The Sun.
London, England, 1827-06-04 00:00:00

SPIRIT OP THB PUBLIC JOURNALS.

The opponents of the new Ministry have in
both Houses been slowly but deoidedly letting
themselves down from the lofty perch on which
they had mounted, and swallowing the large pre-
tensions which they had exhibited while yet, the
question seemed in equipoise whether Mr. Can-
ning would or would not be reinforced by the
Site of the Whigs—the double aristocracy of
eminent station and high intellectual power.
Mr. Beaumont first withdrew from the contest
in the House of Commons : Lord Winchelsea,
in the House of Lords, has now followed his
example. On Friday night that Noble Lord
gave a distinct notice of his determination to
abandon a motion which he had originally de-
signed as a test of the. professions and character
of Mr. Canning's Ministry—a motion assuming
certain differences of opinion between those
Members of the old Cabinet who constitute a
part of the present and their Whig associates,
and founding on that assumption a vote that the
Ministry so composed was not entitled to the
public confidence. The Noble Lord, in deli-
vering himself of this notice, was less explicit
than might have been wished, though not les*
so than might well have been expected, as to the
motives which weighed with him to forego the
intended victory over the coalition Ministers,

who, at first, we were told, would never achieve
the Government, and who are now declared, in
terms equally positive, to be quite incapable of
retaining it. Lord Winchelsea, it is true, insi-
nuated that the disunion as to principles with
which he had originally charged the two branches
of the Cabinet, might be presumed to exist no
longer, and must have arisen from some conces-
sion of opinion on either side ; adding, that instead
of his undertaking, as at first, to bring the prin-
bAusdinmeisnsisotrfaN6ouy
011 to trial, it had now
Lords themselves
own character, and that they
themselves of some ,!1
pportunity
Ifotbeiooiaueprn
that
te.fopat Irui theae
purpose,
their
avail
ro
,bore the prorogation of Par-
the secret history of all this
" playing fast and loose," is nothing more than:
the gradual evaporation of the hope which was
entertained a few weeks ago, that by embarra^s-
ing motions, mixed up or alternated with inqui-
sitive and taunting speeches, the embryo Minis-
try might be extinguished in the womb. The
motion of the Noble Lord, like that of Lord
Mansfield, was to be a trial of strength rather
than of principles and now that nothing can be
effected in the way of serious injury, the attempt
is given up, lest it might expose the weakness of
the assailants. However, Lord Lansdown did
promptly and manfully take up the challenge
which was indirectly offered to him ; and, in a
few emphatic sentences, put an end to all the
gratuitous and factious accusations of a change
of sentiment with which lie and his friends had
I been tormented. The Noble Marquis declared,
in unequivocal terms, " in the face of the House
and of the country, that no one opinion which
he had ever entertained upon any subject had
been withdrawn or compromised, as affording
a ground for that connexion which upon the
grounds of public principle and honour, and
upon the grounds of public principle and honour
only, he had thought it to be his public duty to
form." On this assurance we sincerely trust that
the nation at large will be justified in relying,
not merely as to what concerns the consistency
and honour of the noble Marquis and his immedi-
ate friends, (among whom Lord Carlisle confirmed,
on his own behalf, the solemn declarations Of
Lord Lansdown), in acceding to Mr. Can-
ning's Government, but—what is of more direct
and vital importance to the country—that the
principles which are so honourable to those who
entertain them will be exemplified and enforced for
the practical benefit of the people of England who
are affected by them ; that whatever is most liberal
and noble in foreign policy,—whatever most con-
scientious, upright, and provident, in the application
and mangement of the national resources at home,—
will be at all times, and under all circumstances, sup-
ported by his Majesty's present Cabinet, composed
as it is, in some part as to numbers, and still more
as to personal influence and reputation, by the Noble
Lords and their Whig friends, who have thus held
forth a solemn pledge to the community. If a reso-
lute and unbending economy do not mark systema-
tically the course of this Administration, we shall
with as little delay or scruple, exert ourselves to
procure for it a disgraceful overthrow, as we have, in
the hope of better things for the empire, joined
heartily in smoothing and facilitating its path to
power. Lord Bathurst, on the same night, com-
municated to the House the intention which he
professed to have entertained while in office, of es-
tablishing some new tribunal, which should be in-
strumental to a better administration ofjustice in the
West Indies. This project, his Lordship intimated,
was to be a consequence of the reports which have
been presented to the Colonial Office from the
Commission for inquiring into that important but
delicate question, as affecting the rights and habits
of our West India colonists, and the judicial treat-
ment of the blacks. We have already on more than
one occasion inserted extracts from the reports of
the above Commission, at the head of which is Mr.
Dwarris ; and we have done no more than justice in
commending the diligence and impartial spirit which
appear to have governed that Learned Gentleman and
his colleague, in the course of their long-continued
investigations.— Times.

