The Sun.
London, England, 1838-01-12 00:00:00

THE FROST;

ING IN THE PARKS AND KENSING-
TON GARDENS.
The frost on Wednesday night was as severe as on any of
the preceding ones, but the ice, owing to the heavy fall of
snow, was not yesterday morning strong enough on the Ser-
pentine, in Hyde-park, with safety to support any number of
Persons. and the )nen belonging to the Royal Humane Society,
or Whom no loss than twenty-five were on duty in the different
parks, in consequence warned all persons from venturing on
it. The water in Kensington-gardens was, from the opening
of the gates, crowded with skaters, among whom were noticed
several fashionables, and along the banks, on either side, were
many ladies anxiously watching the evolutions of the skaters.
On the round pond, opposite Kensington Palace, were very
few persons.
In St. James's Park men were from an early Lour of the
Morning employed, by order of the Commiedoners of Woods
and Forests, in parting the ice from the banks, and conse-
quently no skating took place there. The Regent's Park ap-
peared to be the grand scone of attraction, and the ornamental
waters were crowded throughout the day by a respectable
company, among whom were many celebrated members of the
haul ion, and several foreign gentlemen, whose practised skat-
ing was mach admired. On several occasions during the day
portions of the ice sunk under the superincumbent weight, and
persons were immersed.
The following were the only accidents reported to Mr.
Pritchard, the Superintendent of the Humane Society, on the
mon mustering last evening :
IN THE REGENT'S PARE- —About one o'clock, a gentleman
named M'Eason, of No. 22, New-s Lilns nn, while skating with too great rapidity,
f qelluare, throughnco one' lof the
holes into about 13 feet of water. Griffiths and Gibbs, two
of the Society's men, instantly proceeded to his assistance, but
before they could reach him in the ice-boat he had twice sunk,
and on his rising for the third time, they threw a rope round
him, and by great exertions got him into the boat, where he
soon recovered, and afterwards proceeded home. Some
time afterwards, a young lad, 15 years of age, minted Jeremiah
Muir, residing at No. 50, Mortimer-street, Cavendish-square,
while sliding on the wide part of the water, got entangled
among some broken ice, and must have perished had not Grif-
fiths, at the hazard of his own life, saved him from a watery
grave. Just before five o'clock, a young man, named Ken-
hard Great, residing in North-place, Camden-town, also got
immersed, but was rescued by means of a lifo line, by John
Perry, another of the Society's men.
IN KENSINGTON GARDENS.—A Mr, Holborn, of Dear-
street, Leicester-square, wat immersed about 12 o'clock by the
ice breaking Under hire, when there being no ice-boat close by,
Winnott and Barr, the Society's men, instantly jumped into
the water, and, breaking their way to him, succeeded in
rescuing him at the risk of their own lives.

THE

SKAT

TRIAL OP TUE COTTON SPINNERS.—The whole
of the evidence of this important case closed yesterday at two
o'clock. After which, the Lord Advocate, for the Crown,
aid Mr. Duncan Nl'Neill, on: the part of the pri*oners, ad-
dressed the jury; and, at qua,rter More, eleven o'clock,
when Mr. r. povluded,. the, cc,tnA adjourned till this
moriciing Mr. l)i:4triek Robertson is expected to open
the proceedingi by addressing the jury, in defence, of the special
charge of murder, Mr. M'Neill having confined himself to
a defence of the general charge of conspiracy. It is nut pro-
bable, therefore, that the case will be settled till late this
evening, if then.—Scottish .Pilot of NY94C1944a,
• • •

