The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1824-05-29 00:00:00

party of the Qutlen and ! in has been eruslie(i. the weak but well-dispoved Monarth is not favourable to ty ranny, and a better order of things is likely to be restored. Confidence will thus succeed to the agitation and dismay that for many successive dart pervaded every quarter of Lis bon; and in place of a licentious soldiery and a fanatic populace, let loose to butchery and plunder, Portugal will probably be tranquil and undisturbed fur sonic time to tome. The Spanish Ansocaty has at length appeared in a supple ment to the .314drid Gazette of the '20.11, loaded with ex crptions, and forming a sweeping Decree of almost uni versal proscription. Like the memorable mandate of the I Triumvirs--Augustus, Antony, and Lepidus, it denounces every individual, hostile from political or private feelings, to thefaction now in power in Spain. This !keret , proscribes, in fact, every leading individual connected with the Revo lution, during the three years it lasted. The Chiefs of the military revolt at Las Cahrsas, the Isle of Leon, Corunna, Satagosa, Oviedo, and Barcelona, are all denounced. I The same penalties are extended to what are called the isincipal authors of the conspiracy at Madrid at the begin ring of 3farch 1+420, who wrested from the vile Ferdinand the unwilling decree proclaiming the constitution, on the 7th of March IS2O. The fifth exception includes the mili tary chiefs who took part ir. the revolt of Geogna, anal Abishal is yarticetlarly denounced by name, and thus awarding to him the &rens which this triple traitor fully earned. Ihe whole body of the Cortes who, on the Nth of June t ttl3, on the motion of the l/eputy Gallant), voted the dethrot orient of the King, and the establishment of a It gcncy, are also proserilieJ, with the temporary Regents appointed until Ferdinand reached Cadiz. The same penalty is extended to the General nunmanding the troops, who accompanied the tyrant to that city. The exceptions also reach unlimitedly to the writers who have attacked the Catholic religion, thus preserving tire ancient spirit of the Inquisition in its worst form. The three following articles denounce the Judges who condemned Elio and his Lieutenant, at Valencia ; those concerned in the death of the Canon Vinnesa and the Bishop of Vial, with the Royalist prisoners at Grenada and Corunna ; the Chiefs of the Guerillas, who had risen in arms since Angouletne entered Spain in 1843 ; and the European Spaniards who signed the convention concluded at Mexico between the Viceroy O'Donoju and Augustin Iturbide. A special article alludes to the individuals who, being ex. eluded from the Amnesty by the spirit of the Decree, are included in it by capitulations granted by the French Generals. Permission is extended to these unhappy indi viduals to reside in Spain only on condition of their ap pearing before the Tribunals. to be tried according to law ; that is, to be immured in dungeons for months, and then 'bagged before Tribtmals--where their fate is certain ! 'fling Ferdinand and the crew about him are pursuing their f .11 career with an undiminished thirst of vengeance. This Amnesty includes in its exceptions all the principal exiles, tu a man, who have found refuge on these shores. The gallant Mime, as Military Chief at Barcelona; Qrtiroga, as head of the revolution at Curunna ; the unfortunate E ireinado, now in a Spanish dungeon ; the two Ar guelles, Gallant), and • number of others, the most en lightened among the Spaniards, are all marked out for vengeance in a body. They however are now fortunately beyond the tyrant's power. While the French troops remain in Spain, the present dreadful order of things is likely to last. Should they once more return within the Pyrenees, Per ilinatia's kingdom will soon be " on a weak foundation," and tyranny and superstition in that fated country be levelled in the dust again. The second reading of the Marine Insurance Bill, on the motion of Mr. Powell Buxton, was carried, on a divi sion last night, by a majority of 19. The lion. Member contended, that in point of principle there could be no ob jection to a measure, the object of which was to close a monopoly. Before Mr. Buxton procedcd in his address to the House, Mr. firenfell rose, and moved that Counsel be called in, and beard at the liar of the House, against the Bill ; and after some discussion, Mr. Sergeant Boman quet, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Marryatt, and Mr. Sergeant Tacitly, were severally called in and heard, on the part of the London Assurance Company, and the Underwriters and Insurance Brokers at Lloyd's. After thole gentlemen had concluded their appeals against the Bill, Mr. Buxton resumed his arguments in support of the measure. He was ready, he said, to concur with that part of the doc trine 11:1 down by the Learned Counsel, that no Joint Stock Companies should have exclusive protection. Adam Smith, who disliked all Joint Stuck Companies, always excepted Insurances by Partnerships or Campanies. The Americans, Mr. Buxton said, invariably resorted to them. In Holland, liainhurgh, Copenhagen, and in France, he stated, similar Coinpanks were established. On a for mer occasion, lie had stated that the expense of employ ing the broker fell on the merchant; lie had since learned that the expeiee was borne by the underwriter. Mr. Buxton, we beg to say, ought not to make his statements upon light authority, or without proper inquiry : when coming from a gentleman of so serious a character, they make for the time a proportionate impression. The Hon. Gentleman went on to contend that the security of a Joint Stock Company was much superior in individual responsi bility; and to illustrate various failures which Mr. Buxton alleged to have taken place at Lloyd's, he produced a bundle of policies for the years 1 sin and I $1 4. (-leering as he alleged a sum of 150,0001. lie did not, he said, mean to contend, that a Joint-Stock Company was beyond the reach of insolvency ; but the chances in such a case, compared with individual responsibility, were indisputably less. Mr. Ilretifell op posed the Bill. The charters already granted, he said, by acceding to Puch a change, must be violated. As to the re sponsibility, the Honourable Meinber admitted that, as long as the present proprietors continued to luohi shares, the new Cempiny would be solvent, but there was no term li