The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-07-10 00:00:00

THE COURIER AND THE EVIL ONE!

The would-be whig paper, the Courier, in order to recom-
mend itself to our whig ministry, has long been labouring
hard to frustrate the object of those persons who are endea-
vouring to bring about a more decent observance of the
Sabbath. Nobody was surprised at this, because everybody-
knows that the Courier is ever the humble admirer, for the
nonce, of those who "rule the roast," and that it never allows
its religious feelings to interfere with its sublunary hopes. It
seems, however, that within these few days "a change has
come o'er the spirit of its dream;" and under the influence of
that change it has had the grace to publish a letter of thanks
which has been forwarded to its editor by "the gentleman in
black." The letter in question is headed—" A New Cor-
respondent ;" and the following is a copy of it, verb. et lit.:—

" TO THE EDITOR OF THE -
COURIER

" FRIEND,—I admire thy zeal for my cause. I have no
objection to mass or to any form even if it were intelligible
and never so pure, but I know thine to be a blind wiriship,
and that is best of all for me and Inv cause.-1 have been led
to these remarks by reading thv devilish pointed comments
of last 'Tuesday, in the Courier. of that day, on Plumptre's
intended Lord's-day bill, which, like a veteran in my service.
thou gayest, " is blasphemously denominated the Lord's-day
bill."

"Now, I doubt not thou art a papist, and, as such, I can
excuse thy rage at this bill, as thou knowest how it works
against thy scheme as well as my interest. Go on and pros-
per, zealous friend ! Away with these scruples of conscience !
the light of Scripture is sadly annoying to both of us, and all
squeamishness about the Sabbath. But, friend, much as I
admire thy zeal and courage in my service, pardon me if I
express a doubt as to the policy of using such strong epithets
—they might have passed, in papal countries, where thou
knowest they art more like my loyal subjects, in devoting
half the day, if not the whole, to mountebanks and theatres,
and such like—but, among protestants, it is hardly probable
they are fully prepared for this, as yet; they are, however,
making fast progress, and ere long, perhaps, through the
mighty influence of my brave and faithful sevant Dan, it may
be hoped we shall be able to quench and darken the light of
Scripture; and then, farewell to the Sabbath and other
squeamish observances.
"Never fear, my worthy friend! brave the worst, thy wages
are sure—thou knowest I am the god of this world, and I can
promote thee to honour. " BEELZEBUB."

We have been told that this letter was not intended
for publication, and that it got into the printer's hands by one
of those vexatious mishaps which will happen in the affairs of
the best-regulated journals.—However this may be, we wish
the Courier much joy of its " New Correspondent."—Merniay
Herald.

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE AGAINST ONE OF THE FOREIGN
AMBASSAnoRs.—A tall elderly person, whose accent declared
him to be a native of the emerald isle, and who gave the name
of Michael Fitzgerald, presented himself at the Bow-street
Police-office on Wednesday, before Mr. Twyford the sitting
magistrate, and said he had a charge to prefer against the
Duke de Palmella, ambassador extraordinary from the court
of Portugal to her Majesty Queen Victoria. The applicant
said, "1 charge the Duke de Palmella with having received
£300,000 from this country for the purpose of putting an rnd
to the slave trade in the Brazils, but which money, I am pre-
pared to show, was never applied to that purpose, but was
appropriated by the duke to his own use." Being asked by
the magistrate, what proof he had in corroboration of his
statement, he replied, "The charge can be proved both by
witnesses and document, and the fact is sufficiently notorious
that, ,wo years ago, the Duke was obliged to fly from Oporto
to save his life, in consequence, chiefly, of the part he took
in this transaction. I can bring forward two persons who
held situations in Lord Palmerston's department, and they
can prove that the sum I have mentioned (£300,000) passed
through their hands, and was paid over to the Duke de Pal-
mella for the purpose I have already stated, but which pur-
pose has not been to this day fulfilled. Besides, all the docu-
ments, including a receipt for the money in the duke's hand-
writing, are now in the Foreign-office, and can be prodirced."
The magistrate informed the applicant, that he had no power
to enforce the production of such evidence, and was asked
whather he had made application to the Foreign-office or the
Treasury ; he replied, " No, sir, 1 have not done so ; because
I thought than an English magistrate would be justified in
exercising his jurisdiction in a case like the present. Here is
an offence committed which, under ordinary circumstances,
would be clearly indictable ; and I do not see why there should
be any difference made between persons in private life, and
those who fill high situations. The magistrate again referred
the applicant to her Majesty's government, who would take
such steps as they might think proper, The latter said, "but
that will take time, and the duke, I understand, is to leave
England the day after to-morrow." The magistrate again
intimated that he had no power to assist him, on hearing which
he bowed and left the office. Some doubts appeared to be
entertained of the applicant's sanity.