The Sun.
London, England, 1840-03-05 00:00:00

THE SUN. LONDON, THURSDAY. MARCH 5, IS o.

men who tore the laurels from the brow of their
country, and thus revenged themselves for the in-
flicted brutalities of impressment and ►merciless
flogging.

In England the complaint is, that seamen will
not voluntarily enter the Navy. " I have known,"
says Admiral CARDEN, " an American frigate at
New York hoist the flag for entry of seamen, and
in twenty-four hours 800 British seamen crossed
her deck, from whom the Captain picked 400 of a
crew." In twenty-four hours, then, an American
frigate can get a picked crew of 400 British
seamen, and it takes here two months or
three months—taking all who offer their ser-
vices, landsmen and seamen, tall and short, the halt
and tire half-blind, ploughmen and weavers, men
from the bogs and men from the hills—to complete
the crew of one 74-gun ship. Such a contrast
indicates, whenever another war shall spring up, a
tearful and terrible struggle for our country.
Those who have looked into this subject are
well aware that the desertion of our seamen is no-
thing new. Before the American provinces became
the independent United States our sea►:.en used to
flee in crowds to Holland, on the breaking out of
every war. Now they go to the United States,
and will continue to go, because there they find
constant employment, high wages, and reasonable
treatment. The certainty that ti►ey will there receive
an asylum, and be both honoured and protected,
has aggravated ten-fold all the evils of impress-
ment, though that fact was neither noticed nor pro-
vided for by those, whether Whigs or Tories, who
claim high honour and great rewards for providing
for the public security. They are too much occu-
pied in providing for themselves to provide for the
public welfare, and the nation must at present pay
and pension an immense army of statesmen, and
perform for itself all their effective duties. The
public must interfere in this matter if it would not,
in case of another war—and how soon it may arise
no man can tell—see, in the downfall of our naval
power, the utter annihilation, not only of our
national greatness, but of our security and in-
dependence.

Perhaps our readers will remember that last
autumn, on the occasion of the various trials of
STEPHENS, 31‘.130 uALL, and others, accused of
using seditious language at various public meetings,
we insisted, not once only, but several times, on
the necessity of producing the best evidence which
could be procured of the language used by those
who were charged with sedition. We insisted on
the injustice of condemning men on a half or a
whole sentence carried off by a policeman, or by ,
some person not accustomed to report, when the
present system of reporting gave to the prosecutors
the power of proving every word that was used by
any public speaker. At that time, however, the
community was scared from its senses by the
idle boasting of some fools, and the conscience-
born squalling of some rogues, and neither law nor
justice was suffered to stand in the way of a verdict
of guilty. Now the terror seems to have passed
away, and Juries can find verdicts of acquittal, and
Judges lay down the law somewhat more in accord-
ance with reason and justice. At Newcastle Mr.
BRONTERRE O'BRIEN has been acquitted, and
acquitted because the evidence even of a practised
reporter was not held to be sufficient to convict
him. We beg the attention of our readers to the
following passage in Mr. Justice COLERIDGE'S
charge, and must express our opinion that several
convictions in the North of England would have
been acquittals had that charge been delivered last
summer instead of at present
• In a conspiracy there must of course be more than one,
and if they should be of opinion that the charge of conspi-
racy was made out, then the evidence of what was said by
the one would apply as evidence to show the intention of
the others in the common purpose. The only witness in
the case was Mr. Henderson, the reporter; and it would
be for them to consider whether he same before them un-
der circumstances which would render his testimony suffi-
cient to convict. He does not say—he is not able to say—
" I took down all that passed;" nor even that, though he
did not take down all that passed, he took down all that
was important, and that what he has left out did not modify
what he has taken down. But he said he merely went
there with a view to get what was interesting for his paper ;
he did not go there with a view to a judicial inquiry, but
without any idea of it, or the necessity of giving the whole
of what passed. If they thought they had a sufficient
ground to come to the conclusion that the words proved
were not modified by those which had been omitted, they
would probably have little doubt that the intention alleged
in the indictment was proved against the defendants.
If, however, looking at all the circumstances, and what
was elicited on cross-examination, they should not be satis-
fied that these doctrines were propounded absolutely unmo-
dified by accompanying expressions, they would in this
case, as in all others, give the defendant the benefit of any
doubt they entertained.

