The Sun.
London, England, 1834-12-23 00:00:00

PRICES OF SHARES TIIIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK,

aid.
Aiglo Mexican Mining Company pg. P
g. at 5/. pm.) 100
I:razilian Imperial Mining Co. (Issued at 5/. pm.) 20
D.tto St. John del Rey
f:ata Bran a Mining Company .

Per share.
71fi

MAILS.
Arrived. Due. Arrived. Due Arrived. Due,
..- Amerim 0 1 France - 0 u Lisbon 1
li Brazil
6 names Ayres... I 1 Hamburg u • Mexico ..... 1
0 Carthagena. II 0 flollai:d
I Oublin Ol I Jamaica
4, Flanders Ol C Leeward Islands 0 1 Waterford....... 0

HIGH. NV t AT LONDON BRIDGE TO-MORROW.
Morning h minutes :Liter 8. I Evening. minutes after

HAMBURG, Nov: 26, 1.834.
HEINE, BROTHERS, Contractors, for the
Great Lottery, pnblished and drawn by authority and
under guarantee of the Hamburg Government, beg to inform the
public, that the 65th Lottery of 10,000 Tickets will be drawn on
the 13th of March next ; and Tickets arc now selling at 102 marks
bane», or 81. The prizes are lof 100,000, lof 50,000, lof 30,000,
1 of 20,000, 1 of 10,000, 2 of 5,000, 4 of 3,000, 7 of 2,000, 20 of
1,000, 40 of 300, and 1,500 of 102 marks, which 1,578 money
prizes are altogether stated in marks banco, and payable without any
deduction whatever; 4,000 tickets being delivered gratis to theholders
of the 2,000 first-drawn tickets, as per scheme; those purchasing
*no ticket, at the trifling cost of 81., may obtain three prizes : and
thus, if fortune prove favourable, gain 180,000 marks banco, at the
present exchange, equal to 13,000/. sterling.
Owing to the gratis tickets, the number of tickets en sal. is a
very limited one, so that, of course, they will be cleared off very ra-
pidly, and a rise in price occur very soon. Those desirous to pur-
chase at the present first price of N., aro requested to direct, by
one of the first mails, but only for whole tickets, to the above named
contractors, Heine, Brothers, in Hamburg. Those remitting a
10/. note will receive an order for the balance of 21., together with
the ticket, by return of mail; en the other hand, those preferring
to pay Heine Brothers' draft for the cost, are recommended to pay
such draft immediately when presented. A full scheme, and every
desirable information, being always sent with the tickets, those
giving orders will only have to write a line, ordering the ticket or
tickets, adding the money, or an order for the sc:ne, or stating the
made of payment that may be more convenient to the orderer, and
giving their full and plain directions, to secure the safe receipt of
the communications.
Those honouring Heine, Brothers, by purchasing, may depend
on the strictest secresy, as to their taking a chance or getting a
prise; such being the undeviating rale of the old-established and
most lucky Office.

THE WESTMINSTER REVIEW, No.
XLIII. for January, price 4s. will be published on the
31st inst., containing-1. John Hopkins on Political Economy-
2. Miss Aikin's Court of Charles 1-3. Toryism in Rome. No.
1, Destruction of Universal Suffrage-4. Votes of Members of
the Reformed House-5. Enharmonic Organ-6. Irish Labourers
—7. Practice of the Criminal Law of Scotland-8. Effect of En-
dowments--9. Free Labour in Puerto Rico-10. Germany-11.
New House of Commons--12. Process of obtaining Patents-13.
Central Criminal Court--14. Algerine Commission-15. Contre
Equcte. Par l'Homme aux Quarante Ecus-16. Present Pos-
ture of Affairs.—Addition to Enharmonic Organ, List of Books, &c.
________lfimpkin and Marshall, Stationers'-court, Ludgate-hill.

THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.
THIS EVENING will be presented the Comedy of
THE ROAD TO RUIN.
Old Dornton, Mr. W. Farren ; Harry Dornton, Mr. Vining; Gold.
finch, Mr. Harley; Sulky, Mr. Bartley; Silky, Mr. Blanchard.
Widow Warren, Mrs. Glover; Sophia, Miss Taylor; Jenny, Mrs
Husby; Mrs. Ledger, Mrs. Broad.
After which, the New Interlude, called REFLECTION.
Mr. Somerville, Mr. Cooper ; Augustus Villiers, Mr. Brindal.
Mrs. St. Aubyn, Miss E. Tree ; Mary, Mrs. Humby.
Te conclude with the New Fares, called TAM O'SHANTER.
Tam o' Shanter, Mr. W. Farren ; Souter Johnny, Mr. Bartley ; Da: id,
Mr. Webster; Roderick Allan, Mr. Brindal.
Dame o' Shanter, Mrs. C. Jones; Maggie, Mrs. Fitzwilliam ; Jeannie,
Mist, Murray; Mrs. Macklewhee, Mrs. Broad.

THEATRE ROYAL, COVENT-GARDEN.
THIS EVENING will be presented the Grand Dramatic Poem •f

MANFRED.
Count Manfred, Mr. Denvil ; Chamois Hunter, Mr. Webster; Abbot
of St. Maurice, Mr. Warde ; Manuel and Herman (Dependants on Count
Manfred), Mr. Younge and Mr. Duruset ; Arimanes, Mr. Howell. Spi-
rits and Destinies tributary to his will—Vesper (Spirit of the Air), Miss
Poole ; Orcus (Spirit of the Mountains), Mr. W. H. Payne; Thammliz
(Spirit of the Waters), Miss Kenneth; Baalim (Spirit of the Storm),
Mr. F. Cooke; Nox (Spirit of the Shadow of Night), Mr. Wieland;
Omorasdes (Spirit of the Elements), Mr. G. Bennett; Astaroth (Spirit
of the Earth), Mr. F. Sutton; Nemesis (Goddess of Vengeance), Mrs.
Vining ; Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos (the three Destinies), Miss Lee,
Miss Murray, and Mrs. Cheater; the Phantom of Astarte, Miss Clifton;
the Witch of the Alps, Miss E. Tree.

After which, the Historical Opera of
GUSTAVUS THE THIRD; OR, THE MASKED BALL.
Gustavus the Third, Mr. Warde ; Colonel Lillienhorn, Mr. Temple-
ton; Captain Ankarstrom, Mr. Seguin; Oscar, Miss Shirreff; Chris-
tian Engleheart, Mr. Bedford.

Madame Ankarstrom, Miss Betts ; Ar•edson, Mrs. Chester.

LONDON,
TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER Ws,

We have all along stated our belief that the late
change of the Ministry had but one object, namely, to
atop the march of Reform. This belief, we are well
assured, has been shared by every one who has the
amelioration of our national institutions sincerely at
heart. Were it possible to rivet the conviction more
firmly, that effect has been produced by Sir ROBERT
PEEL'S " Address." Of the general c6racter of this
ambi-dexter production we have already expressed our
opinion. We have described it as a composition, art-
fully contrived to hide insincerity under the specious
and imposing appearance of frankness, and to lull to
sleep the well-grounded suspicions of the reformers, by
the copious use of a phraseology common to them
with their adversaries, but to which each party attaches
a very different meaning.
We shall now, for the sake of a little amusement,
draw the attention of our readers to the manner in
which the Right Hon. Baronet handles one or two of
his leading topics—first observing, that were there no
other criterion by which to judge of the merits of the
piece, the raptures into which it has thrown the
Tories would be a sufficient reason for every Reformer
to look upon it with the greatest distrust.

No one can have read this memorable specimen of
political shuffling without being surprised at the appa-
rent alacrity with which the Premier professes to under-
take "the correction of proved abuses, and the redress of
real grivances." To those who are ignorant of his
history and eharaeter, this may sound fair and honest.
By those who are acquainted with both, but who wish
them to be kept out of view, it is extolled as the height
of candour and frankness. What more can you desire ?
exclaim the sly old Tory stagers. What more can
you desire ? grinds the new-toned instrument in
Printing House-square. Now we desire, in addition
to this, to know what Sir ROBERT means by "abuses"
and " grievances," for by his definition of these terms
must the question be decided how far he is a Reformer.
This information he has not given us directly, for
there is nothing direct in his nature; but we have data
sufficient to lead us to a just conclusion. Not far from
the beginning of his address we find the following
statement :—" I say at once that I will not accept
power on the condition of declaring myself an apostate
from the principles on which I have heretofore acted.
At the same time I never will admit that I have been
either before or after the Reform Bill, the defender
of abuses, or the enemy of judicious reform." This

