The Sun. — London, England, 1827-01-26 00:00:00

SPIRIT OP 'MR PURIM JOURNALS. We stated yesterday, that the form given to the decla ration of the Spanish Court, with regard to Portugal, was that of a circular note addressed to the Captains- General of the Provinces, and to the Inspector-General of the Royalist Volunteers, by M. de Zambrano, Minister at War. This note has been understood by our Ministers (as we learn) in a pacific sense. It certainly fairly ad mits of such an interpretation; and all we can do is to ex press our hope that such a construction of it may be borne out by the actions of the Court of Madrid, which have acquired the unenvied celebrity of being often at variance with its words. It seems to us, indeed, that there are one or two positive characteristics abort this note or decla ration, and perhaps as many of a negative nature, which may hear a slight remark by way of memorandum, to be recurred to, if desirable, hereafter. The " civil dissen sions which have unhappily broken out in Portugal since the death of John VI., of respectable and pacific' memory," and the contiguity of the Spanish fron tier to the scene of such dissensions, are alleged as the causes and excuses for a reinforcement to the gar risons near the frontier, and for the assembling of an Army of Observation to support them. In the course of 1822, precisely similar language was held by another Sovereign, who described himself to be under extreme alarm respecting certain " civil dissensions" which had unluckily broken out in the Spanish provinces along the frontier of the Pyrennees, and who attempted to justify on that alarm, the metamorphosis of a military. force which had been hitherto called a " Cordon Sani taire," into an Army of Observation. It is unfortunate for the King of Spain as it was for the character of that other Prince whose example he is now so assiduously en deavouring to follow, that the disturbances complained of lave in both cases been attributed to the direct interfer ence and excitement of those in whom they have created this extraordinary feeling of apprehension. An effort is made by M. Zambrano to charge Portugal with the first provocAtion, a Portuguese officer having induced some Spanish soldiers to desert. But did Portugal arm, and organize, and equip, and despatch these deserters to in vade their native territory ? On the contrary, did she not, with prompt and ill-requited honour, deliver up their arms to Spanish officers, and send them to a distance from the frontier. Ferdinand, through his Minister, speaks of double precautions being, requisite in his frontier provinces, specifying particularly Andalusia and Estremadura, where his Government is exposed to the machinations which might be contrived either in Portugal or at Gib raltar, at which last place " was organised, and whence issued, those bands of rebels who were destroyed at Ta rifa, Almeira, and Guadamar." This we consider as a mere petulant set-off against the accusations of the British Minister. It must, however, be remarked, that through the whole of this official document not one particle is dis avowed of all the hostile or outrageous arts with which the Spanish Government has been distinctly charged by Portugal, by England, and even by the French Foreign Minister, M. Dames. It is no where denied that the forces under Chaves were prepared as an army, and furnished with artillery, and with every other engine of destruction, frOm the Spanish magazines; nor, although the circular declares that one of the ends for which it has been framed is the making known " that part of the instructions which have been given to the Generals commanding on the fron tiers," as may have reference "to objects of more general interest," that is, of course, to the objects under discus sion between Spain and the Portuguese allies, is there one .vord of clear or distinct instruction comprehended in it, enjoining any Spanish officer or functionary to disarm or disperse a body, large or small, of Portuguese rebels, should they re-enter the dominions of Ferdinand. So far the manifesto is incomplete and unsatisfactory. It is in complete in another point, and one both curious and im ,portant. When the King of Spain announced his unwil ,,lingnesa to compromise.himself with Portugal, or with its ally, England—does he mean that there exists no other Power whose anger he will have reason to dread, by the same unjustifiable course of policy which would give of, fence to Great Britain and to Portugal ? Is not France a party, co-operating with England for the security of Portugal, and for the restraint of the Court of Madrid from its system of outrage against an unoffending neighbour ? M. de Damas repeated, from his place in the Chamber, the exact complaints of Mr. Canning against the injustice And perfidy of the Spaniards. Charles X. withdrew his Minister from Madrid, expressly and avowedly because he was displeased at the obstinacy of Ferdinand in his agFessive course 4gainst the Government of the Princess :Regent. Does Ferdiumed then wish to have it believed by the world, that there was nothing genuine in alt these demonstrations of displeasure on the part of his Royal Cousin of France; and that, let the Camawilla act as it thinks fit, no matter with how much criminality and treachery, - no matter with what insult and malignity to wards Portugal, they are anxious only to keep measures with Great Britain mid her Ally; the threat; of the Court of. France being either unworthy of consideration fcop her impotence, or on the other hand as being palpably fectie tious and insincere ? With whatever good humour, there fore, Mr. Canning may bring himself to receive this note as a proof of Ferdinand's repentance, M. de Damas, we presume, can do no otherwise than remonstrate upon the tone'of it, as disrespectful and discreditable to his master. 