The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-11 00:00:00

T E SUN, LON DON, MONDA I M

RAILWAY COM3IITTEES:
HOUSE OF LORDS.
REPORT or THE SELECT COIVEIWITTEE
ON THE LONDON AND YOE= RAIL-
WAY TAXLX..
The following is a copy of the report (4' the Select
Committee appotnted by the House of Lords " to inquire
into the allegations of the petition of _Henry Bruce, of
Mincing lane, merchant, and two petitions of George
Pryme, of Cambridge, Esq ; also a petition of certain
subscribers of the London and York Railway," which
was on Saturday presented to the House ot Lords, after the
Lord Chancellor had taken his seat on the woolsack,
and before her Majesty arrived.
The report commences in these terms :—" The Com-
mittee hare proceeded to inquire into the circumstances
referred to in the petitions referred to them, and have
examined several witnesses, and they are of opinion
that the evidence taken before them is sufficient to in
duce them to recommend to the House that the Bill
should not be allowed to be read a second time, until
a further investigation has taken place ; but, as their
inquiries cannot be brought to a close during the present
session of Parliament, they do not propose to report the
evidence taken before them to the House.
" That in the petition of Henry Bruce, presented to this
House on the Ist instant, and referred to this Committee,
are included two lists: the first contains thirty-five names
subscribed, objected to in respect to notices or descrip-
tions or places of abode as fictitious or false ;' the second
list contains thirty names of persons who are alleged,
from their circumstances or station of life, to be utterly
irresponsible and unable to pay the several sums sub-
scribed by them.'
"In the second petition, presented to this House on
the sth of August, twenty-one persons, whose names
appear on the lists already alluded to, have explicitly
denied the allegations made against them, and have re-
quested that, if the House think fit to direct an investi
gation of the allegations of the petition of Henry Bruce,
the same may be made without delay; but the fuilest in-
quiry into the-circumstances the Committee felt ought
to take place into this branch of the subject, so as to
allow these last-named petitioners an immediate oppor-
tunity of exonerating themselves from the charges
brought against them. The agents on both sides were
informed of this determination of the Committee, and
were allowed to produce evidence on the subject, but
some of the parties did not appear. The Committee
have, however, been enabled to investigate the following
cases, in which the allegations contained in the said pe-
tition have not been sustained."
The names of the parties are then inserted, to the
number of thirteen.
The' report then proceeds to state, " That the opposers
of the bill have withdrawn all imputation against the
following parties."
This list comprises the names of twenty subscribers, of
whom we may mention Messrs. Porter and Meredith of
the 114:11 Navy, as well as Messrs. Vickers, Elliot,
Roberts, Turner, and Jones. •
In conclusion the report proceeds in these terms—
" The committee cannot conclude without expressing
their disapprobation of the hasty and inconsiderate man-
ner in which personal abuse has been brought forward
against parties who appear, in several cases, from the
admission of the opposes of the Bill them;=elves, and in
others, upon investigation, to be free from all imputa-

Lon."

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
LONDON AND YORK RAILWAY SUBSCRIP-

TION CONTRACT.

The Select Committee on the pet►tion of Mr. Bruce
assembled at half-past ten o'clock precisely. Present—
Mr. Hawes (chairman), Mr. Warburton, Mr. Bingham
Haring, Mr. T. S. Duncombe, Mr. B. Escott, Mr.
Christie,. and Mr. B. Denison. . .

Mr. Mowatt was the first party called in, after which
Mr. Humphrey and Mr. Bruce (the petitioner), under-
went an examination.

