The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-08 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—I have read, with feelings of the deepest
indignation, the horrible details of torturing a cat,
reported in your impression of this evening. A few
days ago I heard of another case of a very similar de-
scription, where a ruffian was convicted of having
skinned a dog alive. Now, sir, I appeal,through your
columns, to those who have influence in matters of
legislation, to set about devising some means of
punishing such infernal barbarity with greater
severity than is meted out to it under the existing
state of the law affecting this class of offences.
While our soldiers and sailors are liable to undergo
severe corporal punishment for comparatively
trivial breaches of discipline, could not a little whip-
cord be spared for miscreants who put their fellow-
creatures to the most exquisite torture simply to
gratify their own unbridled and brutal lust of
cruelty ? May we soon see the day when out-
rages of this description shall invoke the strong
arm of the law, with whip in hand, " to lash the
rascal naked through" the town or village which
may be the scene of his inhuman freaks !
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
AN ADVOCATE OF HUMANITY.
United University Club, March 7tb, 1862.

TILE N.EIV CUNA.RI) STEAMER SCOTIA

The new steamship Scotia, built under special
survey expressly for the British and North Ameri-
can Royal Mail service, arrived in Liverpool from
the Clyde, where she was built, on Thursday after-
noon, having made the run from the Cloch Light-
house on the Clyde to the Bell Buoy at the mouth
of the Mersey in 12 hours 4 minutes. The machi-
nery worked admirably, and, in proof that the
vessel is perfectly manageable, she was easily moved
round in the Mersey within her own length. A per-
son who was on board during the trip to Liverpool
states that she is "as stiff as a church." The trial
trip on Wednesday before the Scotia left the Clyde
for Liverpool was highly satisfactory, notwith-
standing the unpropitious state of the weather. The
distances were performed under the following con-
ditions :—Against a strong flood tide, and also
against a double-reefed topsail breeze of wind, from
the Cloch to Cumbrae Light in 59 minutes ; after
passing the Little Cumbrae, the Scotia was brought
round with great case, and performed the upward
run between the Cumbrae and Cloch Lights, but on
this occasion with wind and tide in her favour, in
49 minutes ; mean time, 54 minutes. The rate of
speed will be understood by the following

59 minute.!===l3.B9B knots, or 16.010 miles per hour.
49 minutes=l6.734 knots, or 19.277 miles per hour,

30632

35.287

Mean speed 15.316 knots, or 17.643 miles.
It is anticipated that under ordinary circumstances
the maximum speed of the Scotia will be about 19
miles an hour. The trial referred to was made to
test the efficiency and speed of the vessel for the
mail service, which was done under the superinten-
dence of Mr. John Dinnen, inspector of machinery,
and Mr. James Luke, master shipwright of the
Admiralty, Whitehall ; the Board of Trade being
locally represented by Mr. George Barber, ship-
wright surveyor, and Mr. H. R. Robson, inspector
of machinery for the Clyde. The Scotia is to be
under the command of Captain Judkins, the com-
modore of the Cunard flaet, who will now move his
flag from the Persia, in which he has so long and
so ably distinguished himself. In so far as Captain
Judkins is concerned with this ship, and indeed in
connection with the important service rendered to
the country by the company with which he has been
connected for many years, it cannot be uninteresting
to know that yesterday that gentleman received his
commission as Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Re-
serve. The appointment was made in the most
complimentary manner in which the Board of Ad-
miralty, in conjunction with the Board of Trade,
could make it ; the date of Captain Judkins' services
being fixed by them as commencing in November,
1846, so that he will have a long priority as to ser-
vice consideration

HARTLEY COLLIERY.—The fatal pit at Hartley is
now as silent as the grave, all work in the shaft having been
totally discontinued. The pumps have been brought out,
and the water in the pit hai risen above the yard seam,

where, it will be recollected, the dead men were found after
the late terrible accident. The mouth of the shaft is raised
off, and scarcely any one but occasionally a curious visitor
is to be seen on the high plaifoim. The engines are quiet,
and the metal about them is being weighed, with a view to
selling it. The portion of the beam that fell into the pit
has not been seen since the accident, and it appears there is
no probability of an attempt being made to resume the
working of the colliery. It may be, therefore, that the pon-
derous beam will remain submerged for years, or even for
ages, before it shall be again brought piecemeal, if at all, to

the surface of the earth, whence it descended with such fell
results. From the official returns, it appears that 202 men
and boys were killed in the nine, and five by the falling of

the cage, making a total sacrfice of 207 lives. The widows
and other relatives seem to be satisfied with the relief which
they receive from the fund, and there is, so far as we can
learn, only one instance of complaint. That is in the case
of an orphan girl, named Ross, 14 years of age, who is only
allowed 2s. 6d. per week, or one penny per meal, out of a
fund of more than £70,000 subscribed for the widows and
orphans.-11 Chronicle.

