The Statesman. — London, England, 1821-10-16 00:00:00

SIR ROBERT WILSON AND THE INDEPEN. PENCE OF THE BRITISH ARMY. TO THE EDITOR, OF TILE STATESMAN. LETTER 11. Sig,--We are told, on the authority of Mr. Justice prerogative of the Crown ex- Bl a ckstone, that "th e tends not to do any injury :" that " it is crested for the benefit of the people, and therefore cannot be exerted to their prejudice." These are vague ex pressions : they are just suca as suit men who wish to have an ample arena for disputation. They are, in short, the definition of a lawyer. But, if we are told that the prerogative of the King does not extend to the ,li sm issiun of any officer from the British Army, but by the regular and known form of trial, conviction, and sentence, the words convey a distinct idea, which cann ot be disputed. or misunderstood ; whereas, by adopting the phrasello4y of the courtly Blackstone, we at once lay open an interminable field for quibble, dispute, and confusion, in the application of the words is i n jury," " benefit," and " prejudice." In exposing the injustice and illegality of the act of dis miising a British Officer from the service, without a charge, without a hearing, it is surely not necessary, nay, I apprehend it is not wise, to have recourse to dicta of lawyers, which may always be counterpoised by an equal number of dicta on the opposite side of any question, whatever that question may be. Our course is clearly pointed out by the most ordinary laws of all well regulates! societies, and especially by the fundamental principles of limited monarchy; for, if we were to talk of the Dritieh Constitution, or monarchy, we should be subjecting ourselves to endless cavils. I t is no matter, whether Sir Robert Wilson was or was not amenable to military law, a question on which the advocates of despotism fastened, and endeavoured to re• present as the real point at issue, in order to confound ill sense of right and wrong. If this be a limited too rwchy, he was not, in any case, amenable to the mill of the crown, or of its servants, which is the sole ques tion at issue. It is incumbent on those, who assert that the King may dismiss at pleasure any ollicer of the army, to skew by what law that prerogative is ac corded, or that the prerogative of the Crown is only bounded by the Royal will. Aud if this were so, it would be also incumbent on them to consider the cos serinenees of sod' a state of things, and immediately to use their hest eltorts towards the abolition of such a power. If the crown can dismiss Sir Robert Wilson, er any other officer, from the service, without a trial, he may dismiss them all, from the great Captain of the age, down to the lowest drummer, inclusively. If this were the case, would cot the British Army become abject as well as degraded ? But they could not long rein sin so without the people becoming degraded also: they could nut long- remain "an exception to the people in general, and the only state of servitude in the nation." On the contrary, they would he used, whe ther willingly or unwillingly, to reduce the people to the 811111 t state with themselves. I should think the army and especially the officers, would be the best to feel this degradation ; and that, if they can not themselves, acting as a deliberative body, Con stitutionally remonstrate against the violation of their rights, they would not at least willingly be' rustle the instruments of cutting down their fellow• citizens, for taking their parts. Were it not fur the constitutional obstacle to their acting as a delibera tive body, I should think the united service club would .be the first to feel and to resent this ministe vial ksult and indignity to the whole profession in the person of Sir Robert Wilson. At any rate, they cannot, without great ingratitude, but be thankful to the press awl ill the people fur so warmly espottei•tg thei r rause. They may depend upon it, that, what has just happened to Sir Robert Wilson, may be the lot of each of them in succession, even the most servile ; or. if the Ministry should, fruits a state of imbecility, get raring mail, to whole regiments, brilfades, or divisions at once. Nay, it is possible to conceive so general and complete a fatuity, or corruption, as might lead to the dissolution of the u hole army, leaving the coun try Open to conquest by the first powerful invader. I should like to know whether, and how often, any measure of this kind has been must ted to by any of the despots of the continent. llow many officers did Iluaaparte dismiss without a trial ? A CITIZEN-SOLDIER. SIR It ortr-...r WiLsos.