The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-10 00:00:00

MORN LNG

DITI ON.

THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.
THE BILL INTRODUCED ON THURSDAY EVENING BY THE
DUKE OF ARGYLL TO REGULATE THE EXERCISE OF
CHURCH PATRONAGE IN SCOTLAND.
Whereas by an Act passed in the tenth year of the reign of
her late Majesty Queen Anne, intituled "An Act to restore
the patrons to their ancient rights of preserving Ministers to
the churches vacant in that part of Great Britain called Scot-
land," the rights of patrons to present to vacant parishes in
Scotland, which by an Act of the Scottish Parliament passed
in the first year of their late Majesties William and Mary, had
been discharged, annulled, and made void, were restored to the
said patrons.
And whereas the exercise of the said rights of patrons, in
the manner and to the extent in which the same were restored
under the said Act of her late Majesty Queen Anne, has at
various periods occasioned great discensions in the Church and
among the people of Scotland, and has given rise to sundry
evils and inconveniences which it is expedient for the future
to obviate by certain modifications of the said rights of patrons
as hereinafter provided.
May it therefore please your Majesty, that it may be enact-
ed ; and be it enacted by the Queen's most excellent Majesty,
and by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual
and emporal and Commons in this present Parliament assem-
bled, and by the authority of the same, that if, at the meeting
held for moderating in a call in favour of a Presentee to any
Church or parish in Scotland, the major part of the male pa-
rishioners r members of the congregation to which the minis-
ter is to be appointed (being r.f the age of twenty-one years
complete), who, at the date when the then existing vacancy
in the said Church or parish occurred, were in full communi-
cation with the Church of Scotland, shall not concur in the
said call either by subscribing the same, or by not expressly
dissenting therefi oin (all who do'not so dissent being holden
as concurring), but shall appear before the Presbytery, and
state in its presence their dissent from the call ; and if, after
the Presbytery shall have endeavoured, in the manner here-
inafter provided, to remove ;any misapprehensions that may
appear to them to exist in the minds of the parties so dis•
senting, their number shall not, by withdrawal of their
dissents, be reduced to less than a majority of the whole male
communicants as aforesaid, and the Presbytery or superior
Church Judicatory reviewing its judgment, do not find that the
said dissent proceeds from factious or malicious motives, or
otherwise than from a conscientious regard to the religious in-
terests of the congregation—all r ght competent to the Pre-
sentee under his presentation shall thereLre cease and deter-
mine ; and upon a final deliverance by the Presbytery or supe-
rior Church judicatory to that effect being pronounced, the
patron shall have power to issue another presentation to a dif-
ferent Presentee, provided the same be done within the period
of six months allowed by law to patrons for pre=euting, it being
declared always that, in computing the said period of six
months the interval which elapses between the lodging of any
presentation with the Presbytery and the final deliverance pro-
nounced thereupon by the Presbytery or other Church judi-
catory, shall in no case be reckoned or included • and failing of
the patron issuing another presentation within the said period,
so computed, the jus devolutuna shall take effect in manner
hereinafter provided.
Provided always, and be it further enacted, that the indivi-
duals composiug, in each parish or congregation, the body of
male communicants hereinbefore mentioned as entitled to dis-
sent from the call shall be ascertained, and the mode of stating
their dissent before the Presbytery, :hall be fixed and regu-
lated in such manner as the Church may direct ; and itshali in
all cases be incumbent on the Presbytery, before pronouncing
any final deliverance on the said call, to take such means as to
them shall seem most expedient to ascertain that the dissent
of the major part of the male communicants as aforesaid, does
not proceed from factious or malicious motives, and further, if
they see cause to take such means as they may judge suitable
for removing misapprehensions from the minds of the people,
and obviating their objections to the presentee ; and it shall
in all cases b competent to the patron or the presentee, who
may allege that the said dissent proceeds from factious or ma-
licious motives, to establish the same before the Presbytery or
superior Church Judicatory by evidence, competent accord-
ing to the law of the Church in the judgment of the said Ju-
dicatories.

And-be it further enacted, that in no case in which, in
virtue of the provisions of this Act, the right of any presentee
under a presentation in his favour shall have ceased, as afore-
said, shall it be competent for the Presbytery of the bounds, in
any event, to claim el- exercise any right tanquam jure devo-
luto to present to the said Church or parish for that vacancy,
any law or practice to the contrary notwithstanding; and if
thereafter the patron shall fail within the time by law ro-
vided, and computed as aforesaid, to issue a presentation which
shall prove effectual to fill the vacancy, the right to pre:ent to
the said church or pariah for that vacancy, shall thereupon de-
volve upon and be exercised by her Majesty and her heiri and
successors, as fully and freely in all respects the right to pre-
sent tauquanijure devoluto is at present used and exercised by
Presbyteries of the Church; the presentations or successive
presentations so issued by her Majesty and her heirs and suc-
cessors, being always subject to the provisions of this present Act.

STEAA NAVIGATION ON THE
THAMES.

