The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-04-29 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN.

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LONDON:

lIATCRPAY ILTENINC. •rain 29, 1420.

The Paris papers of Wednesday, %Lich have arri•
ri this morning. are untmally dull. In the Cham•
1-er of Deputies 1)9 Tuesday, a protracted discussion
took place oa the subjeet of a petition presented by
M. Iladier, praying that effectual means might be
a lapted to prevNit the r irculation of inflammatory
p cards on the part of the litre-lioralists at MUM'S.
heg^ placards had been first posted up shorly after
the assassination of the Duke de Berri. The contents
'etc were as follow :---" Citizens, be not depressed
--- though the crime of the 13th has not yet produced
:befitted the favourite, act as if it basl---ve will dray
him from his post if they don't consent to banish him.
1 n the mean time organize )• rsel ves niolis
--noriev, shall nut be wanting.- In another, it was
"We hive obtained a decisive victory in obtain-
in.; the expulsion of Decazes. Be wise----be firm---
ire most poor in addresses from all parts. The Liberals
beat Ile by the infernal ability displayed iu all their
addresses," & The Committee reromm •nde litto be
referred to the President of the Council of Ministers.--
Adopted.
Faksu n FUNDS —(TrEsDAY).---Fire per Cents.,
74 fr. ts.l c.; Bank Actions, 1493 fr.

The Ind !en termination of the State trials, and the
eirroimiranres by which it has been accompanied, have
created no little surprise in the public mind. A question
has arisen, bow far justice itas been done by the favour
shown to some of the accused, to those who, becanse
they hare hie' the misfortune of being tried first,
ae to experience uo mercy. If gnilt has been
dearly proved to exist, and we certainly do not mean to
dispute the fact, all those engaged in its perpetration
sere equally criminal. The evidence shows that it
hail bat few perceptible shades, unless those het-
tfr acquinted with the uature of the evidence
which they hare produced should be aware of
for inekans of clrtaiii poin!t, which to th,• public
nest appear to possess equal strength as the rest.
This, indeed, may be fairly supposed : fur though
'efficient proofs were brought to satisfy the Jury, yet,
co a second toasideration, much of what has been
adduced by a pardoned accomplice, hears a very
doubtful) character. It is possible, therefore, that the
men who hare been suffered to plead guilty in order
to sere their live', came under the protection of some
secret knowledge on the part of the prosecutors, that
the charges against them were not as strongly
seestsiniiinted tribe Tette of the others. To the
osantry at la•ge mercy is always welcome ; bnt its
esercise mast nut seem partial, or sufficient grounds must
be. shown to justify that partiali!y. This is, indeed,
a question on which precipitate judgment should not
be passed. Its importance requires deep consideration,
alai many points should be elucidated before it can be
clearly ascertained whe:her blame does rot attach to
other quarters besides those on whom the vengeance
of the law is about to fall. On Monday next, we trust,
ue shall be able to resume the subject at greater
length.

A Cabinet Council will be held this day, it is said,
to 6c the time for the execution of the Conspirators ;
and it is also reported, that two of the prisoners who
hare pleaded Guilty, will stifle, the sentence of the law.
'the following is from the Liverpool Paper of the
.7th April:--
Ibxuco Uitts.--" A m mine- was held on Thurs•
day last, of the merchants of this port interested in the
Hooded grain, for the purpose of considering what
reps should be taken, to secure to themselves thy pro-
visions of the existing Corn Laws, in the event of the
passing of any new Act, which shall have for its basis
a system of protecting duties. Mr. Booth was called
to the chair, and, after sonic discussion as to the most
eligible aide of procederc, Mr. Hodgson and Alr.
Sanders were deputed to proceed to London forthwith,
to adopt tact, measures as may appear expedient.
" It is not the object of the Deputation to support
or recommend any particular system of Corn Laws;
but as it is confidently reported that a new Aft is
al:ortl► W be proposed to Parliament, the provisions
of which are directly opposed to those of any former
Art, and which could not fail most materially to preju-
dice tb.• interest of the holders of Bonded Orlin, witbuut
beneitting the public, the ruerchaits owe it to
themselves to make a proper and timely representation
of the grievances to which such an Act would subject
them."

