The Sun.
London, England, 1827-03-23 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

The proceedings at the Bank of England yesterday, are
interesting to the nation at large. We pass over the
questions which respect the quantity of issue, those not
being unsatisfactorily answered. But a more important
subject is started. Is the Bank to afford any accommo-
dation to Government by a loan ; or, which is a worse and
more unconstitutional act, by advances upon Exchequer-
bills ? To this question the Chairman declines giving an
answer, that is, he may be said to answer it in the affirma-
tive, for if the furtive procedure could have been disavow-
ed, there is no doubt it would have been disavowed. We
are, therefore, making a loan. The effecting this pur-
pose by an issue of Exchequer-bills, is the most uncandid,
and therefore, as well as for many other causes, the most
reprehensible method. Government issues Exchequer
bills, which the Bank accepts, giving its notes in return,
paper for paper. The Government takes the Bank notes,
with which it pays its contracts; and so, more paper gets
into circulation, and the prices of the articles of life rise.
This is the mischief on one side ; on the other, the griev-
ance is yet more severe. The Exchequer bills which the
Bank accepts, bear an interest which must be paid out of
the earnings of this distressed people, in addition to other
taxes ; and as it is not likely that we can redeem the
principal, and also must ultimately be added to the sum
total of the national debt, and must be borne, yielding an

interest, till we break. This is what is meant by an issue
of Exchequer bills. The Chairman objected to answer-
ing questions emanating from interested reports out of
doors. There is no interested motive answered by con-
cealment, of course !—Tnizes.
Mr. Dwarris has concluded his third report on the state
and administration of the laws in our West India colo-

vies--a subject, the right understanding of which mutt be
considered of the highest importance towards every plan
of discreet legislation, and of practical reform in what

concerns the relative interests of master and slave.

Mr.

Dwarris has, we believe, experienced some of the diffi-

culties, and not a few of the vexations, attending the strict
performance of a duty which demanded from him a total
disregard of those unhappy prejudices and exaggerated
opinions which have prevailed so generally on the subject
of,our eolonial?opulation, and have, on both sides, con-
tributed solargely to bailie the search for truth, as well

as to deter the candid and moderate-minded from giving
free expression to their own unbiassed sentiments. There

has not occurred any question within our memory, re-
specting which more serious danger seems to have arisen
of aggravating old evils by one of two mischievous dispo-
sitions—either by extreme obstinacy, or extravagant pre-
ciPitancy—than this very question of " how to improve
the condition of the West India colonies ?" Mr. Dwarris

;;d his colleague have not, by endeavouring to do impar-
tial justice, escaped the censure of those engaged in the
opposite ranks of uncompromising abolitionists, and un-
changeable advocates for perpetuating the negro bondage ;
but, in such a case, the consciousness of perfect hide-
pendence, and of unremitting diligence in the discharge of
a sacred trust, may well indemnify an honest man for the
loss of ill-founded and fleeting popularity ; and to that
consolation, so far as we have been able to judge from

