The Sun.
London, England, 1839-09-20 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

ESSAYS ON GOVERNMENT.
E. Wilson, Lon4n, 1839.
The author of this work has undertaken a task
for which he is in no way qualified. Essays on
Government are not to be wrAten by a mere act of
volition; the subject is one which requires thought,
extensive historical knowledge, and a keen, inquisi-
tive intellect, in order to its adequate develop-
ment; but of these, so far as we can perceive, the vo-
lume before us gives few or no tokens. Instead of
being sententious, it is diffuse ; instead of displaying
logical acumen, it is vague and lax to a degree in
its arguments, and everywhere wraps up the tritest
common-places in bulky sentences, deformed by su-
perfluous epithets. The great cause of the author's
failure is, that he has not properly meditated on,
or diaested, his task. He seems to have come to
it wholly unprepared, and the consequence is that
his Essays abound in repetitions, and come to no
definite conclusions. Yet there are indications of
a liberal spirit in his volume ; but even when most
tolerant in his theories, he appears to be ill able to
give reasons for the faith that is in him.

IRELAND, SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND
RELIGIOUS. Two Vols.
Bentley, London, 1839.

_ .
This is a translation, from the French, of M.
Gustave De Beaumont, an intelligent author, whose
woks on the United States are among the most
enlightened of any that have yet appeared on that
subject. He here takes Ireland for his theme, and
discusses it in a temperate, just, and sagacious
spirit, that proves him to be a keen political ob-
server. His portrait of O'Connell is touched off
with the hand of a master; nor is he less successful
in the character which he draws of the Irish
Protestant aristocracy, to whose combined intole-
rance and despotism he attributes the major portion
of the sufferings that afflict the sister country.
One great recommendation of these volumes is that
that they they are not the production of a partizan,
but of a dispassionate and observant man of the
world.

REMARKS IN VERSE 01V SHOOTING, to.

By W. WATT. Second Edition.

Having an apportunity of seeing a portion of the
numerous productions which are intended to amuse
or instruct, some of which are published, and others
denied that privilege, we can venture to assert that
the quantity of writing talent at present in th's
country is immense. If few persons be distin-
guished, it is, as Voltare remarked, because we
have a multitude of clever miters. A single tree
seems a magnificent object while it is alone,
but in a forest of trees all nearly as large
as itself it is overlooked. In bye-gone times,
Mr. Watt would probably have been reckoned
a prodigy of genius; in the present times, when
the art of versification is general, he writes an
agreeable and pleasant book, and is passed by almost
unnoticed. His remarks on shooting contain an
historical notice of the instruments used to kill
game before guns were invented, and an account
of the invention, forms an appropriate introduction to
a description of the present practices of the sports-
man. For all brothers of the gun, his production
must be most amusing. It is full of information,
pleasantly versified. His litte volume also contains
a considerable number of occasional poems, and
some fables that are neither trite nor common.

THE LATE BIRMINGHAM RIOTS

THE GOVERNMENT INQUIRY.

