The Sun.
London, England, 1839-03-25 00:00:00

with the City of London, because it was found to be
under a police much more perfect than the police of the
City of Westminster. In fact, the principle of this
A meeting took place on Saturday last, at Will's Bill isfounded upon the principle on wl4h the police of
Coffee House, Lincoln's Inn-fields, for the purpose of the City of London is founded. The police there is
taking into consideration the best mode of bringing into under the municipal authority and regulated by one
general operation Colonel Maceroni's steam carriage, head."
which has been exhibited some time since in various Page 1,846.—" Sir, I beg to be understood as mean-
parts of the metropolis. ing to express no more with respect to large towns than
The chair was taken by Mr. THEOBALD, who en- , my wish that the principle of the Bill should be adopted
tered at some length into the history of Colonel Ma- by them. Manchester, indeed, has at the present mo-
ceroni's steam carriage, and referred to the evidence ment a Stipendiary Magistrate ; and Glasgow, if lam
taken before a Committee of the House of Commons in not misinformed, is placed under the same control.
1832, who reported in the most favourable manner of Now, what I should think extremely desirable is, filet a
the invention. These carriages had been exhibited for better system of police should be placed under the con-
several months in London, and they had also been trol of such Magistracy."
tried in Belgium and other countries with the most "It should be borne in mind that the object of the
decided success. Now that the great lines of inter- Police Bill was merely to unite the police forces then
course in the country were about to be traversed by rail- existing under various local authorities and circum-
ways, by which turnpike roads would be completely cut stances under more general control. I think it was
off from their former traffic, it was imperatively neces- proved that there were fifteen or sixteen different watch
sary that some measure like the present should establishments in the parish of Mar) lebone previous to
be carried into effect in order to save from the passing of the Police Act."
utter ruin the parties whose property was The answer to the Address necessarily led to much
embarked in them. The object of the present comment. It was observed that in that answer nu more
meeting was to appoint a Provisional Committee, who notice was taken of the City Charter and privileges than
would make a report to a general meeting, to be held if such things were never in existence ; and her Majes-
at a subsequent period. There was a very able and ty's Ministers had acted upon the occasion as if they
eminent engineer present, Mr. Alexander Gordon, who had the most unbounded authority over all her actions,
had very accurately investigated the working of Colonel and prescribed to her a course which, more than any
Maceroni's steam carriage, and he hoped that gentle- other, was calculated to show that they were determined
man would favour the meeting with flee result of his to make the Queen, as well as the Police Bill, a mere
views upon the subject. instrument in their hands for the attainment of peculiar
Mr. GORDON read a long report, very favourable to objects of their own.
Colonel Maceroni's plan, which was received with loud The CHAIRMAN strongly recommended the most
cheering. vigorous exertions in the now long interval which the
Colonel Mecenom having been called upon by the Secretary of State had vouchsafed, without being at all
meeting, then came forward, and said he would give solicited upon the occasion, since he refused the request
them a brief history of his proceedings with reference of Mr. Pattison.
to this steam-carriage. He had published statements Many reports as to an anxious disposition upon the
relative to it in various pamphlets, and had given away part of the Ministers to come to a compromise with the
upwards of 2,000 of them to persons who were anxious City were quoted, and certain overtures were re-
for information on the subject, but who had never read ferred to, which justified the opinion that the expecte-
them.---( A laugh.) With great difficulty, and after tions of carrying the Bill are by no means sanguine.
surmounting numerous obstacles, he bad constructed his Lord Melbourne, it was said, denied that he knew any •
first carriage in 1832, and announced in the papers that thing at all about the all, and when he heard of the
it would run daily from Paddington-green to Watford ; indignation excited in the City on the subject, expressed
and there were many gentlemen present who must be such surprise, that credit is given to him in the City by
aware that it was one of the softest and hilliest roads in the Corporation for the declaration of his ignorance. It is
the kingdom. A great number of persons had !:ravelled also stated that Lord John Russell placed such implicit
by it, and had warmly approved of the inventioer ; but reliance upon Mr. Hawes and Mr. Fox Maule as to
