The Sun.
London, England, 1839-04-02 00:00:00

TO THE EDI7'OR OF THE SUN.

MR. EDITOR—In the second page of your Paper of
yesterday afternoon is an articl,e, about the CONVOC A.
TION. It gives an extract from the Times relating
thereto ; and to it are subjoined some appropriate re-
marks by yourself, in which ou have treated your Con-
temporary less severely than he merited ; for, short as
is the passage from the Times, it suffices to show the
Editor's ignorance of the subject which he has handled.
What are we to understand from the words—" As the
Church, when she originally gave up her legislative
authority to Parliament, intrusted that authority ex-
clusively to her own Members ?" When, I ask, did
such a surrender of authority take place in England ?
Never, that I can find ; and I will defy the Times to
point it out in our annals, notwithstanding its famous boast
of being the leading Journal of Europe. The only sur-
render which the Convocation e er made to Parliament
was that of the privilege to tax the Clergy ; a surrender
made in the reign of Charles IL, and being made before
the passing ofthe Test Act,it was not made to the Church's
own members exclusively. Neither was it made gra-
tuitously, for a valuable consideration was given in re-
turn. The Clergy were discharged from the payment
of two subsidies then owing to the Crown, and allowed
for the time to come, to vote at county electiors.
Would to God, Mr. Editor, that the Clergy had never
obtained that privilege ! However, electioneering Par-
sons cannot be numbered among the evils consequent
upon the Reform Bill, as the breed was in existence
long before we were born ; but it was the surrender
above-mentioned, which has occasioned the Convoca-
tion to have been a dumb body fur the last hundred and
seventy years ; for if it had retained the privilege of
taxation, Government could not have laid the Convoca-
tion upon the shelf. Why it should not assemble now,
and correct the numerous blemishes in our corrupted
religious establishments, must be ascribed to a very dif-
ferent cause ; and that cause is none other than FEAR.
In this educated age, the English Convocation dares
not to assemble for the transaction of business. For,
let the meeting take place, the Convocation would have
to contend with Dissenters 'and others, quite as wise
as themselves, and frequently much better
informed than they are, be it even about the doctrines
and discipline of their own Church. Nay, even the
Thirty-nine Articles themselves are often better under-
stood by Learned Dissenters than by the persons who
have subscribed to those Articles. The fact is, Sir,
that the English Clergy of this nineteenth century are
as much afraid of holding a National Synod, as were
the Romanizts in the fifteenth of summoning a Genera'
Council ; and that of Trent would never have been
called, had not the Emperor threatened the Pope with

holding a Council without the Papal interference. Like
Esop's Jackdaw, Mr. Editor, the modern Clergy cannot
talk, and retain their prize (alias stolen goods) also.
Once make them open their mouths, and they will no
longer be the sole Lords in the Spiritual Field, and en-
titled to trample under foot all who shall presume to
stand in their way. Here, Sir, is the ♦ulnerable side
of the Modern Church. They are now calling out for
subscriptions to a Monument in memory of some of the
Founders of the English Church, and yet, could Crau-
mer, Latimer, and Ridley come on Earth again, no
doubt their first act would be to reproach the existing
hierarchy with pusilanimity ; to censure them for
fearing to meet their opponents, and give the reasons for
the hope which they say is in them. Cranmer and his
Contemporaries, as well as their successors for a cen-
tury afterwards, feared not to cope with their adversa-
ries, and to make such Reforms as were called for. But
now, forsooth, nothing is to be reformed or amended,
except it be the Temporalities. Let them be in danger,
and the Clergy become active enough. The gold and
silver streams must neither be dried up, nor even di-
verted. It was the boast of St. Peter, whilst at Jeru-
salem, that he had neither silver nor gold ; but, tem-
Fora inutantur ; and with the change of times' have fol-
lowed changes among men. Silence, then, is the grand
shield under which the Clergy are found to crouch, not
venturing to speak as a body. God help them in this
fallen state ; and as the Court Officer says to the pri-
soner at the Bar, " May God send them a good deli-
verance."
I have the honour to remain, Mr. Editor,
Your most obedient Servant,
March 31, 1839. Q IN A CORNER.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

NORTHERN ClRCUlT.—Lzrzitron, MARCH 29.

