The Sun.
London, England, 1829-09-17 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF' THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

The grievance inflicted both on the United
Kingdom and on India, by the various modes
,)f vexing and embarrassing the trade of the
King's subjects with the latter territory, of which
the existing law protects the exercise by the East
India Company, and the grievance—still more
palpable and barefaced—arising from the open
monopoly of trade carried on by the same trouble-
some Company with China, have roused, as is
well known, the attention of a large number of
enlightened individuals throughout Great Britain,
who have formed associations in the most of time
great commercial towns, and have agreed on a
variety of measures calculated to establish an ef-
fectual resistance to any such renewal of the
Company's expiring Charter, as might tend to
prolong those pernicious monopolies and privi-
leges from which the freedom and productiveness
of British industry have hitherto deeply suffered,
Nor is there a shadow of decent pretence, or of
reasonable motive, even on just views of the
Company's own commercial interest, for' pressing
upon the legislature the continuance of

noxious powers. The trade of the India Company
itself has been gradually withering under the shelter
ri of this much-cherished monopoly ; while private
merchants have, under every disadvantage
, 7,
Hsilo created by the charter, been laboriously but suc-
Aiu9 cessfully extending their commercial intercourse
1 with China, but through the medium of fo-
reigners more favoured than themselves. The
trade of the Company, whether carried on from
India or from England with the Chinese empire,
has been comparatively insignificant, or in no
degree worthy of speaking of, progressive. Ac-
cording to returns printed by order of Parlia.
ment, the trade of the Company, from its In-
dian dominions to China and back again, was,
including imports and exports, in the year
1820-21, 602,000/. ; in the year 1826-27, it
was 362,0001. In the same years respectively,
the private trade between India and China was,
at the beginning of the seven years, 3,328,0001.,
and at the end 3,764,000/. So with regard to
the British and China trade, for even a much
longer series of years. In 1814-15, the Coma
pany's British trade with Chinawas 2,900,0001.;
t in 1827-28, it was above 100,000/. less ; while
the private trade in the same period had increased
from 2,570,0001. to 3,760,0001. Again, too
amount of British manufacture exported to Indict
by the Company in 1814-15, was 787,000/. ;
in 1828-29, it had fallen to 398,000/. While
the Company's trade with its own territories 614
been so declining, what, under many restraints
and hindrances, has been the growth of the
private trade with India ? In 1814-15 it
amounted to upwards of 22,000,000 of rupees ;
in 1828-29, to upwards of 36,000,000. In
1814-15, the invoice value of the Company's
trade between England and China was
3,950,0001. ; in 1827-8, it was 2,690,0001.—a
falling off of 10 per cent ! But the American
home trade with Canton has more than doubled
in eleven years, from 1815-16 to 1826-7. As
against the British consumer, however, the Com-
pany knows how to drive a thrifty bargain.
From a table of the cost prices of tea imported
by these monopolists into Great Britain, it ap-
pears that they buy at about ls. 3d. per lb. and
sell at about 2s. 4d.—a profit of 90 per cent.,
levied in great part upon the working classes of
the inhabitants of this country. A comparison
between the prices for which an English family
can purchase tea from Leadenhall-street, and au
American, French, or Dutch family can have
the same comfort from a private trader, forms an
instructive, though somewhat mortifying, branch
of the information contained in the Parliamentary
returns. This system will never do.—Tines.
The Duke of 'Wellington, M. Matucewitz
(the Russian Envoy), &c., continue at Don-
caster, to discuss the affairs of Europe as well
as enjoy the pleasures of the place. We are
assured that his Grace entirely approves of the
course which Russia is pursuing, and expresses
himself quite free from apprehension as to the
ambitious designs of that power. Nicholas
reiterates his professions of moderation, and his
Grace believes him perfectly sincere.—Morning
Chronicle.