There the Judge tells the Jury not to convict
unless they were certain that no words were omitted
which qualified the reported words that were as-
sumed to be evidence of the seditious conspiracy.
In the trials at Ashton and other places, the imper-
fect recollection of a single witness, who did not
pretend to have taken notes, and neve: ventured to
assert that he recollected, or reported, every word
that was uttered, were held to be sufficient to justify
a conviction. Such is law—one thing in the summer
another in the winter—one thinff in Cheshire or
Lancashire, and another thing in Northumberland
—one thing when the Judges are a little apprehen-
sive, another when they are restored to full confi•
dence. Such anomalies might be of little import-
ance when the knowledge of reading and writing
was confined to the clerical and legal professions,
and when any form might serve to inflict
punishment ; hut now, when every man reads
the newspapers, and when the working classes
read them the most attentively and assiduously, the
anomalies which are continually brought to light in
the laws themselves, and in the manner of carrying
them into effect, is of the utmost consequence to
a continuance of the law, and all which depends on
it. When tire bulk of society ate educated--when
the faculties are daily trained to distinguish good
from evil, and right from wrong, they must spurn
with disdain submission to a rule which is ano-
malous, contradictory, and sometimes grossly ab-
surd. If men are to be retained in obedience, the '
law must be made just and consistent.

We copy from the Morning Heral:l the follow-
ing complaint of a landowner, in order to show our
readers to what the Corn-laws necessatily lead, and
hat will be the consequence of longer continuing
to acquiesce in those iniquitous enactments :
Sir,—Since I had the pleasure of addressing you,
through the medium of your excelk,nt paper, on the 20th
ult., upon tho subject of Sir Richard Jenkins's resolutions
fur the admission of spirits from the East Indies at a duty
of 9s. per gallon, it now being charged as a protecting
duty with reference to foreign grain at 133, a Commit-
tee, consisting of fifteen gentlemen of the House of Com-
mons, has been appointed to consider and report upon this
important question ; but to my surprise and astonishment
not one county Member, not one gentleman's name imme-
diately connected with the landed interest, appears upon
this Committee. Doss this arise from apathy on the part
of that great and influential body, or neglect on the part of
Ministers? I cannot help thinkiug that the practical effect
of this vast question is not fully understood. I will, there-
fore, endeavour to prove at what cost spirits can be dis-
tilled from rice in England, and the cost thereof if dia.
tiilesi in the East Indies. First, then, rice used for dis-
tillation in England :-
1 ton of rice mac be p i
urchased 130 gallons of proof spirit, at
in London for' ...Xl3 0 0 ls. 4d. per gall. 5.k.10 0 0
Which will produce But which sells for 9d.
150 gallons of proof per gall. more than
s
spirit, at a cost forspirit distilled from
wianufacture `, ... 12 6 grain in England ... 512 6

X
, ---
L) 12 6 £l5 12 6
Secondly, rice used for distillation in the East Indies
1 ton of
Tice may be bought in 150 gallons of proof spirit can
the Last Indies for £3 0 0 thus be podueed at a cost
And will produce 150 of Is. 4d. per gal. £lO 0 0
gallons spirit, at a
cost for manufacture
of
3 2 6
Frieght to England of
spirit 30 per cent.
over proof, at 6d.
per gallon, when re-
duced to proof it
would be at 4d. 9 10 0
Wharfage, ticc: 1 7 6

