The Sun. — London, England, 1827-03-16 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. A correspondent, whose letter, from considerations 'of courtesy, we publish, requires to be " e nlightened," as he ex pressed himself, on two or three points immediately grow ing out of the Catholic Question, the arguments on which question, by the bye, have been so long under the view of every man in the community, presented in such a variety of forms, condensed, spun out, " carried home," like Lord Eldon's papers, " to be read," laid by, re-produced—and still undecided—that the mere longevity of the debate affords the same pretext to perverse politicians for their occasional demands of a " new hearing" as the old gentleman on the Woolsack finds'ln the everlastingness of one of his own suits in equity, viz., that " he has forgotten all about it." If we complain bitterly of the task imposed upon us, in being called upon to discuss for ever and ever the merits of this same unaltered question, it is principally because we have for many years been of opinion that the merits were all on one side. We are quite conscientious in affirming, that so far as we can judge, no one argument has at any time been employed against Catholic Emancipation which has not been repeatedly and thoroughly refuted. It has already been our declared opinion, from a reference to last week's debate, that the question was not likely to be determined by the weight or force of political reasoning,— of reasoning unaided by some extrinsic power; and to that conclusion it does still seem to us that every impartial mind must have been driven, on a comparison of the class of men and speeches in favour of making conces sions to the Catholics, with those which were arrayed against them. But, for those who seek, in the words of our present correspondent, an answer upon an ap parently simple, though very general question—viz. " What advantage would result to the Irish people by conceding the question ?" we might content ourselves with answer frig, first, that it would quiet them. They are now tor irented—distracted—a prey to a variety of furious pas sions—all concentrated to a single point ;—this concessioe would tranquillize and compose them—that is one answer to the inquiry. But it is said; grant this demand, and they will shortly bring forth another ; give the Catho lics constitutional powers and they will employ it in the extortion of a power which would not he constitu tional. Now is this honest in an enemy to emancipa tion 9 Ought not the subsequent abuse of a right to be at least as evident as the right itself, to establish any moral justification for him who withholds its exercise ? The Catholics say, that their paramount interest, if admitted to equal temporal privileges with the body of their Pro testant fellow-subjects, would be to maintain the common welfare and glory of the realm, and offer that sense of their own good as the best security to us. The Orangemen say,we know better than you do,what you would conceive to be your interest; and, therefore, we will tie you neck and heels. But our immediate correspondent asks, what" connexion there is between the population of Ireland and emancipation," inasmuch as only their Lords and Gentlemen could enjoy any personal aggrandizement under it ? In the first place, we ask these interrogators to put themselves in the place of the Irish Catholics, and to reflect, what would be their own sensations, if they, the majority of the people of England, were excluded by a small Catholic minority from all right to make the laws—from all right to administer the laws—from all right to impose or negative the impo sition of taxes, from all share in the honours which elevate and distinguish, as well as in the powers which strengthen and secure the members of a great community, of which the subjected and humbled portion formed likewise seven eighths of the whole. What would be the answer of an English Protestant, no matter what his rank in life, to the Catholic, who had the insolence or folly to ask him, as a preliminary to the restitution of the civil rights which had been wrested from him, " What advantage will it be to you, if I put you on a level with myself e" Would not the fit rejoinder be, " What is that to you I am the best judge of the lawful uses to which my own rights of liberty and property may be turned." No man ought to be tolerated in first disfranchising another, and then catechising the injured party upon the knowledge he possesses of the value of that which he has been deprived of, as the condition on which it will be restored. To quit again this ground of right, we shall state that one practi cal blessing derivable to the poor Catholic peasant from an admission of the Catholic Peer and Gentleman to his privileges, wou ld be the acquisition of Parliamentar y trends, who could support him in his frequent claims to individual justice, now too often withheld from him by those who look at him and his communion with antipathy or contempt. A second relief would be from the festering consciousness that the sect which he belonged to was in all its parts disgraced. and the faith which he professed made the ground of his personal degradation. A third advantage, connected with the two others, and operating upon the whole mass of Catholics, high and -low, would he the removal of that dangerous hold now kept over the minds of all the poorer and more uninstructed Catholics by those of the upper rank, whose more immediate inte rests are involved in the question of Emancipation; and by which they, or any portion of the gentlemen, as they call themselves, can at any time rouse the passions of the multitude to a pitch destructive of the national comfort and tranquillity. What plea of common grievance could the Catholic