mited for tie ir tenure of these shares ;—they might resign them to-morrow. The Bill was supported by the Chan tenor of the E (chequer, and by Mr. flume, who followed the Minister. Mr. Maiming opposed it very ably ;be de clared be thong,ht the measure quite unnecessary, and de fended the underwriters at Lloyd's from the reflec tions east upon them ; there, be said, every pos. ble object in the way of insurance could be at taklied that the public benefit required. On a division, 51 voted in favour of the Bill, and only 32 against it. We have cautiously abstained from making any reinstall on Sir GEOAGL CII ETWIr X D . . motion, pending the progress ul its discussion during the three days that it has occupied tie attention of the Court. As its further hearing is post pmed till the next winy we are quite content to leave it during the interval, where the impressive eloquence of Mr. Seant. ITT and the powerful and argumentative address of Sergeant WI Lot have left it. But while, out of re spect to our sense of propriety, as well as out of courtesy 'o Sir G. Chetwynd, towards whom we entertain no feri a, of patens' hostility, we take this neutral course, we do n.:4 fed equally inclined to dismiss from our consblera - I tion Me doctrine of Gel itself, and the system of opinions and practices which are bound up with it, the operation of which is coming gradually to have so strong and strik ing an influence on the freedom if Me press, as to require that we should strictly look to it, and to its effects both on the character of the Government and the safety of the Con stitution. What is a libel? Comvxs defines it to be " contumely or reproach published to the di: fist' ; ;•111 of Go- i vcrmnent, of a Magistrate, or of a private per on." It is' manifest from this definition,—which is equally compre• pensive and correet,—that to libel a man is toimpute to him some offence of which lie is not guilty, or to ascribe his actions, whatever they may he, to base and dishonourable motives. It is hurtful to a man's reputation to he thus I falsely charged ; and he has an undoubted right to appeal to the legal tribunals of his country, to protect him from being branded with undeserved reproach, and being made t o suffer disgrace and shame from false and unfounded me_ eusation. But a man who has actually committed the of-1 fence with which lie is charged, or who really and provably I acted, in the particular instances, from the motives ascribed to him—for such a man to complain that he is libelled is a solecism, and for the law to bear him out in such a coin ! plaint is preposterous. The maxim, therefore, that truth is a libel, and the greater the truth the greater the libel, is !a maxim of law as revolting to common sense as it is (Ha lhonourable to the national justice. It is a maxim inex plicable on arty principles of reasoning, and irreconcileable Ito any rule of equity. It is a maxim invented for the worst of purposes, and was introduced in the worst of times. It is suited only to such times and to such purposes. We would here take a distinction between a private individual and a person in a public andiofficial static n. What, air may be the errors and obliquities of a mall in private life, no other man is justified in proclaiming them to the world ; he is answerable at another tribunal for his weaknesses or his vices, whatever they may be; and, so long as society is not injured by either, no individual it. society is justified in drawing down upon them the public reel •ritinent. The peace of the world would be destroyed if every man were entitled to sit in judgment on the conduct of every other man, and therefore, though sufficient evidence might he brought in proof of an accusation, still it is, in such I case, no justi fication of it, for if the offence is against the public, die pro per resort is to the public tribunals ; and if the party ac cusing is personally injured, it is open to him to seek re dress by legal means. But when the individual whose con duct is arraigned, either holds a situation in the magistracy of the country, or fills any other station to which important public duties are attached, the cas- here is widely dif ferent, and the party stands on very different ground. If such an individual, surrounded with affluence and fortified by power, is released from the control of public opinion, and set free from the fear of public responsibility—if no one shall venture, at his peril, to arraign the integrity of his proceedings, or fling a doubt on the hitt grity of his motives, his dread of reproof is removed and his conscience has no thing tostruggle;with ; in short, from the moment the truth, when spoken of hi in, shall be open to prosecution as a lib, t— hem that moment the law is his to abuse it as he pl, • s, and the rights and privileges of the subject and of the Constitution are at his mercy. " SILENCE, or !poi meet " your fate," is the cautionary motto that should be inscribed over the canopy of the judgmert scat : the maxim and the motto should be inseparable. That man alone is safe who betrays his indifference by his neutrality. It is the aim and the object of the law ry'libei to bring the public mind gradually into this state. By making it thus dangerous to denounce the conduct of Magistrates and men in power, it secures impunity to the worst abuses of autho rity. The law having declared the accusation to be equally A i iar.t. whether true or (:rase, it thus gives to the bassi abandonment of public duty all the security that should follow the most faithful discharge of it. The lateness of the hour obliges us to postpone our further observations till our next. IYeNuson, MA V IS.—Last evening his Majesty arrived at his Royal Castle shout seven o'clock. The King came from the Royal Lodge in his phaeton, drawn by beautiful ponies. Immediately after his Majesty'sarrival the Royal standard was hoisted on the Round Tower. The weather being remarkably fine this morning the King took an airing in his phaeton in the Park, an•t inspected the numerous improvements which arc making there. The Duchess of Clarence and the Princess Augusta rode out together yesterday in the Parks. The Duchess of Clarence honoured the Italian Opera House with her presence on Thursday evening. Yesterday the Duchess of Gloucester visited the Duchess of t'larenc,.. 