The Sun. — London, England, 1829-04-16 00:00:00

SPIRIT 01. THE LONDON JOURNALS. Mr. Peel made his motion last night for the amendment of the criminal jurisprudence of the metropolis. The Right Hon. Secretary gave some statements which are curious. Whilst crime, it ap pears, increases in the cities of L on d on an d West , . rninster in a much more accelerated ratio than po pulation, its increase does not keep pace Keith that of the populationi in the country. Here are, there fore, topics both for grief and congratulation. Of the increase of crime in the metropolis, vat ions causes are assigned. We may hat ird one :—the removal of the poor, by the construction of fine streets, into by and obscure ones, where they are congregated together in greater numbers. The distress of Spitalflelds is said to he occa awned, not by the slackness of the silk trade only, but by the number of the artisans from other manufactures who flock thither ; arid if the distress he thus increased, so oho will be the crime. Be this, however, as it may, it is remarkable, if Mr. Peel's statement by accurate, that about one in every 383 persons living in London and Middlesex has been committed to prison for crime during the year 1828. Has the extinction of the small notes, which was operating with great activity during the latter end of last year, had any thing to do with the increase of crime in the mctropoi ? We doubt it; for there has been no fall of wages in London, but a scandalous one in the country, where still crime has diminished. We shall have occasion to speak of the Bill itself hemafter. We ought to mention, that we have taken the proportional decrease of erme in the country on Mr. Peel's spewing only ; cur tort, information, would lead us to a different concl:usion.—Times. In Mr. Charles Grant's speech on Tuesday even ing, there were two or three particulars adverted to, which are worths , of serious consideration. The Right Hon. Gentleman enforced the argument of Mr. Vesey Fitzgerald, by stating that so far from the measures of 1823 and 1824 , having checked the progress of the silk trade, the import of the raw material and of thrown silk together had swelled, in the very first c i t.:aster of the diminished duties, from 43 2,0001 1- ss. to 1,085,000ib5.; or had been rather hnt , than doubled! Mr. Grant asserted, that so far from the activity of the trade having been dis couraged, the same class of men—viz., the silk ilealers--who had been deafening ne country with their clamour against the removal of the pro hibitory laws, had plunged with such eagerness into speculation for a more extended manufac ture in cetesesquence of that removal, as to out strip the demands, however large, of the in rreaved consumption, and to invite the industry thousands of throwsters and silk-weavers, 'whom they could not continue to employ at reasonable wages. This, we ought to remem ber, is net the first time that the weavers have been reverely distressed. Daring 1816 and 1817 the prohibitory laws (and, no donbt, the smugglers) were in full vigour; and did they preserve the weaver from suffering? So fir from it, that during those years above 40,0001. was subscribed to relieve the weavers of Spitaltields only. So far from prohibi tory laws being a security to the weaver, there was, every three years during their existence, a renewal cf the weaver's misery ;—so far, again, from the abolition of those laws being chargeable with the peculiar sufferings of the English silk-weaser, the silk-weaver of Lyons has, almost ever since their enactment, been afflicted by equal wretchedness. Again, let 1:3 ask, is it the imposition of an average duty of 40 percent. on foreign silks in England that halt produced the sufferings of the cotton trade, 'Which Mr. Grant declares to be even more deplor able than those of the silk-weaver himself? With regard to Spitalfields, we are informed by the Right Honourable Gentleman, that from the extra ordinary cheapness of lodgings Zin that qu ar t er , it is crowded with poor of all descriptions, who flock thither when out of employment elsewhere, and who take to weaving as a temporary expedient for sup port, but on the least suspension of the silk trade nee the foremost in the ranks of destitution, and thus multiply the numbers of nominal manufacturers of silk who appeal to public charity. As for the general, allegation against Mr. Huskisson's mea sure,—that it has created the distress complained of, —it is best answered by a single question,—narnely, is the whole consumption of English silk goods by the country at this moment less than it was before the repeal of the prohibition ? If that consureption be not lessened by the " free trade," (as it is ridi culously called), the case of the complainants is at once rebutted. If the consumption (as is Tinto riotte) has much increased on the whole, then Mr. Huskisson's case is established irresistibly. If, again, the increased consumption has been accompanied by a fall in the price of silks, then the country has a more extensive enjoyment at a more moderate price ; and if that were even at the expense of the silk dealer, why we should say that the public had a better right to be accommodated than he had. But, in fact, it is sot at his expense; for, first. he pays but 3d. per lb. tax on his raw material, instead of (are we correct ?) 3s. 7d.; and, se cond, he manufactures at a less cost for labour, ow ing to the novel and successful application of ma chinery to divers branches of the art. We really see no ground for the silk-manufacturer to stand upon, in his late attempts to importune, bear down, or mystify his Majesty's Government. Failing in these laudable enterprises, and seeing that if he con tinees to prosecute the trade he must do so on the principles already prescribed to him by Parliament, he will try, no doubt, to lower his pretensions,—to become an active, intelligent, and emulous manufac tnrer, instead of a monopolist, at once lazy, inso lent, and clumsy ; and will learn at last that it is the interest as well as duty of a man in business to give his customers some fair value for theirmoney. There is a wide and important branch of the silk question on which we shall feel it necessary to aserve here after :—we mean that portion of it which relates to the importation of the raw material from China and from India, and which bears a sort of mixed relation to the subject of the all-grasping Company's mono poly, and to that which the English silk-manufac turer would, in the genuine spirit of Leadenhall street, impose, if they knew how, upon this gulled and bestridden people.