The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-03-25 00:00:00

gressively selected for several of the vacancies upon t
staff, occasioned by the late brevet. The few remaining si-
tuations consequent upon that event, which still remained
open, were filled up on Wednesday, last. They were five in
number—namely, the four districts in Ireland, and the com-
mand in North Britain. The latter post has been entrusted
to Sir Neill Douglas, and Major Generals Sir Octavius
Carey, the Hon. H. Murray, D'Aguilar, and Sir Guy Camp-
bell, are to re-place Lieut. Generals Sir Thomas Pearson,
Sir William Parker Carrol, Sir William Macßean, and
L'Estrange, at Armagh, Athlone, Limerick, and Cork, if
Sir Edward Blakeney should see no good reason for fixing
their respective head-quarters elsewhere. These appoint-
ments, as in the other cases before alluded to, are to take
effect from the Ist of April next.
In addition to the 10th Foot, and 78th Highlanders, the
29th, 84th, and 86th Regiments, are to be embarked with the
least possible delay for this country for the East Indies ; and
the 25th is to go on there from the Cape of Good Hope.
Each of these corps, as well as all the Queen's Infantry Regi-
ments borne upon the Indian establishments, are to be aug-
mented to one thousand rank and file. The increase to the
six regiments. just specified will consist principally of volun-
teers from the Line at home, who are to be permitted to
transfer their services, in certain proportions, receiving a
bounty of 30s. per man. This seems to us to be a very ex-
cellent and tolerably liberal arrangement, and it will no doubt
answer the desired end. The establishment of an infantry
regiment serving in India, inclusive of the depot in the
mother country, will therefore henceforth consist of the fol-
lowing numbers, viz., 1 colonel, 2 lieutenant colonels, 2 ma-
jors, id captains, 22 lieutenants, 8 ensigns, 1 paymaster, 1
adjutant, 1 quartermaster, 1 surgeon, 3 assistant surgeons,
1 regimental serjeant major, 1 Quartermaster serjeant, 1 pay-
master serjeant, 1 arinourer serjeanc, 1 schoolmaster serjeant,
1 hospital serjeant, 1 orderly room clerk, 10 colour serjeants,
41 serjeants, 50 corporals, 1 drum major, 18 drummers and
fifers, and 950 privates. The 9th Lancers have likewise re-
ceived orders to hold themselves in readiness to proceed to
Bengal, so soon as tonnage can be taken up for their convey-
ance to that presidency.
Events have turned out exactly as we predicted. The ink
is scarcely dry with which we wrote our last week's strictures
upon the singular organisation of our military force, when
the Secretary at War has been, compelled to augment it to
the extent of nearly 2000 men; and this increase is but. the
precursor of another upon a mach larger scale, which must
netessarily follow. We were convinced that Sir Henry-Har-
dinge's plan would never answer, and that he would be com-
pelled to have recourse to a supplementary estimate. He
has, however, acted a manly and sensible part, by applying
the requisite remedy without loss of time, and eschewing the
dangerous and fatal habit of delay. If, as we have just
hinted, au extra number of almost -2000 men, independently
of officers, has been found indispensable in less than a week
after the presentation of the original estimates, to what ex-
tent may not the future additional increase be expected to
, amount? However, we leave the matter in Sir Henry's
hands, in the full conviction that he is not only well qualified
to combat the difficulties which the army has now to contend
with, but that he will not fail to use- his best and most zeal-
ous exertions so to do.
The increase which is already in progress may be thus par-
ticularised :
The augmentation of 6 regiments, from 800 to 1000

rank and file
The augmentation of 22 regiments on the Indian es-
tablishment, from 976 to 1000 rank and file

