The Sun. — London, England, 1834-02-10 00:00:00

constituents. To be sure, there are in the present instance two facts, one of which, if not fully explained, and the other, if not as, •well confirmed, might take a particular Member of the House of Commons out of the above favourable, or at least not un pardonable, cateaory. Ist, his failing directly to interrogate Mr. Hill, as was done by other Members ; second, his emphatic and solemn denial of the specific charge from his place in Parliament. But we are far from founding any surmise disadvantageous to an Hon. and Learned Gentleman upon either of these, taken singly, and independent of such a sinister issue to the inquiry as we should most unfeignedly deplore, and, indeed, cannot anticipate. With regard to any careless escapade in private conversation of a passing sentiment, not meant to be divulged, and, perhaps, not dwelt upon for half an hour afterwards i n t h e m i n d o f t h e party ex pressing we agree with an Evening Con !ernreorary in the opinion that nothing could he so narsh or so preposterous as the attempt to fasten any serious stigma upon the reputation of a Mcmber of Parliament for such an every-day occurrence. If the whole proceeding could still be got rid of, with due consideration for the feelings of individuals, it would be a benefit much to be desired ; but we confess that we know not by what expedient to accomplish it, and we are equally unprepared to say what step the House of Commons can eventually take, let the worst case that has been imagined be brought home to the parties whom it implicates. That House is a totally unfit theatre for the display of such a spectacle as this : the first step was a fake one, but it has unfortunately been taken.— Times. The " Irish Row" excites extraordinary in terest, and the more we reflect on the business. and the consequences with which any inquiry may be attended, the more we are disposed to recommend caution to Members. They have now had the interval of two or three days to cool them, and we would fain hope that they must, in general, be now sensible that the fur ther they proceed in this business, the more siyitild they entangle themselves, and furnish food for ridicule to the public. Mr. O'Connell has an interest in pushing hard for an inquiry. Having the command of the democracy of Ire land, he knows well that if the charge be brought home to Mr. Sheil, he will be excluded from all hope of being ever returned from any place in Ireland where the Catholics possess influence, and that the example made of one of hi 4 Tail, will keep the rest in due subjection. But the 'great body of Members are not surely bound to lend themselves to Mr. O'Connell's objects. We ask them to consider coolly and dispassionately what they are about to do. What is the real issue of the trial " who is the Traitor ?" Mr. Hill, the Member for Hull, inadvertently men tions a report that Irish Members opposing the Coercion Bill, in private confidence made no secret of their conviction that some measure of political restraint was essential for the security ol life and property in Ireland. The fact of this die sonance between the private opinions and the pr. litical votes of Irish Repealers was notorious. Mr. Hill merely alluded in public to a matter of common private notoriety. It was equally noto rious that Mr. Sheil and other Irish Mem bers of Parliament, had too much common sense and sagacity cordially to agree in the agi tation prescribed by Mr. O'Connell. It was equally notorious that Mr. O'Connell, the arch agitator of Ireland, kept the turnpike gates of the popular Irish Representatives. When the Irish close boroughs were annihilated by the Irish Reform Bill, it was found that the price of a seat was temporary conformity to the creed of Mr. O'Connell. Mr. Sheil was, as every body knows, an unwilling convert to the doc trine of Repeal. He had too much good sense to be deceived into the idea that a part of the people of Ireland could carry Repeal against another part, backed by the whole population of England and Scotland ; and he saw in Re peal agitation a fertile source of mischief, and the possibility of a bloody issue. But Mr. Sheil's part was so cast, that his political exis tence would have been annihilated by a refusal to conform ; and he gave in his adhesion, and even over-acted in public the part of a Repeal advocate, in order to remove all suspicion of his sincerity. But the inward man often seeks indemnity for the sacrifices made to expediency, for the disposition to free agency can never l'e wholly overcome. Mr. Sheil, as part of the Tail, was obliged to obey the commands of the Head ; but the obedience, we may be sure, was often reluctantly afforded, and the dictates of conviction naturally burst forth when the com pressing power was no longer present. Mr. Sheil was not the only Member of the Tail who felt uneasy in his position, nor was he the only communicant, but he was the individual pos sessing the most talent and accomplishment. We have stated what we believe to be the fact, that he has sacrificed his conviction at the shrine of ambition, having no other means to okain a seat in the reformed Parliament. Mr. O'Con nell is too shrewd a man not to be fully aware of the tenor by which he holds Mr. Sheil and some other repealers. He perceives that Mr. Sheil and his tribe of convenient conformists will at a fitting future opportunity revolt, and in an ticipation of such a counter movement, Mr. O'Connell is pre-determined, having used them for his purposes, to deprive them of their powers of injuring him hereafter. No sensible man can mistake the design of " honest lago." But we earnestly ask the Members of the House of Commons where this " delicate investigation" is to terminate ? Are there no Members of the House of Commons, or of the present Govern ment, who are supporting measures in direct opposition to their private and recorded political opinions ? What has been the history of all Parties—ministerial and opposition—for a cen tury past ? What said Mr. Hume in his blunt honesty, two years since, when he voted for the Russian loan ? " I will not support a factious proposition, the intent of which is to oust a liberal Ministry and seat a Tcry substitute." Can the " Whippers-in" tell no secrets on the votes of Members of Parliament ? What says the Quarterly Review for March, 1830, as quoted by