The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-16 00:00:00

(LEFT SITTING.)

tions.

(CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT—THIS DAY.
THIRD COURT.
ASSAULT ON THE HIGH SEAS.
(Before the Common Sergeant.)

William Harrison, 40, mariner, was charged with
violently assaulting a seaman, named Bonaventura,
whilst on his way from Calcutta to London in the
ship Clontarf, of which the prisoner was captain.
The evidence went to show the constant occurrence
of disputes between the crew and captain during the
whole voyage, and especially during the latter portion
of it, as many as 16. of the crew having been flogged
three or four times over.

With regard to the offence now charged, several wit-
nesses were examined ; among others,
Charles James Brennan, who deposed that he came
from India to England in the Clontarf, working his pas-
sage as a common seaman. He had been a compounder
of medicine in the medical college of Calcutta, and had
been assistant to the surgeon of the 11th Rifles in the
Indian army for 12 years, having been three times
wounded. On the day in question Bonaventura was
ordered to the wheel. Told the witness so and went
aft. Witness looked under a sail, and saw the captain
strike Bonaventura on the arm with a boarding pike.
Afterwards the captain snatched a whip from one of the
boys, and waved it several times over Bonaventura,
but could not tell whether he struck him again. Bona-
ventura put out his hand and begged for forgiveness.
Bonaventura went forward to the wheel • the captain
foll Owed, and struck him with the whip three or four
times. Witness examined Bonaventura's arm two or
three hours afterwards, and found it broken above the
elbow. Was at first afraid to tell the captain. When
he did so, the captain said, "It's broken, is it ? Show
me where ; or you'll find it out." Witness was himself
confined for three days by the captain's orders. Did not
know what for. Had taken no part in exciting the
crew to disobey the captain. The captain also split my
lip.

-.Mr. Robertson, for the defence, contended that the
conduct of the crew had been mutinous from the first
moment of their being shipped ; that there had been
threats to break the captain's legs, and even to fire the
ship. The learned gentleman was about to call his wit-
nesses when we went to press.

SHERIFFS COURT.-(THIS DAY).

(Before Mr. Wm. Burchell.)
SNOW V. CAHILL.

This was an action on a promissory note for 131. De-
fendant denied the making of the note.
The plaintiff's attorney said, unfortunately, he could
not give direct evidence of the handwriting, but must
rely upon a letter sent by the defendant, enclosing the
note.

The Under-Sheriff said, that as the defendant did not
appear to support his plea, the jury might infer the de.
fendant signed the note.
The jury gave a verdict for the amount.
HILL V. JOHNSON.

This was an action to recover the sum of 1501. on a
bond.

The defendant's attorney appeared, not to offer any
defence, nor to consent to a verdict ; the fact was 201.
been paid, and he had taken out a judge's summons and
offered to pay the 1301., which for some reason was re-
fused.

The plaintiff's attorney said, they would take a ver-
dict for 1301., the difference was, in reality, one of costs.
He then submitted that, under the New Common Law
Procedure Act, he was entitled to nominal damages on
the breach of the bond.

The Under-Sheriff ruled to the contrary ; and the
fury gave a verdict for 1301.

THE MARQUIS OF ABERCORN V. MATTHEWS.

This was also an action on a bond, but the record w
withdrawn.

MARLBOROUGH STREET-(THIS .DAY.)

CHARGE OF FRAllD.—Frederick White, was placed at
the bar, before Mr. Bingham charged with obtaining
the sum of 10s. by false and fraudulent pretences.
Corporal Wesson, of the Royal West Middlesex Mili-
tia, stated that on Tuesday last; the prisoner enlisted in
the above regiment. Witness received his name and
address, which he took down in writing, and on finding
them correct, the prisoner was sworn in at this Court
on the same day, and received the usual bounty of 10s.
from the Sergeant-Major. The prisoner at the time he
was sworn in, stated that he did not belong to any other
Militia,.

Sergeant-Major Belcher said he paid the prisoner the
bounty money of 10s. on the 14th instant, and from in-
formation which he subsequently received, that he be-
longed to the Hampstead division of the East Middlesex
Militia, he (witness) communicated with the police, and
the prisoner was taken into custody. The prisoner had
since confessed to having previously enlisted in the East
Middlesex Militia.

The prisoner had nothing to say in defence.
Mr. Bingham said he had to deliver judgment in a
similar case to-morrow, and should, therefore adjourn
the present case till then.

