The Sun.
London, England, 1837-04-06 00:00:00

NEW COUR7'.

Richard Brec, aged 20, was indicted for stealing 401bs.
weight of lead, value 125., the property of Messrs. Plummer
and Wilson.

Policeman, G 156, was on duty in Cupid-court, Golden-
lane, on the night of the 16th of March, and met the prisoner
in the neighbourhood of the prosecutors' factory with the lead
in his possession. It corresponded exactly with the lead on
the premises, from which a portion had been stolen.
The prisoner, who has been repeatedly convicted of petty
thefts, was found Guilty.
John Wilson was indicted for stealing 31bs. of soap, value
Is. 6d., the property of Charles Robinson.
The prosecutor is a grocer, carrying on business at 53,
Queen-street, Marylebone, and saw the prisoner put his hand
inside the door-post and carry off the soap. He was pur-
sued and taken into custody. The soap was found a few
yards from the shop-door.—Guilty.
James Ayres, 23, was indicted for stealing two capes, a
frill, and several other artic!ee, the property of Hannah
Fletcher, at Ealing. The articles were stolen from the
garden of the prosecutrix, and were on the same evening
found in the prisoner's possession.
The prisoner in his defence said he was in liquor at the
time ; and ever since he had a till at the King's Palace at
Kew, when he was buried in the ruins, and by which his skull
was fractured, he never knew what he was saying or doing
when he took a drop of beer.
The policeman said the prisoner appeared to have been
di inking, but was not drunk.—Guilty.
The record of a former conviction of the prisoner at the
Middlesex Sessions on the 7th February was then proved.
Tne police-officer said he believed the prisoner and his fa-
mily were in very great distress, and the COMMON SERGEANT
said, under these circumstances, although it was not the pri-
s oa,r's first offence, the Court liould not transport him.
_Edward Smith, 22, was indicted fur stealing four paintings,
value four shillings, the property of John Nichols.
The prisoner was seen attempting to carry off property from
Ihe doors of several shops in Pitfield-street, Horton; and he
then turned into Old-street and snatched up the pictures from
the prosecutor's door. He was immediately taken into cus-
tody.—Guilty.
John Clarke was indicted for stealing four handkerchiefs,
value 125., the property of Thomas Price Jones.
The prisoner was taken into custody in Tothill-street, West-
minster, in the neighbourhood of the prosecutor's shop, by po-
liceman B 110, with the handkerchiefs in his possession.
They were identified by the prosecutor, a pawnbroker, as his
property. --G uilty.

A LAUDANUNI bklNKEll.—Mary Andre, otherwise Lumley,
was charged with stealing three capes, value 41., the property
o!' W Ogar.
The prisoner, who is a respectable looking middle-aged
woman, at first appeared dreadfully agitated, and was at length
attacked by violent hysterics.
The COMMON. SERGEANT refused to allow her to plead, and
made some inquiries relative to her history.
Mr. Jonas, the Clerk of the Papers, said that she had been
in Vie habit of drinking six ounces of laudanum daily, for five
or six years.

COMMON- SERGEANT-Impossibie I
Mr. Jonas said, Mr. Macmurdo, the surgeon of the gaol,
would not at first believe her statement, but the prisoner re-
ferred him to the chemist who supplied her with the lauda-
num, and he found it to be correct, and ever since she has
been allowed a dose of her favourite liquor, but I believe she
has not had it this morning.
COMMON- SERGEANT-Has the cause of this extraordinary
propensity been ascertained ? . .

Mr. Josas understood that some years ago the prisoner was
ill-treated, and finally deserted by her husband.
COMMON-SERGEANT—Poor creature, and so she has been
endeavouring to drown her sorrows with stupifying liquors.
Let her be removed for the present.
The poor woman was then removed. Her sufferings ex-
cited a good deal of sympathy.
John Harris and John Chapman were indicted for stealing
3001bs. weight of rope, value 31. 55., from the ship Thomas
Couto, the property of Stewart Marjoribanks, Esq., and
others, the Directors of the East India Dock Company.
After some investigation, both the prisoners were acquitted
under the direction of the Court.

LLOYD'S SHIPPING-(THIS DAY.)

