The Sun.
London, England, 1823-07-14 00:00:00

FOa .'EM SUv

Mr.gotion—l dee. the Portuguese Authorities '
have thought proper to go in procession to•. olie
of their churches at Lis for the avowed
ject of returning .Idiernti thanks to ttie' a Queen of
Heaven,' for the counter-revolution: 1 has circurn.
stance gives roe the opportunity I have long
wished, of asking a
:qUestion Or.two on this sub-
ject, and I trust,that yoUr candour will admit of a p
reply appearing in your
,coitimnl, ei,eti though it I
should come from one of the itornisit perstiaSioti.
The innocence of Protestants as to the • worship.
of this Lady has been vaunted by one of our
cotemporaries, but .it would appear from sacred
writ that it is a very old sin'; as we find in 'Jere-
tniah, chap. vii. yeries 17 to 20, inclusive, that it
was for this and the like idolatries that the Prophet
was commissioned to denounce the vengeance of
Almighty God against the Jews thus trespassing;
Again, in the 3,lth chap. of the same book, from
the 15th verse to the endc the 'obitinate per.
severance of that people in rejecting the proferred
counsel is strongly depicted. Indeed, Mr.
I Editor, I have never been able to distinguish
between much of the idolatry of the Jews of
ancient times (I say idolatry, because it is ex,
pressly so termed in the and the worship
of the Hosts of Heaven, us practised by those of
the Romish Communion, (for such it is, however
strenuously Papists may deny it) of the present
day. If any of your Readers will point out
whmlu the difference, not merely the distine.-
tioU) but the real, essential, and unquestionable
difference-consists, I shall feet obliged by your
favouring us with an account of the line drawn.
For my own part, I see them uncover the head,
make the sign of the cross, sprinkle themselves
with (as they call it, blessed or holy) water ; bow
down to, and kneel before the imagei ; burn
tapers, and make long prayers in front of the
stone, metal, wooden, wax, and even baked clay
saints, of every name and_ charactettr,almost, if
not quite as much, and apparently with the same
devotion, as they do to the figure .or our Saviour
himself. Now, I would beg to ask, what is this
but worship, at least in form ? or, if it be not,
in what does worship consist ? Next, what is
to be understOod by the term Hosts ? Un,
doubredly it was first intended to designate the
luminaries of the firmament (see Deuteronomy,
chap. iv. ver. 19) ; but, by a figure of speech, I
apprehend it to Include those departed spirits
which are supposed to inhabit the regions of the
blessed; and of whom, therefore, we are com-
mended not even to make any likeness, as being
of Things in Heaven above. I do not by this com-
munication wish to raise any thing like contro-
versy, but merely to ascertain wherein the differ-
ence can' be found between the actions before
referred to, and the formi of worship enjoined by
the Ritual of the Rotnish Church.

London, July 10, 1823.

I tun yours, &►c,

JON

NAUTICAL INSTRVMENTS.—At the last meeting
of the American Academy at Boston, BENJAMN DEARBORN,
Esq., communicated a notice of the invention by him of three
instruments for important uses in navigation, which he has
appropriately named, the Warner, Rater, and athomer. The
Academy, on his invitation, appointed a Committee to examine
these inventions. They are thus deseribed The Warner
is to give the mariner. immediate intelligence when in shoal
water, without, the assistance of the lead and line. The Rater
is to give the rats of a ship's sailing, which is a substitute for
the log, and can be managed with great ease and facility by
one person, whereas it always requires nip, and sometimes
three persons to throw the log, which is uniformly ngreed by
Gentlemen skilled in navigation, to be an imperfect method of
deciding the rate of sailing with any degree of precision. The
object of the Vatlemier is to obtain soundings without heaving
to, or being obliged to retard the pro of the vessel.-,These
instruments I have viewed with much pleasure, more than one,
and have been very minutely and scientifically explained to me
by Dearborn. They discover self-evident testimony favourable
to their practical operation ; and .some particulars yet remain
to be accomplished which can be obtained onlybY Metiee
hence the reason of my recommending that the experiments
May be made under the direction of an officer so thoroughly
familiarized with nautical subjects, whose decision may be re-
lied upon with confidence;, and, if favourable on all or either
of the instrutnents'here named, very valuable advantages will,
accrue to nations from its use."

