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• pinigni of do Prcld.

MINISTERIAL !MANAGEMENT OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Car RIER—The failure of the Reformed House of Commons 70 give satisfies lion to the country in the last session, or to inspire the public with perfect

sonfidence in its deliberations, should make his Majesty's :Ministers look forward

Iv time to the labours of the next session. We have already said that the vaca- tion must be no holyday for them. At the same time, we do nut join with

tlsse of our contemporaries who desire that the Ministers fihouhl manage and morel the House of Commons. That is not agreeable to our notion of an independent Legislature. The great duty of the Ministers in the House of Commons is to obtain the Supplies and conduct the business of the Crown. Tu inipole on them also exclusively the task of preparing all the business which is to be brought before the House seem to us a usurpation of the functions of

thr Independent Members. From the !Ministers we may rationally expect that those measures which they think necessary should be prepared by them before the Parliament meets; and should be all introduced within one I at- nislit after it assembles ; but it is a great tleal too much to ask them to chalk sum the whole proceedings of the session. Such a request goes to give them unlimited power over the Parliament. It makes the King's Government, in fact, the Legislative as well as the Executive, and it is at variance with the princip!e of the Constitution. Let them prepare the Government ineastn es, and leive the other business to those who choose to undertake it. There are tin- ssubtedly some measures which the 31inisters only can bring forward. Every

of course which relates to improvements in the collection of the revenue or to trie administration of the law, must proceed from them. Every thing ivhich ism bit said to be a part of the system growing from, and depending, on, the Sxecutive Government, falls under their care. if other 3lettibers who 1131e sot : their hands a clue to the whole, were to begin patching and tinkering with :air of the branches of the Executive Government, they might do a great deal

mischief. The good government of Ireland is a subject of this kind, and that Ministers blIOUld, before the beginning of next session, mature a plait for attaining that important object, is to be expected. The Irish Cloud' Establishment exists, it is plain' like the Revenue Boards, only I,y the power of the Government ; and Ministers, therefore, must take tile reform of that into their hands. They have already taken up the stiiiject of tithes, both in England and Ireland, and they cannot resign it to ethers without dishonour. They must, at the beginning of next session, have matured plans to settle these difficult question., and those plans must be formed urn the i leas of the present day, not upon those of 1824. Measures for the relief of the Dissenters, and for the reform of the English Church, :Ministers live also promised, and should propose; but, as a general pm inciple, we think that they should eschew all theoretical refiwins, and all interference with those pats et society which do not immediately depend on the Executive fiovern- Haat. The idea of the journalists who recommend that the Manager of the Haase of Commons should take the whole control of the proccedinss of that sembly upon himself, or who censure 1 because he has not done so, seems to be that the Government, by its legislative measures, is icily to ,atisly the People, and leave nothing f; r the Representatives to propose Of perform. But we know no faculty or means by which the Ministers io the Executive Government can get at the wishes of the People except through their Represent moves. The Ministers must, in fact, first consult with the Representatives, before they can know what the Italic want. They will not take that knowledge from the newspapers, and they em hardly acquire It by intuition. Thus there is plainly a contradiction ha the ideas of those who require that !Ministers should both control and manage the Howe of Commons with a view to satisfy the People, and consult their Repre- sentatives constituting that House of Connnons as to the means. They want, in in fall, that measures should proceed both from the People and from the lffinisters,—which seems to us almost absurd. The proceedings of last session :nay serve, in one point, to illustrate mu- principle. The Ministers, shortly after the be- ginning of the session, laid on the table a measure for regulating the mai riages of Dissenters, which they thought would or ought to satisfy the Dissenters. When it was discussed, however, the reverse was found to be the fact, and the bill was given up. The Ministers, therefiwe, were not acquainted with the wishes of the Diwnters; we know not how they could become acquainted with them, except through their Representatives ; and yet they are unreasonably expected to nre- lore measures before the meeting of Parliament to satisfy those with woose desires they have no accurate and official means of becoming acquairted till after f:s Parliament meets. Moreover, between the beginning and the close of a sssion opinion may make no inconsiderable progress. What would satisfy the public at the beginning, when the constituencies generally are unacquainted with the wishes of each other, will not satisfy them at the end, when bv the votes of the respective Members they learn their mutual strength. There are far more difficulties, therefore, about this matter than sanguine people, who talk of the Ministers managing the llouse of Commons, and introducluF at the com- mencement of the session measures which will satisfy the public demands, ate aware of ; and we advert to them in time, in order to guard our readers against eneutuaging too ardent hopes.

EVILS OF A GOLD AND BANK-OF-ENGLAND PAPER CURRENCY.

