The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-21 00:00:00

But the private bankers were not compelled to look a
them except as a matter of curiosity. He might be told
that it was better to leave this without regulation ; but
the evils of an over-issue were just the same, whether
they arose from the Bank of England or from the pri-
vate banks. He contended that it was the system they
ought to amend, and they ought to endeavour to place
the circulation of the country under proper regulation.
If there was a tendency in the plan towards establishing
one bank of issue, he thought the principle on
which they were proceeding ought not to be concealed.
He concurred in the opinion that the safest course was to
have only a single bank of issue, and thought nothing
could be more unsafe than unrestricted competition,
which had already been the means of a great crash in
the monetary affairs of this country. He admitted that
the Right Hon. Gentleman could not carry his principle
to the full extent, but he thought the principle, on the
whole, a right one, and hoped the Right lion. Baronet
would persevere in it. For the details of the measure
he would reserve further remarks, but could not sit down
without saying that he would give the Government plan
his honest support.—(Cheers.)
Mr. PLUMPTRE said there were some principles
propounded in the measure in which he concurred, but
he feared the plan would cause a contraction of the cir-
culation, and lead to the reduction of prices. If that
would be the effect, he was sure the Right Hon. Baronet
would be the first to withdraw it.

Mr. MUNTZ said he would not have made any re-
mark, but that he had been alluded to by the Hon.
Member for Halifax. He never said what he did not
believe, and never wrote anything he was ashamed to
put his name to. He had, however, been misquoted on
this subject. He had given the greatest atten-
tion to the matter, and had road every
authority worth reading on the currency ques-
tion—Locke, Smith, Harris, M'Culloch, and Ri-
cardo—and read them, too, before the Right Honourable
Baronet had done so.—(Laughter.) Yes, when the
Right Hon. Baronet was Secretary for Ireland. The
Right Hon. Baronet would not, he believed, carry out his
principles. He (Mr. Muntz) would agree in them pro-
vided the Right Hon. Baronet would make the prices
of land and its produce the same as before the change of
currency had taken place. It was very natural that
Hon. Members on that side of the House should support
the Government proposition, because it would lower
prices, and
.tend to accelerate the repeal of the corn-
laws ; but how was it that Hon. Members opposite could
support the Government plan? He professsed he was at
a loss to understand the motive upen which they acted.
—(Hear, hear.) Why those Hon. Gentlemen wished to
have corn 50 per cent. higher in this country than on
the Continent. The Right Hon. Gentleman had been
very pleasant upon some remarks he (Mr. Muntz) had
addressed to his constituents in Birmingham, but he had
not advocated those principles which the Right
Honourable Baronet represented as his. If the
Right Honourable Baronet fully carried out the
principles he now propounded, there could be
little rent paid and less taxes, far a general depreciation
of the produce of land, and of land itself, would be the
result. It was said the eountry banks were regulated
by exchanges. This was a great mistake—he did not
believe one in fifty of these country banks understood
anything about foreign exchanges. How could they
regulate the issues by foreign exchanges ? He thought
the Right Hon. Barones had encumbered the measure by
unnecessary machinery. If the country banks were
allowed to manage their affairs without the interference
of her Majesty's Government, or her Majesty, both of
which were unnecessary, the whole would be regulated
without any other assistance. He asked the Right Hon.
Baronet to consider this minutely. He did not think it
was right that the banks of issue and the banks of
business should be under the same roof and direction.
He thought that both should be kept entirely separate,
and that the Bank of England ought to be a bank of
business. There wero two other points to wbieh he
wished shortly to allude. In all' instances of panic, he
never knew any instance in which the Bank took early
measures to contract their issues, and it was not fair to
control the country banks when the Bank had not taken
the proper masures to preserve themselves and the other
banks. Then the Right Hon. Gentleman talked of
persons ruining themselves by unwise speculations, and
instanced a case of a person who had been ruined by
speculating in Spanish Bonds. How could the Right
Hon. Baronet prevent persons from speculating as they
wished ? He thought the Right Hon. Baronet was
bound to carry out his principle completely, and not say
he would, do so. They would then see whether the
measure was sound or unsound. If Hon. Gentlemen
opposite, who were landlords, supported the Bill, no other
person had any reason to complain.
Mr. C. BULLER said he would briefly state the rea
sons which made him reluctant to admit the merits of
the Bill. His opinion was, that the measure would not
have the effect of placing the commercial transactions of
the country on a sounder footing, which was the object of
it, but would substitute more unsafe forms of credit than
existed at present. There seemed to be a great con-
fusion between sound principles of banking and sound
principles of currency ; and the machinery of the mea-
sure was directed to regulating the circulating medium.
The Right Hon. Baronet said it was necessary to con-
trol the issues of private banks ; but when he came to
say what were banks of issue, and what were not, it
seemed to him that his argument tended more against
the system of banking, and that the mischief to which
he referred arose from a different cause than the issue of

