The Sun.
London, England, 1852-10-22 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—l have read with attention your articles in the
'Times of the 16th and 18th inst., in which you allude
both to my past conduct in Parliament, cud also to some
late correspondence of mine on public questions which at
this time engage the attention of williens of the people;
and as you appear to have misunderstood my statements,
as well with regard to my views of the past as with re-
gard to the seisctioo of the Ballot alone as a point of
union for Retainers at the present juncture, I am in-
duced to offer the folluwieg explanatioe :
With respect to the first point, I can assure you that I
am not " one of those worthies who, at the close of their
life, have lamented the scant fruit of their labours." On
the contrary, when I look back on the course in which,
since 1818, I have been engaged ; when I compare the
state ot the public accounts and of the representation,
of the public establishments and of the country generally
at that period, with their condition now ; when I take
into account the great improvements in our financial
system; in the representation as affected by the Reform
Bill of 1831.2; the introduction of comparative economy
and retrenchment in all branches of the public expenoi-
ture, and the vast benefits conferred on the country at
large by -Free-trade, since 1842—towards all of which ob-
jects my endeavours have been unceasingly directed—l am
rather disposed to rejoice at the " ample success"
welch has attended the efforts ot those friends of progress
and reform, among whom I am proud to number my-
self ; though, at the same time, I cannot overlook the
tact that much more might have been accomplished, had
we received wider and more consistent support from all
who seemed to be interested in the great work at which
we have laboured—results, nevertheless, so far beyond
what I could have anticipated when first, and often al-
most alone, I directed my efforts against the abuses
which I regretted so detect in our constitutional system,
however insufficient us yet for the entire removal of them,
afford ample encouragement to advocate such further re-
forms as are in my view essential to the continued wel-
fare and prosperity of the country. Among those re-
forms required, a further and more complete parliamen-
tary reform is what. I now desire to see effected.
Experience has convinced us that the Reform of
1831.32 proves insufficient to prevent the existence of
nomination boroughs, or to secure to the great mass of
the people (or to use Lord John Russell's words " to the
Democracy of this country") that share in the represen-
tation to which they are entitled. The people have rights
and I am desirous that they should obtain them, without
any improper interference with the just privileges of the
House of Lords and of the Crown. I submit that is bad
policy to be agitating for and introducing new reforms in
our representative system, every year, or every few
years • and as the Reform Bill of 1831-2 is admitted by
all Reformers to be defective, I am, therefore, anxious
that the next Reform Bill should be acomprehensive and
efficient one, to prevent, for many years, any new agi-
tation for
Parliamentary Reform, and no Parliamentary
Reform can, in my opinion, be effectual, without inclu-
ding a large extension of the suffrage, a more equal
apportionment of representatives to electors, and protec-
tion to the voter, and other elements which should all
be included in the same Bill.

Bat you have assumed from my letter to the Hull
Advertiser, that I wish to propose the " Ballot " as the
single point on which Reformers should unite and take
their stand. This is a complete misapprehension. I
have often stated, and here repeat, that no scheme of re-
' form can prove efficient and meet my views that does not
include vote by Ballot ; on which account, and to avoid
making various separate motions, I have included it in
my annual motion for " Parliamentary Reform," as
agreed upon by between 70 and 80 Reformers, in which
it was endeavoured to combine all the main elements of
that change which is requisite to make the Rouse of
Commons the real representation of the people. It is
the fall attainment of all those rights which Lord John
Russell now at last recognises as belonging to the demo-
cracy of this country, according to the constitution,
which I seek to promote; and I have, therefore, to ex-
press my regret at your attributing to me the intention
to compromise the assertion of those rights collectively,
for the sake of forming a stronger party to assume the
Ballot alone as a boud of union. I disclaim the inter-
pretation of anything I may have said or written. The
Ballot alone would never make the House of Commons
that democratic portion of our institutions which it
theoretically is, and ought practically to be.
Deemiceitte by Ballot a necessary protection to the
voter, I shall always heartily support any member by
whom it may be separately proposed, as I have said to
Mr Berkeley, its able and strenuous advocate in the last
Parliament; Informing him, however, that I would not be
a member of any separate association to promote the Bat-
lot alone, which would create another division among Re-
formers, and, in fact, stultify the proceedings of those
who have agreed to support my general motion, which
includes the Zia lot. More particularly so a separate as-
sociation is unnecessary, as that entitled, The National
Parliamentary and Financial Reform Association, at 41,
Chariny-cross, was formed to promote that plan of
reform, along with the other measures for reform in-
cluded in the motion I have brought fur several years
before Parliament, and in support of which I am in-
formed that 290 other associations are already formed
in different parts of the kingdom.
The necessity for protection to the voter has been
rendered more obvious than ever by the proceedings at
the late general election, especially iu Ireland, where
they have been very extraordinary. But I fully agree
with you, that our present political condition requires
something more, and something nobler for its renova-
tion, than " a common conviction that the suffrages of
free citizens should be tendered in the dark." That
nobler bond of union, which you consider necessary to
keep together an efficient party, whether in the House
of Commons or out of doors, I have desired to supply in
that carefully concerted series of measures already al-
luded to, which, by enfranchising the million—protect-
ing them from sinister influences, and giving them an
ample, and proportionate, and responsible representa-
tion, shall give such just weight and free scope to the
"democratic element" in our constitution, as is already
fully accorded to the aristocratic and monarchical.
I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
Burnley Hall, Oct.lB, 1852. JOSEPH HUME.

