The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-06-23 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN. .

if A*B. -- •
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!....Dublin (X . I, 1....H0115nd....• .... 0
• 11..`..Watettor4.&.• 0! . 1....-..Hambro ,0 •
' 0....0 & Jersey. • ..0 ' I.... France 0
7.11....Uab0n. ..... • •11-.... L. _1 ...Flanders 0
l....dottenbars....o . 0.... Malta ..0
•

PRICE OF STOCKS fiats, DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Sank Stock-- • India Stock
per Ct. Red ..... . "SW Ditto Bonds. 942 40s. 30s.prn
n•Ct.Cons... . . ........ E5.8111.2d. 19s
_e Pm
3} per ..... •• • • 10001..
I per Cents •
97i l7s 10s pin.
New Fours ..
Long Ann..... 7-16) Lottery Tickets 13/.Bs.
Insp. 3 per Ct.' Con.for Aect . 81If.

Watt%man.

masnay EVENINO. JUNE 23, 1823.

PACKING OF JURIES.
Ur. Western is most laudably employed in endeavour.
ing to obtain some amendment of the laws relating to
the formation of Juries ; which are, indeed, bad enough
of themselves, but still worse in the mode in which they
are pretended to be carried into effect. The majority of
those who compose Country Juries are utterly incompe-
tent for faring an opinion on any difficult point ; and
this ignorance its general matters, subjects them entirely
to the will of the Judge, who has only to indicate an Opi-
nion in an intelligible manner, to bane it followed imme-
diately. We remember conversing with a IVarwich -
shire Juryman, who had grown grey in the trade, and
boasted, as the very climax of his powers of discrimina-
tion, that be could always find out what the Judge wanted
better than any of his colleagues ; one of whom, upon
one occasion, lie complained of most bitterly, as being
an ignorant, obstinate, blockhead, in refusing to find a
person guilty, though " the Judge spoke as plaits as
need be." This man bad, literally, no other idea about

the duties of a Juryman, than that he was to find ont,
and conform to, the inclinations of the Judge—and there

are thousands of his opinion. Indeed, we have some
reason to believe that the most ignorant and incompe•

tent are carefully selected for such purposes, in certain
districts, to the exclusion of those who are better inform-
ed, and might be more independent.
The difficulties that lie in the way of any amendment,
arc, however, numerous. In the first place, an ignorant
and obedient Jury wastes no time in deliberation. There
is, besides, an advantage sometimes in an assurance that
matters will go right. In political cases, for instance,
a failure to securaa verdict, might occasion great displea-
sure at the head quarters ; and political trials, if the re-
sult were doubtful, would be dangerous experiments ;
instead of being, as now, pleasant roads to wished-for
preferments. The advantages of "knowirtz your men"
are evident in all matters ; but to know them, and to
know them on your own side, is the great point to be I
secured, when you would have nothing go wrong.
The following curious conversation took place, on the
10th inst., at the Crown-office, between the master and a
person who attended to see the Jury nominated, in a case
in which be was defendant. The Master began, as
usual, to picic for kis men ; when the defendant observ-
ed—" would it not be more fair, Sir, to take the whole
of the names as they occur on the page which you acci-
dentally open ?"
Master—No, I have good reasons for not doing so.
Defendant—It is complete packing, to take them in
the manner you do.
Master—loo, it is not. I take them fairly ; and if you

