deduced from its success would be that
very many were too highly paid, considering the di-
Minution of prices of all the necessaries and most of
the luxuries of life; or, in other words, the great ap-
preciation in the value of money produced by the ex-
isting monetary code, and that, therefore, a cor-
responding reduction in the amount of salaries and
perquisites that had been arranged under very diffe-
rent circumstances might fairly and reasonably be
made. It might, in fact, as the llon. Member for
Sheffield justly remarked, be considered as a
" truism," which her MAJESTY'S Ministers might
have accepted without the slightest danger, and which
Honourable Gentlemen on every side of the House,
of every shade and variety of political opinion, might
have sustained by their votes. But by rejecting the
motion they practically decided.that no alteration was
desirable, and that was the view which Mr. COBDEN
practically affirmed by his arguments.

The Hon. Gentleman seemed to think that it was
something intended to damage the great cause of free
trade, to deprive the working classes of the advan-
tages resulting from the abolition of the bread-tax—
advantages to which they were so justly entitled ;
that, in fact, it might be considered as " a war upon
wages." Never was there a greater mistake—never
a more erroneous view taken of any subject. Mr.
HENLEY had, we should have thought, sufficiently
guarded his proposition against such a misconception.
The concluding clause, " due regard being had to the
efficient performance of the several duties," completely
removed the ground from under his opponent, and an-
ticipated all his arguments. It was not aimed at the
hard-worked and, under-paid employes. It was not
directed at those who gave a " fair day's work in
return for a fair day's wages." Such persons would
not, in fact, be in any degree affected by the
result. Their salaries would not be reduced
below the fair value of their services ; they would
still be at leest as high, if not higher, than could be
obtained from private employers. But there are
some unquestionably who receive more than they are
justly entitled to, whose already extravagant salaries
have been rendered still more unreasonable by the
great alteration in the value of money. A striking
illustration was afforded just before the discussion, in
the case of the Registrar of the Prerogative Court
of Canterbury, who, it appears, was actually en-
joying no less than 12,0001. per annum for almost
nominal duties—so slight, indeed, that the fortunate
holder was also enabled to fill no less than three
ecclesiastical preferments—a prebend of Canterbury,
the Rectory of Hunton, and the Rectory of
Latchington, yielding a further revenue of
2,0631. per annum. Other instances, almost as glar-
ing, might be adduced, and yet, in the face of such
facts, the chosen representatives of the people, the ap-
pointed guardians of the public purse, negatived the
salutary proposition by a majority of 96. The num-
bers being, for putting the question, 173 ; against
it, 269.

The true ground on which to rest the case, how-
ever, is, as we have already stated, the great " appre-
ciation" in the value of money that has taken place
under the Acts of 1819 and 1844. It is now admitted
on all sides that the " purchasing power of a pound
sterling," or, in other words, that command over the
necessaries and comforts of life, which was conveyed
by a sovereign or a one pound note, in the average
of transactions in which it was employed some 30 years
since, is more than doubled. This has been the
result of our monetary legislation, and if those enact-
ments are to be maintained inviolate and perpetuated,
corresponding change should be made in every de-
partment. The pressure of the national debt has
been increased in that proportion. Now we desire
to maintain faith with the public creditor, but we
cannot see why faith should not be maintained with
the tax-payer, or why the former should receive
r.wiee the amount for which he stipulated—thus in-
creasing his resources at the expense of the latter.
Many of the salaries now complained of were regulated
according to the former value of money ; but when the
latter has changed so considerably, why should the par-
ries now receive twice as much as was considered to
be fair remuneration for their services at that time.
this is the true light in which the subject should be
regarded. It is, we verily believe, the view that will
he taken by the great body of the people outside the
walls of Parliament. We confess that we should
;ready prefer a monetary reform that would restore
things to their original positron, and bring the value
.f money to what it was when 600,000,000/. were
cid dA to the national debt. But if this just and rea-
sonable proposition be rejected—if Government still
pertinaciously and obstinately adhere to our restric-
tive currency laws, the only alternative is, that there
should be " a careful revision of the salaries and wages
paid in every department of the public service, with a
view to a just and adequate reduction thereof, due
regard being had to the efficient performance of the
several duties."

ACCOUCHEMENT
OF,

HER MAJESTY.

BIRTH OF A PRINCE.

