The Sun.
London, England, 1818-03-25 00:00:00

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SHIP NEWS.

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PORTSMOUTH, MA ticti 24.—Arrived his MA-
jesty's .ship Leverel hum Sr. Helena ; sailed the
7th January ; left there the Conqueror, Racoon,
and Musquito, and the Hon. Company'i cruiter
St. Helena. The MerCury, reported last bight,
spoke, in lat. 38. I,,ng. 10. 30 W. the American
ship Margaret, from Liverpool, hound to Ame-
rica, out 35 days, all %cell. Sailed his Majesiy's
ship Cadmus for Sheerness.
FALMOUTH, MARCH 22.—Arrived the Lady
Louisa packet With mails from Mhlta and Gibral-
tar, 15 days from ihe litter. Also arrived the
Alert, FRANCIS, from CharlestOn for Liverpool.
Put back the Calypso, HuTcliirsos, for St. Do-
mingo.

COWES, MARCH 24.—:Arrived the L:ttona, Low,
from Charleston for. London, laden with staves,
30 days' passage.
Ilaawtcft, NJAacu 24.—One bale of cotton and
ten bales of China riot, marked " MM. &Co "
have been landed here, having been picked up be-
t meen the Sunk and Long Sands ; it is supposed
to he part of the cargo of the Marquis Wellesley,
lately stranded on the Molise Sand.

LIVERPOOL, MARCH 23.—Arrived the Maria,
SMITH, tram Rio Janeiro—sailed the 4111 Ja-
nuary. Tile Caroline, WAY, was to sail -in seven
days. On time 24ih Jan. off Pernambuco, spoke
the brig Ler.ds, of and from London to Bahia ; on
the 25th, in tat 31. long. 45. spoke the Princess.
Charlotte, from Calcutta for Liverpool. The
True Briton, from Calcutta for Liverpool, was
then in company.
MARGATE, MARcif 24.—TI►e brig referred to
yesterday, as supplied with au anchor and cable,
is the Ebrington, LORBETT, from War ertord for
London, with provisions ; she has sailed this
morning, for the River. The Cerberus, OWEN,
has also sailed from Pan Sand Hole for the
Ricer.

DOVER, MARCH 24.—The Good Verwagting,
fr,m Anisterdinn co Lisbon, has put in here leaky,
having been on shore, and with loss of sails and
cables.

RAM'GATE, 24.—The Astrea trans-
port, has received damage in this har-
bour. The Hannah, EDWARDS, from St. Jollies,
has arrived at the Pier full of water.

The Martha, nOoKING, of Whitehaven, front
Dublibt, was driven on short on the Isle of Man,
in the gale of the 4,h, and all on board (8 in
number) perished. The Sun on, Burton, and the
Utility, Thompson, both of ►ll7ltitehaven, arrived
in Derby Haven the sane nghr, and being in-
tonne(' of the disaster, the Captains and their
crews used every endeavour to recover such parts
of the wreck as the sea had eft, and to rescue
from the grasp of a daring set of plunderers such
articles as they had got possession of before the
circumstance was known at 'Derby Haven. The
person who gave the informaron was stabbed in
three or four places by these freebooters, who
also "swore vengeance agains• the Captains, for
their interference.

The Royal Sovereign yacht in dock at Dept-
ford, undergoing some small rerairs The Erebus
sloop of war has beed surveyed at Deptfoid, and
101111(1 unfit for further ,er vice. The Narcissus
frigate is converted into a hulk, 'or the temporary
accommodation of the officets and men fitting out
the shins at Deptford for cliscovelies towards the
North Pole.

PRICE? OF BULLION -IYe4teuday P'ort►►gal Gold
in coin, and Foreign Gold in barsovere at 4/. Is.;
new Dollars at ss. sd. ; and Silver in bars,
standard, 5s 4d.

