The Sun.
London, England, 1818-10-21 00:00:00

110ETR Y.

4WRITTEN ON AN INSURANCE OFFICE.
If you would have your goods secur'd
From fire or from water',
Step in; all things are here instir'a,
ticept your wife and daughter.

SONNET.
, , •
0 ye ! who drag through life the weary chili
Of fancied misery! who vainly groan
Amidst imagined ills, and causeless pain!.
Thinning no sorrows eitial to your own!
Coale near this bed and view the scene of death!
The jaw relaed.=-the short and catching breath
Drawn in iournliire sobs—the beawles3 eye's
Wird senseless gate—the Cold and toi-pid a'rth—
p.rone at length a breathless clod he lies,

Wlio lately gined with healit. Doe's this Marta
Foul- cowar&and do ye fear to die
Know that the grave's the hostile of peaceful rest
Where (all their sorrows o'er) the wretched lie,
And pain aria evil never more ri►olest.

COSMOPOLITE.

THE THEATRES.

CovR&T-GanoPis.—The novelty last night at
his Theatre was a serious Play. entitled Proof
Presumptive, or The Abbey of St. Marco. The fol-
lowing is an outline of the Fable :
" Alberto (C. liemßLe); a young Italian Noble-
man, who has lost his fortune and become in-
volved in large debts by play, repairs from the
earning-table, at midnight, accompanied by his
friend Romani (MactlaaoY), to the ruined abbey
of San Marco. Romani here urges him to rob-
bery, as a mode of retrieving his losses : he is
struck with horror at the proposal, but finally,
almost by force, is prevailed on, and the robbery
is attended by murder. Marco Venanzio (AtisoTT),
a young soldier, who had been secretly married for
six years to Ernestine (Mrs. FAUCIT), the.sister of
Alberta, and during the greater part of that time
has been absent on duty, has desired his wife to
meet him on this spot, to concert measures for
making their marriage known to her father.
Here, after the departure of her husband, Ernes-
tine becomes a witness to the murder, and disco-
vers that the perpetrators are her brother and his
friend. They return home, and are enabled by
the fruits of their robbery to appear again with
credit ; Romani, who discovers Ernestine's know-
ledge of his crime, urging her by threats to take a
solemn oath never to reveal its authors. Her
husband, Venanzio, however, from some memo.
rials dropped near the Abbey, is accused of the
murd,er—a trial is instituted, and the firmness of
Ernestine yields to his danger : she denounces
Romani, and he his friend. Alberto, in anticipa-
tion of his fate, had already takers poison ; hot
Romani, in the attempt• to kill himself, is pre-
vented. It is then to be inferred that Romani will
Suffer due punishment for his atrocious crimes,
and the curtain drops on the speechless agony of
the unhappy father."
This piece is chiefly a translatiOn from the
French, and is attributed to Mr. C. KENNA. It
possesses a strong interest, which would he still
greater if the plot altogether did not resemble
other pieces of a similar kind, particularly one that
was brought forward last year at this Theatre.
The acting throughout was highly creditable to
the Performers, and well calculated to give power-
ful effect to the piece. C. KRivt,BLE, MACREADY,
ABBOTT, EGERTON, and FARLEY, deserve a par-
ticular notice, and Mrs. FAUCIT certainly never
appeared before to equal advantage. Even the
little child had been so well instructed that it
snstaioed its part not only with natural simpli.
city, but easy and prompt attention. The scenery,
particularly the opening scene of this piece, with
the effect of moon-light, was highly beautiful and
pictnresque. This excellent scenery was the
work of GRIP,VE, his Sons, &c: &c. The piece
was announced for this evening by ABBOTT, with
general consent, but not wholly without opposi-
sition.—The farce of The Wedding, Day followed,
and Mr. FARRRN evinced new proofs, in the part of
Sir Adam contest, of the justness 'of the popu.
larity which wends him. Lady Contest was per-
formed by Mrs. T. HILL, front Bath. She is a pretty
%virtual', aud possesses more merit as an actress than
as a singer. The last piece was The - Barber of
Seville, Which is so well represented altogether,
that it fully requited the numerous audience that
attended, for all the melancholy feelings which
the new drama had excited.

