The Sun.
London, England, 1834-03-29 00:00:00

WEST LOTHIAN GRAND STEEPLE CHASE.

This sporting event, which created much interest for some
weeks, came off on Friday last.—Seventeen horses were en-
tered, of which twelve came to the post, viz. :—Mr. Wilkie's
Polygar, ridden by Mr. Angus; Mr. Scott's Bob Shotts, ridden
by Mr. W. Spiers; Mr. Ferme's Ayrshire's Pride, ridden by
owner; Mr. Bonar's Kitty, ridden by Mr. Austin; Mr.
Henry's Ruby, ridden by owner; Mr. Daly's Adjutant, ridden
by Mr. Butler; Mr. Maxwell's gr. g. by M'Orville, ridden by
Captain Raite ; Mr. Ramsay's Albion, ridden by Mr. T. Spiers;
Mr. Craig's Will.o'-the-Wisp, ridden by owner; Mr. Brown
named Harry Roe, ridden by Mr. Ainsworth; Mr. Laing's
Linkboy, ridden by owner; Mr. Powell's Shark, ridden by
owner. _ _

The starting point was in a large field to the west of Linhouse
Mill, across a line of country admirably chosen. The first two
miles were over rising ground, large cultivated fields, with
some good hunting fences, and two or three regular bullfinchers.
The course then crossed a small plantation, along the foot of
the Corston Hill, through a deep meadow, with a large yawner
at the extremity, which led into an open moor, with a flight of
hurdles, and several newly made up fences. The winning
flags were placed in a large field to the east of the lane leading
to Little Vantage-road.
The crowd was immense, and intense anxiety was manifested
for the start, which took place a few minutes after three.
The horses got well away together. Albion swerved in the
second field, ran the wrong side of a flag, and was obliged to
turn and retrace his steps. He soon, however, made up his
ground, and on rising the hill, showed in front, closely followed
by Will-o'.the-Wisp and Linkboy. Soon after leaving the
meadow, Will-o'-the. Wisp took the lead, which he maintained
till the fourth fence from home, where he jumped short and
gave his rider an ugly fall. Albion again came forward, but
in the last field, before reaching the lane, he again took the
wrong side of one of the flags, which gave a decided advantage
to Linkboy, who came in first by four or five lengths. On
going to the scales, the winner was found to be four pound
short of weight, on which the Umpire adjudged the stakes to
Albion, Harry Roe second, the others not placed. Albion
was admirably steered by Mr. Thomas Spiers, he showed
decided superiority throughout, and it was evident to all, that
had he not ran on the wrong side of the flags, he must have
won easy. The pace was tremendous, the four miles having
been done in fourteen minutes and ten seconds.

Before starting the Adjutant and the M'Orville horse had
many friends, but the pace was too much for them. Polygar
ran a good horse, considering he carried 13 pounds above the
weight. Harry Roe did wonders for his size and condition, and
proved himself an uncommon game horse. Will.o'-the- Wisp,
who was in the first-rate order, would, in all probability, have
been second, had he not fallen so near home. The rest of the
field were beat a long way. The winner was bred by Lord
Dundas. He is by Woldsman, his dam by Oberon. We un-
derstand that Mr. Ramsay has since sold him for 200 guineas.

ATTEMPT to BREAK out of NEWGATE.

