The Sun.
London, England, 1827-12-05 00:00:00

which have previously paid the duty, and which • ter of very small moment whether we have 1
repeats, perhaps, the price of Corn and Consols peace or wee It must, however, be quite evi-s
from the same source, is an attempt to fetter !*dent; thiS by abstaining from all interposition 7--
them in their real character which no official by allowing the contest of extermination to god on,
vigilance_ can justify, and which will, we trust, 1 which the opponents of the Ministry declare to
be effectually resisted.—Morning Herald. Ibe the most humane, religious, and peaceable
It has of late years become too much the 1 mode—the only result must have been continued
practice of Grand Juries to " find bills" upon ! and augmented. piracy, the gradual impoverish-
ment and weakness of both parties, or the anni-
slieht and imperfect evidence, as a matter of
norance or misinformation of hilation of the one, without the advantages of
course, through ig
triumph to the other. In either of these cases,
the nature of the duty which the law imposes we should have been subjected to much more
upon them. This is a bad practice, and contrary expense and much more hazard while the war
to the very reason of the institution of a Grand went on, and to much, more consequent loss
Jury, which was not for the purpose of helping when it terminated. But then we must sub-
out lame and unsatisfactory accusations touching sidise the Greeks ! We need not remark on
the lives and liberties of men, but with the ex- the facility -of assumption which is displayed
press intention of preventing persons charged here. Were we to ask why, we should in vain
with crimes from hemg put to the shame and in- I look for an answer. Let it however be grant-
convenience of a public trial, unless upon accu- ed, for the sake of argument, that we should
cations which, upon a preliminary, but, at the subsidise, or • rather that we should guarantee,
same time, a very solemn inquiry, appeared so
_a small loan to the Greeks. 'What would
well supported by credible and unsuspected tes- be the object of such a loan ? Not, most
thnony, as to afford the strongest moral pre- assuredly, that they should be enabled to carry
sumption that the guilt of the accused would be on the war with Turkey ; for, deprive the latter
ultimately established. So great, in former of the assistance of lgypt, and the Greeks,
times, was the strictness with which Grand without assistance from any other Power, are
Juries sifted and examined the nature and pile- more than equal to the vindication of their own
bability of evidence brought before them, that it independence. Turkey might refuse to recog-
gave occasion to commentators upon the ad- nise it, as Spain refuses to recognise the inde-
ministretion of justice to observe that there pendence of America ; but though she might
were very few examples of men acquitted by disturb, she could not put down their liberty.
Petty Juries, because Grand Juries were, .of She tried it with all the strength of the Janissa-
old, so wary in canvassing every thing nar- ries, and was foiled, though they formed a band
rowly, and so sensible of their duty in pro- infinitely superior to the Tacticos' The only
ceeding according to truth upon satisfactory pupose therefore for which a loan pould., be re-
evidence, that few or none were brought to quired by Greece, would be to enable her to re-
trial until their guilt seemed evident. Is that the build her dilapidated forts—to. set up again her
case at present ? Far from it. The number of burned and ruined towns—to repair her harbours
acquittals that occur at every Court of Assizes —to reproduce the fixed capital necessary to the
and Quarter SesSions, compared with the whole evolution of her natural riches. Such a loan
number of bills found, affords undeniable proof would be " bread cast on the waters, ' to be
of the relaxation which has generally taken place gathered again with interest 'after many days.
in the mode in which Grand Juries execute that It is, however, unnecessary to dwell on what
most important part of their office—the inquiry would be the consequence of a prolonged
into the sufficiency of the evidence produced to war with the Porte. The very supposi-
support bills of indictment. There are two im- tion of such an event betrays the utmost
portant reasons why the strict- mode of inquiry ignorance of the state of the Ottoman dominions,
by a Grand Jury in former times was preferable -and of the forces that may be arrayed against
to the present
.relaxed one. The first-is, that them, We must attend to the evils which it is
the :oath of a Grand Juror binds him to such said must issue ftom a contest 'successfully
strict inquiry, inasmuch as it contains these words waged against Turkey—evils, if they-are to be so
—" You shall diligently inquire and true pre- denominated, much more likely to occur. We
sentient make of all such articles,. matters, and shall in that case contribute, it has been said, to
things as shall be given you in charge, and of build up a Power—Russia—which is already
all other matters and things as shall come to dangerous to the liberties of mankind, and we
your own knowledge touching this present ser- shall pull down one of the most powerful bar-
vice." Thus the oath binds the Greed Jury not riers to its increase. Neither of these positions
only to inquire, but to diligently inquire, and are:true. It is not true that the alliance be-
not merely to make a probable presentment of tween the Three Great Monarchies of Europe
accusation, but a true presentment—that is, true will tend, even in the event of a successful war
according to the best result Of such diligent in- with Turkey, to aggrandize Russia. It is not
quiry..-,The second reason is,. that to put any true that Turkey opposes any barrier to her ag-
person. on trial before his country on-a present- grandizement. The treaty of the 6th of July is
merit of crime, which is only allowed to pass be- of all others best calculated to repress any at-
cause it has 'been but superficially examined, is to tempt at aggrandizement on-the part of the Czar.