iis:teeaall'tltellidyn d s
The ease with which the Russians overrun
Asiatic Turkey, may be accounted for without
much difficulty. It is the interest of every man
who possesses property, to favour, rather than
oppose, the occupation of their country, by a
Government which, however defective, is much
better than the Government of any portion of'
Turkey. Burckhardt, who was so intimately
acquainted with the East, gives a dreary picture
of the condition of landholders under the
Turks. " No great merchants (he says) are
settled in Medina ; the trade is merely retail ;
and those who possess capital generally invest
it in goods, as is usual throughout Syria and
Egypt, there not being any public Institution
like banks, or national funds, from which
the capitalist might derive interest for his
money. The Turkish law rigorously forbids
the taking of interest ; and even if it were other-
wise, there is not any Government, nor any class
of men to which the people would intrust consi-
derable sums. The investment of capital in
landed property is also liable to great risk. By
a Decree of Mohammed Aly, in 1813, the pur-
chase of land in Egypt is rendered impracticable,
for it orders all the Moltezims (or landed pro-
prietors who shared in the possession of villages
and grounds, and who formed a class living on
their rents in the country towns), to receive their
yearly revenue from the Pacha's Treasury, where
they suffered every kind of humiliation and in-
justice ; and the whole of the soil was declared
to be the property of Government, or, in other
words, of Mohammed Aly himself, who leaves
the cultivation of it to the fellahs, on his own
terms. It happened lately that the fellahs, who
farmed five thousand acres belonging to the
village of Danikour, near Cairo, were deprived
of their leases, on the land being declared public
property, because the Paella wished to sow
1 clover for his cavalry upon the soil that the
fellahs had possessed. Landed property in
Syria also subjects the owner to great incon-
veniences : lie is oppressed by every Governor of
a district, and by every soldier who passes ; he
out watcho:.
all
ls
his
is peasants,profi ts.
suffers in his receipts from the extortions of
the Paellas, which generally fall more heavily
upon the cultivator than upon the moneyed man :
bhaanendiesfi
tf:
lhocesiftdepocrtoitbi:padoblenyoicti
There is, perhaps, nothing in the present de-
and happiness of
de-
plorable state of eastern society that has a more
the people than the necessity of continuing,
during their whole lives, in business full of in-
trigues and chances. The cheering
hopes %shich
animate an European, the prospect of enjoyivg
in old age the profits of early exertions, are un-

known to the native of the East, whose retire-
tnent would bring nothing but danger, by mark-
ing him as wealthy in the eye of his rapacious
Governor. The double influence of the Turkish
Government and Mussulman religion has pro-
duced such am universal hypocrisy, that there is
scarcely a Mahomed.m (whose tranquil air as he
smokes his pipe, reclining on the sofa, gives one
an idea of the most perfect contempt and apathy)
that does not suffer under all the agonies of envy,
unsatisfied avarice, ambition, or the fear of losing

his ill-gotten property. So much for the Go-
vernment of an ancient ally. Those who enjoy
the privilege of plundering may well fight despe-
rately for it ; but we cannot be astonished that
the plundered should prefer a change.—lbid.
We deprecate all comments in the public
Press upon unfinished legal inquiries affecting
the life or honour of any individual, as unjust
and indecorous. A Court, or a Jury, are not

competent to give an opinion upon the case
before them until they have heard the whole of
evidence ; and even then they should be

