The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-13 00:00:00

CRIMINAL COURT-(THIS DAY

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OLD COURT
(Before Mr. Justice PATTESON.)
POST-OFFICE ROBBERT.--A youth, named Charles
John Worreh, aged 18, and described as a poitmao, was
charged with stetting a post letter, the property of the
Postmaster General.

•
'I he prisoner was a sorter attached to the Charing-
cross office, and as he had more than once been suspected
of purloining letters supposed to contain money, a watch
was placed upon him, when it way discovered, that in-
stead of placing the letter iu que*tion in its order for
delivery, he concealed it in the office. Tho letter was
taken from where it was secreted, by the head officer ut
the department, and the prisoner was taxed with having
conceal« d it for a felonious purpose, upon which he at
once admitted that he bad intended to appropriate tho
letter to an improper purpose.
The prisoner denied having confessed that he intended
to steal the letter, while several witnesses who had known
him for years gav-) him an excellent character for
honesty, sobriety, Stc.
The jury found him Guilty of concealing the lettt,r
with a felonious intent, recommending him to mercy, and
he was sentenced to be imprisoned for eighteen calendar
months.

SHOOTING AT HER MAsEsTr —The grand jury hava
returned a true bill tv.;ainst Hamilton ior feloniously
shooting at her Majesty, and the trial is fixed for to-
morrow.

THE SATIRIST CASE.—The case of Martin Angell,
the editor and proprietor of the Satirist, for attempting
to extort money troln a gentleman named Bevan, was
put off till next session, the defendant being too ill to
attend.

MA RLBRO'-STREET—(THIS DAY.)
Eliza (iuswell, a masculine looking female, was
brought before Mr. Bingham, charged with being drunk
and disorderly.
Just as the constable was about to state the charge to
the magistrate, the prisoner rushed from the dock, and
seizing hold of the police officer by the throat, nearly
strangled him. Considerable force was obliged to be
used before she could be made to let go her hold. She
was then placed in the dock guarded by two constables,
%hen she made use of such dreadful language that it was
truly frightful to hear, and conducted herselt with such
gross obscenity that the magistrate at once committed
her for a month.
ng
magistrate,t wibbing that be
, called down the most
oh hneshneai
on
nrthe
till the day of judgment, when
shemiTg might
otbelpepesdiritialsop,:rnaeerctantei on
certain gentleman, whose dwelling is de
scribed to be rather too hot, would come and fetch
him. She was then removed from the court and locked
up in a cell by herself, where she continued howling fur
more than two hours.