—The following simple anec dote sheers in a forcible light, the opinion that was inttertaine,l at Rouen, of Sir Robert Wilson's gallmit conduct towards Lavalette. During Sir Robert's confinement, Lady Wilson applied for a house at Rouen. After going over it, and enquiring the terms, Lady Wilson re:narked that they were higher than she could alfotti to give. Iler conductor (a Frenchman), taking the lady of the house aside, men tioned that it was the Lady of General Wilson, who sired Lavalette's life that wanted the house. lame. diatelv on this being communicated, the price was re duced to meet her Ladyship's views, and every atten tion and respect paid her Ladyship and family during their residence at Roeun. Cvotous CASE.—.-An affair of a very extraordinary nature is about to come before the Court of Assize. A V Ir Scotcinnan, named William Macdougal, who was pur sued fur uttering at Paris forged notes of the Bank of Scotland, to the amount of 40,000 francs, fled to the Netherlands, and took refuge in the B.lgic territory. The French Government demanded and obtained that he should be given up. Mactlougal was made prisoner at Ghent, and conducted by regular reliefs of guards to Paris. However, people were not a little surprised to see the prisoner soon after his arrival in the capital, obtain all at once his liberty, saying that be was guilty 1 of that single crime for which our Legislature has not p►o►ided a punishment. The fact was that the person who was brought to Paris was not the true William, but his brother James Macdougal, who had conceived' and executed the hardy project of setting his brother at liberty on the journey, by dressing himself in clothes similar to those which the prisoner wore. It appeared he had followed the chaise in which his brother was, en horseback, for some time, and it was at Courtray, when the party stopped at a little inn, that he put him self in his place. James, therefore, was the person that the Police of the Netherlands delivered to the French geus d'armes on the frontier. This curious Case, which, before discussing the accusation, it will be necessary first to prove the prisoner's identity, will be pleaded by M. Chair d'Estange.—(Peris Paper.) THE STATESMAN. • THE LAST QUARTER'S REVENUE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE STATESMAN.- Sta,—l am still disposed to question your bypothe. l sis deduced from the official accounts of the quarter's Revenue, ending 10th October, 1821. It is an easy matter, in making up this vast account, to choose the most favourable period and use the most ingenious method of exhibiting the receipts in a Battering light. It is but right to strip this production of a little of its gloss or false colourinz, and to satisfy the public that we have still a very steep hill to climb ere we arrive at prosperity. 1 shall, in the first place, review the in crease : this appears to arise from Beer, Bricks, and Tiles, Glass, Malt, Salt, Soap, Tea, Spirits, &c., and hence it is to be augured that a vastimprovement in the condition of the people must have taken place. To form a proper basis for arriving at a just conclusion other information is here wanted. Beer, Bricks, and Tiles, (Hass, Salt, Soap, Tea, Spirits, Paper, (and I - - - - • shall include other articles upon which there is an app. rent decrease, ♦is.: Cyder, Perry, and Hides and Skins, Printed Goods, Tobacco, Snuff and Wine,) are all ar- titles of great export. The debentures or drawbacks granted, bat not arrived at maturity, lOth Oct. 1821, will form an abatement ofno little magnitude, and affect the succeeding quarter accordingly. Still the effect of this should be she►vn, else we cannot arrive at the ac tual home consumption of the respective commodities enumerated. In the first instance, the whole amount of duties is collected ; upon exportation, a propurtio* of that duty is given back by debentures, at two months from date of exportation. Strip time actual receipts of these duties of the augmentation derived from our ex , port trade, and we may then estimate our exact con sumption, not otherwise. In my former letter I made it appear that the increase upon Beer fell short of what might have been expected from such a quarter of rejoicings and festivities. The Queen's vindication and the King's coronation have affected the duties upon malt. So vast an immediate consumption must have i enlarged the payment of duty