passage will, we think, supply us with a key to unlock
the cabinet of precious curiosities. Sir ROBERT
says he has not changed his opinions, and that he never
defended abuses, nor ever opposed judicious reforms.
Does he suppose that the senses of the people of Eng-
land have been so steeped in forgetfulness, that every
trace of the past is banished from their remembrance ?
What has the whole course of his political life exhi-
bited, but an almost uninterrupted struggle to de-
fend what they considered " proved abuses," and
to oppose what they held to be " judicious re-
forms ?" To sum up a volume in a few words—
Who more strenuously defended the rottenness of the
boroughmongering system, through all its corrupt ra-
mifications ? Who more strenuously opposed the
Reform Bill, and all the measures arising out of it,
Ciat have been introduced into the House of Com-
mons ? The boroughmongering system was, there-
fore, not a "proved abuse," and neither the Reform
Bill, nor any Reform to which it has led, a " judicious
reform," in Sir ROBERT'S acceptation of these terms I
His standard of measurement and that of the people
will, we apprehend, be found not altogether to accord,
and we would therefore humbly recommend that an
adjustment take place before the parties proceed to
strike the bargain—it may save a world of trouble
hereafter.

Now, lotus see how the Right Hon. Juggler attempts
to trick the people out of Church Reform :—" With re-
gard," he says, " to alterations in the law which govern
our Ecclesiastical Establishment, I have had no recent
opportunity of giving that grave consideration to a sub•
ject of the deepest interest, which could alone justify me
in making any public declaration of opinion." Is this
the language of a man who has made up his mind to
grant any measure or degree of Church Reform ? Is it
not clear from this, that pluralities and non-residence,
to say nothing of other nuisances which are destroying
the Establishment, are not in the list of Sir ROBERT'S
" proved abuses." Would any one even suppose that
he had ever heard of such things in his life ? He has
not had time, forsooth, to study the subject T It is too
deep, too recondite a mystery for an ordinary under-
standing to fathom. Less than a life-time is a period
quite inadequate to decide whether an Ecclesiastic be
endowed, ex-officio, with the faculty of übiquity ; and
to solve the still more embarrassing problem, whether
the stall-fed pluralist should be allowed to fatten at his
case, to wallow in affluence and idleness, while the
industrious and faithful labourer in the Christian
vineyard—the man who bears the heat of the day in his
master's service—has not wherewithall to provide food
and raiment ? Truly, it is no easy matter to determine
whether such a state of things be consistent with the
principles of a Church which boasts of her Apostolic
origin. Ail 1 Sir ROBERT, Sir ROBERT 1 is not this
spinning the thread too fine ?

The resignation which Mr. D. W. HARVEY has
found it necessary to tender to the electors of Col-
chester is one of those timely hints which accident
sometimes suggests of the machinations of an approach-
ing enemy. A petty private wrong has often the
effect of bringing about a great public good. It is not
unlikely that this Tory victory will do much to open
the eyes of slumberers : another such might ruin Tory
hopes utterly.
Mr. HARVEY'S services in the cause of Reform
deserved a better return ; but it is for his late consti-
tuents to reconcile to their own conciences this deser-
tion from their long-tried friend. Yet after all, per-
haps, the good people of Colchester ought not to be
lashed, for a base abandonment of their honour, in the
hour when most its maintenance was wanted. Their
defection has been forced ; they are surrounded by
Tory snares, and they cannot help themselves ; the
Corporate net has entangled them, and, like Sterne's
starling—they can't get out. Poor creatures Iwe must
pity, not despise them. Can we blame the Tories for
maintaining one of those blessed institutions whose
very corruptions enable them to exist thus in greater
strength ? Rather let us sigh for poor corrupt human
nature.

With the word independence on their lips, the
worthy electors of Colchester, under the Tory yoke,
are in as debased a state of vassalage, as their fore-
fathers were of old, in the times of the Anglo-Saxons.
" Let every man (so ran one of their laws) know his
team of men, of horses, and oxen." It is by means
of some of those. venerable institutions, as handed
down to us by our forefathers, that the Tories know
their teams of men. How goodly, in Tory eyes, are
Corporation team-marks.
Mr. HARVEY tells them that a struggle is now open-
ing, involving this problem—whether the people, as
the sole source of political power, shall govern them-
selves through their freely-chosen organs, or whether
this great nation is to live and move at the capricious
will of an hereditary Oligarchy? In the degraded state
of " villainage" (the old term) which seems to charac-
terize Colchester, it matters very little perhaps what
Mr. HARVEY took the trouble to tell them. But Mr.
HARVEY might have gone further with equal safety ;
the problem is now in course of solution, and the en-
suing elections will be the demonstration.

