The Sun.
London, England, 1825-03-10 00:00:00

once he got them up stairs, the House would see so more of
this measure. •
Lord JOHN FITZROY, in a very low tone of voice, dis-
claimed any private interest in this Bill.
Mr. JOHN SMITH supported the measure. He thought it
might be productive of good, and he could -not see that it
would do harm.
Mr. CURTEIS observed, that the Dutch fishermen did not
confine themselves to taking eels and turbot, but lie knew they
also brought to the English market the finest flounders, cod,
and other fish.
Mr. J. P. GRANT was opposed to the Bill. Ile thought
the' House could not do any thing more injurious to the re-
gular supply of the market, than to give a chimerical Com-
pany advantages which were not possessed by the regular
fishermen.
The Bill was read a second time and committed.
ASSESSED TAXES.
Lord MILTON presented a Petition from Huddersfield,
praying for the repeal of the Assessed Taxes.—Ordered to lie
on the table.
Mr. HURST presented a petition from Horsham, praying.
for the repeal of the House and Window Tax.—Ordered to lie
on the table.
Mr. CRADOCK presented a petition from Grinton, in the
North Riding of Yorkshire, praying for the repeal of the As-
sessed Taxes.—Ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. LAM BTON presented a petition from Bishop's Auck-
land, praying for the repeal of the House and Window Duties ;
also a petition from the same place, praying for a repeal of the
Stamp Duties.—Ordered to lie on the table.

CATHOLIC CLAIMS.
Mr. MAXWELL presented a petition from the Town of
Downpatrick, against any further concessions to the Catholics.
Ordered to lie on the table.
HOUSE AND WINDOW DUTIES.

Mr. S. WORTLEY presented a Petition from Doncaster,
praying for the repeal of the House and Window Duties.
DUTY ON COALS.

Sir T. ACLAND presented petitions from Dartmouth and
Honiton against the Duty on Coals.—Ordered to lie on the
table.

CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION.
Dr. LUSHINGTUN presented a petition from the Town 01
Drumcondra, in the minty of Meath, against any measures for
suppressing the Catholic Association.—Ordered to he on the
table.
Mr. Alderman HEY GATE presented a petition against the
Bill for Paving, &c. the Borough of Sudbury. Without wish-
ing to prejudge the question, he felt it to be his duty to present
a petition from his Constituents, so numerously and respectably
signed. They stated that the majority of the rate payers were
hostile to the measure, and they were averse to the imposition
of permanent burthens, which would be severely felt, if the
present prosperity of the town should be only temporary.
SINKING FUND.
Mr. HUME postponed his motion on the Sinking Fund,
which stood for Friday. The Honourable Member made some
observations which were not distinctly audible in the Gallery,
but which we understood to refer to a domestic calamity, which
had recently befallen the Speaker.
The SPEAKER said, lie was bound to express to the House
on the present occasion, how deeply and gratefully he felt the
kindness and favour which had been shewn towards him. He
could but ascribe to their indulgence the delay which had taken
place in the public business yesterday ; looking, however, to
the great amount of business, both public and private, he fek
that they had already shewn towards him an indulgence greater
than he had any right to expect, and to the utmost possible ex-
tent that was consistent with the public convenience.
CONSOLIDATION OFACTS RELATIVRTOJURIES.
Mr. Secretary PEEL rose to bring forward his motion for
consolidating and amending the laws relative to Juries. It was
impossible, he apprehended, to urge any valid objection against
clearing up what was obscure, and consolidating what was
scattered over the whole Statute-book in the laws relating to
Juries. There were no fewer than 85 statutes relating to the
impanellin,, of Juries ; what possible objection could there be
to uniting all these statutes in one clear and intelligible Act?—
(Hear !)—lle would mention one or two statutes within the first
ten years of the reign of Queen Aisne, as a specimen of the
confusion and incongruity which prevailed with regard to the
laws on this subject. One ef these Acts relating to Juries was
also entitled an Act for the more easy recovery of small debts,
and for amending the law relative to lands held in coparcenary.
It was surely. more consistent with common sense to separate
the laws relative to Juries from this incongruous mixture, and
to consolidate them into one simple statute. Another Act re-
lating to Juries, the 10th of Queen Anne, was also an Act for
defining the powers of Magistrates in certain cases, for build-
ing county gaols, and for preventing apothecaries from filling
certain parish offices. Some of the provisions relative to Juries,
which wero still in force, were mixed up in the same statute
with provisions relative to other subjects, which had long since
been repealed—
" Monne quinetiam jungebat corpora vivis."

