The Sun.
London, England, 1807-01-08 00:00:00

SPECIAL COMMISSION.

[We have been favoured With the following accurate Report
or the Charge ,deliveud by the Cstsr• ItIST ICF upon
opening the Speci Commission at Sligo, which we insert
front a ,persuasion that s 9 able a *commentary upon the
Laws. lbr preserving the public peace. and coininA front
such high authority, cannot be too generally circulated and
Ullctur6tood.]

LbRD CHIEF JUSTICE DOWNES.
44 Centlenion of the Grand fury,
,
" You are assembled here at an unusual season
cif the ye4r, to _execute a most important duty.—
Gentlenien, upon any ordinary 'occasion I should
not, perhaps, think it necessary to trouble you with
any otr,ervzttions upon the nature of that duty. But
as this is a Spacial Commission, much out of the
usitaLeourse of time, it may. be right.that I should
address a few words to you upon the mature of that
Coniruission, and make (some few observations
upon those rules of Law that will be necessary,
perhaps, to be applied to cases which may be the
objet of this : and, Gentlemen, it is
Impossible t;)r me to observe upon the nature of this
Commission without first expressing a most sincerc
satisfaction at finding so respeciable an tutendanee of
the Gentlemen uf.the County in aid of the law upon
this occasion. •

" The Commission undo whiCh we sit, so far as
relates to criminal offences, 3s: of the same native
as that under which you • have been used to assist
upon ordinary occasions at. the Assizes... But it ap-
plies to criminal cases only. Therefore we shell.
not preceed to try any civil cause, and you tivill
not be called upon to execute that branch. of duty
which yon are obliged to 'discharge at the Assiies
—that of providing for the expences of ,-public
works by preSentment :—that remains for the As-
sizes—at present we have only-to execntesm -duty
in criminal causes. The occasion of the present
Commission is, unfortunately, too well known; the
unhappy state, of this, and some neighbouring coun-
ties, where dangerous associations have been formed,
has required some measure to be adopted by the
Government to meet the evil before its progress
is so far extended as that the ordinary course. of
the law might fail to crush the mischief. This
Commission then has issued, under which we are to-
ad upon the ordinary principles of the law, which,
I trust, will be found strong enough to suppress the
mischief—to, restore public tranquillity—and do
away all the cause of alarm. I am strengthened
in this hope by recollecting that noon various oc-
casions of considerable public difficulty, perhaps
nor much differing from the present, Similar Com-
missions have been productive of the happiest ef-
foot; 3. and 1 am the more encouraged in this expeeta-
lion when I consider the strong provisions which the

law has Made pro e tar t e-- ti ; Ppublicfro,ni Lin
rages.committed by tumultuous assemblies,; arid
the great powers With which the Nia;istracy of,the
country is vested, ill order. to prevent or deleCttherrii.
and Although I 'cannot donbt ike teal attikicy
Of the Magistrates of thii County, and
.though
am persuaded that 'it is allogether unneccs•ary to
remind them of those proVisionA and of the powers
they possess, yet it May not be altogether use-,
less that some, of the principal provisions Of the
laW relative to the ofrences,,Of the nature to vrhicl
allude, ShbUld be shOrtly 'and publicly adveitt.d to
now.

