The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-24 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY AFFAIR

Some days ago an affair of somewhat extraordinary
character took place in Church- street, Lambeth, w bleb
has given rise to much gossip and scandal in that
locality, and was at one time viewed as one of serious
consequence.

It appears that Mrs. Charlotte Lovelle, a foinah,
about 26 years of age, and the wife of a bargeman, had
been observed by her friends acd neighbours to become
gradually stout and stouter still, until no doubt what-
ever remained upon the minds of all that she was in that
"happy state," and would in due time bless her husband,
John, with her first-born. Indeed, John himself ap-
peared as certain of this as any of his neighbours, for
not only did his wife inform him of her delicate
condition, but actually carried matters so far as. some
weeks ago, to insist on his sleeping in a different
bed. Mrs. Lovelle also taxed the charitable disposi-
tion of several benevolent individuals in making pre
parations for the happy event, and, amongst others, had
called on the Rev. Mr. Dalton, rector of the parish of
Lambeth, and son in law of the Bishop of London, and
obtained from that Rev. Gentleman a letter to the " Lam-
beth Ladies' Society," from whom she got a box of baby
linen. &c. Some days after she was noticed to be consi-
derably reduced iu size, and the question was naturally
pat to her what had become of the infant, and what she
had done with the child? Her reply was that she had
been delivered, but the infant was such a hideous-look-
ing raonster, that she could not bear to look at it, and
had, therefore, made away with it. Information of the
sircuinstance was given at the police station-house in
High-street, Lambeth ; and police-constable Dixon, 85
L, was dispatched to make the necessary inquiries into
the mysterious affair, which, if it did not amount to wil-
ful murder, was at least that of manslaughter.
On going to the house, No. 35, in Church-street,
Dixon found Mrs. Lovelle in bed, and in a very low and
weak state ; so much so that he felt it to be his duty at
once to call in one of the medical gentlemen in the
neighbourhood to see her. The gentleman promptly
attended, and upon a cursory examination of the patient
he expressed it as his opinion that she had certainly
given birth to something. He also recommended, from
the wretched appearance of the place, the absence of her
husband, and the want of proper attendance, that she
be at once removed to the workhouse, and this was done.
The affair at this period wore a most suspicious ap-
pearance ; a formal report of all the circumstances
was presented by Mr. Superintendent Rutt to the
commissioners of police, and a cab in which
Mrs. Lovelle took a short drive on the evening of
her supposed delivery was anxiously sought after,
and every effort was being made to discover the mangled
remains of the unfortunate infant. In a day or two
a female named Connor, in turning over the bed in Mrs.
Lovelle's room, discovered something sewn up in a piece
of white calico, which, from its size and appear.
ance, she at once concluded to be the body of the missing
infant. She in consequence hastened to the station-house
for Dixon, the constable, and on the arrival of that
officer, she presented the bundle in the same state as
she found it. Dixon at once undid the covering, or
rather cut it open, and found its contents to be
what he conceived to be the body of a child, though
somewhat extraordinary in its shape and appearance.
Dixon refolded it in the wrapper, and carried it to
the station-house, and informed Inspector Carter,
who was on duty at the time, that he had discovered
the body of the child, or something very like it. He
then exhibited the body of the child, as he
had described the contents of the parcel to Mr. Carter,
when that experienced officer, after viewing it attentively
for a moment or two, exclaimed, " The body of a child,
indeed 1 why, it's nothing but a - old cat skinned,
don't you see his teeth ?" Such, however, was the noise
that the affair created, that the inspector thought it
prudent to have the parcel as found conveyed to the
workhouse to be seen by the medical men, who might
perhaps deem it necessary to have a coroner's inquest.
This, however, was deemed unnecessary, for after a
minute examination the body was found to be that which
Mr. Carter described it, namely, that of a dead cat; but
skinned and dressed in such a manner as certainly to
puzzle many at the first glance to discover what it was.
The tail was not only cut perfectly close to the back
bone, but covered over with a part of the flesh, so as to
remove all trace of the stump, and the stumps of the
ears and the head itself were hollowed down so as to
bring it as near the human shape as possible. The teeth
alone exhibited the proof of the animal, and had these
been drawn before it had been discovered under the bed
there is no knowing the ludicrous length the affair
might have been carried. Mrs. Lovelle has since ac-
knowledged that the cat was a favourite old tom belong-
ing to her landlady, and that she had killed, skinned,
and dressed it herself, but what her real motive was has
not transpired.

