The Sun.
London, England, 1821-12-22 00:00:00

[BRITISH PRESS.]

Upon the subject of the Legislative labours
contemplated by the new French Ministers, we
find it asserted by the Journal de Paris, that the
first communication from the Ministry to the
Chamber of Deputies will have for its object the
provisional receipt of the first six-twelfths of
the direct taxes for the ensuing year, and that
this will be followed immediately by a project
of law for regulating the Journals. The first of
these measures was anticipated even under the
late Administration, and was then considered
by the parties in opposition as wholly indefen-
sible. Should it, however,, now be proposed,

the new Ministers will be enabled to excuse them- '
selves upon the ground of their novelty in office
and the iu►n:ediate necessities of the State ; and
while they seek the benefit of the measure, they
may throw all the odium of it upon their prede-
cessors, who had not completed a system of finance
upon better and more permanent principles. The
intended law for repressing the licentiousness of
the 'Journals occupies much attention in Paris,
and speculation is busy in striving to imagine
what may be its object and provisions. it is as-
serted by the enemies of the present Ministers,
that the new law will differ in title alone from
the project of their predecessors, which it was
the first act of their power to withdraw ; others
affirm that it will not be founded upon the prin-
ciple of prevention, but that means will be
adopted to punish offenders with severity pro-
portionate to their guilt. We think it probable
that the proprietors of the Journals will be re-
quired to furnish large security to the Govern-
ment; and it may be hoped either that the amount
required will prevent persons of desperate for-
tunes from obtaining the power of corrupting
the public mind, or that the apprehension of
forfeiting by misconduct a considerable sum of
money, will deter those who might have the
power of doing mischief from (riving free exercise to
their mischievous talents. It is remarkable, that
notwithstanding the seeming determination of the
new Ministers to abolish the censorship of the
press, there appear in the Paris Papers of Tues-
day sundry blank spaces, which afford ample
evidence of the activity of the censors, and that
the Ministers are not unwilling to derive every
possible advantage from the obnoxious law, so
long as it may continue to exist.

Co N VERSI 0 Ns.-The Lausanne Gazette of the

11th contains the following article :—" The Go-
vernment of Thurgovia has enacted a remarkable
law on the subject of converts. No change of
religion can take place without the permission
of the Government. Any ecclesiastic who re-
ceives an application for that purpose, must
inform the magistracy of the place to which the
applicant belongs, who is then summoned before
his own pastor. If he persist, he loses all his
rights in the commune which he abandons, and
must acquire new privileges in that of the con-
fession he chooses to adopt. Every conversion
in which these regulations are not observed is de-
clared null." This article may give occasion to
useful reflections on the manner in which certain
persons interpret, with regard to religions different
from their own, that great principle of toleration
which they loudly claim for themselves. The
Government of Thurgovia is a Protestant Go-
vernment ; and it is surely a very singular circum-
stance, that an inhabitant should be obliged to
address a Protestant authority, which in matters
of faith acknowledges no other rule that► the rea-
son of individuals, to ask permission to believe
or not to believe this or that dogma. It is also
very whimsical, that a conversion, that is to say,
a change of opinion, should, like an act in the
exercise of a civil right, be declared null for a
defect of form. This appears to us a very plea-
sant chapter to be added to the great volume of
human inconsistency.—(Journal des Debuts.)

To-morrow morning, at eight o'clock, accord
ing to annual custom, a quantity of bread and
cheese will be thrown froth the belfry of Pad-
dington Church amongst the populace. The as-
semblage on this occasion is generally immense,
and a great scramble takes place. The custom,
which has long been observed on the Sunday
morning before Christmas-day, had its origin, we
are told, in the will of two sisters (paupers), who
travelling to London to claim an estate, in which
they succeeded, and being much distressed, were
first relieved in Paddington.
TRAVELLING EXTRAORDINARY.—A paragraph
in the (Plymouth) Dock paper of Saturday last,
informed the public, that " in consequence of op-
position among the coach-proprietors, the fares
from thence to Worcester and London had been
reduced to a few shillings ;" and as a further in-
ducement to travellers, stated, that on Sunday
the safety-coach would leave Weakley's Hotel,
at any or no fare, just as the passengers chose
that breakfast would be provided at Weakley's
in the morning ; lunch at Goss's Seven Star.;,
Totness in the forenoon ; and dinner and wine
at Congdon's Hotel, Exeter, on the arrival of the
coach, without any charge! In compliance with
this notice, Mr. Congdon, we understand, pro-
vided a very handsome dinner, over which was
exhibited a placard to the following effect :
" J. C. will feel obliged by the parties partak-
ing of this.—N. B. All free—shall be glad to see
our friends again to-morrow."
As Mr. RICHARD Pre, of Birling Place, was
on his return home on horseback from Rochester
market, on Tuesday evening, between ten and
eleven o'clock, when coming along the Pilgrim's
Road, between Hailing and his own house, he
was shot at from behind the hedge ; the ball
taking an oblique direction passed through his
knee-cap and his breeches, but most fortunately
only grazed the skin of his knee. No trace of
the perpetrator of this diabolical act can be dis-
covered, and whether the miscreant sought out of
malice and revenge to take away the life of Mr.
PYE, or whether it was his intention to have
wounded and robbed him, still remains a mystery,
but it is much to be feared the former was the
object in view.—(Kentish Gazette, Dee. 21.)
AN IMPOSTOR.-011 Wednesday evening last,
a man, who calls himself William Terroll, was
found in a field near Spalding, with his throat
cut. After surgical aid had been procured, and
the wound sewed up, he said he had been robbed
and his throat cut by a man who was travelling
on the road with him, and whose name was
Joseph Cannon. lie added, that he knew him,
as they had lodged together at Boston last sum-
mer. Proper Officers were immediately dis-
patched in different directions in search of Can.
non ; and on the day following he (Cannon) vo-
luntarily came forward and proved himself to
have been in a different part of the country at
the time of the alleged outrage. It is now sup-
posed that Terroll himself h;id been committing
some depredation, and that to prevent detection
he committed the rash act upon his own person.
•He is now in custody at Spalding, and is in a
fair way of recovery from his wound.

