The Sun. — London, England, 1827-02-24 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. No man whO watches the conduct of rc,:olar bred law. versa or, indeed, reasons from the natural workings legal practice and prejudice upon the character of the steadiest min , l, has ever indulged a hope that extensive reforms would be wrought upon the law of England, through the voluntary agency of its professors. A prac tising lawyer seldom generalizes or glances at the philo sophy of jurisprudence. Whereas, one who would im prove a system, and above all things, one who would im prove by rendering it more simple, must look at it largely, end in the outline, or his attempt will end in nothing but patchwork and inconsistency. L or d E rs ki ne, we have ground for believing, had he remained a few years in office as Chancellor, would have attacked one grand stream of •expence and iniquity at the fountain head, by substituting parele evidence in almost every case where written inter ogatories are now resorted to. tiir Samuel Romilly, it is well kr; :vn, proposed to himself as the dearest object of his a:nNtioti, a recasting of the whole code ofourcriminal law. But they were both great men t they were capable of applying broad principles to the correction of detailed Aimee ; and it is curious that the two lawyers who were confessedly the most distinguished of their time, should have been the only ones who meditated any sensible change in the subject matter of their professional studies. Pe:- haps here, also, it may not be unimportant to remark, that neith r Sir S. I:torridly nor Lord Erskine felt bold enough to make a vigo rous experiment upon his own peculiar branch of English juris prudence. The splendid advocate, and(whatever cotemnotary envy 'or prejudice may have insinuated to disparage the real merits of 'Lord Erskine) the sound and ready 'common lawyer, seemed to be actotted by the reverence of a child or pupil, for that especial int...te of rules which had been for years the guide and measure of his immediate practice. He would reform the equity juris diction by ingrafting on it the Trial by Jury, but the law of crimes and punishments, together with those diseases in the constitution of juries themselves, which have since been so ably treated by a non-professional statesman, Was left by Br;kine where he found it. In like manner the great and enlightened ornament of English Equity, Sir Samuel Romillv, selected for his proposed reforms, a different field from that whereon he had achieved his personal reputation. He aimed not at striking the enormous grievances of Chancery with the same resolute and nervous arm which was ever braced for the ele ct:edition of absurdity or cruelty in the Criminal Code. "WA ex perience then assures us can scarcely be demanded from more than one or two lawyers in as many centuries, practical and exten sive amelioration in any large branch of the law—Mr. Peel, the youngest of our known statesmen, has already in great part exe cuted. He had before done much towards ensuring the honest composition and real independence of juries, where the Crown and subject where at issue ; and he now, at a single stroke, ren ders the rule of law more intelligible—redress for injury more ac cessible—the classification of offences more conformable to reason —and their punishment less revolting to humanity. This is e noble enterprise for any Minister, and, from the reception given to Mr. Peel's propositions, so encouraging to the Right Honourable Gentleman, e ad so creditable to one side of the House of Com mons, we trust that the judicious and successful reformer may be led to pursue the path on which he has entered, and that the Law of Libel, with all its oppressive barbarisms, will ere long engage a portion of his solicitude for the public good.— Times. A case at the Mansion-house, yesterday, of a cellarman .old a carman, accused of robbing their employers, led the Lord Mayor to express " his horror at the extensive system of domestic treason and robbery, which was ex hibited in this case, and a number of others, which were every day brought before him. No less than two-thirds of the rases of felony brought before him, since he had been Mayor, were cases of servants robbing their masters. --It was melancholy, that whilst thousands were starving for want of employment, those who obtained comfortable situations could nut keep honest." It was stated at the same time, by the officers, that " from the anxiety mani fested by the servants in the neighbourhood to aid the prisoners, it was absolutely necessary that the book con taining the entry of the parcel at the White Hart Inn, should be impounded, to prevent its being stolen, to get rid of the evidence." It is refreshing to see an instance' of a Gentleman who, after elevating himself to wealth and distinction, by the practice of a profession which is, more than any other perhaps, trying to a Saint, still preserves such a keen abhorrence of deviations from rectitude, as to express himself in such a strain of virtuous indignation as that in which his Lordship indulged on this occasion.— But while we admire his Lordship's freshness of feeling, we cannot help thinking the practice to which we allude might have suggested to him, that the tender anxiety which it has all along manifested for the protection of fraudulent transactions of every description, by affording those who have been successful appropriators, loop-holes through which they safely may creep, from the perni cious example which it holds out, as one main cause of the extensive system of domestic treason and robbery of which his Lordship expressed his h orror . D o we not see attorneys and solicitors every day availing themselves of the resources which the laiv opens to chicanery, to prevent the recovery of what they know to be just debts, for half a generation ? • Are there not men in London who hold their heads high who do this ? Yet, what is the difference be tween a man who covenants for hire to commit a crime (such as stabbing 4 man), and he who lends himself for hire to ruin him unjustly? Both acts