22 DECEMBER 1866, Page 3

The Electric Telegraph is developing, very considerable powers of commercial

mischief. Not to speak of the manufacture of political telegrams, it seems. open to anybodyle send in a 'false name a statement that such and such a person 'had failed, and he in all probability will fail, from the sudden distrust excited. Mr. Grisewood, of the London Stock Exchange, for example, with or without evil inteut, telegraphed to a member of the Manchester Stook Exchange,—":I hear-the B. Chairman has failed. Please say if true or no." "The B. Chairman" is short for the South-Eastern, and theshares in that Company receded 2 per cent. Mr. Watkin, of course, was very wroth,- aad put two Stock 'Exchanges in motion; but.as no human being .except Mr. Grisewood can tell if he sent the message iu good faith, of course nothing Nma,s.done, or will be. Supposing he were proaeouted, ho could not he interro- gated, and the shareholders in the South-Eastern have, and ,as far as we see can have, no redresa at law. The Stock „Faclumge might give some, but even they,could scarcely expel a-broker fort., shrugging-his shoulders when anybody proposed ,investing in the shares, say, of Gold, Solid, and Co.