The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-18 00:00:00

S t 1 IN

world imitate their measures. No person of the most ordi-
nary candour, after reading Lord John Russell's speech, can
harbour the suspicion that he is suffering the penalty of a
mere factious move in the days of opposition. If it be so,
never was man so convincing and persuasive against his
own inner convictions. Such a talent of duplicity, however,
is notoriously not among his Lordship's gifts, He says what
he thinks. and dares what he approves—a course which con..
tributes as much respectability to his failures as glory to his
success. The date and the manner of the further reduction
from eleven hours to ten is one on which there has been a
very great, and, we will add, a very natural latitude of
opinion. The truth is that whatever is done at this moment,
any change postponed for a twelvemonth isvirtuallyresigned
to future legislation. If, what we certainly do not expect,
the women and young fulk shall be content with the boon
of one hour when two hours are within their reach, the,
Legislature will be happy to accommodate their industrious
desires. Lord• J. Russell wishes to leave the question to
Another year. The manufacturers, on the contrary, affect to
say that now is the time for the entire reduction. If
they are in earnest, they will still have the opportunity of
amending the Bill in the Lords, but at present, very pro-
perly we think, the original clauss, limiting the number of
hours to ten, from the Ist of May, 1848, stands part of the

FRIGHTFUL GIG ACCIDENT IN FLEET-STREET.
Yesterday afternoon, between three and four o'clock, an acci-
dent of a most frightful character occurred to a gentleman
named Saunders, who was driving with a friend along Fleet-
street. Just as they got past Shoe-lane, the animal shred,
fell, and both gentlemen were thrown out with great fo-rce.
Mr. Saunders sustained very serious injuries. He was picked
up senseless, and removed into Mr. Hutchinson's surgery, is
Farringdon-street, where an extensively lacerated wound was
discovered on his forehead, besides other injuries. In about
an hour after the occurrence Mr. Saunders was removed from
the surgeon's to his residence.
DREADFUL MURDERS OF A PAY•CLERK AND Po-
LICKMAN IN KILKENNY.—Tha Dublin Evening Post contains
the following :—" Kilkenny, March 15. This morning, about
nine o'clock, Arthur Primm, Esq., pay-clerk of the barony
of Kells, was proceeding, accompanied by a policeman, to pay
the people employed. About one mile from Kells, near the
demesne of Chapelizod, they were attacked by six or seven
fellows who fired five shots at them. and killed both. It has
caused an awful sensation here. There is an account here—
I hope and believe a true one—that the people turned out
and pursued the murderers, and captured two of them, who
had separated from the others. It is also stated that a man
has been found dead in a bog near the same place, supposed
to have been shot by the policeman. The murderers did not
get the money (2501.) in possession of the pay-clerk, I be-
lieve, as the horse, through fright, gallopped on to lid's.).
EXECUTION OF THE Two NORTHUMBERLAND MCI,
DERERS.—James Welch and George Matthews (both Irish-
men) yesterday morning underwent the sentence of the law
at the county gaol at Morpeth. The former, it will be re-
membered, was convicted of the murder of Thomas Proud,
on the 7th of last month, in the neighbourhood of New-
borough. The unfortunate victim of the culprit was a la-
bouring man. He had invited several of his neighbours to
the christening of one of his children. Welch, who was ex-
cited by liquor, insulted him and the women who were with
him, and particularly one Mary Ann Toward, who refused
his advances. A scuffle ensued. Proud and Toward endea-
voured to get away, but Welch overtook tliem and stabbed
Proud with a long-bladed knife in the back of his neck, of
which wound he died immediately. Matthews was employed
on the railway being formed between Newcastle and Ber-
wick, and his victim, Daniel Hives,worked on the same line.
Matthews and another man, Hughes, on the sth of last Oc-
tober, were beating the deceased, who called out to a Cap-
tain Potts, who witnessed the attack, to protect him frosts
being murdered by the two Irishmen. Captain Potts sup-
ported him, and whilst so doing, Matthews slyly walked
past and stabbed Hives in the abdomen with a knife, which
he drew from under his frock. The juries in both eases,
after returning verdicts of " Wilful Murder," recommended
the prisoners to mercy, and a memorial was forwarded to the
