The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-08 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 8, 1844.

It would be a curious problem in a Premier's
psychology to determine, amidst the frightful possi-
bilities which his schemes of monetary legislation
seem likely to call into real existence, what
can be the " ruling passion"—the instinct or the de-
lusion, the caprice or the hallucination—which
can compensate, in his own mind, for the political
guilt or wrong-headedness in which he so recklessly
indulges ? Does he imagine that the people are ena-
moured of his transcendent talents for finance,
through the fascinations of an income-tax, payable
by them in the thirtieth year of peace ? Or that
their rural and agricultural tastes have been suffi-
ciently bribed by his sudden transmutation into a
theoretical breeder of stock, an "intending purchaser"
of Birmingham bulls, or a sexagenarian votary of
Terpsichore in the festivities of his manor of Drayton ?

The well-known adage, that " naked truth is ex-
ceedingly unlovely," was never more fully or forcibly
exemplified than in the reception which Mr. BRIGHT'S
speech on the question of the sugar duties met with
last night from the Monopolists in the House of
Commons. Had the Hon. Member for Durham con-
tented himself with just delicately glancing at the
truth, and wrapping it up in vague, comely, and
redundant phraseology, so as to conceal all its harsher
outlines, he would no doubt have been received with
great favour by the Tories; but not being a man to
mince matters, or to express feebly and equivocally what
he sees clearly and feels strongly, he stripped the facts,
of which his mind was full, of all conventional disguise,
and presented them to the House in stern and naked
simplicity. For this homely, straightforward way
of enunciating the truth, the sensitive ears of the
Monopolists were by no means prepared, and accord-
ingly they gave vent to their disgust and surprise by
resorting to all manner of articulate and inarticulate
noises. When Mr. BRIGHT told them that their abhor-
rence of slavery was a mere pretext put forth for party
purposes, he was interrupted by the sonorous bray of a
jackass—an animal by no means uncommon in the
House of Commons; and when he reminded them
that it was less their duty to look after "the mo-
rality of Brazil " than the interests of their
own porer fellow-countrymen, a cock began
crowing, while loud and fierce cries of
" Question " proceeded from the Treasury benches.
In spite, however, of all these interruptions, Mr.
BRIGHT boldly stood his ground, and the weight and
value of his sterling, unornamented truths were shown
by the very impatience with which they were listened
to by the Monopolists, and the diligent efforts which
these amiable Dissentients made to render them
inaudible by clamour. " Were they sent to Par-
liament," inquired the Hon. Member, " that they
might take under their patronage every population
of every portion of the earth, except the country in
which they themselves lived ? He declared that
he could not express the disgust and amaze-
ment with which he had listened to the
speeches of the Gentlemen opposite, in which they had
spoken of the people of Africa, of Brazil, of every
people of the world, except their own poor, except
the famishing population of their own manufacturing
districts. Who was it that entertained these scruples
about the introduction of Brazilian sugar ? It was
not the poor, it was the rich only, and they could
have enough at whatever price it came in !" This
was hard hitting—an argument directly to the point ;
and accordingly the Premier, though he vouchsafed
a reply—such as it was—to the other portions of Mr.
BRIGHT'S speech, made no reference to this, but dis-
creetly passed it by without so much as a word of
passing notice. The Member for Durham went on to
observe, " They were returned to that House for the
purpose of discussing and settling great national
questions upon the broad principles of justice, with-
out any regard to self-interest. But their Monopolies
all hung together." If the Monopolists themselves
were to hang together—as well as their Monopolies—
and this not in a metaphorical but a literal sense—
we are far from imagining that the community at
large would be the sufferers by such an operation,
however inconvenient it might prove to the parties
concerned. The plain truth is, they are a grasp-
ing, selfish, desperate faction who acknowledge
no other rule of action than their own interests, and
who will not legislate themselves, nor allow others to
legislate, in an enlightened spirit. Just now they
have got our feeble, Jesuitical Government in a
" fix," and there to all intents and purposes they in-
tend to keep it. With Sir ROBERT PEEL at their
back, they imagine that they have the power
to carry everything their own way—to oppose the
demands of justice and stifle the voice of humanity;
but the circumstances of the times are against them ;
and public opinion, however it may seem to recede
for a while, yet, like the advancing tide, gains
strength with every succeeding wave. And that
public opinion has sternly and unequivocally decreed
the doom of Monopoly, whose existence henceforth
must be calculated, not by years but months.

