Star.
London, England, 1825-04-11 00:00:00

ANAL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.
Hic nicer est."--Heaacik
" That man is a eoal-merehanir
Sin—lf there is any one circemstance which embitters
the life of the rearant in the West of England, it is the
Want of fuel. The inhabitantsof tho-e din lets in which
the colleries are situated, can scarcely ..form an idea of
the misery, seperadded to poverty, which is universally
felt whenever the year is marked with an unusual seve-
rity of season. Independent of this natural evil, the
supply of coals in all inland situations rests vilely with
the monopolist, who, by the power of extensile capital,
and by possessing likewise the means of tfittaport, can
regulate the pike of this important arttcle exactly as,
may suit his own interest, and is thus enabled to levy a
species of tax upon the whole population. It is, there-
fore, no ways extraordinary, that the agitation of such
a tneasuie as The Western Ship Canal" should create
an alarm in a qaarter where the whole internal trade of
Somersetsbire has been engrossed for so many years
past ; and the opposition which has been attempted
tends mote than any other fact to establish the utility of
this truly national undertaking.
Without referring to the towns of Taunton and
Bridgewater, both of which must experience an incal-
culable increase of commerce, if we survey that part of
the-county through which the summit level is proposed
to pass, and continue on towards, the southward, it will,
perhaps, be difficult to find a district its-England which
more requires the advantages of inldnel communication.
The various towns and villages in the centre of Somer.
setthire are full of labouring poor, unemployed in ma-
nufactures, exposed to all the miseries of a rigorous
climate, without the means of obtaining fuel, and sub-
ject to all those disadvantages which must ever result
from an overstocked and increasing population. In
tracing the river Axe to its confluence with the st.,a, we
find a beautiful valley, on which it may be said, that
Paovtozzca has done everything. and Man nothing.
Blessed with a fertile soil, a delightful climate, and easy
communications with the capital and the north of
Slmersetthire, it may fairly be asked, why it should
exhibit such universal symptoms of decay and want of
improvement? 'l'he answer is, from the absence of
that grand stimulus to commercial enterprise, internal
navigation, and from the resident land owners on both
banks having hitherto been satisfied with living in a
semibaronical state, receiving rents from their tenants
as they would homage front their vassals, and with-
holding those advantages which the increased progress
of civilization and knowledge has effected in other
parts of England.
Tnese observations will appear the more forcible
from the probability that the port of Moridunum,
under the Romans, was situated at the month of the
Axe, and from the vestiges of buildings at this moment
allowed to be coveted with a mass of shingle. If the
public works of that great nation may be allowed to in-
flu nce our judgment, we may conclude that, in this
instance, they exhibited their usual good sense, and
knowledge of mechanical principles. How sadly has
their proverb,"' Nattiness severe," been perverted in the
present day 1 The natural course of the stream is per-
mitted to lose its original force by its rectangular wind-
ings; and the result of all the artificial means hitherto
employed has only produced a depth of about eight
feet, high water, spring tides. In place, there-
fore, of. those advantages which this river possessed
thirteen ceatturiei ago, we now only find an espenditnre
without reins—a harbour without water.
On the opposite side of this beautiful bay, nature has
foamed a cove, of all others best calculated for the con-
struction of a harbour. Independent, therefore, of thine
advantages so clearly detailed by &pc. Nicholls, the
employment of a population of 1800 souls, and the in-
troduction of those habits which must arise from a
well regulated commerce, and an extension of the
fisheries, these must be allowed points of so impor-
tant a consiiiiration, that the formation of a port at
Beer is alone snore than lets times traded to all the
imagined evils complained of by a few interested op-
ponents, aided and abetted by monopolists of any
descriptiva.
Great and striking as must be the advantages of this
truly national work, it is the more necessary that the
public should be aware of the obligation due CO that
highly-respected Nobleman whose sanction has been se
freely given, and under whose auspices the undertaking
cannot fal of success. To him no personal inducement
of the most distant profit can ever be atuibuted ; and,
by allowing the Company to avail themselves of his
private Act for the Harbour at Beer, his memory
must descend to future ages as a public benefactor of
his country.
Amongst " the sapient ten," whose resolutions have
been given to the world at the last Chard Meeting, it'
is a matter of great regret to find the name of a worthy
Magistrate, to whom the East of Devon owe many obli-
gations. No man, by actual experience, better knows
the wants and necessities of the lower classes ; no man
is more aware of the evils occasioned by their want of
eitipkrynrent. That he should coalesce with coal job-
heist lime burners, and interested attornies, against the
public go• d—that he should oppose himself to the
general voce expresied by every town ia his vicinity—
that he should not have tact enough to see he has
united with a beaten party—these are circumstances
not at all consistent with the usual tenons of his conj.
duct. To classic 1 scholars, classical allusions are al:
ways acceptable, and it is a satisfaction to know that,
like the tope, annuated Priem, in Virgirs AEneid.
-- Teton sows sine km
Conjecit.--
Or, in other words, as translated for the benefit of
Country Gentlemen,
t..very effort to oppose the Canal has been ineffectual."
How far the sapient ten are entitled to the character
of w sdfirn, their own report, as analyzed in the Dor-
eater Journal, fully exen.plifies. One inconsistency is,
bm% e. es, so glaring. that although it has been ft equently
a hided to, it seems to demand universal publ city aid
explanations If the Canal is to prove •' wild and vi-
sionary" in its expected revenue, it is to be presumed it
will not be ured; and if it is not, used, how tan the
. nursery of seamen be impeded ? The absurdity
,of two
such opposite assertions must be self-evident. It. it.
quires, however, no great prophetic powers to be
enabled to predict that, on the contrary, the Canal will
pose a new opening for the most extended commenced
end that hundreds ut sailots, who arc now mere nays
. gators of the atiAnt Chassid and the coasts of 'Wales;
will find an employment .never before laid open. Ist
• 'them, by an additional 'outlet leading to the coasts of
rieiece, the Netherlancls, and even to the Baltic.
In order w enlighten the framer el this sapient Re-

