The Sun.
London, England, 1834-04-05 00:00:00

PRICE OF SUGAR.

The Average Price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, cmputed
from the Returns made in the week ending the Is! day 01
April, 1634, is 31s. 71d. per Hundred Weight, exclusive of the
I :uties of Customs paid or payable thereon on the Importation
thereof into Great Britain.

PRUSSIA, MARCH 19.—1 t is said that M. Ancillon
thinks to return from Vienna in a month. Nothing
certain is known respecting the conferences at Vienna;
they seem, however, by no means to have the tendency
that is assigned to them at Paris and in some German
Journals, but to be rather of a conciliatory nature,
that is, to aim at checking the violence of those who
desire unlimited innovations, but without intending to
revise what is antiquated, or to make any essential
change in the basis of the existing institutions. Rea-
son, however, seems to require that modifications
should be effected in those cases in which the experi-
ence of some years has shown the defects of several
charters which have been granted by the sovereigns,
and have not had the advantage of being gradually
formed in process of time.
STocKnoem, MARCH 18.—On the 3d of this month
there was an interesting debate in the chamber of the
nobles, in which some members spoke of the necessity
of steam-vessels for the purposes of maritime defence.
" If," said Baron Borge, " our neighbour has procured
a more perfect arm, which we have not, we should in
case of a war be sure to be beaten; so if there are
ships which can navigate in spite of contrary winds,
while the others which need a favourable wind must
remain stationary, how vexatious would it be to be
forced to lie still, with our fleet of ships of the line in
the Baltic, and see an enemy's fleet pass us by means
of its steam-boats, without our being able to prevent
them."

ST. PE TERSBURGH, MARCH 19.—(From a letter.)
—The more violent that the attacks have been which
during the last three years have been made on Russia
from the tribune and in the public journals, the more
honourably has the policy of our government proved
by its actions under all circumstances, the more victo-
riously has it refuted all the passionate attacks intended
to lower its character in public opinion. The con-
vention thus concluded with the Ottoman Porte, in
consequence of which our troops will probably quit the
principalities very shortly ; the nomination of the hos-
podars being left to the Sultan, and many modifications
made in the treaty of Adrianople, may serve as a fresh
proof of the disinterestedness of the Russian Cabinet,
and will certainly be viewed in that light by the great
majority of the European public. When we recol-
lect with what consternation the news of the re-
quested and granted Russian intervention in the
contest between Turkey and Egypt was heard in
France and England—how even the most odious terms
were not sufficient for the rancour that was felt there on
account of this event—how people took pleasure in
setting up the most absurd suppositions, only to have
an opportunity of anathematizing the insatiable ambi-
tion of Russia—and whefi we compare with these vio-
lent exclamations and rhodomontades the conduct of
our Government, as evinced by the facts, we obtain a
result with which it cannot be difficult to get a correct
notion of the Oriental question, and to decide accord-
ing to justice and equity between Russia and its adver-
saries. While some members of the Chamber of De-
puties in Paris were making their comments on the
approaching partition of the Ottoman empire, analyz-
ing the ambitious projects of the Russian Government,
without any facts to prove them, and claiming for
France its share in the partition, with the most gene-
rous self-denial the Porte was protected in its existence
by a Russian army, its future security guaranteed by
two conventions with Russia, and its confidence in the
magnanimous sentiments of our Monarch justified. In
fine, those who disdain to derive instruction from the
,past,
may probably have in the future more than one
opportunity to become acquainted with the real springs
of the Russian policy.
EXCHANGES ON LONDON.
STOCKHOLM. aGAAPIRAIRLC:i ittlon tihnso,"ll2l 11.3 8%.
CHRISTIANIA. MARCH 22—Three months, 5 72.
ST. PETERSBURGII, MARCH 12.—Three months, 10%.
BERLIN, MARCH 21—Three months, 6 2.5 w.

HOUSE OF LORDS, APRIL 4.

(Before the LORD CHANCELLOR, &C.)
HENRY V. M'EWAN.

