The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-22 00:00:00

aliening Vim

LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1845.

The motion of Mr. MORISON, on Thursday night,
had for its object to make Parliamentary provision for
that which ought long since to have been guaranteed
to the public by the Legislature. The Hon. Gentle-
man called upon the house to affirm three resolutions
of a declaratory and economic character, to the effect
that the public should be secured the utmost amount
of accommodation in railroad travelling, at the lowest
rates of charge, which may be compatible with a fair
interest or return, to the several railway companies,
on the capitals invested by them in such under-
takings ; that the arrangements introduced in respect
of some former railway Acts for guarding the public
against the exaction of unreasonable or even exorbitant
fares had been found to fail, utterly, in practical
working; and that, in all future railway Bills or
agreements to be made between the Board of Trade
and the directors of companies, the latter should be
required to assign, beforehand, the highest rates
of fares which they would be content to take as the
extreme limits within which the charges that
would adequately remunerate them should be fixed.
Whatever force may attach to the objection taken by
Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET to the terms of these
resolutions, especially of the latter, which we agree
with his Lordship would not necessarily secure to the
public the maximum charge by ascertaining the mini-
mum demand to be made by future railway com-
panies for fares—it must be allowed that the pro-
positions which they involve are reasonable enough.
Mr. MORISON showed very clearly that from the
favour with which the present system of railroad tra-
velling has been adopted by the public, it is rapidly
superseding all other modes whatever of moving from
one part of the kingdom to another. We quite con-
cur with him also in considering the marvellous faci-
lities of locomotive communication and intercourse
which we have already attained, as being at once the
result and the evidence of an extremely advanced de-
gree of civilisation. But in this—as in so many
other branches of economic labour and art—the neces-
sity of progress is an indispensable condition attached
to permanency of suNess. When the improvement
of material forces, and of machinery for their
exhibition, shall have reached a point of ap-
parent perfection, there will still, doubtless,
be discovered many new and important im-
provements in the system and details of
Administration connected with these vast undertakings.
Now it is not less essential to this principle of pro-
gress, and its concomitant prosperity in railway con-
cerns, than it is to the convenience, service, and benefit
of the public, that the former should not take too large
fares for travelling from the latter. The palpable in-
fusion of the monopoly principle in the constitution of
every existing railway company, sanctioned by the
dangerous laxity of the Legislature in passing the
Bills for their establishment in a form and with
powers enabling them to enforce such principle to its
fullest extent, is already felt as a serious grievance
under a variety of circumstances. Excessive fares
are an imposition of which the public soon be-
comes cognizant. In point of fact, no worse
policy could be well pursued by any new
company than the attempt to exact unreason-
thltnitr point of view, perhaps, there is not much
reason to apprehend that new companies would, in
such a manner, compromise their own welfare.
But, as it was remarked in the course of the
debate, the remedy for any abuse, however
oppressive in railway management, is of so
cumbrous and protracted a character that it will
be but seldom, and only in the last necessity, resorted
to. Under the high-road system of travelling, for
extortion, misconduct, or incivility of any kind, there
was always a means of punishment and redress at
hand to those who were habitual sufferers by such
proceedings. It was a work of little difficulty and of
no overwhelming expense, distributed as that expense
was, among a few subscribing residents and pro-
prietors along the line of road,—to establish an oppo-
aition coach with all its appointments, relays of horses,
stabling, staff of coachmen, &c. &e. An opposition
railroad is quite another affair. The most credulous
speculators in railroad projects would be disinclined
to subscribe a second capital of one or two millions, in

