The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-12 00:00:00

MARKET NEWS.-(THIS DAY.)

CORN EXCHANGE.
GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN
For the week ended July 12, 1355, made up from the Returns of the
Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns in England and Wales
per Imperial Quarter.
WHEAT. EMMET. (
OATS. RTE. 1 BEANS. PEAS.
763 hi 31s 31 Ste 61 , 44s 6d j 46s 41 I 40s 9d

" No. 31,562.
" Police Court, Colombo, July 1, 1854.
"David Reed, master of the barque Flora Macdonald,
complainant, v. Charles Thompson and John Martin,
articled seamen of the barque Flora Macdonald, de-
f endants.
" Charge—Assault and battery ; striking the com-
plaisant with their fists on board of the barque Flora
Macdonald, which is now at anchor in Port of Colombo,
en the Nth June, 1854.
" Parties present. Charge explained. First defen-
dant pleads guilty ; second defendant pleads not guilty,
and says, Ido not call any witnesses.'
" David Reed-is duly sworn and states—l am master
of the barque Flora Macdonald, now at anchor in the
port of Colombo. The two defendants are articled sea-
men, part of my crew. I charge the said two defendants,
Charles Thompson and John Martin, with assault
and battery, striking me with their fists on the quarter-
deck of my ship, barque Flora Macdonald, on the morn-
ing of the 30th June, 1854, about 7 o'clock a.m. A
party of police brought five of my crew on board in cus-
tody, they having been absent without leave, and the
ship was ready for sea. The two defendants were of the
five so put on board. The police-boat had just shoved
eff, and was about a ship's length from the Flora Mac-
donald when the assault was committed. I ordered the
chief mate to set the foretopsail, preparatory to raising
the anchor, as I was perfectly ready for sea. He went
forward. I turned and was walking aft. First de-
fendant, Thompson, took me unawares, and struck me a
severe blow behind my right ear, which stunned me
very much. I fell against the mizen rigging and my cap
fell overboard. Immediately after second defendant
struck me twice in front of my right shoulder. Both de-
sired me to call back the police party ; if I did not that
I would be a dead man before I was out of sight of the
Island of Ceylon. Second defendant also said that the
first man who laid a hand on the windlass to raise
the anchor would be a dead man. I refused. Said I
would not call back the police. But the police, having
seen me struck, returned on board. Then I considered
it better, for the safety of the ship and my own safety,
to give the two defendants now present into custody.
Four others went into the boat ; they had refused duty.
I have a full cargo of coffee, cinnamon, oil, plumbago,
and cotton. Ido not consider it would be safe to go to
sea with the two defendants, or with the other four who
have just been committed to prison for 12 weeks.
" Defendants ask no questions.
" By Police Magistrate.—When I reached Colombo
my crew was in good order. I had a largo quantity of
liquids on board. Much drunkenness ensued on board.
I suspect, but cannot prove it, that cargo was broached.
I have had to pay about 301. for deficiencies. I ascribe
all the insubordination to drunkenness among my crew
since I came to anchor.
(Signed) " DAVID REED.
"J. Dawn, P. M.
Wm. Batten, police-serjeant, is duly sworn, and states :
I went on board of the Flora Macdonald yesterday
morning in command of a party of police, escorting five
seamen, including the two defendants now present. I
went on board and got a receipt from the captain, com-
plainant in this case for the five seamen. I shoved off
from the ship's side, and when about 50 fathoms off, I
saw the men walking aft. I saw first defendant go on
the poop high quarter-deck and strike the captain, com-
plainant. In about half-a-minute I saw second defendant
go up on the poop and strike the captain, complainant.
As soon as I saw the first blow struck I had the boat
turned round, and went on board immediately. When
second defendant was striking the captain first defendant
went and struck the chief mate. I took the defendants
and four others into custody, and brought them on
shore. I was so close to the ship that I could distinctly
identify the persons who struck the captain. Second de-
fendant asked me if I had seen what had been done. I
said I had. He said, "I am very glad of it ; we did it
on purpose that you might see it."
"No questions. (Signed) "WM. BATEEN.
(Signed) J. DALZIEL, P.M."

" No defence.