1/u Thursday the n , ik, of Gloucrster honoured the Ex hibition of Ancient and Modem Mexico, aurl also the hatch ing of Chickens and other Birds by a steam apparatus, at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, with his presence. In the evening the Royal Duke attended Covent-garden Theatre. The same evening the Dueheas of Gloucester honoured Lord Ragot with her company. Prince Leopold, accompanied by the Prince of Leiningen, honoured the Russian Ambassador's party on Thursday evening with their presence. Tuesday night an lonian messenger left town for Alcona. To-day being the Anniversary of King Charles's Re storation, it wiil be a holiday at the Bank and the Stock Exchange. The Foreign Market wiil he open. Sir Richard Plaskett, 1 4 ecretary to the late Sir Thomas Maitland, arrived yesterday at the Colonial Office in Downing-street, with despatches from Malta and Naples. A report was prevalent in the City yesterday, that the health of the King of France is in so precarious a state, that the next arrivals may probably bring an account of his death. Prince Polignite, the Punch Ambassador, left Portland place on Thursday morning, at ten o'clock, for Paris. It is supposed that the object of his Excellency's visit to the French capital is to give his vote in the ( 'hamber of Peers, of which he is a member, on the project of law for the re duction of the interest on the French &ht. Letters from Augsburg, received on Thursday, state that the Prince of Nletternieb, previous to his journey to Prague, is to wait upon the King of Bavaria upon a mis sion of high importance, The King of Wirtemberg is to receive .1 visit from the Ambassador of another great power. It would seem that the Holy Alliance are at length re solved to bring these gentlemen to account for &airing po pularity with their sithjects. We understand a young lady in this town, on the evc of marriage, bag just made an addition to her fortune by a 20,0001 : prise in the Lottery.—Dorser Chrominle, Yesterday Mr. Evans resumed the sale of Sir Mark Sykes's splendid Library, when the crlcbrated edition of /.iry, printed by Sweynheym and Pannr.rtz, upon vellum,' in 1469, was told for four hundred and fifty guineas, after a long contention, to Messrs. Payne antlFues. The StowArd Herne" of Friday says—" Yesterday, at two o'clock, the Mayor. Aldermen, Town Clerk, and Capital Burcesaes of the Corporation of Stamford, in full costume, and attended by their officers bearing the maces, went from the Town Hall in carriages to Burghley House, to congratulate the Noble Lcrd Itecorder of this Borough and the 'Marchionem of Exeter on their marriage. They were received by the Marquis in the magnificent ball-room at Burghley, and afterwards entertained with a th:jeteme ti la 14n-belle in the most rplendid style. The corporate body returned to their hall in procession about fire o'clock, highly gratified with the reception they had w AWFUL INSTANCE OF lIITDDEN DRAT R.---Yestertlay morning, Mr. Eh...worth, a hatter in Kim Smithfield, was attend ing at the Coun of Conscience in Osborne-tercet. Whiteehapel, to claim some small debts, and .m his name being called by one of the Criers of the Court, as he was approaching the Commissioners to state hia OW, he suddenly fell hack, and instantly replied. lie has left a large family to bewail his his. iRsIrIoNdnLE INrELLBENTE. The Duke of Grafton had a dinner party yesterday, at his house in tiarge%-‘ireet. The Luke of Beaufort entenained a large party at dinner yester day, at his house in Grosvenor-square. The Earl of Lansdale entertained a diatinguished party at dinna yesterday', at his house in I,!tarlea-street, Berkeley-squats. Du The ke of Wellington and a large party of foahionables dined on Thursday with Mr. and Mrs. Hope, at their house in .11 an.field :meet. --- The Earl of Suffolk, est Earl of Surrey, Lord Sherbonse, and Sir Charles Knightley, had dinner parties yesterday. The Counter.* of flarewood has issued card, of invitation for an assembly, on Priday. the 111th June, at Harewood House. The Duke of otk and Prince Leopold honoured Countess Lieven's hall oa Thursday et ening with their presence. The Duke and Duchess of heeds hare issued cards of invitation for two entertainments, To-morrow and :Hominy, at their house in Bruton -street, Herkelc}-square. The Archbishop of Canterbury has issued cards of invitation for two parties, the Bth and 12th of June, at Lambeth Palace. Lord Dvnevor entertained the Duke of Iteaufort, the 31arquis and Man:hippest* of time, the Earl of &heater, Lord and Lady Colchester. Inrd Ilayning, Admiral Markham, Colonel Towns bend. !tr. at dinner on Thursday, u his house in lfover-street. The Coatitess of Lases enteruined the Dowager Duchess of I Richmond, the lonises Lemos, and a distinguished party, at dinner yesterday, at her house in Hill-street, Berkeley-seiunre. The Marchioness of Lansdown gave a concert on Thursday evening, at Lansdown House, Berkelev-square, under the direc tion of Signor Rossini. Aniongst the vocal performers were Madame Pasta. This music commenced about half-past ten o'clock, in the statue gallery. The drawing-roonts were most illuminated Theta were present about 200 fashionable' ; among whom wore the Duke of Wellington, the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, the Duke and lhichess of senitrwt, Earl of Rosalyn, the Larl anti l'ountess of Harrowby, and Lady Mary Ryder, the Earl and Countess of li-rby, Lord and Lady Belgrare, Earl of Essex, the Earl and Countess of Sheffield, the Earl and Countess 31orley, the Earl and l'ountess Manvers, the Earl and Olintess of Suilidk, Lord Andover, Lord Ellenbortrugh, Sir Hobert and Lady 31`Farlane. Lieut.