Association now urge for the seduction of the w retched peasantry to disaffection, if t both classes a he brand of political bondage had not been stam p ed upon hke We must add, that the growth of a fair constitutional confi dence in the breast of the Catholic peasant towards the gentleman, as his natural and henceforth competent pro tector, would be the most certain and effectual method e of detaching him from th e p riest, now his ready, and som times insidious, counsellor. No man has ever yet alleged that . Catholic Emancipation would or could annihilate by itself all the sources of evil is Ireland; but the wisest Statesmen in the land have declared, and we agree with them, that it is that without the grant 0 - which domestic peace can never be established in Irelans. and therefore, without which, British capital will not be introduced, nor the means of national industry afforded.—Times. - A paragraph in this day's journal, under the Lead of " Committee of Ship-owners," will inform the public of the steps which are taken by certain persons possessing or assuming that title, with respect to the new laws of navi gation recommended by Mr. Canning and Mr. Huskisson. Without much regard of what may be said of us by those whose proceedings are described in the article, should be sorry if other more intelligent and respectable persons were affected by their clamour. Can it be supposed that we are enemies of the shipping interest—we, who have maintained and upheld in every way possible. the predo minant advantages of commerce ? It might as well be said, that a man who loves and admires learning is an enemy to books, by which it is conveyed. In advocating; the change of the corn laws, what have we done but re commended the application and use of s hipping to a branch of commerce which ha s been p:ohibited? Besides, in laying in ship stores for a voyage, is it not of as great ad vantage to the ship-owner to have biscuit cheap, as it is to the master-manufactr to have bread cheap for his journeyme n y Mr. Cannng and Mr. Huskisson have been widely, we had almost said wilfully, misun derstood.- When they talked of unshackling trade, of making comment-more free, can it be thought that they meant to give up sit the advantages of such relaxation to our rivals? They would have been but moderate servants of the CrOwn, as well as dull statesmen in their relation to the country, if such had been their object. No; the case stands thus :—This nation, with a view to the protection of its commerce, had, ever since the time of Oliver Crom well, imposed a succession of restrictions upon that of other countries. Our exclusive system was acquiesced in by our neighbours, partly from the necessity of having our manufactures at any rate, and partly from the great inferi ority of their own mercantile marine. However of late years, and particularly since the separation of America,other nations • have begun to fight us at our own weapons; they have played back our own game upon us, and given us resa le sion for restriction, prohibition for prohibition. The con sequence of this double interdiction has been the general stagnation of commerce. What, therefore, Mr. Canning and Mr. Huskisson have proposed, is to relax the Navi- gation.Liws by the same gradations according to which they have been tied up—to undo knot for knot, with those who are willing to adopt with us so liberal a course; and if navigation be thus thrown open to any sensible extent, it would we conceive, be a foul reproach on the maritime spirit of Great Britain, to say that she could not derive her just proportion of the advantages spread out for gene ral competition. For own parts, we are convinced that the more free navigation is, the greater will be our share of it.—lisid. The class to which Sir Francis Burdett accounts . it so high an honour to belong—the class which, according to the Hon. Baronet, forms " the grand distinction of this country among the nations of the civilized world," which consists of men unequalled for liberality, for virtue, and for respectability in every point of view, "in this country, or any country in the world," does not, it would appear, receive that credit for its virtue and liberality from the public in general, which has been so proudly claimed for it. Nay, at a Court of Common Council of the city of London held yesterday, Mr. Favell stated, " that as he was coming to the Court a minute before, he met a worthy Alderman, one of their representatives in Parlia ment, who, at the last election (it might be mentioned as a proof of the confidence of his fellow-citizens) was placed at the head of the poll, and who complained that no per son who opposed the Landed Interest in the House of Commons, could be treated with patience or decency ; and that on the question of the corn laws he had not been able to obtain a fair hearing. This, he (Mr. Favell) consider ed to be a breach of the right of the subject to be heard by their Representatives ; and he was determined, if the Hodse of Commons sent him to Newgate for it, to bring the matter before his fellow-citizens for their consideration." It is understood, that the Mem ber here alluded to was Mr. Alderman Thompson. — So then " the grand distinction of this country among the nations of the civilized world" is, that we have a class of men, who, in cases in which they suppose their own interests are at variance with the interests of the rest of the community, not merely decide in favour of them selves (as men, we suspect, do all over the world), but do not even treat their opponents with patience or decency. We trust the subject will be properly elucidated at the Common Hall, that the country generally and the rest of Europe may be made to comprehend wherein our grand distinction consists. We fear there are too