The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-07 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

CHRISTMAS BOOKS.
The Poet's Dream, ; a Tale of Christmas. Houl-
ston and Stoneman.
A tale exemplifying the efforts, misfortunes, and
disappointments of an author. It takes its title
from a dream or vision of the poet, which has
some resemblance to the dream of Taby Veck in
s' The Chimes," in which he seems to live a whole
life of sorrow, suffering, and despair. The style
shows great ability, as the following extract will
prove. The hero in his dream meets with a spirit,
ivho shows him the two Temples of Fame and of

Oblivion
" He found himself in a Temple of such immensity as the
wildest conceptions of human fancy never pictured—a
Temple whose roof was supported on pillars of such colossal
mag,nitude that their summits were lost in impenetrable
gloom, while on every side appeared endless avenues of
dreary vastness, and the boundless receptacles and maga-
zines of ages, wherein were stored all the Forgotten of the
Past. Here were deposited in promiscuous assemblage
the forms of enormous and now unknown animals, of every
monstrous and horrible shape—of singular and gigantic
trees and other vegetable products which in successive eras,
and through countless durations, have germinated, flour-
killed, and disappeared from the pre-Adamite earth. Here,
too, were ranged the remains of architecture, from the in-
cipient and crudest erection of a barbaric age, to the pala-
tial magnificence of later years, with coeval relics of primi-
Alva history. Here, too, were records of the ancient Egyp-
tian, Assyrian, Chinese, and Indian dynasties, and of im-
memorial nations who have not left even a name to indi-
cate their former existence ! Here, too, were deposited
noble and exalted works of art, groups of statuary, gigan-
tic erections, exquisite painting's, immense engines of war-
fare, and military trophies and remains of kingly splendour,
pomp, and magnificence. Here, too were to be seen in-
numerable idols and other objects .of superstitious venera-
lion, the silent and mouldering witnesses of the debasing,
Vanity of man ! Here, too, were domestic and warlike im-
plements, reared side by side, mechanical contrivances, and
everything characteristic of a savage and civilised life, of
every age, nation, and clime—everything that science could
discover, that art could invent, that luxury could suggest,end Unit necessity could require, was to be found in this
Immense storehouse of unrecorded Time ! In addition to
all that the eye had seen, the ear had heard, and the hand
bad done, were lidless coffins with their ghastly tenants
imposed to view, who comprised the dead of every age,
ipce, sex, and station, from the haughty monarch—who
bad swayed his kingdom with the ambitious pride of power,
whose end was the grave and an oblivious death—to the
humble
_peasant, who knew of no to-morrow, and lived
only in his little present ; from the aged monarch to the
tender infant ; from the man of genius to the untutored
boor ; and from the polished beauty to the repulsive savage !
Amidst the bewilderment of this wondrous scene, and the
Infinite diversity of dim objects which surrounded Rob,
and oppressed him with a painful sense of overwhelming
'vastness, were piles of innumerable volumes of ancient and
forgotten records of men's thoughts and inventions. All,
all, however, were fast hastening to dissolution. The
worms and moths and other creeping things were preying
on the ruins and mouldering forms of a departed life ;
Whilst rust and decay, the sure and silent followers of ne-
glect, were stamping the impress of eternal doom on the
noblest and most enduring monuments of nature and art."

4 Day of Pleasure. By Mrs. H. Myrtle. Illus-
trated by Hablot K. Browne. Addey, Old Bond-

street.

Mrs. Harriet Myrtle's works are well known to
juvenile readers. They are chiefly suited to the
very young, being written in a simple and pleasing
style, easy of comprehension. The present describes
very naturally a child's adventures and mishaps
during one day, on which, being his birthday, he
has many unusual indulgences. It is very ably
ill4strated by Hablot K. Browne.

The Adventures of a Bear. By Alfred Klwes.
Illustrated by Harrison Weir. Addey, Old
Bond-street.

