The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-15 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1841.

PUBLICATIONS

STARKIE'S LAW OF EVIDENCE. Third Edition.
This day is published, in 3 vols., royal Svo., 4/. 14s. 6d.,boards.
PRACTICAL TREATISE of the LAW
111.. of EVIDENCE, and DIGEST of PROOFS in CIVIL
and CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS. Third Edition, with
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THE BOOK OF THE POETS, from
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On the 15th will be published,
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13 OEMS by the Lady FLORA HAST-
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ESTHER COPLEY'S NEW WORK FOR CHILDREN.
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may he had, written by Esther Copley, Early Friendships, a
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Just published, price 245., the
POST-OFFICE LONDON DIRECTORY
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Contents :—Official Directory, with complete Liats of Go-
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Commercial Directory, furnishing the names, addresses, and
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Just published, the Seventh Edition, price 3s. , and sent free,
on receipt of a Post-office Order, for 3s. 6d.,
MANHOOD: the CAUSES of its PRE-
MATURE DECLINE, with Plain Directions for
ITS PERFECT RESTORATION; addressed to those suf-
fering from the destructive effects of Excessive Indulgence,
Solitary Habits, or Infection ; followed by Observations on the
Treatment of Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, Gleet, &c. Illustrated
with Cases, &c.

By J. L. CURTIS and COMPANY,
Consulting Surgeons, London.
Published by the Authors, and sold by Bailiere, Medical
Bookseller to the Royal College of Surgeons, 219, Regent-
street; Strange, 21, Paternoster-row, London ; Guest, Bir-
mingham ; Sowler, 4, St. Ann's-square, Manchester ; Philip,
South Castle-street, Liverpool ; Fannin and Ce., 41, Grafton-
street, Dublin; Duncan,ll4, High-street, Edinburgh; and to
be had of all Booksellers.
This Work, a Seventh Edition of which is now presented to
the public, ten thousand copies have been exhausted since its
first appearance, has been very much improved and enlarged
by the addition of a more extended and clear detail of general
principles, as also by the insertion of several new and highly in-
teresting cases. The book, as has been already stated, is the
result of very ample and daily increasing experience in a class
of diseases, which, for some unaccountable reason, have been
either altogether overlooked, or treated almost with indiffer-
ence, by the ordinary medical practitioner. The proverbial
mid well known rapacity of unqualified practitioners, who
traffic on the health and credulity of patients, has been en-
couraged and aroused by this supineness, on the part of the
regular surgeon. In order to obviate the pernicious effects
sure to result from the practices of such pretenders, the
authors have for a considerable time devoted themselves ex-
clusively to a certain class of diseases; of the necessity of so
doing, they were further convinced by feeling that tact in in-
vestigating the latent sources of many diseases, which arise
from certain secret practices, can only be acquired by an ex-
clusive and undivided attention to this department of medical
practice. The numberless instances daily occurring, whersin
affections of the lungs, putting on all the outer appearances of
consumption, which, however, when traced to their source,
are found to result from certain baneful practices, fully proves
that the principle of the division of labour, is nowhere more
applicable than in medical practice. We feel no hesitation in
saying that there is no member of society by whom the book
will not be found useful, whether such person hold the relation
of a Parent, a Preceptor, or a Clergyman.
The PARENT, who beholds his beloved child pining
away, and fast approaching to a premature grave, in conse-
quence of some disease, which, for want of careful investiga-
tion of its real cause, has been set down to the score of con-
sumption, will, on perusing this work, be astonished to find,
that in nine-tenths of the cases of young persons of both
sexes, who perish of what is called pulmonary consumption,
heart disease, tabes, &c., the sole and exclusive origin has
been the indulgence in certain destructive habits practised by
youth much more frequently than it is at all suspected.
The PRECEPTOR, also, who holds (temporarily at
least), the relation and responsibility of a parent, will,
by perusing this work, be directed and very much
assisted in investigating and detecting the too often con-
cealed practices so often introduced into schools, whereby the
health and ultimately the lives of his pupils are sure te be com-
promised, unless the evil be arrested in proper time. He will
here find a clue to guide him through the intricate mazes of
this moral labyrinth, and a standard whereby to judge, when
delicacy of health should appear to attack any of his young
charges,-what the real causes of such attack may be, and thus
he will be enabled to check the evil in its incipient state.
The CLERGYMAN, in whose sacred character is at once
concentrated the two-fold relation of parent and instructor, will
here be directed as to the nature of those habits to which
youth is addicted; he will also be enabled to point out the dis.
astrous consequences which are sure to follow from them if not
relinquished.
Messrs. CURTIS and CO. are to be consulted daily at their
residence, No. 7, Frith-street, Soho-square, London.
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the detail of their cases—as to the duration of the complaint,
the symptoms, age, general habits of living, and occupation in
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the usual Consultation Fee of IL, without which no notice
whatever can be taken of their application ; and in all oases, the
most inviolable secrecy may be relied on.