The intelligence from Madrid is to the 29th ult.
A report was current that a change of Ministry
would take place before the QUEEN DOWAGER ar-
rived in the capital. This is not at all improbable, as
her MAJESTY, no doubt, has some lively recollections
of the attacks made on her by BRAVO, when editor of
a newspaper. A Royal decree has been issued upon
a representation from the Madrid merchants and
tradesmen, ordering that no more domiciliary searches
be made in that capital, with the view of discovering
smuggled goods.

On the 29th the Five per Cents. were quoted at 22
for cash, and 22} for 60 days.

We learn by the Paris pspers, that the Otaheite
affair is not yet settled, and that in all probability
certain of the discontented Peers will take advantage
of the event, to annoy the Ministry and attack
England. On Tuesday the Prince of MoscowA, in
the Chamber of Peers, complained that the Minister
of Marine had not defended the cause of Admiral
DUPETIT THOUARS, when attacked. The Marquis
DE BOISST hoped the question would be brought for-
ward on a distinct motion, and Viscount DUBOUCHAGE
declared, that if he had been in the Gallant Admiral's
place, he would have pursued exactly the same course.
The Minister of Marine said, only two letters had
been received from Admiral DUPBTIT THOUARS, and
that nothing had come to hand since the arrival of
the vessel which brought them. If the Chamber,
however, wished to appoint a day for the discussion,
Government was quite ready to join in it. One of
the Government journals has at length broken silence
on the symptoms of disaffection manifested in the 70th
regiment of the line. "Several journals," says the Mes-
sager, "have spoken of a pretended conspiracy, said to
have been discovered in the garrison of Paris, and in
which were said to be implicated some non-commis-
sioned officers, subaltern officers, and even a superior
officer. We affirm that all these assertions are wholly
incorrect, and that no corps of the army has been
wanting in the fidelity which it owes to the KING
and our institutions. It is true, however, that some
soldiers of one regiment have brought upon them-
selves the severity of their chiefs by their miscon-
duct, and that the Minister of War, in the interest

' drawn, previous to such purchase of the new Bank of
England note circulation are exactly commensurate
" with the amount of local notes so suppressed."
In other words, let it be granted that the aggregate
of our circulation in notes may remain much the
same after, as it shall have stood before, the circula-
tion of Bank of England notes, still, the extent of
banking accommodation, displaced and reduced, will
be exactly represented by that of the local notes pre-
viously circulated. Would the reader know what is
the amount of this local circulation, and, therefore, of
this monetary accommodation, at the present mo-
ment ? Just 18,000,0001.! Truly the Premier's
stumbles are costly ones to the empire. He
deranged capital—he hampered industry—he
lowered wages—he heaped additional burdens on
the poor—he took taxation off the rich by his enormous
error of 1819, to an extent almost defying calcula-
tion. He is about, in 1844, to sacrifice 18,000,0001.
more to the same unquiet and devouring phantom of
a gold standard-measured currency I
Will he really venture on this new and fearful ex-
periment ? But that we know he is made of very
4queezable materials, we might despair of producing
any salutary impression on his vanity or his obsti-
nacy. But we have little doubt that that powerful
interest in the empire, to whose importunities he has
abandoned so many favourite crotchets—Roman Ca-
tholic exclusion, Dissenters' Civil Disabilities, an un-
reformed boroughmongering representation, &c.—will
yet scare him from this mad and ruinous purpose of
crushing the local circulation !

of the service, has ordered rigorous measures to be
adopted respecting them, and has desired that they
should he sent to the companies of discipline stationed
in Algeria." According to another paper, the
Courrier Francais, "an attempt had been made
to tamper with the soldiers of the 70th,
which had lately been re-organised. 'An arrest
effected a short time ago, at Bourg, has led to the
discovery of some lists wherein several soldiers of the
70th of the line figured ; searches having been made
among their clothes, they have yielded the seizure of
several printed papers issued from the secret societies.
The soldiers have been arrested and conducted to the
Abbaye prison, whence they will be sent to the dis-
cipline companies of Africa. It is affirmed that no
officer or non-commissioned officer has been ar-
rested."

A general belief prevailed on the Paris Bourse
that Government intended to reduce the interest on
the Five per Cents. This had an unfavourable effect
on the Funds, and depressed that stock more than one
per cent.

