The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-03 00:00:00

! tacles of ignorance and superstition to the level of the
age. He claimed peculiar qualities and peculiar in-
fluences for such aehievethents. The House of Lords
admired him, the house of (Nimmons obeyed him, the
Church trusted him, the Tory party wore at his feet.
Was it not desirable to have a Minister who; if he at-
tempted less, would finish everything he attempted? The
public thought so. He was made Minister by acclama-
tion. But the proved abuses continue : he cannot re-
move one. The Bishop of Exeter and the proctors Com-
bine against his ecclesiastical reforms. Lord De Grey
leads Orangemen against his chief on Irish policy ; •the
squires refase to give him corn; the West Indians insist
on his adherence to the minimum of sugar; Lord Ash-
: ley wishes everybody to do less than the Minister; and
on the only question where common sense and the real
judgment of the middle classes is with Sir Robert
Peel the Minister is beaten. We cannot tell how all
these things happen, but there they are:—no Chancery
reforms, in the face of enormous promises ; vast
compensations- under the name of subordinate reduc-
tions; clerks in the Aug,ean stable of that court re-
' tiring upon the allowance of ambassadors ; a six clerk
richer than an Irish bish ; three or four such per-
sonages with greater compensations than maintain the
exiled princes of the French and Sp finish Bourbons.
A glimpse into the- ancient preserves of the wig and
gown will repay most Reformers. The good old tunes,
no doubt, are almost over, but we may judge what sort
of things were formerly in esse, when we see such an
office as that of the Six Clerks abolished at an outlay
as great as Jamaica costs us. The old system, however,
is gone, and we shall see after Easter, on Mr. Watson's
motion, how far the compensations have been fairly or
unfairly, parsimoniously or prodigally dealt with. But
law reforms, it appears, have not prospered under the
Peel Administration. The appointments made by the
Tory Government have been enough to sicken the
country with the name of law reform. Salaries have
been raised with the usual consequence, that the indivi-
duals selected have smaller qualifications. In respect
to the Commissioners of Bankrupts, the old and experi-
enced provincial practitioners werediscarded, and broken
down Tory hangers-on preferred. Mr. Foster, of Man-
chester, was superseded in spite of great experience, and
a place found for the inexperience of Mr. Phillips. Mr.
Brandt, of the same district, was forgetten, in spite of
extensive knowledge and established powers of use-
fulness ; and Mr. Skirrow, in spite of incapacity,
equally established, was appointed. To the gent:emen
so able and so experienced compensations must be al-
lotted ; how much we cannot say, but to a considerable
extent. Te the gentle Men now-tiipon the bench large
salaries are paid ; and it shag be for our readers to say
how the public has gained. The fault, however, is with
the Chancellor, and not with-the Act of Parliament. If
he had contented himself with salaries to the amount of
1,000/. or 1,2001. a year, the places would have been as
much sought after as legal places ought to be ; but they
would have been sought after by. persons who did not
want a Ten Hours' Bill, and who were equal to their
situations. . At present the public have an equal right
to find fault with the Tory Treasury for fixing salaries
too high, and with the Tory- Lord High Chancellor for
being contented with qualifications not high enough.
They must further keep a sharp eye upon the super-
annuations. Every guinea paid .in superannuation
must be justified on the :ground that the individual
superseded was inferior to the individual appointed,
otherwise why charge the over-burdened funds of
the country with unnecessary superannuations ?—why
superannuate gentlemen who are perfectly willing
to discharge old duties under a new system, and who,
for the most part; are as able, and in several instances
far more able to do so, than the parties fur the benefit of
whom the supersession has taken place ? We contend,
therefore, that, look which way we will, there are as yet no
results from this wonderful Administration which entitle
it to the confidence of the public. In foreign affairs it
gradually loses ground. In Irish affairs it gets worse
and worse, losing character in registration Bills, popu-
larity from its treatment of O'Connell, and strength from
the well-known inconstancy and irresolution of the
Premier. In Great Britain it has made no reforms
worth mentioning, and some of the best attempts have
been decided failures. In legislation it does nothing use-
ful, and in administration nothing well. It is without
cordial support in many circles, and, perhaps, to its
credit ; for cordiality in such circles is never given to a
Minister who has good intentions towards the people.
Sir Robert reel, we believe, has fair designs, and would
far rather conduct the Government On Liberal than coer-
cive principles. He would far rather be a Conservative,
Minister—certainly
oa f do-nothing
liin fge
if such a name is to be endured, than be, called a Tory ;
but he would far rather be a Tory Minister—ay,. we
place,
fear,
eaar apnthhaaunnit ultra,-Tory
continue- T o
Tryo-r
ya
few more
years
Minister than be without
without power; of Privy-gardens, without a bridge to
Downing-street; of Tamworth in the House of Com-
mons, to its coronetted earldom in another place. Let
any one see the position of the Ministry, and doubt, if
he can, another moment. Observe the iron links of the
Chnchman's chain, in which he binds the reluctant hand
of every friendly Government; see the fetters which
bind hand and foot the Tory Minister who presumes to
breathe a sentiment inimical to their views of the mys-
teries of agriculture ; see the doom which awaits a
Liberal Minister, in the antipathy of the Tory press,
Irish as well as. English, to the mere suggestion of de-
corous clemency to the' great champion of the Irish
people. For our own parts we see no use in such an
Administration. It keeps, no doubt, the house aired,
the fires warm, the roof dry, in the absence of the spirit
and energy which used to inhabit Downing-street,
.but
more than this it does not. But what a pass have things
come to, when everybody feels that Sir R. Peel can be
spoken of in such a way; and what is worse, that it is
the truth.

