The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-05-20 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STATESiIAN.

Ste,—Nearly two years have titsmosilaince I was indoqed
to offer a few strictures, in yoga Salaams. upon the internal
management of the Excise establishment; and I should re-
joice, for the credit of those persons by whom it is superin-
tended, if nothing had °centred since, to challenge animad-
version. But in public establishments, where prescribed
rules are superseded by individual discretion, there is almost
always room' for comment. Justice is then sacrificed to in-
terest, or favoritism, or to caprice or political influence ;
end unfortunately for us, the history of all our public me-
pilartivnts; threughont'all their ramifications, illustrates the
fact. Influence and intrigue, the twin sisters of national
degeneracy, have filled up, in almost all instances, official
anti public situations. The question has not been, when va-
cancies have occ ,rred in the public etn,loyments, " who is
most qualified to fill the post with advantage to the country,
or who, by real servitude. has the best cielin to the appoint-
ment r but, who has most influence ; who is most con-
nected with men in authority; with the powers that bet
Until very lately. however, the promotions in the, Excise
were disposed of by seniority and rotation, and this, after
the first appointment. almost encluded influence and in-
trigue; but now, 31r. Editor, and I feel indignant while I
record the fact, it is not long service nor years of laborious
exertion, which procure promotion in the Excise, but con-
siderations which should find no place in, the appointment.
Now, young men of only a few years, or a few months,
standing, are placed over the heads of old men whose earlier
and better days were devoted to the pnblic service. And
thus, in a few yeses, perhaps in a few months, if the same
system is continued, the Excise may become subservient, on
all its vacancies and promotions. which are very numerous,
to that system of intrigue, influence, and corruption, of
which we have already too much 'reason to complain.
I am, Sir, sour humble S.
QUI/ IN THE CORNER.

IRELAND.

(PROM THE DUSLIN EVENING PO5/ OP 94TURDAT.)
Since our last, accounts from Limerick state, that twen-
te-two head of cattle, on the firms of Shanath and Cas•
tie-Mahon, were houghed and mutilated.—Four valuable
farm-house's, three on the lands of Ballyrehan, and one
in the Parish of Inniscana were consumed, together with
farming implements, 1,0 aunts, &r. One house in the
Parish of Brow°Beller was plundered. Thirty-two
Convicts set out from Limerick for Cork on Thursday
last.
Front Cork we learn, that at Charleville ant Mallow
three convictions under the Insurrection Act had taken
place, and several acquittals. We are glad to mention,
on the authority of a Carrespcnilent, that the Country
betneen 3laDow and Millstre, t is comparatively tran-
quil; and that the judicious firmness of Serjeant Tor-
rent has hall the best effects..
It is too true, however, that the Outrages continue.
At Casiletown, uear Durstuanway, a large dairy-house
and nine cows were destroyed. At llacroom, in mid-!
day, a large farm-house was burnt, with' all its furniture,
&r. Three other houses were also set on tire and coo.
sinned in ancrtlrer quarter, with the horrible detailsof
which. we shall nut trouble the reader. As if this was!
not enough, the Devil of Orangeisni has gotten into the
South, or rather be has snide himself more manifest'
than usual. One of the Cork papers contains a letter
from Bandon, describing the funeral of a " Brother."—
The Yeomanry and Orangemen 0 the place fhllowed
the body through the town with Orange flags and all the
insignia of the Order, precede,' by the drum and fife of
the corps—and accompanist', we are sorry to say, by a
party of the Rifle Corps, DragOons, and Police, quar-
tered it that place. But, says the letter, " The conduct
of those folks on their return from the church-yard,
however, was still more offensive. As if to appease the
spirit of the deceased, they continued to play, on their
way back to an Orange Lodge, in which thee spent the.
night, 6 The Protestant Boys, and Cronies- lie down;
and,'indeed, this party of mock moment assumed, on
the whom., an-air of insolence and superiority /nnasu_al
on all similar °evasions ; so that to form an amiviqnsts
idea of the irritating satire of the entire exhibition, a
man should not only be a spectator, but a Catholic."
One bowie has Imam burnt in Clare, and eighteen con-
victs had passed throng's Ennis on their way to Cork,
from the Counties of tialway and hilly°.