Mr. Wakefield, on this very subject ? " All real business is drowned in debates and reports. It is astonishing, at the end of a ses'ion, to see how much has been said, and yet how little material business has been transacted. Part of this evil must be ascribed to the state of society in our overgrown and most voluptuous metropolis—but a much larder portion to the Members themselves. If shoe who take the chief share in the management of public affairs were to adopt a totally dif ' ferent line of conduct—if they on all occasions showed themselves more intent on what was done than on the manner of doing it—the business of the country would he despatched better, and, at the same time, with more real wisdom and eloquence. " The point, however, in which the Members of the House of Commons have sometimes been thought to be most deficient, is their want of independence. Though less open to improper influence than formerly, there is too much reason to surmise that they do not speak and vote sufficiently according to their real sentiments , When bodies of men are obliged to act together, con cession, to a certain degree, is indispensably necessary. If every Member were always to be governed by his own views and opinions, no party administration could act with vigour or consistency, and the Government itself would soon become powerless and contemp tible. But there are limits which every honest man is bound to set to this sort of compliance ; and here we are afraid is one of the duties most frequently neglected by Members of Parliament. It is not easy to resist the torrent. Let a man of the soundest head and heart find his way now into the House, and he will soon find himself so entangled and perplexed, that he hardly knows how to do justice to himself or service to his country. He must have a party and a press. The multitude of applications which almost every Member receives from his consti tuents, compels him, whether attached to administration or not, to receive favours, of one kind or other, from almost every department of Government. " Besides this, there is something in the very atmo sphere of the House unfavourable to bold and uncom promising conduct. It is, de facto, a sort of overgrown Club. This is the worst part of the wl ole business. Things are every day admitt.d in private, amongst the Members, which are studiously denied or concealed in the speeches reported from the Gallery. Whoever, therefore, should endeavour to rend asunder that veil, which, by all parties in the House, is held up before the public, would lose his character and his caste. He would be treated with coldness by those whom he wished most to ap proximate, while he might feel insuperable repuenance r o unite with those who were most willing to receive him. A less of independence more to the individual, or in jurious to the commonwealth, cannot well be pictured."— (pp. 270-1-2. ) The offence of Mr. Sheil may be a very heinous one in the eyes of Mr. O'Connell ; but if there be any foundation for the above re marks of the Quarterly Review, there are strong reasons why the House should not make a scapegoat of the Hon. and Learned Member for Tipperay. The farce of an inquiry will only lead to a persuasion, on the part of the public, that there is more hypocrisy in the House than there really is. We again enter our serious protest against this illegally constituted courtmartial, to try how much Nlr. R. L. Sheil exceeds, equals, or falls below the fair average of political sincerity. If such an extraordinary jurisdiction is established by the vote of a Committee on the contradiction be tween the public votes end the private opinions of Mr. Sheil, we see no limit to the inquiry. The fact is, that the virulent conduct and offen sive manner of several of the Irish Repealers induced Lord Ahhorp to throw himself at once in the gap, in order to show them that gentle men would not suffer themselves to be brow beaten in that way. No one doubts that his Lordship would not express his belief without having had good evidence to go on. But what is the situation of the gentlemen, who must if called upon, enable him to maintain his position ? Unquestionably the relators of the private conversations did not contemplate the possibility of being called upon to prove them. These gentlemen are placed in a most awkward and disagreeable situation ; and we really think that the House of Commons would do well to pause and reflect on the consequences of erecting a tribunal for inquiry into all sorts of political gossip. We do not desire, by sup pression of the inquiry, to deprive Mr. Sheil of his just means of vindication ; but we ask whe ther a private and honourable reference would not better dispose of this delicate and difficult situation. The Speaker was, we think, bound to have protected the House against its being in volved in this awkward situation. He may still effect its deliverance, and we believe that the only disappointment will be the rescue of the prey of Mr. O'Connell. Surely a British House of Commons will not place English gen tlemen in the obnoxious situation of informers against the indiscreet persons who in private conversation have denounced their votes as in consistent with their real opinions. We con fess we look forward to the proceedings of to night with no common anxiety and solicitude. Mr. Sheil is not the only person who can be accused of the habit of a Thames wherryman —" sitting one way and rowing another.