THE SPECTACLEMAKERSI COMPANY.--The livery
of this ancient company dined together yesterday, at
the Castle Hotel, Richmond; the Lord Mayer, as master
of the company, presided, supported by the Marquis of
Down hire, Mr. Barry Baldwin, M.P., Sir Uecrge
Carroll, Mr. Hill, (the late Sheriff of London), Mr. 1).
Hill, Mr. Do!loud, Mr. Clarkson, and the past masters
and wardens of the company. The usual loyal toasts
were given, and the conviviality of the company was
kept up to a late hour with great spirit.
POST• OPIPICE NOTlCE.—Arrangements have been
made for forwarding between this country and Ham-
burgh, in the closed mails transmitted daily (Sundays
excepted) by way of Belgium and Prussia. newspapers,
prices current, and commercial lists, when such publica-
tions are specially addressed to be sent by that route.
Newspapers and stamped prices current and commercial
lists, forwarded in these closed mails, will not be liable
to any charge in this country, on dispatch, but those
unstamped prices current and commercial lists which are
allowed to circulate in the United Kingdom, will be
chargeable with a postage of one penny each, payable in
advance, when addressed to Hamburgh, and payable on
delivery when brought from Hamburgh.
THE GRAND CALEDONIAN BALL. -- On Monday
night the grand Caledonian fancy dress ball took pace
at Almatks (Willis'a Rooms) for the benefit of those
two excellent charities the Caledonian Asylum and
Scottish irovital. As usual, this costume ball took
priority of all similar gatherings in this " the great me-
tropolis." Above eight hundred members of the leading
Scottish families graced the scene of festivity.
BRITISH MUSEUM.—It appears from a return made
to the House of Commons that the total amount expended
on the new buildings and the fittings of the British Mu-
seum, from the commencement of the rebuilding in the
year 1823 until the present time, has been 6954951. It
also appears that the amount which will yet be required
for completing the buildings, cxclu-ive of such decorative
sculpture as it may be determined to sanction, will be
56,5001.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND HASTINGS.—These works
are now in active progr4 ss from Tunbridge Welk south-
wards to near Ticehurst. Gangs of men are working
the heavy tunnels at Wadhurst and Strawberry-hill
night and day, giving employment to upwards of 1,000
men. Tunnel bricklayers seem much in request, getting
high wages. Eight large bricktields are in full operation.
—Maidi tone Journal.
AN INVISIBLE THIEL—On the estate of Lemdrill,
near Donne, a couple of coats, with a dinner in each of
them, belonging to two men at work in the neighbour-
hood, suddenly disappeared, with a whole washing
spread upon the green. The former were deposited at a
considerable distance from where they were taken, and
the dinners all safe, but some of the articles of the wash-
ing have not yet been found. Tne thief escaped, nut-
withstanding several of the articles were found marking
his track for a distance of 400 or 500 yards. It was a
whirlwind.—Perthshire Courier.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Twelve o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The report on the Dublin, Ashbourne, Slane, and
Drogheda Roads Act Continuation and Amendment
Bid was considered and agreed to, and the Bill ordered
to be engrossed.
The Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company Bill
was read a second time and ordered to be committed.
PETITIONS.

Mr. HODGES presented several petitions from Kent,
praying the repeal of the hop duty.
Mr. FRE WEN presented petitions numerously signed
from the following places:—Battle Rye, Iden, Play den,
Ticehurat, Bexhill, and Hollington. Salthurst, Bwhurst,
and Budiam, Ashburnham and Penhurst, Bude and
Westfield, I. klesham, Pea and Guestling, Ninfield and
Hove, Robertsbridge and Etchingham, Wittinghano and
Hartfield, Peasmar,h and Holimore, Hailsharn and lid-
lingby, Beckley and Northiam; also petitions from
MOUllifidd, Whatlington, and Sethilescomb, praying for
the repeal of the war duty on hops.
Mr. PEACOCK presented a petition from Southamp-
ton in favour of the Marriage Bill.
Lord 11. VANE presente a petition from Stockton-
on-Tees in tuvour of international arbitration.
Mr. BrIOWN presented a petition from Manchester
in favour of the Bankruptcy Amendment Bill.
Mr. BANKES presented petitions from Bristol and
Clifton in favour of the Bill for the prevention of cruelty
to animals.
Mr. CHARLES LUS HING TON presented a petition
from the fishmongers and poulterers of the metropolis,
praying the House to prohibit the sale of fish and poultry
atter 10 o'clock on Sundays.
Mr. REYNOLDS presented a petition from the mer-
chants, factors, grocers, and dealers in Irish spirits, of
Ballibay, praying to be placed on an equal tooting with
the manufacturers, importers, and dealers of foreign and
colonial spirits.
Mr. MULLINS presented a petition in favour of the
Bill for the prevention of cruelty to animals.
Mr. COWEN presented a petition from Messrs. W.
and R. Chambers, publishers, of Edinburgh, praying for
a repeal of the excise duties on paper. Also a petition
in favour of the Bill fur the prevention of cruelty to
animals.
Mr. AGLIONBY presented a petition in favour of the
Copyhold Enfranchisement Bill.
Sir J. PAKINGTO.N presented a petition from the
poor-law officers of a union in Northumberland, pray-
ing for a superannuation fund.
NOTICES OF MOTION.

