The National Register. — London, England, 1817-03-24 00:00:00

ettuittap Xnutlrtnentgi. •lc is pleasing to mark the progress of toleration—to watch the footsteps of religious liberty, and to hail the advance of those principles of x•tund policy and di truth on which the ecclesiastical establishments of our own country arc formed. With this view, we have given the two thilowing articles a place in this depart ment of our journal. The one will !thew, that rib).- ,nation, though not avowed, is secretly making its way. The Greek Church, though as radically intolerant as the Latin Church from which it emanated, is not suf fercsl, under the wise reign of the present Emperor of Russia, to . exercise any very active spirit of persecution against those who dissent from it—but the following rescript will best speak tux itsel£ The 'extract respecting the progress of religious truth amongst the heathens, must be gratifying to every true lover of the Gospel. NEW SECT IN THE CRINIF.A. A sect of Christians, deviating from the Greek church, has sprung up in the south-caster parts of the Russian empire, and a curious rescript has been issued *by the Emperor Alexander, containing directions for its treatment. We know nothing of the tenets of these Christians. except that it is intimated, that they resem ble the PauHelens of the Bth century, of whom an ac count may be found in Gibbon. We may inter, there fore, that they approach to the Protestant churches• now establishes! in Europe. They are called Ducho boozi : and the rescript, which is addressed to the Mili tary Governor of Cherson, is to the following effect : 'The sect having been removed from the Ukraine to the cir cle of Melitsholsk, in the Twirls, in consequence of the Nameable w•ay of life impnted to them, and to prevent their opinions from spreading, and they having petitioned for pro tection from oppressioo, the Governor is directed to consider the motives of this removal, which is said to have been order ed by the Emperor, with a view at once to protect the sect from improper mortifications, and to stop the spreadiog of their opinions : and the Government, not having received for many years any complaints from one side or the other, or other reports of disorders, had every reason to suppose that • the measures-adopted were sufficient. The departure of this sect front the true faith of the Greco- Russian Church is stated to be a deviation founded on some erroneous repretentations of the true worship, and of the spi rit of Christianity ; but as they are not without religion-14 they seek for what is divine, though not with a right un•ler ataudin'g—it does not become a Christian :• • inment to em ploy harsh and crutch means, torture, exile, c. to bring back to the bosom of the Chur c h those who base gone astray. The sloet•iue of the Redeemer, who came into the world to save the sinner, cannnt, it is said, he spread by constraint and • punishment, cannot serve for the oppression of those who are to b led back into the paths of tutus. All the measures ot• seventy exhausted upon the Ducholmozi in the course of an years, up to 1801, were not able to extirpate this sect, and only increased the number of its adherents. They are, there / fore, in future to he protected from unmerited insults on ac amnia of the difference of their faith. By being removed to at other settlement, they would be again placed in a hard se tuition, and be punished on a mere complaint, without exa mination. 'The colony is therefore recommended to the special super intendence and particular care of the Governor; who, with • not regarding false allegations or preconceived opinions, is to examine into all the lot al circumstances, their way of life, their• eondnet, and take care of them, as an impartial Gover our who studies the good of those who are confided to his care. - The fate of these settlers must be permanently secured : they must feel that then• are under the protection of the laws : and then, bet not before, his Imperial Nhtjesty says, " we may expect from them attachment and love to the Magistrates." Ent, it is added, it' these sectaries " seek to draw away others front the established Ch rch, and to iainre them with their own religious notions, then the energy of the law Wrist be ex erted against such violators of it, awl such illegal conduct must be checked." But even then it is nor allow alti on account of one or more criminals who are eons reof a s iolatiou of the law, the whole colony, which h. s ha I no share in it, should be made responsible. Such complattes nail accusations require a careful examination, front wbout the complaint comes, and what may be the motives of it. Thus the two Duchohoozi