The Sun.
London, England, 1836-04-04 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 4, B'-6

state of affairs,'which Mr. Lindsay considers to de-
mand a remedy, arc pleased to divert themselves and
,their readers with turning into ridicule the suggestions ~
he makes for redressing existing evils. We are, our-
selves, not disposed to contend for their wisdom, nor
do we wish to damp the sprightliness of our Contempo-
raries upon fitting occasions ; but we venture to submit
that the state of our relations with the empire of
China is no laughing matter, and that it much concerns_
the public to understand what that state is, whether
they agree with the propositions for its amendment, or
dismiss them as absurd. Believing Mr. Lindsay to
be a fair and competent witness as to the existing cir-
ctimstances of the British Establishment in China, we
shall therefore use his pamphlet as a means of furnish;
in to our readers the information, as to facts, which it
is expedient they should be possessed of. It is, we
think, fairly and truly stated that our affairs in China
are at present in a very anomalous condition'—a state
in which they ought not to be suffered to continue.
We have broken up the system of the East India Com-
pany in throwing open to the public that trade of which
the Company did possess a monopoly. The Commis-
sion for the management of our affairs, which was ap-
pointed in consequence of the new state of the
law, and at the head of which Lord Napier
was placed, was —to say the least of it
very unfortunate in its proceedings : and since
his Lordship's lamented death at Macao, affairs have
been left to arrange themselves. This is a method
which often answers very well, especially in the con-
cerns of trade ; but it is always liable to sudden inter-
ruption and disaster, and does not very well consist
with the dignity, of the British Government. Besides,
if we are not to have the advantages of a Government
establishment in China, we ought not to be at the ex-
pense of it ; but according to the account before us,
the expense continues, without any corresponding
benefit. Had the monopoly of the East India Com-
pany continued, Mr. Lindsay says, he is inclined to
believe that no change in our political relations with
China would have been necessary. " Occasional dis-
putes would have occurred ; but the power of adjusting
them being in the hands of two parties, both equally inte-
rested in the preservation of the trade, we should have
gone
on for an indefinite period, in spite of the arro-
gance of the Chinese and the ill-suppressed wrath of
the English residents. But circumstances are now
changed ; the Company's monopoly is abolished—that
of the Chinese remains. Those immense interests,
over which the Company's representatives formerly
held individual sway, are now broken into numerous
fractions, without any bon4 or community of interest.
This appeared so obvious that it was thought neces-
sary to replace the authority of the Company by one
from the Crown, which should be equally able to con-
trol and protect its own subjects. That this was
the intention of his Majesty's Government is clear,
by their sending out a Nobleman of Lord Na-
pier's rank and character to assume the situa-
tion of his Majesty's Chief Commissioner." Mr.
Lindsay proceeds to avow his opinion that the
'Commission failed in its purpose. He admits that
Lord Napier acted in some respects injudiciously, but
maintains that the Chinese were pre-determined to in-
sult him, and that no moderation on his part would
have proCiired for him a fitting reception. He then
comes to the question of what is now to be done ? He
says he cannot imagine it possible that another Eng-
lish gentleman of character and talent is to be sent to
China, and directed to submit to all the humiliating,
concessions of national inferiority, which will be de-
manded before he is recognized by the Chinese ; and
he asks, as a correlative question, whether we are to
continue at Macao an establishment which costs more
than 20,000/. a year, without any assignable duties
whatever ? This has been the situation of his Majes-
ty's Commission, ever since the lamented death of
Lord Napier. This ought not to continue ; and Mi-
nisters would be better employed in looking into such
matters than in considering how a Government may
be maintained in Spain, which the Spanish people de-
spises and detests ; or how Mr. O'Connell may be al-
lowed to establish bigotry and democracy in Ireland,
without awakening the suspicion and provoking the dis-
pleasure, of the people of England. Sir John Cam
Hobhouse, to whose department this branch of the
public business directly belongs, would do well to spare
a little time from jobbing in Governorships, in order to
.attend to it. It is enough that the connections of a
former ultra democrat, should be provided for at the
expense of the Mutiarcily, which he now affects to
serve, without' suffering in another quarter from com-
plete neglect of that which concerns the dignity of the
Crown, and the interest of a most important branch of
the trade of the country. Whatever may be done with
respect to the establishment at Macao—and that
something should be done is quite obvious—we do not
think that Mr. Lindsay's advice as to the future treat-
inept of the Chinese will be of much use to Minis-
ters. As soon as he leaves the region of facts for
that of speculation, the detail of things as they are,
for suggestions of what they ought to be, he seems
to lose his head, and to follow the impulse of indig-
nant temper, rather than of cool judgment. He as-
sures the public, however, that he has " considered
the subject deeply, and that there are but two modes
of acting that can now be adopted with any appear-
ance of consistency." The first is by a direct armed
interference, to demand redress for past injuries, and
security for the future. The second is the withdrawal
of all political relations from a country which obsti-
nately refuses to acknowledge such without insult, and.
the sending out, in lieu of his Majesty's Commissioners,
" a person of no pretensions," whose sole duties should
consist in registering ships' papers, and countersigning
manifests. By either or both of these notable plans we
should, no doubt, have the satisfaction of showing that
we were very angry with the Chinese. But is this worth
while ? We should think not, considering the price we
should probably pay for the indulgence of our indigna-
tion—namely,' the mode first pointed out, the destruction
or very long interruption of our trade with China ; and
in the second, the risk of incurring some great loss, or
losing some great advantage, from the want of an autho-
rity to act on the part of the British Government, in
any emergency, until many months should elapse, and
many thousand miles of ocean have been traversed.
And what is the offence for which these measures
against the peace or the pride of the Chinese are ad-
vised ? Why, truly this, that they are so barbarous
as to call us barbarians, and to give us, along with
their commodities, very scuryy larrgtrage. Can we not
afford to regard this with contempt ? Our tea does
not taste a whit the worse, that the people who sell it
are in some respects very grotesque savages, and so
imbued with ignorant conceit, that they call us bar-
barians, in comparison with themselves. Expe-
rience has shown that they are incorrigible in this
respect, and we despair of teaching them polite-
ness by means of cannon-shot and shells, or per-
suading them to o)serve etiquette, by neglecting to
observe our own national arid commercial interests.
We believe that by strict observance of honesty in
matters of trade, and of established rules as to the
manner of it, a very beneficial, and by no means de-
grading, intercourse may be maintained with the Chi-
nese. The Government of this country should apply
itself to the consideration of the Chinese question, with
a view of establishing a system that will secure, as far
as may be, this honesty, and adherence to rule. The
danger is, that from the " numerous fractions" into
which the China trade is broken, some of them will
attempt to act upon their own individual views, and
by cheating, or other misconduct, endanger the pros-
perity or safety of the whole trade. An establishment
to protect our interests in China, by seeing that strict
justice is done upon our part, is that which the present
state of circumstances demands. We hope the subject
will not be much longer neglected by the proper
authorities.—Morning Herald.
What will the People do? if the Lords, as on
Saturday we announced it to be their intention, reject
the Irish Municipal Reform Bill. That is the ques-
tion—and though it would be well if the Government
and the country would calmly consider the mode of
action to be adopted in such a contingency, it is the
existence of the hereditary legislators themselves which
is most vitally involved in the solution of the question.
It is true the Ministry may be unseated—the people of
Ireland may. light their mountain fires, calld ,
simul-
taneous meetings—the connection between the two
countries may be endangered, but hereditary legisla-
tion will assuredly receive a death blow ; therefore