notes by private banks. All. the arguments which he
had heard had not convinced him that the question had
been fully considered. He thought that the public
ought to have the privilege of investing their money in
is hat bank they pleased.
Sir ROBERT PEEL said that it would be for the
public to consider in what institution it would place its
confidence. Although the Hon. Member for Birming-
ham was not pleased with the measure of the Govern-
ment, he was glad to see that he had no strong measure
to propose against it. In answer to the Hon. Gentle-
man's question, how far the extension of the principle of
the Act of 1819 was carried out by the system of issue,
hs (Sir R. Peel) did not admit that this was an exten-
sion of the principle of the Act of 1819. It was a comple-
ment of that Act—it was a measure fulfilling that Act;
but it was, ot an extension of the principle of it. The
Act of 1819 recognised the principle that there
should be a standard of value in this coun-
try, and that that standard should be gold.
that he who issued his paper should be obliged to fulfil
his engagements, and pay his paper in gold. The mea-
sure which he (Sir R. Peel) now proposed did not carry
that principle further. His answer to the question of
his Hon. Friend (Mr. Newdegate) was, that there was a
standard of value, and that that standard was a definite
quantity of gold of a certain finenes—that it was intended
that that should be the measure of all worth. The per-
son who issued paper promised to pay, on the face of
that paper, a certain amount of gold. That paper, there-
fore, ought to conform to the gold. He admitted to his
Hon. Friend that there might be, for a time, by that
measure, a limitation in prices ; but all increase in prices
that arose from an excess of paper was illegitimate, and
could not be permanent. There was no advantage from
any increase of price that arose from an issue o paper
beyond the value of the metal they represented. He
brought it to this simple issue : supposing they depre-
ciated their paper, and their paper was still convertible
into gold, would not every man who had a right to insist
on 5 sovereigns for a 5/. note, exercise that right, the
moment he found the gold more valuable than the
paper ? The moment Mr. Rothschild found that
500,000 sovereigns were more valuable than 500,000 L in
notes, would he not immediately convert his notes into
gold, and would not every man act in like manner ?,
Among a competition of issues there might for a time
be an increase of trice, but all experience showed that a
re-action would ensue, and that by a sudden contraction
of the currency, prices were again reduced. His answer'
then was that no increase of prices caused by an issue of
paper beyond its value in gold could be of the slightest
advantage to the country. The effect of this measure
would be to compel an early contraction, to prevent
sudden rises and sudden falls. He contended that equality
of price was a much greater advantage than any sudden
rise or fall. The moment they removed the convertibi-
lity they found the number of private banks increased.
In the year 1797 there were only 240 private banks,
whereas when all convertibility was removed, they in-
creased to 800, so much importance did they attach to
inconvertibility.
Lord WORSLEY said that there had been great
fluctuations of the issues in the rural districts, particu-
larly in Lincolnshire, and he thought, therefore, it would
be only fair, that instead of taking the last two years
as the period within which the circulation of notes should
be the criterion of the future issue of the country banks,
it should be extended to five or six years. He thought
that the banks in the country ought to be enabled to
issue notes to as great an extent as they bad ever done.
Mr. DARBY agreed with all the Right Hon. Baronet
had said as to a metallic currency ; but the question
with him was, whether what was proposed would not so
far contract the issues as to lead to the reduction of
prices?
In answer to a question from Mr. T. BARING,
Sir R. PEEL said he thought they might assume that
the Bank of England would have an interest and desire
to prevent fluctuations in the amount of their notes, and
they would desire, unless accompanied by a sacrifice to
themselves, to extend their own circulation. Supposing
the Bank of England had a surplus of notes in its coffers
for which it had no means of profitable employment, the
Bank of England in that case would employ with profit
a portion of its notes in taking a substitution for coun-
try bank paper. Supposing that six millions of Bank notes
were lying in the Bank of England without profit, clearly
it would be advantageous to the Bank of England to
substitute two millions of country bank paper for
two millions of Bank of England paper lying in
their coffers, without profit. Supposing, on the other
hand, that there was no surplus of Bank notes in the
banking department of the Bank of England, it would
not be obligatory on the Bank of England to substitute
their notes for country bank paper. Supposing again,
that the Bank of England wished to gain a
control over the circulation and desired to extend its issue,
and could not extend its issue by applying the notes
of the banking department, in that case it would make
application to the Government to substitute its own
notes for country bank paper, and thus they would be
able to increase their notes on security. The Privy
Council might, if they thought fit, sanction that measure,
but there would clearly be a profit to the Bank of
England in making those notes on securities.
The resolutions were then agreed to.
. _

