The Sun.
London, England, 1824-07-27 00:00:00

[monutsu weaxLth]

Vie increase of buildings, to which we alluded
* few days since, as taking place all round the
getropolis, is a matter of very considerable mo.
went to its inhabitants ; and as it is extremely
probable that the paying off the dissentients In
the Four per Cents. will (as was the case on the
pttylog off the Fives) cause a still greater capital
to be so employed, we cannot help calling the
attention of the public to it. When WC consider
the pestilential diseases to which London was
formerly subject, and congratulate ourselves that
It is to a better description of building, and to a
vreater degree of cleanliness, both personal and
ftenerui, that we owe our exemption from
similar
celainities, it must strike every one as must essen•
tiel, that nothing, should be done to defeat such
fe?Vions improvements. We fear, however, that ill•
tIII/1110111 cupidity may do this, unless some ITIPAIIS
ati Liken to prevent it. If, for Instance, the me-
"ION, In its p were to I e
Alien mmente site,,
narrowi►«c,taa is with r
streets, composed of small
"rect the ttelrlT, such `a circumstance would
ti, same
wa, of the inhabitants, in
affected if ,the human body would be
hsr
pedviopil. it;Vion of the lungs were irn-
140)Tiluthit 11.000 on, poisoned by noisesome,
, rs. 11,0 flat
Iding Act of the
iitit*ltehert T. tor, th
b4O been
of atitcomplex in its de.
4110,,
U. • ; but that ACt, we
"m"..tiaeo to its
great part of Loudon way now, b
ta.:dh as
one out of town, many thal"slit -a
aili ye
ate trectlag to the environs are one of of the teach

of its salutary provisions. As it is well under-
stood that no man can be allowed to use his
property so as to annoy his neighbours, still more
essential is it that he should be prevented
from dying that with it which may ultimately
produce a great public injury. Without wish-
ing then to intrench unnecessarily upon the free-
dom with which every man should use and enjoy
his estate, we cannot help thinking that it would
be well if Government were to inquire how far
the provisions of the Building Act do extend ;
and if it should be found (as we are assured is
the case) that many of the new buildings around
th© metropolis are beyond its reach, that they
should also ascertain whether there is any reason
to apprehend that such buildings are so construct-
ed as in any way to endanger the health and well-
being of the whole community.

