The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-19 00:00:00

CABBURN'S OIL

To be had at his Dirpetisary, King's Cross, London ; in bottles, 2s.
9d., 44. 6d., I Is., 224., and of most respectable venders in the king-
dom.
Reports from Medical Dispensaries may be seen in " Bradshaw's
Railway Guide," and the daily papers. Ask for Cabburn's Oil for
the sure of rheumatism, &c.
To Mr. Cabburn, _

Eta—My child, a boy four years old, never had the least use of his
legs from his birth until I used your oil, and in six weeks he was
enabled to walk, to the astonishment of ourselves and all who know
us. Yours, ever gratettl,
6, George-street, Bagnigge Wells-road. HENRY CLOVER.
P.S.—Mr. Greenwood, of the Northumberland Tavern, and Mrs.
Finn, 12, Weston-street, Pentonville, can speak to the truth of it also.
Mr. Cabburn, Sir—l have presented two bottles of your oil to a
poor woman named Clarke, who has been paralysed for two years,
and unable to walk, or move, without a stick or crutch, nor yet lift her
hand from her side. She can now walk comfortably without either
stick or crutch, and can lift her hand to her head with ease.--I am,
yours respectfully, W. WARNER.
No. 47, Bridle-street, Nottingham.
To. J. Cabburn, Esq.
Sir—l beg agreeably to inform you that an individual for whom I
sent fie your oil has greatly felt the benefit of your most important
discovery. Ile has, as I said in my former letter, been under the care
of the most eminent surgeons in this county for nearly thirty years,
and has been for several months in the various hospitals, &c., but to
no effect, until he applied your miraculous oil ; last night he told me
with heartfelt gratitude he was wall, having no pain, and the inflam-
mation gone. I should recommend your appointing att agent in this
neighbourhood.—l am, Sir, yours respectfully,
J. C. EDWARDS.
Haldon-wood Cottage, near Shrewsbury, Salop.
Mr. Cabburn, King's-cross.
Sir—l beg to return you my sincere thanks for your kind attention,
and at the same time to acknowledge that I experienced inure relief
fre,m your oil than I did from any other application or operation per-
formed upon me, and had I been fortunate enough to have met with
you in the early commencement of my afflictions, I should have
avoided mush misery and distress. For your kindness, I shall ever
remain,—Your obliged, humble servant,
Hatton-wall, August 30, 1841. SAMUEL BEST.
The above person's case was published hi the Lancet, December 8,
1832, from an abridged lecture on neuralgia by Dr. Elllotson, being
one of the most dreadful cases ever known. Many noblemen and
gentlemen saw the patient, among whom were.
Ills Grace the DUKE of HAMILTON,
The EARL of HARE WOOD,
Sir F. BURDETT,
Sir W. BACH, Aide-de-Camp to the
MARQUIS of ANGLESEY,
And many other officers of high distinction.
Mr. Cabburn, Sir—l beg to state my satisfaction of '-our oil ; the
peculiar good effects are truly astonishing ; having many convincing
proofs, I shall be able to forward you an extensive list of highly-
; respectable testimonies. Please to forward double the last supply by
first coach, and you will oblige,—Yours, truly,
Medical Institution, St. Stephen's, Norwich. H. TH0)11601,1'.

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.
WILTS AND SOMERSET RAILWAY.
This case bad been adjourned for the attendance of a wit-
ness.
The Committee decided that the standing orders bad not
been complied with, inasmuch as a clerical error appeared on
the plans.
DUNDEE AND PERTH RAILWAY.
Mr. Webster appeared as agent for this Bill.
The line is to be twenty miles long, to cost 250,0001., and
will join the Dundee and Arbroath Railway.
Standing orders complied with.
SOUTHPORT AND EUXTON JUNCTION RAILWAY.
Length of line 14 miles and a half; cost 1,500,000/.
Standing orders complied with.
LONDON, CHATHAM, AND NORTH KENT RAILWAY.
Mr. llayward appeared for this Bill.
Mr. Burke, Mr. Walmisley, and Mr. Parker appeared
upon several petitions, complaining of non-compliance with
the standing orders.
The Committee took the unopposed parts of the case, and
adjourned the remaining part of it.
The Committee on this Bill met again yesterday at twelve
o'clock, Sir W. Heathcote in the chair.
Mr. BURKE appeared for the petitioners against the pro-
posed line, and called a witness to prove that no notice bad
been given to one of the petitioners, Mr. West, the owner of
property on the line—namely, in Bermondsey.
The allegation was sustained.
The Committee was occupied the rest of the morning in
discussing allegations of inaccuracy in the markings on the
plans, the particulars of which were so minute and technical,
that it would ba quite hopeless to attempt making them in-
telligible in a newspaper report.
CIIURNET VALLEY RAILWAY.
The Committee proceeded in the same way with this case.
The Committee adjourned at half-past Four.

