The Sun.
London, England, 1849-11-21 00:00:00

THE SUN. LONDON 9 WEDNESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 21; 1849.

DRURY-LANE THEATRE:

JULLIEN'S PROMENADE CONCERTS.
Last ni,.,Tdat was the annual Beethoven night, end
according to custom, M. Jullien devo..ed the
whole of the first part of his concert to the perform-
ance of a selection from the works of the great master.
Among the Beethoven pieces, of which there was a
rich catalogue, the most prominent were the C minor
(the fifth of the composer's grand symphonies), the
overture to Fidelio (that which is usually played
before the opera, although not the favourite of
Beethoven), the allegretto from the symphony in F
(No. 8), and the two middle movements of the
Pastoral Symphony (No. 6). These were all
executed with admirable effect, and directed by M.
Jullien with excellent judgment and decision, the
applause bestowed being liberal and constant.
The al?egretto, rendered with extreme deli-
cacy, was encored and repeated. The great
feature of this part was the solo of M.
Saintcn on the violin, Nothing could exceed the
intensity and pathos which he threw into the tremolo
movement; his tones were broad and rich, and his
execution brilliant. In the second part we had a new
selection from the Prophete, and some delightful
melodies delightfully rendered by Jetty Treffz. The
career of M. Jullien has been during the whole
course of the season most triumphantly successful, and
deservedly so. Not only does M. Jullien invariably
secure the services of the best known per-
formers, but he is constantly on the look
out for rising talent, and thus infuses
new blood into his orchestra, establishing as it were a
perpetual succession of accomplished musicians. He
has been during this season most fortunate in his new
engagements. Herr Adolphe Koenig has es-
tablished for himself a permanent reputation
on the valve-horn, and Mr. Pratten is
the most exquisite flute-player who has appeared
since the days of Nicholson, of whom he appears to
be the legitimate successor, while Mr. Streather is
even now entitled to rank as the first har-
pist in England ; with the exception of
Bochsa, we have never heard any harpist who, for
brilliancy of execution, delicacy of tone, for taste, and
for a perfect knowledge of his instrument can com-
pare with Mr. Streather ; in the absence of Bochsa
he is without a rival, and in the course of a very short
time, if he goes on as he has commenced, he will be
equal to Bochsa himself. Mr. Streather's fate is in
his own hands; he may if he chooses be the first
harpist in the world. The house is crammed every
night to suffocation, and will continue to be so while
M. Jullien provides such an admirable programme as
he has hitherto done.

COURT OF ALDERMEN:

