The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-09-11 00:00:00

THE BIZTTI S II PILE S S.

LONDON,
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1819.

We stated yesterday that an application was made
on Tuesday last to the Magistrates at Manchester. for
warrants against several members of the yeomanry
corps, who have been identified as having cut and
maimed some of the unfortunate people assembled in
Peter's-place, and that the warrants were refused by
the Magistrates. A sketch of the conversation which
took place on this subject. between Mr. HARMER.
the applicant. and Mr. NORRIS, a Magistrate, will.
be found in another part of our Paper.
The Magistrates, it appears, grounded their re-
fusal to comply with Mr. HARMER'S request, on
the circumstance that the Grand Jury of the County
had already pronounced an opinion upon some of
these cases by throwing out the bills of indictment.
This would undoubtedly justify the Magistrates in
this exercise of their discretion, if the cases now
proposed to he brought before them were precisely
those on which the Grand Jury had previously de-
termined ; because it would be not only a direct
insult to the Grand Jury that a Magistrate should
take cognizance and proceed to act upon a point
already decided by them, but it would be quite
nugatory to send again to the Grand Jury bills
which they bad once rejected. But it was repre-
sented to the Magistrates by Mr. HARMER, that he

was prepared to bring forward cases never examined
by the Grand Jury, and that even in those wherein] -
the Jury had throws out the bills, he wag provided
with evidence which had not been adduced on the
previous inquiry. This circumstance, we presumes
could have been substantiated by affidavit, and such
being the case, we cannot see any reasonable pre-
tence in law far the Alagistrates' 'clops!. It cannot
he supposed, without being guilty of a libel upon the
Grant! J my, that in their investigotiott or those bills
they could have been influenced by any mint' cir-
e lances than throe which were detailed iii the
evidence adduced, it most therefore be presumed,
mid indeed the finding of the kill against OWEN,
the alarmist, warrants this presumption, that (lie
bills for cutting and maiming were rejected, not
from any principle of political expediency, with
winch, in their judicial character, they hail no con-
cern, nor from any private pique, or 'personal
affection, of which their characters iuriivpluali
must he the assurance, but solely from an limiest
conviction that the evidence against the individuals
selected %%114 incomplete. The conduct of the Ma.
gistrates, and of the yeomanry in gem-rid, was by
no means impficisted in this question, so t hat nothing
could be more erroneous than the notion that the
Grsnd Jury of Lancaster. in ignoring 11;e bills
sgiiinst Ilie individuals charged w:111 malicious cut.
ling and maiming, sanctioned or established any
general political principle. How, then, could the
Magistrates of Manchester, milers they be endowed
with the gift of second sight, determine, that Mr.
HARMER could not, by his additional testimony,
complete the chain of evidence, and thereby satisfy
the scruples of the must incredulous Juryman ?
But their conduct in refusing the application in
cases which had never been before a Grand Jury, is
still more indefensible, for, unless they choose to
libel the Grand Jury. by propagating the notion
that the sanctity of an oath did not influence their
proceedings, and that in rejecting a r,ertairs tram-
per of bills, they decided rather a political question,
than points of individual delinquency, they most
be aware that the decision of one ease depending
upon the character of the testimony preferred, could
never deter mine another case, suppoited by different
evidence.

The Grand Jury of Lancashire was discharged
on Tuesday at noon, and, we doubt not, disap-
pointed many in not Flavin, followed the example
of the Cheshire Grand Jury, and thanked the Ma-
gistrates and yeomanry of their county, for their
" zeal, courage, and fohearance," on Monday
the 16th of August. The conduct of the Cheshire
yeomanry, indeed, merited every approbation that
could be bestowed on them, but it must be left for
the Magistrates of Manchester to thank the yeo-
manry of their town—Par nobile ! Nothing, we
are confident, conld he more grstrtl•ing to the
Lancashire Grand Jury thou to be enabled con-
scientiously to praise the conduct of the Magistrates
and yeomanry of Manchester ; hut in the discharge
of their puristic duties the Grand Jury hod an oppor-
tunity of learning the teal nature of the Irau•ac.
lions in which the Manchester gentry bore so emi-
nent a part, and they thought it more merciful to
let the matter rest in silence than to express an opi-
nion which would most probably convey* censure.
We look upon the silence of the Grand Jury of
Lancaster upon this point, as a marked cot:den:nit.
holt of the whole proceedings at Manchester. The
honest and independent Gentlemen of Lancashire
could never approve of an act which huts violated
every principle of humanity, inflicted a deep wound
upon the Constitution, and stained with blood the
character of their county.

We have received Paris Papers of Tuesday last.
An article from Madrid states, that the grand ex-
pedition will certainly sail from Cadiz on or about
the 15th of this month. General SAAUFIELD, who
had distinguished himself in assisting Cr DONSIEL
to suppress the mutiny at Cadiz, and who, on
account of that service, had obtained from the
KING the rank of Lieutenant-General, has since
been nominated to a command in Andalusia, which
prevents him from accompanying the expedition
across the Atlantic. Various changes have been
made in the Commanders of the marine forces.
The frequency and variety of such alterations be-
tray great distrust of the King of Seam in his
officers.