ADVERTISER.—In another part of our journal
will be found most interesting information from Dublin
—Mr. O'Connell's appearance at, and reception by, the
Repeal Association. It may be retnemberek it was
' insinuated that Mr. O'Connell's praise of the English—
his just acknowledgments of the altered tone of the
great body of the people of this country since their
eyes were opened by the abominable trials, would have
the effect of hazarding his popularity at home. 'Well,
he returns. He appears among his countrymen, and re-
minds them how unwillingly h had made his last jour-
ney to England; but he boldly and undisguisedly added
that he now rejoiced that he had gone, fur that though
the " oligarchy were omnipotent, "he was glad to say
he had found a spirit of conees4ion, and a spirit of good-
will so prevalent among the people of Eng-
land, that he heartily rejoiced at his change
of determination." Ileac sentiments—this testi-
mony to the truth instead of diminishing the
warmth of his friends, only increased their enthu-
siasm towards him. The account will be read with
great satisfaction and greater hope by all good men ;
tor, as it is said, "war is a game kings would not play
at were their subjects wise,' we apprehend the power of
party, or as,;endancy, would soon cease to be of baneful
influence to the general interests, if the people of differ-
ent countries can be brought to understand their own
rights and welfare, to know how truly " party is the
madness of many for the gain of the few ;" and no
fur; andthe hence w
amelioration,
longer to allow themselves to be the dupes and tools of
factions. An immense deal has been achieved in a short
ttihmeeltroisl questioneinable the English to understand the Irish and
favourableresults
stability' of both countries. Injustice to Ireland has been
the grave of many an administration—and Peel and his
augur
security,th e
most
ad
Government, although backed by the Iron Duke, will
not escape the common fate. There are black and
ominous gatherings already in Downing-street ! Mr.
O'Connell proposed, most honourably to himself and
usefully to the cause, that it be referred to a Com-
mittee "to prepare an address of gratitude to the
people of England." The rent for the week will
amount to above 9001.—curious proof of the diminished
feeling towards Mr. O'Connell fur doing "justice to
England."

MONEY NIARKET and CITY NEWS.

FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.

CITY, TUESDAY EVENING.
TIMES.—The premium on gold at Paris is 13} per
mille, which, at the English Mint price of a 17s. 100.
per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 25
49 ; and the exchange at Paris on London at shor
!being 25 65, it follows that gold is 0.64 per cent.
dearer in London than in Paris.