Mr. B. Denison was also, we understand, examined
at some length. The nature of these examinations did
not transpire.
The Committee remained in deliberation until shortly
after one o'clock, when they broke up.
Mr. HAWES then proceeded to the House of Com-
mons to pr.sent the report, which was, we understand,
in effect as follows:—That the petition of Mr. Bruce al-
leged charges against parties named, which were classed
under two heads; the first class of charges applied to
persons who were alleged to have given false and fic-
titious names and plan >s of abode when they signed
the Parliamentary contract. Under the second class, it
was alleged that the parties were unable to pay the sums
for which they had subscribed the deed. There was also
a third class, which had reference to a general allegation,
false and fictitious descriptions, and inability to pay the
deposits fur which the parties made themselves re-
sponsible.
Previous to the Committee inquiring into the two first
classes of allegations, Mr. Bruce withdrew a large num-
ber of names, and expressed his sorrow for having intro•
duced them into his petition, but said he had been in-
duced to do so in accordance with the advice given to
him by his solicitor and agents.
The Committee then proceeded to inquire into the
two first classes of allegations, and, as it is stated,
came to the conclusion that, in some of the cases the
charges made, both as respects the incorrectness of the
names of the parties, and of the descriptions given of
their places of abode, and, also, of the inability of certain
parties to pay the deposits for which they had subscribed
their name:, were proved.
The Committee, likewise, reported that in the case of
sevtral other parties against whom similar allegations
like those just referred to were made, the charges were
not sustained.

They also reported that several cases were postponed
in consequence of absence of witnesses, and the non-
attendance of parties.
The Committee did not go into the third head of
charges contained in the petition, that which related to
the general allegation of fraud, &c.
The Committee then stated that, considering the case
as it stood before them, they were of opinion that " Mr.
Bruce had abused the right of petition," inasmuch as he
had made charges against parties which were not
founded in fact.
The Committee came to no resolution as to resuming
the inquiry next session.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS.

FRIDAY, AUG. 8.

Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction Railway Bill.—Report
considered; amendments agreed to ; Bill to be ingrossed.
Railway Bills (Group X),—Special report brought up and
read ; to lie on the table, and to be printed :—Bills withdrawn.
London and York Railway (Sheffield Branch) Bill,—Re-
parted; report to lie en the table, and to be printed.
Railways,—Return of Railway Acts passed in the present
session, with the length of each line (ordered 4th August),
laid on the table, and to be printed.
Standing order, No. 23a, real, and amended, by leaving
out the words " together with the line of the projected rail-
way laid down on a map of a scale not less than that of the
Ordnance map of England," and inserting the words " toge-
ther with a published map to a sbale of not less than half an
inch to a mile, with the line of railway delineated thereon, so
as to show its general course and direction."
Piers and harbours,—Address for " Return of all tolls now
authorised to he levied for the maintenance of any piers or
harbours on the coast of Great Britain and Ireland, on ves-
sels passing by but not entering within such piers or har-
bours; distinguishing the amount of any such tolls, the pe-
riod at which they were authorised to be levied, and the time
during which they are to be continued ; together with the
amount of such tolls received in each year, from the year
1838 to 1844, both inclusive."
Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons, &c.,—Address for
" Returns from the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons, the
Societ►es of Apothecaries, and the Universities of Great Bri-
tain and Ireland, showing, for the three years ending the
31st day of December, 1844, the number of candidates et•
amined in each College, Society, and University, for diplomas
or licenses in medicine and surgery, the numbers of such
diplomas or licenses actually granted, and a definition of the
rights and privileges which such diplomas or licenses have
conferred on their possessors."

REPORT FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
GROUP (X) OF RAILWAY BILLS.
(SPECIAL REPORT.)

EASTERN COUNTIES (HERTFORD AND BIGOLESWADE), MID-
LAND RAILWAYS EXTENSION (SWINTON AND LINCOLN),
MIDLAND RAILWAYS EXTENSION (LINCOLN AND ELY),
YORK AND NORTH MIDLAND AND DiNCASTER EXTENSION,
RAILWAY BILLS.

Lord Courtenay reported from the Select Committee on
Group (X) of Railways, That, in the case of the Eastern
Counties (Hertford and Biggleswade), Midland Railways
Extension (Swinton and Lincoln), Midland Railways Ex-
tension (Lincoln and Ely), York and North Midland and
Doncaster Extension Railway Bills, the parties promoting
those Bills respectively, had intimated to the Committee
that, in consequence of the advanced period of the session,
it is not their intention to proceed further with them at
present.
Eord Courtenay further reported fro►a the Select Com-
mitttee, that, in reporting as above to the House, they think
it right at the same time to state, that it is owing solely to
the length of time occupied in the previous investigation,
and not to any laches of the parties, that the Bills are not in
a position to render it desirable that they should be further
proceeded with.