ADMINISTRATION OF JCSTICC IN I iIELAIND:W* have
good authority for stating, that a Commission will be ap-
pointed to inquire into the Parking System in Ireland.—
The Commissioners, we hope, will he Englishmen, not
that we are of opinion that just indi►iduals might not
be found on this side the Irish Channel, but for thepur-
pore solely of pseventing any charges of • p♦rts. or p
n.iture bring brought against them.—(Dublin Even-
ing Post.)
Nloa-re PRIEST.—We are informed by The West-
meath Journal, that, on Saturday last, the Sheriff receiv-
ed an order, by the direction of his Excellency the Lord
Lieutenant, to discharge the following persons who
were tried soil convicted at the last Sessions of Skate, viz .
The Rev. Edward Houlton, Peter Connor, James Ho-
ran, John Horan, Edward Horan, Martin Cuddy, Peter
M'Cormick, and Owen Daffy. Agreeably to the above-
mentioned instructions, the prisoners were liberated.
Thus has terminated an affair whose example would
have proved most pernicious, and the illegality of whic h
there is now found none hardy enough to question.—s
(lbid)
On Wednesday last, at the sale of the late Mr. Stead'
effects at Obelisli Grove, near Mirfield, the chamber floor
gave way, and precipitated the company into the room
below. Several persons were bruised, but we are happy
to state, that with the excep ion of one person who had
his shoulder dislocated, no material injury was done.—

(Leeds Mercury.)
As the Times Nottingham coach was leaving the
George Inn, Leicester, on Saturday week, for London, a
ferocious dog, belonging to a travelling potter, suddenly
seized one of the horses by the throat, which it lacerated
in so severe a manner, that the animal was prevented
from proceeding on its journey. lVbao the (141 could
be forced to let go its hold, it was taken possession of by
a constable, and immediately shot. The owner of it also
paid two pounds for the injury done to the horse, be-
sides the constable's expenses. The poor animal, we un-
derstand, will not be able to resume its labours for some
weeks to conic, so much was it injured about the legs
and throat, by its assailant. We trust this circumstance
tdill act as a caution to persons permitting their dogs to
go about uninuzzled.—(sVoltiogham Review.)
We understand that on Saturday last, a husband con
veved his wife into the market-place, at Halifax, for
sale ; and though the sum of ss. has hitherto been the
average price of a wife thus exposed, yet so highly did
the husband recommend his rib to the multitude, that
she was ultimately disposed of for a sovereign.—What
the COnstables and Magistrates of that place were about,
whilst this sale was going forward, we know not; but
certainly it was an outrage on common decency worthy
of special notice.—( York Paper.)
A cat, in the possession of Joseph White, of the Saltis
ford, in this borough, on Wednesday last, produced
two kittens, one of which had eight legs, and
two tails: it died soon after it was kittened, but has since
been stuffed, and may now be seen at the White Lion
public-house, in the Saltisford. The other kitten, which
is living, is of the natural shape.—(rerrwick Adv.)
• On Monday last, a poor man of the name of James
Clements, was attending a bone-mill belonging to Mr.
ltudyaril, of Lincoln; his arm was unfortunately caught
by.the inischinery,which completely cut °tibia band at die
wrist, and Mamma between the elbow and shoulder. He
was taken to the County 11,:spital, where be had immedi-
ate attendance, and is doing well.

