The Sun. — London, England, 1828-12-25 00:00:00

try. The French have not forgotten that Belgium formed a part of France for many years, and they are aware of the weakness of a King dom which can be overrun by them in a f e w days, and of which one half is Protestant, and the other Catholic, with old animosities to brood over. Before the French Revolution, the Priests of the Austrian Netherlands pos sessed great influence ; and the people, though certainly moral and_ industrious, , were more under the controul of their spiritual guides than most Govermnents would wish their subjects to be. In fact, it is no easy matter to conceive a state of more opaque .stupidity than the Theo. cracy QC the Austrian Provinces had succeeded io establishing in a country, once the first iu Europe in p o i n t o f manu f actur ing industry and as i t st ill i s per h aps in several im the fine a rt s , portant branches of agriculture. The Nether lands (government, aware of the difficulty of its position, is anxious.to amalgamate as much as possible the two divisions of the kingdom ; and knowing how extensive the influence of the Priesthood is, and experiencing considerable op position from the Catholic Clergy in its plans of instructing the people, it has endeavoured to mould the Clergy by making a liberal course of studies an accompaniment of theology. No man who Knows what the studies were which the Ne therlands Clergy patronized down to the time ofthe French Revolution--who knows the cart-loads of casuistry with Which the Presses of Louvain, Ant werp, &c. ,exclusively teemed—theological rub bish, sufficient to overlay the understandings of whole quarters of the world—will wonder that the Netherlands Government should be anxious to let a little light in upon the seats of learning. The change is now in progress ; and no import ant change can take place, especially among a people so completely Priest-ridden as the Bel gians, without producing dissatisfaction. A new generation, however, both of Priests and people, will reward the Government for its well meant exertions. Mr. O'Dwyer views the pro ceedings in the Netherlands merely as a Catho lic, without making allowance for the difficulty in the position of the Sovereign. He does not accuse the Sovereign, or any of his Ministers, of a - wish to proselytise the Catholics. We have never heard that a suspicion of this sort was en tertained. Me thinks that the Corporation of Catholic Priests should be allowed to de termine for themselves the degree of knowledge they ought to possess ; that the Sovereign ought to he perfectly indifferent as to their qualifications as teachers of the people ; and that, when they issue from their Semina ries, the people ought, as a matter of course, to be abandoned to their guidance. But be cause allowance ought to be made for the Govern ment ofthe IS 7 etherlands, on account of the peculiar difficulty .of its position, there is no reason why the Government of this country, which is hi no such difficult position, should embroil itself with the Clergy of its Catholic subjects. No foreign country is so mad as to conceive the possibility of taking Ireland. We are secure from without, if we can only remain at peace within. The Netherlands Government is neutral with respect to religion, the religion of the King being merely his own private concern, and not connected with the State, which consults only the spiritual wants of the people in paying the Clergy. But the English Government is not neutral, but mixed up with the Anglican Church, and it is quite impossible that it can interfere in any way with the Catholic Clergy without exciting the well-founded suspicions of the Catho lics-as to its sinister designs. For the English Go vernment and the English and Irish Protestant Churches being identitied,_ to claim a sight of interference with the Catholic Church, is merely saying that the Protestant Clergy are to he judges of the Catholic Clergy. Any payment to be made to the Catholic Clergy by the State, would be like a party in a lawsuit paying the Counsel of his adversary. The Catholics have a right to say, Timeo Danaos. The English Government can hold out no security to the ! Catholics that unfair advantage will not be taken pi the slightest concession of a right to interfere with their . Clergy. On the other hand, as they derived nothing from the State, the State has no right to demand any thing from them. They have a common interest with their fellow-subjects in the prosperity of their common country ; and the Very circumstance, which has made them powerful—namely, their acquisition of property--ehas given to the Government the very best security that can be conceived for their good conduct as subjects. Secu rity in any other sense is either an absurdity, or a cover for destroying the efficacy of their clergy. —As to Mr. O'Dwyer's notions respecting the peculiar -tendency of the Catholic religion to favour the liberty of the press, which he proves by a recent motion in . favour of the press in the States-General having been supported by the Catholic Deputies and opposed by the Calvinist Deputies, it can hardly be expected that we should e , avely answe r them. During the middle ag es, the Popes were opposed to the Empe rors, and supported the Guelph or Republican party from policy. The Church was then ge nerally in collision with the State, and did favour freedom. But there has long - been an excellent understanding in Catholic countries between Church and State, and the forme r has been everywhere found an admirable tool for the purposes of Government. Mr. O'Con nell, Mr. Shiel, and other Irish Catholics, avail themselves of the ambiguity of lan guage to persuade the world that liberty and Catholicism love to dwell together. They talk of Prussian Despotism—of Danish aad Swedish Despotism—of Swiss Democracies, and so forth. Down to the period o f th e French Revolution, the Liberty of the Press existed only in Pro testant countries ; and at this