The Sun.
London, England, 1839-10-01 00:00:00

" The ship left Bombay on the 14th of April bound
for Port-Glasgow. We had light winds for ten or
twelve days afterwards. The breeze increased, and on
the 18th sighted the Maldive Islands, and on the
light of the 19th about half-past nine o'clock, the ship
struck upon a sunken coral reef going at the rate of 8i
miles an hour. The captain had gone below only a
short time before, having given orders that a good look
out should be kept. On the first alarm being given he
came on deck, and did everything that human means
could suggest to get the vessel off, but all was of no avail.
We had the assistance of the moon for the first five
hours, after we struck, which time was taken advantage
of by the captain in getting out the boats, 2 in all, anchor
and warp, to try and heave the vessel off. Being de-
serted by the moon, very little could be done till day-
light, the vessel strikingi very heavy all night, so much
so, as made it impossible to keep our feet. The first or
second time she struck, carried away the rudder—ship
on her beam ends. We did not know how far we were
from any land. Daybreak's a happy sight for us all ;
a number of islands in sight ; the nighest to us dis-
tent about . seven miles ; the water gaining on the
pumps at 10 a.m., as much water inside as out ;
opened the hatches, started. A number of cotton and
pepper bags were thrown overboark. The captain see-
ing all was of no avail, ordered the men to get some of
their clothes put into bags, and put some provisions in
the boats, and try and make to the nighest island. The
men left about 11, the ship driving still farther on the
reef ; the boat returned in the afernoon, took the Cap-
tain and the remainder of us on shore, where the others
had got a tent rigged. This island is very small, about
a quarter of a mile in circumference, no inhabitants, but
we generally had a visit from the inhabitants of the
other islands every day. They appeared very inoffen-
sive people, all Mttsselmans ; they supplied us with two
boats to carry us to the island where the Sultan re-
sides. We left the little island on the 28th. The
captain and part of the crew in one country boat ; the
rest of the men divided amongst the others ; we went on
sailing by day, and anchoring at night, either at an island
or reef, bagging fowl and catching turtle as we went
along. We came to an island where we lay seven
days ; here we got ten turtles. We arrived at the Sul-
tan's on the 19th, out of provisions, only one barrel of
pork, but only having this we wished to retain it for the
remainder of our journey. The captain's boat arriving
first, we were obliged to put ourselves on the Sultan for
the necessaries of life ; being out when we arrived, the
captain despatched a boatman to try and get near two
fowls. Now for an instance of what we got to eat ;
The man went to one of the Sultan's big men and stated
our case ; he sent us down a few pounds of rice, and a
few pieces of dried fish, just what the natives use. Next
day they set about getting a house built for us, which
the men got ; the captain, boys and I went to another,
and eat away at fish or dry rice the best way we could
till the 10th of June, when we left the Maldives for
Cochin, in one of the Sultan's boats, all sick with fever,
sailing through as usual, sailing by day and anchoring
by night, till the 17th, the day we got to the head of
those islands ; lay here three days ; got five very large
turtle ; out of one we killed we took about three
hundred eggs ; buried the steward on a small island ;
left this on the 21st for Cochin ; on the afternoon of the
same, committed the body of the cook to the deep ; on
the 24th came to an anchor on the Malabar coast, but
owing to the boisterous state of the weather, and unship-
ping of the rudder which took place, we were driven a
long way to leeward of our port. Next day we
tried to beat to windward, but got always to leeward,
so that we were obliged to come to an anchor to
deliberate on what was best to be done. There was no
possibility of us landing here, owing to the heavy
swell that sets in during the monsoons, so the cap-
tain advised them to go to Ceylon ; so on the 26th we
got under weigh for Port de Galle, where we came to
anchor on the night of the 29th. Next morning the
mate died—could not get the corpse on shore —in the
evening committed the body to the deep. Being a
little to leeward of Gallc, we were as badly off as what
we were at Cochin, for, owing to the wind and current,
we could not get up, so we got a pilot, and went to
another sinall place about 16 miles farther to leeward.
We got all our things on shore, and when I got on shore
myself, I never was so glad to get my feet on dryland as
I was at that time to get out of that boat. When our
things were landed we got men to carry them to the
government out-house. The captain got bullock-carts to
carry the sickest of the men that night to Galle hospital,
the remainder stopped there till next day. We got 9 bul-
lock-carts to carry the men and luggage ; so we went along
ike a caravan. This was all at Government expense The
captain has thrown himself and all hands on Government.
The men have got a house at Point de Galle, and
through the captain's kindness in interceding we are
now in lodging ; he has been very kind all along to us,
more than we 16;1 be ever able to recompense him
for. There are now a few ships for England at Co-
lumbia, a place seventy-three miles distant from this,
where we expect Government will shortly send us a
p:tsae. Should things go right, I expect to be et
Glasgow in about six weeks or two months after you
receive this. I could not write you any sooner, the
mail was made up only a few da) s before we arrived,
so that it is like a month I have lost, or a month
ionge•r before you get it." In the P.S. the writer says :
—" I am g'ett...ng this sent away sooner than I expected;
t;,e everiend wail leaves Columbia on the 18th, to catch
the steamer at Bombay. A vessel leaves for London,
another for Liverpool, in a few days ; whether we may
get in any of these or not I cannot say, but the captain
expects an answer from Government every day."

