The Statesman.
London, England, 1824-01-28 00:00:00

TED: srATEsmAN

Ave.ssuac, JAN. 16.—We have waved several lettere

from St. Petersburg, by which it appears that in several
circles of that Capital, important events are expected to
take place the next Spring, in the South as well as the
North of Europe, and that, at the same period, the affairs
of the Greeks will be definitively arranged, and the inde-
pendence of that Government will be acknowledged by the
Allied Sovereigns, on cmdition that they propose a Prince
to reign in that Country.—(Oracle ds Brussels)

RITR‘CT OF A LETTER FROM RIO JANEIRO, NOV. 24.
I was far from thinking a month ago that we were so neat a
change.
On the 1 Ith,the Emperor assembled all his troops around his
residence, which is three miles from the capital :—The Deputies
declared themselves in permanent sitting, until the Emperor
explained himself in the above proceedings. The former Mi-
nisters were diveharged. On the 12th, about one o'clock' a
detachment of 400 men, infantry is well as cavalry, with 4
pieces of cannon, surrounded the Assembly, and the command-
ant, by the order of the Emperor, declared that the Cortes were
dissolved. S:x or eight of the most violent members were
arrested.
Lord Cochrane passed a month at Rio Janeiro, and he sr-
pears disgusted at all what has passed.

(FROM VIZ BIESSENGER.)

The Directors of the Bank of France have given, notice to
subscribers for the Loan of 23 millions of Rentes, that

they are willing to advance for one, two, or three months,
at 4 per Cent. per annum. The twentieth to be paid into
the Royal Treasury in February, March and April.
Lieutenant General Guilleminot is severely indispnard.

The following is from the Belgic Journal :
If a rumour afloat in the Northern provinces, particularly
at Amsterdam, may be depended upon, it is in contemplation
Omit Prince Frederick should go to Batavia, to reside there
in quality of Viceroy over the Belgium provinces in the
East ladies.

Charleston Paper. to the 231 ult., arrived this morning,
hat they contain nothing new, except an account from
Tampico, dated 29th of October, that the fever was ra-
ging there nith great r violence than was ever known be..
fare.

From a note, copied from the Morning Chronicle into
the STATCSSI Aiv of Monday last, it appears, that the ques-
tion concerning the legality of tho fine of 500!. imposed
on him for publishing a Report of the Trial of the Cato
Street Conspirators, contrary to the dictum of the Judge
who presided on that occasion, is to be tried in the Duchy
Court of Lancaster, neat Friday; and that the most emi-
nent Counsel are retained by the Publisher on the oc-
, caslon.

It will, of course, be contended by the advocates for the
Crown, that every Court has a right to lay down laws for
its Government, and to enact rules for the guidance of its
officers and suitors : —and, so far as those regulations
do not contravene the law of the land, and so far as
they facilitate the exercise of its jurisilictio
and simplify its Government, no doubt ran he
entertained of its capacity to inforce such a
power. But how the publication of its pros ceding-, con-
trary to an order made on the spur of the occasion, can I e
punished by line or imprisonment, is a question of infinite
importance and grave consideration for an Itnglishman.—
Mr. Clement, or any other individual, who disobied the
mandate not to publish an account of the trial, may have
witnessed all the proceedings of the Court and not have
heard that mandate; and then, acting upon the prirriplt
hitherto observed with regard to the publicity of that pass.
ed in Court, may have printed an account of ►he trial, in-
nocent
of having disobeyed its injunction—and is a man
to be fined and imprisoned for disobeying a law of will: li
he is not only ignorant,t(forigmoruntiu le,gem now exeusat)
but which he cannot possibly have the ineens of knowing?
We put this as a hypothetical case, not knowing whether
the supposed delinquent was or was not cognizant of the
order. But, admitting that he did know it,the next ques-
tion is, nas be bound to obey it?? and that is the very gist
of the case. And here we would ask,by what law is the
line imposed? Under what bead, amongst the legcs
so ipts, or where amongst the leg e: non scripts, do we
find the power to impose tines for disobeying an order of
Court made upon the spur of the occasion? Where are we to
Ilook for authorities on the subject ? do we find them among
the pandects of Justinien or the decretels of Constantine ?

The Star Chamber latis,which broke down all the barriers
of the Constitution, as settled by 'AI 4o:va CHARTER, are
happily at an end; otherwise among these we should
soon find precedents. Those Judges, who, to their
perpetual dishonour. laid bertl►ens on the subject greater
than man could bear ; who broke in upon the peace of life,
and committed to prison and to death the miserable vic-
tims of their power, are gone to their account. Their
names will live in the page of history, and infamy will
dwell on their memory for ages yet to come. They would
make precedents, and then justify their actions under thew
Thank Oen, our modern Judges are of a different stamp ;
but we shall with much curiosity, watch the promulgation
of the law by those venerable sages on the present occa-
sion. All that we have to say is, that if tke
right to impose an arbitrary fine be part and parcel
of the law of the land ; if, for the disobedionce of an
order, aoy man can be fined one pound, he may be fined one
thousand ; and if one thousand, why then ten thousand, or
any other indefinite sum,at the will and pleasure of aJudge;
i and if the time should ever arrive inEngland when Judges
can become arbitrary—if, to gratify a desire, to inflict
pain on any individual for disobedience of its orders, by