The Oligarchy thoroughly despise the people ; they
would use them as they use their horses and their oxen
—for their own exclusive purposes. Will the country
become one large Colchester ? Will the people con-
sent to be trafficked in, and used, as best beseems the
pleasure of a master ? Perhaps their nature is too

generous and confiding ; they cannot believe that any
wrong, any degrading subjugation, is intended ; the

Tories look so kindly upon them, their aspect is so
friendly, their words seem so gentle and proper, that
they cannot think evil is meditated. Such is the
value of coaxing : who has not seen a cunning stable-
boy, sieve in hand, wandering about a paddock with
cautious step, and soothing voice, enticing the lively
four-year-old to the concealed halter ; the hypocritical
rogue shakes about the oats so invitingly, and his
approach seems to have in it so little of alarm, that the
animal suffers itself to be caught at last. What is the
consequence ? freedom lost, and the spur and the whip
just in proportion to the trouble spent in the catching.
Just so now come the Oligarchy by their agents,
the Tories. Sir ROBERT'S words are shaken up
alluringly before the people. Reform is their choice
food, and here is a present feed for them, that looks
vastly inviting; yet let them but be chirruped on to
dip their noses into the measure, and the halter will be

about their necks as sure as fate. It will be of no use to
wince then ; the more they kick, the tighter will be the

curb. They should have retained their liberty while

was in their own keeping.

We are aware that there is a spirit of trustingness
abroad, which leads the cool and dispassionate part of
the community to slight the apprehensions of Tory

power, which its opponents so energetically proclaim ;
to infer that the opposition is unreasonably violent ;

to consider the alarm as springing from exaggeration,
and the bias of angrypartisanship. It is to such persons
that the Liberals now chiefly address themselves ; they
are exhorted, because in them do the Tories most con-
fide for assistance, and from them do they most look
for succour in the on-coming struggle. Of such per-
sons we would ask, have not the Tories already had
the " fair trial" they now solicit ? Have they not,
thrOugh long years of mismanagement, well nigh ruined
the country ? Is our commerce flourishing ? Look
to the people—to the middle class tradesmen (not
to the princely wealth of a score or two of overgrown
capitalists—they are the exception), but look to the
mass of the people. Are they not ground down by
taxations levied to pay former monstrous extrava-
gancies, and to be still exacted only to support
them in perpetuity ? Look to that disgrace upon
the intelligence of the country, the Pension List—
that List which was swelled up under Tory
power, at a time " when the discretion of the
Crown was unfettered by law, and the expression
of any opinion on the part of the House of Com-
mons." Look to our Ecclesiastical Establishment, its
magnificent Bishops and squalid curates, and the vile
abuses which beset the Church, and all the appoint-
ments under it.

Are the Tories different from what they were ?
are not their "principles" the same ?—have they
abandoned one iota of their creed ?—are they not
"staunch to the back bone ?"—and can they in power
do otherwise than what in power was before done by
them ? Has. not Parliament, since they lost power,
been undoing all they did while it was their's ; and is
it likely that they will prove untrue to their own
cause if they can again exercise power. The Whigs
were disgraced by the people for their slow moving
upon Reform questions—is it likely that the Tories
;vill move with more, or as great, celerity ? As con-
sistent men they cannot, as honest men they dare not
maintain office, contrary to the wishes of the people,
to whatever prerogative they may be indebted for being
placed there. To the people the Tories are odious; many
a battle has been fought, and often has the peace of the
country been disturbed by the encounters. May the
fight about to come on be decisive, and that,it may
be so, let everybody come forward with a helping hind :
it is of no use to waitand see whether the negro will
turn white—a little thinking will show that such can
never be, and no fair trial need be given. Let them
say at once the thing is impossible, and settle the
matter for ever

We are assured that a letter is in town from Madame
MINA, written by the desire of the General, confirm-
ing the news of the victory obtained by him, and stating
that the whole of the country expressed the greatest
enthusiasm on the defeat of the Carlists.