On Tuesday the Five per Cents. closed at 125 f.
60c., and on the following day they fell to 124£ 30c.
THE BOURSE—WEDNESDAY, MAncu 6.
First Highest Lowest Last
Price. Price. Price. Price.
French Five per Cents. 124 50 .• 124 50 .. 124 .. 124 30
Four per Cents. 106 25 .• 10G 25 .• 106 25 .. 106 25
Three per Cents 82 30 •• 82 35 .. 82 25 .. 82 35
Bank of France. 3265 —3265 • • 3265 —3265
Lailltte Bank, I,ooof. Sharesllo7 50 ..1107 50 ..1107 50 ..1107 50
Belgian Fives lO4l • • 1041 .. 1041 1041
1840 ••• • • • 1071 • • 1071 • . 1071 • • 107 f
1842 ..
Spaaish Active: 331 • • 337 • • 331 •..
• 331
Passive . • •••• • • • • 5f • • 51 5I .. 51
Neap01itan................ 101 50 .. 101 75 .. 101 50 .. 101 75
Roman . 1051 • • 1051 • • 1051 .. 1051
RAILWAY SHARES.
Versailles, R.B.
L. 8.• ••• • • • ••• • • 170 .. 177 20 ..
Rouen .. 840 •• 840

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-( THIS DAY.)
LONDON, MARCH B.—Wind light south easterly breeze and
cloudy.
DEAL, MAncit 7.—Wind N. to N.N.E., moderate.—Sld.
Helen and Martha, Trinidad ; Camerons, Jamaica ; Richinond,
Cuba.

CRIMINAL COURT.—(THIS DAY.)
THE DEPTFORD MURDERS.
Sarah Dickenson, a married woman, aged 36, was put to
the bar, charged that she, on the 10th of January, in the pa-
rish of Deptford, did, with a certain razor inflict a wound on the
neck and throat, and did strike, cut and wound, one George
John Dickenson, of the age of three years, and did mortally
wound him, so that he died. She was also given in charge
on the Coroner's Inquest. The wretched prisoner was bitterly
affected. and presented a most pitiable spectacle. The
Learned Judge (Patteson) ordered a chair to be placed in the
dock for her support. Mr. Doane was Counsel for the prose-
cution, and Mr. Clarkson for the defence.
The Learned Counsel having opened the case by a brief
recapitulation to the jury of the facts of the case, called the
following witnesses :
Elizabeth Spencer, sworn—l am the wife of William
Spencer, and I lived at No. 5, Giffin-street, Deptford,
when this affair occurred. The unfortunate prisoner and
her husband lived there. We were lodgers there. I knew
the prisoner and her family for better than three months. I
knew the little boy and the child too. I remember on the
10th of January last Mr. Dickenson going out in the morn-
ing. The last time I saw him that morning was about 4
quarter-past eight, and I did not see him again till between
half-past five and six o'clock. He and his wife and children oc-
cupied two rooms below, and we lodged above. About half-
past five Mr. Dickenson came into our room in a state of
great alarm, and fell fainting on the bed. In consequence of
what he said I went down stairs, and found the prisoner
lying on the bed with her throat cut, and in a dread-
ful state. I also saw the two children with: their
throats cut, and they were quite dead. I knew the
parents to be in very great distress indeed—most deplorably
off. From illness the husband was unable to work, and I
believe he had never had a day's work since the birth of
the baby, about twenty months' ago. He had nothing to
keep his family on, but the small sums they got from their
lodgers. I know they had pawned everything. They
treated the children with the greatest of kindness. I never
saw more affection in my life. The parents had parted with
every rag of their own clothes, and had pawned much of
their children's. They were both exceedingly kind to each
other—never saw a kinder husband or a better wife. I had
recommended her to go to the overseer, but she did not go—
she could not bear it. For the day through oftentimes I
have known them only have a bit of bread and a few
potatoes. The parents often went without altogether. I know
once for two days the children had only two penny loaves,
and the parents had nothing whatever. Prisoner often com-
plained heavily of her head, and the pains she had in it.
Oftentimes she has complained she was afraid she would lose
her senses. She has often said her mind wandered and she
should go distracted. Before this happened she was often
wandering, and forgetting what she was about. I have been
present when she was teaching the children their prayers,
and she has forgotten all at once what she--was doing, alid
forgotten the words. On the Tuesday, that is the day before
this happened, she borrowed a penny from me to buy some-
thing with.
Cross-examined by Mr. CLAtucsag—l have often seen pri-
soner walking about with her hand to her head. It was at
those times she complained of her head, and said she was
afraid she should go out of her mind.
Sarah White examined.—l was a lodger in Mr. Dicken-
son's house when this affair happened. I remember the little
boy George. I last saw him alive on the morning of Wed-
nesday. I did not see him again till about twenty-five mi-
nutes to six, when I heard a terrible noise. It came from
the last witness, Mrs. Spencer. I went into the room, and
siw what his already been described. She inquired se-
times where her husband was gone to. Her conduct as
a mother and wife was most affectionate.
Ce )rge Dickenson, the husband's brother, was then called
and examined—l am the brother to the prisoner's Husband,