A SHIP RUN AWAY FROM HER

CREW.

(From the Polynesian, Sandwich Island Journal, Sept. 2G.)
The following extract from the log-book of the Inez,
containing an account of her late disaster on the north-
west, has been kindly furnished us by Captain Jackson,
and will be read with interest. It is not often that a ship
is in a position to run away from her entire crew:—
" On the 22d day of July, in lat. 59 25 N., while lay-
ing off and on at Middleton or Rose Island, the ship
struck upon a sunken ledge of rocks, about four or five
miles from the land, which the most part of the time
showed no signs of danger, the water being very smooth;
but occasionally there would be a heavy sea and breaker
rise over them—but the man at the masthead, and some
twelve or fifteen hands that were on the (lick, saw
nothing of this till the ship struck. There are no such
rocks or anything of the kind put down on any charts
that I have, or have ever seen—and I have good charts
of the whole Pacific Ocean. When the breakers came
up they would raise the ship and set her down with
such force as to render it impossible Co do anything on
board of her; and the first mate and the rest of the
crew, being twenty in number (myself and the second
mate, with two boats' crews, being at the time on shore)
for fear the masts would fall upon them, lowered the
two boats that were on the cranes, and all got into them
and left the ship, without taking anything with them
except a few clothes. I discovered from the shore that
there was difficulty on board, so I mustered a boat's
crew as soon as possible, and started for her, but had not
got far before I met the mate, who stated that the ship
was going to pieces. I made no stop, as I felt anxious
to secure something out of her. I soon perceived that
every roller was driving the ship along over the rocks,
and I felt in hopes that I might be able to do something
with her—and when I got half-way from the shore to
the ship, she drove over the ledge altogether, and filled
away, heading out to sea, the yards being trimmed that
way when she struck, though the topsail Wier& had
been let go; but the jib and foresail were trimmed aft so
as to draw well, and there was a good breeze at the time
from the eastward, and the ship headed to the south-
west, and went so fast that she got about ten or twelve
miles from the shore before I could come up with her.
As soon as I got on board I hove the ship to as dead as
possible, and took up my boat, and then ordered the men
to start the pumps while I was examining the damage
done. The men freed her of water in about ten minutes,
and all the damage I found was the rudder was gone,
and planking about it considerably damaged, with the
tiller and wheel broken to pieces, and the hurricane-
house over the wheel broken to pieces. In about three-
quarters of an hour after I got on board the second mate
came, stating that the other two boats were close in shore
when he left. We now began to study how we should
get the rest of the crew off the island. The ship was
drifting away from it fast, and the weather thick, so that
we could not see it. It was near night, and I knew if we
drifted until morning thete would be very small chance
that we should see the island if it were clear. So I got
the deep-sea line and sounded, and found that there was
only fifty fathoms water, with a smooth sea, with not
much wind, and that was growing lighter. So I con-
cluded to anchor. I got up a kedge, and bent a hawser
and both my cutting falls to it, and let go and brought
the ship up about fifteen miles from the land. It was
now nearly dark, and the weather thick, so I thought it
would not be prudent to send a boat in that night; but I
did not know but they might hear a gun on shore, so I
fired three times and set the watch. At two A.M., on
the 23d, we called all hands, and got some breakfast,
and then I sent the second mate on shore to fetch the
men and everything off as quick as possible. The ship
lay very easy by the kedge. and only leaked about 50
strokes per hour. At two P.M., the boats with all hands
came. It was now nearly calm, and the ship would be
entirely unmanageable, without a redder ; so I let her
lay, and went to work to make a rudder as fast as pos-
sible—but we had no blacksmith, and with the tools and
materials we had to work with, it was no easy job. We
got it done the 25th, and hung it about nine, P.M., and
we took our anchor (we had been laying all this time by
the kedge, with scarcely any wind) and got under wav
immediately and started to the south-east. I did not
know what the state of her bottom was, so I started for
Oahu, and thought I would follow the coast down until
I got near the latitude of the islands, in case any thing
should happen, that if we were compelled to leave we
would Lot have so far to go with our boats.
" August 11, in lat. 53 N, long. 137, we had strong
breezes and rough sea, which broke our rudder loose
from the false stern-post, so that we had to take it in
and secure it again, which took us three days, the ship
all the while drifting about, she being almost entirely
unmanageable without a rudder. We fixed it much
stronger this time, and then put away for Oahu. This
Itime, thinking the rudder stronger,-.and the leak getting
no worse, I started direct."