The Paris Papers of Sunday have been received,
from which we learn that the Court of Peers is resolved
to make an example of all who are implicated in the

political intrigues of April. To silence the insolent
clamours of the press and people, the Court, on Friday
last, modestly voted itself competent to try, convict,
condemn, and punish, by the infliction of every penalty
allowed by law, all persons accused of conspiring
against the established Government, and reigning
dynasty of France. At the time of moving this con-
stitutional vote, there were present one hundred and
forty-three Members, of whom only five voted the
Court incompetent. Thus a Star Chamber is esta-
blished in France. The people are no longer
subject to trial by their Peers or equals, but
by an assembly which is above all law, and
which may at its own option dispense with all
the legal forms observed in the established Courts
o Justice. It is of no consequence that the Court
nominally confines its jurisdiction to crimes of conspi-
racy ; in France every brawl may be made out high
treason. The police understand these things. Let it

only be whispered in certain ears that the Government
would gladly rid itself of a troublesome Editor, or any

other political character, less remarkable for prudence
than honest frankness, and the saucy intermeddling
adder in the walks of Royalty shall have his head
bruised by the potent heel of the Peerage. In a word,
France is now governed by an absolute KING, who
Las merely to issue his commands to the Peers, and

they will be obeyed, relate they to what they may. By
order of the Court of Peers several new arrests have
taken place in Lyons, and several members of that

tribunal have declared that they will not cease to pu-
nish, till they shall have purged France. It remains to
be seen whether the people of France will submit to
the domination of this self-constituted Court. We
shall hear more about it ere long. The present Go-
vernment of France is better adapted for the meridian
of Barbary than any other country we know of ; and
judging from the past, Europe would not go into
mourning were its illustrious head to prefer a rural
residence near Algiers, to the occupancy of a
palace on the banks of the Seine, even were he ac-
companied in his exile by two thirds of the members
of the new Star Chamber.

The other accounts furnished by these Journals are
not important. On Saturday the Chamber of Depu-
ties rejected a motion for granting M. DUPIN, the
President, a salary for the period during which there
had been a prorogation of the Chamber. The Papers
state that a regard for economy had nothing to do with
this vote, the object of the Chamber being to mark its
dissatisfaction with some recent proceedings on the
pact of the President. Our readers will bear in mind
that M. DUPIN opposed the present Administration.
This is the real secret of the vote.

The meeting of Cortes' bondholders, adjourned to
yesterday, has terminated by a compromise of the
points at issue between them and the Spanish Govern-
ment, the creditors, in effect, signifying their acquies-
cence in the terms proposed. What chiefly conduced
to this more favourable feeling, compared with the last
meeting, was the explanation furnished by M. Jabat,
during the interview with the Committee, and it ap-
peared, further, that it is intended the first dividend
on the converted stock shall be paid in May next.
M. Zulueta, a Spanish merchant, is the gentleman
appointed by the Government to reside over the
commission for converting the Cortes' bonds, and the
other deseriptions of Spanish securities, into the new
stock. The consequence of all this is, that the Com-
mittee of the Stock Exchange, the assent of the
English creditors being thus officially declared, will
now rescind their resolution against the admission of
any new descriptions of Spanish stock to quotation in
the official list. Thus this important question has at
last been disposed of, after a struggle of eleven years.
The greatest praise is due both to the Committee of
the Bondholders and that of the Stock-Exchange, for
the upright and consistent manner in which they have
at all times throughout the struggle upheld the inte-
rests of the bondholders, never suffering party interests
to shake their determination, or any personal advantage I
to influence their conduct.

The General Steam Navigation Company's mail-
meket, the Columbine, from Hamburg, arrived off the Custom-
louse yesterday, at four o'clock F.M.

COURT OF EXCHEQUER.-(THIS DAY).

DICAS V. LAWSON.