i _

Gentlenien, the experience of every men must
satisfy him that it is not difficult for artful aau
'designing men to hold out to a deluded populace
flattering hopes of a change. of their situation, in,.
cable of being realized, and. often not desirable, at
they could, and under pretences; seducing in theit
nature, to cover designs the most atrocious, and winds
are often concealed froth them; who, by their num-
bers, are intended to be made. the instruments of ef-
fe&ing obje&s, which, if openly stated to them, they
Would often shrink from with horror. Soine are thus
seduced, and many, as their numbers increase, are
corripelled by terror to enter into associations and
tnmultuOus assemblies, often under the controu:l- of
persons of whoM most of them are as, ignorant
as they are of the real views with which they .at.
This deplorable mischief, the source of every thing
that is miserable, the law endeavours to prevent or
Suppress, by strong provisions; the there assem-.;
tiling in such numbers as to create terrorwear-
ing any disguise, or dress not usually worn upon .
their lawful occasions—assuming any particular
name or denomination used for 'the purpose of
diititioliishing such association—and appearing in
numbers so distinguished—any one of mese acts is,
Of itself, a very high Offence, severely. punishable ;
and that, although no at of violence be committed
by any member of that association ; and there. is
Scarcely any at of violence that persons of the
description I have mentioned can do, when so
assembled, -that the law- does nut punish with
death ; any injwy done by such persons so assembled
by night, to the•personaor property of any of the •
King's subjeds, becomes punishable with death;
SO the procuring others to join them in their of-
fences, either by threats or promises, is a capi,
tal offence ; acd as these associations have been
formed to bind themselves' by oaths and .engage-
meritS to the perpetration of their objcas, the
law punishes with death the person administer-;
ing' any oath or engagement, purporting to bind
the person taking it, to be of
'. confederacy for Med • for seditious purpoSes,- or. ,to
disturb the public peace—or to obey the orders
of any Commander or Leader—or to conceal the
fait of such oath . being administered, or any ille-
gal ad being committed ;' all these offences the
law punishes with death. And the person who,
without compulsion, shall take ally such.. oath .ssr
engagement,. is liable to be transported for life;
and even if compelled, unless he should diselos'e the
whole of what he ktiows touching the compiling
him to take such oath, or. engagement, and of the
person or persons- by whom it was administered, to
a Magistrate, he is liable, to the same punishrn,mt.
And as the law has thus held out. its utmost terrors
against those Who are guilty of the crime I have
mentioned, so does it arm the Magistrate with strong
powers for detecting theM. The Magistrates are
empowered, in order to suppress such assemblies,
to call upon all his Majesty's subjeas; of Whatever
description; for their assistance to disperse, appre'r
hend, resist and oppoSe all persons-,concerned in
Such unlawful ads as I have mentioned ; and if in
resisting and .dispersing such off-enders, -Any Of
the. offenders should be wounded or killed, the
Jaw has authorised that .ad; and has indemnified
the Magistrate and those who assist him. Thus,
then, 'the Magistrates are empowered to Suppress
such unlawtial meetings as they may have previous
infOrmation
,of, and an opportunity of aCtually re-
sisting. But the Law does not rest satisfied with '
that provision.; it has furnished them with greater
powers of detedirig such combinations, an %1, s,isf dis-
, covering the :OS they have committed, ,in order to
bring the perpetratUrsof such ads to justice.
two Justices have reasonable. cause, to snsneCt 'any
person to be.guilty, of any such unlawful assembly
as I have alluded to, they have power to SUIMIIOII
ucki person, and to compel him to give security to
keep the peace, and commit him if be refuses. And
any'single Justice of the Peace who has cause to
suspeCt any person to be capable of giving material
evidence concerning these offences to which I have.
adverted, and which, are enumerated in the
called The White Boy Act,' the Justice is em- -
powered to sumnion and to examine him upon oath
as to the guilt of others, and to bind him to appear
and, prosecute ; and if the person so summoned
shall refuse to submit to be examined, or to enter
into such r'CcOAuizahce, it is lawful for the Ma-
gistrates to connnit him 5 but if any discovery shah
be obtained, it shall not be made use of against the
party giving it.

