The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-12-07 00:00:00

passed on the Jury Court of Scotland, because it appeals
that a Jury, at Dundee, acquitted an Editor of libel ; and
really, in the critical situation in which that Journal has
for same time past placed itsldf, we arc not surpri►ed that
it should feel a sympathetic tenderness for all who—even
according to its own showing—causelesaly abuse amd vilify
their neighbours. But in praising the Scotch Juries at the
expense of the Judges of the Jury Court, the Times is not
aware that it is acting in opposition to its own cause. The
Jury Court of Scotland has long been denounced by the
voice of the public as a Whig job, and almost every indivi-
dual in it, Lora the Lord Chief Commissioner Anast down
to the junior Clerk of the Court, are IVlligs ! But u one
fact, illustrative of the real value of this institution, is
worth twenty arguments, we shall just state, without note
oecomment, two elites which occur at the moment to our
recollection, and which admirably show the wisdom of
Juries among our friends to the north of the Tweed.
In the case of Leslie v. Blackwood, a Jury of the
learned shopkeepers of the modern Athena found, that
it was a libel to assert that Professor Lama was not a
Hebrew scholar, as it was proved tothcir satisfaction that
he was an excellent Hebrew scholar; and by implication,
that it was a libel on a man's eharae.er to assert that he
wrote in the ErlioLurgh Review, in which last finding, to
say the truth, many respectable individuals felt inclined to
agr:e.

In another case, one vessel ran down another at sea. On
investigation the defee.ants found that their vessel had
run demi the other from culpable neg,bnt, and permitted
judgment to go by default. The Judge accordingly charged
the Jury to give a verdict for the plaintiff: The Jury,
however, in the true spirit of independence, took a more
favourable view of the defendants' case than either their
Counsel or the Judge, and brought in a verdict for the
plaintiff to the amount of only two-thirds of his loss!

The Roman Catholics of Dublin have had an aggregate
mecing. am!, according to custom. Mr. O'Co s ELL has,
we suppose to his heart's content, abused the English
press and the English navy, and the English people, and
isdeed every thing that is English ; and in revenge for the
missions of the " Bihlemen" into Ireland, he threatens us
with a Catholic mission, consisting of a Bishop, a Priest,
and two Jesuits, to convert us to the "imperishable" faith
which our ancestors renounced three centuries ago. All
England, lie says, is in amazement at the talents of the
Catholic Priesthood, who, he affirms, are as eloquent
as Deuossites es, and more argumentative than Lucas.
Such Is the mischievous nonsense with which this Learned
Gentleman regales the Catholics of Ireland, by whom he
in return is designated " the wonder-working miracle of a
man." We wish we could treat all that passed at this
meeting wilt mere ridicule and contempt ; but we can-
not shut our eyes to the calumnies and menaces by which
the Catholic Cause has Leen latterly supported. Mr.
O'Co:s suss, as usual, ostentatiously paraded the physical
f tree of the Catholic population, and represented them
as subject to " cold, calculating persecution, united with
robbery and confiscation." Is this the mode by which
Mr. O'Cos ); IC LI. purposes to conciliate the alarmed oppo-
nents of the Catholic question ? Can he be so blind as not
to perceive that his undisguised hostility to the Protestant
establishment, and his ill-concealed and half-expressed de-
sire for Catholic ascendancy, have retarded for years the
attainment of that emancipation, which he absurdly pretends
to see as it were already accomplished? Mr. Ste s ts, in the
performance of his part, related an incredible anecdote, on
the authority of a deceased %riead. Atie are told by this
veracious ;:.eatleinan, that Mr. Peat., before he would re-
munerate some anonymous fisherman who had saved
the livss of six drowning soldiers, insisted upon knowing
whether he rtes a Protestant ! If Mr. Sti els or his coed-
jet ,rs supper: that stories of this nature advance their
same, they are wofully mistaken. 'rite supporters of the
Catholic cputiticn on this side of the Irish Channel will
turn with ilis,tust from so infamous a libel upon the nnspet-
ted character of env of the most honourable Ministers that
ever sat in the English Cabinet.

