The Sun.
London, England, 1828-04-09 00:00:00

any future instance by a legislative power, which
pretends to have a regard for common honesty,
or common decency, for the most obvious rights
of the people of England, or for their character
among civilized nations.- That the Company
will make a huge racket upon the question, we
are prepared to expect ; so then, we beg leave to
say, ought the country, which has been long
enough trammeled on by this creature of its own
indulgence.—Bid.
It is a long time that Mr. Fenn has been
struggling against the jobbing, taxing, feasting
Junta, called the " Select Vestry" of the parish
of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. His, though a
highly useful, and very popular, has been no en-
viable task. A man who sets himself against a
body who have power, money, and patronage in
their hands, must have the sense of public duty
stronger on his mind than the love of ease and
his personal interest, to bear up long against the
vexations, the calumnies, and the various sorts
of persecution and annoyance to which he ex-
poses himself. Mr. Fenn, has had his full share
of those fruits of his public spirit, while the
Select Vestry has been enjoying the " loaves
and fishes." Few have had the courage or the
honesty to support him, though, if his efforts
should be crowned with success, many of those
who now hang back, would be the foremost to
share in the honour and advantages of it. The
" Select" prevail by combination—they all act as
' one man—they do not rely on their cause so much
as upon their cabal. The union which gives
strength to a bad cause ought surely to be advan-
tageous to a good one. If the parishioners acted
in that spirit of co-operation which a ti ue sense
of their interests would dictate, the usurpations
of the " Select" could not long resist the united
efforts of such a community determined to re-
claim their rights. Such a cause is not to be
won without trouble, perseverance;and expellee ;
but those parishioners who avoid expence and
trouble on the present occasion will be put to
great deal more than the struggle can cost them,
if the "Select" should, by their remissness, be-
come finally and permanently triumphant. The
parishioners should recollect, that, whatever dif-
ficulties they have to overcome in dislodging the
" Select" from their strong hold of usurped
power, they have the voice and support of public
opinion along with them. To say nothing of the
jobs and other doings of Select Vestries, the prin-
ciple of taxation without representation is so at
variance with reason and the first principles of the
Constitution, that it cannot bear the touch of
investigation. We know nothing of the local
interests of the parish of St. Martin in the
Fields beyond what the present contest has caused
to be made pretty generally known, but we be-
lieve that, as far as matters have gone, Mr. Fenn
has done his duty, and set an example to h-is
fellow-parishioners which, if generally emulated,
could not fail to make the absolute reign of the
" Select" of very short duration. Even as it is
at present, their " Paradise" of jobs and feast-
ing is not esithout its anxieties and alarm. They
assume a confidence which they have not, they
swagger and talk big, while they have serious
misgivings in their own minds. Although " the
proud man's contumely" and " the insolence of
office" have been heaped rather liberally upon
Mr. Fenn, he has the merit of shaking the
tyranny, and spoiling the enjoyment, of the arro-
gant Junta whom he has so energetically ex-
posed.—Morning Herald.
It would seem as if a certain class of attorneys
in this country had combined, for the purpose of
effecting what the Crown, in its days of highest
prerogative, could never accomplish—namely, the
total extinction of the freedom of the press. But
the fact ie, their object is not a political but a
mercenary one, to which the low, needy, and
unprincipled part of' the profession are naturally
tempted by the present state of the law of libel.
It is quite customary for men of this description
now-a-days to make it a point to get hold of ob-
scure persons, who, having been parties or wit-
nesses in Courts of Justice, have given occasion
for their names to be brought before the public,
not perhaps in the most reputable way, in the
reports of the trials. It is true the Judges allow

that a fair and full report of a trial (with
' exceptions of blasphemy and indecency) is not
the subject of legal proceedings ; but the petti-
foggers take advantage of the equivocal and absurd
state of the law with respect to reports from
Police Offices, Insolvent Courts, Coroners' Juries,
&c., and even sometimes venture to attack cor-
rect reports of trials in the superior Courts, cal-
culating upon the chances in favour of the most
groundless or unjust cause which the technicali-
ties of the law afford. But the great induce-
ment is this, that a farthing damages, in cases of
libel, saddles a defendant with 2001. or 3001. of
expenses, under the name of costs—so that,
where a Jury appraises a plaintiff's character
at the value of a farthing, the defendant is
punished to the amount of 2001. or 300/. for
meddling with that
.farthing's worth of reputa-
tion. This is a state of law which would ap-
pear to have been created not for the protection
of men who have any characters to preserve—
not for the security and advantage ofthe public—
but solely and exclusively ibr the employment and
profit of pettifogging attorneys. Whether such
attorneys bring actions on their own account, or
obtain the use of the name of some characterless
plaintiff for the purpose, to know that, if they
can get but a farthing damages, the bill of costs
which they are enabled to manufacture will pay
them better for their time and trouble than
any honest employment in the country could
pay them. Juries were for a long time in the
dark about this matter—they thought that by
giving but a shilling or a farthing damages in an
insignificant or spitefill action of libel, they would
sufficiently disappoint the intention of the party
bringing it. They had heard, indeed, that
Judges had a power in such cases, whore the
damages were under forty shillings, of certifyirzg
to deprive the plaintiff of his costs—but they
were not aware that Judges rarely or never exer-
cise that power. We have endeavoured, on
more occasions than one, to pm this matter in
its proper light before Juries ; and we observe,
with satisfaction, that, in several of those got
up" cases of libel lately, they have given a ver-
dict for the defendant, which saddles the plain.
tiff with th;,, costs, and disappoints the infamous
speculation of him and his incendiary attorney.
This is the only way, while time law remains un-
reformed, to put an end to those trumpery cases
of libel with which the time of Courts of Justice
is consumed, and legal plunder encouraged.—B.