One of these Acts, for instance, was also. an Act relating to
vagrants, which was no longer in force, and an Act for prohi-
biting the exportation of leather. Many of these Acts he pro-
posed to repeal altogether ; that, for instance, relating to the
attainder of Jurors, in case of bribery or improper conduct ; an
Act which, as Blackstone had observed, was coeval with wager
by battle, and which, in the present enlightened age, ought, in
his opinion, to share the fate of its contemporary. Ile would
just state to the House the penalties which this Act inflicted on
the offending juryman ; he was to lose his liberam legem ; he
was to become infamous for life ; he was to forfeit his goods
and the profits of his lands; his wife and children were to be
cast out of doors, his house was to be razed. and his fields and
meadows destroyed. In these days, he trusted, there was abetter
pledge for the integrity of jurors, than any Penal Statute of this
revolting description. This Statute had never been en.
forced during aperiod of 200 years; it was just possible that it
might again be brought into activity, as the law of wager by
battle had been, within the last 20 years.; and as the letter bar-
barous remnant of antiquity had been judiciously abolished, he
proposed to take the-same course with respect to the law for
attaintiug Juries. At the same time, if it could be proved to
him that any benefit was likely to result from this law remain-
ing on the Statute Book—if it could be shewn, that in the pre-
sent century it really was a beneficial and practical conavul
on the conduct of Jurors, he should be perfectly ready to re-
consider his opinion. The alterations which he proposed
to make in the:law srelating to Juries were every s4ght. He
should make ,to new experiments with regard to the phraseo-
logy ; for instance, where the ancient phraseology was clear and
expressive, he should leave it untouched ; where it Yee; absurd
and contradictory, he felt it to be consistent only with the civi-
lization and illumination of the present age, to propose an
amendment.—(H ear, hear !)—The chief alterations which he
proposed to make were these :—ln, the first place, with respect
to the mode of summoning common juries, he should propose
an alteration in the formation of the lists. Those lists were at,
present returned in parishes by the petty constable—an indivi-
dual who was frequently unable to read or write, and who was
too often open to seduction. Thus he (Mr. P.) had ascertained
that the petty constable, in consideration of some trifling gra-
tuity, often omitted the names of persons who were hest quali-
fied to serve on juries, and inserted the names of others who
were less qealified to discharge that duty. He proposed to de-
volve the duty of forming the lists of persons qualified to serve
on juries on the churchwarden and overseers of the parishes,
who, from their situation, were much better able to ascertain
the qualifications of the parishioners, and who, from their re-
spectability, were not liable to the objections which existed
against the petty constable. He should also require a much
more distinct enumeration of the qualifications and residence
of persons liable to serve on juries, than was made at presen
se
t.
—He should propose also, that the appeals of persons who
names might be improperly returned or omitted, should be re-
ceived at a petty Sessions of Magistrates, and not at the Quar-
ter Sessions, where the Magistrates had already sufficient
business on their hands. He proposed also to extend the num-
ber of persons qualified to serve on Special Juries in counties.
Under the existing law, none but persons designated Esquire'
could serve on the Special Juries in Counties; and in one
remarkable case, he alluded to the trial of Major Cartwright,
only 54 persons qualified to serve on Special Juries, exclusive
of the Grand Jury who found the Bill, were returned out of
the whole county of Warwick. ,He should propose that in
Counties, as in the City of London, all persons returned as
merchants and bankers should be liable to serve on Special Ju-
ries. He should now advert to the most important part of this
subject, namely, the formation of Special Juries, for the pur-
pose of trying causes. it was his intention to ,propose an ar-
rangement .which, he trusted, would be perfectly satisfactory
tie all parties, both to those owlexthought. the present mode of
.striking Special Juries defective in theory, and liable to abuse,
and to those who, while they admitted thatethe theory was de-
fective, thought .that no practical abuse could arise from it
in consequence of tile e.,-reat respectability of 'the officers
on whom the duty of striking Special Juries •devolved...-
He should propose that the names of all the persons'
qualified to -serve on Special Juries in London and West-
minster, and .in every county of England, should he in-
scribed in a bOok, -describing the rank and qualifications of
each, and that to the name of each
.person, alphabetically
ranged, should be attached a number of the arithmetical pro-
gresiou 1, 2e3, 4, &c. ; to that, for example, if there were 100
persons qualified to serve on Special Juries, in a particular-
county, their names should be alphabetically arranged, and,
the arithmetical progressioe, 1,2, 3, &c. up to 100, should be
attached to those names in their alphabetical order. He should
then propoaa that a number of cards, equal to that of the per-
sons qualified to serve, should benumbered.with the-same meth-
=deal progression, 1,2, 3, &c. to the extent of the whole list.
The cards so, numbered were to be put into a box or glass, and
40 of them were to be drawn out. by an -officer ; these 40 were