— Morning chronicle. A notice of motion relative to medical reform, we are glad to find, has been given in the House of Commons, by Mr. Warburton. This ques tion is of such deep importance to the health and lives of his Majesty's subjects that it requires no apology for our pressing it upon the especial attention of Parliament and the public. What Dr. Warburton's plan of reform is we know not ; but it is quite certain that, without some comprehensive, searching, and enlightened mea- ' sure to correct existing abuses in medical insti tutions, and to open to talent and education those avenues to professional distinction from which they are but too generally excluded by nepotism, corrupt patronage, and presumptuous quackery, the medical profession must remain far below the level to which it would have arisen but for the artificial obstructions thrown in its way, while medical institutions, founded for the noblest purposes,must continue to be more produc tive sources of profit and advantages to indivi duals than of benefit to the public. During the contest of a recent election for the office of As sistant-Surgeon to the London Hospital, we took occasion to allude to the existing necessity for reform in that and similar establishments. The circumstances of that election confirmed our view of the necessity for some remedial measure, to throw open the field of fair com petition to talent, which relies on its own strength—some measure to break down the power which patronage and favouritism exercise, and against which superior merit too often urges its claims in vain. Another branch of medical reform which we have adverted to is that which relates to the remodelling, upon judicious and liberal principles, the Royal Colleges of Physi cians and Surgeons. The former has, we un derstand, lately adopted some ameliorations of its very narrow and illiberal system—but of that institution and its reforms another time; at pre sent we mean to confine ourselves to the Col lege of Surgeons, than which no chartered body stands more in need of the visitation of public opinion, to enlighten its darkness, and, by making its defects and abuses manifest to the world, prepare the way for the correction of the one and the abolition of die other. We have now before us the printed copy of an oration delivered before the Medical Society of Lon don, by Mr. Salmon, a F e llow of the Col lege of Surgeons, on the necessity for an en tire change in the constitution and government of that institution. This little essay is written in a reasoning and temperate manner. It is worthy of the respectable station which its author occupies in a liberal profession, and the interests of which profession he is anxious to promote by proving the necessity for surgical reform. He does this without indulging in coarse or violent attacks upon those who are opposed to him. He confines himself to the real merits of the ques tion, and adduces, in support of his view, of it, strong facts and convincing arguments, clothed in the language of a cultivated mind. It is not our purpose, nor have we space to enter into the details of this question. Our chief object is to draw public attention to a subject of such national importance, and particularly that of Members of Parliament, previously to the dis cussion on Dr. Warburton's motion.; for we hold the opinion that, bad as the present system is, it is better that it should remain un altered than that it should be ignorantly legis lated upon. It is the duty of the representatives of the people, who will have to decide upon the question of medical reform, to make themselves somewhat acquainted with its merits before it shall have been brought under their notice in their legislative capacity. The work to which we have alluded can afford them the requisite information, as far as the College of Surgeons is concerned, in a concise form. Why has a chartered b o dy, with c ertain privileges, been placed at the head of the surgical profession ? If we were asked that question, we should say, if we knew no better, that it was for the laud able and national purpose of assisting and cherishing the progress of surgical science by encouraging talent, promoting education, foster ing genius, putting down quackery and empiri cism, and collecting from every quarter, and hoarding for future use, the treasures of discovery and the lights of learning. Does the College of Surgeons fulfil those noble ends ? Let us quote one passage from Mr. Salmon as an answer. He sass, "It is clear that, in the construction of the charter, two most important points were altogether neglected, for we find that, though it sets out with stating the necessity that the art and science of surgery should be duly promoted, it contains no provision to accomplish this, neither does it afford any protection to the public nor to the members of the college, by preventing the uneducated following the practice of surgery. In the latter respect, therefore, it is rather an injury than a benefit to our profession, since, although it gives us no protection against the ill-educared and the empiric, it nevertheless renders the members of the College legally amenable for any errors they may commit in the exercise of their practice." If the provisions of the charter are radically defective and little calculated to pro mote the public good, which should be the great end of such an institution, SO is the go vernment of the College, the council or govern ing body being self elected ; and this country has had abundance of proof of the mischievous consequences which flow from self election, for where that bad principle prevails there is no real responsibility, no check upon the abuses of power. A corporate trust for the public benefit so governed always degenerates into a sort of private property, which the select few look upon as their indefeasible inheritance, or nearly in that light. In the College of Surgeons not only are the council self elected, but the exa miners also ; and, consequently, as Mr. Salmon states, they have no tribunal to which they are amenable for their acts. Our author adds— " To evince by a single instance the necessity for some protection to the Fellows of the Col lege, and to show how little interest the council have taken in their prosperity, we may mention the startling fact that there are at this time above four hundred individuals, in this metropolis alone, professedly practising the science of surgery, none of whom are members of the College." He shows, that although the pro visions of the College have been productive of high and lucrative advantages to the select few who, from time to time, have formed the members of the Council, yet so little regard has been paid to the advance of science that, although the cu rators are invested with the power of publishing communications in anatomy and surgery, under the title of " Transactions of the College of Surgeons," not a single volume of such transac tions, as far as lie is aware, has ever been pub lished since the foundation of the College I In attacking the system our author disclaims all in tention of reflecting on the present members of the Council as individuals, to many of whom he alludes in terms of respect and esteem. He re marks that, in Paris, Berlin ; Vienna, Leipsic, and other of the Continental schools, before any