The Sun.
London, England, 1833-12-25 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

A pamphlet has been sent to us purporting to
he a refutation of the calumnies against the
Lord Chancellor which are contained in the last
number of the Quarterly Review ; and, after a
careful perusal, we are bound to say the writer
has well performed his task, though we do not
in all points agree with him. The pamphlet on
the Reform Ministry and the Reformed Parlia-
ment was taken as the text for a long article in
the last number of the Quarterly Review, of
which 15 pages out of 31 are devoted to
" Brougham and Law Reforms." It is not our
intention to discuss the merits or the vices of
Lord Brougham's Reforms,—hut as the article
contains some startling facts and assertions,
which, if true, would reflect little credit on his
Lordship, the author of the " refutation" has
done good service in exposing the falsehood of
them. It is not with the arguments of the
reviewer that we are to deal ; the reader is ca-
pable of forming his own opinion as to their
merit, and though not likely to be led away by
false reasoning, none can guard against being
deceived by false statements. The review con-
tains some eight or ten heads of assertion or
misstatement, the falsehood of every one of which
has, we think, been most satisfactorily shown.
This is done, not by mere counter-assertion,
which would have been worth little, but in every
case by a careful reference to authentic docu-
ments, and to facts the truth of which no one,
not even a reviewer in the Quarterly, can have
the hardihood to deny. The first charge of the
reviewer is the appointment by the Lord Chan-
cellor of his brother, Mr. James Brougham, to
two sinecure places, worth 2,8001. a year, not-
withstanding the Chancellor had expressed his
determination to abolish all sinecures belonging
to the Great Seal ; and, next, that the Chancellor
was not entitled to the praise given to him for
having voluntarily given up the patronage of
sinecure places to the amount of 25,000/. a
year, his salary having been fixed at 14,000/. a
year, and 1,000/. a year added to his retiring
pension, on the recommendation of a Committee
of the House of Commons, in consideration of his
giving up the patronage of these very offices—that
Mr. Jas. Brougham, though appointed, had no
vested title to the places, and therefore no merit in
riot claiming compensation, and that it was a gross
deception to laud the disinterestedness of Lord
Brougham and his brother. " What a pity,"
adds the reviewer, " that the facts do not bear
out the eulogium !" Now, all this is very art-
fully put, and the only objection to it is, that
it is not true ; no, not one word of it. The
Chancellor, on coming into office, expressed
from the very beginning his strong opinion that
it was unseemly that the first law officer of the
state should he paid by fees, and should have,
as part of the emoluments of office the disposal
of sinecures to the amount of 25,000/. a year
for the support of his family. These, however,
had been enjoyed by all preceding Chancellors,
d at the time he spoke Lord Eldon's son,
amongst other places, held two, of the value
of 2,800/. a_year. Before the Bill was brought
in to abolish these places Mr. Scott died,
and as there were some duties attached to the
office which it was necessary should be per-
formed, the Chancellor, that he might be sure of
not having any claim for compensation brought
forward, if he appointed a stranger, gave the
places to his brother as a locum tenens. Now,
as to Mr. James Brougham's vested right to