If the six regiments are fortunate enough to complete their
full establishment in time, the whole of the 10 companies of
each corps will most likely be embarked. In that case, the
infantry reinforcement of Queen's troops will consist of
nearly 6000 rank and file (inclusive of the service companies
of the 25th at the Cape), besides about 650 men of the 9th
Lancers, and the usual complement of officers.
The maritime and adjacent portions of the south-western
district are likely to be more than usually crowded with mili-
tary for the next two or three months. A large force is to
be concentrated there preparatory to embarking for India.
All the regiments, we believe, which are to be sent out as a
reinforcement to that country are to be embarked from
Portsmouth ; but, as there would not be accommodation in
the garrison of that town for all the troops about to be sent
to the East, Winchester, Chichester, and the Isle of Wight,
will of necessity, have their full share of red-coated inhabi-
tants. We have been informed that the barracks at the last-
mentioned place are again to be permanently occupied by
concentrated depot companies ; and we think the arrange-
ment a judicious one.

JOINT STOCK BANKS

(From the Fleet Papers.)

The joint-stock banks have, however, after causing the
ruin of thousands, grown into a strong and powerful interest.
It behoves the conservative government to look well into the
position which these establishments now occupy.
I told you, in my last, that while I was writing, a director
of one of the joint-stock bank companies called upon me;
and I said that I would relate to you a very interesting and
important conversation which I had with him. I will take
care that Sir Robert Peel's attention shall be called to it.
You must know, that this joint-stock bank director and
myself are upon very good terms. I never quarrel with peo-
ple because I oppose their political or commercial views. I
tell them my opinions, but always keep good fellowship—
hence, many of my kindest friends are amongst my most de-
termined opponents. So, in this case, the director is a whip,
a free trader, and all that sort of thing. For aught 1 know,
he is a member of the Anti-Corn-Law-League.
But enough, by way of introduction—now to the conversa-
tion.
R. O.—Well, how say you, Mr. Bank Director ? Sir
Robert Peel sees through you—he has truly charged the
joint-stock banks with being one cause of the present com-
mercial distress and embarrassment. He will be proposing
some measure to curb you, and no longer ride you in a snaffle.
How say you ?
B. D.—What care we for Sir Robert Peel, or for anybody
else. We are too strong for him—he dare not touch us.
R. o.—lndeed ! too strong for the government?
B. D.—Yes ! What do we care for the government ?—they
dare not interfere with us.
R. O.—Not interfere with you! how you talk. You can-
not be serious—you are joking, my friend.
B. D.—l am not joking. Sir Robert knows that be dare
not meddle with us ; if he did, we would stop the Bank of
England. We are stronger than any government, and Sir
Robert Peel knows it. We could cause a revolution if we
thought proper.
R. o.—Hold, bold! You proceed too fast. That is more
than I can bear. A set of barbers, tinkers, cobblers, and
tailors—a company of mushroom bankers !—telling me that
they are too strong for the government, can break the Bank
of England, and cause a revolution at their pleasure, is too
much of a good thing ! You make me, for once, long to be
prime minister for a day or too, just to put the breaking-
gear on to you, and grapple with you in right good earnest!
Revolution ! indeed—l would "Revolution" you if I were
prime minister. I would have twenty-four hours' start of
you at that trade, Master Bank Director ! But you must be
joking—you cannot intend me- to understand you seriously?
B. D.—l tell you, Oastler, lam serious ! You have no
idea of the strength of the joint-stock banks. We are
`stronger than the Bank of England, (we could stop it any
day !) or any government. I met one of the oldest and rich-
est bankers in London to-day. He said, " The Brighton
Bank has failed !"—" Yes," said I, " and you will fail if you
persist. I don't care how rich you are, it is impossible that
a private bank can successfully compete with us. Get out of
the concern while you have something left, or you will be
ruined as sure as you persist." And they will too ! I don't
care who or what they are !—a private bank cannot stand
against a joint-stock bank !
R. o.—All this proves the necessity of legislative interfe-
rence.

