The Sun.
London, England, 1826-02-07 00:00:00

Act is a perfect failure. A more bungling ill- I
assorted mass of wordy stuff is not to be found
upon the Statute Book, not even excepting
the verbose compilations of the Law-givers of the
thne of Henry llth. Ridiculously particular in
some trivial instances, it omits to regulate points
of the utmost importance, and moreover, in every
attempt, the framer of the Act made, to render his
intention clear, he has succeeded wonderfully in
obscuring his meaning, and shutting out every
possibility of attaining to it. The Jury
Law, indeed, is a specimen of a very opposite
nature, and reflects the greatest credit on the
gentlemen to whom this important law was en-
trusted. Nevertheless, what good has it effected,

that might not have been done far easier
and far better by an Act revising the old law, and
introducing those alterations in reference to Spa.
cial Juries, which the spirit of the times required,
and which indeed forms the sole advantage of

.he Jury Act of last Setsion. There are iudped

many other specimens of Consolidation amongst
the Acts of the last Sessio►►. But let us go a
little backward) let us see) in the first in-
stance, what has been done with the Custom
Laws. These were consolidated in the 97th,
43d, 49th, and bOth of George 3, and again in the
6th of Geo. 4, after the Act of the 59th Geo. 3
had been amended by 24 different Acts, passed
during that interval. The Excise and Stamp Laws
have, in like manner, met with considerate legis-
lators, who thought consolidation was wanting in
these departments, and the Land Tax Redemption
Acts experienced the same attention in the 42d
Geo. 3., and yet required to be amended
seven times between that and the b7th of
Geo. 3. The Turnpike Acts, however, will
furnish the best example of the benefits attend-
ing consolidation. These laws were reduced
into one Act in the 30 Geo. 2, 6 Geo. 3, 7
Geo. 3, 14 Geo. 3, and 3 Geo. 4., and yet, not-
withstanding all these attempts, they are at this
moment in a state of confusion far worse than they
ever were at any former period. It would be
needless to multiply instances of failure. These
will suffice to chew how inadequate consolidation
is to the effect intended ; and sure five are, that
Mr. Pm, would do the country more ser-
vice if he would cease from meddling with a
subject he does not and cannot understand. If
he cannot revise the Law, at least he can let it
alone. What has hitherto been done, has been
done, en the whole, in a way no degree credit.
able to him ; and the further lie goes in the
matter, the more he involves his character, which
must stand or fall according to the success which
may attend his measure. We implore him, for
he ask. of the country and himself, to desist.

THE LORD Cictmckt.Lott.—The amswers given
this day to the inquiries after his Lord4hip's
health were, " That his Lordship continued to
get better." Au expectation was held out at
Lincoln's Inn-hall, that his Lordship would be
able to resume his duties in the course of the
week. 'We fear this is a visionary idea.

Mr. Monica, who went out to 'Mexico on a
mission, we believe, connected ssith some dis-
puted points iu the treaty between that country
and England, has returned in his Majesty's ship
Vigilant, having left Mxico on the 16th, and
Alvarado on the 2id of December. Letters of
the former date have been received from the
capital, in which it is stated that the Pave has
addressed a letter to the Mexican President, ac-
cording to his gracious protection to him, and
the country to the government of which he had
been elected. His Holiness, it appears, is un-
' willing, out of deference to the degraded FLa-
oisia.mn, to forego any longer those advantages
held out to him by the adherence of so large a
number of Catholics, who might, too, without
his pious interference, be led astray into all kinds
of heresy, and even be brought to allow the
toleration of other religions.
Accounts from Hammett to the Ist of January
chew that the Colombian expedition known to be
in preparation at Carthagena, had excited some
apprehensions there. The Governor had at his
disposal too large a land force to fear any attack,
should it really take place ; but the consequences
of a blockade were regarded with alarm, and the
slave-population were known to be favourable to
any change of masters by which their condition I
was likely to be improved.
MALTA, DEC. I.—Major-General ALEXANDER
W OODFORD arrived in the Prince Regent, Co.
vernment schooner, from Naples, with his family
and suite ; and this flay the ceremony of swearing
him in as Lieutenant-Governor of these posses-
sions in the absence Of his Excellency the nir.
qwis of II --ASTINGS, took place at the Government
Palace, at the conclusion of which the usual sa-
lutes were fired.
Yesterday his Excellency Count tlooLe, En-
voy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
of his Majesty the King of NAPLES, jointly with
Mr. N. M. Rontsoimo, and accompanied by
Mr. Curs. G REV:, Notary Public, cancelled and
deposited in the Bank of England the amount of
sixteen thousand eight hundred pounds in special
bonds of the said loan, being the first half of the
sum fixed for the redemption of bonds in the year
1826, including the saving of interest on the
18,300, deposited to the Ist August last.
Count LieveN, the Russian Ambassador, trans-
acted business yesterday at the foreign Office,
in Downing-street,'