The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-06 00:00:00

WORKING OP THE POOR-LAWS.

A seizure of cattle for rates near Clonmel, on
Friday last, was not effected without a formidable
show of resistance by a large body of the peasantry.
The police however prevented actual hostilities.
The spirit of the people, says a letter, is up, and
they are determined not to pay rates either in money
or kind.

THE ATTEMPTED MURDER AND ROBBERY IN
LEEDS.—On Saturday Thomas Spooner and Charles
Rawson, charged with attempting to murder and rob
John Sims, an old man who carries on the trade of a
coal-dealer, at Leeds, were brought before the Mayor
and other magistrates of that borough for further
examination, along with a third man, named John
Orange. The evidence clearly established the facts
stated in The Sun of yesterday, namely, that the priso-
ner Rawson and another man, not in custody, went about
9 o'clock on the night of the 18th ult. to the old man's
house, under pretence of wanting to purchase some
coals; that Rawson struck him a violent blow on the head
with a large hammer, which the prisoner Spooner had
lent to him for the purpose; and that Rawson and the
man who is still at large afterwards became alarmed and
ran away. Mr. W. H. Price, surgeon, proved that the
prosecutor had received a contused wound of about an
inch and a half in length, the scalp being torn from the
bone; and he expressed an opinion that had not the old
man had his hat on at the time, the blow would in all
probability have caused death. The magistrates com-
mitted Rawson and Spooner for trial at the next assizes
—the first for an assault, with intent to rob and disable
or murder the prosecutor; and Spooner for being an
accessary before the fact. Against the third man, John
Orange, there was no legal proof, and he was conse-
quently set at liberty.
NATIONAL ARBITRATION.—A meeting was held
yesterday in the Court-house at Leeds, to consider a
petition to be presented to Parliament in support of Mr.
Cobden's intended motion for an address to the Crown
in furtherance of national arbitration. The requisition
to the mayor, Mr. J. H. Shaw, was signed by 85 persons
resident in the town. The attendance included a con-
siderable number of working men. The proceedings
were opened by the mayor, who repudiated any intended
attack upon the military profession, but quoted Vattel
to show that arbitration was a very reasonable
mode of settling international disputes, and expressed
his opinion that whatever might be the result of Mr.
Cobden's motion, it would be productive of much good.
The first resolution, to the effect that the nation should
carefully abstain from all interference with the domestic
or international disputes of other countries otherwise
than by friendly mediation, was proposed by Mr. Mar-
shall, one of the Members for the Borough, and se-
conded by the Rev. C. Wieksteed, a Unitarian minister,
and carried unanimously. A resolution deprecating
" brute force" was carried with equal unanimity; and a
petition agreed to, embodying the views ofj the meeting.
A vote of thanks was then passed to the chairman, and
the business was terminated.

MONET MAEXET.—The premium on gold at Paris
is 10 per mille, which, at the English Mint price of
3l 17s. 100. per ounce for standard gold, gives en ex-
change of 25.40; and the exchange at Paris on London
at short being 25.33, it follows that gold is 0.28 per
cent. dearer in Paris than in London. By advices from
Hamburgh the price of gold is 437 per mark, which, at
the English Mint price of 31. 17s. Mid. per ounce for
standard gold, gives an exchange of 13.11; and the
exchange at Hamburgh on London at short being 13.91,
it follows that gold is 0.57 per cent. dearer in Ham-
burgh than in London. The course of exchange at New
York on London is 1081 per cent., and the par of ex-
change between England and America being 109 23 40
per cent., it follows that the exchange is 1.08 per cent.
against England; but the quoted exchange at New York
being for bills at 60 days' sight, the interest must be
deducted from the above difference. _ _ .

FOREIGN CATTLE AND PROVISIONS.—The breaking
up of the ice in the Elbe and Scheldt has caused the
arrivals from the Dutch and German ports to become
regular and of the usual numerous character. The
following numerous arrivals from the Dutch ports have,
in consequence, taken place in one day :—The steamer
Attwood, from Rotterdam, brought 59 oxen and cows
and 33 calves, and 216 baskets of yeast; the Lord John
Russell, from Middleburg, 31 quarters of beans, 218
quarters of wheat, 8 cows, and 2 calves; the Donker
Curtis, from Nordwyk, 13,000 cheeses; the Adonis,
from Rotterdam, 239 casks of butter, 5,164 cheeses, 141
bags of potatoes, 61 cows, 23 packages of cauliflowers,
and some packages of poultry; the Camilla, from Nieu
Diep, 10,500 cheeses, 69 cows, and 381 sheep; the Lion,
from Harlingen, 305 quarters of wheat, 260 quarters of
oats, 12 baskets of poultry, 2,340 casks of butter, 1,350
of cheese, 32 cows, 1 horse, and 140 sheep; the Rain-
bow, from Rotterdam, 158 casks of butter, 11 baskets of
poultry, 602 of yeast, 78 of fish, and 45 calves; the
Magnet, from Rotterdam, 106 oxen and cows, and 118
sheep; and the Wave, from Nieu Diep, 33,050 cheeses—
all the production of Holland.