BIRMINGHAM, THURSDAY.
This morning the Government inquiry into the
conduct of the Magistrates of the Borough, in relation
to the late disastrous riots, was commenced at the Pub-
lic Office before Mr. Dundas, the barrister, who was
appointed by the Home Secretary to conduct it. Mr.
Hibbert appeared as agent for the petitioners, and Mr.
Clarke, of the Midland Circuit, acted as their counsel.
Messrs. Gem, Barlow, and Ryland (Magistrates'
clerks) appeared on behalf of the Magistrates. The
inquiry has excited intense interest. The Mayor, almost
all the Magistrates, and a great number of the Com-
missioners were present. The room was otherwise
crowded with the most respectable of the inhabitants.
After a few preliminaries of no importance, the exa-
mination of witnesses commenced.
Mr. Payne, the High Constable, and Colonel Chat-
terton were examined at considerable length, but the
evidence given did not convey any information materi-
ally different from that which has already appeared in
the newspapers. The following witnesses were next
examined :
Mr. George Wheatley—Several days previous to the
15th of July I heard reports that a meeting was to be
held on that day at Holloway-head, at which Mr. Att-
wood and Mr. F. O'Connor were to attend. 1 heard
general apprehensions of disturbances were entertained.
The Birmingham petition had been rejected by the
House of Commons, and the meeting was to take itF
rejection into consideration. At 9 o'clock on the night
of Monday. the 15th of July, I was standing talking
with Mr. Wills, and Mr. Joseph Walker, the Magis-
trate, on the News-room steps, when a gentleman came
up and said there was a row in the Buil-ring. Having
been sworn in as a special constable, I went for my
staff, and ran into High-street, where I found the
windows of Mr. Naden and those of other shopkeepers
broken. From thence, as the top of High-street
was blocked up with the crowd, 1 went down the
Castle-yard to the Public office, and arrived there about
10 minutes past 9. I found the windows completely
demolished. The London police were at that time
drawn up in the yard. I saw a mob opposite Bourne's
premises, and heard the breakincr of glass. first s,
in-
quired, 1 believe, of Mr. George Redfern, where the
Magistrates were 1' I was told there were none et the
office. I immediately called upon Mr. Redfern to turn
out the London police. Mr. Redfern replied they had
orders not to turn out without the presence of the Magis-
trates. I repeated the call to Mr. May, the superin-
tendent, and I received from him the same answer that
I received from Mr. Redfern. Mr. Walker, the Magis-
trate, afterwards arrived, when I made the same appli-
cation to him. I said " For God's sake, turn out the
police, the mob are destroying Bourne's shop." Mr.
Walker said, " I am extremely sorry (manifesting the
utmost anxiety), hut the Magistrates have given orders
that the police shall not act without the presence of
two Magistrates, and I as a single Magistrate cannot
undertake to overrule that order." lie also added, that
the military were sent for, and would ro doubt be there
immediately. I then heard a still more violent attack on
Bourne's shop. I again said, " For God's sake, turn out
the police ; if you will only give me 20 men, I will un-
dertake to disperse the mob." Mr. Walker againexpressA
his utmost concern, but he could not upset the orders
of the Magistrates. I applied to Mr. May a second
time, when lac said he should not be justified in disobey-
ing his orders, and exposing his men without the sup-
port of the military. Shortly after Mr. Shaw, another
Magistrate, 'arrived, and said he would go and look
after the military, and I did not sec him again. Soon
after this I saw Bourne's house on fire, and heard re-
newed shouts from the mob. 1 made another applic
tion for ten men, and said we could go in at the side
door of Mr. Bourne's premises, clear out the mob, and
put out the fire. 1 was answered either by Mr.
Walker or Mr. May, I cannot tell which, that we
had better wait until the arrival of the military.
About thirty special constables bad by this time
arrived, and offered to accompany me into the Bull-ring.
I answered, I would do it with ten organized policemen,
but not with special constables. Some of the special
constables, however, rallied, and we went along Moor-
street, On approaching the Bull-ring I found the front
of Bourne's shop and the centre of the Bull-ring clear,
and a prisoner was taken and given into my custody.
A bonfire was burning in the middle of the Bull-ring.
The military had not then arrived. The police, headed
by Mr. IVelker, then came into the Bull-ring, and we
charged across the street. The mob dispersed in all
directions ; and afterwards I saw the military come
along Moor-street, with the Mayor at their head on
horseback. The next day the greatest consternation
prevailed. The shops in the Bull-ring, High-street, and
New-street were either wholly or partially closed.

Cross-examined LAND—I did not hear in
thecourse week that Moseley-hall was
ofprevious
. s R
to be burnt down, but on the night of the riots I did
hear it was to be attacked. 1 told Dr. Booth during
the fire that information was received that men had gone
to Moseley for the purpose of attacking the hall. During
the week preceding the riot, the town, as far as I saw,
was quiet. The week before that it was in a more ex-
cited state.
T
Mr Walken-1N ill Mr. Whateley charge his memory
as w the reason why I would not order out the London
police?
Mr. Whateley.—Because Mr. Walker said he would
not overrule the order already given to the Magistrates.
I think, too, I have some recollection that something
was said about not acting without the military. Had
th, police been ordered out when I requested it,
Bou' Bourne 's shop might have been saved. A very general
impression prevailed in the public mind that a disturb-
ance would take place on the evening. of the 15th.
Dr. Booth—l wish to ask Col. Chatterton, whether
he observed any dereliction of duty on the part of the
magistracy On the night of the 15th of July, or on any
precious occasion ?
Mr. Chanc,i—l must protest against this question
being put, if Dr. Booth means it to apply generally to
the body of which he was a member. If he means it
only to apply individually to himself, he could have no
possible objection to the question being put.
Mr. DUNDAS—WeII, then, I shall put the question,