4. few days will throw much light upon the oracles, how ever dark, of King Ferdinand and his priestly counsellors; and Er land will then have to act, not to negociate. We understand that Lord Beresford has been appointed Com mander-in-C,hief of the combined forces of Portugal and Great Britain.--Times. The Wellesley carte is now drawing, we suppose, to a close. Th oug h we are aware that, in Chancery, he must be a bold man who will pronounce that, aCter going through the evidence o f a ffid av i ts an d b ear ing Counsel, the decision of the Judge must follow forthwith—there is often a long and fearful pause between. As the Chancellor was indig nant at the publication of some of the documents, though they were in answer to Mose which had already been pub lished on the other side, without incurring either orarial censure or reproof, we suppose we must abstain from `Making any comments until after it has been finally de cided by the Chancellor, for we do not believe that any appeal will be made to the House of Lords, though his Lordship alluded to such an appeal on Monday last. Cul bonn? What Peer Nvill have patience or courage to climb to the summit of that mountain of affidavits ? Pelion oa go se e—and if he did, who would be bold enough to set his opinion against tht of the Chancellor, who is also S pea k er of the House o a f Lords? This case will deserve to be classes' amongst the most curious that ever came be ere a Court - Ed Justice or Equity—curious, not because there is any thing entirely new in the incidents or the fea tures, but because it affords such an illustration of the justice and progress of business in this Court, that it cannot but fur nish strong and clear lights to those who are tryisig to make this Court, if possible, more consonant to the real prin ciple of the Constitution—we do not mean to blame the present Chancellor more than his predecessors—he followed the. p at h ej, he improved it. Of found it, and certainly he has not course, be found that one or the powers was that of separating parent and child, and thus breaking the fint-asid strongest tie ,of nature. By-the by; we should be glad to know from whence this power proceeded ? How came it to be vested in the Chan cellor ? Of old, the wa r d s hi p of infants of rank and ortune were in the King, but this is not at all compa rithle to the present power. That interfered only after the death of the parents—this interferes during the lifetime of the parent. Whatever way the present case is decided (ti fortiori, however, if it be decided against the ele.irn), the power and p recedent that will be set w ill b e • ciade the subject of Parliamentary inquiry. But this is not all. If the case itself deserves investigation, the practices to which it has given rise demand legislative inveetigation in a more imperative manner. What a syste m is that which proceeds upon mere affidavits; w h at • a vri&' door is thrown open to the violation Of truth! What a premium, we had almost said, is held out for perjury ! Any thing may be made the subject of affida vits. The most loose evidence equally with the mastipo sitive—hearsay is acceptable as direct —suspicion as heartily welcomed as proof. One affidavit swears posi tively to a fact—another as positively denies it. The first affidavit is, perhaps, corroborated by another ; the second then backs out of its denial, and avows itself in a supple mentary affidavit to have been totally mistaken, which mistake would never have been confessed, but for the de tection afforded by the corroborating affidavit. Thus trials are made of affidavit against affidavit. Jack is as good as his master ; Joan is as good as my lady, " And Brutus i; au honourable man, " And so they are all—all honourable men !" The dexterity is to swell the number of affid av it s . All this is legal. y But the Chancellor may order an indictment for perjury—true. But the difficulty of conviction—how many instances can be produced ? In the present case there may be fifty affidavits or more on each side, one in direct contradiction to another. Can the mind contem plate, without shuddering, such a wholesale mass of crime ? But the blame and vice are in the system. How would such a case have stood in any of the Courts below ? There viva voce evidence is received. Some, who may be nothing loth to swear affidavits, would not have stood the test of a cross-examination. The evidence would have been sifted—the truth elicited in the course of one or two sittings, and instead of lingering on for two years, the business would not have occupied as many days.— Here is abundant food for reflection, and abundant proof also of the necessity of thorough and immediate reform.