" Judgment.—The charge is clearly and fully proved
against the defendants, who seem to have committed
this offence in order to get away from the ship. In this
they will no doubt succeed, but at a cost upon which
they most likely did not calculate. The conduct of the
defendant Charles Thompson was that of a coward and.
an assassin, to go behind his captain and strike him such
a blow as might hive fractured his skull; and second
defendant, Martin, expressed satisfaction that the police
serjeant had seen him strike Captain Reed. This case
might have been sent before the Admiralty Court, but it
has been deemed advisable summarily to dispose of it, so
that the Flora Macdonald, now ready for sea, may not
be detained to the great disadvantage of several parties.
Neither the four men convicted under the 78th section
sth clause of the Mercantile Marine Act, nor the two
defendants in this case, have alleged anything whatever
against Captain Reed ; they have not said that they re-
ceived any bad treatment from him.
" The said two defendants, Charles Thompson and
John Martin, are adjudged to be guilty, and are sen-
tenced to receive 20 lashes each on their bare backs, and
to be imprisoned at hard labour for 3 months.
(Signed) "J. DALzIEL, Police Magistrate."

GUILDHALL.—John Pearson, a Sunday school
teacher, and Joseph Crawford, a porter in the employ of
an auctioneer in Chancery-lane, were placed at the bar
before Alderman Hunter, the former charged with steal-
about 170 oz. of silver plate, value about 701., the pro-
perty of Mr. Jury, of 19, Coleman-street, and the lat-
ter with receiving the property, knowing it to be stolen.
Mr. Pollard, from the office of Mr. fabler, appeared
for the prosecution. From the evidence it appeared
that Pearson was in the employ of the prosecutor,
and some time previous to September last he ob-
tained access to the strong-room, in which a chest
of plate, which was deposited with the prosecutor
for safety, was kept, and abstracted therefrom a
quantity of plate, consisting of a tea service and
some forks, spoons, &c., to the weight of 170 oz.,
which he disposed of to Crawford, who at first denied
having bought the property on his own account, alleg-
ing that be merely acted as Pearson's agent in selling
the plate, for which service he had received about 71. or
81. ; he, however, subsequently stated that he bought
the plate of Pearson, and his wife sold it for him. On
the first examination Pearson admitted taking the plate,
and said he sold it to Crawford, who held his receipts for
the money. Those receipts wero found in Crawford's
possession, and it was urged iu his behalf that he had
given nearly the full value for the plate.—The deposi-
tions having been prepared, the prisoners, who reserved
their defence, were committed for trial,

CLERKENWE LL.—AGGRAVATED ASSAULT UPON
AN INVALID LADY.— Wm. Humphries, who described
himself as a house agent and appraiser, residing at
19, King's-read, Bedtord-row, appeared on his own
recognisance, accepted by Mr. Tyrwhitt, for assault-
ing Miss Elizabeth Johnstone.—Mr. Ballantine appear-
ed for the complainant ; the defendant was repre-
sented by Mr. Morgan, solicitor. Mr. Ballantine
reminded the court that on Tuesday night, the 3d
of July, a person named Edward Money was given
into custody for forcibly entering the complainant's room,
and violently assaulting her, in which act he was aided
by the defendant and another man, who evaded being
given into custody at the time, but soon after Money
was locked up at the police station he was bailed out,
and next morning forfeited his recognisance of 1001.,
the bail assenting that he had just learned that he
(Money) had left for the Crimea.—Mr. Ballantine—l
requested that the defendant might be remanded with
heavy bail, to enable the officers to arrest Money. The
complainant is still annoyed b. y his emissaries.—Mr.
Tyrwhitt granted the remand with two solvent bail in
50/. each. A warrant was also issued for the apprehen-
sion of Mr. Money. The complainant, who appeared in
a most weakly state of health, and was accompanied by
her medical adviser, was then led out of court.