WILL OF THE LATE JOSEPH SOMES, ESQ., M.P.—
The will of this extensive shipowner has been proved by the
executors, Joseph and Frederick Somes, the nephews, and
Thomas Collyer and Edward Saxton, Esqs. The personal
estate sworn under 500,0001. He bequeaths a sum of 70,000/.
to be invested for the benefit of his wife, 30,000/.,yart thereof, to
be at her own disposal ; it is the testator's particular wi.h that
she should not re-marry within two years. Bequeaths to
his daughter, Mrs. Collyer, 70,0001, and to her children at
her decease, and to Mr. Thomas Collyer, 10,0001. Bequeaths
to his sister, Mrs. Harriet Docker, 6,000/., and to her
^ daw/hter Harriet at her decease ; and leaves to his said niece,
Harriet Docker, a legacy of 10,0001. To his sister, Mrs.
Sarah Briant, 15,000/., 10,000/. at her decease to her daugh-
ter Harriet, and 5,000/. to her son William. To his sister,
Mrs. Ellen Holloway, 20,000/., and at her decease to her
children; a legacy to her daughter Ellen. Bequeaths many
other legacies to his relatives. Leaves to his wife's mother,
Mrs. Saxton, 4,000/., and 509/. to each of his executors.
The residue being undisposed of, the widow and daughter
take the same under the statute for distribution of intestates'
estates. The will, which is in draft, is in the deceased's
handwriting, signed by him, and dated 22d January, 1844,
but was not executed until the day of his death, 25th of June
last. It was intended as instructions, and sent to his solicitor
as a groundwork for his will, from which a draft was prepared
and shown. to deceased, but owing to his sudden illness there
was not time to have it fairly copied. The testator, on the
day on which he died, the 25th, made a cross below his sig-
nature thereto, and acknowledged the said will or instructions
to he his:last will, in the presence of his physician, H. J.
Little, M.D., and Norman M'Leod.
RAPID Tit tvELIANG.—CAptain Drummond, Lieut.
Pitcairne, and J. Wheatley, Esq., of her Majesty's 42d Regi-
ment, and Lieutenant Norton, of her Majesty's 88th Regiment,
resolved on visiting Catania, with a View to ascending Nlount
Utna. They actually accomplished the distance from Palermo
to Catania, over a heavy mountalnous country. in twenty-nine
hours ! On ascending the mountain they found the cold almost
insupportable, the thermometer being 2 deg. below zero. On
placing a handkerchief before their mouths, it was actually
frozen to their lips. What delight, after leasing a country
with the thermometer at 82 ua the glade I

VY

THE NA .
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN'.
SIFL,—You will oblge me by giving Sir G. Cockburn an
opportunity of explaining an apparent inconsistency, which, in
my opinion, stands unparalleled.
Many of your readers, no doubt, recollect the powerful
appeal made last year, in Parliament, by Sir C. Napier, in
favour of the masters in the navy, when the Secretary of the
Admiralty assured the Members " there was not a class of
officers who occupied more of their Lordships' attention;"
and, in answer to several Gallant Officers, Sir G. Cockburn
said, "In his opinion, the masters ought to have a retired list,
and he trusted the time was at hand." This announcement
was received by " hear; hear," andleft no doubt but something
would soon be done for that long-neglected class.
Sir C. Napier brought their case forward again this year,
and was told by Sir George, "It was in the contemplation of
the Admiralty to amend the position of the masters in respect
to half-pay and retired allowance." This semi-promise cheered
the hearts of many brave old veterans, who have been looking
for the appearance of the retired list with intense anxiety, and
now find they are not included in it.
The masters feel sensible of the debt of gratitude they owe
to the gallant Sir C. Napier, Captains Pechell and Huta-
ridge, and I trust these brave officers will still persevere in
their endeavours to obtain justice for that long-neglected and
useful class of officers.
I wish to ask the Admiralty their reason for withholding
promotion from the master, and giving it to his servants ;
and why a young enterprising man, who gave up the command
of a merchant ship to enter the naval service of his country
(when at war with nearly all the world) as master, who had
immediately to perform the duty of lieutenant, and sometimes
commander, in addition to his own, is told, "Thus far thou
shalt come, but no further," though the door of promotion is
open to his servant ? 1 have heard of a case of this sort from
good authority. A boy entered the navy before the mast, was
servant to the master of a sloop-of-war, afterwards servant to
a lieutenant commanding a gun-brig (rated midshipman for
pay), and, in 1815, was, with many others of a similat descrip-
tion, placed on the lieutenants' list. Let the masters throw off
all false delicacy ; and I hope the public press will assist them
in making known their grievances. I do not hesitate to say
they are the most useful class in the navy.
If you will give this a place in your valuable paper, you will
oblige, Sir, your obedient servant, A CIVILIAN.
Whitechapel-road, Aug. 5, 1845.

• ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
HOME CIRGUIT.—Augut 9.
BefOre Lord Chief-Justice TINDAL and a Special Jury.)

ROBINSON V MARCHANT.

This was an action brought by Mr. Robinson, one of
the partners in the Croydon Union Bark, `anil who is
also the master of the Surrey stag hounds, to recover
compensation in damages from the defendant, who is a
miller and farmer, for having spoken slanderous words,
calculated to injure him in his business as a banker.
Mr. Sergeant SHEE, in opening the ease, said that
the plaintiff, with two other gentlemen named Suther-
land anti Chesemore, carried on the business of a bank
at Croydon, known as the Croydon Union Bank, and
the plaintiff himself also.carried_ on an extensive busi
reis as a wine merchant.. The defendant 4,,as .a Miller
and a farmer, and there was no doubt that he was a man
of considerable property. The bank in question was
established in 1838, and, in 1840, the derendant
opened an account with it, which was, however.
closed in about six months. Another account
was afterwards opened, which went on for
some time ; and, in 1842, his account was very cr,n-
siderably overdrawn. R-peated remonstrances were
made by Nlr. Robinson and his partners, and at length,
in the course of 1343, the bankers felt it necessary to put
a stop to the course pursued by the defendant, and they,
therefore, directed the clerk of the bank to return his
cheques, there being no assets to meet them. This was
accordingly done On several occasions, and ever since
that had occurred there had been very great ill-feeling
on the part of the defendant, and he had endeavoured
by every means in his power to injure the credit of Mr.
Robinson, and ho had repeatedly represented Mr. Re
binson as a man who had no property; in fact, a man
of straw, and one entirely unfitted to carry on the
business of a .banker. After commenting upon the
nature of the business of a banker, and the necessity
that every one connected with such a business should be
above even the shadow of suspicion, the Learned Counsel
went on to say that the precise ground on which the pre-
sent action was brought was, that the defendant hail, on
several occasions, stated publicly 'het if the plaintiff paid
his debts he would not give fifty shillings for him; that
Mr. Sutherland, the principal partner, was about to leave
the country and creep out of the concern; and that he
knew a person .at Croydon who had got 5001. in his
house, but would not trust it in the plaintiff's bank. In
consequence of these statements of the defendant, a gen-
tleman named Smith had withdrawn his account from
the bank ; and as the defendant had had the temerity to
go to all the different markets through the county and
make the saaie statement, the consequences were calcu-
lated to be of the most serious description, and the
plaintiff felt that he had no alternative but to adopt the
present proceedings to vindicate his character. Evidence
was then adduced to prove the facts stated by the
Learned Counsel.
Mr. CHAMBERS grounded his defence upon the argu-
ment that the action arose entirely out of the ill-feeling
occasioned by- the defendant warning off the stag hounds,
and he contended that it was idle to suppose any real in-

jury had been inflicted-upon the p!ainfiff. by the words
spoken by the defendant, while under a feeling of ex-
citement, occasioned by his cheques being returned,
and the state of his banker's account being exposed to his
n.ighbours. The Chief Justi:e having summed up, the
jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages 501.

VALI.F.N'CE V. TUE DUKE OF BRUNSWICK.

