The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-19 00:00:00

v ir .
lilt f
~
i

be asertained where they came from. They were ac-
cordingly watched down Pudding-lane by the police-
constable who gave evidence in the previous case, and
the prisoner was seen to join them with is hand-truck.
The wine was placed in this truck, and the prisoner
lvaliz,,d away in the direction London-bridge, Smith
and Savage, drawing the truck. following hi,u, but before
they had reached the bridge, the prisoner war lost sight
of, arid they were, the:e1...40, taken into custody, or they
Would have escaped too.
The jury found the prisoner guilty of the second
charge, but the Court d,f,rred passin,r sentence.

MARLBIUY-STREET.-(THIS DAY.)
MURDEROUS ATTACK AND STREET ROBBERY.—
William Thompson, who described himself as a cabman,
Was brought bef are Mr. Bingham, charged with the fol-
lowing daring street rebbery:—
The prosecutor, Mr. Adolphus Dubois, dentist, 65,
Princess-street, Leicester-sq.iare, deposed that on the
Pe•eious night, about nine o'clock, he was proceeding
along Upper Nortoe-street, when suddenly from a
doorway three taco, one of whom was the prisoner.
rushed upon him, and the prisoner came in front of him
and passed some kind of an instrument round his neck
and twisted it. Witness called oet, and the prisoner
twistel it tighter, the other men at the time calling
out, " Give it him." The prisoner suddenly
let go his hold, wee he (witness) caliel out " Murder,"
and Police." The other two men, who are not in cus-
tody, then came forward and held his hands down while
the prisoner forcibly tore his coat open, and snatched his
Watch and chain from his waistcoat pocket. The other
two men then ran away, and the prisoner gave the in-
strument another twist, and witness became uecon-
*Now,. When prosecutor came to himself, he found his
coat torn and his watch and chair, gone. The watch
and chain produced were his property. Witness added
that he was still. suffering from the effects of the injuries
that he had received, and his throat was much swollen
n consequence.
Mr. John Tailing, 23, Charles-street, Middlesex
rioapital, stated that about a quarter past nine last
night he was in Upper Norton-street with a friend,
when he noticed, opposite to where he was walking,
three or four individuals, and almost immediately after
he heard a cry of " Murder," and " Police," and then
15w two men run down the street, and the prisoner
crossed over towards where",he was walking. Witness's
friend then called out, " Hero is one of them," and
Witness caught hold of him by the collar. Witness
held the prisoner till a constable came and took him into
custody. They then walked over to the prosecutor, who
W2s abeut forty yards tram them, and he (prosecutor),
ca seeing him (the prisoner), reccgnised him as the
Man who had attemptel to strangle him. A female
then came from No. 38, nearly opposite to where the
occurrence took plan, and handed to the constable the
Watch and chain produced, which she said she had
Picked up in the area of her house, close to where the
prisoner was stopped.
Matilda Currell said she lived at No. 38, Upper Nor-
ton-street. Last night, about nine o'clock, she and her
family were at supper in the parlour, when she heard the
cries of " Murder," and " Police." She ran to the door,
Mid on the step of the next house she saw three men,
Who were holding the prosecutor, and she heard one of
them say," Give it him, do for him." She then saw the
Prisoner put his hand through the railing of the area,
and she heard something drop on the stones. She weal
lute the area to see what it was, and on the stones she
found the watch and chain produced.
White, 33 E, stated that last night he was in Norton-
street, when he heard the cries of " Murder," and
Police," and, on proceeding to the spot, he saw the
prosecutor standing against the railing of No. 38, in a
state of great excitement. On speaking to him he com-
plained that he had been robbed and almost murdered.
Witness then creased over to where the second witness
Was standing and took the prisoner into custody.
The prisoner, who is supposed to belong to the gang
Who attacked Mr. Cureton, said he was perfectly inno-
cent of the offence, and was remanded till Monday next.

