The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-12 00:00:00

It will be seen in the subjoined copy of Lord John
Russell's letter to the friends of Mr. Hood's family, that
the continuance of the pension lapsed on the death of
Mrs. Hood is impossible, a fact which his Lordship states
with a kind expression of regret. It is to the last de-
gree disgraceful to the country, that the fund available
for such purposes is a pitiful 1,2001. a year. Better, far
better, to abolish the bounty altogether, than to stint
it so miserably, for the niggardly dole measures the
national liberality with the most damning exactness.
Some one in Parli iment should propose either to aug-
ment the fund or to sweep it away, with the admission
that the State denies the claims of distressed literary
merit. The comparison between the prodigality to
htohweevreesruqltu)e,satinodnatbhlee
mb oetahwtrheed
pae
rrsi
ts
" Downing-street, Jan. 4
ominfoi Itnittlyea rtsuccess
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and science, is too odious.

" Gentlemen,—l have had the hono—ur to receive your
letter of the 30th of December.
"After stating the circumstances of the grant of a
pension to Mrs. Hood by her Majesty, you request me
to advise the Queen • to renew the grant, in the name of
the public, for the benefit of the very objects for whom
it was originally intended.' It is necessary that I should
explain to you why this cannot be done.
4. upon the accession of the present Queen, it was de.
termined by Parliament, on the recommendation of a
Committee of the House of Commons, that, instead of a
fixed sum to be granted in pensions, an annual sum of
1,2001. should be at the disposal of the Crown."
Under the former plan, when a pension fell vacant it
could be renewed to any member or members of the
family; under the present arrangement, the
pension
and cannot be renewed.
lapses to the public, It is true
a pension can be granted if any portion of the 1,2001. re-
mains undisposed of; but that is not at present the case.
The whole sum has been already bestowed, and any
grant I should recommend for the children would be
illegal and void.
" I much regret this circumstance. I should have been
happy to have recommended the continuance of this pener
-
sion, but until June next the Crown has not the po
to grant any pension on the civil list.
J.
" I have the honour to be, your obedient serUSvantSEL,L.
"Messrs. D. Salomons, W. Elliot, and Thos. Pringle.'

- —'-------------
FIRE AT TILE EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY
On Sunday afternoon, between four and five o'clock,
a fire, which created very considerable alarm, broke
out in a small wooden building, termed the Cokemen's
Lodge, situate in No 3 arch of the Eastern Counties
Railway, Bell-court, Wheeler-street, Spitalfields. The
building was used by the men employed on the line to
dry their clothes in, and it is supposed that soma wear-
ing apparel had been left t:pa near the stove, and, bcou rsecom-
ing ignited, had set the place in ablaze
arrived, and also six. In the e
of a few minutes the parish euglnes
belonging to the London establishmentnd, and theame Ws
est of
Englaud. Plenty of water being at ha the fl were
soon extinguished, but aot bewre the lodge was burned
down and a tool-shed damaged.
ELY AND PETERDORoUGLI RAILWAY.—This line
will be opened for passenger traffic on Thursday next.
The Government inspector will, we understand, proceed
down the line this day, and should his report be favour-
able, as in all probability it
11, there will bee no
no further
obstacle to the opening ; thuswi giving ridge and
Norwich a direct railway communication with Pete
borough, Northainpton, Birmingham, Livemool,
es.-e.
_r-
Since the line has been opened for page r
lugg and stock
ock
we understand a great deal of business has been done,
,
which will, no doubt, gradually iucrease.—cambridge
Independent Press.
12 " 0 Rt. a
" RESERVE DIY ...,ED. --_,n Saturday mo •
impudent robbery was effected on the premises
sning an
J. Shipman, Sun Coffee-house, 136, St. John-street,of Air'
the previous night a gentlemanly man called On
Shipman, and after partaking e
°- supper, engaged en Mr,
and retired to rest. Ile waited on the following a bed
until the other inmates of the house had ng morning
stairs, and then he broke into Mr. Shipp ,gone down
room, from which he stole a dark suit oflin s sleeping-
room,
of a dress coat. a double-breasted clothes, con-
black trousers; also a mourning ring, a breastwaistcoat, and
other property, the whole of which he
co Pin, and
him. When he came down-stairs he ter ncealed about
ants in the house completely off their guard,ew the attend-
the accommodation he had received, and by praising
would reserve the bed for him, at the same
they
over the price cf the same. He then wane time handing
is about twenty-two years of age, 5 feet 6 away. He
and was dressed in a Taglioni coat. et 6 inches high,
MILITARY COURT-MARTIA_Ls. Th
regimental Court-Martial were read 0 e minutes of a
Mg, at the head-quarters of the 2(1 hn Saturday morn-
dier Guards, stationed at St. John,' attalion of Grena-
Private James Towers, of No. 2
car:-Woo
barracks, on
brought to Court-Marlial by order ofianY, who had been
P. S. Stanhope, commanding the ,)(Ihl:ieutenant-Colonel
dier Guards. The prisoner was arraigned ttallion of Grope-
himself without leave on the 25th o for absentine•
remaining absent until the 30th. The December last, and
clearly proved the charge, and that evidence produced
tried by Court-Martial several times the prisoner had been
of military discipline. The Court, for
various breaches
the prisoner to forty days' i , ~ therefore, sentenced
labour, at the Military Prevost, Ch
with hard
day morning the 2d battalion or
eel hatham. On hard
day
at Portman-street herr dstreatr. Guards, now
mend of Lieutenant-Colonel H.ael3ks, under the com-
sembled to hear the proceedings c entinek. were as-
on Private J. Bromley, of No ' o'
a Court Martial read
tried b ' 4 cerapan
y a battalion Court-Martiel -y, who had been
conduct at drill, and disubeyina' , for very improper
was clearly proved, and the Courbt orders. The charge
to twenty-eight days' imprisonmentsentenced the prisoner
Prevost. at the Military