The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-07 00:00:00

and the 5 per cent. loan of 1841-42, has still further advanced in
value. The 4 per cent. loan of 1832-33 remains as before.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT
HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 6.

LONDON AND WESTMINSTER
JOINT-STOCK BANK.
The usual Annual Meeting of the Shareholders and
Directors of this Banking Company was held yesterday,
at their establishment in the city.
Shortly after one o'clock, the chair was taken by
PATRICK MAXWELL STEWART, Esq., M.P., who said
that before the Proprietors would have submitted to
them the Report of the business of the bank, they would
perhaps allow him, on the present occasion, to interpose
himself for a very few minutes, between them and the
reception of that Report. He asked them to do so be-
cause he thought the present time was one of marked
importance to the establishment in which they were all
so zealously concerned. This Bank had been established
for ten years. The present was their tenth anniversary
meeting ; and in the history of banks, as well as other
things, the close of ten years was held to be a sort of
epoch, at which a retrospect of the past might be taken,
and the prospect for the future considered.—(Hear,
hear.) Within those ten years every joint-stock bank
in London had risen into existence, and he might claim
for the London and Westminster Bank priority in point
of time, as to its establishment, of all the joint-stock
banks in London. It was the first esta-
blished here, and with that distinction they
incurred those burdens and incumbrances from which
honours were not at any time quite free—he meant that
they had had to encounter formidable opposition to the
planting such establishments as that was, and all he
would add in referring to that circumstance was to con-
gratulate the Proprietors of the bank on their having
overcome all those obstacles without, he believed he
might say, the loss of one friend or the creation of a
single enemy amongst the class of the private banks of
London, or their more formidable opponent over-the-
way (the Bank of England.)—(Hear, hear.) In looking
back, in order to mark out their best course for
the future, he might observe that the principle
of action adopted by the Directors at an early period of
the existence of the establishment, had been found
to be good and well adapted to all circumstances. As an
illustration, he might remark that money seasons, like
the natural seasons, had their changes, sudden and vio-
lent. In seasons of abundance of money, they had
always avoided hearkening to any temptation to lock up
their funds, and the consequence had been, that in
seasons of scarcity and adversity, they had
had it in their power to do that which was
not only sound in the principles of banking, but
also gratifying in a humane point of view, namely, to
help their friends when occasion required it. He might
add that notwithstanding the variations of the seasons
through which they had passed—seasons of scarcity as
well as of plenty, they never- had had, up to the present
time, occasion to re-discount any one of the bills which
they had in their possession.(llear, hear.) The
profits of the bank had been under the present
direction freely and liberally appropriated to the
use of the Proprietors in the shape of divi-
dends and otherwise. In illustration of that,
he would mention that the reserve fund had been
annually increased, and was now becoming a distinct re-
servoir of security for seasons of need. They had paid
in dividends to the shareholders, during the ten years
past, upwards of 300,0001. So far for the past. In look-
ing to the future, the present was a most important pe-
riod as regarded joint-stock banks. This year would
occur a break in the charter of the Bank of England,
which had been renewed in 1833. In the speech from
the throne, at the opening of the present session of
Parliament, they had been reminded that there would
be an opening for the consideration and regulation
of the laws which govern the Bank of England
and the joint-stock banks of the country. There were
two matters which they had pressed upon the considera-
tion of the Government. The first was the right irse
parable from a banking establishment created by law,
and upheld as their establishment now was, by the
interest, power, and voice of so great a proportion
of the community—the right of accepting bills
under a shorter date than six months. In the original
charter of the Bank of England, in 1708, there was
a clause prohibiting all banks, having more than six
partners, from borrowing, owing, or taking up money
on bills payable on demand, or at a less period than six
months. That clause was aimed at certain speculative
companies, which at that period resorted to the issue of
notes under their common seal. It never could have
been aimed against the exercise of banking privileges by
country banks, drawing, as he might say, upon their
London agents. He believed the fact was, there
was not a country bank in existence at the time
acting under impressions of this kind ; their
bank had drawn bills of exchange ; and in
consequence they were followed from Court to Court,
until in 1837 judgment was given against their exercise
of the privilege by the reason of the clause in the charter
of 1708, to which he had referred. Accordingly, they
had desisted from any further practice of that branch of
banking. That restriction was unjust to the innumerable
members of the commercial community. It was un-
just to foreign and colonial banks, to joint-stock
banks throughout the country, and to those
in London. The country was deeply interested in the
question, but he only touched upon it then as it would,
in the course of the revision which the banking laws of
the country were to be subjected to this session, be fully
considered elsewhere. Joint-stock banks ought not to be
deprived of the common privileges of banking establish-
ments. They could all remember that the failure of the
bank of Pole and Co. in 1825 broughton the panic of 1826.
The 'other subject which the Directors had urged upon
the Government was that of suing and being sued in the
names of the establishment. A Committee representing
the joint-stock banking companies of the country lately
had an interview with Sir R. Peel and the Chancellor
of the Exchequer; previous to which they had trans-
mitted a letter containing detailed views on those points,
and he was happy to be able to tell them that the interview
was very satisfactory as far as it went. In 1834, when they
had pressed those matters before on the attention of
Government, there was no argument used against them,
but a promise had been given to certain parties that
those privileges should not be granted. From Sir R.
Peel's words they were led to infer that theirs was held to
be a perfectly fair one, and the Right Hon. Baronet stated
that he had purposely abstained from giving any promises
to any parties, in order that the claims from all quarters
on this important question might he fully considered
and justly settled at the proper time. He (the Chairman)
had then no doubt in concluding that they would obtain
those privileges, and when the bank had worked so well
and successfully hitherto, he thought he was not too san •
guine in saying that, with an increase of its facilities of
action, would come an increase of its prosperity. They
had cooled their enemies and warmed their friends in the
contest in which they had hitherto been engaged, and
he had every hope of a continuation of prosperity to the
establishment.—(Hear, hear.)
The SECRETARY then read the following Report :
" The Directors have the pleasure of presenting to
the Shareholders their Tenth Annual Report.
" The net profits of the past year, after defraying all
the current expenses, paying the income-tax, and
making provision for all bad and doubtful debts, amount
to 51,6961. ss. 7d. Out of these profits the Directors
paid last September a dividend at the rate of six per
cent. per annum, for the half-year ending the 30th June,
and they now declare a dividend at the same rate for
the half-year ending the 31st of December. After the
payment of these dividends, amounting together to
48,000/., there will remain from the profits of the year,
a surplus of 3,696/. 58. 7d., which, added to the reserved
fund, makes the present amount 66,822/. 16s. sd.
" Throughout the whole of last year money was
exceedingly abundant, and consequently cheap. But,
although a low value of money affects most severely
those banks which have the largest paid-up capital, and
which have been so managed as to retain the full com-
mand of their funds, yet the Directors did not suffer
the desire of obtaining a higher rate of interest to
betray them into advances upon doubtful or inconverti-
ble securities.
" As the Speech from the Throne has called the atten-
tion of Parliament to the state of the law with regard
to the privileges of the Bank of England and to other
banking establishments,' the Directors have co-operated
with the representatives of other joint-stock banks in
bringing under the consideration of the Government the
defects of the laws relating to Banking Companies, which
they feel confident the Legislature will not refuse to
remedy.
" The three Directors who go out by rotation this year
are Frederick Burmester, Esq., Henry Harvey, Esq.,
and Patrick Maxwell Stewart, Esq., M.P., who being
eligible, offer themselves for re-election.
PROFIT AND LOSS.

