The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-12 00:00:00

ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mathews, last night
appeared in Mr. Mathew's version of "Les Pates
dos Mooches," entitled "The Adventures of a
Bil
let." This piece affords Mr. Mathews ample oppor-
tunity of displaying his cool adroitness, and Mrs.
Mathews her most impulsive style. Mr. Toole and
Mr. Bedford continue their humours in the bur-
lesque of " Lady Audley's Secret," and thus there
is plenty of attraction. Novelties are announced,
laid amon t them a comedy by Mr, Leicester

-0
----------- ---- --- _ __
Mi GUIZOT, having completed the six volumes of
his mcmoirS, is said to he about to publish three
other
volumes, entitled " Meditations R6ligieuses."
KOSSUTH is Paid to have had an interview
punt
Turin with the Minister of Finance, who stronglY
Relied him to drop his agitation for a revolution, as it
would clash with the intended operations of Italy.
A MEMORIAL TO TIIE LATE SIR PETER FAIRBAIRN,
Knt., has been determined on at a public meeting cauvened
by the mayor, at the request of 1,136 memorialists, who
propose to erect a statue of their late mayor in
Leeds.
INIARSIIAL FOREY has been gazetted to tCO
mand of the frontier military division, comprising Lill'',
iMetz, and all the garrisons in front of IVitlYelice 811 d
Coblentzi ,

C ..?
,c,.. y
;Ifni t _ '-__,,----- --,„ci, tirnlin

HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, SAN. 11.

Her Majesty and her Royal Highness Princess
Helena went to Frogmore House this forenoon, and
remained during the day.
The Maharajah Duleep Singh visited her Majesty.

The Accouchement of the Princess of Wales,

The bulletin exhibited yesterday at Marlborough
House was framed in these words of good as-
surance :

" Frogmore, Jan, 11, 1864, 10.15 a.m.
" Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales has
passed an excellent night, and is going on perfectly
well ; the infant Prince is also well.
(Signed) " ARTHUR FARRE, M.D.
" E. El. SIEVEKING, M.D."
The Lodge was thronged with inquirers through-
out the day.

WINDSOR, Jan. 11.

To-day her Majesty the Queen again visited her
Royal Highness the Princess of Wales and the in-
fant Prince at Frogmore House. Both passed an
excellent night, and are going on perfectly well.
Her Majesty lunched at Frogmore, and remained
till the evening with the Princess, when the Queen
returned to the Castle. _

Her Majesty is now expected to leave Windsor
on Wednesday. This is the arrangement at pre-
sent, but, of course, under the circumstances, it is
impossible to say whether her Majesty will actually
return to Osborne on that day.
_ _ •

Her Royal Highness and the young Prince have
progressed favourably during the day, and at a late
hour were ascertained to be going on extremely
well. Dr. E. H. Sieveking, physician in ordinary
to the Prince and Princess, and Dr. Farre, are in
attendance.

We understand that it is the intention of the
mayor to call a meeting of the common councilmen
of the borough at an early day, in order to draw up
an address of congratulation to the Queen and the
Prince and Princess of Wales on this happy occa-
sion.

'Front the London Correspondent of .Manchester Guardian.)

I am happy to be able to reassure the loyal minds
of your readers on the maturity of the royal babe
whose birth is just now a cause of rejoicing among
her M,jesty's lieges. Though the "little stranger"
is small, I have most satisfactory authority for say-
ing that he is perfect in all those points in which
seven months' children are defective at birth—as,
for instance, the formation of the nails. Though Dr.
Farre, I believe, was at first under the impression
that the Princess's confinement was premature,Mr.
13rown, the well-known surgeon, of Windsor—
whose distinction it has hitherto been to physic the
rising generation of the aristocracy in their stage
of Eton schoolboylaood, but who may now add that
of having ushered into the world the eldest-born of
the Heir ,Presumptive—all along maintained the
maturity of the baby ; and I am assured that all the
Princess's medical attendants are now satisfied on
the point.

