The Sun. — London, England, 1834-03-20 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. In the various attempts which have hitherto been made to amend the law of libel, or rather to establish a law where nothing like the preci sion of law has previously existed, the unsuc cessful reformer has proceeded on the dictates of his own judgment, or the results of his own reasoning, without calling in the aid or shelter ing himself under the responsibility of a Parlia mentary committee. It was generally supposed that not requiring that knowledge of detail which the examination of witnesses could supply, and depending only upon facts which were notorious to all the world, an improvement of the libel law might be the matured fruit of individual inquiry, knowledge, and reflection. In' such a case a committee was not imagined to be a neces sary preliMinary to a wise or judicious legislation while, forming a kind of de bating club, it might rather retard than forward the object in view. In ord:,-„ ary instances we would allow that till-, reason . ing would be correct ; but the great number of failures which have taken place in endeavours to amend the law of the s press would seem to render zidvisable some change in the mode of procedure. The Solicitor. General appears to us, therefore, to have acted judiciously in taking the assistance of some able lawyers and libel-law reformers in the house, to give their sanction to his scheme, or to afford it the benefit of diets correction be fore its introduction. We are confirssad in this idea by considering that there are at present before the house two or three bills, one by Sir , F. Vincent, and one by Mr. O'Connell., with ..he same object ; and we scarcely see how the 'new Solicitor-General could have introduced another to supersede the former, without apply ing for some previous sanction which they do not possess. That sanction will be found in the report of a committee, which will, no doubt, em body the chief clauses of the bill to which the learned gentleman alludes as already in a s t a t e o f lorward preparation. It scarcely required any ingenuity to expose the present anomalous state of the libel law, though that exposure demanded the sacrifice of prejudices which few lawyers have hitherto been willing to make. Its mis eiievous tendency or absurd contradictions, as administered in the different forms of actions Tor damages, where the truth can be pleaded in justification,—or in consequence of ex-eicio informations and criminal indictments, where, as it may happen, "the greater the truth the greater the libel,"—its vagueness and uncer tainty, which often make the character of the verdict depend upon the direction of the presid ing judge, or the submissive temper of the jury, without due reference to the real merits of the case—and the facility with which it can be con verted into an instrument of oppression to gratify the caprice, vindictiveness, or cu pidity of individuals, where there was no reasonable ground for invoking its rigour or calling for its protection, have all been denounced without the walls of Parliament, and - acknowledged within it, for a century, yet no law officer of the Crown has before in his official character proposed a remedy. We therefore hail the proceeding of the present Solicitor-General as a certain omen of success, backed as he must be by a committee of the House of Commons, and by the general, we might almost say, the unanimous opinion of the country. We shall not at present enter upon the details of those changes, which common sense, common justice, and the analogies of all other legislative enact ments, require in the libel law, some of which were judiciously touched upon by the Solicitor- General. He admitted (as, indeed, how could he refrain from admitting ?) that printers and venders of papers which may be adjudged to he libellous ought not to be sued ter prosecuted on the mere presumption of ma :lice, where no malice can possibly be established or even supposed. Had the improvement of the law which this admission contemplates, therefore, been earlier introduced, the late bucaniering adventure of a notorious solicitor against news venders must have been arrested in its origin, and have produced neither the fruits of plunder nor the costs of the piratical equipment. The learned judge before whom the cases were tried might indeed, even in the present state of the law, have stripped the plaintiff of his anticipated spoils by certifying the frivolity of the action, when the jury, by giving nominal damages, testified that no darnaE,Te of character was sus tained through the malice of the defendants ; but it is one of the anomalies of the existing prat • thee, that though such a verdict was essentially one of acquittal, the award of costs became a real penalty 'upon innocence, and a temptin g premium to oppression or cupidity. Hence forward, however, when a jury gives farthing damages—if such cases shall ever occur under an unproved system—the judge must be en joined to refuse costs, and thus put an end to those monstrous actions in which the ruin or the injury of the defendant is effected more to obtain the amount of the attorney's bill than indemnity for the plaintiff's character. If a malicious libel has actually been perpetrated, the real offender must first be sought for in the person of the author or his publisher (the latter of whom may be supposed, unless the contrary can be proved, to be identified in evil intention with the termer), but neither the responsibility nor the punishment should extend beyond them to agents who distribute the libellous matter unconsciously as a part of their business. If the original parties really guilty cannot be found, and have employed inferior instruments to ex ecute purposes from which they themselves shrink with alarm, then the evil might be arrested by establishing proof of malice against the latter ; but malice in such a case should not, as lately, be presumed against them, from their mere distribution of an alleged malicious publication. It is perfectly true, as stated by the Solicitor-General, and previously admitted by all libel law reformers, that though the truth of facts alleged to be libellous should be allowed to be given in evi dence on trials for libel, yet that malice may be established where truth has not been violated. In such cases the libeller should not be allowed to escape with impunity under the shelter of his veracity, though it may be difficult to adjust the kind and degree of punishment due to his offence ; but in all others, where malice cannot be proved, or where a laudable motive may be proved or presumed, truth