The greatest activity prevails on all parts of the river
in building and fitting out new steaue-vessels, of all di-
mensions, intended for the home and foreign service ;
and the ship-builders, iron steam-boat makers, engineers
and boiler manufacturers, have more orders than they
can execute to time. The men are working over.hours
at several yards and factories, and realizing large wages.
The fame of London steam-boats and London engines
has spread all over Europe ; and recemly the Mongi-
hello, a beautiful steam-ship, has been launched and
fitted out on the Thames for the Sicilian Government,
and is one of the finest vessels ever designed by English
artizans. She was built in Pitcher's yard. The fit.
tiogs up of the Mongibelie are of a very costly descrip-
tion. Other steam-vessels are building on the banks of
the Thames for the Sicilian and other Italian Stater.
The building of six large steam vessels has been cone-.
menced at Nortlifint, for conveying the mails be.
tween England and the West Indies, and not less than
500 shipwrights are employed upon them. The iron
steam-boat factory of Messrs. Ditchburn and Marc pre-
sents a busy appearance ; they have recently launched
two handsome steamers for the Watertnee's Steens-
Packet Company ; four others are in a forward state
for the same Com; any, and a large iron steamer to run
bete ern Hungerford Market and Gravesend, for the
Star Company. The building of iron steamers at
Bleckwell and the Isle of Dogs has become a very im-
portant branch of trade, and for rivers and shallow
waters they are decidedly superior to wooden boats, for
they arc much lighter, they are not so deep in the
water, they are less expensive, and there is no risk or
their being attacked with the dry rot. The London
and Westminster Steam-boat Company, running be-
tween Chelsea and London-bridge, have eight of these
boats, called the Daylight, Twilight, Starlight, Moon-
light, Bride, Bridegroom, Bridemuid, and Bachelor.
The Waterman's Steam-packet Company intend build-
ing twenty of these iron boats, at an expense
of 3,0001. each. They ere intended to run
between Woolwich and Richmond. The Black..
wall Railway Company are making great aorta
to improve their property by establishing a line of
steam packets to run between the terminus at the
Brunswick-wharf, Blackwell to Woolwich and Graves-
end. Three small steamers now leave the terminus
every quarter of an hour for Woolwich, and the dis-
Lance between London and Woolwich can now be ef-
fected in half an hour. The Blackwell Railway Coin.
pang have also built three large steamers to run between
the terminus and Gravesend. One has been voyaging
between the two places for the last fortnight, and the
average passage each is about an hour and a quarter.
Two are fitting out in the East India dock ; yesterday
they appeared in a very forward state ; they are built
very sharp in the bows, and are, indeed, regular clip-
pers. When those steamers are completed there will be
a regular hourly communication between the Blackwell
terminus and Gravesend. There are now 14 steamers
carrying passengers daily between London and Graves-
end. In addition to those, others occasionally call at
Gravesend, and there will soon be 3 from the Blackwell
railway terminus. A powerful steamer, belonging to Mr.
Napier, the engineer, called the Eclipse, has lately
commenced running between London and Margate,
calling at Herne Bay. This Eclipse is propelled by
one high-pressure engine, and her speed is wonderful.
She performs the passage from Hungerford to Margate
and back every day in about 12 hours, calling at Herne
Bay going and returning. The two handsome steam-
vessels, the City of Canterbury and the Red Rover,
which have been running between London and Herne
Bay with so much success for several years, have met
with another opponent this year in addition to the
Eclipse—the Mercury, but the Red Rover and the City
of Canterbury will never lose their fame. The cid
steamers are more commodious and comfortable than
the new ones, and are built with a broader beam and
with much greater strength than those which have been
launched during the last two years. Ever) thing is now
sacrificed to. speed, acid many of the new steamers
are very slight. They are very appropriately termed
" bread and butter boats," and cannot beat
collision with a skiff. Tereet-nswtiecahmearand are Con.
stantly running between G
but their receipts during the present season have not
been sufficient to pay for coals, which may be attributed to
fd.rnerihng the present
the heavy pier dues and the formidable rivalry of the
Greenwich Railway, which has a third-class carriage in
great trade, and dailv b '
which passengers are carried for Gd., being 2d. less than
Commercial Steam-packet Cote.
sstpeiagnst; bahni pds
the steamers. There has been no increase in the nuns-
ring op
but not very
meat for the
the world, with their
ber of Irish and Sccaaotttclhe
Londonplyaacrnagyre aqr butamda theytnkigee
st
a. do oi
The
steady
brisk trade. mo
General .'team Navigation Company, the most ex-
tensive able :managing di-
rector, Thomas Brockelbank, Es •
cf., are increasing their
powerful and immense fleet of steamers. have
lately _aye
lately purchased the Wilberforc
in
for the Hamburgh statioo.aiTh e, a large steam-ship,
e General Steam Navi-
gation Company have recentlylaunched the Princess
Royal from Wigrarn and Green's yard, at Blackwell,
and are fitting her out. for the
s Ipswich trade
_ with en-
gines and machinery of 200 ors power. The greatest
activity prevails at
the factory of this company at Dept-
ford in fitting out new steamers. Last year the vessels
of the General Steam Navigation Company carried.
more than two millions of passengers without the lose
of a single individual, or any one receiving the slightest
injury. This speaks volumes in favour of the safety
of steam navigation when properly conducted.,---Sunday
paper,

'he Commission on Greenwich Hospital Schools
have recommended, and the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty have approved the reconnendation, that the
office of Captain Superintending the Schools should be
that as asbescooomn
le
the darrispanengseemdenwtist hn;cnvand i it is in
contemplationtended
the duties heretofore assigned to the p-'
Ca Captain shall devolve upon the Masters, whose ntunbers
are to be considerably increased. The whole of Captain
Huskisson's duties at the school ceased on Tuesday the
27th of April, with the exception of his being retained aa one of the Committee for examining the claims of, find
selecting children for, the Lower School.—Hampshire
Telegraph,

On wheat Bs. per quarter.
On rye ... ss.
On barley 4s. 6d.
On oats 3s. 4d.

