The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-14 00:00:00

THE S N, LONDON, MONDAY MORNING, JULY 14, 1845.

soned at the bidding of mad doctors. We regret, there-
fore, to find that Lord ASHLEY dwells more upon the
saving of money by the new plan than on the great object
which he ought to have in view. The expense of the
present Commission, it appears, would, if allowed to go
on for a few years, reach 25,0001. a year, while the esti-
mated cost of the new Commission would not amount
to 13,0001. The difference hardly deserves notice, yet
on this point his Lordship dwelt for nearly one•half of
his speech. But leaving that, let us see what are the
improvements contemplated. It begins by esta-
blishing a permanent Commission, and thereby, accord-
ing to Lord ASHLEY, secures the entire services
of competent persons and fixes the limits of expense.
It places hospitals or subscription asylums under proper
regulations, by requiring them to have the same orders
and certificates as were nee. ssary in licensed houses
and by subjecting them to the same visitation as county
asylums. It presents persons of weak mind from being
received in asylums in the- character of boarders, in
which case they have not the benefit of any visitetie.n,
and are sometimes induced to execute deeds affecting
their property. It provides an additional security
against the improper detention of pauper patients, by
requiring that the person signing the order fur their
confinement should see and personally examine
them beforehand ; and that the medical officer who
certified as to their insanity should see them
within seven days previous to their confinement.
It compels every person receiving a patient to state his
condition when first admitted, and the cause of his death
when he died. It directs every injury and act of vio-
lence happening to a patient to be recor3ed, and re-
quires a " case book" to be kept ; thereby affording
additional security against mismanagement, and showing
how far the patients had the benefit of medical treat-
ment. It provides against the liberation of dangerous
patients. It authorises the visitors to enforce a proper
supply of food (in licensed houses) to pauper patients,
who were at present fed at the discretion of the proprie-
tor. It enables the visitors to order the admission of a
patient's friends to visit him. All these regu-
lations, we admit, are unobjectionable, but they
are far from going to the root of the evil.
The same medical certificates are to be used as the war-
rants for commitment, and, therefore, interested parties
will still have the power of imprisoning relatives whose
property would accrue to them after the death of the
unhappy victims. But oppression will drive a wise man
mad. What will be its effect, then, on sensitive minds,
harassed by grasping and unfeeling relatives. The in
cessant annoyances of persons of this character have, it
is well known, driven many to such a state of excitement
that medical men are called in to effect their cure—and
the only cure they generally recommend is confinement
in a madhouse As regards the visits of Commissioners,
whether belonging to the medical profession or not,
we look upon this specious safeguard as no security
whatever for the liberty of a fellow-creature. It is well
known that the cruel treatment inflicted by keepers, the
dreary prospects of cenfinement, and the persecution of
interested relatives, cause a degree of excitement in per-
sons of nervous habits which to strangers would appear
a species of madness, and this can easily be induced
by those who have an interest in their imprisonment. The
return proposed to be made to the LORD CHANCELLOR
is of no use whatever. The Commissioners are to report
the number of their visits, the patients tl,ey have seen,
and the miles which they have traveled. This may bee
a very necessary return as regards pounds, shillings, and
pence, but it is no security against the evils of which
we complain. The great cause of all the succeeding
misery is the first commitment, and on that point the
Legislature should be as jealous as they are of the
liberty of the subject when it is invaded by unjust im
prisonment. Many sane persons have been confined as
lunatics ; Mr. PHILLIPS is a glaring instance, but
he could not have obtained redress in a court
of law, as the person who signed the certificate would
have been regarded there as a privileged character.
Never was there more cruel mockery than this. In
our opinion the only real security is an investiga-
tion by a jury of twelve men in open court,
when the motives of all parties can be sifted, and
the facts of the case laid before the world. English-
men would undergo much trouble, and pay any amount
of expenses, rather than see, what so often occurs, a
fellow-creature unjustly committed to the horrors of a
madhouse, and as Mr. Dustcosine observed, " Better
that nineteen insane persons should go free than that
one rational being should be shut up under the plea of
nsanity."

