Star. — London, England, 1825-03-10 00:00:00

"•f , • • I I , • ,‘ • • " r!°•it••foi7,'.V•-•":4 ~. L'L' ~ . .. . 3 e which had long since been repealed— " Menus evanstfam tuasehat supers al.'s." One of these Acts, for instance, was also an Act relating to vagrants, which was no longer in force, and an Act for prohibiting the exportation of leather. 'Many of these Acts he proposed to repeal altogether; that, for instance, relating to the attainder of Jurors in case of bribery or improper conduct; an Act which, as Black stiebe had observed, was coeval with wager by battle, and which, in the present enlightened age, ought, in his opinion, to share the fate of its contemporary. He would just state to the House the penalties which this Act inflected on the offending Juryman; he was to lose his liberals kgem ; he was to become infamous for life ; be was to forfeit his goods, and the profits of hit lands ; his wife and children were to be cast out of doors, his house to be razed, and his fields and mea dows destroyed. In these days, he trusted there was a better pledge for the integrity of Jurors, than any Penal • Statute of this revolting description. This Statute had 'never been enforced during a period of two hundred years ; it was just possible that it might again be brought into activity, as the law 'crf wager by battle had been, within the last twenty years ; and as the litter barbarous remnant of antiquity had been judi ciously abolished, he proposed to take the same course with respect to the law for maiming Juries. At the 'same time, if' it could be proved to him that any benefit was likely to result from this law remaining on the Statute Book—if it could be shewn, that in the present century it really was a 'beneficial and practical controul on the conduct of Jurors, he should be perfectly ready to reconsider his opinion. The alterations which he proposed to make in the law relating to Juries were very slight. He should make no new experiments with regard to the phraseology for in,tance, where the ancient phraseology was clear and expressive, he should leave it untouched; where it was absurd and contradictory, he felt it to be consistent only with the civilization and illumination of the present age, to propose an amendment—(Hear, hear). The chief alterations which he proposed to make were these: In the first place, with respect to the mode of summon ing common Juries, he should propose an alteration in the formation of the lists. Those lists were at present returned in parishes by the petty constable—an indivi dual who was frequently unable to read or write, and Who was too often open to seduction. Thus he ( Mr .Peel) had ascertained that the petty constable, in considera tion of some trifling gratuity, often omitted the names of persons who were best qualified to serve on Juries, and inserted the names of others who were less qualified to discharge that ditty. He proposed to devolve the duty of forming the lists of. persons qualified to serve on Juries, on the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Parishes, who, from their situation, were much better able to ascertain the qualifications of the parishioners, and who, from their respectability,were not liable to the objections which existed against the petty constable. Ile should also require a much more distinct enu meration of . the qualifications and residence of persons liable its serve on Juries, than was made at present. He should propose also, that the appeals of persons whose names might be improperly returned or omitted, should be received at a Petty Sessions of Magistrates, and not at the Quarter Sessions, where the Magistrates had already sufficient- business on their hands. He proposed also, to extend the number of persons qualified to serve on Special Juries in counties. Under the ex isting law, none but persons designated " Esquire" could set ve on Special Juries in Counties ; and in one remarkable case, he alluded to the trial of Major Cart wright, only fifty-four persons qualified to serve on Special Juries, exclusive of the Grand Jury, aho found the Bill, were returned out of the whole county of War wick. - Ile should propose that in Counties, as in the City of London, all persons returned as merchants and bankers should be liable to serve on Special Juries. He should now advert to the most important part of this subject, namely, the formation of Special Juries, for the purpose of, trying causes. It was his intention to pro pose an arrangement which, he trusted, would be per fectly satisfactory to all parties, both to those who thought the present mode of.striking Special Juries de fective in theory, and liable to abuse, and to those who, while they admitted that the theory was defective, thought that no practical abuse could arise from it in consequence of the - great respectability of the officers on whom the duty of striking Special Juries devolved.