The Sun.
London, England, 1818-04-13 00:00:00

FUNERAL 011 GENERAL PLATOFF.

. -
NOVOTSCHERKASK J AN, 26.--4. Th the 10th inst.;
the interment of the celebrated Hettruan f•f the
Cossacks, General Count M. J. PLATOFF; took
'place. In the morning the Clere,y, .the Chief
of the Cossacks, Lientenant-Getterai '
amt ail the officers of the forces of the Don,
assembled at 'the country house of the de-
ceased, where the- corpse lay. A funeral sermon
having been preached, the milita6r officers took
the coffin*, containing the corpse, from the-ca-
tafalque, and cat tied it by turns to the c„the-
(lntl. The :obsequies began at eleven o'clock in the
morning; and were ushered in with the firing of
three guns.- The solemn procession from tile
country seat to the Cathedral passed through. a
double line of Cossacks, who occupifol x track of
five wersts, and ;tvho hail asemhled, UnsummOned,
from the remotest-stanitzes, from motives of at-
tachment and respect to the deceased.- At,the
head of the procession was half a squadron of
.the Ilettman's Regiment of Cavalry„ with
three guns belonging to the Light Artillery
of the Don. Then followed the hearse; dra wit
by six horses, with the coffin lid, upon which
lay the parade cap, ornamented with a brilliant
aigrette, the sword and sash. Next followed se-
veral. Officers, carrying upon a, velvet Cushion,
richly ornamented with a gold fringe and tassels,
all the orders anti attributes of the fletttnan's
dignity. Just befOre the coffin Went the'Clergy
and a Choir of Singers, and on both sides of it
the Staff Officers, Aides-deXamp, 4c. in deep
Mourning; and carrying lighted torches. Close
after the coffin followed the Chief of the Cossacks,
Lieutenant-General llowaijskv, with the other
Generals and Officers,
.the Members of the kos-
sack Chancery, and a great multhode of ot h-ersner-
sons of all classes. The procession closed with
the Llettman's regiment, carrying- the colours
granted. to them by the Emperor, and a company
of the light artillery of the Don: Oo reaching the
city, the Chief of the Police, with a detachment of
his Officers, received time coffin. All to bells
continued to toll until the prOcessino reached the
Cathedral, where another funeral discourse wis
delivered. The coffin was then 'carried 14 the
Staff and other 011ie: rs, from the Cathedral,
through a double row of Cossac-ks, to the grave.
As soon as it was let down the great guts were
fired, and_ the ceremony closed Ntith firing thrice
vollies of musketry over the remains of the la-
mented'and illustrious Chief.

Price; Who killed his ant agoniA, Horseman, in
a' battle at Walthatustow la t, week, is committed
to o,Chnsford gaol, to be fried uuder the Coro,
ner's verdict of Manslaughter.

At the Chester Assizes the tri3l, c4rne on -of
Mr. ‘I7,I.E,FIELD, a person of considerable pro.
telly, of Winnington,' near Northwich, who was.
indicted for the murder of RicnAtin MADDOCKS.
The particulars of this -case were stated at the
time the deceased was killed in a scuffle between
him and the prisoner, near the house of/thelatter.
The Jury re;urned.ft verdict of Manslaughivr, and:
the Court sentenced the prisober to six mouths
prisouiu

FOR THE SUN.

'TO LEGISLATORS, AUTHORS, ARTISTS, AND THE

READING COMMUNITY.

A few lines may be properly addressed to the
above classes in the aggregate ; because the sub-
ject is materially connected with each and with
all. To the members of the Legislature 1 more
particularly appeal: for it is of the first import-
ance that
_they should be made acquainted with
those pursuits of the other classes which may he
deemed national. They should also fully under-
stand the effects of all such proceedings of the
House of Commons as materially tend to animate
or to repress the literary energies of the Empire.
It is therefore of serious importance that they
should pause. before they vote, and that they
should calmly and dispassionately investigate every
subject which may be proposed to the House as
the basis of a law. They are, therefore, called
upon most solemnly to ascertain the principle and
tendency of a motion now before Parliament, for
a modification of the Act respecting COPY-RIGHT.
A Statute is now in force, which, without ex-

tggeration, I may pronounce buth as oppressive
to the literary character, as the Property Tax
was to any class of the community; with !•bis dif-
ference, that one might be necessary, but the
other is not. It seems generally to be conceived
that Authors are poor—that poverty, poetry, and
literature, are always associated ; and thence it
may be inferred, that they are exempt from as-
sessed taxes ; but by the Act_ now alluded to,
they are visited by a Parliamentary Mulct, or

