The Sun.
London, England, 1818-06-24 00:00:00

FOR THE SUN.

Mr. EDITOR,-The question respecting tl►e
continued restriction of cash payments, or their
yesiimption, and the diminntion of Bank Notes,
being agitated every day, and of the greatest in-
terest to the commercial world, -and viewed in
'such various lights, that though it has been much
discussed since the system was adopted, yet it is
:I question, after all, involved in great doubt and
difficulty, and leaves ample room for the scope of
argument. ‘Ve have no occasion to take a retro-
spective view of .the situation of the country,
,vliich called for the restriction of cash payments,
any further than to recollect the fear and alarm
which pervaded the community at that period, on

the bare contemplation of the measure, and which
have been gradually subsiding, and at length
given place to the most universal and well-
grounded confidence in the stability of the Pink,
an:l its ability to answer evety demand by cash
payments. This fact is worth a thousand atgu-
mews to the contrary, and while it demonstr& es
that an easy and powerful substitute could be
found for ,the metallic currency of the country,
when exchanges were against us, and wascar-
ried on against our commercial greatness, in or-
der to accomplish-our national ruin, it illustrates
that we were enabled to continue the contest
more economically and vigorously' than before
that peiiod, and to bring it to a successful and
glorious issue. The same system has been con-
tinned ever since abe peace, and though .much
questioned, both in and out of Parliament, -as to
its propriety and tendency in a time of peace,
yet two strong arguments in its favour are, that
though there has been a considerable issue of new
gold coin, the whole of it has nearly disappeared,
and the commercial world 0;-e satisfied as to the
superiority over metallic currency. It facilitates,
abbreviates, and economises all commercial ape
rations. A thousand pounds in bank notes of
various value, will be lunch sooner counted than
he 'same sum in silver and -gold :--fewer clerks
are therefore required in banking concerns, and
other great establishments.
Bank notes' have another quality to recommend
theist over gold.and silver, viz. their being. more
portable—thus travellers, who lot wily were
obliged to burthen themselves and their, horses
with gold, moved like packmen in'old times, till
they could eicha,,ge it for bills upon LOndon,
which occasioned zo ice calling for the money,
and after all with risk, if the bills were at two
Months, or even at sight. Under the present
system, receiving bank notes, which they may
immediately remit, if necessary, to their em-
ployers,' and they become directly, with only the
additional postage, available to commercial exi-
gencies, with no furthcr trouble; and very little.
risk' In cash remittances from the country to.
London,.thete is the expence of carriage, the
trouble and loss of and attendant upon gold short at
weight. That there much evil incident to bank
notes, cannot be denied. But if the subject be
viewed with impartiality, I am of opinion, that
the sheet balance of, good is in their favour.
These brief hints, Mr. Editor, are merely
thrown out for. the consideration and benefit of
the community at large, my travellers and myself
having frequently expct ienced much inconvenience-
and loss by the receipt of silver and gold in our
journies.

1 remain, yours, &C.
RICHARD TURNER, blacking Manufacturer.
114, London-road,_Southwark.

Till the last century, the existence of Staffs was
scarcely known; in 1772 it wa's first explored by
a philosopher, the precursor of • Sir JosFert
BANKS, through whoSe notice it became an oject
of attention to all succeeding Naturalists. In
tracing the progresS of science within the last
half Century, it is no .unpleaSing task to examine
the manner in which this problem of geology has
been eyiplained or elucidated by the various scien-
tific visitors to whOse examination it' has been
subjected ; a succinct account of the different opi-
nions to which the investigation has given exist.
ence very properly accompanies the picturesque
views; which are thus rendered equally acceptable
to the love's of, science and the arts, and not only
offer superior gratifications for taste, hut furnish
valuable hints in the aequisition of knowledge.
It is almost superfluous to add, that the sketches
of Staffa, already introduced in Mr. DANIELL'S
voyage round Britain, are executed with his accus-
tomed elegance and ability. We heartily ap-
prove of. theit'sepiirate publication in the present
comparatively inexpensive volume.

We think the following description of that sin-
gular kind of Bird tke Fush•cutter, will prove in-
teresting to ourlteadets

" Thcre is something so whimsical in the mode
of subsistence pursued by this freebooter of the
feathered race, that a short account of. it, On the
testimony of actual observer s, may here be per-
mitted. The Fash-cutter is feared 'mid detested
by the Gulls ; he subsists like an Arab of the'de-
Serf , on pininler or tribute, xvllich he extorts front
them by terror. Having singled out a victim on
the wing, he pursues him incessantly until the
affrighted bird evacuates the digested residue of
his last meal, on observing which the ["ash-cutter
makes a sudden dart, and intercepts it in its fall.
This sport lie continues until his appetite is ap-
peased, after which he retires to his solitaty
haunts nntil the calls of hunger again urge him to
the chase. It might be supposed that lie tronld
find depositions of this kind of food on the rocks
in sufficient quantity to exempt him from so mlicla
trouble in procuring it, but he appears to relish it
only in its freshest state, and is epicure enough to
.prefer a hot dinner to a cold one. The singula-
rity of this fact occasioned some inquiry as to its
credibility, wh:ch was repeatedly vouched for.
The bird in question is occasionally, though rarely,
met with in oilier parts of the coast."

From Me LONDON (.41.1ZETTE, JUNE 23.