I,AW INT ELLIG Excn.

.004cIRT OF CHANCERY, DEc. 21.

When the Lord Chancellor came into Court, a Lady of the
name of Stubbs proceeded to address the Court. She stat;ll
that she was unable to employ Counsel, and wished his Lord-
ship to take the cause in which she was ccucerned into his im-
mediate consideration.

The LOUD CHANCELLOR said, that he could not hear the
cause without notice. If the Lady would mention it after the
holydays, a day would be appointed for hearing : he could do
no more for her at that time.

Mrs. Stubbs bowed, and left the Court.
Another person, who said his name was Clark, and that he
was a ladies' shoemaker residing at Bristol, next presented
himself to the notice of his Lordship. He said he was entitled
to a considerable property, which was unfairly kept from him,
and he requested that his Lordship would read some petitions,
which would explain the circumstances of his case.
The Loup CHAN cELLou said, he could not read affidavits
which might possibly impugn tile conduct of individuals, un-
less they had previously been inspected by some Gentlemen at
the bar.

Mr. Clark then retired.
HOWARD AND GIBBS'S BANKRUPTCY.
Mr. HART begged again to mention to his Lordship this
Appeal from the decision of the Vice-Chancellor. The ob-
ject was to induce his Lordship to fix an early day for the hear-
ing; and when the great importance of the question was taken
into consideration, he felt confident that the request would be
complied with,
Mr. flonst said, that he and his clients were completely in
the hands of the Court. He should be ready to meet his Learn-
ed Friends at any time; but when it was stated that the hear-
ing would not occupy any length of time, he must beg to ob-
serve, that so far from that being the fact, they would now
find they had still greater difficulty to contend with than they
had befbre, for notwithstanding the case itself, they had now to
contend with the order.
Mr. Mo:; TAG U E felt that the question was one of the highest
importance, and would greatly affect the practice of the Court,
as, if the decision should be against him, this Court, instead of
being occupied in the hearing of important questions relative to
the disposal of property, would be converted into a Court of
Scrutiny in all elections relative to assignees, elections which
he considered to be of the highest importance. The assignment,
though the Act of Parliament directed it to be done, had not
as yet been made to the assignees ; and though his Learned
Friends were so fearful of the danger that would arise from his
clients not being tremoved ; for himself he could only say, that
knowing as he did the whole of the case, those fear:, were com-
pletely unfounded.
Mr. HORNE felt confident, that the practice would not in
the least be affected by the decision come to in this instance.
A desultory conversation ensued, in which Mr. Hart, Mr.
Horne, Mr. Agar, and Mr. Treslove participated: at the
conclusion of which,
M r. JIoNTAGUE again enforced the propriety of not making
any order for the re-election of Assignees until the petition had
been heard, anti expressed a hope that an early day would be
' fixed fcr so doing.
The Loan CHANCELLOR—Mr. Montague, what do you
call an early day
Mr. MONTAGUE—My Lord, I should say that day which
would be most convenient to your Lordship.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said the next Seal would be on
the 14th, and he did not know that this case ought to be placed
before the others. For his own part he would have no objection
to hear the case on, an early day if Counsel would attend him,
and therefore he would come down on Friday and Saturday
previous to the Seal for that purpose : but, said his Lordship, I
beg it may not be understood that I am the cause of the post-
ponement. The case will therefore come on for hearing on
those days.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, Drc. 21.
There was nothing of the slightest public interest in this
Court to-day.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, DEC. 21.

