The Sun.
London, England, 1821-11-26 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, Nov. 24.
CHESTER ELECTION.
THE RING V. JOHN WILLIAMS.
This was an indictment arising out of the late contested elec-
tion for Chester. The defendant, who was Mayor of that city,
was charged with acting corruptly in his office.
It appeared that, at the late election for Chester, the (Candi-
dates being on one side, Lord Belgrave and Gen. Grosvenor,
and on the other Sir Gray Egerton and Mr. Townsliend,) the
Mayor was applied to by the Egerton party
.to make 41 free-
men. The usage of Chester had been to admit freemen during
polls. but the Mayor, alleging that he acted by the advice of
Mr. Finchett, the town-clerk (who happened to be Attorney to
the Grosvenor family), refused to make freemen on either side.
It further appeared, that to avoid importunity, he had secreted
himself in the house of a gentleman named Harrison ; and that
he had used expressions tantamount to a chuckling at having
" done" the Egerton interest. When the trial came on at Ox-
ford before Mr. Baron Garrow, the question left to the Jury
was—corrupt motive, or inadequate judgment. The Jury re-
turnesl a verdict of guilty.
Mr. JERVIS moved the judgment of the Court.
The defendant put in an affidavit, setting forth that he
had been elected Mayor of Chester in the year 1819. Not
being a man of professional knowledge, and being solely
engaged in his own trade, he determined early to be
guided by the advice of the town clerk, in all matters of
a professional nature, while lie remained in office. The
election for M embers to serve in Parliament for Chester took
place in March 1820, and at the opening the defendant did not
expect a great severity of polling in the contest : this, however,
diet occur, contrary to expectations, and the sheriffs being the
returning officers, and having no regular assessor, employed
the town-clerk in that office. During the heat of the election,
an application was made to the defendant, as Mayor, to admit
to their freedom several applicants : he consulted Mr. Finchett,
the town-clerk, who adVised him at such a time not to grant
their admission, and feeling that advice to be honestly given, lie
abided by it, and equally refused admitting the applicants of
each of the contesting candidates. Ile most solemnly denied
being actuated by any sinister motive in his refusal, and also
solemnly denied that he had used the, expressions imputed to
him, of having said, " We have done them (the Egerton
party) nicely."
Several other affidavits were put in, giving the defendant an
excellent character ; and also one from Mr. Harrison, denying
that the defendant had used the expression—" We have done
them nicely."
Mr. SCARLETT (in mitigation) suggested that the Mayor
had at least acted bona fide, for he had refused, equally, to
admit freemen on either side.
Mr. Justice BAY LEY—It appears that there were none, or
very few, to he admitted on. the Grosvenor side.
Mr. SCARLETT said that there had been doubts entertained
as to the propriety. of admitting freemen during elections : and
(for his own opinion) he thought the practice impolitic and
liable to abuse. The Learned Gentleman also contended that
Mr. Williams, being unacquainted with the duties of his situ-
ation, had acted properly in adopting the advice of the town-
clerk.

