The Sun. — London, England, 1830-04-12 00:00:00

the tense- oflegal reform—we want to krtow he has done. " lie will hazard no rash experi ments." No, his rash experiments, as a Stistesman, were limited to the currency question and one or two other topics, which we shall not further allude to at present, lest it might be supposed we wished to entangle the question of legal reform with poli tical considerations. We only make this allusion to show that the extreme reluctance which Mr. Peel has evinced to do any thing really effective towards the improvement of the law, is not to he ac counted for either by his prudential temperament or legislative wisdom. A better reason is to be found in his want of the energetic and comprehen sive intellect of a true Statesman. It is worth ob serving how the panegyrists of Mr. t'eel confine themselves to vague and general declamation re specting his " amendment" of the criminal law; they will not enter into particulars.. We gave the other day a sketch of what the merits of his boasted acts are. We showed that besides the consolidation of some of the multifarious provisions of our Penal Law, and the correction of some obvious technical defects of form, be has absolutely done nothing ; and that, in fact, he allowed the Criminal Code to go out of his hands more sanguinary and barbarous than that of any State of Europe. Let his admirers refute this if they can ; and if they cannot what right have they to talk of his attempts, to impart greater mildness to the Criminal Law ? The same writer again says " the Bill now before Parliament to consdlidate and amend the law relating to the crime of forgery, illustrates in a very striking manner that cautious ness which we esteem as the most necessary of all qualifications in a reformer of the law, as well as the principles and temper of those who are impatient of slow and gradual change, and would impart to the progress of reform all the velocity of their own fancies and deduction ; we confess we cannot un derstand what connection there is between the latter part of this sentence and the former, inasmuch as we cannot conceive how the same Bill can at once illustrate the caution of the Right Hon. Secretary and the impatience of another class of persons from whom he so widely differs. We admit, however, the ctintiousness displayed by the Bill ; but we think its uselessness is nearly as apparent. The Right Hon. Secretary is so very circumspect that he does not dare to abolish the punishment of death, in any of those cases in which it is usual to carry it into execution. Yet public opinion—the enlightened opinion of the country, is altogether against the infliction of death for forgery in any case, and he, who as a statesman ought in some measure to lead public opinion, is absolutely afraid to follow it. Perhaps, when the Duke of Wellington has made up his mind to abolish capital punishment for forgery, Mr. Peel may think he " hazards no rash experiment" by adopting the same opinion. When the supporters of the law as it is have been unable to defend their position on any ground of reason, public policy, or sound jurisprudence, their last and desperate refuge in argument has been the " com mercial interests," and particularly the banking inte rests; but even that argument now faiis them, the statements contained in several petitions lately pre sented to Parliament on the subject, signed as seve ral of those petitions were by a large proportion of bankers, are conclusive on the subject, seeing that, at the same time, riot a single petition of a contrary tendency has been presented. Then look at the statement made by Mr. F. Buxton the other night, relative to the opinions of bankers on this question,. and let any. one who reads that statement deny, if he can, that the time has arrived when, if those states men who have it in their power to abolish the punishment of death for forgery neglect to do it, they will be deeply responsitle for whatever blood Wray be shed hereafter under the operation of this impolitic, unchristian, and inhuman law.—Morning Herald. We noticed - on Monday last a pamphlet on the subject of the projected Law Reforms in Scotland, by Mr. Douglas, of Glasgow, the purport of which was to show that they were of no great consequence —at all events, far from answering the expectations of the people. We have given in another column an extract from the Scotsman, characterising the so-called Reforms as having a tendency to render justice more inaccessible than it is at present, and to exclude a great portion of the community from its benefit. According to the Scotsman, a curious re volution has taken place in Scotland respecting Jury Trials. Before the Scotch had any experience of them, they were unpopular with professional wen, and popular with the rest of the community. Now, it seems, they are in bad odour with the people, and only acceptable to lawyers. The people, it is said, consider them a sort of legal gambling, and bate them for their expensiveness. Where a ,people have been always accustomed to Jury Trials, they bear with them as with other practices to which habit has reconciled them. People become reconciled to every thing. The Swiss, for any thing we know, may think a neck without a goitre a de formity. The wonder is not that the Scotch should dislike Juries after a trial, but that they shculd ever have been persuaded to have them. A Jury is supposed to be a sample of the people, slot tt selection on account of abilities or sic quilemenis, Even a Special Jury is no other wise select than as the pecuniary qualification raises a little the condition of the Jurors. Now, how any twelve men, taken at hazard from a popu lation can arrive at as correct a conclusion respecting evidence as a Judge, who is presumed to have had a mental training, and to be able to weigh evidence, we are at a logs to conceive. A Jury is in every respect a most objectional tribunal. In the first place, the unanimity in the English Courts is either a minority yielding to the majority, or an ob stinate minority forcing a majority to yield to it. Then allowing to the Jurors the possession of the requisite skill to form a correct judgment respecting evidence, and to be able to withstand tte sophistry of Counsel, hardly any responsibility