The Sun.
London, England, 1829-09-28 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PtMLI JOURNALS.

The subjoined letter and requisition are at
least curiosities in their way. To ourselies, in-
deed, these documents bring no unlooked-for
information, but to good-natured and credulous
people, who believe that every shallow-paced
blockhead is likely to be an honest man, from
not having " cleverness" to be otherwise, these
proceedings at Newark may furnish some useful
hints as to the natural and very frequent con-
nexion between whatever is most minutely mean
in the human species, and whatever is most im-
pudent and oppressive. The Duke of New-
castle was one of the loudest clamourers
about the Constitution of 1688, when a mea-
sure was brought before Parliament last session
for illustrating the free principles of that glori-
ous revolution by granting a relief from civil dis-
abilities to the Catholics. His Grace, being de-
sirous to bring a member into the House of
Commons who might act as his political mouth-
piece, and show the world what signification
they jointly affixed to the phrase " Constitution
of England," summoned Mr. Sadler to the con-
test for Newark, and ordered his dependents
there to vote for the Honourable Gentleman.
Two hundred or so of the electors of that
borough, who held property under the Duke of
Newcastle, imagining that by the " Constitti. •
tion of 168 S" an elector was bound to vote ac-
cording to his conscience, for the candidate best
qualified to represent his opinions, and to pros
mote the interests of the place for which !ik
should be chosen, gave their voices to Mr. Ser--
jeant Wilde, and in rejection of that great high-
priest of Toryism who opposed him. The in-
dependents, however, were not numerous enough,
and the speaker of many words came i❑ on the
Newcastle mandate. The consequence appears
Delon•. The real meaning of the " glor►ous
Constitution of 1688," as understood by its
wisest and most virtuous partisans, turns out to
he, that no elector shall dare to vote for the
candidate whose politics coincide with his own ;
but, on the contrary, that he must, at the beck
and bidding of any Duke who happens to re-
ceive rent from him for the house he lives in,
vote for the man whose sentiments and objects
are most adverse to his own, on pain of being
dilfranchised ! Is that the letter of the law
"as established at the Revolution ?" Is such
the spirit of the Revolution of 1688 ? And if
so, let us ask, if the revolution was undertaken
for such wicked purposes—if our legislators were
to be created on such vile principles—would the
entire overthrow of such a rotten, such a
carrion constitution, be otherwise than a bless-
ing to any civilized and reasoning community ?
The House of Commons has, crc now, enter-
tained the question of disfranchising boroughs,
because the receipt of bribes was prevalent among
the electors. How much more essential would
it be to the morals of the nation, than that they
who attempt to exercise undue influence should be
ousted of the privilege which they basely abuse,
than that those who do not originate the evil,
but are merely the recipients of it,—many of
them, from narrow circumstances or defective in-
telligence, incapable of struggling with the arts
of seduction, should be so gravely punished;
But of motives for an unworthy choice of Mem-
bers of Parliament, are there not more than one?

Is hope the only corrupt influence which can be
administered by a candidate or his patron to the
minds of their electors ? Is intimidation one
whit a more honest instrument than favour? Is
there not corruption in menace as well as in pro-
mise ?—and what menace so formidable for a
future election as the record of inexorable Yen-
ffeance for the past ? In our judgment, upon the
whole orthe transactions referred to in the letter
which follows, there never was a case for Par-
liamentary interference more offensive to the
dignity of the House of Commons—more ruin-
ous to the honour of the other House (should
it be passed over)—than this inhuman persecu-
tion of the constituents of Newark for an up-
right and independent exercise of their elective
franchise.—Times.

