The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-04-12 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF TIRE BRITISH PRESS.

SlR—There never yet was an establishment fraught
with service to the public but it was sure to rouse a host of
irreconcileable enemies with when interests it cnmes in'
contact. It was not, therefore, to be expected that such an'
institution as the EQUITABLE Loss BANS should be in-
stituted without assembling the whole corps of PAWN-
co E as, who, representing themselves as about to become
"an army of martyrs," appeal to all powers, high and
low, against this encroachment on the privileges and pro-
fits of the;r end/. A Meeting has accordingly been sum-
moned at the Korn Tavern, in Ilwtors' Commons--s very
awkward association this, but, no doubt, a very appropriate',
one--and a certain set of resolutions passed unanimously
against all projectors who, wandering near their three balls,'
molest their ancient, though not solitary reign, and disturb
them in the sacred exercise of their franchises. The first
of their resolutions—Jiturs 11'llowm.t. in the chair—is,
" That this Meeting learn, with equal consternation and
surprise, that a 1)1811 is organis.d, and a vast sum of money
raised. expressly to operate, ,not simply to the pawnbrokers
prejudice, but to their ruin.
Ep.al consternation nod surprise!! "Give us a glass of
hay 'awl hqp," says MATH EWS, "and don't mix it." But,
however nicely these compound quantities of alarm were
divided, there was certainly no dash of truth iu the mix-
ture. Quite the contrary. It, indeed, the protection of
the public from fraud and extortion is necessarily connected
with the ruin if the pawnbrokers, their consternation may
he accounted for, but it was hardly discreet in them to de- •
clare this: the fact may be true, and I have no doubt it is;
but it was not a wise resolution that disclosed it. What-
ever tends to encourage lawful matrimony, tends, in the
same proportion, to lessen the contraband commerce of the
sexes ; and, could the latter be effectually suppressed, we j
might soon exre..t a coj*cil to be summoned of all who
lived on the wages of prosiltution to declare their roaster-
nation and surprise on finding a plan organized expressly
to operate, not simply to the prejudice of their ogling, but
the main „/'their had(
It would be nncandid tetkindemn any class of persons in
the aggregate. Sonic pavinbrekers there are, and it would
be very hard if out of such a swarm there were not a few,
who conduct themselves with honesty and uprightness.
Such persons, neither the Equitable Loan Establishment,
nor any other, will at all affect. In this Metropolis, no
man, dealing honestly, need fear ruin from any competitor.
honesty is too scarce an article for any one to cease dealing
with the owner of it, when once he has found him. But
too many of the class lam adverting to,—l fear the great
majority,--should they fortunately be swept bum the circle
of competition, would find their account in besting hemp,
and the poor would be great gainers. The faeilitks afforded'
Ly the pawnbrokers to raise money, and the prods exacted
from those whoseilistrtis or profligacy compels them to raise
it, is sufficient of itself to male us grateful to any persons
of character and capital who will embody themselrasfor the
purpose of relieving the public from so prolific s source of
evil. Mr. Cotme not: N, a Magistrate, whose testimony on
such a subject is beyond all exception, when detailing in
his " twine on the l'oliee of the Metropolis," the various
tricks and devices of the different description *reheats that
obtain the means of living in idleness, and upon the in-
dustry and property of others, begins his list with—
" I. SHA UPERS who obtain licences become eswx-
aßO LIGs, and bring disgrace upon the reputable part of
the trade, by every species of fraud which can add to the
distresses of those who are compelled to raise money this
way ; for which purpose there are abundance opportuni-
ties. Swindling pawnbrokers of this class," be adds, are,
uniformly receivers of stolen goods, and, under the cover
of their licence, du much mischief to the puldic."—P. 144.
When it is estimated that upwards of a million
sterling in value of the property of the most dis-
tressed portion of the community, and, in consequence
of their distress, least able to protect themselves against
imposition and injustice, is in their possession, can we
want any stronger appeal in favour of the utility of
such an establishment as the Eourrases Losn Bans?
Is it possible to render the community a more essential and
lasting benefit than by withdrawing the more wretched of
its members from the cruel grasp of such extortioners, of
whom they are the defenceless and perpetual prey "Al-
!bough it is of the utmost consequence,' says the en-
lightened and intelligent Magistrate, whose work we have
just quoted, " that this class of persons, above all others,
should be honest, correct,- and even humane, characters,—
and it is to be hoped many of them are of that desnriplon,—
yet, certain it is, that any person, even the most notorious
rogue and v•igabond, who can raise ten pounds to pay for
a licence, may at present set up the trade of a pawnbroker ;
and it is even said that some have got licences who here
'act molly been nn board the hulks !—s thing unacoidabk ander
the present cireamtstances."
The body of pawnbrokers then, who met in council at
the Horn '1 avern,are manifestly not borne out in assuming
that their personal profit is identified with the good of the
commonwealth. The description given of them as above
us but too correct, and the most candid cannot add largely
to the exception. To rescue the indigent from the fangs of
sordid self-interest, is of itself a great public good, and
whatever the establishment of an Equitable Loan Bank
may reform of this wide-spreading misery, is so much
gained to the increase of private happiness, and of public
prosperity. I an, Sir, yours, Rec.
• LOOKER-ON.

