Star.
London, England, 1829-12-29 00:00:00

THE LATE TRIALS.
Prom a Correspondent.
•An =tient 'triter, CLJUDINI SLIA NUS, observes
N Seas sad reproaches to me seetn'of no force : for if
therreet with a solid mind they are Chattered to pieces ;
4§etif with mean and low, they have power, and many
times occasion not only grief but death ; whereof take
this instance: SOCRATES= -derided ill a comedy,
laughed, but POLIAO RUB himself." It would ap-
pear that informations ex-ofseio were not in fashion in
the time and country of poor POLIAORUS. Had that
desirable remedy been within his reach, with an expert
ATTORN SY-GENERAL to administer it, the sufferer need
not have sought relief i,n suicide by the application of a
halter. Of the scoffs which only excited the laughter of
SOCRATES, the same author gives the following ac-
count :—" Ax ITV'S and his companions having studied
to ruin SOCRATIC', they suborned ARISTOPHAN ES, S
UOMiC Poet, to bring him upon the stage, taxing him
with crimes which most men knew him free from, imper-
tinent discourse, making a bad cause by argument seem
good, introducing new and strange deities, whilst him-
self believed and reverenced none. ARiSTOrueNES,
taking this theme, interweaves it with much abusive
mirth and pleasant verses. At first, the ATtreylSllll,
who expected nothing less, were struck with wonder :
then being naturally envious, and apt to detract from the
best persons, not only such as bore office in the Common-
wealth, but any that were eminent for learning or virtue,
they begun to be taken with " The Clouds," so was
the play named, and cried up the poet with more applause
than any ever-before. In fine, the play obtained extra-
ordinary, credit, and it being at that time the Feast of
Bacchus, a multitude of Grecians went to see the play.
SOCRATES being personated on the stage, and often
named, the strangers who were present, raised a hum and
whisper, every one asking who that Soc ATES was,
which he observing, for he had chosen the most conspi-
cuous seat in the theatre, to put the strangers out of doubt,
he rose up, and all the while the play lasted, continued
in that position. So much did SocRATaS despise the
Comedy and the Athenians themselves." Of Ax YTUS
and his companions, the names only survive in the re-
cord of their infamy ; and " The Clouds" formed by
the native genius of the poet, though they amused a
lively and fickle people for a while, at the expense of
this excellent man, could not cast a shade upon the lustre
of his character. Why can we not recognise the same
magnanimity in the Duke of WELLINGTON ?—IS it to
assert the equality of human nature the victor in a hun-
dred fights has been allowed, in the ordinary business of
life, to descend to the level of common men ?—An hun-
dred convictions could not have so effectually vindicated
the character of SOCRATES as the dignified contempt
with which he treated the efforts of his enemies to de-
stroy it. An hundred convictions could not have more
effectually established his innocence than the impotence
of these efforts to compel a defence or justification. Had
SOCRATES pursued a different course ; bad he cited his
calumniators to a Court of Justice; had he filled Athens with
the complaint of his wrongs the trait would be wanting
which is now appealed to as hence of the perfection of
his character, and he would not fill the exalted station
which he now occupies in history. The Noble Duke
does not foresee the loss his character will sustain in the
estimation of posterity in thus measuring himself by the
standard of ordinary wen and little minds. Of the
charges which have sorely affected him some are more
calculated to excite a smile than a feeling of anger.
What shall we think of the charge in which it is stated
that " His MAJESTY was afraid to shew himself in
public," a charge which the feeling in every man's
heart in England repels. Is not its folly, its impotence
and absurdity, manifested in the laughter which it caused
in the Court ? Is the charge of meditating the establish-
ment of a WELLESLEY dynasty in these realms less
ridiculous? The Noble Duke pronounced a libel upon
himself, when he presumed, as we must suppose he did pre-
sume, that there was any considerable portion of his MA-
JUT Y's subjects upon which it could have made the slightest
impression. Such an intention would betray the grossest
ignorance of the public mind, of the history and of the
laws of England. The Dukes of NORTIIUIIBERLAND
and NORFOLK, who were charged with a like frantic am-
bition, paid the penalty of their lives on the scaffold. But
the attempt which, in the times of these Noblemen, was
only frantic, is now become impracticable also. Who is
there who does not know that no such matrimonial alli-
ance as that alleged to be in the contemplation of the
Noble Duke, can be contracted without the consent of
the Bing in Council—a Council responsible to the
people ? From delicacy, and the respect due to the
Royal Infant whose name has been introduced into this
charge ; we think this offspring of a disturbed fancy,
might have been suffered to die a natural death, if in
fact it ever possessed even an ephemeral existence. The
recommendation to mercy accompanying one of the ver-
dicts against the Morning Journal, establishes the fact
of their origin in the excitement produced by the Roman
Catholic Relief Bill.—An amnesty for offences com-
mitted at such a crisis and under such influence, is the
course true wisdom would dictate--Government acted
upon this principle in the abandonment of the prosecution
against Mr. LAWLESS; and we knoiv not why a different
policy has been adopted here. The Irish, no doubt, are
an irritable people, and agitation among them might be
attended with danger. The people of this country, on
the contrary, are presumed to be of a dull, phlegmatic
temper, and the noble Duke thinks he may here indulge
his feelings without any risque.