"NEWARK, SEPT. 2.5, 1829.
" The town is in a state of extraordinary excite-
ment, occasioned by notices to quit, served by the
Duke of Newcastle and his agents upon those te-
nants who declined voting for Mr. Sadler, the Duke's
nominee, at the last election. Little knots of
people arc seen standing at the corners of the streets,
pondering upon the consequences of a proceeding
which threatens the destruction of the prosperity of
the town. Not only have the labouring classes felt
the weight of the Duke's resentment, but respect-
able tradespeople are warned from their premises,
when they have expended hundreds of pounds in
the improvement of the property; and unless some
decisive steps be adopted to arrest the progress of
the Duke's persecution, capital will be removed from
the town by numbers of persons who have hitherto
favoured the pretensions of the Duke's candidate,
but who feel that they cannot longer continue to do
so without surrendering every title to independent
character. Knowing that their claim to his favour
will only continue so long as they submit to his
slavish commands, and that even withholding their
vote from his nominee will subject them to the same
calamity as that which has overtaken above 200 of
their brother inhabitants, a requisition was sent to
Mr. Serjeant Wilde, numerously signed, requesting
his advice and assistance, which was instantly an-
swered by his sending down Mr. Charles Pearson,
his agent, to collect all the needful information. Im-
mediately upon that gentleman's arrival, a meeting
of the requisitionists was called. A knowledge of
the circumstance having transpired in the town,
the large room at the Castle and Falcon was
completely tilled by the electors, and above two
hundred more thronged the staircase and avenues,
being unable to obtain admittance. Samuel kristowe,
Esq., a resident gentleman of independent fortune,
was culled to the chair, and several gentlemen ad-
dressed the meeting, detailing numberless cases
wherein the greatest injustice and oppression would
be the consequence of the proceedings of the Duke.
Mr. Charles Pearson announced, in an animated
speech, the sympathy felt by Mr. Serjeant Wilile
fur the sufferings of the people, and the determina-
tion of that gentleman to stand by his friends in the
time of need. This announcement was received
with the loudest demonstrations of satisfaction, and
a requisition for a public meeting was signed by
above 100 of the persons present, and at once for-
warded by a deputation of 12 inhabitants to the
Mayor, who was at the theatre at the time : he
named the following day to give his decision at the
hour appointed. The deputation were met by se-
veral hundred of the inhabitants in the market-place,
where the Mayor declined calling the meeting.
" It is confidently said by Mr. Sadler's best
friends, that he will attend the meeting, and dis-
claim all participation in these disgraceful proceed-
ings, which, though intended to secure his return
upon a future occasion, have aroused such a spirit in
the town, as will, there is no doubt, work the down-
fall of the Duke's influence.

" Letters have also been transmitted to the Duke
of Newcastle and Mr. Serjeant Wilde, and the
greatest bustle prevails in the town, in making the
preparations requisite for this important meeting.
" The use of the Town-hall having been alsore-
fused for the meeting, a spacious temporary baild-

ing is now being erected, for the purpose of accom-
modating the inhabitants."
" TO THE WORSHIPFUL WILLIAM FILLINGHAM, ESQ.,