zder to construct between two termini already so
connected, a second railroad, even were Parliament,
for such a purpose, disposed to negotiate with a se-
cond set of parties for the purchasing up of a second
strip of freehold through fifty or sixty miles of
the kingdom. The Duke of WELLINGTON alone,
among the Peers, bad the sagacity, we well remember,
to foresee, when the Bills for some of the earliest esta-
blished railroads (such as the London and Birmingham,
Great Western, and London and Southampton Line
Bills), were before the House of Lords, the extent and
inconvenience of the monopoly which the Legislature
were sanctioning. his Grace strongly urged upon
the Lords the necessity for taking guarantees from
these companies that the public should not be placed
in a worse position, as to the fares to be demanded for
travelling by rail, than they were in then, in respect
of fares for high-road travelling and posting under a
long matured system, which had at that time attained
its culminating point of perfection, and has ever since
been rapidly declining to decay. For once, the Duke's
remonstrances were disregarded by Parliament. With
all our respect, and even admiration for the excellent
management and general liberality displayed by our
great railway companies, we must say that subsequent
events have largely justified the Duke's solicitude.
Mr. MoßtsoN's resolutions seem excellently adapted
(at any rate, with regard to new or future companies)
to supply the lathes of Parliament in not having
sooner devised and organised those guarantees
which the Honourable Gentleman so justly demands
on behalf of the public. We are pleased to observe
the consideration and-marked favour with which they
were entertained by the House, and have no doubt
that Lord G. SOMERSET, when they shall have been
shaped to meet the objection suggested by his Lord-
ship on principle, and so as to avoid some technical
informality which is supposed to attach to their
original wording, will give them the benefit of
his sincere and efficient support. The service which
Mr. MORISON proposes to render to the public was
clearly demonstrated in a speech distinguished, as the
speeches of that Honourable Gentleman always are, by
its neatness and ability.

ire direct the attention of our readers, and espe-
cially those who are bent on closing public-houses on
Sunday, to a letter of Mr. BUCKINGHAM, in another
part of the paper. Mr. BUCKINGHAM has studied the
question—possibly he is a living example for tee-
totallers, drinks no spirituous liquors, and never
enters a house of refreshment on Sunday. He
is a sincere friend of the lower classes,
anxious for their improvement, and his opinion on
the subject, therefore, is entitled to consideration.
But really he advances no argument against drinking
beer, and gin, and wine, which might not be urged
against the blessings which have been bountifully
provided for rational beings. Before he can gainsay
our argument, he must have recourse to a postulate
which the wisdom of ages has rejected. No man in
his senses will grant that wine and beer are poisons,
or even admit that they are injurious to health, if
taken in moderation. We have the highest autho-
rity for the use of wine. ST. PAUL recommended it to
young TIMOTHY; and one of the most remarkable
miracles on record was the turning of water into
wine. Grave moralists, therefore, can only blame
the abuse, and to that we are as much op-
posed as Mr. BUCKINGHAM or Father MATHEW.
But to punish one man for the crime of another—to

prevent the sober from drinking three glasses of
wine, or one glass of gin, because drunkards will
swallow three bottles of the former, and one of the
latter—is the very perfection of tyranny. " But,"
say the new moralists, using the most offensive
epithets for houses of refreshment--" the gin-shops,
beer-shops, and taverns, into which so many thou-
sands who have homes of their own, congregate on
the Sundays, are not necessary for such refreshment,
and may therefore fairly be put on the same footing
as all other shops where provisions, goods, or wares
are sold." This is mere assertion, for others can
reply that they are necessary. A man cannot carry
his home with him if he goes with his family
to see the green fields and bright flowers at Putney
or the environs of Gravesend, and if he carries re-
freshment he makes a toil of a pleasure, without serv-
ing one good purpose. Punish the guilty, but let the
innocent go free. The law, as the poor know to
their cost, is sufficiently strong, and the
distinctions between them and the rich
are already sufficiently odious without these
new-fashioned schemes for making men reli-
gious by Acts of Parliament, and sober by forbidding
them the rational enjoyments of life.

Accounts from Madrid, of the 14th inst., state that
the court•martial, held at Vittoria, on the prisoners
implicated in the conspiracy at that place, had deli-
vered its judgment. Several of them were con-
demned to imprisonment for ten years, but none had
been capitally convicted. We, therefore, hope the
reign of terror is passed, and the law is to be admi-
nistered as in civilised states.

The Three per Cents. closed at 35i at 60 days;
the Five per Cents. at 25i for cash, and 261 at 60
days ; and the Coupons at 28 at 30 days.

