The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-22 00:00:00

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THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE 22, 1864.

THE EUROPEAN ASSURANCE SOCIETY
issue GUARANTEE POLICIES or BONDS, at re-
duced rates of Premium, on behalf of Officials in or under the
Treasury, Customs, Inland Revenue, General Post Office,
Board of Trade, War Office, Admiralty, The Rome, Colonial,
and India Offices, Poor Law Board, Office of her Majesty's
Works, &a., and oth.r Public Departments.
Every facility will be given to sulstitute the Bonds of this
Society in lieu of existing Securities.
Life Assurance in all its branches at moderate rates, with
or without participation in profits.
LIFE ASSURANCE COMBINED with GUARANTEE
on terms most advantageous to the Assured.

The Naval Fight off Cherbourg,

Several of the French papers contain descriptions
of the engagement off Cherbourg on Sunday last,
bat they add little to the facts already known in
England. La France, however, publishes a special
account, from which the following particulars sire
extracted--" The Alabama had been several days
in port repairing, when the first-class corvette
Kearsage, of the Federal navy, anchored in the
roads to watch her adversary. The next day some
provocation ensued, and Capt. Semmes, the com-
mander of the Confederate ship, decided that
although weaker the Alabama should accept battle,
which took place on the forenoon of Sunday, the
19th. On that day the Alabama was punctual. At
8 o'clock in the morning the captain assembled his
crew, and in a fervid oration announced that the

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time had arrived for them to conquer or die. His
speech was received with cries a thousand times
repeated, of Hurrah for the South,' Cheers for
Lee and for his army,' Cheers for France, the only
nation who generously and impartially carries out
her neutrality Capt. Semmes then referred to his
recent letter on naval belligerent rights, and con-
cluded his speech by saying that that document
had been drawn up in order that the truth might be
known in case he should perish.' At half-past nine,
after clearing for action, the Alabama, which was
under steam all the morning, banked up her fires,
and left her anchorage to take the open. The whole
population of Cherbourg was on the port, on the
breakwater, on the heights—in fact, on every
point where a view of the battle could
be obtained. When the Alabama, as she
got under weigh, ran up the Confederate flag at
her mainmast end saluted it with a salvo of guns,
innumerable cheers arose. The sympathy of the
population was evidently with the South. The Ala-
bama having left the port, at about half-past ten
was nearly nine miles out, and commenced the battle
by a daring movement, running towards the Kear-
sage to board her. The Federal corvette understood
the movement, and succeeded in turning and avoid-
ing her adversary. The Kearsage had been ar■
moured during the night with her chain cables, and
to this particular advantage she united that of a
heavier armament, and a more numerous crew ;
notwithstanding which the Confederate ' ship
appeared to have the advantage, and again
manoeuvred to board the Federal corvette, when she
received arifle projectile, which passed right through
her boiler and paralysed her movements." The
subsequent sinking of the Alabama and the saving
of the captain and crew is then described—" A short
time afterwards the Kearsage came into the port
bringing her prisoners. She anchored close to the
steamship Napoleon. She soon received many
visitors. The Kearsage has suffered much ; she has
twelve shots in her hull. Her crew was superior
to that of her adversary, who only mustered 134
men ; but the crew of the Alabama, used to boarding,
would infallibly have captured the Kearsage if she
could have been laid alongside. Captain Semmes
was adored by his crew and by his staff. The
wounded sailors from the Alabama, who were taken
to the Marine Hospital, where they have been well
cared for, said with joy, to everybody by the way,
'The captain is saved, the captain is saved I We
shall soon begin again The animosity between
the sailors of the South and those of the North is
such, that yesterday they endeavoured to fight with
knives. The authorities found it necessary to put
on foot all the naval gendarmerie, in order to
prevent the spilling of blood."