punishment of the most arbitrary any severe na-
ture., This Act compels every author of a book,
tvhether it be profitable or otherwise, to surrender
ELEVEN copies of such book to rich Public Esta-
blishments. before the poor indefatigable Author
receives one iota of remuneration for his mental
and bodily labour, ELEVEN copies of his hard-
earned industry and genius are exacted from hint.
Nay, before the curient expenses of paper, print-
ing, &c. &c. are defrayed, he is required to give
one of the finest paper copies to the BRITISH 1111J-
UUM j and one more perfect copy to each of the
following Establishment, :—Thu Libraries of the
Universities of Oxford and.Camblidge ; the four
Universities of Scotland ; Sion College, London ;
the Faculty of Advocates at Edinburgh ; also to.
Trinity College and the Society of the King's
Inns, Dublin.

Every other English tax appears to originate in
the political exigencies of Government and it is
vesumed that ti►ev are upon general and equitable
principles ; but the grievance now complained of
is levelled at one class of the community, and in its
- operation must be directly and positively distress-
ing to the literal y character. It cannot fail, in-
deed, of materially oppressing; and impoverishing
the Author, ‘vho is already less remunerated than
any other professor--of a liberal art or science.
Al►though the es( a blished Bookseller and Publisher
is apparently a great sufferer, yet he has %rations
ways of relieving himself, or of obviating part of
the hardships. The Author, however, has no
alleviation ; hernust pay this heavy toll before he
can enter the public market ; he n►ust contribute
more exorbitantly that) tytl►es, although he neither
obtains moral, physical, or political advantage
from those who collect it. As the Income Tax
at length roused the mass of the English nation
to come forward in a firm, strong phalanx, let us
hope that every man who has derived either plea-
sure or rrofit from lite'rature, will be equally
strenuous and steady in opposing the present Act ;
and by, petition, remonstrance, argument, and
every honest English effort, seek to obtain its abo-
lition, or procure some equitable modification of
its itnperatk%e clauses. If Authors, Engravers,
and other Artists connected with literature, will
proclaim this serious evil among their friends,
press it continually on the public, and sign a pe-
tition to the Legislature, a good effect must be
produced ; and unless some redress be obtained,
all the classes herein named will ultimately be
most seriously injured, by what, in my opinion, is
an unjust and oppressive Act. I am induced to
speak feelingly and urgently on the subject, for
lam a real sufferer. Since thelpassing of the Act,
in 1514, I have been taxed alve 1001. for lite-
rary works.
Tavistoc-Row, April 2, 1818.

JOHN BRITTON.

HYDRA SOUTH SEAMAN.—We tia.VC the pleasure
of stating that Goverr.ment has interested itself,
with becoming spirit, on the subject of this sei-
zure, and every progress is now making _towards
a proper explanation by the Spanish -Government.
Ltgal opinions have been taken upon the case,
which are decidedly in favour of the owners, and

in consequence of this a letter has been trans-
, 'pitted to Sir 11. Wellesley, the British Ambas-
sador at Madrid, desiring hint to represent their
claims in the s!ranw,it manner to that Conrt, and
urge iti attention to the necessity of immediate re-
dress.—(Plyntouth Telegraph, April 11.)

POOR LAWS.

FOR THE SUN.

R. Eorrott,—Allow me, through the medium
of your Paper, to call the attention of the Public'
to a Bill now pe'riding in Parliament, entitled
" a Bill (as amended by the Committee), for
the amenThnent of the Laws for the Relief of the
Poor." " Were it not that the respectable clic
ractei of the Honourable Gentleman to whom
the Bill is attriluted contradicts such a aupposi•-
tion, one might almost suspect that it was framed
by some petty Justice of the Peace, who, not sa-
tisfied with his present power, aims at the total
and complete subjugation of all within his

