The Sun. — London, England, 1847-05-24 00:00:00

lIARYLEBONE VESTRY. iIS AMD WASHHOUSES FOR THE LA BOURLNGCLASSES-CHARGESAGAINST SIR. PETER LAURIE. On Saturday at a very numerous meeting of the vestry of St. Marylebone, the Rev. Dr. Spry in the chair. Mr. T. H. Smith, Honourable Secretary, accom panied by Mr. Bell, the Secretary to the Committee of Management of the Baths and Washhouses for the Labouring Classes, in St. Pancras, waited upon the vestry as a deputation, to contradict the statements made by Sir Peter Laurie in the vestry on the previous Saturday, as reported in the Times of Monday last, that public plunging baths in these institutions led to gross immorality among the working classes, and that he had witnessed on a v i s i t to the above baths fourteen or fifteen, great fellows, stark naked, indulging in the most disgusting gambols in the water. Mr. Smith said these statements were wholly without founda tion, and calculated to inflict great injury on the useful institution alluded to. The St. Pancras Baths and Washhouses had been established by voluntary subscription, and were conducted by a committee of gentlemen, chiefly composed of the clergy of St. Pancras, and therefore he was sure the vestry would believe that they did not countenance anything like immorality.—(Elear.) The fact was that round the plunging baths boxes were erected, with doors four feet hih, for bathers to dress and undress in, and no Per so:. vas permitted to bathe without wearing a pair of dra,,ers similar to those he now produced. The large plunging bath was calculated to accommodate forty bathers at one time, and the smaller one twenty-five. He (Mr. Smith) had himself accompanied Sir Peter Lauri-- over the establishment, and at that time in stead of fifteen or sixteen great fellows, there was but one person in the large bath, ts ho had just got out, and three or four lads in the smaller baths. In answer to Mr. George Daniell, and other mem.- bers of the vestry, - Mr. SMITH stated that upwards of 70,000 persons had bathed at the St. Pancras establishment since August last, and he never heard a single complaint of immorality or disgusting gambols amongst the work ing classes, who were the parties chiefly benefitted by the establishment. He considered the assertion a gross libel upon the working classes.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. PETAL LAURIE regretted the absence.of Sir Peter Laurie, who was forced to attend a Committee of Privileges held that day in the city. He thought the gentlemen of the deputation had not dealt fairly with Sir Peter Laurie, in not having read to th e vestry the letter which the secretary of the baths and washhouses had written to Sir Peter Laurie on this subject, and the reply he had made thereto. He (Mr. Laurie) would however do so. They were as follow : " Baths and Washhouses Committee-room " Sir,—The attention of the Committee of this establishment has been called to a speech of yours in yesterday's Time.?, in which you are reported to state, that upon visiting these swimming baths you wit nessed disgusting gambols on the part of the bathers. The Committee do not doubt the above report is in correct, and therefore that you will give them an op portunity of contradicting a statement which must necessarily prejudice the establishment in public opi nion. Your early reply will oblige, Sir, your obe dient servant, " JOHN BELL, Secretary. " To Sir Peter Laurie, Kniit." To this Sir Peter wrot e the lowing reply : "7, Park•square, 19th May, 1847. " Sir,—l have to acknowledge your letter of the 18th instant, and in reply, to state that, although the report in the Times to which you refer is accurate as to the number seen bathing, there being but few men Li the plunging bath when I was present, it expressed my opinion correctly. " I used the terms you quote in consequence of what I saw ; at the same time I consider the low compartments in which a considerable number of men undress and dress themselves, all but publicly in each others sight, quite insufficient for preserving that decency which I am certain the Committee are desi rous of maintaining, and for securing which in other respects they consider it prudent to have a guard con stantly on duty during the day, and when gas light is required. ri From circumstances which are forced upon my notice, a 3 a magistrate, I feel convinced that public plunging baths are very objectionable, and likely to produce consequences which are much to be depre cated, and I was anxious to dissuade the vestry of Marylebone from making a public plunging bath any par* ; ,f their plan. I regr't that the report did not state that with the exception of the plunging bath, I expressed my entire appruval of the arrangements of the committee. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, " John Bell, Esq." "P. LAURIE. Now having read these letters he (Mr. P. Laurie) would contend that they put a very different com plexion on the m a tt er , b u t h e ( Mr. P. Laurie) agreed with his relative, Sir Peter, that these public plunging baths were likely to lead to immorality and crime, only known to the police and to those who were called upon to perform the functions of magis • tratei in this metropolis. Why even the managers of these baths themselves are obliged to employ a man. to look after the bathers. Mr. G. DANIELL said that it was a most important point to be cleared up. If it was necessary to have a man employed to watch the conduct of the bathers, it was clearly an argument why these public plunging baths should not be carried out. He would ask the gentlemen, therefore, if the immoral conduct of the working► cusses, whilst bathing, was such as to re quire the surveillance of an officer. Sanyo begged to assure the vestry that such was not the case. A man was employed, but it was in case of sudden illness in the water, and in case of any accident to persoas unable to swim. —(Hear.) In answer to further questions, the members of the deputation stated, that although the two plunging baths were ealculAed to afford accommodation to 66 persons, the number bathing at one time never averaged more than 20. Mr. STANDFORD thought the statements of Sir Peter Laurie had had a most satisfactory contradic tion, and the vestry having almost unanimously con curred in an opinion that the statements made by the worthy Alderman were groundless, the deputation withdrew, and the subject dropped. The vestry separated shortly after. Lord Normanby arrived at his residence in Hill street, Berkeley -square, on Saturday, from Paris, ac companied by the Countess, on a short visit to London. lle will return to Paris in a fortnight, to resume his diplomatic functions at the French Court. There is a., truth whatever in the rumour of hi, Excellency's retirement from the British Embassy Paris. It is inc rrectly stated in some of the papers that Colonel Romilly is appointed Chargé d'Affaires during the absence of the British Minister. That post is fid,-d by Lord William Hervey. the Secretary to the Embassy. Colonel Romilly is Lord Normanby's Private. Sccrrtary. FEARFUL ACCIDENT IN THE GRAY'S INN-ROAD.------ Fri,lac as youth of twelve years of age was knocked do.v's and run over by horses attached to a carriage. br , ;, , .k driven by a person named Richards. The poor b Jy, illferinz from a compound fracture of the skull, was immediately conveyed to the Royal Free Hospital. in the Gray's Inn read, where the operation of trephin ing was immediately and successfully performed, and the youth is now doing exceedingly well. SUPPOSED DEATH OF AN AGED FEMALE FROM FIRE.—Oz Friday information was forwarded to Mr. T. Wekley, M.P., coroner, of the death of Mrs. Mary Tedrean, ageei 70, under the following circumstances:— It ems that the deceased, a widow, residing at No. 8, B • c , onabury.market, was, about eleven o'clock on the night of Wednesday last, suddenly alarmed by a fire which broke out in her room. owing to the bed curtain, having caught fire from the candle. and which, but for the prompt assistance rendered, would have proved fear fully destructive. The fire was, however, speedily ex tinguished, but the deceased was on the following morn iin dead in her bed, the presumption being that death was the result of fright, consequent upon the shoek occasioned by the outbreak. MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR.—On Tuesday week, at Stoke St. Mary, near Taunton, a woman was found hanging from a tree in the middle of the adjoining copse. The rope, which was 10 feet in length, was doubled round her neck four times, and the height of the branch was only five feet and a half from the ground ; a weight of 201ba. would bring the branch to the ground. She was discovered by a man named Clode, as he was passing the dwo wood un d er the copse and he immediately cut her She was i n a k nee li ng pos i t i on, an d h er f eet reste n d on the ground. Notwithstanding the agony she must have felt by strangulation, while th e we i g ht o f h er body was on the ground a struggle was denot nd , not th e s li g h test appearance o f sin the g rass ; an d h er b oots were perfectly clean, whiche would si not have been the case had she travelled far. ewas ß never seen in tile parish before, save by a man named that he saw a person answering who states d—eacihp'tion walking on the previous evening at the bottomesociithe copse, and about 180 yards from the spot where was respectably attired, there butan anything her she was found. The deceased linen was marked, neither was person to give the remotest clue to her identifica'tioono.hlenr her pocket were found ss. od., together with two There were no marks of violence on the body but a red mark round the neck. She appeared to b e a b out 25 years of a.2e. The coroners jury returned an open ver dict of " Found hung."—Localpaper. TEETOTALLERS AT FAULT.