When brought up to receive sentence, yesterday,
Thistlewood said, in his address to the Court, " he was
;cleated only by a desire for the prosperity of his
country. His object was to avenge the death of those
u'lhappy people who bad been inhumanly rut down
and massacred at Manchester; and by sacrificing the
lives of the guilts., as it were, ' chant a requiem over
the souls of murdered innocence.' "—Davidson cited
the case of the Barons and King John.—lngs " trusted
his children would live to see the day when ample
Justice would be done to their country, and when
Eaglishtnen no longer should he duoweJ to live as
they now did."—Brunt said, " he had, by his in-
dewy, been able to earn about N. or 4!. a-week, and
while this seas the case he never meddled with Foil-
-1t43 but when he found his income reduced to 10s.
a week, he began to look about him, and to ask to
what that could be owing? And what did he find ?
Wht. eft in power, who met to deliberate how they
amen starve and plunder the country. He looked on
the Manchester transactions as a most dreadful matter,
sad thee& that nothing was too severe fur men who
had Wee], sassed, ►set even applauded, the dreadful
"sea w►ich occurred there."-1 be names, too, of
States and Cassius were pronounced on this occasion.

I COURT OF KI.VG'S BENCH...47Ins Dar.)

THE KUNIO r. CURTIS.

Mr. °camel' prayed the judgment of the Court on
Jeremiah Curtis, who bad been convicted of aiding
and as!isting stung:•lers on the Sn•sex coast, and of
endeavouring to bribe an officer, who was stationed
in that quarter to prevent smuggling.
The defendant put in an affidavit. in which be ac-
knowledged the offence, and urged, as a motive fur
clemency, that he wax 70 years of age, and hail a fa-
mily of six children. "I he Court sentenced him to
two months imprisonment, to pay a tine of £5., and
then to find sureties fit his good behaviour.
Two other persons were brought up to recei►e
judgment for the same offence, but in consequence of
some circumstances mentioned in their affidavits, into
the truth of which the Court thought it expedient to
inquire, they were remanded until a future day.

Yesterday the tiorernor anil Deputy Governor of
the flank hail a conference of the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, in consequence, as it was said, of a propo-
sal that the Court of Directors would a,•ree to post-
pone fur the present year the payment of the five mil-
lions which was promised. We do nut kn •.v the result
of the inter% iew, but it is bel!eved in the city that the
Minister still wishes to patch up the finances, and not
come to any decisive measure fur their relief!

The spce:hes of the unfortunate men who were yes-
terday brought up to receive their saitence, serve to
illustrate 6• the wisdom and firmness" which we are
told in the Speech put by Ministe.s into his 31a-
JE3tr's 111011th, wits tlisplased by the last Parliament.

The convicted men all avasted the commission of
the acts fur which they were tried ; and such an
avowal is always a great satisfaction to a Juror.
But here only can these speeches give satisfaction
to any mind alive to the interests of the country.
They afford another proof that the feelings of reverence
and regard fur the laws that once actuated the people
of this country, are, by the syst,-in of folly and injus-
tice, so long pursued by those who have had the direc-
tion of public affairs, now nnfortumstely extinguished
in a considerable part of unr ropitivion. Those who
think with the framers of the Speech from the Throne,
that the restrictive measures wili bring back the far
greater part of those who hale been unhappily led
astray, and will revive in them that spirit of loyalty,
that due submission to the laws" which they once
possessed; who think that a deep-rooted fee:in,x of in•
justice can be eradicated by 4everity, know little of
human nature.