the ruin of his fortune, or the incarceration of his body;
if any Court, be it composed as it may, can sentence an
Englishman to pay an exorbitant fine,
utterly out of hi%power to pay; and, in default of payment, can imprison
his person till the fine be paid, until it pleases, in the ple-
nitude of its wisdom and its mercy, to liberate the unhappy
victim that is within its grasp—when that period shall
arrive, we may safely say " England, thy glory is gone,
and thy sun set for ever."
We shall refer to this subject again in a day or Iwo.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.
-.....--

DIAL, January 97.—Wind S.W.—Came down from the
River and remain, witn the rest of the outward bound, the
Medway, Emmerson ; Montrose, Roxburg; Turner, Leeder ;
Star. and the Swift.—Also the Margaret, Craig, from Shields
for Odessa.

PORTSMOUTH, January 47. —Wind S.W.—The ship Indian
Trader spoke of the Scilly Islands, 48 leagues distance, the
James, of Lancaster, bound to Alexandria, all well.--No
arrivals or sailing,.

Pm-mourn, January 26.—Wind S.S.W.—Arrived the Eliza,
Boys, from Figueira.

FALMOUTH, January ?S.—Wind S.S.W.—Off the Port the
Chleeonla, Janson, from St. Übe's.—Sailed the Lady Mary
Pelham Packet for the Leeward Islands.
Cowes, January 27.—Wind W.S.W. blowing e gale.—Ar•
rived the Hon. Company's ship Castle Huntley, Drummond,
for Bombay end China.
Ltvaaroot., January 26.—Arrived the Alice, Johnson'
from Jamaica; Emerald. Fox, Friends, and Cybele, from
Charlaton ; Reynolds, Harrison. from Fero ; Hope, Simmons;
end Totness, Knowles, from Seville ; and the Rose, --,
front Malaga.
OR WOUND, January 27.—Sailed the Cambria. Cook, for
Jamaica ; Matilde, Collin, for Sears, and the Win. Lushington,
Sughrue, for St. Kitt's.

JEasyr, January 24.—Arrived the Exchange, Deeper, from
Rio Janeiro ; Arabella, Udall; Messenger, Peon ; and Day,
Vibtrt, from Sabot.

The Aurora. Martin, from St. Andrews, New Brunswick, to
Hull, was driven on shore near Kirkwall, 13th inst.

A private letter from Paris, dated the 24th inst., is said
to state—" The French Government sent on Satimlay last
an ultimatum to Ferdinand, that if Spain does not imme-
diately consent to the course of conduct which had been
agreed upon by Pow) di tlorgo, that the French A mbassa-
dor, as well as the whale of the French troops, will forth-
with quit Spain. Orders to which effect have been sent to
the Ambassador and to Bourmont."
It is st,ted in a letter, fro n Cephalonia, dated 13th of
December, that the Greek squadron hail chaced the Captain
Pacha, with twenty-six vessels, to Constantinople, and that
another detachment of the Turkish ship% eleven in num-
ber, had been defeated; often nine of them were eitlsir
taken or driven on shore. A Turkish corvette had

hero captured, after a loss of ainrty-seven ont
of one bundred and fifty men, on the shore of I th4ca.
rho corvette contained six hundred thousand piastres.