This was also an action fur slander, brought by Mr.
Vallence, wild was for a considerable time solicitor to his
Highness the Duke of Brunswick, against his former
client, for having in a speech, delivered at the Sheriff's
Court, charged him with treacherous rnd improper con-
duct while engaged in the capacity of his attorney. The
case occupied several hours, and was adjourned at five
o'clock. •

CUSTOM-HOUSE ROBBERY.
~. THAMES POLICE.
Edward Lewis and William Bonham, Custom-house
weighers in the employ of the Crown, and William Stick-
land, the landlord of the Wheatsheaf public-house, in
Anthony-street, St. George's in the East, who was for-
merly a Custom-house weigher, were brought be'ore
Mr. Broderip,-charged with stealing one gold watch and
four silver watches, the property of the Messrs. Savory,
goldsmiths and jewellers, 9 and 14, Cornhill, and Henry
Osborne, landlord of the Crooked Billet public-house on
Tower-hill, was charged with feloniously receiving the
property, well.knowing it to be stolen. This prosecu-
tion was instituted by the Crown, and Mr. Walford,
Solicitor of Customs, and Mr. Ballantine, the barrister,
conducted it. -
The prisoners having answered to their names, Lewis,
who Was described in the p lice sheet as a solicitor in
the torough4oad. stated that he was intoxicated when
he was taken into custody, and wrongly described himself.
Mr. Joseph Savory stated that he carried on business
as a goldstrith and jeweller, in partnership with his
brother. In June, 1842, be had occasion to export a
case of clocks and watches to the East Indies, and he
afterwards received information that on the receipt of
the case one gold watch and four silver ones were miss-
inee and he had to pay for them. The value of the
watches was 451. The clucks arrived safe in the-East
Indies. -
Mr. John Faris, clerk to Messrs. Savory, was em-
ployed to ship a case of clocks and watches on the 23d
of Jane, 1842. There was
.one gold watch and four sil-
ver watches in the case, which were placed on the top
of two very- large clocks, which were enclosed in a tin
case and a wooden one outside. He attended the usual
Customs examination at No. 1 shed of the West India
Dock. The case was opened and inspected by the proper
Custom-house officers, and the tin case was re-soldered,
and the outer case screwed down in his presence: He
recollected -a. Mr. Scanlan, a gentleman connected with
the Custonis' department, being preSent, but had no re-
collection of the prisoners.
Mr. George Cliff Lowe, also in the employ of Messrs.
Savory, gave similar evidence. Ile was sure the watches
were is the tin case when it was re-soldered.
Henry Richard Turner, an accomplice, was admitted
as evidence for the Crown. He said he lived at No. 14,
Dempsey-street, Stepney, and was a Custom-house
weigher, and filled that situation in the month of June,
1842. At that time he was stationed in the %Vest India
Dock. He recollected a case being brought to No. 1
shed for examination by, the searchers. There were
present himself, Bonham, Lewis, and Stickland. whe
was then a Custom-house officer, and then acted as the
shipping officer. He was occasionally absent from the
shed during the day. luring one of those absences
Bonham and Lewis were in the shed, and Stickland was
outside, on the watch. He saw Lewis and Bonham en-
gaged in securing a case of clocks and watches about to
be shippedfor the East Indies. There were some screws
on the outer lid, but they were not used again after it
was opened, but knocked in with a hammer and a mallet.
He was asked .by Bonham to lend a hand, and
did so. After the . case was fastened down
again he took it out for. shipment, but he
could not recollect whether it was taken to No. 1
shed or No. 3 shed. After he had been absent about ten
minutes he returned to No. 1 shed, and a brown paper
parcel, containing four or five watches, was produced by
Stickland ; one of them was a gold watch and the others
were silver ones. He knew them to have been stolen
from the case, and an observation was made about shar-
ing them, but as there were five, there was more than
one for each, and it was arranged they should be sold.
The watches were packed up and left in a desk in Stick-
land's office ia the shed.-- Next - morning witness and
Lewis waited upon a Jew named Moisi in Elizabeth-
street, St. George's-in-the-East, and made a proposition
to lam to bay the-watches. Moss said he would come
to the dock and lOok at them, and after he had done so
he offered 161. for-the lot, which -was refused ; and 20/.
was asked, which
-the Jew
,declined giving. Stickland,
Lewin, and ..Bonham, Were, all preseett when Moss.offered
161. for the watches. Two or three days afterwards
Stickland said he would buy up the other shires for 5L
each, to which they agreed, and witness, Lewis, and
Bonham, received-the nioney of Stickland, It was un-
derstood that Stickland had found a customer for the
watches, and received 20/. for them.
_John !Lynes, inspector of the detective force, stated
that he went to the Crooked Billet public-house, on
Tower-hill, on Fri;day eVeninee and waited till the time
the -landlord came home, when he told him who and
what lie . was, and cautioned him against making any
statement that might criminate himself'.
Mr. BRODE:RIP stopped- tile witecss and said there
was no oct.asion-for, him- to do anything of the kind.-
Police officers appeared quite to -mis!ake their duty. It
was the duty of an officer when he apprehended any
person to state the nature of the charge against him,
and then-leave his prisoner free to speak or be silent, as"
,he thought proper. It was not necessary to give a
caution at all, and it often causedtl4 loss of stolen pro-
perty and d feated the ends of justice.
Haynes then stated that he asked the prisonerOibOrne
if he had not sold a watch to a person named Yeoman,
and he said he had. Witness told him he had the fellow to
it in his pocket, and that he must have it, and the prisoner
immediately took the watch off the guard and pro it him.

