The Sun. — London, England, 1833-12-27 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. In our last two publications we noticed an article in the Quarterly Review respecting the Lord Chancellor, and a pamphlet which has been published in reply to that article. We now conclude our observations on both. As, ac cording to the reviewer, all the reforms of the Court of Chancery sprung, Minerva like, at once from the brain of Sir Edward Sugden, so it now appears that " everybody agreed that the 70 Commissioners should he reduced, and that the system should be altered !" Now, if " every body" meant Lord Lyndhurst and Sir Edward Sugden, this is totally untrue, for his Lordship, whatever might have been his notion as to other legal reforms, twice whilst he held the seals took occasion to laud the London Commis sioners, assuring the House of Lords " that the machinery, after all the inquiries he had been able to institute, appeared to him extremely well adapted for carrying into effect the bank rupt laws as they stood." If, however, by " everybody" is meant all but Sir Edward Sug den and Lord Eldon and Lord Lyndhurst, the reviewer is pretty nearly correct ; for the enormities perpetrated by the tribunals of the " seventy" were exposed by almost every un biassed witness before the Chancery commission, —we say not a word about the old subject of the patronage—viz., whether the appointment of ten Judges to responsible situations is of more value than the appointment (at the rate of six or seven in a year) of 70 commissioners, who might be selected from a scale in which the zero of incompetency was so low that no one who possessed interest was ever found unfit for the office. With regard to the savings effected by the change, the pamphlet before us distinctly shows that the permanent saving will be 36,0001. a-year, 12,0001. being deducted for compensa tion for the present. And with regard to the apprintment of six new Commissioners and four new Judges, the Judges, it is true, were new, and if new courts are created, new Judges must be made to preside in them ; but there were not six new commissioners, for four out of the six were commissioners before. As to the Court of Review not having sufficient business, and therefore its appointment being evidence that the machinery was not well planned, any one has but to look at what has been re peatedly stated by the Chancellor on' this head —viz., that as to the number of judges and Commissioners lie was not answerable, for he was overruled by those who, from their practical knowledge of the detail were consulted, and who contended that a smaller number were insuffi cient ; the Chancellor, however, has not shown himself unwilling to remedy the error, if error it be, for on the death of one of the four Judges no successor has been appointed ; and in the last session a proportion of the duties of the Insolvent Court which the present judges could not perform has been devolved on these judges. As to the working of the measure itself, nothing but a want of space prevents us from giving the striking illustrations afforded by the pamphlet to prove that the rapidity of proceeding in most of the great bankruptcies has been increased nearly twofold, and that, in many instances, the vigilance of the offi cial assignees has recovered for the creditors large balances, which otherwise would have remained for ever in the hands of fraudulent assignees. Another charge is, that the Secre tary of Bankrupt still remains, and is enabled to practise as usual as an attorney, and has 1,2001. a year, and divers clerks under him. Now what is the answer to this ? Why, that (as was stated by Sir C. Wetherell) the Chancellors in all times past have appointed attorneys, and that it was no practice originated by Lord Brougham. The only real change is, that the new Secre tary's salary is reduced from 2,5001. a year to 1,2001., with just as much to do as any former Secretary ever performed. The Chancery Re form Act transfers the appointment of Masters in Chancery from the Lord Chancellor to the Crown. Hitherto the appointment was a private patronage, and has seldom been exercised with much reference to the fitness of the person named ; hereafter no Minister would dare to recommend to the Crown one whose sole merit is the possession of the pri vate friendship of him whose duty it is to se lect the fittest person for the office. No merit, however, is allowed to his Lordship for this constitutional measure ; in the eyes of the re viewer it is nothing but a master-stroke of policy, seeming the patronage to himself when he ceases to be the judicial Chancellor. The whole system of the appointment of country commis sioners is, in the same strain of truth and justice, represented as a mere trick to obtain additional patronage and power. The plain answer to this is, the Chancellor had no power of appoint. ing one of these commissioners. The Judges had the sole power ; and, if report says true, their Lordships did not on all occasions prove themselves so entirely divested of party feelings as might have been expected. Next came a whole string of pungent observations as to the manner in which the Chancellor has bestowed his great patronage. We have no room for a word on this subject, nor is it necessary ; public opinion is so completely made up on this point, that not even the dullest reader could be deceived by any assertions which the boldest writer in the Review could make. Even Lord Brougham's enemies, always excepting a few thick-and-thin opponents, have allowed that there is no cause for cavil on this head. The last charge we shall notice is, " that Lord Brougham's business is in arrear—that he can not get on." A plain statement of five lines answers this. On the 14th inst., there were 63 appeals ready for hearing (some have since been