— He should propose that the names of all the persons qualified to serve on Special Juries in London and Westminster, and in every County of England, should be inscribed in a book, describing the rank and qualifi cations of each, and that to the name of each person, alphabetically arranged, should he attached a number of the arithmetical progression 1,2, 3,4, &c. so that, for example, if there were 100 persons qualified to serve on Special Juries in a particular County, their names should be alphabetically arranged, and the arithmetical progression 1,2, 3. &c. up to 100, should be attached .to those names in their alphabetical order. He should then 'repose that a number of cards, equal to that of the persons qualified to serve,should be num bered with the same arithmetical progression 1, '2, 3, &o. to the extent of the whole list. The cards so num bered acre to be put into a box or glass, and 48 of them were to be drawn out by an officer ; these 48 were to be reduced to 24, in the present mode, and the names of the 24 called over in Court in their alphabe tical order. (This proposition of Or: Right Hon. Gen tleman was received by the House with loud cheers). It would, of course, be admitted that that mode of trial was to be preferred which would be most satis facto, y to both plaintiff and defendant ; and therefore it was proposed that in civil cases, if both plaintiff and defendant should signify. their assent in Writing, that the officer should proceed in the old rank, then let that coarse be followed. It was important that the consent should be written, to prevent future differences. It should also be provided in civil cases, that when one Jury had been selected qualified to try commercial causes, if other parties having causes to be tried should signify their mutual assent, the same Jury might pro ceed. To this course he saw no objection. Butunless both parties consented, the law would be of no avail. This arrangement would not be allowed in political eases; in them there must be a ballot of the Special Jurors. The details of the measure would be better understood when the Bill should be printed ; at present he only meant to propose that it should be read a second time pro forme, committed,and the blanks filled up, in order that its provisions might be fully understood. If it should be found that benefit re sulted from this measure, he hoped the House would sot stop there with the principle of consolidation. — impossible to contemplate the vast mass of our Statute Books, without feeling that great :.might be derived from extending the prise Pciple.. The Ciintipal Code Aged be the first; fat it was of the last importance that the subjects uf this refills should haves facility in knowing the laws which they were bound tq obey. Many amendments might Wino& •In the, laws respetting forgery and larceuy, which &twinkled with so many anomalies. The H6n. ,and Learned Gentleman (Dr. Lushington) had devoted much of his time to the consolidation of some of our laws, and indeed it was only by the intervention of able professional men that such a desirable object could be accomplished. He had himself been much occu pied with this measure, and had also the asistance of etninent members of the legal profession, who were of course much better qualified to treat such a subject than he could pretend to be; and he trusted, that however necessary in other cases, a commission in this particular instance might be dispensed with, as he trusted the measure would be found satifactnry. With respect to the laws regarding forgery, they filled one entire volume, and he thought that in that case a commission would be desirable, for he was sure that neither the Lord Chancellor,:the Attorney-General, nor any profes sional man, could devote sufficient time for the minute investigation which was necessary. After the experience he had had of those eighty-five Statutes respecting Juries;he wai persuaded, that by carrying the prin ciple of consolidation farther, great improvement would be done to the laws. Much confusion would be avoided, and many anomalies removed. He should therefore move for leave to bring in.a Bill to Consolidate the Laws relating to Juries, and for the Regulation of Special Juries. Dr. LUSHINGTON gave his cordial.approbation to the measure, as nothing could be of more importance than to render the admi tistration of justice as pet fect as possible. The measure would conciliate the assent ,of the Public to the administration of criminal justice. The provisions appeared to him peculiarly adapted to answer the end. One or two subjects should be selected before a general measure should be adopted; the fit st thing was to consolidate the law as it