The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-12 00:00:00

TEX NUN', LONDON) SATVRD.etY EVONING,

Israelite admitted to the Parliament of the United

Kingdom, will be more fortunately circumstanced than
either Mr. PEASE as the first Quaker, or Mr. O'CON•
NELL, as the first Roman Catholic. The representative
of London will have all obstacles smoothed down before
him by the pressure of Reason; he will be ushered into
the presence of the Speaker by all the most remarkable
statesmen of his age—whereas the representative of
South Durham crept into the House of Commons,
through the leniency of the law by which
it was provided that Quakers and Mora-
vians (and subsequently the sect called Separatists)
could legally make a simple affirmation equivalent in
their cases to the solemn oath of another; and
whereas also the representative of Clare was only able
to force his way into the Lower House of the Legis-
lature by a struggle such as would have proved too
tremendous for one less inspired for the occasion by
matchless eloquence and surpassing audacity.
The speech delivered yesterday evening by Sir
ROBERT PEEL is, perhaps, the most cogent and
perfectly unanswerable argument in favour of
the measure as yet delivered. Its calmness
amounts to an inimitable placidity, and its
deliberateness disarms the passion even of
Bigotry Incarnate. No one will be disposed
to charge the Right Hon. Baronet with indifference
to the interests of Protestantism. His whole career
—and a career it is such as will survive in our na
tional history—would be a splendid refutation of the
aspersion. Strong, therefore, in his attachment to the
Establishment, agitated with a profound solicitude to
secure for ever the characteristic of Christianity to
the empire at large, to its Constitution, and to the
Parliament, the late Premier, nevertheless, announces
the coincidence of his opinion with that ex-
pressed by the Noble Lord, his successor.
Nor does Sir ROBERT PEEL arrive at this determi-
nation from any considerations of political expediency,
—" My decision this night is influenced much less
from considerations of political expediency than from
a deep sense of religious obligation." That, we take
it, is a sentence calculated to bewilder the imagina-
tions of such worthies as Sir CULLING EARDLY
SMITH. As if aware that such would inevitably be
the case among the zealots of the Church, Sir ROBERT
at once gives an illustration of his meaning, and in so
doing reveals the principle which is the very
vitality of his reverence for religion, namely, the
principle of " forbearance" inculcated by the con-
verted Pharisee, who became an Apostle. " I main-
tain this," said the Right Hon. Baronet, " thit the
House of Commons has no right for mere religious
error to inflict a penalty." And by way of attesting
the accuracy of that assertion, he observed, very
admirably, s" In the case of the Roman Catholic
you did not exclude him because lie maintained the
doctrine of transubstantiation, but because you
thought he was a dangerous subject in consequence
of his acknowledging the supremacy of a foreign
power." That that supposition was erroneous was
testified by the very passing of the Act of Catholic
Emancipation ; and it has only very recently been
remarked by a distinguished member of the Roman
Catholic Church in England, that the spiritual alle-
giance owed by every Roman Catholic to the Sovereign
PONTIFF, is in no respect whatever incompatible with
his allegiance to the QUEEN.° Unlike the subject of the
Papacy, the Jews are not debarred even by this
shadowy phantom of disloyalty. On the contrary—
listen to the panegyric thus uttered upon the Israelites
by Sir ROBERT PEEL—" I consider that in point of
moral conduct—in point of active exercise of charity
—in point of tried loyalty—and in point of property
—the Jews are entitled to as much consideration as
any other religious sect." And these are the indi-
viduals whom 204 Members of the House of Com-
mons would last evening have excluded from the en-
joyment of the ordinary rights of citizenship I The
efforts of those dissentients must, however, prove in-
nocuous, now that we remember the force of public
opinion, and the majority of seventy-three upon the
second reading.