are immoral; but the one may be practised with safety, while the other is attended with hazard. But passing from legitimate fraud and chicanery to more questionable courses, wh6, that has lived any time in London, does not know that affi davits are daily and hourly manufactured by attorneys, for pur poses such as those developed in a late trial, which reflects eo much credit on Mr. Tattersall? The national feeling is corrupted by the constant exhibition of successful fraud, and of this we have a instance, in the necessity for impounding the hook con taining the entry of the parcel, to prevent its being stolen by the anxious servants in the neighbourhood. The plain English of this is, that the servants are not behind in grating up a morality for their own purposes ; they have a sort of vested interest (for that ii the genteel word) in appropriating to thcnneelves the pro perty of their employers ; they are fully aware of the advantage of keeping each other in countenance, and have, like their betters, studied the law to know how to render it inoperative.—The na tion, we say, is corrupted by the constant exhibition of impunity to fraud and peculation, and of appropriations of the money, both of the public and of individuals, contrary to every rule of morality. Hence there is an almost general scepticism as to the existence of sucha thing as virtue, and men are laughed at for their simplicity in believing in the reality of the motives avowed for actions. If we wish to correct the evil, we must grapple fairly with it. It is not by the manifestation of aversion by a rich man to the picking of pockets, or the contempt of a Joint Stock swindler for the more humble knave who does a shop boy out of a pound of sugar, or the horror of a Magistrate who shuts up a public-house, or refuses one to a neighbourhood to serve the Brewer, who employs him as a hod-maker, for the paltry rogue who is detected charging sixpence too much in the porterage of a parcel, that we can hope to mitigate the evil. Few men sympathise with the crimes or vices which they themselves are under no temptation of committing. Let the high places be pure ; let those who are in conspicuous stations, and in the pos session of power, not only act themselv es with honour and purity, not only manifest themselves a detestation of crime and fraud, whether committed by high or low, but endeavour to destroy the causes of immorality, and the beneficial effect will soon be felt. We consider, for instance, the sincere respect manifested by Mr. Peel for truth, in his Speech on Thursday night, and his adherence to the principle, that the advantage of the community is the object which ought exclusively to be aimed at in Legislation, to be of incalculable importance in the way of tendency to improve the national morality.—But when Sir George Clerk stated, ouly a few nights before, that a number of rich factors, who had endea voured to poison a whole navy, had been allowed to escape with the loss only of the gains they contemplated from their fraud, what does this teach, but that the crimes of the rich are viewed in a different light by the rich from that in which they view the crimes of the poor ? We are not such enthusiasts or visionaries as to suppose that society can ever be without crimes and vices ; but there is no necessity for fostering and encouraging them by bad laws. Whenever we defend what is notoriously an abuse, no matter for whose interest, and advocate the continuance of insti tutions irreconcileable with h onesty—whenever we give premiums for hypocrisy and dissimulation, we are corrupting morality at its source, and we can only expect to see the stream of pollution spreading itself over the land. There are, in this city of London, m e n r! education possessed of large properties--say from twenty to thirty thousand pounds and even more, who are k nown to live by depredation. These individuals (and their names are well known to those principally ex p osed to thei r attacks) t a k e their measures so that they can never themselves be reached. They find, t no doubt, in the practices advocated in high places, an d' pron4 e d by some of the institutions of the country, n o l ac k of oPtliQui arguments for corrupting the principles of the numerous individuals who become their instruments. That inimitable writer, Defoe, whose prying eye -nothing escaped, in one of his novels has ..ixhibited one of these arch rogues, practising on the principles of ' necessitous youth, in a way that we fear is not yet obsolete.— " Force and violence and injustice (he says) have eluded the de igns of the Deity; and hence proceed that horrid medley of po ,erty and riches which now we see. The same wisdom, to po lish the unjust usurpations of the rich, has infused a spirit of in dustry and cunning into the industrious poor; and this is the channel, by which riches flow so smooth and glib from the rich to the poor, to relieve them in their great necessity. This in dustry and address which people have to get money by, :s called ')y the misers and tyrants—robbery, felony, knavery, - villainy, and what not ?—But, among risen of parts, 'tis ycleped address, flgenuity, cunning, and a thousand other pretty names, which suit that incomparable trade. The rich, who have bought at a high rate, the power of committing injustice with impunity, , lon't love ti.is kind, of addr,..n, and punl:,!l it 50raetiineS too severely. But for one that il:ey hang, a thousand escape the gallows; for Judges have never ordered restitution to be made of things taken with a bonne grace.". , --It is the considering on the part of onc class, that they Otight . to have the power of com mitting injtistice with impunity, that leads another class to view their injustice in the light of a retaliation. The great object ti be aimed at, is the diminishing the power of committing injustice with impunity.