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION,

HOUSE OF COMMONS, J-crics 21.
THE BALLOT.

i
Motion made and question put, " That, as a general election
impending, and it is notorious that our electoral system
is defective and corrupt in practice, and as we have no
law which can put down t'..a intimidation of voters, nor
prevent bribery, it is therefore expedient that a fair trial
should be given to the vote by ballot." The house divided
—Ayes, 123; Noes, 212.
AYES-123.
Adair, H. E. Greene, J. Pease, H.
Alcock, T. Gregson, S. Peto, Sir M.
Athlumney, Lord Grenfell, H. R. Pilkington, J.
Ayrton, A. S. Greville, Col. F. Pollard Urquhart W
Baines, E. Hadfield, G. Ponsonby, A.
Baxter, W. E. Henderson, J. Potter, E.
Bazley, T. Henley, Lord Powell, J. J.
Bellew, R. M. Hennessy, J. P. Pryse, E. L.
Berkeley, C. P. F. Hibbert, J. T. Robartes, T. J. A.
Biddulph, Col. Hodgkinson, G. Rothschild,Baron M
Black, A. Hodgson, K. Russell, A.
Blake, J. King, P. J. L. Russell, Sir W.
Bonham-Carter, J. Kinglake, A. W. Seely, C.
Butler, C. S.
Caird J. ,ai
nyn Kinglake,
radir,d A.
ASH! , .
r.j. J. Seymour, Digby
Buxton, C. i s
hafto, R. D.
1
Shelley, Sir J. V.
J Clay, J. Lanigan, J. Sheridan, H. B.
Clifford, C. C. Lawson, W. Sidney, T.
Clifton, Sir R. Leatham, E. A. Smith, Augustus
Cobbett, J. M. Lefevre, G. J. S. Smith, J. A.
Cobden, R. Lee, W. Smith, J. B.
Lindsay, W. S. Stuart, CoL
Collier, Sir R. P. Lewis, IL Stacpoole, W.
McEvoy, E. Talbot, C. R. M.
CCooxrballvly. , M. E.
Craufurd, E. H. J. Maguire, J. F. Taylor, P. A.
Crawford, R. W. Martin, P. W. Tite, W.
Crossley, Sir F. Merry, J. Trelawny, Sir J. S.
Dalglish, R. Mitchell, T. A. Villiers, C. P.
Davie, Sir H. R. F. Moffatt, G. Vivian, H. H.
Davie, Col. F. Monsell, W. 'Waldron, L.
Dent, J. D. Morris, D. Warner, E.
Dillwyn, L. L. Morrison, W. Watkins, Col. L.
Doulton, F. Neate, C. Weguelin, T. M.
Duff, M. E. O'Brien, Sir P. Westhead, J. I'. 13.
Fenwick, H. ' O'Conor Don, The Whalley, G. H.
Fermoy, Lord • O'Hagan, T., 'Whitbread, S.
Forster, C. O'Loghlen, Sir C. White, J.
Gavin, Major Onslow, G. Williams, W.
Gibson, T. M. 0' iteilly, Yi. W. Wy Id, J.
Gilpin, C. Owen, Sir H. TELLERS.
Goschen, G. J. Padmore, R. Berkeley, H. F.
Gower, F. L. Paget, C. Locke, J.

