The Sun.
London, England, 1820-07-28 00:00:00

FRIDAY, JULY 28,

HIGH TREASON.

SPECIAL COMIMIISSIO\-GLASGOW, JULY 94.

The Court met this day at nine o'clock, for the
trial of William M'ln!gi•e, who had been arraign-
ed along with Wilson, already convicted.
The LORD ADVOCATE stated, that it was not
his intention to lead proof against the prisoner.
It was the wish of the Crown Lawyers to prose-
cute those only who had been leaders in the late
disturbances; and, as it appeared that the prisoner
now at the bar was not so guilty as some others
who had absconded, he would allow him to be
discharged. His Lordship stated that he would
consider it his duty to watch those individuals,
and, if possible, to apprehend them, and still to
bring them to trial for the crimes they had com-
mitted.

The Loan PRESIDENT addressed the prisoner.
Ile told him that he was bound, in gratitude, to
reverence those laws by the exercise of whose
leniency he was about to he discharged. The
persons who had been engaged in the late trea-
sonable proceedings pretended to be in search of
their rights, the rights of their forefathers. This
conduct could only originate in ignorance of the
history of their country ; for they now enjoyed
ten times more liberty than their fathers ever did.
If the prisoner had seen the trial of Wilson, he
would have seen a poor man tried with the same
solemnity, the same impartiality, and the same
regard to justice, that the richest man could have
been. The prisoner was then admonished to re-

turn to the bosom of his family, and to act more
circumspectly in future.—The prisoner was ac-
cordingly discharged.
Matthew ,Boyle,- Alexander Graham, and John
Mali, were next put to the bar.
The LORD ADVOCATE addressed the Jury in
the same terms as on the former case, they having

been previously sworn; and they found the pri-
soners Not Guilty.
The LORD PRESIDENT then admonished them
to guard against such conduct in future, and he
hoped that they would not be again deluded by
designing men ; if so, nothing but the severest
punishment the law can inflict will be admini-
stered. His Lordship begged of them to return
to sobriety and hOnest industry, and dismissed
them from the bar.

John. May then returned thanks to the Court
and Jury, in name of himself and companions,
and promised to be no more found before the
Court.

Ifillianz Campbell and George Allan were dis-
posed of in the same manner.
The LORD CHIEr JUSTICE CLERK, previous to
dismissing them from the bar, addressed them in
a very pathetic manner, and advised them, on re-
turning to the bosom of their families, that they
should fear God, honour the Kin , and meddle
not with those who are given to change.

Wilson was then brought up for sentence, and
being told that lie had now an opportunity of
speaking to the Court, why sentence of death
should not be pronounced against him, he stam-
mered out a few words in an incoherent manner.
The LORD PRESIDENT then addressed him
nearly as follows :—" James Wilson, you must be convinced
of the impartiality and fairness with which the proceedings
against you have been conducted. Fi om the exercise of your
right of challenge, the Jury by which you have been found guilty
may be considered as chosen by yourself; and the crime they
have found you guilty of is the most dreadful that can afflict
any nation. All other crimes are trifling when compared to
it : it strikes at the root of the whole fabric oil which our
happiness is founded. The horror of a civil war, where citi-
zen is contending against citizen, with deadly malignity, is
far more to be dreaded than the most bloody foreign contest.
No doubt, it was never dreamt by any rational being, that the
violent people with whom you were connected, could be ulti-
mately successful ; but the intermediate evils your mischief
might have produced, are terrible to. think of. The rights
and liberties of the peaceable and loyal part of the commu-
nity are to be protected as well as . those of the turbulent
and disaffected; and when they Were pleased with the liberty
they enjoyed, they were not to be disturbed by the factious
proceedings of the evil-disposed. I advise you most sin-
cerely to think seriously of your eternal interests, as
you are, shortly to appear at the mercy seat of CHRIST,
and I beseech you to consider well the errors of your
past life, and make good use of the short time allotted
to you in this world. Remember that the justice of God is as
inflexible as his mercies are infinite ; and I trust you have not
thrown off all allegiance to your Heavenly Sovereign, as .
t
appears you have done to your earthly one. The ministers
of religion, of every sect and persuasion, will be ready and
willing to assist you in preparing for the concerns of your im-
mortal soul. The recommendation of the Jury shall most cer-
tainly be transmitted to the proper authority, and I sincerely
hope that mercy will be extended to you; but it is often fne
hoseces-
sary for the Government to consider the expediency o t
recommendations, and the power vested in the Crown Is as-
suredly not exercised capriciously, hut for the general safety
and prosperity of the State. I advise you, however, to pre-
pare for the utmost extreme; and if mere)be extended to
you, you will not be the worse man for the attention which
you may give to your religious concerns. The sentence of the
law is—That you be drawn on a hurdle to the place of exe-
cution, on the 30th of August, and after being hung by the
neck till you be dead, that your head he severed from
your body, and your body cut in quarters, to be at the disposal
of the King; and the Lord have mercy upon your soul."

