The Sun.
London, England, 1840-11-23 00:00:00

EVENING- EDITION.

QUEEN'S BENCI-1.-(TiIIS DAY.)

(Sittings in Banco.)
ABRAHAM V. SKINNER.
The Court gave judgment in this case, which was an
action upon a b!ll of excliang,e. The stamp was in their
opinion not a valid one, and therefore the verdict for the
defendant must stand.
THE QUEEN V. WILLLIAM ISAINES-CHURCH-RATES.
A rule having been obtained in this case a few days since
by Mr. M. D. Hill, for a writ of habeas corpus to bring
up the body of Mr. William Baines, who had been com-
mitted for subtraction of Church-rates, the particulars of
which were reported at the time the application was made,
the writ and return having been read by the officer of
the Court,

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (with whom was Mr. Hill)
now appeared to support the objections that h 'd been u-ged
against the proceedings in the Ecclesiastical Court, They
had now before them the warrant and significavit `and the
writ de contumacio capiendo under which the defendant
William Baines had been arrested, and he (the Attorney-
General) submitted that from the facts set forth in these
documents, the Court must be of opinion thet the de-
fendant had been illegally committed, and ought to be dis-
charged. He should, in the observations he should feel it
his duty to make, strictly confine himself to the legality of
the proceedings, and he trusted he sheuld be able to show
their Lordships that by the law as it at present stood the
defendant bad been illegally committed to prison. Their
Lordships had learned by the return to the alit of habeas
corpus that the defendant was detained by virtue of a writ
de contumacio capiendo, which was founded upon an Act
passed in the 53d year of the reign of George the Third,
and the question for them would be whether he was
lawfully in prison under the Act of Parliament. It was
only by virtue of that Act of Parliament that
the defendant could be deprived of his liberty. They
would bear in mind that although it was their duty to
enforce that Act of Parliament, it was a very severe one,
and should therefore be strictly construed. It empowered
(certain forms being observed) the prosecutors in the
Ecclesiestal Court to deprive a British subject of his liberty
for any sum, however small ; and the party taken upon
that writ must remain in custody until satisfaction be
made. No length of imprisonment would entitle him to
be discharged. No Insolvent Court would release him;
and it had even been declared by the highest authority
that the consent of the prosecutor was insufficient for that
purpose. That the Ecclesiastical Cour: has not the
power to discharge when a writ de contumacio capiendo
has been sued out, and arrest made upon it, unless the
contempt is purged by the actual payment of the whole
debt and costs. Now, be bad to point out to the Court
several objections which appeared to him fatal to the pro-
ceedings in the case of William Baines; and he would com-
mence with this—that the significavit was in the name of '
Sir H. Jenner, and not in the name of his Grace the
Archbishop of Canterbury. The significavit was the
foundation of the writ, and unless it were founded on the
Act of Parliament, and preserved the forms therein pre-
scribed, the writ must be illegal. Now he submitted that
the proper person to signify was the Ecclesiastical Judge,
and not Sir H. Jenner. He need not remind their Lord-
ships that the writ de contumacio capiendo had been sub-
stituted for the writ de excommunicatione capiendo, the
Court proceeding at first by ecclesiastical censure. The 1
highest censure they could inflict was excommunicating
the offending party, cutting them off thereby from all
' communion with the Church. Still that did not deprive
them of their liberty. The form observed was by signi-
fication by the Bishop to the Chancery. He sheuld he
able to show their Lordships by clear and undoubted au-
thority that the significavit was always by the Bishop or
Ordinary, and that the 53c1 Geo. 111, made nu alteration in
the person by whom the signification was to be made.