was now, and the law thus consolidated might afterwards be amended. Mr. HOBHOUSE said, that every man who valued the liberties of the country must be delighted at the Bill; this was the greatest and most salutary reform that had been made for ages. Mr. HUME hoped that all the branches' of' the law would be treated in the same manner. Mr. PEEL and Mr. HUME explained. Mr. BRIGHT entirely concurred in the provisions of the Bill. Leave was then given to bring in Ow Bill. Mr. H. D RUM NION D brought In a Bin for the more easy re covery of Small Debts in the Sheriffs' Courts of Scotland, which was read a first time. The LORD ADVOCATE obtained leave to bring in a Bill for continuing the Act of .54 George Il I. fur rendering the payment of Creditors more equal and expeditious in Scotland; also a Bill for regulating the Fees in the Sheriffs' Courts of Scotland. On the motion of Mr. DICKENSON, a Select . Committee was appointed, to inquire into the expenditure of County Rates. The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of,- and the Douse adjourned at half past Seven o'Clock. EAST INDIES. The Cotentin Government Gazette of the 2d of No vember contains copies and extracts of dispatches that day received • from Brigadier-General Sir Archibald Campbell, dated bead-quarters, Rangoon, October 11. They narrate the particulars of an attack made by our troops upon a force frf the enemy which had adianced in the direction of Rangoon, and taken up a position fourteen miles from that place. The party consisted of 800 men from the Madras Brigade of Native Light In f Intry, under its commander, Lieutenant•Cohinel Com mandant Smith, accompanied by about 300 native rank and file of the 28th and 30th Regiments, four camel howitzers, and a competent number of pioneers. Colo nel Smith's dispatch, narrating the particulars of the attack upon the enemy's stockade, is long and minute. The troops, in approaching the position, had to en counter considerable resistance offered by tire enemy, and sustained some loss in wounded. Our troops, how ever, drove everything before them, and carried a suc cession of breastworks on their route in the most gallant manner. The following paragraphs of Colonel Smith's dispatch contain the particulars of theattack made by our troops on the stockade : " The guides affected to be ignorant of the direction to the stockade, although they pointed in the direction it was erected. As the road we were in appeared to be good, and direct upon a pagoda which was represented to lie on the left of the stockade, we pursued it. " The necessary reconnoissance having been made, which the enemy allowed us to complete unmolested, and the extreme silence that had hitherto prevailed, in duced me to believe that the post had been abandoned ; but, notwithstanding, as the lateness of the evening would not allow of any further examination a the enemy's position, arrangements were made for assailing the place ; and Major Wahab was directed to move for ward in double quick time, with ladders to escalade.— Tois gallant O ffi cer gave the cheering signal, and the first division, with a spirit and animation r never saw surpassed, and with shouts, r ushed forward to the at tack. This was only answered by a round of cannon from the pagoda, %Ilia until now I was led by the guides to believe was undefended. The enemy in the stockade still observed a sullen silence; not a ibot was fired until the division of the 31th and ladders had got well in front of the works. It was then that vollies of grape and musketry were discharged upon the party at the distance -of 50 or 60 yards, with an effect and re gularity hitherto unequalled in this country. Several of the pioneers, with the ladders, were at this instant knocked doWn, together with the leading Officers, and the men, coniequently, from the awful and destructive fire that fell among them, and the loss of their cora -1 manding and leading Officers, were seized with panic, and laydown to secure themselves from its further effects. " The lateness of the evening rendered this loss irre parable,or otherwise I might have brought up the third, or supporting division, to renew the attack. But to satisfy myself more thoroughly at this momentous crisis of our actual situation, I proceeded to the head of the attacking column, and there I learnt from Lieut. Shiel of the 3d Light Infantry, who, in the ardour of his zeal, had moved forward with some of his men, that Major Wahab had retired, his wounds not admitting of his remaining any longer in advance. I quickly surveyed the enemy's works, and saw it had a parapet from which blazed a continual sheet of fire ; under these Circum stances, I had no alternative"! thought, left me. I must eiNer bring up the 3d division, and renew the attack, to the imminent hazard, nay