The Sun. — London, England, 1822-03-22 00:00:00

THE LONDON JOURNALS. 37ETTLACTS FROM THE DU I.lr 111OHNING PAPERS, March 29., 1822. • [MORNING CHRONICLE.] The tone of LOrd Palmerston, in the discussion on• the Army Estimates on Wednesday .night, was at times - quite amusing. Mr. Hume, in his usual clear and distinct manner, specified a num ber of instances of individuals enjoying pluralities in his Loidship's department, anti a number of disproportionate allowances, whereby an un necessary waste of the-public money was occa sioned. Nothing could be more fair and candid than this manner of proceeding on the part of Mr.' Hume. What a plain modest man in his Lordship's situation would have done'.after such an analysis, would have been either to answer the different statements in the same distinct and per spicuous way, if it were possible ) in order to chew that all or any them were incorrect ; that none of the allowances were disproportionate; that none of the specified pluralities really ex isted ; that, in. short, there was no unnecessary waste of the public money—or he would have held his tongue. But this would have been too much condescension, we suppose, on the partof a man of his Lordship's elevation—too great a defe rence to the practices of men, who, being without that protective shield, must be goverpeci by com mon sense. His Lordship took a shorter cut to -his purpose ; he did not deny the existence, of pluralities, nor' did he attempt to prove, that in the abstfact they were proper and necessary, but he informed -us that he had not created any him self. No, not created, but still they exist, and exist as a burden on the people. Mr. Hume specified sums, and the corresponding duties of which they were the reward. In answer to this his Lordship merely contented himself with the assertion, that no one was paid more than enough. But the most amusing part of the whole was the admission and accusation coupled with it, re specting the contrast between the declaration of last year, and what had been done in this : " Ills Majesty's Government had certainly very little encouragement to make any reductions, considering the manner in which they were received by the Hon. Gentlemen opposite. Ile admitted that he had said in the last Session, that no reduction of Clerks could be made without inconvenience to the public service ; but if he had since yielded with deference to the wishes of Parliament, it was a little unfair to charge him in one Session with making no reductions, and then to turn round upon him and accuse him of having made them in another." What name shall we give to this ? We know what might be given to it. But his Lordship must not be allowed to carry it with these high airs. Has not the business been done, and as well done as before, since the reductions in question, though you maintained positively that it could not ? Is this refutation' of your as sertion, so positively made, to be received by us as an additional ground for reposing confidence in all your subsequent assertions ? Are we to infer that detected error is a ground for belief in infallibility ? Or that he who was egregiously out in one instance ; may just as likely be out in another ? [BRITISH PRESS.] The Agricultural Committee, it is affirmed, have iesolved upon the following scale of Pro tecting duties . "1. That the future import price of wheat shall be seventy instead of eighty. shillings. " 2. That a duty of twelve shillings be imposed upon im. ported wheat:, when the price is frcm 70s. to 80s. " 3. That a duty of ss. be imposed upon imported wheat, when the price is from 80s. to 855.; after which the duty shall be reduced to Is. " 4. That a further additional duty of ss. shall be imposed upon imported iyheat, for the first three months after the ports open, and when the price is from 70s. to 855." —if this statement be correct, a Bill will, we presume, be submitted to the house of Commons, for the purpose of Carrying these Resolutions into effect. The first Resolution, separately consi dered, might be desirable, in comparison with the existing law ; but connected with the subse quent Resolutions, it offers no change in the ge neral principle of this law which deserves the expenditure of parchment and printin g . In con sidering the means of relieving the' distress of the agriculturists, the interests of the rest of the community ought not to be wholly disregarded. Such, however, was the effect of . the last Corn law, and this effect is sought to be still further confirmed by the measure now contemplated by the Agricultural Committee. The present price at which wheat may be imported is 80s. a quarter; the price proposed by the Committee, including the duty of" 12s. is 82s. a quar ter. The prohibition of importation is there by rather increased than diminished ; but to this price will be added, for the first three months after the opening of the ports, a further tax of 55.: so that if the market price of wheat be 70s. a duty of 