The Sun.
London, England, 1829-09-30 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

We have been distressed by meeting about
town, within these few days, small parties of
young men, in threadbare foreign uniforms, who
seemed emaciated by hunger, and broken down
with suffering. On inquiry, we learned that
they were some of the unfortunate Spaniards
who had fled to Portugal two or three years
ago, and had found refuge in the benefi-
cence of the Princess Regent. Soon after
Niguel's arrival at Lisbon, he crammed these
miserable creatures into prison ships, and there
detained them in a state of severe priva-
tion, until the other ,day, when he determined
on banishing them altogether from Portugal.
Being allowed their choice of country they should
repair to, a considerable number preferred France
or Belgium (as we have been informed), while
others, possibly about 300, were attracted to
England by the accounts which had been circu-
lated of the kindness shown to their countrymen
here. After a voyage in which the masters of
the passage-vessels behaved to them with the
utmost humanity and tenderness, they landed
here, the great majority of them without a far-
thing in their pockets, and how they made their
way to London it is difficult for us to conceive.
In London, however, they have been for a week
or more, houseless, pennyless, and despairing.
It appears that as there is no provision for
these wretched men, either on the Government ,
list, or from the funds intrusted to the com-
mittee, they have no means whatever of finding
either shelter or food. For sustenance, as they
have no settlement or parochial claim, God
knows, but we do not know, how or where they
can procure it. Many—we believe most of
them—lie in the open air all night,—now, when
the nights begin to prove sharp, and in thin and
scanty garments, fitted only to a Portuguese
summer. There is, surely, or was, not long
since, a building open to the houseless wanderer
by night, and furnished with straw enough for
wretched outcasts to repose upon, under the
title of " Refuge for the Destitute." We would
submit respectfully to the supporters of that wise
and useful Institution, that they cannot employ
whatever unoccupied space may be at their dis-
posal with more signal benefit to the cause of
humanity, than by permitting the poor exiles
abovementioned to occupy a portion of the spare
straw bedding in the " Refuge for the Destitute,"
from night to night. This pressure on the
bounty, or rather the indulgence of the sub-
scribers, cannot in the nature of things continue
long, for the men are starving, and must very
shortly perish. If we are incorrect in supposing
that such a house still remains accessible to the
unsheltered poor, there is a resource which
might be available by the Quarter-Master-Gene-
ral, or by the Ordnance (whichsoever depart-
ment it may appertain to)—we mean some one
of the numerous barracks which are scattered
through the southern counties, and which, since
the war, have been uninhabited, except by a
barrack-master or his seijeant. Any of these
empty buildings might, at the pleasure of his
Majesty's Government, be made subservient to
the above charitable use ; and a slender ration
per diem of bread or potatoes, with table-beer
or milk, would at an easy rate furnish the un-
happy creatures with means " to keep life and
soul together" for a little while, banished as they
have been even from the floating dungeons to
which an angry tyrant had doomed them. We
throw out these hints with great respect for the
consideration of gentlemen in office, as suggest-
ing claims upon their Christian charity which
they on whose behalf we supplicate are them-
selves unable to bring forward. While on this
subject of Spanish suffering, we would recom-
mend to the gentlemen who take the most active
part in administering the funds of the com-
mittee, some notice of one or two particulars
which have reached us in the form of animadver-
sion, complaint, or suspicion, but to which we
call their attention in no unfriendly spirit.-1. It
is illeged—and we repeat it only because the
statement can, with so much facility, be denied
if unfounded—that portions of the general fund
have gone in irregular grants to individuals whose
names were either not in the list at all, or ap-
peared there as being those of persons in the
receipt of less sums than had actually been be-
stowed upon them. We would submit, that
where extra bounties, beyond the ostensible weekly
allowance, have been given to any persons out
of a charity fund, a great delicacy ought to be
observed in procuring the sanction of a full
committee to the particular disbursement, and
that a distinct record of the grounds on which
it is sanctioned should be immediately entered
up.-2. It has been asked, when on the first
occasion a large sum—namely, some hundreds
of pounds—was stated to have been laid out in
donations to individual Spaniards, with the view
of enabling diem to quit the country—it has
been proposed to us, we say, to ask, what num-
ber of persons had actually at that period re-
ceived such gratuities from the committee or its
officers, what were the names of such persons,
and what and at what period the sum given to
each P—lt is quite obvious that there can be
established no check so complete and satisfac-
tory, upon fraudulent applications to the com-
mittee, by Spaniards of disreputable charac-
ter, as the certainty that the names of aa
who succeed in such applications, and the
professed object of them, will be invariably made
public ; and thus the whole body of Spaniards
(who are well known amongst each other)
be enabled to judge whether or not the
members of the Committee or its officers
have yielded credence and granted favour to false
representations made by worthless men. We
are indeed of opinion, that even a surmise of
such a misapplication of bounty from a fund so
sacred, ought to induce the parties to make
known the particulars without reserve. 3d. As
publicity ie the essence of all confidexce, it
would be desirable for the Committee to print
every quarter, an exact statement of their ex-
peuditure for the preceding three months ; and
when, as before mentioned, any extra grants have
been made, the name of the individual, the
amount of the sum, and the purpose for which
given, ought to be distinctly recorded. One
large sheet would suffice for this excellent ob-
ject, and 100 copies might be struck off, of
which 20 should be distributed among the prin-
cipal Spaniards, and one of the remaining 80
sent to each daily London newspaper, to be
either published, or retained at the office, for the
inspection of those who might desire it. We
beg to be understood as speaking out upon this
.subject, with a perfect assurance that our frank-
ness will be candidly and not unkindly taken,—
We lire well aware that some of the most distin-
guished names which adorn this kingdom are to
be found among the members of the Spanish
Committee ; but we also feel that in this, as in
every charity, the real management for the most
part falls on two or three more active indivi-
duals ; and it is in truth a debt of justice to
them, to convey publicly to their knowledge, ob-

