The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-17 00:00:00

SCOTCH CURRENCY QUESTION,

MON

" That from and after the passing of this Act, no per-
son other than a person who was on the 6th day of May,
1844, lawfully issuing his own bank notes, shall make or
issue bank notes in any part of the United Kingdom."
Now here is a monopoly created in favour
of the existing Scotch banks, and all persons
are prohibited from forming any new banks of
issue in Scotland, however great may be the
increase of population, or strong the necessity for the
for the formation of such new banks. On what prin-
ciple has this monopoly been created ? On what prin-
ciple should one portion of the cominunity have special
and exclusive privileges conferred on them at the ex-
pense of their neighbours, and more especially in these
days, when the commercial spirit of the country is in
favour of relaxing instead of making more binding all
restrictions on trade ? Every man connected with one
of these joint-stock banks is, in a great degree, his own
banker--coins his own credit—and enjoys thereby a
mighty advantage over his neighbour in trade, who is
now legally debarred from exercising the same privi-
lege, however great his real capital, and worthy of
credit every way as a banker he may be.
Whether Sir Robert Peel will carry his threat into
execution remains to be seen. But in the meantime
the shares of all joint-stock banks in Scotland have
risen greatly in value notwithstanding the threat ; and
as to the threat itself, there is something singularly
inconsistent in it, and at variance with the clause above
quoted—fur if it ever was really intended to suppress
the one pound notes in Scotland, why provide by Act of
Parliament for their continuance, and create a monopoly
for issuing them P
The recent agitation in Scotland has been wholly di-
rected against the threatened suppression of the one
pound notes ; not a word has been uttered against the
creation of the unjust and unconstitutional monopoly I
have pointed out. Can it be that Scotch men generally
are ignorant of it, and that interested parties, under
cover of the agitation, mean to afford an excuse to the
Minister for retracting his threat, so that the monopoly
which has been the real object all along will remain
secure against the chande of popular objection or legis-
lative interference ?

Is there no Scotch Member who will call for expla-
nation on this matter in the ensuing session P—l am, &c.
A SCOTCHMAN, BUT NOT A BANKER.
Jan. 15, 1845.

THE ROBBERY IN THE DOCKS.
Yesterday Matthew Clark, James Hurley, Samuel
Cantilo, William Johnson, and Benjamin Ashton, the
five men charged with breaking into the tobacco ware-
house of the London Dock, on the night of Friday, the
3d instant, and stealing 1471b5. of leaf tobacco, were
brought before Mr. Ballantine for final examination at
ihe Thames Police-court.
They all conducted themselves in a very reckless and
impadent manner throughout the proceedings, which
commenced by Mr. Symons, the chief clerk, reading the
depositions taken on the former examinations, and the
evidence contained in which has been already published
in this journal. There was a strong circumstantial case
against all the prisoners except Ashton, and the tobacco
found in the room ‘‘ here Hurley was captured was
clearly identified as that stolen from the dock warehouse.
Mr. Ballantine said he should at once discharge Ash-
ton, and commit Hurley, Cantilo, Johnson, and Clark for
trial for the felony.
Mr. Humphreys—Very well, Sir. Then I will now
prove a former conviction against one of the prisoners,
and ask you to return the evidence with the other depo-
sitions.
William Cheney, an officer at Nicholson's-wharf,
Lower Thames-street, stated that he knew Johnson,
who was convicted at the January sessions of the Central
Criminal Court, in 1843, for stealing a chest of tea, and
sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment and hard
labour.

The four prisoners were then committed for trial.
Mr. Humphreys' who appeared for the prosecution,
said, now the case had terminated, he begged leave to
state that very few robberies bad been committed in the
London Dock, and that in no establishment was property
safer. Last year there were two attempts at robbery in
the dock, which did not succeed, owing to the vigilance
of the officers. In a third case the thieves stole about
sixteen gallons of brandy from a ship, and that was the
only instance during the year 1843 that property was
feloniously abstracted from the London Dock premises.