SAVINGS BA',KS.
TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD JOHN RUSSEGL,
M.P., &c. &c. &c.

lly Lord,-1 remarked in my former letter that
,!t was not possibly fer the depositors in ;the savings
ranks to receive every shilling of their money under
the present system, ;Ina therefore their being unable
to do so under the plan I have proposed was no valid
objection to its being adopted.
Of course it is unnecessary to enter into any argu-
_raent to show that IF all the depositors required their
money it would be impossible to pay it, the amount
the whole would not be paid, yet the depositors would
_be able to get a greater amount under the present
aYstem than under the one that is proposed.
Not one shilling more ; bemuse a sum larger than
_4l3' which has been drawn in any one year would be
retained, as in the present system ; and if any panic
required a greater amount to be paid to the depositors,
e Government would retain the power which it has
‘nunderl, the present Savings Balks Acts, of issuing
Exchequer-bills, upon which the Banks of England
and of Ireland are empowered to advance money.
.t is curious to observe how the adoption of a
alc!ous principle renders contemptible all proceedings
"Which emanate from it. Thus, although every nnsa
Who has ever written or spoken upon savings banks
bas d?picted the benefits such institutions confer upon
Society, yet the Legislature steps in, and with a
°loran voice proposesthat these benefits should be con-
Geed to the acquirement of 2/. 15s. per annum.
Admirable provision for the industrious classes,
Suffering from want of employment, from casual
sickness, from the infirmities of old age Surely when
the artisan is oppressed with these inevitable calami-
ties, how grateful must be his feelings " to the bene-
volent interest" (those were the words used by the •
Chancellor of the Exchequer) of legislators in having
assistedhim in a saving what produces him 21. 15s. per
tinnutu, or something under twopence per diem.
„ And such mons rous absurdity is tolerated because
the Legislature having in the first instance adopted a
.'fieious principle, it has been continued by succeeding
loverneeente, who have found it very convenient to
your
so large an amount under their control ; for
JAt3nr Lordship will not forget that by Mr. Goulburn's
--et in 1828, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his
3 7113aeity of Commissioner for the ReducLion of the
atiotd Debt, has full control over the deposits in
the savings banks.
Now it would be useful to inquire how much the
people of this country have lost by the plan which has
,ueen pursued. The last returns to Parliament show
that the loss of the capital amounted to 2,815,573/.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer stated in his speech
last session that the loss sustained by the Government
Paging more interest than it received was 2,441,000/.,
that
is, a sum has been lost by the people of this
country
amounting to 5,256,573/.
pooh! pooh ! says the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
it is not absolutely lost, because the depositors in the
'livings banks have received 2,441,000/. of the
motley, and the remainder would not be lost " until
all the money deposited in savings banks was required
to be paid off." Yes, but then the loss might be
double or quadruple. Money invested to-day at 97,
and sold in two or three years at 87, may not consti-
tute a loss in the eyes of ,the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer—and I have quoted his very words—but
others. may, without offence, entertain a different
Oainion.
And the money which has been paid to depositors,
although more than the funds yielded, yet is far less
than they would have received had the plan I now
Propose been carried into operation, as it ought to
have been, in 1817. Row much the depositors have
lost under this head it is difficult to say, but assuredly
not less than three millions. So much has been
Paid for the present system, besides the expenses of
management, to a fearful amount.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer was very chary
upon this last point, but notwithstanding his conduct
Upon the Stamp Bill, I cannot conceive that he would
elandeetinely seek to make a profit out Of the savings
hanks without honestly stating that such was his in-
tention. The maximum amount to be paid to deposi-
tors he proposes to be 2/. 153. per cent. ; the Three
Per Cents., even at the present high price, yield 3l 3s.
Per cent., and therefore the difference, or 8 per cent.,
is the sum charged by the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer for management.
This upon 28 millions of money is considerably
Lore than 110,000/. per annum for management.
Surely some economist in the Rouse of Commons
Light think it worth while to ask for a detailed account
of the manner this enormous sum is spent by those
Who take such "benevolent interest" in savings banks.
I have the honour to remain,
L r( ur Lordship's most obedient and faithful servant,
RIGBY WASON.