Sittings before Lord Chief Justice DALLAS, and a Special
Jury.

NOBLE V. ItEALE AND OTHERS.
Mr. CAMPBELL opened the pleadings, from which this ap-
peared to be an action on a contract for the sale of 210 hogs-
heads of Virginia tobacco, shipped on board the Eunice.
Mr. Sergeant LE:,:s stated the case to the Jury. The to-
bacco on the contract, fOr the sale of which this action had
been brought, was consigned to a house in Rotterdam. While
the ship was on her voyage, tile plaintiff received some haters
from the owner in America, requesting him to sell the tobacco,
and describing the cargo as fair and merchantable. The de-
fendants purchased the cargo through the medium of a Mr.
Scholey, a broker. Before they finally concluded the purchase,
they desired t!i± broker to get it warranted as a fair and mer-
chantable cargo of Virginia tobacco; but the plaintiff refused
to warrant it in that manner, and would only give a warranty
that it had passed inspection at Virginia. The defendants ac-
cepted the contract with that warranty written in lead pencil
under the original note, and they now defended themselves from
payment on the ground that the tobacco was not fair and mer-
chantable.
.Alr. Scljoley, the broker, was then called. He proved that
he was employed by the plaintiff to sell the tobacco to the de.
fendants, who objected to complete the contract except the to-
bacco seas warranted to be fair merchantable tobacco. Several
communications then passed between the parties through the
medium of the witness on the subject of this warranty. The
plaintiff refused to give such a warranty as the defendants re-
quired, but at last consented to write these words on the sold-
note :—" The whole warranted to have passed the inspection at
Virginia." This warranty was written in lead pencil marks,
without any signature. The ship containing the cargo of to-
bacco was then ce:pected at Cowes. After the warranty had
been introduced, the defendants accepted the contract, saying
" Well, we will take it."
Cross-examined :—The defendants did not finally accept the
contract until the pencil marks had been added at the witness's
request. Defendants said they must be satisfied of the quality
of the tobacco. The words were written by the plaintiff's clerk,
in the plaintiff's presence.
William Coffin, mate of the Eunice, proved that he received
on board that vessel 236 casks of tobacco ; the inspector's mark
was on the casks ; no tobacco was allowed to be exported from
Virginia without the inspector's marks.
Jeremiah Rhodes was at I'etersburgh, in Virginia, when this
tobacco was inspected ; lie made out the invoice front the in-
specting oflieer's manifest.
Mr. Serj,.a.nt VA(' o HAN submitted to the Jury, that in this
case fraud and imposition had been practised, and the contract
could not therefore be enforced.
Mr..lohn Osely was a partner in the honse at Rotterdam, to
which the tobacco had been consigned. The ;hip Eunice came
from Cowes to that place; he received from the Captain die bill
of lading, the note of weight, and the charter party ; lie never
received the manifest; the cargo came up in lighters ; in the
spring of this year, Mr. Scholey examined the cargo at Rotter-
dam, as did likewise a Mr. Minderhoch : the cargo was of an
ordinary nature ; there were different sorts of tobacco in it ;
cargo never;cOnsisted of one sample only; some hogsheads in it
might be good; witness had not inspected any other cargo dur-

„
ink,;the season
Jonas Joseph Minderhoch, sworn by an Interpreter—Was a
broker at Muer:.lam ; had examined the cargo ; in tin it rinr-
Izt it would be called a common cargo of tobacco ; by common
he meant the -lowest quality.
Mr. Serjeant Lrxs replied, contending that the contract had
been completed by the plaintiff
Lord Chief Justice DALLAS charged the Jury, observing
that the conduct of both the plaintiff and the defendants was
perfectly fair,
The Jury, after five minutes' deliberation, found a verdict for
the plaintiff for the whole amount of the demand.

The remains of the late Countess of liEsno-
ROUGH, accompanied by the Honourable Colonel
PONSONBY, and part of her household suite,
have been weather-bound, for the last five days,
at Calais.
Yesterday the remains of the Hon. Mrs. FITZ-
GT.P. ALT/ were removed from her house in Glou-
cester-place, with great funeral pomp, for inter-
ment in St. Mary-le-bonne new burial-ground.
She was sister to the late Earl of GALLOWAY,
and relict of the Hon. Lieut.-Colonel FITZGE-
RALD, who was killed at the battle of Water-
loo ; and, by a former marriage, of the Honour-
able Admiral KEITH STUART, who was drowned
at sea.

ANDREAS ROMBERG, the celebrated composer
and violin player, died lately at Saxe Gotha
lie has left a widow and family nearly depen
dent on the precarious bounty of relatives.
age did not exceed fifty years.

SCOTLAND.

COURT OF SESSION-
NIPOI:TANT DECHION FOR NEWSPAPER AGENTS.