The prisoner was then taken from the bar,
without showing any signs of agitation, and con-
fined in one of the iron rooms.
The Loan PREiIDENT concluded the business,
with an admirable address, in the course of which
he observed, that he was afraid the upper ranks
were not so religious as our fathers. He remark-
ed, that civil commotion leads to military des-
potism, and that liberty without religion ends in
licentiousness.
The Court then adjourned till the 27th of
November.

The Spanish Patriotic Society, established the
Ist inst., and consisting entirely of natives of
Spain, met yesterday, at the Old London-ta-
vern, to commemorate the opening of the Cortes,
at Madrid, with an elegant dinner. His Excel-
lency the Duke de Fri As, Spanish Ambassador,
and President of the Society; was in the chair.

820.

PROVINCIAL JOURNALS.

We lately extracted an Article from The Leeds
Intelligencer, under the title of the PITT SYS-
TEM, written in answer to the assertion that our
departed Illustrious Statesman had involved this
Country in the War with France. A continua-
tion of that Article appeared hi the same Paper,
but the unfortunate intervention of the discus-
sions relative to THE QUEEN prevented our copy-
ing it into THE SUN. We, however, did not lose
sight of the object, and have this day the plea-
sure of inserting the remainder of the Article in
question, as it effectually refutes the assertion al-
luded to, and not only proves the pacific senti-
ments of the great Statesman, and his confidence
in the continuance of peace for a long period,
but that France and France alone, by its ran-
corous hostility towards every other State, put
an end to all pacific connexions with this Coun-
try, and spread consternation over all the Euro-
pean Governments, which it was its determined
and avowed purpose to overwhelm and destroy.

[PRICE SEVENPENCE.