On Monday last Mr. Cope, the Governor of New-
gate, discovered the twelve transports, who have been
for the last eight months confined in the gaol, had
made very effectual preparations to break out of the
north side of the prison. Upon going round the pri-
son, the Governor ascertained that the water-closets ,
in the immediate neighbourhood of the tranwits,
room were choked up, and si i
structions were_cinsed„by srigigniktit the ob-
structions of rubbish which
ihlighi'llaVe been removed from the walls, proceeded to
the apartment of the twelve persons who have been
for so long a period remaining under sentence. He
observed no confusion amongst them, but upon putting
his hand under the matting which hung against the
wall of the prison close to the Old Bailey, he found
that the brickwork was loose, and upon pulling out
one brick a number of others tumbled out, followed by
an immense quantity of old mortar. " Oh," said the con-
victs, " it's nothing but a little damp. It was that that
gave us all such violent colds." Mr. Cope, upon fur-
ther examination, found that a little more skilful la- '
bour would have supplied his prisoners with the
means of escape, for they had managed to destroy
all the brickwork between the apartment and the
large stones which compose the exterior of the build-
ing, and had cut round one of the stones so completely
that they could see everything that was passing in the
street, immediately beneath the apartment, which is
about 15 or 16 feet from the level of the pavement.
Of the matting they had commenced the construction
of a rope, with which, as they subsequently acknow-
ledged, they intended to pull the stone into the prison ;
to accomplish which they had chipped away a consi-
derable part of the interior edges. All this must have
been effected in less than two hours and a half, but the
rapidity of the job will not cause any astonishment
when it is considered that there were amongst the con-
victs three or four bricklayer's labourers, two masons, a
carpenter, and the rest, no doubt, soon improved under
such scientific tuition. It is calculated that only two
hours' industry would, with such hands, have enabled
them to let themselves down into the street. Indeed,
they admitted the fact themselves, and added that they
were determined to get out, as they were illegally de-
tained in prison, and could not be blamed, after so long
an imprisonment, for making any experiment of the kind.
The twelve transports are, it appears, of the number of
those who were found guilty at the celebrated Middle-
sex Sessions, under the strange circumstances of "the
mistake," and having been given to understand that
several persons who had been found guilty before the
incompetent tribunal of that period were at liberty and
following their old trade, they thought they were as
well entitled to another chance as the more fortunate
thieves who enjoyed the benefit of the error of their
worships. Each of the large stones in the front of the
prison weighs upwards of 7 cwt., and if they could not
have pulled it in, or contrived to chip away a sufficient
quantity to enable them to get their bodies through, it
was their intention to push it out, notwithstanding the
alarm which the fall of so enormous a bulk must have
given. It is calculated from these circumstances that
the transports would have made a most desperate re-
sistance, if they bad succeeded so far as to get into
the street. They were resolved to stick together, and
plead a strong justification in the defective nature of
their convictions. _

The late Governor of Newgate used often to com-
plain of the long period of confinement in Newgate
which convicts were to suffer before their sentences
were carried into execution. It of necessity occurred,
that some of the most desperate villains were con-
stantly associated together, and their invention was
always at work upon the sole question of the means of
escape. It was, however, found to be useless labour to
complain of the danger and inconvenience resulting
from the system of allowing transports to remain long
in Newgate after conviction. This attempt to escape
will no doubt revive the consideration of the expe-
diency of making the punishment awarded speedily
follow the sentence. It is now well known that Go-
vernment intend to abandon the hulk system gradually,
a fair trial having been given to it, and without pro-
ducing the advantages which had been anticipated by
the projectors of such a plan of mock transportation ;
and it is believed that transports will be sent at once
out of the country, in accordance with the terms of
their sentences.
It is rather singular that the judges have not de-
cided upon the question submitted to them, whether the
twelve prisoners who made the attempt to escape shall
or shall not be tried for the offences of which they were
found guilty without the necessary forms at the Middle-
sex Sessions.

STATE OF THE PRESS IN HOLLAND.

THE HAGUE, MARCH 25.—An opinion still
pretty generally prevails among foreigners that the
press is in fetters here. The fact is, that is more
free than in England. There exists a penal legisla-
tion against seditious libels here as there, but it
is less severe, and, moreover, far less severely admi-
nistered. The total amount of the imprisonments
inflicted upon De Potter and his coadjutors during
the preparation of the insurrection does not reach
to what has been suffered by Carlile alone. The
latter was carrying on a business worth 50/. a month,
according to the statement made by himself, with
a view to show the extent of his losses, and there-
fore made up liberally, as is to be presumed. He
was fined 1,000/., making about the double of his
yearly receipts. De Potter was certainly not a man
of such opulence as he boasted of at the time ; but
he may have had a clear income of 9,000 florins, ra-
ther more than less. The largest fine he was sen-
tenced to was 1,800 florins, one-fifth of his income.
Neither is a prosecution against a newspaper
followed here by a refusal of stamps, which is tanta-
mount to a prohibition, as is the law, if not in Eng-
land, at least " in that part of the United Kingdom
called Ireland." In defiance of all prosecutions and
condemnations, the Courrier des Pays-bas never was
interrupted for a single day.
Nor is a newsvender, or newsvenders, as many

