The Sun.
London, England, 1812-08-28 00:00:00

Pol Act,

11Awstoi4-iiousE.--,Yesterday a. young man ;i=ns
charged before the Lc)Rri MAYOR, with assattit4,t-
an,old foreign, Jew, by Wantonly pulling his lo,lg
grey beard. The prisoner confessed his guilt,
• wished to make an aptilogy ; but some respe'Cta—
ble looking man; whO attended the eotnplainant
to prove the assault, said he was a quiet old man
who &Add not speak English, but acted as' a
sehool-tha§ter in tioundsditch. They wished the
prisoner to be prosecuted as aiv example to titlwrs;
as the old man was under the protection of our
laws. His Lordship accordingly ordered the pri.
Saner, to be held to bail to answer the complaint
,
at the next SessionS. •

Tuesday William Williams, whose exterior ap-
pearance Would not haVe disgraced a fashion;lb;e
promtnade, was 'charged before the Loan
with having, the preceding evening, stolen a I•oit
of silk from the shop of Mr.'Clarke, a respectabk
silk-merchant in the city. A shop-boy, who had
Observed the "transaction, said, that he saw the
prisoner and another gentleman walking together
along the street, and when they came to Mr.
Clarke'g'Shop, the, prisoner put one foot withia
the shop door, and with his hand drew the silk
froth the. window. An alarm xas instantly
and the prisoner teas secured, but his companion
'ile&unped. The prisoner denied the
_charge, and
Said he was a total stranger in town ; but he soli-
cited permissiou to enter into the Armv:-I.l*
prosecutor objected to that indulgence being grant-
ed, as he had been four times robbed within-a very
short period., _Vic prisoner. was then committal
to take i.; mill '

A. Pailtamith'Navy Agent was charged by a
Portugw&e sailbrwith having defrauded him.—it
appearedfcop.Ae prosecutor's testimony, as in-
'terpreted: that lCe had been a considerable time in
the British Navy, and had become entitled to prize 4.
money to the amount of .$91.,
•That on his nrriv-
ing at Portsmouth the prisoner supplied him IA ith
slops, and other necessaries, as well as a watch,
for which he charged.l9 guineas, but which the
Loncion watchmakers said was not worth mare
than 41.; but there remained still a considerable.
balance due to him from Moses of tbe 891. for
wllieh.he had givenhim his certificate of sarice,
ana other documents in security. Mr. Mosesi iu
-his defence, produced a variety of receipts tend-
ing to stew that he, had settled in full with the
prosecutor, and Stated himself to be a regularly
licensed Navy Agent, and had now come to tow;
to Settle•at the Navy Office. 'The LORD- MAYOR
referred the rfteipts,to a professional -Gentleman
present, and intimated to the prisoner, that if it
should appear that he had not dealt fairly with, the
prosecutor, the case should be laid before the
proper authority, in order that his license should.
be stopped in
.future..

t'D
RsHIP-STREET.—Yesterday a young man, in
the stationerydepartment at the Last India Ilaise,
apprehended by Billiop and the ttvo younger Arm-
strorg,, was iktictught up, and under Went examina-
tion,;P.ciN,:,citAgeri with stealing and embezzling.
largs gp4,,i4icinc.f.stationery goods, the property'
of sattl,,c pfit?lgny..7 He pleaded, by way of de-
fence, thatrbe,bad only taken what was his lawful
perqutilke-.•, he being proved to be the
case, liewtaa.tedly committed to Neivgate for
trial. ' • `

•
o cite name of. Walker, was brought
up, and' under Went examination, being charged
with -stealing froin the apartmenu of Mrs. Har-
rington, in Whitecross-street, St. Luke's, some
wearing apparel and . other things. It appeared
that the prisoner lodged in the same house with
the prosecutrix. Part 'of the property was traced
to a pawnbroker's, where the prisoner had pledged
it ; and the same being produced :and identified,
she was fully committed to Newgate for trial.
HAT'ro N-GARDEN.-Yesterday a man, employed
as a labourer, at Sadler's Wells, underwent exa-
mintion, being charged_ with stealing pewter
pots, the property ,of the landlord of the Clown
public-house, in the above neighbourhood. Being.
suspected, 'he vas searched, on leaving work,
when two pint pots 'were found in his pockets,
which. were identiftd. The charge being made
out, he was fitly committed to Newgate for trial.,