DEAL, APRIL s.—Wind N. E.—Arrived the Elizabeth,
Hutchins, from Lisbon.
PORTSMOUTH, APRIL s.—Wind N. E.. blowing hard.—Ar-
rived the Adventure, Phillips, from St. Michael's.
PLYMOUTH, AI'RIL s.—Wind E. N.E.—Arrived the Good-
luck, —, from Rio Janeiro ; Hawk, Morris, from St. Mi-
chael's ; Azores (packet) from St. Michael's ; his Majesty's
ship Tyne, from Gibraltar.
FALMOUTH, APRIL 4.—Wind E N. E., fresh breezes, with
snow.—Arrived the Vibelia, Pentreath, from Trieste.

STANGATE CREEK, APRIL s.—Arrived the Mary, Sterry,
from Vostizza; Sarah Anne, —, from Trieste.
POOLE, APRIL 5. —Arrived the Hebe, Clements, Lisbon.
DARTMOUTH, APRIL s.—Arrived the Hiram, —, from Villa
Nova ; Albatross, —, from Terceira ; Dido, Lowen, Cadiz.
GUERNSEY, APRIL 3.—Arrived the Carl, Holtz, Walgast.
KINSALE, APRIL s.—Arrived the Richard Codner, —, from
Seville.

The Victory, of Scarborough, is wrecked near Sunderland.
The Smith, of London, vas on shore near Sunderland the
4th inst.
The Draper, from Newport, was on shore near Margate yes-
terday.
The Essex, of Hastings, was on shore near Sunderland the
4th inst.

Mr. Philip Ridding, of Upper Islington-terrace,
attempted to terminate his existence on Tuesday by discharg-
ing a pistol loaded with ball into his mouth. It appears that
Mr. Ridding has a family of five children, and that since the
death of his wife, which happened about eight months since,
he has been in a desponding state of mind. In the morning
his sister, who resides with him, entered his bed-room as usual,
when she discovered him weltering in his blood, with the
lower part of his face shattered to pieces. He is considered in
great danger.
Considerable sensation was excited yesterday by the
report that Mrs. Thomsen, wife of Captain Thomson, late of
the 82d Regiment, was discovered dead in her house, with
marks of violence upon her person, and under circumstances
which excited a suspicion against her husband, who, we under-
stand, has been apprehended. As the matter is at present
under judicial investigation, we forbear from saying more on
this deeply distressing case.—Edinburgh Courant of Monday.
ST. JAMES'S PARK.—A Correspondent of a
Morning Contemporary, in reference to the really shameful
state of this Park—always in wet, and sometimes in long con-
tinued dry weather, all but impassable—truly enough says, it
"happens provokingly, when it is not impassable from wet wea-
ther, it is left almost so in dry, from the dust." Why not pave
a path from Buckingham Palace to Spring Gardens ? This
important improvement, so much and so long desiderata, with
occasional irrigation of the dusty gravel, would conduce greatly
to the public convenience, and not derogate from the dignity
of the royal demesne.
MR. O'CONNELL. —We understand that Mr.
O'Connell intends to propose a resolution at the Association
to-morrow, to enter into arrangements for the nomination of
candidates for the various constituencies in case of a dissolu-
tion. To be ready for the contest is half the battle. The
Learned Gentleman leaves town on Wednesday.—Dublin
Pilot of Monday.

CHURCH RATES.

MEETING AT HACKNEY.

