The Sun.
London, England, 1831-06-15 00:00:00

DISTRESS IN MAYO

On Friday a meeting of subscribers to the fund
in 1822, for the relief of the distress then existing
in Ireland, was held to consider the expediency of
authorizing.the trustees to that fund to appropriate
a portion towards the relief of the distress now ex-
isting in Mayo, and other parts of Connaught, the
Lott") MAYOR in the chair.

Mr. N. P. LEADER proposed a resolution to the
effect that 5,0001. of the money placed in the hands
of the trustees should be given for the relief of the
wretched people of Mayo. Such an allocation of
the fund of 1822 had been sanctioned by an unani-
mous resolution, at the last meeting convened for
calling the attention of the public to the existing
distress on the western coast of Ireland. That
such distress should be relieved was one of the ob-
jects for which the fund of 1822 was collected, and
a committee was then appointed to see that there
was a due application of the money. This, he
(Mr. Leader) trusted, was the last meeting that
would be held in Ireland for the relief of such mi-
sery as now existed in Mayo. He hoped that the
Government would attend to the internal improve-
ment of the country—that it would do for Ireland
what former Governments had not done—look to
improve the condition of the people, by opening its
inland communications either by roads or canals. If
such a communication was now established, the price
of potatoes would not be three-halfpence farthing in
one part of Ireland, while the wretched people on
the coast of Mayo could not get them at a less price
than sixpence. If Ireland were in the situation she
ought to be, she would not be exporting 11,0001. in
provisions, while Great Britain did not export a
shilling's worth.
Mr. J. D. LATOUCIIE seconded the resolution of
Mr. Leader.

Mr. BLAKE (Chief Remembrdnckr) gave it as his
opinion, as a lawyer, that there could not be the
slightest legal d fficulty in the appropriation of the
fund of 1822.

Mr. PORTER suggested that a legal difficulty might
be experienced on the part of the trustees.
Mr. BLAKE said, if he were one of the trustees,
he could not reconcile it to his conscience to make
the difficulty. In a question of life or death, like
the present, were he trustee, and a man had in con-
sequence died, though he might not call himself a
Terry-Alt, he should, before God, regard himself as
a murderer.
Mr. HUGH O'CONNOR, as one of the trustees, did
not see any objection to the proposed allocation.
Five pounds, the subscription of MadaMe Vestris
for the relief of the distressed peasantry, was handed
in.—The resolutions were then passed.

We may state upon unquestionable authority,that
tranquillity is being restored to the county of Clare.
We are pretty certain that we shall hear of very
few disturbances for the next eight or ten months.
Now we trust that this interval will be taken to
make a radical inquiry into the causes of the late
disturbances, with a view to radical remedy. That
remedy, we tell the landlords, must be a legal pro-
vision for the poor.—Dublin Evening Post.
Murtagh Donnelly, for the murder of Colour-
serjeant James Robinson, of the sth Regiment, was
executed yesterday at Ballynacally, county Clare,
pursuant to sentence at the Commission. The cul-
prit denied his guilt at the place of execution, and
never did there attend so few spectators to witness
an execution of this sort. None of the peasantly
were to be observed near the fatal scene, and a group
of women and children formed the only spectators,
with the exception of the military guard. On re-
turning to Ennis with the body, a prisoner was ar-
rested on the road side, suspected of Whiteboyism.
—Limerick Chronicle.

There are twenty prisoners yet in Ennis gaol un-
tried, and charged with being directly concerned in
the murder of Serjeaut James Robinson, of the sth
Reg imen
Au encampment of troops is immediately to take
place in the county Clare. • Tents are preparing for
the sth Regiment, to be posted in the barony of
Burren. Friday several cars laden with camp equi-
page left Dublin for the county Clare.

