Star.
London, England, 1819-10-22 00:00:00

LONDON.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1819.
THE FUNDS.

►NICE 0► STOOKS THIS DAT AT osl O.CLOCK
Bank Stock 2161 219
3 per Cent. Reduced 6711
3 per Cent. Consols 681 68 1 68
3/ per Cent. 7611
4 per Cent. 851. 85t
5 per Cent. Navy 1031 1031
Bank Long Annuities 17 13-16
India Stock 2091—India Bonds 10 12 pre.
South-Sea Stock 751
Exchequer Bills (2d.) par 2s. dis.
Omnism 11 dis.
Consols for Acct. 68i111.

A sudden and unexpected depression took place
at twelve o'clock this day in the Stock Market. At
the commencement of business, the Market looked
well, and Consols found ready purchasers at 68.1 ; but
at the time above mentioned, a sudden panic seized the
Market, from a great number of the principal Bro-
kers rushing into the House, and selling immense sums.
—ln five minutes all the bright prospects of the lostlis
were completely extinguished, and purchasers could
scarcely be had for Consols, although hawked about
the Market at 68. Every one became alarmed for so
great a depression, when they had the consolation► of
"being informed, that the Militia were ordered to be
embodied immediately, and that, from the general
aspect of affairs in the Country, Ministers were
under the apprehension, that sothe very strong
measures must be instantaneously adopted. All
other Stock has fallen in proportion; and Omnium,
which has been at 6 per Cent. premium, was
sold. at l I discount ; but after a few lots hail been
disposed of, no more purchasers could be found, even
at that depreciated price.

We must call the attention of the Public to the
proceedings of the Court of Inquest held in the
County Court at Newcastle-on-Tyne on Monday,
which we inserted yesterday in our columns, on the
.authority of the Tyne Mercury; and have only to
premise that the correctness of the observations which
we now submit, rest entirely on the supposition that
such a Court was held, and that the proceedings were
actually such as have been reported in the Newspaper
alluded to. We were filled with so much amazement
on the first perusal, that we found ourselves quite
unqualified to give the proceedings that deliberate
and cool attention which they call for; but, after due
deliberation, we feel ourselves imperiously bound to re-
quest the attention of all who wish well to the Consti-
tution and Laws of England to a transaction which*
if the statement be correct, calls loudly for animad-
version.

We had fondly hoped that the ferment excited by
late events at Manchester, would at least have had
the effect to prevent any of the minor Authorities
from being hasty in the exercise of equivocal powers;
but if the proceedings be fairly stated in the Report
alluded to, we are strongly persuaded that the con•
duct of the Court of Inquest at Newcastle will be
deemed, by most men, less capable of defence than
any part of the conduct of the Manchester Magistrates.
If there is any one part of the Liberties of English-
men better established than another, it is the right of
being heard before being condemned ; a right on
which, in fact, every thing like justice must eter-
nally hinge. A man may be arraigned, and should
he not appear to answer the charge imputed to
him, he may be outlawed—which is saying no-
thing more than that the man who will not abide
the penal cognizance of the laws under which
he lives, must be deprived of the benefits of their
protection. But ever since the Revolution esta-
blished liberty on the basis of law amongst us, we
remember no former instance in which men have
been condemned for an imputed crime, without
.an opportunity being given them of appearing in their
defence, and of establishing, if possible, their inno-
cence. We are not sure but that the instance we are
about to advert to, involves even a worse perversion
'of justice than this; for from all the information we
have before us, it would seem, that persons have been
condemned, not only without a hearing, or an oppor-
tunity of being heard,: but absolutely without know-
ing that any charge was pending against them! The
circumstances are briefly these;—ln consequence of
the late disturbances at Shields, what is called a
Court of Inquest (see Star of yesterday), was held at
Newcastle, before TIIOWAS CLENNEL, Esq. and a
full Bench of Magistrates. The holding of such a
Court is so much a novelty, that we are told, that
" This is almost the first instance of such a Court being
held in this County" (Northumberland), and the autho-
rity for holding it, is said to be an Act of Parliament,
of a date no less ancient than the reign of HENRY IV.
The Court, we are further told, is "vested with great
powers," and the object in now reviving it " was
rather to chew that they had that power, than to.
punish," Ecc. Now, then, for the manner in which
they show it. The Court, after convicting one man,
who appears to have been brought before the Jury,
" also decided that that bad been a riot at Wallsead