Sir W. CLAY gave notice, that ho would, in a future
stage of the measure, propose an amendment on the last
resolution relating to joint-stock banks.
In answer to a question from an Hort. MEMBER,
Sir R. PEEL said he hoped the Government would
be able to introduce the Bill before the Whitsuntide
holidays, and he proposed that the Bill should take ef-
fect as soon as it was possible to make the required se-
paration in the two departments. The Directors were now
occupied in taking every necessary step for effecting the
separation.

The House then resumed, and the report was ordered
to be brought up to-morrow.

Messengers from the Lords broUght up several Bills.
GOLD AND SILVER WARES BILL.
The House went into Committee on this Bill.
Several clauses kid been agreed to without discussion,
when—
Mr. WARBURTON said there were great objections
to the Bill;; it gave a jurisdiction to the Goldsmith's
Company in country districts which it did not before
possess.
Mr. GLADSTONE stated that the objections alluded
to had been removed from the Bill in its present form.
After a few words from Mr. WARBURTON,
The Bill went through Committee; report on Friday.
CUSTOMS' DUTIES BILL.
On the Order of the Day for the further consideration
of the Report on the Customs' Duties Bill being read,
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said there was one principle
introduced into the Bill which was so objectionable that,
unless it was struck out, he could not consent to the
progress of the Bill at that hour. It was proposed to
make the proprietors of wharfs responsible for any
smuggling that might occur on them. This was the
business of the Custom-hOuse officers themselves.
Unless the Bill was delayed, he must take the sense of
the House upon the clause.
Mr. GLADSTONE then postponed the consideration
of the report till this day.
On the motion for the Ecclesiastical Courts' Bill going
into Committee,
Colonel SIBTHORP wished to have the day fixed
on which this Bill would be again brought under the
consideration of the House.
Sir J. GRAIIA-M fixed it, with the consent of the
House, for Friday next.
The West India_ Relief Bill was then read a third
time and passed.
It was then moved that a new writ be issued for Chi-
chester in the room of Lord Arthur Lennox, who has
become one of the Lords of the Treasury.
Lord JOHN'MANNERS moved for the nomination
of a Select Committee on Mortmain:—Lord John Man-
ners, Mr. Shaw; Mr. Nichol), Mr. Charles Buller,
Viscount Clive, Mr. Smythe, Mr. Brotherton, Sir George
Grey, Mr. Eliot Yorke, Mr. James Wortley, the Earl of
Arundel and Surrey, Sir John Yarde Buller, Mr.
Milnes, Mr. Sotheron, and Mr. Dickinson.
The Committee was appointed accordingly.
HOLDING OF VESTRIES IN CHURCHES.
Mr. S. O'BRIEN obtained leave to bring in a Bill to
prevent the holding of vestries in churches, which was
read a first time.
The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of,
and the House adjourned at Half-past One o'Clock.

