The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-26 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY
_26, 1854.

thing, even the lives of the inhabitants arelianded
over to the tender mercies of the Jurats, none of
whom could be challenged by the prisoner, save
on special motives, which should be set forth in
writing. And yet some of these very Jurats
who were to decide the great question of life or
death, had acted as magistrates in the first instance,
had been cognisant of the illegal evidence, the hear-
say testimony received, and had made up their minds
even before the prisoner's advocate had the oppor-
tunity of being heard in his defence. Mr. FALLA
protested strenuously against this grievous injustice.
He boldly declared that if he had the power of gene-
ral challenge, "he would certainly exercise it, with
reispect to the magistrates who had sat in the examin-
ing court, and who had allowed themselves to be-
come acquainted with the illegal depositions which
had formed the ground of the prisoner's committal,"
and designated the system as " a blot on the cha-
racter of the island, which had been specially re-
probated by the Royal Commissioners in 1846."
And yet it was by such means that one of her
MAJESTY'S subjects, while engaged in her service,
has been condemned to an ignominious and pain-
ful death.

We do not wish to charge these gentlemen with
being desirous of unfairly convicting the prisoner,
but they were necessarily biassed. They could
not, even with the best intentions, divest their
minds of the injurious impressions received during
that preliminary inquiry, in which it was their
business to ferret out the evidences of his guilt,
and place it in such order as to insure his subse-
quent conviction. It is not iu accordance with
human nature that they should do so. We know
the quick and technical sense of felony by which
Crown prosecutors, policemen charged with the
conduct of a prosecution, and even committing
magistrates, are actuated. They reverse the ordi-
nary principle, and conceive, not that guilt is to
be established, but that innocence is to be clearly
proved. And yet an Englishman is condemned
by means of a system which appears founded on
very ancient precedent, but opposed to all modern
notions of justice.
" Onosius hcec .Rhadamanthus habet durissima regna,"
" Castigatque audit que dolos, subigitque fateri."

They make up their minds to the punishment be-
fore hearing the accused, and " subigitque fateri"
they enforce a confession, or at least something
that may be twisted into a criminating admission,
by a species of moral torture.
We find the conduct on the trial bearing out
this view of the case. The bailiff, an accom-
plished and able lawyer, very clearly and distinctly
explained the various points of evidence, pointing
out the matters that were involved, in doubt, and
which could not legitimately be taken to bear
against the prisoner. After his elaborate charge,
which lasted nine hours, the Jurats, without the
slightest deliberation or consideration, delivered
judgments—previously written out—and in many
instances founded on matters which the bailiff in
his charge informed them were not proved. Thus
practically ignoring the assistance that they might
have derived from that impartial Judge.
We have thus pointed out briefly—for our
space materially restricts us in this matter—some
of the flagrant grievances to which the prisoner was
subjected, and which, under all the circumstances
of the case, should prevent the execution of the
sentence, eren if his guilt was thereby established
as clear as noonday. We say that his death would
be neithermore nor less than an act of legal murder,
for be it remembered that such is the jealousy of
the British law, that if a man condemned to death
be executed by any other than the proper officer,
or in the mode prescribed by his sentence, it
would be an act of murder.

But there is another and even a stronger
point in his favour, which is, that despite all
these disadvantages, and supposing that his own
interrogatory were fairly admitted against him, ho
could not have been justly convicted of the crime.
The circumstances, however suspicious, are not
so conclusive to warrant a hostile verdict. It
must be borne in mind that there was not a particle
of direct testimony, not even a strong presumption ;
all were light presumptions, which might be ex-
plained, and many were by no means established
in proof. Under all circumstances, then, we feel
that this is a case where the Royal Prerogative
should be interposed in favour of the prisoner—.
not on the ground of any general objection to
capital puni3liments—but, firstly, because a fair
trial was not given to the prisoner; and, secondly,
because his guilt was not by any means clearly or
satisfactorily established beyond the possibility of
reasonable doubt.

