The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUEsDAY MORINTI_NCT) JUNE ri: \iB47.

here. Mr. Rufford, the next in order of time, was ac-
cepted as fit and proper, last Monday evening, by a large
and respectable meeting of electors. As chairman of
the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway,
Mr. Rufford has been necessarily, much connected,
during the last three years with a numerous body of
respectable citizens, and it is understood that his
business habit*, and aptitude for commercial negotia-
tion have rendered him acceptable to mane electors, even
among the party opposed to his political principles,
which are moderate Conservatism. Mr. Robinson,
our former representative, stands No. 4 in the roll ;
we need not say one word as to his eminent
qualifications, or acceptability to his constituency.
The latter, indeed, have never been reconciled
to the manner of his relinquishing their re-
presentation in 1837. A meeting of the electors
takes place this evening for the purpose of consider.
ing the expediency of sending a requisition to Mr.
Robinson to stand for Worcester. It is understood that
the main section of the Liberal party here—who, we
need hardly say, support Sir Denis Le Marchant—have
a second candidate, making an entirety of five. Who
the gentleman is has not been revealed, but it is asserted
that lie is one every way worthy of the coveted honour.
Since the foregoing was in type, we have been in
formed that Mr. Robert Hardy has this day declared
that nothing shall prevent him from standing for 'Wor-
cester at the approaching election.— Worcester Herald.
BRADFORD.— Mr. Busfeild has sent an address, but the
Leeds Mercury intimates that it was not published.
Col-nel Thompson has declined to stand unless pre-
sented with a requisition promising success.
REPRESENTATION OF THE CITY OF LONDON. - The
election movement in the City has received a fresh
impetus during the last few days, by the announcement
that Mr. William Payne, the coroner, will become a
candidate for its representation in Parliament. Mr.
Payne's high character in the City, and the general
respect in which he is held by all political parties, will
render him a powerful opponent. His intimate ac-
quaintance with the comm, rcial interests of the City,
acquired by unceasing attention to the subject, have
brought him to the conviction, as stated in his address,
that much remains to be done, and that he is determined
on endeavouring to accomplish it. On these grounds
alone he has received the votes of many who might
otherwise have opposed him. Mr. Lyall, it is already
known, retires from Parliament at the close of the pre-
sent session, and the ratty candidates at present in the
field to supply his place are Mr. Payne and Mr. Alder-
man Johnson. The latter belongs to the old and well-
nigh exploded high Tory school, and pledges himself to
vote fur the resuseitation of the restrictive measures
which public opieion has so unequivocally condemned.—
From a Correspondent.

THE NAVY.

RULES and REGULATIONS respecting the APPOINT-
MENT, RANK, EXAMINATION, and PAY of EN-
GINEERS, under her Majesty's Order in Council of the

27th of February, 1847.
RULES AND REGULATIONS AS TO THE APPOINTMENT AND

RANH OF ENGINEERS.

Engineers in her Majesty's naval service are to be
classed in three divisions, and to be thus denominated:—
Inspectors of machinery afloat.
Chief Engineers.
Assistant Engineers.
The two latter divisions are to be divided severally into
three classes, namely—
Chief engineers of the first class.
Of of the second class.
of the third class.
Assistant engineers of the first class.
of the second class.
1$ of the third class.
Engineers will be considered, as at present, to belong
to the civil branch of the naval service, and they will be
appointed and rank as undermentioned:—
Inspectors of machinery afloat will be appointed by
commission, and rank with, but after, masters of the fleet.
Chief engineers mill be appointed by commission, and
rank with, but after, masters.
Assistant engineers will be appointed by order, and
rank with, but after, second masters.

THE CHANNEL ISLANDS.

DEFECTIVE STATE OF THE LAW IN THE
CHANNEL ISLANDS-NO PUNISHMENTS
FOR CRIMES COMMITTED ON THE SEAS
BETWEEN JERSEY AND GUERNSEY.

