The Sun.
London, England, 1840-02-21 00:00:00

TIIE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1840.

the Noble Lord opposite. There was no analogy
whatever botween the papers in the hands of the
Noble Lord, and those now moved for. There
were some cases in which reports of this descrip-
tion might be 'produced, but all that was contended for
was, that the principle ought to be the
other way, and that cases of production
should be the exceptions, and justified as exceptions, His
Noble Friend who had just sat down said, that if the
doctrine of the Noble Viscount (Melbourne) was acceded
to, not only would a difficulty be thrown in the way of
the proceedings of their Lordships' House, but that
principle would be established which would never
be agreed to by the other House of Parliament. If
their Lordships referred to the Journals of the
other House, they would find that the same mo-
tion was made there on behalf of the great in-
terests that would be effected by this Bill (the
Liverpool Dock Company), and the same answer was
given that had been given by his Noble Friend,
and that proposition was so satisfactory, that
it was acceded to, and the motion was with-
drawn. The papers were not pressed for, because their
production would be inconvenient to the public service.
He would, at a future time, when the Bill came
under discussion in that a11.13C, take an oppor-
tunity of stating why it was that he supported the
Bill. He hoped the papers would not be called for,
as he knew from his own official experience, that if they
were com?elled to produce them the communication
between the great departments would be greatly impeded.
Lord ASHBURTON—They had heard nothieg of
opposition to the production of those papers ; had the
Govnntnent not been going in direct opporition
to the opinion of their own officers ? Their Lordships
ought to have information in some manner or other.

. Viscount STRANG FORD, after hearing what had
fallen from the Noble Viscount opposite, would
ask Frmission to withdraw his motion. When the Bill
came before their Lordships, it would be for them 'to
consider whether they could not obtain the information
by other means—by the means of a Select Committee.
As to the c)nfidential nature of these communica-
tion, he was not disposed to pry into the mysterious
tencieraesses passed between the Baard of Ctistorns
and the Treasury, nor did he. wont to make that
Hollse an originator of libels, or a Norm ii School for
the instruction of smugglers.
The motion was then withdrawn.

Mr. Owen, from the Court of Chancery in Ir•Aand,
appeared at the bar, and presented tested copies of
pleadings.
The Marquis of BU rE presented several petitions
from Scotland against the intrusion of Ministers.
The House then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, FRB. 20.
There being but thirty-six Members present at
Four o'Clock, the House adjourned until to-morrow.