This was an appeal from a decree of the Court
of Session in Scotland, and involved a question of
considerable importance to the landed proprietors
and tenantry of Scotland. The action was brought
by the appellant, Lieutenant-Colonel Henry, of
Woodend, in the county of Stirling, against a tenant
of the name of M'Ewan, who had taken a farm at
Ardbennie, in the same county, to have a lease,
which had been drawn up, cancelled, upon -these
two alleged grounds :—First, that it was vitiated
because not duly stamped and tested ; and secondly,
that it contained " no specification of the ratio or
proportion which the Scotch acre bears to the
imperial standard acre, and as there were no bolls
in the imperial standard measure for grain in the
act of the sth George IV., chap. 74," the lease was
null and void, because the stipulation in it was that
the tenant was to give " the yearly rent of the
value at the market prices of one half boll of wheat,
three firlots of barley, and six pecks of oats, for
each Scots acre of arable land." The section
under the act just cited was in these terms :—" It
is enacted from and after the Ist day of May, 1825,
all contracts, bargains, sales, and dealings which
shall be made or had within any part of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland for any
work to be done, or for any goods, wares, merchandise,
or other thing to be sold, delivered, done, or agreed for
by weight or measure, where no special agreement
shall be made to the contrary, shall be taken and
considered to be made and had according to the
standard weights and measures ascertained by this
act, and in all cases where any special agreement
shall be made with reference to any weights or
measures established by local custom, the ratio or
proportion .which each such local weights or mea-
sures shall be expressed, declared, and specified in
such agreement, or otherwise, such agreement shall
be null and void." From this it will be seen that
the case involved the question whether that statute,
which passed with a view of establishing a uniformity
of weights and measures, applies to contracts for
the lease of lands in Scotland, and the decision will
affect a vast number of contracts, as there are
many su.h, it was contended, existing between the
landlords and tenantry in that part of the United
Kingdom. The case was decided by the Lord Or-
dinary (Moncrief), before whom it was taken in the
first instance, to be of such importance, that he re-
ferred it to the whole court for judgment, accompa-
nied by a clear statement of facts, with his opinion
as to the bearing of the law upon them. The se-
cond question was the one principally relied on by
the appellant, because after the action was brought
the lease was sent to London and stamped. It ap-
peared that the agreement was made in October,
1827, and the tenant took immediate possession of
the farm, for a term of nineteen years, upon
the terms already stated ; but after the pa: F,
meet of
betweenthe the
first
partiesllalf-y rent a
followeddispu t
n.e
arose
by litigation. The Lord Ordinary, in o,!
part of his very clear but necessarily lengthy
note explanatory of his own views upon the sub-
ject,
ject, after stating that the 15th section of the sty•
tute was so broad as to comprehend a case of con
tracts applicable to contracts for the rent of land i,i
Scotland, went on to state in these words Bu:
considering them (the words of the 15th section) in

The LORD ADVOCATE—
_,Tr_NOTI my word, my
Lords, my learned friend is proceeding too rapidly.
The ATTORNEY.-GENERALFTOIR the cases
which I have cited, I think it cannot be doubted
the precedency must be given to the Attontey-Ge-
neral.

The Loan AnvocATE---My Lords, I deny that
position, and have little doubt that I shall be able
to make out my case. My learned friend, with his
usual courtesy, assured me yesterday that we were
to proceed'under protest, and now he is calling on
your Lordships for judgment upon the case. I ex-
pect to be able to prepare myself to argue this ques-
tion with a very considerable range of authorities..
The LORD CHANCELLOR (with a smile)—That
will be a very great temptation for us to postpone
the argument.

The LORD ADVOCATE--YOUT Lordships will be
aware that standing here, at such a distance from
the country where the records and other evidence
upon which I rely are to be found, I shall require
lime.

The Um) CHANCELLOR—I think you have a
right to ask for delay. Do you,-my Lord Advo-
cate, mean to argue the question in person, or by
counsel ?

The LORD ADVOCATE—Oh, my Lords, in per-
son certainly.
The LORD CHANCELLOR—Can you fix any time
when you will be prepared ?
The LORD ADVOCATE—I would suggest tendays
or a fortnight.