PUBLICATIONS.

MARY HOWITT'S NEW BOOK FOR CHILDREN.
:n One Pocket Volume, embellished with Two Engravings,

2s. 6d. bound,
WHICH IS THE WISER? or, PEO-
PLE ABROAD: a Tale for Youth. By MARY

We rejoice to see another work by Mary Howat. Her
name has a pleasant sound : her writings are sure to be ani-
mated by a kindly and humane spirit ; and no one can leave
them without feeling that he has been in delightful compsny."
London : Printed for Thomas Tegg, 73, Cheapside ; where
may be had, by the same Author, -price 2.5. Gd. each, Strive
and Thrive—Mope On ! /lope Ever !—Sowing and Heaping—
and, Who shall be Greatest'?

Just published, price 3s. 6d., extra per pest Is. 4d.,
FVERY FAMILY'S BOOK of AMUSE-
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W. Strange, 21, Paternoster row.

Now ready, in One Volume, demy Bvo., with a Map, price
155., cloth
THE HISTORY OF THE REPUBLIC
OF TEXAS, from the Discovery of the Country up to
the Present Time; and the cause of her Separation from the
Republic of Mexico : with a description of the Soil, Climate,
General Resources, Table of Roads, Distances, &c. &C.
By N. DORAN MAILLARD, Esq.,
Barrister at Law, of Texas.
" British Emigrants ought to ponder well over the serious
warning given by Mr. Maillard, founded on the important facts
stated by him."—Emigtatiel Gazette.
Smith, Elder, and Co., 65, Cornhill.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.

FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERDAY.

BAPTISM OF THE PRINCE OF WALES.

