The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-15 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HOUSE. Several Chinese seamen,
having for some time appeared in the streets as objects
of charity, Sir R. W. Carden felt a deep interest in their
condition, and directed the second clerk at the justice-
room of the Mansion-house to write to Viscount Palmer-
ston, requesting his lordship's interference to put a stop
to the existing evil. The following is the correspondence
which took place :
" Mansion-house Justice-room, April 5.
"My Lord—l am directed by Sir Robert Carden, the
sitting alderman at this justice-room, to request your
lordship's favourable consideration to the case of 45
Chinese, who have for several weeks past been found at
different times in the streets of the City begging, in the
most abject state of poverty. It appears that 29 of them
were seamen on board a Russian vessel, and 8 of them
served on board two English ships, one of which has left
the port, and the other, called the Thetis, is now in
some part of the port of London. The alderman Ines
caused inquiries to be made, and it has been ascertained
that nearly the whole of the men had been payed the
balance of their wages, which amounted to a small sum,
and discharged themselves from their vessels in the port
of London. The alderman was anxious to provide
vessels for the men to return to China, and he
per made inquiries of several shipbrokers, who expressed their
willingness to take the men on board theirsvessels as sea-
men, but the difficulty suggested was, that after taking
them to China, they would be unable to obtain English
e.
seamen at China to bring the vessel to England on the
return voyage. These men had from time to timeve
been
been
sent to the City of London Union, where they have
afforded shelter and temporary relief, but the guardians
have no authority to afford them any permanent as-
sistance.
" Under these circumstances, Sir R. W. Carden would
feel greatly indebted to your lordship if you would be
pleased, after considering the circumstances to which he
has directed me to refer you, to give directions that the
provisions of the 'ith and Bth Victoria, c. 112, sec. 64,
and 13th and 14th Victoria, c. 93, sec. 6, may be put in
force, or that you would adopt such other course as may
be necessary, with the view of sending these men to the
country to which they belong.—T have the honour to be,
my lord, your lordship's most obedient humble servant,
•• GEORGE MARTIN."
• " Whitehall, April 10, 1854.
"Sir,—l am directed by Viscount Palmerston to ac-
knowledge the receipt ofyour letter of the sth inst., and
to inform you that an application of a similar nature to
that which you have made, on behalf of certain destitute
Chinese seamen, having been received from the guardians
of the Stepney Union, Lord Palmerston caused the same
to be referred to the Lords Commissioners of the Admi-
ralty, with reference to the 7th and Bth Vict., cap. 112,
sec. 64, and I am to transmit for your information a
copy of the answer received from the Secretary to the
Admiralty, and to add that the Government can do no-
thing in this matter.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,
,‘ HENRY FITZROY."

(corr.)
"Admiralty, March 18, 1854.
«sir—With reference to your letter of the 10th inst.,
transmitting copy of one from the clerk to board of
guardians of Stepney Union, relative to the case of
thirteen men of colour brought from Shanghai in the
' merchant ship Racer, who have become chargeable to
the Stepney Union, I am commanded by my Lords
Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for
the information of Viscount Palmerston, that as this
ship belongs to the United States, within whose terri-
tories her owners reside, no steps can be taken by my
lords for maintaining and affording a passage to the men
in question under the act, 64 sec., of the 7th and Bth
Vic., c. 112, or under any other act, and that applica-
tions have been made, both to Messrs. Marzetti and the
master, but without success. "I am, sir,
"Hon. Henry Fitzroy, MX."
(Signed) f‘ 13. OSBORNE.