The Sun.
London, England, 1839-05-21 00:00:00

DEATH PUNISHMENTS.

(From the Glasgow Argus.)
The public anxiety about the unfortunate lad left for
execution at the last Circuit continues to grow in in-
tensity as the day fixed for that event approaches.
Two circumstances conspire to augment this feeling.
The first is the indecorous eagerness with which the
presiding Judge pressed for a conviction—more after
the manner of a public prosecutor than a judge.
The second is the recent escape of Medhurst, under
circumstances of a much blacker character. The exe-
cution of Johnston, if it take place, cannot fail to en-
gender a suspicion that there is one law for the rich
and another for the poor. Either justice has been de-
frauded of its due in the case of Medhurst, or Johnston,
in the event of his execution, will have been murdered.
These are serious matters for the consideration of
all. In our estimation, they are far more weighty than
the party warfare which threatens at present to oblite-
rate them from men's minds.
The citizens of Glasgow have done no more than
their duty in pressing
.these considerations in influential
quarters ; but they will have done lea? than their duty
if, now that the fatal day is so rapidly approaching,
they do not seek to guard against the danger that men
in office overlook the subject in their anxiety about
their own affairs.
Private letters in town intimate a reprieve, but there
must be no relaxation until an official announcement is
received.

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" THE BANISHED," EDITED BY JAMES
MORIER, Ese.—Tbe historical personage who gives the
title to this exciting romance, is the celebrated Duke
Ulerich of Wurternburg, whose life forms so romantic a
feature in the annals of his country. The portion of his
career which is here chosen, with the view of illustrating
the habits and manners of the times in which he lived, is
that when he was contesting the authority of the League,
and the chief historical incidents referred to are the assem.
bling of the Imperial forces at Ulm, their subsequent con-
flict, and the defeat and banishment of the recusant Duke.
In connection w;tli these stirring events, we are introduced
to a large number of other historical personages, and several
fictitious characters—from the latter of whom is drawn
what may be. called the domestic interest of the story.
The Banished" conveys a striking and highly entertain-
ing picture_or rather a series of pictures—of the singular
state of manners and society which prevailed at the period
in question, and the whole forms a work of unusual enter-
tainment, blended with a degree of information which
cannot fail to be equally acceptable."—Naveland Military
G Weazette.
have before us the official estimate of the
damage done by the fire on the 7th April, which destroyed
almost the whole of the village of Stockheim. The losses
amount to he sum total of 381,000 francs for 198 houses
burnt, household furniture, &e. 43 houses were insured,
11 of them with their furniture, for 110,000 francs, which
have been paid by the Insurance Companies.—Brussell's
Paper.
A CHARTIST'S PIIC2.—A
pike; seven feet
long,
was produced by Fraser, the deputy constaisle, at
the Magistrates' office, in this town, on Saturday, and
attracted considerable attention. Near the point, is a hooked
blade, similar to those used in the Irish rebellion, for the
purpose of cutting the girths of horses ; and, at the butt
dnd of the staff, a chain, to go round the body of the pike-
man, and prevent its being taken from him. The pike
had been seized by the police, in the neighbourhood of
ueenzhead. —Halifax Exprsts.