to he reduced to 24, in the present mode, and the names of the
24 called over in Court in their alphabetical order. (Thi's propo-
sition of the Right lion. Gent. was received by the House with
loud cheers.)—lt would of course be admitted that that mode of
trial was to be preferred which would be mast satisfactory to
both plaintiff and defendant.; and therefore it was proposed.
that in civil cases, if both plaintiff anti defendant should signify
their assent in writing, that the officer should proceed in the old
mode, then let that course be followed. It was important that
the consent should be written to prevent future differences. It
should also be provided in civil cases, that when one Jury had
been selected qualified to try commercial causes, if other parties
having causes to be tried should signify their mutual assent, the
same Jury might proceed. To this course he saw no objection.
But unless both parties consented, the law would be of no avail.
This arrangement would not be allowed in political cases; in
•them there must be a ballot of the Special. Jurors. The details of
the measure Would be better understood when the Bill should lie
printed ; at present he only meant to propose that it should be
read a vecoud time,profloono,committed,and theblanks filled up,
in order that its provisions might be fully undertood. If it
should be found that benefit resulted from the measure, he
hoped the House would not stop there with the principle of
consolidation. It was impossible to contemplate the vast mass
of laws in our Statute Books, without feeling that great ad-
vantage might be derived from
.extending the principle. The
Criminal Code should be the first ; for it was of the last im-
portance that the subjects of this realm should have a facility
in knowing the laws which they were bound to obey. Many
amendments might be made in the laws respecting forgery and
• larceny, which abounded with so many anomalies. The Hon.
and Learned Gentleman (Dr. Lushington) had devoted much
of his time to the consolidation of some of our laws, and indeed
it was only by the intervention of able professional men that
such a desirable object could be accomplished. He had him-
self been much occupied with this measure, and had also the
assistance of eminent members of the legal profession, who
were of Course much better qualified to treat such . a subject
than lie could pretend to be ; and lie trusted, that however ne-
cessary in other cases a commission inailis particular instance
might be dispensed with, as he trusted the measure would be
found satisfactory. With 'respect to the laws regarding for-
gery, they filled one entire volume, and he thought that in that
case a commission would be desirable, for he was sure that
neither the Lord Chancellor, the Attorney-General, or any pro-
fessional man, could devote sufficient time for the minute In-
vestigation which was necessary. After the experience he had
of those 85 Statutes respecting Juries, he was persuaded, that
by carrying the principle of consolidation farther, great improve-
ment would he done to the laws. 3luch confusion would be
avoided, and many anomalies removed. He should therefore
move for leave to bring in a Bill to consolidate the Laws re-
lating to Juries, and for the Regulation of Special Juries.
Dr. LUSH INGTON said, lie was desirous to take the ear-
liest opportunity of expressing the high satisfaction he felt at
the very important measure about to he introduced by the
Right Honourable Gentleman. With respect to that part of
the proposed plan which affected the selection of juries, it could
not fail to be productive of the greatest benefit, for nothing
could be more injurious to the administration of justice than
even the existence of a doubt as to the purity of the mode in
which it was administered. The decisions of Courts of Justice
should be beyond suspicion, in order that the desirable ced
might be attained, that a conviction should receive the approll.-
tion of the public ; and from the statement of the Right Ho-
nourable Gentleman, lie was disposed to think that the provi-
sions of the Bill were the best qualified to accomplish-the pro-
posed end. He apprehended that the regulation as to the
selection of juries would extend to Exchequer prosecutions.—
(Mr. Peel expressed his assent.)—This would be of the
greatest advantage, and as to the general question of .consoli-
dation, he quite concurred in the principle of appointing a
Commission, and of proceeding step by step. 'ln the
Committee, of course, an opportunity would be afforded of
making any alterations that might be found necessary, and he
felt a strong assurance, that the measure would be most satis-
factory when reduced to the best test of utility—Practice. In all
his attempts on this subject, his principle, and he trusted the
principle that would he pursued, was to consolidate the laws
precisely as they stood. No man had a right to come down to
that House with a measure professing consolidation merely,
when, in point of fact, its object was to alter and amend. If the
slightest alteration were proposed, it should be distinctly pointed
out to the House, and in any consolidation theraluiuld adhere
adjudicated casea.
with reference to derided cases .in order that thelaw might not
as closely as possible to the old form of tite.Act.of :Parliament,
---(llear.!)
be at sea until there were fresh
The Right Hon. Gentleman% =azure .should :have his fall
concurrence anti support. -
Mr, 110BHOLTSE said, •that every men who valued the
liberties of his country, oast be delighted at the,introduction
of this Bill. It would be theveatest and most salutary reform
that could be found in our Statute Books.
Mr. HUMP: said, that loiving years ago called the attention
of the House to this important subject, he could not but ex-
press the satisfaction he felt at the proposed measure of the
Right Honoura.ble Secretary. But it appeared to him, that it
would be a very great advantage if the same principle could
he applied to what wise called-the Common Law, but which he
called no law—and he understood that-such.a-course would not
be difficult.
Mr. PEEL said, that as fares was predicable, the Common
Law had been consolidated by Statute, but the Honourable
Member must himself concur in the impropriety of enacting by
Statute that which was regulaWd. by Common Law. Nothing,
in his mind, could be more inexpedient than interfering- with
the ancient sacred institutions of the country:; for instance, who
would think jf enforcing, by Statute, that a Jury should con-
sist of twelve persons, and that their-verdict must be founded
on unanimity. It would he mom .unwise to interfere with those
sacred usages which had been uniformly recognized as the law
of the land.
Mr. BRIGHT expressed his concurrence in the measure, and
suggested two alterations,--Ahe one, that we •.should return to
the ancient principle, that juries should not separate until they
had conic to a decision ; and the other, that the old law should
be re-enacted of compelling the Crown Lawyers, .in cases of
high treason, -to state the wound of challenge at the time the
challenge is made.
After a few words from Sir JOHN SEBRIGHT, the motion
was agreed to.
Mr. HOME DRU3IMOND obtained leave to bring in a
bill for the more easy Recovery of Small Debts in the Sheriffs'
Courts of Scotland.
The LORD ADVOCATE obtained leave to bring in a bill
for continuing, until thelst of Ju1y,1326, the Act for render-
ing the payment of creditors more equal and expeditious in:
Scotland.
The LORD ADVOCATE obtained leave to bring in a bill
for regulating Fees in the Sheriffs' Court, and Courts of
Burghs in Scotland.
On the motion of Mr. DICKINSON, a Select Committee
was appointed for inquiring into the Expenditure of County
Rates,. and to report their opinions thereon to the House.
he other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the
.ouse adjourned at a Quarter before Eight.

