The Sun.
London, England, 1836-08-26 00:00:00

Q' r
( -
i
1/4.. C
,+

LONDON,
FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 26, 1836.

An admirable summary of the important events that
took place at San Ildefonso and in Madrid, from the
32th to the 19th inst., will be found in another part of
The Sun, copied from the correspondence of a Minis-
terial Morning Contemporary. The whole will be
read, as it deserves to be, with the deepest interest.
We will not, therefore, weaken its effect by recapitula-
tion. If proper allowance be made for the ignorance
of the soldiery—their recollection of the treachery of
which they had so often been made the victims—the
just cause which their Constitutional leaders had to be
apprehensive for their lives had their project not suc-
ceeded—and the jealousy which must have been
awakened in the minds of the Guards, by the seeming
reluctance of the Officers and Grandees to join them
in urging the QUEEN to accept the Constitution—we
believe it will be universally allowed that their whole
conduct was that of men, whose sole aim was the de-
liverance of their country from oppression. Towards
the QUEEN REGENT their behaviour was much more
respectable than we were prepared to expect from men of
their grade, under such trying and exciting circumstances.
It would be as ridiculous to expect from them an ad-
herence to forms of etiquette, as it would be absurd in
a Sovereign to attempt to exact it on such an occa-
sion'; and it is, therefore, with pleasure we observe
that the QUEEN REGENT had the good sense, as well
as the presence of mind, to hear them patiently, and
to treat them with frank sincerity. The death of
General QUESADA will certainly surprise no person,
who pays due regard to the extent to which he ren-
dered himself odious to the people of Madrid, by his
tyrannical proceedings as Military Governor. We are
well aware that nothing can excuse the barbarous mu-
tilation of the dead body by the populace ; but even
here, they only imitate those cruelties with which
most Governments are too apt to make their subjects
familiar. There is less barbarity in the mutilation of a
dead body by an enraged mob, insanely unconscious' of
its own acts at the instant of their perpetration, than
there is in spiking the head of a traitor—suspending
in air the bones of a murderer—or in quartering ac:cer
deatn—examples so often had recourse to, even within
ord. own recollection, by the most humanP.: executive
governments in Europe. The most Barbarous mobs
have been mobs of kings and sovereign rulers exer-
cising a co-equal jurisdiction with kings.
Te position of Spain is very critical. All now
depends upon the firmness and consistency of the
QUEEN REGENT. If she suffer herself to be led
aside by the Camarilla to declare that her sanction of
the ConsritutioA was violently extorted from her, and
therefore that she
.recalls it, now that she is free,
Spain is lost both to herself and to her daughter. She
is now at the head of the Constitutionalists ; let tier
remain there, and she is safe. There is not one ot
them who at the present instant meditates her rtymoval
from the Regency. The
patriots are not Unmindful
of what they owe to hi y
will prove that et ; and
the
their gratitude is equal to the vividness of their recol-
lections if her MAJESTX
lnrll only confide in them.
They know well that tq her they
owe the proclamation
of the Constitution, in 1820 under FERDIN nor
AND, are they less certain that their subsequent misfortunes
may be traced to her declining influence over the mind of
an imbecile superstitious Sovereign. The QUEEN has
therefore everything to hope and nothing EN
to-fear from
the ascendancy of the Constitutional party. Her greatest
and most dangerous enemies are those who will persuade
her to break faith wif:d the people—a class of advisers
less numerous ti:lan it would have been, had M. DE
RAYNEVAY, survived his last fatal illness.
We are sorry to learn that Mr. VILLIERS considers
I,rt
hhri. Rdety to keep aloof on this momentous occasion.
QUEEN has need of his steady support at a time
,Waen her Ministers appear so incapable of directing
her. Besides, the people of Spain, in their struggle
to obtain liberal institutions, have a right to expect
that the sympathy of the British Ambassador will
be extended to efforts so creditable to their patriotism
and their humanity as those which marked the pro-
clamation of the Constitution of Cadiz in the capital.
Th

