The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-17 00:00:00

THAMES.

AN UNNATURAL CONTEST.—John Attingham, a most
dissipated looking ruffan, was brought before Mr Paget,
charged with being drunk, disorderly, and assaulting police-
constable Payne, No. 194 H.

The constable stated that last night ho was called out of
the Lemon-street Station-house, in Whitechapel, to sup-
press a disturbance in that street, and found the prisoner
and his father stripped and fighting.
Mr Paget—Fighting with his own father.
Payne—Yes Sir. They were knocking each other about
most unmanfully. I separated them, and the old man left
the street and went home. The prisoner would not go, and
became abusive and violent. I laid hold of him by the
collar, and he struck at me and kicked me on the legs.
He also endeavoured to kick me on another part of my
body, and said " I'll rupture you, you I will." I
narrowly escaped the kick intended for me. I succeeded
in taking him to the station. He plunged, kicked, and
struggled all the way, and tried to do me a serious mischief.
Ho was very much intoxicated,

The prisoner said he was very sorry for what he had
done. He was beastly intoxicated last night, and did not
know what he did.

Mr. Paget—Beastly intoxicated ; what an admission for
any man to make. I shall visit this case with great
severity. What are you ? _ _

The prisoner—l am in the rag trade. It was holiday
time yesterday.

Mr. Paget—l cannot admit that as an excuse. In all
cases of this description I shah sentence the offender to im
prisonment and hard labour, and where a policeman is
assaulted, by kicking, in the execution of his duty, I shall
inflict the most sev ere sentence in my power, I sentence
you to ba imprisoned for two months, and kept to hard
labour.

_ .
MARKETS—This Day.

HAY MARKETS.

SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, £3 Os to £4 15s Od; clover,
£4 Os to £5 15s Od; and straw, £1 4,3 to £1 14s par load.
Trade slow.
CUMBEHLAND..—MearIow hay, .f:.; Oa to £4lss Od ; clover,
£4 Os to £5 15s Od; and straw, £l4s to £1 14s per load.
A slow demand.
WHITECHAPEL —Mear'..ow hay, £3 Os to £4lsa ; clover,
Trade inactive.
£4 Os to £5 15s Od; and straw, £1 4a to £1 14s per load,

COLONIAL.
TEA..—Br4siness has been inactive, and the few dealings
enteral ;,eto have been at about previous rates. A small
quan!..ity is announced for public sale to-day,
SUGAR.—A moderate amount of business has been en-
tered into, without, however, any material change as re-
gards prices. Good grocery qualities of West India con-
tinue in fair request.

COFFEE.—There has been a steady inquiry for Colonial
descriptions at fully late rates, the stocks on hand being
somewhat smaller than at the same period of last year.
RicE.—A fair amount of business has been done, chiefly
for home consumption, at late prices,
TALLOW.—The market has been rather more animated,
although business has been on a rather limited scale for
both present and future delivery. P.Y.C., on the spot, is
quoted 4Q to 43s 3d, and last thre3 months, 43s 3,1 to 43s
6d peg cwt.

A TROPHY OF FORT SUMTER.—The Index has
the pleasure of chronicling a most delicate and
deserved tribute paid by one of the most distinguished men
in the South to the first Englishman who, in Parliament,
proposed the recognition of Confederate Independence.
Mr, W. H, Gregory, M.P. for Galway, has just received
from Charleston a fragment of tho flagstaff which so long
and gloriously held aloft the Southern flag over tho bat-
tered ruins of Fort Sumter. This interesting trophy bears
the following inscription :

" Head-quarters, Department of South Carolina,
Georgia, and Florida.
Charleston, S. C., February 10, 1864.
"Piece of flagstaff of Fort Sumter, harbour of Charles-
ton, sent with my compliments to W. H. Gregory, M.P.
for Galway. The flagstaff of that fort has already been
shot down 40 times by the enemy's fire since the commence-
ment of the siege, July 10, 1863.

" G. P. BEAUREGARD, General C. S. A."

THE Loss OF THE STEAMSHIP MATILDA.—The
Board of Trade inquiry as to the loss of this steamer
has concluded, and the assessors came to the conclusion
that up to a certain pint the course pursued by the pilot
was justified, but that he might have been more cautious,
and not have depended upon a compass which he had been
told was defective. There was nothing culpable proved
against him, but he ought to have been more careful, With
regard to the master they thought that, considering he had
only been up the Channel once before, he was justified in
delivering the charge of the vessel into the hands of the
pilot, but he ought to have pointed out to the pilot the want
of dependence on the compasses. They did not consider
that the Bristol pilots had any felonious intention on board
the wreck, but they were merely trying to save the articles
from the salvors. The master and the second mate had
their certificates returned. The Matilda, it was reported,
was intended for the Confederate service.

The town and neighbourkood of Bayonne was
visited two days since by a violent tempest, which raged for
nearly thirty-six hours. An English brig which attempted
to enter the port in the midst of the storm was struck by
several seas, which damaged her poop, and so injured the
captain and two sailors that it was found necessary to take
them to the hospital.