We here meet with a very pleasing revival of the
fables of bygone days. The hero, a very cross, ill-
tempered bear, quarrels with his family, and starts
out in the world by himself to make his fortunes.
But his only talent consisted in marring his own
fortunes, and others too. He tried several plans,
but the foundations were all ill laid, and they soon
crumbled away. He inhabited Caneville, a town Sat apart for animals, very amusingly described,
and here he set up as a conjuror, with a learned
pig, attended by a diminutive bull-dog. After
great success, the bear became idle and ill-tempered.
in a quarrel he killed his confederate, seized his
riches, and lived in great style, under an assumed
name, in a new part of the town. But soon he
grew extravagant, and ruin overtook him.
After a thousand adventures, all alike com-
menced in treachery, and closed in shame, he was
castinto prison ; from there he escaped, planned
to rob a house, but was made blind by the sharp
claws of the vigilant porter, an old cat ; he rushed
away, and was discovered by the officers in a pool
of water, trying to soothe his intolerable fever.
They allowed him to wander about, considering
him harmless ; and after .many sufferings from
ih„e gibes and insults of the town wits, who knew
him well, he died of want and disease. There are
nine illustrations, admirably done, to represent his
devious course ; they exhibit great skill, and add
to the amusement here found for all young readers.

.Hidden Treasures. By Frederick Hardman.

This is a very interesting little story for the
young, and it conveys a useful moral also, for it
advocates the principles of integrity and rectitude.
The foundations of the plot are afforded by the cir-
cumstances of the German war with France, during
which a private soldier secured, after a battle, some
chests of treasure belonging to his king. He was
pursued by the French, but contrived to escape
them, and for security buried his prize in the earth
by a ruined castle in the forest, them to remain
till happier times should enable him to restore
them to his master. Connected with this incident
the other personages of the story are introduced,
and the character of the young Count is very well
drawn. His mother and himself were driven from
their castle, through fraud. and treachery, and they
bad to wait long years before they could reinstate
themselves in their rights. Nor was it till the ter-
mination of the war that the old Hermann was
enabled to restore to his monarch the long-lost,
dkithfully-guarded treasure. Thus truth and
2ionour triumphed after many trials.

Phe Unseen Hand. By the Rev. Stopford J.
Wane. Whittaker.

This little work is entitled " Events in an Event-
ful Life." It has for its motto—

" There's a divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough hew them as we will."

This sufficiently describes the whole scheme of
the composition, for it adheres strictly to the text.
it is an admirable monitor to the vain and trifling.
It conveys, also, a solemn warning to those who
tempt themselves and others in the way of wrong.
The hero is actuated by the best of feelings, but
his actions were not in accordance with his desires ;
laut at last, after many sufferings, he is led into
the right path. While this work points out the
influence of the Spirit, it does not, in the least, in-
sline to fatalism or superstition ; on the contrary,
it clearly shows that the effort must be made by.
Plan before grace will be given. The tale is sim-
ple, but very pleasing, and doubtless many will be
entertained, as well as instructed, by its perusal.
Preciosa. A Tale. John Chapman.

This is 'a. volume better suited to those who pre-
fer thoughtful and reflective works than to the ad-
mirers of brilliant sketches or lively narratives.
But while some may find it tedious, others will be
interested in its development of character. Edward
Eustace, the hero, notwithstanding his hesitation
and melancholy, is more attractive to the reader
than Lucy Ledyard, his " Preciosa," who is some-
what too bold and self-dependent to be altogether
pleasing. It is an agreeable little tale, though
partaking too much of the melancholy to suit all
-tastes.

The Charm Almanac. Addey.
An almanac for little readers, by the Editor of
the Charm Magazine, embellished with twenty
iil,ustrations, for the sum of sixpence, containing
All almanac of the year, and various information.

Grimm's Household Stories. Ackley.
„ The stories of the Brothers Grimm, newly trans-
lated and adorned with 240 most beautiful illus-
'l:cations by Wehnert, having been issued in monthly
/arts, are now complete in two volumes, contain-
4ng an amazing amount of amusing reading
Patter of interest and matter for laughter.

