The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-12 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.

farewell Season of Mr. Benjamin Webster as Lessee and Manager.

THIS EVENING, M.taca 12,
Will be performed (last time) TARTUFFE, by 3fessrg. B. Web-
ster, Leigh Murray, Lambert, and Howe ; Mrs. Selby, Miss Rosa
Bennett, Mrs. L. S. Buckingham, Mrs. Fitzwllliam, &c.
After which, WHO'S YOUR FRIEND ?
To conclude with the Farce, called TO PARIS AND BACK
FOR FIVE POUNDS. .

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.
Under the Management of Madame Veatris.
THIS EVENING, Mica 12.
VIII be performed A PHENOMENON IN A SMOCK-FROCK.
ChaVacters by Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, and Horncastle ;
xpis F. Baker and Miss C. Mitchell.
Atte." which, the popular new Fairy Extravaganza entitled THE
GOOD WOMAN IN THE. WOOD, in which Messrs. F. Matthews,
Suter, Ltorncastle, and Templeton ; Madame Vestris, Miss Julia St.
George, Miss Robertson, Miss Martindale, Miss Ellis, Miss Wynd-
ham, Miss Eglinton, and Miss Rosins Wright will appear.
To conclude with LITTLE TODDLEKINS.
Sole Agent for the Private Boxes, Mr. W. Allcroft, 15, New
Bond-street.

THEATRE ROYAL ADELPIII.
proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste.
THIS EVENING, 3faacn 12,

By desire, the popular Drama of THE GREEN BUSHES ; or, a
,Xuridred Years Ago. Supported by Messrs. Paul Bedford, Honey,
U. Smith, &c.; Madame Celeste, Miss Woolgar, and Miss F.
2trevitell.
To conclude with (last time) the Drama of SLAVE LIFE ; or,
Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Doors open at half•past EIX o'clock.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
Under the Management of Mr. C. Kean.
THIS EVENING, Miami 12,
Will be performed the new and original Comedy, in three acts, by
Douglas Jerrold, entitled ST. CUPID ; or, Dorothy's Fortune (as
played at Windsor Castle, by Royal Command). Principal charac-
ters by Messrs. Wright, W. Lacy, Harley, J. Vining, Ryder, F.
Cooke, Everett, and Chester ; Mrs. W. Lacy and Miss Murray.
After which, THE SPITALFIELDS WEAVER, in which Mrd
Wright will appear.
To conclude with A ROLAND FOR AN OLIVER.

ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. Farren.
THIS EVENING, MARCH 12,
Will be presented THE SERGEANT'S WIFE.
To be followed by the Farce of A DEED WITHOUT A NAME,

,after which, LILIAN GERVAIS. Supported by Messrs. Comp-
ton, W. Farren, G. Cooke, Shalders, Edgar, Bender, and Clifton ;
Misses Anderton and H. Gordon.
To conclude with the Ballet of THE DUMB RECRUIT.
Box-office open from Eleven till Five, under the superintendence
of Mr. E. Chatterton.

ASTLET'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.
Proprietor and Manager, Mr. W. Batty.
Positively he Last Week of Mr. Batty's Management.
THIS EVENING, 3fAacu 12,
The Entertainments will commence with (the Last Representa-
tions) MAZEPPA AND THE WILD HORSE, with all its original
inagniflcent effects.
To be followed by an incomparable display of Batty's Scenes in the
Arena. Supported by the first Artistes of the day.
To conclude with a Laughable Farce.
Deors open at Half-past Six o'clock. To commence at Seven.
Box-office open daily from Eleven to Four. Stage Manager, Mr.
W. West.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
THIS DAY —Morning 37 min. after 3 I Evening 53 min.aft. 3
To-Moaaow—Morning 8 rain. after 4 Evening 24 min.aft. 4

THE WEATHER.—Sux OFFICE, MARCII 12.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
51—highest since noon yesterday.
32—lowest this morning and during the night.
45 this day at noon.
BAROMETER, 3040—going down.
WIND, E.S.E.—Fine breeze, and sunshiny weather.

(Q)2,7*

LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1853.

