The Sun.
London, England, 1840-12-25 00:00:00

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INDON. Ffit(DAY, DECEMBER 25, 1840:

of Manchester, for the purpose of being measured for
the seat. Who would have thought, when the non-
representation of Manchester was put forward by the
Liberals of all England as the great illustration of the
necessity of Parliamentary Reform, that Mr. Gibson
was the kind of thing the want whereof had been so
injurious to Manchester? Yet this is the article its
electors propose to procure for themselves with their
new franchise': like the old woman who was promised
the fulfilmentlof a wish by the gods, and wasted her
privilege in wishing for a ladle—certainly, however, a
more considerable kind of spoon. Mr. Gibson, we
dare say, is a eery fit person to represent the sort of
people whomf
ile see) u r
underwented with
the meeting.
the interrogations of
these blockheads in a manner which showed great
powers of endurance and a capacity not at all in-
ferior to that- of his catechists.- " And if," said he
with touching !simplicity, " if I did not fancy myself
(Tiernan to unite the majority of Reformers, I would
let no private Ntmbition of my own induce me to cause
a division in tise ranks of the Reform interest in this
4 borough." , doubt they are very much pleased with
one another ; and, if there were nobody of more im-
portance concerned in the matter, we should be glad
to see thenvengaged in the mutual relation they seek ;
but it will DeVer do for Manchester to let its repre-
sentatiOn ise settled by a few tailors in its suburbs,
be their -gods° of what metal it may. Mr.
Gibson begins by making them a speech, in
which he explains the circumstances of his successive
rejections by other constituences. He ascribes his de-
feats to this cause, and to that, and to the-other; but
he never touches on the most material fact of all—that
he had changed his opinions till no set of electors could
tell what they were. In early life he was, as we have
heard, a Whig, or a Radical, or something as irrational.
On coming to the years which in other people are
called those of discretion, he announced himself a
Conservative. Under that name he stood for Ipswich,
and succeeded. But scarcely had a twelvemonth elapsed
when a hot fit succeeded the cold, and he stood forth a
Reformer. He kept his seat till toward the end of the
Session, and then having given to the Ministers whom
he was elected to oppose all the help they wanted for the
rest of that year, he resigned his broken trust into the
hands of his Ipswich constituents, by whom, on ven-
turing to offer himself for re-election, he was indig-
nantly rejected. Cambridge becoming vacant, he
made an essay there ; but the Cambridge people
knew not whether he.- was Whig or Tory, Jesuit or
Jansenist, so they followed the precedent of their
Ipswich neighbou's, and declined to invest him with
their trust. He then looks about him for a more
gullible constituency, and pitches upon that of Man-
chester ; but, haunted with the recollection of the past,
affectingly says to his assembled tailors, " It is for you
to consider whether my opinions are in the right direc-
tion, and whether you can trust me. If you cannot
trust me, don't return tre—don't entice me" (there
squeaks the mouse apprehensive of the trap)—" don't
lead me to suppose for a moment that I have any
chance of representing Manchester, if you cannot
trust inc."- Trust him ! Why, poor fellow, he CAD"'
not trust himself. He never knows for twenty minutes
together 'What his own opinions are. At the general
election he was a stanch Conservative—a thorough-
going active young member of the Tory party, and of
the Carlton Club. Beiorc the tailors of the Manches-
ter suburbs he denteunes the House of Lords, preaches
the voluntary system, reel waits to pronounce his
judgment on the suffrage question on!y ho sees
" what direction public opinion shall eventually
take ;" which last is the • only shrewd hit lie has
made. N.ow, there have been many instances of partiai
change, which have ken held venial or even justifi-
able ; as where the arguments upon some one parti-
cular question, or class of questions, have brought
round sal conscientious and considerate men froth an
opinion which he had chanced, without due individual
eeareieat;on, to adopt among the general tenets of his
party.. But what sort of undsrstanding; must belong to
a man who in 1§37 and 16;33 is a Conservative at all
points, and in 18:39 ‘al•:(1 1841) amuses himself with
sneering at the HOO3O of Lords, recommending the
voluntary system, aoth " waiting ueon Providence" as
to the question of the suffr ? Can such a change,
upon topics so great sane so
y ILIVC been the walk
of reason ? Or haee the chandeliers at Lensdowne-
house enlightened his dim perceptions of political fit-
ness ? The resell is, as he himself suspects it to be,
that no constituency of common senie will trust a man
whose opinions tiaus vay their colour with every pass-
ing hour . •
" black, white, and grey ;
"'Turn round three times aad catch whom you may:"
'l.:le suburban 'tailors are willing to be caught ; and
ni ver was a set of liberty-boy s neore whimsically hum-
bugged than these chattering dunces have been by the
Secretary of the Treasury, or whosoever else it was,
that hit upon the pleasant invention of starting Mr.
Gibson for Manchester. A foolish old man who had
burrowed a telescope was bent upon astonisliing• kis
twighbours with a peep at the heavens. So he fixed the
glass in the due direction for viewing the noon, then
at its full, and went to fetch an equally st6e con:-
panion, who eistne at the Coll, and applied his, eye to the
extremity of the tube. " What do you see ?" asked the
exhibitor. " o.4,"cried his 1, lend, " there's the biggest
creature in the Moon that you ever saw all alive and
moving about," The other looked, and descried the same
phenomenon—an elephant at the least, or a, maul-
rituals stirring in the moon. After mutual exclamations
of amazement end admiration, they called up the old
fellow's son, a mischievous schoulboy, to partake their
astonislnneet. "-Mess you, father," chuckled the
yetrug rogue, slyly glancing at the telescope, " is that
all you wanted roe for ? Why, your elephant in tire
moon is noticing but a mouse that I screwed into the
tube just now for a bit of fun." Just such a practical
jest has been played off upon the political star-gazers of
the borough of Manchester, by the introduction of
Mr. Gibson into the glass through which they see so
darkly. They thought they had an elephant, and it
turns out that they have only a mouse. A magnani-
mous mouse, undoubtedly--se mouse that even aspires
to the rank of a rat, but still a mere mouse—that or-
dinary species of the animal which is familiar to the na-
turalist as the " ridicules Ines."

