The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-09 00:00:00

/ ~ - .~ __

•

[PRICE SD.

In cross-examination the mate admitted running
after the men with a cutlass and striking at them after
the conflict was over, but he could not say he struck
any one. He also stated that he assisted to hold up
Downes's shirt while the captain flogged. him.
The second and third mate, and a little boy from
Manchester who was on board at the time, gave evi-
deuce to much the same purpose, identifying different
portions of the crew as being engaged iu the conflict,
and detailing the manner in which they were
wounded, and the parties who committed the acts.
The boy stated that Downes received two dozen and
two lashes ; and, on cross-examination; stated that he
had asked the captain on Saturday morning to take
him to sea with him, but he refused then on the
ground that he took no boys. However, on again
asking him, while proeeeding to the court in the
morning, he agreed to take him with him to America.
Mr. Bradley, surgeon, stated that he had dressed
the head of Captain Mors, and found that he had re-
ceived three contused wounds on the head, which
would be inflicted by a blunt instrument.
John Murphy, a passenger, deposed to the general
features of the captain's evidence, and stated in addi-
tion—l heard the pistol click twice, and then saw it
flying into the water. The captain came out of the
scuffle, and got a man down and kicked him, while
the man's hands were tied. This man tried to get on
board the steamer, but was driven back. Saw him
taken into the wheel-house, where he was put into
irons. Saw Downes seize the ladder leading from
the main to the quarter-deck,-and call for help from
the passengers. He was seited by the hair of the
head, :and pulled up by the first and third mates.
Then saw the captain flog him up to eighteen lashes,
when the mates wished him to stop, but he refused,
and gave the man two or three more. \Veen the
officers were securing the men, saw one man with
his arm nearly cut off at the elbow.
A Liverpool police officer deposed to taking the
men into custody. A number of the men were very
severely cut, some of them wounded all over the body.
Two of them, Peter Ryan and Thomas Morton, were
at present in the hospital ; and he had a certificate
which stated that they were unable to be removed.
Ryan has his arm nearly cut ofF,"and complains sadly
of his wound. Morton is also wounded in the arm,
but not so severely, and be has also a scalp wound.
Another passenger, named Thomas Moray, deposed
to the captain striking Freeman first, and to seeing
him afterwards run after the men with a cutlass.
Sir Edward Cost here stated that there was evi-
dence against only Fowler, Jack, Trainer, Downes,
and Freeman, when Mr. Aspinall requested the
others might be discharged for the sake of the other
prisoners.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS:
TIAIgS,--The historian who a century hence shall
dive into the controversies of this age will hardly fail
to notice-withristerprise how large a part of them is given
up to the subject of political conversions. As the age
is an age of transition, and as transitions in the mind of
an age involve transitions in the minds of many men, he
will be prepared to meet with many cases of repentance
and conversion, and also many varieties of that process.
He will expect to find some predisposed by the circum-
stances of their education or employment to embrace new
ideas, and pass into the van of social progress • others he
will expect to find habituated, interested, or pledged toold
systems, so as not to be changed without the most pain-
ful laceration of feelings. He will know that they who
are inveterate in one system can never be entirely assi-
milated to another. He will recognize as a matter of
Course the working of the inner man in the outward
change—frank admission, struggling conviction, vacil-
lation of opinion or conscience, the bigotries of party
or of pride, ineradicable prejudice, the wiles of in
sincerity, the mazes of folly, the various habits of
those who think for themselves and those who think in
crowds, the Slow processes of research, and the rapid
glance of intuition. The world will see many a change
of opinion, but it will never see one sudden, simulta-
neous, and uniform. Such a change, indeed, cannot be
imagined in the world that we live in, whatever may be
the case in some other sphere not so tied to the tedious
laws of mental development. All this our future his-
torical student will be prrpared for; but one thing will
certainly strike him as remarkable, and not entirely cre-
ditable to an age the peculiar boast of which was its
progress. Ile will be amazed at the number of those
who, like the respectable elder brother of the " Pro-
digal Son," meet repentance with jealousy, suspicion, and
disgust; and who, like the labourers that bore " the
burden and heat of the day," will grudge those of
the eleventh hour anything more than a propor-
tionate share in the reward. He will admit,
of course, that a repentance which waits upon