know any of them you have the advantage.
Defindant—Noryou do not take them fairly; or you
would not fear to take them in rotation from any page.
Master—You may make what objections yon like to
the Court, but you must not interrupt sue here.
Defendant—Then will you open the book at random.
and take the names as they come ?
Master—eNo; I tell you positively that I will not.
Defendant—1 suppose that all the persons whose name
are in the book, are eligible to serve as Special Jurors?
Master—No:--only those with the word merchant at-
tached.
Defea,?ant—Tint I counted nine merchants on one
rce, and you selected only one front among thesis.
Master—That may be, by accident.
Defendu nt —lt could not be by accident, it most be de-
sign ; for you still persist in the same course, and t shall
protest against the practice, and expose it.
Master—You may expose it where you think proper.
Here the conversation terminated, and the Jury wasl,
packed. No doubt, the Master has good reasons for his
conduct ; but he might have spared the defendant the wanton
Insult of telling him that he might state his objections to the
Court ; when he knew that only a few weeks since the Court
refused to hear an application charging him with partiality
and improper conduct. The Court has also good reasons
for its conduct; but it is rather too fond of keeping them to
itself. The declaration of the Master, that only merchants
are eligible, instead of being the law, was a direct and pal-
pable untruth, which has been rang in his ears this live
years, since he first ventured to assert it. He knows that
the law expressly declares all the names is the book out of
which he now nominates City Juries to be eligible to serve.
lie knows that the only qmtlilleation of a Juryman in the
City, Is to be a resident Citizen, and worth IDOL personal
property. lie knows this: and yet iu the face of his Own
knowledge, he declares that threat majority of the list,
seat in to him by the Sheriff, is legally qualified, are not
eligible. If so, he has no right to nominate out of the list
at all. It is a false return, Red he has no right to.make any
use of. lie should return It, and say, send Me a proper list
of qualified persons only. But be has "good reasons,"
for his conduct; and we have not now time to question it
further.

Paris papers to the 21st instant have arrived since our
last. The event which, in the present state of Spain,
was most desirable, the removal of King Ferdinand from
Seville to Cadiz, it is said, in the Journal des Debuts,
took place on the 12th of Jane. This occur•
rence is of great importance. It affords convincing
evidence that the boasts of the French, and the reports of
tutunl:s among the people of Seville, to take the King
back to Madrid, have been without foundation, and
that the Cortes have had the determination and the
power to accomplish a measure by which Ferdi-
nand is safe against all the force and artifice o
the enemy, and the (government manifests the reso
lutien to carry on the contest to the last extremit;.

r.r,

The Etale as4rts under the date of titeBth instant, from
Madrid, but on if authority that can be deemed official,
that " all it Wafted" at Lisbon, that " the King is
free," and that " the Ministry" (a very servile Ministry,
if any, no doubt) " at whose head is M. de Pa!mere, hod
jolt beds nominated by his Majesty." It is remarkable,
however, that this new Ministry is the only Object which
the counter-revolution is stated to have accomplished, and
that net a word is said about the dissolution of the
Cortes,or the abolition of the Constitution. A short time
may enable us to ascertain how far there are any grout.di
for inch a statement. There must be at present no leis
than four packets at sea, viz. the Marlborough, which
was to leave the Tagus on the I st instant; Duke of Kent,
No. 2, on the Bth ; Duke of Kent, No. 1, on the 15th,
and the Stanmer, on the 21st or 22nd. The last advices
direct from Portugal to England were of the 23d ult.,
from Oporto, and of the 25th from Lisbon. The Jour.
Nal des Debate contains an article which, implies a doubt,
if not a denial, of the Duke of Angouleme's Regency
having declared all the acts and money transactions of the
Constitutional Government null and void. "No official
act of this kind," says that Journal, " has come to our
knowledge." Independent of the baseness of an act of
this kind, there is another consideration that must have
had weight with the Regency, unless they were as des-
perate as revengeful. It would bring the French and
British Governments into collision with each other. In
consequence of a negotiation between the British and
Spanish Governments respecting British claims for cap-
tures of British merchantmen in the West Indies, by ves-
sels under the Spanish flag. a sum of 500,00411.u.as voted by
the Spanish Government, in compensation. Would the
Regency be so rash as to declare this contract null and
void ? The accounts in these Journals from Catalonia,
represent Mina as having experienced a serious check in
the Pyrennees, and as about to be " either killed or taken."
This is a condition to which he has been so often said to
be reduced, and from which he has so often emerged to the
discomfiture of his enemies, and the admiration of hi•
friends, that we should not be astonished if the next ad
vices inform us that be has again surprised the French.
Mosen Anton, the Royalist Commander, is stated in a let
ter from Gerona, to have been dangerously wounded by
the bursting of a shell before Hostalrich ; the garrison of
which made four sallies on one day.
FRINCII FUNDS, June 19.—Five per Cent. Consols
SBf. 50c. ; Dank Stock, 1,595; Neapolitan 5 per cent.,
76i; Kentes d'Espagne, 401.
• June B.—Five per Cent. Consols, 89.; closed, 98. 20.;
Bank Stock, 1,592. 59. ; Neapolitan 5 per cent, 761 ;
Kentes of Spain, 3/.

