The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-30 00:00:00

ration, the last despairing remnants of the force of
LorEz, scattered over the hills, hiding among the Un-
derwood, and emaciated by their long privations, were
hunted down by dogs after being exposed to all the
horrors of a tropical storm, nearly drowned by the
rain, deafened by the thunder, and blinded by the
lightning. Referring to these accumulated miseries
the survivor already quoted observes with some em-
phasis of the last night of their endurance—" It is
impossible for me to describe the sufferings of that
night : heaven forbid that I should ever pass such
another : that night equalled an ordinary lifetime."
Having withstood the force of all these aggregated
torments the miserable invaders of Cuba seem at last
to have abandoned all thoughts of looking forward to
their alleviation, and, descending from the mountains
in despair, to have given themselves up to their op-
ponents. It was in this manner that the buccaneering
expedition against the noblest among all the colonial
possessions of Spain appears, from the account of
Lieutenant VAN VECUTEN, to have terminated. Its
results must in the end exercise over the more un-
principled among the adventurers in the 'United
States an influence singularly beneficial, at the same
time of course very materially strengthening the
energies and increasing the vigilance hitherto dis-
played by the Cuban Government. Little dread, we
believe, need henceforth be entertained of any future
attempt upon the liberties of that island, at least for
a while—the miserable failure of the last being the
best security for the repose of the population. For
this happy consequence the authorities of Spain have
reason to be grateful, the brightest jewel in her crown
having been preserved from the dangers of spoliation
by a variety of remarkable and most fortunate cir-
cumstances.

We would earnestly invite the public attention to
the report of the extraordinary proceedings which
have just taken place at the County Court of
Liverpool, which will be found in another part of
this day's impression. Under ordinary circum-
stances we should be exceedingly unwilling to speak
harshly of any judge for the course which he may
think ;proper, is the exercise of his discretion, to
pursue. It seems, however, that Mr. RAMSHAY bas
availed himself more largely of the extensive
powers committed to his charge than any
judge of either the superior or inferior courts of whom
we have ever heard, and that a most dangerous prece-
dent may be established, fital to the freedom of the
press in this kingdom, and deeply prejudicial to the
utility of the recently established local tribunals, if
such transactions be permitted to pass without com-
ment, and without offering an indignant protest
against the undue assumption on the part of the
county court potentate.

In order to understand the case fully it
is necessary to recapitulate briefly some cir-
cumstances that may have occasioned a sore
feeling iu the judicial mind, and rendered Mr. RAM-
SHAY more excitable on everything relating to his
conduct on the bench than might otherwise have been
the case. There had, it appears, some time since
been complaints preferred to the Chancellor of the
Duchy of Lancaster against the Learned Gentle-
man, and a memorial presented, praying for his
dismissal from office. A prolonged investigation
followed before the Earl of CARLISLE, in
which Mr. RAMSHAY had the advantage
of the powerful assistance of Mr. Sergeant
WiLattis. The result of the inquiry was the ac-
quittal of the learned gentleman, Lord CARLISLE
having declared that there were no sufficient grounds
established to induce him to comply with the prayer
of the memorial, by removing Mr. RAMSISAY from
the court over which he was presiding. So far all was
right. We did not closely examine the evidence that
had been brought forward, or scrutinize the judg-
ment with too curious an eye : it was sufficient
that it was in favour of the accused. A
little disappointment might have been felt by
the parties aetually engaged in the transaction ;
but we believe that the feeling of the public generally
was that of pleasure that a person in Mr. Rau-
MAT'S position had been exonerated from the more
serious portions of the charges preferred, and that so
formidable an objection could not be brought forward
to the further extension of the county court system.
This feeling was enhanced by the account of the pre-
sentation of a piece of plate by Mr. RAMSILLY to his
accomplished and powerful advocate, a substantial mark
of gratitude that was equally creditable to the donor
and to the recipient. The public sympathies gene-
rally were therefore rather along with Mr. RAMSRAT,
and we have no doubt that had the Learned Gentle-
man exhibited a conciliating demeanour, and had he
tried to correct the matters that had occasioned the
former complaints and desagrimens, he would speedily
have gained the good opinion even of those
who had previously taken the most active and promi-
nent parts against him.

