The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-10-02 00:00:00

~l~i

)

~- -

-• °
ON TNF: 041411AUTY OF jllltlES,
SLR R1.'11,1 Pl/.1141.114n.
the recent mt,soka on this itaiiadiant.of o'er Phertletb. freer
quarters e1.)..1y 3111, ,1 to .hterr, r-nd4 it acre:eery to pit
the othlir du* clued against innovationa4 pa.lkettarl
(Vhith ;:et,.,1%,•4 one val.te of the wholelyarta. a
:Without Kbici fread by .I.try would degtorreto hito tie
stere'cAttel or party. IVe therefore earnestly direct the at-
tention of she Readerli to the following citrart.

. .
." it has grieved me," pays Sir Richoul Phillips,
14 tp are a question lately, agitated in r‘gard to the
elattintit," revived in the decisions of Juries. Cer-
saW foreifeers, st no could not have understood, or
dtsly, considered, the nature of our Jury-system,
save treated the unanimity required of Juries es a
bletnish, and even as an impracticable and uttrea-
konable demand ; and some .(:nglislimen having has-
tily conceded this Out, have been industriously en-
gaged in propagating the error through the medium of
our Press. .
" A very slight cogsideration will,however, prove
the infinite worth and singulerproprsety of tite.prac- i
tee as it not, stands. The decision of a Jury is in. ,
teseled to he a TEAT OF TAUT*" : not a mere approxi;s
elation tonards truth, ; or a declaration of mere pro-
bability. Certainty, not probability; is the object of
t t e verdict of a Jery. I
" The telly test of troth„however, is thiwniverial
!Assent of nuntkind-eand the unanimous declaration
of a Jury of twelve unconnected and impartial men
is a fair criterion of such nisi‘Trssl s.ssent, provided
they really agree. But if . they should not all agree;
egil decide by A Memo majority, the decision court
not be d;emed a truth, but only a prob.abllitieestrong
yr slight, in ptoportinn to the numbers asserting er
0 en) ing the preposition. Thus should the-Jury di- 1
Tide 6 against 6, it would be an equal chance that
either party was right ; or should they divide 8 t 0.4,
it would be bUt 2 to 1 that they were correct ; or 2
lq 3, bet 3 to. l'that they were correct. But, if they
fp agree, it would *some 12 to 0, or a mathematical
fctittiuty that theirdecisien was right according to
;be evidence before them.
." Were the Jury increased in number, the test
plaid beAtle improved, because I consider the
oppviasosis decision of TWELVE as involving a fair
rterien of universal assent, or of absolute certainty.
4 as an hypothesis, we were to reduce the moral
feelings of f I l4ry Men to arithmetical calculation, it
night be assumed as two to one, that no one Jury-
Nip would wilfully give a false verdict ; as four to
gpe that no two wqqld combine to give a false ver-
4ict ; and so on
.61 a progressive ratio for the others ;
(ill it became nine hundred and sixty millions to
pnity,that the twelve would not eilfully give a false
eerdict. And a higher degree of security cannot
yeeaquelsly be required, or desired, in human affairs ;
