The Sun.
London, England, 1819-04-16 00:00:00

Petition :--

" To the Ilieht Honourable the Lends, anti no-
ttoottible the Commons of the United Kingdom

of Gyeat Britain and Ireland, in Parliament
assenthlvd ;
" The Humble PETfI'ION of the undersigned
DEBT,,RS and OrnEas, confined in Ills MA-
JESTY'S PRISON of the FLEET,

" SnEwETH, That 'eve, your most humble Peti-;
tioners, think it a duty. incumbent on its to ex-
essmr feelings of .incere and deep regret, that
benet r certain Members of your Ihnourable:
House have presented, in the course of this Ses-
sion of l'..irliament . petitions against the Renewal
of the pfesent Insolvent Act, we have been held
out to the country as men who have acted un-
fairly towards our Creditors, and come to prison
with t! design of evading' p iyment of our just
NVe allude particularly to a statement
rn..ide by an Honourable Member for the City of
tormlon, when lately presenting a poitints at the
yerpie,4 of his Constituents. On seeing an ac-
ci•unt iu the public prints of the sentiments then
-expressed in your Honourable House, we felt sin-
cerely alai med, arid, our mitids were overwhAmed
With confusion and despair. 'plough unfortunate,
our characters as men are valuable to 6, and_
therefore we now address .your Honourable House
with a view to remove ,hose unfavourable impres-
sions which Seen] try'exist towards ri,t throughout
the country, and to solicit you to listen pa-
tiently to such suggestions. as we may, here ad-
vance, as well as to such inhumation as may
be 4erived from persons well acquainted.. with
the merits and opemions of the present• Insolvent
Law.

" We'd() not here attempt to deny, that on
many oecAsions the citizens of London. have
evinced rite most liberal spirit towards their fel-
low-subjects ; bust in the present instance we
*mild rather trust for protec,ion to the laws of
our country, than to the liberality of
Nvhich may be exercised at discretion.

" Vire are t'eeply affected with grief at observ-
ing every where, among the more opulent, such
n spirit of hostility towards us. unfortunate
tors„ who are already borne dorm by misfortunes
and distress.

" It is a duty we owe to your Honourable
"Luise, to our country, and to ourselves, to shetV
that the distrust in trade, and the present want
of demand, are not owing to the Llsolvent
Act. It will be no difficult task to trace the
&Aloes of those alarming evils 'to sources quite
different.

" Daring the late wars, the resources of Great
_Britain :vere called forth in an extraordinary man-
tier otrr fleets and armaments were scattered
over the Globe—to the, east and the west—in the--
north and the south Innumerable, ,haeids were
employed on those services, unacquainted with
any other trade than war. Thus, when it pleased
Providence to crown the strenuous efforts of Bri-
tain with success, and restore peace to our coun-
try, a multitude of people were thrown out of
employment, and burst oti the, other orders of
society like a vast inundation. Retrenchment
Was loudly called for, and took place ; and in air-
dition to those of our warriors who were dis-
charged from military and naval service a num-
-1),..r of civil officers were deprived of their situa-
tions, and a general stagnation in our inland
trade was a natural consequence. Whilst the
expenditure of the country is diminishing, the
trading, manufacturing, and labouring classes
do not, as yet, feel any beneficial. effects', .be-
cause' the taxes are not reduced in proportion
to the expenditure. The increased use of ma-
chinery in manulaCtories, although profitable to
the capitalist and genet at merchant, is neverthe-
less injurious to journeymen, labourers, and even
middling trades-people. From these causes have
arisen,- we humbly apprehend, the evils com-
plained of.
Far the greater part of us here have passed the
meridian of life, and for years supported our ta-
.milies with credit to ourselves ; the pectiliar cir-
cumstances of the times have reduced us to po-
verty and distress, and we hope we rosy not be'
made personally responsible for those evils -which
are not of our own seeking, hot owing to causes
not within our power to 'avert or alter,
" Should investigation not take place, and the
erroneous opinions, formed and
,set afloat by per-
sons ei,her interested or mistaken not be exploded,
ivould appear that a great proportion of the
subjects-of this realm set out in life with no other
view than that of obtaining credit ,fo'r a few years,
or a few.months, and then in ths.,end withdraw-
ing to a miserable prison, there vto get rid.. 4
debts nefariously contracted, and tlrence return to
contract more.. . We feel assured dial your J-lo-
pourable House will take a,more favoilrable ant
true view of the case, and consider Allat:English-
Info in general are not so corrupt in Kinciple,
or so indifferent to the blessings of liberpy, as to
settle their hopes on so weak and so uncertain a
foundation.

