The Sun.
London, England, 1826-11-04 00:00:00

Is.
cause them to be regarded with horror even by the Veriegt
Tory of the .119u§9 of
L: frds!,datio
tending
as
sn of toenslave
the country, and to sap e our liberties.
To attempt to enumerate the itistarms..
q where this
circumstance has occurred would be useless, further
than to say, that any Turnpike Road Bill, or 13111 to
incorporate a Joint Stock Company, will furnish more
examples than one to the anxious inquirer into this
ingenious art. When a power is thus indirectly oh=
tained, the practice is to use it at first as cautiously as
may be, withdrawing it for a time when it meets with
decided opposition from an influential man, bat taking
care never to abandon ,it in tote. By degrees, how-
ever, its whole effect is introduced, and in the course
of time practice is allowed to give the wished-for con-
struction to the equivocal words that were used in the
Act, in order to furnish out something like a founda-
tion on which the assumed authority may be supposed
to rest.

It is by these means that these equivocal words ob-
tain their force, for we are convinced that very few
instances of masked legislation would stand the test of
a Court of Law, if the question were raised at the very
outset, and before practice long continued could be
cited to support the construction which it is desired
to put upon the words. The rights and powers which
the promoters of Private Bills find it necessary thus
covertly to obtain, must of necessity have something in
the face of them exceedingly obnoxious, and being
thus obnoxious, it is evident they can only be required
in extreme cases. This is another circumstance which
favors the deceit, and tells greatly to support a practice
so disgraceful to the Legislature and so injurious to
the public.
Under the . present system of Legislation, it is
utterly impracticable to prevent the occurrence of this
evil, nor can we hope to see any very beneficial change
in this respect take place, until a responsible officer gar
Board, shall be appointed to overlook, and report to the
Houses of Parliament, the nature and effect of every
Private Bill that they are required to pass into law.—
Independently of the very great advantage the public
would derive from the appointment of such authority,
by the prevention of masked legislation, it would be
no small benefit, that by' such means one consistent
method of legislation would be adopted, and one uni-
form set of words employed in every clause, having
the same purpose in view, instead of leaving that mat-
; ter, as now, to the choice of the person framing a Bill ;
so that on looking through the statute book, we shall
scarcely ever find similar objects effected, or similar
powers Conferred by the same words. This is a mat-
ter of extreme importance, when we consider how the
whole effect of one sentence may be changed by the
introduction or omission of a single syllable, or even
of a letter. The appointment of such an officer too,
need not be attended with any additional charge to
the public, inasmuch, as the duties might be per-
formed by some person in the Private Bill Office,
or if that were impossible, the expence might be de-
frayed by imposing a fee on every private Bill brought
into each House of Parliament for his remuneration ;
an expellee of very little moment, when we consider
the large sum the soliciting of a Private Bill now
costs, and which, indeed, would be saved by rendering
unnecessary all conferences with Counsel, directed to
consider the best means of imposing on the Legisla-
ture by covert expressions.

LATEST FROM JAMAICA.
(From the Cork Southern Reporter, Oct. 31.)

By the Three Sisters, Captain Langrishe, which arrived at
thisfPort yesterday, direct from Jamaica, we have received Kings-
ton Papers to the 7th September inclusive, which are three days
later data than those brought by the nail.
We do not ti»d any thing in these papers worth extracting, with
the exception of the destructive effect* of heiivy rainy that had fal.
len, but upon what day is not Mated—nor do we find any refer-
ence to the occurrence in any of the previous numbers of the
Courant to that from which we extract it. The courant
copies the account front another paper, published at Kingston.

KINGSTON, iiirr. 7.

The rain and wind, we learn, were much more severe in the
higher parts of the adjoining parishes than we experienced in this
city. In the mountain districts the plantain treess were in many
places blown down, and the ripe fruit script from the coffee trees.
The roads in the higher parts of Lignenea are rendered impassable
for travellers on horseback, they have sustained more injury than
they did in the heavy rains of ISIS. In the lower parts of Liguauea,
too, the roads are terribly cut up ; and we regret to state, that the
bridge not long erected over Shoemaker's Gully, where so many fatal
accidents formerly oceurred,, has sustained considerable injury,
hut which, we hope, may soon be remedied. One of the abut.
ments was carried away, and the workhouse negroes of that parish
were promptly sent to clear away the rubbish, and prickly bush
was placed on the bridge to prevent persons passing along it for
fear of farther injury, and a foot track expeditiously made on one
side of the bridge for the accommodation of passengers. The
roads from Liguanea to Kingston, by the Spanish Town road, are
also rendered impassable for chaises. Considerable injury has like-
wise been sustained to the Spanish Town road at the third mile-
stone.... Ch maid e.

THE FUNDS.

CITY, Twava Clock.

This being a holiday (King William's landing) at both Stock
Exchanges, a few of the Brokers and Jobbers have, as usual, made
their appearance on the Royal Exchange, the weather having pre-
vented a large assemblage of these worthies. The price of Con-
sole is nominally at, the same rate they left off yesterday, viz.,
Hli I, but there has not been any business transacted; Mexican
an Colombian Bonds are equally without any transactions, the
former are quoted at 6Si 4 ; the latter, S 8 91. The Brokers
are discussing the expected' proceedings, and prephecying what
will and what will not take place when Parliament meets ; whilst
others are starting with wonder at the perilous situation in which
the Member for Sudbury seems to have unfortunately placed
himself.

7'wn o' Clack.

In Consols there has been no transaction, anti the pi ices coati-
Nue at HI tbr Account ; Mexican Honda are 63i 4 no busi-
ness ; in Colombian there have been a few bargains at asbatle lower ;
present price 393

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF CHANCERY.--(Thar PAY.)
wstusi./Y v. DUKE OF BRAUFOKT%,

Mr. SHADWILL requsted that his Lordship would be so good as
to allow a petition which was to be hearil before the Viet-Chan-
i;cllor in this matter, to be transferred to his Lordsh,ip's paper, and
day might be appointed for the hearing of it. In
of circumstances that had occurred, it was thought
"ctloiaitse: r(t'le::at his Lordship ihould hear it.
expedient that
would name any day Mr. Shadwell pleased. lie
thought he had better hear it before be gave judgonint on the
other petition. His Lordship then fixed that it should come ou
ou Thursday next.