SUICIDE BY A LADY.—On Saturday evening Mr.
Wakley, M.P., held an inquest in the Marylebone work-.
house, on the body of Miss Eliza Chace, aged 37, a lady who
lived at 21, High-street, Camden-town. The deceased, who
was in independent circumstances, left her residence at five
o'clock last Thursday evening, having previously ordered
her servant to keep up her fire. She proceeded to the sus-
pension-bridge over the ornamental water, Regent's-park
Having deposited her bonnet, cloak, reticule, and boa on the
bridge, she leaped over it into the water. The deceased's
brother stated, that about 13 years ago she had been in a
private lunatic asylum, and that she was always eccentric in
her habits. Verdict—" Insanity."

Sir,—After having been accused of a fact from which
I have been exonerated by the accusers themselves, I
have been condemned for another without having had
the power of defending myself. The only resource left
to me is to make an appeal from a one-sided judgment,
formed without any explanation having been previously
sought, to the impartiality of the public, who, before
deciding, will require to hear both the accusation and
defence.

I hope, whatever your personal opinion may be, your
liberality will permit me to make the following obser-
vations.

In all ages the medical profession has been divided by
conflicting opinions, and the violence of the struggle has
been in propertion to the degree of importance of the new
ideas sought to be promulgated. At such periods,
those who have not been placed by nature
above the old routines have shown them-
selves constantly unjust and passionate to such
an extent as even to deny the most palpable facts. I
am, therefore, not surprised at the struggle which the
homoeopathists have to encounter with the old ideas, nor
at the passion and injustice shown by the practitioners,
who, although men of unquestionable abilities, will not
admit any novelties of importance, even when the wel-
fare cf society depends on their reception. lam an ho-
moeopathist from conviction.

