THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1863, 12 February 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1880.

The latest number of “ The Economist ” to hand gives some valuable statistics with regard to the revival of English trade. Comparing the month of November of 1879 with the same month of 1878, it appears that English exports for the former exceeded by £1,090,0f 0 those for the latter. This, of course, is very encouraging, hut there is a consideration which must qualify the 'satisfaction. The revival is apparently altogether confined to the English trade with America. The aggregate value of shipments other than those to the United States was, “ The Economist” thinks, less in November of last year than in November 1878. Tables are given which place the items in which the increase to tho States has eventuated clearly before the reader, at least tho said tables extend to about twothirds of tho total export to that country. The following items of increase stand pre-eminent in this record: —Pig iron, £174,000; bar iron, £61,000 railway iron, £52,000 ; hoops, &c., £20,000; tinplates, £126,000; old iron for manufacture, £170,000. Total, £603,000. For the eleven months ending November 30th, the same tables give for tho iron trade an increase of £2,096,000, out of a total increase of £3,328,000 to the States, the tables being, he it remembered, about one-third short of the total value, as it only includes articles of export, the destination of which has been given. From these statistics, it is evident that tho revival has not yet reached an all-round stage. Our customers who have made “ trade look up ” are the gentlemen to whom the old country has been paying largo sums of money for the corn rendered necessary by an insufficient harvest. But with regard to the world at large, the trade of England is not in a hotter condition than it was in 1878. However, it is well not to look a gift horse too closely in the mouth. Continental customers may look is latsr, and for the present a fillip is given to the general trade that disproves the croakings of certain economists who were never tired of declaring that the glory of tho English manufacturing districts had departed for over. One circumstance the “ Economist ” points out in connection with the augmented purchases by America, and the enormously increased importation of food therefrom into the British market, and that is that we have here clearly demonstrated one of the advantages of Free Trade. The money spent in corn comes back again for iron.

The impressions of early life, however pleasant, are apt to be ruthlessly destroyed as years roll on. We are all acquainted with a song that informs us that “a p’lceman’s life is tho life for me,” and the delights attached to that apparently idealistic existence are pourtrayed therein in vivid colors. But the “ Star” presents a very different picture. Its views on the police force in general aro most gloomy. “As a matter of fact,” it informs us “ unless the moral organisation of a policeman is very firm, it is apt to give way beneath the almost constant association with drunkards and desperate characters.” And then, descending from the general to the particular, it proceeds to show how the organisations of Constables Caraher, Macartney and Gay have totally collapsed. Constable Gay in particular was singularly atrocious in his conduct, and all three should, according to our contemporary, be instantly dismissed from tho force, and their places filled by more robust moral organizations, which, curiously enough, can be easily obtained out of the department, tho department apparently keeping a stock of uncontaminatod policemen ready for use in tho back premises. On one point|the “ Star ” has obtained instant satisfaction. Constable Gay has been dismissed at once, and that with singular ease, as tho only existence he over had was in the columns of our contemporary. In fact, the whole affair as given by the ‘‘ Star” may be said to be a myth. It informed us yesterday while apologising for the Gay fiasco, that the article was founded on the report, of the proceedings in tho Resident Magistrate’s Court. Wo bogto differ. As mentioned yesterday by Mr. Stringer, the account of the affair that appeared in the “ Star ” of the previous evening in the shape of a loading article was grossly garbled. Mr. Mellish was not on the Bench, but Messrs. Lee and Parker and tho Bench were stated as having expressed opinions tho very opposite to what they really did say. Tho article in question was entirely incorrect and out of place. It was built up on ex parte statements, the policemen’s side of tho question never having boon gone into at all. Policemen are, we are aware, but mortal, and their conduct should bo carefully watched by an impartial Press. But there are two ways of doing everything, and certainly the public is no gainer when constables and magistrates and the purport of magisterial nttem ices aro manufactured out of thin air.