heard) none had been entered more than 18 months, and of these 10 had been entered at the commencement of thelast sittings. Lord Brougham —when he had the seals—found 103 appeals, and of these many had been set down two years and a half: From January, 1831, to Decem ber, 1833, he decided 220 appeals, and in a corresponding period Lord Lyndhurst decided only 123. At all events, Lord Brougham moves quicker than his predecessor. As to the intention of Lord Brougham to divide the duties of the Chancellorship, it is a question which presents considerable and varied difficul ties, and one yet to be discussed. As far as we have yet considered the question, we think the reasons are in favour of it. Is it necessary to waste a word in answer to the charge that Lord Brougham proposes the change, that he may retain his salary, and relieve himself from the duties of his office ? Some of our readers, seeing the nature of the attacks, may feel surprised that any cleferice i sliould have been made : had these consisted" merely` --of some two or three false ,-assertions dr misr4iNsentations, we should have :„..let them pass ; but Vlen 15 out of 31 pages of c-the "leading article": 6f the ultra-Tories' journal . ' -contain in every 10th ;line some assertion which '._ _ 4LIO • - (11-JZ is untrue, or some insinuation which nothin g but a reference to the facts could show to be groundless, we own we felt it due to Lord Brougham —nay, indeed, to ourselves, who have on all occasions testified our respect for his high talents and the beneficial effects of the great changes he is working out, to expose the sort of warfare to which his unflinching determination to reform our laws and abate all sinecures and corruption perpetually exposes him.—Times. From the language used at the tithe meetings throughout England, we foresee that Ministers will have great difficulty in effecting a commu tation of tithes. It is of the greatest consequence that this great question should be settled once for all ; but we are quite certain that Ministers would never dare to propose a commutation on such a principle as that contended for at several late meetings, and more especially at a late great meeting in Devonshire : " I shall now proceed (said Mr. Parrott, M.P.) to state the nature and extent of the dispute between the tithe-receiver and the tithe-payer :—The tithe. receiver claims a tenth part of the gross produce of the land to be taken in kind, or an equivalent in money for it.—(Hear, hear.) The tithe-payer ob jects to his claim, but says he is ready to settle the dispute upon these terms, viz., that tithes shall no longer be taken in kind; that the tithe-receiver shall (when he has the great and small tithes) he paid annually two shillings in the pound, according to the clear annual value of the land, in lieu of such tithes, subject to Parliamentary and parochial charges as before—such annual value to be deter mined by some fair mode of arbitration. When the great tithes belong to one, and the small to another, the proportion to each to be ad justed in the same way. All Ecclesiastical Courts and Courts of Equity to cease to take cognizunce of the causes.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) At all events, this is the dispute in Devonshire, and I perceive they are taking the same view of it in Sussex and other counties. [Mr. Short—And Hereford.] From want of consideration, most men confound tithe with rent—but they are very diffe rent things. Tithe, as claimed, is a portion (the tenth) of the gross produce of the land; rent is a part of the net profits, paid by the farmer for the use and occupation of the land. Hence the mis take that is commonly made,, that if the tithe tax was removed, the landlord would pocket the diffe rence; whereas the consumer of the produce is the person who would derive the most benefit from such removal—because the farmer being a capitalist, like the merchant or manufacturer, must not only replace what he has laid out in stock;ng and culti vating his farm, but after having had one-tenth part of the gross produce taken by the tithe-proctor from him, he must also have the ordinary rate of profit on the sum embarked in the speculation. It is thus far the taking such tenth that keeps much land out of cultivation altogether, and much from being im proved. It is this that keeps provisions at least 15 per cent. higher than they otherwise would be, and by which the consumer is affected to that extent. The consumer, therefore, will see that it is his inte rest to join the owners and occupiers of lands in pressing for a fair settlement of this question. The landlord will gain but little by the change—the tenant will get rid of the vexation and annoyance to which he is now subject; but as cultivation would be extended, and produce increased; the ad vantage to the consumer would be greater than to both landlord and tenant." Without entering into the question respecting the effect of tithes on prices, and the parties who would benefit by their abolition, we may state that, under the existing law, tithes are unquestionably of more value than two shillings in the pound of the rent, and that, conse quently, the tithe-holders will strenuously oppose any attempt to settle with them at such a rate. Admitting tithe to be a tax , still if a tax h as been alienat e d t o individuals, they may justly claim to have a fair consideration for it. Were the Church the only holder, the question would merely be, whether the produce of the tax assigned to its members be or be not beyond a just equivalent for its services ; and were it to be found that the clergy received too much, a part of the produce might be devoted to other public purposes, or some other tax might be substituted to it. But a great part of the tithe has come into lay hands, and in settling