should be a justifica tion. Nor ought that justification to be made to rest on the pr oo f o f t h e narrow , tec h n i ca l , minute, special pleading particularities which are now exacted, but on the sincere conviction of the jury that all has been p rove d w hi c h t h e plaintiff meant to insinuate, or which can affect the real merits of his statement. We say this from remembering that an action was brought against this journal several years ago for only copying from a provincial paper a paragraph, stating that a clergyman had been guilty of brawling in the pulpit. We, at great trouble and expense, pro cured evidence from witnesses belonging to his own congregation, that he had brawled in church on the particular occasion in question, but that it was from the reading desk, and not from the pulpit ; and under the direction of the learned Judge, bur justification was pronounced by the jury incomplete Such an example shows that the limits of the jury's province require further enlargement, and that to be of any use in actions for libel, their judgment must he re leased from the dictation of the bench. In the case of Dicas, where they gave nominal damages, it is a thousand to one that they would have given a verdict for the defendant, except for the ' direction which the learned judge thought it his duty to deliver. It is alleged by those who arc desirous to involve as much game as possible in the meshes of the libel law, that they mu s t c at c h copy i sts , pr i nters , dist;ibutors, and news-renders, because the real authas of the libel might otherwise escape them, anti employ these men of straw to propagate their malicious mischief. No argument more invalid could be built on a statement more un grounded. If m en of straw are more employed than they ought to be, it is because the state of our libel law affords no protection to integrity, and no security against injustice; but though the real authors of the publication cannot be found, it is surely enough to proceed against those employed in distributing it, against whom malice may be presumed or proved. We have left ourselves no space to notice the re marks of the Solicitor-General respecting ex officio ii formations, or to observe on several etll,:r topics of his liberal speech, but we should be bel, i:• 7 our conviction if we did not take this opportunity of stating that we expect a great amendment of the law from the labours of his committee.-- Times. Scepticism, and the many evils to which it gives birth, have pec l i ips never .been , convincingly exemplifiwd as in " The ilistory of Eue tact', Conway, the Man of Enthu-iasm," in the new novel under that name, wherein sophistry, however specious and dangerous, is refuted with the triumphant eloquence which distin guished its prtdecessor, " Tremaine." the l'o!y of infi delity is nut the only error against which this udi::irable writer directs the force of his genius; but lie lashes •!sti vices of modern life in a tone of equal severity. story is throughout one of great originality. DREADFUL CASE OF SUlClDE.—Tuesday artrrnoon an inquest was held at the Prince Regent pub lic-house, Arthur-street, Sr. Luke's, before Mr. }hirer, Coroner, on the body of Thomei Drew, a coach-trimmer, aged thirty-seven years, who committed suicide by shoot ing himse:f with a farce military horse pistol. It appeared in t vidence that the deceased had formerly been in the employ of Mr. IVhitbourn, coach-manufacturer, in Gus welLetrer t, but for the last eighteen months had not been n any regular employ, owing to his having refus,d to join the Tia•les' Union. He was prevented from obtaining employment in conseqeence of his not having joined the Union, and was driven to great distress. On Saturday last the deceased's landlady heard the report of a pistol, but, supposing it to be some one shooting at the pigeons at the back of the house, she took no notice of it. In the af - ernoon, howdver, a friend of the deceased's called upon him, but, receiving no answer when he knocked at the door of his room, a young man named Crumbleholme, employed at Mr. Whithourn's, was sent for, who broke open the door, and fund the deceased undressed and in bed, with his bead blown off. The jury returned a ver dict, " That the deceased committed suicide while in a state of insanity." EXTRAORDINARY MURDER IN GER MANY.--A trial took place very recently in Hesse Cassel, which excited a very strong sensation throughout the whole continent. Two young travellers, in the course of a tour into one of the provinces in Hesse, visited a bene dictine monastery, situated on a high mountain, which, from the beauty of the scenery, had been much frequented by tourists. In returning down from the convent the strangers saw under a beech-tree a dead man, with a cord doubled round his neck, and they instantly ran end gave information to the monks. The prior despatched a messenger to the proper officers, who hastened to the spot. Upon an examination of the body they found it was that of a distinguished nobleman, Count Uregg, who lived in the neighbourhood, and whose ancient castle could be seen from the monastery. The question was how he met his death, and es the circumstances justified the suspicion that he lest his life by violent means, the officers instituted an immediate inquiry. An inquest was held, and the jury brought in a verdict of " murder." The late• officers were immediately charged with the duty of making a complete investigation of the c rue, and, if possible, to find out the parties to whom the crime was to be attributed. They devoted a considerable time to the inquiry, and at last succeeded i❑ obtaining a full explanation of the way in which the merder was committed, of the motives which led to it, and also the perpetrators. Count Uregg lived in his castle in splendour and happiness. About the period when he attained his 15th year there came into the neighbourhood to live a military gentleman and his family. The name of the stranger was Conrad Essor, and, having the habits of a gentleman, he became acquainted with the Count, and was hospitably received by him. An intimacy sprang up between the Count and Essor's family, and the result was that the former offered his hand to Miss Essor, then a beautiful girl. The Count was so determined on the marriage that he was ready to secure the young lady for his wife on any terms, and agreed net only to provide an ample fund for his wife, in case of his death, but to support the parents in his cast'e, or, if they disagreed, that he should give them an ample al lowance for supporting them suitably. For some time they lived happily together, but about two