The Sun.
London, England, 1839-09-25 00:00:00

(..........,
STEAM-BOAT ACCIDENTS.

The Report of the Commissioners on steam-
' vessel accidents, leads to the painful conclusion
than- with sc-resly an exception, the accidents, as
they are called, but properly speaking, the cul-
pable destruction of human life by the loss of steam-
boats, have arisen entirely from some defect insthe
vessels, or negligence on, the part of the persons
appointed to manage them. On inquiring into
catastrophes of this sort for the last ten years, the
Commissioners found that the vessels in many in-
stances were not sea-worthy, or the boilers and
machinery were bad, or the captain or engineer was
guilty of gross neglect of duty. While it is painful
to reflect that these calamities, three of which hap-
Pened only last year, might have been averted by
the timely interference of the Legislature, as is the
case
in other countries, it is some relief to find
that
when properly equipped, and under proper
n'ana°ement, a steam-ship is the safest of all
v"sers ; and that when Government shall
have established an efficient system of inspec-
tion, the recurrence of such painful events will be
next to impossible. Of this fact the Commis-
ioners aear to have no doubt; and they are
best able to Judge. After stating a number of
cases where the loss of the vessels was attributable
to defects or negligence, they add,
" Several good judges of nautical matters have,
in their communications (and many others per-
sonally), expressed to us their conviction that s
si- _ stron g y constructed, well-fastened steamer—from
its peculiar build, and being unencumbered with
lofty and heavy masts, spars, and rigging, could, with
effective ground-tackling, ride out the most severe
storms, even if her engines should be disabled.
" It is to the credit of steam vessels, and a great
roof of their superior security over sailing vessels,
when in honest condition, that no steamer was lost
" our coasts during the hurricane of the 7th of
January last (almost unparalleled as it was in force
and duration), excepting a small iron one, the Tar-
bets Castle, on Loch Fyne, which, from her light
draught of water, was unable to cope with it."
Before giving a few of these cases which con-
firm this opinion, we may state that as far the
Commissioners have been able to carry out their
investigations, they have ascertained that within
the last ten years, 634 persons have lost their lives
in steam-boats, of these 308 perished in 40 vessels
Wrecked, foundered, or in imminent peril at sea, 77
`were killed by explosions and 66 from collisions.
The greatest ascertained loss of life at any one time
Occurred by the wreck of the Rothsay Castle in
1831, off Beaumaris.
The following are the melancholy particulars
as given in the report :
" The Rothsav Castle, originally built as a river
vessel, was put upon a sea station between Liver-
pool and Beaumaris, for summer service ; she was
wrecked in 1831 on the Dutchman's Bank, about
three miles from Puffin's Island, near Beaumaris ;
of 130 passengers on board, only 21 were saved.
" The following note was handed in to the Coroner
by Sir R. W. Bulkeley, foreman of the jury.
Sir,—From the evidence brought before them,
the jur;', on this inquest, cannot separate without
expressitsg their firm conviction, that had the Roth-
say Castle been a seaworthy vessel, this awful cala-
mity- might have been averted. They therefore
cannot disguise their indignation at the conduct of
those who could place such a vessel on this station,
and under the conduct of a captain and mate who
have been proved by the evidence before them to
have been in a state of intoxication.