—lbid. Mr. Peel introduced last night to the House tire subject of the Police of the Metropolis. In his outset he efiaracterized the present system " as calculated for no other purpose than to eecourage depredations upon property, and to increase the danger to personal security." It is certainly high time that we abandoned the criminal-nursing sys tem, and set ourselves fairly to diminish the security of criminals and increase the security of those who pass for honest men. At present a thief is one of the best trades in London, considered with refer ence to duration of life. In the establishment of a better system, great difficulties are to be combated; but every thing must have a beginning. However, we shall return to this subject.—.2l4Orning Chron. It is lamentable to observe what a great propor tion of the criminal business on the several Circuits arises out of the existing state of the Game Laws. It is curious that those laws, which are founded on an artificial principle of crime, and not on natural justice,--laws which are enacted to punish offences which, as lawyers express it, are only mala prohibita, and not mala per se,—should be, in general, more rigorously enforced than any other. It is seldom that a man who is convicted of an offence under the Game Laws, is not sentenced to the utmost punish ment that the law allows. Formerly, the County- Magistrates, at Quarter Sessions, were considered particularly vindictive in executing the penal Sta tutes against poachers ; but latterly, we regret to say, some of the Judges of Assize have partaken of this spirit, and would sooner mitigate the terrors of the law in favour of a horse-stealer, or a breaker into his neighbour's house, than an unqualified killer of hares and partridges. Yet, what is the result of this excessive severity ? Is it the decrease of poach ing ? Far from it. The offence, inst e ad of bei n g diminished, is greatly on the increase. Suds is the effect of extreme severity, when public opinion does not go along with the- law, but, on the con trary, sympathises with the offender. The Game Laws have done more to tempt the peasantry into lawless habits than any vicious system of legislation that ever was devised. The prohibition of the sale of game raises the price of the article, so as to esta- Llis 4 i a very high premium upon poaching; and who can wonder if that premium should prove irresisti -I,ly attractive to a large proportion of the ill-paid and ill.fed labourers of this country ? Who can wonder that the neighbourhood of great preserves is the scene of constant violence, and that whole dis tricts are kept in a state of civil commotioH by san guinary conflicts between organised bodies of game keepers and gangs of 'poachers? No small number of the culprits tried for serious crimes at each As size,, are men who commenced their irregularities by merely setting a spring to catch a hare, and, be ing thrown into prison for that, have become fami li:a• with the worst practices of felons, and, saturated with the moral infection cf a gaol, regain their li berty only to follow their example. Thus are these laws in their present state, and as at present ad ministered, a fertile source of rural demoralization— spreading misery and crime among the people, and entailing great expence upon the country.—Morn ing Herald. . . _ POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE. DISTRESSED PRISONERS FOIL CHIME AND DEBT.-An unfortunate prisoner, who had been acquitted at the Old Bailey, upon being tried for some petty theft, applied at the dustiee.recm for some little assistance. He had, he said, no place in which to cover his head ; he had no em ployment ; he had no character, and yet those in com fortable circumstances said, " Why don't you be honest and get into a good employment?" as if the bar of the Old Bailey was a recommendation instead of a complete check to an unfortunate. The LORD Mayon expressed his regret that there was bat too much truth in the statement of the applicant. One of the great penalties attached to the commission, and, in some instances, to the suspicion of crime, was, that the accused was thrown helpless and an outcast upon the world. Mr. Sheriff Copel md, who happened to be present at the time, represented to the Lord Mayor that the Sheriffs hal co means of supplying poor pi koners upon their dis charge from prison with more than a mere trifle ; but if the public knew the good that might be done by the Sheriff's Fund being made adequate in amount to the claims upon it, he was satisfied that large sums would be subscribed, and many a your creature would be saved from destruction. The LORD Maros lamented that there was no sufficient fund to relieve the distressed prisoner, who was acquitted at the bar of justice, and out of his private purse gave the applicant temporary relief, who expressed his gratitude, and left the Justice-room. A gentlenttn named 2darch, who resides in Rolls buildings, Fetter-lane, was brought before the LORD Mayon., charged with having, as the watch-house book represented, as'aulted a watchman in the performance of his duty. The case excited some surprise and merriment The watchman said, that as he was walking up and down his beat, the defendant and another gentleman ap proached him, and made some insulting observations about the buttons of his coat as they passed along. Mr. Hobler—lnsulting observations ! Watehtnan— Yes ; he made remarks as he had no right to do. He jeered at my buttons—that is, he laughed at 'em. h. Bohlen—Well, and did that make the buttons fly off pair coat—(A laugh. )—Watch man—No, your honour; but it was unbearable.. Whit was my coat and buttons to him ? It was quite untolerable. The LORD MaYoa—Well, go on—come to the assault. The watchman said, thd when the defendant accused the buttons of his coat, he (the watchman) told him to move on, according to orders; but instead of moving on, the defendant stood still, and there was'nt a bit of the coat in which the buttons were that he did not abuse, both behind and before.