(otiladdire and Siabad,
_and Far-famed Tales.

Aadey.
These two little volumes contain some of the chief
irr..,4es of the " Arabian Nights." These tales, in-
terestip_e alike to old and young, need no recom-
mendation, but their juvenile admirers will find
this little edition presents them in a new form, easy
of attainment. The type is excellent, and we trust
Mr. Addey will complete the series.

21e Dial of Love. A Christmas book for the
young. By Mary J{owitt. Darton and Co.
fc,;". VerY pleasino. and simple little book, intended
the ve.._
debted tolY.mrsY.oll who are already so much in-
and ve Rota for the charming little tales
full y bound and 18'6
e has aiven them. It is very taste-
, well suited for a Christmas

Hero. By the Author of " Olive," &c. Addey.
A tale by the authoress of the " Head of the
Fp.mily" must always possess sufficient attraction
to excite the attention of her readers. The present
volume is intended for the young, but it is
not de-
ficient in entertainment for those more advanced
in years. The moral is an excellent one, and one
generally much needed by young people, especially
school-boys. It shows that the seemingly quiet,
tupretenclang characters frequently contains more

of the heroic qualities of self-sacrifice and presence
of mind than the reckless and apparently fearless
disposition, which, nevertheless, frequently fails in
the hour of danger or difficulty. The characters
are well drawn, as is always the case with this
author, and the little volume contains much to in-
terest and improve i'us readers.

LAW INTELLIGEIf.O.I','
•

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT. JAN, 6. °:;;
(Before Mr. Commissioner Phillips.) .
IN THE MATTER OF OTTO RODOLPH FETTER'.

This insolvent, a German, who had been a merchant
and commission agent at Ghent, in Belgium, applied to
be discharged from Whitecross-street prison.
Mr. Parry opposed, on the part of Mr. Farminger,
merchant, Great Winchester-street, and for Mr. Joseph
Dodson, another creditor ; Mr. Cooke and Mr. Sargood
supported.
The complaint was fraud. The insolvent had been
supplied with flax by the opposing creditors to sell in the
Belgian markets. From Mr. Farminger he had a sale to
807/., for which he paid, and a consignment to 7971., for
which he had not paid. He had goods from Mr. Dod-
son, and now owed him a large sum • that creditor could
not attend on account of illness. The insolvent and Mr.
Farminger were examined. It appeared that the insol-
vent should have remitted the proceeds of the consign-
ment to Mr. Farminger when he received the money.
On getting the goods he " hypothecated " them, as it
was termed, or in other words pledged them with the
Bank of Flanders, and afterwards sold them. Some
money had been remitted to take up bills, but not in part
payment of the flax consigned by Mr. Farminger. That
gentleman went to Ghent, and expressed his indignation
at the insolvent's conduct. Subsequently the insolvent
was invited to come to England in order to show his ac-
count-books. He came to England, and was arrested on
a capias, as about to leave the country, and lodged in
Whitecross-street Prison, from which place he now ap-
plied to be discharged.
The insolvent was examined. He had some foreign
creditors and debtors which were not inserted in the
schedule.

Mr. Commissioner Phillips directed various amend-
ments to be made, and an application made for the
books.

The case was adjourned till the 22d instant, to af-
ford an opportunity of communicating with the foreign
creditors.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT—Jan. 6.

OLD COURT.

Johanna Connell, 20, was charged upon an indict-
ment which, in the two first counts, imputed to her the
capital offence of feloniously administering to George
Wm. Lapham, a quantity of oil of vitriol, with intent
to murder him, and in others with committing the said
act with intent to do grievous bodily harm, which of-
fence, under the present state of the law, is not capital.
Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Dearsley appeared for the pro-
secution; Mr. Sleigh and Mr. B. Thompson defended
the prisoner.
It will be remembered that at the November sessions
of this court, the prisoner was tried for murder, arising
out of the same circumstances, but in consequence of
the medical testimony failing to trace any immediate con-
nection between the administration of the vitriol and the
death of the child, the jury, under the direction of Mr.
Baron Alderson, who tried the case, returned a verdict
of not guilty; but the prisoner was ordered to be de-
tained to answer the present charge. The counsel for
the prisoner had, it appeared, placed a plea of autrefois
aquit upon the record, in reference to the two first counts
of the incastment.