This morning at twenty minutes after Eight o'clock
the Queen was safely delivered of a Prince. In the
room with her Majesty were his Royal Highness
Prince Albert, Dr. Locock, and Mrs. Lilly, the
monthly nurse. And in the rooms adjoining were
the other medical attendants, Sir James Clark and
Dr. Ferguson, and the Ministers and Officers of State
summoned on the occasion.

The Privy Councillors present were the Duke of
Wellington, Sir George Grey, the Archbishop of
Canterbury, the Bishop of London, Lord John
Russell, the ;;Doke of Norfolk, and the Marquis of
Breadalbane.

DEATH OF SIB, THOMAS CAlLTNVRlGHT.—lntelli-
gence has been received at the British Legation in Berlin,
from Stockholm, of the death of Sir Thomas Cartwright, her
Majesty's envoy at the Court of Sweden. This melancholy
event occurred after a few days' illness, in consequence, as ft
is said, of an inflammation or abscess in the throat. No man
will be more lamented the Com tto which he was accre-
dited, and by his colleagues, than this most worthy and
popular gentleman. Sir Thomas had attained his fifty-tourth
year, and had passed thirty-six years in the diplomatic
service.

A letter from Berlin states that Prince Adalbert of
Prussia, the King's youngest brother, has contracted a
morganatic marriage with Theresa Elssler, Fanny Elssler's
sister. She is henceforward to bear the name of Madame de
Bernau, which the King has sanctioned on the occasion of
the marriage.

SHROPSHIRE UNION RAlLWAY.—Viscount Jocelyn,
the chairman of the Committee on this Bill, reports that the
Committee have struck out of the Bill so much thereof as
relates to the alterations proposed to be made in the existing
powers to leave the undertaking to the London and North-
Western Railway, and that the promoters had consented to
abandon tbat rtion of their Bill.
LANCASHIRE, CHESHIRE, AND STAFFORDSHIRE
RAILWAY.—The affairs of this concern are to be wound-up,
and as a preliminary step thereto, creditors are to appear and
prove their debts before the Master.

CITY COMMISSION OF SEWERS.—TheCommissioners
assembled at the Guildhall as usual yesterday—Mr. De-
puty Peacock in the chair; but the only business transacted
on the occasion was entirely of a routine character, and there-
fore destitute of any interest.
To hear complaints with patience, even when com-
plaints are vain, is one of the duties of friendship; and
though it must be allowed that he suffers most like a hero
that hides his grief in silence, yet it cannot be denied that he
who complains acts like a man, like a social being, who looks
for help from his fellow-creatures.—Eliza Cook's Journal.

MANCHESTER TRADE REPORT, APRIL 30.—The
market to-day has been very quiet. There has been a good
deal of inquiry for yarns and some kinds of cloth, but it has
not resulted in much business, owing to the advanced prices
demanded. There has been a considerable speculative de-
mand for cotton in Liverpool to-day, which has caused our
spinners and manufacturers to be very firm in demanding an
advance. This has checked businesa materially, but there
seems a probability of the week proving a satisfactory one.
ACCIDENT ON THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.—
Along the above line on Friday evening last several of the
down trains were delayed. On inquiry it was found that
the 5 30 down train, owing to some failure in the driving
machinery, had got off the line, when about a mile and a
half east of Slough, which caused the greatest consternation
among the passengers. Immediate attempts were made to
get it on again, but in vain; and, in consequence, both the
7 o'clock and mail down trains were considerably delayed, so
that passengers by the former were detained for more than
three hours. The mail train arrived at Reading about II
o'clock, instead of 10 10, as usual ; and a similar delay took
place at the other intermediate stations. Fortunately no loss
of life nor any serious injury w
instituted,
as sustained among the pas-
sengers. Au inquiry is being in order to ascertain
if any blame attach to the employes of the company in regard
to the cause of the accident.

Anna Mary Anson, who some months since figured
away at Cheltenha►n as Lady Wyatville, was yestercigy com-
mitted from Wandsworth, charged with victimizing a great
number of lodginghouse-licepus,

MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS.
CITY, QUARTER i 0 THREE.
The sates of C.)tton at Liverpool yesterday we-e esti-
mated at 10,000 bales, of which one half were taken for
export and on sr eculation. The market was firm.—
Railway Shares continued very dull and prices were
drocping.

Tho
Stock Exchange is closed to-day, as customary
on the Ist of May.
The Bunker's Magazine for May states that the
Money Marktt continues to be well supplied with capi-
tal, and for good three months' bills the rate of discount
is still only a fraction above 2 per cent. per annum.
The Bank minimum rate is 21, as before. The bankers
accept lodgments on call at .something like 14 per
At these easy rates money is not a drug, and finds em•
ploymcnt.

