The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-28 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LOND,

ON BRIDGE.

realise nearly as much as the entire amount levied
on the profits derived from trades and. professions.
hiyle_ and Should the present Financial Scheme be carried in
its iote,grity, they will fully counterbalance, if
t
Jo not txceed it. Here, then, we find that
trades
profossiobs—taking the average of the
w
iirtually pay double Income Tax ; fur if,
on the aggregate of payments, double the amount
be realised, although under a different head,
what is it really but an Income Tax, and that of
the very worst description ? And the grievance
is enhanced, because the tax is not general in its
application. It bears only on certain branches of
industry, and therefore assumes a character of
"spoliation." We must also recollect that the
licensing system is totally opposed to the system
of " unrestricted competition" recommended by
Parliament. It tends to the creation of virtual
monopolies, restricting parties from entering into
the various branches of industry, by which they
might (if unfettered) ultimately realise handsome
profits. While, then, affecting to deplore the in-
justice to " intelligence and skill," the Right
Hon. Gentleman is attempting to enhance it, by
the provisions of the most Protectionist Budget
that has been brought forward since the creation
of the Income Tax in 1841.

It will be a source, we doubt not, of profound
gratification to those who have subscribed towards
the HOOD Testimonial, to observe that the pro-
jected Memorial is now rapidly approaching the
period of its completion. How far we are justified
in saying this may be at once perceived from last
night's proceedings. The meeting convened yes-
terday was, in point of fact, the final assemblage of
those who have participated, directly or indirectly,
in the undertaking—the final assemblage, that is
to say, prior to the erection of the monument and
its formal inauguration.

Every one who sympathises with genius of the
highest order employed in the noblest cause—ex-
ercised, we mean, in the interests of real benevo-
lence and genuine philanthropy—will exult in the
event here celebrated as the fulfilment of the first
vague dream of this HOOD Testimonial. Every
one will do so, we rest assured, because in
THOMAS HOOD we recognise the man of
heart as well as of imagination. His was
not a career lightly to be forgotten by his
fellow-countrymen. His writings were not like
those of the wretched scribbler whose history is
burnt in, as it were, with lunar caustic, upon
the tablets of the Dunciad, the poetaster, whose effu-
sions were described by Pop; as
" All that on folly phrenzy could beget,
Fruits of dull heat and sooterkins of wit."

His wit, on the contrary, was genial and exhila-
rating—the fruits of his fancy were mellow and
perennial. In him we saw, besides the poet and
the droll, the large-minded, open-handed, gentle-
hearted philanthropist. His sympathies extended
upwards and downwards to the furthermost ex-
tremes, in the most contrary directions. They
extended from the Fairy to the Prostitute. It is
a man like this that the people honour themselves
by hearing in recollection. It is well, therefore,
that the grave of poor HOOD is at length about to
be pointed out for the veneration of all who de-
light in poetic pilgrimages. Under the bust of
the departed, besides the garland he had won so
well, the garland he had woven with his own
hands out of the flowers of his graceful fancy, will
be emblazoned the simple and eloquent epitaph,
suggested by himself shortly before his dissolution
—the single line commemorative of the greatest
of his lyrical triumphs--
"He sang the song of the shirt."

Tnn DAY —Morning 2 min. after 5 I Evening 25 min.aft. 5
ro-Moßßow—Morning 51 min. after 5 I Evening 18 min.aft. 6

THE WEATHER.—Sux Orrics, APRIL 28.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
57—highest since noon yesterday.
41—lowest this morning and during the night.
54 this day at noon.

BAROMETER, 29'87.
WIND, E.S.E.—Light breeze, and fine weather.

THE PUBLICATION OF
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COMMENCES EVERY AFTERNOON
AT THREE O'CLOCK,
AND THE

LATE OR THIRD EDITION,

CONTAINING THE
LEBATES IN PARLIAMENT THE SAME EVENING,
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AT SEVEN O'CLOCK.

EXPRESS EDITIONS
will be forwarded after the Post is closed by the

Latest Trains.

hi

SAM

LONDON, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 1853.