day, in the few Catholic countries where it exists, it has to struggle with the opposition of the Catholic Church. Books of great learning and research have been published in Catholic countries ; but as to freedom of discussion or inquiry, the ex periment is now making for the first time. Books on all subjects, and advocating all manner of opinions, appear every day in all the Protestant COO n tries ; but in no exclusively Catholic country, France excepted. Mr. O'Dwyer deceives him self very much if he supposes the Deputies of the Southern States who supported the motion he alludes to, are favourites of the Catholic ; Clergy of the Netherlands, or that th e Clergy ! are not hostile in the extreme to freedom of dis cussion. The Catholic Clergy of every country in Europe, with the .exce pti on perhaps .of so me parts of Germany, where Catholics and Pro testants are educated together, are decidedly hostile to freedom of inquiry ; and do we not see even in France, notwithstanding all the agi tation of the Revolution, that the Priests are ; almost to a man the patrons of ignorance ? We do not urge this in justification of the abuse of the Catholics, nor as an apology for withholding from them their just rights; hut because the cause of the Catholics can only be injured by supporting it on false grounds. Holland and England, and Protestant Germany and Switzer land, were the first, and, for centuries, the only asylum for the liberty of the Press ; and if in Catholic countries a more liberal spirit now pre vails, from which we are entitled to anticipate a brighter futurity, we ought not to refuse t o allow the merit which is due to the Protestant countries in which that spirit was fostered.— Morning Chronicle. A rumour was last night circulated that the Brazilian Minister had formally notified to the Earl of Aberdeen his intention of altering the destination of the Portuguese troops, now at Plymouth, from the Brazils to the island of Madeira. The end this notification will have upon our Government (if such a notifica tion has actually been made) cannot be matter of conjecture. It must be evident that Don Pedro cannot rule over two kingdoms so widely asunder as the Brazils and Portugal, without abandoning the interests of the one or the other empire. Besides, Don Pedro has to all intents and purposes abdicated the throne of Portugal ; and the people of that disjointed country have unequivocally acknowledged Don Miguel as their Sovereign. But it is dear that !Idle Brazilian Minister has made the reported notification to our Foreign Minister, we cannot do otherwise than conclude that Pedro means, in some shape or other, to resist his regnant brother in Portugal. How far this may be po litic, just, or wis', we undertake not to deter mine. A war between relations would be the fertile source of feud, enmity, revenge, and cruelty; and we should endeavour to prevent it by every means short of the violation of neu trality. The question now puts on a tangible shape ; and if we cart judge of the intentions of our Ministers by their recent order relative to the Portuguese troops in this country, we should be disposed to infer that they would not in terfere without the most urgent and imme diate necessity. It must not, however, be lost sight of, that we have treated the Government of Miguel as the de, facto Government ofPortugal ; we have acknowledged the blockade of Madeira, and thereby further confirmed our previous ac, knowledgment. Here then does the difficult, present itself; but we have not the least hesital tion hi stating our convictio►►, that in case of a war between the rival Powers of Portugal and Brazil, we shall preserve that same consistency of conduct which has hitherto marked the policy of our Government—so long as our commerce suffers no interruption, or our flag is respected, and our fellow-subjects in either or both coun tries arc treated as national law and good faith require. —Morning Post. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF CHANCERY, Dec. 24. WINTRR V. LORD ANSON. IE9 LORDSHIP had considered the collateral points in this case ; upon doing which, nothing had oc curred to induce him to alter the decision he had for merly pronounced. Mr. MAGI' stated, that Mr. Duncan Campbell was now in Court, upon the Habeas gratacd by his Lord ship. Mr. Duncan Campbell stated, that the applica tion he had to make for his discharge from the Fleet, where he had been sent for contempt, was upon ' affidavits which he had not been able to swear yet, but would do so iu the course of the morning, if the Court would permit him; which his Lordship as senting to, he immediately left the Court, in the custody of the officer, for that purpose. STURZ V. DE LA RUE. Mr. HORNE moved to dissolve the injunction ob tained against the defendants some days ago, for in, fringing a patent, of which the plaintiff was the pro prietor, for improving:copper-plate and other printing by means of a glazed or enamelled surface put upon cards or paper. Mr. SUGDEN and Mr. LORAINE were heard on the same side. Mr. TINNEY and Mr. ROTCII supported the in junction.—lnjunction dissolved. Mr. SUGDEN applied for the costs of the motion, which, after some discussion, his Lordship granted. VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT, Dm 24. MILLIGIN V. BONE. This was a case hi which a person had by his will left the whole of his property to his four daughters, and directed that, in the event of either of them dying single, the share of the deceased should be divided among the survivors. One of the daughters had married, become u widow, and died without issue. The question on which the Court was called on to decide, was whether this lady could have been said to die single, according to the mean• ing of the testator. The VICE-CHANCELLOR said, that according to his interpretation of the will, this lady did die single, and directed that her share of the property should be divided among the surviving daughters of the testator- His HONOUR, after disposing of the remainder o: e cause petitions, rose for the recess. COURT OF KING'S BENCH, Dec. 24. 