" R. WILLIAMS BULKELEY."
The greatest number of lives lost at any one time
from collision was sixty-two. This happened in the
Clyde, when two vessels struck against each other
in the night, and one sunk in a few minutes.
The greatest number lost at any one time from ex-
p.!osion was twenty•four. This occurred in 1837
at Hull, when the boiler of the Union steamer,
about to start for Gainsborough, burst, and killed
°r wounded nearly all on board.
" This explosion," says the Report, " is attri-
buted, with great apparent reason, to the instanta-
neous disengagement of an immense volume of
steam, produeed by the oscillation, or listing, of
the vessel ; the boiler, a rectangular one, being at
the time short of water, and the upper plates of
the furnaces, on the higher:side of the vessel, being
probably red-hot, or nearly so.
46 No ordinary number of safety-valves could
fl,ave liberated the amount of steam thus suddenly
generated.
" The primary cause of this accident was care-
lessness in allowing the flues to be bare of Water.
It does not appear that glass water-gauges were
affixed to this boiler, only guage-cocks, which fre-
quently oi.e false indications of the level at which
the water really is within the boiler, particularly
when the vessol is not on an even keel.
" Engine-man oi en have the water very low in
the boilers at starting, to save the labour of pump-
ing by hand, and several explosions have been pro-
duced by their trusting to its not becoming too low,
before setting on the engine to do the work for
them. Mr. J. S. Russell recommends a plan for
supplying the boilers with water when the steam is
tip but the engine not at work, others recommend a
k small steam-engine for this purpose."
In the course of last year three vessels were
comuletely wrecked, and a fourth, the Aurora,
escaped the same fate, only through the
knowistdge and determination of Mr. M'Neil,
the civil engineer, who happened to be on
board. The particulars of the loss of the first two
—the Forfarshire and the Northern Yacht—must
he fresh in the recollection of our readers. The
one was lost off the Fern Islands, when the light-
house-keeper, pat ling, and his daughter, displayed
such couraireous conduct ; and the other was sup-
posed to have gone down in the Bay of Berwick,
with all on hoard. The Report of the Commis-
sioners leaves no doubt about the causes. " These
documents (the Ccroner' Report and the de-
positions of the witnesses) establish the fact that
the primary cause of the loss ot..the Forfarshire was
the defective state of one of the boilers ; that its
condition was well known to the owCers and Com-
mander, when she left Hull on her las- voyage, and
that its repair had been delayed. Furt(ler, that in
her greatest peril she might possibly, and very pro-
baLi-,
have been saved by her anchors—.
y
her hull
being sound and good—but that the cables were
I°lll, so that the anchor could not be let go. Fe:tY-
five lives (at least) were lost."
" Respecting the Northern Yacht, which foun-
dered on the 11th of October, 1838, the circum-
stance of no inquest having been held, as no body
was washed ashore, prevented that immediate and
1 Public disclosure of her unseaworthiness, which be-
came known in the case of the Forfarshire, through
the official interference of a Coroner and jury. We:have
consequently, laboured under great difficu;ty in ob-
ta.ning satisfactory testimony as to the state of this
vessel previous to her last voyage, which proved
1 fatal to about forty human beinos
" We found the public mind. at Newcastle still
I in an excited state on this subject, though four
months had elapsed since the accident ; the Cap-
tain and entire crew had perished ; and we could
expect little information from interested parties ;
nevertheless, we collected, in confirmation of state-
ments remitted to the Right Hon. the President of
the Board of Trade, by the Rev. A. Reid, of New-
c3stle, and forwarded to us, much valuable testi-
, Molly as to the defectiveness of the hull, engine, and
• hod, rs, -for many weeks prior to her foundering.
" 'f he details of this case contain an account of
the construction of the hull ; also the evidence of
perfectly disinterested persons who had been pas-
Sengers in 11,-.r : amongst others, that of two indivi-
duals, Mr. Carr and Mr. Greener, who were inti-
mate friends ant: associates of Mr. James Middle-
tn aS, the master, lost in her. These last bring
down the testimony, as to the condition in which
she was within four da)'s of her disappearance.
" We received also nonerous statements of her
habitually leaky state, from Parties whose names we
ante not at liberty to disclose, but whuv respect b -
lity
,and familiar acquaintance with the Northern
y
4-ht, and other steam vessels, assume us of their
accuracy.
" The historyofthe Northern Yacht is the
history of
ablenumerous steamers constructed
_ea put On
On ly for river navioation, and afterwards.
Sea serroce. Many of these ore built, not to order,
but for s ale • the ''ai • y e purchased by
individua Is lought to
be .
they
ignorant of what a steam vessel
comparue or
are advertised in seductive teims, such as
Powerful steam vessels ' Splendie 1 new and. ; ,
terms,
'
\ of which the public only discover the fallacy lay
some tragii .al event."
The Am .ors was steaming in smooth water, in
the Lough ( >f Belfast, and had she reached the open
• "........."...41 IMMIIIa..,
.........................