He then told the prisoner that his wife bad a gold watch,
and that as she wa-. ill he had no wish to execute his search
warrant, if it were delivered to him. The prisoner
immediately fetched a geld watch and gave it to him.
He then asked if he could give a satisfactory account
of how he became possessed of the watches, and he said
that he had bought five of them at one time. He asked
him where the others were, and he said he had sold one
to Mr. Taylor, his solicitor, who lived at No. 2, Ca tle-
street, Holborn. He asked him where the others were,
and he said he did not think he had but four, although
he at first said he had five. Witness asked him who
he bought the watch( s of, and he said be bought them
of a man who occasionally used his house when he kept
the Lamb in Conduit-street, Holborn. He asked him
for the man's name and address, and he replied that he
did not know either, nor could he give a description of
him, but would c +nsider about it. He then left him and
went to the Wheatsheaf in Anthony- street, kept by
Stickland, and told him he was charged with stealing
watches, and he said he knew nothing about it; he took
Stickland into custody. After he had locked Stialand
in the station-house he returned to the Crooked Billet,
and found Osborne was out. He immediately hired a
cab and returned to the Wheatsheaf, where he found
Osborne, and took him into custody.
John Robinson, book-keeper to the Messrs. Savory,
said the gold watch and the silver watches produced cor-
responded with the number and description of watches
manufactured by his employers, and inserted in a book
in the year 1842.
Hsynes said the numbers of the three watches cor-
responded with those in Messrs. Savory's book, and he
expected to produce the others at a future examination.
After several hours had been spent in the investigation,
Mr. Walford applied E. r a remand.
The prisoners were then called upon for their defence,
and their legal advisers directed them to be quiet.
Mr. Clark addressed the Magistrate at great length,
in support of an application. that Strickland and Os-
. borne should-be admitted to- bail. Ile said they were
persons of good character, that !Osborne had given the
fullest information to -the officer, and that it was not
likely, if he thought the watches had been dishonestly ob-
tained,he would have kept one himself, and given the other
to hiS *ire. There was no, proof that -the watches he
purchased were those stolen from the. case, and Osborne
had not attempted to get out of the way. With regard
to Stickland,.there was no evidence against him, except
that of the accomplice_Turner,.which ought to be viewed
With -great suspicion.' - • .
Mr. Ballantine, on the part -of, the Customs, opposed
the application, which was founded on a false basis. He
was r,:ady to give his reasons, if Mr. Clark wished, but
they would affect his clients most seriously, and it was
alway dangerous to say any thing about character.
Mr. I3roderip said, as the application for bail had been
opposed by counsel on behalf of the Crown, he should
remand all the prisoners till Thursday next.
The prisoners, were then remanded. It was under-
stood that other charges of robbery will be preferred at
;he next examination. The disclosures have created a
reat sensation at the Custom Hou e.