SMALL DEBT; COURT.—The petition from
Cambridge in favour of the County Courts' Bill for recovering
debts under 201 , was presented by our Town Members to the
House of Commons on Friday last: the number of signatures
was 1,350. We ate informed that petitions are in course of
signature at Soham, Linton, Ely, and Huntingdon. At Bed-
ford, the Town Council came to the following resolution—
proposed by Mr. Rogers, and seconded by Mr. G. Hust—in
introducing which, after a motion that was negatived for re-
leasing the Sheriffs of London, he says, " I bring before you
another subject more important than the last—l mean a Coirt
for the recovery of small debts. I hear that a general measure
is-likely to pass, and my Parliamentary agent recommends that
no expence should be incurred in obtaining a Local Act, but a
general petitionieg be commenced, praying Parliament to pass
such a measure. I, therefore, move that a Committee be
appointed to draw up a petition."—Cu:nbridge Advertiser.
TUE LATE SIR HARRY BURItt..RD NEALE.
—The la'e Admiral Sir Hat ry Burrard Neale, G. C. 8., died
at Brighton, on Friday the 4th inst., aged 76. This gallant
officer was the son of Mr. Burrard, of Lymington, in this
county, and succeeded to the Baronetcy of his uncle, Sir Harry
Burr...rd, in 1791 ; four years afterwards he took the
name of Neale, on marrying the heiress of Robert
Neale, Esq , of Shaw House, in the county of Wilts. He
was a Post Captain of 1793, and in that year commanded
L'Aimable, of 32 guns; he subsequently commanded the St.
Fiorenzo, of 42 guns, and in that frigate, for two or three
years, had the honour of attending on his Majesty Geergo the
Third, in his annual summer visit to the se!-shore at Wey:
mouth. I* this frigate Sir Harry was an active cruiser on the
coast of France, and performed several most gallant affairs;
particularly with the Nymphe, in capturing the Rests ante and
Constance, French frigates. in sight of the Brest flal.; and in
the defeat of a squadron of frigates, which came out of Bolleisle
to attack the St. Ficirer.zo and Amelia, the later then in dis-
tress from the. loss of tier topmasts, carried away in a squall ; this
affair 1,4(4 two hours, and our ships were exposed to the fire
of the French batteries in boust and Iledie, by which they suf-
fered much, but the French frigates were compelled to retire in
a very shattered state. In 1804, Sir Harry joined the Admi-
ralty Bo ird, but lelt it in less than a year for more active em-
ploy. In the command of the London, of 98, and attached to
Sir J. Warren's squadron, this ship, with the Amazon, fell in
with, in the night, the Marengo, 89 guns, and Belle Pooh', 40
guns, having Admiral Linois' flag on board, returning from
a most mischievous cruise against the commerce of this
country in the East Indies, and after a short but well con-
tested action, compelled them to surrender, before the
rest of the squadron knew what ships were engaged. The
French lost 65 men killed and 80 wounded; among the
latter was the gallant French Admiral. Sir Harry was subse-
quently Captain of the Channel fleet, when under Lord Gain-
biee's command ; and also commanded the Rochfort squadron.
In fact, he was continually employed till the peace of Paris;
since which, in 1826,. he commanded in the Mediterranean.
The courteous, hospitable, and gentlemanly bearing of the de-
ceased endeared him to the whole service, and his determination
of character, most conspicuously evinced in the mutiny of 1797,
pointed him out as one on whom England could rely in the hour
of peril. Sir Harry for many years represented his native town
(Lymington) in Parliament.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.

FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERDAY.

(From the Globe.)
Every attempt to reconcile the existinr, anomalies
an I to abate the practical injuries of the Law of . Libel
is deserving of commendation, and will call for ear-
nest hopes of success. Lord Denman has applied
himself to remove one of the many evils to which
the present state of the Libel Law continually gives
rise, and with which his Lordship, both as an Advocate
and a Judge in our Courts of Common Law, must
necessarily be familiar. By a Bill which his Lordship,
on Monday evening, brought into the House of Peers,
and was read a fir,t, time, it is proposed that in cases of
Libel and Trespass, w here the amount of damages given
does not exceed flirty shillings, the COSTS recoverable
shall not excl ed that amount. This will go far to check
a description of actions brought by a certain class
of attorneys for the sake of costs, rather than to ob-
tain satisfaction to their clients for substantial injur'es.
The mischief of such paltry litigation is not con-
fined to the time of the public wantonly consumed, and
the consequent arrear of causes it occasions in the
Coui ts, to the great delay of justice in matters of im•
portance, to the vast injury of suitors, and to the wit-
nesses and jurymen summoned to attend, although this
has been a source of long and extensive complaint.
Nor is the ruin brought on plaintiffs and defendants by
such actions, and the frightful commission of perjury in
the witnesses, by whose testimony the cases of their
respective friends arc sought to be supported, to be left
out of consideration when computing the miscl:iefs
caused to the community by the pr..sent state of the law.

(From the Standard.)
The committal of Mr.' Howard and" of his youthful
son and clerk, has excited a movement among a
numerous, an active, and not unimportant body, who
seldom act collectively in public affairs. The attor-
neys and solicitors of the metropolis have taken alarm,
and if we may judge from the number of letters ad-
dressed by gentlemen of the profession, to the Times
and Morning Herald, as well as to ourselves, we may
anticipate that they are preparing for a deciled step.
One thing is certa►n, that if the liberties of the coun-
try fail to be vindicated against the usurpation
of the House of Commons, the fault will not
rest with either branch of the profession of the
law. Mr. John Curwood, of the Queen's Bench
bar, nobly set the example of asserting 'the pri-
vilege of the gown—a privilege by far more valuable
for the protection of life, liberty, and property, than
any pretended privilege of the House of Commons.
(From the Courier.)
The meeting of the freeholders and electors of the
county of Middlesex, which is appointed to take place
to-morrow at the Freemasons' Tavern, " To take into
consideration the situation in which Mr. "Sheriff Evans
is now placed by the resolutions of the House of
•Commons, and to adopt such proceedings, by an addiess
to the Crown, or otherwise, as m►y be expedient to
effect his liberation," cannot but be regarded as one
of the most important public meetings ever held
in this country for the purpose of upholding
the constitutional rights of the subject against the
encroachments of the House of Commons. This
meeting will serve as an indieation of the feelings
of the people on a subject towards which they have
bezel reproached with indifference and apathy, and by
sonic with that which is far worse than indifference and
apathy—with a silent acquiescence in the right assumed
by the House of Commons, to stand between the sub-
ject and the Courts of Justice, in his application for re-
dress fur an injury sustained.