17s. will be imposed on the. importa tion, and the consumers, if they require foreign corn, must pay for it at the rate of at least 87s. Should the distress of the country, however, be so great as that wheat should be raised to 85s. in the home markets, the famine will be aggravated by the proposed law, and the hunger of the people cannot be appeased under 905. a quarter. [MORNING HERALD.] It is somew hat curious that at the moment when we have accounts from Portugal, contain ing the mutual gratulations of the King and the Cortes upon the cordial attachment of all his Most Faithful Majesty's subjects in Europe and in America, we should also receive intelligence from Rio de Janeiro of the virtual, if not formal, separation of the Brazils from the mother country. The European Portuguese have, no doubt, a 'hankering after their colonial dominions ; but they must have clearly foreseen that the return of the King to Europe was a death-blow to that power. The departure of the King produced a new and inverted order, which the Brazilian po pulation, considering its numbers and its distance from Europe, could not be expected to endure. The presence of the King gave the Brazils a metropolitan,' not colonial existence ; his departure forced them back to a compass which their stature had out grown. The Brazils have been in a state of chaos ever since his return to Europe. This State either has already settled—or will ultimately, and at no great distance of time, settle—into an independent existence. The only remaining question seems to be what form the independent Government will assume. The population of the Brazils is three-fold—Portuguese, Brazilian, and Negro. The first anxiously desire a Constitu tional Monarchy—the second a Republic, like the emancipated colonies of Spain—and the third, the Negroes, have merely formidable numbers, the sense of horrible oppressions, and the cruelty of barbarians, to make them a desperate balanc ing, or auxiliary power, should the two first be divided against each other. This seems a kind of retribution in reserve for the infamous ra pacity which has so stocked the Brazils with Negro slaves, that they are become the terror of their tyrants. From the evident reluct ance of the Prince of Portugal to remain in the Brazils, and the many occasions in which he has shown himself ill at ease, it is not unlikely that Monarchy itself will cease to exist there. The people will probably place themselves in nearer sympathy with their neighbours, by assuming the same form and denomination of political exist- This country has no reason, on this event, 'or surprise or regret—perhapS rather for a sen timent of satisfaction. Our age is so familiar with wonders in the march of mind and the aspect of nations, that this seems but a partial result of a general movement. ence. [MORNING POST.] The factious wise-acres of the Common Coun cil, it will be seen, passed a vote of censure yesterday on Sic William Curtis, for having in the House of Commons (on the occasion of the pre sentation of their Petition relative to the dis graceful riots at Knightsbridge) justly designat ed that low faction as a set of beings" always meddling with matters with which they have no thing to do, and which are far above their wis dom and their comprehension." We most cor dially congratulate the worthy Baronet on this additional tribute to his genuine patriotism and public virtue, by a party cabal, whose approbate tion honourable men can run but little risk of in curring—" whose praise is - censure, and whose censure's praise" I f we may judge from the latest intelligence from the Brazils, the Portuguese possessions in the new world are likely soon to follow the _ex ample of the gpanish provinces,and shake off the European yoke. We leirn, by advices from Pernambuco to the 12th February, and from Janeiro to the 19th January, that both these provinces are determined on independence. On the arrival at Rio Janeiro of the order of the Cortes, recalling the Prince Royal to Europe, the discontent of the inhabitants became very significant. Their first step was to remonstate with the Prince Regent on his departure, in the most solemn manner ; and when the Prince, who seemed to ha-:e no alternative, acceded to their request, the greatest rejoicings followed. Some movements, however, on the part of the Portuguese regulars, especially their taking pos session of a strong fort which commanded the palace, created a suspicion ; and in consequence all the native Brazilian regiments were called into the town, and the result was, a negociation, which ended in an arrangement, that the Portu guese troops should be allowed to retain their arms, but that they should consent to be conveyed to the other side of ti►e bav until vessels could be prepared to carry them to. Portugal ; an ar rangement, which it now seems, both from our own and the American accounts, has been carried into complete effect. What puts the ultimate fate of these colonies out of all doubt, the same conduct has been adopted at Pernambuco, and followed up to the letter•. The Portuguese Go vernment indeed are forwarding troops to the Brazils in opposition to these proceedings; but they are not only late, but inadequate in point of numbers, to cope with a determination upon in dependence so deeply and widely diffused.