Yeaterdav the firet Court iu the mayoralty of
- 1
Alderman Farncamb was bc
'i he LORD MAYOR, in taking the chair, assured
the Court that it should be his constant study to
perform the duties of his high office to which he had
been appointed to the satisfaction of his fellow-citi-
zens ; and he expressed a firm reliance upon the co-
operation of his brother magistrates during the year
he should have the honour of presiding over their
deliberations.—(Hear, hear.)
THE THANKS OF THE COURT TO THE LATE LORD MAYOR.
Mr. Alderman THOMPSON said he was cptite sure
the observations which had been made by his Lord-
ship were heard and would be attended to by the
Court with the utmost gratification. It was his duty
to rise for the purpose of calling their attention to the
conduct of his Lordship's predecessor during the last
year. The records of the Court, which were extended
over so many centuries, supplied instances, to which
there were but few exceptions, of the acknowledg-
ments of their sense of the services of the Chief
Magistrate upon his retirement from office; and
he felt it to be his duty, as senior alderman, to
move a vote of thanks to Sir James Duke, in the
sincere belief that their thanks and gratitude were
justly due to that gentlernan.—(Rear, hear.) Those
who had passed the chair must be perfectly aware
that the duties of the office were of a laborious, anxi-
ous, and difficult character, and that the whole time
of the occupant must be devoted to them. The
thanks of the Court was but a feeble :recompense for
the able and energetic performance of such duties,
and he had no doubt that the feeling of the Court, as
to the powerful claims of the late Lord Mayor, would
be unanimously expressed on the present occasion.
His Lordship had by the whole course of his conduct
entitled himself to the unqualified approbation of his
fellow-citizens, of which they gave no slight mani-
festation by electing him unanimously, upon the de-
mise of Mr. Pattison, to the high distinction of re-
presenting them in Parliament. In conferring upon
him that mark of honour, men of all political parties
concurred, although he, too, belonged to a party
which he politically supported.—(Hear, hear.) His
courtesy, his discretion, his firmness, the munificent
manner in which he answered all the calls of charity,
and the alacrity he evinced in co-operating with
the authorities of the Board of Health, in the at-
tempts to mitigate the effects of the dreadful cala-
mity with which London had been visited, all com-
bined to exalt the character of his title to the applause
of his fellow-citizens. In enumerating the claims of
the late Lord Mayor the splendour of his hospitality
was not to be forgotten—at his Lordship's table were
assembled the leading men of all political parties, and
his own political bias wholly disappeared from
amongst them. To the Mansion-house entertain-
ments no man eminent in art or science, or marked
by any distinction which was recognised by public
approbation, was a stranger. Looking, then, to the
ability and hospitality, dignity and charity, which
were so prominently exhibited in the late mayoralty,
it was but justice to Sir James Duke to say that he
well deserved the special thanks of this
Court. It must be a source of great satisfaction to
those who had passed the chair to find that his merits
were so conspicuous ; and to those who had not
passed it, that they would be enabled to emulate his
example. It had pleased her Majesty to crown the
éclat of the late mayoralty by conferring a mark of
the highest distinction upon Sir James Duko, on the
completion of the new Coal Exchange, an event of
great importance to a country which owed so much
of its prosperity to the produce of its coal mines.—
(Hear, hear.) Alderman Thompson concluded by
proposing a resolution of thanks to the late Lord
Mayor.
Sir. J. KEY had the greatest pleasure in seconding
the resoluton which had just been proposed by his
Hon. Friend, in every word of whose able speech he
most heartily agreed, feeling, as he did, that never was
there any man more fully entitled to have such a re-
solution recorded in his favour—never had any Lord
Mayor passed through that high office in a manner
more calculated to secure the good opinion of all
classes of his fellow-citizens—never had the various
duties of that arduous and important station been per-
formed with greater tact, ability, humanity, and firm-
ness, than by Sir James Duke, who had indeed upheld
and maintained the respectability of the office, and
thus adopted the best course of securing and per-
petuating to his fellow-citizens the invaluable privi-
leges which from time immemorial they had enjoyed.
—(Hear, hear.) In whatever point of view they
looked at the course pursued by the late Lord Mayor,
they saw equal cause for tendering him their sincere
congratulations for the manner in which his anxious
desire to afford satisfaction to all had been received by
every class of his fellow-citizens as well as by various
public bodies throughout the kingdom ; of which, if
any proof were required, it would be found in the fact
that the Lord Provost and Corporation of Edinburgh
had conferred on him the freedom of their ancient
_ _