attaches to the taunal. The twelve men withdraw to their homes, where they are secure from reproach. On the other hand, a Judge knows that he cannot escape the blame of an erroneous or unjust decision, and this know ledge must operate as a powerful motive to induce him to exert his faculties that he may decide as he aught. That Judges should be enamoured of Juries is sattural enough, for who is there who would not wish to rid himself of responsibility ? Accordingly at a very early period, the advantage of the Insti tifon in this respect, forced itself on the attention of the English Yudges, We have a most instructive passage on this point in that very delightful book, Roper's Life of Sir Thomas More— ,' And as few injunctions," says Roper, " as he granted while he was Lord Chancellor, yet were they by some of the Judges of the law rnisliked ; which I understanding, rleclared the seine unto Sir Thomas More. Who answered me that they should have little cause to find fault with bits therefore, and thereupon caused he one Master Crooke, ashitl of the Six Clerks, to make a docket, containing the whole number and causes of all such injunctions as either its his time had already passed, or at that pre;ent depended in any of the King's Courts at Westminster before him. Which done, he invited all the Judges to dine with him in the Council Chamber at Westminster ; where, after skinner, when he had broken with them what complaints flee hest heard of his injunctions, and moreover showed them both the number and causes of every one of them, iss order so plainly, that, upon full debating of these mat• tern, they were all enforced to confess that they, in like ease, would have done no otherwise themselves. Then offered he this unto theist; that if the Justices of every Court unto whom the reformation of the rigour of the law J.iy reason of their office, most especially appertained, would, upon reasonable considerations by their own dis ezetions, as they were as he thought in conscience bound, mitigate and reform the rigour of the law themselves, there should from thenceforth by him no more injunctions be gran i, Whereunto, when they refused to conde scend, then said he unto them, Forasmuch as yours e lv es my Lords, drive me, to that necessity far aw ar di ng not i n! junetions to relieve the people's injury, you ca nnot h ere. after soy more justly blame me.' After that, k e sa id „ e _ eretly to nu perceive, son, why they like not s o t o do. For they sea that they may, by the verdict of the Jury, cast off all quarrels from themselves upon them, 'chick they account their chief defence; mid therefore am compelled to abide the adventure of all such reports.' " one great reason why Barristers in EnVand are • so partial to Juries is, that ti 4 number of motions to set aside verdicts presents them with an abundant harvest of fees, without much additional labour. On moving for a new trial, the facts of the case are familiar, and a man used to speaking can always argue plausibly on any case of which the facts ale familiar to him, with more ease than he can make himielf master of the facts in a new brief. How ever, in order that Jury-trials may have justice done to them, an option should be given to parties to have their causes tried by a Judge or by a Jury. This has been suggested by Mr. Douglas, and the ex perience before the Assistant-Barristers' Court in Ireland, proves that in that country good effects follow from allowing such an option. It is true in Ireland it seldom happens that the parties do not prefer having their causes tried lay the Judge without a Jury. In Scotland the same thing would happen. Still there would be no harm in allowing those who are charmed with the word Jury the advantage of a trial by such a tribunal. At present in Scotland the Jury Court is in bad odour with bona fide liti gants, and only acceptable to reckless and . desperate suitors.—Morning Chronicle. We suspect the infatuated Bourbons will ere long deeply regret that they ever took lessons in the art of Government from the Duke of Wellington. Charles is an unfortunate name in history, and the French Monarch seems desirous that so far as he is concerned the fatality which atteeds it should be continued. Had France possessed like slavish Eng land a rich aristocracy, whose limbs, and roots, and branches are all closely and inseparably intertwined with the briars and thorns of the taxes, there would have been less to fear from the rising spirit or even the clamour of the people. The lords of the aris tocracy hold the lands, their sons and brothers hold official situations, and all are interested in supporting the Minister, no matter who he is,. whence he came, what he does, or what he con templates. In this source originates the power of the Duke of Wellington. Unlike former Minis ters he has no son of the King, no Duke of York, no independent man at the head of the army. The patronage of the army consequently is exclusively his. The Prelates are a timid, feeble, and divided body ; consequently the church is at the mercy of the Duke. The people have lost all confidence in their present representatives—the majority of them have lost every claim to character or consistency—they dread a new election—consequently they fear him who has degraded them, and, as they cannot vote with their constituents from any hope of regaining their confidence, they vote with the other party in despair. In this way the English Premier holds in leash a large portion of the aristocracy, the dig nitaries of the church, the whole of the army ex pectant, the needy part of the Whigs, a majority of the Liberals on most questions, all the household troops to a man, a few pluckless Tories, all the Scotch serviles (who, if they cannot speak, can vote), with one or two exceptions, and about se venty out of the hundred Irish Members who never had any principles, or if they had would have sold theta long ago. The Duke, therefore, so long as he lives, or is suffered by his Sovereign to remain in office, is in a condition to do with the country, the church, the law, the taxes, and the liberties of the peo ple, just what he pleases. But Charles of France can confer no such power on his Prime Minister. Ile has no aristocracy having any more influence over public opinion or the