--(Laughter.) Mr. Hobler—Very well. That was certainly a heavy offence, but diti'nt he hut t you any more than he hurt the coat ? The watchman said, he would insist upon it that nobody had a right to laugh at his buttons, whatever size they might be. The Loan MAYOR was quite of a different opinion. Ne thought that a watchman might wear such buttons as any other man might be justified in laughing at. Mr. Hohler said, that he did not know whether it might be owing to any new regulations in the Police, but certainly some watchmen cut very laughable figures. It was certainly very injurious to the character of a watch man to be laughed at, but it was not high treason, ,nor was it an offence fur which a gentlen:an deserved to be locked up all night. The watchman said that that was not all, for the gen tleman called him by a name that sounded very ugly, and it was far altogether that he took him to the watch-house. Another watchman (the comrade of the first) also told the story about the buttons, and assured the Lord Mayor that the defendant's language was terrible. The Loan MAYOR desired to know what the guardian meant by " terrible?" The witness said he meant "It want the genteel thing. It wa'nt respectable to the man what it was meant for."—(Laughter.) The constable of the night, who spoke as if he had gone to school with the watchman, said " the conduct of the gentleman was quite obstropolous, and more nor a city watchman could bear. The gentleman, in fact, acted in the watch-house as if he know nothing of the place he was in, or who he was afore." (Laughter.) Watchman—Not by no means, your Lordship. There was myself and the constable and some other watchmen, and the gentleman cared no more about us nor the dirt iS his shoe, and was very rude to us all.—(Laughter.) Mr. March complained that he had been very harshly treated. As he and his friend walked along, the cut of the watchman's coat appeared to him to be deserving of ob , ervation, and he told his friend that he should like such an one. The moment he said so he was in the fellow's grasp, and after a few words was dragged to the watch-house. Ile denied having used any aggra vating or unpolita expression to the gentleman whose dignity he had unfortunately, but unintentionally, wound ed, and he hoped that the Lord Mayor would at least reprove the person who had imprisoned him for the night. The Loan MAYOR said that he could not do any thing in the matter, except mention his regret that the defendant had experienced so much inconvenience and annoyance, and told the watchman that he was not justified in taking such revenge for being laughed at. He at the same time must say, that watchmen ought not to be subject to ridicule at all times. It should be considered that they had duties to perform. _ _ _ _ _ The defendant then retired. Mr. Mohler.—As for you, Mr. Constable, we'll " write you down a most excellent ass."—(Loud laughter.) GUILDHALL. Three journeymen butchers, George Sansom, Joseph _ _ Ward, and John Shelstan, were finally examined on suspicion of having teen concerned in several depredations in Newgate-market, which have been committed in the following manner:-- One man having observed a sale of meat effected, com municates to an accomplice the name of the buyer, and as soon as the latter has walked away, the accomplice applies to the salesman and receives the meat, under the false re present:Aim that he has been sent by the buyer. As speedily as possible the accomplice shifts the meat to a third man, as it would be dangerous to he overtaken with it in his possession, and in nineteen instances out of twenty the trick succeeds. The prisoners were committed for stealing a sheep from the premises of Mr. Lee, a salesman, under such circum strnces, and a detainer was lodged against Sansom for steal ing nine legs of pork on another occasion. Pntr.roT v. Srp.Ncza.—Mrs. Maly Spencer appeared before Sir PETER LAURIE, yesterday, upon summons to answer the complaint of Mr. John Philpot. " Please your Worship," said Mr. John Philpot, " what I wants to know is this—l wants to know the just cause of Mrs. Spencer detaining my wife away from me ?" And then, in answer to questions put to him from the Bench, be said, " I married her at St. Luke's church at half-pest ten o'clock in the morning, last Monday week, after having courted her eight months, and after we had been asked in church three times. I'm a Bridgnorth chap, a shoemaker by trade, and txenty-four years old come Midsummer.— My wife, she was nineteen last Saturday ; but none of her friends were present at the m trriai;e, nor mine neither, only a man of the name of James Barns gave her away to me, newly and truly, all proper; and I wants to know the just cause why Mrs. Spencer denies her away from me." Mts. Spencer entered into a long e xplanation, showing that, in the first place, she did not much approve of John Philpot's character; secondly, that he had courted her daughter clandestinely, and had been aided and assisted by " some Irish bad people ;" thirdly, that he had married her only out of spite to her (the mother), because, when he was a lodger of their's, she had told him of sonic of his tricks; fourthly, that he had no place to take her to, except a ready-furnished apartment; fifthly, that he had married her by a wrong natre—Spencer, instead of Cane —she being the daughter of a former marriage; sixthly awl lastly, that the girl herself repented of what she had dune, and was unwilling to go back to him. Mrs. Spencer added, she had been informed by the Minis ter of the parish that the marriage was not valid, in con sequence of the wrong name given to the girl in the pub lication of the bonus. Otherwise, if John was willing to go through the ceremony again in the right name, and the girl was still willing to hive him, she (the mother) would not stand in the way of their happiness. " What !" exclaimed John—" marry her again !—no, that I never will. If she likes me, let her take m e; _. here I am ; and I'd live w . th her as long as there's a hit f life left in me; but I'll never marry her again. Once marrying of one woman is eneugh of all conscience, I think !" " Then you shall never have her by my consent," s tid the mother." And, thereupon, the case was dismissed ; and John Philpot departed without having ascertained whether he was a married man or a bachelor. GUILDHALL. John Hewitt, a lad between 16 and 17 years of age, and Elizabeth Boutlnrry, who looked three or four years older, were charged with stealing " A Treatise on Rocks," in two volumes, from the premises of Mr. Wilks, a book seller, in Chancery-lane. Hewitt had been employed as an errand .boy by the prosecutor, and was discharged about a month ago, three or four days after the female prisoner had been hired as a servant in the family. On Saturday List Mr. Sweet, a neighbour, with whom Hewitt had subsequently lived as en errand-boy, calls I on Mr. \\'ilks, and stated that he had found the two volumes in the pes ' session of the youth, and from some circumstances, he had a doubt whether they had not been stolen. Mr. W. iden tified the volumes imrnedi itely by a track where a number had been pasted on, he having purchas:ql them et an auction, and Mr. Wilka's shoprnan remembered seeing them on the premises so lately as the day befinie.