the want of funds, or any public support, left the 'natter leave the whole affair in their hands, without making
just where it was. The scientific gentlemen, and I\etem- any inquiry into its merits. The impression in the
bers of the Houses of Lords and Commons, who pee- City, however, is that the Lambeth constituency will
tended to be the supporters of science and improvements' call upon their representatives to oppose the Bill.
in the arts, considered the affair unworthy of notice. The Committee will continue their sittings daily at
They had, on the contrary, lent their influence to other the Exchequer Coffee-house, and Alderman Venables
speculations, which every rational and intelligent and Deputy Hicks will alternately preside.
man would at once pronounce to be mere delusions. '
Still without any public support he had continued to
run the carriage for upwards of a year and a half, with-
out the slightest injury to the machinery, with the ex-
ception of breaking an axle two or three times, owing to
the obstinacy of a very well-meaning man, Squire,
who insisted that these axles could be made on the anvil,
in a common forge. At last he had bought Squire out
of the concern, and had been obliged to give him 2,0001.
A few hundred pounds of that sum remained unpaid and
that had still further crippled him. In the meantime a
Company was formed at Birmingham to bring Dr.
Church's carriage into use, and another Company by the
Messrs. Eaton, with a capital of 28,0001. The Messrs..
Scolfield, Attwood, and other influential gentlemen took
an interest in the matter, and he (Col. Maceroni) was
invited by Mr. Attwood to bring his steam carriage to
Birmingham, assuring him that the capital subscribed ,
would be placed at his disposal if the invention was found
to correspond with what had been stated of it. He had
accordingly gone down to Birmingham, and had esta-
blished coke and water stations along the line. The
Messrs. Eaton and Dr. Church had declined the spe-
culation, as they could not make their carriages
run.—(A laugh.) They had undertaken to go at
the rate of ten miles an hour, but could not accomplish
more than six, and they declared that seven or eight
was the greatest speed that could be attained on com-
mon roads. Now, Mr. Gordon and other gentlemen
would tell them that his carriage attained a speed at
times of twenty-four miles an hour. When he returned
to London, Squire, at the suggestion of some attorney,
refused to allow the carriage to leave the yard until the
few hundred pounds were paid. A friend of his, who
had formerly been one 'of his Aides-de-Camp, fortu-
nately arrived from abroad at the moment and paid the
debt. He took the carriage to Belgium and France, and
Louis Phillippe rode in it several times to St. Germaine,
and a company offered his friend 80,0001. for theinvelation,
but he refused in the heyday of success. While that
was pending, the railway mania broke out, and the
steam carriages and common-roads were quite forgotten.
Meanwhile he (Colonel Maceroni) was compelled to
remain quite inactive. His friend sold the carriage in Paris
for 16,0001., and of that sum he (Colonel Maceroni)
had never received a farthing, and be was thus obliged
to begin de novo. He had undertaken to go to Bir-
mingham at eighteen miles an hour, which even without
his present improved boiler he could have easily accom-
plished. As to the success of the undertaking, if once
carried into execution there could be no doubt. It
might startle some persons present, but he predicted that
in four years they would not have a railway existing in
England—the expenses were enormous, and when he
told them that the repair of each engine cost at least
501. a month, while he had run his carriage 5,000 miles
without expending a shilling in repairs, they might form
some comparison between the two systems. CoI.
Maceroni here entered into a statement of the difference
in the construction of his and the ordinary boilers,
showing that it was quite impossible that any danger
could result from his boiler bursting. He bad on one
occasion put his children in the carriage, got his eleven
workmen to place their hands upon the bailer—raised
the steam till the pressure was equal to 1,4001b5. on the
square inch. He had then tied down the safety valve
with copper wire, and in ten minutes the boiler burst,
without doing the least harm to the persons standing
round it.—(Cheers). After entering into a variety of
details, which we have not space for, Col. Maceroni
concluded by stating that he now left the matter in the
hands of the meeting.
Mr. HODGSON, Mr. WHITE, and several other
Gentlemen then addressed the meeting. A provisional
Committee was appointed, and several resolutions
adopted, expressive of the determination of the meet-
ing to carry the plan into operation. It was stated that
several large coach proprietors and others, whose pro-
perty had been affected by the railroads, would subscribe
liberally, as soon as a company had been formed.
Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, and the
Meeting adjourned.