city; in the warm reception given him by the im-
portant, commercial, and enlightened cities of Liver-
pool and Blanchester; and in his unsolicited appoint-
ment to the office of deputy-lieutenant of the county
of Lincoln by the Lord Lieutenant of that county,
to whom he was opposed in politics, and not known,.
except by character. If they turned to the various
charitable institutions, they saw his name, not only
standing forward as a supporter of every charity,. but
most effectually promoting the interests of the un
fortunate claimants by his guardian care and
patronage. Nothing could exceed the zeal and energy
with which he had endeavoured to promote the
interests of his fellow-citizens by advocating the
establishment and observance of sanitary rules at
that trying period when it pleased Divine Providence
to visit this and other countries with the awful
scourge by which so many thousands were
.suddenly
hurried into eternity. If, turning their eyes from
the spectacle of the destructive epidemic, they
looked to the Mansion-house hospitality, they
found it both splendid and judicious, the place of
meeting and harmonious intercourse for the
most eminent of all political and religious parties.
The late Lord Mayor thus enjoyed the rare privilege,
on the one hand, of securing the respect and esteem
of those to whom he was politically opposed, and, on
the ether, of cementing the bonds of friendship with
those to whom he had long been united by political
associations, whether the able leaders of the Conserva-
tive and Protectionist party, or that party which ac-
knowledged for its head the Right Hon. Baronet
whose name would stand preeminently forward in
the country's annals, or her Majesty's Ministers,
under the enlightened guidance of the Noble Lord
whose name had ever been associated with the liberties
of the people. Sir Juhn then alluded, in a highly com-
plimentary manner to the dignity of the baronetcy
conferred by her Majesty upon Sir 'Tames Duke, and
the unanimous election of the Hon. Baronet to the
station of representative of the city of London. He
felt, he said, that he had trespassed too long upon
the time of the Court, but respecting as he respected
his old and esteemed friend, and admiring as he ad-
mired, and all must admire, the upright and munifi-
cent manner in which the duties of the mayoralty
had been discharged, he could not deny himself the
pleasure of giving utterance to his feelings in second-
ing the resolution which had been proposed.
Mr. Aldermen Coe-ELAND said he felt, when he
concurred in the majority of the sentiments expressed
by the mover and seconder, that it was his duty to
make a few observations upon a point on which he
differed in opinion from those who had preceded him.
In resolutions passed at the conclusion of a chief
magistrates year of office it was usual, according
to the records of the court, to notice the courtesy
with which a Lord Mayor acted towards his brethren.
Now he had been given to understand, that while the
late Lord Mayor was sitting in the other court
before the day of the opening of the Coal Exchange,
his Lordship received communications from Windsor
—communications from the Crown and the Govern-
ment—upon the subject of that ceremony.—(Bear,
hear.) With •those communications the late Lord
May or lied not made his brethren of the Court of Alder-
men acquainted. Under such circumstances, it was
impossible that great credit could be given to Sir
James Duke for the degree of courtesy extended to
his brother magistrates. It was unnecessary, how-
ever, to make further present allusion to a subject
which was, he believed, matter of investigation by a
committee. He should be content with giving a
silent vete, and he claimed to himself credit for thus
openly objecting to the course in that one particular
followed by Sir James Duke. In all other respects
he most heartily agreed in the warm terms of admi-
ration expressed by the mover and seconder.— (Hear.)
Alderman FAREBROTHER objected to the use of an
unnecessory word in the resolution, which Alderman
Thompson at once consented to withdraw. He con-
sidered that the praise of the hospitality of the last
mayoralty was somewhat exaggerated, inasmuch as
several mayoralties, in each of which as much money
was expended and as many people were maintained,
were fresh in the recollection of all present.—(Flear.)
Sir PETER LAURIE said he objected to the idea of
giving credit to the late Lord Mayor for the per-
formance of the magisterial duties of the office, when
it was notorious that his Lordship never attended to
those duties at all.—(A laugh.) He admitted that
the late Lord Mayor had -sustained the hospitality
and high character of the office in other respects, but
in that to which he alluded, and which he considered
to be the most important of all, inasmuch as it essen-
tially regarded the interests of the public, there was a
palpable deficiency.
Alderman THOMPSON said he had nothing to regret
from the discussion, for not a single sentiment of
unkindness had been expressed towards the late
Lord Mayor.—(Hear, hear.) As for the communi-
cations which were said to have been received by the
late Lord Mayor, he had never heard a word about
them. However, if any such had been received, no
doubt Sir James Duke would be prepared to give
sufficient explanation upon the subject.
The resolution, which was as follows, after having

undergone a few slight verbal• alterations, was then
put, and declared to be carried unanimously :
" That this Court desire to record their warmest
acknowledgments to Sir Jam?s ake, Knight and
B ironet, and Mernbir of Parliament, the late Lord
Mayor, for the tick-lay, zeal, and ability which he has
evinced in the discharge of the onerous duties of his
high office ; for his willing and generous support of
the charitable institutions of this City ; for his prompt
and assiduous co operation in devising effective means
of alleviation during the prevalence of the recent
grievous sickness and mortality; fur his judicious and
liberal hospitality displayed in the festivities of the
Mansion-house, embracing amongst his guests the
distinguished men of all parties in the state, as well as
his fellow-citizens and others eminent fur their re-
search in the varied pursuits of art, literature, and
science, and in the deeper acquirements of the learned
professions. And while this Court regards with the
highest satisfaction the honours which have accrued
to Sir James Duke during his mayoralty, they desire
to bear testimony to his courtesy and urbanity, his
punctuality and firmness in presiding over the busi-
ness of this Court, and for his upholding the dignity
and influence of the high and important office of the
chief magistrate of the city of London."

LITERATURE.

THE CITIES AND WILDS OF ANDA•
LUCIA. By the Hon. Dundas Murray,
2 Vols.

