The Sun. — London, England, 1825-03-10 00:00:00

PARLIA3II4:NT, lIOUSE OF LORDS, IVIARcu 9. Prayers were read by the Bishop of GLOUCESTER at ten o'clock, and the DEPUTY SPEAKER proceeded to the hearing of Appeals. In the case of the " Duke of Roxburgh - v. Wauchope," in which there lay also a cross-appeal, the decision of the Court of Session.was-moved to be ,affirmed in both cases, and was af- firmed by this House• Counsel were next called in the cause of " Manners, Miller,' and others, v. Sir D. Hunter Blair and others," when Mr. .solicitor-General and Mr. Keay were heard for the appellant, And the Solicitor-General of Scotland for the respondent.; after which the further hearing was adjourned to. Friday. ROYAL ASSENT. At about five minutes to four o'clock the 'Marquisof WPN. CH ESTER, the LORD CHANCELLOR, and Earl BATHURST, sat robed as Lords Commissioners. for notifying and declaring his _Majesty's Assent to certain 'Bills agreed upon by both Hoaxes ; and the Yeoman Usher of the Black , Rod. was directed to require the attendance of the Lower House. Shortly after Mr. SPEAKER, who was accompanied by seve ral of the Commons came to the Bar, when (his Majesty's Co mmission, dated this day, being read) the Royal Assent was given, with the accustomed forms, to the Annual Indemnity Bill, also to the Irish Unlawful Societies Acts Amendment Bill, and to the Staffordshire Roads Bill ; and the Commons then withdrew. (The Irish Unlawful Societies Suppression Bill takes effect on the '2oth inst.) Precisely . at five o'clock the Loa') CHANCELLOR took the Woolsack. Mr. Johmion, from the Office of the Chief Secretary for Ire hind, presented several Papers pursuant to the provisions of certain Acts. Mr. Iligham, from the Commissioners for the Reduction of the. National Debt, presented the Annual Account of the Sums received and paid by the Commissioners, and of Transfers of Stock, pursuant to Acts. Mr. Stuart Wortley, Mr. Craddock, and others, from the Commons, brought up three Private Bills, which were after wards read a first time. Upon the motion of theßishop of CHESTER, their Lord ships went into a Committee on the Glebe Lands Exchange Bill, - when the amendments made yesterday were agreed to ; after which fresh amendments were added, which the Chairman re ported to the House, and obtained leave to sit again. CATHOLIC (PROTESTANT) PETITION. Viscount CLIFDEN said that he had in his hand a petition, most numerously and respectably signed from the Protestant Inhabitants of the County and City of Kilkenny.—(Here his Lordship read several of the names).—He begged to say a very few words upon the subject of the petition. It was truly a Protestant petition, and emanated from Protestant property, and he hoped it would meet with a better reception than some others which has lately been presented to the House.— From the reports which had reached him upon the subject ofi_the petition, and from what he had observed, he indulged me hope that the general question itself—that interminable question, as it had been called, would at last come to an end.— Circumstances were most favourable to this result—all com mercial jealousies had ceased between the two countries, and all their Lordships, he was confident, wished well to the industry and prosperity of Ireland. Even the Right Rev. Bench oppo site, though he saw it was now empty, had begun to change their opinions, he hoped that the day was not far distant when Ireland, instead of being a mill-stone about the neck of England would become a mine of wealth to her ; and that, as he had said before, the two countries would become one united man— having the same right hand of fellowship, and also the same I heart; which, exclaimed his Lordship, may God speedily grant Upon the motion of the Noble Viscount, the pe tition was then read, received, and ordered to lie upon the The LORD CHANCELLOR gave notice of his intention to proceed to-morrow with the Judicature of Scotland Bill. upon the motion of Lord KENYON, their Lordships now ,aljeurned till to-morrow morning. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The House was summoned to the Peers to hear the Royal 'Assent given by Commission to various public Bills, fur the titles of which see the proceedings of the Lords. ,ilr. Ryan: presented at . the Bar certain papers relating to :the National Debt. It was ordered that they should be print ed. A Return was also laid upon the Table. In the same rnann.t.:, cf the number and tonnage of vessels employed in the Coal T.-ade. The Metropolitan Water Company Bill was read a second -time, and ordered to be committed on the motion of 31r. Mr. CURTEIS obtained leave to bring in a Bill to erect Sea Water Baths for the accommodation of London and West -ininster. Mr. V. k ITZGF.RALD presented a petition from Sligo in favour of the establishment of Provincial Banks. The Hon. e.ruber expressed his decided opinion that such a measure would be attended with the most beneficial consequences. PERUVIAN MINING COMPANY. Mr. GREEN brought in a Bill to enable the Peruvian Min ing Conipany to sue and be sued by its Secretary. r. 1-1011110 USE said, that when the second reading should be proposed, he would resist, in hopes of being able to convince the House that no profitable speculation in this case could be catered into. The Pasco mountains werel3,soo feet - above the level of the sea, and the experiment had been tried -over and over again, and had failed. He knew nothing of the characters of the individuals concerned, but he took upon him : self to that he should be able to convince the House that it ought not to encourage such an undertaking. The Bill was then read a first time. . . Mr. CA ERT presented a petition from certain Proprie tors of Wharfs below the site of St. Catherine's Dock, praying that the Company should be compelled to build two bridges in stead of ore. 