Mr. FITZROY has long occupied a prominent
position among Legal Reformers. It is not too
much to say that no " layman" has ever con-
tributed more to the amendment of the law than
the Hon. Gentleman, who has displayed on many
occasions a knowledge of the nicest technicalities
of the subject under consideration for the time
being, that. would have done honour to the most
distinguished members of the profession, while he
has also exhibited an absence of prejudice and a
degree of sound common sense that eminently
qualified him for the arduous duty of legislating
on the all-important and interesting subject. Mr.
FITZROY'S name is now so completely associated
with the local tribunals—his efficient and energetic
exertions for the extension of the County Court
Jurisdictions are so generally known and tho-
roughly appreciated—that it would be worse than
useless to expatiate on the subject, or to " damn"
with faint praise a man who had so eminently
merited the thanks and gratitude of the middle
classes. The simple fact that he succeeded against
all the opposition of the Government of the day,
conducted by the Attorney-General, in carrying
a measure of Legal Reform that completely revo-
lutionised the practice, and to which the other
extensive and important alterations in the proce-
dure of the Superior Courts of Common Law may,
in a great degree, if not altogether, be ascribed,
speaks more eloquently in his favour than the
most elaborate panegyric that could be penned—
the highest eulogium that could be pronounced
on his beneficial and disinterested labours.

But well, as he has already deserved of his
country, Mr. FITZROY promises to add another
and a greener laurel to the wreath he had previ-
ously gained. He has directed his attention to a
matter that has attained such a point, as to con-
stitute it the shame and disgrace of the British
nation to expose us to the contemptuous sneers
of other communities, for a degree of cowardly and
disgusting brutality totally unknown in other
civilised communities. The unmanly and ruffianly
assaults—the horrible cruelties perpetrated on un-
protected females and innocent children have be-
come of such frequent, almost every-day occur-
rence, as to prove, beyond the possibility of dis-
pute, the necessity for further legislation to re-
press these habitual outrages. When we consider
the black catalogue of crime adduced by the
Honourable Gentleman, and think of the cases
within our own knowledge of unprovoked vio-
lence on helpless dependents, it makes our blood
run cold at the atrocities of the heartless delin-
quents. The existing law appears to be utterly
inadequate to meet the evil. It is true that if
the cowardly assailant be committed for trial,
either to the Assizes or Sessions, he may receive
a prolonged imprisonment, accompanied by hard
labour, and a certain portion of the time in
solitary confinement. But there is, at least, an
equal chance that the committal will end in the
practical impurity of the degraded wretch. The
forbearance—the ready forgiveness of the sufferer
is but too well known—it had probably been ex-
perienced on many former occasions, and nothing
but the extremity of the outrage could have
induced the injured woman to appeal for protec-
tion and redress to the laws of her country. But
the excitement that led to such a proceeding
speedily vanishes—she remembers the love she
had once felt for the miscreant before habitual,
almost incessant, ill-usage had nearly broken her
heart—she looks on his children, and thinks
that the punishment of their father will expose
those helpless and innocent creatures to po-
verty and destitution. She must herself endure
the most bitter privations, practically paying the
penalty for the outrage inflicted on herself. If
the fine can be liquidated, it is by the sale of her
clothes or furniture ; if the imprisonment is en-
forced, there is no one to provide the weekly funds
which the criminal, however reckless and demo-
ralised, was in the habit of supplying. She is,
therefore, easily induced to relent, and the result
is, that before her former wounds are healed, an-
other and far more violent attack
in like manner forgiven, with,t is made,
to be
u expiation. any adequate
It is on such grounds that our most experienced
a fine
oftic,teir
,ent,
magistrates frequently prefer the exercise
of
summary jurisdiction, and inflict
or
two months' imprisonment, in default of payment,
h
for the most atrocious outrages. It was well re-
marked, that similar cruelty to a dog, a ~at, a
donkey, or, indeed, any of the inferior animals,
would justly receive far more stringent punish-
ment. Is not a woman as well entitled to protec-
tion as a pony—is she not equal to a poodle in
the eye of the law ? At present, we regret to say,
that she is less cared for than these favourites,
and that the punishment for cruelty to animals,
which can be summarily inflicted by the magis-
trate, is far more stringent than that which fol-
lows cruelty to women or children.

What, hiten, can be considered an adequate
remedy for this monstrous evil ? It must be
suitable to the nature of the disease. For such
unmanly violence nothing but corporal punish-
ment will answer. We are not the advocates for
Punishment except in extreme cases ; but
Honourable and Learned Gentleman, the
for Bath, justly pointed out, there can-
any very ugh or rsensitive feelings in the

i.f2rporall
the E
ember
,llpbea