named in your Representation, who, after their return to the true Chortle accused this society of various transgressions, and dr:yowl' to their blameable way of life, may have done this not of 'flakier m• revenge; per haps they were excluded front the society ttos (rinses, or de -61:1 toil it front a contentions and inimical , 1. Such mere complaints, which deserve altogether no attention, must never induce the adoption of sev ere measures, which may be followed by. the arrest, imprLso 1111 l ent, and torture, of those who are nut yet convicted of any butt intention, or any crime. , PROGRESS OF RELIGIOUS TRUTH AMONG THE HE.kTHENS. The following is an extract of a letter from, Ally- Chur, near Calcutta, dated September 18I(1 " Front what I sec of religious affairs in the East, it is clear that its great cause is proceeding on2dow but sure grounds, which promise very important results in the cuurse of a few years. There are many Eurtymns now in India who are in regular habits of privi.te de votion in their families, and who observe the Sabbath with every mark of becoming privacy and piety : such valuable characters have cucreased obvi.ntsly within c very Aunt time pact ; and the new Ecclesiastical Eg a _ 11.1teent: , in the English and Scotch Churches here have brought about a reform in manners and soci.•ty at the Presidency, which bring us much nearer to habits .of religion autl moral 4. A onset important nra is about to couunenec in the east, by the establishment of a College in Calcutta,cai/ed the Hindu° College tin. the Instruction of the Children of Native Parents in the En. 4 lisla Language and SLiences; it is patrouised by 41 ATIONAL lIEGISTF.R. the leading men of learning, both European and na tives, and liberally supported by numerous powerful and opulent natives of rank. The plan is finally ar ranged, teachers appointed, committees fbrmed, and the ground appropriated for the erection of the College ; it is to comprehend every branch of European literature ; the blessed consequence of this most wise and beneficial institution may be readily anticipated in the increasing knowledge anti illumination of the human mind among a class of beings who have been for so many ages past buried in the must lamentable idolatry, ignorance, and sup...rstitiou. REVIEIV. SIX WEEKS AT LONG'S-BY A LATE RESIDENT. Wc shall commence our review of " Six Weeks at Longs" by a censure of what we think objectionable in the work ; because, upon the whole we have been ple:.s ed by its perusal, and we wish to part with the " Late Resident" without any danger of being called upon here after to "give him the satisfaction of a gentleman," to our minds, the most unsatisfitctory thing in the world. The writer of this work is, we apprehend, too strong ly influenced by a sense of the state in which certain "infernal schemes" of the other "residents at Longs" have placed him. It is well known to our metropolitan readers, that by " Long's" is meant a certain fashionable coffee-house, known by that name, situate in Bond-street. It is the object of this novel to expose the follies and vices of some of the titled gentry who frequent that fashionable hotel. How far the " late Resident's" Advertisement of his house may operate on the gratitude of the present owner we know not ; but this we know, that if the company arc indeed of the cast here described, few per sons reg , ardful of their reputation will be very anxious to "put up" there in future. We have, however, no doubt but the descriptions arc highly exaggerated, and that 'while professing to correct the vice of slander, he has himself fallen into it to a very great extent,and that too, under the covert of fictitious names, and a pleasing and amusing exterior. There are also some anecdotes and witticisms, much too indelicate for the pen of a censor to write, or a chaste ear to listen to. Again : all the personages here so severely lashed are , not to be met with at Long's—The writer has gone out of his way to heap abuse upon some who arc known to be correct in their morals, and upright in their conduct with the world—Much as we diapprove of Sir F. Burdett's politics, we cannot acquiesce in the insinuation that he is a domestic tyrant, and is greatly involved in debt : vet in this light is the worthy Bart. exhibited under the name of Sir Francis Rashly—The allusion to Lord Cochrane's (Cockboat) banners, as a Knight of the Bath, is unmanly and cruel—These political ebul litions savour too strongly of a rancorous spirit of party for a novelist, which the "Late Resident at Long's" professes to be. We will not ssy a word in cons-1m of the writer's account of Lord Catsm (B), whose tinnily vices are of too