The Sun.
London, England, 1838-12-31 00:00:00

FRENCH FUNDS.-PAWS. DECEMBER 29.

Five per Cents., 109 f. 70c. 65c. tiCc. 85C.... Latest Pliccs--.109f. 90c.
Four per Cents., 101 f. 80c.
three per Cents., 78f. 50c. 7ilc. 65c; .... Ditto '7Bf. 70c.
Bank Actions, 2,620 f. 2,525 f. 2,630 f.
sentc de Naples, 98t: 50c Ditto 98f. sc.
Roman Five per Cents.. 99%1A %
Spanish Actives, 16X 17
Belgian live per Cents., 9)4 %5(2 46 ... .
Belgian Bank, 595 f. 575 f. 580 f.
EICI/ANGIi ON LorliKN.— /ne month, paper, 25f. Isc; money, 25f 15e;
't r;:e months, paper, 25i. —c ; money. 25'. --....

. Madrid Papers from the 16th to the 22d instant
inclusive have at last reached London. The debates
in the Chambers during the several intervening sittings
are as trivial as can well be imagined. ALAIX and
PrzA RRO were laudably employed in collecting funds
to defray the expenses of the army. And yet of what
use is the great army of the North to
Spain ? ESPARTERO would himself devour all the
resources of the country without stirring out of his
camp. How long will Spaia, tolerate the inaction of
this imbecile Dictator ? Wherefore is he—the grand
impediment to the triumph of the QUEEN'S arms—
not set aside ? To hurl this traitor from the evil and
dangerous eminence upon which he reposes should be
the first aim of the Cabinet, if the object of its labours
he the regeneration of Spain.
In the Provinces the civil war is carried on with the
most brutal atrocity on both sides. General VAN
HALEN has taken CABItERA for his model, and
already bids fair to equal that monster in perfidy and
cruelty. The Journalist has no longer to record
battles, but murders and butcheries, as cowardly as
they are wicked and detestable.

Letters from Constantinople of the sth instant, an-
nounce the promulgation of an Imperial Finnan, abo-
lishing all temptations held out to Christians to
become converts to Islamism. The object of this
firman is to abolish the disgraceful practice on
the part of Christians, of adopting the Turkish
Creed whilst resident in the SULTAN'S domi-
nions, with no other view than to enrich them-
selves, and upon leaving the country, to re-em-
brace the Christian faith. Like the Evangelical beef-
and-blanket plan for converting the Popish peasantry
of Ireland, the old Turkish system degenerated into
a hypocrite manufactory. We need not observe, that
while this firman will delight the Christian subjects of
the Porte, it will as certainly provoke the ire of the
zealous Mussulman Doctors.

CRIMINAL COURT-(THIS DAY.)

OLD COURT.

The Sessions at the Old Bailey commenced this morning
before the Lord Mator, the Recorder, Mr. Alderman Lainson,
the Sheriffs, and other authorities.

The RECORDER, after the Grand Jury had been sworn, ad-
dressed them, remarking that there were only two cases to
which he wished to advert. He was not aware that any of
the cases would present any legal difficulty, but should any
arise, the Court would be glad to render its best assistance,
beyond which, if necessary, they would have the attendance
and advice of Mr. Clark, the learned and intelligent Clerk
of the Court, under a regulation when had been sanctioned
by the Judges. The first of the charges to which he had al-
verted was one of a dreadful nature, namely, that of a father
violating the persons of his two daughters, who are
infants in law, being Lind.: the age of ten years, and
therefore they could not be deemed to have been cons2t.ting
parties to the melancholy act imputed to their unnatural
par( at. The other case was one in which a pistol had been
fired by a servant at an officer who approached the house of his
master, with intent to arrest the latter, who, however, was not
at home at the time. In the first place, it would be r:ece:sary
for them to ascertain that the pistol was loaded with a halt or
other matter which might have occasioned death. Supposing;
that to be the case, they must next consider whether the wea-
pon was directed towards the prosecutor, with the intention of
depriving him of life, or of doing him some grievous bodily in-
jury, or whether it was merely discharged by way of intimida.
tion. If they were of opinion that the pistol was fired with
the latter intention, they would, of course, not place the pri-
soner in jeopardy, and subject him to the disgraceful ordeal of
a public trial. _