THE NATIONAL TEMPERANCE
SOCIETY.
Yesterday evening the annual general meeting of the
friends and supporters of this Society was held at
Exeter Hall. George W. Alexander, Esq., Treasurer of
the Society, in the chair.
Among the gentlemen on the platform we observed
Dr. Lovell, Dr. Oxley, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Julius
Jeffreys, F.R.S., W. Janson, Esq., W. Cash, Esq., Jas.
Day, Esq., and John Hill, Esq.
The CHAIRMAN- said, that feeling his inadequacy to -
fill the import-int office of Chairman so worthily as
many of the gentlemen there present, be rejoiced that
his duties would be comparatively light, as the object of
the Society • would be eloquently explained by the
speakers who would follow him. It would be needless
for him to explain the vast importance of that Society.
Its object was to remove intemperance from
every land on the face of the earth. It was notorious
that England, notwithstanding its many noble institutions,
and the strong hold which religion had upon the minds
of its people, was yet degraded by its intemperance
nor has that intemperance been confined to herself; she
has disseminated the same in every part of the globe to
which her ships have sailed. Till within the last four
years there was no immediate check upon this great
evil. It was 'a cheering fact, however, that at
length some light had dawned upon the darkness
which had so long enveloped our country, for that
Society had in some measure succeeded in removing
evils which hitherto bad appeared to be incredible.
It was a cheering circumstance that, in the United
States of America, which contained a population of
16,000,000, above 4,000,000 were connected with tem-
perance societies, while another fourth acted partly, if
not wholly, Upon temperance principles. That reforma-
tion had scarcely a parallel in modern times. However,
he hoped the country would flourish in another respect,
and ere long sweep away the stain-of slavery. He hoped
that they would copy the example of England in libe-
rating those persons whom they at present kept and sold
as chattels. But he would not wander from the subject.
He believed that there was no place in which a tempe-
rance society had been established, where it had not
been the means of producing great improvements in the
general character and habits of the people, and reducing
the number of idle and profligate drunkards. Those
were objects well worth the support and consideration of
every enlightened Christian. Before sitting down he
might be permitted to state that while he earnestly re-
commended that Society to the fostering care of every
Christian, he would by no means wish to be understood
as placing it on a level with the Gospel.. Religion was
necessary to the welfare of a future state, but tempe-
rance tended to benefit their physical condition, and led
them seriously to consider their duty to God and their
fellow-men. He would not enlarge further upon the
subject, but call upon the Secretary to read extracts
from the report.
The SECRETARY, before reading the report, begged to
inform them that he had received letters of apology from
the Lord Bishop of Norwich, Lord Ashley, the Rev. l'ye
Smith, and the Venerable Thomas Clarkson, the latter
of whom had written a long letter from his bed-soom,
expatiating at considerable length on the advantages
derivable from habits of abstemiousness. This letter
the Secretary read to the meeting.
The report stated that the charm of novelty first
attracted the curious and the opposition of individuals to
that Society, and then proceeded to give a brief review of
the state of the temperance cause in different parts of
the world. The United States of America were making
steady progress in the work of reformation. It was
computed that one in four of the population, or above
4.600,000, abstained from all intoxicating drinks, while
another fourth had nearly eschewed them. The im-
portation of spirituous and other liquors had decreased in
a similar ratio ; but it was not all ascribed to the temperance
reformation,,, part of it being supposed to arise from
commercial changes and tariff regulations. The num-
ber of distillers in the United States in 1810 was some-
what more than. 40,000, but in 1840 the number had
fallen to 10,906, and in a few more years, it was hoped,
they would be entirely extinct. In Montreal the prin-
cipal merchants were coming forward in the temperance
cause, recommending temperance marine insurance, and
giving preference to vessels not carrying spirits. The
Committee were glad to state,that the principal inhabit-
ants of Montreal had petiticned the Governor of Ca-
nada, Sir Charles T. Metcalfe, K.C.8., praying his
Excellency to refuse all applications for licenses to sell
intoxicating liquors, and respectfully requesting him
to take, such steps as might appear best calculated
to suppress, the unlicensed and consequently
illegal traffic in these drinks. His Excellency,
in reply, expressed himself fully sensible of the great
blessing conferred on the inhabitants of any country by
abtaining from the use of intoxicating drinks, and pro-
mised to encourage the adoption of any measure calcu-
lated to effect so very desirable an object. In St. John's,
Newfoundland, the temperance cause was progressing,
wjiile in the Bahamas in the West Indies, temperance
societies had been formed of large numbers of the in-
' habitants. In Berbice - and Bermuda the returns
exhibited a falling off in the consumption of spirituous
liquors, which was attributable to the growing habits of
temperance exhibited by the inhabitants. At St. Kitt's a
society had been formed which already numbered 4,000.
Similar results were reported of Jamaica, the Mauritius,
Montsurat, Antigua, Anguilla, Tobago, &c. In the
Sandwich Islands, New Zealand, China, India, Africa,
Sierra Leone, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Bavaria,
Germany, the cause of temperance had greatly
triumphed. In Ireland Father Mathew was still en-
gaged' to his patriotic efforts among the dissipated por-
tion of 'his countrymen, while in Scotland and Wales,
large sums of money were subscribed tow ards advanc-
ing habits of temperance amongst the people. In Eng-
land the consumption of spirituous liquors had decreased,
while the number of persons who had joined temperance
societies amounttid to upwards of 1,000,000. The
receipts of the past year had been 1,098/. 9s. 3d., while
the expenditure had amounted to 6451. 9s. lld , leaving
a balance in the hands of the treasurer of 4921. 19s. 4d.