Fortunately the genius of Art has been enlisted in
these labours for the appropriate and touching
commemoration of Poetry. Celebrated on either
side of the pedestal, in bronzes, will be groups
illustrative of two of the poet's most ex-
exquisite ballads—in one the corpse of the poor
suicide is being recovered from the river, in the
other EUGENE ARAM is reclining under the green
boughs in the meadow—trouble in the features of
the scholar-murderer. As an inscription, there
will be no fulsinne panegyric, or rhetorical eulo-
gium—the applause is hinted, the praise is im-
plied ; buds everywhere, in every touch of the
chisel, in every wrinkle in the bronze, there are
apparent the feelings of affection and veneration.
Perhaps no writer of recent times—except one
man, still, thank GoD! among the living—has
ever secured more of the personal, and, we
will add, really affectionate sympathies of
the reader by the genial goodness of heart re-
vealed throughout his contributions to literature.
The only author of a previous generation with
whom THOMAS HOOD could in this respect be
brought into comparison, was one whose name
and whose very foibles are regarded by us all with
emotions of peculiar tenderness—we mean, of
course, OLIVER GOLDSMITH. But the foibles of
HOOD it were rather difficult, we conjecture, to
enumerate and this not by reason of their
number, but because of their invisibility, or, if

discoverable, because of their insignificance. His
nature, while it was in so many respects winning
from its almost womanly softness, was at the same

The crisis has at length arrived. On the de-
cision now arrived at will depend the fiscal policy
of the country for perhaps many successive
generations. It will be determined whether
the gross and palpable injustice, under which
the country has groaned for eleven years, is to
be perpetuated ; for whatever Mr. GLADSTONE
may say as to the possible termination of
the tax in 1860, we believe that there is
no reasonable prospect of such a result.
—a result which, if carried into execution, would
operate as a prohibition against the further exten-
sion of the Free-trade policy, which has proved
so eminently beneficial to the country, and to
which the popular branch of the Legislature is
solemnly pledged by a resolution, adopted as a
compromise between the leaders of the principal
parties in the House, and sanctioned by a decisive
and overwhelming majority, one of the largest
ever recorded on an abstract question.
If Mr. GLADSTONE be sincere in the intention
of abandoning the principal item of direct tax-
ation, he must throw overboard the resolution of
which he was one of the most strenuous support-
ers. We should be sorry to cast any doubt on
the honour and integrity of the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman, or to assert that he deliberately intended
to violate his implied promise. He is, however,
placed in this dilemma. If the pledges as to the
cessation of the Income Tax be faithfully re-
deemed, the resolution as to the extension of the
policy of " unrestricted competition" must be dis-
regarded. There will be an end to any further
progress in the path of fiscal improvement. The
great agent by means whereof the present position
has been attained will be consigned to rest--
the potent giant permitted to repose from all use-
ful exertion. Can Mr. COBDEN and the Man-
chester School support this view of the case ?
Can they set at naught all former professions ?
We believe not. And notwithstanding a recent
deplorable case of tergiversation, we still hope
that Mr. COBDEN and his friends and coadjutors
will remain faithful to the great cause of Free
Trade, and insist on the gradual removal of indi-
rect imposts by means of a permanent and equita-
bl
Ite
woutax
On, accumulated and realised property.
argue on ld
the
lae an insult to Mr. GLADSTONE to
he did not
ionttheenrd to carry
of the alternative—that
earry
out his views. No
Hon. Gentleman
could give his vote on the as-
sumption that the
would b Income Tax would be continued
beyond 1860.
That
pretence
to support a mea-
sure based on a falsereten
of the most dis-
graceful and dishonourable character
But even Mr. GLADSTONE himself
'.
the injustice of the equal assessmentokf
nowledges
of incomes, without reference to the souall kinds
whence it may be derived. He deela-es rctehaftroin't
" bears too hard upon intelligence and skin, as
compared with property," and " not hard enough
upon property as compared with intelligence and
skill." But though thus confessing the evil, he
declines to provide any remedy, even of the most
homceopathic character: He admits the grievance,
but coolly perseveres in the injury. Nay, more,
extends it, for he attempts to saddle some
of the contributors under Schedule D with
new burdens by a great addition to the
duties on the licences for liberty to pursue
t heir trade or calling. These licenses already

time manful and chivalric. Brave-hearted in all
that related to himself, he toiled on resolutely to
the last in spite of disease and of pecuniary em-
barrassments. And yet at the very time when
he was struggling thus valiantly against his own
misfortunes, he could weep on his deathbed for
the sufferings of his most abject and neglected
fellow-creatures. Some of those tears falling on
the paper, traced the words of that wonderful
lyric in which he has recorded the miseries, and
given ♦oice to the anguish, of the sempstress.
We all of us recollect those exquisite verses,
written by THOMAS HOOD, as it were on the very
eve of his dissolution, in which he lamented ever
the grave--

" I smell the mould above the rose !"
Now that this Memorial is really ix a fair way
towards its completion—at any rate, immediately
the monument has been inaugurated in Kensal-
green Cemetery—the admirers of HOOD standing
over the spot where his ashes are reposing, may
exult that that latest exclamation of the poet was
prophetic—

"I smell the rose above the mould !"
Yes—the rose of memory above the mould of cor.
ruption.

7,698

keuE SUN, LownoN, TnuitsnAv EVENING, APRIL 98, lass.

-NEWMARKET RACES.
(THIS DAY.)