Mr. PULT.ER and Mr. Pgaitsox were on the same side.
Mr.j-Eitvis rose in reply, and urged that the violation of duty
on the part of the Mayor was clear and indisputable. Instead
of taking the advice of the Recorder (Mr. 'Jones), who had ar-
rived 'at Chester during the election, he preferred attending to
the suggestions of the Town Clerk, who was directly identified
with one of the parties ; he had then secreted himself to avoid
the imp4rtunities of persons pressing upon him to discharge his
duty, and thereby adopted a course which directly changed the
result of the election. For such misconduct, in a station of
high responsibility, he trusted that the defendant would be made
responsible. It was true, that he denied having received any
indemnity: but he (Mr. Jervis) hoped the Court would take
care to inflict upon him a punishment against which he could
not obtain any indemnity, and in a place where he would be
deprived of the indulgences he might receive at Chester.
' Mr. TAUNTON, Mr. WILLIAMS, 'and Mr. CAMPBELL,
severally said they were of the same side with 'Mr. Jervis, but
they declined troubling the Court with any additional observa-
tions;
Mr. Justice BAYLEY, in. pronouncing the judgment of the
Court upon the defendant; said that though he might not have
been generally versed in the principles of law, yet he must have
been versed in the usage of the town, which, he knew, was to ad-
= such an application as .he had, for an undue purpose, re-
jected. It was important that the Court should punish officers
tilling reponsible duties at elections, and prevent an infringe-
ment of popular rights. The sentence of the Court, therefore,
was, that lie, John Williams, should pay to the King a fine of
One Thousand Pounds, and that he be imprisoned in the King's
Bench prison for the space of six calendar months ; and further
until the said fine be paid.
• THE KING V. ULACOW.
Mr. DENMAN prayed the judgment of the Court on this de-
fendant; but owing to the lateness of the hour, being near four
o'clock, the case stood over until Monday.
BAIL.—In the Bail'Court this morning, Mr. Justice BEST
committed a man to Newgate fora month, who, in coming up
to justify as bail, was guilty of gross prevarication.
LIBEL ON THE TANKERVILLE FAMILY.
. [FURTHER DETAILS.]
THE XING V. WEAVER, ARROWSbIITII, AND SHACKELL.
This was a criminal information filed against the defendants,
the printer anti the two proprietors of the " John Bull,"
weekly Newspaper, for a libel on the memory of the late Caro-
line Lady Wrottesly. The cause came on to be tried before
the Lord Chief Justice, at the Sittings after last Term, at Guild-
hall, when the Solicitor General, on the part of the defendants,
consented to a verdict of Guilty being recorded against them.
Mr. DEALTRY was about to read the information setting
forth the libel, when Mr. Scarlett interposed, and said this
would not be neceesary, as the libel was fully disclosed in the
affidavits upon which the criminal information had been ob-
tained, and which would be again submitted to their Lordships.
The affidavits in question were then put in. The first from
Sir John Wrottesly, stated that in 1793 he had married Caroline,
daughter of the Earl and Countess Tankerville, that she had
died in 1818, six weeks after childbirth ; that he had followed
her remains to the grave, and thatshe was a Lady of the strictest
honour, fidelity, And hastity, and that there was not the
slightest foundation for the statement that a criminal intimacy
had subsisted between her and her menial servants, or for auy
imputation of that nature upon her character.
The second was from the Right Honourable Emma Coun-
tess of Tankerville, mother of Lady Wrottesly, which stated,
that her daughter had married Sir John Wrottesly rn 1795 ;
that she had had by him 14 children-10 of whom were living
at the time of her death iinlBlB ; and that, up to the time of her
death, her chastity, fidelity, and honour, had been unimpeach-
able. The affidavit then expressly negatived that she had been
detected in a criminal intrigue with her menial servant.
The third affidavit was from Lord Tankerville and the Hon.
H. Grey Bennet, brothers to the deceased Lady Wrottesly, con-
firming, in the strongest manner, the declarations of their mo-
ther and Sir J. Wrottesly. This affidavit further stated, that
copies of the libel had been sent to die different members of
the Tankerville family, and to the neighbourhood of their
respective residences.
This was followed by the affidavit of Mr.llarnier, solicitor to
the prosecution, stating, that lie had purchased at the office of
the defendantsjon the 15th of January last, the number of the
" John Bull" Newspaper, containing the libel which the pre-
vious affidavits had, negatived.
The affidavits of the defendants in mitigation were then put
in. The first was from Robert-Thomas Wearer, stating that,
at theihne of the publicatioti of the libel in question, he was
merely corrector of the press ; and that all communications for
the " John Bull" Newspaper were made to Henry Fox Cooper,
the Editor, with whom the whole power of selecting such mat-
ter as was intended for publication rested, deponent having no
power or authority to reject any thing which lie might direct to
be printed. The deponent then went on to say, that he was
very story that the libel had been inserted iu the said News-
paper ; red that if he had knoln it to be false he would not
have permitted it to be printed, but would have remonstrated
with the Editor. Ile finally added, that he was never engaged
in publishing or supplying the " John Bull" Newspaper, and
that he did not sanction or know of its having been sent.to any
member of the Tankerville family, of whose residence he was
perfectly ignorant.
The next affidavit read was that of Thomas . Arrowsmith.
He stated that he never saw the paragraph complained of till
the 16th of January, after it had been actually. printed and
published. He denied sending the " John Bull" 1\ cwsparr,
containing this paragraph, either to the members of the 2 an-
kerville family, or to the neighbourhood of their residences ;
and further stated, that as soon as he had discovered the libel ;
he had carefully selected suck copies as remained unsold, and
locked them up so as to prevent •their further circulation, be-
lieving, as he did, that, the imputation therein contained was
without foundation.
The tliir
as
third affidavit voift
•
Shickell ; it was to the
siiine effect
-A second affidavit from Mr: Harmer, in' aggravation; was
Awasrrofrwtith W'isll.i ."ni
Pow, read,' in which he stated, that on the 15th of January he
bad also purchased at the " John. Bull" office, Np. I, of the
'itinio'paw.r,,in-which, under the head of " The Queen's Visi-
lors," allusion wea Made to the 'visit of the Countess of Tanker-
villeAnd Lady Mary Bennet to her Majesty ; and observations
introduced respecting the late Lady Wrottesly of the same tend-
ency as those contained its. the libel,. which formed the ground
of the present proceedings. We further stated, that lie was an-
xious, if possible, to ascertain the author of the libel ; anti
offered, if he were iseti up, to forego pro*eaktion• against the