THE SURREY THEATRE.—MontIay night WAS
110n011red with a prodigious overhow, for the bene-
fit of Mr. FITZWILLIAIII. At the conclusion of the
second Piece, Mr. DIEDIN came forward, and thus
addressed the audience

" LADIES AND GEN f LEM EN,--After a season of thirty weeks,
in which :►lnvest as many new pieces have been stamped with
the sterling seal of yowl• approval, I have again the honour
to otter my respectful acknowledgments for the favour of your
countrnance and support during a period of competition, when
the unexampled number of from 12 to 14 established places
of entertainment have at once courted your protection.
One evening of performance only intervenes between this
and our opening at Christmas ; the r.maining interval shall
be, as heretofore, most studiously and industriously occupied
•iu preparations for your future amusement and increased ac-
commodation.

" My worthy friends behind the curtain,—and no Manager
could ever boast of kinder assistants at his hack t han I have,—
desire me, Ladies and licntleinen, to express their gratitude
for your generous atteivion to their benefit's, the effect of
which has never liven exceeded in this, or any other esta-
blishment. The brilliant prospect INfore wet his evening, is as
highly gratifing to me. as it is honourable to a person I va
lue as a worthy private friend, and a tuerilorinus public indi-
vidual. We all join, while taking a respectful leave, in wish-
ing youi health and prosperity, and that every good you have
bestowed on the Surrey Theatre, way be doubled on your-
..
selves."

A Gentlenian being Asked, Why a Mushroom
wets like a Dandy? leplird, 13ectuise it is r4l,itl
in i's growth, shin in its trunk, rind thick in ils
head !

Lnrll ERFK INE sent H mike, a few days ago, to
his friend Mr. COUTTq, at Brighton, which ‘v,i,
taken in a pond on estate 8t Hulas:
hush, near Ilutsheni, that weighed 27 lbs.
An Eagle of the Osprey kind rt'a• 51101 134 t week.
between (lie ilassitithetaite and t e
Lakes, by d Gentlemen, wi►o observed it so ing
a great height ahttve tl►e river Dervrent, and then
plunge with incredible velocity iuto the water
after its prey.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' ACT.

FOR THE SUN.
MR. EDITOR,—Your Correspondent, " Ax
OLD BARRISTRR," having now concluded his me-
ritorious labours, I beg the favour of your per-
mitting me once to occupy his space, indulging
toy usual hope, that the reflection of your rays
will tend to enlighten my understanding.
The Insolvent Act is one of those wholesome
and salutary laws, which, if carried into effect
according to its spirit and the intent of the Legis-
lature, would greatly conduce to the liberty of the
subject ; but experience too plainly proves that,
like many others of the same good meaning, it has
been perverted by the arts ot. designing men, and
it is a melancholy fact that, under its influence, a
rogue as frequently evades the payment of his
just debts, as does an honest loan escape from the
fury of an avaricious creditor. The oppression
of es il, however, is always more readily perceived
than the benefits arising from good, and, before a
measure, with which the liberty of .the people is
So intimately connected, is attempted to be aban-
doned, it ought to he a subject of serious consi-
deration, whether, " by infusing a portion of new
health into its constitution," it is not capable of
receiving such alterations, additions, and improve-
ments., as to prevent the abuses which now so
glaringly present themselves : for the Act is even
now in its infancy, and it is better that two rogues
should escape from punishment, than that one
honest man should be cast into prison stud cut oar
from society.
The system of condemnation too, pursued by
us Of the pi esent day, is carried to such au.in-
jurions extent, that imaginary evils are frequently
magnified into real ones, by our neglecting to seek
for remedies which may have been provided ; and
thus many a seasonable law sinks under the weigh
of public clamour, while its beneficial effects are
known only to the few that have taken the trouble
to understand it ; and this brings me to the chief
purport` of my letter.
It has frequently occurred to me, as well r}s to
many of my acquaintances, that persons under the
garb of insolvency, (Anal') the benefit of the rules
of one of the prisons, and there remain, without
ever applying for their discharge, living comfort-
ably on property which, if properly divided, would
in a great measure, if not wholly,satisfy their debts;
and oftentimes harassing their creditors with vexa-
tious proceedings : to exemplify which, two in-
st aoces, which are in the compass of my personal
knowledge, will suffice. The first case is that of a
man styled an Insolvent, who is now living in, and
protected by, the rules of the King's Bench Prison ;
be keeps at least three or four servants, anti en-
joys, as report says, an income of 4,000/. a year :
and the other is, whet e •another Insolvent, who is
also living in.the same roles, and, exclusive of his
maintenance, can at now and then to fee his
attfirney,partlythroogn malice and partly tin ough
his atom ney's instigation, cominenced Brl action
against one of his creditors, continued the pro
ceedings until the very mm 'dug upon which the
trial would have been called on, and then with-
drew his record ; after having pot his creditor to
the expence, for the attendance of witnesses,
Counsels, fees, &c. of 40/..; which be has now
the mortification of adding Cu his already con•
siderable debt.