ttahte
of
the
m sentences.ost The
1 conductGovernmentef
Welchpraying
sentence
afatercommutation of h
ivas
har-
dened and impenitent culprit. Matthews, on the cont:ary,
appeared duly impressed with the atrocity of his crime, and
G. A. Lowe. St. Patrick's-day being the
was very attentive to the exhortations of the Catholic cler-
gyman, the Rev. .
it
di
day appointed for the execution, was supposed some s-
turbance might be occasioned by the countrymen of the par-
ties condemned; a strong body of police was consequently
in attendance, but nothing of the sort took place. Welch
when on the scaffold appeared more affected than his pre-
vious behaviour had led people to anticipate, and died im-
ploring the Divine mercy. This wretched man was only
22 years of age. His fellow criminal, Matthews, was in his
20th year.
HUNGERFORD SUSPENSION BRIDGE STEAM-BOAT
PIER.—Yesterday the long pending dispute between the
Hungerford Market and Bridge Companies was brought to
an amicable termination, the Market accepting the Bridge
Company's proposal. A space six feet in width is now railed
off on the west side of the bridge, from the north turret to
the market termination, for the use of steam-boat passengers,
who will, in the course of a few days, be able to land and em•
bark from these vessels, and pass over the Suspension Bridge
without being subject to any charge.
THE NAVIGATION-LAWS. A meeting was held
last evening at the Bridge-house Hotel, London-bridge, to
consider the question of the navigation-laws. The two first
resolutions:were to the effect that the repeal of
Tthheenavigation-
w was
ecaelhl eadirnuipaonn,
laws would prove ruinous to the country. person ap-
A deputation from the Great Metropolitan Cattle pointed to move the third resolution, and who had that re.
in hispossession,
perform his
atnod the amuse-
dayMarket and Abattoir Company, accompanied by Mr. Henry solution
• Richardson, the solicitor, have had interviews this duty, when, to the dismay of
Francis
with Lord Robert Grosvenor, Mr. B. B. Cabbell, M.P., ment of the meeting, it was found the ' '
and Mr. Mackinnon, M.P., at their respective mansions, on absconded,carrying the resolution with him.
the subject of the removal of Smithfield Market, and the se- now got up to make so me objections A gentleman
to the resolutions
lection of a suitable site for the new market. adopted, but he was sharply informed by the chairman that
POTATOES.—A gentleman in India writes thus : the meeting was convened fora specific purpose, and that
" I wish I could send you some of our potatoes so beautiful if he had anything to say against that he had better
England take purpose
and white. lam sure the reason the potatoes inthe room for the next evening Another speaker thought
have become so bad is from over cultivation. All those fine it very ungentlemanly conducton'the part of the chairman
manures have altered and destroyed the natural structure of to refuse to hear the objections.
this. . ..
the chairman semen
At
the root, and if farmers would let the ground alone, the po- his hat, and, •the " who had in-
vowing vengeance on person
in-
tato may be again plentiful and good. Some time hence they suited him," precipitately left the platform. A vote of thanks
may find that not only wheat but other grain may become to the chairman " impartial " conduct closed the
like the potatoes." meeting.
SOUTHAMPTON, MARCH 17.—The Royal West Ma. ()' CONNELL'S HEALTIL-1% We have been in-
India mail-packet the Trent, Captain Surdie, left the river formedthat the health of the Hon. and Learned Member for
this day, at 3 P.M , with mails for the West India Islands.much improved, if at all, since his arrival at
The Trent, since her return home on the 24th of January, Hastings.erk has notbenefit which the change of air has
is, The only
has undergone a thorough repair, andyesterday seems in somewhat better spirits.
went on a produced that he
trial trip down the river, which she performed
satisfaction of the commander and en in !much the same state of health that he was in before he left
g eers. The Trent
h there are other accounts given of the Hon_
has 40 passengers, 3,0001. in s • Al h
ecie and usual cargo. The town. tou
we have reason to believe that this is
Oriental Company's steamship Madrid, Captain Weeks, left Gentleman's Health,
the docks at the same hour, en route for Gibraltarwith the the true one.
Peninsular and Mediterranean mails, also 14 passengers. and ' Mr. Mines paired off with the O'Conor Don in
a very full cargo of bale goods, &c. favour of ten hours, on the Factories Bill division, yesterday.

