The National Register.
London, England, 1820-02-21 00:00:00

tL
isittrs

[Pitica 90.

To perform these important functions usefully, t• • :--
tively, anti honourably, there are requisite, in the per.,,l
of the sheriff,
I. Public spirit, and independence of mind atd
tua)c.
2. llabitnal sentiments of charity for the ft:tilt:J.!. al:. I
of tenderness for the misfortunes of his fellow. beiti4s.
3. unshaken attachment to public liberty, an.; :o
the person of the sovereign.
4. Persevering vigilance in the superintendence ~1
every department of duty, taking nothing 011 trust, a.:41
leaving nothing to deputies.
~ An immoveable respect for principles, never errn-
promising them to gratify temporary prejudices or p:•.“..-
tices.
6. Courage to resist the clamours and intrigues tit
those who profit by abuses.
The details of duty are implied by the duties tilt ',-
selves; but those of primary importance are,
1. To visit the gaols frequently, and at unextweted
seasons, unaccompanied by gaolers or turnkeys, mit
care that imprisonment includes no punishment beyot.
safe custody.
Y. To ameliorate the condition of the prisoners at: 1
their faiiiilles,aird to report to the executiv.. gcnertime,t
those cases on which the law bears with unreasonable
severity.
3. To take care that no punishment is increased or. ink
to any 'popu!ar prejudice against the criminal, and Ilia,.
all the judgments of the law are executed in tenderness
and mercy.

4. To strike all • juries in rrson, and to take especial
care that the spirit ol all the laws for striking juries is
acted upon. • i,
5. To guard agehist cabals, prejuilies, intrigues, and
improper intitteuctstw juries, by calling each jiffy in 4
predetermined outer: hunt at least three remote districts
of the prise fiction. ~
6. 'ln stinunthr grand juries, in a sintitar rotation.
front aiming the'mostiiiteiligent and itinepettilent pvi-
, sons of every dis rO4 wising care that there is a due
mixture and bat 'of local interests in every grand-
jury. • r.
7. To examine minutely and scrupulously every
cliar,!e made against gaolers, turnkeys, bailiffs, and their
followers; to visit lock-up houses, and be sure that no
extortion
bail.
In a wnnl, the security, under the law of our persons
and properties, against (oppression or mal-admMistration,
is in the hands of the sheriff, and it depends greatly on
his vigilance. whether the laws serve as a means of pro-
tection or annoyance. While the verdicts of juries re-
main a barrier against the caprices of judges, and the
influence of wealth and power, it is evidently of die
highest importance that the sheriff summon them in the
way which is most likely to secure an itupanial and st,-
, dependent decision, for therein lies the essence of Eng-
lish liberty. On the intelligence and uprightness of this
executive officer depends, therefore, all that is desirable
tinder the a:minim:ion of England, and all that renders
this empire, in respect to civil liberty, superiuc to wally
other nations.

PARSECUTIONS OF THE CHRISTIANS IY
CHINA.

.~

. -7-siesise.--
A letter from a Missionary at Macao, dated the I"
of April, 1819, gives the lisllowing details upon the
persecution of Christians in China :
" livery European Priest, says the writer of the
letter, that they discover, is immediately arrested and
put to death. The same death is reserved for Chinese
Christian Priests. The other Christians, if they refuse
to deny their religion, are tortured in the most shocking
manner, and made exiles in Tartary. In the year its itt,
they hail, in the prisons of Studien alone, not less thstt
six) Christians, who expected death or exile. A Chinese
Priest had been strangled, and two others were to share
the same fate. In the whole Empire there are only five
Missionaries. At Pekin they cannot converse with the
inhabitants unless they see them privately,. .
" The Emperor has tied fired he will have no more
foreign painters, clock-makers, nor mathematicians.. 0 r.---,
The Bishop of Pekin has endeavoured in vain to ititro:s,..' . -,..Z.)
duce hittilf, tinder that title, into his diocese. Tng lA'. .
only means kft the missionaries fit correspondence wi di • . , -
the interior is to bribe the couriers passing betty 14 .s —.l" '!
Macao and Pekin : but if they are disco% turd, both -, li
instantly pin to death. Notwithstanding all the perie. , •
cutions, the Christian religion extends even amidst &ea. • , - ' N.
torments of the faithful. During sixty years past tketx•C.- mu"
have not been more than fit cor six thousand CUristiak •.e •°.jil"
in the province of Stitcher,; there are now not Its t ...as ".- r .%*".!,
sixty thousand. l'his fact will verify the aileielii p .:'st C. N'
cL.........
dietenti of Tertullian—" P.Cangmb etartyrron 3Calei (Arp- ,
litintorstx." -)t,i'd