FIRE IN SALISBURY COURT.—This morning a
most alarming fire broke nut. between two and
three o'clock, at the Barley Mow, in Salisbury-
court, Fleet-street. It is said to lave originated
in the upper part of the premises, and raged with
considerable fury, and bef 're its revages could be
impeded, the whole of that old-established public
house was entirely destroyed, commencing from
the first floor ; nearly lle whole of he under part
was saved by the activity of the firenen, who, on
the alarm being given by the watchneu, were al-
most immediately on the spot, aid fortunately
prevented it extending further. Neither of the
two adjoining houses, viz that belmging to the
Family Prayer Book and Homily Society, nor the
eating-house iu Bride-pa,sage, Mere in the least
injured. We are sorry to add, that ris reported
that one person is missing ; but we sincerely hope
it will eventually prove unfounded. One of their
Own family, a lit+ child, at first vas missing,
but most fortunately it escaped tailing a victim to
the rage of the devouring element.
At a Special Meeting of the Commissioners
of the Pavement of Canterbury, held on Wed-
nesday last, for the purpose of considering
the propriety of li&iting the streets with
Gas, it was unanimously resolved, that such
an object was desirable, and that a General Meet-
ing of the inhabitants should be convened on
that day month (April 15), in order to con-
sider of the best mode of carrying the pro-
posed plan into effect, in conjonetion with the
Commissioners. At the same time it was ob-
served, that a still farther advantage might he
obtained for the citizens in point of safety, salu-
brity, and cleanliness, by a supply of water from
the river to their respective dwellings; anti as
the authority of Parliament must of necessity
be obtained for those purposes ; and as the
present powers of the Commissioners of the
Pavement in either event also require to be extend-
ed, it was conceived that it would be judicious to
turie these common objects of public benefit, with
that of an amendment of the Act, under which the
Commissioners of the Pavement are constituted.

Yesterday morning, between tl►ree and four
o'clock, the premises of Mr. Barker, Lisson-green,
Paddington, were broke into, and robbed Of 51. in
money, a great coat, a silver tankard, and other
articlea.

A HISTORIC .OP THE, FOURTH ESTATE.

FOR THE SUN.

MR. EptTon,-.—Reading the proceedings of
certain persons assembled In the cause of lireti:
gion, Immorality, and Sedition, in your Paper of
the sth ult., some account of them, and their
ancestors, may not be unwelcome to the Readers
of THE SUN,