London, Dec. 17.

AMERICAN STOICISM..
The following singular incident is related in the S
-Louis Intelligeucer of the 11th inst.:—
" A few hours previous to the arrival of the steamer
Amazonia, on Saturday, Michael Wy nu, of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, died on board from the effect of pistol-
shots received at the hands of. one Dr. R. Crane, a
citizen of Grand Gulf, Mississippi. The circum-
stances attending this melancholy affair are thus briefly
related to us by Captain M'Bride :
" On the upward trip of the Amazonia from New
Orleans, whi!e the boat was lying to at a wood-yard
fur the night, between island 36 and 37, on the night
of Monday, the 4th inst., the deceased, Michael
W.Ynr, and Dr. Crane, both cabin passengers, guar.
relied at a game of cards, and were on the point of
• "Ming to blows, when the eAptain stepped in
.and
--Pc@3lented a difficulty. Wynn left the cabin and
WEI 3 sc.on followed by Crane, who
44igned goleg on board the Duroc, which
`411.1'"1"914. lying alongside On the lower deck the
41;,;:" akt.ies,again quarrelled. Wynn using some abusive-
'N'4lknguage, whereupon ,Crane drew a revolver and fired,
4e, ,''four Ishota, all of which are supposed-to have taken
s The officers, crew, and passengers, alarrned
the 'fit lug; rep to the spot,• and found Crane and
IWynn ittandirig.within five feet of each other, the
latter quietly smoking a cigar. The captain again
interfred, and told the parties they must cease fight-
111g and go to their rooms, or both go ashore. Crane
firstleft the deck and soon retired for the night.
Wynn remained up till a very late hour conversing

VILLAGE COURTSHIP DESCRIBED BY
CHAR 1...14.;S SWAIN.
Tapping at the window,
Peeping o'er the blind;—
'Tis really most surprising,
He never Icarn3 to mind!
'Twas only yester evening,
As in the dark we sat,
My mother ask'd me sharply
" Pray, Mary, who is that?"
Who's that indeed—you're certain
How much she made me start;
Men seem to loss their wisdom
Whene'r they lose their heart. .
Yes—there he i 3-1 see him;
The lamp his shadow throws
Across the curtain'd window;
He's stepping on his toes!
He'll never think of tapping,
Or making any din;—
A knock, though e'en the slightest,
Is worse than looking in!
Tap! tap!—would any think it?
He never learns to mind;
'Tis surely must surprising—
He thinks my mother blind !
'Tis plain I mint go to him;
It's no use now to cough;—

I'll ope the door just softly,
If but to send him off !
'Tis well if from the dour-step
He be not shortly hurled—
Oh. man, there no'er was trouble
Till he came in the world!
Tapping at the window,
And peeping o'er the blind;
Oh, man, but you're a trouble,
And that we maidens find!
•Devonport independent.