't is the Lords themselves who should reflect most
-nsly on the results which must follow—inevi-
erh,.
t „
I:tow—their denial of justice to Ireland.
ThellhiY
Commons' of England have pronounced in fa-
vour of the prin:'iple of admitting Ireland to the
enjoyment of equal 1a;.4 and rights with majorities
so numerous, that no do,"bt can exist of the de-
termination with which the peop l of Great Britain are
resolved to force the measure into law; and should the
.e:
Lords array themselves in opposition, the collision
must be fatal either to representative government or to
birth-right legislation. It was not to be expected that
the Reformed House of Commons could proceed in
the reformation of abuses without incurring opposition
from an unreformed House of. Lords. The great ob-
jection to the former constitution of the House of
Commons was the influene.c which the aristocracy ex-
ercised in the election of its Members; but if the
Lords be allowed to prevent amelioration in our insti-
tutions, it is a matter of indifference whether the evil
be perpetuated by one means or the other—by corrup-
tion in the election of Members of the House of Com-
mons, or by innate corruption in the House of Lords.
Thus it is evident that we must either forfeit the be-
nefits of a reform in the House of Commons, or reform
the I-louse of Lords ; and again we ask, What will the
people do ?—Morning Advertiser.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

ROME CIRCUIT.—KrNasroN, APRIL 2.

