The Sun.
London, England, 1849-10-12 00:00:00

tion now to open the Post-office, yet it is impossible
to say what may he intended a few years hence if this
measure be persevered in, because it might then be
urged that such a step would only be an extension of
the principle which had already been sanctioned by
her Majesty's Government. I must state, in illustra-
tion, one point which is most interesting to me.
My brethren of the clergy who are acting
as Ministers in poor districts have a strong
opinion upon this subject, because while they feel
it their duty to enforce upon their poorer brethren
—and not without success—the sacredness of the duty
which binds them to observe the Lord's-day, and
to press upon them the advantages, temporal as well
as spiritual, which will result from such an observ-
ance, they will henceforth be inevitably met by this
argument—how can you ask us to desist from pur-
suits which are partly remunerative and partly
sources of recreation, when we see the Government
increasing labour in the public establishments on Sun-
day ? Ido not say that is an argument which cannot
be met, but it is a very plausible one, and one which I
fear will be extensively used.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDEWith respect to
the delivery of letters on Sunday, no person can be
more opposed to it than myself, and to prevent any
thing of the kind being resorted to, express orders
have been sent to all the country post offices that
letters addressed to London should not be sent forward
to London. There will, therefore, be no temptation
to deliver letters arising from this measure ; and the
Bishop and other gentlemen will see that if afterwards
it should be resolved to have a delivery of letters on
the Sunday, it will not only lead to an increased labour
in London, but also to an increased labour in the
country on Saturday nights.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQURR—I wish to
say a few words on this subject. The Lord Mayor
and Mr. Maztarman have both talked as if this mea-
sure would increase the revenue. Now I beg to say
it will not make the slightest difference one way or
the other.
The LORD MAYOR-4 said if it should be supposed
to increase-the revenue.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—It will not
..increase the revenue either by the one system or the
other—it was not treated as a question of revenue,
but simply with a view to diminish Sunday labour.
In answer to the Bishop of London, I must say it
is
my full belief and conviction that the effect of this
mtasure will be a considerable diminution of Sunday
labour throughout the country. I do not say if an
increase of labour in London is an infraction of a great
principle, that a diminution of labour in the country
would be any counterbalance to it; but as I saw it
well put in a newspaper the other day, as one public
bakehouse diminishes the labour of a number of fami-
lies, so the labour of 25 additional clerks for a few
hours morning and evening on a Sunday, will enable
the Postmaster-General to dispense with a great
deal of Sunday work throughout the country. But
this, you will observe, does not touch the question of
principle which has been started by some of the
speakers—the question of shutting the Post-office all
over the country on Sundays—(Hear, hear)—but
that is not the question before us now. The question
is what will be the effect of the measure now before
us ; and my sincere decided opinion is, that the effect
will be considerably to diminish Sunday labour
throughout the country. Some doubts appear to
exist whether more letters are written on Sundays
than on other days ; but it must be obvious from the
fact, of which lam assured, that the letters delivered
on Monday amount to 25 per cent. more than on
other days.
Mr. PALMER impressed upon Lord John Russell
the great importance of his allowing the country
more time to express their feelings on the matter, and
of not permitting the deputation to go away with
the conviction that the measure would be carried out
on Sunday next.
The Bishop of LONDON thought that, on a question
of so much importance, a little delay might be con-
ceded.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S opinion was, he must con-
fess, that people would not have a right understand-
ing of the measure till it was put in operation. He
should, however, in deference to what had been said,
consider the matter with the Postmaster-General,
and see what his opinion was as to any delay of the
measure, though he could not say anything as to
withdrawing the measure, as his opinion was that
it would diminish Sunday labour. The Bishop of
London had observed that when the clergy were
exerting themselves, as they had done most usefully,
in promoting the proper observance of the Sabbath,
they might be met by the argument that the Govern-
ment were introducing Sunday labour in the metro•
polis. He thought it would be but fair to say should
this objection be raised, " that, though it may appear
to you Sunday labour is increased at the Post offices
by this measure, it is the opinion of the Government
that, on the whole, Sunday labour will be diminished
at the Post offices by it.
The Bishop of L(314131314, in explanation, said,
he was satisfied the Government would not sanction
the measure if they thought it would increase Sunday
labour.
The deputation then retired.

