Star.
London, England, 1820-09-20 00:00:00

LONI)ON.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1820.
,THE FUNDS.
MCI, Of STOCKS THIS DAY AT 0111 O'CLOCK
3 per Cent. Cons. 66% 5/8
S per Cent. Navy 102% % %
•
Imperial .' per Cent. Ann. 6.5%
India Stock 2131/2—Ditto Bonds 19s. pre.
Exch. Bills (2d.) Ss. ss. pr.—Omnium 3% pre.
Cons. for Acct. 661 5/s % 5/8 •

We find that it is not concealed on the part of
those. who are engaged in carrying on the prosecu-
tion against her MAJESTY, that should the Bill of
Pains and Penalties pass the House of Lords, of which
they affect to entertain the utmost confidence, a great
many more witnesses will be adduced in support of
it before the House of Commons, than were produced
before the Peers. Not only the whole of the Luga-
inian importation, which did not arrive till after the
case was cliiised, but many of the Cotton-garden Co-
.lony, who were in waiting from the first, but were
not called, are to be brought forward to assist in
carryiilg home conviction to the sturdier minds of
the British Commons.

We have nothing to- say against the propriety of
bringing forward every tittle of evidence which her
INIAJEsTy's prosecutors may imagine to be essential
to the establi•hment of their case; but we must take
notice of one thing, extremely important as to the
estimation in which any evidence which may be ad-
duced hereafter, is to be held. The testimony given
before the Lords was upon oath, and any of the wit-
nesses may be prosecuted and punished for swearing
falsely. But the testimony to be given before the
Commons can only be on qihntalion, and the wit-
nesses cannot be prosecuted for perjury,

The Commons may, it is true, ex privilegio, corn--
mit for prevarication, but that is a check evidently of
very limited sway, having no influence whatever on
the conscience of the individual, however much it may
have on his fears, and 'involving punishment of no
longer duration than the current Session.
Now, such being the indisputable fact, we beg to
know w healer it is to be one anomaly more of this
unparalleled case, that there shall be two degrees of
swearing—a big oath and a little oath—or, more fitly
speaking, a real oath, and no oath at all ? Are the
prosecutors to have the option of examining their wit-
nesses under either the one or die other sanction as
they please ? that is to say, the power of chusing be-
fore which House they shall bring such and such wit-
nesses ? Are they to be permitted to push forward
the stout,v,ouled of their recruits to meet the first en-
counter—individuals who per chance would swear any
thing ! and then, in an after stage of the proceeding,
to be at liberty to bring up such as being of weaker
stuff, would doubtless say a great deal if not sworn
to it, but from whom not a word of accusation
could be expected if it were under the awful sanc-
tion cf " well and truly answering, as they shall
answer to Goy at the great day of judgment?" Can
anything so monstrous be meditated? For the ho-
nour of this Christian land—for the honour of hu-
man nature, we hope there is not. Still it is unde-
niable, that, by the very nature of the proceeding by
a Bill of Pains and Penalties, the managers of it
have that option ; and until we know who are at
the bottom the managers of this prosecution (for
that is )et a secret to Le discovered) we can form
no opinion whether they are men of such cha-
racter us would make use of it or not. This much
we will affirm—that if a single witness is produced
before the house of Commons, to be examined on
affirmation, who could have been examined in the
Ilouse of Lords on oath, it will be a full realization
of the case we have supposed—monstrous and ab-
horrent as it is to every sentiment of religion, justice,'
and humanity.

The present state of the Continent has produced
much fluctuation in our public Funds, and a degree
of dein es ion, which marks sufficiently the alarms of
monied men; nor is this to be wondered at when we
consider the complexion which the Continental i4tcl-
ligence has for some time worn. If, however, we
may credit accounts from Frankfort, by the Ham-
burgh Mail, there is less ground fur alarm than was
apprehended. They are of the ith instant, and state
that " the Baron d'ANcsrerr, Minister Plenipoten-
tiary from Russia to the Diet. has just made to that
Assembly, in a confidential Sitting, a communica-
tion, of which the following is the substance The
Emperor of RUSSIA does not recognise in any Power
the right of interfering in the affairs of other States,
on account of innovations introduced into the Go-
vernment of those States. His IMPERIAL MAJESTY
declares, that his approaching interview with his
Ally the Emperor of AUSTRIA, is far from having for
its object to concert means or measures tending to re-
press the new order of things in Spain or Naples.'"
It should be remembered also, that some time since
a disclaimer of the document, purporting to be a
Russian Declaration, issued from Frankfort.
The same accounts state, Mat on the 6th it was
torrent' y reported on the 'Change at Frankfort, " that
Austria would very shortly formally declare war
against Naples, and that General BIANPHI was already
appointed to command the corps which is to open the
csalipaige But first, it is said, an Austrian-army will