The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-20 00:00:00

oratr.

LONDON, TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1852.

Parliament may now be considered to have seriously
entered upon the consideration of the propriety of re-
newing the Act of 1833, in reference to the conduct
of our Indian Government. After the discussion
which recently took place in the House of Lords on
the motion of the Pa:ME MINISTER, we commented at
some length upon a subject which all parties alike are
waited in regarding as one of the very utmost im-
PortaUee, as one affecting the stability, not merely of
Our oriental dominion, but of the whole imperial sway
o{ England,
iaoplaiit
ngtlirld!_uas one involving not only the interests of
about of Hindo.stan, numbering somewhere
of Queen Q 41,000 but of the entire subjects
altogether. licr°lll.A, numbering 'Aar& 200,000,000
towards the %,,ZtnilY, the movesaer.t thus commenced
first place, cif c,,r;ellt "f‘ a question which, in the
of our colonial pro,v'etnlit°:t icfluence the continuance
in addition to this, mat:A/3111i t which must ultimately,
sign or advancement, of ,ivaiiiLlt:end to the retrogres-
mitted to paese even upon the has not been per-
cour
y whit°4llPursued by the
political embarrassment. The of the nation's
First Lord of the Thum
matter upon the notice of the 1,101,,e Pressing the
been speedily followed up by the ~,,L°rds, has
-motion Bub.
, .

r ,~•p

stt3,l

mitted by the President of the Board of Control
to the attention of the House of Commons,
as may be
at once perceived by reference to the very interesting
debate of yesterday. The business of the session
could not have been more admirably resumed after
the close of the Easter recess than by the speech in
which Mr. HERRIES last evening called for the ap-
pointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the
operation of the Act 3d and 4th William IV., c. 85,
with a view to suggest some better
system for the _ administration of the affairs
of Hindostan. As the Right Hon. Gentleman
very judiciously observed—after the well remembered
manner of the late Sir ROBERT PREL—the Legis-
lature had, in regard to this subject, three courses
open to its acceptance—to allow the Act to expire, to
renew it as it was without further inquiry, or to
propose an investigation by means of a Select Com-
mittee of both Houses as a preparatory step to legis-
lation. Whatever might be ultimately the decision
arrived at by the Imperial Parliament in reference
to the renewal of the Act, which must in the ordi-
nary lapse of time expire in 18.54, the
last mentioned suggestion was obviously from
the outset the most rational under all circumstances,
the least calculated to lead to a precipitate settlement
of the matter, and most certain to conduce to a sound
and dispassionate revisal of the Indian Government.
The motion was consequently agreed to without a
division, and the country may therefore anticipate
with confidence a result satisfactory in the end, not
simply to the interest of India, but one beneficial
likewise, and, in a peculiar degree, to the power of
the whole empire, and to the welfare of its entire
population.

From the preliminary glance taken by the Presi•
dent of the Board of Control at the effects already
produced by the operation of the Act passed in 1833,
it must be sufficiently apparent that with all its un-
questionable blemishes that Act has hitherto proved
in no way disastrous. During the last twenty years
it mu,-.3t be acknowledged, for example, that
the revenues derived from our oriental pos-
sessions have very considerably increased, that
our territories there have been enormously
extended, that our wars have conducted us only
through a series of victories, sanguinary it is true at
times, but invariably overwhelming, and that beyond
all this, the people of Hindostan have so far benefited
that they have been saved from the tyranny of petty
local despots, their laws being administered with
something more than Asiatic justice, and their
children being afforded to a considerable
extent the inestimable advantages of education.
Since 1834, for instance, the revenues of India
have been augmented by about 6,000,000/. sterling,
increasing gradually, that is to say from 18,407,000/.
to 24,379,0001. During the same period the imports
are found to have been actually doubled, increasing
from 6,154,000 to 12,544,000, while the exports have
considerably more than doubled, having advanced
from 8,000,000 to 18,000,000—the inward tonnage
being augmented from 108,873 to 252,153, and the
outward tonnage from 83,776 to 180,800! Mean-
while the territories have been extended by no less
than 165,000 square miles, increasing by 9,000,000
the sum total of the population. Notwithstanding
these successes, however, it is not less obvious to the
more observant student of Indian history, that
in the approaching expiration of the existing powers
the Legislature of England possesses sn opportunity
of inestimable importance, and the neglect of which
might be productive of incalculable mischief. It
is from our conviction in this particular that
we look forward with eager curiosity to
the result of the inquiry about to be ad-
ventured upon by the Select Committee of both
Houses—believing that from that inquiry enormous
advantages may result in the well-deliberated re-
organization of the whole system of our Indian
Government.