EXPERIMENTS AT PORTSMOUTH WITH THE PATENT
FIRE-ANNIHILATOR.— In the experiment where the
fire-annihilator machines were tried against the dock-
yard fire-engines, the fire was extinguished in less time,
and by much fewer men by the fire-annihilator machines,
as will be seen by the following details :—The reser-
voir of tar was 50 feet long and 5 feet wide, and the
machines and engines were stationed at equal distances.
On the reservoir being fired, and the word given, three
fire-annihilator machines, each 24 inches high and 12
inches wide, were fetched up, put to work, and the fire
extinguished in 1 minute and 10 seconds ; three men
being employed to work the machines, one man to assist
in
carrying; total, four men employed. The same re- 1
servoir was again fired. Two dockyard water-engines,
with 7-inch cylinders, standing ready filled with water,
were fetched up, put to work, and the fire put out in 1
minute and 35 seconds-55 men employed. Besides
this great disproportion in the number of men required
to put out the fire with the water engines, due allowance
must be made with regard to the time also, as the men
were already assembled, and the engines were ready
filled with water, which arrangements, in case of sud-
den fire, require considerable time to complete, and in
the majority of fires allow the destroying element . to
spread itself to the adjacent property. In the trial
upon the wooden house, we find that, notwithstanding
the flames had burst through the roof, and the build-
ing was so completely enveloped in flames as to
admit of no doubt that the delay.uf a minute would
bring the whole building down, so instantaneously did
the powerful vapour from the fire-annihilator machines
arrest the fire, that whatever was not consumed when
the gas was ordered to be applied was preserved, and in
two or three minutes the whole of the embers inside the
building were completely extinguished, showing the
greatly-increased power of the gas when even only par-
tially confined, as in the case in this wooden erection.
We were, therefore, wrong in our report that water was
used to put out the embers inside the building. Some
water was afterwards thrown upon the roof of the
building from one of the engines, as a matter of precau-
tion from the close proximity of the gunpowder maga-
zines, lest, as the flames had burst through the wooden
roof, any smouldering fire l might remain between the
joints of the boards. The whole of the experiments
were considered, we believe, to be completely
as to the great value and efficiency of the machines;
and the astonishing manner in which the fps cools down
the temperature, and the rapidity with which it clears
away the smoke, at once prove the great value
. and___
im-
portance of the machines on board our ships of
most
frequently where the smoke and heat in a fire belewtheec
fire, and
frequently prevent all access to. the root of
preclude means being used for its extinguishment.
--. The
ANCHOVIES AND THEIR ADULTERATIONS..
f the Ana-
Lancet gives the result of the
. iovestigattono
conclusive
lytical Sanitary Commission auto thecomposition of
tea
-spoonfuls.
extent The
" Anchovies," as vended in the
. metropolis.hHaving
analysed 28 samples, the following conclusion as been
might be obtained and collected from the
of a mixture of Dutch fish and anchovies. That the
brine in 23 of the samples was charged. with either bole
Armenian or Venetian red, the quantity varying con-
a rrive do
of
Dutch
:—Thatuteh
fishs.evien,haetf t
wt the samples
f thesa.m consisted
plsamples
co nti
st en-
tirelyed`
siderably in amount ; but in moat cases the brine was
thesebo tt earthy
le,e
e.
lmpeoe wt dhe
yr s
unls
commissioners add—" It is not to be inferred that those
I samples in which no Dutch. fish were detected consisted
' of the true
.anehovy,. since we have ascertained
two other kinds of fish besides the _ that
Dutch are com-
monly imported, and sold as ' t
saturated
or amttheedoyf withthe
0 ' real Gorgonas'—namely, Fr rue anchovies'
~ and
French and Sicilian fish.
, A further investigation ' t.
ono-third of the 28 8 es ablished the fact, that not
i Qagouga oilchoyien, samples examined consisted of

