The Sun. — London, England, 1849-06-26 00:00:00

E GAL TITLE ASSURANCE COMPANY. (Proylsamally Re.ostered, January 17, 1849.) Capital, 2,000,0001., in 80,00 Shares, of 25/. each. ereliminAry Deposit, 2s. 6d. per Share Proime•tuses and hilt inrormation may be ootalned at the Tempo rary Offices of the Company, 13a, Cannon-row, Westminster, on ap plication ti G. F. HOWE. Hon. sec., pro tern. In a neat v.lume Bvo., bound, price 10s. 6d. SCENES WhERE T HE TEMPTER HAS TRIUMPHED. By the Author of " The Gaol Chaplain." Richard Bentley, New Burlington-street. H lt MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Signor PUZZI'S Benefit. On THURSDAY EVENING. Will be performed Donizetti's celebrated Opera, DON PASQUALE. After 'Which a grand Pas de la Couronne, by Mdlle. M. Taglioni sad 31. Dor. To be followed by the Last Act of the celebrated Opera, IL GILTRAME N TO, n which Mdlle. Parodi and Signor Moriani will appear. To conclude with the Divertissement LA PRIMA BALLERINA. The principal parts by Mdlles. Petit Stephan, Marra, Thomassini, Julien, Ans ,, •undon, Lamoreux, and M. Paul Taglioni. Applications for Boxes, Stalls, and Tickets to be made at the Box-office of the Theatre, where Pit Tickets may be obtained as usual, price 10s. 6d. each. Doors open at Seven ; and the Opera to commence at Half-past Seven o'clock. ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. FRENCII PLAYS and OPERA COMI4I7E. Last Night but One. TO-MORROW EVENING, _ Tke Perfermances wfll commence at Hall-past Seven o'clock with LA DOUBLE ECHELLE. To conclude with LE COMTE ORY. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. THIS EVENING, Will be presented Donizetti's admired Opera, entitled LITCREZIA BORGIA. After the Opera a new grand Pas de la Couronne by. Mdlle. Marie Taglleni and X. Dor, To conclude with LA PRIMA BALLERINA. Application for Boxes, Stalls, and Tickets to be made at the Box-office of the Theatre, where Pit Tickets may be obtained, as usual, price 10s, 6d. each. Y AL, kLAY MAR ik: 11( 4 B. Webster, Sole Lessee and Manager, Old BroraPton. THIS EVE'S flit, Will be performed a new and original tragic Play, in Five Acts, entitled STRATHMORE. Principal characters by Messrs. C. Kean, H. Vandenhoff, Buckstone, Howe, Stuart, RogerS ; Mrs. C. Kean, Mrs. Fitzwilliara, and Miss Reynolds. To conclude with the Comedy of WILD OATS. Rover, Mr. James W attack ; Harry Thunder, Mr. H. Vandenhoff ; Lady Ama ranth. Miss P. Horton. THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHL tinder the direction of Madame Celeete, Tan EVENING, Will be performed THE KNIGHT OF ARVA. After which a new grand Extravaganza, entitled THE DEVIL'S VIOLIN AND THE REVOLT OF THE FLOWERS. To be followed by a novelty in the shape of A MOST UNWAR - RA.NTABLE INTRUSION, which will be committed by Mr. Wright 0 the annoyance of Mr. Paul Bedford. To conclude with JOHN JONES. £O - IAL .LYC YAM TREAT tt.L. Under the Management of Madame Vestrl4, Sole Lessee. Mr. Charles Ma , he 7,5. THIS EVEN ENG Will be performed THR SaVEN CHAMPIO3.TS OP CHRISTEN. DOM. To be followed by A WONDERFUL WOMAN. To «include with AMATEURS AND ACTORS. Drees Loxes, 55.; Upper Beam, 4s. ; ht, ss. ; Gallery, Is. No talf-price to any part of the house. Th.: Sew Doz-office, No. 2, Wellington-street, is open to the rablie very 'ey, from Ten till Sjs. AnTLe.:Y n ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Proprietor, Mr. W. Batty. Under the Patronage of her M4esty the Queen, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, &c. The following eminent artistes form the greatest amount of female equestrian talent ever engaged in this or any other establishment at one time : Mdlles. Adelaide Mimic, Valentine, Louise Tonirnaire, La Jeane Josephine ; Miss Woolford, Ban - and, Davidson, Avery, and La Petite Jeanette. In addition to the above Mr. Batty has great pleasure in announc ing that he has engaged that peerless equestrian Marie Macarte, whose brilliant triumphs on the Continent and in America have ac quired for her the appellation of the Equestrian Enchantress. THIS EVENING, The performance will commence with a Grand Military Equestrian Spectacle, entitled MOOLTAN and GOOJERAT ; or, the Conquest of the Seikhs. To be followed by an inimitable display of SCENES IN THE CIRCLE. in which Marie Macarte will appear, supported by the first Equestrian talent of the ay. To conclude with a favourite Melodrama, entitled THY eitocK OF GOLD ; or, The Murder at the Hall. Lux-office open ~.om Eleven till Four. tae M?.natfer. Mr. W. West. ROYAL SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. Engagement of M. JULLIEN. First Week of the Army and Caledonian Quadrilles. IMMENSE AND UNPARALLELED SUCCESS. Under the patronage of her Moss Gracious Majesty, her Majesty the Queen Dowager, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, Sec. The Pub Tic Press has unanimously pronounced the Storming of Badajoz to be the most perfect and life-like exhibition. The Nobility, Gentry, and the Feblic are respectfully informed that this favourite place of fashionable resort is open every MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND THURSDAY. Danson's gigantic modelled Panorama of the TOWN AND FORT OF BADAJOZ, pronounced by the voice of public opinion to be the most perfect and life-like exhibition ever presented—Splendid Menagerie—Jullien's unrivalled Band—Vo cal and Instrumental Concert.—Several Favourite Songs and Ballads by Miss Ellen Rowland and Mr. George Tedder— los by Koenig, Richardson (Flute)—Violin and Violoncello by lotti and George Collin?, varied alternately—and other at tractions, concluding with a vivid representation of the Storming of Badajoz, pourtraying the advance of the British army—bombard ment and attack—gallant defence—rush to the breach op real troops —and final tableaux in honour of the " Hero of a hundred fights." Doors open at Nine o'Clock, A.M. ; feeding of the animals at Five ; Pelicans and White Bears half-past Five • Concert at Six ; Storming of Badajoz, at Dusk.—Admis s i on O ne Shilling. REFRESHMENTS.—The frequenters of these Gardens have long complained that Refreshments from the Confectionary-rooms only could bt , procured. Arrangements have been effected, and a distinet portion of the Gardens set apart, where Refreshments may be had of the first quality', and at the usual Prices. Til WEATHER.—Stai 071FICE, JA:11 , 11A 26. TiILERMODIETitn, Lowest, 56; Highest, 65; Noon, 71 BAROMETER, 30.05. WIND W.—light breeze and fine sunshiny weather. 21IGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tsui Day —Morning, 1 min. after 6 I Evening, 16 min. after 6 To. Nfoßnow—Morning, 53 min. after 6 I Evening. 18 min. after 7 Ottning "AtAIL LONDON, TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1849. Although Lord LINIIOLN'S motion respecting Van couver's Island was dropped by a "count-out" imme diately after his admirable exposure of that shame ful act of Ministerial jobbery, the subject will be brought forward again by the Noble Lord, in the shape of a grievance upon the first Sup ply night that may appear to present a favourable opportunity. It is hardly neces sary for us to say we are glad of this, seeing that from the very outset we have protested against the transaction as one damning to the patriotic disinte restedness of the Administration. Under whatever form the matter may be brought before the considera tion of Parliament, it cannot appear to the popular representatives as otherwise than a monstrous subordination of public interests to private emolument. As such, therefore, it demands the rigid and exacting scrutiny of the House of Commons. That scrutiny it will command either during this or on some ensuing session. The importance of the retention of an island like that of Quadra, command ing the whole of the Pacific, and affording an outlet for the productions of our North Ame rican possessions, would constitute of itself a gua rantee that ultimately the fact and the manner of its transference will be subjected to the inquiries of the Legislature. But in addition to this powerful inducement to an investigation, there is the notorious incapacity of the Hudson's Bay Company to effect anything else than the systematic sterilization of any territory that may, by an evil destiny, be brought under their jurisdiction. We call it sterilization ad visedly, for we cannot regard that plan as other than a plan of deliberate sterilization which reduces A country to a wild, exuberant, spontaneous, and consequently profitless state of vegetation, s i mp l y for the purpose of aiding the propagation of the fur_ coated animals, from the bear to the beaver, from the lynx to the ermine. This system of manage ment has been carried out unin terruptedly by the Hudson's Bay Company throughout the whole of their gigantic possessions, and this system, in spite of such farcical masquerades of colonization as the Red River settlement, they are determined to carry out, per far et nefas, for their own private advantage as a mercan tile association. Now it surely does not remain for us to pronounce such a scheme of government as not only pernicious to our interests as a nation, and preju dicial to our reputation as a civilized race, but a disgrace to us as an empire, and a crime to us as Christians. The fact is legible on