Mr. BANKES gave notice that o❑ Thursday, the
21st, he should move that the House resolve itself into
Committee of the whole House, to take into conside-
ration the manufacture and sale of bread.
.Mr. HUME gave notice of his intention, this day
week, to move an address to the Throne for returns
connected with the value of certain church livings,
amongst which was Sr. Mar,y's, Lambeth.
RETURNS.

Sir ROBERT FERGUSON moved for an abstract of
the net produce of the revenue of Ireland, paid into the
Exchequer in the years ended the sth day of January,
1847, 1848, and 1849, distinguishing the years. Accounts
of the net public iucome and expenditure of Ireland fur
the years ended the sth day of January 1847, 1848, and
1849, d►shugushing the bears, and showing the whole of
the ways and means provided within the same perioos,
together with the application thereof. Of the amount of
duties of excise in each revenue district ot Ireland, in
each of the years ended the sth day of January 1847,
1848, and 1849. Ot the amount of duties of customs of the
revenue d6tricts ot Ireland, in eae::: of the years ended the
sth day ot January 1847, 1848, and 1849. Statements show-
ing the annual average quantity of the following articles
retained for home consumption i❑ Ireland in each of the
years ended the sth day of January, 1847, 1848, and
1849 respectively, viz., wine, spirits, foreign and home-
made tobacco, tea, coffee, sugar, flax seed, cotton yarn,
cotton wool, woollen and worsted yarn, silk, raw and
thrown, iron, unwrought, timber, deals, and coals; and
showing the annual average quantities of the fallowi►►g
articles exported from Ireland in each of the years ended
the sth day of January, 1847, 1848, and 1849 respec-
tively, distinguishing the exports to Great Britain from
those to foreign countries, viz., oxen, sheep, swine,
horses, bacon and hams, beef and pork, butter, wheat
and w heat flour, oats and oatmeal, Irish spirits, linen
manufactures, linen yarn, and cotton manufactures
(in continuation of Parliamentary Paper No. 585,
of Session 1846) ; accounts ot the amount of
stamp duties collected in each stamp district of
Ireland, for the years ended the sth day of January,
1847, 1848, and 1849, distinguishing each year; and, of
the amount of postage collected in each county of Ire-
land, for th- years ended the sth day of January, 1847,
1848, and 1849, distinguishing each year.—Agreed to.

CRUELTY TO- ANIkALS.

The Marquis of WORCESTER, in moving the
second reading of this Bill, said he would occupy a very
few minutes of the time of the House. The Bill was in-
troduced to improve the Act passed in 1835, which had
been found difficult to carry out in cases where cruelty
had been undoubtedly proved. It had, in fact, been found
difficult to fix the saddle on the right horse. Many
cases had occurred where servants had been em-
ployed in driving hackney coaches, omaibuses, and
°tiler public vehicles with defective animals; but
the fire under the existing law was inflicted upon
the strrant and not the master, a ee tcf,
which this Bill removed. Another obji ct of the Btil
was to increase the tine from 40 to 51., and to facilitate
the obtainment of evid,nce fir the proof' of ownership.
In a case which occurred no later than Monday list, it
was proved before a magistrate in Kent that some horses
had been starved, but the ownership could not be made
out accordin4 to law,- and the complaint was dismissed.
H. was not aware that there was any particular diffi-
culty; he trusted the House would
,reed the Bill a
second time, and any Opposition to it might be taken in
Committee.—(Cheers.)
Mr. HUME thought that they were just as likely to
'mystify as to simplify law by accumulating
He wished therefore to know whither the Acts already
in existence were not sufficient for the purpose. Ile
asked the question, not that he was at all unfriendly to
the Bill, but quite the contrary.—(Bear, hear.)
Sir G. GREY said that this was nut a new Bill, but
the amcnda.ent upon the present law was simply to sub
stitute imprisonment for a pt cliniary penalty.—(hear.)
The Marquis of WORCESTER—ExactIy so.
Mr. HENRY wished to know whether there was any
clause in the Bill to prevent steeple chasing.
Mr. MACKINNON said that he thought he could
answer the question. There was a clause to prevent
horses from b ing over-driven. He thought that would
meet the evil.—(Great laughter.) There were no ob-
jectionable detui,s in the 13ill, and the sooner it was read
a second time the b, tter.