certainty, of losing all, or save what remained by speedily retrograding. Of the two evils I instantly chose the least, and directed Lieut. Shiel to file away to the rear without noise or confusion. As soon after as possible I sounded the retreat, and the several parties, and such of the wounded men as could walk, assembled oa the ground from which the' recoil- 'mistime was taken in the first Instance. The firing from the enemy was still kept up from three positions. a Order, regularity, and discipline, which had been distinctly observed till about this period, vanished, and. the whole of the corps, - crowded indiscriminately into one mass, retired to the plain which I had pointed out." The party finally secured their retreat, after sus taining a loss of 21 killed and 74 wounded. The Offi cers killed were Captain Allen, 54th Light Infantry, and Lieut. Bond, of the same Regiment. -Wounded--Major Wahab, 74th Regiment Light Infantry: Lieutenant and Adjutant Campbell, tit battalion of Plottet-rs; Captain Dlonerieffe ditto; Lieutenant alalloo,34th Regiment Light Infantry, and Lieut. Lindesay, ditto. A dispatch from Bligadier M'Creagh contains the particulars of a second attack made upon the enemy's position on the 11th, which was carried, the enemy having previously abandoned it. The bodies of the sepoys and pioneers who had been lost in the previous unsuccessful attack were found fastened to the trunks of trees on the road-side, mangled and mutilated in every manner that savage cruelty could devise. Another dispatch narrates the particulars of.an attack made upon an enemy's force on the Lyng River, which was crowned with success, and a great quantity of ord nance stores captured. - The last dispatch is from Brigadier-General Sir A. Campbell, and ii dated the I6th of October. In it he says—" If I can trust the information I receive, I may conclude that the united strength of the Burman empire is now collecting in my front. The Bundoola, all the prisoners say, has arrived at Dunooben, with unlimited powers, and is to make.a general attack upon our po sition in the ensuing main. CALCUTTA, OCTOBER 28. The facility with which our forces have obtained possession of Tavoy is highly important, and the abun dance of fresh supplies cu eve' y description procurable there, adds greatly to the value of the accession. We understand that transports were about to be dispatched by Sir Archibald Campbell, for such articles of provi sion as !night be required by the army at Rangoon. The conduct of the Siamese, at Tavoy, on the present occasion, cleatly chews that they are anxious to throw off the Burmese yoke, which to them has been nothing but tyranny and oppression ; and there is reason to ex pect that they will cordially co-operate with us on that side of the Burman empire. SUPPLEMENT TO THE CALCUTTA GAZ £TTE, 4TH NOV. CALCUTTA, NOV. 4. As considerable public anxiety will naturally have been felt regarding the events which have recently oc curred at - Barrackpore, we are authorized to state the following particulars : " Symptoms of insubordination manifested them selves for some etas s in the 47th Regiment of Native Infantry at that station, under orders to proceed to Chittagong. On Monday morning a large proportion of the corps refused to obey their officers, and con ducted themselves in a most outrageous manner. Not withstanding sufficient time was allowed them for re flection, and every effort was made to induce them to return to their duty, they continued on Tuesday morn ing in a state of open mutiny, which it became indis pensably necessary to put down, by the employment ofl force. In consequence, at an early hour, the battalion of his Majesty's Koval ReLiiient, and some artillery from Dumdum, took tip a position in the rear of their quartc:s, while his Majesty's 47th Regiment, the Body Guard, and the 62J Regiment of Native 'lnfantry, f(rrned in line on their left. " Colonel Neil, Ceonel Stevenson, and Captain 11acan, were then sent by his Excellency the Com mander in-Chief to order the mutineers to ground their arms. This they refused to do. Two signal-guns were immediately fired, as previously concerted, and the ar tillery opened upon their rear. They then fled in va rious directions, pursued by the King's Regiments and the body guard. A considerable number - were killed, and many prisoners taken, for the trial of whom a Court-Nlattial was immediately convened. The 26th and 62J Regiments of Native Infantry, which were also under marching orders, behaved throughout the morning with the most perfect steadiness; and by the accounts received yesterday, it appears that tranquillity has been completely re-established, and tharthe severe example which it has been necessary to make, has pro duced the desired effect. " Two of the body-guard were unfortunately killed by a shot from one of the guns ; but no other casualty occurred among the troops employed on the occasion." 