MONEY MARKET and CITY NE WS

FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF SATURDAY.
CHRONICLE.—The resolutions of the West India mer-
chants at their meeting on Wednesday present a striking con-
trast to their lamentations ever since the great measure of
emancipation became law. Until the Ministers of the Crown
boldly declared for free trade, and for increasing the revenue
by altering the tariff, the cry of the sugar colonists has been
that they were utterly ruined, °wine to the diminution of the
supply, from the withdrawal of slave labour. It has been
their constant theme that the produce of colonial, and more
particularly Jamaica sugar, had decreased one-third in cense-
drence of the change from forced labour to free, and there is
n doubt that the quantity of plantation sugar grown has fallen
off considerably in consequence, although the planters have been
more than compensated by the rise of price and the 20,000,0004
of hard money paid them. Now, however, when it is proposed to
provide an additional supply, and to relieve the consumer
by reducing the protective or differential duty in their
favour, on foreign growth, to 12s. a cwt., the tone is altoge-
ther altered, and they have the effrontery to declare that "this
measure is not justified or excused by any alleged high price
or inadequacy of supply." The contradictions between their
former declarations and present professions are so palpable that
tNey have attracted general observation in mercantile circles.
801 l cannot be true; and, indeed, neither is strictly so ; for
although the West Indians were formerly correct in sb far as
that the transition from slave to free labour has been attended
with a deficiency of yield, yet there was no good cause for their
cry of " ruin." Now they are clearly asserting that which is
false, in alleging that the reduction of the duty on foreign
gr,swth is not called for by the increase of price or inadequacy
of suaTly.
The tables which we published yesterday of the quanlitie
of sugar imported f.,r the last four years preya the falsehood
of their statement, and their own returns of the importations
for 1839 and 1840 confirm the accuracy of our tables. The
West Indians give no comparison of 183'1 wish the two last
years, because it would show a still greater deficiency, and they
cunningly avoid all allusion to the great increase of importa •
tion of foreign, of East India and Mauritius sugars since
1837 ; the quantities imported to the United Kingdom of these
descriptions have nearly tripled, that is, they have increassd
".• /9 700 cwt. to 805,167 cwt. ; and, notwithstanding
this greatfrom4l. iclition of foreign growth, the gross importation for
was 446,'433 cwt. less than in 1637. Then, as to the
enhancement of price,
the rise within the four years
in guestion has beezi from 34.7 to 49.1 on British plan-
tation, equal to 15/. a ton, while the sugar revenue for 1840
was less than it
was either in 1837, 1838, or 1839. When
these facts are considered—showing
p
-
ply—in connection with a constant increase in our population,
demand, .it is. evident that means must be
taken to
and an enlarged
command an additional supply, to prevent a confirm-
ee of an e
xorbitant price for an article of consumption which
bas now act ually become a necessary of life to the great body
of the people.
The impracticable and impolitic opposition raised by some of
the abolition party to the reduction of the duty on foreign sugar,
upon the ground that it
iesnsceoeunragthesats,lavifertyh,eisinneoaswuvreeriysgteonbee-
rally acknowledged. It it cannot be done by
Opposed upon moral principles,
halves. The nation cannot be only partially
outparti eveallyvnh
iftuaonudesd;
we must be entirely so, and
justice, so as to refuse to hold commercial intercourse
with any country that raises produce by slave-labour.
The enforcement of such a rinciple
a complete stop to trade, and ruin everywould put
y one having property
embarked in commerce or manufactures. Such being the
palpable abeurdity to which the system of exclusive dealing
would bring the policy of the Crown, as proposed by the ro-
ries, if fairly and efficiently enforced, it is said that some of the
Abolitionists have given it up, and taken their stand on the less
objectionable
Principle of calling for a reduction of the duty
free-labour sugar,
rnt If we had not distinctly seen that the
opposition to the reduction of the duty on foreign sugar, on
the ground that it would support slavery, was based upon a
false principle, and that instead of assisting in the work of
universal emancipation, this country would rather prolong
the disgraceful traffic by refusing to enter into treaties of
commerce with slave-growing States, we would not have
urged free trade opinions with so much determination as
we have done. If the friends of abolition have now adopted a
different ground, and taken their stand for a reduction of duty
on free-grovrn sugar, we see much less ground for differing
with their tactics. They would treat the subject, by so doing,
in a practical light, as a question of pounds. shillings, and
pence ; and the only point then to be settled would be whether
the differential duty of 125., proposed in favour of free-labour
sugar, was sufficient, or the reverse, to enable it to command
the market. Our opinion has beet all along that the advan-
tages possessed by our colonists in point of capital, enterprise,
and skill, and general superiority of the article produced, would
enable them to compete with perfect safety against foreign pro-
duce under the protective duty of 125., while the balance of
supply required to meet the demands of our population
would be obt*ined from the East Indies and foreign States.
We stilt hold that opinion, considering the differential duty of
12s. ample, and shall adhere to it until we see good grounds for
modifying the opinions thus expressed, and which we still en-
tertain in common with many others more versant in the com-
parative east of production and contingent expenses. A duty
of 365. per cwt. on Brazil sugar, worth only 21s. 6d., gives
N Ellen pr 4 *stew protection to Plantation sugar worth
~ add subject only to a duty of 245.
Irlr7reiforted that certain loan contractors sounded
,eleekslkelea.ding monied interest in reference to a new
1641 =.l. but that they have met with the most decided
etrtlmpartpf, thomost influential capitalists to enter
;,ziv-zzire bowl *Mon as long as the Brazilian Eze-
.
Al a S,