GREAT RUNNING MATCH FOR ONE HUNDRED
POUNDS.—Monday one of the most splendid races took
place at Gannick-corner, near Barnet, for 501. a side, between
Sewards (commonly called the American) and Westall (of
London). Distance 200 yards. These men are both well
known as two of the fastest runners of the present day. The
betting at starting was nearly equal. Both men got well off
together, and after one of the most speedy races ever wit-
nessed, Seward came in the winner by three yards. Westall's
friends lost large sums of money on this event.
Vulcanised India-rubber is now made use of

supersede steel in the buffer springs of railway and other
carriages.
To-morrow will determine the value not only of
shares in the two patent theatres, but of admissions. Mr.
Robins has announced some attraction to the playgoer on
that day.
UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.—OXFORD, MARCH 22.
—Mr. Godfrey Pigott Cordeux, from Sheffield Collegiate
School, was electe, on Saturday last, to the Lusby Scholar-
ship at Magdalen-hall.
A Toulon letter, of the 15th, states that the Prince
de Joinville was about to take a trip to the coast. of Italy in
a steamer. On the 13th his Royal Highness gave a grand
dinner on board his dig-ship, the Suverain.
NESS SALMON FISHINGS.—Since the opening of
the salmon fishings, the take in the Ness has been very
limited as compared with other years. Within the last few
days, however, .
the number of fish taken was slightly in-
creased, and it expected that as the weather becomes
more genial, the fishings will improve. Some days ago a fitse
fish, 351bs. in weight, was taken. Salmon sells at Is. 9d. per
lb.—. Ross-shire Advertiser.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, 11Iarch 23.
The. LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat OR the Wo
sack at Five o'Clock.

ASSISTANCE 46 IRELAND AND SCOTLAND.
Earl GREY said that he had to communicate to the
House that he had received a letter from the Governor
of New Brunswick, stating that the Members of the
House of Assembly of that colony had voted the sum
of 1,2501. for the rad' of the distressed population
of Ireland and Scotland. Ho (Earl Grey) was
sure that their Lordships would receive with much
satisfaction this exhibition of good feeling on the part of
these colonists.

EASTER RECESS.
Earl GREY said that, on the part of his Noble
Friend the President of the Council, he had to move
the adjournment of the House, at its rising on Tuesday
next, till the 13th of April.
NATIONAL EDUCATION.
Lord STANLEY presented Several petitions from
Lancashire and other places against the Government
scheme of education.
LAW OF SETTLEMENT.
The NOBLE LORD also presented a petition from the
Mansfield board of guardians against the law of settle-
ment.

OUT-DOOR RELIEF IN IRELAND.
The NOBLE LORD also presented a petition from Mr.
Richard Daly, an Irish barrister, against the system of
out-door relief in Ireland.
DRAINAGE ACT.
The NOBLE LORD also presented a petition from Mr.
Rigby Wason, lately a Member of the other House,
praying for an alteration in that clause cf the Drainage
Act which limited the period for considering applica-
tions.