Om. declarations of neutrality were again renewed ; and. in
compliance with a request of M. Chatterlin, the French Am-
bassador, by a Proclamation of the 25th of May, British sub-
jects were forbidden to enter into the service of any foreign
power at war with France.
" On the 21st of May, it was found necessary to issue a
Proclamation of a different tendency. The circulation of se-
ditious writings bad increased to such a height, that it was
found necessary to take some steps for repressing them. A
communication had also been opened between certain Socie-
ties in this kingdom, and the Jacobin Club of France; a
communication which boded no good to the interests of this
country. To put a stop to these proceedings, a Proclamation
was issued for the purpose of suppressing such publications
and intercourse. This Proclamation has been wade a ground
of offence but it . did not, in fact, interrupt the harmony
between the two countries: nor did the French Government
make any complaints relative to it.
"'The recal of Lord Gower, after the deposition of the King
on the 10th of August, 1792, has also beenrepresented as a
breach of neutrality; but it was not considered so by the
French Government at the time, as is evident from the letter
addressed to Lord Gower by Le Brun, Minister for Foreign
Affairs, and published in the Moniteur of the 26th of Aug.,
1792. Indeed, the residence of Lord Gower at Paris after
that event could have been attended with no •advantage.—
There was no Government to whom he could have been ac-
credited ; all the authorities were merely temporary, and
under al circumstances, his recal was the most prudent course
the British Cabinet could pursue, after that atrocious piece
of treachery. His Lordship was instructed to declare. pre-
viously to his departure, that his Majesty meant to observe
the principles of neutrality, in every thing which regarded
the arrangement of the internal government of France; and
Le Brun declared, in a report addressed to the National As-
sembly, on the 23d of August, that had left a satisfac-
tory testimony of the sentiments of his Court.'
" Towards the latter end of the year 179-2, the arms of
France began to be victorious in alanost every quatter where
they were engaged. On the 6th of Nov, the battle of Gemappe
put them in possession of the Austrian Netherlands ; they
had already conquered the Duchy of Savoy, which, in defiance
of their pledge, not to seek for an extension of tertitory, they
had united to France : and they were preparing to carry their
arms into Germany. These successes turned the brains of
the French Executive Government; and there can be very
little doubt now remaining, but that the war with England
was then determined or. Soon after the battle of Gernappe,
the Executive Counsel resolved, that the Scheldt should he
opened in defiance of various treaties, of which France, as
well as England, was guarantee. The question of the impora
tance of the exclusive navigation of that river to the Dutch,
is only a secondary consideration, when compared with fists
violation of the law of nations by the conduct of the French
Government; and with the assumption which the haughty
Republicans were thus tacitly setting up, of having the power
to dispense with existing treaties at their pleasure.
" Soon after this open infraction of existing treaties, and
of the maxims of international law, Reveillere Lepaux pro-
posed in the Convention, a resolution, which was invuedi-
ately passed into a decree, offering fraternity and assistance
to all those people who wished to procure liberty.' In other
words, declaring, that France was ready to assist every nation
which would rebel against its own Government. A decree,
even still more obnoxious was issued on the lath of Decent=
her following; which ordered the abolition of the existing
Government in every country which was, or might be, occu-
pied by French armies ; decreed the suppression of taxes,
peace, fraternity, liberty, and equality,-to such people as were
willing to receive a French force; and declared, that the
French would treat as an enemy that people, which, re-
fusing or renouncing liberty and equality, should choose
to preserve, recall, or treat, with its prince or privileged.
orders.'—By .its emissaries _in foreign countries, the
National Convention was preparing the way for acting
upon these Decrees; and its conduct to the English Jacobins
was insulting in the highest degree to our Government.—De-
putations from seditious Societies were received at its bar;
and the President, in reply to their treasonable addresses,
applauded sentiments decidedly hostile to the Constitution.
and Government of England; expressing his wish, that a
change similar to what had occurred in France might take
place ; observing that ' without doubt the moment was ap-
proaching, when the people of France would conic to offer
their congratulations to the National Convention of Great
Britain.' Surely such conduct, coupled with the Decrees of
the 19th of November, and the 15th of December, was suffi-
ciently indicative of a hostile disposition to this Country.
" The Minister, who could have idly viewed the approach-
ing storm at such a crisis, would have deserved impeachment.
Mr. Pitt did not do so. The proof that a conspiracy had-been
entered into ' by evil disposed persons within this kingdom,
acting in concert with persons in foreign parts, With a view
to subvert the laws and established Constitution of this
• realm,' was too evident to be overlooked, and the encourage-
ment -which France gave to this conspiracy was equally
glaring. Accordingly, on the Ist of December, a Proclama-
tion was issued for calling out the Militia ; and another for
assembling Parliament on the 13th of the month., Previous
to its assembling, a declaration in support of the Constitu-
tion was issued by the Merchants and Bankers of London, and
most numerously signed; whilst loyal 'associations were
formed in every corner of the kingdom. When Parliament
met, an augmentation in the Army and Navy was resolved
upon ; but the speech from the Throne was moderate, and
expressed an ardent desire for peace. In this session, the
Alien Bill was passed ; as was also one for preventing the
circulation of French assignats ; and others to prevent
the importation of corn, arms, and military stores into
France from this country, which had hitherto been
permitted. All these bills were made the subject of
complaint by the French Government; but certainly
most unjustly. With respect to the first, the Na-
tional Assembly had, on the lath of May, 1792apassed a
decree perfectly corresponding to the -Alien Bill; 'therefore
they had no right to complain of the latter. The prohibition
of the circulation olassignats, was justified by the loss whirls
they were likely to create ; and also from the facility which.
it afforded the French of sending immense sums to this coun-
try, to be employed agaiOst the Gcivernment. •ffit.h respect
to the other prohibitions, it was not likely that we should
continue to supply a country with necessaries and military
stores, the Government of which was known to be deeidedly
hostile to our own. These measures were merely measures
of precaution and defence ; rendered strictly justifiable by
the conduct of our opponent ; and afforded no just ground of
complaint, except our enemy's couduct had been without any
shadow of blame.
. " We cannot now advert to the negociations which took
place betweenN the Ministers of the two countries;, but we
beg to refer our readers to the letters which passed between
' Lord Grenville and M. Chauvelin, which may be found in the
Annual Register, or in any collection of State Papers ; and he
will find, that no satisfactory explanation whatever wile given
' of the conduct of the French Government; but all-their tin-
; justifiable demands were persisted in and vindicated.
" The subsequent dismissal of M. Chauvelin..by our Go-
vernment, after the murder of Louis XVI. has been consider-
ed by some persons as a declaration of war on our. part ; •but
it appears, that the French Government had theinselves• not
only determined to recall him, but actually signed an order
• for his recall, about the time that Louis was belieided. Whets
that melancholy event took place, Chauvelin 'was malonger
an accredited Minister, and the British Government bad a
right to dismiss him ; but what must ice think of his recall by
the Government of France, if they had wished to remain at
ctcrsoljvni
peace ?—The fact is—they had resolved en war; ,and .on the
' first of February, after playing off a farce of pego'ciation
through M. Mares, war was declared against England.
If our space would permit, we would here enter into a re-
futation of the
sti-
fled; but we must draw this subject to n:eloee .arid )re are
persuade
nce
. them, that the charge of Mr.-Pitt's having involved his
ich
n
Country in war,' is false. That Immortal Statesman saved
d our reactors i)retekj
bare°n aivrlei thiss ebFnedrsefeuo:ttlrcagchrotaetptnrrotli oc'; ;
iples
he
ed the storm' which threatened to o erwhelin the civi-
' England from the containi:.:lltiliiieri:eorf
wea-
thered us from anarchy awl licentipu,sueSsa and wea-
lized
tut
cc Hisi,,el,as'enePsiepirit still alive,
s• Sri Britain s Glory shall survive,
dud triumph iu the

