The Sun. — London, England, 1833-06-24 00:00:00

SPIRIT .OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. „,,,The'4lAg and anxiously-desired Parliamen tary report on municipal corporations, and the .... minutes of evidence taken _ hefOre the Committee, have just been printed and distributed with the papers of the House of Commons. - The reform of the notorious and flagrant abuses of the exist ing borough and city . corporations , and the le gislative provision of popular municipal institu tions for the unincorporated communities of England, Wales, and Ireland, have long been considered as among the first and most essential objects of the a mendment of the representative systeM. During the all-powerful dominion of the boroughmongers, the attainment of this great national object was utterly hopeless ; and equally vain were all attempts to reform the in ternal government of the Royal burghs of Scot land. Indeed the close and decayed constitu tion of. the corporations and burghs of the United Kingdom, formed the grand apparatus for the tyranny of the few over the many in their several localities, and constituted the chief ma terials for packing corrupt Parliaments. We have reason to know that it was the earnest de sire of the present Administration, on their advent to office, in 1830, to have proposed in Parliament a substantive and legislative reform of corporate abuses, with a uniform municipal system for the government of the unincorporated towns. Notices of a Bill for this purpose have been twice given in the I-louse:of Commons, and the Government in stituted inquirieS . in the large towns for the pur pose of obtaining the necessary information. We believe, however, that difficulties of an in surmountable description were soon perceived. The incorporated towns all differed in the con stitution, usages, and customs of their local government. The trust property equally varied in amount, and in the principles of its admini stration. It was discovered to be impossible im mediately to assimilate the numerous and dis sonant charters of England, Wales, and Ireland. The existing civil and criminal jurisdictions of the municipalities of the several boroughs and cities are not suited to their present municipal wants. Further, the difficulties attendant on the introduction of any general or uniform munici pal system for the unincorporated towns were insuperable. The various nature of the local juisdictions for debt and crime—the different existing.institutions of an honorary and stipen diary Magistracy—the various ability of diffe rent communities to bear any additional local taxation—rendered any general or immediate legislative measure of Municipal Reform almost impossible. The same doubts and difficulties attended the institution of a popular and effec tive police. We were always of opinion that inquiry must precede legislation; and, under these circumstances, Lord Althorp, early in the present session, wisely proposed a Select Committee of the House of Commons, ” to inquire into the state of municipal corporations in England and Wales and Ireland ; and to report to the House whether any and what defects exist in the con stitution ; and what measures it may be, in their opinion, most expedient to adopt for remedy thereof." Thirty-seven Members of Parliament constituted this Committee, with power to send for persons, papers, and records; and five being the quorum of the Committee. They prose cuted their inquiry in twenty-seven successive days of sitting, and examined upwards of eighty witnesses—chiefly the corporate officers of diffe rent boroughs and cities of England. The re port is a brief and able document. We re-print it entire; and refer our readers to its recommen dation of the appointment of a Royal Commis sion. The evidence attached tothe report occupies 391 folio printed pages. Thenames of the Coin inittee—comprising, amongotherindividuals,Mr. II Abercrombie, Sir J. Campbell, Mr. Carter, M r.P. Thomson, Sir John Wrottesley, Mr. O'Connell, Mr. Vernon Smith, Mr. Wallace, Mr. Buller, Mr. Divett, Mr. Jervis, Mr. Ellice, and Mr. Ord— rare a sufficient assurance of the honesty of the Jnquiry, and the necessity of the recommenda tion in the report. Mr. Vernon Smith, a mem • her of the Committee, has given notice for to morrow of a motion for " An Address for the appointment of a Commission to inquire into the state of municipal corporations in Eng land, Wales, and Ireland." We know that there exists a very natural prejudice against these commissions, and their consequent expense and delay in remedial measures ; but we are satisfied that there is no other mode of safe and effective legislation. There are also many difficulties to be wisely solved in the remedial propositions suggested by the best informed and most liberal practical men. Many insignificant corporations may be wholly suppressed. The West of Eng land, and almost every county in England and Wales, contains many municipal corporations unnecessary and injurious, some possessing trust funds, others entirely pennyless. The principle of self election must be abolished. At present nearly every inhabitant of a community who should not be intrusted with authority possesses it, and all those best qualified for the offices of corporators are excluded. Little grid will result unless the " old stagers" are ,router!, and a system of rotary and periodical election adopted. Now these points—the quali fication of burgesses and corporators—the mode of election—the executive management of the property of the more wealthy corporations, and many other matters require patient inquiry and much deliberation and mature legislation. The dilapidation and misappropriation of the trust property of the corporations are notorious, and will demand particular investigation and legal li redress. The internal government of the towns by the establishment of a police based on popu lar principles—and any other civil force in this country, will excite an outbreak of fierce oppo sition—is an important and most difficult de partment of a municipal commission. The proposed inquiry also should, by all means, include authority to investigate the present municipal state of the unincorporated towns. The same commission may economically con elnct the two inquiries. The necessary ambula tory, or itinerant commissions, reporting to a Lindon board of three commissioners, would es t )on complete the inquisitorial department of the inquiry, and much of the necessary infor mation respecting the municipal state of the unincorporated towns may be obtained by the London board through the circulation of queries. The cost of the proposed cornmission will be immaterial, compared with its substantial bene fits, provided competent persons are appointed, and full powers are granted by Parliament. The question of municipal reform is one essentially relating to the Commons, to their government, and to the freedom and purity of popular elec tion. The Lords "cannot decently oppose any difficulties to a thorough amendment of the corporate system. The •day is past, never to ....., inekorti n ripen Lord Lyndhurst dare repeat his extraordinify - judicial proposition—that the trust ,-.:l"tinds .of''- , innnicipal corporations are privpte :'. - ifs roger _S' obci t Peel can no loovr art " . ---\-- •-• ~.