individual can practise either medicine or sur gery, he must undergo a rigid examination in each of these sciences, and he is then permitted to follow his profession generally, without re gard to those divisions and distinctions in it which exist among us. We perfectly agree with him that " the education of the medical public should be a national care ; and that it is equally the duty and interest of the Government that it ' should be so considered, both for the preserva tion of human life and national prosperity.' Morning Herald. The Duc de Berri's very valuable collection of pictures chiefly of the Dutch and Flemish school, amounting to about one hundred and thirty, and which were bequeathed by his Royal Highness to his children are arrived in this country, and we are informed they will be sold by auction in the spring. Nothing new has transpired in the course of the week respecting the approaching season at the King's Theatre, but we may mention that Laporte'e arrange ments for the opening on Saturday next are more corn pkte than they have perhaps been at the commencement of any former season. Ha has amply provided for a suc cession of novelties, in operas, ballets, singers and dancers, and of late it is said that his subscription has filled rapidly. The assembly of the two Houses of Parliament has of course, had a considerable influence upon the letting of his stalls, as well as his boxes, and on the whole his prospects are very satisfactory. The continued absence of some of our leading notoility on the Continent is almost the only point against him, but that is an important one. Not a few of these have, however, continued their subscriptions. Rehearsals have been proceeding more or less every day during the last week. DREADFUL SUICIDE OF AN ARTIST. — On Saturday an inquest was held before Mr. Stirling, at the Orange -tree Tavern, New-road, St. Pancras, on the body of Mr. Joshua Manning, aged 23, an artist, occupy ing apartments at No. 8, Great George-street. Mr. Pren dergast, the barrister, said he was an intimate friend of the deceased, who was a young man of considerable talents and promise in his profession. On Tuesday evening he drank tea with the deceased, who appeared exceedingly melancholy, and conducted himself in such a way that wit ness should have thought it was his intention to insult him, had he not known him to be incapable of so doing• The deceased had been subject to fits of melancholy from his infancy. Ou Wednesday morning the report of a pis of was heard in his room, but, as this had taken place before, no alarm was excited. S only afterwards Mr.. Manning, the deceased's mother, called en when it was discovered that the deceased had shot himself through the heart with a pistol, which was lying on the table. Mr. Prendergast stated that the deceased was in the habit of receiving men and women at his apartment, for the purpose of modelling from them. He was not aware that he bad formed any acquaintance with a lady, but a female had sometimes visited him, and remained there an hour and a half. He had once shot one of his models in his apartment; and a few days before his dis solution, be requested his servant to buy him a leg of mutton, that he might ascertain how far be could shoot a ball through it. The ni,lat previous to the commission of the act he returned home in tears, and was very de• pressed in spirits. He forwarded a letter to his mother on the same night, bequeathing to her 2001., and ending his letter with some c-infused rhyme, such as _ " I am free, I am free, The world's disease is o'er with me." The Jury returned a verdict of "Insanity." Mr. Pren dergast stated that the deceased bad received several re wards from the British Institution. COURT OF KING'S BENCH, FEB. 8. 'Sittings before the LORD CHIEF JUSTICE and a Special Jury.) HERTFORD ELECTION.-ALLEGED PERJURY.-THE KING V. THOMAS RUSSELL DAVIES. Sir J. SCARLETT (with whom was Mr. FOLLETT) stated that this was a prosecution against the de fendant for having committed wilful and corrupt perjury in his examination before a Committee of the House of Commons appointed to determine the merits of the Hertford election petition. The Jury, after hearing evidence, returned a ver dict of Guilty, but recommended the defendant to mercy, on the ground that there had been great bribery and corruption at the Hertford election. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, FEB. 8. (Before Mr. Baron VAUGHAN and a Common Jury.) LECOUVIRE V. ORR. This was an action brought by the plaintiff, Mrs. Lecouvire (alias Metcalfe), a native of France,against Mr. Orr, of Burton.street, for false imprisonment. The plaintiff had been a lodger in the house of defendant in September last, and on the 21st of that month the defendant gave plaintiff in charge to the police for an alleged felony in unlawfully pawning a d canter, the property of defendant. Plaintiff re mained in custody, being all the time treated as a common felon, for some hours, after which she was admitted to bail. On the 23d the parties appeared before Mr. Laing, of Hatton-garden, who, on having the case submitted to him, dismissed the charge of felony. The Magistrate advised the parties to ar range the matter between themselves as regarded th e unlawful pawning. The parties followed the advice given them, and arranged the business. Verdict for the plaintiff—Damages 5/. STARLING V. BONYTIION. This was an action brought against the defendant for the violation of an agreement. The plaintiff is a respectable gentleman residing in Leicester-square; the defendant is connected with the Marine Library at Dover, whither it appeared the plaintiff's family went to pass the summer of last year. On their arrival there the defendant let them apartments in the house, No. 13, adjoining the library, at a weekly rent of three guineas and a half, for which he was to furnish them with plate, linen, and attendance. It was stipulated by Mrs. S'arling that she was to have undisturbed possession of the apartments for six weeks, and to this the defendant consented. Before, however, the first week termi nated he informed the plaintiff's family that he had a larger offer for the apartments, and that he would require possession of them at the end of the week, and added that he could accommodate them with apartments in another house. To this proposal Mrs. Starling refused assent, upon which he ob