The Rev. JAMES SHERMA.N in moving the following
resolution—" That whilst this meeting regards with
thankfulness the gratifying progress of the temperance
cause, both at home and abroad, as detailed in the re-
port now read ; it at the same time feels bound to ex-
press the conviction, that the efforts hitherto made, have
exposed a mass of evil yet remaining, which calls loudly
for renewed and increased exertions on the part of Bri-
tish philanthropists"—said, that he had spoken so many
times in that Hall during that month, that he thought he
might have been excused from appearing before them
again. His friends, however, thought otherwise; and he
did not quite regret the having the opportunity of stat-
ing before the meeting that his heart was still warmly
attached to the good cause.—(Cheers.) He hoped to
live and die a teetotaller.—(Cheers.) Public men, occu-
pying stations such as he had the happiness to do, might
expect to have a great many things said of them, and
some of them not very true. It had been reported of him,
from end of the kingdom to the other, that he occasion-
ally took a little drop.—(Laughter.) But whoever
had undertaken to state that, he would tell, that for the
last eight years he had not taken the smallest quantity of
liquor of uny description exceptiughe was once
deceived by his medical attendant, who brought in a phy-
sic bottle some alcohol discoloured, so as to lead him to
believe it was medicine. He wished to state
most distinctly to his friends that his heart was as warm
as it had ever been in favour of -teetotalism, and as un-
deviating as ever was he in abstaining from intoxicating
drinks. He was anxious that a large portion of the time
of that meeting should be occupied by gentlemen whose
faces they had' seldom the opportunity of seeing—gen •
tlemen from the country—gentlemen from distant parts—
some, he understOod, from New Zealand And the United
States of America. He should have desired that the
whole of the report should have been read to
the meeting, but still he must say the Secretary
had displayed much good sense in not taxing the
patience of the meeting with it all. .To him its details
were most gratifying. They stimulated him to further
exertions, and he should again enter the haunts of the
destitute, the houses of the irreligious; and ,the retreats
of the vicious, to exhibit the benefits and advantages of
total abstinence principles.-:-(Cheers.) He would not
detain them further, but simply request the meeting; to
give their serious attention to the gentlemen who would
succeed him, and adopt the resolution whiel 'had been
entrusted to his care.—(Cheers.)
Dr. THOMPSON, in seconding the resolution, gave a
detailed account of the progress of absten.'ious habits
amongst the inhabitants of New Zealand. 11-0 had been
sent out in the year 1842, in care of 400 emigonts from

Scotland to the port of Auckland in that island, and,
knowing the advantages of temperance principles, he
determined, at the outset, to introduce them on board the
vessel in which they were embarked. At first he expe-
rienced some difficulty, but long before they arrived at
the equator, he had succeeded in winning the support of
the whole ship's crew, as well as the emigrants who had
been entrusted to his care. On board they formed a
sort of society, afterwards introduced into the island;
and so much good had it worked amongst the inhabitants,
that previous to his returning home, he had the honour
of receiving the thanks of the Government. He was
now about to go to establish a British hospital and
school of medicince in the Holy Land—in the city of
Damascus—and he hoped to be able to introduce prin-
ciples of temperance under that tropical climate. He
had great pleasure in seconding the resolution which had
previously been submitted to them.
Professor WRIGHT, of Philadelphia, supported the re-
solution, and gave similar gratifying details of the tem-
perance in that vast republic.
The resolution was then unanimously agreed to.
hThe second resolution was moved by J. S. BUCKING-
HAM. Esq., in a very appropriate address, which was very
much cheered. He concluded by reading it :—" That
the crime, ignorance, poverty, and disease of the land,
being chiefly attributable to intoxicating drinks, this
meeting would rejoice to find the public and the Legis-
lature prepared to refuse a legal sanction to the immo-
rality arising from the making and sale of these liquors."
The resolution was seconded by Mr. ROCHE, who at-
tributed the prevalence of crime throughout the country
to the dissolute and intemperate habits of the people ;
and thought that Government ought to suppress the
licensing of houses for the sale of spirituous liquors.
This resolution, having been put by the CHAIRMAN,
was carried amid acclamation.