to these charges, prisoner? said that
there was a sprejudice against him in he breast of the
Inspector.
The LORD MAYOR said it seemed that a great deal
of forbearance had been used towards the prisoner, who
had been allowed to commit so many faults without
being punished.
The prisoner said that he was absent from duty one
night because he accompanied his brother, who was
going to sea, to the Docks, and was accidentally locked
in. He was unlucky enough to take too much drink
another night, and forgot himself so far.as not to do his
duty, correctly, but he submitted that he was adequately
punished by being not only locked up, but searched like
a felon.

The Inspector said that the prisoner had given no-
tice of his intention to leave the Police, and bad neg-
lected his duty most grossly, in the hope of being dis-
charged before the month expired. The Commissioner
feeling that such conduct was calculated to operate most
mischievously, directed that wherever he was met he
should be apprehended and charged before the Lord
Mayor.

The LORD MAYOR also stating that the example was
a very bad one, referred to the Police Act, by which he
found that it vas in his power to inflict a penalty of 101.
upon a policeman so offending. His Lordship then told
the prisoner that if he did not pay that fine he should
go to the House of Correction for one month to hard
labour.

The prisoner said that he could not pay the penalty,
and was immediately sent to the House of Correction to
work at the treadmill for one calendar month.

COURT OF REQUESTS.

MIDDLESEX.