'The Grand Jury then retired, after which the names of the
jurors were called over.
_____

CHARGE or PRRJURY.—Thomas Gowland, a professor of
dancing, was charged with having committed wilful and cor-
rupt perjury, in an affidavit made for the purpose of arresting a
Mrs. Wilson, the widow of a prufessor of dancing, for the su:n
of 271. 6s. 3d., in June, 1837.

Mr. PAYNE Was for the prosemion, and Mr. PrimArs for
he defence. •

The case was procee ling wl-ei our re mrter left.

London pri;oners
Middlesex ditto
Essex ditto
Admiralty eases ,
Kent ditto
Surrey ditto

7-89

STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S GAOL OF NEWGATE.
MADE UP TO SATURDAY EVENING. Males. Females
Prisoners under sentence of transportation for life 0 0

„
Ditto, for trial at the present Sessions
Ditto, whose judgments are respitz..cl
Ditto, committed by Commissioners of Bankruptcy ......
- for the Pcovicial Assize
Ditto, under sentence of confinement 0 2
Ditto, acquitted on the ground of insanity, but remain dur-
ing itoyal pleasure 1 0

Total

An erroneous notion has bran indulged, in consequence of
the fact of three Sessions trenching upon the month, which
closes the year to-day, it may rot be amiss to explain the
cause, which is not, as has been imagined by many, an increase
,of crime.

The law connected with the organization of this Court, enjoins
that twelve Sessions shall be holden yearly, at such times as
the Commissioners may seem meet; hence it is unnecessary
that they should be holden at regular p‘nroes. The causes arc
two why this would not be practicable, viz., the fact of
"moveable terms," during which the presence of the Judges
is required in the Superior Courts. The next and principal
cause is, that the Judges go their Circuits in Lent and at
Midsummer ; hence the necessity of a space twice in the year
to form what: the " tribe of Newgate". term " the long
vacation 1"

The prefixed summary of offences is denuded of one of 6,
principal features which charactcrisd those which have pre-
ceded it in former years at the corresponding period—there
is not a case of burglary, and only two of high;,ay robbery.
Time was when the average of those joint offences were
twenty-five, and many out of the convicts executed. This
pleasing change is doubtless to be attributed to the con-
stantly progressing improvement of the metropolitan and civic
police. It is pleasing, furthermore, to observe that only two
persons are charged with the guilty reception cf stolen goods,
those pests who generate crime, by " teaching the young
idea bow to prig," and live upon their ill-gotten plunder. If
the recommendation of Sergeant Adams to the Grand Jury
at Westrninister last week be adopted by influential persons
in every locality of the metropolis, juvenile delinquency
would diminish in a ratio upon which it is difficult to form a
calculation.

There will be many more prisoner s committed from tilt.
various police offices in the early part of this week ; hence
the session must occupy the greater part of it, especially if,
as is anticipated, the Canadian Bank forgery casa should oc-
cupy two days.

WORTHY OF IMITATION.--The guardians of
the poor of St. Martin's parish, with a view to the
suppression of vagrancy, and mendicancy, have made
arrangements for the admission into the workhouse of
all parties in a state of destitution, who may be found
wandering within the limits of the parish. They have
prepared tickets of admission, which are sent, with circu-
lars, to the inhabitant rate-payers, requesting them to ap-
propriate them to the use of proper objects, and stating that
an unlimited number of tickets will be distributed to the
public and the police ; and to avoid giving relief to street
beggars, &c., as all destitute persons will be received, and
their immediate wants supplied, until they can be examined
and removed to their legal settlements.