The Rev. Mr. STOVELL, in a very able and energetic
address, in which he-denounced the use of wines of every
description amongst the clergy, thought that they, as
pastors, ought to lead the way in every act of reforma-
tion ; le, therefore, with great pleasure, proposed the
third resolution :—" That, considering the inde-
scribable evils produced by the use of intoxicating
drinks, this meeting calls upon all who love their fellow-
creatures to renounce even the moderate use of them as
dangerous in practice and destructive in example."
The resolution having been seconded by Mr. S. Bow-
LEY, was carried unanimously.
Mr. J. J. GURNEY moved the last resolution, which
was as follows :—" That accurate statistical returns of
the extent and evils of intemperance in any part of the
kingdom are absolutely necessary to make out a complete
case for the purpose of Parliamentary application, and
this meeting pledges itself to use every effort and influ-
ence to obtain such returns."

It was seconded by Mr. PRICE, and supported by Mr.
MARTIN, of Cork, who gave a very animated description
of his own labours as the founder of the temperance
movement in Ireland.

This resolution, like the others, was unanimously car-
ried; and a vote having been accorded to the Chairman,
who briefly acknowledged it, the meeting, which was
numerous, and highly respectable, then separated.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
(YESTERDAY.)
MANSION-HOUSE.

THE COAL TRADE.—Capt. tram, of the Eliza col-
lier, of Newcastle, appeared upon a summons to answer
the complaint of George Thorborn, and several other
seamen, who charged him with having unreasonably
detained them fur several weeks in the port of London.
The justice-room was crowded with persons interested
in the coal trade, amongst whom were several highly
respectable shipowners and coal factors. Sir P. Laurie
presided upon the occasion.
The complainants, who in fact summoned the captain
of the Eliza because they did not know how to get their
case before the public by any other means, stated that
they and from 100 to 200 other seamen, whohad worked
colliers from the north to the port of London, hsd been
detained in the river six weeks between Gravesend and
the upper section of Blaokwall, having unfortunately
subjected themselves to such oppressive delay by signing
articles to perform the whole voyage. The amount to
which each of them would be entitled at the end
of the voyage was no more than 41., and
no part of that money could they obtain to send to their
wives and families, so that the most poignant distress
was inflicted upon multitudes in consequence of the dis-
agreement between the. pitmen and the coal owners, the
former having struck fur higher wages, and the latter
being determined to get as high a price as possible for
their coals.

Sir P. LAURIE—How many colliers are now in the
port of London ? One of the complainants—About two
hundred, and while they are holding out for high prices
you may guess our situation when your Worship is told
that several of us have seven, eight, or ten children
each to support.
Sir P. LAURIE—It appears that by the articles which
you have signed you may be delayed here an unlimited
time.

The complainant replied that such was the case. In
the Act of Parliament for the regulation of the trade it
was so laid down that the poor labouring man had no
chance in a contest with the rich man, who would wait
until the market might rise.
Captain Mildrum said it was useless and absurd to
charge him with having . detained the men. He acted
under the direction of the shipowner, who was naturally
anxious to obtain a fair price for the coal, and the delay
was as much against the owner as against the men who
had worked the vessel.

The complainant declared that the shipowners had an
allowance made to them.

A shipowner here denied most positively that any
'allowance whatever was made to those who conveyed the
coal. lie admitted that it was a very great hardship
upon the poor men that they should be detained, but in
fact, all parties were sufferers, the market in London
being completely overglutted, so that if sales were made,
the loss sustained would be serious.