years after the marriage, the villagers began to remark that a very rieb landlord, who resided a short distance from the castle, and whose name was Antoine Osterfeld, came every Sunday to see M. Essor. The real truth was, that Oster:eld paid clandestine attentions to the Countess, and he was encouraged by the parents, and particularly Mrs. Essor, in his immoral project. Such was the nature of the evidence obtained by the officers in their early inquiries; and having ascertained this, they thought it essential at once to proceed to the castle, and make inquiries. They examined the Countess. The Count had left his castle some months before for a short time, had charged his wife with criminality, and imputed to both her father and mother a privity of her guilt. He, moreover, obtained a legal prohibition for preventing Osterfeld from visiting his residence. The mother of the Countess was examined, as were also her father and the servants, and the nature of the evidence was such as to authorise the officers to place them in custody, on the accusation of being accessaries to the murder. Whilst in prison a young woman who happened to be a prisoner also, in an adjoining apartment to that where the Countess and Osterfeld were placed, overheard their conversation, and communicated the substance of it to the officers. A great variety of witnesses spoke to the utterance of various expressions on the part of the Countess, her mother, and Elsor, which con firmed the suspicion that they bad had a hand in the mur der. The Countess was therefore submitted to a fresh examination, when the President of the Court conducted the interrogatories. The acuteness and address which he displayed were too much for her, and she confessed that Osterfeld had told her be murdered her husband, with the assistance of her father and mother ; but, in the most solemn manner she declared that she was con vinced that neither of her parents had any thing to do with the crime. At this juncture, Osterfeld was brought in and confronted with the Countess. He first attempted to make a denial, but he at length con fessed that he and Essor, with Essor's wife, were all par ties. Osterfeld proposed a mild way of getting rid of the Count, but Essor would not listen to this, and said he had injuries of his own to avenge. He then stated that he was the person who dragged the Count from his horse, assisted by Mrs. Essor, and when be was down he held his mouth while Essor perpetrated the murder ! The death of the unfortunate victim was rffected in a manner which showed great anatomical skill. Essor put the cord about the victim's neck. The whole were found guilty. Essor died in prison before the final trial. The other prisoners were sentenced as follows:—Osterfeld, imprisonment for life, but in the meantime he is at liberty to prove he was not the principal. Julia Essor, the mother-in-law of the victim, four years of herd labour, after which she must give security that she will be forthcoming whenever required. Amelia Uregg, three years and a similar penalty. The three prisoners were further obliged to pay the whole expenses of the prosecution. POST-OFFICE. AN ACCOUNT OF THE PRINCIPAL IMPROVEMENTS WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE El ORDER or THE PONTNIASTER-GENFRAL DiJRINd THE LAST THREE YEARS The eonsolidition of the Post-offices of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the abolition of the se parate appoiaments at the head of the two latter departments. A new establishment for the General Post-office in London, and consolidation of the departments of account, with a diminution of 17 officers, an imme diate saving of 5,258/. per annum, and a further prospective reduction of 1,1901. A new establishment for the General Post-office, Edinburgh. A new establishment for the General Post-office in Dublin, with a diminution of about fifty officers, and a saving of between 5,000/. and 6,0001. per annum. A daily post with France. Negotiation with Belgium for a post four times, instead of twice, a week, with Ostend, thus doubling the number of communications with Belgium and other parts of the continent, the correspondence of which is forwarded by that route. This measure only awaits the formal approval of the Belgian Government. The communication with Hamburg and Holland established by steam-vessels instead of sailing packets (I). The correspondence with France passing by cross post accelerated 24 hours. The general-post delivery in London extended to a circle of three miles from the General Post office, The tw•o-penny post extended to a circle of 12 miles from the General Post-affice. The delivery of letters throughout London greatly accelerated, so that in former cases it should be finished by ten o'clock i❑ the morning, Mondays excepted (2). The foreign mails delivered with the inland let ters some hcurs earlier than before (3). The more expeditions distribution of letters by foreign mails arriving after the general delivery (4). The extension of time for the receipt of letters to be forwarded by the foreign mails—they are now taken in every evening as late as those for the United Kingdom. An earlier delivery of letters throughout the country districts of the twopenny post, and an ad ditional delivery and collection every day at nearly every place round London. . The Geueud-post delivery at Edinburgh ex tended, and the i):,sts in the neighbourhood much improved. Fourtecti pczt-town: r , stablished in addition to thirty-three which had been established since the occupation of the ett.lr7ed General Pos!-otliel in St. Martin's-le-Grand. The mail-coaches throughout the kingdcm have' been generally aceolerated, especially those to and from Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, the principal commercial districts, and the main lines of cross-roads. It is to be observed that when a post is improved, it is not the points of arrival and de parture only that are affected, but the inhabitants of every intermediate place on the whole route derive the advt.ntage of an earlier receipt of their corres pondence, and a longer interval for answers, and that the improvement extends to the branches from the main lines. Twelve new mail-coaches established; amongst others, one direct between Bristol and Liverpool, and many extended arid improved. Thirty-four new horse-posts established, and nu merous others accelerated, connecting main lines of communication, and enabling places wide of such main lines to answer letters earlier, and in many cases by return of post. One hundred and twenty-eight local posts esta blished, affording accommodation to many hundred villages and places