— Every thing, in fact, shows that the whole con tinent of South America will rapidly have no other than a commercial dependence upon Europe —a dependence which, as it is the only one that can be maintained, is the only one which ought to be attempted.—(lbid.) [NEW TIMES.] The Meeting of the Bank Directors yesterday did not produce the result expected from their deliberations. None but routine business was transacted ; and nothing was determined on re specting the proposed measure of discounting at Four instead of Five per Cent. We are sorry that the Bank does not act with more decision and liberality on this subject. We believe it will be found that the lower rate of discount would be more beneficial to the Proprietors of Bank Stock, by the increase of their busi ness, as well as to the discounting individuals, by the extension of the accommodations. In speaking yesterday of the reduction of the Five per Cent. Stock, a slight o.•_tission which occurred in Qur leading article gave to our remarks a mean ing much more favourable than we intended to the dissentients. What we meant to state was, that 64 they are at liberty to receive on the sth of April, 1011. ss. or on the sth of July, 1021. 10s. including the dividend." The words in italics were' accidentally omitted ; but this was perhaps of the less consequence, as it is obvious that only a quarter's dividend (being 1/. 55.) can be due in April, and that the half-year's dividend (being V. 10s.) will not be due till July. The dissentients may be paid, at either period, their principal of 1001. with the interest due at the time of payment ; but beyond that time they, of, course can have no claim : and taking it at the highest, they can only receive in July 1021. 10s. for what, if they had not dissented, would, at present, fetch them 1041. 15s. in the market. [THE TIMES.] The proceedings yesterday - of the Court of Proprietors at the Bank of England possess a considerable degree of interest. They first serve to correct an error which was very widely dif fused, and almost passed current—namely, that the Bank had greatly contracted its issues on the resumption of cash paytnents, and that the coun try was from hence sustaining a part of its pre sent inconvenience. The fact is directly the re verse of what is here imagined ; for the issues of the Bank (and it is proper that the public should know this important fact) have been larger in the year just terminated, by nearly 4,000,0001., than they were the year before ; and for the year ending in March, 1821, they were larger by 3,500,0001. than for the year before that ; gold-and paper being now indiscriminately mingled in the circulation, and each convertible at pleasure ! The Governor made the declara tion as to the quantity of the issues, in order to correct a vulpr error, adopted by Mr. Alderman Heygate. The Alderman fancied, and stated his opinion with confidence that the Bank's claim ing 10,000,0001. of its debt from Government had actually called in so much of the cir culating medium, and thus occasioned the dif. ficulties which the country felt. This error of the Alderman's was cleared up by the state ment of the Governor. Mr. Heygate also la mented that the Bank Directors, when at tacked in the House of Commons, made so feeble a defence. All that we can say on this subject is, that if the public may judge from the quantity and accuracy of information evinced by the Alderman himself, in the debate of which we are speaking, that weakness of which the Alder man complains would not have been much helped out by his strength in the House of Commons.— We think the . Directors in Parliament have gene rally spoken with plain good sense, like men of l business. 'Mr. Bainbridge had treasured up a resolution in the recesses- of his bosom, which he let nobody see or know of till it was propounded by the too partial author of it. It was to thank the Governor, De puty Governor, and Directors, &c. A fond parent nurses, clothes, instructs, and cherishes her darling child ; she sees no other youth like him in the village ; she pushes him out into the world, with palpitating heart and fluttering hopes, to make his fortune. There, where he is unfortunately viewed with different eyes, he is declared to be an ugly awkward lout, and nobody will have any thing to do with him. Such a fate did Mr. Bainbridge's dear resolution of thanks, the offspring of own cogitation, meet with in the world of proprietors ; and another vote, more in order and more consonant to the rules of propriety, was proposed, and unanimously carried. PROVINCIAL JOURNALS. The opponents of Government are so active and so little attentive