The National Register.
London, England, 1821-12-16 00:00:00

LanDon :
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16.

On Friday last that infernal crew, which by a.
most signal misnomer has ycleped itself the " Con-
stitutional Association," was interrupted in its career
of infamy, by the determination of three Special
Jurymen of their own selection, who declared upon
their oaths, that Mr. Sheriff Garrett was to all in-
tents and purposes a Member of the Society at the
time of returning the list of Jurors, from which fact
the Court deduced, that he was so far contaminated
by such association as to render it doubtful whether
or not he made the return fairly and impartiolly.—
The business, as will be seen by our report, stands
over fur the present; we hope the Gang will not
he chop-fallen, for their disappointment in the
present instance is equivocal; and we shall not be
satisfied until they shall have been convinced
by the verdict of their countrymen, that Eng-
lish Jurors will not lend themselves to the
views of a few needy pet sons, such as bankrupt
linen-drapers and clientiess lawyers, who have
duped sonic persons of property into a belief, that
the devotion of their wealth to their means, would
really serve their country—that a Commission of
Lunacy ought to issue against such persons cannot
be doubted, for the fact alluded to proves that they
are incompetent to take proper care of their money;
at all events, it is to be regretted that two or three
persons, whose very acquaintance would be a mark
of indelible disgrace, should have been able to in-
duce parties of really honest intentions to open their
purses in furtherance of a plan, which if successful
must entirely he destructive of what remains to us
of the freedom of the Press. We ouuld riot but
lament that Mr. Thelwall, who 30 years ago, nobly
withstood the attempts of a powerful Junta, to
crush him by :indictments for High Treason, should
prove his approach to " second childhood" by his
whining about "a prosecution hanging over him,"
and even offer to give up the advantageous ground
lie had been placed upon, by Mr. Scarletes able and
successful appeal to the laws. Mr. T. however, was
to consult his legal adviser, and we have no doubt,
he would remind him that " When you strive with
Rogues, you should take all advantages."

The Marquess of Wellesley has been sworn in
before the King as Viceroy of Ireland. This is an
appointment directly opposed, in our estimation, to
the want of the present moment.—The Marquess
during his Governor-Generalship of India added so
exceedingly to his original aristocratical ideas, that
we believe conciliation, which ought to be the very
first means tried, will with him, if tried at all, be
the last experiment. Cannon, musketry, and all
the !mail addenda of war, must at times be used
against an enemy ; but far different means should
be first tried to reclaim the misled subjects of an

English King, and we repeat our declaration that
an extent of amelioration of condition which Ire.
land may on simple justice demand, would effect
more towards the restoration of her tranquillity,
than twenty Special Commissions, although each of
those Commissions carried a carte blanche power to
hang every one who might be even cl.arged with a
crime.

Of Mr. Goulbourn, who is appointed the Mar-
quess's Chief Secretary, we need say nothing to
those who have either heard or read his conglome-
rated appeals to the House of Commons—Speeches
calculated to mystify the plainest questions radiir
than to elucidate them.

A Commission is going out. to the West Indies, to
inquire into the F tate of the negroes who have been
placed by Government under indentures now• about
to expire, and for the purpose of devising means of
disposing of them hereafter.

It is understood that Clerks in the Public Offices
are not in future to succeed according to seniority,
but that their advancement will be regulated by a
Ministerial sense of their claims to promotion.—
I Tnder such a state of things it is not difficult to
forsee what qualities will prove the best recom-
mendations to the favour and patronage of the
heads of departments ; snpplcness, scycophancy,
and servile, blind subserviency will be the grand
requisites, and unfailing roads to preferment. Mi-
nisters are indebted to the malignity of "Joint Bull"
for the hint, and we trust that they will have suf-
ficient candour to acknowledge the obligation. It
has recently been discovered that some stubborn
scions of independence have struck root in the very
atmosphere of corruption, and this measure is adopt-
ed in order to eradicate such unwelcome intruders.
But thus it is that weakness, suspicion and injus-
tice are ever inseparably associated !

We have learnt so much of the scale of the reduc-
tions, as to be assured that they will fall heaviest
on those who can least afford them; but this was to
be expected from the rulers, who invariably proceed
in an inverse ratio to true policy and humanity.
It is said that Lord Cochrane has realised, by his
nautical exploit* in the Pacific Ocean, 'about sixty
thousand pounds.
The Parish of St. Mark's, Liverpool, has done
itself the honour of publicly subscribing for the pay-
ment of the fine of the Rev. Mr. Blacow, on the
express ground that it has been incurred " solely by
the conscientious discharge of his duty:" Accord-
ing to the sense of this remarkable parish, who ap-
pear worthy of their minister, the abuse and trasb
which flowed from their pulpit were zealous, evan-
gelical, and justifiable. Had these good people, in
pity to exceeding weak intellect, and in conse-
quence of acquaintance with the man, anbscribed
privately for his remuneration, the thing might
have passed 1 but this public act of folly, looking at
the gross nonsense as well as rancour which is vin-
dicated, forms one of the strongest instances of
stultification upon record.
IMPROVEMENTS IN WI STMINSTER A net:v.—The
interior of .Westminster Abbey, and the venerable
monuments which it encloses, are now undergoing
a thorough repair, in pursuance of a late resolution
of the I)ean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey.
On Monday near a hundred workmen, stone masons,
bricklayers, painters, carpenters, sculptors, &c. were
engaged to carry the resolution of the Dcan and
Chapter into effect, under the able direction and
superintendance of Mr. Chantrey, Mr. Theckstone,
and other artists of acknowledged talent. Messrs.
Glanville and Radcliffe have the superintendance of
some of the works. The alterations in the choir
will be very considerable, and the cleaning and re-
storing of several of the monuments have been com-
pleted. A number of men are, during the day,
drawn up by pulleys, in baskets, to the roof of the
Abbey, tor the purpose of cleaning, repairing, and
painting the ceiling. The whole of the iron railings,
which were erected round the various monuments,
have been removed. They were so much decayed
and broken (being made of wrought iron, which so
rapidly decomposes), that they gave a most miserable
appearance to this otherwise grand and beautiful
mausoleum. There will be no railing; again erected,
but persons will always attend visitors, and prevent
them from injuring the works. The windows have
all been cleaned and repaired, and the different wood-
work re-gilt. The grand organ has been repaired
and new varnished, and the pipes have been gilded.
The expence of these improvement will amount to
several thousand pounds, and are to be defrayed out
of the funds of the Dean and Chapter.

The Speaker of the House of Commons has is-
sued his warrant for the election of a member to
serve for the county of Antrim, in the room of H.
H. J. Seymour, Esq. deceased.