NOES —212.
Adderley, C. B. Gore, W. R. 0. Naas, Lord
Agnew, Sir A. Gower, G. W. L. Nicol, W.
Anstruther, Sir R. Greenall, G. Pakenham, Col.
Aytoun. It. S. Greenwood, J. Pakington, Sir J.
Baillie, H. J. Gregory, W. H. Palmer, R. W.
Baring, H. B. Grey, Sir G. Palmer, Sir R.
Baring, Sir F. Grey deWilton,Lord Palmerston, Vis Ct.
Baring, T. G. Grosvenor, Earl Papillon, P. 0.
Barrow, W. H. Grusvenor,Lordltd. Paull, H.
Barttelot, Col. Guidon, B. Peacocke, G. IL W.
Bathurst, A. A. Hamilton, Major Peel, Sir R.
Bathurst, Col. H. Hamilton, Viscount Peel, F.
Beaumont, W. B. Hardy, G. Portman, W. H. B.
Beaumont, S. HartopP, E. B. Powell, F. S.
Beecroft, G. S. Herve), Lord A. Powys-Lybbe,P. L.
Bentinck, G. C. Hay, Sir J Price, It. G.
Benyon, R. Heathcote, Sir W. Pritchard, J.
Bernard, Col. Heathcote, G. H. Proby, Lord
Booth, Sir It. G. Henniker, Lord Ridley, Sir M. W.
Bouverie, P. P. Herbert, H. A. Rogers, J. J.
Bovill, W. Hesketh, Sir T. St. Aubyn, J.
Bramley-Moore, J. Heygate, Sir F. Salt, T.
Bramston, T. W. Heygate, W.ll, Scott, Lord H.
Bremridge, R. Holiord, R. S. Scott, Sir W.
Bridges, Sir B. W. Hood, Sir A. Scourfielo, J. IL
Brooks, R. llorstall, T. B. Selwyn, C. J.
Bruce, Lord E. A. Howard, C. W. G. Smith, Sir F.
Bruce, Sir H. Howes, E. Smith, M.
Buller, J. W. Hubbard, J. G. Smollett, P. B.
Burghley, Lord Hurnnerstone, P. S. Somerset, Col. E.
ButlerJohnstone,tl,
Stanley, Lord
Cecil, Lord R. Jervis, Captain
Hunt, G. W.
Cairns, Sir 11.
liume, W. W. F. Somes, J.
, Steel, J.
Chapman, J. Jervoise, Sir J. Stronge, Col.
Coke, Col. Johnstone, Sir J. Stuart, Lt.-Col. W.
Cole, H. Jones, D. Sturt, H. G.
Cole, J. L. Kekewich, S. T. Sturt, Lt.-Col. N.
Collins, T. King, J, K. Surtees, H. E.
Cowper, W. F. Knatchbull, W. Taylor, Col.
Cubitt, G. Knight F. Thornhill, W. P.
Curzon, Viscount Knox, Dlajor W. S. Thynne, Lord E.
Dalkeith, Earl of Lacon, Sir E. Thynne, Lord H.
Darner, S. D. Laird, J. Tottenham,Lt.-Col.
Disraeli, B. Leader, N. P. Tracy, C. R. D.
Du Cane, C. Leeke, Sir H. Treherne, M.
Duff, It. W. Lefroy, A. Trollope, Sir J.
Duncombe, A. Legh, Major C. Turner, C.
Duncombe, W. E. Legh, W. j. Vance, J.
Dunne, Col.
Edwards, Col. Lennox, Lord H. G. Vansittart, W.
Egerton, Sir P. Leslie, w,Lennox, Lord a a Vvrearnndeeyle,usri,rCloi.l.
Elphinstone, Sir J. Liddell 11, G. Verner, E. W.
Evans, T. W. Lopes, Sir 31. Vernon, H. F.
Lovaine, Lord
Pane, Col. Vyner, It A.
Farquhar, Sir N. Lowe, It. Walcott, Admiral
Fellowes, E. Lowther, Col. Walker, J. R.
Fergusson, Sir J. Lyall, G. Walpole, S. H.
Filmer, Sir E. Macaulay, K. Walsh, Sir J. B.
Finlay, A. S. M'Cornuck ,W. Waterhouse, S.
Fleming, T. W. Mackie, J. Wattington, J.
Forester, Gen. Malins, It. Welby, W. E.
Foster, W. 0. Manners, Lord J. Whitmore, H.
Fraser, Sir W. A. Manners, Lo rd G Wood, Sir C.
Gallwey, Sir W. P. Martin, J. G. Wrightson, W. B.
Gard, It. S. Maxwell, Col. Wynn, C. W. W.
Gaskell, J. M. Miles, Sir W wyvill, M.
George, J.
°ng ',Ord R.
It
Miller, T.'J. * yorke, E. 'l'.
Getty, S. G. Moncreiff; J
Gladstone, W. E. Morgan, Maj yorke, J. R.
Mtali,
Gilpin, Colonel
TELLERS.
Goddard, A. L. Morritt, W. -or
puke, Col.
Gore, J. R. 0. Mowbray, J. R. Trevor, Lord A.

