The Sun.
London, England, 1817-12-13 00:00:00

OLD BAILEY.

Yesterday John Brown was indicted for feloni-
ously stealing, on the 6th of November, 50 pieces
of silk gauze, containing 534 yards, and two
pieces of silk handkerchief, containing 12 yards,
the property of I\iessrs. Deboos ; and William
Sherwin stood indicted for receiving the same,
knowing them to be stolen.
Nearly twenty witnesses 'gave Brown a good
character for the last twenty years.
The COMMON SERJEANfT .:proceeded to address
the Jury at five, and at seven the latter retired to
consider of their verdict.

After an absence of half an hoar, the Jury re-
turned, and pronounced both the prisoners guilty;
but strongly recommended them to mercy, on ac-
count of their former excellent characters.

CUARTER-HOUSE SCHOOL.—Ygsterday being the
Founder's or Oration Day of this Institution, the
usual annual ceremonies were observed according
to the Charter. The company repaired to the
great Hall, which was fitted up for the purpose
with a rostrum in the centre for the Orator of the
day ; and benches erected at either side, for the
accommodation of the poor Brothers, tbe,Seho-
lars, and the junior Governors and Stewards.—
Master Edward Churton delivered an appropriate
and classic oration in Latin, which met with
great approbation. At halt-past four o'clock,
divine. service was performed in Charter-house
Chapel, by the Reverend Mr; Thomas Gilbank
Ackland, to a most numerous congregation, in-
cluding several dignitaries both of Church and
State, some of whom have received their educa-
tion at this School: The Sermon was very ap-
propriate to the occasion. Several of the company
afterwards partook of an elegant dinner in the
Master's house.

The Court Martial on Colonel LEE, of the Royal
Marines, which was held at Chatham Barracks,
closed on Wednesdilv, when the charge being
proved of his being absent without leave, he was
sentenced to be reprimanded.
The Inverness Journal says—" A circumstance
of tincommon depravity occurred her,e in the
course of last ,week, of a woman having offered
to Sall the body of her own Child for dissection."
On Saturday last one of the Shipwriglrts,.named
George Harris, whilst at work upon the upper
works of the Belleisle of 74 guns, building at
Pembroke Dock-yard, unfortunately fell, and was
precipitated into the hold of ship, by which acci-
dent the poor man was so seriously hurt,_ that be
is not expected to survive it,

•

SPAIN AND HER COLONIES.

(Continued from The Quarterly Review.)

But it has been said, that having saved Spain
and Europe from tl►e yoke of Buonaparte, we
may now safely speculate in the freedom of Spa-
nish America ; and we have bee► excited to
this war—for it is not less than war—sometimes

by severe censures on the conduct of Spain, a

. _
Others by alarming our jealousy of the-rising power
of the United States. The peculiar state of the
relations between Spain and England.from the
year 1809 to 1814, and the transition from war
to peace, in no degree alter-our view of this sub-
ject, nor can they weaken the arguments against
the Colonial Alliance. After the bitter expe-
rience of the contest with her own Colonies in
North America, it may well become this country
to be slow in interfering with the Colonial dis-
putes of other nations. If the political conse-
quences for which France is indebted to her ac-
Jive support of those. Colonies are fairly 'Consi-
dered, they will not, hold out a very strong en-
couragement to imitate, her example.
Would it be nothing to. incur the just and dur-
able enmity of the power, 'which by our means
has been deprived of Colonial possesSions ? Or,
granting that its means of future revenge may be
contemptible, can it be imagined that all the na—
tions of Europe would look on with indifference,
while Eugland was -extending her influence,
and securing, as they `would apprehend, a mono-
poly of American commerce? Have they proved
them3elves to' be so free from jealousy of our
power, aw: 50. attached to time interests of our
trade, that wc:could expect them to, lre idle spec-
tators of this grt,lat addition to both ? But if the
cause of Spain were cietgulci by any Aliies, then
the trarrrillity of Europe_ night be again coot-
trotted to the hazard of war, and America be the
inauspicious field of battle. That the conduct of
Spain has been, in thiS contest with her Colonies,
neither wise nor humane ; that Fudn iand VII,
lost an opportunity on his return to the throne, of
succeedi-g in a rational attempt at conciliation ;-
-these are propositions, to the truth of which,
we may assent without being driven to the con-
clusion, that therefore the sword must be drawn
for the Colonists, .

But it haS. been plausibly asserted, that by ab-
staining froth interference in the affairs of South
America we are surrendering to the United States
all the advantages..which might be secured to our-
selves from this Revolution—that we are assisting
to increase the trade and power of a nation, which
alone can ever be the maritime rival of England.
It appears to us extremely doubtful whether any
advantage commercial or political can be lost to
d Englan by a neutral conduct ; 'and it must be
obserr-d, that the United States themselves have
given every public proof of th&r intention to pur-
sue the same- line of policy. But admitting that
this conduct is.nothing more than a decent pre-
text ; or admitting still further, that they will
afford to.the Independents direct and open assist-
ance, our view of the case would remain precisely
the same. The experience of ages', the instance
of North America itself, will distinctly prove, that
the South Americans will not sacrifice to their
gratitinle for the d4interested exertions of the
.United States all the benefits and. 'enjoyments-
which, in any case of their success or failure,
they must derive from the amity and the inter-
course of England. They will not be disposed w
punish themselves by receiving our manufactures
at an enhanced value through the medium of the
United States ; nor will they, by a gratuitous pro-
vocation of the naval power, whose productions
.are most congenial to their wants, and whose hos-
tility would be the most formidable to their nas-,
cent prosperity, at once throw away the great
prize of their exertions—the acquisition of a tree
trade. We are still persuaded, that they will not
feel enmity towards England, because in the first
years of their revolution it has preferred the line
of good faith to a selfish pursuit of commercial
profit, or to a romantic desertion of common sense;
and because at a later period it may be unwilling
to risk the tranquillity of Europe, and to aggra-
vate its financial difficulties, by engaging in
war against an Ally recently saved by its own
exertions.