elections of the Chamber than a re spectable breeches-maker in the Petals Royale. What the Duke of Wellington has done amid the cheers of Parliament M. Polignac dares no more attempt than he dares leap from -Napoleon's tri umphal column in the Place Vendome. Public opinion is in France what aristocratic and Trea sury influence is in England. The middle classes here are not represented in Parliament—their petitions have no more effect on the Lower House than would a red-hot poker if it were tossed into the Thames. They cause a hiss, an expec toration, a scarcely-discernible evaporation, and the sensation ceases. In this country there was a ma jority of the middle classes of about ten to one against the Popish ascendancy bill, yet it was carried triumphantly, the opposition was laughed to scorn, and the petitions flung under the table by a sinister-looking scribe in kid gloves, who was fearful he would soil his fingers, and who turned up his nose as he trampled upon the spoiled parchment. But in France—and thank Heaven it is so—things are exactly the reverse. Public opi nion is power. The middle classes think, and act, and decide. They return the deputies, they des pise the courtier, they hate the priest, they have a stake in the country, inasmuch as almost all of them own some portion of land, which they divide and subdivide among the breeches of their families, so that no one need want who causes to work, and that all may be as proud and more inde pendent than the highest Peer in the realm.— Hence is it that France at this moment enjoys more rational liberty, that her judges are more pure, her law more cheap, her statesmen more honest, and her patriots mose incorruptible, than these persons and things are found to be in this fallen country, or in any country in the world. The French Monarch—the great Monarch we shall not call him, for he is the puniest bigot in Europe—he, however, committed a deplorable blunder when he conceived he could rule France by Polignac as England is ruled by Welling ton. Instead of seeking more exclusive power— instead of aspiring to absolution—instead of bolster ing up the pretensions of an arrogant and dis gusting priesthood—instead of hunting, like Charles the First, the poor " monarchical principle" to death, he would, had he been a wise Prince, have rather cultivated the reviving spirit and the consti tutional liberties of his people. Ile would thus have based himself in the affections of a pseud and great nation. He would thus have endeared him self to the highest and lowost of his subjects. The strong would have been on his side—every sound heart would have been with him, every honest hand would have been raised in his defence. Ile had only to chastise the insolence of his clergy— expel from his dominions the execrable Jesuits— seeder more perfect and more popular the municipal rights of the citizen —encourage improvements long deferred and much desired, and he would have been the most popular and useful Sovereign in Europe. But he had not courage—or rather we should say he hed not sense to adopt a salutary policy. Hence the murmurs that sigh among the orange trees. Hence the small black speck upon the horizon which ushers in the storm. Charles may not know it, but, alas ! it is true that every night he sleeps upon combustibles. He is obsti nate—but the waves will not roll back at his com mand. He has resolved to pursue his own blind and insane policy, and thus he has laid the train which will fire his temple and accomplish his ruin. His conduct is modelled after that of the unfortunate Charles of Whitehall. He has con verted his best friends into open enemies. The deputies are too strong for him—the elec tors have tasted freedom, and it is now too late to drive them from the fountain. He has com mitted himself too much now to yield, and he is too weak to have the slightest chance of success. The dynasty of the Bourbons is on the brink of a precipice, and the priests are ranged behind pushing their imprudent and unhappy Sovereign into the abyss. All eyes are, therefore, turned on France. We in England are looking on with fearful interest. Absolutism is in the one scale and public liberty in the other. Intolerance is arrayed on ene side and liberality and tolerance on the other. What we have lost in England it is no wild hope to expect to regain by the example of France. From the bottom of our hearts we cheer the cham pions on. The expulsion of the Polignac Admi nissratiois would be a dreadful thrust under the small ribs of the Wellington Ministry.— Another revolution in France would be a death blow to Popery in every corner of Europe except amon g the savage's of Ireland. The ascendancy and the triumph of the middle classes in France would have a r e f res hi ng and restorative effect on the hum bled, and devised,and and mpled-upon yeomen of England. A political earthquake on the other side of the channel might produce a shock here among the fundholders and tax-eaters. A little confusion abroad would have a prodigious effect upon the Doke of Wellington's twenty-eight millions cf golden sovereigns, These potentates fly to where mischief is with a marvellous instinct. They would leave England with all the alacrity of Mr. Canning's Portuguese armament. They would travel as ex peditiously as one of Mr. Rothschild's expresses. They would leave the poor mother bank high and dry and lackadaisical, much puzzled, and in a most amusing consternation. They would drive the for lorn Mr. Goulburn out of his little senses. Well, God be praised !—it will be a happy day when it comes. If the Jew Bill be but deferred for a few months we do not think any of the sons of Israel will be much inclined to ask admission into Parlia ment, for few of them would be able to buy a bo rough.