The Sun.
London, England, 1824-02-11 00:00:00

LITERARY NOTICE.

A SUPPLEMENT to the APPENDIX to Capt. PARRY'S
VOYAGE for the DISCOVERY of a NORTH-WEST
PASSAGE, in the Years 1819-20. Containing an Ac-
count of the Subjects of Natural History. Plates.
Although the narrative of the first voyage of
the intrepid Captain PARRY has been some time
published, the above work has but just made its
appearance. In a short advertisement prefixed
to the account, the undaunted Navigator of the
Frigid Zone expresses his regret that it should
have been so long delayed, which is subse-
quently explained by the illness of ROBERT
BROWN, Esq., by whom the botanical part was
undertaken. The subjects are in the following
order :—Mammalia, Birds, Fish, by Captain
EDWARD SABINE—Land Invertebrate Animals,
by the Rev. WILLIAM KlRBY—Marine Inverte-
brate Animals, by Captain EDWARD SABINE—
Shells, by JOHN EDWARD GRAY, Esq.---Botany,
by Ron. BROWN, Esq.—Rock Specimens, by
CHARLES KOUING, Esq.
In the article on ZOOLOGY, by Capt. EDWARD
SABINE, the long-disputed question among Na-
turalists, relative to the intercourse between
wild and domesticated animals, is set at rest.
The article is so interesting on this subject, while
at the same time it exposes an error into which
the French' Naturalists have fallen, that we
readily transcribe it. It is the fourth in the series,
and entitled " CANIS LUPUS"—WW.
- " Inhabit the North Georgian Islands, and
were seen almost daily during the winter, but
would not suffer themselves to be approached
within • gun-shot : they were of a very light
colour, and 9f the full size of a setter-dog.
" Those Naturalists who believe that no ani-
mal, in a perfectly natural and wild state, will
connect itself with one of a different species, will
consider the long-agitated question of the specific
identity of the wolf and dog, as determined by a
circumstance of frequent occurrence at Melville
Island. In December and January, which are
the months in which wolves are in season, a fe-
male paid almost daily visits to the neighbour-
hood of the ships, and remained until she was
joned by a setter-dog, belonging to one .of the
Officers : they were usually together from two
to three hours, and as they did not go far away,
unless an endeavour was Made to approach them,
repeated and decided evidence was obtained of
the purpose .fur
Which they were thus
associated.
As they became more familiar, the absences of
the dog were of longer continuance, until at
length he did not return, having probably fallen
a sacrifice in an encounter with a male wolf. The
female, however, continued to visit the ships as
before, and enticed a second dog in the same
manner, which, after _several meetings, returned
so severely bitten, as to be disabled for many
days.
" It is believed that this is the first authen-
ticated instance of an undomesticated wolf having
intercourse with a dog ; when tamed, it is well
known that they will readily breed together.
" Whatever doubts may have once prevailed,
it is now ascertained by the observations of mo-
dern Naturalists, that neither in conformation,
nor in the period of gestation, does any such dif-
ference exist between the Wolf and dog as will
warrant a specific distinction. The manner of car-
Teing the tail has been considered as a difference ;
but amongst the Esquimaux dogs, which have
fallen under the notice of the late and the present
Expeditions, there have been individuals who
constantly carried their tails in the manner which
was supposed to be peculiar to the wolf. These
dogs approach nearer to the wolf in its wild state
than any of the other domesticated varieties. A
young female was procured, from the Esquimaux
who were communicated with in Davis' Strait, on
the 7th September, in the hope that, by her
means, the perfect breed might be kept up in
this country, for the satisfaction of Naturalists :
a male which was brought to England by the
former Expedition being still alive : but she un-
fortunately disappeared from the HiSc/a during
the detention
,of the ship in Leith Roads to refit,
and, from subsequent inquiry, it is feared that
she has ceased to exist as a living specimen. The
only female which was brought borne by the
former Expedition was presented to the Royal
Menagerie at Paris, and has furnished the subject
of an article in the splendid work of Messrs.
SAINT HILAIRE and FREDERIC CUVIER, L'His-
fare Naturelle der iilammife'res, from whence the
following passage has been extracted, for the
purpose of noticing an, erroneous supposition
which it contains, and into which these eminent
Naturalists have been accidentally misled :---
Nous devons ces precieux animaux a M. le
Doctceur Leach, qui, en ayant obtenu une fe-
rnelle pleine, au retour de l'Expedition dii
Capitaine Ross, a bien voulu nous Penvoyer.—
Cette femelle a mis has trois petits, un male et
deux femelles, qui sutfirent sans doute pour nous
conserver fine race dout l'intelligence et la force,
appliquees, a nos besoins domestiques, pourrout
nous rendre d'utiles services. Aucune de nos
races des Chief's, qui se rapportent a celle-ci, ne
sont aussi belies et aussi fortes.'—By an omis-
sion, doubtless of inadvertency, the keepers
of the Menagerie were not apprised that the
female in question was with young by a New-
foundland dog belonging to an Officer of the
Isabella; and it has unfortunately happened,
that the plate of the ' Chien des Esquimaux de
la Baie de Baffin,' as well as the minute mea-
surements and description in the letter-press, are
taken, not from the mother, but from one of the
young, after it had attained its full growth ; and
it is not, therefore, a representation of a genuine
Esquimaux dog, as the authors designed. It is
probable, however, that the mixed breed may
possess the qualities which are ascribed to it by
Messrs. SAINT IlirseritE and CUVIER, of strength
and intelligence applicable to our domestic pur-
poses, to as great an extent as the pure Esqui-
maux breed ; and, judging from the [slate, it is
certainly not inferior in beauty."
( To be