111AltSLAND V. LORD VISCOUNT GLAMIS. This was an action on a bill of exchange for 909/., which became due in September, 1825. No evi dence was gone into; but a verdict was taken, by consent, for 1,1301., the amount of principal and in terest. C4ROOCOCK V. COOPER AND OTHERS. This was an action for false imprisonment. The aintiff was a linen-draper at St. Ives, in Hunting donshire, and the defendants were three commis sioners named in a commission of bankruptcy against Messrs. Silvey and Saunderson, bombasin-msnu facturers at Norwich. - The commissioners had issued their warrant for the attendance of the plaintiff as a witness before them, and he was in consequence arrested and taken down from London to Norwich. Fro - m' the statement of Sir J. SCARLET; and the evidence for the plaintiff, it appeared that in the year 1.25 a commission of bankrupt was issued against Messrs. Silvey and Saunderson, which was after wards superseded, the creditors having consented to accept their debts by instalments, the last of which was guaranteed by the plaintiff.. They were, how ever, unable to meet the first instalment on its be coming due, and in consequence a second commis• sion was issued against them on the 26th of Mar c h, 1826. It being necessary to examine the plaintiff as a witness, touching the bankrupt's estate, the de fendants, who were named as commissioners, issued their summons on the 15th of April, 1826, requiring the plaintiff to Sppear before them at Norwich, on. Tuesday, the 18th of Ap r il, at ten o'clock i n t h e morning. The plaintiff being in London, the sum mons was seat to the agents of the solicitor to the commission, and their clerk served it upon the plain tiff in Landon, on Monday, the 17th of April, at five o'clock in the afternoon, tendering bins at the same time 51. to defray his expenses down to Norwich. The on receiving the summons, objected to the shortness of the time given, stated that he was afflicted with lumbago, and could not therefore travel by night ; and, also, that he had important business to attend to in London on the following day. The clerk who served the summons accompanied him, at his request, to his attorney, who said he did nut con sider the summons legal on account of the shortness of time allowed for the plaintiff's attendance, and he also urged that the 51. tendered to the plaintiff for his expences was inadequate. The plaintiff ex pressed his willingness to attend the commissioners at the end of the week, if they would make another appointment, and requested the clerk to write to Norwich to that effect, which he promised to do. On the evening of Monday, the 20th of April, the plaintiff was arrested by a sheriff's officer, under a warrant of the defendants. He was taken the same night to Norwich, where he arrived about 11 o'clock on the following morning, and was kept in custody at a tavern till the commissioners met at eight o'clock in the evening, when he was examined before them, and at 11 o'clock was discharged out of custody. He subsequently brought his action for the imprison ment, and it came on for trial at Guildhall last July twelvemonth, when Lord Tenterden directed a non stir,. The Court above haring in Trinity Term last set aside the nonsuit, the cause now came on for trial a second time. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL, in addressing the Jury for the defendants, called their attention to the lan guage of the Act of Parliament under which the warrant had been issued. By that Act, which was the last Bankrupt Act, the commissioners were au thoried to call before them any person who might be supposed able to give evidence .touching the bankrupt's affairs; and if, after being summoned, the party did not appear before them at the time appointed, having no lawful impediment made known to them at the time of meeting, and allowed by them, they were authorized by warrant under tbcir hands and seals to direct him to be apprehended, and brought before them to be examined. It was under the luithority of that Act of Parliament that the commissioners had acted in this case. Evidence was then gone into, and the Jury, after a few minutes' consideration, found for the defendants. The Court, at its rising, adjourned to the 7th of January. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, DEC. 24 THE MON. IL COCHRANE V. THE EXECUTORS OF LONG. Mr. CHITTY, in opening the pleadings, stated that it was complaiked in the declaration in this case, that the plaintiff having been possessed of a certain steam vessel called the lircsistiblc, had sold it, after it had become a wreck, to the deceased Long, but that he Long, having failed to pay the purchase-money, and take away the vessel, the plaintiff was compelled to put it up fur a second sale, in which he alleged he ►ncurred certain losses and expenses, for which the present action was-brought. The defendant pleaded the general issue. A - ftcr the case had been in part heard, Mr. Jus tice PARK said, that he was so convinced of the im propriety of the action, that he would nonsuit the plaintiff at all risks. The plaintiff ryas then called and nonsuited. PLYMOUTH POLICE. A native of the sister isle, a mender of soles, ap peared to fatbstantiate a complaint against Joseph Marahm, a private in the Rifle Brigade ; and on the parties presenting themselves to the notice of the Bench, tha complainant was asked his name ; he re plied, with a decent tip of the brogue, pushing his hands into the pockets of a surtout coat, which cased his person, " O'Sullivan Thompson, at your Hono:ir's service." " Well, O'Sullivan Thompson, what is the nature of your complaint ?" " Your Honour, lam come to swear my life away; I and all my concerns•are in danger through this man and the likes of him." Bench. " Why, what has he done ?" O'Sullivan Thompson. " Oh I just nothing" (biking his hands from his pockets) more than saying he would put his bayonet through my guts; it's very civil of him for that too."