defendants ; but they had declined giving any information on
the subject.
The whole case.being thus before the Court,
The Soucyroft-GENERAL, who was for the defendants,
said, that if his Learned Friend had shewn hum the last affida-
vit, his clients would have been prepar.2d to answer it.
Alr. ScmurTT—lf my Learned Friend had shewn me his
affidavits,. I should have had an opportunity of shewing what
had been done since.
The CHU, r J UST ICE—Do you desire to have an opportunity
of making further affidavits ?
The SOLICITOR-GENE UAL do not know what course it

may be proper to adopt.
SCARLETT--My Learned Friend must know that, as,
the prosecutor, my affidavit will come last. 1 have no objection
to the case standing over to Tuesday ; but then it will be recol-
lected I shall have the privilege of sliewing what has occurred
since.
The CHIEF JUSTICE—If we allow one party to make
further affidavits, I am disposed to think we must allow both.
The SoLICITOR-GENEHAL—In that case there will be no
termination to this business ; for if I introduce new facts, my
Learned Friend will apply fur further indulgence.
The CHIEF JUSTICE-1 take the usual course to be, when
the affidavits for the defendants shall have been read, if ie pro-
secutors' Counsel thinks he can give an answer to any facts
which may have been stated, to allow him time to do so.
The SOLICITOII-GENERAL—Then I think we had better
dispose of the case at once—(laughter.)—The Learned Gentle-
man then proceeded to address the Court in mitigation. He
said he had very few observations to make in addition to the
statement which was contained in the affidavits of the defend-
ants. Certainly, as their Counsel, he did not stand there for
the purpose of justifying, or, in,..the 'slightest degree excusing
the libel which had been selected as the subject of the pre-
sent charge. Such a course would be inconsistent with his
own feelings—inconsistent with the habits of his life, as well
as inconsistent with the instructions he had received—not now
for the first time, but through the whole course of these
proceedings, front the first moment the_ motion for the cri-
minal information had been made. c` After that motion had

been made, the defendants did him the honour of consulting
him as to the course it would be proper for them to pursue.
He stated to them what was the nature of the proceed-
ings in such cases; and the different. courses which might be
adopted, when they, witliegt„,,,hesitation, desired him not
to attempt to shew. cause itgabst . the rule. Afterwards,
when the case came on to be tried—for they had not suffered
judgment t;) go by default, preferring to put a plea of " Not
Guilty" on the record, in order to afford an opportunity of
publicly confessing their error, and that they were only the in-
struments in the hands of others—he had, by their instructions,
expressly stated their contrition and regret for a publication in
the falsehood of which they had every reason to concur. It was
quite impossible that the Court should not feel, that the situa-
tion of the proprietor of a newspaper was one of great anxiety.
It very seldom happened that a person standing in the situation
of proprietor was himself the conductor of a newspaper. He
must, therefore trust to the care, the vigilance, and the judg-
ment of the'individual whom he employs to conduct his paper
for him. The individuals chosen for these offices were gene-
rally men of literary habits ; and the name of the person en-
raged in the present instance had been disclosed in the affidavits.
!'heir Lordships would not fail to recollect also, that there was
something of indulgence due to the .Proprietor and Publisher
of a newspaper for an accidental slip, when the rapidity with
which the matter for publication was collected and sent to press
was taken into consideration. A newspaper was composed of a
great variety of articles; got together in haste, and often at so
Late an hour as to prevent that cool and careful examination
which, under other circumstances, would naturally be afforded.
These were some of the general observations which occurred to
him as connected with this case, but it was material also to look
to the particular situations in which 'the defendants stood. Two
of them were proprietors of this newspaper, and had stated in
'their affidavits, that although the libel had been
.published on
the Saturday, yet they had neither of them seen it, or had any
knowledge of it till three or four days afterwards, when their
attention was directed to it by another per Son, and when they
expressed their regret at its insertionk. He. stated this fact, for
the purpose of sheaving that there was no malicious motive ex-
isting in their minds.
The third defendant stood in a different situation. He was in

