The Sun.
London, England, 1839-06-24 00:00:00

DANISH CLAIMS.

(From the Spectator.)
The Chancellor of the Exchequer can find millions
for Irish jobs, but when a long-standing claim, founded
on justice is presented, he interposes the Crown's pre-
rogative to thwart the twice repeated resolution of the
House of Commons. It is well known that many years
ago the Government of this country obtained
ample funds to compensate British subjects for the sei-
zure of their property by the Danes ; but it is only with
extreme difficulty that liquidation of part of their claims
has been obtained. The injured parties go the House
of Commons ; the House calls on the Government, no-
minally to " adjudicate," really to discharge the debts ;
and then, in utter contempt and defiance of the House,
Mr. Spring Rice gets up, and declares they shall not
have a shilling We suspect the secret is, that the
Compensation Fund has been illegally expended. But
that does not affect the justice of the claims ; and we
recommend the supporters of the petitioners in Parlia-
ment to retort upon Mr. Rice when he asks money for
his jobs—Pay your debts before we give you a shilling.
(From the Weekly Chronicle.)
The triumph of justice is slow but sure, and this Mr.
Spring Rice discovered on Tuesday night, when he was
left in a minority of 32 in his resistance to Mr. Cres-
well's motion respecting the still unsettled Danish
claims. The class of petitioners, whose demands have
not yet been investigated, is very small, and the justice
of their claim to compensation is, of course, increased by
every previous concession made. We trust that there
is now some pro,pect of redress for these unfortunate
individuals, many of whom have, we believe, been
severe sufferers by the delay. Considerations of econo-
my never ought to overweigh considerations of justice
in cases like this, and the unanimity displayed by the
House of Commons, in dealing with the question,
proves them to be fit guardians of the public honour, as
well as of the public purse.
(From the Britannia.)
Ministers were, on Tuesday, left in a minority ;—the
House divided on the subject of the Danish claims, the
ayes being 95, the noes 32 ; the latter being led by the
Right lion, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. He
occupied, indeed, his appropriate position, for the ques-
tion concerned the good faith of the British nation ; and
in spite of his irritable efforts to sacrifice it, the House
of Commons resolved that it should be maintained.
Although this topic has been so frequently canvassed,
it may not be amiss to state precisely what these " claims"
are, and on what grounds the country is called upon to
recognise them.

SO far back as the year 1807, England, at that
time ready enough to preserve her proud name and
untainted reputation, ar.d rather too "sudden and
quick in quarrel" than willing to risk her credit and
renown, by tamely submitting to injury from a foreign
foe, engaged in an abrupt, and, it may be, not suffi-
ciently provoked, war with Denmark. " The Danish
claims" grew out of one of our national fits of anger.
We went to war with Denmark, having upon the very
eve of it sanctioned the entrance of our merchant ves-
sels into Danish harbours, under the assurance that
there was no danger of hostilities between the two
states. Immediately afterwards fo:lowed the attack on
Copenhagen, the destruction of the Danish fleet, and
the half ruin of the city ;. an attack by the way, the
justice as well as policy of which has always been a
mooted point, for it is by no means clear that Great
Britain could justify the act. The natural consequence
was the seizure and confiscation of all English vessels
and property found in other parts of Denmark. Sub-
sequently, and as matter of course, the parties whose
vessels and property were so seized and confiscated
claimed compensation from the Government of their
country. These claims were resisted, but not denied.
The claimants could, however, receive no satisfaction
until, in 1834, Lord Althorp, then Chancellor of the
Exchequer, obtained a vote of 295,000/., with a view
to discharge them. But the grant was not made to
apply to persons who had goods and vessels afloat ;
participation in it was refused to them, upon grounds
so weak as not to bear the smallest scrutiny, Last
year, however, Mr. Cresswell succeeded to some extent
in having their claims recognised ; but his design was
frustrated by Mr. Spring Rice, by whom the " Com-
missioners" were ordered to report on the cases of indi-
viduals so aggrieved, without adjudicating upon them.
This was adding insult to injury—heaping deceit upon
treachery, and making the House of Comm ms a party
to as contemptible a trick as was ever practised by a
pettifogging attorney. To meet this difficulty, and. to
relieve the country from another national reproach, Mr.
Cresswell moved on Tuesday—
" That an humble address be presented to her Ma-
jesty, praying that she will be graciously pleased to
direct the Commissioners to whom it was referred to
examine the claims of certain British subjects, in respect
of losses sustained by the seizure of ships and cargoes
by the Danish Government in 1807, to proceed to ad-
judicate upon the claims which they have received, and
upon which they have made a Report to the Lords of
her Majesty's Treasury."
The motion, although obstiaately opposed by Govern-
ment, was carried by a majority of just three to one.
What follows ? , i f a manly straightforward course had
been pursued—if there had been no shuffling—if the
sense of the House having been taken, the rote was to
be acted upon, Ministers would have appeared in
new characters. For the sake of consistency
they wen bound to act shabbily—and they did so. The
Chancellor of the Exchequer at once tells the mover and
seconder that he will balk them again. That the claim-
ants who have been for upwards of thirty years cajoled
and cheated shall be cajoled and cheated as many years
more, if it should please Providence to afflict the king-
dom-by keeping that most liberal, honourable, and con-
scientious statesman so long in office. " You have beaten
me," be says : "but your vote is of no value till you ge
another--a money vote." " I wish you may get it.
What the amount of the outstanding debt from England'
to the " claimants" may be we cannot say, but we doubt
if it exceed the sum asked, granted, and issued from the
Treasury for the accommodation of horses at Windsor