In historical associations, in national peculiarities,
or in natural beauties, there are few countries more
attractive than Spain, or better adapted to be the theme
of the artist's pencil or the author's pen, and few spots
in the whole Peninsula are so fascinating as
those celebrated in the work above men-
tioned—" The Cities and Wilds of Andalucia."
The chivalry of the Crusaders and the romantic
association of Islamism, even yet in the nineteenth
century, seem to linger around the land hallowed
(for misfortune is always sacred) by " the last sigh
of the Moor"—so the spot is named where Abdallab,
the last Moorish Sovereign in Spain, took a weeping
f:aewell of his lost territory, AN hile his mother ex-
claimed bitterly—" Yes, weep like a woman for the
loss of a country you could not defend like a man."
The theme which Mr. Dundas Murray has selected
is one abounding with attractions, and he has treated
it in a very attractive, because in a very simple and
interesting manner. His pages are filled with very
various revelations ; now we meet with some tragical
legend, and now we are diverted by some altercation
at an inn. The manners and customs of the Andalu-
sians, past and present, (and with them the terms
are almost synonimous) are here very vividly set
before us. A few extracts will exhibit the style and
character of the work, perhaps, better than descrip-
tions. Place aux dames!—let us first contemplate

Disregarding the injunctions contained in the Holy
Scriptures, one nation covets another's poss,isi,ms—it
picks a quarrel as the first step towards accerisition. I!
the owners of the coveted territory were not in a position
to repel the attempt at usurpation or robbery, what would
become of them? For instance, supposing Great Britain,
desirous of s(.ttieg the whole world an example of Chris-
tian patience and forbearance, were to disarm her sol-
diers, break up her fleets and discharge her sailors, does
any one believe that France, Holland, Russia, or any
other power, aiming at an extension of territory, would
not immediately endeavour to possess themselves of. our
colonies, if they did not try to establish an authority on
British soil? It would he preposterous to suppose them
so self-denying when no risk whatever would attend the
spoliation of their helpless neighbour. Hence the vast
importance to every country of an organized force capable
of resisting inovatious and outrage, and of thereby
maintaining, through the fear and respect they iuspire,
that peace which is at once the glory of civilization and
the condition of human lire prescribed by Almighty
will. For nearly five-and-thirty years—more than the
third of a century—Eugl.nd has been at peace herself
with the whole continent of Europe, and has been en-
abled, moreover, to command that other continental na
tions should live in amity. How has this arisen? Simply
by the wonderful proofs she gave for twenty long years of
her ability to cope with the mightiest powers by sea and
land, and by the lofty attitude she has since preserved.
In other words, by keeping up her noble army and her
magnificent navy in a state of preparation for any exi-
gency that might suddenly arise."

The lecture contains many admirable precepts which
cannot but be most useful in forming the characters of
those to whom they were addressed, as gentlemen and
men of honour.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
AMIENS AND BOULOGNE.
A meeting of shareholders in this company was
held yesterday at the London Tavern to deliberate
upon a petition to the French Government; Mr. C.
Laffitte, the President of the Company, took the
chair.