While thousands are on strike because they are
discontented with their wages, others can get
neither work nor wages. It is a fact, of which
some instances have come to our personal know-
ledge, that many industriously disposed and
steady workmen cannot get work. Good as trade
may be in most branches, all of them are not
equally prosperous. Operatives, like the hand-
loom weavers, nearly superseded by machinery,
and unable to turn to other employments, and
agricultural labourers in many districts, from
which emigration has not thinned off the best
hands, are frequently imperfectly employed. In
bad weather the latter are often sent home by the
farmer, who, if an improving one, may then find
it difficult to employ them ; and, if one of the
old school, has literally nothing for them to do.
It is lucky, indeed, for them if the bad weather
happens to be drifting snow, as railways and
roads may then need their servioes. 'When we
hear of the wages in agricultural districts, at all
times low enough, it should always be inquired
whether in-door work is provided when out-door
work is impossible ; if not, this may reduce the
pay, perhaps by one-sixth, taking the year
through. There is no class more deserving
to be pitied, and none with whom we believe
sympathy is more generally felt, than those
who would gladly work hard for something above
out-door relief allowance, but who through various
circumstances cannot find scope for their industry.
To thousands in this position it is useless to talk
of migration or emigration ; they want the pecu-
niary means or the knowledge, or the mental
capacity, or bodily vigour—it may be they want
all ; they can but plod, and they are willing to
plod ; they can dig, perhaps, and to dig they are
not ashamed ; they can throw the shuttle, and
are willing to do it, but steam can beat them at
that. 'What are they to do ? What, especially,
when the wages they can earn at the present price
of fuel and food, even if it be a fraction better
than parish pay, is not sufficiently better to pay
for the additional nourishment which labour,
compared with idleness, requires ?
It is in times like the present (exceptional
times we hope, through the mercy of PROVIDENCE)
that the necessarily rigid terms of Poor-law re-
lief must be administered under the guidance of
kindly, as well as prudential, considerations. It
is, no doubt, most essential that some stringent
and impartial test should guard the legal national
charity from imposition. As legal charity, how-
ever, practically diminishes voluntary charity, so
much it should endeavour, as far as possible, to
compensate to the truly needy for that of which,
to a
large extent, it deprives them. Those who
receive
money relief " out of the house" ought
to receive an amount fully proportioned to the
enhanced price of corn, and of fuel, too, at this
time of the year ; the latter being as indispen-
sable to mere animal existence as food itself, it
being now so fully established that deficiency of
the one must be balanced by increase of the other.
The temporary, as we trust, high prices of food
and fuel bring with them much of the difficulty
of an extensive slackness of employment ; a diffi•
culty felt wherever any kind of work will not
afford high wages, while the wages previously
were but just equal to the support of the work-
man. The good sense and good feeling of the
local boards of guardians can alone be relied on
take counsel with the Commis-
here. They may
sioners, but it is utterly impossible that any
central commissioners can have adequate know-
ledge
of local peculiarities n tunes of difficulty.
If Somerset-house will be the sun of the Poor-
law system, it must yet consent to find the whole
country a prism exhibiting the original light in
very diverse colours.

May we not properly appeal, too, to Ministers of
Religion of all denominations, and to the denomi-

nations themselves, at times like the present We
know but too well how voluntary as well as legal
charity may be grossly abused ; we detest, more-
over, above all things, " soup-and-blanket " pro-
selytism, as Mr. LUCAS justly stigmatised it. We
remember the abominable impositions during the
horrible famine in Ireland ; yet is charity to the
poor a pre-eminently Christian virtue, one which
the best ordered legal charity must always leave
scope for, especially in emergencies like these ;
and it is the virtue, moreover, which more than
sermons and services commends religion to the
multitude. The people are quick to discover
whether attention to their wants is the off-
spring of Christian sympathy with their
trials, or of Sectarian zeal to augment de-
nominational numbers. In the latter case they
commonly reward it by deserting when the occa-
sion is gone by ; but iu the former, whether they
are found at public worship or not, a kindly feel-
ing towards religion itself is lodged in their
hearts. There seems no reason why other sects
should not manage as well as the Quakers in the
time of the Irish famine. The moral effects of
their unproselytising kindness were of grew}
value, as well as the charity itself. Mr.
HORACE MANN has just disclosed a case of painful
alienation, not neglect merely, on the part of the
poor, in regard to religion. Are not times of dis-
tress a kind of special opening for making them
sensible that the religion they neglect is their
most sympathising and generous friend 7

COURT CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, JAN. 25.

The following had the honour to dine with her Ma-
jesty yesterday :—His Grace the Archbishop of Canter-
bury, the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, the Earl and
Countess of Clarendon, the Earl and Countess of Bess-
borough, and Viscount and Viscountess Hardinge.