served to her, " I do not wish to disturb you, but if you refuse to leave the apartments I will send men in to pull the beds to pieces and remove every thing in the house." Mrs. Starling did not, how ever, think that he would act so, and on the Thu's day that her week was up she went out to walk with her daughters. Oa their return they found several men and women engaged in hammering and removing furniture ; the beds were stripped of the sheets, the carpets pulled up, and everything re moved from the larder. In this predicament they knew not how to act, and were unab;e to procure apartments until past ten o'clock at night. The Jury found for the plaintiff—Damages 201. EXCHEQUER CHANIBER, FEB 8• (Sittings at Gray's Inn Hall before the Loan CHIEF BARON.) MEADOWS V. FOSTER. This case was on a demurrer to a bill filed by plaintiff to obtain an injunction, and to have a pro missory note for .5,000/. delivered up and cancelled. The circumstances of the case, as they appeared from the plaintiff's bill, were substantially as fol low : Dixon Meadows, Esq. (who died last August), resided at Ilkley, in the county of Hants; he had two children, a son (George Dixon Meadows, the present plaintiff, a physician and surgeon, prac tising at Portsea), and a daughter ; the defendant Foster, supposing that Miss Meadows was entitled to a large property in her own right, paid his addresses to her, and was clandestinely married to her. The father was displeased with the match, since he considered Foster a person of no character, and refused to make any provision fot her, Foster, in consequence of this disappointment, resolved to obtain a large sum of money from the plaintiff's family, by having recourse to fraud and deception. Having obtained an unbounded influence over his wife, he prevailed upon her to join him in accusing her father of having forcibly attempted to violate her. The accusation was accordingly made on the 19th of November, 1831, and plaintiff was threat ened that, unless the sum'of 5,0001., or some such sum was settled on Foster or on his wife, or their issue, the father would be prosecuted for felony. Plaintiff was taken by surprise; and in consequence of the threats of Foster, and in the belief that, by giving the note of hand required he would stop a prosecution by which his father's life was endangered, he complied with Foster's demand. The attorney provided the proper stamp, and a note of hand for 5,0001. was drawn out in the usual form, pay able in fifteen days, and signed by the plaintiff. The bill stated that when plaintiff signed the note he was not a free agent, and his signature was ex torted from him through fear for his father's safety ; besides defendant knew that plaintiff could nor pay such a sum, since he had been lately established as a physician and surgeon at .Portsea, and was still dependant on his father. When plaintiff was re leased he was speedily convinced by his friends that the charge against his father was false. By an action brought against him in the Court of King's Bench in 1833, plaintiff was held to bail in the full amount of the note. These are the circumstances of the case. Mr. SIMPKINSON said that the question for his Lordship to decide was, whether in the case of the plaintiff a Court of Equity could interfere; and whe ther the plaintiff was entitled to come into Court, and demand that a promissory note should be can celled, which note he (plaintiff) bad given to com pound or stifle a felony. Lord LYNDHURST said, that there being no crime nor misdemeanor, the plaintiff was not debarred from coming into Court ; and he thought that, as the note had been fraudulently ob , ained, the com plaining party had a right to obtain relief from the Court. The demurrer was accordingly overruled. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HO USE. ROBBERY OFRANK NOTES.—A man named Joseph Polden was brought before the LORD MAYOR on Saturday, charged with having stolen 2051. in Bank of England notes and three sove reigns. The prisoner was apprehended by Daniel Forrester. The prisoner was a porter employed occasionally in the yard of the Cross Keys lnn, in Gracechurch-street. Mr. William Wilson Crimgeour, a clerk of the Bank of England, on Saturday fortnight took a parcel, containing 2051. in Bank notes and three sovereigns, to the Cross Keys Inn, in Gracechurch street. It was directed to Mr. Clark, at Wigging ton Lodge, near Tamworth, Staffordshire. He booked it at the inn himself, arid delivered it to the bookkeeper. 'Witness had heard since he deposited the parcel into the cu stod y of the bookkeeper that it had not been receive d. He did not know the prisoner at all. Bank notes had been brought since into the Bank to the amou nt of 1054, by a person i s i v a h m signedo ed Ntvh eaKent.the, and sub scribed A id mar stolen notes changed at the Bank for sovere i g ns. r r t ai h ed e rda,(si name goof oft Shore,Jsonoel.s i p ni o n n m t h e soon itched upon the prisoner, after having succeeded in tracing one of rite notes. W W p r oved that . arner, a porter, lof the Forrester, on hearing of the robbery, p stolen notes, to the amount of 80/, had been in trusted to him by the prisoner, in ord er to g et them changed for sovereigns at the Bank, which commis sion he had executed for the prisoner. The prisoner was remanded. BO W- S TREE T. Mr. Thomas John Manning, residing in Upper Baker-street, New-road, attended at this office in consequence of a summons issued at the instance of the officers of the General Post-office, charging him with unlawfully destroying a letter which had been posted at the General Post-receiving-house in Upper Baker-street. Mr. John Barham, of No. 1, Upper Baker-street, where there is a receiving house for general post letters, deposed that on the Ist of February instant, at about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, while witness was employed in making up the bags for the Ge neral Post-office, the defendant entered his shop and requested him to search for a letter which had been deposited in the box, addressed to " Mrs. Nassau, Osyth Priory, near Colchester, Essex." Wi ne's ascertained that he had such a letter, and the defendant declared that it was his letter, and that he wished it to be returned to him. He told him that his instructions were when a letter was once posted never to give it up to any person ex cept the legal authority, and