The Sun.
London, England, 1842-06-27 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, JUNE 25.--THE ENNIS AFFAIR.—Mr. Smyth,
the stipendiary, and Captain De Revynes, the unpaid Magis-
trate, have been suspended from acting as Magistrates until the
result of the approaching trial is made known. The following
is a copy of the letter addressed to Mr. Smyth:—
" Dublin Castle, 22d June, 1842.
" Sir,—ln reference to the late unfortunate events at Ennis,
I am directed to acquaint you that the Lord Lieutenant, with-
out at present expressing any opinion whatever Ls to those
events, or as to the conduct of the Magistrates or constabulary,
feels that none of those parties can with ropriety, or with ad-
vantage to the public, continue to exercise their public func-
tions until the decision of the legal tribunals, before which the
cases must be tried, shall be known ; and his Excellency,
therefore, directs that you abstain from acting as a Magistrate
until you shall receive further instructions; but no change will
be made during the interval in your salary or allowances.
" I am, &e. " E. LUCAS.
" L. Cruise Smyth, Esq., IL M., Ennis."
A similar communication, omitting the reference to pay and
allowance, has been addressed to Captain D. Revynes.
DEPARTURE OF LORD DE GREP.—The Lord Lieutenant
has deferred his departure till the middle of next month. The
Orange party are still all but omnipotent in the Castle; and,
as Lord De Grey has given in his adhesion to them, it will be
no fault of theirs if he do not conticue a tool in their hands.

MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS.

FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.
TIMES.—The Bank of England seems at last to have be-
come sensible of the complaints that have been urged against
them for re-issuing light coin. Forty clerks, it is understood,
are ordered to be in attendance on Monday morning, and
throughout the week, from six to eight o'clock, for the pur-
pose of weighing the whole of the gold possessed by the esta-
blishment, and thus preventing the evil complained of. With
respect to the scarcity of silver, and the unwillingness or in-
ability of the Bank to pay it, it is said that it will last but a
few days ; the reason assigned for the course hitherto adopted
being, that, within the first few days of what is called the
" gold panic," there was a sail upon its coffers for no less an
amount. than 100,0001. in silver. As a curious instance of the
demand at present for this metal to meet the current purposes
of business, it may be mentioned that a country banker paid
to-day 2 per cent. premium for accommodation to the extent of
1001., while, among many dealers in London, the common
premium is 1 per cent.
Though the public have heard much of the inconvenience
felt in London from the proclamation respecting the gold coin,
the consequences to the provincial towns have, as yet, been
little adverted to A letter received from Chelmsford is,
therefore, of some interest, as showing the effect of the procla-
mation in that town. The banks, it is said, are crowded with
applicants for a change of gold, and these find a difficulty in
getting anything but paper money, or other sovereigns, which
perhaps turn out also to be light. The manufacturers, agrieul•
turists, and relieving officers of the poor being compelled to
offer a premium for such quantities of silver as they require,
this is compensated for by a deduction from the wages of the la-
bourer. Even for a sovereign of full value it is difficult to get
change in silver. Altogether, it is stated, the present excite-
ment at Chelmsford is equal to that during the panic in 1826.
It is asserted in the City, on the authority of parties con-
nected with the Mint, that the half.farthiug coinage will not
be ready for two or three months.
It is somewhat remarkable that Friday night's Gazette does
not contain the usual return of the liabilites and assets of the
Bank of England. From the recent change in their time of
making up the averages, this return ought to have included
Saturday last (the 18th), and consequently seven days have
elapsed since the period of return without its publication, the
former custom being to publish it in three days.
SUN.—Although scarcely any business was transacted in the
Eng.ish market during Saturday, prices became very fires
immediately before the close of business. Jobbers are
doubltess anticipating that in the course of the ensuing week
extensive purchases must be made for the purpose of investing
the dividends, on account as well of charitable and other trusts,
as on account of private individuals. Consols lett off at 91%,
buyers for the account ex-dividend. Three 'per Cents. Re-
duced, 914 91i ; Bank Stock, 1664 1674 ; Exchequer Bil!s,
40 42 prem.
Prices of Foreign Securities remained as yesterd'4 ' Belgian,
102 103; Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents' 52a 521; the
Fi.e per Cents., 101 1014; Danish, P:, 82 ; and Brazilian,
6.5 66.
Mexican continues to advance, the last quotation being
371 371,4.
London knd Birmingham Railway Shares were, 175 177 ;
Birmingham and Gloucester, 49 51 ; Great Western, 87/
884 ; the Half Shares, 614 62 ; South Western, 604 614 ;
North Midland, 60 62; the New Shares, 30 31 ; South
Eastern, 25 251 ; the Scrip, Li 54 ; Eastern Counties, S
OA ; Northern and Eastern, 39 40 ; Blackwell, 94 10 ; and
Brighton, 354 36 per share.
The quotations for the Bonds were--Colombian, 23 234 ; Pe-
ruvian, 17 18 ; Portuguese Five per Cents., 37 374; the
Three per Cents., 21i. 221; Spanish Five per Cents., 21/ 21a ;
and the Three per Cents., 22i' 224.
It will be ob!erved that the quotation of Colombian is about
two per cent, below yesterday. This is to be attributed to a
rumour that Government has not acceded to the terms pro-
posed by the Committee of South American bond-holders.
They required a payment of two, while the Finance Minister of
that country offers one per cent., and to commence the regular
payment of the six per cent. after the expiration of four years
from the present time. The principle of-conversion is in .itself
bad, and it would be far better that some immediate payment
should be made in full of the arrears—in Acta composition—than
that the creditors should run the risk of having a large amount
of fictitious Stock sent into the market, the proceeds of which,
when sold, is to be appropriated to the payment of their claims.
It is not intended to be insinuated that such will be the case in
the present instance, but merely to state that it has been
done, and that every opportunity is given for fraud by these
frequent emissions of new Stock, over which no controul can
be exercised,

