The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-23 00:00:00

POLICE INTALLIGENCE.

WESTMINSTER.— Adolphus Harrison, a low.
looking fellow, of shabby exterior, about 40 years of
age, who gave his a 'dress No. 116, Tatchbrook-street,
Pimlico, and described himself as a general agent, was
yesterday brought before Mr. Arnold, and charged with
conspiring, with others not in custody, to procure the
ruin of Alice Leroy, a young person under 21 years of
age.

Mr. Parry appeared for the prosecution, and detailed
the facts as they came out in the evidence, with the
addition of the important fact which does not yet, in
consequence of the adjournment, appear upon the depo-
sitions, that a Madame Denis, from whose house the in-
jured girl escaped, took her to Paris, and introduced a
man in the garb of a gentleman, who committed a cri-
minal assault upon her, Madame Denis not only stand-
ing by but aiding in her violation.
Alice Leroy, the unfortunate girl in question, a very
finely grown young woman of prepossessing and intelli-
gent demeanor, was plaCed in the witness-box, and gave
her evidence in the French language. She said she was
an orphan, in the 17th year of her age. She first saw
defendant about three months ago, at Brussels, when
with some young friends, working girls like herself.
She was then living with a widow, and took in work
from the shops. The prisoner made representations to
her that he could bring her to a house of business in
London, where she would have easy work and much
more money than she could get in Belgium. She
continued—l came to London with the defendant.
ye paid the voyage. It was on a Saturday, I think
it was in November, but I am not quite certain.
Prisoner took me to Madame Denis's house. The ad-
dress is No. 3, Denbigh-terrace, Vauxhall Bridge-road.
Defendant accompanied me to the house. Madame was at
the window when we came up in the coach, and she
came down and opened the door to us. Work was
never spoken of nor the "house of business." I never
asked about it, for I saw before I had been there long
for what purpose I had been brought; for I heard
Madame Denis say to defendant that he must write to
this lord and the other lord, when he replied, "You
must wait till parliament house opens." Nothing hap-
pened to me until a month after I was there, when a
gentleman came. Defendant never told me what I was
to do in the house. I was in a room with two other
girls, but I was never allowed to go out of it. At the
end of a month after I had been there madame opened
our door, and told us to dress and come down. The
other two girls went down first. I went down last.
When I went down there was a French lady sitting on
the sofa ; the other was sitting on the knee of a gentle-
man. They chatted together. Madame introduced me
to the gentleman, and said, "This is my sister," and
madame told me I must go up stairs. I got up. I was
sitting on the music-stool. She said I was to remain ;
it was not me to go, but the others. She said to me, "You
must remain." The others went up stairs. Madame and
the gentleman remained, and madame undid my gown.
Madame Denis then took the gentleman's hand, and put
it down my breast. The gentleman said, "Leave me alone
with your sister, she is no more your sister than mine.
The gentleman said he wished to go, madame sr id he
must stay, and she would call the Parisian lady down to
him. The gentleman remained, and madame called the
French girl down, and I went up stairs to undress. I
had put on a good dress to come down, and I went to
take it off. Nothing more happened to me that evening.
The ladies I have mentioned were the two girls living
with me in the house. I saw this gentleman again after
I was taken to Paris. I saw some other gentlemen be-
fore I went to Paris. I saw the first gentleman altoge-
gether three times. lie was called a Greek prince. I
saw an old marquis at the house, but I can't say bow
long it was before I saw him. When be came madame
came up and said, "Make haste and come down, there
is a gentleman below." Only one went in to the room to
him ; it was the Parisian lady. I was not in the room.
I only opened the door and saw him there. After I
had been introduced to the Greek prince madame was
very angry with me. She said I was like a great
country girl because of my conduct and manner when
my gown was opened. After I saw the Greek prince the
defendant came ; it was a day or two after, and madame
told him the Greek prince had been.
Mr. Parry solicited a remand at this stage of the pro-
ceedings, as the girls evidence would probably take two
hours more, and she was in a delicate and weak state,
besides suffering exhaustion from her lengthened ex-
amination.

