The Sun.
London, England, 1819-07-09 00:00:00

THE COMET.

The Heavens were unclouded for many hours
last night, and the Comet became eddy visible.
At ten o'clock it formed a beautiful object, and
by eleven it had nearly regained its original splen-
dour. The nucleus was particularly brilliant and
well defined, and the tail, like a snowy feather,
floating through the Sky, took a graceful sweep
towards the East. When we first observed it on
Saturday its inclination was to the West. There
must have been therefore a considerable' altera-
tion in- the position of the Comet, and indeed its
course seems to grow more clue North every clay.
The velocity with which it moves appears too
great to allow of its being the same mentioned a
year ago in the Philosophical Transactions, as on
its way to the Sun, for it must have long since
passed its perihelion. Neither do the French
Papers maintain it tt-.1 be the same. They state,
it is true, that it was discovered by the same
'astronomer, Mr. rotas, of Marseilles, hut they fix
the date of the discovery only a few days back,
instead of a twelvemonth.

The Comet continues to be notified in the Parisian Journals,
but hitherto without any of the observations of astronomers,
the Journalists contenting themselves with presenting it as
food for the gossip of wine-libbers and literary milliners.—.
The following i s from The Journal des Debate of Monday :
" A Comet. has appeared unexpectedly, without having
allowed time to Messieurs the Astronomers, Masters of Cere-
monies to th.e "leavens, to announce its arrival. This is an in-
congruity which seems to demonstrate that this wandering
star disdains the laws of celestial etiqisette Hence the good
Parisians who were assembled yesterday upon the quays to
pay their court to this new luminary, have testified some
fears for the events which its appearance may portend. It is
more reasonable to observe that with the appearance of this
Comet, the temperature has experienced a sudden change : to
cold and rainy weather, which has lasted for four wecks, has
succeeded an excessive beat. It was the same in 1811, and
the lovers of good wine well recollect the Year of the Comet.
To-day the Centegrade thermometer at two o'clock, P. M.
was 26 deg. 5-10, and was still rising. This is the highest
degree of heat which we have experienced this year."
Baussets, Juts 4.—Yesterday evening, a Conset was disco-.
vexed in the North East; its tail much longer than that of
the Comet in 1811. It was seen an the same night at Namur,
where the nucleus is stated t• have been of the apparent
magnitude of a child's head.
The Comet made its appearance to the people of Dublin
on Sunday night, about ten o'clock, and excited great atten-
tion. It is called in the Hibernian Journal" a beautiful blitz-
ing star in the planetary regions, with a long train in a per-
pendicular direction, haring the appearance of a Comet."-..
The writer adds, " We are not aware that any of the learned
astronomers of Europe have predicted the return of any
comet at this particular period; therefore the circauistanco
appears the mare extraordinary!"
Comets have appeared in all ages of the world, and from
the Christian era to this time, about 500 have been observed.
Among the ancients these bodies were alivays regarded as
foretelling some grand event; and, even now, amongst the
uninformed, they are regarded in the same light, being con-
sidered as prognosticators of evil. No time, in the annals of
history, has been more remarkable than the present century,
and only one century can be mentioned as having had so
many large Comets in so short a period.

Lk!.:le KNIGHT, of Drury-lane Theatre, is en.
trEged for six nights at .the Edinburgh Theatre.
He made his first appearance last night.
A boat, or rather esnoe, was discovered last
week by some workmen digging in Pinchbeck
Fen, Lincolnshire, about six feet below the stir.
face of the earth, .where it must have lain for cen-
turies. it has the appearance of being formed
out of the trunk of a tree, with a flat bottom. It
measures twenty feet in length, and two feet in
width.