Now we put it to Ministers, what effect the exe-
cution of men, with such dying declarations in their
mouths, is likely to produce on the country? In hat
light wiil these men he viewed by many, when they
are no more ?—Tbe attempt to commit such a crime
as that for which they were tried, ought to be viewed
with unmingled horror ; and woe to the country where
such attempts are not so viewed! Hut will untuingled
horror be the feeling excited by the declarations cf
these men? Can Ministers themselves, for a moment,
think so, when they renew the proceedings of the •
16th of Aulust, and those which have followed ?
here is no salvation for this country, hot to Witte
as fast as we ran to the ancient courses which we have
abandoned. If we do not, we may depend upon it that
step by st..p the people will be arisen front one exe—ss to
another, to lengths which we cannot think of without
shuddering. Force will never sopply the place of justice.
Punishment, to be efficarious, must be accompanied by
a feeling of its justice. The executions in Scotland
in the reign of CIIARLI'S the Second and J tams the
Second. did not tend to stop the progress of the conta-
gion, but to increase it. Every farewel address of the
sufferers added to the number of those who shared
their opinions.—( Mormi.ve ('hrosticle.l
We understand that jour persons applied to the Sit-
ting Alderman at Guildhall, on Tuesday last, to make
depositions against the man of the name of Edwards,
so often mentioned in the late trials, but who was not
brought forward as a witness. These persons were
prepared to charge this Edwards with the crime of
High Treason, and that he had instigated others to
join in the atrocions attack meditated on his Majesty's
Ministers. In their proposed depositions they enu-
merated various farts in corroboration of-the charge,
bat all which had happened in the county of Middle-
sex, not within the limits of the city, and therefore
Alderman Sir W. Dunhill. and Mr. Alderman Wood
thought fit to convey the intended depositions to Lord
Sidumutia, anti desired the persons to go to the office
of the Nublr Lord. The Noble Lord wrote an answer,
saying, that as Eduard, was one of the witnesses
named in the list, and was liable to be called as a wit-
ness for the Crown, it did not appear to him that any
sufficient ground was laid for instituting proceedings
against him.
The chairing of Mr. Crickitt, the Member for Ips-
wich, who has been returned under the scrutiny before
the Bailiffs, but which return Mr. Leonard (his oppo-
nent) will petition against, took place ea Wednesday.
Great preparations hid previously been made to secure
a splendid shew, by a present of ten flags from the
Ladies of the party. and a numerous cavalcade was
formed by the master of Gentlemen of Tory principles
from the surrounding country. Mr. C. was met about
a mile from the town, and entered it about half-past
twelve, accompanied by seven tleetlemen's carriages.
lAt half-past two he ascended his chair at Mr. Bacon's,
in Tavern-street, and proceeded three times around the
Cornhill, down Tavern-street, Brook-street, round St.
Peter's church, up St. Nicholas-street, across the
Curnhill again, to his place of starting. here he at-
tempted to address the multitude. but (mild not be
heard but by those immediately beneath the window.
He said—" Gentlemen, I cannot find words to express
my sense of obligation for the distinguished honour
you have this day conferred upon me, by electing me
a fourth time as your Representative----the highest
honour which can be bestowed upon a subject. lam
the more gratified at the issue of this contest, as it is
necessary that every real friend of his country should
be at his post, when violent attacks are every day
making on our gloriousConstitu.itto. (Here the °pins-
titian became so so violent, that the /tun. Gentle-
man fonni any further attempts for a bearing would
be unavailing. and he concluded by saying,) Gentle-
men, from the bottom of any heart I thank }tru." The
1 populace thee dispersed, and a dinner at tht
room cuseladed the triumphs. of the day.

THE KLYG'N C)URT. tete.

Yesterday morning, at eleven o'clock, his Majesty
received visits feum the Duchess of Gloucester and the
Princess Augusta. Their Royal Highnesses remained
with the King till near two u cloak. At that h...ur a
guard of honour, preceded by the band of the 3d Re-
giment of Foot thtards, marched into the Court-yard
of the Palace. The satne Court Attendants wire in
waiting as on Thursday.
At half-past two o'clock, the Deputation of the
House of Peers arrived, to present the AVress in an-
stser to the King's Speech at the opening of the Par
!lament. The Lord Chancellor read the Address,
which was must graciously received, and the King was
pleased to return au appropriate answer.
At three o'clock, the Deputation from the Univer-
sity o.f Cambridge arrived in grand procession from
Willis's Rooms. His Royal Highness the links of
(110nel-stet, the Chancellor of the University, hail per-
viously arrived at the Palace, and dressed in his superb
Chancellor's robes. There were about lOU more
members than attended the Oxford Address en Wed-
nesday. The Kin_• having again taken his seat on his
'1 hrone, the procession heran to move. 'I he Duke of
Gloucester was accompanied by his Royal relative the
Duke of Susses, the Earl of Ilardwicke, the High
Steward of the University, the Vice• Chancellor, te.c. I
The f_thancellere being introduced to his Majesty in
due form, his Royal Highness read the Address, which '
was must graciously received, and his Majesty was
pleased to return an appropriate answer. The depu-
tation had the h .nour to kiss his 31.4jest:.'s hand.
After tne state ceremony, the King ruse from his
Throne, and shuck hands very affectionately with the
Duke of Suases, and afterwards with the Duke of
Mum:ester.