sea must have foundered like the Northern Yacht.
Mr. M'Neil saw that she was not a seaworthy
vessel, and luckily prevented the catastrophe. The
following is his opinion as to the necessity of ap-
pointing inspectors of steam-boats :—" I have no
hesitation in giving it as my deliberate opinion that
this vessel would have been lost, and the lives of
all on board sacrificed, had she reached the open
sea ; and I am also convinced, that had she been
subjected to a proper trial and inspection by com-
petent persons previously to her sailing, she would
have been adjudged not seaworthy, and unfit to
receive passengers and cargo for such a voyage.
By such an inspection the public would have been
apprized of the true state of the vessel, and prevented
exposing themselves or their property to such immi-
nent danger. I therefore trust, and hope, that the
Commission you are now appointed to, will lead to
the establishment of some controlling inspection,
which will for the future, prevent the recurrence of
such disgraceful transactions as the one I have men-
tioned, and be the means of saving both life and
property."
The agent to a respectable Company at Glasgow,
the proprietors of the Aurora, however, gives a
very different opinion in these words :—" I cannot
suggest any regulations which would give greater
security to persons and property on board steamers.
It is so strongly and obviously the interest of owners
to procure amid preserve for their vessels a good cha-
racter, subjected as they
in are to so much competi-
tion as abounds this country, that, taking an ex-
tended and general view of the subject, I believe no
better security, upon the whole, can be afforded to
the public than at present exists ; arid, in addition
to this, it is also the interest of manufacturers of
engines, for the sake of their own reputation, to
see, as far as possible, justice done to their work b)
keeping it in good order," &c.
This hardly requires an answer, after so many
instances of gross negligence and want of humanity.
It is for the interest of a man to treat his horse and
his slave well, but if the principle always operated
beneficially, why is it that the various acts for the
prevention of cruelty to brute animals and to slaves
are sanctioned by the Legislature and by the uni-
versal voice of the country ?

IRELAND.

FAILURE OF THE HARVEST.

DUBLIN, SEPT. 22.—Although in Dublin the weather
has become dry, the rain still pours down in the pro-
vinces, affording grounds for the very worst apprehen-
sions. We give two accounts, one from the south, the
other from the north, but both equally disheartening :
" LIMERICK, SEPT. 2l.—The weather continues wet
and gloomy, the rain falling in torrents upon our mea-
dows and corn-fields, adding every hour to the ruin and
devastation which prevail, and giving the country a most
melancholy appearance, which the farmers and harvest
labourers (the landlords, too, may be added) behold in
absolute despair. After one fair hour, which the labour-
ers eagerly avail themselves of to snatch part of the crop
from impending ruin, they are driven from work the re-
mainder of the day by rain, which again saturates the
little they had saved. In many places the wheat fields
are only half.cut, not gathered in, but the grain lying on
the fields half drenched with water : in other places the
straw alone can be cut for manure. There was loud
thunder yesterday in the county of Clare, followed by
torrents of rain."

" BELFAST, SEPT. 21.—From Newry to Belfast the
wheat appears almost totally lost ; what has been cut
chiefly remains in stooks, a black unseemly mass ; and
what is uncut appears still worse. The oat crop is very
heavy, only a fraction cut, much of the remainder half-
ripe, and a great deal laid flat by the weighty rains.
The barley seems to have been better saved. The po-
tatoes look well."

LORD EBRINGTON.—Lord Ebrington, who is im-
proving in health, still remains at Summerville, in the
county of Waterford. Yesterday his Excellency dined
with the venerable Sir John Newport (whose sinecure
office of Controller of the Exchequer is now filled by
Lord Monteagle, at a salary of 2,500/. a year.) Sir
John, who has retired upon a pension of 1,000/. per
annum, resides at Newpark, a few miles from Water-
ford. In the forenoon of yesterday his Excellency at-
tended a confirmation held by the Bishop of Cabe!, in
Waterford Cathedal, when his third son was confirmed.
On Tuesday his Excellency is to leave Waterford for
Lady Osborne's seat, in the county of Tipperary ;
thence he is to proceed to Bessborough, on a visit to
Lord Duncannon, and is to return to Dublin on Satur-
day, in order to swear in Sir Nicholas Brady as Lord
Mayor of Dublin on Michaelmas-day.