— Morning 'Chronicle. The Circular from the Madrid 'War-Office, in which the King of Spain declares his motives for assembling an army on the Portuguese frontiers, can be considered in no other light than as an additional proof of the duplicity with which King Ferdinand is acting. The French gave to this curious paper the pompous title of Manifesto, although it contains nothing more than the instructions of the Spanish Government to the Military Commanders of Provinces, stating the reasons why troops are assembling under their command ; and the motive thus alleged, although it may be satisfactory to them, cannot certainly be so either to Portugal or her Allies. It would be an endless task to point out the numerous inconsistencies with which this insidious document abounds, but there are one or two pas sages which deserve particular notice. The King of Spain's War Minister, in the name of his Master, declares, " that in Portugal civil dissensions had unhappily broken out since the death of King John VI. ;" then alleging, as a pretext for the assembling of an army, the dread of the contagion of Liberalism spreading beyond the Spanish frontiers. This is exactly the same plea the French put forth when they formed the Cordon Sanitaire in front of the Pyrennees. Yet what were the dissensions in Portu gal, subsequent to the death of John VI., of which King Ferdinand, in Madrid, could be afraid—or rather, if any have arisen, who is to be blamed for them ? It is a well known fact, that the present pretension to raise the Infant Don Miguel to the throne, in defiance of his elder brother—the only dissension witnessed in Portugal—origi nated with the Queen Dowager (Ferdinand's own sister) and her partisans ; and the chief plans were organized iii the Madrid palace, chiefly through the instrumentality of the two Portuguese Princesses, Ferdinand's own nieces, and two women who have the greatest influence over his councils. It was from them that the Silveiras received their instructions and principal supplies of mosey; and in order to lay a groundwork for the dissensions which they courted and excited, they availed themselves of the name of the younger brother, thus ostensibly making him a party to the scheme, without his knowledge, concurrence, or consent. The desertion of Portuguese troops into Spain was a consequence of these plans, and the money by which it was promoted was distributed by the agents of the Silveires. Their subsequent armament and organiza tion within the Spanish territory were -also evidently tin der the immediate sanction of the Spanish authorities ; consequently the dissensions in Portugal, which Ferdi nand now affects to dread, have had an origin exclusively Spanish. The Declaration of the Spanish Monarch, there fore, issuing from the mouth of his War-Minister, is intend ed only to disguise the real intentions of the Apostolical party now governing in Spain. This party is well per suaded, that if liberal institutions take root in Portugal, their ascendancy must be soon lost. They attribute the establishment of a new order of things, among our old allies, to the advice and co-operation of Great Britain, and for this they would gladly punish us, as well as for " the machinations which might be contrived in Portugal or Gibraltar; in which place," the War Minister openly avows, " were organized, an I from whence issued those bands of rebels, who were destroyed almost as soon as they landed at Tarifa, Almeira, and Guadamar." The real views of Ferdinand and the Apostolical Party cannot, therefore, be mistaken. They wish the reign of despotism and religious phrenzy to be restored in Portugal, and this they know cannot be done, as long as we continue firm and sincere in our alliance with the House of Braganca. The Madrid Cabinet knows well the nature of our relations with that of Lisbon, and that at the end of 1822, when the liberties of Spain and Portugal were threatened by a French invasion, the British Government, through its resident Minister uc Lisbon, made the following declaration to the Portuguese Government :—" The English Government having so lemnly declared in the face of the world, that it does not assume, or consent to the existence of, a right of interven tion in the internal concerns of other States, England will feel herself obliged to lend to Portugal all the succour of which she may stand in need, as often as her independence may he menaced by any Power, or in any other manner whatsoever. This promise, which is only the repetition of that which England has made under other circumstances, and at various times, has no relation, and can have none, 1 with the political institutions of Portugal, its object being simply to declare that these institutions have not changed i n any manner, the relations which heretofore existed between the vivo countries." Spain, at first, did not ven ture herself to put these declarations to the test, but availed herself of an opportunity to excite discord, and organize a band of native traitors, for the purpose of effecting an object she did not feel prepared to risk under her own banners. The clumsy stratagem was, however, soon discovered, and Portugal immediately claimed the fulfilment of our Treaties and Decla rations. This paralysed the views of the Spanish Despot, and he haa now hit upon another stratagem, equally as clumsy, although infinitely more formidable, and this is, to assemble an army of his own for the pur pose of preventing the spread of contagion, and disarming the Portuguese Rebels whom he had previously ar me d with muskets from his own magazines : and, the better to disguise his scheme, he protests that his intentions are pacific. Disgraceful duplicity, excelled only by that of the French, whom Ferdinand so closely imitates, previously to their crossing the Pyrennees ! It will be remembered that Louis