It is allowed by all saber-mintteA Men that the
people are the cause of government. Without
the one, the other would be nothing. The
supreme power originates vtith them, which they
transfer to those who govern. King, Lords, and
Commons, are their trustees, and the Constitution
is their deed orsettlement. It does not reduce
them to a cupid mortuum, but they still exist as a
people, for whose benefit their trustees act.
Among them many have distinguished a part by
the name of MoD, as if they-were a rabble of
outcasts. 'this is a mistake ! The word is de-
t iced from the Latin 111otieE, to which, if we pre-
fix the adjunct Paistust, it means the first morers ;
and us such the sovereign power principally issues
from them, though it must be confessed it has
often ended in tueristutat MOBILE, the last movers;
to the great triumph of the Axa and the GIBBET.
Yet as a significant part of the people, they ever
reserved a portion of their supremacy to them-
selves, to be employed in their wise discretion, as
they please ; and herein they form the fourth
estate of the kingdom. They have no voice in
the Senate, but a loud one in Pulace-yard, Cold
Bath-fields, and other sacred places of meeting,
having for their motto vox populi vox DIABOLI,
which they call the foundation of their supre-
macy, and that though they delegated it in time
other three estates, they have, according to Mr.
LOCKE, a right to revoke it, and begin a new Go-
vernment again and again.
Under the rigor of the fedal system they were
low and of mean condition. They were villains,
but claimed a right to watch over the other estates,
which they sometimes exerted by force of arms,
In RICHAFID the First's time, they destroyed, as
devout Christians, a great many Jews, who. did
them no harm, and FITZHERBERT, their Prime
Minister, after serving them by mender and
rapine, very unfortunately lost his life at the
gallows, where many of the fourth estate had
suffered before. In the reign of HENRY the
Third, one FITZARNCLPH rose up, under whose Ad-
ministration several houses were pulled down in
Westminster, for which he was hanged by mar-
tial law, contrary, as be said, to Magna Chart a.
The mob then insulted the Queen, in the pre-
sence of time King ; and in Enwaan the Second's
time they were So angry against the two SPEN-
CERS, that they chopped off the bead of a good
Bishop ; then joining the traitorous Lords against
the King, dethroned. imprisoned, and murdered
him ; but this privilege was not altogether con-
fined to Vie mob; for out of a secret loveiof the
Qiieen, the favourite Minister of the third estate,
who encouraged them to that memorable deed of
blood, had himself the honour of being hanged
in the subsequent reign. In RICHARD !lie Se-
cond's time the mob again took the law into
their own hands to vindicate their liberty. Headed
by SAT TYLER, JACK STRAW, and other noble
leaders, they fled to arms, and, in the true spirit of
equality, beheaded all - the Barons, Clergy, and
Gee try, that came in their way. They stim-.
mooed the King before them on Blackheath, to
settle their Government, which he over prudently
declining, they rushed into London, burnt and
plundered great men's houses, and murdered their
tetiants ; but one of them being killed by time
LORD MAYOR, their estate dwindled away, and
many of them lost their lives at Tyburn. In the
reign of HENRY the Sixth, thinking their
rights invaded, they flocked to the standard
of one CArma, who was soon- after killed
in the field of honour ; many of his followers
were gibbetted, arid the rest dispersed. In
the reign of EDWARD the Fourth, and Hesutv
the Seventh, they exerted themselves, but,eimi a
less eminent way, it, support of their ancient im-
munities, under those great and good men, Situ-
.ESEL and \VARBECK, the latter of whom was slain
in their cause ; front is hence it is obvious a FouRTH
ESTATE has actually existed among us, time almost
immemorial, down to the present happy reign, in
which they have, on several occasions, raised
their snakey heads, gorgon-like, and made their
consequence known to the 'other three. Their
legislative and judicial power is assumed, as well
as their executive. Some persons there are who
disown their legal authority ; but there are others
who contend, that to put the great seal into their
hands by commission, wouht be for time public
good ; particularly so, as according to certain
gleat men of the third estate, they are the true
WHIGS, or prigs, meaning thieves of the Consti-
tution. 'they have not yet claimed, like the mob
of old Rome, a negative voice against our laws,
though they- have controlled their execution, as
witness the Gin Act, the Saw the Colliers',
the Acts foi Tolerating the Roman Catholics, the
late Corn Act, &c, Their importance has in-
creased by the private quarrels in the third estate,
of the Opposition against -.his Majesty's Ministers,
whom they maul as downright rogues. The quar-
rels of these opposers are calculated to strengthen
time hands of this venerable mob, in order to carry
some private point against their enemies ; and this
is what they call the trite unsophisticated spirit of
British liberty. Several peat me), of the second
and third estate, have, in time present reign, called
their allies (the mob) together, and told them
that they were the most oppressed people in the
world, not withstanding King, Lords, and Com-
mons could not exist without them ; that they
dared not to speak, but in the presence of -a sol-
dier or a Justice of time Peace. So much have they
felt their freedom encroached upon by wicked
laws, that they have associated to support our
Constitution on revolution principles 'Their mild
intentions have been manifested by their proceed-
ings to overthrow both Church and State, in con-
sequence of the inflameiatory
.conduet of their
great man of time people., iv o, when brought into
power on their sineilders, very gratefully rewarded
them, by nearly doubling. the most odious tax
that ever was imposed on man; and thereby put-

ting a gag in the mouths of his dear friends the
mob.

In short, considering that this FOURTH ESTATE is
the root of all good gove►nment, who is to dis 7
pute their right to do what they please, even
though every thing that is dear to civilized tt►ats
is destroyed by it ? But when lite trult is known,
that the exercise of this glob power may be justi-
fied by themsdves, those who are better taught,
and despise the polities of a departed senator,
way in their calmness dignify it by the names of
REBLELION AND TREASON.

•
This,Sir, is a short hi,..toryot the i:out.rx ESTAM,
‘‘,llich thought last in name, is first*, fact, and of
which I have the pride to he a ukembei , and am,
Your htondde servant,

A CNALit FARMER, near Copenhagen-House.

THE ARMY.

Hor,c Gitards,March 7, 1119,

At a Genera' Court-:Nlartial held at IVhitehall,
on the 12th Jarm,iry, ISIS, and continued by
)otantnents to the 15th of the same month, Bre-
vet-Major WlLLtam BAILIE, of the 25th Regi-
ment of Foot, Was atraigued upon the undermen-
tioned charge, viz. :

" For having, on or about. the 2,2 d of March, 1817, pro-
umted, encouraiied and put himself at the head of a combina-
tion of Officers of the 'sth regiment, against Major James
Peat; the Commanding Officer, by acting together in oppo-
sition to his orders, with the view of controlling the Com-
manding Officer in the due exercise of his proper authority,
and thereby effecting a division in the regiment, notwith-
standing he was frequently called ppon by Major Peat, the
Commanding Officer, fur his 141;00, as Second in Command,
in discountenancing and putting astop to the said combina-
tion, and for persisting in the same insubordinate and dan,
genius conduct, from thc above-mentioned time, to the 17th
of May following, in defiance of the express disapprobation
of Colonel Effwa'rd:Codd, the Officer ConnuF.auling the garri-
son at St. Anne's, t.trbadoes, all such conduct being highly
injurious to the discipline of the regiment, and prejudicial to
good order; and iii direct violation of the general orders and
regulations of the Array."

