The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-10 00:00:00

IN RE JOHN STEWART-ANOTHER HEAVY FAILURE.

This bankrupt was described as an engineer and iron-
founder, of Blackwall, and to-day was appointed for the
order of discharge. The debts are £93,177, and the assets
show a deficiency of £36,402, out of which £32,000 are
returned as bad debts. Mr. Smart, the accountant, of 38,
Gresham-street, has now filed the full statement, but before
the case can be completed it is anticipated that the credi-
tors will require time to investigate it.

Removal of Dr. Pritchard to Glasgow.

EDINBURGH, Saturday Evening.

This morning the convict Dr. Pritchard was removed
from Calton Gaol (to which he was conveyed yesterday
after sentence of death had been passed upon him) to Duke-
street Prison, Glasgow, where he will be confined till the
28th inst., on which day he will be executed.
It having been rumoured that the prisoner would leave
Edinburgh by an eight o'clock train, large numbers of per-
sons congregated in the neighbourhood of the prison to
witness his departure. Owing, however, to the indigna-
tion expressed by the public at large against the convict,
Mr. Smith, the governor of the Calton Gaol, deemed it
advisable not to expose him either to their curiosity or
their probable taunts, and accordingly he decided not to
remove him till 10 o'clock, by which hour the majority of
the people had dispersed.
A visible change came over the prisoner after his con-
viction. When he was brought back into the dock after
the jury had returned to the box, he was paler than when
he had left it. It was with an evident effort that he sought
to compose himself while the dread sentence was pro-
nounced in the solemn hush of the court. The awful doom
did not appear to startle the wretched man. Simultaneously
with its delivery he turned his eyes up, then closed them,
and slightly inclined his face towards the jury box, with a
most forlorn expression. A moment afterwards he became
faint and supported himself by leaning against one of the
policemen, who sat next him. A glass of water was handed
him, and recovering his strength ho leant forward burying
his face in his handkerchief. He subsequently regained
his composure, and upon his name being pronounced by
the judge he stood up, slightly inclining his head as a
mark of respect to his lordship, which he did from time to
time, indicating his full knowledge of the importance of
the sentence. Finally, at the words that "on the 28th of
the month you will be hanged by the neck till dead, and
may God have mercy on your soul," he bowed to the jury
then to the judges, and firmly descended the steps leading
out of the dock to the strong room beneath the court, ask-
ing one of the policemen to fetch his hat, which he had left
on the seat in the dock. Upon reaching the room, he throw
himself on to a seat, exclaiming, "I am innocent." A
medical gentleman was in attendance, and offered him any
services that he might require. The prisoner, however,
politely declined the proffered assistance, remarking—" I
thank you, sir, lam quite well, and shall die happy." He
afterwards partook of some tea, and was then escorted to
the prison van, which was drawn up at the door of the
court-house to convey him back to Calton Gaol. Some
hundreds of persons had by this time assembled to
catch a glimpse of the prisoner. On alighting at the pri-
son gates he was taken charge of by the superior officials
of the prison. He was removed to his cell, where ho was
watched during the night by a guard of three men, the
governor thinking it prudent, as the prisoner was a some-
what powerful man, to have an extra guard in the event
of his attempting any violence. In the morning, as was
stated, he was taken away in the custody of two officers to
Glasgow.