SUN,

and smoking in the Social-hall, and to the repeated
inquiries of Captain !'Bride and others as to hi;
injuries, stoutly denied that he was hurt, although
two bullet-holes were plainly visible in his clothes.
" On the following, morning (Tuesday) Wynn did
not get up as usual, and, in the course of the fore-
noun, Captain M'Bride and several others called in his
state-room, and insisted upon his wounds being
dressed, but he obstinately refused, and would Lot
even suffer his clothes to be token off. He remained
in this condition, regularly receiving his meals from
the cabin table, until Saturday morning, when he
arose, was shaved by the barber of the boat, put on
some clean clothes, and again retired. Soon after he
sent for the captain, and made some inquiries re-
garding hospital arrangements in this city, and ex-
pressed a desire to be sent to the best regulated, as
soon as the boat reached pert. An hour or so later,
and but a few moments before the boat touched at
the landing, some gentlemen in the cabin called
at his room and found him in the last agonies of death.
Yesterday morning the coroner of our city was called
upon by Captain M'Bride and held an inquest, at
which the above facts in substance were elicited, and
a verdict was returned that Michael Wynn, the de-
ceased, came to his death from the effect of pistol-
shots, fired by the hands of one Dr. R. Crane.
" Upon stripping Wynn's body it was discovered
that not less than four pistol bills had taken effect, all
in the region of: the hips and groin, and producing
frightful wounds. His coolness at the time of the
rencontre and subsequent conduct can alone be ac•
counted for from the fact that he was partially in-
toxicated, and remained in that condition nearly up
to the time of his death. He was destitute of means,
the captain having but a short time previous to the
difficulty lent him a small sum of money. .
" Dr. Crane, we are informed, was on his way to
Louisville, Kentucky, to attend the medical lectures
this winter, and when the Amazonia reached Cairo
he got off and proceeded up the Ohio, and is, up to
the present time, no doubt, unconscious of the fate of
his victim."

FRENCH RAILWAY TRAFFIC.
The following are the last returns of the gross re-
ceipts of the principal French Railways :
NORTHER/i.—From Dec. 5 to Dec. 9: Passengers,
175,175 t.; goods, 263,202 f.; total, 433,377 f. _

. „
ROUEN.—Frum Dec. 3 to Dec. : Passengers,
60,156 t.; goods, 90,393 E; total, 150,549 f.
HAVRE.—From Dec. 1 to Dec. 7 : Pass.engers,
18,915 t.; goods, 36,846 f. ; total 55,779 f.
ORLEANS.—From the. 2 to Dec. 8: Passengers,
72,253 r. ; goods, 128,6021.; total, 200,8551.

BORDEAUX.—From Dee. 2 to Dee. 8 : Passengers,
33,722,6 goods, 49,282 F.; total, 83,004 f.

VIERZON —From Dec. 2 to Dec. 8: Passengers,
34,667 f.; goods, 42,833 t.; total, 77,5001.
BoULoGNE.—From Dec. 2 to Dee. 8: Passengers,
10,647 f.; goods, 20,179 f.; total, 30,826 r.
DIEPPE.—From Dec. 1 to Dec, 7: Passengers, 3,2221.;
goods, 11,8261.; total, 15,0481.
NANTES.--From Dec. 1 to Dec. 7 : Passengers,
17,7281.; goods, 10,7851.; WWI, 28,513 f.
STLIASBURG —From Des. 2 to Dec. 8: Passengers,
63,148 f.; goods, 62,6381.; total, 125,886 f.
BALE.—From Nov. 25 to Dec. 1 : Passengers,
18,396. ; goods, 24,2571.; t0ta1,42,643f.

MONTEREAU. —Prom Nov. 26 to Dec. 2: Passengers,
8,931 E ; goods, 16,236+:; total, 25,237 f.
LYONS. —From Nov. 24 to Nov. 30 : Passengers,
127,511 f.; goods, 34,382 f.; total, 165,893 r,

• „
CHARTRES.—From Nov. 25 to Dec. 1: Passengers,
38,7701.; guods, 11
.985 r.; total, 43,7551.

THE LONDON UNION ON CHURCH MATTERS, AND
I.DE REV. Mn. BENNETT.—The Guardian of last night says
that at a meeting of the committee of the London Union on
Church matters, held on Tuesday, the following resolution
was adopted :—" That inasmuch as misapprehension has
arisen respecting the resolution expressive of sympathy with
the Rev. W. J. E. Bennett, which was adopted by the ge-
neral meeting of the London Union on Church matters on
the 10th instant, and it being a principle of this union to
pay dutiful and affectionate deference to episcopal authority,'
and not to intrude itself into the office of judge in spiritual
matters, but that such matters be left to the authorities of
the Church'—this committee think it their duty to the union
to make known that the resolution was adopted by the Lon-
don Union in reference solely to the disgraceful interruptions
at St. Barnabas Church, and to the instigators and perpe:ra-
tors of those wicked acts, before the comspondenee between
the Bishop of London and Mr. Bennett was in the hands of
the members of the union, and did not, and was not intended
to, express any opinion upon that correspondence, or upon
the questions which were, or had been, under discussion be-
tween the Bishop and Mr. Bennett, upon which question's it
would be contrary to the before-mentioned principles of the
union to express any opinion either way."