The CHAIRMAN said, the position of the undertak-
ing had been considerably altered since the tune the
concession was granted by the French Government.
The company had not been paid a fair return for their
outlay, and Government, by granting a concession to
the Northern Company, had taken away from this
company certain advantages upon which the promo-
ters relied for a fair return on the capital. They
must therefore look to the Government to compensate
them for what they had taken away. The financial
state of France, although improved, was not such as
to make railway property remunerative. Differences
had arisen between the Northern Company and the
Boulogne Company, and endeavours had been made to
bring about an amicable settlement, but without
effect. They were compelled to go to law with the'
Northern Company, and the matters in dispute went
before the Tribunal of Commerce ; the Judge recom-
mended an amicable arrangement, but after a vain
endeavour it led to no result, and he was not aware
what decision the Judge would come to on the sub-
ject. They had every reason to believe that their
case was a just one, and that they would gain the suit.
The directors had tried to obtain from the Govern-
ment an amelioration of the concession, and they pro-
posed to memorialize them on the subject. He then
called on Mr. Whitehead to read the memorial they
proposed to present to the President and Ministers
of the Republic.
Mr. WHITEHEAD proceeded to read the memorial,
which was of considerable length. It referred to the
understanding upon which the concession was granted
and accepted, so as to place the company in a position
to raise the whole of the capital required for the un-
dertaking. At the time there were some doubts en-
tertained of the concession being sufficient, although
it was assumed that the money to make the line
would be found by private individuals. The conces-
sion for the Northern of France line was not then
granted. The Amiens and Boulogne Company first
commenced their line, and it was understood that their
interests were to be protected. The very clause for
that purpose inserted in the Northern concession had
led to law proceedings, and they were suffering con •
siElerably from the conduct of the Northern Company.
The Amiens Company, in fact, were n6t protected by
that clause. The memorial then goes on to state that
the position of the company would have been very
different had it been granted under the law of 1842,
because in that case three-fifths of the whole capital
would have been paid by the State. It then mentions
the various concessions granted under the law of
1842 for lines having a very superior traffic
to the Amiens and Boulogne ; among these
lines were the Paris and Orleans, in
the shape of a guarantee of interest; to the
Rouen Company, by a loan of 18,000,000 f.; to the
Havre Company, by a grant of 8,000,000 f. and a loan
of 10,000,000 E; to the companies of the Central of
France, of Strasburg, of Orleans and Bordeaux, of
Tours and Nantes, by putting three-fifths of the
cost of construction to the charge of the State,
and to the Avignon', and Marseilles Company, by
a grant of 30,000,000 f., and a guarantee of
interest on an equal sum. The Government
has just proposed to grant the Paris and Avig-
non Railway to a company, together with a
grant of 180,000,000 f., and a guarantee of interest on
240,000,000 f. (9,600,0000. None among them is
situated in such circumstances of competition as must
ever exist between the Northern and the Boulogne
Companies. By granting the further extension of the
Northern line to Calais, &c., the Amiens and Bou-
logne line had been injured, and therefore it became
necessary to call on the State for a modification of the
concession. The cost of the line was 37,500,000 f.,
and if their concession had been granted under the
law of 1842, the shareholders whould have had only
to subscribe 15,000,000 f. (600,0001.), and the State
the remainder, 22,500,0001. (900,0001.). It was on
this amount the memorialists requested to have a
minimum dividend granted to the company. The
whole of the works had been executed with great
care, and within the original estimate.
The CHAIRMAN explained that the object was to in-
duce the Government to guarantee the company a
minimum interest on three-fifths of the capital, so as
to place the company on a footing with those lines
conceded under the law of 1842. He said that if any
of the proprietors could suggest a better phi?' than
that proposed, the board would be glad to adopt it.
_neer were anxious to meet the wishes of the share-
holders, and he hoped the latter would give the di-
rectors their support to go before the French Go-
vernment.
Mr. BAXENDALE, a director, remarked that this
company had not expended more than 37,500,000 f.
(1,500,0000, the original estimate. They had not
doubled their capital, as other companies had, but had
kept within the original estimate. All the money had
been expended, and the works were completed, with
the exception of a comparatively small work at Abbe-
ville. Every effort was made to settle matters with
the Northern of France Company. The French Go
vernment were anxious to get capital to make their
lines of railway, and unless they treated English
shareholders in a considerate and liberal manner it
was not likely that English capital would go to
France. The English shareholders had already a
sufficient dose in their own railways without going
to France to be treated worse. if the French Go
vernment look to this country for capital, they must
be guided by honesty and justice in their transac
tions with those who supply it, otherwise no one can
have confidence that his property will be safe in France.
The CHAIRMAN observed, that if the Government
had paid up or guaranteed them an interest of 5 per
cent. on three-fifths of the capital, they would have
been able to pay to the shareholders 4k per cent. on
the money expended, the traffic on the line having
produced 1i per cent. The interest mentioned would
give 3 per cent. on the whole capital, and the 4 per
cent. from the traffic would make up the Lq per cent
lie then put the first resolution—to the effect that the
memorial be presented to the President and Ministers
of the Republic of France by the Paris adcninistra•
tion, for the purpose of obtaining a modification of
the concession.
The resolution was seconded and carried unani-
mously, as was also the second resolution, to the
effect that the Amiens and Boulogne Company be
placed in the same position as if the concession were
granted under the law of 1842.
The CHAIRMAN, in reply to questions, stated that
the concession of the Northern of France line was for
38 years, that they were seeking for an extension of
the term to 99 years, but in order that they should
pay something for it the Government intended to
stipulate that they should make a certain branch line.
The Amiens and Boulogne Company proposed to
place themselves between the Northern Company and
the Government, and thus endeavour to obtain the
necessary modifications in the Amiens and Boulogne
concession before anything is granted to the Northern
Company.
On the third resolution being proposed a long dis-
cussion ensued ; it was considered to be too favourable
to the Northern Company; but, having gone through
various modifications, it was passed by a large ma-
jority, to the effect that they have heard that the
Northern Company have made application to the
French Government for an extension of their lease,
and that they would offer no objection to such a
measure, provided that the concession to the Amiens
and Boulogne Company be acceded to them.
Mr. BAXENDALE said the Northern Company had
done all they could to. injure the Amiens and Bou-
logne Company. He thought that common sense
would point out that the saving of 66 miles by
pas,ing over the Boulogne line between London and
Paris would decide in favour of that route. lie was
not disposed to give up a single point, with regard to
the utility of the line, to the Northern or any other
company.
A. PROPRIETOR said, if they were to be placed in
the same position as under the law of 1842, the
Government ought to give them the interest on the
three fifths of their capital, or return to the share-
holders the 22,500,000 f. (900,0001.) paid by them.
A Voice—Then you must be content with a short
lease.