— Mr. Sweet then mentioned that ha bad seen Hewitt let in at Mr. Wtlks's private door, i❑ the day time, and at night, and it was, therefore, prohab!e titers was an intimacy between the lad and the maid servant. Lightfoot, the street-keeper of St Dunstan's, was called in, and he, upon searching the lad, found three tender epistles, which left no doubt of the connection between him and the servant, and by further inquiry, Mr. Wilke ascer tained that Hewitt had slept several nights in his house. Hewitt was on Monday brought before Sir Peter Laurie, who directed the officer to apprehend the other prisoner, and both underwent a long examination yes'eiday. The lad keely confessed that he had stolen the books, and said he believed he effected it without the knowledge of the young woman. He had slept in the house, but not in her bed. Elizabeth, upon being questioned on the point, very in dignantly asserted that the youth had not slept in her bed ; she, however, admitted the notes found on Hewitt - were written by her; and being a.ked the meaning of an ex pression by no means equivocal, she (fur a moment only) became confounded with shame, and faintly answered, " I still s',y he never slept in my bed." Eventually, Sir P. LAURIE, though with very great reluctance, yielded to the intercesssions of the prosecutor, and the lad's sister, the wife of a respectable tradesman, and dismissed the prisoners, with a severe admonition. The following are copies of the letters : (No. 1.) My Dear Jhon—l take my pen in my hand to writ to you with a tremblen hand, acane hart, and kers in my eye: omy dear i love you as Dear as my life. Pray lett me see you to night, 0 my dear don not make your self strange, pray' don't. My Brother say that i ham to ;kin a fool of you, a good fornothing fellow. If I dont see you to night I will doo sum think to myselft. 0 pray ,li m 'c l e t us part lett our too harts be joint in one. I have made myselft quit ill with eriing. I have turned away too for your sake, my hart will brake fur you. Does you think that if i wose makin a fool of you that I shid love you as i does. no, never. turn it over in your mind. Pray corn and see me as soon as you can, for God sake, for i shall die f,r you. Excites the writing for papcl in love is like no one else but por But. So i remane yor effectionate Lover EL. BOIJRBRY. I must say Lover still and I hope will. Pray doo let me see you to night my Love. (No. 2.) My Dear Jhon,—The love that I have got for you than no thought can tell but myselft, but I never wove huse by any body as you hose me. The love that you say you have got for me I think it must be fdst, so I wish you to tell me the sentiments of your mind, and not keep me in sespence, for I spud not serve you so, for I told you my mind. I suppose I shall see you to nite, so I conclude, Excuse the writing, for peepel in love is like no one elst. So, I remain, your affectionate lover, E. B. (No. 3 ) April 1. My Dear Jhon, —are you goin to serve me so after you have ad you will of mee. Now it time for me to hang myself or to poison myselft, the second time of love, and the love that I have got for you is unnone. I could not of thought It of you. Pray, do not think eny think of such a woman as that, for my sake. it true I have got no money. I hope I does remane your affectionate love, E. BOURBRY. HATTON-GARDEN. It will be recollected that a young woman, named Sarah Staff, was brought to this office on Tuesday last, charged with attempting to destroy herself by an effort to throw herself into the New River. Upon that occasion, the young woman told the Magistrate that the cause of her at tempting to mike away with herself, arose from the state Of mind in which she was, owing to her having been se duced from her home in the latter part of last week, by the son of a respectable anner is Norfolk, and being left by him unprotected in a house of ill-fame in some part of London. The young woman added, that she was sorry for what she had attempted, r.nd that she was sure her cousin, a Mrs. Simpson, who resided at Highgate, would take care of her until her father should be informed of her situation. Limbrick, the officer, was, in consequence of this part of her statement, desired by the Magistrate, who was very much interested in her b e h a lf, t o accom p an y her to High_ gate, and see how far her story was correct, and ascertain if Mrs. Simps:m was inclined to keep her until her father should be written to. The officer attended to his instruc tions, and succeeded in making Mrs. Simpson out, but found that she was not inclined to make any addition to her family by the admission of the young woman under her roof; and this arose as much from her poverty, she being only a poor brick-maker's wife, as from the character of the young woman, who was stated to be no better than she should be ; and that, instead of being only a few days in town, she had been not only in it, but on it, for the last six or eight months. Limbrick reported what he heard to the Magistrate, and the young woman acknowledged that what had been told to Limbrick was true. She also admitted that it was not the young man to whom she alluded in her examination that was the means of seducing her from home. The MAGISTRATE said that she acted very improperly in telling the sort of tale she did. He then ordered her to be taken to Clarkenwell workhouse, where she now remains, until she shall be passed home to her father. UNION-HALL. A curious charge of bigamy has been for some days past under investigatio❑ at this office. The accused (F. A: Fester) is a man far advanced in years, and was alleged to have three wives, all of whom are now in existence. The singular documents produced by the prisoner to exculpate himself from the charge, and which are subjoined to this account, caused no small degree of amusement in the pe rusil. It appears that they were dictated by himself, in order to guard against any future proceedings that might be instituted against him. Two of the wives were in at tendance : one of them, alleged to he his second, is