4 per cent. loan of 1832-33 Sicca Rs. 106 to 1061.
Do. of 1835,36 Co.'s Rs. 991 to par.
5 Do. of 1841-42 Do. Rs. 1101 to 111

The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four
o'Clock.
Lord DUNCAN presented a petition from Bath
against certain clauses in the Great Western Railway
Bill, on the ground that they were oppressive and
uncalled for.
Mr. TROTTER brought in the Croydon Railway
Improvement Bill.
Sir W. HEATIICOTE brought up the Report of
the Committee on the Eastern Counties Railway Bill.
Mr. PRINGLE presented a petition from Selkirk
against any alteration in the corn-laws.
Lord CLIVE presented petitions from Lancashire
against the union of the sees of St. Asaph and Bangor.
DUTY ON TOBACCO.
Lord SANDON presented a petition, signed by
between seven and eight thousand persons, consumers
of tobacco in Liverpool, praying for a reduction in
the duty on tobacco ; also, a petition from the
grocers and dealers in tobacco in Liverpool, praying
that the duty on tobacco might be reduced to one
shilling per pound.
UNIVERSITIES IN SCOTLAND.
Sir G. CLERK presented a petition from the
ministers and elders of the University of St. Andrew's,
in Scotland, praying the House to give no sanction
to any attempt to sever the connexion between the
Scotch Universities and the State.