P ears that proof
and four-
From these statetlientso, toherefore, it
from 0 0 0
isnpiEritnzofietnhde
or
rntehste qEueaslittylecadniesla7
aptroedeu:ea
saeither
and eight..
pence per gallon, whilst the price of proof 11114 distilled
from grain in this country costs two shillings
pence per gallon.
A distiller has recently been stopped by the Elise
from using rice upon the technical ground, that rice is not
grain ; but do you think that the great body of distillersn?t
this country will not take advantage of the proposed in
ea.
sure, if passed into a law ?
Do ou think that they will be stopped from using rice
from such a doubtful, technical definition, or if stopped
here, that they will not pursue their business as distillers
in the East Indies, if spirits are to be imported from thence
at so low a duty ? As the distillers are now allowed to
use foreign barley, the Government cannot, upon any prin-
ciple of equity, prohibit them from using rico in distillation,
if they permit rice spirit to be imported from the East In-
dies.
I well recollect that, in the year 1831, when a Commit-
tee of the House of Commons was appointed to consider
the question of admitting molasses into the breweries and
distilleries, that on that occasion the landed interest mani-

felted much energy and anxiety, and that our county
Member, Mr. Tyrcli, laboured very zealously and very
successfully in this Committee to defeat that measure.
If, then, the bare permission to the brewers and distil.
lers to tre molasses, which, es stated in the evidence
before that Committee, could never represent a greater
quantity of grain than 125,000 quarters, was deemed
of such vast importance, how much greater interest
ought this question to excite, 17hen the loss of consump—
tion by the distillers of all the barley they now use is
hazarded ? If the landed interest silently acquiesce in
this measure, is there not reason to fear that the ques
tion of the admission of molasses into the breweries and
distilleries will again be mooted ? To what purpose, let
me ask, are the West India planters to apply their refuse
in the manufacture of sugar if the English Market is sup-
plied with spirits at a less price than they can make it for ?
Can Parliament justly refuse to admit their refuse produce
into the breweries and distilleries of England, having alp
ready deprived them of a market for their rum ? Thus,
you will perceive, by the admission of East India spirit at
a low rate of duty, you will not only lose the consumption
for all the barley which the distillers now use, but, by the
admission of molasses into the breweries and distilleries
(and it appears to me impassible, under the circumstances,
that it can be refused), you will also lose the consumption
of a great portion of the malt used in the breweries.
March 3, 1840. A SUFFOLK LANDOWNER.
First, it will been seen that our markets must be
closed against the produce even of our own Colonies,
to gratify the rapacity of the landlords. It will, in
fact, be seen that it now is ; and whereas spirits and
beer might be manufactured much cheaper than at
present by allowing molasses to be used in dis-
tilleries and breweries, that is now prohibited. That
shows also, that not only does the landlord's tax
fall on the poor man's loaf, it also falls on his beer.
It shows, too, that the farmer who supposes he is
enriched by the Corn-laws, pays the tax which they
levy on every glass of ale or gin that he drinks.
What may be its amount we cannot calculate, but it
reaches something considerable to ale and gin drinkers
in the course of the year. But whatever it may be,
that amount is to be continued, if the landowners
can command it, by excluding the produce of our
East India colonies, as the produce of our West
India colonies is now partially excluded from home
consumption.
Next it shows, as we stated two days ago,
that unless the landlords can exclude all foreign
commodities, substitutes will be found for the pro-
duce of our ow* soil, and, consequently, the demand
for it will be proportionably diminished, and the
farmer injured by the lessened demand and con-
sumption caused by the Corn-tax. Of course it is
nothing but the exorbitant price of barley and malt,
which makes distillers and brewers think of using
either rice cr molasses, in preference to barley and
malt, for making spirits or beer ; and of course the
Corn-tax begets or enhances the temptation to use
the substitute.

