The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-15 00:00:00

HAMBURGH PAPERS.

HAMBURGH, FEB. 9.—A portion of ice at Newnaubler
began to drift yesterday, but the frost being sharp in the
night the motion of the ice was again stopped, and fast
ice produced, so that no improvement in the state of the
ice in the Elbe is to be expected for some days.
The London mail is not arrived.
GLUCKSTADT, FEB. 9.—The state of :the ice is not
altered. The entrance to the harbour is free.

WESTMINSTER ELECTION.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—A correspondent in your excellently conducted
journal, asks, " Who is Mr. Cochrane, the present can-
didate for the representation of Westminster?" "Is he
the same Mr. Cochrane who, some years since, gavelled
through the country as a Spanish minstrel?" "Is he
the party who published a descriptive account of his
wanderings through Kent and Sussex?" These ques-
tions require a straightforward answer; since it must
not be borne, it mu►t not be tolerated, that the large and
influential city of Westminster shall be represented by
a person who, in the disguise of a travelling musician,
succeeded, in many instances, alas! too many instances,
in insinuating himself into private families, and after-
wards exposed the flirtation of sundry misses, some in
their teens, and others approaching that questionable
age when ladies begin to think they are forgotten by
the sterner portion of the sex. Ido not state that
Mr. Cochrane is the man who thus acted; I do
not aver that he is the individual who pub-
lished sundry amours in his book, which
he pretended took place at Canterbury, Dover, Hastings,
and Brighten ; I can scarcely believe that a man, who
could betray the confidence of any female, after having
been fed and pampered to satiety by her friends, and sup-
plied with money, believing the said individual to be in
the condition of an unfortunate political exile, would
dare to affront a highly respectable and honourable con-
stituency with his presence. But, Sir, you say—" Per-
haps Mr. Cochrane will inform the electors whether he
is the person I have thus hastily alluded to ?" My reply
is, do not take Mr. Cochrane's word for his innocence.
I knew the wandering minstrel—the poor amiable young
man who had been driven from friends and home, owing to

.
political disturbances in his own country-4 have seen him
often, but not since he gathered silver and gold from
yhose who pitied his pretended misfortune—from these
who fostered the viper, who felt for and sympathised
with him in his assumed distressed condition, and I
might be able to identify him ; yet, there is a probability
of clearing up the point beyond the possibility of doubt.
The minstrel's work was printed by Mr. Brettel, of
Rupert-street, Haymarket ; and I have reason to know
that that gentleman is perfectly acquainted with the
person of Mr. Cochrane, and can, therefore, without
difficulty, set the matter at rest, and thus ease the minds
of many parties wbo have promised Mr. Cochrane their
support, but who would at once withdraw it if Mr.
Cochrane can be identified as the wandering minstrel.

Allow me to add, that, for years, Mr:- Brettel has
taken a very prominent part in the Westminster election;
he is a Liberal too ; and would no doubt, not only for
the credit of the House of Commons, but for the honour
and reputation of Westminster, set the matter at rest.
I am, Sir, faithfully yours,

J W.

Fleet-street.

DESTITUTION IN IRELAND.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—A few days ago I saw in your Yaluable Paper a
letter from a brother traveller, suggesting that we should
raise a fund for the poor of this fine, but unhappy
country; and he suggested that we should subscribe at
least five shillings each. Now, Sir, the object of this
letter is to suggest that every traveller shall do what he
can; but I trust that most of us will give at least a
pound. I have already given at a public meeting; but,
Sir, I am willing to forego some of my usual comforts
to aid in feeding the starving multitudes in this country.
It would be useless for me to attempt to describe the
misery that I witness from day to day. The public
papers are full of the horrors that the poor suffer. I call
on my brother travellers to do what they can to stimu-
late others in various towns as they go through their
journey ; they may do much themselves, and they may
induce others to do more.
I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
JOHN. WEBB.
Hotel, Waterford, Feb. 10, 1847.

