The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-10 00:00:00

_

/*/
THE RECAL'OF SIR E. IVIL/IXOT.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE TIMES.
SlR,—The public were some time since informed o
the recal of Sir Eardley Wilmot, Bart., from the Go •
vernwent of Van Diemen's Land, but apprized only by
the announcement in the Gazette of the appointment of
his successor. They are at length, through the instru-
mentality of Lord Stanley, favoured with the means of
judging, to a certain extent at least, of the justice or
otherwise of his Excellenc3's recal, by the publication
of the correspondence between the Secretary of State
and Sir E. Wilmot. This so called correspondence, so
t which
t affectsi n g ,
far as it goes, can h:irdly be considered satisfactory,
confined, as it is, to the public dispatch and a private
NMor .rec Secretaryadecision,
a Wn
letter of the same date, addressed to Sir E. Wilmot by
Gladstone,fo
the
announcingh etrightsh e first
a ntdi theme
privilegesin format'sth e
of
fs sud-
denaamn yedh
document, the reasons assigned for this determination.
individual can be satisfactory which lacks the quality so
essential to the spirit of, justice, embraced in themaxim ,
" Aud kilter= partern:
The dispatch announces, as is usual in such docu-
ments, that " it has become the painful duty of the wri-
ter to apprize his Excellency, that her Majesty is pleased
to dispense with his future services, and that her Ma-
jestv's Government had been induced to tender the ad-
vice which induced this recal, not on account of the in-
competency, real or alleged, for the ordinary duties at-
tached to the chief executive officers of the dependen-
t cies of the Crown, but from a regard to the special exi-
gencies of the particular colony over which his Excel-
lency had been appointed and bad undertaken to preside,
and to the very defective manner in which, according to
the judgment of her Majesty's Government, those exi-
gencies had been met by him."
Heretofore the assignment system had been established
in this colony, under the reasonable hope and expecta-
tion that if any latent seed of morality or repentance
rested in the mind or disposition of the convict, it would
'be more likely to germinate and bear wholesome fruit
when nurtured and encouraged by contact with, and
example ot, those untainted with crime, than by herding
criminals of every grade in such close contiguity, if not
irresistible confederacy, as to render almost a miracle
the escape of one individual so placed and associated
from the darkest abyss of moral contamination and in-
famy. _

The former system had its day, and it was determined
that the latter should receive a trial. The dispatch now
before us too plainly shows how prolific the new system
has been of all those frightful evils so naturally to have
been anticipated as its fruits.
This latter system came into operation shortly after
Sir E. Wilmot assumed these duties, justly denominated
by the Minister "an arduous task;' the worst results
followed, and there is sufficient in the dispatch to show
that they were duly announced to the Home Govern-
ment—not, I presume, in a spirit of dictation, which
would ill become the character of the Queen's Viceroy,
but by " transmitting to the proper quarter the most hor-
rible and revolting accounts of the state of morals
among a portion of the female convicts." His Excel-
lency did not impertinently intrude his convictions on
the subject of this horror-working system upon the
authorities by whom.it was maintained; he did not say,
" Give up this new. (angled and demoralizing experiment
which has worked so much evil, which has placed the
convict population beyond the reach of moral example
or influence; abandon the false position you have taken
in the science of moral regeneration ; return to that
wholesome system of assignment, which was not only
promised to the early settler as an encouragement to
embark his fortunes in this distant climate, but which
has proved the happy and fruitful source of moral
amendment, as attested by the existence of a large sec-
tion of the present trading and agricultural portion of
the community over which I preside, who have been
snatched from vice and contamination by the healing
influence of that system which you have thus aban-
doned." I have reason to Leave that these were the
sentiments of Sir E. ‘Vilmot, though not put forward
after this obtrusive and &amid' fashion.

