Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1880-02-07 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

LIGHT GOLD.  The little island of dersey is at present suffering from a plethora of gold. The complaint seems a singular one, but it must be taken with a qualification. The gold is French gold, and the holders of the foreign coin claim for it a value to which it is not commercially entitled. The shopkeepers find themselves in difficulties. They have to take the twenty franc piece at 193., and they find they can only get rid of it at 15s. 9d. So there is trouble in the island, and the legislature will be appealed to. Now it is curious that in England we are suffering from a very similar grin. vancepnly thegold that we complain of is nct imported I coinage. It isthegenuine home-struck article, bearing the Queen's head, and recognised as a legal tender amongst her Majesty's Rejects. The diminution in the value of Napoleons is due to alterations in the rate of exchange. The English grievance is attributed to more permanent muses. It is that a vast quantity of light gold, and especially of light half-sovereigns, are at present in currency. In this matter the oublic are not fairly treated by the banks. If you pay in a large sum in gold you have to supplement the deficiency of value arising from diminished weight by A money payment. Ad yet the came banks Day out to their customers coins which they would not themselves receive. The light gold is distributed in general circulation, till the unfortunate holder finds himself face to face with a good official who smashes up his sovereign and compensates him with 19s. Od. The grievance is not entirely a sentimental one. The banks make it practical enough at one counter, though they are less alive to its operation at the other. Possibly some day we may follow the example of the Channel Islanders and ask for legislative interference. —Mayfair.  THE ROYAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND  ITS SECRETARY,  From time to time there have appeared in the Atheissain certain correspondences, in which a few members of the Royal Historical Society have sought to call in question the manner in which the secretary was managing its effairs. The secretary had always defended himself tom much purpose that the Council of the society did not think it necessary to intervene until an advertisement appeared recently in the sithenaniss from the Rev. H. M. Spence, of Arbuthnot, requesting other members to correspond direct with him regarding the conduct of the secretary. The Council thereupon sent to the some journal the following .unter-advertisement, which appeared in its columns on the 31st ult The Council of the Royal Historical Society having had their attention directed to an advertisement in the rithenastin of the 17th inst. by the Rev. R. M. Spence, inviting members of the society to correspond with him regarding the conduct of their secretary, the Rev. Dr. C. Rogers, wish to record their high sense of the important service. which Dr. Rogers rendered to the society at a time when it had to struggle for bare existence with stew members and e very small income, and express their confidence in his ability and faithful administration now that the society has attained a firm standing. This resolution is to be inserted in the Athenvitin.  By order of the Council, (Signed) JAMES HEYWOOD, Chairman. G. G. ZERFPI, Viae-Chairman, 22, Albemarle-street, 26th January, 1880." The complete satisfaction of the Council with the conduct of the secretary is a good eel-off to the unreasonable complaints of two or three members. It was Dr. Rogers who, in 1868, originated the society, and in se doing received the cordial support of Earl Russell, the Marquis of Lorne, Sir William Fairbairn, Mr. Grote, Sir John Roaring, and others. The fact that it began with six members and has now upwards of six hundred may be regarded an decisive evidence that the society was needed, and that it has proved a success.  ALLEGED WIFE lIMIDER.—At 13e1faat, Johni Stronaghan was charged with having murdered hi* wife. The prisoner is a druggist's assistant. It is alleged that at, very early hour in the morning there , was a noise heard in his house as if his wife and he were having a scuffle. The prisoner's (fah, in-law,„ hearing the noise, went for the police. When they arrived the prisoner's wife was found dead. The priloner was remanded.