We understand that an offer was made to the
Ex-Emperor DON PEDRO and his illustrious consort of
the beautiful mansion of Grove-hill, the residence of G.
C. Fox, Esq., hut was declined in consequence of our
Government being unacquainted with DON PEDRO'S return
to Europe, and consequently unprepared for his reception ;
be had no desire to occasion them any embarrassment.—
Falmouth Pacl.•et.

CURIOUS ACCIDENT.—On Sunday evening
a young man of respectable appearance, and who, we are
given to understand, is a medical student, met with rather
a singular accident on Waterloo-bridge, but which, must
providentially, was not fatal, although it proved very
serious. It appears that the young man, while sitting on
the top of the ballustrades, smoking a cigar, all of a sudden
over-balanced himself, and the consequence was, that he
was precipitated into the river, near the pier of the third
arch on the Surrey side of the bridge. Several persons
Slw him go over, and thinking that he intended to destroy
himself, immediately ran to LEWIS, the toll.collector, and
informed Lim that a man had committed suicide by jump-
ing off the bridge. Assistance being handy, four or five
persons proceeded down the steps, and wading through
the water, which was low at the time, to the place pointed
out as the most likely for the young man to have fallen,
they discovered him lying on a bank of gravel at the foot
of the pier. He was conveyed to the Feathers public-
house, and the injuries he has received are of so serious a
nature that it was deemed prudent not to remove him ;
and he lot night still remained there. It was exceedingly
fortunate that it was nearly low water at the time, or
most likely he would have sunk to rise no more alive.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, JUNE it.
PLANCHE v. COLBURN AND BENTLEY.

Mr. Serjeant WILDE (with whom was Mr.
Kelly) stated that the plaintiff, a literary gentleman
of attainments, was engaged by Messrs. Colburti
and Bentley, the defendants, to write a volume on
Costume and Ancient Armour, for the Juvenile
Library, a work which they commenced last year.
He was to receive 100 guineas for the volume. Mr.
Jerdan was the editor of the Juvenile Library, and
made the engagement. Three volumes only of the
Juvenile Library appeared, and in November it wa,
discontinued. The plaintiff had bestowed consider-
able time and exertion on the work : he had visited
Dr. Meyrick, in Herefordshire, to consult his library
and make some drawings from his collection of
armour, and it was a great hardship to be told that
the work was discontinued, and his preparations to
go for nothing.

Mr. Jerdan proved the contract made with the
plaintiff for 100 guineas for the volume. Many
other contracts were made with literary persons to
write for the work. He thought the sum which the
plaintiff claimed, 50/., only a fair remuneration for
his trouble. He had never said that 25/. was suffi-
cient. A paper was, however, produced in Mr.
Jerdan's writing, in which he put down Mr.Planclie
and three other contributors, who he conceived
might be satisfied with 100/. amongst them. Mr.
Jerdan said this was on the footing of an arrange-
ment personally with himself, as a frigid of the
parties, but lie thought the plaintiff's claim against
the booksellers, of 50/., was quite fair.
Mr. Webb and another witness gave the same
opinion.

- Mr. Se►jeant SPANKIE (who was assisted by Mr.
Dodd) addressed the Jury in a very humerous speech
for the defendants. Far from complaining of Mr.
Planche's labours, the defendants only wished they
had been completed; for, although the Juvenile
Library had been given up, Messrs. Colburn and
Bentley were perfectly ready to take the plaintiff's
book when written, and pay him the 100 guineas;
and this they had offered to him. And he would
show that the plaintiff had admitted that costume
and ancient armour were very embarrassing subjects
to write about for little masters and misses, in an
abridged shape, and much better adapted for a full
grown: volume for full growr► readers. Costume
was a peculiarly interesting topic, almost, though
not quite, as old as the world ; and all its varieties,—
whether the Highlander's kilt, or the f►ne ladies'
brocade,—were only expansions of the renowned
fig-led, the first effort at costume. Mr. 'Manche
had no doubt studied Albertus .Magnus de re vesti-
ariii velem: and Sal,nasius, and all the other au-
thorities collected in the chapter on dress in Tristram
Shandy; and that all this interesting learning should
be lost to the world, on account of this unhappy
misunderstanding with the booksellers, was much to
be regretted. He trusted, however, it would still
appear, to delight the Jury and the adult public.