— Bench. "Is that all ?" O'Sullivan Thompson. "Is that all's your Honour asks. Is not a bayonet in a man's guts enough ? Is that an explanation fit for a soldier ?" Bench. " Did he strike you ?" O'Sullivan Thompson. " No; he said he'd be after whipping it into me, and I thought I'd com plain before I received it, as perhaps after I could not." Bench. " What was the cause of this ?" O'Sullivan Thompson : " The cause, did you say ? why only because I wished to take care of toy esta blishment; I am a tradesman come from London to open an establishment, and is it the likes of any vagabond to interfere with my concern ?" After a few more remarks, it came out that the defendant, with a dozen others, were lodgers in the same house in Perabroke-street, where the complainant carried on his establishment, and that, in consequence of O'Sullivan shutting the door of the house before all the lodgers came in of an evening, the fracas had ensued, when the language alluded to bad been used. The Bench declared that the summons must be dis charged, as no assault had been made Out. At this decision, Mister O'Sullivan Thompson said, " What's to become of my concern ?"—" What concern ?" said the Bench—for as yet no one know what establishment Mr. O'Sullivan Thompson car ried on. " The concern of a cordwainer ; here is my address, your Honour," cried he, presenting his card, by which it appeared that he was a bootmaker, just come from London, and that he had been boot maker to his Grace the Duke of Norfolk; and, fur ther, as an N. 8., it was stated, " Lectures on the Rudiments of Boot and Shoe-cutting, given to the Trade." This created a smile, but since the march of intellect has made such rapid strides, and im proved all professions, we see no reason why lec tures should not be given on the cut of a boo or shoe. Another summons was about to be called on, when the last complainant said, " I have another case ;" and O'Sullivan Thompson again stood as complainant !1 ! His opponent here was a lady, also a lodger, and she too came from the land of sweet Erin; she had called him a scoundrel, a villain, and other great things. This arose under similar cir cumstances about the door, and the case was dismiss ed. Mr. Thompson, tired of being nonsuited, was now about to move off, when he was detained by the officer, with a " here, you are wanted." O'Sullivan Thompson again I—He now stood as defendant, to answer the charge of having blackened the eye of one Ann Duncan. Ann told her tale— she went into a public house in Pembroke-street, when O'Sullivan came in, and, after he had been there a short time, his speech was not proper, and she told him of it, and called him a blackguard ; his reply was a blow in the face, which floored her, and placed her eye in mourning. O'Sullivan Thompson—" Now, your Honours, hear me, and I'll make it appear quite clear that I am innocent of the charge. This person came into the house and asked me for a halfpenny. Did you not, good woman ?" touching Mrs. Ann Duncan gently by the shoulder, " did you not, good woman ? —and did I not say, ' No, I'll not give you any thing, I'd rather burn it ?' and did I not put the halfpenny in the fire, just like that ?" shoving out his fist towards the Bench. Ann Duncan (looking from under her loonnet)— " No, good man, I did Ent ; look to my eye," point ing to her glimmer, " and speak to the Bench." O'Sullivan Thompson—" Your Honour, she charged we with being an advocate for forging a IN. note, and said I was a special robber•. Now, for a man, who came to this town just to commence an establishment, is it fair he should be treated so ? _ . They all abused me. I was but as a dog under them." Here a stop was put to, his story, and a witness was called, who deposed to his striking the woman, when the Bench fined him ss. and costs, making 9s. 6d. O'Sullivan Thompson—" Is it 9s. 6d. I have to pay ? lam ready, your Honours, but don't give any part of it to that woman, for she will spend it all in beer, and that's wrong, your Honour knows." Bench—" She will bare no part of it." O'Sullivan Thompson—" Then I'm easy ;" but, on his paying the money, he exclaimed, " I'll pay this ere small sum ; but all London shall know it." O'Sullivan Thompson, the lecturer and boot maker to his Grace the Duke of Norfolk, then moved off, being the cost.of two summonses, " and the small sum " of 9s. 6d. out of pocket. On Tuesday night the bleaching-grounds of Mr. Bennett, of Merton Abbey, were entered, anti several yards of printed muslin stolen. A considerable reward has been offered for the apprehension of the thieves. PADILLA, THE CONSPIRATOR, A curious letter is in town, written at Cer thagena by an intelligent Colombian, and re ceived by the last packet ship from New York, which affords some novel particulars relating to the late conspiracy against President Bolivar. It would seem that, when the plot was at first dis covered, for the sake of the Colombian charac ter, there was a wish to throw the blame on the Spaniards, by attributing the foul design to their intrigues. When, however, it became appa rent that many native leaders were deeply impli cated in it, and that the assassination of the Li berator was intended to pave the way to the ac 'cession of- another personage, whose power and influence would cease the moment the Spaniards gained an ascendancy, the idea was abandoned on account of its improbability. It has since been ascertained that the original project was formed at Ocana, where the sums of money necessary to carry it into effect and bribe the troops were allot ted out of the ill-gotten pelf of certain per sonages who, for a considerable time, had the loaves and fishes at their disposal during Boli var's absence, and whilst the English loan trans actions were going on. Although the number of persons implicated was not fUlly ascertained when the last accounts came away, the guilt of