To tax a commodity has ever been found in-
jurious to the producers of it, and this holds good
with the Corn-tax as well as the tax on malt. As
the price of corn is enhanced by the tax, so, if
people must continue to eat broad, the consump-
tion of it ii lessened in all kinds of manufacture.
The great cheapening of cotton clothing during the
last sixty years has much contributed to extend its
use, and promote the prosperity of the cotton manu-
facturers. If a heavy tax had raised the price
—as the tax on printed cottons raised it—
the prosperity of the cotton manufacturers would
have been impeded. In like manner the farmers
have suffered by the landlords' tax on their pro-
duce. To encourage the use of the produce of our
own soil, in distilleries, breweries, for food, and in
our various manufactures, the plan is to make it
cheap, as cheap as possible, and that the Corn-tax
will not allow.

The last consideration we shall at present advert
to, as suggested by this letter is, where are we to
stop if the Corn-laws are to be continued ? At pre-
sent, the high price of labour and other things
make the cost of producing wheat this year much
greater than in 1836, and consequently the
remunerating price required by the farmers
next year must be still higher than this,
in proportion to the crop, or they will be
injured and ruined. It is not only, therefore, that
the monopoly of the landlords must be made conti-
nuall) more rigid as regards our Colonies, exclud-
ing now molasses, next rice, afterwards sago, and
all other things that by any possibility can be
substituted for the produce of our own soil, but it
must, to answer the landlords' purpose, be made ,
more stringent from year to year. According to the
44 Suffolk Landowner," the Corn-laws will be of no
use, unless they be extended over all possible eatables
and drinkables, and the materials of which they can
be made. They imply a continually extending
system of exclusion, ancl a continual endeavour in
the Legislature to enhance against the struggles of
competing ingenuity, the selling price of the pro-
duce of the soil.

It will be seen, by a report in another part
of The Sun, that Mr. C. CHILDS of Bungay is
now fairly launched in the Ecclesiastical Court.
He declined, it appears, to urge any of the objec-
tions which he might have brought against the libel
exhibited by the Churchwardens, in order that the
facts of the case might the more readily he got at.
From the character of the gentleman who presides
over the Court, Mr.CHILDS expects that justice—
as far as that term can be applied to the proceed-
ings of such a Court—will be done ; and from
what we know, and have made known, of the pro-
ceedings of the parties who have been so bitter in
their hostility to him and his family, we anticipate
that some good will result from the disclosures
which must be made during the .progress of the
suit.

The Paris Journals of Tuesday devote the greater
portion of their editorial columns to examinations of the
claims of the aew Cabinet to the confidence of the
country. All the Liberal Papers describe the Cabinet
as the best that could be expected to be formed under
such circumstances, and unanimously agree that every
thing is to be expected from Ow inexhaustible resources
of the President of the Council. Our opinion is already
before the public. Before adding another word we
shall await the appearance of the usual Ministerial
manifesto.

U.l the 27th ult. a dreadful fire happened at Toulon,
occasioned by the explosion of a shell ignited by acci-
dent. Besides the destruction of numerous buldings,
several byes were lost.

A letter from Geneva of the 18th ult., states that
MEHEMET ALI has sent an agent there to engage the
services of as many French and Swiss officers as may
feel disposed to try their fortune in Egypt. The writer
is of opinion that many of the officers who served under
the banner of Do❑ CALLUS in Spain will embrace the
proposal of the Vineroy.
Letters from Senegal of the 18th of December,
detail an account of an expedition undertaken by
Captain CAILLE and M. HUARD, a naval apothecary,
accompanied by some natives, to examine the country
of Yolof, and to enter into commercial relations with
the KING and the French colony of Senegal. The ex-
pedit'on was eminently successful, and as the country
of Yolof abounds in gum-trees, spices, and various rich
productions, a profitable trade is thus opened to French
merchants.
BO UR SE.--PAktg, TVESDAT, MARCH 3.