We have many times called the attention of cur readers
t) the int ffieiency of the means now in use for the extin-
guishment of public conflagrations. As, however, we
must be content with these nu ans until better can be devised
and carriul into effect, it is our duty to render them as effi-
cient as possible. With this view we have published, in
a lother column, the stations of the engines belonging to
the Fire-offices, and as we think great benefit would result
from having this list re-:whited and 'seated in every watch-
haute in London, we recommend tLc subject to the consi-
ilerstion of the Vestries.

The Duke of elarcuee visited the King yesterday.
YestAvlay the Duke of Welliugton ha.t an audience of
Lis Majtsty.

Yest.ertia's the Duke of Claretee and the Princess So-
phia visited the Du-Anvil:if Gloucester, who was so far se-
c :rend yistvritay as to enalile her'toy-1 Highness to take
as airing with the Princess Sophia, which is the first
time htr Royal Hit;hams has gone out since her india-
paKition. -

Yesterday afternoon, at two o'clock, • Cabinet Council
was held at the Fore:gn Office, lowniin4-street, which was
attended by the whole of the Cabinet Ministers, with
tine execption of the Earl of Ilarrowbv and Viscount
nolith. Tie Cabinet lkfinisters ut in deliberation about
t! tee hours.

Air. Fennesay, &King's Messenger, left town on Sunday
night fur the Netherlands.
Yesterday there was more bustle and business on the
Stock Exchange than we have witnessed for some days
past; every Security fah the influence of this change, mid
ral. accordingly. Consuls fur account, which r:),•ned at
9.11 rose in the course of the day to 94 „. Mexican, as
we expected, rose nearly one-half per cent., having coin-
menc«l at tittl and reached 6GI. (,reek Bonds have risen
from 33

In the t'out7t of King's Bench, Du;din, on Friday, an
action for IN-1 was tried, Brophy v. Jidriison. The rlefen-
:tea is the proprietor of The Dahlia Star, in which Paper
the libel appeared, reflecting in scurrilous terms on the
character of the plaintitr. The Jury. rfter a short cumul-
Willi, found a verdict for the plaintifr—damages, 300/.
1 HL PLYMOUT:I IIaIAAW.TER.The account we gave
in our last of the tlanks4e which this structure had sus-
taintrl dm ing the late galc was str:ctly correct. Groat
quantities of sten,' were by the violence of the se•a thrown
from the south &.k. roiltal over the top, and plunged
Mu) the S omit en the nerd, side. The surface, which he-
fore the gale Was nearly level, is now a complete mars of
irregular stoma without form or order; the whole appear-
ance of tile erection is qui;c changed. 'rite gales which
have mum.: edic? that on 'Tuesday the '23d have also con-
tributed to the dt struction ; bow far the real ext,lit of da-
Inapl may be we are not enabled to state, btu, if we might
jud,:e from appvaraue.,, we should imagine it to b? great.—
D. r Pieli ire rreladee.

LATt Cs•LE.—The ennsequences of the pale, when
i s etieeta shall he fully known, will, we fear, he
round to exc.s.tl any storm that ever visited this country.
Th- nice! memorable storm we believe on record, is that
whieh wcorred in November, 1703, during the reriod of
which the light-hour!. cn the lAdystsme rock, with the
!milder of it, she unfortunste Winstardey, wire buried in
the overwhelming Hood ; the accounts of this dreadful bur-
ri• an- were e)l;ected and filled a volume, and we f... 1.1 ar-
e I that if tlte inelaacholy di tails of the stern, of last
w e': w vc brought together, it would be found to equal in
s'z-, it n it exceed, the volume above aliu led tu.
mon. A

PARIS.

/ROM 001 COIIIIIIPONDIXT.

PARIS. Drc. S.