with them, the question will not be, who will benefit by the abolition of tithes, but what is a fair equivalent for the tenth part of the gross pro duce. Two hundred years ago, the Scotch fixed one.fifth part of the rent as the value o the tithe, and that was deemed rather below than above the value, for the Scotch Courts, in all questions of tithe, except those between the holder of the land and the letter of the tithe, fixed the proportion of the tithe to the rent at one-fourth part. It is not probable that the English impropri ators will consent to receive a smaller proportion of the jent than that laid down in Scotland. Tile Scotch, however, did more than lay down the proportion of the rent to be taken as the value of the tithe. They also fixed the number of years' purchase of the tithe so valued, at which the landowner might redeem it, in consequence of which the owner of the soil is now in general also the owner of its tithe. It is of infinite consequence to the landowners that some plan of this kind should at once be agreed on ; and they ought to throw as few impediments in the way of a settlement as they possibly can. Had such a settlement taken place one hundred years ago, how much better would it have been for all parties ? When we say this, we would not wish to be thought desirous of recommend ing anything like obstinacy on the part of the titheholders. The example of Ireland, and the almost universal abolition of tithes on the Con tinent should teach them moderation. So odious is this tax from its mode of collection, that it is always the first abolished in all times of com- motion - . From the following observations of Mr. Northmore, it would appear that the Devon shire landowners might be induced to give something more than.2s. in the pound :-- " I say, then, in giving two shillings in the pound, we shall be acting very honourably and fairly—(Hear, hear)—to give a parson who does not always reside in the parish, for a good many of them have more benefices than one, which, how ever, I think is contrary to the spirit of Christianity, and yet where they do their duty, every man is worthy of his hire, and the parson who does his duty deserves two shillings in the pound of the fair rental—(Cheers)--but at the utmost I would not give them more than two and sixpence in the pound, and this, I say, because some gentlemen whom I have in my eye may come and divide you at the county meeting with a motion for three shillings in the pound. I repeat, however, I would not give them more than two and sixpence, aad I think it would be very fair at two shillings in the pound ; therefore I hope the motion at the county meeting, let it be what it may, will be right, and brought forward in a manly and straight for ward manner as the will of the people, and the will of the people is the will and law of God."—.2lforn ing Chronicle. Th e speeech of the King of the French, which we published on Wednesday, is every way Worthy of the Doctrinaire Cabinet from which ______ .......... It emanates. It is a laboured effort to produce an impression on the public mind favourable to the Government of Louis Philip, without con veying any clear or definite meaning upon sub jects the most important to France and th e civilised world. It is the meagre and frigid production of a timid cunning and evasive policy, which endeavours to conceal, under expressions equally pompous and obscure, the craven spirit, and which would throw itself openly into the arms of despotism, if it did not dread the vengeance of another revolution. With curious inconsistency this Royal record describes France as enjoying all the blessings of peace and order," and yet afflicted with all that insecurity and want of public confidence which belong to a nation whose repose is on the brink of a political volcano. In one part of this absurd document we find it stated that " the population, indus trious and peaceful, feels assured of the stability of existing institutions." In an other, we are told that " insensate passions and criminal manoeuvres are at work to shake the foundations of social order." How it is possible for public peace and social order to be so firm and so insecure at the same time, it is as difficult to conceive as to under stand why a population so industrious and peaceful, and so convinced of the stability of existing institutions, should afford so much combustible matter to the torches of political incendiaries as to keep a wise and paternal Go. vernment in a state of alarmed and jealous vigi lance, lest order, so well established, and institu tions so safe in the defence of the people's love, should suddenly perish in some terrible and general conflagration. We do not believe this to be a mere blunder of the composers of the speech. It is a political paradox, to which we think we can find the key. The " Citizen-King" has undertaken to please two antagonist Powers ; the one by seeming —the other by real attach ment to its interests. The former is the people of France, the latter, the Autocrat of Russia. Hence it is that the French are told of the pros perous things which they enjoy under his reign, and that these are " the results of the equity and moderation of his policy ;" and hence it is that the terrors of imaginary treason are so strongly painted, and the threats against the promoters of the revolutionary movement are thrown out. One of the organs of the Holy Alli ance in Germany lately said that it was at Paris and Vienna the propaganda of revolution was to be put down. A Congress meets at Vienna to devise measures for the utter subversion of the remaining liberties of the German States. No Congress meets at Paris for the purpose of suppressing the liberties of France. But the Doctrinaire Government of Louis Philip, as far as they dare avow it, undertake to do the