Such was the case befoic the passing of the 53d
of George 111., as appeared by several authorities
to which he should refer. In Bacon's Abridgement,
article excommunication " The sentence of excommuni-
cation can only be pronounced by the Bishop." It was a
spiritual sentence, and could only be by Ecclesiastical
authority. So in Gibson, " Excommunication mutt be by
the Bishop, whose proper subject the party is." Now,
Sir H, Jenner was only the Commissary of the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury. " The reason whereof is, because
no person inferior to a Bishop can call in the secular
arm." In Cummin's Digest it is said, " Before the
writ de excommunicatione capiendo be granted, there
must be a certificate to the Chancery, of the contempt
of the party by the ordinary by his letters, under seal_
and such letter ought to be by the Bishop, or his im-
mediate ordinary." And then it added, " so if the Bi-
shop be in remotis beyond the sea, the certificate may be
by his Chancellor or Vicar. General, but none except the
Bishop can regularly make the significavit, on which the
writ de excommunicatione issues." Then came the
question whether any alteration had been made by
the 53d George the Third, and ho thought their
Lordship would sec that the proceedings in the significa-
tion for contempt were the same as in the signification for
excommunication. In the former case the thing signified
to the Chancery was that the party was excommunicated,
that which was at present signified was that the party had
been guilty of contempt. But there was no reason to
introduce any alteration in the person who was to make
the signification. The only alteration was in the thing
signified. The statutes which substituted contumacy for
excommunication was the 53d George 111., chap. 127,
and was entitled " An Act for the Better Regulation of
Ecclesiastical Courts ;" and the first section; coupled with
the schedules, cleared up any doubt their Lordships might
entertain upon the point. The section recited that
" Whereas, it is expedient that excommunication, except
in certain cases, be discontinued, and certain proceedings
substituted in lieu thereof;" and it then enticed that from
and after the passing of the Act, excommunication, except
in certain specified cases, be discontinued throughout
Great Britain, and that when any person having been
duly cited to appear in any of the Ecclesiastical Courts,
shall neglect or refuso to appear or obey such lawful order
or authority, and shall commit any contempt, no sentence
of excommunication shall be given or pronounced, but in-
stead thereof, it shall be lawful for the Judge before whom
such contempt shall take place, to pronounce the party
contumacious, and within ten days, to signify the same to
his Majesty's Chancery, as bath heretofore been done in I
cases of excommunication. Therefore the proceedings
were not left to conjecture, " and thereupon the writ of
contumacy shall issue, and all orders, rules, regulations,
and practice not hereby altered, and the proceedings fol-
lowing thereupon, shall extend and be applied to the writ
de contumacio capiendo." The form was then given in
the schedule, and he asked their Lordships whether they
would have any doubt that the practice of signifying by the
Bishop was still retained. In the last case before the
Court, that of John Thorogood, such was the proceeding ;
indeed, the whole of the proceedings in the present ease
appeared to have been done in a very bungling manner,
for the very form of the significavit would show that it could
not be made by an inferior officer. It commenced—. To
his Most Excellent Majesty our Sovereign Lord," and
then followed words which were very proper when used by
a Bishop, wl.cn addressing the Sovereign, but certainly
could not be proper when coming from the Commissary.
There was a blank for the name of the Bishop " by Divine
Providence," now, the Commissary was not " by Divine
Providence:;" that was not a proper epithet when referring to
the office of Commissary—" health in Him by whom Kings
and Princes rule and govern." Such a form of address
could not certainly come from a mere officer of the Ccurt.
We hereby notify and signify that --, of —, in the
county of --, has been guilty of contempt," the Act
being then set out. That was the form always observed in 1
cases of writs of excommunication; and the same form ,
was followed when the writ of contumacy was substituted.
In Chitty's General Practice, vol. IV, page 225, be
found the form of a significavit for a writ of contumacy,
and it was addressed "To the King's Most Excellent Ma-
jesty William, by Divine Providence, Archbishop of Can-
terbury, Primate of all England and Metropolitan. health
in him, by whom Kings and Princes rule and govern."
lie held in his hand also an office copy of a significaeit—
" To her Must Excellent Majesty the Sovereign Lady
Queen Victoria, Charles James, by Divine Providence,
Bishop of Landon, health in Him by whom, &c." Now, in
the case before their Lordships, as appeared by the affidavits
and other documents before them, the significavit was by
Herbert Jenner, Knight. He trusted that upon that
ground alone their Lordships would say that the writ de
contumacio capiendo was void, and that the prisoner was
entitled to be discharged..T.Thcre were various other objec-
tions which ho should now proceed to mention to their
the
they
ethoughtthou
nLieonrdtslti
hit e
wbaoduldjusbte smtaotreed,c.lonntvhee-
first instance.