M. ne Vit./ALI appears to maintain, at his devotion, a
force sufficiently numerous to Support his power; and it is
affirmed that he even observes less management with
the DA u mils in proportion as he feels himself more assured
of the favour of the KING, to gain which is the constant
aim of all his operations. Ida has at length formed a vut
plan, which, if he should succeed in accomplishing it, will
invest him with almost unlimited authority, and contribute
at the same time to the permanence of his power. Ile
commenced its execution by bringing under the roof of the
Minister of Finance, according to an Ordonnance of the
4th November (" Its Caine et les Comptabilit?s particuliers
de Directions Generals"), the coffer containing the public
treasure, and the particular accounts of public departments,
with the exception of the Post-officc. Thus each public office
keeps the accounts of its own receipts and disbursements,
rendering a report of its administration to the Minister of
Finance. It is now intended to extend this system to all
the administrative departirents. At presort, each Minis-
ter has his particular budget which he administers himself,
having under him a cashier, paymaster, comptroller, &c.;
but by the new plan all this will be changed. M. us
VIL-
L►Le will become the administrator and the comptroller of
the whole public revenue of the State; he will then have
in his own hands the accounts of all the Ministers, and he
alone will pay all the disbursements on their orders.
Should he be able to carry this project into complete effect,
he will become in reality k Ministre unigne et tort puis-
sant; he will then take a new title, such as Superintendant
General, or the Comptroller General of Finance. It tip..
pears that he has persuaded the Kuio that by this measure
he will be able to effect such a saving in the revenue as
to cover the debts of the Civil List, as well as the current
expenses, which, it is said, exceed the receipts. However,
this pr‘ijet is likely to meet with a strenuous opposition
from the Chambers. The Directors General are greatly
discontented at being thus rednesd to mere ciphers, and
this too in breach of every principle of public utility and
of financial justice. Each has his adherents, who ate
deeply interested that things should have remained as they
were ; the heads of these different departments even have
their friends and favourites in the Chambers, who are
deeply interested in resisting this interference, and in con-
tending that each Minister should continue the adminis-
trator of his own &agate ; there are already strong indi-
cations of hostility: whether M. as VILLEs.s will he able
to infuse into his party such a portion of energy and spirit
as may enable him to stand against the storm, a very short
time will decide.

I lately adverted to another scheme of this enterprising
Minister, the proposing an Act against the liberty of the
Journals. M. Da VII.I.ELE, it is said, intends joining to
the jury, whom he purposes to elect as Judges, a certain
number of Peers land Deputies, hoping, by this measure,
to interest the Chambers in supporting it, and to give to
that inquisitorial commission a certain constitutional ap-
pearance. Ile is prepared to expect that the Chambers
will propose an amendment to his motion, for hindering.
the reprinting of books cf philosophy, and forming an in-
dex ezpargaturins, after the example of Rome. This con-
demned list, it is well understood, will he drawn up by the
.Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs ; and la librairie, the su-
perintentlance and control over all publications, will cease
to be one of the attributes of the Minister of the Interior,
and will fill entirely under the jurisdiction of the priest-
hood. Then will the liberty of the press ann be reduced
in France to the sane situation in which it exists at this
moment—if it can be said to exist—at Rome and at Ma-
drid. Whatever has a tendency to promote inquiry, or to
enlighten the popular mind in any degree, is guarded
against with a watchfulness that never sleeps. How ex-
traonlinary, that we should have to expostulate with the
clergy of France at this time of day, am! after all that has
passed, upon this insane ligotry, which they are everywhere
encouraging! IVhat dreadful infatuation can tempt tLem
to revive that spirit of intolerance which assassinated their
HENRY IV., and broke C•LAB on the wheel!

One would imagine that the present Ministry were inspired
by some evil genius, that urged them forward from one
obnoxious measure to another, and encouraged them to set
the indignation of all &asses of society at defiance. It
appears they were principally occupied, at the last meeting
of the Council, in determining the destiny of the General
Officers of the Army. M. nx DAY AS, when Minister of
War,proposed revoking theOrtlormanee which made all Ge-
neral Officers of fifty years of age liable to be placed upon
the Retired List (a ht retraite). M. az Cie Elf ONT TON-
NE az, who succeeded NI. nit DAM• I, is inspired by directly
opposite sentiments. It would appear that this Minister,
by his rigour towards the old army, was desirous of having
it forgotten that he had once served as Aide-de-Camp to
King Josses!, and that he himself cotnmandeJ a regi-
ment of deserters, in Spain, in the service of JOSEPH
NAPOLEON.

In the Connc:l of Ministers, when this question was
again agitated, the DM:Plitt; and M. in l)Awls were the
only persons who spoke in favour of the General Officers;
all the other Minist,rs were unanimous for the measure of
plAcing them on the Retired List. This oppressive and
unexpected measure will arec; nearly sixty Generals, all of
whom, with very few exceptions, have received the most
flattering reception from his Majesty (:114tat.rs X., and
must, of course, be very 11l p►epared for so sudden
reverse. It was not to have been believed, that, notwithstand-
ing all this external courtesy, scarcely two months should
elapse ere the career, in which they might have rendered
the most important services to their country, would be
closed upon them for ever.