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
QUEEN'S PLATE.

Ilex

Ariosto ...

Four ran.
LATEST BETTING.
CHESTER CUP.

20 to 1 agst Lord-Lieutenant (taken freely)
500 to 400 that Newminster beats Lady Evelyn

SEIZURE OF WAR ROCKETS AT ROTHER-

HITHE.-(THIS DAY)

To-day having been fixed by Mr. Henry for giving
his decision upon the summons against William, Hale,
for having in his pDssession a greater quantity of gun.
powder than allowed by law, the defendant, as well as
the counsel, and other parties engaged in the case, were
in attendance shortly after 12 o'clock.
Mr. Henry said, the defendant was summoned for
having kept within three miles of the city of London a
greater quantity of gunpowder than is permitted by the
provisions of the 12th George 111., chapter 61. It was
admitted that the premises where the seizure was made
belong to the defendant, and that the quantity found
exceeds what the law allows, but it was contended that
the article seized is not gunpowder, and that is the
question to be determined. It was proved by scientific
witnesses, who had analysed the powder in question,
that it is composed of nitre, sulphur, and charcoal, which
are the same ingredients as are used for the manufacture
of ordinary gunpowder, but the difference relied upon
is, that the seized powder had not undergone the process
of granulation, and that the omission of that process
contradistinguishes it from gunpowder. Having taken
time to consider that question, and having looked into
the history of the manufacture of gunpowder, I am
satisfied that the distinction relied upon is not well
founded, and that the powder which was seized is gun-
powder within the meaning of that word, whether taken
in its ordinary, scientific, or legal acceptation. On refer-
ring to the " Encyclopmdia Britannica, ' title "Gunnery,"
I find it stated that for some time after gunpowder was
introduced, it was always manufactured and used with-
out the process of granulation, and that that process is
a comparatively _modern improvement, previously to
which the only gunpowder in use was ungranulated, or
what is in the trade termed "meal powder." In the
same work, under the title " Gunpowder," the definition
of that word is thus given---"A composition of nitre, sul-
phur and charcoal, usually granulated," implying there-
fore that sometimes, and for some purposes, gunpowder
is not granulated. I now proceed to consider whether
the Act of Parliament was intended to apply to gun-
powder generally, or only in a limited sense of that word,
and I think it is manifest from the title and preamble of
the statute, that it was passed with !a view to include
within its provisions every species of gunpowder in all
the stages of its manufacture. It is entitled, "An act
to regulate the making, keeping, and carriage of Gun-
powder," and the preamble recites, "That whereas the
manufacture of gunpowder, though necessary to be encou-
raged as an article of defence and commerce, yet ought to
be regulated by law in order to prevent the great mischiefs
which may arise from explosions, &c." It then proceeds
to enact that no person shall in any manner manufac-
ture, or keep or carry gunpowder except as therein pro-
vided. The 11th section is the one under which the
defendant was summoned, and it provides that no per-
son shall have or keep at any one time in any place
within three miles of the cities of London or West-
minster, or within one mile of any other borough or
market town a greater quantity than 2001bs. in weight,
if he be a dealer in gunpowder, or than 501bs. if not a
dealer, on pain of forfeiting all above the allowed
quantity, and also 2s. for every pound of the excess. I
am of opinion that whether the powder be granulated or
meal powder, and whether it be for gun, rocket, or
mining use, it is equally gunpowder within the provisions
of that section, and within the mischief which it was in-
tended to guard against. It must be obvious to every-
one, and to no one more than the defendant himself,
that if a fire were unhappily to oc?.ur upon his premises,
an explosion of such powder and materials as were
found there could not fail to be very destructive
in such a populous neighbourhood, and if it were
attended with loss of life, he would be liable to a
prosecution of a much more serious nature than the
present. It only remains for me to adjudge that all the
powder seized beyond the allowed quantity shall be for-
feited, together with the barrels in which it was con-
tained, and that the defendant shall pay 2s. for every
pound beyond such allowed quantity, and I adjudge the
excessive quantity of gunpowder to be 57 lbs. in weight.
The hearing of another summons against William and
Robert Hale, and one of their workmen for illegally
manufacturing war rockets was then proceeded with.
Mr. Clarkson, in opening the case, stated that the
Crown instituted the present proceeding under the 9th
and 10th of Wm. 111., chap. 7, which provided that any
person who made, or caused to be made or sold, squibs,
rockets, serpents, or other fire-works, should, on being
convicted, be fined for every such offence the sum of 51.
Under another section, a manufactory for this pur-
pose was deemed to be a common nuisance, and
dangerous to the surrounding neighbourhood. He
should show that there were found on the premises
at Rotherhithe between 1,500 and 1,600 rockets.
Many of them were quite finfshed, and some of them in
the process of manufacture. Those finished were packed
up, as if about to be sent away. All were taken pos-
session of by the police. There were also found some
empty rocket cases, and some iron heads, which were
probably intended to be used in the manufacture of
rockets. It might be contended by his learned friend
that the provisions of the act did not include war rockets,
but only referred to fireworks which were employed for
amusement, but he thought there could be no doubt
that the Legislature intended to use the word " fire-
works" in the most comprehensive meaning, and
to include within it rockets made for the pur-
poses of war. The rockets in question were
most powerful instruments of war. One of them had
been trled at Woolwich under the superintendence of
the military authorities, and it was proved to be of a
most destructive character. The attention of the Go-
vernment was first directed to the manufactory at
Rotherhithe in the month of October last, when great
activity appeared to prevail among the persons
in the employ of Mr. Hale. If not all, nearly all
were foreign refugees, and there seemed to be
a degree of secresy in the way in which they entered
and left the premises and carried on their different
operations. When these circumstances, coupled with
the fact of between 1,500 and 1,500 rockets being ma-
nufactured on the premises in a very short time,
came to the knowledge of the authorities, it of
course became their imperative duty to investigate
into the matter. They would perhaps hear from the de-
fendants for what purpose these weapons were manufac-
tured. At least, it was open for them to do so if they
thought proper. The elder defendant told one of the
witnesses that he exported them to different parts of
the world ; but the Government, as they were in duty
bound, had taken the trouble of going through 40,000
or 50,000 entries at the Custom-house in order to inves-
tigate into the truth of that statement, and he should be
able to prove that if any were exported they were so
under other names than that of Mr. Hale. The infer-
ence, therefore, to be drawn was either that there had
been a suppression of his name, or that the articles were
exported under some other designation than that of
rockets.
Mr. Clarkson—How long back have you gone in your
search ?
Mr. Bodkin said he believed since 1847. There was
also another iciroumstance he thought it right to men-
tion, namely, that Mr. Hale could not have manufac-
tured the rockets without a considerable sum of money,
the value of the rockets actually seized being between
1,0001. and 2,0001. in addition to that, he ought, perk
haps, to state that Mr. Hale had only recently been a
bankrupt, and that though his bankruptcy was after-
wards superceded, he was only able to pay a small com-
position
to his creditors, of some 3s. in the pound. That '
obviously presented itself to the minds of these who bad
been engaged to inquire into this affair. The learned
counsel then proceeded to call the following wit-