The Court of Exchequer has at length pronounced
judgment in the important case of MILLER V. Ser.o-
MONS. We regret to find that the decision is not
such as we had anticipated, and which would have
obviated the necessity for any legislation on the sub-
ject. It is not, however, final and conclusive.
The defendant is still entitled to appeal to the Exche-
quer Chamber, and should the judgment there be
unfavourable, to the House of Lords, and we know
little of Alderman SALOMONS if he is the man to
permit any expense, annoyance, or inconvenience, to
deter him from contesting a l'outrance the cause in
which he has so boldly stepped forward es the
vigorous and unflinching champion. He has unques-
tionably sustained a temporary defeat, but it will
only elicit more energetic effirts on his part on be-
half of his co-religionists. We do not suppose that
he will interpose any technical difficulties in the way
of an early settlement of the question. He might
retard and procrastinate the proceedings, but such
is not his object; and the question may be argued
before the Exchequer Chamber even during the
ensuing, or, at farthest, Michaelmas Term, and
it could then be disposed of in the House
of Lords early in 1853, so that no delay should occur,
if legislation be really required.

It is with the greatest diffidence that we ever ven-
ture to differ from any one of our learned judges—
from men of profound learning, vast experience, and
great acuteness. However strong might be our own
impressions and feelings, we should distrust them if
in opposition to the views of any one of those who have
sustained the character of the judicial bench at as
high an elevation as it ever previously attained,
even in other times, when " there were
giants in the land." But, fortunately for the
cause for which we have felt intense anxiety, there
was not perfect unanimity in the Court of Ex-
chequer. The Junior Baron (MAnere) in the elabo-
rate and able judgment which he pronouced, adduced
reasons which certainly appeared conclusive, and
which not even the arguments of his distinguished
brethren could in any degree shake or overturn. It
will long remain a monument of legal acumen nen
titling the Learned Judge to a high andprominent
position among the most eminent jurists of any age.
There it, therefore, high authority to sustain and
console the defendant under the adverse decision, and
to induce him to proceed to the utmost in order to
obtain the judgment of the ultimate tribunal.
Four points had been raised in the course of the
argument, but three of them were of comparatively
trivial importance. The broad substantial question
was, whether the words " on the true faith of a Chris-
tian," were intended to create a " religious test" to
exclude persons not members of any Christian sect,
or for the purpose of giving additional solemnity to the
obligation, of creating the greatest sanction to the
oath. If the latter, it would of course fall within the
rule laid down in " OMICHUND v. BARRZE," and
thedefendant, having sworn to the whole of the sub-
stantial part of the asseveration in the form most
binding on hie conscience, should of course be deemed
to have complied with the requirements of the still
existing penal code.
Now, from the clear and lucid historical account
ex,it a
plpeegiasrsiatiinvane
lAfecstts
thdaettatibleed
Jewsby Bcoaruolnd
of the various •
nlolAtßT have been within the province of any
of the statutes, but that, on the contrary, they were
against what were
minds
of
those
elaen . termed
01. P-
directed solely
(as shown by Baronagai
nultant:LzDaanhEr
id: t
amstohbriei
ityy)
Pa-
pist recusants," and
for the purpose of preventing any equivocation
re-
servation in the
was framed, which it was
supposed they might otherwise have prac-
tised. It was immediately after the Gunpowder
Plot that the words were first introduced
were probably introduced in consequence of the dis-
covery of a book denominated " A. Treatise on
Equivocation," discovered in the possession of FRA.NCIi
TRESIIAM, one of the conspirators. The Jews were
never thought of, and as Baron MARTIN shrewdly
remarked, "the Legislature, in all probability, never
contemplated that there were any subjects in
the kingdom who were not Christians." This
did not then apply to Members of Parliament,
hut it was shortly afterwards extended, the object
and meaning being the same. The same might be
observed of every subsequent statute. The words
were inserted, partly in consequence of the absurd
calumnies that prevailed against cur Roman Catholic
brethren, and partly because they were already in
the oath. There was nothing whatsoever relating
to the Jews, and it was the letter and not the spirit
o 4 the law that imposed the disability, perhaps the
lit existing one of a penal character that
rtinains a blot on the national atatute-book. The