the face of all history, both ancient and modern, both remote and contemporary. It was the circumstance of WILLIAM Rufus pre cluding the possibility of anything like agri cultural progress in the largest and most fruitful portions of Hampshire (The New Forest) that imparted to his reign an air of such savage austerity. Yet what WILLIAM Rurus did to the portion of a mere province of his dominion, at a time when that dominion extended no further than beyond the boundary line of the Grampians and the shores of England, the Hudson's Bay Com paoy have done (and that too i n t h e e i ghteenth and ninetieth centuries !) to half of a vast con tinent like the northern continent of America. What WILLIAM RUFUS did for the sake of the manly sport of bunting, the Hudson's Bay Company have been and are doing for the sake of so much profit as traders ! Let them draw a warning in the shape of a deduction from the annals of their native country ! Let them remember how the Second WILLIAM fell a victim to his inordinate passion for spurt 1 And let them beware I lest they may find themselves destroyed by some Parliamentary Sir WALTER TYRRELL ! Unless they be absolutely blinded by their avarice as specu lators, by their greed of emolument, by their lust for an exorbitant per• centage in profit, they will yield before their barbarous and extortionate proceedings have driven the country to desperation ; they will, in particular, shrink from the ridicule attached to those who emulate the fabu lous dog dropping the substance to snatch the shadow. To them we are satisfied that Vancouver's Island will prove nothing more than a shadow, a shadow reflected to their avaricious eyes in the waters of Nootka Sound. Even now, in this early stage of the proceeding, when the ink is scarcely yet dry upon the document which consigns Quadra to their dominion, the effect is be ginning to manifest itself in a detestation of their barbarous system, which must inevitably tend at last to undermine the whole superstructure of their sway in North America. A more unfortunate time for the negotiation of such a transference could not by any possibility have been selected. Now, when emigration has be come a necessity,:the ides of barbarising yet more of our colonial territories becomes more than ever re pulsive. Now, when the golden discoveries _in California have opened a fresh field for commerce on the western coasts of the New World ; and now, when intelligent men, are beginning to argue for the formation of a trunk railway connecting the Atlantic and the Pacific—the notion of handing over Vancouver's Island (the only available port belonging to England on that side of the Eastern Ocean) to the Hudson's Bay Company, becomes a project altogether insuf ferable. Nor are these the only prominent reasons why any honest Government directing the affairs of England should pause before juggling away for so ' many years such a possession. The fact upon which we have more than once enlarged before this, the fact upon which we shall not cease to enlarge so long as the geological and geographical advantages of Vancouver's Island remain in jeopardy, the fact that the soil of that island abounds in coal, with the additional fact that that coal is literally lying on the surface, and not so far buried in the earth as to require labour for its acquisition, are suffi cient reasons fur a disinclination, on the part of Eng land, to resign her hold upon Vancouver's Island, simply for the personal satisfaction of a solitary member of the Cabinet. As a coaling station Vancouver's Island is universally admitted to be invaluable; and yet it is this Vancouver's Island that has been shuffled over into the clutches of a company of fur-traders ! It is this island which has been thus rashly lost to us at the very period when the dawning commerce on the Pacific and the advance of steam navigation, both in regard to merchandise and war, rendered the retention of such a coaling station in such a quarter of the globe more than ever inestimable ! " The Position of Vancouver's Island is such that there is little reason to doubt its wealth and consequence will place it high in the scale of England's offspring." That is the opinion, simply but emphatically pro• I nounced, upon the importance of Quadra by the I projector of the North American Railway, in a new and more practical argument in favour of his gigantic project, an argument contained in a pamphlet,* still more worthy of consideration than the one previously addressed by him to the author of the " Clockmaker." No sane man, glancing at a chart of the world, will gainsay the truth of that declaration. Since the periods of its being visited by Coost, by MEAns, and by VANCOUVER, the estimate formed of the value of the island, and of its contiguity to the North- American Continent, has progressively advanced. Surely, it is the height of impudence, not to say the most flagrant of all the evidences of jobbery, for a Cabinet to make away with this large and important spot of ground at the very epoch when the appreciation of its value has attained its extreme altitude ! Lord LINCOLN should feel a profound confidence in the sympathy, not of one or two, but of a whole nation, in those bold and laudable exertions which were, the other evening, all but frustrated. If an army of soldiers, or a number of individuals of any kind, were placed in circumstances that it became necessary continually to remove a quantity of pon derous material up as inclined plane or a steep accli vity, it must be obvious that the mode in which the individual burden was placed must have a material influence upon the muscular powers and physical en durance of those by whom it had to be sustained. For instance, if each man's share of the burden was of the weight of seven pounds, and the weight was attached to his ankles or part of the lower extremities, the weakest would become actually crippled by the pressure and exhaustion of strength, whilst even the strongest would find it a great impediment to loco motion, and if able to go forward at all thus leg-logged, to quicken their pace from a walk to a run would be utterly impracticable. But let the same weight, or even one considerably greater, be placed in a knap sack or other convenient and condensed form, acid borne between their shoulders, and it forms no serious impediment to progress. Every man in this country is placed under cir cumstances that he has continually to carry a burden, if not is pounds weight, in pounds money, being the share apportioned to him to contribute by taxa tion to the national revenue, and the weight is placed in that most inconvenient and oppressive mode by which it cripples and exhausts the feeble, checking the rapid progress of the strongest. Hence the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his annual exposition on Friday night, is quite content, and his auditors seem tolerably well satisfied to find, that the burde❑ is not so great as entirely to arrest the progress of those who carry it; that another year has rolled round, and still the charge-bearers move on, however difficultly or however slowly, but as to increasing the speed into a quick march, far less to run, he never dreams of such a thing, whilst the idea of flying would, of course, be quite chimerical. When the labours of the Liverpool Financial Re form Association, and the attention of thoughtful and inquiring minds upon the subject have been carried to a sufficient extent; when a Minister of Finance shall be found capable of comprehending the question in all its bearings, one who could see that powers of production almost infinite, when unre stricted and under some modifications, are necessarily limited and finite, under others, it will perhaps be found, that the inconvenience of our present burthen arises not from its ponderous and insupportable weight, but from the mode in which it is imposed— that the nation is in the situation of the army carry ing their knapsacks strapped about their heels, instead of being borne upon their shoulders. There are two sources, and only two sourc es ready - , from . which revenue can b e o bt a i ne d. F rom wea lth a' produced—Capital, and from wealth in the course of production—Labour. Those who have advocated direct taxation instead of i n dir ec t h ave , we think, usually erred in consideringderive revenue ; but the form er as th e to only proper fund from which we take a different view of the subject, and though considering a system of direct taxation as superior t o indirect taxation as the knapsack on the back is to the knapsack about the heels, yet deem it proper that the whole weight of taxation should not be thrown upon the real or accumulated property of the country, and that labour should take a fair proportion of the burden, because the functions of a Government are not exclusively for the protection of the property of the rich, but the protection of person — the liberties and lives of all ; indeed, friendly as we are known to be to free trale, we believe there are many functions which have hitherto been performed by individuals or companies which could be more effectually and more economically performed by the State for the well- being of the entire population. Perhaps if it were proposed for the first time, that a Government