work of the Holy Alliance. An attempt has just been made on the lives of 27 individuals by one of those prosecutions for a mock-plot against the State which have been of such frequent occurrence since Louis Philip came to the throne. Not having succeeded in that effort of "an equitable and moderate" policy, Louis Philip informs the Autocrat, through the medium of his speech, that his Ministers will ever be ready to offer tip new victims to insure that peace and order of which the exterminator of Poland must necessarily be fond. " Thus," he adds, almost in the terms of the scribe of the Holy Alliance at Vienna, "we shall at length put an end to revolution." The despotic Powers describe everything in the shape of political improvement as revolutionary. In this sense the Doctrinaires of the Tuileries use it, and in this sense the Speech of the King of the French goes one step towards fulfilling the Austrian predic tion that it is at Paris and Vienna the pro paganda of revolution is to be put down. Such being the leading feature of the speech, there is the less necessity for commenting upon the topics, either of internal or foreign policy, which it embraces. The former will be regulated so as to restrict political liberty to the narrowest possible limits, while pompous phraseology about the public rights and the Charter are sounded in the ears of the defrauded people : the latter will be conducted pretty much as the Emperor of Russia desires, as it has been hi therto, ever since the Polish insurrection ob. tained for Louis Philip that recognition from the Northern Autocrat which, up to that mo ment, had been scornfully refused. In his petty and persevering persecution of the Poles the King of the Barricades has since evinced his gratitude for the reluctant condescension of the ruthless destroyer of that ill-fated and noble people. It may be recollected that the Govern ment papers, some time since, threw out broad hints about a commercial treaty, upon a most liberal principle, between France and England, which was all but signed, and which had been brought about by the persuasive arguments of Mr. Poulett Thomson with the French Ca- binet. We expressed ourselves sceptical on that head, nor did the Vice-President of the Board of Trade make any allusion to so important a subject in his recent speech to his constituents at Manchester. The King of the French says—" 1 hope that the new law of the Customs, while it evinces the progress of our industry, will reconcile the protection which it requires with those principles of prudent free dom which enlightened Governments are dis posed to admit." The political economist must have either a very microscopic or a very fanciful eye who can discover in this anything like a recognition of the principle of unlimited " free trade" as beneficial to France. The modern political economists of England expunge the word " protection" from their vocabulary—and we might be inclined to go with- them if they would erase from the commercial dictionary the word taxation too. The King of the French, however, thinks both prudence and protection necessary to the trade of France. From this we may infer that, although the Doctrinaires of France do many absurd things, they are not quite so foolish as the Doctrinaires of England, who, to please foreigners, without obtaining any reciprocal advantage, broke down those admi rably contrived navigation laws, which created the unrivalled navy that obtained for England the dominion of the ocean, From what we have already intimated respecting the understanding be tween the Governments of Paris and St. Peters burgh as to putting down what is called the revo lutionary propagandism, it follow s that the relations of France with other Powers must be pacific. Russia aims at a dominion incompa tible with the welfare and independence of other European nations. In her policy she is sup ported byAustria and Prussia, which are ready to assist her in the meditated partition of Turkey, as they formerly assisted her in the atrocious crime of the partition of Poland, for which they received their blood-stained reward. Now, if the Government of France were resolved to . _ i ___._ give Russi a an y ser i ous interruption n her pro jects, it is p ro b a bl e th a t Louis Phili p would have any thing but " amicable assurances" from, at least, the three Northern Powers. He would, probably, have an intimation of a new crusade, as he had before the Polish insurrection, to put down the " Revolution of July." As to Russia, if she can get all she wants peaceably, she will not go to war. Her ambition can only be stopped by negotiation or arms. The negotiation of both England and France has, by a course of the most subservient imbecility, encouraged, rather than impeded, her rapacious designs; and we fear the proper season for threats of armed resistance has been allowed to go by. That was the time when the brave people of Poland were in the field, and when both the faith of treaties and a sense of self interest demanded that England and France should prevent the destruc tion of that rampart of Western Europe. Russia now dictates the policy of Courts from Constantinople to Madrid, and plans the exten sion of her power and her commerce from the Frozen Ocean to the banks of the Ganges, and the shores of the Mediterranean. The King of the French takes credit to himself for having recognised Donna Maria upon obtain ing possession of Lisbon, though he allowed her to leave his dominions under circumstances of insult and dignity. The development which success has given to the character of Don Pedro, does not allow us to hope much for the freedom and civilisation of Portugal if his daughter's triumph should confirm his ascendancy. With regard to Spain, Louis Philip tells the French that he hastened to acknowledge Donna Isabella 11. on the death of her father; but he does not remind the people whom he addresses that the Queen Regent took care to conciliate Russia in the first instance, by making a declaration of ab solute principles on behalf of her infant daughter, which placed her throne in jeopardy, and gave the Carlists a greater moral power than they could otherwise have acquired. If we wanted an additional proof of the sub serviency of Louis Philip to Nicholas, the present speech would afford it. It is a decla ration of faith which must satisfy the imperious Autocrat that the King of the Barricades is not unworthy his favour and protection.