The Sun.
London, England, 1819-08-16 00:00:00

112 AT ST. JOLIN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND.

Lieutenant COATES, R.N. arriced on Saturday at
Portsmouth from Newfoundland, having taken
out the sth regiment to Antigua and St. Kitt's,
and embarked front those places the Royal West
India Rangers- to New Brunswick, where thcy
were disbanded., Detachments of the Sappers
and Miners, 15th and 74th regiments of foot have
come zhoute. Lieutenant Coates has hiqught
the particulars of another dreadful tire at St.
John's, which broke out at one o'clock on
the morning of Mondry the nineteenth ult, in
a house lately occupied by Mr. George Garland,
adjoining the residence of Mr, T. Williams, but
which during the last month, had been vacant.
Mr. Williams's house caught soon after, and com-
municated the fire to the dwelling-house and shop
of Thomas Meagher, Sons and Co. and from thence
to the residence of Dr. Duggan, on the opposite
side of the street, which, with the houses adjoining
to the, westward as far as Codner and Tracey's, were
laid in ashes. The brands of tire flew through the
air to a great distance, some of which falling on the
stores of J. F. Trimioghatn and Co. and Parker,
Cheever, and Co. set them in a blaze, but this was
discovered in time to prevent any material injury.
The fence in the front of the Roman Catholic Cha-
pel was partly burnt down, and the Bishop's house
and chapel were in considerable danger, though
eventually no damage was done to, either. By
five o'clock the fire had pretty well spent its fury.
It will be recolleeted that the fire of the 21st of
November, 1817,
,extended west ward to just
where it was this time arrested in its pro-
gress eastward, thus completing in less than
two years the destruction of neatly the whole
of the old town. On going over the ruins 98
chimnies were found standing, besides several that
had fallen down ; from which circumstance it
is conjectured that the houses destroyed were
occupied by at least 1,500 inhabitants, and the
loss of property, upon the lowest calcuat ion, may
be estimated at about 150,0001. Those in the MI!
mediate neighbourhood. bad scarce time to escape
with their lives—many more saved but very little—
while very few succeeded _in rescuing more than
one-half their effects from the flames.—The dis-
tress occasioned by this fire is calculated to be more
general than either of the former, notwithstanding
the loss of property is much less. The Governor
was present the whole, time, and all the officers of
the garrison were conspicuously active in their ex-
ertion to extinguish the flames. It is not known
how the fire originated.
The following is an extract of a letter from
Carbonear, Newfoundland, dated 22d July :
" I am sorry to communicate to you the advices
received last night from St. John's, that another
dreadful fire took place there 'between one and
two o'clock in the morning of the 19th, by which
170 families are deprived of their habitations, by
the destruction of nearly the whole that remained
of what was lately called the Old Town. Among
those who suffer very heavily are, Mr. Thomas
Williams, Mr. Dunscome, Mr. Kangh, Mr. W.
Newman, Mr. Elliot, Mr. Bayley, and indeed all
have suffered who resided in that part of the
town. The fire broke out in an uninhabited
house, and is supposed not to have been the effect
of accident."

►SEDITION AND BLASPHEDIY.—On Saturday a
Preacher, named Wedderbourn, who has the care
of a small chapel, known by the name of Hop-
kins's Chapel, in Hopkins-street, was brought up
to Marlborough-street Police Office, by Whales,
the Officer, and underwent a private examina-
tion, which lasted nearly two hours, on a
charge of blasphemy and sedition. The Solici-
tor to the Secretary of State for the Home Depart-
ment was present, and a large box, filled with
papers of a blasphemous tendency, was pro-
duced and carefully investigated. It appeared
that the prisoner bad latterly been bolding
dissertations at his chapel, in which he has
evinecti the greatest contempt both for reli-
gion and the law, and has endeavoured to instil
into the minds of his bearers, that the Prince
Regent, and all Potentates, should be destroyed,
for nut administering justice, as theyought to do.
The Prisoner was ordered to find bail, himself in
1001. and two sureties in 501. each, to appear at
the next General Quarter Sessions for Middlesex.
He seemed quite indifferent to his condition and
in default of bail was committed.

