The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-05-23 00:00:00

'TI-LE BRITISH PRESS,

LONDON,
TUESDAY, MAY 43, 1820.

A bill of indictment for high treason against the
hOturuotis George Edwards was on Saturday last
submitted to the Grand Jury for the county of
' Middlesex, and was yesterday returned as • true
bill. Among the witnesses examined upon this
osfasion were, the widow and son of Thisikwood,
and the widow of Brunt. The examinations were
received on Saturday, but the Jury, after having
dehberated upon the subject for some time, de-
clined coming to an immediate decision. The
further consideration of it was therefore adjourned
until Monday; consequently the final residuum' of
the Grand Jury yesterday, in favour of the bill of
indictment, must be considered as the result of
much serious reflection and anxious impsiry. It.
was staled iu a Sunday Paper, that the 1..11 had:
been found on Saturday, soil some of tlif
Mg Papers of yesterday repeated this statement ;
but we doubted its correctness, and thevibleare
chord inserting it. Edwards has, fur the prevelit„,
escaped the pursuit of justice ; but a teumeisP
100/. (we understand) either has been, or wily
shortly be offered for his apprehension. , . •

The trial of this man, should it ever take
will, it is :i.ought, throw very considerable light
upon the nature of his connexion with the Ministers
of the Crown ; but whatever may be the guilt of
this individual, nr the in.li•cretion of those who
employed him, it must he Manifest to the meanest
comprehension that the proof of either ran in no
degree diminish the nctual criminality of the
wretched men who have already paid the furfeit of
their lives or liberties. in consequence of the recent
trials at the Old Bailey. The guilt of the live
men who were executed was not only proved on
their trials by the most conclusive evidence, but it
was most preposterously made a theme of exults-
lion by the sufferers themselves, even to the verge
of eternity. For these men, therefore, . let no
sympathy be excited. If they did not themselves
devise the plan of assassinating the Ministers, they
so far concurred in it av to make it their own ; they
.undertook the immediate perpetration of the crime
at winch humanity shudders; they prepaied them-
selves and equipped others for •the dreadful deed,
and they would, we doubt not, have attempted to
execute it. That sensibility must be morbid, in.
deed, which could lUDS fll over their fate, while it
contemplated with callous indifference the dreadful
conseqnetices of the atrocious design ivhieli these
desperate men had cherished and matured, with the
firm resolution of I•nttiug it into exectittoo..
The proceedings, therefore, against Edwards can
evidently have no retrospective effect upuu the crimes
or characters of those who have stiff, ►rd. Tins ills-
tincticn cannot he too much enforced, because some
attempt. ha ee been made to iMply the intiocence of
Thistleieutal from the supposed guilt of Edwards,
and to represent the Coatis of Jutatice as instru-
ments of vindictive cruelty ; but it is further neces-
sary, because those who vii,3l to screen Edwards
from justice and the indignation of the public, have
very falsely and ungenerously imputed motives to
those who I►uve urged this proceeding agliiett Ed-
wards, inconsisteot with the duty and loyalty which
every 111311 owe. to the Government from which be
receives protection. It must, however, be recol-
lected, even by those who are most auxtous to sup-
press inquiry, that the spirit of our free constitution
ex prrs.ly reveguixes ministerial responsibility, and
prescribes the MUMS of investigsting every occur-
rence in which the discretion of Ministers may seem
to have been exercised with questionable propriety.,
When Mr. Alderman WOOD suggested the tape-
diency of submitting the circumstances of Edwards`
connexion with the Muenster' of the Crown to a Sr.

ere Committee, es the most effectual means of unit•
iug delicacy with a due regard to the public service,
his pot/position was rejeCted in the House of Cam-
swats upon a 'moot of strict form. and be was de.
sired by Mr. CANNING, amidst a profusion of ee.
caws. juke*, to 4, travel the high Fowl to justice
.like any, other subject ; fur slon•lgh the worthy
Alderman was a fresi mau. yet he nrs only a sub-
ject !" We will not soy that those who then re.
coMmended au applicattuu to a Court of Law on

this of wereasstred that is the t4ean.time Ed-
wards wosid be enabled to escape from joserae, bus
the recoraasendstioa was given, and the result is
that the Grand Jurt of Middlesex have foutul a
true bill. The criminality or innoc.nce of Ed-

neither estenoote nor exaggerote

the guilt of those who have suffered, but the trial
of this wan is the ouly means of ascertaining the
endure of the system of espionage which has been
introduced, or is likely to be established in this
country under the present 111inistrrs. While the
point remains general as it is at pima'. the Par-
liament cannot determine whether the employment
of spies is in our Government an act laudable or
censurable, but' if by the result of a trial at law,
the particulars of such employment and the nature
of the instructions given to spies can be ascertained,
au opportunity will then be afforded to Parlia-
ment and to the country to declare, whether the
practice and printiples hitherto observed ought with
propriety to be cont►nued or destroyed for ever.