AGRICULTURAL. SOCIETIES.—After the Britons
retired into Wales, it was enacted that no man should guide a
plough that could not make one, and that the driver should
make the ropes of twisted willows with which it was drawn. It
was usual for 6 or 8 persons to form themselves into a society for
thing out one of these ploughs, providing it with oxen and every
thing necessary for ploughing; and many curious laws were made
for the regulation of such societies. If any person laid dung on
the field with the consent of the proprietor, he was by law
allowed the use of that land for one year. If the dung was
carried out in a cart in great abundance, he was to have
the use of the land for three years. Whoever cut down a
wood, and converted the ground into arable, with the
consent of the owner, was to have the use of it for five
years. If any -orid-folaed 'his cattle for one year, upon a piece
of ground belonging to another, with the owner's consent, be
was allowed the use of that field for four years. Thus, though
the Britons had in a great measure lost the knowlege of agri-
culture, they appear to have been very assiduous in giving en-
couragement to such as would attempt the revival of it.

CoßoNr . 4-
IT
---- INQUEST.--lesterday at 3 o'clock,
an Ingaisition was taken before UNWIN, Esq. Coroner, at
the White Hart public-house, Clifton.-street, Finsbury, on view
of the body of Benjamin Burrell, hair-dresser, residing at No.
41, in that street, who put a period to his existence on Monday
last.—J. Dixon, a watchman, deposed, that about half-past 5
, y
o'clock on 'Monday, the daughter of the deceased came, and
begged,that lie would go to her father's house; he accordingly
accompanied her thither, and found the deceased in the privy,
with his throat cut and a razor ling by his side, and the floor
' deluged with blood. The witness said that the deceased had
been for a long time past in an unsound state of mind, and he
had no doubt that Ids death was caused by his own act. Mr.
denial-1y (he said John Lucas, clerk in a mercantile house, a relation of the de-
ceased, stated, that about twelve raonths ago the deceased suf-
fered nmch from a severe fit of illness, and ever since that time
he had. beenin a melancholy desponding state of mind; par-
peered to be labourin under a mental delusion, imagining
Verdict—Temporary that he was reduced to a state of distress, and about to go to the
workhouse, although he Was really in good cireeuistaneos.
during the' last two or three months, he ap-
peared
A very 1
Insanity-
• -nwortant discovery for The French
nation has been inademear .Paris in a vein of 'ex-
cellent coal, with a 'large quantity of iron stone
in its immediate vicinity.

INDIA.