The articles in the Paris papers relate chiefly to
the Bill for preventing abuses in the formation of
railway companies, and the abolition of vote by
ballot. The Bill on railways, which has been con-
siderably mcclified in Committee, does not appear to
give very general satisfaction, but its object is good,
and, if carried into effect, will check fraudulent
schemes. According to the Bill, any number of spe-
culators may issue prospectuses and deliver shares,
but these must be genuine, and not got up for frau-
dulent purposes, otherwise they become liable to im-
prisonment for not exceeding twelve months, and a
fine of from 500 f. to 10,000 f. The new mode of
voting in the Chamber took place on the annual
grant for military pensions, when the PREM..
DENT announced that the vote on the ensemble
of the Bill would be made by the new plan
of division. An usher then ascended the tri-
bune, and placed a black urn (for rejection) on the
marble ledge on the left, as the Members generally
ascetic' for the purpose of voting, and laid a white one
(for adoption) on the opposite side. The two urns
were thus separated by the whole length of the
tribune, or by a distance of about eight feet. The
Members then crossed the tribune to vote. As each
passed the Secretaries, he received a ball which he
dropped into one of the urns. The result of the
division was-238 votes for the Bill, and 4 against
it. This new plan is generally approved of. The
ballot will be resorted to only on particular occasions.
The intelligence from Zurich is to the 18th instant.
It appears from the New Zurich Gazette of that date,
that the Committee appointed by the Diet to examine
the questions respecting the amnesty, the Jesuits,
and the free corps had made their report. They were
unanimous as regarda the amnesty, and came to the
following resolution :—" The cantons of the Valais,
of Tessino, Argovia, and Lucerne, are invited to
grant an amnesty to the authors of pclitical offences
committed of late years." With regard to the
Jesuits they were divided, and proposed that the
Commissioners should be deputed to address a
friendly invitation to Lucerne, for the reception of
which the Grand Council of the Canton should be
convoked before the termination of the sittings of the
Diet. Upon the question of the free corps the Com-
mission are agreed, with the single exception of M.
DRUET, who, contrary to the opinion of the majority,
maintains that the Federal Act is sufficient of it-elf
to repress any illegalities which they miOt commit.
6.. a 4 zumiebuy
condemnation of the free corps by six to one ; and ex-
pulsion of the Jesuits by four to three.

A letter from Zurich of the 16th gives a statement
of the population, military force, and revenues of the
different cantons ; distinguishing those against and
for the Jesuits, from which it will be seen that the
strength and numbers of the former far predomi-
nate :

" Cantons which demand the complete expulsion of
the Jesuits :—Berne (Vorort Canton), population in
January last, 451,000 ; Zurich, 245,000 ; Vaud, 198,000;
Argau, 192,000 ; Tessin°, 120,000 ; Thurgau, 89,000 ;
Grisons, 88,000 ; Soleure,67,ooo ; Schaffhausen, 33,000;
Glaris, 30,500 ; Bale Country (half Canton), 45,000 ;
Inner Appenzell (half Canton), 44,000. Total, 1,602,000
souls. These ten Cantons and two half Cantons furnish
for the Federal army a contingent of 46,007 men, and
contribute to the Central Treasury, 752,000f.—Cantons
opposed to the Jesuits, but whose instructions hitherto
have gone no further than that a recommendation should
be sent to Lucerne :—St. Gall, population, 164,000 ;
Geneva, 64,000 ; Bale town (half Canton), 25,000.
Total, 253,000 souls. These two Cantors and one half
Canton furnish a contingent, of 4,455 soldiers, and
140,000 f. to the Federal lreasury.—Cantons opposed to
the expulsion of the Jesuits, or wishing to call them in :
—Lucerne (Vorort Canton`, 127,000 souls ; Friburg,
95 000 ; Valais, 76,000 0
Neufchatel, 66,000 ; Schwytz,
; Zug, 15,800 ; 14,200;
Canton)Treasury
one half Canton furnish
7me 9,850. Total, 468,350
stoolt,
Outersl
hsoo
FederalA pUhpene Iteez
eightre i
army
(half ,Cantons
3,5 and
n, and their contri.
butions to the Central amount to no more
than 150,0001."

THE BOURSE—TittrasDA.Y, MARCH 20.
First
11101605:
.. t
ILoo6wstost
..
10r6as5t0
irrio6 Price. . Price. Price. Price.
French Five perCente•• •• •• ,17 70 .. 117 70 .. 117 55 .. 117 55
Three per Cents••• •• 85 60 .. 85 69 .. 85 50 .. 85 60
86 40 .. 86 55 .. 86 40 .. 86 50
Bank 3lBO ••3180
.. 3180 .• 0
.• 1090 3180
GRouik of
nßNanFek'rv,anll:cooorf. Shares • • 1090 ••1000 ..109
Belgian Bank ..•• • • •• •••• ••
652 50 .. 652 50 .. 652 50 .. 652 50
Belgian Fives, 1840 •••• •• • • 105% •• 10.5% •• 1053 •• 105%
1842 •••••••• 107 •• 107 -- 107 •• 107
Two-and-a-Han-- •• 62 30 .. 62 30 .. 62 30 62 30
Spanish Active •• •• •• •• "•• 39% •• 30% .. 39 .. 29%
41 .. 41 .. 41 .• 41
Threes•• •• •• •• •• ••
110061 75 .. ..
110061 75 .. ..
110061 7b
PAF.ive. 7 '• 7 .. 7 .• 7
RNoemapanolit.a.n.• .... .. .. ... . • • ••:.
.•, : 2_100,1_75__::

