The Sun.
London, England, 1836-02-29 00:00:00

i&ZPVRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
(THIS DAY.)

OLD COURT.
The Sessions for March were opened this morning, before
the Right Hon. the LORD MAYOR, the RECORDER, and usual
City Officers. Though it is now only three weeks since the
termination of the last Sessions, the calendar contains the
names of 214 prisoners, some of whom are committed for crimes
of very great magnitude.
The Grand Jury having been sworn,
The RECORDER said he regretted to find, from the calendar
before him, that they were likely to be detained for a consi-
derable time in the discharge of their duties, for the number
of prisoners was large, and from the nature of many of the
offences, it appeared, from the depositions, to have been found
necessary to summon a very great number of witnesses. The
charge against a number of persons for breaking open the
King's chest at the Custom House, would most natu-
rally occupy much of their attention. There would be
separate charges against the various parties ; as one might be
charged with the actual breaking of the chest—others with
screening him in secreting himself, &c. There would also be
a charge made against some parties for receiving part of the
plunder long after the offence was committed ; and the evi-
dence in a great measure would rest upon the statement of an
accomplice. All these matters would require their most strict
attention. It had been usual to say that the evidence of an
accomplice ought not to be received, unless it was corroborated
most fully. He would, however, recommend, that if the ac-
complice gave a clear statement, which was not inconsistent
with the evidence of the other witnesses, they should send the
case for further inquiry. Their attention was also most likely
to be engaged for some hours in investigation of a charge of
manslaughter against Robert Salmon, for killing Mr. M'Kenzie
by administering to him large doses of what were called
" Morrison's Pills." It was a case demanding the most
strict attention. It had been laid down by the Judges,
that a party who by gross ignorance, rashness, or inat-
tention dealt with the life or health of a person so as to cause
death, was guilty of manslaughter, and that it it mattered not
whether the party was a surgeon or not. There was another
charge of manslaughter of a most distressing nature—that of a
mother being charged with killing her own child—from the
depositions it appeared that the prisoner had given orders to a
son of fourteen years old, to get some water, hot, but he neg-
lected to do so, and on being rebuked returned an aggravating
answer—the mother being irritated took up a small poker and
threw it (the room being nearly dark) towards the boy—he
escaped by the door—the poker struck the door and rebounded
to a child of four years of age, who died from the effect of the
blow. It would be their duty to determine the case as if the
crime bad been committed upon the boy at whom the poker
had been thrown, whether it was lawful under the circumstances
to lift such a dangerous weapon at all. After slightly alluding
to some charges of a disgustingnature, he said the Court would
at all times be glad, whoever presided, to give them any assist-
ance they might feel in want of. With these observations he
dismissed them to their important labours. The Court was
occupied the remainder of the morning in swearing in the Petty
Juries.

Kedgwin Hoskins, Esq., M.P., had an interview
with Lord J. Russell on the 16th inst. relative to the clause in
the Tithe Bill which fixes the sum of 15s. per acre on all hop-
grounds. and he pointed out to his Lordship the injustice of the
clause to the hop-planters in Herefordshire and Worcester-
shire. Lord J. Russell fully acknowledged the force of Mr.
Hoskins's observations, and said the tithe upon hop• ground
should be left for arrangement in different parts of the country,
according to the respective value of the produce.
The Duchess of Northumberland visits her Royal
charge, the Princess Victoria, at Kensington Palace, every
day, and generally returns to Northumberland House about
five o'clock. The Duke, her husband, is at present in the en-
joyment of much better health than he experienced during the
last season, when his Grace was in London.
The revenue for Gloucester was, in 1827, 28,5501.;
1831, 94.2911.; 1835, 160,484. London in 1835, 11,658,1631.
• Liverpool, in 1835,4,263,859/. Bristol, in 1835, 1,177,139/.
Improvement, per cent., from 1833 to 1835—London, 37 ;
Liverpool, 144; Bristol,
.81; Gloucester, 504.

Letters were received in town on Saturday from the
Bishop of Salisbury, which state that his Lordship's health is
considerably better. He is at present at Southampton.
• MURDER AND ROBBERY IN THE COUNTY OF
DURHAIL—A barbarous murder was committed near the vil-
lage of Lumley, in the county of Durham, on the person of
Richard .Taylor. The head had been beaten till almost flat,
and the brains were found scattered about the ground. Two
men, habited as sailors, have been apprehended on suspicion of
being the murderers.
DISGRACEFUL CONDUCT OF THE MASTER OF
A LARGE VESSEL UNKNOWN.—It iS hoped that this publicity
will bring to justice the guilty party who so inhumanly left
these poor fellows to perish in a sinking vessel. Extract of a
letter from a person belonging to the brig New Frederick,
dated Barfleur, 23d February, 1836 :—" With painful anxiety
I proceed to write a few lines to let you know our present
circumstances. We 'bad a pleasant 'voyage to Santander, and
got back again as far as the Isle of Wight, when a gale sprung
up which lasted two days and nights, during which a large
ship ran into us, stove a large hole amidships, carried away
our masts, and left us a complete wreck. We hailed him,
told him we were in a sinking state, and requested him to
stand by us till day-light, but he heeded not our cries. We
were driven on the coast of France, were taken off the wreck
by some French fishermen, and were received on shore with
the utmost hospitality. We lost every stitch of clothes except
what we had on our backs." _