±.:=:. c , , , v;t.,,, ,,, ..,,,t J ---- 4...!,,,,,:: ..5... ' V -..• :' "3;.. I O D- I ‘),lw6z fully justify the malpractices of the corpora tors of Coventry and Leicester. The interior of these close and foul places must be ventilated, and the doors thrown open to the whole com munity. Publicity must henceforth be the Con servative principle. The importance of the ques tion of Municipal Reform is second only to that of the amendment of the representation : it re lates to the security of property—to the recovery of debt and the punishment of crime—to the preservation of the public peace of large commu nities—to the education and moral culture of the people—and to the advancement of public liberty by the extension of popular power, and the con sequent new formation of public character. The proposed Commission would, of course, possess themselves of full information on the municipal systems of Europe and the United States of North America ; and the reduction of the prin ciples of the Municipal Common Law to a written text, and a revision of the Statute Law affecting Corporations and public charities, would form a useful department of the Commission. The future political existence of this country may depend on its improved municipal system. The importance of the subject cannot be over-rated. The proposed inquiry and reform will, of course, he met with the usual Tory opposition► of prejudice, stupidity, and sinister interest. Corporate abuses have been too useful agents in corruption, to be voluntarily or easily abandoned. As the deans and chapters protest against Church Reform, so will the interested corporators scream out like screech owls in an old ruin when threatened with any disturbance of their quiet and favourable retreats. It will be fallaciously argued that the constitutions of the corporations are to be re garded as permanent rights or establishments. Now, in fact, they are those institutions of the country, which for centuries have been continu ally changing—always growing worse, never mending—the poison of self-election and secrecy destroying their vitals. We shall immediately return to this most important subject, and to the valuable report of the Commons' Committee. If the present Ministry as honestly and vigorously promote the question of Municipal Reform as they did that of Parliamentary Reform, and if they extirpate the vile principle of self -election, they will, in the language of Lord Chatham, " infuse a portion of new health into the veins of the Constitution."—Morning Chronicle. The vote of the House of Commons on Fri day evening, whereby the 147th clause of the Irish (Church) Temporalities Bill was ex punged, we consider a lamentable circumstance. It must be recollected, and indeed was recalled to mind by more than one Member in the course of that discussion, that Ministers had, on first introducing the Coercive Bill, declared their determination to resign if they could not carry the Church Reform Bills, as well as the Bill of Coercion. This was a pledge, and a pledge the inure sacred because it held out to adverse parties a condition, which, in reliance on the good faith of Government, those adverse parties have fulfilled. The Coercive Bill, we repeat, was supported by many of those who would otherwise have opposed it, in full confi dence that the Bills of conciliation relating to church affairs would have been carried also, and neither sold nor compromised. For some time previous to Friday's vote rumours had been in circulation, and the matter of them was an nounced in this journal, that the Tories in the House of Lords, impatient at their exclusion from office, had decided on the immediate over throw of Ministers, which was to be effected by that of the Irish Church Bill. A hostile vote of the Peers was therefore ordained, and a consequent resignation of Lord Grey's Ministry was reckoned on. The question, therefore, for his Majesty's Government was, whether they should maintain their Church Reform Bill intact in the House of Commons, where they were powerful, leaving upon the Tory Peers the responsibility of rejecting it elsewhere, and so disgusting the country, or whether they should submit to be beaten without fighting on that field where they had the victory already in their own hands, and, under the name of a " com promise for the sake of peace," yield to their enemies what they would take care to represent as a signal triumph. The latter branch of the alternative was that which the Ministers, we think unfortunately, believed themselves justi fied in accepting. They made what they deemed was a compromise, but what the Conservatives loudly boast of as a complete surrender of the whole point in dispute —viz., the " inalienable" nature of church property. The 147th clause of the Bill contained a provision, that any surplus arising from the conversion by pur chase of Bishops' twen ty-one:year leases into per petuities, should, after securing certain ecclesias tical objects formerly provided for by the vestry cess, be " applied to such purposes as Parlia ment shall hereafter appoint and direct." Apart from all special pleading on the subject, Mr. Stanley, by giving up this clause, has given up, in fact, the assertion of the original and funda mental principle of all church reform,—namely, the power of dealing according to the supreme will of Parliament with any and every portion of that property which the state had itself originally appropriated to the temporal uses of its religious establishment. The recognition