—In Edinburgh, last week, a person brought his wife to the police-office, on a charge of habitual drunkenness. The wife , stung by the complaints of the husband, retorted, "You're no sober your eel', man." "Me no so be r !" exclaimed the man, "it's four months the noo sin' I joined the Teetotal Society, and I only fell through last w ee k a wee; b ut you wasn a joined a week, woman, till you began to smuggle, and you're scarcely ever been sober sine. There's waur members o' the sociery than me ; but as for you, you're a disgrace to a' connected wi 't." " Hand your whei:ht, man; I keepit steady enough till I got baud o' a drop o' your ain, one Sunday, that ve had bidden in a corner, whaur ye thought I wadna look for't." " Eh, Jean, was't you that stealt that ? That's waur than ever— ye deserve to be sent to Bridewell for that itsel'—lock her tip, policeman." The police, however, refused to interfere, and dismissed them both. , ICHE SUN, LONDON, kONDAY EVENING, MAY 24, )41441, FLANDERS MAIL. BRUSSELS, MAY 18.—We learn that the state o. General Cliagel's health continues to improve with so much rapidity, that he was able to rise the day before yesterday. The Slunicipal Council of Antwerp has voted an other sum of 15,000 francs, in addition to the 60,000 francs already allowed for the distribution of bread tickets to the poor at reduced prices. Yesterday eight ships laden with wheat and rye arrived at Antwerp, and others were announced as being lower down the river. The police of Liege have just adopted a measure favourable to the consumers; they have fixed a pair of scales in the market-place to weigh the sacks of provisions. This measure has already produced a good effect; most of the sacks weighed on the first day were found to be under the weight indicated by the dealers; they will be obliged to exercise more honesty in future, or they will be fined. PETERSBURG.—WhiIe most of the governments of the centre and south of the empire enjoyed last year a most productive harvest, many governments of the north west, as we now hear, were visited by as great a scarcity, so that the more favoured districts of the empire were obliged to assist them. This failure of the crops has fallen with such severity on East Siberia which was already afflicted by a total failure in 1844 and 1845. Unhappily the supplies were greatly im peded by the vast extent of the country, and the great distance from which the supplies must be brought. As early as March the supplies afforded to the peasants by the Crown began, the amount of the new crop pur chased for Siberia is estimated at much above 300,000 chetwerts. In fertile former years the Government of Irtiulsk alone supplied the whole north-east track of that country to and beyond the frontiers of China. Meantime we learn from Tilsit that the carriage of supplies from Russia to Prussia has begun, and now continues. The court-martial ordered on the 7th . of April to be held on Lieutenant-General Trischatny and Dobruschin, who were imprisoned in the fortress of St. Petersburgh, and on some Colonels who had committed delinquencies in matters relating to the service, was opened a few days ago. The Court was composed of some generals of the highest rank, and commenced its sitting after General Dubruschini, and the other persons accused, bad arrived from the Caucasus. The Court sits in the Imperial Winter Palace. The Emperor himself thought fit to be present at the opening of the Court. The sentence is looked for with much anxiety, and it is supposed that the Emperor will fully confirm it, but, after a short time, will mitigate it. KoMOTAN (IN THE ERZGEBIRGE OF BOHEMIA), MAY 11.—The prohibition of the exportation of corn, pulse, potatoes, and flour was announced yesterday by a letter of the President of the General Aulic Council, and excited the most joyful sensation here. The price of the measure of corn at Ko motain (nearly a hectolitre) fell at once from 28 florins to 20 florins. During the last few weeks alone more than 20,000 measures of corn has passed through Komotain, on their way to Saxony, which excited the anger of our peasantry in no small de gree. The military which had been stationed on the roads to protect their exportation of corn against the mountaineers, have now returned to Komotain. On the part of Saxony, everything possible is done for their Saxon mountains, the inhabitants of which are very much worse off than the Austrians. On our side, after so long a winter, and so many privations, the distress, we are most thankful to say, is at length abating, and all assumes a more favourable appearance. KONIGSBERG.—On the sth of May the sentence, in the first instance, was passed in the affair of Dr. Fulkson's mixed marriage (Jews and Christians). The tribunal declared the marriage to be null and void, and condemned the two parties to all the costs incurred. BAVARIA, AUGSBURG, MAY 18.—At our corn market, yesterday, there was a slight decline in the prices. From every part of Germany the reports are most favourable respecting the appearance of the crops. The Nuremburg correspondent has letters from Pesth of the Bth of May, which say the mails from Hamburgh, Berlin, and Breslau, arrive here very rapidly since the opening of the railway, so that news from England and France is received sooner by this way than by Frankfort, Nuremburg, or Augsburgh. Tine Berlin papers of the sth of May had arrived in Pesth on the morning of the Bth.—Brussels Papers, May 18. PUBLIC EXAMINATION AT SANDII CRS T. The usual half yearly public examination of the officers and gentlemen cadets studying at the Royal Mili tary College took place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the 18th, 19th, and 20th inst., before a colle giate board, at which were present Field-Marshal his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, Lieutenant- General Sir G. Scovell, K.C.8., the Governor, Ma jor -General G eorge Brown, C.B. and K.IL, the Deputy-Adjutant-General of the Forces, Major-Ge• neral T. W. Taylor, C. 8., the Lieutenant-Governor, and Lieutenant -Colonel G. W. Prosser, Superintendent of Studies. At the close of the examination the follow ing officers were presented with the usual certificates of qualification Captain H. T. Butler, 55th Regiment. Lieutenant J. E. Addison, 70th Regiment. In consequence of the superior talents and acquirements displayed by Lieutenant Addison in the highest branches of mathematical science, a special honorary addition was made to his certificate; and the high qualifications in military surveying of both officers were also particularly noticed. The following gentlemen cadets, who had com pleted their qualifications for commissions, were recom mended to his Grace the Commander-in-Chief for ap pointment to ensigncies in the line without purchase:— J. H. H. Parkes. H. C. Strickland. V. H. Close. Edmund Young. H. J. P. Booth. Francis J. Harrisson. J. L. Maclean. John Gordon. W. T. F. Wallace. Gilbert A. Amos. T. M. Moore. John T. N. O'Brien. H. F. Drummond. By the result of the examination, about 50 other young gentlemen were declared to have made various steps towards qualifying t emselves for commissions in those branches of the mathematics which are applicable to military purposes; in permanent and field fortification, and the attack and defence of fortresses; in Latin and general history; and in the modern languages. And 17 had also, during the half-year, compl e t e d t h e course of professional education in military sur vey i ng, an d 23 i n the actual construction of intrenchments and saps in the field, pontooning, &c. THE ALLEGED LUNATICS' FRIEND SOCIETY. Copy of a Petition presented to both Houses of Parlia ment praying for a Committee to inquire into the Defects of the Law of Lunacy. To the Right Heneurable the Lords Spiritual and f Commonsand Ireland, t l e .ro u p, n ,r it a e l d , a K n i d na t d o o t m he o li f in Parliament assembled; ( G rm re u a r t ab ß le rit t a h i e n The humble Petition of the Chairman and Members of the " Alleged Lunatics' Frie nd Society," Aet was passed for amen Most humbly showeth,— di T ng ha t t he in la t w he s r3eelaartinlgB4tos thean arrest, confinement, and treatment of patients alleged t o be of unsound mind in the private asylums, publi c asylums, and hospitals in this country, intituled " An Act for regulating the Care and Treatment of Lunatic s ." That under the said Act the seizure and confinement of persons alleged to be of unsound mind may be still effected in a clandestine manner upon the certificate of two medical men, without the sanction of a magistrate, or the attestation of any clergyman, or of any impartial person of rank, or of recognised respectability and au thority, and by the servants cf private individuals, and not by the officers of the law. And that it appears from the decision of the Court of Queen's Bench, in the case of a lady named Shuttleworth, in this present }ear, that such seizure and confinement of any person may be made at the instigation of a perfect stranger to the party so confined. That when any persen is so confined the law does not require any steps to be taken immediately to ascertain the real state of such person's mind, and the justice of the grounds of his apprehension and confinement: nor does it make penal any unjustifiable attempt to prevent such person communicating with his friends or attorney; so that a person may be confined three months before he can have an opportunity of appealing to any authority for an examination into the grounds of his confinement, as the law does not require asylums to be visited more than four times in the year. That the law does not require that such person should be himself informed of the grounds of his confinement, and of the nature of the charges brought aeainst him; which, if he is not really of unsound mind, is highly unjust, and precludes him from being able to defend himself ; and, if he is of a deranged understanding, is unreasonable and cruel, as it leaves him to the exercise of a diseased imagination in conjuring up visionary grounds for his confinement, so as to become more agonised and excited than when he was first apprehended. That in the year 1845 a clause was introduced in the Act 8 and 9 Vict., c. 100, at the suggestion of this BO ciety, by which it was enacted that the