—Morning Journal. Buonaparte exhibited a thorough knowledge of life in his memorable assertion that " from the subl . me to the ridiculous is but a step." Every day's experience must confirm its truth to every man of common observation. We would take a% an instance the pathetic lamentation and the would be patriotism of the brewers at the prospect of Par liament at length opening the trade in beer. While one tells us that they will lose nothing by the meat sure, or that at all events the taking off the duty will more than compensate them for any I css , another, with a world of public feeling, only laments the change on account of the injury it will inflict upon the public by the quantity of " deleterious trash" which it will entail upon the beer-drinkers. " We thank thee,Jew, for teaching us . that word." Deleterious trash indeed ! Why what else is it that the public has been drinking but the deleterious trash with which you, by the aid of your monopoly, have been poisoning them? If this is not confounding cause with effect we know not what is. The real truth is, you envy the nerves of the man who can deny it that the mass of the community, both in town and country, who have been unable to brew their own beer, have been, in fact, driven to forego the natural beverage of the country, owing to the drugged and poisonous state to which it has been reduced by the avarice of those who, taking advantage of what Sir John Sebright rightly calls a mere police regulation, have converted it into an engine of their own mere selfish aggrandizement, aided, let it never be forgot ten, by the worse than connivance of the sworn guardians of the public peace and morals. To the breaking down, then, of this hateful and most inju rious monopoly we look forward with unalloyed and extreme satisfaction. It is much the same in its nature and description as if a river were restored to its natural channel after having been dammed out and diverted for ages. We should regret if any legitimate interests were likely to be injured by the measure, but which we firmly believe will not be the case. The Licensed Victuallers arc the class from whom complaints profess to proceed ; but we much doubt whether the truly respectable part of that respectable and much-injured and op pressed body really complain upon the occasion. On the contrary, we feel assured that nothing is so essential to their comfort, independence, and re spectability as to be freed from that thraldom of the lords of the mash-tub under which so many of them have so long laboured. Certainly there can be no free trade in beer as long as the great brewers are the owners or mortgagees of four-fifths of the pub lic•houses ; and hence the lamentable outcry at the prospect of the brewers losing the capital they have invested in these houses. If men embark their capital where it ought never to have gone, the loss of it will not occasion much commiseration. The truth, however, is, that their capital is, for the most part, safe enough. ['heir bonds, their mortgages, their bills of sale, will secure that; but the return for the capital in interest will, we admit, become precarious unless secured on a solider foundation than it has hitherto depended. Compe tition, instead of producing, will, we are convinced, rid the public of " deleterious trash." Beer-drinkers are not so absurd or tasteless as to buy poison if they can procure a wholesome genuine article. The publican with a rival, wherever it is worth while to become one, will find it his interest to deal only in that which people will buy and drink ; while the brewer, no longer able to dispose of his " deleterious trash," will find it his interest to send out a com modity fit to compete with that which the opening of the trade will of necessity bring into the market. These are some of the advantages which the public may look forward to from this long-wished-for change—a change which no honest man in the trade or out of it can have any just reason to corn plain of, or fear its consequences.—Morning Journal. The more we examine the great question now in agitation between the Legislature and the Licensed Victuallers, on the one hand, and, on the other, be tween the latter and the country, the more we ate persuaded that the proposed measure of a free trade in beer is uncalled for by any existing necessity— will prove most ruinous in its operation to the nu merous body whose interests are directly affected by it—and most injurious both to the public morals and to the public health. Had there existed a paucity of licensed houses for the sale of beer, or the: sale of beer become a monopoly in the hands of one or two firms, the Legislature might very properly have said, that the convenience and in terests s f the public demanded a change in the law; but not only is there no paucity in the number of public-houses on the one hand, but to such at, ex tent have they increased, as frequently to have been the cause of grave complaints on the part both of the public and of the magistracy ; while, on the other, the sale of beer is not only not in the hands of one or two firms, but of many,—between whom there is as much competition as there would be between a hundred, and whose immense capital furnishes the surest guarantee of the article being manufactured according to the express will of the Legislature. Any one, in fact, who knows any thing of the metropolis, must know, that instead of there being a monopoly in the sale of beer, the principle of competition in it has been carried to a ruinous extent, and that any one can procure, within thirty yards of his house, the beer of any firm whatsoever. We assert, therefore, on the one hand, that the proposed free trade in beer is wholly urine- , cessary and uncalled for; and we will add, that it is as unjust in principle, as it is certain to prove inju rious in practice. We say unjust in principle, be cause, in the first place, it is a direct invasion of pro perty acquired under the repeated ,sanction of the Legislature, and, in the second, because there is no provision in the proposed Bill for compensating those who are to suffer by it. To prove the first point would lie useless; for it is notorious to every one that the present system, what ever be its merit s , h as not on l y grown up , been may f fostered, and sanctioned by the Legisla ture, but that on all occasions, the Legislature and also the members of his Majesty's Government, have embraced every opportunity of declaring that no change should take place in it. Nay, so lately as twelvetnonths ago Mr. Peel declared, in his place in Parliament, that he never would consent to the sale of beer being placed on the same footing as the sale of tea, or any other commodity in general use; while, with regard to the opinion of the Le gislature, the