Last night a meeting was held at the Committee-room in
the parish house, Chureb-street, Hackney, of the inhabitants
of St. John's parish, Hackney, for the purpose of taking into
consideration the plan proposed by his Majesty's Government
for the abolition of Church-rates, and to adopt such resolutions
and petitions thereupon as to such meeting should appear ex-
pedient. The meeting was called by the Churchwardens,
Messrs. John Robert Daniel Tyssen, and Samuel Penlington,
in consequence of a requisition with that object having been
forwarded to them, very numerously signed by the petitioners.
The commencement of the business was considerably delayed
by the refusal of the Churchwardens to take the chair, and the
explanations and discussions to which their refusal gave rise.
After some time had been lost in converaation, Mr. YOUNG
was voted into the chair, pro. tern., to give Mr. TYSSEN the
opportunity of stating the grounds of the refusal of the Church-
wardens to preside over the meeting which themselves had
summoned. The Chair having been taken,
Mr. TYSSEN stated, that having received the requisition, he
consulted the vestry-clerk on the subject, who obtained the
opinion of Dr. Lushington as to the power of the churchwardens
to call a meeting-, and the Hon. and Learned Gentleman's
opinion was, that they had that power.—(Cheers.) The meet-
ing purported to be a meeting of the whole parish ; but the
parish of West Hackney had protested against any interference
with that parish, and insisted that they should not be included
in any of the proposed arrangements. It seemed that the parish
of South Hackney had taken the opinion of Sir W. Follett
on the question, and that Hon. and Learned Gentleman had
given an opinion directly the reverse of that of Dr. Lushing-
ton.---(Hear.) Under these circumstances, he felt himself in
considerable difficulty. He wished to be relieved from his re-
sponsibility, which he deemed considerable. He did not like
to take on himself to decide a question on which two such emi-
nent authorities differed, nor was ho disposed to take the Chair,
inasmuch as the consequence might be considerable embarrass-
ment of the ecclesiastical relations of the two parishes.
After some discussion, it was moved and seconded that Mr.
Tyssen be requested to take the Chair.
The question was then put and carried with acclamation,
that Mr. Tyssen take the Chair.
Mr. Tyssen having taken the Chair accordingly, there were
loud cries of adjourn, as well from those who were in the
room, which was very inconveniently crowded, as from num-
bers who were unable to effect an entrance. A motion was
then made and agreed to for the adjournment of the meeting
to the large room in the Mermaid Tavern, which having been
taken possession of, was found not more than sufficient for the
numbers whom the occasion had assembled.
Dr. PYE SMITH moved the first resolution. The motion
entrusted to hint was founded on that great Christian maxim
which was the foundation of all true morality, namely, the
command of our blessed Saviour, that what things you would
that men should do unto you, do you even so unto them.—
(Hear, hear.) He thought they were especially called on to
support to their utmost the measure brought forward by his
Majesty's Government. In practical wisdom and moral excel-
lency it surpassed anything of the kind that he had ever de-
sired to hope for.—( Cheers.) It appeared to him to provide
for all interests and to damage none.—(Cheers.) In conclu-
sion, he moved,' That in this country, where the law recog-
nises the right of private judgment, and where large masses of
the population dissent from the National Church and provide
for the cost of their own religious worship, Church-rates, com-
pulsorily levied, are an unjust impost, being in fact a pecuni-
' ary assessment upon Dissenters of all classes for the support of
the religious worship of others, in which they cannot consci-
entiously join."
Mr. SIMPSON seconded the Resolution most cordially. He
had understood that both parties would remain quiet, confiding
in the wisdom of the Legislature that it would do what was
necessary ; but to his surprise a petition was brought to him
opposition to the measure, and be was asked to sign it. His
reply was, that as a Magistrate, not long ago he had sworn
to administer impartial justice right and left ; and it was his
opinion that to sign such a petition would be to do that which
was neither fair nor honest towards the Dissenters. A mem-
ber of the Church of England himself, he would say that up-
holding the justice of the Christian churches was the best
way of upholding that Church to which it was their choice to
attach themselves.—( Cheers.) The effect of the measure
of the Government was to take half the waste lands into an
active state of cultivation ; and by encouraging the employ-
! ment of capital in them to obtain a fund for the support of
the Established Church.—( Hear, hear. ) He was convinced
1 that if there had not been more churches built than were
really honestly wanted—if there had not been a great deal of
jobbing and waste in the erection of new churches—the sore-
ness now felt with regard to Church-rates would not, at least
to anything like the same extent, have existed.
Mr. JAMES GREEN understood that in three instances the
opponents of Church-rates were the first to get up petitions on
the subject.
Mr. SMALI,FIELD said it should be borne in mind with re-
gard to these petitions that the Dissenter prayed he might be
freed from what was an impost on his conscience—( Hear,
hear)—while the Churchman, who prayed that the rates might
be continued, ts ho came forward voluntarily, seeking as it
were to be taxed, asked in fact only to be half-taxed, and left
the other half to be raid by his Dissenting neighbour.—
(Much cheering.) They met on the present occasion not
oily because they desired to be freed from a tax on their con-
science, but because they felt that it was their duty to the
Government to give it their best support.—(llear, hear.)
This was certainly the most enlightened and liberal Govern-
ment that he had knowledge of.
The motion was put and carried, only three dissenting.
Mr. HUNTER moved the second resolution, as follows :
1 " That we hare, therefore, seen with high satisfaction the
• resolution of the House of Commons for the total abolition of
I Church-rates ; and that we approve generally of the plan of
his Majesty's Government for effecting this desirable object ;
having full confidence that if any of the details of the measure
be found to be seriously objectionable, they will be removed
and corrected in the progress of the Bill through the Legis-
lature."