gutsy,
w your
--• sewer see LO 11/e [setter anu more compact equip•
ment of our soldiers for active:field service. The absolute ne-
cesity of such a measure I hope will be proved to you and her
Majesty's Ministers by the following statement :—ln the
campaign of 1812, about 1,450 men, a brigade of Foot
Guards, joined the army not far from Burgos; that disastrous
retreat took place a few days afterwards—mark the fact : on
that retreat, and shortly after their arrival at Viscu in Portu-
gal, in a few weeks, 700 of these men had died of disease and
camp fever, in consequence of the want of warm and nourish-
ing food, when actively employed and exposed to night air,
without shelter in a bivouac ; and before many weeks four
hundred more of them had dwindled away to the
hospitals in the rear. Had these men been sup-
plied with portable canteens, leather bags, with nest
of tins to carry the store of their provision or comforts
in—(see patterns now in the Naval and Military Museum,
Whitehall yerd)—such an arrangement would have saved a
great waste of human life. It is useless for Officers of junior
rank to propose measures that would be useful to preserve the
health of our troops in the field. " Old customs" can ne-
ver be done away with, unless your Lordship and her Ma-
jesty's Ministers call to their assistance the practical knowledge
of those Officers who have seen and experienced the miseries
of a bivouac. Figure to yourself, my Lord, a grenadier of the
Foot Guards in a bivouac in bad weather—he puts on his wet
great coat, which places him in a steam-bath—ague is the con-
sequence, and in a few days he is in the hospital, Kettles are not
up with the brigade, and if they are up, nothing to put into then
to cosh, to satisfy the cravings of their appetites, and such is daily
the case by the present s.,stern ; and thin ranks and crowded
'hospitals are the consequences. And in place of dressing
our soldiers for show, a compact light equipment should be
the order of the Government. The cotton epaulets of the
Foot Guards and other regiments, when thoroughly soaked
with rain, add greatly to the weight of what the soldier bee
to carry ; that is not the ONLY evil—for the shoulders oft
the men arc placed in a steam bath, so long as the epaulets'
remain wet, which is all against the comfort and general
health of the soldiers, as the shoulders and chest, become
tender and chafed, or wrung, which disables the men from car-
rying their knapsacks ; and so by this piece of finery, to make
the men look wider across the shoulders than they really are,
our ranks on service are daily thinned. In my humble opinion
every soldier going on service should be supplied witlt two flannel
shirts, and two pair of flannel drawers at the eepence of Go-
vernment, to put on when they go into the field on active ser-
vice ; and a coatie in place of an illemade great coat, which
would easily pack in the fold of the knapsack, and be kept
dry--and when worn on night duty, the men woll'ul be we:an.
and yet unencumbered about the legs, and always,. tit for
prompt duty. And in place of half quantill' ref spirits, I
should advise that coffee, ginger, said cayet,ne pepper be
served as the half-rations, and thetas
and tobacco should ho
be
,supplied to troops in the
by the Commissariat
at prime ee„t,''s AP
coffee , regards carriage or transport,
I think would go in less space and weight
_asee his Grace the Duke of Wellington and the Noble'
and Gallant Lord, the Commander-in- Chief of her Ma-
jesty's Army, I think will agree with me, that coffee,
ginger, cayenne, sago, and tobacco, could always be placed in
the custody of the men with great safety to the service, with
a few days extra biscuit, in their knapsack "as a store." I
calculate on 14 days' advance of coffee, ginger, and cayenne, about twelve ounces—sago and tobacco, camp comforts, say
eight ounces—and. isi; en owning into a bivouac ;eel., man had
in his. posseessees a twit of tills in his leather .(Mg (with coffee,
&F.l posession), to enable
,hine to cook his own coffee;
with Some grated ginger, or sot's his biscuit in hot water.; with
cayenne pepper, the laugh 'end cheerful joke would ge need ;
ennui or disease, subi:le‘t to camps, a despondency V feeling,
for the want of something to eat, would be driven from the
camp, arzi much disease prevented. General Officers and
those on the Staff, who can go into the nesrest houses
the shelter, know very little of the privetlens of a bivouac.
Ask yourself the plain queetion—Will dry. hard biscuit give
the same nutriment as the same qua..,,tity soaked in hot water,
with cayenne and salt? Par:ton" me, my Lord, for being so
concise; but truth requir,:s no disguise. And, for example,
when out shooting, ' pray your Lordship to put a small piece
of ginger intes your mouth ; and you will find it warms the
stomach, and enables a man to undergo great fatigue.
his would give greater relief to the cravings of an empty
Stomach than smoking tobacco. I calculate it would cost from
5/. to 71. to give each soldier, when embarked on active ser-
vice, a compact, light, portable canteen equipment, with fian-
•nels, and a coatie—say 5,000 men, 35,0001. Against this
cost or charge, decimate the men by sickness on first taking
the field-500 men, 100/. each, is 50,000/. I There's a saving
at once ; sad look to the great advantage of men in the ranks,
in place of being in hospital, as well as the health of all the
men and offieers;made stronger, they are more fit to undergo fa-
tigue. The expense of a baggage animal per company to carry
kettles would be saved, also a man per company more in the
ranks; this saving alone would save the extra equipment.
Kettles are of no use in villages or towns, and in camp they
seldom arrive till some hours after the troops. Ask his Grace
the Duke of Wellington the great advantage of having a nu-
tritious ration always in the hands of the soldier, when in the
field, of that nature that they will have no object in using it in
waste--(as spirits for example). Half an ounce of coffee will
snake a pint of good coffee, and with a little grated ginger is a
very fine stomachic,
Weight of equipment ought always to be the first object of
a General Commanding an Army, and history states, that
General Lord Pembroke ordered the tails of the great coats
and cavalry cloaks to be cut off, to lessen the weight of
equipment of the troops, under his command in Spain, in the
reign of Queen Anne,