It will be recollected that we mentioned some
time ago, that England, Russia, and France,
having agreed to take active measures, founded
upon the resolutions of the Protocol of April,
1826, and to carry effectually those measures
into execution, most precise instructions had
been forwarded to the Ambassadors of those
three Powers at Constantinople, to urge again
the necessity for the Ottoman Porte to treat
with Greece as an independent State, possessing
its own laws and governors, although still sub-
jected to a nominal tribute. We stated also at
the time, that in the event of t hose remonstrance,
on the part of Russia, France, and England,
backed by those of Austria and Prussia, being
again rejected by the Divan, the five Ambassa-
dors were to leave Constantinople, and declare,
on leaving it, that the Commanders of the fleets
belonging to their Governments would be in-
stantly ordered to take measures to intercept any
communication between the Turks and the
Greeks, and thereby shelter the latter from any
new act of hostility. That, moreover, the in-
dependence of Greece would be forthwith pro-
claimed, and commercial agents, or consuls, ap-
pointed in its principal ports by the great Euro-
pean Powers.—According to our last advises
from Constantinople, the Ambassadors of Eng-
land, Russia, and France, after repeatedly
iirging the necessity of an amicable and imme-
diate arrangement with the Greeks, had at. first
in vain applied for a written answer to their
several applications,. but, upon being still more
pressed, the Reis-Effendi promised, that, as soon
as the Ramazan should be over, an answer in writ-
ing should be given. This answer is hourly ex-
pected, and should it prove unfavourable, No again
repeat the assurance, that the measures above
alluded to—let, the interposition of the European
sects; 2d, the independence of Greece proclaimed ;
3d, the appointment of consuls, will forthwith be