of this principle was essential to the legitimacy of any measure of temporal church reform. It is that without which not even a commutation of tithes, or a charge for poor-rates, or a property tax on the tithe-owner, can be rendered valid. If there was not an Irish Protestant layman from north to south of the island to-morrow, the temporalities of the superfluous church could not be touched by Parliament without a declaration of the one great datum—that "church property is disposable by the State." And this is the ground which Mi- nisters have abandoned, and, upon their own showing, what does their inducement amount to? Says Mr. Stanley " There may be no surplus whatever ; why, therefore, prematurely regulate its application ?" To this we answer, that although the proposal for a tax on existing in cumbents has been withdrawn with the general assent of the House, there still remains, be sides the income of the suppressed bishoprics, the whole fund to accrue from the conversion of terminable Bishops' leases into perpetuities. Such conversion is authorized by the Bill, the manner of it is prescribed, and its results are minutely calculated and provided for by several successive clauses. Is it not, therefore, mere trifling with the country to tell us that because there is no fund in hand at the present ma. nient, save only what proceeds from a re duction in one Bishop's income, and from the suppression of another, yet that the fund, prospective and eventually certain, which must, in the nature of things, arise from an extensive, it not universal, buying up of Bishops' leases in perpetuity, is no way worthy of being taken into account by Parliament, but is to be treated as a pure abstraction, and left to the chances of future, or merely possible, legislation-IP Mr. Stanley avows, however, that Ministers have given way on this occasion as a peace-offering to the Tory Lords to avoid " a collision of which all must deplore the consequences." But why that collision ? If Mr. Stanley's statement of the case be true, he has sacrificed nothing whatever to the Tory Lords—literally nothing— because, in his opinion, the assertion of a naked principle is not worth contending for. Then, let us ask the Right Hon. Gentleman, whence could arise a collision with the other House of Parliament ? What materials are there for a contest ? If the thing be not worth a single straw, why should the Lords insist on it in such case? Or, if the principle be just in itself, why is it the Government and the House of Commons that should give way, and the enemy that should have cause to sing Te Deum for a victory ? The truth is, that the Conserva tive party do not so undervalue the im mense importance of that night's proceed ing. Their organs of the press, and of society, boast and exult in the degradation thus inflicted upon Ministers, describing them as men whom their adversaries need not fear, and whom their friends are unable to confide in. Look over the division of that unlucky evening, and you will see the Government opposed by its friends, and pushed onward only by its enemies. Mr. Grote, in his manly, impressive, and upright speech, condensed into few words the merits and bear ings of the question. According to the Mem ber for London, the Bill, even in its original frame, had been scarcely efficient for the purpose of bringing within just dimensions the Church of Ireland—" the great ecclesiastical enormity of Europe." But, robbed of one of its most significant clauses, instead of voting silently against it, he would give the Bill his most de cided opposition. He added that the whole professed principle of the Bill was negatived by the erasure of that single clause, that the House of Commons would be no worse by sending up the Bill to the Lords, and letting their Lord ships have the merit of rejecting it ; that, for aught Ministers knew, the Lords might beat them on other clauses, and that if he might advise Ministers, it would be to adapt their measures to the " wants of the people, and leave the other House of Parliament to act as they thought fit." This was high and honourable counsel, Coo bold and straightforward, we fear to be implicitly followed. In grief, not in anger, and certainly not in enmity, we repeat that the surrender of Friday night was a loss of character, that is, of substantial power. The Tories con ciliated by it ! Why, they laugh at it publicly. They are stimulated by it to the imposition of fresh burdens and humiliations upon their weakened foes. Besides, the sacrifices of the Government cannot end here ; they are but be ginning, and thankless as well as disreputable will be each step in the descent. Between the Conservatives and the English nation where can Ministers make a stand, after the demonstra- tion of a spirit so irresolute ? Without gaining over a single friend from the Tories, the whole body of sound and independent Reformers are affronted at this desertion of the common cause. The principle thus abandoned was worth all the rest of the measure. It was one the steady adherence to which would have inspired the people almost universally with confidence in the firmness and wisdom of the King's Ministers, and would have filled the Tories with corre sponding consternation. Ministers, with King and people at their back, might sm►le with scorn at au isolated and odious faction ; but alienate the people from them, and let his Majesty once distrust their manhood, and what have the Tories to fear ? Times. Many of those who hold most stoutly the principles of the Conservatives, have been dis posed to doubt the policy of their recent tactics. The prudence, for instance, of the late division in the House of Lords upon the Duke of Wellington's motion, has been frequently ques tioned. It is admitted that the course of conduct pursued by the Government towards the rival Princes of Portugal compromised the honour and the interests of the country : that it was both the right and the duty of the House of Lords to interfere for their protection ; that in the manner of its interference there was no thing which faction itself would censure. But then, it is asked, was it wise upon a matter in which the nation feels but slight interest, to put the House of Lords prematurely in opposition to the King's Ministers, and to waste, in a com paratively unimportant skirmish, the strength which might have been reserved for some more decisive