If we had owed any apology to our readers for the
frequency of our protests against the Board of Trade
Railways' Committee. and the unsatisfactory decisions
and ♦exatious proceedings to which its absurd constitu-
tion and still more preposterous powers have given
rise, we should be absolved from that liability by the
decision of the Government, announced by the Earl
of DALHOUSIE, in the House of Lords, on Friday. The
Committee is extinguished. It is "functus officio." All
its fantastic arrangements, its " groups," from "A "
to " Z," which used to excite the risibility of those who
were so fortunate as not to be brought within the ex
pensive operation of them, and made those who were
sigh deeply over the certain prospect of continuous
sacrifices of time, trouble, money, patience, and
temper, whilst these new blown and short-lived
Commissioners were hearing evidence upon, and
taking lessons on the mystery of gradients and
levels, and at the same time deciding upon the con-
flicting pretension-4 of competing lines—all are ever.
Atmospheric line, N. 23, H, no longer figures in the
same quadrille with 24 to 30 ; but narrow gauge I 7, and
wide gauge H 16, in a " dos-a-dos," are equally propelled
out of the snug railway bureau at the Board, the one by
the Whitehall doer, the other by the side wicket into
Downing-street ; and the " sets" have all to form again,
after the old fashion, in Corr mittee.rooms of the House
of Commons. To pursue this dancing " fieure," so ir-
rcsistibly suggested by the affectation, never bcfore heard
,f in ler4is;ative business, of " groups." the " Lower
Rooms" foll9w the example of the Upper Rooms."
The House of Commons has had a Railway Soirée"
as well as the IL use of Lords. It has produced it.
Select Committees' Report on the petition presented a
few nights ago, implicating two important t fficers of tht
Board of Ordnan"e, and the solicitor of that board, in
transactions connected with speculations in the scrip
and shares of railway companies, more especially the
South-Eastern, and the North Kent lines, of a character
strongly tinctured with matters of grave suspicion.
TFe particulars of these transactions have been given
in the report of the Committee appointed to investigate
the petition of the South-Eastern Railway Company.
To that report, therefore, with the evidence of Mr. Bois-
HAM, Captain BOLDER°, and Mr. WRAY, we refer our
readers, in order that they may judge for themselves.
We may merely state that, with regard to Captain
BOLDERO, Clerk of Ordnance, it is evident from the re-
port that Mr. IhomErr's written allegations were utterly
unfounded in fact. We lament that any Members of
Parliament should put themselves in so false a position
as the Gallant Captain has done by dealing in railway
shares, especially when he happens to hold office under
the Crown. But his transactions in them were, at any
rate, so far as the evidence goes, perfectly genuine ; the
shares paid for, and the dealings bona fide. Mr. BONEAM
gives an intelligible account of the mode in which he came
by his 3001. While, at the same time, it cannot be denied
that he acted imprudently in accepting profits on shares
in a line with respect to which he had deliberated and
voted as a Member of the Legislature. It is no excuse
that others have done the same, and that many votes
have been influenced by self-interest. The Member of
a Committee should be above suspicion ; he should not
lead himself into temptation, nor risk his integrity and
good fame for paltry gain.

The Madrid Gazette of the sth inslant contains a circular
to the political chiefs, signed by the Minister of the Interor'
directing the Provincial Councils to be constituted by the
Ist of August, prescribing the form of oath to be taken on in-
stallation, and stating the amount of salary each councillor
will receive—in provinces of the 3d class, 8,000 reels (807.)
yearly ; 2d ditto, 9,000 (90/.) ; Ist, 10,000 (100/.) ; and in
Madrid, 12,000 reels (120/4

The papers bring no news of importance. The heat at
Madrid is described in some of them as insupportable.
The Funds were very fiat. There was a decline of 1 per
cent. in the Three per Cents. for cash on the sth, and 15-16
for time. They were quoted at 28i cash, and 29i at sixty
days; Fives, 21 cash, and 21 for the sth of August; Pas-
sive, 61j cash.