. .
fact, but a servant, and- had no authority or power either to ad-
mit or expunge an article, which was given to him to be printed.
His office was, in fact, merely of a mechanical description, and
, it was therefore equally clear that he could not be influenced by
personal malignity. The Learned Counsel then proceeded to
; urge the other topics contained inkhe affidavits of the defendants
in palliation of their offence, which,latrusted, would have their
proper weight in the judgment they were about to receive.
Mr. PuLI.ER followed on the same side.
Mr. SCAIILETi', in support of the information, said, if he
could satisfy himself that either of the present defendants, or the
author of this libel, felt any portion of that contrition expressed
for them by their Counsel, he should be buttoo happy to relinquish
the duty imposed upon him; but feeling a perfect conviction
that no one step was taken by the defendants to conciliate the
wounded feelings of the prosecutors, he should proceed to
the necessary discharge of his duty. One of the affidavits dis-
closed a singular mode of conducting a newspaper, namely,
by burning all the manuscripts, and thereby contributing to
the concealment of a guilty author. And, on this point, all
he should say was, that the sooner such a system is put
an end to the better. The Learned Solicitor-General seemed
to think that 111r—Harmer's last affidavit might have been met
with some circumstances„in mitigation, but he (Mr. S.) needed
only to call the attention of the Court to the terms in which the
rule was obtained, and to the affidavit of Lord Ossulston,which
says, that the first number of the paper, containing offensive
remarks on his sister, was left by the guard of a coach near the
house of Sir J. Wrottesly. The defendants' affidavits al-
hedged that they had no previous intention of injuring the
family of Lord Tankerville; but what excuse' was that for
the admission and publication of such a libel as that on
which the Court was now to pronounce its judgment ?
His beamed Friend hiid attributed some merit to his clients, as
to the mode in which they met the information and appearance
at the trial ; and he (Mr:Scarlett) could sincerely wish he were
able to shew, that by, any one paragraph, since the insertion
of the libel, they had expressed any one symptom of regret
—any one particle of contrition for having so inserted it.—
Ile could make every allowance for party feelings, for an-
gry resentments, which often madu men forget their better
reason, and then commit themselves ; but what allowance
could be made for the malignant slanderer, who invented facts
to wound the feelings of others, or so stated circumstances
(which might be easily explained) as to provoke and wanuanly
insult his fellow-creatures ? What would his Lordship say to
the individuals who were ever busy in raking up the ashes ofl
the dead, for the purpose of venting their malice against the
living ? Here, unfortunately, they had not the real author.
The defendants, however, represented him ;---upon their own
confession they admitted him to be gudty, and they must be
punished as such. He asked, has it ever yet been discovered in
the whole history of the licentiousness of the press, if effere we:.
a Paper whose trade was that of attacking the private charac-
ters of women ? In all the Learned Counsel's experience, he
had been able to find but one—one which his Lordship
might remember. In 1789, a person of the name of Withers
thought fit to publish a libel on Mrs. Fitzherbei t ; he probably
did so through some party feeling ; he was indicted for it, and
he received a punishment in that very Court, which could not
easily be forgotten—he was sent for twelve months to Newgate,
and was obliged to pay a considerable fine besides. In the pre-
sent case we knew the object these persons have in traduc-
ing private character—in serving a political object of some
sort or other ; they thought the end sanctified the means ;
but the judgment of this day would teach them otherwise.
It was impossible that the author of this libel could have the
feelings of a gentleman, though his education might be that of
one. Suppose there were even colour for such a charge, was
there no respect, to be sliewn to the children—to the illustrious
mother, an example of virtue, and beyond all impeachment ?
What—to publish such a libel merely because lie did not know
it was false ? No attempt could be snore base, even to gain the
wickedest object by the wickedest means. There was no per.
sonal malice on the part ot'the,prosecutors in this case ; but they
felt it their duty to call forliunishment on those persons who
lent themselves to the commission of every species of crime—
perhaps not every species of crime, but every species of this
.nature. lie knew in this case their Lordships would feel it a
duty to the public to take care that the sentence should operate
to prevent persons who lend their aid to such atrocities, from
sheltering themselves under the plea of no malice—of not being
the author of the libel, and therefore making. an endeavour to
avoid all punishment. The author, no doubt, was all this time
behind the curtain, and' would of course pay whatever fine their
Lordships might inflict on thoseMio served his interests and his
passions. The punisbment,however, would be incomplete, if
another merely paid.
The COURT deliberated for sometime, when
Mr. Justice BAY LEY pronounced the judgment of the Court
as follows:—R.'l'. Weaver, T. Arrowsmith, and W. Shackell,
you are now called, up to receive judgment, after being found
guilty of a libel, and that on the character of a deceased lady.—
In any case, to make a Newspaper the vehicle of private attack
is most reprehensible ; but when it is so made on the character
of one who is dead, and on that point so deeply affecting her
honour, it is the bitterest pang that can be inflicted on her sur-
viving friends. Two of you state your ignorance of the nature
of the paragraph at the time of its insertion; and it would have
been but prudent on the part of the other if, when seeing it,
he had remonstrated with the Editor, or had held some commit-
-aication respecting it with the Proprietors. It would have been
wise if he had preserved thE manuscript, so that, In case of ne- !
tensity, the real.author might have been come at and punished,
if he deserved2l4 Editor gave us no information, neither