.ose trusty and vvell-beloved servants of his MA-
JESTY the Inspectors Of Prisons, and the Worship-
ful the Court of Aldermen, are very far from being
W-
unanimous in opinion respecting the efficiency oef th
bee
management of the gaol of Newgate. It is,

lieve, well known to the public, that the Inspectors of
Prisons for the home district, prepared a report which
was submitted to Parliament, detailing abuses in the
classification, confinement, and general condition of
individuals committed to that prison ; and imputing
to the city magistrates, to whom the management of
• the prison is entrusted by the Legislature, a culpable
supineness with respect to the removal of such abuses.
It is equally well known that the statements put forth
in this report gave great offence to their worships of
• the city, and that a committee was appointed by the
Court of .Aldermen to re-examine the witnesses pre-
viously examined by the Inspectors. with a view to the
publication of a Report exculpatory of their Own con-
duct. At first it was intimatziti ttl the Inspectors that
notice would be given theta t the sittings of the Com-
mittee, in order that they might be present during the
re-examination of the principal witnesses, but on re-
flection it appears that the members thought it would
comport more with their dignity to conduct the inquiry'
alone. A counter report was, however, produced,
which soon found its way to the table of the House of
Commons. In this report the worshipful city Magis-
trates very handsomely acquit themselves of all blame ;
for though they admit the truth of most of the allega-
tions of the Inspectors, they atm that these evils
cannot be remedied. A copy of this report of
the Court of Aldermen having been submitted to
the Inspectors of Prisons by the Secretary of State for
the Home Department, they have replied to it in a
very able letter, which is printed with the Parliamentary
Papers of the late Session. We have read over this
letter, and the two Reports to which it refers, very care-
fully, and, though we have no wish to mix ourselves
up with disputes, it is our duty to declare that we think
the Court of Alderman cut but a very sorry figure
throughout the entire transaction. The only result
which has attended their labours is the making of some
four or five gentlemen, examined as witnesses, prevari-
cate so much as to make their testimony for the time
to come of very little consequence upon any subject.
With respect to the Aldermanic report and its multi-
farious admissions, the Inspectors have the, folloiiing
passage in their letter to Lord John Russell :
They admit that the Rules for the better government of
Newgate, dated 2d June 1817, and those of the Act 4th Geo.
4., c. 64, with regard to the classification of prisoners have not
been observed in Newgate.
They admit that prisoners convicted of assaults of an abomi-
nable nature have not been kept apart from other prisoners :
They admit that convicted prisoners, sentenced to transpor-
tation, have been appointed wa.rdsmen and wardswomen, and
retained in Nenate, instead of being sent away, to undergo
the sentence of the court :
They admit that by permission, prisoners have received what
is tech:licitly called " garnish" from each other, contrary to
the directions of the Gaol Act:
They admit that cards, cribbage-boards, and draught-boards
were found in the gaol by the Inspectors.
They admit that tobacco-pipes and tobacco were found in
the wards by the Inspectors :
They admit that a daily newspaper was taken in by the pri-
soners ; and that Sunday papers, though prohibited, may have
been admitted; but if so, that they were a portion of the
edition published on the Saturday afternoon :
They admit that certain instruments, alluded to in the Re-
port of the Inspectors as being " all of them instruments cal-
culated to facilitate attempts at breaking out of prison," were
found in one of the wards :
They admit that among the books found by the Inspectors
in their progress through the prison, was " The Generative
System of John Robertson :"
They admit that prisoners were permitted to draw briefs for
their fellow-prisoners, both male and female :
They admit that among the visitors, persons of notoriously
bad character have been, no doubt, sometimes admitted :
They admit that the regulation for the admission of beer into
the prison may have been abused :
They admit that drunkenness has occurred amongst the pri-
soners :
They admit that the bedding is of the description stated in
the Report of the Inspectors :
They admit that there were devices cut on many of the
tables, which may have served the purpose of gaming :
They admit that the washing-places are in the open air, and
are objectionable :
They admit that prisoners sentenced to death are all asso-
ciated together, in that part of the prison, called " The Con-
. demned Cells :"
They admit that the shop, at the entrance to the female side,
ought to be discontinued :
They admit that female prisoners have been employed in the
keeper's house ; and they are decidedly of opinion that the
practice ought not, upon any account, to be repeated :
They admit that the supply of soap is scarcely sufficient ;
and that, until recently, combs and towels have not been pro-
vided :
They admit that there is a part of the prison secured by one
set of rails only, which is capable of considerable improve-
ment, by adopting such precautions as are calculated to pre-
vent any evils that might arise from the visitors coming too
near to the prisoners :
They admit that there have been some instances in which
Mr. Cope, the keeper of the prison, appears to have permitted
deviations from the rules of the Gaol Act, where those rules
might have been observed :