These circumstances, Sir, are alone sufficient
to raise an ow et y against the Insolvent Act ; but
they are at once so grievous and oppressive, that I
cannot suppose the Legislature to ha‘e left them
without a remedy, and therefore I seek an explal.
nation from some of your intelligent Corres•
poudents. I am, Sir,
Your humble Servant,
INDOCTUS.

The election of the Mayor for Liverpool took
place on Satu►day J. n. HOLLINGSBEAD and
CHARLES LAWRENCE, Esqrs. were proposed, and
after a very spirited contest, the former Gentle-
man was declared duly elected.
On Wednesday week, the Earl of BUCHAN
brought from Dry/burgh Abbey a beautiful young
cedar of Lebanon, which he put into the hands of
the Marquis of BeAumoNT, by whom it was plant-
ed near the spot where King JAMES the Second
was killed, by the bursting of a cannon, at the
siege of Roxburgh Castle, on the 3d of Angus I.
1460. The Duchess of RoXBURGH had the good.
tress to accompany the Earl of fIucHAN on this
occasion.

To-morrow the prisoners who-stand committed
on charges of felony will he removed from the se-
veral gaols in London and Middlesex to Newgate,
preparatory to their trials at the ensuing Sessions
at the Old Bailey, which commence on \Vednes.
day next, the 28th instant. The Sessions fur Mid-
dlesex begin at the Sessions House, Clerkenwell-
green, on Monday next, the 26th instant.
The foundation of an ancient building, suppos-
ed to be that of au hospital, has been discovered
in the ground behind Northumberland House, by
the men employed in preparing it for a shrubbery.
EXTENSIVE ROBBERY.-Yesterday, Mary Craw-
ley and Charlotte Morgaa were charged at Marl-
borough-street, with stealing pictures, rained at
2',0001., the property of Mr. Erard, harp-mann.
factures., in \Vigmore-street. It appeared in
evidence, that the prosecutor brought paintings
from Paris, a few years since, to the value of
20,0001., and the pictures here charged to have
been stolen, were. a part of the collection,
but they were much damaged. 'rite prisoner
Cranky was the daughter of Mr. Erard's porter,
and her father having the key of the picture-
gallery, she obtained easy access. Sortie of the
pictures, worilt 1001. each, were pledged at the
shop of Mr. Bayles, rod with other pawnbrokers,
at low rates, by both the prisoners.—They were.
etnaVded.

Ilavn•rED Hors)? —For about two months the
inhabitants of a threke-story house in Lady-lone,
of Pai.iley, were alarmed %vitt) an unusual sound
it) theitight-time ;, but it has 'tow been ascertained
t hat the work men in the vaulted cellars of a brewery
oUoining, striking on the casks of fermenting
liquors, in order forward the process of ferments•
tion, has been the cause of all the alarm.
Tuesday se'nnight, at Evelick, near Perth, the
house of Donald Scrintgeour having taken tire its
the vent, the poor man got up to the top of the
hone with the view of pouring water down the
chituney, when he unfortunately fell down, and'
pitching on his head, instantly expired.