DARING ROBBERIES.—Tuesday afternoon RS
Mr. -Broughton, Solicitor, Great Marlborough-
street, was coining up Holborn, his attention
was attracted by a great crowd in Southampton-
street, where there was a house on file. He
was induced to stop, hut had not been a, spec-
tator many minutes, before he was hustled by a
gang ohhieves, who robbed him of his pocket-
book, containing a 11. Bank note, a bill of some
consequence, and two letters. No less than a
doze❑ of Gentlemen were robbed, and one of
them lost 551. in notes. Two men named
Duggin and Sullivan, suspected of being actively
concerned, were apprehended hyJ. Filrzman, and
lodged in the watch-house at St. Giles's.

PARLI AMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, JULY 8.

MISCELLANEOUS.
The Irish Insolvent Debtors' Bill was brought
tip from the Commons by BROGDEN- and
others, and read the first time.
On the Irish Appeal Cause of O'Grady v. the
Attornev-General., the Loan CHANCIILLORAted
coincidence in the opinion of the Learned
Judges on this case, observing, that in his hum-
ble hut clear opinion, there was no error what-
ever iu the judgment of the Court below upoh the
case or in the decision of the Learned Judges.
When any Noble Lord was present at the hear-
ing should he in the House, be would move the
affirmance of the judgment ; and Lord REDRS-
DALE very shortly after appearing in his place,
nioved that the judgment be affirmed, ‘chich was
ordered accordingly.
The l'late Glass Duties Bill passed through it
Ciimmit tee, and was reported.
On the question for going into a Committee on
the Scots Chinches Bill,

Viieonnt MeLvlt.t.h rose and stated •his rea.
inns tar deeming it preferable it should he over
for consderalon nntil the nex.t Session, and
moved that the Bill be committed for that day
three monlhs.—Ordered.

T 1.4 Earl of RossLYx presented a Petition from
certain Protestant Dissenters of the town of Ken-
dA, praying for certain relaxations with respect
to the present Marriage Rites in their favour.
Lord AUCKLAND presented a Petition from
Lientenant Beckford, of the Royal Navy, similar
to that recently presented to the other [-House;
stating his length of service, wounds received,
&c. and praying for some relief in consideration
thereof.

IRISH STILL FINES BILL.
The Earl of Livettroot. having moved the
Order -of the Day for going into a Committee on
on this Bill,
The Earl of BLESSINTON presented a Petition
from the County of Tyrone against the present
'system of Still Fines in Ireland, and praying such
relief as the House in its wisdom should deem
meet. The Noble Earl took the occasion to
snake some remarks upon the subject. and refer-
red to vatious evils resulting front the present sys-
tem of Still Fines, which Were aggravated much
by the mountainous and impassible surface of
enany parts of the Northern provinces of Ireland,
especially of the County of Donegal. The destruc-
tive operation of the system had so reduced some
parts of the country, as rendered it necessary for
the Irish Treasury to send no less than 80001. in
addition to the produce of the taxes, to maintain
the officers and others, which its effects had ren-
dered necessary.
The LORD CHANCELLOR, after looking at the
Petition, and observing its diction, said, it could
not regularly be received but as the Petition of
one of the Subscribers, who happened to be a
Peer,- namely, Lord Castle Stewart.
. On the question for going into the Committee,