Mr. Morgan would not object, as he entertained no
doubt the result would be a remand, but he pressed the
magistrate to accept bail for his client.
Mr. Parry warmly opposed it ; there were persons
connected with this house of mark and property, who
would pay any amount of bail.

Mr. Arnold peremptorily refused bail, and prisoner
was remanded till Wednesday.

The proceedings of the Oxford authorities in the work
of self-reformation have been crowned by an act of pre-
sumption which, if it be not a simple suggestion of des-
pair, is evidence of a more profound political ignorance
than ever was attributed even to that extraordinary body
termed the Hebdomadal Board. The reader is aware
that under this designation a certain class of College
officers has hitherto exercised entire and irresponsible
authority over the University of Oxford, to the exclusion
not only of all learning, distinction, or other species of
personal desert, but of all other official claims whatever.
No professor, however renowned ; no tutor, however
popular ; no. graduate,however celebrated in his sphere,
could obtain admission to this governing board, nor
could the unanimous suffrages of the whole University
in convocation dispute a single member to take part in
its debates. That such a constitution had long created
universal discontent wf need not be at no trouble to
remark ; nor was these .any point of the Ministerial
measure which gave greateld satisfaction than the an-
nouncement that a reform in these institutions was to
be a leading feature in the projected improvements. It
is not likely to have leen forgotten what course the
Hebdomadal Board' ptrsued when the designs of Go-
vernment were declared. They first opposed the inquiries
of the Commission to the utmost of their power, and ac-
tually took the advice of counsel as to whether the pro-
ceedings of her Majesty's Ministers could not be treated as
illegal. They then attacked and disparaged the report of
the Commission, though it gave them infinitely more
consideration than they really deserved. For nearly
two years, while all the reflecting. members of the Uni-
versity were engaged upon this important subject, and
while constitutional schemes of greater or less merit
were propounded in various quarters, they turned to
their own advantage that possession of power which they
still retained by resisting everything, and staving off all
decision. When summoned by Government in Decem-
ber last to report upon their progress, they suppressed
the Ministerial letter as far as they could, and withheld
this communication from the very constituency in whose
interests it was framed. At length, when it was fairly
announced that they were to be dealt with as refractory,
and that a measure for the reform of their institutions
was to be introduced to Parliament forthwith, they
begged a respite of a few days, and on Friday last they
published a constitutional scheme of their own, on which
they require the decision of the University by Friday
next. And what does the reader suppose is the sub-
stance of this project, which now, after two years' in-
action, is for the first time proposed to the University,
with a peremptory demand of an answer within seven
days ? Simply this—that the Hebdomadal Board shall
remain as it is, with its composition and its functions
exactly as they are at present.
We yesterday published the details of this audacious
proposal. To escape from the compulsion under which
the just requisitions of Ministers had placed them, these
authorities have devised the notable plan of having two
governments—one constructed upon representative prin-
ciples according to demand, and the other neither more
nor less than their own, which latter is to be the first in
dignity and consideration, the new one being considered
as " supplementary," and as coming second in all re-
spects to the senior esiablishment. Here follow the
wor,:s of the "petition," under which form the project
is to come before the University for consideration :
"The constitution of the Hebdomadal Board remaining
in other respects" (i. e., except in one quite unimportant)
" as it is at present, a second board, or delegacy of Con-
vocation, shall be constituted, to consist of equal num-
bers with the Hebdomadal Board, arid to be empowered
equally with the present board to consider and to ini-
tiate all measures requiring the sanction of Convoca
tion." We think it must be acknowledged that a more
preposterous scheme was never devised.
It will naturally he wondered on what principles or
with what views such a project could have originated,
but this we can make clear to the public in a few words.
The Universities are constituencies composed of their
respective graduates, who form bodies of considerable
numbers. These bodies, like all other communities or
corporations, must needs depend for the administra-
tion of their affairs on some species of council or di-
rectory, and this governing board has been hitherto
formed, both at Oxford and Cambridge, of a certain
class of college officers exclusively. The object of the
present reforms is to substitute for this obnoxious
description of government a system based upon repre-
sentative principles. Ministers remitted the question
to the Universities themselves, in order to obtain from
these bodies some practical suggestions for improvement.
The idea itself was very creditable to Government, but
it will be seen from what we have said that the Univer-
sities, as at present organised, can only speak by,
through, an in the words of, those very authorities
against whom the pending measures are directed. The
consequence is, that as thews authorities naturally clutch
their own privileges will; the true tenacity of monopo-
lists, and are yet compelled to make some sort of sur-
render, the proposals ultimately proceeding from these
quarters are inconsistent and impracticable in the ex-
treme.

