The Sun.
London, England, 1834-11-25 00:00:00

mistaken, indeed, shall we be, if we find the libera

criminate between the ends of establishments and their
abuses, who are willing to, repair the ravages of time,
or to aid and expedite its beneficial influences—men
who can reconcile a deep respect for the rights of pro-
perty, with tenderness for the sufferings of the poor-,--
-men who in the supremacy of a representative Go-
vernment, founded on a broad basis of popular elec-
tion, can discern the insignificance and nullity of that,
which was once the ruling power of this kingdom—
we mean a fixed and standing political party—men,
finally, who will obtain 'justice for the people of Ire-
land, and inflict it on • the disturbers of her peace.
With a House of Commons selected on such prin-
ciples, there is no fear but that the wants of the people
will be known, and being known, we defy any Govern-
ment that ever existed in the face of such an organ to
neglect them. Meetings have taken place, and are in
progress throughout the country, for ascertaining or
recording, the sentiments of the people. One at
Stroud, in Gloucestershire, a dinner given to Mr.
Tracy Leigh, was attended by several members of
Parliament, besides a large body of gentlemen and
others in that neighbourhood, amongst whom it was
evident a strong reform spirit prevailed. A county
meeting has been summoned, we understand, for
Surrey, Lord King in the chair, to consider the cir-
cumstances of the country. There are others also
which we have no room to notice. At Liverpool, on
the other hand, a deputation of the Irish Conservatives
has been received by a large meeting of their Lan-
cashire brethrene'and eloquent speeches were made by
the Rev. Messrs. Boyton and O'Sullivan, from Ire-
land. A similar meeting is expected at Bristol. An
address from ten of the metropolitan members to the
electors will be found in another column, which de-
dares a decided hostility to the new Ministers, spring-
ing from a rooted•distrust of their policy, and .persuad-
ing all classes of reformers to merge their differences
and unite for a common object ; thus with singular in-

party backward in supporting those who alone can re
form the Church, upon principles which are not base(
on sordid and selfish motives. During the lastfew years,
also, an attempt has been making by the Government
to introduce a system of universal education, based upon
the plan adopted successfully in Prussia. Can those
who have been the constant supporters of all re-
strictions of the liberties of the subject, support
and assist in the perfecting of so important a
a work? And lastly, will the country entrust the
Duke of Wellington with the application of the Coer-
cion Bill? This power was granted to the Whigs,
because the country felt confidence in its not being
abused. 'But suppose its provisions applied to pre-
vent the expression of political feeling at the present
crisis ; suppose the great Military Chief placing IrelanJ
under martial law, because of the indignation which
will, in all probability, be expressed by that nation at
his being again placed at the head of affairs—we say,
to a Tory Government no such power would have been
given ; and we do not think the country will be in-
clined to entrust them with it. When our readers
reflect on the importance of the measures now re-
quiring the attention of men as liberal as those who
framed them, we think they will agree with us, that
men are now wanted as much as measures. A Tory
Administration, however, may promise, but it cannot
perform. It may, to court popularity, propose the abo-
lition of the malt tax, or the window tax—it may promise
a Church reform ; but if, when Parliament meets, the
Tories should, under such specious pretences, have
a majority—then we shall find, as we have always
found, that the principle of a Tory Government is to
do little, and to grant only so much as will enable
them to maintain their places and their power. But it
is impossible, whatever they may promise, that they
can have a majority in this Parliament. Will they,
then, have one in another Parliament ? is the question
which is anxiously asked by every one. We confidently
assert they will not. The constituency of England
never will entrust their interests to those who, like
their unprincipled supporter, " the Times," can be any
thing at any time to secure power, place, and money.
Can the country trust those who have now- for four
years been predicting that ruin and disgrace must be
the consequence of that Reform which the people have
demanded and obtained ? No, no ; to speculate on such
a change of opinion is folly and waste of time. It has
not taken place, and we are sure that the unprincipled
sophistry of the Times will be futile and harmless, and
that the nation will with one voice declare, that they
want MEASURES, and MEN who are able to support
them in "spirit and in truth."—Morning Advertiser.
An evening contemporary, supposed to be in the
confidence of the " provisional" Cabinet, announces
its fears that a dissolution of Parliament cannot be
dispensed with, the " caballing" of the metropolitan
members, and a repetition of the meeting of Reformers
at Stroud on Friday last, being likely " to render it
impossible for any Government not prepared to sacri-
fice the King to go on with the present House of
Commons." This opens a very serious subject. If
the present House of Commons be such as the Duke
of Wellington or Sir R. Peel cannot " go on with,".
it must be that the House of Commons is held by
them to be of a tendency too democratic, or being, as
the Standard has it, " prepared to sacrifice the King."
Now, it is unquestionably true that men of all shades
of opinion, and even where there is no definite opinion,
of all shades of character, temper, and of passion, have
found their way into the present House of Commons.
From " divine right," to the " rights of man," a few
samples of all forms of politics, however monstrous,
may perhaps be found there ; but such extreme ca;es,
whether ultra-monarchical or ultra-republican 3 are, it is
plain, but few, perhaps not exceeding F,it or 70, both
extremes included, out of an asseit'oty of 658. But
w.e may ask, is it not quite cle,af, that had not a large
majority of the House of Commons been attached to
the Sovereign and the ""State, ay, and to the Church
also (save only ita abuses), it would have gone some
lengths in the path of revolution, and would have en-
acted measures tending to a democratic subversion of
the Monarchy ? Did Lord Grey, a man devoted no
lesS to the Crown and Aristocracy than to the people,
ever complain that the House of Commons, which, al-
though it generally supported his policy, was, neverthe-
less, opposed to it now and then, consisted in any de-
gree worth mentioning, of materials which threatened
serious danger to the Monarch ? We apprehend not.
'We never heard that the present House of Commons
was held by the reasonable Reformers of England to
be a revolutionary or ill-disposed body, although it
did and does, as we have said before, contain in it
some few members who are not the fittest companions
possible for well-educated, honest, or loyal English-
men. If then this assembly be dissolved by the Crown
for its assumed excess of democratic leaven, the prima
facie conviction of the people of England will be, that
a Parliament less favourable to popular rights—in the
sense of Conservatives less revolutionary—but in that
of those who are not Conservatives less friendly to the
progress of reform—is wanted by the advisers of the
Crown ; and therefore that its present or coming ad-
visers have not a due sympathy with the general spirit
of the nation. Contemplating matters in this light,
we hope that Ministers may prepare such measures as
will meet the sanction of the existing House of Com-
mons. If it should be otherwise, and a dissolution
£hould take place, the duty of the electors is self-
evident. We have all along maintained that it was
impossible for the Duke of Wellington or any other
Statesman to remain three months in the Government
of Great Britain except as a reform Minister, and for
the plain reason that the mind of the whole kingdom
was made up upon that question, and would instantly
compel an anti-reform Cabinet to retire. But since the
only manner in which the nation can constitutionally
make known its will, and evince its attachment to reform,
is through the voice of its representatives in the House
of Commons, it follows that the only constitutional
means of enforcing, if necessary, upon the Adminis-
tration the expediency of a Reform system, is by a
choice of the greatest possible number of Reform Can-
didates that can be secured throughout the whole
realm. We.desire no republicans—no revolutionists—
no fanatics, either religious or anti-religious--no des-
perate adventurers—no mere paupers—of such we
have had, though not many, examples more than
enough to satisfy an intelligent and upright English-
man that they are not the proper stuff for Representa-
tives of his opinions or for guardians of his welfare. It
is reformers we demand, and not destructives—men
placed by birth or the fruits of industry above the
temptations of dependence. It is men who can dis-