Bill brought in by Mr. Estcourt, and afterwards passed into a law, was universally consi dered, both in and out of the House, to be the last intermeddiing which would take place with the matter. And what has been the consequence ? Why that many persons, even since the passing of that Act, have not only invested the whole of their property in public houses, and which property is now reduced to a mere name, but that by the pass ing of the Bill introduced by Mr. Calcraft, the pro perty of no fewer than 50,000 persons, and amount ing to upwards of 30,000,000/., will not only be placed in jeopardy, but actually confiscated ! Had the Legislature, as we have already observed, either given timely notice of its intentions—extended the coining or the measure into operation, or accom panied it by a Bill of compensation, for the indemni fication of those who would suffer by it—there would have been comparatively little to object to it; but mark how different the proposed Bill is in this re spect from all other 13ills, and all other cases where individuals are l'kely to suffer from the acts of the Legislature ! If a patent office is to be abolished, the patentee is invariably compensated—if a public 'mprovement is to be made, the pr o p er ty a ff ec t e d by it is valued and paid for —nay, if two scions of the Aristocracy have, even through ministerial fa vour, been displaced from lucrative, but, so far as the public is concerned, useless situations—instance Messrs. Dundas and Bathurst—why even they, poor fellows, must be compensated:by handsome annuities, until they can be otherwise provided for ? The Li censed Victuallers, however, have no friends at Court, and on them, therefore, are the phials of de ;truction to be poured forth, without justice or mercy. Finally, with regard to the public, we have no hesitation in averring, that it will not only be dis appointed in obtaining either a purer or a better article, than it would do under a continuance of the present system ; but that the adulteration of beer will be carried to an extent never before heard of, and a great injury inflicted on the morals of the public. The present system affords every security which could possibly be desired against both of these evils :—the new measure none ; for its first and most immediate effect will be to throw the trade in beer into the hands of persons as destitute of principle as of property, any utterly reckless of the mode in which their houses may be conducted, or the extent to which the health of the community may be injured. We beg both the public and the Legislature to pause and consider the effects of the prOposed measure, before it be passed into a law. There are ninny questions and considerations in volved in it, as well of justice as of policy, which ought not to be decided without the greatest caution and the most mature consideration.—Morn. Advt. WESTMINSTER SESSIONS, APRIL 10. LICENCE APPEALS. KENNY V. THE REFUSAL OF THE HON. MR. BYNO, Slit GEORGE lIA3IPSON, DR. PATTERSON, AND MESSSRS ROWLES AND FITZGERALD. This was an appeal on the part of Peter Kenny, landlord of the Rodney's Head public-house, in Robert-street, St. George's, Hanover-square, against the refusal of the respondents, justices of the pence for the city and liberties of Westminster, to renew his licence for the current year. Mr. ALLEY, on behalf of the appellant, said in the present case the appellant had paid 1,200/., which he had partly collected amongst his friends for the lease and goodwill of his house, and the respondents had thought proper, without assigning any reason for their so doing, and without the shadow of com plaint against his conduct, wantonly to deprive him of his little all, and blast his prospects in life, by withholding his licence from him. Two of the respondents, Dr. Patterson and Mr. Fitzgerald, were on the bench, and occasionally communicated with the learned Chairman; upon which Mr. Alley objected very strongly to their presence in that situation, and added that, perhaps, as they were not much in the habit of attending these Sessions, they would be glad to learn that at this hour of the day there was always an excellent lunch provided for the Magistrates in another room. Mr. Fitzgerald very good humouredly took this hint, and retired. The doctor kept his seat. The learned CHAIRMAN was clearly of opinion that in point of law the respondents hail the power of refusing the license, supposing that in point of fact they had grounds for so doing, which, in the absence of any proof to the contrary, he was bound to suppose they had. Several witnesses then came forward, and proved that although this house had formerly borne an ex• ceptionable character, the present occupier, who had been in possession of it a year and some months, had done all in his power to make it a respectable house by conducting it with exemplary regularity and decorum. The COURT declared the appellant entitled to his license. MILLAR V. THE SAME.-BARRON V. THE SAME. These were appeals, under similar circumstances, by the proprietors of the Duke of York, Union street, Bond -street, and the Pelham Arms, St. George's-street, Hanover-square. The COURT, after hearing the testimony of se veeral neighbours in support of the respective characters of the houses,granted the license in each case. DEPTFORD DOCK-YARD. The establishment of this ancient and celebrated naval arsenal is nearly broken up, and the change it has made in Deptford is very apparent from the number of unemployed hands and empty houses. Most of the artisans and petty officeris have been discharged or superannuated, with the exception of about 150, who have been drafted into the dock yards of Plymouth, Chatham, Pembroke, and others. Mr. Byrne, the boatswain of the yard, is the only officer who still holds his situation, which he va cates as soon as the Worcester, a frigate of 30 guns, now under the operation of coppering, shall be launched. This, it is expected, will take place in about a month. The extensive range of buildings forming the left side of the yard are now occupied by a strong body of Marines, several hundred in number. Deptford is, however, to be the rendez zous for the Royal yachts, and will still be used as a receiving and store-yard for the navy; and we be lieve it is intended