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
FROM THE DAILY PAPERS OF SATURDAY. •
CHRONICLE.—We do not think that any of the positions
of Lord John Russell were shaken by Lord Sandon, Mr.
Hogg, or Dr. Lushington, the principal speakers of the even-
ing on the side of monopoly. Dr. Lushington's speech was a
renunciation of all his former positions with respect to slave
labour and free labour. What has become of the boasted ad-
vantages of free labour, if the negroes of our colonies are un-
able to compete with the slaves of Cuba and Brazil? It was
shown by Lord John Russell that ample protection was afforded
to our colonies, so they may have the supply of our market if
they choose; but Dr. Lushington will not be satisfied with
the prosperity of the West Indians, he will not be satis-
fied with the happiness of the negro, who is in a far more en-
viable condition than the working man in England; he insists
on placing the working classes of England entirely in the power
of the negroes. If they choose to afford us a sufficient supply
of sugar, well and good; if, not, the unfortunate people of Eng-
land may starve. Nay, he even professed, on the part of that
people, that they would rather be reduced to live on chopped
grass than consent to taste any of the sugar raised by slaves.
This sort of talk comes with admirable grace from a gentleman
in the receipt of several thousands a year of the public money,
when applied to poor creatures to whom sugar has become a
necessary of life.
'1 IMES.—The critical conflict of parties upon the questions
involved in the Ministerial Burlget commenced, but, as our
readers will perceive, did not terni;nate, yesterday evening. It
might have been suaposeil that, in case of this nature,
where, as every body inow-, the point really at issue is a dif-
frent thing from the question under debate, the country might
have la( en spared the inflction of a tedious succession of speeches.
What is the use of talking about. financial propositions notori-
ously brought forward to serve a political and not a financial pur-
pose ? What rational object can be attained by prefacing with a
series of diss?rtations on the principles of free trade and politi-
cal economy a division, which cannot furnish any test of the
degree in which those principles are accepted in Parliament?
On the other hand, we see no great advantage in expatiating
fir a week together upon the horrors of slavery, in an assembly
which has really met to put an end to a political crisis by a vote of
confidence or no-confidence in a poor oppressing Ministry.
We do not, of course, mean, either that Lord John Rus-
sell, when he utters sententious maxims about the impolicy
of needless or excessive commercial restrictions, is playing the
hypocrite, or that Lord Sandon is not perfectly sincere
when he deprecates the Ministerial proposal, as to the
sugar duties, on the score of its tendency to encourage negro
slavery. But we feel that these topics are merely collateral to
the point at issue, and that they are, on both sides, chiefly re-
sorted to for the sake of giving to a party struggle the imposing
appearance of a conflict of popular principles. The arguments de-
ris ed from them weigh,no doubt,with both parties, but they are not
the reasons by which their line of conduct has been practically
determined. Free trade i 3 thrust forward by the Whigs to cover
the retreat of the New Poor-law, and to break the onset of its
victorious assailants. Under the shadow of a banner dear to
Many of her opponents, and by the help of a popular watch-
word, despotism hopes to gain time to rally her broken forces
and to daunt her adversaries with the fear that in striking her
down they may endanger something else which they would fain
preserve.
HERALD.--Since the commencement of the present
Session, the business of no single evening has present-
ed a much more varied picture of antagonist principles, than
that of last. night. We desire to direct the careful attention of
the public to these early indications of inevitable results which
must flow from the displacing, unsteady, and capricious
policy of our " adhesive," Government—a Government
whose only settled rule of action is to stick to office
instead of principles. It might be supposed that after
an eight years' possession of office, without scarcely a
break in the tenure, the Queen's Ministers would have ac-
quired a sufficient knowledge of the exigencies of the revenue,
and of the wishes of the people, in regard to the remission of
any particular duties of customs or excise, to have long since
made up their own minds as to what should be the series of
measures to be adopted with the view of meeting those exi-
gencies, and, responding to those wishes. Instead of
this, however, it was only on the 30th ult. that, through
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, they made those
announcements of extreme arid sweeping innovations
on the scheme of existing duties on colonial produce
and fmber, and even on foreign corn, which have astounded
not a few among even their own friends, and have awakened
in various districts of the country feelings of the utmost in-
dignation. It might be supposed, too, that their measures
would be based, at least, upon principles of such general ex-
pediency, that in the abstract, they should be incontro-
vertible, or even accel,table to all the parties to whom
they were to be propounded. Yet so far has this been from
the actual and practical result of their budget ma-
nifesto, that individuals, and Corporations, and communities,
whose interests—in the very nature of things—should seem tit
be identical in such matters, have, we find, in both Houses
presented petitions against and for the proposed alterations in
the restricted duties on foreign sugars. Not but that the great
preponderance in number, importance, and authority, is on
the side of the petitions against the alterations. Not but that
a right and generous feeling is shown to have been awakened,
of alarm and apprehension for the fate of the grand experiment
towards the abolition of slavery.
POST.— The debate upon Lord Sandon's resolution, the
fate of which must, of necessity, decide that of the Administra-
tion, commenced yesterday. No division took place ; the pub-
lic impatience for the result will, therefore, not be gratified
until Monday night. The proceedings of last night leave no
doubt, however, as to the nature of that result. Ministers vi ill
be beaten—not probably so much as they deserve—but
thoroughly beaten nevertheless. Two gentlemen, who have
hitherto constantly supported the Administration, de-
clared in the most vigorous and manly terms that they
can support it no longer. One of these represents, upon the
present occasion, every Member who has been sent to the
House of Commons by agricultural electors, and who is not so
much the slave of Ministers as to betray and insult his con-
stituents for the purpose of keeping them in place. The other
represents every Ministerial Member who has heretofore
manifested a humane and honourable zeal for the ex-
tirpation of slavery, and is now unwilling to brand himself
as a hypocrite, for the mere purpose of retaining in power a
set of self-convicted hypocrites in relation to that question. The
Members to whom we allude are 7,Vir. Handley and Dr. Lush -
ington. We think ourselves warranted by these indications in
anti-ipating a very large majority against the slave-patronising
Government, although we certainly have no party motive for
wishing that the majority should be a very large one ; for it is
no party interest of ours that a large proportion of the Whig and
Radical Members of the House of Commons should reject the
infamy which the Whig Radical Administration has embraced.
The scale of duties on the importation of foreign corn, which
Lord John Russell has announced his intention to propose, shows
that Ministers in their desperation have become as inveterately
hostile to the interests of the agricultural classes of Great Bri-
tain as to the freedom of the natives of Africa. It is as
fdlows

