The Sun.
London, England, 1821-12-15 00:00:00

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THE LONDON, JOURNAIS.

DAILY EXTRACTS . FROM THE 11011:SING PAPERS

December 15.

[MORNING CHRONICLE.]
What Ireland wants is, the abolition .of humi-
liating distinctions, a reform with respect to tithes
and the revenue law, institutions for the improve-
ment of the population, and a judicial administra-
tion suited to her situation. The system of 'Ma-
gistracy of England is unfit for Ireland. The in-
stances mentioned by Mr. Wakefield are a suffi-
cient proof that the Gentry of Ireland will not do
justice to the. poor. An .Idstitution like that
of the Sheriffs of Scotland, men of liberal educa-
tion, exempt from the influence of localconnections
and local prejudices, would, .ive have no doubt,
be found to answer much better. Justices of
Peace have the same powers in Scotland' which
they have in England, but they have compara-
tively little to do there from the preference na-
turally given to a description of Magistrate in
every respect so much superior. The salaries
paid to this new description of Magistrates would
form a small set off against their utility. But
NVIIZ tever this expense, it ought to be borne. The
administration of justice is the first duty of a
Government ; and experience has sufficiently
proved, that the Gentry and Clergy of the
country are, generally speaking, unfit to be en-
trusted with it. It requires the strong controul
of enlightened public opinidn to render this de-
scription of Magistracy tolerable in a country ;
and public opinion is yet to form in Ireland.

[MORNING POST.]
Yesterdaya novel and interesting circumstance
took place in the Court of King's Bench.. An
Indicment preferred by the Constutional Asso-
ciation being called on for trial, the defendant
offered a challenge) which, in legal language, is
called a challenge to the array or to the whole
Jury List as presented by the Sheriff. The
ground of this objeCtion was, that Mr. Sheriff
Garratt had, before his entry into office, sub-
scribed to the. Association ; and, although he
withdrew his name before he was appointed She-
riff; although he. never attended any Meeting of
the Association, or in the remotest degree inter-
fered with their proceedings ; and. although
not the slightest imputation was, or could be,
thrown upon the motives of the respectable
Sheriff, the Court 'set aside the whole array ;
and as a consequence, the Trials of all
the Indictments preferred by the Association
have been postponed, in order that fresh
jury Lists -may be prepared, which- shall be
free from the objection we have mentioned.—
This we think is just'as it should be. 'We think
the administration of public justice should be
not only pure but unsuspected : and more espe-
Cially do we think that. the conduct- of so high
an Officer as a Sheriff should be ,such as to leave
no room for complaint ; no, not even from the
criminal who may be delivered over to him for ex-
ecution. But suppose a Sheriff were to pUt himself
in the situation of a prosecutor in a case affecting
the lives- of many of his fellow-subjects ;—sup-
pose, for instance, he were to mix himself up with
the proceedings of a Coroner's Inquest, to hunt
after evidence like the veriest pettifogger, and to
disgrace his office by bullying the Coroner in the
execution of his public duty ? If such a man
were afterwards to return a Jury to try any of
the persons who might have been affected by his
conduct, it 'is unnecessary, with the case of 'yes-
terday before us, to observe that the wholearray
might be challenged ; but we will venture tO' say
such a man would himself be liable to an indiCt-
thent. We put the case hypothetically, and our
Readers can probably tell us if they recollect
in instance wherein, it might be 'stated per-
sonally. If their memory should fail, Mr.
Waithman may perhaps assist them in find-
ing the 'application of the case. As the a&
vocates of outrage and blasphemy are very
triumphant on the proceedings of yesterday,'" We
have only'to beg that they will be satisfied with
the verdict of a Jury of their own choosing: The
trials are yet to come on ; and, if those who now
rejoice will be as satisfied as we • shall with the
Ultimate, result, there will be little occasion and
lass reason for assailing the administration of jus-
tice with coarseness,-ignorance, and brutality.

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[Tue TiMtS.
Ministerial arrangements- are now, we sup
pose, in .a state of completion : the Grenvilles
are to come in, by their 'representative Mr.
Charles Wj'im, This gentleman is; no doubt,
io go to' 'the Board of Control; the
pre-
sence or absence Of- the present worthy Ileac!.
a 'that department hardly recalling even his
name to public recollection. And not only
is Mr. Wynn. to becorne. President of the In-
dian Board, but. being, it is said, anxious with
the rest of the Creiivilles for the success of
The Catholic Question, tie haS stipulated that he
;ball be allowed to support the emancipation,
-
with all the influence of his 'office. The Marquis
of Hastings is said to be like the Old Man in
The Fable, who, having invoked death often, is
4f last extremely loath to receive his summons.
Ws Lordship is not willing to leave India itnine7
diatelY ; but. hiS successor will, it is now
as-
serted, still be Mr. Canning, " for where else
Can he go is the common cry. Dr. Phillirnore
is talked of as a new Lord' of the 'Admiralty.
We regret this-ekceedinglyf'--not in dislike to
Phillimore, hut iii diSlike of these useless
offices., and frorksorroW that there is no inten-
tion of abOlishing or reducing them. The
general obserVation that we should make upon
all these appointments is, that Ministers are
strengthened by them in the two louses; and the
country gentlemen will now, therefore, it may he
feared, bring their complaints before Parliament,
With adiminished probability of procuring relief
1.).), retrenchment, Out of the Parlianient, there
is nothing in thechanges carCulated to prodUce
a favourable effect. on the PUbliC mind, or en-
gender a more affectionate regard to the Govern-
theta': they will be viewed with apathy or dis-
gust. There are arso certain changes in the law
departmenti in Treland.. Mr. Saurin, it is' re-
ported) is to succeed the Lord Chief "Justice