The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-07 00:00:00

CRE2IIOI2AE HOUSE, CHELSEA.

The gardens at Cremorne House--the present
Ranelagh of Chelsea—drew a good number of visitors
from the vicinity and also from various parts of the
metropolis, to witness the ascent of Mr. Green in the
" monster" balloon. The process of inflation com-
menced early in the afternoon, and was completed
shortly before six o'clock, the hour fixed for the ascent.
The "monster," however, being somewhat restive,
some considerable time was occupied in removing
the incumbrances and fixing on the car ; but at
last, all being in readiness, Mr. Green took
his seat, accompanied by Mr. Ellis, the pro.
prietor of the gardens, Mr. Van Buren, and a
large party of friends, The ropes were then released,
and the ponderous machine ascended amid the cheers
of the spectators. The balloon took a southerly
course immediately across the river, in the direction
of the South-Western Railway. On its departure,
the ball-room and theatre belonging to these gardens
became thronged with visitors, to whom the amuse-
ments of the evening appeared to afford considerable
gratification. The bands, both in the gardens and the
orchestra of the theatre, acquitted themselves in the
most satisfactory manner.

CHELSEA HOSPI FAL.
This establishment, which stands as a monument of
British gratitude to the veteran defenders of our
country, was yesterday visited by several of the holi-
day folks. The chapel, hall, &c., were inspected as
usual. The objects of particular attraction were the
French eagles and other trophies taken during the
Peninsular and Indian wars. The standards and
flags, &c., taken by the gallant 13th Foot during the
campaign in Affghanistan, surmount the entrance to
the hall. In the Governor's mansion are some of the
finest modern paintings extant, as well as a variety of
Oriental warlike implements.

IVATIONAL GALLERY.
The visitors to this institution were about 16,000,
all appearing highly gratified both with the old works
and with the recent auditions, which have been
cleaned and re-framed, and will t2nd to render this
collection more attractive than hitherto.

ST. PAUL'd CATHEDI?AL.
This noble pile, notwithstanding its numerous
attractions, had, as on former occasions, hut compara-
tively few visitors, in consequence of the still con-
tinued high charges (nearly ss. each parson) closing
the doors against all but the wealthy.

WES

MINSTER ABBEY.

Notwithstanding the magnificence of the monu-
ments within this venerable edifice, accessible as they
have latterly become for the small sum of 6d., yet the
number of visitors, from some cause or other (per-
haps from the regulations being somewhat too strin-
gent), did not exceed the usual holidiy average of
about 400.

TOWER UP' LOiVDON.
About 1,500 persons inspected the Horse and
Queen Elizabeth's Armouries, with the Regalia, &c.,
and no doubt the charge for admission to the whole
being now only Is., the number will far exceed the
above amount on future s'lnilar occasions.

THE EASTER FAIRS.
Yesterday the usual saturnalia held at this season
commenced at Greenwich, Stepney, Wandsworth,
Chalk Farm, the Chalk-road, Islington, and Brook-
green, Hammersmith. Richardson's (now Nelson
Lee's), Algar's Crown and Anchor, and a host of
minor candidates for histrionic and Terpsichorean '
fame, occupied their usual positions at Greenwich,
which was thronged during the day with countless
thousands from the metropolis. Stepney, the next
in magnitude, was also well attended, and the others
received a proportionate share of public favour ; the
whole of them being under the control of the police,
who caused the amusements to terminate precisely at
eleven.

WRESTLING AT TUB BRECKNOCK ARMS,
CAMDEN-TOWN.
Yesterday being Easter 'Monday, the proprietor
of the above premises threw them open, according to
annual custom, for the display of the Cornwall and
,
Devon wrestling, and offered a silver tankard
cu
3d cu ,
and snuff-box for competition, as Ist au
prizes. The wrestling was in the Cornish style,
without shoes. We should mention, that a man to
gain the fall must throw his opponent on two
shoulders and a pio, i. e. hip, or two pins and a
shoulder, and that every wrestler to become a
" standard," or entitled to wrestle the second time
over, must throw his first antagonist, and either fairly
"grass" the second, or " play" him for ten minutes.
The following men, after some severe bouts, were
ranked as standards :—Partridge, of Devon, Clarke,
of Cornwall, Gager, Ball, and Dassett, also of Corn-
wall, and Toogood, Kemp, and Snell, of Devon. The
play will be resumed to-morrow at two o'clock. It
is expected that Sayer and Ellicomb, provincial stars,
will enter, and if matched against the elite of the
London wrestlers, will make the result a matter of
pleasing uncertainty. Messrs. Olver and Steers
were the umpires, and the sports gave satisfaction to
a large assembly.