The band of the Scots Fusilier Guards attended in the
Castle during dinner, and played the following pieces :
Overture, " Die Zwei Prinzen"
Geistcschwingen Walzer Lanner.
Selection—" Giralda" Adam.
Quadrille—" La Fete des Lilas" Lamotte.
Trio and Chorus—" La Charita" Rossini.
Overture —" La Muette do Portici" Auber.
Her Majesty's private band was afterwards in attend-
ance, and performed the following compositions :
Overture—" Cantemire" Fesca.
Canzone—" Rigoletto" Verdi.
Fantaisie sur des Motifs de Mozart o de Beethoven.
The Queen with the Princess Royal and Princess
Alice walked in the Home Park this morning.

Prince Albert, accompanied by the Earl of Bess-
borough, went out shooting, attended by Lord Rivers
and Viscount Torrington.

The Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred rode on horse.
back, attended by Mr. Gibbs.

The Duke of Cambridge is expected to-day on a visit
to her Majesty. . .

The following have received invitations, and are also
expected this afternoon :—The Marquis and Marchioness
of Exeter and Lady Mary Cecil, the Earl of Malmes-
bury, the Earl and Countess Bruce, Viscount and Vis-
countess Palmerston, Viscount Drumlanrig, and the
Right Hon. the Speaker and Mrs. Shaw Lefevro.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Earl and Countess
of Clarendon, and Viscount and Viscountess Hardinge
left the Castle this forenoon.

Viscount Torrington has succeeded Colonel Wylde in
attendance on the Prince.

M. de Fleury had an interview with Viscount Pal-
merston on Tuesday at the Home-office.
The Earl of Aberdeen left town yesterday morning
for Windsor Castle. The noble Earl returned to Lon-
don in the afternoon.

The Earl of Clarendon returned to town yesterday
morning from a visit to the Queen at Windsor Castle.

Sir Charles and Lady Mary Wood had a dinner party
last evening at their residence in Chesham-place.
The Royal Commission for inquiring into the State of
the Corporation of the City of London held a meeting
yesterday at the Privy Council Office. The Commis-
sioners present were the Right Hon. H. Labouchere,
the Right Hon. Sir J. Patteson, and G. Cornwall
Lewis, Esq.
Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston left town yes-
terday afternoon for Windsor Castle on a visit to the
Queen.

Despatches from the Governor of Gibraltar were re
ceived yesterday at the Colonial-office.

Lord and Lady John Russell received at dinner, last
evening, his Excellency the French Ambassador and
the Countess Walewski, his Excellency the Austrian
Minister, and the Countess Colloredo, the Count
Stralytshy, his Excellency the Sardinian Minister, the
Duchess of Inverness, Lord Castlerosse, M.P., Miss
Russell, Hon. Miss Lister, Hon. G. Byng, Mr. R.
Grey. Her ladyship subsequently had an evening party,
which was attended by a select circle.
Sir Charles and Lady Mary Wood received at
dinner, last evening, the Duke of Bedford, the Earl of
Aberdeen, the Earl and Countess Grey, the Earl and
Countess of Clarendon, the Earl Granville, Lady
Dalemny, Sir David Dundas, and Mr. C. Greville.
Field-Marshal the Marquis of Anglesea leaves Beau-
desert Park, near Lichfield, to-morrow, for Uxbridge
House, Burlington-street, for the season.
The Viscount and Viscountess Maidstone have
arrived in town, from a brief visit to the Earl and
Countess of Jersey, at Middleton Park.

The Earl and Countess of Zetland are entertaining a
select party at Aske Hall, near Richmond, including
Lord and Lady Alvanley, the Scottish Judge (Lord
Rutherford), Mr. Mark and Lady Augusta Milbank, the
Honourable Edward Phipps, &c.
Lord Anson, M.P., has arrived in the Albany from a
visiting tour.
The Venerable Duchess Dowager of Leeds continues
in rather infirm health at Hornby Castle.
The Duke and Duchess of Bedford are receiving a
family circle at Woburn Abbey.

The noble General Commanding•in-Chief and Vis-
countess Hardinge returned to Great Stanhope-street
yesterday from a visit to her Majesty at Windsor
Castle.

Viscount and Viscountess Falkland and suite are
expected to arrivo by the next Oriental steamer from
Malta.