Sir r. LAURIE—Is there any prospect that relief will
be afforded to these men ?—Captain Mildrum said he
did not know. He knew that they were much incon-
venienced, and he had offered them "half voyage," but
they refused it.
The complainants said if " half voyage" had been
offered to them when first they began to feel the effects
of the delay, they would gladly have accepted it, but no
proposition of the kind had been made until very lately.
Captain Mildruni declared that he did not at all detain
the ship, but he was bound by the articles, and he sus-
tained a loss proportioned to that which the complain-
ants suffered, and he had much more to do, and the
whole responsibility.
Sir P. LAURIE—The fault is evidently in the law,
which is calculated to oppress the poor man who toils
necessarily for the support of his family. Here is a
very severe judgment, indeed, upon the working man.
I trust that the representatives and the Magistracy of
the districts in which such cases of distress have origi-
nated will take up the matter and attempt to provide
some remedy.
One of the complainants—There is no hope in quar-
ters of that kind, your Worship. All the magistracy and
great men, and representatives, are coal-owners. They
are all interested in keeping up the price of coals, and
what chance have such as we against them ? None on
earth.
Sir P. LAURIE—It would appear, then, from what you
say, that there exists a combination between the coal
owners and the coal factors, and that as the public won't
now purchase coal at the price required, you are to be
the victims ?
A coal factor and shipowner rose and declared that
there was no such thing as a combination or conspiracy
existing between the coal owners in the north and any
persons in London ; but the fact was, if the coals were
to be sold at the prices now offered, as much money as
would pay for the freight and the other charges would
not be received. _ _

Another coal factor said there was no remedy for the
evil complained of. He had had several ships in the port for
the last seven weeks, and he was obliged in consequence
of the overglut to avoid working them. The coal
owners of the north had nothing at all to do with the
matter. Almost all the coals which had lately come
in had been purchased by shipowners on speculation,
and the speculation had failed for the reasons already
stated.
Sir PETER LAURIE—I trust the condition of these
poor men will be taken into consideration by those
who derive profit from their labour. They say that this
is only the second voyage they have made within the
last five or six months, and if they are to be detained
in this manner, how on earth are they to maintain their
families?

One of the shipowners, IA ho is also a coal factor, here
declared, that whatever might be the ' state of the
market, he certainly would sell the cargoes in his vessels
a week hence. He also stated to Sir Peter Laurie that
all the men who had been detained would, no doubt
whatever, be remunerated upon their return home.
Some of the complainants assured Sir Peter Laurie
that they had no expectation of the kind. They never
had the least indulgence or consideration extended to
them by the Healthy men who had so much in their
power, and who exerted the whole of their influence and
authority for the benefit of themselves.
Sir PETER LAURIE—WeII, I am sorry for your condi-
tion, but there is no law which will sanction my inter-
ference for your benefit. The case will, no doubt from
the interest felt in the circumstances, be submitted to
public opinion, through
,the Press, and I dare say that
through such channel remedy may result from exposure.
Although I cannot relieve you I do not regret that you
have sought redregs at the hands of the Lord Mayor.
The case can only be met by an Act of Parliament, and
I trust that although the complainants say the magis-
tracy in the coal districts are all coal owners, some ef-
fectual means may be adopted to protect these poor men
and enable them to share with their families the produce
of their labour.

The captain was then told that he was wholly excul-
pated, and the complainants retired, expressing hopes,
but appearing to despair.
An elderly man, named Thomas Marsh, of very re-
spectable appearance, and with a head as white as snow,
was charged with having committed a robbery in the
warehouse of Messrs. Lea, Wilson, and Co., the exten-
sive silk manufacturers in Goldsmith- street.
Mr. Calthvell, warehouseman in the house, stated that
the prisoner, about a week ago, called at the warehouse,
and desired to see some silk handkerchiefs. Witness
showed him several, but took no particular notice of
him, never suspecting that a person of his appearance
contemplated a robbTry. He made some objections to
the width of the handkerchiefs, and went away without
purchasing any. After his departure witness missed
some of the goods which had been exhibited, and ascer-
tained in the course of the evening that twelve hand-
kerchiefs had been stolen. On Saturday, the prisoner
again entered the warehouse, and witness having made
previous arrangements in the event of a second visit
from him, waited upon him. The prisoner looked at
several handkerchiefs, and was observed cautiously de-
positing three of them in his pocket. He then said he
would call again, and was moving towards the door,
when witness stepped up to him, and told him to deliver