IRISH WASTE LAND IMPROVE-

. .
THE INCENDIARY FIRES IN YORKSHIRE.
On Monday notices were iss led from the Secretary of State's
Office, offering 1001. reward for the discovery of the incen-
diaries by whom the stacks of earn and hay on different. farms
in the neighbourhood of Sheffield v;ere wilfully, destroyed by
fire last Monday night, under circumstances which have been
already described. In addition to the reward, the grant of a
free pardon from her Majesty is promised to any accomplice
(excepting the person who actually set fire to the property)
who shall give such information as may be the means of bring..
ing the guilty wretches to justice.
On Monday aftenilon, at half-past four o'clock,
a meeting took place in Battersea-fields, between Captain L.
' Bulkeley and Captain Robert Mundy, R. N. the former at-
tended by Captain H. Wilson, and the latter by Mr. Adolphus
Slade. Both gentlemen fired together, Captain Bulkeley dis-
charging his pistol in the air. Captain Wilson then apologised
to Captain Mundy, in the name of his principal, for the insult
which had led to the meeting.
On Monday evening, between seven and eight
o'clock, a serious accident, which war near being attended with
fatal consequences, occurred at the bottom of Grosvenor-place.
As Captain Brent, of the Ist Life Guards, was driving in his
cab down Grosvenor-place, in the direction of Pimlico, while
endeavouring to pus an opening in the sewer in the centre of
the road at the commencement of the King's-road, he was de-.
ceived by the lighted lantern being placed on the wrong side,
and driving to the right, as he conceived, in safety, the horse
immediately fell into the deep and dangerous hole, dragging
the cab after him. Fortunately, however, that part of the
aperture had across it several planks of wood for shoring, which
supported them until, assistance arriving, the animal was ex-
tricated, with the cab, without sustaining material injury.
MIDDLE TEMPLE.—Some of the newspapers
have published a list of the Benchers of the Middle Temple,
and held them up to public reprobation as having been all par-
ties to the refusal of a dinner in celebration of the Queen's
marriage. This is manifestly unjust; for in all societies the
minority must submit to the majlrity, and it is not credible
there were not several in that list who wauld be most anxious
to pay due honour and respect to her Majesty, who is at the
head of all the departments of t:overnment, and of course,
therefore, emphatically of the law.
THE LATE ROBBERY OF LORD CLANRI-
CA ens.—When Sergeant Seal, of the London police, was in
Paris, some weeks back, it was for the purpose of tracing Bank
of England notes to a large amount which had been stolen
•in London. At the same time- he received iustructions to
look after Perocel}i, late valet to Lord Clanricarde, who was
supposed te be in Paris. Seal did not then succeed in tinting
him, but obtained such a clue as enabled him to make a capture
a few hours after his (Perocchi's) arrieal in England from
France, which led to the discovery of the stolen signet. At
that time a considerable quantity of valuable property was found
to have been left with different persons in Paris which_ iub t_ews'as
considered necessity to put seals on for the time being. S •
quently letters have been received in London from the i!nr-
quis of Clanricarde, acknowledging the receipt of the signet,
and stating the loss of other valuable property, viz., a gold
(
eyeglass ,f pale gold, fluted pattern, belonging to her Lady-
ship ; a rich Turkish band or scarf, since recovered). Le'ters
have also been received from the Count Matuszevic, Russian
Ambassador at Stockholm, but staying with his friend the
Marquis at St. Petersburgh last summer, at which time Fe-
rocchi was in the service of his Lordship, stating that he had
a!so lost various articles, such at an old but valuable Breguet
watch, a gold key and ring with the inscript'on, " Sir H. E.
Goodricke, Bart.," and also a valuable snuff-box. During the
last week part of the above articles, together with a valuable
red porphyry box (owner unknown), have been discovered by
Seal, whose exertions have been unceasing during his stay here.
He wi l return to London in a day or two with the whole of the
property, stolen or otherwise, known to have been deposited by
Perocchi in ehis capital. Considerable legal difficulty attends
the conviction of the chief in this instance, from the circum-
stance of the robbery having taken place in Russia, the arrest
in England, and the property found in France. It is thought a
very small amount of punishment will be awarded, notwith-
standing the numerous delinquencies committed by this man.—
Galignani of Monday.
NORTHALLERTON GREAT CANDLEMAS
HORSE •FAia.—This celebrated show fur horses was most nu-
merously attended by the first-rate dealers from Edinburgh,
London, Norfolk, Nottingham, Helriesley, York, Whitehall,
Sinningtori, Lee.ls, Manchester, and Mahon. The show com-
menced on the 9th instant, and terminated on the 14th. First
rate hunters went off freely, at liberal prices, for one of which
we hear Seymour Deighton, of Whiuston, near Greto Bridge,
refused 150/. ; carriage horses• in good demand ; middling
coachers in abundance, and at a reduction of 13 to 20 per cent.
below last year : good nags and hackneys very scarce, and as
much above par as the last-named ones were below ; inferior
horses in abundance, bit no demand.—Tyne Pilot.
BRUSSELS, FEB. 18.--The Potitiyue says that
the Government has determined to establish communications by
their beats between Antwerp and New York, which will de-
prive Liverpool of the monopoly that it now enjoys.