On Wednesday se'nnight, in Liie !..orning, Ash-
by-de-la-'touch vas visited with a storm of rain,
tire, and thunder, of unexampled violence. A
itevv-builtfartn-house was struck by the lightning,
and hurtled with such fury, that all the exertions•
Of the people, directed by. Sir Charles Hastings,
were 'tkri.4l?le, to preserve it
A priVate isi..c4.l7th Regiment of Light
Dra-
goons, urkng,,‘.. tto procure refreshment, in
lti
- -
Liverpn it on,; last blew out his brains,
with hii cattnec-O-Je was to embark next morn-
ingfo!'fißaM..Nothing can be discovered which
(it
led, him-to commit this terrible. act.

SNIITTIFIELD MARKET, AVG. 28. •
This day's Market, had ad indifferent supply. of
the different of cattle; Beef, Mutton, 1, eal,
Pork; anik.,4olk,Were cheaper; and the trade in
general over brisk. The sales in the
Hay-mark!''ikeVeltritling ; Straw and Clover have
dropped in ciilt4Tl-lay obtained last prie., The
undermentioned.pfices and numbers are an accurate
statement : •

To sink the Offal, per Stone of 81h.
Reef, 4s. Od. to ss. Bd. Mutton, 4s. 4d. to ss. 10d. Veal,
ss. Od. to Gs. id. Lamb, 4s. 6d. to 6s. 6d. Pork, ss. to 6s. dd.
Beasts, 850. Sheep and Lambs, 7800. Calves, 140. ribs,
240.

SMITHFIELD HAYMARKET.
Hay, 41.05. to 51. Ws. Straw, 21. Ss. to 31. Ss. Clover, 51.
Os. to 61.03.

CORN-EXCHAZiGE, AUG. 28.—We have again
this day few further arrivals of Wheat ; the trade
continues to maintain last. prices quoted ; some
few samples of New have come to-hand, more being
shortly looked for, a reduction may be expected;
Barley supports the last quotation,3 Malt rather
dearer, as also White Peas, and each description
of Beans ; there are, likewise, sonic few fresh ar-
rivals of ats, but sales thereof are named at t'le
lath advance; Flour continues without alteration.
Wheat - 955. 1265: 160 s. Tick Beans - - -' Sus. gas.
Fine ditto - - 1535. 1555. Oats - - - - 675. 735. 78s,
Rye - -78 s; 84‘. Poland ditto - - 795. sus.
Barley - - Uos. 695. Potatoe ditto - - 81 s. Sas.
Malt - - - - 945. 100 s. Rape Seed -
White Pease f.boil.) SGs. Fine Flour -115 s, 12us.

