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

TAE NAPOLEON MUSEUM.
qhave again visited this very extraordinary and
74. wonderful exhibition, now open at the Egyp-
deer'', Piccadilly. When we consider it as the pro-
tleo urge the laborious researches of a single
d our surprise has increased on each occa-
the' we have been to look over it, and we have found
04eP_reprietor so ready and so obliging in answering
idly resist questions as to its formation, that we can
•eu-t,_Fesist the impulse we feel to give our readers
te. 'me of its origin. It appears that more than
of to
Emperor
ago, immediately after the death
eteatme Napoleon at St. Helena, which
°tit we may perhaps say, a sensation through-
thee, Europe, the spirited and, indeed, en-
tre -°l4e proprietor (and in using this last term we
eo,satisfied from our own experience that nothing of
te:nence that requires very extensive historical
teCua„.„ to.understand, can be accomplished without
tvZasm) then decided, in his own mind, that the
Iterew "'test men who had ever existed, taken as a whole,
petorttr own immortal bard Shakspeare and the Em-
pre .Alapoleon. It seems he had been for some time
,ee‘lonsly collecting all he could of the former, which
anderstand is very considerable, and in 1821 began
41'1, est to see what it was possible to accomplish
1.0,4" e to the latter ; though at times be could not
lyeet that himself, as well as his countrymen, had
tara
tith,llY • been taught to consider Napoleon in any
,heldl4‘ll a favourable position. Notwithstanding,
to determined to read nearly, if not quite all, that
the -41 appeared to be worth reading, he tells us in
tei• 'reface to his large quarto descriptive volumes
Ltle tables of ' his Museum " the result of
IW4lviatigations .has_ satisfied him how ground-
-14•; and undeserved the accusations were, with
h•
the Emperor • Napoleon was so generally
q
tteio(4 i 1; and he feels satisfied that a similar course
lance
many others to form an opinion in
Jta, with his own, and to abandon the pre-
toKron the subject which they may have adopted ;
is nothing either good or bad, but thinking
elakea it so.,
ttfe7g this every' interesting and exciting research
he i:thor's former opinions gradually changed, and
to vfitrally felt a deep interest in everything relating
thel'APoleon, which was increased by the perusal of
1141.11-Vaing 'and instructive work of the late Mr.
O'Meara, entitled, A Voice from St. Helena.'
oar`
investigation deepened the writer's sympathy
trkie6avineed.him that the real character of Napoleon
eth/tlot'io well known in England as that of many
tiotir„f°r,eigners, who were far less eminent, or worthy of
t'41474 • in the selection of a subject so interesting, parti-
aS all historical point, so vast in its extent, and
Ae in every kind of illustration, connected with
the-tore and the arts, the collector did not, even at
e233atnencement, conceal from himself the many
ltie7lties necessarily attendant on the execution of
and the absolute impossibility of attaining
ii,.'Pfetettess ; but he trusts that what, under many
°antages he has accomplished, will suffice to
1114;! that in selecting a special period of history for
letiti"ration, and devoting constant and systematic at-
f.(4l to it, collections of various kinds may
Nued, each receiving additional interest and
gre:t)till from the other, all of them affording
tati gratification during their formation,
materially contributing to the better ap-
- leation of the subject, as well as the period to
ketch they relate.. The collection herein described,
Ihtleldes many MSS., medals, and books that illus-
kw the Prench Revolution which preceded Napo-
ebtry into the great field of action ; but that this
ld not be otherwise will be evident, if it be re-
Itil4lnered how inseperably his history is connected
the ~.,that of the Revolution of 1789. Not only was
tke`4oUsnlate and the Empire (the natural conse-
ttZi of the Revolution) a step onward in the great
I'ol2 of events which changed the dynasties of Eu-
-I,o7llhut Napoleon himself, in all the astonishing and
trtiu•erful features of his character, was the great off-
jeetilt of the Revolution. Everywhere in his ma-
Kati Marches the prolific seeds of change and refor-
) were sown, so that the event which startled us
40;7daY, and excited our hopes or our fears for the
Ileet.iw) will on examination, be found to have close con-
eipiti.°la with that important period, when so many old
Lte„„_l°4B7 and time-honoured institutions so generally
hoe-'4l,,_e the subject of fierce and unsparing conflict ;
i'eiph`tws it appear that we have any example of a
tov;,: in which the personal character of the
hp,),„'lgn is so distinctly and forcibly impressed
poL" every act of his government as in that of Na-
'':7 Every event, therefore, which assists our
g;eeiationn of this great man, is important to our
.eitrehension of his policy ; though he was never
teoi‘eri nor did 'his talents and judgment appear
et. ,e brilliant and wonderful, than during the period'
tke!lle Directory in France, as General-in-Chief of
1,,,,,_41"1ny of Italy, and in Egypt—or as Consul, or
(01, Tor. No other potentate ever reigned in France
elsewhere) with such consummate ability, either
t h
o, ruler, her legislator, or as the head of, and di-
, 0' of her armies."
ptie e seem as if we had imbibed some of the pro-
kt°!, of the Napoleon Museum's enthusiasm, and
44,1 take some-other opportunities of informing our
lie of our researches in this matchless collection,
We would most certainly advise them to lose
'e in examining for themselves.
• '

