The Sun.
London, England, 1825-05-21 00:00:00

[MORNING HERALD.]

All idea of repealing the sanitary laws against
the plague seems to be abandoned, and very
justly. It is surprising that the question should,
for a moment, be seriously entertained—even
supposing the doctrine of contagion to be shaken
by the arguments or the facts adduced against it.
Where error would be so fatal, so horrible, no-
thing but positive scientific certainty should be
proceeded upon. Now this certainty cannot be
attained in the particular question. It is true
that medical knowledge is, like other branches
of natural science, established by experiment
and induction ; but the history of medicine, as
well as the reason of the thing, proves that
here the induction is full of uncertainty and
danger. Is there not a new revolution in the
practice of physic every twenty or thirty years—
introducing the most diversified and even oplposed
modes of treatment ? If there, be any one
career of investigation in which men lay down
theories and build systems with more confidence
and absurdity than another, it is medicine. There
is this wide and fatal difference between the in-
ductions in medicine and in other branches of
-
experimental science. In the latter—take chemis-
try for
instance—the Professor tells you that he
has made certain experiments which produced uni-
formly certain results, and instead of trusting to
his report, he instructs you how to repeat these ex-
periments for yourself, and thus obtain the evidence
of your own observation. But the Professor of me-
dicine who records the results of his experiments
upon his patients, does not, and cannot do this.
In judging the value of his inductions or cases,
we must take into account his personal veracity
and the accuracy of his observations. But what
a source is here of uncertainty and error—even
admitting perfect good faith. How liable is, the
judgment to be hoodwinked and misled by self-
love and zeal for a favourite doctrine f—persons
witnessing, the, same,case—or it may be called the
same, experiment, frequently insist upon.oppo_
site premises, and draw opposite conclusions.--
The French: physicians---men of, unquestioned
honour and competency, who weat.to Barcelona
for the special purpose of investigating the yellow
fever, who went through the hospitals, and saw

the same cases, were divided in opinion as to I
the contagious or non-contagious quality of the
disease. It is not impossible that the accumu-
lation of evidence, and new lights of knowledge,
collateral and direct, may in process 'of distant
time settle this question. But this is mere spe-
culation. The necessary basis of certainty seems
at present unattainable. It is, however, incum-
bent upon the Government to give every en-
couragement and facility to the inquiry, and to
obtain and preserve all the evidence that can be
procured—not for the purpose of legislating, but
for the promotion of knowledge, and more for the
use of posterity than our own.

[MORNING CHRONICLE.]
An interesting discussion took place last night,
on the proposition for raising the salaries of the
Judges. The Chancellor of the Exchequer took
something from the salaries of the Puisne Judges,
on the Bench, and added to the amount of the
retiring salaries. Mr. Scarlett thought the re-
tiring salaries still too small, and instanced the
ease of ,Baron Wood, who remained on the Bench
longer, after he was unfit to discharge his judicial
duties from motives of economy. Mr. Brougham
thought too much was given to the Puisne Judges,
and too little to the Chiefs. He objected too that
the proportion between the Master of the Rolls,
the Vice-Chancellor, and the Puisne Judges, had
been departed from. Ile paid a high compliment
to the present Vice-Chancellor, who, he said,
" was really the ornament of the Equity Courts,
was no political partisan, and did nothing but
decide causes. He sat from ten o'clock in the
morning until four in the afternoon, when in health,
and he did not, like a political Judge, delay his
entrance till eleven, and leave at two." His ob-
servations on the power of promoting the Puisne
Judges to the Chief Justiceships, were met by
the Attorney-General, who said that promotions
from one Chief Justiceship to another had always
been practised. But one evil does not form a
justification of another.

[BRITISH PRESS.]
The Jury Laws Bill was re-committed last
night, in order that it might undergo some verbal
amendments. This important and excellent
measure is now completed. The principal change
made in it since it was printed relates to the
qualifications of Jurors. Landholders assessed
at 201. or persons possessing personal property to
the amount of 4001., are now competent to serve
on Juries. Several absurdities and anomalies of
the statute law are repealed ; and the whole sys-
tem rendered as perfect as possible. No Minis-
ter of England ever performed a greater service
to his country than Mr. Peel has accomplished in
this instance. ' Mr. Scarlett and Mr. Brougham
warmly expressed their commendations of the
Bill, and their sense of the laborious exer-
tions of the Right Hon. Secretary in maturing
it. The subject of the Judges' Salaries after-
wards came before the House. The Chancel-
lor of the Exchequer stated, that on further
consideration he was disposed to decrease the sa-
laries of the Puisne Judges to 5,500!., in order
that their retiring pension might be raised from
2,300!. to 2,800/. With respect to the promo-
tion of Puisne Judges, the Right Hon. Gentle-
man observed, that though nothing could be
more unconstitutional than to hold it. out as the
reward of political services, yet it would be
wrong to deprive the Crown absolutely of the
power of promotion. Mr. Brougham brought
forward the motion of which lie had given notice
on this subject ; but it was negatived by a majo-
rity of 83, the numbers being—against it 112,
and in its favour only 29.

[MORNING POST.]
The House of Peers adjourned last night for
the Holidays to Wednesday, and the Commons
to Thursday next. Much business was trans-
acted by the latter in the course of the evening.
The Leith Docks' Bill was thrown out on a Se-
cond Reading by a majority of 41 to 14.—The
House then decided that Richard le Poer Trench
Pilkington, who had confessed himself the sole
author of the Petition imposed some time since on
Sir John Newport, in favour of the Catholic
Claims, should be brought to the Bar in the cus-
tody of the Sergeant at Arms for the pur-
pose of being taken to Newgate as guilty
of a gross breach of privilege.—Mr. Brougham
afterwards gave notice that, he should submit
a proposition next week to the House for
founding an University in the City of Lon-
don.—Mr. Secretary Peel's excellent Bill for
securing the complete independence of Juries
went through a Committee and brought once
more upon its author the just and universal ap-
plause of all parties.---The last business was re-
ceiving the Report of the Bill for raising the
Judges' Salaries. Mr. Brougham moved a Reso-
lution tending to deprive Puisne Judges of the
respectability of being promoted to the Chief
Justiceship; but his proposition was rejected by
a majority of 83, the numbers being, for it, 29
against it, 112 ; and, after some discussion the
farther consideration of the Report, was post-
poned to Friday next.

[NEW TIMES.]
In the House of Commons, last night, the
Leith Docks' Bill was thrown out by a majority
of 27. Mr. Brougham gave notice of his intention
to bring in a Bill for incorporating a University
in the metropolis ; thus seeking to realise the
scheme lately brought before the public, and
which few persons at the time considered to be
practicable. We believe that several com-
mercial men of education and influence have
been induced to countenance the plan. Mr.
Peel moved the commitment of the Juries Bill,
and stated the objects lie proposed to accomplish
by this most praiseworthy measure, by the in-
troduction of which the Right Honourable
Gentleman has secured to himself imperisha-
ble fame, and the gratitude not merely of his
own countrymen, but the approbation and praise
of all enlightened foreigners.--The Continen-
tal papers have been eager in expressing their
admiration of his conduct. He stated last night
that he meant to remove what had hitherto been
a fertile ground of complaint, the Master of the
Crown Office having had the power, in all case's,
to select the Special Jury from the list in his hand.