A meeting of the county of Waterford was held on
Monday last at Dungarvon, Sir Richard Keane, Bart.,
in the chair, in order to agree to a congratulatory ad-
dress to his Excellency, Lord Ebrington, upon the oc-
casion of his visit to his estates in that county. A
Committee was named to make the necessary arrange-
ments ; and, having returned from the Committee-
room, Mr. Stuart, M.P. for the county, the Chairman
of the Committee, and proposer of the address, stated
that, in order to admit all parties in the county to con-
cur in the expression of gratulation towards her Ma-
jesty's representative, it had been agreed upon to omit
all mention of the name of Lord Normanby in it. Mr.
Beresford Boate, in consequence, seconded the adop-
tion of the address proposed by Mr. Stuart, which was
then unanimously agreed to. The Chairman in put-
ting the question to the meeting, spoke warmly of the
claims of Lord Normanby upon Ireland, and stated
that though, for the sake of unanimity, the mention of
his name in the address then proposed had been omitted,
yet the county was about to assemble on an early day
to express its sentiments of gratitude towards him, and
to congratulate him upon his elevation to his present
important office.
SLiztiltE FOR TITHES.—On Monday the Under-
Sheriff of the county of Wexford, accompanied by a
large police force, visited the lands of Fisherstown, and
bore off a considerable share of the property of Mr.
Edward Dvvyer, for arrears of tithes, due to the Rev.
Mr. Auchinleck. A sale of the articles took place at
'Faglimon on Tuesday, when they were purchased by
the friends of the owner.—lliatellord Chronicle.
EJECTION OF TENANTS.—We have received from a
faithful source in Dungarvan a full and triumphant con-
tradiction of certain misstatements which appeared,
under the above head, in Saturday's Free Press, with
respect to Sir Nugent Humble, Bart. It is deplorable,
indeed, that a liberal-minded young man, just entering
on the threshold of public life should be thus dealt
with, as though he were a revengeful and cruel depopu-
lator ; but we blame not the Free Press, which, we
have no doubt, will make the ainende when the truth
becomes known.--Waterford Chronicle.

FATAL ACCIDENT FROM THE INCAUTIOUS
USE OF FIRE-ARM s —On jMonday an inquest was held
before Mr. Wakley, M. P., at the Seven Stars, North-end,
Fulham, on the body of Thomas Quarrier, who was acci-
dentally shot on Saturday last by a lad named Alfred
Stevens. Evidence precisely similar to that taken before
Mr. Burrell, at Queen-square, was sworn to in tl e
Coroner's Court, and fully acquitted the lad of any criminal
intention. The only points relative to the unfortunate
occurrence worthy of being remarked (as they show that
it is impossible to exercise too much caution when hand-
ling fire-arms) were, that the gun is an old rusty-barrelled
musket, that it had been charged for five days, that the
steel of its hammer was worn off by use, that it was exposed
to the rain on the morning of the accident, that another
boy bad pulled the trigger before Stevens took the weapon
into his hand, that he took it from off the wet ground,
where it was lying with the pan open and without priming,
and that finally he pulled the trigger four times before the
gun went off. The Jury, satisfied that the lad did not
know that the piece was loaded, and that it was by mere
chance he painted it in the direc' ion of the deceased, in-
stantly returned a verdict of " Accidentally Shot."
On Sunday night last four armed men came to
the house of Michael Lyons, on the lands of Terravogane,
the property of Thomas Brereton, Esq., within a few
yards of Mr. Egan's new distillery, at Ballinderrv, in
Lower Ormond. One of the party knocked, and asked
permission to light his pipe, when two others rushed in,
and presented their pistols at Lyons, who endeavoured to
battle with them, and push them out. Lyons was, how-
ever, felled to the ground with blows of the pistols on the
head, and when in a state of insensibility, the villains
rifled the house, and took therefrom a case of pistols.
On the same night, and within about two hundred
yards of the above place, a party of men attacked the
house of a man named Donohoe, a tenant of Doctor
Dempster, but not being able to effect an entrance, they
broke the windows, and made an unsuccessful effort to
smash the door.—Limerick Chronicle.
PUBLIC DINNER TO AIR. A. W. PAULTON.
—We understand that arrangements are in progress,
among the friends of free trade in this town, for giving a
public dinner to Mr. A. W. Paulton, on his return from
Scotlend, as a testimonial of respect for the ardent, indefa-
tigable, and highly successful manner in which he has
agitated the question of Corn-law repeal from the one
end of the island to the other. A few weeks ago, we
observed '
from the Scotch journals, that be was lec-
turing to large and enthusiastic audiences at Aber-
deen, Inverness, and other Hyperborean latitudes.
It is now more than a year since Mr. Paulton delivered
his first lene,eturmseoiinrneetehtoethßaawtoltoern. theatre,' on' this " question. of
questions."
eu es
hastio so. d we hesitate not to say that
pfktehni o the public mind. to the just
views of the importance oa
individual in the countr Wee Corn-law question than any
are not altogether ungrateful for there-
fore, that his townsmen yh.av
raftreheglsaedrvticoesleharenh,
as
olvoeddantod
.hshigohwwthagates.t,hy
ren-
dered in the cause of " chearfp"o
ivabilsvahrae
Bolton Free Press.
most splendid
NIS'S INVERARITY.—Oneof th
avr:,
tnyb,r ofourgmh
et r
luys
the n
lookingthcatr
theatricals,
misent which hwi cehl 1
-known
olateHissar r
fair rival in vocal music of Miss Sheriff thero London.
boards. Yesterday morning we saw her
Broadway, and a more magnificent looking promenading
dean seen on that delightful promenade. A goodndleasleohf
curiosity is beginning to be expressed for her appearance
on the Park boards.--New fork Herald.