Roy Are ACA DEM Y.—Yesterday and Mon-
day being the two days fixed for the giving in of the pic-
tures, sculpture, and casts, intended for the ensuing exhibi-
tion, an immense number of hackney coaches and other
vehicles continued setting down at the Institution, with
specimens, from morning until a late hour, during both
these days ; it was remarked, that the artists in general
have bestowed more than usually splendid and massive
frames upon their pictorial performances, a circumstance
which will undoubtedly give a striking and gorgeous tout
ensemble to the exhibition, and please the taste of a certain
portion of visitors as much as the finer and more elaborate
touches of the pencil.

APPREHENSION OF A SUPPOSP.D GAN'C

OF BURGLARS.

The town of Truro and its neighbourhood has
been considerably agitated during the past week, in
consequence of the apprehension of four persons,
under very suspicious circumstances, and who ate
supposed to form part of a gang of London burglars,
that intended to make Cornwall the scene of their
operations.
The discovery and apprehension of the suspected
persons took place under the following rather ex-
traordinary circumstances :—on the forenoon of Fri-
day, the hind of Captain Devonshire, of Newham,
being in a field near that place and adjoining a bye-
road, called Barrack-lane, observed a man look over
the hedge, as if making observations. The hind
supposing that this person had some particular ob-
ject in view, withdrew behind another hedge,
though which he could observe his motions, when
he saw him enter the field, pat something into the
hedge and break off and place in a particular way a
branch of thorn, as a mark. The person watching
being desirous of not alarming the man he observed,
went to dinner, and soon after returned, and on
looking where the person had been, he discovered by
the broken branch two bags—one of blue stuff, and
the other of ticken, which, on opening, he found to
contain a complete set of burglars' implements. Struca
with the discovery, he hastened to acquaint his mas-
ter with the fact. Captain Devonshire, who is a

Magistrate for the county, immediately ordered the
bags to be conveyed to his house, when on examina-
tion they were found to contain upwards of 100 skele-
ton-keys,most of them being double, of all sizes, fitted
for opening all descriptions of locks, from the
largest to cabinet ones. These skeleton-keys are of
the very best workmanship ; some of them are fitted
for opening padlocks, and by ingenious contrivances
are calculated for fitting pipes of different sizt:s ; there
were also pocket crow-bars of great power, with
pieces of wood, or wedges, for placing between them
and a door-post, &c., so as to prevent the marks of
force from being too apparent. There were also
files, and a great variety of other implements, all
perfectly adapted for the intended purposes. The
importance of this discovery was instantly seen, and,
though labouring under a severe attack of the gout,
Capt. Devonshire took instant measures for the dis-
covery of the gang, who were evidently practised
thieves. He directed the different constables to
make careful but secret inquiries at all the inns and
public-houses in the town and neighbourhood for
any strangers that might have been in or about the
place, and he placed a watch near the spot where
the bags were fottnd. In the course of Saturday he
learned that two persons had been for some days
living at the Exeter Inn; that they had been taking
walks ail round the neighbourhood, and had been
occasionally visited by two other persons. No
one, however, came to see for the bags until Sun-
day morning, when, as it afterwards appeared, the
persons at the Exeter Inn having been visited
by their acquaintances, who shortly after left them,
they called for their bill, which they paid, and im-
mediately proceeded to the lane, where the person
who discovered the bags immediately recognised the
man who had hidden them, as he and his companion
approached the spot where'they had been deposited ;
they were taken into custody by Hugh Bawdea, a
constable of the parish of Kenwyn, and Mark Rowe,
a constable of the borough of Truro, by whom they
were conveyed befere Captain Devonshire. Oa
being searched, there was found on one of them a
knife, apparently new, of a peculiar construction,
having but one long blade, sharp pointed, and so
formed, that upon being opened, it was secured from
closing by a projection in the spring which fitted a
notch in the back of the blade; it is a most for-
midable weapon, and it may be instantly used as a
dagger with fatal effect. On one of the persons
were found 931. in Bank of England notes, and three
sovereigns, and en the other 265. These persons
being secured, inquiries were made for their com-
panions, when it was ascertained that two men
answering the description given of them, had been
seen on the road leading to Chacewater. They
were immediately pursued, and being overtaken
at Chacewater, were taken into custody and
searched by W.Rowe,an active constable at Kenwyn,
who had for several days kept a sharp look-out after
them. On ono of them was found a bundle containing
a number of skeleton keys, a dark lantern, phosphorus
box,&c. This man,on being searched, said to the con-
stable, " There is what you want," showing a belt
round his waist, in which there was stuck a brace
of very small pistols, but which were not loaded ;
he had about him a number of balls to fit. The
bag containing the skeleton keys, &c. was made of
the same ticken as that found in the hedge near
Newham ; and a piece of the Times newspaper found
in the one, corresponded exactly with another piece
found in the other bag. One of the men had a
metal watch, with a large oval gold seal, having a
coat of arms engraved with a crest, a lien rampant.
The account these men gave of themselves is very
vague, and they have been detained. It is evident
they proposed robbing some of the banks here ; two
of them were seen making observations on one of
the banks from an opposite passage, during a shower
of rain on Saturday evening; and two men knocked
at the door after dark, saying they wanted to see
one of the bankers ; and, on being told that he did
not live there, they were very importunate for ad-
mittance to draw a draught on the bank. Happily
the person who answered the door kept the chain
across, and peremptorily refused to admit them.
There is no doubt that the fellows taken at Chace-
water were on their way to commence operations in
the west of the county, whilst their companions at-
tempted to effect their object at Truro. It is sup-
posed there are other persons connected with those
in custody, but who have taken the alarm and fled.

