Star.
London, England, 1830-06-15 00:00:00

SPIRIT OP THE JOURNALS.

Cit n oNICL E.—Some further conversation about Greece took place
last night in the House of Lords. An insinuation was thrown out,
that Lord Aberdeen's declaration that the production of the papers
sought for on Friday night would be inconvenient to the public ser.
rice, was an afterthought, as he had the other day expressed his
r_adiness to produce them. Lord Holland inferred from the papers
Ilready produced, that something more had passed than appeared on
the face of the documents laid on the table. "This point," he said,
"he gathered from one of the annexes to the Protocol of Junc 15, 1827,
which related to a period soon after the declaration of war between
Russia and the Porte. There 'a manifest tendency on the part of Aui.
trig to draw nearer to the parties which had undertaken to restore peace,
was talked of; and it, at least, showed that formerly that tenekney
did not exist ; and hence it was supposed that she had given some
indication of a wish to support Turkey. A knowledge of this fact
•night place the assurance of Austria in a different light. It might,
it was true, be detrimental to the public service to lay those papers
before the house; but he did not exactly see how it could be so;
mil if there existed any thing to show that the assurances of Austria
were not sincere, it ought not legally to be withheld." So much
for diplomacy and official assurances.

CIIRONICLE.—The many urgent complaints made of the vexa-
lolls prosecutions set on foot by the Stamp Office will, it is hoped,
!le put an end to under the new Stamp Bill now in progress through
Parliament. It is not to be endured that honest tradesmen, and
others who have no disposition whatever to evade the laws, should
ti entrapped into offences against them by a set of needy onprin.
dried vagabonds, who infest the metropolis in the capacity of in-
formers. No sooner do these men get hold of some article that,
amidst the vagueness and complexity of the Stamp Acts, can, by
sonic stretch of construction, be brought within them, than they
forthwith sally forth in partics,each taking its particular beat,and in a
Lew days not less than 3 or 400 informations are laid at the Stamp.
office,and an equal number of Exchequer Writs issued by the solicitor.
A few who had too much spirit to submit to such unwarrantable pro.
ceedings stand out, and refuse to compromise, and these arc penult-
ted to escape because the Informers, knowing well that they should
fail of success if the parties came into Court and defended the prose-
cution, drop it at once ; arid knowing also that there is a good liar.
vest to be reaped from the great majority, who, not liking to have
their names coupled with a Revenue prosecution, and aware, more.
,rcr, that even a verdict in their favour againstdie Crown would be
attended with a very heavy cost, embrace the offirr of compromise in
file first instance, and pay down the sum extorted from their fears,
or from their prudence' conceiving the first loss the best. This
most disgraceful system has been practised, we have reason to know,
to a great extent, and cries loudly for a atop to be put to it. As far
As the stamp Revenue is concerned, the Commissioners of Revenue
Inquiry deserve no thanks from the public for the dissolution of the
Ist, Board. It is but within these two or three years last past that
we have had public meetings and petitions to parliament to seek re-
dress against what 31r.,11trast very justly called, "the Stamp Office
yr rseetaions." We trust we shall hear no more of them.