. ,

A letter dated Nice, 18th instant, says—" We have
been here five weeks, during which the weather has been
uncommonly cold, for Nice: we have now very fine
ldays, with clear atmosphere and hot sun, but with cold
wind; and in, the course of the nights, the thermometer
down to 32 and 33."
The Duke of WELLINGTON tow
left non Saturday
afternoon, on a visit to the Marquis and Marchioness of
SA Lisauftv, at their residence at Hatfield, Herm.
There was a select party invited to meet his Grace.
His Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway has
just presented, as a testimony of his regard, to Sir Theo-
philus Leo, one of our county Magistrates, a superb ring,
with his Majesty's crown and initials, in brilliants, sur-
rounded by 108 diamonds. The ring was conveyed by
the Chamberlain, the Count Eric Lewenhauget, in a
polite note, testifying the regard for the King, and his
thanks for same valuable documents Sir Theophilus has
presented to his Majesty.—Portsmouth Herald.
During the recent visit of the Marquis of Anglesey
at Croome, the seat of the Earl of Coventry, the cor-
poration of Worcester presented the noble Marquis with
the freedom of that city, in token of their admiration of
his military services ; and, on its presentation, bestowed
a very high encomium on those services which he ree--
dared to Ireland during his viceregal government in that
country. This indication of the happy triumph of liberal
opinions, and the total annihilation of those bitter reli-
gious, prejudices which have so long and so mieehievoasly
prevailed, is particularly valuable, consider* law in-
ready seltimeata of en opposite nature had gaited the
ascendancy in this part of the country.

t; •

THE SERPENTIIIit
—.owl the ice perdelly bore ea the south Nide ;
atse elf the most adveeturous eked.., was immersed.
to the waist, but be extricated himself in time. The
surfacitad improved; but it was only in,those parts re-
, cently frozen. A number of die skailesi were of abetter
class than those who were there out Sunday : we saw
Mr. Heebert. CaptaiaLlepd, Mr. Mickiethweite, and M.
Man, ansag the figurer performers oe the North Bank.
lbws was few carriages, for the day wee dreary and in
cold.
By letters received yesterday. the cold appears to be
still more intense at Paris than in Leaden.
The cold in the night between Sunder sad Monday
was very intense. A register Fahrenheit thwatomater •
in the higher part of the town, indicated 15 degrees, or •
17 degrees below freezing.
An unusual number of persons have been taken to the
different hospitals within this last week. from ecciaents
occasioned by the slippery state of the streets.
' The advices from the Russian capital detained yester-
day are to the 14th instant, and they state that the hatchet
there was extremely severe. At Cronstadt the ice wits'
in some places five feet thick, and the passer with St:
Petersburgh had been established. The Bretish vessels •
which were locked in when the frost first set in would be
compelled to remain there all the winter. Money is stated ,'
to be scarce at St. Petersburgh, but therewas little doing
in trade, and scarcely any contracts for produce entered
into for next year. The general statement of the trade
with Great Britain had been made out, frost which it sp
peered that a great deal has been done about the close.
A more severe and rigorous winter has sot been "upon-
enced in this part of the country for many years. At some
distance from the town the fall of snow has been prodi-
gious ; in many instances sheep have been lost is the
drifts, and many accidents have happened. Thursday
night the cold was excessive, the thermometer being
as low as 25 deg. ; yet the atmosphere has been very
clear, and the sunshine more refreshing than at any
time during the last six weeks. Travelling has
become exceedingly difficult ; all our public con-
veyance; have been detained several hours after their
usual time, notwithstanding they have been drawn by six
horses. This is the peculiar season for charity to go
forth and illuminate by her smiles the dwellings of the
poor. Let those, therefore, who surround the cheerful
fire, and enjoy all the comforts which opulence can com-
municate, remember that there afe around them those wLo
are ill-clothed, ill-fed, and ill-supplied with all those
" appliances and means" which mitigate the frowns of
winter.—Cheltenham Journal.
QUEENSBERRY LEGACIES.