upon this article, to meet such an exigency ; and our annual exportation, which, particularly at this period, is extensive ; unless you can assume it as a fact, that our brewers have less malt now on hand, upon which duty has been paid, or less beer in their premi•cs than they had at the corresponding period last year, there is no ground here of exultation. The reverse will be found nearer the truth. All attempts to repeal the Malt Tax proved abortive, and the in creased consumption of beer by the festivities and foot cries that have passed, have been met with correspond ing activity on the part of oar brewers. As a neces sary of life, while our population increases, this reve nue ought not materially to fall off; and as soon as it does decline, it is fair to assume, that the cause is in creasing starvation amongst the lower orders of so ciety. A greater increase of revenue might have been looked for from bricks and tiles. The bonus given to build churches, and the speculative improvements of our metropolis seem here to have made but a very Blender effect. If the value of rags was sensibly af fected during the Queen's trial, the increased con sumption of paper caused it, and this also helps to swell the Battering columns. and to account for the in creased duty on stamps. I fear this increase will not be perpetual. But it is now time to look to the deficiencies. First in the list are the auction duties. Because these diminish, it is assumed, that less distress and povertv exist. So shallow an assumption should be treated with contempt. The cause is the diini.sialacd ratite of every commodity exposed to public sale. This fact comes home to every man of common sagacity. Ship ping is reduced to one-third its valve, and, in many instances, less ; and not an article exposed to sale its this way is exempt from similar depreciation. The decrease fron► hops, cyder, pepper, tobacco, snuff, and wise, arises front the poverty of the people, who are compelled to dispense with Ins mines, and every neces sary comfort. Hides and skins cannot produce an in crease, when those who need shoes to their feet are compelled to go barefoot. He must be a callous and indifferent observer, who does not witness the suffer ings to which those who have seen better days are now exposed. A little insight into the condition of society is, perhaps, beneath the notice of our modern States-, men. In the abstract we can notice a decrease from the Post-office. This cannot display increased activity in our commerce. But then, there is a grand increase from the Assessed Taxes : this arises front a deep laid scheme of our worthy Chancellor of the Exchequer, to gull the community. Have we forgot that to fill his coffers he lately introduced and passed a Bill to enable us to purchase freedom from Assessed Taxes, as we would an annuity ? This increase arises then, from such compounding system, and argues, like many other items I have pointed out, strongly against the inferences you, in your laudable and patriotic ardour, have drawn. The expense of collecting our revenue requires a little investigation ; reducing this and reducing tax ation way, in process of time, improve our condition. At present, there are too many pampered appetites sa tiated by a disgraceful system of expenditure. Oct. 15, 1820. At the sitting of the Paris Court of Assize, on the 9th ipstant, M. A. Barginet and M. Flacon were tried for having committed a public offence against the person of the King; the former in a work published in August last, entitled. " Of the Queen of England and Napoleon Bonaparte, who have both died of can cer;. and the latter, in an essay published under the following title, " To Fraucis Charles Joseph Napo leon, bora at the Castle of the Tuileries, the 20th of March, 1811." In both cases the Juries returned a verdict of—Not Guilty. An error we understand appeared in the report given in our paper, on Friday last, of what passed at the Bow-street office, when Major Cartwright entered into a recognizance on behalf of Sir Charles Wollesley. That report says—" Mr. Miushull asked, if be was bail for any other person at present ? And Mr. Jones was understood to say that the Major nes under his own personal recognizance of lOU fur good beha viour." Here the report emits the Major's warm re• ply—" No, Sir, I was not asked for arty ;" and we are authorised to say, that, had any such recognizance been demanded of him, it would not bare been given ; as a compliance would bare amounted to an