STANDARD.—The baptism of the Prince of
Wales is expected to take place at the end of
next month, and, according to the present ar-
rangement, the place will be St. iieorge's
Chapel, Windsor. This solemn rite will be ce-
lebrated under circumstances of unusual in-
terest, and what we cannot but consider as the
most auspicious. The sponsors invited to answer
at the font for the tuture Monarch of this
great empire are—The King of Prussia ;
the Duke of Cambridge; Ferdinand, Duke of
Saxe Coburg., uncle to Prince Albert; the Prin-
cess Sophia; and the Duchess of Saxe Coburg.
It is understood to be the intention of the King
of Prussia to visit this country, in order that he
may in person assist at the baptism; and surely
no visitor can be more welcome to the Christian
people of England than a Prince who is not
more by his position than by his own sincere
conviction, the representative and champion of
the Protestant cause upon the Continent of Eu-
rope—the protector of the exiles from Ziller-
than, our associate in the foundation of the Pro-
testant Church of Jerusalem. England and
Prussia have never stood in union but for their
common glory, and for the good of mankind—
never separated but for a common loss, and
to the injury of the civilized world. Their
union was, we trust, cemented for ever
on the field of Waterloo. Thanks to our
Gracious Queen, it is now to be recognised by
another bond of affection, so domestic, fami-
liar, and kindly, that we shall seem to have esta-
blished a relation of brotherhood, with the men
who so gallantly fought by our side in the fiercest
and most ;nomentous contest the world has ever
witnessed. We trust that the Duke of Saxe Co-
burg will also be able to attend. Had he no other
claims to the love of this people than his relation-
ship to our Queen and to the amiable and excel-
lent Prince who holds the second place in this
empire—that would entitle him to a hearty wel-
come, such as Englishmen know how to give
when their hearts are engaged; but the Duke
also had a share in the deliverance of Europe,
and his personal qualities would command re-
spect everywhere. But we need say no more.
England will know how to receive the Royal and
Illustrious guests of their beloved Queen, invited
upon an occasion so joyful as the present, and so
full of hope.
GLOBE.—The Post treats as " City gossip"
the statement of our City Correspondent yester-
respecting the intentions of the Ministry to
propose a change in the Corn-laws; and adds,
that " the first leading article" of our paper was
" devoted to commendation of the plan to which
the gossip of the City has given birth." Consi-
dering that our first leading article consisted of
three lines, the essence of eulogy must have been
condensed within wonderfully small space ; and
we should not have much trouble in doing what
the Post has the malice to surmise, should Sir
Robert Peel really propose a similar scheme—
" eat," namely,
" every word of applause we
have uttered upon the subject." The words of
applause which we uttered were " commutation
and mitigation"—words which may excite feel-
ings of exultation at the Old Bailey, but consti-
tute no very rapturous description of a change of
commercial policy.
Whether what has trans-
pired is nothing more than '" the gossip of the
City," time will Show ; we ©illy say, at present,
that there is nothing in the statement which
should. suspend the earnest efforts of the friends
of free trade for a moment. Nothing but the
necessity,
t o l
o loosen
portents of the season, and the pressure of
puble
their will
holdinduce e
vt leine
thus
partisans
far ;
no-
thing monopolyf
thing. but urgency for the whole debt will ex-
tort from them even the first instalment. Mr.
M'Culloch has given the following just descrip-
tion of the existing "sliding scale"—that slippery
h i snake which will be " scotched, but not killed,"
by the change stated as in contemplation
44 To the necessary fluctuations in the price of
corn, caused by variations in the harvests, a gra-
duated scale of duties superinduce an artificial
source of variation.

" The duty imposed by the Act 9 Geo. IV.,
cap. 60, and at present chargeable on corn im-
ported into this country, is of this description.
Thus, when the price of wheat is between 61s.
and 625. the duty is 255. Bd., increasing by ls. for
every ls. that the price is below 61s. ; but
above this amount the progression is different.
When, for example, the price of wheat
is between 665. and 675. the duty is 20s. Bd.,
when between 675. and 68s. the duty is 18s.
Bd. ; when between 68s. and 695. the duty is
16s. Bd. ; and when the price is between 695. and
ygii•seatle3rs. Bd., the disproportion be-
as the price advances. Now,
practical operation of this duty, let
ct7iotoobniss.ellitnolalgwaepsdtptlitlolleltsed that when prices here are between
695. and 70s. a quarter, a merchant orders a cargo
of wheat from Dantzic or some other port; and
that in the interval between the giving of the
order and the arrival of the grain the price has
sunk to 625. In this case, the wheat will sell
for 7s. or Bs. a quarter less than the importer
expected; and the duty on it will be 245. Bd.,
whereas, when the order was given, and prices
were between 693. and 705., the duty was only 13s.
Bd. ; so that the merchant, besides having to sell
his wheat at Bs. below his estimate, will have to
pay on the article so reduced in price an addi-
tional duty of lls. ! No wonder that the corn
trade should have been so very ruinous to those
who have embarked in it of late years. The risk
attending it is, under any circumstances, prover-
bially great; but our Legislation more than
double that risk ; and, is in this respect, as con-
tradictory to every sound principle as can easily
be imagined."
COURIER.—Mob-oratory is ever exaggera-
tive and extravagant; its staple materials are
loose statements, random assertions, vehement
appeals, and vapid as illogical deductions.
In after-dinner effusions its peculiar features
are most prominently and strongly deve-
loped; although it sometimes seeks to display
its beauties and compass its end in the shape
of a statistical essay or carefully concocted
guised, the marks of its
and deeply impressed
recognised. It loves
fiction; and delights
too
on
in the open falsehood.
reuoa
tiado:
the
fie‘loiviereerredvei eabttldithyli
aal
y nn
Is any portion of the population, any class of the
people visited with the pressure of unusual distress,
forthwith the faculty we are speaking of seizes
upon the fact, and by the magic of amplification
works it up into a fearful and startling picture
of ruin, famine, and desolation. Has distress
engendered discontent, and discontent clamour,
forthwith mob.oratory shouts aloud " Hear and
tremble at the voice of a starving people !"
Does disappointed faction seek to console itself
for present calamities by predictions of future
s aid,ing
greatness, and to hide the shame of recent de-
feats Conquests, it sum-
mons and gratifies gaping
xepapeoplesc mob-oratory
n
their announcementciotnitheir voice will be heard
and
nothing demands complied
forlied we can call them
eoet in
tllstewitha gloryre
unitedt ohtf to its
that " if
tii
with." Now,
throughlall
such dernn
exdi
else, whether, as in Derby, they consist of
dial harangues, or as at Plymouth and
a
post-pran
in Bridgnorth, in cool combinations of spite and
peevishness, the glaring fallacy runs ofconsidering
and representing a fraction of the community as