The Earl of DONOLGH.MORE rose and addressed
their Lordship at some length upon the subject.
He strongly deprecated she-proposed measure, as
tending to operate most injuriously to the revenue
of leelend. Under. the distillery system, which
the Bill 'vent to set aside, and which system had
• the deliberate sanction of some of those most con-
•versaet on the subject of Irish Finance, more
especially the late Mreßeresford, it was so pro-
ductive as to supply a full fifth of the whole Irish\
• revenue, namely, 1)175,0001., and to which great
amount it had risen from the low sum of 63,0001.
which was all the distilleries. of Ireland had pro.
.eluced previous to its operation. The rise and pro.
.gress of the Still Fine system was described in de-
tail by the Noble Berl, beginning with its com-
mencement in 1783, to the period of its tempo-
rary suspension a few years since by the Imperial
Parliament, and thence to its re-enactment or re-
♦ival, in consequence of the most earnest desires
and representations on the part of Ireland. He
regretted that any measure should be suggested
tending to set aside the Still Fine system,
which repeated experience had proved so bane-
felel as a source of revenue. He seemed of opi-
-Y►ion that the proposed measure took its rise
in a great degree from certain publications
which had not long since appeared hostile to
the Still Fine system, which_ they went to place
in a most unfavourable light ; but perhaps it was
s ill more to be attributed to what passed at a
meeting held last April at the Thatched House
'Tavern, at which were present, besides certain of
his Noble Friends, and others of their Lordships,
no fewer than 32 Members. of the other House of
Parliament, besides other persons; all or the most
of whom were landed proprietors in, or connected
with Ireland. Many of those preient conceived
themselves to be better judges of Irish Finance
than such men as Mr. Beresfot•tl and Mr. Foster.
'His Lordship referred'to parts of what was said
to be advanced there in the way of discussion,
particularly by.a Noble Friend then in Fis place.
He much regretted that what was about .\to be
proposed would go to unhinge the whole sys7em
of the Irish revenue ; and, he repeated, it wool!
do its promoters but very little good, but the
public a great deal of injury. In the course of
Isis discussion, his Lordship quoted largely from
various documents and reports in support of what
be contended for. At least, the present should
be accompanied by another measure, still before
the other House of Parliament, which was neces-
sary to render the measure at all complete ; but
he thought the far preferabfeNvay would be, to
suffer those connected measures to lie. over till
the next Session, when the whole projected new
system could be deliberately considered.
should therefore move that the Bill be committed
for that day three months.
The Earl of ABeRDEEN observed, be bad been
anxious to obtain the most extensive and correct
information respecting the important subject before
the House, and that the result either of his best
information, or what he. had gained from personal
inquiry was such, as that he could withoutheei-
tation say, the greater part of what was advanced
against the obnoxious system which the present
measure went to counteract, could be pro:•ed in
evidence at the Bar of the House, and on the
authenticity of what was stated in Mr. Chichester's