•
THE NEW MEDALS OF THE EMPIRE.—Three new
medals are now being struck at the Imperial Mint. All
three have on the face the effigy of Louis Napoleon, with
these words :—" Napoleon 111., Empereur." On the
reverse of one of them is an eagle, surmounted by the
Imperial Crown with rays, and holding in its claws an
escutcheon, on which is inscribed the number of votes
on the 21st November, 7,824,129. Round the eagle are
the mottoes :—" Suffrage universel, 21, 22 Nov., 1852.
—Rdtablissement de l'Empire." On another is on one
side the bust of the Emperor, and on the reverse the fol-
lowing inscription :—" Plebiscite du 21 Nov., 1852. Le
Liberateur de la France, Louis Napoleon proclam6 Em-
pereur des Francais par 7,824,182 voix, le 2 Dec., 1852."
On the third there are on the two face the busts of Na-
poleon I. and of Napoleon 111.
SCOTTISH CENTRAL AND MIDLAND JUNCTION RAIL-
WAYS.—It is reporti that negotiations are in progress
for an amalgamation of the Scottish Central and Mid-
land Railways.—Scotsnuzn.
THE NEW CUNARD STEAM-LINER ARABIA. The
splendid new steam-ship Arabia, Captain Judkins, for
the Liverpool, and New York Royal Mail Service, was
tried down the Frith of Clyde on Saturday last, and
gave entire satisfaction. The length of the Arabia is
285 feet, keel and forerake ; beam, 41 feet ; depth,
28 feet ; tonnage, by custom-home measurement,
2,393 37-100th tons. Among the party on board we
observed the Hon. and Very Rev, the Dean of Ripon ;
Captain Kingcombe, R.N., and officers of her Majesty's
screw steam-frigate Simoon, Captain Montressor, and
officers of the 82d Regiment, at present stationed in
Glasgow ; Mr. Dinnen, Admiralty engineer inspector ;
Mr. Waterman, Admiralty shipwright surveyor; Messrs.
Robert Napier, Robert Steele, inn., George Burns,
James Burns, John Burns, Thomas Buchanan, James
Wright, J. A. Anderson, J. G. Kinnear ; Captain
Douglas, Mr. E. D. James, postmaster ; and Mr.
Archd. Gibson, secretary to the Caledonian Railway.
Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, we
were glad to see a number of ladies present. The Arabia
immediately proceeds to Liverpool, whence she carries
the mails of the Ist of January to the United States.
The Venerable Dean of Ripon informed the company
that he was on board Fulton's experimental little vessel
when she was tried on the American waters some 48
years ago. She was a tiny, fragile craft, and being with-
out paddle-boxes, threw so much water on board as
almost to drown the small number of persons who were
courageous enough to make the excursion. Now he was
on board the Arabia, which was in every sense of the
word a floating palace, possessing every requisite for
safety, and all the conveniences, comforts, and even the
luxuries of life. Such was the immense march of im-
provement in the experience of one man ; and he might
add, that it would not be rash to predict that some of
the younger members present might yet witness as great
an improvement over the magnificent "Arabia " as he
himself had seen over Fulton's first attempt.—Glasgow
Herald.
MR. BARTLEY.—This veteran comedian will take a
farewell benefit at the Princess's Theatre next Saturday,
as Falstaff in Henry IV., under the patronage of her Ma-
jesty. The day will be the 50th anniversary of his first
appearance on the stage. After the play Mr. Bartley will
address the audience on his final retirement from the
and an
to which he has so long been a credit

CARGOES OF GOLD.—The Lady Flora, which sailed
`rom Port Phillip on the 4th August for London with
(7,500 ounces of gold, valued at 310,0001. sterling, put
nto Rio Janeiro on the 16th October, and sailed for
London on the 28th idem. The second mate had been
detected pilfering some gold, and sent home under arrest.
The Emperor, with 8,000 ounces of gold from Sydney,
has put into Monte Video in a leaky state, and this
amount of the precious metal has been transferred to her
Majesty's steamer Plumper, for conveyance to England.
COAL IN THE SOVEREIGNTY.—We are in possession of a
coal, which may be obtained in abundance on the Sandt
River, district of Winburg. This coal appears to us to
be of first-rate quality ; and we were led to indulge in
one of our school-boy pastimes—that of making gas by
means of a tobacco-pipe. When the town of Bloemfon-
tein shall have attained to a more compact shape, we
hope to have our stores, streets, &c., lighted with gas.
We understand that certain boers in the vicinity of the
mines, are ready to transport any quantity hither at 10s
per muid. Should use be found for any extensive supply
we doubt not that it could be obtained at a more econo-
mical rate.—Cape Town, Mail, Nov. G.
MOVEMENT AGAINST THE BUDGET.—The Town Coun-
cil of Edinburgh and the Chamber of Commerce yester-
day resolved to send up petitions against the Budget,
the resolution being unanimous in both bodies, and the
Conservative members being as zealous and decided as
the Liberals. The Lord Provost's speech is an able
exposition of the oppressiveness of the house duty. A
similar resolution was come to at the meeting of the
Town Council of Portobello on Monday.—Scoteman of
Wednesday.