The PREMIER and the CURRENCY.
Sir Robert Peel rarely condescends to joke. When,
however, he does, the subject will generally be found to
be a weighty one ; and not less certainly will the cha-
racter of the subject be found to exhibit itself in the
Premier's witticisms. The specific gravity of these
effusions is always remarkable.
The currency question is one with which Sir Robert
love's occasionally to daily. He can at times no more re-
sist the temptation to say smart things about the
"standard of value," and " Birmingham economists," than
he can repress his di-position_ to be pompous when deal-
ing with matters which, to men endowed with a larger
measure of fancy and with greater flexibility of manner,
supply sometimes not ungraceful occasions of jocularity.
The Premier's recent reply to Mr. Spooner abounds in
passages distinguished by what Simkspeare styles
" heavy lightness."
Sir Robert sneered at Mr. Alison, as well as at
" Spooner and Attwood;" and, after adverting to what
he deemed inconsistencies in Mr. Alison's doctri ars, ob-
served with infinite contempt, " this is the philosopher
who is to instruct us on the currency !"
And what may be the pretensions of Sir Robert Peel
to a larger mpasure of economical ....isdom than has
fallen to the lot of the "Birmingham economists ?"
Did not Sir Robert Peel commence his career as a
legislator on the currency, by resisting that scheme of
" philosophy " of which he now boasts that he is the
chief apostle ? Did not Sir Robert Peel struggle in
1811 against the theory which Ricardo fabricated,
and which Jones Loyd has strengthernd and tx-
tended ? Did not Sir Robert the now unbending
champion of " the. true currency principle "—maintain
with Lord Bexley, in 1811, that Bank of England
paper had undergone no depreciation ? Did he not
maintain, at the time when a guinea was selling in the
market for a one-pound Bank note and seven shillings,
that the market value of the guinea was not more than
one shilling and the one-pound note ?
Did not Sir Robert, a few years subsequently,
abandon without apology or explanation his anti.
bullionist opinions ? Did _he not unblushintsly em-
brace the Jewish system which he had previously de-
nounced ? Did he not, in 1819, while still styling him-
self a Tory, repudiate the economical faith of Mr. Pitt,
and lend himself to the schemes of the usurers, and of
the other enemies of English industry ?
-Does not Sir Roben's Currency Bill of 1819 stand
revealed before the world as a blunder and a mighty

fraud ? May not the fraudulent character of that
measure be, in face, established by the aid of Sir
Robert's "principles" and declarations ? Did not Sir
Robert adopt the words of .Ricardo, and proclaim that
the action 4)f his money-law would not lower prices
more than four-and-a-half per cent. ? Have not prices
been lowered by the actio❑ of that law more than
fifty per cent. ? Did not Sir Robert promise in 1819
that his money-law would supply the country with
"a steady and sufficient" currency ? Did not Sir
Robert, when, in 1844, he introduced his Bank Charter
Act, admit, virtually, that his 'Currency Bill of 1819
had. proved a most disastrous failure ? Was not the
Bank Charter Act, indeed, introduced for the express
purpose of securing to the country what the Currency
Bill of 1819 was declared to have secured to the country
a quarter of a century before ? And, because Sir
Robert's beautiful " currency principles" had led to
nothing but industrial disasters, these principles were
declared by bird to be deserving of more stringent
application !
Yet this most profound and most consistent of legis-
lators on currency ventures to sneer at " inconsisten-
cies" which he imputes to Mr. Alison, as well as to
" Spooner and Attwood !"
Sir,Robert fears that if gold were allowed to find its
value in the English market, the precious commo.lity
might rise to the price of 101. per ounce. And can Sir
Robert really imagine that such an inferential argument
proves the. inexpediency of establishing a system of
paper money that shall represent the taxation of the
country, and be convertible into gold only sat the market
price of that metal ? If he does, his ignorance must,
indeed, be fa hornless.

