The Sun. — London, England, 1817-12-26 00:00:00

CERTIFICATED CONVEYANCERS. FOR THE SUN. LETTER V. 11h. Erarroa,—lt can never he imagined that the Legislature, when they imposed an animal tax on Attornies and Draftsmen below the Bar, foresaw thara stampcertificate for this purpose would he prostituted as it has been, and reduced to a level Itith the licence of a hawker and pedlar. Like the tax on Clerk's Articles, it had a double as- pect : first, to keep out improper persons ; second, with a due regard for those of a different descrip tion. Neither could the Society of Gray's Inn foresee that the admission of the Lord knows livitOm„ men of little ability, and less character, into titeir books, would enable them to execute Law Conveyancing, which, to conduct with ef fect, requires, in study, the prime, of our life ; but now, by a Shameful peryersion of Parliamentary intention, and the over indulgence of, the Gray's Tan Benchers, contravening the original spirit of their foutulatinn, those anthroponhagi, or vul tures, who watch for days of carnage, break in urn an honourable profession, and push its regu lar Members front their stools, to the.incalculable inj.lry of their unfortunate employers. This, Sir, has produced a question which impe riously calls for solution—Whether Law Con veyancing he, or be not, a Science, and excln sivtly the business of Lawyers and Attot flies The Tax Certificates were for them only, and not for those who are neither ; yet it has opened a way to fraud, and many have insidiously paid it, as a colourable authority to impose on the Public, disseminate mischief, and practice extortion. They charge the Attornies with knavery and ignoraLce, as if they were all wisdom and inte •griry. Some of each there may be, but these are so marked as not to affect the whole Profession of PraCtirers. All are equally sworn to allegiance and supremacy, and admitted by the course of the Courts. They serve a previous Clerkship for five years, and have risen into use and importance ever since the reducti►►n of the Scrivener's Company, and the dispersion of its Members. These Certi ficate Men are neither sworn nor admitted; and, after all, what are they or the Scriveners ? Drawers of Contracts, flimsy Agreements, &c. which were below the dignity of Lawyers, and, of course, unnoticed by them. They are money changers, and driven our of the Temple, if not by_ a divine spirit, most certainly by the more capable practice of lawful Attornies. Conveyancing is an undoubted Science, above the compass.of rash Advnturers. It is a branch of the science of Law, which Lawyers and 'Atter ssies are solely empowered to dispense and prac tice. Ail those who are not so, but divide its profits with the Constituted Authorities, are pil ferers, and insult its dignity. If when Parliament awarded this Tax on Attornies and Draftsmet: be low the Bar, it had really intended it as an admis sion for any man, be he whom or what he may, it would have been so mentioned in the act, and thereby made every individual in the Kingdom a Lawyer or an Attorney, without any preparation whatever ; but the subtility of evasion, and the .art of these Pirates, suppose it, in order to justify • their intrusion. • Let the Public, therefore, beware of these Counterfeits, and, fur matters of sufficient Con veyancing, apply to thos'e who are lawfully ap pointed, and capable to do them justice, withciut . deception, or picking of pockets. Such circu lators of base metal are become a growing evil, a scrophula, a disease that corrodes the pocket, tor ments the heart, and ends in desolation and ruin. Odi profanum vulgus, —Let the Legislature be in formed of them, that so they may be restrained, or extirpated as epidemical. Let the HonOurable Society of Gray's Inn be cautioned against re ceiving into !heir House such obnoxious pre 'tenders, for the purpose of imposition, hereto-' fore unknown ; let them follow the nobler ex ,ample of - the two Temples, and reject every one _except for study and the Bar, Chambers only saved. If not the flood of injury, rapacity, and disgrace, •ill be too heavy for repulsion, and to subdue them be as impossible as to reform the works of au unerring God, give second birth to Nature, or unite the Poles. AN OLD BARRISTER. Fuatoos Dats - ma.