TRIAL BY JURY.

MR. EDITOR.

SIR, Trial by Jury has been justly celebrated as both the foundation and the bulwark of British liberties, yet, with all its excellencies, it has also, in its present form, its inconveniences and defects. Among these may be reckoned-First, The absurd and barbarous custom of starving Juries into an agreement, with cold and hunger; the law at present requiring that they shall be kept from all manner of easement of meat, drink, and fire, candle light only excepted."-Secondly, The great probability, that from this coercive system, a forced unanimity may often take place, which necessarily produces something very analogous to perjury, viz. the concurrence of individuals in a verdict, contrary to the conviction of their own minds, yet delivered, under a solemn oath, as true and voluntary.-Thirdly, In cases of obstinacy, ignorance, or inflexible integrity, it frequently occurs, that no verdict at all can be obtained, in which case the objects of the law are not attained, justice is defeated, and either the incompetent Jury are carried to the verge of the county, and there discharged, or the case is got rid of pro tempore, by withdrawing a Juror-and the contending parties are then exposed to the trouble, expense, and anxiety of a new trial, which will probably terminate as the former did.

Hence we perceive, Sir, that trial by Jury does not always answer the purpose intended by the framers of our laws and constitution.

But is this defect in a fundamental branch of our civil jurisprudence a remediless evil? I apprehend not. I suspect it is susceptible of a very simple, and yet a very effectual remedy, and one perfectly consistent with the best principles of our excellent constitution. That remedy is simply to impannel 23 men on the petit, as on the grand jury. It would be a difficult case, indeed, in which a majority of 23 would not agree to find a verdictand that majority must comprehend at least 12 men of one mind on the question at issue; and this, I believe, is precisely what the law requires in a trial by Jury.

In every other case, even where the most important interests of the nation are at stake, all questions are decided

by majorities; and why not in a trial by Jury? I am of opinion, Sir, that this is a subject worthy the attention of the legislature, and as I can anticipate no formidable objection to the proposed amendment, I shall feel obliged by your giving publicity to this hint in your excellent periodical. I am, Sir, &c. S. TUCKER.

Belfast, Aug. 10, 1824.

P. S. The greatest difficulty I am at present aware of, in carrying the proposed plan into effect, would be the additional number of Jurors required; but this, I apprehend, would be overbalanced by the expedition with which verdicts would be found. In nine cases out of ten, I presume, the minds of the Jurors are made up, on the case, during the trial. Little then remains on their retiring, but for the foreman to ascertain their opinions, and record the verdict; by the proposed plan, this could be always done in a few minutes.

ANSWERS TO QUERIES. MR. EDITOR. SIR,-In col. 784 of your number for August, a correspondent asks, What will remove corns and warts?

For the removal of the former, I would recommend a salve to be made of the following ingredients :-White diacolon plaster, 4oz.; shoemaker's wax, 4oz.; muriatic acid, or spirits of salts, 50 drops; boil these together for a few minutes in an earthen pipkin.

Or take 1 oz. of sal ammoniac, and dissolve in a sufficient quantity of rectified spirit; apply this every evening till removed.

Copperas, ink, vitriol, or celendine, will, in a short time, completely eradicate the latter. Nitrate of silver (lunar caustic) also cures in an extremely simple and harmless manner. The method of using it is to dip the end of the caustic in a little water, and to rub it over the warts: by a few applications they will be gone. The muriate of ammonia (sal ammoniac) is likewise a very useful remedy."Out of twenty years' practice," says a medical correspondent in the Monthly Magazine, I never knew the above remedies to fail."

T. CY.

GLEANINGS; RELIGIOUS, LITERARY,

SCIENTIFIC, &c.

Wesleyan Methodist Conference.-This annual assemblage of ministers took place this year at Leeds. About three hundred and eighty were present. The Rev. Robert Newton was chosen president, and the Rev. Jabez Bunting secretary. During the last year, about nine thousand have been added to their societies. Many preachers were received into full connexion, and a greater number admitted on trial. The accounts from all quarters were of the most pleasing description, particularly from America, of which, the Rev. Mr. Reece, who had lately visited his transatlantic brethren, gave a very interesting account. Several preachers have died during the preceding year; and one, Mr. Miles Martindale, during the conference, after a very short illness, was summoned from his labour to his reward. The influx of strangers was exceedingly great, the congregations were overflowing, and the utmost harmony prevailed.

Loss of the ship Fame, and Disaster of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles.

