The Sun.
London, England, 1840-12-26 00:00:00

(From the Courier.)

The French Chamber of Deputies is now partially
reposing from party-political storms in the consideration
of two questions of essentially different complexion, the
one relating to the plan for the fortifications of Paris,
which is referred to a Committee to report upon with
M. Thiers for its President, the other being a Factory
Dill, now introduced for the first time to the Legisla-
ture of France. It is sufficiently apparent that the lat-
ter measure, which alone we shall now notice briefly,
will not be allowed finally to pass without a struggle on
the part of the master manufacturing interests, although
to judge from the languor with which the discussion
is pursued, and the paucity of members who attend the
sittings on the occasion, one of two facts might be in-
ferred ; that is, either that the master interest is suf-
ficiently predominant to ensure the rejection of the
measure in its last Ltage, or such modifications in it as
may render it almost inefficient for the end, or that tha
friends of humanity and the working classes in the
Chambers are perhaps too little suspected of zeal and
sincerity in the cause to awaken any apprehensions for
the result. And yet if there be one country in the
world more than another where the working classes ge-
nerally, and peculiarly the infant workers, stand inn ed
of legislative protection against the heartless and grind-
ing tyranny, or when, at bust, the indifference to their
cuff-rings, and the inattention to their condition, of the
master traders, that country is undoubtedly France.

CARLOW ELECTION.—A mistake, which is
likely to prove fatal to the election of Colonel Bruen. has
been made in the return sent to London. The Extermi-
nators are in a terrible panic. They know that if the battle
is to be fought again, they can have no chance of a sue..
cesslul issues. More of this in our neat.—Dublin Even-
ng Post of last Tuesday.
OLD ENGLISH HOSPITALITIES.--A writer
of the Gentleman's Magazine for February, 1795, p. 110,
gives the following, acc,unt of a cnitom which takes
place ant.ually, on the 24th of December, at the house of
Sir— Holt, But., of Aston juxta B:rmingham :-
46 As soon as supper is over, a table is set in the
hall ; a brown lout', a ith twenty silver threepcnees
ruck on the top of it. a tankard of sle, with pipes
and tobacco; and the two oldest servants have chairs behind
it. to sit as judges, if they please. The steward brings the
servants, both men and men, by one at a time, covered
with a winnow-sheet, and lays their right hand on the
loaf, exposing no other part of the body; the eld-
est of the two judges guesses at the person, by
naming a name, then the younger judge, and lastly the
oldest again. If they bit upon the right name, the stew-
ard leads the person back again ; but if they do not, he
takes off the winnow-sheet and the person receives a
threepence, makes a low obeisance to the judges, hut
speaks not a word. When the second servant was
brought, the younger judge guessed first and third,
and this they did alternately, till all the money was giv,,-n
stray. Whatever servant had not slept in the licuse the
preceding night forfeited his right to the money. No
account is given of the origin of this strange custom, but
it. baa been practised ever since the family settled there.
When the money is gone the servants have full liberty to
dance, sing, and go to bed when they please."

LAMBETII-STREET.—THE LATE MISS LAN-
DoN.-oii Thursday Mrs. Moroner, the wife of a Cavain
in the merchant service, attended before Mr. Norton, as
the prosecutrix in a charge of felony against a fem.-le
in mad Mary Campbell. She afterwards made an appllca-
lien to Mr. Norton for his advice as to how she was to act
under the following circumstances. From her state-
n ent it appeared that Mrs. Moroncr had sailed from this
c untry in the same vessel with the late lamented Mrs.
M'Lean, formerly Miss Landon, on lee- way to Cape
Coast Castle, and both on board, and at her subsequent
residence, had agood deal of intercourse and communica-
tine with that highly gifted lady. She had also been present
at the inquiry which took place relative to the sudden and
very unexpected death of Mrs. M'Lean, and had taken
notes of the proceedings as well as of many circumstances
%%Lich occurred during the voyage, as also during the
leief existence of that Much-lamented lady in Atriza.
On her ( Mrs. Moroner's) return to this country she
related to the friends of the late Mrs. M'Lcan the whole
of the circumstances attending her death, &c., which had
come within her knowledge ; but latterly she had been
subjected to very considerebie annoyance by some gen-
tlemen who had by some means or other discovered the
fact of her having such documents in her possession.
Those persons in the first place called on her, and almost
insisted upon her girli'''s up not only all the documents
relating to the lady she had mentioned, but also the letter
she had received from her husband, then at sea. L'he
however, refused to comply with their request, as the
would neither give their na,nes or addresses ; and on on
or two occasions their conduct was, to say the least of
it, not at all becoming gentlemen, though they came in
their carriage. The object of her application to Mr.
Norton was, to know whether she would be justified in
the event of their coming again and annoying her, in
giving them into custody. Mr. Norton said if they
called again, and made use of any threats, she would
be perfectly justified in giving them into custody. Yes-
t-rday, at the conclusion of the examination, Mr. Nor-
ton asked Mrs. Moroncr if she suffered any further annoy-
ance? She replied that she had not, as the time had not
yet arrived when they said they would call. She said
that one of the persons who had called, and who she sus-
pected belonged to the Press, had been excessively annoy-
ing to her. He called at a time when she had just re-
ceived intelligence of her brother's death, and in the fir st
place, offered her five pounds for the papers. This she
refused, and referred him to her solicitor, upon which lie
became rather abusive, and refused to give his name.
The others, she had no doubt, were persons of distinction,
though they represented themselves as mercantile tra-
vellers. On her complaining of their:conduct they said they
would defy her to find out who they were.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CITY COURTS OF
LAW.-Sir Peter Laurie has given notice of motion in the
Court of Common Council, " That it be referred to the
Committee of City Lands to consider and report the Lest
means for improving the construction and accommodation
of the Oid Court of King's Bench in Guildhall, and the
Courts-of-law in the Guildhall-yaid." It is to be hoped
that some regulations will be adopted to prevent the steal-
ing of hats and coats in the Law-courts which are under
the very nose of the Commissioner. Several complaints
have been made of the successful labours of the thieves who
frequent these Courts, for the purpose of taking advantage
of the bustle and anxiety of the several solicitors, clients,
clerks, and witnesses, in attendance, but no policernea are
stationed in the Courts or avenues. It is said that the Po-
lite Commissioner objects to allow any cf his Force to at-
tend, on the ground that it is the business of the Sheriff's
Officers to protect the, Courts of Justice, but Sheriff's
Officers, it is pretty evident, are not the proper security
against the ingenuity of well-dressed plunderers, and no
man knows that fact better than Sir Peter Laurie.
ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.—ThiS
establishment has lately added another feature to its nume-
rous objects in the shape of an evening exhibition, which
is full of advantages to those prevented by business from
visiting it in the day-time. Bramah's warm water appa-
ratus has been most successfully used in the building, every ,
morn of which is of,:a most delightful temperature.