The East India House, Missionary, and other mu-
seums accessible by free tickets, were numerously
attended ; and a fair share of public patronage was
obtained by the proprietors of the Regent's Park and
Surrey
Zoological G miens, the Diorama, Panorama,
Cosmorama, Society of British Artists, Madame Tus_
"mud's, Polytechnic, &c.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
OLD COUNT.

STEALING 1 BOOS OF COSTS.
A respectably dressed man, John Connolly, aged 38,
described in the calendar as a law-writer, was indicted
for stealing, on. the 20th of March last, a copy of
" Richard's Book of Costs," valued at 10s., from the shop
of Mr. Wildy, a law bookseller carrying on business at
No. 90, Chancery-lane.
Mr. Payne defended the prisoner. No one appeared
for the prosecution.
Mr. W. A. Reeves, assistant to Mr. Lumley, a law
bookseller in Chancery-lane, deposed to the prisoner
a copy of Richard's Book of Costs for sale, on
othfferie2n3l of March. He did not, however, purchase it.
Mr. Charles Wildy, son of the prosecutor, stated that
he had been iu the habit of placing the book with others
for sale on a board, for two months previous to the day
he missed it, namely, on the 20th. He had seen it the
day before. There was a mark of 12s. upon it, but it
had been rubbed out. The edges had been turned down
in places, and he was positive the book was the one
which had been missed.
City police-constable 354 proved taking the prisoner
into custody, at a shop in Chancery-lane. He inquired
what he had done with the book he had offered for sale,
in the morning? To which he replied that he had sold
it in the street to a clerk whom he knew, for 3s.
Several witnesses gave the prisoner a good character;
one (a female) swore that he had even the book in his
possession for four or five months before the time in

question.
Mr. PAYNE contended that nothing had been adduced
to show that the prisoner was guilty of the offence im-
puted to him. Besides, there was nothing in the book
to indicate that it belonged to the prosecutrix. There
were hundreds of copies of the book, and it was but
right to assume that the prisoner, who was a respectable
man, and had occasion in his business for such a book,
might have one in his possession, as had been proved.
The jury at once Acquitted the prisoner.

GLASS STEALING.—:An intelligent-looking youth,
named James Moore Neale, aged 17, described as an
engraver, was indicted for stealing, in February last,
twelve drinking glasses, value 6/., the property of his
master, Nicolas Conne.

The prisoner was apprenticed to the prosecutor, and
had had his wages increased about the time from S. to
10s. a week. He absented himself from his employment
for a week in the course of that month, on the score of
illness; and it was during that time that the
glasses were found to have been pledged by the lad at
Mr. Young's, a pawnbroker, in Princes-street, Leicester-
square for Ifs. 6d. It appeared that he had to contri-
bute materially to the support of his father and mother,
who were in great distress. Once he asked his employer
fur the loan of sixpence to buy some bread, as they bad
not a morsel in the house. When given into custody,
he at once told the policeman where he would find the
duplicates. He said his father and mother were in great
distress, that they had no bread, and that he took the
things in order to obtain some fur them. He said it was
his intention to redeem them as soon as he could.

The REC.)RDEA left the case in the hands of the jury,
and remarkf d that the amount which the boy obtained
from the pawnbroker's was about equal to a week's
wages, and that he was absent at the time.

Th 3 jury found the prisoner Guilty, but rec•-:mmended
him to mercy-.

appeared the prisoner had been charged with
stealing some spoons, but it was not sustained.]
The RECORDER sentenced him to three mouths' im-
prisonment, with hard labour, in the Westminster House
of Correction.

