The Sun.
London, England, 1831-01-11 00:00:00

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LONDON,
TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 11, 1631.

We expressed yesterday, and we repeat to-day,
our hope that Government will extend its mercy
to the six wretched convicts now left for execu-
tion at Winchester. If ever a case excited the
sympathy of the public--a sympathy which is
rapidly extending itself throughout the king-
dom—this is that one. Every reader in

the slightest degree conversant with the
trials, sees at once that the poor men are fa
different from those criminals who are usually
left to undergo the last penalties of the law.
They evinced no cold-blooded premeditated
depravity—no reckless thirst for vengeance,
no deliberate wish to stir up disaffection ; they
acted chiefly under the influence of delusion—
they felt—could they do otherwise ?—the bitter-
ness of their distress, and in a phreuzied mo-
ment, resolved to take the law into their own
hands and see themselves righted. We defend
not such conduct, far from it ; we hold it i►i utter
abhorrence, and would visit it with instant
punishment ; still we would apportion that pu-
nishment to the character of the crime, and draw
a broad line of distinction between those who
wantonly and deliberately transgress the law, and
those who do so under the twofold influence
of distress and desperation. Should the Win-
chester convicts suffer death, it will be wholly in
opposition to the wish of the country. By
the lower orders they will be looked on
in some degree as martyrs ; and will fur-
nish the more influential classes with striking
proofs of the injudicious severity of our
Criminal Code. In the present critical state
of the country, every thing that may tend
to promote dissatisfaction should be care-
fully avoided, and as much as possible be
done by Government, when it can do so con-
sistently with justice and reason, to conciliate
public opinion. The Church, the Law—even
the Legislature itself, is not so secure, as to be
able to make head against the stream. It may
direct the course, but it cannot stop the
progress of the channel. Again, therefore
we repeat our most earnest wish and confident

expectation that Government will see the pro-
priety of yielding to the public desire, by saving
the lives of the unfortunate Hants rioters.
Justice and public opinion should always go
hand in hand together.

The Poles are indefatigable in their prepara-
tions for war, and confident of success in the ap.
proaching contest with Russia. They seem to
be perfectly aware of the danger of their situa-
tion, and resolved to brave the worst—if any
thing can be worse than the intolerable thraldom
to which they were subjected by the caprice
of that bully and coward the Grand Duke
CONSTANTINE. With all our heart and soul
we wish that they may cut the invaders to pieces,
and are confident that there is not a respectable
man in the three kingdoms who does not wish the
same. Were the Poles however defeated, it would
not surprise us were France to interpose in their
behalf, if not by arms, at least by what in the
present state of Europe is nearly equivalent to it,
a prompt and powerful remonstrance. It is im-
possible that the French Government can be
influenced by the slightest feelings of courtesy
or forbearance towards the Russian EMPEROR,
seeing that he delayed his recognition of her
citizen Monarch to the last moment, and there
by sufficiently proved that his acknowledgemen
was the result, not of conviction, but of appre
hension.
St. Pi

'etersburgh and Dutch Papers have
been received. The former state that the
cholera morbus was abating in Moscow,
and the latter that the King of HOLLAND was
daily expecting to be able to make an interesting
communication to the States General :.•-•-•
BREDA, JAN. 6.—Since the return of Generel Van
Geen there have been various movements among the
troops composing the army in the field. It is generally
believed that these troops are going to Maestricht, and that
the whole column will consist of 7,000 or 8,000 men.
Actual Debt,AMSTERDAM, JAN. 7.
2% per cent .......................... 40 to 40%
Amort Syndic, 4% per cent. ..................... 64% to e 5
Ditto, ditto, 3% per cent. ........................ 51% to 52q Exchange on London .....
11 85
Two Months. ...................................... 11 SO

The Lisbon Gazettes from the 27th to the
31st of December inclusive, contain no Portu-
guese political news. On the 27th there was a
grand drawing•room at the Palace of Queluz,
at which the Foreign Ministers, and a great
number of persons of distinction, paid their re-
spects to his MAJESTY.

We have Calcutta Papers this morning to the
Ist of Sept. The only article of intelligence
they contain worth extracting is an account of
the death of Colonel Sir J. AIACDONALD, the
British Ambassador at Tabreez, who died on the

11th of June. Captain CAMPBELL, of the
Madras Cavalry, was acting Charge d'Affaires.