II A EaLrm. Dec. 3.—The accounts from the rivers con-
tinue to be favourable, and state that the water is gradually

EXC.. AWil ES.-11 AURE ROIL Nov. 21.-I,sndon. 36 2: 2 CS.
35 M. Petersburg:lt. Nov. 12—lonoInn, U '23-22. Amsterdam,
Ike. 3—l4ontion, 39 6; two months, 39 4.

Coctiavaz, Nov. I.—On St. Martin's Bay, which
since time hinnemorial has been the day for fixing at Cob-
lents the average price of corn, it appeared that rye was
at 2 rix dollars S groschen for the Coblenta bushel. It
has not been so cheap fur dare eighty-four yews as it now
is; the highest prier was in ISIO, when the average price
of rye at Coblentx was 11 rix dollars 15 groachen
bushel.
We understand that the Lord Prorost has rat-tired a
alter from Mrs. Cola% now in Brighton, transmitting
tool, to the sufferers by the late fires. anti an order assn for
100 pairs of blankets, for the relief of the meat destitute.
Among the objects that attracted the notice of this benevo-
lent individual, during her recent visit to Edinburgh, was
the situation of th.t former pla a: of buainess of Mr. Coons,
in the Parlisinent-selare, now ievelled to the ground by
the late catastrophe.-1-:rliahurei Paper.
1111N1 NO I NTELLIU es.—Cupper ores Saki at Pealruth,
December 2. 19'21-1,627 ions; average produce, 61;
quantity of tine copper, 111 tins t: cwt.: 111110L111l of sale,
9,014/. Ida.; average standard, 121/. 4w.
.4. survey has been ordered for the great railway from
Glasgow to Edinburgh, ar.-i two c;m:parics hares:one:l far
carrying it into effe4t.

LITERATURE.

REVIEW OF MR. lAINGLANDS* PAMPHLET.
munTLicts, "A /REVIEW or THE WAILIHOCIING !EITEL"

[ It ichardson.]

Among the many excellent improvements which have
been introduced into die management of the Customs of
late years, and which combines the perfect security of
the revenue with the relief which it affords to merchants
from the pressure they would otherwise experience from
the high import duties, none have been more con-
spicuously useful than the liberal extension given to the
Warehousing. System. In comrquence of being permitted,
under certain restrictions, to warehouse his goods without
payment of the duties of Customs and Exeis?, the merchant
can conduct his trade with much less capital, and is en-
abled, at the same time, to sell his goods at a lower price,
it nut being necessary to reimburse himself to the same ex-
tent as it would be, if that mat:, of capital were required
which is by this means avoided. Ile remov,s his goods'
from the bonded warehouse only as they are disposed of,
and is rot called upon to pay the full duty, till he is in a
condition to receive it back iu the purchase price of his
goods.