STEALING A WATCH.—Richard Williams, awed 20,
a printer, was indicted for stealing a watch, value 71., on
the 221 of March hit, in King William-street, from the
person of Mr. P. D. Goe'pel, a clerk in the Alliance
Insurance-office. On that day a crowd had been
attracted in consequence of the falling of a horse. The
prosecutor stopped to ascertain what had happened, and
whilst looking on, the prisoner passed against him, and
he felt his hand at his waistcoat-pocket. He instantly
found that his watch was gone, and, on turning round,
he p.-rceived the prisoner hand something to a man near
him, and excla'm " Here it is." The man dashed
through the crowd, but he caught hold of the prisoner.
and gave him into custody. The watch was not found
upon him. City police-constable 569 took the prisoner
into custody. He declared that he knew nothing of the
robbery. The watch was wrenched from the chain with
so much force as to break Ole ring of the watch.

The jury found the prisoner Guilty.
A former conviction of felony, in 1844, was proved
against the prisoner. He hail also been committed for
three months from the Clerkenwell sessions.

The RECORDER sentenced him to ten years' transpor•
;ation.

NE IV COURT
(Before the COMMON SERGEANT and Mr. Alderman
FAREBROTHER.)
The Court was occupied the whule morning with the
trial of Mint cases, none of which possessed any feature
worthy of particular notice.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.
The April quarter sessions for the county of Middle-
sex, commenced yesterday morning before the Assistant-
Judge, and a full bench of magistrates, at the Court-
house, Clerkenweil-green.
The number of prisoners for trial was 98, of whom 17
were indicted for misdemeanour, the remainder being
charged with felony.
Tne Learned ASSISTANT-JUDGE, in his charge to the
grand jury, congratulated them upon the fact that, at
no session for tha last ten years did the number of
juvenile offenders bear a smaller przportion to the
aggregate number of prisoners in the calendar.
James Gwyne, John Grady, and Joseph Colman, who
were found guilty at the last sessions of felony, and
judgment respited to this day, in order that inquiries as
to previous character might be made, were brought up
for judgment, when Gwyne was sentenced to four
months' imprisonment, Grady to six months, the last six
weeks to be solitary, and Colman to six months, each
term to be accompanied by hard labour.
James Crankshaw was indicted for stealing a gilt
frame and table stand, the property of Messrs. Jackson
and Co., carvers and gilders, of Rathbone-place, Oxford-
street

It apeared from the evidence in support of the pros? cn-
tion, that the prisoner had been in the service of the
prosecutors until about two months ago, and on the day
named in the indictment, the prisoner was observed by
one of the workmen to leave the premises with the
property in his possession. Information having been
given to the foreman, the prisoner was followed, and
overtaken near Regent-street, when he said that he was
taking the stand and frame to the house of Sir James
Graham, in Hill-street, Berkeley-square, for Lady Gra-
ham's inspection, as he understood she wished to pur-
chase them.

The foreman stated that the prisoner had no authority
trcm the prosecutors to take away any articles ; and that
he was forbidden even to enter the manufactory.
The jury returned a verdict of Guilty ; and the pri-
soner was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with
hard labour.