By advices from Hamburgh the price of gold is 4341
per mark, which, at the English Mint price of 3/. 17s. 10/4
per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 13 91;
and the exchange at Hamburgh on London at short
exchange being 13 10i, it follows that gold is 0.34 per cent. dearer
in London than in Hamburgh.
10T8tepecroucresneto,faenxdchtahne par
exchange at New York
bon London is
of
Eng-
land and America being 109.13-40 per cent., it follow:.
that the exchange is 1.33 per cent. against England.
But the quoted exchange at New York being for bills
at 60.days' sight, the interest must be deducted from
the above difference.
CHRONICLE.—Our attention has been directed to
an article on the currency in the Foreign and Colonial
Quarterly Review for April, which will repay perusal to
those who feel an interest in the question. It is written
by one who evinces perfect knowledge of his subject,
and who makes the best use of his materials, placing
his views in a clear and well-defined light, and endea-
vouring so to arrange discussion as to proceed step by
step until he arrives by demonstrative means at the
wished-for end. Me lays down the proposition that the
" regular fluctuation in the country circulation, which
takes place at specific periods of each succeeding year,
is a sufficient proof that these results are regulated by
the seasons, and not by the influence of the bankers."
He, therefore, defines them to be the " laws of the cur-
rency," as neither caprice, nor avarice, nor ignorance,
could produce such uniform effects.
The following table shows the gradual falling off that
leas taken place in the country circulation
1839 £11,715,527
1840
1841
1842
1843

The Reviewer accounts for this extensive reduction by
three different causes, the last of which we look upon
as the most
.powerful—namely, by the failures of pri-
vate banks,- by the merging of others in joint-stock
banks, and by the arrangements made with the Bank of
England by several country banks who have withdrawn
their note:, and now issue Bank of England paper.
The Reviewer is of opinion that unless our system of
management, as respects the currency, be speedily placed
upon a sound basis, a re-action will take place, and pro-
duce effects similar to those that occurred in the years
1836 and 1839. We do not look upon the remedy sug-
gested in this article on the currency sufficient to pro-
tect..the country.frons the. anticipated changes, for the
writer says he sees nothing that requires improvement
in the currency of Scotland, Ireland, or the provinces
of England, except to admit large banking companies
within the limits of the B ink Charter, both in England
and Ireland, and placing all banks upon au equal footing

with regard to the law of partnership. He seeks no
change in the constitution or government of the Bank of
England, but recommends to the Directors to adopt some
principle that would save the country from the great
fluctuations which take place in the amount of her issues
He says that " the monster evil is the increase of notes,
when gold flows freely to the country," and he sug-
gests some remedy for this, showing, by the way, that
his " laws of the currency " are not so immutable as the
laws of the Medes and Persians.

SUN.—ThI English Securities leave off well, Consols
being 99 to 4 ; East India Stock touched 293*.
The Foreign Market was brisk, and Spanish-Fives rose
to 27 and 278 ; the Three p:.r Cents. being 38ii, to
Mexican Bonds were 37 to + ; Colombian. 15.4 ; and
Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents., 59,12- to :1, being all
higher, but especially the last mentioned.
The additional transactions in the Railway Shares
have been these—Birmingham and Gloucester were 7 ;
Brighton 5i ; Blackwell 108 ; Greenwich Preference
ex dividend 1-3- ; and Strasburgh and Bale 1 discount.
Bristol and Exeter were l to ; Caledonian It- ;
Bristol and Gloucester 18 to 17-i- ; Edinburgh and Glas-
gow 15 ; Birmingham New Quarter 26 ; Manchester
and Leeds lIa!f 18+ ; ditto. anal Birmingham 9 ; Nor-
wich and Brandon 5k to 5 ; Northern and Eastern 12+ ;
North Midland Half 6 ; and Paris and Orleans 151 to
16 premium.

