The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-06-05 00:00:00

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LONDON,
TUESbAY, Jim' s, leg'.

Last night a debate took place in the Rouse of
Commons op the third reading of Sir JAMES MACK.
IKTOSH.S. Bill fur mitigating the punishment of
forgery. The third reading having been carried
on a division by a majority of Six--
Ayes ..... 117
Noes
the Marquis of Lott normitaax divided the House
on the question " That the Bill do pass," which,
after a strong debate with closed doors, was nega-
tived by alike majority of Six—
Ares ll5
Noes
The Billie thcrefere lust for the present.

We have received a series of New York Papers'
from the I ilk of April to the Ist of May. They
announce the termination of the armistice between
BoLtwAit and MORILLO, and the resumption of
hostilities in Columbia. They also announce a re-
volution in Mexico, and although they do not con-
firm the reported capture of Peru, they bring
various details which render that event extremely

probable.
The pretended Constititionsl Aftsociation ap-
pears to-approach the limit of its exigence, or at
least its power of doing mischief seems likely to be
neutralised for ever. The County of. Middlesex
Grand Jury ou Saturday threw out four bills of in-
dictmtut fur seditious libels, preferred by this un-
constitutional Society, and the ground, as we are
given to understood, which induced the Grand Jury
to reject these bins, is* itst!they consider the Society
preferring them as ilkgol combisation." This
example of 'the Giiinti Jury of Middlesex will, we
trust, be imitated bywil other Juries. to whom bills
of indictment may be offered by this combination
of informers. The public press will thereby be

protected from a--arew and unconstitutional object
of alarm, rights of the Crown will not be arr.-
gantigAtsousned by in irresponsible Society, and a
chance *ill be afforded twit tlie'fuirds inadiertently
applied to the oppression ofthe subject WilLbe ap-
propdated t• purposes of unequivocal benefit. Had
the Minister. of the f,` menbeen sufficiently aconi-
te.e upon the insult-offered to them by the forma-
tioe of inch a Society, they would -not have suffered
the viudination of the rights sad prerogatives of the
Crolen fall upon the Middlesex Grand Jury.
It was the duty of. the ATTOSN,FT-GENEttAt. to
haveilltd:ati ittforesition against Mr. Mooney, the
attorney,: and
.others, the active members of the
Asideistirso:for presuming to uadertake the exercise
•
of mkt( .the Most serious and 'delicate duties that
appertain!..his office as -the first law officer .of the
Government. The.SobtaToa-Gawitaat., indeed,
in the Idossirrof Commons, said that' his Learned
Friend ought to feel very grateful to this Society,
who grakuitously relieved him of the most painful
part of his duty ; end further remarked, that it was
impoasible for
.the
.A/TORtlltt-GENERAL to viiiit
all the newsovenders end tract-sellers' shops in Lon-
don to ferret out subject's for criminal infornistions,
and that therefore such a Society as the present war
not only deful but necessary. Upon the first
part of this precious argument, it is to be observed
that the ATTOIMIT-CISNEItAL, in accepting his
office, must have been aware of the irksome and
painful duties that belonged to it, and have been
prepared to encounter the difficulties and inconve-
niences, as he was ready to enjoy the sweets of his
situation. To counterbalance what is disagreeable
in the office, there are annexed to it high dignity,
a large salary, a certain degree of patronage, and
the assured prospect of further promotion io his
profession. Though avowedly ministerial, the du-
ties are to be exercised with a large share of discre-
tion, and it is from the wisdom and prudence of
the individual selected to fill this high station, with
the serious responsibility attached to it, that the
pnblic me to loot for protection from the abuses of
a power which might be turned to the gratification
of personal eiiiinosities sod political prejudices.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, therefore, thus highly
endowed, and possessing so large a share of the con-
fidence of the Government, is not entitled to theme
any portion of his burden upon irresponsible per-
sons, or to complain that duties are irksome which
lie voluntarily accepted, and may resign in any.
moment at his pleasure.
If there be any weight in the observation made
by the Sotictirou-GENERAL, that the ATTORNEY.
GENtRAL cannot visit the shops of news-venders
and the sellers of political tracts for the purpose
of bunting oat subjects for prosecution, nothing
could be more easily managed then for the Arroa-
Wee-GTISIAL to cruse all suspected publication.
to be examined by • some judicious persous chose.
by himself, and the result of such inquiry to be laid
before him, that be might exercise his own discre-
tion upon the passages or works selected. But
surely it could never be the wish of any enlightened
Governmeut to set an officer to heal oat subjects
for prosecution. Those writings alone are worthy
of being prosecuted, which, from their presumed
influence upon society, or the rest extent of