Mr. Edward Fatroye and Mr. James Francis," gen-
tlemen," who had (like Gray's monkey) " seen the
world," appeared to arrange and settle certain matters
between them relative to their " travelling petty cash
account." They stated themselves to be " travellers"
—men who, if they had not sailed two thousand miles
up the Amazon, or down the Niger to Sackatoo, had
yet made a voyage in an open boat—to Eel-pie-island,
and achieved a steam trip to Herne-bay, and, as it came
out, to Margate, and even to Calais. Mr. Fatroye,
who was a good-looking young fellow (he certainty
thought himself quite as killing as Captain Meadow
Taylor's handsome Thug, Ameer Ali), wore a sort of
beefsteak pilot; peppered with salt, with about four
inches of snow-white wristband turned over the cuffs
thereof ; black kid gloves and a polished black walking-
stisk, upon the head of which he rested his nose, com-
pleted " the peculiar characteristics" of Mr. Edward
Fatroye's " individuality." Mr. James Francis had
very little " manly beauty" to boast of. Kenny Mea-
dows might have snatched a grace or two from his coun-
tenance with which to embody the most " ungrateful
monster" Shakspeare's imagination ever drew. Mr.
James Francis had a cross-gartered disposition too,
which, as Mr. Owen would say, "he couldn't help
having," but which was annoying, not only to its pos-
sessor, but to every one that came within the reach of
its amiability. Mr; Francis was buttoned up to the
throat in a Guernsey-frock-looking monkey-jacket,
which became him exceedingly.
Mr. Fatroye, the plaintiff, stated to the Commissioner
that ha vyas a traveller to a house in the City, and that
during the summer months he and Mr. Francis, " who
had been iutroduccd to him by a particular friend,"
made a voyage to Calais, "to see a little of French life
and manners." While at that very fashionable spot,
they were induced, upon the " representations of a
young gentleman upcn hall.pay," to resort to a place
where they found

--." dresses splendid, but fantastic,
Masks of all times and nations; Turks and Jews,
And harlequins and clowns, with feats gymnastic;
Greeks, Romans,. Yankic-doodles, and Pindoos."

In other words, they went to a masquerade, at which
Ir. James Francis " very foolishly so excited himself,
that a few glasses of Chateau Margaux, La Romance
Conti," &e., made him " both stupid and obstinate ;" so
stupid and obstinate, indeed, that he (Mr. Fatroye)
lost all command over him, and was ultimately obliged
to leave him in charge of " the young gentleman upon
half-pay," who was never seen afterwards, but frost
whose safe cristody Mr. Francis returned at seven o'clock
on the foilowiLg morning, talons gold, silver, and copper,
" and a watch, v, hich his aunt Flan is gave him." As
Mr. Francis did not like—perhaps from his ignorance of
such a made of transit—to make his case known to the
13 itish Consul and get sent Lome as " a destitute
Englishman," he borrowed a sovereign of his friend,
Mr. Fatroye. It was for this sovereign, and for a ring
which he had lent Mr. Francis, that. Mr. Fatroye
brought that gentleman before the Court.
Mr. Francis, upon being required to enter into his
defence, declared that Mr. Fatroye had been instigated
to bring this action by " the most
.contemptible and
petty malice in the world," arising nut of.an affair of the
heart in which he Mr. Francis had .won Venus herself
from his good-looking opponent--.--and seeing that the
" ugly Jack Wilkes" himself was •'only half an hour"
behind the most accomplished and handsome man of
the age in a similar matter, why I‘ir. Francis, but for
ages cross-gartered oli,position, might -be believed. Mr.
Fatroye treated the " accusation" with vast indignation,
which he "heaped up like a thousand of bricks,"
snapped his fingers, cocked up his nose, pulled his wrist-
bands an additional inch or two out of the sleeves of
his "pilot," laughed savagely, then grinned self-appro-
batory, and at last, having got upon excellent terms
with himself, rammed his nose hard down upon his shiny
black walking stick, and—ha! ha! ha! ha'd ! full in
Mr. James Francis's face.