to the rules of honourable hostility in their. attacks,' that - we feel it our duty to draw into notice whatever tends to sup port THE CONSTITUTION, without manifesting a servile adherence to Ministers. We are there fore glad to find that a new Paper, entitled The Bury Gazette, which has yet only reached its twenty sixth number, has already risen to high reputation in the county of Suffolk, a proof that though that county, as well as most parts of the kingdom, is suffering under the common distress, yet that it is animated by a general feeling of loyal attachment to our unrivalled political sys tem, by the zealous patronage which it has shewn towards the spirited Journal from whiCh we have . "taken the following extracts : [FRoivf THE BURY GAZETTE, MARCH 20. ' " We believe it would sorely puzzle the great northern cal culator, alias the Eficyclopedia of Finance,' with his friends Harry .1 1 1rougham, Mr. Creevey, and the whole tribe of Radical economists and scribes to back him, to produce even a, solitary instance, from ancient or from modern history, of such a re mission of taxation as that which has occurred in our own 44 tight little island," since the termination of the war. Not the most patricide Ministry-that ever existed, in the greatest of nations, in the most prosperous times, ever remitted imposts, in the course of six or seven years, to the annual amount of nearly seventeen millions sterling. This was one of the many glories reserved for an administration, which is proud of having trodden in the steps of its great master and originator, Pitt.— This immense reduction—a clear reduction, after subtracting the amount of new taxes imposed—has been effected since the close of one of the most tremendous and exhausting wars that ever desolated the earth ; a war in which, from its commence ment to its termination, England was the grand paymaster of Europe ; a war in which, for a considerable length of time, England, that great, that mighty, and that glorious nation, stood forth, single-handed and victorious, against a world in arms. The only spot apparent on the bright page of England's history, during the progress of that fearful contest, rests upon - the brief period in which, for the inscrutable views of Provi dence, she was cursed by the domination of All the Talents.' The career of public economy, of retrenchment, of general melioration, is not yet closed. Our Sovereign—our calum niated Sovereign—with the high-minded feelings of a patriot King, has spontaneously relinquished no less than 30,0001. per annum of the sum allotted to his own immediate private comforts ! The announcement of this act of royal grace, which amounts to a reduction of ten per cent. upon his Ma jesty's nett personal income, was received in the House of Commons, on the evening of Monday week, with loud and enthusiastic cheers. Nor has it been hailed with less delight and admiration throughout the kingdom. This magnanimous example is to be generally followed by his Majesty's Ministers, and throughout every department of the state; by which a fur ther, and very extensive reduction, will be effected in the pub lic expenditure. There are those, however, to whom, accord ing to the proverb, if we give an inch they will be desirous of taking an ell. Lord King has given notice of a motion for Thursday next, the object of which is, to effect additional re ductions in such items of the Civil List as relate not personally to the expenses of the Sovereign. What is to become of Mr. Leonard's repeatedly postponed motion on the subject, we are not gifted with the power of prophecy to ascertain." DEATH BY BOXING.—TWO labourers having quarrelled at a public-house in Blackfriar's-road on Wednesday night, they agreed to decide it by fistic combat ; they met yesterday morning in a field in the neighbourhood of New-cross, where they rather mauled each other than hit for the space of an hour and a half, when one of them named Coxhead was thrown a heavy fall, and he ne%er spoke afterwards.—Death was occasioned by the rupture of a vessel on the brain. DEATH BY POlSON.—Wedn6day morning a man of the name of WILSON, foreman to a whole sale cheesemonger, in Lime-street, City, feeling unwell, applied for some salts at a chymist's, in Gracechurch-street. The shopman not being in the shop (from the early hour of the morning), a lad gave the unfortunate man what he conceived to be correct, but it turned out to be oxalic acid, and so powerful was the effect, that medical as sistance proved ineffectual, and he died soon afterwards. A Coroner's Inquest sat on the body yesterday evening, and returned a verdict, that " The deceased came to his death by tak ing oxalic acid, which was unwittingly vended to him for salts." It was stated in evidence, that the word " poison" was printed on the parcels containing the acid, and that another person had the same dose administered to him, but was saved by the early use of proper antidotes. The boy it appeared could not