The Paris papers are still occupied with the affair of the
French Jesuits, of which enough has already been said One
of them states that the Government has called upon the pro-
fessors of the College of France to take measures to oblige
M. MICHELET and M. QUINET to keep in their lectures within
the scope and object for which the professorships held by
them were instituted, and that the professors are to meet to
consider the subject on Sunday. This refers to the attacks
occasionally made by these professors on the French
clergy. The political 11( WS is without interest. An
accident happened to Marshal SOULT on Wednesday,
which at first threatened serious consequences. 'While
passing along the Quai d'Orsay, when opposite the
barracks, the hind axletree of his carriage broke,
the off-wheel came off, and the carriage fell on its
side, in which position it was dragged for some little dis-
tance before the coachman could stop his horses. The foot-
man was thrown from behind, but, being unhurt, ho ran to
his master's assistance, and opening the carriage-door
found him lying with his feet upwards. The Marshal had
received only a few bruises, and was able, leaning on the
arm of hie Hermit, to walk on to the Tuileries, where the

medical men in attendance thought it prudent to bleed him.
The KING was present at the operation, and afterwards had
the Marshal taken home in one of the loyal carriages.
The Presse, in reference to the last quarterly returns of
the British revenue, greatly blames the illiberal policy of the
French Government as re-pects traae ; but, in f .ct, the Cham-
bers are entirely in the fault

" The able chief of the English Cabinet has rendered an immense
service to his country by making such bold and decisive improve-
ments in the fiscal system. Timid minds, incapable of moving out
of the beaten track, have condemned them as imprudent and ven-
turesome. They have exclaimed against him as having lost the
suostance in catching at the shadow, and placing the nature finance
of England in a state of frightful perturbation. But none of their
sinister predictions have been realised. On the contrary, the
finances of England have never been in a more flourishing state,
and her trade and commerce, thanks to hi, reduction of the duties
un raw material, and on the principal articles of consumption, have
extended to a degree hitherto unknown. May this grand experi.
ment be maturely weighed—may it teach our statesmen and our
Chambers how productive may be a judicious application of true
principles of political economy."

The National is highly indignant at the escape of an
illustrious personage, crowned wi. h the laurel. 4 of Pavia sus,
and invested with the ermine robes of the. Peerage," and as-
serts that the Peers have failed in their duty. The Duke Da
BIANZERES (MUNOZ) had arrived in Paris, accompanied by
two Secretaries. Count BRESSoN, the French Ambassador
at Madrid, had also arrived.
On the Bours; the Three per Cents. closed on Thurssday
at 83f. 90c. ; the New Loan at 83f. 45e. ; the Five per
Cents. at 121 f. 20c. ; Orleans Railroad Shares, 1,140 f. ;
Rouen, 1,0121. ; Vierzon, 7321. 50c. ; Havre, 832 f. 50c. ;
Avignon, 953 f. 75c. ; Basle, 2501. ; Belgian Two-and a Half
per Cents., 60 ; Spanish Actives, 37% ; Ditto, Three per
Cents., 381%.
The following are the quotations for the new lines :-
Orleans and Bordeaux, 170 f. premium ; Boulogne, 112 f. 50c.
ditto ; Troyes and Montereau, 20f. ; Paris and Lyons (La-
ffitte), 20f. ; ditto (Calon), par ; ditto (Ganneron), sf. ;
Northern Line (Laffitte), 31f. 25c. ; ditto (Rosamel), 6f.
50c. ; Tours and Nantes (Mackenzie), 7f. 50c. ; ditto
(Drouillard), par; ditto (O'Neill), 2f. 50c. ; ditto (Jacques
Lefevre), par; Lyons and Avignon (Lecointe), 1 lf. 25c ;
ditto (Talabot), 25f. ; ditto (Compagnie Meridion,lle),
51.; Bordeaux and Toulouse (Mackenzie), par. ; ditto,
and Cette (Espeleta), 4f. 50c. ; Creil and St. Quentin, par ;
Paris and Strasburg (Ganneron), 7f. 50e. ; Dijon and Mul-
hausen, par; Dieppe and Fecamp, 26f. 25c.
LYONS, JULY 7.-Avignon and Marseilles, 957 f., end of
July ; Paris and Orleans, 1,150 f., ditto; Paris and Rouen,
1,015 E, ditto; Orleans and Vierzon, 727 f., ditto ; Orleans
and Bordeaux, 665 f, ditto. ; Boulonge, 601 t, ditto.

UNITED STATES.

LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY NIGHT.