that the negotiations carried on at Paris and Lon-
don, kir did purpose of converting the Protocol of
.April, 1826, into a treaty between Russia, France,
and-England, are on the point of being successfully
brought to a close. We hope to be able in a few
days to lay the treaty itself before our readers.'
-Every friend of humanity will hail with joy such a
publication, on which we heartily congratulate the
three Governments. We understand that Austria'
and Prussia will also sign the above treaty, and that'
Bulow, the Prussian Minister, is recently ar-!
rived in this country for that purpose.—/biii.
In advocating the cause of liberty in the most
extensive sense of the word, to the professors of
all religions whatever, we proceed upon a prin-
ciple which leaves entirely out of consideration
the merits or demerits of the particular religious
system's. The Yorkshireman, with a long beard,
wb.D applied to the Recorder of London on
'Thursday last for a license, is not a Minister ex-
actly to our taste ; but he may be, to the taste of
others, and just as much entitled to gratify theirs
as we are to gratify ours. There are some fellows
with long beards professing to be disciples of Jo-
hanna Southcote, who bold forth regularly in
Smithfield ; and they have their followers, some
perhaps sincere, others conceiving probably that
they appear to greater advantage with a long
beard than shaven. Who would give import-
ance to these people by imposing restraints on
them ? If Ratters will only select their stations,
so that we shall not, in our habitations, be dis-
turbed by the din they make, nor have our
thoroughfares blocked up—let them rant on—
if a Catholic chooses to believe that his Priest,
in his capacity of exorcist, can drive the Devil
about as a boy drives his top, or that he is likely
to be benefited under any ailment by rubbing
the part affected with a fragment of the breeches
worn by St. Anthony, or smelling one of his toe
nails,, let him be indul_g,Zi in his wish by all
means. Power can only make a sect dangerous ;
and there is not, 'perhaps, a single religious sect,
which, if PoP;sessed of power, could not' perse-
cute. Tile Unitarians are as little disposed to
Perser.nte as any sect ; but a late persecution at
Geneva has shown that the Unitarians, when in
power, can abuse it as well as others. We allude
to the persecution of the Momiers, or Calvinists,
under the old pretext of the necessity for pre-
serving tranquillity, and the banishment of the
Clergyman. We observe from the Potteries
Gazette that one of the manufacturers, a strict
Calvinist, a Mr. Ridgway, though a great stickler
for liberty, on being made a constable, instantly
set to work to compel all his neighbours to take
his habits as their model—the consequence of
which was universal outcry. We should be
sorry to trust him with more extensive power.—
We would, in. fact, give power to no sect; and
put the law into such a state, that no sect should
ever be able to avail themselves of it for purposes
of persecution, and then say do your worst. The
opposition of the different sects forms even the
best security for universal liberty ; for it is the
union of political power with religion which can
alone make it mischievous; and when a whole
community is of one religion, there is always a
danger lest theT'Priests succeed in inducing
those who make the laws to fall into the snare of
framing laws calculated to promote the interests
of Priests at the expence of those of the people.
In the Times:of Friday reference is made to the
communications of its correspondent from Por-
tugal, and the writer observes :
" What a picture—how monstrous and hew true a pic-
ture has been delineated throughout our last extract, and
the present, of a people wallowing in the mire of beastly
superstition, and trampled under the bloated feet of its vi-
cious and dem; icable Ministers ! The correspondence which
we inserted a day or two ago furnished some illustrations
the degree to which the national intellect of Portugal
has been perverted—if not annihilated—by its habitual sub-
jection to the Priesthood ; and in this day's letter we per-
eeive a description of the infernal machinery by which that
overthrow of the mind of a whole people has been from age
to age prolonged. Such area the consequences, such the
characteristics of a perennial despotism in Church and Ci-
vil Government, where each tyrant clings for support to
its guilty colleague, force arming her officers to repress all
independent action, and fraud preparing her disciples to
abandon the privilege of thought."
Now this statement of the debasing effect of
Catholicism in Portugal does not in the least
affect our position. We have always, between
Catholics and Catholicism, readily admitted the
noxious influence of Catholicism in every country,
where abetted by the Civil power. The Jour-
nals of Ireland, devoted to the Catholics (for
candour is hardly to be expected from partizans)
will not grapple with the question on its real
merits, but have recourse, to some subterfuge.
Thus, for instance, the Dublin Morning Re-
gister of Wednesday last inserts the following
passage from an article in the Times :

" That the Romish creed is tainted by a variety of su-
perstitions, must be the opinion of every man who sincerely
professes the doctrines of the Church of England; and
every Protestant who feels sincerely attached to his com-
munion, for its connexion with the spirit of civil liberty as
well as for its conformity with the Gospel truth, is doubt-
less flied and strengthened in his devotion to it by a strong •
dislike to the Church Government of the Roman Catholics,
as an instrument for gradually subjugating the reason of
the Layman to the arbitrary will of his Priest, and thus
forming, by a natural though circuitous process, the ground
work of an influence whick, even in things temporal, must
tend to establish between the confessor and his penitent the
relations of superior and subject."
And then remarks, " If we were disposed to
indulge in' the least animadversion upon the
above, it would only be to the extent of suggest-
ing that the writer must mistake the religious
faith of the individual who believes that the
Rornish Creed is tainted by a variety of super,
stitions.' That there are many such persons
there cannot be the least doubt ; but amongst
the tribe there cannot be one who 'sincerely
professes the doctrine of the Church of England'
—that is, who cordially and entirely,subscribes
to the thirty-nine Articles."—Now this is mere
cavilling. Though The Times used the word
creed in the outset of the passage, yet from the
subsequent expression Church Government of
the Roman Catholics,' it is quite clear that
Roman Catholicism was
_the subject of the
remark, and not the mere creed of the Catho-
lic Religion, and that admirably-contrived
system for enchaining the mind which the Ca-
tholic Hierarchy has always endeavoured to en-
force, where not restrained by the civil authority,
are perfectly distinct.—ln a work just pub-
lished here, under the title of Catholicism in
Austria, by Count Ferdinand Dal Pozzo, late
Maitre des Requetes, and First President of
the Imperial. Court of Genoa, it is well observed,
that " If the Catholic Religion consisted only
of its essential tenets, there would be no reason
for fearing that it 'would exercise a pernicious
influence in civil society.—lt is absurd to sup-
pose, that belief in transubstantiation, image
worship, the Mass, &c., could injure any Go-
vernment, or any public liberties whatsoever.
.... But seeing that an infinity of
superstitions, both old and new, are prevailing
in different Catholic Countries, although not the
e in every one ; that they have been intro-
duced or favOured chiefly by Monks, who are
regarded as the most
of Rome ; that activenew.lan agents of the Courtlea
are continuallydevise' d objects of devotion
• at new ' '
miracles are
frequently F9oauned.; t ii4culous customs

