The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-09-01 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS•

watchman, and the mis-statement of an arrogatO and im-
pertinent constable, if in accordance with the momentary
caprice or humour of a :Magistrate, arc quite sufficient
causes to expose the most honourable and innocent man to
the disgrace and infamy of a sentence to the tread-tnill !
Such is positively the fact, as matters now stand ; and,
with all due deference to die impartiality and good sense
which weacknowledgeastlistinguishing g.•uerally the Magis-
tracy of London, it is not the leas certain that the whole
population of the metropolis is amenable to the despotic
operation of their authority. We have often happened to
be witnesses to abuses ameng many rude and grot,sly igno-
rant subalterns of the police; and we confess that we have
seen enough to blame. We maintain that no legal hope-
ditnent exists which ..bould prevent people from standing
and quietly talking to each other in the streets. The
power that would prevent an act so natural, so perfectly
inoffensive, and so intimately connected with the personal
liberty of every man, is merely arrogated by Police Magis-
trates, and is not derived from law. It cannot, indetd, but
appear a strange inconsistency, among a people who daily
boast of their freedom, that to innocent an exertion of their
will and pleasureshould make them liable to the most in-*
jurious misconstruction of motive—to imprisonments more
or less short and severe—to the exposure of one's name in a
police report—to the ridiculous colourings and sarcasms of
evt•ry would-be facetious newspaper reporter—and to the
indelible stain wliielt a £etittrce to bard labour must cast
upon a man's character for the remainder of his life ! We
have, like our Correspondent, resided in countries where
despotism reigns with the most uncontrolled sway ; and we
have cirtainly found that personal liberty is much better
understood even where it is mostly dependent on the au-
thority of the police, and much more respected when po-
litical causes arc not in question, than it is, in many re-
spects, in England, where a superabundance of petty
laws and regulations every year progressively infringe
upon it.
It may be teo much to require of Mr. PI:FL that his
labours for the improvement of our laws should at once em-
brace a thorough reform ; but it is hoped that the defects
' to which we here allude will be deemed of sufficient para-
mount importance to be among the early subjects of con_
sitleration in the improvements contemplated by that en-
lightened Statesman.

CITY, TIIIIIVIDAY EVENING!

Consols, which closed yesterday at 791, were put at the
same at the opening of the market this mornings bat
there was no disposition to do business at that price. Soda
transactions took place at an eighth, but there was an
evident 'shyness on the part of buyers, and they went
gradually down to 78,1. About tme o'clock some over-
whelming sales were made, which sent them down to 781,
and they eventually closed ■t 743 i /. Numerous reports
were put in circulation. Approaching ruptures with va-
rious Powers were insisted on. With France and America
war was hula to be certain, and the right of navigation on the
Rhine was to invoice poor England in still deeper turmoil.
It is needless' to say that these reports were received with
much suspicion ; as, indeed, well they might. It is neces-
sary

to give a colouring for any decided operation in the
market, and these,:no doubt, were so intended. The man-
ner in which CoViols have been got up and pushed
down within the last three days, and the failures that
have occurred, with other transactions " too numerous to
be mentioned," prove that there has been some dequilaial
selionseof imenogernent in the closing of the last Account.
The next important feature in the news of the day, and
which was said to have had the effect of depreciation, was
an announcement, said to be upon good authority, that
the Cabinet Council had determined oft issuing an order
for the admission of Foreign Grain, and that the porta
were to be immediately opened. The necessity of pre-
cautionary measures for the subsistence of the people will
fully justify the act in question ; and, looking at the state
of things generally as regatds supply and consumption,
there is little or no doubt but that it is true that such a
resolution has been come to by his Majesty's Government.
In consequence of the news from India, as to the termina-
tion of the Burmese war, India Stock has advanced S per
cent., being now at 235-6.
This was settling day in the Foreign Market, which has
not gone off without displaying its share of defaulters, but
the names of the individuals are not of any eminence in
the Exchange.
A Mr. SMYTH arrived in town this morning from Vera
Cruz, via New York, charged with despatches from the
Mexican Government to this country, and he confirms the
report of a large sum of money, in dollars, being ready for
shipment on account of the dividends. His statement
goes a great way to confirm the account contained in the
letter szlikessed to the proprietor of the North and South
American Coffee-house, which was given in the British
Press of the 2th inst. Private letters also state the fact
so to be: the following is an extract from one received this
morning:—