determination of Alderman SALOMONS will now
render legislation necessary. Whatever may be the
opinion respecting the admissibility of Jews
to Parliament, there is no nobleman or gentleman
who could desire to impose such fearful penalties on
the chivalrous defender of his rights, who merely
raised an important legal question. The topic is not
one merely relating to the Jews, but one in which
every friend of civil and religious liberty is interested,
and to the expenses of which all should contribute.

SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO MRS. COLONEL WYLDE.—
The lady of Lieutenant-Colonel Wylde, R.H.A.; one of the
Grooms of the Bedchamber to his Royal Highness Prince
Albert, is at present confined to her room from the effects of
a severe accident she suffered whilst out walking one day in
the latter part of the week. From what can be ascertained
it appears that she was leaving the shop of a tradesman at
the west end of the town, and when just on the door-step
turned suddenly round to recognise an acquaintance, who
was passing down the street at the time, when something
twisted in the leg, which rendering her incapable of walk-
ing, she was obliged to be brought home to her residence,
in Eaton-place South, in a conveyance, and on medical
attendance arriving it was found that several of the larger
tendons were violently strained, which will oblige her to re-
main at home for a short time, but she is progressing fa-
vourably under the circumstances.
THE TEMPLE, APRIL 17.—The aftermentioned
members of the Hon. Society of the Middle Temple were
called to the degree of Barristers• at-Law this evening :
Edmund Burke Wood, Esq., Richard Denny Urling, Esq.,
and Arthur Thomas Godfrey, Esq.
FATAL OMNI-BITS ACClDENT.—Yesterday after-
noon, Mrs. Mary Prior, widow. aged 72 years, who resided
at No. 19, Greville-street, Hatton-garden, expired in the
accident ward of King's College Hospital, from injuries re-
ceived under the following circumstances :—lt appears the
deceased was crossing the road opposite Gray's Inn-lane,
when the driver of an omnibus called out to her, but as she
continued her course, it is supposed that the deceased did
not hear him, the consequence being, that before he had
time to pull up, the horses knocked her down, and the wheels
of the omnibus passed over her. She was instantly picked
up, and conveyed to the above hospital, where Mr. E. Law-
son, the house-surgeon, was promptly in attendance, and
rendered every assistance till death terminated her sufferings.
SHOCKING ACCIDENT AT FENNING'S WHARF.—
Last evening, shortly before seven o'clock, an accident
attended with serious consequences happened to a man
named William Murphy, aged 32 years, while at work at
Fenning's-wharf, Tooley-street, Southwark. It appears
that the unfortunate man was walking across one of the
upper floors of the warehon,e, when he by some means fell
down an opening on to the stone pavement below, by which
means he sustained very extensive injury to the head, of
such a fearful character that no hopes are given of his re-
covery. He was taken to St. Thomas's Hospital, where
Mr. F. W. Tabois, the principal dresser, rendered every
assistance, but last night, at nine o'clock, the poor man was
totally insensible, and sinking fast from effusion of blood to
the head, and concussion of the brain. Mr. Tabois was in
constant attendance upon the injured man, who has also been
seen by Mr. M`Murdo, one of the senior officers of the insti-
tution.