The Earl and Countess of Yarborough will leave
town to•-morrow on a visit to Lord and Lady Proby at Elton
Hall, Oundle.
The Earl and Countess of Malmeabnry are enter-
taining a select circle at Heron Court, Christchurch.
The Earl and Countess of Hardvricke and Lady
Agneta Yorke have arrived at Wimpole Hall, Cambridge-
shire, from visiting the Earl and Countess of Derby, at
Knowsley Park, Lancashire.
The Earl and Lady Constance Grosvenor have
left town on a visit to the Dowager Duchess of Sutherland,
at Cliefden, Bucks.
Viscount Uffington arrived in town yesterday
from Ashdowne Park, Berks.
Lord and Lady Bateman are expected in town
to -day from their seat, Shobden Court, Herefordshire.
Lord and Lady Charles Bruce have left town in
a few days on a visit to the Marquis and Marchioness of
Ailesbury, at Savernake Lodge, Wilts,

RIEVIAN LIFE IN DANGER,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—The exemption of Townley from the punishment
due by law for the atrocious cold-blooded murder he com-
mitted when perfectly sane is norhing less than a premium
and a bounty held out for the shedding of human blood and
destroying of human life. If the wilful murderer is to
escape on the same terms as Townley, the life of every
man, woman, and child in the country is imperilled, There
is not a tittle of evidence pretended to be adduced that
Townley was not in his right senses when he committed
the crime. Whatever evidence there might have been
that he was much given to wild and extravagant conduct,
such as collecting a number of white hats, was, apparently,
held back at the trial, because it was known to be utterly
worthless, and would turn out, upon cross-examination, to
prove nothing more than a mere larkish" disposition, and
a tendency to freaks and practical jokes. Townley is no
descendant of his great aunt, who was said to be insane,
and who, for anything that appears, may have been made
insane by artificial means, without any hereditary taint. If
Townley had been a poor man, without any rich influential
friends, he would have been hung, and most justly and
righteously, for the safety of society—for the protection of
human life. As it is, any man who meditates murder has
only to perpetrate it in a sufficiently melodramatic way to
excite the morbid maudlin sentimentalism of the abnormal
minds who sympathise with the murderer instead of the
murdered, and he is safe. It may be safely said that those
who have got Townley off, and shown such an unnatural
sympathy with him, are much madder than he. The Act
under which Townley was respited says "it shall be law-,
ful" for the authorities to place a convicted and sentenced
murderer in a lunatic asylum; but this is merely permissive
and the law ought in Townley's case to have been suffered
to take its course, because, as he was confessedly sane when
he murdered Miss Goodwin in cold blood, he was well
aware of the punishment to which he rendered himself
liable, and therefore the infliction of such punishment would
necessarily have the effect it is intended to have—namely,
to deter would-be murderers from committing the crime
they contemplate. What will be the effect of Townley's
escape on the minds of those who may be meditating mur-
der?
.Evidently that there is a good chance of escape by
shamming madness after they have taken the victim's life.
It is said that a murderer who becomes mad after he has
committed the murder, and is sentenced to death, ought
not to be hung, because he cannot make his peace with
Heaven. Answer—let. When he hurried his victim out
of life without a moment's notice, did he think of this?
and what right has he (the murderer) to ask that mercy
which he did not show to his innocent victim ? 2d.
Will two or three days, or even weeks, of that
sort of dubious repentance produced by fear of
being hung, bring forth anything profitable ? 3d.
Is it not for society to do its duty, and leave the rest to
God, who, surely, is capable of making any allowance that
ought to be made ? 4th. Considering that hanging a man
mad when hung, but sane when he committed the murder,
must be less cruel to him, though equally efficient as a
Preventive for deterring others—upon what rational grounds
shouYl a murderer be exempted from death merely because
his coolly planned and deliberately executed crime may have
been of so monstrous and terrible a character as to drive
him mad from the very thoughts of having done it? To
exempt a convicted murderer from the death which is his
due, is nothing less than to hold out the grant of life as a
reward and encouragement for murder. What society has
to do is to protect the lives of its members. It says, in the
well-known words of Scripture. " Whose, sheddeth man's
blood, by man shall his blood be shed." Lot it once get to
be believed among the criminal classes that death on the
scaffold will not be the sure, speedy, inevitable consequence
of destroying human life, and human life will be at every
ruffian's mercy. It was but last year that Sir Geo. Grey's
ill-advised leniency to garroters and robbers with violence,
made it unsafe to walk the streets after daylight. Nay, such
crinace were done in broad day. This year he seems going
a step further, and taking the most efficacious means to
render human life unsafe. In England we do not try cri-
minals by a judge alone—we have a judge and a jury. But
a tribunal is now set up consisting neither of judge nor
jury, but of a couple of magistrates, and a couple of doctors,
who have in their power to set aside the verdict of a jury
and the sentence of the judge, and that without hearing
evidence on both eieles,but sitting in secret, like the Spanish
Inquisition. It is an exaggerated version of the Jessy
Xl'Lachlan case over again. Nothing can well be more
ridiculous, as well as more contrary to public policy. The
notion of a few inferior doctors and magistrates with no-
thing but. ex parte eviCknett, before them,and that not. tested
by cross•examination, setting aside the decision of a judge
and jury, arrived at after hearing counsel and witnesses or'
both bides, is perfectly outrageous. Nobody, at least no
sensible person who understands the true theory of crime
and punishment, wants to make criminals suffer unnecessa-
rily and vindictively, but what every person of common
sense demands is that human life shall be protected by mur-
derers being .hung with ail convenient eneed after the mur
der is proved against them. It is in the certainty of punish
went and the speed with which it follows crime that grea
part of its real terror consists.