**owed to form that opinion upon the evidence
alone. In coming to a decision, they have to
take into account not only the matter of the
evidence, but the manner in which the witnesses
gave their testimony. An Editor of a news-
pier, however, who has read a part of the
(eVidence and seen nothing of the trial, too often
takes upon himself to relieve both Court and
Jury from the trouble of that reasoning process
by which they endeavour to form a correct
opinion Upon the matters in issue. We have
'en lied to make these remarks by the observa-
tiekles which we have seen in several Newspapers
itlative to the proceedings of the Court-Martial
on Capt. Dickenson—more especially by an
article which appeared in a Morning Paper of
yesterday, and which we cannot but characterise
as equally obtrusive and Jesuitical. If the editor
of the paper in question had not the intention
of assisting the Court to a decision upon this
complicated and important case, it is very strange
that he could not restrain his pen for a few days
longer, when his observations would not be
liable to the imputation of forestalling a verdict,
which now attaches to them, whether justly
or not we cannot pretend to say. Certainly
the obvious drift of his remarks was to
raise a prejudice in the public mind
against one of the parties who is deeply
concerned in the result of the proceedings. We
are aware that the members of the high and ho-
nourable tribunal before whom the case is tried,
are not likely to be influenced by any thing that
appears in a newspaper, while engaged in the
performance of the sacred duty which they have
to discharge between the country and the accused.
We are confident that they will look to time evi-
dence alone, divested of all extraneous topics,
and pronounce that decision which justice can
sanction and their consciences approve ; but we
protest, on principle, against the officious inter-
ference of newspaper partisans on all such occa-
sions. Some oracular personages are too fond
of displaying their sagacity at the expense of the
feelings of individuals and the interests of jus-
tice. Others become the organs of some secret
influence, or of some person or party more soli-
citous to wound than courageous to avow them-
selves. But, whether the motives of those
writers be innocent or impure, the proceeding is
equally unfair, and the consequences dangerous.
We have abstained all along from making a
single remark upon what has transpired at the
Court-martial in question. We felt it was not
for us to hold the scales of justice between Cap-
tain Dickenson and his accuser. It is due to
Sir Edward Codrington, who originally made
the charges on which the inquiry has been in-
stituted, as well as to the Gallant Officer now
upon his trial, that the decision of the Court
should not only be pure, but that, in the eye of
public opinion, it should be clear of the remotest
suspicion of external influence.—Morn.Herald.
If any good is to be expected from the new
Police (and we are taught to look forward to a
great deal), it surely must be as applicable to
one part of the metropolis as to another ; and the
exception of the city of London from its opera-
tion implies an absurdity and contradiction which
we should not have thought its authors capable
of falling into. No part of the metropolis stands
more in need of protection than the city ; on the
one hand, on account of its intrinsic importance
both in point of property and character ; and,
on the other, from the notorious fact that more
serious depredations occur within it than any
where else. Let any . one look at the state of
Fleet-street, Chick-lane, Houndsditch,. and the
very neighbourhood of the Mansion-house, in-
cluding that of the Bank and Royal Exchange,
and say whether there is any part of the metro-
polis, not excepting the immediate vicinity of
the well paid public office in Bow-street itself,
which calls more loudly for a new system than
this does. But time civic privileges, forsooth,
must not be invaded ; and it seems more econ-
cileable to civic wisdom that the inhabitants
should be plundered with impunity, than that
Goo and Magog should lose one inch of their
stature. The idea of this kind of exemption is
as absurd as that which says that the King of
England may not pass through Temple-bar
without the leave of the Mayor, though every
other man, woman, and child in the kingdom
may do so at their free will and pleasure.
But so it is, that in the new Police Act
the City boundaries are marked out with
a nicety which places parts of one and the
same place under the new and old jurisdictions.
Holborn, Hatton.garden, and Charterhouse-
square, for instance, are partly in the city and
partly in the county ; and while one side of each
is to be guarded by the new gens-d'armerie, the
other is to be pillaged, as heretofore, under the
nose of sleeping watchmen. Furnival's-Inn,
too, in Holborn, is in the same, or, rather, in
a still more absurd predicament ; for, though
this is an enclosed place, to which there is but
one common entrance, the provisions of the
new Police Act are only to • extend to " that
part of Furnivars-Inn in the county of Middle-
sex." We mention these instances merely as
striking proofs of the absurdity of these exemp-
tions and distinctions. One common object can
only be attained by one common means ; and
why the Civic Dogberries should be retained
while those of the county are replaced by a more
efficient body, it requires all the wisdom of
Gotham to discover. If the Civic Body has no
objection to the Duke of 'Wellington's helping
them to rebuild London-bridge, why should
they object to Mr. Peel's new Police protecting
the inhabitants ? We hope the result will not
be the driving the thieves into the city. If it
should be, the citizens will know who they will
have to thank for the favour, and will, too soon
learn, to their cost, which is of the most value,
empty privilege or substantial protection. Ai
to the efficacy of the new system, we pledge no