A curious eth.e occurred last week, which illustrates
the shocking state of the criminal law in Guernsey,
*rid we may add in Jersey also. On Monday, the
first of June instant, Mary Smith v.as seized and com-
mitted to the Guernsey prison, charged with having,
whilst on board the cutter Mary and Anne, Captain Le
Couteur—the vessel by which she had just arrived
from Jersey—stolen ten five franc pieces of French
money, belonging to the said Captain. On the fol
lowing day, Mary Smith was taken before the Royal
Court of Guernsey, but it having been proved in evi
dente, that she had committed the robbery whilst in
Jersey harbour, the Bailly and Jurats considered, that
they had no jurisdiction, and dismissed the charge !
This decision is supposed to be justified by various pre
cedents, among which is the one of Captain 011ivier, for-
merly master of the schooner Sarnia, who in 1837 was
charged with having committed a rape on the person
of a young woman on board the said vessel, whilst in
Jersey harbour, upon which the Guernsey Court refused
to take cognizance of the complaint, b:cause the offence
had been committed out of that island. Now we beg to
observe that on the last-mentioned occasion, Mr.

Brock reminded the prisoner, that had the Sarnia arrived
in Guernsey immediately after the crime had been
committed (in like manner as the Mary and
Anne had) or had it been committed during the
voyage from Jersey to Guernsey; in fact, bad not the
vessel returned to Jersey and broken the voyage, the
Guernsey Court would have felt it its duty to try him
for the crime with which he stood charged. This
appears to us to be sound law, but bow different is
the decision of the case before us. On the pre-
sent occasion, the vessel belonged to Guernsey; she
hailed from that port, and was therefore clothed (if we
may use the term) or invested with the protection of
the law of that island: she was cleared outwards
from the Jersey customs for Guernsey: the money
was found on the woman's person, after the vessel had
left Jersey, and wa: pursuing her voyage to Guernsey.
The crime was therefore committee, in like manner as
all civil acts were performed on that voyage, with the
view, if any dispute arose, of their being controlled
by the law and adjudicated upon by the Court of
Guernsey. The Captain, crew, and passengers were
all destined for that port; the voyage had com-
menced, and therefore every act and circumstance
which transpired, was clearly within the cognizance of
the Court of that Island. But mark ! The woman was
apprehended immediately after she landed, and yet the
Bailly and Jurats discharged her from custody, on the
ground that they had no jurisdiction !
Now, from whence does the Court derive its jurisdic-
tion? Is it from the ancient customs of Normandy or from
the reputed Constitutions of King John? We say reputed,
because we are thoroughly convinced, that Guernsey and
Jersey cannot establish any title to a charter from that
monarch. It is all moonshine. Mr. La Croix tells us
that " the pretended constitions of King John are an un-
digested memorandum of an inquiry instituted in Guern-
sey in the beginning of the reign of Henry 111., when the
two islands had the same governor." Now history informs
us that in those days the Governor was also Bailiff, from
whence it follows, that the Channel Islands then formed
only one Bailiwick, and therefore the Governor or Bai-
liff had jurisdiction criminal, civil, and maritime, over
all matters arising in both islands ; and it is not very
clear to us that this power was ever taken away from
him. Be that, however, as it may, if dividing the
islands into two bailiwicks has limited the original
jurisdiction, it is quite certain that it has rendered the
law very imperfect for the administration of justice.
It is a sad reflection on the authorities of these islands
to have allowed such a state of things to come to pass.
When we consider the great intercourse which now
exists between Guernsey and Jersey, by steam and sail-
ing vessels, what a splendid harvest the light-fingered
gentry of England could reap. If the dictum of the
Guernsey Court be correct, thieves and others may
plunder and commit crimes on the high seas between
Jersey and Guernsey with impunity. There is no
law to punish them, for the Guernsey and Jersey
Courts deny that the Admiralty of England have any
jurisdiction, and they refuse to take any cognisance of
the crimes themselves. In the present case, it would
have been useless for the Jersey authorities to have
sent a constable to Guernsey with the view to bring
Mary Smith back to Jersey, to be tried here, because
in the case of Wren and others, who in 1836, were
charged with robbery, broke prison in Jersey, pursued
to Guernsey and apprehended there, the court of that
island liberated the arrest, on the ground that the
capture and detection of the prisoners ie Guernsey
was illegal for a matter that originated out of that
Bailiwick. This case was brought under the notice of
the Royal Commissioners when they were in Jersey,
who examined the bailiff upon the law for the appre-
hension of fugitives from justice, or runaway criminals
from Jersey. Sir John De Veulle is reported to have
said, that " If a prisoner escaped to Guernsey, his re
covery was impossible by any means whatever." This
is grand! splendid! and very comforting withal. How-
ever disgraceful it might be to the authorities of
Guernsey to permit such horrid abuses to creep upon
them, the authorities of Jersey deserve equal blame, as
we shall now proceed to show. In the case of Mat-
thews and Prowden, charged with the commission of
carious robberies in Guernsey, who escaped to Jersey,
and were apprehended here, the Court of this island
held also, that inasmuch as the crimes were committed
out of the Bailiwick, they had no jurisdiction, and
liberated the prisoners 1 Here is a pretty state of things.
If a person commits a crime in one island and escapes
to the other, he evades punishment, and if he commits
it on the high seas he avoids it also. Hear this all ye
thieves, rogues, and vagabonds, who would run a muck
for plunder. What a wide field is open to your horrid
pursuits, through the apathy, negligence, or incompe-
tence of the local authorities of Jersey and Guernsey
to make laws to punish you, when you commit your
wicked deeds in these parts. Now what must be the
end of this shameful position in which we are placed, tf
the Commissioners do not devise a remedy ? What !
why Lynch Law will be established among us—that
wretched system which prevails in America, amid in all
other new countri, s, where Law and Justice fail to
meet the wants of the community. Take the follow-
ing case for example, IN hich is reported in the Cleve-
land Plain Dealer, a journal published in the western
world :