-fit-nen] Sir James Kemp( has arrived at the St...iamea's lintel, Jermyn-street, front Ila lilsi. Charles 3loore, Esq. has arrivist at his house in Charles-street, Berkeley square, from the Continent. ISepartures from Itoruiin's lintel. Albemarle-street:—Mr. and Lady C. Finch Hatton, fur their seat in Kent ; 3lrs. De Courcey PElfatii, and Miss Syntex, for Paris. Arrival at the Pulteney Hotel, Albemarle-street:—Lord and Lady iValilegrave, from their seat. Strawberry Hill. Departure:— Captain and Mrs. tiayne. for their scat in Kent. Departures from laing'. lintel, Itond-street :—Captain and Mrs. Lee, for the Continent; IVm. Norman. Esq. for Brighton; Capt. sherwin. R.N. for Plymouth ; and J. I'suglian, Esq., for his seat in Norfolk. Arrivals at Fladong's Hotel, Oxford-street :--Sir Robert Blair, Bart.. Mr. and the Misses Blair, lion. Mt. and Mrs. Winn, Mr. and Mrs. Jekin, and 31iss Harvey, from a tour; Admiral Mark ham, M . P. and 3lestra. Markham, from Sussex ; Rev. Mr. Lewes, taptsin Villiers. and James Lee, Esq. from a tour ; Col. and Mrs. IVollaston, from Hinckley. lkpartures :—Sir W. Braliazan. Bart. for his seat in Ireland; Mr. and Mrs. lioullon and family, for Chelmsford ; Mr. and Mrs. Blackburn. for Dublin; Capt Waller, R.N. and Major Mason, on a tour; .Mr. and 31ra. Pruiheroe, tOr Herts ; and R. Vachell, Esq. fat Essex. TREATY WITH 7WE NE7HERLANDS. (From s Dutch Paper received yesterday.] HAGUE, MAY 24. SECOND CHAMBER OF TILE STATES-GENERAL. The Central election brought up the Report on the project of law relative to the Treaty of London. It is of the following tenor : All the Sections have highly approved the Treaty concluded I at London nn the 17th of March, 1824, between the lintiuh and Netherlands Plenipotentlartes Most of the Sections have made no observations whatever. _ _ ...... - --_._.. Some Sections required a guarantee that the one hundred thou sand pounds sterling which England is to receive, according to the Pith Article, shall fall entirely to the charge of the Indian possessions. The Government ref:rred them to the explanatory memorial. which other Sections rightly understood, and had expressed their ratisfartian with the security that sits obtained. The sth Article gave rise to the observation, that by the Bri tish laws, the Slave Tride is plved on a par with piracy, and that in the Legislation of the Netherlands, there is no enactment which can authorise a Judge to affix to the traffic in slaves the punishment of piracy. The Government replied, that this observation is In itself well founded, hut that the piracy here alluded to, is not so much that of which the subjects of the two Powers may be guilty, an that which is constantly carried on by Indian provinces, and nations against their subjects themselves. Sn far, however, a. this observation may imply a wish fur a more positive law on the slave Trade, the Assembly is informed that the Government in actually engaged in planning a measure of this kind, and that it rimy probably be laid before their High Alightinesses in the fol lowing sitting. PUTTING or TAIL 25 - rn Or MAT. The discussion of the Treaty of London was concluded it was adopted unanimously, and ordered to be sent to the First Chamber. SOCIFTF FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF PRISON DISCIPLINE. AND FOR THE REFORMATION OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS. The sixth !anniversary of this excellent institntiop was celebrated yesterday, at Freemasone-hall. Great Queen.otreet, Lincoln's !oil fields. The company was very numemus, of which the 'reinter part were females ; and we remarked that the members of the So ciety of friends considerably prevailed. Among the more distin; tinguished pennons present were, the Bishop of Lichlield and Co. sentry, the Earl of I frosvenor, Lord Calthorpe, Sir John Cox hiip pisley. Bart., Sir George Rose, Raw., T. F. Buxton, Elul., B. Sykes, Esq.. George Long, Esifi., Christopher Tower, Esq. &c. &c. ' The importance of this institution cannot be for a moment doubted, when it is considered that it has for its object the exten sion of those principles, and the promotion of those designs, to dif fuse which the labours of Howard and othersminent philanthropists have been directed. Ilis Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester was to have taken the chair at 12 o'clock, but it having been announced that the Duke was too unwell to attend, the Earl of firosvenor was Proposed to preside in his Royal Highness's stead, which the Noble earl accord ingly did. SAMUEL. HOARE, jun. Esq.Cliairman of the Committee, read an abstract of the report. It detailed the various operations of the Society in the prisons of the nietropolis, where, in the course of their visits, the Committee very frequently met with a total absence of all regulation or system in the classification of offenders, no regrrd being had either to the degree of guilt with which the prisoner was charged, the age or sex, but an indiscriminate n li gling together. those who had been convicted of the worst crimes. with those who had not yet been tried. It then gave a ',Miler Recount of many county gaols, and also of prisons of a local juris diction, and proceeded to lay before the meeting the results produced by the labours of the Committee to introduce, or by their recommen&tion prevail on the county and local Magistrates to in. traduce, a sytteni of classification, distinguishing theme whose offences were of a deep character from such as were of a minor de acription, and particularly keeping distinct the youthful trans. greaser from the hartleripl and experienced criminal. And the re. port contained several interesting particulars of the success attend ing the adoption of these measures. It then took a glance at the progress which this Society had made in Ireland, and on the conti nent of Europe, in effecting a more lenient and wise policy in the prisons there. Several auxiliary Societies had been formed in dif ferent parts of the Continent, and schools for the reformation of juvenile offenders had been established. The Committee stated their conviction of the utility of the tread-wheel discipline, and that they were persuaded it was not at all prejudicial to the health of the prisoners. The report then spoke of the funds of the Society, which the Committee regretted were not in so flourishing a state as the very great important* of their undertaking demanded, and coecluded by exhorting every one to befriend, by their eontribu butions, an institution that proposed, and had indeed already done tiopuchgood to the world. . Lord est.Tnott et rage to move that flee statement then read be adopted, as the basis of the Sixth Report of the Society, and published with additions. Also, that the meeting felt deeply im pressed with a conviction, that the just punishment, and moral reformation of the criminal were essentially connected with the best interests of society ; and that it was with great satisfaction they learned the continuance of the amendment in many of the county gaols throughout the kingdom, in which classification had been estentled, inieruction introduced, and labot•r enforced; means which experience had proved to be most efficacious in the correction and reform of the Offender. Ills Lordship felt so well assured that the statement then read had announced so