Mr. BROWN inquired whether this Bill extended 4.0
England and Ireland.

The Marquis of WORCESTER replied in the ne-
gative.
Mr. BROWN then said that in Committee he should
move a clause for the purpose of extending its operatio❑
to Scotland.
An floN. MEMBER rose and said that he should move
a clause that it do not extend to Scotland.

Mr. HENLEY thought that while promoting a good
measure they should Lot do so inconsiderately, and
thus obviate the very advantage which they desired to
obtain.

Sir G. GREY said that there was no new principle in
the Bill. It had been very carefully considered, and
though there were details which would require ame►.d•
meat in Committk e, the Bill was upon the whole well
adapted to accomplish the purpose it was intended to
effect.

The 13111 was then read a second time, and ordered to
be committed this day we..k.
COUNTY RATES AND EXPENDITURE BILL.

On the second reading of this Bill being proposed,
Mr. HUME said that he had intended to reserve his
observations till the Bill was in a subsequent stage, but
having rt ceived communications from several Mem-
bers, he thought it would be better to meet any
objections to it in limine. By the Reform Bill the
c,llection and expenditure of the rates in bo-
roughs had been altered, and a preliminary re-
port had been made by a Committee of the House
appointed to consider the mode of amending the collec•
tion and expenditure of the rates in counties. That was
signed by Mr. Shaw Lefevre and two other Members,
and it was decidedly iu favour of an alteration. Having
always taken a strong interest in the subject, he had
proffered his evidence be fore that Committee. He need
not, it was true, have expressed any opinion upon the
matter, but having observed the measure for regulating
the rating in boroughs, and being desirous of obtain-
ing for those who paid the rates the right to regulate the
ex,enditure of them, he had in consequence in 1836 in-
troduced a Bill with the knowledge and sanction of the
Ministry of the day. The object of the Bill was to
separate the financial from the judicial administration of
every county. He proposed to place the former under
the direction of a board composed of persons elected by
those who hail the best right to select them, the rate-
payers. The judicial administration he proposed to
leave to the magistrates, who had been appointed by her
Majesty. This Bill was read a first time, but it appeared
some opposition was offered to the Bill by the County
Members, and while he (Mr. Hume) was moving the
second reading the Noble Lord at the bead of the Go-
vernment walked out of the House. The Bill differed
from the one introduced in 1837 in this respect: instead
of having a new election of the members to form the
board, it had been represented to him by several public
meetings in Lancashire that, as the guardians of the
different unions were a representative body, the board
might consist of a member from each union, and certain
county magistrates who were to have ex officio seats,
and he had introduced a provision in the Bill to that
effect. It the house assented to the principle of the
measure he would move that it be referred to the Cora-

mittee up stairs, and if that Committee thought fit to
increase the number of magistrates to one-half of the
guardians, he should have no objecti,.n alter the Bill
in ghat re, psct. Con; matt eol 1848 concluded that the
principle of the county rate was open to serious ob-
jection, on the ground that the charge was impostd by
rrs ns who were not elected by the rate-payers. Nu
tax of such magnitude was laid upon any subject excipt
by his representative, and if that were so surely the House
would not consider it unreasonable to assent to the

principle of the Bill, particularly-at the present time,
when there was a general desire that some economy
should be effect. d. There could be no doubt, if an ex-
ception to all rules connected with the administra-
tiou of public money in this country existed, that
it called for some immediate alteration. Taking
the two periods of 1792 and 1833, he found that the
county expenses had increased in the following pro-
portion:—Construction of bridges, from 42.0001. to
74,0001.; houses of correction, from 92,0001. to 177,0001;
maintenance of prisoners, from 45,0001. to 127,0001;