to permit merchant-vessels to repair here. This dock was one of the earliest established in Eng land, and is the scene of many remarkable events. It was formed by Henry VIII. at the commencement of his reign, who erected a storehouse for the Royal Navy. In 1515 Sir Thomas Spert, commander of the great ship Henry Grace Dieu, here founded the patriotic and benevolent Trinity Society. Queen Elizabeth, in 1581, visited Drake at Deptford, after his return from his first voyage round the world, and conferred on him the honour of knighthood. in 1698 Peter the Great of Russia worked in the dock-yard as a shipwright. It consists of two wet docks—one two acres in extent, the other one and a half; with all the requisite outbuildings and storehouses for a great nay'', arsenal. Vessels of minor cla.e, as small frigates, sloops of war, and bomb ships, have been constructed here, though many stately vessels have issued from its slips, amongst which are the Windsor Castle and Neptune, of 90 guns each ; the Bombay, 74 ; and the Queen Charlotte, 110. The alterations and removals which we have stated have already caused a material depression in trade along the banks of the river, and it is also conjectured will materially affect the several parishes where the discharged shipwrights and labourers re sided. Nothing can exceed the magnificence of de coration with which Lord HisaTroau has completed the internal arrangements of Dorchester House. The suite of state rooms is hung with crimson Genoa velvet, re lieved with gilt mouldings and eneoignures ; and the ceilings are profusely enriched with carving and gilded cornices. In the music room the ground of the ceiling is of gold, fretted with has reliefs of flowers.—Court Journal. A PUZZLING TEXT.--A gentleman in De vonshire suspecting his servant did not attend divine ter vice, as he had desired him, and for which purpose be had leave every Sunday afternoon. gave JOHN to undei st Ind lie should in future expect him to remember time text Accordingly, as soon as Join( returned home on the following Sabbath he called him into the parlour, and without comment desired to know in what part of the scriptures the minister had taken his text? " Why, Sir," answered JOHN, scratching hie head by way of refreshing his memory, " I—l—let me see! Oh ! Why—where— let me see, if I could but recollect where they make silk handkerchiefs I could tell you, sir !" " Bat celona, I sup pose, you mean !"said his master, rather angrily. " That's it, sir," cried JOHN in ecstacy—" that's it, sir ! Thessa lonians ! but as for the chapter and verse, hang me," raid JOHN, "it I can recollect them !" POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE. In the course of the week several letters were addressed to the LORD MAYOR, from the members of sundry religious congregations, complaining that contrary to good order and the preservation of the public peace, a house in Grub-street, formerly de voted to pious _purposes, was converted into a sort of theatre, in which young persons assembled and gave recitations from the drama, and sung songs, without having a licence. The LORD MAYOR regretted that some controul could not be exercised over houses in which enter tainments of this sort were given. GUILDHALL. Mr. James, who was understood to be a sheriff's officer, residing in White's-alley, Chancery-lane, at tended before Mr. Alderman ANSLEY, to answer the complaint of Miss Zouch, for detaining a blond lace wedding-dress, and other articles of apparel, her property. Miss Zouch, a tall genteel young woman, arrayed in mourning, had lodged at Mr. James's ; and on returning from Brighton lately, found her wardrobe had beerr opened and disturbed in her absence, but nothing taken away. Her complaint, however, was merely that he refused her permission to remove her property. Mr. James, by way of reply, put in a long bill, the amount of which was .52/. Is. Bd. Mr. Alderman ANSLEY, glancing over it, ob served there were charges for board and lodging, while, according to Miss Zouch's statement, she was not to pay for either. . . .. . _ .. Mr. James was surprised at this remark, and said that the lady had promised to pay him when she had disposed of her outfit at Brighton. Miss Zouch being appealed to by the Alderman, repeated that she was received into the family when she was destitute, on the score of hospitality. Mr. James replied, he could not afford to be hos pitable. He was a poor man. Mr. Alderman ANSLEY read from the bill " For attendances on Miss Zouch from - 1828 to Fe bruary, 1829, 301." Are these professional at tendances ? Are you an attorney ? inquired the Alderman. " No," said Mr. James; " I mean going with messages and the like." Miss Zouch remarked that he was paid 201. for his services in June last. She had his receipt for that. Opening a neat Russia leather portfolio, she began to search for the receipt, and tumbled out a number of letters. " Pray take cam of your love letters," said the Alderman. " I assure you, Sir, there is not a single one amongst them," replied Miss Zouch, good-naturedly joining in the titter at the Alderman's observation. " Here is a charge of first 55., then 35., for a room," continued the Alderman, " that seems a moderate charge." " What am I charged for board ?" said Miss Z. The defendant said 11. a week. " What !". cried Miss Zouch, " charge a person in my situation, a beggar as I am, a pound a week You ought to feel ashamed." Miss Zouch, continuing to search for the receipt, the Alderman reminded her that the production of it would go to prove that she was to pay, and not board and lodge free of expence. Defendant admitted receiving tl►e 201., but the bill he delivered to Mr. Woodin (the rich East Indian who led Miss Zouch to the altar) did not in clude his whole demand. Miss Zouch promised to pay him after she was married. Complainant asked if he had any writing to this effect. She would allow he was to be " provided for" after the event. " You ask for writings 1 I ought to have expect ed this from you, as your brothers even desert you. You deserve no, favour front me , after bringing two officers to my house, and frightening my wife, who is in the last quarter, and God knows what will be the consequence to her and the babe." Miss Zouch said, whatever he could legally