The prisoner's sister here addressed the Court, and
said, that since last Christmas her brother had shown
symptoms of mental alienation, and,
The Learned ASSISTANT•JUDCE gave directions to the
officers of Tothill Fields-prison to have him subjected
to medical examination, when, if the sister's statement
were found to be true he would be properly disposed of.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
HOME CIRCUIT.--Kingston, April 5.
CIVIL SlDE.—(Before Lord DENMAN and a Speeia,
Jury.)
CHADWICK V. HERAPATH.
This was a writ of inquiry ter assess the damages for a
libel upon Mr. Chadwick, the chairman of the North
Wales Railwr.y, and who also filled the same office in
the Richmond Railway, which libel was published in
Herapaih's Railway Journal of the 13th of June, 1846.
The defendant pleaded that he had not been actuated
by any malice in publishing the libel, and that he had
apologised for it, in conformity with the statute, and
paid 51. into court :as compensation. The Court upon
demurrer held the plea to be insufficient, and the present
writ of inquiry was therefore issued to assess the amount
of damages to which the plaintiff was entitled.
Mr. M. Chambers and Mr. Peacock were for the plain-
tiff; Mr. Sergeant Shee and Mr. Bovill for the defendant. ,
From the statement of the Learned Counsel for the
plaintiff it appeared, that while he filled the office of
deputy-chairman to the North Wales Railway, and
chairman of the London and Richmond, a negotiation
was entered into for the loan of 20,0001. to the South-
Western Railway Company by the North Wales Com- pany, the latter not being able at the time to use their
capital or their works owing to some Parliamentary
difficulties, and the South-Western were to pay 4 per
cent. for the use of the money, the shareholders in the
North Wales scheme receiving the same amount of inte-
rest upon their deposits. The South-Western Com-
pany refused thcemoney, and the amount, with an addi-
tional sum of 5,0001., was then advanced by the North
Wales to the Richmond Company, at an interest of 4i
per cent. This transaction formed the subjtct of the
present inquiry, for it seemed that soon afterwards a
letter appeared in Herapath's Journal, professing to be
signed by one Evan Griffiths, a shareholder in the
North Wales scheme, and in which, in very offensive
terms, the present plaintiff was charged with misappro-
priating the money of the the shareholders, and, instead
of employing their funds in furthering the works of the
railway, that he had lent it to a failing scheme, where it
would probably all b 3 lost, and at the same time sug-
gested that the plaintiff had an interest in the contracts
upon the Richmond Railway, and that the transaction
was for his own personal benefit. Immediately upon the
publication of this letter application was made to the de-
fendant for the address of the writer, and it then appeared
that there was no such person as Evan Griffiths, a
shareholder in the scheme, in existence, and in the next
number of the defendant's journal he expresssed his re-
gret that the letter had been inserted in the hurry of
business, and also at the offensive observations made use
of. Some further communications took place between
the plaintiff 'a solicitors and the defendant, and the
latter repeatedly
real circumstances of the transaction offered to insert of ht.,
contradictionoannyinsdtatement
the libellous letter ; but this, it pkearede,,edicil not
satisfy the
c;
the plaintiff, who required &eta
,i, nt should
state from his own knowledge that theilen
foundation for the charges that he had male" bwu'tl.stlit'so,
it appeared, he declined to do, and hence the present
preceediug.
On the part of the plaintiff the libel was put in, and
evidence also given to show that, so far from there being
anything injurious to the interests of the shareholders
of the North Wales Railway in the transactions with
the Richmond Company, they were highly advantageous
to them, and that they were enabled to receive a divi-
dend or 4 per cent. for their money, which would other-
wise have been locked up at their banker's, and not have
yielded any profit. It was also shown that, instead of
the Richmond Railway being at that time a failing
scheme, the shares were at a premium of 6/. upon 104