XVIII. in his speech to the Chamber of Depu ties in 1822, solemnly declared " that malice only had wrongly interpreted the purity of the intentions of the French Government in the formation of a Cordon Sani taire!" He then protested, before God and man, that no hostile views impelled the Government to the formation of an army on the frontiers of Spain ; adding, that it had for object the preservation of France from the yellow fever, which had stewed itself in Catalonia, as well as to observe the intestine dissensions in Spain, in order that they might not extend to France, &c. Such were the solemn as surances at the time made to the world by the King of France himself; and it is natural to infer that they must have been equally explicit and satisfactory in the diplomatic corre spondence transmitted to the Madrid Government, as M. Martinez de la Rosa, at that period Minister of State in Spain, on receiving a renicustrance from the National Congress, distinctly declared that France and her Soverign were acting in:good faith ; that their intentions ought not to be doubted ; that the assurances given ought to be be lieved; in short, he solemnly declared that there was no thing to be apprehended. Yet what was the sequel ? In the month of January, and when opening the Session of 1848, tile Xing of France, four his Throne. spoke se follows : " I have done every thing to preserve Spain from the extrerneet . misfortune. I have ordered the recal of my Minister ; and 100,000 Frenchmen, commanded by a Prince of my family, by him whom it pleases my heart to call my son, are about to march and invoke the God of St. Louis to preserve the Throne of Spain to a descendant of Henry I V. —to preserve that fine kingdom from ruin, and reconcile it with Europe. . If war is inevitable, I shall employ a ll my cares to narrow its li mits and shorten its duration. It will not be undertaken except to conquer a peace, which the present state would render impos sible. Let Ferdinand VII. be free to give a Constitution to his people, which they can only obtain from him, and which, in as suring their repose, will dissipate the just uneasiness of Fiance." This Declaration was followed by the occupation of Spain by a French Army, and this occupation, up to the present moment continues. More than once we have had occasion to notice that King Ferdinand, in his present de monstrations against Portugal, is imitating exactly the con duct which his dear Allies, the French, observed towards Spain, in 1823 ; and the very plea he now alleges as an ex cuse, is precisely the same. Whether he is more to be believed than Louis XVIII., it would not be necessary to inquire ; he is well satisfied in having a good precedent before him. This alone would reconcile his conscience to any deceptions and double dealings of which he may after wards be accused. His War Minister, besides, has already prepared the world for another part; he, most probably, will yet be called upon to act as a worthy descendant of Henry IV. " Should the extremity of war be unavoid able," the renowned and chivalrous Ferdinand, it may he expected, will go forth in battle array, at the head of his army, leading on a " patient, religious, persevering, and monarchical people," to gain laurels, like the Duke d'An gouleine, on the Lusitanian plains. The army he will then command we described yesterday : and, for the present, we hale only to add, that we decidedly think that his Ca tholic Majesty's marches in Portugal will not be quite so rapid as those of his cousin were in Spain.—lbid. The public cannot be too much upon their guard against the statements which are daily and hourly put forth from the Press both in France and England relative to the im portant questions which now agitate Europe. From the authoritative tone in which some journals at home, and still more in Paris, announce as facts their own interested inventions, one would almost be led to suppose that the bureaus of Ministers of State had been removed to these printing offices; and that their editors had really added to their present occupations those of Cabinet Counsellors.— That there are, both in France and England, numerous persons anxious to embroil the two countries in hostilities, cannot for a moment be doubted. In France they are principally composed of two classes, themselves of oppo site feelings and opinions enough, the one consisting of the old Buonapartists, and of all who bear no affection to the restored dynasty—the other, of what are called the Apostolicals, who, prompted by an artful and ambitious priesthood, wage war, naturally, and from instinct, with all who are opposed to the power, both spiritual and secular, which it is the nature of their religious creed to assume. In England, the war party (if it may be so denominated) is neither so numerous, so powerful, nor so influential. It consists, in no small degree, of creatures who obtain their livelihood on the Stock Exchange, by duping and plunder ing the unwary; and of the very many, who, remembering the various ways in which the last war enriched them, are anxious again to partake of the contracts, the commissions, and the various other sources of emolument, by which, at a great expense of humane life and of subsequent national difficulty, they sprung like mushrooms from the hot-bed of patronage. Knowing the influence of the Press over public opinion —and it would not, perhaps, be too much to say that it is almost governed by it—these