interest is not very meritorious, and that a
man who steps in at the last hour does not
deserve more than an hour's pay; but he will certainly
suspect a want of heroism, a want of generosity, a want
of true greatness, in a form of political virtue and truth,
whose chief employment it is to shut the door against
converts. For our own part, throughout the whole of
the free-trade controversy .we have felt it our duty to
hail convert:, on whatever plea, and without stickling for
humiliating confessions. So long as a man was willing
to act as a Free-trader we have ever been ready to leave
opinions and sentiments to die a natural death. There
are countless analogies to justify a man in saying that
he thinks one system abstractedly the best, but another
the only one practicable; for, in fact, there is no one that
does not step out of the present actual state of things
and seek liberty of feeling and thought in the past or
the future;—in some romantic history or Utopian
dream. Were it not for this rale of political tole-
ration we certainly should be disposed to protest
against that venerable relic of bygone times, the Right
Honourable President of the Board of Control, now
once more Member for Stamford. Mr. Herries is alto-
gether the creature of necessity. He is a necessity of
the Cabinet; a necessity, as it appears, of the electors of
Stamford; and, in his turn, he will bow to the necessity
of free trade. In fact, he has already performed—
ungraciously, indeed—the first steps of his tardy capitu-
lation. Sooner or later this stiff-necked old gentleman
will submit to the yoke of necessity, but, meanwhile, his
speeches at Stamford last Friday and Saturday exhibit a
rather awkward reluctance,—just saved, but only just,
by a few syllables,—intimating that he will not allow his
prejudices to prevent him from serving his country as
well as he can. As it is really not worth while to har-
monize Mr. Harries into perfect congruity, it will be
sufficient in this case to quote some of his vary words,
containing, as we read them, the bane and the antidote.
The hitter we shall give in italics. On Friday he said:—
"He believed that by our recent policy much mischief
had been done to the greatest interests in the country,
and he did not see how those interests could be injured
without injury to the country ,at large. He was de-
termined to oppose that policy by every means in his
power; and, wbenever there was a chance or a hope of
sum, sa he was resolved on using his utmost endeavours
to mitigate at all events, if he could not alter and reverse,
that unfortunate policy. * 4 * a a
.„.
The self-styled free-trade party had urged their policy
so far that their opponents bad no choice but to endea-
vour to change that policy, or in some other way to in-
sist on justice to the landed interest. For his part, he
had always claimed for that interest, not protection, but
justice. If by protection was meant favour, he disclaimed
it. lie wanted no favour, but he wanted justice for the
landed interest, If that interest were subject to special
burdens," &a. * * • • * * "In
the meantime, he should beg of them to consider—and
to consider with a favourable disposition—the great dif-
ficulties under which the present Government laboured,
without any fault upon their part." On a review of such
passages it is evident enough that Mr. Herries, as he
that
he e but
depergiuvealityhe evident
country 0f
assures the electors of Stamford, " has not abated one
jot of his conviction of the truth of the doctrines
m
hhee
wh ai
isl hithertolet those
ainctoani
his services. On Saturday, atter his elect'l
Herries now and then broke out into sOID th'on, if
Mr.
clamation in the old Protectionist strain e ing like de-
of the present crisis and the call of his , the Exigencies
s country's good
were not wholly torgotten:—" You
withstanding all the efforts made a are aware that, not-
charged with the administration of the
those who are now
peal of the Navigation Law. o the country, the re-
And I have now to tell Laws
was unfortunately carried.
regret—that the effectY --and to tell you with great
and ill-starred measure h produced by that unfortunate
which our worst fearst' '
sled. • • I
as been at least equal to that
imp with you to understand
undertaken the difficult that those who have now
task which, not their efforts,
but the circumstances of the country and the con-
do not enter on
have imposed nponethehme,
fore them
without
on the career which liofe
the
difficulties tn.! hota the strongest feeling . . .
hich surround them, and without a
strong feeling so lofthe need which they will have of
a
the support of all those who share their opinions, and
not only that, but the support of all those who look with
anxiety and solicitude to the well-being and prosper:te
of this great country. • • •
I understood the person who questioned me to have ad-
vented to the Corn Bill. That is undoubtedly a question
of vast importance, and one of no small difficulty. It is
a matter of great importance to decide how those who