book their Lordships milt onAdentty rel/, and I
some of the events there describes! were withio:his
own knowledge. He would only state one or two
of these instances. of atrocity NMI horror to which
the system complained of had given rise, and which
rested upon unquestionable evidence. In one of
these cases a poor infirm old man had been dragged
from his wretched habitation to Derry Jail ;
from thence it was thought expedient to remove
hint to Lifl'ord, whither he was dragged by force,
and with such expedition, notwithstanding he
most feelingly pleaded his age and infirmities, that
when he arrived at Gifford he expired in the
course of a few minutes, and almost in the sight
of his merciless persecutors. The other case
which he should refer to, was one of the most
wanton barbarity on the part of a Revenue
Officer. Some men were endeavouring to get
across a river in a boat from the officer, when he
directed a party of soldiers to fire into the boat,
by which two of the men were severely wounded.
He would ask, in what country of Europe could
such wanton atrocity take place under a legal sanc-
tion ? Not even in Turkey.itself. He admitted the
Bill would go to a great change iu the Irish Ex-
cise Laws ; but it was necessary, from a view of
the nature and consequences of the present system,
and in consequence of repeated and urgent repre-
setrations on the part of Ireland., It wouldbe
better, he thought, if the other Bill alluded to ac,
companied the present—and the meliorated system
would, be was sere, instead of diminishing, tend •
materially to increase the revenue of Ireland. It
was full time to put a stop to the outrages prac-
ticed, and the winding oppressions which were
exercised under the present system, where even
the very rags out of the wretched cabins of their
inieereVe occupants were taken, under its sanc-
tion and provisious ; and he must repeat his con•
viction that the improved system would go mate-
rially to improve the revenue of Ireland.
The Earl of LINISRICK followed, and briefly,
though with much strength and eloquence, re-
' probated the sytem of tyranny and oppression in
his native country, which the Bill went to coun-
teract. In no other part of the United Kingdom
would such a system be tolerated, and now Ire-
land was happily about to get rid of it ; and he
expressed his surprise that his Noble Friend, so
long the warm advocate for civil and religious li-
berty, would lend his talents and intelligence to
upholding the ohnoitious system. With respect to
the pamphlet written by a Reverend Gentleman, in
which so many enormities were revealed, he ob.,
served they were supported by depositions upon.
oath, and they exceeded in enormity most things
he had ever heard. Such a system, he agreed
with a Nob'e Haar! in thinking, could not exist in
any other country. After paying this tribute to
the excellent moral character of the Gentleman
who produced the pamphlet alluded to, be ad-
verted to what his Noble Friend had said re-
specting the public meeting at which he (Lord
L.) assisted. He vindicated the principle upon
which it proceeded, and more especially the part
(not very prominent) which he had taken therein
himself. The new measure he thought should
have a fair trial. He argued favourably of it, and
thought that bad the period of the year allowed,
the improvement would have been carried to the-
extent, desired.
The Earl of Livettrooe supported the measure
with his accustomed talent and intelligence. The
system, he observed, which the Bill went to abro-
gate, it should be recollected, was commenced by
the Irish Parliament in 1783, and was a weasel e
of the Irish Government. It continued till the
Exchequer Chancellorship of Mr. Foster, when it
was suspended, bet subsequently all the Irish
Chancellors of the Exchequer thought the system
should be renewed, with the exception of Mr.
Pole. Such was also the opinion of the great
mass of the Irish Members ; but eventually the
system was found so obnoxious that on a further
view of it by the imperial Parliament, to which
decision repeated representations frovi Ireland
contributed, it was deemed advisable to try the
operation of a system more- lenient, and less ob-
jectionable in its operation and at the same
time promising equal productiveness to the
revenue. And in considering this important
alteration in a material branch of the Irish
Revenue, those most conversant with the Fi-
nance system of that Country, with whom lie had
communication, were consulted and at the same
time be felt it his duty fairly to state to them
the necessity of Ireland supplying its fair propor-
tion of the revenues of the United Kingdom; and
that if the new measure could not be made effec-
tual for furnishing the expected proportion or
amount of revenue, it would be incumbent on
them to find some other measure that would. It
was true that the Bill was not unattended with
doubts as to its effect, as would any-other
mea-
sure of substitution. But it was considered, that
since the revisal and improvement of the system
of Police in that country, from the co-operation
of which the most beneficial effects were to be
expected, it was resolved to try whether the ob-
noxious measure could be got rid of by an im-
proved system in the organization of that branch
of the revenue, and to a certain extent in the way
of experiment; for it should be recollected, that
the still fine seven) may be partially revived, if
Ho-hi expedient, on an application to the Lord
:dientenant. With respect to the other Bill al-
luded to, it wus a fair subject for future conside-
ration. However, it would be preferable first to
try what the new project, with the aid of the im-
proved police, could effect previously to the trial
of a more extended system. if it should fail, he
bad to lay in his claims to the proposition, that
whatever the fair proportion of revenue to be ex-
pected trout Ireland was, such should, in some
way or other, be furnished by that part of the
United Kingdom,
The Ball of BLESSINTON made a variety of
further observations in support of the measure,
and with reference to the injurious and disgraceful
results of the obnoxious system, he held it lucent-
bent on the Legislature to try the effect Of some
other.