decency begging the whole-question, and endeavouring
to excite alarm by vague and indefinite surmises and

suspicions. What the result may be of the move-
ments pro and con., a short time, we apprehend, will
show with sufficient clearness ; but in the meanwhile

it is mere drivelling to imagine that there will be any
where the slightest tendency to other than the most
peaceful and orderly expression of public feeling.—
Times.

THE SUN, LONDON, TIMSDAY, NOVEMBER 25,.:18x4.

METROPOLITAN CENTRAL COURT.

OLD BAILEY OLD COURT.

Yesterday being the first day of the Sessions under the
new Metropolitan Central Bill, the Court was crowded to
excess by a number of gentlemen who had been summoned
to attend as Grand and Petit Jurors.
At tep o'clock the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, Recorder,
Common-Sergeant, and other City Authorities, entered the
Court and took their seats on the Bench. The High
Sheriffs of the Counties of Essex and Surrey were present,
they being called on to attend by being placed under the
jurisdiction of the Court. _ _

Upon the usual proclamation being made, the High
Sheriffs were called on to deliver up the precepts sent to
them in order that the King's Justices might act on them.
In consequence of the crowded state of the Court the
Recorder desired the gentlemen who were summoned on
the Grand Jury to enter the box appointed for the Jury in
waiting, which was done, and the Petit Jury took posses-
sion of the body of the Court.
The names of the gentlemen of the Grand Jury were then
called over, and Robert Hedger, Esq., the Chairman of the
Surrey Sessions, was appointed the Foreman of the Grand
Jury.
Proclamation was then made by the Crier for silence dur-
ing the Recorder's charge to the Grand Jury.
The Recorder having desired the gentlemen belonging to
the Grand Jury to be seated, observed that as this was the
first occasion of their being assembled together to give effect
to the carrying of an Act of Parliament into execution, by
which the New Criminal Metropolitan Court was esta-
blished, he trusted he should be excused in addressing them
at some length on the provisions of the Act of Parliament.
He would endeavour to do it as briefly as possible, observ-
ing that the members of the Grand Jury were gentlemen of
great experience in their respective counties, arising from
their filling the office of Magistrates, and also that of Grand
Jurors. The Learned Recorder then proceeded to read the
various clauses of the new Act, and explained them at con-
siderable length to the Grand Jury. On adverting to the
fifth section, the Learned Recorder remarked that it gave
the power to commit to one gaol all persons committing
offences within the jurisdiction of the Court, and also to be
imprisoned and kept in custody. The sending so many
persons as would be. committed in execution to New-
gate, would be most prejudicial to the public at large.
The gaol was not of a capacity to contain many persons,
nor was it ever intended to contain persons committed in
execution by the 6th and 7th sections of the Act. The
Magistrates at Quarter Sessions had the power to commit in
execution to the Penitentiary at Millbank, and which in
his opinion was most admirably adapted for secondary pu-
nishments. He considered it was the best prison in the
kingdom for the purpose of carrying the experiment relative
to secondary punishments into effect. The Learned Judge
then proceeded to the other clauses. One of the clauses