NUMEROUS SUDDEN DEATHS.—On Friday Mr.
W. Carter, the Surrey Coroner, held four inquests on the
bodies of persons who had died suddenly. The first was
taken at the Swan Inn, near Peckham. the other three were
held in the parish of St. Magdalen, Bermondsey.
PARIS.—The Misses Pyne have been singing with
immense success at the Marchioness of Normanby's soirée
musicale ; also at Les Deux Nouveaux concerts. The
Marchioness has again segued these accomplished young
ladies for the 19th inst.
FIRE IN THE OLD-STREET•ROAD.-011 Wednesday
night, a few minutes before ten o'clock, a fire broke out on
the premises in the occupation of Mr. Berry, known as the
Victoria Coffee-house, 57, Old-street-road. From what could
be gleaned on the spot, shortly after the outbreak, it appears
that while the parties connected with the premises were in
the lower room, a strong smell of tire filled the room, and in
a few minutes the roaring of flames was heard in the upper
part of the house, shortly after which the fire burst through
the chamber windows. Engines were soon upon the spot,
and were set to work. The fire, however, prevailed, nor was
it quenched before the building (built chiefly of wood) was
burned through, and its contents consumed. The adjoining
shop, on the eastern side, was saved, in consequence of a
substantial party-wall being between them. The fire is sup-
posed to have originated through some defect in the flue.
It is said that the occupier is not insured.
PROVISIONS FROM THE UNITED STATES.—The
Queen of the West, from New York (which arrived at Li-
verpool on the 11th instant) brings 5,100 barrels of flour,
I 4,956 barrels of Indian corn meal, 222 bags of Indian corn,
1,454 bags of peas, and 3,000 packages of biscuit.
WITCHCRAFT.—YARMOUTII.—Thanks to the more
general diffusion of knowledge, instances of belief in super-
natural powers have now become exceedingly rare; that it
is not entirely eradicated the following paragraph will fully
prove. On Saturday last Mrs. Leggett appeared at our Po-
lice-court to crave sureties of the peace against her sister,
Mrs. Cole, both inhabitants of Gorlestone, and the defendant,
the wife of the well-known pilot of that name. It appears
that the two sisters have lately "fallen out" respecting
some property left them by their father. On Friday
Mrs. Cole went to the house of Mrs. Leggett, and
broke open her door by throwing a stone at it. She
then commenced a volley of abuse directed against her
sister, and threatened " to make her wallow in her
blood unless she went to Norwich and had the witches
taken off her (Mrs. Cole's) husband. She would make
her drink her own blood unless she uubewitched
her husband." The Mayor asked Mrs. Cole what she meant,
when she made, with all possible earnestness, the following
statement My sister got my father to make a wrong
will, and leave all his property to her; and she now sets all
the lawyers at defiance. My husband has been lately in a
very low way; I have had Dr. Impey to him, the Pier.
master's son, and old Dr. Smith, but they know nothing
about his complaint—he is never at rest night or day, and
my belief is he is bewitched by Mrs. Leggett. He is never
well, and yet nobody can see anything the matter with
him." The magistrates remonstrated with the defendant
as
to the fearful delusion under which she laboured, and with a
promise from her not to go near the complainant, allowed the
parties to retire. Mrs. Cole soca-led naturally shrewd
general subjects, and before she left the court
adir'rtewteiltltohne
possibility of her belief being erroneous, for the said, " Well,
if
er there are such things as witches, my sister is one."—Bury
Hald.
It is mentioned in Westminster 1141 that Mr.
Cockburn, Q.C., intends, at
Parliamentary termination of the present
session to relinquish iiihouse,
witht enary
rrofessional pr4tlce
in Committees of the a view to his entering
Parliament at the next general election.
His Excellency the Belgian 4inister and Madame
Van de Weyer received a distinguished circle to dinner on
. Saturday lad, at the Belgian Legatiniiii