The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-10-05 00:00:00

SPANISH PAPERS AND DUTCH MAIL.

MADRID, SEPTIMBER I'..

Two verdicts have lately been given by Juries
which may serve to give a sufficient ides how far this
institution is applicable to our customs, and to the
state of our civiliz ition. One of thew was at the
instance of the Ambassador of his Britannic: Ma-
jesty, and the second at the instance of Don Sebas-
tian Minano. In both cases it was decided there
was no grounds for proceeding to trial (no haber
&gas a la formacion de eousa, or the bill was *brown
out). Our renders will be glad to know the grounds
of the two actions, and they may form their own opi-
nion of the justice of declaration of the Jury in both
Casts.

The English Ambassaior denounced an article
in the kegalutor. • French paper printed at Ma-
drid, conceived in the following terms :—" It. is
affirmed that George IV. will merry again within
six months. This news can excite no suspicioni
since there are persons to whom all crimes are per-
mitted, and who, though the object of general exe-
cration, nevertheless enjoy all the favours of for.
tune, unless indeed their remorse torments them
every hour and every minute, and if this permits
them to enjoy the fruits of their misdeeds." The
Ambasaadcr cosisidcred this article as an insult to
his Sovereign the King of Great Britain. The
Jury has declared unanimously that it is not.

Don Sebastian Minim°, denounced about the
same lime a pamphlet, entitled " The Life, Virtue:,
and Miracles of the poor Vagabond, otherwise the
author of Las Semblan:as, or Mr. Abbe Minano."
Many well-informtd and sensible persons thought
it was impossible to pour forth more above on an in-
dividual than is ',rimed in the denounced pamphlet;
that it attacked in the most horrible manner the
private life of the complainant, against whom the
blackest and abominable calumnies were uttered.
The Jury, however, were not of this opinion, and
cons' quently declared there was no ground for
action.

When the law speaks, good citizens most conform
to its decision ; but this duty, which is one of the
first safeguards of so•inl order, does not deprive
them of the right of making temperate and respect-
ful observations on the inconveniencies which may
result from such a system of judgments. The Jury,
certainly, owe to no one an account of their conduct ;
they decide accordiug to their conviction ; and this
we know is produced on every man in different
ways and by different motives ; but if the
simultaneous conviction of twelve men. or of
seven among them is always sufficient to acquit
a person accused, it certainly is not sufficient
to change the nature of a thing, and to make that
cease to be an insult which casts a stain over the
reputation of an individual. The laws of all coun-
tries and general opinion have determined, irrevo-
cably, the nature of what is called insult (injsria),•
and it would be in vain for an hundred tribunals to
declare that not to be an insult which all the world
knows to be one; their decision, though it claims
respect and reverence, cannot change the opinion
formed of this kind of offence, on which all per-
sons will continue to believe what they ought.
If it were possible that the tribunals should fre-
quently pass sentence opposed to the public opi-
nion, there is no doubt that one of those bonds
would he broken which most strongly bind men in
society. which is confidence in the protection of the
laws; for so far es the salutary habit of obeying
and respecting the decision of the tribunals has
brew contracted, so far it is presumed that they are
dictated by the principles of eternal and invariable
justice, consigited in those rules of public conduct
I. to which we give the name of laws. These rules
• must be such, that their propriety and justice may
be evident to the majority, obese opinion cannot
:Thip Nil to be in harmony with what they (the laws)
, estoblisll; whence it follows. that us soon as they
are gol to, ril her there is a defect in the law, or error
•is the minds of the people. ID both cases, justice

LONDON,
FRIDAY, Oc-rosta 5, lath

A Flanders mail Arrived last night with Papers
from Brussels to the sd instant. They contain the
following brief sketch of his MAJESTY'S arrival at
and departure from tint city:—

BRUSSELS. SEPTEMBER 29.
Ills Britannic Majesty, in one of the court car-
riages drawn by six horses, went yesterday to the
Palace of Lacken at half-past four o'clock. Lord
Clancirty followed in another carriage. There was
a grand dinner, and then a play. When his Majesty
returned to Brussels the Alice Verte was illumi•
iiated. This evening Ilia Majesty will be present at
the representation of Bajaderes, at the theatre-
royal. To-morrow his Majesty will visit the field
of %Votertoo with the Duke of Wellington, the
hero of that tnemorable day.

SEPTEMBER 30.

The representation at the great theatre yesterday
evening will be memorable in our theatrical annals,
1-lis Britannic Majesty, the King, and all the Royal
Family, the Duke of Wellington, the Marquis of
Londonderry, a great number of other illustrious
strangers, as well as an i►nw►ense crowd of specta-
tors, were present, and the theatre was overflowed.
The spectacle was worthy of such an assembly.
The King of England, who war to depart to..
day, after viewing the field of Waterloo, will re-
main here to-day. His departure is fixed for
to-morrow at eight o'clock, a. m.

OCTOBER 1.

The King of England set out this morning at
nine o'clock for Namur ; he will visit the plain of
Waterloo as he passes. Ile take the road to Huy,
Liege, and Aix-la-Chapelle to Germany. His
Majesty has purchased some magnificent Brussels
lace, and some articles of jewellery of M. Dutalis.
—(Oracle to October 2 )
A letter from a private correspondent comtnuni.
cates the following further particulars :
" For the last stage to Brussels the KING was
drawn by six horses of the King of the NETHER-
LANDS, attended by an escort of hussars. His
MAJESTY immediately proceeded to the house of
Lord CLANCARTY, situate in the Park, where
the Duke of WELLINGTON, the Marquises of
LONDONDERRY Glld CONYNGHAN, and Sir 13.
BLOMETIELD, were waiting to receive him. A body
of infantry was drawn up before the Ambassador's
house, with the State band of music, which,
on his MAJEITY's arrival, struck up the national an-
them of God save die King. His MAJESTY was
dressed in • plain dark brown coat, and appeared
to be in good health and spiri's. He was well re.