should commence the business of common carriers, and convey our newspapers and letters from one town to another, or take up one province of banking, the transfer of money " The Employment of the People and Capital of Great Britain in our own Colonies, at the same time assisting Emigration, Colonization, and P.nal Arrange ments, by undertaking the Construction of a great Na 'tonal Railway between the Atlantic and Pacific, from Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia, to Frazer's River, New Caledonia." By Major Robert Carmichael Smyth. With two maps, Bvo., pp. 76. Metchim; London, 1849. , from one place to another, this might be considered as stepping out of the latitude of a Government, an interference with individual or private operations; and that on the principles of free trade, or laissez faire, as it is called by an eminent writer,* a Government should hold entirely aloof; but it is difficult to con ceive that any private individuals, or public compa nies, who of course would subject different parts of the island to different regulations as to carrying letters, could accomplish the business of carrying letters and newspapers, or paying money orders so systematically, and, as it regards one of these two functions, at so little cost to the public. Perhaps, if a Government were to undertake the supply of gas, of water, and other functions hitherto performed by individuals or companies, there might be great advantages and eco nomy. In all these arrangements the welfare of the entire community would be promoted—that of the la bourer as well as the capitalist; and the same is the case with many functions at present performed by the Government. Therefore, there is no reason that the former should not contribute also; and even if the present taxation takes too large a proportion from labour and too small from capital, far better to con tinue the proportions as they at present exist, shifting the burthen from the heels to the shoulders, rather than consume time and energy in disputing whether a larger portion shall be attached to the heels of one man and a smaller portion to those of another. Financial reformers lay great stress on economy, and no doubt it is a very important element in a national administration of funds, as well as in the funds of a private individual, but we view an altera tion in the system of taxation as calculated to accom plish more for the relief of the tax-payer than the most rigid economy could possibly do, even though it realised the whole of Mr. COBDEN'S beau ideal of a budget—ten millions per annum less than the existing estimates. The mode by which we conceive that the existing burden would be borne with as much relative relief as the knapsack on the back instead of the ankles, is by the total abolition of all indirect taxes, and the substitution of direct taxation exclusively. Our Excise duties, our Customs duties, such important branches of the revenue, are taxes upon consumption, and here it is that the evil is so great. An indivi dual, a family, a large establishment are,perhaps, able, and only just able, to bear up under the load, which these imposts are, in addition to their assessed taxes, parochial taxes, and income tax, if in the posi tion to contribute to these latter; but the effect of the taxes upon articles of consumption, through Ex cise and Customs, has the necessary tendency of keeping in check and within restricted bounds benefical consumption, and conse quently beneficial production, the source from which additional supplies could be levied either in relief of existing chargebearers, or to meet increased public expenditure for beneficial public objects. Let this be illustrated. Here is an individual, or a family, or a class, which may be called the producing class, and the case will be better illustrated by interpreting the term producing class beyond those who exert manual labour. Let it include those who bear a share of the national burden, not paid out of accumu lated capital, but from their industrial or professional pursuits, the daily labourer, the mechanic, the artist, the preceptor, the medical professor; all these may, for the sake of illustration, be supposed capable of bearing the quota of taxation which falls to their share under the present allotment, although, doubt less, large numbers are from time to time driven from their position. unable to maintain it, and sink down into a lower grade, or seek a refuge in emigration ; but if those able to maintain their posi tion add in any way to their consumption of articles of daily and necessary consumption, they are imme diately the subjects of large additional taxation, and thus it is that the great check is kept upon the vital energies of the nation. If they marry, or, being mar ried, have additional children, or, whether married or unmarried, add in any way to their establishment, here is an immediate heavy penalty for the trans gression. More tea, more sugar, more coffee, greater consumption of the necessaries of life, becomes the source of additional taxation, and thus a continual drag-chain is placed upon the energies of the nation. A certain amount of revenue must be had; let it be levied and collected. If on the present consumption articles of daily use in the various grades of society, the ratio bears as at present, let it be borne; but to impose it in such a way as to prevent consumption from doubling, quadrupling, or increasing in any determinate degree, is manifestly impolitic and injurious. Consumption, necessary consumption, sustains life and adds to the enjoyment of it, whilst the population must necessarily be restricted to the means for sus taining it. Each individual must, in the aggregate be considered a producer beyond his consumption: No doubt there are numerous exceptions to this rule, but as no wealth can be produced without a pro ducer, and as the clearest statistical facts show that wealth is in a constant course of augmentation, not withstanding the daily consumption and the waste and destruction from frequent wars, fires, ship wrecks, and other causes, if the producers did not create more than they consume, this would not be the case. To prevent the producing classes from in creasing their numbers by imposing a penalty on the consumption of those things which go to sustain lite, is manifestly injurious and impolitic ; whilst to restrict the healthful enjoyment of life from the moderate use of articles of daily use cannot be advantageous. It may be said there would be great practical difficul ties attending an alteration from a system of indirect to direct taxation. Probably there might be some difficulties. What is there which is unat tended with difficulties? But let the Minister or the nation become thoroughly convinced of the desirability, not to say absolute necessity, for the charge, and the difficulties may be easily sur mounted. On a future occasion we may, perhaps, adduce some of the difficulties which are advanced, and the mode by which they may be obviated. * Thomas Carlyle. COURTS - MARTIAL. — The melancholy case of Mr. Douglas, late captain of the 16th Regiment—a case upon the glaring injustice, of which we have twice pronounced our opinion, namely, on the 11th of May and on the 221 of June—is beginning to force itself on the attention of those whose duty it is in such cases of error to demand a revision of the sentence. In our legal contemporary, the Jurist, of Saturday, we observe an elaborate criticism upon this singular trial and its defence. The conclusion drawn from an impartial examination of the facts by the Jurist—one of the first organs of the legal profession—is, that the finding of the court was grossly opposed to the prin ciples of justice, and was pronounced in direct defi ance of the evidence. The whole criticism consti tutes a striking professional corroboration of the views expressed by ourselves in our article of the previous evening. On Saturday moreover, there appeared in the United Service Gazette, the following announce ment:—" We have heard hat Mr. Warren has de clared his intention of never again attending a court martial as an advocate, unless the constitution of these courts be essentially altered." Should this re port prove correct, the military profession will have lost in him a fearless and faithful friend. It will be observed with some interest, from an announcement contained in our advertising columns, that an address War m re e n i t a is t u pon t the subject of Mr. Douglas and his severe himself—the preparing for publication, by Mr. our the is rldress being in the form of a letter offerer]the e t Gracious Sovereign. From peculiar curiosity. of the pamphlet a variety of reasons , tho s o e f cl to will be looked for with M. LEDMT ROLLIN.