much of the benefits that had arisen from the Society, that it was hardly necessary for him to ray any thing in support of the motiemi he had proposed. lie felt moat strongly that the Institution was of the gre itest utility; and that it wan an empliatical expression of puhlie opi nion, in reference to the method proper to be adopted in the regula tion of their prisons. Ile could not help remarking, that much of the Improvement introduced into many of the gaols in the kingdom, had been occaaioned by the exertions of that Institution ; and when he heard of that most salutary regulation, fur having a matron plated over female prisoners, he was deeply impressed with a sense of the very essential services which had hem rendered by that hotly of (minks, who hall, from a strong feeling of sympathy towards the unhappy members of their own sex, entered the prison house, arid visited the abodes oe misery, regardless of every revolt. ing circumstanee that surrounded them, and there to infuse into the mind of the wretched female those feelings and principles of which they must have felt till then an almost total destitution. Nor could his Lordship help adverting to that Society, when he reflected on those regulations that had been enforced by Parliament for pro. tooting juvenile instruction in the prisons, as he certainly con sidered them to be attributable to the operations of that Institution. This was a branch of the subject, to which, the more British feel.' bog was called, the more, he was assured, it would receive. support. Ile was swats much yet reniained to be accomplished, and mach remained to be corrected by the expression of public opinion, aided by the unbounded liberality of public benevolence. No man could live in that country without feeling the inestimable benefits which he enjoyed, by having public men, even in the highest stations, subject to the control of public opinion. It was a power au great and so be:elicit'', dint even those who wont(' pro mote their own bate and selfish imtrests felt its flaw, eurwere crpelled to cloak their motives under some hypocritical pretence ; and that power. his lowd.hip mid, he would have continue to ope rate over the regulation. of the public gaols of the kingdom ; for the mitre they saw that mighty engine acting on the body of the Milestraey, the more they should see of justice, moderation, and Mercy prevail in the ado • .i.oration of the laws towards the mitter obte offender. lit. Lordship, after a few further observations. in 'reference to the country flentleinen of England, moved the lint Resolution. J. F. lie by ob seconded it. In looking at the operations of the Society at home and abroad, In England and lrclat , d, in Europe and throughout the world, that which moat struck his mind was what it loot been and what it thea 11'31.. Ile confessed its origin was not very promising; its birth-place was in a 'main spot in Spital fields, and was begun by a poor man, who little thought to enlist Pritwts and make proselytes of the great to advocate Ins cause. Hut yet of the labours of Mr. Bedford, for that was the name of its author, the present Institution had attained its existing exten sive influence. The Hon. Gentleman then spoke of the laudable exertions made by two Gentlemen connected with the institution in , advancing its tistfulnesa. Formerly. said the lion. Gentleman, it had been objected to us that we were a set of visionary enthusiasts, and 'Penton. of a sickly sensibility. who wished to overwhelm the guilty rift all sorts of comforts;—but those objections had passed away. and at present they were considered the cruellest bet of men in the world, and the discipline of the tread-mill was mentioned as a proof of it. The lion. Gentleman would hare been glad to ex press his opinions upon that subject ; but a eimunistance had oc curred since lie had been at the meeting which prevented bini from giving any opinion upon it. There were Genticinent present who were at &timer% draNn upon the question, and it had been considered that that was not the proper place for its discussion, and therefore it had been agreed not to touch upon the subject. Ile however thought he was at liberty to Pay, that if that kind of punishment could tie brought to be adopt ed, in lieu of some of the most objectionable parts of our correction al sondes at present in force, they should have reason to rejf.ice that their laboars had not been altogether in vain. The motion was then carried. W. Evssi s, Esq., moved the second Resolution, expressive of regret at the wretched condition of most of the prisons sunder cur- . wrote jurisdictions. 'the lion. Gentleman recommended that the local magistracy should lay aside their prej udices, and meet the county Magistrate* upon terms of mutual advantage, by which mean, many of the difficulties that then existed to prevent improve• meats in prisons belonging to local juridictions would be obviated ; and the measures contemplated by the legislature fur the final re gulation of the local jurisdictions would be rendered unnecessary. li. aces, Esq., seconded the Resolution. lie spoke of the great advantages that would result to the coun try by the Institu tion they were then celebrating; and said, that in the town which he had the honour to represent in Parliament there existed a moat lamentable want of accommodation for the prisoners. It was his lot tour times a year to dispense justice in that place, which was so badly provided with prisons, that when he had been called upon to pass sentence on the prisoners, he had felt great difficulty what to do with them. There were only three modes Of punishment, viz. transportation, publi: whipping, and imprisonment. Transporta tion was a mode he much disliked ; lie admitted it was in some cases neeeeaary, but as &general means he could not bring himself to adopt it. Then as to whipping, it was a most revolting species of punishment, and one which in the case of females ought under no circumstances to be resorted tn. %'hat then remained ? 