SPANISH DEBT.
Lord BROUGHAM then rose, pursuant to notice
given on a former occasion, to bring before their Lord-
ships a subject which required the utznest atten-
tion of Parliament, or, if it could be done, of Govern-
ment ; but he was aware that there was great diffi-
culty in the way of their taking steps in such a caw.
Still there was no reason why the justice of Parliament
should not be applied in a case of hare-
ship and injustice like that he was about to
bring before them. The pe:i:ion which he had
to present was from Mr. Dempster Hemming
and Sir Thomas Lethbridge, Bart., and they were the
representatives of a great class of sufferers. The Noble
Lord then proceeded to state that the petitioners were
creditors of the Spanish Government, having lent money
to that country in its great struggle for freedom which
had never been repaid. It could not be alleged that the
Spanish Government was in a state of insolvency, for the
revenue, which some years ago was deficient some six
millions annually, now exhibited a surplus of more than
half a million. The Noble Lord concluded by reading
the prayer of the petition.
The Earl of CLARENDON said that his Noble
Friend had, a few days ago, shown him the petition
which he had just presented, and he believed that the
statement contained in it was not at all over-
charged. He believed that the case was one of
gross injustice, for Spain, as the Noble and Learned
Lord had said, was not in a state of insolvency.
There was no country in Europe whose products were
more in demand than those of Spain. She had the
means of acquiring wealth, and therefore she had
no right to refuse to pay the just demands made upon
her. But he was glad to observe that Spain had never
adopted the new word which had recently been intro-
duced into the vocabulary of England, for on several
occasions the debt had been admitted and
arrangements made for payment of the interest.
Owing, however, to the succession of new Ministers, the
claims of the Spanish bondholders had been set aside.
Many persons in this country had invested the savings
of a lite in these bonds—foolishly, he admitted, for they
ought to know that advances of money made to foreign
Governments, without the sanction of their own Govern-
ment, must f course be at their own individual risk.
Many millions of the mony of this country had
been sacrificed from losing sight of that pre-
caution. His Noble Friend at the head of the
Foreign Department was now communicating with
the Spanish authorities, and he sincerely trusted
that the result of the communication would
prove successful. The Spaniards, he knew, were an
honourable people, and he was quite sure the proceed-
ings of their Government were not sanctioned by them.
He hoped that their Lordships would be of opinion that
Spain was not justified in repudiating a debt like the
present.

Lord BROUGHA M said that he was very glad to
hear what had fallen from his Noble Friend opposite.
Perhaps there should be some arrangement to appoint
some commissioner.

Lord ASHBURTON made a few observations which
were inaudible in the gallery.
DRAINAGE OF LANDS BILL.

On the motion for going into Committee on the
Drainage of Lands Bill,
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said that he wished
to call their Lordships' attention to one part of the pre-
sent Bill, which he considered defective. He considered
that no provision was made in the Bill for carrying
off the water that came from the mountains of
Scotland, which would go into the water-
courses, which would he necessarily flooded. He
thought that provision should be made to prevent that.
Now, if what he deprecated were permitted in his own
neighbourhood, half the town of Tewkesbury would be
carried away.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGII said it would seem
that this was a Scottish Bill, as while two and a half
millions were applied for by Scotch proprietors, but
half a million had been applied for in England.
Lord CAMPBELL replied that this would only show
that more improvement was going forward in Scotland
than England.

After some further observations from Lord Brougham,
Lord Ashburton, and the Earl of Tinto, the Bill passed
through Committee.
The House then resumed.

➢Messengers came up from the Commons bringing
several Bills.

EASTER RECESS.

The Earl of WICKLOW said it had been intimated
by the Noble Earl the Secretary for the Colonies, on
behalf of the Noble Marquis the President of the Council,
that he would, on Tuesday next, move the adjournment of
the House till the 13th of April, but he (Earl of Wick-
low) hoped that they would adjourn till the Thursday
instead of the Tuesday, according to invariable custom.
as it would be much more convenient to those Peen
connected with Ireland, who might, therefore, have to
go to a distance.

Earl GREY said he of course could give no answer
at present to the Noble Earl's suggestion, but if it
should appear more convenient to some of their Lord•
ships, and if it would not interfere with the
course of public business, ho expected that the wishes
of the Noble Earl would be met by his Noble Friend
the President of the Council.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE 01 COMMONS, March 23.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
SECOND READINGS.
The following Bi li were severally read a second time,—
Commercial Gas Light and Coke Company.
Dunfermline and Cupar Court Houses.
Runcorn Gas.
Rutherglen and Strathbungo Road.
Warrington Gas Light and Coke.
Westminster Improvements.
GOVERNMENT EDUCATIONAL SCHEME.

Mr. GREENE presented a petition from Lancaster
against the proposed Government grant.
SEE OF KILDARE.

Mr. SHAW presented a petition from a place in Ire-
land praying for the restoration of the see of Kildare.
SCOTCII REGISTRATION BILL.