admission of there having been some truth in the accusation on which he had been tried, which the Major, by bleat davit made is Court, had solemuly denied. PAWN-BROKERS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE STATESMAN. Stn,—Haring paid some attention to your corre spondents, Sam Spout sud Dick Duplicate, l have been induced to request the favour of a corner In your en lightened journal, for the purpose of answering, in some measure, the objections of both. To the former, I would say, that many of the faults, and much of the proverbial insolence of Pawn-brokers, is the natural consequence of the peculiar circumstances under which they are placed ; and it mast be recollected, that three fourths of their customers are the idle, gin-drinking, dishonest, and, otherwise abandoned parts of the com munity ; therefore, not entitled to much more respect than they receive at the hands of the P. B. Yet, not withstanding all this, every grievance mentioned by Sam Spout, is notoriously true, but who is to remove one of them ? The evil hardly admits of a remedy, for this reason, Pawn-brokers not being a part of the police, find it neither their business nor interest to de tect dishonest persons in the disposal of their ill-gotten property ; on the contrary, it is their interest to receive it at the lowest price they ein. But, this is not the worst of the evils with which the P. B's. afflict society, for the fourth part of their cnstomers are the really em barrassed but honest part, who, of " two evils choose the least," quietly submit to the overcharges in interest, and other over-reachings, rather than the consequent exposure of bringing those mild, tender-hearted gentry into a court of jnstice. To the latter, I would only observe, that if he is in reality a friend to Pawn-brokers, he would have said nothing about the five guineas annuities paid by so many of them, in order to keep the Shepherd's-bush informer quirt, who would otherwise prove to their discomfiture, the mistakes lie talks about to be nothing but premeditated acts of roguery. In hopes of seeieg the subject taken up by abler hands, 1 remain your constant reader, and an Ex. P.B. Borough, Oct. 15. HAYMARKET THEATRE.—The opera of Rob Roy is pursuing a triumphant career at this theatre, and it was repeated last night to an overflowing. audience. We shall take an early opportunity of doing justice to the distinguished manner in which it is supported by the leading performers, in a more extended notice than we have as yet been able to bestow upon the re vival of this play. FARTHER ACCOUNT or THE EGYPTIAN OBELISK.— This piece of antiquity was lying in front of the Temple in the Island of Philoe, where it stood ori ginally, at the time of Ptolemy, or probably anterior to that period, and was first noticed by Nurden and various other travellers, both ancient and modern.— It was taken from that place to Alexandria by the traveller Belzoni, to whom Mr. Banks is entirely in debted for this arduous operation, as may be seen in BElzoni's narrative, page 347. On the first attempt to convey it on boat d, the Pier gave way, and it slipped into the Nile, from whence it was got out by means of great labour, under the direction of Belzoni, who, al though destitute of mechanical instruments, except some palm leaf ropes and a few pieces of palin e trees, contrived to have it turned up on the banks agate, from whence it was embarked in a small boat, and launched slows the cataract, over a fall of water of about 411 feet in breadth, and Gilt) in length, f• 111 of rocks on every side; it was then taken to Thebes, where another party of travellers took possession of it, bat not being able to justify their claim to it, they made an attempt on Belzoni's life. At length the obelisk was safely conveyed to Alexandria by him, where it was shipped fur England. it is 22 feet in length and four feet square at the base; it forms in proportion about 1.30 th part of the great obelisk now laying in Alexandria, named Cleopatra's Needle, which is about 67 feet in length, by seven broad at the base. We have reason to hope that that great monument of antiquity will be brought to this country, partiqtarly as it lays on the shores in the harbour of Akxandria, so favourably situated for its embark talon. MRS. SARAH BOND. —We lately gave an account of the death of this eccentric woman, and no heirs to her great wealth having been discovered, it was oh. served that his Majesty had a good chance of possess ing /he whole of her