was he given up, on the application atilt plaintiffs, to ascertain
the author of the libel. The affidavits alluded to the general syS'
tem of managing the paper ; but nothing was said irrthetn, wbl
no subsequent search was made for the manuscript, after the ap-
'plication of 31r. Harmer. It was most incorrect that the ma-
nuscript should be destroyed, because it prevented further in-
quiry from throwing an light upon the subject. The affidavit/
proceeded to say, that a new edition was published, with the el- •
ceptionable paragraph expunged, but he should have been much
more satisfied if that were done without any application from
another quarter. No man who felt for the interests of societY_
could tolerate such Newspapers as dealt in private slander; it
was even far worse in this case, for the attack was made on one
who was gone to answer for what she might have done; and
they might allow her ashes to have slept in peace. The Court
doth therefore order and adjudge, that you, R. T. Weaver, do
pay to the King a tine of one hundred pounds ; that you, T.
Arrowsmith and W. Shackell, pay each a fine of five hundred
pounds ; that each and all of you he kept in the custody of
the Marshal of the Marshalsea, for the space of nine months s
that you then find two securities each in the sum of two hun-
dred and fifty pounds; that vou enter into your own persona
recognizances in the sum of five hundred pounds, to keep the
peace for five years; and that you be further imprisoned until
the same fines be paid, and recognizances entered into.

PRICE OF STOCKS
THIS DAY AT TWELVE O'CLOCK.

3 per Cent. Red, 771 I India Stock
3 per Cent. Cons. 73 784 1 India Bonds 665. 69;
4 per Cent • 961 k Excheq. Bills, 3. Ipr
5 per Cent. Navy Ann.... 110 f,i. Cons. fur Account 7111
Bank Long Ann.... 19 9-I6ths

HIGH WATEA AT LONDO
Morning, 28 minutes after 3. ,

,N BRIDGE TO-MORROW.
1 Evening, 45 minutes after 3.

THE SUN.

SOLEM QUIS -DICERE FALSUM •AUDEAT

LONDON,
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1821.

We received' this morning four day's French
Papers, to Thursday last inclusive, and Madrid
Papers to the 12th, from which we give extracts
under. the usual head of Foreign Intelligence.—
.In the French Chamber of Deputies, on Mon-
day, a letter was read, announcing that the KING
had appointed M. ItAvEz to be President of the
Chamber. After two scrutinies, MM. COR.•
BIERES, DE BONALD, and DE VAUBLiNC, were
proclaimed Vice-Presidents. On Tuesday MM.
DE Bluutsy and DE KERGOLAy, and on Wednes-
day MM. CARNOT &INTO URT and CASTLEBAJAC
were elected Secretaries. M. RAVEL then took the
Chair, the Deputies assembled in the Bureaus
to nominate a Committee to prepare an Address
to the KING, and the public sitting -terminated.
Flanders Mail has also arrived, bringing Brus-
sels Papers to the 20th inst. They contain fur-
ther accounts from Trieste of the naval action
between the Greeks and Turks, which it is said
took place on the 16th or 17th ult. off Cape Na-
varino. According to some of the reports, 21
Turkish vessels were taken, and 12 burnt, whilst
others state that a Turkish frigate was burnt, and

12 transports taken, and that the remainder
of the Turkish squadron fled to Zante, where
they arrived on the `?lst, pursued by the Greeks.
The rumour is repeated of the people of Zante
having taken part with the latter, and it is
added, that, in a conflict with the English gar-
rison, they had 17 killed. It is reported that
Ali Pacha is advancing towards Thessaly.