SEDUCTION.-BASSETT V. SMALLEY.

This was an action to recover compensation in da-
mages for the loss of his daughter's services by the
plaintiff, Mr. Bassett, of Bury.
Mr. BRANDT appeared for the plaintiff. The de-
fendant did not appear.
s Mr. BRANDT stated that the present action had been
laid to recover compensation in damages for the grievous
injury which the plaintiff had received in his feelings,
by the seduction of his daughter. Cases of this kind
varied very much in the circumstances by which they
were attended ; and if ever there was a case in which
the conduct of the parent of the girl who had been
seduced was raised above all suspicion, it was the case
which he was about to lay before them. Both the
parties were in comparatively humble circumstances.
The parent was a mechanic, and so also was the de-
fendant ; but he had occupied the situation of an
overseer in the place where he was employed. The de-
fendant had resided for some time at the house of the
plaintiff, whose family consisted of himself, his wife,
and an only child—the young woman, whose ruin was
the subject of the present action. The defendant was
there on terms of intimacy, and became familiarly ac-
quainted with the daughter, who had a child by him ;
and, previous to her confinement, the defendant had left
the house, proceeded to Bolton, and shortly afterwards
married a wo:nan of some property. From the atten-
tions of the man it had all along been supposed that his
intentions were honourable, and he was received in the
character of a suitor. A letter of the date of October 4
would show what the defendant's opinion was of his con-
duct to the child of the plaintiff. The letter was then
read by Mr. Brandt. In it the defendant stated that he
did not know what to say with respect to his conduct to
the daughter of Mr. Bassett. it was a subject which had
long excited his most anxious thought, and had been to him
the source of much pain and humiliation—so much so, in-
deed, that when he first began to think that his suspicions
were well founded (viz ' that the plaintiff's daughter was
enceinte), he could not bear to meet the family, nor to
think upon the subject of the girl's discovery. Nothing
should prevent him from acting the. most honourable
part, and he entreated that no expense might be spared
during the confinement of the young woman, assuring
them that he would defray it all. He was far' from
thinking that anything but marriage would be sufficient
to atone for what he had done. Unfortunately, be had
no means at the time of writing, as he had an extrava-
gant father, confined in Lancaster Castle, and it would
require all the funds he could raise to free him. After
that he should be at their command. A second letter,
dated October 11, which had been addressed to the
aunt of the young woman, was also read. If the Jury
thought that this were a light subject they would, of
course, give light damages ; but if they thought that it
was a serious case, and that a serious injury had been
inflicted upon the feelings and respectability of the par-
ties, humble though they might be, he hoped that their
damages would be such as to meet the Case.
Ann Bassett was then called—She stated that she
was 28 years of age. iler father was a mechanic, re-
siding in Bury. At the latter end of 1835 the defend-
ant came to their house, and resided there between
two and three years. Afte some time he was treated
as a suitor of witness's, and was accepted as such by
her father. An intimacy grew up between her and the
defendant,. and,in consequence she became the mother
of a child. The child was born on the 29th of Sep-
tember, 1837. He came to see her sometimes after
leaving. He at last left Bury, and proceeded to Bol-
ton, since which time be had been married. She
knew his band-writing. The letter dated October 11,
was in the defendant's hand-writing. When in Bury,
he received 30s. a-week ; he was now getting about 2/.
The name of the young lady whom he married was
Ward ; her father was a cotton-spinner.
This concluded the plaintiff's case.

The Learned JUDGE observed that it was quite clear
that the injury which had been inflicted was sufficient to
entitle the plaintiff to damages. That point was an ad-
mitted one ; and the question for the Jury to determine
was, what the amount of damages, under the circum-
stances, should be.

The Jury at first returned a verdict for the plaintiff—
damages, 60/. ; but the Judge informed them that as
only 50/. had been claimed, they could not award a
larger sum.
The verdict was then altered to the sum claimed-501.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

BOW-STREET.