The Earl of DoNouGxmottE spoke in
explana-
tion and observed, that what a Noble Earl oppo-
site (Aberdeen,) so feelingly complained of, dttl
n9t result from the execution of the law now Pm'.
posed to be superseded, but from it's anis- executw
The Earl of Ltmant CK shortly explained tv,'
respect to what he said respecting the paln0.11"

prottneed by a Reverena ,G,ntiernßn, which in
tact was, that his allegations were duly supported
by affidavits.
The question was then put, the amendment of
the Earl of Donoughmore negatived, and the Com-
mittee being entered upon, their Lordships agreed
to the Bill without farther discussion.—ft was
forthwith reported) and the House adjourned
till To-morrow.

LAW IN fELLIGENCE.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, JULY 9.

LIBEL.
TEASDALE V. WILLIAM CLEMENT, ESQ.
This was an action against the defendant, Pro-
prietor of The Observer, Sunday and Monday News.;
papers, for an alleged libel published in the for-
mer, tending to insinuate that the plaintiff had
offered to sell a deal body seized by him as head-
borougi► of the parish of St. Pancras, from certain
resurrection men,- to Mr. Carpue, the Surgeon,
and then took and sold it to St. Thomas's Hospi-
tal, contrary to the directions of the Magistrates
of Hatton Garden, before whom rite Resurrection
men had been taken, the Magistrates having or-
dered it to be taken to Surgeon's Hall, and for
which offence they had directed the plaintiff to be
prosecuted at the Quarter Sessions.
Mr. GURNEY anti Mr. CHITTY conducted the
plaintiff's case, and Mr. PLATT the defendant's.
It appeared that the supposed libel had been
copied front another journal, which had paid the
plaintiff 501. as a compensation for the alleged in-
jury he had sustained, and purported to be an ac-
count of the examination of two persons, trained
Moore and Harnett, charged before Mr. Leach,
or Hatton-Garden, by the plaintiff and another
matt named Smith, with stealing a dead body.—
The Magistrate had directed the body to be taken
to Surgeon's Hall, and the iibellous statement in
the Newspaper was that, contrary to this order,
the phtitniff hail offered the body for sale to Mr.
Carpue, the surgeon, who having refused to take
it, the plaintiff had sold it. to St. Bartholomew's
Hospital. The evidence was, that the plaintiff
and Smith had gone to Surgeon's Hall, and offer-
ed the body for public use, and that the porter
of that Institution had received the hotly, and
took it to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, paying the
plaintiff and Smith the sum of His, for their
trouble and loss of time ; but there was no evi-
dence that the body had been in fact taken to Sur-
geon's Hall, as had been predicated in the induce-
ment part of tire declaration, and
The CHIEF JUSTICE ruled, that as the plaintiff
in his declaration had so identified this fact with
the allegation, that the libel was of and concern-
ing the plaintiff's conduct with respect to the
body, that he was tied up to prove it, but having.
failed so to do, the necessary consequence must
be a nonsnit, and the plaintiff was nonsuited
accordingly.

SLANDER.

IZZARD, GENT. V. JOHIq.

This was an action for words of slander spoken
by the defendant, of and concerning the plaintiff'a
conduct as an attorney.
Mr. SCARLaTT and Nir. STARXIR conducted the
plaintiff's case, and Mr. E. LAW ES the de.
tendant's, _

It was proied in evidence, that the plaintiff was
employed in adjusting the affairs of a tradesman
named Williams, who had compounded with his
creditors, of whom the defendant was one. The
principal creditor having called upon the defend-
ant to procure his signatnre to the composition
deed, the latter refused to sign, and said '' they
(meaning the rest of the creditors) are all a set of
shallers. There is one Izzard that calls himself
an Attorney---he is no Attorney at all—he is no-
thing but a black-leg." Being asked who
he !imam, he said, " that fellow Izzard, he
has been at the meeting." In two or three
days afterwards, the. sane person called upon
the defendant, with these words wlirten down,
and asked him whether 'he meant to abide by
them, saying, that he had shewn the paper to the
plaintiff. He replied, " you have done very right,
for no honest man would ever employ him." In
consequence of this slander, the witness had ceased
to employ the plaintiff as an attorney.
Mr. E. IntvrEs addressed the Jury on behalf of
the defendant, and
The Jury tinder the Learned Judge's directions,
found a verdict fur the plaintiff—Damages 405.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, JULY 8.
Bcfure Lord Chief Justice DALLAS.

BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.

BOUDERMALLIL V. BAMPFYLE.

