The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-18 00:00:00

IMPORTANT TO TRACT DISTRIBUTORS.

A young man named William Smith was brought be-
fore Mr. O'Callaghan, the sitting magistrate at Capel-
street police-station, Dublin, on Saturday, charged by
Mr. Martin A. O'Brennan, with having acted in a man-
ner calculated to provoke him to a breach of the peace,
by thrusting a handbill or tract of a sectarian character
into his hand on the public street. The case excited
considerable interest, Mr. O'Brennan having published
his own version of it in the shape of a letter to a
morning paper ; and the office was crowded to excess
with persons anxious to witness the proceedings.
Mr. Whithorne appeared for the prisoner.
Mr. O'Brennan (who is a Roman Catholic schoolmas-

ter, residing in Bolton-street,) having been sworn, said
—Yesterday evening, whilst I was going to the theatre
with a lady I was encountered by this man in Sa,ekville-
street ; he "thrust" a paper violently into my hand, and
as he and a woman who was standing by both laughed
at the time, I took it for granted that something was
wrong. Accordingly I opened the paper, and found that
it was a species of tract, containing matter which I look
on in the light of a nuisance. lam of opinion that when
a man is going about his business no one has a right to
offend his feelings in this way by thrusting into his hand
a paper which is calculated to irritate and drive him to
commit a breach of the peace ; under these circum-
stances, I felt it to be a duty, as a lover of peace, to give
this person into custody, in order to put a stop to what
I consider to be a most noxious and dangerous system
of addressing people in the street, and asking them to
read articles entirely opposed to their religious tenets ;
for my own part, I would rather receive a dose of poison
than the poisonous matter contained in this paper.
(The paper " handed" to Mr. O'Brennan by the pri-
soner consisted of an invitation to Roman Catholics to
attend a sermon to he preached by the Rev. J. O'Carroll,
A. 8., S.T.C.D., in St. Luke's Church, on Sunday even-
" ine. next, upon the alleged supremacy of St. Peter.)
Mr. O'Callaghan (to witness)—Have you any reason
to believe that the prisoner knew who you were when
acting in the way you have stated ?
Witness—From the fact of his laughing, I think he
must have known me. He admitted after his arrest that
he was the agent of the Rev. Mr. M'Carthy, of St.
Michan's parish.
Mr. Whithorne (to witness)—How long is it since you
put the "0 " before your name ?
Witness—l don't choose to tell you.
[The witness was, till lately, in the habit of styling
himself simply Mr. M. A. Brennan.]
Mr. Whithorne--Were your feelings very much hurt ?
Witness—Yes, my feelings as a gentleman. (Laughter.)
Mr. Whithorne—Yon are an orator.
Witness (with a complacent smile)—Yes, I think I
am. (Laughter.)

• •
Mr. Whithorne—And you are a publisher too ?
Witness—Yes, I write for the press occasionally.
Great laughter.)

Mr. Whithorne—And you wish to bring your name
into great repute ?
Witness (seemingly offended by the question)—Sir,
my name has been in great repute for many years.
(Roars of laughter.)
Mr. Whithorne—You published a note about this
case in the Frecnian's Journal of this morning. What
was your object in doing so ?
Witness—My object was to call the attention of the
public and of the public authorities to this system of
circulating tracts, which are, in my opinion, more poi-
sonous than the most noxious miasmata. (Laughter.):
Mr. O'Callaghan—Do you swear that he " thrust " it
into your hand ?

Witness--Ile did. I saw a number of similar papers
in his possession after he was taken to the police station.
Mr. Whithorne submitted that his client bad commit-
ted no offence in point of law. All he did was to
" hand " the paper quietly to Mr. O'Brennan, and for
doing that he was not only arrested, but actually kept
in close confinement during the entire night. The charge
was such a trumpery one altogether that be did not think

it necessary to go any furthei: with the defence.
Mr. O'Callaghan (to witness)—Did I understand you
to say from what took place there was any likelihood
that a breach of the peace might ensue ?
Witness —My opinion is that " if "my temper had not
been controlled by education, it is " probable" that I
might have struck him.
Mr. O'Callaghan—lt strikes me, to say the least of it,
to bo exceedingly indiscreet and improper for any man,
whatever may be his religious opinions, to thrust them
upon another man who, as in this instance, is of a dif-
ferent way of thinking. If a paper put into a person's
hand contains anything that is likely to make him angry,
or to disturb his feelings, it is, in my judgment, calcu-
lated to provoke a breach of the peace, and it is the pro-
vince of the magistrate (who is termed a justice of the
peace) to take care that it is sufficiently preserved.
cannot entertain a doubt that conduct such as the pri-
soner has been guilty of is greatly calculated to lead to
a breach of the peace ; but as no actual breach has oc-
curred in this instance, I will only require the prisoner
to enter into his own recognisances to be of good beha-
viour for the future.
Prisoner—l have no witness to speak for me, but as
sure as I stand before your worship I did not "thrust"
the bill into Mr. O'Brennan's hand. I simply offered it,
and be took it, without the least pressure on my part.
Mr. O'Callaghan--I am a justice of the peace, and I
am determined to preserve it, so far as I can, in all these
cases. You must enter into bail or be committed for
14 days.
The prisoner accordingly entered into the required
bail, and was discharged from custody.