property. The Dar/yam Country Advertiser, of the 13th inst. however, says, G. We have reason to believe that his Majesty will find a powerful opponent in one (Allis loyal bubjects resident it Dur ham, who deems it neither treasonable nor presump tuous to contend with the King for such a possession The claimant to whom we allude is Mr. Thomas Bond, chain-maker and hardwaretnan in this city. His fa ther, who came from the county of Stafford, bad a sister named Sarah Bond, of whom neither he nor any of his family had heard for many years t and the present claimant has not a doubt that the eccentric deceased is that sante person, and of course his aunt 1 . ANOTH ERCLAIMA NT FOR VIE BOND PROPERTY.--.The property of Mrs. Bond, the old lady who died a short time since in the neighbourhood of London, will find claimants in the Bond's of Maresfield, near this city. to whom she was known. She resided in Bath at the time Millemeestaest, and was on good terms with some part of tfe f wily, and rash to be-a relative.—(DatA Jecrnal, Oct. 1 5.) SINGULAR OUCURRIINCE.—A singular occurreoce took place on Saturday last, at an eminent bankers at the West end of the town. It being usual every even ing to remove their cash and books to apiece of security, one of the clerks, accompanied by the cashier, having entered the vaulted chamber for that purpose, the for mer went to the innermost recess to make some amnge ment, which the cashier not perceiving, bat thinking he had retired, locked the door upon the unfortunate clerk, *ho thus became confined in a situation where his calls for release could not be heard, and where he was forced to remain without any sustenance except gold and bank notes till Monday morning. ~An awful instance of sudden death occurred a few days since near Worthing. A Gentleman of the name of Home, having occasion to paint his house, incauti ously remained in it, contrary to the advice of his friends, during the time the men were employed. On the fourth day he was seized with vomitings, and com• plained of a giddiness in the head. A physician was immediately sent for, but before he could arrive, the unfortunate man was senseless. Every means which tptdical skill could devise were tried for his recovery, but without effect. He has left a wife and two child eo to lament kis untimely death. - SPORTING INrALLICENCE. • --.0.4111111 NEWMARKET, MONDAY, OcroaEn IS2I. Second Year.—One third of a Subscription of 25:s each. for Byr old colts, itst. 61b. andqilies, fist. tub. A. F. Bona fide the property of Sub!;cribera. The horses to be entered at the Stah!es, \meta ari•et, between Eleven and One o'Clock on the Saturday before running.—(7 subscribers.) Duke of Grafton's b. c. Reginald - Mr. 'Nornitill's b. c. by Rubens, out of Belvoirina - Lord Egremont's b. c. Centaur, by Canopus - 4 to I on Reginald.—Won by 10 lengths. The Garden Stakes of 1 00 gs each, T. M. M. Lord Jersey's Spurns, 7st. 111 b. - - . Mr. Wyndham's c. Black-and-all-Black, by Oelaylus, 6st. 71b. - Sir J. Shelley's Antar. Ost. - - 3 7 to 4 WI Sportis—ii to 2 agst Black-and-all-Black-6 to I agst Antar.—Wou by a leugth. Sweepslnges of 2flOgs each, A. F. Lord Exeter's Augusta, Sit. 12W. - Lord Grosvenor's Adolphus, Sit. 51b, Duke of Grafton's c. Carbonaro, Est. 31b. 7 to 4 on Augusta—Won by 3 lengihs. Mr Udny's Abjer, Sat. 71b2 agst Lord Exetcr's Ardrossan, Sat. A. F. 300 gs, h. ft.—A Dead Beat.—b to 4 agst. Abjer. Mr. Usloy's Pantontie. 131 b. rec. 60gs from Mr. - James's Fleur-de-Lis, 9st. 131 b. T. Y. C. 200 gs. h. ft. 2 L 4 1 2 Fd At Northallerton races, on Thursday last, Evans, by Walton, won the Sweepstakes of 20 guineas, for two year olds ; No . ftliern Light won the Maiden Plate of 501., at two heats ; on Friday, Kenilworth won the Bromfield Stakes ; and Eliza Leeds woo the Otutie men's Plate, at two beats. Tuesday a young man was hacked for 20 guineas to go sixteen wiles in two hours on the Rristol•road, near Gloucester, which he accomplished two minutes and a half within the time. On 51.mtlay last, Wright, the celebrated Bristol pa destrian, for a tailing wager, started at the Old Hermitage, Bowling-Green, Sheffield-moor, to walk 50 miles in 12 hours, which be accomplished about one hour within the time, besides taking better thin tw•o hours rest; and on IVedoesday lie commenced about four o'clock in the afternoon to walk 90 miles in 21 successive hours, which, arduous undertaking he cum• pleted on Thursday afternoon, about three winuici within the time, apparently as fresh as at starting.