by the consequent re,ponsitiilities, to give that attention
to the present qu.'stioa which he would have desired.
They might not all be aware of what the present day
was the anniversary. He would beg to inform them that
the 17th of March was St. Patrick's I)ay. Now, St. Patrick
was said to be celebrated for ridding Ireland of all its veno-
mous reptiles. Now, he was of opinion that this statement was
merely of a legendary or allegorical character, and that he
(St. Patrick) was, in fact, the patron of the early closing
movement, and that he was desirous of banishing the pre-
sent system from the country. The Noble Lord concluded
by proposing the following resolution :
" That this meeting deeply deplores the continued exist-

ence of a system of protracted lab Our in the shops and ware-
houses of the metropolis, and the country generally, which is
proved, upon the concurrent testimony of all practical and
observant men, to be productive of premature bodily decay,
mental decrepitude, and moral deterioration, to a large and
important class of the British people; and hereby expresses
its conviction that a flagrant wrong is being inflicted on that
class, and that it is the duty of persons of all conditions to
co-operate with the Early Closing Association in its efforts to
eradicate the evil complained of, as well by pecuniary contri-
butions as by personal exertion."
The Rev. Dr. Cu mattrm seconded the resolution, which was
unanimously carried.
Mr. MOFFAT, M.P., proposed, and Mr. NASII seconded, the
following resolution, which was unanimously carried :
" That this meeting cordially approves of the principles
upon which the Metropolitan Early Closing Association is
established, and desires emphatically to express its sympathy
with the classes in whose behalf that association is labouring,
and its earnest determination to assist, both by precept and
example, in putting an end to the unnecessary and perni-
cious custom of late shopping, especially by abstaining from
making any purchases atter seven o'clock in the evening, so
that no inducement may be held out to employers to keep
their establishments open after that hour."
Mr. WYsn, M.P., addressed the meeting, after which thanks
were voted to the Noble Chairman.
The meeting then separated.