oiPsilisucunslessstht
Lord DENBIAN—WO think it better to have the whole of
the objections.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the next objection was
that the sentence upon which William Baines was pro-
nounced guilty of contempt was pronounced without
the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical Court. It would
appear, from locking at the significavit, that there was a
citation—that the defendant did not appear, and that in-
stead of pronouncing William Baines in contumacy, as
was done in the case of John Thorogood, they proceeded
the Court proceeded to hear witnesses and give
~
ex parte:and without the defendant ever havingfianpapleared,
and 1251. 3a. costs. Now he submitted to
for 4the rate,
judg-
ment, by which the defendant was ordered_ to pay. 21. as.
of
fetihr
eLo
Ecclesiasticalrd ships, tha that according
Court—accordingt theo g general rat
the
e l a
w of proceedingsthe
they had no jurisdiction Ecclesiastical Court,andwahccaotsrodeinvegrttoodbeecatdretdh
the
c a
se, authorities,the
had jurisdiction
defendanthav
himng
tocontumacious.They They had juris-
dictiont) n in Chancery
contumacious fur not appearing.
That he had been adjudged contum
~,
eidoencolllatarvehodavisignified to the Queen
That was the course adopted in Jahn Thorogoou s case.
,and then there
was however, of doing that they proceeded ex parse
there basing been no appearance
a specific sum for the rate, and a spe.
hesum
thepacosts. He submitted to their Lordships
ci a decree:f.
r
that was beyond the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical Court,
and that the proper mode of proceeding would have been
when the defendant did not appear to have adjudged Lin,
contumacious. To have si,;!nified that to the Chanoery,
and then to issue a writ de contumacio capiendo, for not
appearing. The defendant was now taken for rot paying
these two sums of 21 sa. and 1251 33. Unless the Court
had authority to make such an order, which, lie contended,
was not the case, the defendant bad been illegally taken into
custody, and ought to be discharged. He need not remind
their Lordships of the general rule in these cases—that
until both sides were heard there could be no cl t.
T h e
butrty theresvho cdidou
could
not n appearot be
e amight be liable ju
gmen
to punish-
ment,judgment unless in parti-
cular cases. Then came several authorities on that point,
and be would refer to one or two. In Constat's Practice
and Jurisdiction of Ecclesiastical Courts, it was laid down
that the only reale ly against a party' for not appearing
was by excommunication; and although the 53d George
the Third altered the punishment, the form of proccedul
remained the same. They could' not proceed ea Parte' "
there could be no judgment. He then described what
was meant by excommunication, and the Mode of obtain-
Garin.
ing it. It was to be inflicted upon
\
upon the proctor's petition to the Jade, . being
t
being duly proved. The party cited
found contumacious, the
soctor off notbeappcitatiobn
so
offers .. the,,,
he-
I dole of excommunication to the Judge.
A form [of the

schedule was then given, and if proceeds," In those
days, from the malice and contempt men bear to the Ec-
clesiastical jurisdiction, they sometimee stand out for 38 of
39 days; but, to avoid the writ of exco:nmunicat:on, they
come in and desire their absolution, boasting that they can
have absolution before the 40 days are elapsed," Becausca
after the 40 days, the writ of excommunicatiois would issue.
It then went on to state how the Ecclesiastical :Judge may
proceed against those who contemn his jurisdictime• Thus
it observed that those who a second time are in cm. temps
might be proceeded against by the Ecclesiastical Jur,g,e as
perjurers, as having previously taken the oaths of submie-
sion to the Court, and as acting then in violation of theme
It then stated how the Ecclesiastical Jadge was to act in
case a person persisted in his contempt for fatly days—that
after that period should have elapsed, the assistance of
the legal authority should be called in, which was
now to be done by means of a significvit. It then
proceeded to describe the mode cf obtaining
a writ de excommunicatione eat iendo, and the mode of
proceeding thereupon. Nor did this extend only to per-
sons excommunicated by the Ecclesiastical Courts, but it
extended to all others, however excommunicated.
