The Sun.
London, England, 1823-07-05 00:00:00

DetORING CIMONiCLE.

We are glad to see that the attempt of the
Bourbons to raise money in this country for the
prosecution of their wicked designs in the Pen-
insula is not received with the favour on which
they calculated. Addressing ourselves merely to
the understandings of our countrymen; supposing
those who have money to lend to be utterly in-
different as to the purpose to which it is to be
applied, that they are determined merely by se-
curity and extent of gain,—we should say, there
are abundance of reason for their pausing before
tatting Li part in this Loan. It-is obvious that
if the French were even to succeed in putting
down the Constitutionalists in every part of the
' :and 3n making a complete conquest
of it (no easy task certainly), they must then
occupy'the•country with a large army—The in-
quisition cannot be upheld without a French
force, and the moment that force is withdrawn,
the struggle must recommence. Spain is of all
the countries in Europe the one in which armies
are maintained with the greatest difficulty and
the greatest expence. The force necessary to
retain so immense and difficult a country in
subjection, must cost an enormous sum ; and
no part of this can be drawn from Spain
itself by the utmost effect of financial skill,
for, poor at all times, it is now completely
exhausted. Enormous sums have already been
expended by the French, and the complete
conquest and permanent occupation must require
numerous and heavy loans. If the French ar-
mies should be compelled to evacuate Spain re
fecla, the disgrace would, in all probability,
produce a revolution at home.—Again, if they
complete the conquest, and continue to occupy
the country, the successive loans, each raised on
more disadvantageous terms than another, will
necessarily involve the French finances in
great embarrassment.—But we must not con-,
tine our views to the operations in the
Peninsula.- The French Government, by way of
enlisting the Spanish pride on their side, have, it
is understood, held out hopes of again uniting the
different members of the Monarchy, that is of
aiding the despotic Government to regain pos.
session of South America. Already, the Com-
menders of French vessels talk of the aid they are
affording the Spaniards against Insurgent vessels,
that is, against South American vessels. These
vast plans require vast means for their execution.
The Bourbons, hated as they are by all who are
capable of thinking, owe their continuance on
the Throne to the comparative ease of circum-
stances of the great body of the people. But
this immense expenditure must entail immense
burdens on them. Who can calculate what
effects a heavy additional taxation might pro-
duce on a people, whose agriculture, whose me-
chanical industry, and whose internal communi-
cations, are not such as to give them any thing
like our immense means of supporting taxation
Should there be a failure of a harvest, while the
people are suffering under an oppressive taxation,
it does not require the gift of prophecy to foretel
that the reign of the Bourbons would be but of
short duration.

[BRITIIBII PRESS.]
We have been precluded, by want of ram,
from introducing the remarks we should other
wise have offered on the temperate and judicious
speech with which Mr. Hume enforced the
prayer of the petition presented by him on Tues-
day evening, which had for its object to secure to
all classes of his Majesty's subjects the right of
freely discussing allmatter of opinion ; a privi-
lege of which the law of reason and of public
utility has given to all, and which no political en-
actments can rightfully take away. The subject is
so highly important, and affects the public interests
so extensively, as to demand a much fuller dis-
cussion than we have at present either leisure or
space to give to it. We have already, in some
former Papers, gone into it at some length, and
we shall take the earliest opportunity of re-
sliming it. It is consolatory to find so many

sigqatures to a Petitioti 50 enlightened and li-1
beral ; and it is gratifying to see so'many members
of the Established Church uniting with the minis-
ters and members of Dissenting Congregations
to remove those penal restrictions on the spirit of
free inquiry, which originate in oppression, and
which aggravate, beyond calculation, the very
evil they affect to repress. Carrying with them the
weight which, from their situation, this class of
advocates for fair inquiry possess, and moving in
the reasoning circle in which they move, the sound
and philosophic sentiments which breathe through
this petition must of necessity make their way,
and must have nn effect favourable to the diffu-
sion of benevolence and the advancement of truth.
We have no leaning to sceptical theories, nor any