"- Gentlemen, these are the principal provisions
of-the LaW,-to which I 'have thought it right, at
present, to advert ; not that you can receive any
informatiorifrom the communication of them, but
that the :loWer,classes of the people may be fuity
aware of the dangers they incur by joining in un-
lawful confederacies. As to your particular duty,
as Grand Jurors, it is not' necessary take op' any
portion
,of your tinie in„ describing a duty with
which you are already well acquainted. I shall'
only add my :strong recommendation, that' in all
eases that cOnie before you, you should examine
'personally the witnesses, for the prosecution,; and
not depend upon the written informations ; arid
that you will consider, that after your dUty here shall.
be discharged in your eharoaer of Magistrates and.
Country Gentlemen, your utmost zeal and ativi-
ty will be necessary to restore tranquillity ; and
I am confident that your exertions will receive
all possible aid from Government. I tnis.t your
efforts will be effeaual, and shall detai/i you no
longer."

It is understood that, on the arrival of the tronrs
in Ireland from thii country, the fo;i4mitkg- distri•qt-
tion of quarters will take place Royal
croons at Dundalk ; the 7th Dragoon Gulrds, ~t
Cionmell ; the sth Foot, at Cork ; the 7th ditio,
Perry ; and the sth ditto, at Newry. -Some :;t:
Regiments at present quartered in Duhlin`garrison,
it is 'also suppowd, tw: moved immediately. •

"or

MEL/INCIYOLI EIIII),IPRECK.