Al the inquest which has just taken place my qualifi-
cation as a physician was duly ascertained, and as, in
addition to this, it was found that my medical treatment
could not be called in question, it became necessary to
find some other point on which an attack could be
founded, and, if possible, so conduct the charge as to
leave me without the power of defence, or of entering
into any explanation that might remove the false opinions
thus sought to be created. My regimen has been judged
and condemned. It is admitted, however, by many phy-
sicians, whether homceopathists or not, that aliments are
hurtful in different ways in a morbid condition of the
system. The most common reason is, because they can-
not be digested, or with much difficulty, or imperfectly.
This happens even when the principal seat of the dis-
ease is not in the intestinal tube, and, of course, it is
much more to be dreaded when the disorder has the sto-
mach and intestines for its seat, and when those organs
are seriously affected.
I shall not here detail the numerous effects or imper-
fect digestion, the inconveniences and dangers which are
its consequences, but only remark that it prevents the
aliment administered from producing the effect we aim
at, since it is not what we eat that nourishes us,
_but
what we digest.
Therefore the first among all the dietetic rules is the
following :—Whatever may be apparently the want of
aliment never give any if it cannot be digested, and in
no case give more than the digestive organs can deal
with. These organs, when diseased, become often much
worse under the influence of food, which produces irri-
tation, and even when digestion is still possible, though
difficult, the influence of the organic action required by
it may spread much beyond the apparatus by which it is
accomplished.
It suffices to consider the sort of febrile action which
always attends digestion, even in the normal state, to
understand that it cannot but increase the fever or in-
flammation if such conditions of the organism exist, or
hasten their development if any predisposition should be
present.
In the case of Mr. Cordwell all the :symptoms indi-
cated serious alterations in the intestines. The typhoid
fever was at hand, and the least irritation of the mucous
membrane of the digestive organs could not but aggra-
vate the state already so serious. The disease and food
were both to be dreaded ; the aliments could not nourish
him, as he was not able to digest them. The correct-
ness of this opinion has only been too sadly demonstrated
by the unfortunate trial made by our honourable medical
brethren, who, having an opinion contrary to mine, tried
various kinds of food—" first one thing, and then an-
other"—which were vomited by the patient up to the
time when vitality, exhausted by the struggle against the
aliments, was finally extinguished. The beef-tea, not
being able to go through the stomach, was found in that
organ at the posit modem examination.
The regimen which has just been made a subject of
attack does not rest on any crude idea. Its efficacy is
not merely supported by theory or by a simple hypo-
thesis. We can demonstrate its good results by the
report of cases at our Homoeopathic Hospital in London,
where 2,753 patients have been treated, of which number
only 53 have died, showing one death in 51.503 cases.
Very few hospitals in the world are able to set forth
similar results, and these results will appear still more
remarkable when it is remembered that homceopathy
being still a new practice is very little known, and con
stantly misrepresented, and that patients consequently
come to the institution where this mode of treatment is
applied only as a last resource. Moreover, it is not only
from my own personal practice that I can bring forward
proofs, but also from that of Dr. Ozanne of Guernsey, of
Dr. Hanson at Melton Mowbray, of Dr. Chepmell, resi•
dent physician of our hospital, and of all the homoeopathic
physicians who prescribe the same regimen.
Besides this, it is a curious fact that the propriety of
our regimen has been so fully demonstrated, that since
the homoeopathic cures could not be any longer denied, a
great many medical men, our opponents, have attributed
them to that very regimen in older to deny the power of
our medicines, while we now find that it is the regimen
which is the basis of accusation. Our adversaries ought
to be more consistent if they wish to escape the appear-
ance of partiality.
That the regimen is safe, but that it is not the regi-
men but the medicines which cure, will be shown by the
fact that there have been cured at the Homoeopathic Hos-
pital, in Hanover-square :-38 cases of cerebral affec-
tions, 48 epilepsy and paralysis, 26 amaurosis, deaf-
ness and dumbness; 5 cataract, fungus, fistula ; 57
scrofulous opthalmia ; 218 gastritis, cutiritis, and both
complaints combined ; 285 pneumonia, pleuritis, hydro-
thorax, bronchitis, &c. ; 36 hooping-cough, 65 phthisis,
90 cutaneous diseases, scirrhous, cancerous affections,
&c. ; 36 scrofulous affections, 44 mercurial affections,
&c., in not one of which cases will it be pretended that
diet alone could prove effective.
In conclusion, I will merely add that the institution
where the mode of diet and regimen which has been
condemned is carried out in conjunction with the homoe-
opathic system is widely supported (as will be seen by a
reference to the list of subscribers) by the illustrious, the
noble, and the talented of the land.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
P. F. CURIE, M.D.

AN ADDENDA, BY A FRIEND TO " FAIR PLAY."

Mr. Wakley put this question towards the conclusion
of the inquest to Dr. Roots, the eminent physician of the
old school—Do you consider, from the knowledge you
have of the whole case, and after hearing all the evidence
adduced to-day, that death ux,s causedby a natural disease?
Dr. ROOTS—I DO.
Mr. Hardland, a general practitioner in the old school,
was next re-called, and when asked the same question,
expressed an opinion entirely corroborative of that given
by Dr. Roots.
Extract from Miss Jane Maguire's evidence, sister of the
landlady of the house, in respect to this poor fellow's
state of health previously :
Examination resumed—l never received any directions
from Dr. Curie as to the treatment or diet of the de-
ceased. They must have been given by him to his nurse
in attendance when no one else was present, except, per-
haps, Miss Sharp. On one occasion the deceased told
me he would not take anything the doctor had net or-
dered him, desiring me at the samo time not to interfere.
Mr. Wakley—Have you any means of knowing what he
did take ? Witness—The first two or three days I
made him barley-water, which he took. He had also
grapes, figs, and those kind of things, which I procured
for him about the same time, but after that I do not
know what he took. lam sure he took the barley water,
because 1 gave it him myself.
Mr. Wakley—Did the deceased ever express to you
any apprehension of being in danger ? Witness—HE
HAS TOLD ME THAT HE NEVER HAD A
DAY'S HEALTH IN HIS LIFE, but he did not
speak of being in danger until the Saturday before his
death, when he asked me to write to Dr. Curie, which I
instantly did, and sent a servant with the letter. At that
time he said he thought there was a change. This was
about three o'clock on the Saturday. I had not then
seen anything of the discharge of blood which had been
spoken of. From the first to the last the deceased had
in attendance upon him two servants anel six nurses—
that was from the 19th or the 20th of February until
his death.

