Star.
London, England, 1831-05-14 00:00:00

time others should peruse it. The learned gentleman then adverted is
the first anonymous letter. namely, that addreted to Mrs. C. Leakier,
or Miss Ladner, and asked them if they could conscientiously believe
it to be the handwritirg of the defendant, frosts the testimony respecting
it by Miss Pocock ? He then asked them if it was likely that the second
letter, said to be in the handwriting of the defendant, and which was
to all intents sod purposes a son of love-letter, could have been
sent to Mrs. T. Landseer with a view to its being opened by other par-
ties, and this too for the base purpose imputed by his learned Mend.
(Sir James Scarlett) namely, that she might, by this means, become an
'utast from her husband's roof, and thos the defendant would be able
pt possession of her ? This was too deep and dark an insinuation,
sad one that he trusted the jury would not countenance. He called upon
the jury to pause before they gave crederce to the statement that the
first letter was in the hand of the defendant, merely because an L or a
B. or any other, was like one usually made by the person charged with
writing the letter. They should look at the case as ifs political one,
and say if they would run chance of taking away a man's liberty because
a particular letter was like that which he was In the habit of making.—
With respect to the letter addressed to Mrs. Landseer's fathet and the
attorney, there was no publication of anything in these letters ; they
certainly stated the fact of criminality between the defendant and the
plaintiff's wife, but these letters were written to individuals, in conse-
quence of others addressed to the defendant on the subject ; but in
both these letters the strongest denial was given to the statement that
the defendant was the author of the anonymous letter to Mr. Charles
Landscer, which adverted to the criminal conduct of Mrs. Land.
seer. There was very little doubt of the criminal intercourse
having taken place between the defendant and Airs. Landseer,
for there was little doubt but her father would not have suf-
fered the statement to be made which reflected upon her honour, with
out calling the man who did so to account. The Learned Counsel
pressed upon the jury that the letters were not published by the de-
fendant. The plaintiff had taken that method of publishing to the
world, and by doing so contributed to contaminate the world, and at
the same time put some money into his pocket, as some slight recom-
pense for the injury he had received.
Lord TENTIRDEN summed up the evidence, and the jury, after
consulting for about five minutes, returned a verdict for the plaintiff,
damages 3001.

PANORAMA OF THE BRITISH

EMPIRE.

BIRMINGHAM JOURNAL, MAY 7.

On Monday, pursuant to a resolution of the Council of the Politi-
cal Union, a general meeting of the inhabitants of Birmingham was
held in Mr. Beardsworth's Repository, for the purpose of expressing
their gratitude and admiration of his Majesty's magnanimous and pa-
triotic conduct in dissolving the late parliament in person, and appeal-
ing to the sense of the people on the great measure of Parliamentary
Reform. •
At twelve o'clock, the council met at the Globe Tavern, in Temple-
street; and long before two o'clock, the hour appointed for the com-
mencement of the general meeting, the streets in the immediate neigh.
bourhood, and throughout the route the procession was expected to
take, were crowded to repletion. Shortly after two o'clock the mem-
bers of the Council left the Globe, each member carrying his wand of
office. The procession was preceded, according to custom, by the band
of the Union. dressed in uniform, and drawn in two open carriages.
On their arrival at the place of meeting, the rush into the Repository
was terrific in the extreme, and in the course of a few minutes every
corner of this immense building was crammed to suffocation. We do
not remember to have seen, on any former occasion, so numerous an
assemblage of people. At one time the number within the interior
of the building could not be fewer than from fifteen to twenty thou-
sand persons, while the throng around the Repository was far beyond
all precedent.
The address was moved in a very elegant and powerful speech, by
Mr. Scholefield ; and after speeches by Mr. Attwood, Mr. Ilium, and
other gentlemen, was carried unanimously. Like all the documents
which have issued from this council, it was distinguished for eloquence
and good taste of its composition.
The period of Mr. Attwood's presidency having expired, Joshua
Scholefield, Req. was chosen President in his place, amidst general
acclamations. _ _ _ _

