The Sun. — 1864-01-14 (London, England)

THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.  culous is meant as that Townley bribed the authorities. Nobody would dream of such insane nonsense as this. But everybody is convinced that it is the fact of Townley's family being rich, and therefore able to bring forces to bear upon the Home-office, which a poor man could not do, that alone has exempted the wilful, cold-blooded, deliberate murderer Townley from the punishment he so richly deserves. The eMet, therefore—namely, escape from punishment through being rich—is in itself, and as regards the encouragement it holds out to murderers, just as bad, though effected in this indirect way, as if it  had been brought about as they bring such things about in some foreign countries, where the culprit who can afford to bribe the authorities can always get off, and the culprit who can't must die. Sir Geo. Grey,  or rather his legal advisers, have acted with the strictest legality in what has been dune. That does not alter the case that had Townley been a poor man like the Fording bridge and Whittlesey murderers, everybody believes it is a moral certainty that what has been done would not have been done, but that the law would have taken its course,  and there would have been no failure of justice. And so with regard to the late court-martial. Supposing the decision to be perfectly right and legal, and just (which I only suppose for argument, and that at  ,he present moment its being my purpose to  express any opinion ono way or the other) still it could  only be so by accident, as the whole mode of procedure seems specially and admirably contrived to defeat justice,  and prevent the real truth from being got at, An imprea  sion is abroad, both with regard to the army and to the administration of the criminal law among civilians, that there is "one law for the rich and another for the poor."  Of course it is absurd to say that Townley, having been  wrongfully snatched from the penalty he richly deserves, therefore Wright also ought to have escaped. It is the  prevalent belief which I am dealing with, and which is so  pernicious ; and that belief, right or wrong, well or illfounded, is a sinister fact in itself. It bodes no good to  society, or to its individual members, or to the respect with  which it is desirable that the administration of justice should  be regarded, when there is a general belief in " one law  for the rich and another for the poor,"  COMMON SENSE,  Liverpool Cotton Market—This Day.  Market very quiet. Sales, 2,000 or 3,000 bales, at id. to Id. below Friday. Import, 6,472. Previously, 2,466.  The last week's railway receipts, ascertained up o this day, are, in round figures, as under :1864. 1863. Great Western £53,041 £49,415 North-Western South- Western Brighton Midland South-Eastern 17,410 ]7,206 Great Northern Lancashire and Yorkshire 35,410 31,367 Bristol and Exeter North-Eastern' 46,455 42,998 Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln.. 15,100 14,214 Glasgow and South-Western.... Great Southern and Western of Ireland 6,497 6,870 These returns, compared with those of the same period of the previous year, in most instances are of a very satisfactory character. On the Great Western there is an increase of £3,626; on the North Western, of £7,180; on the South Western, of £9O ; on the Midland, of £2,296 ; on the South Eastern, of £204; on the Great Northern, of £4,069; on the Lancashire and Yorkshire, of £4,043 ; on the North Eastern, of £3,459 ; on the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincoln, of £886; and on the Glasgow and South Western, of £1,300. The London and Brighton, however exhibits a decrease of £973, and the Great Southern and Western of Ireland, of £373. The report of the Peel River Land and Mineral Company has been issued, in anticipation of the general meeting of proprietors. It states that the sales of live stock effected in the six months to the 30th June last realised £1,184. The desirability of acquiring at a cheap rate or fee•simple of the Eliangaan station induced the directors to propose, as a means for raising the necessary capital, the issue of debentures to the amount of £25,000. A change in the date of holding the company's annual meeting is proposed, and in order to facilitate this object they will recommend, in June or July next, a dividend on account out of the proceeds of such portion of the wool clip of 1863 as shall have been realised.