We have advices from Gibraltar of the 23d
Dec. Direct accounts received there from
Oran, give information that that port was occu-
pied by French troops, and that the Beys were
forbidden to allow the exportation of corn to
any other country than France.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE-(THIS DAY.

FROM LLOYD'S.
PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 10.—Wind N. to N.E.—Sailer
his Majesty's ship Cordelia, for Bermuda.
SOUTHAMPTON, JAN. 10.—Arrived the Pace, Byron
from Lisbon.

FALMOUTH, JAN. 9.—Wind N., fresh breezes.—Ar.
rived the Duke of Marlborough picket, from Lisbon
sailed the let inst.

PENZANCE, JAN. 9.—Arrived the Jane, French, from
Seville. Off port the Astrea, from Quebec ; and Bro-
Woodley, from Denia.
SCILLY, JAN. 9.—Arrived the Arno, Scales, from
Cadiz ; and Sprightly, Quinton, from Lisbon.
BRISTOL, JAN. 9.—Arrived the James and Ellen, from
Malaga; Nameless, from Cadiz; and Aron, Whitwell,
and Alfred, —, fiom Bilboa.

LxvritrOoL, JAN. 9.—Arrived the Mary Harriet,
Barstow, from Savannah.

GIBRALTAR, Dec. 23.—His Majesty's ship Gloucester
sailed on Monday for England. Towards evening she was
becalmed, and carried by the current on the Pearl Rock,
where she remained for about half an hour, when she got
off, and is now in dock to be hove down. It is said that
a piece of jock is in her bottom.

The Emulation, Lesby, from Newfoundland, was
driven on shore, and bilged, at Lisbon, during a violent
gale from S.E. to
.S.W., on the 29th ult. The Elizabeth
Gillespie, Carson, from Liverpool, and the Alert, Griffin,
from Bristol, also ran on shore, but were got off with
damage.

The Tasmania, from Memel, bound to Liverpool, was
driven on ahem at Odessa during a gale from E.N.E., on
the 16th ult., and had seven feet water in her hold.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.-(THIS DAY.)

ROLLS COURT.

The Master of the Hal, after attending the Lord
Chancellor, rat at Westminster to-day at half-past one
o'clock, to hear petitions, of which upwards of 40 were
set down for disposal before his Honour.

VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT.
This being the first day -of Hilary Term, his Ho-
nour the VICX. CLIANCELLOR did not take his seat
till half-past one o'clock. His Honour being along
with the other Judges at breakfast with the Lord
Chancellor at his Lordship's house in Berkeley-square.
His Honour proceeded with motions, but up to the time
when our Reporter left, nothing of any public importance
came before the Court.

Mr. Serjeant Spankie, Mr. Serjeant Jones, and Mr.
Coltman, were called within the bar this morning by his
Honour, the two former on having Patents of Prece-
dency, and the latter gentleman on being appointed one of
his Majesty's Counsel.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH.
This being the first day of Hilary Term the Judges,
after breakfasting with the Lord Chancellor, went down
to Westminster Hall in procession, and opened their re-
spective Courts. It was half-past one o'clock before their
Lordships took their seats on the Bench.

Mr. Serjeant SPANKING and Mr. Serjeaut Jonas took
their seats within the bar, having received a patent of pre-
cedence.

Mr. CoramAN also took his seat within the bar, on
being appointed one of his Majesty's Counsel.
The Learned Gentlemen having received the congratu-
lations of the Bar, bowed to the Court, and retired.
No motion of the least public importance came before
the Court up to the time of our Reporter leaving.
Lord Buono SIAM and suite came down to Westminster
Hall in two elegant state carriages. The servants were
dressed in splendid liveries.

OLD BAILEY SESSIONS.-(THIS DAY.

OLD COURT.
It being generally expected that Carlile would have been
brought up this morning to receive judgment, the Court
was much crowded at an early hour. Up to the time of
our Paper going to press he had not, however, entered
the Court. We understand that it is his intention to move
for an arrest of judgment on several grounds.
Solomon Davis and William Simmons were indicted
for breaking and entering the Jews Synagogue, in Duke's-
place, and stealing therefroM four silver bells and several
other valuable articles, the property of Moses Aaron.
There were other counts in the indictment describing the
articles as the property of other individuals.
[This trial was going forward when we went to press.]