there may be, liable to a prosecution here solely, for
distributing journals. The Dutch law says
" When the author is unknown, or not amenable,
the printer shall be respon, ible." And the practice
of the Superior Court of the I!,;,gue has invariably
been to discharge the printer whenever the author
was brought to trial. The Superior Courts in Brus-
sels and Liege used to consider the printer as the
author's accomplice.
What, then, is it that can have given rise to the
opinion above alluded to ?
There exist in all 27 journals in the old Dutch
provinces, some published daily, the greater part only
three times a week, viz :
In North Brabant 3, the Provinciale Dagblad
van Noord Braband, the Noord-Brabander, and
the Bredasche Courant. In Gelderland 2, the
Arnhenzsche and the Nymeegsche Courant. In
Holland 13, the Anzsterdamsche Courant, Handels-
blad, Haarlenzsche Courant, Alkmaarsche Courant,
Staats Courant, Dagblad van's Gravenhage, Journal
de la Haye, Onpartydige, Letterkundig Nieuws-
blad, Rotterdanzsche Courant, r Etendard, Dor-
drechtsche Courant, and Leidsche Courant. In
Zealand 3, Middleburgsche, Zierikzeesch, and
Goesche Courant. In Utrecht 1, Utrechtsche Cou-
rant. In Friesland 1, Leeuwardsche Courant. In
Overryssel 1, Overysselche Courant. In Gronin-
gen 2, Groniger Courant, provincial and municipal.
In Drenthe 1, Drenische Courant. Of these only
eight contain political articles, which are chiefly
confined for the present to the question of the se-
paration ; three—viz., the Onpartydigey, r Eten-
dard, and the Hqndelsblad, being bent upon con-
sidering the Belgian defection as an accomplished
fact, and urging the recognition of their indepen-
dence, whilst the opposite view is taken by five—
viz., Bredasche Courant, Arnhemsche Courant,
Leeuwarder Courant, Utrechtsche Courant, and
Journal de la Haye.
None of the other papers, the official Staats Cou-
rant included, ever gives any opinion at all ; what-
ever they have to state about any occurrence of the
interior, is worded in the driest manner possible.
This entire barrenness of discussion, inquiry, and
opinions in by far the greater number of the papers,
is so striking, that an Englishman, accustomed to
the activity of political speculation, can hardly deem
it natural, and must needs suspect it to be caused
by some overweening influence.
But in reality it is nothing but the effect of habit,
dating from a by far remoter period than the pre-
sent Constitution, and having originated most likely
from the peculiar nature of the hundredfold divided
provincial and local sovereignties of the ancient re-
public, when the most trifling transactions were mat-
ters of high importance for the petty municipal po-
tentates, and secluded from the investigation of the,
vulgar eye, to keep up the official dignity. Na`''
I cannot but consider it as ^---1 empt"
traditional decorum
;41.04.,upit °`" exaction of this
unit the public is excluded, for
jinstance, r -"'„ ~
.om a sitting of the Second Chamber,
an official communication is made, which is to
'lbe published the very same evening in the Staats
Courant. There is no other reason to be assigned
for this than that their Noble Mightinesses should
be gratified with the information a few hours before
the rest of mankind.

The simplest proceedings, and such as cannot but
be generally deemed laudable, of Ministers, the
Princes, or the King, are stated, if mentioned at
all, with a remarkable attention to etiquette. Thus
all the papers uniformly said, a few days ago, that
the sum collected in Amsterdam, as is the cus-
tom annually, for the support of the poor schools
in that town, had amounted to 7,045 florins,
43 cents, including a bank-note of 1,000 florins
received at the house of Mr. A. Backer. These
1,000 florins were the King's annual dona-
tion, but it would here be deemed indecorous to
announce it as such (?). Sometimes' indeed, we
have seen similar Royal bounties mentioned in the
papers, as for the relief of the sufferers by the inun-
dations and the like ; but then it was with the evi-
dent motive to stimulate imitation, and at the same
time as a pledge for the reality of the existing dis-
tress, which perhaps you will say is the only reason
for mentioning such gifts at all. The habitual si-
lence of the greater part of the newspapers is not,
therefore, ascribable to any repressive influence, for
they give foreign news ad libitum, but without any
comment ; and perhaps I may be allowed to say
that it is not owing to the dullness of their editors ;
but it is a fact, that the press is no more arid of ori-
ginality than it was under the Republic, and in the
hands of the censors of Napoleon.
It is not the fashion here to encourage an avowed
or systematic opposition to the measures of govern-
ment, so that the Onpartydige counts no more than
400 and odd subscribers, the Etendard not sixty in
all the country. The Handelsblad upwards of 3,000
stamps daily, but owes its popularity to its really va-
luable commercial intelligence, by no means to its
politics, as has been demonstratively proved to its
editor on a certain occasion, in a manner, however,
which was most reprehensible, on the Amsterdam
Exchange.
Besides, both the Onpartydige and the Etendard
are conducted without the least display of talent.
They lately made themselves gratuitously merry, and
even the Handelsblad joined them, in animadverting
upon the present impossibility of the execution of that
part of the judgment against Polari, which orders it
to be placarded in Brussels, so ridiculous in their
opinions. Every body knows the law is imperative in
this respect, prescribing that a judgment must be pub-
lished both in the place where the sentence is pro-
nounced, and in that where the crime has been com-
mitted. The Court of Justice could not deviate
from this formality, without rendering its proceed-
ing liable to cassation. Ano less futile remark
upon the merits of the cause itself was, that the mere
possession of the stolen property, after an interval
of two years, did not constitute a proof of the pri-
soner's guilt. This certainly might have applied,
had it been a case of an ordinary nature, but the
possession of stolen property, of a value of two or
three millions of florins, was not in a like manner to
be accounted for.