This plea led to a long technical argument before the
case was gone into, and it was contended by Mr. Sleigh
that, under Lord Campbell's act, the prisoner might,
upon the former trial, have been found guilty of an at-
tempt to commit the felony and murder with which she
was charged, and that as she had thus been placed in
jeopardy upon the very charge which was now contained
in the two first counts of the indictment, her plea of
autrefois aquit ought to avail her with reference to those
two counts.

Mr. Clarkson, on behalf of the Crown, contended
that the statute referred to never intended to give a
power to convict a prisoner under a charge of murder, or
felony of any description, of another substantive felony
created by a distinct act of Parliament. The intention
of the act of Parliament that had been referred to was
clearly to prevent a failure of justice in cases where the
evidence might not be sufficient to support the charge of
felony by giving the jury the power to find the party
accused guilty of the misdemeanour of attempting to
commit it.

Mr. Justice Williams, at the close of the argument,
said that the judgment of the Court upon the point that
had been raised must be for the Crown. He was of
opinion that the prisoner could not have been convicted
of the offence with which she was now charged in the
two first counts of the indictment, and that she had con-
sequently not been placed in any jeopardy.
Mr. Justice Talfourd said he entirely concurred with
Mr. Justice Williams, and he was clearly of opinion that
Lord Campell's act never intended to give the power to
acquit a prisoner of one felony and find him guilty of
another substantive felony which was only created by a
particular statute.

The case was accordingly proceeded with, but as the
evidence was given fully in the report of the former trial,
and the proceedings before the coroner and the magis-
trate, it will be unnecessary to give more than a brief
outline of the facts upon which the charge was preferred.
The prisoner was in the service of Mr. Lapham, a baker,
in the New-coot, Lambeth, and it appeared that, on the
evening of the 20th October, the child in question, which
was five weeks old, was asleep on the bed of its mother,
and the prisoner was seen to go into the room, and very
soon afterwards the child was heard to scream violently.
The mother ran upstairs directly to see what was the
matter, and discovered that the mouth and throat of the
poor child had been burned in a most dreadful manner.
At first the injury was thought to have been occasioned
by a candle, but upon Mr. Sewell, a medical gentleman,
being called in, it was speedily discovered that the burn-
ing was the effect of oil of vitriol. The prisoner was at
once charged with being the perpetrator of the crime,
when she ran into the yard of the house, and fell into a
fit, and upon the water-closet being examined a day or
two afterwards, a bottle which had belonged to the pri-
soner, and which she had represented contained " holy
water," she being of the Roman Catholic religious per-
suasion, was found there, which, on being examined,
turned out to contain a portion of oil of vitriol.
Mr. Sleigh made a very able speech to the jury on
behalf of the prisoner, remarking upon the absence of
any motive on her part for the commission of so diaboli-
cal a crime. He also remarked upon the absence of any
evidence as to how the vitriol came into the bottle, and
the possibility of the unfortunate occurrence being the
result of accident.

Mr. Justice Williams summed up, and at six o'clock
the jury retired to consider their verdict. At half-past
eight they returned into court and gave a verdict of not
guilty.
Richard Witham, 36, labourer, pleaded guilty to the
manslaughter of Joseph Polden.
_ _

The court sentenced him to four months imprisoment.

NEW COURT.
(Before the Recorder.)