CONVICTION OF A MALTESE NOBLEMAN.—The
Marquis Barbaro di San Giorgio, well known in the highest
English society in Malta, his just been tried at Valetta on
a charge of stealing various articles from the Union Club,
of which he was a member. For some months past nume-
rous thefts had been committed in the club. All the ser-
vants were dismissed and a new set of servants engaged,
but the thefts continued. It was then determined to set a
watch on all persons frequenting the house. The result was
the detection of the Marquis in the act of pocketing a soda
water glass. Search was made in his house, and several
missing articles from the dub, belonging to officers of the
garrison, were discovered. The Marquis was consequently
arrested and brought to Hal before Judge Sir Antonio
Micalief, K.C.n.G., and f. jury, for having stolen between
the let of January and tha 29th of December,lB6l, jewelry
amounting in value to upvards of £l6 108., three opera-
glasses, value £5 165., and a soda water glass, value Is. 6J.
The defenc,which was ictended to have been on the ground
of "kleptomania," was afterwards changed to a denial of
the alleged thefts. Late in !ha evening of the third day's
proceedings the jury delivered their verdict, unanimously
finding the accused guilty o! five of the counts of the in -
dictment, and by a majority )f six against three acquitting
him of the other two. The fudge condemned the prisoner
to five years' imprisonment, vith hard labour.

FIRES IN THE CIT Y.—A fire broke out yesterday
forenoon, between 9 and 10 o'clock, at Bull's Wharf, on the
water side of Queenhithe. The premises were filled with
miscellaneous goods, including casks filled with oil, jute,
flax, &c. In less than seven minutes after the alarm Capt.
Shaw arrived with the en Ines from Watling-street Sta-
tion. The firemen succeeded in confining the fire to the
stack of jute combings, but aot however until a great quan-
tity was destroyed. Fortunately the other portions of the
wharf sustained not the least injury. The origin of the fire
is unknown, and it was impossible to learn whether the
proprietors were insured. Late last night a fire was dis-
covered in the premises known as Hay's Wharf, Tooley-
street, destroyed by fire on the 22d June last. It appears
that some of the workmen had stuck a lighted candle in a
log of timber, and as the candle burnt down it set fire to
the beam. Fortunately the discovery was opportunely
made, and the workmen, without any additional aid, suc-
ceeded in extinguishing the fire.
MR. SMITII O'BRIEN AND SIR R. PEEL.—Smith
O'Brien is accused of having challenged Sir Robert Peel
after he (Smith O'Brien) knew that Sir Robert Peel had
placed the affair with The O'Donosghue in the hands of his
friend," Lord Palmerston. There is not the least truth
in the accusation. No man knows bettor than Sir Robert
Peel that Smith O'Brien wrote to him long before the in-
terview which Major Gavin had with Sir Robert's noble
friend. The moment that Smith O'Brien was made aware
of the gross, wanton, and unprovoked attack upon him,
that moment he wrote to Sir Robert in language which, to
use a popular form of expression, would have "provoked a
saint," Nothing could have been more contemptuous, or
more calculated to provoke a hostile encounter, if not to a
combat al' outrance. We can state, as a fact of which we
have personal knowledge, that the defiance was addressed
to Sir Robert Peel before Sir Robert was waited upon by
Major Gavin; and we can also state that it was known that
such contemptuous and exasperating challenge had reached
its destination several hours before the gallant major had
the me/Lovable interview with the Premier. So that ws
are in a position to say that the accusation which is now
sought to be fastened upon Smith O'Brien's honour has its
origin either tu ignorance or malice,--Corn Axaminer,

LATEST NEWS.

SAFETY OF THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.
LIVERPOOL, MARCH 8.
The steamship City of Baltimore has arrived at
Holyhead with her machinery damaged.

CONSTANTINOPLE, MARCH 7.
The negotiations for the conclusion of the loan
are progressing satisfactorily.

The last assembly of the insurgent chiefs at Cet-
tigne having evidently proved the participation of
the Montenegrins in the disturbances in the Herze-
govina, the Porte has informed the Powers that it
is compelled to renounce its system of moderation
towards the Montenegrins.
Omar Pasha is master of all the important posi-
tions.

Cabouli Effendi and Mehemet Pasha have pro-
ceeded to Syria.

CADIZ, MARCH 7.
Miramon has arrived here and will proceed to
Madrid.

BERLIN, MARCH 8.

The Minister of Commerce has addressed a letter
to the President of the Chamber of Deputies re-
questing him to adjourn the sittings for a few days,
because the Ministry being occupied with important
discussions would be unable to attend them.

The sittings of the Chamber have therefore been
adjourned until Tuesday next.

THE CALCUTTA, CHINA, AND AUSTRA-
LIAN MAILS.

The Sultan, with the above mails, left Alexan-
dria for Marseilles at noon on the 7th inst.

The Pera, with the heavy portion of the mails,
sailed for Southampton on the 6th inst. at sunset.

The Nemesis brought the mails to Suez, arriving
there on the sth inst.

FRANCE.

BOURSE, March 7.—There is rather more activity
in the market to-day, and prices have improved.
Threes, for the Account, which opened at 69f. 80c.,
are now at 70f. The Railway Share Market is
also animated, and prices firm.
The following are the closing quotations :-
4t per per Cents ... 97 75 , Credit Fonder 1487 50
Do. en.d month.... 98 20 Belgian 4} —
3 per Cents
Do. end month 7O 101 Roman
Bank Shares 3060 Austrian
Credit Mobilier.... 760 Spanish Threes 5l
Do. Account — Home Debt