lIERALD.—There cannot be a stronger argument in favour of
shortening the duration of Parliaments than this—that, under the
septennial system, it is not till towards the termination of their la-
bours that some honourable members appear to recollect that they
nave any constituents, or any interests to consult beyond their own.
It is owing to the compliancy of Parliaments, even more than to any
inclination of Ministers, that so many extravagant items of public
expenditure are proposed and indulged in. While a minister finds
himself beset to keep up this or that place of establishment for the
benefit of Members of Parliament, or their connections, its not un-
reasonable that he should rely upon the votes of those to maintain
such establishments for whose benefit they are to be kept up. As
Parliament draws towards its close, another kind of interest pre.
cents itself ; and the prospect of losing the means of future
sellaggrandisement makes some men patriots for one Ses.
slog, who have been subservient time-servers for the other
six. Upon the good old principle that " short reckonings
make long friends," it would surely be desirable that mem-
hers of parliament and their constituents should settle their
accounts more frequently than they now do; for, as in a neglected
estate In private life, the steward may become so little accustomed
to the supervision of the owner as to deem the property almost his
own, to, in public affairs, it comes to pass that too many of the pub.
lie stewards, from too long and undisturbed possession, seem to act
as if those who sent them to look after their estate had absolutely no
tight or interest in it. The truth of these remarks is strikingly deve-
loped by the present state of public business in the House of Conn-
mons, where the utmost efforts of the whipper.in can hardly keep
together a sufficient number of staunch Ministerialists to ensure even
nominal majority on any doubtful occasion ; while, in point
of fact, the Government has been again and again left in what can-
not but be considered, even by themselves, as virtual minorities.
But what should Ministers, were they men of spirit, do in such an
emergency ? Instead of submitting, night after night, to the dis-
grace of virtual defeat, why do they not turn the tables upon the
deserters from their own ranks, and abandon charges on the public
purse, many of which have been created and maintained for the
benefit of those who dare not defend them ? At any rate, we trust
that the electors throughout the kingdom will mark the conduct,
and sift the motives of those who have become honest only at the
eleventh hour. What a load of public burden might the country
have been relieved from, had Ministers encountered the same diffi-
culty in passing the estimates at the commencement of parliament,
as they now experience towards its close ?
Truzs.—The object of the resolutions on the corn trade, appears
to be the establishment of a fact which is by no means doubtful—
viz. that " the existing regulations for the trade in corn do not pre-
vent those fluctuations In its price, which are alike injurious to the
cultivators of the soil, and to the consumers of agricultural produce."
The resolutions state the averaga prices in England, from July, 1828,
to February, 1829, at 6"75. and a fraction per quarter; and from
March, 1829, to February, 1830, at 645. &c. per quarter; while
the mean prices (incorrectly called average) in the following
ports viz. Riga, Dantsic, Hamburgh, Corunna, Leghorn, and
Philadelphia, were, during the former period, 425. 10d. in the
following ports, viz. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Havre
Grace, Marseilles, 535. 11d. and in the first series of ports, (sub.
stituting New York and Baltimore for Philadelphia), during the
latter period,—namely, from March, 1829, to Feb. 1830, they were
465. 3d. hut at Rotterdam, Antwerp, Havre de Grace, and Mar-
seilles, 595. lid. The resolutions then go on to show the quantities
of imported corn, and the amount of duties received during the above
periods; as also the striking fluctuation in the averages between
lily 31, 1828, and February 11, 1829, the first of which was fixed
at 5Gs. per quarter, and the latter at 755. lld. being a rise of 19s.
Illd, per quarter in 28 weeks; whereas the average of February,
1830. was slis. Id. per quarter, being a fall of 19s. lid. in 51 weeks.
It seems therefore clear enough, that if one object of existing corn
law be uniformity or steadiness of prices, that object, or Indeed any
isproach to it, has not been attained. We recommend the con.
lading resolution of the series to notice, as a proof of the clearness
And good sense with which Lord Milton, one of the greatest landed
proprietors in the kingdom, has brought his mind to hear upon the
I,,rotion of laws professedly enacted for the security of the landed
:aterest. " 13. That the said regulations obstruct the corn-
.ttcreial intercourse between Great Britain and foreign countries,
—that they enhance the price of provisions in this country
—increase the cost of production of all the manufactures of the
cited Kingdom, including corn itself—render the industry of this
nstior less capable of competing with that of other nations, and
Aggravate the t.istresses of the people."—This is a subject which
cannot he too often or too earnestly discussed in Parliament, be.
osuse we arc convinced that every discussion will bring with it an
accession of converts, even from among the landed interest, to the
eavic of commcn sense and of humanity.

Among the means to be employed for the reductian of
Algiers is a new projectile called bulk incendiaire. These balls
ste put into pistols and muskets of large calibre, and discharged by
:nen who have been well exercised. The ball is so constructed, that
Igttites every conibustibl.: substance against which it strikes.—
S3cral experiments were lately made in Paris, in presence of a
;on:mission appointed for the purpose, and they are stated to have
been fully successful.—Literary Gazelle.
The regatta and other amusements that usually take
place at Eton on the 4th of June, in commemoration of his late Ma.
Jury's distinguished patronage of that excellent public school, were
:his year postponed for a week, in consequence of the death of Mr.
Vounr, on:: of the roosters. On Friday evening, the ceremony of
:swim, up the Thames, from the bridge to Surly-hall, was per.
:.orateil by parties of the boys, who embarked in ten and eight-oared
:utters, attended by the military baud of " the Blues" and a contd.
Unable number of spectators in boats. The banks of the river were
crowded on either side with company, and the whole scene wu ex.
xedingly gay and animated. At the conclusion of the sports
transparencies bearing the motto Floreal Mona, sad ornamented
'Aida the royal arms and a variety of other devices, were exhibited
an the little island immediately above the bridge. There was also
brilliant display of fireworks includi a burning temple, and
frequent discharges of water rockets, which latter almost seemed to
'' set the Thames on fire."
Cuthbert Ellison, Esq. has given notice to his friends,
that ov.ing to the at ,te of his own health, and that of one
of his family, he defines entering into a contest for the
representation of Newcastle. This circumstance has
rather damped the paper war which had been carried on
briskly in the town for the last eight days; but as the
°PPosition was not directed against Mr. E. it is said the
freemen who induced Mr. Hodgson to come forward are
looking out for a third candidate to oppose the other sit-
t!ng member.