At slate hour this mormng, Patts papers of Saturday
came to hand, containing a Telegraphic Despatch from
Madrid, dated Jane 17, announcing that on the 12th, in
the evening, the King was removed from Seville to Cadiz,
and that the French troops will arrive at Seville on the
21st and Vd, when they immediately move on Cadiz.
A morning paper has in a second Edition, published a
communication from its Correspondent, dated Paris, Sa-
turday evening, which states that three different couriers
had arrived there from Madrid, and that Government has
received information that the Portuguese counter-revo-

lution is entirely consummated ; that the Infant Don
Miguel entered Lisbon on the 3d of June ; that General
Rego was deposed from his command, and that the
troops under his orders bad sent in their submission;
and, in a word, that the King had been establish-
ed in all the pleniitude of absolute power. Un
what foundation this communication rests, we know not;
but if true, it is very strange that it formed uo part of
the above-mentioned Telegraphic despatch.
FRENCH Fuxin, June 2).—Five per Cent. Consols
opened at SSE 80c. ; closed at 881. 73c. Back Stock,
I,s2s.—Exchange on London, 35f. 65c.

STOCK EXCHANGE, 12 o'CLoca.—Consols opened this
morning at 8111,at which price theyare stea ly,with lite*
doing. The Expresses from Paris, have brought the
French Funds 88-70. We do not hear of any news o f
importance from the army in Spain ; nor are there any
reports afloat this moraine', except one, that some bat•
talions of the Guards are going to be sent to Ireland.
Oxa o'CLoca.—There is a report on 'Change that
Valencia and Tortosa have surrendered to the French.
It is also stated that a messenger has arrived to Go•
vernment with important despatches from Spain.
Spanish Bonds at Paris are 37.
- - - - -

FOREIGN FUNDS.—Owing to the unfavoerable intelli-
gence from Colombia, the above Bonds fell from 55 to
49-30.—Spanish Bonds opened at 32 with a heavy market,
and little doing.

New Spanish, 311 to 32—New Prussian, 84/—Russian,
SO—Danish, 90—Colombian, 50.

CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION.—At an Adjourned Meeting
of the Catholic Association in Dublin, on Thursday
last, it was moved by Mr. Lawless, in pursuance of a
.00tice given on a former day, that an Address should be
presented. to his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, for
the purpose of preventing the annual Orange processions,
which take place in various parts of the country on the
12th of July. The motion was seconded by Mr. O'Con-
nel, and opposed by Mr. Encas *Donnell, who
thought the bringing it forward both unwise and un•
worrantable; it was in direct opposition to the first re-
solution of the Association. It was unwarrantable, be-
tiause it did ndt come within the-objects of the Associ-
ation ; it was unwise not to leave it in the hands of
Government The saute principle which permitted them
to bring forward that motion, wuold also permit them
to go into every grievance which was felt throughout the
country.—Mr. Shed supported the right of the Associ-
ation to entertain the motion, and Mr. O'Gorman thought
it would be inhumanity to the people of Ireland, not to
call the attention of the Executive to the circumstances
which might occur in consequence of the Orange pro-
cessions on the 12th of July. The question was then
pot, and carried, with the dissentient voice of Mr.
*Donnell.
Mr. O'Connell moved, that an Address should be pre-
pared to the people of Ireland, the object of which should
be, (if he might use a word that had become the jest of
r Orangemen,) Conciliation. The Orange Ness teemed
with calumnies against the Catholic people ; those calunir
nies were repeated and circulated in England; num-
I hers of the Gentry of Ireland left it, but many still clung
. to it with a fond fidelity; it was the place of their birth,
it was the grave of their forefathers ; they were nut there
▪ as birds of pasage, for a season ; or as bin Is of prey, to
d part *hen the carrion feast would be over. They should
say to the people that the object of the tirangcmeo wa4
▪ to produce a paxtiel insurgent)°, that they might wide