Letters from Cadiz state the return of the Alex-
ander, or 74 guns, to that port on the 19th of August.
This ship, it will be recollected, formed part of a
squadron dispatched from Cadiz on the Itth May
last, consisting of two 74_gun ships and a frigate,
and whose deetination, from the circumitance of its

_ -
having sailed immediately on intelligence bring re.
ceived of Lord COCHRANE'S blockade of Callao,
was generally understood to be Lima. The Alexander
was the best of the liar-of-battle ships sold to Spain
by the Emperor of Russia; yet she bore the voyage
extremely ill. Being near the Line, on the 2.lst
day of her departure from Cadiz, she sprtiog her
bowsprit, and made so much water, that her officers,
together with those of the San Thelma and Perrin,
held a council of war, which determined that she
could not perform the voyage with the other., and
must put back ; she was 79 days from that time in
returning to Cadiz. The other two vessels are cotia
sidered to have reached Lima within 70 days of
their separation, as they were in the hest state. and
sailed well. The letters from Cadiz further state,
that some diseases of a suspicious nature had broken
out in the island of St. Leon. and that a cordon had
in consequence been drown round it to preveut the
infection being communicated.

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THEATRES.

COVENT-GARDEN.

The comedy of The Provoked Husband was last
night performed. Mr. C. KESIBLE appeared in
the character of Lord Townly, which he acted in a
very line stvle. Indeed we have never beheld
a inure iligilifieol or impressive representative of
the high and honourable-minded Nobleman). In
the arparation-scesie, him meting was peculiarly ex-
cellent. The firmness of the injured husband, de.
'ermined to part with one whom lie dearly loved, but
whose vices he had fosind it impossible to correct, was
beautifully blended with the agonizing feelings of the
man. Mrs. DAVISON sustained the part of Lady
Townly most successfully. She exhibited this VOW.
ress of fashion in light and lively colours. Her gaiety
was epidemic ; those who witnessed her performance
ciitiglit the infection, and became as sprightly as
herself. Ludy Grace was represented by Miss
FourE, in an agreeable m inner—and Mr. ABBOTT.
as her sober lover. ilforily, *sequined himself must
satisfactorily. 'llte cosine portion of the 'trams
was ably filled. Mr. IILANcIIARD. as Sir Francis
Wrong head, and Mr. ESlslty, as honest John
Moody, exciter' constant laughter. The hopeful
heir of the Wrotigheud family, 'Squire Richard,
wag humorously personated by Mr. LlsTON—asid
his romping sister, Miss Jenny, was represented
I with due boldness and spirit by Mfg. Glans.
After the cunteily. the opera of 'lke Barber of
Seville was perrorsord ; in which the character of
Rosiaa was sustained by Miss M. Tans (late of
the Bath Theatre), being her first appearance in
London. :Hess Taxi's figure is petite, but well
proportioned—her counteinnice pleasing—and her
whole appearance extremely prepoastaseing. She
trends the stage gracefully—and her action ex-
hibits that ease and freedom-her general man-
ners that exemption from embarrassment—which
indicate a considerable familiarity with the thea-
trical profession. She postoesars a voice, not exactly
of the first compass, but, perhaps, not far removed
from it. All tier tones are melodious—some of
them (those opproacliiiiv the counter-alto) are emi-
nently sit. They are indeed rich in melody. Min
TREE is. we have been informed, the pupil of Mr.
'l'. Cooar —slid her proficiency is truly honour-
able to her instructor. She seems more anxious
to succeed by touching the heart than by tickling
the ear—and, while we could not complain, that
there was toot a due degree of science displayed
in her different songs, we were delighted to per-
ceive that science, instead of taking the lead, woe
mane subservient to taste and expression. Her
opening duo with Liorello secured the good will of
the audience. It was beautifully sung, said was
loudly applauded. The solo that succeeds—which
taioosists of a plaintive and a lively strain—was una-
nimously encored. It was charmingly executed—
especiany the running passages. The air of May
and Dceeinber. was also encored. It was well sung
—hut is tertaioly susceptible of more force and
spirit. After these details, it is hardly necessary
to add. that Miss TREE'S debut was highly soc.
cessful. Mr. JONES, as Count Alamein', played
the animated and enterprising loser to perfection.
We were much amused by the shrewdness and
drollery of Mr. LISTON'S Figaro—end equally
pleased with Mr. FAMETT.S comic delineation
of Dr. Bartulo.

of many of the exterior requisit es. ite
1:71):8a
profession, so and such a store of grand senses ohm
he can s arcely fail of sustaining with respectability
any part he undertakes. But whether from the odd
unprepossessing nature of the character. or ff,„,,
sonic other cause, he did not please us last night
so much as on former ocrissions. It struck 04 ,ttet
he was too cold ot times, even fur a mitaistlircip,.
For instance, when the peanut girls are plav;;,.,
one of his wife's favourite airs, we thought it snout
not have been mit of character if Mr. %Vaunted
given some visible signs of the sweet and bitter re.
collections which the music must have tx,i,,„!
in
his mind. Mrs. CoxENEir repented the ir.rt of';,.
torrotess Wit:tem* with admirable inditirrence.,,i
The very opposite should he ..is
Mr. MARTIN'S TaiitS. one of the rum samliEo
aiiii interesting personages is the whole group,
the whole, the play went off with echo.