The Sun. — 1835-07-18 (London, England)

EXECUTION IN EDINIIURGII.—James Bell, the trooper, of the sth Dragoon Guards, was hanged in Edinburgh on Monday, for the murder of Serjeant-major Moorhead, of the same regiment, whom he shot. The executioner, from some blunder when on the scaffold, could not adjust the rope properly, and it bad to be done by Mr. Brown, the Superinintendent of the Public Works, who adjusted the rope to the scaffold with his own hands. The bungling, however, had not terminated, for when the culprit jerked aside, the fatal signal, with which the drop should have given way almost simultaneously, a few moments' dreadful suspense occurred, during which the miserable victim shook with a sort of convulsive tremor, at the same time stretching out his hands in the attitude ofprayer, as if to snatch the last moment of intercession. At last, however, the melancholy business terminated, and he died after one or two severe struggles. The concourse of people was very great, indeed, equal to that congregated at the execution of the notorious Burke, One policeman fainted during the spectacle, ana was carried away. This was the first time the executioner had officiated in Edinburgh, although he had previously performed the duty twice, at Stirling and Grcenlaw. Bell was in his 26th year, and was born at Clones, in the North of Ireland. H^ was forTelly a weaver,. _ - .  SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURIVA  We have before us, but we have merely bad time to look into it, one of the most important documents ever submitted by his Majesty to either House of Parliament—we mean the Second Report on the Commercial Relations between France and Great Britain, by Dr. Bowring. The subjects treated of in this most interesting commercial atd statistical arpos are " silks and wine,"-,the productions in which France is supposed to excel the people of this and of every other country in the world—and most admirably have they been treated. The Report teems with facts which could only have been collected by the most unwearied industry and zeal—which are interesting in themselves as mere histories of existing systems—but still more important, as proving the incalculable evils which are invariably produced by prohibitions and restrictions. On this latter point there can be no mistake in any one's mind, after a perusal of the very ample evidence recorded in the Report before us. The wine trade of France is in a declining state, notwithstanding the favour shown towards it by this (ountry—its silks are only productive of ruin to those engaged in their manufacture—and why ? Simply because they have not fair play—because in France all internal trade, and all external commerce, is more or less a monopoly—because from Paris to Lyons, and from Lyons to Havre, the inscription upon every city, town, and mill is " restriction"—and, finally, because capital cannot be usefully employed, an:l seeks out other and more favourable channels. These arc incontrovertible truths, however long they may be finding theic way into the minds of Frenchmen ; but as we mean to ezamine the Report carefully, and to return to the subject on Monday, we shall not at present farther dilate upon it, than t. 13 expl'ess a hope that it will be read by every Englishman capable of appreciating its merits, and reasoning accurately upon the• facts presented for its consideration.—Morning Advertiser.