Mr. Salt then proposed a resolution, which though not entering Intel
the business of the day, was, he said, of extreme importance to the na-
tion. He then made some remarks connected with his motion, on the
present system of the Bank of England, and in strong terms depre-
cated the measures which that monopoly bad adopted in playing with
the currency of the country, by forcing the supplies of notes into the
hands of the nation, and then drawing them back again. He trusted
that the meeting would express itself upon the subject. From Binning.
ham, said the speaker, had gone forth a voice which had made the dad-
alive; and he trusted that that voice would again go forth with the
force which had accompanied it in times not long since past. The re-
solution was as follows :
" That the Political Council be instructed by this Meeting to con-
sider the propriety of memorialising Earl Grey, requesting that be will
not, during the agitation of the great question of Reform, leave the
vital intern of the country to the arbitrary influence of the Bank of
England." The motion was seconded by Mr. Hipkin, but in con-
sequence of its being out of order, it was not put to the sense of the
Meeting. Mr. Attwood eventually came forward and said that the
motion proposed by Mr. Salt would be withdrawn from the notice of
the Meeting, and recommended for discussion at a future period, to
the Council of the Political Union." This was entandy a very impor-
tant and well-timed resolution ; justified by the Anti-Ministerial mea-
sures of the bank of selling their Exchequer Bills for bank notes, and
locking these In their coffers to the serious inconvenience of trade and
the public. Against all these measures, there is no remedy but to
allow country bankers to issue one pound notes on security. In the
course of the proceedings, Mr. Scholefield paid some high compliments
to articles which have appeared in the STAR on this and other subjects.
With discriminating readers like this gentleman, the STAR must soon
be the most popular paper in England.
The proceedings of the day now terminated, and the national anthem
was sung most enthusiastically by the great assemblage, accompanied
by the band of the Union. Three times three cheers were then given for
the King, three cheers for her Majesty Queen Adelaide, and a groan,
long and loud, and mingled with many expressions of" contempt and
hatred, resounded through the building for the Boroughmongen and
their friends. The multitude then quietly dispersed.
At the nomination meeting for Warwick, some difficulty arose in
determining on a colleague for Mr. Lawley, Sir G. Phillips, and Mr.
Attwood were named, till at length Sir Grey Skipwith volunteered.
But as his principals were not sufficiently known, Mr. Parkes pub-
licly examined him as follows :
First (said Mr. P.) Will you, Sir Grey Skipwortb, give your entire
support to that part of the Bill, schedules A. and B. which disfranchise
the corrupt and nomination Boroughs in the hands of the hereditary
and monied Aristocracy. (A profound silence pervaded the Court.)
Sir Grey Skipwith (with great earnestness) Most cordially. (Feb,-
meat cheering.)
Mr. Parkes. Secondly—Will you, Sir Grey Skipwith, support the
transfer of the Franchise, as regulated in the Bill, among the commer-
cial towns and avicultural districts of the country ?
Sir Grey Skipwith.—Most undoubtedly. (Loud and renewed
cheering.)
Mr. Parkes—Thirdly,—Will you support the portion of the Bill
which extends the franchise into counties to leaseholder and copy.
holders, and in towns to inhabitant householder paying a yearly rent
of ACIO.
Sir Grey Skipwith—Most entirely. (Tumultuous cheering.)
Mr. Parkes.—The Honourable Baronet will allow me to put one
other interrogation arising out of the last. Will the Hon. Baronet op.
pose any attempt to raise that qualification to above .flO ? (Cheers.)
Sir Grey Skipwith.—l am not aware that any such alteration ism.
templated. I shall certainly vote for the Bill as it stands in this re.
spect. (Cheers.)
R. M. Atty, Esq. Shame ! that is not a fair question.
Mr. Parkes. I beg pardon of Mr. Atty ; the question is fair and
of grave importance. Sfich a stsndud of English franchise is foreign
to the constitution. It is not altogether approved by that numerous
class of Reformers to whom I am proud to belong, on account of the
limit which it sets to the ancient franchise of scot and lot. (Cheers.}_
But the Reformers of the kingdom have warmly supported the Bill
from the approval of the moderate standard of 101. rental, fixed by the
bill. I know tbet the enemies of the measure will attempt to defeat
it by raising the qualifications to 201. which will annihilate the con-
sdtuency of the kingdom and if 1 rightly appreciate the principles of
his Majesty's Ministers, they will resolutely uphold their own principle
as set forth in their own Bill. (Cheers.) I thus explain the importance
of the question to Sir Grey Skipwith.
Sir Grey Skipwith. I shall support the 101. franchise, Mr. Pukes.
(Great cheering.)
Mr. Pukes. He now came to the second part of the inter.
rogatories Economy sod Retrenchment. Every man acquaint.
ed with the overwhelming burdens, and poignant distress brought
upon this country by the nomination of the Borough faction, during the
last 150 years, must know that it can only survive and overcome the
pressure of those burdens by economy and retrenchment in the public
expenditure of the country. Has the hon. baronet that sense of the
pressure of those national burdens, that he will support all motions for
the purpose of reducing the expenditure of the country, ands more espe-
cially, the Civil List (Cheers.)
Sir Grey Skipwith—Most certainly ; I have every disposition to do
so ; but to answer for my support of every motion, is more than I can
pretend to do. (Great cheering).
Mr. Pukes—The meeting must be aware that he put this question
as a general interrogatory only, and he, therefore, merely asked Sir G.
would he particularly support economy and retrenchment is the public
expenditure ? (Cheers.)
S,r Grey bkipwith...lf I accept of a seat in Parliament, it Is for
that express purpose. (Tremendous cheering.)
Mr. Parkes—Sir Grey Skipwith having, with his characteristic
frankness, most satisfactorily answered those questions which I have