in the neighbourhood and inter mediate of post-towns, where there had not previ ously been any'official and responsible arrangement. Additional clerks and letter-carriers appointed at many post-towns for the acceleration of the delivery of the correspondence within those towns and in the neighbourhood. An increase to the number of re ceiving-hou,es for lettersat many towns where the ex tension of buildings has called for it, and additional communications to those already existing between neighbouring towns of importance. Improvements of this description are so numerous, arid so con stantly in progress, that any attempt at minute de tail would be tedious and unnecessary. The abolition of the fee or gratuity on the de livery of letters within post-towns ; this is already nearly accomplished at every town in the kingdom, and will be completed as soon as the necessary ar rangements for a free delivery can be made at the very few post-towns where a fee is yet charged. A new and improved arrangement of the ship letter duty at Liverpool (5), for the better and more expelitious despatch and receipt of letters conveyed by merchant-vessels between that port and places beyond seas. A new arrangement of the mail-boat service in the West Indies, for the more efficient performance of the duty, at a considerable saving of expense to the public. The regulation of post-office agencies at home and abroad as vacancies occur, attended with a consi derable reduction of expense (6). The post and post-office regulations in the Bri tish North American provinces in a course of re vision. The main line of communication with Ireland by Holyhead and Dublin has been essentially improved. The mail that leaves London at 8 o'clock at night reaches Dublin, under ordinary circumstances of weather, between 7 and 8 on the second morning (7); and arrangements have been made (to con, mence from the Ist of next month), by which letters from Dublin for London will be taken in at the General Post-office as late as those for the inte rior, affording to the Irish Government and the public of the metropolis of Ireland two hours more time for their correspondence with this country, in addition to a previous extension of one hour. The communication by the Milford line has also been improved, affecting the correspondence with Waterford, Cork, and much of the south-west of Ireland. The power of the machinery of the packets in creased at Holyhead and most of the other stations. The mail-coaches materiallly accelerated, espe- (1) It was necessary to dispense with nine established sailing packets at Harwich ; by the appointment of some of the captains to other stations, as vacancies have oc curred, three officers only are now on the retired list. Two of these, from age, must have been superannuated shortly, and the third only awaits the first vacancy to he again brought into active service. (2) The despatch of the letter-carriers from the Gene ral Post-office must vary according to the arrival of the mail-coaches, and the quantity of letters, foreign mails, ship letters, &c. Some of the mail-coaches do not arrive until seven o'clock and after, and a considerable time is required for the assortment of the letters and adjustment of the accounts before the delivery can commence. The average number of letters arriving in London on ordinary mornings may be taken at 43,000 ; on Mondays 10,000 more. (3) The foreign delivery did not commence until 10 a.m. (4) These letters were distributed by the twopenny post, and only at fixed hours, corresponding with the de liveries of that department. They are now sent out as soon as they can be assorted and got ready. (5) Above 1,200 ship-letter mails are forwarded via Liverpool in the course of a year, and about 365,000 ship-letters are received annually at the Post-office of that port for the United Kingdom. (6) This bas already been carried into effect at Dover, Harwich, Jamaica, Brazil, Gibraltar, and Cuxhaven. The object is not merely to reduce the annual charge upon the revenue, but to relieve the expenditure of the department Hof dead weight in pensions. (7) 35 to 36 hours from London to Dublin ; 269 miles by land, and a sea-passage of 70 miles, including stoppages for official business, and other necessary purposes. cially those to and from Cork, Waterford, Belfast, and Derry ; and an improved description of car , riage introduced- as contracts expire. Nine new mail -coaches established. _ . Rogresstee regulation of the Irish mail-coach contracts ; which were formerly for such long pe riods as to retard the possibility of improvement on any particular line of road. Those yet unexpired will be placed upon the improved system as they fall in. . Forty-five new and direct post communications opened, and about 60 much improved. One hundred and eighty-seven local posts esta blished where there had not been any official aec.- modation before. The abolition of the system of subletting con tracts for posts, insuring the more punctual per formance of the service, at a considerable reduction of expense to the public. The abolition of the fee or gratuity on the deli very of letters within post-towns, retofore general throughout Ireland. An official delivery has al ready been provided at many principal commercial towns, and will be extended as soon as the neces sary arrangements can be made. The delivery of letters in Dublin and its vicinity expedited, and additional offices established for the reception of letters. The circulation of letters in the south of Ireland revised, connected with the alteration of the mail coachcs, affording more or less advantage to the communications with Dublin and England. The circulation of letters in the north of Ireland revised and improved. General Post-office, Feb. 24. The Canterbury people do not seem remark tedy distinguished for their love of the drama. Miss Phillips, of Drury.lane, was to act one of her principal characters, within the last fortnight, when all the money taken at the doors was one shilling! On Thursday last as Mr. Philips's fox hounds were drawing the covers in the wood of Arundell Harris Arundell, Esq., the gamekeeper thought be observed a man concealed among the trees. On approaching the spot he discovered it to be the body of a man, with a silk handkerchief tied very tightly around the throat, by which the body was suspended from the bough of a tree, where it must have been banging some weeks, as a considerable potion of the face had bren picked off by the kilt's. The deceased was decently clothed, and had a blue apron bound round the waist, being similar to those generally worn by (girders ; and on searching his clothes a farthing, a currier's tool resem bling an awl, and some cold meat, were found in his pockets. Though every inquiry was made in the neigh- bourhood, no informa•ion contd he obtained as to who or what the deceased was. Judging from appearances the man seemed between 40 and 50 years of age. A Coroner's inquest was held on the fo lowing day, when the Jury were of opinion that the deceased had hung himself, but could come to no conclusion as to the state of mind in which he was at the time the act was coin mittaid.