Star.
London, England, 1830-12-21 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.

Sunday, Nov. 19, Eight, P.N.
Sia—l am at this moment contemplating, from my win-
dow, a distant fire, apparently in the vicinity of Enfield,
Middlesex ; and am induced to address a few observations to
you. If it be a case of " Inoendiarism" (to use one
of the examples of the neology of periodical writings), it is
the more frightful from the choice of the day of perpetra-
tion. In the Hebraic Scripture it is declared, that to pick
up sticks for fuel on the Sabbath is a mortal sin ; and the ex-
ample made, is recorded, together with the specific decree.
How heinous then is it, not simply to collect materials for a
fire on a Sunday, but to set fire to the produce of agricul-
ture, destroying the national resources for a year's provi-
sion. Nevertheless, lam not satisfied that sanguinary pu-
nishment, or any partaking of the severity of that alluded
to in Scripture, will accord with right policy uncle: the pre-
sent exigency. In that case a divine law was to be enforced
by divine agency. Now, prevention of this crime is de-
sirable for a two-fold reason : first, that the examples made
by justice are never in vengeance, but are directed against
the recurrence of similar offences; secondly, to avert the
danger of a partial or temporary famine. Fear should
never be allowed to whet the sword of justice. Circum-
stances attend the calamity of this era, by the fire-brands
of despairing rustics, which should extenuate so far the of-
fence as to procure mercy for the ignorant actors. They
have participated in the national drama of the day—they
are in some sense of the word the prime movers; it is sup-
posed, and it is partly acknowledged, that great benefit will
accrue to this nation from several appalling causes, one of
which is the desperation of the class of labourers. National
boons have, of late years, been obtained from governments
by the display of a readiness to violence. The Roman Ca-
tholic emancipation was partly so obtained, from the un-
bending austerity of the high church government. If re-
duction of taxes, if parliamentary reform, if the revision of
the poor laws and the corn laws, if an alleviation of the
tithes, and some other results of the actual effervescence, shall
be some day attributed partly to the agency of the SERVILE
Ism/ KG EN TS, it might be better not to hang up those of
the body of people, so denominated, who are convicted of
arson, but to subject them to a milder visitation of penalty,
which would be more efficacious, more salutary, more con-
ducive to that result of a pacification which all must wish
for. Severe examples, I repeat it, may excite the passions
of the rural population, who have hitherto only acted from a
cold calculation. The horrors of the French Jaquerie may
result from the death of the youths named Packman and
any multiplicity of similar executions; or a servile and civil
war, similar to that experienced by old Rome and Italy, may
endanger all the institutions of society. But enough of
argument, the practical proposition I wish to suggest is
this :—let convicts for arson be transported for 14 years,
and rioters for 7 years; let the examples be numerous. No
law is requisite to pass the legislature, The decree of death
is perhaps a remnant of barbarous ages, for this crime. A
patriot and discerning monarch has it in his power, by fol-
lowing the dictates of his merciful and compassionate heart,
to rectify an increasing evil by adopting a method and mo-
deration, in the visitation of punishment on these crimes.
I am, Sir,
Your very obedient Servant,
C C. H.

The report of his Majesty's sloop Falcon, Capt. Colpoys,
having captured a large piratical ship, proves to be unfound-
ed. The Falcon was, on the 21st October, in lat. 5. S.
long. 21. W. proceeding to Bermuda.
Lord Teynham is this evening to move, in the House of
Lords, for papers connected with, and to give some further
information respecting the settlement and present condition
of the Swan River colonies.

The Bucks Gazette states, that " two of the principal
tenants of the Duke of Buckingham have retaken their
farms at Wotton-Underwood, his Grace having reduced disk
rents. One of the tenants and his ancestora have rented
the same farm of the Grenville family for 150 years. Other
tenants of the Duke of Buckingham have retaken their
farms at reduced rents.

Though the Special Commission which will be opened at
Aylesbury on the 10th January, will be attended by three
judges (Sir A. Park, Mr. Baron Bolland, and Mr. Justice
Patteson), there are not to be three courts, as some have
imagined; there will be but one court, over which all the
three judges will preside.
" We learn," says the Tribune, " that the Piedmontese,
Spanish, and Portuguese refugees have received orders
from Government to leave Paris within 24 hours. Pass-
ports have been given them for Chalons and Macon. Mo-
ney for travelling expenses have been granted to such as
have solicited it."

The Augsbargh Gazette contains a letter from Berlin,
dated December 5, which states that tranquillity prevails in
the grand duchy of Posen, but troops are bivouacked in the
town, and eight battalions are expected from Silesia.
POPULATION OF POLA N D.-At the beginning of 1829,
the kingdom of Poland (i. e. the Russian province so called,
of which Warsaw is the metropolis) contained 4,088,289
souls, exclusive of the army. The increase since the year
1825 had therefore been 383,983. The Jewish portion of
the inhabitants had almost been universally located in dis-
tinct quarters ; they amounted to 384,263 individuals. The
extent of property insured in the Warsaw Assurance-office

was 420,000,000 guilders (33,250,0001. in value.) War-
saw itself possesses a population of 136,554 souls, inde-
pendently of a garrison of about 15,000 men ; and of this
population 30,146 are of the Israelitish faith.Litsretry
Gazette.

The number of bankruptcies which took place between
the Ist Nov. 1829 and the Ist Nov. 1830, was 1,467.
In 1829 there were 4,063 persons discharged under the
Insolvent Debtors' Act ; of whom, 2,225 were discharged
by the Court in London; 1,732 by the Commissioners on
Circuit, and 106 by Justices in Wales and at Berwick-on-
Tweed.
The total amount of the effects of suitors in the Court of
Chancery in 1829 was 38,886,1351. 19s. sd.
REMARKABLE CERCUMITANCILA letter received in
Carlisle mentions the following singular occurrence
"On the 26th of November, 1830, a mercantile helms in
Liverpool received in payment a 51. Bank of England note,
dated 23d January, 1830 ; on the back of which were writ-
ten the following words—' If this note guts into the hands
of John Dean (or Drain) of Longhills, near Carlisle, his bro-
ther Andrew is a prisoner in Algiers.' "
RIM/MEASLY Rion D x.---Yesterday afternoon the
highest spring tide experienced since December, 1821, took
place in the river Thames, especially above London-bridge.
The north-easterly wind for some days has no doubt contri-
buted to this phenomenon. Most of the houses along the
right bank of the river from Vauxhall. down to Rotherhithe,
have been completely inundated, and many wharfs and
streets were for upwards of two hours finder water. On the
left bank of the river, frau Milbank flownwiuds, the tide
rose above its usual bounds, inundating many 'wharfs and
counting-houses. At Blaskfriare-bridge thesis ,was.upwards
of two feet water on the plationa- (at the east side of the,
city end of thn bridge), beilt for the landing of fruit, &c.
.tide rose between feu and five fest bored the usual
blight of aping jidse.