EXCHANGE—On England has exhibited little change, and may
now be quoted at Is. 1 lid. to Is, 11 id, for 6 months, transactions
having taken place for the mail at the latter rate, though Is. Hid.
was yesterday the highest; for 30 days' bills Is. 101 Ad. to
Is. With On Calcutta 11.14-0 to 102 at 80 days' sight; on
Madras par; and on China Rs. 217 for 100 doll.
BANKS.—The shares Of the Bombay Bank are at 42 per cent.
premium, and those of the Bank of Western India at 30 per cent.
PRICE OF BULLlON.—Sovereigns, each—Rs. 11 to Rs. 11.3 as.
Bank notes, per X.—Rs. 10-12-0 to Rs. 11.
METALS.—A moderate inquiry has existed throughout the month
for most descriptions of copper. Sheathing, Raised Bottoms, and
South American, are unaltered in value, but braziers has advanced
about Ir. per cwt. Tile has been sold at Rs. 51—i to i rupee
below our last quotation; and nails are also a shade lower than
before.

Corrox MewurecruftEs.—The demand for low qualities of Grey
Madapolams and Jacconets, which has been for some time past
so brisk, has since our last issue considerably slackened, and prices
are rather lower. There have been sales of Grey Sheetings and
Domestics, but at unremunerating prices; and the market for these
fabrics has been extremely dull for the season—the Arab mer-
chants, who commonly form the chief purchasers, having, for the
reason we before mentioned, been compelled to keep out of the
market. For White Jacconets the prices offered are 2 annas per
piece lower than last month, and the business done in them has
been small. Gold and bleached Long-cloths have been in fine de-
mand at previous rates; while red and cord ends are less inquired
for, and have suffered a slight decline. A better demand has
sprung up for Grey Long-cloths, and prices, though still far from
remunerating, have somewhat improved.

Yiaivs.—There has been little inquiry for any description of
Twist, and the prices of most numbers, both of Mull and Water,
have slightly declined. For Orange Yarn last month's rates are
still obtainable, and the same may be observed of Turkey red.
Mute TWIST.—No. 30 3,0001b5... at 7 annas per lb.

40 6,000!b5.. at 8 do.
WATER TWIST.—No. 20 6,21101bs .. at 7 do.
18 to 22 12,9001b5... at 7 do.

COLOURED Tw 1ST—
No. 30 to 50 3,0001b5. English dye... Rs. 1 11 0 per lb.
40 1,2001b5. Turkey red 1 14 0 do.
2,4001b5. German dye 1 9 6 do.
We have also been apprised of a sale of 120Ibs. of Linen Thread,
at 12 annas per lb.
WOOLLENS —Large supplies have recently arrived, and the
market is over-stocked ; so that with the exception of a few fine
cloths intended for European consumption, it is impossible to
effect sales unless at rates that will leave a loss to shippers.

MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS
CITY, QUARTER TO THREE.
The Cotton Market at Liverpool, yesterday, was very
quiet, without any change in prices. Saks, 2,500 bales,
viz., 500 Surat at 3id. to 5d., 100 Bahia at 64d., 200 West
India at 6id., and the rest American, at 54d. to 64d., and
100. for Orleans, the best cotton of the year.—A large busi-
ness was done in Railway Shares, and the market was good,
especially for French. Birmingham and Gloucester were
774 ; Eastern Counties, 104 ; Grand Junction, 226 ; Great
Western Half, 70 ; Birmingham Thirds, 40 ; Brighton Loan
Notes, 114 ; South Western, 784 ; Manchester and Birming-
ham, 424 ; Paris and Lyons,2l. 14s. 6d. ;and South Eastern,
New, 358.
There are accounts from Buenos Ayres to-day to the 6th
of January, being about a week later than the advices previ-
ously received. The Legislature had been opened, and the
President stated that he had demanded satisfaction for the
alleged insult that had been offered to the State by M.
Purvis, but no doubt appeared to exist that the affair would
be adjusted.
There are advices from the Brazils this morning to the
29th of December. The Exchange comes over lower,
namely, 24-i to 25.
The announcement made last night by the Chancellor of
the Exchequer that he will propose a resolu-
tion in Committee of Supply, for the reduction
of the interest upon the Three-and-a-half per Cent.
Annuities has been a subject of consideration to-day. This
has not taken the monied interests by surprise. The Consol
market has advanced upon the information, and in the doomed,
Stocks, scarcely an alteration worth notice has occurred. Con-
sols for Money and Account have advanced to 984. The Go-
vernment broker bought 20,0001. Consols at 984, and since then
the price has been 984. Exchequer Bills have advanced to
73; India Bonds are at 88 90; and India Stock at 280.
A very considerable amount of business has been trans-
acted in the Foreign Market to-day, and prices are firm.
Spanish Five per Cents. have been quoted at 25i ; the Three
per Cents. at 358 ; Dutch at 56 ; Brizilian at 804 ; Peruvian
at 30 ; and Brazilian at 801.
The Share Market is firm. The latest prices will be found
annexed.
BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
(From the Official List.)
Hier Cent. Consols. Annuities 9BM%
New 3% per Cent. Annuities 102%
India Bonds,l,ooo
Ditto under 1,000 OO 88
South Sea Stock
Bank Stock for Account
Consols for Account
India Stock
Exchequer Bills, 130. I%d
1,0001.
Ditto Small ...... 74 pm.
FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.

Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Buenos Ayres Bonds, 6 per Cent 37ly
Chilian Bonds, 6 per Cent —
Ditto Deferred 4934
Columbian Bonds.
Mexican Bonds, 147, 5 per Cent. ...,.. 31% 35
Ditto Deferred Stock 14!4 14
Peruvian Bonds, 6 per Cents. 3O
Spanish Bonds, Five per Cent IEI4O 25
Ditto for the Account
Ditto Passive Bonds. 6L
Ditto Deferred
Ditto Three per Cent.
A Ditto for the Account
`,2%

Dutch 2% per Cents ssi/72(A" 56
Ditto for the Account 55%
Dutch 5 per Cents. 1013,474
New Loan 1837, 5 per Cents. 101%12
PRICES OF SHARES THIS DAY AT ONE.
RAILWAYS. PAID. PER SHARE
Birmingham and Derby lOO .
DR' o Eighths
Birmingham and Gloucester
Bristol and Exeter 7O 69% to
Eastern Counties
Ditto New 25 12%% ... to 13
Ditto Extension l3s. 4d % to
Edinburgh and Glasgow 5O
60
_ ._ to

Ditto -%
Shares - 12% -
Great VVesteni
Ditto k Shares
Fi Ditto Fifths l2 lO% ...... to
Harwich (Braithwaite)
Ditto (Lo: ke) 23¢
London and Brighton 5O 43% to 41%
London and Blackwall
London and Birmingham. Stock
London and Greenwich
London and South Western 41%
London and Croydon (Trunk)... 133
Midland Counties
Ditto % Shares
Norwich and Brandon
Newcastle and Darlington Junct. 18
Northern and Eastern
Ditto 34 Share. 123
Ditto Scrip
Morth Midland

Ditto Shares 4O . 45
Ditto Thirds 2l'. 13s. 4d '29% ...... to
Paris and Orleans
Paris and Rouen
Rouen and Havre.
South Eastern and Dover 5O 361/4 351/4 to 36%
Ditto Scrip
York and North Midland

Ditto Scarboro' Branch 2% 20%% ... to

MANCHESTER STOCK EXCHANGE, MARCH 6.—There is no
material alteration to notice in the market to-day, except
that Manchester and Birmingham have advanced about 205.,
in consequence of the report of the meeting being considered
favourable. The sales are :—Eastern Counties, 104 ; ditto,
Registered, 12i ; Manchester and Birmingham, 43 ; Sheffield
and Manchester, 70i ; Manchester and Liverpool District
Bank, 10 1-16.

