The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-15 00:00:00

UNION WORKHOUSES.

A considerable sensation has been created within the
last few days in the town of Croydon in consequence of
certain facts that have transpired in reference to the
treatment of a casual pauper in the Union Workhouse at
that place. The following account of the occurrence has
been obtained by one of our Correspondents, and its
correctness may be relied upon.
On the morning of Monday, the Bth instant, a man ap-
plied to the police station at Croydon for the assistance
of the police. He appeared to be very excited, his nose
and face were cut and bruised, his clothes were hanging
in shreds about his person, and it was evident that he had
been treated with very great violence from the character
of the complaint he made. Collier, the Inspector on
duty, advised him to go at once to the Town-hall, as a
Magistrate was then sitting, and make the complaint to
him, and take his advice upon the subject He accord-
ingly went, accompanied by the Inspector, to the Town-
hall, where he made a statement to the following effect,
to the presiding Magistrate, Mr. Currie.
The man said that being on his road home he had
made application as a casual pauper to the workhouse,
and he was admitted and placed in the usual-ward ap-
propriated for the reception of casual paupers, and re-
ceived the allowance of food with the others. In the
morning, shortly before he was about to leave the work-
house to proceed on his journey, he was told that before
he left the house he must have his hair cut off. He
objected to this being done, when he was told that it was
of no use to make any objection, for that it was a regu-
lation -of the workhouse that it should be done, and that

they would do it by force if he did not consent. He
again begged them to allow him to leave the house, but
they refused, and he was at length seized by some
persons belonging to the workhouse, who forced him into
a chair, and, in spite of his resistance, his hair was cut,
and he was then turned out. During the struggle his
nose was cut, his face was burned, and his clothes were
torn nearly off his back. It was under these circum-
stances that he sought for the assistance of the Magis-
trate to obtain redress for the assault and ill usage he
had received.

My. Currie asked the applicant, whether, when, he
was admitted into the workhouse on the over-night, any-
thing was said to him about having his hair cut ?
The man replied that nothing was said to him upon the
subject ; and it was only in the morning, shortly before
he was going to leave, that he was told his hair must
be cut. _ _

In answer to further questions, it appeared that the
man was not what may be termed a regular vagrant. He
had been working in the country, and was on his way
home, where he was in the expectation of obtaining
work with masters who had formerly employed him, and
being fearful that if his hair bore the appearance of having
been cropped in a gaol, that they would scruple to give
him employment, he was induced the more to resist the
act being performed.
Mr. CURRIE, having heard the man's statement, and
made further inquiries, expressed his opinion that the
matter was a fit subject for further inquiry ; and if the
story told by the applicant was correct, he had been very
improperly treated, and he directed that amessage should
be sent to the master of the workhouse requesting his
attendance, in order that he might give some explanation
of the conduct that had been pursued towards the applicant.
Accordingly, soon afterwards Mr. Andrews, the Clerk
to the Board of Guardians, accompanied by some of the

guardians and the master of the workhouse, came to
the Town-hall, and the nature of the complaint made by
the applicant was stated to them.
In answer to the statement, the explanation given
was, that it was one of the regulations of the work-
house that, for the preservation of cleanliness in the
workhouse, all casual paupers admitted for a night should
have their hair cut, but, owing to its being Sunday
evening when this man was let in, the party who
generally performed the office was not in attend-
ance and, in consequence, the man was placed in the
usual Ward without his hair being cut, and when
he was told in the morning that he must submit to the
operation, in accordance with the regulations of the
workhouse, he became very violent, and drew a knife,
and threatened. to stab any one who laid hold of him,
and it was necessary to use violence, but no more was
exercised than was required to enable the parties to per-
form the operation ; and the applicant received the in-
juries of which he complained in consequence of his own
violence. The master of the workhouse said that some-
times a great number of paupers were admitted of a
night, and it was absolutely necessary that the regulation
referred to should be put in force.
Mr. CURRIE inquired whether•the regulation referred
to was not to the effect that the hair should be cut upon
the admission of the party.
It was admitted that the regulation was to that effect.
Mr. CurturE then observed, that he could very well

understand why the operation should be performed
when a pauper was admitted to the workhouse, but it
was a very different thing to do it by force en the
morning, and he thought such a proceeding was very
improper. The man had been taken into the workhouse
and in order for the regulation to have been of any avail,
that was the time at which it should have been put in
force, and it was quite useless after the man had been all
night in the workhouse, and when he was about to leave
it, to carry it into effect, especially in such a violent
manner.