CHAItTISM IN SHEFFIELD.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sir,—ln these days for a man to acknowledge that
he is a Chartist is to draw upon himself the perse-
cution and obloquy of the respectable portions of
society. Any poor fellow who wishes to obtain
the " five points," and uses what he conceives to
be the best method of getting them, is sure to be
hunted till he is quite run down, perhaps even
unto death, by those who are, or who wish to ap-
pear " well to do in the world." The Papist and
the Protestant, the Orthodox Churchman and the
Heterodox Dissenter, he who owns to having no re- '
ligion at all, and politicians of every grade, can cor-
dially unite together, to put a stop by any means,
lawful or unlawful, to the wicked Chartists. The
Newspaper Press has been, and is, the foremost in
the chase, and cheers on to further pursuit those
who might be disposed to cry " hold enough." T e
only difference in this case between the Whig News-
paper and the Tory Newspaper is this—the Whig-
iMg makes a desperate and successful struggle to
push the Tory from his high eminence of advocate
of coercion. The influence of the London Daily
Papers on the public mind during the late
movement of the working classes has been
tremendous, and all (with one honourable
exception, The Sun, and for which exception thou-
sands of its readers are truly thankful), are on the
side of tyranny. Even in the English Courts of
Justice have lately been enacted scenes which will
never be forgotten. It has been a boast that the laws
in this country have been administered with strict
impartiality—can this be said now ? Certainly not.
In the over-anxiety of those in authority to inflict
the terrors of the laws on the abettors of Chartism,
many serious mistakes have occurred, which in
ordinary times would have called forth public
remonstrance ; now they are passed over as
mere matters of course. Many individuals quite
guiltless of Chartism have been very severely and
unjustly handled. A circumstance, not very plea-
sant to some of the parties concerned, took place a
few days ago in this town. Last Thursday week,
in consequence of Chartist meetings which had
taken place on the nights of the previous Monday,
Tuesday, and Wednesday, the Magistrates deter-
mined to clear the streets early in the evening.
Many persons were taken into custody for loitering
about and refusing to move forward when desired so
to do by the policemen. Most of these, after exa-
mination, were ordered to find bail for their appear-
ance at the Sessions, and for good behaviour. On
Tuesday last the writer of this letter was at the
Town Hall, when three of these men were brought
up. In reply to the questions of the Magistrates,
the Surveyor of Police stated that " he felt assured
that the men were in the streets from accidental
circumstances, and that they had taken no part in
any of the disturbances." The Worthy Magistrate
then, with much gravity, proceeded to point out
the folly of parties who go, on any occasion, into
crowds of people, and he concluded his eloquent
and philosophical remarks by telling the men that they
were never to risk themselves in a large concourse of
men, women, or children so long as they lived. Here
one of the men wished to inform the Bench why he
happened to be in the streets at all that night, when
he was cut short by the Police Surveyor, who
coolly told him that " if he did not hold his noise
it would be worse for him !" The Magistrate
also said he had better say no more about it.
This poor man, whose name is Bamforth, and
who was not allowed to speak, had a child dead
in the house when he was taken into custody.
He belongs to the Order of Odd Fellows, and
he went after his work was done on Thursday
night to obtain money from the " Lodge" that
he might be able to inter his child with decency.
As he was returning home he saw the police-
men parading the streets, and on inquiry of a
woman as to what was the cause of the policemen
being out, he was seized, without any kind of
warning, and locked up all night and next day till
five o'clock in the afternoon, when he was liberated
on bail, and told to appear on the day following
(Saturday). He attended at the Town Hall ac-
cording to instruction, when, after waiting a long
time, he was informed he could not be examinedt
that day, and that he would have to come again on
Tuesday. When placed before the Magistrates, as
related above, not a single charge of any kind was
preferred against him, yet when he was discharged
the Police Surveyor said if he did not hold his
noise it would be 46 worse for him." Thus, after