ATTEMPTED MCRDER.—BIRMINGHAM, MONDAY.--
Last evening, about six o'clock, a man named John Mitchell,
a joiner, living at Winson-green, near the new gaol in this
borough, shot his wife. He had been drinking in an adjoin-
ing public-house, and left to go home. Mitchell bad not
been away many minutes when the report of a gun was
heard, and he presently returned to the public-house, saying
" I have done it." On inquiry it was ascertained that some
dispute arose between himself and his wife, whereupon he
took up a loaded gun and shot her on one side of the head
and face. Surgical assistance was speedily obtained, and the
husband, who gave himself up to the police, was conveyed to
the Sandpit station. The woman, who is said to have been
of intemperate habits, is dreadfully injured, and little hope
is entertained of her recovery. Her depositions were taken
before a magistrate this morning, and Mitchell was remanded
to await the fate of his wife.
THE LIGHTSHIP AT SANDY BOOK, NEAR New
Yo&K.—The keeper of the floating light off Sandy Hook
makes the following report of vessels for the first three
months of 1852 :—"Passed in—steamships, 113 ; ships, 319;
barques, 496 ; brigs, 329 ; schooners, 956. Passed out—
steam-ships, 154; ships, 311 ; barques, 363; brigs, 432;
schooners, 1,131." He says the severity of the weather has
exceeded anything he has experienced for many years.
" During the coldest of the weather there were periods when
scarcely any portion of the exterior of the ship could be dis-
cerned, she being completely covered with ice from her mast-
head to the water's edge; and at one time, although six
miles at sea, we were so completely surrounded and hemmed
in, that the crew were enabled to walk for half a mile around
the ship on the ice—a circumstance, I believe, unprecedented
at this station. Some of the gales during the winter have,
indeed, been terrific."
The accounts of the country trade during the past
week show general steadiness, with a tendency in most
cases to improvement. At Manchester there has been a
satisfactory business, the market having benefited by the
last advices from India and China. At Birmingham, not-
withstanding the interruption caused by the Easter holidays,
there has been continued activity in most branches of ma-
nufacture, and it is remarked that the beneficial effects of the
Great Exhibition are still unequivocally manifested in the
orders received. In the iron markets prices are well main-
tained and holders exhibit firmness. From Nottingham the
report states an increase in the home demand and a good
supply of foreign orders. Some recent fires in the United
States have destroyed considerable stocks of hosiery and
lace, which will have to be replaced. In the woollen districts
the reviving :tendency of the last few weeks has been un-
checked. The Irish linen trade is without alteration.

IMPORTATION OF WHEAT, &C. —A return, ob-
tained by Lord Naas, was yesterday printed, showing, for
the third and fourth quarters of the year 1851, the importa-
tion of wheat, barley, and oats. It appears that in the
third quarter of last year, of wheat there were 1,174,457
quarters imported, and in the last quarter of the year
434,300 quarters. Of wheat flour (actual weight) there
were 1,747,499 quarters in the third quarter, and 868,647
quarters in the fourth. Of wheat flaur (reduced to its
equivalent in quarters of wheat) the importations in the
third quarter were 499,235 quarters, and is the fourth quarter
248,185. The aggregate of wheat and wheat flour in the
third quarter was 1,f,73,473 quarters, and in the fourth
quarter of the year 682,985 quarters. The barley imported
in the third quarter numbered 250,095 quarters, and in the
fourth 78,923 ; whilst of oats there were 581,466 quarters
imported in the third quarter, and 126,818 in the fourth
quarter of the year.
SUPPOSED SUNlDE.—Yesterday the dead body of
a man was found in the Thames off East Greenwich. He
was apparently between 50 and 60 years of age, stout build,
and had grey hair. On him were found a black stuff bag, a
tape measure, a pair of steel spectacles, &c. He was dressed
in a blue frock coat, green plaid waistcoat, mixed Tweed
trousers, black hat, and Wellington boots. The body was
removed to the dead-house of Greenwich old church, to
await an inquest, and for identification.
SUDDEN DEATll.—Yesterday afternoon, between
five and six o'clock, a woman named Mary Ann Beale, aged
40, who resided with her husband at No. 33, Charles-street,
Drury-lane, while taking tea, was seized with a fit of in-
voluntary laughter, and immediately expired. She was ap-
parently in robust health for some time previously, but Mr.
W. Bennett, surgeon, expresses an opinion that death must
have been occasioned by disease of the heart.

FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT AT MILLOM.—An inquest
was held at Kirksanton, on Monday last, before Mr. J. P.
Myers, deputy coroner, on the body of John Steel, of that
place, labourer. From the evidence produced before the
jury it appeared that deceased and a fellow servant in the
employ of Mr. Berm, of Hestham, were, about 2 o'clock in
the afternoon, harrowing together in a field each with a pair
of horses, when one of the men of a sudden heard a great
noise among the chains of hi.s fellow labourer's horses, and
on looking round saw them just breaking away from the
harrow, with deceased between them, and going at a
furious rate. The deceased had not run with them more
than 100 yards when he was thrown down and dragged by
•ae of the tracing chains a considerable distance. On seeing
the situation in which deceased was placed his companion
stopped the horses as soon as he possibly could, when he
found deceasedhad been dragged by the thigh with the tracing
chain, which had apparently been suddenly twisted round it
and had penetrated to the bone and made an awful incision.
Deceased, sensible at the time, drew the hook out of his
thigh himself. The wound bled very copiously. Deceased
was immediately removed home, and a surgeon sent for, but
life departed just as the surgeon arrived, the man having
survived the accident only three hours. He was a sober, in-
dustrious man, and has left a widow (who has been nearly in-
sensible ever since), with five children, quite destitute.--
Whitehaven Herald.

AYLESBURY Aram 20.—The Conservative meet-
ing which was held at the George Hotel on Friday last, for
the purpose of moving a vote of confidence in her Majesty's
Ministers, was a complete failure. It was very thinly at-
tended, and none of the leading gentlemen of the county
were present. Mr. Bethel!, it is understood, will not offer
himself again for the borough of Aylesbury. There are at
present two candidates in the field—Dr. Layard, who offers
himself on Liberal principles, and Captain Temple West, a
Protectionist. Colonel Harmer is also spoken of. Although
Dr. Leet has issued an address, offering to come forward for
the county whenever a dissolution takes place, it is doubtful
whether the learned civilian Will go to the poll.
CONVERSION AND RECANTATION OF A ROMAN CA-
THOLIC ParesT.—An interesting ceremony was witnessed on
the morning of Easter Sunday, in, the French Protestant
Church of London, situate in St. Martin's-le-Grand. This
was the public recantation of a French Roman Catholic
priest (the name of the party being, for obvious reasons, sup-
pressed), who, having formally renounced the errors, here-
sies, corruptions, and superstitions of the Church of Rome,
and embraced the pure faith of the Gospel of Christ, was ad-
mitted a member of the French Protestant Church, and af-
terwards partook of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to-
gether with the rest of the congregation. The ceremony of
admission took place at the close of the morning service, the
Rev. G. G. Dengue officiating on the occasion..
A WONDERFUL MAN.—Richard Arkwright, it
would seem, was not a beautiful man—no romance hero
plain, almost gross, bag-cheeked, pot-bellied
Lancashire man, with an air of painful reflection, yet
also of copwMiet Mercury u haughty
;
ious free digestion ; a man stationed
by the community to shave certain dusty beards,
by forethought, oversight, accident, and ar-
ils the northern parts of England, at a halfpenny each. To
such end, we say,
rangement, had Richard Arkwright been, by the commu-
nityless looking, which,
of England and his own consent, set apart. Neverthe-
less, in strapping razors, in lathering of dusty beards, and the
where.
contradictions and confusions attendant thereon, the man had
ideally within the:mine; rather hope-
less in that rough head of his; spindles, shuttles, wheels,
and contrivances plying
however, he did at last bring to bear.
of without difficulty. His townsfolk rose in mob round him,
for threatening to shorten wages, so that he Lad to fly, with
broken wash-pots, scattered household, and seek refuge else-
where,
Nay, his wife, too, as I learn, rebelled ; burned his
imperial a
wooden„,, model of his spinning-wheel, resolute that he should
revolution;
"'el( to his razors rather—for w hide, however, he decisively,
as then Wilt rejoice to understand, packed her out of doors.
0 reader! a historical phenomenon is that bag-cheeked,
pot
-enduring, much-inventing barber! French
brewing; to resist the same in any mea-
sure,
cloth of England; and
were impotent without the cotton and
the power , and it was this man that had to give Eng-
landof cotton.—Thomas Carlyle.
The new of
the .African CoCout: monthly steamers for Madeira and
Ist of September. rAannounced to commence running the
and the ships port of departure will be Plymouth,
Forerunner, Faith, iemployes will be four in number, named
of 400 tons burden, th:1t,.,,,e, and C'uarity. The first will be
1,00. They are construeutililext of VOO, and the last of
Birkenhead, with engines by d by Mr. John Laird, of
Fawcett, Preston, and Co., _eorge Forreeter. and Co., and
vt Liverpool,