many of us not sufficiently alive to the magnitude of the blessing we enjoy, in having a set of men possessed of the largest estates in Europe; and who possess, besides, so much li berality, that they feel disposed to consume the property of all other persons as well as their own. And yet, we are persuaded, that the claims advanced by Sir Francis rest on a solid foundation. The power of consumption is one of the claims to admiration, which, in all other ani mals than man, is most willingly allowed. The moment chosen as most advantageous for seeing the Lion and Tiger at Exeter 'Change, is when they manifest their surprising powers of consumption. But the unsophisticated part of mankind have actually the same admiration of great con sumers in our own species; and it will always be difficult to persuade a rustic, that a Squire who weighs twenty stone is not possessed of a most solid'title to re verence. We may therefore see that the nation which pos sesses the greatest consumers, possesses in that circum stance a grand distinction; and granting the necessity of preserving this grand distiction, we must not cavil about the manner in which the means are obtained. If we will have Chuny, we must let Chuny have a bellyfull.— We, therefore, cannot go along with those who seek for qualities in the distinguished class which are incom patible with the higher excellence. It has been said they are, as a body, by no means the best informed in the country; and an able writer, in the Parliamentary Review for 1826, even ventures to affirm, " the greater number of those who compose the Legislative Assemblies of Eng land are not accustomed to the business of thought and reflection at all. Beyond the sphere of ordinary talk, and a very narrow and superficial observation, they are con scious of mere mental vacuity ln this state of mind, intellectual indolence is always an ingredient, and along with it moral apathy." But if men possess with out any effort what gives to their nation the exclusive pos session of a grand distinction, a distinction more univer sally admired than any derived from labour or study, (which men only betake themselves to from necessity), is it not unreasonable to refuse to be satisfied with it ? Bishop Burnet remarked, about a century ago, in the con clusion of his History of his own Times :—" From the Commonalty I turn to the Gentry; they are, for the most part, the worst instructed, and the least knowing of any of their rank, I ever went amongst (the Bishop had had great experience of mankind in several countries). . . . . A Gentleman here is often both ill-taught and ill-bred: this makes him haughty and insolent, no inward principle of love to their country, and of public liberty.; so that they are easily brought to like slavery, if they may be the tools for managing Certainly the ma nner in which the Country Gentlemen have treated their opponents, would seem to prove that some of the traits delineated by the Bishop are not yet obliterated. But still we enjoy a grand distinction.—Morning Chronicle. The extracts from German Papers supply a striking re futation of what has been so often advanced of late, that the character of the Catholic religion never changes. Silesia, the richest and most industrious province in the Prussian Dominions, contains about two millions of in habitants, of whom about one half are Catholics. The pro portion of Catholics was somewhat greater when Frederick wrested that fine province from Austria. It may naturally be supposed that the Priests were by no means pleased with the change which placed over them a Protestant So vereign; and those who have acquired their notions of policy in the English school, will naturally suppose that he suc ceeded in retaining possession of Silesia by a system of rigour towards the Catholics, and by securing the devoted attachment of the Protestants by vesting them with an ascendancy over the Catholics. This, however, was not the policy of Frederick. He made no distinction between Protestants and Catholics. He endeavoured to enlighten both, by the establishment of schools, and the suppression of the Order of the Jesuits, and their expulsion from most parts of Europe, supplied him with abundance of excellent teachers. By providing for the instruction of the people, by freeing them from numerous abuses, by improving the administration of justice, by restraining an insolent Aristo cracy within due bounds, he soon gained the affections of the Silesians, who have long been among the most devoted of all the Prussians to their Government, and during the war of liberation, particularly distinguished themselves by their enthusiasm and their bravery. Who has not heard of the vic toriesgaii gained ofl F th ra e n c c o e n:paratively raw levies of Silesia over the veterans at Dennewitz and the Katzbach ? It appears that this system of kindness and impartiality has been completely successful in extinguishing all jealousy between Catholics. and Protestants. It is stated in the extracts to which we have alluded, and we have the cir cumstance repeatedly stated, that the Protestants and Catholics live on the best terms with each other. It ap pears, also, that the Catholics have made no scruple of accepting Bibles from the Protestants, and reading them. The Prince Bishop of Breslaw, having interfered to pre vent the reading of these Bibles, was disobeyed. The Catholic Clergy of Silesia, so far from sharing the views of their Bishop, have united .in demanding a re formation of the whole Ritual, more especially of the Missal, by the substituting German for Latin, &C., so Ps to suit it to the wants of the present age ; and threats ar e held out, that if their demands are refused , they will all go over to the Protestants. Such are the effects pro duced by the diffusion of