— Western Times. MR. CARNE'S LETTERS FROM SWITZER LAND AND ITALY. following are the heads of some of the very interes!ing contents in Mr. Carnes recently published Travels :—St , .te lig;on at Gent, nese Peasantry—The Jungtra. • Aletints;r —Village buried by an Avalanche— The Baths of Weissenburg—Swiss Beauty—Valley of Lauter hru,tnen—Caverns in the Glaciers—A Tragical Amour— The Swiss Clergy—Fills of the Reichenbach—Glacier of the Rhone—Swiss Love of Country—Lake of Brienz— City of Berne—Vevay—Clarens—Geneva—Mount St. Bernard, and Adventures of Travellers there—The Vin tage Season in Switz-rlind—Ferney--The Valais—Pas sage of the Simplon—Lake Maggiore—Turin--Field of the Battle of Marengo—Genoa—Lucca—Pisa—Leghorn —Rome, and its various Wonderg—Naples—Pompeii— Bo!ogna—Contrast between Switzerland and Italy—Swiss Solitudes—The Mu de Glace—View of Mont Blanc— Lucerne—Diet of the Stviss Cantons—Basle, &c. ATROCIOUS CASE.—A most diabolical out rage was committed on Tuesday last, near Saltash. L appears from such facts as we have been able to collect, that the object is a poor widow woman, upwards of 40 years cf age, residing in the parish of B itusflerning, and havin4 two children. The villain who has been guilty of the shameful and brutal offence is a young man named Rae, formerly of East Stonehowo.. about 18 years of age, of somewhat respectable cone, xions. On Tuesday night last, between 9 and 10 o'clock, the unfortunate woman, Grace Bremer, who lives in a small and lone tenement, was about to retire to bed, when she heard seine person knocking loudly at her door; on asking who was there, someone from without replied, " A boy." She then asked where he was going; he replied to Cargreen, but that be had missed his way. She responded that she could not torleeinr own d ni o lo or n , le a . nd T it o w ti a ) s is t i i i m e e a ti i i d at sh e e very bad on b e should ettero be peni a t : or be would break it in. In fear for her own safety and that of her children, she admitted the stranger , who said he was cold, hungry, and weary, that he had come from Devonport and Saltash, and begged for something to eat that though he had no money then to pay for it, be would call and pay the cost on the next ilay. The woman told him she was a lone and poor widow, and the only thing she could give him was some tea, which, after kindling the fire, she cheerfully provided. As soon as he had par taken of this he said he must sleep there the night. This he was told was impossible, but the public house was little more than a quarter of a mile on the road, and there he might have accommodation. He replied it was impossible for him to go so far that night, and he would sleep in a chair (pointing to a chair which stood in the kitchen) if she would not give him a bed. She then brought her own bed from up stairs and put it on the ft or, and left her unwelcome visiter to retire to rest. Half suspecting the character of her gue-it, she merely laid down by the side of the children without taking off her clothes. In about a quarter of an hour the man came into her room naked, and approaching to her bedside, took up one of the children, and threw it to the bottom of the bed, saving to the mother, with the most hideous oaths, pis tols here, and I'll blow your brains out if you say a word." si ‘ t iteu k r e ., e n e adn s t Il t dw i el attemptedtai t i k r , f l e o ' She, however, sprung off the bed, and attempted to reach the window, when the villain struck her a severe blow, and knocked her across the stead, from which she had i w H n teho himself reelef mouth, tuimpoens ah m ' avfimorenoeri nd e r ldsde s vhs i e rn e ' e nttnce y htt e kruee l: i l ann O c : O l gtl niayaoreii thanni ndrscheno exc l aim ed, before, h r rw e ei ,gaht ' cu s it.elsnir s isl etekhis:eesr throat haversraehut replied with gi esli edtu m ,hib e wma r vi c iitr y tohatl eezo u dona p rttr o hty n o: nqaelais caught ghrearspbyatohde hairrantow of the bead, and they both went down stairs. At this t time she was bleeding profusely, and when in the kitchen lrcohltius: davyvenenoiooFearc.udeul:t,B:hdart accommodation, eebat i mtG:T l i niv)hhui:oriaoeaitiodedttlrnaa handkerchief eo ; ernrs l :o hn h t hi a er v fe e a brace of he seized the fire.shovel, and beat her most unmercifully. She fell on her knees, beseeching her life, but all entreaty for some time appeared useless, until the villain relenting, said that he belonged to a gang, that if he didn't kill her be should be ki.led himself ; but if ate would nuke oath that nobody should know of the affair, he would save her life. To this she consented, and he administered an oath, the words of which she did not recollect, but ended with calling the Holy Ghost to witness. He further said, that he had passed the house with two or three others, a few n ights before, and but for him they would have come in and murdered her. The heartless fellow then coolly struck a light, and sent the woman into the court yard for some water, to wash the blood off their persons; with this she complied, and after lifting the handle of the pump twice, in order to deceive the villain, whom she had left in the house, she made off towards the public-house, to which she had directed Rae the previous night. Here she con trived, though faint with exertion and loss of blood, to make herself heard, and she was taken in, while two young men went to the house, to see for the children. On their arrival they found the villain had decamped, when they bid themselves in the shrubbery of Moditonham, near which he must pass if he went on the road towards the woman, who had escaped his murderous hands, and, as they expected, he shortly after came over the gate, and was seized by his pursuers.—Devonport Telegraph. AN INVALUABLE ACQUISITION.—To the traveller, whose avocations expose him to various changes of weather, Rowland's Calydor will prove an infallible specific in successfully opposing the baneful attacks of cold winds on the skin, and rendering the complexion soft and smooth, healing chapped skin, reducing all inflamtna tion, horns, erysipelas, &c. To gentlemen after shaving, it ameliorates and allays the smarting sensations, and renders the face peculiarly pleasant. Price 4s. 6d. an d B s . 