The Sun.
London, England, 1824-02-28 00:00:00

mitted that day six months. Mr. Maberly spoke
in its defence, but the effect of the arguments
adduced against it was such, that although the
Committee was ultimately carried, it was with
reduced numbers, the majority of 85 having,
dwindled down to 48, while the minority in-
creased, notwithstanding several of the Mem-
bers on that side of the question left the House
before the second division took place. Some
hope may, therefore, he now entertained, that
even in the house of Commons the progress of
this measure may be checked. In the early part
of the evening, Mr. Denman stated that he had
a Petition to present from an individual com-
plaining of the conduct of a Magistrate of the
town of Stafford, who was also a Member of that
House ; ;nit the Court of king's Bench being
generally considered the place where the appli-
cation ought to be made, the Learned Gentle-
man withdrew his motion, and the Petition was
not presented.

[NEW TIMEs]
Yesterday terminated the February account
upon the Stock Exchange ; and although the va-
riations during the last month had produced con-
siderable differences, we are happy to announce
that no defaulters were declared. This favour-
able settlement of a heavy account, added to
the continued rise in the French Funds, pro-
duced a still further advance in our Consols; and
after the close of business, the price was for the
next account 92.14; an advance of nearly one
per cent. within the last two days.—The Fo-
reign securities continue at the preceding day's
prices; the settlement of so extensive an account
occupying the sole attention of the Stock Ex-
change.

[BRITISH PRESS."

We are authorized by Mr. Charles Flint to
state, that the withdrawing his Petition by Mr.
Denman was wholly without his sanction ; that,
on the contrary, he distinctly caused it to be in-
timated to that gentleman by a Member, wilco, in
the course of the debate, applied to know Mr.
Flint's wishes on the subject, that it was his
earnest request that it might not be withdrawn,
but pressed to a division, if necessary. It is
difficult to conceive on what ground Mr.
Denman could feel himself justified in adopt-
ing this course, against the express protest of
the petitioner ; the more so, as a copy of the pe-
tition had been for several days in his hands, and
the petitioner had held more than one deli-
berate conference with him on the subject. The
petition was not read to the House ; the Mem-
bers therefore who so strongly took part with
Mr. Chetwynd must have been wholly ignorant
of its contents, beyond what they could collect
from the general statement, and from the contra-
dictions it received from the individual` chose
conduct it impugned. Why was it not read ?
Indefinite praise is no answer to specific allege-
gations. Mr. Chetwynd, as a Magistrate, must
know that positive accusations are not dis-
proved by calling witnesses to character.—
It is an admitted maxim in our Constitution,
and, perhaps, a wise one, that the King can
do no wrong, but we cannot extend this perfec-
when, in his conduct as
tion to Mr. Chetwynd,
a Magistrate, he is publicly arraigned. When
the sufferer petitions the House of Commons,—
whose bounden duty it is to hear at least, if not
to redress the wrongs of the subject—it is no an-
swer for any number of his friends and fellow
Magistrates in that House, to disclaim the
statement in a petition which has not been read,
and to hold up the moral and magisterial per-
fection of the member for Stafford as suf-
ficient to purge him from all accusation, Those
who have not yet surrendered all their English
feelings may be led to imagine, that a member of the
House of Representatives, undertaking to present
a respectable petition, and doing so after a full
and unreserved communication on the subject of
it, is bound, by courtesy at least, though he may
have disembarrassed himself of the old notions of
constitutional duty, to present it ; or, at all
events, not to abandon or withdraw it without
consent of the party aggrieved. Mr. Brougham
had undertaken so to do, but subsequent reflec-
tions awakened some sentiments of delicacy,
which before had slept, or were in abeyance ; it
occurred to him on a sudden that he was engaged
as Counsel against the Member for Stafford, on
the criminal information which he had moved for.
The deep searchings of delicacy are not alike in
all bosoms ; all professional patriots are not
equally sensitive; the Attorney-General's con-
science is not so exquisitely engine-turned
—it is made of sterner stuff. He had none
of this maiden coyness about Mtn : lie was
Counsel for the Member for Stafford in all his
prosecutions, and yet he still considered it a part
of his duty to extend his protection to his client
in the House of Commons. It was the earnest
prayer of Mr. Chetwynd that the petition might
be received. It is possible—we should be sorry
to cast a slur on his sincerity—but still it is just
possible that he might have been previously well
satisfied that his earnest prayer would not pre-
vail. However, to indulge his wishes, as far as
it may be within our humble means, we will lay
the substance of Mr. Flint's petition before the
public on Monday ; every allegation of which
he is prepared to verify on oath by unexception
able evidence.