NARRATIVE OF MR. STANTON'S IMPRISON-
MENT.
(To the Editor of the Canton Register.)
My dear Sir,—ln reply to your kind inquiries lam happy
to send for the pages of your widely circulated journal, a
brief narrative of my late captivity and imprisonment.
A boat had anchored during the night under the hill which
forms the northern enclosure of Cassillia's Bay, and twelve
armed Chinese from it had secreted themselves among the
neighbouring rocks. On the morning of August 6, generally
among the first bathers, I was earlier than usual, and was
dressing on the beach, as 'the dawn was just becoming appa-
rent, when i found myself surrounded by these men, and their
swords, concealed in their sleeves until within a few yards,
flashed upon me. I was immediately a prisoner, and carried
by hands and feet into their boat ; two or three blows on the
head had caused a flow of blood, but were not serious. Watch
had been kept above to give notice of the approach of other
foreigners, but probably none were outside the walls of the
town at the time. After two or three hours' sail my person
was transferred to a larger boat, and shortlylafter some officials
came on board, by whom I was questioned as to my name and
country. At sunset. being handed up on deck, I found myself
within the Bogue. There two officers took charge, one dig-
nified with a crystal, and the other with a golden, butten ; and
with these, still accompanied by my captors as guards, I
was taken on board a Government boat.
The next morning, about seven. we reached Canton ; I was
landed under the beating of gongs, led by a heavy chain round
my neck, preceded and followed by my guards, their swords
drawn. In a large open court belonging to one of the Go-
vernment offices, the late Viceroy, Lieut.-Governor, and
several of their civil and military subordinates were found
already convened. Questioning soon commenced through the
linguists, and continued at intervals throughout the forenoon,
the questions relating at first exclusively to my personal his-
tory and employments, every circumstance particularly which
could be evidence of my having or not engaged in the opium
traffic. I had been informed at the Bogue that my seizure
was by the particular order of the Viceroy, though nothing
transpired to show that I had been marked except as offering,
alone and early on the shore, a sure and easy prey ; not even
my name was known.
By noon they were satisfied of the truth of my statements,
and the great body of mandarins dispersed; after this, too, no-
thing more was seen of other appearances, which had led me
to expect, as I have since been informed by considerable au-
thority had been intended, that my life would have been taken
on that day.
About five in the afternoon I underwent a more regular
examination before the prefect of the city, a deputed officer
from the Viceroy, and others, the deputy questioning from
written directions. The questions previously asked were re-
peated. An account was required of the taking of Chu an.
Respecting this the Canton Government had received accounts
from two sources, the Macao papers and their brethren at
Ningpo, as we might expect, not agreeing well ; other mere
unimpartant collisions on the coast; the particulars of the Eng-
lish force at that time arrived; resources of England and our
estimation of the Chinese navy ; number of English residents
in Macao, their objects ; the present state of the trade, &c.
On some points 1 was not accurately informed, as with
regard to the merchant shipping, trade, &c., and said so.
On other points free answers were given, but detached al-
together from feelings of hostility. I took pains to con-
vince these Chinese Magistrates that I really possessed good
will towards their nation. Also care was taken to avoid
all appearance to disposition of " barbarian fierceness "
an instance of this and its effect—l considered it profer
and more clearly prudent to kneel before my examiners.
I was only allowed to do so during my first examination,
and when first brought before the new Viceroy. On
other occasions when the motion was made, it was
politely prevented, and the third time that I was brought
up, a chair was provided. I would here mention
that throughout, further than such confinement as was
considered necessary to prevent attempts to escape or
desperate violence, I experienced no ill-treatment. On the
contrary, the greatest consideration and respect were shown
by all, from the highest to the lowest, of those at different
time about me. I cannot forbear to mention one instance• of
feeling. Of the men who took me there was one apparently
less moveable than the rest. It was soon, however, perceived
to be merely in appearance—the man was of a sombre cast, and
may not often have smiled in his life, he soon began to watch
his captive with the deepest interest. That mun, when de-
livering me in charge on the evening of the second day to others
who might be less kindly, earnestly pressed me to accept scone
cash from his slender means, which might, he said, procure
some little comforts he had, while permitted, himself seen
supplied.
After the first regular examination, in the evening of the
9th of August a respite of an hoar was given. The next hour
was occupied in cross-questioning, myself then standing, and
soon after this was satisfactorily undergone, it was decided that
the youthful foreigner should be committed to the great prison
of the Tinghae district. This I entered at nine or ten o'clock
the same night, and there remained until the evening of De-
cember the 10th. Immediately a chain, allowing only a short
step, was fastened by iron rings above my ancles, and to this
were added manacles to my wrists and a chain round my-neck,
whenever about to be brought before a magistrate. All this is
customary with Chinese prisoners.
In the room assigned me four of the inferior officers of the
prison abode, one of whom was exchanged next day for a lin-
guist, who did the part of comprador. The hong merchants
were charged with providing clothes, food, servant, &c. My
fellow-prisoners were permitted to lend Chinese books, but
nothing from without could find entrante until after the late
Viceray's degradation, when a Bible and Prayer-book were
kindly sent me, as also constant supplies of food and clothing,
by the American gentlemen resident in Canton. To them I
wish to express my heartfelt gratitude. Until liberated, I was
kept in almost total ignorance as to what was passing without,
being for three months tinder the belief that my friends at
Macao supposed me to have been drowned.
On the 16th of August, and on two other occasions, the in-
quiries from the Viceroy, through his deputy or others, were
continued.
Among the subjects brought forward, the following seem the
most interesting :
The geography of Europe, Asia, and Africa was fully can-
vassed. At one time I could fancy the adventurous Com-
mis'ioner giving orders to the hang merchants for a fleet of
junks to coast between rocks and round headlands from this
to London with an Imperial Embassy to her Britannic Ma-
jesty on board. Of course the captive speculated on being
promoted to the sinecure post of pilot in the imperial service.
At another time he was to be the guide of the great Ambas-
sadors through Central Asia and Europe, a more desirable task
in some degree. Either would have provided same little time
for "delay." However it was soon apparent that their *minds
had been somewhat troubled about their western frontier. The
time in which Chinese Tartary can be reached from England,
the geographical and political relations of England and Russia,
the countries between them, and between Russia and India,
my examiners were very particular about. Thibet was evidently
their main concern, though it was amusing to see the way in
which mention of of it was avoided, and questions asked about
the countries near it. It is remarkable that nothing was said
about the southern frontier and dangers from our Indian pos-
sessions. We may conelude the more surely that they are
wide awake there.
On some subjects they had exaggerated notions; a Chinese
examiner does'nt generally trouble himself on such occasions,
and a litt'e openness had a good effect. His Excellency had
supposed that along with Herat the whole of Persia had become
subject to Britain, and was pleased to be corrected.
Translations of parts of "hurray's Cyclopedia of Geo-
graphy," which it is well known have been made in Canton,
were on the table, and with these my deposition was compared.
The moving Lin wanted instruction in the principle of the
steam-engine. All present seemed to comprehend it, and
took much interest. One other mandarin sent afterwards to
my quarters for a repetition of the lesson. The action of the
piston rod was easy, but a draught of an ordinary engine, about
which moreover I should my s-lf have had some trouble, more
if I had been set to instruct Chinese blacksmiths in the way of
making it, would have puzzled even Lin's piercing eyes. Such
an impudent speech of course could not be addressed to such
dignity, and the man and piston rods were connected in more
simple fashion than might have encountered the smiles of an
experienced engineer to be put in practice, or rather attempted,
1 could fancy, for the first time by the great innovator of Chi•
nese "custom."