RAILWAY SHARES.
SV
te. saa lle rme
o: dOnt ::::
50
........:46:77195700
50
70 52: 5 0
11 665
791
220
55
00

Rouen to Havre.. ••••• ... 977 50 .. 965
Orleans .. .

.. 577 60
..1330 ..1330

Strasburg to Bale.••• •• •• 347 50 .. 347 50 .. 346 25 .• 347 50
Avignon to Marseilles•••• ••1150 —ll5O ..1142 50 ..1142 50
Bordeaux to:Teste ........23.j .. 235 .. 230 .. 230
Paris to iiceaux 725 .. 725 .. 725 .. 725

RAILWAYS FOR THE ACCOUNT, APRIL 3.

St. Germain .......• •• • • "1092 50 ..1192 50 —ll9O • •1190
Versailles, R. 8............. 665 .. 675 .. 665 .. 665
L. 8..•• .• •••• • 400 .. 420 .. 400 .. 410
Rouen •• •• •• ••1175 ..1175 —1165 ..1165
Rouen to Havre.• •••••• •• •• 980 .. 987 50 977 50 .. 985
Orleans •.
Strasburg to 8a1e.......... 346 25 .. 350 .• 346 25 . 347 50
Avignon to Marseilles.. • • ..1150 ..1155 ••1132 50 ..1132 50
Bordeaux to Teste ..... 235 .. 235 • • 235 • • 235

RELAND.--ANOTBER STATE PROSECUTION.--OUr
Dublin correspondent assures us very positively that the
Irish Government have it in contemplation to institute
another state prosecution, and mentions, very circum-
stantially the facts on which the statements rest. The
most material are these, namely,
that the two Govern-
ment reporters who attend the meetings of the Repeal
Association, and the two policemen who are also in
attendance to identify the speakers and corroborate the
reporters, have been sent for to the Castle; and certain
strong passages from the speeches of Messrs. H. Grattan
and W. S. O'Brien have been laid before the Irish law
officers of the Crown; that, in the opinion of these
gentlemen, there are grounds for a prosecution, if not of
tho association as a body, at least against some of its
members; and that a communication to this effect has
been forwarded to the Government in London. AU this
is very likely, and it is not less likely that the fighting
Attorney-General should wish to try another fall with
the Repealers; but that Sir B. Peel will hazard another
prosecution on the eve of the Queen's visit, unless, indeed,
he means to keep her away from Ireland, is most un-
likely. We say, with our correspondent—impossible!
absurd !—Liverpool Mercury.
TROTTING FOR TEN POUNDS A-SIDE.--Yesterday
afternoon a good number of persons congregated near
Manor-house, Tottenham, to be present at the race be-
tween Holcroft's pony and Harwood's grey pony, which
was to trot five miles under saddle; but an arrangement
was subsequently made upon the ground to limit the
contesting distance to three miles, and, all preliminaries
being adjusted, the race was commenced, the grey
taking the l.ad, and performing the first mile in three
half, and being twenty five yards a-head.
conclusion of the second mile the grey still main-
Atthe minutes and a
main-
tained the lead, and the time occupied was seven minutes
eighteen seconds; and, when within half a mile of the
goal, the grey was a hundred yards in advance, and its
opponent was pulled in, the grey pony coming in the
winner, and trotting the three miles in eleven minutes and
thirty-three seconds.

DEATH OF LADY GAMMER.—We have to record
the demise, at an advanced age, of Lady Gambier, which
took place on Monday last, at Iver, Bucks. The deceased
lady, who was second daughter of the late Mr. Daniel
Matthew, married, in Marcb, 1788, the late Lord Gam-
bier, Admiral of the Fleet.