His Majesty afterwards received a third Address
from the London Clergy. The Bishop of London
read the Addres*, which was grAcionsly received and
answered. The King looked pale, but its good spirits.

O.' .v. 4 itn.4 r.
--...--

(FRON R LOWIN•3 LONDON MACASINZ, Pt:DUNNED THIS
NONNINoI

We hive much pleasure in making the following
extract from this intereming periodical publi-
cation, for the ainusetti.nt of our readers, and doing
ourselves a service at the •-luie time by introducing so
opportunely to ti4e the %void.. of the writer of the ar-
ticle, " a few observations upon the ancient customs
and plea.mres of that fairest i!ay of the year."

" All our associations with May are delightful. It Is the
time of congratulation and of hope: we rejoice that the win-
ter has passed away. ant we nee the summer approach to-
wards us with his softe.t flutee and most buoyant step : we
forget the festivities of Christmas. atil the scorching glanee
and sultry breath of June ; and recollect only that bitter
frosts and dark days are thc compinions of the one. and that
the er his hrigto eJlours and ll.e odour., and sun-
set ts and evening winos, to make us happy.
• Tne tiro of May eat a Jay plea.ant to roils and men.
It .hone as weicosne on Olympus a. at Rome and in the val-
leys of Tivoli. We hate high intimation that Aurora was
a patroness of the day. or, at any rtte, that she mingled in
the revelry. Who, when he hears of

V /Aptly? with Aurora *Peg,
• Wlien he met her once a maylap.
ten hesitate to admit into the eslend :r of his holy days the
out whirls was observed by such bright and airy deities?
'• Main (Ms)) Is traced by some to the word kajeret, and
is said to have been adopted ht Romithis out of respect to
his senators, who were callP.l Mejorrs. We prefer the plea-
santer derivation, and neluowledge rather its origin is the
starry 31rtia, one of the Pleiades. and mother of Use feather-
(voted Hermes
The Rommel. who generally showed a good deal of
animal propensity in their amusements, observed May-day
with but unseemly rites; they exhibited loose sports sad ea-
Interim postures, to stimulate the degraded appetite of
Rome, in the same spirit that they adrelaistered to their own
pampered sanity, by proclaiming all the world barbarians
except toients.Aves. These sports were acted in honour. as
it was pleasantly called, of the goddess Flora, who (ousting
Pomona from her golden seat) was worshipped as the deity
of/rails and flowers.
•• Floriboa et/reenlist prta-ernt.

" The ancients esteemed the montli of Ilay unfits:ramble,
while the moderns deem it far aterahle to love ; Nhakspeare,
who may ►e considered as the best authority on poiuts of i
this sort, specks of

" Lot*. whose month is ever May.