'The Hon. Gentleman complained of the inter ference of Members with the measure, .who had private inte rests in its favour. Mr. GRENFELL objected to the late period at which they petition was presented, and after a few words from Mr. H. Surasr Eft. the Petition was laid upon the table. Mr. CALVERT moved that the petition be-referred to the Select Committee. ORENFELL resisted the motion on the ground that it was opposed to the Standing Orders of the House. The SPEAKER expressed his opinion that the petition stated the objections to the Bill with sufficient distinctness as to take it out of the Standing Orders. Mr. CALCRAFT entertained-the same view of the subject. Mr. H. SUMNER admitted that a.petition against the Bill generally, and not against the clauses, wotild''.•he too late in the present stage.—Referred to the Committee. Mr. CALCRAFT: presented a similar petition fiorn the Lon don Dock Company, who, he said, were placed in a like situa . tics. He complained that the Committee had proceeded with precipitation, taking advantage o 1 the absence of these-parties. Referred•to the Comenitee. A A some.evidence of the interest entertained on this subject, the Gallery was nearly emptied , of its auditors when these peti tions were thus disposed•of. iIIETROPOLITAN'FISH COMPANY. Lord JOHN FITZROY,moved the second reading of the Metropolitan Fish Company Bill. Mr. CA ',CRAFT opposed the Bill. An adequate supply of fish was now brought to the London market at seven farthings a pound,. and he conceived it would be idle to give a monopoly in the supply to a Joint Stock Company, upon the vague pretence of their furnishing fish cheaper. On a former occasion, some 'sixteen years •ago, when it was pro posed to send out the boys of the .Marine _Society School to the fisheries, he conceived that measure was calculated to injure those who got their bread by this hazardous and uncomfortable toil, and he was of the same opinion with respect to permitting the existence of • such a Company as this. It had been asserted, that the 'Dutch 'fishing boats supplied our market to 'the disadvantage of our own fishermen ; but, in fact, that was a . mistake, as their boats were solely employed in catching eels and turbot; and when cheapness was propose d as an advantage derivative from this measure, he begged to say, it would he no accommodation to the poor, who were dainty in their fish, and suspected their quality when they were too cheap; and as for gentlemen at this end of the town, who paid high prices, if they -were so particular as to pick over four or five cargoes of turbot before they could suit themselves, it was but , just that they should pay handsomely for that additional luxury. He objected, however, to the principle of this Bill, calculated, as it was, to ini'ire the regular fishermen, who were entitled to protection and encouragement, because their avocation rendered them, as had been proved, the best seamen to man our navy in time of war. Already this 'Company had employed an agent at a sa lary of 2,0001. a year to manage their affairs, and yet lie (the Honourable Member) should not oppose the second reacting of this Bill, because he was ready to go into a Committee with its promoters, peTfectly confident that they could not prove any t.f oun dition for their Prospectus, and quite convinced, that if once he got them up stairs, the House would see so more of this measure. • Lord JOHN FITZROY, in a very low tone of voice, dis claimed any private interest in this Bill. Mr. JOHN SMITH supported the measure. He thought it might be productive of good, and he could -not see that it would do harm. Mr. CURTEIS observed, that the Dutch fishermen did not confine themselves to taking eels and turbot, but lie knew they also brought to the English market the finest flounders, cod, and other fish. Mr. J. P. GRANT was opposed to the Bill. Ile thought the' House could not do any thing more injurious to the re gular supply of the market, than to give a chimerical Com pany advantages which were not possessed by the regular fishermen. The Bill was read a second time and committed. ASSESSED TAXES. Lord MILTON presented a Petition from Huddersfield, praying for the repeal of the Assessed Taxes.—Ordered to lie on the table. Mr. HURST presented a petition from Horsham, praying. for the repeal of the House and Window Tax.—Ordered to lie on the table. Mr. CRADOCK presented a petition from Grinton, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, praying for the repeal of the As sessed Taxes.—Ordered to lie on the table. Mr. LAM BTON presented a petition from Bishop's Auck land, praying for the repeal of the House and Window Duties ; also a petition from the same place, praying for a repeal of the Stamp Duties.—Ordered to lie on the table. CATHOLIC CLAIMS. Mr. MAXWELL presented a petition from the Town of Downpatrick, against any further concessions to the Catholics. Ordered to lie on the table. HOUSE AND WINDOW DUTIES. Mr. S. WORTLEY presented a Petition from Doncaster, praying for the repeal of the House and Window Duties. DUTY ON COALS. Sir T. ACLAND presented petitions from Dartmouth and Honiton against the Duty on Coals.—Ordered to lie on the table. CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION. Dr. LUSHINGTUN presented a petition from the Town 01 Drumcondra, in the minty of Meath, against any measures for suppressing the Catholic Association.