COMMON *LNSE,

EXECUTION OF SAMUEL WRIGHT.

(THIS DAY.)

This morning Samuel Wright, who was convicted at the
last session of the Central Criminal Court for the murder

of Maria Green on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 13, in s
house in which they lived together in the Waterloo-road,
was executed in front of Horsemonger.lane Gaol. Much

sympathy has been evinced in favour of the convict in
various quarters, and accordingly, on Jan. 7, the visiting

justices of Horsemonger-lane Gaol presented a memorial to
Sir G. Grey, expressing their opinion, that had all the fac:s
been known on his trial, a verdict of manslaughter would
havo been returned instead of that of murder. The appeal

was unsuccessful, as were also those of certain medical men
and of several public meetings which have recently been
held in Lambeth and Southwark.
At an early hour last evening a considerable number off
persons congregated in front of the gaol, but they were of
the lowest class, who disregarded appeals which were ex"
tensively circulated, that people would stay away from the
execution. There seem to have been some fears of a
"scene," as GOO picked policeman, mostly of the reserves of
the different divisions, under Superintendents Branford,
Gibbs, Payne, White, Garnon, and Bray, were stationed on
the ground ; buy, as it turned out, there was no occasion for
this strong force, as comparatively few persons were present
at the time appointed for the execution, and those who were
there were perfectly decorous in their conduct, The
houses opposite to the gaol which, when the Manningst
the Frimley murderers, and Youngman were hanged, were
crowded with people who had paid heavily for their seats,
were to-day to all appearance tenantless, and in most of
them the blinds were drawn down. Not a seat was let in
single one of the houses, and during the time of the exectl
tion the publichouses were closed. In the vast open space in
front of the gaol these were not more than 1,500 persons

present.
Up to the last moment an impression prevailed amongst
the concourse of people that a reprieve would come ; and
accordingly, when at nine o'clock the sheriffs and the
executioner, followed by the convict, appeared on the
scaffold, a general feeling of disappointment was expressed
in a low, deep murmur. Wright bowed to the crowd two or
three times, and while he was doing so Calcraft slipped the
cap over his face and drew the bolt. The unhappy man fell
and died after a very short struggle.
In two or three minutes after this a loud yell of execra-
tion broke from the crowd, accompanied by repeated cries of
"Murder." This demonstration did not long continue, and
the people moved quietly away without staying to witness
the ceremony of cutting down, which took place at tea

o'clock.
Since his conviction Wright has been much depressed,
and has persisted in his statement that he never intended
to kill the woman, and that he was defending himself from
her violence when the fatal wound was given. He walked
quietly to the scaffold this morning evidently convinced
that there was no chance of his life being spared.
The following document was extensively circulated
amongst the crowd :
" Men of London, will you pa rticipate in the blood of
the unfortunate Wright by sanctioning his death by your
presence at the scaffold ? Working men and women, go not
near the avenging scene , but demonstrate to your Govern'
ment, with the dignity of Englishmen, your abhorrence,
by avoiding this execution. Men of Southwark, close your
houses and shops—persuade your friends and neighbours
to stay away from the bloody scene."

