The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-01 00:00:00

IE, Great Marlborough-street.
GENERAL SIR CHARLES NAPIER.
"LIGHTS AND SHADES OF MILITARY LIFE."
Edited by Lieut.-General Sir CHARLES NAPIER, G.C.B.
Commander-in-Chief in India.
Now Ready, in one vol. Svc, price 12e. bound.

" A most agreeable work, replete with every

" This work is crowded with light and sunny traits, and brings
before us so graphic a picture of life in the various vicissitudes of
military experience, that it is possessed of a fascination which has
rarely before been imparted to such subjects. It gives us fresh
views •f the soldier's life, and speaks out of the fulness of thought
and knowledge."—Atlas.
Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street.

STOCKEN v. KING.
LEASEHOLDS, WALHAM-GREEN.
TO be peremptnrliy SOLD, pursuant to a DE-
LL of the HIGH COURT of CHANCERY, made in a
cause of STOCKEN v. KING, with the approbation of factual)
Tortm KINDEBSLEY, Esq., the Master to whom this cause stands re-
ferred,
Valuable COPYHOLD and LEASEHOLD ESTATES, compris-
ing Forty-four Messuagea in King's-row, Frederick's-place, Pond-
place, and Gibb's-green, and a Plot of Building Land, all in
the parish of Fulham, Middlesex, calculated to produce a rental
of 5301. per annum, which will be SOLD, by AUCTION, by Messrs.
DAVIS and VIGERS, at the Auction Mart, opposite the Bank of
England, on WEDNESDAY. the 7th day of August, 1850, at Twelve for
One o'clock, in Eight Lota.
The Premises may be viewed on application to the respective tan-
ants, until the day of sale. Particulars and conditions of dale may
he had (gratis) at the Office of Master Kindersley, Southampton-
buildings, Chancery-lane; of Messrs. Fyson, Curling, and Hope, 3,
Frederick's-place. Old Jewry ; of Messrs. Symes, Weston, Teesdale,
and Sandilands, solicitors, Fenchurch-street; of Mr. Haynes, solicitor,
Symond's Inn. and High-street, Wandsworth ; at the Auction Mart;
the Star and Garter, Richmond the Swan Tavern, Walham-
green ; Bed Lion, Hammersmith ; White Horse, Brentford ; and the
Auctioneers' Offices, 3, Frederick's-place, Old Jewry.

THE TIMES LIFE ASSURANCE AND
GUARANTEE COMPANY,
Ludgate-hill, London.
Notice is hereby given, that INTEREST on the Capital Stock of
this Company at the rate of 4i. per cent. per annum will be
PAYABLE to the Proprietors on 'fatnasnat, the Bth day of August
next, between the hours of Eleven and Two, and on every Thursday
following, between the said hours.
H. B. SHERIDAN, Manager.

BEE MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
GRAND EXTRA N'GHT
TEMPESTA.
It is respectfully announced, that a GRAND EXTRA NIGHT
will take place
THIS EVENING,
When will be presented the highly saccessttl new grand Opera, by
lialevy, the Poem by Scribe, founded on The Tempest of Shakspere,
and composed expressly for her Majesty's Theatre,
LA TEMPESTA.
In consequence of the approaching termination of Madlle. Carlotta
Grist's engagement, this is the last time bat one that La Tempesta
can possibly be given.
The Incidental Dances by M. Paul Taglioni.
The Scenery by Mr Charles Marshall.
Alfonso, Sig. Lorenzo; Prospero, Sig. Colletti ; Antonio, Sig. F.
Lablache ; Ferdinand. Sig. Baucarde; Trinculo, Sig. Ferrari; Ste
pitano, Madlle. Parodi , Sycorax. Madlle. Ida Bertrand ; Spirit of
Air. Madame Giuliani ; Aria, Madlle. Carlotta Grisl ; Callban, Sig.
Lablache ; Miranda, Madame Sontag.
With other Entertainments in which Madame Frezzolini, Signori
Gardoni and Calzolari will appear.
With various Entertainments in the Ballet Department, combin-
ing the talents of Madlle. Carlotta Grist, Madlle. Amalie Ferraris,
Madlles. Julien, Rosa, Lamoreux, Aussandon ; MM. Charles, Vena-
fra, Di Matta, Gouriet, &c.
To conclude with the revived admired Ballet Divertissement Epi-
sodique, by M. P. Taglioni, the Music by Signor Pngni, entitled
LA PRIMA BALLERINA; on, L'Embuscade.
Applications for boxes, stalls, and pit tickets to be made at the
Box Office of the Theatre.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA. COVENT-GARDEN.
A GRAND EXTRA NIGHT
THIS EYEN-L.NG

Will be performed

L JLIVE.