—Ordered to he on the table. Mr. Alderman HEY GATE presented a petition against the Bill for Paving, &c. the Borough of Sudbury. Without wish ing to prejudge the question, he felt it to be his duty to present a petition from his Constituents, so numerously and respectably signed. They stated that the majority of the rate payers were hostile to the measure, and they were averse to the imposition of permanent burthens, which would be severely felt, if the present prosperity of the town should be only temporary. SINKING FUND. Mr. HUME postponed his motion on the Sinking Fund, which stood for Friday. The Honourable Member made some observations which were not distinctly audible in the Gallery, but which we understood to refer to a domestic calamity, which had recently befallen the Speaker. The SPEAKER said, lie was bound to express to the House on the present occasion, how deeply and gratefully he felt the kindness and favour which had been shewn towards him. He could but ascribe to their indulgence the delay which had taken place in the public business yesterday ; looking, however, to the great amount of business, both public and private, he fek that they had already shewn towards him an indulgence greater than he had any right to expect, and to the utmost possible ex tent that was consistent with the public convenience. CONSOLIDATION OFACTS RELATIVRTOJURIES. Mr. Secretary PEEL rose to bring forward his motion for consolidating and amending the laws relative to Juries. It was impossible, he apprehended, to urge any valid objection against clearing up what was obscure, and consolidating what was scattered over the whole Statute-book in the laws relating to Juries. There were no fewer than 85 statutes relating to the impanellin ,, of Juries ; what possible objection could there b e to uniting all these statutes in one clear and intelligible Act? — (Hear !)—lle would mention one or two statutes within the first ten years of the reign of Queen Aisne, as a specimen of the confusion and incongruity which prevailed with regard to the laws on this subject. One ef these Acts relating to Juries was also entitled an Act for the more easy recovery of small debts, and for amending the law relative to lands held in coparcenary. It was surely . more consistent with common sense to separate the laws relative to Juries from this incongruous mixture, and to consolidate them into one simple statute. Another Act re lating to Juries, the 10th of Queen Anne, was also an Act for defining the powers of Magistrates in certain cases, for build ing county gaols, and for preventing apothecaries from filling certain parish offices. Some of the provisions relative to Juries, which wero still in force, were mixed up in the same statute with provisions relative to other subjects, which had long since been repealed— " Monne quinetiam jungebat corpora vivis." One of these Acts, for instance, was also . an Act relating to vagrants, which was no longer in force, and an Act for prohi biting the exportation of leather. Many of these Acts he pro posed to repeal altogether ; that, for instance, relating to the attainder of Jurors, in case of bribery or improper conduct ; an Act which, as Blackstone had observed, was coeval with wager by battle, and which, in the present enlightened age, ought, in his opinion, to share the fate of its contemporary. Ile would just state to the House the penalties which this Act inflicted on the offending juryman ; he was to lose his liberam legem ; he was to become infamous for life ; he was to forfeit his goods and the profits of his lands; his wife and children were to be cast out of doors, his house was to be razed. and his fields and meadows destroyed. In these days, he trusted, there was abetter pledge for the integrity of jurors, than any Penal Statute of this revolting description. This Statute had never been en. forced during aperiod of 200 years; it was just possible that it might again be brought into activity, as the law of wager by battle had been, within the last 20 years.; and as the letter bar barous remnant of antiquity had been judiciously abolished, he proposed to take the-same course with respect to the law for attaintiug Juries. At the same time, if it could be proved to him that any benefit was likely to result from this law remain ing on the Statute Book—if it could be shewn, that in the pre sent century it really was a beneficial and practical conavul on the conduct of Jurors, he should be perfectly ready to re consider his opinion. The alterations which he proposed to make in the:law srelating to Juries were every s4ght. He should make ,to new experiments with regard to the phraseo logy ; for instance, where the ancient phraseology was clear and expressive, he should leave it untouched ; where it Yee; absurd and contradictory, he felt it to be consistent only with the civi lization and illumination of the present age, to propose an amendment.—(H ear, hear !)—The chief alterations which he proposed to make were these :—ln, the first place, with respect to the mode of summoning common juries, he should propose an alteration in the formation of the lists. Those lists were at, present returned in parishes by the petty constable—an indivi dual who was frequently unable to read or write, and who was too often open to seduction. Thus he (Mr. P.) had ascertained that the petty constable, in consideration of some trifling gra tuity, often omitted the names of persons who were hest quali fied to serve on juries, and inserted the names of others who were less qealified to discharge that duty. He proposed to de volve the duty of forming the lists of persons qualified to serve on juries on the churchwarden and overseers of the parishes, who, from their situation, were much better able to ascertain the qualifications of the parishioners, and who, from their re spectability, were not liable to the objections which existed against the petty constable. He should also require a much more distinct enumeration of the qualifications and residence of persons liable to serve on juries, than was made at presen se t. —He should propose also, that the appeals of persons who names might be improperly returned or omitted, should be re ceived at a petty Sessions of Magistrates, and not at the Quar ter Sessions, where the Magistrates had already sufficient business on their hands. He proposed also to extend the num ber of persons qualified to serve on Special Juries in counties. Under the existing law, none but persons designated