The Sun.
London, England, 1802-08-05 00:00:00

for his retirement to be attributed to ptisillanimity
Or despondency ; -and- kve• can only admih thz dis-
interestedness with which he sacrificed his Office to
his sense of dilly ; and to' the engagements, "which
he had entered into, when he eifelted the great and'
beneficial measure of the Union between Great Bri-
tain and Ireland. •

'' Sentiments equally honourable, those of public
spirit; and of obedience to the commatith of His
Sovereign, induced Mr. ADDINGTON TO resign the
eminent and advantageous situation of Speaker of
the House of Commons, and to accept those of
First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the
Exchequer. Never, perhaps, had any one . dis_
charged the dutieS of the former, in so distinguish-
ed a manner as himself ; and his abilities, his' in-
formation, his unshaken imraftiAiry, and. his zeal
for the preservation of the Constitution, had c.)n-
ciliated the esteem•or respect of all Parties. Having
held that situation during the bit twelve years, he
had necessarily taken an aaive part in the various
concerns of Legislation, and more than once, when
the House was in a Committee, he had, by lumi-
nous and forcible Speeches, supported the Measures
of the late Administration. These circumstances,
together with the intimate friendship which had al_
ways subsisted between Mr. PITT and him, had
made him thoroughly conversant with the course of
Public Affairs. It was besides, a great satisfaaion
for the Country to know, that whatever might be
the difference of opinion between the late and pre-
sent Minister, upon a particular question, the lat-
ter would never abandon those fundamental princi-
ples, to which Great Btitain bad been., indebted,
ever since the commencement of the French Revo- •
lution, for the preservation of her Constitution, of
her Power, and of her Prosperity. •
" By a fatality, as singular as deplorable, a con_
siderable time elapsed
.between the periods, when it
was known that Mr. PITT was to resign the Office,
and when Mr. ADDING.TON succeeded him.

" This unexpeled interval, was the consequence
of a dangerous malady, which, on the I 2th of Fe-
bruary attacked our beloved Sovereign, and for se-
veral weeks kept the Nation in a state of the most
serious alarm. This new calamity embittered all
those by -which we were already afflicted ; and one
cannot, without very painful sensations, /Teal to
mind the gloomy prospea which Public Affairs at
that time presented. One of the most inconvenient
consequences of this critical state, was the suspense
in which all the Departments of the State were
held. The demands on the ExChequer were pres-
sing. The usual time for providing the Supply
was arrived ; and the expellees of the existing War,
and of that In which we were just going to engage,
admitted of no delay. Mr. PITT, in consequence,
once more took upon himself the task of providing
for the service of the year, which he effeard by an
advantageous Loan, which afforded a last proof of
his abilities, and at the same time demonstrated the
confidence, which the Public placed in those of his
Successor.

" A few (lays after this financial operation, the
health of our excellent Sovereign was restored, and
opened the first -dawn, which succeeded the gloom
,that lately hung over us. Mr. ADDINGTON re-
ceived from His MAJESTY his new Appointment,
and from the House of Commons,. the unanimous
testimony of their sense of the distinguished wanner
in which he had presided over their Debates during
a long period of difficulty and danger. He ac-
quired a new claim on their good opinion by de..
siring that both they and the People at large,
would continue to judge of him only from the con..
duet which he should pursue. The past was to
every one a pledge for the future ; and if the
Speaker was regretted, every thing was hoped for
from the Minister. Whatever the disadvantages
might be of succeeding Mr. PITT, and however
bold it might seem to accept the reins of Govern_
ment under the existing circumstances, Mr. AD.
DINGTON, strong in the purity .df his intentions,
did not despair, and very shortly began to gratify
the expectations of the Public. Having supplied
the different Offices of Administration with men
distinguished for their talents, rank, or services, he.
proceeded, without delay, towards the objed which
he had in view, that of extricating the Country, as
soon as possible, from the complicated difficulties in
which it was involved, to close its wounds, and to
procure for it, if praaicable, a secure and honorable
Peacc.-'

fro Iv 'satin:at)

The
,following Ys the amended Clause in the Po-
lice Ai, empowering Magistrates to apprehend re-
puted thieves, and we have no hesitation in saying,
that if Police Officers. were to pay a stria arid pro-
per attention to it, the desperate gangs of plunder.
ers which at present infest the metropolis, would
be speedily annihilated.
" And whereas divers ill-disposed and suspeaed
persons, and reputed thieves, frequent the avenues
to places of public resort, and the streets and high.
ways, with intent to commit felony on the persons
and property of his Majesty's subjeas there being ;
and. although their evil purposes are sufficiently mani-
fes,t, the power of his Majestys Justices of the Pcace
to demand of them sureties for their good behavi-
our, bath not been of sufficient effea to prevent them
from carrying their evil purposes into execution ; be
it enacted, that from and after the passing of this
Aa, it shall and may be lawful for any Constable,
Headborough, Patrol, or Watchman, to apprehend
every such person, and convey him or them before
any Justice of the Peace; and if it shall appear before
the said Justice, upon the oath of one or more cre-
dible witness or witnesses, that such person or per-
sons is or are a person or persons of evil fame,
and a reputed thief or thieves, and such person
or persons shall not be able to give a satisfaaory
account of himself or themselves, and of his or their
way of living, and it shall also appear to the satis.
faelion of the said Justice, that there is just ground
to believe that such person or persons was or were
in such avenue, street, or highway aforesaid, with
such intent as aforesaid, every such person shall he •
deemed a rogue and vagabond, within the meaning
of the statute !node in the 17th of George 11. and
as such liable to imprisonment for six months."