The Sun.
London, England, 1824-02-12 00:00:00

[PROCEEDINGS OF YESTERDAY.]

THE KING, ON THE PROSECUTION OF LORD GEORGE
SE T3lol_lll V. JOHN CORRT.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL renewed his motion, .made
yesterday, for judgment on the defendant,who pleaded "guilty".
to an information, charging him with a libel on Lord George
Seymour, one ()this Majesty's Commissioners of Excise.
Al-lid:wits were put in on the part of the prosecution, And or
the defendant. The former set forth the libel, which imptrted to
Lord George Seymour, that he had borrowed money 'front ink-,
rior officers and abused his trust, and denied that he had giien
any particular directions to seize a quantity. of malt at
the defendant's premises. The latter stated that the defendant
was misled by the representations of others, at a moment When
his feelings were irritated by a seizure made, as he believed,. by •
the orderS of the prosecutor; that a man named Willey 'had
frequently made such charges ; that as soon as the defendant
was undeceived, he expressed his contrition, and offered to re-
tract his assertions ; and that he was very poor, with a wife and •
seven children dependent on him for support.
The ATTORNE Y-GENERAL briefly pointed out the nature
and object of the libel the view of the Court.
The defendant, in a short address, expressed his contrition,
and hoped that his poverty and distress would operate in miti-
gation of the sentence.
Mr. Justice BAYLEY, after animadverting on the serious caFt
of the offence, and giving the defendant credit for his subse-
quent behaviour, passed sentence—that he should be imprisoned
in the King's Bench for one month, and give security for his
good behaviour for three years.
LORD BYRON'S VISION' OF JUDGMENT.
THE ICING V. JOHN HUNT.

Mr. Apcnritus, at a late hour in the day, moved for the
judgment of the Court on the defendant, found guilty of pub-
lishing a seditious libel, &c.
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE said it was impossible at that
time of day to bring on the matter. His Lordship also observ-
cd—" I think it had better stand over for next Term."
Mr. SCARLETT, on behalf of Mr. Hunt, said he should not
object to that course of proceeding.
Mr. ADOLPHUS assured the Court that he had been most
anyous to get judgment without delay. lie had attended day
after day, and he was desirous the cause should be disposed of:
at the same time, if an affidavit were read so induce the Cot=
to allow it to stand over, he should be satisfied. The defend-
ant for such indulgence would, however, be required to enter
into recognizance not to publish any comments relating to the

The Loup CHIEF JUSTICE—That is not too much to re-
quire. 11r. Hunt will attend to-morrow, and perhaps not object
to the proposal.

Mr. (...ARLETT—If Mr. Hunt will follow my suggestion he
will abstain from all comment on the subject.
Mr. A DOLPitus—lf he enters into his recognizance on that
point it is all I require.

CRIMINAL INFORMATIONS.

THE KING v. sKETCRLEY.

Mr. BROUGHAM said he was prepared with his afiidu•.i:
amended (by Mr. W. Cobbett), in support of the motion he
made yesterday for a criminal information against the de-
fendant, on the ground that he had not put up a board with
tolls, and had otherwise neglected his duty as a Trustee of
Kensington Toll-gate.
The LOUD CHIEF JUSTICE—You did not state that the
person against whom you moved had omitted to put up the
board from a corrupt motive. Does the affidavit now impute a
corrupt motive ?
Mr. BROUOHAM—Yes.
The Lola, CHIEF JusTicE—Then take a rule to she::
cause.
THE ICING v. SIR C. WOLSELEY.

Mr. RUSSELL moved for a criminal information against
Sir C. Wolseley for publishing a libel on C. Chetwynd,
M. P. for Staftbrd, reflecting upon him in his character of
Chairman of the Quarter Sessions. The libel was published
in the Litchfield Mercury, copied front the British Press
newspaper.
The LORD CirrEr JUSTICE asked the Learned Counsel
how it was known to be the copy of an article in the British
Press fi _ _

_ .
Mr. RUSSELL said he had an affidavit stating that Sir C.
Wolsely wrote a letter to the British Press, which was pub-
lished, and the paper sent to the Printer of the Lichfield Mer-
cury, by Sir C. Wolseley, for the purpose of re-publishing the
libel.—The COURT granted a rule to shew cause.

THE LONDON JOURNALS.

DAILY

Extracts from the MorninMorning Papers,. Feb. 12.