a comely-looking stout woman, about 50 years of age; and the third, who was described to he the last he had married, is a young creature, who appears scarcely out of her teens. The latter lady scarcely ceased from weeping during the examination, and her woes seemed to excite the sympathetic feelings of the &d gentleman, who endeavoured to soothe her grief, by bestowing endearing epithets upon her, calling her his dear Alicia, that she was his lawful wife, and en couraging her to keep up her spirits, for that all would be right yet, notwithstanding the effhrts of his enemies. The second wife, who now calls herself Mrs. Cox, her former husband's name, - stated that she was married to the prisoner at the church of St. Clement Danes, in 1820, and the certificate to that effect was produced. The witness said, that at the period the prisoner married her, she had between 3001. and 4001., all of which he soon spent, and then abandoned her. She added that she never received any assistance from the prisoner, and afterwards heard that he had two other wives living. The prisoner here put in the following document, and said that on a perusal it would show that he and Mrs. Cox had legally separated from each other. It was here read, and commenced thus : " Memorandum, this 23d day of October, 1821. " I do hereby agree to sign a deed of separation when requested (if this memorandum shall be thought insuffi cient), between myself and Mr. F. A. Foster, from bed, hoard, and every contract do give up all title and claim whatever, on or to the said F. A. Foster, in all and every respect, as long as I live; and hereby acknowledge him most respectfully to be a person of integrity, sober, obliging dhposition, and grod moral e'iaractcr ; therefore recom mend him being worthy the notice of any lady who may c h oo , e to unite with him, and do hereby affirm that I will not appear or interfete with him in any way unplea sant to him as long es I live. So help me Gad. (Signed) " MARTHA COX." Mr. CHAMBERS asked the second wife whether the sig nature to the paper just read was in her hand-writing? After having examined it, she replied in the affirmative, and stated that she perfectly recollected having signed her name to a piece of blank paper, at the request of the pri soner, who must hwe afterwards filled it up. She added, that she ucver saw the contents of the paper before, and therefore could not have sanctioned such a document. The prisoner declared that the above agt eement was drawn up at the suggestion of the lady who signed it, and he conceived that either party had a right to marry or do as they pleased afterwards. The second wife said that she had learned the prisoner had another wife living when he married her. This lady's name was Tubb. before marriage, and the register of it was to be found in St. Giles's church. The prisoner said, that a indignant report of that kind had gone abroad, but he could clearly absolve himself from such a cbatge, if the following declaration of the said Miss Tubbs on the subject was read. It ran thus :—" (Surrey to wit)—Eliza Tubbs, of King-street, in the borough of Southway k, malted' oath, and saith that deponent was never legally mar tied to and• person, and that she still is a spinster, and saith that she voluntarily makes this affidavit in con sequence of a misrepresenratiln that deponent was married to Mr. I'. A. Foster, with a view, as deponent believes, to injure the said F. A. Foster, who is a most amiable and highly honourable man, as deponent believes. (Signed) " ELIZA TUBBS. " Witness, J. Richardson." The second wife said that she was confident that tl.e form of affidavit just read was written by the prisoner himself, without the sanction of the lady whose name was attached to it. Mr. CHAMBERS said that they were mere waste paper, and would benefit his case but little. - Gill, tie officer who apprehended the prisoner, requested that he might he remanded fir a few days, in order to give time to collect some other evidence against the accused. The prisoner expressed a wish for further time himself, as he had other documents which he would pruduce on a future occasion, to exculpate him fron► the charges against SECO:N Eprinri. SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Cock. IM PE RIA L PARLIAMENT T lIIS EVENING. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr. BYNG presented a petition from the parish of St. James's ggainst the select Vestry. Mr. KEN NEbY moved for a new . writ for the county of Ayr, in the room of Mr. Mgomery deceased. Mr. HUME moved for several returns relative to the Silk Trade. NTr. HUME gave notice that after Easter he would move a standing order, to the effect that one day's notice be given for the first and third reading of all private Bills. Mr: HUME moved for various returns relative to the Assessed Taxes and Parochial Rates. CORN LAWS. Mr. HUME gave notice of a motion for the middle of May, for altering the present Corn Laws. He would submit a proposition for doing away the present graduated scale of duties, and substituting a fixed duty in lieu of it. Mr. LIDDELL presented a petition from the Medico-Chirurgical Society of Newcastle, relative to the providing of subjects for Anatomical purposes. Mr. BROWNLOW brought in a Bill for drain ing.the Bogs of Ireland. The Bill was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on the Bth of May. Mr. GRATTAN presented several petitions against the Subletting Act, from places in the counties of Tipperary, Dublin, Westmeath,' and Leitrim. Lord CLIFTON presented a petition from the inhabitants of Canterbury, complaining of the absence from England and non-resignation of Mr. Lushington, one of their Representatives. Mr. MABERLY presented a petition from the Brewers of Aberdeen, complaining of the duty on Beer. Mr. MABERLY moved for a continuation of the accounts relative to the Sinking Fund, arid the 31 per Cents. _ _ - Mr. HUNIE moved for a return of the number of privates ballotted for in the United Kingdom for the last:two years, and also for a return of the exemptions. FINANCE COMMITTE. Mr. MABERLY asked the Right Hon. Gentle man (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) if the Finance Committee was to be revived this year, as without it there was no hope of a reduction of taxa tion. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that he would give no other answer than he gave at the commencement of the session, which was that this year it was unlikely that this Com mittee would be disappointed, but it was partially renewed by the appointment of a Committee to in vestigate the Irish estates, which was perhaps better than going into the general measure. Mr. BROWNLOW presented a petition from the Miltsters of Lurgan, praying a reduction of Duty on Malt to the same extent as in Scotland. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved for heave to bring in a Bill to authorize the sale of the " City Cana.l" The Right Hon. Gen tleman said it was now an annual loss to the coun try of something more than 1,2001.; it originally cost. about 30 years since, 168,000/., and after try ing it all this time, acd finding it a losing concern, the House, perhaps, would not think, when he in formed it that an offer was made of 120,0004, that a very improvident bargain had been made. The Honourable Member for Montrose had, a few evenings since, recommended the sale of the Caledonian Canal, he (the Chancellor of the Ex chequer) could only say, if as good an offer was made he should have no hesitation in bringing in a Bill for that purpose, he likewise considered it would be beneficial to the trade of London. Mr. WARBURTON and Mr. HUME were cf opinion the property ought to be disposed of by public auction, it was impossible for any person to know the value of property in London. It might be a fair price, but as Hudibras said, " What was the worth of any , thing, but just as much as that will bring."—(Laughter.) Mr. HERRIES thought that the offer made by the Wes. India Company, for this property, an advantageous one to the public. M. P. THOMPSON was of opinion it would be a great injury to•the trade of London if this Canal was to pass into the hands of the West India Dock Coat pally. Mr. hurtNGand Mr. MABERLY made a few ob servations. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied, after which leave was given, and the Bill was brought in and read a first time. ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE. Mr. Secretary PEEL moved that the House at its rising adjourn till Tuesday, the 28th instant. The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, amd the House adjourned at Half-past Six. The present Archbishop of _CANTERBURY has a taste exceedingly advantageous to his successors after having made the Palace of the See of London at Fulham a perfect paradise, .his Grace is about to expend large bums on his present residences at Lambeth and Ad dington. MOZART, though a good Catholic, always smiled when he was commissioned to compose the music fur a Mass, and protested that he was only fit to write operas, but, being offered Louis d'ors for every Mass, be could not resist, and observed, with a sarcastic grin, that w hatever might be good i n hi s M asses, h e s h on i t l afterwards k no w bow.to pirate and t rans f er to hi s operas.' • SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. STEEPLE CHASE. On Tuesday an immense number of sportsmen as sembled at Kibworth, in expectation of seeing the much talked of steeple chase for 1000 soya. between Captain Ross's celebrated horse, ('linker, and Mr. Osbaldtstun's Clasher. They were, however, sadly disappointed, on coming to the ground, to find that Mr. 0.-baldeston had been obliged to pay forfeit, on account of his horse having broke down. These two gentlemen, however, like true sportsmen, determined to show son; fun to their friends, many of whom had come long distances; and they knock ed up a match for a small sum, (00/. we believe,) between two of their horses, but of inferior chat acter to either Clinker or Clasher. Robertson Clump was fixed on as the starting post, and Carlton Clump the winning post. It starting Mr. Osbaldeston took a line to the left, in order to avoid a large bullock fence which was in the di rect line, and which the Captain gallant) , charged, hut failed in clearing, his horse being literally Ile'd as fast and tight, as if in a vice, between the hedge, and strong post and rails. Much time was lost before he could force through this barrier, and Mr. Osbahlestoit got near a quarter of a mile. a-hei.d. In leaping into the Kibworth road Mr. Osbaldeston's horse fill, and at this moment the hopes and fears of the spectators were strongly excited, es the Captain was seen coming up with rapid stride, whilst Mr. Oshaldeston was struggling with his horse on the ground : he, however, was mounted, and off before his an tagonist reached him. On pa.sing Shankton hilt the Captain had got within a hundred yards of him, and was gradually gaining ground, when in clearing a great double fence his horse fell into the second ditch, and after one or two ineffectual struggles to get out, he got cast on his back in the bottom of the ditch, and could not be extri- cated for an hour. Mr. Osbaldeston, finding that his an tagonist was floored, went on at a steady pace, and of com se won easy. Mr. tibaldeston did a good day's work, having ridden from his house at Pitsford to Northampton in the morning, rode two matches over the race-course, (both of which he won,) and then came on to Kibworth to ride the steeple chase. OLD BAILEY, APRIL 15. Chharlotte Inman, a decent-looking young ,woman and John M‘Feyden, a mean-looking elderly man described in the calendar as "a surgeon," were in dieted for the murder of sarah Ewiu, by adminis tering to her certain drugs, for the purpose of pro_ curing abortion. The details of this case are not li t for publication. John Ward, a journeyman saddler, in the employ of a master, of Ryder-street, St. James's (in whose service the deceased also lived), knew the deceased. In March last knew the deceased was with child by him. About a week previous to her death he ac co:npanied her to a house in Peter -street, Westmin ster, where he saw the prisoner, Charlotte Inman. Saw the prisoner, APFeyden, on the Wednesday before the deceased died, go out of his master's house in Ryder-stree. The business carried on at the house in Peter-street was the selling of medicinal herbs. Cross-exantined by Mr. ALLEY—The deceased was a very resolute girl ; more likely to control others than be controlled herself. Elizabeth Ewin, servant to a Mr. Tremaine, a milliner.—The deceased was her sister. She was 32 years of age, and of a very obstinate temper. Knew that the deceased was with child. Was sent for by the deceased on the 23d of March, and slept with - her that night. She complained of being in great pain, and in the morning sent witness to Peter street, fur Mrs. Inman. Informed Mrs. Inman of her sister's pain, and she said she would attend her soon with something that should do her good. In the afternoon, Mrs. Inman and M`Feyden came to her sister. Her sister was in bed. Witness was in the room, sitting at the table.