',IURDER OF A POLICEMAN AT

DEPTFORD:

Yesterday morning the town of Deptford was thrown
into the highest state of excitement in consequence of a
policeman, named William Aldridge, No. 204 of the
II division, having died at an early hour, from the
effects of injuries received in a conflict with a mob of
500 or 600 people assembled in the Lower-road, Dept-
ford, at about seven o'clock last night, and which
had fruitlessly endeavoured to rescue a man named
John Pine, a wood-cutter, from the custody of
the deceased and another police-constable, named
Stevens. Pine bad been apprehended for creating a dis-
turbance in the streets. After the occurrence, other
men, besides the prisoner, John Pine, and whose
names are William Pine, the brother of John, Joseph
Pickering, John Williams, Daniel Carey, Thomas
Findlay, John Henright, and George Calvert, were
taken into custody, and conveyed to the station-house
in the Biackheath-road, and from thence to the Magis-
trates' office is High-street, for the purpose of exa-
mination.

Sergeant M‘Gill, 19 R, deposed that he wcrnt, at
about a quarter past seven on Sunday night, to the
house of Mrs. Beech, a private dwelling in the Lower-
road, •A•here he found the deceased lying on the carpet
with his head streaming with blood, and rapidly sinking
into a state of insensibility. Witness asked him how he
felt ; he said, very bad, and told him that he had
come up to the assistance of Stevens, who was
surrounded by a mob, endeavouring to rescue a man
from his custody, and that he was immediately after-
wards struck violently on the bridge of the nose, and as-
sailed with showers of stones from all quarters, one of
which had struck him on the head and he fell senseless.
Deceased said he had no knowledge of what afterwards
tran,pired ; and the witness, in answer to a question put
to him by Mr. Marchant, the Magistrate's clerk, said
that deceased had not made any further or dying decla-
ration, from his falling into a state of stupor, in which
he remained until five o'clock yesterday morning, when
death terminated his sufferings.

The witness produced the shirt collar and stock of
the deceased saturated with blood.

George Stevens, police-constable 165 R, corroborated
the statement of deceased,

Other witnesses confirmed the above. The prisoners
were remanded.