" A LYNCH COURT ON LAKE ERIE.—A gentlemanly
blackleg, took passage from Buffalo on board the Supe-
rior, Captain Wilkinson, on her last trip up. He took
a deck passage, so as to
give him a chance to berth
with whom he pleased in the steerage. He soon selected
his victim, an unsuspecting old man, who had been so
imprudent as to show considerable of a purse of money,
in making change for his fare. The fellow managed to
get into the same berth with the old man, but appeared
very restless till sometime about midnight, when he dis-
appeared. The old man missed a suspender button
pocket, and his purse, with ninety dollars of money in
it, when he awoke in the morning. He made complaints
to the captain, pointing out his 'ellow lodger, whereupon
a search was instituted, but nothing found. All were
satisfied of the fellow's guilt, and a lynch court was im-
mediately organised to make the robber divulge. Corn.
Wilkinson presided es judge
juris-
diction, in all such cases. ' claiming maritime
The fellow was arraigned.
the prosecuting witnesses sworn, the jury looked dag-
gers at the villain, and he caved. He said the money
would be found in one of the water closets, which was
so, and the same was restored to the old man. The
judment of the court was then that the culprit should
have " ropes end" three times and repeat- Two stalwart
men took him by each hand and extended his arms, while
Jack executed the sentence. This took place about 15
miles off this port on Sunday morning last. The fellow
was put ashore here, and the way he mizzled was a cau-
tion to the craft."
Now only but think of the commanders of our
steam-boats and sailing crafts forming a court on
board their vessels for the trial of delinquencies com-
mitted there. Only red et on the summary mode of
punishment inflicted. How would it do to see Com-
modore Goodridge or Commodore Babot preside at a
court of this description. and sentence a thief to re-
ceive a dozen lashes for his malpractices? It would be
shocking ; but still such things will come to pass it
something be not done to remedy the evil. If our courts
of justice have not the power to try offences committed
out of their bailiwick, nor auth .rity to order a mutual
surrender of refugee criminals, it is high time that mea-
sures were adopted to redress the grievance. We would
recommend that a royal charter be granted to the Courts
of Jersey and Guernsey, so as to extend the cognisance
of those tribunals to all ',Liame and misdemeanours com-
mitted on the seas, harbours, and such maritime places
in the Channel as may not be within the jurisdiction of
the Admiralty of England—that competent judges, and
an efficient police be appointed, who should be paid for
their services,
necessary, so
andth that t
suchthe latterothr e remedies as would put may pursue criminals
when
an end to the system which allows criminals to escape
punishment and prevent the adoption of Lynch law
among us. We hope that General Napier, for the people
of Guernsey, and General Raynett, for the people of
the Jersey,sub ewillsubject--Jersey
t_jr
maek es
ey and Guernsey
a
News,