Robert Nevill, 26, labourer, was indicted for the man-
slaughter of Daniel O'Bryan.
The facts of this case, which very recently appeared,
when the case was before the coroner, were briefly
these :—Both prisoner and deceased were upon the
28th of December at the Three Neats' Tongues,
Pearl-street, St. Giles's. There were a great number
of persons in the taproom, and prisoner's sister,
being called upon, sang a song, during which a dis-
turbance arose, and the deceased man kept calling for
order, when Mrs. Connelly, who was very outrageous,
seized up two quart pots, and, according to her statement,
as soon as the riot began the prisoner seized one and
struck the deceased a most violent blow on the head,
which fractured his skull. He was taken to St. Bartho-
lomew's Hospital, where he soon expired.
For the defence, it was proved by several witnesses
that the blow was given by the woman Conelly, who
aimed it at prisoner, but he stooping down to avoid it,
the deceased, who was standing close by, got the blow.
The prisoner went of his own accord before the coroner,
and there set up the same defence.
After hearing a great deal of evidence, which occu-
pied the Court for a considerable time past the usual
hour of rising, the jury acquitted the prisoner.

THIRD COURT.
(Before the Common Sergeant.)

George Rouse, 19, labourer, a respectably dressed youth,
was indicted for stealing a quantity of printed cotton,
the property of Messrs. Shepperton.
Mr. Ballantine prosecuted, and stated that the pri-
soner had gone to the warehouse of the prosecutors, who
are wholesale drapers in Cheapside, and, stating that
he had come from Mr. Southgate, a calenderer, asked
if there were any goods to be dressed. A piece was
given to him, but some suspicion being entertained,
he was followed and handed over to the police, and
he then stated that he had been sent by a man
who asked hira to go, and was then waiting for him in
Guildhall-yard. The policeman took him to the Bow-
lane station, where he told the same story, and the in-
spector then sent him out followed by an officer in plain
clothes, but no one was to be found. Inquiry was then
made of Mr. Southgate, a most respectable tradesman
in the city, and employed by Messrs. Shepperton, who
of course knew nothing of him or the man he alluded to.
Upon being taken to the Mansion-house, he was recog-
nised as having been there on the 11th of September
upon a similar charge, and he then told the same story,
but, giving his right address, the alderman let him go.
This time he gave a false address.
The jury convicted him, and he was sentenced to
twelve months' imprisonment.
Thomas aAnn sDible, 46, mariner, and Lavinia Dible and
Amelia
Dible, his daughters, two girls whose heads
whom
melwy
asreacsthaetded
to b
abovee tohnededroelk2 y
dock, andears tohfeagyeouwngeerset ofin-
dicted upon three separate indictments for felon
The case was a somewhat remarkable one. The
father, who is a respectable man, belonging to one of the
Steam-towing Companies, lives, with the two girls, at
Woolwich, and the prosecutors are drapers of the same
town. Having on several occasions missed a great
many things from their shop, they communicated with
the police, and the result was that the little girl, who
was in the habittorfiflailmngosatrtdioalielys, cwomasinsgusi?toootthede, sahnodp forpins, and other
fol-
lowed to her father's house by the police, and finally
charged with the robbery. After that the police went
lto the father's house, and told him what had occurred.
He eaid, he knew nothing about it, but that there wer e

two shawls up i3tairs in his box, which the eldest girl
said her mistress had given to her. The police then found
two new shawls an d a piece of print, and also duplicates
relating to a quantity of other property which had been
pawned at different shops about the outskirts of the town
by the eldest girl. The property was all such as the pro-
secutors found got from their stock ; but the patterns
being usual :ones, and all marks having been carefully
taken out, they col ild not positively be sworn to. The
anewer given by t he father was, that being away from
-home sometimes a :month together, he could not tell what
'was done in his sence.

The jury acqt dtted the prisoners upon each indict-
ment.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HOL TSE.—John Fowler, paid secretary
to the London Phil. withropic Society, No. 17, Iron-
monger-lane, Chert,psit le, was brought before the Lord
Mayor under the 17ollo\ wing circumstances, in investigat-
ing which his lord ship -was engaged during the greater
part of the day.
Mr. Humphrey appeared for the prosecution ; Mr.
Wontner for the defence.