Taus SUN—The Money Market still coatinues in a disordered state. So- vereigns for exportation are still in demand. " The cry is still, they go ;" and something like a feeling of alarm has taken possession of the Directors of the bank. Surely, the public will at length awaken to a sense of its folly in tole- rating the existence of such an institution es the Bank of England ! If the public d'd mint labour under the grossest ignorance of thefeactions and purposes of money, We should not witness a single Bank of England note, a single note of any private linker, or a single sovereign in circulation, twelve months hence. If tae public were not infatuated on the subject, we should meet with nothing but national Paper-money; that being the only species of paper-money which is absolutely *core; and the profits upon time issues ssues of that money forming, perhaps, the Most nature! of all the sources of public revenue. The currency of the British empire may consist of somewhere between sixty and eighty millions; of whieh thirty millions, or thereby, consist of gold and silver. If the whole eighty 'billions were metallic, the expense to the country could not be less than eight millions annually ; for the interest on the use of the metals niust be at least per cent., while the loss, by wear and tear, and the manifold forms of ab"fraction to which the precious metals are liable, eau scarcely be estimated at hellion five per cent. noore. Were the currency, therefore, purely metallic, we thullid incur a burden of eight makes annually, for the use of a curtency,

which, its every day's experience is now showing, is the moat treacherous iss the world. We do not, however, use a purely metallic Courtney ; but we adopt a course scarcely less grossly stupid. We use some thirty millions of gold and

silver coins, so hich cost us about three millions annually. We then complete one current.y arrangements, by permitting the Bank of England—on irrespos. sitde peration—and a swarm of country bankers, to issue forty millions of emir notes—anti draw the profits on these issues, to the amount of at least four millions annually. The history of human folly exhibits nothing more outrage. 0111. If it be absurd to use gold and silver, where paper would sea ve the pur- pose better, how much more absurd is it, when paper is used, to allow private individuals to enjoy the profits arising from its use! What secu- rity has the public against dishonesty, tor ignorance, or carelessness on the part of the Directoors of the Bank of England, and of the provincial bankers ? And if those individuals could give all imaginable security for their honesty, prudence, and knowledge, what shadow of right can they advance to the enormous profits which arise from the issuing of paper money ! Tlw issuing of money is an act of sovereignty, amid should reside only in tloe People's Represen- tatives. They who have the privilege of iss ll i ll g money, have the power of re- gelatin.. the value of all prom. rty, and of quiekeuing or retarding every move- ment oo commerce. Should such a privilege he disjoined from the body which is deputed to legislate for the people's: wants—to which all the people's ill- retests are osten-ibly inausted? If the currency consisted of eighty mil- lions of national paper money, issued by Commissioners appointed Ity the Rept est:tit:Laves of the Nation, and responsible at every moment to those Representatives, the profits which the Nation would scenic by the issues of that money would amount to at least eight millions a-year. At present, we throw away three millions upon that part of our currency which is metallic, and then allow private individuals to pocket four millions more, for tloat other portitio of our currency which consists of paper ! Are the labouring classes of England so over-stocked with the necessaries and comforts of life, that the pp- m,' tunity of lightening their burden., to the amount of eight millions annually, should be thrown away Is the public at large so enamoured of the fluctuations, and panics, and bankruptcies, to which the system of leaving out money issues in the hands ef private individuals has given rise, that it should tolerate a con- tinuance of the Bank of England's privileges, or foster the designs of the 'lieu who advocate what is termed " free trade " in banking ?

HOW ALLSOP AND BUCKRAM DECoYED GRAY OUT rot"rliv. litot's1:, AND THEN SLAPPED THE DOOR IN 111S FACE.

Ihiaexwoon's .11.sinA . . . It was necessary to get rid of (ray; who, having some remnant of conscience about him, was vehemently sea telalissal, particularly at the way in which Allsop, by cogging the dice, mai-16ns mla: cards, nicking the halfpenny, and tither gambling tricks, used to bilk suelt sedse011S as he could decoy into playing with him. At first he would stand by and look out while A Ilsop shuffled the cards, and Buckram kept the greenhorn in talk ; but when he saw Allsop slipping the ace of trumps into his sleeve, and Buckram making signs with bis fingers to show what was in the other's hand, he got ashamed of his company and walked away. Besides, as I told you already, he was now as much afraid of Dick and his crew, and hated them as cordialle, as Int had formerly beptaised and beslobbered them ; the damnable pressilie front without, as lie called it, which he had met with at the Tenbar- Gate, when they threw the porter in his face, and the other affray about the sash-wholows, had given him a quietus; and having either more sense or more conscience, and perhaps a small sprinkling of pride withal, he could not lower himself, mis Allsop did, to truckle to Dan and Dick, but maintained they must be kept at the staff 's end, and that if they were nut, the Devil would be to pay presently, and 110 pitch

