The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-15 00:00:00

THAMES.

THE ELDERLY APPRENTICE —John Delmage, a tall
and powerful man, apparently about 24 or 25 years of age,
appeared before Mr Partridge charged with assaulting Mr
James Morton.

Mr Charles Young, solicitor, in opening the case, said
the complainant managed the business of his uncle, Mr
Robert Morton, ship and anchor smith, of 331, Wapping
high-street, The defendant was an apprentice.

Mr Partridge—An apprentice; he is a very elderly one.
Mr C. Young—He is considerably above the legal age,
but, it is right to state, he has not taken advantage of that,
and intends to serve out his seven years apprenticeship ;
but he has taken advantage of his height and strength to
commit a violent assault on his master's nephew and
manager.

It appeared that on Saturday last, when:the complainant
paid the apprentice his week's wages, he stopped a small
portion of them for two hours' absence in the course of the
week. The defendant went into the office and angrily de-
manded of the complainant what he meant by the stoppage,
on which Mr James Morton said he had lost a part of the
week. The defendant said he was a liar, used other abusive
language, and on being ordered to leave the office, refused
to do so, and struck the complainant a violent blow on the
breast. Mr Morton would have fallen if he had not stage
gered against the wall. He then endeavoured to stop th
elderly apprentice from leaving. The defendant aimed
another blow at him, which the complainant parried, and
the former then rushed out of the office.

Mark Garrard, clerk to Mr Robert Morton, confirmed the
statement of the complainant, and said that the defendant
boasted that he understood vulgar fractions better than Mr
James Morton, and that 5-lOths of a penny was exactly 6el
(Laughter.)
Mr Robert Morton stated that he saw the defendants fist
up, and said, " John what are you doing," on which he
ran into the smith's office. The apprentice had been guilty
of many irregularities of late, which he had overlooked, as
he was nearly out of his time.

Mr Joseph Smith, solicitor, said the blow, as it was called,
was only a push, that the defendant had been treated
harshly, and that this was a very small matter.
Mr Partridge could not agree this was a small matter.
It was a serious one. The defendant was already of full
ago, and had been treated with indulgence by his master,
who had given his evidence very fairly. The defendant,
if he behaved steadily and well, would have hands under
him, and would expect subordination, of which he had
exhibited a lamentable deficiency in the violent, intempe-
rate, and unseemly attack on his master's nephew and
manager. It was a bad assault. -He fined the defendant
10s. and costs.
The money was paid.

THE TIN PLATE TRADE.--The quarterly meeting
of the tin platemakers has b 3en held at the Queen's Ifotel,
Cheltenham, Mr Woodruffe, of the Machen Works, Mon-
mouthshire, presiding on the occasion. About 25 makers
were either present or represented, and from the discussion
which took place as to the position and prospects of the
trade it appeared that no material alteration had taken
place since the last meeting, with the exception that the
American demand had fallen oil considerably again. There
was a fair inquiry from other foreign markets, and the
orders on home account were upon the whole moderately
good. As to prices one opinion prevailed, and that was that
the present state of the trade did not warrant an advance,
and it was unanimously resolved that the quotations agreed
to at the July meeting should he confirmed. Tho late
drought has caused a reduction in the make, and in conse-
quence the stock of finished tin plates and block plates in
manulacturera' hands was not large. After the meeting
the members dined together.

The City Lands Committee, in pursuance of a
resolution of the Court of Common Council, have permitted
the National Temperance League to arrange for holding a
meeting in the Guildhall on the Monday evening after
Lord Mayor's-day. The Lord Mayor elect, we understand,
has agreed to take the chair.
The course of exchange at New York on London for bills at
60 days' sight is quoted 278 to 280 per cent., and the pre-
mium on gold 157 to 1581 per cent. Gold still contlnues to
be imported in very moderate quantities.