MARKET NEWS.-(THIS DAY.)
TIATIVLARIEETS. _

SMITIIFIELD.—Coarso Meadow Hay, 2/ lOs to 3/ ; use-
ful ditto, 3/ 3s to 3/ lOs ; fine Upland ditto, 31 12s to
3/ 16s; Clover Hay, 3/ to 51; Oat Straw, 1/6s to 1/ 8s;
Wheat Straw, 1/ 8s to 1/ 10s per load. Supply but
limited, and trade very dull.
CUMBERLAND.—Coarse Meadow Hay, 3l to 3/ lOs ; useful
ditto, 3/ 12s to 3/ 15s ; fine Upland ditto, 3/ 163 to 41 ;
Clover Hay, 315 s to 4/ 15s ; Oat Straw, 1176 to 1/ 10s ; Wheat
Straw, 11 lOs to 1/ 12s per load. A moderate upply, and
a steady demand.
WHITECHAPEL.—Coarse Meadow Hay, 2/ lOs to 3/ ;
useful ditto, 3/ 3s to 3/ 10s ; fine Upland ditto, 31 12s to
3/ 16s ; Clover Hay, 313 s to 515 s ; Oat Straw, I/ 6s to 1/ 8s ;
Wheat Straw, 1/8s to 11 lOs per load. Both Hay and Straw
moved off slowly, at the above quotations.
_ _ MEAT MARKETS. _ _

SOUTHALL, MARCH 6.—We had only a moderate supply of
fat stock on offer to-day. The demand was throughout steady
at, in some instances, advanced quotations :—Beef, from
2s 8d to 4s ; Mutton, 2s 8d to 4s 6d ; Veal, 3s 4d to 4s 6d ;
and Pork, 2s 8d to 4s par 81bs, to sink the offal. Supply—
Beasts, 40 ; Sheep, 1,000 ; Calves, 60 ; Pigs, 50. The whole
of the supply found buyers.
ROMFORD, MARC!! 6.—Beasts and Sheep sold readily, at
an advance of 2d per 81bs. Other kinds of stock were un-
altered in value. Beef, from 2s 8d to 4s; Mutton, 2s 6d
to 4s 6d ; Veal, 3s 4d to 4s 6d ; and Pork, 2s 6d to 3s 10d
per 81bs. Suckling Calves, 18s to 26s ; quarter-old Store
Pigs, 16s to 20s ; and Mulch Cows with their small Calf,
161 to 18l lOs each.

Dr.
Payment of the dividend on the 10th X. s. d.
September,' 1843, at the rate of six
per cent. per annum, for the half-
year ending the 30th June 24,000 0 0
Payment of the dividend now declared
at the rate of six per cent. per annum,
for the half•year ending the 31st De-
cember, 1843
Balance of unappropriated profits 66,822 16 5

HAILSHAM, MARCH 6.—We had but a moderate supply of
fat stock on sale to day, while the demand was active, at
somewhat imoved rates :—Beef, from 3s to 4s 2d ; Mutton,
3s to 4s 8d ; Veal, 3s 8d to 4s 8d ; and Pork, 2s 8d to 3s 6d
per Ribs.
ARUNDEL, MARCH s.—Prime Beasts and Sheep sold freely
at full prices, but otherwise the trade ruled inactive :
Beef, from 3s to 4s 2d ; Mutton, 3s 6d to 4s 8d ; Veal, 3s 6d
to 4s 6d ; and Pork, 3s to 3s 6d per 81bs.
CHICHESTER, MARCH 6.—There was rather a scanty supply
of stock brought forward this morning; while the demand
was steady on the following terms :—Beef, from 2s 10d to
4s 2d ; Mutton, 3s 4d to 4s 8d; Veal, 3s 6d to 4s 4d ; and
Pork, 2s 8d to 3s 4d per 81bs. Suckling Calves, 18s to 28s ;
Quarter-old Store Pigs, 16s to 20s ; and Milch Cows, with
their small Calf, 161 to 18110 s. each.

£114,822 16 5
£. s. d.