tinctions ; and, instead of pledging themselves to
any particular plan of reform, to unite in demanding
' a full, free, and equal Representation of the People
in Parliament,' leaving the mode of effecting that
object to be settled when the battle is more nearly
won. This was sound advice. We are ourselves
friendly to a very comprehensive plan of reform ;
but We think it better to take a little, than, by de-
manding a great deal, lose every thing. The cause
of reform never was at a lower ebb than at this mo-
ment; and it is more indebted to Cobbett and Huat
than any body el,,e for its fallen condition. These
two men, acting in the purest spirit of intolerance,
treat with contempt every scheme that differs in the
slightest shade from their own ; and rather than
concede a little to the friends of the cause, give up
every thing to its enemies. The Irish Catholics
had perhaps as much division of opinion among
themselves as the Reformers; but they had the
" William Fillingham, Esq., having refused to comply sense, instead of splitting hairs about the kind and
with the above requisition, we, the undersigned, do he; eby degree of emancipation, to make a united and vigo-
convene a meeting of the inhabitants of the borough of rows effort to ob'ain it in some shape or other, and
Newark, and the owners of property therein, on Monday, they succeeded. It is very well for the Reformers
tle sth of October next, at 12 o'clock, to take ir to con- to have a. Rent like the Catholic, but it is of far
sideratltn the objects of the above requisition. The chair more importance to have their union of spirit, the
will be taken at 12 o'clock precisely. His Grace the Duke
fruit of zeal combined with mutual toleration."
of Newcastle, M. T. Sadler, Esq , M.P., and Mr. Serjeant
The very circumstance alluded to by our Wilde, are invited to attend the meeting.
con-
(Signed by) temporary as a main cause of Reform being now
" SAMUEL BRISTOWE, " WILLIAM OWEN, ill a fallen condition—that two individuals treat
" THOMAS GILLSON, " GEORGE ROBERTS,
" JOHN HUNT, " WILLIAM DARCY, with contempt every scheme that differs in the
" JAMES CARVER,. " JOHN PEARCE, slightest shade from their own, and rather than
" WILLIAM KERB, " WILLIAM OwEN, Jun., concede a •
little to the friends of the cause, give
" JOHN LYNE SIMNITT, " RICHARD HINDLE'S',"
Sept. 24." (And by upwards of 200 ethers.) up every thing to its enemies—is, we think, a
proof th Reform owes its condition to very
All accounts agree as to the surprising effect differentat causes. The divisions of the Reformers
produced in Ireland by the Third Reformation
are not cause, but effect. The real cause, we
begun by Lord .Mountcashel. It is deeply to apprehend, is the indifference of those who are
be regretted that the attempt to reform the Re-
possessed of influence in the country to reform,
formed Church should not have been made or rather the absence of all those irritating causes
sooner ; but it is never too late to enter on a in the case of Reformers, which with the Catho-
good work. What is wanted in reformations is lies of all ranks were sufficiently powerful to
an enthusiastic spirit capable of carrying along controul all tendencies to disunion. The Ca-
the minds of men. When such a spirit occurs tholic,ievery day in the year, was reminded by
at tile proper time, the effect often defies all cal- some circumstance or other that he belonged to
culation. We have in Ireland itself a striking a proscribed class. Whichever path he took in
instance of what enthusiasm can effect in Bishop the journey of life, he came in contact with
Bedall, and the Clergy of his Diocese. Bishop
ei
The whole nation may indeed be
Burnet tells us in his Life of the Bishop, that
stud to
laws.tosufer from the want of Parliamentary
soon alter his entrance on his duties, "he begun Reform, which would interpose a check on the
with the reformation of abuses ; the first which wasteful expenditure of the public money. But
he attacked was the plurality of benefices, which though this ought to be a strong inducement
gave to one man the care of souls in so many with every virtuous man to contribute as much
places that it was impossible for him to acquit as possible to the removal of this evil, yet no
himself of his charge and fulfil the promises made individual Reformer can be said to have a per-
by him on his ordination, to feed and instruct sonal interest sufficiently strong to induce him
time people subject to his care ; he saw with dis- either to venture on any sacrifices for the attain-
pleasure that this obligation was equally neglected tnent of the object, or to renounce his own pecu-
by most of the pluralists in all their parishes ; liar views as to the degree of Reform which
but he conceived that these abuses were contrary might be expedient. Many, on the other band,
to the nature of tile functions of the Church, con- who do not approve of the existing state of
trary to the care essential to the guidance of things, and in principle are not opposed to Re-
souls, and contrary to the solemn vows made by form, are yet afraid to make exertions for it,
Ecclesiastics before the altar when they re- from a dread of the consequences which might
ceive orders. In fact, it is a pretext as fri- follow from such an agitation as should be pow-
volous as impudent, that by appointing erful enough to effect a change. Hence there
Curates to do the duty they acquit the most are many more nominal than real friends of Re-
sacred obligation and fulfil the most solemn vows form. It is not in the power of individuals to
in the world. The duty of a Pastor is per-
injure a cause when the time has arrived for pro-
sonal, and the functions of the Clergy are not like secuting it with effect. A sickly fastidiousness
those of the Levites in the Temple, where
is seldom found to accompany strong appetite.
nothing was demanded beyond an exterior obser-
When circumstances favour Reform, the last
vance of the ceremonies of the law. Our Bishop
consideration will be the opinions of individuals.
assembled his Clergy to declare to them his sea- They who object to Messrs. Cobbett and Hunt
timents on this subject, and in the address which f are- glad of a pretext for their lukewarmness. The
he delivered he sheaved, by the authority (
time will come, we have no doubt, when it will
scripture and the testimony of antiquity, the in- be necessary for the people of property to deter-
stitution, the nature, and the duties of the Pas- mine on a definite course of action. The great
tor ; but in the end he made use of Latin, for defect in our existing Constitution is that pro-
tte sake of greater freedom on this subject be- perty y p
is not suffi d
cientlrotecte. At present
fore his brethren and comrades of the Holy
those who possess property do not suffer enough
Ministry (he always gave this appellation to the
to induce them to take the lead in any course,
Clergy). He exhorted them powerfully to re-
the issue of which they are unable to foresee in
form this abuse, because it caused a horrible all its extent. But it is of the nature of the
scandal to the Church, gave great advantaget(e)
evils under which we suffer to increase rather
their enemies, and put their own souls and those diminish. Those who profit by the abuses,
of their flocks in danger. And to shew them
that he did not mean to impose this obligation on
and those who enable them to resist the reform
them without applying it to himself, he resolved of. them, must be supplied with convenient food.
A conviction will at length seize persons of pro-
to quit one of his Bishoprics ; for alth4tugh the
perty that to save all they must risk something.
seat of Ardagh was in ruins, and had been long
s, kV hew this time shall come it is not for us to
annexed to that of Kilmore, as it still is at this
say. Avery intelligent traveller, in this coun-
day, he considered them as two different dioceses
try,s NI. Shnond, has observed that " rotten
and believed that he could not honestly oblige boroughs ought to be disfranchised, and popular
his Clergy to renounce the plurality of benefices,
if he did not set time examelection extended ; but I believe that the qualifi-
his dioceses. They were pleb
both of a ve-r small
cation of popular voters should be at any rate
'y
resigning one of
very much raised ; and if a part of the weight of
extent ; their joint revenue formed a very mode- great fortunes were taken off, as much should he
rate living; he could easily exercise his functions,
added to that of small fortunes, to render the
but he did not wish to be himself guilty of what
influence ofproperty greater in the mass, and
he condemned in others. Thus, after having less in individuals.',b
The Election Law in
bestowed considerable labour in recovering the
France, of 1817, had precisely this effect ; it
patrimony of the Bishopric of Ardagh, he re-
rendered the influence of property greater in the
signed it, and was solely Bishop of Kilmore.
mass and less in individuals. The qualification
The authority of his example, and the force of
to vote was very high indeed for a country like
his discourse, made such an impression on the
France, but the great body of po:sessors of pro-
hearts of the Clergy, that each of them resigned
'testy and intelligence was not inadequately re-
all his benefices but one ; so true it is
presented. The first object of the Ultras, when
that examples are more proper to persuade
they obtained power, was to make the influence
than speculations, however ingenious. This sue-
of property greater in individuals and less in the
cess on so delicate a point gave him courage to
mass ; for they gave to a certain number of rich
prosecute his designs ; it seemed to him that the
men in every department the power of return
finger of God was in the affair ; but as he had
not sufficient authority to enforce obedience, he ing a considerable portion of the representatives.
W
managed matters so adroitly that the conde-
e have more than once dwelt upon the help-
scendance of the Clergy did not seem extorted, less condition of the possessors of property in
t
but free and unanimous. His orders were fol-
his country. The families whose properties,
lowed by all, with the exception of one, who,
through rotten boroughs and otherwise, give
however, was not imprudent enough to remain them such a preponderating influence, possess
really but a small share of the property of the j
in the diocese without submitting to the rules
the Bishop and Clergy had imposed on them-
country. Sir Egerton Brydges, who is remark-
selves,
but exchanged his benefices and quitted ably well acquainted with our great families,
the diocese." When the Marquis of Camden published at Paris, ill 1825, a small volume,
Suppression
h
" A Note
on the
threw up his great sinecure, he had no imita- winch he called
"
tors ; but Sinecurists are not Divines. If Lord of Memoirs announced by the Author, in which
Mountcashel can only prevail on some one of
he gives an estimate of the property of the nobi-
the Bishops to throw up all the livings lie lity. "To return (he says) to the peerage of
En gl an d e l number
been conferred since Mr. Pitt
a mere competency to the furtherance of the
work of the Third Reformation, there is no say-
ing what might be the effect of such disinterest-
that time the number extinct is only 42—in-
edness on the minds of the Pluralists of his crease 130—which is an increase equal to more
diocese. We are told by the Dublin Evening than two-fifths :—besides the •twenty-eight Re-
Post that Dr. Magee, the Archbishop of Dub_
presentative Peers of Ireland ; and the addition
lin, has set up a begging box in a bookseller's of these doubles the size of the House of Lords
shop to receive subscriptions for old, unprovided, I within a fraction Perhaps
and deserving Ministers of the Establishment. something near a third .have small estates ; these,
therefore, greatly reduce the amount of the aver-
Our Dublin Cotemporary adds, that " such a
circular, issued by one of the Prelates of the
age rental. If we deduct these, it would be dif-
rtchest Church in the world, was a disgrace and fieult to name an average which would gain as-
a shame." But Dr. Magee knows how to atone
sent. The vulgar unchastised ideas of riches and
for this disgrace and shame. If they wish the , income are so extravagant, that they ascribe a
Third Reformation to prosper, they must set ;rental of twenty or thirty thousand pounds a year
t
themselves the example of' self-denial. The men who have not a thousand acres in the
world ! Throwing in the ten or twelve immense
great author of the First Reformation did not
e
leave half a matter behind him like some of thestates of our richest Peers, I can hardly sup-
Irish Prelates. We shall, one of these days, pose the average of the two-thirds would reach
fifteen thousand pounds a-year—l suspect not
make a translation of Martin Luther's will, for
the instruction of the Irish Bench of Bishops. Itwelve thousand !We must bring the test of
—Morning Chronicle. facts and experience to correct the absurd no-
tions entertained on this subject. Not two
The Scotsman of Wednesday last has the
years ago, the Culford estates in Suffolk, of the
following paragraph :
late Marquis Cornwallis, consisting of upwards
" A Meeting of Radical Reformers was held at b
of eleven thousand acres, numerous manors, and
Leeds last week. Among other proposals agreed
to at the Meeting was one for a penny a week
sub-
a noble mansion, were advertised for sale ; and
semstion, to raise a fund like the Catholic Rent, foe f • the venders themselves only put the annual value
womcft,i4g Reform. An excellent speechNvas made thousand pounds a-year, Now, I ap-
at seven
upon the. .occasion by Mr. Baines, the Editor of a
.peal to all men of business if an estate of this
very able paper, the Leeds MercUry,
allstro.ngly re- size often occurs ? About 25 years ago, Dr.
commending to the Reformers to sink,minor dis- Beeke, n9w Dean of Bristol, who was Lord
. . .