A Court Martial was held at the Royal Marine
Barracks in Portsmouth, on Friday se'nnight, and
continued by adjournments until Tuesday the 10th
(at which Lieut.-Col. JOHN MILLER was Presi-
dent, and Lieutenant and Adjutant PATTEN, Judge
Advocate), on Lieutenant PETER Means, of the
Royal Marines, on a charge exhibited against him,
of being drunk and unfit for duty when on guard
in the Dock-yard; of which charge the Court found
him Not Guilty, and acquitted hinh—The Court
cautioned Lieutenant MEERES to be more cautions
in his conduct in future, and not to turn out in
front of his guard to the grand rounds, with' nt
his belt, sash, shoes, or hoots, being contrary to
the established regulations of all guards.
A PROMISING YOUTH.—Saturday afternoon a
boy, 12 years of age, undertook to cat 20 two-
penny mutton pies in half an hour, for a wager of
2s. Gd. which he accomplished in five minutes less
than the given time. Each live, on the average,
weighed two ounces and a half.

Instructions have been received at Sheerness
for the embarkation of Rennett, the stealer of
Mr. Hortsm's child, on board the Dromedary
store-ship, which is about to sail with convicts
for New South Wales.

A most extraordinary herring was caught in
Montrose ricer, on Thursday night, by a salmon
net ; it measured 16 inches in length, 81 inches
in girth, and weighed one pound eight ounces
Mts.. MYDDLETON took possession on Wednes-
day last, of her large property at Chirk Castle,
which has so long been a %object of litigation in
Chancery. She eras met at the town of Chirk
by her numerous tenantry, who preceded her in
procession to the seat of her ancestors.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCN.

CORNWALL ASSIZES, RODMIN, At OUST n.

HOUSE OP COMMONS PROSECUTION.

BRIBERY AT PENRYN:

THE RING V. HENRY SWANN, Intl.

Mr. MOORR opened the pleadings, whicb charg-
ed (he defendant, in the first four counts, with
paying money to procure votes, and in the last
two counts by employing a promissory note foe
the same purpose.
Mr. Sericant PELL said, that this was one of
the most important causes that could possibly be
brought before a Jury, from its peculiar circum-
stances. At the late election for Penryn there
were three candidates—Sir Christopher Hawkins,
Nlr. Swann, and Mr. Anderdon, and there were
about 300 voters in the Borough ; among the
voters, he Was sorry to say, corruption had run
vet y high, and it required that something should
he done. For many reasons he wished well to
Mr. Swann, but on this occasion he had to dis-
charge hiS duty ; and when a charge of this de-
scription was made our, that duty required him to
seek a conviction. If, however, there was a feel-
ing independent of the cause, let Mr. Swamp have
the benefit of it ; but if the offence be made out,
he the person who he might, it was his wish that
the purposes of justice should be fully answered.
lie should be able to prove that Ihe • day before
the election bribes were given by the defendant
and received by some of the voters, and as the
contest became more doubtful, the price of votes
advanced. lie was sorry to say of .Penryn, that
the grand aim of the candidates were to bribe as
low as possible ; but that bribery was universally
prevalent it was impossible to deny. The money
received in this way was fatal to the morals of the
receivers ; and though it might gratify for the mo-
ment, it must be baneful in the end. Still, how-
ever, the tempter was more criminal than the
tempted, and, under existing circumstances, some-
thing must be done to satisfy the ends of justice.
Every Newspaper teemed with accounts of Re-
form Meetings, and the outcry of men, women,
and children was borne out by circumstances re•
cently developed, and by the idea that a man who
buys a vote would sell a vote. It was under the
cloak of reform that sedition was work tog her
way, and unless the practice could be checked the
ultimate consequence must be dreadful indeed.—
The chief contest in the election for this Borough
was between the defendant and Mr. Anderdon :
there was a majority of ten in favour of Mr.
Swann. Mr. Anderdon petitioned against the re-
turn. He (the Learned Serjeant) was retained on
that occasion, and the greatest pain he felt at the
present moment was, that though others were
proved to be equally amenable to the laws with
Mr. Swann, yet, for some reason—God only knew
for what—Mr. Swann was alone brought forward
to stand the Intit. The prosecution bad been
instituted by the Crown at the instance of the
House of Commons, so that it, came in the most
weighty shape possible. It was but right to men•
lion, however, that all the witnesses %thorn he
should call were participators in the crime, and if
that was to weigh with the' Jul y; he was
perfectly willing that the defendant should have
the benefit of it ; but he had no doubt that the
evidence, upon the whole, would bring the crime
so completely home to the defendant, that the Jury
could have no alternative, but must find the de-
fendant guilty.
Mr. BALDWIN produced the writ for the'elec-
tion of Members for the BorOugh of Penryn, and
also several records at different periods before the
several unions with Scotland and Ireland, to shew
the custom of the Borough.
Mr. WHITE, the Committee Clerk of the House
of Commons, produced the poll which he had
re-
ceived from the poll clerk.
Mr. FENDER, the poll clerk, proved the poll
book, and that the candidates wete Sir Christo-
pher Hawkins, Henry Swann, Esq. and John La..
vienum Anderdon, Esq.
Thomas Rosman—l live at Penryn, and know the defen‘
dant ; he was a candidate at the last election ; the days of
polling were on the 19th and 90th of June; Mr. Swann came
to my house on Saturday the lath of June, and asked me if I
had yet given my voice; I said no; he said I always expected
you would be my friend. I said I had not yet determined; he
said if you will vote fur me I will procure you a permanent
situation, so that you shall not want, and will li'Aewise do for
you and your children ; and if you want a friend at the pre-
sent time, there shall be one found for you ; be put his hand
in his pocket, and said, if you were not present, I would pre-
sent you with sometcing now, hut I will call on Monday
morning, and leave some money with your wife for you, Mr.
Swann then went away. When I returned on Monday even-
in„ my wife gave me five 11. notes ; on Tuesday evening be
asked me if I had yet made up my mind to vote for him; I
said 1 had given bile voice to Mr. Anderdon ; he said you will
do well to give me the other, for we are the two fighting par-
ties; he asked me, and I told him I had not received parish
pay; lie said, tell me all the facts, that I may make yours a
legal vote; and added, what I left with your wife yesterday
morning, I hope you will make yourselves comfortable with.
My vote was rejected.
Cross-examined by Mr. SWANN (who conduct-
ed his own defence) : 1 made an affidavit before
the Committee respecting the 13th of June. You
were at my house before the 13th, but I was not
at home. The candidates came there on the Ist
June.