Archbishops and Bishops had here pointed out theta
the manner in which they were to proceed with person
ho remained excommunicated for forty days, and of the
manner in which they were to proceed in the execution of
the writ de excommunicatione capiendo ; but there was
not the slightest surmise of any ex parte proceeding in the
didi f absencehenao Pt
consequentlyP oae appear, prteth• de: ro,ari
hal therereotabyvi objections
io()
could having
lsd would
b be
summoned moh mce
oovnnetmeedsetdtaleiteleodfills,
iaf defendant,nhde
cooont tehset a
joinedt l itis
ounnileess u
ss itshseoefpwat
rie:ter,e. cause; there could be no
jaopinpeeda,readt.id
The Court
could
could in that case have no fundamental ground whereunto
act to enable the Judge to take cognizance of the cause.
He would only allude to one other authority in support
of his argument, which is Cockburn's Practice of the
Ecclesiastical Courts, Fourth Edition, published in 1800.
At page 11 of that book it was stated that, on
the day when a citation should be returned, if the party
did not appear, the proctor should exhibit his authority,
and the Judge having admitted it, be should then accuse
the party so neglecting to appear of contumacy, and pray
for a citation calling upon him to show cause why he
should not be excommunicated for such his contumacy;
and the Judge should order such citation to be issued for
the next Court-day, and if the accused party did not then
attend, then he should be cited to appear to hear himself
excommunicated, and such citation should also be sent to
the minister of the parish in which such party resided, and,
on his still neglecting to appear, the sentence of excom-
munication should be pronounced against him. Through.
out the whole of the proceedings there was no
substitute for the appearance of a defendant. There was
but one exception to thi, rule, and that was in cases relat-
ing to the proving or writs. In cases between party and
party, the Ecclesiastical Court would never proceed with-
out an appearance ; but in testamentary caukes they would.
At p. 131 of Cockbure's book-, which be had already
cited, it was laid down that in cases where an executor
was desirous of proving a will, and was fearful that the
approver, from a desire to give unnecessary trouble, would
absent himself,:that he might insert the words that whether
the approver were present or not the Court would pro-
ceed, and that the same rule might be observed frequently
in testamentary causes; and these were the only cases
in which the Court could proceed in the absence of
the parties. In all other cases—in all cases between
party and party, if the defendant did not appear, the Court
had no jurisdiction, and their only remedy was for coutu.
macy. In testamentary cases, where there was no necessity
for the p. esencc of a party, the ChSe might proceed in his
absence, but in all cases where a defendant was called upon
to do any act, or to submit to any punishment or blame, the
Court, could have no jurisdiction unless the party appeared.
In testamentary cases the party bad merely to sec an act done,
but in cases where the proceedings were for the purpose
of proceeding to the punishment of parties, or to compel
them to do certain acts, in case of non-appearance the only
remedy was by proceeding for contumacy. There had been
a statute passed in civil cases to enable a plaintiff to enter
an appearance for a debt as regarded several processes
and things being then in the same situation as they would
have been if the defendant had voluntarily appeared, the case
proceeded. But that, instead of being an authority against
his urgument, was a strong confirmation of his principle.
Unless the Legislature had interfered, the thing could
never have been done—that Court could never have
in
order compelled,re rto by
havea declaration its ownrrualetiso,n
filed. A statuteadefendanttoappweaaar
necessary to do this. Again, during the last year of the
reign of William the Fourth, his Learned Friend, Sir Ed-
ward Sugden, had been instrumental in procuring the
passing of a most useful Act respecting proceedings in
Courts of Equity. What bad, previous to the passing of
that Act, been the course of proceeding in these
Courts? If a defendant on being summoned did not
appear the Court had no jurisdiction, they could only
take the party en an attachment for his contempt, and if
he chose to remain in prison for twenty years the proceed-
ings of the Court was stopped during that time. Great
inconvenience had teen felt in consequence, and an Act
bad been passed by which it was enacted, that if a party
neglected to put in an appearance the bill should be taken
pro confesso. Without that Act the Court would
have had no jurisdiction, and if it had proceeded
to decree any thing in the cause, such decree would
have been contrary to law, and would have been
reversed. There was no statute giving a s: far
power to the Ecclesiastical Court, nor did it seem That
those Courts bad considered it essential that any such
power should be conferred on them. In the reign of
George IV. an Act bad been passed to facilitate the pro-
ceedings of such Courts, and that Act contained no such
provision. The 9th section of the Act 10 George IV.,
cap. 52, gave addit;onal powers to those Courts to make
ciders for the regulation of their practice, but there was
no clause giving them any power to proceed to a final de-
cree against a defendant not appearing. The Ecclesiasti-
cal Court at present stood in that respect precisely
in the same situation in which it stood when Cummins
and Cockburn wrote ; the only remedy against a defendant not
appearing was by proceeding against him far contumacy.