.

; '

in blonslyaml stalk to finftnne.thrsaugh the means of r--
pine and plunger. Mr. O'Connell concluded by moving
that a Cortunittee of thirteen should be appointed to prepare
an Address to the people of Ireland of all drnaminations.
Mr. Ronayne seconded this isiorion. Mr. Eneas M.Donn ell
opposed ft. The 9stevion was then pot, an I eaerie I with
the dissentient voice of Mr. M.Donnell Mr. Shell gave
notice,.that on Saturday we-k he would move that Cot
name of the Association should be changed to that of
The National Association." The meeting then ad-
journed.
FAT4I. 'AFFRAY AT NIAGUERA.—FrOM the Isiah papers
that have arrived this morning, we learn that the town of
Maglsera presented a most ruiuuus and dilapidated ap-
pearance. On Saturday the Rev. Spencer Knox, having
been informed that the Whin:mown in'ended assembling
to the number of thousands, on Saturday night, tor,the
purpose of destroying the town and and its inhabitants,
called out the Yeomanry, whom, lie kept on duty the
whole toi3Ost, patroling the streets at intervals, by which
precaution, furcrer mischief was effectually frustrated.—
The precise number of the killed and wounded in the
,late affray is still doubtful. Inquiries hare already been
set on foot, and a very respectalsie character taken to pri-
son, charged nn the oath of a min now not expected to
live, with having fared a shot through his body, and whirls
in the opinion of the surgeon, will cause his death. A.
Coroner's Inquest sat on Saturday, at Swatragh, upon
the bodies of • he deceased, and a Jury of that place foam!
verdicts of wilful murder against person or persons un-
known. Warrants have been issued for the appre!sen- .
. lion of persons implicated, and a general meeting of Ma-
gistrates and Gentlemen appointed.

On Saturday, at two o'clock, a Cabinet Council was •
held at the Poreign Office, Downing-street, which AV:4
attended by the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Ilarrowhv,
the Earl of Westmorland, the Earl of Liverpool, Mr.
Peel, Mr. Canning, Earl Bathurst, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, Viscount Melville, Mr. Wynn, Lord Bexley, •
, &c. The Cabinet sat in deliberation till half-past four
o'clock.
The Neapolitan Minister transacted busincza at the
Foreign Office on Saturday.
On Saturday the Lords of the Council assembled at the
Council Office, Whitehall. There were present the Earl
of liarrowhy, the Earl of Lauderdale, the Earl of Alter_
Been, the Duke of Montrose, Lord Stowell, Lord St. lir.
lens, and Lord Colchester, Viscount Melville, Lord Bin-
ning, Mr. W. Dundas, Sir Wiliiam Brant, Lord ltedes-
'dule, and Mr. Becket. Their Lordships assembled to
hear the appeal of Lord Douglas against the Calmed
right of the Duke of llamilton to carry the King's Crown'
at the Coronation. This was these.- and sitting' of their
Lordships upon thesame subject. The first meeting on
Saturday se'nnight, when Mr. Warren and Mr. Krung -
ham were heard for Lord Douglas. On Saturday last,
Mr. Abercrombie and Mr. Adam were heard for the
Duke of Hamilton, and Mr. Warren was in reply. Their
Lordships met at half-past eleven o'clock, and broke up
at half-past three.