We have already pointed out the propriety of har-
ing every prosecution conducted by competent per-
sons, appointed by the Crown for that important
• duty, and also the expediency of affording profes-
sional assistance to every prisoner who is unable to
provide the means recess ary for his own defence.
The expenditure would not be very considerable, and
greater security would be afforded to persons un-
justly accused than can now be said to exist. Several
instances have recently been brought to light in
which the innocence of parties has been made appa-
rent after they have sustained severe and unmerited
punishment. Nothing should he spared which would
impress the community in general with an absolute
confidence in the just and impartial administration of
the law. At present that feeling cannot be entertained
as fully as it ought to be. In the great majority
the most experienced and talented barristers are
retained against the prisoner, while he is left alto-
gether undefended, although the consequences of a
conviction may prove utterly ruinous, and his future
liberty, his character, and everything that renders life
desirable may be involved in the issue ; and, again,
even if he should be enabled to scrape together the
sum necessary for his proper defence, and that he
should succeed in showing that the charge was ut-
terly untenable, he must submit not merely to the
incarceration to which he had been subjected previous
to the trial, but also to the heavy pecuniary loss. No
costs can be given against the Crown, and the subject
is left wholly without remedy. In theory the law
says, "Better that ninety-nine guilty men should escape
than that one innocent man should be unjustly con-
victed ;" but in practice we find it to he very different.
Protection is afforded against an unjust civil demand,
which by no means is extended to a party charged
with a criminal offence. In one case, if the charge of
the presiding judge is unsatisfacto'ry—if he enunciates
any erroneous proposition of law, or misleads the
jury in any particular—a new trial may be obtained.
If the verdict is contrary to the weight of evidence,
or contrary to the opinion of the Court, a second in-
, vestigation may be had ; but it is otherwise in
criminal cases : no appeal can be had from the verdict
once returned, however unfounded it may have been ;
it must remain in force against the party, and the
QuEgN's pardon can alone save him from the punish-
ment due to a crime, although great doubts may be
entertained of the justice or propriety of the former
decision. Nay, even where the innocence of the
person is made perfectly apparent, as in the case of
MARY ANNE TERTON, who had been sentenced to
six months' imprisonment for a crime which was
subsequently brought home to another, so that
not the slightest doubt can be entertained that the
verdict was altogether incorrect, yet there is no pos-
sible way in which it can be set aside, and the fair
fame of the injured person must for ever remain tar-
nished on the public records. A court of appeal in
criminal cases should be established, in which the
judgment, if defective in any particular, either in
law or fact, might be reviewed.
In another part of our paper communications will
be found respecting the case of a lad named GEORGE
FREDERICK MIDDLERROOK, who was on Saturday
last convicted at the Central Criminal Court on a
charge of arson. Much dissatisfaction is said to exist
as to the verdict returned in that case, which was
returned after a very short deliberation, and as we
stated in our report at the time, was received with
the utmost astonishment by a crowded court. It ap-
peared to us at the time that, at the outside, the case
was one merely of suspicion, and by no means such
as to warrant a conviction. A number of witnesses
were produced, who gave him an excellent character,
some of them having known him from a child. All
spoke of him as an honest, well-conducted
.boy, whom
they considerNedowriu:atlethincapable of committing such
an offence.
cha-
racter cannot set asidesuch
as
that
t
direct
petan udnimpeachable
positive. testimony
of guilt, it is in cases
vaaiutaovewhiEch we are.
attentively alluding that it is peculiarly
t,ioviereyoncsiri.-
cumstance should be closely and
bsuitiownas thatit
dered—not merely that he was inosfruecnlice,
he Wright have committed the
certain that the fire was the act of an incendiary,
and
if so, was it morally impossible that such could' have
been the case without the knowledge and participa-
tion of the unfortunate lad ? There was no motive
which could have induced him to join in such a
transaction, and one so totally opposed to his previous
conduct, and to the irreproachable character he had
maintained from his earliest childhood. It was not