That was exactly the course which had been pursued in
the case of Thoregood. Thorogood had been cited to ap-
pfbcoeuorat
Court
non-payment
followedne
.fhoparadey mthneeor
tahCeao ouf
entahcsitocs
rrt
hsiot
ocryyr e Curhtao.iodr
ap
proceed
tocbh%
eenf
dhe ra
bedyw
aDi
tp:
hrcp.
eoLat
nhr ushington
see:: t
s a
cause,hne
Cockburn; a decree of contumacy was issued against
him, and upon that he was taken into custody,
not for non-payment of Church-rates, but for not ap-
pearing to answer to the process- of the Court. The
Court in his case had not proceeded to order the payment
of the rate and costs: they had no right to make any such
order, or to make the disobedience to any such order a
ground of commitment, and on these grounds be trusted
the Court would be clearly of opinion that the order in
question was an unlawful order, and one which the de-
fendant was not bound to obey. His next ground
of
eieootib on
yjecsthiow wasthat that
thedefendant feedsaingtnifiait
hcadvhedenid
anssoetssesduffi-
to
a Church-rate, for all that appeared from the significavit,
the rate to which he had been assessed might have been
a Poor-rate or a Highway-rate, or a Borough-rate, or any
other rate over which the Ecclesiastical Court could have
no jurisdiction. He wished to direccsii
tigtihfieeiarntL.ordlsthwipas:
attention to the exact language of the
that he the said William Baines had neglected-Xo pay the
dh war
assesses d e n
dt h; etshse. tos
o which,ot
he 1251.
rohcatodr
been of
nt hrea tCe uarric
upon this document that the sum of 21. ss. wa
as tit dm ofa
ls2o1"
for a Church-rate, and for the repair of Baines's pads!:
church, and it was only on account of such a rate that
the Court would have jurisdiction to commit him. The
words were only, rated and assessed, and that Couft
could take nothing by inuendo. The Courts of Law
had always looked with the greatest jealousy upon the
proceedings of the Ecclesiastical Courts, and had alwaysinsisted upon those Courts showing that their pro-
ceedings were legal upon the face of them. In the
case of the " King arid Eger," 2 Sturges' Reports, Lora,
Talbot had laid it down that the Court could intern
nithiag in favour of the jurisdiction, and unless the grounde
of it were clearly stated, it was illegal. But in the pre-
sent case the significavit was worded in the obscure man-
ner
to which he had alluded. There was one part ti,
which be thought it necessary to draw their
it was Lord bl
out that his disobedience was in a certain case of subtrac-
tion of Church rate, but this would not help their case at
sPets.
attention ; in a subsequent part of the significavit
all, for the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical Court ought
to have been shown in that part of the significavit where
mention was made of their disobedience ; that was the alle-
gation, and in that part the jurisdiction should have been
truly displayed—it merely said that he had been assessed
to a rate without stating for what. In all the old cases
it had been determined that the disobedience must
be distinctly specified. The Court had always
exhibited the greatest jealousy of the writ de ex.
coramunicationc capiendo. How did it show that he had
disobeyed a lawful command? did it state that he had
been commanded to pay 2/. 55., which he was assessed to
a church-rate ? No such thing. Hew was the Court to
know that the rate was for the repair of the parish church
of the parish in which Baines lived ? It simply stated that
he had not paid 21. las. rated and assessed upon him.
Air. Justice COLERIDGE•-•-•It states afterwards that it is
in a ease of subtraction of Church-rate.
(The case was proceeding
when we went to press.)

of the
have
1 record SI7
ARLOW F
for Monday another. flat week in sugars, but the gene.