lit .-
tt

*

jrauxUatt..—Last night Vauxhall Garden opened for the
seeson.The new proprietors, anxious for %continuance of that
public petslonage*ldeh they received last season, appear to
have availed theindelves Of the reihs to Improve and ex-
tend the attrationa of the place. The varieties are now so
numerous, and follow with such rapid succession, that they
cannot fallito awaken and occupy the attention of the most
careless lottaker who finds his way to Vauxhall. There is a
mixture of continental, but still amusing frivolities, with the
original, natural, and ornamental beauties of the placer;
there ere new revolving fountains—a high Moorish caste -
laird tower, with cannon upon the battlements, fireworks ex-
ploding from Its screen, and enough of war.ike thunder be-
fore its gates, to teeth a young sapper and miner his profes-
sion, were it not that amidst all this smoke and uproar a Mr.
Blackmer° 'nukes whet is called his aerial ascent, according
to the bills, " 20 feet higher titan it was done before," and
seems io neutralize all these angry ingredients, by the self-
possession and safety with which he skips through the fiery
ordeal. There are small theatres of all kinds erected to
entertain those whose nerves are unable to endure the inces-
sant flashing of the fireworks. In one a Mr. Brown rivals
Mathews in his style of imitations—ln another n full corps
de ballet perform ; then there is the. French mechanical the-
atre; and for the children of optical students, there are
plenty of new coswirarnas. The concert is well sustained ;
the old names are gone, and new ones supply their place
with considerable merit. The ladies are Misses Toasts'',
Noel, Melville, and Williams; then follow Messrs. Collyer,
Ooulden, Clark. and Master Longhurst. The illuminations
are very splendid, and in addition to the arrangements for a
constant succession of amusements in the gsadens, mnstly
novel, and all of them very spiritedly conducted, there are
some more substantial improvements for the good folks who
wish to see what is passing while they are partaking of re-
freshments; the supper boxes are considerably enlarged
and improved, end two new temples ere erected, which com-
mend a bird's eye view of the entertainments of the gardens,
and are intended for select company who engage places at
the sapper-tables. On the whole, we repeat, the improve-
, mitts are in every respect suitable to the enlarged scale
anon which the new proprietors have established this de-
lightfulplsce of amusement. The Gardens were crowded,
and the attendance fashionacle.
OLYMPIC THEATRS.—Last evening M. ALILI4NDRE re-
commenced his very amusing performances at this Theatre
in a new piece entitled Nick and the Devil, or Amadeu, in
London. The piece is written expressly for the purpose of
displaying his extraordinary powers of Ventriloquism, and
no less extraordinary rapidity of Transformation into the
numerous characters introduced. The quickness of his
transitions is such that the eye of the spectator is fre-
quently as much imposed upon as the ear. To have an ade-
quate notion of the scenes. it is necessary to witness them ;
but some idea may he Ginned of theastonishing versatility
of the powers displayed in them, when it is understood that
the different characters personated are not less than thirty-
nine. No man can achieve more in his peculiar art than 'M.
ALIZILNDRE, and on many occasions last night he gave the
amt decisive proofs of superiority. His imitation of the
crying of an infant, of the mewing of a cat, and of the bark-
ing of a dog, were specimels not to be surpassed, and
scarcely to be equalled. The incidents of the piece, as
might be expected, differ very materially from those of Le
fispe's Diable Doitenz, and the Author has done much to
bring M. ALMINDRICS very versatile powers into action
Many of the characters and situations are exceedingly whim-
sical and amusing, and the performance met with great and
deserved applause. The house was well fillet, and at the
conclusion the audience manifested their decided approba-
tion at Its announcement for repetition.
Srertrze FAIR.—The abolition of many of the Fairs
around the metropolis, and the fineness of the day, yes-
terday, attracted a greater number of persons to the lair
of Stepney, titan bas been known before for some years;
the caterers for the entertainment of the public, having
not omitted any thing that might attract to please the
sight or gratify the taste of the animal visitants. To
please the sight and ears, there are some good Theatri-
cal booths, and well &tend performers; Richardson
