The Sun.
London, England, 1818-02-21 00:00:00

r.litT X.

Ma. EDlTOR,—Several readers of these papers
have suggested, that the author has treated the
subject with too much solemnity, and that though
they are unanswerable in point of truth and pro-
priety, the Catholics at large are very
easy and indifferent about sharing civil and poli-

tical power, as much so as are the Protestant
Dissenters ; that though a certain departed great
man,lti his great political wisdom, brou►*ht for-
ve.atd in Parliament what he was pleased to call
their claim to emancipation, as if they ha►l been
in thorns ever since the Reformation, it was more

to answer his own great purposes in Government
than so serve them, thinking that tberebyhe shonld
have their suffrage to carry any great point lie
ple;rsed, hoWever contrary to their private wishes,
having in n►ind his great attempt, near forty years
past, to bring the whole- Of the East Indies within
his ravenous grasp, wiibout the concurrence of the
King. It has also been sAid, that the petitions
of the Roman Catholics, since this great Statist

ant kill ids Conetivies turned themselves out of

office, arenutly s, many political bugbears, mere
paper dulls and kites, like scapegoats, bearing
01(.6r sins of resentment against the superior
powers that be, in order to frighten them, not
unt of their senses, whi h is impossible, but their
offices, and to fill them up with all their gods of
'actions idolatry. Why else, it is asked, annually
,resent the sane Per it ions to both Houses of Par-
lioneut, but to become a thorn in the sides of
illinisters, or expose their ranronr over their dis-
app-inted torthition ! The petitions are their own,
rather than the whole body of the Roman Catho-
lics, %s hick they make their stalking-horse, and
handle deceitfully.

Now, Sir, if there be any lurking truth in all
this, the author of these papers, usefull and in-
tor►ning as they may be, and as he intends, will
either drop the subject or give it a ditThrent turn,
for although he has ever thought there is nothing
in the world but what deserves a laugh, wicked-
ness only excepted, it will be no great treat to
him to be laughed at, and therefore he will be
very much obliged to you, Mr. Editor, for your
ol►inio►► on the foregoing suggestions, xvhich will
either change the complexiOn of his present dis-
cussions, or induce him to conclude them.

TERR.E FILIUS.

*** The Editor will be always glad to receive
the Communications of this Writer, in his Own
vigorous stile of sound serge and original humour•

DUEL.--A meeting took place on that part of
Homtslow-heath, leading off a hye-road to Hayes,
00 Thnrsday morning at day-break, beween Cap-
tain C—N—lt and M--N, Esq. a Gentle-
man of fortune, in consequence of a dispute re-'
!alive to a Lady at Stoki!, near Windsor. The
parties fired t wire, an 4 Mr. M-- received the
second Shot in the thick part of his arm, and he
was considered in much d,nger.
_ _

The recovery of the Vessel laden with Port
Wine, 10deb was wrecked on the Eterland Shoals
of Holland thirty years ago, is an extraordinary
circumstance; The Wine still retains r•. beautiful
ruby colour, and the flavour is exquisite-SRM!)ICS
are now ii nded .bout in the plus{ tasteful circles,
and the whole that was saved is expected to- be
at the Custom-House, in London, before the
4th of. Much, that the Pnrchasei of the First
Blank drawn on that day may chose Four Pipes
of ir, and for Shares in proportion, if -the &-
Now' is preferred to Port of n different vintage,
and which may be received, free of any duty or
expence whatever, its suon as the number i 5
drum).

POR TETE SUN.

THE :'IIA ME

11a. EDITOR,--11.•,fler.tandinvs that it is in the
contemplation Of THE. CITY t;y LoNnpr,: to grant:
a Lease (ut conrsc for a %aitfable consideration)
for the reported purpose of embanliing and en-
croaching on Hilt, cart of the litter
which, according is
wAY, from the Horse, Ferry, and 0,0 Millnank,
x% it h the design of erecting wharve., laystalls, &c.
and there_ by deprivin.g the .public of the, viral and,
the fresa air of the River',-1 would thank arty of
your flyaders., it they cold(' inform rue, thyongh the
medium of your Paper, upon what STATUTES TUR
Crry presume to I%.ase and dispose of that which
they hold tit TROs-r for THE VUHt,IC, 'mid having
a Committee whose special duty it, is to protect
the !liver, who are sworn •to prevent such mea-
sores, affti to prosecute ail offenders guilty of en-,
.croacliments.

AN ENQUIRER.

P'o It T SUN.

ABUSES 'UNDER THE INSOLVENT ACT.