—WhiIe w cu e rl a o r si e t T: contradict the statement that the Leuadern Mountain is at present residing at the sablouiere Hotel, the opinion is very generally believed that this celebrated Republican is now living in our me tropolis. The circumstance of his escaping in the disguise of a servant is corroborated by a detailed statement to that effect in the Salut Publifue of Lyons.l UTILITY OF THE TELEGRAPH. —Yesterday morn ing a plea , ure trip left Birmingham for Lincoln, with about 3 000 persons; a few hours afterwards great ex citement was cause d in the former town by a report that an accident had c.lcurred, and that 500 persons were killed. The railway station was instantly besieged by anxious inquirers; the electric telegraph was mime,- diately called in aid, and in a few minutes intelligence was received that the whole party had arrived sately in Lincoln. The report of such an accident seems to have been a most cruel hoax. Lord and Lady Jan Russell had a dinner party on Saturday, at Pembroke Lodge, Richmond Park. The company included the Marquis and Marchioness of Douglas, Lord Melgund, Lady Charlotte Elliot, and Mr. Landseer. EVIPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS i AY.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly after Twelve o'clock. THIRD READING. The Eastern Counties and Norfolk Railways Amalga mation Bill was read a third time and passed. CONSIDERATION OF REPOR fS. The reports upon the following Bills were considered and agreed to:— Airdrie Police and Municipal Bill. Great Northern Railway (Amendment of Acts, De viations and Enlargements at and near Boston, Bentley, Lincoln, and King's-cross) Bill. Holme Reservoirs (Increase of Rates and Amendment of Act—No. 2) Bill. Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway Acts Amend ment, Branches, and Deviations Bill. Stirling and Dunfermline Railway (Deviation of Branch to Allua Harbour; Diversion of certain W o rk s; Extension of Time for completing Line and taking Land; and Amendment of Acts) Bill. PETITIONS. Mr. HENLEY presented several petitions from places in Bedfordshire, praying that an enactment m i g ht b e passed to prevent trading in prostitution, and for the protection of virtuous women. Similar petitions were presented from other places. • , .. .. , A tiAil '-* :AN • ~ t. . i A ,•••• 4--F.,,, -...„ • ' ' T ' -4 '. t• T.O, „ A ii ..'.., . ' .00 ."1 , ..,4 4 . .„, ,, ,•=i , 4 4_ 1 ; ',... 1 1 r - ~ . .* ..7 - I._ - 'L: , :•.':.. \ , - Al ii • ',.. '',. , ,: i . 7 c• -,,,,-,,-..-- _ _;, - ---,.„.,„, • ~...„3, , •-) 1 4 116.0' ; " 4 . l ': - - 4 7' --.. . .. 'Air, ,',' 11 .7. car:.: Di E ir , , ~ : ...,;. • : ,- s s/16.4.. '• 11,,,,, 41 , 0 4.,, Dui , . .. 10 THE IRISH STATE PRISONERS. Sir LUCIUS O'BRIEN wished to know whether there was any truth in the report that the cholera had broken out in the vessel destined to convey the state prisoners from Ireland? Sir GEORGE GREY was understood to state in reply, that it was true that the cholera had broken ont, but that other arrangements had been made with respect to the conveyance ot the prisoners. Sir LUCIUS O'BRIEN then made an observation to the effect (as we collected) that on one or two occasions he had opposed the Transportation for Treason Bill, but would now offer no lurther opposition to the due course of justice. He thanked the Government for the hu manity which they had shown with respect to the pri soners, and trusted that such occurrences as had taken place would not happen again. POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL. The House then went into Committee on the Irish Poor Relief Bill, and the discussion of last night was re sumed by Sir J. WALSH, who moved an amendment on the first clause, to the following efUt:—" That from and after the passing of this Act it shall and may be lawful for the Poor-law Commissioners, and they are hereby required to divide the electoral divisions of the several unions in Ireland into such and so many rating districts as to them shall seem fit; and when the said division of such electoral division shall have been duly made by the said Commissioner, each such rating district shall constitute a separate rating district for the relief of the poor now resident within the same, and no pauper or destitute person shall be entitled to relief un der this Act or any Act for administering relief to the destitute poor of Ireland, save and except from and on account of the rating district, so to be formed as afore said, in respect to which his legal claim for relief arises; and such electoral division, so divided into rating dis tricts as aforesaid, shall continue to be an electoral divi sion, for all the purposes of election of guardians and of representation at the board of guardians of the union within which same shall be situate: provided always, chat in forming such rating districts the Commissioners shall, as far as circumstances will permit, have regard to the ti , undaries ot a e several properties within such electoral division, so as to f rm the properly of each proprietor in such electoral division (or in such union, it they sh3ll so tnink fit) into a separate rating district, if such property shall amount in rated value to the an nual sum of 1,0001; and it the rated vain , ' of any such property shall not amount to the seid sum, it shall be lawful for the said Commissioners to unite such and so many of the adjoining properties as to them shall seem tit, so as to form a separate rating district for the pur poses of this Act; and provided also, that no rating dis trict to be formed under the authority of this Act shall exceed in rated value the amount of 3,000/. per annum; and provided also, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to limit or prevent the said Commissioners from forming aey rating districts of any smaller extent than 1,000/. rated value per annum, if it shall seem ex pedient and necessary to them so to do. Lord . JOHN RUSSELL said that the matter ap peared to him to be placed in this form. A debate had been taking place during the whole night as to the maximum rate, and the House was then proceeding to dis cuss the details, when the Hon. Baronet had risen to propose the substitution of a rating district for electoral division, thus getting rid of the whole question.— (Hear, hear.) He did not wish to enter into the question of the area of the districts.—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Baronet had introduced a clause which gave every encouragement to landlords who possessed more than a 1,0001. a year, and every discouragement to those who had less. In England there were about 200,000 landlords, and the average of income was about 2001 a year. He hoped the House would not enter into the question of the size of the area. Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT said that if the Noble Lord did not wish to enter into a discussion he should not have acquiesced in the truth of the statements which had been made by the Hon. Baronet who had just sat down. —(Hear, hear.) He must say, however, from the op portueity which he had had of judging in Committees up stairs, that if the area of taxation were not dimi nished the number of bankrupt unions would be very Tanen increased. 'lsNwas e question ef considerable im portance! to him as an Irish Landholder. Sir JOHN PAKINGTON made some remark, which we did not catch. Lord CLEMENTS said be thought that the Boundary Commissioners had acted in the best way. Mr. S LAFFURD said that if the substitution which had been proposed were to take place he thought that the Commissioners would be able still to retain the same number of poor-law guardians. Mr. CON OLLY said that he had understood that the diminution of the area of taxation would be un just for the small holders of land ; he thought it would be as well if the Noble Lord at the head of the 14overn• ment would make some distinct statement on the subject. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that he had not stated that the particular principle of this reduction would be to prejudice the small landholders. Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD thought that the discussion at the present time was very inconve nient to the House. Still pauperism in Ireland was time for raisingnot to be put down by some strong measure , an d h e thought that the reduction of th e area o f taxat i on was in such a measure. But it was very i nex p e di ent at t h e present, time. reply,t l ilidthat ith the presentadappeared dtoi'Shcirmsj:it. °on. WbeAir theßSt leg itimate ribfound that severa l H on. G ent l emen who iu acquiesced with him in several points yet differed with him here, and as he should be sorry to prejudice this question, which was one of great importance, he should not at present press it. The amendment wis then withdrawn. Mr. sTAFFORD considered that the House having d u e t ci , ded by a large majority in favour of a m ax i mu m e t h e question now was as to what the amount of that m ax i mum rate s h ou ld r be. Mr. Twisleton had recommended that it should be 7s. in the electoral divisions, without a union rate. H e would therefore move that that recom mendation should be adopted by the House. As a maximum bad been edopted, there must neces sarily be a fund somewhere, and he was of opinion that such supplemental fund should be raised bya national rat e on the un i on, as he could not see the j ustice of one part of a union being called upon to pay the deficiency of another part. Mr. GROGAN supported the proposition of the Hon. Member for Northamptonshire. Lord J. RUSSELL said that, taking the rate for the electoral districts and the union rate also, he did not think there for a supplemental fund, but ti wouldf the epru b p e n a si n t y nejunnefestshitey Honourable Member for Northamptonshire was to be adopted, there would be a necessity of coming on the Consolidated Fund. Colonel DUNNE objected to the maximum ra , e being higher than Ss., and supported the amendment to that effect. He was convinced that to make it 7s. would be utterly useles=. He should like to see a maximum rate of 35., and would support a motion to that effect. Mr. BERBERT supported the amendment of the Hon. Member for Northamptonshire. If Honourable Members supported the proposition of the Go vernment they would put a stop altogether to improvement in Ireland; for no one would be disposed to give employment to the poor in his own district if he found he was charged a 2s. rate for the support of the poor in another district. Sir G. GREY felt bound to contend that the Consoli dated Fund ought not to be made liable to supply defi'- ciencies in the electoral districts. He contended that the proper course to pursue was that which was now proposed, namely, that when the maximum rate was at tained in any electoral division, the other divisions of the, union should then be rated to supply the deficiency. (LEFT SPEAKING.) LLOYD'S SHIPPIN G—(T HIS DAY.) LONDON, JUNE 26.