therefore hope, that her Majesty, our Gracious Queen
Victoria, will command full enquiry to be made into the me-
rits of soy plans in this letter. So, to the point :—Pray, ask his
Grace, the Duke of Wellington, if his army at Cartaso had
been provided with a compact portable canteen, &e., &c.,
with coffee, ginger, and cayenne, for 14 days, with six days'
biscuit, in store, in the knapsacks, in place of the useless
and cumbersome weight of the tails of the great coats, and
useless blankets—what would have been the advantages to tha
Army ?
I think, and I hope his Grace will say, what many of his
best and bravest Generals clearly saw and openly said—(l
was attached to General Piston in the affair near Miranda de
Corvo)—that in place of being obliged to linger near Co-
imbra (at Condeisa, I think) for our supplies, we should have
brought Field Marshal Messena to general action near Mi-
randa de Corvo, and destroyed the remains Of his army, before
ha had gained the entrance of the valley of the Mondego. In
conclusion, when spirits cannot be served to the troops, extra
coffe. should be served in lieu of spirits; and when meat is
not served daily, extra biscuit should be served afterwards,
to make up the extra biscuit used from the store in knapsack,
the day that meat was not issued. The Commissariat issue
would keep a proper check as to what rations were issued.
Lastly, I call on your Lordship, and her Majesty's Minis-
ters, to obtain the opinion of Sir James M•Gregor, and the
Officers of the Army Medical Board, as to the merits of
coffee, ginger, and cayenne pepper for troops, in lieu of half-
rations of spirits when in the field. By my calculation, tak-
ing into consideration the cost of transport of spirits on mules
and horses, the coffee plan would be the least charge or cost
to the Treasury, and give greater comfort to the troops. They
would always have a good and safe stimullnt in their posses-
sion, which would give warmth and tune to the bowels, and
prevent cholic and other catty diseases. And I think medical
men will agree with me that fresh killed meat—say, an hour
before you use it in camp—that a piece grilled or toasted over
the ashes of a wood fire, is more wholesome, more nutritious,
and more savoury, with cayenne and salt, than if boiled.
And I refer your Lordship fur further explanation to pages
52, 53 in my hodge-podge Pamphlet, which is in the Library
at the Treasury—and also, 1 believe, in her Majesty's Library
at the Pavilion—as I had the honour to have it presented last
winter to his late Majesty 'William the Fourth.
With greatest respect, I have the honour to be,
Your Lordship's faithful servant,
GEO, GUNNING,
Lieut. Half-pay Ist Dragoon Guards.
Brighton, Jan. 10, 1838.