SMITHFIELD MARKET.—Last night a meeting of
butchers and others connected with the trade of smithfield
Market took place at Farringdon Hall, Snow-hill, at which
Blacket presided. The meeting had been convened to
take into consideration the proposed toll which the Corpora-
tion have intimated their intention to inflict upon cattle on
their egress from the market of Smithfield when enlarged
according to the corporate plan. Mr. Charles Pearson, with
Deputies Bedford, Hicks, and several common councilmen,
were present. After a few preliminary remarks from the
Chairman, he introduced Mr. Charles Pearson, who said he
felt the greatest interest in the proposed extension of the
market by the Corporation, who were desirous to do all
they could to meet the wants and wishes of the public, and
with respect to which he felt that those who objected to the
existing market had not fairly considered such propositions.
As to the sanitary part of the question, he thought that would
be improved in the proposed alterations. Better arrange-
ments were proposed for the management of the market, for
increased space, and getting rid of the alleged cruelties. In
conclusion, be expressed his opinion that nothing could be
better than the proposed enlarged market for the sale of live
and dead cattle. Other gentlemen addressed the meeting,
and thanks having been give.' to Mr. Pearson, and also to
the chairman, the meeting broke up.
EXTRACTS FROM THE IRISH HITE AND CRY. —Tony
Gowan is advertised as having lost " a pig with a very
long itail, and a black spot on the tip of his snout that
curls up behind."—A cow is described as " very difficult to
milk, and of no use to any one but the owner, with one horn
much longer than the othea"—John Hawkins is alluded to
as having " a pair of quick grey eyes, with little or no
whiskers, and a Roman nose, that has a great difficulty in
looking any one in the face."—Betsy Waterton is accused of
having absconded with a chest of drawers and a cock and
hen, and has red hair and a broken tooth, none of which are
her own." The manager of the savings bank at Dunferry,
near Goofowran, is spoken of in these terms: " He had on,
when last seen, a pair of corduroy trowsers, with a tremen-
dous squint rather the worse for wear, besides an affected
lisp, which he endeavours to conceal with a pair of gold
spectacles."—A burglar has his portrait taken in the follow-
ing manner: "He has little or no hair, but black eyes on a
turned-up nose, which is dyed black to conceal its grey-
ness."—Punch.

