The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-10 00:00:00

OF SACRILEGE.

Art. I. The profanation of the sacred utensils, and of the conc.,-
secrated wafers (hosties) is the crime of sacrilege.
2. Every overt act committed voluntarily, and through hatred
or contempt of religion, on the sacred utensils, or the consecrated
wafers, is declared a profanation.
3. There is legal proof of the consecration of the wafers, when
they are placed in the tribunals, or exposed in the ostensoir, and
when the Priest gives the communion or carries the viaticum to
the sick.
•

There is legal proof of the consecration of the pyx, the ostensoir.
the patten, and of the chalice employed in the ceremonies of reli-
gion at the moment of the commission of the crime. There is also
I•gal proof of the consecration of the ostensoir and of the pyx shut
up in the tabernacle of the church.
4. The profanation of the sacred uten-ils is punished with death.
The profanation of the consecrated wafers is punished in the same
manner as parricide.
Titre 2 (Art. 4 to 9), relates to sacrilegious robbery.
Titre 3 (10 to 13) to crimes committed in churches, or on objects
consecrated to religion.

Titre 4 (Art. 13), extends the disposition of titres 2 and 3 to
crimes and misdemeanours committed in edifices consecrated to
forms of religious worship legally established In France.

By the last intelligence from Mexico, it appears that the
Congress have carried their resolution into execution re-
specting the suppression of the slave trade. By the pro-
visions of the Legislative Act, this odious traffic is absolutely
abolished, not only as to foreign importation, but between
the States composing the Federation. All slaves hencefor-
ward imported into the Mexican Union are declared ipso
facto free, and the chief offenders concerned in the intro-
duction of them are subjected to heavy penalties of impri-
sonment and confiscation.

The new President, General VICTORIA, in his inaugural
address, speaks with great satisfaction of the internal state
and foreign prospects of the Republic. When the important
intelligence of the recognition of the new American States
by the British Government shall be received by them, we
may anticipate the rejoicings it will excite, and the highly
beneficial effects it will produce.

The Treaty for the further occupation of the principal
Spanish fortresses by French troops, appears in the Madrid
Gazelle of the 28th ult. It provides for the continuance
of 22,000 French soldiers in Spain, besides a brigade of
Swiss troops, consisting of two regiments. No period is
fixed for the retirement of this force; but it is stated to
remain " in order to give time for the complete re-organisa-
tion of the Spanish army, and to consolidete the re-esta-
blishment of public order."
A letter was received from Madrid on Saturday, stating.
that a convoy destined for the Havannah, and from thence
to the Mexican or Colombian coast, sailed from Corunna
on the 11th of December. It consisted of a forty-four
gun frigate, two corvettes, one of them mounting ST guns,
and several transports, having on board 2000 men, per-
fectly disciplined and equipped, and paid some months in
advance. _ _ _ _ _ _

Extract of a letter dated New York, Dec. 13 :—" By the
Georgian, Captain Bancroft, we have received a file of
Buenos Ayres Papers, extending to the second week in
October, but at too late an hour to permit of our giving a
full abstract of their contents. Most of the Deputies to the
General Congress had been elected, and several of them had
arrived at Buenos Ayres. It was expected that the &s-
-alon would commence in November. The news from
Chili represents the state of things in that quarter as rapidly
improving, and is mating great reformations in the Church,
curtailing the number of feast days, and secularizing the
friars. Even the Pope's Nuncio has become liberal. The
war in Upper Peru, between the Spanish Royalists and
Constitutionalists, still continues. At the date of the last
advises, the Royalists had sustained a reverse, and Colonel
Valdez, or the ilarbucho, with 309 of his soldiers, was in
the bands of the Constitutionalists."

Two ships belonging to the Anglo-Mexican Mining
Company, one in the London Docks and the other in the
Surrey Canal, are now loading with implements and tools
used in mining. Both vessels are to sail early-for Mexico.
A New York paper announces that a splendid public
dinner and entertainment will be given to the gallant
Captain Harris, of the English frigate the Hubsar, as a
tribute of gratitude for his protection of American property
and their citizens in the West Indian Seas. _ _

We have now received actual returns, which give f3r
John C. Calhoun IS electoral votes; be is consequently
elected Vice-President of the United States for four years,
from the 4th of March next.—New Turk Gazelle.

Government has resolved upon another expedition to
Africa, to explore the course of the Niger. Captain Laing,
who was at Sierra Leone under Sir C. Bl‘Catthy, who was
killed by the Ashantees, is to be at the head of it, with a
handsome salary. It is understood that he is to have two
secretaries and sixteen men. His black servant is to receive
from Government 50/. per annum whilst on the expedition,
500/. in cash on his return, and 100/, per annum for life.
This very liberal arrangement emanates from Government.
Captain Laing, being considered the most fit man to con-
duct such an undertaking, was applied to, but declined
making his own terms, leaving it entirely to his employers.
lie also leaves his reward, iu case of his safe return, to their
consideration.

The Princess Elizabeth Jamaica packet, for the sailing
of which orders went down to Falmouth on Saturday, is
immediately, after landing her letters rt Port Royal, to
proceed to Carthagena (Colombia). with the mail for that
place. Carthagcna is due south from Port Royal, about
36 hours' sail.

- It will afford our readers of the mercantile, manufactur-
ing, and other classes, pleasure to learn that the various
banking establishments in this town reduced their rate of
of interest from five to four per cent. ou the first inst.—
Lerch Mercury.
It is daily expected that some considerable augmentation
will take place to our forces. The principal feature is,
that every regiment will have two companies additional,
the Royal Artillery two battalions, the Engineers one bat-
talion. The number of new-raised regiments is not yet
decided upon.—lrish Observer.
Messrs. Wortley and Stanley, Members of the British
Parliament, arrived at Louisville, Kentucky, on the 28th
ult.—. American Papers.
As a proof of the extraordinarily forward state of the sea-
son, primroses were selling about London, in great abun-
dance, on Friday and Saturday. They were also s;:lling in
Covent-garden.