JURIDICAL SOCIETY,

A meeting of this Society was held on Monday
in the Society's chambers, St. Martin's-place, Tra-
falgar-square, Mr. Clarke in the chair.
The paper for the evening was read by Mr. F.
WORSLEY, entitled " Certain propositions for the
Relief of the Home Secretary from his present re-
sponsibility on the conviction of a person for murder,
and to substitute an improved procedure." The
paper stated that in most criminal offences the
judges had a discretionary power in awarding the
punishment to be inflicted on the prisoner, except
in cases of murder. Even in that crime there were
degrees of moral culpability. The power of altering
the sentence rested on the supreme power, by
whom convictions for murder used formerly to be
referred to the Cabinet Council, who found they
were totally incompetent to review the facts
elicited on the trial of a person for murder.
Instead of endeavouring to devise some better
tribunal they shifted the responsibility on to the
shoulders of one of their own members, the Home
Secretary, which was in point of fact going from
bad to worse. What choice had they ? Nothing
between the judicial and the executive. The execu•
Live had failed, and the judicial was the better
tribunal for formally retaining the prerogative of
mercy. But it might be said, if you would not cast
it upon an executive officer's shoulders, would you
endeavour to cast it on the shoulders of one judicial
functionary ? His first proposition was, that on a
trial for murder at the assizes, or at the Central
Criminal Court, two judges of the superior courts
should preside; Second,—On conviction of the pri-
soner judgment of death should not be immediately
pronounced, unless both the judges agreed that
the verdict was proper, and that such judgment
should follow. But if the said judges did not so
agree, or agreed that a sentence of penal servitude
for life be pronounced, it should be competent for
them to pass such sentence. The third point was,
that the judges should have power to adjourn the
sentence to the last day of the assizes, but that both

Singular Attempt to Shoot a Young Woman
near Gainsborough.

On Saturday last Martha Howell, of Springthorpe, near
Gainsborough, was brought up in custody, before Sir Henry
Hickman Bacon, Bart., at the police-station, Gainsborough,
charged with having, on the 17th instant, at Corringham,
attempted to shoot another young person named Emma
Johnson. Emma Johnson having been sworn said,—l live
at Gainsborough. On the evening of the 17th inst., about a
quarter to six, the prisoner came to our house and asked
me if I would go to Springthorpe the following Saturday,
and spend Sunday with her. She remained till about seven
o'clock. At that time four Young ladies and myself set off
to go part of the way home with the prisoner. On the
road the prisoner frequently asked me to go and stay with
her; I said I could not. 1,17 b en we arrived at the wood
side, at Somerby, where there is a footpath alongside
of it leading across a field, I gave way for the prisoner
to go through the handgate first; she turned when
about a yard or so from me,
and pulling a pistol
from her pocket, said, "I'll shoot you;" I said "No
don't." She pointed the pistol close to my right ear and
fired it; I felt the fire upon my face, and something
seemed to go through my ear.
I fell down, and after
about half a minute I got Ir.,
and the prisoner had
moved to the opposite side of me. She had the pistol in her
hand, and was feeling in her pocket, I ran away and the
prisoner shouted to the other girls to hold me. She ran
ashninableYfesluntil this morning. tlhewpoinit to Mr Ranby's farm-
house,ov f...a
eye backm ah. to Gainsborough.i have
not
seseen
g• About a year and
a half ago the prisoner tried to bring tee into a family quar-
relatThfhe
erpyrmfsateohhneaoehnrabout
short distance.
milesenon fora
of her's. We had some words at the time, and since
that time we have never been so friendly as we were before.
Several times since then I have been to her house to stay
all night. When I have been teaching the girls at the
prisoner's school music, I always slept with her, and she
has many times got up in the middle of the night and pointed
a pistol at me threatening to shoot rue. I did not know
whether it was loaded or not. There was generally none
else in the house besides our two selves. She had often
complained that I did not go so much to stay with her, but
I went to her friends with whom she had quarrelled. I
always considered her a very passionate woman.
Elizabeth Milburn said—l live at Springthorpe. On the
evening of the 17th inst. I went into the prisoner's house,
she having sent for me, as she was very poorly. She said,
"Give me a little porter, I'm very ill." I said, "What is
the matter ?" and she replied, Do take my cloth off.".
She looked very much excited. She said, " I may is well
confess to you. I've shot Miss Johnson." I said, "Surely,
to the Lord, not." She said,'` I have." I said," D you
think you have shot her ?" She replied, " Yes, and I'm
only sorry l've not shot her dead." I said, " What have
you shot her with ?" She replied, " A pistol—it is in my
pocket.' I looked in her pocket and found the pistol pro-
duced, two balls and some shot wrapped in brown paper, a
a
little powder, and two caps. The pistol was very bloody.
I was very much frightened and kept the pistol. Her right
hand was hurt.
On being cross-examined by the prisoner, the witness
replied she (prisoner) said, " I intended to shoot Miss John-
son, and then to shoot myself and die at her feet."
After the superintendent of police had deposed to appre-
hending the prisoner and to her admitting that she had shot
next Lincoln assizes.—Leeds Mercury. Miss Johnson, the magistrate committed her for trial at the

