The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-05 00:00:00

' ,'•
bad regardeft'as but at best an inevitable evil, is iii. i f• 1,,
self a beneficent antidote to the selfishness of a meicane •
tile age—and that the manly virtues would become•eic-c-
-tinct, unless invigorated by the siege and battle-field:.
There are minds so wanting in moral continence that
they abandon themselves to every, popular emotion or `
frenzy of the hour—who, when all hearts exulted at the
signs of international peace, declaimed of the horrors of
war—who now that the demon of carnage has away for
a season, sing of the " canker of peace," and who would
be ready to mop and mow with madmen to-morrow if
Bedlam could be but one day in the ascendant. Such are
they who now ask us to believe that the spectacle of
human passion and suffering which has been enacted dm,
ing the last year in the Crimea, and which has converted
that fair scene into an earthly pandemonium, is neces-
sary for the social regeneration of mankind ; that the
purer feelings and affections of our nature find a healthy
cleveloprnent in an atmosphere so foul and unnatural that
domestic life cannot breathe it ;—that an employment
where men bring every faculty to the task of destroying
others and preserving themselves from destruotion—that
there is the school to unlearn selfishness, and to train us
to the disinterested love of our species S We are asked
to believe these things. Yes, when we are prepared to
pronounce the New Testament a fable, and Christ's
teachings an untruth, we will believe them ; and not
till then.

Pray receive my apology for trespassing at such
length upon your space.—l remain faithfully yours,
Midhurst, 31st Oct., 1855. RICD. COBDEN.

TEE CASE OF TEE ROYAL MAIL SHIP
MERMAID, AT PERNAMBUCO.

LIVERPOOL, Saturday.—Mr. Mansfield, stipendiary
magistrate, was occupied in the magistrates' room of the
Police-court during the greater part of to-day, on an in-
quiry from the Board of Trade, demanded by Captain E.
Devey, of the Royal mail-ship Mermaid (belonging to
Messrs. Pilkington and Wilson's White Star line of
Australian packets), into certain charges made against
him by Mr. Cooper, her Majesty's consul at Pernambuco.
The case being one of considerable importance to ship-
owners and underwriters generally, the Board of Trade
sent down Captain Robertson to conduct it, while
Captain Devey and the owners were represented by Mr.
Hull, solicitor, of Liverpool.
The investigation was private, being only accessible by
the parties interested and the reporters of the•press..

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Captain Robertson, but, by the advice of counsel, re-
fused ; and the magistrate did not think it necessary to
enforce its production.
The facts of the case, as appeared in evidence, were as
follows :—The Mermaid sailed from Melbourne on the
13th of July for Liverpool, with about 200 passengers
and a valuable cargo of merchandise, which comprised
about 400,0001. in gold. Between Melbourne and Cape
Horn, owing to adverse winds and stormy weather, the
vessel began to leak slightly. Some of the cabin
passengers becoming alarmed, entered into corres-
pondence with the captain, who assured them that,
did he think it necessary, he would put into some
Brazilian port, intimating his opinion that such a step
would be unnecessary. Having arrived off Pernam-
buco, and being in want of fresh provisions, he called
there. While engaged in making the purchases required,
some of the passengers reported to the British con-
sul at that port that the vessel was leaky, and not fit
to proceed on her voyage. He (the consul) immediately
' ordered a survey of the vessel, which being assented to
by Captain Devey, was held, and the surveyor reported
the Mermaid as not seaworthy, and recenemending re-
pairs. The conclusion at which the surveyors arrived
was dissented from by Captain Devey, and another
survey was made by American captains, wise also ad-
vised repairs. It should be stated, that during the
period of the surveys, the vessel was outside the harbour
of Pernambuco, and could not enter it without discharg-
ing her cargo and running the risk of great damage to a
vessel of the magnitude of the Mermaid, even for repairs.
The consul, it appears, on the strength of the reports of
the surveyors, required the ship to come into port and
repair the leak, and in answer to the question of Capt.
Devey said that neither the Goverament nor any of
the banks would take charge of his gold, but he
(the consul) would ; and that for so doing his
claim would be 2i per cent. (which on the gold
alone would amount to 10,0001.), besides his per-
centage for cargo, repairs, &c., which it is believed
would reach 20,0001., a ruinous demand certainly
for owners arid underwriters. Accordingly, finding it
impossible even to repair at Pernambuco, where there
are no conveniences fur a vessel of such large dimensions,
and having every confidence in his ship (and having
provided extra pumps in case of the leak gaining ground),
and in defiance of the consul, who threatened to report
him to the Board of Trade, and endeavour to stop his
certificate. Capt. Devey set sail for Liverpool, and ar-
rived, after a fine passage of 34 days, his cargo in capi,
tal condition, his passengers happy and contented, and
his vessel in first-rate order. Knowing the charges
brought against him by the consul at Pernambuco, Capt.
Devey and the owners of the Mermaid (Messrs. Pilking-
ton and Wilson, of Liverpool) demanded this investiga-
tion. Since her arrival in port the vessel has been sur-
veyed in the graving dock, and the repairs required are
known to be of the most trifling character.
In the course of the examination, in answer to a ques-
tion from Mr. Hull, Captain Devey stated he had been
connected with the sea since 1826, and had been a com-
tnander of a ship since 1833. He had perfect confidence
in the Mermaid during the entire voyage. He had com-
manded her ever since she was built.
..