LONDON JOURNALS,

[DAILY EXTRACTS.]

FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.

[-Morning Post.]
THE ADDRESSES TO THE QUEEN.

W e have already stated that the Radical Ladies
of Nottingham have addressed her Majesty ; but
we have in vain looked for her Majesty's answer,
or for the list of signatures, in order to discover

how many of the Ladies put their marks. We
particularly regret that her Majesty's answer has
riot been published, because we are really curious
to know how she would reply to some passages
of this Address, proceeding, as it evidently does,,
fibom a thoroughly Radical pen. For example
Though you are not defended by the drawn
sabres of the military, you are always surrounded
by your guards, tlnis imitating the example of
the magnanimous Queen Elizabeth, trusting your
defence to a brave people, who will not be de-
terred by any power under heaven to forsake
you in the day of peril." We hope her Majesty
was advised to reply to this, that " as her honour
was in the hands of the British Parliament, and
,under fhe safeguard of British laws, she needed
no other protection ;—she knew too well the qua-
lities which compose the character of an English
Nobleman and Gentleman, to believe them cap-
able of perfidious conduct." We think her Ma-
-sty might use some such language as this; for
she eternally talks of the " loyalty, the justice,
the dignity, and the sublime sentiments," of the
English people. Surely she does not exclude
from this general description the Nobility and
Gentry of England ; surely she cannot look for,
or pretend to find, such eminent virtues out of
that circle alone. If, indeed, she does entertain
such peculiar notions with respect to us—if she
really dissevers from rank, from titles, from edu-
cation, and from station, the qualities which have
hitherto been supposed to be intimately allied
with them—we are afraid she will not obtain
much applause for her discernment. We are in-
deed surprised her Majesty does not feel how
lofty a ground she abandons when she joins in
the vulgar outcry against her Noble and Learned
Judges.