certificates of medical men, declaring that any person is of unsound mind and a proper person to be confined, should also state the fact or facts, hearsay or otherwise, upon which such medical men formed their opinion; that it was the object of this society that that clause should be com pulsory, in order that the visiting authorities of any asylum may at onceiknow on what charges any person alleged to be of unsound mind is confined, and proceed to examine him upon such charges, and to liberate him if they proved to be false; in order also to give any person so confined a knowledge of the charges made against him, so that he may be immediately enabled to prove the injustice of them, if he were of sound mind; and in order also to prevent collusion on the part of per sons conspiring to confine any party as an alleged lunatic; but that by the same judgment of the Court of Queen's Bench, in the c ase o f M rs. Shuttleworth, it has been de termined that that clause is only declaratory, and has not a compulsory force, whereby it is rendered perfectly nugatory as a defence for the liberty of the subject. That the law does not require or allow that such per son should be present, either in person or by attorney, at any inquiry that may be made before the visiting magistrates or Commissioners in Lunacy \into the grounds of his confinement; so that he is unable to cross-examine the witnesses that appear against him, and to rebut any false charges or insinuations, or to cor rect any mistaken assertions or misrepresentations respecting him. That the experience of many patients, during a lapse of several years, and the communications made by several patients to this society, prove that the system of supervision of asylums provided by the law—through the quarterly visits of magistrates and the occasional visits of the Commissioners in the country, and through the quarterly visits of the Commissioners in the metro polis—is highly defective, and not sufficient to detect injustice, to remedy abuses, and to prevent intimidation and ill-treatment, but exposes patients in asylums, who may prefer complaints to the visiting authorities, to the vindictive persecutions of the servants they have made complaints against. That the inspection of the Report of the Metropolitan Commissioners to the Lord High Chancellor for the six months ending 4th of February, 1846, wherein the num ber of miles travelled by some of the Commissioners, an' the number of patients visited by them is stated, will of itself prove the necessity of further inquiry into this important subject, and cannot fail of impressing the mind of those who consider it with the opinion that such a system is inadequate, and essentially defective. That it is the opinion of your petitioners that nothing short of weekly or fortnightly inspection of asylums— and that by persons living in the neighbourhood, who can make themselves acquainted with the cases and characters of the patients confined in them—can be adequate to prevent the abuses which have existed in these asylums, and which society has so much reason to deplore; nor can any less frequent inspection do effectual justice to all parties concerned in the detention of per sona alleged to be insane. That is the opinion of your petitioners that no plan more effectual or more appropriate can be adopted for securing such weekly inspection of asylums, or with so much economy and advantage to the state and to society in general, than by Government availing themselves of the assistance of discreet members of the parochial clergy, together with the magistrates residing in the neighbourhood of asylums, and authorising them to in spect such asylums, and to attend to the spiritual wants and temporal safety and comforts of the individuals con fined in them; and that such a system of surveillance appears to be more especially desirable in respect of the female inmates of such asylums. That it is desirable also that a book should be kept in all asylums, in which alleged lunatic patients, or patients who enjoy lucid intervals, might enter their complaints and observations; and that, on the death of any patient in an asylum, the report of such death should be sent to the Home Secretary, and to the coroner, who should be required and empowered to make inquiries into the cause of such death. so that an inquest may be held on the body, if any circumstances of suspicion should show the necessity of it. That by the Act 8 and 9 Vict., c. 100, power is granted to the Commissioners in Lunacy to give orders to the friends or relatives of patients to visit such patients; but that it appears that the Commissioners evade the exer cising of this power upon the pretence that they see no special reasons for giving such permission; and that it is desirable that the power of availing themselves of this privilege should be given to any solicitor or medical man, whom a friend or relative may desire to employ to visit a patient confined in any asylum, or to any solicitor or medical man, or acting member of any benevolent so ciety devoted to the object of aiding and restoring alleged lunatics, to whom such patient may have made application to obtain his release. That by the Act 8 and 9 Vic., e. 100, any person confined after the passing of that Act may obtain a copy of the certificates upon which he has been confined, upon application to the Commissioners in Lunacy. That it is desirable that this privilege should be conferred upon all persons that have been released, whether previous to or since the passing of that Act, and to persons in confine ment as well as to persons released therefrom ; that it is the practice of the authorities of Bethlehem hospital to refuse copies of such certificates to all persons, unless they are ordered by the Court of Chancery to give such copies ; and that such practice is most unjust, and ought to be abolished. That charges of a very vague, trivial, and insufficient nature, are often alleged as grounds for confining per sons in lunatic asylums, and appear to be sanctioned as valid charges by the Commissioners in Lunacy; amongst these charges may be mentioned the possession of arms, :o defend the liberty of the person (against such arbi car) , and tyrannical attacks as are practisedunder the present lavi)—peculiar notions on religious subjects, and a desire to promulgate the same, by preaching or other . . . _ . .. wise—a disposition s- for theatrical pursuits—slovenly or unusual habits—wearing the beard, or any costume, not in itself indecent, but not customary—walking out late at night—groaning, or excitement under accidental ill- oess, exaggerations regarding property, speculation, &c. That it is intolerable that the liberty of the sub ject, the liberty of the conscienle, and the freedom of thought, of invention, and of action, and the aspirations and exertions of noble and superior minds, together with the weakness of the afflicted, should b. exposed thus to be trampled upon and cramped by the violent, cruel, and sordid interference of persons of mean and confined in tellect and of timid disposition ; that it is incumbent upon the Legislature to provide a defence for the liberty of the subject, by compelling all persons who are con cerned in the confinement of British subjects on such vague and doubtful charges, to bring the parties accused before a jury of their countrymen. That this society do therefore humbly pray that your Honourable House will appoint a Committee to inquire into the reforms suggested, and the abuses pointed out, in this petition, and into the whole system of the seizure, confinement, and treatment of patients in the lunatic asylums of these kingdoms, and of the Channel Islands, with a view to placing the law upon sound foundations of religion, justice, and humanity. And your petitioners will ever pray. Sm. Loss OF TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY POUNDS.— Yesterday information was received by the police that a ' letter, addressed to Mr. Reynolds, of Old Broad-street, from Liverpool, containing two 1001., one 501., and six 51. Bank of England notes, had been lost in its passage thr , tugh the Post-office. The numbers of the notes are known, and payment has been stopped. rADVERTISEMENT.] —TELESCOPE, OPERA, AND RACE GLASSES. —SENT INTO THE COUNTRY FREE UPON APPROBATION. 39, AcR emARLE-sTRHET, PICCADILLY. Newly-invented Achro matic Telescopes, t h e most powerful ever made, with Lenses as olear transparent brilliancy which possess such great powers s . upeze i t y ev a e n ry i other sea pkurinpdosefso andthe waistcoat pocket, A htisotortoingnemtcal observations. Opera and Race-course Glasses, newly-invented Glasses theGlassry great powers —a minute object can with extraordinary &stance of 10 to 12 miles, Those valuable dis tinctly seen t O becomeng. f be dis door purposes. Naval o i Tti w c visitors, should flat be without ose generalv valuable l f u o a r b c l a e carnage c o a l, n e d i oauntd for both eyes, And have.'a may be termed convenient Telescopes . sportsmen, tourists, and sea-side Glasses. A ttie a curl th curious very it Glass, only the size of a walnut, mall powerful Waistcoat-pocket Of from four to five miles. N ewi t ° clia cern objects at the distance ateiy they are placed before imperfecjVinind Spectacles. Immedi dlelight, that mist and dullness which apspenan' either by day or can once removed, every object becomes clear peabr the eyes is at aged defective sight becomes bright and brilliant, distinct, the most and is brought its youthful, natural, and original state. Invisible and to tic InStruMents, for relief of mos , extreine all kinds of Accous deafness. Can tion. --Messrs. S. and B. Solomons, o,. , tietasis, are not in any Way with a person of the same name in their immedla - connected te nor in any part of the country. To prevent neighbourhood , onl to be had at n'ia bt cautious, and observe— y 39, Albemarle takes, *site tl2l Yack HMI. street, Piccadilly, Opp osite LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF EXCISE, May 21. (Before T. HARRISON. Esq., H. F. STEPHENSON, Esq., and CHARLES Ross, Esq.) Thomas Connor, of No. 22, Wilk-street, Spitalfields, was charged with having in his possession an illicit still. Mr. Hughes, an officer of Excise, proved finding a still fitted up at the top of the house named in the infor mation, with a quantity of molasses wash, and the usual utensils for distillation, which he seized, and conveyed the same to this office. The defendant said he knew nothing whatever of the business that wascarried on, nor were the premises in his occupation. He let them to a person some time ago, who regularly paid him rent for them, and he produced the rent-book, with the sums entered that he received from the occupier. The COURT inquired why he did not bring his lodger with him? The defendant replied, that he did not know where to find him. For himself, he was but a weaver, and could bring a character from his employer, with whom he had been for the last five or six years. The COURT gave judgment in the penalty of 501., and condemned the seizure. John Wilson, a seaman, employed on board the Vic toria, Leith steamer, was charged with attempting to remove a quantity of spirits, with intent to defraud her Majesty of the duty thereon. The COURT gave judgment in the penalty of 251., and condemned the spirits. Thomas Curtis, of the Waterloo-road. coffee-shop keeper, was convicted in the penalty of 751. for retailing spirits and beer without a license. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. SENTENCES AND SESSIONAL RESULTS. Subjoined are the principal sentences as revised and corrected at the end of the session:— TRANSPORTATION FOR SEVEN YEARS.—Mary Cullen, Eliza Williams, Mary Smith, Ann Jones, Ellen Weele, Elizabeth Williams, Charlotte Jackson, Val. Ganby, J. Webb, J. Rowe, J. Purman, W. Green, W. Webber, G. Lingwood, J. Roberts, Michael Rush, J. Williams, E. Jones, J. Basterfield, J. Alexander, J. Bartholomew, G. E. Langley, Geo. Smith, W. Weston, F. M'Lean, C. Gardner, W. Lane, W. Ward, Rd. Letts, W. Davis, C. Phillips, J. Williams, W. Haley, W. Gamble, R. Elridge, R. Barron, J. Godfrey, Ann Murray. Ten Years—W. T. Worley, J. Denby, F. M'Carty, T. Bailey, W. M'Manus, J. Pohl. For Fifteen Years—Nicholas Keys, Alfred Wilbeam vlias Brown , H. Campbell, J. Sp r i gne ll , A . D uc k et, J. t Hobbs R. Lower, W. Pedgett. For Twenty Years—J. F. Weston. for arson. Death recorded against Edward Robinson. Imprisonment, &c.—Ordered to be confined to hard labour in the Houses of Correction:— For Three Years—Lydia Basy, for forgery on the Paymaster-General. For Two Years.—James Edward Green, R. Martin, T. Cook, J. Brown. For Eighteen Months.—W, Grabham, J. Williams, J. Graves, E. Bowen, G. Tazy. For Fifteen Months. —J. Chivers, on two indictments. For One Year.—J. Price, C. Price, Thomas Knight, J. Denne, W. Knight, G. Smith, F. Claus, W. Jones, G. Potter, Julia Donovan, Mary Ann Gilham, Elizabeth Earle, Ann Murray, Susan Palmer, J. L. Masterman, G. Williams, Henry Dawson, J. Donovan, J. Sutton, J. Barratt, C. Taylor, S. Freer, G. Miller, J. T. Silk, W. Martin, J. Arnold, G. B arr , T . M yon, W. Jones, G. White, J. Glover, J. Ward, F. Hawker, J. Langley. For Nine Months—W. Varley, Ann Murray, T. Tovey, Thos. White, W. Smith, W. White, G. Smith, G. Jones. For Six Months—L. Wright, alias Smith, Ann Doyle, Emma Best, Sarah Crockford, Ellen M'Manus, Ellen Duley, Agnes Fitzgerald, W. Elderkin, H. Moredale, J. Flanagan, R. Inwood, J. Puncher, R. Churchill, S. Garrett, M. Collins, J. Connell, G. Russell, W. Norman, A. Hargan, W. Gibbons, H. Fisher, G. Chusey, J. Bar nett, H. Edwards, W. Jackson, G. Allison, A. Bryan, C. Hurd, W. Cohen, G. Clarke, J. Clarke, A. Berlyn, H. Page, R. W. Cook, J. Davis, 11, Flint, W. Scott, J. Brady, J. Howe, J. Vine, J. Brairne. For Four Months —Ann Barnes, John Moriarty, Margaret Sheen, Jane Wheatley, Ann Sheen, Margaret Sheen, Jane Smith, M. Simmonds, R. Beazley, J. Driscoll, J. Moore, J. Smith. For three months—Elizabeth Page, Agnes Martin, Sarah Stevenson, Harriet Trowers, Catherine O'Brien, Ellen Sullivan, J. Robinson, J. J. Hornby, J. Redington, B. Strowers, J. Townsend, B. Dennis, G. Hemmings, H. Hutchinson, J. Wright, J. Murray, W. Haynes, J. Stowell, R. Tentris, J. Anthony, W. Chaney, W. Gur ling, F. W. Torevrn, F. Freesland, J. Smith, C. Cohen, H. Church, J. Lucas, J. Downs, J. Riley, G. Davis, E. Hore, J. Elliott, J. Smith. Imprisoned for two months, 10; one month and under, 24; acquited by the petit jury, 40; ignored by the grand jury, 10; remanded, 5. The Court adjourned to the 15th day of June next. EARNING A FORTUNE. The Birmingham Advertiser gives the following in eresting sketch of the personal history of an eminent ronmaster:— " Mr. T. M--, of well known iron-works in the parish of Tipton, was formerly a working collier, and, to use his own simple narrative, went to work, when only seven years of a , ,ze, under Mr. Richmond Aston, with whom he continued some years. When he was sixteen years of age his father was killed in a coal-pit. He was the eldest of eleven children, for whom and an aged mother he continued to toil. He succeeded by care and industry in bringing up this large family, and he sup ports his eged mother to this day. ' When I married,' says he, ' I gave my mother all the money I had, viz., 4s. 6d.' He married when very young, and was exceed ingly persevering, so much so, that he earned one shilling an hour; but, unlike many in similar situations, he never entered a public-house, but cared only for his family. Early in life he joined the Wesleyans, for whom he entertains the strongest affection, believing, as he does, that he attained to his present position through the aid, instruction, and comfort he derived from them. As a proof of the sincerity of his affection, the munifi cent sum given by him at th e centenary fund is already on record. At the present time he has given upwards of 2001 towards building schools for the Wesleyans; nor is his liberality confined to them, for he gave 50/ towards the erection of St. Paul's Church at Tipton, with 71. for incidental expenses; and he states that he has found that the more money be has given away in the holy cause of charity, the more his wealth has increased. He reared in his own house twenty-one fatherless children, all poor relations. Here was a mind not refined by edu cation, yet always sensible of the sufferings of the poor, and always ready to alleviate distress. You see that man on the bank,' he said to Veritas, pointing from his drawing-room windoW, he was a poor basket-maker, living with his family in a cellar. I discovered, on in quiry, that his conduct was good--I took him into my service, and found him useful.' Mr. M— went through all the gradations—first, the collier boy ; secondly, the butty; thirdly, the royalty man; and, fourthly, the sole proprietor of ironworks—and is now universally acknowledged to be the largest freeholder in the parish of Tipton. Notwithstanding the pressure of a large family, he earned enough by the labour of his hands to purchase a piece of land of Mr. Isaac Aston, of Tipton, on which he erected six houses. These were his first fruits. He next bought, on Tipton-green, a piece of freehold land, which he presented to the Wesleyans, and on which their school now stands. At this time he began to prosper in the world. He took royalty under the Rev. W. B. Collis, then under Mr. Elliott, and then under Sir H. St. Paul. He finally bought, at the request and solicitation of his late employers, Messrs. Flateley and Jesson, Tipton Colliery, f or w hi c h h e paid down 7,000 Z, and the rest by instalments. This large purchase, the amount of which from prudential motives we refrain to mention, excited the attention of his neighbours, who said that he would never be able to pay for it, and that he must have taken leave of his senses—what could he be think ing of?—did he want to injure his children, and lose his previous hard earnings? Time rolled on, and in a few years he completed his purchase. Having paid for it, he gave an entertainment to 2,000, including the wives and children of his guests ; the next day 400 of his labouring men ate up the fragments, so that nothing was lost. There were 400 charity children, too, who partook of his bounty. 1;e feeds the hungry and clothes the naked, even to this day—his weekly contributions are J large indeed to the necessitous. He got money so fast that he bought the estate adjoining his own, then an estate of Mr. Fletcher, then Burnt Tree estate, and Richard Fryer's estate and Dudley Port, then an estate of Dankes Brothers, at Wednesbury, as also other pro perty ; in addition he has seventy houses all his own freehold, and at this time he employs between 400 and 500 pair of hands. His property at this time is upwards of 200.000/., besides the increased value given to it by three line of railway that will go through his estates. Some years ago he was met by an old acquaintance, named George Bailey, who accosted him in these words, • Well, Tom, there is a blessing reserved in heaven for you, for the good that you have done here upon earth in relieving all who are in a state of destitution, and particularly the fatherless children and widows !' He never had any money left or given to him ; his whole life seems as though the sun never ceased to shine upon him. He took the property of Coseley-moor Colliery, tinder Sir Horace St. Paul ; it was the only one that turned out badly, and was inspected by Sir Horace's confidential agent, Mr. Bradley, who represented it to Sir Horace. He afterwards made an appointment to meet Sir Horace at the hotel, Dudley, for the purpose of obtaining a decrease of royalty. It so hoppened that Sir Horace was about to dine with Lord Dudley, but on hearing of the arrival of Mr. M—, he said, Mr. Bradley, take off 3d. per ton from Mr. M—'s royalty.' Are you aware, rejoined Mr. Bradley, how large a difference this will make r Sir Horace replied, Never mind, M— is a worthy man—let him have the benefit.' The advantage he derived from this reduction was up wards of 2.0001. The family of this great man loek back with pleasure upon the fact that their father has been the maker of his own fortune, not like same others who are ashamed to own that once they were poor, and who have climbed so suddenly to the top of the ladder that they know not how to balance themselves. Al though strongly attached to Wesleyanism, he entertains no bad feelings to the Church, believing that she has within hersAf the elements of her own resuscitation ; and, as a proof, his youngest son, Eli, is being educated for a minister of the Church of England." [ADVERTISEMENT.]