6d. per bottle, duty included. Caution.—To prevent imposi tion and by authority of the Honourable Commissioners of Stamps, the name and address of the proprietors is en graved on the government stamp affixed on the cork of each genuine bottle. A. Rowland and son, 20, Hatton Garden. Sold by them and most respectable perfumers. DRURY-LANE THEATRICAL FUND DINNEn. Yesterday evening the seventeenth anniversary of this excellent institution was celebt.ited at the Freemasons' Hall—the Marquis of Clanricarde in the chair. We have seldom seen so nurnerousa company, upwards of three hundred being present: The Mat quis of Clanricarde was supported by lord Oungarvon, Lord Saltoun, Lord Sea grave, Alderman Birch, Captain Hamilton, Captain Mac donald, and several other Vice-Pre.idente. A great number of ladies were present ; all the galleries were filled, and several were provided with seats on the ground floor. After the cloth had been removed, and " Non noble, Domino,'' sung— The 1 4 .1arquis of CLANRIi - jARIIIC rote,, and proposed the health of " his Most Gracious Majesty." The king bad, with his customary munificence, transmitted to them a donation of 100 guineas.—(Much cheering.) Drunk with three tames three. " God save the Kin , '" was sung by the professional gentlem en present. " Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen" was the next toast. Drunk with three times three. " Long live the Queen," from the opera of Gustave, was sung, and re ceived great applause. " The rest of the Royal Family" was the next toast. The Noble CHAIRMAN, in proposing it, said that the Duchess of Kent had sent them a donation of 25/. (Cheers.) Miss Shirreff sung 'Away, away to the mountain's brow.' The NOBLE CHAIRMAN proposed " The health of the Duke of Sussex, the President of the Institution." " The Army and Navy" was the next toast. The Noble ellAinstAX then said, he should propose a toast which brought them more immediately to the busi ness of the evening. He should propose " The Drury lane Fund, and the health of Mr. Harley, the Treasurer." —(Cheers.) Mr. Har.LEY rose amidst general cheering—Permit ine, roy Lords and Gentlemen, again to present you with our Dramatic Annual. The duty I have to perform is a pleasing one; to express how many hearts you have glad dened since our last meeing—what distress you have al leviated—and the deep gratitude that warms the bosoms of those who have distributed and shared your bounty. The stage, holding the mirror up to nature, reflects the virtues, follies, and vices of mankind. Virtue, contem plating her own celestial image, is its friend and pitron; folly, self-reproved, blushes at her ridiculous figure, and reforms ; but vice, having no delight in its instructive impersonations, "Unless to spy her shadow in the glass, And descant on her own deformity," is an inveterate foe. Yet may the sister arts of Poetry and Painting look down with contempt on its puny as sailants, and point to the high authorities that have borne testimony to its usefulness, and moral influence upon so• ciety. It needs no vindication on the score of intel lectuality, unless the infinite variety of Garrick he a fable, and the transcendent powers of Siddons a chimera and a dream.--(Cheers.) What is the reward of its professors? The question is soon answered. Liberal p ttronsge in health and vigour—sustenance and shelter in destitution and old age.—(Cheers.) Nor is this all. The hand that gives lifts not the veil from the sanctuary of private sorrow, but spares adversity the additional ping, too often inflected by supercilious pity and ribald contempt.— (App'ause.) Unless, then, you pronounce the theatre a vain amusement for the id:e and frivolous, you cannot but feel an interest in the welfare of its professors.—(Cheers.) I look fortvard to the time when it will he my happiness to announce that your annuitants are in the enjoyment of a competence sufficient fi r their humble wants. When we shall be spared the painful task of pleading the inade- Tracy of our means, of seeing benefits sparingly admini stered, and nec<ssities partially relieved—familiar as are many of us tc , ith the tragic scene—behind the curtain of Life's drama truth may almost be said to transcend fic rion.—(Cheers.) The path • of a Kean—(Tremendous app'aose)—with deep emotion I pronounce the name of that gifted, liberal, and lamented brother—(llenewed cheers)—could only do justice to this picture of real wo.. Yet while 1 deplore the loss of my imm,diate prede cessor—Edmund Kean—(Cheers)—as master of this fund, let it be a subject of congratulation, that the Dra rna'ic Evergreen who pi eaeiled trim in this honourable office, lives in the full entoelftent of that which should accompany old age— _ _ _ " As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends." With only one enemy, an obstinate one, that las never left him in toto—Oluch laughter and cheering)—the Autolicus and Touchstone of our youthful , hys, the inimitable Jack I3annister.—(Tremendous Thus I stand, like our immortal founder, between tragedy and comedy—tragedy, too rudely cut off in the blcssont of his days ; comedy still enlivening the social circle, and setting the table, as he once did the theatre, in a roar.— To their most gracious Majesties let me, with all duty and respect offer the profound gratitude of the Drury-lane Theatrical Fund.—(Cheers.) I regret, with your lordship, that indisposition prevents the Duke of Sussex (who has been pleased to take this Institution under his personal protection) from presiding this day —may renewed health enable his Royal Highness to resume his station at our next anniversary.—(Applause.) My Lord, be pleased to accept my warmest thanks for your lib , rality and elo quent appeal in our behalf, more particularly as this is not your first appearance in this character..—(Cheers.) Captain HAMILTON proposed " the health of the Mar quis of Clanricarde." The Marquis of CLANIUCARDE, in returning thanks, had always been an admirer of the drama. Mr. HARLEY announced that the total subscriptions amounted to 1,100/.—(lmmense applause.) The Noble CHAIRMAN then gave " Success to Drury lane and Covent garden Theatres." Mr. COOPER returned thanks on behalf of Mr. Bunn, who, he said, was prevented from attending there that (lay by a severe domestic affliction.