B. D.—Pooh ! the legislature durst not touch us.
R. O.—l should just like to have you to manage—a set of
upstarts ! I would look you into submission, or
B. D.—Don't talk such nonsense, Oastler. The govern-
ment knows that we have more influence in parliament than
they have. •
It. o.—ln Parliament! How is that ?
B. D.—Never mind how it is ; 1 tell you it is so.
R. o.—Oh 1 oh! I smell a rat ! But depend upon it, if I
were prime minister I would cure you.
B. D.—Neither you nor any prime minister could touch
us.—Why! who is that lord that was prime minister some
time ago? His father died—he was such a good sort of a
fellow ; he is very quiet now, he is in the House of Lords.
What do they call him ? I forget his name.
R. 0. (after many guesses.)—You mean Earl Spencer.
He was never prime minister; he was Chancellor of the

Exchequer.
B. D.—Well, never mind, that is the man ; he was Lord
Althorpe then. When we had a deputation up here in Lon-
don (at that time he was in office), he told one of us, " That
the government had intended to bring in a measure to regu-
late joint-stock banks ; but, on inquiry, they found the ma-
jority would be against them, and even their own supporters

world vote against them, so they were obliged to abandon
the idea." The fact was, he said, "WE WERE TOO STRONG

FOlt THEM

R. 0.-1 s that really true?

B. IL—lt is as true as that I sit here.
It. o.—l could not have suspected that any government
could have been so weak! And did Lord Althorne really tell
one of the deputation of the joint-stock banks that " THEY
WERE TOO STRONG FOR THE GOVERNMENT?"

B. D.—l-le did ! and we are much stronger now. Sir
Robert Peel dare not touch us. _ . .

R. O.—Well! well! It seems poor Lord Althorpe did
not retire from office before his time !—Poor fellow ! But
to tell—that is the weakest point ! I will be bound Sir
Robert Peel will not tell, at all events.
B. D.—Sir Robert Peel knows we could turn him out of
office any day, if he were to interfere with us. We have a
stronger majority than he has !
It. o.—How I should like to have a " tuzzle" with you!
I would " revolution" you to your hearts' content ! A num-
ber of tinkers and tailors, barbers and bakers, turned into
mushroom bankers, and now lording it over the government
more arrogantly than ever the old aristocracy dared to do !
This is rather too bad. Upon my word, if I were prime mi-
nister, I would either bend or break you.
B. D.—What could you do ! We have all the power in
our hands !
R. o.—lf I could not bring you to reasonable terms, I
would of once stop your issues.
B. D. (laughing).—Man ! you could not get a majority ;
we should beat you in parliament.
It. o.—Oh! then, 1 WOULD TELL THE PEOPLE OF YOU.
I would show them that a company of tinkers, barbers, cob-
blers, and tailors, who are too idle to work, were living out
of the life-blood of the industrious; and I would
What followed will keep. Truly, there is some truth
in the proverb, " Set a beggar on horseback, and he will,"
Sc.
Now, sir, the gentleman with whom I was talking is a man
of great respectability, experience, wealth, and influence.
He is one of the old bankers, who has yielded to the pressure
of the joint-stock bank influence, and has merged his private
bank in a joint-stock affair. The conversation was held in
sobriety, in solemn seriousness—it is worth the perusal of
the prime minister. I always send him the Fleet Papers;
but this week I will take care that there shall be " no mis-
take :" I will forward a co of this letter (calling his special
attention to this conversation) to Sir Robert Peel by an old
friend of mine, who has a seat in the House of Commons.
It is of importance that the government were acquainted
with the power of these mushroom bankers—these proud and
arrogant tinkers, tailors, and barbers !

IN RE WILLIAM CooBETT.—On Monday, at the Court of
Chancery, Mr. Cobbett was brought up under a writ of
habeas corpus, to move for his discharge from the Fleet, in
consequence of the irregularity of certain exchequer orders
made against him in the cause of " Oldfield v. Cobbett,"
where he is sued a$ the executor of his father. Mr. Cobbett
pleaded his own cause, and stated various objections to the
orders in point of form ; but on its appearing in the body of
one of the orders that Mr. Cobbett's counsel had waived his
objections, and assented to the payment of costs up to a
certain period, his lordship said that that disposed of the whole
question, and he must dismiss the application with costs.