The pleadings having been opened by Mr. PETERSDORF,
Mr. LEE stated the case. He said the action was brought
against the proprietors of the Times, for three libels upon the
plaintiff, an attorney, of thirty years' standing. The first was
contained in the Times of the 4th Dec., 1833. The Jury
might remember that the plaintiff in that month had an action
against the late Lord Chancellor. The libel complained of
was in the shape of a letter, purporting to be from one of the
Clerks in the Secretary of Bankrupts' Office, denying all the
statements made by Mr. Dicas' Counsel upon the occasion of
that trial. In consequence of that letter, Mr. Dicas thought
it right to write to the editor of the Times, first of all denying
that he had ever brought 84 actions against the sellers of
newspapers, and then denying every statement contained in
the letter from the Secretary of Bankrupts' Office. Every
one would at once expect that that letter would have been
inserted, so that the antidote might be as widely circulated as
the poison. That was not done; but another libel was
circulated upon the occasion. In the paper of the 9th Dec.
appeared a " Notice to Correspondents," which stated that
they had received a letter from Dicas, &c. " He cannot spell his
mother tongue, having spelled fallacious with only one L."
They concluded by stating that " the latter paragraph con-
soled them for being compelled to read one of Dicas' letters."
The next was contained in the publication of the 11th of the
same month, and purported to be a letter from a lawyer, which
contained amongst other things, the expression of " dirty
work," applied to the then late action of Dicas v. the Lord
Chancellor; and further stated that he (the plaintiff) was not
kept in prison upon the order of the Chancellor, but from the
operation of the Insolvent Laws. The Jury could not for a
moment doubt but these were libels, and he was instructed by
the plaintiff to say that he did not wish for damages, but
merely to put a stop to the persecutions of the press.
The publications were admitted and put in. The alleged
libels were read, as well as several letters from Dicas to the
Editor of the Times.
Frederick James Williamson, a clerk to the plaintiff, proved
that Dicas was admitted a Solicitor in 1803.
Cross-examined by Sir JOHN CAMPBELL—Had been in the
employ of Dicas for seven months. Dicas had brought only
six actions for defamation in that time. Had never heard him
say how many actions he had brought against Counsel. Knew
that he had brought an action against him ( Sir J. C.) under
the advice of Counsel.—( Laughter.) It was withdrawn, as
well as one against Mr. Thessiger. It was not likely that
they ever would be tried. Had never heard Dicas say that he
had been twice a bankrupt, or that he had written to the Lord
Chancellor for money. Had never heard him say anything
about his practice in Stockport, or Holywell, or Manchester,
or of his being imprisoned in Lancaster Castle. Was present
at the trial of Dicas against Bengough, when there was a ver-
dict for the defendant, also at the trial of Dicas and Lawson,
when there was a verdict for the defendant again. He knew
of one farthing that he had got from a jury.—( Laughter. )
Napoleon Aldridge, clerk in the Master's office of King's
Bench, proved that the plaintiff was admitted as an attorney
in 1803.
The clerks of the Common Pleas and Exchequer proved
his admission to these Courts.
The Right Hon. Lord Brougham was then called upon his
subpoena but did not appear.
Thomas Barnes, the editor of the Times was also called in
like manner ; he was also absent.
These ceremonies created much laughter.
Williamson, the clerk, proved the application of the libels to
the plaintiff.
Cross-examined—He was not aware that he wbuld be called
till he was put in the box. Lord Brougham was to have
proved the inuendos—that was all that was to be required of
him.