read. • LAW INTELLIGENCE. VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT, IVlAncri 21. HAWES V. SAMS. Mr. SnAnwzia. for the plaintiff again rose for an injunction to restrain the defendant from printing and selling a piece of music which the plaintiff, in July, 1821, newly arranged from the original Scotch air—" We're a' noddin at our house at Name,'; now called " They're a noddin," and which the defendant had pirated from the plaintiff's composition, and published in the fifth Number .of the " Gazette of Fashion." He asserted that the defendant had admitted to the plaintiff, that Mr. Bianchi Taylor had pirated it from a piracy of the plaintiff's composition, which Messrs. Parry, Goulding, D'Almaine, and Co. had made, but who desisted from further publishing theirs on receiving notice from the plaintiff. He also read affidavits from Sir Geo. Smart and five other of the most eminent professors of music, that they had examined the defendant's " They're a' noddin," and found that it was almost exactly the same as the plaintiff's,' and that it could not have been made so like it, unless the plaintiff's had been before the composer, or in his head. On these grounds, he submitted it to be a piracy of the plaintiff's song, and prayed for an injunction. Mr. SPENCE, for the proprietor and publisher of the " Ga zette of Fashion," read an affidavit from Mr. Taylor, denying that ever he had said to the plaintiff that he pirated Messrs. Parry's composition, and that he arranged that song for the Gazette before he ever saw the plaintiff's. Mr. Spence con tended that it was quite a different song in no less than five re spects, namely, in time, words, accompaniment, melody, and symphony. His HONOUR then interrupted the discussion, and said that the Court already perhaps had given more time to it than it merited ; that that Court, on account of the frivolous nature of the thing, never interfered in such cases, except where there were unquestionable facts ; but where the facts were question able, the only remedy for the parties was to apply to 4 Court of Law. Therefore, as this case was not at all clear in his opi nion, and as also the affidavits of the eminent professors left the particular points untouched, or if untouched, disagreed upon them, he must leave the plaintiff to assert his legal rights in a Court of Law, and dismiss the motion, with costs. Mr. SHADWELL then said they would immediately bring an action in a Court of Law, and prayed his Honour to impose terms upon the defendant of keeping an account of his profits till after the trial ; but his Honour said that he could not do it, as the profit of the book was not derived from this song alone, but from all that is in it. • LENT ASSIZES. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. DOE, ON THE DEMISE OF HASSELL, v. ATKINSON AND PARKINSON. This was an action of ejectment by George Hassell, heir at law of the late Mr. Hassel, of Cholesbury ; and the defend ants, having to show a title for excluding him, had first to offer the evidence which should establish that exclusion. Mr. SCARLETT stated the case to the Jury in a very ani mated speech. The title of his clients was founded upon the last will of the deceased. By this instrument, the testator, after directing the payment of his just debts, left his whole property to Mr. T. Atkinson, and' Mr. J. Parkinson, in trust to make such a provision for his sister as would make her com fortable for the rest of her life. It further directs that Is. should be paid to his heir at law. This will was in the hand writing of the deceased, and bore date the 25th of June, 1814. He understood that it was intended to contest this will upon two grounds—first, upon the plea that it was not regularly published and witnessed • and, secondly, that the testator was insane. He should be able very satisfactorily to combat these objections. The Learned Counsel then recapitulated the prin cipal points of the. evidence. The finding of the will having been proved, the three wit nesses to it were called. Bachelor remembered signing a paper. The Rev. Mr. Owen visited Mr. Hassell in 1814. He could not say that the signature, as one of the witnesses of the will, was his hand-writing. Witness at length said he believ ed it was. He did not recollect signing ; he had witnessed three or four _papers for Mr. Hassell without knowing what they were. On his cross-examination the witness stated that he thought many of Mr. Hassell's acts indicative of insanity. He once consulted witness about challenging Mr. Jervis, in consequence of some expressions that Learned Counsel had used to Mr. Hassell, upon a trial at Monmouth. At another time, when they were at Mr. Moore's house, near Berkham stead, he asked witness to help him out of a high window, at a very i early hour of the morning, and he did, jump out. He also n consequence of some difference, asked witness to walk with him to a wood, and then, presenting one of a brace of pistols to him, said that was the way to settle a quarrel.