THOMAS V. MONTGOMERY.
The LORD CHANCELLOR was engaged in the Cu:1: t
of Chancery on the 21st inst. in hearing Counsel for
the legatees, annuitants, and weekly pensioners of the
late Duke of Queensberry, who died on the 23d day of
December,lBlo, and who by his will appointed Sir James
Montgomery, Bart. William Murray, and Edward Bel '
lock Douglas, &qrs. his executors, and left legacies to
the amount of £605,500, annuities of £5,584 ss. per
annum, and weekly allowances of £6 17s. being equal to
£357 3s. 6d. per annum. The Duke directed that his
1 legacies should be paid within three months after his
death, consequently they became due en the 23d March,
1811 ; and be directed his executors, out of his personal
leetate, to invest in their names, in the Three per Cent.
IConsols, as much stock as would be sufficient for the pay-
ment of the annuities.
The Legacies were not paid on the 23d March, 1811,
when they became due ; neither were the annuitiLs and
'allowances—because claims to a very great amount were
threatened to be brought in Scotland against the Duke's
estate, and which occasioned proceedings to be had in the
I Court of Chancery.
In 1814 the funds in Court became equal to pay or
amide for the legacies, annuities, or allowances, and to
have a considerable surplus. Under these circumstances,
tie legatees and annuitants presented a petition to the
Lord Chancellor (Eldon), praying that their legacies and
interest, and arrears of annuities and weekly pensions,•
might be appropriated in stock, but that the stock FO
appropriated should remain under the controul of the
Court, and that it should be subject to all or any of the
demands which should be established against the Diako
of Queensberry's estate.
The petition came on to be heard before Lord Eldon
on the 16th Aug. 1814, when his Lordship directed the
Master in Chancery to proceed upon certain enquiries
which he had directed by an order of the 17th July,
1812, and to report thereon, and that the rest of the pe-
tition should stand over.
The Master in Chancery having yesterday reported to
the Court that there was a considerable sum in stock re-
maining in the hands of the Accountant-General after
setting apart a sufficient sum to answer the outstanding
and unsettled Scotch clabis against the Duke of Queens-
berry's estate, the residuary legatees presented a petitiott
to the Lord Chancellor to have £150,000 stock, part of
the remaining fund, transferred to them ; but the le-
gatees, annuitants, and weekly pensioners, presented a
counter petition to his Lordship, maintaining that nearly •
the whole of the remaining fund belonged to thenk,
upon the grounds of the petition of 1814, as to un op- ~
prop-iation, which they have now brought forward.
This important question has occupied the Chancellor's
attention the whole of the 21st inst. and new stand*
over until after the holidays, the counsel for the legatee,
only having been heard.
Last week the Marquis of HASTINGS had a rat.
batty at Donington Park, when his Lordship and friends
killed upwards of three hundred head of game in three
hours and a half ; the shooting was excellent, ;,he party
consisting of the following Nobleman end, Gentlemen:—
Lords Hastings and Cowry; the, ilkeombiee
Stanhope, and Dundee; Messrs. Cbasifas, Rich. Cough,
and Holden.—Nottiafihage Journal.
MARCH OT THL BUSKIN.--AbOU, twe months ego,
the Ant battalion of the first Regiment of Grenadier Foot Gouda.
now in Portman.barracka. having consulted tagetler as to the best
means of amusing themselves drains their onoramief time," •• -
was resolved that theatrical performances would be the meat used .t
and instructive recreation, and that the 11111014 of the resift's(
should be applied to for their sanction alialorrel a 114" ",Plaia"
in the barracks. Leave was granted; sad they enacted 'Xing
Richard the Third" on Monday night lan, with appropriate drosses
and scenery. The performers were period Is &dr pares, and rar
caned great applause.! and the whole hashers conducted from she „
commencement with the stolen order and regularity.
MA RSHATAITA PRISON.—On Christine' snoraiog,
immodiantly after Divine *tyke. a very medians donation from
the Lod Steward et hie Ma)er y's Household. was inariassro try
J. Rutland. Rm. the Lit puty Manisa!, each debtor receiving four
pagoda et meat, a loaf of breed, three pints of pond, and one
in money. 'Fbosood order and peopriny of coedit' eb-.
lelki=iby each beeline evinced a strong sense of vatitsie.
alit
roved that the botany of their Noble benefactor had been Pee
Sedowed oust weithily.

NEW FARRINGDON NARILET—THIS DA T. •f.
neat was a peony pw M. laws at Ms asacket
db:ta-day, * die
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dmp—Ciodeest Rases 'pm* 644. Dian& 4.4, 1100
gwatHasssj,y.Lersz2Pars,ott priLiod. ii:serscfnier,
to 7d. rWa•••44ll. to Ws •