are revived
_and _ every were disseminated ; that
the credulity and ignoranee ofthe people are
converted into a source of profit ; and finally,
that great efforts arc made .to keep up this igno- •
rance and credulity, by opposing the diffusion of
sound and useful knowledge, and the best modes of
this diffusion—they fear not merely the full re-
vival of a few doctrinal points; regarded by them
as superstitious, but the accumulation of those
superstitious habits which, though not essentially
inherent in Catholicism, are yet" constantly seen
to be attached to that worship, wherever the
civil authority neglects to prevent or 'extirpate
them." It will readily be allowed by every Ca-
tholic that the Pope Ought to have a spiritual
influence throughout the Catholic Church. Dif-
ferences exist respecting the extent of that in-
fluence, but all allow that it ought to be very
great in all matters regarding discipline. Now,
&the influence of the Court of Rome has been
uniformly exerted to debase the human mind,
and to promote 'superstition, -this: shows that,
though the creed'Of - the Catholics may be as
good as any other creed, yet that Catholicism,
taken as a system, is
.of a noxiOus. tendency. As
an illustration of the' necessity under which the
most enlightened a the Catholic clergy feel
themselves of promoting the most debasing su-
perstitions, in countries in which the law abets
the Church, we may instance the celebrated Mu-
ratori, to whom literature is far more indebted
than to any Protestant clergyman, and in many
of whose disquisitions it is difficult to determine
whether we ought most, to admire the depth of
research or soundness of judgment. But Mura-
tori was a Jesuit, as-well as librarian to the Duke
of Modena, and in his former capacity felt him-
self bound to promote superstition. We have
now before us a pretty thick volume, entitled
" Spiritual Exercises," published by that great
man in 1757, in which we find him labouring;
in the way of his calling, to keep up in the lower
orders all the most debasing superstitions. We
presume it will readily be alloWed that there can
hardly be.a grosser delusion than in the case of
one of the persons said to be possessed. with
devils, for the priest to make his Satanic' Majesty
keep up a regular conversation with him in his
capacity of exorcist. Now, let us hea-i• the great
Muratori on this subject : " A-skilful exorcist
in Rome was .conjuring the devil out of a pos-
sessed person, when it came into_ his head that that
spirit Might be able to, give some good advice to
the bysfanders : he interrogated him where he was
then answered, in hell. And how long, ad-
ded the priest; hast thou to remain there ? The
evil one hesitated for a while to answei;" but
overcome by the command, he at length broke
out with a voice denoting the most intense agony,
in these words ; For ever, for ever ! foaming
at the mouth, and striking the ground every
time with his heels with incredible fury.—
He merely pronounced these words, but
with such enekgy, that it was 'obvious that he
who was speaking of eternity well knew, from
experience, what it was. There were there pre-
sent; froni curiosity, a great number of gentlemen
(c,avalieri),' and other people; and such fear
took possession. of all of them, that they all re-
mained speechless. Suffice it to say, that many
hnrried off immediately to make a general con-
fession, and some were notably improved in their
lives, influenced by that grand sermon, delivered
to them by the Devil, in the single expression
for ever." Muratori, in other respects,• was a
very worthy man ; and so, in many respects, we
dare to say, is Doctor Doyle, and many of the
Clergymen, who felt themselves bound, in the
way of their trade, to aidlin the deception of the
Hohen/Ohe miracles. Before we can pronounce
respecting any man, *e ought to consider the
circumstances in which he is placed. We merely
adduce the instances, to_prove the corrupting in-
fluence of-the system. Count Dal' Pozzd urges
the expediency of placing Catholicism under the
restraints which have made it harmless in Aus-
tria. He seems to think that the coercion of
the civil power is alone adequate to strip Catl--
licism of its noxious qualities." I shall commence
by observing," he says, " than the state of know-
ledge alone is -no security against the invasions of
superstitions, and of the extravagant pretensions
of the Clergy; for the effect of knowledge is slow
and feeble, -nor does it act upon the great bulk
of the population. Besides, interest and power
but too often succeed in making it retrograde:
will cite, for instauce,France and some parts of Italy,
countries In 'which all the sciences,. literature,
'and the arts are about the same level as in Eng-
land, but which, notwithstanding, have been,
within a few years (the Austrian territories ek•
cepted), placed under a species of Monkish
yoke. But the Austrian' dominions fiinfish
another singular observation, viz.—that the
power of the Government, seconded byra small
degree of knowledge, or by knowledge less dif-
fused, has obtained such a result as the great
diffusion of knoWledge .has not elsewhere pro-
duced—that is, a pure, innocent, unobtrusive
'Catholicism—a Catholicism which, instead of
opposing the Government, is a support both to
it and to
_civii.society at large ; and this Austria
,has accomplished by. mild and reasonable means ;
that is to, say, by wise laws." Without under-
valuing the Austrian system, it is obvious that
many things may be done in Austria which can-
not easily be done in this kingdom. But would
Catholicism .•be either more powerful or more
debasing after the repeal of the Penal Laws than
ibefOre ? There is, perhaps, as great a mass of
(fanatical abSurdity in Protestant England, which
'is, 'notwithstanding, 'perfectly harmless, as can
;well exist in any Catholic country. The love-
7easts of the Methodists are at least as__de7