-LEGS THAT FOR ELEVEN YEARS WERE SWOLLEN TO NEARLY TILE SIZE OF TIIE PERSON'S BODY CURED BY HOLLOWAY'S OINTMENT AND PILLS. --Mrs. of 1 ark-street, Wellington, Salop, caught a severe cold after a confinement, when her legs commenced swelling, and so went on until they becam 3 nearly as large as her body, breaking into sores and discharging a thin watery humour, which continued for eleven years. 7he pain was generally most excruciating. Every treatment was tried in vain, until at l ast she used Holloway's Pills and Ointment, which e . ihiffeportoedy., peTrfheic.tec.utrrurd e. i tr io ia r r g y he alth asecnerealw.a communicated by w R wonderfully . of jusoNo. 29.,11P0aultw-satyre,set,utaWwelalingtxttonzt., 24 8 4 od str b sa y ci al , l l4 c o lzgAl:ts, AO At THE COLLIERY EXPLOSION Al BEESTON. Particulars of this fatal catastrophe , b y w hi c h n i ne individuals lost their lives on Monday last, have already appeared in The Sun. The adjourned inquest on the bodies of eight of the sufferers was resumed at the Unicorn Inn, Beeston, before Mr. Blackburn, coroner for the borough of Leeds, on Thursday last. Mr. Reuben Booth, of Wakefield, stated—l am under ground steward in Mr. Benjamin Burnley's colliery, at Methley, and have been fourteen years engaged in that occupation. lam well acquainted with the working of mines. Yesterday I examined Messrs. Harding and Co.'s pit, where the explosion occurred, in company with their steward, and other persons. There was good air in the pit yesterday morning , but it cou ld certa i n l y b e im proved. I think there is sufficient air for men to work, but it has too far to travel. I thi n k t h e men m i ght work in the mine, but it is dangerous ; it requires a fresher air. If I had the management of the mine I would cause more air to circulate through it immediately. I examined the place where the accident is said to have happened. It is about 500 yards from the shaft. Some old workings had been broken into at that place. The wall of coal had been taken away, and it had every appearance of having been taken away by the colliers. It bad not, in my judgment, been taken a way b y the explosion of fire-damp. There are pick-mark s r i g h t through the wall. I d o not think the inflammable air ignited at the opening, but further on in the mine, when it came in contact with the purer air. Ido not think the lamps would burn much at the opening, because the air would be too impure; but as soon as the inflammable gas came in contact with the oxygen of the atmosphere it would burn much more quickly. The explosion, in my opinion, has taken place 30 or 40 yards from the opening into the old workings. I think the men had tskPii a considerable portion of the wall down, if not the whole of it, before the explosion. The witness here produced and explained a plan' by which he said the ventilation of the mine might be much improved. The plan he recommended was to have two currents of fresh air instead of one. James Thomas, coal-miner, in the service of Messrs. Tottie and Gaunt, stated that he agreed with the last witness in most of what he had stated. Witness could not form an opinion as to the exact spot where the ex plosion had occurred, but had no doubt that the inflate tillable air came fro m t h e old workings, an d h e thought the opening had been made by Jessop and Longstaff, and not by the rush of air. He had had one son work ing at Messrs. Harding and Co.'s pit, but he should . go no more until t h e pit was altered. He would neither send a son of hi s nor go himself to work in any pit again where th ere were hundreds of yards of coal lying dead, as in that pit. Mr. R. Booth, on being called, said if Jessop and Longstaff h a d b een ordered not to ' make the opening, as stated by a w i tness on the first day of the inquest, he (Mr. B oot h ) should attribute the explosion to their carelessness. George Bell, undergrou n d• s t ewa rd at Messrs. Hard ing and C o .' s colliery, was next called. He admitted that the plan suggested by Mr. Booth, which was to have two currents of air instead of one, as at present, would circulate the fresh air more generally through the pit, but he s t ate d that it would lessen the quant i ty of pure air in the parts where the men were working. Mr. Harding said he thought the plan recommended by Mr. Booth a good one, and desired his under-steward to pay attention to it. The jury then consulted for about ten minutes, at the :—" end of which ti me they returned the following ver,ittal et, in writing Th e j ury f i nd a verdict of • Ac?id Death,' and th e y d es i re to accompany their verdict with a strong reco mmen d ation to Mc. Harding immediately' to adopt the a lt erat i on proposed by Mr. Booth, and by en which they are o f op i n i on the circulation of air will be greatlyimproved, and the mine rendered safe for the men to work in. And the jury also think that the furnace should be attended to day and night, and more particu larly on Sunday nights." The CORONER said, the jury having expressed them selves in that manner. he had no doubt that Messrs. Harding would adopt the necessary precautions with the view of preventing such unfortunate results as they had now been investigating. Mr. Harding—Very well. BRISTOL SUGAR MARKET, MAY 21.—We continue to experience a steady demand for sugars; and which, being freely met by import ers , a f a i r bu s iness has been done since our l as t report at firmer pr i ces .—B r i sto l Mercury. STATE OF TRADE. FOREIGN WOOL MARKET, MAY 21.—The demand for foreign wool continues limited ; prices being steady at late quotations. ENGLISH WOOL MARKET, LEEDS, MAY 21.—We have not any change to notice in this market during the pre sent wi ek. Sales are very flat, and prices have a down ward tendency. LEEDS.—The transactions at our cloth halls, both on Saturday and Tuesday, were to a very small amount, the merchants purchasing only to positive orders. The foreign houses are also doing less than they were a few weeks ago. The manufacturers are complaining heavily of the state of trade, and are still further curtailing the production. Prices remain about stationary. There have been a few buyers in the town during the week, but their purchases have been very light, and business is duller in the wa re h ouses th an was t h e case a f ew wee k s since. BRADFORD MARKET, THIIRSDAY.—The sale of wool is about the same as last week. There is no improve ment, and a very small amount of business is being done at former prices. The staplers are unable readily to supply from the producers' stocks at what they are sell ing at. We can report no alteration in the yarn market, which is steady. The export houses have re trenched to some extent. There is no variation in prices. There was a decidedly better market to-day for pieces both for America and the Continent, than for the last fortnight; but this is only comparative. Prices • are stationary. MANCHESTER, THURSDAY EVENING.—There are now some indications that prices have seen their lowest point, as many buyers who have hitherto held off, in expectation ()flower rates, have since Tuesday bought at the prices otferd on that day. _ All parties seem con vinced that there is now no prospect of any permanent ilFcline on the staple; hence a disposition to do business at present in both cloth and yarns at the rates of the day. A largs business Is doing.for the United States. Our dyers continue miserably dull. LEICESTER. Business still continue in the same inanimate state as reported in our last. More frames were laid down last week, and the number of hands out of employ are much greater. The want of facilities to convert bills into cash are as difficult as ever, and operates completely against employment. The further rise in the grain market Intik( s any likelihood of a demand, for eitner goods or labour, more remote than ever. There is nothing doing in yarns in the regular way ;_ spinner s a re f urt h er fl curtailing their ti me . W oo l s are at, staplers not being disposed to buy but for present demand.—Leicester Journal. BUSHIRE. The following interesting letter is from Bushire, dated the 2d of February. After describing the anxiety with which he looks for the mail from Bagdad, the writer says— I am going out to a small cottage I have built about fourteen miles from this, inland; it cost me about 601. At first the King of Persia interdicted my building it, as he feared we should do as we did in India, fortify these small demesnes, and so get on by degrees. They had a most absurd report that we intended to cut a canal to where these buildings are, and that I should then tiring the ships to them. I believe it was referred to Lord Aberdeen, who, through our envoy, convinced the Shah that it was simply a habitation of the smallest de scription to avoid the extreme heat of the sea coast in the hot season ; the plan on which it is erected having the singular property of being very cool during the nignt and morning, and the wind blowing across the heated sands during the day, becomes so exceedingly dry and rarified, that by means of tattys, a sort of grass from India, called cuskuss, fitted in frames to the dbors (the same being kept constantly wet), it is made artificially extremely cool and pleasant, so that the harder and hotter it blows the quickei the evaporation, and conse quently the cooler the inside of the mansion. I have not et seen my dwelling, but I understand from others, that it is a very nice one, larger . than the re s id en t' s . I nave had stained g l ass windows made for it, and have already