the labours of these Commissioners, the authors of the
report alluded to may feel themselves fairly entitled.--,./bid.
The discussion last night in the House of Lords is cu-
rious, as affording a striking proof how much that class,
which, aecording to Sir Francis Burdett, forms the grand
distinction of this country, outstrips all the other classes
in extent of knowledge and political sagacity. We had
imagined that Lord Malmesbury was facile princeps of
the political economists in their Lordships' House; but
no one who heard Lord Redesdale could avoid assigning
the pOm to him. We question if as many original views
were ever before disclosed in a speech. His Lordship has
discovered, that the importation of hides and tallow has
raised the price of meat. The deduction by which he ar-
rives at this result is inimitable in its way. "It was plain
from what had ensued from the importation of foreign
wool, what would be the consequence of introducing fo-
reign core. That must have raised the price of corn, and
on. he same principle the importation of hides and tallow
had raised the price of meat. The value of horns and
hoofs.had been reduced, and therefore the butcher was,
obliged to sell his meat dearer. It was an old saving, the
meaning of which was well understood, that the fifth quar-
ter was the butcher's profit. The four quarters enabled
him to pay for the beast to the farmer, and the fifth quarter
paid him for his labour. It was no longer so; the fifth
quarter was of less value, and the butcher was obliged to
charge higher for his meat." Here his Lordship takes a very
ingenious way of ?hewing the agriculturists how unreasonable
they are to complain of a want of market for their wool,
when they receive as much additional for their meat as
makes op for the reduction in the price of wool. We ex-
pected to—bear Lord Malmesbury rise and state his con-
viction that the agriculturists were most unreasonable
in wishing to be twice paid for their wool, and that he
would inform those whose Petition he presented, that they
might make a present of their wool whenever they liked,
as it would be all made up to them by the butchers. But
as it is a mere matter of moonshine whether the price is
laid on the carcass, or the horns and hoof, we should prefer
seeing a large addition to the price of horns, so that they
might be within the reach of great men only, like their
Lordships, and a great reduction in the price of the meat.
It would be a pity that men capable of making such nice
distinctions should ever be without horns. The illness
of Lord Liverpool has thrown some light on the qualifica-
tions necessary to &British Minister. There is no person
;n the House of Lords who can give the most ordinary ex-
vlanation ; and, as was observed by Lord Ellenborough, it
became necessary last night to acquiesce in the postpone-
ment of the question which should have been discussed,
because there was no Minister who knew any thing about
the matter. There was Lord Westmorland to be sure,
who has long cut a most conspicuous figure in the Red
'Book, and respecting whom posterity will no doubt be
divided, whether he most excelled in wisdom or eloquence;
but his contemporaries" Will probably think that he excels
in wisdom, and deem his silence last night a proof. His
Lordship, it is understood, was the great critic Of Mr.
Canning's celebrated speech, and we suppose he is deter-
mined on silence, to deprive Mr. Canning of an opportu-
nity for retaliation. It would be difficult, we should think,
to get up any thing equal to this horns and hoof debate in
any other class of this kingdom. The worst effect of such
brilliant exhibitions is, that they tend to discourage the ex-
ertions of the country. The young artist, who is at once
introduced to Raphael and Titian, is often overcome with
the distance of the way he must travel to reach their ex-
cellence. The eagle alone can look steadily at the sun.—
Morning Chronicle.

As in private, so in public life, a candid open enemy is
preferable to a concealed one; and upon this ground we
admire the open and avowed hostility of the Dublin Ca-
tholic Association towards the Established Church, above
Oe disguised conduct and forbearance of the English Ca-
t!iolics at their late Meeting. That the Roman Catholics
as a body can entertain any affection for a faith which has
not only superseded their own, but is in possession of
those splendid revenues and other temporalities which
their own Priesthood once enjoyed, would be to give them
credit rather for imbecility than for any commendable
quality. That they, in fact, entertain towards the Esta-
blishment a deadly hate we wish we were not compelled to
believe ; but not to believe it, would be to resist the evi-
dence of one's senses, upon an occasion admitting, we ap-
prehend, of no doubt. A Mr. French, who appears to
have exhibited something of the " Marplot" at the late
Meeting of British Catholics, drew down upon himself a
great show of disapprobation on that occasion, by avowing
sentiments which most of his hearers agreed in, but which
they would fain have had him postpone till a more conve-
vient season. But though the Catholic audience of Mr.
French may affect to consider themselves scandalized by
the honest warmth (not to call it intemperance) of Mr.
French upon the occasion, we think there is, in what was
considered the most offensive part of his statement, that
from which the friends of the Establishment might reap