—Morning Chronicle. Lord Lorton, in the House of Lords last night, on pre senting a petition from Ireland, called on their Lordships to res.2ue the Protestants from the destruction with which they are threatened by the Catholics. A dismal tale the Noble Lord tell; but just when we were plunged in the very depth of despair for our Brother Protestants, and yielding to the influence of an overpowering grief, his Lordship suddenly imparted to us a source of hope which cheered our drooping spirits.—" TlTre was no hope of improvement (he said) till the reformation was introduced into Ireland ; and he was happy to say that a scriptural re formation was'now going on." The deuce is in it, if the Protestants do not convert apace, when there is only the alterna tive of reformation or destruction. So long as the Church had no other motive for industry, than the spiritual welfare of the Papists, it consumed its tithes in ease and quiet ; but it is a very different thing, when its own existence is at stake. It is a grand and heart-elevating spectacle, and the attention of all Europe must be turned to it. We have assumed that the inactivity of the Church hitherto proceeded from a love of ease ; but it is possible that what we attribute to laziness has its source in magnanimity. It was perhaps thought the victory would be more glorious after allowing the enemy a hundred years to grow and multiply in.— Though not without hope, we are also nit without anxiety; and we shall watch the progress of this auspicious Reformation. Out of seven millions, twenty Protestants have already been made at an expence of little more than twenty shillings a piece. It is true, some of the Popish rogues have relapsed ; but still a begin ning has seen made. The mightiest rivers begin often with a spring scarcely visible to the eye. It is a great thing that the Re-- formation has been fairly begun, whatever the motive for the long inactivity of the Church.—/Lid. Men in every situation of life, in the most as well as the least important of its concerns, arc continually com pelled to do or adopt this or that plan, expedient, or what not, as the phrase goes, " for want of a better."— This, we apprehend (and with no shadow of disrespect he it spoken), is just now very much the King of Eng land's case, in the choice of a Prime Minister. Qn whom soever the mantle of Elijah may descend, we suspect it will not he so much from any superior fitness for the ho nour, as for the very homely reason we have alluded to— viz. " for want of a betterf' Time was, when some great master-mind presented itself, to which, by common con sent, pre-eminence was assigned. If one party had it not, another had—but now all parties seem to present, if not a rivalry of insufficiency, yet such a palpable share of mediocrity, as gives the King, it is true, a large choice ; but prevents, we will be bound to say, his satisfying his own judgment or wishes upon the occasion. Part of the Press is anxious to persuade the country that Mr. Canning is the only man at all fit to occupy the place of Lord Liverpool; that to become second to any man is quite beneath the Right Honourable Gentleman's notice; and that, in fact, he is born to be " aut Cecsar aut nullus." He is himself said (but possibly by those who know no- i thing at all about the matter) to be ambitious of occupy ing the same station in the Government so long held by his great prototype, Mr. Pitt ; and report adds, that to enable him to be at once First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Robinson is to resign the office he so, creditably fills, and accept, in its stead, the Seals of the Foreign Office. This may or may not be true; were we to augur from the tone of that part of the Press which most warmly espouses Mr. Canning's cause, we should be inclined to say that the proposed elevation of the Right Honourable Gentle man meets with obstacles from sonic of his present col leagues, whom one of the papers in question, under that impres sion, actually designates as " brutes." This, to be sure, is not very courtly or seemly language ; but it is excusable, perhaps, upon the principle of " tel maitre, tel valet;" Mr. Canning him self, aornetimes, when he is warm or angry, having recourse to epithets which, in his calmer moments, he regrets the use of. For ourselves, perhaps, we may be permitted to say, that having no party or private interests to serve, we are impartial spectators of the conflict ; and, like other lookers-on, see quite as much of the game as the players. For Mr. Canning's talents we entertain a high, but reasonable respect. In those showy qualities which take most with the multitude, we believe him to be without a rival; but of that consummate skill and prudence, which form the more essential ingredients in the character of a statesman, we believe him to be exceedingly deficient. Of this we cannot give, among many, a more striking instance than in his lust, and almost only speech of any consequence since the assembling of tl t present Parliament. What will foreign Governm en t s thi n k o f a Prime Minister of G rea t B r i ta i n , who delivers a studied and prepared oration upon a given subject, full of manifest errors and false as sumptions, and some- of the main features of which he is com pelled to disclaim almost as soon as they are uttered? It may appear invidious, as it is really to us mortifying, to be com pelled to put Mr. Canning's pretensions iu this point of view; but when we are told that he is the only man in the country fit to occupy the station now vacant—that to place him second to any man is impossible--and when some of the first persons in the Government are called by a low and opprobrious epithet, merely because they are supposed not to feel his pretensions as altogether so indisputable, it is due to truth that these pretensions should be unmasked, and that Mr. Canning's over-eager adherents should be told that he has condescended ere now to he second to some whose talents were not quite on a par with some of his present colleagues; and that there may be no small portion of the well-judging part of the community who do not regret that his ascendancy has hither'• been, in some degree, controlled by a discretion which he is pret y well known not to possess. Without alluding to the physical ob stacles which