— The last two miles be walked in eleven minutes each. PeciLism.—At the old half-way house from fir.tvt.s. end, there was a mill yesterday between flarris, well k no wn in the prize-ring, and Page, a waterman, for '.ll guineas a side. The rounds were 27, and occupied 45 minutes. Morris on setting to, took the lead in sue!. prime style that, after the first round, it was 2 KO 3 to 1 in his favour, and he won it with only a slig iit touch upon his mouth, while Page was terrioly pu nished. .1 second fight was knocked up between Itn bins,•n a navigator, and young Burke. his turned out an excellent contest. But ke won it in 34 rounds, of cunvin:,• 27 minutes. Toe GAS MAN AND NEATE.—This match, so long in rocoeniplaion, was made on Saint , lay night tor one hundred guineas aside, to be fought bet WMP9 tol and London on the 1 Ith of D..ceinber. 0.13 backed at 5 and 6 to 4. E.t .L MOIRA PACKICT:-..011 Monday last, the holy of a 111:411 was Cast up on the shore between Woodeidte and Seacornbe, and carried to the latter place. Fr.= its ple trance, it was supposed to be a considerable ti in the water, and was probably the body of owe of the sufferers in the Moira, which had been buried idi the sand, and washed up by the late spring tides. O the hotly were the remnants of a pair of trewsers and a pair of good shoes. The coroner's jury gave a verdict of found drowned, and the remains were, on Wednesday, interred in Wallasey Church-yard. On the 15th ult. on the coast of St. Jean do Mont, arrondissement of Sables d'Olonne, department of La Vendee, was found a sealed bottle, cont;sinine a paper, stating, that it had been thrown from his Brit:timid; Majesty's ship the Graham Moore, on the 6th of Juke last lat 47d. 47m. N. long. 7.1. :ilut. W. Mr. James Lash, an officer of the English* navy, who had signed the paper, stated his intention to be to discover the direction of the currents in the Bay of Biscay.— (Journal de Purls.) On Thursday se'unight, a poor woman, with her in fant child, about nine months old, lying dead by her side, was foluid in a most deplorable state of misery in a hovel near Hay's Cliff. On the Mlosviog day au inquest was held on the body of the child before Joh. Woodcock, Esq., Coroner, and after several witnesses had been examined, adjourned till Tuesday, when fur titer evidence was heard on tide truly distressing case. —lt appeared that the wretched mother hail princi pally resided for some days previous in the place where she was found, with scarcely any fimil either for her self or the child, and without money to procure it.— Her allowance from the parish to which she belonged was only 2s. per week, and being unable to work, she was compelled to wander about the fields gathering wild berries, &c. for her sustenance. It was evident that she had neglected no means which parental af fection could suggest to preserve the life of her child, and amongst other proofs in support of this, the fol lowing affed•ting incident was mentioned. One of the witnesses had given her some beer io a wood bottle, of which she wished the child to partake, but being. unable to drink it from the bottle, lam filled her own mouth with the beer, and applying it to that of the child, thus administered the tueaws of prolonging ifs existence a few hours longer. The Jury, alter hear ing the whole of the evidence adduced, expressed their conviction that the death of the child was not mica sioned by any negligence on the part of the mother, and returned a verdict of—Dicd by Me visitation of God. After the inquest, the Jury subscribed a small WI for the poor woman, and she was forwarded to her p risli.—(Warwick Adec:•tirer.) Thursday evening, the lsleworth coach, on its ar rival from London, was driven into the village, for the impose of setting down, at their respective halal .ations, two females, one an inside, the other an out side passenger. The coach 'having arrived at the house of the former, the driver got down, Is tying the reins upon the backs of the wheel buries, and before the lady could alight, the whistling of some mis chievous boy set the horses off; they ran through the village with great speed, turning the sharp cur tiers of the streets with the same exactness as if they had been under the guidanceof the must skilful coach man, bat the vehicle was at last thrown over, and the unfortunate female on the outside so dreadfully in jured, that she expired at one o'clock on the fufloaiug morning. One of the horses was also killed. c i .r ~~ t~ .