The true principle of action, as is perfectly understood
in the Universities, though there are no means of giving
regular expression to the conviction, would have been to
set aside the existing authorities altogether, and to con-
sider their claims afterwards, in the formation of a new
governing body, simply as one element of the academi-
cal composition, without any reference to their present
powers. This was what was done in the scheme of the
Tutors' Association. The present governors of the Uni-
versities are, at Oxford by statute and at Cambridge by
usurpation, " Heads of Houses," that is to say, Masters
of Colleges exclusively. But this office, while it conveys
to the possessor no species of representative warrant
from the University constituency, implies very little
necessary fitness for University government. It is
quite certain that all the best men of a college cannot
obtain the mastership, and it is probable enough that
not one of them may do so. These appointments, which
are usually in the gift of the Fellows for the time being,
are of some value, and are often decided by such natural
considerations of favour, compromise, interest, or expe-
diency, as exclude any particular attention to' personal
merits. Heads of houses, as every one in Oxford knows,
are not necessarily, or even commonly, the most dis-
tinguished, experienced, or popular members of their
own societies, nor is there any real reason whatever why
they, any more than tutors, deans, bursars, or other
officials, should pretend to privileges of Government.
But in any case their claims, be what they may, should
be considered in that governiiag board or council by
which the University is to be administered for the future.
To retain them as independent and co-ordinate authori-
ties, to clash and conflict with' another board, is evi-
dently absurd. When once VIA) second, or representa-
tive council, has been established, it will be perfectly
impossible that a non-representative council can suc-
cessfully contend with it. The whole scheme, in fact,
is based, not upon the requirements of the University,
but on the desires of a class. :Its object is simply to
preserve the place and satisfy the pretensions of the
Hebdomadal Board—a board notoriously disqualified by
its composition for the exercise of Government, and con•
demned by the universal opinion of the community over
which it has presided.

HEALTH OF LONDON D;URING THE WEEK.

( From the Registrar--a neral's Report.)

The rate of mortality has re Gently undergone no ma-
terial variation, but a decrease:, though not great, indi-
cates an improvement in the puiblic health. The deaths
registered in the metropolis, 'which in the week that
ended Feb. 4 were 1,204, declined in the week following
to 1,178, and last week to 1,15 t.
In the ten corresponding we rks of the years 1844-53,
the average number of deaths v ►as 1,085, which if raised
in proportion to increase of population, becomes 1,194.
The number returned last week is, therefore, less by 40
than the estimated amount.