LAMBETH.—.James Tasker, an urchin not quite 14
years of age, was placed at the bar before the Hon. G. C.
Norton, for final examination, on two different charges
of impudent robbery.—Mrs. Charlotte Porter deposed
that on the forenoon of the 26th of last month, while
standing at her door, the prisoner came up to her with
two flower roots in his hand and said that two boys,
who bad just run away, had pulled them up in her
garden. While exhibiting the roots the prisoner came
close to her, and when he was gone away, she missed her
purse, which she had safe but a few minutes before, con-
taining a sovereign and a half, and about 30s. in silver.
Witness felt her purse cafe but a very few minutes be-
fore, and she was perfectly certain the prisoner must
have taken it.—Mrs. Eliza Bond, the wife of an oilman
in Wal worth, deposed that on the 27th of last month, the
prisoner and another boy, about the same age, entered
her shop, and asked to see some painting brushes that were
in the window, and she bad to stoop in reaching for them,
and in doing so the prisoner and his companion stood
close on each side of her, and when they were gone the
missed from her packet is canvas bag containing 181.
18s. in gold and silver, and which she felt safe a few
minutes before the prisoner and his compassion bad en-
tered the shop. The prosecutrix while giving her evi-
dence seemed very much affected, and said that herself
and her husband bad been but a very short time in buii.

The CHAIRMAN, after some preliminary observations,
said their object was, as far as they could, to reconcile
conflicting opinions, and by mutual concessions to bring
against the abuses of the state the combined energies of
a firm and united people. The means by which they pro-
posed to carry out that end he would now endeavour to
explain. At meetings of that kind, and held for the first
time, some persons must take the initiative, which their
executive committee had done, but with exclusive spirit.
Their intention was to invite members from amongst
those assembled to co-operate with that executive coin-
mitte. They did not care whether he was a blacksmith
from the forge, or a weaver from the loom— (cheers)—
and having been selected, he would be admitted
to all the privileges of the executive committee. He
need not point to the vast majority of those who now
sat in the so-called House of Commons, who were either
elected through ancestral traditions of the county in
which they had lived, or in boroughs because they had
interested themselves in forwarding a railway or opening
a coal mine ; but the great mass of those who got into
the House of Commons did so simply because they had
a balance at their banker's, which they were disposed
freely to distribute among the electors. (Cheers.) The
power of this country was not confined to the three king-
dom., but extended through every clime ' • and being so,
what must they think of the assurance of any statesman
undertaking the superintending management of 40 colo-
nies, which, he believed, was a task beyond the strength
of any political Hercules ? The consequence was that a
great expense was entailed upon this country, for they
were compelled to send out troops to prevent them from
falling into civil war; and he firmly believed that up to
this time the United States would have been with this
country in federal alliacce bad it not been for the admi-
nistrative ignorance of statesmen of former times. A
few years ago, too, Canada bad been nearly separated
from them through the mismanagement of this country.
He then adverted at great length to the way in which
India had been for a great number of years governed,
and contended that the people of that country had been
robbed of their wealth by men placed in authority, which
had been used to purchase seats in Parliament through
the means of rotten boroughs in this country. Mr. Ver-
non Smith, who at present held the office of President of
the Board of Control, had never been in India, and knew
nothing whatever as to the requirements of the people.
If they wished to put the " right man in the right
place," they would select some old Indian officer who had
returned to this country, and who, by a residence of 25 or
30 years in India, knew the wants of that great nation.
(Cheers.) That day, on looking over some documents,
he found that no man held office for administering the
affairs of India on an average more than- 18 months ;
and as soon as he obtained an insight into his business,
and was likely to become a useful public servant, from
political changes he 'was removed, and was succeeded by
some other persons as ignorant as he was himself. Ai
the Admiralty the administration of its affairs were not
confined to a sailor, but to a civilian ; for Sir C. Wood