-Nov 20.—We
GAR
NfAItKET-7N°
rility
it,gly firm, the ye holders, in this as in other markets, arc exceed-
eration.—Bristol Mereuru.
every Other
consideration.—Bristol
small quantity cn hand out-vveighirig
C
week. The accounts J LECTION.—The election is fixed
Reformers are most cheering. Notvv
of the prospects of the
intimidation and cajolery of the. faction, Colonel 13ruer:
will, we are persuaded, be once more the defeated candi-
date, Tue .. savages" will not elect him, to give his vott.
ithstanding all the
with Lord Stanley for the annihilation of their elecicira.:
rights. But, unceasing exettion is required to ensure the
return of Mr. Ponsonby, and the triumph of the people
over the Carlow Orangemen. Above all, the effective
co.eperation of the Wing gentry is indispensable.—D«bla
.Evening Post.
LOall oil
THE FRACAS AT TIIE FRENCH OPERA,
M. Begeron was on Wednesday tried before the Ttibun:i
of the toll of t..
tofotilie trustees that tht
of Correctional Police for his assault upon AL F,,,,,k,
Girardin at the Opera, declared Guilty, and sentence::
to imprisonment for two years, and to pay a fi.
ac of 30fr.
together with all costs.
l'he solicitors of the Exchequer
have taken into their handy the whole
North-road, and have given noticesible
all the parishes
Kill be held personally respon
hfraosnictrlra tollscreated
afor v
very
yy
greatpurpo s e s wh,,
The abase fact
through which the roads pass, sensation
are liable to repair the roade.—aLsithe parochial authoritiet
THE BANQUET TO MR coin Mercury.
will receive ample proof on \v. BLACK.—Mr. Bia:
high place in the est.cent ar,d ednesday that he bolo:
, zens, About 500 tickets h confidence of his fellow-e'
I only five days have have been already sold, thot.,„..
tt,ve.irna.ny money tak,;l
i pounced ter the ,
~.elapsed since the banquet ssas first au.
PutiC.--Scotettiatt.

EVENING EDITION.
MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS.

SATURDAY EVENING.)
HERALD.--The favourable tenour of the political re.
ports from Paris, with the rise in the funds there, had the
effect of improving prices in the funds at the Stock Ex-
change hem.
In respect of the new loan private letters from Paris
botice that strenuous exertions were making there by the
parties interested to move it off, but it was found to be a
'very adhesive sort of article, and the stock dealers ex-
tremely averse to touching it. It is stated moreover that
the contract of this loan was by no meats a voluntary act
on the part of the contractors, but that they were forced
to embark in it as the only alternative for obtaining repay-
ment of advances previously made to the Belgian G,,-
vernment to no lees an amount than 800,0001. 1 his
fact, if correct, would account for the novel mode of
proceeding adopted by way of getting the subscribers
to it to pay up the whole price at once ; although
there would naturally be a prudent anxiety in any case
to get it clean off hand and all paid up on account of
the present unsettled position of political affairs all over
the world, and the many chances of some event that might
serve to embroil the powers of Europe, and lead to war.
The statement respecting the immense sum for which the
parties were in advance to Belgium would seem, if true,
to confirm the suspicion always entertained, that the last
Belgian loan, which was scarcely less popular than the
present, was not after all cleared off, from the repugnance
of capitalists and dealers at the time and since to embark
in it. It will be remembered that it dropped, almost still-
born, out of the market, there being no dealings in it, and
scarcely a quotation, after the first week or so of its com-
ing out. The advances were doubtless on account of the
loan so turning out a failure, which are of course to be re-
paid out of the new lean, so far as it can be carried into
effect. This view disposes at once of the seppositions in-
dulged in, that the money was wanted in Belgium for
measures of internal improvement.

POST.—The new Belgian loan makes no progress. It
is a drug which, in the actual position of the Money Mar-
ket and the Exchanges, the contractors find it no easy
back to palm upon the public. The Portuguese conversion
scheme, arbitrarily reducing the original capital fifty per
tent., and leaving the security of the bondholder the same
as before, tends to mar the speculation. It is now appa-
rent to our capitalists that the pledges of Governments,
however solemn, and backed as they may be by Sovereigns
and Legislatures, ate intended only to betray. The re-
venues of Portugal are already hypothecated to the En,g
fish creditor, but are they in any way tangible to him ? It
is a naval or military force alone that can make the gua-
rantees available in the case referred to; and the hold a
foreigner has upon Belgium is, of course, no greater than
that which he has upon Portugal and Spain. We do not
hear that anything whatever was done in the new concoc-
tion the whOle of the day.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.