STEAM CARRIAGES ON TURN-

PIKE ROADS.

THE ALLEGED MURDER AT
HAYES.

(ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.)
The case of Mr. Francis Hastings Medhurst, who on
Thursday was fully committed by the Uxbridge Magis-
trates for manslaughter, and also on the Coroner's warrant
for the " wilful murder" of Mr. Joseph Alsop, at the resi-
dence of the Rev. Frederick Sturmer, Wood End-green,
Hayes, continues to excite much of public attention. From
the period of his apprehension, on Thursday week, to his
removal to Newgate, he has been kept under the care of
Sergeant Cooper, of the Uxbridge Local Police, at the
station-house in Windsor-street, in that town, where every
comfort and privilege were allowed him, consistent with
his safe custody. At first he did not appear at all im-
pressed with the serious nature of the situation in which
he is placed, but on returning to the station-house on
Friday se'nnight, after his first examination, he became
more thoughtful, and during the night his sleep was much
disturbed. On the following day, during the first proceed-
ings at the Coroner's Inquest, he was very anxious to learn
how matters went on, and on Cooper informing him the
Inquest was adjourned until Monday, he appeared much
disappointed at its not being concluded. On Sunday
morning he seemed rather depressed, and requested
Cooper to furnish him with a Bible and Prayer-book,
which was done, and which were, while at the station.
house, his constant companions. During that day, as on
the subsequent days, he was several times observed
to fall on his knees in silent prayer, and, al-
though at times he appeared to be greatly ex-
cited on the subject of the melancholy occur-
rence, he repeatedly declared he bad never borne the

slightest ill-feeling towards the deceased, Mr. Alsop, who
was comparatively a stranger to him (not having been at
Mr. Sturmer's a month), but that having, from the irrita-
tion caused by the offensive expressions used by Mr. Alsop,
momentarily struck him, and that gentlemaa (who was a
taller and more powerful young man than himself) having
wrested the stick from his hands and attacked him with it,
he, during the excitement of the moment,struck him with
the knife, quite without premeditation, and without intend-
ing to injure him in any way, much less to occasion his