[TIIC'IntES.J
COLOSSI e Itaye been favoured with some
very interesting information respecting Colombia, conanuni.
cated by a gentleman recently returned to England, Mier a
residence of upwards of six years in that section of South
America. This gentleman has traversed the country in a va-
riety of directions, has lived on terms of intimacy with all the
leading characters, and has, in fact, had opportunities that sel-
dom fall to the lot of a foreigner, of becoming acquainted with
the real state of things. Colombia has not purchased liberty
and independence without paying dear for those blessings. In
the course of the late sanguinary conflict, the people have un-
dergone sufferings terhaps unexampled in the history of any
ti naon : and, indeed, at various perimu b!, it might have been
justly said, that misery of every downtown had reached its
acme. Under the cruelest privations, the idea of submitting to
the Spaniards never entered the mind of any one—so strong
was the feeling of antipathy to their ancient oppressors.
Ilut although the war has occasioned incalculable evils to
Colombia, and extensive districts of as tine a portion of the
dlobe as the sun ever shone upon, are reduced comparatively to
eserts, It has produced the important result of uniting all
parties, and has thereby given to the Government a degree of
consolidation superior to that of any other South American state
not the scene of actual conflict. Ever since the assembling of
the Congress in Angostura by General Bolivar, in February,
1819, the progress has been uniform, and no change has taken
place In the form of government. The people orColoinbia have
as yet taken but little interest in political afairs, nor have the
questions of universal suffrage and equality of rights, which
have given rise to so much confusion in Europe, yet found a place
among them : but the universal wish is Independence, with
that portion of rational and practical liberty which the
circumstances ()Nile country can admit of. The people at large
take no share in the Government, except in the primary eke-
thins. Those only who possess a certain property—that is,
who exercise certain professions or employments, without de-
pending on others either as journeymen or servants—elect in
cacti canton or district, two persons for four years, who, when
united in the capital of the province, form what is called the
Electoral College, and by it the members of the Senate are
elected for eight years, and those of the Chamber of Repre-
sentatives, Or lower house, for four. The
general security is
perhaps best protected by the general equality subsisting among
those who form the upper claws of the state, for there is not
perhaps, in the whole country, one individual of such weight
and influence, that he could endanger the public tranquillity
were he so disposed. In Colombia knowledge is advancing with
rapid strides ; in several cities, colleges and seminaries have
been established, public libraries have been opened, and a
number of periodical papers and writings published, which dis-
seminate instruction and political information. Our Informant
travelled from Maracaibo to Bogota by land, and returned
front thence to Angostura through the interior of the country.
In that journey he found schools established, not only in every
town, but in every village ; and it was with astonishment and
delight he whitened the progress in knowledge and civilization
every where made. The national character he describes as mild
and docile in the extreme, and therefore apt for receiving instt uc-
(ion. As an additional stimulus to improvement, it has been
made a law. that after the year 1819, those who cannot read
or write shall have no vote in public elections. The effects of
Spanish education and prejudices are fast wearing out. The
greatest part of what were formerly time possessions of the church
has been applied to the laudable object of supporting schools ;
arid our Infmniant has himself ditributed sonic hundreds of
Spanish New Testaments, which were sought after by all classes
with the greatest avidity, wore especially by the Clergy, many
of whom are liberal and enlightened men. It may men-
tioned as a very striking Instance of this, that our informant,
previous to his departure from Bogota, dined with a large party,
at the Vice-President's, General Santander's, and amongst those
present was a Dr. A zuero, a dignitary of the. Church, much re-
spected, arid of considerable influence. (hi being requested by
the Vice President to give a toast, he drank " To the most
'tiered of all rights—liberty of conscience." Many other Priests
were at table, by whom, and by all, the sentiment was hailed
with enthusiasm. Protestants can hold any employ or office,
and Are eligible to either !louse of Representatives, without
bring subject to any species of test whatever.—The natural
capabilities of Columbia are very great ; navigable rivers inter-
sect the country hi every direction, and afford every facility for
expeditious and cheap conveyance between the interior and the
roast. Steam-boats are esiablirliing in mill the principal :dreams,
anti in order to bring that species of navigation more speedily into
use, exclusive privileges have been granted to different indivi-
duals. fly mean* of the Meta, time communication is continued
to within a few leagues of Bogota ; and by time Apure, the
fluanare, the Santo Domingo, the Portuguee Za, the Acaura,
the Sinacuco, and others, there Is access to the greatest part of
the province of Cnracces, and of the extensive and fertile pro-
vinces Verities and Cusinare. A plan ix now before Congress
for opening. a communication betwixt the Pacific and Atlantic
°scans, which, from surveys actually made, is found to be prac-
ticable in no less than four different points. Colombia possesses
tow mineral riches; mines of precious metals abound in al-
most every mountainous district, which, from surveys made
under the Spanish regime, and again lately, and which our in-
formant has seen, require but litthe capital or labour to
bring into complete operation. The soil is extremely
fertile, and such is the variety of climate, that frequently
within a short distance are seen fields of wheat or other /crib',
and luxuriant plantations of cane, cocoa, coffee, or indigo. In
Colombia, the feeling in favour of Great Britain is very strong,
originating in part from the knowledge that the only succours
received during the eventful struggle came exclusivel, from
this country, and in pert in an increasing insight into the true
interests of the Republic, and the value of the friendship arid
protection of Great ltrit,,in. Indeed, it would almost appear,
that in Colombia two nations only were supposed to exist in
Europe, for every foreigner not a Spaniard is called an Ingle:.
British manufactures are preferred to all others, both IN being
best calculated for the market, and being what the inhabitants
have become most accustomed to. The extensive exPnatitexportations"l
already made to Colombia in the actual state of comparative
poverty and insecurity, will give some idea of what they will he
when repose and the capital now flowing in will have brought
the unbounded resources of the country into action.