Cr.
Balance of unappropriated profits, on
the 31st December, 1842
Net profits of the year 1843, after de-
fraying the total expense of manage-
ment, paying the income-tax, and
making provision for all bad and
doubtful debts 51,696 5 7

MILLBANK PRISON.—An inquest was held yester-
day, at the Millbank Prison (late the Penitentiary), before
Mr. Higgs, on James Shillitoe, aged 19, a prisoner under sen-
tence of transportation for ten years. Mr. John Richard
Grove, the governor, said that the deceased was admitted on
the 7th of June, 1842, from the Warrior hulk. He had been
convicted at Chelmsford on the 7th of March, in the same
year, of burglary, and sentenced to transportation for ten
years. Dr. Italy, the physician, said that the deceased made
the first complaint of illness on the 23d of last month. He
was found to be suffering from diarrlicea, and on the 27th,
being feverish and much worse, he was removed into the in-
firmary. On the 29th he was attacked with inflammation of
the throat, and on Monday last died. A post mortem ex-
amination was made to ascertain the cruse of death, and the
appearances proved the deceased to have died from inflam-
mation and ulceration of the throat, inflammation of both
lungs, and ulceration of the bowels. A juror remarked that
the case was the same as all other inquests held in that
prison, and it was clear that deceased had died from the
general complaint—diarrhoea. Another juror inquired
whether the prison was so damp and unhealthy as it was
reported to be? and the Governor replied that the prison was
not damp, and, as an engineer, he could say, that no place
was better drained. He denied that the mortality was great,
and stated, that the number of deaths and of the sick, was
much lower in amount than in any regiment in the service.
In fact, he might say, that the invalids and deaths in the
army were double what they were in the prison. A juror
said he had always heard that the prison was very damp,
even the room in which they were then sitting. He himself
was of opinion that the prison was damp and unhealthy, and
that the atmosphere and earth were affected by the tides.
The Governor said that the building was several feet above
high-water mark, and was not damp from the cause assigned.
The prison contained, upon an average, 1,300 souls, and the
mortality was but three per cut. The jury returned a ver-
dict of " Natural death."