disapproved of the repeal of the corn-laws should act,
now that those laws have been repealed. The question has
____ been often raised under the title of protection, and there
are many in this country—l believe there is a large ma-
ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY -. jority in this country—who are of opinion that pro-
'A meeting of this Society was held last night at the tection ought to be extended to all branches of British
Royal Institution, Albemarle-street. The Preside t, industry which may require it. But lam not
Sir Roderick Murchison, occupied the chair. President, industry
upon to argue that abstract question now. The ques.
Mr. Henry Grinnell, President of the American Geo- tied is with respect to the law as it now stands. I believe
Society,
graphical
who has forwarded the duty of a statesman or of the Legislature is to use
actively the
search for Sir John Franklin
, was elected an honorary his or their efforts to render the law as it now stands con-
member, the society thereb • , d• to the welfare of the community at large, or, if that
UCtVe
y expressing their approba-
tion of his conduct. Captain w• • cannot be done, to alter it for the i trifle good.
William Peel, R.N., oUpon that
Whitehall-gardens, and point I must tell you that, without adhering rigidly to this
Captain Beatson were admitted
members.
or that mode of supporting, assisting, and fostering the
with
The PRESIDENT
to begged to make a few observations agricultural interest, on every occasion on which the ne-
e the expedition of Captain Beatson to cessity for action or advice may arise, my advice
Behring's Straits in search Sir John Franklin. A and my conduct shell be directed to giving the
of
and support to the
dispatch had been received
from the Secretary for •Fo- utmost
_practicable assistance
the
on the Asiatic and American sides, had been directed by :
not going to take the course which we have tie.
the Imperial Government to aid the expedition of Cap- predated above. We arc not going to rebuff
taro Beatson in every
possible way. lie moved a vote this venerable proselyte in the courts of free trade, be
of thanks to the Russia' authorities for their conduct. his homage ever so constrained We maintain that it
The resolution was agreed to. I it is an honourable act for an old statesman, bred in
A report from Consul Dickson, in reference to the another school, and embarrassed
lbly more Pledges and
coast route from Tripoli to Ghadames, was read by ties than he
can
venture to to come forward
Colonel Yorke. The route had never previously been and offer to serve his country as the
may
the
journey having been present state or things require, at the risk ' much
travelled over by Europeans,
The
referred and the certainty of min representation. of usually performed by caravan. report to difficulty
onp. nsentation. We
tulate Mr. Herries
the towns along the line of route, and the productions of therefore congra
having just saved
left himself opi-n to take were on the whole favour- kimself, and
the best course,
the country; the descriptions
.r that may happen to be. IL i
whatsie s ms won his free-
able and interesting.
late in lite and liber • •
d by Dr. Shore, the secretery con- dem rathrr ,
~ t) sits but ill on his
A paper was ma
Ai ' -t, Olers; but that we are reads: -
of visitmade by
taming the particulars a , her eaajosty's s.ee
~s
~ r
..
will e k 3 excuse, under the
1 ,
,wetteice . if' he really give
C4'
Calypsoto. the •Georgian, .ISiavigatcr:•, Feej,?e,.and 1 elm. t. .
_, .
0-Act to the whole-
ship The report drawn °wain.; some qualitica.tons with which he hes guarded his
Friendly Island!.was up by e. .
hes at Stamford.
commander
of the ves toed a 1 vete;
Worth, the
the. sel, and colds
and
ju_
..__— ____--.__•—,-„_.___________.,,...._._..._._
detailed description of climate, productions,
in 1
New MODE OF
I habi:,,nts of the places referred to, describing them
-es i known to theprofessors OPERATING IN SUBGERY.—It is
al terms of commendation. Amongst the Feeje ,
general
tised; but 1 wire can be heated mstantane '
however, cannibalism is extensively prac ousle to a red heat,
horrible of a powerful electric battery, by
itm means
wherever Christianity has been established
the
ethet the . cut through the skin and fiery, and that in that state
with more
custom has discontinued. The report states
.land it is ' ease than the sharpest • flesh of the human body
- , ,
other too.; instrument. The surgeons of the
-Feejean s preier human fiesh to any e What : indent heresy
Hospital, in Vienna, made
an, have the expe-
common for them to say, on seine, a
fine man,
some_ 1 riment of substituting such a wire for the usual surgical
' fine eating that man would be."—(Laughter.)
was a case I ,instruments in some of their operations, and it is said wit
times they eat their own friends;
and
killed in battle, prfect success. They have laid a memoir on the subjec
where a fine young man having been
before the Imperial Academy of Science in the icapital.—
and after a
his body was secured by his own party, Lancet,