A statement of the facts, and a description of the
persons detained, have been transmitted to London.

Prest Briton.

FASHIONABLE ARRIVALS.--Sir Felix
Agar, Bart. in Stratford-place; Major Ross, in Regent-
street, from the Netherlands ; Captain and Mrs. Denne,
in Park•street, from Bath ; Major Prescott, in Clarges-
street, from Dublin ; Mrs. and Miss Holdsworth, in
Brook-street, from Yorkshire; Captain and Mrs. Vaughan,
in Piccadilly, from Paris : Lady Mordaunt and Sir John
Mordaust, at Marshal Thompson's Hotel, Cavendish-
square, from Brighton ; Miss Howe, at ditto, from
Brighton ; Joseph Haigh, Esq. Mrs. and the Misses Haigh,
and J. Haigh, Esq. jun. at ditto; Miss Winn and Miss
Williams, at ditto ; William Henry West, Esq, at ditto :
Mr. and Mrs. Fulcher and family, at the Hyde Park
Hotel, Hyde Park-place, from Cheltenham ; the Hon.
John Nigh, in Berkeley-square, from his father's (the Earl
of Darnley) seat, Cobham Hall ; Prince Paul Lieven, at
Ashburnham Nouse, Dover-street, from Brighton ; Count
Sablonsky, at ditto, from Brighton ; Colonel Tynte, M. P.
and family, at their house in Hill-street, Berkeley-square,
from their seat, Halswell House, Somersetshire ; Major
and Mrs. Alexander, in Park-lane, from Ireland ; the
Hon. Thomas Greville, at his house in Cleveland-square,
from Dropmore, Backs; Captain Gray, at Kirkham's
Hotel, Lower Brook-street, from a tour ; Major Weyland,
at ditto, from Oxfordshire ; the Rev. William Mills, at
ditto, from a tour; John Campbell, Esq. at Mivart's
Hotels, Lower Brook and Davies-streets, from Yorkshire ;
Lord Heytesbury, at ditto, from Wiltshire ; John Dauncey,
Esq. at ditto, from Kent.
DEPARTURES.—Lord and Lady Dacre, and
Miss Brandt, for the Hoo, in Hertfordshire ; Mr, Giles,
for Hertfordshire ; Major Woodhouse, for Brighton ; Lady
and Miss Campbell, for Wellington-crescent, Brighton;
John Douglas, Esq, and Mrs. Douglas, from • Marshal
Thompson's Hotel ; Henn; Spronk, Esq. from ditto ; Mr,
and Mrs. Corhet, aad family, from the Hyde Park Hotel,
for the Continent ; Mr. and Miss Clemens, from ditto, for
Somersetshire; Mr. and Mrs. Streatfield, from ditto, for
Kent ; Mr. and Mrs. Bethune, from ditto ; Brocas Braces,
Esq. and Mrs. Brocas, from ditto, for Berkshire; the
Archdeacon Probyn, from ditto, for Longhope, Gloucester-
shire ; the Marquis and Marchioness of Bath, from their
house in Grosvenor-square, on a visit to Mr. and Mrs.
George Byng, at their seat, Wrotham Park ; Sir Watkin
and Lady Harriet 'William Wynn, from their house in St.
James's-square, for Lord Braybrook's seat, Audley End,
Essex ; Sir Henry Cooke, Bart. for Harefield Park, Herta ;
Sir George Robinson, Bart. from his house in South-
street, for his seat, Cranford, Northamptonshire ; Captain
Harrington, for Cambridge ; D. Lynch, Esq. from the
Royal Hotel, St. James's. street, for Paris.