NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE trials under the Welsh Special Commission are over, and that inevitable though painful process in the pacification of the Prin- cipality is finally disposed of. Whether by contrivance or good luck, all passed off in the best manner. The principal culprit, a young farmer, who was one of the incarnations of " Rebecca" herself, who resisted the civil power with arms, and was taken flagrante delieto, stood his trial, was convicted, and has been sentenced to transportation for twenty years. His youth and strength are likely to serve him in undergoing the hardships of penal life in the Colonies ; and his good character is likely to hasten the relaxation of punishment if he follow it up with good conduct. But his doom is severe, and will be deemed so among the home- loving Welsh farmers. The rest of the prisoners seem to have lost heart at his conviction : they all succumbed ; and, except a few, who were let off by the indulgence of the Crown lawyers, all pleaded guilty to the charges on which they were indicted. Two were sentenced to seven years' transportation ; others to various termp of imprisonment, not of very great length. In passing some of the sentences, the Judge intimated that some further mercy might be granted by the Crown ; but not unless the cessation of outrages in South Wales showed the feasibility of leniency. Thus the trials have gone through a course calculated to make the most favourable impression that they could. The prisoners have ex- hibited no obstinacy, no defying hardihood, which, however irrational in itself, might have enlisted the sympathies of their countrymen and defeated the lenient intentions of Government. On the part of Government, there has been the utmost moderation and forbearance : there was a total absence of revengeful de- meanour; the appeal to law was made in the most dispassionate manner ; and the Welsh must feel that it is not the Government which retaliates, but the law which vindicates its supremacy. At the same time, the inquiry into practical grievances, opened in so just and generous a spirit by Mr. FRANKLAND LEWIS, will teach them that the success of their suit for practical amendments may be achieved by better means than violence. Some allowance must undoubtedly be made for the fact that an unruly turbulence has been awakened, and the better-disposed cannot possibly allay it at once; but nothing could so tend to pacify the province as the union of firmness, moderation, and candid inquiry.
