The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-05 00:00:00

THE PRISONS IN POLAND.

The following is "an extract from a report of the
Commissioners appointed by the Municipal Council
of Warsaw to examine the actual state of the
prisons, dated July, 1862

"On arriving at the office of the prison, M.
Mazurowski, the Superintendent of the Police
Prisons, showed his books, from which it appears:—
" That the total number of men and women
arrested from the beginning of the present year to
the 19th of July last was 14,833.

" That between the 13th and 19th of July the
maximum number of prisoners was 185 men and 46
women, and the minimum number 157 men and 53
women. In the former case 70 men and women
arrived, 52 left, and 249 remained ; in the latter, 48
arrived, 44 left, and 214 remained.
"The various rooms were then inspected in order.
" Room No. 1 is 113 ells long, 9,1 wide, and 5 ells
10 in. high. It contained 12 persons, among whom
was one who had last both his hands and one foot,
and J. Kurlender, arrested because he had no pass-
port ; he is lame, and suffering under a nervous
disease.

" Room No. 2, same size as No. 1, contains 11
women, one of whom has been 40 weeks under
arrest. The ceiling of this room is falling to pieces.
"Room No. 18, the same size as the other two,
except that it is but half their width, contains 30
men, arrested for not carrying lanterns at night.
This room has no furniture and only one small
barred window. There is so little space that the
men in it can neither lie down nor move about with
freedom. There is scarcely a breath of air, and the
close packing of these 30 persons is an unprecc
dented instance of disregard of human life.

" No. 3 room, the same size as the others, except
that it is nearly six times the width of the last,
contained 35 women, one of whom, M. Keller, has
been shut up for seven weeks in this unhealthy
room, with a sick child four years old, because she
had no passport.

" The above rooms are in general dirty, too
much crowded, and not provided with the neces-
sary conveniences.

" No. 11 room, 11 ells 2 inches long, 231 ells wide,
contains 56 persons. The crowded state of this
room, the want of fresh air and of all conveniences,
is striking, the more so as some of the prisoners
have been deprived of their liberty for some time.
" In general the prisoners, as regards food, lodg-
ing, and other wants of life, are in a worse position
than in all the prisons of the kingdom. Though
detained for a very long time, they are not furnished
with new clothing or linen, and not being in a con-
dition to provide themselves therewith, are in a
frightful state of destitution. Some are without a
shirt, some in rags, some covered with vermin, and
all evidently suffering in health.
" Considering, first, that the number of people
arrested during the past half-year amounts to nearly
one-tenth of the whole population of the. town, and
to one-fifth of such population, excluding children
second, that among those arrested are persons de-
tained for the most trifling inattention to the decrees
of the police, and mothers with little children, even
children of four years old and children at the
breast ; thirdly, that in these times the most respec-
table persons, even women, are often arrested—the
Deputy President and the delegates of the Munici-
pal Council consider it most expedient to take im-
mediate steps to put a stop to this evil.
" Warsaw, July 20."

THE LOSS OP THE STEAMSHIP QUEEN

VICTORIA.

The following is a report of the investigation as
to the loss of the steamship Queen Victoria
" Police-court, Hull, Aug. 1, 1862.

is My Lords,—Pursuant to the instructions of the
Board of Trade, and with the assistance of Cap-
tains Harris and Scott, as nautical assessors, I have
held an official investigation, so far as the evidence
produced would permit me, into the circumstances
that led to the loss of the screw steamship Queen
Queen Victoria on the coast of Egypt on the morn-
ing of March 7, 1862.

" The Queen Victoria was an iron screw steam-
ship, built at Newcastle in the year 1855, and was
of the gross registered tonnage of 1431 tons. She
was owned by Messrs. Bailey and Letham, of Hull,
and left Liverpool on the 15th of February last,
coal laden, bound to Alexandria, in Egypt. The
Queen Victoria was commanded by Mr. W. Stubbs,
who holds a certificate of competency dated June
19, 1851. She appears to have been properly equip-
ped, and manned with a crew of 36 persons.
" On the 3d of March the Queen Victoria passed
the Valetta lighthouse. A course was thence shaped
for Alexandria ; and at 3.45 a.m. of the 7th she
struck upon the coast of Egypt, about 73 miles to
the westward of her port, and became a total wreck.
Some portion only of her stores was saved, and no
lives were lost.