the whole body of the people—of speaking of a
restless and dissatisfied minority as of the nation
at large. This is the standing sophism with Anti-
Corn-law men of every grade—with Acland as
with Lord John Russell, with Cobden as with
Palmerston.

THE FLEETS OF FRANCE AND

ENGLAND.

The French Journals continue to raise an awful
clamour against M. G uizot for disarming and separating
the fleet. Oa this subject we shall just vive a petition
from the ship-owners of St. Brienne, in Brittany, pub-
lished by the Presse. It is as follows :
" It is an error to suppose that, by increasing the
number of armed vessels at so much expense to the
country, our maritime force will become greater. In
time of peace armaments proportionate to the number
of French sailors, to the wants of the commercial ser-
vice, and to the protection of the national flag would
provide great resources ; and a moderate term of ser-
vice for young sailors would augment, instead of dimi-
nishing, the maritime inscription. Let foreign nations
be taken as examples ; the English Admiralty only
employs one-fifth of the number of English sailors,
whilst the French fleet employs half the number of
French sailors ; and it is worthy of remark that all
the sailors of foreign fleets since the peace had been
volunteers. The Americans, who have a much more
numerous shipping than the French, have much fewer
ships of war for their protection than France ; they
know by experience that in case of a war with Eng-
land they could not fight squadron against squadron,
but that their best plan would be to have light
vessels and destroy English commerce in detail. The
Dutch have much fewer armed vessels than France,
in comparison with their commerce ; and, neverthe-
less, the vessels of these Powers are not more
molested for that, nor do quarrels more often occur.
Persons who know little of maritime affairs have
objected, that if part of the fleet was disarmed,
a number of sailors would find no employment,
and would be obliged to take to other callings.
It is an error, for the men who would be sent
away would be certainly employed in the commercial
service. And the more sailors commerce employs, the
more new expeditions will take place, especially for the
whale fishery, which has been paralysed during the last
few years by the want of men. In spite of what has
been said at the Chamber of Deputies, and what has
been written on the subject, it is certain that recently
several shipowners have been obliged to give up, be-
cause they found no sailors ; and that the crews of
French merchant ships are generally composed of no-
vices or of men who are too old, and even foreigners.
We could name a vessel which left Marseilles in 1840
for La Plata, having on board six Genoese and Mo-
naco sailors. This bad quality of the crews occasions
daily misfortunes, and the consequence is that the ves-
sels already built are left in port, and those that are in
course of building are left unfinished.
Therefore we say that if this system is continued
longer, the maritime inscription will be ruined, aid with
it the future strength of our navy. We end as we be-
gan, by saying, reduce the fleet, if you wish to encou-
rage maritime commerce, and increase the number of
sailors ; you will thereby do immense good to naviga-
tion and to the country."
In order to calm French fears of our naval superio-
rity in the Mediterranean, we give the following letter,
written by Captain Craufurd to the Malta Times, and
published in its number of Nov. 20 :