—Morning Herald. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HO USE. A person named Win. Russell was brought before the LORD MAYOR, charged with having embezzled several small sums of money, the property of his employer, Mr. George William, of No. 9, Sweeting's alley, stationer. The practice to which the detection of the pri soner put an end, was a ruinous one, and the Lord Mayor expressed his fears that hundreds of trades men suffered by similar modes of robbery. He made this remark without meaning in the least to prejudice the prisoner. Mr. Adams stated that the prisoner had lived in his employment about two years, and from some circumstances it was suspected that embezzlement was going on. The necessary means were adopted for ascertaining the fact. Some persons were sup plied by the prosecutor with marked silver, and sent to purchase trifling articles in the shop. The pri soner served the customers with the goods, but made false entries of the amount, and pocketed the difference between the entry and the receipt. The prisoner was remanded, for further exami nation. The ingenious thieves who infest the different markets have been very successful this season in getting hold of a great variety of joints of meat and fish, turkeys, hares, pheasants, &c. As soon as a piece of beef or other Christmas meal was deposited at a tradesman's house one of the market scamps marked the place, and, with a tray on his s h ou ld er , knocked at the oor, told the servant that a coarse piece of beef had been left by mistake, and that in a few minutes the right sort would be substituted. The servant. glad that the error was detected in time, in almost every instance gave up the meat, which was soon turned into cash. In one instance a family in Bishopsgate-street was robbed of a tur key and a round of beef by a fellow who looked like a butcher; and in another a poor fellow, who had pawned his watch to give his children an extra treat on Christmas-day, had the joint whipped away, and was obliged to put up with the miserable substitute of a couple of sheep's heads. Mr. Willoughby, of Bishopsgate-street, had or dered home a piece of beef on Tuesday, and soon after it was left at the house a man called and told the servant that the wrong beef had been brought home. Mr. Willoughby having read in the news papers of the tricks which were generally played off at Christmas, and being convinced that the beef was the right beef, seized the customer, and gave him into the custody of an officer. Ledbitter, the Marshalman, had heard numerous complaints about stolen Christmas dinners, and he had reason to suppose that the thieves who were in the habit of watching for plunder of this kind were, notwithstanding the experience of the town, very lucky in their plans within the last day or two. The prisoner, who said his name was James Smith, was remanded, in order that those who have been robbed of their dinners might come forward and look at him. Mr. Stewart, of No. 68, Cheapside, waited upon the LORD MAYOR to state that the Lynn customers had done him the favour of sending him an order for clothes some time ago. He, however, did not fancy dealing with a stranger without money or a reference, and lost nothing by the correspondence except the postage. He suspected from the account which he had read in the newspapers that the per son called Mr. P. in the communication of the Mayor of Lynn was the identical gentleman who had felt an admiration for his peculiar cut. The following is the letter to Mr. Stewart, which he answered in a very unwelcome style:— " Terrace Walk, Lynn Regis, Norfolk. " Messrs. Stewart and White. " Gentlemen—Having an inclination for my clothes to ba made in town, as my late tailor is dead, I am induced to give you the preference, knowing you to sell good articles. As such, I shall feel obliged by your forwarding to me (per the Lynn coach) on Thursday next, from either Belle Sauvage, Ludgate-hill, or Cross Keys, Wood-street —viz. An olive green hunting coat, pockets with flaps on the sides, gilt button, with the fox cut upon it; a double breasted light coloured waistcoat to match it, with two pairs of strong shooting trousers, and a pair of braces. At the same time I beg you will have the goodness to enclose the account thereof, the amount of which I will direct my bankers to remit you. I shall, in all probabi lity, visit town in six weeks or two months; and if you please me in make, I shall of course give you a large order.