‘Ve have received Paris Papers of Friday last.
The circumstances that have led to the arrest of the
ifi•haulled Officers at 13erialorm and Lons.le.Saul-
Met seem to have been of the utmost importance ;
but in the present eualaveil state of the French
yeas we must expect to find every matter of
public interest enveloped in mystery. The Jon?-
eel des Debats, alluding to this circumstance,
says, that it was unwilling to speak of the affair
as bearing a political character until it had ascer-
tained how f,r such • supposition was supported
by facts, but that Unhappily the cause cf its reserve
is removed, and that doubts can no longer he en-
tertained that these persona arrested were the
framers of a very extensive conspiracy. Two of
the principals, Julien Combes and PaMiami, had
I left ['aria for Besancon with the supposed inten-
tion of executing their project; but their designs had
been known to the police of the metropolis, and
they were iti consiquence followed from Paris and
arrested. Soine papers, it seems, were seized at the
house of • seller of wine, one LEOENDRE, among
which was found a register of the persons implicated
in the conspiracy. The Journal des Debuts further
"Yet.. " %
*hall not now speak of the projects
which fee attributed to the prisoners. Placed in
the (Sande of jastice, from it alone ought such dia-
-1 coveries proceed. It is sufficient to announce, that
I,llCcoraing to public rumours, the atrocity of the
designs attributed to them surpass all belief." The
crime. it is evident, was to have been perpetrated
iti the vicinity of Besancon, or Lons-le-Saulnier,
on the route which is now traversed by.the Doke
of A NGOU hew e, and as the arrests took place only a
few days before the arrival of his Royal Highness
at Besancon, it is not improbable thnt the design
of the conspirators was to render another BoustsoN
the victim of an assassin. Bourgeois has been
transferred to the Conciergerie at Paris, but the six
others are still confined in the prison of Besatifon.
The reading of the ark of accusation against
Loner! by M. BEL LART before the High Court of
Peers was not finished on Thursday.
flee statement of the Moniteur that the Queen
of ENGLAND had arrived at the Hotel de Rivoli on
Tuesday evening, is contradicted by another Paris
Paper, which says, that it was not the Queen of
ENGLAND. hut the Marchioness of BUTE, who
arrived at this hotel. The Marchioness is said to
be travelling for the re-establishment dime health.
In accounts from Madrid to the 9th of May. the
report is contradicted officially that the POPE had
dispatched Bulls into Spain, expressing his hosti-
lity to the present Constitution of that Monarchy.
Letters from Madrid say, that the elections in the
province+ have not proceeded el satisfactorily," but
the signification of this word must depend upon the
feelings of the party that uses it. The Sin-
dents of Theology at Burgos expressed their
hostility to the Constitution with so much
violence as to require the interference of the Civil
and Military Authorities. Tranquillity was quickly
restored, but several of the Students thought it
prudent to escape into :ranee.
The French Five per Cents. are 74 fr. 25 c.—
Bank Actions 1,305 fr.

We have received German Papers of recent date.
A great deal of business has been done at the Frank-
fort Fair, which ended in the beginning of this
month. The sale of English goods was very large.
The quantity disposed of by a murk house amount-
ed to 130,0001. Bat though the English manu-
facturers had the preference. the German appear
to have had a tolerably fair share of the market.
We trust that the details of this commercial state-
ment will prove correct. It is the most satisfactory
which we have seen Ear a long time. and speak,
much for the revival of trade upon the Continent.

A Flanders &fail has arrived, bringing papers of
recent date.—The following are extracts
FRAICKFOItT. MAY 12.
The Central Committee of Inquii) at Menta is at present
engaged in drawing up a general report of its itivestiratiowt,
up Is the present moment, and of the result which they have
had. It will deliver this report to the Committee Grilse Diet,
which is appointed to superintend its proeedings, and this
latter Committee will communicate it to the Diet as soon as
it resumes its sittings.

TIVINO, MAT e.
Their Majesties will leave Prague about the middle of
seat month, sod will speed the summer in the eonstry,
after w►ich they will go to the camp t►at is to be formed
sear Perth in the autumn. There is so ku(er any use lies
of t►e visit of their Majesties to Belli., ►at it is still sop.

.

..~

. .
•t. • .. .
.po‘etl Iltal the Emperor will hose so i '
trialielot Rise or Prussia.
The little town of Gino iri gm
*, In •de .
Illers if Bavaria, in which a dun
Th en
out, has just been surrounded by i cordon of troops.
Esory thing corning from that place is fourtieated.. 1.1
affects nrincipilly the wiiikmen in the manufactories, Wlti
die in great nimbers. Public report asserts, that it Is thi
real pisrior of the east, brought by memos of hollorittot-
lots from Smyrna. The persons ',lard err said to die with.
is tweistv-Inur hours.

Jum.•;•.n Papers In the 21itt March have reached
town. 1 lie brig Cobb arrived at Kingieon from
La Guira. after a passage of six days, and brought
intelligence that the nrmie• under floritatt and
M0R11.1.0 were in sight of etch other ; but that no
disposition was evinced by either party to com-
mence a general engagement. According to ac-
counts from Cartliegelia, the inhabitants of that
place were in hourly expectation of an attack From
the Patriots, and it was folly expected that they
would obtain pos.eraion of the place, there being
but few troops to defend it, General Moat um
having concentrated all his forces lor the purpose of
defending the city of Caroms'.