FOREIGN CORN.
Mc. Ilannerman is to move, oe,
the following resolutions : 7"rsdAYt o'..e 30th instant,
That by the Acts 31 and 33 Geor,
.
hnears that the King and Ce
Parliament was not sittinet
ie , c. 60 and 65, it
until were allowed, when the
~
corn, at the then to permit the importation of foreign
•fisting lowest duty.
in That by the :let 39 George 111-eled
c. 87, powers were
..1-iajeaty, with the advice of his Privy Council, " when
circumstances should so require," to permit the importation of
all or any sort of foieign corn or grain, duty free, and also to
permit foreign corn to be taken from the warehouse for home
consumption, duty free ; that it appears by the same statute,
which was continued by subsequent Acts for fourteen years,
that numerous articles of food were also permitted to be im-
ported, " when and as often as the same shall be judged expe-
dient," without payment of any duty whatever.
That by the Act 7 George IV., c. 71, the King and Coun-
cil were empowered to admit, for home consumption, until the
Ist slay of January, 1827, or for six weeks after the commence-
ment of the next ensuing session of Parliament any quantity
of wheat or wheaten flour warehoused since the 2d day of May,
1826, not exceeding 500,000 quarters, on payment of such
duty as should be declared in the Order in Council.
As it thus appears from the records of this House, that from
the year 1791 to 1827, Parliament has granted authority to the
King. and Council to reduce, or altogether discontinue certain
duties which were imposed on the importation of foreign corn,
and other articles of food, it is therefore the opinion of this
House, considering the uncertain operation of those laws which
lately obtained the sanction of the Legislature, and consider-
ing also the present state of the country, that it would be highly
expedient to vest in her present Most Gracious Majesty similar
authority to that which was given to her predecessors ; and
this House, befjre the close of this session, will cheerfully ac-
quiesce in granting such powers as may enable her Majesty.
with the advice of her Privy Council, to reduce or discontinue,
should circumstances so require, the duties which now regulate
the importation of foreign corn, until the 13t day of January,
I 543, or for six weeks after the commencement of the next ses-
sion of Parliament.

71'he General Steam Navigation Company's mail-
packet, Ocean, arrived off the Custom-house at 3 A. at., this
day, w ith the Dutch mails.
STATE OF r.rliADE.—We are very sorry to state
that the trade of Paisley has become , this week much worse, a
very considerable number of our best weavers having been
turned out of employment, in consequence of the change of
the season ; however, there is also a distant prospect that some
of them may be employed in a few weeks.—Glasgow Satur.
day Post„

- -
GOLD COM.
TO TitlE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Srit,—.lu your paper of Monday evenlng- lag)
you were pleased to insert a letter from me oft
the subject of the panic of the holders of gold
coin and the extortion of the dealers in it. Then
is one. slight error in the copy, of my communii.
cation, in the fifteenth line, the ounce being.
stated twelve dwts., instead of twenty dvrts.
Since I wrote to-you I have come a journey of
120 miles, and am happy to find the strictly poor
have been very little sufferers, from the obvious
reason that few of them are much embarrassed
with gold coin, even of the smallest denomina-
tion ; and employers of workmen have, for the
most part, been considerate of the distress and
loss which might be occasioned, and paid theta
them is money of full currency, or stood to the
loss themselves. Bankers of respectability laWc
also acted very fairly on the occasion, disdaining'
more than a remunerating price for their incon-
venience and trouble, which in many instances
has not been more than a ld. or lAd. upon the
average, in exchange for paper or good
reigns. Persons travelling have been most
abominably imposed upon when they hays paid
away gold or exchanged paper for gold, one
shilling even having been demanded us a deduc-
tion for half-sovereigns of 1817 and 1818, many
of which are much worn. Scales in some in.
stances have been so inaccurate from rust, &c.,
that it has required two grains to make them
turn, and the gold pieces have appeared in them
of standing weight, which were of full weight,
and thus the fault of the balance has been the
loss of the possessor of the money. In no in-
stance, I fear, has the defacing by cutting,
breaking, or stamping the light coin been re-
sorted to, and therefore the fraudulent buyer
may be expected, if any opportunity offer, to
issue again the base coin.