several who had cut a great figure in the republic was fully established, and among them that of Santander. The letter alluded to, however, ob serves, that, although this is the case, it is very dubious whether any more executions will .take place, in consequence of the powerful attitude m which the friends of the conspirators stand, as well on account of their rank as their influence ; and Bolivar's object is, besides, to heal wounds, and not irritate them. The execution of Pa dilla could have no ill effect on the country from the moment his guilt was proved. He could not be said even to belong to the party by whom • he was employed. He was, in fact, too illite rate to have any ideas of either a government or a revolution of his own, and his being put out of the way was a relief to all parties. Padilla was a black, and had formerly been boatswain of a Spanish gun-boat. Daring and, to a certain extent, experienced, he rose gra dually, front the . early stages of the revolution, to the rank of admiral and commander of the naval department of Carthagena. The paucity of seafaring men in those days left him almost without a competitor, and some acts of wanton cruelty committed on a fallen enemy most likely added to his recommendations. His ignorance and brutality were, nevertheless, apparent, and, being in favour with the coloured claeses, his power and influence were consequently feared by the whites. It was, indeed, said that he enter tained the project of raising Carthagena, where the blacks are principally concentrated, into a sable republic, under the auspices of the Hay tien President, Boyer; but the delicacy of the latter in not interfering in the concerns of any other country is too well known to imagine, for a moment, that he had any participation in the scheme, if, in reality, it had been formed by Pa dilla. The latter, however, always stood in op position to the whites, and of their feelings to wards him a very correct opinion will be formed from the following anecdote : About two years ago a grand entertainment was given by the municipality of Carthagena, in honour of some public event. All the principal inhabitants were invited, and among them Ad miral Padilla, being one of the principal autho rities of the place. Dancing was going on in brilliant style, when his black excellency, dress ed in his full uniform of admiral, attended by several of his officers, and with the mulatto fe male with whom he cohabited leaning on his arm, entered the saloon. The South American adios, who have a strong aristocratic feeling among them, turned up their noses at the sight of the naval party; but when the admiral and his lady joined the dance, they collected their partners, and immediately quitted the room, leaving the coloured pair in exclusive possession of the floor. Padilla was indignant at this insult offered to himself and his tawny helpmate,. and the next morning, in order to avenge himself, in his character of commander of marine, he is sued an order of the day, in which he expressed his resentment, and actually, in plain terms, in serted the chroniquc scandaleuse of most of the Carthagena married ladies, to the great an noyance of their husbands, and even enumerated some who ought long before to have been . the inmates of a hospital. Of course this circum stance made him a greater number of enemies, and it may thence be safely inferred that his ex ecution has not been universally regretted, at least among the Carthagena ladies. From the par ticulars here mentioned it is also easy to conclude that Padilla was a very proper person to take the lead in a conspiracy intended to rid the country of Bolivar, more particularly as ample funds ex isted to defray the expences, and reward those who distinguished themselves on the occasion. As part of the original design Padilla was to have held Carthagena, the key of the river com municating with the capital, and where he him self commanded, for the use of the conspirators ; and, if they had been driven to an emergency, doubtless he was to have raised his black myr midons, which might eventually have led to one of the most dangerous competitions for power. The next mail, now daily expected, will, how ever, furnish more ample details of the late con spiracy, and enable us to judge of its conse quences and extent. A CLOSE SHAVE.---011 Saturday evening, the 4th inst., a teamster fell from a waggon at Black Rock Dam, and the wheel cut his ear dean from his head, without braising his head, or otherwise injuring him.— The man went away with his ear in his pecket.—Anteri an Paper. Sixteen persons out of 45 that reside in the Hospital de Marie Therese, founded by the Viscountess de Chateauhriand, having died within a few months, the Council of Health of Paris are occupied in endeavouring to ascertain the cause of such alarming mortality, and the food, water, Bcc. are undergoing a-strict examination. The malady seems to be epidemic. One remarkable circum stance is, that the persons who lodge oat of the house, but take Weir meals there, have been affected # whilst others who come backwards and forwards, hot do not take their meals, have escaped.