THE DECAY OF CRITICISM.—There was a time
when the Edinburgh and Quarterly were big with fate
to the literary tribe; but, as a popular writer informed us
this very June, " Who is the editor of either of these tremen-
dous Reviews, is quite a secret now a days," while what
they have to say about books is almost equally hidden from
the generality of readers. People don't want to be told any
longer what to read, but choose for themselves. It is not
now a matter of purchase, as it used to be ; we have not to
invest 31s. 6d. upon a three-volume novel, before doing
which one naturally requires some sort .of guarantee of its
being worth the money ; but if the title takes us, or the
author is a favourite one, we simply put it down in our list
at Mudie's without the expense of a penny. This is doubt-
less one great cause of the decay of the influence of re-
views; another is owing to the inferiority of the critics
themselves. When the Buff and the Blue had it all their
own way, although their notices of books were often preju-
diced and malicious, neither learning nor labour was want-
ing. The writers took great pains, with their work, and
were, at all events, so far conscientious. But reviews are
now fired off upon all sides like squibs, and the object of
the critics is neither justice nor enlightenment, but display
of their own wit. A book is gutted of its best extracts, or
its worst (according to the good nature or malice of the
reviewer), in order to make an amusing article. Some very
feeble writers have been dragged out of their proper obscu-
rity in order to be made a laughing-stock of, but we cannot
remember one good book which has been revealed to the
public for the last five years through the intervention of a
critic. When the public have fouud one out, it is time
enough, it seems, for the critics to notice it. Just as
though it were the business of the truflie-pigs to grunt ap-
plause, 'and that of the bon vivants to dig up the truffles.--
Chambeas Journals.

A RATHER STRONG ARGUMENT IN FAVOUR OF
LIFE PEERAGES.—The Hon. Richard Bethell has
obtained of late an unenviable notoriety ; he has succeeded
not merely in ruining himself, but has pulled down his
father along with himself, and deprived the country of tho
services of a man of great ability and of strenuous exer-
tions to effect reforms where much wanted. And yet,
as soon as Lord Westbury dies, the son, let him be skulk•
ing where he may, will become a co-ordinate legislator in
our highest house with some of our best and most honoured
men. Does not this teach us the value of life peerages?
Lord Derby and his party resisted effectually on a late
occasion the introduction of a most eligible man into the
House of Lords for life only, but he was (although a
lawyer) to sit on their cushions, side by side with heredi-
tary senators. The woolsack is rarely occupied by men of
that class, and perhaps consent might be obtained to let
the forthcoming new Chancellor hold his place and title
for life only, as do the bishops.—A Correspondent of the
Examiner.

THE LATE CONFEDERATE CRUISER RAPFAHAN-
NOCK.—The Beatrice, formerly the Rappahannock,
now the property of a Liverpool shipowner, left Calais for
Southampton on July 2, and Southampton for Liverpool on
Thursday. On Friday evening, when off Point Lynas,
she was sighted by the Federal frigate, which was reported
on the day as. having anchored near the Point, and re-
fused to signal her name. The frigate made chase, and, as
the Beatrice made no effort to get away, the former came
up with her. Having overhauled her, the frigate altered
her own cburso and made off, and the Beatrice was allowed
to proceed quietly on her voyage, arriving at Liverpool
the same night. A pilot boat offered the assistance of a
pilot to the Federal vessel, but the offer was declined.

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HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, July 8.
The Queen, accompanied by her Royal Highness
Princess Helena, drove in the grounds yesterday
afternoon.

Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and
the Duke of Cambridge rode on horseback.
This morning her Majesty, with Princess Helena
and Princess Louise, drove in the Home-park.
Their Royal Highnesses Princess Beatrice and
Prince Leopold also went out in the grounds.
His Royal Highness Prince Arthur left the Castle
for Greenwich-park, attended by Major Elphinstone•
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge
dined with her Majesty and the royal family yes-
terday, and returned to London this morning.
Viscount Sydney also was honoured with an in-
vitation.

JULY 9.

The Queen, accompanied by her Royal Highness
Prince Helena, drove in the grounds yesterday
afternoon.

Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and
Princess Louise also went out driving.
Her Majesty, their Royal Highnesses the Prince
and Princess of Wales, their Royal Highnesses
Princess Helena, Princess Louise, Princess Leopold,
and Princess Beatrice, and the Ladies and Gentle-
men in Waiting, attended Divine service this morn-
ing in the private chapel.
The Right Rev. the Bishop of Worcester, Clerk
of the Closet, preached the sermon.
The Bishop of Worcester arrived at the Castle
yesterday.

Messrs. Hills and Sanders, of Eton, had the
honour of attending at Windsor Castle on Saturday
for the purpose of taking photographic likenesses of
their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of
\Vales and the infant princes.