These indulgences were conceded for the creouragemtnt
of trade and commerce, and they have mot amply answered
the purposes for which they ware granted ; but it is ob-
vious, that in prop irtion as the privileges of the Warehous-
ing System are limited to particular dock-companies, in
the same l roportion do they partake of the nature of mo-
nopoly, having the power of enacting excessive rates—as is
the case with the London Deck Company, under the .51st
George 111., without the control of law, or the chuck or
comnrt ;bon. It is clear that the best restraint upon the
enormity of dock-rates and port-charges is, to give to the
merchant the power of relieving himself from any griev-
ance to which be may be exposed in this way, by present-
ing him with the option of depositing his goods in other
warehousing establishments, in which 11).. spirit of rivalry
may enforce moderation iu charg.s, and giving him an
option in lieu of that system of exclusion which shuts hint
out from all preeretice. Having ofkred these introduc-
tory observations, we shall pi meet! to lay the following ex-
tract before the ratio?, which will enable him to form a
judgment on the merits of the question, which, in this
able Review of Mr. Llnglainl's Pamphlet, is discussed with
a force of argument and illustration, that leaves us no-
thing to add to it :
" The point at issue Is. whether or not the severnl clocks now
existing are ntifiicent for the purpretes of our inereming trade, or
whether additional a,inatimodarton more immediately proximate to
the seat of business is not rerptired, offering the only security in.
deed to the public for moderation in ehatycs, and good management?
31r. Longlandn is of opinion, with respect to rates. that the comm.-
tit ion, as he calla it, between the existing decks, is quite sufficient
Unless additional dock accommodation rear to the centre of buni-
on,' be aftl.rdert, it would be a perfect delusion to hold forth an ex-
. t eatation of advantages front any such comirmilion.
"Ruinous charga and vexatious regulations in the Port of
London hare for many years beet] tl:e theme of complaint. The
representations and remonstrances of men-limit+ and miters lace iu
many instance been elisregaided, and in others tenthly attended to,
whiht the monopolies la oenseit by certain dock companies. under
the acts of incorporation, re :tiered them indifferent to improved
mann:ten:eat. No choice leing left to the proprietors of c.insin
gouda an to the places for deposit. their interests were unawfrlahly
coosigned to arbitrary control • and it is clear that the advantages of open competition can never be enjoyed by the pohlic between the
preseot docks. heraiirei upon the expiration of the emnpulsory pri-
vilci.ees, the London decks must, from their romi:miry to the neat
of business, in comparison with the distant situation of the othern,
enjoy a visual titonopoly. It must be evident, therefore, that with-
out additional dock.accommralation near ti the centre of the metro-
poll', the proprietors of cermin goods, ennwwll.l.l by the regulations
of the Act of the 4th Geo. IV. c. 21. to be deposited is places aur-
rounded with cols, or desirous of deptiiiting them where they
would be exempt trom demands tor dr illeirecies, winild have no
choice, for even after the expiration of the ts ausive privileges, tin.
less the owner who may des:re to lodge his
,crowds at a convenient
distance from the market, chose tosittunit to such rates and charges
as the London Dock Company might think fit to exact, he wou:d
lie compelled to chtione between two evils: of tieing eximmist to
ruinous charges, or of lodging his goods in ihe AVest India Docks,
which at a distant.* of upwards of three miles from the nietropotis
might seriously obstruct the toile, it being well known that very
many goods will not find hovers unless tP!:: cm urilergo conveni-
ent personal inspection. It is etivally ianorious that tie ex.:naive
chart;es of the port, and the ofeitrt-ction to navigation front the
crowded state of the river, have induced t*.ire„•ea nierchants to shun
it, and seek the pmts of the contiaen:, uhich have affinaleal clicapfr
places flue tkpo.it, greater facilities iu the maninathiti, and
transport of merchrint.me.

" The legislature, by several Acts passed during the last three
Senator's of Parliament, has. however, made provision foe im-
proved &cal regulations, by which our trale is pottiest!y receiving
itnportant relief, and the disposition manifested by his Majney's
Government to grant every possible facility in the Operatiuce, of
commerce, now present to the Iteitishnterciant a fair mid the only
opportunity of rivaling our foreign compctitors. All that is
wanted is the means of diminishing the charges of the port, and of
further correcting certain local regulatiomv which partake ui the
character of abuses, and press most heavily ern our trade.
is It is or the last importance, theyefore. to extend and improve
the accommodation of the port, and reduce the expenses. Those
relating generally to the landing, housing. deposit, shipping, and
transit of goods, with the view of establishing a permanent reduc-
tion, mast undergo material diminution, litr the purpose of bring-
ing the Port of London nearer to a par. in those respects, with the
principal ports of the Cortinent of Europe, which, from their
greater economy in charges, will otherwise continue to attract a
large proportion of the trade of transit, which might, nay, would,
otherwise resort to this metropolis.
" Front the extent of capital. facility of negociatiem. and known
integrity of die British merchant joined with the advantages of
lindinir in the Port of London a depot for all kinds of nwreliatirlire
suitable for reinvestments, some margin in the expenses may con-
tinue to exist without detriment ; hence it follows, that we shall
not be compelled to proceed to extremes, or to inn a wild and un.
profitable race with the merchants of the l'ortinental ports.
progressive increase in our !ludo trade hrs taken place tattler the
influence of the liberal principlia which now disunguish one corn.
niercital code. and the erect produced from a temporary reduction
in some of the charges of the port. The diminution in the West
India Duck charges, by the compulsory Application of a propor-
tion of the accumulated surplus before alluded to, and the recent
reduction in the rate, which lea stun taken place upon some
articles in the Lereltin Ihwks, have been already sensibly felt ; but
what seen ity has the public that. at no distant period, an i :crease
will nos take place. unless the powerful ar.tidoie of competition is
I 11110110 ed Lt.b ex mt. During the first nice months of ibis year, as
compareAw.th a =responding period tluriag the last year, all in.
lTtlite of R 47 ships from foreign ports Ives taken piece. an ang-
int/nation or nearly 2.0 per cent. Notviiihs•arding which, se
tenure to predict that the management which exists in the London
Docks will operate to iiiminish ere r.umber of ships Whit::l shall
enter them 4111[4-4: this year. as compared with the last."
" Tile increasing crowded state of the river during a series of
pelug• no rue lint attempted so t!ens ; the necessity of additional
deck-ucnnininialatent for the increased saipplog frequenting the Iry t,
no rtl PPM has ventured to d jut:rte. Tic ,:umber of COM/ ing vessels,
as comma.d with die year 1,911, when the nee:lenity for dock-aecom-
Inuistion wax conclusively proved, and few of which enter any
dock• from the present charges and inconvenienctes, ex.iectt
12,00111 sail annually ; and the total quantity of shipping (exeltinive
of steani.bowa), wit ch it is carol:eel will entry the rut of lon.
dun this year, will not fall short el :!;1.111:11 sail. The griarancc.
tber.tfore, Dori the obstruction given 13 the navigation, is gully
istcrcasing ; and unless additional c nivesient dm-It-ace inamodation,
near tit the seat of business, is provided. it will cure itscic in a man-
ner vitally destructive t.l the commercial prosperity of the punt of
London.