" We admit that the ev.il is great audgenerahatid
calls loudly for a remedy ; but we discolaim every
intention of praying for the introduction .Of-a-ny
law which shalt not prOdoe as_inuch re-al .good
to the Creditor a's to the Del tor.; wi,di jus-
tice to be done to all, hut as, the law 'of the land
would stand were thelTiThrevoked,.,that would be
impossible. . _

" We;catulot help 'suspectin*..that far the
greater nurnber.of person, wlq-66,aee signed their
'mates 10 1()r various pvtiyttos'agaiiist the Re-
newal %of :he present Itluistpt4l Act, are totally
tmacqttatittecl vrttlt the nwuntsof the Acct, and its
veriwvi -ope;,ations.. to silutost every clause of
that act. anin.e made agbinst every
specie,: of frand 'and on'tlie part of a
.Debtor; and though souse persons way Lace

tvailea tl►e vigilance of the law, the instanzes
are, we hope, rare, and then sufficient evidence
has not been produced by the opposing Credi-
tors, and without proper evidence no man ought
to suffer.

We know that a general belief prevails, that
Debtors often come to prison with a design of
concealing their property, and seeking relief from
the Insolvent Act but/we also know that this is
seldom the case. The great majority of us here
feel the keenest seirsa,ions of sorrow :—divested
of property—imon,red in a prison—we look
round us, and behold our wives arid families in
want of the common necessaries of life, 'selling
their beds from under tbem, that we nmy subsist,
and defray the exorbitant charges to which we
are subjected, before we can succeed in obtaining
our liberation from the Insolvent Debtors' Court.
We are ready to prove, on the clearest eviilence,
that within these walls there are • not six pli-
sonersperssessed of more property than will mere-
ly enable them to discharge themselves,trom this
place ; and when at length the prison-gates shall
be' opened eo us, we shell be\,ent into the world
without habitations and the means of support.
We observed with on small degree of con-
cern and surprise, that the Honourable-Memher
before alluded to, held out in your Honourable
House, that the industrious and trading part' of
the community had been stripped of property to
the amount olfift,.en millions, by Debtors who
had been discharged under, the present Insolvent
Act ; awl the same Honourable Member, on a
more recent occasion, merely estimated the
amount ftom eight to nine millions :—sn vague-
ly, so loosely, so carelessly, are tire unfortunate'
accused.

We beg leave to remark, that were the law
expences deduced, the disputed debts considered,
and notice taken of the same debts tiled in.varions
schedules, as well as the usurious transactions of
Creditors who have- taken advantage of the ne-
cessities of those that were-Compelled to obtain
goods on credit, and who have often laid snares
for them—not more than one-third of • the latter
slim could come under the denomination of tuna
fide debts. The .greater p.roportion of us are.men
who have ourselves suffeietl, as out• Creditors do
now; from not having our just demands paid ;
thon4h not to this cause do we ascribe the evils
which have befallen us, but to_those already enu-,
merated.

" The present Insolvent Act-, chile it grants
ample protection to the Creditor, is not so lenient
to the Debtor, whose future- property is not pro-
tected: besides, !he Insolvent Court possesses not
the power of, compelling a Creditor'to state how
a debt was contracted. Creditor !nay here-
after seize on the property 'and effects of the dis-
charged Debtor to'iatisty his foriner detnand : this
appears ro bear. 'very "hard on tie Debtor. Our
hopes ate blasted, our.energieS destroyed, be.,
cense we are labouring - for others, and not for
ourselves and families : yot that we wish to see
our CredifOrS depriVed of what,they have a just
right to dernand;, but it appears reasonable
,that,
as We are compelled to insect in our schedules all
debts due to us, the Assignees appointed mlO to
use due dilig-ence- recovering those debts,zand
it guilty of negligence in this respect, tbereshOuld
be.sope mode of redress. And had ()roper exer-
tions. been made by Creditors and Assignees, it
would then have been seen that the Debtors re-
lieved by the Insolvent Act have given up a very
considerable sum, instead of nearly nothirg, as
has been stated.