Composer, Director of the Music, and Conductor, Mr. Costa.
The Scenery by Messrs. Grieve and Telbin : the Dresses by
Mrs. Bailey and Mme. Marzio ; the Appointments by Mr. ISla-
mire ; the Staciiincry by Mr. Allen ; the Dances arranged by M.
Alexandre ; and the Spectacle under the direction of Mr. k. Harris.
The Performances will commence at Eight o'clock.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tins Dar Morning 52 min. after 6 1 Evening 15 min. after 7
To-Mosaow— Morning 43 min. after 7 1 Evening 12 min. liter S

TUE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, AUGUST 1.
THERMOMETER, IN TAB SHADS.
74—highest since noon yesterday.
58—lowest this morning and during the night.
64—this day, at noon.
BAROMETER, 30.24.
IVDrD E.S.E.—dull, hazy weather.

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Into

THE SUN,

tented with this wholesale slaughter, but made other
alterations which would still further reduce the
number from 144,263 to about 120;000, or little
more than six per cent. of the adult male population ;
and also totally struck out a valuable series of clauses
which were designed to produce a self-acting registry,
and which were no less important in principle than
even the new description of franchise that was be-
stowed by the Bill.

On the first point Lord JonN RUSSELL proposed to
take what he considered a middle course—" to divide
the difference with the Lords"—by taking a 121.
qualification or rating. This course would give, ac-
cording to the Noble Lord, a clear result of 172,072
voters, in place of 144,263 under the 151. rating, or
l 0 per cent. in place of 8 per cent. of the adult males,
that would be entitled to be placed on the registry.
We cannot, however, agree that the division is by any
means a fair one, inasmuch as there would thereby
be in round numbers a diminution of 92,000 electors
from what would be given under the 81. rating, while
there would only be an increase of 28,000 on that
proposed by the Lords. It appears to us, that if the
Commons weft° prepared to give up their privilege,
and really to meet the Lords half way, the compro-
mise would have been with respect to the number of
voters affected, and not to the rating. The 101. qua-
lification would have more nearly accomplished this.
If it were adopted there would be 217,381 voters,
being 12 per cent. on the adult males, an increase of
73,000 on the number under the 151. rating, and a
diminution of 47,000 of the number that would be
given under the proposition, as it went up from the
Commons.

We think it will be generally allowed that this
would have been an ample concession, quite enough
to have satisfied the amour propre of their Lord-
ships. The extraordinary course adopted by Lord
LANSDOWNE, however, prevented any chance of ob-
taining fair terms. As the Hon. Gentleman the
Member for Buckinghamshire truly remarked, the
Noble Marquis had " almost before it was placed on
the table, and before it was explained to the House,
stabbed it, as it were, in the back, and himself virtu-
ally inserted a higher qualification." The statement
of the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State
for the Home Department scarcely helped his Noble
Colleague. lle admitted that the President of the
Council had stated that if the 151. rating was rejected
he would propose the 121., thus abandoning the im-
portant position he was entrusted to defend without a
single blow. Indeed, the entire tone and manner of the
Noble Marquis proved that his own predilections
ran altogether in favour of the higher rating, and that
121. was quite as low as he would wish to go. Under
such circumstance, and at so advanced a period of
the session, and taking into consideration the palpable
backsliding of the Ministry, the House of Commons
had perhap3 no alternative but to accept the com-
promise fur the time being, if not prepared to see
one of the most valuable measures of the year abso-
lutely lost ; for even in its diluted form it must be
admitted to be a great improvement on the existing
system. Many Honourable Gentlemen, however,
expressed their firm determination not to accept the
present compromise as a final settlement of the
question.