encounter? We would beg those of our friends who have reasoned in this fashion to con sider what has been the first remarkable conse quence ofthe division in the House of Lords. The Irish Church Temporalities Bill, in the form in which it was originally introduced, involved the assertion of a principle far more perilous than any which the philosophy of the Whigs has yet propounded. It enacted the conversion of eccle siastical property to purposes not ecclesiastical, The honesty of such a conversion had been de nied by one Minister in Lancashire ; had been affirmed by another Minister in Devonshire ; and the clause which sanctioned it proved that in the divided Cabinet evil was predominant over good—the splenetic recklessness of Lord John Russell over the conscientious scruples of Mr. Stanley. We have not yet forgotten the cor dial acceptance with which the Irish Church Temporalities Bill was welcomed by the most dangerous man in the kingdom. " I hail the Bill," said the Member for Dublin, "with joy and with gratitude. It does not remove our evils ; it does not establish our rights ; but it lays down a principle by the necessary opera tion of which our evils must be speedily removed, our rights speedily established." The principle of which Mr. O'Connell so expressed himself was developed in the clause which devoted to secular objects the pro duce of the sale of ecclesiastical property ; and it would be strange, indeed, if the proposal which inspired in Mr. O'Connell so much of hope and confidence had not filled all virtuous men and loyal subjects with dismay and disgust. This most important clause—regarded with triumphant expectation by one party, with anxious alarm by the other—cherished by Mr. Ruthven, anathematised by Mr. Shaw—is with- drawn without a struggle. How is this mi racle wrought ? Has the Political Union re lented ? Oh, no ! The Political Union is still clamorous for any plunder, but especially for the plunder of the Church. Has the House of Commons rebelled ? By no means. The House of Commons, if Lord Althorp shall speak the word, is still prepar e d t o vote any iniquity, or any absurdity—that spoliation is humanity—that interference is neutrality— that Lord Brougham abhors patronage—that Sir James Graham is the wittiest of mortals. Why then have the King's Ministers paused, while the rabble are yet eager to lead them, and the rabble's representatives yet ready to obey them ? There is only. one way in which the sudden change can be accounted for ? The House of Lords had shown itself— upon the question of interference or non -interference with Portuguese politics—ho nest and fearless. It was to be apprehended. that the House of Lords would show itself upon the question of alienation or non-alienation of church property not less honest and not less fearless. The attempt to delude or to intimidate the Sovereign into the extinction of its indepen dence had been made, and had signally failed It was to be apprehended that if the attempt should be again made it would again as signally fail. Lord Grey, therefore, and his colleagues made a virtue of necessity, and professed a de sire to avoid a collision, when they perceived that the collision must needs terminate in their defeat. The Times became marvellously civil ; the Chronicle grew laudably tame ; Lord Al thorp abandoned in the Commons what Lord Grey despaired of in the Lords ; and Earl Grey has for the present resigned his prey, being in stigated by the love of his office, and not having the fear of O'Connell before his eyes. If it be true that the anticipated opposition of the House of Lords had an operation upon the designs of the Cabinet now which it had not when the Irish Church Bill was first brought forward, the alteration is wholly to be attributed to the trial which was made of its firmness and faith by the division on the Duke of Wellington's motion. If the House of Lords is more freely trusted by its friends, more fearfully respected by its enemies, than it was a month ago—if it has more influence to prevent evil and to accomplish good, the policy of the Duke of Wellington, considered as the policy of a mere party man, is more than vindicated by its result. But we do not, for ourselves, consider the Duke of Wellington as a mere party man. In these days he who seeks his own interest walks in an impenetrable cloud, and wanders every hour from his path ; but he who looks only for his duty sees by a clear light, and goes right onward to his journey's end. Let the greatest man of our time elevate himself to the height of the task which is presented to him. Looking to consequences, with neither hope nor fear, let him continue to speak only what is true, to do only what is right. We do not believe that the country desires to see the pre rogatives of the House of Lords abolished. We do not believe that the King will consent to abolish them. But if their abolition must be the consequence of their honest exercise, let them nevertheless be honestly exercised. What ever may befal, the Peers of England will not reproach themselves for refusing to despair of the understanding of their country, or of the firmness of their King.—Morning Post. After the close of the Irish Church Bill Committee, the motion of Sir Ronald Ferguson for the revival of the War t% ick Election Committee came on early this morning. A spirited debate ensued, and the Conservatives strove hard to defeat the Gallant General's pla❑ for storming that fortress of aristocratic corruption. If, as the Tory Mem bets asserted, so little was proved against the Earl of Warwick and the political partisans of his brother, Sir Charles Greville, we think they would have courted fur ther inquiry. Their opposition to the renewed investiga tion sufficiently attests its necessity. Sir R. Ferguson, Mr. Langdale, Mr. Ellice, Mr. Murray, Mr. M. Phil lips, and Lord Molyneux, supported the motion ; Sir John Hanmer, Sir Edward Knatchbull, Sir Thomas Freeman. tle, and Mr. Holcomb, spoke in opposition to it. The latter gentleman protested against the inquisitorial power of obliging a banker to reveal the cash accounts of Lord Warwick, and said that were he a banker he would rather go to Newgate than expose them. Mr. Mark Phillips aptly replied that this legal point came with peculiar grace from " the Member for Dover, and begged to remind him that it was oftentimes equally inconvenient to produce a good and valid qualification