'{Prom the Times.]
By the Ilintiostan, arrived at Liverpool from
Calcutta, we have received accounts from that place to the 7th
of November, which bring intelligence in itself of a nature suf-
ficiently alarming, and the more so, because indicating the same
want of judgment in the conduct of the war with the Burmese,
which so peculiarly marked the first proceedings by which we
were plunged into this unfortunate contest. It appears that a
mutiny of the 47th Regiment of Native Infantry took place
°n the 2d of November, at Barrackpore, which was not
(relied without the destruction, if the private letters may
be credited, of several hundreds of them. The cause of
discontent is described to have been a diminution of their
batta, or marching allowance, with other privations as re-
garded the conveyance of the baggage, at the moment when
they were about to commence a dangerous and fatiguing
expedition ! The first symptoms of insubordination were
evinced on the morning of the 2d, on the muster of the 47th
Native Regiment on the parade at Barrackpore, preparatory
to their being marched to Dacca, on their road to the seat of
the campaign in the Burmese territory. Barrackpore is distant
about 16 miles from Calcutta. On this occasion it was remark-
ed, that the troops appeared on the parade without their knap-
sacks ; and on being questioned why they did so, avowed their
determination not to march unless allowed bullocks and coolies
to carry their moveables. Col.Danz E t., the English officer com-
manding the mutinous regiment, expostulated with them on
their conduct, and on their remaining refractory, rushed for-
ward and attempted to seize one of those who appeared to take
a leading part in the mutiny. lie was warned, however, by
some of the others to desist, they declaring their intention
to shoot him if he persevered. He abstained, therefore, from
personal interference; but on his requiring that all those who
did not participate in this mutinous conduct should separate
from their comrades, one whole company detached itself, and
were followed by the native officers in command of the other
companies. There wasnot, in fact, one officer even so low in rank
as the havildar, or serjeant, who took any part in the mutiny.
Colonel DALZEL, finding the remainder immovable in their
resolution, and fearing the consequences that might ensue, as
they were well supplied both with arms and ammunition, dis-
patched couriers to the artillery station at Dumdum, and to the
!,Commander-in-Chief, who was at Calcutta, who immediately
repaired with his guard, and the body-guard of the Governor.
General, which are cavalry and Mahometan troops, to the
neighbourhood oldie place where the mutineers kept their posi-
tion. At this time there was in garrison at Fort William the Ist
Batt. Royal Scots, and the 44th Regiment ; and, by great
good fortune, the 47th (British) Regiment had dropped down
the riverdn boats, on their route to Chittagong, only the even-
ing before. By considerable activity all these troops were col-
lected near Barrackpore by day-break on the 3d, but their ap-
proach Was managed with so much caution, that it remained un-
known to the mutineers. These men were then once more ad-
dressed by their Officers, and advised to a voluntary submission,
but continuing refractory, the artillery and troops were brought
to act upon them. On the first fire they threw down their arms,
and fled in confusion. A great many precipitated themselves
into the river, numbers were killed' by the fire of the troops,
and about fifty were secured iro the attempt to escape.—
' In the accounts of what ensued at this period of the affair,
there is a singular discrepancy ; some letters stating the
killed and wounded of the mutinous regiment at six hun-
dred, and others at no more than forty, but there is every
reason for believing that the smallest number given is the
nearest to the truth. The exaggeration is, without doubt,
owing to the alarm which prevailed at Calcutta at the time,
that place having been left under the protection of no more than
400 European troops during the period occupied in putting