the shattered state of his health presents to his un dertaking new and more extensive duties (obstacles which we sincerely hope that his entire restoration to health will speedily remove), we see no reason why Mr. Canning should be designated as the only person fit to fill the office of Prime Minister; and, destitute as the country unfortunately may be of that commanding talent which would unite the suffrages of all men in its favour, yet we feel equally confident that on the other hand there is not such a poverty of intellect among modern Statesmen as to leave Mr. Canning the only man fit to wield the destinies of the empire. That Mr. Canning should be called upon to fill the office would not be to us a matter either of regret or surprise ; all that we contend is, that if it should not be the case, and that the King's choice should fall upon some other person, Mr. Canning will Lave no right to take umbrage, or on that account cease to fill the eminent station he now occupies in the Government. --Morning Herald. An exorbitant portion of the time of our Law Courts is now almost daily taken up in heari.T trumpery cases of libel, the most of which are instigated by the lowest class of attorneys, as a means of concocting bills of costs, and thereby enabling them to live. This is the natural re sult of that absurd provision of the law which allows a shilling or a farthing damages to carry costs—in other words, compels a defendant—who, in the opinion of a Jury, has published nothing that deserves more than nominal t'amages—to pay the expenses of both parties, which sel dom amount to less, and often to a great deal more than 2001. Can there be a greater temptation, a more inviting bonus to the pettifoggers of the law ? It, in fact, operates as a premium to the most sordid experiments in litigation. Many of those low practitioners, who disgrace a profession otherwise respectable, have found themselves sadly out of employment since the demolition of the joint-stock bub bles, in wh i ch t h ey en j o y e d sa l ar i e d secretaryships or other lucrative situations; for there was no bubble-con triver who had not one or more of these gentry at his el. bow to assist him in defrauding the publie -without incur ring the risk of transportation. Men of this stamp have lately turned their attention to the Press. It is far better than a South American mine to them. They know that any body will do for a client whose character can be estimated as high As one farthing—for they arc sure, in that case, to make a good job of the costs. In general, solicitors do not like clients who are insolvent, unless their cases should be so.strong as to admit no doubt of success, because otherwise the whole of the expences would he likely to fall upon themselves. But the state of the client's purse, any more than the state of his character, is no consideration in cases of libel. The attorney says, "Itis no matter how much you may have deserved the exposure which you have received from the Press--if the defendant only pleads the' general issue.' I can insure you nominal damages at least, which will bring in a good bill of costs, and you shall be no loser, for I shall then nave a few pun& to spare; and if the defendant pleads a justification, there are so many technical difficulties standing in bir way, and legal forms are of so much more consequence than the merits of a case, that it is a hundred chances to one but his justification may only have the effect of enhancing the damages —so let us go to work—sometimes a writ alone may frighten a nan who has the best defence into a compromise, from knowing the difficulties under which he is placed by the law of libel. It is indeed a better thing to the needy and ingenious part of my profession than Barrington's instrument was to the pickpockets. So let us commence proceedings, and mind ! if the damages be more than nominal, we go halves." Who can wonder, when cases of libel may be instigated in this way, that they should be so numerous as they are in our Courts ? We detest every thing like licentiousness or immorality in the Press ; and when domestic peace is wantonly injured, and private character maliciously vilified, let the law, in a just and becoming manner, vindicate the charac ter of unoffending persons, as it would protect their freehold from the trespasser. But the trade which we now see carried on in libels of a paltry and experimental nature brings disparagement on our Courts of Justice and insults the dignity of the Bench. We are aware that no respectable solicitor lends his name to actions such as we have described, but unhappily the profession contains so many of different character and principles that they bring odium on the whole body in public opinion. We arc glad to see that Juries have, in several instances of late, endeavoured to repress trumpery cases of libel, by returning verdicts for the defendant, by which means the speculator in costs is disappointed of his booty. —lbid. LAW INTELLIGENCE. VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT, FEBRUARY 23. THE HAUNCH OF MUTTON CASE. VOOOHT AND OTHERS, v. CASK AND OTHERS. The bill in this cause had been filed for the purpose of ob taining the opinion of the Court, as to whether a particular free hold estate in the county of Essex, passed under the will of a Mr. Vooght. The estate in question had been purchased from a Gen tleman who carried on business under the firm of Murford and Co., and the difficulty in the case was,:whether the testator had made his will before or after the purchase of the estate in question. If the will had been made previously to the purchase, the estate would pass to the heir-at-law of the testator, if made after the purchase, the estate would go to the residuary legatees. The will of the testator was signed and attested in the year 1816, but it did not appear on the face of the will in what part of that year it was made. The evidence adduced for the purpose of fixing the date, was of so novel a nature, as to procure for this suit the name of " the haunch of mutton case." It appeared that the testator