Yesterday Mr. Woods, the coroner for West Surrey,
and a numerous jury, assembled together at the Barley
Mow Tavern, Inzlefiele-green, Egham, for the the pur-
pose of inquiring into the circumstances connected with
• the death of M. Courtnet, who died from the effects of
a gun-shot wound, inflicted whilst fighting a duel, on
Tuesday afternoon last. Some particulars of this me-
lancholy case have already appeared in this journal of
Wednesday last.
The jury having been sworn, they proceeded to view
. the body, which was lying in an upper room in the
same tavern. Upon the return of the jury to the court
the following witnesses were examined:—
Ur. Hayward, surgeon, of Eghurn, deposed that on
Tuesday afternoon be was passing along Priest's-hill on
horseback, and on coming to a gate communicating with
a field, a gentleman came out and asked him the way to
Windsor. He then asked him to accompany him to the
spot where deceased was lying i❑ the field. The person
on the ground was about 45 years of age, and he was
accompanied by a friend, who was endeavouring to
staunch the blood. Nothing at that time transpired es
to the cause of the duel. A ball had passed through the
body and came out on the right side. There were two
persona on the ground, but he saw three others, who
inquired the rood to Windsor. After the deceased
rallied a little, he directed him to be removed. He
put no questions to him, nor did he to witness, lie
understood that the name of one of the persons he saw
was Barthreney. He remained with the deceased till
five o'clock, and he remained sensible during that pe-
riod. Ho made no communication to him, sari pt that
he felt cold and was in pain. He did not see him alone.
after that. He returned at halt-past six, and found hira
dead. Aliane, another of the persons, was in the room
during the time he was present, but nothing passed be-
tween them. He had since the deceased's death made a
post mortem examination, and he had no hesitation in
saying that the wound was the cause of death.
Francis Farquarson—On Tuesday last he saw several
foreigners who came down by the train. Toey were in
two parties of three. He asked them if they wanted to
go to Virginia-water, and they said, No. no. Some of
them went into the Red Lion, and others into the Adam
ard Eve. They all walked up the hill afterwards. He
thrugbt they were all one party. They walked up the
hill, and went into the Grapes public-house. One of
them came out and went to a cook's shop and bought
some meat. They then proceeded in the direction of
the Long-walk, in Windsor Great Park. He had seen
sums of the parties since. About half, past one he saw
three of the parties, who appeared to have been walk-
ing in mud and grass. He went to Datchet with them,
and-had some bread and cheese there. Ono of them had
something under his cloak, which appeared to be a
sword, but he did not take particular notice. They said
nothing to him as to what they had been about. He saw
no firearms of any description about them, but they
might have had firearms. One of them was a fine stout
man, "almost as fine and stout as you, Mr. Chairman."
(Laughter.)

„
Several other witnesses spoke to having seen the
party immediately previous and subsequent to the duel,
and identified some of those in custody as being present
M. Gustave Nagut, of 38, Charlotte-street, Fitzroy..
square, identified the body of deceased. The deceased
resided in London, at 41, Knight Ryder-street. He
was 43, years of age. He knew him well- He last saw
him alive on Sunday evening the 17th. (The witness
was here greatly overcome.) He dined with him on
that evening. He parted with him in the evening.
Nothing particular oceurred in conversation that he
could state.

The Coroner—You are bound to tell the whole truth.
The witness added—Deceased told him that he was
going to fight a duel, but he did not state with whom.
He (witness) objected to mention the name of the
parties.

The Coroner—You are bound to disclose everything.
Witness—l cannot do so.

The Coroner—l shall then tell you the consequences.
Witness—l shall hear them.
The Coroner—Do I understand that you positi►ely
refuse?
Witness—Yes, certainly.
The Coroner—l suppose that you know something of
what led to this duel?

Witness—l knew it was political, but he did not tell
me when or where the duel was to take place. I did not
see him after the Sunday night.
The Coroner (addressing Mr. Biddlecombe) said--
Mr. Superintendent, you must keep this gentleman under
your supervision. I shall not examine him farther at
present, but it is necessary that I should see him again.
The witness was removed in custody of the police.
Mr. Madigan, station-master at Windsor, said that
four persons came to the station on Tuesday, one of
whom carried a sword. He observed them particularly
from their manner and appearance. They took places
in a train for London by the 2 25 p.m. train. Afterwards
a gentleman came in who wished to have a return second
class ticket endorsed for the first class. Upon hearing
of the occurrence a telegraphic message was sent up by
the Great Western line to Lothbury, and from there to
the Waterloo terminus.