THE COMING FIRST AND TWELFTH OF
Jet.v.—.We understand that in the neighbourhood of Ma..
ralin, and other places, the Orangemen are already disturb-
ing their neighbours by nightly paradings kith drums,
banners, &c. It will be quite necessary that the authori-
ties should exert themselves to preserve the public peace
on the coming anniversaries of the faction.--Newry Exa-
miner.

THE SILK CROP.—We have accounts from
Milan to the 6th inst. The transactions in silk had been
more active on the part of the foreign merchants, who
either were not able or not willing to wait for the new
crop. Our mercantile adviccs frcm Genoa state that the
intelligence respecting the silk crop continued good, and
if the fine weather then experienced continued, it was
expected a very abundant crop would be realised. The
business in silk was completely stagnant and the pric e
nominal.

REPRESENTATION OF KINSALE.—We have
heard from an authentic source that it is the intention of
Captain Napier, of her Majesty's ship Powerful, to offer
himself as a candidate for the borough of Kinsale, in case
of a dissolution of Parliament. The brave Captain Napier
will stand on the Liberal interest.—Cork Paper.
EXTRAORDINARY SIIOAL OF WHALES.--A
large shoal of whales made their appearance in Ringabella
Bay on Sunday afternoon. They were seen by Samuel
Hodder, Esq., of Ringabella House, who was returning
from Cove in his yacht. When the country people heard
it they came in great numbers, armed with all sorts of
weapons, pitchforks, adzes, griffons, &c., and as the whales
got into the shallows, they used those with such effect that
they captured no less than fifty. five. They averaged from
10 to 20 feet in length, and would weigh about as
mtch as
a good cow. I'ne sea all round was reddened with their
blood. From information received from a gentleman who
witnessed their capture, it would appear that they were of
the genus Delphinus Clebieeps, Cuvier—D. Deductor,
Scoresby.— Col h Paper.

COMMEMORATION OF WTATERLOO. Olt
Wednesday evening the sergeants belonging to the first
battalion of Coldstream Guards held their anniversary
dinner in commemoration of the battle of Waterloo. A
large apartment in the Wellington barracks was tastefully
ornamented with laurel and banners; and upwards of fifty
" good men and true," (not a few of whom wore the hono-
rary medals given to them for their services on that me-
morable occasion) sat down to dinner ; after which the
usual loyal toasts having been given, the chairman, Ser-
geant-Major Lundie, propoled the health of the Duke of
Wellington, which was drunk with the most enthusiastic
applause. The hilarity of the evening was kept up until
a lat hour.

BoxlNG.--In the report of one of those brutal
exhibitions called " a fight," which it appears from a Nor-
wich paper, took place last Tuesday at. Pulliam, St. Mary's,
the following account appears—The spectators numbered
from 1,000 to 1,200 and carriages and four, stage coaches,
flys, gigs, and all descriptions of vehicles lined the spot.
Just before two o'clock, all being ready, Brassy entered the
ring and threw up castor. Bailey soon followed, and
each was cheered was by his friends. After some time
lost in choosing a referee, time-keepers, and umpires, the
men set to. Both seemed in fine condition, and were cheered
on commencing. The first was a short round, Brassy receiv-
ing a floorer. In the second, by way of returning the com-
pliment, Brassy caught Bailey a tremendous blow on the
right eye, which opened some eld wounds, and closed his
PeeP,r- From this to the 17th, Brassy had it all his own
way, when Bailey went in, and for two rounds appeared
to be determined to go to work in earnest. Brassy showed
not the least punishment—Bailey's physiognomy becoming
not the most prepossessing, front its too intimate acquain-
tance with Brassy's knuckles Up to the 36th the rounds
were a complete scramble, Bailey having by ill- the worst
wheel he got Brassy on the ropes, and appeared to be admi.
nistering some severe punishment. Brassy, however, on
coming again to the scratch, still showed no distress, and
the case was a clear one in his favour—Bailey show-
ing every inclination to receive, but none to give. In
the 59th round, Bailey again contrived to get his oppo-
nent on the ropes, but was unable from blindness to admi-
nister any punishment, while his left eye was fast closing.
Front this to the 71st everything was in favour of Brassy,
who, however, was thrown in this round by Bailey (who
was totally blind), and in doing-so the latter pitched on his
head. When taken up he appeared quite senseless, and
not being able to come to time, the victory was awarded to
Brassy. Bailey, on coming to himself, would not allow that
he was beaten, or that time had been called. The battle
lasted one hour and tea minutes, during which it does not
appear that Bailey had the slightest chance. Brassy showed
a good deal of s?ienee. Bailey appeared a perfect glutton,