Vitefeas iu deciding by a mere mejority.ott a similar
Clculation of .ehences, five verdicts out of every
elle might ha false. .
66 In every issue or question to be tried or decided
toy a Jury, there lies or exists some truth, and the
only =Recife% test the decision of the Jury sepa-
rates, dee-Imposes, or discriminates that truth, is
timer Unanimity. It is from this cause that gee.'
petry, a wince of certainty, commands immediate
and universal anent, Wording by that assent a proof
of its certainty, *So a just verdict necessarily corn-
;needs the assent ckt all the Jury. The moral ques-
tions connected with trials do not indeed afford the
same species of demonstration as geometry; but una-
eimity of conclusion in regard to verdicts is a similar
test of truth ; eitd the best test that in such cases
ten be obtained; oe desired.
" Let ate add, that the required unanimity affords
glee the telly touchstone that can he applied to the
factiviaual honour and conscience of every Juror ;
because, as every decision must have the assent of
ivery ope of the Jury, we have therein a security for
kijs etfetition and care ; every Juryman becoming re-
sponsible to his own conscience, to the parties, and
to the public, for the integrity, truth, and justice, of
the verdict.
" if, however, the preceding arguments should be '
considered as involving any solecism, or any ground .
ef valid objectioe, ehich it 'is presumed they cannot, 1
there is an 'argument founded ou experience, e hick
will perhaps be conclusive in the estimation of those
who prefer precedent to mere reasoning. it is a
tact more conclusive on this subject than, perhaps,
cloy reasoning, that the French Juries attached to
&e revolutioeeTy tribunals of France, made those
mous decisions by a mere Majority, which in a
Ow months` sent, without justice, reason, or mercy,l
.11:enty thousand of the most estimable of their
countrymen to suffer under the axe of the guillotine!
Pecisiope the; 'made, involved no responsibility in
the Juryrnee.either to their own consciences or to
Ole
}y. hi !s
14. bile kndividual made up the majority
this !wetae consequently every one diecherged
.imself .(rem' the culpability of the verdict. Re-
gideve how easy was it to kouty qp or manage a ma-
erity ? (14 to be eopposett OW a Jury, deciding on
e Englksb plan, could tAtAt hkte abused justice?
. . could not some oat of every twelve have revolted at
tech deeds of blood, and hy. te(tssing to lend them.
eelves to thacerrnetts IPTS.44e4tetl the machinations
of the Cerrepting.ppweci, Pole's, therefore, Eng-
Irishmen desim to See regeatetl the deeds of the re-
toruiicinary trkbanals.of France, they will never ea-
r their piepert[, liberties, or lives, to be legally
faceted, except Roder the, Noi;x4tmotis decision of 4
jury, which spokm;ltint is the beat and perhaps the
only test that men coo apply to wive et the' nearest
linroximattioo cowards certainty cr. ."-- . troth(elp-
rnikg tp s.4r. Weloirtl Phillips en Juries.)

