The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-07-23 00:00:00

NEN' FEMALE PENITENTIARY.

On Wednesday afternoon a very numerous and highly
"
able Meeting of the opulent land and hsusemwriers, whose peep.,
is situated in the vicinity of Clerkenwell and Islington, raw brut
consideration . James'sctihi.eaccohn,dCucletrukrentwheelml,
agiformwtheypuofrposethe
woof
otatyk,ingihe7.:
was understood, contemplated the emotion in Spaftelds of a bp;
county prison for females; and in the event of such Wine mew
tention the buildings in the vidnity would be rendroa of k;
value.
Mr. Love Ls, the churchwarden, having been voted to the theca,
end, the Meeting had been convened as. verry., in ennseque,o4
a requisition respectably signed, requesting it onset be colotenest,
adopt some measures which might counteract the attempts Ludt.,
effectually block up the leading tistroughfare from the west end;
the town to the new squares erected in the vicinity of Clerkesw,,,
which would be rendered of little value if the course talked els.:
pursued. Ile recommended a dispasniestate nensideratiew Mea
subject, in order to arrive at a steady sod lose al cenetusion.
hl,. Sealant Li rose to propose several see illations. He es.,
inenced by observing, that wine very •hort t me since
end the land around it was one conthtued waste, where every 41,
scription of nuisance and debauchery appeared to coriceLtate, soil
scenes shucking to humanity almost daily,
.but genesafie
days, occurred, in pugilisticcontests for trilling sums. Ott s
. ttet,
occasions persons had bons Sense gentleman of large promo
who bad improved and extended this metropolis. by erecting itai:
mgt of an ornamental kind, which were inhabited as soon and es%
before they were finished, had turned their attention to that lask
which mostly belonged to the county ; and, in order to obviate tie
vile nuisances complained of, and to render it a delightfel pens
London, on the faith of premises made is them they bad commemet
the buildings, which the increasing population required, and wh,e,
contributed not only to the Revenue materially, but added to cps
resources of the country. (Hear.) Those buildings had itereasel
to an aniazng extent, and Spafields was so longer visible, thalami
being unwired into pleasant streets. Some moues had bee;
loomed, which, in point of structure, certainly might vie with these
at the fashionable end of the town, and were inhabited by pew,
of the first respectability, under the impression that the line
buildings would still preserve the great thoroughfare to Russet sad
Brunsw et-squares, and generally to that pan of the metropolis,
Indeed, under that impressiou, the street cu,reeting as it we,
Wilmington with Russel and Beunewickmquaes, ha beer oar.,
tnenced. But all their efforts were at once scattered abortive, u
the thoroughfare was to be stopped, and the place inclosed, fie to
other purpose whatever than the erection of a Female Flouteef
Correction. Thua the Meeting would perceive that upwards el
half a million of money, which had been laid out in erecting new
buildings, was thrown away, as in fumes they could not be esti
comparatively any thing, and very likely would net be inhabit
h wax for this purpose he called upon them vigtwously to requet
the Ales:homy to consider of a revision of their plus in order Mc!
they might not cause the r tin of the men who had removed one
the greatest noisances that existed in that vicinity. He conduit%
by proposing a series of resolutions, recommending a Mc.notial
the Magistrates, and that a committee might be fanned to curj
into effect the resolutions of the Meeting.
Mr. CLARE, Treasurer of the parish, in a very able sweet, •
which he condemned the line of. conduct pursui: b.; the Hsi,.
traces. observing be thought there were 1,4 mare eligible mot. tint
new pekoe, if it were wanted, proposed and read the nienwre
which was addressed to the Magistrates of the county, and will
stated, that the houses in the vicinity of the new prism would bs
rendered of no value, if the thoroughfares were stepped up ; dot
a great property was vested in housm in that neighboarles d, .Ifrn
had Brady, its consequence of the rumours circulated, vow
much decreased in value ; that it was manifest, Item a will bong
commenced, extending across the places where the forming if
streets was amiemplated, that it was the intention of the Mee*
traces to block up the thorougtires, and to cut cif all con.municaties
unless by a circuitous and very unpleasant route, with tie
of the town. l'he memorial also stated, that the free circulation et
light and nit would be impeded, and of course the general health (i
the inhabitants affected by such a course. Were rot the prayer if
the memorialists attended in, nearly 1,500 ramifies Would berui:ed.
In conclusion, it requested that the thoroughfare might me be
stopped, and hinted that for a prison of tialth a wome siteerke
could not be chosen, and pointed out the want of a middle roulf.si
the new road ahnost daily became more dangerous, and there.
denten residing near Highgate, Holloway, Ishomon, Hempel*
anxiously wished for another mute, which would be gst
from hills.