— Witness struck - one pistol out of his hand, and took the other away. Mr. H assell afterwards made an apology 'for his conduct. Mr. Honeyman authenticated his signature to the will. He thinks Mr. Owen was present when it was signed; though Mr, Hassell (lid not say what it was. He never had any doubt of the testator's sanity. The Right Hon. Charles Yorke.—l knew the late Mr. Has sell extremely well. In 1786, at the recommendation of Mr. Fowler Walker, I took him for my clerk, when I was at the bar. He afterwards was engaged by Messrs. Farrar and At kinson, and subsequently became Secretary to Lord Hardwicke. When I was appointed Secretary at War in 1801, I made him my Private Secretary, and he remained such until, in 1803, I appointed him Agent-General of Volunteers, a situation of con siderable responsibility, in which he continued till about 1812. My intimacy with him was kept up till the time of his death. I never doubted of the sanity of his mind. The duties of his office as Agent-General of the Volunteers were multifarious and important. When he was my Secretary I trusted him con fidentially, and never met with a steadier or honester man.— He passed his accompts with the Auditor-General for upwards of ten millions, and when he received his quietus there was a balance in his favour of 161. Mr. Fowler Walker left Mr. Hassell the whole of his property ; I was joint executor with Mr. Hassell, but always left him to act. I never would at any time have hesitated to witness his will. The will was then put in and read. Every part of it was in the hand-writing of the testator, except the signatures of witnesses. Mr. Escombe, of Abingdon-street, Westminster.—l was for merly clerk in the Agent-General's office, and knew Mr. Has sell for twenty years. I often considered him in a flighty state, as little things in the office would flurry him. I should not generally have had any objection to have witnessed his will. On the cross-examination of this Gentleman, by Mr. West, he said that Mr. Hassell had several times told him his sister was deranged. The business of the office was done chiefly by Mr. Colquhoun and Mr. Longlands, but Mr. Hassell was re sponsible. The witness then spoke to some circumstances con nected with Mr. Hassell being taken ill at witness's house, where lie occasionally lodged ; his illness was a violent vomit ing ; on another occasion witness heard a noise in Mr. Hassell's bed-room as of a person kissing another, and going in found no one there. On his re-examination he said that Mr. Hassell had explained to him that the temporary derangement of his sister proceeded from epileptic fits. The last witness having proved the hand-writing of Mr. Hassell to four letters, they were put in and read. The first, dated the sth of January, 1814, was addressed to Messrs. At kinson and Parkinson, and contained some very clear and sound directions as to the letting of a farm. The second, dated August, 1814, was addressed to Mr. Parkinson, and after some observations upon the Aston Clinton Enclosure, in which Mr. Hassell was interested, alluded to the health of his sister, in these terms—" She has rallied a little, but whether she will rise again I know not." The third, of the Bth of October, 1814, to the same gentleman, contained an invitation to Cho lesbury, and entered into very minute explanations as to the time of the departure from London of the Buckinghamshire coaches. The last letter was dated the 15th of April, 1815, and was written from Cholesbury to the same gentleman, after Mr. Hassell's return from a trial at Monmouth. It stated, that he had returned home an invalid, having had a severe cold ; and added, " Jervis's incorrect and illegal attack upon me has preyed upon my mind, and I have been really very ill." It went on to recommend Mr. Parkinson to be careful of his own health ; to take exercise, and to rise early. His Grace the Duke of Buckingham was next examined.— I was acquainted with Mr. Hassell from 1811 or 1812 till his death. I knew him as High Sheriff of the county, and as a Magistrate. I was in the constant habit of knowing him, and would have witnessed his will at any time. He visited at Stowe during the life of my father, and since. I never had any doubt as to his sanity, and nothing ever so much surprised me as his melancholy death, and the imputation it cast upon his mind. In answer to a question from Mr. Sergeant Blosset, his Grace said, I never heard him called " Mad Hassell," nor heard the slightest imputation against his sanity during his life. Rickford, Esq.