some useful suggestions. Mr. French is represented to
have said that " the Church Establishment was main-
tained merely as a means of providing for the
sons of the Nobility Who served the Government ;"
an assertion which is said to have been received with
" loud disapprobation, and cries of shame." This assertion
though far from being literally true, is far from being alto-
gether false. The extent to which the Church patronage
is made subservient to political purposes in England is cer-
tainly an evil ; but is as nothing compared to the extent to
which the system has been carried in Ireland; and we
should have no hesitation in asserting that, if any one
cause has more than another retarded the spread of the
Protestant religion in Ireland, it has been the unblushing
profligacy with which successive Administrations have
violated this most sacred trust, by rendering the whole
Church Establishment in Ireland, from Episcopacy down
to the lowest preferment that was worth having, a mere
source of political barter, alike simoniacal, profane and
impolitic. It is due to the Government of Lord Liverpool
to say that, as far as he has been able, he has acted upon a
contrary principle; but up to this hour the evil is far from
being rooted out, though it has been, in some material
degree, upon the decline. Mr. French, then—who, we
suppose, is an Irish Catholic—has fallen into a national
error upon the occasion. To be consistent with himself,
he should either applaud or pass by in silence an error of
the Government, by which it has for ages been serving
the Catholic cause. Mr. French's simplicity, however,
enables us to say, " Fas est ab hoste doceri." Had the
successive Governments which have prostituted the
Church patronage been more anxious to bestow it on pious
resident Divines—had they, in fact, looked to the extension
of the Established Religion in Ireland rather than to their
power and intrigues at home—the population of the two
religions in that country would have borne a very different
proportion to .each other to that which they now bear ;
and if the present and future Governments honestly avoid
the opprobrium Mr. French throws upon them, they will
do more to render Catholicy powerless than any weapon
they can possibly make use of.—Morning Herald.
Lord Whamcliffe's proposed Bill for amending the
Game Laws, proceeds chiefly on this principle. By
making game the property of the owner of the soil on
which it is found, he confers on that owner the same
rights over it as over any other species of property. In
addition to this; he guards the rights thus conferred, by
new provisions for checking and punishing trespassers.
Tile real substance of the measure is, neither less nor
more, than to add to the powers and privileges of the
owners of land. An Act of Parliament may declare game
to be property; but, unfortunately, the laws of nature
will prevent him, who calls himself the legal owner, from
exercising the same controul over it as over his sheep,
his geese, or his fowls. Whatever the new Act may say,
hares and partridges will still be ferx naturce ; nor can we
conceive any means by which the legal right of property
in them can be enforced. It seems to be involved in the
very idea of property, that what is once mine shall not
cease to be mine, except by my own act, and with my
own consent. But how can such a criterion be applied to
game ? The hare, which is, at this moment, the pro-
perty of one man, may, by the mere exercise of its loco-
motive powers, become the property of another. In fact
to talk of making game property, is a mere facon de parley,
which has, strictly speaking, no substantial meaning.
The real purport of this part of Lord Wharncliffe's Bill is
to do away with the existing system of qualifications, and
to give greater facilities for the legal sale of game. No
person, we apprehend, can say, that there is either prin-
ciple, consistency, or expediency, in the provisions which
now determine whether a man is or is not entitled to
amuse himself with his gun. This part of our law obvi-
ously requires alteration. It may be doubted whether
any qualification ought to be required ; but even ad-
mitting the propriety and policy of allowing only
certain descriptions of persons to destroy game, those de-
scriptions ought to be fixed on very different principles
from the views which have produced the existing law.—
We confess, however, that we do not see how the im-
provement of this part of our system will tend directly to
the snppression of poaching. The circumstances on which
the extent of poaching depends, seem to be these :—the
facilities for committing the offence--the gain produced
by it—the difficulty of detection=--the greater or less
chance of suffering punishment, in the event of detection
—and the greater or less degree of punishment to be ap-
prehended. The alteration of the law of qualifications
cannot affect the operation of any of these circumstances;
and the increase of the rights and privileges of owners of
land over the game, can, at the utmost, have only an in-
direct tendency to check poaching, by giving the legal
destroyers of game stronger motives of interest to protect
it from the devastation of others. But the source of the
evil does not lie in the want of zeal in the country gentle-
men for .the suppression of the offence. They are anxious
enough to baffle poachers, if they could only discover the
means of doing so. In adding new incentives to their
zeal, we engage in a very superfluous labour. The in-
crease of facilities for supplying the market with game
legally destroyed, is, unquestionably, in one point of view,
a check upon poaching, since it diminishes the profits,
which are the temptation to crime. On the other hand,
it renders detection more difficult. The conveyance and
disposal of game lawfully destroyed gives poachers much
assistance, in carrying the produce of their industry safely
to market. Upon the whole, however, its operation in
the former way is much stronger than in the latter; and,
therefore, in so far as the new law will augment the means
of supplying, legally, the demand for the purchase of
game, thus far will it check poaching, but no further.—
New Times.