• • • • •
•
port, I :ball terminate as I began, trlth a quotation'
from Horace—

o ?• • • «SP&

Fetid
“ Oh! dm/ MS MS nip& theinitiithast otarsiou.•
Baia* Aei IL Sense 6;
I have die homer, Mr. lettiklir‘. WAG *Self;
Tar nano Seth Yom. it NAUTICdS.

AUSTRIAN MILITAftY DISCIPLINE AND

TI e discipline of an Army more or less partakes of
the nature of the Government of the State to which it
belongs. In Austria, nothing to a stranger in that
Country can appear to exceed the extravagant preten-
sions of military rank and etiquette, as observed by the
reciprocal gradations of the Officers. Thus, a subaltern,
in ordinary cases, may not presume to walk abreast of,
much ksrarsi in arm with a Captain, but obliquely be-
hind him i nor would such a liberty be tolerated in a
Captain with a Field Officer. Everything is graduated
by military fitness and relation. In like manner, the
amount of punishments inflicted upon the soldiers is re-
gulated by a certain whimsical law, dependant upon
the rank of the Officer wbo orders the infliction.
Thus, the punishments being for the most part arbi..
trary, an Ensign, for instance, by virtue of his rank, has
power to order a certaift number of blows to be sum-
marily given to a soldier for any real, or constructive
offence; a Lieutenant a greater; and a Captain
possesses the pleasing satisfaction of causing to be in-
flicted a still greater number of strokes; observing, in
relative gradation, a corresponding species of arithme
deal progression in the sum of punishment. The blows'
are severely inflicted with a cane; and after the
punishment is over, the sufferer is permitted to rise, and
then makes, as in duty bound, a most profound obei-
sance to the Officer who caused him to be beaten,
humbly expressing his most grateful thanks for the mer-
cifulness of the punishment he has received at his bands.

A Petition to Parliament from the resident inhabit-
ants and visitors of Bath, has been signed, praying the
Legislature to prohibit bear-baiting, dog-fighting,
badger-baiting, and other public exhibitions of cruelty.
The unfortunate man, John Graham, who wasl
wounded by some ruffians at Mr. Dunlop's Mill, at
Glasgow, a few days ago, still lives, and may probably
survive : but he has lost the use of his lower extremities,
and is in a most distressed state.
There was an entry at the Custom-house on Thurs.
day morning, of bullion for Jamaica. Gold in ban:,
40,000 i. in coin, 20,0001. silver 800,000 ounces.
A few days since, a fire broke out at Watford,
Hero, which destroyed four cottages, the property of
Mr. Samuel Andrews, of Hertford.
The Parish Church of Ashburton exhibited a novel
scene on the afternoon of yesterday sennight, arising
from the opposition of the Minister to the performance
of Anthems. The circumstance to which we allude

has been thus represented to us: A Mrs. HALL who,
with her husband, have been many years members of
the Choir, and whose abilities are said to be above the
common order, had determined not to join in the
singing, unless Anthems were admitted, while at the
same ume she would not resign her seat ; and more-
over forcibly took possession, by the aid of her hus-
band (who is said to have lifted her over a locked
fence). of a stool or form placed by the side of the
organist, and considered as his exclusive right. The
angry feelings of the Minister were so aroused at this
•
ringement, that he loudly commanded the Church-
wardens to eject her. One of them, however, refusing
to comply, others were found to perform the office.
The Lady resisted, and shouted " Murder I" to the
terror and annoyance of those who had assembled
under theimpressions of tree religion. Finding their
attempts to remove her would produce great confusion,
she was suffered to remain ; and, after a considerable
time, during which some part of the congregation were
promenading the aisles of the Church, the service was
proceeded io, and ended without further interruption.
An inquiry, it is expected, will be instituted in the
Ecclesiastical Court.