.....
Mr. Wakley remarked that deceased seemed to have
been subjected to the homoeopathic system of attendance
at any rate.
From this testimony it is clearly proved—first, That
bath the medical men agree that death was caused by
natural disease. Then, what does Mr. Waliley say? Why,
he addresses the jury thus After the opinion ex-
pressed by the medical gentlemen who have been
called as witnesses, it must be utterly useless to carry
the inquiry any further." But this is not all ; for we
have the declaration of Miss Maguire that the deceased
assured her he NEVER HAD ONE DAY'S HEALTH IN HIS
LIFE ; and yet the jury append to their decision, after
first giving a very honest verdict, to the following effect_
Thus it is, " We find that H. Cordwell died from exhaus-
tion, caused by loss of blood from his intestinal canal,
produced by natural disease." Now let us see what
follows, that could by pNssibly induce the jury to im•
pugn their own verdict, and to induce them to
come to the following mysterious conclu- ion
" The jury cannot refrain from expressing the
strongest feeling of indignation and disgust at hearing
it proved by the testimony of the nurses and other per-
sons that the afflicted gentleman had been cruelly ex-
posed to a system of starvation whilein a state of most
extreme debility, during at least ten days previous to his
death, he having, during that long time, been allowed
nothing but plain water, under the express direction of
his medical attendant." This discrepancy we leave to
Mr. Wakley to explain. It should seem, after telling