left for the purpo-e Buckram, who was beside at the time, and always chimed in with Gray before his face, though he often laughed cousinnedly at him behind his back; swore that instead of two watchmen, ten would be needed if they could ittIord it, :old even snuiffied Drum, who had begun to mutter S0111 thing about the hardship of preventing men from going at night after their lawful business. But while he said this, he winked to Allsop, who winked to ham again, for he knew that Buckram and Dan understood each other, and that Poickram had, at Dan's instigation, actually written a letter to ..ohn's steward MI the estate, old 'Marcus D'Well-sly, in Greek, Latin, Phoenician, or old Irish, and other heathen tongees—tor lie often wrote iu this piebald thsloati—to get him to make affidavit that lie could guard the premises without either dog, watchman, or blunderbuss. No sooner had Gray, mutter styling this lecture, walked out of the room, than Allsop, who had been biting his lips all the time, opeced his mind to Buckram, as one who he thought was likely to go all lengths, having been bred a lawyer, and who lie knew had long been hatikerins after Gray's place. Ile told him that matters had come to such a piss, tilat between them they must get Gray turned out by hook or by crook, and ;asked Buckram, whether, ins that case, he would have any scrimles of conseielice about giving in to this precious scheme of Dan's, and sending the Ay:twitter:in about his business. " Lord love you, man," said Buckram, how could youi ask such a question? when did you ever find me stand upon trifles? What did 1 study Buen's Justice for, think ye, if I could not say one thing to-day ;Lod unsay it tae next? There is my hand, so—that's settled. But now let's see how we can best manage to send old Finale about his business. lie's been often talking about it, poor noddy, so 'as doing him a charity atter all. I have it. 'Vim shall write him a letter, telling him that after this row with Dan you can't think of keeping your place longerj; and as Gaffer has a notion that you know his ways, amid tSat hue can't well keep the books without you, ten to one but he gives up his place too. Then you and he shall walk gravely cut at the front door; and make as if you had bid goodby to us, for good and all ; hut as soon as the door is shut, trip up his heels, as by accident, aisl run round by the back of the house. Sheepface and I will hold the back-doar open for you till pin can get up stairs again into your office—and then to with the door in his face, anol all's snug." The tears came into Mimi's eyes, but it Wits with laughing at this notable device fur leaving his old friend in the lurch, which, he said, was better than any legerdemaio trick he ever tried ; and forthwith he went up to his room, and with the assistance of Buckram, set about writing a most pitiful letter to Gray, telling him, how he had shaken hands with Jolla for the last time, and budding hion farewell, for he was going down to his relations in Northamptonshire; saying, that he was sorry that now all the labour of the office would fall upon Gray's back, but wishing hint a better assistant, and so forth. 'Twas penned in a way that would have deceived a saint ; and accordingly the bait took with poor old Gray, who forth- with came down to Allsop's room, whom he found busy packing his knapsack, whimpering sadly, and telling him, that so long as he had stuck by him, old as he wan, he would not have minded if he load held the ruler and red ink a little longer, but that since Allsop had made up his mind to go, they should go together. Then he stepoed into the parlour and bade ferewell to John, telling him, that this time .me was going in good earnest ; and though John had little cause to like him, such was the kindly nature of the old Squire, that ne almost felt sorry to part with him, particularly as lie did nut very well see who was to fill his place. So having strapped their knapsacks on their backs, they both o walked out of the door, Aliso') taking the lead, ihiekrumn standing in the passage with his handkerchief at lois eyei, and many of the other set rants turning out to shake hands with them as they passed. No sooner, however, had the door been fairly shut behind them, and they were beginning to get into the avenue that led to the North road, than Allsop turned sharp about. "bless me," said he, " how could I be so stupid ? 1 qelte forgot thst I had left my copy of the Complete Giasier in my writing-dlesk. Just wait a moment, will you, and I'll be with you again in the twiokling of a bedpost." .and so saying, lie made a hop, step, and jump to the back-door ; where he was received by Buckram and Sheepfaee with shouts of laughter, ha,ving poor Gray parading up and down in front of the house waiting him. He walked dip and down for a long time, thinking it vastly odd that Allsop did not make his appearance; till at last, happening to cast up his] eyes to the office window, which was open, whom should he see there but his quondam friend Allsop, looking as portly as ;t prize-ox upon a platform, with the ruler in his hand, and the quill behind his ear, as if nothing had hap- pened, and Buckram, with an infernal grin on his countenance, peering over his shoulder ! " Iliiloah!" cried Gray, putting on his spectacles to make sure work of it, "what devilry is all this? Can that be Allsop, elt? By the Lord, it is. What ! didn't you swear you would never put pen to paper again in John's office; arid didn't I cut my stick along with you, for no other reason ? and now there you are again in sMtu quo!" " Oh, very true," criod Allsop, "but I changed my mind. I thought better of it, and came back again." " Ilarkye, Gaffer," said Buckram, "as to your pretending to keep the books any longer, 'tis all gammon. as you know ; but it shall never be said I urn the man to turn an old friendl out of doors without a penny in his purse. Come i onto1 to the Lack-door quietly, without making a fool of yourself there before the windows, and you shall have the key of the privy to keep, with sixpence a day to your- self, and the run of the pantry." 'Twould have moved your pity to see how bitterly Gray cried when he saw that he W3.9 choused by these ungrateful vii. 'Twas hard, he said, to be so treated in his old age by fellows who, but for him, would never have feathered their nests as they had done. and who, he thought, should have been ready to run his errands any day, with peas in their shoes, at a moment's notice. ;' Oh, for that matter," said Buckram, drawing in his horns, and shutting down the window, " let every one take care of him self—as the jackass said when he danced among the chickens."