The National Register.
London, England, 1817-03-24 00:00:00

POOR LAWS.

7u Mr. Curwen belongs the credit of introducirg the
mutt. of the Poor Laws to Parliament, as a subject for
immediate legislation. He has since employed irinis if
in " watering the tree which he planted"—by great
zeal in the Select Committee on the Poor Laws ; and
by diligence of another kind out of doors. A littl.
pamphlet just published in Mr. Curwen's name, wr.
take this opportunity of recommending to the notice of
our readers, as it is calculated rather to invite discltssieu
upon the actual- state and future interests of the csim.
than to lay down as positive law the sentiments and
propositions, however well digested, of the. author. Tin
title of Mr. Curwen's pamphlet is a " Sketch of a Plan
fir bettering the Condition of la:nttring Class:a of th,
Community, and for equalizing and reducing the
Amount of the present Parochial Asses.sisents." Th:s
plan appvrs, front the title-pug -, to have been submi
red to the Committee of the itaLie of COmmors. It.-
specific object setins to be the -f,stAldishment and exten-
sion of a plan not much dissimilor in its principle to that
of the present Iknefit Societies, but on a broader sale,
and with more formal nail peremptory sanctions. Mr.
Curwen does not meditate the sudden ov.rthrow of the
ancient system of laws affecting the condition of the
poor. He would, silently undermine and gradually
supersede that system, by using the great hody of the
pear themselves as the virtuous and effect:ad instru-
mews fur its final abolition. He would leave the 43d
of Elizabeth on the statute book ; b t he would slowly
and delicately confine its operation within its original
purposes, and render obsolete the abuses which has•
Been practised in its name.

The king of Spain has issued a Decree, dated the
tOth last, fix the suppression of- llexclusive privileges
respecting the fisheries, whether enjoyed by public
bodLs or individuals.
A Special Commission is expected to be immediately
appointed, fin: the trial of the persons in custody a. Lan-
caster.
SPAMELDS MkPTlso.—Mr. Clark has given notice,
"r That, as the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act has
taken place, the meeting at Spstfields will not be held
on Monday next (this day) according to adjournment."
The off in the duties of Excise has been pr.,-
gressive during the present puarter. It is stated to be
upwards of 600,0001..
The Glasgow Chronicle of Tuesday last states, in ad-
dition to former arrests, that, " on Saturday, the Hey.
Neil Douglas (representative for Dundee to the British
Convention at Edinburgh, in 1794) was examined at
Glasgow, as to his recent conduct, but was allowed to
go at large till yesterday. He was then committed fbr
farther examination on a charge of uttering seditious
matter in harangues and sertnons.:'
CHESTER, AIARCII la.--The leniency of the Government
was munitested on Wednesday, in the instance of the 21 pri-
soners charged with seditious practices, and lodged in our
Castle the day previous to our last publication. On the
above day, the Rev. C. Prescott, one of the Magistrates by
whom they were committed, accompanied by J. Lloyd, Esq.
visited them in the gaol, and remonstrated with them on the
very dangerous nature of their offence, which tended to sub-
vert that glorioas Constitution, which was still, the envy, and
had been the safeguard of Europe. The men, generally,
ex-
pressed great contrition, and voluntarily uttered to take the
oath of allegiance, which 16 of them were permitted to do,
and were afterwards discharged on their eon recognizance
to •ippear at the nest Assizes it called upon.
The business of the Essex Assizes, front the great number
of prisoners on the calendar, did not terminate till late on Sa •
ttirday se'nnight. There were in all 115 prisoners for trial,
of whom 6:4 were found guilty, and of that number 21 received
sentence of death. The JUdgc, however, reprieved 23, and
left for execution J. Clark, the father of the Elseitham gang,
W. Giffin, W. Haydon, and• Aaron Miller, all of them the pu,
pits of this wretched man, whose age is marked in the calen-
dar 5548. His lame appears to have long been the nursery
of villainy; it was there that midnight projects of robbery,
and even murder, in easels of resistance, were determined
upon. ife and sons have narrowly escaped what justice
demanded; but the merciful Jadgc who presided over their
lives, spared the sons in their youth, togive them an oppor-
,nutty to repent and atone for their wickedness. There were
many other robberies for which Clark the elder stood in-
ffeted ; bat after trying him upon sew end charges, and ?4,
&early perceiving his character, his Lordship said, that he
had, by this time, made up his mind ; and that he, alluding to
Clark the. elder, would never have an °mummify of again
• eating sheep in this country.
At tint Lincoln Assizes, Wm. Nithert, and Ann his wife,
were tried liar harglary ; the evidence was dear, bat Naliert
declared he dal it through the pc; suasion of his wife, which
she acknowledged, declaring, " I sin the wretch that have
been the cause of his committing the robbery—l have been
the pi incipal actor ; and if I only could be hanged. I should
he satisfied." The Judge observed, that in point of law Ann
Nutted cool,' not be convicted of this crime ; for as she acted
with her husband, the law regarded her as actiiig meter his
coercion. " You and 1, who are married nien, Giattlemen
(said his Lordship to the Jury ), know that this presumption
of the law i 3 often wrong, and that the husband is ton often
coerced by the wife (a touch); so however it isv that it the
two counuuit a robbery together, the husband only is answer-
able, although the wife may have instigated him to the deed—
as whilst she is with him, he is always ceasidered to coerce
her. I believe I have matte myself intelligible, although in
c-
haps my information may not be very palatable; it is not our
business to inquire why the law is so, lint it is oar duty to act
as it requires; and therefore, Gentlemen, you most acquit
the female prisoner." The Jiffy accordiugly acquittet:t the
wife, and ftiond Wm. Nothert
John Warwick and John Wilkinson, the two ruffians who
assaulted. Sir Robert Sheffield, the High Sheriff, on his re-
turn limn the assenibly•roatus at Lincoln, to his lodgings,
have been tried and convicted of the assault, and sentenced
alfl.l.tuoudas' imprisosuacat, and to be kept to hard labour.