MENT SOCIETY.

Yesterday the annual meeting of this Society was held
at their rooms, Broad-street, City, pursuant to advertise-
ment, for the purpose of receiving the report of the Com-
mittee, and proceeding to the election of four Directors,
in the place of other, going out by rotation, under the
terms of the Society's Charter of Incorporation. In the
"absence of the Earl of Devon, the Chairman, and Ormsby
Gore, Esq. M. P., Vice•chairman, the chair was taken
by J. M. Maude, Esq.
Amonr,st the:gentlernPn present we noticed
Esq. M P., lii n ut, Esq M. P , Ponsouby Staples, Esq.
M. P., \Vray, F. 39., J. Morris, , Scruptor, Esti.,
Capt. 13,11.1, &c.
_ _

ire S cretary (Mr, WILKiNsoN) having read the ad-
verti,ement calling the Meeting,

The CHAIRMAN said he would not detain the iNfeetipg
at any length, as the Report, which he would call upon
their S.:cretary to read, would fully explain what h.td been
done by the Directors since their last general meeting.
Their progress had been slow, because they wished to
proc,ed with every praper degree of caution and economy ;
but it was satisfactory to be able to state that in what they
had done their efforts had met with uccided success.
Mr. WILKINS.)N then proceeded to read the report,
from which it appet red, that altlanigh the Directors had
not been able to/announce any further engagements of
land, their non-success in that respect was not to be attri-
buted to any want of energy on their part, but from a
variety of offers which had been made to them upon the
jud,cious selection of estates, the S miety's success would
be best ensured, and upon those already taken the So-
ciety's operations appeared to be highly satisfactory, par-
ticularly at Gleneast, where 525 statute acres had been
let for one-fourth of the rental paid for the whole (5,700).
A large portion of the remainder being very superior
mountain pasture, Was let out for the agistment of
cattle, which produced a clear profit of 30 per cent.
upon the capital employed. The stock consists of 180
head, after a sale of 108, and fresh purchases to supply them.
In order also to facilitate the letting of the land (for which
several applications have baen recently made), a police
barrack was in course of erection, with the concurrence
of the. Board of Works ; and the Directors contemplated
the erection of small tenements on the farms, for the
greater improvement of the Society's property. At tha
Bollinakill estate new roads had been constructed, with
the liberal assistance of the landlord ( Sir J. Banks), and
that property was also in a state of growing improvement.
The balance in hand on the 31st December last amounted
to 1,1001. 153. 6d. The 'assets to the same date were es-
timated at 4.585/. 19s. 6d., and the liabilities under 3001.
—( Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN said it would be evident from the report
which the meeting had just heard read, that they
had made no great progress ; but by this time
next bear he hoped the Directors would be able
to announce a large and profitable extension in
their operations. They had beer unwilling to embark in
speculation, because they felt that the expenses, small as
they wrre, pressed with some severity upon their limited
capital. He would onl) further observe, that if any Gen-
tleman present wished for further information, he would
be very happy to afford it, and answer an) questions which
might be put to him.