—Wednesday evening Sa muel Debay.i, a brass-founder, was knocked down while in the act of crossing the Strand from Bur leigh-street, by one of the mail-carts going at their usual furious rate. The poor man was taken to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, having a rib broken, and much cut about the bead ; he was perfectly sober. It is greatly to be regretted that some stop is not put to this practice by the proper persons to whose department these mail art drivers belong ; for unless his Majesty's subjects ci e all abolutc Harlequins, it is almost impos sible to escape •the wheels of these vehicles, id many parts of the town, of an evening.—The bro ther of the above unfortunate person Was stabbed the back a few months since by a lunatic, in a mad-house at Bet Li nal-Green, while throw .me coals on the fire. SOUTH AMERICA. We give the following from a Morning Pa per -1.. • - • " BULLETIN. " Four Flecheras, which have arrived this day from Apure, haVe brought with them communica tions from General.Paez of the 19th current, in the position of Yagual, for his Excellency the Supreme Chief. That General has countermarched to the places formerly occopied - by him, after hav ing occupied the capital of Marinas, which was de fended by itemigio li.Jmos with 400 men, infantry and cavalry. This rash Spanish Chief had the presumption, on the 14th of August, to offer battle to General Paez, and the result of it was theabso: lute destruction of his forces. One hundred and fifty were killed=one hundred made prisoners,; and one hundred fusils, and 4,000 fusil cartouches, are the spoils which have been taken from the enemy, tvhis Was pursued as far as the Rio tie Bocono, in. the Province of Caracas. . " The long and forced marches which Gen. Paez had to make, and the inundations of iluflealanos, have knocked up his cavalry to such a degree, `that . it was impossible for him to continue his Operations to Sao Carlos as he proposed. This consideration, and the well-grounded appre hensions that the re-union of the enemies forces in Nutria and San Fernando might attempt some operation against 'the Yagual, where a great part of our remount.and all the emigrants were, obliged General Paez to abandon the pro ject of advancing farther into the Province of Caracas. In fact, on the 17th of August, he eva cuated new Varinas, after having taken from it whatever was serviceable for the army. The re sult of this operation has confirmed the just ap prehensi9its of General Paez. 1n his march, on his arriving at the Manteca!, he learned that'Cal zada with thirty vessels were advancing to stir ize the detactiment which covered the Yagual, but who, when lie received notice of the ap proach of our division, desisted from his attempt, and returned to shut himself up in San Fernando. " Among the papers intercepted in Varinas, was found a statement of the enemies' forces co vering the river Apure. All his forces are infan try,- and do not amount to 1,000 men ; the only horses which he had were taken by General Paez in his incursions. The accounts from New Granada are highly flattering. Three Creole Officers, who were in the service of the Spaniards in Popayan, deserted ►with 90 fuzileerS, and joined the scattered troops and the Guerillas who were on the mountains of. El Cauca, marched to Choco, took .that province, killed the Governor, and being there reintot ced, in the month of June threatened the capital of Popayan, ►which it was expected would be evacuated, as the forces ►which covered it were insufficient for its defence. s 1 n all the interi , r of New Granada. there ;ire not more than 1000 men, the greatest part of-them Creoles, and these divided in various points. _ The above is announced to the public by or ders of his Exceileacy the Supreme Chief, for their information. " Capital of Guayana, the SOth Sept. 1817. (Signed) " SOUBLETTE." TEA TRADE IN THE NETHERLANDS. The following Projet of Law upon this sub ject passtd the Second Chamber of the States- General of the Netherlands on the 16th inst. by a majority of S 5 to We, WILLIAM, by the grace of God, &c. &c. having taken into our consideration the existing differences in the laws respecting the Tea Trade, as they apply to the two principal divisions of the kingdom, judge it expedient that the same ought to be uniform ; and seeing that the law of the 23(1 of March, 1815, for