FROM TUE EVENING PAPERS OF MONDAY.
GLOBE.—We are mach of the same mind as the Examiner
—both ae to Whig prseive obedience, and ex-Radical active
adulation to thellinistor of the income-tax. It really seems
to us that to vote (as Mr. Curteis complained, rather patheti-
cally, Lord John Russell did) in the Ministerial majority
against Mr. Buller's amendment, almost amounted to throw-
ing down his brief as leader in the cause of Opposition,
on trial before the great national inquest. Lord John
Russell, as every one knows, has a way of his own • and none
more respect and admire than we do his personal indepen-
dence at critical epochs. The spirit that prompted the "Let-
ter to the Electors of Stroud" often may damage a party, but
always stamps individual character and courage; and these
after all are the qualities men look up to with permanent
confidence, whatever be the temporary fate of parties.
But it is one thing to declare an unpopular conviction,
just when State-craft would suppress it—and quite another
tiling! to sacrifice partisanship at:the expense of sacrificing
conviction too. Lord John Russell's principles of financial
policy have been embodied in public measures. With those
measures the contents of the present budget are inconsistent.
If the selection for reduction of duties of the great objects
of popular consumption was right, the present selection is
wrong, and the difference -draws after it an income-tax.
Now we can readily understand how Lord John Rus-
sell, or any man of candid mind, may view with
a sort of qualified approval the serpentine advance of
this Ministry. Such opponents may admit that from Minis-
ters so brought in ltss might have been expected. They
may admit that, from Ministers so supported, more could
not well be expected. This makes it their duty, doubtless,
to join those supporters on all occasions on which Ministers
are likely to be whipped out of Court for their virtues.
But how can it be the duty of the Opposition to sink
their own views, not to preserve Ministers from any danger
incurred by liberality—not, indeed to preserve them from any
danger at all—but simply for the satisfaction of adding their
votes to a majority, overwhelming by reason of the very dif-
fisrence of Ministerial measures from those they
would have proposed ? Surely it cannot be denied
that this is the case of the income-tax majority.
" The country " (as country gentlemen call it) support
it for the sake of the retained protection which renders it ne-
cessary. Sir Robert Peel denies any other necessity for it
than that resulting from his policy. lie does not deny that re-
duction of the great articles of consumption would give larger
immediate relief. It cannot be denied they would give
larger revenue. Now, those who think colonial and
home objects, of still more importance, involved in their
retention may disregard these considerations. But Op-
position, who believe nothing of the kind—why should they
give sanction—or semi-sanction—in their speeches, or in
their votes ? We cannot help thinking there is some mis-
take as to the function of honest Opposition. That func-
tion, in our view, is, on all occasions, to put forth the right
principles of measures. They cannot expect, and need
not desire, to supersede those of the parties officially re-
sponsible, or even to alter them much in detail. Whey
may fairly acknowledge whatever they think good, or
less bad than expected, in those measures. But they should
sacrifice no jot of their principles, by supporting Po-
licy founded on other principles. They should miss n°
opportunity of presenting them in contrast, wherever
they are contrasted. Only in this way can the publr
ever be taught preference for those which are really
preferable. The function of Opposition is neither paltry
nibbling, nor factious obstruction. But it is steady declara-
tion of general views, on every subject involving them. Nu-
merical strength, or immediate prospects, should have no in-
fluence on this mode of action. While a minority they have
simply to consult their convictions what course of policy
is the best practicable. If they think Sir Robert's such, let
them speak and vote for it (but if they think so, they for-
swear their own past)—
And while along the stream of time his name
Expanded flies, and gathers all its fame,
Say, shall our little bark attendant sail,
Pursue the triumph and partake the gale?
STANDARD.—We cannot help entertaining a hope, hows
ever improbable such a result may appear, that much national
advantage may accrue from the discussions, although painful
for the time, which are taking place between the New Zea-
land Company and the Government. The usual faults
have probably been committed on both sides, and by
bringing those faults prominently forward, a better
system with regard to colonisation generally may at last
be matured. When we speak of probable faults on both sides,
we have no particular view to this or that individual, either
in the Government or in the Company. The quarrel,
though it now includes Lord Stanley and his Under-Se-
cretaries, would equally have existed had the Administra-
tion remained in office under whom it originally began.
The ground of the dispute consists in that entirely op-
posite course of action which has always been taken
by trading companies on the one hand, and by Govern-
ments on the other. Speculators will ever be found
to move too fast, and all Governments up to the
present time, have, we think, moved too slowly. The New
Zealand Company has had the argument, up to this time,
very much to itself. Many of the newspapers, and nearly all
the pamphleteers. have sided with the Company against the
Government. One pamphlet, however, has recently
been sent to us, entitled, " The New Zealand
Company ; its Claims to Compensation considered,"
which exhibits some part of the case on the other side; and
shows, that if the Company might justly complain of the
dilatoriness of the Colonial-office, the latter had
some cause to find fault with the eagerness of the Company.
Let any one conceive a plan, by which the duty of colonisa-
tion should be adequately undertaken by a Government ;
and the first points he would be sure to set down would
be, that a good sight for a colony should be leisurely
selected ; the land properly and justly gained by pur-
chase ; the intended colony properly laid out by sur-
veyors ; and then bargains made at home with
settlers, who could safely purchase, and be at once conveyed
to the land which they had so made their own. Such,
however, is not the mode in which trading companies carry
on their work. They could not afford to wait the course of
years which would thus be required. Thus it appears, that
immediately after its formation, the New Zealand Com-
pany sent out an agent to purchase land ; that then,
without waiting for a report from him, which could
hardly have reached England in less than a year,
the Company began to sell land ; and had dispatched from
England nine ships full of settlers before it had received
from its agent any report as to his purchases. The agent,
too, knowing that ships would speedily follow him with
settlers, felt himself compelled forthwith to effect some pur-
chases ; and it is from the misunderstandings with the natives,
touching these first hasty bargains, that all the subsequent
mishaps have arisen. The New Zealand Company contains
on its direction some of the best names that the City of
London can show. But we fancy that the tone of some of
its advocates in the House of Commons is, of itself,
sufficient to prove that some degree of eagerness and
vehemence must have marked its proceedings from the
very outset. We have expressed a hope that good
might, after all, result from these discussions. We cannot,
indeed, be sanguine that any great and lasting plan
will be struck out at a heat. But surely it will be impossible
to observe these proceedings without being struck with the
desirableness of a greater amount of action, of control, of
enterprise, and of outlay, on the part of the nation, act-
ing by its Government, than has ever yet been be-
stowed. Surely it is lamentable to hear of fifty-three ship.,
containing eight or nine thousand settlers, sent to a shore
where the possession, justly and lawfully, of every acre
of land, is disputed by the natives; and where the Governor,
when called upon to interfere, feels compelled to declare that
there have been faults on both sides ! Meanwhile we trust,
that, without widening the breach by personal attacks on
this or that official authority, the New Zealand Company
will be able to submit to Parliament some tangible question,
some really remedial measure; and we have little fear that
such a proposition, if it be a possible thing, will be gladly
embraced, both by the house of Commons and the Go-
vernment.
FROM TRAI EVENING PAPRES OF YESTERDAY.

