The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-15 00:00:00

THE COAST DEFENCE BRIGADE.

We were the first to mention the appointment of Com-
mander Jerningham, of the coast guard service, some
weeks since as an additional commander to the Excellent
for organizing the coast guard men into a brigade for
the defence of onr shores in the event of an emergency,
and for other purposes. The plan of organizing this
highly important body for the above objects is the sug.
gestion of the Noble First Lord of the Admiralty, the
Earl of Auckland.

The drilling of the coast guard body is after the prin-
ciples taught in the Excellent, and has commenced with
great vigour under the superintendence of the Controller-
General, Captain Houston Stewart, C. 13., a gallant and
most meritorious officer, and Commander Jeruingham.
An instructing battery has already been thrown up at
Cambridge, Isle of Wight, and the system has com-
menced ail along the coast in good earnest. It is the in-
tention to establish instructing batteries all round the
kingdom. Even now, from all appearances of the pro-
gress made, and the manifest good-will of the corps, the
excellence of the system, and the indefatigable example
of the officers, it is most clear that within six months
from the commencement of the plan we shall have at
least 1,000 good and able men available for the service,
afloat or ashore, when called upon. This admirable
force would at once man two or three block ships and
gun-boats, the latter no mean auxilliary to a force, espe-
cially in shallow water. The Excellent is to afford
every facility required for carrying out this system. Too
much credit cannot be bestowed upon the plan and its
noble originator, nor for the highly judicious selection
of the officers appointed to carry it into execution.

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.—We can now
state confidently that Parliament will be prorogued by
her Majesty in person on Thursday, the 22d inst.
THE CHESTERFIELD MURDER.—The town of Ches-
terfield has again been thrown into a state of excitement
by the apprehension of Mr. It. Statham, a master
butcher, charged with abetting in the murder of George
Collis. A fortnight ago Anthony Launt, a butcher, was
apprehended on the same charge. Evidence has now
been given against Mr. Statham (who found the money,
and evinced great interest in the defence of Platts, ex-
ecuted as one of the murderers of Collis). A witness
swears
,to seeing Mr. Statham in the yard at the back of
the
shop,and Morley
andiin atm immediately
Morley 's shop, and to certain conversations passing
between i
n
him
eatetilmeaflte) lra tts and
"scuffle"Colli s
and " blow" were heard, and the shyop door • the
barg d to.
He also swears to Statham removing hii do%e
fromj the.
yard into the house, and to seeing him looking through
, .
a pane of glass into the shop. In fact, if the
l. evidence
v‘
be correct, it would seem that Statham as in re
aider and abettor of the murder. He was takenal reality
an
into
custody on Monday. When the warrant was read
over
to him in his shop. he made no reply, but accompanied
the policeman to prison. He was on Tuesday morning
taken before the magistrate, when the witnesses examined
at Platt's trial were again examined, and the new evidence
adduced. At the close the Mayor said the bench felt
bound to commit the prisoner to take his trial at the next
assizes. An attorney, who appeared for the prisoner,
asked the magistrates to take bail, but they. peremptorily
refused refused to do so, " unless compelled by a judge. Stat-
ham said the evidence (as regarded himseli) was false,
was
and that it " a bard caw." He was taken to the
county gaol at Derby on Tuesday afternoon, and both
he and L,unt will be arraigned at the ensuing assizes.
HORRIBLE BARBARITY.—MichaeI Halloran, of Bal-
lycahane, is committed to the county gaol en a verdict
of the Coroner's inquest, for the murder of his son, a
boy aged eight years, who had been sickly and unable to
leave the house. On Friday the poor child was found to
have soiled his bed, wh'.ch so exasperated the father that
he pulled and struck him ; then, making the tongs red
hot in the fire, he caught his neck between the prongs,
and squeezed hie-i. On the naked back and sides he also
applied the burning torture, and the ht Ipless victim did
not long survive it. The execrable monster was appre-
hended by High•constable Slattery.—Limerick Chronicle.
SUDDEN DEATH.--Yesterday afternoon a gentle-
manly-looking man, about fifty years of age, was ob-
served to stagger and fa!! in Bow-street, Ceveut-garden.
He was assisted into a chemist's, when it was found that
he wag labouring tullicr the effects of a e., ~- e's :acleil. The
usual remedies were used, but without effect. Nothing
being found on the body to lead to identification, it was
1 removed to St. Giles's workhouse. The thermometer
stood from eleven A.M. to six Pal, in the shade, at 89
degrees9f_E4h,renheit, sad in the min at 100 degrees,