Among the numerous portraits which have been given in the Imperial Magazine, our number for January last was ornamented with that of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, then lieutenant-governor of Bencoolen. This was accompanied with a memoir of his life, at the conclusion of which it was stated, that "through the loss of his children, and the pernicious effects of the climate on his own health and that of his amiable lady, he had deemed it an imperious duty to forward his resignation to the East India House, and that he was making arrangements for his final departure from the Eastern Archipelago."

Full of expectation, his affectionate mother, his numerous friends, and an enlightened public, waited with pleasing solicitude to hear of his embarkation, and of his safe arrival on the British shores. But unhappily, while they were thus anticipating the consummation of their wishes, the following letter, announcing the disaster which befell his ship, and his narrow escape from death, reached his native land. We are not ignorant that this admirably written document has already found its way into the public papers, but this is no reason why it should not be more extensively circulated, and obtain a more permanent situation:

"We embarked on the 2d of February, 1824, in the Fame, and sailed at day-light for England, with a fair wind, and every prospect of a quick and comfortable passage. The ship was every thing we could wish, and having closed my charge here much to my satisfaction, it was one of the happiest days of my life. We were, perhaps, too happy, for in the evening came a sad reverse. Sophia had just gone to bed, and I had thrown off half my clothes, when a cry of Fire, fire! roused us from our calm content, and in five minutes the whole ship was in flames! I ran to examine whence the flames principally issued, and found that the fire had its origin immediately under our cabin. Down with the boats; where is Sophia? Here; the children; here a rope to the side; lower lady Raffles-give her to me, says one-I'll take her, says the captain.

Throw the gunpowder overboard; it cannot be got at; it is in the magazine close to the fire! Stand clear of the powder. Skattle the water casks.-Water! water! Where's Sir Stamford? Come into the boat, Nelson! Nelson! come into the boat. Push off; push off; stand clear of the after-part of the ship.

"All this passed much quicker than I can write it; we pushed off, and as we did so, the flames were issuing from our cabins, and the whole of the after part of the ship was in flames; the masts and the sails now taking fire, we moved to a distance, sufficient to avoid the immediate explosion, but the flames were now coming out of the main hatchway. The two boats then came together, and we took out some of the persons from the captain's boat, which was overladen. He then pulled under the bowsprit of the ship, and picked a poor fellow up. Are you all safe? Yes, we've got the man; all lives safe, thank God: pull off from the ship; keep your eye on the star, Sir Stamford; there's one barely visible.

"We then hauled close to each other, and found the captain fortunately had a compass, but we had no light but from the ship. Our distance from Bencoolen we estimated to be from 20 to 30 miles in a S.W. direction, there being no landing place to the southward of Bencoolen, our only chance was to regain that port. The captain then undertook to lead, and we to follow in a N.N.E. course as well as we could. No chance, no possibility being left that we could again approach the ship, for she was now one splendid flame fore and aft and aloft, her masts and sails in a blaze, and rocking to and fro, threatened to fall in an instant. There goes her mizzen-mast; pull away, my boys: there goes the gunpowder,— thank God!

"You may judge of our situation without further particulars; the alarm was given at about twenty minutes past eight, and in less than ten minutes she was in flames; there was not a soul on board at half-past eight, and in less than ten minutes afterwards she was one grand mass of fire.

"At day-light we recognized the coast, and Rat Island, which gave us great spirits, and though we found ourselves much to the southward of the port, we considered ourselves almost at home. Sophia had gone through the night better than could have been expected, and we continued to pull on with all our strength. About eight or nine o'clock we saw a ship standing to us from the Roads; they had seen the flame on shore, and sent out vessels in all directions to our relief. The wind, however, was adverse, and we could not reach the shore, and took to the ship, where we got some refreshment, and shelter from the sun. By this time Sophia was quite exhausted, fainting continually.-About two o'clock we landed safe and sound, and no words of mine can do justice to the expression of feeling, sympathy, and kindness, with which we were hailed by every one. If any proof had been wanting that my administration had been satisfactory, here we had it unequivocally from all; there was not a dry eye, and as we drove back to our former home, loud was the cry of 'God be praised!'

44

The property which I have lost, on the most moderate estimate, cannot be less than

£20,000. I might almost say £30,000. But the loss which I have to regret beyond all, is my papers and drawings; all my papers, of every description, including my notes and observations, with memoirs and collections, sufficient for a full and ample history, not only of Sumatra, but of Borneo, and every other island in these seas. There was scarcely a known animal, bird, beast, or fish, or an interesting plant, which we had not on board. A living tapir, a new species of tiger, splendid pheasants, &c. &c. all domesticated for the voyage. We were, in short, in this respect, a perfect Noah's ark. All, all has perished; but, thank God, our lives have been spared, and we do not repine."