£114,822 16 5

THE SUN LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 7. 1844

The thanks of the Company having been voted to the
Chairman, Directors, and Managers respectively,
The CHAIRMAN acknowledged the compliment.
The three Directors mentioned in the Report as going
out of office were then re-elected, and the meeting sepa-
rated.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
FROM THE DAILY PAPERS OF YESTERDAY.
GLOBE.—We are happy to hear Lord Devon express
himself with so much confidence as he did last night,
that the Commission, of which lie is at the head, would
be able to point out the beneficial alterations in the law
affecting the relations of landlord and tenant in Ireland.
The speech of Lord Devon tended to correct mistakes
as to the character of the Commission ; and, at
the same time, to vindicate to the Commissioners the
unquestionable right to entertain and report representa-
tions of individual grievances arising out of the present
law and practice affecting the occupation of land.
Nevertheless, we repeat, we are of opinion that there
is this inconvenience in the inquiry—that it tenth
to rivet the minds of the Irish people on that one
subject exclusively, on which they are only too much
addicted to brood already with angry feelings, and to
nourish expectations (if disappointed, engendering in-
creased resentment) of something to be done by Govern-
ment which shall render the land all-sufficient to ,the
people. Now, in the first place, it is impossi-
ble that a people so exclusively dependent on
raising the rudest food directly from the soil
for their daily wants—a people so destitute of
all other employment and capital—so destitute
even of agricultural capital, and so little advanced in
agricultural skill—it is impossible that a people thus
situated, and thus habituated, can be suddenly raised
by any agency confined to modifying the mere occupa-
tion of the soil. The curse of the people is that their
whole dependence is on that mere occupation ;—that
labourers' wages, as well as farmers' profits, have no
source but the soil—and are paid in little other currency
(when they are paid in that) but permission to grow
potatoes. This state of things cannot at once be altered
by any measures solely relating to occupation of the
land. The " monster-evil" is the insufficiency of the
land as a sole resource. And let it not be said that the
exportation of produce deprives the people of subsis-
tence. Ireland exports people as well as produce, in
very great numbers to the sister country. The same
paying-power which attracts Irish produce, attracts Irish
labour likewise. The problem to be solved is not the
finding of means to stop either export—but the finding
of means to create a counter- attraction of English
capital towards Ireland. The moment a current of this
kind should begin to set in (and we hold that it is the
duty of the Government to accelerate that moment), it
would be found that Irish produce would begin to
find nearer markets—agricultural production a new
stimulus—labour new resources in arts and manufac-
tures. We have declared our opinion that Government
ought to favour the flow of capital towards Ireland,
and take the initiative in these works which tend
more than any other to render available and acces-
sible the natural resources of such a country. We
hold that Government should set the example of con-
fidence in investing in Ireland our surplus wealth.
Where is that example to come from, if it comes
not from public authority ? Ireland is not in that
condition to which ordinary chrematistics apply. A
moral impulse must be given, which money calcu-
lations, at the first start, may not appear to justify. The
misfortune of Ireland is, that it is not far enough off—
that its "aboriginal inhabitants" are not savages—that
the mane ignotum pro magnifico cannot be brought to
operate on the speculative mind in its favour. We have
seen calculation set at defiance—millions sunk—thou-
sands self-expatriated—provided the venture were wild
enough. But enterprise at our own doors is, in Ireland,
scared by a hon in the path. It would seem that confi-
dence in new fields can only be raised not inversely, but
directly as the square of the distance.
STANDARD.—In the House of Lords last night the
Marquis of Clanricarde interrogated the Earl of Devon
very closely as to the special objects of the inquiry pro-
secuted by the Land Tenure Commission, and as to the
progress made in the investigation. The Earl of Devon
replied by an explanation which ought, in our opinion,
to be satisfactory, because it indicates that the
Commission does not limit its researches to
any special objects, and that, having exhausted
no department of investigation, it cannot be said to have
made any definite progress, extensive as is the number
of facts accumulated. Now this, in our judgment, de-
scribes precisely the course which ought to be taken by
men to whom is confided so grave a duty as that
as-
signed to the Land Tenure Commissioners. It is
true, as Lord Clanricarde complains, that there are
many ignorant persons who, having assumed
that some prompt remedy for the social state
of Ireland is available, and that the Commis-
sioners are appointed merely to find this charm,
feel very impatient at the delay of their Report. They
can be, at least they ought to be, the most ignorant only
who give way to such impatience; and if, as the Noble
Marquis suggests, some newspapers are to blame for
having encouraged the notion of a remedy for the social
evils of Ireland, at once effectual and easily available, we
claim not to belong to the number of the culpable. When
the Commission was proposed we distinctly stated that it
never could find the imaginary remedy that was to set
all right in a day or in a year, though we gratefully ad-
mitted that the labours of the Committee could do
much owards creating such a remedy. The case, in
fact, appeared to us, and still appears, precisely that
symbolised in .7E.op's fable of the farmer and his
sons. The farmer on his death-bed assured his sons
and successors in his fields, that a pot of gold was
hidden somewhere on the farm; the young men, as the
ct labours of the Land
story tells, turned up carefully with the spade every
field of their patrimony: they found no pot of gold, but
they found the worth of many pots of gold
in the increased produce of the soil, conse-
iqs oldand familiar,
uent upon theirbut
i tdescribes
toilsome
soexactly
ear c h.
the
The story
good
effect which we anticipate from the Land Tenure
Commission, and exhibits also so well the neces-
sity for the investigation being complete, patient, and
slow
pianbleo,rdtherat tolve produce
t
forbearth
o remi
good n e
borrowing
comingorro fw
permanent
ng a page
ua
t oconclusions,
whichvait
ef is o
g e fromrhe JEsop. If we expect
aaTenure Commission, it is because we trust that its aim
goes beyond any temporary object, and because we be-
lieve that the result of its investigation will be, not to
add to the pharmacopoeia of political nostrums, but to
demonstrate that there is no specific remedy for
the social state of Ireland, any more than there
ever has been for the social state of any country ;
consequently, that if the patient is to be cured,
quackery must be abandoned, and regimen, and above all
rest, resorted to, for the moans of recovery, This view of
the matter must, no doubt, as much disappoint and dis-
concert the empirics of Parliament and of the news-
papers, craving something for the day, as the
Bath quacks were disappointed and disconcerted by
the simple plan of Mr. Simpkin B—. This view
is, however, the true one. Rest, without any other
application, would do nearly everything for Ireland, and
without rest from political agitation, all the remedial
measures that can be tried to the end of time will do
nothing. This is a truth, which we would press
earnestly upon such noblemen as Lord Clanricarde,
who, if they are not themselves the destroyers of their
country's rest, at least encourage and protect those
destroyers.