these—the offices not having been abolished,
and no Bill having been brought in for the
purpose—no one could doubt that they were
clearly in the Lord Chancellor's gift, as much
as they had been in. that of Lord Eldon ;
neither, however, could any one doubt but that
the Lord Chancellor never would have stooped
to avail himself of his right after what he had
said. What was the fact, as testified by Lord
Grey and the Duke of Richmond in the House
of Lords ? Why, that Lord Brougham had,
on the day of' the death of Mr. Scott, declared
his determination to proceed to abolish the
places, and without any reservation to himself
of' those which had fallen vacant. And what
was done ? Why, all the places, to the
amount of 25,000/. a year and upwards, were cut
away, and no compensation to Mr. Brougham
even whispered at, though all the others who
had sinecures had it to the utmost farthing.
Either, therefore, Lord Grey and the Duke of
Richmond declared that which was false, or the
Quarterly Review has made an assertion which
it cannot support. Would not an ordinary
reader, however, when he sees it gravely stated
that the salary of the Lord Chancellor was fixed
at fourteen thousand pounds a year, and the re-
tiring salary increased on a report of a Com-
mittee of the House of Commons, and in con-
sideration of his giving up the patronage of these
offices, suppose there must be some ground for
such an assertion ? Yet there is no shadow of
pretence for it. What is the fact ? Why,
there is not a word stated in the report as to
giving up this patronage—nay, the very reasons
for fixing the salary are distinctly stated, and
amongst them there is not a word to bear
out the assertion of the reviewer ; nor, indeed,
is it likely, for it was shown to the committee
that the salary of the Lord Chancellor had
averaged above 14,500/. a year—nay, that,
taking the average of 8 or 10 years, it was
17,000/. a year ; and that in the years 1810 and
1811 the emoluments were 22,737/.135. ! The
Bills fixing the salary and increasing the retiring
pension were separate ; and that, giving the in-
creased retiring pension was not passed till after
the places had been abolished ; and yet the re-
viewer, knowing all these circumstances, in addi-
tion to the sneer we have already quoted, de-
signates the evidence of the Chancellor, given
before the Committee of the House of Commons,
respecting the amount of the Chancellor's emo-
luments " as talking over the salarieicommittee
delightfully," and the whole plan for giving up
the patronage as " bargains," for the undue aug-
mentation of his present and future emoluments.
The reviewer says," the Upper Whigs are ashamed
of these transactions. It is clear, however, that
the Upper Tories do not sympathize with the
reviewer. What said the Duke of Wellington
when the Bill to abolish these sinecures was
brought in ? Why, ,4 that he considered the
Bill was thus hastily brought forward from a high
sense of honour on the part of the Lord Chan-
cellor, to relieve himself; unnecessarily as ap-
peared to hint, from the supposed imputation of
,
his intending to continue the offices in exist-
ence." There may, fbr ought We know, be upper
k
and lower Whigs, but it is quite clear there are
tipper and lower Tories, and that the Duke
and the reviewer are in different grades. We
have thus dealt with the first head of charge, and
shall return to the others in a day or two, as
whatever relates to the uprightness and honour
of public men at the head of affairs, and more
capeciall_y, of those connected with the adminis„
(:eti
't77l I:F7';

