The Sun.
London, England, 1849-10-17 00:00:00

Whirti Vaition

THE ATTEAIPTED PARRICIDE
AT CH ISW
IIA ERS'M lEU POLICE-COURT.—( rms DAY.)
IhiS being the day appointed by Mr. Beadon, the
magistrate of this office, for bringing up the
oun
unfortunate yg man, Henry Bark hurst
Monkhouse, charged with attempting to murder his
f Aber by shooting at him, the neighbourhood of the
office was rather crowded shortly before two o'olock
by persons who appeared anxious to get a sight of the
prisoner. About a quarter past two o'clock the prison
van arrived at the office, and the prisoner stepped from
it lightly, and with the usual sailor swing. Hed
was dr_ssed in a naut7cal blue jacket, and appeare
heedless of the crowd that surrounded the van, or
the awful position in which he had placed himself.
Mr. Beadon took his seat on the bench, accom-
panied by his brother magistrate, Mr. Freer,
and a private friend. Immediately upon his
doing so, the prisoner, accompanied by the
licernen, was placed
gcoler and several po
at the bar. He cast his eyes wildly about the court,
and looked doggedly at the magistrate. He appeared
in excellent health, as sunburnt as ever. Upon
the prisoner being placed at the bar,
Inspector Jeneks stated to the Magistrate that he
had received the following certificate from the two
medical gentlemen that were now attending the father
of the prisoner :
" We hereby certify that Mr. John Farmer Monk-
louse is going on well. His general health is im-
proved, cad the wound is suppurating kindly, but he
is not yet in a state to be removed.
(Signed) "J. Bowidigo, Surgeons.
" E. HALFORD,
" Hammersmith, Oct. 17th, 1849."
The MAGISTRATE then remanded the prisoner to
Wednesday next, at two o'clock.
pr's)ner on retiring fromlitlae bar took no
notica apparently of the Magistrate or any
_one in
court, and was conveyed back to prison in the van.
Mr. Prefect, the medical gentleman who first at-
tended tl a elder Mr. Monkhouse, was in court during
ti e proceedings, which occupied only a few minutes.

