The Sun.
London, England, 1836-08-09 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNAL.

It will be seen, as we anticipated yesterday, that the
Lords have disagreed with that portion of the News-
, paper Stamp Duty Bill, which went. to enact that all
the names of all the proprietors of all existing News-
papers should he duly returned, amended, \ and
registered every six months. We do not wonder at
this proceeding on the part of their Lordshipsolor do
we blame it. The clause in question was, in every
respect, a clause which ought not to have found its
way into the Bill, and which for its illiberality, its
tyrannical oppression, and its inquisitorial power,
reflects indelible disgrace upon its authors. At the
same time it is but fair to the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, and the Members of his Majesty's Govern-
ment to state; that the clause. in question formed no
part of their original Bill, that it was forced upon
them by all parties in the House, and that it
was only submitted to for the sake of attaining
the great objects which they had in view, namely,
the reduction of the stamp duty,- and the protection
of the legitimate press of the country against that
portion of it which subsists by piracy and plunder.
The same discretion which guided them to that sub-
mission—ungenerous as it was to that portion of time
press which had " nailed its flag to their mast"—will,
we trust, guide them also to another—namely, upon
the return of the fill to the Commons, as amended last
night, either to adopt that clause in question
not affecting the revenue—or, in the event of their
deeming the amendment to be an infringement of their
rights and privileges, to introduce a 11;!w Bill, not
containing the obnoxious clause, and to pass it in
twenty-four hours, as they can and may do, and
thereby ensure its adoption by-the House of 'Lords.
There was a general rumour last night that the Bill
might be considered, in consequence of the amend-
ment alluded to, as lost for the present session ; and
for our own part, we are in a great measure care-
less whether it be or whether it be not lost ; but
the case is, widely different with others who are more
dependant upon the public generally- than we are. To
them, as well as to all those—including paper-manu-
facturers, newspaper printing-machine-makers, and
newspaper proprietors—who have speculated upon the
certain passage of the Bill through both Houses of
Parliament, it will prove a serious loss of property ;
and we, in consequence, conjure, not only his Majesty's
Ministers, but the Radical Members of the House of
Commons, to pause and ponder well the results of the
total rejection of the Bill, before they venture upon a
proceeding. so fraught with injustice, and so fatal to
their own influence with the people. The duty must
be reduced, and the Bill must be passed by them, if
they mean to keep faith with the people, and to deserve
their confidence. The flimsy excuse that the Lords
have amended a money Bill, and thereby trenched upon
the just privileges of the Commons, will not avail
them, with such a remedy at their discretion to adopt
as that to which we have alluded, and which has been
repeatedly adopted in similar cases.—Morning Adver.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MARLBORO U GH-STREE T.

MELANCHOLY CASE OF SEDUCTION.—Among the nu-
merous night charges brought yesterday before Mr. Cham-
bers, the sitting magistrate•, was a, female of respectable
appearance, named Jane Moore, who was charged with
having assaulted a person calling himself Captain Williams,
but whose real name is supposed to be William Henry East.
On the case being called, Inspector Baker said the com-
plainant was not in attendance.
Mr. J.. Wooler, who attended on the part of Mrs. Moore,
regretted that he was not. He had hoped to have met
him there. The fact was, the defendant was the same un-
fortunate female who on Saturday was taken before the
magistrates at Bow-street, for having attempted to destroy
herself, by throwing herself off Waterloo bridge on the pre-

_ .
vious night, in consequence of her only child, Uho was about
nineteen years of age, having been seduced by the person
who had charged her in the present instance. After her libe-
ration from confinement, she continued her search after
him and her daughter. and in the evening, finding him at.
the Colonnrde Coffee-house, Charles-street, St. James's-
square, she entreated he would inform her•where she might
find her child. On seeing her, he immediately pushed her
on one side, and endeavoured to leave the coffee-room, but
she clung to him, and in his endeavours to escape from her
struck his bead against the corner of a table, and occa-
sioned a considerable effusion of blood, on which he called
a policeman, and gave her into custody for assaulting him.
Mr. CHAMBERS asked Mrs. Moore if, on her accosting
him in the coffee room, she bad been struck by East ?
Mrs. Moore replied in the negative. He only pushed her.

Mr. CHAMBERS said, had she been struck by him, he
would have issued his warrant for his instant apprehension,
and punished him as far as the law would have allowed. He
regretted her misfortunes, and was sorry he could not assist
her any farther than by discharging her.