CCLESTASTICAL COURTS BILL.—LOrd Lyndhurst,
the Lord High Chancellor of England, has introduced into
the Upper House of Parliament a Bill entitled, "An Act to
consolidate the jurisdiction and improve the practice of the
Ecclesiastical Courts of England and Wales, and for other-
wise altering and amending the law in certain matters eccle-
siastical." It consists of as many as 101 clauses, and appears
to be founded on the Report of the Ecclesiastical Commission.
By the provisions of thie Bill, all peculiar jurisdictions are
abolished, and merged in the respective archdeaconries and
dioceses. The Archidiaconal Courts (with the exception of
Cornwall, Leicester, Nottingham, and Suffolk) are deprived
of the power to rant probates or administrations and mar-
riage licenses. The diocesan Courts, however, are allowed
to retain their full powers, it being optional with the judge,
or either of the parties to the suit, to send to the Court of
Arches. Licenses are abolished, and compensation is pro-
vided for loss of emoluments, &c. Acting deputies are all to
become principals, and to be paid by salaries, to be fixed by
the judges of the respective Courts, out of a fee fund, to
which all fees, &c., are to be carried. The amount of salary
is subject to the approbation of the Lords of her Majesty's
Treasury. The Act is not to extend to tithes within the
City of London.
THE STEAM NA-yr.—We read that a new War
Steamer has just been laid down at Portsmouth, to be called " the
Scourge." Really, the " Christian" names given, to these vessels
are worthy of an enlightened age. " The Beelzebub," " the In.
fernal," " the Styx," " the Acheron," " the Firebrand," and

" the Scourgc," form as cheerful a collection as could be wished
for. We can only suggest, as an improvement, that the Blue and
White unifirm of the Steam Navy be changed to Black, turned
up with Brimstone —Punch. _ _ .

GREAT FOOT-RACE FOR 2001.—The great foot-
race for 1001. aside, between Jenkinson, the London Stag, and
John Smith, the Regent-street Pet, came off yesterday at
Sutton. The distance chosen was a quarter of a mile, and
as both men have acquired great celebrity as runncrs, and
very heavy sums depended upon the result, there was a
large assemblage of sporting men present to witness the
race. The betting opened at six to four on Smith, but as the
time of starting approached the odds increased to 2 to 1, and no
takers. Preliminaries having been arranged, at half-past three
o'clock the men were in readiness, and on the signal being given
went off. The Stag took the lead at a great pace, his opponent
lying close up for the first three hundred yards, at the end of which
the men were abreast of each other. The struggle for the lead was
first-rate, when, amidst the cheers of his friends, the Stag dashed
away from his opponent, maintained the lead, and won by four yards.
ROBBERY AT CHATHAM DOCK-YARD.—Thomas
Fox, one of the apprentices at hor Majesty's dock-yard at
Chatham, and a pupil of the dock-yard school, was brought
before the bench of county magistrates sitting at Rochester,
on Monday, charged with having stolen from the school a
quantity of mathematical instruments, the property of her
Majesty. James M'Ganahan deposed—l am the school-
master of the dock-yard school, appointed by the Lords Com-
missioners of the Admirality. I have 144 youths under tui-
tion, and to 129 of them I have entrusted mathematical
instruments for use—the property of her Majesty. I pro-
cured them from the storekeeper. I never allowed any one
to take the instruments from the school. Some had instru-
ments of their own. In consequence of information I re-
ceived about the 21st of February last, I made a search and
discovered that some of the instruments were missing. The
prisoner has been a pupil since May last. Henry Pemble
is a pupil, and had a pair of compasses and a drawing pen,
the property of the Queen. Henry Pemble examined—ls
an apprentice in the Dockyard. I missed my box of instru-
ments from underneath my desk on the 20th of February.
There were a pair of compasses and a drawing pen in it
belonging to the Queen ; and a wooden mould, two pen-
holders, and some steel pens, my own property. Do not
know whether Fox was at school that day. Elizabeth Cliff
deposed that the prisoner pledged the box of instruments
produced by the constab!e at hor husband's shop at Chatham,
on the 22d of February, for Is. 6d. Pemble identified the
box and instruments produced as those lost by hint. Three
similar cases were fully made out against the prisoner, who
was remanded till Wednesday, to give the dockyard authori-
ties time to substantiate a fifth case. The value of the in-
struments stolen from the school amounts to upwards of
:tyeu pound:.