A SMYRNA was at the ball last Thurs
day evening. There were present most of the Smyrniot ladies.
The taste and elegance displayed in ,their dress fully corresponds
with the beauty of their persons. They dress in the European
costume. Their head-dress is somewhat different. Some wear
costly turbans, most tastefully put on. Others wear their hair
braided right round the head, with a wreath of various flowers,
and a great number of rich combs. The Greek ladies dress dif-
ferently. They wear over their dress a kind of silk spencer,
which hangs down as low as the hip. It is worn quite loose, and
does not project in front beyond the breast. Their head-dress
consists of flowers intertwined with the hair. Some wear a small
scarlet skull-cap with a rich silk turban over it. Their dress is
generally of rich silk, short sleeves, and worn low on the neck.
They are passionately fond of dancing ; but although they com-
menced dancing at 10 o'clock, p. m., and kept it up till near five
a.m., there was only one set of quadrilles danced the whole time.
Nothing but country-dances and waltzes; one country-dance
actually lasted for two hours and ten minutes. The old ladies
appeared as fond of the dance as the young. The ball-room is a
large square room, capable of containing 300 persons. Joining
to the ball-room on one side, there were two apartments ele-
gantly fitted up, thrown open to the loungers, and such as felt
inclined to rest their wearied limbs on the splendid ottomans.
On the other side there were card-rooms, which, by the bye,
were rather thickly attended by the gentlemen. The number of
gents at this ball so far exceeded that of the ladies, that there
was great difßculty in procuring partners. The French Admiral,
De Rigny, was there ; as also several French, Dutch, Austrian,
and American officers, and all the Consuls; Honourable Capt.
Spencer, lion. Captain Anson, and Hon. Mr. Vane were also
present. Mr. \Wiry, jun., our Vice-Consul, is one of the Stew-
ards for this year. The Austrian Consul gives a ball every Sun-
day ; the Dutch Consul, every Tuesday. They are always very
crowded. It is a great rarity to sec a bonnet worn in Smyrna.
You sometimes see a French or English lady concealing her face
under a huge bonnet ; but what can equal the head-dress of the
beautiful Smyrnioti? I never saw any of them with combs in
their hair, except at the ball. They always walk out with their
turban head-dress. I hardly know how to describe the tasteful
manner in which they put their turbans on. I never saw any
thing like it in any country in Europe. The turbans are of very
rich silk ; some are extremely costly, being of the richest silk and
gold. Their hair, which is generally dark, and the finest I ever
beheld, is braider], and the turban is put on in such a manner, as
to make it appear interwoven with the hair. Their dress is in
every other respect perfectly European, always of silk, worn ra-
ther high. As they seldom wear shawls, and walk out with
merely a sash round the waist, they show their figures to advantage.
This dress is certainly extremely convenient, as they have no alte-
ration to make in their dress when going out for a walk. I have
visited a few families since here. I have always remarked that
their dress is the same in-doors as without.

LENT ASSIZES.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—LANCASTER, MARcu W.
CROWN SIDE.