Sir E Wilmot is not accused of " incompetency real
l
or all, ged." "He had been appointed," say, the Mi-
nister, " to carry out a systembrouvht into use for the
purpose of ,fr ,rdioo a solution to one of the most rilfh-
eult o' social problem,—a s)stern aitepted evi h a view
to eeon 'ruled but Kura! p,rpo.es, and wh,i,z sepa-
rdtinv the ollviet fr,,nt the Lend-rat comoauntty, yet to
neltralize by di-cipl:ne, and by Te!igio,,s and humanizing
influences, all those thngers which arise from the close
jox tap ,sition and constant interc,,urse of eri.ninals among
th,m,elves."
Truly a vet y " arclucti. tft-k !" We accuse you, save
. the . r and sole judge in this case, and therefore we
con I. ran you of not having applied your mina with due
,hlTence and with earnest concerti to the gevernment andimprovement of that portion of the population under
your charge. We aecuce you to not having demonstrated
that the absence of successful results must be ascribed to
theinherent defects of the: system, and not to the apathy
and neglect of those to whose charge it had been com-
mitted. Of all this we accuse you, not from official
reports, but from "rumours" and from evidence "frag-
mentary and indistinct ;" and la: tly, we promulgate these
accusations for the first time in the selfsame document
which seals your condemnation and punishment. And,
now, to turn to the letter which accompanied this di-
spatch, and which is as follows :
" Downing-street, April 30, 1846.
" have now to discharge a duty still raore pain-
ful and delicate than that of addressing you in a public
dispatch to communicate to you your recal from the ad-
ministration of affairs in Van Diemen's Land.
"Adverting to the fact that this recal rests upon the
allegation of a failure on your part with respect to special
and peculiar duties only, which attach to the care of a
penal colony, but not to that of colonies in general, you
may feel some surprise at the circumstances that I have
duringmad e not
the
allusionordinary to thet ernap oosfs iq•
years. o f your employment
" I should have felt authorised to express a willingness
to consider of any favourable opportunity which might
offer itself for such employment, had it not been for the
circumstance that certain rumours have reached me from
a variety of quarters relative to your private life, to the
nature of which it is perhaps unnecessary that I should
at present particularly allude.
" Had these rumours been slight, and without pre-
sumptions of credibility, I might warrantably and gladly
have passed them by. Had they, on the other him
taken the form of charges or of information sup-
ported by the names of the parties tendering it, it
would have been my absolute duty, independently of
any other reason for interference with your tenure of
office, to refer the matter to you, and at once call upon
you for your exculpation. But they occupyanlintermediate
position. Presuming that I have been justified in re-
fraining from bringing them under your notion up to the
present time, I feel that it would be impossible to recom-
mend your resumption of active duties under the Crown
in any other colony until they are satisfactorily dis-
posed of. To found proceedings upon them against a
person holding office appeared to me a very questionable
matter, but I think it quite unquestionable that they
must be taken into view when re-appointment is the
matter at issue.

" I know not what your views and wishes on that sub-
ject may be. 1 shouid not have entered wantonly and
needlessly on such a topic as that to which I now refer.
My reason for doing so, without waiting for any request
from you for re-employment, is, that I think that some
favourable intimation on that head would have been your
due had no obstacle intervened, and I have, therefore,
found myself bound to account for the omission from my
dispatch of this day of any such intimation.

" i have, &e.,

`• W. E. GLADSTONE."

Now, throughout this di-patch and the accompanying
letter, it appelrs that 30 far from tny inquiry or expos-
ulation havinr been made in re,erence t ► the allcged
errors and otntsNious c e.taiiied in the former, or in
reference to the anonym:ins rumours alluded to in the
latter document, the accits4t on .end em.dertinaticri were
simultaneous. The verdict is pronounced, in the first
instance, without hearing the t!efence, awl, when all the
damning and ruinous efect, ha 4 been telt and suffered,
the accused is hutnahely permitted to pTetd in dLnial or
mitigation, _ _