having spent one night and one day in prison, and
lost three days' wages, which to a working man is
no trifle, and when not the slightest charge,
of either breach of peace or contempt
of authority, is brought against him, he
is sent home, not with soothing words, but
with an insult. Conduct like this may be lawful,
but is it just, or is it politic ? Under similar cir-
cumstances, in any other town, these men might
not have fared better, but an apology was due, and
ought to have been made, to them. Had they been
treated with kindness, and shown that it was merely
on account of the state of the town that they were
put to inconvenience, and had sorrow been expressed •
for their loss, they would have been satisfied, and
would have felt thankful for the courtesy. As it is,
the men will very likely hate the laws, and all con-
nected with them, as long as they live. Who could
wonder if these men took the first opportunity of
joining a riotous party, that they might have the
pleasure of cracking the heads of a few policemen ?
For several Sundays past the Chartists of this
town have attended the morning service in the
parish church. On one occasion they went at the
special invitation of the Vicar, who, the writer is
glad to say, is the most reasonable, charitable, and
just clergyman for miles round, and whose life and
conversation have gained the esteem of all to whom
he is known. These church-goings have been of
the most peaceable and orderly description until last
Sunday week, when one of the seat-holders, finding
his place occupied by a stranger, proceeded to eject
the intruder by physical force. This caused some
disturbance, and the Magistrates determined to put
a stop to the attendance of these outlaws at Church.
Consequently last Sunday morning the pious wor-
shippers who congregate at St. Peters were guarded
by armed men. The Editors of our local news-
papers appear to be mightily elevated with the idea
of having their Sunday piety protected by swords
and guns. The language used by two Sheffield
papers, published to-day, is worth preserving.
The Whig Independent glorifies the occasion as
follows :—" Policemen armed with cutlasses, were
stationed at the gates of the churchyard ; who exer-
cised discretionary power as to the parties to be
admitted ; and other policemen were distributed in
the church to prevent disturbance there. C.
Brownell, Esq., was at the church ; and W. J.
Bagshawe, Esq., was at the Tontine Inn, with a
detachment of Dragoons in readiness to suppress
any attempt at riot. ' The Tory Mercury, after
describing the precautions used to prevent improper
persons passing, says, " any decently-dressed indi-
vidual was allowed to pass." So that after all the
assertions of the Mercury, and other Tory Papers,
about the " poor man's" Church, it appears that
none are countenanced there except they are " de-
cently dressed." Those who are merely covered
with rags have no business at Church—they can
pay nothing. That the rich are obliged to be
guarded in their devotions by armed men, and that
the poor are frequently incarcerated in prison with-
out having committed any crime, shows that there
is something " rotten in the state" of England.
These things cannot take place much longer with-
out producing results which it is frightful to con-
t e m pl ate .
Your
insertion of this letter in your widely-cir-
culated publication will oblige, Sir,
Yours, with great respect,
A CONSTANT READER•

Sheffield, Sept. 21.

THE NEW POLICE ACT.-At Marylebone
office on Monday, Thomas Dean, a journeyman tailor, was
charged under the new Police Act with aiding and abet-
ting at a dog fight, and using language calculated to pro-
voke a breach of the peace. Mr. John Eyre, surgeon, of
15, Charlotte-street, Bloomsbury, stated that he was pro.
ceeding along the Hampstead-road that morning, vi hen
his attention was attracted to the prisoner and several
other men, who were actively engaged in setting two dogs
to fight. He remonstrated with them, when the prisoner
said to him, " Who are you?" and added, " I'm as good
a man as you." The other men called the dogs off and
went away, but as the prisoner remained he gave him in
charge. Mr. Rawlinson, after a caution, discharged the
prisoner, observing that the alleged insulting language
was not strong enough to come within the meaning of the
Act.
It is at length arranged that the correspondence
of noncommissioned officers and privates of her Nlajest)'s
service shall be conveyed to and from the East Indies by
the overland mails, via Falmouth, on the mere payment of
Id. each, the letters being, single, and franked by the officer
commanding.—United Service Gazette.