They admit that officer; have been employed in acts of ser-
vitude for Mr. Cope, the keeper of the prison, which should
for the future be strictly prohibited.
We respectfully submit to your Lordship that these admis-
sions (however it may be attempted to palliate the evils which
they acknowledge by excuses and explanations, upon which it
will be our duty to animadvert) fully bear out the statements
which we have made respecting the condition and government
of the Gaol of Newgate in our first Report.
One of 'the reasons assigned by the Cour' of
Alderman for the non-observance of certala 14,-,m_
sions in the Gaol Act, is not a little remarkable, Their
Worships state that the construction of tl.,e
prison it.
self never did and never can admit p‘
—as, for example, the keen: .
keen: their
criminals to hard
out to the Legislature ' - their observance
'
labour, and the like.
: Wh'refore was not this pointed
when the Act was before it ?
then ignorant
Will it be preter,-.4ed that the City Magistracy were
l ifoth of the provisions of the proposed
law and of 4..tre construction of the prison of which they
wee
t/-..1e sole managers ? It is more with a view to
ri
ni''.xce the country acquainted with the real state of the
prisons of the Metropolis, than to cast unnecessary
blame upon the City Magistracy, that we quote the
following passage from the Inspectors' letter :
The Report goes on to say, " We feel it our duty explicitly
to state, that the evils adverted to in the Report of the Inspec.
tors, are for the most part to be traced to the construction of
the prison," &c.

.
Is it owing to the construction of the prison that prisoners
have been allowed to levy contributions on their fellow pri-
soners, under the name of " ward dues" bud " garnish ?" That
cards and other implements of gaming have been found, toge-
ther with tobacco-pipes and to)-,acco ? That daily and Sunday
newspapers have been fre'ely admitted ? That disgusting and
improper books have ,seen introduced ? That prisoners have
male a
been pnd fitted 'to draw briefs for their fellow prisoners, both
riousl male ? That among the visitors, persons of note-
y tad character have been permitted to come in?
That
the 'deer has been introduced in such an irregular manner that
cases of drunkenness have occurred? That the beddinc, and
mode of sleeping is such as we have described ? That female
prisoners have been employed in the Governor's house ? That
the keeper has permitted deviations from the rules of the Gaol
Act, where those rules might have been observed ; and that
officers have been employed by him in acts of domistie servi-
tude ? Finally, is it owing to the construction of the prison
that male and female prisoners have the means of seeing; con-
versing and holding intercourse with each other, by the em-
ployment of male prisoners as coal-porters, workmen and
whitewashers, within the females' prison ?
We admit, however, that the construction of the prison is
lamentably bad ; but why has it been, to this day, permitted to
remain so ? Why, we solemnly ask, after the repeated de-
scriptions of this metropolitan prison, in Parliamentary Reports
and various other documents, has it been allowed to remain a
discredit to all connected with it ? Why, when the magis-
tracy of the surrounding counties of Middlesex, Kent, Sussex,
Surrey and Essex have been setting them such noble examples
of liberality in the re-building and improvement of their re-
spective prisons, why have those to whom is committed the
jurisdiction of this great metropolitan prison, been satisfied with
permitting it to continue an example of all those imperfections
from which the prisons in the surrounding counties have been,
in a great measure most happily delivered ? how can they
whose important duty it is to look to the wholesome discipline
and well-being of the multitudes of unhappy creatures who
aannndu_ally are committed to the gaol of Ncwgate, sit quietly by
look on the vast improvements which are making around
them, with a supineness stron,gly contrasted with the enlight-
oeonnesdpzioenaol,naanidn
th emagistratespraiseworthy d eovfotthi (re
oonfnttiime
se
aarnoduntda ltehnet s ,
me-
tropolisso and throughout the kingdom !
Newgatc is no Worse than any of the other prisons
of London. Indeed some of them are much more ob-
jectionably managed. The fact is, that the state of
prison discipline in this country is altogether deplorably
are intended by soci
bad, and inefficient for
ety. purpose for which prisons
every

Two of our Morning Contemporaries, the Advertiser
and the Times, devote a portion of their columns of
this day to appeals t 9 the charitably disposed people
of England_in favour of the distressed Polish Refugees.