We have another arrival here to-night from New York—
the Rochester, Captain Woodhouse : by her we have papers
from that city to the 22d ult., four days later than were
brought by the Shakspeare. The Rochester made her pre-
sent voyage in the short space of 19 days, and brought 20
passengt rs.

The papers brought by her contain no political news of
importance. Nothing of a decided character had transpired
respecting either Texas or Oregon.
The Caledonia arrived at Boston on the 19th.

The papers are chiefly filled with matters relating to the
death of General Jackson, and the preparations making to
pay a just tribute to his memory. Many public meetings
had been held, at which a variety of measures were adopted
to commemorate the event.

The appointment of the Hon. L. M'Lane, of Baltimore, as
a Special Minister to England, is positively announced; and
he will leave new York for this country on the 15th inst.
A great fire broke out at Fayetteville, N.C., on June 13.
Half the town is in ruins. The market-house, and all the
town below it going to the river, saved, and all the churches.
The market and the Presbyterian churcli were en fire, but
saved.

MONLY and COMMERCIAL NEWS.
(From The Sun of Saturday Evening.)
The Cotton marker at Liverpool yestei day was very steady.
Sales about 8,000 Cales. The Stock Exchange was closed for
repairs.

Among all classes in the City the report of the Committee
of the House of Commons, relative to the jobbing that has
taken place with respect to the Nt, th Kent Shares, has been
perused this morning with most anxious, and, we may add,
fairly indignant attention. There is too much reason to be-
lieve that this is not the only instance in which official confi-
deuce has been need to advance the interest of certain parties
who have unfairly obtained information to the disadvantage
of the bona fide holders of scrip receipts before the Commit-
tees of several of the groups made their final decision. A
most searching inquiry ought to be entered into with
regard to inane other lines where, without question,
similar transactions to that c e have noticed have
occurred. In the conclndiug part of the report of the Com-
mittee most persons entirely concur, viz., that such transac-
tions on the part of one or more Members of Parliament and.
others must tend, if not put an end to, to render the decisions
of the Committees of the House of little valu, in the eyes of
the public generally. It is quite certain that, even should
the session be too short. this year to take up the subject in
detail, the most prompt steps must be taken next year to
bring the matter fully and fairly b.ii,re the public, and
without which the dignity of the Legislature in its decisions
upon private Bills would become a matter of scorn.
The issues of notes by the Bank of England during the
week to Saturday last, were 29,891,9351., which is less by
155,5351. than per previous return. The public deposits are
reduced a' little, but as yet the payment of the half year's
interest is pretty nearly balanced by the revenue from vari-
ous branches of the public revenue. The stock of the pre-
cious metals in the Issue Department was 15,891,9351., and
in the Banking Department, 526,1971., a decrease on the total
of 183,7691.
The Stock-market is in a most quiescent state to-day.
Consols for the Account have fluctuated but from 99% to
99 ; the Three per Cents. for transfer next week, from 99%
to 98% ; and the Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents. from 102%
to 1%. The premium upon Exchequer-bills remains heavy,
at 545. to 58s.
A very few bargains were made in the Foreign Stocks
to-day. Spanish are rather lower, the Consols having just
been done at 26%, and the Three per Cents. at 37%. For
the other foreign bonds there has been but very few trans-
actions tc-day.
The Share Market has upon the whole looked firm this
morning, but not very many transactions have been reported.
The old lines are the firmest as to price.

ONE CLOSING
PRICES OF BRITISH FUNDS. O'CLOCK. PRICES
3 per Cent. Reduced
3 per Cent. Consels Annuities 99% 98% 98%
New 314 per Cents 102%14 10214
Consols for Opening 9914 99 98%
Exchequer Bills, 1,0001., 11% d 56 58 pm. 58
Ditto 5001. .
Ditto Small
ONE CLOSING
PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS. O'CLOCK. PRICES
Columbian Bonds, ex Venezuela. 173/
Mexican, 5 per Cent. 1837 ... 36 Th 36%
Ditto, Account 3644 363/4
Ditto. Deferred
Portuguese 5 per Cents. —
Ditto, Converted 65% 65%
Russian Bonds ll7 117
Spanish 5 per Cent. 1840
Ditto. Account ... .. — 2614
Ditto, Passive
Ditto 3 per Cent. 37% 14 3714
Ditto Account
Dutch, 2% per Cent
Ditto, 4 per Cent., Certific 99%14 9914
PRICES OF CLOSING
PAID. A ONE O'CLOCK.
HALLWAY haulms PRICES
Birmin. and Gloucester. 100
Ditto % Shares
Birmingham and OIL-

ford junction
Bristol and Gloucester... 30 ......

