The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-07 00:00:00

... Gen. Sir T. Blakeney (one of the Lords Justices).
1840 ... Lord Viscount Ebrington.
1841 ... Chief Justice Bushe (one of the Lords Justices):
... Earl De Grey.
1842 ... Ditto
... Sir E. Sugden (one of the Lords Justices).
1843 ... Earl De Grey.
The warrants issued in Ireland do not exceed three per
annum, on the average. Each warrant comprehends on the
average, about two persons.
The only warrant which bears the signature of the late
Chief Justice Bushe, one of the Lords Justices, was issued
with a view to obtain a clue to a murder : but it appearing
that the magistrate to whom it was sent had applied for it
for another purpose, that of ascertaining the state of the
country, this was not assented to, and the warrant was not
acted upon.
There are no data to show how many letters were opened
under each warrant, nor how long each warrant remained in
force ; 4 of the 31 warrants bear the signature of only the
Secretary for Ireland. More than a third of the warrants
concern Ribbonism, which wore a peculiarly threatening as-
pect in one particular year. The letters in Ireland are not
opened by the Postmaster-General, but by a confidential
clerk in the office of the Chief Secretary for Ireland.

The Committee have, in conclusion, to lay before the
House the following observations for their consideration,
arising out of the facts which it has been their duty to state :-
1. With regard to the utility of the warrants issued in
furtherance of criminal justice, their annual average in Groat
Britain does not exceed six, and this number of warrants
does not extend to the letters of more, on an average, than
twelve pounds a year. There is no evidence what-
ever to show in what proportion of cases these warrants
lead to discovery. On the one hand, therefore, it will be
doubted by some., taking into account the strong moral feeling
which exists against the practice of opening letters, with its
iccompanim'ents of mystery and concealment, whether it is
,vorth reti:ining in this class of cases. On the other hand it
must be, admitted that these are not the cases in favour of
which public feeling is most enlisted ; and that of all that
givr.ise to the exercise of this power, they present the least
eraptation to abuse.
2. With regard to the utility of such warrants, for the de-
tection of seditious conspiracies, or other practices endanger-
ing the public safety, or the discovery of the views enter-
tained by those who engage in them, it would be unreason-
able to deny that, in certain cases, this practice may have
aided the Executive Government in various ways, and amongst
others which are more and more obvious, by informing them
of the real strength of the conspirators and extent of their
combinations, and thus preventing the Ministers of the time
from taking exaggerated views of the force arrayed against
the State, and claiming extraordinary powers to meet appre-
bonded danger. Still, however, the argument derived from
the smallness of the number of warrants as compared with
the number of persons who may be supposed to entertain
such criminal designs, is not to be lost sight of; while,
on the other hand, it must be admitted that the number
of those to whom this class of warrants would apply, as
teing the chosen leaders of multitudes, would not be very
great. The warrants of this class have amounted, on the
average, to little more than two a year, which would extend
t., little more than four persons. The greatest number of
warrants of this description, issued in any year within the
present century, is about sixteen, extending in these cases to
between forty or fifty persons.; In addition to the argu•
ment derived from the smallness of the number affected, it
must not be forgotten that, after the publicity given to trhe
fact, that the Secretary of State has occasionally recourse to
the opening of letters as a means of defence in dangerous and
difficult times, few who hereafter may engage in dangerous
designs, will venture to communicate their intentions by the
medium of the post; and the importance of retaining the
power, as a measure of detective police, will consequently be
greatly diminished. The last argument, however, supposes
that there is no absolute certainty that a letter may not be
intercepted; and it may appear to some, that to leave it a
mystery whether or no this power is ever exercised, is the
way best calculated to deter the evil-minded from applying
the post to improper uses. It must also be remembered that
if such a power as this were formally abolished, the question
would not be left quite in the same condition as though the
power had never been exercised or disputed; by withdraw-
ing it, every criminal and conspirator against the public
peace would be publicly assured that he should enjoy secure
possession of the easiest, cheapest, and most unobserved
channel of commnnication, and that the Secretary of State
would not, under any circumstances, interfere with his
correspondence. It must not be forgotten, hoWever, that at
present other rapid means of communicating their views are
of easy access to the evil intentioned, and that, as far as in-
ternal order is concerned, the same rapid means afford the
Government unexampled facilities for suppressing tumult.
If the result of this inquiry bad been such as to impress
your Committee with a conviction of the importance of the
frequent use of this power in the ordinary administration of
affairs, they would have been prepared to recommend some
legislative measures for its regulation and control; and it
might not be difficult to devise regulations which would ma-
terially diminish the objections to its exercise ; as, for
example, that no criminal warrant should be issued except
en a written information on oath; that a formal record
should be preserved in the Secretary of State's office of the
grounds on which every warrant had been issued, of the
time during which it has remained in force, of the number of
letters opened under it, and of the results obtained. It is,
however, on the other hand, to be considered whether any le-
gislative measure of this kind might not have an indirect
effect in giving an additional sanction to the power in ques-
tion, and thereby possibly extending its use.
Under these circumstances, it will be for Parliament to con-
sider whether they will determine upon any legislative regu-
lation, or whether they will prefer leaving the power, on its
present footing in paint of law, in the hands of the Secretary
of State, to be used, on his responsibility, in those cases oi
emergency in which, according to the best of his judgment,
its exercise would be sanctioned by an enlightened public
pinion, and would appear to be strongly called for by impor-
t OURSE OF EXCHANGE.-(YESTERDAY.)
Amsterdam CF. 12 4j Gibraltar
Ditto, at sight l2 2 Leghorn 3O 50
Rotterdam 2U. 12 5 Genoa

Antwerp 25 90
liamburgh M.B. 13 13
Altona

Milan
Venice ..
Nap1e5.......

saris, 3 days' sight 25 60
!_)itto, 3 months 25 85
Marseilles

api,
Palermo, per oz
.1181
Lisbon 54&
Oporto s4i
- -

!,-,urdeaux
l'...ankfort on Maine l2l
!'•!tersburgli, 3 Us , 37
7
V enna, effee. 11. 3 M 952
ieste, ditto
ulrid 37
37
i lbw) 36

Rio Janeiro 23
Bahia 23
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

,trcelona 36

New Dollars 0 4 10i

avila .