—Wind W., moderate breeze and fine. FALMOUTH, JUNE 25.—Variable and light.—Arrd. 24th, Jane, Gough, Rio Grande; Gleaner, Bahia. BRISTOL, JUNE 24.—Wind S.—Arrd. Emerald, 25th, GA Y LW or tY . , JUNE 23.—S1d. Robert Alexander Park, New Dug dale,ph i, Barbadoes. ast. john ,s, S Nw ld e . OFF PENZANCE, JUNE 22.—Unicorn S.E.—Arrd. 21st, , Demerara. DEAL, JUNE 25.—Wind E.S.E. to Sophia, Soarabaya, Swan s , Banjoewangie for Rotterdam : 25th, Reliance, Wats on , M a t anz as. Arrd. from the river a n d Francis Brunswick.,a lker, Calcutta. sailed, 26th, Abberton, Carr, Port Philip; Henry Tanner, Davies, Port Natal; Ceres, Culverwell, Sierra Leone; Amigade, Costa, New York. HULL, JUNE 25.—Wind S.W.—Sld. 2 0 d, Wolga, Quebec. OFF CAETLEHAVEN, JUNE 2 2.—Sir Charles Napier, LIVERPOOL,. JUNE 25, Wind S.—Arrd., 24th, Eu- Teare, Mobile; M a ry A nn P eters, Brown, Savannah. phi-rnia, Kendall, Queb ec. 25;h, Mary, New Calabar ; General Berry, Paterson, New Orleans; Elizabeth, Rees, ditto; S.r Charles Napier, Teare. Mobile. Sld., 24th, William, Halhx; Rentrd, ditto; 25th, Beatrice, Pernambuco; Robert, Bavannah; Salem. Qui,bye; May, Constantinw e le. Off, Herald, Machio; Isabella, Huguenot, Lancashire. The Spr.culator, hence to Tampico, was taken into Key West, Ist inst., having been on :hore on the reef, and part of her cargo sold; vessel con.., mn , d. A ship was seen ashore on Tennessee Reef, 3d inst, with s,veral wreckers around her. PORTECAWL. JUNE 23. Sld. Derwent, Demerara. CARDIFF, JUNE 23.—Sid. Cornucopia, Panama; NLIOVII Done, Rio Janeiro, OFF DOVER, JUNE 23.—Arrd. Santa Anni Gennaro, Cary!ro, Toro; , to for Sc. Petersburgh. SHIELDS, JUNE 25. ‘N , iud and S. S. W.—Sld. Poot, Qth bt-C. L , NDONDEBRY, JUNE 23.—Arrd. Sunny Eye, Sea bury, New York. CORK, JUNE 23.—Wind S.—Arrd. Hocd, Ma tauzas; Barbara, Mackay, New Orleans. SWANSEA, JUNE 24.—Wind S.W.—Arrd. Commo dore, Crawley, Cuba. MARKET NLWS.-(THIS DAY ) 13Lts.Ir ISMITHFIELD.—Meudow hay, 2/ 10, to 3/ 153; Clover iittO, 21 15s to 51 Os ; and Straw, 1/ 8s to 1/ 13. load. Both Hay and Straw moved off steadily, at full prices. CUMBERLAND. Meadow Hay, 21 15s to 31 18a ; Clover ditto, 31 Os to 41 153 ; and Straw, 11 9s to 1/ 14 , per load. Trade firm, at the above quotations. HITECIIAPEL.—Mea.tow Hay, 2/ 106 to 3/ 15s Clover ditto, 2/ 15s to Si Os; and Straw, 118$ to 11 13s per load. Supply limited, and trade firm. coLorna.L. &MAR.—The market for Bre isti Plantation ccntinues steady, in consequence of the extreme firmness of holders and the limited quantity offering. The sales are 270 hhds, at an advance of fully 6d since this day week. Thy' quantity landed last week at the East and Nett India Docks was 808 hhds 92 tierces; the , e were taken for home consumption 1,438 hhds 76 tierces 248 barrels. The stock in the same places is 12,745 hhds 1,985 tierces 4,187 barrels. CoFFEE.-320 bags 20 casks Plantation Ceylon sold readily at an advance of 2a to 3s per cwt; from 40s to 49s 6d for good triage, to f fine ord; 1,400 bags common very good ord Native Ceylon brought 34s to 36s 6.i, being a further improvement of 6d to is per cwt; 2,100 bags Java sold with spirit at 35s to 47s for good ord pale to f fine ord coloury, being an advance of 3a per cwt since the last public sale, and 700 bags damaged Havannah also sold at higher rates, chiefly from 29a to 365. Pri vately 4,800 bags good first Rio sold at about 29s 9d. Rum.—The quantity landed last week at the East and West India Ducks was 159 puns 7 hhds. There were taken for home consumption 168 puns 26 hhds, and ex ported 72 puns 155 hhda. The stock in the same places is 19,564 puns 2,729 hhds. RICE.-2,000 bags Bengal sold steadily, at 9a to 103 for low to good mid white. TALLOW.—F.Y.C. is 38s to 38s 6d per cwt on the spot, and Town 39s 6d. TEA.—The market is steady, and the deliveries last week were fair. Congou, ord to good ord, 8d to Eq:1; Pekoe kind, is 6d to is 10d; Twarkay, good ord to but mid, 6d to 7d; Canton kind, 3id to sd; Hyson, good ord, 10d to ls; and mid to good mid, 1 , 9 d to 3s 6d per lb. QUEEN'S BEACH.—(THIS DAY.) (Sittings at Nisi Prius, before Lord DENMAN and a Special Jury.) THE DUKE OF BRUNSWICK V. HARMER. This was an action brought by the Duke of Bruns wick against James Harmer, Esq,, the proprietor of the Weekly Dispatch, to recover compensation in damagt s for a series of alleged libels. The libels complained of alleged that the Duke of Brunswick had been expelled from his dominions, be cause he was a tyrant, and had outraged the feelings of his subjects, tramplt d on the laws, had the letters in his post-office opened and plundered, and had been guilty of so much atrocity that hii subjects had expelled him, and burned his palace. The plaintiff denied that there was any truth in these allegations, and hcld that they were published in of chr to injure him publicly and privately. On the other Land the defendant pleaded the statute of limitations, rs regarthd the first alleged libel, and justification. The Duke conducted his own case. Sir Frederick lhesiger, Mr. Sergeant Talfourd, and Mr. Martin appeared fur the defencanr. Tie Duke ot Brunswick read a long speech, setting forth that during his residence in this country he had been groesly libelled, by the Satirist and other papers, wilier' had followed him into society and rendered his existence most unhappy. But the libels, for the pub licadon ot which he sought compensation, partook more. of a political than of a personal character, though not devoid of the latter, since they had reference to events in Brunswick, as contrasted with that at Lucca. The plaintiff then read the libels, and called upon the jury to award him ample compensation for the injury he had sustained in consequence. He then called the following witnesses : Mr. J. W. Junes, a librarian at the British Museum, produced copies of the Weekly Dispatch, of the 18th September, 1830, and the 17th of August, 1845. Mr. Debeuham, of the Stamp-office, produced copies of the paper of the 3d and 10th of October, 1847 ; the 12th of March, 2d and 9th of April, and the 25th of June, 1848. Mr. Jobu Harrison, clerk to Mr. Warnford, the plain tiff's attorney, proved that from 1830 up to 1847 the defendant and Mr. Robert Bell were proprietors of the Weekly Dispatch. Captain Reinhold proved purchasing the Weekly Dispatch newspaper of the 19th of September, 1830. Purchased the pipers in March, 1848. Cross-examined—He was a teacher of languages, and lived at No. 10, Oakley-street, Lambeth. and had known the Duke ten or twelve years. He purchased the paper by the Dulte'a direction. 2le had to call the cez6 day for them in order that they might search for them. This the plaintiff intimated was his case. Sir F. THESIGER then proceeded to address the Court on behalf of the defendant. He said it was usually sup posed that when a person appeared in a court of law without counsel that he was under much disadvantage, but he confessed that on this occasion the defendant had been allowed considerable latitude—he had been allowed indulgences which would not have been allowed to a practised advocate. On such occasions an advocate on the other side did not like to interfere. Therefore on that occasion the plaintiff possessed an advantage over the defendant. The case was a remarkable one as presented to their notice, for it began with a charge of libel alleged to have been published so far back as 1830. Now one would have imagined that if there was anything in that alleged libel that outraged the feelings or assailed the character of the Duke, so as to render the matter one for inquiry in our courts of justice, he would have resorted to such a course—re sorted to it when the publication first appeared, and that he would hardly have waited nineteen sears, when probably the person who penned the article was dead, and when, as stated in the letter that had been read to them, "many of those now connected with the paper were little boys." Indeed, his course was not a little re markable. He said, "It is true that front 1830, (limn to 1847. nothing appeared in the columns of the WeeAly Dispatch of which I have a right to complain, but in the year 1847 I find the words 