John Macdonald was indicted for assaulting Samuel Soar on
the King's highway, between Manchester and Liverpool, and tak-
ing from his person, and against his will, 125., his property.
The prisoner. is a young man of remarkably fine and athletic
appearance, and has been well educated. He was at one time a
surgeon,.in practice in Scotland.
The prosecutor, on the night of the 9th of February, was driv-
ing a cart at West Derby, about four miles from Liverpool, when
he was stopped by a man who seized hold of the harness of the
horse. The cart, of course, was stopped, and the man was then
immediately joined by another man, who called to witness to come
out of the cart. Witness was too lame to comply with the re-
quest. But the man demanded the witness's money, and the pri-
soner, who was one of the men, presented a pistol at the head of
witness, and said, " If you tell ins a lie, I'll blow your brains
out." The prisoner then stepped into the cart, and took from
the pocket of witness 12s. in silver, and about 6d. in copper.—
The whole time which the robbery occupied was about three mi-
nutes. The next time that witness saw prisoner was at the
Bridewell, Warrington, on the 3d of March, and he immediately
recognized him.
Three other carters deposed, that they had been robbed on
the same night in a manner similar to that described by the
last witness, by two men, one of whom they positively swore
was the prisoner. They all recognized bins as soon as they saw
him again.
Two witnesses were then called, who swore, that during the
whole night of the 9th of February, the prisoner was in their
company at a public-house kept by one of them. They recol-
lected the night particularly, from circumstances which they
stated to the Court. Verdict—Not G ugly.
THE WAKEFIELD CAUSE, Maacu 20. •

Almost all the parties engaged in this interesting cause have
arrived at Lancaster. Mr. Wakefield has made his appearance
publicly to-day, and Miss Turner arrived in her father's carriage
about six o'clock this evening. Of course rumour is as busy as
ever, and a thousand improbable stories are in constant circula-
tion. Among others, the following anecdote is related, and I
have reason to believe that it is founded in truth. In the course
of last Christmas, a copy of Ackermann's " Forget me not,"
splendidly bound, was forwarded by the coach in a parcel, to
Shrigley-hall, directed to Miss Turner. The circumstance ex-
cited some surprise, especially as Mr. Turner had himself present-
ed his daughter with a copy of the " Forget me not" only a few li
days before. At first sight, an inspection of the book afforded no
clue to a discovery of the quarter from which it had been sent ;
but upon a close examination, a well-executed likeness of Mr, E.
Wakefield was discovered in a leaf which contained a translation
of some lines from Ariosto, entitled The praise of Love. The
last verse of those lines ran thus :
" Let others-deem time must unloose
Love's firmest bonds, decay'd by use,
" Or when those bonds we cherish ;
" For me, whatever be my lot,
" I still will love—when I do not,
" Why let me die and perish."
At this discovery it is said Miss Turner felt highly indignant,
and proposed to send the book immediately back to Mr. Wakefield.
By the advice, however, of Mr. Grimaditch, the solicitor, no no-
tice was taken of the circumstance. Mr. E. Wakefield, it is add-
ed, has been frequently seen of late walking about in the lanes con-
tiguous to Mr. Turner's residence, at Shrigley.
The trial will certainly come on on Thursday. Is is highly
probable that it will continue more than one day, unless the evi-
-1 dence of Miss Turner should he disallowed, in which case it is
possible the prosecution may fall to the ground.

STAFFORD, MARCH 21.
CROWN SIDE.

Benjamin Hodges was indicted for wilfully and maliciously
cutting Jacob Levi, at Wednesbury, on the 26th December last,
with intent to murder and rob him. The indictment consisted
of 18 counts. The four first were, that the prisoner cut Levi
with intent to murder, rob, maim, and do him some grievous
bodily harm ; the four last were, that he cut and wounded Levi
on the neck, chin, right cheek, and right hand, for the same
purposes. The prisoner pleaded " Not Guilty."
Mr. RUSSELL.—The prosecutor, Jacob Levi, is a person of
the Jewish persuasion, lodging in Meriden-street, Birmingham,
from which place he traverses the country round to sell his goods.
He is a pedlar and carries his pack. The prisoner also lives in the
same street in Birmingham, a few doors from Levi's lodgings, at
the house of his father-in-law; but he had been employed to work
at Wednesbury for about four months, and had returned to his
home on the Sunday before the last Christmas-day, which fell on a
Monday. Levi bad also been from home. He had been in Wales
for three months, and came back on the Friday before the Christ-
mas-day. On the Sunday evening the prisoner's wife came to Levi,
and said her husband had some razors and combs to dispose of, and
wished to know if Levi would buy them. Levi said he would
treat with him for them, he would not give money, but he would
give some of his goods in exchange. She went away, and shortly
afterwards returned with the prisoner, who brought with him
some razors and combs. Levi and he made their bargain, and
Levi took four razors and several combs, and gave in exchange a
gold ring, a brooch pin, and a silver tooth-pick. They then
began talking, and the prisoner looked at Levi's travelling-box,
and asked him the price of the different articles in it, the whole
of which Levi showed him, and told him their prices. The value
of the contents of the box was about 1001. The prisoner then
made many inquiries of Levi where he had been, and where he was
going. Levi told him he should set out the day after Christmas-
day to Wednesbury. The prisoner asked what public-house be
went to. Levi answered, the Fountain inn. The prisoner and