lie must follow those instructions. The defendant said he merely wished to make an alteration in the letter, and if he would hand it over to him no one should know anything about it; he, however, again declined giving it to him, but, after considerable importunity from the defendant, offered to permit him to write any thing on the back of the letter he might think fit. For this purpose he handed the letter over to him, together with pen and ink, when the defendant said that he should keep the letter. Witness called a Mr. Gibbons, who was siting to the parlour, to be a witness to the transaction, and demanded the restitution of the letter from die defendant. He, however, tore open the letter, and offered to show his signature, which he said was attached thereto; but witness declined seeing it, and the witness collected the pieces of the letter, and on a subsequent day forwarded them, together with a statement of the facts as above, to the Post ' office. The postage of the letter, which contained an enclosure, would be Is. 4d., of which sum the revenue of the Post-office was, by the destruction of the letter, defrauded. ' Mr. Gibbons above mentioned corroborated the latter facts detailed in Mr. Brrham's evidence. The defendant, upon being called upon for his explanation of the transaction, declared that on the day in question he had sent the letter described by Mr. Barham to the Post-office by his servant. Sub sequently, however, from private reasons, he wished that the letter might not be forwarded. He was informed, however, that the letter could not be re turned, but Mr Barham offered to allow him to make any correction or remark on the outside, and for this purpose handed the letter over to him. He then, considering lie might do as he pleased with his own property, tore it up, and threw the frag merits away. Mr. HALLS said the results of a case of this de scription might be of a very serious nature. It must be seen at once that were the Post-office to allow the return of letters once posted, large depre dations might be committed. He had no doubt of the defendant's respectability, and therefore had no wish to put any ill construction on the case. The Post-office, no doubt, would be satisfied by his putting in bail for his appearance at the Sessions. Mr. Peacock said the Post-office had been com pelled to come forward on this occasion on public grounds. lie would take care to represent the facts of the case to the Postmaster General, who would take them into consideration, and act upon them accordingly. Bail having been procured the defendant was dis charged. MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, FEB. 8. DARING ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.—ThoS. Bien la-viz, aged 22, was indicted for stealing a reticule from the person of Elizabeth Stevens. —Guilty. The CHAIRMAN—Prisoner, it is useless to waste words on you; you have been here too often. The sentence of the Court is that you be transported for fourteen years. The pi ismier was then removed from the bar. Joseph Allen, aged 15, was convicted of stealing a handk,•rchief from the person of John Newman. The CHAIRMAN asked him how he got his living? Prisoner-1 can't get a living without thieving, and I have got neither father nor mother. CHAIRMAN—You are sentenced to be transported for seven years. Prisoner—Thank'ee, Sir. The General Shipowners' Society intend to a ppoint a surveyor at Portsmouth, Cowes, Southampton, and Poole, for the purpose of better ascertaining the actual state and condition of merchant ships, the statement of which is to he enrolled in their new registry books.— Hunts Telegraph. Letters have been received in town from Naples, which state that the Earl and Countess Cowper were on the eve of leaving, on their return to this country. The Duke of Devonshire still suffers by the contraction of the sinews of the knee; but his bodily health Was good as when he lett this country. His Grace contemplated being in town shortly after the Easter holydays. UNION.HALL Agentleman MYSTERIOUS aDiaall last Captain attendedrAc icoht E eleaat. lit ß iagat A :Tiov N n, tifhi c hoaes E ti nshneade O epool t nFipmffil nl transacted commanded esaaah G t nnteefi o:dr E aeri es N ocvldtu rr taeheast r GENTLEMAN. vdd : ei r gst s A hash N pae pur pose of giving l t o i p n ne busi nessa Wednesdayr the a a n t c m t e h e o e r f e it C h a a o n P y t a t i e attended a meeting of a society for charitable purposes, held at the Flower-pot, in Bishopcgate street Captain Snell left the meeting before 11 o'clock, accompanied by two gentlemen of his ac quaintance,and they parted from him on the city side of London bridge, which he crossed to the opposite side, with the intention of going home to his house in the New Kent-road. Since the above night, however, Captain Snell has not been heard of, al though inquiries have been made in every quarter where there was the slightest prob abilit y of gaining any intelligence. He was described as a man of the most domestic habits , an d has a wife and family, who have been in a state of indescribable affliction since his disappearance. It was represented that t h h e e w F a i s o w p e e r r . f .p e o c y sob t er p p a o t s t e h d e t time,o (ravea n h d e t o w n l e e e n a ving 401. and 50/, in his possession. Furlong, the officer, has undertaken to make a rigid search ha by places in the neighbourhood of the Kent-road, of w hereeareagreat many, l with sibhliec,h there tidings of him. LAMBETH STREET. ooßNwi nfuhoo D tAcyoß elf rt uroaArla p suhcp, o rchapekc.m ß ansh:i, :erEwrel dining -r o om s , v o:dai i nss v gai wa u n-btvr s dil eto . : — houthmagi fo A hssht f,aet nvran ai lean-lookin g ebgnmsaegrtreayf otl Hpirepfeyaeuwi hrrgy:aee hisvhc Hv ,dosi bringss e ori descendant cp Theatre, n oGi e, d ta. tati ntchhnedee t wearer under the denomination of a " swell cove d refusing to pay the score. Miss Sophia Ley, the daughter of the proprietor of the dining-rooms, and a young lady whose con dition does infinite credit to her father's larder, stated that the prisoner, on the previous evening, having taken a seat, ordered a basin of the best soup in true bon ton style; but on being asked, according to custom, to pay on delivery, he was very in dignant, and desired her to wait. Haring dapatched the soup he rang the bell, and, observing that the soup was passable, ordered