grading as the flagellations of the Catholics:
;the ravings of the Ranters, Southcoteans,
'with a long list of etceteras, indicate a com-
plete prostration of the understanding. But
'the division of Sects secures us against the
possibility of 4ny one ever obtaining so much
'power as to be able to persecute. Reason and
'folly, therefore, can look each other in the
'face in England without fear. A little hy-
pocrisy may occasionally be the result, for in a neigh-
bourhood where any religious body prevails, a eun-
ining Statesman will see the advantage of being on
'good terms with them ; but that is the extent of the
?mischief. We have said tliat the evil in Catho-
4icism is the connection of the Clergy with a fo-

feign Court, bent on encouraging the debasement of
!the people. But it is clear that the persecution of
any religious body has a necessary tendency to ce-
ment the union between Priest and People, and
consequently to increase the influence of the Priest.
The improvement' of religious bodies seldom com-
mences with the Priests, but the improvement of
!the Laity necessarily improves the Priests. Thus,
!for instance, in many parts of Germany, the liberal
:feeling of the Laity, produced by habits of intimacy
?with the people of other religions, has more or less
!communicated itself to the Clergy. When the
imemory of Luther was celebrated in Germany some
I years ago, Catholics.and Protestants in all the towns
equally took part in the proceedings, without anir-
madversion. We do not mean to say that Catholic
' Priests were found taking such a part ; but they saw
the necessity of conniving at their flocks doing so.
We see in like manner that in Silesia, where the!Go.
• vernment is perfectly neutral, the Catholic flocks; in

nutters of discipline, obey the Priesta only' when
they - think •them in the tight. One-Tony. Serves,
often as an antidote to another. Thus- in a country
in which the most coniplete religious liberty is 'al-
lowed, there may probably be a good deal of fana-
ticisth and bigotry; but the very variety of forms
under which they appear will lead men of good un-
derstandings to make comparisons, and will other,-
wise Serve to strengthen their faculties; and thus,
independently of the security from persecution, de-
riVed from infinite divisions, there will always be a
number of men, from this sort of training, superior
to the delusions of bigotry, who will be able to vin-
dicate with effect the rights of our species to men-
tal freedom. To those who say that we cannot
guard against the arts of Catholic Priests in corrupt-
ing the understandings of the people, we say then
we are in a hopeful condition indeed, for in that
case we can only secure ourselves by ceasing to to-
lerate, and by-establishing a Protestant Inquisition.—
But to those who place no reliance in the efficacy of
persecution as a preservative, we say, to be con-
sistent, you. Must give the Catholics the same
chance for extending their influence that you give to
every other sect, for; if you rely not on the law for
the repression of opinion, you have no other re-
source but to equal or beat them at the arts of per-
suasion. If the Catholics can persuade all-Protest-
ants tojoin them, the case of Protestants is hopeless
indeed.—Morning Chronicle.