TIM N-2.7/7s,:C.A.L Dr.G1:7;1711.

GENERAL SAVARY, AND ftWRDER OF
CAPTAIN WEIGIIT.

In this day of eventful discoveries and disclosures, we
tl? not know that any writing, containing matter of this
kind, has inspired us with a more poinful interest than
a " Vindication of General Savary from the murder of
'captain Wright and others," drawn up by the General
himself, awl published, with his name, in the last num-
ber of the Pamphleteer. We wish all the admirers of
Buonaparte's government to read this document, that
they may gain un idea of the hidden end dark atrocities
:which were committed by the Corsican and his satellites
laring the season of their elevation. Sacary is anxious
his own fame, and for that of his master the Empe-
ror, as he is pleased to call him. His evidence cannot,
therefore, be objected to by the friends or the latter.—
Upon his own showing, the murder of Ceptaiu•Wright
stands thus befbre the world: It is not denied that he was
destroyedby violence. Savary insinuates Fouche's privity
:o the crime, himself having been peblicly charged with
the commission or directiou•ef it by one D'Hencrot, an
advocate, who was a prisoner in the Temple at the time.
How insuil:ient S.tvary's defence is, will appear fram
the fidlowitr.; considerations:—" From what I hureheard
(says he) of the death of this British officer, "apt. Wright
it must have taken place in the month of November or
December, 1805" —that is, when Fouche was Minister
of Police, and had the care of the Temple ; and he then
shows that he (Savarv) was in Germany during those
months; but we appeal to common sense, whether any
thing can be easier, if this is to. be taken as evidence,
than for the most guilty person to prove his imu.cence
of a criminal act, if he may himself affix the occurrence
of that act to any time he pleases. Unquestionably the
rumour nets, that Captain Wright had destroyed him-
self after the battle of Austerlitz, and in consequence of
that event : but from whom did that rumour spring,
but from these who had an interest to disguise both the
time and circumstances of the death? And if it were
certain that Captain Wright died when Savory was at
Vienna, the defl'ace would have been complete ; it be-
came unnecessary to prove more. Why should so much
pains, then, be taken to slim that, even had Savory
been in Paris when Captain Wright was murdered,
he could not have gained admission to his prison with-
out the leave of the watchful Fouche ?.'