On the principle of the self-acting registry, we are
happy to say that Ministers evinced greater firmness,
The Master of the Mint, in a short but brilliant
speech, vividly depicted the painful position in which
the "tenant at will" would be placed, if serving
notice of claim to be registered against the will of hig
landlord. It would have the effect of keeping up
a constant and unceasing excitement—a matter to be
especially deprecated in Ireland—and would also
materially reduce the numbers on the registry. The
natural indolence and vis inertia would prevent many
persons from putting forward their claims. O❑ this
point the Commons have peremptorily refused their
assent, and by a decisive majority, to the alteration,
and have reinserted the clauses that had been omitted
in the Upper House. A conference will, of course,
be had on the only subjects of difference, and of the
result we cannot entertain a doubt, viz., that the
Lords will gladly acknowledge the large concessions
that have been made, and accept the Bill in its pre-
sent form.

The subject which has most interested the com-
mercial world of the city of London for some months
back, is the correspondence between two of the prin-
cipal docks and her MAJESTY'S Board of Customs.
Tne majority of our contemporaries took up the cage,
and entered the field also ; but, remembering that
there are always two sides to a question, we refrained
from interfering, although we silently watched the
progress of the arguments on both sides. If this were
a mere petty squabble between the docks and the
Thard of Customs, we would have remained
passive, as hitherto, but from the tenor of the corre-
spondence, it appears that questions of vital moment
to the mercantile interests are deeply involved.
We have, therefore, been induced to make some inqui-
ries, and the result is that we have arrived at an
opinion opposite to those expressed by all the other
journals who have discussed the matter; for, while
they made their onslaughts on the Customs only, and
shielded the Docks, although we will not exactly re-
verse that order, yet we believe we can show that both
have been to blame. We have no overweening regard
for the Board of Customs : as a public body, they are
a fair subject for comment, if they neglect the
trust confided to their charge. It is no cha-
racteristic of public boards to enter into trouble-
some campaigns, and we cannot help thinking
there must have been something in the contro-
versy to have moved the Customs. If we
are compelled, in order to arrive at the merits
of this case, to show wherein the Board is
right or wrong, it is not to defend on the one hand, or
condemn on the other, but to see how far the mer-
cantile interests are affected. There have been
frauds, or there have not been frauds. If the former,
land goods have been withheld, then the Customs
have suffered ; but we do not sympathise with those
who have the power to protect themselves. But
with the merchant it is different. The Crown alone
cannot have suffered a loss of duties by the suppres-
sion of goods ; the proprietor of these goods incurs
the loss to a greater extent, because he loses
their value, unless the merchants generally are
shareholders, and so participate.
The importers confide in the integrity of a great
establishment, which is enhanced by the supervision
of the Customs ; if that supervision is imperfect the
public have a right to complain. The Customs have
been tardy in doing justice. If their eyes are now
opened, while admitting such, they reflect seriously on
themselves for the past, which of itself is a just
ground of censure, but if they are now taking a
step in the right direction, we should think it impo-
litic to run them down, or furnish them with excuses
for slothfulness. If our information be correct, official
laxity has had a great deal to do with the business,
and a thorough reformation is needed. Tedious though
it be, the investigation is pregnant with vital im-
portance to the trading community. Let them
not be blinded by the sophistry of interested
parties ; indeed the defence and arguments of the
Dock Companies themselves to manouvre the trade
produced the first startling conviction in lour minds
that the trade was more deeply concerned, as
we have already said, than the Crown. The
Dock Companies complained loudly of the
Customs for assuming to protect the interests of the
merchants, as if identical with their own, since,
as they say, the merchants form that body ; and if
the "sweepings" were appropriated to the use of the
companies, the merchants who constitute the com-
panies, were the parties benefited and so entitled. But
we do not subscribi! to that line of argument. Let
us see how that sophistry tells. We will suppose a
shareholder invests 1,0001., and another lOW. in the
dock funds, and each receive a dividend of 5 per
cent., the one gets 50/. and the other gets 51. Now,
say that the
.larger shareholder transacts but
trifling amount of business, if any at all, in the
docks, while the smaller shareholder imports, perhaps
50,000 t. worth of goods per annum ; but to make
a dividend of 5 per cent., a tax, to the ex-
tent of 1/. per cent., is taken out of the
cargoes of the importer. The result of this would be
that the lesser shareholder contributes indirectly and
in ignorance 5001. per annum—in addition to the
capital
sper o
invested in hni
t. while
s shares—towards
the
largershareholder
making a divi-
dend
of
adds nothing but his bare capital, and gets his
ofdivi-
dendh
w 5/ 0
. per
supports
cent.
a thet the o
dcks
expense, of the industrious
trader,
It appears to us that this question cannot be fully