FROM T5l MORNING PAPTRS OF Tr%Ls BAT.
(From the Morning Chronicle.)
The Gazette of Saturday night contained the important
and most gratifying intelligence, that the Queen was, a
little before two o'clock, p, m. safely delivered of a Princess.
We endeavoured, in a second edition, to aid in the rapid
diffusion of th;s most cheering news. In another part of
the Chronicle we have collected such particulars respect-
ing this happy event as our readers must be desirous of
knowing. Down to the period at which we write, ;he ac-
counts respecting her Majesty and the Royal Infant con-
tinue to be all that the nation can desire. Beloved as our
Queen is by her people, the event which we;have announced
will diffuse the most lively joy throughout the length and
breadth of evet y pertion of her dominions. The fate of an
illustrious Princess whose memory is yet dear to the na-
tion, naturally heightened the anxiety felt for her Majesty.
In proportion to the anxiety is the joy now felt. But, be-
sides the warm affection entertained personally for their
Queen, the veople have another cause for rejoicing on this
occasion. Our readers must anticipate an allusion to the King
of Hanover. Of all c,mcaivahle calamities, the calamity of
the succession of the King of Hanover to the throne of
these realms would be most deeply felt. Hated whilst
among us, he has, since he left our shores, by his treat-
ment of his subjects, added, if possible, to the causes for
holJing him in aversion. The birth of a Princess inter-
ses another life between the Queen and the Sovereign
of Hanover. The title of our Queen to the kind regard
of her people rests on positive merit of the highest order.
Seldom has the world had an example of an equal degree
of conscientious devotion to the duties of the regal office.
The interest which her extreme youth inspired was never
affected by any of the weaknesses for which 3 outh s.:rves as
an apology. _

(From the Times.)
The auspicious event of last Saturday has created
throughout the metropolis and the country a feeling of
that class which in great political communities is of too
rare occurrence—namely, one in which Englishmen of
all ranks and parties are, if not equally, at least very
cordially agreed. The satisfaction of the people is in-
deed lively as it is unanimous on the happy occasion of
tho birth of an heiress presumptive to the throne, in the
direct line of descent from the gracious Sovereign who
now so worthily fills it. The grateful rejoicing of the
public has also been rendered complete by the providen-
tial preservation of her Majesty's life through a trial..
not unfruquently attended by serious peril, sodl,,Fthe
-
prospect, sn far as human judgment.., can anticipate,
of her full and perfect recovery in. rime for an early re-
turn to the duties of her
..'ialted station. The an-
swer to the sumerous eiraquiries made in the course of
yesterday at the imported that her Majesty and
the infant iT,iicts, (Princess Royal we suppose will be
her Rov.Oji Highness's designation) were both going on
".c.y,Eiitewell." There is something agreeable to most minds
which aro familiar with the general connexion of moral
causes and effects throughout the course of mo-
narchical governments in the addition of every new link
to the chain of direct lineal succession. The vital princi-
ple of a menarchical constitution is stability, and the fewer
breaks or abrupt transfers of the crown from one branch of
the Royal family to a distant one are likely to occur, the
greater, on the whole, is the general character of strength
and s Aidity imparted to the executive power ; above all,
the less is the risk of collision from adverse claims. In
the present state of England, moreover, and after the
shake which cur estab:isbed institutions have sustained,
not so much perhaps from a series of experimental mea-
sures in legislation as from an extensive encouragement
and excitement of a spirit prone to question the results of
experience, to cheapen the operation of time, and to depre-
ciate the wholesome agency of usage, it is not in our opi-
nion, by any means a matter of indifference whether the
line of dulcet nt he looked upon by the nation generally
as smooth and continuous, or as subject to checks, inter-
ruptions, and transitions. There are other topics of gra-
tulation and contentment which press upon the minds of
reflecting men with regard to this very interesting subject.