JAMES STUART V. THE PUBLISHERS AND PRINTERS OF

Tnr. " GLASGOW SENTINEL."
This is an action concluding for 5,0001. damages, against the
publishers of the " Glasgow Sentinel," and Mr. David Ro-
bertson, news.agent, Edinburgh, for an alleged libel said to
be contained in the first Number of that Paper. The case
came on before Lord ALLOWAY, Ordinary, when the Counsel
for the pursuer moved his Lordship to remit the summons and
defences to the Jury Court. No objection to this motion was
taken by the Counsel for the publishers and printers.
But on the part of Mr. Robertson, Mr. WIIIOIIAM con-
tended that the charge against him was altogether irrelevant,
and could not, from its own shewing, infer liability in Mr.
Robertson in any sum of damages whatever. The only allega.
lion against him was, that " orders for the said paper are re-
ceived at Edinburgh, by David Robertson, Chronicle Office
there." It was not alleged that Mr. Robertson was a paper
in the concern, or in any shape liable for its debts. There.
fore, assuming the statement in the eummons to be the foulest
libel ever penned, there was nothing alleged against Mr. Ro-
bertson which m law or justice can subject him in damages to
the pursuer. But to explain the defence more fully, Mr.
Whign..m stated, that his client had seven years ago con-
nected himself with a most respectable Newspaper in Edin-
burgh, the Weekly Chronicle ; but finding a portion of
time still at his own disposal, he was advised by many of
his friends in the profession of the law, and in the commer-
cial world, to establish himself as a general Newspaper and
advertising agent—an establishment, the want of which had
been much felt in this part of the kingdom. Mr. Robertson had
accordingly inserted in the different newspapers, and circulated
among his friends, an advertisement, mentioning the fact of his
having commenced business in that line. ll e, at the same time,
circulated a list of all the papers in the kingdom for which he
would receive orders and advertisements— from the Courant to
the Scotsman—from the Courier to The Times—and from John
Bull to the Ilugh and Cry. In England, agents of this des-
cription arc found in every quarter; and nothing is more com-
mon than to see at the conclusion of newspapers, that " Orders
and advertisements arc received by all the newsmen." Yet in
England no lawyer ever dreamt of making all the newsmen, or
any one of them, liable in damages for the numerous libels which
appear in the papers which they circulate, and for which they
receive orders and advertisements.

In October last, the first number of The Sentinel appeared,
in which was inserted the alleged libel of which Mr. Stuart com-
plains; and, without any previous communication with the de-
fender, Mr. Robertson, the publisher, stated, in terms of Mr-
Robertson's own notice, that orders and advertisements for
The Sentinel would be received by him ; and it is for this, and.
for this alone, that he is called upon, as conjunctly and severally
liable in 5,0001. of damages to Mr. Stuart.
Mr. WI-mita...3r was here interrupted by Mr. CLERK, who
stated to the Lord Ordinary, that he meant to withdraw the
libel against Robertson.
Lord ALLOWAY remarked, I am glad of that, Mr. Clerk.
On winch Mr. Witronam objected, and stated that hit
client was entitled to decree of absolvitor, with full expenses.
Mr. CLERK again broke in. What is a party not entitled.
to withdraw his ownj libel on paying expenses
Mr. NI ACKENZIE, .who was also Counsel for Mr. Robertson,
answered, certainly not, after parties had joined issue. You
moved that the case be remitted to the Jury Court,and we were
in the act of objecting to that motion when Interrupted. It is
therefore clear, by our having given in defences, and joined
issue at the bar, that the defender is entitled to decree of ob-
. solvitor. if the pursuer does not now insist in his action.
Dec. (i.—flaying heard parties procurators--in respect it is ad-
mitted by the pursuer, that the conclusions of the libel against
the defender David Robertson are irrelevant, sustains the de-
fences pleaded for him, assoilzie,. him from the action, and de-
earns :—finds the pursuer liable to the said defender in the
expenses incurred by him t appoints an account thereof to
be given in, and when lodged; remits to the auditor of court to
tax the same, and report;- and, quoti ultra, remits this cause to
the Jury Court.

Another instance is furnished of the incera
tude of life, in the decease of Mr. \VILDEas, of
our theatre, at the age of twenty-four years,
after three days illness.. lie departed this life
yesterday, about ten o'clock in the morning ;
and, like hundreds who have preceded him,
he has left nothing but the recollection of his pro-
mising talent, and the regret of his fellow-la-
boure►s. Thus circumstanced, the Manager has
shewn his good sense in allotting the Tuesday,
which was intended for the benefit of the de-
ceased, for the purpose not only of meeting the
engagements of the amiable young man just
snatched from us, but likewise of defraying all
incidental expences.—(lloll Packet, Dec. 18.)