Will ro.t. these circomst,nces render it a at •or g " pre-
sump:ion," indeed, on the part of the writer of this lettef,
that he had been justifi d in retraining from bringing
toe charges preferred against the accused under his
no:iee prior to the am)uncetnent of his irrevocable
docision upon thorn ? or, is the tenure of office in her
Majesty's colonies a thing so frail and unsubstantial that
it may be at once an: hauled by the breath of scandal
or by anonymous rumours, fabricated and coccottel in
a community proverbiaily tainted by the under-current
of that jealous, envious, and designing slander which
has been the downial of more than one honourable indi-
vidual, as well as the bane and curse of that community?
ofd
Can that decision be satisfactory to a British public
which is arrived at in defiance of all those rules of which
tutetytob7esvteratsttohethpealplraidnicuimple nvoifod in
Britishlve
libljthertydL Ii need
eis
•' Mr. Justice Willis in appeal against the Governor of
her Majesty in Privy Council last year, in the case of
New South Wales," who had thought proper to suspend
him from the exereis© of his judicial functions without
having called upon him for his defence—a. principle
the rule by which even the criminal is
which treated the act of the Governor in so doing as an
bshefendremcaoxnidmemuation—am act which
aeonnunttiritliegilaea upontteos bedtheh ecahreri

" AUDI ALTERAM PARTEM."

CHARGE AGAINST A CHILD OF ATTEMPTING TO
POISON HER SISTER.—A little girl, not more than
twelve years ell, named Maria Makin, of Brown's-
square, Meadow-lane, was last Monday brought before
R. I3ramley, Esq., and Ralph Markland, Esq., charged
with attempting to poison Ann Makin, the wife of her
brother. It appeared from the evidence of the brother
that, having lost their father and mother, he had taken
his little sister into his house. A short time ago she
was sent to a shop fur some blue colouring to use in
white-washing. She returned with blue vitriol, which
which was not used. Shortly afterwards she attempted
to poison her brother and sister by putting it into their
food, and according to her brother's account she made
this attempt for the third time on Sunday last, when she
put it into some broth, which was taken by her sister,
who on Monday was ill in consequence. The policeman
by whom she was taken into custody stated that, in
answer to a question put to her by himself, she had ad-
mitted that she knew what it was she put into the broth,
and what effect it would have if taken. The magistrates
expressed very great surprise that after the first attempt
the vitriol was not removed from the house, as by that
means a repetition of the attempt would have been
avoided. Viewing all the circumstances of the case, in
connexion with the youth of the prisoner, they enter:
!tatted very much doubt that the act had been intention
and therefore discharged her. The little girl,we oourt.bo
had
wept much during the examination, then reith
—Leedv Mercury.
The Earl of Clarendon left Comb's Abb=y
bts rCoventry. esidence
the seat of the Earl Craveu,nl4l*V,
Grove Park, Herts.
,

THE NEW NOVELS.
Now ready at all tlsaLlbraries, in 3 vols.
THE STORY OF LILLY DAWSON,
By Mre. CROWE.
AUTHORESS OF
I" SUSAN HOPLEY."
TEMPTATION AND ATONEMENT. liky dirs. GORE. 3 vols.

FATHER. lii USTACE, a Tale of the Jesuits. 14 Mrs. TROLLOPE
3 yells.
Arnow Gelbaru, Publisher, 13, Great Marlbereu;h-street.

:low wells ST ATWRIT" , .TliOR OF " WILD SPORTS OF TEE
&c

moo, in 2 Tols. post 8-ro., with Illustrations on Steel and
Wdod, by Leech and G. Measora, 215., bound.
"TILL
-SIDE and BORDER SKETCHES ;
vritk LEGUNDS of the CHEVIOTS and the LAMMER-

UV/A.

By W. 11. MAXWELL, EsQ.
Attittor " Sports of the West," " Stories of Waterloo," Scc
Aishard Bentley, New Burlington street
(Publisher in Ordinary to her Majesty).

THE EDINBURGH REVIEW, No. CLXXIL,
Will be published On WEDNESDAT NEXT.