Mr. Oilier was then called and examined by Mr.
DODD—He proved that in November last Mr.
Bentley had expressly told Mr. Planche, that if he
would produce his book he should receive whatever
sum had been guaranteed for it by Mr. Jerdan. Mr.
Planche said, he certainly felt embarrassed at
writing for juvenile readers on the subject, and that
the work would do better in a separate volume.
On cross-examination by Mr. St-rjeant WILDE,
he said nothing was said as to the form or size of the
separate volume, and he had never heard Mr.
Planche converse any more on the subject.
Mr. Serjeant WILDE replied, contending that the
defendants' offer to take the book and publish it se-
parately was no performance of their contract. The
plaintiff had written a work for children, and it was
impossible it could be published as a separate work
without injuring his fame.
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE summed up the evi-
dence, and the Jury found a verdict for the plaintiff
—Damages 501. Leave was given to the defendants'
Counsel to move the Court, on a point reserved on
the pleadings.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

BOW-STREET.

A man named James Waters, and a boy named
James Willows, were charged with having stolen a
great quantity of property, consisting ofbooks, wear-
ing apparel, wine, plate, &c. belonging to Mr.
Willows, a fishmonger, in the Strand. The boy,
who is the prosecutor's nephew, was subsequently
allowed to give evidence against his accomplice.
It appeared that for the last ten months depreda-
tions to a considerable extent had been carried on in
Mr. Willows's house by his nephew, who dt:clared
that he had been instigated and assisted by the
prisoner. A quantity of wine, which had been saved
from tbe fire at the English Opera House, and de-
posited in Mr. Willows's cellar, had also been stolen.
This wine was described as the property of his
Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, as President
of the Beef Steak Club, whose cellars were situated
under the English Opera-house.
The prisoner denied all participation in the vArious
acts of robbery with which he was charged, and en-
deavoured to throw the whole weight of gdilt on his
young accomplice.
Mr. MINS HULL observed, that the prisoner's con-
duct was bad enough, but that of the boy was still
worse. The prisoner was then remanded for further
examination.

------
A complaint was made by Mr. Bradbury, ac-
comptant and professor of writing, against a con-
stable belonging to Drury-lane Theatre, whose name
is Anthony, for having illegally detained one box-
ticket, value 7s.

Mr. Bradbury stated that on Saturday last a friend
of his purchased two box-tickets, and paid Mr.
Burke, the box-keeper, the full price— namely, 14s.
for them. The gentleman subsequently found tha•
he could hot go to the theatre that evening, and
he gave him (Mr. Bradbury) one of the tickets.
Conceiving that he had a right to disposes of the
ticket how he pleased, he directed a person to sell
it for him for 5. This person gave it for that pur-
pose to a woman at the box entrance, from whom
the defendant took it, saying that he would be
answerable for the consequences.

File defendant, in reply to the charge, bad merely
acted under the direction of his superiors. In con-
sequence of a practice which had been carried to a
considerable extent, of selling the tickets of the
theatre at prices considerably below their value, the
proprietors had given directions that tickets so
offered for sale should be seized by the officers of
the house, and it having been proved in this in-
stance that Mr. Bradbury was the owner of the
ticket in question, the proprietors directed that he
should be dismisssed from his situation as check-
taker.
Mr. Bradbury insisted on his right to sell the
ticket for whatever it would bring.
Mr. Missuum, was of opinion that Mr. Brad-
bury had taken a correct view of the subject, and
without making any order to enforce his claim, he
advised that the value of the ticket should be paid
to him, either by the defendant or the treasurer of
the theatre.—The parties then retired.