death. On Monday morning, previous to the re-assembling
of the Jury, he was visited by the Count de Salis, one of
the local Magistrates, to whom he declared the suspense
he was in as to the probable result of the inquest was al-
most unbearable, and he earnestly entreated he might be
made acquainted with the verdict. In the evening, while
the Jury were considering their verdict, be was visited by
Messrs. Stammers and Sudlow, his Counsel and Solicitor ;
and on Cooper's return from Hayes, and acquainting him
that the Jury bad returned a verdict of wilful murder, he
burst into tears, exclaming, " Oh, it's an unjust verdict I--
it's an unjust verdict." Duriug that night his sleep was
much disturbed, and he was several times observed in tears.
On Tuesday morning the Magistrates having determined,
instead of sending him on the Coroner's warrant imme-
diately to Newgate, to proceed with his examination, he
was at eleven o'clock removed, hand-cuffed, in a fly from
the Station-house to the Magistrates' room at the King's
Arms Inn, in London- street, where he was brought before
Count de Salis, Sir William Wiseman, Baronet, and T.
Dagnall, Esq., the sitting Magistrates, but it not being
considered the Bench would proceed further with the case
after the decision of the Jury, only one of the witnesses
was in attendance. Mr. Medhurst was accordingly further
remanded until Thursday, for which day the whole of the
witnesses were summoned. During Tuesday and Wed-
nesday he appeared exceedingly depressed, denouncing
the verdict of the Jury, frequently shedding tears, and
scarcely taking any nourishment. On Thursday morning
at ten o'clock he was again removed, handcuffed, in a fly to
the Magistrates' room, where he underwent an examination
of six hours' duration, which ended in his being committed
by the Magistrates on the minor charge (that of manslaugh-
ter), although they were also bound to commit him on the
Coroner's warrant for the capital offence. A great altera-
tion was, on that occasion, observable in him to those who
had seen him on his first examination. He seemed very
weak and indisposed, which appeared to increase on him so
much, that about the middle of the proceedings the Magis-
trates ordered him to be provided with a chair. Before his
removal, after his committal, his Counsel and Solicitor
were allowed an interview with him, after which they pro-
ceeded to town, and arranged with Mr. Cope, the Gover-
nor of Newgate, for his occupancy of some apartments on
the State side of that gaol. On Mr. Mcdhurst's return to
the station-house he expressed to Cooper that he was much
satisfied with the manner in which his examination had been
conducted by the Magistrates, and appeared more tranquil
and cheerful. On Friday morning at eight o'clock he was
placed in a post-chaise, and conveyed by Cooper to New-
gate, where he arrived shortly after nine o'clock. His re-
moval was conducted in a most private manner, scarcely
any person at Uxbridge being aware that it would take
place so early. On entering Newgate he again became
very much depressed, and shed tears ; but he rallied con-
siderably during the day, and yesterday was much better.
The family of Mr. Medhurst have for years been con-
nected with the county of York, their residence having
been Kippax Hall, near Ferrybridge, at which place it was
that the grandfather of Mr. Francis Hastings Medhurst ter-
minated the existence of his lady. The manner in which
her lamentable dissolution was effected has been variously
stated, and to each of the statements considerable credit
has been attached ; but we believe the following may be
relied on as accurate. Mr. Medhurst, sen., who was fond
of sporting, and kept a pack of hounds, had been out
shooting, and was returning to his residence as above,
when Mrs. Medhurst appeared at one of the windows,
and sarcastically upbraided her husband for passing
so much of his time in following the sports of
the field ; upon which he became much irritated, and,
in a moment of passion, levelled the piece he was car-
rying in his hand at her, and, discharging its con-
tents, instantly deprived her of life. On this most heart-
rending and lamentable occurrence becoming known, he
was taken into custody, and was subsequently tried at
the York Assizes, when proof having been adduced that
be bad some time previously exhibited a strzngeness in
his manners and conduct, he was acquitted, on the
ground of insanity, but was ordered to be taken care of.
He is now under the care of Mr. Stillwell, the proprietor
of Moorcroft House Establishment, Hillingdon, near Ux_
bridge, who is in the receipt of 5001. per annum, which is
paid for his maintenance. Mr. Medhurst, sen., is now
between seventy and eighty years of age, is very infirm,
and at the present moment seriously indisposed. His
son (the father of the prisoner) was a Major in the
English Service, and was stationed with the army of oc-
cupation in Sicily, during the reign of Murat. He
there married a lady, a native of Messina, who is now a
widow, and resident in London. She has eight children, four
of whom are females, and one is married to a wealthy Sicilian
nobleman. The young man, the subject of the present
charge, is her third child, and the eldest son. He was
taken to Italy when he was two years of age, where lie re-
mained until he attained the age of 17, when he returned
to this country, since which period he has received an al-
lowance of 3001. a-year. Although naturally of a warm
temperament, he possesses many amiable qualities, and has
always evinced a most kind-hearted disposition. A brother
of the late Major Medhurst has long been an esteemed
clergyman of the Established Church.
The trial will, it is expected, take place about the 12th
or 13th of April, the sessions of the Central Criminal
Court commencing on Monday, the Bth. The Attorney..
General (Sir John Campbell) has already been retained
as leading counsel for the defence.— Observer.

