The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-13 00:00:00

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

On Saturday a Petty Session was holden in the com-
mittee-room of St. Andrew's workhouse, Gray's Inn-
lane, before Mr. Witham, Mr. M'William, and other
Magistrates, to adjudicate on some complaints by Mr.
Reeve, the inspector of weights and measures, against
several fraudulent tradesmen. The following gross case
excited much indignation:—Thomas Young, a baker and
chandler's shop-keeper, in Little Coram-street, was
charged with having in use eight weights, the same being
of an unjust standard. The defendant pleaded guilty.
Mr. Witham—The fraud seems very extensive, and it
will be necessary, notwithstanding the plea, to hear the
evidence to guide us in our judgment.
Mr. Turner, of Vine-street, Hattongarden, was then
sworn—He said that on the 30th of last month he accom-
panied Mr. Reeve to the defendant's house, and nearly
every weight on the premises he found most abominably
deficient. Two of 561bs. were light upwards of 4oz. each ;
another 561bs. was short of that quantity 3.-}oz.; a 281 b.
was less lioz.; a 141 b. was deficient ;oz.; a 41b. was
against the purchaser 240 z. ; and an ounce brass
weight, which was used in the tea scales, was un-
just 19 grains. The 41b. weight was in the bread
scale, and the large deficiency in it would enable the
defendant to rob his customers to the extent of 161bs.
in a sack of flour. That same weight could also be
used in selling half a quartern loaf ; for instance, the
bread and a 21b. weight could be put in the balance
against it, and the unfortunate purchaser would then be
minus in his quantity nearly three ounces. Mr. Reeve
and witness had long suspected the defendant, but he had
previously been too sharp for them. On the 26th of No-
vember they were in his neighbourhood, and while they
were making a seizure a few doors from him, he, or some
one in his employ, moved the weights out of his shop.
On the present occasion, however, they went direct to his
shop, and succeeded in detecting him.
Defendant—l am very sorry. They have only been
recently purchased.
Mr. M`William—l am sorry the law limits the fine ;
if it did not, our judgment would be very severe. We
convict you in the full penalty of 51. The money was
immediately paid.
Wm. Sheen, the owner of a coal-shed at No. 9, Little
Coram-street, was summoned for the following fraud :
Mr. Turner said this was a most peculiar case, and he
produced the coal-machine which he had seized on de-
fendant's premises. The scoop in which the coal is put
is two feet and a half higher than the part where the
weight is placed, and it is supported by an iron frame.
The frame stands level when the coal is in the scoop, but
the moment you begin to fill it, it inclines towards the
weights, and causes a false balance of one pound and a
quarter in 141 b. ; two pounds and a half in 281 b. ; five
pounds in 561 b.; and so on doubling the deficiency in
proportion to the increase.
Mr. M'William—You have been guilty of a very grave
offence, and must not expect mercy at our hands. We
fine you 51. Are you prepared to pay it? Defendant—
No, I am not.

Mr. 2.l‘William—Then we are prepared to send you to
the House of Correction. We shall keep you here until
an officer has been to see if you have goods whereon to
levy, and if you have not we shall commit you.
Defendant was then removed in custody.

MARTHAM IN NORFOLK.—In this parish,
the population of which, in 1831, did not exceed 900,
there have died between the years 1831 and 1840, 21
persons, whose ages average 85 years each, many of
whom were born in Martham, and the greater part had
lived more than three-quarters of their lives in that
village. There are now living in the same parish 10
persons, in good health, whose ages average more than
80 years.—Norfolk Chronicle.
EARLY RISING.— The late Chief Baron
O'Grady (Ireland), who, like the matutine planets, was
generally up before the sun, was always in the same pre-
dicament with reference to his own son, Dennis, whose
slumbers were generally prolonged into the morning.
Once when the Baron was on circuit, he knew that his
son was engaged as barrister in the first cause, he hurried
into his bedroom, and waking him without much cere-
mony, exclaimed, " Up with you, Dennis, Dennis! re-
member it's the early bird that catches the worm.' "
" Serve the worm right for being up earlier than the
bird," replied the sluggard, rubbing his eyes.—Colburn's
New Monthly.
EARL GREY.—It is not true, as has been stated
by some of our Contemporaries, metropolitan and pro-
vincial, that Earl Grey is suffering from severe indis-
position. The Noble Earl is at llowick Hall, surrounded
by his family, in his usual good health. As was to be
expected, however, the sudden and melancholy death of
the Countess of Durham has plunged the yenerable Earl
and his amiable Countess, and the other branches of the
family, into the most poignant grief. This painful ca-
lamity was not at all apprehended, and has come upon
the relatives of the deceased Countess in the most sudden
manner possible. The remains of the deceased lady will
be brought to Chester-le-Street, near Durham, for inter-
ment in the vault of the Lambton family, where repose
the ashes of the Earl of Durham and his ancestors.
BRIGHTON RAILROAD —This road, we are
informed, has been recently examined, and appears in
every part to be perfectly safe. It seems to be no less
so for money than passengers ; for, according to a state-
ment on which we can rely, in the course of last week
there were two instances of passengers leaving behind
them the several sums of 7,0001. and 4,0001., which were
dn , andare
bdees takentined
both carefully secured by the officers of the establish
ment, and faithfully .delivered to the owners. We
un-
derstandfor iirißrighton
ant
mustall ea
joinrnagtehsealni hne orses
co
whichCroydon,
off at the same place for London. This •
point of junc-
tion is, in point of fact, almost as near tl
the town as London-bridge, and the additionalwest-end of
expense
is scarcely more.
THE LATE LADY DURHAM. We remember
no circumstance, since the death of
that produced so great a shock onher Noble husband,
the North of England. " With
respect disposition
the public feeling of
of her Ladyship's property we believe
to the dispos
elieve it will be foundade
that the most satisfactory arra
in that respect. We understand
that
the have b
individualseen made
in
e p
pointed to carry her intentions into effect, are the late
Earl's devotedly-attached brother, Mr. Hedworth Lamb-
ton, Lord Ilowick, and Sir George Grey. Her Lady-
ship's remains have been placed on board ship for con-
veyance to this country ,• and we learn that it is intended
to deposit them in the family burying-vault at Chester-
le-street. It is consolatory to know, that her Ladyship
retained possession of her mentgl faculties to the last-
moment ; and though her sufferings -were severe, that
she met her dissolution with the most calm and pious re-
signation to the Divine will. The young Earl of Dur-
ham and the Ladies Lambton, though perfectly conscious
of the irreparable loss they have sustained, have 3
et
.
borne their bereavement with far ersons more fortitude
y ian
o ir etlars,
could have been expected from p
and beloved mother amidst
losing an affectic!nate n
d It was the intention of the
strangers in a foreign la
wintered with her family at
late Countess to have
Rome ; whitaer,
-e are informed, the latter have since
proceeded, under Lady
great kindness a the charge of Bentinek, who had
shown
and solicitude in her attentions to
Durham,
ady
during her brief but fatal illness.—
L
Durham Chronicle. •
SCOTCH TITLES OF 'THE 'PRINCE OF
`'VALES.--As the descendant of our immortal patriot,
Ning Robert the Bruce, the infant Prince is Prince and
Steward of Scotland, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick,
Lord of the Isles, and Baron of Renfrew, and, as such,
stands at the head of the roll of the peers of Scotland,