1"::‘1./ •i,i
,
rf:PIRIT of the PUBLIC JO URN 1--76.
FROM THE MORNING PAPERS or THIS DAY. - , - e-- - --:
TIMES.—The Factory Bill appears fated to supply t.e.o
.e -) ee e t .....
the most remarkable chapters in the history of British 1 Ise-- V
diNt
lation. Not to go back to its strangely checkered court la d -
saw
Nr<tri
previous sessions, what it now suffers is quite without
parallcl. Every Weduesday it comes on, not to be regularly
discussed on its merits, but to run the gauntlet of endless
manoeuvres. Its opponents think everything fair that can
injure it. The objects of its protection are women and young
persons, classes towards whom grown-up men are too often
ready to forget the rules of fair play. The chief stratagem
employed against it by the enemy is not only to talk against
time themselves, but also to entrap its friends intb doing
the same thing. Every attempt is made, every provo-
cation thrown out, to induce Lord John Russell
and its other principal supporters to make long speeches.
His Lordship is reminded every Wednesday of' the
little he has said, and the little that has been said by any-
body on his side of the question. Mr. Bright or somebody
reminds him of his reputation and position, his illustrious
parentage, his services to the State, and, above all, of the
very good estimation in which he was so fortunate as to
stand with the Hon. Member himself. He is then entreated
net to disappoint this splendid premise by an ignoble silence,
but to deliver a good long oration worthy of his talents, his
virtues, his fame, his lathers, his colleagues, and his coun-
try. It does not require much penetratien to see the object
of this flattery, when ail the time allowed for the progress of
this Bill is not quite six hours once a week. It is the old
story of the Fox and the Crow. "Oh,youheautifnl bird ! How
graceful your form ; how glossy your coat ! Yen soar like an
eagle, and perch like a dove. Then, your voice ! how sweet,
yet how toll! Could you but sing, 1 should say son
were the king of the woods." Lord John Russell opens his
mouth, and Mr. Bright scampers off laughing in his sleeve,
with a good slice of time in his maw. This kind of-tactics,
however, cannot always be tried with equal success. While
one party is intent on killing time, the other becomes equally
anxious to save it; and while the former is ingenious at im-
pediments, the latter, if it only be in earnest, acquires a
peculiar talent for progress. Yesterday the usual budget
of delays was produced. First the Rating of Tenements Bill
was thrown like a barricade in the way, and was not
removed without a sharp skirmish and an actual divi-
sion. The result was decisive; but—uno avulso non deficit
oiler —the Juvenile Offenders Bill immediately took its
place. That was soon cleared. After some time un-
avoidably consumed in presenting
.petitions, Mr. Den-
nis:oun made a long speech, in which he com-
pensated for the obsolete character of his arguments by the
remarkably novel and original character of his concluding
proposition. We will not trouble our readers with the par-
ticulars of a plan so industriously and ingeniously compli-
cated
that, in the judgment of the Ron. Meyer, it would take
the whole nation a fortnight to understand. That, indeed,
was its principal merit, as it afforded a pretence for that
much delay, and for throwing the second reading over
Easter. It was described as a system of relays, and therefore
particularly adapted to its object, which was, that the oppo-
nents of the Bill should perpetually relieve one another in
the work of resistance and distraction. After a good deal
of discussion, including a long speech from Mr. Bright, the
motion was withdrawn. But the reader will observe the re-
sult thus far. It was now four o'clock, and four hours out of
six had been wasted in hostile motions, and in speeches not
bearing on any one proposition more than another, but
merely rambling over the generalities of the factory ques-
tion. At this point, however, the fortune of the day
turned in favour of the Bill. On the question that
the Speaker do leave the chair being put, Lord John Rus-
sell made that statement of his views which has been so fre-
quently demanded, but for which he had not yet found a
good opportunity. With the single exception, that his Lord-
ship was for leaving to future legislation the step from the
eleven hours' to the ten hours' limit, we have seldom read
a speech to which we can accord such warm and un-
qualified praise. They who have so confidently challenged
the Minister for his arguments will have reason to repent of
their temerity. We are inclined to suspect that they have
got more than they bargained for. Every one of those hack-
nied objections which are daily obtruded on the public with
all the foppery of empiricism, the impertinence of sar-
casm, and solemnity of nonsense, was treated in its turn
with that short and easy method which pure motives and
common sense are sure to suggest. The chimeras that
the prosperity and glory of this empire depend on the odd
hour of labour,—that the eventual difference of production
would be really commensurate with the drop from twelve
hours to eleven or ten,—that all the advantages we possess
over other nations are not equivalent to one hour a day,—
that the object of the Bill is its indirect results,—that labour
from five in the morning to seven at night is a natural and
proper allowance of toil,—that to work, to eat, to sleep, and
to die, is really all that a state should leave to the most in-
dustrious and deserving of its children ;—these and many other
idols Pori his Lordship demolished with his own unapproach-
able suaviter in mods and fortiter in re. His Lordship took a
masterly survey of all those existing circumstances of manu-
facture and commerce, those recent enactments, and those
growing ideas of society that bore on the question. It is no
disparagement to the real ability of his argument, but rather
its highest praise, that he brought out the case of the Fac-
tory Bill as a genuine development of our
social progress. With regard to this, as to many other
measures, we are inclined to think that the particular date
of their success depends rather on a humble readiness
to acknowledge the teachings of experience and the warn-
ings written upon the face of human affairs than on a special
power of statesmanship or forethought. Our great men are
net such very great men that they should not submit to take
a lesson from the humblest, and let the "little ones" of this

o-