THE OMNIBUS CONSPIRACY.-THE KING ON THE PROSE

CUTION OF WILLIAM HARRIS V. RICHARD DOXALL AND

OTHERS.

Mr. CLARKSON opened the pleadings. He stated that
this was an indictment against certain coach proprietors for
conspiring together to injure and obstruct the prosecutor in
the exercise of his lawful occupation. Mr. PLATT stated
the case to the jury. After calling some witnesses,
. _

Lord Chief Justice TINDAL said that it would be advisa-
ble to settle this case without proceeding further. A con-
sultation between the Counsel for the prosecutors and de-
fendants of considerable length took place, and ultimately
the following terms were agreed to by all parties :—The de-
fendants to withdraw their pleas of not guilty, and to plead
guilty ; the coach proprietors to enter into recognizances in
1001., each to come up to 'receive judgment if called upon,
with an understanding that unless they discontinue their ille-
gal acts against the plaintiff, or refuse to pay such compen-
sation (if any) as shall be awarded on arbitration, or refuse
to appear before the arbitrator, they shall be called before
the Court to receive judgment.
Mr. Adolphus was appointed the arbitrator in the cause.
The following defendants then came forward and entered
into their own recognizances in the above-named amount :
—Boxall, Dale, jun., Page, Saltwell, Sheldrick, Spooner,
Heathcote, Fownes' Blackwell, and Wardell.
The above cause had created a great sensation among the
gentlemen of the whip, with whom the Court was crowded.

NORFOLK CIRCUIT, NORWICH, APRIL 1.

Robert Bunting, aged 19, was charged with having com-
mitted an aggravated assault on the person of Phsebe Tuffs,
four years and a half old, on Wednesday the 25th day of
July last, in Terrington St. Clements, in this county, of
which injury she died on the following day. The Jury
found the prisoner Guilty, and sentence of death passed
without hope being held out of its mitigation.
SATURDAY.—Peter Taylor was indicted as an accessary
before the fact in the wilful murder of Mary Taylor his
wife, by administering arsenic, namely, white arsenic, in
water gruel at Burnham Westgate on the 12th of March
last.

Mr. Anthony Bligh produced records of the conviction
of Catherine Frary and Frances Billing, executed for the
murder at the last midsummer assizes. Mr. Palmer took
an objection that the record of the conviction was against
Francis, instead of Frances Billing, although the bill was
preferred in the right name.
His Lordship did not think it material, but would take
a note of the point.
The Jury returned a verdict of Guilty.--Sentence Death.

NORFOLK CIRCUIT, NORwmf, APRIL 1.
YARMOUTH BRIBERY CARES.--REX V. LACON.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL stated the case. It would oc-
cupy but a very short time ; but the only question they
would have to decide was whether William Hall and Win.
Pye were to be believed upon their oath, and if that were
the case, then the Jury would have no doubt whatever upon
the matter. The defendants were alleged to have given mo-
ney to Hall at the last election for the borough of Yarmouth
to vote for Praed and Baring. The election took place in
the beginning of Jan. 1835. The voter corrupted was Hall a
baker, who at that time lodged at a public-house called the
Jolly Maltsters. He was solicited to vote, but refused to
make a promise to either party. On the second day of the
election Lacon, who was a keen partisan in the Red interest
ramp ft, the public-house, where he found Hall. They went
together to a bed-room, and on that occasion it would be
sworn to by Hall, and proved by Bye, the landlord, that
ten sovereigns were promised and given. Mr. Lacon ap-
peared at first more unwilling to trust Hall with the money
than he was willing to part with it. Hall then suggested
that it should be deposited in the hands of the landlord
until after he had voted. Bye was called up, and the money
given to him ; and he subsequently gave it to Hall after he
had voted for Praed and Baring.
Mr. Lacon's identity not having been proved, the Jury
found the defendant—Not Guilty.