CONTENTS :-
1. CRACOW IN 1815 AND 1846.
2. SAINTS' LIVES AND MIRACLES.
3. PRISON VISITING.
4. ARABIAN PHILOSOPHY.
5. THE EMIGRANT, BY SIR F. HEAD-
S. THE MARIAN EXILES.
7. PRIMITIVE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF ENGLAND.
8. SCHOOLS OF DESIGN.
9. THE ROCK AND THE BILLOW HISTORICAL FICTIONS.
10. STATUTE LAW REFORM.
11. THE SPANISH MARRIAGES.
12. A PLEA FOR RAGGED SCHOOLS.
London : Longman and Co. Edinburgh : A. and C. Blank.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
The Nobility, Gentry-, Subscribers to the Opera, and the Public,
are respeedhlly informed, that the THEATRE WILL RE-OPEN
THIS EVENING,
when will be perform Ded Donize
ORE.ttra Opera,
L'ELISIR 'AM

Cas-it-flan ; Nemorino, Signor Gardoni ; Belcore,
and Dr. Dulcomara, Signor Lablache (his first
*Pm me;
son).
Ma4bl-a--he
aPP•arazi`"° Between the Ads of the Opera will be presented (for the first time
Ipta n) the admired Divertisement, entitled LE BACCRA_NTE,
seasli Grabni (her first ;appearance this season), Mdlles.
bYerranild Viet:fo, M. Dor, and Corps de Belot.
T. dulls wit. the new snceessfid Ballet, in Two Tableaux, by
Tagitotii, the music by Signor Pugni, entitled
THEA ; 011, LA FEE AUX FLEURS.
principal eharacters by Mdlle. C. Rosati, Mdlle. Marie Taglieni,
M. Pant Taglioni, St.c.
La the eourse of the Ballet will be introduced the following dances :
Ls Mamba, Mdlle. C. Rosati. - L'lndifference, Mdlle. Rosati and
M. P. Taglioni. Solo of Le Fee aux Fieurs, Mdlle Marie Taglionl.
La Bouquet, Mdlle. Rosati.
Ai Opera is in rehearsal for the first appearance of Mdlle. Jenny
Lind on her arrival in England.
On Saturday, April 17th, will be produced (for the first time in
leis eountry) Verdi's Opera " I Due Foscari."
Verdi's Opera " Ernani " will be repeated forthwith.

HER MAJESTYS THEATRE.
The Nobility, Subscribers, and ' the Public, are respectililly in-
tamed. that there will be an EXTRA NIGHT

On 1347.
When will be performed (frst time this season) Bellies celebrated
Opera

I P U R I T A N I.
Principal Characters • —Elvira, Madame Castellan ; Giorgio, Signor
bablache ; Artura, signor Gardoni ; end Riccardo, Signor Coletti.
Betvreen the Acts of the Opera, a Divertissement, in which will be
presented the fallowing Dances :—Deutchen Rhein, by Corps de
Ballet ; a favourite Pas, by Mdlle. Rosati ; and a new Pas, composed
by M. P. Taglioni for Mdlle. Marie Tagl.oni, entitled Posnania, or
Dante Polonaise.

After the Opera will be presented an entirely New Ballet Diver-
liseement, by M. P. Taglioni ; the Music by Sigr. Pugni ; the Scenery
by Mr. C. Marshall, entitled Orithia, on, Les Camp des Amazones.
Principal character Orithia, Mdlle. Luc la Grahn.

THEATRE
THIS EVENI

Will be porforraed the Opera of MARITANA. Charles the Second,
tr. Borrani ; Don Caesar de Hazen, Mr. Harrison ; Don Jose, Mr.
Bretton; Marqu s do Santarem, Mr. Horncastle ; Lazrillo, Miss
Y. Isaacs ; Mar.tana, Miss Rainsfoith.
After which the New and Original Oriental Spectacle, called THE
DESERT; or, The Imaun's Daughter. In which the Two Elephants,
upwards of Sizty Horses, and the Camels will appear. The Imaun
Useph, Mr. Howell; Ha'ez, Mr. Rafter; Barek, Mr. W. H. P. yne ;
Fuze Oola, Mr. Harley ; Maleck, Mr. T. Matthews ; Ahabeck, Mr.
IlutehLsoa ; lEuzliraga, Mr. L. Lee; Princess Ipomaye, Miss Messent ;
Hilda, Miss Collett ; Girgee, Miss R. Isaacs:

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Under the Management of Mr. D. Webster, sole Lessee.
THIS EVENING
Will be performed the popular Comedy, called MONEY. Lord
Glosamore, Mr. Holl ; Sir John Vesey, Mr. Tilbury; Sir Frederick
Blount, Mr. Brindall ; Mr, Benjamin tiro t, Mr, Buckstone; Evelyn,
Mr. Stuart; Graves, Mr. Webster; Captain Dudley Smooth, Mr.
'Judson ;Lady Franklin, Mrs. Glover; Georgina Vesey, Miss P. Hor-
ton ; Clara Douglas, Miss Fortescue.
After which .the Grand Astronomical Extravaganza, called THE
NEW PLANET; or, Harlequin out of Place.
Ts eenclude with the Comic Drama, called THE L GHT TROOPS
OF ST. JAMES'S. Muter Thomas Sinallbones, Mr. Buckstone;
Maids 61 Honour to the Queen, NI rs. Clifford, Mrs. Seymour, Mrs.
'remold, Miss Carre, Miss 'Albin, and Mrs. Caulfield ; Jane
Roberts Miss Reynolds.

THEATRE ROYAL,
ader the direction of Madame Celeste.
THIS EVENING
Will be performed the original Drama, called THE FLOWERS
efF THE FOREST ; a Gipsy Story. Cheap John, Mr. Wright ;
Ishmael, Mr. 0. Smith ; the Kinchin, Mr. P. Bedford; Leybourne,
Mr. Worrell ; Cynthia, Madame Celeste ; Lemuel, Miss Woolgar ;
Starlight Bess, Mrs. Fitzwilliam ; Lady Agnes, Miss Harding.
To conclude with the Fairy Spectacle, founded on the Ballet
of LA GiSELLE, entitled THE PHANTOM DANCERS; er, the
W,lis Bride. Principal characters by Mr. Wright, Mr. P. Bedford,
lir. 0. Smith, Mr. Cullen'ord, Madame Celeste, Miss Marian Taylor,
XI, Emma Harding, Miss Ellen Chaplin, and Mrs. Laws.

PRINCESS'S TiIE.ITRE, OXFORD-STREET.
J. M. Maddox, sole Lessee and Manager.
THIS EVENING
Will be presented Scribe and Auber's celebrated Comic Opera, in
Three Acts, called THE BARCAROLE. The principal characters
by Messrs. Walton, Bodda, Leftior, and Allen; Miss E. Runner and
Zdiss Anne Router.
After Ix hid], Shakspere's MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. The
principal characters by Messrs. H. Hughes, Ryder, J. Vining, C.
Fisher, Wynn, and Compten ; Miss Winstanley (her sixth appearance
in London), Mrs. Stirling, Mrs. H. Hughes, Miss S. Flower, Miss
Anne Romer, Miss Marshall, and Miss Smithson.

THEATRE ROYAL, LYCEUM.
Under the Management of Mrs. Keeley.
TIIIS EVENING will be performed a New Drama, tailed TILE
CREOLE. Characters by Messrs. F. Mathews. Leigh, Murray, Emery,
Kinloch, and Keeley, Miss Dickinson, Miss May, Miss M.:Keeley.
and Mrs. Keeley.

After which, the New Vaudeville Extravaganza, called CRUSOE
THE SECOND. Characters by Messrs. A. Wigan, Keeley ; Miss
Dickenson, Miss Turner, and Mrs. Keeley.

To conclude with NEXT DOOR. Characters by Messrs. A. Wigan
Timer, Kinloch, 3liss ti liars, and Miss Arden.