persons have, in both countries, journalists devoted to their service, and who readily give utterance to any re ports or assertions, however untrue or exaggerated, which may tend to bring about the object they have in view. So sensible are some of the Parisian edi tors of the existence of these unprincipled practices, among some of their body, that an exposure of the " Lies of the Day" now forms a regular and prominent feature of the French Press, as it might, we believe, with equal propriety, of the English. To see the Press thus prosti tuted, is equally mortifying and disgraceful. That one main object of an owner of a public journal must be the profit to be derived from it, is natural and obvious. Any jour nalist who were to disclaim such a motive would meet with few believers, even among the weakest and most cre dulous of mankind. But though the merchant and the huckster pursue the one paramount object of gain, the mode of doing it is, or ought to be, very different; and the meanness and deception to which the latter will resort are unknown, it is to be hoped, to the honourable calling of the other. So it should be with those who conduct so mighty and important an engine as the Press. Though its conductors may have interests to consult, they should never forget that they have also duties to perform; that among these, the promulgation of truth should be the first and all-pervading motive of all their actions, and that the tricks, the artifices, and the falsehoods, which we ex pect from, and excuse in the huckster, but which blast the reputation of the merchant, are equally, if not more blame able when permitted or resorted to by those who have so large a share in informing the minds, directing the judg ment, and influencing the conduct of others. Till, how ever, the Press is shamed out of such proceedings as those to which we have alluded, it strongly behoves the honest and independent part of the public to weigh well, rnd to receive with caution all that comes from a suspicious source. We do not wish to particularize, by holding up this or that Journal, either at home or abroad, to censure or applause. All that we would do, is to recommend the t p l e b y l c giveto exercise at d a of tno the world, may peace and tranquillity of Europ possible eepe ei degreel especi ally of c m au e t n io t n w i l li en v i vh th a e t e c x r e e r d c i i t se to e , v m er o y re vert to.— d ve e y p e e d nd t u o po t n he t m he t t r h u t t o h ug o h r fa t l h s e eh e c o' h o o d a u n o o f el t e he w s e tat e e d mente eon- Morning Herald. VINTRY WARD. The long contested election for an Alderman for the above ward was yesterday concluded, by the Lord Mayor giving his decision at the close of the scrutiny. At the close of the poll the numbers were equal, being 52 each. The Lord Mayor yesterday, after some prefatory remarks, de clared Edward Archer Wilde, Esq„ to be duly elected, as, in his opinion, the legal votes were, for Edward Archer Wilde, Esq. - - - - 38 Henry Winchester, Esq. - _ 35 Upon this announcement some few ladi es i n t h e gallery h o i ste d two flags, one bearing the inscription " The Triumph of Inde pendence," and the other, "Wilde, our Neighbour ;" but they managed the business so badly, that poor " Wilde, our nigh bons" fell down into the Hall, amidst roars of laughter from hie opponents. Mr. Wilde then returned thanks, not forgetting, as usual, to abuse his opponents, but particularly Mr. Deputy Whitby, whom he charged with v i o l at i ng a prom i se of neutrality. - Mr. Deputy Whitb y d e f en ded irinistlf against this attack in 'a firm and manly manner. Mr. Sheriff Winchester returned thanks ; but just as he rose, a band of music, hired by Mr. Wilde, struck up some tune at the front of the door of Cutlers' Hall, so as to , prevent th e wort h y Sheriff from being h ear d f or so me time. Ih e understood him to declare, that be was duly elected at the former election, and that the question was not yet decided.—The ladies in the gallery, he (Loud laughter, aad app l ause , amidst which a voi ce f rom t h e said, had mounted "Th e tr i um ph of Independence" f or hi m .— crowd exclaimed, " But they let Our neighbour Wild e ' f a ll to the ground.") The wort h y Sheriff expressed his determination to pursue the contest to the utmost under the advice of his legal friends. The Hon. C. E. Law returned thanks for the handsome man ner in which the Legal Gentlemen had been spoken of by the Lord Mayor in his sp eec h. _ A vote of thanks was then passed to the Lord Mayor; after which, His Lordship shortly returned thanks, and the Wardmot e was dissolved, all present excl a iming, "When shall we h ave an Al derman?" POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MAN6ION-LIOUSE.—Tas SPANISH RnFoorate...