The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-15 00:00:00

THAMES.

THE EVILS OF LEAVING-SHOPS.—A poor woman named
Anne Desmond came before Mr. Paget, and complained
of the illegal and oppressive conduct of a " leaving-shop-
keeper," named Walker, in- New Gravel-lane, Shadwell.
•The applicant pawned her bed for 35., about nine months
ago, and she applied to Mrs. Walker to redeem it one day
last week, She was told the interest would be 2d. for
each shilling, to which she made no objection, and was
directed to call in the evening for the bed. She did so,
and was then informed that the bed was sold to a rag
dealer, and that she could not have it. She went to the
rag dealer, named by Mrs. Walker, and was informed
that the bed had not been sold there, and that it was not
likely a good bed would be sold for rags. Mrs. Walker
also received a pair of trousers a fortnight ago, and
refused to restore them. Mrs. Walker had been
in the practice of taking as interest 2d. in every shilling,
whether the articles are in pawn one month or twelve
months.

Mr. Paget inquired if the leaving-shop keeper gave the
applicant a proper memorandum or ticket, describing each
article and the sum lent when pawned.
Mrs. Desmond said no duplicates, were written or given
out.

Mr. Livingston, chief usher, said leaving-shop-keepers
never gave any duplicates or memorandums to their cus-
tomers, who were entirely at their mercy.
Mr. Paget said he would grant a summons against the
leaving-shop keeper and her husband, for a violation of the
Pawnbrokers' Act.

RUFFIANISM IN A PUBLIC STREET.—Thomas Roberts,
tall young man, was brought before Mr. Paget, charged
with violently assaulting. Joseph Cotty, of No. 15, Green-
wood-street, Mile-end, who appeared in court with his head
bandaged and contusions on his face.
The complainant, a lad who is in the employment of Mr.
Morton, an engineer, in Wapping, was passing along the
Commercial-road on Saturday night, and, in passing, he
came in contact with a female wearing an ugly and incon-
venient crinoline, and was tripped up. The female struck
him, and the prisoner, with whom she was talking, hit him
several times with his fist, and when he was on the ground
kicked him under the jaw. The lad, fearing he should be
murdered, took to his heels. He was followed by the priso-
ner, who knocked him down again, kicked him on the right
eye, which was fearfully cut, and tore his coat to pieces.
On his way to the station house ho was struck by one of
the prisoners' companions, who was in court.
John Grant, 137 K, heard cries of " police" on Saturday
night. He saw the complainant bleeding, and took the
prisoner into custody. The prisoner was drunk and vio-
lent, and threw him twice. The prisoner was under on
both occasions.

A lad named Henry Shaper also confirmed the statement
of Co tty.

Mr. Paget said the prisoner had committed a most brutal
assault on the complainant, and also on the police-con-
stable. It was not to be endured that decent youths were
to be maltreated in the streets with impunity. He sen-
tenced the prisoner to be imprisoned for two months and
kept to hard labour.

MALTA AND ALEXANDRIA TELEGRAPH.—The
re-opening of this telegraph for the transmission of mes-
sages is announced, a telegram having been received from
Malta, dated the 13th May, 4 14 p.m., conveying intelli-
gence of the successful completion of the repairs on the in-
terrupted section of the line between Benghazi and Alex-
andria.

DR. TEMPLE, THE HEAD MASTER OF RUGBY'S
SCHEME OF REFORM.—He would disfranchise all
boroughs with less than 10,000 inhabitants, gaining thereby
111 seats ; and take away the second seat from all boroughs
with fewer than 30,000 inhabitants, so gaining 50 seats;
ho would then double the number of members in every
county, keeping the present elections for the remaining
boroughs and the counties as they are, but elect the
added members on a different plan, namely, by all rate-
payers, whether living in boroughs and entitled to borough
votes already, or in the rural districts.

THE HEIGHT OF MAGNANIMITY!—The Czar
has declared his second son, Alexander, heir to
the throw.; of Russia, and it is stated in Continental
papers that the late Czarewitch requested the second
one to carry out his engagement with the Princess

Dagmar.
IRISH CHURCH STATISTICS.—Members of the
Established Church number, say, 690,000 ; Presby-
terians, 520,000 ; Dissenters, 76,000 ; a total of Protes-
tants, say a million and a quarter ; Roman Catholics, four
and a half millions. The Established Church has 2
archbishops, 10 bishops, 2,200 clergy; " net annual in-
come," ir.cluding money through the Ecclesiastical Com-
missioners, some £700,000 per annum. The Presbyterians
(but certain of them refuse to share in it) receive from Go-
vernment a Regium Donum of £40,000 a year, giving some
£7O to each minister. This originated in a small gift of
Charles 11. out of the Secret Service money. Tho Metho-
dists, Baptists, and Independents support themselves.
The Catholics have 4 archbishops, 24 bishops (all ap-
pointed by the Pope), about 3,000 priests, and numerous
monks, friars, and nuns. Parliament gives a yearly rent
to Maynooth College, for the education of priests. This
sum excepted, the vast clerical organisation is supported
by foes on marriages, baptisms, and funerals, by Christmas
and Easter dues, and by voluntary contributions in money
or labour. Churches, convents, &c., are built by sub-
scriptions, legacies, and collections. Wonderful exertions
in this way have been made in the last 20 years, and have
given birth to conspicuous and showy Roman Catholic
edifices in every part of Ireland, but much of the money
has been contributed from other countries,