The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-01 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

have seen considerable talent displayed of
late in your paper, in discussing the question of the
ballot ; and twenty years ago, when I was young in
politics, I was as sincere in recommending the Ballot as
a part of the Reform Bill as any man can be in advo-
cating it at the present time. However, I begin to
think that it would not work well, and I will give you
my reasons as succinctly as possible why I think so; and
I will illustrate my opinion from a town of the middle
size, to wit, Stockport--a town with about 10,000 as-
sessments to the poor rates within the boundary of its
borough, out of which about 1,400 are Parliamentary
electors. At present the 1,400 electors appoint two
persons to make laws for themselves, and likewise for
the 8,600 rate-payers who have no votes. If the 1,400
electors were to obtain the ballot, the 8,600 rate-payers
would have to be governed by laws made by secretly
elected persons, and over the appointment of whom they
have no moral or political control. Now, I contend
that, until the suffrage is extended, it would be morally
and politically wrong to give the 1,400 persons the
Ballot ; for, whatever any person may say to
the contrary, I feel certain that the non-electors do exer-
cise a great moral influence over the shopkeepers in every
borough election ; and from their number, and their
respective connections, they invariably will do so.
AN OLD REFORMER.

Stockport, January.

THE STATE OF THE WEATHER.—Last night and this
morning the metropolis was enveloped in one of the
thickest fogs London has been visited with for some time
past. At nine o'clock this morning the Strand, Fleet-
street, Holborn, and all the leading thoroughfares, had
the appearance of evening, the whole of the business
having to be transacted by gas-light. The omnibuses
and cab-drivers had all their caution required to prevent
accidents occurring to foot passengers. Traffic on the
river was for the most part of the morning suspended,
and the few barges passing down frequently came in
contact with each other or with the piers of the bridges.
In the suburbs north of London the fog prevailed to the
same extent, and the danger was greatly increased by a
thick coat of ice covering the roads and footpaths.
NEW APPOINTMENTS AT THE MINT.—It is understood
that the Treasury has determined to increase the num-
ber of employes at the Mint, with the view of qualifying
the newly-appointed parties for employment
on a new
mint establishment, which the Government contemplates
forming in Australia. The proposal is to remove cer-
tain clerks from the various Government offices to the
Mint, and place them on probationary duties, in order
that they may be qualified for the service of the Govern-
ment in the Royal Mint of Australia. A few selections
have already been made from the Census-office and the
Register-General's department at Somerset-house. There
is an excess of some sixty extra, or supernumerary
clerks, in these departments, whose term of service will
expire with the close of the present year, consequently
the applications to the Treasury from this class, for em-
ployment in the proposed new mint establishment, are
numerous. A small staff of mint employes for Australia.
however, is all that seems to be at present contemplated,
THE RECENT CASE OF STABBING IN ANGEL-COURT,
STRAND.—Yesterday, in consequence of a representation
made by the medical officers of King's College Hospital,
Mr. Jardine, police magistrate of Bow-street, attended
at the above institution, for the purpose of taking the
dying depositions of Mrs. Sarah Fitzgerald, who was
seriously stabbed in the breast on Sunday morning by
her husband, with a large gimblet, at her residence,
No. 7, Angel-court, Strand. John Fitzgerald, the
husband, was brought forward in the custody of police-
constable Butcher, 308 A. Mrs. Fitzgerald, on being
tendered the book, refused to be sworn, nor would she
say a single word that might tend to implicate her hus-
band (the prisoner), and when asked how the occurrence
took place, answered in an evasive manner, and then
added that they (the prisoner) and herself had been
drinking on Saturday evening, and had some words on
their return home, but by whom, or by what instrument
the wound was inflicted, she would not say. When
shown the girablet, and asked if it was done with that
instrument, she would not answer. Mr. Jardine de-
termined to remand the prisoner until the fate of the
unfortunate woman was known, as her case has been
pronounced hopeless by the medical officers. On inquiry
at a late hour, it was stated that the wounded woman
was sinking rapidly.
STATE OF WESTMEATH.—Another murder was com-
mitted near Kilbeggan, on Thursday night. The victim
was a man in the employment of an Englishman, who
occupied a farm close to the town of Moote. On the
previous night a Scotch Roman Catholic gentleman, who
lately purchased the demesne of Castle Daly in the
Encumbered Estates Court, was fired at in his own
house but fortunately escaped with a slight wound in
the thigh, a quantity of slugs being lodged in the Wall
beside him.

DESTRUCTIVE COiVFLA GRA TION IT

HORSELYDOTii

Yesterday (Monday) morning, between the hours °f
two and three, the inhabitants of Dockhead and Horse-
lydown were most painfully alarmed in consequence ca
the sudden outbreak of a fire which in a compara"
tively brief period reduced to ruins the furniture
and wearing apparel of nearly a dozen industrious
fanailies, and greatly jeopardised the lives of some
twenty individuals. The scene of the terrible au'
fortune was Charles-street, Horselydown, in which tho-
roughfare stood one of the ancient structures, but which
had been so modernised and altered as to form three
houses. One part was occupied by Mr. J. Harris, bread
and biscuit baker, whilst the other portions were let out
in separate tenements. At the time of the outbreak, the
whole of the inmates, with the exception of Mr. Harris°
journeyman, were in their beds asleep. Amongst the
number made prisoners by the destructive element were
several young children, whose screams on seeing the fir°
and smoke issuing into their rooms became pitiable in the
extreme. The parents of the children made to the &lit
windows, and were on the point of throwing them out
,
into the street, when the bystanders entreated them l°"
to do so, but to wait until the fire-escapes arrived. The
poor creatures on finding that if they remained any (huger,
nothing could prevent their lives from being destroyed;
tied a number of sheets together, and by that expedient
they succeeded in lowering three children out of the ww‘
dow, and safely lodging • them in the street. The father
of the children then lowered his wife down in the sail
manner, and afterwards lowered himself down, and
thereby they escaped a horrible death. An old gentle;
man who also lived in the upper part of the house, an
n:
who had a female relative sleeping there, on finding thatthe fire was progressing so fiercely, laid hold of hie
friend and carried her through the flames, and fortunately The
stairs, of them received the least personal injury.
,e
stairs, first, second, and third floors of the private houses
are nearly burned out; the roof is partially destroyet4
and the baker's building and contents are very consider.
ably damaged by fire, water, and smoke. The buildings
which belong to St Olave's grammar schools are under'
stood to be insured in one of the London offices.