which an Imperial custom-house has been established, andland
and ship goods as freely, and on the same terms, as at Canton.
Should there be no British Commissioner or Deputy Commis-
sioner at such ports, British subjects that may be charged
with any offences must be sent for trial to the nearest port at
which a British Commissioner resides.
126. British traders may have boats, or other conveyance,
to carry goods from any one part of the country to another,
paying the same rates of transit duties as natives.— Canton
Press, Jan. 19.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF CHANCERY, May 8.
ORDE v. LYON—LYON V. ORDE,
Nis LORDSHIP gave judgment in these causes, in which
cross bills had been filed, and which arose out of a suit to com-
pel the specific performance of a contract. (They have been
already noticed in The Sun.) His Lordship ordered the bill
to be dismissed with costs. The cross bill must also be dis-
missed with costs, for his Lordship did not think a sufficienl
case had been made out to authorise him to do otherwise.

ICE CHANCELLOR'S COURT, May 8.
The Court was engaged this morning in hearing petitions;
by order, which presented no feature of general interest.

COURT OF QUEENS BENCH, May 8.
THE QUEEN V. LATIMER.
Mr. KELLY had to show cause against a rule which
had been obtained at the instance of the Earl of Devon,
calling upon Mr. Thomas Latimer to show cause why a
criminal information should not be exhibited against him
for the publication of a libel. He was instructed to ap-
pear on behalf of Mr. Latimer, who was the proprietor
of a newspaper called the Western Times, and the com-
plaint of the Earl of Devon was, that a publication had
appeared in the newspaper reflecting upon his judicial
character when presiding as Chairman of the Quarter
Sessions for the county of Devon. As soon as it became
known to Mr. Latimer that the Earl of Devon thought
he had reason to complain of the article in question, he
was earnestly desirous of promptly and explicitly dis-
claiming the slightest intention of throwing the smallest
imputation on the honour, the character or the motives
of the Noble Earl. ,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, after the ample apo-
logy that had been made, the Earl of Devon had no
wish to proceed further.—Rule discharged.

BAIL COURT, May 8.
(Before Mr. Justice COLERIDGE.)
MOGGRIDGE V. DREW.
This was an action brought by the plaintiff, a dentist in Old
Burlington-street, against the defendant, an elderly lady, to
recover the sum of eighteen guineas, for a set of artificial
teeth. The defence was, that the teeth did not fit, and were
of no service whatever to the defendant, who could neither
masticate nor articulate with them. The case was tried before
the Under Sheriffs of-Middlesex, and the Jury returned a ver-
dict for the plaintiff.
Mr. HILL had obtained a rule to show cause why the verdict
should not be set aside and a nonsuit entered, or a new trial
granted en the ground of misdirection by the Sheriff.
After Counsel had been heard at length,
Mr. Justice COLERIDGE made the rule for a new trial abso-
lute, and directed that such ne w trial should take place before
a Judge.
Rule for new trial made absolute.
A,
all COU—

_RT OF COMMON PLEAS, May 8.
WILMSIIURST V. BOWRER.
The Court gave judo.ment. The case came before
the Court upon an application to enter the verdict for the
defendant, non obstante veredicto, on the third plea to the
first count. The action was in assumpsit on a contract
for the sale:of wheat ; to which the defendant had pleaded
that the wheat had been sold upon the terms that the
plaintiffs should receive possession thereof upon transmit-
ting a draft upon their banker to the defendant, which
they had neglected to do, and that, therefore, the defend-
ant was justified in stopping the wheat in transitu. The
Court held that the contract set out was conditional as to
the transfer of the right of possession, and that, there-
fore, the defendant was entitled to stop the corn in
transitu.

COURT OF EXCHEQUER, May 8.
DUNN V. ALEXANDER.
The plaintiff in this case is the individual who for so
long a period has perisisted in his persecution of Miss
Burdett Coutts, and the defendant is the gentleman
against whom he brought the action, which was tried in
the sittings after the last term, for an assault and false
imprisonment in this Court, when the Jury found a ver-
dict for the defendant. That finding, of course, cast the
payment of costs upon the plaintiff, who, failing therein,
a rule was subsequently obtained, calling on him to show
cause why he should not be taken in execution. That
rule was on Friday made absolute in consequence of his
not appearing either by Counsel or in person to oppose
it, with leave to the plaintiff to have the rule re-opened
if he presented himself next day.
Mr. BAY LEY, seeing the plaintiff in Court, applied to
have the rule made absolute definitively.
Mr. DUNN then rose, and produced an affidavit to
prove that he had been prepared on the first four days of
term, and had had his motion set down in the paper, but
that from not having had a day rule he had been absent
upon the occasion when he was called, and that the cause
in consequence had been struck out. He was, however,
now present, and with their Lordships' leave would sub-
mit that upon the postea he was entitled to move for a
writ of error.
The CotraT observed that none of his objections had
been indorsed on the postea, and therefore it was impos-
sible for the Court to entertain them. That being the
case the rule must be made absolute.
Mr. DuNN prayed that he might be taken to the
Queen's Bench prison, as the Fleet was so crowded as to
be very far from comfortable, not to say inconvenient.
The COURT said that if such a removal were obtained
it must be in the usual way, by habeas corpus.
Mr. DUNN was then removed in custody to the Flee