was at the head of it, and he knew nothing at all about
ships ; and they considered that a great evil, in not avail-
ing themselves of men of special experience in the de-
partment to which they were attached. If the people
asked for an extension of the franchise, they were told
they were not in a position nor had learnt how to exer-
cise it ; and if that rule was good, on what principle, he
would ask, could they put a civilian at the head of the
Admiralty, to have the direction of all their fleets that
were sent to sea. (Cheers.) In the papers of that day
he saw that Sir E. Lyons—a name that they must all re-
spect—had committed agreat error in his promotion of the
Naval Brigade' in giving a lieutenancy to a lad not 19 years
of age, merely beceuse he was the son of Sir J. Graham ;
while the older officers of the Naval Brigade had been
passed over, and the honours given to this young man
simply because he had a friend at Court. Had they an
admiral at the head of the Admiralty such things would
scarcely have happened ; or if they had, his own promo-
tion would have been stopped by the force of public
opinion. But it was not so with the civilian, who was
changed from one office to another as might be required.
Another great point for the consideration of the sectional
committees was the subject of free trade. If they were
to have free trade, why not admit free of duty the
wholesome wines of Spain, France and Portugal. He
held that any act of Parliament that excluded from those
shores that which gave sustenance to life was one that
ought to be condemned, for a man wanted something
more than bread alone, and was entitled even to some
of the luxuries, if his labour enabled him to purchase
them. It would be for one of their sectional commit-
tees to investigate the short-comings of free trade. If
the Chancellor of the Exchequer pretended that he
wanted the revenue derived from tspirits, let him not
collect it from that poisonous beverage that injured the
body and destroyed the mind. (Great cheering.) He
next adverted to the question of secret diplomacy, and
contended that Government had no right to conceal
from the public the real facts of a case in which they
were so deeply interested. In 1853, Mr. Gladstone
brought forward his peace budget, and they were told.
that they were to be taxed to the extent of something
like 50 millions; but soon after the despatches of Sir
Hamilton Seymour arrived from St. Petersburg, in
which they related the conversations that bad taken
place between him and the Czar. The Czar said the old
man at Constantinople was sick, and if he might be
allowed to take care of him ho would cede to England
the possession of Egpyt and the Isle of Caudia ; and yet
all that was kept from the knowledge of the people.
They were not made acquainted with the fact that Rus-
sia had been for a quarter of a century preparing for
war, while England had not prepared at all, and the
lamentable result of that secrecy had been seen in their
army before Sebastopol. He did not mean to say that
everything in progress of negotiation should be made
known ; but as soon as they had something tangible to
deal with deeply affecting the people of this country, it
ought to be laid before both houses of Parliament.
(Hear and cheers.) If they considered such an associa-
tion necessary, he would then ask their sanction to the
machinery they proposed for effecting that object. He
hoped that they might from that evening date a happier
state of things, and that the different classes, instead of
by disunion aying the game of the enemy, might make
a determined assault on the citadels of corruption.
Mr. HERBERT INGRAM, of the Illustrated London News,
moved the first resolution, and said that a financial re-
form was greatly needed in this country, when it was
known that the expenditure at the present time reached
a million a week, irrespective of the charge for the na-
tional debt. He complained of certain commissioners at
Somerset House being paid 3,000/. or 4,0001. a year for
reading the newspapers and putting their initials to a
few documents; and also to the system pursued by Mr.
James Wilson of getting the supplies voted at two
o'clock in the morning, when all honest meet ought to be
in bed. He concluded by proposing, "That it is desi-
rable that an association be formed for the free expres-
sion of public opinion on the manifest abuses of the
state, and the measures necessary for their reform."
Mr. Homesere seconded the motion, which was unani-
mously agreed to.
Several other speakers addressed the meeting, and
after a committee was appointed to draw up rules for
the government of the association, thanks were voted to
the chairman, and the meeting broke up.

