The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-06 00:00:00

BRIBERY AT ELECTIONS BILL.

Is reply to Mr. 3,l4uarts,
Lord J. RUSSELL said he would state on Monday
what course he would take with respect to the Bribery
at Elections Bill.
SALE OF RUSSIAN VESSELS.

Mr. HUTT wished to ask the Attorney-General whe-
ther the bond fide sale of a Russian vessel to a British
subject, since the declaration of war, but within six
weeks of that event, would be regarded by the British
Government as a legitimate transaction.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL (in the absence of the
Attorney-General) said that in the case put by the hon.
member the bona fide sale of a Russian vessel to a Bri-
tish subject would be considered an authorised and legal
transaction.

EAST LONDON AND NEW RIVER
COMPANIES.

Sir W. SMIJTH asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department whether his attention had been called
to certain pledges given by the East London and New
River Water Companies to a select committee
of 1852, by which they pledged themselves to obtain
bills in the next session, viz:, 1353, for immediately
taking their water supplies free from the sewage of the
town on the River Lea ; and to the circumstances under
which the negotiations between the water companies and
the Board of Ordnance had failed. Whether there would
be any objection to the appointment of a committee to
inquire into the circumstances which had deprived one
million and a quarter of the inhabitants of this metro-
polis of a supply of pure water
Lord PALMERSTON said the company in question
had brought in a bill last year for diverting the drainage
of certain localities, but owing to some informality or
opposition that bill failed. They had brought in a new
bill this session, and he had no doubt that as far as
possible they would execute their engagements.
THE CASE OF MR. STONOR.

Mr. MOORE moved that a select committee be ap-
pointed to take into consideration the case of the ap-
pointment of Henry Stonor to the office of a judge in
the colony of Victoria, the said Henry Stonor having
been reported by a committee of this house to have
been guilty of bribery at the election for the borough
of Sligo in 1853. (Hear, hear.) The honourable
member read extracts from the evidence before
the select committee on the Sligo election, imputing if
not bribery to Mr. Stonor, at least an indiscretion the
most extraordinary. He said it had been proved by Mr.
Stonor's own evidence that he offered a large sum of
money (1,5001.) to induce the withdrawal of a petition
against the return for Sligo, and that afterwards he did
actually give that sum for the purpose specified. He
was sure that he would be confirmed by the house, in the
opinion that to send such a man clothed with the British
ermine to preside on the bench in the colonies
was an outrage on public opinion and the good
feeling of the country. He (Mr. Moore) had
asked ° two questions of the Government, first, whether
they were aware that Mr. Stonor had been reported
against for bribery by a committee of this house ? and,
secondly, whether they were prepared to rescind the
appointment. But their answer was in effect this—
that before such appointments, "ignorance was bliss,"
and, when such appointments were once made, it was
" folly to be wise." (Laughter.) It was utterly im-
mpossible that the Government could have (as was al-
leged) appointed Mr. Stonor as a judge on his own
written application—(hear, hear, hear)—his sus-
picionsmight be unjust, but the statement of the
Government on this point was impossible ; and he main-
tained that the appointment was such as would disgrace
the appointment of a counting-house clerk or 4
parish beadle. On those grounds he now moved for
the appointment of the select committee of which he
had given notice. (Hear.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
it was a general rule that in moving for a com-
mittee of this sort, it should be kept as free
as possible from exciting matter; but it was a rule which
the hon. gentleman had violated in every respect. (Hear.)

(LEFT SPEAKING.)

THE LATE POLISH DINNER.

A deputation from the Polish exiles composed of
Prince L. Czartoryski, Colonel Szyrma, Major Gielgud,
Lieutenant C. Szulezewski, and the Rev. E. Podolski,
waited this day upon the Lord Mayor with the follow-
ing address :
"My Lord,—lt is with feelings of the highest respect
that we tender to your lordship, in the name of ourselves
and our countrymen, the expression of our sincere grati-
tude for the eminent service you have rendered by kindly
presiding over the brilliant and important festival which
took place on the 30th of last month. The participation of
the first magistrate of the city of London has imparted to
this festival a character and a weight which will be appre-
ciated far beyond the limits of this country, whilst the noble
words pronounced by your lordship in depicting the wrongs
inflicted upon Poland, and in proving her undeniable right
to an independent existence, cannot fail to inspire every
Polish heart with hope and consolation. Under your dis-
tinguished auspices men of the most elevated station and
of the greatest political distinction joined in proclaiming
that the Western Powers of Europe had, whilst permit-
ting the partition of Poland to be effected, committed an
error, the disastrous consequences of which are now only
beginning to be felt. The contest at present raging on
the Danube, which threatens to involve Europe in a gene-
ral war, is admitted to be the natural sequel of the perfidy
which was committed on the Vistula; and it is now at
length evident to all that the powers most opposed in point
of interest to the aggressive policy of Russia have been
rendered impotent to resist her by becoming her confede-
rates in the dismemberment of Poland. Tor can we but
entertain the hope that those very powers will at no dis-
tant period be convinced that the only policy by which the
machinations of the great anarchist can be defeated is to
renounce all complicity in the crimes which he and his an-
cestors have committed. That the sentiments uttered by
your lordship and the speakers on the memorable occasion
of your presidency will tend to the attainment of an object
inestimably beneficial to Poland, and, of no slight advan-
tage to the rest of Europe, is our sincere belief, and in
thanking you for those sentiments, no less than for the
means of alleviating the hardships of exile, of which that
festival became a most abundant source, we trust that the
day may yet arrive when Poland, restored to her ancient
place amongst the nations, shall show that she knows how
to be grateful to those who, in her desolation, pleaded her
cause, and who succoured her children when they were
scattered in the land of the stranger."
His lordship appeared highly gratified with the ad-
dress, and in a suitable manner acknowledged the com-
pliment paid him.
The deputation, after partaking of luncheon with his
lordship, left, deeply impressed with the service ren-
dered by his lordship to the cause of Poland.

SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—Sir W. Heathcote has
formally resigned. Nor is this the only retirement that
has been for some time expected. The long-continued
absence of Mr. Uzielli from meetings of the board lends
credence to the rumour that that gentleman also is about
to vacate his seat.—Railway Times.
FIRE IN THE BLACKTRIARS-ROAD.---Lad night, about
ten o'clock, a fire, attended with a considerable loss of
property, broke out in the premises belonging to Mr.
Flynn, a tailor, No. 257, Blackfriars-road, next door but
one to the Albion Tavern. The proprietor of the pre-
mises rushed out of the house with his children in his
arms ; but the 'upper portion was tenanted by sundry
lodgers, and they had the greatest difficulty in effecting
a safe retreat. As it was, the police were obliged to pull
the children out of the second floor, and carry them down
a ladder. Mr. Burton, one of the lodgers, in attempting
to descend the ladder, slipped and fell from the second
floor, and struck upon the pent-house in front of the
shop. So great was the weight of the man, that it broke
the timber away, and he fell with considerable force upon
the stone flags beneath. He was conveyed to St. Tho-
mas's Hospital, where he at present remains. The whole
of the other residents fortunately escaped without re-
ceiving any personal injury. The mains of the Lambeth
company having been drawn, a good supply of water was
procured, from which the engines were set to work. The
total loss is very considerable, and, unfortunately, the
whole of the lodgers, who have lost their furniture, wear-
ing apparel, and other effects, were not insured for a
single penny. Mr. Flynn was protected from loss by a
policy in the Norwich Union Fire-office. As to the
origin of the fire, not the least information could be ob-
tained. It appears that the house had not been closed
more than an hour when the discovery was made.
ABDUCTION.—James Waterhouse,
been 22 committedyears of a age,
a married man,
with one n
e child,
has
trial, at Huddersfield, for the abduction of a girl under
the age of 16. The person whom the prisoner had
made his victim is a young girl, rather stout, of ruddy
and somewhat childish appearance, named Ruth Bar-
row, daughter of Mr. Dan. Barrow, clerk and sexton
at Cumberworth church. The prisoner was employed
as a slubber at Bird's-edge Mill, situate about two or
three miles from Newmill, and about one from
Cumberworth ; and the girl worked for him as a
piecer at the same mill. The prisoner's wife, a
young and beautiful-looking woman, about the same age
was in court during the hearing of the case before the
magistrates, and watched with intense interest the pro-
ceedings. Ruth Barrow, in her evidence, said—About
two or three months previous to the 20th February, the
prisoner began to talk to me about going away with
him, and I agreed that I would. On Thursday, the 23d
Feb., he said he was going to his father's in Scotland,
and if I would go with him he would make me as good
a home as I had. The same night I met him about a
quarter of a mile from our house, and he gave me half a
sovereign to go with. He said he was going on Friday
morning, and that I was to follow him on the Sunday
morning, and he would be waiting for me at the Hud-
dersfield station. I set off on the Sunday morning, and
took the train at Denby Dale. When I got to }ladders-
held the prisoner was waiting for me at the station. We
then walked to Littleborough, about 16 or 18 miles from
1 Huddersfield. We went to a public house and stayed
ail
et
rimiee The
Ifs had tlmrprisonerwithdimd
me at
stlheeepiniwllitsl:vemrae.l
conineetiior
On Monday morning, the 27th of Feb, we took
the train to Manchester, and from thence to Liverpool
where we stayed all night. He told them I was his wife,
1 and we slept together. On the Tuesday morning he bought
a ring, which he put on my finger, and said I was to
wear it. We took ship from Liverpool to Glasgow on
Tuesday, and arrived at Greenock on Wednesday morn-
ing, We then walked to Harot station and took the
train to Hawick, where we arrived at half-past eight
in the evening. We went to his father's lodgings. His
father did not know him, it was so long since he had
seen him. He told his father that I was his wife. We
slept together every night. I remained at Hawick 12
or 13 days. My father then came and fetched me away.
I knew he was a married man. The prisoner was com-
mitted for trial.—Liveqoa Macury.