tration of justice, is a matter of interest and
importance to Times.
It is time that the Dissenters should exert
themselves, by simultaneous meetings in all parts
of the country, to obtain the early attention of
the approaching meeting of Parliament, to those
remaining grievances under which they labour,
and from which the repeal of the Test and Cor-
poration Acts did not set them free. It will be
known to our readers, through a recent report,
that a deputation of the Dissenters of Manches-
ter waited on Mr. Poulett Thomson, their re-
presentative, during his late visit to that town,
in order to make him acquainted with the
amount of the evils which they complain of,
and of the redress which they require. A
similar course might be advantageously pur-
sued by them, with regard to other Mem-
bers of Parliament, in all the other cities and
counties of the empire. This explicit and
decided proceeding will insure a correct and
authenticated representation, through the Legis-
lature, of their grievances and their views. We
have indeed had our attention lately drawn to
recent publications, in which both are categori-
cally stated, but which by no means possess the
sanction of that unanimous concurrence of the
whole body of Dissenters which so serious
and important a matter demands. On the
contrary, in the publications referred to, we
have seen demands urged by the authors which
would, by their excess, defeat the object of the
powerful and respectable class from whom they
are assumed to emanate ; and ecclesiastical
innovations suggested, which, however much
in concurrence with the wants of the age and
the feelings of the country at large, consti-
tute a summary of grievances rather peculiar
to the whole social community than to the Dis-
senters. They are therefore unwisely mixed up
with those admitted and exclusive wrongs and
disabilities under which the Dissenters are, at
present, oppressed. There cannot be a doubt
that the whole nation desires, and will finally
obtain, a restoration of the framework of Chris-
tianity to the original purity and unworldliness
of its beautiful. model and design, by the dis-
sociation of those things which have polluted
and perverted it with the worldliness, selfishness,
ostentation, and idolatry of lucre it commenced
with denouncing—namely, tithes, political do-
mination, and enormous funds, of which rapa-
cious demerit appropriates the largest share—
while labouring merit mendicates for the smallest.
But this most indispensable and most vital re-
form is the right of every individual in the
nation. It is a reform at once moral, social, and
political, as well as religious, and not peculiar
to any sectarian body, but to the universal inte-
rests of Christianity itself. The grievances and
claims of the dissenters arise, on the other hand,
out of obsolete penal statutes, and are peculiar
to themselves. They are perfectly intelligible in
their vicious civil operation ; they may be briefly
stated ; and it is injuring their cause essentially
to distract the attention of their stanch friends, or
exasperate the jealous fears of their powerful
enemies, by mixing them up with abuses of
a wider grasp, or with remedies of a more un-
limited extent. Their claims are—first, to ce-
lebrate their marriages in their own churches,
by their own clergymen ; secondly, to keep the
registers of their own births and marriages in
their own families ; thirdly, to be disburdened
from the unjust imposition of being compelled
to support the churches of another richly-en-
dowed establishment, and which they never
enter ; fourthly, the exclusion of their children
from a university education (founded for the
benefit of the nation generally by Catholics),
through the obstruction of that episcopal
Shibboleth, devoted to perjury, superstition,
and absurdity, entitled the thirty-nine Ar-
ticles. That these are grievances of the most
humiliating and oppressive character will not,
for an instant, be disputed by any individual
who estimates the most sacred institutions of
domestic life, or who appreciates, as he ought,
the character and privileges which ought to
dignify and elevate the name of a British citi-
zen. The claim to remove them is, therefore,
a demand of justice; but it is not, we grant,
therefore, certain of acquisition. Assuasive
hints have been thrown out by one party that
the church is too wise to oppose obstacles to
the just demands of the Dissenters. We
believe that the church will fight the battle of
prejudice and of antiquated predominance to
the last ditch. On the other hand, the Dis-
senters are told by the stand still party, to rely
implicitly on the efforts of Brougham, Russell,
Althorp, and Holland, who have ever been
their friends, and not launch forward their de-
mands too vehemently into the capricious tide
of the great social movement. For our part we
recommend the Dissenters to rely on no friends
but themolves—to rely on nothing but their
own discretion and their own exertions. No
Minister or authority ever assists, or ever as-
sisted, a party or individual till the latter
(acting on the advice of Jove to the coun-
tryman) exhibited the will and power to
assist himself. The Dissenters have been
supine long enough, and the whole country
is indebted to them for the patriotic cause of
their supineness. It was for the purpose of
more effectually co-operating in bursting the
chains of the nation—by contributing to carry
the Reform Bill—that they, for three years, have
remained so passive under the galling weight of
their own penal chains ; but the necessity for it
exists no longer, and knowing that they can in-
jure no great or good cause by their further
silence, they ought to unite, as one man, for the
attainment of the great end in view. They
have a host, indeed, against them in the Church
and in the House of Lords ; but they have also
hosts in favour of their claims ; and, above all,
they have public opinion, which, in these times,
neither the present, or any other, Government
can long withstand.—Morning Advertiser.