A cabriolet-driver, named Francis Thorn, was
brought before Mr. TWYFORD and Mr. CHARLES
THISLETON, a county Magistrate, on the following
charge :

Airs. Taylor, of the Grapes public-house, Newcastle-
court, Strand, stated that the prisoner came to her
house at half-past one o'clock yesterday morning, in
company with several others of the fraternity, who con-
ducted themselves in a disorderly manner in the tap-
room. Witness went in, and seeing the prisoner was
the ringleader, she asked him how dare he behave in
such a manner in her house, where he had not been for
the last three months ; but insistead of desisting he be-
came very violent, encouraging his companions to fol-
low his example. She then applied to the police, but
was told it was contrary to their instructions to enter
the house ; and on going again into the tap-room to re-
stor order, the prisoner threw his arms round her neck,
trying in the rudest manner to kiss her. The prisoner
then took out his purse, refusing to leave the house,
and swearing that he was able to pay for any damage,
at the same time seizing the poker, with which be broke
the pannel of the door and the partition of the bar,
which it would take 255. to repair.
Mr. Gurney, a friend of the complainant, who was
called in to assist, proved that the conduct of the pri-
soner and his companions was so violent be dared not
enter the room, and they kept up the riot for upwards
of two hours.

The prisoner said he made no more noise than the
others, and he was ►yilling to pay for the damage he
had done.

The Magistrate ordered him to pay 20s. for the as-
sault and a similar sum for the damage, or go to hard
labour for a month. The fine being paid, the com-
plainant said, she would forego any claim to the fine, as
her object was to make an example, and prevent other
cabmen calling at her house, which is a watering house,
to act in such a manner in future.

' If nz. Wright, 10, Newton-street, Holborn, paper-
stainer, was charged with the followingimiiudent robbery:
Mrs. Eliza Denker, of the Fountain, King-street,
proved that the prisoner was drinking in her shop with
other men yesterday morning at one o'clock, while she
sat in the parlour inside the bar, and when he observed
the other men talking, she saw him put his hand across
the counter, and take away the contents of the till. She
instantly called her husband, who went round the coun-
ter, and after accusing him of the robbery he took
13s. 6d. produced out of his right hand and then gave
him into custody.
The prisoner declined making any defence, and he
was fully committed for trial.

MARYLEB ONE.
TREATMENT OF CHILDREN AT THE CAPE OF GOOD
HOPE.—EXTRAORDINARY STATEMENT.—Yesterday
James Johnson, a shabbily dressed boy, about twelve
years of age, was brought up in custody and placed at
the bar before Mr. RAWLINSON and Lord MoNTFonT,
on the charge of having stolen a purse containing some
kalfpence, belonging to a poor woman who keeps an
apple stall in the New-road. A constable of the D
division, by whom the prisoner was, while in the act of
running away, secured, stated that the person robbed
was not in attendance.

Mr. RAWLINSON—Do you know anything of the boy?
Constable—l don't know him myself, but from what
I can learn respecting him, he has lately come from
abroad.

Mr. RAWLINSON (to the boy)—ls that so ? Boy
—lt is so. I have been to the Cape of Good Hope.
Mr. RAWLINSON—Who sent you out ? Boy—
Some gentlemen as belongs to what they call the Ju-
venile Society.
Mr. RAWLINSON—Why did you leave ? Boy—
Because I was half starved and knocked about
shamefully ; but they served me worse than that—they
sold me and a good many more.

Mr. RAWLINSON—SoId you. What do you mean
—apprenticed you, I suppose ? Boy—No, sir, not
apprenticed ; they sold me.

Mr. RAWLINSON (with astonishment)—Tell me a lit-
tle more about this, my boy. Who did they sell you too ?
Boy.—To a Dutchman, who came and looked at a
lot of us : be bought me for ten guineas.
Mr. RAWLINSON—How long were you at the Cape?
Boy—More than two yea.rs..
Mr. RAWLINSON—This is a most extraordinary story,
and I should like Captain Brenton to be here, par-
ticularly as great complaints have frequently been made
as to the sending out of children to the place named ;
but I think—

A well-dressed young-man here stepped forward, and
seemed very anxious to address the Magistrates.
Mr. RAWLINSON—You, perhaps, know something
about this boy—is it so ?