Be:clefs tutor, and had great awess to official
documents, published a most instructive and in-
genious pamphlet on the Income Tax, in which
he endeavoured to set right the loose and stupid
opinions entertained of individual wealth." The
system of this country is, whenever any individual
acquires great property and political influence, to
elevate him to the peerage ; so that the House
of Peers may be said to name the House of
Commons. But after all, what a small part of
the property of the nation do these Peers possess
on even the highest estimate. A dozen, or per-
haps twenty of them, suffer more from their
share of the general loss from misgovernment
than they can gain from it ; but, generally speak-
ing, they can gain a great deal more from having
the power to cut and carve out the fortunes of
this great nation, than they can have from their
share of the injury produced by misgovernment.
Let us take only the valuation of the property of
Lancashire alone, and place the property of the
peerage beside it, and then it will be seen how
small a share of our property riots upon the rest.
The extravagant habits of individuals in England
make the people an easy prey to those who seek
to plunder them in detail. No matter what a
man possesses, he is always grasping at more to
supply some real or imaginary want. He is,
therefore, less anxious to protect what he has,
than eager to venture what he has for more.
Hence, he is too often like the dog in the fable,
who, grasping at the shadow in his eagerness to
have an additional piece of beef, lost all. The
active and the energetic are generally either toiling
for subsistence, toiling to escape from poverty,
or toiling to acid to their Wealth. Before reform
becomes general with such a people, either a
great change must take place in their ways of
thinking, or a 'great change in their circum-
stances.—lbid.
In one of the new Police Regulations, or ra-
ther Instructions, the Constable is told that " he
will be expected to possess a knowledge of the
inhabitants of each house within his district."—
This, we confess, appears either to imply an im-
possibility, or borders on that system of espio-
nage which in other countries is found so hate-
ful, and which will, we trust, be never passively
submitted to in England. What would be
thought of a master of a house in this country
having to register the names, ages, and occupa-
tions of all its inmates ? Or, if he turns away
his cook, or footman, that he must give notice
to the watchman, lest the latter should seize