irst Highest Lowest last
Price Price. Price. Price
;Tench 5 per Cents ll3 80 ... 114 ... 113 84) 1 3
4 per Cents l4l ,44 ,20 ... In; ... 104 20
3 per Cents 8.2 35 82 75 ... Bs 6.5 ... 82 75
Bank of erance
Lanitte Bank 1.04201. 11160 ...1040 —1461 _1 440
Belgian Bahl- 8312 50 ... 925 cra2 50
per Cents ...... lO4 ... 1( ... 101 104
3 per Cents 73 50 ... 13 55 ... 73 45 7.1 55
United States Bank Loan
Spanfsh Active... ........... 311 30 ...429i4
Passive lli 444 7% 4.4 7%
New 1./aerie:l
Old Deferred
Portuguese 3 per Cents
Neapolitan
Roman 10'1.1.4 103% 103 113%
RAILWAY SHARE:,

St. Germain
Versatile!, it. ii... ........
... 5,5
L.B. 370 ... 372 50 ... 370 ... 372 50
Strasburg to Bale .. ......
DUTCH FUNDS.—AMITERDAU, MAR6II 3.
Money. Bills.
s:2}si ;3
lA)ftttloi,:ldli)tattibitS, `2pl4,pceeruCt:ent
98 la 08%
AlrlOrtSvudic,4}i per cent 0:11i 4134
Ditto, ditto, 3 per cent 7.0 704
Commercial Company, 4,, per cent 1774 17144
Ditto (1'32 and 1533) 5 per cent.
Ditto 1537, 5 per cent.
Loan 1537, 5 per cont. !fli 06%
Exchange on London, Two
mon th....
...»».....„„ ii syN
months
—Dutch Papers, March 4.
(SELMAN frUND3—BaussEca, liaaen S.
Actual De:et, 2!4 per Cent.
Rothschild's Loan, 5 per Cent ...... ..... 10 lii
Loan of Thirty Millions, 4 par Ceat...,,,„„ 93
--------- 3 per Cent. ...... ... 73)4
Loan of City, ism, 4 per Cent. 9l
Society of Commerce, 4 k.iper Cent lO7
Bank of Belgium, 5 per Cent 1)434
National Society . —
Exchange on London (short)
—Brussels Papers, March 3.
AUSTRIAN FUNDS.—VinNsa, FEB. 24.
Five per Cents. Motalliques •.... ......... ............. 104%
Foar per Cents.
Three par Cents.
Bank Sharos
_ _ _

—J.ellige;WeSne Zeitung. Feb 111
HAMBURG BOR4ENHALLE, FEB. a
Bills. Money.
Austrian 5 per Cents.
Bank shares 17:45
A ti.lo-Russian Loan ll9 1118• X
Russian S per Cent. Ist series, Certificate
Inscription, Ist Series lOl5 "
Russian 5 per Cent. Hop, and Co. :;,.1 and 4th
Seri, s
Ditto in Certificates
Dutch Actual Debt, 2pe !i Cent 51% 31
.... .......... .....•.
Ditto 5 per Cent 9B
Polish Bonds
145 141
New ticket -
Angl,l.l inoish Lon, 3 per Cent. 7.4ii 71%
Norwegian Loan, It-34, 4 per Cent.......
Scanish, New 3 per Cents.

Madrid papers of the 25th tit. have been received,
but the news they bring is in a great measure antici-
pated by the following telegraphic despatches copied
from the Moniteur of Tuestlly

"TU SUB-TEEFECT OF RAYoNNE TO THE MINISTER OF TIIR

INTERIOR.

" The reduction of Sogora is officially codirmed ; •274
prisoners, six cannon, munitions of war, and a great quari-
tity of provisions arc in the power of Espartoro. Ma-
drid was tranquil on the 27th. The state of siege v,'as
not taken off."

" Bayonne, March 2.
" THE GENERAL COMMANDING THE 20TH MILITARY DIVISIoN
TO THE MINISTER OF WAR, AND THE tRESIDENT OF THE

1111:4] GREAT WIZARD OF
NORTH, AT THE NEW STRAND THEATRE.

"People should not talk in the streets."—OLn lextar.