down the mutiny. A Court-martial had been formed to try
the mutineers, and it is asserted in some accounts that fifty had
been hanged ; but we are inclined here also to take the more
moderate statement, from which we learn that five only, and
those well known to he the ringleaders in the mutiny, had been
put to death. No search after the fugitives had been instituted,
with the exception of two or three, well known to have excited
the discontent of the remainder, and for whose apprehension
rewards had been offered. On the investigation that took place,
some of the troops who were questioned respecting their motives
for refusing to march, are said to have assigned as a reason, that
they imagined the Burmese dealt in witchcraft, and consequently
that other troops could have no chance against magicians--a
reason which is sufficiently characteristic of the superstitious ig-
norance of our native Indian troops. Whether this cause be
the true one or not, there can he no hesitation at condemning the
impalicy of creating causes of discontent among this class of
force at such a time, by curtailing their regular allowances, and
by subjecting them to unusual privations. Every one acquaint-
ed with the disposition of the Sepoy troops is aware that pa-
tience and submission are a fixed habit with them, and that
they could not have rebelled •in the manner described without
strong provocation, or very powerful motives of one kind or
other. We have collected the preceding statement from a great
number of private letters received yesterday from Calcutta,
after duly weighing the authofity and the probability of each
account, and • divesting it of all that appeared superfluous,
which we conceived a far more useful method than leaving our
readers to be embarrassed with their contradictions. Our im-
pression on the whole of the narrative is, that the mutinous
spirit was,,at the date of the advices, laid to rest for the pre-
sent; but that we have little security against its re-appearance
under such an administration as that which now governs India.
We subjoin theofficial account of the affair at Barrackpore as
IPublished by authority in the COcutta Gazette :--.

" CALCUTTA, Nov. 4,

c‘ As considerable public anxiety will naturally have been
felt regarding the events which have recently occurred at Bar-
rackpore, we are authorized to state the following particulars :
J., Symptoms of insubordination had manifested them-
selves. for some days in the 47th Regiment of Native In-
fantry at that station, under orders to proceed to Chita-
gong. On Monday morning a large proportion of the corps
refused to obey their officers, and conducted themselves in
a most outrageous manner. Notwithstanding sufficient time
was allowed them for reflection, and every effort was made
to induce them to return to their duty, they continued on
Tuesday morning in a state of open mutiny, which it became
indispensably necessary to put down, by the employment of
force. In consequence, at an early hour, the battalion of his
Majesty's Royal Regiment, and some artillery from Dumdum,
took up a position in the rear of their quarters, while his Ma-
jesty's 47th Regiment,
the Body Guard, and the 67th Regi-
ment of Native Infantry, formed in line on their left. Colonel
Neil, Colonel Stevenson, and Captain r,lacan, were then sent
by his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, to order the mu-
tineers to ground their arms. This they refused to do. Two
signal-guns were immediately tired, as previously concerted, and
the artillery opened upon their rear. They then fled in various
directions, and were pursued by the King's regiments, and the

body guard. A considerable number were killed, and many
prisoners taken, for the trial of whom a court-martial was
mediately convened. The 26th and 62d Regiments of Native
Infantry, which were also under marching orders, behaved

throughout the morning with the most perfect steadiness; and

by the accounts received yesterday, it appears that tranquillity
has been completely re-established, and that the severe ex-
ample which it has been necessary to make, has produced the

desired effect.