knowledge, and by impartial treat ment on the part of the Government, If an Ascendancy system had been established, and Sectarian animosity had been cherished, as it has been in Ireland, the result would of course have been very diffeetnt. But though the unworthy policy which has been pursued in Ire land, which, as has been well observed by the clever au thor of " To-day in Ireland," is not a Government but a Hierarchy, has greatly retarded the improvement of the Irish, it has by no means fully prevented it. All Irishmen with whom we have conversed, whether Catho tholies or Protestants, agree in stating that the charac ter of the Catholic Religion in Ireland has undergone a great change within the last twenty years. Education during that period has been greatly diffused. The Irish have every where eagerly availed themselves of the op portunities for obtaining instruction placed within their reach, and the effects of it have displayed themselves in their character in a manner not to he mistaken. Already the Poets, the lovers of the imaginative and the pic turesque, begin to lament (see the Toole's Warning in To-day in Ireland) that " the old superstitions of the people are fast fading into disrepute and oblivion," that " gain, and commerce, and worldliness, those realities of civilization, soon put all the host of phantasy to flight, and supersede ideal terrors by cares more anxious and ab sorbing, and perhaps more debasing than even that state of ignorance which it is now so much the fashion to de plore. When prejudices and blind credulity disappear, we may be certain that their religion, whether Catholic or Protestant, has already experienced a change in character. When the people advance a step, the Priests must make a corresponding advance, if they wish to retain any influ ence. What is there in common between a Catholic Priest of Germany and a Catholic Priest of South Ame rica? The difference which is remarked between educated and uneducated Catholics in the same country, must ma nifest itself more or less in nations, according to the degree of their civilization. No one supposes that Mr. Charles Butler, Lord Stourton, Mr. Silvertop, or any well educated English Catholic would smile, if any Priest were to recommend seriously some of the practices enjoined in a goodly volume which we now have before us printed in 1821,with the approbation of the Bishop of Amiens. Let us suppose, for instance, a Priest addressing, in the stile of the hook in question, Mr. C. Butler in the following manner : " Honour Mary, particularly on Saturday. There are many persons who impose on themselves the preserving silence one hour or two every day; or to look at nothing with thorough curiosity for a week. Why should you not do every year what is commonly called the month of Mary? It is an exercise which appears to be very agreeable to the Divine Mother. This devotion consists in consecrating to the Most Holy Virgin a whole month ; ordinarily the month of May is chosen, because it is one of the most beautiful months in the year, and,as it were, the first fruits of the fine season." Or let us suppose he was enjoined to travel every day the fourteen stations of the road of the Cross, repeating at each station the due quantity of Ado 7-amuses and Miseres, holding an indulgeneed Crucifix in his hand, a practice which was the constant exercise of the venerable Benedict Joseph Labre, and which, we are told, has been elevated to great celebrity in these latter times. If no Priest would dare to affront a well-educated Catholic, by enjoining the practice of these mummeries to him, we may be assured that Priests, in well informed communities, would be equally afraid to inculcate the prac tice. In Silesia, where Priests and people are equally de sirous of a reformed ritual, the attempt to introduce the mummeries in vogue among the French peasantry would never be even thought of; and we should suppose there are few parts of Ireland where the experiment could be safely made. We see, then, that the Catholic religion is con stantly changing its character as well as the Protestant, and that the influence of the Priest, so far from being . in the former uniformly the same, varies with the education and habits of the people. Instruction and blind obedience are incompatible with each other. The man who has been taught to exercise his mental faculties, cannot, if he will, prostrate his understanding at the command of another. A Clergyman of the Established Church, who has just published an able work on the state of political and reli gious feeling in Ireland, we mean the Reverend A. O'Cal laghan, does not hesitate to ascribe to the Catholics in general, a superiority in education over the Protestants.— " Are not," he says, " the small shopkeepers and farmers of the Popish Province of Munster confessedly and vastly superior in intellectual culture to the Protestants of Ulster of the same rank ?" But allowing even an inferiority, the assertion would hardly have been made if the Catholics had not been rapidly advancing in improvement. Under such circumstances, all idea-of the influence of the Pope is the merest chimera that ever was entertained. That it is seriously entertained by nine-tenths of those, who, in Par liament, talk of a divided allegiance, we do not believe. We are, however, willing to believe, that the notion is seriously entertained by many well-disposed people of the humble classes throughout the country, whose prejudices, derived from the garbage of books handed down from ge neration to generation, have been wrought on by Mac chiavelian Dignitaries of the Church, alarmed for the existence of the wealth of the Church, and anxious to withdraw attention from the subject. It is much to be regretted, that such notorious insincerity should be so far successful.