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. llunn had desired him to express his best acknowledgments for the great support which he had hitherto received from the public, and to state that his exertions would not flag during the remainder of the season ; but on the contrary he should endeavour to retain, and to deserve to the last, the distinguished success which had attended his efforts. —(Cheers.) " The Musical Phenomenon," a modest looking young man, then came forward, and exhibited his extraordinary powers. He executed the well.known hunting chorus in Der Freischutz in the most correct and e'aborate manner, by merely exhaling his breath (we believe) through his nostrilf. Many of the tones resembled the delicate notes of the violin and flute ; and the only drawbiek was a slight "drone," which attended the whole performance. He was highly applauded. The company broke up at about half-past 11. The celebrated traveller, Dr. Ruppell, has arrived in Italy from Abyssinia, and intends to pass a few months i❑ that country before he returns to Frankfort, his native city. DESCENT INTO THE REAL DEL MONTE. '—The vein of silver ore, now unfolded to our view, forms a closely-compacted, component part of the solid rock, on the surface of which are perceived the glittering particles of the precious metal. It is hewn in small pieces with prodigious labour, requiring the best and sharpest instru ments, and a plentiful supply of gunpowder, in order to blast what cannot be otherwise procured. The dip of about 15 degrees ; so that in following the ore the depth continually increases, and the .team•ongine is required to be in almost continual operation so as to discharge the water that flows in upon the workmen, by means of shafts, levels, and exc tvations, made for that purpose. The veins of silver are principally found in primitive and transition rocks, of which the porphyries are esteemed the richest. I had no adequate idea whatever of the enor mous toil and expense to be encountered, before a single shilling is coined, from the first breaking of the stone, to the subiequent smelting, amalgamation, and running of the meta► into bars. The works are principally carried on by Mexicans, under the superintendence of English, men, many of whom are obliged to stand, for hours, up to the knees and middle in water, hammering, boring drilling, and blasting, night and day, by the light of can dles stuck on the points of the rock, and on their hats; the two portions of this period being assigned to distinct bodies of men, successively relieving each other. The appearance of so many subterranean galleries, tra versing and intersecting each other, through an almost int• rminable length, and where, in some instances, you are compelled to crawl on your hands and feet,—the appalling sound of the blasting rocks rever berating through these dismal caverns with a terrific echo, as if the superincumbent mountain were rushing down upon you,—the sickly and lurid glare of a hundred flicker. ing tapers gleaming around you,—and the anti-mundane aspect of this second race of Cyclops, driving their wedge-, and thundering away in their mining avocations, produce as startling a sensation as an inhabitant of the tapper re rions of the earth could well experience, and much more than he could imagine. Give me a crust of 'mead and a glass of cold water, under the blessed light of the gun, and without ever seeing the face of a single shilling, rather than all the bidden wealth of the mine, if alone to be pro cured by working for it in these gloomy shades of" Chaos and old Night."—Tudor's Narrative. 111 E MARKETS COAL. MARK ET.—M,rch 19. (11 Per Ton. WallsValls E E n n d d N K e i w l 1.1 otir,th 1!51 Di t t o N or tbumberb:nd 5 Walls End Riddell 's ;.! 5 , Lambton's Primrose."... 6 \Valls End Iletton W . E Ezli Lambton !, 6 W. E. Russell's Hetton.... 17 ; 3 Walls End Stewart ,3 6 Walls End Adelaide ; 4 9 Walls'End Walls Find Musgrave.... 15 4 W. , B South Durhanl,, 11 i 1 %Valls End Tees (I Walls End West Hetton 13 0 Blythe .•••••••••••••••”,..,......Yee.. 14 Cowl:en Howard'sNethertonMain is 6 Hartley ro ..,..•••••••••••••••••.."7 West.Hartly and Holj 13 0 drd's Netherton '44 ntarltet-day. 344 ter Tor. s. d. Adair's 15 Bishop's 24 0 Chester Main 11 pean'S Pritnrose 15 5 13 9 Elebburn Main 15 0 15 6 Newburn l5 (1 Out's liedllogli 14 3 Pitt's rlotttll. 15 0 Pontop Windsor 6 Pa 11 field West Hartley 14 0 Wylarn 17 0 WE. Bell, Robson, & Co. 14 9 Walls End Bewicke & Co. 16 9 Walls Ltlcl Goscottb,.,,,, 10 6 Walls Eiut 16 9 Walls Ehd 1T 0 Walls End 11 9 Ships arrived( sin Snaps arrived stit‘c :tr. , .--- - - F. g • C witTRY CORN MAR KETS DURING :: I . llr rgearis , 5 . 0 11 - 5. to ‘ 8 , . , 38 ..,... Per Quarter. s. to e . s. to S. Abingd0n................ 62 81 31 43 -'. ....'" _ -.- Andover So 61 24 2 8 F ; 2 2 .... 43 Birmingham—. 56 58 30 40 ~ 30 -." 4 Bridport - Wheat. Barley. 3 26 18 ~,2 8 „ --' Cir • enecster ..—......., 40 52 23 4 - ) 26 " 45 1. aringd0n........ 54 86 36 2 % 9t l 35 -- , Guildford ................. 48 74 23 .4-- 30 --- ill Henley—...... 54 30 35 20 4 ) •-• 46 02 -8 it Hereford .... 83 ........—.... 64 68 32 34 .::,• 3 4 ..... 5 tlighworth —......... 62 80 32 42 " 3 on 36 37 Maidenhead —..... 56 68 34 44 22 .;;;; ~. 42 Moamouth ... 66 63 32 66 24 :;,., Y.! Beading .. 4O 66 22 . 36 14 2 " g e, 54 5a1i5bury...........,_. 42 54 25 29 20 2 4 54 Southatnpton .......... 34 58 33 40 28 32 --- 54 ........._____Oats. .L................. Stroud -----... 64 78 37 38 22 38 44 Tewkesbury •—..... 43 34 30 ~, -- 49 Uxbridge .............. 48 74 26 34 20 :"'" -- 34 44 %Vantage oft 58 80 27 32 17 •- 6 Warminster ........ 48 56 25 29 21 23 43 .... Windsor...... ...—. 59 21 2 2 -- _ ...., 35 W0rce5ter..,,.,...,..,. 49 52 2.6 32 20 1. El WES MAII K ET.— March 18. White Wheat (per quar t er ) £2 12 oto£2 1 o Red ditto---.... 2 4 0 2 8 0 Barley-- ;ch 18. 12 0 to X' 4 0 7 6 18 0 10 0 10 0 per th, I 0 8 o 10 0 la 0 0 o tousand, Barley Oats, New —• Pease Oil Cake, New, A liKET.—March 18. I'er lb. d. to d. 61 7 9 7 0 / 6 / 8 CHELTEN HAM M Per Bushel. s. d. to s. rl, IVheat Barley 3 0 3 9 Mutton Oats 2 6 3 3 Veal Beans Pease 5 0 7 0 Lamb Hay 3l. lOs to 31. 15s. Od. per ton. HULL MARKET.—March 18. Wheat, Old —s. 40s. 465. Now ...... —s• s. 403. Os' Foreign —s. 50s. 545. ln bond... —s• --_, Oats, Poland —s. 18 3. 20 s. Old ....... .. •—s. s. --oh -"''' Small or Feed.... —s. 14s. 18s Foreign —s. 16s. 18s ...................... --s• --s• ‘ , 4 -- ' l ' Barley, Norf. & Sof. —s. 265. 28s. Line. & Vold --s• 24s --,' Foreign , ...... .—s. • .... F. Beans s. 325. 345. F0reign......... -5• ‘ ,.. --s ' 005. Pease, White —..s. ~ ,s • s. 30s. 345. Grey ........... ~ 'Pares —s. —s. —s. Foreign ...... ...:-_ - !•;I: — 0 ; Rapeseed. in hond none. , . Wheat, Imp. Bush... 5 9106 0 Butter, - ------ DUMFRIES MARKETS.