secured a purchaser in my successor when I quit the command. I have a garden to it, for I believe a ssilor would not give much for a house without one. I have had 'ots of seeds put in. Igo out for the first , one this week, and intend passing a week or ten days there, for change of air, and hope to get a little sport ing, as there are wild hog and antelope, and wild duck and teal, and the boburrah, a very game bird, between the bustard and florican, about half as large again as a pheasant. I have been purchasing a few more carpets in addition to those I have got in use, and I dare say you will be able to complete your drawing room with these, As I have had an eye to its size, but it must be by side and end carpets ; this is the fashion of the country, and I do not think it looks ill. "I must now tell you that the winter here has been attended with much loss to the native craft or ship ping, many large boats having been lost from the severity of the weather, it blowing very hard from different quarters, and the sudden shifts of wind in a confined sea being very dangerous ; as vessels, to escape from the danger of one wind, anchor so that when the wind shifts, which generally takes place in the night, they are thrown on the island or point of land from which with the other wind they had obtained shelter. I have just despatched the Elphinstone,_ one of the sl oo p s o f m y squa d ron, to t h e ass i stance of the Deriah Dowlet, a Buglah (large boat) of some 400 tons, which report announced to have been wrecked about eight miles from this on a dangerous point of a shoal, whither she had run in the night for shelter, and before morning a sudden shift of .wind to the northwest drove her on it, and it is reported that all but seven men are lost. She had, crew and passengers, 180 odd on board; but I do not listen to any reports until I get a letter from Captain Lowe, of the Elphin• stone. There is about 30,0001. of property in her, part of it treasure. I sent a diver in the Elphinstone, in the event of the money or cargo being recoverable ; a number of other boats have been lost ; this ought to prevent the merchants of this place from trusting their money in the native boats, our ships occasionally going down take a small quantity of treasure, rarely realising more than 1001. to the captain, of which an eighth comes of right to me. Should the Elphinstone recover the property from the wreck of the Deriah Dowlet, a very large salvage would be awarded of which a sixteenth would come to me, but _ I gm not over sanguine, and would a deal rather have saved a few of her crew or passengers. I have been reading a memoir of Major Rawlinson's on the Cuni form or arrow-headed character ; I think it one of the most curious works of modern times ; you must get It ; I have no doubt Richardson can procure it for you. Her Majesty has desired that it may be dedicated to herself, and offered the author knighthood, which he has, I understand, refused ; be has nearly mastered the language. and given a translation first in Latin and afterwards in English. of a long inscription cut on the titce of a rock in Behistan, in Persia, by the order of Darius, of the principal events of his reign, couched in very beautiful and scriptural-like style, and with all the brevity of the ancients; this has been a dead lan- guage to the world these 2,000 years; the whole credit . is not Major Rawlinson's, as many orientalists on the continent have busied themselves since the commence ment of this century, but the Major, who is a resident of Liagdad, has succeeded more pre-eminently than others from his knowledge of Sanscrit, and other eastern languages, the same inscription being cut in two languages—the Medean and Cuniform. I had a letter from him the other day, in which he mentioned that he had made every preparation for receiving me at ICerman shah, about halfway between Bagdad and Ispa han, and had stationed horses and men to assist me, a most liberal and kind arrangement for my comfort, had I gone down from thence to this via Bagdad. I believe he is princely in his hospitality, and I almost feel vexed that I should have put him to so much trouble for nothing. I have yet a hankering after paintings. and have ordered four to be :painted by a Persian artist at Shiraz. I have already two, one by the artist (whom I have desired to paint me two more) exquisitely finished. I have furnished him with two sheets of copper, to paint another subject, flowers, fruit, and birds. These paintings I have not yet had heart to part with on a chance voyage, and so think of keeping them with me until I go myself to old England. My two horses here, that carried me up. wards of 800 miles, up to Lpahan and back, without being sick or sorry one day on the journey, carne down to the coast in excellent condition, are a good proof of the blood and bottom of the Arabian. I have had them now nearly two years, and shall most probably sell them to advantage in Bombay, as a great many horses have perished this season by shipwreck ; in the Deriah Dow let eighty horses were lost.; in another boat eighty three horses were drowned ; in another some sixty were lost ; so Bombay must be in a bad way fur horseflesh, and the supply annually is not very great; I dare say my half-breds would fetch a high price, and win every thing on the course ; that, however, might or might not happen, don't alarm yourself, I am not going to try. My companions in my projected trip into the country, are very busily getting themselves ready for sport; they are the young officers of the Euphrates, a ten-gun brig; you may depend upon it they are right merry at the thought; I am to have them three at a time, one set on at a time. My man Abbass has informed me he shall require twelve donkies to carry the necessaries. I have three Persian servants, a cook, (Portuguese christian), and horsekeeper; they all require a donkey each, and one for my horse's clothes ai.d necessaries. The Persian donkeys are famous, go at a good pace without trouble, and are a good size. I expect also two or three visitors. My butler, par excellence, Mr. Abbass, a clever young Persian, makes capital marma lade of an orange grown at Kassaroon just like the Seville orange, 50 for a shilling: the middies eat im mensities ; it is made with sugar candy." THE THREE COUSINS, A NOVEL, BY MRS. TROL LOFE.—" The Three Cousins" is equal to any of Mrs. Trollope'e former productions. The personages are well discriminated. The Bishop of Solway, whose virtues are all of the negative character—the proud, crafty, ty rannical, selfish, yet intellectual, Sir Jonah Lexington— the handsome roué, Mr. Edward, his nephew—the pretty, heartless, coquettish, Mrs. Cobhurst—the gay, mischievous, Lord Brittington—the meek Bishop's lady —the subdued, broken-spirited Frederic, brought up as the natural son of Sir Jonah—and the lovely, natural, unpretending Laura, the only child of Mr. Edward Lex ington, and the heiress of Sir Jonah, make up a most rfective corps of characters, and are managed with a ;Teat deal of constructive skill.—Brit innia. WAKEFIELD CORN MARKET, MAY 21.—The ar rivals of wheat continue small. but so great a portion of the demand for flour is now met by barrels from Liver pool, that millers buy extremely sparingly, and the im provement of 2s. p e r q u art e r which was established on Tuesday is lost to clay, and barely last week's rates o b.. tained. Barley s l ow , a t ra ther less money. Oats and shelling also each a shade lower, and beans slow without alteration in value. The high prices of grain seem now to check the demand for all articlee. DEEP-SEA FISHING. KEEP THE GOLD IN THE COUNTRY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,—How can it be wondered at that the amount of gold once in ihis country has of late years so rapidly left it? And now that the reason is justly understood, wh3 not immediately commence and prevent a further re currence of the evil? The great number of the inhabi tants of this country that have of late years been fed not only upon foreign grain, but also upon foreign beef, pork, butter, cheese, &c., has u nquestiona bl y b een the cause of the drain of gold —as foreigners knowing that these are necessaries of life, that hungry people will buy whatever they should barter in return, when they bring their provisions to our markets, and find that money is of more value to them than to exchange for our own merchandise—so they take away our gold. It must be quite evident to any one, that on islands like Great Britain and Ireland, where the population is so rapidly increasing (end they cannot cut away into the back• woods as in America, and forage for themselves), unless the food natural to this country is increased in the same ratio with the growing population, we must depend upon foreigners (who have a surplus) for provi sions ; and if it so be that those foreigners who sup. ply us with food have improved their machinery and manufactures in articles they hitherto required from us (in considerable quantities) to such an extent, that now they will not require so much of our goods in proportion able exchange for their commodities, which is here daily increasing in demand, the balance of exchange in trade, by bartering merchandise, will be lost to this country, and the foreigners take away our gold for their provi sions. Where, then, will be the great wonder if, in the course of time, every coin will be drained from our own coffers, unless some urgent measures are speedily adopted to draw forth the food natural to the country for the increasing population. If labour is to be consi dered wealth, how many thousands and tens of thou sands of men might be all successfully employed in pro secuting the deep-sea fisheries ? Thus would they not only be coining wealth for themselves, but also increasing food for the inhabitants, both in this and other countries, where they are fond of fish. An increased supply of filh here would keep down the price of butcher meat and poultry—lessen the demand for foreign salted pork, beef, cheese, and butter, with all the other et ceteras—and keep the gold in the country.