The Committee appointed to inquire into the manner in which
Sentences of Transportation ate executed, and the effects
which Vave been produced by that mode of punishment;
rind who are empowered to report their observations, and
the Minutes of Evidence taken before them, to the Llutie ;
. ha7e agreed upon the following Report:
[Continued from our Paper of Yesterday.]
From the occasional overflowing of the Hawks-
hurfa and consequent scarcities, a larger cultiva-
tion of corn' than is necessary for.tbe mere annual
subsistence of the colony, is extremely desirable;
and your Committee are of opinion, that an en-
larged market, great encouragement to agrical-
tare, alio free supply af spirits, may be afforded
to the colony, without' losing the revenue which
would be produced by the duties. on importation,
if distillation within the colony were permitted
under proper duties and regulations ; and they
coutidently aukest, that this is a measure which
ought to be substituted for that propoied by Go-
veruoi Macquarie; it would extend agricultural
speculation,—it would be a resource in times of
scarcity, and, with proper attention,' would afford
a better spirit than has been. hitherto imported;
for the importations have, for the mcst. part, been
of Vengat and American roma But your Com-
mittee must at the same time regret, that am:im-
pediment has arisen to the immediate alteration
of the present system, from a contract entered
into by Governor MacqUarie, under which certain
merchants have agreed to build an hospital for the
settlement, on being allowed, during the ensuing
three years, exclusiVely to purchase spirits at. the
government price, no other api rite; being permitted,
within that time, to be imported into the colony
by private individuals.
The Courts of Judicature are it ttitnted by coin-
mission ; the Civil Cburt is coned the Court of
Civil Jurisdiction, and consists of the Judge Ad-
vocate and two respectable inhabitants of the
ColOny, to be from time to tiine appdinted by the
Governor ; and they have full power to hear and
determine, in a summary way, "- all manner 'of
Personal pleas whatsoever ;" they have also full
power to *rant probates of wills, and administra-
lion of the personal estates of intestates dying
within the settlement ; and if either party find
hint; her,. or themselves aggrieved by any judg-
ment or decree given or pronounced by. the Said
Court, he, she, or they shall and may appeal to
the Governor, or in case of his•abaenee or death,
ep the Lieutenant-Governor; and ifeany party
ahalftind "him, her, or- theMselve'i aggrieved by
thejtidement or determination of the said Gover-
nor, in any 'case where the debt or-thing in de-
mand shall exceed the value of three hundred
foands, -such party so- aggrieved may appeal to
the King in Council. An alloWance, to be fixed
atthe discretion of the Court, is. to be made by
t.ti complainants, at whose suit any person shall
be imprisoned, to such defendantS, provided, such
defendant make oath that he 'haS no estate or
effect sufficient to maintain- himself. It is, in evia
deuce that this allowance has been, fiXede 6d.
per day, which,is notemOre in value than 4d. in
this country. 'eft appears also, that no convict
can, during the time of his•scrvittide, sue or be
sued in the Courts, or suffer imprisonmpt for
any debt incurred_by him. By the,same commis-
sion, a Court of Criminal Jurisdiction is esta.
blishede upon the authority of the. Act .27 Geo.
c. 2, it is.it Court. of Record; with all such
powers as are incident to the Courts of Record in
England ; it consists of the Judge Advocate and
sistOfficers of the sea and land service, to be con-
vened from time to time by precept, under the
hand and seal of. the Governor, with power (hav-
ing taken the oaths directed in the commission) to
hear and determine all crimes committed Within
the settlement, and to cause punishment to be in-
flicted according to the laws of England, as nearly
as may be, considering and allowing for the cir-
cumstances and situation of the place and settle-
ment aforesaid, and the inhabitants thereof.--The
verdict to be by the opinion of the major part of
the Court; jf the 'offence be capital, the 'Court
may prononnce•judgment ..of death, or of any
rinishment not amounting to death, which to
the Court shall seem meet. But unless five of
the persons sitting- in the Court shall concur in
the verdict, execution, of any judgment of death
shall 'not be had or done, endl the proceedings
shall have been transmitted to this country, and
the'pleasure of the King had thereon; and in no
capital oase is the sentence to be executed with-
out the consent of the-Governor; who has power
to suspend such execution until he 'have the di-
rection of his Majesty. Your Committee have to
°l;: erve, .that all the evidence examined on the
snh'ect, unequivocally condemns the manner in
which the Criminal Courts are tie.r; established:
Governor Bligh 'having-stated that they consisted
prineipally of Military Officers, 'prOaceds"lt
did not give satisfaction to• the inhabitants—they
were particularly desirous that they might net be
so {much in the power of the,military, but might
have 'some kind of-justice. that .might bring' them
nearer to their brethren. it). Great Britain." He
• also states that there were settlers .sufficient in
character and anumberseto furnish juries; and
thinks their decisions would have been fairer than
those that-took place without them. Similar to
his, are the opinions of Governor Hunter,. Mr.
Palmer, and Mr. Campbell.; and upon their evi-
dence your. Committee are of opinion, that the
manner of adminiStering criminal- justice nay
be. altered with great advantage to 'the colony.
it is not to be expected that its. inhabitants
should- view, otherwise than with jealousy and
discontent, a system which resembles rather a
Court Martial, than the mode of trial, the advan-
tage of which they have been accustomed to see
and to enjoy in their own country.•• HoWever ne-
cessary it may have. been' at the first foundation
of thetsettlement, thus to coastitutethe Courts,
as wellfrom the default of other members as from
the refractory habits of the persons then composing
the colony, that necessity has now ceased to ex-
ist; a/numerous class of respectable persons is now
formed within the settlement, amply sufficient to
warrant the establishment of that Trial by Jury,
for which they are anxiously wishing. s But Upon
thisesubject your Committee' particularly refer to