The quotations at which three months bills of ex-
change were taken this afternoon, were a shade lower on
Paris, Hamburgh, and Amsterdam.
The following is the official return of the exports of
Bullion from the port of London for the week ending
Thursday last :
Silver Coin to Rotterdam B,OOO oz.
f, 9f lion-Kong ...... 8,000 „'
/, Belgium
„ Bars to Rotterdam 39,000 „
Gold Coin to Calcutta
COURSE OP EXCHANGE.—(YESTERDAY.)
Amsterdam CF. 12 61 Gibraltar
Ditto, at sight l2 4i Leghorn
Rotterdam 2U. 12 7 Genoa .

30 G 5
25 95

Antwerp 26 0
Elamburgh M.B. 14 0
Altona l4 0
Paris, 3 days' sight 25 70
Ditto, 3 mouths 25 95

Milan
Venice 47
Naples 39
Palormo, per oz ll7
Lisbon 53

Marseilles
Bourdeaux 25 0
Frankfort on Maine
Petersburgh, 3Us 361
Berlin 7
Vienna, effec. fl. 3 M 958
Trieste, ditto
Madrid 361
Cadiz
Itilbao • 36
Barcelona 36
Seville

Oporto
Rio Janeiro
Bahia
Buenos Ayres -
NewYork,2ldys sight
Philadelphia
PRICES OF BULLION, PER OZ.
Foreign Gold, bars £3 17 9
Portugal Gold Coin 3 17 5
New Doubloons 0 0 0
New Dollars 0 4 9i
Silver in Bars 0 4 11A

2.3

THE FACTORIES BILL.

To the Right Honourable and Honourable the Mem-
-13,,,rs of the House of Commons, the following
statement of facts is respectfully submitted by a
deputation of manufacturers and mill-owners, re-
presenting more than two hundred firms exten-
sively engaged in the cotton, woollen, and similar
trades.

They beg leave to say that the branches of manu-
facture which must be affected by any changes in the
factory law supply thirty-five out of the forty-four
millions of the exports of the United Kingdom, and,
both indirectly and immediately, give employment to
a large proportion 'of the British population. It is
obviously of the highest importance that the mea-
sures designed to establish an interference with so
large an amount of national production, and with the
condition of so vast a number of individual pro-
ducers, should be based on soand and accurate in-
formation ; but they regret to find much misappre-
hension prevailing in var►ous quarters, and dangerous
misstatements given to the world under the sanction
of influential names. Sincerely anxious to promote
and preserve the comforts of the operative, and to ad-
vance their condition in the social scale, they beg
leave to state, that benevolence, when misdirected by
erroneous . representations, is almost certain to injure
the objects of its favour, and they, therefore, earnestly
request you to examine the evidence for the alleged
facts, by which an interference with the hours of
labour is attempted to he justified.
The erroneous statements of which they complain,
and a refutation of which they propose to lay before
you, are chiefly contained in the Morning Post of
March 16, and form what purports to be the substance
of a speech delivered by Lord Ashley, on moving that
the duration of factory-labour for females and non•
adults should be limited to ten hours. Before enter-
ing upon the separate examination of these statements
the members of the deputation have to complain that
the data of many of the calculations and statistical in-
ferences brought forward in the speech attributed to
the Noble Lord are nowhere given, and they respect-
fully
submit that it is unreasonable to demand assent
to conclusions when the premises are withheld. How-
ever correct calculations may be, their results must
be worthless if the measurements on which they are
founded be erroneous ; and however true a statistical
return may be, it can furnish no ground for inference
if it be made up from partial survey and selected
cases.

