The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-03 00:00:00

FLANDERS, HAMBURGH, AND

DUTCH MAILS.
BRUSSELS, APRIL 23.—The correspondent who lately
represented the visit of the Emperor Nicholas to France
as probable, informs us to-day that this visit will not
take place at present.
A contract, dated April 3, has been concluded for a
line of sailing vessels between the ports of Antwerp,
Galatz, and Odessa, between the Minister of Foreign
Affairs and Mr. Frederick llarkort. The contract is
from the year 1847 to 1851 inclusive.

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On the 21st of April the prices of corn in the market
of Lisle continued to rise. This rise has been 2F. 6c. in
the course of one week. The hectolitre of the finest
wheat was 42f. 72e.

We learn from the Journal du Commerce d' Anvers that
the Minister of Finance has given orders, dated the 14th
April, to the Custom-house, with necessary directions,
to prevent the importation or trade in the port of
Antwerp under the name of Molasses and at the duty
to which that article is liable by the tariff.
BRUSSELS, APRIL 27.—The average price of wheat in
the week ending on Saturday, April 24, was 39f. 98c.,
and that of rye 29f. 21c. per hectolitre. These prices
are considerably above those of last week, namely,
3f. 14c. on wheat and of 2f. 27c. on rye.
BATAVIL—We have news from Batavia of the Ist
March, which is not very interesting. The Governor-
General of India has taken measures for the execution
of the articles of the treaty concluded on the 29th July
with Belgium relative to the exportation of 4,000 lasts of
colonial produce.
A letter from Singapore, dated March Bth, praises in
the highest terms the efforts of the Dutch Government
in favour of a more liberal colonial system, as well as of
the enlightened views of the Governor-General of Dutch
India, who it is hoped will open the Molucca Islands
also to the trade of all nations. The authorities of Java
and Singapore are on the most friendly terms, and a com-
mission from ,Macassar had arrived at Singapore to ar-
range several points relative to trade.
The Journal de Lisle says, the accounts from the
markets all announce a decline in the prices within these
ten days—wheat has fallen every where on an average
from 21. to Of. per hectolitre. We were yesterday
informed that the prices are more favourable to the
seller.

THE HAGUE, APRIL 27.—We have received, by the
overland mail, Java papers up to the Ist March.
BATAVIA, FEB. 19.—During the afternoon his Ma-
jesty's steamer, the Merapi, arrived in the Roads of
Batavia, having left Singapore on the 15th, and brought
the letters and parcels destined for this port by the
European overland mail, which left London on the 24th
December. The arrival a the mail was delayed in
consequence of the Lady Mary Hood, British steamer,
which brings it from Ceylon to Singapore, and further
to China, having been surprised in the Gulph of Ben-
gal by very stormy weather and a high sea, by which
it required eleven days fur the voyage from Ceylon to
Penang, which is usually performed in 137 or 140 hours.
on the same clay his Majesty's steamer the Batavia, ar-
rived from the Cape of Good Hope. This vessel is
intended to communicate with Singapore, and there to
meet the British Overland Mail. There have been very
great inundations in several parts of the country, in con-
sequence of heavy rains in the interior.