glaring a character to be endangered by much exag geration. The heroine of the story, is a Miss Tropsilla, a very beautiful and rich heiress, who, somewhat like the fair lady with the Death's Head at Paris, pretends to be a romnlete idiot, though, in fact, enlightened and accom plished to a very high degree. Her motive for this cen duct is, like that in the story above alluded to : to try the honour and uprightness of onr sex, of whom. a sale in the country, sbe had heard a very direful ac count. flyppolita is brought by her uncle, a rich Nor thumberland squire, and his good-wife Dorothy, to see -the curiosities, &c.of Loudon. Their residence at Long's appears to have been, in a manner, accidental. The reader will readily conceive the rest—lt is the object of the noble visitors who frequent that hotel, first to plunder her rich uncle of his property, and secondly to run away with his supposed idiot of a twice. In the accomplishment of these nefarious objects they would have succeeded effeetnally were not their wick.' cd designs prevented by a Mr. Morlind, a man of honour but also a frequent visitor in Bond-stra•et.—The rest also, the reader will conceive—Miss Hyppolita even tually becomes Mrs. Morland. It isn't the developement and e::posure of the " infer nal schemes" of these wretches, that the whole merit of this work consists. Certainly it abounds with much curious anecdote—not a few sallies of genuine wit—and is written in a style and manner worthy a much better subject. The Author is reported to he a certain Cap tain ; who published a kited of Indian Peem, with a title not very dissiMilar to the name of the heroine cf. " Six WeeLs at Long's." A former from Suffolk of the name of Hefdensvoith,aold six law,. Sby private contract on Wednesday, Stun:Meld market for 1101. Ile wax 50 incautious a. to deposit the mo ney openly iu a bulky pocket book, and cn goink to dinner about an hour after, the money reee.e*l was gone, twit:titer with his b.:oh . and inure than double Ilia bilia IP antes and bills of cstj stogy, MARCH !4. LAW INTELLIGEN'C'E. COURT OF CiIIXCERV, Fs]) tv, M,tRGI IS. vr 'FY LER . souvtitA r. SIIERWOOII AND OTHEiII. This Was a motion for an injunction against the aching of " Wat Ts ler," on the ground that the sentiments of the wiak were hostile to the author's present mode of thinking, to his interests; inasmuch as they would hurt his reputation with the public, both in point of literature and Were. Mr. Hart, in moving for tha injunction. cited the ease of Macklin v. Richardson, as a precedent in the present case. it appeared, that in the year 1770, an injunction was moyed for. on the part of Mr. Macklin, thr the suppression of ion t of the publication of a farce called " Love A-la-made." iRr. Macklin, it was there stated, had never poldisin d the Mice himself, but had permitted it to be acted in two particular instances; the one of which was for the Ipantit of an actor, for which he received twenty pounds; and the usher for the benefit of another actor, fur which he received thirty poonds. In both these instances a short-hand a riter, of the natio! of Gurney, bad been employed at the theatre, in ti.king noes Of the farce; and nut long after, a part of the farce made its appearance in a monthly magazine. It was then contended, that, by tieing acted, the farce was published ; and that, therefore. the injunction most be refused. Lord Camden, their Lord Chancellor, however, maintaiped, that notwith standing the farce had been acted, and was so for published, yet, that Mr. Macklin had a right to the benefits and profits arising from the piloting and publishing his own farce. Upon these grounds he granted the injunction. Mr. Hart therefore contended, that Mr. Southey, for the same reasons, was en titled to the profits arising from printing and publishing the work, as well as now to suppress it. Sir S. !timidly, on the part of the defendants, in support of his argithiviit, that the Court had no power to grant the in. junction. inasmuch as Mr. Southey could not has e maintained an action for damages in a court of law, supposing this libellous production had been pirated and subsequently puld:sbed, quoted the case of the publication of the work of Dr. Wal cott, in N'esey's Reports, where it was clearly decided that a man could not claim property lu a libel. Such was the opinion of Lord Chief Justice Eyrc. He contended, that it would be the wages of sin to take the profits of such a work. He, therefore, argued against the injunction, that the impro per nature and tendency of the work precluded it from the protective interposition of the Court of Chancery: if be were injured, let him bring his action. • The Chancellor