The Sun.
London, England, 1842-04-21 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL DEBT.

(From the .Renfrewshire Reformer of Saturday.)
On Thursday evening, Mr. Wallace was to move
for a Select Committee to inquire into the effects pro-
duced on the industry and capital of the country, and
on its ability to bear, in the present depressed state
of its trade and manufactures, the amount and pressure
of taxation now required to pay the interest of the
National Debt, and the rapidly-increasing public
burdens, in a metallic currency, to which heavy
additional charge the nation was suddenly subjected
in the year 1819, in consequence of 'Parliament
hastily agreeing to convert the immense amount of
depreciated paper money, resorted to during a long
war, into a metallic currency, according with the
ancient standard value of gold.
In addition to the above, Mr. Wallace has given
notice for a return, showing, in columns, the amount,
in round numbers, of the National Debt in each year,
and in each ten years, sirce 1789 to 1842 inclusive.
Also, as above, the average price of the Three per
Cent. Consols in each of the years, or as near the
average as can conveniently be given.
We trust the Member for Greenock will succeed
in carrying both motions, because it is to the amount
of the National Debt, and the taxes required to pay
the interest, that the nation is mainly indebted for
all the evils it labours under, and this burden,
and the ruinous consequences that have followed it,
have been-greatly aggravated by what Mr. Wallace's
motion properly expresses, " the converting of a
depreciated currency resorted to during the war into
a metallic currency;" or in other words, making the
depreciated notes not worth more than fourteen or
fifteen shillings each, payable in sovereigns worth
twenty shillings.
Although our stupid Tariff and Custom-house laws
have had much influence in producing the present
wide-spread misery, their evil influences has been
but slight compared with the enormous burden borne
by the country to pay 'the interest of the Debt ;
a burden greatly aggravated by Sir R. Peal's mea-
sures of 1819, for converting the paper fourteen shil-
lings, promises to pay, into the value of sovereigns.
From that period to the present the country has never
known five years steady business at a time. The
twenty-three years which have elapsed have been a
constant succession of ruinous convulsions every few
years, each paroxysm worse, and longer continued
than its predecessor, and every throw sinking
the workity, population some degrees below what
they were left by its predecessor. During the legis-
lative career of Sir R. Peel, which we have alluded
to, device on device to amend the evil has been pro-
jected, and scheme upon scheme has been put in exe-
cution to avert its influence, but without effect. Last
year we had the proposals of Lord. John Russell, and
now, when the disease approaches a climax, we have
the new proposals of Sir R. Peel, which at the best
can but shift the load from the one shoulder to the
other.

We have again to express our hope that Mr. Wal-
lace will obtain his Committee to inquire into these
questions connected with the working of the debt,
though we should have been rather more certain of
success had his motion been deferred till the new
tariff is put fairly in operation. We are quite
aware that whether it is Sir Robert Peel or Lord
John Russell that is in power, they have no alterna-
tive but to go on—they must do something to relieve
the manufacturers, and that only at the expense of
the landholders ; but we wish no unnecessary alarm to
mitigate the measure. We wish but all the benefits
of the tariff secured, and although Mr. Wallace should
be defeated for the present, we are quite certain, as
soon as the fruits of that measure are but experienced,
he will find abundant support for his Committee to
inquire into the workings of the Debt.