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, FEB. 10.

FIRE IN WATLING-STREET.

THURTELL V. T. B. BEAUMONT.
Mr. Sergeant VAUGHAN shewed cause why the Rule for a
new trial in this case should not be discharged. This was e.
case that was connected with pasties and circumstances which
had excited a degree of interest never surpassed. The evi-
dence of John Thurtell and Joseph Hunt might not be be
lieved, and he asked their Lordships to consider the case upon
distinct accounts. This case could not be restored to its
former state, on account of the prejudices that had gone
forth, for it did not follow that because a man had been
guilty of one crime he was also guilty of another, which is the
reason of the resistance of this claim. He would put it thus,
because there was a suspicion (for he would go no higher) that
the house in Watling-street had been wilfully set on fire, and
that if there were any goods on the premises, they were re-4
moved before the fire. Assuming that J. Thurtell was the most
worthless man on the face of the earth, he did not think it was
in human nature to commit the crimes imputed to him of arson
and perjury. But striking his evidence out of the question, the
Learned Counsel continued, he would contend that this claim
ought not to be resisted. It had been proved on the trial, that
goods to the amount of 1,7001. and upwards, had been pur,
chased by T. Thurtell, besides the furniture, with the view of
his entering into business, as soon as he could get released
from his engagement at the Cock. This had been proved by
unimpeachable witnesses. He addressed himself to men of
knowledge, independent of that of their profession, and he
asked whether it was ever heard of that a man would purchase
goods and pay for them with ready money, in order to put
them into a house, and then set it on fire. The testimony of
Anderson swore positively that the goods so supplied were
deposited on the premises, and were, as he firmly believed!,
on them on the night of the fire. There was proof of the de;-
livery of goods at half-past four in the afternoon before the'
fire.

Mr. Justice PARK.—You have a strong proof on your sitlf>'
in the evidence of Leath.
Mr. Serjeant VAUGHAN thanked his Lordship. But it was-
said, what evidence have we that John Thurtell was not on the
premises ? He answered that the evidence of Ensor went to
prove that fact. But, independently of this, it was. a snowy
night, and if he had been on the premises he might have been.
traced. Ensor swore that John Thut tell was never out of hi 4
sight from the Saturday afternoon until 5 o'clock on the morn.
ing of the fire. Had the fire then commenced ?It had—it was
seen to break out at 20 minutes after four.
LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE—You have a right to assume that-
the Jury were satisfied the fire was not occasioned wilfully, and.
that verdict is not to be disturbed, except on fresh affidavits.
Mr. Serjeant VAUGHAN would therefore be short. He then
alluded to the affidavits of Mr. Beaumont and Wriggles 7.
Worth. Wrigglesworth stated that about the middle of De-
cember, John Thurtell and Snowden went to Maigrave's, and
offered goods, purchased of Todd and MorriSon, twenty per
cent. under prime cost, on the introduction of Wrigglesworth_
Was his evidence trite ? Who is he ? a discarded servant of
Messrs. IVlargraves. Something had been insinuated by. Mr_
Beaumont against the Messrs. Margraves : but the Learned
Counsel contended that they were men of high and unimpeach-
able character, and incapable, he believed, of any dishonourable
action. But Wrigglesworth would have it believed that theY
had actually bought the goods of Thurtell 20 percent. under
their value, and that the original invoices were first depoSited.
with them, and afterwards changed, and that the proceeds 110
been demanded by John Thurtell. If the Messrs. Margraves
A ere the tainted characters that. Wrigglesworth had described,
they would not have done their work in so bungling a manner;
but they positively deny that they ever knew or saw John
Thurtell, as well as the circumstances relating to the invoices.
Every part of Wrigglesworth's affidavit had been contradicted.
by Snowdon. _