'outraged and indignant subjects.' In 1848, I find the words 'ruthlessly hurled from his throne."' He (Sir Frederick Thesiger) found in the same paper that it was stated that other exiles had favoured this land with their presence; but the in genious way in which the publication of 1830 was made to speak, at the present day, since it was raised as the means of making out the publications of 1847 and 1848, This was the most remarkable mode of making a person accountable for libel that he had ever heard in a court of justice. If the action stood merely upon the articles of 1847 and 1848, there would be uo pretence for alleging that they were libels, so that it was only by tneking them point to what had appeared in 1830, and making it interpret what had been published in the latter years, teat the Duke could seek damages at their hands. In. deed, the course the Duke had adopted was altogether unfair to the proprietors of the paper; for the paper of 1830 would never have seen the light, it would have been consigned to the dust of the Stamp-office, if the Duke had not directed his emissary to obtain a copy, and if they wanted any evidence to prove that it had been con signed to oblivion, it was to be found in the fact that a search had been made for it. It had not been repub lished, and so far as the proprietors of the paper were concerned, the matter had been entirely forgotten. In deed, but for the anxiety of the proprietors to oblige every customer, for the sale of the copy for which the Captain had applied, they might have pleaded the statute of limitations, It might be true, as the plaintiff had alleged, that he had been compelled to bring a great emu. ber of actions, and that he had been successful to a very considerable extent. He had alluded to certain news papers, and had insinuated that the Dispatch had fol lowed the same case of extortion; that it had marked him out, assailed his private character for gain. Of the result of the actions to which he had alluded, he (Sir F. Thesiger) might express his satisfaction; twice he sought compensation for libels on his private character, and indeed he held that man a public benefactor who, when he was unjustly and unworthily assailed in his pri vate capacity by the public press, brought the matter before a jury of his country, and he would not for a moment stand up and assert the right of a public journal to assail private cha racter. But he thought, if they were to consider the article of 1830 as making part of this inquiry, they would be much mistaken, since the question they would have to decide would be one of a very different char ac t er . They would have to say whether a journalist was or was not entitled to discuss matters of public and general import lance. He asserted and vindicated the right of the public press—a right to attack the public characters of public men, and to express its strong and honest opinion upon all public events. They were matters of history upon which every man had a right to form, and to ex press his independent opinion in this free country; and he would venture to say, that if they looked carefully into the columns of their newspapers that were pre sented to their notice, they would see nothing but re marks upon the public conduct and public character of the Duke, which, he asserted, the public press of this country bad a right to animadvert ul.on in any terms, however strong, provided they were satisfied that it was not done with any private malice or with the view of assailing his private reputation through the medium of his public one. Now the events with which the Duke of Brunswick was mixed up were events of great public and political importance, and had become, therefore, part of the common property of the history of Europe. It was perfectly clear, !rem the letter of Mr. Oddy, which had been put in, that he was compelled to leave his country, as a "evolution teed( place there, that his palace was set „n fire, and that he vvas obliged to escape, that his brother was now stated upon the throne from which this journal asserted he had beet, driven. The public journalist took different historical events into his considex ma in, and expressed his opinieli how revolutions were eff.-ete d of an unexpected cha racter, and his opinions upon those who were the princi pal ac-ors in them. If the proprietors of the Weekly Disputch believed that the Duke of Brunswick had ac ed the part of a traitor, that he had excited the ()is gust and hatred of his subjects, that they rose indignantly against his oppression, that they hurled him teem the ilirene, was there mete thine in the re mei- tote, Ti o f i h o eouetts er 0, hl sh, .S y, piteiebie te tee pi ess , f ih , e country, watch et old eta, fain the ex pre-ssien of those ()pintoes and feelings a hid] he might this k prefer to express upon the occurrence of such events? How many successful insurrections had they seen within the last few years; monarchies shaken to their foundations, and the rulers of those States becoming exiled in foreign countries; acid how often had they read the opiniosis that heel been given expression to with regard to the characters and conduct ot those mo narchs who had be en so driven from their countries. Take, for instance, the case of Leuis Philippe whom this paper, called " the ea-traitor of France." Let them re we tuber how his conduct had been animadverted upon. I: was impossible to imagine any attacks upon character more serious than those directed against him. Take, again, the opening observations made with regard to the conduct ot the Pepe, Charles Albert, the King of the Two Sicilits, and with regard to other princes—for in stance the King of Sardinia, the Emperors of Russia, of Prussia—all of them allies of this country—and all of them just us much entitled to maintain actions against the Editors of other newspapers as much as the plaintiff was entitled to bring this action against the 14 eekly Dispatch. Did they believe that these public persons wooed have any right to assail the public preys, or indeed take any legel proceedings because the newspapers, confining their at- tention to the public acts of public men, and having better opportunities than most men of estimating their characters, chose to stigmatise one as a wretch, another as a monster, and another as a tyrant. Ile apprehended if the editor of a paper appealed in his remarks entirely to pub' c conduct, to historical incidents, and did nut assail the private character of individuals, he appre hended that they had a right to du so—to speak in the strongest manner without being assailed by legal pro ceedings. He now came to the real question between the plaintiff and the defendant, and the liberty of the press in this country He denied that the defendant had published any attack whatever on the private character of the Duke—he de nied that the Vl'eekly Dispatch had directed its attacks to anything except the public events in which he was concerned, and his conduct during that time, and he ap prehended the Editor bad an undoubted right to view such acts, and to present them to his readers ire the light in which he viewed them. The Duke, by his secretary. said he was not sent away—that he left voluntarily, and that his subjects in order to show their regret made a bonfire of his palace.—(Loud laughter.) But the Weekly Dispatch took a different view—it thought and said that his palace was not set fire to in order to light a beacon to guide him on his journey.—(Laughter.) But the Duke, in his secretary's letter, had libelled ante slandered the dead and living members of the dead saying, that George IV. had enough of sins of his own to answer for without taking the additional weight of his (the Duke of Brunswick's.) The Duke knew that the letter could not be produced in evidence, being written to the editor of the paper. He, therefore, commenced his action and made the purchase of the very paper in which the letter had appeared the ground of his proceedings. Such a course was unworthy sue ungenerous, and had lee ob jected to its production he should have been told that the letter was evidence against the person to whom it was addressed; and if he had attempted to show that its contents were false, he should have been told that that was not material to the present inquiry whe. ther these libels were published or not, and %,:hether they were libels. They could have no doubt that this action was brought in order that the letter assailing the characters of the living and the dead should be produced —otherwise why was the matter showed to slumber toe nineteen years. Ile contended that tree editor of the Dispatch could not be held liable for a publicati , n of a letter of the plaintiff's. A letter sent to a private individual could not be held a publication unle-s sent with the view of committing a breach of the peace. What was the , argument used? Why, because the articles of 1847 and 1848 contateed the very coin mon word " outrage," which also occurred in the article or 1830 ; that the writer ot the latter articleM mast have had the former letter in his mind. Such was the slender foundation upon which this superstructure was based. The alleged libel 1 keued• the plaintiff to the " village despot" and "com mon pelted sovereign" the Duke of Lucca. But the