THE WHITGREAVES.—It iS a reverend thing,
(says Bacon) to see an ancient castle or building not in de-
cay, or to see a fair timber tree sound and perfect—how much
more to behold an ancient family which bath stood against the
waves and weathers of time. In that of Whitgreave precisely
such a family as the philosopher contemplates, and so beauti-
fully describes, is brought immediately before us ; it has en-
dured six hundred years at least in the uninterrupted posses-
sion of a fair estate, and the unsullied enjoyment of a Pair
name, full of hottour as of years, and immortalised by the
noble deed of preserving from his ruthless pursuers the Roya 1
refugee, after the disastrous issue of the battle of Worcester.
An authentic and roost interesting memorial of Charles e4te
Second's escape from that fatal fielai, and his coucealtnent at
Moseley, the seat of Mr. Whitgreave, the handwriting of
that gentleman himself, is still p,re*erved, and vividly charae,
terises those troubled tims. 01 the original mantisA-'opts Mr.
Burke gives an exact transcript ; and dtd ipace allow, the
deep interest we felt in perusing lho document would tempt
us to transfer it
t ict ckgr eolum us. —Burke's commoners,
Part 15

COURT OF QUEENS BENCH, JAN. 11.
ANNE KINGDOM 11. HATCH.
Mr. CIIANNELL showed cause against a rule for setting aside
a writ de cotdumace capiendo against the defendant, for not
obeying the order of the Ecclesiastical Court of the diocese of
Peterborough. The defendant had been cited before the
Court for using slanderous expressions with respect to Anne
Kingdare, and he was finally sentenced to attend at the house
of the Minister at Brooke, and then and there, in the presonce
of the Minister, and in that of Anne Kingdom, of Brooke,
aforesaid, should make a declaration asking pardon fur the use
of these exproasions, and declaring that he believed her to be
sober, cha;te, and honest, and also to pay the sum of 2.5/. for': costs. The objections to the writ were, that there was s,
statement of the party being admonished to perform the
sentence.
Mr. J. jEltl'lS supported the rule.
Tho Cocas observed, that the writ was sustainable, and; the
rule must be discharged.

BAIL COURT.
CHTIECH RATES.
Sir P. Pou.octc. applied to the Court for a rule, calling
upon certain Justices of Chichester to sho,b- cause nhy a writ
of mandamus should not issue, commandln„ them to issue dis-
tress warrants to enforce the payment of a4' them
Mr. Justice PATTESON-+IS the legality of the rate disputed?
Sir F. POLLOCK —NrJ, my Lord ; the dispute is as to the.
manner in which the proceeds of a former rate were applied..
Mr. Justice PATTESON—YOU may take a rule to show cause;

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, Je v. 11,
WILSON V. STEEL.
Mr. ERLE applied in this case for a rule to show 'cruse why
the verdict for the plaintiff, on the sixth and e;.ghth issues,
should not be entered for the defendant. This, was an action,
tried at London during the sittings offer tl'.e last Term, and
which was brought to recover 529/. up-or. a deed of arrange-
ment between certain parties, against ',vhom claims existed on
the part of the Imperial Distillery, Company.
The LORD Cnir.r Josrtcn—r:vnd up the pleadings. I will
look into
to grant the my
rule notes, and the:, we will decide whether we ought .