iftE " srA rrdAN-_

...
The windows of the Theatre wer,-:, rinsed ou this
occasion ; and the interior being bri'lia;itly lighted
up, a perfect idea *l4 given of the appearance wnich
the house will present on the first night of perform-
ance. Having examined minutely every thing worthy
of observation, the Queen and Princes-es were re-
conducted to their carriages a little before twelve
o'clock.
White the Royal Family were viewing the interior
of the Theatre, the whole of their domestics, the Po.
lice-officers, and the soldiery, were entertained at
Mr. Billings's, in Woburn-street, by order of Mr.
Ward, Secretary to the Committee. Mr. Spring, the
Box •Book-keeper, and Mr. Fairbrother, the House.
keeper,' attended the !Loyal Party with lights. The
whole business was conducted in a manner which re-
fleets great credit on those to whom its management
was entrusted.

A melancholy accident happened on Tuesday, at 1
the Public Library, Cornwall-street, Plymouth.— ,
One of the mason's labourers, being overloade(l with
a hod of mortar, slipped Ids foot on the scatroldhig,
and was precipitated into the area, and killed on the
spot.
At one o'clock yesterday the sky became suddenly
overcast with clouds, and the atiwpspliere so black that
the Metropolis was wrapped in darkness, and pre- I
rented the appearance of night-fall. In all the nar-
row and confined places of work it became neces-
sary to use candle-light—a series of peals of thunder
shortly succeeded, but it was not very loud nor the;
lightning very vivid. At half-after one the thunder j
subsided, and was followed by a heavy rain.
• When WERITZER (who is a dabbler in poetry)
was askr(l if he intended to send his Altdress to the I
Committee of Drury-lane Theatre, he coo:ly told the
questioner, that he had seat it by request to Aeneas
(the call-boy of the Prompter).
PEDEST RIA NTSIOI. Wednesday, a young man,
lately from Cheltenham, of the name of Bard-
mare, engaged for a wager of 101. to go on foot
from St. John's-street, West Smithfield, to Barnet j
and back again in two hours and forty minutes, the
whole distance being twenty-two miles; he started I
at twelve o'clock, after stopping on the road to
bait, he reached Barnet a quarter after one o'clock ;
after taking some refreshment, he started afresh on
his return, and completed his wager, winning by
only one minute and a half, and was so much fati-
gued, occasioned by the roads being very heavy, as
to go immediately to bed.—Odds were at starting
four to three, and a great number of bets were de-
pending upon the issue.
One of the labouring men at Lord Elgin's lime-
works, Charlestown, was found last week lying at'
the foot of a hedge, strangled. He effecte4 his'death
in a very singular way :—He put a staff he used to
walk with into his neckcloth, and twisted it round
like a rackpin, until he found it sufficiently study td
effect his purpose.: When found he was lying on his
back, without having the bast apparent signs of a
struggle, holding the end of his staff with one of his
hands to prevent k ftom startiag back—(Edinburgh
Star.)
An impertinent hacknercoachrmtn; named Selair,
eras tfIOPY beld Ao baba ao assault cm a Airs.
Beaver, after having extorted from hitt liballifsi
jus t &Ole his fare,

: • tr. •
A most shocking accident .happened yesterday in
giacaddiy. tow, y0u,44 nine years old, of. the name
of 014kuld. lialaa; p)ayiug along the street with
two or. three othge youths, and amongst other antics,
be was climbing up one or the hinder wheels of a
Vest-chaise, when the horses moved oX, following a
coach b, fore them, and his legs and, thighs, which
got eataugled in the wheels, were so dreadfully
broken, that he was taken home to Swallow-street,
without possibility of recovery.
Cu* rvAsf, Spot. 30.—List evening the. Preach
ofbceri 100 broke their mole, and are confined on
board the Arun-I*k, cut a hole through, and ten
of them made theirescire; they are all since taken,l
tcett2oet will was w*. Thrcie prisoners at
Hi; same time made'
theirco from- the Glarjrewas
may of whets is taken.