" THE BRITISH NAVAL FORCE.—In the number of
the Revue des Deux Mondes of the 16th of October,
there appeared an article on the French fleet—a
clever and well-written article, but evidently not the
work of a sailor. An exaggerated and most incorrect
statement of the active force of the British fleet in line-
of-battle ships was appended to it, in the shape of a
note ; and it appears to me worth while, if only for the
sake of truth, to point out the errors to the editor of
the review in which they had been published. They
amounted to nine ships, carrying 706 guns, some of
which had been paid off (desarmes) for more than a
year. In the number of the Revue des Deux IWondes
which has just appeared, these inaccuracies are acknow-
ledged, and a correct statement of the force is published,
which is as exaggerated as the former one. It includes
all the guardships and ordinary ships of our naval ar-
senals, which are neither prepared nor intended for
service at sea, and most of which are old, and totally
unfit to go out of port.
" Under these circumstances, I thought it might be
well to draw out a statement of the force in line-of-
, battle ships which Great Britain really has at this mo-
ment, either at sea, or preparing for sea (urines ou en
artnement), and, as a naval officer, I can vouch for its
correctness :

"In the Mediterranean :—Howe, 120; Impregnable,
104 ; Rodney, 92 ; Calcutta, 84 ; Ganges, 84 ; Mo-
narch, 84 ; Powerful, 84 ; Thunderer, 84 ; Vanguard,
80 ; Cambridge, 78 ; Indus, 87 ; Revenge, 76 ; Ben-
bow, 72 ; Hastings, 72 ; Implacable, 72. Ships, 15 ;
Guns, 1,264.

" China.—Blenheim, 72 ; Wellesley, 72 ; Corn-
wallis, 72.
" Preparing for Sea.—Queen, 110 ; Formidable, 84 ;
Malabar, 72 ; Illustrious, 72 ; preparing for the flag of
the Admiral lately gone to the North American station.
" Thus the 31 line-of-battle ships, of which the
Revue des Deux Monde: gives a list, are reduced to a
grand total of 22, from which, in all fairness, as having
no influence on European policy, may be deducted the
three ships in China, and the one on the point of pro •
ceeding to North America, for the flag of the Admiral
on that station. There will then remain in Europe
18 line-of-battle ships, mounting 1,530 guns. The
French fleet counts 20 line-of-battle ships-1,854
guns ; and to the credit of the officers belonging to it
be it said, I have beard the oldest officers of our Medi-
terranean squadron express their opinion, that it is in
better order, and more efficient, than any fleet the
French have had at sea within the last fifty years.
" Knowing, from personal experience, the liberality
with which you admit statements intended to correct
exaggerations that may exercise an improper influence
upon public opinion, I have addressed this letter to you,
and hope that you will deem the subject of it worthy of
notice in your esteemed and widely-circulated Journal.
" I remain, &c. " HENRY CRAUFURD,
Commander, Royal Navy."

EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE OF

A FEMALE.