Caledonian
Ditto Extension ...... 2%..... 21/2
Cambridge and Lincoln l'/2......43/4 74 ,
Chester and Holyhead-. 10
Direct Non! i ern
Dublin and Belfast J unc. 21A! 7%
Dublin anti Galway..... 2% 3%
Dundalk & Enniskillen 2% —
Eastern Counties 141. 165...... 21364%
Eastern Union
Ditto Extension
i:dinburgh and Glasgow 50
Ditto ii env 14 Shares... 2% B%
..ly and Bedford
Enniskillen and Sligo - • ')1-i
Goole and Doncaster .. 1% 2l;,
Great Grimsby and Shef-
field
- . - . . ...

Week
ending

July 5
4
4
3
8
6
5
5
6
5
5
5
5

NAME OF RAILWAY.

Arbroath and Forfar •—— ••

Bristol and Birmingkam . ............
Chester and Birkenhead . •• • •. •
Dublin and Drogheda• • • • • • • • • ...... .
Dublin and Kingstown .... • .....
Dundee and Arbroath . • ...... • • • • • ••
Durham and Sunderland ........
Edinburgh and Glasgow. •• • • •
Eastern Counties and North Eastern..
Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr • •
Glasgow and Greenock• • • • • • • ..
Grand Junction • . ..

Gravesend and R0che5ter...........
Great North of England
Great Western . • • • • • .............

Hull and Selby .....
Liverpool and Manchester ..........
London and Birmingham ...........
London and 81ackwa11..............
London and Brighton.• ••• • • • • ••
London and Croydon . ..
London and Greenwich . • • • • • • • • •• ••‘
London and South Western. • • •• •• ••
Manchester, Bolton, and Bury •• •• .•
Manchester and Birmingham• • • • •• ••
Manchester, Leeds, and Hull Assoc..
Midland Counties .
Newcastle and Darlington .• .. • • ....
Newcastle and Carlisle .. • . • • • ...

_;_..
Newcastle and North Shields...... •.
North Union and Bolton and Preston
Paris, Corbeil, and 0r1ean5..........
Paris and Rouen •• •• •• •• • •• •• •• ••

Preston and Wyre • • • • • • • • • • •

Sheffield and Manchester .• •• ••
South Eastern.. •• •• .......

Taff Vale .. • . ••• • •
Ulster • ........ • . • •

Yarmouth and Norwich ..
York and North Midland . ..........

Last
week.

229
4,368

880
1,488

343
713
2,706
5,213
1,873
1,177
10,620
288

18,631

894
1,818
6,086
5,944
733

a ,4
4.
:‘.
t 33 co
o ba
U .9

815
6,432
1,052

143
2,837

792
1,371
287
453
2,297
4,776
1,532
1,129
8,730

1,743
16,994

603
5,013
h 32

424
3,664

423
2,478

DI.ATH OF THE MAYOR OF WALSALL.—We regret
to state that Mr. Hervey, the respected Mayor cf Walsall, was
drowned while b.ithiug, at an early hour on Wednesday morning.
This event is rendered still more lamentable by the fact that one
of the persons who went with drags to find the body of the de.
ceased gentleman was drowned in the attempt. The demise of
Mr. Hervey, more particularly under such circumstances, has oa
casinned a deep feeling of regret throughout the borough.

IMPORTATION OF FRESH SALMON FROM iIor,T,AND.
_ _

—On Frday morning some Dutch vessels arrived in the Thames
with cargoes of remarkably fine Dutch fresh salmon iced, which
were quickly dispo4ed of at moderate prices. There were also
landed a large quantity of cherries and peas from Frai;ce, which
were forwarded to Cuvent.gardcn and other markets.

Thr..Courrier do Lyon ,tiit(-6 Our nil Tue:-.(iztv the
thernrtineter in that city marked 107 of Fahrenheit iu the shade,
and that there was not the slightest indication of the approach
of rain,