PROVINCIAL JOURNALS.

(Prin The ShePiet(' Mercury, Oct. 17.)
'Flit: AVention of Eerope may be said to he at
present almost eeclesiecly directed 10 one spot.
• wheee Sovereign! and Statesmen have assembled
for. per-poses, no doubt, suitable to the greatness
and novelty of so extraordinary a tneetiee.
In
these piping and uninteresting times of peace, the
Coegress at Aix-la-Chapelle presents a spectacle
sufficieumtly interesting to am once the attention
and excite the speculations of those deep politi-
-eisns that are to he found in such numbers in
eeery and hamlet of the kingdom's. Con-
ieeteres as to the object of this meetiiit are, of
coutrae, innumerable ; some of which-, to say the
least of them, are very improbable. As we do
not pretend to the possession of that instinctive
saeacity that can penetrate the future, we shill
tee iedtate the conduct of some of our felloW
journalists. by affecting any superior iitfoilwition
ou the subject, bet think it svill be the wisest
course to wait the event of time, which will not
•fail Fo Clear up all doubts, and give es inure in-
sight jets) the business than we shall ever get
from the conjectures of the profoundest politi-
ciens asneept us, who, after all, may know as
little of it as ourselves.
Bsst though see confess ourselves ignorant of
the oh ect of the Congress, and know not what
essitieete will come under the consideration of the
Isieh characters that compose it, we cars see no
impropriety in messing at what might form the
subject of their deliberations with propriety
ettCRlOl. We feel gratified at the new and agree-
Rhie spectacle of so many sovereigns and the
repre•entvives of sovereigns meeting, nut for the
purpose of ambition, or the contrivance of some
polltieal robbery (uhich have been too often the
ohjects studt meetings), but for the establish-
Meet of sects a general system of union and fel-
lowship as will teed to prevent the svars that
have hitherto desolated Europe. These wars
have most frequently owed their origin to some
trilling dispute, and have generally heen c xried
on with the deepest rancour long atter the causes
that produced them have ceased to mperate.—
Were a general council of the'principal Europeau
States formed, to decide on the quarrels that
occesienally arise betwixt neighbouring kingdoms,
and was each of them hound to sebusit to this
decision, under pain of being opposed by the
whole confederacy, it might be the means of pre-
serving the peace of the world, and preventing
Many of those desolating wars which have it)
every age afflicted humanity. Nor is the scheme
so IT,opian as it may be considered by many. It
is said that Henry the Great had a similat plan in
View, when the hand of 'an assassin deptived
France and the world of that distinguished Pratte.
In the constitution of the Amphictyoeic coetneil;
the Greeks also had the benefit of an institution
like the one we allude to. Deputies 'from- so
rirsey of the principal cities regulated the general
pedisy tl:e whole.
Teere much room for improvement in the
getierel policy of Europe. How many absurd re-
getiatieos, for insteorce, in commerce ,till exit, in
Coeseaseatice of the ienoratwe or' jealousy of tire
Stetes. Dill all smite its the adoption of
- a more liberal policy, the general advantage
would be great ; het, at present, one. Slate is oh-
Peed to impose restrictious oil its intercourse with
another, because that other has adopted a simi-
lier policy with regard to it.
Whoever has studied the character of the
.and is acyminted with the state
cif pehlic feeling in that toiletry, will 'laterally
he'disposed to think that effective meaus should
he'adopeed to watch them with jealousy. There
is a spirit still subsisting in active existence its
that couotry disc ought to he creshed at its first
menifeetation, and before it cats heve acquired
force etsougtt to disterb the ttenqeillity of the
seiresi,! again. For this pwrpose, nothing' scents
tussle est-stable titan the establishment of such a
coefedevisey as hiss already freed Europe Irons the
oppretsive donsinetion of France, amid which, if
that station shotdd he again disposed to. play its
monkey and revolutionety tricks, will oblige it to
do.so within its own limiis. Europe has already
lLtd quite eimottels of that frateruizing spirit which
France so lately manifested, and which induced
her to missile the neighbouring states as so many
alpeediees to the great na•iter ; and it behoves
the continental goyernmeets in particular to pre-
vent the diffesion of principles which, under the
mask of freedom, have tended to destroy all
social order. The principle of self defence will
surely justify such a utsiors amongst the neigh•
bottring powers as will tend to prevent a renewal
of those scenes that lately perplexed and dis-
tressed the friends of humanity. We shall be
glad to field that it is one of the objects of the
Congress to organize such a confederacy of
defence. By all means leave the managemeut of
France to itself ; let us not interfere with her
internal administration, but leave them to con-
struct for themselves whatever fOrm of govern-
ment they may thick !nest suitable for them-
Bust the instant they adopt a line of policy that
obviously affects the interests and safety of other
states, that instant it becomes the privilege and
deity of these states to interfere. And this right
of interference, on such an occasion, is founded
on the plainest principles of justice. A mat) may
do in his own house what he pleases, whilst it
does not affect Isis neighbour ; but he has no
right to set fire to it, or keep barrels of
.gun-
. powder in it, because by this conduct he endan-
gers all arousal him. It was-mn this ground that
France was forced to 'renounce Buonaparte, and
the policy was jest and prudent. It would have
beets mere iinneeilit/ to have confided its his
itogotv promises of moderation e the whole history
of his life thaws that his ambition was insatiable,
and that he, would not scruple at any means for
its gratification. .And even supposing it possible
that some sudden and extraordinary revolution in
his character and aims had taken place, the cir-
cumstances he was placed in would have forced
• him to disturb the peace of the world again. It
was his military character that made him the
idol of the French people, and it was by a nu-
merous and gratified artssy that lie was to retain
tiseelsigh.stAion, to which he was raised. To
gratify thatlsiolish find insatiable love ofiftilitary
glory to which the French people had been so