Owing to the length of time that has elapsed
since the wreck, and the omission on the part of the
owners to report the loss in accordance with the
statute, the greater part of the crew have dispersed,
and the chief mate, a principal witness, has sailed
for Sydney. Three only of the former have been
produced before me. It is impossible, from their
scanty evidence, to form any safe conclusion as to
the loss of this ship, while the absence of the offi-
cers and others of the crew prevented me from ob-
taining full information upon all the courses steered
prior to the loss, and made it impossible for me to
verify the authenticity of the leg-book.
" It would seem, from an inspection of the latter
document that observations were taken each day at
noon, and that the reckoning agreed with these
observations.

" The master asserts that the course steered, as
entered in the logbook, is correct, and was a per-
fectly safe course from noon of the 6th, when he
had obtained an observation ; and he attributes the
loss of his ship to a northerly current setting him
down on the coast, and states that this current was
subsequently experienced by the officers of her Ma-
jesty's ship Pelican when proceeding to the wreck.

"In the absence, therefore, of both the mates, and
others, who might have given evidence to account
for the loss of the Queen Victoria, I feel that all hope
of coming to a satisfactory conclusion on this point
has been frustrated. I have therefore deemed it
expedient, rather than keep the inquiry open for
an indefinite time, to return Captain Stubbs his
certificate, persuaded that from the evidence now
before me my report to their Lordships could not
be such as to enable the Board of Trade to deal
with such certificate under the powers vested in
them by the Merchant Shipping Act, 1854.

" The evidence is forwarded herewith.
" I have the honour to be, my Lords,
" Your Lordships' obedient servant,
" T. H. TRAVIS."

LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—The
directors of this company have resolved to recommend to
the proprietors, at the general meeting on the 14th instant,
that the dividend for the half-year ending June, 30, 1862,
be at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum on the capital of the
company.

H. M. Victor Emmanuel, the King of Italy, has
been graciously pleased to confer upon Mr. Charles Manby,
honorary secretary of the Institution of Civil Engineers,
the title of Knight of the Order of SS. Maurizzio et Lai-
zaro, in recognition of his scientific acquirements, and of
the valuable services rendered by him to foreign scientific
men, and to Government officers visiting England. For
similar reasons, Mr. Manby was, many years since,
honoured by the present Emperor of the French with the
decoration of the Legion of Honour, and it is gratifying to
find that services such as he is constantly rendering, and
which are of inestimable value in cementing a good feel-
ing between England and foreign nations, are properly ap-
preciated abroad, however they may have been hitherto un-
noticed by the Government at home. It is not generally
known that it was to Mr. Manby alone that was due the
merit of the remarkable reception given to Marshal Soult,
at the period of the coronation of her Majesty. He planned
all the visits to the public establishments in London and in
the country; carried out, through his private friends, the
journey to Manchester, Liverpool, North Wales, and Staf-
fordshire, the cost of which was liberally defrayed by the
then Board of Directors of the London and North Western
Railway, and the then_ A. layor of Liverpool. 'I he reception
of Marshal Soult in this country had a marked and most
beneficial political effect, and it was duly recognised by the
the British Government. The services of
by
youis Phillippe, but as usual not any notice
was
ttakenhe xi Bing,
f it
Mr. Manby appear to be still commanded, not only by
foreign scientific men, but by all his countrymen vc/ao need
advice or guidance, and during the period of the Interns- 1
tional Exhibition they have been in constant requisition.

THE DU2TDONALD PEERAGE CASE.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Yesterday the House of Lords sat in Committee
of Privileges, for the purpose of proceeding with the
hearing of this case, which has been reported on
previous occasions.

The Solicitor-General having spoken at some
length in opposition to the claim, proceeded to call
evidence. He said that at their last meeting their
lordships granted a commission to examine Mr.
William Jackson, the husband of Lady Dundonald's
aunt, inasmuch as being bedridden he could not
attend. That gentleman had stated that he never
heard of the Scotch marriage alleged by Lady Dan-
donald to have taken place at Annan, in Scotland,
on the Bth of August,lBl2. It would be also proved
to their lordships' satisfaction that Lord Cochrane
was in London, at his solicitors', on the 10th of
August in that year, the day but one after the al-
leged marriage at Annan. It would also be shown
that Lady Dundonald made her son write his name
" Cochrane" immediately after his father succeeded
to the earldom, and that, by her ladyship's direc-
tion, he constantly practised it with his governess.
Lord Chelmsford said that Lady Dundonald ought
to have been asked about the point when she was
under examination. It was a very important point,
and her ladyship ought to have had an opportunity
of explaining it.