" Have you seen the Wizard of the North, Charles?"
said a young gentleman to his companion, as they were
passing the New Strand Theatre on Monday afternoon,
in company with a handsome young lady, who seemed
more attentive to Charles than to her brother—" Not
yet :" exclaimed the lady and Charles at the same mo-
ment, as if they had preconcerted a visit together.
" Well, then, the sooner you go the better, for I never
saw such witchcraft before." "Oh dear ! tell us all
about it:' exclaimed the lady with a look of curiosity
that set Charles two steps in advance, to have a fair
share of the description, and a better view of her face.
" Its all mage! that's clear—and to tell you all about
it I must he a wizard myself—but it is a thing to be
seen, not to be told," "Ishe a conjuror, then ?" said
the lady. " Something more, I should think, or the
very devil himself ; for his tricks—and he mod.istly
only calls them tricks—are beyond all comprehension."
" Charles !" whisperej the fair one, " we shall see him
to-morrow—but what is it all about, John ?" " Every-
thing ; tricks delusions confusions burning of
ladies' handkerchiefs, and finding the wedding-ring
before it is lost." " Lost ?" interrupted the lady, with
emotion ; but recollecting herself, she quickened her
steps, and appeared to cast a sidelong glance at
Charles as she bowed her head. " Why, I have
seen conjurors before now," proceeded the narrator,
" but this Wizard beats them all. In fact, his per-
formances partake more of the nature of reality than
magic, for they seem so simple that ono is led to be-
lieve he could do the same himself. There again !
exclaimed an old gentleman, who sit below me, to his
wife ; you see how he does it ?" No, Ido not,' replied
the good lady, rubbing her eyes, at the same time,
to be more certain, ' Well, then,' said he,
putting on his spectacles, tell you all
about it, for I've been a conjuror once myself ; the Wi-
zard is now'—' Ah! what is he doing with that guinea
pig in the tin canister ?' exclaimed his wife. Hush,
my dear, that's what I'm trying to find out'---and be-
fore he could find it out the guinea pig was converted
into an Egyptian Astrologer ! The boxes were in
amazement, as well they might—the pit was lost in
wonder—and the gallery muttered it surely can't be
real ?" Timothy, my dear, I'm not superstitious,'
whispered the lady to the old gentleman,' but I would ra-
ther go home." Pooh, pooh ! Nonsense, my dear, he
won't hurt you'—and the titter went round at the
lady's expense. No sooner was one trick over than
another followed in rapid succession, and with such
graceful ease as if the Wizard had the whole art of di-
vination at his fingers' ends. Look there, 'Pa,' said
al,l can perform that trick at school, and asto-
nish the boys—l watched how he did it ; but, see, it's
all changed I' And so it was; the very genius of the black
art appeared in all his glory." " Well, then, Charles,
we must go and see him to-night, for I am burning to see
him," said the young Lady—" I wonder if the Queen
has been to see the Wizard ? It is really so surprising
that I am sure she will go."
By this time the party reached Temple-bar, and the
rest of their conversation was cut short by the
crowd of people passing and repassing through the
narrow entrance. Well, thought we, if people can-
not pick up gold in the streets, they can some-
times hear something new—and so we deter-
mined, as the young lady had done, to go to the
New Strand Theatre, and have a peep at this great
Wizard ; and there he was, sure enough, the very im-
personation of all that's wonderful ! It would be need-
less to descend to particulars in describing the per-
formances of a Magician who can do everything—natu-
tura!, or super-natural--it is all the same to him,
so potent is his wizard art ! Magic, mechanical, or
chemical—electric, galvanic, or magnetic—all are
fused in the crucible of his black art—so much so
that a lady on the look-out for a handsome
husband will feel the wedding-ring of the wizard
actually tingle on her finger ! After this, who will
hesitate to go and see the Wizard of the North ? There
is superstition even in love, and we should like to take
a leaf out of the Wizard's book.