—lllorning Chronicle. It is not easy to know what to make of the Peninsular war. Some newspapers say that more troops are going out; this we should think very likely, if it were only to replace those that are laid up in the hospitals. Our Cor respondent, some time since, said that 500 out of the 5000 were laid up. It is not improbable, since then, but that another 500 have been laid up. If we are right there would be then only 4000 men left out of the 5000 ; and what would 4000 be, opposed to, probably, 20,000 Anti- Constitutional Portuguese, and 20,000 Spaniards ? As our Correspondent formerly stated, nothing less than a British force of 10,000 men will keep Portugal in possession of Mr. Canning's and Sir Charles Stuart's Constitution. But should the Spaniards muster as strong as has lately been represented they are about to muster, even 10,000 of our troops will not be sufficient to preserve the Constitution. That the Spanish, and probably Portuguese, Clergy and Nobility and great landed proprietors, are, in all likelihood, inimical to Mr. Canning's boon, is not to be wondered at. The Clergy, more particularly, are probably secretly op posed to the Constitution. At all times the Clergy have been opposed to alterations, except to such alterations as should give them greater power and more revenue. But in the present day, an alteration in Constitutions in gene ral is but the prelude to reducing the power and the reve- - flues of the Church, in whatever country a reform in the Constitution is likely to take place. Why are our Clergy, take them in general, so opposed to a reform in Parliament, but that they fear—as in the case of France—that a re formed Parliament would be for attacking the tithe system, or at all events, putting the Church revenue on the system it stood previous to the Reformation—namely, that one third of the tithes should go to the poor, another third to the upholding of the churches, and the other third to the clergymau. If we were a lishop, with an income of 20,0001. a year, should we wish for a reform, or anything that should put in jeopardy our 20,0001. a year ? Reason ing, therefore, on the same principle, is it not likely that the thoughts of the Portuguese and Spanish Bishops are the same as our thoughts would be, supposing that we were a Bishop ? King Ferdinand, too, knows that if Mr. Can ning'S Constitution takes effect in Portugal, it would not be long before his subjects would apply to Mr. Canning for a similar thing. King Charles the Tenth of France also may probably think, that if Mr. Canning could fasten such a boon on Portugal and Spain, that his subjects might also be thinking of making application for a similar boon. Looking at the question in whatever point of view we may, we cannot but think, that both the Clergy of Portugal, Spain, and France , as. well as the higher orders of those co un t r i es , a re against the new boon conferred on Portugal; and as there are three count ,e ie s cannot against ain e s one, and as thos e cou ntries are probably secretly encouraged by Austria, R uss i a , P r ussia, &c., much , t e the Constitu tion,ehan or of ceofth o e ur P , or i t n ug th u e es l e og Portuguese, either retaining p ossess ion of keeping Portugal, except we sent a much more considerable force than either 5,000 or 10,000 men. And if we were to send a much more considerable force, how would it make our financial statements look ? To be sure, a Property or an Income Tax might be inflicted, but would the people like such infliction ? Would they agree to it —or, if they did, would not sach'infliction operate as an encouragement for people to emigrate more than they do now, and take their property with them, and settle in other countries, where taxation is lighter? ' The advocates for seconding Mr. Canning would not, surely, plunge us deeper into debt, by borrowing to meet the expences of keeping an army of 10,000, or 20,000, or 30,000 men in Portugal. His warmest adniirers would not, surely, recommend us to have recourse to the old vile system of . borrowing, and thereby adding to a debt which we have at length found out has impaired our energies, and has given our enemies confidence.—Morning Herald. A man who tries his hand at every thing, must be mar vellously constituted, if he do not sometimes stumble upon that which is good. We are not surprised, therefore, at finding Mr. Hume engaged in one inquiry, from which, if he prosecute it properly, the public will derive benefit.— We refer to his motion of Tuesday night, respecting cabrio lets and hackney coaches. Where the fault lies we know not, but we have only to look at the filthy state of these vehicles—their dilapidated condition—their dirt—the miserable cattle that are harnessed to them—their broken glasses—broken steps—and ragamuffin drivers—to feel that, somewhere, there is gross and unpardonable negli gence. We have no particular affection for common in formers any more than we have for the common hangman, but these gentry are necessary evils, and certainly, if some of the former would take in hand the multiplied abuses connected with the hackney coaches, they would reap a rich harvest for themselves, while they performed a signal service to the Public. Our hope is, either that this hint will be acted upon, or that the result of Mr. Hume's mo tion will render it unnecessary. We care not how the end is accomplished, so that the Public are secured in the proper enjoyment of a convenience, for which the Legisla ture compels them to pay an adequate price.