Why should,.Sir Robert Peel dread the prevalence o

a high pr ce of gold ? Does he not rejOice in a high
price of Consols ? Hai he not dilated on the fact that
the funds have been at par, as proof of the wisdom of
his economical policy ? Why, we ask again, should
our consistent and most logical Premier regard with
dread a rise in the price of gold from 3/. 17s. 100. per
ounce to 101., while he rejoices over a rise in the price of
Consols from 58 to 100 ?
Let us, moreover, direct attention to certain arrange-
ments that are sanctioned by the Bank Charter Act,
which our consistency loving Premier has forced upon
the country.
Sir Robert, whO contends that paper money should
represent and be of precisely the same value as gold—
gold being, in the first place, cart ficially cheapened—has,
nevertheless, permitted the Bank of England to issue
fourteen millions on. the security:of Exchequer-bills, and
of the debt due by the country to the Bank.
If the principle of.this arrangement be sound, are we
not warranted in inferring, that every ereditorof Govern-
ment is entitled to exercise the privilege of issuing paper
money?-
" We' owe the Bank of England eleven millions of
money; tierefor-e," so argues Sir Robert Peel, " the
Bank ought to be allowed to issue promissory notes to
that amount."

This reasoning may be perfectly irresistible ; but if it
be, then it would seem to follow that, as the country owes
to a certain class of persons eight hundred millions of
money, that class of persons ought to be allowed to issue
eight hundred millions of promissory notes.
How may a statesman, so enamour:A of "consistency"

as Sir Robert Peel is, escape from this conclusion ? -
Has not the Premier-declared, besides, that it is every
'nation's
" wisest course to buy cheap and to sell dear?"
How, then, may this "consistent" gentleman venture to
declare, as he did during the discussions on the Bank
Charter Act, that " he does not want rie greatest panel y
at the cheape.t rate"—but that,' he wantq the best article ?"
Sir Robert, it will be noted, assumes that system of
currency to be "best "-which best suits—not the indus-
trious classes—but the classes which prey on industry.
Sir Robert has, we repeat, told his agricultural sup-
porters that the true rule of national policy is " to buy
cheap and to sell dear." As soon, however, as there
ari-es an occasion on which this—his pet maxim—might
be turned to account by agricultural producers, Sir Ro-
bert unhesitatingly repudiates it. If it be good to " buy
cheap and to sell dear," the agriculturist is surely en-
titled to demand the privilege of selling his produce
"dear,"-and of buying "cheap the money in which the
value of that produce is measured. " No," interposes the
consistent Sir Robert, " I like corn cheap, but I like
money_ good. I will tolerate, therefore, only the hest
money-that money which hall best promote the pur-
pos"s of mortgagees, auruitants, and usurers."
The ." consistent " Sir Roheit is, in short, the true
farmer's friend." II is always busied either in directly
cheap nirig agricultural produce, or in alding, directly,
to the agriculturist's debts and burdens.—Post.

SALMON FISHING.—The take continues to be fair
for the season. On Tuesday 259 boxes were shipped for Lon-
don, being the produce of three days' fishing on the upper sta-
tions of the Tay, which might contain about 3,000 salmon and
-grilse. Some days are much more productive than others.
Friday last the take was very large, the average being from 60 to
100 at one tide to each station. It has been observed that a
strong east wind brings the salmon to the estuaries in great
numbers, but it is only with a west wind that they ascend the
river. Prices continve pretty steady; salmon 7d. to Bd., and
grilse sd, to 6d. per lb. - A very large fish was taken at the
Rbynd Cairn station (a shot a little above the Earn) on Satur-
day morning. This fish weighed 461b5., measured two fret in
girth, and was something more.than four feet long. It was a
finely-formed fish, and seemed to be very old, there being no
teeth in its head, with the exception of one, which was much
decayed. It was the largest salmon which has been taken in
the Tay for several years.—Perthsl.ire Courier.
RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—The Prague Gazette reports
that on the 23d u!t. a serious accident happened at the railroad-
statiou in that city, from the giving way of the columns which
supported the roof. It is said that one hundred and fifty per-
sons were hijured; but the above journal ia so reserved in its
&mint, that we do szot leap Odium au/ tr#l9* 151 P mod'
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