Duke of Lucca had not thought proper to bring au action. It went on to say that the plaintiff carried off his jewels, and it must be said that such an act was one of a private rather than of a public nature, and therefore it was a libel ; but with Dogberry he might say " Comparisons are odious." Again, his depostism was likened to that of M-Deu gal, the master of the Andover workhouse, That, he held, was a fair ground of comparison, namely, the machinations of a petty Prince. Then another of the alleged libels consisted in a long article, in which the name of the plaintiff was not mentioned. except that he was " driven from his throne by his outraged and indignant. subjects." The Duke said he was not. The Weekly Dispatch said he was. It says, " I look to all the cir cumstances—to the firing of the palace, and the yells of your subjects, and we say your subjects, who were indignant, did rise, and they expelled you." flow often had these very words been applied to the ex King of the French and other fallen sovereigns, and yet they had brought no actions. They were not there to try the merits of the revolution in Brunswick, whether the Duke was driven away by his misrule, by the popular indignation, but they had to say whether a public journal had a right to remark upon public objects, and whether it had a right to assert its views foe *AI.. boaotit .e t. Whom the pub lication was addressed. But if they fettered the press in the expression of its judgment on matters of this kind, the liberty of the press must be at an end. The remark with respect to the crimes of Geo. IV., showed the dexterity the Noble Duke had acquired by his practice in our courts. He held that the sale of the copy of the paper was a re publication of an olu libel ; and upon this logic the Dispatch was to suffer. The Dispatch said in reply to one of the letters addressed to it, "It he fights a battle with us, it will be a political, not a personal one. We shall rake up no filth to pelt him with. It may be worth the while of certain in famous publications to seek out miserable sources of private scandal—ours is a public concern, built upon public character, rewarded by public support, exercising public influence," which showed that the defendant did not intend, and had no wish, to deal with the private character of the plaintiff. Now those were the grounds on which he took his stand, and showed that the Weekly Dispatch was justified in making use of the expressions it had; it spoke favourably of the damages which the Duke had rceived from papers that made a trade of extortion, and he should be rejoiced, if he over and over again - re covered damages whenever his private character was assailed; but he insisted, upon public grounds, that journalists had a right to deal with the public characters of public men; aid they might congratulate themselves as, indeed, did the, Dispatch, that monarchs and other exiles had found a safe asylum here. If the Duke was a tyrant, he was righteously hurled from his throne—if he was guilty of misruie and misgovernment, it was right that he was deposed. He held that the plaintiff was a lair object of criticism, and that the Weekly Dispatch had acted props rly in what it had done. He should like to know where they were to stop if the Duke of Brunswick was to be allowed to come into an English court eel justice to geg the British press, and to prevent its expressing its opiniens, honestly and fear- It with regard to the public events that happened in his kingdom, and to the circumstances which led to his being driven from it. Where were they to draw the line? The Duke of Brunswick was not to have a mono poly in those actions; he was not to be the only public person who was to be exempted from the attacks of the press. The same principle which applied to the Duke of Brunswick eo-day would apply to every other reigning or exiled monarch to morrow; and the result would be that it would be quite impossible to express any opinion on public matters, except in that mincing and diluted way which was far from desirable in a public journal. He therefore stood upon this ground: he utterly denied that there bad been anything like the publication of an article in the year 1830, for which the defendants were to be held re sponsible to the Duke of Brunswick, or that in the article of 1847 or 1848 there was anything which, in the smallest degree, re fleeted on the private character of the Dulee of Brunswick. He (Sir F. Thesiger) did most earnestly and anxiously assert the right of this or any public journal to express fearlessly its opinion of the Duke's public conduct, if it thought that conduct was obnoxiuus to public comment; and if the jury, by their verdict, should lay down a contrary principle, they would do more to destroy the liberty of the press than had been done for many many years before. Ile thought this-public journal was completely defended in this action ; and be certainly looked with some anxiety to the result of this investigation, but not with.. out a most sanguine hope that that result would be the acquittal of the defendant. Lord DENMAN then bummed up th e case to the jury He said the Duke of Brunswick, who was the plaintiff in this case, complained of several libels which had ap• peared in the Weekly Dispatch at various times. The question was, whether the jury thought that the articles in question were libellous, and if so, what damages the Duke of Brunswick was entitled to. [l !ere the Learned Judge read the article from the Dispatch of the 26th December, 1847, in which the expulsion of the young Duke of Blucher from his dominions was spoken of in disparagine• terms..] The proper observation seemed to him (Lord Denman) upon that article to be, that that term was used rather as a bye-word, and that the Duke was spoken of as a perscn who had improperly governed his country, and had taken refuge in this country. Then upon that they had immediately a long letter written by the Duke of Brunswick's directions by Mr. William Oddy, and on a.ddrt ssed to this paper, complaining of the d l ercormip hi" given in the paper of the Duke's dismissa the country; and he (Lord Denman) . understood away from his expla nation was that the Duke was not drt b v i e s n subjects, but being about to leave was prevented doing so by a mob u rising land a nti sp. nd his and desiring him not to go to set fire to his palace. money there; and at last they 5 .. W hen his Sovereign couag n a tr i 3 n .m st en tlim he , That letter wt nt on to ~,s at y f ig h ting at Waterloo, lit Highness's bather, t°r -r r ,, -- ur P ;n, then Prnrice Regent of ogtand, pou te ille " our cause, George the x person, the Duch), and e o n. .„, a Duke Charles; from that. siderable private l4) rPr i .ncw's doom was st sled, for he w as England, seized u moment this helpless at:d our George made up his mi n d nly ten years of ttg: l: the Dui and private f 0 keep Plis sesswe to let .• Charles, and never .t.im eta of hib c;utehes." Duke N ow he (Lord D swat) must ovin in that respect that it a ppeared to tom that the Duke of a,, unw it k did ~+ hat was tighly reprehensible in giving directions to Mr. Oddy to write a letter of that kind rt.:l:Leung in those terms on George- the Fourth; he had no right whatever . to cite the case of George the Fourth for publication in this paper in the manner in e hich he le fl , creel on that metiarch. It wa si ato mpt to publish a libel, ith respect to the late K►ng, who possit , l) might or might not have been justified; bur, ci Vainly wh, n a man com plained of being libelled in a newspaper, he ought to bo the last to take that opportunity of publishing in a newspaper a libel of another. [Here the Learned Judge read the remaining articles charged as libellous. Ile must observe that it was clear that on the part of the Weekly .Disputci, and of the Duke of Brunswick also, that the Duke of Brunswick had been subject to very atrocious libels in a certain infamous newspaper ; this the W eekly Dispatch was perk ctly avva. e of, and in one part or the articles complained of as libellous the editors of the Dispatch seemed to have drawn a distimitien between their own conduct and that of the newspaper in question. He (Lord Dewitt)) agreed fully with the Learned Counsel, that the most ample liberty eheuld be given to the public journalists in observing on known facts, either public or private, and with respect to the Govern ments of foreign countries, they had a perfect right to state any opinion they might entertain, unless it re fkcted on private character; but then the personal cha racter of a man might be such as to be affected greatly by his public acts, and he might ,how himself to be in famous and cruel, and to deserve the nem , : of traitor and t) rent; but no person had a right to charge those public acts upon him, unless he cuu!d prove them. Now, it did not appear to him (Lord Denman) that the publication fell at all within the question, either of historical statement or political remark. There were sm ral publications, and he was of opinion that the first publication was not protected by the Statute of Licuitetiune, because it was sold at the office, though not in the ordinary way, and any one might have brought it tht re. He thought that that publication was one for which the