The lo'ss of Mr. Hume's Bill, for preventing
frivolous arrests, is another instance of the
" spirit of improvement" which the Whigs have
carried with them into the Administration. This
Bill went to prevent arrests fordebt on mesne pro-
cess—a practice equally repugnant to reason and
Christianity. It confounds the debtor with the
criminal, whether he may have become insolvent
by his own fault or his misfortune—and it also
deprives a man of his freedom before any debt is
actually ascertained and proved to be true. The
law does not fix the debt until the, judgment ;
but it allows the person of the defendant to be
seized, and if he cannot get bail, to be dragged
to prison, before the plaintiff has given any evi-
dence of the debt before the tribunal that is to
pronounce the judgment.. Thus there is impri-
sonment first, and a hearing the case afterwards.
But is this violation of the first principles of ,
justice attended with any practical advantage to
the community at large ? Quite the reverse.
It seems intended only for the special benefit of
Sheriffs' officers, and the lowest harpies of the
law. If the debtor has means, those persons
Coon lessen them—if lie is poor, they make him ,
still more so—they prey upon distress, and crush
poverty by exaction. A great proportion of those
unfortunate people who are, thrown into prison,
and utterly ruined, would have paid their debts
in time, but being deprived of their liberty, and
consequently of employment, they become inca-
pacitated from doing so for ever. Both the At-
torney and Solicitor General opposed Mr.
Hume's Bill ; yet it was only the other night,
when the Attorney-General made some very
just and pithy remarks on the benefit that would
accrue to society if the practice of arrest for small
sums was abolished, he argued, as we have
often done," that if the power of arrest was done
away, the extensive and ruinous system of credit
which tempts people beyond their means would
be put down, and the income or wages which
are now squandered in idle or dangerous gratifi-
cations, would be paid to the butcher, the .baker,
the tailor, the draper, and other tradesmen, who
supply the family with 'the necessaries and the
conveniences of life. This was the just and ra-
tional view of the subject ; and we only wonder
on what ground it is the Attorney-General,having
once convinced himself of the truth of this prin-
ciple, should wish to limit it ; for surely. a too
easy system of credit does as much mischief
among people of moderate fortunes, as among
those who work for their. daily bread. To make
his principle truly effective, the power of arrest
must-not depend upon the amount of the debt,
but must be done away on mesne procesi alto-
gether ; and, indeed, for our own part; we
think it of more harm than good in all
civil cases, whether on mesne process or
after final judgment. If a debtor has moveable pro-
perty, let it be attached, if he has landed property
let it be available by process of law, in some way
similar to the process by elegit, or statute-merchant,
but let the person of every man, unless accused of
something criminal, go free. The Bill of the Soli-
citor-General for, -prohibiting arrest in cases where
the debt does not amount to 201. is an improvement,
upon the list Act, which some time ago expired.
We are glad to see any thing in the shape of-im-
provement, as we had rather see the human mind
advance by ever so small-degrees than retrograde;
'but what sort of improvement is this ? The last Act
prohibited arrest for debt under 15/.—the previous
Act (which, on account of the expiration of the last,
is the one now in force) prohibited arrest for debt
under 101. Thus the Solicitor-General, acting
scrupulously upon precedent, only -ventures to en-.
large the sum by .5/., as for Mer Legislators had done.
This is indeed admitting our argument in principle,
•but cutting it up in practice. The Attorney-Gene-
ral, indeed, said he would not object to a Bill enlarg-
ing the sum below which no arrest could take place to
1001. Why then did he not bring in a Bill to that
'effect, instead of allowing the Solicitor-Generil to
,put the House to the trouble of enacting a measure
which limits the debt to one-fifth of that amount?
—The chief argument which the- Solicitor-General
used against Mr. Hume's Bill was, that " if it were
to pass into a law, creditors would have no means
of recovering debts from persons, who had no visible
-means of existence." Why this is the very argu-
ment in favour of it—because it is for this very
reason that system of vicious and destructive credit
,would be broken down, which, on a former night
the Attorney-General so strongly deprecated. Why
:do tradespeople give credit to those who have "no
visible means of existence ?" Is not this custom
productive of the worst moral effects ? The Solici-
tor-General, from his practice at the Bar, ought to
know that it is the fruitful cause of extensive dis-
tress, dissoluteness, and misery ? The Hon. and
Learned Gentleman has the character of being a
clever special pleader, hut it requires larger faculties
of mind to comprehend the science .of legislation.—
Morning Herald.