"- The Life Policies of Assurance Bill, we are sorry to
say, has made no further progress, and has now little
chance of success this session. We should like to see
the Banking community, who are so directly interest
in the success of this measure, strengthen the hands of
its promoters by petition, or by private correspondence
with friends v ho arc Members of the House."
The following is from Panama, relative to the revolu-
tion of Equador:—

" Guayaquil,. March 4, 1850.
" A revolution broke out Lereon the 20th ultimo, prin-
cipally confined to the military. Dan Diego Vovoe was
yesterday appointed Supreme Chief, and up to this date
good order has been observed; but as our communica•
tion with Quito is closed, and the piinciral citizens are
strongly opposed to this revolutionary movement, it is
impossible to judge of the duration or course it may
pursue."

El Mercurio, of Valparaiso, January 31st, states
that in the month preceding the amount of flour Ex-
pored from that port t) California way 80,000 quintals,
being nearly 40,000 barrels. The same journal sap
that the population of California augments so rapidly that
all the products of their fields will not be sufficient to
supply them with bread, adding that, to a North Ame-
rican, bread is an indispensable aliment.
El Corco, of Lima, of February 9th, contains the
Message of the President of the United States, sent to
Congress, December, 1849.

The question of extending to a farther pgriod the
monopoly granted hitherto to the Pacific Steamboat
Company is not yet settled, and continues to be dis-
cussed in the journals of Lima, by long-winded corre-
spondents.

- In the Nova Scotia Legislature the following resolu-
tions were carried by a strong majority:-
Ist. That if the United States remove existing duties
on the following articles, the growth and production f
British North America, the following articles be allowed
to be imported into this province from the United States,
duty free, viz.

Grain and breadstuffs of all kinds, vegetables, fruits
seeds, bay and straw.
Animals, salted and fresh meats, butter, cheese, lard,
tallow, hides, horns, wool, undressed skins, and furs of
all kinds.

Ores of all kinds, iron in pigs and blooms, copper,
lead in pigs.
Grindstones and stones of all kinds, earth, coals, lime,
ochres, gypsum ground or unground, rock salt.
Wood, timber, and lumber of all Rinds, firo wood,
ashes, bark.

Fish, fish oil, train oil, spermeoeti oil, head matter,
and blubber, fins and skins, the product cf fish or crea-
tures living in the water.

Accounts from Amsterdam state that very little Wa'
doing in the Funds on Sunday. Dutch Two-and a,
Half per Cents. 55 5-16.

The confirmation of yesterday's reports that the
Socialist candidate, Eugene Sue, was elected for Paris,
and that the funds had fallen Ito i per cent, the ac-
count being very Bullish, has had some influence on
prices hero, and there have been bargains in the Sub-
scription-rooms at 95i for Consols. At the Bank of
England the half-yearly balance is being taken.

COURSE OF
Amsterdam ...... •• .. 12 2
Ditto, three months., 12 3%
Rotterdam .... ••.. .. 12 3%
Antwerp .... 25 85
Brussels .. • • .... .... 25 80
Hainburgh .. • • • 31.8 . 13 13%
Altona .......... •• -

Paris, 3 days'sight -.: :-. 25 60
Ditto, 3 months .... 25 80
11.farseilles .......... •• 25 80
Bourdeaux.... • • ... .
Frankfort on Mains.... 121 A

Vienna, effec. f 10...... 12 7
Trieste, ditt0.....• ... 12 8
Petersburgh, Sil. Rble.. 37
Madrid •• .. •• ........ 49%
Cadiz •• —•••••••• •• •• 49%
Barcelona •• •••• •• •• ••
SeTille.• •••••• •• •• •• •.

IMPERIAL 'PARLIAMENT.

(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The SPEAKER took the chair at Twelve o'clock.
The Greenwich Hospital Improvetnetit Bill, and the
South Stalf,rdthire Railway Bill, were read a third tiino.
Mr. W. PATTEN moved, " That it he an instruction
to the Committer., of Selection, that they have power to
appoint the meeting of the ~Commitiße on the booth-
Eutern R.tilway (power to discontinue payment Of in-
terest on calls pLiid on No. 3 and No. 4 share, &j. (re-
committed) Bill, specially reported upon by the Com-
mittee, fir any day aft,d. the Bth d:ly of this iustAnt May,
bhou la they to think fit."—Agrced to.