if you will permit me, I will state a few ob-
servations to those 1 before made upon the future
gold coinage. The point of hardness and dura•
bility will, as I before said, be best obtained by
making the chief part, or tile whole of the all,ey
of silver, instead of; as at present, whor,y of
copper; though I am aware that, with. silver as
an alloy, a very minute portion of copper would
be, as au auxiliary, useful ; and if to 22 caratsfine
gold 2 carats of alloy, such as our present silver
coin, were added, I think we should have per-
fection for metal as currency.
The abrasion of our gold and silver coin froth
attrition is a great evil, and it would almost ap-
pear that if we desired to diminish or attenuate
it, we could not have proceeded in a more effec-
tual Manlier 'than We have hitherto done. Bv-
the milling and placing the letters of the legouil
as close as possible to the edge, it is obvious that
the pieces in collision with each oth©r almost net
as a file would do, and ninny may have observed
bow their asperities wear and rub the shovels
used by the bankers at their counters. I noticed/
in my last that I considered the die of the copper
penny-piece of 1707 best calculated to avoid
attrition on rubbing together, and it is very re-
markable how perfect the letters are for the
most part from being indented ou the border.
The head on the obverse is now, after between
forty and fifty years wear, very perfect, though
scarcely so much so as the figure of Britannia on
the reverse; and the legend on the border of the;
latter (both letters and figures) is very distirlet
and plain. If it be desired, a legend could also
be imprinted or impressed upon the edge of the
sovereigns in lieu of milling or graining. If any
objection be raised to what I propose, beingumre.
liable to be counterfeited, I would allege that:
weighing alone will be sufficient test of that
genuine from the spurious coin. It should km
borne in mind that abrasion from 'fair wear ax,d
-tear is sheer loss, and benefits no one. I bane
made some observations upon our silver coin,
which, if it meet your approbation, I w 1,l at a
future opportunity communicate to yoa,- -I ant,
Sir, your obedient servant,
June lit, 1842. NUM IS Nt.A.TIST.

THE GAME OF SHIN TIE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SU-V.

" All plaided and plum'd in their -Tartan array.—Carspbellb.
Sra—Your paper of the I7th instant, states tort
the Society of True Highlanders celebrated 'heir
annual festival by playing a grand match in. Corn-
hagen-fields, at the national game of " ShinrAe, or
or " Shintie," as it is called in the LQWlands. 'ls
the Highlands it is called " Camach." It may be
compared to the game of foot-ball in En;;land, ex-
cept that in the latter the foot performs the office of
the camach, or club. All the me-..nbers appeared in
the Highland garb. This picturesque and primitive
costume may be said to have become fashionable,
ever since it was worn by one of our late monarchs
it is, however, seldom worn in the Highland:s,
except on grand gala days. It is curious to glr.oce
back to the time when this dress and every'‘hinir
connected with it was interdicted by Act of ?orna-
ment, under severe pains and penalties. I allude to
the Disarming Act, consequent on the hat.'.:te of Cul-
loden. As the Act is but little known, •dven by many-
who now assume the garb, I will quote it a% a
curiosity.
An et (20 Geo. 2, c. 39) was passed, "for the IY,ore
effectually disarming the Highlanders in Stccland,
and for the more effectually se wring the pear of the
Highlands, maid for restrak-aing the use of the High-
land dress," &c. With reference to the latter, it was
enacted that 4` from and after the Ist attv of August,
1747, an 7 person, whether man or boy, within Scot-
-40, (excepting officers and stAdiers his Majestf-%
service) who should, on any pretence whatsoever;
wear or put on the clothes commonly called the
land clothes, namely, the plaid, philibeg, trews, shorifder
belts, or any part of the Highland garb, or shouk -use for
great coats or upper coats, tartans or party-eoloured
plaid, or stuff, should be imprisoned, wit:nout bail, for
six months, and, on being convicted, for a second
offence, should be liable to be trir.iSported to any of
his Majesty's plantations abroad' for seven years."
The term for discontinuing fife dress was extended,
by a subsequent Act, to the Ist of August, in the,
following year. This, obnoxious Act, unworthy of u
free Government, was repealed in 1782. The many
Nth: devices they adopted to retain their ancient garb
ttre calculated.. to excite a smile in those of the pre-
sent day, instead of the prohibited tartan kilt, some
wore pieces of a blue, green, or red thin cloth, or
camlet, wrapped round the waist, and hanging
down to the knees like the fealdag.. The
tight breeches were particularly ohnoxims. These,
when on journeys, they often suspended over their
shoulders upon sticks ; others, either more wary, or
less submissive, sewed up the centre of the kilt with
a few stitches between the thighs, which Bare
something of the form of the trousers worn by Dzitcim
skippers. At first these evasions of the Act were
visited with great severity ; but at length the offices
of the law seem to have acquiesced in the construe>.
Lion put by the Highlanders upon the prohibition 1-)f
the Act. This appears from the trial of a man. cif the
name of .M'Alpin, from Breadalbane, who vas ac-
quitted on his proving that the kilt had been stitched:
up in the middle. Such were the anmr:ing ovasions
of this extremely absurd Act.—Your obedient servant,,
• C,`,. P. J.