Upon which charge the Court came to the fol-
lowing decision :

" The Court having maturely weighed and con-
sidered the evidence adduced on the part of the
prosecution, as well as what has been offered irk
defence, is of opinion, that Brevet MHjor
Bailie is Not Guilty of the charge preferred
against him, and does therefore fully acquit hint."
The Prince Regent has been, pleased, in the
nartre and on the behalf of his Al ,jesty to approve
and confirm the finding of the sentence .ot the
Court.

Although the charge against Brevet Major XVil-
liam Bailie is not supported by evidence, yet it
appeared to his Royal Highness trout the pro-
ceedings that there was a disunion among the
Officers, which some iodivifillals were culpably
active in promoting, which tended to subvert the
good order anddisiipline, and to cast discredit
upon the character of so old and respectable A
corps as the 25th Regiment, and which perhaps
in this instance could nor hav,f occurred had Ma-
jor Peat exercised his Command with that firmness;
or sound discretion which his responsible statiork
called upon hint to exert ; for if (hele existed any
good reason, founded upon milit,try arrangement
and discipline, for fixing the time of messing at
any particular hour, he tailed in not hating issued
and firmly enforced an order to that effect, and
whether such reason existed or not, he appears
to have injudiciously es.posed his authority, by at
weak attempt to enimce it throngh half meastir?s.
Though a more judit loos exercise of Major
Peat's discretion, as a Commanding Officer, uti;:,ht
have averted the circumstances which have givers
rise to this Court Manual, yet the Prince Re;:ent
has been pleased to consider that the question in-
volved in the proceedings (Hight not to go Toth to
the Army without some reference to his Aljesty's
Regulations, in which the advantages of a well-
tegulatei Mess, upon principles of suhoulination
and gentlemanly deference to authority, are
strongly inculcated, and in proportion as a re-
spectable system of Messing among the Officers
forms a very material feature in the discipline
of a Corps, so is it essential that the CoMmand-
ing Officer, Who is responsible for its mainte-
nance, should possess a proper audior iiy, am! hare
the power of regulating among other things the
hour of dining, with reference to the other calls
for the attendance of, his Officers, and according
.t(i what he 'considers due to the support of good
order and economy among them.
It is presumed that every Officer holding a si-
tuation of such responsibility and importance as
attach to the command of a Ifegiment tvill exer-
cise this authority with a discretion that need not
unnecessarily interfere with the convenience of
individuals, and his Royal Highness has been
pleased to command, that the attention of the
Army shall he fully drawn to the observance of
this principle, so essential to discipline and good
order.

he Commander in Chief directs that the fore-
going charge prefer ed against Brevet Major
William Bailie, of the 25th Regiment of F,!0%,,
together with the finding and sentence of the
Contt„ and the Prince Regent', commands on this
occasion, shall he entered in the General Order
Book, and read at tie head of every regiment in.
his. Majesty's service.
By command of his Royal Highness the Com-.
mantle'. in Chief,
HARRY CALIT.RT, Adjutant-General.

WESTMINSTER MEETING.--The PAmphlet-or
Lord SomEas,upon Parliamentary Reform, wicked
at the Westminster Meeting last Monday, is pub-
lished iii,T4e ParnOteteer, No: 20. The Politi-
cal Tracts of Mr. JEREMY liaumAm are also con-
tained in that *otk•

BAR ‘VI.T.----111 a bite trial at Oxford, where it
was observed that a young Oxonian had more
Wine than could be itulized requisite for him, a
celebrated BArtister remarked, that it only proved,
he had the Putt of a Gentleman. Many persons,
whose manners may 'not be exactly formed in . the
school, of Chesterfield, may nevertheless lay claim
to this, Port, in consequence of the smiles or .FOl-
- in the present Lottery, which entitle them
to demand their Port of 131 sit ; nay, they- may
even be re-PoriT-ed if they make a lucky purchase
before Thursday-next; as the report is cur!eut
that the Tickets and Shares ate going cf.:,