The Sun.
London, England, 1839-05-07 00:00:00

AWFUL JUDGMEN T.

A MAN CONDEMNED TO SLEEP, RESTING
ON A SPADE, TO THE END OF TIME.

A correspondent of the Times in a communication,
containing of course abundant abuse of Popery and
Ireland, says that the following account of a miracle is
at present in circulation throughout Ireland, adding that
" the Presbyteriin and the Clergyman were both called
in, and in vain ; but the Priest soon made the sleeping
man to speak :"
A report has in general gone abroad among the
people, that a man called Henry Farland has, in conse-
quence of his dishonesty, been struck into a sound sleep
in the middle of a field near Lurgan, in Novembcir last ;
and still remains resting on the spade with whiCh he was
digging when the occurrence took place.
The following is the account of this affair.:—Some
time last harvest Farland was on his way to pay his rent
(he occupied a small farm jointly with a-woman named
Harriet Guthrie), and called to know if she was ready.
She had the money, but said that as she could not go,
he might take it for her, so he took the widow's rent.
He pi oceeded on his way, and no more was heard of the
matter for several days, when Mrs. Guthrie
saw the agent approach her door, and a:.k her
for her rent ; she said it was already paid, that
she had given it to Harry Farland, and mentioned the
day on which he paid his own. Thengent said he had
rtceived no money but Farland's own. ." Well," said
she, " there is Harry in the and you can satisfy
yourself regarding it." " No," said the gentleman,
" I cannot leave my horse, but go to him and tell him
to give you the receipt ; she went and asked him what
he had done with her money : he did not deny he had
got the money, but said, coolly, where was her witness ?
She replied there was no one present but God and
herself; " YOur God, then, madam," said he, " was
asleep at the time, and therefore could not see."
• Then,' said the poor widow, " I suppose you have
not paid the money; you cheated me; but you cannot
cheat God." So she left him. He was seen by a man
standing on his spade, and observed him to continue in
that position without moving : he was surprised.
On approaching, inquiry was made but no answer.
He attempted to waken him, but could not. The man
then gave the alarm ; so the neighbours flocked round
Farland, but no means could be found to waken. him.
At last they sent for the Clergy,' the Church minister,
the Presbyterian minister, and the-Priest successively,
to make him speak. The first two had no influence
on him. When be spoke he said, " I am to stand
here to the day of 'judgment." The people then
thought to move him by force, but could not stir him.
They got a saw to cut the spade on which he was
leaning, that be might fall, but the first cut the saw
broke into pieces. Then they got blankets to cover
him from the cold, but they were blown away; so ho it
seems, by fate, must bear all weather.
Rev. J. BOLLAND,
H. KERNS,
G. AIEGARY, Parish Priest..

Belfast, 1839.

Between six and seven o'clock Wednesday morning,
Alfred Mann, a bricklayer ix the employ of Mr. Shearsley,

of Rupert-street, Haymarket, builder, while at work at
house in Great George-street, Hampstead-road, fell from
the second floor landing-place down the well of the stair-
case to the basemert floor. His right thigh-bone was se-
verely fractured, and three of his ribs were broken. He
was conveyed in a state of dreadful suffering to the Univer-
sity_College Hospital. .

,
On Wednesday morning, about two o'clock a

desteective fire was within the manufac-
tory of Mr. Wrenford, situated in the Grove, Great
Guildford-street, Bankside, and before it could be subdued
very great damage was done. It originated over the ma-
chinery department; but by what means has not yet been
ascertained. The property is insured in the Sun Fire
Office. About five o'clock on the previous evening a fire
broke out in Bermondsey, on the premises of Messrs.
Appleby and Co , tanners. Almost the whole of the fire
brigade engines from the eastern part of the metropolis
were called into requisition, and the firemen were nearly
three hours employed before the flames were extinguished.
The damage is estimated at 5001. The loss will fall on the
Phcenix Insurance Company. The fire was occasioned by
a spark falling amongst a quantity of bark.
THE HARBINGER OF SPRING,---The mote-
tonous note of the cuckoo was heard, a few days ago, in
the woods near Brayton Hall. This period would have
been considered early in a much milder season for the ap-
pearance of this unsocial visitant, but it is particularly so
when we consider the backward state of the spring and the
late inclemency of the weather. The cuckoo, in ordinary
seasons, is very seldom heard before the month of May.—
CumberlandPapsr.
INFLUENCE OF RELIGION ON A STATE.—
Religious faith is necessarily and unavoidably political
in its influence and bearings, and eminently so. Chris-
tians are generally well informed ; and knowledge is
power. They have, therefore, in Christian countries, as
citizens and subjects, directly and indirectly, a large
share of influence in the State. In most Christian States,
if not in all—for a State could hardly be called Chris-
tian, if it were not so— Christianity is made a part of
common law, and, when occasion demands, is recognised as
such by the judicial tribunals. It is eminently so in Great
Britain; it is so in America; and generally throughout
Europe. It is also, to a great extent, established by consti-
tutional law, and thus incorporated with the political fabric,
furnishing occasion for an extended code of special statutes.
The great principles of Christianity pervade the frame of
society, and its morals are made the standard. The second
table of the decalogue is adopted throughout as indiapensible
to the well-being of the State; and a thousand forms of
Legislation are attempted to secure the ends of the great
and comprehensive Christian precept—" Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself." More especially is it deemed
the highest perfection of civilised life and manners, in the
'code of conventional politeness, to exemplify this latter
Divine injunction. Otherwise life would be much less
comfortable—hardly tolerable.—A Voice from America
to England.
INDUCEMENT TO EARLY RISING.—A Cor-
respondent, " who thinks a walk in the country on a fine
May morning as delightful a recreation as can be enjoyed,l
in order to furnish a little inducement, has ordered 100
twopenny loaves to be told at Id. each, to as many women
as may apply for them on Durdham Down on the first
Wednesday in May, between seven and nine in the mor-
ning. Should the weather prove rainy, they will be sold
the next morning." We transcribe this verbatim from the
communication of our Correspondent, who adds, " This is
no hoax ;" and we are quite sure, from our knowledge of
the writer, that it is a bona fide offer.—Bristol Journal.
On Tuesday a meeting of naval and military
officers was held at the Carlton Chambers, Regent-street,
for the purpose of raising a fund for the benefit of the
widows and orphans of naval and military officers; Major-
General Wright in the chair. A code of laws and regu-
lations was adopted,-from which, and the statements of the
officers who took part in the proceedings, it appears to be
the object of the Society to raise a fund from which, after
the lapse of three years, the widows of the subscribers will
derive a benefit by pensions. As soon as they have raised
a capital fund of 500,0001. they will apply the surplus to
the erection of male and female schools. Captain Talbot
communicated to the infant Society the pleasing intelli-
gence that a gentlemen of fortune had declared his deter-
mination of bequeathing his property to it. It was stated
that upwards of 200 °lacers have already sent in their
names as subscribers.

SUSPICIOUS DEATH.—An inquest was held
on Tueslay in the Hammersmith road, before Mr. Wakley,
on the body of an elderly maiden lady, named Smith, whose
death was attended with some suspicious circumstances.
Deceased was pcssessed of considerable property, ard at
times took fits of excessive drinking, on which occasion a
woman attended her as nurse. In the course of these pe-
riodical outbreaks deceased was found dead. and suspicion
rested on the nurse, because she denied that the lady was
ill, and hal concealed the death for SGMC time, besides
having locked herself into the room. The inquiry was
adjourned :ill Monday for the: woman's attendance.