Mr. Francis thereat " grinned horribly a ghastly
smile," and offered to read (the gallant young gentleman
did) to the Court the letters he had received from the
" approving fair," in proof of her having given to wit
and genius " what .gold could never buy"—viz., " her
heart of hearts," which Mr. Francis, ogling the air,
" vowed the lady in question had admitted in black and
white," he, the said Mr. James Francis, "and no one
else, had long possessed, still did possess, and should
possess for ever." This was mighty matter for some-
thing more than a sharp discussion between the two
"travellers," and a very pretty result would have speed-
ily been arrived at, had not the Court imperatively
called, upon the parties to confine themselves to the
mere matter of business details of their dispute. Mr.
Francis then proceeded to state that he had a " set
off" against Mr. Fatroyc's claim, and, exhibiting three
pocket-books, commenced reading therefrom a va-
riety of items of expense he had incurred while tra-
velling with the plaintiff. There was 2s. 6d. to help
Mr. Fatroye home from an expedition to the Nore ;
11 s. at Brighton, when that gentleman " lost his hat ;"
Is. 3d. for turnpikes and ale from Woodford, when
each thought the other had plenty of money, and
found they left .home with 7s. 6d. between them to go
as far as Epping to spend the day." There was ss.
deposit for a scull, which they lost going up to Eel-pie
Island ; 3s. 6d. for broken glass at Erith ; and 4d. for
a whip lost at Rochester. And Mr. Francis went through
his three pocket-hooks, which showed that he and his
ftiend had visited Canterbury, Dover, Chelsea Bun-
house, Southampton, Battersea, Harrow, Copenhagen-
house, Gravesend, Blackwell, Bartlemy fair, &c.
" Why, my dear fellow," said Mr. Fatroye, when
Mr. Francis had detailed his " set-off," if you are going
to charge half-crowns and shillings, I can draw out an
account against you as long as Lombard-street."
Commissioner—The case had better be adjourned,
then, to give you an opportunity to do so.
" Certainly," said Mr. Fatroye, " it is my decided
wish."

Commissioner—But we had better decide about the
value of the ring, which the plaintiff values at 18s.
A very long and recriminatory dialogue then ensued
between plaintiff and defendant about the said ring,
which the latter declared had been forced by the former
upon his finger " when they were going one night to
the theatre," he (the plaintiff) having on that occasion
two rings upon his little finger, and being desirous of
making his friend (the defendant) " look as much like
him as possible." This the plaintiff denied, affirming
that the expression of such a desire had proceeded from
the mouth of the defendant. This the plaintiff swore
to, and 18s. for the ring, as well as the sovereign lent,
were found to be due to him ; but the case was ordered
to come on again as to the set-off pleaded by both
parties.

NAVIGATION OF THE THAMES-In conse-
quence of the recent disappointment when atpr party
gsome
of the
Royal Artillery attended for the purpose
experiments in the Marshes, the Trinity_
oHof ousey,'n London,
has issued a caution to pilots and others to the following
effect It having been represented to this Corporation,
by direction of her Majesty's Board of Ordnance, that
great inconvenience is occasioned to the public service by
the disregard shown to the marks which are set up on
both the Kent and Essex banks of the river Thames, in the
tower part of Galleon's Reach, for the purpose of denoting
the limits of the range of fire from tho artilcry practices
in Woolwich Marshes. and that on a recent occasion the
arrangements which had been made for the trial of some
newly-invented shells could not be carried into effect with-
out endangering the safety of a brig and other vessels
which had been anchored in the direct line of fire, and
that similar interruptions are constantly occurring, the at-
tention of masters of vessels, pilots, and other nelsons
navigating that part of the river Thames, is directed to the
notices which have been previously issued upon this sub-
ject, and they are cautioned and strictly enjoined not to
stop tide or come to anchor for any purpose whatever within
the limits denoted by the aforesaid beacons."

HUNGARIAN CALLA NTRY.-It is impossible
to look without a feeling of regret upon a groupe of fine
young men, all of them probably under twenty years of age,
armed with pipes, tobacco-bogs, and their appliances of
flint and steel, puffing into the faces of the ladies beside
them the foetid clouds of the " foul weed," with a non-
chalant selfishness which should be foreign to their years ;
and stultifying, by their indulgence in this nauseous habit,
the expression of some of the finest faces in the world.
Nor as I have already hinted, does the evil end here ; in
short, this vile habit is a blot upon the national character,
which must be wiped off,.ere he who indulges in it. can
write himself a gentleman, whatever may be his birth or
rank.—Miss Pardoe's City of the Magyar.