LON 1)Oi

. •
Most 'U
,Fordfally We n n
'Unite With them in npiormg
I our generous Cot men to prove the sincerity of their
sympathy, in the cause of these brave victims of
ruthless and accursed desirotisitr. wast 13e
suffered to Wakki blitaa and hos:
0.
Ntimil% • We had intended tb liare Piitteh
more gt !Nth on thi' s'Ubje'et .brat We .And it so ably
handled by 'eini ‘lntompromisina Contemporary the
0
Mornlit Advertiser, that we cannot WA 'lW;ter.' than
qtlate his observations 01)0! IC.l—
n appeA.l. understand, is about to be Made to
the !mblii: on behalf of the Polish refugees now ill the
tountry. We are sure that that appeal will meet with
a cordial response in the bosom of every humane
Englishman. It is not only made on behalf, of a class
of persons whose virtues and heroism have alwa)s
commanded the admiration of the people of this
country, but it is made under Very peculiar circum-
stances, It appears that on the 10th of the prescnt
month, the House of Commons unanimously voted, as
it had done last year, the sum of 10,0001. for the re.
lief of the Polish refugees now in this country: It
farther appears that since last year about 100 addi.
tional refugees hare landed on our shores, making in
all nearly 560. Mr. Spring Rice, however, refused
to extend any ielief to the refugees who have sought
an asylum among us since last year. He will only
give relief to the same persons as formerly. The sur-
plus of the sum he means to economise. The ground
on which Government have come to this determination
is, that if the additional refugees were to be relieved,
it would be holding out a temptation to others to
follow their example. and come in crowds to our shores.
In this we think Government are in error. The Po-
lish refugees do not come here from choice. It is only
when they are forced to it—as was the case with these
100 refugees—that they seek an asylum among U 3.
These poor men were sent out of Prussia and trance,
some of.,them for the most deuces, and-some of
them for no offences at all ; and they were compelled
to come here, because there was no other place to which
they could go. The parsimony of the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, in regard to the Polish refugees, we
therefore look on as based on an erroneous notion.
For that, however, there is now no remedy. He
has no means now of changing his mind to any bene-
ficial purpose, and, therefore, there is lid Other alter-
native for these unfortunate staving refugees, but -to
throw themselves on the tiympathy and liberality of the
British nation. We are sure the confidtnee they repose
in us will not be misplaced. The people of England
will never allow any class of persons to perish of want
among them • far less will pay allow thos4 men to en-
counter the horrors of'starraiiiiii,:Aose di4resses have
been solely brought on them by Their noble resistance
to a tyrant who sought—and, unhappily, has succeeded
in his designs--to wrest from them their liberties, and
degrade and trample their country in the dust. In a
few days we are confident these 100 Polish refugees
will be rescued from the horrors of their present situa-
tion by the benevolence and liberality of the British
public. Since writing the above, it has been reported
to us, upon competent authority, that something ap-
proaching to a well-understood league has been entered
into between the despotic powers, not excluding Louis
Philippe, for the extradition of the Poles from the
respective countries over which they hold, we hope,
only temporary command. Need we add a word more
to enlist the sympathies of every liberal Englishman in
their behalf ? The following is the resolution of the
.‘ Literary Association of the friends of Poland," at
their meeting on the 24th instant :
" At a mooing of the Council of the Literary Associa-
tion of the friends of Poland, specially convened the 24th
of August, 1836, to devise the best means of relieving the
Poles lately driven from Cracow and other places on the
Continent, who are now in this country in a most deplorable
state of destitution, the Government having refused them
any participation in the grant voted by the House of Commons
on the 10th inst., for the relief ofthe Polish refugees ; Lord
Dudley Stuart, M.P., Vice-President, in the chair ; it was
resolved that an immediate appeal be made to the public on
behalf of these, our starving fellow-creatures. Subscrip-
tions received at the Chambers of the Association, No. 10,
Duke-street, St. James's ; and at Messrs. Coutts and Co's,
Strand ; Cox, Biddulph and Co's, Charing-cross ; Smith,
Payne,,andSmith's, King William-street, Mansion House ;
and Messrs. Prescot and Grote's, No. 62 Threadneedle-
street." ,