has, as vowel, the preferents4 The veteran Saunders has
also his Equestrian Tfoep. • Fire-eaters. rope-dancers,
Mao, large party, as do .many uncommon produc-
tions of Nature. The umiak peaking of swings,
ups sad downs, neighing atbeds, studs of Jeettta.,
lest' ponies, ice. were in a state of rcq'sisition the
*hdlle•day—Many ladiamtda scenes took place, from the
wailful riding of the tidies to whose use the Jeronimo
Nags were appropriated. The Booths for toys are nu-
merous and well arranged as well as those far the pur-
pose of refreshment of which there are many ; from the
Crown and Anchorraveru and Free Masons' Hall, to the
Cat and Magpye Ontrae-shop. The two former are fitted
up is a most elegant manner: One part being laid out
as a Ball-room with a regular hand of music. The
whole interior was in the evening lighted up with some
hundred of variegated lamps, beautifully arranged.
To keep order, a great number of Constables with long
staves patroled the fair the whole of the day and evening.
A mill, belonging to the Corporation of Helron, in
Cornhill, was let at Michaelmas 1819 for 130!. a-year.—
At Lady-day, 1822, the rent was reduced one-half. Last
Lady-day, the tenant sent the keys to the Town Clerk,
leaving on the premises sufficient to pay the rent. The
mill has since been let for 401. a year-
Last week, a tine sturgeon was found upon Bowness
sande,where it bad been recently thrown up by the ride. It
weighed eighteen stone, measured eight fret four inches
in length and three feet four inches to girt. This fish,
it seems Lennie the property of the Lord of the Manor.
—((Carlisle Journal.)
Bernard Finnigan, a notorious smuggler, was severely
wounded by a pistol-lrillet, on Wednesday morning, at
Milbeck, near Griusdale, his place of residende. An
Excheqtterand Bench Warrant having been issued against
him, her. Barnes, the constable, aided by Messrs. Law-
son and Forster, his Majesty's officers of Custotis, went
to execute it. Mr. Forster went round to the back door
of the premises, while the others stood in front. On
approaching the house, he was met by Finnigan, armed
with a pair of tongs, who attempted to escape, but after
a short pursuit, was seized, and a struggle ensued. Fin-
nigan's wife came up to her husband's assistance Be-
sides actively employing her hands, she encouraged a
large mastiff dog to assail the officer. Thus situated,
he drew a pistol from his pocket with one hand, while he
held his prisoner with the other. Bow opponents in-
stantly watched at the pistol ; it unfortunately went
off, and the ball lodged in Fiunigan's groin ; but at this
moment the clothing by which he was detained gave
way, and he escaped to giro), after crossing the river
Eden, where he was eventually taken. Surgical aid
having been procured as soon as possible, the prisoner is
expected to recover, as the pistol had no wadding in it.
—(Carlisle Patriot.)
13saroan.—On Friday the 9th instant, an inquisition was
taken at Beeston Cross, in the parish of Sandy, before T:
Times, coroner for this cobnty, on view of the body of Tho-
mas Beard, aged El years. It appeared in evidence, that on
the Wednesday evening preceding, the deceased being trem-
bled with pain in his stomach, his mother sent to a shop in
the neighbourhood for some tincture of rhubarb. The mo-
ther administered a table-spoon full of the liquid to deceas-
ed, and being rather unwell herself, took a table-spoon :'2ll
and a half at, the same time. The mother soon became op-
pressed with a stupor, and continued in a state of insensibi•
lity until the following day, from which she recovered only
to be informed of the melancholy circumstance of the deat;i
of her child. In the mean time a surgeon had been sent for,
who, on hearing the circumstances, suspected that the partial
had taken poison, and ow iocialry being incituted, it was
eventually discovered, that they had been furnished by m's-
tffke with laudanum instead of tincture of rhubarb. The mis-
take originated in the wholesale druggist's shop in London,
who, it appeared, had labelled the bottle containing tincture
of rhubarb with the word •! Ltudanum" and that containing
laudanum with the words "'Tincture of Turkey Rhubarb,"
both of width *ere sent into the country at the same tilde.
For the purpose of obtaining the evidence of a materiikwit-
ness who was absent, the Coroner adjourned the Cotumbintll
the following Tuesday, when the jury expressed themselves
perfectly satisfied, that the melancholy event was solely ow-
ing to an uniutentional mistake, but severely censured the
fatal inadvertence by which it was occasioned.—Vcrdict ac-
cordlngly,—(Berfferd Gazette.)