After some further discussion the parties retired, and
the Magistrate intimated that he should feel it his duty
'to bring the matter before the Board of Guardians ; and
here the matter rests for the present, but it is understood
that some further proceedings will be taken in reference
to it.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
(From the Hampshire Telegraph.)

PORTSMOUTH, Nov. 13.L.The Acheron, steam-vessel,
Lieutenant-Commander A. Kennedy, is ordered home
from the Mediterranean.—The Devastation, steam-fri-
gate, COmmander Hastings Reginald Henry, ordered to
be ready at Woolwich by the 20th instant, is appointed
to convey the Rev. Michael Solomon Alexander, who
was consecrated, on Sunday last, Bishop of England
and Ireland in Jerusalem, to the sea port of Joppo, about
40 mil& from the holy city, the scene of his future la-
bours. The Devastation will remain on the Mediterra-
nean station.
STYX STEAM FRIGATE. The accident which
lately happened to the machinery of this vessel has
been promptly rectified. A new connecting rod came
down from London on Thursday, and was soon adjusted
to its place. On Saturday last the Styx left Portsmouth
Harbour, at the commencement of the flood tide, and
made a trial voyage round the Isle of Wight, perform-
ing the distance in six hours, against tide nearly the
whole way. The engine was found to be in excellent
order, and acted most beautifully, making from 18 to 19
revolutions per minute, with a superabundance of steam
blowing off; enough for three or four more revolutions
per minute. Mr. Taplin, the Government engineer,
attended the trial, and expressed himself highly satis-
fied with the result. The speed, by log, was ascer-
tained to be full ten knots ; that is nearly 111 statute
miles per hour—a very excellent speed, when it is con-
sidered that this vessel is of 1,100 tons burthen, and
drawing 14ft. 7in. of water at the time, and having
engines of only 280-horse power. The breaking of the
connecting rod appears to have been entirely accidental,
and not through any fault of the machinery. The en-
gines of the Styx are furnished with apparatus for dis-
connecting the paddle-wheels; the object of this is to
allow the paddle-wheels to run round free when the
vessel is under sail, and under which circumstances the
engines are required to stand still. It was thought ad •
visable to put the engine through one or two revolutions
with one wheel only, to which the effect as the crank
passed the centre, in order to discover the cause of an
unusual noise in the working of the engine. For this
purpose the starboard wheel was disconnected and se-
cured by the chains and compresser ,• the engines were
then started, and, as it appears, with two much steam,
which broke adrift the starboard wheel, and the crank
coming into contact with the broad part of the connect-
ing rod, broke it instantly.
It is understood to be in contemplation to razee the
Melville to a double bank frigate.
The number of men victualled last week, at this port,
was upwards of 5,300, being a larger number than dur-
ing any week since the peace. '
We have just received another proof of the value of
Grant's fuel. The coal bunkers of the Albert, which
held 18 tons of Grant's fuel, will only stow 16 of coals;
and, as these 18 tons are equal to 27 tons of coals, a ship
is thus enabled. to keep the sea 27 days, instead of
16 days.
Several of the men of war at this port are having
Blake's patent fids fitted to their topmasts.
Rear-Admiral Griffiths has been appointed the head of
a Committee or Commission to inquire into the system of
pursers' accounts. We trust that something will be done
by this Committee to render a profit certain to pursers
of small vessels.
ADMIRALTY COURT, Nov. 12.—The Elizabeth and
Jane—The Court this day decided against the appli-
cation on behalf of Mr. King's executors. The particu-
lars we reported on the 20th September.
PLYMOUTH, NOV. 11. The Volcano and Avon
steamers have arrived this week from Liverpool, with
220 newly raised men for the Navy ; the latter has
taken part of them to Portsmouth, and the Volcano
has returned to Liverpool. The Siren, 16, Comman-
der W. Smith, and Ferret, 10, Lieutenant C. H. La-
pidge, were paid advance wages on the 10th. The Siren
takes out Captain Ogle to join the Southampton on
the South American station, and afterwards proceeds
to China ; the Ferret will proceed to the Coast of
Africa.—The Cambrian, 36, Captain H. Chads, sailed
for Bombay, on the Bth, with Lord Ellenborough, Go-
vernor General of India ; she will proceed- from thence
to join the China expedition.—The Malabar, 72, Cap-
tain Sir G. R. Sartorius, was towed into the Sound by
the Avon steamer on the 7th.—ln Harbour—Caledonia,
San Josef, Belleisle, and Spartan.—ln the Sound—Ma-
labar, Siren, and Ferret.

PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS.
PROMOTlONS.—Lieutenants—E. S. Sotheby (1835), of
the Madagascar, and Wm. M. W. Douglas (Um), to
the rank of Commander ; the latter upon the hai'!!,ng
down Of Commodore Douglas's broad pendant..
Nate—B.-F, Helpraim 0834), senior ~-;; the Beagle, to
the rank of Lieutenant,
ApPommENTs.—COmmar.aer—J. B. Woodthorpe, to
the Alfred,
Lieutenants—E. Shadwell, to the Madagascar •, F.
Cannon and T. C. Woodman, to the Queer ; G. Cas-
well and W. Saumarez, to the Apoittl f Jan Nepean
(1806), to the Peninsular Mail Ag•etwy. vice G. L. \Vol-
ley (1820), to Astrea ; S'Aell (1825), to the Hope ;
C. W. G. Griffin (1514), to Tyrian ; T. Creser, to Star
packet ;W, Molyneux and Thomas Ellis, to the Al-
fred Henry Barnard, to the Siren ; John Davies (c),
from' Wickham revenue cruiser, to be Chief Officer ;
Charles Moss, Chief Officer, to the Wickham ; Charles
Griffin Clarke, Chief Officer, to the Nimble revenue cr.
Pur ers—W. L. Freeman, to Alfred ; H. M. Jeffery,
to the Aigle,
Masters—Peter Loney, to the Siren ; G. Heather, to
the Apollo • G. Burney, to the Viper ; W. Mills, to the
Styx ; Mr;Pope, to the Illustrious.

Surgeon—W. Graham, to the Apollo ; A. Stewart, to
the Malabar.

Second Masters—Horatio Norway, to the Malabar ;
J. Wilkinson, to the North Star ; O'Brien, to the
Sapphire. -
Chaplain—Rev. G. Austen, to the Queen.
Mates—W. G. Herbert, J. Pritchard, L. Place, and
G. Williams, to the Queen ; E. J. L. Cooper and G. R.
Halliday, to the St. Vincent.
Volunteers First Class—Hon. W. Lysaght and E.
Catley, to the Queen; James Black, to the Gorgon; J.
Armstrong, to the Cyclops; W. S. Jordan, to the
Ganges; G. W. Watson, to the Apollo; G. Addison,
Edw arclCouch, and H. Glover t•,, tile Queen.
Clerks—John Pascoe, to the Belleisle; G. Elkins, to
the Queen ; Joseph Hayward, to the Admiral's-office.
The following Midshipmen passed for Lieutenants at
the Royal Naval College, on Tuesday:—Mr. Thomas C.
R. Gill, late Samarang, and Mr. J. A. H. Boyd, late
Castor. Messrs. James Stephen, Frederick H. Need-
ham, and John Sykes, qualified for naval instructors
and schoolmasters.