" The heavy law expences incurred in the
suits of small Debts is one great source of the
evil so heavily telt by us. We say little of the
privilege granted us, as appears •in the great bul-
wark of British Liberty;. Mirgnat'harta, that no
•man shall be !Awl from his plough or habitation,
that he may subsist his family ; for we rely with
confidence on tile wisdom of our Legislature 4 that
tile unfortunate Debtor, whO has neither coin-
Mitred fraud or intentional injustice to his Cre-
ditors, shall no longer be exposed to the malevo-
lent spirit of persecution and .avarice., The le-
suit of our observations leads us to think that
should a kind of minor Bankruptcy he allowed to
Debtors, and imprisonment for debt _abolished
under certain modifications, the benefit of such, a
measure would soon be felt thninghout the coon-
tiy, give universal satisfaction to Creditors, and
restore vigour to trade and credit ; as many men,
fearful of imprisonment, will incur heavy ex-
pellees to put off the evil day as long as possible,
and, thus the Creditors will in the end lint receive
that dividend_ which otherwise. would have been
paid.
" We know—we feel—We are sorry- to be com-
pelled -to admit—•-but we cannot injustice suppress
our opinion, that Imprisonment fur Debt is at-
tended with the most injurious consequences to
the morals and dearest interests of a country.—
A prison is a school for idleness,where the energy
of the mind is gradually subdued, and the habits
relax; If there be any who have evaded • doing
justice to their Creditors, and have- delivered in
fraudulent Schedules, the cause, we believe, may
chiefly be traced to' the lessons they have received
after their imprisonmeini which lessons would
never have been taught or acted- npitn haul they
remained among their friends and neighbours till
they 'gave up their ir:iperty. _

‘.• We could here enter into numerous doails,
in order more folly to illustrate the necess►.ty of
passing some law on the above• principle, but we
desist ; t.Ve put our trust in tl►e wisdom, food
sense, and humane feelings of the Legislature.. •

" We cannot conclude without calling the at-
tention of your Honour able House to the tiepin..
rable situation of a number of persons confined
here for contempt of the Court of Chancery,
chiefly owing to their ignorance of law proceed-
ings„ and the negligence of Attornies. We see
men dragging out a miserable existence ; linger-
ing under sickness and, poverty y forgotten by
their former friends, and neglected by the world.
Some have not seen the outside of these walls for.
neatly thirty long years, whilst others expect
every day to go the same way as many have gone
before them—leaving the prison for their grieve.
We therefore most humbly and earnestly
pray, that before the Petitions are taken into
'consideration, which pray for a repeal of the pre-
sentlnsolvent Act, your H;mourable House w;11
be pleased tits,appoiut a Committee to investigate
most fully into the situation of Debtors, and the

relative to trediinr and Debtor ; anti that all
the necessary information may be called for which
so important a subject !quires,. so that nothing
may hastily he concluded upon, but the interests
of all-parties concerned maturely Weighed, mid a
law framed which shall answer all the ends of
justice-arid humanity..
" And in that hope we shall, as in duty bourn!,
ever pray."

SUPERSTITION.

FLINTSHIRE GREAT SESSION.

BEFORE MR. SERJEANTS COPLEY AND MARSHALL.

THe KING, oN TIIR PROSECUTION OF EDWARD

PIEIiCE, AGAINST JOIIN EDWARDS, FOR OBTAIN-
ING MONEY UNDER FALSE PRETENCES.
The nature of the case will be best understoOd
from the evidence.