servations which they might otherwise never
hear, except through channels and motives with
which we disclaim all connexion. 4. We have
been requested to obtain a public statement, on
the authority of some manager, of the last Spa-
nish Bazaar, specifying the hands in which the
sum resulting from the sale of the articles was
deposited, and the purpose (if other than the
ordinary purposes of the Committee-fund) to
which it was destined.—Times.

The incredulity, real or affected, of the lead-
ing French Journals on the subject of the nego-
tiation in the East of Europe, and the ingenious
speculations by which they support the extraor-
dinary inference, that peace is impossible with-
out a previous occupation of Constantinople, are
calculated to excite an uncertainty by no means
warranted by the real position of affairs. For
the purpose of placing things on an intelligible
footing, we shall briefly recapitulate the steps
that have preceded and accompanied the pend-
ing negotiation, premising that we shall hazard
no assertion upon any questionable authority :
and we shall take this opportunity of repeating
our already recorded opinions, that there is not
only no impossibility opposed to the pacific ter-
mination of the present international discussions,
but that this desirable consummation may be
considered as on the eve of being accomplished.
Immediately after the arrival of the Prussian
Special Envoy, Baron Muffling, at the Ottoman
Capital, he despatched a confidential attache to
the head-quarters of the Russian Commander-
in-Chief. The simple fact, that the person so
employed must of necessity pass through the
positions occupied by the two hostile armies,
shews that the measure must have had the sane-

tion of both the contending parties. The indi-
vidual employed by Baron Muffling (we believe
his Private Secretary) was charged to procure, if
possible, an immediate suspension of hostilities ;
but this was refused by the Russian Commander
on the perfectly reasonable ground, that by sus-
pending his victorious career at that moment, he
must lose the advantages to be derived from
his previous scientific combinations. The fall
of Adrianople and the occupation of advanced
positions, by which it was in his power at any mo-
ment to march upon and invest Constantinople,
served at once to confirm the overwhelming su-
periority of the Russians, and to alarm the Eu-
ropean Diplomatists resident at the Porte ; and
the last named functionaries did, as we some

time hack exclusively stated, conjointly address
a Representation to the Count Diebitsch, point-
ing out the fatal consequences to be apprehended
from the excited fanaticism of the Mussnlmans
in case of a direct advance upon the capital, and
announcing the willingness of the Sultan to treat
upon the original basis. On this representation
the Russian General agreed to a cessation of hos-
tilities, and consented to receive in his camp the
Turkish Deputation authorised by the Sultan to
open the negociation. It is scarcely necessary
to allude to the now acknowledged fact of the
Prussian guarantee conveyed by Baron Muffling
to the Reis Effendi, and by that personage placed
in the hands of the British Ambassador—a fact
first communicated to the public in the columns
of the Morning Chronicle. We have thus
brought down our narrative to the opening of
the negociation. Of the exact nature of the dif-
ferent conferences, or of the terms to be defini-
tively adopted, we do not profess to be in pos-
session ; but we know that it is more than ex-
pected that the adjustment of the terms will not
be a matter of much time nor of extreme diffi-
culty, and that the conditions will be of such a
nature as to redeem the pledges already given by
the Emperor Nicholas, that he did not under-
take the war from motives of personal ambition,
nor contemplate its conclusion as the consum-
mation of any views of territorial aggrandisement.
To sum up all in one sentence, peace will be re-
established, as far as concerns Russia, on the
basis of the treaty of Ackermann ; as relates to
Greece, on that of the convention entered into
by the three great Contracting Parties.--Morn-
ing Chronicle.
The new police force commenced its opera-
tions last night, and attracted considerable notice,
as well as gave rise to no inconsiderable portion
of observation. That the public generally is
indisposed towards it there can be as little doubt
as that the watchmen, who have been supplanted
by it, are inclined to form an unfavourable esti-
mate of its efficiency—but there can be no
question that the plan has been well digested,
and that if those who preside over its execution
see it carried into full effect, it will, after the