We have received the whole of the French Papers
of Wednesday. The Montieur contains the following
significant correction of General LEBEAU'S Proclama-
tion on assuming the command of the Foreign Lesoion :
" Several journals have published an Order of the Day of
General Lebeau, dated Pampeluna, the 13th inst., in which
he announces to the troops under his command that he has
been named by the king of the French to the command of the
Legion in the service of the Queen of Spain. This is an
error we arc bound to rectify. General Lebeau has been au-
thorised by the King to pass into the service of the Queen of
Spain, but the King has had no share in the nomination of
that general officer to this command."
It will be easily inferred, from this Ministeral cor-
rection of a Ministerial error, that the KING and M.
TRIERS are not yet agreed on the subject of Spanish
interventions, Disunion still prevails in the Cabinet.
The r-resident of the Council is not to he driven from
nis position with respect to Spain, after witnessing
the fulfilment of all his predictions. He, therefore,
continues as :much in favour of intervention now, as
at the commencement of the war in the Basques ; but
whether he hopes thereby to put down or establish the
Constitution, we are not idol med. If his object be
to defeat the ends of the Constitutionalists, by the
presence of a French army in the Peninsula, we take
leave to say that France has suffered the proper time
for such a movement to pass awar. It is decidedly too
late to declare against the Constitution, without accom-
panying such declaration with a recognition of the
legitimacy of Don CARLOS as the lawful heir to the
Spanish Throne.
The Courrier Francais observes that a rumour was
prevalent in Paris of the appointment of General
GUILLEMINOT as the successor of M. DE RAYNE-

VAL at Madrid. This report was not credited by that
journal, as the General had formerly fought against
the Constitutionalists as Major-General of the invad-
ing army, under the Duke of AN9ouLEmE ; and
therefore it appeared highly improbable that the
French Government would send him to Spain, now
that the Constitutionalists are triumphant.

PARIS, Auo. 23. —The Journal du Commerce has the fol-
lowing article, under the title of " Reports of the Salons":--
" M. Moll has been to Villiers St. Paul to pay a visit to
Marshal Gerard. It is affirmed that these two personages
seriously contemplate a negociation to bring together some
men, who are still in an ill humour with each other, but whom
their devotedness to the public service calls to make,part of a
new Cabinet. It is affirmed that the name of M. Beranger
had been approved to second M. Sauzet in the Department of
Justice, and that this Counsellor had addressed a very re-
markable letter to his Majesty on the prisons and prisoners,
and on some acts contrary to the freedom of religious worship."
A letter from Toulon of Aug. 18 says :
" Since the Expedition to Constantino has been talked of
we see detachments of troops arrive successively, which are
destined to reinforce the army of Africa. We know that
others are on their march.

" About 150 artillerymen are cantoned at 011inulles. some
companies of engineers are expected, which are to be sta-
tioned at La Vallctte; 600 men of the 17th Regiment of
Light Infantry will arrive in a few days at La Seync, Where
they will wait for vessels to convey them to Africa. If the
battalion of Africa, now in garrison in Corsica, returns to
Africa, the army of occupation will be at once reinforced by
2,000 met, in the room of those who go to Spain.
" The Central Depot of the Chasseurs of Africa is defini-
tively established at La Seyne."—Natipnal, Aug. 24.
FRENCH FUNDS.—PARIS, AtiousTll.
Five per Cents., 108 f. 55c. CO'c.
Four per Cents., 101 f. 15c.
Three per Cents., 70f. 7oc. 60c.
Dente de Naples, i/t. 15c. 99f. 90t. 95e.
Roman Five per Cents., 102%.
Spanish Actives, 30 90%4%-x.
Spanish Differes, 1314%.
Spanish Passives, ii OA '4.
Belgian Loan, Five per Cents., 10314.
Portuguese Loan, Three per Cents, 421% 31,
EXCIIA NGE ON LONDON.
One month, paper, 25c. 20c.; money, 25f. 20c.
Three months, paper, 25f. 5c.; money, 25f. —c.
—Cours Authentigue.

Boma, QUARTER TO Foun.—The Three per Cents. were
this morning 79f. 70c. ; they have, however, recovered to
79f. 80c. to 79f. 85c. The Active Stock opened at 301, and
remained steady at that price.
LAST Pmess.—Five per Cents., 1081. 75c. ; Three
per Cents., 79f. 75c. ; Five per Cents. Spanish, —; Three
per Cents. Spanish, —; Cortes, —; Coupons, Gueb-
hards, —; Differes, 10;1, ; New Loan, —; Actives, 303-; Pas-
sives, 94; Ducats, 99 15 ; Romans, 1021 ; Pedros, —;
Belgians, 1031 ; Putch, —f, ; Haytians, ;
• .