'Why. imprisonment ; but to what prison could he send them ? The prisons there had no means of elamitication, no labour could be en forced, no moral or religious. instruction effectually carried on, for all were obliged to be indiscriminately put together, so inadequate were the prisons titr the purposes of correction. Happily a new gaol was about to be erected. The lion. Gentleman then bore tes timonv to the great usefulness of the School in Quakers-street, Spitaltields ; and afterwards spoke in terms of the highest coin mendation of the Milbank Penitentiary. GEORGE Ifoironh, Esq. moved the Third Resolution— " That it was impossible to regard, but with great interest and compassion, the condition of many hundred boys in the metropolis, who derive their daily subsistence from the commission of crime that the 111“11UO3 of those who, on their discharge from prison, are desirous of abandoning their vicious courses, but who are per redly destitute, has a strong claim, as well on the interests as on the benevolence, of the community ; and that the means pursued by the Prison Discipline Society for the relief and reformation of such criminal youth, entitle the institution to the warm approba tion and generous support of the public at large." The Huuour able Gentleman said, that probably it was not known to the public, that within the last few weeks they had discharged from lOU to 1:10 prisoners from the Penitentiary, and no faults had yet been as : certamed to have been committed by any of them. SAMUEL HOARE., Esq. seconded the Resolution in a speech of some length, detailing many particulars relative to the examina tions of youthful offenders by the Committee, more than two-thirds of shunt could not tell where their parents were, or to whom they belonged. Many came to the Society, week after week, to claim their proteetion, but the funds would not permit the Committee to furnish the necessaries required. Ile was certain, that were the funds sufficiently ample, ittstead of having then only forty cases to a year, they would have 400 to report to the meeting. 'l'he motino having been carried, .Ir. Wit. A ',Leo moved the fourth resolution, thanking the Alagistracy throughout the kingdom for the intormation they had all'orded the Committee. vont: Lova, secor.ded the Resolution in a speech of considerable length, going over nearly the same grounds that the previous speakert had occupied. A vote of thanks to his Royal Highness the Duke o; Moucester I was then carried. $• L Woons, Esq. proposed the thanks of the meeting to Earl Grosreno►. The Noble Earl rose to express his acknowledgments, when Sir JOHN Cox Ili prisz.r.e arose, and apologised to the Noble Lord for addressing himself to the present meeting; but as two Honourable Gentlemen had particularly alluded to him, he could not help trespassing on their attention for a few minutes. The Honourable Baronet then alluded to the punishment of the tread-mill, and particularly to a letter written by Mr. Cubits, the inventor of it, in which he had, in terms most unqualified, MO. tradieted what he (the Honourable Baronet) had in a certain pub lication said upon the subject of the tread-wheel discipline: "And (said the Honourable Baronet) in terms not more unqualified than misc." He could not refrain from giving this direct refutation to the contradiction given to his own words by the individual he had named. The Honourable Baronet then stated, that a prison had been built in Soinersetshire capable of holding three hundred persons, at an expense not exceeding 1,1300 f., and that the building had been entirely completed by the prisoners themselves. hoed GaosvErroa then returned thanks to the meeting, and expressed his warmest advocacy towards the Institution be had had the honour that day of presiding over, though that wan a circumstance he most sincerely regretted, feeling how much the Society lost by the absence of their Royal Patron. The Meeting then separated. A very liberal collection was made at the doors. LORD BYRON'S LIFE. Mr. Moore has published the following letter on the de struction of the MS. of Lord llyron's life : sin—ln consequence of the many misconceptions that are abroad, with respect to the share which I have had in the deitruc tion of Lord Byron's Memoirs, 1 think it right to state the leading facts of that transaction to the public.. Without entering into the risipective claims of Mr. Murray and myself to the property in these :Vlemoirs (a question which, now that they are destroyed, can be but of little moment to any one), it is sufficient to say that, believing the manuscript still to be mine, I placed it at the disposal of Lord Byron', sister, Mrs. Leigh, with the sole reservation of a protest against its total destruction—at least without previous perusal and consultation among the parties. The majority of the persons present disagreed with this opinion, and it was the only point u?iri which there did exist any difference between us. The manusenpt wit accordingly torn and burned be. fore our eyes; and I immediately paid to Mr. Murray, in the pre. sence of the gentlemen assembled, 2,1100 guineas, with interest, Ac. being the amount of what I owed him upon the security of my bond, and for which I now sand indebted to my publishers, Messrs. Longman and l'o. Since then the family of Lord Byron have, in • manner highly honourable to themselves, proposed an arrangement, by which the sum thus paid to Mr. Murray might be reimbursed me; but, from feelings and considerations which it Is unnecessary here to explain, I have respectfully, but peremptorily, declined their offer. I am, Sir, yours, Ike. May 26, 1824. THOMAS MOORE. Sea REFI , IEES.—Since our last, several more of these friendless foreigners have passed throrgh this city, on their way to London. We are happy to observe, by the London papers, that Mr. Canning, with a liberality that dogs him honour, has directed these unhappy gentlemen to he assisted from the public purse, in the same way as the French enii7rants were in tile early part of the first revo lutionary war. The Constitutional Spaniards spoke with a deep feeling of gratitude of the kind treatment they hail experienced ever since they had trod British ground ; it was so dill:rent, they said, from what the French police hail taught them to expect. When they applied for pa,s ports for England, they were coolly assured, with that spirit of detraction which distinguishes so many of the French, that they had better go back to Spain, and trust to the clemency of " Mt Louts arsointel," their beloved Ferdinand, than venture among the English, whom these French police gentlemen asserted were the most harbarows pcuide is Me universe." Robbery, and a sound beating, thei were assured, were amongst the least evils to he ex pect,il in their journey through this country of barharians. What object could the French have in view in using such endeavours to prevent these men tom coming to England ? Did the fear they would swell the ranks of the friends of freedom in South America ? We cannot suppose the to. re underlings of office woubl have taken any steps to dissuade them from their projected journey, if they haul not the onlers or sanction of their superiors. —first Herald. The road leatling from Castle-square to the Old Swine has been very greatly improved, by throw/1g open the la feet graciously given by his Majesty to the town, and form ing part of the situ of the late t'astic Tavern.