" A few Remarks on the Social and Political Condi-
tion of British Catholics, By the Earl of Arundel and
Surrey," pp. 30. Bro. Charles Dolman Is4B. London.
•

alleged that he entertained any vindictive feelings ;
against his master. On the contrary, they appeared
to have been on the most friendly terms. Money
was missed, but no portion of it, not even a single
shilling, was traced to the possession of the prisoner,
and if he had taken any part of it, it is hardly
possible that he could have concealed it effectually.
It appeared on the evidence that a man, whom
the prisoner represented to have come in from the
street at the first alarm of the fire, and who assisted
him in breaking into the room to put it out, was ob-
served to leave the house during the confusion, but
no one could tell afterwards who he was, or where
he had gone to. If any crime had been committed,
is it not more than probable that the person who had
thus left the house, and who neither came forward
or could be discovered, was the person who stole the
money, as he had an ample opportunity of doing,
if so minded ? The directors of the highly-respect-
able fire-office (the Dissenters'), at which the pre-
mises were insured, having fully investigated the
case, declined to prosecute, which proved that they,
at least, were by no means satisfied of the guilt of
the prisoner; and yet, with all these circumstances,
a verdict has been returned which consigns him to
the highest secondary punishment known to the law,
one only short of the sacrifice of his life. Is it not
manifest that if there was a tribunal of appeal the
cane would most properly be taken there ; but as no
such tribunal exists, his fate must now rest in tha
hands of the Home Secretary, who may be unable,
from the pressure of business, to give it
that consideration of which it is deserving
for some time at least. We most heartily
commend the case to his notice, and are
satisfied that the exercise of the royal prerogative in
favor of the unfortunate lad would be received with
general approbation.
We may be pardoned here for again alluding
briefly to the case of APCAIIE, who had
been sentenced to death for the Mirfield murders,
but which sentence la's recently been altered
to transportation for life. In the latter an-
nouncing this commutation, the Home Secretary
says, "that since the trial the case of M'CAna has been
frequently under the consideration of the Judge who
tried the prisoner, and he is of opinion that M'CABE
was a participator in the crime to some extent." For not
having regarded APCIBE as an innocent man—
for not believing him to be so, be-
cause .RBID before his trial made a " con-
fession" which neither inculpated nor excul-
pated his fellow-prisoner, a torrent of vituperation
and a series of the most pitiless attacks were directed
against the young and talented counsel who defended
REID. What will the assailants of Mr. DIGBY
SEYMOUR now say to the fact, that with the knowledge
of ltEip's dying declaration, that "he alone was
guilty, that no human being was in any way
connected with the murder but himse!f," Mr. Justice
PATTESON, after frequent and mature consideration,
came to the conclusion " that M'CABE was a guilty
participator." We confess, that this case, also mate-
rially strengthens our desire for an appellate
jurisdiction—for, if guilty, the extreme penalty
should be inflicted—and, if innocent, or if any
rea,vnable doubt exists, he should be discharged
from any, even the slightest punishment.

A letter from Venice of the 2d inst., states that
the Volcano steamer had left that port, having on
board a number of men to complete the crews of
the Austrian fleet in the Adriatic. The object of
this movement had not transpired, the captain of the
steamer having sailed under sealed orders.
The Patria of Florence states that the French
Chargé d'Affaires at Turin has delivered a note de-
manding explanations of the proceedings of King
CHARLES ALBERT. In this note, the French Go-
vernment, says the Patria, makes itself a guarantee
for the intentions of Austria, and declares that the
occupation of the Duchies of Parma and Modena had
no other object than the protection of Lombardy, and
that no intervention in the internal affairs of the
reformed Italian states is meditated by Austria.
We read in a letter from Turin, of the 6th—" I
hasten to inform you of a very important deliberation
which has just taken place in the municipal body of
Turin. This assembly was convoked yesterday, the
6th, to decide on a motion that a petition should
be presented to his MAJESTY, praying for the insti-
tution of a civic guard. Scarcely had the discus-
sion commenced, when Count PIETRO DETROSSI DI
SANTA Rosa said, in substance—' Such proposi-
tions might have been useful and important before
the events of Naples ; but at present they are not up to
the level of the great things which have been accom-
plished, and of the destinies to which the Italian
States are called. Cannot we address ourselves with
filial confidence to a King who acts like a father ?
Ought we not to supplicate him to crown the great
enterprise which he has so gloriously commenced
and maintained, of our political regeneration, by ac-
cording a representative constitution to his people,
comprising in it the institution of the civic guard ?'
The words of Count PIETRO DEROSSI De SANTA
Rosa led away the assembly. His proposition
was put to the vote, and adopted by a majority of 36
to 12. In the course of the sitting a committee was
nominated for the purpose of drawing up, in conjunc-
tion with the syndics, an address to His MAJESTY.
The committee i< composed of M. SINEO M. GALYAGNO,
Count DE BLIONCOMPAGNI, and Count DE SANTA ROSA.
It immediately set to work, its draft was adopted by
the council, and the syndics are charged to present it
on Monday next to the KING."