Mr. J. H. Heeps honorary secretary to the society,
said it was the pris( iner's duty to attend the meetings of
1 the committee. Ou the 19th of October he attended the
committee, and gave to me at the meeting the account
produced for coal (•41. 14s. Bd.) as due to Mr. Blackhall.
He also gave met he cheque-book, with a cheque filled
up in his writing fo r that amount, and I and two mem-
bers of the society- ;signed it, and the chairman gave it in
my presence to the prisoner, whose duty it was to pay it
to Mr. Blackhall. Th cheque had since been returned
from the banker's .as paid. On the 21st of December we
had been examining the accounts of the society very
closely, and the p risoner said, "To be candid with you,
gentlemen, I ha-vi been making use of the society's
money," and he to,* a paper from his pocket and read the
various names of -the contractors for whom he had had
cheques entrusted him to pay, and the list was copied by
the chairman, Mr. Bathing, as the prisoner read the list.
The sum of 4/. 14s 8d for Mr. Blackwall is one of the
sums. The chairs aan then read the list over to him, and
the prisoner said b e was sorry that he had been obliged
to use the society'* money, but he had an action and was
compelled to do it . I produce the minute book in which
the entry is made, of the amount ordered to be paid, and
also the ledger in which the prisoner has credited himself
with the amount.

The Lord May-0 r said he could not dispose of charges
of this kind in any- other way than by sending them for
strict investigation to a higher tribunal. His lordship
then read the pap er preliminary to committal.
The prisoner-1f have not defrauded any of them of a
penny, and if Ihad the opportunity of going through the
accounts I should', have proved that I did not owe per-
haps more than a pound, which I could very well pay.
The Lord Mayo r then said he would accept of bail,
and

The prisoner ivc 'a s then formally committed for trial.

GUILDHALL .—William Henry Kent, a youth aged
18, described as of No. 8, Maria-terrace, New Peckham,
remanded on a cha ,rge of attempting to commit suicide
by hanging himsol'f, was again placed at the bar before
Alderman Cubitt, for further examination.
The father of th e unfortunnte prisoner, who appeared
much affected, at ated that he was in the employ of
Messrs. Hallam, al id had five other children besides the
prisoner. He nu ver heard before that the prisoner at-
tempted suicide.
The prisoner sai d he was very sorry for what he had
done, and knew t b.at it was wrong. He was in a fit at
the time and un c onscious of what he was doing, and
promised never to .repeat the act.
Alderman Cubith, after a suitable and feeling admo-
nition to the lad:, discharged the prisoner, and handed
him over to his fa ti ter.

WESTMINST E R.—John, Shaw, of 33, John-street,
Edgeware-road, sly )emaker, was charged with assaulting
William Lund, az L officer of the Brompton County
Court.

About half-past -three on Wednesday afternoon, the
prisoner entered t,y the private door into the high
bailiff's office inst,,az Ld of remaining outside, which was
the usual place for ;suitors, and stated that he had come
about a warrant of commitment against a person named
Hackley, and wished to make an appointment with the
complainant about its execution. Complainant replied
that he had not yet had the warrant placed in his hands,
but if the defendant would write his instructions
on a piece of p aper they should be attended to.
Immediately after this the defendant withdrew,
and complainant ix as about to go out, but observing
the defendant in the passage, and apprehending that
he would have some altercation with him, he
remained in the inner office. In two or three
minutes afterwards defendant's hand was seen on the
top of the private door, which he burst open with such
violence as to destroy the fastenings, threw himself down
on his back, and -the door being held open to remove
him, there being a large sum of money upon the desk,
kicked the complainant and one of the other officers. A
friend of defendant's also came up while they were eject-
in.- the defendant,sand seized complainant by the breast.
eject-
ing
Broderip, after a very tedious and lengthened in-
vestigation, said that if the defendant had any complaint
to make with respect to the proceedings at the court, he
should have made to the judge there. The evidence
most satisfactorily- proved that he had broken open
a private door where he had no business, and had then
made a kick, which, had it taken effect, might have been
attended with very serious consequences.
Defendant was fined 31., which he paid.