—New Times. EXECUTIONS ON TUESDAY. The five unfortunate individuals who are ordered for execution on Tuesday, were tried at the Sessions held iu December and January last. Their names are James Wingfield, aged 25 ; Royal Keats, aged 31 ; Daniel Davis, aged 20, William Davies, aged 26 ; and Robert Young, aged 34. JAMES WINGFIELD was tried for violating the person of Sarah Weatherby, in a field near Harrow. The child, who was only 12 years old, was at work in a field near Harrow with Wingfield, who worked at the plough, when he took hold of her and said she must go along with him. He dragged her along to a hedge; she screamed as loud as she could, and teld him to leave her alone, but he threw her down on the green sward, and placed his hand over her mouth to stop her screaming. After he had completed the offence, he told her not to tell her mother, and he would give her something. The prisoner, when taken into custody, and told what it was, said, " I know that I shall be hanged for it." ROYAL. KEATS, who is a lame man, and walks with the assist ance of a crutch, was indicted with his brother William, aged 18 years, for having stolen, on the 22d of November, seven sheep, the property of John Lamb and William Welsh. It appeared, that on the morning of the 22d of November, 106 sheep were placed in the prosecutors' field, at Southall, and on the following morning, about two o'clock, the prisoners were seen by two of the patrol belong to Bow-street office driving seven of the sheep along the road near Brentford ; they were stopped and questioned, and they said that they had been employed to drive the sheepfrom Windsor, to the house of a Mr. Mills, at Vauxhall, and they were marked " W. 8." The patrol followed the prisoners till day-light, and then discovered that the sheep were not marked as they had described ; and after the prisoners were taken into custody, it was ascertained that the sheep had been consigned by a Mr. Gardiner to the prosecutors for sale. Mr. Mills, of Vauxhall, negatived the statement of the prisoners, that he had employed them to drive the sheep from Windsor. Royal Keats, in his defence, said, that he found the sheep astray in the road near Windsor, and he was driving them to Mr. Mills, of Vauxhall, for the purpose of finding the owner, when he was apprehended. The younger prisoner said, that be had been employed by his brother to assist him in driving the sheep to Vauxhall. The Jury found both the prisoners guilty; but recommended the younger prisoner to mercy on the ground that he acted tinder the direction of his brother. DANIEL DAVIES was indicted for having secreted a letter con taining a 101. and a 51. Bank note, which it was his duty, as a letter carrier, to have delivered to Mr. Poole, of Bird Cage walk, Hackney, by whom it had been sent by a gentleman named Payne, from Leicester. It was proved on the trial that the letter in question was delivered to the prisoner at the General Post Office, on the 23d of November, to deliver ; and a book nas produced, in which there was a receipt in the prisoner's hand-writing, for the payment of the postage of - the letter in question and three others on that day. The Jury, in returning their verdict of Guilty, recommended the prisoner to mercy, on account of his previous good character. WILLIAM DAVIS was indicted for stealing articles of plate, of considerable value, the property of Captain William Knox; and Catherine Williams, aged 35 years, was indicted at the same time fur receiving some of the property, knowing it to have been stolen. The facts proved in evidence were briefly these :—Davis was a footman in Capt. Kr' iox's service, at the house of the Captain's mother, in North Crescent, Bedford-square. On Nov. 28, the Captain had a dinner party, which it was the duty of the prisoner to have attended to wait at table. A short time before the party arrived, the prisoner left the house with a trunk; and soon after wards the Captain discovered that he had been robbed of a silver watch, a silver tea-pot, two large silver candlesticks, two gravy spoons, twelve table spoons, twelve table forks, six dessert spoons, twenty-three tea spoons, and other articles. On the 26th of De cember, both prisoners were apprehended in Hot-wells' road,Bristol, where they were cohabiting, together. Several pawnbrokers, residing in London and Bristol, proved that the female prisoner had pledged part of the stolen property soon after the robbery was committed ; and four of the duplicates, and part of the stolen property, were found on the male prisoner's person. The Jury found both prisoners guilty, but strongly recommended Davis to the Royal clemency on account of his former good character. ROBERT Youwo was indicted for committing a burglary in the house of Mr. Bernal, at Feltham-hill, on the night of the 31st of December last, and stealing therein two guns, five snuff-boxes, three coats, fourteen tea-spoons, and other articles. The pri soner lived in a cottage, at a place called Whitton, which is about two miles distant from the house of the prosecutor. On the afternoon of Sunday, the 31st of December, the prisoner was seen near the prosecutor's house, and he inquired of a girl if there was not a road over the fields leading to it, and she told him there was over the hedges and ditches. On that night the house of the prosecutor was locked up as usual, and on the following morning, before daylight, the prosecutor's butler, on going down stairs, discovered that during the night the premises had been en tered by robbers, who had cut a hole in the kitchen door by means of centre-bits ; and by introducing a hand had taken away an alarm bell from the door, and forced open the fastenings. The kitchen, parlour, and drawing room had been rifled, and the pro perty above named, with the key of the larder and the hat of a gentleman, named Curtis, who was at that time on a visit at the house of the prosecutor, had been carried off. Information of the robbery was given to Mr. Cooke, the High Constable of that dis trict, and he, knowing the prisoner's habits, prciceeded to his cottage, and there found on his person a large bunch of picklock and skeleton keys, two centre-bits, which corresponded in size exactly with the holes in the prosecutor's doors, and in the cot tage he found a snuffbox, the prosecutor's larder door key, and the hat of Mr. Curtis, which were respectively identified by their owners. The charge was made out by the most indisputable evi dence, and the Jury instantly returned a verdict of Guilty. Since the order for their execution arrived at Newgate, the un happy prisoners have conducted themselves in a most becoming manner, and paid the strictest attention to the advice of the Rev. Gentlemen who attend them. THE MARKETS. experienced a dull sale, at the following prices SOUTHALL MARKET.