Young man—l do know something of him ; his parents
are respectable working people, but they were conti-
nually being robbed by him,. and in consequence of his
associating with bad characters for days together,
an application for him to be sent out was made in the
proper quarter.
Mr. RAWLINSON—How long is it since he came
back ?

Young man—Between three and four months.
Mr. RAWLINSON—Do you happen to hat, e beard
why he quitted the the Cape?
Young man—Yes : he says it was through cruel treat-
ment, and that he at length contrived, after much diffi-
culty and manoeuvring, to make his escape from the
hardships imposed upon him by a Dutchman, to
whom he and a great many other were dis-
posed of like so many sheep at Smithfield ; the pri-
soner has not given his right name, which is Edward
Tredshaw.

Mr. RAWLINSON—Has his father been to the So-
ciety, and made known the particulars given by him ?
Young man=lie has, Sir, but I don't know which of
the gentlemen he saw.
Mr RAWLINSON—Have you anything further to say?
Young man—The poor boy tells me that the way
the sale was effected was this ; the Dutchman came to
the master, saying he wanted so many boys, but
that he shouldn't give more than ten guineas
a-piece. A number of them were brought out,
and exhibited before him, but be wanted to pick
out those which he considered the strongest and
best ; the master refused to let him do so.
telling him that he must take them as they came ; he
then selected a " lot" and took them away little and
big together. The Institution by which the boy was
sent out was not the " Juvenile Society," as he states,
but the " Children's Friend Society."
Mr. RAWLINSON—Yes ; I knew what Society he
meant ; I hope to God the story I have heard is not
true. It is a most extraordinary, and at present quite
an incredible one.
Young man—lt is indeed, Sir.

Mr. RAWLINSON—Perhaps you'll be kind enough to
take the trouble of calling upon Captain Brenton ;
make my compliments to him, and say that if he can
make it convenient to come down here I shall be glad.
Captain Brenton soon afterwards arrived, and .by
direction of Mr. Rawlinson, went into the Clerk's room,
with the boy, with whom he remained nearly a quarter
of an hour, but as the conversation which took place
between then, in reference to the case was private, our
reporter is unable to make known any particulars in ad-
dition to those which transpired before the bench.
On the return of the Captain to he Justice Room, he
held a short conversation, which was quite inaudible,
with Lord Montfort, and then retired.
The boisays that when he escaped from the Dutch-
man he went on board of, and worked his way home in,
a cutter.

Mr. RAwLissoN, after the disposal of the night
charges, gave orders to the gaoler to keep the boy in
safe custody until to•morrow (this day), when he and
his father, agreeably to an understanding entered into,
will have an interview with Captain Brenton, at his re-
sidence in York-street.

The office was at the period of the investigation much
crowded, and the details entered into appeared to excite
the deepest interest.

HATTON-GARDEIV.

ATROCIOUS OUTRAGE.—Yesterday two fellows named
Fogarty and Shannon, Irishmen, were charged with the
following atrocious outrage :
Mr. James Bell, a farmer, residing at Billericay, in
Essex, stated, that as he was driving along Gray's Inn-
road he saw a man named Jackson turn down Swinton-
street with a van of goods, when a number of Irishmen,
who were repairing the road, immediately beset him, and
in the most violent manner insisted on his turning back.
Jackson having pointed out a spot over which he
could travel without in the least interfering with
them, took hold of the reins of one of his
horses and proceeded onward, at which instant
the prisoner and others pushed forward, and after beat-
the horses with pick axes, and driving them back, they
attacked poor Jackson with the same tremendous wea-
pons, and eventually knocked one of his eyes out with a
flint. stone. Witness and several other men after consi-
derable difficulty and danger, rescued the unfortunate
fellow, and conveyed him to the Hospital.
Witnesses were examined who proved the case, and
the prisoner was committed to the tread mill for three
months.

TUE HocusslNG, &c.—The men Absolon and Ellis,
and the wife of the former were re-examined, on the
charge of hocussing and robbing Elizabeth Ann Clarke.
Nothing more transpired than has already been noticed,
and the prisoners were committed.