'I'IIE E‘'ENING STAR• LONDON. THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1825. STOCK EXCHANGE, TWELVE O'CLOCK. Consols do not seem to be much affected by the news from India, received yesterday. They opened this morning at 074 to 94 for the Account, but with little doing. An Express has arrived from Paris, and it is confidently stated that the 'knits were at 104 f. 20c. ex dividend, which is much higher than the last price. FOREIGN FUNDS. In the Foreign Market little is doing, which is owing to the proposed New Royal Mining Company having appeared this morning. Current Prices: New Spanish 94 4, Old ditto 244 . 4, Russian 9511, Nlezicius 814 1, Colombian New 914, Chilian 90, Brazilian Scrip 31 1, Mexican Scrip 34 I. Greek Scrip 11 j dis. ' PRICE OF STOCKS AT ONE O'CLOCK. 3 per Cent. Cons. 95% % Si per Cent. Red. 101% 4 per Cent. New 106 3 / 4 '4 India Bonds 89 90 £l,OOO Fxclieq. Bills (1 1 ,4 d.) 5.5 54 57 1:500 ditto (1 1 ,4 d.) 55 54 57 £lOO and £2OO ditto (1 1 ,6 d.) 54 .58 Bank for Acc. 239 India for Acct. 280 281 280 Cons. for Acct. 9378 94 FOREIGN EXCHANGES. Mamma, Maus. 4.—On Landon ► 36.2. 2 Us. 35.11. ST. 1 1 / 4 71111SIVIGH, Fax. 18.—On London, 1 13-16. Liman, Fn. 23.—0 n London, II M. 6. 14. DOWN, M►acss I.—On London, 3 M. 6.241. This forenoon we received the Moniteur of Monday and Tuesday, and the Journal & Commerce of Tuesday. The latter states, on s the authority of letters from Bre men, of a recent date, that the mission of Mr. STRATFORD CANNING to St. Petersburgb, has solely for its object the affairs of Greece; and that in consequence of our Go vernment recognizing the independence of the South 1 American States, Russia claims the power to hers elf of interfering between the Greek, and the Turks, It lb not tt it° s P im laws in our advantage "Pr' Added, that tile mission of tsince METTER/06i td 1 3 .1stai is in order to induce France to join .Austrim in resistidg the aggrandisement of Russia: The same Jetitnal states that the utmost ictivitT pteg *ails at Cronstadt, in repairing the Russian Baltic fieetk under the superinteadance of two skilful Officers& The Moaner of Monday is almost entirely with the debates in the French Chamber of Deputies dti Saturday, on the Law of Indemnity. Thelfonikur of Tuesday, contains the Spinish Lavii of Amnesty, and a long account of the debater in tbi English House of Commons, on the Catholic Qtle.tinill and the Budget, *ith the continuation of the debates on the Indemnity Law. The French Rentes on Tuesdaiy,siere at 1031. 65c. et div. The report on 'Change, that they were above lON is unfounded. The Allgemeine Zeliung of the Sd instant, contains as article from Vienna, stating that, on the 28th ultimo; Prince MILTTERNICII would set out for Paris to visit the Princess, his Consort, whose health has become very precarious. The Court of Vienna will not go to Italy till after the Easter holidays. Frankfort Papers, to the 4th instant, reached us this forenoon. They contain nothing of the slightest in terest to an English reader. The Hamburgh Papers, a file of which we receive' this forenoon, to the 6th instant, record an instance of • religious intolerance in So.irzerland, which, though not singular, is highly confirmatory of a strong charge against the Roman Catholic Clergy,that they a:e inimi cal to education. It appears that the Rev. N. MUDDY, Catholic Clergyman at Versois, had, on the distribu tion of the prizes in the girls school in his parish,made a speech, in which he bestowed due praise on'the -tern of mutual in,truction. The Rev.M.VIRARIN, Clergy man at Geneva,who had declared against it in a pseudonymous letter, " from Brother Bonnefoy w Father Girard, at Frey burg," was indignant at this innovation, hastened post to Ftcyburg, and induced the Bishop, who has the title of Bishop of Geneva and Lausanne, to depose the guilty party. But the inhabitant , , who did not see the force of these reasons, obstinately refused to re ceive another Clergyman, and affirmed that Nl.Munnar had hitherto preached the word of Goo to them in such a minner that everybody could understand it, ' and that they would not have a Vicar who prated Latin to them from the pulpit, of which neither they, nor he himself, understood a word. _ _ _ The Clergyman of Collet-Bossy, and a M. BONDION, have been sent to them, but instead of the singing in the Mass, they set up a violent whistling and hissing ! mingled with threats, and have gone in a body to hear Divine Strvice in the neighbouring Protestant village of Gerithod.