The memorial, praying for a reprieve of Wright, WO
yesterday presented at the Home-office, by a deputation
consisting of Mr. Doulton and some others, who were fol.
lowed by a procession of more than 200 working men. Vitt
the efforts of the memorialists proved fruitless.
The decision come to by Sir George Grey was reported
by Mr. Murphy to the members of the committee, who got
up the memorial in his favour, at their sitting yesterday, et
the Lambeth Baths. By them it was made known to the
large meeting of working men waiting to hear the result'
Immediately afterwards Mr. Murphy, deputed by the
meeting, left by the 1,30 train for Windsor, to memorialise
the Queen. He had an interview with Sir Charles PhiPPe?
who, after reading the memorial, stated that her Majestit
although deeply regretting the position of the unfortunate
man Wright, could not, constitutionally, interfere with 03e,
decision come to by Sir,G. Grey. Heoouldtherefore hold oul
no hope of commutation of the sentence. Mr. Murphy then
left the Castle. In the meantinie a meeting had been convened
by the committee at the Lambeth Baths to hear the result'
The doors were opened at six o'clock, and in a few minute
the building was densely filled by about 3,000 people, f,tl"
long before seven o'clock, the appointed time of emu:pole'
ing, the thoroughfares of the New-cut, the Marsh, and th°
Westminster-bridge-road were rendered impassable by the
immense crowds which had assembled,
The Rev. ROBERT SPEARS took the chair at seven o'clock'
and announced that Mr. Murphy's mission to her Metiestl
had failed. (Shame). One more effort must be made.
pit
memorial had been drawn up, which would be taken to
George Grey that evening, po'nting out to him the stroos
public feeling against the execution of Wright, and praliit
if not for a reprieve, at least for a respite. (Hear.) 1V11,1,1
this suggestion was being discussed, Mr. Murphy 01°11
the building, and was received with immense cheering. A--„'
e
detailed the particulars of his visit to Windsor. His 0';
rative was received with shouts of indignation and boa
cries of " Shame!" In accordance with his motion, a de'
putation, consisting of Mr F. Doulton, M.P., Mr. 1101,
member of the Lambeth Vestry, and Mr. Applegsrth'
working men, left with the memorial to Sir George Greit;
On making their appearance outside the Baths in the Weedo
minster-road they were received by the assembled thousall.os
with great cheering and wishes for their success. During
the absence of the deputation the meeting was addressedl
several working men, all expressing the opinion, in wilit
the meeting cordially concurred, that if Wright was exectl
a judicial murder would take place. e
On the return of the deputation, a few minutes before 9
o'clock, Mr. Murphy reported the result. lie said 03;
first proceeded to the private residence of Sir George Gree'e
and having sent in a note stating their business, Sir Geerl,o
Grey appointed to meet them at the Home-office,
whore
W~
conference lasted for three-quarters of an hour. Ile, 'OO
ever, was inflexible in his determination to carry °u!t of
sentence. He said his sympathy was with the obJe"ol
the deputation, but he could not override the law. Ilecol9
decided upon the case of Townley according to law, all
toe
decision with respect to Wright was based on the
principle. The law must, therefore, take its course.
Murphy then sat down, deeply affected. ours,Mr. DOULTON, M.P., said he deeply regretted the e
eon
pursued by Sir George<Grey. It would do much to
ill-will between classes. of
A collection was then made foe the two, childreo of
Wright, and the meeting separated with every syeeP°
sorrow and indignation.
The following bill, bordered with deep mournia, te,4
circulated at the meeting last night :—" A solemn pro of
(against the Execution of Wright- Men and virel°11;00,
London, abstain from witnessing this sad spectacle of
Lice. Let CAlcraft and Co. do their work at this time 'fief
none but the eye of Heaven to look upon their crime* for
all window shutters be up, and window blinds be down,
an hour on Tuesday morning in Southwark."