— GUlignonra Messenger. On T ue sday evening last a shocking outrage by a Peaman of the name of i w k a o s ,l e_o n n . tinitt Th e i d ,, a f t el N lo ezlin fi i .o - g u b i , some enmity he bad har boured against his brother-in-law, Jamieson by na me, seized the opportunity, as the latter stood near the door of his own house, of making a violent attack upon him ; and coming behind him, struck him so SWIM S l y on t h e shoulder with the sharp spade need in digging for bait, as nearly t.) dislocate the joint of the arm ; and as the poor man, agonized with pain, turned round, with a piteous exclama tion, to ascertain the came of 80 nnlooked for and cruel an i n j ury, lie ~„t i eed, in the fil - ehead, such another dreadful blow its laid it partly open, dividing the nose nearly amlet.. The ,unfeeling ruffian having thus felled the victim of his barbarity to the ground, immediately took to his heels and escaped. In the meantime the poor sufferer was carried into the house by his family, alarmed by the noise —and, although able to tell the name of the assailant, has since remained sPeechletl, with great doubts of his re covery,—Aberdeen Chronicle. IMPROVEMENTS AT PIMLICO. A well -executed map, recently published, showing the improvements now in progress at the west-end of London, particularly in the parish of St. Georg., Hanover-square, has directed our attention to that quarter of the metropolis, and probably a short state ment of the result of our observations may not prove uninteresting to the public. Those persons who re member the district called the " Five Fields " about three or four years ago, will be pleasingly surprised to learn that a spot, which was so lately perhaps the most wretched in appearance and the most disreputa ble in character in the metropolis or its vicinity, has been, within so short a period, converted into a splen did neighbourhood, and is, or at least is likely soon to become, the chosen resort of fashion and opulence. It has always been a subject of regret that the buildings which for several years past have annually swelled the already stupendous bulk of London, are, with few exceptions, of so poor and beggarly a description as to impart an air of poverty and meanness to the metropolis when entered through the suburbs. Let any one view the long lines of streets to the north of the New-road—whether at Islington or further west, towards Camden-town and Paddington —and it will be seen that they are com posed of only third and fourth-rate houses. On the Sun•ey side the case is as bad, if not worse. This circumstance, so unfortunate for the architectural character of the metropolis, has, we conceive, ori ginated in a miscalculation of the builders. They supposed that the only way to obtain a quick return of their capital was to build houses which would readily find tenants, on account of the cheapness of the rent ; but it never entered into their.calculation that the money of persons who could afford to pay only a low rent was less sure than that of those who were competent to pay a high one, and that the increase of the poors' rate, which is inevitable in a neighbourhood of low character, must, to a certain extent, operate as a bar to the settlement of tenants who mean, to pay bone fide, because the latter will naturally argue that it will be more to their advan tage to pay the sum required for poors' rate in the shape of additional rent in a more respectable vici• nity. The speculators seem also to hare over looked this important circumstance—that the per sons who resort to the ontskirts of the metropolis, where little or no business is carried on, are chiefly of that class which, is able to pay high rents for good houses. Another illustration, though of an opposite nature, of our argument is to be found in the success which has attended the buildings in the Regeat's Park, and that which seems certain to crown the improvements on Lord Grosrenor's estate at Pimlico. The surface of the Five Fields was covered with a clayey soil about two feet in depth, which completely prevented the absorption of rain, so that even in the middle o summer it appeared damp, and a few huts were the only habitations that relieved the monotony of the scene. When the resolution was formed of building on the ground, it was found necessary to remove this retentive surface, which being done (a matter of no little difficulty; compensated, however, in some de gree by the material being converted into brinks), a fine sandy soil, presented itself. This was well cal- ciliated fora 'building foundation;l;;; it v being thought rather low, the persons engaged therefore at once decided on the arduous undertaking of rais ing the level of the ground ten feet, and this has been done over a space of about 100 acres. On this site have been constructed several houses, forming noble squares, streets, and crescents, which beyond question surpass in magnificence any buildings of the same character and extent in any one district in the metropolis. All the great improvements of the age seemed to have been placed in requisition to give an air of grandeur to this undertaking. The ' ground is drained in the most perfect manner; large sewers have been built in every avenue ; the roads are broad and level, and the areas in the squares thickly and tastefully planted. Some idea may be formed of the grandeur of this neighbourhood when we state that there is scarcely a house in it which is not equal to any in the Regent's Park, whilst mazy are greatly snperior, and all possess the advan tage in the solidity of construction, and the extent of space occupied. Whilst standing amidst these fine buildings, one cannot fail to be struck with the fatigable spirit of individual enterprise in this country, and with the extraordinary effects it produces. It is only about three years s►nce the first stone of the house lately occupied by Lord Forrester (the first built) was laid, and already an extensive neighbour hood is created, which, in other places of less mag nitude than London, would be called a quarter of a town. A sum of nearly one million sterling has, we understand, already been expended on the work, and as mach more must be disbursed before it is completed. The ambitious character of the under taking is apparent. It is evidently intended to chal lenge the support of the wealthiest classes, and henceforth the struggle will be between Portman and Grosvenor-squares and this neighbourhood. Which will be triumphant remains to be seen : at all events, the new houses here, as we are informed, are being taken up by the nobility as fast as they are completed. One circumstance will tend to render this neighbourhood fashionable, independent of its own peculiar aptness for the abode of the wealthy part of the community—namely, its contiguity to the King's new Palace; thus receiving and im- parting in appropriate splendour by the vicinity o the Royal residence.