TIM LATE SHIPWRECK ON BARRA-HEAD.—GLASGOW,
Sunday Afternoon.—The steamer Islay arrived at the
Broornielaw early this morning with 40 passengers, saved
from the disastrous wreck of the Annie Jane. They
left Barra in a small sailing smack on the morning of
Wednesday last, and, arriving at Tobermory in the
course of the same night, were thence forwarded to Glas-
gow. The majority of the passengers are pretty well
attired, having obtained clothing from the wreck of the
boxes which were cast ashore ; but many are totally pen-
niless, and 18 of the number had to receive food and
shelter during the night in the police-office. Captain
Mason, with the remainder of the passengers, including
ra9" Of the women, 'till remain on Barra.

-

T.H

// ,

CIiOLERA.

/j i

( From the General Board of Health, 0ct.17 .)
METROPOLIS.

, Dr. Gavin Milroy, from the General Board of Health,
114 an interview yesterday (Monday) with the directors
he poor of the parishes of St. Giles and St. George,
Bloomsbury, with a view to the preparation of plans
for securing the preservation of ,the public health in
those districts.
Mr. Yardley, of the metropolitan police office, has
to-day reported to the General Board of Health seven
cases of cholera in the parishes of St. George in the
East, Shadwell, Bermondsey, Bennington, and Green.
wich, and on board the ship Ivey, in the river Thames.
Dr. Milroy, in pursuance of the instructions of the
General Board of Health, has just inquired into and
reported upon the sanitary condition of the Queen's
Bench Prison in so far as it may be affected by the foul
effluvia arising from the knacker's yards, bone-boiling
factories, &c., in its immediate vicinity. Attention was
drawn to these nuisances a few days since by Captain
Hudson, in a letter addressed by him to Viscount Pal-
merston, and referred by his lordship to the General
Board of Health. Dr. Milroy observes :

" That it appears from the statements of all whom I
examined that the stench from the factories, &c., com-
plained of, is often so horrible, more especially when the
wind comes from their direction, that not only must
every window be shut, but the inmates of the prison--
the average number of all within the walls, including the
officers and their families, is about 200—are frequently
so nauseated that they cannot take their meals when
brought to them. One of the patients in the infirmary,
suffering chronic asthma, stated that his breathless-
ness was always much increased whenever the air
was polluted by the emanations from the bone-boil-
ing and other offensive trades in the neighbourhood.
On such occasions he was forced to leave the rear
of the building, which is most exposed to the dis-
gusting nuisance, and go into a room in front ; but
even then he did not find relief unless he at the same
time closed the windows. The proper ventilation
of the infirmary at the very season when it is most
required is seriously impeded, nor should it be forgotten
that the weather when the mephitic effluvia are the
most powerful is that when the freest aeration is the
most necessary to health and for the prevention of dis-
ease. The testimony of Mr. Watson, the surgeon of
the prison, leaves no doubt as to the results Ipf the nui-
sance in the production and aggravation of sickness. 'I
attribute the prevalence of bowel-complaints in the
prison,' he says, 'to a great extent, to be caused by the
noxious effluvia arising from the knackers' and
i bone-
boiling yards in Green-street, and this I observe s par-
ticularly the case with prisoners recently committed,
who invariably complain to me of nausea and loss of
appetite, which they attribute to the peculiar offensive
effluvia. During the prevalence of north-westerly winds
it is at times quite impossible to open the Infirmary win-
dows for the necessary ventilation.' Captain Hudson
and Lieut. Evison, the Governor and Deputy Governor
of the prison, testify to the depressing and otherwise
hurtful influence of the atmospheric pollutions upon the
health of their families, who have been much snore ailing
since they have resided in the place than they were
before, and both gentlemen very decidedly say that
they would refuse to live on the spot, if the nature of
their duties did not render residence compulsory. From
a list given to me by Captain Hudson, I find that in one
street alone there are no fewer than four bone-boilers,
three slaughterers of horses and other animals, two cat-
gut manufacturers, and one bone button manufacturer.
The Board of Guardians of St. George the Martyr have
made more than one attempt to suppress the nuisances,
but hitherto they have been foiled. They are still most
desirous to get rid of them from a conviction of their
pernicious effects ; and at the recent interview which
Mr. Hall, of the Poor Law Board, and I had with the
board to confer with them upon the measures to be
adopted at the present time for the protection of the
public health, the chairman pressed upon our 'attention
the necessity of means being taken to correct the two
monster nuisances—viz., the horrible condition of the
sewers, and the disgusting trades of bone-boiling, cat-
gut spinning, and horse slaughtering, carried on in the
midst of a thickly peopled neighbourhood."