[MORNING CHRONICLE.]
ft seems to be a very general opinion, that the
apprcnching recognition of the independence of
South America will be of the utmost benefit to
()al- general relations with that country, and be-
sitles.give a degree of order and consistency to
the Loans of the New Itepublics in which British
capital is invested, which they have hitherto not
possessed. Among the rest, the Colombian Loan
will be materially improved, alai it is understood
that the Executive of that country, who, for all
pur,poses relating thereto, are fully empowered by
the Congress, have seen the necessity of incorpo-
rating it with the new Loan required,' or with
the proceeds, paying itself off- at the price at
which it was originally contracted. These, at
least, are the sentiments of an extremely intelli-
gent merchant writing from Carthagena, and in
close correspondence with the capital, yet
totally unconnected with any of the old opera-
tions of the Colombian Government. The
latter'" are in want of a Loan, the Con-
gress have declared that one should be raised,
and with this view an agent is now on his way to
England, invested with full powers. For se-
veral years the resources of South America can-
not be developed, and in this inverval, aid and a
'figStering care are requisite to call them forth.—
In a Country. where all is enterprise and experi-
ment, and the productions valuable and abun-
dant, the growth of a new state must be rapid a
which the Government is actuated by a spirit of
civilization and justice, more particularly as in
the present case, when favoured by a combina-
tion of fortunate circumstances. Ali the sections
of Smith America are now the arbiters of their
own fate, and nothing can disturb the orbit in
which they move. All the wished-for capabi-
lities are within themselves, and far removed from
the dread of enemres, their strength will grow
with their years, their resources will be unfolded, I

and stability and extension of empire will be the
result.

[MORNING- POST.]
It sr*ms to be the fashion in our days to aim
the deadliest shafts at tl►e noblest characters,
and to measure the virulence of the poison ac-
cordhor to the purity and honour of the intended
victim. It may be necessary to inform our
readers that a statement lately appeared in some
of the Papers of a deficit of three hundred thou-
sand pounds having been discovered in an
f-stablishment of which the Court of East India
Directors were the responsible Governors, and
that besides negativin the grant of five thousand
a year to the :Marquis of Hastings on that ac-
count, that Court intended to make the alleged
deficit a ground of i►npeachment against the
Noble Lord. We treated the libellous assertion
at the time with the contempt which it merited,
coavi►►ced that the character of the Noble
Marquis, for unspotted integrity and almost
romantic honour, stood too high to be injured by
the most daring and malignant calu►nnies. They
were repeated, however, by envy or ingratitude
with so much inveteracy and perseverance, that
in the General Court of Proprietors held yester-
day at the India House, it became the duty of
his friends to demand that his character should
be cleared by a plain and distinct declaration
from the Chair, that there was no truth in the
reports circulated. The Chairman, with a perti-
nacious attachment to forms which ought to have
given way to the wish and propriety of doing
justice to an injured individual, refused to are.
sorer, because he had received no instructions on
the subject from the Court of Directors; but
two of the Directors themselves, with a quicker
sense of what was due to integrity, to honour,
and to virtue, immediately came forward and
gave time fullest and most unequivocal denial to
every part of the foul aspersions. The first, Mr.
Elphinstone, declared, and staked his character
on the truth of what he said, that " no such
proceeding as that alluded to had ever been
thought of in the Court of Directors ;—the idea
of . an impeachment had never been hinted at,
much less entertained :—the Marquis of Hast-
ings had never been suspected of taking one shil-
ling from the Company improperly ;—it was a
most unfounded assertion, a villanous untruth."
The second, Mr. Paulson, confirmed this state-
ment in the most emphatic manner, and also de-
clared that the subjects to which it referred "had
never been hinted at, glanced at,or even inuendoed
at (for such an occasion deserved a new phrase.
in the Court of Directors." The whole turns on

[THE TI M Es.]
We present our readers with the account of the
very singular proceedings at the India House yes-
terday, to which we suspect no parallel can be
found in the annals of the Court. The Proprie-
tors had been convened to consider of the changes
necessary in the Academic Institution at Hailey-
bury ; but before the business of the day com-
menced, a question was put to the Chairman—
whether it was true, as had been stated in some
public prints, that the Marquis of Hastings had
robbed the Company of above a quarter of
million of money ? To this question, and other
questions of a similar import,—which, we should
think, were obviously of such a nature that they
ought to be put, and ought to be answered at any