Closing of the Diorama. On the last day of July, this most extraordinary exhibition closed, after having been opened about ten months, and given the highest gratification mixed with astonishment to all who have witnessed its magical effect. The building, which stands at the entrance of the Regent's Park, PortlandPlace, is said to have cost £10,000, exclusively of the two paintings which attract the spectators' gaze. One of these is the beautiful and romantic valley of Sarnen, in Switzerland, the other is an internal view of a chapel in the cathedral of Canterbury. The dimensions of these pictures are said to be about eighty feet by fifty, but with such perfection is the perspective preserved, that no one, trusting to the evidence of his senses, could ever believe that he was gazing on an optical illusion. These pictures, painted by Messrs. Bouton and Daguerre, two French artists, were exhibited in Paris, and gained the admiration of all in the French capital, long before they appeared in this country, where they have retained their credit among all ranks, and exacted even from the most fastidious, a tribute of unbounded applause. During the period of its display, we had frequently heard of the fame of the Diorama, but scepticism induced us to make considerable deductions from the testimony of report. On hearing, however, that it was about to close, the writer of this article was led to pay it a visit, and judge for himself. He accordingly went to the exhibition, fully persuaded that he could detect the magic which had imposed on the senses of others; but he is compelled to acknowledge, that he was so overwhelmed with the illusion, as to doubt even at the last, whether he was looking on a flat surface, or into an extended room, decorated with the varied scenery and architectural beauties presented to the eye. On this point, bis judgment and his senses were at variance; and although he submits to the decisions of the former, it is against the conviction which the latter impart. Perhaps a more complete optical illusion was never presented to the world.

Mr. Samuel Brown's Pneumatic, or VacuumEngine. This singular machine is the invention of Mr. S. Brown, of Printing-housesquare, London, and promises to be of the utmost utility in the empire of mechanical discovery, rivalling the steam-engine in its power, and even threatening to supersede it in the simplicity of its construction, portableness, safety, and the comparative smallness of

its expense. In the specification of the patent, it is thus described: This invention consists of a combination, which is thus formed :-Inflammable gas is introduced along a pipe into an open cylinder or vessel, whilst a flame, placed on the outside of and near the cylinder, is constantly kept burning, and at the proper time comes in contact with, and ignites, the gas therein; the cylinder is then closed airtight, and the flame prevented from entering it. The gas continues to flow into the cylinder for a short space of time, and then is stop. ped off; during that time, it acts, by its combustion, upon the air within the cylinder, and at the same time a part of the rarefied air escapes through one or more valves, and thus a vacuum is effected; the vessel or cylinder being kept cool by water. On the same principle, the vacuum may be effected in one, two, or more cylinders or vessels."- This engine has excited considerable attention, and has been examined by many scientific men, who all concur in opinion, that it is a child of great promise, having before it every prospect of ultimate success. We must not, however, forget that it is yet in its infancy; but it is evidently the infancy of an Hercules, whose cradle we dare not approach but with the most profound respect.

Sir Astley Cooper's Aavice in cases of Hydrophobia-Sir Astley Cooper, in allusion to this subject in one of his lectures, says, "The best mode that can be adopted is immediately after the part has been bitten, to cut it out: you should first ascertain to what depth the teeth have entered, by means of a probe, and then take care to excise a sufficient quantity, and leave no part of the integument, cellular membrane, or muscle, remaining. If persons should object to the use of the knife, (foolishly object to have the poisoned part cut away,) I advise you in such cases, to let sink into the wound a small piece of the potassa fusa; this will readily dissolve, and become liquid, its cauterizing influence will be communicated to each part of the wound, and thus destroy the influence of the poison; the best plan decidedly is, the immediate excision of the part, and where it has been done immediately after the injury, it has, I believe, in every instance, been successful in preventing the disease; if the practice should be opposed, the next best plan is the employment of the potassa fusa. I am speaking of these means, you will observe, as preventives; and as for medical remedies, when the symptoms of hydrophobia have once appeared, I am not acquainted with any.Every medicine, I believe, has been tried over and over again, and all have been found alike ineffectual; the only thing in the way of medicine, that I think calculated to do good, is that which has lately been adopted in France, viz. the injection of warm water into the veins. To make the employment of the remedy safe, the same quantity of blood should be previously abstracted, as it is intended there should be water injected; with this precaution, I think the remedy a very proper and feasible one. I would here remark, that the blood need not be abstracted before the injection of the water, but may be let flow from one vein, while the water is thrown in at another, and this probably would be the better plan."