Mr. SCARLETT (with whom was Mr. F. Pot.Locx) ad-
dressed the Jury for the plaintiff, whom be stated to be a bro-
ker, of strict probity and honour, who was one of the first
engaged in conducting the trade of this country to South Ame-
rica after the revolution in that quarter of the world. He had
brought this action against the defendants, proprietors of The
.111orxing Chronicle, to recover a compensation in damages for
a libel on his character, which had been published in that
Journal. The libel of which he complained appeared in the form
. of a paragraph, in the paper of %S ednesday, the dth of Sept.
1822, which was as follows A broker who hit* long residedin London, went out some time since to Alaranham, in a brig,
.with liberty to touch at Pernambuco, carrying with him a con-
aiderable quantity of false and fabricated silver and copper
coif, manufactured at Birmingham. On his arrival at Maran-
ham, be paid this money into the hands of the South American
treasurer, who began to distribute it as pay to the troops._
They went to market, with -what wait issued to them at their
pay ; but, the fraud being discovered, the market people re-
tuned to supply them with provisions, so that it would not pale;
The treasurer being arrested, waiesentenced to undergo severe
punishment. The brig was detrained, but the broker made his
escape. Thole frauds and forgeries having been practised I
largely all over the free Governments Of South America, they
will now See upon their guard against other numerous frauds
practised upon the friendS of freedom in that country." In
speaking of the great public advantages of a free press' he
(Mr. Scarlet° should have abstained, during the life of Mr.
Perry, the late Proprietor of The Morning Chronicle, from the
tribute he was now about tb pay to his memory, because he
would -not- be thought to court the favour of the press. Now,
however, the worthy individual whom be had named was
no more, he had no such feelings to restrain him, and he-Would
say that a man' more distinguished for ean'dour find liberality
never had, and in all probability never would be found eonddct-
ing the free press of this country. So tender Wat he in his
treatment of private character,' so anxious to prevent the injuri-
ous operation of retlectiont unjustly cast upon the reputation of
any person, that in every instance of complaits being made,
he showed the utmost solicitude to afford proMpt relief to the
feelings of the Individuals, by the most liberal and gentlemanly
apology that could be made. But, NAY different was the
conduct -of the present conductors of that Journal ?
When the plaintiff in this case went to complain of the libel.
in question, accompanied by hit' friend, 'Mr. Lantister, and
desired to be informed who vows -dm author, the answer lie re..
evived was not "how shall we remedy the wrong that has been
done you ?" but, " we shall not tell." And on repies
emotion and that of Ms friend. that the Statemelit which had
been made was false, and that they would untlertlike to show
that it was so, the only reply they could get was, " than you
have your remedy." Thus no resource was left him to
rescue his cheractet from total ruin, but by bringing
this action. He (Mr. S.) was ready to-admit that the pub.
hither might not be actuated by the same malicious motive es
the inventor of a malignant slander; but this he would say,
that by much the greater mischief was done by the publisher.
The freedom. of the press, in the hands of liberal and discreet
conductors, was calculated to promote the greatest good, and
to produce the most beneficial effects upon the morals, as well
AA ale other interests of nations; but if improperly directed,
no engine could be invented more calamitously mischievous
in its operation, particularly when employed for the purpose
of difflising libellous slanders for the destruction of private
character: Tile Jury, therefore, would see the neemitY of,
curbing its licentiousness, by holding a severe hand, and