to entitle a Member to sit in that House." Gentlemen who play at bowls must expect rubbers. On the motion being put for the revival of the old Committee, Sir Edward Knatchbull proposed an amendment, that a new Committee should be elected by ballot. The House divided at half-past two o'clock, when the original motion was carried by a majority of 97 to 11. The scandalous corruptions of this borough, and the con duct of its Recorder, the Earl of Warwick, will therefore IQ thoroughly investigated, exposed, and punished. The ommittee has power to send for witnesses and pipers, and to report on a remedial measure. The Conservatives are extremely unhappy in the subject and result of their elective movements in the House of Commons. They have run their career, and the day of judgment is come. —Morning Chronicle. It is with a regret which we have not language to express, that we point the attention of our readers to the relinquishment, by his Majesty's Ministers, of the only great principle which they have ever attempted to profess since the passing of the Reform Bill—namely, the con trol of the State over the property of the Church, and its application to whatever purposes it might deem most beneficial to the public interest. This principle, it will be remembered, was boldly announced upon the introduction of the Irish Church Reform Bill, and was not only most favourably received in the House, but echoed out of doors, as a proof that the Reform Bill had not been passed in vain, and that his Ma jesty's Ministers inten , led to avail themselves of it for the promotion of great national purposes. In the Bill also which was introduced, and which was under discussion last night, it was distinctly asserted that the " surplus revenues of the Church should be applied to such pur , poses as Parliament shall direct"—but mark the result. The Lords threaten that they will not pass the Bill in this shape—the Ministers bluster in turn—Cabinet Councils are held—visits are made to the King—the country is thrown into a state of ferment—the Funds are thrown 21 per cent. below their preceding price in con sequence of an expected collision between the Lords and the Commons—and yet in the end down comes Mr. Stan ley, and gives up at once the only great principle which gave value to his Bill ! Instead of the surplus revenues of the church being in future applicable to such purposes as Parliament may direct, they are now to be applied to only " such religious and pious purposes," &c. In other words, the church is still to have the possession of its enormous revenues, and although the number of Bishops is to be reduced as they happen to die, the country is not to derive any benefit from the arrangement. Nay, it is even asserted that although the number of the Bishops will be gradually diminished, there will be no surplus. Morning Advertiser. A Dublin Paper asserts that there are Mem bers from that side of the water who sustain part of the expense of a London life by the sale of franks / We do not believe it.—Morning Herald. RIOTS AT GRAVESEND.-SUNDAY AF TERNOON —The inhabitants of Gravesend have been thrown into the utmost alarm by an outrage which threa tened to end in bloodshed. On Saturday night, about eleven o'clock, the watermen commenced demolishing the pier. These men, who are about 300 in number, are aggrieved at a pier being built by the Corporation for the more convenient landing of passengers. A few men were seen at the time above-mentioned loitering at the hattom of the High-street, who first broke the lamps and put out the gas, which it seems was a signal, as the watermen im mediately assembled in great numbers, and commenced demolishing the pier, in which they succeeded to a consi derable extent. Wood, iron, and stone work they alike levelled. They also pulled down the greatest part of the roundhouse, and were extending their ravages when the church and town bells were rung, and the MAYOR was called out, who read the Riot Act from the window of the Town Hall. The inhubitants, howevtr, remained mere spectators, evidently intimidated. At three o'clock yes t morning some soldier s f rom t h e oppos i te s id e o f the river arrived, and attempted in vain to disperse them. At six o'clock Lord DARNLEY'S regiment of foot arrived from Chatham, to the great joy of the inhabitants, and succeeded in dispersing the still threaten ing watermen. The yeomanry cavalry are now on duty at the Town Hall, as it is apprehended the attack will be renewed. We have not heard of any lives being lost. Great credit is due to Mr. EAGLE, the Mayor, for his prompt and decided measures for the restoration of tran quillity. The rioters were engaged seven hours in tearing to pieces the pier, which was a beautiful piece of workman ship. The town was in the greatest anxiety the whole of the night, but all is tranquil now. Four o'clock.—The cavalry are now parading the town, and the public houses are ordered to be shut up at nine o'clock. COURT OF KING'S BENCH, JUNE 24. THE KING V. LADY B RISCO. This was an indictment against Lady Brisco, the wife of Sir Wastel Brisco, Bart., for wilful and corrupt perjury. Mr. Sergeant ADAMS stated the case for the prosecution. The defendant in 1813 was, from her misconduct, sepa. rated from her husband. He allowed her a yearly sum sufficient to maintain her in respectability ; but in 1827 she was found to be living in open adultery with another man. In 1828 an attempt was made by an action, " Davis v. Brisco," in the Court of Common Pleas, to make Sir Wastel liable for debts contracted by her Lady ship. Sir Wastel set up as a defence to that action the fact of adultery on the part of Lady Brisco, and to prove that fact a witness of the name of Quinnan was examined. The result of Quinnan's evidence was a verdict for Sir Wastel. Lady Brisco su b sequently preferred an indict ment against Quinnan IT perjury, and was herself the principal witness in support of that indictment. The present indictment arose out of the evidence which Lady Rrisco had given on that occasion. She swore that she had never lived with a M. Wylie, at Lisson-grove; that she had never slept with him, nor been called by the name of Wylie ; that Mr. Wylie did not live with her in Tonbridge-street ; that she knew no such person as Joh n Robertson, nor Francis Wells, nor that person's wife ; that she never left certain articles of dress and furniture in the keeping