long Rccas tom ed, and of which they were so
fond,
..lie Row have contrived to kindle up the
flames.of war again, and the scenes of former de-
vastation and ruin might have been renewed. It
was this consideration that decided the Allies to
get rid of him at any rate, and, if possible, to
root up the system of which lie was the head and
support. By doing this, and by supporting the
system ar ptesent established in France,
.we con-
tend that the Allies have bestowed a great and
important benefit on th'ut country. It would be
ridiculous indeed to compare the two systems :
one was the arbitrary rule of a military despot,
eminent-indeed for talent, and singularly success-
ful in war, hut who, to gratify his inordinate and
inhuman ambition, involved France in wars that
exhausted her, and at last called down upon her
the vengeance of an injured and insulted world.
Under the present system, the people have at-
tained a greater share of influence in the Govern-
ment than they ever had before; and though they
cannot boast of the possession of all those rights '
to which they are entitled, and which they will,
no donlv, ultifnately attain, the Government is
constructed on more liberal principles, and se-
. ewes to the people more political freedom, than
that of any other on the Continent. We suspect,
indeed,!that many of those politicians who fill the
public places in Paris with revilings against the
Bourbons and their Government, owe that free-
dom of speech to the comparative moderation of
the vet y Government they abuse. Under the
reign. of the limpet or and King these sages round
it prudent to be silent, and we have no doubt
that if fortune should ever restore him to his
former station, their mouths would be imme-
(timely shut, except, indeed, when they were suf-
fered to open them in blasphemous adulation of
Napoleon the Great ! Many of those who are
now so claim), ons for liberty, were the most
supple slaves of their Imperial Master, and, with
the usual consistency of such characters, they
would once more, were he in power,
t Stand in his presence humble, and receive
Strict laws, unposed to celebrate his throne
With warbled hymns, and to his Godhead sing
Forced hallelujahs.