—Brighlos laper. i• • LAW INTELLIGENCE. „ so — COURT OF KING'S BENCH, FRIDAY, MAY IL At ten o'clock the bed Chief Justice eat at Nisi Prise. Some undefended causes were disposed of, after which Mr. Justice Hd royd heard motions. DOE, ON THE OVISISE Or TOOINAS, V. ACICLAIN. This WU an action of ejectment tried at the last Cornirall A verdict *o found for the plaintiff, subject to the opinion of the Omit, whether the child of • person bdrn in the Untied Stares be. , foe the neftkiation of their independence, we entitled to inherit as the 'child of • natural born subject. The ease we argued this term by Mr. Tindall rut the plaintiff, all Mr. Parke far the defendant' Judgment Was deferred in order that the CONTI might take time to consider the question. At twelve u'clock, the Court being full, The Loin Curter Justice gave judgment. The eete had been very ably argued. Sonic doubt had areal as to de sense in which the words of the Act 1 Oen. 11. cap. M. should le con. strucd. In order to entitle a person bbrn out of the Kinaes domi nions to inl!erit as it British subject, It was necessary that the pa. rent of the claimant should be. not o subject only, but • tubjet by birth. The words of the Act were, •• • natural born abject bf •he Crown of Orson Britain. In this case, James halo., the/after of the plaintidTrancts ThnmaS, was undoubtedly • natural born subject of Greet Britain, the I:nited States of America, in which he was hoot. being at that time British Colonies, but he had ceased ; to be a British subject at the time of the birth Of his dadghter. Mt' W. 24 born after the C olonies had become united and echoed ; ent States, and a hen the inhabitants of thus, countries had flettene citizens of those 'lintel. The independence of the United States was recognised, c• rather confirmed, by treaty, on the 3d September, 178.1. several Acts it Parliatuent were passed in the tad (fro. 111. in which those countries were tpoken of as independent States, and i the fullest sanction rat the Legislature given to their sovereignty. By the first ar.iele of tlin treaty, his 31ajesty acknowledged them to be free, sovereign, and independent Sates, and unquestionably • re hnquittliment of this government in these terms was a relinquish ment of the King's authority over the inhabitarts, in such manner that they could no long» he considered his subjects. It had been • argued that, by the '37th George 111. cap. tip, the cietens of the United States were considered as the children of natural born sub jects; but the Court, on a full consideration of the argument, were of opinion otherwise. The third article of the Testy gave to the citizens of the United States the liberty of *Meg on the coast of i Newfoundland.' If they had still been considered natural born sub. jets, that article was unneceigarr. By the fifth article, it was stipulated that the American Government should recommend to Congress to provide for the restitution of the confieuta estate of those who had adhered to the British Crown. and that they should have li:zerty to go there fur twelve months to arrange their SOSO'S. The sixth article provided against any future toast:atlas for the part taken by individuals dunng the war. By a subsequent Treaty, it was agreed that Briti s h s ub jec ts an d American citizens should continue to hold lands, and grant, sell, and itemise them, and rot be considered as aliens in ether omntry. This provision was con fined to the holding of lands in gentwat terms, and the distinction thus drawn between Itruti•h subjects and American citizens ',hewed that they were considered as aliens with regard to all other righter. The Court had weighed the inconvenience that would result from the subjects of one country and the citizens of another being held to owe this kind of double allegiance, and they were, under all the circumstances of the case, clearly of opinion that James Ludlow had ceased to be a subject of the Briiah Crown, and become alien thereto, before the birth of his daughter Frances Thomas, the plaintiff; and therefore that she was incapable of inheriting land in this country. The Court had great satisfaction in knowing, that their judgment was conforinable to a decision of the Supreme Court of Petinsylvannia, on the claim of a British subject to inherit lands in that Sta.. Judgmett. was accordingly entered for the defendant. TIIE RING r. JOHN TANS. In this case, in which the defendant yesterday. received judg ment of eighteen months Imprisonment a the House of Correc tion, at Purunanith, fur a disgusting libel on James Carter, Esq. the Maor of that borough, Mr. OASEI.LE wished to more the Court that the place of the defendant's confinement should be changed. It was equally dis 'notable to the pro se c u t or an d t h e d e f en d ant . Th e gaoler also in whose custody he would be p?aced, had been a witness against him on the trial. It Pas desirable, theftfore, on every account, that the gaol should be changed. The LORD Cuter Justine directed the defendant to be brought up again on Monday. CRIMINAL. INFCRMATION AGAINST THE RRITISH PRESS. THE KING V. CARLTON AND OTHERS. The further argument of this case was then resumed. Mr. Sergeaht WILDE said that when he was interrupted on Wednesday last, he was endeavouring to direct the attention of their Lordships to the real question belbre the Court, and with that view he had stated the substance of the libel. His object was to 'hew that the affidavits furnished reasonable ground to believe that Mr. Chetwynd vat influenced by personal sod vindictive motives when sitting in judgment on the Flints. It was an important pan of the question to ascertain the state of Mr. Chetwynd's motives. He should, therefore, look at the transactions respecting Abraham Flint anti his family. The conduct of Mr. Chetwynd towards them was pertinent to the question before the Court, because, if on review it left no