a dish of meat, upon serving which a second demand for the money was made. " What 1" said he, "do you think a gentle man of my appearance would eat any thing he could not pay for ?" After devouring the meat he rang the bell a second time, and complaining that the meat was tough, ordered some pu ding, part of which he ate, but said it was -- bad stuff. As Mis. Ley made the pudding with her own fair hands she thought the latter observation an insult, and demanded immediate payment for the whole. The prisoner replied very coolly he had no moneit and stretched himself on the bench, placing his feet 1 t hat tar " upon the table, as if he intended to take a comfort• ' able nap, but an offi cer was called in, who took hi m to a less pleasant lodg in g at the station-house. The prisoner admitte d that the charge was COcot' rem, but the fact was h is Sabbath had begu, and. he was not permitted to touch money on his Safri, bath. Besides, the meat was not cocker; ; unfit for Jewish palates. Mr. NORTON—Why did you eat it then ? Pr i " soner-0 ! I belong to the medical profession ; sou never,paid"— 0, cer t a i n l y ; that was my • i have, therefore, a license to eat whatever I please'i . , A coffee-house keeper here stepped forward, sou' was about to address the Bench, when the prisoner -( ' called out in an authoritative tone, " Hold yonek tongue, &r." The MAGISTRATE, however, overruled the Nal' x' mand, and the coffee-man stated that the prisonerq; on Saturday se'nnight, ate an enormous quantity 01 , I rolls, and had several cups of coffee, for which ba Prisoner —No, too.—(Loud laughter.) Ley, the cookshop keeper, who is a g ood-tonl' pered fellow, here said to him in an under tool " Come, be a man for once, and pay for the grub. The prisoner replied that if he had time he would' . send for the trfonev. He was allowed until the office closed, but the ' money not being forthcoming, he was again brought before Mr. NORTON, and said it was a great sham e to keep him locked up so long, because it was not, !) lawful for a Jew to fast on his Sabbath. Mr. NORTON—You had a good supper last night'' Prisoner - God bless you! what I ate was 8 0/ /:, enough for a kitten's breakfast.—(Laughter.) With the consent of Mr. Ley, he was suffered to depart, on promising to call and pay the same even' %• ing ; a promise which, it was ascertained, he conic', more easily make than perform. ~ , , ~ sabbathl.,,! COUN Per Quarter. Morpeth Pen rit h Sheffield Winchester Per Bushel. Carmarthen. , .. v Cowbridge---- Newcastle (Staff.) Northallerton Swansea Warwick Per 8011. Barnardcastle Durham --.--- Richmond Stockton rRY CORN MA DURING LAST WEE NV heat. Barley. 6. tO S. S. tO S. 47 - : 25 4g 52 24 28 37 45 25 27 49 26 50 30 46 55 24 28 s.d. s.d. s. 21. s. d. 50 56 25 28 6 7 0 29 30 80 89 46 50 70 93 3 6 46 80 86 40 48 69 70 29 36 89 99, 3 0 46 o 14 6j 9 1361 0 16 6' 3 136 80 86 70 76 86 90 R 6 9n Oats R. to S. 17 IS 20 15 18 19 .... 19 18 2 2, s. d. 5 ."; 14 1 9 20 23 30 3 4 33 4 0 3 0 3 4 19 22 20 33 46 64 5 0 64 4n 4 Beane• 1.----•-- is 42 4 1 sd. L 00 a ° 0 ) 5 u s 50 10 56 " 1 6 0 ‘ , 6 6 00 6 0 5 6 88 lOC 79 89* 86 80 SO WAKEFIELD Coati MARKEL—L.O. 7. _ , j , s . Wheat, Red, Norfolk and Suffblk —s. 445. to 4Ss fin. ', ---- Lin. and Cam. —s. 425. to 47s fine 1, ,r ---- Yorkshire --a. 42.5. to 4lis • fine r 5: ------ White — s . Va. W 525 fin e . Fs . -- Foreign, Red — s. 385. to 475. : ,•:. White s. 40s. to 505 nn r, . Barley, Norfolk and Suffolk ................ 275. io 305. fin e e s os, Lincolnshire 2ss. 4286_, fine Lincoinshire 25g. ne 398. --- Yorkshire Wold Foreign Means, Old ------ New Oats, Potato F P r o i l e a z n l d and and Small .......... ...: 55 3552— :11 .35 : :::.: t °:tttoti : . 35 S s- -271 i :-' :: ::. finet 166- 1 . nnn fine- S e oil Mealing Shelling 23s. to 265. O. Per_ , ~_,I. Malt 3ss. 395. fine 425. Per :a. Rapeseed SCOTCH MARKETS. h ea 4 t 6 . Barley 2l tn Aberdeen —.. 40 W Berwick----- 30 34 16 18 12 14 18 ru ., .... .o. Coldstream —. 35 42 18 19 13 14 0 71 ;i• ... -- .., ► k upar ....---.. 48 51) 26 31 18 22 F . ,?, 3 1 .... ... 0undee........—. 50 60 30 33 20 25 au,„, .u) .... _.., ' 1 Elgin ---.. 40 50 24 26 16 20 Y-4' '" O 'A 18 7, ~, Inverness-- :is 44 25 26 15 17 2 3 '" ~ „„.. , A Kelso ........—. 37 34 16 19 12 14 --' '`":,:, 4 $ 4 ' Kirkaldy--- 48 61 23 29 16 20 45 I.' ..• : , co 9.5 l" p" `• Perth ------ 50 56 23 26 20 0 00 0 4 - 1 - •.• The size of the measure varies throughout the county! A.` EIIINBIIROH CORN !WARM.: —Feb. may, Or' We had a large supply of all kinds of Grain t 0 ~ —l------'4Oa"•18 1------------..flean--: 1 1.F.2)a51tnt"e3:494 ;" EDI N 81l We had a large the sales were brisl Wheat. First s7s Od Second Third 43s Od ,OH COR supply of Barley. Oats. 31s Od 20s 8d 28s Od 18s Od 23s Od 16s Oct Pease. 304 I'd 2f3i Od 263 Ud s o si 0 04 0 3- 28 , ot i 26, _..__... PRICES OF PROVISIONS, Sc.!. o' 4 Neel, per lb. .... Os. 31d. to Os. 6(1. Fresh Butter, lb. s. 10d• t ° o IL 9 - '' t Mutt0n..,,.,.,....... 031 0 6 Salt Ditto...—. 0 8 0 01, f Veal .0 6 010 Ditto, per ca t. 70 0 0 1 10 t : Pork 0 4 0 6 Eggs, per doz. 0 8 70. Lamb, per qr. 1 6 3 0 OatStraw(kp`.) 6 ,. 1 r., Fallow, cwt.... 35 0 37 0 Wheat Ditto-. 7„' 6 d u Quartern Loaf 0 0 0 7 Barley Ditto ... 6 „u 0 '--' Potatoes, 1711 b. 0 5 0 0 Hay, per 5t....... 0 , EDI NMI/ UGH MEA L MAR ET: —Feb. 4 1 ,4 . Oatmeal at this day's 09 lmp.,„!cer" )er sack above last week's P' Per Stone` t 1411). First Oatmea...... i S econ d ditto ............ , Barleymeal.. ...... pen 118+ Peasemeal .. s.-2d, 145.--450. There was a short supply of and the sales were dull, at a Is. r Per Sack of 2801 b. imp. First Oatmeal Second ditto 1 6 0 Barleymeal 1 4 I.: Peasenseal 1 4 0 Pot Barley—No. 1, per cwt. 12 GLASGOW CORN The arrivals of Grain are very tion in prices. Wheat, per 2401 b British, old new Canada, free Irish s. d. s. d 26 Oto2B 0 220 250 280 290 200 260 Barley, per 3201 b. English 0 C Scottish 2O 0 22 0 Irish MA RKET.—eb. 5. li d eve r g i h sti t ), , a..t a s. n : 8riti5h............. 14 Beans, I,er =ON English ........ 0 Scottish .. . ... . .... 11 . ° Pease, Scoltish 16 0 / 40 Oatmeal, per 1401 b. 13 0 00 Flour, per 2801 b.... 40 0 no odo 0 t gieio° - .15.. - TRURO— ST. AUSTELL—Wheat, —s. to 20;. --Barley, " I.° ...Mt* 7s. to 7s. 3d. vvh e a tC4Re (average) g W e3 A I 91:16d 9d. —Barley, r K I eEyT,:s.. 6d......0g.....,100.07, to IN' se PENZANCE—Wheat, I9s. to 21:k—Barley, 0s • os. to 7s. 6d.