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.—DEATHS.—Oct. 15— Cho-
lera, 2 ; diarrhoea, 2. Oct. 16—Cholera, 2 ; diarrhoea,
2. The total number of deaths from cholera and diar-
rhoea in Newcastle during the present outbreak has been
1,501. In the same period (namely, the first 46 days)
during the prevalence of epidemic cholera in 1831-2, the
number of deaths was 289.

SCOTLAND.—Dundee, Oct. 15, cholera, 1. Glasgow,
Oct. 14, cholera, 1. Edinburgh, Oct. 14, cholera, 1.
DARLINGTON.—Oct. 15, cholera, 1.
BAENTFORD.—Oct. 14, cholera, 1.

G-ATESHEAD.—Oct. 14, cholera, 3.

HANK:MGR.—The visitation of cholera appears to have
been comparatively slight ; only 15 fresh cases have oc-
curred since the 26th of September, and no new case
was notified to the authorities on the 6th of October, nor
on the three preceding days. The total number of per-
sons attacked is stated to have been 537, of whom 279
died, and 201 recovered, 51 remaining at that date under
treatment. In all human probability the community of
Hamburg are indebted for their comparative immunity
to the improved sanitary condition of their city since the
last visitation in 1848. In that year great mortality oc-
curred among the British seamen in this port, amount-
ing to upwards of 800 ; but on this occasion an eminent
English medical practitioner of the city, Dr. Helbert,
has been officially appointed to visit the captains and
crews of British merchant vessels in the port and neigh-
bourhood of Hamburg. Under the zealous service of Dr.
Helbert upwards of 400 vessels have been visited, and be-
tween 40 and 50 cases requiring immediate assistance were
thus discovered, of which only three have proved fatal, all
the deaths being from developed cholera. It is stated that
but for this ship visitation, very few of these men would
have been brought under medical treatment at all, and
still fewer in time for treatment have been of any
avail. Speaking of the British seaman generally, Dr.
Helbert says, " I think the general state of their health
is very satisfactory. In comparison with the Hamburg
population, these English sailors look much stronger and
healthier. As I often had occasion to visit the vessels at
dinner-time, I was generally struck with the excellent
food they had, which is far superior to that of the Ger-
mans ; particularly there always was a much larger
allowance of meat than the Germans have." The great
distance of the hospital from the port (namely, about
three miles) is greatly and justly complained of. It is
always difficult and often dangerous to remove the sick
so far, and even when they safely arrive at the hospital,
the journey produces a depressing effect. Attempts
have been made to remedy this evil, but hitherto without
success, though it is stated that a seaman's hospital
might be supported at a very moderate expense, were
the seamen to pay only at the same rate as they do at
present in the general hospital, namely, one mark daily.

.THE GOLDEN SANDS OF THE AMAZON.

The following letter, dated Chacapogas, August
17, has been published in the Panama Star, headed
with the following remarks :

"In the last summary of Peruvian news we gave
some information relative to the extraordinary discovery
of gold in the bed of the River Amazon. since then we
published, in the Spanish part of our paper, a letter
giving further particulars relative thereto, which, being
of considerable interest, we translate to-day, although
we in no way vouch for the correctness of the statements
contained therein :

" 'Don Mariano Aguilar left this on the 10th instant,
to commence the opening of the road to the river Amazon,
with the $2,059 granted by the State for that purpose.
"'The important day which shall enrich the north is
near, and within two months we shall be on the shores
of the river Santiago de Borja, travelling over its golden
sands, and in the midst of the rich and fertile plains of
the majestic Amazon.
" 'A person travelling by the river Ucayali, for Pa.
ruro, has discovered, a short distance from the shore of
the said river, a chalk hill, which at first appeared to
him to be of little importance ; but as a pastime he took
several pieces for examination, when, what was his sur-
prise at finding a gold ring on his finger apparently
converted into silver.
It at once struck him that this earth must contain
quicksilver, and he continued to inspect further into the
hill, until his surprise was further increased by coming
to a lake of fine quicksilver, of some twenty yards in
circumference, and, on more minute examination, he
found in various parts of the hill drops of quicksilver fil-
tering through a kind of yellow earth, partly concealed
among the herbs.
" Within five days Dr. Reyna will be en route with a
sufficient force to commence the work at the rich copper
mine of Chachahuala. It is expected in this province
that these mines will, within two months, prove a second
Copiapo in respect to these same copper veins, which
contains an alloy of 1,800 marks.
" Fifty years ago a man excavated the vein to the
depth of 14 yards, and the result was that the layer of
copper disappeared, changing to pure silver. From this
silver the ornaments of the church of this city, still in
existence, were made. The discoverer worked alone,
and after his death no one was able to discover the
mouth of the mine. In this way it is expected that Dr.
Reyna will, without doubt, having worked through the
copper layer, meet with a compact bed of silver.
" 'ln conclusion, it is said that within sixty days the
gold washings of Santiago de Borja will be discovered,
and the hill of Chachahuala will be reduced to solid sil-
ver, and afterwards the quicksilver mines of Ucayali.'"