-Edward Pierce examined by Mr. TemPt.c.—l
live at Llandyruog, in tl:e County of Denbigh.—"-
I saw John Edwards, at his own house, called
Berth &lit, in the palish of Northop, i,n the month
of April. 1813. 1 understoodi had .been pot in
Fyrinon Elian ; T mean my name had beep put in.
I thought something was the matter
saw e..ery thing going cross.. 1 was informed
that John Edwards polled people out of the
1 went tm him in order to be pulled out. _I told
him something was the matter. wiqi me. He 'Mt:,
mediattly observed my name was put in Fynnorr
Elian. I trembled I.4He said it was •isot then a fit
dose to-take my name out, but desired me to wait
till the next full moon, when lie would take me
out. He requested me in the interim to read then
following psahns6, 7,- 20; 68, 109, and HS;
afterwards he would let me know when to go to
Fynnon Elian, as there were other people to go
with us—it was absolotely necessary to go there.,
went to his honie in May following, to inquire
01),,ot the proper time to go to the well. Ile said
he would go the following Sunday, and desired
the to tweet him at s't'. Asaph. We met there at
seven o'clock on the Sunday evening ; it was then,
full moon ! Edwards flied the day. When I saw'.
hint at St. Asapti, he desired the to go on one side,
with him to pay the money, which he bail was to
be given to the Woman of the Well, for taking my
name out ; he said, if 1 paid hins,:my name
would be taken out ; 1 was to pay 15s. ; hut
told him I had only 14s. 6d. by me, .Which
he accepted ! He then togagest to take my name
out, and pay the money to the Woman of the
He told me, that in consequence of having my
name taken out, I should have my health and au-
thority as i wished to,have ; I ant sure he told
me so ; I paid the money in 'order that my name
might be taken out.. John Edwards, myself, and
two otheeinen,oO the same business, then started
for "the kVell ; we arrived there front 12 to half-
past. 12 on Sunday night ; I never saw- the well
before ; Edwards called me to• the well, and
showed it me ; we went to a stile near the well,
he bid us three go over and renrain ther-e till he
fetched the key from the house where-the-Woman
of the Well lived. He told Inc he would- then
pay the woman ;, he did not say where the house
was : the well was inside a fence ; I did not see
a key ; there was no door on it to my knowledge.
Edwards •was absent about 10 minutes ; when he
returned, he desired one of she men to follow
hitn ; one of the strangers went with him ; they
were absent about H quatter of an hour :or 20'
minutes ; when the malt returned, I went in his
stead. I found Edwards at the well ; he bin
me stand on one side of the well, and say the
Lord's Prayer ; I did so : be then emptied- the
well with a small wooden cup ; when emptying
it,. be prayed to Fattier, Son, and Holy tii.ost ;
the well then filled again. He' then put sonie.lV4.'
teriuto the clip, and desired me to drink sorne-of it,
and throw the remainder aver my head; he said I
must do so three times ; I complied : after this,
'Edwards said, now we will look for your name.
He_put his hand a little above near where the
water goes into the we'.l; he found something
immediately, and said, " Here is something,''
which he gave to me. He desired me to put my
hand in ; I did so, but could find nothing. What
he gave me was a piece ‘of slate, s cork, a piece
Of sheet-lead, rolled up and tied together with a
wire. Laid not open it till I got home; it was
in my possession till then, • When I opened the
sheet-lead, I found a piece of parchment
with the letters B. P. upon it; there were also
some crosses. It was too dark to read at the well..
When Edwards gave it me, be said he I bought it
was my' name, and said every thing would be
right and go on well with me, and that I should
come on better than usual. I.gave the slate,
to Mr. Edward ThelWill ; 1 had them in my.pos,
session till then.

Cross-examined by Mr. MANLEY.-1 can't tell,
I was better after going to the well. One of my
daughters ties ill before I-went- there ; she was
better after I came back. My cows, hot ses, pigs,
sheep, cats, nor dogs, ,were not ill, nor %% as my
wife cross, but I thought something was the mat-
ter ivith me ! Edwards toff me my name was
put in the well ; he said if I would pay him 15.
he would take my name out: I don't know what
you mean by ghosts. No. I saw no cows with-
out heads,_nor did 1 see black pins.
By the CHIEF JUSTICE.-1 thought if my name
was in the well, 1 should not pr6sper. Thought
my name was put in, and that I wasgoi:ig
:worse
in consequence.- Thought by hearing other peo-
ple talk 1 should sillier bodily pain, dud go on
badly in' thi world as long'as I was in the tell.
By J utlg'e MARSHALL—Edwards told the it my
name 'continued in the wea, I should go on wotse
and worse every moon after another.
Margaret Pritchard, examined by the AT.ToR-
NLY-GErt
,RAL.—,-1 now live at Row, in Carnal.-
vonshire ; resided tit Cefn y Fynnon (the faun
where the well is situated) in May last. I was
called "The .Woman of the Well." I know John
Edwards, 1 diti not see him in May last, nor tor
three yeirs before ; he did not ray toe 144. Gd in
May las;, no, nor a-halfpenny I am Sure I did
not Ste Itim since the time I mentioned, There
is ,to,lock 'or door to the wtll.