The LORD CHANCELLOR—My Lords, the recortli
of the house have been searched, and all lead us to
the conclusion, that in cases of petition for appeals
the Attorney-General has first signed, then the Lord
Advocate, and then the Solicitor-General, the Lord
Advocate's name being placed betwixt the two.
You, my Lord Advocate, may dispense with going
into any expense of bringing evidence with respect
to the privileges and rights of the Lord Advocate
out of this court. The office is one of state, which
gives him considerable privileges. With respect to
what took place between Lord Erskine and Mr.,
Justice Eyre, at the Old Bailey, in 1794, in a case
of high treason ; the circumstances are well known,
and made a considerable impression at the time.
After the trial, they were passing out of the room :
Justice Eyre took the lead, when Lord Erskine
said to him, " That is not your place," and gently
laid his hand upon him, molliter manu—he just
pressed the Justice on one side, and went by him.
This startled the learned judge for a moment, but
lie took pains to inquire as to this right, when he
' found that it was the undoubted right of Lord
Erskine, in such a situation, to take precedence,
that right having been derived by his ancestors from
the crown.

After a few further observations, the ATTORNEY-
GENERAL proceeded to open the case on protest,
the question of precedency being postponed for a
fortnight.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, APRIL 4.

The Court this morning resumed its sitting. The
Learned Commissioner HARRIS presided.
Mr. Nelson Byrne (the professor of dancing, and
brother to Mr. Oscar Byrne) applied on his petition
to be discharged. He was opposed by Mr. Balfour,
a corn and coal merchant, in person, and was sup-
ported by Mr. WOODROFFE.
The creditor said Mr. Byrne derived a consider-
able income from his business, and he hoped the
Court would order a portion of it to be set aside for
the benefit of his creditors.

The insolvent said
.his highest receipts for one
year were 400/. ; his income varied much.
The Learned COMMISSIONER explained to the
creditor that the Court had no power to make an
order. The creditors were entitled to the business
the same as a milk-walk ; they would have to dance
after it. The best thing would be to appoint an
assignee, and he might take such steps as he was
advised.
The creditor asked for an account of the insol-
vent'Apupils. • _

The COURT ordered one to be filed, and directed
the insolvent's discharge.

POST-OFFICE OF PARIS.—In pursuance
of an order of the Director-General of the Post-office,
there will be from yesterday to October 1 seven deli-
veries of letters in Paris. The first delivery will be
made at 7 in the morning, and be repeated every two
hours until half-past Bin the evening. There are to
be also six deliveries in the environs of Paris. The
number of boxes for letters in Paris now amounts to
two hundred.

CLERICAL PLURALISTS.-REFORM MI-
NISTRY.—The Rev. C. V. H. Sumner, Rector of
Farmborough, Hants, and a son of George Hohne
Sumner, Esq., ex-M. P., and a Tory of the first water,
has lately been presented by the Lord Chancellor to
the Rectory of Byfleet, Surrey.

FELON MAIL.—The convicts of Botany
Bay frequently avail themselves of the opportunity af-
forded by the exportation of Australian wool, to com-
municate, by letter, with their friends in this country.
These letters, generally enclosed in an envelope, are
stowed in the middle of a bale of wool. The finder is
informed by the envelope, that the enclosed letter is
from an unfortunate convict, who requests that it may
be put in the post. It is unnecessary to say that these
requests are invariably and expeditiously complied
with. These accounts have, till lately, represented
the condition of the convicts as almost desirable,
rather than unpleasant, and are evidently exaggerations
in the shape of consolation to their friends, who are
requested not to make themselves uneasy on their ac-
count. This is particularly, the case when the writers
are Irish ; for, if their assertions might be credited,
Australia is the genuine El Dorado. The letters
lately received, however, adopt a very different tone ;
from which we conjecture that an alteration in the dis-
cipline of the convicts has taken place. The writer of
a letter, found a few days since at Bradford, after de-
tailing some of the hardships to which he was subjected,
sums up the matter by declaring that his situation is
horrible, almost intolerable, and that language is ut-
terly inadequate to convey anything like a correct idea
of it. He further states, that floggings and ,xe ti cis
(hangings) are very common with them ; and gives it
as his opinion, that the morals of the con r:,
not in the least improved by transportation.--Lce Is
Mercury.