—(The witness then described circumstances which led her to believe he had performed some operation upon her sister.) — The female prisoner produced a half-pint stone bottle, containing a mixture, of which she ordered the de ceased to take a wine-glass, half full, every three quarters of an hour. She took it as directed, and when that was gone Mrs. Inman supplied her with more. She continued to get worse until the Fri day, when she became so bad that Witness deter mined to get her sister some other advice. That day, however, Mrs. Inman called, and, finding the deceased lying insensible, Ethe - declared that it was nothing but a '6 vile sleep," and said that she was well enough to be removed to her (Mrs. In man's) house. At twelve o'clock at night, witness, assisted by two other young women, endeavoured to carry the deceased from her bed to a coach, for the purpose of removing her to Mrs. Inman's; but the was so ill they were obliged to lay her in bed again. Witness then sent for Dr. Healey. Her sister died that night. On cross-examination, this witness stated that, after the operation had been performed by M‘Fey den, the deceased said she thought she felt relieved. Mr. Lawrence Healey, a surgeon, residing in St. James's-street, deposed that he attended the sum mons of the last witness, and found the deceased in a state of stupor, and with a pulse hardly percep tible. He took twelve ounces of blood from her, which appeared to tevive her for a short time ; but she soon after expired. The witness made a post mortem examination of the deceased, from which he drew up a report of the case presented to the in quest. In that report he declared it to he his opi nion that the deceased had died of injuries produced by the improper use of some instrument, and of the herbs savine, henbane, rue, &c., which he was of opinion had been administered with a view to pro cure abortion. . Upon cross-examination, however, the witness stated that, since he had drawn up the report in question,•he had taken weal pains to inform himself on the subject to which it related, and the result of his inquiry was an opinion that the injuries to the person of the deceased were natural, and not pro duced by artificial means, and also that the mixture of henbane and the other herbs, taken in the quan tities described by Elizabeth Ewin, were not suffi cient to occasion death. Dr. Paris, and other medical men, who had ex amined a preparation of the parts which were sup posed to have sustained the injury, gave their evi dence to the same effect. Mr. Justice LITTLEDALE summed up. He said it was important the public should know the law on this subject. It was ofno consequence that no fatal results followed the administering of drugs for the purpose of procuring abortion—it was suffi cient that the administering with intent be proved to make the offence capital. In this case it did not appear that the evidence was sufficient to prove this. However, it was for the Jury to determine. _ _ The Jury, without hesitation, acquitted the pri soners. ACCIDENT ON THE THAMES-SEVEN LIVES LOST. Yesterday morning, shortly after six o'clock, the neighbourhoods of Mill-wall and Limehouse•reach were thrown into considerable excitement by a rumour which prevailed that several persons had been drowned. On inquiring into the reality of the report, it was found to be but too well grounded, no less than seven unfortunate men having perished, all having wives and families. The circumstances of the distressing catastrophe are these :—At an early hour yesterday, Robert Rus sell, waterman, Dog and Duck Stairs; Richard Llewellin, claker, Deptford; Thomas Jones, lam per, ditto; Thomas Gray, shipwright, ditto; Robert Lloyd, same trade, and residing at the same place; Thomas Adams and John Louis sail-makers, at Deptford, embarked at the Dog and Duck stairs, Rotherhithe, in a skin: About the hour above-men tioned, owing to the violence of the gale, a heavy swell occurred in Limehouse Reach, which rendered it extremely dangerous for any small boat to venture on the river, Russell, Iyho was plying at the Dog and Duck Stairs, was solicited by the men above mentioned to row them mid two other men, parried Baptist and Wickam, across the Reach to a foreign vessel called the Atalante, lying outside Limehouse Point, on board of which they were engaged to work ' by Mr. Cardnor, shipwright. Having taken their seats in the boat, Russell rowed This year. Bags, &c, Liverpcol 221,21.9 London 10,W2 Glasgow /,1,10 Total exported in 182 Same pet iod 1823 Same pe ticidlast year. &g 6, kc.. 159,157 Bags, Ric. 976 , 15,54-0 2,7iKt PO" .110 ......"71t MOSSO • 8, 21,434. 1d„097. On the 27th October, at Neemuch, the lady BIRTH. n3nt Charles J. Lewe., of th e H on . Eist India Compaq 4 service, Deputy Assistant-Commi ssa ry-General, of • go' MA RRIED. maoh On the 1.511 inst., at Finehley, by the Rev , WorAvy, Mr. P. G. Howlett, Thayer-street, to Heti' eldest dlughter of J. Frost, Esq., Finchley. On the 15th inst., at Beckenham, Kent, by the Wl' .T. Fenn, Jo'eph Adams, Esq., Wareham, Dorsetsb ir6 Christiana, tomtit daughter of Benjamin Oakley, E s q" of Liefite- Eden Lodge. of On the 9th inst., At Edinburgh, J. P. Raul, DI!! j Crow-hail, Suffolk, to Helen, second daughter of Su . ' •., . • Colquhoun, Bart., of Luss. On the 4th inst., at Altona, Mr. T. H. Ehneohorsv - .44 r• America-square, to Constance, youngest daughter _f I Heyne, E'q., of the limper plaee. • DIED. • On the 10th inst., at his house in New Bond..stree." buildings, Bath, after a short but severe illness, Mr. W. P" Thoma 4, general News Agent. . - the 12th inst., in her 12tk year, p ane - On Y babell4 daughter of Sir John Wrottc-sley, Bait. On the 14th inst., Mr. J. W. Braaseb, aged 49. On the 15th inst, after a few days' illness, Emily ,A cne, :: second (laughter of Frederick Hewitt, Esq., Gl i P aa ' aged three years. On the 14th inst., Margaret, the wife of W. Wrig ht ' E , q., Capliam. On the 11th inst., Mrs. Mary Smith, widow of the lite Mr. T. Smith, formerly proprietor of the St. Paul's, w tit th-cotoninn. Oa the 12th inst., at Mattock, Somerset, Mrs. widow of the late Mr. W. Elli o tt, o f th a t pl ace . On the 14th inAt., aged 20, M argare t, e ld e st daugh ter of J. Roberson, Esq., Walcot-pl a c e , Lambeth. EAST INDIA. BIRTHS. We' At Ghszeepere, Nuv. 7, the lady of M. J. Lerilare of a son. At Ciwnpore, Nov. 8, the lady of H. S. Oldfield, of a son. Jef' At Matoorgha, Oct. 21, the lady of the Rev. S. frees, of a s.n. At Vizagapatam, Oct. 20, the lady of Capt. J . dagh, of a daughter. At Calcutta, Oct. 29, the lady of Capt. Ousel'', ,r femur of Persian and Arabic in the College of Fort Liam, of a son. At H' Ott. 20, the 1--' -ek, NV° )1 . Cal igna, Major, of a ~on. Or a At Dacca, Oct. 23, the lady of J. Drew, Esq. Service, of a son. At Benareo, Nov. 1, the lady of Lient.