to Carter,
Nirf9rm the 'te
mt
this day, play
..,
. . :Aait4L.Frtstr TO DizUgy..LANE. • • . PO LICE. , -
eeenlnt gene!' pickpockets,. once will be undertaken at iv.' sitilou'ceslLck' on i:
--Wi.llLont4f.t
.. ,
........mseese. 1 —svweet. or ;At.,
J. .
Hee s4esty AO the Princesses A ugusta and Mary llowsleteeeme-OtrWeenesd. e
s
w,,ho,bad.been apprehended niktlie same yby Mayhew , lack, Common.... flie pere re ~
with the Princess .Charlotte pf Wales, the Prince Re-
yeateroy
morning resce;6ll42ebreys, and others oftbe Bow-street Patrote amid;, . s ..,titioury
*(lT•bebleb.paulglisinatici..ddeslietcetVittlaitettlit:fF°rd and
the
r°l-
- end the Doke of Clarence, eoded inet. ames s Park, to see the 1.1.- gles de-- ,
nv:illatake place on Tuesday n
Waged's, Drurysla.ne Thsettre. This visit leaving been posited in Whitehall Chapel, were brought before Mr. N %arc
the Sitting blagis,rate; when several •illt handkerchiefs found
oarn tthheemm,w.
tea produced,
were and the fact being proved against too Adana 8011, .
Mr. R. Bulmeri son of Mt. R.Btiltner, • i 7.:,
publicly announced, the streets around the Theatre
aoemwm,asittedc for. trial; %mop of the others . Wilt be wanted oh eledlonecrin:z ;lato. &levet- T;f"s".3l
"Plipeaureroi',ltaayntl-leeolyt.the Bow streeeat rantrtltilietti,iwe, helteeoectilelyinu?mbs;oirp.eo. 0-1 tes tit p
were crowded to exeess et an early hour. A detach-
ao
were dischareyed, and oe onnuitted for farther examine- i
dco"ctkie;wararsl,"eifh°llteusnitatitillYittkgillnedearOilaisrlitdi " last
I.\'..twn:
meet of the Foot Guards arrived a little before tea
o'clock, and wzro s:atioued an the outside of the
~ him, and from which a plank fell, and iiit!"l4l by
grand entrance in Brydges-streot. A party of the
viiitcaeliyactomeaor
dteipsrceepataiialsy, ahltira.riviox
.et of life instantly. To add to the horror eif)rilsed 11:.13
it happened in the presence of his father.
" -.
porit,a,ntytnosfaas;e
wernstaihing the persons a ii,-w offenders.
Police officers, conducted 47 Messrs. Townsend and
ring.
front
11;,,e
shopchineldr tv.iiarth ste-
Sayers, also attended to preserve order and
-keep off
the populace. At ten o'clock -her Majesty arrived :lig tthweo ttrriadarants•l'ae"dre
went under pretence of exchanging a ring set with
I mitt's
and was coutlucted from her carriage to the Box. alXiarsfcd,„rshs she
,linafi!=etiaarrttrlFl. The case being clearly made nut,
lobby by the Prince Regent, assisted by Mr. Vincent. rile was co.::
UNION.IIAI.f..—A younial. g
map, dressed in the first style of
The Princesses Mary and Augusta ;wore conducted
fashion and repre. . g himself to be the son of a glass-maim.
raceme% in th- lily,'belltiliaasi:y oils Thursday,
nn tsa abirioreeteebtsfore Mr.
by General Hammond and Major Price. The
Princess Charlotte of Wales was ushered into the ' Ivaece, charged
wianats,.n ill) defrauding her of 51. under' Om followingiageiYrcntlitZ
Theatre by the Duke of Clarence.—Ladies llchesteri ' =s: the I:risoner had contrived to iniroilece himself to this
Cardignn, and J. Thynne, were ia attendattce on : of. the I rosecutrix in the street, and persuaded leer.° meet I
i binilat diliereul times ; and,on one occasion,they went into a horse
the Queen and Princesses. • ,
ttutmakvemstene reireshinent ; on feeling in his pocket for hie money I
ball, he exprressed great surprise at a circumstance ! Y It:ter:nay,
d,
r:a:dk;S ,
gt.
.111 Tr
fast s:,
sC3'.:llll::::,:Asnfro.:dl.lB.ing,:rteh.e.:l:;tree
in,:
Theltuyal party were received in the Box-lobby
by the Right lion. John M‘Mahnn ; Mr. B. Wyatt, ' wioaigihalaisylitc7 he-) • folly acquainted, namely, at not find- ito Mess Bee*
money there ;he area-anted for it, by saying, he had left lOh Tuesda; list4vattsttatfloard,
rnear Chit,iford,Beth.
the Architect of the Theatre ; Mr. Ward, Secretary .
to the Committee ; Mr. Arnold, the Manager of : iiii:ss I.:CC?, La t 11(17 the female, upon this, produced a 11. note his. 1 Fsq.
out of which he pain the bill, and very deli. ; Win. Alder' 'at,
