The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-29 00:00:00

THE NAPOLEON MUSEUM.
ihA.We have again visited this very.extraordinary and
f;',7ed wonderful exhibition, now open at the Egyp-
,l7.4 Hall, Piccadilly. When we consider it as the pro-
"cilltlion of the laborious researches of a single indvi-
l) indeed our surprise has increased on each occa-
X4l we have been to look over it, and we have found
0141e,.._ proprietor so ready and so obliging in answering
ifiyarious questions as to its formation, that Nye can
lly resist the impulse we feel to give our readers
of the
than
eof its origin. It appears that more
of ntY years ago, immediately after the death
the Emperor Napoleon at St. Helena, which
oetteltated, we may perhaps say, a sensation through-
Europe, the spirited and, indeed, en-
us tic proprietor (and in using this last term we
eoe satisfied from our own experience that nothing of
,sequence that requires very extensive historical
reh to understand, can be accomplished without
entblllsiasm) then decided, in his own mind, that the
114Teatest men who had ever existed, taken as a whole,
ere our own immortal bard Shakspeare and the Ern-
prerNapoleon. It seems he had been for some time
wviously collecting all he could of the former, which
lee understand is very considerable, and in 1821 began
earnest to see what it was possible to accomplish
olativ
eto the latter ; though at times he could not
oieurtatyat himself, as well as his countrymen, had
been taught to consider Napoleon in any
other than a favourable position. Notwithstanding,
t,7lg. determined to read nearly, if not quite all, that
ti,iihn appeared to be worth reading, he tells us in
071 Preface to his large quarto descriptive volumes
114 the tables of his Museum " the result of
les investigations has satisfied him how ground-
-10,3. end undeserved the accusations were, with
:.?11 the Emperor Napoleon was so generally
1474,„,1,ed; and he feels satisfied that a similar course
ace"'u induce many others to form an opinion in
Ito!)rdance with his own, and to abandon the pre-
tor4tees on the subject which they may have adopted;
here is nothing either good or bad, but thinking
makes it so.'
therthg this every interesting and exciting research
author's former opinions gradually changed, and
turally felt a deep interest in everything relating
th:laPoleon, which was increased by the perusal of
114 amusing and instructive work of the late Mr.
trY O'Meara, entitled, A Voice from St. Helena.'
investig,ation deepened the writer's sympathy
was convinced him that the real character of Napoleon
oth net so well known in England as that of many
olp'foreigners, who were far less eminent, or worthy of
eltree. In the selection of a subject so interesting, parti-
;tl.lY as an historical point, so vast in its extent, and
ertile in every kind of illustration, connected with
t'leerature and the arts, the collector did not, even at
dirßecnuniencement, conceal from himself the many
his'elllties necessarily attendant on the execution of
task, and the absolute impossibility of attaining
epleteness ; but he trusts that what, under many
41.0.4 vantages he has accomplished, will suffice to
ill Iv, that in selecting a special period of history for
t:tration, and devoting constant and systematic at-
trop to it, collections of various kinds may
vented, each receiving additional interest and
tr
tat
from the other, all of them affording
gratification during their formation,
d
Materially contributing to the better iip-
qation of the subject, as well as the period to
jah they relate. The collection herein described,
lodes many MSS., medals, and books that illus-
-1%7 the French Revolution which preceded Napo-
titl s entry into the great field of action ; but that this
totil not be otherwise will be evident, if it be re-
bered how inseperably his history is connected
the that of the Revolution of 1789. Not only was
Iconsulate and the Empire (the natural conse-
te,,,rilelee of the Revolution) a step onward in the great
to 3of events which changed the dynasties of Eu-
*til; but Napoleon himself, in all the astonishing and
tr,4l.,derful features of his character, was the great off-
J' a$ of the Revolution. Everywhere in his ma-
ke Marches the prolific seeds of change and refor-
yetZn were sown, so that the event which startled us
140tay, and excited our hopes or our fears for the
°, w, will on examination, be found to have close con-
optn• rh with that important period, when so many old
ions, and time-honoured institutions so generally
nor7pe the subject of fierce and unsparing conflict
men
it appear that we have any example of a
tor. in which the personal character of the
413,;"reign is so distinctly and forcibly impressed
oin every act of his government as in that of Na-
c'cal• Every event, therefore, which assists our
tPA,•et l •
ation of this great man, is important to our
Prehension of his policy; though he was never
p.„
11;"-ater, nor did his talents and judgment appear
tif(4,e, brilliant and wonderful, than during. the period
ti,Lile Directory in France, as General-in-Chief of
array of Italy, and in Egypt—or as Consul, or
(07.Peror. No other potentate ever reigned in France
`,elsewhere) with such consummate ability, either
ter tett rifler, her legislator, or as the head of, and di-
ll, of her armies."
ps.", e Seem as if we had imbibed some of the pro-
ihl,'""r of the Napoleon Museum's enthusiasm, and
4—LLtake some other opportunities of informing our
h 713, of our researches in this matchless collection,
1/4--411 we would most certainly advise them to lose
time in examining for themselves.

