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Leader (1850-1860), 16th May 1857, Edition 1 of 2, Page 458

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      vernment inspection into the actual solvency ot the banks . Gentlemen who like honorary posts , persons of the 'J . P . ' order , are offended , and they raise a cry of ' centralization ' which depositors in savings banks will know how to appreciate . In fact , we do not see the use of the trustees at all . There is no reason why the savings bank should not be a branch of the State banking business , and should not constitute the depositors a sort of humble fundboldcrs ,, having the power of drawing out their money without the risk of losing as they would by the sale of stock at a time of depression . If the trustees are troublesome , they had better be broomed away .

      The Committee on the Bank Charter Act of ISM is renewed . Of course we shall have no legislation on that subject this year . Mr . IIaudy lias revived a measure which is an act of severe iuterference . He proposes to place beer-shops on a level with public-houses in regard to the stringency of laws regulating them . It is a pretended equality with the fact of gross inequality . The public-house deals not only in beer , but in wines and spirits , and approximates to the inn ; offering a variety of trading facilities , with proportionate

      profits . The beer-shop is a much humbler affair ; the liquor which is sold if far less intoxicating . But the true instigator of the bill is the fact that the beer-shops belong principally to the poor ; and your severe moralist , who finds the well-to-do classes too strong for his dictation , revels in the thought of dictating temperance , quiet , and every virtue to the poor . All the wealthy Hardys in the country are intent on picking a beam out of somebody else ' s eye ; and as they will not be so unpolite as to jioke their fingers into the eyes of the rich , they try it on with the poor . 1

      JV £ r . Dillwxn is competingwith Mr . Fitzroy in preventing aggravated assaults on women and children . We have no sympathy with a man , be he rich or poor , who could raise a hand against a ¦ woman or child under any circumstances ; but Mr . Fitzkoy ' s bill is working very well , and Mr . Dill-¦ wyn ' s is a superfluous luxury . Mr . He ad lam and Lord Elciio are quarrelling

      in the presence of the House of Commons , their fight being conducted in the form of two bills . Headlam wishes to make professional as well as London degrees a sufficient qualification ; Elcho brings forward an old bill proposed by a select committee for purposes not very different , the quarrelling being chiefly about details . Headlam belongs to the professional , Elciio is of the dilettanti class , but beinir also of the aristocratic class , ho treats

      Hjeadlam with very supercilious airs—a demeanour which a servile House of Commons rather relishes than otherwise . Sir John Thelawny has taken up the subject of church-rates , not satisfied with the position or promises of the Government in relation to it , and he appears determined that it shall be discussed . The " meeting at the Society of Arts waa only in routine so far as that establishment goes ; but so far as it was the appearance of Mr . J . B . Smith to promote encouragement of cotton-growth in India .

      it was a demonstration of some importance . Mr . J . B . Smith was the President ; of the Anti-Corn law League , who individually did so much to concentrate the energy of that movement ; and when ho takes up a subjcot he mcana to pusli it . The difficulty lies chiefly iii the atute of laud-tonuro rind of law m India ; with the fact that the United States oan already supply so largely , and can incre ? a ° , ! . . swPPly so readily , any competitors will find it difficult to meet them in tho market for somo time to oomo .

      A he Grand Dulco Constantine has loft Paris ofliciully , and la about to revisit it incognito—sly dog ! Yes , that is tho way to bcq Pnria and to appreciate it . But . suppose tho . polica respected his inoognil ; o and anros (; cd the anonymous alien wimdoror- —perhaps deported him ! And then , after all ¦ when ho oan got roloasod from Paris , ho ia to visit England—just to touch at Osborno . Our Court ' it scorns , has folk itself bound to do tho civil '

      though , it is said , the most illustrious family m this land ° caniHKt abide the savour of any work that is ' bound in UtussHfc ' Prom Cliina no news of importance ; the chief intelligeiasff relating to the Celestial Empire being , that otiier states join with , the Western , Powers m their armed demonstration—Sardinia , ami Austria , and perhaps more . Biissia is already tliere . Ia there to be a partition of Cliina ?