It was then moved and seconded, that the Report now
read be adopted and printed. —Unanirrously agreed to.
Mr. WRAY moved that the following Gentlemen,
going out by rotation as Directors, should be re-elected_
namely, W. Blount, Esq., M P., Ormsby Gore,
M. p., Rswgon, Esq., and Ponsonby Staples, Esq.
HANDLEY, Esq., seconded the motion, and in doing
so, he the less regretted that the B ills t was not resort d
to, as he was sure that the choice of the meeting could not
have fallen upon Gentlemen hotter calculated to discharge
the trust reposed in them, or who would more sedulously
exert themselves to advance the interests of the proprietory,
and thereby render the greatest service to their Irish
brethren.

The motion was unanimously agreed to.
Mr. STArLES returned thviks for himself and colleagues.
It was from no want of energy that the sphere of their opera-
rations had not been more extensive ; but one cause of it
was, that the farms 4bieh were offered to the Society were!
not so eligible as to juslifysiliem i❑ aet.ept:iig•tho offers!
which had been tuat!o. It would not answer the Sucietv's:
purpose to experiment upon land vaiying from 8 to 70121
feet above the ►evel of the sca—(llar, and a laugh)_--i
nor could they give the modest SUM of 1/ an acre for bog,
particularly when the landlord waking the off..r to let it
would reserve all the meats of improving it.
Thanks were then voted to the Directors and the Cbair
man, and the meeting separated.

„TH E SWEDISH DIET.—The following account
of the ceremonial of the recent opening of the Swedish Diet is
given in a letter from Stockholm :—” The four orders, viz.,
thee Nobles 480 in number, the clergy 51; the burgesses 48,
and the order of the peasantry 150, first went in grand pi o-
gession to the cathedral, preceded by 50 heralds and 100
hal!ebardiers, in the costume of the mindle ages, where they
heard divine service according to the Lutheran rites. Prince!
Oscar was also present, surrounded by pages and -high dig-
nitaries, and the congregation consisted of three thousand
persons of all ranks, including the corps diplomatique. On
leaving the church the procession proceeded to the Pa-
lace, where the four orders took their seats in a kind of
amphitheatre in the centre The seats above sere
filled with elegantly-dressed females. Around the
Throne were grouped the Grand Marshal, thy President. of the
Diet, in ermine cloaks,' and the Min;sters wearing red robes
trimmed with ermine. The King, who had the crown on his •
head and the sceptre in his hand, wore an ermine cloak, the
train of which was supported by two grand officers. Prince
Oscar also wore a crown, but of much smaller dimensions.
The ccrps diplomatique occupied a separate gallery. Just as
the King was delivering that hart of the speech in which he
speaks of the period as being near at hand when he must, in
the order of nature, descend into the tomb, a loose stone fell
from a statue over the heads of the order of the clergy, and fell
with great force close to the Primate, the Archbishop of Up- '
sal, and six Bishops who were sitting with him, but fortunately
no person was injured."
SUICIDE is Y A SOLICITOR.—Mr. Snowden, a
solicitor of the firm of Pennall and Snowden, on Monday
week, in a state of tempory insanity, poisoned himself with
laudanum.

There is at present in the possession of Mr.
Spenee, Mill of Invereskandy, a pure white crow. It is now
quite domesticated—tame and tractable as a parrot—and,
stranseas this may appear, it is uncommonly fond of music ;
ands .
lt c4A even intonate NM@ intervals of the gamut I