Mr. Sullivan is appointed by her Majesty, Consul
at Ningpo. in China.—Observer.
MURDER OF THREE CHILDREN BY THEIR
MOTHER.—On Saturday, intelligence reached town of a
dreadful murder having been committed in the parish of
Llanbydder, in the county of Carmarthen. It appears
that a woman of the name of Mary Hughes resided at
the house of her sister-in-law, who keeps the Carriers'
Arms public-house, about three miles from the village
of Llanbydder. On Wednesday last the landlady left the
the house about 12 o'clock at noon to go to the village,
leaving Mary Hughes, who had three children living
with her, Tic, two girls and a boy, of the respective ages
of five years and a half, two years, and twelve months,
at home with them. She did not return until seven
o'clock in the evening, when she found the outer door
locked, and the key placed under the door. On entering
the house she found no one about, and on going up the
stairs to see where her sister-in law and the children were,
she observed the legs of one of the children in a position
as if the body was suspended, and upon going up into
the room a dreadful sight presented itself, the three
children being suspended by their necks to one of the
beams in the roof. She rushed out of the house, and
ran to a neighbour's about a hundred yards off, who
instantly returned with her and cut the poor children
down, but life was quite extinct, and had been for some
time. The wretched mother, who alone could have
committed the dreadful deed, could nowhere be found,
although strict search was made for her, and it is sup-
posed that she has gone to Merthyr to see her husband,
who had left her a few days before to seek work in the
iron factories in that vicinity or at Nantyglo, or has
committed suicide. No cause can be assigned for the
murder, as destitution could not have caused her to do
it, for although her husband had gone to look after
work, the family bad received every assistance from the
sister-in-law, and she had also parochial assistance to
upport the children.
SUPERSTITION IN THE NINETEENTFI CENTURY:
A few days since an unusual circumstance was observed at
Pillgwenlly, which caused no small degree of astonishment
to one or two enlightened beholders. A patient ass stood
near a house, and a family of not much more rational ani-
mals were grouped around it. A father was passing his
little son under the donkey, and lifting him over it 3 back, a
certain number of times, with as much solemnity and pre-
cision as if engaged in the performance of a sacred duty.
This done the father took a piece of bread, cut from an
untested loaf, which be offered the animal to bite at. No-
thing loath, the Jerusalem pony laid hold of the bread with
his teeth, and instantly the father severed the outer portion
of the slice from that in the donkey's mouth. He next
clipped off some hairs from the neck of the animal, which he
cut up into minute particles, and then mixed them with the
bread, which he had crumbled. This very tasty food was
then offered to the boy who had been passed round the donkey
so mysteriously, and the little fellow having eaten thereof,
the donkey was removed by his owners. The father, his
son, and other members of his family were moving off, when a
bystander inquired what all these "goings on" had been
adopted for ? The father stared at the ignorance of the in-
quirer, and then, in a half-contemptuous, half-condescend-
ing, tone, informed him that " it was to cure his poor son's
hooping-cough, to be sure !" Extraordinary as this may
appear, in days when the schoolmaster in so much in request,
it is nevertheless true.—Monmouthshire Merlin.
The weather during the past week has been of a
rather extraordinary character for the time of year, tern-
pests of unusual severity having been experienced in
many parts of the kingdom. Here, yesterday, we had
several storms of hail, accompanied by thunder and
lightning louder and more vivid than often occurs in
the most sultry weather. On Saturday, also, we had
a similar visitation, but of less severity. On that day,
however, the force of the tempest was very great at
Lavington and the neighbourhood, several trees having
been injured, and one of them shivered to pieces by the
lightning. At Oornberry-mill, situate between East and
West Lavington, considerable damage was done ; be-
tween fifty and sixty panes of glass having been shat-
tered besides other injury. From the severity of the
hail storms we much fear that the early blossoming
fruit trees have suffered considerably.— tVikshire Inde-
pendent.
BAINEs v. BAINEs.—The learned Recorder of Hull,
Matthew Talbot Baines, Esq., Q.C., brother to Mr. Ed-
ward Baines, took care, in his address to the grand jury
on Friday last, to remove any suspicion which might
have existed of his participation in the editor of the
Leeds Mercury's abhorrence of the Government
scheme of national education. In charging the grand
jury the Learned Recorder said, .‘ I, for one, rejoice
greatly over the improved prospects of' national edu-
cation ; for it is quite impossible to conceive a
subject of greater importance. So far from wishing to
limit education at all, if I had my own will, I would
snake it accessible to every human being; because, in
proportion as you disseminate the blessings of a sound
religious and moral education, in exactly the same pro-
portion do you provide for the dearest interests of the
public at large.-e-Mr. Thomas Baines, the editor of the
Liverpool Tintes, is also at issue with Mr. E. Baines, jun.,
on this important question. not having, like his brother,
changed his opinion upon it.

SINGULAR ACCUSATION OF

ROBBERY.

On Saturday a case was brought before the Lord
Mayor at the Mansion House, who, notwithstanding his
magisterial experience in the conduct of individuals of
almost every nation, expressed much surprise at the
remarkable incidents which the following particulars
detail:—
Some
days ago a young man named John Doyle, the
son of a Dublin tailor, Has collared in the street by his
father, and charged with having run away, accompanied
by one of the men employed in the house, with coats
and trousers, amounting in value to between 2001. and
3001. The prisoner was brought before the Lord Mayor
and regularly accused of the robbery, and—the prose-
cutor having stated that he intended to go to Manchester
to look for Tom Smith, his son's alleged particeps criminis
—was remanded for a fow days.
The prosecutor upon going to Manchester, whore, it
appeared, he was as well known as he was in London as
an extensive dealer in c!ches, found Tom Smith with-
out any difficulty, and caused him to be apprehended,
and in a short time to be deposited in a London station-
house, from which he was removed to the Mansion-
house for examination.
Mr. Vann, solicitor for the prosecutor, upon hearing
the statement made by Mr. Michael Doyle, his client,
which was as loose and unconnected, and uncondemna-
tory as it was possible to be, declined to proceed against
Tom Smith, and it was quite evident that Mr. Doyle
was very glad to find himself disappointed. There
were some few indications as the business proceeded,
that Mr. Doyle had been endeavouring to drown his
affliction at rather too early an hour, so that Mr. Vann
considered it to be his duty to apologise to the Lord
Mayor for the eccentric conduct of his client.
The Lord Mayor—Have you not been drinking, lately,
Mr. Doyle?
The prosecutor—Drinking, your Lordship, oh, upon
my faith ! not to my knowledge. Why, then, hav'nt I
just come from Manchester with Tom Smith ? Tcm,
answer for yourself.
The prisoner—Yes, we drank a little drop for ould
friendship, that's all. You drank most, for you know
you will always have more than your whack.—(A laugh.)
The Lord Mayor—But, Mr. Doyle, you said you
would procure a warrant from a magistrate in Dublin to
take over your son; have you done so?
The prosecutor—What, against my own boy? Do you
think lam such a baste as to do that? Not I, faith.
The Lord Mayor—And why did you bring this pri-
soner from Manchester? The magistrate there had just
as much power to send him to Dublin, if there was evi-
dence against him, as I have.
The prosecutor—Why, faith, I thought it would be
more comfortable for the three of us to go over toge-
ther. I don't want to charge the poor boy with any-
thing.