"4 VEDA CRUZ. JUNE 26, IP2II.
" Money has of late been very scarce here ; but a few days ago
we got same through a contuda (convoy) from Mexico. She brought
ab nit 1,200,0110 Jollisrp. of which 500,000 against the Loan are to
be shipped to Englund."
It is also now asserted, that whether the dollars arrive or
not the dividends will be paid. The consequence of these
communications has been, that Mexican Bonds went up to
53; but at the close of the market did not bear a higher
quotation than SG to A. Greek, Colombian. and Spanish,
are stationary. It is said that the Duke of WELLINGTON
is about to proceed to Madrid on a special mission.
In Shares there is hardly a quotation ; Brazilian have
still further declined to 7 premium.
The Colonial Market goes on very steadily, at improving
prices, both in Sugar and Coffee ; and, from the terms upon
which tlicGovernment contract forltuin wasconcluded to-day
the prices are greatly superior to those of recent date, being
at 2s. 3ld. per gallon average, five per cent. below proof.
East India produce retains its price, with a steady market.

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MOVEMifiNTS.
The Doke and Duchess of Bedford and family have arrived at
tht ir seat in 'co land, from %Woburn Abbey.
The Duke of St. Albans left town yesterday, for Salt-hill,
Ecrk&
The Ma-quls of Clanricarde left town yesterday, for Brighton.
The Earl and Countess of Plymouth arrived, on Wednesday, at
their house in Grosvenor...moire, from Earl Craven's sest, in lbws.
Lord and Lady Henry Chohnondeley arrived in town, yesterday,
from Long Diann.
Lord Frederick and Lady Louisa Beauclerk have left town, on a
visit to the Earl and Countess of Verulatn, at then neat, Gorham-
bury, Herts.
The lion. %%rm. Ponsonhy arrived yesterday at his house in St.
James's-square. from Poole, Dorsetsliire.
The Hon. Col. Edward Lygon left town yesterday for his seat,
‘Vorcestershirm
The lion. George and Lady Georgina Agar Ellis arrived, yes.
te May. at their house in Spring-garders, from the Grange; llama.
Sir Thuataw and Laity (Minch and family arrived yesterday a.
Jordan's Hotel, St. James's-street, front • tour. Sir John and
Mr. Shelley left dial, 1.07 us,e x.
('plain Conmy arrived yesterday at Kensinpron Palace, from
Tunbridge Wells,
The Rev. J. Eyre and family have left Newark, Notts, for Scar-
borough, Yorkshire.
Robert Heroics, Esq. has left his seat in Kent. for Hereford.
Charles Stanley, Esq. left the St. James's liotel, Jerniymstreet,
yesterday, for Che<bire.
Mr. and Lady Caroline Card have left town, for their seat, Mey-
riek-Lodge,Sunningbill, Berks.
Mr. and Mrs. George Wilbraham and family have arrived at
their seat. Delantere- House. Cheshire, from South Wales.
Miss Mellish arrived, yesterday, at het house in Stanhope-street,
May Fair. from Brighton.
Arrivals at the Royal Hotel, St. Jamees-street :—Sir 11. Askew,
and Cane, Esq. from tour& F. J. l'age, Esq. has left ditto,
for Holly Hill.
Arrivals at the St. George's Hotel. Albemarle-street:—Lord Vis-
count Cranley, from his seat irt Surrey; Lady Cranley and fami
front a tour ; unit Mrs. Clifton, front Brighton. The lion. Alr.
Dawson and Mr. Dixon bare left ditto, for Windsor.