I shall probably have to acquaint you with
some circumstances of this interesting trial, but this
I postpone to a following letter, in order to notice
at the same time a pamphlet relating to it, and just
advertised as being published at Rotterdam, but not
yet to be had at the booksellers here.

- --- -----
EMIGRATION.

(From the Western Mercury.)

HAMILTON, FEB. 6.—This province hav-
ing deservedly become an object of particular
attraction to the emigrants of the United King-
dom, we are anxious to communicate to them
such information as may prove useful ; and with
this intention, will occasionally publish article
which we may conceive adapted to promote the
object in view, with the hope that those London
editors to whom we send our paper, will give
them a place in their journals, in order that our
remarks may obtain general publicity through-
out the United Kingdom. In the first place
we think it necessary to observe, that, as
many emigrants from the other British pro-
vinces of North America and the United
States, annually arrive and settle here, it
is a proof so conclusive that this province is the
best part of America for emigrants to locate them-
selves in, as to render any further arguments
upon this head quite superfluous ; and that such
is the fact, no person can presume to deny. To
the capitalist, farmer, mechanic, and labourer,
this province offers every advantage that an
emigrant can have in view ; capital vested in
bank stock has hitherto yielded two dividends
yearly of 5 per cent. each ; and the new establish-
ments of this description, now about to be
formed, will afford the capitalist an opportunity
of obtaining stock at par. Banking institutions
run but little risk of loss here, the circulating
medium being totally inadequate to represent