.PREcOGATIVE COURT, JAN. 11.
WOOD AND OTHERS V. GOODLAKF., HUI'S, AND OTHEP3„
Thir,ii the suit respecting the will and codicil of Mr. James
IV(.;od, the banker, of Gloucester.
Her MAJESTY'S ADVOCATE, on behalf of the executor',
prayed the Court to extend the term for the return of the
Commission for tho examination of vii`aiesses till the second
session of the Term. Eight witue'-ses had been examined in,
town, and the Commission had bgened at Gloucester on the
Ist of January. Though all diligence had been used, it woul-!,
be impossible to complete the examination by the first sess'.oll.
—The original prayer Was granted.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS COURT„L__JAN. 11.
tXTRAORDINARY CASES.—TYCO YEARS' IMrstISONMENT.
John Samson Blumenthal and Israel 131nmenthal (brothers
apposed by Mr. Woodroffe for Messrs.
Hathaway
and Hanoverians) were
Hathaway and Mr. ripper, Waoiesale stationers, residing in
City. The,:, were surported by Mr. Cooke, with whom
was Mr. Cr,:,fslvell.
The (11:.eStion in these cases, which had occupied the atten-
tion of, .the Leamed Chief Commissioner sonic days, was,
"'}'.ether the stun of 1,528/. 13s. 9d. had been concealed or
dropped into the Thames. The insolvent, John Samson Blu-
menthal, was a general merchant, residing at Greenwich, and
his brother, he said, his traveller; butthe creditors alleged
that they were in partnership, and the Court were of that
The debts amounted to 1,002/. 10s. 6d. and the al-
leged loss took place in September last. The insolvent, John
Samson Blumenthal, tr,,ded to Hamburg with paper. In
August he made his last voyage, taking with him 910/., and
whilst there he received from his brother 150/., making with the
sums he received the money he stated he had lost. He in-
tended to purchase butters, but did not ; he put the sum into a
canvas big, which he put into his trunk, and took his passage
to return to Greenwich, on the 2d of September, in the John
Bull steamer. He got acquainted with a Russian Count.
The steamer arrived of Greenwich on the 4th of September,
and lie landed to go to his residence. His story was, that he
had put the bag under his left arm, and on coming down the
companion ladder it dropped into the Thames. It was ob-
served by several persons, and the waterman who brought him
ashore asked him to have a creeper to search the river. He
would not, and was accompanied home by some friends.
When he got home he acquainted them with his loss. The
next morning an attorney advised him not to acquaint his cre-
ditors but to write to Hamburgh for assistance. The Russian
Count had made declaration as to the alleged loss before the
Lord Mayor. The clerk of Mr. Tipper called twice on them,
and nothing was said about the loss. The debts of the oppos-
ing creditors were the principal.
The Learned CHIEF COMMISSIONER declared that no case
had for nineteen years (during the time he had filled his situa-
tion) given him so much anxiety. The direct evidence as to
the loss was on one side, but the indirect evidence showed that
the story had been fabricated. He took an elaborate review,
and said lie had arrived at the opinion that the money had
been concealed or otherwise made away with; that the story
was founded in fraud, and supported by perjury ; that some-
thing was dropped into the Thames, but not the money. He
adjudged the insolvents to an imprisonment of two years, for
a concealment or making away with property.
The Court sat to a late hour.

MAII.J.

Arrived. Due Arrived. Due.
• A MertC.4 4$ 1 France .... 0
O Pratd Guern. Fi Jersey 0
0 ncenqa Ayres 0 0 Hamburg 1
O 0 0 nd . .....
Duthn... t) mama ......
Flanders

Arrived. Due
o
0 Malta
0 Mexico 0
n
• Sweden. •
1 Waterford...—. 0

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TO-MORROW.
Morning ..... 50 minutes after 3 I Evening ...... 3 minutes after 4

CONFLAGRATION.-TOTAL DESTRUC-
TION OF THE ROYAL EXCHANGE.

The best account of this .calamitons occurrence, an historical de-
scription of the building, with most ample details of the loss of in-o-
p,rty, incidents at the tire, &c. &e., will appear in the WEEKLY
CHRONICLE of to-morrow morning ; which will also contain an
authentic portrait and autograph of M. Papineau, with full parti-
lars of the war in Canada.

The publication of Tux StrNNavi 9 PAPER wan:towed this day

it 10 minutes past Three o' Clock.