      The Persian news is-disastrous . We now know in some degree why General Stalker and : Commodore Etkeuege committed suicide : their minds gave way under anxiety respecting the position of the troops , arrested in an unhealthy tract of land , unable to advance to the healthier districts which they have already traversed ; for they are restrained by the treaty of peace , although Persia has not yet ratified it .

      Prom the West , too , we have rather disagreeable intelligence—that President Buchanan is ill . The latest accounts do not appear to be unfavourable ; but since his indisposition is traced to accidental poisoning at the hotel , it implies that his ordinary strength for the gigantic labours of the presidency has been impaired . In the West of Ireland potato riots continue . The uninformed peasantry cannot understand the wisdom of letting their own supplies be carried off by a free trade , which returns large proiits to agents of general merchants . The starvation price in Ireland is below the level of London ; and London will , of course , always command as many potatoes

      as it wants , though Oraiimore go without . As London has many other things to feed upon , and Oranmorc is almost reduced to potatoes , the best chance for the peasantry would be to look out for employment in other parts of Ireland , where agricultural hands are scarce . But the fine weather , which has a tendency to arrest the rise of prices , is the best solace for the poor Irish . The inhabitants are calling upon the High Sheriff of Galway city to convene a public meeting , in order to devise a peaceful remedy—seeming to point to the suppression of free trade . The real remedy would be better information diffused amongst the peasantry , enabling them better to distribute their labour , and to share those higher wages which arc triven in other parts of Ireland , and compensate the

      rise of prices . In finally disposing of the Royal British Bank , under the bankruptcy , Mr . Commissioner Houioyd has strengthened thcdcinaucl for the prosecution ; and he points to tho directors generally , as amenable to the law which they have collectively infringed . This promises a very curious sequel of that drama . Even the British Bank directors , however , will look for substantial justice at the hands of English law , especially after the really line specimen of it given

      in the acquittal of Bacox . Everybody supposed that that man had murdered his children , laid the crime on his wife , and skulked about to evade the penalty . A patient inquiry , assisted by tho freedom of evidence which is the boast of this country , has discovered that the wife really slew the children in a fit of insanity , that Bacon was entirely innocent , and that he plunged into a foolish system of lying , partly to shield himself from suspicion , and partly , if possible , to shield his wife .

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      Romantic Young LAnrits . —Two young ladies , a donkey , and a Skyo terrier clog , wore found early last Sunday morning under a hedge outside tho town of Canterbury . The fair ones were closely muflfled up , with tho hoods of their , travelling ' dresses over their heads ; and by their side was a largo home-made loaf and a carpet-bag . Two gentlemen ! * hats were also rovoalod to sight , but no signs of any mnlo companions to wear them . Tho police , seeing an advertisement in tho Times with respect to two fugitives whoso description

      answered , to tho appearance of tho young ladies , detained tho latter , who gave but a lamo account of thomsolves . On tho following morning , tlioy admitted to tho Mayor that they were tho persons referred to , but denied that thoy were sistors , though distantly related . . Subsequently , it ; came out that family diUbroncoa , ' and other causes , ' had induced them to go to Franco , from which they had just returned , and luiti , been travelling a most night and day . Their frieiula wero telegraphed to , and replied that thoy would coino and claim them .

      Loud Wjcbtminhtich and this Chester Kaoich , — Lord Westminster having , after much thought , coino to tho conclusion that races liuul to much immorality , has withdrawn his muno -from tho Chostor races ; but ho moans to continue ' tho Pluto' ho long run for as hi « gift . So far from wishing to put a stop to popular amusements , ho desires to soo thuiu increased ; but ho cannot any longer reconcile it to his conscience to onoourago by hiu naiuo a sport which he conceives often rosultfl In domomliuation .

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      Monday , May 11 / A . CIVIC SERVICE SUPERANNUATION . Petitions ; were presented in the House op Lords fron the civil servants employed in the ports of Wexford Dartmouth , and Southampton , by Lords Carew For ' tesene , and Albeinarle , complaining of the present system of superannuation . The Marquis of Clanricarde presented similar petitions from the persona employed in the dockyard at Devonport , and from the officers of the Customhouse of Galway , and / inquired whether the Government contemplate ^ an'early change of the system complained of Earl Granville said the subject mentioned in the petitions had been referred to a commission , and it was expected that the report of the Commissioners would be presented within a week . The Government , of course did not intend to come to any decision on the question until they saw the report , and had an opportunity of considering it .