Sir JOHN CAMPBELL then rose to reply. He said if the Jury
bed never before heard the name of Dices, they had that day
seen that he was a man destitute of anything like the common
Proprieties of life. Let them only mark the manner in which
he had treated an illustrious nobleman late at the head of the
iaw. For the purpose of disgracing him in the eyes of the
public, he had caused that illustrious nobleman to be called by
the officer of the Court upon a subpwna, and that without
offering the slightest evidence that it had ever been served.
The intention was clear, because the plaintiff well knew that
the Noble Lord was hundreds of miles from that place—his
intention was to disgrace him by making it appear that lie had
fled from and disobeyed the subpoena of his Majesty. Let
them also look at what it was the Noble Lord was called to
prove—
merely that which had been done by a paltry clerk who
had known the plaintiff only seven months. Taking that alone
as a specimen of his character, he would ask whether it
was possible to lower it in the opinion of any one.
He subpoena's the man who held the Great Seals—he would
keep him dancing attendance here for the purpose of proving
that these alleged libels apply to John Dicas, gentleman, while
the business of his own Court was to stand still, and the public
time be wasted. Was it not strange that Mr. Lee should be
instructed to say, that that action was brought for the mere pur-
nose of saving the plaintiff's character, while not even one
witness was called, to show that by the loss of it he would be
the greatest gainer. It was clear to him ( Sir J. C.), that
nothing that could be said of him could possibly make him
worse ; that he had not called one witness who could tell them
whether he had ever been an inmate of Lancaster Castle, and
if so, through what honest means he had become so. He was
glad to see some signs of returning shame, for he had struck
out of the declaration a passage, wherein he had said that he
had carried on his business with reputation.
Mr. LEE objected to that line of argument.
Sir J. CamrnaLt.--Well, then, I am at liberty to say this,
that he does not now dare to say, as on former occasions, that
he does carry on his business with reputation. After some
allusions to the difference in law between written and oral
slander, the Learned Counsel went on to say that costs were
the pabulum upon which a certain kind of vermin fed—vermin
of the most loathsome description, and he trusted that the day
was not far distant when the law would be altered, so that
when a Jury thought no damage had been done to a man's
character by giving a farthing or other small damages,
the infliction of costs would not be put upon the defendant.
The plaintiff sits down in the morning, looks over the news-
papers, and if he sees a paragraph with the word " Dices,"
he cries " Hurrah 1 an action. I shall get a farthing damages,
and pocket the costs." Let me examine these alleged libels,
and ask whether it was the intention of the writers to injure
Mr. Dicas, or to do him a service. Mr. Walters' main ques-
tion, after reading the first of these libels, is amusing. He
asks---" Is this all 2 " And so he may ; for it is impossible to
discover wherein the libel lies. The Learned Advocate pro-
ceeded to read the second paragraph complained of, in which
Mr. Dices is accused of spelling wrong the word fallacious.
This paragraph was amusingly commented on by the Learned
Gentleman. He said, no doubt Mr. Dices is well acquainted
with the word fallacious, and not only with the English word,
but that from which it is derived, falo, &c.--I deceive, I de-
ceived, and I will deceive—and besides, it is not very libellous
to accuse a man of being a bad orthographer. Many great
men have not been able to spell correctly. Marlborough
could not spell, and Napoleon, who had been in almost
as many actions as Mr. Dices, could not spell! The
Learned Advocate proceeded to shew that the publication
of the whole of the letter, of the suppression of part of which
Mr. Dices complained, would have subjected the defendants to
an action by the proprietors of the Satirist. In that part of
the letter which was suppressed, the proprietor of that jcurnal
was called ironically a veracious and respectable gentleman.
With regard to the third article complained of, he contended
that it was nothing but a fair comment on the conduct of the
plaintiff in bringing his action against the Lord Chancellor ;
and, in conclusion, he emphatically observed, that no threat of
an action on the part of Mr. Dicas would prevent him ( Sir
John) from doing his duty to his client.
In summing up, Mr. Baron PARKE said that the Jury had
to decide with regard to the first publication, whether or not
there was any thing which would lead to the conclusion that
the defendant was insolvent. He had much difficulty when he
read the passage first, to discover what was complained of, and
nothing which had been brought forward during the proceed-
ings had removed that difficulty. With regard to the
second publication, they had to decide whether or not
the assertion, that Mr. Dices was not acquainted with
the orthography of his mother tongue was injurious to
Mr. Dicas' character, and whether the Times was not
justified in suppressing those parts of Mr. Dices' letter
which would have exposed them to actions for damages. If
they found the first to be the case, they would then have to
judge whether or not it was a fair comment on a letter which,
by writing it for publication, Mr. Dices had made public pro.
perty. With regard to the third publication, he was bound in
point of law to state that nothing had appeared in evidence to
chew that the defendants were justified,from what had taken place
on the trial Dicas v. the Lord Chancellor, in imputing insolvency
to Mr. Dicas, and asserting that he had written to the Lord Chan-
cellor to extort money from him by offering to prevent the
trial from taking place. In the record of the trial referred to,
it did not appear that these circumstances were brought for-
ward in evidence, and the defendants had not, therefore, any
right to make them public. He was bound in point of law
to say, that the Jury should give the plaintiff a verdict, and
damages on this issue, but to what amount, after what they
had heard, they would be able to determine.
The Jury consulted for a few moments, and returned a ver-
dict for the defendants on all the three issues.

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