his wife then went away. In the course of the evening his, wife
came back to Levi's lodgings, but I cannot state what passed in the
absence of her husband, because it is not evidence. On the Tues-
day Levi left Birmingham with his box and went about hawking
near Wednesbury, and in the evening came to the Fountain
Inn. About seven o'clock prisoner came there also, and in-
quired for him. Levi had been tired by his day's work, and
was asleep with his head on the table in the parlour. He was
wakened by the landlord, but did not recollect the prisoner at
first, nor until he was reminded of their dealing on the preceding
Sunday. They then drank some ale together. After a short
time the prisoner told Levi he should take his box and go to Mr.
Favell's, about a mile off. Levi refused, saying he had done his
work for that day. The prisoner then used many arguments to
induce him to go, and said that there were some ladies at Mr.
Favell's who wished to buy some of his trinkets, for he (the
prisoner) had told them what nice things he had. This was
false, for there were no ladies. Levi said he would go to them
the next morning. The prisoner said that would not do, the ladies
were going by the six o'clock Liverpool coach next morning, it was
no use to go then, but if he went to-night, they would most likely
lay out four or five pounds. Levi was at length prevailed
upon to go, and he got his pack and set out with the prisoner.
The night was so dark that he returned immediately, and
the landlady persuaded him not to go; however, the prisoner
again prevailed upon him. The landlady then advised him
not to go by the new cut, but by the main street, and
they settled to go that *ay. They again set forward, and
came to the turn the landlady spoke of. The prisoner then pro-
posed to go by the new cut, for it was much nearer. That road
is a new branch of the Holyhead road, not yet completed or fairly
open to the public, and therefore not much frequented. The
other way is through the main street of Wednesbury. However,
Levi was persuaded, and they went by the new cut, a long distance,
during which the prisoner proposed to assist Levi by carrying his
pack, but Levi refused to let him. After they had been some
distance, the prisoner said—. Now turn to the right ;" they did
so. The road they were now taking leads to an old worked-out
coal-pit, full of noxious air, what is called a stink-pit, in which no
person can breathe. They walked down the road about 90 yards,
and got near the pit, when Levi was suddenly siezed by the back of
the collar, and cut on the throat by the prisoner. Levi seized the
instrument from the prisoner, and flung it away, but he was cut
again by another instrument, on the throat, chin, and cheek, and
if the prisoner did intend to kill him, the prisoner must have ac-
complished that purpose, had not Levi fortunately had a stiff
collar round his neck. That circumstance, added to his personal
courage, strength, and resolution saved him, for he contrived to
wrest the second razor from the prisoner, and became the assailant,
and cut the prisoner on the face and inflicted those wounds the
marl,..s of which you now plainly see. Levi from the first onset
cried out " murder," as loud as he could, and continued crying it
out
as, after a time, to bring people to the spot, who took
both
roflotiuled
m to a public house, where their wounds were dressed.
The Jury, after a very short deliberation, brought in a verdict
of Guilty.
Mr. Baron VAUGHAN, who was very much moved, then pro-
nounced the sentence of death in the usual form.
The prisoner is 22 years old, and notwithstanding the cuts on
his face, which much disfigured him, has a Prepossessing appear-
ance. His demeanour at the bar created general compassion.—
After the sentence, he was borne from the dock fainting.