gave this Court the power to try all cases committed on
the high seas. Those offences were formerly tried in the
Admiralty Court ; but by being authorised to be tried
here, the Judge of the Court of Admiralty and the Dean
.of Arches, were named in the Commission for the purpose
of enabling the Court to have their assistance in matters of
which they were more thoroughly acquainted. Of offences
committed on the high seas there was one of a very serious
nature, besides a number for assaults. There were other
matters in the Act which he had no occasion to trouble
them with. Perhaps there were some points which had
been overlooked ; but these, in a few months, would be re-
medied. In carrying this Act of Parliament into effect,
considering the vast variety of important subjects, it was a
matter of surprise that so much had been effected. The
Learned Recorder then proceeded to detail the cases which
would come before them, and he should advise them in the
most important cases to find true bills—and let the offences
come before another tribunal. The Learned Recorder con-
cluded his address by thanking the Grand Jury for so nu-
merous an attendance from the different counties.
The Petit JuiT, consisting of three persons from each
county, was then sworn in.
Mr. Barber Beaumont here applied to the Court to be
allowed to go away. He was a Magistrate of Middlesex
and Westminster, and had other duties to perform. He
considered it was very hard that county Magistrates should
be obliged to attend for the purpose of seeing if they were
required on the Grand Jury when their presence was re-
quired elsewhere.
...The RECORDER observed that the gentlemen summoned
were taken fairly from the various counties, and there were
a sufficient number of. Magistrates left to perform the busi-
ness at the Quarter Sessions.
Mr. B. Beaumont—l have to attend to-day at the
County Court, Middlesex, on the new Act relative to the
weights and measures ; and there are twelve Magistrates
required to be in attendance before a Court can be formed.
The LORD MAYOR observed that it was improper of any
gentleman to interrupt the business of the Court.
The RECORDER here said that those gentlemen who had
not been called could leave the Court.
The Grand Jury here entered the Court with some true
bills.

Ann Mahony, a young woman, was indicted for stealing
two rings and other articles of jewellery, and some wearing
apparel, the property of Mrs. Ann Jury, her mistress, of
No. 33, Bishopsgate-street.
The prisoner made no defence, and the Jury instantly
found her Guilty.
About three o'clock the RECORDER remarked to the
Jury there being nothing just then before the Court they
could retire, if they wished, for a short time.
Mr. PHILLIPS here made some remarks on the subject to
the Recorder in a low tone of voice.
The RECORDER—It is an arrangement of the Judges
and not one of mine, and those cases are taken for the pur-
pose of enabling the Judges to come here on Wednesday
to try the serious charges.
Mr. PHILLIPS—By these delays, my Lord, there will be
an enormous expense incurred to the county by the end of
the year ; besides, we are obliged to attend.
The RECORDER—If this mode of proceeding should be
found practically inconvenient it can be amended at a fu-
ture time. It is the wish of the Court to attend to the
c•nvenience of the Bar.
Mr. PHILLIPS thought there was no occasion for any
delay.
After some further remarks from the Bar,
The RECORDER said that he would most willingly assist
the Bar in making arrangements for facilitating the busi-
ness ; he, however, thought that the business of the Coun-
ties ought to have the priority for the purpose of lessening
the expenses. He should wish, as in the superior Courts,
a list of the cases to be laid before the Bench.
Mr. PHILLIPS—AS it used to be, my Lord, but I have
no doubt that the Bill will work well.
The Grand Jury here came in with some further bills,
and the Court then proceeded on with the trials.
About half-past four o'clock Mr. Doane inquired of the
Recorder if the Court contemplated sitting after five o'clock.
The RECORDER—It 1S very probable it will, for Mr. Ser-
jeant Arabin has made arrangements to come here at that
hour ; but how long it will sit afterwards I cannot say.
The Court then proceeded to try a case of pot-stealing,
in which the prisoner was found Guilty.
At five o'clock the RECORDER informed the Court that
as the Grand Jury had broken up the Court would now
adjourn ; and it was his wish to inform those gentlemen who
were summoned for Grand Jurors that the reason of their
being called together on a Monday was for the purpose of
enabling them to be discharged during the current week.
From the rapid manner they had found bills the two Courts
would be enabled to sit to-morrow (this day), and on
Wednesday some of the serious cases would be ready to
come on before the Judges. For the purpose of preventing
any delay those gentlemen who had been summoned on
either Juries would be pleased to attend at half-past nine
o'clock to-morrow (this day.)
The Court was then adjourned.
The High Sheriff of the county of Kent was not in at-
tendance in consequence of the death of his son.