—March 14. This day's supply having been good, each kind of stock, though the 8eef.,...,..... 3 6 .8 d. to 4s. 10d, I Veal to se. 10d. Mutton .........--... 3 4 410 I Pork 4 0 5 2 b ve u r ye at r o s n w e e o re f B n i ti b m .. numerous, Pe The foregointthe offals. q uotations are Beef and best Veal 2d • per stone be neath those of t is day se'nnight ; in prices of Mutton and Pork, no al. teration. m u ch of the stock left the market unsold. HAILSHAM MARKET.—March 14. 4s. 6d. to s s . 2d . 11 Pork 4 4 4 6 Veal-- 46 5 0 The supply of Beasts was the shortest witnessed in March for many years, that of other things tol era bl y goo d ; w ith Beef and Veal the trade wa s brisk ; with Mutton and Pork, dull. ss. 4d. to ss. STEWING MARKET.—March 12. Beet 4s. 2d. to ss. Od. I Veal Mutton 4 2 5 8 4 0 4 A moderate supply, and a sluggish trade. Baef— , Mutton ss. Od. to ss. 4d. 40 4 4 ARUNDEL MARKET. —March 13. NW,. 4s. Od. to ss. Od. I Veal 4 2 5 2 Pork-----. A good supply, and a moderately brisk trade. CHICHESTER MARKET.—March 14. 8eef5,,,,,, 4s. Od. to 4s. 10d. Vea1—.....—....--.. 4s. 10d. to ss. 4d. I Mutton - 4 0 4 8 Pork.... — 4 0 4 4 Supply good, and trade with fat stock brisk, with lean stock very dull. - --- _ _ RUMFORD MARKET. —March 14. s. d. toe. d. s. d. to s. d. Beef 3lO 410 Veal Mutton 3lO 4 8 1 Fork METROPOLITAN ALDERNEY DAIRY COM- PANY. Yesterday, pursuant to advertisement, a meeting was held at the Old London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, of persons interested in the proposed Metropolitan Alderney Dairy Company. Soon after one o'clock the Chair was taken by ALEXANDER GOLD SCHMIDT, Esq., the Deputy Chairman of the Company. The CHAIRMAN commenced the business of the day by reading a statement which has been already inserted in one of the public papers, and was signed Alexander Goldschmidt. It stated in sub stance, that he (Mr. Goldschmidt) had been induced to join in the formation of the Company, by the representations of the per sons who were afterwards solicitors of the Company. That a prospectus had been issued, promising most auspicious results, and holding forth most honourable professions ; that the results were disastrous, and the professions false ; and that when he (Mr. Goldschmidt) reflected that his name might become iden tified with transactions which he only regarded with disgust and horror, he conceived it his indispensable duty to all parties in terested to deprecate in the strongest terms the proceedings that had characterized the proposed Company. To establish the truth of this statement, he thought it would be necessary to appoint a committee of investigation. The Chairman then pro ceeded, notwithstanding some opposition from the meeting, to read the original prospectus, from which it appeared that the Company was projected in January, 1825, with a capital of 150,0001., for the purpose, as it was rather oddly expressed, of counteracting the adulteration of milk. No deed of settlement was required. The Chairman then read a brief statement, of the Company's affairs, from which it appeared, that all the money re quired by the Directors from the Proprietors, had been paid into the hands of Sir John Perring, Bart., who is the canker and Chairman of the Company; that about two-•thirds of this money had been disposed of (it was not stated in what manner), and that there was left about 8,0001. in Exchequer Bills, lying in the hands of r William Curtis and Co., in the names of Sir John Perring, Bart., Alexander Goldschmidt, and others, together with about 8001., in the Bank of England, in the names of Sir John Perring, Mr. Goldschmidt, and others. This document, which was sign ed Alexander Goldschmidt, stated that the proceedings had been most irregular, and the accounts most inaccurately kept. It con cluded by recommending an investigation. The CHAIRMAN then said, that the meeting had only two modes of proceeding, namely, either to appoint the committee, as proposed, or to adjourn. Mr, Mocarr a. thought the meeting ought not to separate without making some arrangement whereby the miserable remnant which was left might be divided among the proprietors; at large. Mr. GOLDSCHMIDT was strongly disposed to adopt the propo sition of Mr. Mocatta, but there were great difficulties in the way of carrying it into effect. Mr. Mocarra—A Committee has been appointed to wind up the affairs of the Company, yet they have neither given us a Re port, nor have the accounts of the Company been arranged, nor any reason assigned for this extraordinary neglect. Mr. Lays said, that the Provisional Committee were ready to report, but would not consent to do so to a Meeting like the pre sent, which had been got up by Mr. Goldschmidt. The CHAIRMAN, who had interrupted Mr. Levi; now rose, and said, that the gentleman had been sent there by the nine Di rectors to abuse and calumniate him (Mr. Goldichmidt). There was not, however, a word of truth in the statement which he had made. [Here Mr. Levi attempted to address the Chairman, who, catching