The greatest discontent, we are assured, from
good authority, pervades the Sardinian domi-

['ions, and the spirit of the People is only kept
down by the Austrian forces. The country is in
a critical state ; and, instead of withdrawing the
AuStrian troops, it is feared by the Government
that it may be absolutely necessary to augment

MoNTaw., OCT. 20.—0 n Saturday, the 4th
instant, his Excellency the Governor in Chief
visited the Lachine Canal; he arrived on horse-
back, accompanied only by one Gentleman.
Having dismounted and joined the Canal Com-
missioners, who had preceded him to the spot,

tie proceeded down the line of the canal. The
labourers on this work having received intelli-
gence of his intended visit, had prepared a sin-.
gular feu de joie to greet him as he passed, as
nearly resembling artillery. This new method
of salute was the explosion, at intervals, of large
pieces from the rock which forms the bed of the
canal. This reception was highly gratifying to
his Excellency, and the salute was declared more
to resemble a park of artillery than the feeble
efforts of a party of sappers and miners. His
Excellency, after minutely investigating .the-na-
ture of the soil and rock, declared that the whole
merited his entire approbation.
A letter from Port-au-Prince, of the 2d Octo-
ber, states, that the supply of rice at -market is
immense ; but the greater part of which is in-
fested with small insects, which reduces it to a

Mere powder, iu an extraordinary manner.

The Cork Advertiser received this morning,
speaking of the atrocious disturbances which nor
agitate Ireland, says, " the system is strengthen-
ing and spreading itself, in all directions, and to
an extent of which few, perhaps, can as, yet have

any idea."
The. cioninel Advertiser, of the .21st
contains a shocking account. of .the, destructicti
of a farmer's house by fire, himself, his wife, 5 dal'
dren, five labouring men, and three servant maids,
—all perishing in the flames! •
, The- Gork Advertiser positively asserts that
this awful event ‘S as the work of the agitators/

the farmer (SHEA) having become obnoxious to
them as a tenant of the land on which he lived.
According to this account, the monsters beset the
house, and having set fire to it, barbarously shot
all who attempted to escape from the conflagra-
tion. The number of victims is stated by this
Paper, at nineteen !—The heart sickens at this
dreadful instance of human atrocity. The Dublin
COtrespondent likewise declares the tragic event
to have been perpetrated by the insurrectionaq
peasantry:

Two other shocking murders are detailed in the
Cork Papers.On Monday nigh t,J ER EmiAx SCor.r.r
was dragged from his-house near Kenturk, shot,
and thrown upon a burning- pile, where his bod
was consumed ; and on AVe'clnesclay night a party
attached the house of a person named Muaeity,
near Cullahill, in Queen's County, Liarbarthisly
beat him with spades, and afterwards terminated
hissulferings by nearly severing his head • from
his body with a bill-hook. MURPHY had pro-
secuted and convicted two men for sheep-steal-
jug ; .and it is supposed has fallen a victim to
the deadly vengeance of these miscreants for hav-
ing resorted to the laws.

A meeting of the Creditors of Messrs. ROCHE,
Bankers, was held on Tuesday last. It was
stated to the meeting that the Assignees ►would
be enabled to make a first dividend about the
month of May, of 3s. 4d. in the pound, even if
the debts should amount to 120,0001. At pre-
sent the debts proved only amounted to about
905060/. The Assignees bad little doubt of being
ultimately enabled to pay between Gs. and 7s. in
the *)ound, even if the debts should extend to
140,000/. They had documents which must
cot►vi►,Ce the sceptical that these expectations
otild be realized,

