The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-11 00:00:00

SAVINGS BANKS.

It is no. idle assertion; that Sayings Banks have
been unfairly and unjustly dealt with. The fact, that
depositors are now suffering by the reduction of in-
terest allowed them, for the grasping and unpriecipled
rapacity of a former Government, is 'obvious to all.
The fact, too, That the present Ministry, • instead
Of amending, are profiting by the evil deeds of . their
predecessors,• in regard to savings banks, is no less
disgraceful- . than true. The rate of • interest
allowed to- the humble but extensive class of
savings-bank depositors, should, one would naturally
suppose,' be raised instead of depressed.. All who
have Abe . pod. of these institutions . at heart think
so, and al: were struck with surprise and sorrow
wn the anneunced reduction fell like a thunderbolt
among them. They naturally calculated that, if the
Government were to restore what it had unfairly taken
fr.:in them, there would have been no necessity for it
change, at least for such a fearful change as the present
one. The act of plunder, they thought, was disgraceful
enough, but when they were coolly told, besides,-that
the usual interest must be diinieished, although the
proceeds. of this plunder would have been amply suf-
ficient to-continue the previous rate on its old footing,
the whole appeared a deed of so monstrous a nature, that
no words can be found sufficiently forcible to express
their indignation and abhorrence.
We hope.that Ministers, then, will not overlook the
present state of savings banks. Their late measure has
done more to render these institutions valueless than all
-the evil inducements that have ever
.stepped in between
the poor inan and a habit of saving. We do- not wish
ourselves to be righted at the expense of others—We wish
every, one to have his own; but we cannot tamely sit doivn
and see the claims of every other bran,:h of British in-
dustry attended to, and those of savings banks, whiCh
are of at least equal importance, passed unheeded
by. As the representatives of 900,000 of our fellow-
subjects, we call upon the Ministry, for justice
(favour we-Avant none) to those who, as-it has been shown
in former numbers, are politically and morally the firmest
safeguards -of this country. That a thorough exami-'
nation into the minute details connected with the whole
system of savings banks is necessary to restore them -to
a working state, and that such an examination must be
a work or magnitude and toil, are facts equally certain.
It is, however, no less certain that an act of injustice,
when pointed-out, should be remedied as soon as pos-
sible, and that as as the Act complained. of re=
Mains unremedied, so long will we continue our utmost
exertions to bring it before the notice of those in whose
hands alone the remedy is placed.—Saviags Batiks
Circukr.

THE LACE. TRADE.—The state of trade in Nut,
tiugham appears to be quite as healthy as can be.rea-
sonably expected at this season. That goods of sU
delicate a kind and variety in taste, and adapted„ too,
for various countries and seasons, such as lace is, should
find at this time a fair demand, must be encouraging.
The obvious feature which may give confidence to the
staplo manufacturers of the town is, that there can be
no fear of thread or cotton cominc, down in price': ou
the contrary, we have reason to believe that it will ad-
Vance a little, rather than otherwise, during the year.
In the quilling and plain net trade there can be no
doubt or apprehension whatever, as to the price being,
maintained ; and as respects fancy golds, so much de-
pends upon the taste and judgment of the producer:s,
that for the most part they must depend upon them-
selves, as they have to devise and bring out that which'
wi I suit the fancy of those whose judgment may be more
exquisite than their own, to do which requires a strict
attention to the cultivation of a chaste and elegant de;
sign, which will have in its effect not only individual but
collective advantages. Any one making fancy lace rill
certainly promote his own interest by as much as
possible not copying or imitating others in 'design:
the more distinct and numerous the designs, the more
extensive and beneficial, we augur, will bailie consump-,
tion ; and those who may be making an old pattern,
that is now hanging heavy in the market, and even if it
could be sold, would bear very little profit, yet if would
be even better, just at this time, when the German and
other markets are closed to us to contninoutebien tbheatt,teii,t.
wthbainobh zaayrd
bea extensive.c which
tntlZhant Review.
ST. .Jonres GATE, CLEEKENWELL.—This cele-
brated ecclesiastical remain, the only one of: the kind in
the Metropolis, is threatened with destruction, under the
provisions of the new Building Act, cothplainta having
been made to the overseen of the . parish that it
is in a stet, of insecurity, threatening the
of passengers. For some time
bepeaent,tentahnistedlodgeti a
entrance to the old monastery has
beer-shop, and it is apparently in a ' very dilapidated
state from want of proper repairs and attention.. A
strong desire exists on the part of many antiquarians
and the inhabitants of the neighbourhood,b
vert it to a literary
interesting part of tahnedanseciieetnittifieuilidnientgit,ottrond
,tfoorpotbne-
to restore this
benefit of the inhabitants of the crowded .dis-
trict of Clerkenwell, in the same way as Crosbrhall
for the city, as it might easily be made available for the
purpose, and it is intended shortly to convene a public
meeting on the subject. The old gate, under which, ac-
cording to history, the last abbot, ere his ejectment by
Henry VIII., dropped dead suddenly,* baling broken
his heart, has been immortalised by Sylvanus 'Urban, as
forming the frontispiece of the Gentleman's Magazine,
over since its establishment.

THE PARgS.—On the Serpentine river, Hyde Park,
the only persons who ventured on the ice were a few boys
whO got on from the south shore, but were immediately
driven off by the Royal Humane Society's icemen. The ice
is still too weak to bear any number of persons, and is now
most dangeroU'S from the weaker parts being hidden by•the
snow. On the Long Water in Kensington-gardens, owing
to the extreme inclemency of the weather, there were not,
during the day, above 100 skaters, the larger portion of..
Whom were members ;of the Skating Club. .On the. *Z.
Pond there were not more than 300 person 0.1
andso'n bOotnetn
.ice is
any mement occurred at either place,
stated to be very unsafe. On
the Sornamentalws :finch larger, ful
Regents Park the number.ofslte
during the day: No accidents
water In' the,
,300 disporting
there- were Alicia 700 skaters,
•
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