claim, should be paid. After some further conversation, Mr. Alderman ANSLEY said, he had no authority to order the articles to be given up, but they ought to agree to refer their dispute to some mutual friend. He did not mean to say that the defendant was justified in detaining the lady's wardrobe (valued at 1500, nor that she eould not recover it by an action. Miss Zouch explained that she was only anxious for the security of the property, as she had " willed" it away to Mr. Woodin, we believe, and through the intercession of the Alderman obtained leave to go to defendant's and seal it up. She cenfessed her inability to pay the defendant, or give him any other security for his debt. The defendant then took his leave, expressing his determination to hold the lady's wardrobe till his bill has been paid. BOW-STREET. On Saturday, James Price, a middle-aged man of respectable appearance, was charged before Mr. HALLS with having fraudulently obtained goods and money from Mr. Weland, woollen-draper and mercer, of No. 1.54, Strand. a .. The prisoner was fully committed to the West minster Sessions to take his trial. A charge was also preferred against him by Mr. Weland, for obtaining two Irish Bank-notes under false pretences, but the fraud was not sufficiently apparent to warrant a Magistrate's interference. HATTON.GARDEN. On Saturday last John Munday, groom in the service of Mr. Savage, of No. 2, Perceval-street, Clerken well, was brought up before Mr. LAING and Mr. ROGERS for final examination, on a charge of stealing two diamond rings, value 100 guineas, the property of his master. The prisoner, who wept all the time the evidence was taking, confessed himself guilty before the Magi strates,and was fully committed to Newgate for trial. L A MBETII-STREZT. A man of very gentlemanly appearance, who gave his name William Barker, and who said he was senior clerk to the firm of Messrs. Read and Wain wright, of East Smithfield, was brought before Mr. HARDWICK, charged with committing an indecent assault upon a young man named John Plum, a fishmonger, residing in Brick-lane, Whitechapel. The prisoner was ordered to find two_good sureties in 201. each, and himself in 501., to answer the charge at the Sessions. A gentleman named Cave, a master printer, re• siding at Islington, who has made several applica tions at different poke-offices to get the assistance of the officers to endeavour to get some trace of a man named Green, whom he suspected to be mur dered, made another application on Saturday to Mr. HARDWICK for the same purpome.. . . . . . After a good deal of conversation, in which the whole of the particulars which we have already given were recapitulated. Mr. I.lAnowtclt said, that Prendergast, one of the officers of this establishment, should go down with the applicant, and see if he could discover any thing likely to throw any light on this mysterious affair. WORSHIP-STREET. A policeman was brought up on a warrant, for refusing. to support his wife, thereby rendering her chargable to the parish. Upon being asked for an explanation of this con duct, he said, that some short time ago he came home rather late, and observing a light in the room which he occupied w:th his wife, the circumstance struck him as very singular, and accordingly, before knocking it the door, he peeped through a conve nient hole i❑ the shutters, when he was thunder struck at discovering his wife fast asleep in the arms of a strapping 3 oung Irishman, who lodged on the first floor. Having knocked at the door, he observed his faithless rib rouse her companion, and push him out of the room. He took no notice of the dis covery, but on the next morning quitted her, with a determination never to see her again. The Magistrate said, this circumstance, if true, might be some justification; but he thought the better way would be for the policeman to make some Wheat. Barley. Oats. Beans. Per Quarter. s. to s. a. to a. a. to s. a. to a. 62 39 25 Carmarthen...—. 57 32 16 36 Hex ham ............... 52 72 33 41 22 29 50 Morpeth 50 60 32 34 18 25 36 39 Penrith 60 31 23 73 29 4 1 Winchester 44 '7O 25 34 21 25 42 4 6 . Per Bushel. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. I. d. 1. d. s. Coventry 70 90 48 5 4 3 6 40 36 60 Newcastle (Staff.) 10 0 10 6 4 6 5 6 3 9 43 5 9 6 (1 Northallerton '7 0 9 3 3 6 4 6 3 3 4 0 5 9 6 6 Stafford 90 941 5 9 62 36 40 72 6 0 Swansea* 90 86 42 46 29 33 00 00 Warwick 90 100 46 50 33 40 79 7 6 Per 8011. Barnardcastle..... 15 0 18 0 8 6 9 0 7 0 8 0 9 6 19 6 Durham 136 17 0 86 96 50 76 11 0 12 0 Richmond ........ 12 0 16 0 9 0 10 6 '7 0 6 11 0 12 0 Stockton 126 146 80 90 48 76 08 00 WAKEFIELD CORN MARKET.—ApriIB. There is a very short supply of Wheat to this day's WAR_ lEI,D CORN MARKET.—ApriIB. There is a very short supply of Wheat to this day's market, and having a pretty good attendance of buyer., re ally fine Wheat, which is scarce, is taken off at an ad vance of Is. to 2e. per quarter, and there has been a fair demand for all other sorts at Is. per quarter more than could be obtained last Friday. Oats are fully as dear. Fine Barley is rather higher, but middling sorts are du 1 sale. Hard New Beans are 6d. to Is. per quarter dearer. Wheat, Red, Norfolk and Suffia 575. 61s. to 665. fine 71i. New Vs. Mo. to 645. fine 68s. - White Old 645. 675. to 745. tine 765. -- New - Foreign, Red ...60s. 61s. to 6Ss. fine 635. ~.576. 61s. to 675. fine 71s. - - White 635. 675. to 71s. fine 75e. Barley, Norfolk and Sunlk 3os. to 355. fine 37a. - Lincolnshire 27s. to 325. fine 34a. - Yorkshire %Vold 27s. to 31s. tine V4s. - Foreign -a, to -8. fine -s. Beans, Old - New . 345. to 355. tine 375. Oats, Potato 2ss. to 21s. fine 315. - Poland 225. 