The Magistrates, however, after consulting to-
gether, thought it better to keep them in the dock
with the rest.

Patrick Martin, a shipping master, deposed to ship-
ping a great number of men; after which, in answer
to questions from Mr. Aspinall, he stated that the
shipping masters received a pound for every man they
shipped, of which sum some captains received 55., and
some 10s., ethers asked nothing.
Mr. Aspinall then proceeded to address the Bench
against a summary conviction. He stated that he
had abundant evidence to go before a jury to give a
very different colouring to the case made on behalf of
the captain.
[Mr. Aspinall was addressing the Magistrates when
our report was dispatched.]

IRELAND.
DUBLIN, SUNDAY.—The nomination of candidat:s
took' place for the borough of Enniskillen yesterday.
The town has been in a state of great excitement, emd
on Friday night much rioting prevailed amongst the,
rival parties to such an extent that the interference of
a strong party of police became necessary before tran-
quillity could be restored. After the two candidates,
Mr. Whiteside (the Irish Solicitor-General) and Kr.
Collum, had addressed the electors, the polling was
fixed t) take place to-morrow (Monday). It appeared
to be the general belief that Mr. Whiteside would be
returned by a very small majority; but the friends of
had still strong hopes of his BUCCOV.
ree English Protectionist candidate, Mr. Moreton
John Edward Frewen, has addressed the electors of the
county of Cork, in a lengthy epistle, in which he de-
nounces free trade, the poor-law, and the Encumbered
Estates Act. Mr. Drew, one of the Liberal candidates,
has retired; but there are still three candidates on that
side.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW.
"',The half-yearly report of the directors shows that
under the head of capital account 3,151,9911. has been
received, and 3,223,4341. expended, leavings balance
against the company of 71,4431. The revenue account
for the past half year shows that 100,4021. was received
and 41,320/. expended; the balance is therefore 59,0821.
Out of this has to be deducted 21,170/., for interest on
loans, arid 4,125/. for the Sdrlingshire Midland dividend,
leaving the disposable balance 33,784/.

SCOTTISH MIDLAND JUNCTION.
The report of the directors shows that the capital re-
ceipt has been 647,0301. and the expenditure 640,4761.,
leaving a balance of 6,553/. The revenue account shows
that for the past half year the receipts have been
17,3831. and the expenditure 9,7901., leaving a balance of
7,5931. To this is to be aided 2,5181. from the former
account, making 10,1111. From this sum has to be de-
ducted 1,3721. Interest on loans, 2,0001. for the Perth
station, and 824/. the casualty at Forfar, leaving a ba-
lance of 5,9151.