I
sphere.
I will not trespass upon your colomas by any
extracts from the Bill, but content myself with
I recommending its most attentive perusal to all in
any way connected with the Lsnded Interests, and
also to those who wish to see preserved unshackled
the independence of the middle classes who dwell
io the country, especially such ,as reside on and
cultivate their own little estates. The leading
features of this much misnomered Bill, I cannot,
however, refrain from notitdng. It is intended,
in the first place, entirely to supersede the office
Of Overseer ; in the second,' to take out of the
hands of the majority of the Parishioners the
expenditure and management of their own mo-
ney ; anti, thirdly, to throw the whole patronage
of the Parish into the bands of the acting Magi-
state, by authorising bins to appoint a Select Com-
mittee of twelve persons, to superintend the con-
cerns of the poor. It is also expressly provided
for, that no one is to be on this Committee with-
out the consent of the Magistrate. Of course good
care will be taken that no one obnoxious to him
shall be admitted : no one who, from his inde-
pendent 'spirit and resistance to the too often
arbitrary measures of country despots, is called at
the Vestry a troublesome fellow ; or at all events
so ample a majority will be secured, as to prevent
any difference of opinion thwarting the measures
or plans of the leading man of the place,iwhether
Magistrate or not. If we must have a Select
Committee, or, in other words, a Star Chamber,
instead of an open Court, why not chuse them
by ballot or by vote ? The answer is easy to be
found, and is simply this, because such a method
would not secure a-Majority ; in fact, the whole
concern, is an undisguised attempt at an unwar-
rantable, an unnecessary increase of power ; as
whilst Vestries are open, and every one has the
power of giving his opinion weight by vote„there
is some difficulty in the enslaving a respectable
Parish; but close the doors, and allow the leading.
man to appoint a Select Committee, and wko is
to resist him ? It is in vain to talk of obtaining
relief at the Quarter Sessions ; few of the op-
pressed, not one in a hundred, unite the necessary
qualifications—an independent spirit and a good
purse.
Should this Bill pass, it is not easy to say where
the evil would end, and to what use the power
thus delegated may be applied. Let me only notice
one direction which may be given to it, by way
of quickening the attentiou of the public. The
Magistrate (or the leading man of the Parish,
through him), is to appoint the Select Committee;
of course every one must succumb to him or suffer
for it. Trace the thing upwards as to appoint-
ments, and see where it ends !
,I need scarcely
add, that the Magistrate being nominated by the
Lord Lieutenant, and'that Officer by the Crown,
something more than the malsadministratiost of
Paris'li-affairs is to be dreaded. I confess it is not
with Out hesitation I submit this idea, being one
• of those who think the power or influence of the
Crown is not at present too great, at the same
time that l see no necessity for increasing it.
There are, Sir, other clauses in this Bill equally
pernicious to the health of the body politic, such
as the unnatural taking away the children of pau-
pers, thereby destroying those feelings which are
the best security for their good behaviour, and
not 'infrequently the source of many a man's
energy and industry.
Also the lending money or forcing a loan on
a pauper, to be recovered by distress, when by
dint of increased labour, or more fortunate cir-
cumstances, he shall have acquired a few shil-
lings. Surely an attempt so evidently aimed at
the extinguishment of hope in the bosom of the
peasant ought not to pass uncensured. With,this
pitiful mortgage upon his scanty earnings, what
inducement can he have to use the smallest exer-
tion to extricate himself front his difficulties ?
Most undoubtedly, whenever be can earn more
than usual, he will not pay his rent or re-clothe
his family, lest the Select Committee should sus-
pect the alteration in his affairs, but rather will
fly to the public-house, there to spend what, under
different feelings, he might pet haps have devoted
to his family. But 1 trust the Legislature will
pause before, by such enactments, they reduce
the English peasant to a worse situation than the
West India Negro. Can any thing tend to pro-
duce a more rapid degradation of his moral cha-
racter, than to tear his children front their cottage,
and to force on him a mortgage upon his wages ?
Can any thing bring him nearer to the situation
of a slave, tha►► the putting in force such a law,
which I do not hesitate to pronounce a libel upon
the British nation, and a disgrace to the age in
which we live.

For the rest, I cannot conclude without giving
it as my decided opinion, that this Bill is the most
arbitrary, iu all its bearings, that has ever yet been
submitted to Parliament, and the source from
whence the greatest evils may arise. One in oar-
ticular must not be forgotten, namely, the pro-

`No Paris Papers have arrived since Saturday.—

Two days' Journals are due.

