The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-09 00:00:00

ENGLISH WEALTH.

If we turn our eyes within those circles which con-
stitute English society, what a brilliant scene presents
itself. We find hundreds and thousands, and tens of
thousands, and hundreds of thousands, faring sump-
tuously every day, and wearing fine linen. The be-
holder cannot but be amazed at the glittering vast
throng, as they pass before him in the pursuit
of their pleasures or the toils of their business.
And would we ascertain who these goodly beings
are ? and what their parentage, education, and pre-
tensions ? The inquiry may be amusing, and must
be instructive. First, then, is the privileged class,
composed of the Royal Family, with the bishops
and others, counting 4,727 souls. What an immensity
of wealth have they at their command ! keeping up
one long, one strong and eternal pull, at the national
stock. Descending one step, we behold the clergy
in general and the Senate, a brilliant and strong
array, counting 92,857 souls ; and the splendour
and luxury in which they live tell with trumpet
eloquence of the extent of the national wealth.
Take another step lower, a class somewhat diffe-
rent is seen, namely, baronets and landed gentry,
counting 356,164. Here again, in the pomp and
circumstance of their lives, is exhibited an-
other gorgeous specimen of the extent of the national
wealth. Another step lower we trace another nu-
merous family, designated the army and navy, num-
bering 1,444,464. The equipments and continued
sustenance would indeed drain an island so small as
England, were it not that her mines of wealth ramify
so deeply and widely. Take another step down the
slope of the view, and we find a broad phalanx, of
less pretension, but of steadier stamina, ycleped bank-
ers, merchants, and professions. This host may be num-
bered 1,857,163. These ranks are of a more staid, so-
ber, character, but they are princes in their way, and
the nature of their daily transactions, and their mode
of life, indicate distinctly the inexhaustible mine from
which they draw their immense diurnal supply.
Then, lastly, we discover a vast array of other
claimants on the national store, numbering 2,888,888.
These may be termed the retailers of the nation's
wealth. Their steady, substantial mode and tenor of
life proclaim aloud the depth and breadth of that well
of riches which can supply a demand so enormous,
varied, and incessant. Then we see a host numbering
nearly 7,000,000, possessing the power of indulging
profusely in the enjoyment of luxuries culled from
every climate of the world, as well as those originated
by the native producer. A stranger coming from a
far country might well ask from what hidden mine
they drew their glittering luxuries, and substantial
things, in the midst of which they se wantonly and
lavishly revel ? There can be but one simple answer
to the querist—the secret is to be found in the in-
domitable energies of her merchants and manufac-
turers, backed with the never-tiring industry of her
artisans, sustained by the mighty power of her beau.
tiful machinery.—Advertiser.