Last week the births of 775 'boys and 764 girls, in all
1,539 children, were registered in London. In the nine
corresponding weeks of yea.re 1845.53 the average
number was 1,452. _ _

At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer in the s reek was 29'757 in., the
highest mean was 30.45 in. a n Monday ; the lowest
29.460 on Friday. The mean t emperature of the week
was 35.1 deg., which is 3.7 deg-r,. below the average of
the same week in 38 years. "..ehe highest temperature
was 49.8 deg., and occurred on Friday; the lowest was
23.5 deg., and occurred on Tuesday. The coldest days
were Monday and Tuesday, wl sen the mean temperature
was 7 deg. and 6 deg. below tb o average. It was below
the average on every day ex cept Friday. The mean
dew-point temperature was 2 9.5 deg. There were se-
vere gales on Friday and Saturday. On Friday the
greatest pressure of the wind was 13 lb. to the square
foot ; on Saturday it was 171'13. The amount of hori-
zontal movement of the air on either of these days was
about 290 miles. The amount of rain in the week was
only 0.21 in. On Saturday the air was remarkably dry.

THE NEW REFORM BILL.

Last evening a numerous meeting of the council of the
National Reform Association was held at their offices, 2,
Duke-street, Adelphi. Among the gentlemen present
were the president, Sir Joshua Walmsley, M.P. (in the
chair), Mr. J. Hume, M.P., Mr. W. J. Fe; M.P.,
Mr. J. Bell, M.P., Mr. J. Crook, M.P., Mr. W. Biggs,
M.P., and many other gentlemen of local influence.
Numerous letters were read from the local vice-presi-
dents of the association from various parts of the country
expressing a hope that, although the bill was in some
respects defective, there was so much in it that would be
useful to the cause of reform that they hoped it would
receive the earnest support of the council.
The PRESIDENT explained in detail the various provi-
sions of the proposed measure, and earnestly urged the
necessity of giving immediate attention with the view of
a united course of action.

He was followed by Mr. HUME, who entered into some
explanations upon the conduct of the Liberal party at the
time of the first Reform Bill as offering an example which
should now be followed. He recommended that the pre-
sent measure should receive an earnest support, as it
offered a large instalment of what was due to the indus-
trious classes.

Mr. Fox, M.P., expressed similar opinions, advising
that the necessary steps should be taken to rectify the
errors of the bill, which, as a whole, he thought should
be strongly recommended to the country.
In reply to a question as to the probable intentions of
the Government,
Sir J. AVALIBLEY said; he verily believed they were
anxiously desirous of carrying the bill, and. looked to
the people for support.
Mr. T. J. SERLE, after commenting at length upon
the bill, and urging its adoption, moved the following
reso:ution :—" That the council, having carefully consi-
dered the Reform Bill introduced by Lord John Russell,
are of opinion that, while it falls short of that which is
due to the unenfranchised, and contains some provisions
which the friends of progress cannot approve, and should
exert themselves to amend in its progress through the
House of Commons, it nevertheless deserves the strenu-
ous support of all Reformers, as a large and invaluable
instalment of the objects they seek—inasmuch as it pro-
poses to apply a bold measure of disfranchisement to the
smaller boroughs, to add largely to the electoral body,
and by repealing the ratepaying clauses to remove one
of the ,greate,t grievances of the existing system."—Mr.
Serie impressed upon the council the impolicy of treating
the Government with di-trust.

The motion was seconded by Mr. A. S. AYRTON and
carried unanimously.

A sub-committee was then appointed to draw up an
ad.lress expressing the opinion of the council as embo-
died in their resolution, the 'subcommittee to consist of
Sir J. Walon-ley. M.P., Mr. W. J. Fox, M.P., Mr. T.
J. &Ale, Mr. J. Redant, and Mr. H. Slack.
Several members expressed their opinions of the bene-
ficial operation of the enfranchising clauses ; among them
Mr. Le Bland, who stated that they would confer the
franchise upon 78 persons connected with his establish•
iner.t, and who are at pre,ient without it.

The meeting was addressed by several other speakers
to the effect that, while no off )rt,3 should be spared to-
wards getting rid of the obje'•tionahle residents clause
attached to the proposed 61. householders' franchise, and
to promote other amendments, the safety of the mea-
sure ought on no account to be endangered by the want
of union or activity among the great body of reformers.