---
FATAL ACCIDENT TO J. BROWN, ESQ., or LEA
CASTLE, WORCESTERSHIRE.—Mr. Brown, who was a
magistrate for the countie of Worcester, Salop, and
Staffordshire, and was recently High-Sheriff of Wor-
cestershire, died on Saturday night last, from the effects
of injuries received by being thrown from his gig by
coming in contact with a dog-cart, near his own resi-
dence. An inquest was held on the body on Tuesday
evening, the 14th inst., wnen it appeared that Mr. Brown
was driving along the road at a proper pace and on the
proper side. Coming in a contrary direction were two
dog-carts, which were also on their proper side of the
road, but their owners were walking on the footpath.
On approaching each other the owners of the dog-carts
went towards their dogs, to lead them out of the way
nearer to the side of the road, when the dogs ran under
the feet of Mr. Brown's horse; that gentleman was then
thrown to the ground, his spine was injured, and the left
side of his chest co:npletely driven in, causing serious in-
ternal injuries. He was conveyed to his residence, and
Mr. Thursfield, surgeon, was called in, but all the means
adopted to save life proved fruitless. The Coroner's
jury found a verdict of " Accidental death," and at the
same time expressed their opinion " that the use of dogs
on a public highway is very dangerous, and requires
legislative interference." Mr. Brown was in his 67th
year; his remains are to be interred at Manchester this
day (Friday).
ROBBERIES BY THE SWELL MOIS AT WINDSOR.—
During this week, upon the occasion of General Tom
Thumb being exhibited to the lieges of the Royal town
of Windsor, at the public room, in the High-street, the
swell mob fraternity from the metropolis reaped a plen-
tiful harvest. At the afternoon exhibition, on Monday
last, the room was exceedingly crowded ; thus affording
an excellent opportunity for the light-fingered gentry to
carry on their nefarious calling. Colonel Moncrieffe, of
the Scots Fusilier Guards, had his pocket picked of his
purse, which, at the close of the exhibition, was found
empty in a corner of the room. A lady named Ellis was
robbed of her purse, containing four sovereigns, which,
after being emptied of its contents, and the silver slides
taken off, was again placed in her pocket. Another lady
was robbed of her purse and ten sovereigns, and nu-
merous other similar thefts were committed at the same
time.

PUTNEY-BRIDGE AND TUE POOR-RATES. --- At
refusingsuraon to pay the sum
Wandsworth Police Court yesterday the churchwardens
and overseers of the parish of Putney applied
againstliedto the
proprietors Clive, the
ofi
iu
tmu
eyag-i
bs magistrate,
for
, for
of 481. 10s., being the amount of one quarter's rate, due
since October, 1844. From the statements made yes-
terday and at other times in this Court, it would appear
that the Bridge Company and the parishes of Putney
and Fulham have been at variance for upwards of two
years, and the Bridge Proprietors have refused to pay
any
upon
nty do hem by
either parish. The Pro-
prietors not form a corporate body,
rates easil madeege that up
they
and that cacti Proprietor should be rated separately, ac-
cording to his share in the bridge. There were now
ninety-six Proprietors, some of whom reside abroad ;
therefore, to obtain the rate in that manner would be
impossible. After a long conversation between the
magistrate and the parochial authorities, it was ulti-
mately determined that a summons containing the
names of ninetpone proprietors should be made out,
and served upon Mr. Cheesemore, the secretary, at the
bridge toll-house.
DEPARTURE OF MR. PRITCHARD—The Patriot
mentions that this gentleman, whose name has been so
much before the public in connection with the affairs of
Otaheite, takes his departure to-day for the station to I
which he has been appointed. He does not go out as a
missionary, though his admirers are informed that in his
new position he " will promote the missionary enter-
prise" as effectually as ever.

OPOLY IN FAVOUR OF THE EXISTING
SCOTCH BANKS.
TO THE EDITO R OF THE SUN.
Snit,—lf Sir Robert Peel did not exhibit any very
great regard for the claims of labour and industry in his
currency and banking measure of last session, nor much
philosophic comprehension of the nature and functions
of money, nor can accurate knowledge of " the ancient
standard of value," or of the monetary history of Eng-
land, he displayed consideraile adroitness—by some
deemed statesmanship—in securing the acquiescence of
all parties in the Legislature, by playing off one interest
against another, and conferring on parties supposed to
be hostile some advantage of a special kind not inimical
to the general provisions of the Bill. Thus, the English
joint-stock banks were induced to support the measure
by the bestowal of certain corporate privileges and
legal facilities which the Bank of England had
till then exclusively enjoyed. In like manner,
the silence and acquiescence of the Scotch
banking and money interest were purchased and
obtamocl for tho time—I say for the time—for observe,
although Scotland has latterly spoken out in a tone which
it is said has so frightened the Minister, that he no lon-
ger intends to carry into execution his threat of assimi-
lating the currency of Scotland to that of England, by
the suppression of her one pound notes, yet it is re-
markable that, although this threat was uttered early in
May, not a syllable was whispered in opposition to it in
Scotland, or by any Scotch Member in Parliament,
while the Bank Charter Act was pending, nor until it
had fairly passed and become the law of the land in July
following. What, then, was the consideration given to
the Scotch money power for this tacit support of the
measure ? Perhaps the answer will be found in the
10th section of the Bank Charter Act, which, although
an Act referable to the Bank of England and the regula-
tion of its issues, somehow or other includes an enact-
mentby applicable
clause in question. The clause is in
torins of to banking in Scotland, as will be
theseen
these words :