"411VIENT OF MAGISTRATES'
• CLERKS.
trb. .7,
: 4, 0 THE. EDITOR OF THE SUN.
titZ"--This subject having been brought before Go-
t? ent in. both Houses 'of Parliament by Lord
7, I.Aile
,Y aud the Marquis 'of Lansdowne, and it having
it,t4t stated by Mr. Manners Sutton that a Government
'Nen is now in preparation to provide for the pay-
of magistrates' clerks by a fixed salary out of the
• Y rate, the ground for such change from the pre-
tiA.,„-Vsteni being that the "costs" attending a convic-
,o bed petty, sessions, owing, as it is obviously intended
Ut -,inferred (for this.can be the only argument from
St4l2Pressive feeS paid to the clerks) are frequently
144itil'u5proportionate to the penalty inflicted ; andstwo
Ce
iiii s) amongst others, were cited by Lord Worsley
s • •
nletion, where a fine of one shilling was inflicted,
X/ '"P • A •1, "
. . 7. - anle— with costs in one case to the amount of
"” and in the other to 2L This, at first sight,
th Marvellously hard. How enormous are the fees
hse magistrates' clerks ! no doubt the credulous
'be s exclaims ; whereas the fact is,. and this fact for
tk
tki reason or other is kept back—and it is for the.pur-
k•iit°,x bringing it forward that I venture to crave the
hrti I°ll of this letter in your columns—a very small
,41.14:11 of these "costs" (as is known to every practical
to4al but of which Lord Worsley appears not to be cog-
t
, tl;i)Is composed of fees to the clerks in petty sessions.
rera, a%ri, ding (West Yorkshire) their fees are more mo-
Neii, 'nail otherwise : the maximum amount they are
114' o
ell to r • • • ' ' - '
), .eceiv on a conviction is is —viz., 2s. for the.
tion and summons, 4s. for preparing and en-
l; ,ig the record of' conviction, and returning and
IN' it with the clerk of the peace, and is. for the corn-
-411t• • All these matters in their preparation require
-erable skill and attention ; the rest of the costs, b
''
!lir ~..Y far the greater bulk of them (and I pray you,
ki.) 'lark this) are composed of the constable's charges
It tlie is •
ttri_ service of the summons, for his attendance at the
t9t4g, and Of the sums allowed for the witnesses and
oureinsuit for their loss of time. Is it intended to
elk en the county rate, not only With the salaries of the
i t,..e the justices, but with these, the heavier items
tubeob.. 'costs" also ? If not, how can the proposed end
Dreso,ll,ined, and how is the professed objection to the
tlesk:', system to be obviated by merely paying the
bM.ti; 9' Et fixed salary ? But I contend that there is
!Isss,-slightest occasion for charging the salary of the
e. on the country rate ; the magistrates now, before
,l'iliWing the fine, invariably ascertain the costs incurred,
thlt e
kr as invariably considered as part of the tine in
' brteti In
, git ; and hence it is on this account that it is
04 mall or nominal. If they wish, from the trivial
IA th.l' of the charge, to inflict no penalty they can, and
14 c"4. tice often do, dismiss the summons, besides which,
w
!..td, well remarked by some Honourable Member on
worsley's motion, the clerks (whose high character
' .11try I,t:TerSally admitted) can issue no summons of them-
, .kee: ss the magistrate hears the complainant's state-
" and he alone can issue the summons.
Ong some practical experience in petty sessions
§teh,e43B, I write for the purpose of setting the facts in
.. idvisire light, which I think will at once render the
: trotadislitY. of burdening the county rates on the
latmi stated, with the salaries to clerks to justices,
othe. more than piestionable ; besides there are many
. • ti r duties
I Das r en performed by the clerks, such as examina-
. °lntioi'r settlements, removal orders, and overseers'
, .11a tr generally, which are now equitably paid for by
1! hips or parties requiring them, and surely
' catatt are not to be made a burden generally'
on the
• Ihttois Yates under the "improved system." If any
"nim;3:B made—and here I' request. the attention of my
`f,lttts i ereley and Sir James Graham—give the magis-
!'retita 4 Petty_ sessions the power, where they think the
Ate . Stances of the case require it, to make an order for
it' CYraent of the costs of a conviction before them out
'loin etnEnty rate, as at present they have the power to
te eases of felony. This will effectually answer every
the tainlreposed,.and prevent all necessity for charging
4.cits„7ll of the clerks on the county rates, which
11'e-iL_Eis I have demonstrated, would not have the
'lie rat:" is cOntemplated, and would be obnoxious to
-PaYers•---I am, kc.,
' .... ' AN ACTING MAGISTRATE.
ilta Ro

PontTA.L MINT.—The workmen at this ini-
vittit ;, establishment have been busily engaged this last
1-tgo f `n striking off a considerable quantity of the new coin
b. or the Bank of England and the Government, for the
ter of the approaching April dividends, and the guar-
qu: pT, half-pay, and pensions of the army, navy, and the
gtathsrtoment officials of the different departments—Post- office,
the fir; zeise, Customs, &c. A notice has been issued by
~.°Ya/ Mint that the exchange of the old for the new
f.T°lleY weights will be continued at the Mint (accord-
tta~hK the einditions published in the London Gazette in
tal andlB43) until Saturday next, the 30th insta4 ; but that
moue ' after the said day the exchange will cease, and no
itur3: 'weights thereafter will be received at the Mint. The
theirr of light sovereigns and half-sovereigns received at
-t4 "Ilk, Since:the Royal Proclamation of her Majesty on
Intrt gold currency, which came into operation op the,
has been far below what was generally
AUld the panic, whiCh at first existed, has now
r.'"
part 43 Y iTALL -Ertim3 U ROIL —On Friday night
the old wall of Edinburgh, which forms one aide of
tiu),...__YvYnd, fell dowt, owiag; it is supposed, to the action of
rticiay night oh the old au44lLinoua wall.