These reasons appear conclusive against the po-
licy of cotinnitting the -honour and the power of
England in au alliance offensive and defensive
with the Colonists of America. The Government
of this country adopted in
.1810 the line of media-
tion, and the Commissioners appointed for this pur-
pose by England proceeded to Cadiz ; where, af-
ter warm discussions in the-Cortes, the mediation
was rejected and the mission dissolved. What-
ever might have been the result of this'scheme, it
is to be regretted that the British Commissioners,
men of talent and of experience in political affairs,
had not then the opportunity of informing them-
selves and their country on the real state of the
Colonies, and of obtaining an accurate insight in-
to the views, the disposition, anti the conduct of
both parties in this sanguinary conquest. We
cannot now decide whether Spain, in thus reject-
ing the plan of mediation, rejected the only chance
of recovering. her Colonies, but we know that
many of those who were leading members in the
Executive and in the Cores have expressed their
bitter repentance of the conduct which they pur-
sued in obediaoce to the inveterate prejudices of
Spain rather than to any calm and reasoned con-
sideration of the' subject. Nothing has occurred
since the year 1810, which, in our appreheUsion,
ought to alter the line of. neutrality then adopted
by England, and we are convinced that a strict and
sincere adherence to it will not fail to secure the
political and commercial advantages •which a more
violent coarse must expose to hazard. That we
should have been diverted from it by the conduct
of Ferdinand, or even by the revi*al of the Inqui'-
sition with all its dungeons, tortures, and. autos
du fe, is a proposition maintainable only by the
advimates of perpetual hostilities,. who might
well rejoice, if the follies or faults . of foreign
Monarchs; and the amjnst or unwise. measures of
foreign -nations .with respect to their own internal
affairs, were suffered to push the English Govern-
ment, by every- impulie- of disgust or indignation,
to the extremity of war.

Thera is, ho-wever, a set of reasoners on this
subject who must be reminded that England ought
not on this, or on any eccesion, to pursue an

I equivocal line of policy. Such conduct is guy
ficiently absurd in .trivial mattcrs and in the orth'
nary affairs of life, but in great political questiot
it is worse than weakness it is always dangeronsi
and often fatal. At once to support Spain agains.r
her Colonies, or the Colonies against Spaitir
would be a more prudent and dignified Courses
than, under the mask of neutrality, to give at►
oblique encouragement to either party. Such
conduct is quite inconsistent with • the character
of England of which the best and the ancient
distinction has been a direct, manly and avowed
system of policy on -all occasions, equally exempt
from the vacillations- of weakness and the shallotl
duplicity of artifice. We are not at present iu
condition to sport with this inestimable advan'
rage ; but if we were, the last question on which
the experiment should be tried, from its natua
and consequences, is the revolution in Spanish
America. The only interference in South Ameri-
can 'affairs, which we could adopt With consis-
tency, with dignity, or with effect, would he the
renewal (at the solicitation of either party) of that
mediation, the acceptance of which in 1810
might have saved years of distraction and blood'
shed to the Colonies ; and the refoial of which
(for such in effect it was) by Spain has gone
near to render war desperate a►►d reconciliation
hopeless. But even in the offering, or the con-
senting to undertake such a mediation at the 'pre-
sent moment, so far should we he front desiring
to monopoliz.e the fruits of its success, that we
think the best hope of its coming to a favourable
issue would be, that the other great powers of
Europe should be parties to it in common with
ourselves.

(To be continued.)

CORONERS' I NQUESTS.

SUICIDE.—An
liviest was held on Wednesday
night at the Rising Sun, Sph-.lrs on vievc
of the body of a highly respec dale aporliceary,
reskling in the New-road, who that inorningjwir.
put a period to•his existence. It apPear.y; in
(fence, that the deceased bad for son,' ,;-oily:is
been in an unsettled and desponding state of r,). :dp
and within the last ten days had resorted to tle.
advice of a medical friend. 'Last Monday, how-
ever, he exhibited such obvious symptoms of a
disposition to suicide, that his friends judging hira
to be insane, called in the advice of Dr. Burrows.
BY his recommendation, he was placed under the
inspection of a careful keeper, and every other
means were adopted to prevent his attempting any
desperate act; as well as for the recovery of his
health. On Tuesdly he was more composed. Oa
Wednesday morning, it being 'necessary to shave
him, and the keeper not being able, from rheu-
matism, to perform the operation, a relation of
the deceased undertook it ; and while the former
turned aside to reach something, the latter unhap-
pily laid the `razor for a moment out of his hand,
which the deceased perceiving, instantly snatched
up die instrument, and before he could be pre-
vented, made an incision in the.neck, dividing all
the blood-vessels, and almost immediately. bled
to death. Verdict—" Lunacy."—The deceased
Was of very amiable manners, and greatly esteem=
ed by a large circle of friends.

An Inquisition was yesterday taken before Mr.
Guns, in the King's Bench Pi ison, on view of the
body of John Mills, whu was found dead sitting
in his chair : his hat had fallen off, and his hands
Were placed upon his thighs. Mr. Lister, the
surgeon, was of opinion that his death was occa-
sioned by a complete stoppage of the vessels of
the heart. The deceased was hetween 60-and 70
years of age. Verdict—" Died by the Visitation,
of God."