Lord Ashley is represented by the Morning Post
as stating *that, besides other laborious occupations,
the persons engaged in mule-spinning have to travel
the following distances :—" In the mill which spun
No. 14, the least distance possible to be travelled was
seventeen miles, the greatest twenty-seven miles;
No. 15, the least nineteen miles, the greatest twenty-
nine miles ; No. 30, the least twenty-four miles, tile
greatest thirty-seven miles ; No. 38, the least fifteen
miles, the greatest twenty-three miles ; and No. 40,
the least distance was seventeen miles, and the greatest
twenty-one miles." This calculation is given on
anonymous authority, but is said to have been made
"by an eminent mathematician." 'We are not told
whether this mathematician based his calculation on
actual survey or mere guess, or on the statements of
some other unnamed party ; and yet, on such feeble
evidence, we find an attempt made to impeach the
veracity or accuracy of Mr. R. H. Greg, whose
knowledge of the processes of the cotton-manufacture
is not surpassed in this or any other country, and
whose character for honour and integrity is as high
and unimpeachable as that of the Noble Lord to
whom this speech is attributed. But, in truth, the
decision of the question of distances requires no
further knowledge of mathematics than is comprised
in the use of a measuring tape, and a tolerable
acquaintance with the four first rules of arithmetic.
Now, it is obvious that the quantity of yarn spun
by the mules in a given time will be the exact mea-
sure of the di,tance to be traversed by the spinner,
who goes backwards and forwards nearly in a straight
line. Taking the No. 30 yarn as that which is given
by the author of the speech as the kind imposing the
necessity of traversing the greatest distance, we have
to state, as the result of our experience, that the
average produce of such yarn, by a pair of mules, is
from 20 to 24 hanks, of 840 yards each, per spir.dle
per week ; we have, however, heard of one instance in
which the produce amounted to 28 hanks. Taking
the extreme of 28 hanks, this will give a length of
26 miles and two-thirds per week, or about 4} miles
per day ; and doubling this for the two frames, we
find that the extreme distance travelled by the spinner
is just nine miles per day.
The distance to be traversed by the piecer cannot
be estimated with similar precision, because it depends
on the breaking of the threads ; and in good spinning
it will happen that several stretches will be made in
succession without the breaking of a single thread.
In fact, the breakages will be few in proportion to the
goodness of the cotton, and the perfection of the pre-
vious processes to which it has been subjected before
it has been placed on the mule. It must be further
observed, as is shown in the diagram, that the process
of piecing or mending a broken thread of the yarn,
can only be performed when the carriage begins to
move from the roller-beam, and cannot be accom-
plished consistently with good work when the car-
riage has gone more than about twenty-four inches.
Consequently, the " shoping" and "bending of the
body to a right angle," described in another part of
the speech, so far from being necessary on such yarn,
is neither usual nor desirable. The nearest approxi-
mation we can make to the distance traversed is under
eight miles in twelve hours for persons above thirteen
years of age. We state this as the result not only of
careful calculation, but also of actual measurement
of steps paced over, and attested by Messrs. Hor-
rockzes, Miller and Co., Paul Catterall, Son, and Co.,
William Taylor, of Preston, whose names we deem
quite sufficient to give authority to the statement, and
whose machines, it will be admitted, run as rapidly as
any in the trade.
rwo instances have come to our knowledge, one
of eleven miles, and the other thirteen four-tenths
miles, which the parties have given as the most ex-
treme cases they know of, whilst other cases have
been adduced in finer spinning which did not reach
five miles, a day. We have given the authority of our
computation, and a diagram to facilitate comprehension,
and we leave it to your candid judgment to deter-
mine between this plain statement and the unknown
calculations of the anonymous mathematician.
The next assertion to which we have to direct at-
tention is the alleged displacement of male adult
labour, the substitution of that of women and children
and the consequences which the author of the speech
supposes to have followed from such displacement.
Our answer to this assertion, or rather train of asser-
tions, will be brief, and, we trust, satisfactory. Had
any such displacement taken place, the number of
adult males thrown out of employment must have
produced a-surplus of supply in the labour-market,
and, consequently, the wages for all kinds of adult
male labour would have fallen ; but no such conse-
quence has followed, and the wages for even un-
skilled labour of males, such as porters, carters, day-
labourers, &c., is much higher in the manufacturing
than in the agricultural districts. The alleged in-
crease of the number of spindles, by double.decking,
&c., only proves that breakages have been diminished,
to a corresponding extent, by the use of superior
cotton, and greater skill and expenditure in the pre-
paratory processes. They have not, therefore, added
to the fatigue of the operative; and they have not