The Sun.
London, England, 1824-07-17 00:00:00

[THE TustEsd

The great peculiarities attending the trial of,
yesterday, in which this Journal acted as de-
fendant, would of themselves naturally draw the
public attention. to the subject. Mr. Bodkin—
a name which the assiduous endeavours of its.
owner have conspired with our humble, and we
.
fear less zealous, efforta to raise into celebrity,
and make known to the werldMr. Bodkin,
the Honorary Secretary and quondam Assist-
-ant Manager of the Mendicity Society, was the
plaintiff; and his grievance, real or imaginary,
some remarks., transmitted to us in a letter, but
certainly sanctioned by our publication, which
remarks chiefly reprobated his acceptance of
the sum of five hundred pounds under the
more occult character of Acting Manager, whilst
he apPeared chiefly before the world ns a person
enjoyiug only an honorary station—that is, per-
forming gratuitous services in' the Society. And
if, when we inserted ' those letters, we directed
public attention to their contents, much more do
we now solicit that same public attention to the
interesting trial which has been the result of the
publication in question, anti which will be found
In our columns of this day. And first, as to the
title of Honorary Secretary.- Far be it from us
to reproach tiny man with his pristine poverty,
the meanness. of Isis occupation, or the narrow
sphere of his concerns, if he has been able to
raise himself by honest industry. Mr. Bodkin,
it appears, had not been a professional man as wu
had ignorantly supposed, prior. to 'his becoming
an. Honorary Secretary, but an auctioneer.
This was no shame to him ; but when we
assert, as we do most conscientiously,' that he
was never known to us in that character, it..
will surely follow that his dealings were not of a
very.exiensive or lucrative nature. Now, all
that we have to ask is, was it right, or was it na-
tural, in such an auctioner us Mr. Bodkin nmst
lease been, to propose that he should work gra-
tuitously for any body of men ? Was such a per-
son in a condition to work gratuitously ?
.114!
must. therefore have had some ulterior' object in
view, when be tendered his services to the Se.,
ciety for nothing r his great error lay in not.
'avowing candidly, that he bad himself and his
family (if he had one) to.maintain, and he. could
not effect those very necessary and indispensable
objects by gratuitous services, These remarks,
we fear, may apply to other hottourary officers in
puhlle. charities ; and we are convinced, tint(
whenever arty charitable institution is started,
and prepoitions'ofgratultousservicesare tendered,
the More opulent members - should, neyer fail of,
asking those who tender such propositions," What
are their means of working for nothing ? Where
" are their. fortunes laid up" (in security no
doubt), " by the possession of which '.they can
‘‘ now dedicate their time, in whole or in part,
‘4 gratuitously to the public service ?" And if it
appetirs they leave no such fortuneo such
means " of living upright" as the phraseis,ilien
their propositions ought to he rejected as'Are
lures. Indeed, a e •tuust say that it would he
Crttel and unjust, in, men of rank and opulence
even to accept ,the services of tl poor creator,. ;„,_
'provident enough to neglect the first principle of
charity, and to transfer froni home the product
of the time and talent nekied.athorne.

We letve delayed putting the Paper to press
till nine o'clock this morning, for the purpose of
counnunicating, if possible, the decision in the
case above referred to; but at that hour the Jury,,
who had been locked up eighteen hours, had ►tot..
delivered any verdict. We have only
,to mention
one additional circumstance to thou) related in
the report of the trial, showing the state In which
the Jury were. At seven o'clock this morning a
violent knocking,wes heard within the the door
of the room to which the Jury mid retired. When
the door wile opened by the officer of the Court,
at the order of Mr. Bellamy, one of. the Jury rt-
tempted to rush out, but was put back by the
officer. The Juryman exclaimed-4." must be
" out, I must be out ; they are driving me to
" madness!" The door was instantly-closed on
them, and locked. The name of the Juryman
above alluded to, we have since heard, is Godsall.
A singular affair took place in the vicinity of
the Court, about three hours after the Jury had
retired, between Mr. Brock, who bad given the
chief evidence in favour of the plaintiff, and the
highly respectable gentleman who was our soli-
citor upon which, however, as the parties were
reconciled, we abstain from making any remarki,
further than by saying that it occupied the. Court
in hearing witnesses far more than.half au hour,
while the Jury were deliberating on their verdict.
( /bid, )