It is said that the Grand Duke of TUSCANY has
promised a constitution to his people.

Madrid papers of the sth hare arrived.
The Herald) announces that at half-past two
o'clock that morning General ESPARTERO left Madrid
for Logrono. He was accompaniEd by M. MURRIETA
and C4.)lonel GURREA. The Senate met on the 4th,
but its deliberations were on measures affecting the
department of public works of not the slightest in-
terest.

The Eco del Comercio publishes another large
batch of congratulatory addresses to ESPARTERO.
Recent letters from the Canary Islands announce that
the malady which had raged there for some months,
and which, at one time, excited considerable alarm,
had disappeared.

MADRID BOLSA, FEB. s.—The Three per Cents.
were done at 27i at SO days; the Four per Cents., at
16k for paper ; the Five per Cents., at 17, at 50 days ;
the Debt without Interest, at si, for paper; and
the Coupons, at 12.

We have received the Paris papers of yesterday.
The discussion on the amendment to the para-
graph of the Address relating to the Reform banquets,
proposed by M. D'ABMLAT, took place on Thursday,
and was very animated. M. GUIZOT, M. TUIERS,
and M. ODILON BARROT were the principal speakers.
An assertion on the part of M. GUIZOT, that with his
majority he might, if he pleased, smother all discus-
sion, produced an explosion of indignation from the
Opposition. The amendment of M. D'ARBLAT was
negatived by a large majority. The whole of the
Opposition abstained from voting. The discussion
was again resumed yesterday, on an amendment pro-
posed by M. DESMOUSSEAUX DE Givan, to omit the
words "agitation excited by hostile passions or blind
delusions." This amendment was supported by M.
LAMARTINE and M. ()DILLON BARROT, and was op-
posed by M. MORNT and M. VITET. The discussion
had not concluded when the post left.
It is said that the Ministry feel they have gone too
far, and would be glad of an opportunity of retracing
their steps if possible. The imprudence of M.
HEBERT in his speech of Tuesday is universally con-
demned.

The whole of the troops in garrison in Paris are
kept in their barracks to be ready in case of emer-
gency.

The Reform banquet is fixed for Sunday next.
All the members of the Opposition huve signified their
intention of being present.
The Prince and Princess DE Jon var.E arrived
at Avignon on the 81 instant, and left on the follow-
ing morning for Cette, where they were to embark for
Algiers.

Captain SABATIER, who has been Consul at Janina,
and who a few days since arrived at Paris, has just
set out for Egypt with dispatches for the French
Consul at Alexandria. This mission, it is said, re-
lates to the conditional establishment of AIM-EL..
KADER in the states of the PACUA.
The Constitutionnel says—
" it bas been stated that orders had been sent to i