, prosecutions, from 34,0001. to 155,0001.; constables, from
659/ to 2.680 Z; salaries of officers, from 16,000/.
to 51,0001.; vagrants, from 315,000/. to 708,00 A
Now what was the total increase whiai had taken place?
In 1835 the total amount of tie county expenditure in
England and Wales "as 693,000/., and in 1847 the,
county rates ware 1,100.0001., b, jog an increase of 74
, per cent. To show the importance of the question it was
necessary he should show what had been done to relieve
the county rates of the heavy charge that
had been thrown upon them. In 1835 the expenses of
prosecutions at assizes were 80,0001, the expenses of
conveying prisoners 30,000/., and of the Poor-law Com-
mission 42,0001., making a total of 153.0001. paid in
18 ,5 from the Consolidated Fund. Ia 1836 the amount
paid was 94,0001. Parliament bad paid. in 1837,
154,0001; in 1838, 173.0001. ; in 1839. 179,000/. ; in
1840, 205,000/ ; in 1841, 236,0001; in 1842, 105 000/.;
in 1843, 220,000/; in 1844, 235,0001.; in 1845, 219,000!.;
in 1846. 379,000/. ; in 1847, 530 000/, ; in 1848, 542 000/ ;
rendering an aggregate of 3,532.000/. which Parliament
had relieved the counties of against he county rates, as
between the 74 pPr cent., according to the statement he had
given. He asked whether this was not the time to
establish some control over those matters? He could
not understand why there should he any objection to
this Bill, for it must be the interest of every landed
proprietor to have the rates and payments paid to the
country as light as possible.—(Haar, hear.) The ques-
tion tben,arose, whether the existing mode was the b st
that could be adopte,l, and whether it was fit that, undee
such a great increase that system should be continu d,
or whether the House should adopt seine plain principle
of taxation and representation, although not to the
toll extent it was desirable to do.—(Hear, hear.)
That was the object of the Bill which he now
brought forward. lie thought there was a general de-
sire among the county Members to see a better system.
Some counties had adopted finance committees to -attend
to the expenditure.—(Hear, hear.) Now that might be
very well for county Members, but it did not give sean
faction to the ratepayers generally. He therefore hoped
the House would support him in the second reading it
the Bill, which merely affirmed the principle, and lett the
details to be dealt with subs, quently.
Mr. H. DRUMMOND said the Hon. Member for
Montrose (Mr. Hume) contended that a board should be
appointed to revise and audit the the county taxation of
the country. Now he decidedly objected to the
introduction of such a pri ciple,_ as he believed
the counties of England periectly capable of
managing their own expenditure. He wished it to be
understood that great misapprehension existed as to the
powers of the magistrates with resp ct to the expends-
tore of the committees with which they were connected.
The object of the Bill, the Hunourable Mem-
ber said, was to reduce the expenditure to
the utmost. Now, with respect to the county with which
he was connected (Surrey), he must be permitted to say
that he bad carefully looked over the accounts of the
treasurer, and he was convinced that there was not an
item charged in it that could be saved. The Poor-
law Commissioners, had, it was true, reduced the
expenditure in many cases where it appeared
to him they should not have done so
—he meant the fees of medical men,
and the expenses incidental to their attendance, the con-
s( quence of which was the poor were not, properly
attended. He quite agreed with the Hon. 'Gentleman
that the county expenditure had increased, and in the
county in which he bad so long resided gaols had been
erected in opposition to the wishes of the magistrates
by those whim the Honourable Gentleman supported in
that House. Three gaols had been erected within his
memOry, and they were about to be put to the expense
of erecting a new one. They could not help it, for the
magistrates had no option in the matter. Theo, not long
ago, after the gaols had been fitted up in acc.)rdance with
a ce, tain plan, an order come down from UI4E-Tome-office
directing that they should give the prisoners chocolate
for breakfast—(Laughter)—and great expense was
entailed upon them in the erection of new kitchens.
[LEFT SPEAKING.]