Mr. SWANN here observed, that the witnesses
for the Crown had undergone an extraordinary
training, and that there were persons in Court
who made concerted signals to them ; for instance,
holding up the finger to the nose, meant that a
witness should say " No," and so on.
Mr. Justice BEST observed, that the defendant
had done perfectly right in suggesting the matter
to the Court : be was determined that such con-
duct, if proved before him, should be visited with
the utmost severity.
Mr. Serie:lnt PELL repelled the charge on the
part of those for whom he was more immediately
concerned ; aid, added. that for such a thing he
would undertake to say that the parties would be
prosecuted forthwith.
Mr. Justice BEST—Any one who dares do such
a thing must take the consequences of such prac-
tices.

Cross-examination continued—My wife never told me she
had told you of tier distresses, though she told me of the 51.;
I do not know whet the notes were; I am no scholar, thooglt
I have a good recollection; I gave the notes again to my watt,
and nay base had some part of them to spend.
[Oil the suggestion of the Jury, the witnesses on both sides
were ordered to leave the Court, and their names were called
over for that purpose.]
Continued-1 do not know what the situation was to he; I
am a lahourer, and not fit for any situation; my wife never
told Inc that, she was tu:loot far me to have work nearer
home, thy vote was rejected by the Poctreeve, LI/4;11150 it wag!

\ I

. .
d that the ritrivh,lia6 rid 31. ''for Theaitro allesnianc!i for',
1.. e. %Inch v.-as !Intr.-de; I went to London to the Cintassittcc,
and t :caret like the &Aker wittivsse's ; 4 was satisfied; •ylon
were the tit that objected to tny vote, nnittlien the I'urtreere
'tont; your pits-tv L ans a-piter matt, and if any Gentleman left
4 trikk at tiry,4iinoss,,, it was acceptable.

•
Justice. BEST—Let me caution you, Mr.
stvgun ; yntuare going nearer the wind by that
gticstiowilr!tn,yon ate aware if—yott have left the
I,a;- for sci w-. time, and ,ti y not be aware of the
consvicroence:rayoar present mode Of examination.
t.rifitiTniect--Th.e,a4,,,i I rave evidence was because you
.ofi,?,,be hail; ',ever toil von I would rote for you ;
/ had heard of a breakfast at ['tory!):
+.+.;t I ht., ti tt 'the'tir.t Tkea iou i was at; I was iu the greatest
,'!st,rss in trie wiitter,ilefore; I :Harried to brother's widow;
hut I cautiot recadlett hew out I married her after his death;
I tuarritd Iter by the liitrlVY of Whitrear.
iqookE objected to the witness answering
anF 9.lcstiott that mi.ott criminate hi:ascii in the
Lc< Icciastical Contt.