nesses

Mr: 'Evan 'superintendent of Thames police, said—l
accompanied :Sergeant Saunders to the premises in ques-
tion on the 13th April. They are situated on the banks
of the Surrey Canal. Before I went in, I saw the defen-
dant, Boylan, ramming a rocket in one of the workshops.
(A specimen of the rockets were produced.) I then
went into the premises. I told him who I was. I pro-
duced the search-warrant. I asked him if there was
any gunpowder on the premises, and he said no. In
answer to questions, he stated that neither of the Hales
were present. I found about 20 of the smaller rockets
in a box. Boylan said they were what he had been
finishing. I found also a large quantity of empty cases
and empty shells. There were four workrooms, and
they . were fitted up with apparatus for making
rockets. There were altogether 3,629 shell heads,
and 2,489 shell tails. There was a shed near
the work rooms. Boylan said there were only a
few empty cases in it. I asked for the key. He said
he had not got it. I told him I must break it open.
He then went to his cottage, got the key, and opened
the door. In that magazine I found 79 boxes, chiefly
running about four feet long, by eight or nine inches in
depth. I found them filled with charged rockets. They
were very strongly made, being of inch deal, and very
firmly screwed down, each with 12 screws. Boylan, at
six o'clock, said he would go to his master at Chelsea,
and inform him of the seizure. When he returned he
said he had not seen him, and then left the premises in
the charge of some officers. On the following morning
I was at the chief police office in Scotland-yard. The
two Hales were there. Mr. Hale, sen., asked me under
what authority I had entered his premises. I told him
under a search-warrant. I had it with me, and I then
produced it.
Mr. Clarkson suggested that it was unnecessarily
consuming time by repeating the evidence given at the
last examination.

Mr. Bodkin said, he would only ask such questions as
were pertinent to the inquiry.
Witness's examination continued—He then said there
was not a particle of gunpowder in the place. He said
I had the rockets by me these two years. I export
rockets through the Custom-house to various places. He
mentioned Copenhagen and Hamburgh. He said he
shipped some in the John Bull steamer, which is a
Hamburgh boat. He said I have offered them to the
Government, and I shall be very glad if they would take
them off my hands. He also said if you will inquire of
Sir Thomas HaMtings, of the Ordnance, you will find
what I state is correct.
Cross-examined by Mr. Clarkson—The nearest house