for many years before his death was in the habit of receiving an annual present of a haunch of mutton, on every 22d of December, from an old friend ; and the witnesses to the will, proved that in the latter end of the year 1816, they had attested the will, and that on the same day they dined with the testator, and partook of a very excellent haunch of mutton, which he said he had received as his annual present from his old friend. This evidence clearly fixed the date of the will on the 22d of December, 1816. In order to prove the period at which the purchase of the estate took place, the auctioneer who sold it had been examined. He proved that the sale was effected by him on the Bth of October, 1816. Mr. HEALD, who appeared for the heir-at-law, said that how ever conclusive the evidence might be as to the facts of the ease, still, that as his client was an infant, he was bound to ask for an issue to try the question at law. The VICE-Cnawczm.on—You are clearly entitled to an issue if you demand it.—The issue was accordingly directed. COURT OF KING'S BENCH, FEB. 23. THE ICING V. ARCHDALE. (Concluded from our paper of yesterday.) The Loan CHIEF JUSTICE, after recapitulating the evidence on both sides at great length, stated, that this was a most serious charge, deserving the utmost attention of the jury. The most material witness against the defendant was confirmed to a certain extent by the attendants at the baths, who had been called to prove the fact of the defendant and prosecutor having been to the same bath-room. The letters that have been produced from tie defendant to the prosecutor appear to me (continued his Lordship) most extraordinary and unaccountable, because no master is in the habit of addressing his servant by such terms as those of " Dear Frederick," and concluding with " your affectionate master ;" this appears inexplicable. If you (ad dressing the Jury) are conscientiously satisfied that by the evi dence produced by the prosecution, the charge is brought home to the defendant, however severe the consequences may be to him, you ought fearlessly, according to your conscience, to find him guilty. But if you entertai.- any rational doubt that the evidence is insufficient in itself, and also as connected with the defendant's letters alluded to, you ought then to find him not guilty. The Jury, after a very few minutes' deliberation, without leaving the box, pronounced the defendant Not Guilty. THE KING V. RICHARD ARCHDALE, ESQ. This was a similar indictment "against the defendant for a similar assault on the prosecutor on the Thursday following, the day on which the first assault was alleged to have taken place, but the Counsel for the prosecution having declined offering any evidence, the Jury pronounced the defendant—Not Guilty. The COURT was occupied the whole day with the above trial, and was crowded to excess, the nature of the charge and the rank of the defendant having excited an unusual degree of interest. The indictment had been removed by certiorari into this Court at the instance of the defendant. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, Frs. 2S. PTERILT V. FORMAN. This was an action for compensation in damages for slander. It was proved in evidence that the defendant was owner of a vessel called the Cosrnopolite, and employed the T:amtiff as Cap tain of her. The defendant became indebted to the plaintiff in a considerable sum for wages, and on the 13th of September last, they both met on the Royal Exchange, when the plaintiff de manded a settlement of accounts. In course of conversation, the parties became warm upon it, when the defendant said that the plaintiff was a disgrace to society; was worse than a highway robber; that he was not worthy of appearing on the Exchange in the company of gentlemen. It appeared also, that a gentleman who hem d the words refused to employ the plaintiff till he should clear his character. Mr. Sergeant SPANKIE for the defendant contended, that the intemperate language used by his client, was not malicious--that it was extorted in a moment of irritation, by the plaintiff's rude importunity in such a public place; and that it could not be con strued as applying to the plaintiff's character, as a seaman. He hoped the Jury would consider it in this light, and award little or no damages at all. The CHIEF JusTice said, that in his opinion the slanderous language applied to the plaintiff's character as a seaman, it being used while the parties were talking of his services in that capa city. His Lordship therefore directed the Jury, if they should be of the same opinion, to give such temperate damages as would he sufficient to wipe off any unfavourable impression which the language in question might have made upon the plaintiff's friends. The Jury found for the plaintiff—Damages, 1001. REFUGE FOR THE DESTITUTE.—At a General Meeting of this Society, held on Thursday at the City of London Tavern, the Earl of Liverpool was unanimously elected President of that Institution, in the room of his late Royal Highness the Duke of York. SEAMEN'S HOSPITAL S O CIETY.—On Thursday the Members of this patriotic and laudable Society dined at the City of London Taver n . The attendance was most respectable, and the report of the good effects of the Institution was such as to afford the highest gratification. • A laborious special pleader, being constantly an noyed by the mewing of his favourite cat, at length resolved to get rid of it. He ac cor di ng l y to ld his clerk to take a n d p l ace it where it might remain in safety, but still where it could never get out. The clerk instantly walked off with poor puss in his law rr's bag. On hit return, being asked by his employer whether the noisy animal had been so disposed of that it could not come him, the cat carrier duly answered, " Certainly, b l ac h k ar t e o ite p n ut rr h up im t where he cannot get out—ii the Court of ChitucerY."—Reyeolde's Life. POLICE tNTELLIOENCE. MANSION-HOUSE.