the Theatre ; and conducted to the grand saloon, ; berately.*
putri tuelTintringe house Ms before emptv-pocket. Tomcat , 'Yesterday r! ii .er F.1'4)1: . Sorrel. met R.O; . .
day they tact at the same , and, in conversation, lie discover- ' rird4l-4. to. the r ighit liolan. rti i3'
°l'm( "k
- - -.
---"'°'•
whence they proct eded by the supetb staircase to.the lliineoes three, cute
taictibetesheititgeoutiisindme mor.e notes In her pocket upon which 1•,. (Latest rof the tat: Adm. P.;:,'Lliowe -
Boxes, and viewed the Rooms appropriated to the ! pdoaunds he, !amp res aer At ktlatkburn,
Royal Family ; they next examined the Prince ' the one pound lw hadglsvorerholtredflotlbler y beta. e . this she did, heron soinster •d if
Um!, °Aliiiiegoito ard 25, to P 1 Pew
and received what she thought was a 51, note, which she out into i a a aged
'
Regent's p. irate box, and theu proceeded by the .
taergietl,karettit,
avenues, leading to the Pit ; across the Orchestra a ith:tviattwedatchrir soiii:siennaifltecr under pretence of going
. some time in expectation ofn.
cis return, left
nt thae.arrtashi.a wAiitated
platform was made express4y for the by
amt on going to enquire for bim, she understood he had been
which the Royal -Family went on the Stage. occasion,The '
leave;ithortetarailtiinagitt . she imirfediut-ly ex-
nos-lobby, 4.1(1. all the avenues leading to theStaee ;gone
ettilrhrer note,e timewwiten
l'ngland 51. note, she had got a Fleet 'fiecubte instead
nontea. llrskwoafs
were covered with beautiful crimson Turkey carpet: LI; and she did not see him again till Wednesday even-
ing, which extended from the street to the interior' iota,"ne
Theatre, when
in we I : :lc h chances
e l‘,,scaTe Mtn the same boa in Astley's
of the Theatre.*Oh a tarty of (*I:PHs ; he
was iiamed hurls% pointed oatgitttoltrzett the officer, by wheal he
The moment the Royal Family made their appear. was taken into • custody.
atwe on the Stage, the workmen, who were sta- I In nistiefeace, lie said, that he had dfe
tinned in the Galleries (the avenues having been ea- note in questieu by inktake ;it t:adalti•ayns the
P tr
enhris'intuentlizontir
! rectify it, het his finance' lad not hitnerto been in a state whicrt
tirely cleared., and no person permitted to enter the
enabled aim to do so. lle was committed fur re-examination.
theatre during the Royal visit), greeted the Royal I
Family with three cheers. 'rime Royal party Revered
much gratified at this manifestation of respect ; they
all bowed—and her Majesty said, " I thank you."
Mr. - Greenwood, the Scene-painter, was intros
ducecl to the Queen and Itnyal Party. The whole of
the scenery painted by him was exhibited—aril much
praise was bestowed on the works of this excellent
artist.—The entire Stage, including all the intricate
machinery attached to it, was shown to the tte%al
Party by Mr. Leonard Drury, the Master Carpen-
ter, who explained the uses of the various appa. at us.
The Royal Family exprce.sed their admiratiea of
every part of the Theatte. The Queen, particttlarl% .
observed to Mr. Wyatt, that she never was moat
highly giatified by the inspection of any theatrical
edifice ; and in common with the other branches of
the Repot Family, paid the Architect maiiy hand-
some compliments.
The new tioetrivance, invented by Colonel Con-
greve, for supplying the Theatre with water, as
well for general purposes, as to afford effectual se-
curity against the calamity of fire, was particularly
admired.

• scorcu s HACKS.
Illtu.o.ti's IThlrt% Are;red, San,.
Pilot (under. o.!), Leith 42 Sept. 4 (let:— H Ne%c.
Fift.shire (AliLer), do. I h/ S, —3, la, ;„.

1-11q11 WATI•'R AT LONDON BIZIDgE TIM; nity,
Admixing, U minute, Jter Q. Evening. 'ninnies idler 13.

of

On Monday last, at the adv.:toted sr (A.R./. at the at
lier sou. W Stllll.l, Esq. of Ura)ford, Mrs. Sodfh, late of las
City Dorham, widow, and relict of N; Hes ti•oir h. Esq.
At Hanstaterautitly, oa Wednesday laid, AuCiany Pea °reeks,
ard 78.