" Two of the body-guard were unfortunately killed by a shot
from one of the guns; but no other casualty occurred among
the troops employed on the occasion."

This, under any version, is an unpleasant affair. A mutiny
breaking out in the neighbourhood of the seat of Government,
requires a measure of the most desperate nature to
suppress,—for such a measure we assert to be the discharge of
our own artillery upon troops in our own pay, and having sworn
obedience to us,—cannot but be regarded with apprehension—.
We had always considered it as unfortunate that Lord Wit..
LIAM BENTINCK was not sent out to India, and hope that we
may not have future occasion to express our regret upon the
same subject.

The accounts brought by the Ilindostan from Rangoon come
down to the 22d of October. A detachment of our troops had
been repulsed in an attack on one of the stockades, an account
of which will be found among our extracts from the papers ;
but, on the other hand, the army under the command of Sir
ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL had taken Tavay and many other
forts on the coast of Siam. These captures were facilitated by
a movement of the inhabitants, who mutined against their
Governors in some instances, and received the British with
open arms. This feeling of the Siamese in favour of the
British is an event of the highest importance to the ultimate
issue of the war, and is highly important, as it would ensure
an ample supply of provisions to our troops. It was ex—
pected that Sir ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL would be enabled-
to advance against Ummerapoora, the capital of Ava, by
the end of the month of November; and should he succeed in

his attempt on that place, it is supposed that the Burmese
might be awed by it into submission. It is possible, in
the actual occurrence of so favourable an event, that intel-
ligence of it might arrive in this country, by means of an
overland express, in the course of a few days. The force
collected by the Burmese between Rangoon and Ummera-
poora was estimated at 100,000 men, under the command of the
Prince of SURRAWADDY, the King of Av.s.'s brother. The
reports of a revolution in Ave are not confirmed. Mr. GounEn,
who was taken prisoner some time ago by the Burmese, re-
mained in their custody, but had not suffered any further mo-
lestation. A number of fire-rafts, filled with various combus-
tibles, which had been constructed by the Burmese for the pur-
pose of floating down the Irrawaddy, and impeding the progress
of the transports, had been destroyed by Sir ARCUIBALP
Cam YBELL. Upwards of 5,000 barrels of oil had been blown up•

FRENCH PAPERS.

( From the Xtoik, dated Tuesday, March B. )

PARIS, MARCH 7.—The news published to-day by a .Tour-
nal, of a considerable loan made by Spain, and guaranteed by
several great Powers, is wholly destitute of foundation.

The report which has been in circulation for some days, of as
loan of 500 millions of francs by Spain, with the obligation on

,
the part of the contractors to withdraw from circulation the"
bonds of the Cortes and of the Dutch debt, in an indefinite
period, is not founded in truth. The Spanish Government had
rejected this proposal. The Journal du Commerce says to-oe'
that the proposal was made by Spain, and rejected at London-
The Journal des Debats and the Constitutionnel, which have
the same correspondent at Madrid, both give us to-day a pro"
ject of a decree of Amnesty transmitted to the Council of (.%20-
tine by the Minister of Justice, with a letter, in which 31'
Calomarde desires that the strictest secrecy shall be preserve&
with respect to this affair ; but nothing is a secret to the corre-
spondent of the two Journals we have named. They accord'
ingly published the letter of M. Calomarde, the project of tb
Decree, and the report of the Council of Castille. We knovl
not if the readers of these two Journals will give much credit to'
such documents; as for us, who do not pretend to publish Vs'
pers of such importance, we believe that we may decline relying;
on the authenticity of the documents which the Coustitutiorock
and the Journal des Debats present to us to-day.
( From Mc Conslitutionnel. )
FEB. 24.--( Private Correspondence.)—The Mini'
ster of Grace and Justice, under date Feb. 5, has sent a letter to
the President of the Council of Castille, accompanied by tb&
following Decree, which his Majesty is said to suppose rs
ne
cessary to unite his divided subjects. The Council of Castill,
was required by the Minister to give their opinion on the Deere'