work'sgreat injusticeso the individual, who is He is bound hand and foot by his own volun-
put_ to the shame, trouble, and estpence of defend- tary act : he cannot move but in company, and
ing.himself against a charge which ought to have with the consent of England and France. So
been stopped in /inzine, if the Grand Jury did their far from favouring, the Treaty stands opposed to
duty as their oath, the law, and 'their duty to their the ambitiOn of Russia, were she disposed to
neighbour and the public, required. If it is only gratify it in the way supposed. If no Treaty
necessary that a prosecutor, whatever his charac- had been entered into, will it be said that Russia
ter may be, should make oath to the matter of might not and would not have found, not one,
the accusatien, or get a witness to do so, in order but se hundred, good and sufficient reasons for
to justify this great constitutional tribunal in re- attacking Turkey? And with what show of
turning " a true bill," then would the offier of propriety could we have interfered 'to prevent
the Grand. Jury be a'very nugatory one kicked, her , Will the moat ardent admirers of the
and might as well be dispensed with, for any use Turks attempt to assert, that, not content with
it could be din protecting the subject' from false leaving the Greeks unassisted, we should have
and malicious accusations, and operating'as an c.esiga4el in a %Tr tirPif:-Vel4 other POwell fro°
effective guard on the administration of justice bringiu m g then, assistatte 'loll)., unrepressed
but the duty of a Grand Jury is to examine the by -England. what could hinder the Emperor
probabilities of the evidence given by. the prose-
ttlieheraa f: • rA marching to ,Conskantipople, and
cutor and his witnesses ;' and in' doing so it is fixing; leis head-quarters in' the Seraglio in six.
necessary to inquire into their motives—their weeks ? . This consummation, which our con-
characters observe their manner of giving temporary looks on as something only less dread-
their testimony—whether it be direct and sa2r- ful than the end of the world: is vreverded
did, or evasive and prevaricating; and to take by but •one thing, and that is the Treaty
especial care'to examine whether the story which
of 6th July, and the events consequent on
they tell is consistent or contradictory in its .
its execution. But, grant the worst that
parts with their' own statements and the state can be supposed—grant the partition of Turkey
merits of one another. -As to a " Clerk of the —give Roumelia to the• Russians-s-push forward
Court" dictating to a Grand Jury on what evi- the frontiers of Austria, until they and those of
dence they are to find a bill, he not only has no the Czar.clip in .Greece from West to east—give
right to do it, but might subject himself to a very the isles of the. Levant to England and France—
unpleasant proceeding for so doing. It is true send half a million of Irishmen to rebuild the
the more bills that are found, the more fees ac- hundred cities of Crete, and let the white flag
erne to the officers of the Court and the lawyers wave over the pavilions of Venus, in her ancient
—and that may account for a " Clerk of the and beloved abode of Cyprus—grant all this,
Cotirt" endeavouring to arrogate such an audio- and we deny -that any danger would accrue to
rity to himself. But the interest of the Grand Europe by the cbange•--swe deny that Chris-
Jury is not to make their Court accessary to the tendom would be a loser, should every turbaned
manufacturing of fees, but to regard their oath, slave be sent back, poor and hungry as he was
and.protect the interests of justice.—lbid. hounded forth, to the mountain fastnessess of his
The fact, of the Sultan's definitive resolution fathers. We do not advise, we do not even
to yield to the demands of the Allies, or to with- desire, the conquest of Turkey ; but the event, if
stand them by force, must so very soon put down ever it does take place, cannot failto be favourable
all theory on the . subject, that labour would be to Europe. The Turks of the present day may
thrown away in its investigation. It may not be not be very far behind the Russians ; but the
uninteresting, however, to consider the -evils latter are improving—the former are not. Look
which some anticipate from the success of Turkey to Russia, in point of civilization, a century and