—Tea pounds were received yesterday for these uniartsuate gentlemen, which Mr. Hobler transmitted to llr. Freskfield, the Secretary of the Committee. Several communications have been received, which show that the distresses of these strangers have not been forgotten in the dis tribution of charity to poor natives. A number of tickets, en titling the bearers to a share in parochial allotments of coals, &c. have been sent by several well-intentioned individuals. The greatest difficulty to the unfortunate noblemen and gentlemen would, perhaps, be in getting the coals home, as the usual share of a peck or a bushel would, in all probability, weigh down their feeble frame. A number:of the paupers of Bishopsgate parish appeared to com plain of their overseers, and, what was more remarkable, two of their overseers came to meet their complaints, and met them suc cessfully. The paupers, by one of their number, named Byfield, stated, that they had been employed by the parish to break stones for Macadamizing the roads, and had been allowed Is. 6d. per day for it. This was barely enough to keep body and soul toge ther ; but they tried to do 34 well as they could with it. At length, however, their overseers altered their agreement, and paid them only by the square yard for the stone they broke. At this work they could only get 3d. per day, and his Lordship must be well aware that these was no keeping life in a man with such a sum as that. Mr. Hopgood, in reply, declared the whole of those now before his Lordship to be a worthless set. They were specifically told that they were to be paid by measure. As a matter of indulgence, and in consideration of their want of skill at the commencement, they were paid for the first days Is. Bd. per day, but it was 'eon found that the longer this allowance was continued, the less work was done. They were then put upon piece work, and were allowed Si. 6d. per square yard. A man who made himself efficient at this work-, could break a square yard of stones per day ; and if the unskilled worked diligently, they might break half a yard of stone per day, which would produce a sum by no means bad in these times. The paupers said the work hurt them. Mr. White declared that the only evil with which they were afflicted was indolence. His son had watched them in the yard where they broke stones. There was only one out of the whole set who went seriously to work, which the others endeavoured to stop him by throwing stones at him slily. At length one of them said " Here goes," and placing his hammer on a large atone, took up another hammer and broke his own. A number of others followed his example, and broke their hammers. They returned to the workhouse, and said their hammers were not fit to work with. The Loan Maroa said,'that had Mr. White's sou been here to prove this statement, every man convicted of having broker' a hammer should have been sent to hard labour to Bridewell. Every one who might hereafter be convicted of a similar offence, should have three months of the most severe work that could be given in that prison. His Lordship approved of the conduct of the over seers of Bishopsgate i❑ this instance, and told the paupers that they must make up their mind to work, if they expected to have bread. One of the paupers—But they mus'nt set an Irishman over us. We'll not stand that, at any rate. The Loan MAYOR-Take them away. His Lordship at the same time exhorted the parish officers not to put to this labour those who should be declared unfit for it by medical men. E. Jones, on Tuesday, underwent a final examination on the charge of uttering a forged bill of exchange for 3001. The prisoner's solicitor applied for the money which was found upon him when taken into custody, as requisite to defray his legal expenses. Mr. Gates said, that it was desirable to retain that money, as it might be the produce of other crimes. The parties whom he (Mr. Gates) represented were ready to give the amount in other money, or, if that amount was not sufficient for his defence, would 'willingly advance him more. The Loan MAYOa said, that as no other charges had been preferred, he could not presume that any others existe.:, and he thought it right the prisoner should have his money. No men could behave more honourably than the prosecutor.. The prisoner was then committed fo r t r i a l. _ _ MARLBOROUGH-STREET.--Yesterday, Afr. Woods, a pawnbroker, residing in Broad-street, Bloomsbury, appeared at this office, before Mr. Ros, the sitting magistrate, to answer to no less than live informations preferred against him, by Johnson, the informer, for alleged violations of the Pawnbrokers' Act. Mr Andrews, the barrister, attended on behalf of Mr. Woods, and Mr. Shearman, the solicitor, appeared on the side of Johnson. The informations charged that Mr. Woods had neglected to put certain questions as directed by the Act of Parliament to be asked of all persons offering property for pledge, namely, if the property belongs to themselves, the name and number of the street in which they live, and whether they be housekeepers or lodgers. In support of the informations, Johnson produced his witness, John Brooks, who described himself as a writer, residing at No. 8, Copenhagen-street, Pentonville, and who stated in his evidence that he had pledged at the different dates named in the informa tions, articles of property at the shop of Mr. Woods, and that the questions above-mentioned were not put to him as direct by the Act of Parliament. Mr. ANDREWS cross-examina thil witness, who in the most cool, deliberate, and provokingly unmoved manner, gave the fol lowing answers:— _ Mr: Axnanws--Brooks, you call yourself a writer. Wbat are you a writer of ? Brooks---A law writer. Mr. Avouawa--Where were you a law writer? Brooks--In the Prerogative Court, Doctors' Commons. ANDRE/vs—ln what office of the Prerogative Can't were you employed ? Brooks—ln the Registrars'-offine• Mr. Awnaxws--How long have you been is Johnson's em ployment? Brooks—About six months. Mr. ANDREWS--And what were yon before you came into the service of Johnson as a witness ? Brooks—l was au informer. Mr. ANDREWS (with