paid, and by the subsequent arrangement and amalgama-
tion with the South-Western Railway Company each
shareholder received 201. for each share upon which only
101. had been paid originally.
Mr. Sergeant SHEE, for the defendant, said he wished
the jury to understand that his client admitted that he
had incautiously inserted in his journal a charge against
the plaintiff for which there was no foundation what-
ever, and, whatever might be the result of the action,
the plaintiff would leave the court without the slightest
imputation upon his honour. Mr. Herapath had all
along admitted his error, and had endeavoured to make
all the atonement in his power. Immediately after the
publication of the libel, he inserted a notice expressing
his regret at the offensive expressions that had been
made use of towards Mr. Chadwick, and he repeatedly
offered to insert any statement in contradiction of the
libel that might be furnished him by Mr. Chadwick.
This, however, was not done, but he was required to
state as of his own knowledge that the charges
were false, which it was impossible for him as a man
of honour to do, particularly as, immediately after
the publication of the letter of Evan Griffiths, he
received a communication from the solicitors of Mr.
Bulkeley Hughes, M.P., who was then chairman of the
company, the plaintiff being the deputy-chairman, in
which he was called upon to contradict the statement
that he (Mr. Hughes), to whom the charge was sup-
posed to refer, had had any share in the transaction of
the loan to the Richmond Railway Company, and that,
on the contrary, he had protested strongly against that
step being taken, and had instructed his solicitors to
take proceedings against such of the directors as they
might consider had been guilty of a breach of trust in
the transaction. Under these circumstances it was im-
possible for the defendant to take upon himself to state
what the real facts were ; but, if Mr. Chadwick had
furnished him with such a statement, lie would gladly
have inserted it; and he therefore submitted that the de-
fendant had done all in his power in reparation, and
that it would be very unjust to make him pay heavy da-
mages in such a case. The Learned Counsel then
stated that, eventually, a letter was written by the se-
cretary of the Richmond Railway with the knowledge of
the plaintiff, in which a full contradiction was given of
the charge that had been made against the plaintiff, and
that this letter wds immediately inserted in the defend-
ant's journal, and, at a public meeting of the share-
holders of the North Wales Company, the defendant,
who had made a purchase of shares expressly for the
purpose of enabling him to do so, addressed the meet-
ing, and publicly expressed his regret at having inad-
vertently admitted the attack upon the plaintiff in his
journal ; and, under such circumstances, he said, he
could not help expressing his surprise that the present
action should have been proceeded with.
Evidence, documentary and parole, was then put in, to
prove the statements referred to by the Learned Counsel,
and the letter to which he alluded as having been
written with the sanction of the plaintiff, embodying a
distinct contradiction of the charges that had been made
against him, and it was proved that this was immediately
inserted in the journal of the defendant.
Lord DENMAN, in summing up, said that with regard
to the publication of the libel the defendant had no de-
fence, for he had no business to insert a letter from an
anonymous person making libellous charges, and, if he
did so, he was responsible to the party aggrieved. He
had pleaded that he had made a sufficient apology, and
the letter that had been read, which was sent with the
knowledge of the plaintiff, certainly put a very different
complexion ❑pon the case with regard to that plea.
The jury would, however, look at all the circumstances,
and say what damages the plaintiff was entitled to fur
the attack that had been made upon his character.
The jury, after deliberating IT about five minutes,
found a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages 501., including
the Si paid into court.
In the course of the day the application was renewed
for the admission of Edmund Garbett, the attorney, who
was committed by the Court last week to bail, but the
lord Chief Justice said that as the Central Criminal
Court, where the prisoner would be tried, was then sit-
tin,g, he should not interfere.
CROWN SIDE.
John Durdan, the younger, a publican at Kingston,
was indicted tor a criminal assault upon a young girl who
had been in his service.
The details of the case are quite unfit for publication.
Mr. Locke prosecuted, and Mr. Chambers appeared
for the defence.
The jury found the prisoner Guilty of a common
assault.
.Lord Chief Justice Wilde finished the criminal busi-
ness this morning, and then tried some common jury
causes ; and it is expected that he will sit again to-day
to assist in disposing of the remaining business of the
assize.