in withstanding the Allies : we say in withstand- a quarter ago, and look to her now, and say if the
ing, for we do not know that any of our political one picture resembles the other ! •Then look
opponents have contemplatedthe cbanceof Mah- to Turkey, and say if, from the day that the
rriotsd hoisting the Standard of the Prophet Crescent first glittered on the towers of Byzan-
under the walls of Vienna, as one of his ancestors tium, one change haa been effected in her nee
did. The esvil6pf a protracted war with Turkey tional character ! If any be observable, it is for
can only be e4iniqt.ek4 by looking at the nature the worse and not for the better, Such a people
which of that war, which, iu ilex present circumstances, will never be civilized but by conquest, unhap-
Turkey is capable of cause., ng jri the first pily, but truly, the only. civilizer to
bar-
place, is will not be said that Great !Britain' could barism ever yields. As te any -dread of the
possibly be celled on to combat Tuley power ®f Russia from the extension Of her do-
k by 144
.52 we consider ridiculous.
it worse than
While die latter has the Greeks On' the right Wimon
,flarilr, the Russians on the left, and Austria in Every extension 4,e!' territory but exposes her
ig growth
of
un iin.
the year, it is not easy to see ,the point upon more readily to attack wisheet adding to her
which we should have to bear Sown. The ut- strength. The shooting forth of her branches is
that most, therefore, England could be called on. unaccompanied by any correspond
dream to do, would be to wretch the shoresto in- the trunls--41te extension of her wings only serves
tereept the transports -to bloelted,e if in liar- to Weakenher centre. If ever the
corresponding
ti
hour, and to capture if at sea, the men, versa). conquest be realised it-mnst be by a nation o
of-war belonging to the Porte. Ist this powerful in home resources, and those resources
task she Mould be assisted by the fleets so concentrated as to be instantly available. It
,4
of France and of Aussia ; and what is per- 'must not be by ktusai, 4 all others—an empire
haps of more importance than either, by the of colonies—an army of out-posts-74 population
little and there a
whole fleets and vessels, regular and
.irreAular, of of shreds and patches—here a
the Greeks, ie our present position, sve_ little.—New Tzmes.
are compellee .to )914 in check rather than to'
employ. It. is quite true,
,e 4 it has been ob-
served, that the navy of TUrkey s isot wholly
Annihilated, and that the vessels sunk and burned
at Naiegin belonged chiefly to Egypt. But if,'
under every disadyantage, a powerful armament
was destroyed so easily, we need trouble our-
selves but little about the portion which still
setnaine. What ships Turkey has yet in her
possession are to be looked on rather as objects'
of capture than of c64teption—she holds them
only till we see convenient to take them from
her. Under' all these circumstances, no war
with Turkey can possibly call for a greater Bri-
tish naval force In ttt6 Mediterranean than the
continuance of the system of piracy, which peace
with Turkey had generated, must have rendered
necessary. So far, therefore, as that branch of
the service is concerned, it seems to us a. mat-

Why is a dandy like a h^unch of venison ?
Because he is a bit of a buck.
Freights have advanced considerably at this
port durin the last two months, and all the vessels in the
coasting trade are fatly employed. So many of these are
at this season engaged' with 'cargoes 0f.4 potatoes for the
London market, that the coal-merchants find difficulty in
obtaining their usual supplies from Newcastle; in conse-
quence of which the price of coals has advanced consider-
ably during the last three weeks, and freights to that
quarter are now 30s. a top, which (,1 short time previous
were 25s.—Ecrth

LORD LAST.--This ever-ready-
witted Nobleman...was applied to the other day by a col-
lector of one of the local taxes for the amount of tax. His
Lordship said he had already paid it, and cn looking to his
file di covered a receipt, sig11“1 by the same collector who
the❑ applied for it. The tax-man, confounded, apologised
in* the best manner he could, stating his regret that he did
not recollect it. I dare say, said my Lord, you are very
sorry you did not re-collect it.