—l am, &c. Edinburgh, May 18, 1847. H. DEMPSTER. SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING THE AMEND,VENT OF THE LAWS. TO TILE EDITOI? OF THE SUN. Court of Bankruptcy, London, May 22, 1847. Sza,----The Lord Chancellor has proposed to the House of Lords a Bill to consolidate and amend the Bankrupt Law. Lord Brougham has also a Bill on the same subject. Neither of them attempts to abo lish the power of the individual creditor to seize pro perty for his own sole and exclusive use. Yet the existence of this power is the greatest evil of the ex isting law. It is the instrument by means of which every fraudulent debtor cheats his creditors. In 1844 I printed a short outline of a plan for amending the law of Debtor and Creditor, containing ten propositions, of which the sixth was in these words :---- " Abolish executivm against property at the suit of individual creditors, and substitute seizure, as in bank ruptcy, and thus have only one seizure and one expense. "If a debtor, adjudged to pay a debt, does not pay it, the strong presumption is, that it is because he cannot. If so, he is an insolvent ; for if he cannot pay one creditor, a fortiore, he cannot pay all. If he is insolvent there is no reason why his property should be seized by one for his exclusive benefit, to the prjudice of the rest ; that one being always either a fictitious creditor in league with the debtor, or if a real creditor, either a favoured one, or the most harsh, exacting, and selfish. Execution against property, to au honest creditor, is generally not only useless but ruinous ; for, after the creditor has seized, a claimant to the property starts up, and it is im possible in the nature of things for the creditor to know whether the claim is good or not ; he either withdraws after having incurred c o n s id era bl expense, or ent er s into the contest, and is defeated by a fraudulent bill of sale, which he has no possible means of proving to be fraudulent." In 1846, I submitted to the Society for the Amend men of the Law (21, Regent-street), a paper on the same subject, which I enclose. I sent both papers to all the law Lords, but seemingly to no purpose. If the paper makes the impression on your mind which I cannot but anticipate that it must make upon any mind not blinded by law prejudices, I hope you will advocate the reform I wish to promote. The common law has always sanctioned the doctrine of preferences amongst creditors ; Chancery and Bankruptcy havelsanctioned equality of payment. Both doctrines cannot be right. Surely we need not hesi tate between them. The common law doctrine may give all to a knave in league with a debtor, under the Chancery and Bankruptcy doctrine the honest creditor must get something. Your obedient servant. S. M. FANE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sin,—A Coroner's Inquest was held yesterday at Hampstead, on another case of infanticide ; con nected herewith, allow me to mention a nuisance bearing on sanatory regulations—the supply of water, and the character of many dwellings of the poor. The infant's body was taken from the pond in which it was found to an empty house; while performing the post mortem, the gentleman who assisted, and my self, were immensely annoyed by fleas—troops of fleas. When we left the house several hundreds of them must have been on our clothes. On reaching home, the linen was carefully rolled up and put into scalding water ; the dead bodies, next day, might have been swept off. Coats and other outer gar ments have required sulphur fumigation, and subse quently drenching in the garden. I have known two or three instances of poor families coming to reside in houses as infested as this. Imagine a working man and his family having, in such rooms in which we were but an hour,—children, beds, husband, wife, huddled together—bad ventilation and drainage, little or no water. Some years ago, I was directed by a medical student, of general intelligence, to visit a case of "eruptive fever of suspicious character." I found the poor child covered, literally covered with " flea bites," acute, sub-acute, and chronic. On my telling as much to the good dame, she replied, smiling, "La, Sir, is that all ! well, we do swarm with fleas • one might sweep them up ; but the b oar d s are so old, and the child is a stranger, and not used to them." Ohl Mr. Editor, it is a sad thing when use makes a human skin like a rhinoceros' hide ; there is a cause, too, to suspect that something like moral fleas often turn amiable sensibilities into hardened Devils. Hampstead, so far from being worse than other places, as some would idly fancy, has a thousand claims beyond most others for salubrity; to dwell on which, would be "to paint the rose.' It is true, it may be, that some matters I have published in a recent pamphlet, are not worse than they sere thirty years ago ; that there is nothing new in all the derails which sanatory investigations bring, per force, before the public. Yet, the very antiquity of these faults, and their widely spread character, spread all over the world, show the need of a remedy,—demand, at least, their removal from England. There is, however, something very new in drawing public attention to these things ; something very healthy good and holy in our gracious Queen and our modern Govern ment, telling the nation that these sources of evil must be exterminated. Improved dwellings for the labouring classes, like the delightful, though simple, model houses at Bag nigge Wells, must soon be built for all, the rents ranging from ls. 6d. to 6s. per week. Interim, an unentermitting supply of pure water, light, and fresh air, would cleanse out many a hole and corner, now the hot beds of vermin, disease, and death, in our present ill-constructed tenements for the industrious millions. The recorders of sanatory facts should he very careful to check an idea going abroad, that indi viduals, as proprietors of particular places, are especi ally culpable; nor may the working population be allowed to fancy their homes "showed up" from any other desire than that of attempting to remove evils under which they suffer, neither which they, by themselves, have th,t o remove. leisure, knowledge, nor strength, earnest—in the style of publicity ome Tbere is something workman-like, hbusasninaetsosr-ylifkaeo—ts sneer, some shud assume. Some people laugh, s LWeteits say like e der, at the simple or Themistocles—' Strike, but hear f u disgusting details.s them, not the pub niembiefroeod,etffhtt tbhoemeaxdisetetnoce alter such . facts, particu larlylishing them, is the disgrace. A likimnopwlretadngte, ofthof principles animal physiology is may know how t o li ve in ao order to command health. These laws must b e fa miliarised that men men to the rising g enerations—must be made as familiar as their daily bread—as their pious, bible, nn rsery faith. This acco m p lished, we shall have ad vanced another step in sanatory reform, from which small eminence the public will see others more lofty to with they will be led on to the intrepid and zea lous little band of far-seeing, thinking, free-acting men, who, "through evil report and good report," dare to do what they believe to be right. Mankind at large are deeply indebted to the daily journals for the steady, humane, and spirited manner in which all have advocated sanatory measures; rising above the bias of party, the weekly as well as daily papers have advanced this wise and humane move. The mass of society may well afford an apology for some political animosities, or factious squabbles int') which the press now and then may be hurried, seeing it starts up gratuitously, unanimously, to labour in such a cause for the common benefit of our common nature. I have the honour to be Your verl'ylrO EbedDileTnkßs'ervant, CIHB4A7R. LES F. J. LORD. Hampstead, iray 18, Thr - - t. announcements of any names for the bishopric of Manchester, or of the other new sees, are premature —the arrangements not being yet is form for say de cision or aolection.—Observer. THE POLISH BALL. Friday evening one of the most splendid reunions Of ank and fashion of the season took place at Willis's Rooms, St. James's, in aid of the Literary Association of the Friends of Poland, of which Lord Dudley Stuart is the well-known and distinguished patron. It was a most gratifying, philanthropic, and festive espousal of that chivalrous cause which has so long enlisted the sympathies of enlightened Europe. and which of late has become more intensely interesting than ever in connec tion with Russia's re-impressment, if we may so speak, of an unnatural wrong upon a noble people, and her flagrant violation of laws that were sacred among nations. The attendance was of a character truly distingue, as the following selected list of the principal persons will show :—The Hon. Mr. Murray, Prince Louis Bonaparte, Major Schonswar, Lord Walsingham, Lord Dudley Stuart, Hon. Mr. de. Grey, Colonel Singleton, Earl of Dartmouth, Lord Grosvenor, Lady Jervis, Alderman Farebrother, Sir Willoughby Jones, Viseouut Milton Captain Gardner, Hon. Arthur Dourlas, Lady Stratheden, Hun. Miss Campbell. Hon. W. Scarlett, the Earl of Fingall, Countess of Fingal!, Lady Emma Plunkett, Major Harvey, Chevalier Piihre, Colonel Meyrick, Sir Percy Shelley, Captain Chiches ter,. Mr. Hume, M.P., L or d M or t o n, Lady de Cliffa!;l9 Capt. Compton, Marchio ness Cl a nricarde, Lady Em."Y de Buurgh, Hon. Captain Lindsay, Captain Sothe b y, M. Bruce, Capt. Broke, Sir P. Broke, Han. Lady Eleonora Palmer, Hon. Sydney Pierrepaals s pe eeer t Lady C. Fitzroy, Lord Chas. Fitzroy, Hon. Hon. Mr. Pechell, Mr. Milner Gibson, m.r., Countess 9f, Malmesbury, Sir J. Drummond, Lady Sarah Fina l Lady Guernsey, Marquis of Northampton, Lady 'Car' Lord Henry ',altos, Sir Stratford Canning, Princess Cullimaki, Lord C. Chichester, Lady Fergusson Davie, Hon. George Keane, Hun. Fane Keane, Capt. Forrester, Baron Zedwitz, Sir IL Meux, Sir H. Blake, his Excel iency M. Van de Weyer and lady, Hon. Miss De Salts, E. Forester, Sir W. and lady