new policemen have gained some experience, be
found to afford much greater protection to per-
son and property than they have hitherto en-
joyed. In adverting to this subject we cannot
but express a hope that as many of the old
watchmen as are capable of undertaking the
duty, and able to produce satisfactory testimo-
nials of character, will be employed under the
new system. There are many of them, there is
little doubt, who are possessed of every requisite
for the new service, and as employment is not
at present within the reach of every one,
we think it is little short of an absolute
duty on the part of the Commissioners
to give a preference to every one of
them who is possessed of the requisite
qualifications. There is also another observa-
tion which we deem it worth while to make in
reference to this new police. One of the in-
junctions laid down for their special observance,
is that of taking note of the manner in which
public-houses are conducted, and giving in re-
ports respecting their hours of commencing and
dosing business. To such orders there can be
no valid objection, provided no further credit
can he given to the reports than they may be
foiind to deserve ; but we think it is really too
much to subject Licensed Victuallers, first to
.the informations of common informers, and next
to the informations of policemen. There are
many other classes, we think, who might more
jivitly be subjected to this sort of espionage,
which, when it is considered that it is directed
against householders who must be possessed of
some property, as well as a considerable share
of respectability, before they could be allowed
to embark in the trade, is truly odious. If the
pew police is to act as spies in this respect, it
would b.O but fair, at least, that the common in-
former should b. laid on the shelf.—Morning
Advertiser.

The complaint in one of his MAJESTY'S
eyes is a cataract in the organ. A consultation has been
held on the subject, at which we understand Mr. Pastors
and Mi.. M,EX A NDER, the eminent oculists, assisted; and
should it be do fined advisable that hi 9 MAJESTY should
undergo en operation foe the recovery of his sight, it is to
be performed by Mr. ALEX ANPER., wi,o operated so suc-
cessfully on the Earl of LONSDALE for a similar 4.-orn-
plaint, that his Lordship can now see as well as he did for
)•e• •irs before the cataract was formed. A cataract is an
obstruction of the pupil of the eye, by the intprposition of
some eztrancous or opaque substance, which either dimi-
nishes or totally ezting!iishes the sight. It is generally
al opacity of the crystalline Immou, and in the hei4inning
win often yield to medicine ; but when this does nut hap.
pen, and it becomes firm, it must be couched, or rather
extracted.—Morning "Advertiser,

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

BOW-STREET.

Yesterday Philip Rodney, alias William Lloyd, a
middle-aged man, dressed in the first style of
fashion, was brought up charged with the following
daring attempt at robbery :
On Monday evening Mr. Ayres, the hat-maker,
went to the English Opera House, and while wait-
ing for the opening of the pit doors he felt himself
pressed behind and in front, and observed that he
was surrounded by several well-dressed men, who
appeared to be acting in concert. When the door
opened these fellows hustled him, and the prisoner
thrust his hand into his pocket, and had got his purse,
in which were twenty sovereigns, partly out, when
Mr. Ayres seized his hand and held it fast. The
prisoner struggled very hard to get the purse, and
called out to his companions, " The old -- won't
let it go—bonnet him," and they did bonnet him
as it is called ; viz. knock his hat down so as to
cover his eyes completely. The prisoner again made
a desperate pull at the purse, but Mr. Ayres still
held it fast, and the whole gang then began " punch-
ing " him in the sides and back, and he called out
lustily for help. Fryer, one of the police officers in
attendance, with great difficulty made his way
through the crowd and succeeded in taking hold of
the prisoner, who even up to that moment had hold
of Mr. Ayres's purse.
A desperate attempt was made by the rest of the
gang to rescue the prisoner, but Fryer, assisted by
Mr. Ayres, who though advanced in years, is a very
powerful man, kept him in custody, and conveyed
him to the watch-house. A picklock key and a con-
siderable sum of money were found upon him.
The prisoner said he was not the man, and hoped
he might be allowed to go at large, as the gentleman
had lost nothing, and he (prisoner) had a wife and
eleven children at home.

Mr. HALLS—Then you should endeavour to sup-
port them honestly. You are aware that we know
you us a regular thief.
The prisoner made no reply, and was fully com-
mitted.

John Williams alias Catsmeat, the young man
who on Thursday last was charged with stealing two
bottles of wine and a quantity of brandy, the pro-
perty of Mr. Maddon, the landlord of the Ship, in
James-street, Covent-garden, was brought up for
final examination.

Mr. Maddon said, he had caused his stock to be
examined by the excise officer who visited his house,
and he found that he was deficient in wine about 42
bottles, and in brandy about as many quarts. Mr.
Haddon added, that the prisoner had stated, that he
was proprietor of a public-house, and that the wine
and brandy were his own property, and were
brought from that house. But the fact is your
Worship, said Mr. Maddon, he is not particular in
what he says.
Sir R. BIRNIE—No, nor in what he takes, I think.

Mr. Maddon said, he had ascertained that the
prisoner had taken away four bottles of wine at a
time, and lodged them at different public-houses,
pretending that he was in business for himself.
Mr. Martin, the landlord of the Three Crowns, in
Richmond-street, Rupert•street, which house the
prisoner said he was the proprietor of, came for-
wardand declared he did not know theprisoner at all.
William had nothing to say, and was fully com-
mitted.