The Sun.
London, England, 1840-03-16 00:00:00

THE NEW POLICE ACT.

Since the passing of the above Act, the inhabitant
tradesmen of the different parishes in the metropolis
have been subjected to the repeated attacks of com-
mon informers, by whom they have been summoned
before Magistrates, and fined under the 60th section of
the 7th clause therein contained, which enacts—" That
every person who shall expose for sale in any park or
public garden, unless with consent of the owner or
other person authorised to give such consent ; or so hang
over any carriage way or foot way, or on the outside of
any house or shop ; or who shall set up and continue any
pole, blind, line, or other projection from any window
or parapet, or other part of any house or shop, so as to
cause annoyance or obstruction, shall bo liable to a fine
of forty shillings." One informer, named Stowell,
having under that clause caused tradesmen to be fined
to the amount of many hundred pounds, the tradesmen
of the several parishes in the City of Westminster
formed a Mutual Protection Society, the committee of
which resolved to request their representatives, Sir De
Lacy Evans and Mr. Leader, to call the attention of
the Secretary of State for the Home Department to
the clause referred to. To such request Sir De Lacy
Evans and Mr. Leader kindly acceded, and according-
ly, a few days back, accompanied by a deputation com-
posed of the most influential tradesmen, with Mr. H. Phil-
lips, solicitor to the Society, they waited upon the Mar-
quis of Normanby at the Home Office, when his Lordship,
having listened attentively to the arguments urged, was
pleased to say he would take prompt and decisive steps
to alleviate the grievance complained of. In pursuance
of this promise, his Lordship submitted the 60th sec-
tion of the 7th clause to the opinion of the Law
Officers of the Crown, who decided, " that unless it
was proved by credible evidence that the goods outside
any house or shop are an annoyance or obstruction in
any thoroughfare, the party summoned cannot be
legally convic:ed." His Lordship immediately trans-
mitted circulars of that statement to the different Police
Magistrates, the consequence of which has been, that
all informations laid, and remaining unheard previous
to the above communication from his Lordship, have.
on the day fixed for hearing, been dismissed without
the particulars being entered into, and with the loss of
costs to the informer. The above Society intend hav-
ing a public dinner to celebrate the achievement of so
glorious a triumph over the rascally informers, their
' spies, and witnesses.

The Marchioness of Ailesbury has a soiree on
Thursday next, in Grosvenor-square.

CHEss.—The penny postage has opened a now
field for chess challenges. A game may now be carried on by
correspondence, at little expense. The Nottingham Chess
Club have offered to play the clubs of Wakefield, Doncaster,
Yarmouth, York, Huddersfield, or any other provincial club ;
and the match with Huddersfield has actually commenced, it
being conditioned that Mr. Newham, the chief player of the
Nottingham Club, having a match by correspondence in pro-
gress with Mr. Wilson, president of the Portsmouth Club, s ill
take no part whatever in the projected match, either directly or
indirectly.—Nottingham Review.
-

The present Tory Members for East Suffolk,
Sir C. B. Vet e and Lord Henniker, have both taken alarm at
the rumoured intention of Mr. Shatto Adair to contest the re-
presentation of that division of the County with them, and
have both published addresses, announcing their intention to
come forward again, standingj ointly on tivt Tory interest.
We are informed that such is the distressed state
of the working population of Birmingham, that the consump-
tion of beer, since Christmas, supplied through the beer-hott.es,
has fallen more than one-third from the quantity usually con-
sumed at corresponding periods —Birininvhant ,idvertiser.
OPERATIVE ANTI-CORN-LAW AsSOCIA-
TION—PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON THE CORN-LAVvs.—On
Wednesday evening last, the Manchester Operative Anti-
Corn law Association held a meeting in Carpenters' Hall, to
hear an address on the Corn-laws from Mr Warren, their Pre-
sident, and, as the placard calling the meeting expressed it, tt to
afford the advocates of these thieving laws an opportunity of
showing that the people ought to starve in the midst of plenty."
About half-past eight o'clock, the large room being then about
three parts lull, Mr. Warren took the chair, and delivered an
address of considerable length, dwelling principally on the best
course to be pursued by the working classes ; and advising them
not to let their desire to obtain Universal Suffrage hinder them
from agitating the question of Corn laws. Two operatives,
named Mark Bridewell and Leech, also addressed the meeting,
and endeavoured to show that the distress of the working
classes was not owing to the Corn-laws, but to the extension
of machinery. They were answered by Edward Curran and
Mr. Warren.—Blanchester Guardian.
ANTI-CORN-LAW MEETING. —We hare uci-
ther space nor time to do more than recommend to the earnest
pet usal of our readers the proceedings that took place at the
free-trade demonstration in this town during, the week. As a
display of eloquent and poetical statement, of pithy and humo-
rous illustration, of serious reasoning. and of sound commer-
cial argument it could not be surpassed. Kenda has done it
self infinite honour by the efforts it has made. If every other
place,
a corresponding alacrity, if every other town which entertains
which is equally interested in the cause, were to manifest
an equally strong conviction, were to give as energetic an ex-
pression to that conviction as Kendal has done, and surely si-
p_ ace is both foolish and criminal, these laws would be speedily
abolished. The Lettislature cannot take the first step in such
a case. It is for them to obey the national voice, and if the
nation will not raise its voice, it must remain under the burden
of its oppressions.—Kendal Mercury.
The total strength of the army in Ireland, March,
1840 is as follows:—Artillery, horse and foot, 819 rank and file!;
c commence
operations
cavalry (three regiments, '.-'d Dragoons, 6th rnd 7th Lancers),
892 rank and file ; infantry (seven regiments, 29 depots)
13,334 rank and file. Total, 14,045.
a
The Floating Bridge will commence working, hi
about a fortnight or three weeks. The bridge and its appurte-
n and readi yn forear
na
st
ti n
t,•11
ebyn tar beforee
wiselyth e
Directorsa ne s
are
to ascend
Portsmouth
h° aide.t
wn,xitihou a s
carriagesvt?eo cworntopleenteabtlhee landing
placea nd
horses
in-
clined plane with greater facility, the Directors are laying down
two granite track. ways at that place. Everything promises a
speedy and suspicious opening to this great public thoroughfare
and convenienee.--Hanapshire Independent.