Captain Robertson said it was evident that it would
have been impossible fur the Mermaid to have gone into
the harbour of Pernambuco, and very injudicious to have
attempted it.
The examination of Captain Devey lasted about four
hours, when Mr. John Napier and Mr. Faugg, both
cabin passengers on board the Mermaid, on the voyage
from Melbourne to Liverpool, and who were present at
the interview between Captain Devey did the consul at
Pernambuco, were examined, and confirmed Captain
Devey's evidence in every particular. In addition, they
stated that in common with the majority of the passen-
gers, they had throughout the entire voyage perfect con-
fidence in the prudence and seamanship of Capt. Devey,
who never (both witnesses stated) seemed to entertain
the slightest doubt of the sea-worthiness of his vessel.
The British consul's letter to the Board of Trade (on
which the present inquiry is founded), the surveyor's (at
Pernambuco) report, and the memorial from the passen-
gers to Captain Devey, before calling off Pernambuco,
asking him to proceed on his voyage (having every con-
fidence in the ship) were put in as evidence, after which,
it being six o'clock, the c,ise was adjourned until to-day,
vi hen the eviuence of the local surveyors will be taken.

TEE 11YDE-PA RIC DEMONSTRATION.

Yesterday Hyde-park was the scene of the most ex- •
objectw h
traorelinary and disgraceful proceedings. At an early
hour in the afternoon an innnense mob, composed of all
the disorderly characters of the lower parts of the me-
tropolis, emerged from their haunts and congregated in
the open part of the park. Their purpose evidently was
one of pure and unmitigated mischief, without the least
witht length
aware
of t
he atpretence or allegation of a grievance or any excuse for a
popularon demonstration,
ever. We are happy to perceive that the orators of the
previoueoustra t o
nr, a any
political
3 Sunday and other popular leaders, who cer-
tainly had some very slight pretensions to call together
a
demonstration,
icr
a m
mis-
chief which resulted from the mob of idle lads and dis-
orderly persons who composed the major part of their
audience, have desisted from a course which was likely
to lead to consequences of the most disastrous character.
In fact, these Sunday demonstrations have become, as
was certain to be the case, a most complete nuisance,
and a more perfect perversion of the rights and enjoy-
ments of the public in the parks, of the metropolis can
hardly be imagined.
The greater portion of Hyde-park yesterday afternoon
from three o'clock till some time after dusk was in the
possession of a mob of idle youths and lade, with whom
the authorities, with a praiseworthy discretion, were
evidently anxious if possible to avoid a collisie from the
The
evil may perhaps wear itself out, but to judgs hom a
temper of the rabble yesterday, the authoritie eve
. The mass,
very delicate and difficult task before the
bemselves over the
composed of those materials, spread
t d in pelting
park, and their amusements consiste
d one
another with clods of turf. Their procee ings were occa-
sionally varied by an impromptu fight, but if a hidden
individual, decently or respectably dressed, happened to
fall in their way, he immediately drew upon himself the
whole attention of the gang in his immediate neighbour-
hood, their courtesies were not of the most
hood, and amiable
nature. Hats appeared to be especially obn •
omens, and
the unfortunate wearer of one speedily h
regret his temerity in appearing upon
such A
reason to a,
a scene. Shortly
before 4 o'clock the appearance of an unfortunate Oriental
wearing a fez, and proceeding with
characteristic sedate-
ness from the north-west entrance
of the Park, in the
direction of Albert-gate, was th
ardly and un-English attack. _ e signal for a most cow-
This unfortunate person at
once attracted the notice of the mob, whose mischievous
propensities happened at
scope for employment. the moment to have no other
yrnent. He was hooted and hissed at in
a most outrageous manner. A few sods were then thrown
at him, and shortly he was overwhelmed with a storm of
clods and stones,make to escape which he endeavoured to
for the Marble Arch , and, after
. running the
gauntlet for
nearly a quarter of a mile, he was rescued
by a body of the police, o were in reserve in that
other Orientals direction. After this hseveral
w
were stop-
ped by the police.
A number of arrests of the ringleaders from time to
time were made by the police, and on one occasion &
general entente appeared imminent. An Irish rough,
who had made himself particularly conspicuous, was
seized by the police. A determined attempt at rescue
was made. After a short but severe conflict the police
were victorious, and the man was removed.
It is impossible to give more than a faint outline of
these scenes, which appeared to extend over a great
space of ground, or to enumerate the outrages and at-
tacks which were made upon almost every respectable
individual who happened by accident to be passing or
was present from a very questionable curiosity.
The arrangements of the police were excellent, and
the manner in which they conducted themselves, in a
most trying and irksome duty, highly commendable.
Precautions were taken to prevent a renewal of the
window breaking frolics in the streets leading
from the
which were scattered
park, along a number of the force
in addition to the mounted patrol.

DEFENCE OF THE SOUTHERN COAST.—The port
Shoreham, at the mouth of the Adur, is about to be de•
fended by a fort mounting six heavy guile, with bars•
racks, for the men.