A letter from Boulogne-sur-Mer gives the following
extraordinary account of the courage and presence of
mind of a female, 75 years of age. This person, who is
a widow, named Boulanger, resides in a cottage, which
is her sole property, in the hamlet of Le Ben Marais,
in the commune of Saint-Pierre-les-Calais, near Calais,
but her cottage is at a considerable distance from any
other habitation. The only means of livelihood of this
female are the cultivation of her garden and the sale
of the milk from her cow ; but as her habits are very
parsimonious, she passes in the country for having saved
money. On the 29th ult., at about six in the even-
ing, two men knocked at the door of her house, and
asked her to allow them to light their pipes. She
opened the door and admitted them, and as they
said they had been acquainted with the former
owner of the cottage, and had in their business of
smugglers frequently deposited contraband goods there,
a conversation ensued, during which they seated them-
selves before the fire. In the course of the conversa-
tion, they asked her if she resided alone. Having al-
ready conceived some suspicions as to her visitors, she
replied that she had two sons, who were at the barn
thrashing corn, and as she expected them every minute,
and they would be very angry at meeting with strangers,
she advised them to leave. They immediately rose,
wished her good night, and left the house. In about
an hour these men, who had probably ascertained that
the old woman had deceived them, in stating that she
had two sons living with her, returned, and knocking
at the door, requested her to admit them, in order that
they might take shelter from the storm, which was
then raging. She refused to do so, in spite of their
repeated entreaties, and they left. The old woman
then went to bed quietly. At eleven o'clock, she was
awakened and alarmed by repeated blows against the
outer door. She jumped out of bed, and went into
the kitchen in which is the outer door of the house,
and asking who was there, she recognised in the voices
which replied to her those of the men who bad already
twice paid her a visit. They told her that if she did not
open the door they would kill her, having with them a
good knife for the purpose ; and they immediately be-
gan with this knife to cut a hole in the door. The
woman, however, still refused to admit them, and im-.
mediately lighted several candles, probably with a view
to attract notice from without, if any body should
be passing. The two ruffianr, finding that they could
not succeed in effecting an entrance with their knife,
began throwing large stones against the door, and
then went to the cow-house, from which they brought
a stable-fork, and thrust it through the door.
They had succeeded in tearing down sufficient of
the door to make an opening for a man to pass through,
but Mine. Boulanger had armed herself with a large
piece of firewood, and threatened to crush the head of
the first of them who should attempt to enter. They
did not snake the attempt, but thrust at the woman
with the fork through the opening. With the energy
of despair she seized the fork, and, wresting it from her
assailants, made it her weapon of defence,
whilst the
ruffians
ruffians brandished their knives, and told her they were
certain of entering, and would murder her immediately.
They now endeavoured to enlarge the hole which they
had made in the door, so as to admit both at once,
neither having the courage to enter singly, but Madame
Boulanger barricaded the door-way with a heavy

kitchen table, and continued to sustain the siege with
undiminished resolution. The assailants now broke the
windows, but the cottage being an isolated one,
the former owner had put up strong iron bars which
resisted their efforts. They then went into the garden
and began to beat against the back door, but this re-
sisted more firmly than the outer door. Their next
effort was to entnr the house through the stable by
digging a hole in the clay floor, and they would have
succeeded but for a strong wooden partition deeply
sunk in the ground, and a heavy oaken ccpboard which
was set against it. Rendered furious by the obstacles
which they had encountered, they now climbed up to
the roof, and began to strip off the covering, at the same
time tearing away a portion of the chimney, and throw-
ing it down the opening, not having courage to descend by
it lest they should meet with a vigorous reception, and be
unable, from their confined position, to resist effectually.
Finding that it was not so easy to enter by the roof
as they expected, they got down again, and finding an
enormous piece of wood in the yard, they returned to
the outer door, and used it as a battering ram. The
prospect of effecting an entry was now so clear that
they shouted for joy, and told the poor old woman to
prepare for death, as she would meet with it in a few
minutes. Madame Boulanger saw that all hope of suc-
cessful resistance was at an end, and prepared for
her retreat. Opening the back door quietly, she
flew across the fields to a neighbouring farm, nearly
naked, and frequently, in crossing ditches, up to her
middle in water. Oa arriving at the farm, the in-
mates were instantly aroused by her cries, and the
farmer, with two of his men, armed with pitchforks,
proceeded to the cottage. Before they reached it,
however, the robbers, who had effected an en-
trance, had made their escape, but they had not had
time to break open the cupboards, and had fled, car-
rying with them only some bread, butter, candles, and
other objects of little value. The gendarmerie of Ca-
lais were not informed of the affair until five o'clock in
the morning, when a corporal went with his brigade in
search of them. They took the road to Gravelines,
suspecting that the robbers had escaped that way, and
on arriving there learned from the sentinel at the gate
that two men, answering the description, had entered
the town half an hour previously. It appears, how-
ever, that they passed hastily through the town. They
have not since been heard of, and it is thought they
have succeeded in reaching Belgium.