—l was banker to the testator, and transacted business with him from 1812 to the time of his death. I was in close habits of intimacy with him, and never had any doubt as to his sanity. Had I been called to witness his will, I would have done so. Mr. Hassell was a very good accountant, and his correspondence was superior to his conver sation ; both these circumstances, I think, bespeak reflection. Mr. Rickford explained that the sickness alluded to by the wit ness, Mr. Escombe, was caused by Mr. Hassell having eaten a hearty luncheon of sturgeon, at 31r. Rickford's house in Lon don. He went to Mr. Hassell during that illness, but observ ed no indisposition of mind. Mr. Henry Rumsey, surgeon, of Chesham, attended Mr. Hassell's family at Cholesbury. The complaint of his sister Was epilepsy, which weakened her both in body, and mind, but there was no mental disease independent of her malady.' Mr. Hassell was very much interested in the state of lus sister. Witness knew him from 1807 to 1821, and never had a doubt of his sanity. The day before Mr. Hassell's death, he com municated to him that his sister could not live 24 hours, and he was much affected. On his cross-examination, Mr. Rumsey stated that Mr. Hassell, on the morning previous to his death, appeared perfectly' sane ; and upon his re-examination by Mr. SCARLET T, he said that up to the time of the communication he made to Mt. Hassell, he never saw any sign of insanity. That species of insanity which is indicated by a man destroying himself might come on suddenly. The sister died the day after Mr. Hassell. Mr. Jacob Horwood lived near Mr. Hassell, and was ap pointed by him to manage the lands which the testator held in his own hands. He always acted and talked like a reasonable man. He came to.witness the night before hii death and talk= ed " a vast little" about his .sister's illness, Witness went to Mr. Hassel's house after his death, and before the body was discovered, where he found two papers, one addressed to him. self, and the other to Messrs. Atkinson and Parkinson. On his cross-examination, witness stated that he has said, when Mr. Hassell sometimes bought cattle too, dear, he must have been out of his mind. He might have said that his master was mad. Recollected his planting cabbages, and first dipping the ends in soot. The two letters were put in and read, and from their affect ing character they produced a considerable sensation in Court. The first, addressed to the last witness, stated that the unfor tunate gentleman felt that his reason was gone, and his nerves shaken. His sister's illness preyed so upon his mind that he was weary of life ; and before that letter was received he should be no more. He had written to Messrs. Atkinson and Parkin son to come down ; hoped that Horwood would take care of every thing till they arrived ' • and desired that he would not let the man who called himself his brother come into the house. The other letter to Messrs. Atkinson and Parkinson was of the same character ; stated that he had left them his property : gave some minute diredtions for the repairs of the house of Cholesbury ; and added, that if his body was not found before their arrival, it would be discovered in the pond facing the house. The lamentable catastrophe was accomplished in this , manner. The case for the defendants being closed, Mr. Serjeant BLOSSET stated the case for the plaintiff. He contended that the letters last produced were sufficient . to establish the insanity of the testator. They were of the same character as the will • the hand-writing of each was of the same tremulous and feeble kind, indicating the same nervous feelings. He contended that abilities were not inconsistent with madness : and adduced. some examples of the readiness with which madmen pursue their habitual employments, although under the influence of powerful delusions. in the case of this unfortunate Gentle- inan, the predisposing cause of his malady was the illness of his sister ; lie made his will under this powerful excitement, and in the same state of mind he destroyed himself. The Learned Gentleman concluded a very able speech by contend ing that the will was not properly attested. Mr. Box, a proctor of Doctors' Commons, deposed, that Honeynian, one of the witnesses to the will, had declared to him he had no recollection of signing it in the presence , .of Owen and Bachelor, the other witnesses. Mr. Loi2glands, Solicitor to the ,West India Dockcom- Mr. pany,lnew M. Hassel from 1803 to his decease. Witness was Deputy Agent-General of Volunteers. He considered Mr. Hassel of entirely weak mind, and weak nerves ; he could not venture to pronounce him insane, but he had seen hiM inconsistent in his conduct, and incoherent in his ideas. The witness then related an account of Mr. Hassell, on the occa sion of Sir F. Burdett being sent to the 'rower, putting on the dress of a Deputy Lieutenant, and riding round London to inspect all the Volunteer Corps. An increased responsibility being thrown on the Agent-General in 1812, Mr. Haiiell be came frightened, and resigned his office. Mr. Colquhoun, joint assistant with, Mr. Longlands, stated that Mr. Hassell was occasionally subject to fits of dejection, and was at other times in high spirits. His nerves were very much shattered. He transacted business with him frequently. Mr. John Moore, who lives near 