--March 12. . d. L id, s, d. s.d. .Btoo ...0 Barley . 3 0 3 2 Eggs,.2 ........ .... ...... , 0 O. Oats ......... .......... ... 2 0 2 3 Beef, per - score ......• ..7, 51 0 Flour, 141 b. 0 4 ' Oatmeal I 1 6 1 8 Veal ...... . . ................ n 0 0 0 Potatoes, cwt. 16oz. ........... . 0 0 1 MEETINGS OF CREDITORS AT THE COURT, BASINGHALL-STREET TO -ilrn (From the London Gazette.) m "; R f t 0 , a iS i l , A e ß y ....... ...................... 2 at 1 1 1 J. Triggs, veterinary-surgeon W H; C. Lampon, fellmonger, Tyer's-gateway, . Bermon dsey... ? it H. Fuller, aurgeon, Hackney-road .... ................... i L J. M. Connorton, mastmaker, Shad Th .. a . m .. .... ................. 1 J. Richardson and It. Mansfield, tailors, Brow nlow-street 1 'l'. Payne, horse.dcaler, Old Quebec -street .................. DIVIDENDS. .. .at I I T. Maughan, hatter, King-street, Covent -garden ................ J 1 T. Ecles, woollen-draper, Houndsditch ........................ passages in . ______—-__--a - - -- to 111 r. Alexandar Baring—no relation. formtd between Bordeaux phs i a s nd at P l e h r i p s ig in na onr,n It is i line n s e a said that Mr. Adair has left 250,000/. bring the latter town in direct communication with Paris: It has been opened as far as Ca cassonne, and by the l 5 of April the whole line will be complete. A letter from Amsterdam announces that a l great number of vessels laden with Bordeaux win e 1 1 lately arrived in Holland, and others were expecte d. it is said, tl.e use of he this t l e i w L a o s r, e l a i3 l eil g a i t i e l e d y, , t ,, h w at h tle q is ui ri n o t w ity p i u m b. : joiteed insoto tli at cot' 0 Engla li n as would ' probably be consum_d in the Netherland•, %elle"' The third volume of . 's " Life of d concludes to rl highly-curious rk will be found . elucidate various disputed w? the History of both 7: is decreasing cprDieeacrseisn.gNTa rbee Co n siderably' g r tr part • ' wenhtiebheisi.ligli cts of greatest in• subje Europe. Amongst the. tarest which it discusses,iage ... it are, Elizabeth's projected marr w—h the Duke of An'o. I rious splendid " i" . J . ,1-- ler va . or o f s he gressea" amon. her subjects—the growing p W t Puritans—the ° of Scots' romantic riddle of Mary Queen career —the gigantic struggles with Spain and bet note d Armada—the troubles inSc tl nil the conduct of the d ed to the Earl, of Leicester and Es oa I sex.—the aid ren er tions as Protestant cause in Europe--the perpiezing que' in to the ' Popish attempts—and numerous matters of ~ prtanc.a concerning the English Constitution in Chur:si't and State. The p-rsonal details relative to the g r . 1 tninister 'himself, which this concluding volume furnish .. are also of lively interest. ----"'" elaborate anar:e'vaonudl d ........................m............. - BIRTHS. Lott' of On the 17th inst., in Bow - la ne, Cit y , Mrs. Thomas a daughter. AD'br°' e Re v ' On the lryth hist., at Lynn, the lady of the Goode, chaplain Hon. East India Company On the Btli inst., at Aberdeen, North Britain, thc W 1 Mr. Hosief Baker, organist of St. John's, Aberdeen, of a a ( ! a n in ' , On the 17th inst., at Peckham-rye, the lady of VV. Wilt' Taylor, Esq.,. of a son. 11 0°- On the 170 1105 `., at Maidstone, the lady of J. It S ' bottom, Esq., of a daughter. f ife of On the 17th inst., at Portman-place, Fanny Ja ne ' David 111`Cati 1, Esq., of a son and heir. ,/ IMO , °f On the 1 sth inst., at Hampstead, Mrs. Charles ...0. of a daughte.fe of a d o a n ug t h h t e er i . ot h inst., at Upton, Mrs. Foster J Mrs. Wm. Stndidge, of a son. ~i of a fteno.., daughter. Richard Winter, of a daughter. On the 1 Ath inst., at Camberwell, Sut het• On the I.sth inst., in Charlotte-street, Portland -place, Mrs' On the 1 nth inst., at Croydon, the lady of John W. SUth e land, Esq., of a son. On the pith inst., Mrs. Bullock, of Holborn, of a son.. t of a daughter. ___-_,............° Mrs. Benjamin Edging olio ----- MARRIED. of West On the IS, , th inst., the Rev. Wm. G. Moore, Rector. . am Barkwith, and Vicar of Stixwold, Lincolnshire, to Enniy_fi'asid only daughter of T. Andrews, Esq., of Upper Hornert°l7.oo,.. son of George Hyde Wollaston, Esq., of Clap widow of Major G. H. Rigby, late of the Hon. East India ' pany's Service, ~d er icic On the 17th inst., at Great Maplestead Church, FrThdebt Luord Wollaston, Esq., of the Middle Temple, barrister, e „ to Diana Harrier, second daughter of John Sperling'rjq.' Dynes-hall, Esex. ~,„,, g• On the 18th inst., at St. George ' s, the ,'''" ' BloomsburY, „laugh- Watkins, Vi yof ca . Southwell, Notts, to Eliza, survivihothedre. ter of the late .Alexander Hunter, Esq., of Kirton, F,ire-Castro. On the 15th inst., at Westbury-on-Trim, Dan iel nen jatni" Esq., of Piccadilly, to Jane, daughter of the late '" Roberts, M.R.C.5., a,1,1 of his Majesty's Forces. e lA cut. On the 18th inst., e t St. George's, Hanover-squar , . r d E. Rogier, 11. N,,. b. Mary, daughter of the late Rte n'' Waring, Esq., of St. Wiry Cray, Kent. r. DUO DIED. •fe of ••• 3 . t On the 12th inst., at Wisbaden, Eliza, the w ife ~..,ate Gardiner, late r,f the sth Dragoon Guards, and only ( r e ; D ire. of the late Rev. D. 'H. Urquhart, of Broad Mayne, D°r,b__ of late CaPt t n , voq., On the 16th inst.. Daniel Capel, Esq., hana.conlino”, cf 14th Light Dragoeyis, third son of the late Wm. Cie . c, Of Prestbury House, nea r C heltenham. i h re-P lac On the 18th inst. , at h is residence in Devons Bt h Benjamin Bond, Esq. , ag ed 68. in b ig On the 13th inst., at Longparish-house, Hants, S".. year, Richard Leech, Esq. ch 0. e rwo° d ' 1 On the 18th inst., at Kensington , William of Mark-lane. .„,„bert Barron • On the 17th inst., in Mecklenburgh.square, •"'" et Esq., aged 62. SO* ' lca' On the 15th in:it., at Witham , in her 74th Year' t ojce. r eta Steele, relict of the late Peter Steele, M.D., of th : ye ar, On the 16th inst. , at Fu lham, in ,his 5 8t " Brames, Esq. it 0, i ellt Good. On the 9th ins., William Yeatherd, Char-Iv...phi, On the 15th inst., at North-end, Fulhain, w are. rick Goslin, aged 71. c fustian - .) On the 17th inst., in Southampton•P i t e . 6 %. , ag eda , ;In' Mary; widow of ale late John George Graeno ""100, of :- On the 18th ins t., at Bayswater, Mrs. Sarah ao d on.. brook, Bucks, aged 83. T iirigton, ~ o ft, On the 17th ins , ,t., at Cloudesley-terrace, .s Bas h.' , year and 11 months, Basil, only child of Sir. , ~drs: bookseller, Cheayside. On the 17th nst., in Devonshire, in her Morier, relict c‘ , l the late Isaac Morier, Esq., m a" Majesty's Cons,ul-General alConstalople. 75th Yellicrai.; his 0 rO O PRINTSD AND, PUBLISHED BY NURDO yourl°' SUN OFFICE, 11'2, STRAND* ■