BURIAL OF THE DEAD IN THE

BIDS C OF THE LIVING.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—In your report of the proceedings of the
N i
National Society for the Abolition of Burial in
Towns, which appeared in The Sun of last evening,
instead of two acres, it is stated that the churchyard
of St. Giles-in-the Fields, contains ten acres. As I
know that the number of interments therein might be
put down, without any risk of exaggeration, as
amounting to many thousands more than the number
stated in the report, I shall feel obliged by your al-
lowing me to correct the error as to the space occu-
pied by St. Giles's churchyard ; it is two acres and
not ten.

I am, Sir, yours respectfully,
G. A. WALKER
St. James's-place, St. Jame's-street,
October 11th.

TORTURE IN SWITZERLAND.—A few days ago M.
F-, examining magistrate of Zug, in Switzerland,
had to investigate a charge of robbery against a servant
girl named Wildenberg, and, as the case was clearly
made out against her, he called on her to avow her guilt.
She repeatedly refused; whereupon he ordered that she
should be subjected to torture. Accordingly, her two
thumbs were fastened in a vice, and this being attached
to a cord which passed through a ring in the ceiling,
she was lifted from the ground. The examining magis-
trate then called upon her to confess her guilt; but, as
she again refused, he caused her to receive two heavy
blows from a stick. This, however, had no effect; but,
after twelve minutes' torturing, she cried for mercy and
avowed herself guilty. A report of this affair was
made to the Grand Council of the canton, but all that
was done was to pass a severe reprimand en the magis-
trate, to warn him not again to exceed the law, to quash
the interrogatory, and order it to be recommenced before
another magistrate.
THE NEWSVENDERi' BENEVOLENT AND PROVI-
DENT INSTITUTION.—Last evening a quarterly general
meeting of the members and donors of the above b-ne-
volent and provident institution, established in 1839, for
the purpose of granting temporary relief and assistance
to masters and servants engaged as vendors of news-
papers, who, from age, infirmity, or distress, may require
the aid of the benevolent, was held at the Newsvenders'
Ball, in Black Horse-court, Fleet-street, for the trans-
action of general business. The report for the past
year, being the tenth of the society's existence, congra-
tuleted the members upon the steady progress of the
funds, whilst at the same time the committee urge the ne-
cessil of an increase, in order that the growing claims
of the infirm and needy may be met. During the last
twelve months 151. was dispensed for temporary relief
cases to members and their widows (the standing rules
of the society limiting such relief whilst the funds
were under 1,0001, the dividends of the funded
stock being only applicable for benevolent pur-
poses). The invested capital now amounts to
1,0001. There is at present only one permanent pen-
sioner at 161. per annum. The financial statement for
the past year showed that (including the previous ba•
linee) the receipts from all sources had been 1111. 9?.
lid.; the expenditure, including the purchase of 501. ad-
ditional stook, left a balance of IIL los. 93. The report
concluded with the expression of gratitude to the various
daily journals for their support and assistance, and an
appeal to the members of the trade to extend the bene-
ficial influence of the institution.
ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE BY A LADY IN HYDE
PARK.—Yesterday morning, shortly after eight o'clock,
as the superintendent of the Royal Humane Society was
proceeding along the north bank of the Serpentine river
he saw, at some distance from him, a well dressed female
who appeared to be divesting herself of her outside gar-
ments, and before he could get up to her, she rushed
towards the water, and uttering a loud shriek threw her-
self into the deepest part of the river and directly
sank. An alarm was immediately given, and Hill, one
of the watermen, pushed off in a boat, and on arriving
at the spot caught hold of the female by the hair of her
head just as she was going down the second time.
She was speedily conveyed to the receiving house,
where the usual remedies were resorted to, and after
tome time she was so far recovered as to inform the
superintendent that her name was Newell, that her
friends were highly respectable, and kept their carriage,
and that the cause of her attempting the rash act was,
that her lover had proved unfaithful to her. had not
the superintendent been near the spot, she, no doubt,
would have carried her object into effect, as at the spot
where she sank the water is more than 14 feet deep.
EDINBUROII.—THE LORD PROVOST.—We regret
to state that our excellent chief magistrate has been
Usable to attend to his official duties since the commence-
ment of last week, owing to indisposition, which has
confined him to the house. The complaint from which
his Lordship is suffering, and to which he is often sub-
ject, we understand, is an affection in the knee, which has
hitherto defied all medical skill entirely to eradicate. It
will gratify our readers to know, however, that the Lord
Provost is fast *towering from the late attack, and that
he will soon be= able to resume that high and distin-
guished position which he is so well qualified to dignify
and exe't, Tho duties of chief magistrate have, during
his-Lordahip'_ illufsi, been discharged by Baillie Melville.
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