CRYSTAL PALACE.--The number of persons attending
the Crystal Palace for the week ending Saturday last,
was 52, 243 ; and the receipts, 3,583 3s. 6d.
[ADVERTISMIENT.]—IioIIoway's Pills an effectual spe-
cific for Nervousness, Debility, and Lowness of Spirits.
The extraordinary regenerating effects produced by these
invaluable Pills are truly astonishing; they act in such a
peculiar manner on the system, if taken according to the
directions given, that Nervous Irritability is quickly
allayed, the tone of the stomach strengthened, the di-
gestion improved, a freedom of circulation promoted in
the blood, and consequently the most robust health is
thereby attained. Persons of studious or sedentary
habits being liable to these complaints should take Hol-
loway's Pills, which are considered the greatest blessing
ever dicovered for the good of mankind. Sold by all
Medicine Venders, and at Professor Holloway's esta-
blishment, 244, St rand, London, and 80, Maiden-lane,
Nei? York,

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK.

(From the Report of the Registrar-General. )

The deaths registered in London, which in May rose
to nearly 1,200 in a week, and in June to nearly 1,100,
tell to 926 in the week that ended last Saturday. The
average number in the ten corresponding weeks of 1845-
54, when corrected for increase of population, is 1,058.
The present return is therefore of a favourable character.
Diarrhoea was, however, fatal in 28 cases, cholera in
6 ; and one of the cases of cholera was of a severe type,
as in 11 hours it killed a labourer in the Battersea work-
house on Friday, 6th July; one warning day of diarrhcea
preceded the cholera.
The temperature of the Thames was 66.2 deg. during
the week, and its waters were exceedingly impure ; the
water supply is not yet good, and the sewers are left un-
trapped and ill-ventilated, while the streets are imper-
fectly cleansed ; so that if London is left much longer
without some sensible sanitary control, the public health
must inevitably soon decline, and the population be
afflicted by a great epidemic.
The health of London during the three months of
April, May, and June has been better than it was in
the corresponding seasons of the two previous years ;
but the mortality is still higher than it was some years
ago, and the deaths in thirteen weeks were 14,997, or
more by some thousands probably than would have hap-
pened had the sanitary arrangements of London been in
a satisfactory state.
323 persons, nearly all children unvaccinated, died of
small-pox, 182 of measles, 589 of scarlatina, 626 of
hooping-cough, 505 of typhus. Small-pox prevailed most
in the East and South districts, measles in the East,
scarlatina generally, booping-cough in the West and
North, fever and diarrhoea in the South districts. Ery-
sipelas is still unusually prevalent ; and 47 mothers died
of metric, or fever after childbirth, and 78 of other dis-
eases incidental to that state ; Of diarrhcea, 222 persons
died ; of cholera 8. The deaths from cholera were only
11 in the corresponding season of the year 1854, which,
nevertheless, subsequently witnessed a great outbreak
of the epidemic.
The deaths from consumption (2,126) and from bron-
chitis (1,175) exceed the average ; a result which is, per-
haps, referable in some measure to the preceding severe
winter ; 22 deaths are ascribed directly to intemperance,
38 to delirium tremens, 23 to poison, 86 to burns and
scalds, 26 to hanging (chiefly suicides), 30 to suffocation,
89 to drowning, 188 to fractures and contusions, 19 to
wounds. 3,870 men of the ages of 20 and upwards died
in London in the 13 weeks—namely, 2 peers of the realm
and 82 persons in the civil service, and 25 in the police
and in offices of local government ; 209 officers, soldiers,
and pensioners, 103 members of the learned professions,
including 9 clergymen, 4 barristers, 23 solicitors, 3 phy-
sicians, 12 surgeons, 43 men of letters, men of science,
or artists ; 478 men engaged in entertaining, clothing,
performing personal offices, including 12 eating and coffee
house keepers, 83 domestic servants, 60 inn servants, 15
hairdressers, 108 tailors out of 20,257, and 139 shoes
makers out of 26,639. Of the mercantile class 189 men
died, including 10 merchants, 1 banker, 5 stock-
brokers, 67 commercial clerks ; of the carrying class 434
died ; of men engaged in agriculture and in gardens 85
died. The deaths of men engaged about horses and
animals, as grooms, jockeys, horsekeepers, and others,
were 50 ; of men engaged in art and mechanical pro-
ductions, 670 ; butchers and men engaged in working
and dealing in animal matters, 201 ; greengrocers, ba-
kers, licensed victuallers, and persons working and
dialing in vegetable matters, 469 ; men working and deal-
ing in coal, iron, and other minerals, 308 ; labourers
and others (branch of labour undefined), 237 ; men of
rank or property not returned under any office or occu-
pation, 142 ; and 81 men had no specified occupation,

MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS,
NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED
IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, JULY 7.
Zymotic Diseases
Diseases of Uncertain Seat

Tubercular Diseases
Diseases of the Brain, Nerves and Senses
Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 36
Diseases of the Lungs and other Organs of
Respiration lOB
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs
of Digestion
Diseases of the Kidneys, &c.
Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c.
Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles
Diseases of the Skin, &c.
Malformations
Premature Birth and Debility

!rcniz
Atrophy 23
Old Age
5udden............................... .
Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance l7
Causes not specified

DRAMS FROM ALL CAUSES 926
Population Deaths in torte- Deaths
Enumerated. spending Week in the
1851. of 181;4. Week.
West Districts
North Districts -490,396 161
Central Districts 393,256 ... 182
East Districts 485,522
South Districts
Totals
.__

Males
Females..

BIRTHS IN THE WEEK.
Males..... 6BO
Females 676

Total . . .
sr •a g • •••• it. •••• _ )-J 356