defendant was answerable. It had been stated in the Dispatch, and told with great eloquence by their counsel, that " it is, atter all, a proud reflection to the people of the island of Britain, that it is the haven of repose and secu rity to which the barque of the political Exile invariably speeds, in order to escape from storms, and commotion at home," and then the cases of the King of France and the Duke of Brunswick were referred to in illustration of that sentiment. But if, under the no tion of the liberty of the press, this country allowed her public journalists to assail the character of public indi viduals who came to seek a haven of repose in this country by stating facts most highly discreditable and unwarrantable, and even clue!, on their p,:rts, and which would subject them to the highest punishment if they were brought into a court of law. It appeared to him that he had gone through the facts of this case, and it was entirely fur the jury to say what damages any, the Duke of Brunswick was entitled to, if they' thought those publications were libellous, and he left the matter entirely in their hands. The jury re - drtd, aid, after being absent for about 20 tninu rt turned into court, aid stated they found for the plaintiff—Dam9gcs, 5001. EXCHEQUEIC-(THIS DAY.) (Sittings at Nisi Prins ut Westminster before the Lon. CHIEF BARON and a Spfuial Jury.) NOTTIDGE V. RIPLEY AND ANOTHER. This c'se was resumed to-day. Mr. MILNE, a commissioner of lunacy, proved havieg .een Miss Nottidge at Mr. Stilwell's asylum on two t•e eisions in company with Dr. Pritchard when he cow versed with her, and came to the conclusion that she wog of an unsound state of mind. Dr. Pritchard had since died, but he a ntertained the same opinion. She endea voured to avoid or to evade all questions respecting her own peculiar religious opinions, which circumstance W' 4s of itself a ground of suspicion as to her sanity. fler only d lusien was upon religious opinions, and Isla° spoke ress. , n4bly upon other subjects. Delusion upon a particular subject was sometimes called mononiamrep and persons who v6ere under the ii fluence of it were sometimes harmless, and were allowed to go at liberty • Mr. Proctor, also a comints,,ioner of lunacy, said reli gious delusion was a c o m mon f orm o f i nsan ity, t o id persons under the influence of it were perfectly sensi" o arid reascnable upon other subject,. He thought the fact of her having, irninedia . ely on leaviiig the asyfunh given all her money to the person who was the se* et of her delusions was a proof of her insanity. A clerk from the Bank of England staled that 5,728 1 7s. 7d. in Three. and .a-Quarter Cent. Annuities had been transferred by the plaintiff to Mr. Henry Jatrie s Prince in May, 1848. Mr. COCKBURN then addressed the jury in reply. The e Learned Counsel commented at g rea t l e ngth upon th address of Sir Frederick Thesiger and the uvidenee which had been produced in the case. The trial had not ceneluded when we went to press. COUR CIRCULAR. Her Majesty the Queen of the Belgians, attended by the Comtesse Van der Struten (Dame du Palais), and Major de Moerkerke, arrived at Buckingham Palace tit halt-past four o'clock yesterday afternoon, on a visit to the Queen, and was r. ceived by her Majesty and Prince Albert, and her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent. The Queen and Prince Albert rode out on horseback yesterday, attended by the Countess Desert, Lieutenant - Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps and Colonel Bouverie. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, attended by Lieut.. Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps and Colonel Bouveri‘e• inspected the Honourable Artillery Company yesterd.al morning. The Royal Family took walking and pony exercise yesterday, in the garden of the PaLce. The Queen had a dinner party yesterday at Buckiiiar ham Palace. The company included her. Majesty the Queen of the 13 , 4gians, her Royal Highness the DuicLiese of Kent, his Excellency the Belgian Minister, and. Ma claine Van de Weyer, La C om t esse V an der &rate° (in . Waiting on the Queen of the Belgians), Lady Au gusts; Bruce, Baroness de Speth, the Mai quis of Breacle.lbane, the Earl of Desarr, Mr jar de Moarkerke (in waiting 0 0 the Queen of the Belgians), and Sir George Couper. The band of the Coldstream Guards was in attend ance during dinner, and performed the,following Overture, Zannetta Auber. Waltz, The Sonnambula. ... Strauss. Grand Selection from Figaro Mozart. Masaniello Quadrille on Airs from Au ber's Opera Jullien. Kraigh's Marsch der Preister, " Athalie" Mendelsaohn. Her Majesty's Private Band afterwards attended in the Palace. Her Riyal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester will receive a distinguished circle on Friday next, the 29th instant., at Gloucester House, to have the honour of meeting her Majesty. Their Roy al Highnesses the Duke and Duchess Of, Cambridge, and the H ere di tar y Grand Duchess Mecklenburg Strelitz, attended by Lady Augusta (.7a degan, and Mr. Edmond Mildmay, honoured Ludy' Howard with their company yesterday afternoon, at Craven Lodge, Fulham. A Cabinet Council was held at twelve o'clock yclter• day, at the Foreign- office '1 he Ministers present vier® Lord John Russtll, the Mtn ituis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Minto, Sir George Grey, Viscount Palmerston, Earl Grey, the Chancellor of the Excht quer, Sir . -Fran cis Baring, the Right Hon. H. Labouchere,. Lord Campbell, the Earl of Carlisle, Sir John Hubhouse , and the Marquis of Clanricarde. The Council sat two hours. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England bad a Committee meeting yesterday, at their office in White hall- place. Dispatches were sent off yesterday evening 'from the Colonial-office fur rho Guvernots of Hong Kong and Ceylon. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yes terday, and heard an appeal from the High Court of Admiralty, Queen v. Belcher. An appeal from the Arches Court, Wilson v. Wilson, was commenced. The Lords present were the Master of the Rolls, Lurd Brougham, the Judge of the Prerogative Court, the Chancel' , r of the Duchy of Cornwall, and the Judge of the Admiralty Court. MR.STUART'S EXEMPLIFICATIONS Or SHAIESPERE.- This popular tragedian has Leen recently giving i iii Shaksperian exemplifications at the .Literary huhu& xi. Leicester-square, with much success. His first en ‘er" tainment consisted of selections trout Macbeth, and big second of illustrations of the • characters of Cardinal W olsey, Timon of Athens. &c. He was assisted by Madlle. Lauriette, and the [Win vocalists the Miss Of. B. aLd M. Brougham, who sang several popular ai be' tw-en the parts. VISIT OF HER MAJESTY AND PRINCE ALBERT, OD 01' THE QUEEN DOWAGER, AND OF THE QUEEN Or TOE BELGIANS TO THE LIAIMARKET THIS EVENING-• — B er Majesty has been graci, usly pleased to anauu arJe her intention of honouring the Theatre-Royal, BAY' market, with her presence this evening, an d she has been graciously pleased to com mand that Mr. Westland Marston's new :Flay of Strathmore, in which Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean so edcuirably sustain the principal characters, shall be performed on the occasion. We are rejoiced thus to fiud her Majesty extending her fostering ptitronage to a legitimate dratna, the production of native talent, represented by native artistes, and produced tinder the superintendence of a manager who has done more for the British drama than any manager living. Prince Aluert acccmpanies her Majesty, and her Majesty the Queen Dowager and her Majesty the Queen of the Belgians will also honour th e theatre with their presence. The performance of ,s Concert hooms, ..Hatiover-square, on Strathmore will, by royal command, Commence at nine o'clock. It will be by preceded by, the atriotes ; The Brigand, and be ,s follt d Our Mary Ann. HERR DREYSCROCR _ nA)wiT:ItNEE AIUsICALE.—The concert of this celebratedo_., takes place to-morrow, which occasion the benefidere , amen others, by himself' • at the Quee n will perform 1 01 h i s most admired compositio severs DS. lie will be Herr rtschek, and by that must 1‘ Iddile. Jetty de Treff.z. fascinating of artistes. • assisted by several of his COMp SOUTHAMPTON, TUESDAY MORNING. —Th e Hay . iv cotton market was yesterd ay prices. ~ale, at two O'clock dy very steady, with fi fen I homaS I'Vtiettun, withcotton, from Mobile, the G the ls tave Second f rom Buceo Porto Cabell o, to transh i p theirldaandKu"g Oscar f r e e ,m arrive;: 3 cstei cley et the port of cargoesna fur Llerabu r g b, • vi e. Cowl'. _ , OF ALDERMEN.—A Court was held s ' er "), PI iteipuily ,or the ur f • '•• es ih p lose u . ItCtlYth a t he reflex: of the She.iffi. e ether business tram w cted was of no pubic lulmrial,ce. -_,__ On the 9, 2 d inst., at Low DIED tr Tulse-bill, Sarah, nidow late W. Cowa r d, E sq., of Brixton-lodge, :•urrey. of the On the e.d. i st., at Woolv,ich, Miss Sarah Barn w, for merly of Queenborough, Kent. , tlon Printed and Published by MURDO YOCING, I o. 112, stratvi, Printer, at. The ()thee, N n . 119,„ t , and,u, !Jo- Precinct rd the Savoy, in the. county Middlesex, Tuesday, June 26, 1849. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, ' JUNE 26, 1849.