REGISTER OF THE WEATHER AND STATE OF THE
CROPS NEAR WORKSOP FOR NOVEMBER.—November has
been in general a tine month, the first portion of it being per-
ticularly mild and autunm-like. From the perturbed state
and lowness of the barometer, from the 18th to the morning
of the 20th, great tempests must have been raging in distant
localities. Here a heavy fall of rain took place, with a mo-
derate gale of wind. The month ended with a very keen
frost for the season, the ice being an inch and a half
thick in still ponds, and fit to till ice-houses. Rain fell
on sixteen days, the total amount registered by the rain
gauge being 1 inch and 83 parts, or rather below the average
fall. The thermometer was highest on the 2d, 62 degrees,
and lowest on the morning of the 30th, 32 degrees or 8
degrees frost. The barometer was highest on the 29th, 30
degrees 0 minutes, and lowest on the 20th, 28 degrees 3 mi-
nutes. The prevailing winds were from the S.W. and
N.V. The mean temperature of the month, from 120 ob-
servations, was 5 degrees below the average. Owing to the
fine open weather in the early part of November, all out of
door operations in farms and gardens are well advanced.
The sharp frost at the end of the month has checked the
growth of the early sown wheat, which on early soils was
getting rather too far advanced for the season. There are
few complaints this year of Inc potatoes keeping badly where
properly pitted and stored; we may therefore conclude from
this circumstance, and front the reasonable price they are
selling at in the market, that this admired esculent is plenti-
t ul, and freer from disease than usual.— Sluff/cid Times.
FINDING OF ONE OF THE BODIES OF THE SEAMEN
DROWNED OFF WORTlllNG.—Yesterday afternoon as some
of our Brighton fishermen were pacing the cliff in the brief
intervals of fair weather, they observed a dark object float-
ing in the surge. Always on the look out, not "for squalls,"
but for the prizes that squally weather may bring them,
they lost no time in inspecting the object. The inspection
proved that it was the body, of a fisherman, and, no doubt
was entertained:
risen
being the remaiti of one of the un-
fortunate en 'drowned :a forililii)it since Off Worthing.
Whleh of them it was it wasditlichit ti) AY, as the face and
hands were entirely eaten away, and there remained only a
mutilated trunk. It had on a guernsey, a pair (')f 'drawers,
and socks. The body was. taken to the Town-hall, where
it awaits an inquest. Two more bodies are reported to have
washed ashore between Lancing and Worthiug. The find-
ing of the bodies is not unexpected, for the weather being
rough, and the wind W.S.\V., that is, blowing . directly in
the direction where the accident happened, it was con-
sidered probable that the bodies would liOat
Guardian.

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING,

AMERICAN NEWS.

TWO _DAYS LATER.
_ SOUTHAMPTON, DEc. 18.

The American steam-ship Franklin, from New
York, en route 'for ITavrp; arrived off Cowes this
morning s',on xfter eight; o'clock, bringing letters and
papers to the 6th instot, being two days later than
those brouht by the Niagara. The Franklin brought
& full general cargo, and a large number of paasen-
gErs, and has made the voyage in less than twelve
days.
'Both Houses of Congress had adjourned, after the
delivery of the President's Message, until Monday,
the Bth instant. N,) business of importance was
transacted in either douse.

The New York Morning Express says--
"The President's mtssuge has had the most soc,th•
ing et&ct upon Congress. riis declaration that he and
his Administration stand upon the Compromise Bills, and
all the Compromise Bills, just as they are, take from the
southern I)isunionists all their influence for mischief,
and upon the northern Disunionists and Nullifiers
throws a dash of cold water, which is cooling them off.
Nevertheless, the Ohio Free Soilers are full of fire and
brimstone. Root and Campbell threaten terrible things,
and Thad. Stevens promises to work with them. The
New Yorkers are comparatively cool. Among all the
New England Whigs, there seems now to be a vein of
pure good sense,
"The message thus takes from Southerners their
means of mischief. and northern Nullifiers their power
to do mischief, and promises a more soothing session of
Congress than many had expectt d. None of the Com-
promise Bills can be or will be tonched, and it is only
exciting a vain agitation to try to touch them. None
but an enemy in disguise of the Administration will at-
tempt it. So, then, this turning out so, the coming three
months may be expected to be devoted to the white
man, in return for the last ton months devoted to the
negro.
" The statement of the Postmaster-General, N. K.
Hall, delights all sides here; they make sure of a re-
duced postage this Congress. Mr. Hall, by the way, is
working himself to death. Washington bas never yet
seen such a workie in a public office. He knows Ye
whole trade here from top to bottom, and all about it."

Jenny Lind, we are glad to learn, has entirely
lost her hoarseness, and made her debut in Baltimore
on the Bth instant.

A great fracas ocourred on the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, near Summit Level, on the 4th inst.,
between the Irish and German labourers, in which
three Germans were killed and several badly
wounded. The military were called out, and arrested
twenty-five of the Irish and lodged them in Camber-
land Gaol.