ILLNESS OF SIR RALPH LOPES.—We regret to state
that Sir Ralph Lopez, Bart., M.P., whose health for
some time past has been such as to cause the most
serious fears as to the result, was yesterday taken so
much worse after his medical advisers had Judd their
usual visit, that an express was sent requiring their im-
mediate attendance a second time, and Dr. Yonge and
Mr. Whippel, surgeons, proceeded at once to Maristowe.
A report of the death of the worthy baronet was current
last evening, but as the medical gentlemen had not re-
turned up to the time of our going to press, we are
induced to hope there is no foundation for the rumour.
—Plymouth, Mail of yesterday. _

LONDON SOCIETY' FOR TEACHING THE BLIND TO
READ.—On Tuesday a special general meeting of the
friends of this charity was held at the asylum, Avenue-
road, St. John's-wood, for the purpose of transacting the
usual business of the school. The report stated that the
friends of the society would rejoice to hear that their
essential object—viz., the completion of the Bible on
Lucas's system, had now been accomplished, and also
that Mr. Wood, the master, had adapted the characters
to musical notation. A wonderful proof of the facility
with which Lucas's system can be read is afforded in the
history of a clergyman, who having been, 12 years since,
deprived of sight, attempted in vain to read by the
common alphabetic characters, but, having acquired a
knowledge of the stenographic system, now reads with
such fluency as to perform his ministerial duties with-
out any assistance, conducting two whole services
with the same ease and comfort as if he were not de-
prived of sight. The completion of the embossed Bible
is to him a peculiar boon, not only by facilitating his
private study, but also by enabling him to read in public
the appropriate Church lessons throughout the year.
The report concluded with an appeal to the public for
support. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded
the business.

NEW YORK TO EUROPE IN SIX DAYS.—The new
steamer William Norris, which is warranted to run from
New York to Europe in five or six days, is nearly com-
pleted at New York. This vessel is simply flat and
sharp, with a good model for running fast in smooth
water. She is made unusually strong by having her
timbers strapped diagonally with bars of iron, and by an
iron kelson extending from the keel to the deck, excepting
in the central part of the vessel devoted to the engine.
This kelson is composed of two parallel sheets of iron
nearly half an inch in thickness, less than a foot apart,
and so fashioned and connected as to form a water tank.
On either side of this kelson are bilge kelsons, formed in
the same manner, also connecting with the deck. It is
expected that these ,unusual supports will give such an
amount of strength and solidity to the steamer as to
make her excel all other vessels of similar dimensions.
THE SHORTEST PASSAGE OF A SAILING SHIP ACROSS
THE ATLANTIC.—The new clipper Red Jacket, Captain
Elridge (Into captain of the steam-yacht North Star, and
of the packet-ship Roscius), arrived in the Mersey on
Tuesday afternoon, after an unprecedented run of 13
days, one hour, and 25 minutes, having left new York
on the 11th inst. She is one of the handsomest vessels
ever built, possessing, with the greatest symmetry of model,
immense strength and carrying capacity. Her dimen-
sions are as follows :—Registered length, 250 feet (ex-
treme 260) ; beam, 45 feet; depth of hold amidships,
24 foot ; rise forward, 3 feet; registered measurement,
2,340 tons ; burthen, 3,500 tons. From her log we find
the following daily runs :—Wednesday, 11th, 103 miles;
12th, 150 ; 13th, 265 ; 14th, 311 ; 15th, 217 ' • 16th,
;
106 ; 17th, 121 ; 18th, 310 ; 19th, 413 2oth, 374; 21st,
342 ; 22nd, 300 ; and 23d, 371 miles. The distance run
cn the 19th inst., 413 miles, is the greatest distance ever
attained in 24 hours by anything afloat,

AMERICA.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
AIJuvAL OF THE ALPS.
LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY, 10.45 A.M.
By the screw steamer Ails we have advices from
New York to the 14th inst. _ _

The steamer Baltic, from Liverpool, arrived at
New York on the 12th inst.

The ship Three Bells had arrived at Now York
with 230 of the survivors from the wrecked steam-
ship San Francisco.
There was no news of importance from Wash-
ington.
The New York stock market was depressed.
No alteration in the money market.
Flour iu good demand at slightly advanced price.
Wheat was also dearer.

Indian corn in good demand, at 87c. to 88e. for
new Jersey, and 83e. to 84c. for inferior old
Southern.

Freights to London firmer.
The ship Chauncey, Jerome, jun., from Liver-
pool for New York, was ashore near the islands
below New York, with her back broken and badly
bilged. Crew and passengers saved.