astonishment) —An informer? Brooks—Yes, an informer, ma my own account. Mr. Astnuaws—And w hat were y ou before y ou became an in former ? Brooks —I w as what I have alread y told y ou—a law writer in the Prerogative Court. Have you any more questions to ask me, Sir ? Mr. ANDREWS—Indeed I have not. There is little use in as'.:- ing you any more questions. The evidence of the witness being unshaken and uncontradi c t e d, and several technical objections taken by Mr. Andrew s t o t h e wording of the informations being over-ruled. M r . W oo d s was c onvicted in the lowest penalty allowed by th e act, namely, 40 s . pickingand j oh costs, n aR s u ii p lck o h eachnahradßichard s dkwea information.. rsehfioelflfully m rcoomn the pocket o f a young gentleman for t r i a l on a c h arge of nam u e N d i ß o o N be_ H rt A A L l L anl: n ac e k o e f t h ß e o t numerousc hab y, a student f College, Cambridge. prostitutes . S t that t j i o n h f n es ' e t the borough of Southwark was brought • up in custody to this of fice, charged with having been concerned in robbing a seaman named Miles, under the following circumstances : The complainant stated that he arrived a few days ago from the Mediterranean, and desirous of coming on shore, he furnished himself with a handful of sovereigns, and landed on the previous night somewhere in the latitude of Tooley-street. As he was strolling along, two females accosted him, one of whom was the prisoner, and invited him into a public-house; here they had something to drink, but he said it was at his expence, and from thence they called at various other liquor-shops, where they had more, and be soon became, in his own phrase, "top heavy." "It was now getting late," said he, " and as I could not get on board, one of my new acquair.tances invited me home to take a share of her bed. I consented, and we all proceeded to College-court to gether, and entered one of the houses. The prisoner, who had given me the invitation, inquired whether I oho ild have any ob jection to her companion bleeping with us, to which I replied, ob serving that as it was a very cold night, three in ahe would do as well as double blankets. We three then got into bed," said the sailor, " but had not lain there many minutes before several men rushed into the room, the women jumped up and ran down stairs, leaving me to the mercy of the intruders, who pelted me with sooty-balls as I lay in bed, until they completely blinded me, besides drenching me with snow -water. Having attacked me in this manner, I called aloud for assistance, upon which the men left the room, and I afterwards discovered that all my clothes, to gether with my handful of sovereigns were taken." Pople, one of the officers, stated, that he Itapprned to be pass ing the court at the time mentioned, and hearing -vier as of a person in distress, in one of the houses, he rushed into :t, and, on going up stairs, he found the sailor in a terrible pickle, just as if he had been dragged out of the river. He complained that he had been pelted with snow-balls by a peg of fellows who had also deprived him of his clothes. The officer said that the room was i n a sad state, the bed being literally loaded with snow, which had begun to thaw, and the water streamed all over the floor of the apartment. Pople added, that on his entrance no creature was to be seen in the house except an old woman and the poor half-drowned sailor, the girls and the fellows by whom he was attacked having escaped. The prisoner, who was de scribed by the sailor, was subsequently apprehended, it having been ascertained that the men who ill-treated and robbed Miles were the "bullies" of the women into whose company he had unfortunately fallen. _ _ _ The Magistrate asked whether the prisoner had been obserred Printe4 and Publiahed by M. 91JNG, st ILe siel-Oiriost No: 112, *MUD. to eels the consplainoat, e,nd , ~00thar lay foveae were found in her poosassion on being takes into custody? Being answered in the negative, the Magistrate said that ill should discharge the prisoner, observing, that scarcely a weal passed that charges of a similar nature were net made at thst office. if sailors had the imprudence to get drunk and acrolik pany prostitutes to their abodes, and then get robbed, they (t l ' i sailors) must, and generally did, suffer for their folly, as in za 6. cases out of ten their property was taken from them under cif' cumstances that rendered it a most difficult task to bring liaw s the charge against the persons accused. MEETINGS OF CREDITORS. COUNTRY DIARY, MONDAY, his. 29. Atkinson, W., Haslingden—Star, Alanehester-2 Drinkwater, W., Manchester—Royal Hotel, Mane Lester- 10 Dodson, J., Over—White Bear, Middlewieh-11 Dunn, W., Louth—King's Head, Louth-11 Ewart, F., Newcastle - upon-Tyne—Crown and Thistle, No it' castle--11 Higgin, R., Norwich—Swan, Norwich -4 Parkinson, J., Bolingbroke, Lincolnshire—Whit e Hart 10 ' Spilsby-1 1 Preston, R., Preston, Lancashire--Alecars. Dewhcrst and Ca', Bristol-10 Shaw and Bateman, Manchester—Whites, mi ne h aster _s Smith and Holmes, Bristol—Commercial rooms, Bristol-4 Smyth, T.. Bilston, Staffordshire--Jerniughaas Arms, gio" nal-6 Squire and Edwards, Norwich—Swan, Norwich-4 Thompson, 1., Bilston—Jerningham Arms, Shiffisal-11 Willement, W., Colchester—Swan, Norwich-4 Walker, J., Ley Moor, Golcar, Huddersfield—King's 13 011 Huddersfield-11 JAN. 80. Atkinson, W., Haslingdeu—Star, Minehester-2 Barnard, J., Glamford