COPY OF THE PROJECT OF A DECREE.
" My Royal heart, desiring to bury in an eternal obliviol
the unfortunate events which have recently taken place, n. 1-
particularly to efface the deplorable traces which they ha 0
left, and which place obstacles in the way of a general WO°
of the people, and impede public prosperity, it is my sovereigfrl
will, that for the future there shall be no accusation whatevet;
or denunciation for any thing which may relate to eon.,
which have taken place between March 7, 1820, and October x;,
1823. No judge or tribunal is to institute a trial which 1347(
renew the remembrance of the evils of three years of disci j
and anarchy. All those who are detained on account v;
political offences or opinions shall be set at libertJl
The proceedings against them shall be stopped, and tile,
shall never be disturbed in any manner on account of thas,l
facts or opinions. My. Royal clemency shall also extend to .0
political crimes committed up to March 1, 1824, on condirl„
antis
those persons who have left the country shall return 'r
in three months from the date of this Decree. As anarchY,er
perpetuated, if those who have contributed to restore good orile
continue to demand rewards for it,. I desire that for
'O,
future they will abstain alleging claims of this descriptiftit
I shall remember such services when occasion offers, Y 4,
henceforth no person shall be appointed to any civil, eccleolic
tical, or military situation, but on account of his fitness for ~e 0
situation ; and no political conduct, since 18-20, shall be tateg
into consideration. It is my royal will, that whatevee v 041.,
to this shall be wholly overlooked by the tribunals and di sill
ent officers of the State. lam persuaded that my subjects ow
conform to these paternal wishes, of which the object is qco,
ciliation and prosperity, and that they will promote my vie le
so that 1 may govern in peace and prosperity the Pvw
confided to my care by Providence, whom 1 regard as, teechildren. The project of law is as follows :--Art. Ist. Al'orjocij
Spaniards shall receive an amnesty, who, from March.•
1820, up to the present day, have been guilty of any poll, oft
offence whatever.—Art. 2. All Spaniards now imprisoned},
account of such offences, or subject to trial, shall be WO re
ately liberated.—Art. 3. My Ministers shall henceforth P tp
pose to me, for employments, the persons most kraPe:
till them, without any regard to their political opaiolliortil
conduct.—Art. 4. All my subjects are forbidireia 4eace'rjoil
to make a merit of their Royalist services, my ,intent,
being to reward them independent of employments.—Mo,
The emigrants shall return to their country within threell°-opee
from the date of the present Decree ; and those who 6%0
embrace this condition shall be excluded from the bon ip
this Decree, and shall remain subject to the laws at prese°
fore:." re'
The President of the Council of Castille made a lOn&c,/
port on this Decree to the Government, concluding tlia-'„'vc
The Council regards this measure as ill-timed, and not t'
ore
executed. The documents accompanying the Decree Pe
of
that there is a want of correct information as to the st3`ror
the nation, and that the inconvenience of placing public poi
..,
ployments in the hands of a certain class of personsthe
been sufficiently weighed." In spite of this disapprobation yi
Project has been again presented to the Council of State' 00,,i)
rational people think that the time has arrived for effecting4oo.
changes. Some Royalist volunteers, however, have Lora'
added to the cry of " Long live the Absolute King," the
" No Chambers." ts'
r
PARIS, MARCH 7—FRENCH FUNDS.--Five Fe.„
Jouiss. du Sept. 22, 1824. closed March 5, at 106 • I'7' f3ev
du March 22, 1825, opened at 103 f. 00c. ; closed at 103,,,•oti0:1
—Bank Stock, 2,047 f. 50e.—Neapolitan 5 per Cents, 'fp/
cue Falconnet, 911. 50c.—Rente d'Espagne, 204t.'" r
Spanish Loan, 60f.
Exchange on London—One Month, 251. ; three, ditto*
85c.—( Cour: 4uthcntigne.)