the establishment in our Northern Provinces of an exclusive Company for the trade of China, has not been attended with the results which were expected ; hut that so far from our mercantile or trading subjects having subscribed for shares in the said Company, in the books which have now been fully two years open for that purpose, they have expressed a general wish that the trade in the article of Tea should be thrown open ; " So we have 1)90 our Counci[of State, and with the common consent of the States-General, have thought proper and resolved, and by these presents do think proper and resolve, " Ist. That all laws now in being, relative to the Tea Trade, shall he, and the same are hereby withdrawn and abolished. " 2d. That the holders of. shares in the afore said exclusive Company shall immed i ately be re imbursed the amount paid on their respective sub scriptions, together with the interest-, at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum, from the day on which they were received until that of re-payment. " 3d. That under the following regulations the general Law of the 3d of October, 1816, for the levying of duties on imports and exports, shall from henceforward apply to Tea, and that every individual shall be permitted to import tea into this kingdom, and have the uncontrouled pOsses. sion thereof, immediately after the payment of the duties thereon, that is to say, On Bohea and low Congou Tea, florins 8 per 1001 h. On all other hinds of Tea - 16 per 1001 b. - " 4th. That all Teas of which proof shall be given that they are imported direct anti in entire cargoes from China, or the Dutch possessions in the East Indies, for the account of resident sub jects, in ships built in - this kingdom, the duty shall he only, On Bohea and low Congou, florins 2 10 per 100 lb. On ail other kinds, - - 5 0 per 1061 b. " sth. That Bohea and low Congou Tea shall o.)nly be denominated such as are imported tin mixed rind in whole chests, and in which smaller chests or packages are not included. " Gth. That low. Congon Tea, even in whole chests, shall he denominated such, if its current value here at the time of its entry shall be, or ex ceed one guiltier per pound ; and that all Tea for, which entry .is made at the low duties, may be ' taken over by any Officer of the Revenue, at 1 fl. per pound, adding 12 per cent. and the duty of the . Tea thereto, in conformity to the 223 d and 224th Article of the-Law of the 3d of October, 1816, as far as these are applicable to the case. " 7th. That with reference to direct Importa tions of Tea from China, or from the Dutch Set tlements in the East Indies, his Majesty shall have the faculty of extending the , privileges of Dutch-built ships to foreign bottoms, which, after strict investigation, shall appear to be Dutch Property, at the time of, the promulgation. of this law, and have since continued to be so. " Bth. That in case ships of the above two des criptions should not offer in sufficient number, his Majesty may license for one voyage only to China, or the Dutch Settlements in the East Indies, for the importation -of a cargo of tea, but within the period of four years from the promulgation ot this law, any Foreign-built ships, which, at the time of commencement of such voyage, shall fully ap pear to be the property of Dutch Subjects. 9th. That the holders of licenses granted in consequence of tlte Resolutions of the 12th of April, 1815, on the importatio❑ of Tea for the periodical Public Sales, which were intended to have taken place before the close of the present, or during the course of the next year, the Tea so already imported, or which may be imported, on or before the 15th of October, 1818, shall he delivered into the uncontrouled possei sion of the Consignees or Importers, upon payment only of the same Duties, which, by the present law, are to be levied on Tea imported direct from China, or from the Dutch Settle ments in the East Indies, in Dutch-built ships, for account of resident subjects. " On the payment - of the same Duties all Teas already imported, and remaining unsold in the Warehouses of the Department ot Trade and Co lonies, shall be delivered to the Importers. 