This was an action brought for compensation
in damages for a breach of promise of marriage.
Mr. Serjeant Leas, in opening the case on the
part of the plaintiff, said, she was a young Lady
of respectable family in France ; her father, now,
deceased, when living, was a notary at Calais, and
his relations and connections were people of great
respectability, living in that country ; the plain-
tiff came over from Calais to this country in the
year 1815, accompanied by a Mrs. Baker, her
aunt. They took up their residence in Robert-
street, Bedford-row, in which house the defendant
was also lodging ; he was a surgeon in the army
on full pay, and of an ancient family of the 'North
of England ; be was on the Staff, and well able
to pay a fair remuneration for the injury he hall
done to the Lady, who was the subject of the
action. By their living together in the same
house an intimacy was formed, which ended in a
formal declaration, which would be proved by a
variety of leeters.
A Gentleman named Sankey was the first wit-
ness called. I,le knew the defendant, who was a
surgeon, with a 'pay of 14s. a day ; he was about
30 years of age.
Captain [ldlers said he knew the lady ; Her fa-
ther died some years ago. The plaintiff came
troth France sown atter the return of the King,
(Louis XVIII.) to that country. She lived eight
or nine• !numbs in Robert-street 'but witpess
knew her in Calais, and he had frequently seen
her there. It. was custotnary for young Ladies
in France, who were about to be married, to se-
clude themselves in a great measure from Society.
Miss Boudermalle, in anticipation of her marriage,
had done so. She had been brought up a Catho-

tad told witness that Ole Vit3 at presetit 8
Protestant.
Cross-examined—,She and her Runt -had nnif
one room in Robert-street, in which they slept'
dressed their victuals, and did every thing.
The letters written by the defendant were Pa
in and read. The first was dated 16th Atignsts.
1816, N 0.1413, High•street, Portsmouth. It con
tained a general declaration of his affection for
her, and that nothing but unavoidable cirennv
stances should prevent him from cerrying his via,
of marriage into execution.
Captain Hillers was again called, and he be°
lieved the plaintiff was 27 years of age.
Mr. Serjeant Vandliats addressed the Jury 13
behalf of the defendant. He admitted that a case
had been made out, clearly made out, but tlie
Jury would consider what the Lady had lost.
elient was a man in ill health, a valetudinarian"'
what then could be expected from him ? His
Learned Friend had, in his opening speech, de"
scribed the defendant as a Gentleman of high
Northern family, dignified both by their flan)!
and in their-arms. In this, however, his Learned
Friend was a little mistaken, as his client had un-
fortunately lost his arms ; at least they had been
tveakened in the service of his country'.
Ills Learned Friend had also, in his bind'
ness towards his (Mr. Sedeant Veughan's)
client, put him upon the Staff, wben, in facts
be was not on the Staff—that, then, was a
staff which his Learned Friend had introduced
to prop np the case, but which had broken under.
him. His income was only 14s. a day ; and fro
that many deductions were to be made. He would
then ask the Jury; how the defendant could have
nraititiained a wife consistently with her station ill
life ? If they gave heavy damages, they wood
ruin his happiness for ever.
The CHIEF JUSTICE, in summing up, observed'
that the Jury were to consider whether the breach
of promise was a positive or a conditional one
and if they should be of opinion that it was a plr
sitive one, what damages would repair the iniarf
sustained by the Lady. It struck him, whet'
reading the letters, that an actual promise had
been given.
The Jury consulted a few minutes, and 1000
a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages One Hundred
Pounds.

FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Wednesday evening.
an invest was held at the sign of the Bull, NO'
ford-lane, Strand, on the body of Thomas het"
ting, a young waterman, 20 years of age. is
appeared by the evidence, that the deceased, o'l
Tuesday afternoon last, was in a sailing boat 0(1
the River Thames, near Waterloo Bridge, with a
young tientleman. On their arriving near to a
barge lying in the river, a man very impritdentlf
jumped into the boat; the jerk overturned it, .11d,
they were all precipitated into the water. Several
boats immediately repaired to their assist,ince•
and succeeded in saving the youth, while the
other swam to the shore. The deceased, will'
was no swimmer, after some' struggle in 114
the water, sunk, nod was drowned. His bodY
was found soon after, quite dead. Verdict-4c"
cideatal Death.