John Underwood, police-constable 66 L, produced a
couple of light swords, which, in consequence of a tele
graphic message, he took possession of from two foreign-
ers, who came up by the 225 p.m. train. In consequence
of the telegraphic message he took three persons into
custody. Several other fctreigaigs were at the Waterloo- ,
road station, and one ef them 'came up to him and offered.
him a sovereign to let one-tiffthe parties go away. He
did not, however, do so. One of the parties got out be-
lore he came to the station. The missing party was a
*Twitter of Vauxball•gardens, and other places of
amusement. No pistols were found on any of the
parties.

Thos. Smith, a police constable, repeated the evidence
he gave at the Town-ball the previous day.
Mr. Birk:Imo:0e, the superintendent of police, pro.
duced the various articles found on the persons, which
were puhl'shed yest, rd,y.
Ia answer to the Coroner, witness said the flattened
bullet had not been w(ighed to see whether it corres-
ponded with the other bullets found.
Mary Day said that she had been in attendance et
this house and had laid the body out since death. She
was not present when he died. She found, as she was
removing the body, a leaden ball betwee❑ the sheets and
under the deceased. She gave the ball to a police con-
stable.

The four persons in custody were, at this stage of
the investigation, brought into court. One was a tall,
gaunt, military-looking man, with hard features; the
second person was a stout short man, with an amiable
expression of countenance; the third was slightly built,
of apparently forty years of age, with a beard and an
imperial; and the fourth a man apparently fifty years
of age, was of middle stature, strongly built, and of firm
and somewhat repulsive features. After giving their
names in broken English, they were conveyed away in
the custody of the police.

Immediately afterwards additional parties were
brought into the room by the police. They were
foreigners, and several police officers were called for the
purpose of identifying them as persons who had beon in
the company of the deceased a short time before the
duel took place.
After a great deal of contradictory evidence bad been
adduced in order to identify one of the persons brought
forward as one and the fifth of the party connected with
the duel, the inquiry was adjourned until Tuesday next,
and the jury were bound over to appear on that day to
farther investigate the case.

The accounts that have already appeared respecting
this fatal recontre are in many points incorrect. There
now appears to have been no foundation for the state-
ment that the duel originated in a quarrel respecting a
lady. It is now admitted that the original quarrel re-
spected a political difference; and, singularly enough,
both the parties were under the ban of the present
governing power in France ; nor would it be easy for
an Englishman to comprehend what could be the differ-
ence between them The deceased man, we are in-
formed, was a friend and partisan of Ledru Rollin—his
antagonist was a follower of Louis Blanc. With regard
to that antagonist, we may state that, though four men
are now in custody on account of this duel, it is gene-
rally believed that the person who fired the shot is not
among them. The quarrel in which the duel on
seems to have been an affair of at least some dayestand-
ing, and seemed to be well known among the French
refugees now congregated in London. This is proved,
not only from the circumstance that so many foreigners
were waiting near the Waterloo station of the railway,
to hear the result, when M. Barronet and the others
were brought down in custody, but also from the state-
ment of M. Maquet, a French gentleman, who volun-
teered to give evidence before the coroner yesterday,
and who stated that the deceased told him of the in-
tended duel when they dined together on Sunday evening.

THE CAPE WAR AND CONSTITUTION. --The fol-
lowing is an extract from alletter to a friend in Edin-
burgh, dated Cape of Good i ope, 28th August, from an
extensive landholder and good Whig:—.S,
been doing much, ntiorac General Oath-
notiatludrhale.deaTZ Kafir
er
cart has not
war, however, is, I believe, dyin-
groat thing now will be to snake peace on a
• which can never be done
tion, without theadvice
good founds-
assistance of a Colonial Parliament, a
Eng-
land seems determined to keep from, boon which Eng-
sible, under every pretext and under us as long as
Mi-
nistry.pos-
Well, there is one comfort: every sort of
people. But another thing is ort: we are a patient
your colonies in Downing- certain) you cannot rule
cer-
tain, and we only wonder thatr t any luuger, that is
not yet thoroughly convinced of theth. English people are
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that some, 31 inches, with an extra eye piece, will
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