For ourselves, we are of the modern faction : and while
we think that glimpses from the yonng-eyed god might mete
bright even the fogs of November, et when he shakes his
vrings ~with roraie flay-dews wet," and enmes mown upon
es like a shape from lintel,, not even Sir Piercie Shelton
himself, that ingesiiossly-tedious etipituist, may contend with
him. This is bet a strange comparison. perhaps. especially
as we confess our admiration of that romantic personage
extemis scarcely beyond his slashed doublet and collar of
gems. anJ by U 0 means carries us to the end of his speeches.
Yet are we constrained to consider Sir Pierrie as a favoured
specimen of his kind; for we have seen soma of the bright-
est eyes that we know glisten. though they were previormly
placid. and very sweet lips s.nile at Inc 1..1;,ing intuition of
his name. We have fell that this was really hard upon us,
and our serious endeavours et liveliness : thlu3ll the Eliza-
bethan knight is certainly a sort of privilegel per ;en. and
hes written authority to rise with " mortal gashes" on his
head, and to push us of this plain-spolau est from our stools,
with as little ceremony as he used towards the honest family
of Ellemiimaing.
•• Rut to quit Cupid and Air Piercie Shafton for our sub-
ject. fermi which we have been beguiled by the latter wor-
thy, let its now say a word of two about our ancestors. They
had better notions of May than the Romans. aril uhserveJ
it with as gay but more decorous rites. Aithoueti the pro-
cessions aad dance of the morning might degenerate into too
free a carousal at eight. yet the more ohjeetionsble parts of
the sports wereeever, we believe. pre-concerted: it is true,
indeed. that good cheer was not wanting during the day;
but it was not until everting that the bonfire, were lighted.
and the actual revelling commenced. At Rome' vire formed
a striking and essential part of the Jay's festivity: in Eng-
land, it was either infrequent or fortuitous: it wa. nou•
rished with potent dews, and sprung op like an exhalation
at the close of the day, when the spit of gaiety begin to
languish.
•6 May-day w•-s celebrated• as was Attie!, by the young.
They rose shortly after midnight, and went to cone neig
bourine wood, Weeded by songs and music, and hteaking
green breads* from the trees, adorned theta with wreaths
lead crowns of lowers. They returned hJme al the rigid; of
the sun, and made their et isi.lon i anJ their doors gay with
!Mende. le the villages they dieted during the deg
moved Me May-pole. which afterwards remained 'doming the
whole year *touched. except by the seasons, a hitting em-
blem sad a estweeerated **nig to the li whirs, Of Flowers.
At sly*. the villagers lighted up fire.. and indelvd in re-
veille**, width sometimes were, perhaps. " after the high
Rooms fashlis;" sect might, io•lrei, have vied even with
those ringlet* festivities with which the •• The Belie, ifs"
lire still almalleoesed to reward themselves, tut their pious
!abstirsamee
wllse fasts of Ethamarte.
1 •• ay of Scotland. and also be soon of the
‘2soden
Whom efs It , May-day was observed. as well ea by as.
. Wl* as, lodged, it bad the orlaititowal retrommendal.oa of
al holes sal .. kelvin Hoo.i's-day ." vied peewee fepreeeet.
1 mg Robin tail Kaki Marisa were moat to ',Hig's is thew

' ".

cansiong, accompanied by tillage's in the true Sheroin4
From. The May-geese, crowned with

" R 09413 reigaiug in the pride of May,
avid other flowers, is a creature beautiftsl enough foe: ficti
and may vie in idea almost with the nymphs and spirits of
antiquity.
" In early times, the first of May wore a more voleson look
than In the latter years of chivaln•: it was the clay when as-
semblies were held for the distribution or isu. Juetles then
was not " cribbed and confined" in rooms : ror 'vas site
misted, in modern fashion, with a wig and swatter; bat she
bowed her fp," fare abroad. and heirs her state by a foster):
I oltmm. erected in what was relied "Mc Fields el .tinsy.
Perhaps, from the increase of briery and crime, it his te-
t °rue necessary to make her more tsstidiods and imposing.

TO TUE EDIIVIt.
-.a.-

Stn-••You say in your paper of to-day, " Neu
Cook and Robert M.Will:am testified in favour of the
character of Davidson; as did Stephen Dales William
French, and Samuel Lands, for tha• i.f Tidd."
From the manner in which my name is thus intro-
duced, the reader might suppose that I hui been in
hvbits of intimacy with W. Davidson, and, for aught
that appear; to the contrary, even up to the present
tint? ; an impression that I should be very sorry toilers
remain with the public. But the (het simply is, as has
1, en stated in route other papers, aid or I gave in evi-
denNi. " In the year !SOO and Intl', IV. hswidson sv..s
studying the mathematics unrler Dr. Mackay, of Aber-
deen, at the same time with met" and I had then a hig it
pinion of his talents and integrity. Since that period I
hive se. vi him only thrie, or at int,st tour tinier, acid•
then we accidentally met in the streets of London.
The last of these casual meetings was, I think, in May
or June, ISI6 ; siace that time I have neither seen of
known ary thing of him. I think it right to add,
however, that had I heard him say what lie did on his
trial, at the time when we were fellow-sendentr, I
should have had implicit confidence in the truth of
ac:ouiit, notwithstanding what was sworn by those
who were brought forward as witnesses ag.a:nst his.
am, Sir, your's, &c. &c.
KOICAT *WILLIAM-
Lifon's-inn, Friday, Aprililik