, .
MR. EDITOR,7---Practieal experience being al..
ways the best auxiliary to improvement, and the
just administration
,of, the Laws their best pror
ection, the, following.remorks are offered as
trative lit: abuses which, while they justify coots.
plaints, may furnish s,,iggestions for their re-
moval. Doubtless many jujuries hare resulted
individuals from the smuttier of executing, the
act in crestion, ano several of them rosy be
traced to the causes heteinafter assigned.,
The Courts at Westminster, and most other
Courts of
.11ecort, have established regulations
for keeping the practice.of such Courts under
proper restraint, and confining it to responsible'
hands, and this is. perfectly just ; for it is with
Low, if not w::111 Relight!), Mut which, is hest ad-
ministered isbest. The conduct of the Judge is
praiseworthy, but the practice of the, Court is, its
some cases, abused. lii all other Courts (very
properly) professional men, and theq only, are in-
trusted with the conduct of causes before such
Courts. In the Insolvent Court, he is considered
as the fittest Agent for the Debtors who has him-
self passed the ordeal of insolvency and imprison-
ment. NVith most of the Practitioners in the In-
solvent Court, this seems to be the 4best recom-.
'oratorio's ; for the moment a man gets dis-
charged from prison by the Act, he considers him-
self qualified to undet take the liberation of others,
and commences a practitioner of the Late, under
- the denonsh.ation of Agent. Very serious evils
arise to the community and to the profession, and
ultimately to the• debtor also : to the 'commu-
nity as not having the frill effects of legislative pro-
visions intended for the restitution of property-
to the members of the profession, as deprived, its
some cases, of their rights to legititwate prac-
tice—and to the debtor-,as exposed to-ie-coptiou
and harassing inquiry, in consequence of irregular
• procedure in obtaining their release.
These Agents of the Insolvent Court consider
that they are, in virtue of that character, quali-
fied to practice also in the other Cool ts of,.Law ;
and several of them actually issue Writs for the
converdeuce of debtors willing to become. cap-
tives, flobeases• for removal, and Sope.sedeases
for discharge. They also proem e lot unprin-
cipled debtors, tVrrts of Ertor for the delay of
jost,demands. Some of them ate cloaked to to
borrowed pltones, and use the names of oCe(!v at-
tornies, whilst others, with an unblushing (drum-
'cry, appear in their Own garb of assurance, and
after practising many evasions to keep a debtor
front prison, surrender him I here to deceive his ere-
' altos.; ; and, whilst they are allowed to practise in
.the Court, regular Xturnies will be reluctant to
intermix with I hem.

The authorised Attorney, who has paid ONE lIUN
DEED GUINEAS Ilium becoming art icled,and p-robably
ONE THOUSAND POUNDS bk•fore adilliSSloO to prac-
tice Outing five years as a Clerk), and who, after
admission, pays twelve pounds per annum for his
licence to practise, can always be resorted to for
information with respect to the conduct of the
imprisoned Client and 'his affairs ; and no con-
scientious man will object to a disclosure of truth.
He is liable to reproof and responsibility for his
condixt, the Court in he is admitted hay-
iog a proper controul over him. But many of
these soi disunt Agents, front their übiquity or in-
significance, evade responsibility and defy correc-
tion.

The certificated Attorney, who has probably
rendered essential services in keeping- his Client
out of a prison, finds him at last a willing captive
under the abuses complained of ; and instead of
being compensated for the faithful discharge of his
duties, he is considered only in the ordinary cha-
racter of a Creditor for his just earni►:gs, and is
as a professional actuary, and the new
Agent for •tiuc Debtor presents to him a ropy of ;L
wirewoveu schedule in payment of his debt ; and
the Debtor himself may experience subsequent
difficulties from ill-judged confidence.
If the practice of the Court was limited to pro-
fessional men only, the objects of the law would
be protected by responsibility, and the affairs of
the Insolvent would be more satisfactorily known
than under the present practice.
If indeed the Debtor is really too poor to em-
ploy :t professional man, duly authorised, he may
always, if deserving, obtain assistance front the
Benevolent Fund of the TH ATC II ED HOUSE So-
CIETY ; and it would strengthen his petition, if
the Attorney formerly employed by him -could be
called itpon to vouch fin• the justice of his appeal
to charity. Or allow the legitimate Attorney the
full benefit of his practice, ar:d he will not be less
indulgent to poverty than the intrusive A;v;lt.
It is submitted that a Parliamentary enactment
(for the Court has not the power) would, by coy-
reeting. such abuses, remedy many of the evils
justly complained in the execut.hm of the Act ;
and the commission of frauds .woold in ;x great de-
gree be checked and prevented. The interests of
Creditors would be' better promoted by a restitu-
tion of the Debtor's means; the character of a
liberal profession would be rescued from the scan-
dal and obloquy due to those only who abuse its
privilege; the j.sst benefits of the Act would be
secured to the Debtor, and the measure of rune/
I would be approved of by the community. •
I Temple, Feb. 1.9,
.1818, . W. M.