=-Yesterday Mr. Muller, one of the City Sworn Brokers, appeared before the LORD MAYOR, to an swer a charge of having committed a breach of the peace, pre ferred against him by Mr. Peter Poulide, a foreigner, residing at No. 36, Broad-street. Mr. La Poulide deposed, that he had had stock transactions with the defendant, the nature of which lie did not specify; but the latter pursued a system of most intolerable annoyance towards him on every occasion. Whenever he went on the Exchange, he was sure to be singled out, and attacked by the defendant, who called him a liar, and applied other epithets of a similar descrip tion towards him. On Tuesday last he attacked the witness on the Exchange, calling him the usual names, and asking him why he did not pay the 200/. which he (the defendant) said, was °win , * to him ? requ ,, ,tPd rniz; at• tacked in this mann er , as h e h a d l e f t th e case to arbitration. The defendant, however, persisted, as witness felt convinced, with th.; intention of provoking him to fight ; or commit a breach of the peace. The Loan MAYoa—Mr. Muller, you must he aware that the proper course is to sue him at law for the recovery of the amount? Mr. Muller—No, my Lord, I cannot, it being a transaction in Foreign Stock, which the law does not recognize.—He admitted to me that he was bound to pay it as a debt of honour, and he promised me he would do so when he returned from the Con tinent, where he was for one year. When he came back he called upon me, and proposed to me a composition of half-a- crown in the pound, which I refused to accept. I have thought it my duty to ask him for the money whenever I have met him. The LORD MA'Y 3R. —lt is not to be endured that gentlemen of the Stock Exchange (and Ido not mean this offensively) shall engage in illegal transactions, and enforce them by illegal means. If this were a legal transaction, even then you would not be justified in resorting to such means. You must enter into recognizances to answer for the offence at the Sessions, and in the mean time to keep the peace. _ _ Sir. Muller.—But, my Lord, I have lost 2001. by tie transac tion ; am I precluded from any remedy ? The Loan MAYOR.—If Stock-brokers will enter into such transactions, they must abide by the consequences ; I will not tell you what course you are bound to take to obtain it. Mr. Muller.—May I not as k t o recover i t ? _ _ The LORD MAY°li.—Not in this manner ; we shall hare it asserted soon, that a person who gains 10,0001. at play, may follow the loser through the streets, and compel him, by every species of annoyance, to pay the sum. Mr. Muller—But, my Lord, may I not ask him for the debt when I meet hint? The LORD MAYOR—Certa;nly not ; the transaction being an illegal one, he owes you nothing. You should have taken the half-crown in the pound which he oftked to you, and have thought yourself fortunate--(Laughter. Mr. Muller—Well, if that be.vour Lordship's opinion, I cer tainly will not ask him, though I conceive myself entitled. The LORD MAYOR—In that case I will take your word, with out requiring you to enter into recognizance' to keep the peace. I wish that some legislative enactment could be procured to put a stop to these transactions. The complaint was then dismissed, and the parties retired, after Mr. La Poulide had made another ineffectual effort to obtain a further hearing. ROBBERY OF VINeCELLAR.S.-•-- Young, a cellar man, and Hull, a carman, were charged with have robbed their employers, Messrs. Leith and Bradshaw, of Mincing-lane. Mr. HARMER, who conducted the prosecution, stated, that the case which he should have to make out against the pri soners was part of a system of depredation which had been car ried on by them to a very great extent on the property of the prosecutors. T. Jeffery, an assistant cellar-man, deposed, that on Saturday, the 10th instant, he was assisting in the cellar when the prisoner Young directed him to bottle souse brandy, and put it into a ham per. He did so. Young also put in some rum and some wine. Hull was present when the hamper was picked up. it was di rected to Youngs, at Kennington ; Hull took it out. The Book-keeper of the White Hart Inn, proved that Hull came and booked the hamper to go to Young's, at Kennington. Forster, the Marshalman, proved that, in consequence of infor mation which he received, he went and searched Young's house, at Bennet's-place, Kennington, and that he there found the hamper, with the property stolen. Hull positively declared, that Mr. Elwood, the clerk to the firm, bad given them the property as a Christmas box. Mr. Elwood, when called upon by the prisoners, declared that he knew nothing about it. Mr. HARMER produced a letter, which had been intercepted, from the prisoners, requesting Elwood to save them, by swearing that he permitted them to take the property. The LORD Maros, in committing the prisoners, exprer zed his horror at the extensive system of dome-tic treason and robbery, which was exhibited in this case ; and a number of others, which were every day brought before him. No fewer than two-thirds of the cases of felony brought before him since he had been Mayor were cases of servants robbing their masters. It was melancholy, that whilst thousands were starving for want of employment, those who obtained comfortable situations could not keep honest. Ile committed the prisoners to take their trial, and at the same time informed those who were in similar employment, and who crowded the Justice-room to hear the case, that those who were convicted of this species of robbery would be punished with the utmost rigour. The Officers stated, that, from the anxiety manifested by other servants in the neighbourhood to aid the prisoners, •it was abso lutely necessary that the book, containing the entry of the par cel at the White Hart Inn, should be impounded, to prevent its being stolen, to get rid of the evidence.