The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-01 00:00:00

THAMES.

DISGRACEFUL SCENE IN Ws ITECRAPEL.—John Brian and
John Malony, Irish tinkers, and two of the most dirty,
foul-mouthed, and desperate ruffians that ever appeared in
this court, were brought before Mr. Paget charged with
being drunk, disorderly, and fighting in Lambeth-street,
Whitechapel.
It appeared from the evidence of two police constables,
named Kitchen and Chatty, of the H division, that they
were sent for yesterday evening at half-past 7 o'clock to
suppress a disturbance in Lambeth-street. The prisoners
were stripped and their shirts were off ; they were engaged
in hammering each ether and -were very drunk. They
struck at every one that passed, but did not hurt any one,
for their intended blows fell very wide of the mark.
They were surrounded by about two hundred of the
thieves, ruffians, juvenile pickpockets, and German
strumpets, who dwell in the street, which the witnesses
said was the worst in the district, and unsafe even for a
constable to pass up and down singly. The shouting and
swearing among the motley and dangerous throng was
deafening. The police forced the tinkers into their houses
twice, and they came out again with their soldering-irons.
Before they could do any harm they were taken into cus-
tody.
In answer to the questions of the magistrate,
_ _ _

Kitchen said the two prisoners were tried and convicted
for an assault on a police constable on Boxing-day, 1862.
The constable had been on the sick list and unfit for duty
ever since. The prisoners were the terror of the district,
and were generally intoxicated.

Mr. Paget said it was only three days since he had dis-
charged Brian, after two remands, and convicted his com-
panions, a man and a woman, who were in prison. The
scene last evening was a most disgraceful one. He now
gave notice if there was any case of violence to a police
officer in this frightful place called Lambeth-street, he
would punish the offenders to the utmost extent of the law.
Hq, wished the prisoner's companions in Whitechapel to
know this. He fined the prisoners 40s. each, and in default
of payment to be imprisoned for one month.
DANGEROUS AMUSEMENT.—John Ayling, a butcher and
waggoner was brought before Mr. Paget, charged with
furious driving.

Police-Sergeant Whisson, No. 111, stated that last night
soon after nine o'clock, the prisoner and another man were
each driving a horse and cattle conveyance, and racing.
They crossed each other, drove close to the foot-path, and
on the footpath, then flogged their horses and drove along
the middle of the road, shouted at each other, and caused
general consternation. It was a mercy several persons
were not killed. He secured the prisoner and sent a
constable after the other driver, who was equally bad, but
he drove off at full speed and got away.
Henry Bingley, 134 K, confirmed the evidence of tho
sergeants, and said the game of racing between the two
cattle conveyances lasted some time, and the indignation
of the inhabitants was loud and universal.
.The prisoner muttered he was in the
employ of Mr.
Miller, and he did not gallop or race with any one.
Mr. Paget—Yes you did. Your conduct was
public
dangerous and disgraceful. You were racing
on
road always thronged with people and vehicles.aPshall
inflict the largest fine, 405., or one month's imprisonment
in default.

REVISION OF THE CHURCH RITUAL.—It is
rumoured that a commission will shortly be issued
to consider the expediency of making certain alterations
in the rubrics contained in the Book of Common Prayer,
"with the avowed object of putting some limitation upon
the amount of ritual." This is the statement of the English
Church Union ; but, whether conscience is really making
cowards of the members of this body, or whether there is
substantial truth in the rumour, we cannot say. The Church
Union protests against such a course, because, "to issue
a royal commission in matters purely spiritual is contrary
to 'the spirit, if not the letter, of the constitution,"
and they assert that " such a step would be an unwar-
rantable interference with the civil and religious liber-
ties of Churchmen." These "pe pold vords," as Captain
Fluellen said, but they are only words ; and, in this case,
words neither are things, nor do they represent things.
Every change in the constitution of the Church has been
at the recommendation of a Royal Commission, which, in
their schemes, have cut away bishops, diminished rectors,
lightened and relaxed oaths and declarations, and dealt
generally with the Church as such bodies are accustomed
to do with all other departments of the civil governMent
The Church Union forgets that there is no "spiritual go-
vernment" in the Church, and that, to adopt the language
of Churchmen, the Episcopalian clergy is at the absolute
dictation of the "Jews, Dissenters, and infidels," who sit in
the Commons House of Parliament.—Liberator.

A VOLUNTEER DRUM-HEAD COURT MARTIAL.—
A painful incident occurred towards the close of the
annual prize shooting of St. Anstell Volunteers on Tues-
day. One of the members " retired" from shooting for the
officers' prizes, and was soon afterwards caught firing ball
cartridge at his shako some distance away from the ground
in or near the public highway. He was seen to fire two
ball cartridges when Lieutenant Hancock raached the spot
and brought the offender before the captain commanding,
and after a brief inquiry he was then and there formally
dismissed from the corps.—Wester?. Morning News.
The Archduke Etienne, brother of the Duchess
de Brabant, has just left the baths of Weilbach
(Nassau), to return to his residence at Schaum-
burg. Suffering much on his arrival at Weilbach,
he leaves it in a very satisfactory state of health.
The report of his return to Austria, from which
country he lias been absent for some years, is in-
correct.