10th. That Tea exported shall be subject to the Duty (called Tabelle Itegt.) of one-fifth per cent. on the value, or 3t stivers per 1001 b. at the option of the Exporter. " llth. That transit of Tea through the King dom shall not be allowed. " 12th. That in computing the duty upon Tea, the tales to be allowed, provided the packages are of the usual description, shall be, " Upon chests, weighing llolbs. and upwards, 18 per cent. " Upon chests, weighing under 1101hs. 25 per cent. with reservation, however, of the same' remedy as is prescribed in the sixth article of the Law of the 3d October, 1816, in the case of inadequate tares. " We enjoin and command, &c. &c. " Passed the - Second Chamber of tlie States- General, on the 1(1th Dec. 1817, with a majority of 85 against 7." UNIVERSITY.INTELLIGENCE CAMBRIDGE, DEC. 25.—Thomas Smith Turn bull, B. A. of Gonville and Cants Co!lege, has been elected a Fellow of that Society, on Dr. Perse's foundation. Henry '[asker', ESq, B. A. of Pembroke Hall, was on the ISth instant elected Fellow of that Society. A dispensation has passed the Great Seal, to en able the Rev. John Brocklebank, B. D. Chaplain to the Lord Bishop of Ely, to hold the Vicarage of Melbourn with the Rectory of 'feverSham, both in this county-. _ _ _ The Rev. Richard Chapman is instituted to the Vicarage of Tannington with the .Chapel of Brandish, in. Suffolk, on the presentation of the Lord Bi - shop of Rochester. On Saturday last the Rev. Chas. David. Brere ton, M. A. was instituted to the Rectory of St. Edmund the King, in Norwich, upon an exchange for the Rectory of Rulcott,,Buckinghamshire, to which the Rev. John Ashow has been instituted by the - Lord Bishop of Lincoln ; both on the pre sentation of John Breieton, Esq. PREFERMENTS On Friday last the Rev. Edward Offspring Hol well, Master of Arts, was instituted by Mr. Pre centor Bartlam to the Rectory of Plymtree, in Devon, on the presentation: of the Rev. Edward Coplestone, D.D. Provost of the. House of the blessed Virgin Mary, in Oxford, commonly called Oriel College, of the foundation of Edward the Second, of famous memory, sometime King of England, void by, the death of the Rev. Daniel Veysie. On Monday last the Rev. Joseph Fayrer, M.A. was instituted, by Mr. Bartlam, to the Preband of Heredum Marney, alias I\lornays, founded in the Church of Eudellion, in the county of Corn wall, on the presentation of the Hon. Adam Maria Agar, of Lanhydrock, in the said county of Cornwall, widow, void by the death of the Rev. Dr. Flamauk. The Rev. G. M. Slatter has been appointed by the Dean and Chapter regular afternoon preacher on. Sundays at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, in this city. SCOTCH BANKRUPTS. SEQUESTRATION. December 19. Donald Bethune, merchant, Kirkibole, by Tongue, Sutherlandshire.—Creditors meet in Joha's Coffee house, Edinburgh, SI st December and 15th January, at 12. EXAMiNATIONS, DIVIDENDS, &c. Creditors of Andrew Rochead and Son, musical-instru ment-makers, Edinburghoneet in the Merc hants' Hall there, Bth January, at I. Creditors of Oliver Gourlay, farmer, grazier, &c. Crai grothie, meet in the Tontine Inn, Cupar Fife, 3d January: Creditors of John Thumpsoy, general merchant, New burgh, meet in Adamson's Inn there, 12th January, at 1 2. Creditors of James Macfarlane, vintner, Linlithgow, meet in kis own Inn there, 9th January, at 12. Creditors of William Hyslop, corn-merchant and miller at Maxwelltowne, meet in Pagan's Inn there, 13th January,at 12. Creditors of Andrew Bell, late merchant, Edinburgh, meet in the Royal Exchange Coffeehouse there, 19th January. Creditors of Robert Macfarlane and Co. Greenock, and M`Farlane,-Scott, and Co. Newfoundland, will receive a divi dend at the counting-house of Dngald M'Ewen, merchant, Greenock, 22d January. Creditors of the late John Campbell, watchmaker and jeweller, Edinburgh, willreceive a final dividend from William Dalrymple, S. C. Nelson-street, there. Creditors of John Munro, drover and cattle-dealer, Achnae loich, wilt receive a dividend from Robert Mitchell-, writer, 'fain, 20th January. States of the affairs of David Russell, joiner, cabinetmaker, and glazier, Glasgow, lie with the trustee—No dividend. States of the affairs of George Wallace corn-merchant, Mossfield, lie at the o ffi ce of Robert Mitchell, writer, Tain— No dividend. TO CORRESPONDENTS. 