Some Calcutta Papers have arrived, from which
we give Extracts in another column. They serve
to illustrate the state of India, although they are
not of so recent a date as the accounts lately pub-
lished. Respecting the events alluded to in the
latter, there is; we believe, no further intelli-
gence. Some particulars, however, have trans-
pired respecting our quarrel with the PEISHWA,
in addition to the transactions already known.
The PEISHWA and the GUICKOWAR (who rules
the Guzerat) are, amongst other Mahratta
Chieftains, bound by Treaty to submit their
differences to the mediation of Great Britain.
The purpose of this'stipulation by the Company
is most beneficent and humane. If no such pledge
of peace were in being, the Mahratta territory
would become' .a scene of perpetual violence and
bloodshed. It is the regular practice of the
Chiefs of that people to declare war against
their neighbours on every petty disagreement ;
and lest excuses should be wanting, they always
contrive to retain. portions of landed property in
each other's dominions—an expedient which lays
the ground-work of eternal claims, and of causes
or pretexts for hostility and depredation.
Some dispute of this hind arose between the
Nisi-ma and the GUICKO►CAR, whose dominions
are contiguous to the Gulpbs of Cutch and Cam-
bay, and whose capital, Baroda, is north of Bom-
bay about 220 miles. The British Government
offered its media►tion, and the PEISHWA invited the
GuicKowAa to send his envoy to Poonah, that the
negociation might be carried on under English au-
spices; but the PEISH WA had lately received into
his councils an adventurer, named TRIMBAJ BE, of a
notoriously profligate and abandoned' charac-
ter, and familiar with every species of crime.—
'The Minister of the GoicxowAa, not with-
out reason, felt reluctant to place himself in
the hands of this reprobate ; but at length con-
sented, t►nder assurances of safety, confirmed by
the British Authorities. The first effort of the
PEISHWA'S Court was to corrupt the fidelity of
the Ambassador. This failing, they enticed him
to a religious ceremony, where, after retiring to
their pagoda, the PEISHWA and his Minister bar-
barously took away his life. What followed
may be briefly told. We demanded of the
PEISH WA such a public declaration as should
exonerate the British name from the re•
proach of participating in so font a murder.
This ►vas accordingly done by the PEISHWA, in a
public address to the States of India. TRIMBAJER
was, moreover, given np to Lord HASTINGS ; but
through the negligence of his keepers made his
escape. He forthwith began to levy troops in the
PEISH WA's name, and by his authority ; and Lord
HASTINGS having detected . that Chieftain in a
treacherous correspondence with other Mah-
ratta leaders, whom he excited to take arms
against the Company, his Lordship ordered up
the subsidiary force to Poonah. The PEISHWA
consequently struck ; a new Treaty was sign-
ed, ceding to us some defensive positions ;

ec4
and the GorcKowArt was released from
,
claim on the part of his perfidious riv9h so
e
that Treaty the PerstrwA remained at .Peac.ol,6lt.
new demand wad made upon norkanilte
offered to him : but when Lord liAsTisosrfothi
menced his movements for the. destruction 000 v t,
4L„ d
Pindarrees, the PE7snwA, insiigated, 1101 boot
forces y iig be
fortoAi
iaattliea
%gVea r (3;17.'9°1117: '1::
is
0
had owed his preservation from the Pill4ri.eg:b6
1,1
he did his original seat upon the Alustriol,'"'
power and liberality of the British Gaverou'ell ,
,CLAEE,icOr
It
On Saturday the Dukes of Yoak,
and GLOUCESTER, visited the PRINCE REG-t4l.
Carbon (louse. cot
On Saturday tie Prince of SAxE CoBURG
to to tin from Claremont; and at half O istllit
o'clock pioceeded to Carlton 1-.loir,e, to Pilligle
respects to the PRINCE REGENT. ilk RtIY3II
lf
ness remained with the PRINCE REGENTne.
two hours. .tr°
WINDSOR, APRIL 12 —On Friday her so'
and Princess AUGUSTA arrived trorn 1.•40'n'll'1111
in a short time after her MAJESTY riilletrA
KING. The Countess of MAcct.EFFIF,Lo sri. .0
at the Castle in the evening, and also the ft
V KENT. Yesterday the Duke of KENT Iti'y
for Claremont, on a visit to Prince itt'
Yesterday, about two o'clock, the 411rincr"
ZABETH and the Prince of HEcsp. 1-100,0°.°01
rived at the Castle, from the PaiNce tleueili
Cottage, on a visit to the QUEEN. Iliefr4ifir-,!
their landatdct and four, will] three out".o6efie
number of spectators were attracted (0 ac
e!g-
Friday Sir WM. GRANT, one Of the WO
Council, who has been in attendance oo 7,i'00 •
left the Castle for London. On Friday.ol;oo
ELIZABETH and the Prince of [JESSE 14"14;5P
took an airing to her Cottage at Old
where her Royal Highne•s has spent [pate) tr °tier'
hours. Tliis morning Divine Service, v< Cbep01
formed to the Royal Family in the plivat
in the Castle, after which, her MAlEstri, •scifie
partied by Princess AUGUSTA and the'fil-fili
KENT, rode out in a coach and four, brOug-fie
Long Walk, and proceeded to the PSISCii°,IOI
GENT'S Cottage, on a visit to the Princes ".I,bel
the
le
BETH and
olf)rainrceepaosft.LlEssE 110tufssitO,
they partook