—Waiting your reply, I am, Gentlemen, your obedient, " Oct. 19, 1833. " WILLIAM PARKER." Then followed the items of the measure of Mr. Parker. The LORD MAYOR was glad to hear that Mr. Stewart was not quite so credulous as the gentle man who, a few days ago, completed the order of Mr. P., who was no other than that very Mr. Parker, and was favoured with an order immediate ly afterwards from Mr. Parker's friend, who was taken with the cut of the clothes, and, no doubt, with the terms too. Mr. Stewart said that after he communicated to Mr. Parker that money was indispensable in the business, he never heard more from the gentleman. His Lordship received another letter from Lynn expressing the strong obligation the tradespeople were under to his Lordship's predecessor for ex posing the systems of deception practised by swin dlers, but also stating the writer's fear that the rascals whom Sir Peter drove out of the city took up their abode in places where their operations were lea liable to suspicion. The letter then inOntions Mr. Parker, a currier, with two other pertionS; one of whom resides in High-street, Lynn, and the other at shwick, and states that a tradesman in Regent. square. street had been fleeced by Parker, and very nar rowly escaped the snares of one of the company. The LORD MAYOR was of opinion that it was not probable the company would flourish any more at Lynn at all events, and stated that he knew from the result amongst the tradesmen in Londo►► that the Mayor of Lynn had acted most judiciously in giving him the earliest information. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. The attention of the Magierdtes was occupied for some hours in disposing of an immense number of drunken charges which had occurred in the in terval between the sittings on Christmas Eve and yesterday morning. Although great in number they were deficient in public interest, not one of them being worthy of notice. MAR YLEB ONE. William Foley, a well-known bad character, ‘t as yesterday placed at the bar, charged by Mr. Charles Williams, baker, 13, N ew CI urch-street. Prosecutor, on the evening of Christmas-day, having closed his shop, was sitting with a few friends in the parlour playing at cards, when all on a sudden the gas in the shop, which h e had left burning, was put out. He took a candle and went into the shop, where he saw the prisoner, who was in the act of taking his hand away from the till. Witness col lared him, when the prisoner said, " What a while I've been waiting ! I want a half-quartern loaf." Witness replied, " I suspect you wanted something more than that," and immediately called in a pol ee man to whom he gave the priso ner i n t o custo d y . Keys, an officer of this establishment, here said that the prisoner had been several times committed from this office on charges of felony. Mr. HOSKINS (to prisoner)—What are you ? Prisoner—l sells inguns and wegetablcs about the streets. Mr. Hosxilis—What have you to say to the charge ? Prisoner-1 denies going there for any vicked purpose. I vent and knocked at the door coz I vented some bread, yen the prosecutor come out and gin me into custody. - Mr. Hosxm—You are committed for three months to the House of Correction as a reputed thief. Prisoner—Thank yer Worship ; that's a good Christmas-box. He was then removed to the lock-up. HATTON-GARDEN. Yesterday Sarah Hoperoft, a girl about fourteen years of age, was brought before Mr. Sergeant SELLON, charged by Mrs. Elizabeth Phillips, of Brick-lane, St. Luke's, with having stolen a valu able time-piece. The prosecutrix, on Tuesday last, while standing at her own door, saw the prisoner in a most pitiable situation walking in the rain, dripping wet, without a bonnet, and her shoes and stockings quite wet and worn out ; in fact she had scarcely a morsel of clothes to cover her person. She was induced to question her, when she informed witness that her mother was lying upon a sick bed, that she had no father, and was in great distress. She asked her what she could do, to which she replied that she could work at her needle, and she had once been employed to nurse a child. Being in want of a girl about her age, witness told her to go to her mother and ask her permission, and she would take her into her sery ce, at the same time giving her some bread and butter and a pair of shoes and stockings. On her return she informed witness that she found her mother nearly in a dying state, and that, she had not touched the bread and butter herself, but had saved it for her " poor mother," and she began to cry. Witness directed her to wash out one of the rooms, and to perform other domestic matters about the house, which she did with so much celerity and neatness that witness conceived that she had obtained a " good and industrious girl." In the course of the day she sent her to her grocer's for some tea and sugar, when she remained away longer than was necessary, and on consulting with her husband he began to suspect that all was not right, and on searching the drawing-room they missed a valuable time-piece, when witness recollected having seen the prisoner leave the place with something wrapped up in an apron. Inquiries were immediately made at her mother's, when it was ascertained that her mother was in perfect health, that her father was alive, and that the prisoner was a most incorrigible girl; and it was ultimately discovered that the pri soner had pledged the timepiece at Mr. J. Ingram's, a pawnbroker in the neighbourhood, for 14s. The property was identified by the prosecutrix, and the prisoner was remanded. John a young Scotchman, was charged by a police constable with having been found in the area of a house in Bedford•row under suspicious circumstances. The constable at about four o'clock yesterday morning saw the prisoner in the area, when he thought it was his duty to take him to the station house. Mr. Sergeant SELLON—What are you ? Pri soner—l am a bootmaker. Mr. Sergeant SELLoiv—Where do you live ? Prisoner—At No. 3, St. Martin's-street, Leicester- Mr. Sergeant SELLON—What brought you into the area? Prisoner (with a shy look, rubbing his hair)—Why, then, I'll tell you. I passed the neet with the servants. Mr. Sergeant SELLON—Do you know the ser vants ? Prisoner—Oh, yes; they all come frae Edinboro', where I come frae mysel, yer Worship. Mr. Sergeant SELLON-But they did not want you at that early hour in the morning ? Prisoner— Weel, that is varry true and apparent, or they would have let me in. Mr. Sergeant SELLorr—You had