S IT

„,-

-

M. ADAM said there could be no doubt i;
according to the law of 1842, they would have 4i
from the traffic. lie wa diSl)O to SUIT: WI i d S.‘)
the suggestion that the proposed guarantee of 5 per
cent. on the 900,0001. should be an absnlute guarantee
ind-pendent of the tratii- in consideration of the
company having paid the Whole of the money.
The CHAIRMAN said the board thought tha lit was
a better proposition than that which they had nude,
and they would adopt it in their metnorial.
Mr. FISHER. thought the present a favourable
opportunity to get up a petition to the English G,)-
vernment to send the mails by the Boulogne and
Amiens route.

After some conversation a resolution was unani-
mously passed, that a memorial be presented to the
English Government, s'gned by the proprietors and
the public, praying that the mails be sent by the
Boulogne route, and appointing Messrs. Wright,
lvyleaf, and Fisher to carry the resolution into E tree t,
and placing at their disposal 201. to pay expenses.
The CHAIRMAN then entered into some details with
regard to working the line. He stated that the
construction of the railway cost 1,500,0001, being at
the rate of 19,5001. per mile for the 77 miles. They
ran ten trains a day, and 20,000 miles per month.
The cost was 3s. I ld, per mile, including direction and
everything, or 4,0001. per month. If they had twice
or three times the traffic it would not cost them any
more for working the line. It cost them 100/. per
mile per annum to maintain the way. They had 100
level crossings, which cost them 4,3001. per annum
for attendance. They were, however, going to have
them attended to by women, by which they expected to
save a considerable sum. The cost of traction amounted
to is. 7d. per mile ; the coke cost them 11. per ton,
and the consumption was at the rate of 201 b. per mile
run. There are ten stoppages on the line; and the
distance, 77 miles, is performed in three hours, being
at the rate of 26 miles per hour including stoppages.
The sinking fund is not included in the 4,0001. per
month.

In reply to questions, it was stated that the shares
numbered from 1 to 6,000 were promised a guarantee
of 4 per cent. per annum from the city of Boulogne,
which is due with regard to those shares. The
directors had nothing to do with them. The question
lay between the holders of these shares and the
municipal council. Proceedings could not be taken
against the city of Boulogne without the consent of
the Government.

M. ADAM was mayor of Boulogne when the town
council agreed to guarantee the shares, and he was
instrumental in obtaining it; he had 400 shares
allotted to him, which he has held ever since. Al.
Fontaine, the present mayor, is a director in this
company, and holds 600 of the guaranteed shares.
The municipal corporation say that they are not bound
by law to pay it. It was the opinion of M. Adam
that they were bound to pay the guarantee. About
two thirds of the shares of the company were held in
England.

A vote of thanks to the chairman and directors
concluded the proceedings.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—I am sure you are quite aware of the de-
moralizing effects of public executions, and the nume-
rous evils attending on them, and that if any remedy
ceuld be proposed, it ought to be adopted.
It appears by your paper of this evening, a letter
was addressed by Mr. Dickens to the editor of the
Times, which called forth the animadversions of that
journal in a leading article, which I shall not observe
upon.
Mr. Dickens says it was the intention of the Go-
vernmtnt " to give its support to a measure making
the infliction of capital punishment a private solemnity
within the prison walls."
I think this could be adopted so as to do away with
all objections, viz.—the convicted criminal (of course
after an open trial) should be executed within the
court-yard of the gaol, in the presence of the proper
officials that now attend ; and also that the judges and
the jury who tried and convicted the prisoner should
be required to attend, and sign their names as wit-
nesses to the execution of the criminal. Such document
so signed could then be published in the newspapers,
and would be a sufficient guarantee to the public.
This would not only diminish the evil of public
executions, but also "extreme " punishment.—l am,
Sir, your most obedient servant,
A SUBSCRIBER.
London, Nov. 14.