• upon the new comers as suspicious characters ?
But, to be either available, or in any degree pa-
lateable to the country, such a regulation must
lie most strictly applied to houses of the most
questionable description. The Nobleman or
private Gentleman in Portman-square, or the
tradesman in Piccadilly, will not much like, or
even see the necessity, we should think, of the
police constable " possessing a knowledge of the
inhabitants" of their houses, while those of the
gaining, the club-house, the flash-house, and
houses of many other descriptions, are unknown.
Those, for instance, in whose district St.
James's-street, Pall-mall, and Burv-street, will
lie, will have a somewhat difficult task, we
should think, to acquire a knowledge of the in-
habitants of certain houses which will be found
within their beat ; and yet this regulation means
a knowledge of them or of none ; for as to
knowing the inhabitants of' private houses, the
very idea is a farce and an impertinence which
we arc convinced could never be put in practice,
unless it is meant that the inhabitants of London
shall only pass along the streets, like game, with
their directions tied on to their button-holes.
We do not start this objection in any spirit of
hostility to the new system of police, but because
we think it betrays a disposition either to attempt
.
impossibilities, or possibilities at the expense of
an intrusion upon domestic liberty and comfort
hich ought not to be attempted. It was not in
the want of this kind of knowledge that the old
police has been defective, but because an inert
and ill-paid class of men have been employed
under heads who either did not know, or would
not do, their duty. An intelligent, vigilant,
zealous, and active Magistracy has been hitherto
the one thing needful ; and unless that is ob-
tained, all volumes of instructions to constables
must be in vain. Unless the mind of its hero
had presided over the destinies of Waterloo, it
would have been in vain that the troops had been
the flower of the country, and their courage and
materiel such as, - under his direction and ex-
ample, fought and con quered.—Morning,Herald,