opinion—we wait to see it put to the test of
actual experiment—but we say, that, if it be good
for any thing, it should take under its protection
the whole metropolis.—lbid.
In another part of our Paper will be found a
report of a meeting which was held on Monday
last, at Oldham, for the purpose of taking into
consideration the causes of the distress which is
now felt throughout every part of the Kingdom,
and the best means of remedying it. The meet-
ing was not numerous ; but the resolutions which
it adopted were both pithy and sensible. Other
meetings, we learn from our correspondents, are
in embryo, and we doubt not, that if trade do nut
speedily revive, the scenes which were witnessed
in 1819, and 1826, will be again renewed.—
That matters would come to this pass, in con-
sequence of the contraction of the currency, and
the consequent augmentation of the pressure of
taxation, coupled with other causes of a less im-
mediate character, we not only never doubted,
but repeatedly predicted as the infallible results
of the system which Government appeared
determined to pursue. Our anticipations have
now been partially verified, and we fear,
that unless some improvement takes place
in the trade of the country, his Majesty's
Ministers will have to encounter a storm
of much greater magnitude than has yet been
experienced. The truth is, that though distress
has often been prevalent among the labouring
classes to a much greater extent than it now is,
there is no period in our history during which it
has lasted so long, or been so general among all
classes. Every tradesman in the metropolis will
vouch for the truth of this fact ; and every money-
lender can attest it by the high rate of interest
which he now obtains for his money; but what
is still more deplorable, there is no remedy with-
in the power of Government which it has not
declared to be impossible to adopt. The army, it
says, cannot be reduced—the navy cannot bear
cur:ailment, and every other expellee has been
brought so low in every department that the
public business must suffer, if any additional re-
duction be made—yet reduction must be made,
taxes shifted, or new channels opened for
our commerce, else bad will come to worse, and
worse to the worst—public meetings be ex-
changed for an insurrection, and insurrection for
something more terrible still. The distresses of
the people are evidently goading them on to
measures which we shall not name ; and it
would be too much to expect that in the midst
of this calamity they should arrive at accurate
conclusions respecting its causes. Great
financial measures have been spoken of as likely
to be brought forward in the ensuing Session of
Parliament by the Duke of Wellington; but no
financial measure which has not for its object a re-
lief from the various burthens which now press so
heavily on the middle and lower classes of society,
can be of any avail as a national relief. An in-
come tax would be merely a change oftaxation from
one article to another—a tax on funded property a
robbery on a certain class for the benefit of other
classes ; and so also, we might add, of every
other tax but that which shall take from the rich
and leave those who live by their labour, whe-
ther of head or hands, to make the most of their
exertions—in other words, of every tax, but a
tax on property, for the sake of which the coun-
try has been brought to its present pass of misery
and wretchedness. 'Whether his Grace is pre-
pared to present such a measure to the Lords
and Commons we know not ; but quite sure
we are that, in the first place, nothing else will
avail, and, in the second, that if such a tax be
not adopted, no one need envy his Grace the
office which he now holds.—Morn. Advertiser.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HOUSE.

Yesterday a dancing-master, who superintends the
Apollonicon and Terpsichorean Banquet, at Holborn.
bars, appeared at the Justice room, at the desire of
the Loan MAYOR, who had received certain intelli-

gence about what usually took place at that place
refined entertainment.

His LORDSHIP told the dancing-master, who was
also master of the ceremonies, that he had received
a letter from a gentleman who resided in the neigh-
bourhood of the banquet, stating that males and
females assembled at the rooms at night, and re-
tw:ined until four or five o'clock in the morning;
that they were provided with mixed and plain
liquors; that some of the ladies appeared dressed in
men's clothes; and that, take it altogether, the
Apollonicon and Terpsichorean banpact presented a
scene of debauchery and riot. His Lordship's cor-
respondent added, that the young men who fre-
quented the rooms soon contracted habits quite in-
consistent with business, and that his own son, who
was quite a youth, had been admitted gratis at 12
o'clock one night, when t he orgies were going forward.
The master of the ceremonies said, that in what-
ever manner the rdt.ms might have been conducted
by persons who had preceded him, he had encou-
raged no persons who were not respectable. The
ladies and gentlemen were supplied with tea and
coffee, but not with spirits.

The LORD MAYOR—What ! not with gin ? The
master of the ceremonies had never supplied any
thing but the harmless and unexciting beverage he
had spoken of. The dancing closed at half-past
eleven o'clock.

Mr. Cope, the Marshal, told the Lord Mayor that
he had visited the rooms by his Lordship's orders,
and he found 40 or 50 men and women there at
four o'clock in the morning.—(Laughter.)
After a long conversation, it appeared that the
rooms were unlicensed.
The LORD MAYOR—You must apply at the
Quarter Sessions for a licence.
The master of the ceremonies said that as he had
taken the rooms, the injury to him, if the dancing
was to be checked, would be most serious.
His LORDSHIP said that nobody could object to
the amusement of dancing, but in such places, and
at such times, and to such persons, it would inevi-
tably lead to great mischief. The appearance of
females in men's clothes proved what sort of indi-
viduals resorted to the rooms.
The master of the ceremonies intends, we under-
stand, to apply for a licence at the next Sessions.
Mr. Ellis, an intelligent parish officer of St. Ste-
phen's, Coleman-street, summoned the driver of
Jones's omnibus, a rival to Shillibeer's omnibus, for
having driven his vehicle violently through the street
during the hours of divine service on Sunday last.
The LORD MAYOR— What was the effect upon
the congregation ?—The complainant said that
while the omnibus was passing not a syllable the
clergyman uttered was heard.
The LORD MAYOR said that this was a case
which be considered it his duty to punish. It

showed a wanton disregard towards the feelings of
others. His Lordship then thanked the complainant
for bringing the matter before him, and fined the
defendant ss. and costs.