Silver in ears 0 4 114

COURT CIRCULAR.

The Duchess of Cambridge and the Hereditary Grand
Duke and Duchess of Mecklenburgh Strehtz, honoured
Mr. Rogers with a visit yesterday, at his residence in
St. James's-place, to inspect his collection of pictures
and works of art. _ _

A Privy Council was held yesterday afternoon, at the
Council Chamber, Whitehall, at three o'clock, which was
attended by the Lord President, the Archbishop of
Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, Sir Robert Peel, the
Duke of Wellington, Sir James Graham, Lord Stanley,
the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl of Haddington, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Duke of Buceleuch,
the Earl of Ripon, Mr. Gladstone, Lord Granville
Somerset, the Earl of Liverpool, Earl Delawarr, Earl
Jersey, the Marquis of Exeter, and the Bishop of
London.
At the Council, the form of thanksgiving, to be used
in churches on the occasion of her Majesty's accouche-
meat, was arranged.
Sir Robert Peel returned to town, from Windsor, about
twelve o'clock.
Mr. J. Thornton, Deputy Chairman of the Commis.
sioners of the Board of Stamps and Taxes, had an inter-
♦iew with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday.
Dispatches were received from the Governor of Gib-
raltar and the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian
Islands yesterday at the Colonial-office. Dispatches
were also received from the Governors of the West India
Islands.

ASTLEY'S THEATRE.—This fashionable place of
resort has been doing wonders. Never, even in the most
palmy days of Astley and Ducrow, were its present per-
formances and success equalled. Every night it is at-
tended by highly numerous and most fashionable com-
panies. The Chinese War does not seem to have lost in
the slightest degree any of its attractions, although it
has been represented fur ten weeks. This is not to be
wondered at, for it is well got up, and, as a gorgeous
representation of national conquests, it has, perhaps,
never been equalled. , The Steeple Chase, with all its
hair-breadth escapes, has nightly drawn many admirers.
Nothing can be better managed than this illustration of
a truly English sport, and every one who has witnessed
or taken part in a real steeple chase must look on with
feelings of great pleasure. The spirited owner of this
establishment has just returned from the Continent,
after having engaged several celebrated artists, who will
,hortly make their debut to an English audience.
Amongst the names engaged are Mesdames Heleni, Le-
Phillipi ; Mous. Pierre, Mons. Georg 6, and Mons.
l'erdinand Schmdt.

HAYMARKET THEATRE. Mr. Webster, the spi-
rited Lessee of this theatre, takes his benefit to-night.—
A gentleman who has done so much for the promotion
•tf the sterling drama, needs no appeal to the glowing
sympathies of the public to testify their approbation in
his behalf. It is Mr. Webster's singular merit and
good fortune to have kept open the " little theatre in
the Haymarket" upwards of 440 nights continuously !
That circumstance in itself speaks volumes in his praise
its a good manager, and proves that the public duly
appreciate meritorious enterprise. May Webster's re•
ward be equal to his deserts !
The Duke of Northumberland has presented a do-
nation of 501. to the General Theatrical Fund.
COLLISION BETWEEN THE WILLIAM JoLLIFTE AND
TUE ANTWERP STEAMER.—On Wednesday night last, at 12
o'clock, the William Joni& left the harbour of Boulogneis
with the unusual freight of nearly 300 passengers.
large number was in consequence of its being the last day on
which the steamers would run at the recent low fares of 4s.
and 6s. instead of 10s. and' 15s. The wind blew tremendously
from the south-eastward,' and the passage was stormy and
tempestuous, but, nevertheless, she reached Gravesend in
safety, but on approaching Northfleet, the river being full of
craft, and the wind blowing tremendously down the river,
she came in contact with a coal brig and the Antwerp out •
ward-bound steamer, which dashed away a great portion of
the Jolliffe's paddle-box and cooking room, causing the
greatest consternation among the passengers. The Jolliffe's
next disaster was getting aground, where she remained some
hours until got off by the aid of the Calais packet, and ulti-
mately she arrived in London about four o'clock on Thursday
afternoon, nearly four hours behind her time, since which she
has been sent to Deptford for the necessary repairs.
FIRE AT FOXEARTII-HALL.-011 Sunday night
week, between ten and eleven o'clock, a haulm stack was
maliciously set on fire, at Foxearth-hall, near Melford,
in the occupation of Mr. Richard Aldham, farmer. For-
tunately it was very soon discovered by some of the
village people returning home, who saw the villain run-
ning from the spot, who no doubt had committed the
act ; and prompt assistance being rendered, and the
Melford engine quickly in attendance, the fire was con-
fined to the stack, which was within a short distance of
the extensive farming buildings.—Essex Hera4l.
We have much pleasure in stating that through the
indefatigable exertio”s of his solicitor, Sir Wm. H. El-
wes, Bart. is shortly to comeinto possession of the family
estates of Elwes as heir at law.