[BRITISH PRESS.]
We lately mentioned, casually, the existence
and object of a proposed Canadian Company
we shall now advert, more in detail, to the ob-
jects which that Company have in view, and to
this course of proceeding we are induced, by an
understanding, that an ufliciul prospectus will be
laid before the public, by a Committee of Ma-
nagement, during the course of the current week.
As Upper Canada, which, in the course of a
few years, mast become one of the most valuable
colonies possessed by this country, is, from an
unaccountable npathy, which seems inherent in
the people of England with regard to all their
colonial possessions, as little known to the great
mass of the population of this country us the in-
terior of Africa, some short account of it is absu.
lately necasary as a preface to our remarks.
—Front the River de Lisle to the Detroit
River, a space occupying about five hun-
Aired miles, the cultivated and inhabited part
ot Upper Canada extends, and is between the
46th and 4td parallel of north latitude—that is,
between the parallels of Rochefort and Valla-
dolid, and along the whole of this space the
climate is good, and the soil rich and deep.—
When the attention of the Government was first
called to the Province, about 30 years ago, a
rough survey was made of it, and the land was
divided into townships—not as in this, and other
cultivated countries, separated by the natural

boundaries of rivers, brooks, or mouutains—but,
as is uniformly the case throughout America,
by straight lines arbitrarily drawn from one
point to another. These townships were again,
and in the same manner, divided into lots
of two hundred acres each ; and this was
done so regularly, that, but for the streams
which intersected it, the map of any one
township might pass for that of any other, and
all bear a very close resemblance to a chess-
board, the checkers representing the different
lots. When Government granted these lots to
different individuals, two-sevenths of the whole
were uniformly reserved ; one sevutith for the
behoof of the crown, the proceeds of which were
to be applied as the Government might see fit,
and the other for the clergy ; that is, to provide
the means of religious instruction to the commu-
nity (without regard to sect or persuasion), and to
establish schools throughout the province for the
instruction, at a cheap rate, of the children of the
settlers. When the whole township was a wilder-
nesst hese crown and clergy reserves were of little
value ; but, being chosen in such a manlier as that
each reserve was surromuled on every side by lots
granted to private individuals, when roads were
cut, hedges built, pens and mills established,
and the surrounding country brought into culti-
vation, these lots, originally valueless, rose in
price, and not only were they desirable purchases
for the farmer, hut, as uncultivated patches
placed in the amidst of cultivation, they stood
in the way of improvement, paid nothing
towards forwarding the general progress of
the country, and were considered as public
nuisances, as time local government had no
power to sell or cultivate them. '!'he Cumin-
(Han Company propose gradually to purchase
these reserves from Government, at a valuation
to be estimated by Commissioners, appointed by
both parties, aud to sell them to farmers, taking
a certain per centage of the price in hand, and
receiving, for the remainder of the sum due, six
per cent. per 1111110111, the legal interest of she
colony, and retaining; as security in their own
hands the title deeds of the lot ; so that they
become possessors, with all the improvements
that have been made, in case the purchaser fails
to fulfil his engagement.--,From a thorough in-
vestigatiou of the plans of this Company,
and an intimate knowledge of the country
on which these are to be put in practice, we
are tof opinion, that for a person who will be
satisfied with a fair and steady return for
the capital he invests, the Canadian Company's
is a desirable stuck. For those who expect to
double their principal in a short time, we cannot
recommend it. Rut we think that sober people
had better invest their money in such a concern,
where (here is every prospect of an adequate re-
turn from solid security, than to cast their bread
upon the waters of a foreign loan, to raise a bub-
ble, which, as is naturally to be expected, gene-
rally terminates in u squeak.