REX V. GREEN.

This was also a criminal information against the de-
fendant, for alleged bribery at the last Yarmouth election.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, in opening the case to the
Jury, said that this case was different from the last. The
facts of the case were not disputed ; but it would resolve
itself into a question of law, whether it was an offence at
common law to promise a particular sum of money to a
voter without proof of its being paid after. Verdict—Not
Guilty.
Being Good Friday, the Court did not sit till 1 o'clock.
Thus have all these cases, which his Majesty's Attor-
ney-General has visited this city in order to prosecute, been
disposed of without one of the parties against whom the
charges were preferred being required to enter upon any de-
fence whatever.

WE-STERN CIRCUIT.-LAUNCIISTON, MARCH 31.

Philip Manuel was indicted for the wilful murder of his
daughter, Caroline Manuel, by shooting her with a gun.
The prisoner is a man of singularly wild appearance, and,
while standing in the dock, he fixed his eyes with an intense
gaze on the different objects that caught his attention.
Christian Manuel, another daughter of the prisoner, was
about 17 years of age. Her deceased sister, Caroline, was
younger than herself. On the 19th of February last, be-
tween nine and ten in the morning, she and her sister wart-
from her mother's house to her father's. Her ruother and
father live apart, and bad done so for sever years. On ar•
riving near her father's house—they "-saw him coming across
. the common, with a buchet and shovel in his hand ; that
he came up to theavand said, " Where are you going ?"
-Which She said, "We are come to see you." The
prisoner replied, " You shall feel me too." He then went
into the house. A few minutes after, he came out again.
The deceased said to him, " Your's is a prettier pony than
ours." He said," Thee'st got no pony ; if thee hast, thee'st
stole it." He went in again, and brought out a gun and shot
at her. The deceased ran up to witness. Shc had received
one shot in her hand and one in her head. It seemed as if
she had been struck with gravel. He then went in again.
He came out once more, and threw small stones at us. We
ran into Mrs. Matthews's house, which is close by. Pri-
soner came up to the window, and said he would shoot
Martha Matthews if she harboured us. We remained there
about an hour. We came out, and the prisoner followed
us,. He had a gun in his band, into which he was rammir,
a rod. He fired, and turned roucd, but I could not see him
°
for the smoke. Young Matthews came up, and prisoner
stopped, and had some conversation with him, which I
heard. He said—" Do you think if you were to bold up a
board with a round mark on it, I couldn't put a ball into
it ?" We ran away, and prisoner followed us. He fired
again, and Caroline, who was close by my side, fell. Pri
soner came up, and told me to take her down home. If I
didn't lie said he would shoot me too. A man called Moyle
came up, and charged him with having shot my sister. He
said he did not, and went away home. My sister died at
seven o'clock the next morning.
From the cross-examination of the witnesses for the pro•
secution, it appeared that the prisoner was not sound in his
mind ; that his father was insane, and his mother also. The
latter was found dead one night not far from the house,
having gone out in the snow clad only in a night-gown. That
the prisoner was often hooted by the boys in the village, and
called Mazed Figgy. That by order of a Magistrate, one
of his other children was removed from his care, he
having
attempted to strangle it.
The Jury returned a verdict of " Not Guilty," on the
ground of insanity.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT—LivEnrooL, APRIL 2.

BROWN AND OTHERS V.WERSTER.
r e sys etdh thee
pla juryts forto
recover
plaintiffs.
broughtTliielar.ctWioninjaESMANd
d by goods
to the amount of 251., which had been wrested from them
by the defendant, through the production of a deed of as-
signment. The plaintiffs were coachmakers in Manchester
and, together with the defendant, were creditors of Messrs.
Weddell, Hodnet, and Lawton, also coachmakers at the
same place.
The Jury returned a verdict ibr the defendant.

WESTMINSTER SESSIONS.