The Bath paper states, that " when: the Sheriff' pro-
ceeded to ask if it was the opinion of the County Meet,
ing that the address should be adopted. Mr. HUNT im-
mediately stated his intention of proposing an amend-
ment; but this was all that the meeting would hear;
for such. a noise took place, some crying out, No Htl NT'
No Spafields orator here,' Reilirm yourself;' See
Cashman's ghost !" Off', off, white fe;:ther, there's
Morley a coming !' with a hundred other opprobrious
names and epithets, that not a word could not be heard.
Mr. HUNT still persisted, but there was such an univer-
sal clamour he could not go fin. During all this time
there were not above 40 or fifty supporteis of Mr HUNT,
except about 60 or 80 boys. Notwithstanding the
Sheriff dissolved the meeting, HUNT, stil! kept his sta-
tion near the Market-cross, and seemed determined to
address those who were left : but the. Mayor intimating
that he should read the Riot Act if he did not retire,
he went to the Castle-inn, and got into.a room up.stairs,
from whence he began to address about 100 men and
boys who had followed him ; but the Mayor and Town
Clerk stating their intention still to read the act, and
enforce its powere, if he did not desist speaking, Ho NT
desired his few hearers to go borne, which they did
immediately, an& he assured the Mayor and Town
Clerk he would give them no farther trouble."

COUNTY FIRE OFFICE,
SOIITUAMPTON-STREET, STRAND.
TRUSTEES..
' The Duke of Rutland, K.G. The Earl of Upper Os.sory,
Thc Marquis of Buckingham I, .Williani Tread, Esq. Al.p.
The Marquis of Northampton. S. Bernard Myrland, Esq. M.P.
And Sixty )ircetors.

Managing Director, J. T. BAIIBER BEAUMONT, Esq. F.A.S.
11-I.:TU 11 NS to the amount of 14,5001. have been
paid within the last three years to those who have been insured Seven
Years—a greater Advantage to the Public than has been hitherto
yielded by uny well secured Establislimei:t: And the Public may
rest assured that claim upon this oMice are never defeated upon
mere legal objections. in order to enhance these returns, but that de-
mands are paid in full, with the utmort promptness.
Experience has proved that, in the business of Fire Insurance, a
large Permanent Capital, in addition to the fluetmciug assets arising;
from the premiums. is necessary for 501.111 SECURITY. This
'permanent and additional Caoktal the OriginA M.lnbers have pro-
vided to the extent of 400,0001. and they aim.: are responsible for
following arc a few among several thzasaral persons, to whom
,the above returns are now making:—
The Most Noble dm. Marquis of Buckingham .Cio 18 9
The Most Noble the Marquis of Northampton. 3'l 19 8
Mbssrs. Mercer, Uxbridge
'Mr. W illiam Hull, siet 34 19
Mr. D. S. Norton, do 4B 2 6
NI r. Thomas Kinder, 't. Alleins 37 n
Messrs. Salter and Woodman, Rickinunsworth 39 4 9
Nrressrs.. Bar: us and Austin, Banbury 49 17
T. Burr, Esq. Dimstahle 24 10 2
John Smith, Esq. thindle. Northamptonshire • !..!4 7 9
•'• Mraticiti ......... 33 11 9

Farrel- Farrel., Esq. Bratield
Messrs. Bowden and Co. I lark,thorp
hlcssrs. 'Lindley, Newark 49 13 6
Mr..l6hu Lee. Hull 43 11 6
William Math, EN: lttnnstead Al.botts, liens b3 15 0
Agents are appointed' in all the principal towns, wlw'are ales.
Agents to the Pluvideut Life Office, fouai,e4. lea similar principles,

ESSEX LENT ASSIZES.