ARCHES' COURT, May 8.
THE OFFICE OF JUDGE PROMOTED BY MASTIN V.
ESCOTT—REFUSAL TO BURY A WESLEYAN CHILD.
Sir H. JENNER gave his judgment in this case, which
has excited so much interest among all classes of the
dissenting community. It was a proceeding brought by
letters of request from the Court of the Diocese of Lin-
coln, by an inhabitant of the parish of Gedney, in that
county, against the Rev. Thomas Sweet Escott, vicar of
the parish, calling upon him to answer to certain articles
touching his soul's health, &c., and more especially for
having refused to bury the corpse of Elizabeth Ann
Cliff, the infant daughter of Thomas and Sarah Cliff,
convenient notice havinc, been given him thereof. The
proceeding was instituted under the 68th canon, whereby
it is decreed that "no minster shall refuse or delay to
bury any corpse that is brought into the church
or churchyard, convenient warning being previously
given to him ; and if he shall refuse to bury
the same (except the party deceased were denounced--
excommunicated majori excommunication, for some
grievous and notorious crime, and no man able to testify
of his repentance)—he shall be suspended by the bishop
of his diocese from his ministry for the space of three
months." The responsive allegation given in behalf of
the Rev. Mr. Escott set forth, that "in the Rubric of the
Book of Common Prayer, which was part and parcel of
the statute 13th and 14th Car. 11., c. 4, in the order for
the burial of the dead, it was enjoined that such office was
not to be used for any that are unbaptised, or excommu-
nicated, or have laid violent hands upon themselves ;
that the deceased had been baptised by a minister,
preacher, or teacher of the class of persons called 'Wes-
leyan Methodists, and that any rite or form of baptism
performed by him was to all intents and purposes . null
and void, according to the articles, canons, and Rubric
of the Church of England—that she was accordingly un-
baptised in the eye of the law and of the Church, and that
in refusing to read the burial service at the interment
Mr. Escott had acted in obedience to the laws, canons,
and constitution ecclesiastical of his own Church."
Long and learned?-arguments- were -addr6ssed to the
Court in February last, and the Court on Saturday
delivered its judgment. Having referred to the im-
portance of the present question, and the interest which it
had naturally excited amongst large bodies of the com-
munity, the Learned Judge went at considerable length
through the various articles of the allegations which had
been given in on either side. From these it appeared
that the main question which the Court was called upon
to decide was as to the validity of lay baptisms. This
was the point on which the whole dispute turned ; for it
was of course admitted that the person by whom the rite
of baptism had been performed in this case—a teacher or
minister of. the class of people known as Wesleyan Me-
thodists—stood on exactly the same footing as any other
layman. Now, what were the authorities, legal and ec-
clesiastical, whose dicta had been brought forward to
support the argument on either side ? There was only
one case which had occurred in the Ecclesiastical Court
on this subject, "Kemp v. Wickes," decided by Sir J.
Nicholl in 1809. Now the opinion of that Learned
Judge strongly confirmed the validity of baptisms per-
formed by laymen. His decision must necessarily have a
great influence on the mind of the Court, especially when it
considered the lengthened and elaborate judgment which he
had given, and the deep attention he evidently had paid to
the question. But the Court was bound to look for it-
self.to the history of the Church, and to consider the
views which had been taken by her eminent divines on
this subject at different periods of her history. What
had been the law of the primitive Christian Church with
regard to lay baptisms ? The writings of Tertullian
(from which the Court read copious extracts in the ori-
ginal), the Legatine and Provincial Constitutions, and
the opinions of the Fathers, proved that in early ages
the Church allowed baptisms by laymen. Now it had
been contended by the counsel for Mr. Escott that the
tolerance of such baptisms was one of the errors which
had crept into the Romish Church, and so here was an
admission that during the possession of extensive power
by that Church she allowed baptism by laymen. So,
as far as the case at present went, this was the law of
the Church up to the time of the Reformation. At
this period, however, various alterations had taken
place, but none were of any importance until the reign
of Edward VI. Now, in the new Litany which had
been introduced in 1549, and received some slight
changes in 1552, it was expressly declared in the
form of prayer " for those who were baptised in private
houses in time of necessitie," that baptisms by laymen
were valid ; and it added, " let them not doubt that those
so baptised are sufficiently baptised, and ought not to be
baptised again." This continued till the reign of Eliza-
beth, and it now brought the Court down to 1575, when
a convocation was holden of the province of Canterbury
(though not of York), at which certain canons—fifteen
in number—were drawn up, one of which prohibited the
administration of baptism by laymen, Now, putting
aside the question whether any such canon could have
any force, except as showing the opinion of the heads of
the Church at that time, this canon, the 13th, was never
printed, and only two or three copies of it were now ex:
tent. Under all the circumstances, it could not be epu,
sidered as in any degree altering the establis4e.'4 law.
Nothing so clouded, so surrounded by. doubt and mystery,
could overturn the principle and practice of the UhTslrtit
for ages. In 1584 and in 1595, the directions, of the
Rubric and the history of the ChAreh alilip proved that
no alteration had as yet taken plgcein her laws on the
point. And the govt now cgme to a most important
period, Immediately after the accession of James, peti-