of Wells until she requested a return of them in a written paper addressed to Mrs. Wells, and she denied all knowledge of such a paper. In the course of her evidence several tradesmen who had served her as Mrs. Wylie with goods at Lisson grove, and who were in Court, were desired to stand up before her, and she was asked whether she knew them; she denied all knowledge of them, and she also denied the fact of her having had a parrot at Lisson-grove, and made some denial as to a dog which she had at that place. He should now produce witnesses to prove that she had committed perjury in all these state ments and denials. Robert Robertson, a victualler—Formerly kept the De. vonshire Arms at Lisson-grove, which he left in 1824. He then took a house at No. 8, Lisson-grove, Marylebone. He lived there two years. Knew Lady Brisco. She lodged at that house. She came there about April, six or seven years ago, and lodged there five or six months. She came in a hackney-coach with a gentleman, who declined giving his name at the time when he took his apartments; but witness took the number of the coach, and went to Ton bridge-street, where he ascertained their residence. They passed afterwards by the names of Mr. and Mrs. Wylie. John Wells, a tradesman, stated that Mr. Wylie and the defendant, Lady Brisco, lodged at his house in 1827. They passed as man and wife. Witness stood up in court on the former trial, while Lady Brisco was being examined, for the purpose of being seen by her. She then swore that she had never seen witness in her life. That was false. Witness lodged at his house with Mr. Wylie. Never knew her but as Mrs. Wylie. Mrs. Wells, wife of the last witness, corroborated his testimony. She was present at the trial, when Lady Brisco denied all knowledge of her. That was a falsehood. The jury returned a verdict of Guilty. HIGH COURT OF DELEGATES, JUNE 22, WILCOX V. WHITE. IMPORTANT APPEAL CASE.—This was a question of considerable interest to a large body of the inhabitants of Hampstead, and the result was looked for with great anxiety. The office of Judge was originally promoted by the Rev. Dr. White, the Curate of St. John's, Hampstead, against the Rev. Dr. Wilcox, for performing divine ser vice in the chapel of St. John's, Downshire-hill, without the consent of the curate of the parish, or other lawful authority. The Judge of the Arches' Court, before whom the suit was heard some time since, pronounced that the articles exhibited against the Rev. Dr. Wilcox had been proved, and admonished him to refrain for the future from publicly practising or performing any ecclesiastical duty without obtaining the consent of the Rsv. Dr. White. From this decision the Rev. Dr. Wilcox appealed to the High Court of Delegates; and Justices Bosanquet, Bayley, and Taunton sat this day to decide upon the appeal. Dr. HAGGARD and Mr. BERE appeared in support of the appeal, and contended that as the chapel was a dona tive, that as Mr. White was perpetual Curate and not having the cure of souls, and that as there was a difference between the articles and the citation, the judgment of the Court below ought to be reversed. The JUDGES took time to consider, and decided in favour of the judgment of the Court, which admonished the Appellant to refrain for the future to perform divine service without license and authority. It was stated during the proceedings that in the parish of Hampstead there are about 8,500 inhabitants, about 7,000 of whom were members of the Established Church ; that the parish church will not hold more than 1,000, and that in the neighbourhood of Downshire Chapel the inhabitants amount to about 3,000. It was alleged in support of the appeal that if the chapel were abut up, a great number of persons would be deprived of the means of attending divine service. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE. A young man named Joseph Carpenter, in a very shabby attire, was brought before the LORD MAYOR on Saturday under the following circumstances:—.. Mr. Fisher, a respectable solicitor in the City, stated that the defendant was constantly -importuning him for money, and annoying him on his own premises, when he refused to administer to the young man's necessities. The defendant's case was certainly a singular one. He was one of several residuary legatees of the late Mr. Carpenter, of Tottenham, who threw himself from the top of his house on the day of the funeral of his wife, and died in very opulent circumstances. The property was, however, shackled with many annuities, which the trouble in col lecting the rents made it very difficult for the executors to piy, so that the defendant could have no claim at the pre sent moment. He, however, thought that lie had. Money had been advanced to the young man and some of the other residuary legatees, and it was impossible to hand over a shilling to one without being, in a manner, com pelled to supply all the rest. Besides the landed property there were 16,0001. in the Funds, and a bill had been filed in Chancery for leave to make sale, in order to re lieve the necessities of the legatees. The brother of the defendant had, however, positively refused to send in an answer, and was now in prison for contempt of the Court ; the consequence was that no money could be got. The defendant might by and by be worth 20,0001. or 30,000/. After some discussion, a solicitor thought some arrange ment might be adopted to relieve the necessities of the defendant, who appeared in great distress. The defendant having promised not to annoy Mr. Fisher again was discharged. It was laughable to see with what respect the paupers and policemen made way for the poor defendant when they heard that he was likely to be the owner of 20,000/., although with scarcely a stitch upon his back. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. EXTENSIVE ROBBERY.