13erkhamstead, knew Mr. Hassell 14 or 15 years ; thought him a weak man, and at times flighty ; and on such occasions would not have witnessed his will. The Rev. Mr. Owen stated, that Honeyman -had declared to him that he was not present when Mr. Owen signed the will; he was astonished to find his own flames there, and had no re collection of it. - . Mr. Richard Sutton knew Mr. Hassell 14 or 15 years ; wit ness was a stockbroker. Mr. Hassell was subject to great agi tations. He would not have witnessed his will. under those circumstances. On his cross examination, witness stated, that he had transacted business for Mr. Hassell in the stocks—not in his low moments. lie never hesitated to execute an order for him. lie always transacted business when collected. Sir Brent Spencer knew Mr. Hassell in 1815. Has seen him frequently in a dejected state, and has tried to soothe him. Mr. Hassell frequently stated his sister's ill health as being the rause of his low spirits. George Bachelor was gamekeeper to Mr. Hassell 11 years.— Witness thinks he was not right at times. Four years ago ordered witness to pump a pond out to make a reservoir : lie said, " he'd make the frogs stare; old Joiner never made them stare so." His name was " Mad Hassell" all over the neigh bourhood. Benjamin Puddiford worked as under-bailiff for Mr. Hassell. He used very comical expressions at times. He once ordered witness to sow some barley amongst some clover that had been sown with the barley of the year before. Richard Cox deposed to the rout of the frogs, and recollected making hay at midnight. 'William Osborne, hairdresser . of Ailesbury, deposed. that Mr. Hassell has frequently come to his shop, and that having gone up stairs to shave himself, he has come down with the lather on his face, saying if he remained longer he should cut his throat. Mr. W. Hassell, brother of the plaintiff and the deceased, stated that no quarrel existed between the two brothers. Ile never visited at Cholesbury, but believed his elder brother did. Mr. F. Hassell, son of the plaintiff, visited the deceased se veral times at Cholesbury, and was treated respectfully and kindly. Mr. SCARLETT replied, in a speech of the greatest inge nuity. He contended that the will was legally published and subscribed ; its validity rested, not upon the frail memory of the witnesses, but upon their hand-writing, which they were compelled to acknowledge. The Learned Counsel then pro ceeded to comment upon all the evidence for the plaintiff with great force and humour, and concluded by imploring the Jury to deal justly with the dead. The LORD CHIEF BARON summed up ; and the Jury, after consulting a short time, returned a verdict for the de fendants_ Monday night Mr. Alexander Handy, of Kent-street, was beset in the Borough-road by four ruffians, who assaulted and robbed him of a silver watch and two seals. On the same night, a poor old man a pensioner, who gains a livelihood by selling small shell fish in public-houses, was attacked on the highway near the Elephant and Castle, by a stout fellow six feet high, who robbed him of 2d. and about a quart of perri winkles. Yesterday a man named Spratling, but better known as Black Joe, was tossed by a bullock which had run wild, near the Cattle Market, in Canterbury, and much injured. He was taken to the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, and we are happy to hear is likely to recover. It was afterwards deemed expedient to kill the animal, with two others, in a stable near the spot, as they were too dangerous to be driven through the town. BIRTHS. On Tuesday, at his Lordship's House, in Hamilton-place, the Right Honourable Lady Foley was safely delivered of a .daughter. Yesterday, the 21st instant, at Clapton, the Lady of Joseph Tickell, Esq. of a son. MARRIED. On 'Wednesday last, according to the Jewish ritual, Mr. George Solomon, of Clerkenwell, to Mary, second daughter of Humphrey Levy, Esq. of Rathbone-place. On Tuesday last, at Cranford, Northamptonshire, the Rev. .T. Lamb, M.A. Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge , to Anne, third daughter of the Rev. B. Hutchinson, rector of the former place. DIED. On Wednesday, at St. Pancras, aged 64, Captain Thomas Miles, R. N. At Paris, on Wednesday, the 13th inst. Matilda Elizabeth , eldest daughter of William Isaacson, Esq. Solicitor, Terrace , Newmarket. Lately, at the Rectory House, Ilamerton, Hunts, the Re v, R. Pyne, many years r e ctor of hat parish. On Tuesday morning, the 19th inst., Mr. Richard Stephen s Taylor, of Gray's Inn, solicitor. On the 20th instant, aged 04, Joseph Welch, Esq., one of the oldest Members of the Corporation of the city of London , and many years Deputy of the Ward of Candlewick. Printed and Published, for the PROPRIETORS, at the SO' OFFICE, 112, Strand, by J. B. CAASTAIRS. 19/ St, E, do -.. ul l last 4f tile' da; and to a nd w ar th at aii T hi , Y 1. : 4 144 ra re l pr; 4(i P tigi t th4lllol it 1 tc r . 7 1 A p i To N 1 ; • 3 -et