PARIS POLICE.—An amusing scene occurred
recently before one of the Juges de Paix of the capital.
Last May, Baron de P—, who was just married, ordered
a coat of a violet colour for his wedding visits ; but two
days afterwards, wishing to enjoy the exclusive society
of his wife, he resolved to postpone his visits until his
return from the country, for which he set out without
thinking of his tailor. On his return towards the end
of August the Baron sent for his coat, but the joys of
the honeymoon and the pure air of the country had so
increased his bulk that it was impossible for him to put
it on. He refused to receive it, and consequently to
pay the amount of the bill. The tailor, however,
would not listen to this mode of arrangement, and
summoned his debtor before a Juge de
.Paix. The
Baron, who was very indignant at this summary
mode of proceeding, contended that, as his coat
did not fit, he could not be compelled to pay for
. ;
but the tailor assured the Judge that his customer,
who was as thin as a doll when he took his measure, had
become round as a butt, and produced his agenda to
show that in May the Baron's size was No. 72, and
observed that, looking at him now, it could not be less
than 95 ! The Baron expressed great anger at the
assertion of this monstrous development, and still re-
fused payment, when the Juge de Paix cut short th e
discussi▪
on by ordering him to pay 120 f., being 30f.
less than the tailor's bill. The Baron immediately threw
down six Napoleons, saying, " There is your money,
but I forbid you ever bringing me the coat ;" to which
the tai▪ lor, pocketing the cash, replied, "As I do not
choose to keep anything that belongs to you, I shall
send it this evening to your concierge."—French paper.
AN ANTI-MALTHCsIAN.—There is now liv-
ing in the good town of Middlewich an old lady of
the name of Fairhurst, whose claims to the largest fa-
mily in England must, we should think, be undisputed.
She can at this time muster 12 children, 111 grand-
childrenl 78 great grandchildren, and one great great
grandchild! Mrs. Fairhurst keeps a provision shop,
and is still able to attend upon her customers.—Chester
Courant.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR—I have just read a letter in your paper of the,
24th inst., signed " Publius," on the Corn-laws, which
I strongly suspect is written by the same party who
signed himself " A Chartist" a few days previously.
I cannot but think the insertion of such letters any-
thing but creditable to you, if you are sincerely
anxious to do away with these accursed laws. Why
not rather write so as to endeavour to unite the work-
ing and middle classes, rather than insert letters tending
to-widen the breach ? After all, I much doubt whe-
ther you are not allowing a Tory in disguise to prac-
tice on your credulity, and that of your readers, it being
well known that they first devised the trick of Chartist
opposition on this subject, as on many others. As one
then, Sir, of the working class I claim to be heard,
and sure I am I speak the sentiments of thousand.; here,
when I say that we will join heart and hand with any
one and every one, be he Whig, Tory, or what not, in
putting an end to this system which, while it starves us,
i:s destroying our country. Granting for a moment
(though I know better from experience) that wages would
he reduced in proportion to corn, trade would be vastly
increased at any rate ; and let me ask any working man
—ls it of no consequence to him whether he is, as at
present, scarcely half employed on his present
wages, or fully employed, as he would be, at
the same proportionate wages? This is the question—
half work'and half wages, or full work and full wages.
LA my fellow working men answer this, and if they wish
the latter, join in getting it. Let them ask themselves
the simple question, am I best off when my employer is
busy or flat ? Are my wages reduced when labour is
most in demand, or when work is scarce ? In conclu-
sion, I call upon you, Sir, to put forth your efforts to
obtain for us cheap bread, or, at any rate, that which
will bring us full employment, and to labour for the
people in this cause, as you so usefully do in most
ogler causes.

I am, Sir, your constant reader,
ONE OF THE WORKING CLASSES.

Manchester, Sept. 26

[Our Correspondent, if he be also a constant reader,
must be now sensible that he has done us an injustice.
We have written in the spirit he says we ought to write
in. He also does the author of the letter signed
" Publius," whose name we know, an injustice. We
published that letter, and other letters of a similar cha-
racter, to make the middle classes aware of their diffi-
culty, and to convince them that if they meant to go for
a repeal of the Corn-laws, they must, to succeed, spare
no exertions. We published those letters, too, in order to
show the middle classes the terrible feelings which have
resulted, in a great measure, from their own conduct.—
ED. SUN.]