The Lord Mayor—lie has been in prison for some
days upon your statement that he and the present pri-
soner robbed you.
The prosecutor—Ah! then more's the pity, for a
prison was never made fur him; a'nt he my own darling?
Did'nt I pay 31. a week for his education, and is'nt he able
to talk to any of ye? Why he can speak to the greatest
nobleman here, or even at home in our own place, where
we have the best sort.—(Laughter.)
The Lord Mayor—Then you don't mean to charge
your son with any offence?
The prosecutor—Charge John, my Lord? Oh! then
God knows I don't. The divil a word I've to say against
him; but I charge Tom, though.
The Lord Mayor—You can't substantiate the robbery
against him. Your solicitor has very properly with-
drawn the charge.
The prosecutor—Robbery! Lord, I don't mean to
charge him with robbery. I mean to charge him with a
deal worse than that.

The Lord Mayor—Worse ! What's that ?
The prosecutor —Why, prevailing upon John to leave
me, to be sure. I'd rather he'd rob me of anything than
my boy, the Lord knows!—(Laughter.)
The Lord Mayor—Well, this is a very singular sort
of business, Mr. Doyle. I'll send for your son, as you
say you have nothing to say against him.
The prosecutor—Ah, then, God bless you, my Lord,
for sure I'll be glad to see him ; won't you, Tom ? (to
the prisoner, amidst loud laughter.)
The prisoner—To be sure I will ; much gladder to
see him than to see you.
The prosecutor— Why, Tom you can't say that I was
ever hard-hearted, you villain ?
The prisoner—Oh, by my sowl, it's often you gave us
nothing. Your heart may be as big as a bullock's, but it's
not the right sort.—(Great laughter.)
John Doyle, the son of the prosecutor, was then
brought up.

" Oh, then, is that you, John, my jewel?" said the
prosecutor ; " and how are you, John?"—(Laughtcr.)
John Doyle—Oh, I'm well enough, considering the
lodging you've got for me. It's in ginteel company I've
been.

The Lord Mayor, who found it very difficult to check
the rapidity of this odd conversation, desired the pri)su-
cutor to say whether he had anything to state against
the prisoners or either of them ?

The prosecutor—Now tell me, John, what hare you
done with the 201. you brought away with you ?
The Lord Mayor—You must not put any questions
to him.

John Doyle—Why you know it was my own money,
and I gave 51. of it to Tom, and I spent near a pound,
and you got 141.

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Tne prosecutor—Well, don't say a word about it, but
come along home.
John Doyle—Why, then, do you think I'm going to
leave poor Tom here after all you said against him? I
don't care what I've suffered myself, but I'll never desert
him, e,peciaily as you have taken away his character so
cruelly.
The prosecutor—There, you see, my Lord, what an
education I've given him ! You see how he can talk!
I'll tell you what, John, give Tom the 141. and come
along, and when you get home you shan't want for 2001.
or 300/. when you like.
The London agent of Mr. Doyle stepped forward,
said he knew all the family for many years, and
that an honester or cleverer lad was not to be
fund under the sun than young John, and that it
never entered into the boy's head for a moment
to rob his father or any body else. The Lord
Mayor then advised the prosecutor to take his son home
and give him a share in the business, which would have
the effect of preventing him from going elsewhere to
seek his fortune, and from being charged with theft
1;)r making the experiment. He (John Doyle) felt so
strongly the liberal offer of his father, and the recom-
mend ttion of the Lord Mayor, that he at once expressed
an earnest wish to return to Dublin, and the reconcili-
ation having been accompanied with tears from each of
the parties, Mike, and John, and Tom left the Man-
sion-house for the purpose of confirming it in the most
binding and agreeable of all ways, in one of the neigh-
bouring public-house.
The Lord Mayor, upon being informed that Mr. Doyle
and his son and journeyman had determined to start all
together for Dublin by the next train, said he had often
heard of strange Irish ways of Accomplishing certain
ends, but not one of them exceeded the plan adopted by
Mr. Doyle, whose great affection for his son suggested
to him the idea of an accusation of robbery, as a means
of securing to himself the object of his paternal soli-
citude.

THE CHARING-CROSS HOSPITAL.
The annual distribution of prizps to the students at-
tending the medical school of this hospital took place en
Saturday, when marks of distinction were awarded by
the Right lion. Vernon Smith to the following gentle-
men:—