Cherbourg to direct steamers to the Mediterranean.
It appears that similar orders have bem sent to the
other ports of the Atlantic. It seems that the Go-
vernment desires to have under its hand, in the Me-
diterranean, a small fleet of steam-vessels capable of
conveying a little corps cr armee on any point whatever
of the coast. It is added that all the general officers
and the chiefs of corps belonging to the army of
Africa, who are at present on leave of absence at
Paris have received orders to return to their respec-
tive pasts."
The Three per Cents. closed on the Paris Bourse
yesterday at 74f. 25e.; New Loan, 75f. 20c ; Five per
Cents., 116 f. 90c. ; Orleans Railroad Shares, 1,163 f.
Mc.; Rouen, 865 f.; Havre, 415 f.; Great Northern,
540 f. ; Avignon, 532 f. 60c.; Vierzon, 510 f.;
Bordeaux, 475 f.; Paris and Strasburg, 405 f.; Tours
and Nantes, 380 f.; Paris and Lyons, 391 f. 25c.

BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, Fua. 11.
Dutch Rhenish, I;i—Northern of France, 111/2 —Rouen
and Havri, 17 —Sambre and Meuse, 61/2.

MARKET NEWS.-(THIS DAY.)
COVENT-G.6.1Z,M0N.

Full average supplies of both fruit and vegetables
were on sale today, the time of year considered, yet
the general demand was steady, at last week's quotations.
Potatoes, from 6; to 8s 61 per cwt.; Onions, 2s to
3s Ud; and Apples, is 8d to 3s 6d; per half-sieve ;
Walnuts, 8d to ls; and Oranges, 5s to 12s 6d per 100;
Greens, 2s to 3s 3d; Turnips, 2s Gd to 3s; Leeks, 9d to
Is 2d; and Carrots, 4s to Gs per dozen bunches; Savoys,
9d to is 3d per &zee; Celery, is to is 9d; Horse-
radish, 24 to 4s 6d; and Brocoli, Is 6d to 3s per bundle;
Filberts and Cob. nuts, 8d to 10d per lb; Spinach, 6s
per sieve.

HITNGER.WORD.
Although the general supply here to-day was by no
means heavy, the trade was in a very sluggish state, and
prices were not supported.

NEIVTGATNI AND ZMADENHA.T.M.
Prime Mutton and Veal sold freely, at full prices;
otherwise thu demand was very inactive. Beef from
3s to 4s; Mutton, 3s 4d to 4s 6d; Veal, 4s 4(1 to 55 4d;
and Pork 41 to 53 per Sibs, by the carcase. No
change took place ;in the prices of poultry this morn-
ing. The trade ruled dull, and clearances were not
effected. Turkeys, 3s to 8s 6d ; Geese, 45 to Os
6d ; Ducks, Is 6d to 2s 6d ; Tame Rabbits, Is 2d
to is 10d ; Wild Rabbits, 8d to Is Id ; Pigeons,
6d to 10d ; and roasting Pigs, 5s to 8s each. Surrey
Fowls, 5s to 9s ; Chickens, 2s 9d to 44 6d ; and Barn-
door Fowls, 26 to 5s per couple ; Eggs, English, 9s to
10s ; and French ditto, 8s to 9s 6d per 100 ; Fresh
Butter,_ls Id to Is 4d per lb ; Pheasants, 2s 3d to 2s
Gd; Partridges, Is to Is 9d ; :Tares, 2s 3d to 3s ;
Le-
verets, 2* 3d to 3s 3d ; Woodcocks, 2s to 2s 4d ; Grouse,
Is to 2s ; Snipes, 4d to 8d; Teal, Is to 14 4d ; Wild
Ducks, Is 3d to is 9d ; Widgeons, is to Is 4d ; and
Plovers, 4d to 10d each.