been drinking, I suppose ? Prisoner—Why, a wee drop, your Worship; so I suppose I mistook my way; but I tell ye I am known to the servants, who invited me to spend Christmas night wi' them. Mr. Sergeant SELLON—What are the names of the servants ? Prisoner— Martha Hector and Kitty Flemming. Mr. Sergeant SELLON—WeII, inquiries shall be made, and if your story be correct we shall not re quire your attendance here again. You are now discharged. Sandy said it would be found all perfectly correct, and he quitted the office. UNION.HALL. Elizabeth Edwards, a well looking female, was charged on suspicion with having robbed a gentle man named Copeland of a pocket-book, containing a 1001. note, a paid check for 3,0001., and several memoranda. She was remanded, in order to give the police an opportunity of tracing where the 100/. note was changed. THAMESPOLICE. TRICKS OF B ENEIIITSOCIETIES.—The stewards of a club called the Friendly Society of Watermen and Lightermen appeared yesterday before Mr. BALLANTINE and Mr. BRODERIP to meet the com plaints of two of their members, named John Ghrimes and Joseph Tuckey. Please your Worships," said one of the com plainants, a man almost bent double by age,' they won't pay me my weekly allowance." Mr. BALLANTINE—They might do that my good man, for it don't appear probable that you will re quire it long. The second complainant, a little old man, who was, if possible, more infirm than the other, said he had the same complaint to make. His weekly al lowance had been stopped without any just cause. Mr. BRODERIP—How long have you been a con tributor ? Second complainant—l have been a member fifty years, that's all. Mr. BRODERIP—And how long have you be longed to the club ? First complainant—Why, for thirty-seven years, Sir, and I have paid up everything. Mr. BRODERIP—What reason can be assigned for excluding these poor old men ? The stewards said the club had lately been in a declining state of health, and after two or three meetings the society thought there was a necessity to shut up the box. Mr. BRODERIP read ,the enrolled articles, and said there was a clause which enacted that the 4 1 should hold together while three members belong to it; that if any member should endeavour to bd it up or advise another to dissolve it he should fined, and that th e b ox s h ou ld not b e shut vilv the stock amounted to 321. The stewards admitted their stock was 200!, that the club now consisted of forty-nine member' Mr. BRODERIP (warmly)—Then you have ° I the slightest excuse for excluding these men f l 4, the benefits of th e soc i ety , an d I am aston i s h e t has been done. One man has been contributing ] the funds for fifty years, and the other for thill seven. Let the poor men's sick allowance be d tinned, and all arrears paid. The stewards said the society had stoppedll men's allowances; it was not their act. Mr. BALLANTINE—Then the society must do and if they lead you wrong you are responsib This proceeding cannot be tolerated, and if so things are persevered in it will put an end to' that good feeling which ought to prevail among I members of a benefit society. The men were Ve, old and infirm. The stewards—Yes, very old men, Sir. Mr. BALLANTINE—Yes, and you will be old mi and then your only support will be the funds of t society. The stewards said they were quite satisfied, 01 mentioned that the club had been in existence 0 1 hundred and twenty years. The Magistrates—Then by all means keep it ul don't let it die away. Benefit societies do avs deal of good when properly conducted. THE ARMY. (From the Limerick Chronicle.) The 28th Regiment, from this garrison are still gl the march fur Dublin in most boisterous weather, ends ring all the pelting of the pitiless storm, and wading fi miles allele deep and higher through wet and miry roao On the 7th of January next, the first division of tt 85th, or King's Light Infantry, will arrive in this g" rison. They embark, on the 26th inst., at Liverpool. Major-General Sir John Buchan, in command of tb Athlone district, is appointed President of the Court martial to assemble at Cork, on Monday next, for 00 trial of Captain Wathan, 15th Hussars. The head-quavers and five companies of the 30gi Regiment are now stationed at Galway, under tb command of Major Robinson. The remaining five cool panics are dispersed throughout the counties of Mayo at , ' Galway. The Romney troop-ship is hourly expected at Cot ) with the 51st and 94th depots ; also, the Sylvia transpog with the 7th Fusileer depot. The Royals, from Glasgow, are to be stationed 11 Newry. Captain Hort, of the 81st Regiment, leaves Banagbi on Monday, to join the staff of Lieutenant General SI Hus4ey Vivian, in Dublin. It is officially announced that the precedent laid dorro at. the reduction of the Militia Staffs in 1829, will he adhered to in the contemplated reduction of this force , The 9th sec. 10 Geo. IV., c. 29, grants a regulated daii pay or reduction to certain officers according to length 0 service in the " embodied" Militia; the highest rate of pl is for a service of ten years and upwards, next under te and not less than three years, the lowest rate for thre years and under; all service bears date during the 60 9 the Militia was embodied. The 29th sec. of the above Act regulates the pay of Adjutants, appointed after the 2 4 t b December, 1814, who after serving thirty years can retire, from ill health, on an allowance of 6s. per day. By the intended reduction, a saving of 6,5001. per annum will be, made for the allowance for store rent to the Militia Staffs of the United Kingdom. In furtherance of this arrange' ment, a general order or circular from the Warsoffice has been addressed to Colonels of the Irish Militia, desiring that such a return should immediately be transmitted of the clothing and necessaries, stores, and accoutrements, al well as the ages and services of the Adjutant and non' commissioned officers of the disembodied staff of each corps. THE MARKETS. GENERAL AVERAGE PRICE OF BRITISH CORN, For the Week ended Dec. 20, 1833, mad, up f rom th e R e t u rn! of the Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns in England and Wales, per Imperial Quarter. 