Esquire' could serve on the Special Juries in Counties; and in one remarkable case, he alluded to the tria l of Major Cartwright, only 54 persons qualified to serve on Special Juries, exclusive of the Grand Jury who found the Bill, were returned out of the whole county of Warwick. ,He should propose that in Counties, as in the City of London, all persons returned as merchants and bankers should be liable to serve on Special Ju ries. He should now advert to the most important part of this subject, namely, the formation of Special Juries, for the pur pose of trying causes. it was his intention to ,propose an ar rangement .which, he trusted, would be p erfectly satisfactory tie all parties, both to those owlexthought. the present mode of .striking Special Juries defective in theory, and liable to abuse, and to those who, while they admitted thatethe theory was de fective, thought .that no pract i ca l abuse could a rise from it in consequence of tile e ., -reat respectability of 'the officers on whom the duty of striking Special Juries •devolved...- He should propose that the names of all the persons' qualified to - serve on Special Juries in London and West minster, and .in every county of England, should he in scribed in a bOok, -describing the rank and qualifications of each, and that to the name of each .person, alphabetically ranged, should be a tt ac h e d a number o f the arithmetical pro gresiou 1, 2 e 3, 4, &c. ; to that, for example , if there were 100 persons qualified to serve on Special Juries, in a particular county, their names should be alphabetically arranged, and, the arithmetical progressioe, 1, 2, 3, &c . u p to 100, should be attached to tho se names i n their alphabetical order. He should then propoaa that a number of cards, equal to that of the per sons qualified to serve, should benumbered.with the-same meth =deal progression, 1,2, 3, &c. to the extent of the whole list. The cards so, numbered were to be put into a box or glass, and 40 of them were to be drawn out. by an -officer ; these 40 were to he reduced to 24, in the present mode, and the names of the 24 called over in Court in their alphabetical order. (Thi's propo sition of the Right lion. Gent. was received by the House with loud cheers.)—lt would of course be admitted that that mode of trial was to be preferred which would be mast satisfactory to both plaintiff and defendant.; and therefore it was proposed. that in civil cases, if both plaintiff anti defendant should signify their assent in writing, that the officer should proceed in the old mode, then let that course be followed. It was important that the consent should be written to prevent future differences. It should also be provided in civil cases, that when one Jury had been selected qualified to try commercial causes, if other parties having causes to be tried should signify their mutual assent, the same Jury might proceed. To this course he saw no objection. But unless both parties consented, the law would be of no avail. This arrangement would not be allowed in political cases; in •them there must be a ballot of the Special. Jurors. The details of the measure Would be better understood when the Bill should lie printed ; at present he only meant to propose that it should be read a vecoud time,profloono,committed,and theblanks filled up, in order that its provisions might be fully undertood. If it should be found that benefit resulted from the measure, he hoped the House would not stop there with the principle of consolidation. It was impossible to contemplate the vast mass of laws in our Statute Books, without feeling that great ad vantage might be derived from .extending the principle. The Criminal Code should be the first ; for it was of the last im portance that the subjects of this realm should have a facility in knowing the laws which they were bound to obey. Many amendments might be made in the laws respecting forgery and • larceny, which abounded with so many anomalies. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman (Dr. Lushington) had devoted much of his time to the consolidation of some of our laws, and indeed it was only by the intervention of able professional men that such a desirable object could be accomplished. He had him self been much occupied with this measure, and had also the assistance of eminent members of the legal profession, who were of Course much better qualified to treat such . a subject than lie could pretend to be ; and lie trusted, that however ne cessary in other cases a commission inailis particular instance might be dispensed with, as he trusted the measure would be fo u nd satisfactory. With 'respect to the laws regarding for gery, they filled one entire volume, and he thought that in that case a commission would be desirable, for he was sure that neither the Lord Chancellor, the Attorney-General, or any pro fessional man, could devote sufficient time for the minute In vestigation which was necessary. After the experience he had of those 85 Statutes respecting Juries, he was persuaded, that by carrying the principle of consolidation farther, great improve ment would he done to the laws. 3luch confusion would be avoided, and many anomalies removed. He should therefore move for leave to bring in a Bill to consolidate the Laws re lating to Juries, and for the Regulation of Special Juries. Dr. LUSH INGTON said, lie was desirous to take the ear liest opportunity of expressing the high satisfaction he felt at the very important measure about to he introduced by the Right Honourable Gentleman. With respect to that part of the proposed plan which affected the selection of juries, it could not fail to be productive of the greatest benefit, for nothing could be more injurious to the administration of justice than even the existence of a doubt as to the purity of the mode in which it was administered. The decisions of Courts of Justice should be beyond suspicion, in order that the desirable ced might be attained, that a conviction should receive the a pproll.