exercising a strong and vigilant controlsl over so dangerous an,
engine.
The first witness called was 3lr. Daniel Ellis, from the
Stamp Office, who produced the certificate signed by Mr.
David Robertson, as printer, and James Perry, Esq• as Pr°,
prietor of The Morning Chroniele_lt was then admitted that
Mr. Bentley was the present proprietor, and Mr. Robertson
printer and publisher of the paper.
Captain John Strange wee then sworn—lle sailed on the
voyage in question in command of the brig Britannia, to
South America. The pleinktiphea prosily un board the tress
sel on the voyage in qttestion, amounting to front three to four
thoueand pounds. There was no fourniation whatever in fact
for the-libel.
ttohethweidtnemlivac.ry of the
Cross-examined by the Solicitor-GetieraL—The vessel was
two
dawyisthatthAelslaitiapl"sharZie°t:tainhgy
detained
irsne,ll. There was tio troth in the statement of the
plaintiff having taken out false coin.
Mr. Bennet, Secretary to Lloyd's, deposed that he knetr
the plaintiff, and the connection of the latter with the Manna
hum trade, and that the libel applied to no other person.
Mr. Norton Lancaster, one of the Cormnittee at Lloyd's,
deposed that he was present when the tlitilagiaPh containing
the libel was read to the Committee. Witness said, imrile.;.
diately, he knew that it applied to the plaintiff, but that he
WAS confident there was no truth in it. lie Went to The morn.
I,e chronic* Office .several times with the plaintiff and
and saw Me. Black, the Editor, who said he had it a re
mercantile house in the city, and asked Mr. White if it was
not true that he had sonic bad money in the bug,, that he took
out with hint ? The plaintiff answered that he land not seen
the contents, but they were inspected by the proper Officers
of the Customs. The Plaintiff denied the truth ot the states
inent, and represented to Mr. Black the serious injury which
such an imputation at this libel.conythied would do him, as he
had at that time a vessel going out to South .America with a
To this, cargo
and o rgtuhfotuhsevalureftr t threehottad pot m
tahn°u"na Puunds, tout lout besides
three inits ore of property there
which lie was about to bring home. Mt. Black then askeilif
it was not true that there was some donur about the copper, if
not about the silver?
edthat they sheuld call the next
Mr. Black to let
hint see the manuscript, which he said he could not do as
of-
as it
l the pleintiff aneWered—not that
he had ever heard. The plaititf then asked
twig. init tiv,ie,ashattititlen-wraigretlPg t)ia pereon belonging to the
day. The did call accordingly, and Air. Black then
told
them lie could not give up the author, without the
express authority of the respectable merchant front whom the
information was derived, as it was gratuitously communi-
cated • and to give up the party witlioet snelt authority, would
have-ate effect of Closing that channel of infikineiion altogether
The plaintiff then became angry',, and shelved some resentment
The negodition terminated in
bola "T'ctsl thet Mr. Black
should meet the plaintifi'on the Loyal
"ge ange, when thepaias
graph should be reed over to the Most respectable Merchants
there, who would deny the truth of the
contge imputed to the
pleintiff. Mr. Black then asked if the vessel had not been
Sein.(l ? to which the plaintiff replied with saute warmth, " No,
Sir." It wits then observed by witness that the word " Bir-
mingham" was the very pith of the libel, to which Mr. Black
answered, that whetltur manufncthred at Birmingham or New
Zealand was quite immaterial, so long as ball had been
found in the bags taken out by the plaintiff.
Cross4xamined by Mr. Oat Pim Lt.--. Witness said that et the
first interview with hlr. Black, he did not recollect any thing
belnyivssid about the :view a the brig, It apPeared witness
unit tr. track bad -finally stated that this information had
been brought to them by sonic person reguarly employed, and