liking for them : but we have a love for the free-
dom of human thought'; we would secure to
the human mind all the privileges which God and
Nature gave it, and would not see it coiled
round in the chains thrown over it by infidel
politicians and by interested priests. We have
no fear but that, let the press be as unshackled
as it may, mankind will remain faithful to their
principles and their hopes. Truth is from above,
and never yet prayed the aid of a prison or a pil-
lory to multiply her votaries, or to strengthen her
cause. The arguments of Mr. Wilberforce, as
applied to the petition, had the misfortune to be
at once inconclusive and illiberal ; and, as very
frequently happens with this gentleman, the one
half of his reasoning might he turned with com-
plete effect against the other half. The reason
of this is, that he suffers some general truths to
escape him in the outset, which get entangled as
he goes on with the absurd doctrines which he
brings forward to support his particular opposi-
tion ; and thus the whole becomes a tissue of in-
consistency. Prejudice is a substitute for reason
in weak minds, as fanaticism is for religion. But
we leave even to the bigot his opinion, however
furious—we will not interfere with his °remits ;
yet, for our safety's sake, if he were in possession
of power, we would shave his head and pair his
nails.

F A it S.

SUPPRESSION OF CAMBERWELL AND PECKIIAN

FAIRS.
The Magistrates of the District, comprehending the ground
on which those fairs have been annually kept, held a Petty
Session at Union-hall, in consequence of the Resolutions of the
Vestry.
An information was laid by Mr. Bygrave, and other respect-
able Inhabitants of the neighbourhood, against C. Shard, Esq.
Lord of the Manor of Brydenhurst, in which Peckham parish
lies, against W. Law, Esq. occupier of the land on which that
fair is held, against E. Whitton, Esq. Lord of the Manor of
Camberwell, and other Gentlemen who had an interest in the
land.
Mr. BoLLAwD and Mr. PLATT were for the defendants. ,
Evidence was given to prove that the fairs were nuisances,
and the witnesses were of opinion that there was no charter or
other lawful authority for holding the same.

Mr. 13 ot.L.iorn supported the right of the Camberwell defend-
ants from Doomsday-book, acid lanning's book, which spoke
of the custom of holding the fairs. produced papers,
dated 17111, specifyingthe tolls of the fair, and papers without
date, containing a 'list of the personi who paid for standings.—
Ile read documents, proving that monies had been received in
1715, 16, and 17„ for situations in Camberwell fair, and that
North-field, where Peckham fair was held, was in the parish of
Camberwell. Ile also produced a paper, dated 24th May,
1724 assigning.over the Manor of Camberwell, with the fairs
and tolls thereon, upon the marriage of Joanr,a Cock. The
Learned Counsel likewise produced the deed of conveyance to
Mr. Whitton, the present Lord of the Manor, dated 11112:
flaying argued upon the written evidence, Mr. Bolland called
witnesses.

One of these, a man, 82 years old., stated that he resided in
Camberwell from the year 1763, and remembered that an an-
nual fair was held there of three days continuance; that 2d.
a-foot was paid for standing; but that, as soon as the green
was broken in upon, 3d, afoot was charged ; and that, since
1014, the price had been raised to 4d., 5d., and 6d., a-foot on
the green.
Peckham fair was argued to be a continuation of Camber.
well fair, and not a distinct fair.
Mr. CIIAMBERS said, he could perceive nothing in the do-
cuMents proving that the fairs were held by' charter, or, as the
words of the Act went, `'‘ by any other lawful authority." lle
therefore felt himself, bound tn,decide against the defendants.
The parties then. intimated their intention to apply to the
Court of King's Bench, and entered into the necessary recog-
nizances to appear on the first day of term, to answer any in-
formation in the nature of a quo warrant°, which the Attorney
and Solicitor.-General might exhibit against them, touching
their right and title to such fairs, and to abide the judgment of
the Court thereon.