METROPOLIS POLICE BILL.

On Saturday the City Police Committee assembled at

Guildhall, with the view of making further arrangements
for opposing the alleged attempted interference on the
part of the Government in the City's privileges, by the
" Metropolis Police Bill."

Notices were ordered to be sent round to all the
parishes in the metropolitan districts, drawing the atten-
tion of the authorities to what are considered to be the
most obnoxious provisions of the Bill.
Copies of the two Bills in progress in the House of
Commons—the one for improving the Metropolitan Po-
lice, the other for improving the Police Courts—were
ordered to be transmitted to the Clerks of the Peace for
the counties of Middlesex, Surrey, Essex, and Kent, the
Tower Hamlets, and the city of Westminster ; and the
attention of these official persons was called to both
measures, as destructive of the magisterial rights, and a
conference with them on the subject was requested.
The Committee appointed Deputy Hicks Sub-Chair-
man to the Police and Watch Committee—a judicious
selection, the Deputy's activity and talent in all matters
connected with the security of property having been
long experienced and appreciated.
The following extract from the rotes of the House of
Commons was read :
" MARCH 22, 1839.

" METROPOLITAN POLICE COURTS BlLL.—Second
Reading deferred till Monday, 22d April.
" METROPOLIS POLICE BILL. Second Reading
deferred till Monday, 22d April.

" NOTICES GIVEN ON FRIDAY, 22d MARCH.
" Mr. Law before the Second Reading of the Metro-
polis Police Bill, to move that Counsel be heard at the
the Bar, on the petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen,
and Commons of the City of London, in Common
Council assembled (Monday) 22d April.
" Sir BENJAMIN HALL, on the Order of the Day for
the Second Reading of the Metropolis Police Bill, and
the Metropolitan Police Courts Bills, to move that
they be read that day six months (Monday, 22d April).
" METROPOLIS POLICE BlLL.—Petitions against.
" From Ward of Walbrook, Ward of Cripplegate
Without, Merchants, Traders, and others of the City
of London, and-Ward of Farringdon Within, ordered
to lie on the table."
The CITY REMEMBItANCER stated that there were
14 petitions to be presented to the House of Commons
against the Bill.

- It was observed that the postponement of the Metro-
polis Police Bill for one month, •after Lord John Rus-
sell had peremptorily refused to postpone it for one day,
although requested by Mr. Pattison, to give some little
breathing time, was a proof of want of confidence in the
success of the measure. The assurances which had been
daily received by the Committee from Members of both
Houses of their support against the Bill, were alluded to
with great satisfaction, and the more so as those assu-
rances have been made by men in the habit of being at
variance in political matters.
From a great number of speeches with reference to
the City Police, we copy the following quotations from
the speeches of Sir Robert Peel, as read before the
Committee :

Lord Glenelg is to have the pension held by
Lord Auckland previously to his appointment to the
Governor-Generalship of India. The pension is 2,0001.
a-year.
On Saturday, before the Commissioners of Excise,
Mr. Gadsden, the auctioneer, applied for a return of the
auction duty on some houses sold by him, the purchaser
having refused to complete his contract, in consequence of
a mis-statement in the conditions of sale. The solicitor
for the purchaser said that the houses had been described
as brick, whereas they were only part brick and part lath
and plaster. In a similar case the Vice-Chancellor had
ditmissad a bill for a specific performance. The Com-
missioners allowed the return of the duty to the vendor.

METROPOLITAN POLICE BILL, 1829.
Extracts from the Speeches of Sir Robert Peel.—
Mirror of Parliament, page 1,742.
The Hon. Member says, " the Bill does not provide
for the City of London ; that subject, Sir, was atten-
tively considered, and it was determined not to meddle