k-----------_
METROPOLITAN COMMISSION
OF SEWERS.—(THIS DAY.)
The new Metropolitan Commissioners of Sewers
held the first meeting in virtue of their appointment
this afternoon, at the Sewers-office in Greek-street,
Soho. All the gentlemen named in the Commission
were present, with the exception of Mr. Robert
Stephenson, M.P., namely—Viscount Ebrington, Sir
John Burgoyne, Sir Henry De la Beche, Captain
Veche, Lieutenant-Colonel Alderson, Captain R. K
Dawson, Captain Harness, S. M. Peto, Esq., M.P.,
J. N. Randall, Esq , Thomas Hawes, Esq., and
Edward Lewes, Esq.
The pa's it establishing the Commission having
been read by Me.,Woolrych,
Sir J. BURGOYNE moved, and Mr. S. M. PET°,
11. P., seconded a resolution, that Viscount Ebrington
was elected chairman, which was unanimously
agreed to.
The Cif XIRMAN, in assuming the chair, observed
that Government having, for reasons ve• ich he need
i of mention, but which the public were well aware
of, thought fit to supersede the late Conicaissioeand
nopeint a new one, it was right that he should state
th t tl is new Cnnmission had met on the earliest day
allowed by the Act of Parliament under which
it eves constituted. Considering the pressing
i a'ure oe the business the commission lead
to undertake, it was of course desirable
tt at tt ef should enter on their duties at the earliest
pu:sible period, and it had been their wish and in-
ter Lion to meet immediately after their appointment,
but a clause in the Act of Parliament rendered the
holding of the first Court, on any other day than this,
a proceeding, to say the least of it, of very doubtful
legality. '1 ney had to regret the absence of one of
their most distinguished colleagues, Mr. Robert Ste-
phenson, from ill health, but, with that exception,
ill the Commissioners named in the patent were pre-
sent. He need not dwell upon the important and
responsible nature of the trust confided to them ;
the work they had to perform concerned deeply not
only the pecuniary interest, but the comfort, the
habits, the health, and even the lives of those who
reside within the area of their jurisdiction, an area
that embraced the largest, the wealthiest, and most
ponulous city in the world. With regard to the
difficulties they had to contend with, he would only
say, that besides those necessarily arising out of powers
so extensive as those they possessed, there were others
existing at the present moment notoriously arising out
of the actual state of affairs in the office. These
duties could not be successfully performed, and these
d fficulties could not be successfully surmounted,
unless a better understanding and a more cordial
spirit of co opera'ion prevailed among the members
of the Commission, and also among the officers
than had latterly been the case. A
house divided against itself could not stand,
though among honest men a difference
of opinion must occasionally arise; but he hoped they
should carry on their discussions without wrangling,
and differ in opinion after discussion, without animo-
sity or ill will. As, however, the public would
julge them not by their professions or intentions,
but by their acts, he would say nothing
whatever of the motives which had actuated
him in accepting the appointment, nor of the
views they entertained with regard to their duties,
no: of the hopes they entertained, that under God's
blessing they would be the humble instrument of
conferring additional comfort and increased length of
days on all their fellow-citizens, but especially
call upon the Commissioners at once to proceed with
the business of the Court.
It was then; moved by Sir J. BURGOYNE, seconded
by Mr. S. M. PETOi M.P., and carried unanimously,
that Mr. Woolrych, barrister-at.law, be re-appointed
secretary of the Commission, and the accountant with
his clerk confirmed in their office.
A letter was then read from Mr. Henry Austin
resigning his office of consulting engineer to the
Commission on the ground that his duties of secretary
to the 'Board of Health were incompatible with those
of the situation he now gave up.
The resignation was accepted, and thanks voted to
him fi r his past services.
Captain DAWSON observed that the resignation of
Mr. Austin afforded them a favourable opportunity of
ren odelling the engineering and surveying depart-
ments of the Commission, and he should therefore
move that the officers connected with those two de-
partn e its should be re-appointed for a period of three
months only.
Mr. HARDWICK concurred in the expediency of
the suggestion, and had much pleasure in seconding
the resolution.
The resolution was unanimously agreed to.
Sir HENRY DE LA BECHE ; directed attention
to the unfinised labours of the :defunct Com-
mission. Two surveys 'of an important character
whici`e had been ordered were suspended by the super-
seding of the Commission, but as they would prove of
great value to the new Commission, he thought they
ought to he adopted without any delay. He alluded
of course to the surface map, compiled from the
ordnance survey of the metropolis, and the sub-
terranean plan of all the metropolitan sewers,
which he was convinced the Commission would
find of great value in helping them to an efficient
discharge of their duties. There were other works
that he need not specify, which it was equally de-
sirable to continue, and he would therefore move that
a general 'committee, consisting of the whole body
a. cernm esioners, be appointed to examine
into the pre sent official arrangements connected
with the commission, and to ascertain the pre-
, sentstate of the various works undertaken by
the late Commission which were not com-
pleted,
,and to consider the course in which the
future proceedings of the Commission may be con-
ducted, and report on that subject to the Court.
Mr. LAWES seconded the resolution, and it was put
and carried unanimously.
Sir HENRY DE LA BEAcuE reminded the Court
that the late Commission had solicited plans for the
• effectual sewerage of the metropolis, and a pledge had
been given to those who had taken the trouble to
• siswer the appeal that their plans should be fairly
• considered, and any concise description of
theta they might choose to write printed
and published. The new Commission, however,
not. being yet complete, owing to the City Commis-
%oilers not having been elected in the manner the Act
of Parliament provided, was itnot competent for
them now to take notice of these plans in their speci-
fications, but their authors mightll3 rest assured that
their plans would be caref
whatever good was foiled toar etxlistri examined,t and
whatever
would be
ma& known to the public, so that they might obtain
the honour and benefit of their labours. He moved
that a communication be forwarded to the City Com•
mission informing them of the appointment
of the Commission, and requesting them
to appoint four representatives, exclusive of the Lord
Mayor.
The motion having been duly seconded, was put
• from the chair and carried unanimously.
It was • hen agreed that the Commission should hold
a general c ui t on the first Friday of es city month.
Lit ,STHE PIMLICO TRAGEDY.
-11 r... ylin t.l borate report, which had been prepared lay
ri e
_ tiring and engineering departments, on the
--- .../ ,
~ et' the terrible calamity in Pimlico, was hen
A.........pie
~ , - l'ae;\Nese .e secretary. After detailing the circum-
-1 .ki•s e- el. ekl— ending the entrance and recovery of the
-- -:. ,Y 46 11115;') the Warwick and Keoilworth-streets
fr,,y-
, •• r . i went on to state thet the sewer bad been
inspected during the last few days, and the
.r.t of that inspection had proved beyond all doubt
origin of the poisonous gases which existed in the
sewer. The sewer was, comparatively speaking, of
modern construction, And not very far below the