It appears, however, that he has thought proper to
pursue a different line of policy, and that he has
fancied himself capable of crushing the hostile portion
of the local press. Mr. WHITTY, the proprietor and
editor of the Liverpool Journal, was the first person
who fell under his displeasure, and if the accounts be
authentic which we have extracted from the columns
of a highly-respectable provincial contemporary, it is
high time that " the fourth estate" should bestir
itself to repel the formidable attack that has been
made upon its unquestionable privileges through the
person of one of its members.
The first intimation of any extraordinary excite-
ment on the part of Mr. RAMSHAY was the appear-
ance of a miserable specimen of the bill-sticking fra-
ternity, who was brought up in custody of a bailiff
of the court. Ile had been caught red handed, in the
act of posting placards in the immediate vicinity of
that tribunal, and tremblingly awaited his sentence.
He knew not the full extent of his guilt. Hereto-
fore the locality in which he had been engaged was
apparently devoted to the use of " gentlemen of his
profession." The most extraordinary variety of an-
nouncements were to be found in every available spot.
So confident was he of his privileges, that he was
actually whistling with an unconcerned air when
the grim bailiff approached and bore him, pale
and trembling, to the august presence. He
was, however, dismissed ecathleas. None of the
objectionable placards announcing the publication of
the Journal, were to be found among the heteroger
neous contents of his wallet. He was, consequently,
dismissed with a severe lecture (for not being guilty),
and an intimation of what might have been bis fate,
had anything relating to "the Journal" been found in
his possession. Having been thus acquitted, he be-
came available as QUERN'S evidence. He was ac-
cordingly closely interrogated as to the parties con-
cerned in that fearful offence. He either was, how-
ever, or feigned to be, totally ignorant of all relating
to the offenders. The Learned Judge was thus un-
able to wreak his vengeance on the humbler instru-
ments, but he would not thus be foiled; he deter-
mined on flying at higher gime. His bailiffs were
accordingly ordered to bring the chief delinquent,
WHITTY, the proprietor and editor of the offending
Journal before the judgment seat.
Mr. WHITTY was not, however, willing to respond
to the curt invitation, verbally communicated
through such a channel. There being neither warrant
or summons, he refused to obey their order, and in-
sisted on their immediate departure from his pre-
mises. They were again ordered to bring him with
them, but without any authority in writing being
given. They were of course resisted, and on the
third time of asking were armed with a summons,
which was promptly responded to by Mr. WHITTY.
We shall not now offer any comment on the sub-
sequent proceedings. Unfortunately they speak for
themselves and in a voice of thunder—sundry fines
of Si. each were inflicted, and Mr. WHITTY was
alio committed for different terms of seven days' im-
prisonment. The matter, however, cannot terminate
there. A stringent investigation into all the circum-
stances of the case must take place, and it will be seen
whether any person can with impunity assail in this
country the freedom of the press, the great palladium
of-the national liberties.

FIRE AT PUTNEY —Yesterday afternoon a fire was
discovered to have broken out in the stables of Messrs. Denny
and Calloway, stable-keepers, Fox and Hounds-yard, Putney.
Some of the London fire brigade were promptly in atten-
dance, but unfortunately their efforts were unavailing, as the
only supply of water that could be obtained was from a
pump in the yard. The premises being entirely composed of
wood, the fire spread with wonderful rapidity to the adjoin-
ing building, the stables of Mr. Scott, likewise erceted of
timber, and it could not be extinguished till the whole range
woe burnt to the ground. Amongst the property destroyed
were a number of pig-styes, in which seventeen pigs were
burnt to death. A man and a boy are stated to be in cus-
tody on Au.spicion of having wilfully set Are to the premises.