The disasters at sea have this year been fright-
fully numerous. There are at Boulogne alone no less than
300 children who have lost their fathers since the com-
mencement of the herring season.— Galignani's Mes-
senger.

CURLING.—On Friday the 13th, the ice on
the curling pond of Dunblane was so strong, that a re-
gular game was played by a number of the Club on that
day—being the first announced this season as having been
played on a❑ ordinary pond in the "gude auld way,"
north of the Forth.—Scotsman.

SINGULAR ANNOUNCEMENT.—We are far
from disposed, at any time, to treat sacred things or places
with the slightest degree of lightness ; but we really
believe the most pious would have smiled at the following
incident which occurred in our church a few weeks ago.
The clerk had to announce that a new rate had been made,
at so much in the pound, (sure to be high enough for the
payers ) and thus it occurred :—He first gave out the
Psalm (122 N. V.) then the announcement of the new
Levy made upon his attentive hearers—instantly after this
notice (amounting to " prepare your pockets,") he opened,
with a loud voice, the first line of the Psalm, " 0 'twas
a joyful sound to hear!"—Tbese words immediately fol-
lowing the former had an indescribable effect,-- Warwick
Advertiser.

VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT, DEC. 24

THE EARL OF RIPON V. HOBART.

The further arguments in this case, which was an
application for au injunction to restrain the de•
fendants from erecting steam engines for the pur•
pose of draining certain low lands in the district of
Nocton, in Lincolnshire, were proceeded with.
Mr. KINDERSLEY and Mr. KEAN addressed the
Court on behalf of the defendants, the commis-
sioners for draining the Nocton district, Sir E.
SUGDEN having been heard on the same side the
last day the case was before the Court.

Mr. PEPI'S replied.
His HoNourt gave judgment, refusing to grant
the injunction, but giving the plaintiffs, who are the
general commissioners for the drainage of lands in
Lincolnshire, liberty to bring any action that they
might be advised for any damage sustained in con-
sequence of the proceedings of the defendants.
The Court rose at half•past three o'clock for the
Christmas vacation, after having disposed of several
other motions of no public importance. His Ho-
nour will not sit again till the first day of Hilary
Term, Jan. 11.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, DEC. 24.

(Before Mr. Commissioner PANE.)
JOHN BARENBURG'S BANKRUPTCY.

1 The bankrupt in this case was a tobacconist in
Bloomfield-street, Finsbury, and the proceedings
under the fiat were chiefly remarkable for the ex-
traordinary contradictory nature of the evidence as
to the property, consisting of segars, &c., which
were removed from the bankrupt's house after he
had committed an act of bankruptcy. Nearly the
whole parties concerned in removing the property,
as well as the bankrupt are of the Jewish persua-
sion. The examinations have been going on during
many days, and some curious facts were elicited.
The Learned Commissioner fixed this day for giving
judgment in the case.
The question before the Court was, whether the
bankrupt had given such a statement of his pro-
perty, as would entitle him to pass his final exami-
nation.

Mr. Commissioner FANT, said, an undue prefe-
rence had been given to creditors in this case, and
the books, for purposes best known to the bank-
rupt, had been placed in the hands of one who
possessed a knowledge of chymical manipulation, or
the art of making ink on written papers appear of
different ages. Bankrupts were required to give up
and account for their property; but here about 1401.
or 1601. worth of property was missing, and wholly
unaccounted fur. Under all the circumstances the
Court could not sign the bankrupt's certificate, and
his final examination must be adjourned sine die.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HOUSE.

A watchman of Portsoken Ward was charged be-
fore the LORD MAYOR by the constable of the night,
with having acted " obstropulously" and " blas-
phemed" Alderman Johnson.
The constable stated that the defendant was a
great spouter, and opposed the return of Alderman
Johnson. That, however, was nothing if he had
kept his politics out of the watchhouse ; but having
drank too much " heavy," he strutted into the
place of repose for the guardians of the night, and
began to curse Alderman Johnson in such a manner
that it was imposs,ble to listen with common pa-
tience to such " horrid blasphemy." When he got
tired of blaspheming the Alderman, he set-to at
blessing Alderman Scales, so that it was hard to say
which was worst, the curses or the blessings, the
row was so tremendous. As such exercise of the

lungs added to the drunkenness of the defendant, it
was thought necessary to take care of him for the
night, but he had not at all lost any of his party
spirit by the sleep.