i -5'
Week Last 8.1 +Z
ending NAME OF RAILWAY. week. : co
o be
U=
•••••••••••----- -........-......- --,--- ....."
A A
Feb. - Aberdeen -••••.••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • - -
6 Amiens and Boulogne ............. - 125 -•-
Jan. 31 Arbroath and Foliar •••••••• • • • • • •• 176 210
Feb. 6 Chester and Birkenhead .•••••• • • • • • • 662 627
- Caledonian..... ...• •••• • • • • - --
- Chester rnd Holyhead.- .••••• • • • • • • - -
6 CockermeMh and Workington.... •• • • 100 -
3 Dublin and Drogheda• ••• • • ••••• • • • • 657 678
8 Dublin and Kingstown .. •••• • • • ' 65 8 566
5 Dundee, Perth, end Aberdcen •••• • • •• 66:1 234
6 East Ang1ian........ •••.•••• • • • • • • • • 431 -
6 Edinburgh and Glasgow .••••• • • • • •• 3.173 3,141
5 Edinburgh and Northern ••••• • •• •• 612 -
6 Eastern Counties and North Eastern.. 10,472 9,991
6 East Lancashire ............ •••• • • • • 1,062 671
Jan. 30 Eastern Union.. •• •••••• • • - • •
Feb. 5 Glasgow, Garukirk, and Coatbridge 728 710
6 Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr
5 Glasgow and Greenock.• .......
5 Great Southern and Western ... 1,754 996
6 Great Western, &c ••••.•••.. • • • • • • • • 16.539 15,903
5 Kendal and Wineennere• • .... - • • • 90
5 Lancashire and Yorkshire........ •• • • 7,901 7,872
4 Lancaster and Carlisle -
- Leeds and Thir5k............, ...... _ _
5 Londonderry and r m dskill en - .... •• 135 _
6 London and North Western. &C. 34,945 34,446
.
6 London and Illackwall ••• • • ..... 635 653
5 London and Brighton .••••••• • • • • • • • 6,201 4.334
6 London and South Western .•••• • • • • 6,575 5,800
5 Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire 1,989 1,648
6 Maryport and Carlisle •••• • • •
5 Midland, Bristol, and Birmingham •• • • 17,944 16,696
6 Midland Great Western (Irish) ••• • • • 606 _
- Newmarket... - ........ •••••• ' • • • • • - -
5 Newcastle and Carlisle •••••••• • • • • .• ' , 1,974 1,784
6 Norfolk ...............• •••••• • • • • • • 1,611 1.194
S North British .. .. -• • ......... •• •• •• •• •• 1,716 1343
5 Paris and Bourn .-••••••• • • • ' • " •• 1 6.540 6,004
5 itoueu and Havre .... ••••••• • • • • • • • 1,961 -
- Scottish Central ...... •••••• • • ' • • ' • - -
6 Shrewsbury and Chester •••••• • • •• • • 504 263
5 South Eastern and Branches •••• • • • • 6.363 5,940
4 South Devon.. ... •...•••••• " • • '• •• 636 908
5 Tarr Yale ........ ••••••••• • • • • • • • • • 1,540 1,358
482 719
6 Whitehaven Junction .• ••••••• • ' • ' • ' 154 -
6 Wishaw and Coltness .•••• • • " " •"• 775 749
5 York and Newcastle .•••••••• • • • • •• 9.843 8,418
5 York and North Midland. • .5653 5,120

ALARMING FIRE IN THE CITY.—AboUt two o'clock
this morning a fire broke out in the upper rooms of the
Victoria Life Assurance Company, King IVilliam-ateeet,
London-bridge. Those in the house made their escape,
and the alarm having been given those present, with
the aid of a good supply of water, some; what arrested
the progress of the fire ull the arrival of the firemen,
when, through the latter's exertions, the rower part of
the establishment escaped destruction. cause of
the fire was not ascertained, but the property destroyed
is believed to be insured.
We have just risen from a perusal of the " Peasant
and his Landlord," a novel by the Baroness Knorring,
which has been just introduced to us froix the Swedish
by Mary Hawitt. So many fertile brains have been at
work during the last twenty years in the co mposition of
narrative fiction, that we had thought invent. ion was well
night exhausted. But this new work prove is to us how
likely we are to be mistaken when we woul, reckon by
an every day standard the resources of plains. The
" Peasant and his Landlord" is one of the most powerful
and interesting books we have over read► reminding us
of the greatest works of fiction in the best war—namely,
by its profound originality.