11. T. Jay, a young man, apparently about 16 years of
age, was indicted for stealing from Mrs. Thompson a look-
ing-glass of the value of one guinea.
The prosecutrix, a respectable woman, who lets furnished
apartments for gentlemen, stated that the prisoner called at
her house and said that he was in the employment of Mr.
Bremer, a Member of Parliament—(there is no M.P. of
this name)—and that he had been requested by him to call
and inquire whether she had any apartments to let. On
her answering in the affirmative, he desired to see them ;
after showing him them he left the house, observing that he
would call in the course of the day, and let her know whe-
ther they would suit. He afterwards called, and said the
Member of Parliament would take the apartments. Soon
afterwards she missed the looking-glass. It was afterwards
found that he had pledged it.
The prisoner sharply cross-questioned the prosecutrix.
Prisoner—Can you swear, Mrs. Thompson, you saw me
steal the glass ? Prosecutor—No, I cannot swear I saw
you steal it.
Prisoner—Well, then, can you swear I stole it ? Pro-
secutrix—No : I cannot swear you stole it ; but I can
swear it was stolen soon after you were in my house.
Prisoner—Then that is all you can swear ? Prosecutrix
—That is all.

The pawnbroker deposed to the prisoner having pawned
the glass.
COURT—How did you come by the glass? Prisoner—
I got it from a boy.
Couni—ls the boy here ? Prisoner (looking round the
Court)—No, I cannot see him.
The Jury immediately returned a verdict of Guilty.—
Sentence of transportation for seven years was then passed
on him ; on which he made a low bow to the Court, and
begged to thank it for the sentence.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HO USE.

(hi Saturday the Stewards of the Cabinet-makers'benefit
society were summoned before the LORD MAYOR, for having
refused to allow one of their Members, named Braham, the
sum of 15s. a week, to which he declared himself entitled
by the articles, he being prevented by a lameness of the
leg from working at his trade. The objections of the Society
were founded upon evidence which caused some merriment.
One of the members of the Society stated that Mr.
Braham had set up a beer-shop, which, although he professed
to be unable to work at his trade, he attended himself. One
night witness went into the beer-shop, accompanied by a
friend, and called for a pint of " swipes," which Mr. Braham
served them himself, walking through the room not like a
toddler, but in a right straight-forward one-leg-after-the-
other sort of a style. Soon after Mr. Braham joined the
chorus of the " Bay of Biscay 0 !" keeping time by stamp-
ing with what he called his bad leg in such a manner as
proved that his limb was as strong as his lungs. Witness
then called for another pint, and Mr. Braham ran off to the
barrel, drew the swipes, and served him, but never for a
moment slackened in his effort to do justice to the musical
entertainment of the room to every customer, in which he
officiated with a degree of activity proportioned to the
extent of the order, roaring out as he took money, " Here
I lays, in the Bay of Biscay 0 !"---(A laugh.)
The LORD MAYOR—Do you think he might have
at his trade ? Witness—l have no doubt of it. He made
no complaint at all of his leg.
Another member of the Society stated that, having
heard of Mr. Braham's change of trade, he called at the
beer-shop and sat down. He had not been long in the
room when an Italian boy entered, and having recruited
himself with a half pint began to tune up his " hurdy-
gurdy." After the first two or three grinds, up started Mr.
Brabam, and began to dance as if he had been made of
card, and pulled by a string between the two legs.

. . .
The LORD MAYOR—What ! What he able to dance too ?
Witness—Dance ! Any one that saw him would almost
be obliged to get up and dance himself. It was to the
tune of " Allan Water."

The LORD MAYOR--.I dare say you would have had
no objection if he had been dancing " In the Bay of Biscay,
0 !"—(Laughter.)
Mr. Braham—My Lord, it's wrong. I never danced.
I might have got up, in my fun, and run about the room ;
but I'm willing to show my leg to any doctor, and if he'll
say it's fit for any man to wear with his work, I won't ask
a farthing. .

A person in the crowd said, " Please you, my Lord, it's
easy enough to make a bad leg. A halfpenny and a sop of
vinegar will do it any day. I'll give him a green mortifica-
tion in the matter of a night for 6d.'
The LORD MAYOR—I cannot help you in this case. I
regret to say I have looked over your rules, and they are
so loose that I cannot put my hand on any one of them and
say that this man has violated it. It is, I have no hesita-
tion in saying, an imposition upon you ; but. you have to
blame your regulations, and I would advise you to apply for
a total alteration at the next Sessions.

The Stewards—We intend to do so, my Lord.
The LORD MAYOU—If you do, this man can no longer
impose upon you ; but you must submit, I am sorry to say,
in this instance.