Another letter from Ancona says, that in cons. (pence
of the blockade of Misaoluogbi having been raised by the
Turks, who have withdrawn to their own country, the
western part of Greece is now entirely free from those
barbarians. This step was caused by the arrival of four-
teen Greek vessels, under the command of Prince M4VI3.
,toilarto. who found in the port a Turkish vessel, contain-
ing 590 thousand piastres (about twelve thousand pounds
sterling), and a large quantity of stores, &c. from the fa-
mily of Yousonf Bases, of which he took possession. It is
added that the Greeks have resolved to take Patras by
force—about fifteen thousand men are before that place,
which contains only two thousand Turks it to bear arms,
the garrison having been much reduced by the privations
of the blockade; and that Negropant has been abandoned
Pty the Turks, on their learning that Ulysses was about to
march against them, so that the Eastern part of Greece is
also free, and Carpincasi and Patragiky have again risen
against their oppressors.
Two of the smacks belonging to Dundee have been
arrested at London, in consequence of having some smu-
g led whiskey on booed. '1 he one, however, has been
released ; i ut a heave ti:ir was imposed upon the owners.
FneamasoNst v.—The Grand Lodge of Ireland are about
to petition Parliament for the repeal or qualification of
the enactment which prevents the meeting of Masons in
Masonic Lodges.
Butte AnSOCIATION.—The General Anniversary Meet-
ing of St. Clement Danes Ladies' Bible Association, took
place last night at the Crown and Anchor Tavern. The
assemblage was very numerous, comprising a number of
r sprctabl- females, and many chi'dren of both sex. s. The
Rev. IV. Gurney, M. A. took the Chair at about seven
o'clock. flaying opened the business of the evening, the
secretary (Mr. Young) proceeded to read the Annual
Report, the substance of which was, that the Sacred Scrip-
tures were eirculated in 140 langnages, and in less than
nineteen years to the number of 4,000.009 copies di.tri
huted without note or comment; that in subscriptions,
donations, and collections for the last year, they recci rd
1061. 17s. besides 15/.14. 7d. from the Ladies' Asscciati in.
That their expenditure within that time was
951. 24- sd. The number of Bible. issued in
that year was 101, and 72 Trstam-iit it. In the
course of the evening the Rev. Thomas Webster, Dr. Winter,
Mr. Gilbert, Dr. Pickard. Mr. W. Hargreay., ‘lr. S. Curwin.
and Mr. Lloyd addressed the meeting, ow moving or s.lcomling
the several resolution; cJonrcted with the objects of the A•su-
elation. 'William Hudson, Esq. then moved, and Sir Win.
Jones seconded. the thanks of the meeting to the Chairman.—
Tne Reverend Gentleman, in acknowledging the compliment,
regretted that so little had been got from the collection at the
Church doors, hut his services would ever be in support of
their interestile then handed over one guinea to the Secretary,
which he had received from a Lady in Church f)r the purposes
of the meeting that evening. Time plates at the d lot seemed
to MI very well; and at half past Iliad the meeting bruicd up.
The Committee appointed by the Court of Common
Council to consider the state of the Coal Trade, it is under-
stood, finished their sittings yesterday. They have now
come to the resolution to recommend an angmentation of
the number of Meters, from 118 to 130 full and effective
officers; bat as in the former number are included eight
supernumeraries, the total increase now suggested will be
about 20 Meters. The Committee, it is said, in their re-
port, recommend a repeal of that part of the their on
coals which is additional to the part of London, and that
a memorial to Parliament should be prepared fur the pur-

pose.
At the Devon County Sessions, Henry J. Shawe. Esq. for
writing and sending letters to E. Divett, Esq. of Byatock,
near Exmouth. tending to excite and provoke him to fight
a duel, was fined 201. end imprisoned in the County Gstol
for six months; and at the expiration of that time to enter
into securities. himself in 2001. and two sureties of 1001.
each to keep the peace foe-the space of two years.
At the Quarter Sessions, held laseiweek at Cardiff„ Toni'
Watkins was tried for a libel which he had written, reflect
ing on the character of Mr. Reece surgeon, of Cardiff, when
he was found guilty and senteneed to nine month's impri-
sonment in the county gaol. He had previously been to
the gaol for one month 'for having sent a threatening Fetter
'to Mr. Reece.

COURT OF CDANCERY.—Tats DAY.
JUDGMENT.
001.111 LAT V. THE DUCE OP SOMERSET.

The Loan CHANCELLOR finished his judgment in this very
long pending ease, and said that matter had been introduced
which his Lordship knew had not been folly accounted for on
the trials of the actions in this case, but had been plac,d on
this issue, even from the original proceedings to the trial before
Mr. Justice Park, and subsequently when Sir Chas. Grant or
dered very properly the new trial. The question hurl arisen
upon the agreement, and it was not to be decided whether that
breach of agreement was the subject before the Court, hut whe.
ther the very express terms of it had been complied with.
The Bill has been put into Court at very great length, and
the answer to it was also exceedingly great, which averred
the deterioration and decrease of the value of the farm,
in consequence of the proceedings of Mr. Goorlay, which
he declared were improvements. His Lordship proceeded
at very great length to review the entire proceedings of the
case, and the decisions of the Master of the Roll., upon
the question before him as to the specific performance of
the agreement entered into between the patties in o„e
case, and said that whatever might he the course parsuell
between man and man, his Lordship had only to decide
between suitor and suitor. lied the question been
brought on the issue, and laid as in value, Vie
appellant could not recover in that Court ; and usher all
the circumstancrs of the can• regarding tl em in an equi-
table point of view, his Lor.!aip was of opinion, u hatever
might he the nature of other parts of the case, tb 't I e
could only decide equitably upon the case by dismissing
the petition of appeal. His Lordship also censured the
conduct of the italividaal who had been before the Court
for the manner in which he had conducted his case, oh_
servi ,og such conduct would not he tolerated by him, con kg
from the gentlemen of the bar, who he was sure would
not pursue such a line of proceeding; and it was for the
consideration of the Court,a hether such persons in (mum
pursuing such a line of conduct, were guilty of contempt,
and liable to be dealt with accordingly. His Lordship
allows..' the deposit as costa.
Mr. GOURLAT addressed some sentenc s to the Lind
Chancellor relative to what he was to receive, if any
thing, but was desired to desist—his case had been dis-
posed of.
The Court was crowded with gentlemen.