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Warr-Tarshi r.—lfontlay al the Public Offices.

r Motateotnatt.

TUESDAY EVENING. MAY 20, 1823.

Among the subjects introduced to the notice of Par

iament,in the course of the last tntoight, (awl rot

touched upon in onr paper of yesterday) was one of con
siderable importance, in a Constilutiohal point of view. 'i,
It was brought forward, in point of form, opon ttirtil :i.
tion of Carlile, who, as our r • tders aregenerallyaidsre., 7
is now in the fourth year of his imprisonment for pub- :
Balling what, in legal language, are termed blasphemoa s
libels. . .
i ttrak So much has been written and said*, the fells% 4. :
the wise, respeCting the liberty of-stle press, tliar,At „.
be considered a vain, if not a prestinaptuaus a ' ''' 1
to solicit ate attention of a newspaper rimier tipanOtT :
topic connected with it.
It wanld, however, argue weakness as weill -
thi nest to forbear discussing an importentiOject;
_,
from an apprehension that an injittlielous diacubtri;nl ati' 11
it by others has destroyed its public. interest. '' . -
We are not the apolozis's of Carli/e. His conduct - •
anal his motives have created much cliversitymf opiniow,,
whie the steadiness and the patience bra h as shee ran
tier his sufferings, have unquestionably gained Mut much !
public sympathy. For the purpose of our argument, is ..
is sufficient to show that even those 'who cOndemta hit .):1'
conduct, may agree with us upon the gest* irritation all. ,
to the intpolicy, —the intolerance,—aid the cgoeltt
of prosecutions, for what see aka. pulalie ilibels, 1
and especially those upon religi , SUe sttliect..-;•; ”,
We of course speak not of private libels ; for uttoti tire' t. i
libeller of private character, we shall always hatike)lusle 7
severest legal punishment. M
-. 4.....
We think, we mar now advance as a t; • Mitt .../
" the Christian Religion has sufferer}. : frOsp the -,;•.• •
" conduct of its pretended fricndp.than Row ilott of i
" its open enemies." Wheni fat. Instance, a stupid
Parson attempts to answer a seeptilol work, and
.fails, :
not so lunch for want of argumentative materials. ,as of
the inability to make use of them, he pr 43 s Pal& MP ale` -
versary, because he cannot answer 'him ; end this injareb
a cause which would have been better without his impels
tinent, unsolicited assistance. We are fatly- I*ml gnat
this argument has been advanced s tbonsanititsen hefones.
but we apprehend that the practical mischief, to rink
from it is even yet to be commenced; suppose, again
for instance, a concealed enemy of the Christian ftelb
gion should publish " Paine's Age of Ressosi," and Wat-
son's answer to it, bound together, with a tilosky prefaces
stating that he; the publisher, vise courincel of the Rope.
riority of the Bishop's argonionts; of the closeness et
his reasoning, of that perfect freedom • front:Auk leek
hypocrisy which runs all throubbis work; of ifilFm.
perate and gentlemanly style+ -and, 'hive 44 of the
truly meek and Christionlike' Spirit which Is had di.-
played towards his Rival ; that lei.* said publisher,
for the purpose of exposing the faliktrol Wit, end of
defending the Christian Religion 'ltgitoprittiilitick
upon it, had determined to poblislitPainestr ovitriorl
the Answer to it together, so that the infidel tollowbro of
Paine should leave no to complain of sinOltie play.
Ibis being done, the question would be," Waktbe At.
" torney-General venture to punish thisman for publish-
,' ing Palue's Age of Reason?"—Will he be so bold
as to bring him before a Court of Justice, and say,
" This man's real object ii t 3 publish the blasphemous
" work under pretence of publishing the Antidote with
" it. The Bishop's Wok is no Answer to Paine; and
" we are afraid to suffer his wort to be circulated, even
" in company with the Bishop's. In short, we will bare
" the Bishop's Answer
,circulated ; but we will not have
" that work circulated to which it professes to Le as
" Answer."—Would the Attorney-General say this?

We rather think, and we think wi'h some con-
fidence, that he would not ; and that any man
would be perfectly safe in pursuing the coarse we
have m .ntioned. If we are correct, Nine's Age of
Reason may be published, legally published, in a • •
disguised form, notwithstanding all the prosecutions
which have taken place in respect of its publication.
And this remark, if it holds good, will apply to every
objectionable publication to which any idle fool hu
written or professed to write an answer. Nay mare;
if it be desired to publish am objectiottable work ii 4
safety, the person so desiring to publish has only* I.
trump up an answer, or a pretanded unmet to the work,
written as foolishly and ritlictulonily as any ignorant
pluralist could write it; and then publish the work sai
the answtr together. The case we have lag pot, wadi
undoubtedly not be so safe as the f wmer one ; iud
we have put it is an eXtretne case. But where en .
saver or a 7rofessed Answer to an objectionable
has been actually published. by a p,3.sots auspwetate
collusion with the author of the work, the person AP
should prosecute the publisher of /mob, boned up pa
Book, would certainly be met with vie difficdlty. we I
have mentioned. •
Suppose, however this case to he tried the othersey.
And suppose, if it be really possible to suppose it, that
the Attosnev.tieneral or any other pup:now, were to
brave the difictulty in question, and declare, by a per`
cation, that certain Works shall not he published; ao, '
not even for the purpose oj' publishing AIIVOCIS to
them.
'l'o what a situation will those prosecutions hare re-
(lured the real Friends of Christianity, and what a Tri-
nmph will they have afforded to its Enemies! They-
eurrence of such a case, must necessarily put down all
Controversial Discussion; because the next step most be,
to prevent the publication, even of an Answer to
Work, if, for the purpose of ancweriatv, it shall ant
quote the strongly offensive passages about to be an:
rwered. 'Fite question will become as refined 10 pow'
hie ; and the impolicy of such prosecutions will then
be obvious, front the circumstance of our Coats of
Justice being turned into Cuurts of Criticism.
of
Thus much we have advanced for the purpose
chewing. the (repo:icy of these prosecutions. At a fr
ntore period we may• probably address ourselves to ti 0
question of their cruelty and intolerance, which We eat
shier as eqnally as demonstrable as their impolicy.