The Rev. Dr. Cox seconded the resolution. He would
petition for the abolition of Church-rates, on the two-fold
grounds of justice and-honourable feeling. He opposed the
Church-rates, from a desire to see a good feeling established.
He opposed them, also, because the members of the Esta-
blished Church were well able to support their own churches.
He thought it unfair for the members of the Church to take
out of the pockets of their poorer brethren, the Dissenters,
money which they could so well afford from their overflowing
wealth. It was said the Church was in danger—(A laugh)—
he believed it was in danger, from the perverse tenacity with
which those which occupied the highest places—he would not
say in what house or houses—(Laughter)—held to a system
which tended to agitate and divide the country.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. KENNEDY moved, and Mr. J. POWELL seconded, the
third resolution, which was as follows :—" That our satisfac-
tion in the proposed measure is the greater, because, while it
will abolish one of the chief occasions of parochial dissension
and ill-will, it will provide for the support of the ecclesiasti-
cal edifices and cemeteries, and for the religious instruction of
the poor, out of pew rents (a manifestly equitable charge) and
of Church property, to be created by a different and improved
administration of the funds of the Church ; and, as we hope
and believe, without present injury, and with ultimate benefit
to all parties."—Resolution cdrr.teetunanimously.
The Rer. Mr. 'Asti:a No moved the .fou-rtii resolution, and
in doing so, supported this measure of his Majesty's Govern-
ment on the ground that it would tend to put an end to
that party spirit in parishes which was the bane of Christian
harmony and charity. The Government measure provided for
the repair of the Church edifices, and for the decent preser-
vation of burial places ; it also created a property that was
not, and improved that which was. No doubt the next gene-
ration would pronounce it one of the wisest and most healing
of measures. He begged to tell the Government that Church-
rates were now in fact abolished, and the resolution of the
House of Commons had destroyed them. The friends of
Church-rates might issue distress warrants, they might levy
on goods, they might seek to carry on religion by the aid of
the constable—(Cheers)—and if they succeeded even for a
time, they must build clerical barns to receive the goods in,
and enlarge the gaols to receive those who would be car-
ried into them for the honour and glory of God.--
(Cheers.) The Reverend Gentleman, after some further ob-
servations, for which we have not space, concluded by reading
the resolution, as follows :

"4. That petitions be sent from this parish to she two
Houses of Parliament, praying that this just, seasonable, and
healing measure may be forthwith passed into a law."
Mr. OVENDON seconded it, and it was carried unanimously.
The following resolutions were then moved and seconded
by Mr. Mosley, the Rev. Mr. Aspland, Mr. Young, and
other Gentlemen, and all carried unanimously :
" 5. That the following petition, embodying the foregoing
resolutions, be the petition of this meeting to the House of
Commons; that it be presented by Dr. Lushington and Mr.
Clay ; and that the County Members, Mr. Byng and Mr.
Hume, be requested to support the prayer of it.
(The petition was an echo of the foregoing resolutions.)
"6. That a similar petition be presented to the House of
Lords ; and that enlightened and liberal-minded Nobleman,
Lord Holland, be respectfully requested to present it ; and
that Lord Brougbam be also respectfully requested to support
its prayer."
" 7. That the thanks of this meeting are due to the Chair-
man, for his strictly impartial and able conduct in the Chair.
The meeting then separated.