the property and trade of the country, and the
sum to be staked on any individuairtetlttyxh'ifsiuotewemfeiname
being restricted to 500/., according to the rules
laid down by those institutions. Capitalists could
also employ their funds advantageously in pur-
chasing large tracts of wild land, dividing them
into lots of one hundred acres each, clearing
ten acres on each lot, and erecting thereon a
log-house and barn—as such properties would
command a ready sale at a remunerating price ;
and from the immense increase of population,
ysiaeyar twenty wbeenetoymper
of cent.tNsic twice
theer
valannum,wouldaetbey ar e
ai
tn fiN•pre-
sent.e Wild lands can be purchased in good
situations at 18s. sterling per acre, cleared and
fenced for 3/. 3s. per acre, and a good log-house
and barn might be built for about 401. sterling.
By the above statement the farmer will perceive
that he can obtain land in perpetuity, cleared
and ready for a crop, at the rate of 4/. Is,
sterling per acre, free of rent and subject t 6 nd •
tax whatever, save one penny per acre annually
which goes to defrtiy the expenses of the dis-
trict, and not to the Government—the latter
being chiefly supported by a duty of two and
a half per' cent. levied off goods landed at the
littlep or ports
labour of
tiie Montrealland
n andd
will
a Ql
pureobdeucc.
e IW,26itOhlbsv.eoryf
wheat to the acre, and a proportionate quantity
of rye, oats, potatoes, or Indian corn ; but
should the farmer choose to bestow much labour
upon it, he might procure considerably more ;
however, this might not prove advisable, as
farming labourers obtain from 11.165. to 21.145.
sterling per month; beside board and washing ;
and wheat at present is worth only 4s. sterling
per bushel of.6olbs. Generally speaking, mer-
cantile men succeed well art this province,
though in some parts businee; is rather
over-done ; however, the quick
of population and improvement will c iickely
growth
remedy this evil, and make room ~..'
many more than we have at present, particularly
if emigrants pour in upon us as they have done
for the last three years, and why they should not
we can see no reason, but the contrary, as those
emigrants who have settled here during that pe-
riod will, no doubt, consider it their_ (I,iki- dna now
prise their friends of the sum - .'_`.`"
-...8-iterior advantages this
• It_ ~....,y io ap-
province affork,tr .. -
4 , . _ ,6 emigrants over every other
Fsar", °,Xila' erica. Mechanics of every descrip-
tion obtain constant employment in all parts of
this province, at ss. Bd. to 6s. 9d. per day
without board ; and to master tailors, saddlers,
and cabinet-makers of moderate capital, this
town affords a most excellent prospect of ac-
quiring an independence in a few years ; and such
may rest assured, that they would be welcomed
with ample and liberal patronage and encou-
ragement. As there were but few of the labour-
ing
0
class among the emigrants of last season,
there is now a general want of such, and a larger
number would find employment in this town
and to the westward of it, at good wages. Here
they are paid 3s. 6d. sterling per day, without
board, and the immense number of buildings to
be erected next season, would afford employ-,
ment to a considerable number, in addition td
what we already have. To brewers, tannefsi
taut tartaecdtioonn t
ht that abt
and millers, this town also offers every
border
rn
ofbeßudrleisnigretot
Bay,lt
i a s
nrhlmusisricco:iehhri--e.
.1
,har-
bour of Lake Ontario, in which the whole British
navy might rendezvous secure from every wind
that blows, and commanding a water communi-
cation with all the towns and villages on the
borders of Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, and
the ports of Montreal and Quebec. A brewer
possessed of 7,5001. sterling, could carry on a
most profitable trade—the above mentioned na-
vigation being open to him and a country in the
rear, with a population of more than one hun-
dred thousand, with few breweries, and those
on a very limited scale. The profits of this
trade are enormous ; malt or beer not being sub-
ject to any duty, and barley being only 2s. 11d.
sterling per 481b5., while malt liquor—
not much stronger than English table-beer,
sells for 275. sterling per barrel of 32 gallons,
e
oscdm.ansmt:ii
egoa
qhntaoeutnrenwdibnaeeole carried,oeotdrihlf gaffordeobtaining
nhbteertaaofinnanosfeifpioiv :lorgi
standard measure. On the edge of Burlington-
bay
advantage,wcmuenuaoifptdaetecr rtoaucfotma-
nufactured hd communication
iegun steam-mills:nomacwoi
power might be so placed as to propel a flour,
paper, and fulling-mill, and grind malt and
cast up water for the supply of a brewery.
Tanning must also be a very profitable
trade, as raw hides are frequently sent from
this to the United States, though a great
portion of the leather used is imported
from England and the United States. . In
short, wages are high and the objects of specu-
lation so numerous and encouraging, that ten
times the money-capital this province possesses
could be employed to advantage ; and such will
continue to be the case while so much wild land
remains undisposed of, though improvement goes
on with a rapidity unexampled in any other part
of the known world. As a proof of this we
need only remark, that in the last eight years
York increased from 1,500 to 9,000 inha-
bitants ; this town (Hamilton, Gore District,)
from about 250 to 1,500 in the last four
years, and several villages containing from 50
to 150 inhabited houses, have sprung up in
the rear of this town, the sites of which were
not even marked out six years ago. And
to sum up all, in about eight years past,
the population of this province has nearly, if
not altogether, treble,d itself. Emigrants who
intend to come to this country, should invest
their money in good bills on London, at four or
six months, that they might be gaining the in-
terest during the passage, which is sometimes
tedious, and these bills they should dispose of
either at Quebec, Montreal, or New York, and
take in payment for them either notes of the
banks of Montreal or of this province. Should
they sell their bills in New York, they would
obtain a high premium upon them, say eight to
ten per cent., according to circumstances, and a
further premium on the notes of Upper Canada,
amounting to two and a half per cent. more.

PLYMOUTH, MARCH 27.—The schooner
Active Dart master, arrived here this morning ; sailed
from Lisbon on the 14th inst. She brings no political
intelligence of importance, but news of some import-
ance may be hourly expected to transpire. On the
night of the 13th a disturbance arose at Lisbon, occa-
sioned by some Polish recruits, it is said, attacking the
police. Order was restored, but not without the loss
of several lives. A battle was to have been fought on
the 15th inst. at Santarem, some account of which
might be received by the packet that was to sail on the
16th ( Sunday se'nnight), whose arrival should have
taken place ere this, as the weather has been fine. We
learn from the commander of the Active that the
people of Lisbon are by no means sanguine in their
expectation of the early termination of hostilities, and
confess their belief in the power of Don Miguel to re-
tain possession of Santarem, and a great portion of the
interior. They seem, at the same time, confident of
retaining possession of Lisbon against the forces of the
Usurper. Large arrivals had recently taken place in
the Tagus. Business was brisk ; the import trade
e pecially.