- _
car
BRITISH INSTITUTION.—The Exhibl.6o,ll cap
The British Gallery in Pall Mall closo°
nudity last. lire gave a general account °
merits of the several Artists on the ortlint;iier
we regret that want of room prevented Our -coo
ing into a regular examination of their resroiol
productions. It is evident that this Just'",3lol
has powerfully contributed to the impeovele.
the Arts, not only by affording the Artist,-re
opportunity of displaying their taleots• 'l°`
ib
tiding rewards, for superior excellence, but liose
liberality shewn in purchasing works to which( Ott
rewards are not assigned.—The merits of eig
WESTALLS, BEECHEY, SHEE, and otber et'
Artists,. were conspicuous in the Exhibituni ,10d
has just closed, as well as of Hos'LaisP, STALL)/
CONSTABLE, and others, whom we have ouri4f°
to notice. %Ve were much gratified in, "irrlif.
ing that the pictures which Were sold reac',l%;„lia
amount of 2600 guineas, which is much "Tibe
the amount of last year, and double thatthe
year before. The rooms', not withstandiag.oh
unfavourable weather, were very Well
and by many visitors who had often been 'filo°
before, but were naturally anxious to have "relit
ing view of so much excellence. We luu,st;*.
express, our high sense of the distingins"e 010
blemen and Gentlemen, who, by this la' ad
Institution, have improved the national ta!lC'
founded an ENGLISH SCHOOL.
010
vv.
Mr. HAZLITT'S LECTURES.--.-ThiS.6entle the
resumed his Lectures on English PoetrY'. feta
Crown and Anchor, on Friday last. lie e.tr-falt
into a brief character of all the Poets, after, "ciace
whose merits he had previonsly..examinetb:"l
the days of Qireen ANNE. lie spoke 01061
your of ARBUTHNOT, though chiefly a prosf:!
.ef'
ter, of PARNELL, SWIFT, GAY, flud oth
es of
that period. lie was particular in his Pra:!..cotl'
The Beggar's Opera, which, in our 0pi0i13,"',,,, tov
sists of common place worn out satire, 107' etc•,
moor, and hackneyed abuse of StaleSnlen'e
But we are sorry that it seems, to be co°B-lcilta
with the political opinions of Mr. Hazt,lrr':joili
indulges himself in sentiments of the saute "iblie
He should consider that he addresses the 1;`,,--,10
at large, and that (illy a small part of his
may be disposed to applaud such sentiments.. W 5
-
perhaps he disgusts all the rest. - His btoil'elslied'
Camcissz, not POLITICS, he is Well 91:1AsjoIYI
for a judicious inquiry into the merits of poets
ject. He also directed his attentiou
.tellealu
nearer our own time, and bestowed'ulerlks
gimps on GOLDSMITH, for his prose w,..°l,o'illet
well as his poetry. In the course of his 11e—ee tinSA)-
he compared the style of the writers at fe';
of Queen ANNE with that of Dr. JoUr's°'
presenting their language as plain, correct, arto
proper, and JOHNSON'S as pompous, inflate' i;
as built on.a Latin idiom. fie also CO'trote
with that of JUNIUS, but lie did not seet°,")
collect what GIBBON justly says, viz- th3t ;issf
is -the image of character." The terse bfe%:-•i1C;
JUNIUS was suitable to his animated and viliwc.re.:
spirit.' The dignified solemnity of jouNs°l4lolll'
presented the moral energy of his miod.et
contributed to the improvement of our langl,l%'o,o
but JOHNSON most, as he has given to it et'ho
met •''
(ion, force, and grandeur, though soirites.e
might be ostentatiously pompous. IV Mr'
LITT would keep back the Politician, and eontfi.o
himself to assume only the character of the Crihe
his Lectures would deserve in no slight degree tte
encouragement. of the public, and contribute 0•
improve the general taste. But in venting o,co,
sionally the favourite doctrines of his political;
creed, he inures himself, and skews a `wEtlit„,,,
j
respect to the feelings of his audience. The "'at
plause which attends such hostility to f°"l9se
Government which he disapproves, most be 'of
applause of factious people, totally
that taste which- would enable them to Pr°litlo
the judicious criticism which the -Lecturer ,„
'
well able to afford. destitute 04