Thii closed the case for the plaintiff:
The'Soetcyreut.GENE nat. then addicesetl the Jury in de:
fence, contending that no malicious or libellous intention on
the limit of the defendants had been shesen, nor could any such
intention for a moment be supposed to have existed in the mind
of either of them ;. the one, Mr. Bentley; being merely a trustee
for the benefit of the family of Mr. Perry,, and the other dee
lentlant, Mr. Robertson,heing merely the printer of the paper.
Neither of them could n0:4151y know any thing of the trutli or
falsehood of the contents of this paragraph, nor could they be
Whiten* by any sinister or improper motivaor its inflection.
It had come to them in the regular course of daily cohnnuni-*
cation; aril the hurry in which every body:knew, especially
since the introduetion of Some modern improvements, the
newspapers were sent to press-, the number of persons 'of
necessity promiscuously employed in the extraordinary ex,,
;Widen that was used, rendered it next to impossible tha t
the nominal (he admitted they were legally responsible) con-
ductors of a daily paper could be morally responsible for_ the
meth or falsehood of every article of miscellaneous inteiligenee
which, in many cases, through accident, found its wey into
their columns. lie requested the Jury to bear in mind, that
M. Black was not identified With the defendants in the neglect
which the plaintiff complained of having experienced in his
interview with that gentleman. If the plaintiff had denied
the insertion of any thing in the shape of contradiction to. the
article complained of, by way of repelling what he consi.
dered an unfounded imputation on his character, and the de.
fentlants had refused insertion, to such a qualification of the
libel, the case would indeed have worn a very different com-
plexion. Did the plaintiff seek, by bringing this action, to
make money of his character, while he claimed the distiognish-
, ed place in society of a British merchant or broker of high ree
spectability P Such could not for a moment be supposed his
-object, for it was incompatible with the honour of, the 'cum;
mercial character. All that he could, as a man of honour, de-
sire, was the vindication of his character, which would be satii-
` tactorily attained by a verdict for nominal damages ; and this
not being of that species of wanton and malevolent attack upon_
private character which his Learned Friend had spoken of,
such, he trusted, would bo the verdict which the Jury would
give. He should call no witnesses, but leaie the case with
them as it stood.
The LOrirlettlEr RIT IC LI, addressing the jury, obServed,
that, among the topics introduced to them by the Solicitor-oe-
, betel, one which he seemed particularly desirous of urging was,
that Mr. Bentley was not to be considered a proprietor of The,
Morning' Chronicle, his name being entered es such solely be-
cause he was a trustee for the family of the lite Mr. Perry. It
had not, however, been put In proot that he had no interest of
his own ,in the property; nor, while he lent his name to the
publictitioh, could the circumstance of his being merely, a
trustee, be taken answer to an action bfought by a party
• •
aggrieved for compensation for an injury done to private cha::
meter: The Jury mlgltt take it for granted, and indeed there
could 15e no'doubt or the fact, that the detendantS entertained '
no malice of any kind towardm the plaintiff. Batt the case
stood, by comparison, thuS :—here was a penes," disehaiging
fire-arms at a crowd of people, careless of whom it may.strike;
v,-7.1* It to be said to the person wounded by a Missile so die-
chisiged that the author' of the mischief was the less answerable
in damages, because he did not aim at him I' The impntation.
conveyed in the paragraph in question, was one of a Most in
jurious nature to the character of any individual to whene it
might be 'supposed to apply ; and although it had been coupled
only with the general tarn " a broker, yet those who knew
the plaintiff couldx from the' circuinstimees with Which' it was
eternal:od; apply it other per, en tali biro. Thug bad a
mischfevous t irection been given in the taragraph to a stater
omens of a circum,tanee founded only on general ruilionr. It
was admitted that, under all the eircunistances, a verdict mutt
pass for the plaintiff, and the Jury would se), what amount of
'damages out to be given.
The Jury, Without hesitation, found for.. the plaintiff,.
!)images SOO!.

MGR COURT OF ADMIRALTY, JULY
F
This was an. application by Dr. Lust! tgoTosr, on behalf
of Capt. Casein, of the Flora, for a monition under the folloiv.
ing circumstances. The ship Flora, on her voyage to the port
of Lima, with a valuable cargo, including a considerable Ono-
tity of quicksilver, was captured by bard Cochraine's squadron,
and curried into Valparaiso. Subsequently to her capture,
however, the captain managed to get possession of the quick-
silver, and to transship it into a vessel bound for England. • For
this action he was imprisoned in Lima for about three months,
and at the end of that time liberated. The quicksilver being
at present on the high seas, and hourly expected to arrive,
Capt. Casern prayed the judgment Of the Court to grant its
monition agairtt the vessel and her master, in order to Save hit
salvage claim hereafter.--Monition granted.