The Sun.
London, England, 1824-08-21 00:00:00

I ICELAND.

TIPPERARY ASSIZES.—CLONMELL, Auo. 14.
Befre Me Hon. Justice JOHNSON.
TRIAL AND CONVICTION OF A POLICEMAN FOR

MtiRDKIt.
David Talbot, a police constable, was indicted for the murder
' of Matthew Houlihan, at Mortlestown, last April.
It appeared in evidence that the deceased was to have prose.
cuted persons at the last Spring Assires for the burning of
Sheahan's house, at St. Johnstown, near Killenaule ; he, how-
ever, did not conic forward on that occasion, on which the
men were discharged. Some time after, from the doubtful cha-
racter of Houlihan, the police of that neighbourhood had re-
ceived orders to visit his house frequently, in order, if found
absent, to have him prosecuted under the Insurrection Act.--
On the night of the 3d of April, a party of the police, consist-
ing of the prisoner, his father, William Talbot, and another
policeman, named Chislam, came to Ilculiban's house. Wm.
Talbot called out to Chislam, " Come In, Chlslarn, there is
somebody here drawing his breath, and stab him with the
bayonet I" While they were demanding* candle to be lighted,
the deceased, when he heard the words " stab him" used, en-
deavoured to escape through the door et which young Talbot
was stationed ; old Talbot who was inside, on perceiving him,
called :to his son to atop him t but as deceased had got some
distance outside the house, the prisoner David Talbot fired,
and inunediately exclaimed, " whoever he is, I have done his
business."
The prisoner, received an excellent character for previous
good conduct,from Gentlemen of high respectability.
The Learned Judge summed up the evidence, and the Jury
.retired 'for'about half an hour, when they returned a verdict of
Gatilty,•but recommended him to mercy.
Hhi ,LdansuiP addressed the prisoner in the-most feeling
'manner, in the course of which he was pareatly affected. He
then pronounced the awl tence' of the biw, and ordered
him to be hanged on Tuesday, and his body to he given for
dissection.
The Grand Jury recommended the prisoner to the clemency
of the Court..
Hie UntßitifP Aimed tan days' respite, until the opinion
of Government be received.
The unfortunate young man (who is about 21) was quite
collected during the trial, and while receiving sentence.

I MELANC 101.1 f ACCIDENT.—thI Wednesday 4.1:-
ternoen, as Mr. HENRY aSitiILOROPT, and nos
sister, Miss Beararoft (the SOU and daughter of
Edward l3earcroft, Esq. of 'Monte Video, Es.
sex,) were returning to town from a friend's house
at Cambeno ell, in at sine°, loorse.chaise, they en.
countered a ltyrcart driving at a moat furious and
dangerous opeed. The wheels of the two vehicles
meeting with a dreadful force,. Mr. Bearcroft's pro.
ving to be the lightest, upset, and the young lady
WAN thrown forward with great, violence against the
pavement, by, which she received a severe frac-
ture'in the back part of the head, and a serious
bruise in the shoulder. for brother, who had
fallen beneath the, horse, experienced a slight
contusion in the, bead, from the fall, and had his
arm broken loy the animal trampling on him,
before Hoy oaaistancecould be rendered. They,
were COOVikyed 4110 of a gentleman named
Bates, who lived petty the spot, where they were
seen after attended by a medical assistant, who
dressed the wounds and set the broken limb,
after which they proceeded to town.

LITERARY NOTICE.