The defendant said it was all nonsense to say that
old Johnson was an Alderman. He might be an
Alderman's Alderman, but he certainly was not a
freeman's Alderman. Michael Scales was the real
bone fried Alderman.
.._

Constable—There's the way he goes on, your
Lordship, calling the Alderman " Ould Johnson."
A common individual might talk that way, but
for a watchman to blaspheme an Alderman it's
what ought to be punishable by the law of the
land.—(Laughter.)
Defendant said—What do you know about law ?
I say that Alderman Scales is the Alderman as
right as a trivet, and I'm blest if he an't showing
'em a taste of the law every day. He'll come
down upon 'em with a " fiery fashus," as 'll give
'em a reg'lar double twister. Blest if they'll get
out on it.

The LORD MAYOR-It is evident, defendant,
that you are not sober yet, and certainly such a
man is not fit for the situation of watchman; for

instead of keeping the peace you have been doing
all you could to break it.

Defendant—Why, my Lord, 1 have a good right
to blow up ould Mr. Johnson.—(Laughter.) You
see, my Lord, he wanted to show how hospitable
he could be, and he sent the beadle round to say
that he had paid a round sum for shins of beef to
make broth for the poor people. So I sends my
wife for a pint or two of the broth, for I thought
it was like other broth ; but a spoonful of it was
enough to poison the devil.—(Laughter.)
The LORD MAYOR—I desire that you will not
make any more insolent observations. Your habits
are such as render you quite unfit for the protection
of the public.
Defendant--Why, my Lord, my wife and me and
the youngsters supped a little of the stuff, and, my
eyes, what we did suffer. Begging your Lordship's
pardon, we all on us was so bad that we laid down
on a clean bed and got up out of a dirty one.--.
(Laughter.) You never seed sich a conwicted go.
The constable said that the watchman insulted
the Alderman's broth in the watchhouse every bit
as much as he did at that moment, although it was
very nourishing.
Defendant—Ay, ay. I wish you nourished your
bowels with a 'Jason of it, and I'm blest if you'd
care who'd be Alderman long.—(A laugh.) if
it wouldn't rake you as it did me and my
poor family I'm not a living man now, which I am,
blessed be God, in spite of it.

The LORD MAYOR—Get away; you are the last
man whom I would allow to be connected in any
way with the police, and I shall write to the Ward
authorities my opinion of you.
The defendant retired, and upon getting outside
he gave three cheers for Alderman Scales, and
" blasphemed" Alderman Johnson and his broth in
such a manner as really quite shocked the hearers.
The Churchwarden of St. Mary Magdalen was
summoned for having refused to obey the order of
the Loid Mayor, which called upon him to relieve
an old man named George Green, and his wife, who
are claimants upon that parish.
Mr. Ellis, one of the officers of St. Catherine's,
Coleman-street, produced the neglected order of
the Lord Mayor and Alderman Lucas, and said that
the poor woman was quite a cripple, and obliged to
drag her limbs after her; and that the churchwarden
refused to take them into the workhouse, or do any
more for them than give them a shilling for support,.
and a shilling for the conveyance of the wretched
woman back to the place upon which neither had
any claim.
Green, about eighteen months ago, had received
about 1301., which had been bequeathed to him ;
but his wife's and his own illness had swallowed
up the amount. His wife not being able to move,
they were obliged to support and pay a nurse, and
to have several additions to their expenses, and they
msounifit he si
were now totally destitute. He had been himself
dreadfullyface aiand
(y Tt
testified
fiman's
the fact.) generalil l
ts
these
fifteenappearance
Mr. Ellis knew that the complainant had paid
fourteen shillings a week for medical treatment for
his wife.

The LORD MAYOR—Suppose, Mr. Churchwar-
den, this poor woman had died on being huddled

back from her parish, of which you ara7one of
the officers, how do you think you would have got
over such an occurrence as that ? It is evident
this poor man has done all he could for his wife,
and that he has expended every halfpenny he was
possessed of; and when he applies to you under
such doubly deplorable circumstances, you abandon
him and his helpless partner to the streets.
Churchwarden—lf I knowed they was distressed,
my Lord, why I'd rather relieve 'em from my own
pocket ; but I thought, as they got so much money,
they had no claim.
The LORD MAYOR—WeII, then, exercise your
mind a little more humanely in future. I recom-
mend it to you to give this poor couple additional
comforts in consideration of the trouble and anxiety
you have given them.
Churchwarden—l'll take them in, my Lord, as
it's your wish.
The LORD MAYOR—It is my order.
G UILDHALL.