We refer our Readers to our Report, in ano-
. ther column, of the judgment pronounced by the
Court of King's Bench on :faux Wzi..LlAms, Esq..
late Mayor of Chester, m'ho, it will be recollect-
was convicted, at the last Chester As,sizes4 of
acting corruptly in the discharge of his duty as
21YlaYor, during the last contested election.
This case is altogether of great importance, as
the conviction and punishment of Mr. WILLIAMS
-Will tend 'much to correct an erroneous idea too
entertained, that Returning Officers at
Elections-cannot be made responsible for miscon-
duct and partiality, or rather that the proof of
the offence is so encumbered with legal refine-
ments, that it is hopeless for as Elector, who has
been deprived of the exercise of his franchise, to
expect redress from an appeal to the laws of the,
Gauntry ; and which has .been the source of
much injustice, by rendering the Returning
"ifAcers in many places totally regardless of the
rigitts of the Electors.
The judgment of the Court is severe ;
.but se-
'verity was necessary to arrest the progreis Of an
%III) Which, if unrepressed, must eventually have
destroyed the equilibrium of our inestimable
C. nstitution, by preventing the fair and free
texerCise
of those popular rights which we are
coafutthe.t..froni childhood to revere as the palladium
liberty and independence enjoyed by all
_lasse in
Returning
this country. This judgment will compel
Officers to r-ecollect that they have itn-
Portant duties to perform, and that they are bound
t,° to ,nlake themselves acquainted with their nature,
VI" discharge them conscientiously and im-
rartiallY• It will also convi,tice the Public, that
the
or Courts of Law conside`r. every infringement
` PubliC rights as a veYy high misdemeanor, and
~t they
.will never admit it to be any palliation
°t,. the offence, that it was committed in the heat
of an election, or that it arose from the warmth
w Party or political feeling, or the bias of pri-
vate friendship and gratitude:

Majesty's ship.Mettai, Captain MORESBY,
11., arrived at Port Louis, Mauritius, 4th April
with the Success brig, of Nantes, VINCENT
It'TßAxo„ Master, from Zanzibar to Bourbon,
w'th 343 slaves, men, women, and boys. The Me-
114i,l'a.d. previously captured the Emily schooner,
a 44 80 slaves. The following is an extract from
letter describing the recent services of this
3s11) :""'" On.the 23d April we embarked Prince
11`."bski, a Madagascar Chief, Mr. Hastie, Am-
tiassador, Mr.: David Griffith, Missionary (Dr.
va°g"e's pupil at Gosport), with their suite, ser-
-4
til r",s) baggage, &c., and .arrived on the 29th
"italiye. We saluted, and the forts re-
1i4.4(1 it. About.6oo blacks fellows were down
e ciack to clear the boats. The population is
cirlahrei_
y black. The palace of the King, Ran.
tairna)-- is - cituated on a: prodigious high moun-
ilitn°Te than three hundred miles inland. One
in "-Priticipal Generals was an Irish serjeant
our-ir artillery. - The King sent a message to
ab-I.::tilbassador (whose principal object is the
Hoops t3k.the.Slave traffic) that 1,200 of his
ese°Ps, atie2o6o slaves, were on. their
_way to
riaZt hiTn.up the country. There-being no ear-
th
''
.*Tite-Yances every thing is' • conveyed on
1 had .a bullock sent, on board
Pery (4c4r4--
ay ; they sell here at about a dollar and
4 all each, weighing from 300 'to 400 lb. Plenty
treP,,„4ltirl-bUt no ; limes and lemon
gave VW
...wild. In fact, these' civil islanders
Atj every thing we, wanted. We are now
triohnag, 02th June) at Port Louis for a two
1141"15' eitiize;irtteticlitig to take a trip to the -Jo-
rp,".4a islands, with two Madagascar Princes.—
friendl
1 y island contains upwards of four
" .s.-o:inhabitants."—(Portsmouth Paper.)

'l`
7---"°-
house in the
St he Duke of YORK arrived at his.
illable-Yard,;n Saturchiy evening, from his
shoot-
leigcursions in. Suffolk..
in i" PTittcess AUGUSTA is , expected to arrive
lier ,t oTuloil on WednesdaS, next. Mr. WATklss,
ha's kIYal nighness's maitre dYiotel at Frogroore,
ill, ueelt at BUckingharn-house ' some days. mak
6 PreParations for her reception.
are
ir toWn-Addressoo which about 1000 names
~
at ,quached, is toile presented to his ' MAJEST.oI,
Y.
tit tl' next Levee, through-the medium, it is said,
Irl,,ltt*' 114eretary- Of State' for the Home Depart.
'''(lleightim. Herald.)