—Beef and Mutton, sd. to Butter, 12d. per lb. 5 0: —pork, O n di t ....0 ° it ..;, o, ~. • LAUNCESTON—Wheat (average)l93.6l.—Barley, • - ' vp• 6sMutton, 6d. 03 0 ' . o d .....- Lis d KEAßD—Wheat, •••13. to 208. 0,1. —Barley, 9 3. . to 6s. 6d. Oats' I)4' Bonml—Wheat (average) 19s. —Barley, 83. Oct.--- Ia ..1, HELSTON—Wheat, 19s. 6d.—Barley, Os od. .01 3 ' Sr. COLUMU—Wheat, 19s. — g--Barley , to — g--Barley, Bs. and Mutton, 51d. to 6d.—Veal, Od. — Lamb , Od. W 100. MEETINGS OF CREDITORS AT THE COURT, BASING HALL-STRES" (From the London Gazette.) 0 • 1 TO-MORROW, FEB. 11. ° at / . i • W. F. . Wright, . .‘ v ' Ellis, y e n t a e b r 1 , victualler, eisu, victualler, Fleet-street_draper, f a Star Lamb's street,Cross-lane, s,_ 1 Conduit-streetWa n a e p St. n g m - w a a r ll y _ a . . t . . :ii . i i i i !I 1 T. Curtis, wholesale-ttationes, Budge-row 1 W. Bradley, linen-draper, Newgate-street 1 T. Cary, salt-merchant, High-street, Wapping F. C L. Klingender, schoolmaster J. Middlemist, nurseryman, Shepherd's-bush ............... DIVIDENDS. J. Leeson, hosier, Nottingham ............................................ .. ° J. Kenton, linen.draper, Poplar ................................... *** BIRTHS. On the sth inst., at Trereise.house, Cornwall, the Day Perry Le Grice, Esq., of a daughter. On the Bth inst., Mrs. John K. Kent, of Craven-st a son. .10 11. On the 9th inst., at Page G r een, Tottenham, Row, of a son. ARRED. On the Bth inst., M , at St. James's, l Piccadilly, Mr. Jon C r c hIP jun., of Watling street , to Ann, eldest daughter of r' Clift, of Regent-street. DIED. On the sth inst., Lady Frances Shirley, only cbila Washington Earl Ferrers. m 1 ,0(/' On the 6th inst., in Lichfield, in her 7 0 th ye ar, -,:,, L t or Gresley, sister of the late Rev. William Gresley, Netherseale, Leicestershire. On the 3d inst., John William, eldest son of John Esq., of Cooper's-hill, Englefield-green, aged 4 years' EOO On the 4th inst., in Portland-place, Bath, Frances widow of the late John Manic, Esq., of that city. ogOd e • l On the 6th inst., in Bedford-street, Bedford-squa re, ° Vin O cent, Esq. n Nilso n ' New 6th inst., at Mitcham, Surrey, Mr. John New Bond-street. On the Bth inst., at Old Brompton, Francis Cressy/ell' in his 86th4th a i yer. 14 ' On the nst., Lieut. Thomas Alexander Watt, 11 merly Commander of the Ceesar Indianian. szeflO Y On the 7th inst., Mr. John Hobbs, of the Grove, a i town, aged 56. Ott On the Bth inst., in his 61st year, in Devons . '":ye , ' Queen-square, the Rev. Joseph Ivimey, upwards of M o re. pastor of the Baptist church in Eagle-street, Red Lion -54 septi, On the 7th inst., at the house of her son-in-laws Al t ' olile mus Read, surgeon, of Jewin-street, Mrs. Elizabe th yat" . , relict of the late Reginald Bligh, rector of Romalairk, shire. t rsb "Ci On the 2th ult., at the rectory, Siston, Glouce s o, Sally Maria, eldest daughter of th e R ev . F. Pellyr, ag ed , hoe r On the 2d inst., Mrs. Catherine Philipps, wife of Philipps, Esq., lecturer on music, in Soho-square. PRINTED AND PUBLIeIiED •By MURDO YOUN .- ^ n 14° 1 4 SUN OFFICE, 112, STRAND. T DUB At , 13 LisKEAßD=Wheat, —B. to 20s. Od.—Barley, 1 to 6s. 6d. 8 1.1 7 1, 3 8 1 i i . I.l O — N — W vi h e h a e t a (average)l9s.—Barley, v l e 9 r s a . g 6 e d ) . — l9 s B . — a r i ß e a y r , 1 el s , Sr. COLUMO—Wheat, 19a. to —s.—Barley, Bs. ; i and Mutton, 51d. to 6d.—Veal, Od.—Lamb, Od. t q 1 , •,-, • MEETINGS OF CREDITOR T - 1 1 TREg ' AT THE COURT, BASINGHALL-S --40------ _ (From the London Gazette.) 0 To-moßßow FEB. 11. i. t 0 S. Ellis, victualler, Fleet-street 1 4 J, Wright, Wy raer, iivictualler,jn.,coai_f acStarcoal-factor, t, r , c street, ioss- 1.. e , St. m Wapping-wall ary-. .. t .... ..... ii i g i a 11. i W. Venables, draper, Lamb's Conduit-street T. Curtis, wholesale-ttationes, Budge-row 1 W. Bradley, linen-draper, Newgate-street 1 1 T. Cary, salt-merchant, High-street, Wapping ; F .: Le_ACiiedLs;o:K7lhiins.tog,sei nurseryman, ro s yt e nt: h : o ng o h l , m asin a h s .e t . e .p. r h.. DIVIDENDS. J. Kenton, linen.draper, Poplar Al ...... 'lO i °Q18'.:1d...":0°3 ltS0::;44 '. l i ~. BIRTHS. r t f lad On the sth inst., at Trereise h Cornwall, the . ouse, ............................................................................... 0, 1 ' Day Perry Le Grice, Esq., of a daughter. 1 1 On the Bth inst., Mrs. J o h n K. K en t, of Craven- s treet' a son. Jsll l 1 On the 9th inst., at Page Green, Tottenham, Ibi ll ' Row, of a son. MARRIED. Cil c .4. On the Bth inst, at St. James's, Piccadilly, Mr. Jo o _, Ca- i jun., of Watling-street, to Ann, eldest daughter of DP Clift, of Regent-street. I or' DIED. chi ld On the sth inst., Lady Frances Shirley, onlY Washington Earl Ferrers. "(O lli f rt , 0 , 1 On the Gth inst., in Lichfield, in her 7 0 th year, ne wt , A Gresley, sister of the late Rev. William Gresley,''' it. ' • t';' Netherseale, Leicestershire. miter . On the 3d inst., John William, eldest son of John •+- Esq., of Cooper's-hill, Englefield-green, aged 4 Year s ' v,i, i ' On the 4th inst., in Portland-place, Bath, France s - , , widow of the late John Maule, Esq., of that city. Geedal /I t On the 6th inst., in Bedford-street, Bedford-squa re, i f ViOn Wi•isen, ° cent, Esq. the 6th inst., at Mitcham, Surrey, Mr. John I New Bond-street. On the Bth inst., at Old Brompton, Francis CressWell' 94 4 1 , in his 86th4111 a inst., Lieut. Thomas Alexander Watt , - ' ft S. , f" l i i On the 4i merly Commander of the Ceesar Indianian. ICO DIY On the 7th inst., Mr. John Hobbs, of the Grove, a • town, aged 56. A tte: On the Bth inst., in his 61st year, in Devonsh ire- yer ' ( Queen-square, the Rev. Joseph Ivimey, upwards a .- 0 ,0 pastor of the Baptist clutch in Eagle-street, Red Li° ll o l l SeP t ..h i. : ; On the 7th inst., at the house of her son-in-law, ''',. Olt . , t mus Read, surgeon, of Jewin-street, Mrs. Elizabe th ye, . ( relict of the late Reginald Bligh, rector of Romaldltl,l4 ~ f' shire. Ob it° c 1 On the 2th ult., at the rectory, Siston, Glotice,teo, . 4 , I Sally Maria, eldest daughter of the Rev. F. Pellyr, gig ed 4 .o or ' t Philipps, the 2d h ......___, == .______,,.......... ,.... , ' 1ePM1ip14,wife °E. ' Hipps, Esq., lecturer on music,S ho-square. - I I PRINTED AND PUBLIeIiED RV 111 U RD 0 Y 0 I.i N 0 , 4 1 I SUN OFFICE, 112, STRAND. , i 'l,O .ItKETS I