—This was accord ingly done. THE MARKETS. (From the London New Pries Current of Friday.) SUGAR-The demand for Muscovades has been very languid all the week ; the sales average about 350 hhds. per day. The late prices are fully supported, and the holders continue sanguine of a revival in the request on account of the late extensive deli veries—Stock 26,377 hhds. 1,771 tierces and . Pricess for po e n n d o i o n n6 g sa. u p - p ee pe, k ,ra rc l s as wa t tg. y: t a i r gt 01 2 i e B L 46 n 9 eTar h hl h e.y d s ad . uesm 2 p.ae ,3 nn 4 dd S edbf t o : r e b r u c ,l e ti s ustis aTrheesuireo.re t ed d 7:, ; lr t r l ic ie ct sa b le: . a b r t e eT t i oo vcr in y eri ; :r : a il le tli f e or .., 77t i t prices are generally ls. lower. The wholesale grocers still Purchase ou a limited scale the fine goods for home con sumption. This forenoon there was some stagnation in trade, and although sales are reported lower (particularly lumps), yet this is not a general currency, and the holders to-day do not appear inclined to force sales. Mola sses are steady. By public sale 4,000 bags Mauritius Sugars good quality sold with brisk ness at very full prices, and a considerable proportion taken by Foreign Houses, supposed to be in participation of the ship ping ; the Siam Sugars 200 bags good quality, white sold also with 355. a 38s. 6d., damp 345. The quantity of Ha vannah Sugar at the Market is only 1,252 chests, and one chest Brazil ; the quotation of both must in consequence be considered nominal. COFFEE.—The price of British Plantation Coffee brought for ward this week has been almost too trivial to constitute Market prices. By public Sale 500 bags Foreign ; a great proportion very fine ordinary Brazil 495. a considerable proportion was taken in that price, and disposed of after the sale; fair quality St. Do mingo 48s. and 48s. 6d., we in consequence quote Foreign Coffee at a further reduction of Is. per cwt. Stock in the West India Warehouses 9,671 Mids. and trs., 78,502 brls. and bags ; l as t year 13,357 hhds. and trs., 76,885 brls. and bags. The present prices are 2s. lower than at the same period last year. There were no public sales of Coffee this forenoon, and one pur chase by private contract only reported, we quote th e reduc tion we have stated In Foreign since this day week ; Bri tish plantation very heavy, but we cannot quote any decline, the parcels taken for home consumption lately are quite in considerable. RUM, BRANDY, AND HotLaNns..--The purch ases o f R um t h at have transpired this week , are Jamaica 31 over at 35. 9d. ; Lee wards 6 over at 2s. 6d., and proofs at 2s. sd.—There are few sales of Brandy lately ; the holder s are s h ow i ng no inclination to make sales at any .reduction, and the f ormer pr i ces cannot b e ob tained.—Geneva unvaried.—Stock of Rum 14,995 puns., 903 ; corresponding week of last ye ar , 16,7 62 puns. 1 ,249 hhd s . Prices are 3 d. per gallon higher than at the same period last year. The quotation of Scotch Malt Spirit is 10s. Bd. ; Irish 10s. 4d. ; English 10s. 9d. cash. HEMP, FLAX, AND TALLOW. —The Tallow Market has been very steady, but we think the prices are a shade lower. In Hemp or Flax few purchases are reported. Oms.—Greenland Oil is heavy. Seed Oils are rather higher; the other descriptions are unvaiied. The public sale of Sperm yesterday, a very inferior parcel, 56 casks sold 621. 58. a 644. 15s. ; the quality Was so inferior that it has produced no altera tion ; five casks Plead Matter sold 671. ss. ; four casks Cocoa Nut Oil 27/. 10s. SALTPETRE.—By public sale this week 2,000 bags Saltpetre sold at 235. 6d. ; a few lots (to come in), 245. TOBACCO.—There were considerable sales of Leafy Tobacco early in the week at 3id. to 441. ; the demand has since become lauguid. The particulars of the contract With the Freud Go v'ernment transpiring to-day had little effect on the market; Maryland Tobacco has been taken about 12d. ; Kentucky, 4,5 id. ; Cuba and Ammersford at high rates ; 430 hhds. Ken tucky at 129 f. per 100 kill, equal to 4-0. ; 6 or 700 hhds. Maryland at 312 f. per 100 kits, equal to Is. INntco.—The demand for Indigo is not brisk or extensive, but the holders evince much firmness in the anticipation of a revival in the trade. EAST INDIA SALE, 20th inst.—Hemp and Jute 480 bales, Hemp chiefly 20s. a 235., Jute 20s. 6d. ; Buffalo Horns 3,955, 20s. ; Horn Tips 325 bags, chiefly 19s. and 19s. 6d., a few 1 as. 6d. and 16s. ; Deer Horns 4,454, 40s. a 518. ; Cowries and Rags out ; Mother of Pearl Shells 146 casks, chiefly ,I9s. 6d. - a 226. ; Ebony Wood 864 cwt. 11s. a 20s. ; Bamboo Canes 60,532, to, to 2fd. each ; Rattans 269,679, 6s. a 9s. per 100. CorroN.—The Cotton Market is steady ; the purchases far ;peek ,ntllng last night inclusive, consist of 1,.,00 bags at former prices. lam! PaousioNs.—Beef and Pork continue very heavy, but no reductiln in prices has been submitte,l to.—Bacon unvariod. Butters are in more request on account of the frost, and Ss. a bti. higher. SILE—The Sale at the India House is finishing. The Bengal Silk has kept up to the advance of the first day's sale, Is. a 2s. per lb., yet with the appearance of a decline, not going off with that spirit it did on the first day.—Private Trade Chinas are selling to day at an advance on the first sorts of 3s. a 4s. on last sale. num.—No alteration has taken place this week ; the demand is not very lively; there are no further arrivals of Currants. TEA—The Market has assumed much briskness since our last ; low Congous are considerably in demand, and fetching a profit generally of d. to l d., as also those of a better description ; Twankays and llysons stationary. GENERAL AVERAGE PRICE OF BRITISH CORN, c'VVIIICH GOVERNS IMPORTATION . ) For the Week ended 16, 1827, made up from the Returns of the In spectors in the different Cities and Towns in England and Wales. Wheat a3s. 4d. Oats 28s. 44. I 8ean5...... 471. 9d. Xs. sd. Rye -. 401• 44. Pease Ild. WHITECHAPEL HAY MARK ET.—Feb. 22. 755. Od. to !Ms. Oct. I 30s. Od. to 365. Od. Clover 90s. Od. to 1`263J Od. PRICES OF HOPS Pockets. (per Cwt)—Feb. 2a Bags. Kent 41. 10s. 5/. ss. to 6/. 04. Sussex 4/. 6s. 4/. 12s. to 51. Os. Essex... 4/. 10s. 51. ss. to 5/. 15s. Farnham, fine (Pockets) 81. Os. to Kent —3/. 16s. — 4./. 10a. to U. Os. Sussex 3/. 10s. 4/. Os. to 41. 10s. Essex 3/. 12s. 41. 4s. to 41. 15s. 91 Os.—Seconds, '7l. Os to 81. Os PRICE OF POTATOES.