The Sun. — 1838-02-10 (London, England)

BROUGHAM. The Noble and Learned Lord, in presenting a petition from the delegates of the Cotton-spinners' Union in Glasgow, praying that the House would address the Crown for a mitigation of the punishment awarded to the criminals, entered into the legal merits of the case, and, in our opinion, presented such a view of it as would amply justify the exercise of the Royal prerogative of mercy towards these misguided and unfortunate men. Lord BROUGHAM directed the attention of their Lordships and of the country to certain important particulars in the late Trial which are not of common occurrence in criminal proceedings.  The original indictment, it appears, contained ten counts, charging the accused with murder, arson, and other crimes of the most atrocious character. Upon these charges they were committed to prison, where they remained five months, when that indictment was departed from, and another substituted, containing the former charges, with three new ones superadded. Now, it is of material consequence, in estimating the quantum of punishment due to the offenders, to bear in mind that on every one of the ten original counts the prisoners were acquitted, although they had suffered five months' imprisonment on the charges therein specified. On the three additional or supplemental counts they were found guilty, but the offences charged in these counts were of a minor—we may say of a venial—character, when compared with the others ; and of these minor offences they were convicted only by the barest majority possible—that is to say, when the jury divided (as the Scottish law allows) on the question of guilty or not guilty, there was a majority of one for the former verdict. This too was after eight days investigation in a court of justice, and three hours deliberation of a jury, who on leaving the box were ready to acquit the prisoners on all the charges. Lord BROUGHAM then contrasted with his usual power the severity of the punishment in this case, with that which would have fallen to the lot of the prisoners, had they been tried in England instead of Scotland. By the English law, the penalty for committing the offences for which the Glasgow Cottonspinners have been condemned to seven years' separation from their wives and families, their friends, their country, and every thing else that is dear to them on earth, is just two months' imprisonment ! We sincerely hope that her MAJESTY'S advisers will think the case of these unhappy men a proper one to be submitted to the merciful consideration of the Crown. We are quite sure that a rigorous execution of the sentence will produce few, if any, of the effects for which all punishment is intended.  We have not the least doubt that the Watchman of Puddle-clock, who has of late taken the army under his guardianship, will look after Lord HOWICK with all the alarming vigilance which characterises him, and that he will see, like the .ancient and bemused Charlies of our streets, many an alarming vision. We shall be prepared to hear the Times cry fire, murder, robbery, ghosts, and goblins ! When the frightened public rouse our Contemporaxy, and demand where? he will reply, "in the War Office—at the Horse Guards." The nation would be undone if it were not for the sleepless " anxiety" of the Times. It is true that the " development" of Lord HowlcK's scheme of wholesale jobbery and corruption," is to be, according to the Times, public and 'undisguised, and not likely to do much mischief in open day. That circumstance will, we trust, re-assure the terrified public, particularly as we believe the project of placing the army under a responsible Minister, which is strictly in accordance with the spirit: of the Constitution, is approved of by the highest military authority. Certainly it will not even be propened, unless it be sanctioned by those Commissioners who have been appointed to inquire into the subject.  We learn from the Foreign Papers that King OTtro has published .a Royal decree for the reorganization of the Grecian army, to take effect from the Ist of January, of which the following is an abstract :—" The whole effective military force of Greeceis not to exceed on ordinary occasions 8,000 men. The annual conscription is fixed at 2,000 ; and the period of service four years. None but Greeks, or naturalized citizens, to serve in future in the national army.