other inherence than that he had acted from undue and corrupt motives, he had no right to stand before the Court as a suitor for its protccti.. n, by means of a criminal information. Supposing that he could prove a declaration made on the part of Mr. Chetwynd, that if Flint was brought before the Quarter Sessions, he would take care to preside at the trial and inflict a punis inient upon him of the most severe and de grkling co:outer, would the Attorney-General deny that the proof of such a declaration would be most important ? Sup posing then that Mr. Chetw;n3 had *hewn, not by • declaration proved against him by a witness who might possibly speak falsely, but in • more latisfaciery manner by the whole course of his cos,. duct, and by a acne' of facts, plain, intelligible, and public, would the proof be less cogent ? If the facts against Mr. Chetwynd were false, he might inert them by indicting the Flints for perjury. He (Mr. Sergeant Wilde) did not pretend to set up such a plea of jus tification for every part of the libels as would vindicate the defend ants II an action toe defamation wan brought against them. If the Court refused the application it would not pronounce any judgment as to the character of the libel. When he was stopped on Wed nesday he was "hewing that Mr. Chetwynd had been engaged in a personal conflict with Mr. Abraham Flint t that acting as a Corn. missioner under the commission of bankruptcy against Emery, he had held cilia.* meeting', and had see disputes with Abraham Flint; that when Flint had taken the bankrupt's brother into cus tody on a warrant issued by the Lord Chief Justice, Mr. Chet wynd had personally rescued the prisoner and given him refuge in has own house. The Logo J uST Ica asked en what day Emery was taken into custody. 111 r. Sergeant Wi t. og said. he did not know, but he was appre hended and rescued by M r . Chetwynd, who had taken him to his own house. and kept him there till the next day. Abraham Flint was on that occasion assaulted by Emery's wife, with a stick and pitchfork, and in order to induce her to disolgage her hold he bud struck her on the hand with his whip. Emery was tried before the Lord Chief Justice, and sentenced to six months imprisonment. An indictment was afterwards preferred against Flint, and strange to tell, Mr. Chetwynd was, after all that had happened. fotind tin,/ on the beach as the Judge on Flint's trial. He (111 r. Sergcart Wilde) would not repeat what he had before said, but he could nut refrain ft mof ssving tl a this conduct was a maternal feature in the ease, sip far as Mr. thetwynd was concerned. Mr. Juan c Batt.t:t —The charge of rescue is made. not on the actual knowledge of any person, but merely stated on the intudna tion and belief of Flint. Mr. Sergeant ift L --The clerk speaks in his affidavit of 3lr. Chetoynd Acing there, and that lie conducted himself with warmth, Then Milano statement on his information and belief. Mr. thetwynd had certainly acted improperly, and there were reptort, in circulation— Mr. :Pumice BAY ;.F.;:—No report that Emery was rescued. Mr. Sergeant Wit or fnly as it may be interred from the con stable's affidavit I wish to put no part of the caw unjustly to wards Mr. Clietwynd. Mr. Justice BAYLEY read the passage from the affidavit. Mr. Sergeant Whet: said, he would not ask the (.bur to he- Bete Mr. Chetwynd guilty of all that the affidavits imputed to him. It was not fur their bmtiships tt say that a case was nook out against Mr. Chetwynd, but at the same time he could not help re marking, that though the facts rested on the most distinct anti ipst skive testimony, it was not easy to institute • prosecution %mimic Mr. Chetwynd in the county in which he sat as Chairman of the quarter Sessions. The cased the Flints au a severe example of his vengeance on those who provoked him. If part of the defend ants' affidavits, therefore, seemed erroneous, he (Mr. Sergeant Wilde) begged to remind the Court that he appeared before then. for a London Newspaper, prosecuted for some comments on tram, actions that had occurred in Staffordshire. He had no compulsory I process to obtain affidavits in his beiailf. He maid produce each only as came voluntarily tibia hamds, under all the perilof exciting the displeasure of Mr. Chetwynd, yet, on these he could chew, that his conduct was such as ought to preclude him front standing there and claiming the protection of the Court. lie was about to call their hardships' attention to a port iii 4r. l'hetwyn,..'t conduct which was only reconcilable to the vindictive motives imputed to hint ia the detendantu' affidavits, certainly not to any just or ho. pourable feelings. After the Jury wait sworn for the tr :1 tit Mr. Abraham Flint, the prosecutor was not forthrenting. The ordi nary course was. that the defendant took the benefit of his acquit_ tel. Hut Mr. thetwynd dischargA the Jury. If he acteJ buy flit/. this was unfortunate for him 3 but sUppOW h hipprllt I twice. what would the Court think ? Vet Mr. Chetwynd placed hitsiself a second time in the Chair for the trial of Mr. A. Flint. and be cause the prosecutor was again not forthcoming, he, • *sword time, discharged the jury; and this. too, their Lowdships would Murree, on an indictment against an attonal. for an assault arising out of transactions in which he was personally involved. When Mr. Flint was convicted, it wa. nisi • strange circninatance to see the Chairman of the Stafford Quarter 5t.16400% referring to the punish. nest inflicted by a Judge of Assize. in &different C 147. *so rule for the judgment he was topaz' on Mr. Flint. When Mr. Flint's friends proposed to make application to the l'rown for the remission of his punishment, Mr. ('hetwynd interfered, to suggest the name of rh3 barrister by wham the menholll should be drawn up. and renewed the panegyric to be retained which that Learned Gentleman had, in the warmth of of his friendship, thcrucht proper to introduce. When Flint refused to suffer this passage to remain. was it in the due discharge of his duty, that (Mr. ('hetwynd) refund to sup port the application? It on next suggested, that Mr. Flint should send a private memorial to the Conn. Mr. t hetwynd kept it in his poss...don twenty-six days, and then sent i; to the Secre tary of State, who, for tome reason. rejected its caret. Ile after wards made another offer or his services to Flo on condition ti...t he would join in a petition for Emery', Was this