- tion of the public ; and from the statement of the Right Ho nourable Gentleman, lie was disposed to think that the provi sions of the Bill were the best qualified to accomplish-the pro posed end. He apprehended that the regulation as to the selection of juries would extend to Exchequer prosecutions. — (Mr. Peel expressed his assent.)—This would be of the greatest advantage, and as to the general question of .consoli dation, he quite concurred in the principle of appointing a Commission, and of proceeding step by step. 'ln the Committee, of course, an opportunity would be afforded of making any alterations that might be found necessary, and he felt a strong assurance, that the measure would be most satis factory when reduced to the best test of utility—Practice. In all his attempts on this subject, his principle, and he trusted the principle that would he pursued, was to consolidate the laws precisely as they stood. No man had a right to come down to that House with a measure professing consolidation merely, when, in point of fact, its object was to alter and amend. If the slightest alteration were proposed, it should be distinctly pointed out to the House, and in any consolidation theraluiuld adhere adjudicated casea. with reference to derided cases .in order that thelaw might not as closely as possible to the old form of tite.Act.of : Parliament, ---(llear.!) be at sea until there were fresh The Right Hon. Gentleman% =azure .should :have his fall concurrence anti support. - Mr, 110BHOLTSE said, •tha t ever y men who valued the liberties of his country, oast be delighted at the,introduction of this Bill. It would be theveatest and most salutary reform that could be found in our Statute Books. Mr. HUMP: said, that loiving years ago called the attention of the House to this important subject, he could not but ex press the satisfaction he felt at the proposed measure of the Right Honoura.ble Secretary. But it appeared to him, that it would be a very great advantage if the same principle could he applied to what wise called-the Common Law, but which he called no law—and he understood that-such.a-course would not be difficult. Mr. PEEL said, that as far es was predicable, the Common Law had been consolidated by Statute, but the Honourable Member must himself concur in the impropriety of enacting by Statute that which was regulaWd. by Common Law. Nothing, in his mind, could be more inexpedient than interfering- with the ancient sacred institutions of the country:; for instance, who would think jf enforcing, by Statute, that a Jury should con sist of twelve persons, and that their-verdict must be founded on unanimity. It would he mom .unwise to interfere with those sacred usages which had been uniformly recognized as the law of the land. Mr. BRIGHT expressed his concurrence in the measure, and suggested two alterations,--Ahe one, that we •.should return to the ancient principle, that juries should not separate until they had conic to a decision ; and the other, that the old law should be re-enacted of compelling the Crown Lawyers, .in cases of high treason, -to state the wound of challenge at the time the challenge is made. After a few words from Sir JOHN SEBRIGHT, the motion was agreed to. Mr. HOME DRU3IMOND obtained leave to bring in a bill for the more easy Recovery of Small Debts in the Sheriffs' Courts of Scotland. The LORD ADVOCATE obtained leave to bring in a bill for continuing, until thelst of Ju1y,1326, the Act for render ing the payment of creditors more equal and expeditious in: Scotland. The LORD ADVOCATE obtained leave to bring in a bill for regulating Fees in the Sheriffs' Court, and Courts of Burghs in Scotland. On the motion of Mr. DICKINSON, a Select Committee was appointed for inquiring into the Expenditure of County Rates,. and to report their opinions thereon to the House. he other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the .ouse adjourned at a Qu ar t er b e f ore Eight. AGRICULTURAL. SOCIETIES.—After the Britons retired into Wales, it was enacted that no man should guide a plough that could not make one, and that the driver should make the ropes of twisted willows with which it was drawn. It was usual for 6 or 8 persons to form themselves into a society for thing out one of these ploughs, providing it with oxen and every thing necessary for ploughing; and many curious laws were made for the regulation of such soci e ti es . If a ny person laid dung on the field with the consent of the proprietor, he was by law allowed the use of that land for one year. If the dung was carried out in a cart in great abundance, he was to have the use of the land for three years. Whoever cut down a wood, and converted the ground into arable, with the consent of the owner, w a s to have the use of it for five years. If any - orid - fola e d 'hi s ca ttl e for one year, upon a piece of ground belonging to another, with the owner's consent, be was allowed the u se o f t h at fi e ld for four years. Thus, though the Britons had in a great measure lost the knowlege of agri culture, they appear to have been very assiduous in giving en couragement to such as wou ld a ttempt the revival of it. CoßoNr . 4- IT ---- I NQUEST.--lesterday at 3 o'clock, an Ingaisition was ta k en b e f ore U NWIN , Esq. C or oner, at the White Hart public-house, Clifton.-street, Finsbury, on view of the body of B en j am i n B urr ell, h a i r -d res ser, residing at No. 41, in that street, who put a period to his existence on Monday last.