The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-18 00:00:00

TO THE SECRETARY OF THE

METROPOLITAN REFORM ASSOCIATION.

Sir,—On Wednesday the 13th the House was engaged
on the County Rates and Expenditure Bill; which
being a subject connected with powerful interests,
was discussed inch by inch, till the process came to
a natural death by the arrival of six of the clock,
when according to rule the Speaker adjourned the
House. The question therefore stands as well as
ever, for a second crop of prolonged argumentation.
On Thursday on the motion for agreeing to Supply,
the question of the Assent to the Canadian Bill MS
brought forward in the shape of an amendment.
The circumstances are most important. It will be in
the recollection of all except the very young, that
twelve years ago there was a resistance to the British
Government in Canada. Whence it arose and how
far it was justifiable, or at all events what was said
on these points by different parties in the Howe of
Commons and elsewhere, it is perhaps better to refer
to the same kind of recollection, than to invite dispute
in quarters where it may now be desirable to find
accord. The resistance was unsuccessful ; and now
the Canadians, acting through the majority of their
legal representatives, have come to the exceedingly
wise and praiseworthy decision, to bury the hatchet
of these ancient animosities, and in aid of this to sub-
scribe out of their own revenues a sum to be applied
to the relief of sufferings arising on all sides out of the
transactions of the past. On which stands up the
party in Canada, which, like one here, arrogates to
itself the title of loyal, and though a minority not
only in the general representation of Canada but in
the portion of it which would be made by counting
exclusively their own countrymen, demands that the
relief shall be given only to one side, which of course
is their own, and burns the Parliament House in
Montreal by way of demonstrating the justice of
their claim. A Tory rebellion in fact is going on in
Canada, to resist the effort of the Legislature for the
relief of a rebellion caused by Tories. Such is the
case in Canada, and in England the corresponding
chord vibrates, as in the two harps which asto-
nished the virtuosi of antiquity. Solemn motions
must be made, with the effect of leaving nothing un-
said which can encourage " the roaring boys, On
t'other side th' Atlantic," and show them that if they
have burned one House of Parliament, they are
backed in another. _ _ _

The Prime Minister debouched with a concentrated
energy which might recal the remark in France on a
leading sovereign of the last century—" When he is
well screwed, he has a spring in him that is irre-
sistible." The debate after this was little more than
words; and was adjourned till next day, in order
that words might be increased. The idea seemed to
have got abroad, that a section which often votes with
Ministers was absent; and each side of the House
for some time appeared to be manoeuvring to induce
the other to call for the adjournment.
On Friday the debate was continued to a late
hour, without any marked re,ults except another
powerful reply from the Prime Minister, fullowed by
the very convincing division in his favour, of 291
against 150.
You will perhaps ask me how it is, that I who was
one of the very small band that stood by the Mem-
ber for Sheffield in what was designated from the
Conservative benches on this night as " the defence
of his clients the Canadian rebels," should be the one
man whose name does not appear in the debate. I
am quite conscious that the same question will
be made in other places, with possibly the addi-
tion of requesting to be informed by which of
the three cardinal defects of mind or character
it was that this came about, or what might be
the sop or gift which effected so marked and peculiar
a holding of the peace. The answer is brief; I
rose four times. As a military man must take in
his hand not only his life but his reputation, and
make up his mind to the danger that one like the
other may by fortuitous circumstances be utterly
shattered and destroyed ; so a man in the House of
Commons, who does not hold the position of one of
the recognised babblers and brawlers, must cultivate
no squeamishness as to the effect which may be .pro-
duced by his not being allowed to be heard. If, to
quote a saying of the Member for Sheffield, he was
" in an agony about a tax'd cart," he.,would be listened
to .with reverential attention to any assignable extent.
But if he is not concerned with tax'd carts, he must
take the chance of meeting all inquirers with the de-
fence, that he rose four times.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
AN OLD REFORMER.
London, June 18, 1849.

EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF
ROBBING A LUNATIC.
At the Central Criminal Court on Saturday, Charles
Simpkin and Henry Bond were indicted for a robbery,
under the following singular circu instances:—
The prosecutor was a person named Manuel De Sa
Pemantel, a Portuguese, who bad been for many years
in the service of a well known London banker, and by
his industry and thrifty conduct had acquired a small
independency. Unfortunately he was afflicted with an
aberration of intellect, which rendered it necessary that
he should become an inmate of Bethlehem Hospital, but,
under judicious treatment there, he recovered his reason
and was removed in February last, ostensibly for the
purpose of his wife testing whether his cure was
permanent, but in reality for the purpose of getting his
dividends at the Bank of England, as there was no
instrument executed by which any other person could
receive them. A man of the name of Turner was em-
ployed as attendant to Mr. Pemantel, and they went to
the Bank together, and received two dividend warrants,
one of which Pemantel got cashed, and the other he took
home with the cash. His wife had been in the habit of
consulting Simpkin on different matters, and as soon as
the money was received, there was a disposition to get
the husband back to Bethlehem, on the ground that he
was again becoming insane. Simpkin took the neces-
sary steps for this, and at his suggestion the assistance
of the prisoner Bond, and one Boyd was procured. Mrs.
Pemantel heard Simpkin say that _Turner had done for
them by splitting, and telling his mother that they meant
to rob Pemantel, and consequently she was on the alert.
On the morning when her husband was to be removed
to Bethlehem the prisoners and three others went to
Pemanters house, and Bond, who was a kind of
amateur lawyer, told Pemantel that be had a
written authority to remove him ha& to Bethlehem,
and to take possession of all his money, and showing
him a straitwaistcoat, threatened to put it on him
if he did not instantly give his money over. Under this
threat he did so, and the prisoners then walked off,
abusing Mrs. Pemantel shamefully, when she requested
them to restore the money. As they refused to do so,
the police were called into requisition, and it was then
discovered that Bond had appropriated the note to his
own purposes by paying it as a deposit on the purchase
of an interest in some property he had been negotiating
for jointly with Simpkin. These facts coming to the
knowledge of the Alleged Lunatics'Friend Society (upon
which some high eulogiuma were pronounced in court),
they thought it one of such publio interest that they
came for ward arid prosecuted.
Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Huddlentone were for the prose-
cution; Mr. Robinson for Simpkins.
Mr. Robinson cross-examined Mr. Pemantel as to the
exact position in which he and his wife stood towards
each other. The only facts elicited of any material in-
terest were that up to the period of his going.into Beth-
lehem he had lived happily with 'her; that he did not
considered himself at all deranged in mind; that he did
not know where his wife's residence was; and that since
the robbery he had been an inmate of Marylebone work-
house.
Several of her Majesty's Yeomen of the Guard said
that the prisoner Simpkins had been for seven or eight
years in her Majesty's service at Buckingham Palace
and Windsor Castle. Ile was discharged about two
years ago from being absent from duty when a fire oc-
curred. They did not know that he had been charged
with stealing a dog belonging to the Queen.
The prisoners were found Guilty.
A police officer swore that Simpkin had been in eus-
;ody for stealing a dog belonging to one of the Royal
They were sentenced each to six months' hard labour.

ANOTHER FAILURE OF THE LAND SCHEME.-.--We
notice that the Shepping House and Church Farm
estates, situate at Mathon, on the borders of Worcester-
shire and Herefordshire, are to be publicly offered for
sale by Mr. E. Russell in the course of this present
month. These two valuable properties were amongst
the purchases made some time since by Mr. Feargus
O'Connor for the purpose of his land scheme, but, for
reasons best known to himself, the Hon. Member has
not completed the purchase of either, but has preferred
forfeiting the deposit money. Hence the estates are once
more brought into the market.—Worcester Herald.
THE DANISH. BLOCKADE.-The General Steam
Navigation Company's mail-packet Trident, Captsin
Morriss, which arrived at Blackwell early yesterday
evening from Hamburgh, reports having passed the
Danish blockading squadron, consisting of three frigates
and a steam-vessel, off the island of Heligoland. They
maintained the strictest blockade of the rivers Elbe and
Weser. At the hour of departure of the Trident a
great fire was raging in Hamburgh. Particulars not
known.

We understand that William Chambers, Esq., the
eminent Edinburgh publisher, has bought the fine estate
of Glenormiston, in his native county of PcchleA. The
sum given is stated to be slightly exceeding 25,0001, a
moderate price, but showing no great diminution in the
value of laud. We cordially congratulate our friend on
his accession to his new territorial honours. His talents,
public spirit, and love of the country will render him 'ln
excellont and valuable laird, and the bucolic ranks will
be the better for an infusion of literature. He may re-
member the q
uaint advice given in an old a IMatiack of
Charles tile Second's time, quoted by Scott, in which the
reader is recommended to walk a mile or two every
'l:doming before bre,kfast in the month of June, and it
he can possibly so manage it to let his exercise be taken
upon his own land. This very agreeable way of enjoying
the country air Mr. Chambers now possesses. lie may
pen articles under the shade of his own trees, and like
the happy old Corycian in, Virgil, live on the corn and
fruits of his own growth and plantation. his wonderful
little three-halfpenny sheet has fairly beat the large
fourpence halfpenny folios; but the brotherhood of the
Fress will all rejoice in the success of their potent
who, with his congenial and liatei 11;11 partner, lit done
i
so much for the cause of intelligence—for d
and (in the best sense of the term) for t e p o`p°l 211_ .
vernen Courier.