The Sun.
London, England, 1829-02-02 00:00:00

(FROM THE'EXAMINER.)

BANKRCPT.LAWs.—As the Session of Parliament
approaches, the advocates of reform in the adminis-
tration of the bankrupt laws are renewing their
efforts to draw popular attention to a subject which,
deeply as it interests the commercial classes, has
been strangely neglected. On the part of indivi-
duals, this may fairly be accounted for by a rational
despair of success, when they view the array of
legal and political interest which will be drawn up
in defence of existing abuses. But we cannot make
the same excuse for Corporations. Some years ago
the Common Council formed a committee on the
motion of Mr. Hartley, a practising Solicitor. They
collected some curious evidence, and made a report,
strongly recommending a reform in the constitution
of the Bankrupt Court; but the city dreaded the
expence of making out their case before Parliament,
and resolved not to petition. Here the matter has
rested ; and the only hope now is, that Bank-
ruptcy will be made the scape-goat to save the
Court of Chancery from the rude hand of reform.—
Two pamphlets have appeared within the last
month on this subject—one from the pen of Mr.
Montagu, the other said to be the production of
another Commissioner, who may be supposed to
possess, at least, hereditary information in this
branch of judicature. The late Mr. Cullen was an
amiable, learned, honest, and independent lawyer,
and we give the greater credit to his opinions, as he
afforded one of a ♦ery few examples that the pos-
session of office does not always blind the holder to
the defects of a system. A single extract will give
some idea of the bold and manly tone attributed to
his son :

"Twenty-four hours only after Lord Erskine became
Chancellor, he received more than 100 applications, and
from many of the first Peers of the realm! patriots, no
doubt! If my Lord Lyndhurst would but hand over to
us his lists of candidates, and his portfolios of petitionary
letters, and

S'il pia dire tout haut ce qui'il se dit tout bas'—
or if my Lord Eldon would open to us the archives of his
reign, and present to us a picture or tabular view of the
Commissioneiships given and expected, together with their
value in votes—

Quo fit, ut omnis
Votivi psteat veluti descripta tabella
Vita senis,'—
we should be at no loss to estimate the reluctance which
any Government or Chancellor must have to forego the
pleasure—the heartfelt pleasure, I may say, of conferring
so much benefit and kindness on individuals: or to forego
the advantage of possessing the means of so great influence
over the most actiie, energetic, learned, adventurous, ver-
satile portion of -his enlightened nation.' Seventy ser-
vants or friends from among them secured, and generally
secured in the retie ilious season of youth : and add to these
double, treble, quadruple, quintuple, the number of ex-
:lessness and ambition are ex-

Force.

whose

outhful rest''