THE TORNADO AT CAPE GIRARDEAN.

CINCINNATI, DEC. 6.—The St. Louis papers con-
tain full particulars of the recent tornado on the
Mississippi river, by which the beatiful village of
Cape Girardean, in Missouri, was almost entirely de-
stroyed. The convent, Catholic church, and other
buildings in the immediate vicinity, are heaps of ruins.
The St. Vincent College is also prostrated, and the
Methodist church, and all the other houses
between that and the bridge are injured. The
professors and students were at the college
at the time of the awful visitation, and
many of them were severely injured. One has
since died. Upwards of one half of the residents of
the place were left without a roof to protect them
from the weather. It is said that for a distance of
fifteen miles hack and around Cape Girardean, every-
thing bears the aspect of utter destruction. The ac-
counts do not give the number of injured and killed.
Prompt measures have been taken at St. Louis for the
purpose of extending aid to the distressed and suffer-
ing families who have been rendered houseless by
this awful visitation.

DECEMBER 19, 1850.

MR. COBDEN AND SIR T. HASTINGS.

TO THE EDITOR OF TUE TIMES.

Sir,—May I beg the favour of your inserting the
enclosed letter, being my reply to Sir Thomas Has-
tings's challenge ?
I received his combustible missive on Sunday
morning—not exactly the day for answering an in-
vitation to a duel. On Monday I was the whole day
engaged in running from libraries to newspaper-
offices, and thence to the houses of Members of Par-
liament, inquiring for the Blue-book containing the
evidence in question. On Tuesday I procured a
copy from my friend Mr. Henry, and had prepared
the enclosed letter of explanation, when Wt driesday
morning's post brings me another detonating epistle
from Sir Lucius—no, Sir Thomas Hastings, conclud-
ing—" Yours, with supreme contempt," informing
rue that he had anticipated me, by sending his letters
for publication.
The public has now an opportunity of forming an
opinion of the cool judgment, the prudence, temper,
and ability of a man who has been placed at the
head of a commission for giving us an improved gua-
rantee against a war with France, and upon whose re-
commendation, in a great degree, many millions of
public money has been expended upon our national
defences.

I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
RICHARD COBDEN.
Manchester, Wednesday Morning, Dec. lg.

" Crumpsall•house, near Manchester, Dec. IS.
" Sir,—lf in my earlier days my admiration for the
genius of Sheridan had not tempted me to witness
the mimic exploits of Sir Lucius O'Trigger, I might
have been at a loss to comprehend the meaning of
your letter. Aided, however, by my recollections of
that model duelist, I understand you to propose that
we should lay down our pens and have a personal in-
terview, not to talk over the matter in dispute, nor
even to approach within speaking distsmew., but to
take our stand at twelve paces apart, with pistols in
hand, and endeavour to blow out each other's brains.
Now, I am satisfied, without any such experiment
upon my head, at least that half an ounce of lead pro-
pelled by less than a quarter of an ounce of powder
is quite sufficient to shatter the human skull to atoms,
and extinguish in a moment all powers of reason, all
sense of justice, and every religious sentiment. But
how such a process would satisfy me that I had acted
unjustly towards you, or convince you of the con-
trary, is, I confess, quite beyond my comprehension.
"So soon as I had recovered from the fit of
laughter into which I must confess your challenge
threw me, and after I had mastered the temptation I
felt to name for my second my much esteemed friend
Mr. Pv.sch, I endeavoured to procure a copy of the
report of the Committee, which with considerable
difficulty, and after the lapse of a couple of days, I
succeeded in obtaining, and, having refreshed my
memory by a perusal of your evidence, I will endea-
vour to state the facts of the case, as between you
and myself, in such a way as shall admit of no further
misapprehension. _ _