DEATH OF M. FONTAINE, ARCHITECT.--The oldest
member of the Academy of Fine Arts has just died in
the 90th year of his age—M. Fontaine, who was suc-
cessively architect of Napoleon, Louis XVIII., Charles
X., and Louis Philippe. Notwithstanding his advanced
age, ho presided over the council to which the preserva-
tion of civil buildings is intrusted. The friend and col-
league of Percier, he erected with him the triumphal
arch in the Carrousel, and participated in the works of
the LouTre during the Elopae.

THEATRE ROYAL DRURY-LANE.
Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith.
THIS EVENING, °mons 18,
Will be performed THE LADY OF LYONS. Supported by
Messrs. G. V. Brooke, J. Johnston, A. Youngc, Morgan, and Moor-
house ; Mesdames Anderton, Vickery, and Belton.
To be followed by VERY SUSPICIOUS. Supported by Mr. G.
Wild and Miss F. Williams.
Ta conclude with THE WATERMAN. supported by Miss
Featherstone and Miss E. Ormond.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
Under the Management of Mr. CHARLES KEAN
THIS EVENING, Oar. 18,
Will be performed THE RIVALS. Characters by Messrs. W.
Lacy, Harley, Meadows, Cathcart, Mellon, and Addison ; Mrs.
Winitanley, Mrs. W. Lacy, Miss Heath, and Miss C. Leclercq.
To be followed by MARCO SPADA. Supported by Messrs. W.
Lacy, Ryder, and Graham; Misses Heath and C. Leclercq.

THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI.
Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste.
THIS EVENING, OCT. 18,

Will be performed THE DISCARDED SON. Characters by
Leigh Murray, Paul Bedford, and Keeley; Mrs. Keeley and ➢ills
Woolgar.
After which, THE CAMP AT CHOBHAM.
To be followed by "HOTEL CHARGES!" or, how to Cook
" A Biffin."
To conclude with COMING OF AGE.

ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Wigan.
THIS EVENING, OCT. 18,
Will be performed THE CAMP AT THE OLYMPIC. Ch‘rac-
ters by Messrs. A. Wigan, Emery, F. Robson, Cooper, and Galli ;
3fesdames A. Wigan, Stirling, P. Horton, Chatterly, E. Turner, and
Wyndham.
To be followed by PLOT AND PASSION. Principal characters
by Mr F. Robson and Mrs. Stirling.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke.

SECOND APPEARANCE of Miss KATE COOKE on her milk-white
charger, Snowdrop, expressly trained for her by Mr. W. Cooke.
Last Four Nights of the Battle of Waterloo. Mr. W. Cooke, ever
anxious to present the Patrons of this popular Theatre with every
possiole Novelty the Continent affords, has, at an enormous ex-
pense, entered into an Engagement with Mons. CLEUSH and his
Extraordinary AC LING TROUP of DOGS and MONKEYS,
whose wondrous performances abroad have been the theme of
universal astonishment and admiration. They will appear for the
First Time on SATURDAY, October 23.
THIS EVENING, OcT. 18,

And daring the week, will be presented (the 31st time) the New
Classical Burlesque, entitled JUPITER'S DECREE, AND THE
FALL OF PILETON; or, THE FIERY COITR.;ERS OF THE SUN,
supported by the entire strength of the Company.
To be followed by Mr. W. Cooke's matchless Scenes in the Circle,
introducing, for the First Time, Miss KATE COOKE, and those asto-
nishing Artistes, Signor CARLOTTIE and Signor FRANCOIS on
LA PERCHE.

Concluding with (107th time) THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO.
Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. w
West.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Nis DAT —Morning 32 min.after 2 I Evening 98 min.aft. 2
r o.lKolotow —Morning 6 min.after 3 1 Evening 19 min.aft. 3

THE WEATHER.—Sux OFFICE, OCT. 18.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
57—highest since noon yesterday.
44—lowest this morning and during the night.
54—this day at noon.
BAROMETER, 29'49—going up rapidly.
WIND, N.W.—Fine, but cloudy.

e
A

Alll,