•
COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.—Saturday night,
after the tragedy of The Separation, which, having under-
gone compression, was received on its second representation
with increased applause, was presented a novelty in one act,
called Marie, a Tale of Pont Noll The whole interest of
this trifle, which is inconsiderable, devolved upon Miss Taylor,
by whom the part of Marie, the heroine of the tale, was sus-
tained. By way of humorous episode Jean Lapin, a poodle
shaver (Mr. Vale), was introduced. He had nothing to do
with the plot, and, save his song, which was encored, had but
little else to do in the piece. As we have already observed,
the main interests of this drama is centred in Marie, to which
Miss Taylor afforded the most efficient support ; but it is not
of importance sufficient to enhance her reputation, nor is it
likely that this " comedietta," as it is called, will live long
enough to secure one for itself. It was received with some
dissent, and with great good nature, 'by a well filled house.
Report attributes its adaptation to Captain Addison. The
Duchess of Kent and the Princess Victoria, accompanied by
Lady Conroy, Lady Jerningham, and Sir George Anson,
honoured the theatre with their presence on this occasion.

SADLER'S WELLS THEATRE.—EXTRAORDI-
NARY SCENE.—An entente of the most exciting nature took
place at the above establishment on Saturday night. The
performances announced for representation were Robert the-
Ranger, the burletta of The Jew ; or the Law of Switzer-
land ; and The Modern Tont and Jerry ; or, Life in London.
The two first pieces went off as usual, the performers playing
with their usual spirit, and the audience, which was a numer-
ous one, being perfectly satisfied. At the termination of The
Jew a considerable delay occurred. It was observed that the
members of the band, in retiring from the orchestra, removed
the whole of the music, putting on their cloaks, &c., as if
taking a farewell for the night, and departing without the
customary bows and scrapes. These movements created much
suspicion, and a sudden influx into a private box of upwards of
20 persons, apparently much excited, who appeared to be
members of the theatrical corps, added to the doubts of the
company that there was something rotten in the state of
Denmark. After some time, hissing and groaning, calls
for the Manager (Mr. Campbell) and Mr. G. Almar, the
proprietor, were reiterated from every quarter. Orange peel
and dirt, seemingly large lumps of mortar, were then hurled
unceasingly upon the stage. The gods flung brickbats on the
stage, how obtained we could not perceive, and, tearing up
the seats in the gallery, threw large pieces of timber at the
lamps and at the orchestral stands. In one moment the pit
was cleared of its tenants, some of them scrambling into the
lower tier of private boxes, and others sheltering themselves
under the boxes from the " pelting of the pitiless storm."
The stage-lamps were soon demolished, the music-stands
shared the same fate, and the stage was speedily strewed with
projectiles of every kind. At length Mr. Janie:, one of the
actors, came forward, and, after the most discordant inter
ruptions, addressed the infuriated audience. When he ob-
tained a hearin,g, we understood him to speak as follows :
" Ladies and Gentlemen—l have no doubt that you think it
great presumption on my part in now appearing before you—
(Cries of " Yes, yes !" and " No, no 1 ")—but the truth is, in
consequence of severe indisposition—( Groans from the oppo-
sition)—of Mrs. Almar—(Cries of " False, false !" " No,
no ! " from the private box)—the necessary supplies for the
theatre are not forthcoming, and a part of the company will
not perform.—(Shame, shame I and immense disapprobation,
particularly from the private box in question. Mr. James here
suddenly turned round, and fixing his eyes on the parties, con-
tinued.) There is a cloud that now overwhelms us—(Great
clamour)—but the sun will break forth—( A crash from a stage
lamp)—and disperse that cloud, and all will yet be well. We
must still try your patience for ten minutes or a quarter of an
hour, when the necessary supplies' will be here, and the per-
formances will go on the same as usual." This speech allayed
the storm, and in the course of a few minutes the band ap-
peared, and Life in London was enacted, but in a very hurried
manner. A cart-load of rubbish was cleared from the stage
after the disturbance was over.
FEAR AND ELECTRICITY.—One of the most
singular effects of fear is the erection of the hair of the head.
This is a phenomenon which it is impossible to produce volun-
tarily, and which cannot, I conceive, be otherwise explained
than upon the supposition of a state of extreme electrical ex-
citement causing the hairs to exert against each other a repel-
lant power.

FEMALE EYEs.—lf woman would but consider
what powerful, what dangerous, and—speaking of man's hap-
piness or misery—destructive weapons eyes are, they might,
perhaps be a little more careful in using them.—Gilbert
Gurney.

LUDICROUS EXHIBITION.—On Monday evening
an exhibition of an entirely novel nature took place in King-
street in this town. A funeral procession was seen moving up
the street, led by a woman, wearing upon her head a huge pair
of sheep's horns, surmounted with crape ! This extraordinary
scene soon collected a crowd of spectators, but the circumstance
coming to the ears of Mr. Perris, he put a stop to the disgrace-
ful spectacle by taking the woman into custody. Her husband
having abandoned her to cohabit with another woman, the child
then about to be committed to the tomb was the issue, and the
wife, it appears, adopted this singular plan of exposing her
faithless husband and his paramour. She was brought before
Mr: Lister, reprimanded, and discharged.—Blackburn Ga:
xette,