" After the committee had heard your evidence at
considerable length, as to the preparations which had
been made (partly under your directions) to repel an
imaginary invasion from France, I requested you to
state upon what authority you assumed that the
French nation were eager to go to war with this
country. Your answers were somewhat vague, which
induced me to press you more closely, when at last
you quoted, as a proof of the belligerent disposition
of the French, certain warlike sentiments which some
body had heard on board a steam-boat fall from the
lips of the French Bishop of Japan. The uplifted eyes
and hands of more than one member of the Committee
led to the interposition of the chairman. The room
was, if I recollect correctly, immediately ordered to
be cleared of strangers, and you were requested to
withdraw. I was then appealed to by some of the
members of the Committee to allow the above part of
y(7ur evidence to be expunged; others, on the con-
trary, wished it to he retained, as exposing the trivial
grounds on which professional men are disposed to
advocate an augmentation of our armaments. At last
it was agreed that your evidence, when written out
by the shorthand writer, should be submitted for cor-
rection to Lord Seymour (the chairman) and myself.
Two or three days elapsed before the report was
placed in my hands by his Lordship, when I agreed
that the passage respecting the Bishop of Japan should
be expunged; in the meantime I had mentioned the
incident to Mr. Bright and several other Members of
the House.

" The above statement of facts you will not call in
question. You do not deny having quoted the au-
thority of the Bishop of Japan ; you merely correct
Mr. Bright's error in ,calling him the Bishop of Ma-
dagascar. You do not presume to call in question
my right to mention to a Member of the House of
Commons, in his seat in the evening, anything or
everything which transpires in the morning in a pub-
lic Committee-room of that House. You do not even
complain of the evidence which was expunged having
been afterwards made public, for which I could have
expressed my regret. What, then, is your complaint ?
Why, that Mr. Bright alleged that the authority of
the bishop was the only proof brought forward by
you of the warlike disposition of the French nation.
In the perturbed state ofi your feelings you seem to
be unable to perceive that this is a question to be de-
cided by reference to your published evidence, which
has been in the hands of every Member for two years.
I am not Mr. Bright's authority for the contents of
the Blue-book, I am responsible only for having com-
municated to him that part of your evidence which
was suppressed, the truth of which you do not deny.
Nor am I accountable for any criticisms or argu-
ments he may deduce from it.
" Your grievance is then confined to one word, the
word only.' Now, since the receipt of your last
letter I have felt it my duty to see I\h. Bright, who
says that in reply to your second letter to him he has
informed you that the report of his speech is not free
from verbal inaccuracies. Why did you not send me
a copy of that letter ? It appears to me that the
whole question at issue is involved in its contents ;
and had a further opportunity been afforded to Mr.
Bright he might possibly have removed the whole
ground of complaint. For myself, I have not another
syllable to say upon the subject. Yes, I must add a
word or two before I come to what I trust will be the
close of our correspondence.

" You are a public servant, filling a very responsi-
ble office, and in receipt of a liberal public stipend.
As chairman of the commission for increasing our
coast defences, you were largely instrumental in
promoting the expenditure of many millions of public
money for purposes and in a manner which, whether
right or wrong, are open to discussion. Your volu-
minous evidence before the Committee on the army,
navy, and ordnance, invites criticism ; and much of
it, in my humble opinion, is open to animadversion.
Such being your position you must, like all public
men, expect that your conduct will be freely can-
vassed ; and your fate will be a luckier one than that
of most of us if you do not find yourself often misap-
prehended, and sometimes misrepresented.
If, unable to restrain the ebullitions of an irascible
temper, you must needs challenge a member of the
Legislature to mortal combat, merely because another
member is reported to have made a mistake in a single
word in a speech of an hour's length, or because.a re-
porter's pen may have slipped at a critical moment,
then you have mistaken your vocation, and you would
be consulting your own reputation and the interest of
the country by retiring from the public service, and
seeking security for your susceptible nerves within
the inviolable precincts of your own domestic circle.
"I remain, Sir, yours, &c.,
"RICHARD COBDEN.
" Sir Thomas Hastings, R.N."