—Feb. 23. Yorkshire Kidneys 51. Os. to 01. Os. per Ton. Scotch Reds— 4l. 15s. to Si. Os. ditto. Oxnobies and Shaws —.—.---. 3/. 55. to 31. 10s. ditto. Marsh Champions— 4l. Os. to 41. 10s. ditto. Per lb. PRICES OF LEATHER. d. d. Per lb. d. 0 to 21 Tanned Horse Hides.... 12 to IS 22 to 23 Spanish• Ditto .13 to 20 13 to 15 I'er dozen. 15 to 18 Calf Skins...» 36 to 401 b. 16 to 24 14 to IS Ditto 50 to 701 b. 22 to 27 15 to 17 Ditto '7O to 801 b. 21 to 23 17 to 19 Small Seals, Greenland... 18 to 20 Butts `,O to Ditto._,._ 40 to 661 b.—..— Dressing Fine Coach Hides. _ Crop Hides, 35 to 401 b..... 45 to 501 b.... Ditto RAW HIDES. Per Stone. s. d. s. d. Per Stone. s. d. e. d. Best Heifers and Steers 210 to 32 I Ordinary 2 oto 2 4 Middlings SHEEP SKINS. Downs 2s. M. to 3s. 6d. Lambs—Os. Od. to Os. Od. J PellecL., 4s. Od. to 56. 6d. PRICE OF TALLOW, SI Town Tallow 445. Od. to Os. Od. Yellow Russia... 40s. Od. to Os. Od. White —s. Od. to Os. Od. Soap Ditto —s. Od. to Os. Od. Melted 5t1!ff.....355. Od. Oi. Ditto R0ugh.,,,.., 225. Od. to Os. Od. PRICE OF RAW FAT, per stone of 81b.—Peb:23: Price by Tallow (as stated by the Tallow Melters) AP, &c. per 1121b.—Feb. 23. Yellow Soap 80s. Od. Mottled 138 s. Od. White , 925. Od. Graves Good ss. Od. PRICE OF CANDLES. Theprice of•good Store Candles, in the retail shops, is ae follows: Candles, per dozen Bs. Od. to 9s. Od. j Moulds, per dozen 10e. 6d. s. d. Burdon ..-- 25 0 Hewnrth Primrosc3l 6 Ord's Redhugh 29 0 Tanfield M00r,,,,,, 32 0 rownlev— 33 0 Ships at Market, Q. 3d. OAL MARKET.—Feb. 23. 6, d. d. Willington 2'7 0 Tantleld Trader.. 31 9 W. E. Burraton— 36 6 Londonderry,smallls fl W. E. Carr & Co. 35 0 Nesham Main 35 0 W. E. Riddell's 37 9 Walls End Hetton SS W. E. Walker-- 37 0 W. E. Stewart's.. 38 6 40%--I.hips sold, 8 1 A---Unsold, 32. COUNTRY CORN MARKETS DURING THE WEEK. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Beans. Pease. Per Quarter. s. to s. 1. to s. s. to s. s. to 8. s. to s. Aylesbury.---. 58 62 36 38 30 33 45 55 62 Banbury.- 5l 58 40 42 10 45 69 62 Basingstoke Bath Bridgewater 51 60 38 .-34 54 Bridport . 52 56 33 34 26 23 51 56 Bristol .= 56 58 42 46 213 32 j 44 58 Chesterfield 51 64 38 48 27 39 58 60 Daventry .--.... 56 60 40 44 35 40 58 64 —. Derby 60 62 48 50 40 42 62 66 Devizes Doncaster — 40 47 23 41) I Dorchester 5O 58 34 40 32 30 56 65 Exeter. Eye _ . 46 54 36 39 23 32 48 52 46 48 Gloucester 56 61 44 48 :.,1) 48 64 '7O Guildford 44 64 39 42 16 37 48 16 52 SS Henley 50 64 32 43 27 34 59 68 54 57 Hungerford 42 64 37 43 30 40 51 64 03 70 Ipswich 52 38 35 41 45 47 46 48 Lewes 46 65 43 44 29 32 152 MarketHarboro',. 59 61 39 45 35 4.5 68 Newbury 49 66 36 41 28 37 54 61 54 56 Northampton .... 56 .S 29 43 34 40 57 53 Reading 50 64 38 4.5 24 30 52 60 54 68 Salisbury__ Sandwich Shepton Mallet .. 53 57 39 43 .32 35 50 68 Stowmarket 28 39 24 30 46 46 Swansea ... 6B 48 28 —• Truro Taunton.--. 48 51 34 38 22 30 54 58 •-• Uxbridge Wakefield 52 59 41 45 30 40- 49 55 Wantage.... 55 60 30 36 30 37 41 56 50 55 Warminster 48 SS 35 41 30 37 60 68 Yeovil 50 56 34 38 30 36 52 64 Per Bushel. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d, s. d. ad. Buckingham—. 60 76, 4 0 5 0 3 6 4 3 6 0 7t• 66 7 Shrewsbury 8 3 90'7 3 79 8 0 11 0, 0 0 0 0 0 'lO 6 LEEDS CORN MARKET, Feb. 20. There was a good supply of Wheat and Barley, but not much of other Grain; there was a fair demand for Wheat of good qua lity, and prices were a shade higher. Barley was sold on much the same terms as last week. Oats were full as ci:a . r to , s iut c in Shelling and Beans there was no alteration. Rapeseed was held at full as much money. Wheat, Norfolk and Suffolk, 601 b.... 555. to 565.... fine, 575. to 595. . 4 ..._ Vol ;,.. awl ',incubi. 'Goan— 5 45. to sas. ... tine, :: ,- ,-3. to 575. 13' Barley, Norfolk and Suffolk --- Yorkshlre and Lincolnshire --- Grinding Beans Oats, Potatoe 3 6 s. to 3Ss. Mealing, Foreign 160. to 17,1 English 171 d. to 18d. per Stone. Shelling Rapeseed, English, 211. to 22/. SCOTCH MARKETS. EDINBURGH MEAL MARKET. —Feb. 20. We had a small supply of Oatmeal at this day's market, which sold heavily, but at an advance of Is. per sack on top price. Per Sack of 2801 b. Imp. Per Stone of 141 b. Imp. First Oatmeal £2 15 0 Oatmeal f.. 0 0 10 Second ditto * 13 0 Barleymeal 9 2 2 Barleymeal Peasemeal 1 19 0) Pot Barley—No. 1, per cwt. 1 ts.—' :2d, 20s.—Pearl ditto 24e. EDINBURGH CATTLE MARKET.—Feb. 21. The supply of Sheep was rather more than last week, 1520__ and prices much the same. White-faced wedders, 265. to 338.; Black-faced, 255. Od. to 325. ; Ewes, 15s. to 20s. Od. ; a quirk sale. In the Grassmarket the supply of Cattle was greater than last week (205)----best, 7s. 6d. ; inferior, 6s. Od. to 7s. ; prices higher than last week, and a good sale, particularly for cattle in prime rendition. TAKES or raovisioms, &c. Beef, per lb. Os. Bd. Mutton 0 6 0 8 Veal' _ 0 6 1 0 0 41 0 7 Lamb, per quarter 8 0 12 0 Tallow, per 1b.......... 0 0 0 0 Quartern Loaf 0 0 0 0 Potatoes, per 141 b. 0 8 0 0 Fresh Butter, per Its. Od. to Is. M. Salt 10 0 0 Ditto, per Cwt. --84 s. 0 0 0 Eggs, per dozen —0 8 0 Oat Straw (kemp.) 0 0 17 0 Wheat 0 0 14 8 Barley Ditto 14 0 Good Hay, per st. 010 011 BIRTHS. On the 21st instant, in Upper Brook-street, Grosvenor-square, he Lady of Charles Tyndall, Esq., of a daughter. On the 22d instant, in Conduit-street, Mrs. H. Davies, of a son. MARRIED. On the 22d inst. at Cheltenham, by the Rev. Robert Williams, Captain William Henry Foy, of the Hon. E. I. C. Artillery, to Mary, eldest daughter of Col. W. A. S. Boscawen, late of the Coldstream Guards. On the l 9th inst-, at Mistlev, Lewis Agassiz, Esq. of Stour Lodge, Bradfield, to Sarah Eliza, second daughter of Thomas Nunn, jus. Esq. of Alistley, in Essex. DIED. On the 18th, at t h e h ouse of Th omas Willi amson , Esq., Chid ton-street, Somers"fown, Mrs. Sarah Baning, aged 81 y ears. On the 21st inst. at Settle, Yorkshire, the Rev. William Peart, only surviving son of John Peart, Esq. On the 21 s t i ns t an t, a t his residence Stamford-hill, Captain John Bayley, aged 61. ______ Printed and Publivhed by M. YOUNG, at the SuN-Orrice, No. 11% STAAND.