OXFORD ClRCUlT—Monmouth. April 3.
CIVIL SlDE.—(Before Mr. Sergeant GAZELEE.)
REES AND OTHERS V. PRJTHEROE.
Witnesses were called this morning fur the defendant,
NIT.. Sergeant Talfourd replied for the plaintiffs. His
Lordship summed up, and the jury found for the plain-
tiffs for the full amount of damages claimed.
The next and last case on the list was withdrawn, after
an ineffectual attempt made by Mr. Sergeant Talfourd,
with whom was Mr. Rickards, the plaintiff, to have it
deferred to Monday, on the ground of the absence of a
material witness ; and opposed by Mr. Whatelcy, with
whom was Sir T. Phillips, on behalf of the defendants.
His Lordship then proceeded to try prisoners. Mr.
Sergeant Allen also assisted in clearing the calendar.
There were thus three courts sitting during the greater
part of the day, disposing of the Crown business. By
six o'clock, when they rose, there were only nine or ten
cases remaining untried. These, however, were all of
the heaviest and gravest character in the calendar,
standing out in contrast to those tried to-day and yes-
terday, which were almost without an exception, such as
in any other county would have been disposed of at
sessions.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MANSION-HOUSE.
Two boys, neither of whom was more than 12 years
of age, were brought before the Lord Mayor, charged
with having made several attempts to pick the pockets of
ladies who were passing through the streets.
The prisoners, although of such tender years, were
well known to several of the City police. They had
some time ago begun their predatory career by stealing
any trifling property exposed at shop doors ; they then
aimed at silk handkerchiefs in the pockets of gentlemen,
and they ascended from that practice to the more diffi-
cult one of stealing the purses of ladies. After having
made many attempts without success, one of them re-
ceived a severe slap in the face from a lady whose pocket
he turned inside but. They were then taken into cus-
tody, but the lady seemed to think the chastisement she
had inflicted quite enough, and refused to attend the
justice-room. An empty purse was found in the pocket
of one of them.
The prisoners said the police were mistaken.
An officer, who had upon a former occasion appre-
hended one of the boys, said, upon seeing him in the
cage, " What ! is it you again ?" " Ay, ay, old fellow,"
replied the boy, "lam in for ' a skin' "(a purse). The
boy's father, one Spurrier, upon being spoken to on the
subject, said, " There's not a greater thief in London
than my son, and I hope he'll be transported for life."
The mother of the boy said, that until within the last
seven or eight months her eon was as good a child as
ever lived, but he happened to get into bad company
and was charged with robbery, after which he was placed
amongst the most depraved thieves. From that moment
he became quite careless, and would only become worse
by being sent fur punishment amongst experienced
prisoners.
One of the policemen said the boy certainly exhibited
a total insensibility to disgrace, for, when in the cage and
questioned about his conduct, &c., he began to dance
and gave what is called the " double shuffle."
The LORD Mexon considered the case was one which
showed the necessity of increasing the responsibility of
parents with respect to the dishonest conduct of their
children. He hoped that her Majesty's Government
would, amongst their other great efforts for the benefit
of society, include the consideration of the deplorable
state of the thousands of poor children in the me-
tropolis, whose condition appeared at present to be
inevitable.
The wretched boys were remanded, and both swag-
gered out of the justice-room.
John Hounslow, a mania the service of Messrs. Cham-
bers, iromfongers, was brought up, charged with having
poisoned himself.
It was stated that the unfortunate man had attempted
to destroy himself in consequence of a suspicion enter-
tained that he had been concerned with another in
robbing his masters. A person named Johnson has been
in custody for some days upon the charge of having
plundered the premises of a large quantity of nails, and
the prisoner was remanded until the day on which John-
son is to undergo a second examination.
GUILDHALL.
Joseph Alexander, the Polish refugee, was brought
before Mr. Alderman Wood for final examination,
charged with uttering a forged acceptance for 5001.,
whereby Messrs. Fuller, the bankers, were defrauded
of
that amount. He was further charged with a forgery at
common law, in respect to a letter purporting to be
written by a person against whom he had brought an
action; and he was also charged with stealing a half-
crown.
The room was crowded to excess.
Mr. Robinson, the barrister, appeared with Mr. Taylor,
a solicitor, on behalf of Messrs. Fuller; and Mr. Lewis
conducted the prosecution on behalf of the other parties.
Mr. Jones defended the prisoner, and Mr. Wolfe ap-
peared on behalf of Alfred Wilbeam, otherwise John
Brown, who was charged with being an accomplice in
defrauding Messrs. Fuller.
The charge of stealing the half-crown was first en-
tered upon.
On the 16th ult. Alexander called in at a Mr. Alex-
ander's, a furrier, in Unieneetreet, Spitalfields, and asked
Mrs. Alexander to read a German letter to him. Her
husband was present, but had occasion to leave the room,
and her back being towards the fireplace, where the pri-
soner stood, he had an opportunity of purloining a half-
crown, which had been marked by the servant and pur-
posely left on the mantelpiece. When he left, the half-
crown was missed, and he was followed and given into
custody in Chiswell• street. Upon hearing the charge
he at first exclaimed, " My God, I have no silver;" but
he afterwards said there was a conspiracy against him,
and that the marked money was paid to him by prose-
cutor in 11. worth of silver, and in liquidation of a debt
olftvB9l.r,
orT pay
eyservant identified the marked half-crown
taken from the prisoner by the police, and Mr. Alexander
swore he did nhoitmoawneytthhng
the prisoner Si.,or pay him 11. in
s
In eross.examination by Mr. Jones, the prosecutor
explained that the prisoner represented to his wife that
he wag a teacher of languages ; but that he nas not
ergard
say to teach her, as he had been understood to

Mr. Alderman Wool) committed hint on this charge.
The second charge was for uttering a forged letter,
purporting to admit having received a quantity of skim,