time, when the fact was known, yes or no—the
Chairman refused to answer. Even when urged and
called upon by various proprietors, he still refused
to answer. Though other Directors replied firmly
and loudly in the negative, the Chairman still re-
fused to reply ! The consequence was, that a scene
of great tumult took place, and the business of the
day was adjourned. Now, upon these proceed-
ings it is first obvious to remark, that if the
object of an adherence to form be to procure the
dispatch of the business proposed, such an ad-
herence as prevents that dispatch, and occasions
the postponement of the business to a future pe-
riod, is extravagant and absurd; it frustrates the
intention of the rule. We are inclined, therefore,
to think thatthe Chairman must have had some other
motive for his silence than that assigned. After all,
the scene was extremely ridiculous. Sir Jn. Doyle
demanded—Mr. Douglas Kinnaird remonstrated
Lowndes raged ; brit
—Mr. Hume reasoned
the Chairman was silent. The Vice-Chairman
apologized—Co-Directors interposed, and gave
the answer required ; but the Chairman himself
was silent. He's a sturdy one, we should say, if
his. mind were at the time in a state capable of
receiving the ordinary impressions. The Chairman
and Vice-Chairman were evidently at variance;
for the latter described the inquiry as new and
unexpected, whereas the former evidently in.
terrupted Sir John Doyle because he knew whit'
was coming.

[NEW TIMES]
We cannot but compliment our cotemporary
of The Chronicle on the liberality which he
skews in speaking of Ministers. With refe.
rence to the South American question, he
says, " we feel perfectly confident, that Mi-
nisters have acted a wise and liberal part in
this affair ;" and lie praises the " meritorious
conduct " of Mr. Peel, as " a vigilant and con-
scientious Superintendant of the Magistracy and
Police of the Country." Now certainly the praise..
in both instance is perfectly well deserved
only we are somewhat surprised to meet with it
in the productions of a writer so long blind to the
merits which lie at last is able to descry. Upon
the general topics discussed by our cotemporary
in.the articles above referred to, we can by ne
means agree with him ; but this does not de-
rogate from the justice and candour shewn
[MORNING H ERA LD.] in his praise of Ministers. As to the Police,
It seems that it is in contemplation to form a although a certain number of stipendiary Ma-
Society in Glasgow for the purpose of paying gistrates may be\ very proper, we should deeply
the expences of those who may be prosecuted for lament to see the country deprived of the
what is termed libel. This, apparently, is to be services of the unpaid Magistracy—as valuable,
a Society in opposition to the " Constitutional efficient, and constitutional a body of men as any
Association." The following respecting it is from in the kingdom. That Mr. Canning, has caused
a Glasgow Paper : overtures to be made to the Kin.- of Spain for the
"A very important proceeding is now in progress in Gifts- recognition of South American Independence we
ply—viz. :the formation of a Society on a large scale, for the Can readily believe ; but that the affairs of
greater advancement of liberalprinciples in the city, and for the
more efficient support of all political measures which require South America are fast approaching to a settle-
the aid of the. public voice. Already a Committs of above 20 ment,,, is, we fear, a delusion. Our cotemporary
gentlemen has been appointed to inquire into the best means of Probably speaks from the inforrnatioa of Mexican,
securing these objects.—lt is intended that eaeh Member shall
be called upon to subscribe annually, or contribute at entrance, Colombian, or Chilian Bondholders, who' think
to for: a funth to be appropriated to the advancement of the the new States are on the eve of a happy
great TAU se-of.'lteform—to defending the Liberal Press when and permanent establishment, because their
arbitrarily prosecuted—or to be employed in any other way
that the Members May deem conducive to the cause." wish is parent to the thought." Let us
We Sortie time-since said, that' if -a 'private asso- be thoroughly persuaded that his Majesty's
ciation for the proSecutiOn of people we.re encou- Ministers will do all in their power to pro-
raged;lts bottleful effect would be seen by several mote the real welfare of these countries, but
institutions starting tip on an opposite principle. do not let us delude ourselves with the idea that

therefore to have been, as we kne►v it must be,
a most atrocious libel on one of the most

virtuous, honourable and talented individuals in
the whole kingdom—one who has rendered the
greatest services to his country in every part of
the world--to whom (whilst he generously re-
fused to accept any part of the pecuniary advan-
tages which were due to his successful enter-
prizes) the East India Company owe the present
prosperity of their vast empire—whose character
sheds lustre on the title of Briton and the name

of man—and whose never ,dying honour has long
been the I►ra;seful theme of all good men and the
glory of his country.