—Morning Paper. SECOND HAND COFFINS.---Th e following curious handbill has been stuck up at Whit e hav e n " Hardy and Company, Second Hand Coffin Warehouse, No. 18, Fox-lane, having been several years agent for sup plying Dublin and Edinburgh Colleges with bodice they have had the opportunity of collecting a large assortment of coffins of every size and description, which they purpose selling at reduced prices fur ready money. Also all kinds of human and other bones, coffins, &c. bought, sold, or exchanged.— Orders Ivill be received at the warehouse, or the furniture shop, Market-place. N.B. Best prices given for perfect bodies. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. LIVERPOOL. Tu ESDAS", DECEMBER 23. —ulna iv. s. - 4 4 1 t, water 28 minute.; past twelve.—Arrited the J i4l Adair, --, from Salon ; Harmony, Stewart, Drogheda ; Leeds, Easton, from Dublin ; Tobin Dr thett, from Dublin ; North Star, King, from '•/,; ton ; Fell, from the Isle of Man ; Heroine, Faro. CLRARED OUTWARDS. The Ellettbetb, Barr. for Bilboa ; Grace, Davies, for Antigua ; Nigh! —, for Pernambuco; William Riggs, Gamble Pernambuco. t., THE MARKETS. COAL 111A3; Felling 30s. 6d. Heaton 35 g 1 leblaurn 11ain 34 0 Ilolpren,..— 52 6 35 0 31 0 Oril's Itecihngh 30 9 Pelmv Sliipcote 3l tt Tanlicid • 32 9 fownlec 33 0 Wylain Wal l mEntlllenricke&Co. 35 9 Ditto Bell Robson & Co. 35 0 Ditto Brown's 33 3 Ditto Carr and Co. 31 0 Ditto Clarke and C 0..,,, 33 0 Ditto Crainlington . 31 0 Ships 41 market, 2113 i —Mil Kr.r.—Dee. Walls god Newmareh,.. S s i l Ditto Northumberland Ditto Perkins and Co. Ditto Ditto Russell's Neskani Main Russell's High 5 1 . 1 Walls End II Walls End Lyons 3+4 Walls End Stewart's Russell'elletton'sW.E. Stl Myth Hartley W. E. Henderson :o,i Silkstone Field and Co. 10 Primrose 17 rps io.d, 36—thasold, 175%1 COUN'PRY CORN MARKETS [HIKING THR WB! Whent. I Barley. Outs. 800 __. --__. --...._,............." Per Quarter. a. t o a. a. to s. s. to s. A bittgdott—....... fki 81 35 42 35 48 Andover....,,---. 89 27 28 .... i 10rininghatn--. 72 &./ al 90 24 36 Bridi,ort --.. MS 74 09 3 9 23 34 Cirencester .......-- 60 80 31 40 '2l 36 ntringdon---.. 54 B—6 36 40 26 98 —. Guildford --. 44 80 50 4.5 21 93 Henley 56 Oft St 48 23 34 Hereford 60 P 4 38 4.5 :Si 40 flighworth —... (Id 80 34 48 'l9 34 Maidenhead ...--. 60 84 23 42 24 :36 I Oakinz.Otarn ... 58 76 90 38 24 '34 -•• Reading ----,..... 86 9; IN 44 al - 55 —. l i Salisbury 8E 92 35 42 21 28 ; Southampton . 54 . T 8 87 40 2EI 32 . 1 Stroud ---- 61 30 al .36 if.c 34, A ' T.mkesbnry . N ..., . 56 7S - 40 92 90 38 —. "A Uxbridge 56 81 35 42 26 32 : Wa5tage........._ 50 74 28 31 20 34. r Warminster -- 80 90 92 45 20 24. ... ' IV iiittsor—...— 54 80 32 42' 20 36 ,A ' Worceiter—.—.. 72 80 34 44 183 36 CHELTENHAM MA RKE'r.—Dee. 23. Per Bushel. F. U. to e. d. Pe t lb. d. to dI . Wheat Barley Clots Beans 4 0 0 6 Lauda.". l .. 8 Pmse 5 0 8 0 Pork a Hay 3l. 156. to 4/. 4e. pet ton. _. We regret to state that, on Saturday morning last, an accident which had nearly been attended with fatal consequences, occurred in the Trent, near Burton Stather, by the Hero steam packet running foul of the Ilfercury, iu the coarse of their paai,re from Gainsborough to this port. We hare been requested to lay before our readers the following statement connected with this unpleasant transaction, the parties from whom we received it having pledged themselves to its truth :—" On Saturday last, as the steam-packets were returning from Gainshorough in the morning, the Hero having got the start by about a mile, upon the Mercury corning upand attempting to pass her in a proper manner, which she would have accom plished, had the Captain of the Hero permitted it, the latter, instead of keeping a regular course, laid his vessel athwart for the purpose of preventing her from passing. This was repeated three or font• times, till the vessels came foul ofeach other, when the Mercury pamied, taking the lead 60 or 70 yards. While the last named vessel, how. ever, was taking in goods and passengers at Burton `tattier, the Hero corning apparently at her full speed, with a square sail set, ran into the /Mercury's stern, curry ing away her own figure-head, and the Mercury's boat. The pswangers on board the Mercury shrieked out, and the men called out to the Captain of the Hero to put his helm round, to prevent accident. Either from the tide running strongly from the Mercury's quartet., or from the concnasion arising from the blow given by the Hero, we cannot say which, the passage-boat went down, with two ferrymen and a female on board. The former were carried by the current to the Hero, and taken on board, but the woman sunk, and Wll3 at the time given up for lost. A lope, however, that had been thrown oat few the purpose ofsaving liar, on Fein pulled in was found to be entangled round her body, and she was to this fortnnate circumstance indebted for her life, after having been under water far several minutes. Fortunately, the Kern's stern had twieted round after the blow, or it is probable there would have been little chance of saving either of them, as the ferry-boat had sunk, and the Mercury's boat drifted away full of water. At the time the accident occurred, them was plenty of room on either side of the Mercury for the I Hero to have passed. The p ro p r i e t ors o f th e Mercury, it is understood, intend to institute legal proceedings against the Captain of the Hero, as they consider the acci dent to have been caused entirely by his very improper cam- , Pitumn and Prartstign by MURDO YOUNG, at the duet on the octusion."—lfumber Mercury. 1 BoN 011110 E, 112, Sulam), LoNvenr. - t d .POB 4 1 0 a s 1p a LEWES MET.—Des.. 23. IN'hite Wheat (per quarter) A RK .E 4 0 0 to £4 3 0 Red ditto Parley Oats, New - 1 6 0 0 00 2 0 0' Oil Cake, New v l9 0 0 per thousand.. - HULLMARKET.