The Rev. E Thelwall prodticed.the slate, cotk,
and. ptirchtnent; which he said were delivered qo
him by Pieree—they had been in his costody ever
since. ".Edward Pierce'," and the letters E. P.
were written can the parchment, and E. P. was
cot orrm•the slate.
Edward Pierce then said, he rectived the ar-

tides prod:teed by Mr. thelwall from John
wards. -
--; •
CHIEF JusTlce.Who proves the well to be
in Cartiorvooshire ? • -
Margaret Pritchard Was. then called, and “11(1'
the well was situated in the township of
-that part Of_ the parish of LlandriHo in ab°s
which lies in the.t (runty of Carnarvoil
'[he case for the prosecution being •closed,
Yir. MANLEY addressed the Jury on behalf of 016
detention, , but rolled no witnesses. ,4
The CnIFF JusTicß then proceeded fo styli ur,
the evidence, anti animadverted much on the enor.
miry of the offence.. .
Tire Jury, atter a few minutes. deliberaiient
found .the defendant Guitty.,-41e was Bien re;
mouded, and ordered to be Drought up for i"dg.
milt the following; dAy ; when The Court Intl'
tooted, that the offence of which he had been co.:
Y!'cied subjected him to transoortation but
df
consideration of. its
.being the first offence, and
his imprisoninen. since last Great Session, Serli
tenced hint -to be confined in the county 1°
Twelue Calendar Months. •