The Rev. Henry Maxwell Egan, curate of St.
George's, Hanover•square, produced the register
proving the baptism of the present claimant.

Major William Cochrane was called, and said he
was the brother of the tenth Earl of Dundonald,
with whom he was very intimate until two years
before his death. Down to about 1860 he was
very intimate with him. He (the witness) was
in the Peninsula during the early part of the
year 1814. He recollected Lord Dundonald going
out to Chili in that year. He wrote to witness on
his return, and while he was stationed at Birming-
ham, informing him of his marriage. He had not
preserved the letter. He understood that Lord Dun-
donald was publicly married, as his previous mar-
riage had been of a secret character, and because he
was going to a Roman Catholic country, where it
was necessary that his marriage should be more dis-
tinctly recognised. He had never heard anything
positive about the previous marriage, and he did
not know when or by whom he was told of it.
There was nothing about the previous marriage in
the letter.

Lord Wensleydale—Are you sure there was no-
thing in the letter about the previous marriage ?
Witness replied that he was not aware of any-
thing being said about it. His brother spoke of
his marriage just as though he had never been mar-
ried before. He was pretty certain he did not men-
tion the clandestine marriage. He was not aware
that his brother and the lady were living together
before that time. Afterwards he knew they were
living together, but he did not know upon wt. at
terms, or whether they were man and wife. He did
not know what the lady was called. He called her
Kate, as her name was Catherine, and she was his
sister-in-law. He wrote to his brother expressing
his regret tnat he was married, but immediately
after sending the letter he relented, and on the next
day he wrote him another letter stating that he re-
gretted his hasty expression of opinion, and that he
would be in town on the following day, when he
should be happy to receive the lady as his sister-in-
law, a course which he had most conscientiously
adopted.

After some further evidence their lordships ad-
journed.

THE MAILS, &C.—SOUTHAMPTON, Monday.—
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's screw steamship
Ceylon, Captain R. W. Evans, sailed hence to-day with
the Mediterranean, Calcutta, and China mails. She has
specie and jewellery, value £128,010 175., consigned as
under:—For Alexandria—sovereigns, 13,300; watches,
£l5O, For Ceylon—rupees, £l9O. For Madras—gold coin,
£2,622; silver coin, 75.; watches, &c., £1,363. For Cal-
outta—jewellery and watches, £2,298 108. For Penang--
dollars, £24,905. For Singapore, dollars, £12,937; gold
coin, £l5O. For Hongkong, dollars, £15,770 ; watches
and jewellery, £395. For Shanghai—dollars, £53,430; bar
silver, £5OO. The Ceylon takes out 19 first and 12 second-
class passengers, and 22 proceed via Marseilles, making 53
in all by the present departure, among whom are the Rev.
W. Leeming, for Madras ; Captain and Mrs. Gordon,
Lieutenants W. Broadfoot, H. St. G. Barton, and IL
Thompson, for Calcutta, &c.

FRIGHTFUL DEATH OF A YOUTH THROUGH
BEING IMPALED.—Yesterday morning information was for-
warded to Mr, Bedford, the coroner for Westminster, of the
death of a youth named Thomas Robson, aged 15 years,
which was caused under the following frightful circum-
stances. It would seem that late the previous night the
deceased had come from the North of England to visit some
friends in London, and amongst them was a gentleman
named Perry, residing in Cartwright-street, Westminster.
In the absence of Mr. Perry, the deceased amused himself
with an Exhibition ball, which, slipping from his fingers,
lodged upon a ledge over the parlour window. In his en-
deavour to regain it the poor boy fell out of the parlour win-
dow on to the railings enclosing the area, upon which he
was literally impaled, two spikes penetrating the left armpit
a considerable depth, indeed, it is supposed entered the heart
and lungs, as well as fractured the upper ribs. He was con-
veyed to Westminster Hospital, where he was at once re-
ceived and attended by Mr. Arthur Beadles, the house sur-
geon, but notwithstanding every attention was paid, the
unfortunate boy expired shortly afterwards.