—J. Dixon, a watc h man , d e posed, that about half - p ast 5 , y o'clock on 'Monday, the d a ughter of the deceased came, and begged , that lie would go to her father's house; he accordingly accompanied her thither, and found the decea sed in the privy, with his th roat cut and a razor ling by his side, and the floor ' deluged with bl oo d . Th e w i tness said that the deceased had been for a l ong t i me past i n an unsou nd state of m ind, and he had no doubt that Ids death was caused by his own act. Mr. denial-1y (he said John Lucas, clerk in a mercantile house, a relation of the de ceased, stated, that about twelve raonths ago the deceased suf fered nmch from a severe fit of illness, and ever since that time he had. beenin a melancholy desponding state of mind; par peered to be labourin under a mental delusion, imagining Verdict—Temporary that he was reduced to a state of distress, and about to go to the workhouse, although he Was really in good cireeuistaneos. during the ' last two or three months, he ap peared A very 1 Insanity • -nwortant discovery for The French nation has been inademear .Paris in a vein of 'ex cellent coal, with a 'large quantity of iron stone in its immediate vicinity. INDIA. '{Prom the Times.] By the Ilintiostan, arrived at Liverpool from Calcutta, we have received accounts from that place to the 7th of November, which bring intelligence in itself of a nature suf ficiently alarming, and the more so, because indicating the same want of judgment in the conduct of the war with the Burmese, which so peculiarly marked the first proceedings by which we were plunged into this unfortunate contest. It appears that a mutiny of the 47th Regiment of Native Infantry took place ° n the 2d of November, at Barrackpore, which was n ot (relied without the destruction, if the private letters may be credited, of several hundreds of them. The cause of discontent is described to have been a diminution of their batta, or marching allowance, with other privations as re garded the conveyance of the baggage, at the moment when they were about to commence a dangerous and fatiguing expedition ! The first symptoms of insubordination were evinced on the morning of the 2d, on the muster of the 47th Native Regiment on the parade at Barrackpore, preparatory to their being marched to Dacca, on their road to the seat of the campaign in the Burmese territory. Barrackpore is distant about 16 miles from Calcutta. On this occasion it was remark ed, that the troops appeared on the parade without their knap sacks ; and on being questioned why they did so, avowed their determination not to march unless allowed bullocks and coolies to carry their moveables. Col.Danz E t., the English officer com manding the mutinous regiment, expostulated with them on their conduct, and on their remaining refractory, rushed for ward and attempted to seize one of those who appeared to take a leading part in the mutiny. lie was warned, however, by some of the others to desist, they declaring their intention to shoot him if he persevered. He abstained, therefore, from personal interference; but on his requiring that all those who did not participate in this mutinous conduct should separate from their comrades, one whole company detached itself, and were followed by the native officers in command of the other companies. There wasnot, in fact, one officer even so low in rank as the havildar, or serjeant, who took any part in the mutiny. Colonel DALZEL, finding the remainder immovable in their resolution, and fearing the consequences that might ensue, as they were well supplied both with arms and ammunition, dis patched couriers to the artillery station at Dumdum, and to the ! , Commander-in-Chief, who was at Calcutta, who immediately repaired with his guard, and the body-guard of the Governor. General, which are cavalry and Mahometan troops, to the neighbourhood oldie place where the mutineers kept their posi tion. At this time there was in garrison at Fort William the Ist Batt. Royal Scots, and the 44th Regiment ; and, by great good fortune, the 47th (British) Regiment had dropped down the riverdn boats, on their route to Chittagong, only the even ing before. By considerable activity all these troops were col lected near Barrackpore by day-break on the 3d, but their ap proach Was managed with so much caution, that it remained un known to the mutineers. These men were then once more ad dressed by their Officers, and advised to a voluntary submission, but continuing refractory, the artillery and troops were brought to act upon them. On the first fire they threw down their arms, and fled in confusion. A great many precipitated themselves into the river, numbers were killed' by the fire of the troops, and about fifty were secured iro the attempt to escape.— ' In the accounts of what ensued at this period of the affair, there is a singular discrepancy ; some letters stating the killed and wounded of the mutinous regiment at six hun dred, and others at no more than forty, but there is every reason for believing that the smallest number given is the nearest to the truth. The exaggeration is, without doubt, owing to the alarm which prevailed at Calcutta at the time, that place having been left under the protection of no more than 400 European troops during the period occupied in putting down the mutiny. A Court-martial had been formed to try the mutineers, and it is asserted in some accounts that fifty had been hanged ; but we are inclined here also to take the more moderate statement, from which we learn that five only, and those well known to he the ringleaders in the mutiny, had been put to death. No search after the fugitives had been instituted, with the exception of two or three, well known to have excited the discontent of the remainder, and for whose apprehension rewards had been offered. On the investigation that took place, some of the troops who were questioned respecting their motives for refusing to march, are said to have assigned as a reason, that they imagined the Burmese dealt in witchcraft, and consequently that other troops could have no chance against magicians--a reason which is sufficiently characteristic of the superstitious ig norance of our native Indian troops. Whether this