Molesworth, Mr. Gibson Craig, DI P " Mr. Vivian, M.P. Lord Carew, Lady L. Wilbraham , Sir C. Morgan and Lady, C on t e D e Burke, Countess Paulett, Lady James Stuart, Colonel Elphinstone, M.P. , L ad y Adelaide Clarence, Lady C aro li ne Gower, Lord and Lady Blantyre, the Ladies Fitzwilliam, Hon. Dudley De Ros ! Countess of Glasgow, Lady Diana Boyle, Countess of Bective, Hon. G. Astley, Lieut. Bruce, Mr. Macgregor, Lady R. and A. R uss ell, Hon. F. Blake, Lady Walls court, Sir R. B. Phillips and lady, Lord Cranstowa, Mr. Manners Sutton, M.P., Miss E. Gower, Honour' able e d LMeiisgsh Brown, ,rj a Lady Leigh,ady s a s s t ia y ti n s , c e r s eardele, g e l s y t ...i y a n ges : Lady Leslie, Viscount Bury, Lord and Lady INtfo ll ' -- Marquis of Kildare, Honourable C. Lawless And Miss Carroll, Colonel Angerstein, Larl of Norbury, and Viscountess Ebrington, Honourable Mr. Mostvn, Marquis of Abercorn, Lord Claud Hamilton, Lady Earl Palmer, Marchioness of of Munster, Lord Walsingham, Count Eisendel, Price° Witold Czartoryski. The ladies patronesses rendezvoused in the ant e ; room at ten. They were the Duchess of Sutberlana the Duches of Bedford, the Duchess of St. Alban s, th e Marchioness of Aylesbury, the Lady Charles Fitzruok the Lady Caroline Sandford, and the Lady Agnee, r 2 i;c h Whilst the procession entered the ball-room the national anthem was played in striking style. The Viscount dances then followed. They were the Camelia Qua drille, under th e di rec ti on o f her Grace the Duchess of Bedford; the Strawberry Quadrille, under the d irection of Lady Ch ar l es Fitzroy and Viscountess Milton; the Polish Colours Q ua d r ill e , under the directio n of Vln countess Ebrington; the Mazurka, under the direction al Lady Agnes Duff. Altogether the ball was one of the most brilliant of the season. I RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, MAY 22. STOCK EXCHANGE.—We have to report an improved M ar' ket for shares to-d a y. A good amount of business has bee° transacted, and higher prices paid. The shares most in de mand were—Midlands, London and North-Wette rn, Stafford, West Riding Union, and Leeds Extension. The sales were Birkenhead, Lancashire. and Cheshire Junction, 2 dbl.."' Birmingham and Oxford, 6 p.—Caledonian, Halves, 1 dit —Dundee and Perth, 30 ex new—Eastern Counties, Y° 11 :1 Extension, dis.— East Lincolnshire 1 1 4 p.---Leeds a n d Thirsk," dis.—Ditto, Preference, par—London an North-kestern, 170—Ditto, Quarters (G. I), 151 4 1 , P h.. -- Ditto, Quarters, New,9 l / 2 p.—Manchester and Leeds, 3( 4 p.—Ditto, 321. Shares Ni dis.—Ditto. Fifths (late WI Riding Union), 1 4 dis—Midland Stock, New ,l % Th —N°rt British, New Quarters (scrip), 3s. 9d. p.—North Stafford shire, 1% p.—Preston and Wyre, 35—York and Newcastle. Preference, 2 3 4 p.—Dutch Rhenish, 3% dis. MANCHESTER, MAY 22. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Birkenhead, Lanca shire, and Cheshire, 2 dis.—Birmingham and Oxford J une. tion, p.—East LanCashire, New, 2'A dis.—Fleet- Dewsbury, and Manchester, % dis. wood, Preston, and West Riding Manchester, 1 9-16 dis.—Leedg , and Lincolnshire, Eig hths ,,ol/4 dis --North Staffordshire, • 1 9-16 p. —Manchester, Sheffield, LEEDS, M A Y 22. and pnces d deal of stock remains marked SToctc the R x C littlet i A wes business z. A n d a o l i m o g o s d t o u r n i o i n g t e t r e p w t e ed ek , decline has fall wherever sales are pressed. A goo unTlheses sales on the market, ready to supply any demand that may arise ; bu t a o r d e v n an ot o m eo ad o e t to any n dates. extent, s are—East Lancashire , New , 2 dis.—Ditto, New (scrip), te. 6d. dis.—East and West Yorks hire, 1 % dis.—Great North. , a speculativev i view prospective ern, 17 R dis.—Huddersfield and Manchester, 76 dis.—Leeds and Thirak, New, 5 1 4 dis.—Ditto, Preference, 4 8 . di s .—L e eds, Wakefield, and Midland, 19s. 6d. dis. -- London, Brighton. and South Coast, 51—Manchester and Leeds, 321. Shares (late Extensions), 9s. dis.—Ditto, West Riding Union, Tee 6.1. dis.—North British, Thirds, 1 P.—Ditto, Extension (scrip), 2a. p.—North-Western, 38 8 . dis.—South Yorkshire. 1 4 Doncaster, and Goole, 15s. dis.—Wharfdale Junction, 1% dia. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, MAY 22. STOCK EXCHANGE.—ThesaIes are—Eastern Counties. 183 4 —Great Northern, 325. dis.—Newcastle and Berwick, New. 30s. p.—York and North Midland (East and West Riding), 9 L ii P. HULL, MAY 22. STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Blackburn, Cliths roe, &c., Preference, 3 p.-Hull and Selby (10 per cen t. guar.), 102-Manchester and Leeds (West Riding Union), % dis.-Newcastle and Berwick, New, 28s. 9d. p.-North Bri tish, Quarters, 795. 6d.-Ditto, Extension (scrip), Is. 9d. p.-- Ditto, Thirds, 455.-North Staffordshire, 30s. p. EDINBURGH, MAY 21. STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Aberdeen, 254-- Airdrie and Bathgate, 31 . 14 5. - Arbroath and Forfar, 271. , Iss. -Ditto, Halves, 15/.-Ayr and Galloway, 1/. 19s. 6d. - Caledonian, 241.-Ditto, New, 11. 15s. 6d.-Caledonian and Dumbartonshire, 1/. 145.-Clydesdale Junction, 421. 10s.- Deeside, 31. 55.-Dunblane, Donne, and Callender, 11. 7s. 6d. -Dundee and Arbroath, 404-Ditto, New, No. 1, 291.- Ditto. New, No. 2,301.-Ditto; New, No. 3,4/. 7s. 6d.-Dunde• and Northern Junction, 14 9s. -Dundee and Perth, 301. ss. -Ditto, New, lIL-Ditto, Quarters, 21. 135.-East of Fife, 2/. 55.-East Lothian Central, IL 135.-Edinburgh and Bathgate, 8/. 103. -Edinburgh and Glasgow, 681. 7s. 61 . - Ditto, Heailtvhe,sa,u2d2/G.-raDuittutno: 181. -Ditto, Preference, 201, burgh, , -Ditto, New, 2/. 7s. 6d.- Ditto, Quarters, I ls.-Edinburgh , and Northern, 16/. 155.-Ditto, New, 2/. 165.-Ditto, New port, 61. 12s. 6d.-Ditto, ditto, New, 1/. 145.-Edinburgh and Perthand Ayrshire(New,Col.l)44-11*Dii°ttso*--, N D e it w to, st H oc a k l , ve 4 s o , 4 Bs l . o - s. G_las Di g t ow tZ : Halves, No. 1,8/. I 55.-Ditto, Halves, No. 2, 61.35.-Glasgow. Dumfries, and Carlisle, 51.-Glasgow and Garnkirk, 38/. 10s. -Glasgow General Terminus, 12/. 155.-Glasgow and Greenock, 17L-Ditto, Halves, 8/. 155.-Ditto, Preference, 84-Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan, 44-Great North ' ocirthuaßrtreirtsis,h3,l.3ol4Bsl.o36.7.-North ~f Scotland, 24-Great Northern (late Direct Northern), 21. ls.-Ditto (late London and York), 24 -Newcastle and 14. Berwick, i. 24/. 6d.-Ditto,lss. -N Quarters (scrip). 13s. 6d.-Ditto, Thirds, 2/. 3s. ° 6d.---' Ditto, Fifths. 61. 155.-Scottish Central, 2 31. 10 'oh Scotti Grand Junction, 195.-Scottish Midland, 19/ 3...- and Hereford. 10s.-Shrewsbury, Oswe t *-Shrewsbury 155.-Ditto New, U.-Stirling and Dunfermline, and Chester, 9 4 Stirling and Midland, 2/. 58.--wish nfertnline. 4/. 1811 . --. 10s.-York and Newcastle, 34/. 10 aw and Coltness. 481. Ditto, Preference, 6/. 103.-D' e 8.---Ditto, New, 141. 105..- 6d.-East Indian, 2s. 6d.-- Gre i a r ct Bombay and Madras, 2s. Southern of Madras,2s.-Ma t North of India , 35.-Great dras, Nellore and Arcot, Is. 6d. GLASGOW, MAY 21. ' STOCK Ex . CHAITGE.-The sales A are berdeen, 24>4- Caledonian, New, 3 65.-Dirrct Bombay and Madras, 2s. 6d. -Edinburgh and Glasgow. Quarters, 16%-Edinburgh and Perth (New Co.). 305.-Glasgow, Kilma rnock , - d Ayr, 40%-Ditto, Halv es , N o. 1, 81.-Ditto, Halves, N o. an d 2. 5% - Great Northern, 405.-Kilmarnock and Ayr D' irect, 135. -Manchester and Southampton, 10s. No rth British, Thirds 445.-Scottish Central, 23%. THE FOLLY or AVARICE.—A very strong proof of the fully of farmers holding their corn in expectation of realising enormous prices, has just been communicated to us by a gentleman of this town, who is well acquainted with the circumstances here represented. It appears that recently a farmer, in the neighbourhood of Beverley, commenced thrashing some wheat, for which, nine months ago, he refused 70s. per quarter, and alter labouring from seven until eleven in the morning, he succeeded in obtaining four quarters seven bushels of corn, and the enormous number of 3,250 mice. The loss sustained by this farmer ought to operate as a caution to thoso similarly engag,d, that those who hoard their grain whilst so many thousands are starving for the want of food, may eventually become serious losers.—Hull Advertiser. BIRTHS. On the 28th of March last, at Bathurst, River Gambia, the lady of Thomas Francis Quin, Esq., of a daughter. On the 15th inst., at Geneva, the wife of T. E. Preston, Esq., of a son. . . On the 17th inst., at Yarmouth, the lady of Nathaniel Surtees, Esq., of a daughter. On the 17th inst., at Brixton-hill, the lady of Thomas Thornton, Esq., of a son, still-born. On the 18th inst., at Edinburgh, the lady of A. H. Wyk , Esq., of a son. On the 20th inst., at East Ham House, Essex, the lady of Frederick Francis, Esq., of a son. MARRIED. On the 19th inst., at All Souls' Church, Langham-place, George Leslie Lee, Esq., to Eliza Anne, only daughter of G. A. Brown, Esq. On the 19th inst., at Colwich, John Thompson, Esq., of Tamworth, to Mary Magdalene, daughter of William Han bury, Esq., of Moreton House, Staffordshire. On the 20th inst., at St. George's, Bloomsbury, William Curtis Hugman, Esq., of Great Ormond-street, to Elizabeth, second daughter of William Binns Wood, Esq., of Blooms bury. square. DIED. On the 24th of January last, at Melbourne, Port Philip, John Wyberg Shaw, Esq. On the 18th of February, at sea, on board the Gloriana, Alethea Duke, the wife of Major Edward Bond, of her Ma jesty's 39th Regiment, aged 28. On the 26th ult., at Canterbury, Captain William Williams, paymaster of the 16th Lancers. On the 19th inst., at Cheltenham, Louisa Decree, the wife of Colonel James Jones, K.H., unattached. On the 20th inst., at Ringwood, George Henry, eldest sots of Captain F. A. Griffiths, LA., aged 21. On the 20th inst., Mary Ann Lamb, aged 83. At Gilton, Barnstaple, Rebecca, second daughter of Cap• in Ridgway. London: Printed and Published by idURDO YOUNG, of No. 111. Strand, Printer, at The Sun Othee, No. 112, Strand. In the Precinct of the Savoy, in the County of Middlesex. Monday, May 94, 1847. -