-Col. War ell ' of a son. At Hyderabad, Oct. 16, the lady of Capt. I. 0111 bell, of a daughter. At Calcutta, Nov. 9, Mrs. D. George, of a danghteS, At Dinapore, Oct. 25, the lady of Capt. € o 'Dolle. l t daughter. s o f At Gorruckpore, Oct. 18, the lady of Dr. Stilliraal a eon. -.oaf ...---- a PAINTED and PUBLlStilin by AIWIDO Y9UNOr-P lbs . „ 1 1 2, STR+NAIt 40n1Q74-.);.,- to nearly the centre of the river, the stream and t flowing rapidly, and a strong wind blowing aga id it, a heavy surf arose. This the skiff, which taw,, pewit-l Ely of the passengers was heavily laden 07 iron work, was unable to resist, and, upsetting, V cipitated the entire crew, sine in number, into water. Baptist. and Wickam at once got deo away. Jones, who was a good swimmer,,also effi deavoured to swim to war d s s h ore , b u t GraY al Lloyd clung to him, an d they s un k t oge ther. Ru g sell was heard to ex c l a i m , " D on ' t di n g to eI J other, or we shall nil be drowned I" He then crie! for help, but before it ar r i ve d h e sun k. Llew ello swam a short distance towards the Alalante, cAIIiDB for help, but he suddenly sunk as if cramped. „, The accident occurring i n s i g ht o f sev eral yeas", they, with a praiseworthy h uman i t y, l o wered th e " bmits, and hastened to the assistance of the sdre ret6. Their exertions, however, we regret, to say, ° wil l to tl:e heaviness of the swell, an d th e unfortuna t men being encumbered with their heavy working clothes, were but pa r ti a lly success f u l, two o nly b eing saved. The preservation of one o f th ese , Wickal is principally to b e att r ib u t e d t o t h e ga ll a ntry of Spaniard, who perceivin g th at hi s streng th vvas rapidly failing, us to render it lik e ly t h at h e could nu' keep afloat until th e b oa t reac h e d hi m , l ea ped over . board, and rescued him f rom a wa t ery grave . Tbroughout the day, boats w ith d rags were tl f vrrsing the river, but up t o f our o ' c l oc k on ly o n e a the bodies, that of Gray, was recovered. ~,, adds to the distressing c a t as t ro ph e i s , as WC been informed, that a ll th e un f ortunate menhir left wives and famili e s t o d e pl ore t h e i r loss. THE MARKETS. COAL IMAM Adair's 295. 6,1. I/can's Primrose 25 0 tlebl,tirn Main --- 29 6 28 0 Killingworth 23 9 Liddell's Main.-- . 25 3 Ord's Iledlaigli 24 6 Pelaw 27 0 I 'o t top Windsor 25 6 I'ercy Main Sit ipcote. 26 0 Tanfield Lea 28 0 28 0 NVillit.gtott 28 9 Walls End Bell and Co. 29 3 Ditto Brown's * . 29 6 Ditto Carr and 26 6 Ditto Clarke and C 0... 27 0 Ditto Dilda 27 0 Ditto llotsr ur--. 27 6 1 Ditto Not thumberland 28 3 _Ships at market, 6284—Sk CET.—April 15. Walls Amid Newrnarch.. • a Ditto Perkins and Co 81 30 6 Ditto ~, Ditto \Calker 0 Nesham a 5 Walls Mid Walls End L am bton.,... - Walls End Ly0n5....... 30 g Wallet End Xtewart's I-tar tley Stone Coal Drint $1 Siltstone Field and Co. 28 u n Fiery Vein Wardc's Llanelly 35 Tan field SO Londonderry 17 9 P Hetton small 17 Elliston small a Westoz small 1 t ipa sok]. UN-Unfold. IS. N MARKETS DURING TM , : WEF; COUNTRY CO R I Wheat. Barley. Oats. Iteat, --- -- 7 - 0. Per Quarter. s to a. a. to s. a. to a. '' 431 Abingdon,,....—. 57 81 29 58 21 35 "'4l Andover --........ 71 36 24 -"" 46 Birmingham—...... 72 S 2 32 36 24 36 Ilridport ---. 56 74 32 39 26 31 •"- .., Cirencester —. 69 86 31 ""' 46 Faringdon.---- 51 86 36 40 26 38 ''''" 44 Guildtord —,...... 13 71 32 37 24 34 " 4$ lienley--,-...... 55 87 31 40 19 30 •-•• . 0 Hereford --- 61 84 39 45 36 40 .-- 0 High worth -- 62 80 32 42 28 34 -- 41 Maidenhead 55 88 23 38 21 32 -- 46 Oaki ngli am -- —. 55 .76 30 36 18 32 49 Reading —.........—. 60 DO 30 38 22 31 -^' . .36 Sal i 5bury,—.............. 80 85 31 41 24 34 •-' o_, Southampton —. 51 73 37 40 28 32 40 Stroud ........---. 66 80 31 38 22 12 'Fe w kesbi my 63 87 40 42 30 38 " 4 1 Uxbridge -- 55 81 33 38 20 32 "" 44 Wan tag e -----.. 57 81 28 37 19 31 ""' 50 Warminster --- 52 80 720 43 24 36 ""'. 59 ‘Vindsor--..—.. 60 76 32 39 23 .30 . ""' .58 'orceste r.--.. 80 69 36 41 27 30 -•"__,.....--"" Cll ELTEN /1 A M MARKET.—ApriI 14. to d. Per Bushel. s. d. to s. d. P et lb. d. g Wheat Barley Oats Bean, 4 0 5 0 Land, v ni Pease 5 0 8 0 York B ' I flay 34 105. to 31. 15s. per tot±____;_,.% LEWES MARKET.—ApriI 14. 0 6 White Wheat (per quarter) £3 li 0 to £4 , 0 Red ditto 3 8 0 9 ' 1 ". 0 Barley Oats, New 1 3 6 1 5 . 0 0 Pease I 18 Oil Cake, New l4 0 0 per 41_1.1.54" HULL MARKET.—ApriI 14. The Corn trade during the past week has b e en in a most and inanimate state, and scarcely any business transactio ns ing. To-day the farmers bro u ght a f a ir supply Wheat. "1... qt .lifa. met an exceedingly heavy s a le, a t a re duction a Is. per qns.,...___ from last week's prices., In foreign Wheat, either Old or 1447_ the business doing is so trifli ng , t h at. pr i ces may be noted ng% nally the same as last week. We have very little desait t a4 Oats or Beans, and . pri ces are w i t h out a l terat i on . Them season is now drawing to a close, and the best run s 01'10 11 w/of ( n i o or in L q i u n i seed. ry whatever atever after olhe . _ ff r o "' ° "" 77o 7 ; submit tedprices o r to. exceedingly difficult to quit, even if a reduction in,Pri_, c . 6- 4p. o . either lB ß 'e ap h e it s v ee e tions, and prices nominal. No alteration can be - nel t `"' '-' • Wheat, 0111 ....... 665. 725. —s; ....'.Wevi . ..... .- -8 . ~,e, Foreign —s. 70s. 735. ln bond... -4. - -4 h. g c,i Oats, Poland —s. 20s. 245. Old --4 . -4 :„ . gfh ""'" Small or Feed.... —s. 12s. 18s. Foreign —s. 245. 265. ......... --5.... 4 * n m, Barley, Norf. & Suf ....-.s 214. 325. Line. & Wold ...4. Stefl 3 7,. Foreign -4. So: sae. Beans 345. 3.15. 33e. Foreign ......... --s• •"'" $4O. s 2B ' . Pease, White —s. 40s. 425. Grey - -6 . :...a. s 4 a; 39 ' NV. Taros —s. 365. 3rls. Foreign ..a. s l '' • Rapeseed, in bond none. Free, per last . • COTTON WOOL. LIST OF IMPORTS AND TrxrolTs. EirosOP• 134 PORTED.