235. to 245. fine Vs. - Friesland and Small 2ls. 220. to 241. fine 2fis. - Mealing l2d. to 13%d. per Stone. Shelling .310. to 325. tid. per Load. Malt 3Bs. 40s. tine 435. per Load. Rapeseed arrangement with the palish, or the result would probably be the loss of his situation. After some delay, this advice was complied with. ST. KATHARINE DOCK COMPANY'. STEAM PACKET WHARF. The great - risk and inconvenience which have hitherto attended the mode of landing from, and est• barking on board of steam-vessels in the port of London, and the extortion and abuse to which pas sengers have too frequently been subject from the misconduct of watermen and others, have long been matter of most serious and well-founded complaint. Thousands of persons who would have been de lighted to partake of the cheap and healthy mode of recreation which steam-navigation affords, have been prevented from availing themselves of it on ac count of the fear which is generally felt at being exposed to the personal risk and inconvenience alluded to, whilst no means existed along the banks of the river Thames by which accommodation could be afforded to steam-vessels so as to enable them to proceed alongside and depart at all periods of the tide ; besides which, all the wharfs in the vicinity of the Tower and London-bridge are crowded with merchant ships. Under these circumstances the St. Katharine Dock Company have at a great expence appropriated a spacious wharf, possessing about 170 feet river frontage, adjoining the dock entrance, to the purposes of steam-vessels, and the wharf, with the buildings, &c., will be completed in the course of the present month. The anxiety, however, dis played by the public to avail themselves during the holydays of the means which will be thus afforded for the safe landing and embarkation, and at , the pressing entreaties of the steain-packet companies, the Harlequin, belonging to the General Steam Navigation Company, being one of their largest vessels, was permitted to go alongside the wharf yesterday morning, from whence she started at about half an hour before low water, with about 400 per sons, upon an excursion to the ?lore and back. The tide being down, the passengers embarked from the intermediate platform constructed in the front of.the wharf, which platform is 160 feet in length and 14 feet wide, communicating with the wharf by two handsome and commodious stairs, protected by iron railings, and to which it is intended to fix four drop stages (one of which was in use yesterday), which, by means of machinery, communicate with the deck of the vessel, according to the state of the tide In the centre of the wharf a strong drop-bridge of 40 feet in length, and nine feet wide, has been erected, the drop being suspended by chains and iron plates, worked by machinery, by which, and with the greatest facility, the bridge may be lowered or raised to suit the deck of the vessel according to the state of the tide. This bridge is intended to be used principally for the landing or shipping of car riages, horses, eattle, &r., which may be done with out the use of cranes; and whenever the interme diate platform, from the state of th e tid e , can not be resorted to, the bridge, with the addition of accom modation ladders, will be employed for the eomre nieat landing or embarking of passengers. Tol brick buildings are erecting at each end of the w hat's which will afford separate places of deposit for, bag' gage, &c. landed from steam-vessels arriving foreign, as distinguished from baggage, &c., landed from river or coasting boats; and convenient waiting rooms, with offices, &c., will be prepared for the use of passengers frequenting the vrharf, the plat forms of which will be well lighted with gas for til e safety of passengers arriving after dark. It is under stood that, from the arrangements which have been entered into between the St. Katharine Dock Com pany and the General Steam and Margate Packet Companies, the public will be exempt from ch a rge upon embarking or landing, including one hundred weight of baggage. The Steam-packet Companies having also engaged that no addition is to be made to their fares on that account. COUNTRY CORN MARKETS. DURING LAST WEEK. SCOTCH MARKETS. I Wheat. 1 Barley Oats. Aberdeen 56 75 Berwiek.,---., 40 43 Coldstream 40 46' Cupar 55 64 Dundee 56 6t Elgin 52 56 Inverness,—,.. 52 56 Kelso 43 50 Kirkaldy- 60 76 Perth 52 70 rg. The size of the m, 23 29 St 23 19 24 31 33 30 32 20 25 2fl 28 21 24 33 33 19 23 sure vari 19 as 16 18 14 17 22 23 24 28 20 23 16 22 17 19 26 82 16 20 ice thr ug _ 3 1, 22 32 Stj 22 26 24 2 - -" 29 SC 19 2 1 24 26 40 24 97 30 - 34- 28 32 .- hout the country'. _ Beane. 'Oatmeal! HADDING'I'ON CORN M A lIKET.—April 8. A good supply both of Oats and Barley, which sold quickly. Barley has gone down Is. on the top, and Bd. on the average-255 quarters were sold, Si unsold. Oats have brought an advance of. 3d. on last average, but the top is down 6d. Wheat this day'stands Is. higher on the top, and 3d. on the astrage last Friday. Both Pease and Beans are a trifle higher on the average. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Pease. Beans. First 7os Od 35s Od 27s 04 Sts Od Second GIs Od 338 Od 25s ld 33s Od 3.34 Od Third There were 362 qrs. of Wheat in market, 17 whereof wore solih 21 Uasold.-21 Grey. 31. 3s. Od. 5.121115. Average TH CORN all kinds ; prices al g MARK] of Graiti Lbout the! T.-Apiil t at this di ante as tho DALKET The supply of ket was middling day sennight. Wheat. Barley. I Oats. i Pease. First 74 - Ott I 36, Ott 30s Od 4ls Od Second 6ss Od 32s (k 1 26s Od 31a Od Third s4s Od 28s Od 23s Od 32s Od I ) af Bn ri[i: se of Beans. 41s v",,,, 3ts 228 04 MARRIED. On the 10th inst. at S. Andrew's, Holborn, E. W Esq. of the Ohl Jewry, to Mary, younikest . dsug h 7 ter of the late S. Sharpe, Esq. DIED. Oa the 7th inst. at St. Margaret's, Rochester, Sarah, the beloved wife of the Rev. H. J. Dawes, in the 34th year of her age. Ou the 9th inst. Marianne, wife of Mr. Alexander Gra* Daiston-terrace, aged 40. Oa i'he 10th inst. Ann, fourth daughter of E. Roberts , of Grove-house, Brixton. On the 10th inst. aged 38, at New-cross, Nrs• Edmonds. On the 9th inst. at Notting-hill.t:rrace, KensittstOor Miss Sophia Rivers. On the 9th inst. at Sonning, Becks, Minis, the tidal daughter of the late Mr. J. Cooper, aged 24. =7 - On the 7th inst. Mi3s E. Mrllo, of Little MisseedeOP Bucks. . • PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY AIURDO YOUiNTO, TR& Sus OFKICAI sittAl' Di • LOND". 15/ _ give i Th will b NrIIDI TOT for w Vote' Viz. TQ p an t, Year, Vote next. TO T 1 India hottou 'MI nem a canvas on Illy T Morni SIX l T' T' Mr 'lead, --____ Ti ART] Five i DAY,. princi ART] ANN Preen The Th Broad Tic th e SI Port': HST ING. 1 Bruce, Ditt o, by. th e i Their &els Th Carp, LoN, l arge Ft( Dr qUillil f oUlli ~,_. Johi Her Johi H,] C. C