—A few days ago an application was made at this office by Messrs. W. and J. Morley and Co., wholesale warehousemen, Gutter-lane, Cheapside, for the assistance of an officer, as a box of French cambric, of the value of 1501., had been recently missed, and a suspi cion bad for some time existed that some one in their em ploy was in the habit of plundering them to some extent. Clements, Goddard, and Avis were sent to make the re quisite investigation, and after considerable trouble they succeeded in takiug into custody a young man, named Benjamin Bailey. The prisoner admitted that he had been carrying on his !nal-practice.) for some time ; and he was ordered to be re-examined on Wednesday. HATTON GARDEN. EXTENSIVE IMPOSITION UPON THE NOBILITY AND GENTRY. —Yesterd iy Dr. Ryan, M.D., of 61, Hatton garden, attended at this office to solicit the advice of Mr. Roaatts, the Sitting Magistrate. _ It appeared that an individual, calling himself Samuel Hall, was in the habit of visiting the houses of the No bility and Gentry, with certificates, purporting to have been signed by applicant and Dr. Brodie, as recommen dations, describing the fellow to be highly deserving of their bounty ; and he had succeeded in levying his con tributions on most of the Nobility and gentry in the me tropolis. He (Dr. Ryan) recollected that a man whose name was Samuel Hall was some years ago a patient of his at a Dispensary for the palsy, but be had never autho rized him to use his name under any circumstances. For some time post he had been visited by a great number of the Nobility and Gentry at his residence, and several cer tific rtes were produced to him as having been presented by the imposter. Amongst those who made the applica tions were the Duke of Devonshire, the Marquis of Staf ford, the Earl of Falmouth, the Bishop of Salisbury, Dowager Countess of Warwick, the Rev. B. Noel, Justice Park, several Bishops, and the Judges ; in fact, his house was every day visited by Noblemen and the Gentry to in stitute inquiry relative to " Samuel Hall," the distressed mechanic, of whom he (Dr. Ryan) disclaimed all know ledge. In addition to this, letters were every day pouring in upon him to be informed whether the certificates and signatures were genuine or not. 'Mr. ROGERS said, there were gangs of such miscreants about the town. He advised Dr. Ryan to col officers of the itlendicity Soc'ety. The Doctor thanked his Worship, and q MAR Y LEB ONE. A Rev. Gentleman was charged with ha , assaulted Thomas Wright, a lad about 1' The defendant is nearly 70 years of age. vent to Mr. Denison, M.P. for Nottinghai that about two o'clock in the afternoon, of the Duke of Newcastle's house, in Portman. the prisoner, who attracted his attention by and following him about. He (witness moment ❑ear the corner of Portmau-niewt soner having come up to him offered him behaved indecently. The prisoner then w , Mews, and acted very indecently. On his offered the shilling, and conducted himself wiliess then spoke to a policeman. This statement was fully confirmed by 1 corn-chandler ; Thomas King, a carman ; policeman, of the D division. When thi taken to the station-house, he said—" 01 give anything! Oh, God , I'll give all I let me go." The defendant denied that he had spoke! and as to his stepping down the Mews, an pelled him. Mr. Vickers, a surgeon, said he had beet he was of opinion the defendant did suffer it mity described. The defendant was then held to bail another surety to the same amount, to answer the Sessions. A gentleman, named Sanderson, of Print nover-square, tendered bail, which was screi EXTENSIVE Romexv.--Yesterday Rich, John Slannard, two fashionably_attired were charged with the following extensive rob. Mr. Joseph West was at present residing at Paddington-street, Marylebone. On Friday 'nore he went out for the purpose of spending the day, the key in his bed-room door, and did not return night, when he discovered that his apartment had k ' feloniously entered, and property to a considerable ac 16 40 purloined, consisting of a silver tea-caddy ladle, ' s e tongues, spoons, all of which ita , l ti e initials y engraved on them ; the portrait 01 iiitn•telf, for whiebof paid three guineas ; two prints, a gold pin, and a W o° ,4 of ancient silver coin. He (the prosecutor) i t nmedi a n hastened to th e diff eren t pawn b ro k ers ' s h ops i n an d the neighbourhood. On entering the shop of Mr. burn, in Lisson-grove North, he perceived his ova trait gazing at him full in the face. The prisoners were fully committed to Newgate. THAMES POLICE. 01 ' A SLAVE DECLA R E D FREE.-C a pt a i n F errytn an,_, ter of the G o ld en Sp r i ng W est I n di aman, appea n y lay claim to a negro , w h o h a d ma d e hi s escape froSs id West Indies, and who was on the point of being back by Captain Hearn, of the Eden West India I when Mr, Evans, surve y or o f po li ce , went on buatit the instance of Mr. J. Phillips and Captain Stewart , A l gentlemen connected with th e A n ti-Sl avery S oc iety, T; brought him away. The negro, a tall, well-made, muscular man, about i be said his name was William Williams, and he bad bee s o y property of a Mrs. Jo nes i n J ama i ca . Sh e l et bins to hire to persons who did not pay him his wages ° Lc larly, in consequence of which he was not enabled to up his payments with punctuality to his mistress, 0.1.- sons frequently flog ge d hi m an d put hi m i nto t h e stet'y He was compelled to work in the field with an iron C rila round his neck, and weights attached to his body. y punishments inflicted upon him were so torturing O sl o determined to escape, and as the Golden Spring t y leaving Kingston harbour, he concealed himself under y long boat, where he remained five days and nights, W oe he crawled from his hiding-place, and, as it was too_,. to put back, the captain was obliged to bring him to D; r land. The ship arrived on Tuesday fortnight, and remaining on b o ard a f ew d a y s h e was sent to t h e 0 in which he was to be taken back. Mr. BRODERIP informed Williams that he was no 00 free as air, and no one had control over him. He a , work for whom he liked, and enjoy the fruits of 1)16 hour. Did he wish to go back to Jamaica ? T T h h a e nk ne e g e r , m oex a p ss r i es ;o d r tr h e i a p t ; de h li im delight w at ish this, and be f and e r t e clf T o t no wish to go back for floggee, floggee." Mr. Phillips ealliphssrd of the case.aiditwasb Hadchanceymereitnot been thealfit-h; very l Society the poor fellow would have been again consigned to horrors of slavery. Captain Ferryman claimed the negro as his appreutr o He then produced some indentures ; but the negro sitt u , bad been compelled by a t h reat to affix his mark to thes e eo n ,. Mr. linonenir said the indent ures were not worth „-A4 farthing. It was a scan d a l ous ruse to get the poor {el der back again. The negro was a f ree man , no one had finti over him, and h e wa s free to go when and where' pleased. The negro, who w as over p owere d with joy, then de I rty parted with the Anti-Slavery Society's agents, who P wised to support him. 00 Mr. Evans and Mr. Phillips subsequently proceeded board the Eden, and brought away the neg ro'' clothes um other property. The state of the crops in the Hi g hlands s ; described in the Scotch p a p ers as mos t p r otnisingr ireo late rains having done great service everywhere; thel, general. The grass crops are of a superior grovi t " quality. The wheats are, generally speaking strong so i full in ear. Oats and barley promise equally well ; the potatoe crop is healthy and advanced. AN IRISH SCENE IN KENT..