--Dec. We have a moderate chew of farmers' Wheat to th e - - day's market, the general condition of which was istat' &rent; these Well! taken MT by the Hilliers ate decline Is. to 2s. per quarter ; we do sot, however, notice any fir cline in the beat ruse of foreign, whirl, are held lower prices would have been submitted to on the sece l l '. dary qualities, had th ere b een any d i sposition manifegtew..: to purchase them. Beans, Pease, Oats, and Barley, reno o ' 4 . in the same inanimate state tee have had to neticc 14 ii sal i e v e do ( n w o e t , e k therefore, a ck, alter sea o • u r : v e ly a urren ny cy inquiry p ro weed r the ire do not, thesefoie, alter our currency. Rapseeetl afl ; 4 Linseed remain as last noted. IVbeat, Foreign —e. 755. 841 Oats, Poland ...... 24e. Wt. Old — s. ~„.. ---Small or Feeti.... —s. 18s. 91e. FOreirtl —6. ..0; • Bar;ey, Norf. & Suf —s 384. 335. Line. & Wold —s. &U. Foreignlleane —a. 404. 424. U 4. Vie. Foreign —4. 495. Pease, White —a. 484. 508. Grey ...... 408. 4IEV" Taros 406. Ws. Foreign 40.4. Rapeseed. In Itond none. LI VER POOL CORN EXCHANGE. - ..Dec, The impel is of Wheat sinoe Tuesday have considerablY exceeded those of the previous week, and the supply is /IP creased by the arrival of two or three cargoes of foreign % it is, however, still below the quantity actually leaving the market. Of Oats, Oatmeal, and Flour, the imports coe" tinne small; 8,000 to 4,000 qre. of _lndian Corn have sr rived from the United States, the quality very fine; eh ° about 1,000 barrels of sweet Flour from the same ootn't r r' and a cargo of Flour from the North of Spai n . The creased demand for Wheat last Tuesday, oseasioned by t he purchases of the interior millers, ceased with the day, and the sales since have been on * very moderate scale ; speculative purchases were effected in the early part of the week, at nearly previous rates; but on Saftsr-/ . , day, both here and in the surrounding country, the • trade was dull, and prices rather lower. The traneae- gone in Oats have been exteneive, and at full prices, but mostly on the speculation. Some large parcels of Oatmeal have also been taken on the same account. Both these- artieles brought rather more money, at the close of the week, in the Manchester market. Prices of Barley Beans, and Pease, are unaltered ; for the first article there has been a little more inquiry. It is estimated that 5,000 to 6,000 quarters of Indian Corn have changed hand* n ithin the last few days, and it is now generally held for an advance of 2e. per quarter. This morninee market was extre►uely dell, and the few sales effected in Wheat were at a decline of fully 4d. per 701bs. Oats sup"' ported the quotations of last Tuesday; the transactions in them were, however, very limited. Flour was offered fully 2s. per sack lower ; but prime Oatmeal, beieg scarce, brought quite as high rates, A HINT FOR DRAMATIC WRITERS.-' Sheridan is said to have given the following advice to an • . author, whose comedies were generally reduced by the critical computation of Managers from the fair proportion of five acts to two, and even one, with the ordinary sag geation " necessary alterations !" " Why, my good fellows do not be disheartened, I world advise you to present a comedy of a score of acts, and the Devil is in it if five be, • not saved." . • BIRTHS. On the 18th inst. at Cleesby, near Darlington, the lady of Ottavins Yirray, Esq. of the Hon. East India Company's Bengal Medical Service, of a son. On the 19th inst. at Pakenham Hall, Ireland, the Countess of Longford, of a daughter, still-born. On the 21st inst. at Farnham, Surrey, the lady of Cept Alexander Brown, of a daughter. At Cobham, Mrs. T. Bakr if if, .antglater. The lady of Thomas Penton Peterson, Esq: of Mangote field-house, Gloucestershire, of a daughter. At Edinburgh, the lad, _ ,ady of Jeut.-Col. Forbes Leith, of Whitehangh, of a son and heir. On the 20th inst. in Cumberland-street, Portman.. square, the lady of Dr. Harington, of a son. On the 23d inst. the lady of Archer Ryland, Eeq. bar. rister-at-law, of a eon. MARRIED. On the 224 inst. at Winchester, by the Rev. Frederick Yonge, John Wiekey Stable, Eeq., of Welbeek-street, Ca %widish-square, to Louisa, only daughter of Robert Jes sett, Esq. of the Abbey, Winchester. On the 18th inst. at M 4ebone N, a► _iary; sew Chez refi, - Thoroas Denman, Esq. of Buckingham-street, Fiteropsqtrare, to Miss Deiphine Brown, of Dover, Kent. At Brotherton, Lord M , oneaster, of Warier, Yorkshire, to Frances Catherine, the youngest daughter of Sir J. Ramaden, Bart. of Byrom. On the 18th instant, at St. George's, Bloomsbury, by the Rev. William Goode, M.A., Philip Bartlett, Esq. of Buckingham, to Harriett, eldest daughter of the late Joseph Seeley, Esq. of his Majesty's Exchequer. On the 11th instant, at Fdinburgh, by the Bev. B. Q. Shannon, A. 8., Lieut. John Barilemae, Berigal Infantry, to Mary, only daughter of the late A. Alaedesald, Esq. of Laig, Inverness-shire. DIED. On the 2lst inst. at hie reciden.ft, Upper Stamfotd street, John Jacob Walter, EN. late of the Island of Antigna. On the 19th inst. at his house in Arlington-street, Camtlen-town, John Fraser, Esq. aged 77. On tlao 13th inst. Mr. James Owen, of Oxforti-etreet, surgeon, aged 42. On the 19th inst. Mr. John Walker, of Prospeet-plaee, Mile-end, aged 69. On the Ilth inst. at Nice, deeply regretted, the Rev. Dr. Woodward, Rector of Olanworth, Ireland, in the 59th year of bi 7 age. On the 20th inst. at Cranford, Middlesex, in the 72d year of her age, Mrs. Elisabeth, Moore, widow of the late Mr. Charles Moore, of Salishnry-court, and Cranford. On the 21st inst. in Princes-street, Carendiali-evare, Richard Askew, Esq. late Major of the 27th Foot. • On the 21st inst. at Clifton, Lady Sawrr, the wife of Admiral Sir Herbert Sawyer, K.C.B. ~• I ~. '4 ~ .4 QUI .tut Itcon t °lt 78 2. VEA lie. Pnbli 14 08 ,talf_ 4, r oLgt ( -4 - n-f 6414 PI and 1 34. , Sli) Guu 6 eina. tit}, hiliti I) 4p , Pric Sup D T pin out 611 p 4tlr 12„ )2, 113.., 14-1 14,-, rc 661 is