495. I 51 Oats -19 a. Harley 28s 6:I Rye -33 a. 3il.lPease IMPERIAL AGGREGATE AVERAGE. OF THE SIX WEELIII PR 2ct. Oats 19s. T.1.18ean5.......... I lid Rye 345. 5d f DUTIES ON FOREIGN CORN. Wheat.-- 365. 8(1.1 Oats 18s. 3d.1 8ean5..........185. 3d. 4d.1 Rye 18s. 311 9s. 6d. 342. Id. 392. gd. Lucas:Kg& 34.. Iod. .40s, 7d. CoUNTItY CORN MARKETS DURING THE WEER. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Beans. Per Quarter. s. to s. s. s. s. to s. s. to s. Blandford 53 27 20 —42 Brigg _ 40 58 36 40 15 22 30 35 Cambridge— 50 29 17 38 Chard 48 54 22 28 16 20 36 46 Huntingdon 58 63 23 28 15 21 26 34 Long Sutton 56 64 17 22 32 35 Louth 4B 54 28 32 18 22 40 42 Lynn 5O 60 22 25 16 20 32 31 Newark 57 60 29 40 16 22 37 40 Nottingham 45 52 28 34 21 26 32 40 Peterborough 39 48 25 29 13 21 28 36 Plymouth 50 64 30 34 20 23 Pontefract- — 67 43 27 43 Sleafonl 65 70 36 38 22 28 41 43 Uppingham 42 47 28 32 22 26 36 33' Wisbech 4B 62 20 33 14 22 30 35 LEEDS CORN MARKET. Wheat, Norfolk and Suffolk, 601 b. - York. and Lincoln. 601 b. Barley, Norfolk and Suitt)lk - Yorkshire and Lincolnshire - Grinding Beans 63lb. Oats, Potatoe -Mealing, For. 12d. to 13d. Shelling Rapeseed, English, 251. to 275 . Foreig —Dec. 24, 465. to 575. 355. to 548. 3 28s. to 404. 40 278. to 341. 225. to 235. 21s. to 355. . :ng. 9d to 10 4d. per It. 225. to 255. pet load. rn, —4 to —4 per last. LIVERPOOL CORN EXCHANGE.—.Dec. 24. WHEAT, English, White, per 701 b. -- Red 7 0 7 3 —. Scotch, Welch, and Manx 6 6 7 4 Irish, White 7 0 7 3 - Foreign Red 7 5 6 8 0 OATS, English, Welsh, and Scotch, per 451 b 2 9 3 0 I rish Foreign 2 6 2 7 BARLEY, English,:Malting, per Imp. quarter 32 0 3t 0 Scotch and Irish, per 601bs -- Feeding 3 6 3 8 BEANS, English, per Imperial quarter 34 0 41 0 Irish, &c Foreign PEASE, English, per Imperial quarter 42 0 44 0 Foreign FLOUR, English, per 2801 b. 4O 0 41 0 -- I rish OATMEAL, English and Irish, per 2401bs 2l 6 23 9 INDIAN CORN, per 4401 b. Etre, per Imperial quarter 32 0 36 0 MALT, per Imperial quarter IMPORT OF GRAIN for the Week ending Dec. 23. Wheat. Oats. I Barley Flour. Oatmeal. Qrs. Qrs. Qrs. 'Foreign, 13r1s.11rish,&c. Sas.' Loads. 2,417 2,297 520 150 I 4,784 2,004 SOUTHALL MARKEL—Dec. 25. In this day's market, which exhited a limited supply through; out, and was thinly attended both by London and country buyers, the trade with each kind of meat was very dull, at the following prices per stone of 81b, to sink the offals 3s. 6d. to 4s. 6d. 4s. 4d. to ss. 4d, Mutton 4 2 5 0 I Pork 3 8 4 4 The foregoing quotations are Beef from 2d. to ed., and Veal from 2d. to 4d. per stone lower than on this day se'nnight; prices of Mutton and Pork stationary. Beasts, 45; Sheep, 437; Calves, 8 ; Pigs, 43. A small portion of the supply left the market unsold. ARUNDEL MARKET.—Dec. 24. 3s. 4d. to 4s. 6d. 4s. 101. to 4s. 2d. Mutton 4 0 5 2 I 3 •13 4 4 Supply of Beasts and sm a ll s t oc k li m it e d ; trade rather dull. RUMFORD MARKET.—Dec. 24. s. d. to s. d. ft. d. s.d. Beef 3 4 4 4 Veal Mutton 3lO 410 Pork 3 4 4 4 Suckling Calves, 14s. to 265. ; Quarter old Store Pigs, 12s. to 20s. Mitch Cows, with their small Calf, 101. to 151. Supply limited, and trade dull. A rail-road from Scarborough to York, and thence to the manufacturing districts, is projected. A public meeting has been held in Scarborough, to promote the formation from that town to the manufacturing dia. tricts. BIRTH. On the 21st inst., at Brighton, the lady of Lieut.-Colonel Ferrara Loftus, Grenadier Guards, of a Son. MARRIED. On the 23d inst., atßouloine-sur-Me r, Ch arles Victor Fauoel, Esq., Avocat, to Fanny, daughter of Francis Good win, Esq., of King-street, Portman -square, DIED , roslepierirtlaymlBse, of Kingston, Jamaica. Yi for many years at the head of On the 23d inst., Mr. Richard Yearsley Clarke, of Windsor. near ln 0 e L tt h i o v re e 02 r p f4 o tAh o i l iiini a ts n at a f ontm Giserpsey, in his 82d year, Dr. Walters, ry the Medical Staff in that island. ' rle i r n al h 's is office, Horse Guards. 46th year, Mr. John Cleere, of he inst., at Manton Lodge, near Emsworth, G. QAul O dcla br i . 1 at em t tr h h: e cm : a 4 l gss t t l .t : ehr i .n Captain, : e It. N. PRINTgD AND rIJBLIrIiED ET MU RDO YOUNG, &T INS SVPI °FEIGN, 112, STACY% UN' The Dii remaining et No. 9, teary next The Dee Of the Shai went of th Capital bei London, irr BI -a- • o Quiring B 1 temoyed fi tearer the entrance tc The GI contain* P Rouses, L Rolders of in Money Agent of 1 Half. Quar Last La tish sold ' Paid them Vornhill ; . 0 41, Path). ILLUSTP FIN First of Fe the Ne' price bi tl iS F NUATIO 1835, B PrebeEdar Can London : " Histc kad in prc Loral love 4 teorne fa origin, its ittances le 4 ttione. To trac !ountry fr in the full of the bill k UcceiefU I] rrinllett, Which the Illaintaine But an tritain hi lumen teri intende Plete by a Of George the size a Place wit cession o ngland The ad History fi portanl lent gem table Fre rental va Powerful ritiatt tailitarY Europe— in the for from the 'ltpartial in the tinuous i his work Purpose a tban to I The v( !Pond Wi ',autism The w ttobellish °o steel, portraits to the pr Lions fro] Paintings The I) 1 834, ai I tb il e u: C° t u r m :t e i t i nlaketh and Vet TAT TE known t Thousan ever sine titl e o f 4 Worn a in the day, ; ine; J. Co t he Rag py o This I great re ( Europe. bounties tite and Preferred Sold 1 their Fil s treet, L Venders Bottle, trial of 1 q ANC s uperior !onsump 'n all cli 111 OR F ', iittgar,