THE FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE NORTIi-
WESTERN RAILWAY.
An inquest was held yesterday morning at the Bell
Tavern, Kilburn, on the bodies of George Chapmtill,
aged 25, Richard Piintoek, 27. and William Rowley, 35.
labourers, who were knocked down and killed by at,:
engine of a mail-train on Friday last, near Kilburn..
station. A large number of witnesses were exsti3ieed.
from whose evidence it appeared that about 60 men were
at work a quarter of a mile distant from the " opening
gang" of five to which the deceased belonged; and the
safety of this body of workmen .was insured by the at-
tendance of a policeman, in addition to an overlooker,
so that they might be duly warned when an engine
appeared in view. It did not seem, however, to be
usual to use the same precaution in the case of the
small " opening gangs;" but it was proved that in
this instance the whistle of the engine had been
sounded in ample time to allow of the escape of the
deceased, bad the sound not been deadened by the
noise of another passing train. The coroner (Mr.
Wakley, M.P.), in the course of his observations to
the jury, said he feared that the regulations with respect
to workmen employed on the line were not sufficiently
strict to insure their safety. The most despotic act
under such circumstances became the most humane. He
suggested that some mechanical contrivance should be
made to give warning to the men on the approach of
a train, such as a bell attached to a long rope that might
be struck by a train in passing. In such a way an
alarm might be given before the train came within 300
or 400 yards of the labourers. As far as the evidence
went, no blame appeared to rest upon any one in this
case, and it was on that account only the more necessary
that some method should be adopted to apprise the men
of the approximation of danger. The jury, after a
short consultation,* returned a verdict of " Accidental
death." accompanied with the following recommenda-
tion:—,, That, in order to prevent the recureroenmcpreaaoniifyr
oyr
catastrophe of the kind, the directors of the
the contractors of any works upon this line of
should station a person or superintendent over
every
gang of men to give them sufficient intimation of the
approach of the trains."

~A

l

I mock funeral, they dug him up at night and eat dim: ,
There have been instances where a part of a person
brit cut off, h" ties !'imp 1F obliged to eatj.ll.t \cliS-\" -
it, Tat late King of Fn-jet ow. off the arm of one
his female servants, .and mad=: her.ent part of it. The
liejeatl:; are nor, howt.vEr, viithout kindly character-
istics; they are moral, kind, and well, behaved; some of
and the common people affable.
occurred where parties themselves have
Instancest h chiefs arehsv
hive
polite,
o ec, u
desired to be eaten after they died. There was one case
where, on her death, the mother of a family had been
oiled and dressed for the funeral, and in spite of all re-
monstrances she insisted before her death that she should
be thus disposed of. Persons were sometimes buried
alive, or strangled at their own desire, or by the kindness
of their friends.
Captain KELLETT spoke in confirmation of the can-
nibal propensities of the Feejees.
Captain FITZROY made some observations to the same
effect. He begged to make a remark with respect to
the Pacific islands. Their household vessels, many of
their weapons, and their customs were similar to those
which formerly (as appeared from the specimens in the
British Ma,inum
similar to those u)seedxlisnted
e in
ni
c o from Egypt.
thrreheeyarwlieers g et
.aalso
es
of -Mexican history. There was an annual custom in
Polynesia, and the name
" The lament for Nineveh;"
aalndcnisftot
given to it might be translated,
con-
nection between their rviaathioc
from the western coast of custom
eenwde
aremaingyvatiot
Asia, it would be extremely
f thanks was then Passed to Captain Worth
intAerevsottien go.
ITION By BEII G STRAITS.
for
THEhis c n uwn i cEext
pi 7D.
Captain BEATsON .was presented tohemeeting by the
President, and most flatteringly received.lt: had been
announced that he would on that evening
ment to .the society • concerning the ulrogareses a aft t":
Straits expedition, but the gallant officer obeggede
postpone his explanation to a future occasion. He
tßoehring
was not yet (he said) quite prepared for sea, and he was
anxious to leave his statement for the last moment, so
that he might be enabled to give the society a fuller and
more detailed account of his preparations.—(Rear.)
The meeting then adjourned.