cause be the true one or not, there can he no hesitation at condemning the impalicy of creating causes of discontent among this class of force at such a time, by curtailing their regular allowances, and by subjecting them to unusual privations. Every one acquaint ed with the disposition of the Sepoy troops is aware that pa tience and submission are a fixed habit with them, and that they could not have rebelled •in the manner described without strong provocation, or very powerful motives of one kind or other. We have collected the preceding statement from a great number of private letters received yesterday from Calcutta, after duly weighing the authofity and the probability of each account, and • divesting it of all that appeared superfluous, which we conceived a far more useful method than leaving our readers to be embarrassed with their contradictions. Our im pression on the whole of the narrative is, that the mutinous spirit was,,at the date of the advices, laid to rest for the pre sent; but that we have little security against its re-appearance under such an a dministration as that which now governs India. We subjoin theofficial account of the affair at Barrackpore as IPublished by authority in the COcutta Gazette :--. " CALCUTTA, Nov. 4, c‘ As considerable public anxiety will naturally have been felt regarding the events which have recently occurred at Bar rackpore, we are authorized to state the following particulars : J ., Symptoms of insubordination had manifested them selves. for some days in the 47th Regiment of Native In fantry at that station, under orders to proceed to Chita gong. On Monday morning a large proportion of the corps refused to obey their officers, and conducted themselves in a most outrageous manner. Notwithstanding sufficient time was allowed them for reflection, and every effort was made to induce them to return to their duty, they continued on Tuesday morning in a state of open mutiny, which it became indispensably necessary to put down, by the employment of force. In consequence, at an early hour, the battalion of his Majesty's Royal Regiment, and some artillery from Dumdum, took up a position in the rear of their quarters, while his Ma jesty's 47th Regiment, the Body Guard, and the 67th Regi ment of Native Infantry, f orme d i n li ne o n their left. Colonel Neil, Colonel Stevenson, and Captain r,lacan, were then sent by his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, to order the mu tineers to ground their arms. This they refused to do. Two signal-guns were immedi ate l y ti re d, as previously concerted, and the artillery opened upon their rear. They then fled in various directions, and were pursued by the King's regiments, and the body guard. A considerable number were killed, and many prisoners taken, for the trial of whom a court-martial was mediately convened. The 26th and 62d Regiments of Native Infantry, which were also under marching orders, behaved throughout the morning with the most perfect steadiness; and by the accounts received yesterday, it appears that tranquillity has been completely re-established, and that the severe ex ample which it has been necessary to make, has produced the desired effect. " Two of the body-guard were unfortunately killed by a shot from one of the guns; but no other casualty occurred among the troops employed on the occasion." This, under any version, is an unpleasant affair. A mutiny breaking out in the neighbourhood of the seat of Government, requires a measure of the most desperate nature to suppress,—for such a measure we assert to be the discharge of our own artillery upon troops in our own pay, and having sworn obedience to us,—cannot but be regarded with apprehension—. We had always considered it as unfortunate that Lord Wit.. LIAM BENTINCK was not sent out to India, and hope that we may not have future occasion to express our regret upon the same subject. The accounts brought by the Ilindostan from Rangoon come down to the 22d of October. A detachment of our troops had been repulsed in an attack on one of the stockades, an account of which will be found among our extracts from the papers ; but, on the other hand, the army under the command of Sir ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL had taken Tavay and many other forts on the coast of Siam. These captures were facilitated by a movement of the inhabitants, who mutined against their Governors in some instances, and received the British with open arms. This feeling of the Siamese in favour of the British is an event of the highest importance to the ultimate issue of the war, and is highly important, as it would ensure an ample supply of provisions to our troops. It was ex— pected that Sir ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL would be enabled- to advance against Ummerapoora, the capital of Ava, by the end of the month of November; and should he succeed in his attempt on that place, it is supposed that the Burmese might be awed by it into submission. It is possible, in the actual occurrence of so favourable an event, that intel ligence of it might arrive in this country, by means of an overland express, in the course of a few days. The force collected by the Burmese between Rangoon and Ummera poora was estimated at 100,000 men, under the command of the Prince of SURRAWADDY, the King of Av.s.'s brother. The reports of a revolution in Ave are not confirmed. Mr. GounEn, who was taken prisoner some time ago by the Burmese, re mained in their custody, but had not suffered any further mo lestation. A number of fire-rafts, filled with various combus tibles, which had been constructed by the Burmese for the pur pose of floating down the Irrawaddy, and impeding the progress of the transports, had been destroyed by Sir ARCUIBALP Cam YBELL. Upwards of 5,000 barrels of oil had been blown up• FRENCH PAPERS. ( From the Xtoik, dated Tuesday, March B. ) PARIS, MARCH 7.