NORANT BAY, MARCH 15.

This morning his Majesty's ship Sybille. Cap-
tain POPHAM. anchored here, for the tomposse of
receiving on board Rear-Admiral POPHAM, Lady
POPHAM, 81 WO. POPHAM. who have been to
:/ath fur rte recovesy of the Rear-Admiral'•
health.

DOVER. MAY 21.—Yebterday his Excellency
Prince CASTELCICALA. the Neapolitan A inhassa-
dur, embarked for France. under a salute from the
guns at the heights. Count RMITOPCIIIN, the
famous Russian General who baffled BONAPARTe
at Moscow, landed yesterdsy from Calais. and set
off for Lnndnn.—Arrived the Kiag George packet,
with a great many passenger', from Calais; Oro
the Eliza, with Capt. NAP= and suite, from
France.
The cargo of the Prins Frederik, Dutch 74.
from Java. which put into Plymouth some months
since in distress, has been removed into the Flora
store-ship. sent from Holland fur that purpose. and
which sailed from AmsterdamAn Toeschiv last. It
is supposed the Prins Frederik will be I);.oketi up,
as she has been declared unfit for service.

The Rochfort, 4. Captain ScHostseeo. Atted
for the reception of the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir
GRAHAM Moony, going to the Mediterranean tis
Commander in Chief, is in every respect ready fur
sea, and only Waits to complete her complement.
Arrangements are making for a grand procession
from Plymouth Dock-yard on the Ist of August
next, in tumour of his MAJESTY'S Coronation.

The choir of Westminster Abbey, or Whitehall
chapel, perhaps. could he appropriated fur the we
of some of the classes of the Most lion. Order of
the Bath, their banners, &e. as King Henry the
Seventh's Chapel is found to he too small, einee the
expedient enlargement of the Order in 1815.
The LORD Mayon will hold a special Court of
Common Council to-morrow, to consider a metioc,
of which Mr. Alderman WA immix had given no-
tice. respecting the Orphans' Fund.
The LORD MAYOR has ordered a Court of Com-
mon Council for Friday next, to take into conii-
devotion the propriety of petitioning the Howe of
Commons for a constitutional reform in the repre-
sentation of the people, as the hest toetioa of al-
laying the present ih•ctmtent. promoting the slaw
htltty of the government, and the prosperity of the
country. . . . •

Mr. (;RATTAN, it is will depart from this
city for London about the latter end of this week,
if his health admits of the exertion. liis route will
be by liveritool, from whence he will proceed along
the Canal passage, as the easiest mode of travelling
to his destination. For this purpose the brit ac-
commodation has been ordered; anti there is every
reason to hope and expect, from the excellence of
the precautions taken, that this ardent ami honest
Statesman will reach the end of his journey without
any senott• ca,uulty.—(Dutlin Freeman's. Journal.)

The petition presented by Mr.. Et.t.tcs in the
flouoe of C1,M17101 a nos Milne-day loot, was from
the nntoufocturers of the town of Ilawick, io Scot-
land.

The alarm at fludderifield last week. which Ile-
cosioned ilie military to be under turns all night,
arose, tie underoind„ not hoot oily movement
amongst the disaffected, hut from the hilarity of is
number of apprentice boys in a neighbouring vil-
lage, one of whom had that illy terminated his
np-
prrnticeship. livid on the eight in goes Was
burying his Old Wife, H. the term is, with the aid
of a rustic hand of niti•ic, Ili. dulcet tones of which
reached the town, soil in the feverish state of the
public mind in that place, was suppubed to issue
from radical pipes.

Silver. which a few months since was so scarce,
that the greatest incoovel.iettee to trade STI% the
consequence, is now heroine quite a drug in snn►e
!tarts. At mouth, where about 50,01.44. is on.
:wally circulated through the dock.yaral. cash
pat-
metsu, so long desiderated, is become quite the
order of the day.
On Tuesday afternoon, a private of the Rifle
Brigade, now in Glasgow garrison, of the name of
HENDERSON, a native of the county .•f Tyrone,
Ireland. cut off with a small hatchet, in one of the
seats of the green. tl►e two first joints ..f the fore
finger of his left hand and part of the thumb. It
would appear lie had made at least two cut. with
the hatchet; by the first through the nail of the
thumb, and by the second Luther up. The parts
were afterwards found by two of the county patrol
near the seat. and the hatchet secreted under a turf.
He had beets only five months in the regiment.—
This, we believe, is a ttansportable offence.
MELANCHOLY OfCUßßENCE.—Yraterday
night ■s the footman of W. J. THILAPSON, Esq. of
Walton. was charging the ball of an air' gut► with►
the air punt!), at Mr. JESTIIIOI4.II, of Reisthorpe„
where Mr. l'nettroort hod gone for a day's shoot-
ing of rooks, the ball burst at the innoteut the man
was finishing. and entering into his body with the
most violent force, caused inotattiatteous death.