Sir R. H. INGLIS presented a petition from Forres
against the proposed Scotch Registration Bill.
Mr. YOUNG presented a petition from the county of
Cavan, praying for an improvement in the present
electoral districts.
IRISH POOR-LAW.

Sir W. CLAY presented a petition from Bethnal-
green, praying that the principle of the English poor-
law might be extended to Ireland.
COTTON IN INDIA.

Mr. BRIGHT presented several petitions from Man-
che3ter in favour of encouraging the growth of cotton in
India. The Hon. Member intimated that he had decided
to postpone his motion for a Select Committee on this
subject till after Easter.
POOR REMOVAL ACT.

Mr. REDHEAD YORKE presented; petition from
Bridlington, in Yorkshire, praying for the repeal of the
Poor Removal Act.

INSPECTOR OF RAILWAYS.
Major LAYARD asked the First Commissioner of the
Railway Board, why the office of Inspector-General of
Railways, so essential for the information and guidance
of the Board, had not:yet.been filled up. It was now five
months since Sir Charles Pasley's services were d's-
pensed with, and the responsibility now rested with the
former Assistant-Inspector, without any increase of
salary.
Mr. STRUTT answered that the terms of the Act did
not require the appointment of such an officer as an
Inspector-General In other respects the statute had
been sufficiently complied with.
SCOTCH REGISTRATION BILL.
Captain GORDON presented several petitions from
Aberdeen and other places in Scotland, praying that
this Bill be not permitted to pass into a law.
LAW OF SETTLEMENT.

Lord J. MANNERS. presented several petitions
against the existing Law of Settlement.
FURLOUGH REGULATIONS IN THE ARMY

AND CIVIL SERVICE OF INDIA.

Mr. EWART said that, seeing the Right Hon.
Baronet the President of the Board of Control in the
House, he would take the opportunity of asking him
whether the Board of Control had received sugges
tions from the Board of Directors of the East India
Company with respect to the improvement of furlough
regulations in the Indian army and the civil service, and
whether the Government were prepared to act upon
these suggestions.
Sir J. C.IHOBHOUSE said that, in answer to the
question of the Hon. Member, he might state that the
subject of furlough regulations, both with respect to the
army and the civil service, was under the consideration
of the Board of Control. He need hardly inform the
Hon. Member that a subject so important as a change in
these regulations must demand previous consideration.
Mr, EWART had asked these questions because con-
siderable anxiety prevailed upon the subject.
FLOGGING IN HO SG-KONG.
Dr. BOWRING gave notice that on 'Thursday he
should ask the Secretary for the Colonies whether he
had received any account of the discontinuance of the
of Hong-Kong?
practice
Aofo I
x. Aro
itoi iLan, thePool{,-LAW
whose
colony
\ hv oseN nIRELAND.ame
w e could not ascer•

fain, presented a petition from Sligo in favour of a
systematic and equal poor-law rating.
BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION
(SCOTLAND) BILL.
Mr. FORBES presentee portions from several Pres-
byteries against certain of the ciuses of this Bill.
NOTICE OF MOTION.
Mr. EWART gave notice that next week he would
move for certain returns connected with the public
works in Ireland.
Mr. SPOONER postponed Mr. Muntz's motion re-
specting the small brewers of the Midland Counties till
Tuesday, the 13th of April.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHARITABLE TRUSTS.
Mr. ROMILLY moved for leave to bring in a Bill
for the better administration of the charitable trusts of
the Roman Catholics. It was not his wish to enter into
a lengthened discussion on the principles of the Bill at
present. lie would, with the permission of tha House,
move for leave to introduce his Bill, and restive the
further discussion until the second reading of the Bill.
The main object sought from the Bill was to obtain a
return or all charitable prcTerty of the Roman Cathoikes
in the C-urt of Chancery, and to ensure a bettyr adnie
nistration of the hinds.
Mr. .1. o'CONNEE.L hoped that the Hon. Member
would name a long date for the second reading of the
Bill, for Cho purp(,se of giving the Catholic Members an
Gpnortuniv of consulting the Bishops and Clergy of
Ir< land. and ascertaining their opinions upon the m.lasure•
The Bill was then ordcred to be brought in.
REDUCTION OF THE DUTY ON TEA.
Lord SANDON presented a petition from Liverpo.,)l,
very nunn,rously signed, praying for a reduction of the
duty on tea.