judges should preside at the passing of the sentence
of death. Fourth,—On the prisoner being called
upon to receive sentence of death, that he should be
allowed either personally or by counsel to state the
grounds of fact for mercy to the court ; and it should
be incumbent on the judges to take into consideration
such grounds of fact, or any petition laid before them,
and it should be competent to them to adjourn the
passing of the sentence of death for the considera-
tion of the said facts or petition. Fifth,—The
sheriffs should not execute the sentence of death
until ordered by the Home Secretary. Sixth,—lf the
said judges, or either of them, report to the Home
Secretary that an inquiry should be made into the
sanity of condemned prisoners, the Home Secretary
should cause such inquiry to be made by competent
persons, and upon their certificate of the insanity
of the condemned prisoner the Home Secretary
should grant an order for his removal to a lunatic
asylum.
Mr. LAWRANCE was strongly opposed to death
punishments, and fully concurred with the sugges-
tions made by Mr. Horsley, which, he believed,
were too limited. The prerogative of mercy did
not now exist in the Crown, but in a Government

official.
Mr. J. 0. GRIFFITS was also favourable to the
abolition of the punishment of death, and he con-
curred that no trial for murder should take place
unless in the presence of two judges, and that two

judges should be present when sentence was passed;
and if one was of opinion the sentence of penal ser-
vitude should be carried out, that the sentence of
death passed by the other judge should not have its
effect. He suggested that in case of murder a plea
of not guilty should be always entered.
Mr. E. WEBSTER strongly opposed the proposi-
tions of INlr. Worsley, urging that the multiplica-
tion of judges would render conviction difficult and
uncertain, and assuming that death punishments
were necessary for the prevention of crime, he would
leave the whole responsibility on the jury. He was
strongly favourable to the right of appeal in cri-
minal cases.

Mr. C. H. HOPWOOD objected to the introduction
of a second judge.
After some further conversation, thanks were
voted to Mr. Woreley for his paper, and the pro-
ceedings were brought to a close.

MR. BALFE'S NEW COMIC OPERA is entitled
" The Sleeping Queen," the property of Cramer, Wood,
and Co. It is founded on a Spanish romance, and is written
in Mr, }Alto's airiest and happiest vein.

~~ ~~

PRICF 4d.
STAMPED ....sd.

LAW AMENDMENT SOCIETY:

( •1

The annual meeting of the department of j urispru-
dence and amendment of the laws of the National
Association for the Promotion of Social Science was
held on Monday at the offices, 3, Waterloo-place,
Pall-mall. Lord Brougham occupied the chair.
Mr. Randall, the assistant secretary, read the re-
port of the standing committee, which stated that
the union of the Law Amendment Society with the
Association for the Promotion of Social Science
would materially assist the general development of
the association. Since the union 11 meetings had
been held and six papers read. Sir Walter Crofton
read a paper on the present aspect of the convict
question, showing that the views consistently main-
tained by the society and the association had been
adopted by the penal servitude commissioners of the
House of Lords. A paper by Mr. Palmer dealt with
the present mode of reviewing the sentence of our
criminal courts in capital cases. A paper on the
abolition of capital punishment was read by Mr.
Webster. The County Courts Act Amendment
Bill had been fully considered by a committee of
the society. Mr. Hastings, in a paper read on the
18th of April last, proposed to abolish the unsatis-
factory jurisdiction still left to the Ecclesiastical
Courts, and advocated the establishment of a court
having probate, matrimonial, divorce, legislation,
admiralty, and ecclesiastical jurisdiction. The
concentration of the law courts had also been
brought under the notice of the department. With
respect to the Attorneys and Solicitors' Remune-
ration Bill, the committee thought that a measure
involving changes of that kind should receive the
early attention of the department. The question of
Law Reporting, the Transfer of Land, Partnership,
Law Amendment, Copyright, Justice Procedure
Bill, Corruption at Elections, the Bankruptcy Laws,
Chancery Funds Commission, and other important
questions had been brought under the notice of the
department, into the details of which the report
went at very great length.

On the motion of Mr. Pollard Urquhart, M.P.,
seconded by Sir E. Wilmot,
The report was adopted.
A vote of thanks to the venerable chairman
closed the proceedings.

.f /.~