—The news published to-day by a .Tour nal, of a considerable loan made by Spain, and guaranteed by several great Powers, is wholly destitute of foundation. The report which has been in circulation for some days, of as loan of 500 millions of francs by Spain, with the obligation on , the part of the contractors to withdraw from circulation the" bonds of the Cortes and of the Dutch debt, in an indefinite period, is not founded in truth. The Spanish Government had rejected this proposal. The Journal du Commerce says to-oe' that the proposal was made by Spain, and rejected at London - The Journal des Debats and the Constitutionnel, which have the same correspondent at Madrid, both give us to-day a pro" ject of a decree of Amnesty transmitted to the Council of (.%2 0- tine by the Minister of Justice, with a letter, in which 3 1 ' Calomarde desires that the strictest secrecy shall be preserve& with respect to this affair ; but nothing is a secret to the corre spondent of the two Journals we have named. They accord' ingly published the letter of M. Calomarde, the project of tb Decree, and the report of the Council of Castille. We knovl not if the readers of these two Journals will give much credit to' such documents; as for us, who do not pretend to publish Vs' pers of such importance, we believe that we may decline relying; on the authenticity of the documents which the Coustitutioro ck and the Journal des Debats present to us to-day. ( From Mc Conslitutionnel. ) FEB. 24.--( Private Correspondence. )—The Mini' ster of Grace and Justice, under date Feb. 5, has sent a letter to the President of the Council of Castille, accompanied by tb& following Decree, which his Majesty is said to suppose rs n e cessary to unite his divided subjects. The Council of Castill, was required by the Minister to give their opinion on the Deere' COPY OF THE PROJECT OF A DECREE. " My Royal heart, desiring to bury in an eternal obli vio l the unfortunate events which have recently taken place, n . 1 - particularly to efface the deplorable traces which they ha 0 left, and which place obstacles in the way of a general WO ° of the people, and impede public prosperity, it is my sovereigfrl will, that for the future there shall be no accusation whatev e t ; or denunciation for any thing which may relate to eon. , which have taken place between March 7, 1820, and October x;, 1823. No judge or tribunal is to institute a trial which 1 3 4 7 ( renew the remembrance of the evils of three years of disci j and anarchy. All those who are detained on account v; political offences or opinions shall be set at libertJl The proceedings against them shall be stopped, and tile, shall never be disturbed in any manner on account of thas,l facts or opinions. My . Royal clemency shall also extend to .0 political crimes committed up to March 1, 1824, on cond ir l„ a ntis those persons who have left the country shall return ' r in three months from the date of this Decree. As anarchY, e r perpetuated, if those who have contributed to restore good ori le continue to demand rewards for it,. I desire that for 'O, future they will abstain alleging claims of this descriptiftit I shall remember such services when occasion offers, Y 4, henceforth no person shall be appointed to any civil, eccleol i c tical, or military situation, but on account of his fitness for ~e 0 situation ; and no political conduct, since 18 - 20, shall be t a t e g into consideration. It is my royal will, that whatevee v 0 4 1., to this shall be wholly overlooked by the tribunals and di sill ent officers of the State. lam persuaded that my subjects ow conform to these paternal wishes, of which the object is qc o , ciliation and prosperity, and that they will promote my vi e le so that 1 may govern in peace and prosperity the Pvw confided to my care by Providence, whom 1 regard as, tee children. The project of law is as follows :--Art. Ist. Al' or j oc ij Spaniards shall receive an amnesty, who, from Marc h .• 1820, up to the present day, have been guilty of any poll, o ft offence whatever.—Art. 2 . All Spaniards now impriso ne d} , account of such offences, or subject to trial, shall be WO r e ately liberated.—Art. 3 . My Ministers shall hencefort h P tp pose to me, for employments, the persons most kraP e : till them, without any regard to their political opaiol l i o rtil conduct.—Art. 4. All my subjects are forbidireia 4eac e ' r joil to make a merit of their Royalist services, my ,inten t, being to reward them independent of employments.—Mo, The emigrants shall return to their country within threell° -o pe e from the date of the present Decree ; and those who 6 % 0 embrace this condition shall be excluded from the bon ip this Decree, and shall remain s ubject to the laws at prese ° fore:." re' The President of the Coun c il of C a stille made a lOn& c , / port on this Decree to th e G o ve r nment, concluding tli a -'„'vc The Council regards this measure as ill-timed, and not t' or e executed. The documents accompanying the Decree P e of that there is a want of correct inf or m a tion as to the st 3 ` r or the nation, and that the inconvenience of placing public poi .., ployments in the hands of a ce r tain class of personsth e been sufficiently weighed." In spite of this di sa pprobation yi Project has been again presented to the Council of Stat e ' 0 0,,i ) rational people think that the time h a s arrived for effecting4o o . changes. Some Royalist volunteers, however, have L o ra' added to the cry of " Long li ve the Absolute King," the " No Chambers." ts' r PARIS, MARCH 7—FRENCH FUNDS.--Five F e.„ Jouiss. du Sept. 22, 1824. closed March 5, at 106 • I '7' f3e v du March 22, 1825, opened at 103 f. 00c. ; closed at 103,,,•oti0:1 —Bank Stock, 2,047 f. 50e.—Neapolitan 5 per Cents, 'fp/ cue Falconnet, 911. 50c.—Rente d'Espagne, 204t.'" r Spanish Loan, 60f. Exchange on London—One Month, 251. ; three, ditto* 85c.—( Cour: 4uthcntigne.) whiej