[l4„,fiente., ire int:re4nai 4:,,irta...ilars of the.. Loss I-i!i
are gr:eh by bite uF- the. 1;1-
11:-.:ers who b .1,ni,,e1 to her
c . Palcral9 Bay. on Ms Mai estys Ship
hare, '`,7llt 00ober,1S'e.s '
When r left you I litele thought of tne'rnistor-
iutitis ;ht awaited me: The .4th day after' saing
from. the Rock WB,passed Sardinki, and were' all in
bier sprits, not doubtltbut-We 'sfinuld • ari4e ae
;'Malta the next day ; but, dreadful to. relate, ilh`at.
Very night -(the 20th), iihout a quarter-1544(5i ten",
when zo'llg knots an hour, the2Phel"lenlle
truck 'on the rocks .-I,nowgame.by the nae of the
• Skirkes, or Quills; they-were completely under Wa-
er, and at lea.st s•is.ty miles from any shore:` The
shock was terrible, and the dreadful consternation
,• w the craW were ti )
Wias,beyond any
;01.1 ci.lf:l possibly COnceive: The Trost
t
p enting or description 'of a" Shipwreck-(val a mere
nothing to it. Every soil was instantly upon deck,
Most of them naked, and in such a stateof despair
2S to be perfeCt'y linable to make the smallest exer
tion. Some went be.o W' and gave themselves up to:
their. fate ; others look 'possession of the,peop.,-be-
ing highesrout of the water (forin a fetv minutes
the lee side of the quarter was covered 'with water) s
odiers, who hart more presence of mind, took to
the;)oats; three of which, containing 27 men, got
off frbni the ship'very'eatly,. abdut a quarter of ad
Lour after she struck' At this time all the:masts
N'vcrit eVerboard. Two other boats, in endeavouring
to escape, were swamped; and all the people in
Them perished. I fortunately failed in an attempt
to get into one of them,: 'There now remained only
two boats ; one I found,iTiOn inquiry,-had ler side'
knocked in, from the fallincr of the fore-mast; the
other (ihe launch) 1-Ct.far:lel as L 11,2 only possible'
cliiice; the od Wh'i'cti were
veto.: gn for she s;"1;1 neffriy 'hi, lier station,
it iies; and ci-oieNci iks'otil.; so that it
tou,,e :the .lee et ,P.:0,%'-er to her
a-fwat. I rr leapt into her', and 4.as soon fol-
lOwed'h.) Ge.u. CAMPLIELL,-Wifr, is pow 'alort with me.
.1 made several efforts to get the Men out of her, so as
"to tori%-e. act eodcavour tai chose hei- off, in vain.
.1.-ttotigh I leaped out myself, as an exaniVie', very few
followed Me. I therifore ag:Ain took my place in
he. Rrrl after retainirig'there full .half Jn.hour,„ex-:
peaing every moment that her bottom. ,e.-ould 1.
knocked o,_it; bfthe sea dashing her aqainst the spars
Upon site rested, a fortunate wee washed us
•e'tt of the wreck. We had -oars all ready, and
i.nrriediate,ly pulled, from- him ; :but. thinking We
tould take in a few more' men, although we l+-ad al-
ready an hundred on board, we , rowed under the
stern with that intention, but so great was the anxie-
ty of those upon the poop-to join us; that we were
in the most imminent danger of being overwhelm-
:id by numbers jumping into her.. • The
_general
cry in the boat was, " Pull off," which we did,
after having taken in only two officers, who jumped
overboaid.
It was now nearly an hour and a half from the
time the ship had struck. The anxiety of our
minds was dreadful, but the moment that we pulled
off from the wreck for the last time. (for I forgot
to tell you that we returned • three times) leaving
poor RAI-N:4'OBD, with 350 men, without, may
say, the most distant hope, has left' an impression
upon my mind more poWerful than 'all that I suffered
before that time. We immediately pulled towards
the island of iNiarititio, which (with the assistance
of a Miserable sail, made out of the mens' shirts) We
got sight of at day-light the Morning of 'the 21st.
We at the same time boarded a Danish Vessel, that
gave us a rail, bread' and water, -and a little broody,
We, put two 'Officers and twenty men on .board
of her, who wente'to look out for the wreck;
but .• the wind bleW so. fresh they could Make
noihing 'of it, and..haVe put into this Port.----
Sir SIDNEY Smyrn has sent off from this place the
Eagle and a transport ; but it has bloWri very hard
ever since; I fear, if they even reached the spot
they could be of.no service, as we have every rea-
son to suppose that the wreck Went to pieces soon
lifter we left her.
After leaving the pane we stood' 'towards Mari-
limo, which we reached about four o'clock 'in the
evening, after having been sixteen hours in 'the
boat. Two of the boats which first-escaped from
the Ship were in sight when we'boarded the Dane,
and folloWed us to Maritimo, where we'reMaincd all
night, and next night we arrived at Trepani, where
iwe slept. The following morning, the 22d, Gen.
CAMPBELL and mysely set 6ff for ,Palermo byland,
which we reached in the evening of the 2-it h.
, Sir SIDNEY SMITH waited upon us, and procured
tis a-passage to Messina, on board of a Neepolitan
Frigate. We dined on board of the inttepid the 25th
srai were to have sailed in the evening, but it has.
blown so fresh ever since that we have been detained
here and cannot even go' on shore,. As you. may
suppose,.l h'av'e lost every thing—the moment Abe
ship struck I pulled of ray hoots, pot on slipperS,
And did not pot even acob in my pocket, for fearl
shonid be under the necessity of swianiogs; but as
I-made up my mind to lose my life, the Saving of
that makes my other losses very light, although they
exceed 10001.
No intreaties Could prevail on Captain -,RAYN-
FORD to quit his Ship. From the moment of her
striking to the launch's-last quitting her, he ever-
ducted himself in a lllallLler the most heroic---his,
presence of mind never forsook, him,' and his
whole faculties were employed' in the means of sav-
ing:his people.

A letter from .Ayr, dated Dec., 25, says.:‘'Dn
Saturday se'unighc-at Ilie'time of the; great tide and
storm, as eight- cOws.‘Yere grazing:O' the troon
Point, the talc surrotiio&l'theart; and seen wore
swept off into the sezy; the -eighth, by the nEtiyity
of a woman ...,k+ho .rope fixed on the animal's
horns, Wati guided ashore. The seven were driven
ashore agaiti to the,north of the P.:tern braigs, more
than two:rnikr4l,otl--one of them ..only
which is now ci4:te Well." '-
This morning the prisOners in the 'different gaols
in the City of London and County of Middlesex,
charged v nil felonies, were removed to Newgate,
preparatory to their trials at Justice itr the Old
which coinmence on Wednesday next. -

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