Captain COCHRANE, in his amusing work on South
America, says, a That the merchandise and materials,'
the merchants and soldiers, the manners and customs of
England, are most approved in Colombia." 44 The
Journals of England," be adds, " establish and guide
public opinion, and her vessels protect and increase the
trade, almost exclusively. In fact, to be an English-
man is a pus par told throughout the Republic."
On our titles of rank being explained to a young lad,
a native of Ceylon, then in England, be observed, " I
do not like your calling your high•caste men and Goa
by the same name: you say' Lord' of both? Another
time, when it was attempted to make him comprehend
the mechanic principle of the screw, he said, " I under-
stand ; just as the serpent creeping up the tree." He
had been very much puzzled to understand a paragraph
in the Papers, stating the conviction of a baker, who
bad substituted plaster of Paris for flour; be asked how
the man could put these Paris plaisters on the bread,
without their being immediately discovered !
A Clergyman once remonstrated with one of his pa-
rishioners for being so fond of brandy, observing—
" Liquor was the greatest enemy be had." " That is
true, Reverend Sir," replied the man, " but I am only
practising that which you preach. I have heard you
say repeatedly, we should love °lir enemies—and I
love mine."

-- - - ---- -
ST. JAMES'S PAIL=.--It is amusing tel cast back our
mind to former times, and to compete the present con-
dition of London with what it was even within the
comparative short period of one hundred and twenty
or thirty years. Who that now saunters leisurely along
the Mall of St. James's Park, would dream that it was
,so recently within the rigorous operation of the Goole
Laws, and which extended with equal strictness to the
distance of tea wiles of Whitehall, within which limits
any one would now find it difficult to fire a gun with-
out breaking a shop window. The following advertise-
ment, however, appeared in the London Gazette of the
SOch October, 1690:
66 Whereas his Manny bath empowered Jona and Turmas
Weis, Gentlemen, keepers of the fowl in St. Jsmes's Park, as also
keepers of the game within ten miles of the Conn of Whitehall,
and the precincts thereof; and information being given, that not-
withstanding his Masurr's commands, several persons do molest
and kill his )Satan's decks and game within the said limits r, it is
therefore his Marneres especial command, that none presume to
tee', a fowling plies, gun, setting-deg, greyhound, as saber dog,
$
net. tunnel, umlaut, or other unlawful engine, wherewith to e-,
,may or MA, or anyways disturb the game. contrary to the w
1 and statute in that cam made and provided, ether than sic as'
sbaltbe by law qualified.
" And whoever shall give information to. Joan Wass, Hein; in-
sc. Jame, Park, shill have a gratuity for.every gun, met. dog% or.
::ply eosins, chat shall be seized and taken"'
NO from any sink offender..
TTENGIIA3I."

OLD that, 41'RTL 9.

....er

tiii1441K30,4 APIS%
Frederick Denman and ./esefik ,MonW were ,tried for
having, by menaces, maliciously demanded the sum of
51. of Thomas COOP!. •
The circumstances of this_ case hive been already
before the public. The peosecistor, who is a
_very re-
spectable young man, bad been repeatedly. attacked by,
the prisoner Mould, and threatened with a charge of
indecent assault, unless money was given him. At
length, after a good deal of persecution, the prosecutor
consulted his friends, and a plan was concerted to de-
tect him and his associate. A meeting being appointed
at the Temple-terrace, money was marked, and officers
stationed to apprehend them in case they made their
appearance; they did attend; Denman insisted on
having.sl. two sovereigns were given to him, a signal
was made, and they were both taken into custody.
The case was moot clearly made oat.
Mr. Putwes, Who defended Denman, took an objection on be-
half of his client, -which was mended, and the Jury interrupted
the Judge, when he was about-Weiss up the case, and stated that
were
both thetall satbiked, and returned-a verdict of Guilty against
isoners.
Mr. ItDOLPIN VII, on behalf of the prosecutor, stated,
that a capital indictment in Middlesex was pending
against Mould, for having obtained money from the
prosecutor, by putting him in fear; but as Mould was
considered to be the creature of Denman, it was not,
wishel to persevere and execute the youth. when the
elder and snore wicked offender was only transported;
therefore, on Monday, with the. leave of the Court,
they should probably riot offer any evidence on that
capital charge.
Mr. Serjeant Aeons said, sack a course was certainly humane;
but the prisoners might both rely on being sent out of the country
for their lives.
This indictment is the first that has been framed on the new Act
of Parliament, passed in the fourth year of his present Majesty.

Robert Ge, a lad about sixteen years of age, was
charged with breaking and entering the house of Mr.
Gray, the jeweller, in Leadenhall•street, and stealing
some gold watches, chains, seals, rings, &c. &c. to the
amount of £250. It appeared, that on the evening of
the 24th of February, the prisoner thrust his arm through
Mr. Gray's shop•window, and ran away with the articles
in question ; he was followed by a mariner named Dean,
who witnessed the robbery, and who apprehended him
with part of the property in his possession. Several
watches he threw away as he ran, thinking people
would stop and pick them up, and thus the put-
suit be retarded. The prisoner, in his defence, said he
joined in pursuing a man who had committed the rob-
bery, but was himself entirely innocent of it.
Mr. Serjeant ARABIA told, the Jury, that the capital
charge had been clearly proved, and the prisoner was
found Ussilty—Death.