Mr. Huskisson relative t the ...,.._ pectants, . „y„ .
They were represented to :2e the mere harbingers of general acerbated by hunger and thirst; and add to these 350, ing. The English are anation of martyrs to rude.
acts of reciprocity among all the nations of Europe. We perhaps I should ii..y 500, expectants—their 1,000, per- n'nis and ill-manners when they get abroad ; there is
were told that France wo,ld be compelled, by a regard for haps I should say Z? or 5,000 friends—solicitors, barristers, a sort of
ny receipt for this in the new farce of the
, as
her own interests, to fon our example. That for her King's Counsel, and Judges, with hostages and pledges of ;iublinze and Beau4f ul, where Madame Vestris
silks she would take our co-tons—for her wines our cutlery adhesion_m.p.,s, Peers, Bishops,—seeking requital of the
representative of a free-born Englishwoman,
and that, by this general and fair interchange of manu- past, or offering requital by future, votes and panegyrics.— i'
. aps the Sultan on the back like a Jack-tar, and
factures for produce, and manufactures for manufactures, Princes; or chief of Princes, requesting as a favour what
sends her compliments to the chid Mufti to beg a
we should increase our exerts and benefit our artisans. . they might require as a royalty—and women, too, offering
dozen
of Imperial tokay I.
Alas for us! France was too wise to be deceived by our prayers, or more, according to the honour or age of the If there is no curing this
quackery. She declined onr favours, and turned a deaf ear Chancellor ! Insolemt and unrefleeting egotism under some hnn-
dretis of years, at least it ought not to be encouragod
to our professions of manufactured kindness. She, there. "When I reflect on these things, how can I blame the
fore, has gained what we have lost. Our door is open to late Chancellor for not having taken upon himself, unas.. for a single moment.
her—her's is shut to us. We are consequently struggling sisted by Parliament, unpromoted by Government, and (FROM THE NEWS.)
wide difficulties, while she is flourishing.--we are oppreased hut feebly urged by the public-rand how can I expect from During the entire • progres.s of the disputes re-
with the debt which we incurred in giving a legitimate leas energy than the present Chancellor's, allied with that spotting Catholic Emancipation, we have noticed a
King to the French, while they are thanking us for our ofthe present Premier's,—to repudiate all this patronage ?
set of politicians who may very properly be called
generosity, by cheating us in their own markets, and uu-" " But Let as take a retreipective view of the fortunate
Optimists, and who see in every thing which regards
-dermining and outselling us in the other markets of Europe names ;—not a present one, lest I might be suspected of
In the Foreign Quarterly Review, just published, personalities, which in justice to my brethren, I desire to Ireland, no matter of whatever nature, a clear pro-
there is an article on the Wine Trade of France, in avoid. I have made out a catalogue ofannes, with -their spect of the satisfactory termination of that intricate
which, we think, we can distinguish a writer of inalikations and histories. I will not publish it, but it I question. In the foremost runk of these Quidnunc:,
high character as a Political Economist, that will is before me, and there I find, mingled in about equal the morning paper, the Times, has long figured. In
enable us to see a little in detail the prosperity of proportion, eninnsan lawyers and equity lawyers (so that it all that happens it discovers something which holds
France under her system of commercial restriction. appears on examination not true that the Bankrupt Court out encouragement to the Irish Catholics. Nothing
The wines of France are in universal request. ~ It is, as I and others have imagined, chiefly a Chancery pre- makes it alter its tone. The change in the Lieu-
is estimated (says the Reviewer) by the most cons- serve) or to make a more important distinction, circuiteers tenancy—the flippant, disrespectful answer of the
and non-circuiteere; then I find next in numerical amount,
peteat authorities, that the quantity of wine An-Duke of Wellington to the Duke of Leinster, ner
Judges or officers of other Courts ; next in numbers, the
nually produced in the kingdom amounts, at an superannuated and the subanauated. I find in my cats- the numerous instances of the withholding of jus-
average, to about 40 millions of hectolitres, or logos, toe, a list of sue less barristers, but lam loth to tics from the Catholics, which it almost daily re-
-1,060 millions of gallons ; that its value cannot be tell their wieder, and I dare not tell their names. There cords, produce the least relaxation in its fond anti-
less than from SOO to 1000 millions of francs, or "are,' moreover, literary labourers, on whom some cipations of their approaching triumph. We really
from 32 to 40 millions sterling; and that upwards' - .Party built their hopes believe that the Times, in thus acting, is influenced
of three millions of individuals are employed in its Fur writing pamphlets, and for roasting Popes;' by a sincere desire for emancipation—but at a=-
production. In the department of the Gironde, the or some other party, for some other service or subserviency, ment like the present, this policy is wretchedly
population of which, exclusive of the great eons-
but who have not found their paper currency convtr- adapted to produce the object aimed at. Better
gam--young
mercial city of Bordeaux, amounts to 432,839, no
tible into lovers, who have been too prudent
make every Catholic fibre quiver with apprehension
ancweliitohrotuat
fewer than 226,000 individuals are supposed to be tt ob e marryeh
swe!leeretLi
:thadlo to live, and have persuaded than lull the faculties to sleep by continually holding
directly engaged in the cultivation of the vine. themrnwarryriuxosn,ithout :—ord olderhav out hopes, which are destined one after another to
lovers who have imprudently
Here, then, is a branch of industry, naturally fitted too soon discovered that chambers in the Ter; daen or oc-e prove abortive. Thus far, however, we agree with
to the soil and climate of France, and in which, I cupation in 13asinghall-street in the City, affordl a gyps;
the Times—we do not think that any coercive mea-
indeed, she is quite unrivalled; a branch of in- relief to the monotony and pauperism of home, in sonie sures towards Ireland will be at present attempted,
dustry, too, which even now affords employment fashionable street in the West...,young draftsmen, craving and we ground this supposition mainly on the ap-
for about a tenth part of her entire population, at an introduction to attorneys, or an apprentice to business pointment of the Puke of Northumberland to the
the same time that it is susceptible of indefinite ex- —young pleaders, who cannot otherwise pay the expenses Viceroyalty. His Grace has neither the nerve, nor,
tension ; affording an article of export to foreign ' of their circuit, being fortunate if they snake Sergeant we believe, the disposition, to carry into execution
countries in constant demand, and sufficient almost i Hill's 5 per cent. by it—some lawyers of better practice any bayonet measures against the people over whom
by itself to balance the largest importations that could or better patrimony, whose ladies wis,elyilirsist.on balanc- he is called to preside. Here, therefore, is a pledge
in the coachmalcer. and. liveryman s b against the in- '
be made under the great commercial system." In an that no coercion, at least no open and avowed coer-
ome of the commianonership, and who are, therefore '
evil hour the French Government added enormously t. 'may'for the present be apprehended. But that
to receive and obstinate t,o retain a place, to whose
cl
d " . ' cion,
to the duties on the introduction of iron, linens, g any thing is in contemplation in the mind of the
dutiesa they find it difficult to give sufficient time and at-
Sec. " Petitions against them," says the Reviewer, tendon udges or officers of other courts, not s444ed Premier, tending to a satisfactory settlement of Ire-
" were sent from Bordeaux and other commercial with enough whilst they can lay their hands on more._ land, we do not believe. We admit the holding of
cities, and from several agricultural districts, in solicitors who leave their client's causes to the expensive numerous Cabinet Councils and the recent visit of
which the injury they would infallibly occasion to blundering of their clerks, whilst themselves are blunder.. the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Duke of