A respectable-looking old gentleman, whose name
and address did not transpire, presented himself,
and afrer a most courteous obeisance to Mr. Alder-
man SMITH, said his heart was breaking, and he had
come to ask his Worship's advice.
The old gentleman proceeded to relate that some
weeks ago the wife of his brother-in•law (a high-
feeding old man, who had been pensioned off from
the Excise) was seized with a dangerous illness, and
sent her daughter to beg applicant's wife to come
and attend her. In such an emergency he thought
it his duty to permit her to go, and she remained
with her dying sister• until she expired, a period of
nearly two months. After this event had occurred
he expected his wife to return to her home, but she
had chosen to remain with the widower ; and al-
though he ought not to speak of such things, he
must be pardoned for saying she was a wicked wo-
man, and his heart was almost broken.
" Pray what is her age ?" inquired Mr. Alderman
" Turned of sixty, Sir," replied the old gentle-
man ; "but in spite of her age I assure you she is
wickedly inclined."
" I am truly sorry to hear it," said the Magistrate,
" but if she stays at your brother-in-law's of her own
accord how can I help you ?"
" I am almost distracted," said the old gentle-
man. " She has had a family by me, and brought
the children up. I have two of my daughters, now
forty years of age, hanging upon me still ; and, I
would ask, should I not he justified in advertising
in the newspapers the misconduct of my wife ? I
expect her here every moment:4
" Indeed I" said the Alderman, " then we had
better wait till she arrives. I presume you are the
elder of the two ?"
" By ten years," answered the old gentleman.
" And what sort of man is your brother-in-law ?"
" About her own age," replied the unhappy hus-
band ; "but he lives luxuriously, and she tells me
that most men in London manage to pay attentions
to some married woman or other."
" Surely you are not so silly," observed the Nla-
gistrate, " as to believe there is the least truth in
that tale ?"
" Indeed I do," said the old gentleman.
" I never heard such nonsense in my life," said
the Alderman, "you had better say no more til
your wife comes in."

Shortly afterwards the suspected lady made her
appearance. She was ordinary in her features, her
body bending with age, and her voice as tremulous
as the tones of Paganini's Witches of Benevento.
Any man would have been more ready to bet that
she was nearer seventy than sixty.
" Good woman," said Mr. Alderman SMITH,
" your husband has been making a strange charge
of incontinence against you."

" I know what the -charge is," said the afflicted
lady, "and I am ready to take my oath this mo•
ment that I am quite innocent. I attended my dying
sister, and I thought it would only be kind to stay
two or three days after death to set things in order ;
but in consequence of some foolish dreams my hus-
band had he turned jealous and sent for me home.
I returned to him immediately."
" But why did not you stop with your bus band?"
" So I did," said she. " I have been home with
him these six years. Why should I stay from
my home ? We have been married six-and-forty
years, and my husband has never had a day's illness."
" What the deuce does the man want ?" said the
Alderman. "He has his wife at home, and she has
accounted for her absence."

The old gentleman was not satisfied. There
was no believing his wife even when she spoke the
truth, in the first place. Then his wife had pub-
lished to the neighbours that he slept in a separate
bed. The intention of that was easily seen through.
Thirdly, her sister had always been suspected by
her husband ; and, lastly, his wife had confessed
that married ladies in general were not very parti-
cular in some matters.

" Was her sister something like your wife here ?"
asked the Alderman.

"Just such another," said the old gentleman.
" Oh !go home, Sir" replied the magistrate.
" Don't let the world see how foolish you are."
"Don't, for heaven's sake, expose yourself any
more in this room," said the chief clerk. " I re-
member you, Sir. Pray go home and be quiet.
Believe me, your mind is affected."
The old gentleman stared for a moment on hear-
ing this, as if he had some misgivings about his in-
tellects, and then, bowing to the chair, he and his
old dame toddled out of the room together.