rimoNlATinc nisTrronoN—muntox
Cittscerero
This is the lige in England for the diffusion
of useful knowledge.—yintellectual.pleasures are
every day rising in importance : the circle of
information is expanding. Knowledge, like
sugar or cottons, has long ceased to be a
luxury, and is fast becoming a necessary of
life, not only for the middling classes, but for
artizans and agriculturists. Witness the immense
and every day increasing circulation of weekly
publications on almost every branch of literature
and science, in forms so cheap and attractive as to
suit equally the taste and pecuniary means of all.
Witness the number of monthly and quarterly
publications constantly increasing and vying with
each other in honourable efforts to diffuse a taste for
intellectual pleasures, and a knowledge of things
useful in the moral and physical sciences. As
the mind cannot feed upon itself, but must find
occupation of some sort, in proportion as the
gentler, cheaper, and more permanent pleasures
of intellect and sympathy are cultivated, the de-
mend for the pernicious pleasures of cruelty,
drunkenness, and debauchery cease. No insti-
tutions tend more to produce this salutary effect
than literary and scientific Institutions. Some of
these, as the London Metropolitan and the Phi-
lomathic Institution, are extending their sphere of
usefulness by the publication of Journals. With
the ability and philosophic spirit of benevolence
with which the Metropolitan Journal is con-
ducted, the public have been for many months
acquainted. The first number, or part, of the
" Philomathic Journal and Literary Review,"
has engaged our attention from the great portion
of original compositions, contributed by the mem-
bers of the society, besides the Reviews of the
works of others us they issue from the press.—
There is not room here to inquire whether lite-
rary Authors are the best critics, even putting
aside the chances of rivalships. If it be an ob-
jection, almost all the Reviews must plead guilty
to it. In the Philornathic Journal, now first
published, and to be continued, we understand,
every three months, there are 150 pages of
original matter, in prose and poetry, on subjects
of general interest, and executed in such a stile
'as to do honour to the gentlemen who compose
the society : if they continue as they have be-
gun, they will deserve well of the public, event
though they ceased to be reviewers. The first
prose article gives an account of the Philomathic
Institution, and other similar establishments, and
occupies ten pages ; the next is on the English
Language; then a Phrenological View of the
Mutual Influence of the Faculties; then, on the
Principles of Life, occupying 16 pages ; then,
on Manners ; then, on Human Life, as exhibited
in Newspapers; then, on Imagination and Judg-
ment, followed by 8 pages on Works of Fic-
tion ; and, lastly, on the Influence upon the
Happiness of the Progress and Mutations of Arts
and Sciences.
Besides writing, this Society is in the habit of
dics•assing, every Tuesday evening for about two
hours, literary and moral subjects. Of the ar-
guments, used in five of these discussions, a pleas.
ing and useful summary is given. The first dis-
cussion is 66 Was Pope a Poet of the tirst order ?"
The second discussion is on " The probable per-
manency of Modern Civilization." The third
enquires whether " The moral improvement of
mankind has kept pace with their intellectual
advancement ?" The fourth is on the Usury
Laws ; and the fifth asks 46 If the discovery of
America has been beneficial to Europe."
In the line of poetry, there are no less than
three original compositions, occupying 26 pages
of the Journal, the first being an 64 Ode to
goilve elheview Of Science," the second," Astrea," a poem, and the
third the "'Pleasures of poverty," a poem. The
second is to be coutinued, the first canto only
being
Department, occupying about
100 pages, we shall say nothing more than that
the Works, Prose, and Poetry are fairly select-
ed, and the same cultivated spirit pervades it,
that renders so attractive the original part of the
Journal. A reviewer of reviewers must be of
the very last stage of insipidity.
Amongst the original articles, that on the
" Principles of Life" fixed our attention, from
the calm firmness with which a delicate subject
is investigated. The author conceives that he
has proved that there is a material principle of
life distinct from the structure of the body or the
fluids which impel or act upon it, a principle
sui genera, having affinities like other substances,
modifying the different tissues of the structure.—
The electric fluid lees, he conceives, so strong an
affinity for this principle, that when brought into
contact in large quantities with it, the principle
of life leaves the structure of the body, to which
its attraction is weaker, and forms a new com-
pound with the electric fluid, leaving the struc-
ture unprovided with the principle to such a de.
greovaistal f
tobuencntoionisoLgwieruze suddenintbleof d
carreyaittiri
boyn
the
lightning.

The Institution seems admirahly calculated to
produce and characters as the author olthe arti-
cle styled a 46 Phrenological View of the Influ.
ence of theFaculties,"recommends in the follow-
ing concluding passage:--“ It may be observed
that an equal balance of power produced, as it
is, by an equal and moderate developement of
ail the faculties, animal, mental, and moral, con-
stitutes the happiest and most agreeable charac-
ter. It is not, indeed, stamped with any impres-.
sive or striking features ; 'nor does it present a
brilliant or commanding aspect; but it possesses
every quality that cane promote its own rational
enjoyrnenis and the pleasure and satisfaction of
others. Peculiar manifestations of an exclu-
sive kind of some of the faculties, indi-
cate correspondent excellence. When remark.
ably predominant, the character *ill -biy
tinguishable for singular proficiency, but de-
void of 'other qualifications. This devotedness
to an exclusive pursuit; is the best 'calculated fOr
celebrity and fame ; but for the easy performance
of the ordinary• duties and -avocations of life,
joofstttoy itinf isi toe: h iten°llsolTer i the equal developement
spetifie.i, While such'
slay be the general charactertvf the oridinttry
members formed by this and similar Institutions,

there would seem to be every probability for the
developement of superior talent also is a propor•
tion incalculably beyond what could be hoped
for from equal numbers of other individuals;
unaccompanied with the defects of what is called
genius."

The notice of the Society's " discussions," giv.
ing the leading heads of the arguments on both
sides of every question, is extremely interesting
and instructive.

The original pieces of poetry given are classi-
cal and- elegant ; but to such men as BYnosi

second.