Our predictions are likely to be realized. The
best thing the rich supporters of the Constitu-
tioAal Association could do, would be to with-
hold their subscriptions ; this obnoxious institu-
tion would •then die a natural death, and the
other, in opposition, would probably not be in-
stituted. We should think that the King's Law
Officers cannot be very fond of the institution
now in existence, which arrogates to itself their
business, and takes the profits of such business
from them. Nor can the King's Ministers like
such an institution, inasmuch, as in the way of
opposition, they cannot tell to what extent other
institutions may be carried, nor how dangerous
they may eventually become. It gives us great
pleasure to observe the reluctance of the Court of
King's Bench to pass judgment on Mr. Hunt
for publishing a cheap edition of Lord
13yron's satire on Mr. Southey's poem, which,
in our opinion, improperly held up the late
King for idolatrous worship ; and it would
give us still greater pleasure if there were no
judgment passed at all. Of the matter prose-
cuted being a gross libel, there can be no doubt;
but it had died—it was forgot ; it had been
,marked with contempt o❑ the part of readers in
general. The prosecution of it only brought it
again to light, and made. many acquainted with
it, who never heard of it before, and made them
think there was something clever in it, though
judgment to the contrary bad been passed. Had
Lord Byron been in the country, and had he
been prosecuted, the question would have been
different ; there would have. been manliness in
proceeding against him—the great would have
come in contact with the great; but for the great
to proceed against the weak is never politic. The
rich supporters of this species of inquisition may
rely on it that the sooner they leave it to its fate
the better. It is of little use attempting to make
themselves popular by abating so much per cen-
turn from their rents, or their tithes, or giving
grand halls and dinners to their tenants, their
wives, and their daughters, while at the same
time they combine to enable a few individuals,
for the sake of their own particular emolument,
to pounce on arty unfortunate man who may he
maintaining his family by printing the scribblingr
of a libeller.

the new Governments can, for a long time to
come, attain a irm and settled organisation. We
doubt, indeed, whether Republican systems tan
ever be made so suitable to the Southern part of
that Hemisphere as havta been found to a large
portion of the Northern. At all events much
time must elapse beforii the factions now arrayed
against each other in sanguinary hostility can be
brought under bonds of common interest and
affection.

[BRITISH PRESS.]
The Meeting in the City yesterday, to peti-
tion for the repeal of the heavy duties on coals
imported into London, will be found reported at
length in our columns. Sir Charles Price was in
the Chair, and opened the discussion most sen-
sibly. The thinness of the attendance was
markedly commented on by Mr. Hunt, who was
present; but account for, in some degree, by
Alderman Wood, who stated that Meetings had
already taken place in the differentWardmotes,and
petitions for the repeal of this heavy and distress-
ing impost had been agreed to, and this, and notany '
public indifference to the tax, was probably the
cause of the absence of many parties interested
from that Meeting. Mr. Smith gave a short but
striking detail of the unequal assessment and its
pressure on the inhabitants of this city. lie
stated that the Port of London alone paid, in
1818, a duty of 500,0001.; that. about four
millions of individuals are assessed for poor-
rates the monstrous sum of 2,461,0001., and pay,
as coal duty, 1,049,0001. ; while between
four and five millions more pay for poor-rates
1,701,000/., and no coal duty at all. In 1710
the duty of three shillings a chaldron on
coals was imposed by Act of Parliament for build-
ing fifty churches, eleven only of which, out of

, the enormous produce of this tax, had since been
built. The appropriation, therefore, originally
intended, cannot have been fairly made. The
, coal duty is, as Sir Chas. Price stated, a tax on in-
dustry, and precludes the poorer classes from the
enjoyment of necessary comforts.We agree with the
worthy Alderman perfectly in his idea,that natural
wealth and comfort would be increased by taking
off this tax ; and the very revenue, in place of
being diminished, be increased. While so heavy
a duty is paid in this city, and 700 sail of ship-
ping calculated to be employed in the trade, a
drawback on coals is given by Act of Parliament
to the people of Cornwall and Devon ; but the
former county returns forty members from its
different boroughs to Parliament, and the pretext
for making this concession is the working of its
mines. The manufacturers of London, however,
meet no consideration of the sort,and have still to
pay this monstrous duty unrelieved. We sin-
cerely hope that in the reductions contemplated
by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, this distress-
ing tax will be inducted; it presses on every part
of the community, but most afflictingly on the
poorer classes. Several petitions against its conti-
nuance have already been laid before the Lower
House; and Ministers, who now seem really dis-
posed to consult the feelings and interests of the
country, will, we hope, attend to the general
call made upon them for the discontinuance of
this Tax, and take a distressing burthen off the
shoulders of the people of London, who are now
so heavily assessed for an article of the first ne-
cessity.