The National Register.
London, England, 1821-05-20 00:00:00

ash - vim
carr. ramirs *au.
An account of the late voyage to the Arctic Regions
hit just been published by Capt. Parry. Among the
numerous intemeting facts contused in at, the following,
oa the singular effects experienced from the intense .
cold, are not the least curious:—
" The effect of the intense cold was such on the 119th
October, when the mercury in the barometer stood at
39.70 inches, that it became rather a painful experiment
to touch any metallic substance in the open air with the
naked hand; the feeling produced by it exaelmween-
bluing that occasioned by the opposite extreme intense
heat, and taking off the skin from the part
The eye pieces of the teleecope, if suffered to touch the
face, occasioned a severe burning pain.
" When the thermometer stood at eve degrees, the
smoke of the fires in the vesicle, as it escaped from the
funnels, scarcely rose at all above the hawstnp of the
ships.
" On Christmas-day, the officers of the Redo bad a
piece of roast beef for dinner, which had been on board
since the preceding May.. and was preserved wtthout
salt, merely by the antiseptic properties of a cold aurora-
pliere. The distance at which sounds were heard in the
open air, during the continuance of intense cold, was a
matter f great surprise. People were often heard dis-
tinctly conversing, in a common tone of voice, at the
distance of a mile.
" An artilleryman, named John Smith, running into
the air without his gloves, had his fingers in half au hour
so benumbed, and animation so completely suspended,
that on having his hands plunged into a basin of cold
water, the surface of the water, was im tiediately frozen
by the cold thus suddinly communicated to it. His fin-
gers were obliged to be amputated.
" The following anecdote illustrates the dry humour
of the sailor, and his indifference to hardships of the
severest kind :—A party belonging to the Groper being
sent to surprise some rem deer, unfortunately lost thetu-
selves for several days, and were obliged to live upon raw
Fisher,
which they shot. One of them, named Peter
Fisher. being asked on his first arrival on board, what
they had lived upon—" Lived upon," said Fisher, dryly,
" the Duke of Wellington never lived so well. We had
grouse for breakfast, grouse for dinner, and grouse for
supper, to be sure."
_ y
LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OVVITG'S RR NOR,
MONDAY, MAY 14.
Mr. Denman moved for a new trial in the case of the
defendant. the editor of the Esexibwo, who was found
guilty upon an information filed by the Attorney Gene-
ral of a libel on the purity of the House of Commons.—
The trial took place before a special jury. Ten spacial
jurors were in attendance, and two were talesmcn.—.
The learned counsel said the of ion on which he
applied for a new trial was soared something similar to that in
the casco( the King tr. Cartwright. from Warwick. He
had affidavits of two of the 24 special jurors struck for
the trial of the defendant, stating that they were not
summoned by the Sheriff or his officer to sit on the jury.
He had also the affidavit of Mr. Hunt, who knew no-
thing of the transaction until after the trial. Under
those circumstances he had to submit to the court, that
there was not a competent jury to try the defendant, who
was consequently entitled to a new trial. Mr. Denman
cited the provisions of the special jury act, 3d of George
/I. as well as several decided cases, contending upon the
whole, that the omission on the part of the Sheriff was
injurious to the defendant, who had been deprived of
his special jurymen, and forced to take talesmen. He
also argued at some length upon the mischievous con-
sequences which might arise from the sheriff having the
power to omit summoning any jurors he might please to
except. It might se happen that he only summoned
two of the special jurors, leaving the ten others to be
chosen as talesmen, and those ten might be the defen-
dant's enemies.
Mr. Justice Bayley observed, that any Sheriff acting
partially would be liable to punishment, and the defend.
ant, if injured, would be allowed a new trial.
The court, taking into consideration all the matter
urged by Mr. Denman, were of opinion that he had 'I
made out no ground for a new trial. It was not sug-
gested that there had been any collusion on the part of
the sheriff, and the court was not bound to impute a
crime where there was no proof. Independent of that
consideration a compliance with the motion might en-
tirely change the verdicts in civil and criminal cases.—
if the omission to summon one or two jurors out of the
24 was to be the ground of a new trial. it would take
away the principle in criminal jurisprudence so favour.
able to the defendant. namely, that the defendant once
acquitted could not be tried again. If, after acquittal,
it should appear that one of the jurors had not been
summoned, the crown would have the same right to ask
a new trial. The motion was refused.
Mr. Gurney then said, if it would suit the conveni-
ence of the court, judgment would be moved against the
defendant on Thursday sennight.
"f ne Chief Justice said, the court did not object to
that day. He then intimated that Mr. Denman was at
liberty to make any motion against the sheriff which cir-
cuaostauces might justify.
THURSDAY, MAT 17.
LIBEL ON THE QUEEN.
VMS Lige V. BLACOW.
When the peremptory paper was called on, this cause
stood the first.
The Lord Chief Justice intimated that as it had been
partly heard when Mr. Justice Best was present, it had
better stand over for a day or two.
Mr. Brougham hoped the delay would not be long, or
he should lose the benefit of the application.
The Lord Chief justice.—.. A delay of a day or
two will nut prevent the rule being made absolute this
term."
Mr. Brougham—" It may, if your Lordships should
listen to the extraordinary arguments of my learned
Mend Mr. Park on the subject of affidavits."