The Galway Advertiser announces that the num-
ber of fail uresamong the merehantsand traders of the town,
within the last week, has been very considerable. The
cause is stated to be owing to the banks having refused
to discount bills, except to a very small amount.
A ONE-SIDED CONTRACT.—At a petty ses-
sions, held at the George and Dragon Inn, Bacup, on
Tuesday, by John Holt and -- Whittaker, Esq., a
voune, woman with a child at her hand, summoned a Mr.
'Jame; Aiken, her late employer, for a balance of wages,
which she alleged was due to her. She deposed that
she engaged to work for Mr. Aiken at 7s. 7id. per week,
to give a month's notice or to lose a month's wages, and
to 'receive the same from Mr. Aiken. She gave notice
to leave on the 15th of August, was paid up to Satur-
day the 25th, and on Wednesday the 28th was turned
away, another person having been engaged in her
place ; and she now sought to recover her wages for
the three days she had worked after being paid, viz.
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and for the fort-
night unexpired of the month for which she gave notice.
The defence was a curious exemplification of the no-
tions of right which some people take as their code in
manufacturing localities. A young man, understood
to be a son of the principal defendant, said he was will-
ing to pay complainant for whatever days she had
worked, but not for any more ; such were his father's
instructions. He produced a book, in which was en-
tered the contract, signed by the complainant ; but, he
observed, there was no reciprocal contract on his part ;
no undertaking to pay her wages if they turned her
away before the expiration of a month. This plea was
allowed, and he was ordered to pay the woman three
days' wages and the costs, with a shilling for her
attendance that day. She said she had a witness ; but
the witness had not been examined, and nothing was
allowed for her.—[ With great respect for the Magis-
trates who decided this case, we must say, that if the
facts are correctly stated by our Correspondent—if
there was no misconduct on the part of the woman to
justify her sudden discharge—their Worships very
greatly mistook their duty. If the contract for a
month's notice was binding on the woman, it was equally
binding on the employer ; and, though no stipulation to
that effect appeared in his books, the Magistrates ought
to have presumed its existence from the mere fact of the
obligation on the woman. We always greatly regret to
hear of cases of this kind, which give a powerful handle
to agitators in their mischievous endeavours to set the
working classes against their employers. Indeed, nothing
can be more odious than the appearance of entrapping
ignorant persons into contracts which are intended to
bind them, but to leave the other parties at liberty.—
Manchester Guardian.]
HIGHWAY ROBBERY.—On Saturday night, about
eleven o'clock, as Mr. Thomas Parker, of Edgeware,
was returning from town on his way home, and had ar-
rived to within a short distance of his own resi-
dence, he was stopped by two men, who, having suc-
ceeded in tripping him up, one of the fellows held him
down, whilst the other robbed him of a valuable silver
watch, four sovereigns, and about seven shillings in
silver, with which they succeeded in making good their
escape. Mr. Parker was stunned by the fall, which
' prevented him from describing their persons.
THE LATE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR IN PALL-
MALL.—In the Observer of Sunday last it was stated
that a special meeting of the Committee of the Senior
United Service Club assembled on the Tuesday pre-
vious at the Club-house, in Pall-mall, for the purpose
of investigating the circumstances connected with
the alleged outrage and robbery committed in the apart-
ments of Mr. Charles Penn, the house steward, the re-
sult of which has not been allowed to transpire. We
have, however, since been informed that the answer to
inquirers at the Club-house as to the state of Mr. Fenn
is that he has gone into the country for the benefit of
his health. Other persons assert that after the inquiry
of the Committee was closed Mr. Fenn was called be-
fore them and desired to quit that night. He was sub-
sequently, however, allowed to remain until the following
morning, when he quitted, never to return.—Observer.

" No, Sir," said the lad, " I am here for blowing a
horn ; I'm guard to the coach my father has driven for
these 30 years, and in the dusk of the autumn evenings
the carts are so thick and the drivers so sleepy, if we
doesn't blow the horn to let 'em know we're a-coming,
father's right in amongst the whole lot on 'em. I may
hloW my heart out anywhere in the country, where the
roads is quite clear, and blowing arn't o' no use what-
somevor ; but I did'nt know I mightn't blow within
15 miles o' town, jist wher,3 the crowd begins; however,
as I was giving a jolly puff, about a hundred yards o'
the London side o' the 15-milestone, to warn off a cou-
ple o' bop-waggons, as high as haystacks, one of the
gentlemen which keeps the metropolis district good and
virtuous nabbed me, and here I am, Sir."
" Your conduct," silid Howard, " has been exceed-
ingly reprehensible young man—a week's probation on
that admirable corrective the mill will probably open
your eyes to the enormity of your conduct. And you
Sir," continued the philanthropist—" what horrid crime
have you committed ?"
" I own my fault, Sir," said the man—a person of
superior manners ; " nothing can excuse me : the expi-
ation to which I am sentenced will, I hope, secure my
pardon here and hereafter. In me, Sir, you behold a
victim to inordinate and uncontrolled passion !in a
moment of frenzy, even while engaged in a discussion
with a friend—yes, Sit, a friend wom I have known
for years—l was so transported by my dcmonaical
anger as to tell him that his mother was no gentleman.'
He would have pardoned me the use of this most pro-
voking- language, but in the opinion of the wor-
shipful bench, I was far beyond the reach of his for-
giveness."
" I am glad," raid Howard, " to see how duly you
appreciate your rashness—examples must be made for
the good of society. And you, Sir," addressing another
wretch, " why are you here ?"

