Star.
London, England, 1830-01-28 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.

Si a—Among all the benefits resulting from the freedom
of the press, and the talent and vigilance with which
it is conducted, there are none greater than those
which arise from exposing oppression, and pointing out
abuses from whatever source they may spring ; for infor-
mation is the surest way to put the public in possession
of the means to avert the consequences of innocently
falling under the operation of severe restrictions and or-
dinances, at least of doing so unawares, and if the removal
of obnoxious powers cannot be promptly effected, their
exposure may lead to their ultimate annihilation, as
monsters must first be ousted from dens of darkness be-
fore they can be pursued to destruction. Our penal
statutes, numerous and severe as they are, seem to require
some notice from the press ; especially as they are so little
known and so variously administered, some good might
arise if the lucid influence of your stellar ray were cast a
little upon this subject; some of those enactments lie
hidden in obscurity, yet like serpents they bite, and like
them their bite is often incurable: let the ethereal touch
of an enlightening press prick them with its spear and their
deformity shall be apparent, their *existence con-
damned, all their mischief prevented. To justify these
remarks, I would refer you to a case reported in
your paper of Saturday the 23d instant, which occurred
.a.t Marlborough-street, where a very industrious, honest,
and respectable householder, was fined five pounds fur
haviiig sold a cup of coffee with a cigar before six o'clock
in the morning of Friday the 22d ; and to the remon-
strances of the Solicitor of the accused, Mr. CON ANT TA-
plied, that he could have fined him in ten pounds ! and
this, too, when the individual appeared to prefer a charge
against a person who had wantonly destroyed the brass
guard of his glass-door light. By reference to the Act,
it appears, that a merciful magistrate could have fined
' him in the sum of one pound only ; and, as the party
was evidently ignorant of having transgressed any known
law,,perhaps the conduct Of the magistrates of Worship-
street, as exemplified in a case repeated the same day,
might have been adopted with as much satibfaction to tho
public.
I write these remarks with your excellent Journal be-
fore me, which I, as well as scores of persons beside,
seed.overy evening with great pleasure at the Divan,
kept by the individual whose case I mention, and spinet
aOhola the accusation of a soi-disast respectable neigh-
bour, will soon be proved false and malignant.
I am, Sir, your's,
A LOYAL SUBJECT.
P. S. In your report you say it should be £5.

--
Mr. %TRULY FITZGERALD was rather better yesteulay.
The Right Honourable Gentlemen experienced some be-
nt& from taking a. het bath the preceding evening.
A Meeting was held yesterday of tho boseebelders e -
St. element's Danes parish respecting the d
condition of the poor at this inclement .series.
.ateted,by the gentlemen who addressed the. Meat
idi
dress.the gnat want of employment amongst .ehi '
. obsess, and the severity of the winter season, vena i
tress existed hi the parish. Soren) distills@ were
tine of feel and the cemmos.necessaries of life. It
out:Lido:ad that pauperism 1,00 the itterease,.cmil
tiseweeddmies was morededmithiameteseitgesti itaharn
lair midst d. ;twat, reeurkeed that a enisseipilemehitdd
I,o,entered into far the relief of th per. ealditilllidilld.
of money they should receive bread, .potaties, cm*,
blankets. and other necessaries.

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