The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-07 00:00:00

FRENCH COCHIN-CHINA.

The Anumite Code.—Like all official documents in
Cochin-China, the code is written in Chinese. It
was first conceived by Gia-Long, and is an imita-
tion of the Chinese code. It prescribes three kinds
of capital punishment—decapitation, strangulation,
and slow death, now rarely applied. After the
punishment of death comes that of exile, then irons,
and lastly, the bamboo. The latter may be applied
to the extent of 60 strokes for slight ofiences ; be-
yond that it is replaced by the stick, which is
always a concomitant of irons ano exile ; the dimen-
sions of the bamboo and stick are perfectly well
defined; and the number of strokes can never ex
teed a hundred. Except the members of the Royal
family, no one is exempt from the punishment of
the bamboo; but big h dignitaries,man darins, generals,
and colonels may buy themselves off, a favour also
granted to rich individuals. The chief object of this
code is to enforce an exaggerated reverence for the
Royal authority in the first instance, and next for
the hierarchy which descends from it; the authority
of the father over his children, the master over his
servant, and the husband over his wife. Casting a
stone at a royal pagoda or palace, is punished with
death. Approaching the palace, or going along
the road through which the King is to pass, may
often be a capital offence. The physician is obliged
to taste all the medicines he prescribes; if he com-
mit a mistake, he is liable to bastinadoed, So also are
the valets that do not keep the King's clothes in pro-
per order; the master of the stables that neglects the
carriages or litter of the Court; the cook who may
have sent up dishes not in harmony with each other,
&e. The proclamations, seals, and other matters
relating to the King are inviolable on pain of death.
Slavery my originate in the following ways
Either by a poor person's selling himself, or by
:
parents selling the children they cannot maintain ;
or by war, all prisoners taken in battle being liable
to be sold as slaves. Most of the slaves in the Anna-
mite empire, however, belong to a race of moun-
taineers called Moi, who sell either themselves or
their children to slave-dealers. Kid-napping is
severely punished. A slave cannot redeem himself
except with the consent:of his master. In criminal
proceedings generally, all persons having any con-
nection with a delinquent are considered more or
less responsible for his acts. Although the code
visits the slightest transgressions with severe
punishment, it nevertheless displays some tenden-
cies to philanthropy. Thus, during the rainy sea-
sons, or in case of drought, persons imprisoned fot
slight delinquencies are released, lest epidemics
should break out in the prisons. Women to be basti-
nadoed, must have their persons completely covered;
there are mitigations prescribed for children and
old men, and abuse of authority on the part of
functionaries is severely punished.

JEWS' FREE A CHOOL, SPITALPIELDS.—On Sun-
day Mr: Moses Angel, head master of the Jews'
Free School, which affords instruction to 1,800 children of
the humbler orders of the Jewish faith, was presented
with a testimonial subscribed for by numbers who have
had the best opportunities of estimating this gentleman's
zealous and able fulfilment of his trust. The spacious
school-room was crowded on the occasion, and the pro-
ceedings of the day were opened by the chairman, Mr. M.
D. Davis, a principal teacher, an i formerly a pupil in the
school. Having feeling dwelt on Mr. Angel's many
excellent qualities, and enumerated his especial claims on
the gratitude of all connected with the institution, he
presented the testimonial, consisting of a pair of
very superb salvers, an elaborately chased claret jug,
and two very handsome goblets. The inscription on
one of the salvers was as follows: —" The grateful offering
of the past and present pupils and teachers of the Jews,
Free School to Moses Angel, twenty-three years head-
master, in recognition of his untiring zeal in promoting
their moral and intellectual welfare.—Jan., 1863 (5623)."
An address was afterwards read by Mr. L. B. Abrahams,
expressive of the sentiments of the contributors, and
speeches were made by several gentlemen formerly students
in the institution, the principal orators being Mr..G. J.
Emanuel, 8.A., Mr. James Bethell, LL,B., and the Rev.
A. F. Ornstrin ; the last-named gentleman quitting im-
portant duties in Birmingham in order to be present. The
head master acknowledged the honour thus bestowed on
him by his pupils and co-labourers, and the meeting, which
numbered more than 1,000 persons, separated in excellent
humour, after giving Mr. Angel three cheers expressive of
their goodwill.

AN UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCE.—AB an instance
of the unusual mildness of the season, we may
mention that a peach tree, in the garden of Captain
Douglas, at Sonthsea, blossomed a few days since. It
was attached to a wall having a south-easterly and open
aspect.