REPORT OF THE VOLUNTEER COMMISSION.'
The repert of the Volunteer Commission, which is
looked forward to with so much interest by every Volun-
teer, is in the printer's hands, and will be distributed to
members in the course of the week. The Commissioners
have gone thoroughly into the whole question, and they
have, it is understood, agreed to the following recommenda-
tions :—They propose that the staff of drill sergeants shall
be continued as at present, and paid out of the national
funds. Next, that every effective be entitled to receive $1
per annum; that is to say, that the commanding officer is
to be allowed that amount to be applied as he shall think
best, but for the advantage of the corps. If it is applied for
clothing, then the officer commanding is restricted in the
choice of four colours—viz., blue for Artillery and Engi-
neers, and green, gray, or scarlet for the Rifles. The gray
to be in accordance with the colour selected by the War-
office, the Lords-Lieutenant of counties having a veto oil
the colour, so that they make the Volunteers in counties as
nearly similar as possible. 'I he Commissioners further re-
commend that a sum of 10s. per man be allowed to all those
who have passed through certain stages in musket',"
practice, and have obtained certificates of efficiency. The
recommendation is one which we regard as of great
importance, as upon the skill in the use of the rifle
the real efficiency of the volunteer force mainly depends.
This premium on excellence of shooting will have a most
beneficial effect. Officers of regiments and companies will
urge their men on to practice with the view of obtaining
the extra 10s. per man. In many small corps, should
the whole of the men be made effective—which is not only
possible, but easy of accomplishment—the 30s. per mot
will suffice to keep the corps in good working order. with•
out this aid the number of men would gradually fall og•
The Commissioners, in addition to these gratuities, propose
to give a further sum of 4s. per head for all Volunteers
living beyond five miles from head-quarters, or the usual
place of drill. This sum is given with the view of assist-
ing Volunteers engaged in agricultural pursuits, who coo'
not afford the expense of riding to the place of rendezvous,
and is proposed for the purpose of induc ng.countryme:a to
don the Volunteer uniform and to carry the rifle. These
are the principal recommendations of the Commissioners,
and we believe they will meet with general approval. At
present the sum voted in aid of the Volunteers does 31°V
exceed £40,000 per annum. Should the proposed changes
be carried into effect, the charge upon the country will be
increased to about £170,000 pr £lBO,OOO.
EXECUTION FOR MURDER.--We learn from Gao,,,
nand that the man Picard, who was condemned to del"'
for murder at the last assizes for the Pas-de •Calais, under"
went his sentence at Arras on Tuesday, the 29th. Picard
w
eoi
gf a
bo bandurh whoo( o
fha had
Arras,com and
committed
three n u
of
hseroussco n robberiespauio o:
ina sn t
he neighbourhood
hcommitted suicide after their arrest fos murder and robbing
M. Evratd, of Boyelles, an infirm old man, 75 years of age'
For some lime after his condemnation on the 7th of 31
Picard remained in a state of complete prostration, and
paid little or no attentionto the exhortationsof the chaPle7
of the prison. The priest, nevertheless, persevered in I,:
visits, and at last succeeded in bringing him to se%
of his position. When informed that his two sons 10'1
since his trial, been arrested for theft, he bitterly reproached
hialstl: for the bad example he had set them, but appears"
~
somewhat consoled on learning that they had been 0
0
demned to a long detention in a house of correction: whereld
they had a chance of becoming honest men. On being told
that his appeal had been rejected, and that his lastlioul.'l3,,
"
at hand, he appeared resigned, and said that he CI
petted nothing else. During the journey from St. Omer tover,
Arras he was engaged the greater part of the ime in
of
and on reaching the latter place heard mass in the chapel
,0
the prison. He vas immediately afterwards conducts"
the place of execution, and ascended the scaffold. unaided.lho .
His last words were, that though a great ermine la
witnessn ve r been
the guilty
execution of mwuarsd er.
immense,T hecrowd
nl usual, ' assemble" t:
majority Were women.