ST. STEPHEN'S, WALBROOK.
On Tuesday the annual visitation for the purpose of swear-
ing in the persons who had been elected on the Thursday in
Easter week to the office of churchwardens for the different
parishes in the city of London, and also to receive present-
ments connected with the church, was held at St. Sepul-
chre's Church, before Dr. Robert Phillimore, the Surrogate,
in the absence of Archdeacon Hale.
Upon the parish of St. Stephen's Walbrook, being called,
Messrs. F. Rock and Flight, who were elected at the annual
vestry by the inhabitants of the parish to the office of
churchwardens' presented themselves, as well as Mr. Alder-
man Gibbs and Mr. Whitaker, both of whom, it will be re:
collected,th e
assistance
of thetwo report
three
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svestryelected
themselves le ft tl i e
church and retired to the house of the Alderman, where, with
also to the office of churchwardens.
Mr. Alderman Gibbs, who was attended by Mr. Bodkin,
barrister, on presenting himself to Dr. Phillimore, handed in
a declaration relative to the very dilapidated state of the
church of St. Stephen's, Walbrook, which arose from the
want of proper funds to repair and beautify it.
Dr. PHILLIMORE then requested that the two gentlemen
who had been elected to the office of churchwardens for the
ensuing year be presented, for the purpose of being sworn in,
when
Mr. Alderman Gibbs, for the twenty-first time, presented
himself, and a Mr. Whitaker, as his colleague, as having
been duly elected by the vestry to the office of church-
wardens.
Dr. PHILLIMORE said there was a difficulty in swearing
them in, for a caveat had been entered by Mr. 'Rock and Mr.
Flight against any other individuals but themselves being
sworn in.
Messrs. Rock and Flight here presented themselves for the
purpose of being sworn in, when
Dr. PHILLIMORE inquired who presented them to the Sur-
rogate, and proved that they had been duly elected?
Mr. ROCK said he imagined that it was the duty of the late
churchwarden, Mr. Alderman Gibbs, to present him and his
colleague, for it was well known to the Alderman that he
and Mr. Flight had been duly chosen and elected in a public
vestry to the office of churchwarden, and they, in support of
that election, now presented themselves for the purpose of
being legally inducted into that office.
Mr. BODKIN observed, that he had the honour of attend-
ing on behalf of Mr. Alderman Gibbs, who, lie contended, was
the only legal churchwarden ; that by the constitution of the
parish it was governed by a select vestry, and only the mem-
bers of that vestry had the power of electing the church-
wardens, and in the performance of that right they had re-
elected Mr. Alderman Gibbs, and with him they had placed
Mr. Whitaker.
Dr. PHILLIMORE said he was aware that, unhappily, a dif-
ference had sprung up in the parish, but with that he had
nothing to do, his duty being merely to swear in the persons
who were elected to the office.
Mr. BODKIN contended that no doubt could exist that
the legally elected persons to the office of churchwarden
were Mr. Alderman Gibbs and Mr. Whitaker. There were
many precedents to show that in all disputed elections the
Surrogate swore those in who were elected by the legal
vestry, and there could be no doubt that the only legal
right of election was vested in the select vestry of St.
Stephen's ; still, as he was anxious to relieve the Surrogate
of any difficulty, he would suggest that the four persons
who had presented themselves should be sworn in, for it was
evident that the question as to who possessed the right of
election, the select vestry or the inhabitants generally in
public vestry assembled, must be decided by the Court of
Queen's Bench.
Dr. PHILLIMORE said, that the only difficulty which he had
was, that only one set of gentlemen had been duly presented

to his notice.
At this juncture the Rev. Dr. Croly entered the vestry,
when he said that he presided as the chairman of the vestry
in which Messrs. Rock and Flight were elected as church-
wardens, and he should, therefore, present them.
Messrs. Rock, Flight, Alderman Gibbs, and Whitaker, were
then sworn in, the Learned Surrogate thus leaving the point
in dispute to be settled elsewhere.
Measures have already been taken to bring the matter
before the Court of Queen's Bench, for as the parish is unable
to obtain any proper account of Mr. Alderman Gibbs, Messrs.
Rock and Flight intend to proceed upon their duties at once,
especially as Mr. Alderman Gibbs has ade a church-rate of
Is. 6d. in the pound, but which will never be collected.

STATE OF TRADE•
The continued and increasing. firmness of the Liver-
pool Cotton Market, and the nature of the commercial
pearsniecdnets
froawit
eearsile.
de-
scriptions l a
advises from the east, appear to have exercised a favour-
aa d ‘f, aa inractde
advanced
able influence upon our market, for yarn was, yesterday,
(From the Manchester Guardian of yesterday.)
decidedly steadier in price than for some weeks past,
and, though little or no actual advance of prices was
obtained, spinners generally showed little inclination to
of cloth suitable. for the east ; and for some
ocoodnstrinacoatrrsklfeoot‘ry
there fsutiurrueng wass delivery
ob-
tained.. Printing. cloth was steady in price ; but stout
domestics continue somewhat depressed.
ROCHDALE FLANNEL MARKET, MONDAY, MAY 6.—ln
the -flannel market there has been something like an
average quantity of business transacted, at former prices
descriptionstmakehe g
The wool market has been remarkably quiet, and prices
the same as last week.