POLICE INTELLIGENCE. •

MANSION-HOUSE. ne.l
I,I.2:VateI6US RoßßFAllt.—Yesterday @ case 01 u-r
cnhar inlet est, as well as of aggravation, tvas l'ef'a"
Ist office against William Hales, a discharge
sailor, and who has lately employed himself i,cl
sweeping I , the streets. 'lke comp lainantryas 11,
-,
inter,sting little girl, napped Mary Cames, vvh°s-,
story was as follows :—She had resided lot soli);
time with her father and mother at Chatham, b"`
110 -recently lived in town, and while in service;
saved a few clothes and a little money. 6°ln
short time since she received a letter announciog,
the.death of her father, And requesting her at;
"
tendance at Chadian), for the purpose of paY"'ir'e
,
the last tribute to his remains. Knot.ving " •
poverty of her parent, she det,„,•„sitied.itionetli'
ately upon collecting all her clothes and monleY)ri
and "setting off- without delay to busy hint. (.0
this purpose _she packed tip "'her little all
a' basket, which was to he forwarded Irons te
Cross Keys Inn ; but b -ing unable to cArry die
load herself, she hesitated to think wh°lllsnb
would employ to carry it for her. Her, reeone r
tion was immediately flied irpon the pri'"".e:
~,,
%Own) she had frequently seen sweepthe Cro''''
of the street by the Mansioo-lifoose, and, to „
she sometimes gate a penny. 00 such 0cc3...1.°
1;.
the, prisoner used to say, " God laless y°'' dill(
the rich would not do so miich.for me as Yau.if
TO this man she ran in _haste, and asked I'llll.
he would carry her basket' to 'the ,Crtiss fieY",
as she was just going t.ll' to. Chath,rin " t°11“,1,11..
her poor father."—The prioner allPearreic.
fected, and readily said
_ll,- would. She 3--;),110
ingly entrusted the basket to his care,
gaha ved
oot
Iwo shillings for his trouble, and lest
food sufficient that morning, pressed "c"
something io order to s:renottewhito Soo" ?"`
critt-
wards she follsowed to the where,
to-fir
'i
expressiblesurprize; skie learnt that her-baskel."'
not at rived, noi initAligei.Ce be had, °,O
Hates. A;most distracters:, she returoed -t"
sweeping spoG' bits its ..tint waited for his re-e'
'
pearance. She at le,l4;,(.l)„.tveas_lo-444.e•7.:11ansiqi'
House, and related het sttory •T, her grief and te"l.
:
naturally excit;d .compaysion, ,and . orders bei"t'
given to secure I-lales,• she 'receiveit,.,sonie.te"
porary assistatitTe„ tvi!ir sYirit!it., in the `,i'e,,,(e
time, she set off to Chtillram, walkiog
! Upon her arrival there, besides the &filo
of her father and Othrit•nlistort tint sr she l'4'lllo.
still greater misery
.to find her -ttuoar.,,rtil "t:j:„e(1
diving with tiotith7r matt. 1, t!lt thus" rev`
i 1
an
her :in tile most cruel and tolf,..eling, aeY, .re
fact, threatened to merrier her she CAM':
•1-1 '0,„1
agkint !, During her absence, Hales (`vi`u
now (rscovered :was in the re 'Ol a (:)1,1
sion) was apprehended. Upon--Ai
Visa or immediately di,patelted.anOificer " iv%
the girl back, and- yesterday, being
ed wills the prisoner, she related the pv-
goittg story. *The
_:prisoner ackii,iwte"c`
•
ing received the basket, froth the litil,,,giri.llo"for'
that on his way to the Cross Keys he bit'l tre
tunately J;astened it to7some Vrtt ble opn''
was accustontea to sweep the siren, fowl
looking round for it,, its a minute or r`vr'' hatue,
d iit halisappeat ed. - -Hr
e lien rail:
away lA')iresioo 0'
-
not •Icnowing wriat, to say. In 'contr")(isoner
this, 1,0:i-ever, it Was ascertained that the
had applied the-property of the girl to dhc'3 „t •V•
and other extrar k agitnvs. - Her loss was a", 00
The Lorip MAYok said, he tie vet kneW
the
wicked and deprav'ed case, but under all t,core
cimistances,:thought.it would he better 1° sviiielt
the riet pym pension,', of the prisoner's pension,: por
while it would be soak retribution t() 1;'
girl, might prove as -g-teat a ,t»ortificati"" 81,12 e
thiishinetft 10 the iffisoner as could Tel-harts 0.„01
flicted. His Lordship thensees() se I the-Ptfice
0101 article
whence the prisoner derives his pet{,io"' rl,e paY:
arrangements (liales' conserst(og) 3"'
orient.of the money. Finally,- his- .14`)".
pr°-
vised her against' !cunning to Chati'an'i-na
mised her h,is assistance tot,vattls obt"111' •
•
si:uation.
GUILDHALL. 9peCto trot
br°
Yesterday, Charlotte 'Gripths, re-'
looking gin, about 17 obl, Was
in l"'"vfirdenref
no a charge of felony. It ap'p,arell
that she hail lived for, some time "s a - diO in
with Airs. Aat y, -who ha, a trimming7'.-10,11. of
Cloth -Fair, and that she had_been in the
.1 tuicb,
selling to a piece-broker of the name otdid noG
°pieces of goods, the prodnce of which site, f
001
corom
Mind over to Airs Barry.—She was
t
BDITHq. toter,
Yesterday, the Viscountess FoNestone, of a dat
Qn the 14th inst. at his liouse,.in sle-st
Lady of Robot Ficate, Esq. via still-porn ti4L-LO___/
--
• -- ,
MARRIED.
Ycsterriar, at St. Gt'r,rge's,
(o;:d o,,ilit s
sbxl;lo,r,
unlc.ehild of Richard harries, ci
square.

t. at echrl)oltEinr7L
OnlVlrs. Sara I:e4
lief fthe► ins
Shovel Plat: P
Esc. of Petreavieh , North 13,1"""
and Craylord, Kerr, ; t e 90th Year or her age..
(Provincial Births, T:1-11/01TONV:
„ e 0
LONDON: Printer) byJ. B. CARSTAIRS, of ‘4O• tt•
Ormond-street, Qucen-squaret and publio,l aiy
RiPPS, of No. 7, South Nt;)lton-street, TF"
°dice, No. 112, Strand ; where Advt.' tisem Oi"
Letters, eic.- (post-paid) triust be addressed.

1