Briggs—Gl:Ng of Nisholson and C"' Glamford Briggs -2 Bird, W., Cheltenham—Royal Hotel, Cheltenham-4 Bowker, J., Bolton—White's, Manchester-11 Buxton, T., Compton, Ashborne, Derbyshire—Green I 1 °' Ashborne-11 Cooke, T. and J„ Cheltenham—George, Cheltenham-10 Cordingley, E., Cheltenham —York Hotel, Cheltenham-3 Critchley, R., Gloneester—Spread Eagle, Gloucester-70 Clarke, C., Nantwich—Crown, Nantwieh-10 INSOLVENTS APPLYING TO BE DISCHARGED. Petition, to be beard at Portugal-etreet, Lies-LaitariebilY JAN. 30, AT NINE. Burnett, C., Bungay, grocer Collier, IL, Commereial-road, clerk Cooke, Wiiampte ,Hesckad, green-grocer mondwicke,cezlec t - urecturor Fell, J., Gadsdou, H., Tottenham, deer Hickman, G., Camberwell, 'brush-maker Howell, J., Piccadilly, dealer Little, W., St. Thomas Apostle, ticket porter Need, G„ London -street, porter Palmer, It, Queeahithe, stationer Pinckney, W., Brompton, Bayswater Polley, J., Cleveland -street, sacking-manufacturer Spooner, T., Lichfield, boarding school keeper Taylor, J., Brentford, stationer Woodhouse, 8., Whitechapel, htker THE MARKETS. HAY MARKETS. --JAN. 25. (At per Load of 56 Trusses.) ST. JAMES'S. Lewlaed Meadow Hay.f3 15 to 4 15 Clover Hay . /A Low. Uplazd Ditto Stye-grams Nay .......... 4lb Sl5 Wheat Ditto 1 0 1 15 New Meadow Hay 4lO ilO Supply very short, trade brisk, sad prices gesserally as w t. "ous. though an advance of be. per load was said to have bees given isa se il l " stance or two for the bast Meadow Hay. SMITHFIELD. Lawksad Meadow Ilay.fs sto 4 5 Clover Nay riiihrabli IA Lo se 111 a Wplaad Ditto ... 4is 10 Do. extraordizazy hen 00 8 ii Rya-grass Nay 455 10 Oat Straw llO 1 Ji l New Meadow May .... 4 5 5 6 Wh ea t Ditto ....» 1 141 I'- Supply limited, arid trade brisk, but no says:see in pries's. COUNTRY CORN MARKEL'S DWRINO THE WEN& Wheat. Barley. Oats. a. to s. 48 M Ls 3 57 58 76 08 70 50 5 4 48 $8 55 58 SI 59 .50 SeS be eft; SO Se 5 , 5 gp 4 6 57 48 00 I. to Per Quarter. Blandford Brigg Cambridge - Chard • Huntingdon Louth Newark Norwich Nottingham --- Peterborough -- Plymouth .4--- Sherboroe (Ippiuglason Wisbech York •••••••••••••••••••••••••• 3,206 Sheep 501 Cattle & to a. se 44 30 4d 44 48 46 so 48 50 46 48 62 58 52 _ S 7 as , I. 10 ,• - -.- 45 - ° 41 - - ..... -. - ~ - ~ _ SO 94 411 90 44 48 19 sy 4a oe6 0 e 6 _ .r• -.. - -_ 35 40 LEEDS CORN MARKET, Jan. U. There was a large supply of Wheat and Barley, but *sit middling of other Grain; five Wheat was dull sale, aid le. e r quarter lower, and o th er d escr i p ti ons were Ree d y emedeabliP Barley Is. per quarter dearer. Oats, Shelling, and Beane, wee sold at much the seine prices as last week. Scarcely any thing doing in Rapeseed. MANCIIESTIER CORN MARKET. —Jan. cu. Since this day se'raliglat no weight of business has been trawl' mated worthy of communication. To-day, the attendance 00 'Change was remarkably slender, and the business done limited. Oats of good quality dull sale at ld. per 45Ibs. advance ; all ntlssf articles remain as last noted. Customary Bushel. Wheat (701 b.) s. d. toe. d. English, New,,,,, ,_, 9 3 9 7 ---- Red S 7 910 Irish, White Bll 9 1 Canada 8 4 8 7 8 10 9 1 8 4 8 10 Pease (Imp. Qr.) I. d. w i. g Blue. (Boilers).—..-- 7 0 8 • Beans. English 66 0 la • Irish and Foreign 46 0 Xi Per bag of 29011 a. Flour, Flue Notts_... 45 0 47 Yorkshire, tlnel4 0 a 0 - Irish, fine 04T Seconds —...—~ 0 4 0 042 0 Barrel Flour sweet -- 0 Sour --.20 a 31 Per _load of s4olb. 0 Oatmeal, Lnglieh fie.— 0 4g • --- _ A ea Foreign Barley (601 b.) For grinding 5 9 6 0 Oats (451 b,) English and Scotch 9 0 0 0 Welsh , 0 0 0 0 Foreign Irish, Kiln-dried 4 '7 4 9 —Undried--=. 4'7 4 8 Per load of 6 Inapt. bushel. Malt, New 0 60 0 Old 0 0 Interior .—.-37 0 44 Old (fced) 9i Tares (NIP. Qr.) 0 0 0 , LA Bras (broad) per VOW. 11.9 d. sic."' MANCHESTER NEW SMITHFIELD.—Jao. At Der kb. sinking the of&L Sctow. 6 Cale. .4. I 71 Pigs ed. sal 10. 4 11 lb _ MANCHESTER POTATOE MARKET.—Jan. SO. Potatoes, S.. Si., Sa. fid., and Ss. 3d. per load of IS snore and 19kW+• ; Carrots, 14a, Od., 155., and Si.l 6d. per load of IS wore; Turnips, To. Os. and 7s. 6d. per load of 16 peeks ; Onions, is., Sh. 6d. and 30a. P"' load of 12 score. MANCHESTER YAR: No. d. d. Thsostle 20-.--. 12 to 12* 32--...:131 144 90 Mule eopTwi et/ in 121 for warp " 40.-14 151 19 21 22 i 11l- 14 27 80 2 9 32 .N MARKET.—Jan. 93. Mule Cop Waft, 30 , 1 to 1$ 40 ig 50 ........... 16 17 00 ....--.... Lit 10 illt 79 BO —.--. lii 97 100 90 3 $ Weft from walte.lo 8 34 3 0, 14 9 I° , l 18 10 . • 84 11 1$ EDINBURGH MEA We had a small supply of Oat sold readily, at last week's prices Per Sack of 280Ib. impp Per Stone of 141 b. Ina First Oatmeal .f.k 15 0 Oatmeal s 1 0 Second ditto 2 13 0 Barlevmeal Barleymea l 0 Peacetime' 1 1t 0 MARKET.—„Tan. 73. ;meal at this day's market, vlbi44/ BIRTHS. On the 25th instant, in Upper Seymour -street, the H. 11 , 10' Jervis, of a son. On the 23d instant, Mrs. William Brocklesby, of a ton. On the ' - ?f?d instant, Mrs. W. Ebnrne, of P.atlaboao-pWs' of a son. On she 22d instant, at Giadwisas, Efsex, the lady of the Ree• Thomas Clayton Glyn, of a son. WED. On the 24th instant, Mrs. Frederick Pollock, or Bedford-rose. On the 24th instant, at rionthseosid, Highgate, • sitic,erell lamented, Frances Longman, .4ughter of the late Thou:Da Longman, Esq. and sister of t 1.,. pressent Thomas . Norton Los 4" man, Esq. On the 21st instant, Helen, daughter of Richard Mount, E. 4. of Lartonstone, in the 15th yeas of her age. - F-- -