up his hat with vehemence, retired from the Meeting in a rage.] Mr. LEVI then said, "I pledge my honour that I have not come here at the request of the Directors, and that it is entirely owing to the conduct of Mr. Goldschmidt that no distribution can be made of the remaining fund of which he is trustee. The CHAIRMAN here re-entered, and demanded what it was that Mr. Levi had said of him. A SHAREHOLDER thinking that under the circumstances no time was to be lost, rapidly inquired of Mr. Goldschmidt if a sum of money had not come into the possession of those who ma naged the affairs of the Company, and if they had not divided it between them ? To this cross-interrogatory Mr. Goldschmidt made no reply, but turning round, immediately quitted the room. After some desultory conversation among the Shareholders, the Meeting terminated. EXAMINATION OF A MUMMY. PARIS, MARCH 12.—0 n Saturday last there was opened in the Gallery of Egyptian Antiquities, a Mummy, which formed part of the fine collection of M. Passalacqua. Her Royal High ness Madame honoured with her presence the meeting, which was also attended by a number of foreigners and functionaries, among whom were the Ambassadors of Prussia, Bavaria and Tuscany, the Duke of Blacas, Count Turpin, and Messrs. Champollion- Figeac, Champollion, junior, &c. After opening the external covering, which was attended with considerable difficulty, the bandages, which formed more than twenty-six turnings, from the head to the feet, were unrolled. The body, thanks to the bitu minous substances which had been employed in the process of embalming, was in a state of perfect preservation. All the parts were distinct. The nails of the hands were remarkable for their length. The hair was sound, and retained its colour, which was fair. The orbits of the eye were furnished with artificial eye balls of enamel. This is the second example of the kind, such substitutes for the eyes having only been observed once before. The following circumstance rendered this operation very remarka ble:—Two papyrus manuscripts were found ; one rolled round the head, the other round the breast, and their perfect preserva tion enabled M. Champollion, jun. to eollect some valuable in formation from them. It was found that this mummy, which proved to be a female, was the body of Tete-Muthis, the Miner vian, or Athenais, the daughter of the Guardian of the little Temple of Isis. at Thebes. There was a necklace, composed of serpents, in rolls, and a cross with a handle, which, with the Egyptians, was the emblem of divine life. A scarabteus, in a serpentine form, which was placed on the breast, was so sur rounded by layers of indurated balsam, that it took more than a quarter of an hour to disengage it, though even boiling water was employed. The date of the existence of this mummy can only be ascertained by an attentive perusal of the manuscripts. We believe, however, that it is more than 3,000 years old, and yet the skin, which is of deep brown colour, has retained its elasti city, and even exhibited humidity in some parts. The bones of the skull were whole. The os sphenoides, in the upper part of the pharynx, is broken, to introduce into the interior of the head a considerable quantity of linen. The body was opened by Drs. Delatre and de Verneuil. The description here given, though correct as far as it goes, is necessarily imperfect, and we shall wait with impatienee for the report of the investigation, whi c h is to be drawn up by M. Champollion, jun.—French Paper. MEETINGS OF CREDITORS. COUNTRY DIARY.—MONDAY, MARCH! 19. Child, C., jun., Walcot—Angel, Bath l2 Davy, W., Norwich—Norfolk Hotel, Norwich 4 Lane, T., jun., Upton-on-Severn—France and Co., Worcester ll Phelps, A., Bath—Angel, Bath Windeatt, T., Bridgetown—Star, Exeter 5 MARCH 40. Bunn and Co., Worcester—Ho market inn, Worcester Burditt, J., Gilffitts—George, Huddersfield lll Elvidge, W., Nottingham—Punch-bowl, Nottingham King, C., Cranbrook—George, Cranbrook lO Lane, T., jun., Upton—France and Co., Worcester ll Oliver, J., Ipswich—Coach and Horses, Ipswich ll Raywood, J., Barnsley—Public office, Barnsley ll Springford, J., Warminster—Bath Arms, Warminster I t Tripp, J., Swansea—Mr. Grevile, Bristol lO Trewent, W., Pembroke—Bush, Bristol Windeatt, T., Bridgetown—Star, Exeter ll INSOLVENTS APPLYIN( Petitions to be heard at Portug: Mallen '2O, Abraham, S., Whitechapel Allden, J., Southwark Box, H., Dursley Bundy, W., Hammersmith Cannon, J., Newington Fletcher, C. Camberwell Glass, T', Bermondsey Harding, W., Cambridge Hawkes, J., Over Hewett, T., Marlow TO BE DISCHARGED, 1-street, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, AT NINE. Hughes, E., Wandsworth Jennings, J., Stepney Keen, C., Southampton M'Lauchlan, D., New Cut Pain, 1)., Clerkenwell Peterkin, A., Knightsbridge Prestage, 1., Hackney Wright, J., Bermondsey-square Young, J., Bermondsey MAR: ,lEDT On the Sth inst., at Annan, in Scotland, Mr. Richard Bur ton, of Tottenham-court-road, to Miss Ann Millard, of the same place. On the 19th September last, at Berhampore, Hcnry Moor house, Esq., of the 13th Regiment of Light Infantry, to Susan, daughter of Dr. Cochrane, of Calcutta. DIED. On the 10th inst., in Henrietta-street, Bath, after a lin;ering illness, in her Slat year, Mrs. Hunn, mother of the Right Hon. George Canning. On the 24th ult., at Rome, after a few days' il lness, Colonel Thomas Dalton, of Parrocks, Kent, and of his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester's household. On the 14th inst., William Legg, Esq., o f R olls-buildings, Fetter-lane, conveyancer, in the 64th year of hi s age. On the 15th inst., Frances, wife of Mr. Edward Giles, of Stoke Newington, in the 70th year of her age, Printed and Published by M. YOUNG, at the Still-Onus, No. 112, Strand,