The Declaration of Independence of the Paella of Egypt
is confidently affirmed in the most recent !etters from
Trieste and Leghorn.
PA LM SUNDAY.—In consequence of the numerous
atrocities and depredations annually committed on Palm Sunday,
on those who resort at an early hour on that morning to llornsey-
wood, for the purpose of palming, a great number of police officers.
rtish constables, and Bow-street patrol, well armed, took their
stations in the wood, and on different parts of the road leading
thither. before day-ltght appeared ; and although the warning was
very unpropitious, the snow falling very thick, the road leading
thither was crouded with groups of young men and women, some
carrying baskets with refreshments. The light lingered gentry, and
other gangs of ruffians repaired thither, also for the purpose of
plunder. Some few robberies were committed, in spite of all the
prseaution used to prevent it. Several ruffians were apprehended,
and will be brought to Ilatton-garden office this day for examina-
tion. The public-houses all along in the neighbourhood were filled
with young tqlks, who returned to town entssfied with obtaining a
sprig of any kind of green in commemoration of the day.
Co KO len I NQIVIEST.--PotiON.—OM Saturday evening
last an inquest was held at the Primers' Arms, in Broughton-road!
Sidford, on the body of Lathes Wood, a young woman about lri
years of age, who had died at the house of Mr. Jinn Nadin, in
Dmughton, under the following circumstances ;—The father of
deceased had been a lam t in Lincolnshire, but being unfortunate
had removed to klancliener, where be was employed by Mr Nealin
as gardener, &c. and his daughter occasionally assisted in Mr. Na-
tlin'a house. On Thursday Ipornhig she rose early, and took some
brimstone and treacle. fn short time afterwards she war seized
with sickness, and on being questioned by Mrs. Nadin, said site had
mixed with the brimstone and treacle some cream of tartar which she
got out of a bag at home. As the symptoms became more violent, •
surgeon was called in, who suspected that she had taken something
deleterious; and on examining the remains of the medicine, it was
found to be strongly impregnated with arsenic. Emetics were ad.
ministered to the unfortunate girl, but in vain ; she died on the
Friday morning. Her body was opened, and a considerable quern.
tidy of arsenic was found in the stomach. When the father of the
deceased watt examined, he stated that he recollected bringing with
hilts from Lincolnshire a quantity of corrosive sublimate (as he be-
' lieveds, but which no doubt was arsenic, which the deceased had
'mind, and taken instead of cream of tat tar. There was not the
slightest ground foe supposing that she had intentionally poisoned
! herself. TM Jury therefore returned a verdict of " Accidental
Death." It was extremely fortenste that the deemed rose tonsi-
-1 derably earlier than the rest of the family on the intoning on
which she took the fatal minute. Another servant and Mr. Na.
din's children were to have token a part of the medicine ; hut be_
fore they came down stairs she had begun to feel the effects of the
poison, and they prudently abstained from tasting ft.—Mune/utter
' Guar dial,.

DULL PCIVENTET.—At an early hour on Thursday
morning, a meeting took place in a field about three quarter of a
mile beyond Lambeth, between F—C---, Esq. and Captain
ID—, late of the Royal Navy ; the Water eman attended
by J— ll—, Esq. the latter by F.— L.—, Esq. When
the parties were assembled, very considerable delay occurred in the
adjustment of the preliminaries as to ground and distance, which,
however ?limpet-able to the combatants, ultimately prevented any
resort to hostilities, at least fot the present. The ground having
been laid down, In what is called French drain, Captain s
friend objected to the gentlemen lighting along the ridge, which
would, he justly observed, ^re an shiest onerrity director. This
point being conceded b the opposite pasty, the distance was me..
cured across; the combatants agreed to tire by signal, and had
actually received their pistols, when 14r. Stamford, a Magistrate for
the county of Surrey, leaped Isis horse Into the field. attended by
some or the patrol. who had suspected the gentlemen's hostile inten.
dons, by seeing diem oat at so early an hour. Captain D-- .nd
ha word attempted night. bat were Intercepted, and the principals
and won& at iettr side wen eventually bound over to keep the
mai. A difference at petal's on a gams at billiards is said to
bate Ars: nosed the taut&