We are happy to find that the speech on the
'Budget has been generally approved by all of
,our cotemporaries, whose approbation is praise.
!Its tone is, indeed, 'so singularly moderate, its
statements so perspicuous, and its anticipations
for professions it has none—so subdued, that
without that " strong delusion" of party, which
can make men " believe a lie," it would be dif-
ficult, from its commencement to its termination,
to find a position whereon to raise an argument
against it. Some objections have, indeed, been
hinted against the issue of Exchequer Bills ; but
when the issue is to be so very limited—only
about 12 per cent. in addition to the quantity al-
ready in the market—and when it is considered
low much less injurious niiiSt he any temporary
fluctuation in a small fund of 23 millions, than
in a fund of such magnitude as the three per
cents., in which a loan must have been made—
we think that any 'theoretical objections to the
issue of Exchequer Bills in general, will not, in
this isolated case, be allowed to weigh much.—:.
Somethinglas, also been-said on Mr. Canning's
account of the advantages that have accrued
from the " dead weight. We confess that we
;are.not qUite initiated into all the mysteries of
the working °Nat plan ; but to understand its

principle, _And to see the justice of the Right
Hon. Chancellor of the Exchequer's induction,
if we grant his -data., does,not 'require much sa-
gacity; nor extent of observation. The 'dead
weight-IS:neither more nor less than the convert-
ing of a large annuity for a small nUtriber.of years
into a small annuity for a greater number of years.
It acts on the ordinary mechanieal.p. rinciple—it
gains in power, -.and loses in space. If we had
continued on the old system, we must .have rais-
ed taxes to meet its demands. By going into
the new, we Were
.enabled to take off taxes,which
must otherwise have remained on. Since the
commencement of the new system,. says Mr.
Canning,: those taxes- which we were in conse-
quence of adopting it, enabled to take off; have
amounted to more, by 600,0001. than the charge
consequent on the dead-weight hai..Webivethere
fare, saved that 600,0001. by the -adoption of the
deadweight. We confees we do not•see any thing
contradictory or unintelligible in this. The ster-
ling merit of the speech; however, • we think, lies in
its plain, manly, intelligible statements, in the ab-
sence of all that -can. produce despondency on the
one side, :while the situation of our finances is bared
with a firm but decisiVe hand; and in the Absence of
all that can produce false confidence on the other,
while the energies of the country, and the hopes of
the country, are exhibited in faithful and full, but
not aggravated, proportions. Mr. Canning talks of
retrenchment, and, we believe, it is his wish; and
the wish of every Member of the Cabinet, to carry
retrenchment into every • department of Gover-
ment, where it can, with honour or safety, be
carried. This must be a most gratifying assur-
ance to the great mass of the people of England,
who have smaltinterest in Ministerial changes, ex-
cept in so far as they bear on their comforts. It is
curious, however, to observe how even this expres-
sion of a wish to do what every one admits to be
most desirable, is received by the advocates of the
small party who oppose the government of the Right
Hon. Gentleman. One of these Worthies tells the
public gravely that the talk of retrenchment is merely
meant to embarrass his successors; and that, as he
must go out in a few months, he wishes to fill his
quiver with weapons to hurl from the benches of the
opposition against the next Ministers !

" The power of folly' an no friller go."

A traveller in ancient Egypt is said, on seeing a mon-
key enshrined in a temple, to have exclaimed, "Oh,
Jupiter, if such by the . Gads,. what are the worship-
pers.?" 'We may invert the exclamation, and, in re-
ference to the drivelling of such supporters, say, ‘4 If
such be the worshippers what are the idols ?"—New

OLD BAILEY, JtIN 2.

OLD COURT.

. ,
William Want,. aged 34, was conVi.cted of stealing a
watch, value 41., from the dwelling-ho Use of Robert Favel,
on the 28th alast April.
Jobs White, aged 23, was convicted of stealing on the
17th of July last, two silver candlesticks; value 13/. 135.,
from the dwelling-house of- Lady ,Aun Elizabeth Douglass
Scott, of No. 3, Chapel-street, Grosvenor-squate.
Samuel Smith was indicted for stealing and Thomas
Bailey for receiving a looking-glass, value _4/. from the
dWelling house of George Daniels.
A Verdict of Guilty was returned against both prisoners.