FRENCH PLAYS.—ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.
Lessee, Mr. John Mitchell.
Fourth Appearance of Mademoiselle ROSE CHERI, and Second Ap-
pearance of Mademoiselle DL VERGER.
On MONDAY EVEN Ia G the Performances will commence with
the amusing Comedie-Vaudeville, entitled L'IMAGE. Le Baron de
Aerandal, M. Dumery ; Leopold, M. Rhozevil ; Pierre Mauclerc, M.
Priston ; Madeline, Mdlle. Duverger.
After which will be produced the popular Drame-Vandeville, en-
titled CLARISSE HARLOWE. Le Comte Robert Lovelace, M.
Rhozevil ; Macdonald, M. Cartigny ; Clarissa, mule. Rose Cheri ;
Boutou de Rose, Mdlle. Duverger.
Boxes, 6s. ; Pit, 3s. 6d. ; Amphitheatre, 3'. ; Gallery, 2s.
Boxes and Stills may be engaged at Mr. Mitchell's Royal Library,
33, Bond-street; and at the Box-ollce of the Theatre, which is open
daily from Eleven till Five.

ETHIOPIAN iERENADERS, ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.
THIS EVENING
The celebrated ETHIOPIAN SERENADERS, Pell, Harrington,
White, Stanwood, and Germon, will have the honour of Resuming
their inimitable ENTER I'AIN3IENTS, at the St. James's Theatre,
and will give a grand day performance every Wednesday Morn-
ing, commencing at half-past two o'clock. The evening perfor-
manees will be continued every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday,
and the day performances every Wednesday morning.
Boxes and stalls at Mitchell's Royal Library, 33, Old Bond-street.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE,
Wilder the patronage of the Queen, Prince Albert, and the
Royal Family.
Proprietor and Manager. Rr. W. Batty.
This Unique and Royal Equestrian National Temple of its will
continue its:powerfully attractive Entertainments every evening, at
Seven o'clock ; presenting an unusual display of talent in all Its varied
branches of Equestrian, Gymnastic, and Dramatic productions ; com-
bining Mr. Batty's numerous stud of highly trained Horses and Fairy
Ponies, with his magnificent Syrian Camels, Elephants, Wild Zebras,
Deer and Oxen, to!be brought into action in the new grand Easter
Spectacle of Lord Byron's
THE BRIDB OF ABYDOS ; or, THE CORSAIR AND THE
AVENGER'S STEED.
With Now Scenery, Marine Panorama, Decorations, and Gorgeous
appointments, on a scale of magnitude unequalled in this Amphi-
heatre.

The Seance in the Circle will present the unequalled per:ormances
La Petite Isabella, Madame Dumos, Mons. Dumos, M, Leonard,
lierr Hearique, and Laurent* Waif, first appearance of the great
linglish rider, Mr. Powell, and popular provincial Artiste of Equita-
tion, Mr. Bell. A splendid pageant, uniting the Artists of the Arena
on their highly trained Steeds, led by Mrs. Batty. The Exercise as-
sisted by the re .appearance of the celebrated Hibernian clown, Mr.
T. Barry, and Mr. Twist, the grotesque. For detail see full Pro-
gramme. Asthig and Stage Manager, Mr. W. I). Broadfoot.
Box Office •pen from Eleven till Four. Box Book-keeper, Mr.
Sheffield. Performance commences every evening at Seven o'clock,
doors open at Half-past Six.

ROYAL SURREY THEATRE.
Under till Management of Mrs. Frances Davidge, Lessee.
THREE NEW PIECES, and the truly wonderful BEDOUIN
ARABS, from the Theatre Port St. Martin, Paris, their fifth Ap-
pearampe in England.

THE WEATHER.—SITN OFFICE, APRIL 10.
THERMOMETER, Lowest, 36 ; Highest, 53 ; Noon,
BAROMETER, 29.91.—W1ND, N.W.; fine.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON-BRLDGE THIS DAY.
Morning .. 38 minutes after 8. I Evening .. 20 minutes after 9

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