tions were presented to him by the Puritans, complaining
"of baptism by midwives and women"—to this point
a!on^ even their demands were enfinecl, and in conse-
.ll,_,nce of such complaints a conference was held at
Hampton Court on Jan. 1, 1604, an account of which had
been given both by James Montague, then the keeper of the
Chapel Royal, and by Dr. Cardwell in his" History ofCon-
ferences" (p. 138), and also a more minute history of it by
Dr. Barlow, the then Dean of Chester. On that occasion
the King, who was most opposed to lay baptisms of all
present, had said " that baptism ought only to be per-
formed by ministers, but," he added, " that he utterly
disapproved of all rebaptization." After a long discus-
sion had taken place between the Archbishop of Canter-
bury ; Babington, the Bishop of Worcester ; Bancroft,
Bishop of London, afterwards promoted to Canterbury ;
and Ritten, Bishop of Winchester, the King, in the
words of Dr.' Montague, "won from them" that the
words "lawful minister" should be introduced into the
Rubric, and that any other person performing the rite
of baptism should be punished. So the Hampton con-
ference amounted to this, that these learned divines, then
and there assembled, expressed their disapprobation of
baptisms by laymen, but their conduct on that occasion
could not be construed into a complete alteration of the
law of the Church on so important a point, by which lay
baptisms would be rendered void. So, on the main
question for the decision of the Court—the positive
validity of baptism by laymen, when it had actually been
administered—the law of the Church was, up to this
period still the same, and that law was, "Non fieri debet
sed factwn valet." The principle remained in stetu quo
at the time of the Restoration. The alterations
which had taken place in the reign of Charles
the Second, by which amongst other things, the Rubric
then in force was made (and it still remained' so) the law
of the land, left this point in the same position. After
the conference which had been held in the Savoy, and
the meeting of both Houses of Convocation in 1661, the
Book of Common Prayer had been revised, and some
changes introduced ; but in substance the law of the
Church as to lay baptisms stood as before. At this pe-
riod the term "lawful minister" had been for the first
tima used, but Bishop Wheatley and other learned ec-
clesiastical authorities had strongly argued that the
words were not intended solely to include those minis-
ters who had been episcopally ordained. The last pe-
riod to which the Court need advert—the last of any im-
portance previously to "Kemp v. Wickes,"—was 1712,
when a conference had been held at Lambeth, an account
of which had been given by Burnet in the " History of
his own Times," and also in the " Life of Archbishop
Sharpe." At that time it was clear that the decided
opinion of the Bishops was in favour of lay baptism, for
a declaration had been drawn up by them prohibiting
their clergy from re-baptising those who had been al-
ready baptised by laymen. So much for the law as
proved by the history of the Church, and the circum-
stances of each separate period. But many authorities
had been quoted, to some of whom the Court
was bound to refer. (The Learned Judge then read
at considerable length extracts from the works of eccle-
siastical writers, Bishop Wheatley,Bishop Fleetwood, Dr.
Waterland, Mr. Laurence, who, though a layman, was
learned on polemical subjects, Bingham, Kelsall, and
" that most judicious and able writer, that universally
respected and truly pious man, Richard Hooker.") From
these authorities the law of the Church was evidently
this :—She disapproved and discouraged in, later times
(though in the earlier ages of her history she had
not even gone this length) all baptisms by laymen, but
she held them not tt be invalid when once performed.
And she made no distinction between ordinary lay bap-
tisms and those which were heretical or schismatic. On
that it was not necessary to say more. According, then,
to this the obvious principle and practice of the Church
for 1,300 years, in her primitive days, during the Romish
power, at the time of the Reformation, at the commence-
ment of the seventeenth century, when the Hampton Con-
ference was held, of the eighteenth century, when that at
Lambeth took place, and of the present, when " Kemp v.
Wickes " was decided, the party now proceeding had es-
tablished his case, and the notice having been given to
the clergyman, he was bound according to the canons
and constitution of the Church of England to bury
the corpse of the child, Elizabeth Ann Cliff. He
had failed in proving his articles, and he had
thus subjected himself to ecclesiastical censure. It had,
with a most praiseworthy and benevolent spirit, been
declared that the party proceeding was only desirous that
Mr. Escott should be admonished and not canonically
punished ; but the Court had no alternative, according to
the canon under which the present proceeding's had been
instituted. It declared that a clergyman refusing to bury
a corpse brought to him after due notice should be sus-
pended for three months ; and, accordingly, that sen-
tence must be condemned in the costs of the present
proceedings.
The proctor for Mr. Escott immediately gave notice
of an appeal.

Sir n:JENNER occupied between four and five hours
in the delivery of his judgment, during the whole of
which time the Court was crowded.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
BOW-STREET.
The young woman, calling herself Emily St. Auge,
and various other names, remanded on Wednesday on a
charge of, having stolen a snuff-box from Mr. Herbert,
the editor of the Farmer's Journal, was again brought
up, and it having been proved that Mrs. Herbert, the
wife of the prosecutor, had been in the habit of asking
her to dinner, and otherwise
treating her with the great-
est familiarity, and as. there was no likelihood of reco-
vering the box by detaining her, the Magistrate ordered
the young woman to be discharged.

QUEEN-SQUARE.
Richard Turner, a coachman, who stated that he was
driving for Lady M'Kenzie, was charged with wilfully
damaging a gig belonging to Mr. Davis, auctioneer.
It appeared from the evidence of Mr. J. Johnson, tra-
velling comedian, and successor to the late renowned
Richardson, that on Friday night he was standing at the
Manor-house, where a gig:,belonging to Mr. Davis, and
in which his wife was seated, was drawn up, when he
saw the defendant, who was proceeding towards town,
come in collision with the gig. The vehicle was turned
upside down,, and the lady thrown with great violence to
the ground ; one of the wheels of the gig was dashed to
pieces, independent of other damage done. His evidence
was corroborated by several witnesses, and the amount
of damage was sworn to be 8/.
Mr. Davis consented to take 6/. 10s., which sum was
paid, and the complaint dismissed.

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