GLOBE.—If Mr. Goulburn had but a little wit he would
exemplify Falstaff's notion of valour. The worthy knight,
deeming discretion " the better part" of that quality, gave
to it the better place—he put it foremost. Mr. Goulburn,
being a bungler, puts the cart before the horse—he is coura-
geous first, and discreet afterwards. If charged with
a blunder, he first stoutly swears it is not one ; but
press him home, and he clumsily confesses and amends
it. When the Sugar Duties Bill was in Committee on
Friday night, clause 13 was objected to, as an unnecessary
and unwise interference with the provisions of the Ware-
housing Act. Hitherto the sugar has been weighed
both on entering and on being cleared from bond,
and the duty levied on the weight cleared. It was pro-
posed, by the clause in question, to discontinue the
practice of weighing on clearing the sugar, and to
charge the duty on the weight as entered in the first
instance, without any allowance for loss, by drainage or
otherwise. The only reason Mr. Goulburn could assign for
this was a probable saving of some 8,000/. a year in
the salaries of officers, &c. The effect upon the merchant
was not deemed worthy of consideration. The loss
of weight in bond was lost sight of altogether, and
the duty was to be taken upon more than could reach
the consumer. This loss has always hitherto been recog-
nised and allowed for. By 3 and 4W. IV., c. 57, sec.
19, the maximum allowance for drainage, &c., unless
the sugar has been stored in a warehouse of special security,
is fixed at 3 per cent. for the first three months, and 1 per
cent. for each succeeding month. Now the average period
for which sugar remains in bond is about seven months.
Seven per cent. upon 145., the duty on Muscovado sugars,
amounts to about 11d. ; and this upon the quantity imported
last year (say 125,000 tons) gives 109,8951. as the amount of
duty upon sugar not delivered to the merchant. Of course,
this would, in effect, have formed an additional tax
upon the article ; and, like the rest, must have been
paid by the consumer. But its bearing would have been
most heavy upon the lowest qualities of the article, these
being most liable to loss of weight from drainage and eva-
poration. All this was, by the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer, either unseen or unheeded ; and it was not until he
caught a glimpse of the possibility of an adverse division
upon it, that he gave up the clause. This he did last night,
without hazarding a debate on the subject. He covered his re-
treat, however, with a threat of introducing it in some other
form. There are those in the City who are obliged to him
for the hint, and will keep their eye upon him. We should
advise Mr. Goulburn to make a different disposition both
of his courage and his caution. They are sadly misplaced
at present, and the result is a waste of both, while none can
doubt that both need careful husbanding. To keep the
former ever in the van—to make it bear the shock of every
encounter—is the way to wear it out ; not to mention that a
weapon battered by use so constant and indiscriminate soon
ceases to be effective for more creditable purposes.
STANDARD.--Mr. Miles's motion was last night rejected
by a majority of 213 to 78—a pretty plain proof that it was
not considered a motion the success of which could be calcu-
lated to benefit the agricultural interest. Mr. Miles, in-
deed, narrowed his proposition to a point bearing no pro-
portion to the magnitude of the principle asserted
in his original resolution, and scarcely reconcileable with
the argitinents of his speech. The point was. a transfer
to the Consolidated Fund of 300,000/. or 400,0001., now