" Sir," said the young man, whose yellow beard
showed like a stubble in September, "my fault is
without palliation—l was convicted at my master's just
representation of shaving myself on a Sunday. I had
done more ; I had put a bit of blacking on my boots to
go to church in. I had no time the night before ; but
that, Sir, is no excuse. I tremble like an aspen leaf to
think what I have been guilty of. I hope I shall be
forgiven. I will never shave again if. I lives to be a
thousand—it is a sin, and I know it, Sir. I have no
time to shave ali the week, and I mayn't do it Sun-
days. I have only a fortnight more to work," added
the profane miscreant in a tone which did not partake so
entirely of humiliation as it might have done, " and I
hope I shall bear it."
" And what is your crime, Sir ?" said Howard to the
next.

" I have been guilty, Sir," said the respondent, " of
begging for a morsel of bread, which, when one is starv-
ing, I know is a crime, contrary to the law. The
good gentleman who comes to see us here sometimes
has lent me a book, to show that appetite is all the
force of imagination, and that begging ought to be made
a capital felony, However, I get fed here, and don't
mind the mill much, although my poor wife is sick in
our garret at home."

Mr. Howard inquired if any women were amongst
the culprits, aad was answered in the affirmative. His
age, demeanour, and personal character . were such as
to justify a compliance with his desire to see these
horrid outcasts, and investigate the circumstances of
their cases.

One fair and trembling girl was leaning on a table,
her face hidden in her hands.

" Look up," said the gaoler.
The girl did as she was bid.

" Well, what is your crime ?" said Howard.
" rem quite aware of it, Sir," said the girl ; " I
will not attempt to extenuate it. I was wr,lking along
Pall-mall, hurrying home to my wretched bed—the
rain poured down in torrents ; a gentleman passed me
who was carrying an umbrella ; rashly, madly, in the
enthusiasm of the moment, I spoke to him, and asked
him to spare me a corner of his shelter."
" Abominable outrage," said Howard.
" And I, Sir, said another handsome but melancholy
young creature, "am equally guilty. I walked up
Regent-street from my lodging 9 on the same night, but
finding the rain coming on, I walked back again. The
law—and who like us dare arraign its justice or its
wisdom ?—has made it a crime for a woman to walk up
a street and down again in the course of the same even-
ing : I erred thoughtlessly, but I am prepared to en-
dure the punishment I know I have deserved."
" Ah," said Howard, turning away with disgust, and
addressing himself to the gaoler, " Now, where are the
bettermost criminals ; the drunken gentleman—the
bell-ringers—the
lamp-breakers--and the knocker-
twisters—for all these are crimes of a deep dye under
the new law."
oh, Sir," said the gaoler, " we havn't none of them
here. This law—which they call the little Whig law in
opposition to the Big-Whig law, which is the real law' of
the land--makes it optional to pay inParse or in person ; by
which means, Sir, as the Government meant, the gemman
what has money in his pocket to pay is never inconwe-
nienced not the least as is—while the poor, who have
no right to do nothing but what the Police Act directs,
is in course wery properly subjected to sich punishment
for their willanies as the worshipful Bench orders and
directs."

" Good morning," said Mr. Howard, " the case is
clPQr—nothing can be more satisfactory :" and away
went the phiianthropist, perfectly assured that such a