barrels; the John and
--____-_--- .
Havre :—the George
FRENCH FLOUR.—Several arrivals of flour have
taken place within these last few days from France, of which
Marv, 650 barrels; the Britannia, 842 barrels; the James
w49in2gbwarrereels fromthe
Bthuertepnos?
7400 f
Watt, 457 barrels ; the Columbine, 100 barrels; and the
Betsy, from the same place, the large quantity of 1,400 bar-
tbharcufoglhlot
rels of the article, the produce and manufacture of France.
INTREPID CONDUCT. —On Thursday, during the
time that a company of the Royal Sappers and Miners were
practising under command of Lieutenant James Liddell,
Royal Engineers, in forming bridges with pontoons, at St.
Mary's Creek, an alarm was raised that two soldiers were
drowning. Lieutenant Liddell went to the spot, threw of
his sash and sword, and plunged into the water with his
uniform on, and after some difficulty succeeded in bringing
one of the men to the shore, and two artillerymen also dived
after the other man, whom they fortunately caught just as
he was sinking for the last time. They brought him ashore
and laid him on the grass. Both the men appeared nearly
dead. They were removed to the barracks, and attended
by the medical officers of the corps.. Their names are Thomas
Birt and Jain Masters; they are attached to No. 4 company.
The names of the two men eho assisted in Raving one man
are John Brady and William Somers. They also belong
to the No. 4 company of Artillery. Lieutenant Liddell
and the two artillerymen deserve the notice of the Humane
Society for their intrepid conduct in saving two lives. The
creek Is not only very deep, but it is very dangerous, owing
to the numerous eddies, which have proved fatal to expert
swimmers; and in consequence of the great number of
lives lost every summer by parties bathing, the com-
mandant last year issued an order forbidding soldiers bathing
in that place.
PARISH or ST. PANCRAL—The first of the ecclesi-
astical districts into which it is proposed to divide this
extensive parish has been formed. It is termed the "Gray's
1 Inn district," and the Rev. R. Allen, MA., has been ap-
Ethted to the incambeng? OH the ambled= of the Rev.
"Maas Dale, M.A., the Vim.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT
HOUSE OF LORDS, June 14.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool.
sack af Five o'clock.
BURGH POLICE (SCOTLAND) BILL.
On the motion of Lord CAMPBELL this Bill was
read a second time.
NAVAL MUTINY BILL.
This Bill went through Committee.
JUVENILE OFFENDERS' BILL.
Lord BEAUMONT presented a petition from the
justices of the peace of the West Riding of Yorkshire in
favour of this Bill.

CRIMINAL LAW.
Lord BROUGHAM laid the report of the Select
Committee on Criminal Law upon their Lordships' table.
POST-OFFICE REVENUE.
Lord ELLENBOROUGH rose to move their Lord-
ships relatively to the revenue of the Post office. He
said several months had passed since their Lordships
had, on his motion, ordered returns on the subject of the
revenue, which were not furnished till the Ist of June.
These returns, now that they had been produced, showed
in many instances deficits which could not have been
produced unless by great negligence ; and as the sub
ject was one of so much importance not only to this
kingdom, but to others, he thought that some inquiry
ought to be made into them.—(The Noble Earl then
entered briefly into some statistical details, none of which
reached the gallery.)
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said. that many of
the abuses complained of by the Noble Earl arose from
the fact of the contracts having been made for the con-
♦eyance of letters at a time when the means of commu •
nication to foreign countries were not so easy as they
were at present. The Government, however, had no
objection to the appointment of the Committee as moved
for.—Motion agreed to.
MESSAGE FROM THE COMMONS.
Messengers from the Commons brought up a consi-
derable *amber of railway Bills.
JUVENILE OFFENDERS BILL.
The Earl of DEVON moved the second reading of
this Bill. We understood the Noble Lord, who was al-
most inaudible, to advise the postponement of any dis-
cussion on the Bill till it was in Committee.
Lord BROUGHAM agreed with the recommendation
of the Noble Earl, as he hoped that by slight alteration
revere' objections, if not all that were recorded against
it, might be got rid of.
TRUST MONEY INVESTMENT (IRELAND)
BILL.
On the motion of the Earl of DEVON this Bill was
read a second time.
PUNISHMENT OF VAGRANTS (liZELAND)
BILL.
The House then went into Committee upon the Pu-
nishment of Vagrants (Ireland) Bill.
Atter a few words from Lord MOUNTCASHEL, the
clauses were agreed to, and the Bill ordered to be re-
ported to-morrow,
AFFAIRS OF PORTUGAL.
Lord STANLEY said, that as he intended to bring
forward his motion with reference to the English inter-
ference with the affairs of Portugal to-morrow evening,
and as the subject was calculated to lead to a very
lengthened discussion, he hoped that it might be under-
stood that the debate would commence at five o'c'ock, if
the Noble Lord the President of the Council Ibad no
objection to such a course of proceeding.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE was understood to
say that he should have no objection to such a course
being adopted.
Their Lordships then adjourned.