HONE kr AND COMMERCIAL NEWS
CITY, QUARTER TO THREE.
There was a better market for Cotton at Liveipool yester-
day. Sales 5,000 bales, of which 2,000 American were on
speculation. Prices were rather firmer.—Shares were steady,
with a fair business doing. Birmingham and Gloucester, 77 ;
Eastern Counties, 11-A ; Edinburgh and Glasgow, New, 14k ;
Grand Junction, 2264 to 227 ; Great North of England, 956 ;
Birmingham, 234 ; Ditto, New, 40 ; South Western, 784 ;
Manchester and Birmingham, 44; Manchester and Leeds,
1134; Paris and Lyons, 24; Ditto and Orleans, 34; Ditto
and Rouen, 334 ; South Eastern, 354.
The Forth steamer has reached Southampton from the
the West Indies and Mexico. The letters and papers are
momentarily expected to reach the city. The dates are—
Tampico, January 30th ; Vera Cruz, Ist February ; Bermuda,
21st February. She brings an immense amount of specie,
gold dust, corn, &c.—said worth 1,116,000 dollars ; 41 serons
of cochineal and other valuable imports. She has nine-
teen passengers. We trust to be able to add further
particulars. It is said a good amount is on board the steamer
for the Mexican bondholders, and for the Mexican Mining
Companies.
Vast interest is attached to the subject of the reduction of
the interest upon the Three-and-a-Half per Cents. in City
circles—and the feeling most assuredly is that liberal terms
will be offered. The results of previous conversions are re-
-1 ferred to with attention to guide those interested
as holders of the stock in accepting or dissenting from the
terms that will be offered this evening to them by the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer. The result of former conversions
was to add about 7,278,000/. to the debt, but to reduce the
dividends annually by not less than 2,355,3461. By the pre-
sent proposed reduction, if carried into execution, a
further yearly saving will be effected of about, it is
estimated, at least 800,0001., making a decrease in the
charge to the country of 3,150,000/. or 3,200,0001., a most
important feature in the present state of taxation. The
Funded, as well as the Unfunded Debt, and, in fact, all sorts
of securities, are rising, foreign as well as domestic securities.
A firm demand has existed this morning for the public
Securities. The Commissioners took Three per Cent. Consols
at 984, which is the present price. It is somewhat remark-
able, that the New Three-and-a-Half per Cents. have ad-
vanced this morning from 102 to 1024. The secret, perhaps,
is, that many persons imagine that these stocks will not be
included in the scheme of reduction. Consols for the Account
have been done also at an improvement to 984. Bank
Stock is at 196 for the Account. India Stock has advanced
from 279 to 282 ; and for Exchequer Bills the premium has
ranged from 72s to 735.
Much business has been done in the Foreign Stocks
to-day. Spanish at one hour was worth 25i ; and the Three
per Cents. 36 for the Account, but the rates are now a little
lower. Portuguese Converted, after reaching 474, have
gone back to 464 ; and Mexican from 354 to 35*. We
have not yet heard what amount of specie has been
sent by the Forth steamer for the dividends. It is said that
the sum is from 60,000 to 70,000 dollars. Dutch, Brazilian,
Buenos Ayres, and Colombian Stocks are a shade higher than
they left off yesterday afternoon.
The Railway Share Market is again very brisk. The
London and Birmingham Shares have advanced to 139, or
Si. higher than they opened yesterday; the New Shares t 027
prem. ; the South-Eastern and Dover Scrip to 12 prem. ; and
the Manchester and Leeds, to 444 prem. All the other Shares
are firm :—tinion Bank of Australia Shares are at 4 prem. •,
Anglo Mexican Mining Shares have been sold at 24 ; and
United Mexican at 34 to 4.
BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
(From the Official List)
3 per Cent. Consols. Annuities 9834%
334 per Cent. Reduced Annuities lO3
New 3% per Cent. Annuities 1023` 102%5043(
Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan. 1860 12%
Ditto 30 Years, Expire sth Jan. 1560.
Bank Stock for Account. 196
Consols for Account 984%
India Stock
... 281 a
/ Exchequer Bills, I%d. I)id.
1,0001.
500/.
Ditto Small
FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Buenos Ayres Bonds, 6 per Cent ..........
Columbian 80nd5.15%
Mexican Bonds, '837, 5 per Cent ... 35%
Ditto for the Account
Ditto Deferred Stock, 14%%
Ditto Debentures
Portuguese Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Ditto Converted 47% 46%
Ditto for the Account
Spanish Bonds, Five per Cent 184,0 25%
Ditto for the Account
Ditto Passive Bonds
Ditto Deferred
Ditto Three per Cent.
Ditto for the Account
Venezuela Bonds, 2 per Cent.... .......... .......
Ditto Deferred l 1%
Dutch 234 per Cents. 56
Ditto for the Acc0unt.................
Dutch 5 per Cents lO2 01% 102
PRICES OF SHARES THIS DAY AT ONE.
RAILWAYS. PAID. PER SHARE
Birmingham and Gloucester
Bristol and Exeter
Chester and Holyhead 5 ... ...... 1
Eastern Counties
Ditto New 25 ......... 13%%%, to ....
Ditto Extension...—. ............
Edinburgh and Glasgow 5O 60% to 6134 61
Great Western
Ditto Fifths
Harrowgate and Kuatesboro' ... 3
London and Brighton .. 5O
Ditto Loan Notes
London and Birmingham. Stock .........236
Ditto 4 Share,
London and South Western
Ditto Eighths
London and Croydon (Trunk)... A%
Lancaster and Carlisle.... ........ 5
Manchester and Leeds
Ditto New Shares 3O
Manchester and Birmingham ... 40
Norwich and Brandon
Newcastle and Darlington Junct. 18
Northern and Eastern
Ditto % Shares
Morth Midland
Ditto 3i Shares
Paris and Orleans ....... !A 34% to
Paris and Rouen 2O ... ..... . 34% ..... to —_Rouen and Havre.
South Eastern and Dover 5O 36%% ... to
Ditto Scrip 25 36%% ... to
Yarmouth and Norwich l6
York and North Midland
Ditto Scarboro' Branch 2%_.... 21
CLOSING PRICES.
BRITISH FUNDS.
Bank Stock
3 per Cent. Red 9834 Ditto Bonds
3 per Cent. Cons.
3)4 per Cent. Re 1.. ......
New 334 per Cent 102% Ex. Bills, 1,000/. 1%d... 70 pm.
New 5 per Cent
Long Annuities to expire Ditto Small 7O pm.
Jan. 1860 12% Bank Stock for Acct.... 197
Oct. 1859 12% ilndia Stock for Acct.... 282
Jan. 1860 .......
FOREIGN FUNDS.
Austrian. 5 per Cent ... ...... (Portuguese, 5 per Cent 7734
Belgian, 5 per Cent 18434 Ditto, New Ditto —
Brazilian Bonds
Buenos Ayres, 6 per Cent... 37% Russian, 5 per Cent-- l-16
Chilian, 6 per Cent 10334 Ditto, Metallic —
Colombian, 6 per Cent: 15% Spanidi, 5 per Cent 2si
Ditto, 1824. ............. .......... Dittor3 per Cent 35
Cuba Bonds, 6 per Cent 93 jatto, Deferred l4
Danish, 3 per Cent
Greek, 18 5, 5 per Cent — Exchange —f. —c.
Mexican, 5 per Cent
Ditto, 6 per Cent., 1837. ..... . Dutch, 234 per Cent 56%
Peruvian, 1825, 6 per Cent... 30% Ditto, 5 per Cent ... lO2
SHARES.
Birmingham and Derby (100 paid) 62
Ditto Thirds (25 paid)
Chester and Holyhead ( 5 paid) 5%
Eastern Counties (23 paid)
Ditto New (25 paid)
Edinburgh and Glasgow (50 paid)
Great Western (75 paid)
Ditto Half Shares (50 paid)
Lonion and Brighton (50 paid)
Ditto Loan Notes (11l paid)
London and Birmingham (Stock)
London and Guildford Junction ( 5 paid)
London and South Western (41/. 6s. 10d. paid)
Ditto E:ghths (Iss. paid)
London and Croydon (Trunk) .., 163 E
Ditto Scrip (".34 pa d)
Lancaster and Carlisle ( 5 paid)...
Manchester and Birmingham as%
Midland Counties (100 paid) 93
Newcastle and Darlington Junction (15 paid)
Northern and Eastern (41 paid)
North Midland (100 paid)
Paris and Orleans (20 paid)
Paris and Rouen (2.0 paid) '4%
York and North Midland (50 paid) ' 126
Ditto New Shares (20 paid)