The 31craorial and Resolutions being seconded, were mill
unanimously.
Mr. HEAD also, at some length, pointed out the nalschiecom
nature of the roaecdings adopted gir impeding the thommetct,e
and hoped that the Magistracy, who be k ow to be highly
spirited ho a'
and to poser's most nourable feelings, weu!d arced: a
the wishes expressed generally throughout that neightiourhorai.
Several other gentlemen who have embarked all ttviir property n
building sp,...nlations in that vicinity, inveighed in tinder home
against the course pursued ; some of them remarking that a we
house of correction, excluaireiy for females. was not wanted ; they
it was an expenditure of money not required, and that it wallet.'
highly injurious to a rising meghbourbood of reapectooility.
A Committee of gentlemen being theu appointed. they wercdepuai
to wait upon the Magistrate when assembled at Sessions, with it:
Memorial, and if allowed, to endeavour to ruin" out more fuliv
the grievance coinpleined cc, sad to pro:ure an mow answer ; LA:
to adopt any other measures they might deem Dracula.
The Meeting, after the usoal votes of thanks, tirpaia*T.
It woukl appear, from the extensive preparations going forced,
that the Magistracy have determined open the ettc,ion ,f la m.
son; a very long wall, enclosing Spafields, has been commend,
and is already several feet high ; and nom the scagulding erten.
seems about to be carried much higher, as if it were to Furrow I
buildings of some extent and 'mushy.

INDLIN PRESS.

TO THE EDITOR (►M THE BRITISH PRESS.

5ia,...-When I yes'. why promised you a notice of that
pamphlet of fliehanlson's on the Press of India, which you
were good enoligli to announce this morning, I suppose you
were not aware that I was shout to take up the side of the
uestion dio ct!y at variance with the opinions of your
trim& in the Direction ; hut I hope I *Lail not be &sap-
misted when I rely on your known liberality, in hops that I
vou will, as becomes ev..ry eaghtened conductor of a pa- I
Per, admit th,• opinions of both aides. and support those!
which seta best in your own eyes. 'chi' you are more
particularly called upon to do, when the matter at issue '
is the " craft by which you live."
In fulfilling my pledge of yesterday, I shall first give in
abstract of the history of ale Press of India, and then
short), advert to the conclusions which naturally flow from
the statement of Inc facts of the case.
I admit, in the first place, what our author is at con-
siderable pains to demonstrate (and I searctly think that I
your readers will diem the admission rash), that the press is
the best means that has ever yet been devised for widely
disseminative knowledge, and communiosting ideas to an
indefinite number of individuals ; but at the same time,
it is the mode, of all others, which is easiest restrained by
legislation ; for, thou* notloverntiecnt ran prevent one man
from Ifflptt 'nil* his sentimenb in confidence to another,
any Government can suppress or rc..train a mode of com-
munication which requ;res so much spate, such a Dumber
of bands, and such publicity in executing, as is aseamerly
required by the press.
The narrative of the writer, as to the Malty of the press
of India, does not go on in a continuous be ; bat this de-
fect I shall attempt to remedy, by ghillie brief account
of it farms the earliest ages lin ;elesPUwaisisdicy), to the
present day.
Front time immemorial manuscript newspapers have
been in circulation throughout India; sod as it may pus-
your retebas to know how these manuscripts could 1w
curd lilted. I shall take this opportunity of informing
them. In Delhi, a gentleman of the press, after doing up
sonic smart paragraphs on tbe victories achieved by the
army in the field, the health of the Emperor, and gene-
rally stating the name of the lady of his Majesty's harem
who was honoured with his company the preceding night,
and other Court scandal, which in thi..3foyeliog• met would
pass land r the bead of " Fashionable Intelligence" (the
accuracy of their information they care as little about as if
thci lived in Lridon.), he gallica forth to the market place,
mid loving, by continued voeilerstion, collect...if an audi-
ence round him, who each subset Hie • small sum, he reads
his paper to them, and then moves on to another group;
and this he continues as long as he can collect an audience,
or until he acmes the brut of a rival editor.

As lids simple style of communicating intelligence did
not exactly snit the habitt of Englishmen, as soon as (W-
-enn' began to be filled with an European paved: tion a
newapsi•er etas established, and it continued without in-
erferouce from any inn! until 1795, when Lord IVellesley,
justly fearing the affect that the strictures contained in these
rapers might bare on our native allies, establi:ted a cen-
sor-Ay on such of the papers as were conducted by Eu-
ropean editors and printers. Natives and half castes were
empowered to print and publish whatever they pleased, and.
ire pointof fact, aCakutta periodical work, " 7he l;azetteer,"
seck was the prove rty of, and conducted by half-came',
was printed and published without the authority or interfer-
ane: of the tiovernment Censor, daring the greater part of
Load Hastings government ; but is the It ar ISH, when
NU-tastes became the proprietors of daily men, the
larquis of Hastings emancipated the press with the
hone grace possible, and matte a fine speech on the necessity
of freedom of discussion to tke well-being of a state, and
interned the astonished Q, hys, that such an admirable
Govanint nt as that of finite challenged anti courted dis-
ruuion, and that the more closely it was inspected the store
it vouhi be admired.