      ANSWER TO THE ADDRESS . The Marquis of Breadalbane brought up her Majesty ' s answer to their Lordships' Address in reply to the Royal Speech at the opening of the session . SALE OP POISONS , BODILY AND MENTAL ,. Lord Campbell called the attention of the Lord Chancellor to the necessity of further regulations for the sale of . poisons . He also wished to mention the diffusion of another poison , far more fatal than strychnine or prussic acid—those cheap licentious publications with which the town is flooded . Referring to a trial before him on the previous Saturday , he said he thought it was the duty of the Government to take immediate steps to suppress this growing evil . —The Lord Chancellor said , that the legislative enactments already existing are quite sufficient to put these nuisances down . With regard to the sale of poisons , the subject is receiving the attention of Government .

      TESTAMENTARY AND DIVORCE BILLS . The Lord Chancellor laid on the table the Testamentary and Divorce Bills , which were substantially the same as those proposed last ~ session . —In reply to Lord Campbell , who said that if the Testamentary Bill ¦ were identical with that proposed last session ho should oppose it , the Lord Chancellor stated that the new-Court of Probate -would be entirely separated from the Court of Chancery and Chancery Judges . —The Hills were read a first time , and ordered , to be read a second time that day week . Their Lordships then adjourned .

      THE MAYNOOTH GRANT . In the House or Commons , Mr . Scholefiei . d gave notice that , when Mr . Spooner ' s motion on the Maynooth grant came before the House , he should move as an amendment that it is expedient to withhold all grants of public money for religious purposes in Ireland . ( IIear . ~ ) NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERIES . Sir John Pakinoton presented a petition from Newfoundland , condemnatory of the proposed convention with France , relating to the Newfoundland fisheries . — Mr . Labouchere , in stating that he would lay the papers on this subject on the table of tho House , said that the convention which had been concluded between this country and France had become inoperative on account of the colony having refused to sanction it , in accordance with tho optional power granted to them by tlie Homo Government .

      POOR REMOVAL . In answer to Mr . Wise , Mr . Bouvkuie said it was not intended l > 3 the Government to introduce , in tho present session , a bill on the subject of tho settlement and removal of tho poor . HOUSES OP PUnLIO REFRESHMENT . In answer to Mr . Brady , Sir George Gkicy said it was not hia intention to bring in , during tIkj present session , a bill for tho better regulation of place , * uf nubile refreshment which are open for tho nio * t part after twelve o'clock .

      CHURCH-RATES . Replying to Sir John Trelawney , Lord Pai . motsto . n said he could only give tho same answer ns to tho intentions of tho Government upon tho church-rate question that ho had given on a former occasion—namely , tlint her Majesty ' s Ministers had tho matter uixler thoir consideration , and wore not without liopo that they would bo able to propose noino satisfactory arrangement on tho subject . —Mir John Tukl-awnky : " Then 1 give notice that , if I do not . rccdvo a inoro MUlbfaoliiiy answer , it will bo my duty to bring tho Hiibjurt bulorc tho Houso in tiio course of next month . "

      navincjb' hanks . Tho IIouso having go no into committee upon this s « l >" iccf The Chancellor ok this Kx <; hko . i : kk p ropped llio following resolution : — " That it inexpedient to / i ""' , " the laws relating to Havings' banks , and to provide 10 tho establishment of savings' banks with Hi <> wi-nii'Ity ° the Government . " Tho bill ho inlundi'd lo ' ' """ I . ) this resolution < lifibred in womo respects from ( lui " ' , last session . Tho principal objection made to ( ho form bill by tho managers of savings' banks whs with WI 1 C

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      IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT ¦» .

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      458 T H E _ JL _ E AD E R . [ No . 373 , Saturday ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), May 16, 1857, page 458, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2193/page/2/