THE NEW POLICE and THE WATCHMEN.

Yesterday a notice was posted on the door of
several of the Churches in London, informing the
unfortunate. watchmen that their services would be
dispensed with on Tuesday. The following is a
copy of the notice which was affixed to the door.of
the Church of St. Clement Danes:—
" To the Vestry arid Overseers of the Poor of
the Parish of St. Clement Danes, as well within
the Liberty of Westminster as within the Duchy
Liberty, and to all and every the Watchmen and
others of the Night Police appointed in and
for the said Parish, and to all others whom
it doth or may concern : We, the undersigned
Justices of the Peace, appointed under and
by virtue of the Act of Parliament passed in
the tenth year of his present Majesty's reign, en-
titled, An Act for Improving the Police in and
near the Metropolis,' do hereby give you notice
that its pursuance to the said Act of Parliament u
new Police will be ready to take the charge of the
said Parish of St. Clement Dunes on the 29th Sept.
instant, upon and ger which 29th day of Sept., the
Night Watch and the Night Pclice appointed within
the said Parish previously to, or independent of, the
said Act of Parliament, will be discontinued.—
Given under our hands this 18th Sept. 1829.
(Signed)

" C. ROWAN.
" RICHARD MAYNE."

SUDDEN DEATH.—On Sunday morning,
about nine o'clock, a man named JOHN SHEPHERD, who
resided in a cottage in Captain PEtinunnoces garden,
in Bloomfield place, WWI found by Captain P.'s son lying
on his back behind the door, in his shirt, quite dead. It
is supposed, that being unwell in the night, he was going
out, and was seized in so sudden a manner with the fatal
attack as not to give him time to procure assistance. A
coroner's inquest was held on the body on Tuesday, when
a verdict of " Died by the visitation of Con" was re-
turned.—Bath Herald.

OPENING OF THE HAIL-ROAD TO MON-
umnru CA P. —On Monday last this new and important
communication with the coal and iron works of Monmouth-
shire was opened, and about ten o'clock in the morning the
inhabitants of Hereford were gratified by the arrival of se-
veral tram-carriages, laden with coal, and in the course of
the day 15 trams with coal, from the Blaenavon collie-
ries, and 18 from the Pontypool, with one laden with
grain, in all 34, arrived at the wharf near Wyebridge.
This train road will form a permanent, certain, and rapid
medium of conveyance and traffic between Hereford, its
vicinity, and the important district surrounding Aberga-
venny, and other parts of Monmouthshire, comprising ad-
vantages of the greatest consequence to all parties, and
affording.a new source for the conveyance of produce, and
facilities for commercial intercourse, alike beneficial to the
agriculturist, the manufacturer, and every class of society.
Shrewsbury Chronicle.

POLICE INTELLIG ENCE.