'LORD CHIEF JusTicE—There is one part of Snowdoel
evidence to which .1 will advert. Snowdon states that he acted
as an agent, but it is not said to whom he was an agent. If he
sold the goods as an agent why did he not swear tor whom he
sold them. He does not negative that they were Thurtell's-
But, brother VaughtM, don't think I am giving my opinion in
the preient stage.
Mr. Sergeant VauGHAN admitted it would have been better
if this part of the subject ban been gone more fully into.
• Mr. Justice P4rtx.—Whether this fact is of sufficient import.
ance to warrant a new trial he would not say, but it was an ob-
servation fit to be made.
Mr. Sergeant Vairolimr—The invoices were produced on
the trial. On the subject of the payment of the proceeds, it
was positively sworn by Mr. Alargrave, that he never paid any
money to John Thurtell on account of any sale whatever. The
Learned Counsel continued to comment at considerable length
on the alleged transaction with the .111essrs. Margraves. fie
then adverted to the origin of the fire, and observed that it
might have been caused by the negligence of Wilkinson, vbe-
occupied the lower part of the house, where the Plaintiff's wit-
nesses swore they first saw the fire, and " well in." He con-
tended, that after what had passed in Hertfordshire, this case
could not be restored to its former state.; and that upon this
ground a new trial should not, therefore, be granted. The
defendant had gone to Hertford to make inquiries of Joseph
Hunt, at a moment when he was preparing for a most awful oc-
casion; this rendered it necessary for the other side to go also
to Hertford to make inquiries of John Thurtell. If the decla-
ration of such a miscreant were worthy of the least credit, he
would confront Joseph Hunt with Joseph Hunt. If there was
any moment when his words migl.s-te. believed, it must have
been immediately after his conviction, when he went, to John.
Thurtell's cell, burst into tears, and acknowledged that he had
done him wrong. With these observations he left the case.
Mr. Serjeant PELL followed on the same side. If this case
were to be tried again it would be impossible to prevent pre.,
judices existing in the minds of a Jury.
itlr. Beaumont rose, in the hope that he should be allowed Co
wipe off the aspersions which had been thrown .out, upon his~
character, before his Counsel entered upon their argument.,
The Lona, CuiEE-JusTicE siad he was not aware of all.
aspersions.
Mr. Beaumont said it bad been thrown out that Wriggles
worth was about to give his testimony under the temptation of
a reward.

Mr. Justice PARK observed, he was not aware that Mr.
Serjeant Vaughan had exceeded the ordinary bounds of Cowl-
sel, when commenting upon evidence. Either, however, the
Gentleman must come forward by his own Counsel, or by him-
self in his own behalf. The Court would then listen to him
_with cheerfulness, but they could not sacrifice the rules and
laws of their proceeding.
Mr. Serjeant TADDr agreed that this was an unprecedented
case, but if it was meant to insinuate that because one agent or
one witness in a crime had been since convicted of a capita/
offence, therefore there was no ground for any ulterior pro-
ceeding, that argument he begged leave most explicitly to deny-
If it were well founded, a criminal would have to add a fresh-
load to his weight of guilt, and to make it yet more apparent in
the eyes of all mankind to secure himself from his due punish-
ment. He would now say to his Learned Friends, that their
evidence it was his intention to controvert, and their inferences
to impugn.--(Here Mr. Taddy took a clear and minute view of
the whole case, from the commencement of the affair with the
Insurance Office.)
Mr. Serjeant CROSS took the same side, and the Judges left
Court as soon as the argument was brought to a conclusion,
for the purpose of giving their decision upon it to-morrow
(this day.)

A letter dated Dresden the 20th ult. says,
accounts from Adorf on the Bohemian frontiers
mention, that ever since the 7th January they have
daily experienced earthquakes in that quarter.
According to a statement in a recent Vienna
Gazelle, the births in that capital in the year
1823, were 12,758—the deaths 11,160.
The theatre at Cremona was totally destroy
by lire on the 16th ult.