—This affair has created a great sensation in Geneva, as it well might. If some of the French Journals can be relied on, FERDISAND VII. has at length consented to grant an amnesty, and his Ministers have issued a Decree to that effect to the Council of Castile. The Royal project embraces five points :--lst, a free pai don to all Spa niards who have been guilty of political offences from the 9th of March, 1820, to the Ist of October, 1823 ; 2d, the liberation of all persons who may be imprisoned lor on trial for such offences ; 3d, an engagement that all Spaniard; shall be promoted to ecclesiastical, judi cial, or military appointments, according to their me rits, whatever were their political opinions or public conduct during the Revolution; 4th, a prohibition to the Royalists to urge their special services, opinions, or intentions during the Revolution, as constituting a claim to public offices, or Government appointmeats ; and, sth, an order to the refugees, who are called emi grants, to return home in three months, on pain of forfeiting the benefits of this Act. This project of amnesty contains no exceptions with respect to the Constitutionalists ; and in its hint to the Royalists not to present their special services as titles to partial promotion, really goes farther than was necessary. But what has the Council of Castile chine with these liberal propositions ? It has made a report, in which ii declares the proposed measure ill timed and impossible to be executed; adding, that his Majesty's Government had not properly appre ciated the dangers of placing public employments in the hands of a certain class of persons,—that is, Con stitutionalists. The Royalist volunteers; unfortunately, join the Council of Castile, and, fearing that a pro hibition to assassinate their Constitutional fellowrciti aens may be a prelude to the establishment of a Constitution, shout " Long live the Absolute King ! "No Cortes ! No Chambers!" The project has again been submitted to the Council, and we shall be glad to hear that the Spanish Ministers have the courage to carry it into effect against all opposition. With the exception of the mutiny of the Sepoys at Barrackpore, of which we gave an account in the STAR of yesterday, the intelligence from India is rather grati fying. The accounts from Rangoon are to the 22d of October, and although a - detachment of troops had been repulsed in an attack on one of the stockades, yet, on the other hand, the army under the command of Sir ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL had taken Tavay and several other forts on the coast of Siam, where the inhabitants mutinied against their native rulers, and received the British with open arms. This is a circumstance of the highest importance, as it ensures to our troops an ample supply of provisions, and most conslierably facilitate the future operations of •ur army. It was expected that Sir ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL would be enabled to advance against Umnsecapoora, the capital of Ave, ►y the end of - November, and should he succeed in his qlf thit pl plight be awed by i The inrce collect itooti ind Ummen ii3kni under the *Abilit, the King 01 VevolutiOn in Ava was taken pris }brained in their further molestation, irarions combustih the Burmese, for th ivaddy, and impel had been de•troye Upwards of 5,000 :.:—For further deta refer to the East Ii as well as for the o , rackpore, which se , the private letters ber of sepoys kiliec two important poi arise from dikaffe from whatever cat by the decisive, t adopted. The mutiny, as 47th Native Infan to have been soi marching allowan veying their bagg ordered to march The first sympi 'on the morning oi Native Regiment ratory to their be to the seat of the - Barrackpore is di On this occasion peared on the pat being questioned ruination not to coolies to carry tl English Officer i expostulated witl remaining refrac seize one of those in the mutiny. the others to d shoot him if he all those who conduct should .one whole comp: the native Office There was not, i as the havildar, mutiny. Colon , movable in thei quences that mi both with arms the artillery stati, in• Chief, who w: guard, and the 1 which are caval bourhood whe —At this time I the Ist Battalioi and, by great gi had dropped dc Chittagong, onl activity, all the pore by day-br managed with known to the 1 more addressed luntary submis tillery and trot by a single gu (intentionally) I —The mutine the presence o little execution buts of the car however cause nies dashed ii greater part h 4 tentionally ain selves into the the troops,and to escape. In i of the affair, letters stating 21003 regimen 40, but there smallest nun The exagger alarm which place having than 400 Ear in putting (lc been formed some accoun inclined here from which v to be the ring --No search with the exc excited the c apprehensioi tigation that questioned i .4 march, are • I • imagined th 0. . qtieuly that magicians— __ a the surer