PAYMENT OF MAGISTRATES'
CLERKS.
t, TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
tel.:l‘,--This subject having been brought before Go-
Ivsmitaent in both Houses of Parliament by Lord
13,1:1'sley and the Marquis of Lansdowne, and it having
to, stated by Mr. Manners Sutton that a Government
treasure is now in preparation to provide for the pay-
too: of magistrates' clerks by a fixed salary out of the
at
rate, the ground for such change from the pre-
.4.
4104 • J stem being that the "costs" attending a convic-
-1211 petty sessions, owing, as it is obviously intended
the"' inferred (for this can be the only argument from
taost°PPressive fees paid to the clerks) are frequently
ihtLuisproportionate to the penalty inflicted ; and two
eiirr "Qs, amongst others, were cited by Lord Worsley
iteen'A 'notion, where a fine of one shilling was inflicted,
1/ with costs in one case to the amount of
‘pb,,t* 6d., and in the other to 21. This, at first sight,
te'''s Marvellously hard. How enormous are the fees
kr, ese magistrates' clerks ! no doubt the credulous
sok-e exclaims ; whereas the fact is, and this fact for
poi: reason or other is kept back—and it is for the pur-
lete,°l bringing it forward that I venture to crave the
liort:,"°11 of this letter in your columns—a very small
kito, of these " costs" (as is known to every practical
utit of which Lord Worsley appears not to be cog-
') tlilD is composed of fees to the clerks in petty sessions.
Oes„,11 riding (West Yorkshire) their fees are more mo-
alitc,e than otherwise : the maximum amount they are
illiZsed to receive on a conviction is ?s.—viz., 2s. for the
o,,7ation and summons, 4s. for preparing and en-
V.:111g the record of conviction, and returning and
kith,' 4 With the clerk of the peace, and Is. for the cora-
Ntiaellt‘ All these matters in their preparation require
—.`,erable skill and attention ; the rest of the costs,
134 by far the greater bulk of them (and I pray you,
for',lll4'rk this) are composed of the constable's charges
oervice of the summons, for his attendance at the
to, ol„71,g, and of the sums allowed for the witnesses and
uorel'itiCnt for their loss of time. Is it intended to
el ea the, county rate, not only with the salaries of the
,14 the
to the ;justices, but with these, the heavier items
ohe“ Costs' also ? If not, how can the proposed end
trek-4wpied, and how is the professed objection to the
xl4lll System to be obviated by merely paying the
40t Bby a fixed salary ? But I contend that there is
elerttr.lsle slightest occasion for charging the salary of the
on the country rate ; the magistrates now, before
the fine, invariably ascertain the costs incurred,
106; are as invariably considered as part of the tine in
(sftkiii-dlg it ; and hence it is on this account that it is
?iattrsmall or nominal. If they wish, from the trivial
the charge, to inflict no penalty they can, and
`7vrice often do, dismiss the summons, besides which,
Zordits,..well remarked by some Honourable Member on
4tariorsley's motion, the clerks (whose high character
kis "eraally admitted) can issue no summons of them-
-4'4:: as the magistrate hears the complainant's state-
s, lid.„,,rld he alone can issue the summons.
7,11sio0"11g some practical experience in petty sessions
,--41eir ;Ls, I write for the purpose of setting the facts in
'1114,,1`u,.e light, which I think will at once render the
:gro,i-_,ultity of burdening the county rates on the
,4111101.4Q8 stated, with the salaries to clerks to justice*
!nore than questionable ; besides there are many
duties performed by the clerks, such as examine-
-4114 for settlements, removal orders, and overseers'
111%
these
generally, which are now equitably paid for by
wsithiPs, or parties requiring them, and surely
'eok,,,hritre not to be made a burden generally on the
1111414114 es under the "improved system." If any
tray es made—and here I request the attention of my
"ea i',,o"
'e ley and Sir James Graham—give the magis-
're -" Petty sessions thepower, where they think the
the 41:lances of the case require t, to make an order for
tA l ent of the costs of a conviction before them out
‘i irt.
—4 .7 rate, as at present they have the power to
)I.trposes of felony. This will effectually answer every
Ate, aigt7! Proposed, and prevent all necessity for charging
ire,
of the clerks on the county rates, which
'tffeQt ye, as I have demonstrated, would not have the
A41..4.1114 is con te mplated, and would be obnoxious to
I am, &c.,
AN ACTING MAGISTRATE.
1,4,2

‘°YAL MINT.—The workmen at this im-
ttint establishment have been busily engaged this last
in striking off a considerable quantity of the new coin-
.l,:3Tor the Bank of England and the Government, for the
111ent of the approaching April dividends, and the guar-
qoA, Day, half-Tay, and pensions of the army, navy, and the
;13t4 Qnlmen iscials of the different departments—Post• office,
ttheTtP, Exce, Customs, &c. A notice has been isLued by
Itzw. °Yal Mint that the exchange of the old for the new
*4 111QtleY weights will be continued at the Mint (accord-
"Vix to the ccnditions published in the London Gazette in
Itn 3:1'2843) until Saturday next, the 30th instant ; but that
rl":" after the said day the exchange will cease, and no
latiti;?: eights thereafter will be received at the Mint. The
the Bank t sovereigns and half-sovereigns received at
Ith, hank since the Royal Proclamation of her Majesty on
1,4
oght gold currency, which came into operation on the
'Qx&l2atroary, has been far below what was generally
, ted, and the panic, which at first existed, has now
Aar WALL OF EDINBURGH.--On Friday night
Leith,cl the old wall of Edinburgh, which forms one side of
it.,...,.7114, fell down, owing, it is supposed, to the action of
"' Fti sight on the old and miaow wall