The Sun.
London, England, 1839-12-19 00:00:00

A FEW WORDS of ADVICE to the
UPPER and MIDDLE CLASSES, from SOME
MEMBERS of the LATE GENERAL CON-
VENTION.

We the undersigned, having been Members of the
late General Convention, feel ourselves imperatively
called upon at the present crisis solemnly to express our
firm conviction, that, had the demands of the National
Petition not been rejected, or had even such a sym-
pathy been manifested for the ir.dustrious classes by the
influential members of the other portions of society as
would have encouraged a hope that the wrongs of the
operatives would not long remain unredressed, the
country would not now have to deplore late events
of a disastrous character.
We would therefore entreat our fellow-citizens of
the aristocracy and the middle classes seriously to re-
flect that they cannot acquit themselves of tae moral
responsibility which must necessarily rest upon them,
arising out of the consequences of refusing to concede
just claims constitutionally and peaceably demanded.
We would urge upon them to weigh well the existing
causes of irritation—to remember the language and
threats made übe of by so many of themselves at the
time of passing the Reform Bill, and therefore to ex-
tend that consideration to others who are now excluded
from the pale of the Constitution which had they, at
that time, been successful they would have reasonably
expected for themselves. Above all we would implore
them for the sake of our common country not to widen
any further the breach, by harsh and vindictive mea-
sures, nor make use of the forms of the British law to
crush those who might think they were acting accord-
ing to the genius of the British Constitution.
Believing that the upper and middle classes have it
now in thew power w tn.....Alhalmy the 1111LibUf ;VMS
the esteem of the Operatives, we call upon them to avail
themselves of this opportunity extensively to make it
known as their decided wish that no more victims be
sacrificed to uphold a system of exclusion.
Signed by W. S. V. SANKEY.
W. B. BURNS.
R. J. RICHARDSON.
IL HARTWELL.
HENRY HETHERINGTON.
JOHN CLEAVE.
G. ROGERS.
R. MOORE.
Nov. 28, 1839.

HASTINGS.—The mortal remains of Lady
Monteagle, who expired at her residence in this town
on Tuesday week, were interred on Monday last, in the
rural church of Ore.—Brighton Guardian.

ToRTOISE Sri EL L.—The following singularly
barbarous process for obtaining the tortoise shell is
abstracted from an Indian newspaper, called the Singa-
pore Chronicle :---" This highly-prized aquatic produc-
tion, when caught by the Eastern islanders, is suspended
over a fire, kindled immediately after its capture, until
such time as the effect of the heat loosens the shell to
such a degree that it can be removed with the greatest
ease. The animal, now stripped and defenceless, is set
at liberty, to re-enter its native element. If caught
the ensuing season, or at any subsequent period, it i 3
asserted that the unhappy animal is subsequent to a
second ordeal of fire, rewarding its captors this time,
however, with a thin shell. This, if true, shows more
policy and skill than tenderness in the method thus
adopted by the islanders ; it is a questionless proof, too,
of tenacity of life in the animal, and must farther be
accounted a very singular fact in natural history."
LYCEUMS' TEA PARTY.—In the Town Hall,
Manchester, on Monday evening last, the friends and
promoters of the three Lyceums, established in Ancoats,
Chorlton-on-Medlock, and Salford, took tea together in
celebration of the formation and success of these institu-
tions, in the centre of the large room of the Town-hall,
which was crowded in every part between the colon-
nades which separate the centre from the ends. Thomas
Potter, Esq., tha Mayor, was in the Chair.

A Liberal Contemporary, who has sometimes
distinguished himself by doing a bit of Chartism in the way
of business, charges us with " heartlessness and flippancy'
in speaking of the Chartists, " against whom Ministers
are obliged to direct the force of the law." We thought
ourselves safe from such an imputation when we said,
" We believe that the administration of justice and the
prerogative of mercy are in very good hands, and that
neither will be improperly exercised. Not knowing
what circumstances of mitigation or the contrary may
be elicited at the trials, we cannot even form an opinion
as to the way in which the prisoners should be treated."
We certainly showed small reverence to the Standard':
using an appeal for mercy as an introduction to an attack
on the Education Committee, and Mr. Cardo's discovery
of Russian influence in Wales. We are sorry to hear
that the Chartists are strong and numerous ; but we
do not think their strength or numbers will be lessened
by treating the miserable impostors who lead them with
respect, or by gravely reasoning with Messrs. Cardo
and O'Connor.—Globe.

BANK OF IRELAND.--A Court of Proprietors
was held on Wednesday, T. Wilson, Esq., Governor, in
the chair, who read the following report from the Court
of Directors :—" That it is the opinion of this Court
that a dividend of four per cent. be made to the Pro-
prietors of Bank Stock for the half-year ending the 25th
inst. That public notice be given that this payment will
be made at the Bank, on and after the Ist day of Janu-
ary next. That the transfer books be shut from the
11th inst. until the Ist day of January next." The
Governor said, that the business had not decreased—on
the contrary, it had rather increased ; and that since
this time twelve months there was rather an increase in
the surplus fund.
HORACE WALPOLE.—Perhaps the only occa-
sion on which Horace Walpole appears to have had -
any respect for talents, unsupported by rank, was when
he placed Praxitelcs at the side of the Honourable Mrs.
Damer.

ALLEGED DEATH FROMOFFICIAL NEGLECT.
--Tuesday afternoon the adjourned inquest on the
body of Martin Molloy, aged 38, who was alleged to
have died of destitution, consequent upon a refusal to
admit him into the workhouse, or afford relief on the
part of the relieving officer of the Holborn Union, was
resumed before Mr. Baker, the Coroner. The jury
returned the following verdict :--.‘ That deceased died
on the 11th of December, 1839, in the parish of St.
Luke, from natural causes ; but that being in a state of
destitution, and leaving the aforesaid parish and apply-
ing for relief in the parish of St. Andrew Holborn, he
thereby caused the parish officers much difficulty in
administering the new Poor-law, by which his death
was accelerated. The jury strongly recommend that
in all cases of destitution prompt relief be ordered to
the party applying, leaving the consideration of the
liability of parishes to future arrangement."