The country has a deep concern in the state and composi-
tion of the Royal Family, and in the materials afforded
by it for a judicious and moral education to the children of
the Crown. In this respect surely no more fortunate con-
dition of the " Taterna demos" can be imagined than that
which is now prepared for the reception, superintendence,
and instruction of the offspring of Queen Victoria. Pa_
rents in the prime of life, and in the daily and constant
xcrei,e of domestic intercourse and affection—a Prince
Consort of studious, refined, and accomplished tastes—
of arreable manners, of kindly feelings, and of blameless
life—a Sovereign Lady, most active, diligent, and scrupu-
lous in the d:scharge of functions which cannot be fulfilled
with any approach to efficiency or usefulness hut by the
practice of great regularity in the distribution of her
hours, by close attention to the details of business, and by
an accurate and strict employment of those fractions
of leisure, by a careless waste of which so large a portion
of the whole sum of life is lost, and so many bad habits
nd propensities contracted—we repeat, that parents thus
sonstituted, thus circumstanced, and, by the nature and
necessities of their position, thus qualified, must, under
Providence, be a source cf incalculable blessings to any
ff,pring educated under the same roof, and in their pre-
ance. Some of the best characteristics of such a parent-
age must almost inevitably be transmitted to children
happy enough to be brought up under their eye, and to
have before them the constant meditation of such an ex.
ample. It is nut, therefore, for the present only that we
join in the universal felicitations offered to our gracious
Queen upon this happiness vouchsafed to her by that
gracious Power, without whose favour all monarchs and
kingdoms are but dust—we rejoice in that hope of future
and long-enduring felicity, so delightful to a maternal
heart, which must spring from the hourly contemplation
of opening grace and rising virtue in this the first pledge
of her own conjugal tenderness, as years shall bring with
them the fruits of conscientions instruction, of well-
directed authority, and of purity without stain, reproach,
or suspicion.

(From the Morning Herald.)
The birth of an heir-presumptive to the throne is an
event which will be hailed with joy by the whole British
nation. Our youthful Queen, in the new and interesting
relation of a mother, becomes an object-of still more tender
solicitude than ever to a loyal and affectionate people. The
House of Brunswick, under whose constitutional sceptre
the country has enjoyed so large a measure of protection
for its religion and liberties, gives a new pledge of pro-
longed dominion in the direct line of succession. Those
who are aware of the evils which this country formerly
suffered from a disputed succession to the Crown, and
those who have not foigotten how dreadfully some other
countries in our own time have been scourged by the fu-ies
of civil vrar,:arising but of a similar cause, can appreciate the
advantage which Great Britain derives from having the
succession
to the throne so clearly and indisputably este-
bli,hed, that no dcubt or obscurity
Aobestewuhriiteyh,chanowree'vteruP4,vniiilted at by
cacinse,tilo,tei foundede t in e
Royal Marriage Act--ra
nation
from
tbitylez
some spurious claimants to Royal distinction,
the most deliberate wisdoiu—guardsisthpeutseu,
English throne from obscurity
from all the calaxitous consequenc.eselof
aayslidtiegeeitdeedd
direct line of the So-
for a litigated title to the Crown. is
given to
sward of civil Isar. Heirs in the.
desirable, for obvious
vereign in posse,sion are altva,ss
reasons, and the happy event of Saturday has
Engla-d au heir iii the direct line. But
a weekly Journal,
that boasts of especial Court patronage,
ought not to be
so ignorant as to give to the infant daughter and
the title ofand first-born
child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
heir. apparent. The title of an beir-apparent is inde-
feasible. That child cannot be an heir-apparent whose
title is only contingent, and may be defeated by a subse-
quent birth. As her Majesty is young, and with the b les
only
natural g of Providence likely to have many children, it is
natural to expect that an heir apparent will yet spring,
from the auspicious alliance which our young and beloved
Queen has formed with a Prince as young and amiable as
herself,—a Prince lineally descended from the illustrious
Saxon assertor of the Protestant religion and liberties.
Nivr,thek spring be brought up to love and venerate
:Ilstkits which placed the House of Brunswick on
—alifhrote,l, ad the first-born of the Queen been an
liar:Apparent; we presume that the Gazette Extraordinary
whieh was published on Saturday afternoon, would have
contained something in addition to the order that a form
of thanksgiving for the Queen's safe delivery (we like the
homely English word better than the French term