—An e%,..trffe: dinary scene occurred a t Ri ver h ea d, i n th e p ar i s h of 7:ao oaks, about a week ago, in consequence of its being w - 0 1 known that the churchwardens had caused the go° d° o 4l Mr. Chatfield, of that pla ce , t o b e di stra i ne d for ch; o , rates, and that they intended selling them by saet Some time before the appointed h ou r f or th e sale, or siderable numb e r of th e pa r i s hi oners h a d asse mbled n , tes / the premises, and it appeared evident they did not In e g to let the sale take place peace a bly. Th e b ro ker and "01 tioneer (who had been brought from another parish: 4 d the auctioneers of Sevenoaks, we are informed, lit pc declined the job) did not arrive at the time appointeL p y the sale to take place. The man who had been previ l T o ti engaged by the auctioneer to cry the sale w as s e nt r° the place by some persons present with the followingoit tice :—" To be sold by auction, by Jobn Smith, this sr e on the premises, the property of a poor man with 1 l oe d family of small children, such p ro p erty h av i ng b e en 6e, for the support of a corr u pt c h urc h . " Th i s no tic e tracted a great concours e o f peop l e, b ut st i ll no auctiv° be arrived. At a late hour in the afternoon, however/0 0 was observed making his way to his own home, an t l a iled immediately followed by a number of persons, and s nflti with yells and groans , accompan i e d w i th shouts of orof don't you sell ?" " S cavenger , d o t h e di rty wor k ;" .0 the crier," &c. &c. The auctioneer was evidently of alarmed, and endeavoured to take shelter in the b° ° ,7 ts ill an opulent tradesman ; but, fi n di ng it d i ffi cu lt to t" t ye an entrance, he turned round and expostulated wtt lt 00 people by whom be was surrounded, and ultimatein i idi receiving the note from the crier, th e con t en ts of l e er he had cried round the liberty, be paid the stipulst e and was then suffered to depart amid volleys of grow Maidstone Gazette. BIRTIIS. of the On the 20th inst., at Loughton rec t or y, B uc k s , the .aal Rev. J. Athawes, of a daughter. sj e i On the 20th inst., at Palmer' s - green , S out h gate, the Isaac Walker, Esq., of a son. o p On the 20th inst., the lady of M. J oa q u i m G arc ia de Tu Charge d'Affaires from New Granada, of a son. a s l' ir On the 18th inst., at Blairquhan, Ayrshir e , Lady , of a son. _.../ MARRIED. ne• On the 20th inst., at Trinity Church, Coventry, the - 00 t - Gibson, of Allesley, to Mary Ann, only daughter of John Esq., solicitor. p Le fe On the 20th inst., at Kingstanley, Gloucestershire, - • ~01et sage, Esq., of Middle Lypiatt, to Margaret Ann, eldest (le"' of D. Maclean,Esq., of Stanley-house. •••04110:' On the 19th inst., at St. Mary's, Paddington, E. • I° 4 ter„ Esq., barrister-at.law, to Mary Alexwina, youngest da ti l o pe' D. Campbell, Esq. Also, 0. Lloyd, Esq., to Sarah reg ° : Gertrude, only daughter of B. E. Hall, Esq., of paddingto o-g o l. On the 18th inst., at St. George's, Church, Bristol,lo.ol Townsend, Esq., to Anna Maria Acraman, eldest de ti !, o l, the late W. Acraman, Esq., of Great George-street, Bps On the 22d inst., at St. George's, Hanover-squa ret soph i, Watkins, Esq., of Pennoyre, M.P., for Brecknock, t ° Louisa Henrietta, daughter of Sir G. Pocock, 8art„.„...----'/ i k NIA] years 94 R Six Londoi btlenian's N th an ;, k rtera at ' l leiler, 4 aided t II I‘IIDI day wal IST( I i consulttte : : irsl. arils h er allif Ite served) e e C) d i lailas:7;Teienr.tybgoeeh:ll:9:ri tiPit kt:l:ll6llitl:coaf°l4lv.heden",r'erfaeuer(di 04 11 R S i eorraw a y :4 l :9aeme n a gn a ta:i t uS o ihni air r dnild o l6 firs t ' Igo i ri 1 ig" ih n #4ll g °lle 4 l 4 ‘ e f 61111:1 . . C. Q4' e l te n s e e° l, , _ t" is e tli -1-r ii r t° , ° eb ee4of ita '( ) 1.1. f ; th t dh s .m i til lii° t il I' , r e l it o f t :!! fi i i. 1:::::: :: we n ~i 6 '' - `-- t. .___ I Roht 7 ;s . EAST 1; and PI HE r , he prisone f f . , L )b, GOd ' /MLA uN i ND, I posses; 1 Y 1 1 give N 1,111 k . It th e c m to the 4 tigntn infirsaitY ' Ott, are I 2 6th i ` le ' e kend n st . t ee2neacpnrnien:d.stelh.edesren.s3ltrotet e e , ha lore tit. l 41 : : a 1 1. e :iitilfrihreo. e;fli:i I young '' of 'tl robbery :" ° ,i, ; the ) )"' of / ng at 14" let And ie day, leeo" not return ' ten ",, l , e, 'lent bad _. i t ii : 'Tan iderable 07, L' ' e a 4 ir, ' k at n p°;:iti'.‘lttinfluuWenlac of the l ;,"Is,Ei 14 . tn ei a t tion, )I,lld'oYn a' • .vV i k • 4R. t l a ll restpeee lo b "ACE ) t , first pL Bvo., Ily the 'Ammo 1 by the A Wt. Noi 7 .f. select ed 7414 nd, at ; 31 ' to Act od encoural tit: to pr o d I tnbers in ldeath. Ti ' Vest d t • elr lit l e V t il St L l4l4 :d " Of ,mled wit 00tlernen Viscount ;!Pported 1 " t s of the la After a ' l °Pted the 1. It is ti gust, a unn a itr i 16 9, Thai Ale, the s the C( W. 4 Sir I ) , d y ti ped, 1 , 0 1 I Tha t' Ptesen 7 lutions : 1 4 the sai and th 4 irtnhe tha '4an, e watch 14 1 4L:3' to men 11,d, on tiee o L4!ot r a Wet It "Ing LI ( .mo] 14tleir wi M. w 01 as ind t innin Oane w 4:4Tenin thei r ea h e „ le h, at li ttm "a a ma N' m e,nnarr ~~ DO PRINTED AND PUBL ISHED BY MURDO - 'r YOUI,IO, SUN OFNICH, 112, STRAND, LONDON• DIED. __— On the2oth inst, at Oundle, Northamptonshire, Doug On Esq., late of Bedford-street, Bedford-square, London , 't e st 0 On the 19th inst., aged 9 years, Charles Bowle, 3?......"'„it5t of the Rev. J. Greenwood, Head Master of Christ J . P° On the 18th inst., Mrs. Jane Wel c h, the wife of ' Welch, surgeon, Dalston-terrace sip the On the 20th inst., at Harrow, in the 68th year of his Rev. B. Evans, Under Master of Harrow School. gr On the 20th inst., at Avenue-road, Regent's-Par k ' sg el wix, wine-merchant, aged 41. Al'en;11114 On the 19th inst., at Hammersmith, Mrs. E. 102.