''which being accepted by the plaintiff's Counsel, the Jury re-
turned a verdict accordingly—For the plaintiff, 80/.
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, JOLT 26.
Sittings at Niti Prins, at Guildhall, Le Pure the LORD CHIRP
Jti lc and a Special Jury.
BLANK ACCEPTANCES.
HALL V. DEARER.
Mr. HAL t. opened the pleadings.—Mr. Serjeant VAIN/lAN
stated that this was an action brought by the plaintiff, in the
character of assignee of a bankrupt of the name of Harris, to
recover the sum of 691. fis. upon a bill of exchange, drawn by a
Mr. Bond and accepted by the defendant. The object appear-
ed to be to try whether Harris bad subjected himself to the bank-
rupt laws, and whether he had committed an act of bankruptcy.
Harris had been for many years a bill-broker. Whether it was
meant to say that brokers of that description were not liable to
the Bankrupt Laws, he did not know. Harris had large trans-
actions with Mr. Hall, and discounted bills far him from time
to time, at the rate of one-eight per cent profit.. The defend-
ant had given notice that he should dispute every step on these
proceedings, and at the time of the bankruptcy of Harris there
was cash balance in his hands in favour of the plaintiff, of up-
wards of 8001. The bankruptcy of Harris was occasioned by
the failure of a Mr. Bramley. In consequence of Bramley
not making good his engagements, Mr. Harris found it im-
possible to make good his, and therefore absconded, and se-
creted himself from his creditors. There would be no difficul-
ty in proving the act of bankruptcy, the petitioning creditor's
debt, or the dealings of Mr. Harris ; and he (the Learned Ser-
geant) dared say he would be entitled to a verdict in behalf of
the plaintiff:
Evidence was given to substantiate the above statement.
Mr. Serjeant Oris Low (with whom was Mr. Serjeant Pell),
addressed the Jury for the defendant, and contended that
unless Mr. Harris showed that he was the holder of the bill in
question for a valuable consideration, he was not entitled to
recover on it. The bill was dated in 1820, and was made
payable at three months. The defendant had resided ever
since that period, and carried on business, at the same place
at which lie lived when the bill was drawn. He was always
to be found, arid process might at any time have issued against
him. It must, therefore, strike the Jury as extraordinary, if
Mr. Harris was the holder of the Bill for a Lona fide considera-
tion, that he, a man in difficulties, had not sought to re-
cover the amount before, instead of leaving this action to be
brought by his assignees. He would now state what the case
really was. The defendant had been in the habit of giving to
a person, whose name need not be mentioned, but who had in-
volved others to a considerable extent, accommodation bills.—
A person of the name of Pantin had been accustomed to draw
bills on the defendant, anti on the defendant's acceptance to get
money in the market through the medium of bill-brokers. This
bill was one of those intended to be so used. The defendant
had, however, accepted it before the drawer's name was put on
it, and instead of l'antin's, the name of Bond, who was altoge-
ther unknown to the defendant, was afterwards used as that of
the drawer. Pandit went to ;;ond, asked him to draw the 1)111,
and bond did draw it. By what means the bill got into the
hands of Harris, his Learned Brother had not chosen to show ;
and if it were not proved that he had given a valuable consider.
ation for it, the defendant must have a verdict in his favour.
Witnesses were called in support of this statement.—Mr.
Edward Harris, the bankrupt, proved that he discounted the
bill for Puntin, and that he left it on its being returned unpaid
in the hands of his accountant to recover the value. The checks
by which the discount was paid, and the bill taken up by Harris,
were put in in evidence.
Mr. Sergeant Oxst.ow submitted that those checks might
have been given for any other purpose, as well as for this.—
From the account of the transaction given by Mr. Harris, be
argued that the checks could not have been given for the pur-
pose stated.
Mr. Serjeant VatruitaN commenced his reply, but was in-
terrupted by the CHIEF JusT Ica:, who thought it was an es,
ceedingly clear case. His Lordship was of opinion that Harris,
• as a bill-broker, came within the limits of the Bankrupt haws.
It appeared that a full consideration had been given for the
hill ; but if the Jury entertained any doubt upon it, they
would hear Mr. Serjeant Vaughan.
The Jury gave a Verdict for the plaintiff for the amount of
the bill and interest.—llumages 721.