For some weeks after this rneinorable expu; things went
• . .

on so ononthly and so amicably, that it was quile cdity-
in look at it. Nothing but conlratulatioos and coni-
p:i.o,no, and addressing", and partings, and praising*.
411! IX: 'lug to the skies, were to be heard.
views--nobre sentiments--wrre

mouth 143 month, and quite a honey moon coquetting
tr, tit on bt4w'tn the Gueens.,r au.,l the Gorernrfl. At the
mit time little invidious comparisms were drawn bumf en
iimsent Governor-beutral itiat his predecessors.
Martinis of Ilastines, his council, and reerrtariis, were
men of eolarymi views—devoted to the liberty of the

'object—all of them Whigs—some of them saints into the'
htrgaUt. It would he lung enough before the twit% would
Ave dole as much for us. &c. But people were too
::melt delighted with their good fortune to be at all aeri-
::.euious, and the frohltu age sunned fairly to have cotn-
-1..,n.e4 in Calcutta.

Ill:: it was.lem.iiird that tl age halcyon days were not to
Izit fur ~ver in the Etat, and that this feast of the roses
tit soon to have an end. The principal editor of Cal-,
'3 (Mr. BucLite;hain) hams ned to tread gently 0111
:.t: lac* ul a Dignitary, a diplomatic despatch was the
, slur:ace, from tht• Government House, which being',
Intt,,strd into Engiisli, meant simply, that though In•
r.,, at .A,.....y to praiy.e nll connected with the Government
t ate fall amount of their merit, or of ids otirt arotrietit,..,
4- t ". mo tleV r cout.miplated that he sleuth! have the
l'iarr ot tinelitr.; fault. This caution )Ir. 11. di:tre:;ttrili'd ;
ri: atail rebuked —again trate;zrcitsed ; when the Secre-
IL'''` ^I 4;6'. mitten:. irritated at such contumaciousness,
tade a d their intellects and their lance, alai brought an 1
,10113cainst him, in the Supretne Court, its which, to the
r, u ,lelit;lit of the whole settlement, they were totally de- .
Lila,

Ice; holm as the Marquis of Ila-tin.zs sailed for
ults mow., mut dir. A 'am, as a Mot Member of Council,
144 'MI low temporarily the office of I:overnor4 letters!,
a.iinated his intention of petting down the nuisance
!ie.= pr,...a with a rtreng heat(: 13, accordingly, he
elepie,txt of a 114.1.1111 m squib, that appearol in
papv•, to send him out of the country, to
..:4;eate.critneht of hispropertr. And, to secure fling:111-
a Guru evtr airtin haring the. prams AS a thorn in its
he,—hut we prefer gii,ing our author's own
qtr. A‘lain preetsiled on the single Judge
rocnaght. ti), then remaining on that bench, to let I •
1:t. a ru,;,ile 111. low, in point of form, whieh should
...iamb all ire, piiittite; by •hree restraint, anti should
lic,ruit Natives mid intio-hritons, l equally with Englibh-
,l,. This ie.ivel enntriv..nee rani 11.11 e bet ti readily
t" Ly tHzt Nintle atal become law, as stated
par.
Front the moment that law puce& printers were ebligea
ilk out lice:ll4:s to print and publish ; those liet:lllrs
rmov,ahle at the pleasure of the Government, Mi.)
r impris m, or transport, any one who printed
s:lat Wm; improper, the t ;overman:tit being st
• party, atTUKLI, and Judge in the case.
• n.:Irl) for th; history of the Indian press up t 9
!lo!uc:ioi,s and inferences to b.: drawn front this are
.in I Obvious m the extrimie.
rhafter of I si3 the British Parliament alone can
.!! :*or India ; therefore the Judge and acting t ;over-
"t'll I°l.° P. 1.1, fur if Air. .Adam has the ixiwct
printers to takc out such licenses as we have
tied thus memoir and tvintinatal a monopoly of
&mist have tie: sa•m• power as to ,v.ry other
11, trade, craft, and mystery in our 4 Ocitnul

1.1,1.

:x only it: I;t•ngal ; a tlif..r:nt lac exists in
Il fialtilay, au, nowt-
mato of with regard to the pr:s.
• '", thatight by pio:ting. ur
136 117.1:11..1•Ca Lt hw, ..F.17 utal,r re.
• •11.• 11::
1; .g 1..0ta, jariaglictic.n. •2.
i; of C.Telllllll.g Is 1434.:41,413 41 3,4. law. s.kre
1uti,40..11, 0: tile KO, ;•.
rovtocial
• ).' tcstrailatl Ly at.) li:.orn I .w. 11 0100
j".;brY tl;r;r is I .1eg..1 r,stnaat.. am! tlO.
;:.44:1 till. 11'1116113
I NI ft iIVVI ,u. ~...;14,r4.1111) nit
C.r..11;•!I ill. I. 441. 43i xis: tpala.h..
f0te....! tr. of ivl.at 1 411,143141n5.
r‘.-tpt fig train other rt.-
tI .r law tlit) far: rtally, as wall o.

t•e %.•":

of tliii country plcilized itzelf in Isl 3
,i
'."l',Prov,einelit of the moral state of our
illative sub-
. }.4st• can dvuu throiigli tire lue-