to this said, it was not for him to pronounce ' any opinion on the merits or tendency of the work ; he could only look at it as a question of property. He, however, in timated an opinion against Mr. Southey, On the ground 'that the work had beat published many years without any previ ous attempt, en the part of Mr. Southey, to call it in--that its discrepancy from the author's present sentiments was no ground for an injunction ; he conk] only interfere to protect the property ; awl, without disposing dare application their, he took the papers home. WED\E•iIIAV. The Lord Chancellor wive judgmer it is this raw, awl spoke to the following effect :—I hive looked into all the affidavits, and have also road the book itself: I take the bill of injunc tion to be a bill which goes the length of statiwz,, that the work was composed in 1i 91, by Mr. Southey ; that it h his own production, and that it has been paldiAmil bv the de fendants without his Ralletilia or authority. The bill, there fore, seeks for the produce of the publication of the work, and an injunction cot its suppression. I have examined most of the eases that I could meet with, containing precedent. for injunctimm uftltlr nature, and I find that they all proceed upon the ground of title to the property in the plaintiff.. On this head ►here has !men a distinction taken, to which petha:s more authority belongs than at first I was aware of, summit. ed ae it is by Hie opinion of Lard Chief Justice Eyre ; by whom it was espressly stated, that a person cannot recover damages for a work which is calculated to do injury to the Iliadic. In the ca:c of Dr. Walcott, as to the publication of his work tinder the name of Peter Mortar, the Coml. Mond, that inasmuch as lie conid not recover damages by action, it was therefore not bound to grant an injunction to seeme to him the profits of the printing. I hold the same opinion. it is very true, that in Siittle. Reuse it iii;ght t.ici ate so as to leave persons at liberty to multiply corks of such mischievous pub lications; but to this my aims er is, l'aat sitting here iii court of equity, I have nothing to do with the mime of the property, or the cundut•t of the parties, excepting so,ter4ts applies to civil interests: and it the publication be utis ebievou•, either on the part of the author or the bookseller it is ■ot my province to interfere. In the pie sent instance, the party applies for his civil interests only, and this court is the proper place for !Melt an applieation. I shall say .nothing arm the nature of the book itself, becanse it appears to m•, that the print iple upon a hick I am about to declare my opi nion makes it unnecessary, except so far as it would naturally affect any mind, upon hiel.ing at all the circumstances of Me ease. This is a book containing sentiments not now enter lamed by the author, ut least, so I understand. It was (*Om posed tv..enty-yi ars ago, in'17944 and %vat,: ()Wei et! by 3lr. Southey to two booksellers, the one of thename of It , and the other of ...Minions., tire publication. They hots twit C consulted, and twice 'declined to publish the work, C.,r rta sun. not Fl . ecti. So far, therefore, I tmist look at the Look, a. I am led, I may say jodicially, to ►nspert that the twine of the woik formed the pi incipal reason for its nou•pobliea f lt has been left, then, for 24 )eau•. and has now been published by the defendants. 'faking all these cireimistancis, therefore, folio wy eonsideratiou, having consulted all the cases I eittil , l find touching the question, and entertaining precisely the 411111 P o onion its my Lord Chief Jostiee Erie, it at - years to use that I cannot grant this injunction until 31r. Southey has inaMtained his to this property uy notion. Al r. Shadwell observed, that SO st iisible was 3lr. Southey of the indecency, impropriet;•, and dangerous tendency of this work, that he had thought it right to undergo the disgrace of acknowledging it to be his own production, in order that it might be totally suppressed. l'he Lord Chancellor.--Sitting, as I do, in a civil court, it is not my provine.e to administer .ittAtiee Its to the charaeo r tr conthict of individuals, out mat cly to take care of their property. Dining the whole contse of toy life, I ;tare beau most careful of that croperty, anal shall continue to pie►mret the same line 01 ' 01111111e! to the roil of my life. SIIEL2IFFS' CO t° T. MAUCH 18. C1:01. CON. I. 111 C. 1111.1.0 N 13 %RT. The pluiloifi, the .J. C. M.llH;,Chuploin to the Forces tit Matta, simalit to recover daotages from the de fesiddrit, sir C. Dilion, for ea iminal comers:46oo with his wife. The di inager were Mid at 10,0001. and Judgment had gone by de- a