0 61' For the Article on AMERICAN 30UNDARIe 3 , see our • Page. SPAIN AND / 4 IEIt COLONIES to be concluded To-roor‘rovi• MAILS. dro AR R IVED—I Holland, 1 Waterford. Due-1 Gotten b 1 Guernsey and Jersey, 1 Dublin, 1 Waterford. ST. STEPHEN.--Holiday at the Bank, Exchequer, East 1 ' and South .Sea.ilouse.s. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TO•MOIROO " 41 , Morning, 2 2 ittiuutes after 4. Evettitig, 47 minutes after THE SUN. tOLEII QUIS DICERE FALSWI AUDEAT ? LONDON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26. 1817. This day the parties intending to bid for I t ' c Lottery attended the CHANCELLOR of the Exa r QUER, when it appearing that none of them vi e willing to bid for 20,000 Tickets, the CO l ' CELLOR of: the EXCHEQUER accepted a joit4t.bi e ‘ ding from all the parties of 141. per Ticket O t 40,000 Tickets, all to be drawn on or hefo l ‘ the 12th day of August next. The Contract ‘ lsl ' signed by Messrs. BISH, CARROLL, HAZAI P ' BURNS and Co., J. SIVEWEIGHT, BULL G. Weil3. THE FUNDS.—This morning is a Holiday at t°' Bank, but the Stock Exchange is open. Gond ° commenced at 82i but very little businiss bs s been done. At twelve o'clock there were mo r)/ buyers at with a further prospect of their look' ing up. It is said that the late heavy sales vir 4r° merely effected by speculators, as it is now S i dent there was no political or domestic event t° cause them. The Paris Papers of Tuesday last, which wet' due this morning, have not - come to hand. It will be seen by our Port Letters, that 0° Russian Squadron is expected to be ready for se ° in about ten or twelve days, when they will pro' ceed to Cadiz. The Morning Chro►►icle of to-day, wi►h its usd asperity, has made some observations on a Prni t proposed by the Government of the letherlandg' in order to open the Tea Trade in that country! The proposition has, at present, only passed th e Second Chamber, and it is by no means eerral o that it will become the law ; yet The Chronic' , reasons upon it as having been absolutely:red' dered a legislative measure, fully sanctioned . 14 the Government, and proceeds to some of tliuso liberal reflections upon Lord CASTLEREAGH,whiCI4, in turn, every man in power must expect to re' ceive from the Opposition Papers.—We have given the Projet itself this day, and if it should really become the law in the Netherlands, it wills of course, lead to some legislative arrangement% on the part of the British Government to meet any difficulty that may arise on the subject. 71 11 Chronicle, with a want of political reflection which We could hardly expect, sharpened as its wits must be by long practice in political persecution► seems to overlook, or cunningly to pass by, the consideration that measures may be adopted that are highly proper at one time, but which the con' duct of other Governments may render it necessary to abolish. Hence is it to be supposed that, be' cause our regulations, at a former period, and in the present state of things, may be wise and expe' dietti, they are, like the ROMAN CATHOLIC RELI' GION, to remain ETERNALLY THE SAME !—lf the People of the Netherlands are likely, by any Legislative enactments, to obtain TEA at a lower price, is it to he supposed that Minis ters are to sleep on their posts, and not adopt such measures as may prevent this Country from suffering any diminution of the national interest ? But The Chronicle knows better: It wanted a near topic as a ground of attack upon Government, and this Projet of the Dutch Ministers has happily arrived at a barren crisis to give a fresh stimulus to its ingenuity in devising P, °jets of its own, as well as for its usual display of political declama-. tion. It might have been supposed that Lord Cot... cnEsTEtt, who has now been many months out of office, hut who has left the most honourable im pression on the minds of his countrymen, for Iris conduct as Speaker of the House of Commons, would have been suffered to 'enjoy that dignified retirement which he so well merited, and which his countrymen were proud to bestow, without incurring the hostility of Party Writers. A Morning Paper, however, whose political rancour nothing can appease, has this day invidiously re vived an account of the expenses attending the Speaker's HonSe, while his Lordship so ho nourably discharged the duties of his office.--.. Admitting that these expenses were great, will the Opposition Paper venture to affirm that