THE VICTORIES IN EGYPT IN 1801.—We an-
nounced some months ago that a splendid granite column (a
fac-simile of Pompey's Pillar) was in ceurse of erection at
Carrick-a-Dagon, in the county of Wexford, at the cost of Ge-
neral Browne Clayton, who commanded the 11th Light Dra-
goons at Alexandria, in commemoration of its much-celebrated
battle and the deeds of the heroic Abercromby. This noble
pillar is placed on a picturesque and commanding eminence
on General Clayton's estate, and can be seen, and conse-
quently serves as a landmark, along a considerable Ins of
coast. The architect of this splendid column, so honourable
to the liberality and patriotism of the gallant General, is Mr.
Cobden ; and it is, we are assured, every way worth the gal-
lant deeds it is destined to perpetuate. It has cost several
thousand pounds. In further commemoration of the events
of the glorious campaign in Egypt, General Browne Clayton
has bequeathed in his will a sum of money to be applied,
under the direction of trustees, to the observance of the fol-
lowing ceremony :—On the morning of the 21st of March
(the day on which General Menon attacked the British en-
campment before Alexandria), the tri-coloured flag is to be
hoisted at sunrise on the top of the column, where it is to re-
main until ten o'clock ; it is then to be replaced by the British
flag, which is to remain there until sunset. The General has
further directed, that on the 28th of March the British flag
shall be hoisted half-mast high, in honour of Sir Ralph Aber-
cromby, who, having been mortally wounded or, the 21st.,
died on the 28th of March, 18(11. This ceremony was per-
formed for the first time on Monday week ; the colu.nn was
completed in September last, and, judging from the engraving
which represents it, is worth a dozen of the wretched abortion
now in course of erection at Charing cross. It is ninety-four
feet three inches high, and can be seen over a vast extent of
land and water. We rejoice to learn that its gallant founder
should, after a lapse of 40 years from the perlormance of the
deeds it is designed to honour, have been able to be present at
its inauguration himself. We trust he will live to see the
heart-stirring and imposing ceremony performed for many
years to come. United Service Gazette.
The Aras of Saturday says that on of Lord Ellen-
borough's first acts, as Gevernor-General of India, was to re-
store an allowance to some Madras Sepoys, the withdrawal of
which lately provoked them to mutiny, are something like It.
The same paper says that the baggage of Colonel Wylie (who
was foiled in the attempt to penetrate the Khyber Pass) lost
their way, and thus accidentally d;scovered an easier pass.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF CHANCERY, April 20.
His Lordship was engaged during the morning in hearing,
an appeal motion of " Ann Farmer v. James Farmer," which
presented no feature of public interest.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, April 20.
The COURT was engaged all day in hearing ;notions in-
volving points of law, none of wh►ch were possessed of any
public interest.

COURT OF EXCHEQUER, April 20.

BARKER V. BUIVVON.

Mr. CROWDER moved for a rule to show cause why the ver-
dict in this case should not be set aside and a new—trial had.
The case load been tried before Lord Abinger in London, and
a verdict found for the plaintiff. It was an action brought by
the plaintiff, who was a printer, against the defendant,
who was a Director of the Water-proofing Company,
for the recovery "of the sum of 18/., due on ac-
count of work done for the Company. It appeared
that the bill had been contracted after the defendant had be-
come a Director. The plaintiff had taken out an attachment
against the pods of the Company for a sum of of 1161. claimed
by him. lie agreed, however, to withdraw the attachment on
the payment of a portion of the debt, and on a promise being
given that the rest should afterwards be paid. The promise
not having been kept, the action had been brought.
The Learned Judge before whom the case had been
tried, seemed to take it for granted that the agreement
between the; parties was a proof of the account taken. The
ground of the present application fur a new trial was, that a
special agreement did not prove the account of work and labour
done.

The Cotlax was of opinion that the account was not proved,
and therefore granted the rule.

KIDDELL V. BURNER,.

Mr. CROWDER moved for a rule to show cause why the ver-
dict in this case should not be set aside, and a new trial
granted. It was an action brought. on a warrant, guarantee-
ing three bullocks, sold to the plaintiff by defendant, to be
sound. A verdict. was found for the plaintiff, with damages
251. It appeared that the bullocks had a temporary disease com-
mon among cattle. They were driven 200 miles, af:er they had
been purchased, in fifteen days, and, as they became injured by
so long a journey, in consequence, it was supposed, of
their being already slightly diseased, their value, it was
proved, had been greatly diminished. Mr. Justice Ers-
kine, befo:e whom the action had been tried at the
late Assizes at Somerset, in addressing the Jury
said that. they would find for the plaintiff in case they
thought the cattle had any disease at the time of the sale which
would have rendered them less fit for ordinary use. The
Learned Counsel in making the present application sub-
mitted that this was a misdirection, and that an animal
could not be considered uns und, merely because it had
a slight or temporary disease which with a • little care
might easily be cured. Ile admitted that there were
some doubts upon that subject, and •he believed that no
decision had ever been given in banco with regard to it. '1 he
Learned Counsel then quotes conflicting opinions of Judges
upon the point, Mr. Justice Pas ke having decided one way and
Mr. Justice Coleridge having decided another.
Mr. Baron PARKE said that he adhered to the opinion he
had• always held in such cases—tamely, that an animal was to
be considered as unsound which had any disease which could
diminish its actual usefulness, or which coul.l lie proved to
have had the seeds °fatty disease which would diminish its use-
fulness. 'f he amount of damages would, however. of course,
depend on the degree in which its usefulness might be thus
impaired.
The other Judges were of the same opinion.
The rule was, theiefore, refused.