The Sun.
London, England, 1827-10-11 00:00:00

hater of the, human species) have struck upon
the post philosophical of all e-xpedients:' Now,
without 'entering into an inquiry how it happens
that the population of Ireland is at present too
great for the means for its employment, it is im-
possible to deny That such is the fact ; and it is
equally- undeni:J22, that, till the means of ern
ployment be in iroportion to the population, the
country must:'4e disturbed. Mr. Malthus has
stated no more than what every political econo-
mist of the present day allows; and the language
used with regard to him is only discreditable to
Mr. Shell himself, or rather to the system which
has called forth a Mr. Shell. We shall enter
more at large into this subject to-morrow.—lbid.
Now that Juries have got into the habit of
returning a verdict for the defendant in trumpery
cases of libel, instead of v. verdict for the plain-
tiff, with a shilling or a farthing.damages, a great
source of gain tD speculative pettifoggers is in
danger of becoming as unproductive as the South
American Loans. Juries have been too much

in the habit, especially in cases of libel, of al-
lowing their common sense to be run away with
by legal sophistries. They have too often, also,
allowed the ipse dixttof a Judge to over-rule
the impression on their own minds, not being
aware that in cases of libel the Legislature has
made Jurymen the sole judges of both the fact
and the law, the Court being, in such cases,
only authorised to give its opinion to the Jury,
but not to pronounce any thing in the nature of
dictation. Yet how often do we hear of Judges

telling Juries, in a very perempto►y manner, that
the plaintiff is beyond all doubt entitled to their
verdict in point of law—although it is the duty
of the Jury, as we have said, and not of the
Judge, to 'decide upon the question of law, as
well as of evidence, in all matters of libel. When

a Jury are not aware of their right in this re-
spect, and hear the Judge saying—in some con-
temptible action that ought never to have been
brought into Court, and never would but for the
speculation of some low attorney on costs—
when, in such an action, the Jury hear the Judge
saying, " Well, gentlemen, if you believe the
evidence as to the publication, the plaintiff is
clearly entitled to your verdict in point of law,
but the amount of damages is for your ovvn.con-
sideration--how do the Jury usually act ?
They think that it is very hard they are obliged
by law to return a verdict for the plaintiff at all
—but in order to give him as little advantage as
possible by it, they return.a verdict for a farthing
damages—for it was for a long time a common
error among Jurymen, that because in some
sorts of actions damages under frig shillings
do not carry costs, such damages do not carry
costs in cases of libel. It is right they should
know that in libel even afarthing carries costs,
unless the Judge chooses to certify against the
plaintiff, which is a privilege he scarcely ever
exercises. Well, then, what is the consequence
of this verdict for the plaintiff with a farthing
damages ? Why, that the defendant is mulcted
in costs to the amount of '2OO/. or 3001. This
is rathar a large sum to pay for touching the
inviolability of a character which is estimated,
in its highest value, at a farthing. For such a
splendid remuneration do we often see rickety
plaintiffs expose themselves to the cutting up of
a Law Court, while the sly attorney who insti-
gated them to such foolery obtains the substan-
tial harvest in the way of costs 1 But Juries
who are acquainted with their own rights, know
that they are not bound by the dictum of the
Judge as to whether the plaintiff or defendant is
entitled to their verdict. An intelligent Jury,
when they see an action for libel is a trumpery
one, or that a plaintiff who is ridiculed has no
right to complain, having made himself ridicu-
lous,—will, instead of giving a farthing damages
for te plaintiff, return a verdict for the defend-
ant, and thus disappoint the mercenary specula-
tion of the attorney, who has now to apply to
his own client fbr costs, who is most probably an
insolvent—for in nine cases out of ten, the attor-
neys who are at the bottom of them thrust for-
ward insolvent persons as plaintiffs, expecting
that at least they will be fortunate enough to ob-
tain afitrthing verdict, which will enable them
to fasten their rapacious fangs on the defendant
for their exorbitant costs. It is very gratifying
to observe so many instances of late, in which
Juries have left such plaintiffs as we have de-
scribed to pay the costs of their own folly, and
have disappointed the legal vultures of their prey.
—Morning- Herald.

THE REVENUE.-The Quarterly Statement
of the Revenue was not made up at a late hour
yesterday ; but we have the highest satisfaction
in being enabled to announce that the Account
is of a most gratifying nature ; exhibiting an
increase, as compared with that of the corres-
ponding quarter of last year, in almost every de-
partment of the national Revenue ; and thus
realizing the most sanguine anticipations which
our confidence in the energy and resources of
the country had led us to indulge. The encrease
in the Customs alone is little short of 000,0001. ;
some portion of which is no doubt to be ascribed
to the receipt of duty upon the Foreign Cons
taken out of Bond, under the provisions of the
Act of the last Session. The Post Office and
the Stamps, two branches of the Revenue which
are directly dependent upon the activity of our
internal commerce, exhibit also a considerable
increase. We heartily congratulate the country
upon this cheering alteration in its circumstances
and prospects—an alteration which, even at the
darkest moment of the crisis it has undergone,
we foretold, as certain at no distant period, to
dissipate the apprehensions of the desponding,
and to frustrate the hopes an!l anticipations of
the faetioue,,/V/orning Post.
We lay before our realsrs this day a statement
of the Revenue for the Quarter, ending on the
10th instant. The picture which it exhibits of
the state of our Finances is highly satisfactory.
The augmentation, compared with the corre-
sponding Quarter last year, amounts to no less
than 605,787/, More than the half of that sum
is made up by the increase of the Customs, a
proof that our foreign trade is rapidly recovering
from its depression, and as this has been by no
means a year of speculation, but rather the con-
trary, such an increase may be fairly .attributed,
not only to an angmented, but to a healthy com-
merce. In the Excise there is a falling off of
nearly 80,0001. However much this is to be
lamented as an indication that there has
been to that. amount a diminution of the
enjoyments of the people, it is net morn
than might naturally have been anticipated.—
It is not till a very considerable time after
manufacturers have re-assumed their wonted
pace that the wages of labour rise to the point
where the commencement of the stagnation found
them ; and, until they rise the purchase of luxu-
ries, as all exciseable commodities, may in a
greater or less degree be turned, must of neces-
sity be limited. Of the revival of our internal
commerce there will be found an infallible proof
in the marked increase of the Post-Office and of
the Stamps. The facts speak so plainly that