posed on the county rates, to cover the expense of criminal
prosecutions, &c. Mr. Allies's speech, however, canvassed the
whole commercial policy of the present Government, treating
it generally as unfavourable to the agricultural interest, and on
this ground challenged a very full reply from Sir
James Graham ; but let us say it with all respect, the speech
of Mr. Miles and the reply of Sir James Graham were alike
beside the practical question before the House ; and, though
both very able addresses, concerned topics too familiar to com-
mand much interest. The practical question to which we
refer is the propriety of a transfer of the expense of criminal
prosecutions from local to general taxation. Now,
on this point there is something more to be considered than
any question between what may be regarded as rival into.
rests. We must consider the whole subject of the
administration of the criminal law. It undoubtedly does
appear a hardship that the innocent people of a
district should be fined, in county rates, for
the crime of an individual who, perhaps, never
visited that district, but for the few minutes neces-
sary for the perpetration of the act that involves
it in a heavy expense—as in a very recent case, a
man may proceed from the City of London by railway into
Buckinghamshire, and commit a crime, for the successful or
unsuccessful prosecution of which the people of Bucks
will have several hundreds of pounds to pay. At
first sight it may seem that such a manifest injustice—
an injustice which, if the effect were upon a greater
scale, would render local authorities less vigilant
and alert in the vindication of the law—ought to be re-
medied by transferring to the whole public the burthen of
defending what is a common interest. We are, however,
to look to the other side. Justice may be a little too
active, as well as being too sluggish ; and certainly
the activity of justice might be sometimes stimulated
by an assurance that all her expenses must come from
the public purse. Is it quite certain that the present
three hundred thousand or four hundred thousand
pounds charged upon county rates might not grow to much
larger dimensions when supplied from the Consolidated Fund ?
and this without any corresponding advantage ; for it may
be that we have already fully enough of prosecutions and
commitments, notwithstanding the (we were going to
Fall it salutary) check of county rates. Suppos-
ing the cost of prosecutions to be only increased fifty
per cent. by the proposed change, would not the
agriculturists, who undoubtedly, in one shape or another,
pay greatly more than two-thirds of the taxes, be losers by
the bargain ? But it may be said, a public prosecutor, with
a staff of solicitors, other officials, &c., &c., under the imme-
diate control of the Home Secretary, might be appointed to
control the expenditure of the public money. Now, we think
that a public prosecutor at the Old Bailey and in, perhaps,
half-a- dozen other very large towns, as well as London, would
be a very great improvement; but we have seen enough of the
administration ofjustice in France and other countries, in which
the whole administration—of criminal justice is in this manner
engrossed by the executive, to feel convinced, that such a
monopoly is neither the most economical nor, for the pure
administration of justice, the most effectual system.
It is enough, however, to open this slight view
of the consequences, wholly unconnected with the
money question which must follow the adoption of Mr.
Miles s only practical proposition last night, to show that
that proposition deserves very deliberate and serious con-
sideration before adopting it ; it is in truth a question
involving the whole foundation of the system upon which the
criminal laws are administered in this country. Mr. D'lsraeli
took the opportunity of the discussion to recite a scene
from " Vivian Grey," or some other of his
trashy novels, half fustian slang, half personal provocation.
Mr. D'lsraeli is fond, as all novelists ought to be, of illustra-
tions from la belle passion, and drew an analogy between Sir
Robert Peel's conduct towards the Conservatives before his sic-
, cession to office and since, and that conduct which distin-
guishes a lover from a husband. We are not aware of
any truth in the analogy. Sir Robert seems to us to
ct towards the Conservative party precisely as he acted
from 1831 to 1841, supporting all their substantial interests,
protecting them from all wrong and insult, and differing
from any of them only upon those paints on which he,
fifteen years ago, declared he must differ from them—
more emphatically declared it in his administration
of 1835, when he opposed the proposition of the
Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, and, indeed,
gave a faithful outline of the system of financial and com-
mercial policy which he is now realising. This may be the
conduct of a husband. but it is the conduct of an affec-
tionate and faithful husband, and we hope that all our
fair and unmarried readers may find such ; but, though
e are not aware that Sir Robert Peel ever played
" the passionate lover " to any party, we know that
the Right Honourable Baronet has been the object of
uncommon ardour and tenderness from at least one poli-
tical Clod (please pronounce the word as a dissylla-
ble)—witness the following fragment of a billet-doux
written under the name of " Runnymede," in 1836 :
" They cannot taunt you now with your vague promises
of amelioration ; you can appeal to the deeds of your
Cabinet, and the plans which the applause of a nation sanc-
tioned, and the execution of which the intrigues of a faction
alone postponed. Never, too, since the peace of Paris, has
the great national party of this realm been so united ,as at
the present moment. It is no exaggeration to say, that
among its leaders not the slightest difference of opinion
exists upin any portion of their intended policy. Pitt
himself in the plenitude of his power, never enjoyed
more cordial confidence than that which is now extended to
you by every alleged section of the Conservative ranks;
all private opinions, all particular theories, have merged
in the resolute determination to maintain the English con-
stitution in spite of Irish rebels, and to support, with-
out cavil and criticism, its eminent champion in that
great course of conduct which you have expounded to
them." Poor Clod Runnymede, however, sighed in ram,
like the Mrs. Felix Lorraine of " Vivian Grey"—she was, it
appears, slighted, and we all have read that
"Hell has no fury like a woman scorned."
And to this root of bitterness may, we apprehend, be traced
some recent ebullitions of virulence that have lately reflected
little credit upon the House of Commons.