• •• Mr. Longlands talks of there bring 300.0:10 tone of vacant
warehouse room in the Port of lasitioa. Certainly not, in place,
a hich are stall suitable to the trite. Tina skull vacant space
doe, hot exist where it it wanted is Intel (ride-L.lmm the Lo Aim]
Doak Catipenv havizil determined upon clpropriwing from
2)0,00lit. to 30;1,tlft.'1. to the pnrpont of eel irging their works;
anti the West Ind,a Dock eairtiail have applied to the Trrasury
for the purchase of the t (anal, and lands therentuo appertain-
ing, noon the plea of a want of sulditiolal neetturwida.ion. It in
manifest, therefore, that Inc:ruled Dock Establishment*, near the
seat of business. urn iAispensahly
%. Whilst upon the subject of the City Canal, we will obserre,
that in the (vent tot its being sold, tat' riot of transit milk in be
prestrved. It has been solemnly guaranteed to the public by en
Act of Parlianiect, and the tat for its nisintenance has il..11,11(.71 a
cliarecter of permanency. We undo stand that the projectors of
.tae et the proposal Collier Dock% itt the Isle of Dogs, arc pre-
natal to lair, base the Canal. subject to a reservation of that right
the ohject of the Vest India Dock Company respect to the
Canal may be canily discerned. Let the Proprietors 01 the East
India Dccks and hoodoo Docks look to it. list with what funds
do t::e West India Dock Company propose to make the purchase?
We hope rot wit:, part of their. surplus, as the whole has
heeri a Committee of the blouse of Commons, to be
theyroperty of the public.

(tae of the new establiahtnents it is pmposed to constntet In St.
Katharine's, and we hare been struck with the stnuti: evidence
r which pervades the proceedings before the Committees ot the liaise
of l'oninvms tti•on the improvement of the Port of lam,!,m, and
amongst the records of other public tlocuments, of the 'peculiar 6:-
nes. of St. Katharine's for such a purpose. We have already
nntieril that the t:ournissioners appoidted t. Ida the great Seal i.t
reported it to be the most eligible spot for ex:ending the legal
quays and erecting warehouses. The attentimt of the erisis•al pro-
jectors of the Landon was dire tell to it previous to !Jill, and
:hey had not only determined upon ap;ol}iett the site to a part
of their establishment. hut en arrangement for that purpose was
actually entered into with the Ci•apter of tan Hospital, under the
sanction s,f the then A aorter and S:ilieitor Gereral of the Queen,
and scant to :LA r tcet Lltr.LitiCed into one of their Dills, but was