The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-30 00:00:00

ARMY SERVICE BILL.

Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS was sure that the House
would nor, st that hour, enter upon the Army Service
Bill, and he hoped it would be put off till after Easter.
Mr. FOX MAULE objected to the Bill being post-
poned till after Easter ; and said, if it could not be
taken immediately, it would be necessary for the House
to meet at twelve o'clock this morning (Tuesday), to
take the Bill into consideration in Committee.

Lord J. RUSSELL thought that as the opponents of
the Bill had declined to come to a division upon a former
occasion appointed for the Bill, he did not think it fair
that a postponement of the measure should now take
place; he thought the arrangement he had proposed was
the most desirable that could be effected.
Sir IL DOUGLAS was understood to consent to the
suggestion of the Noble Lord.
Mr. S. HERBERT thought that no good could result
from the House meeting to-morrow at twelve o'clock, as
most of the Members would have left town under the
impression that the Irish measure was disposed of.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that if the Bill did not come
on at that period, he would propose that it should be
taken after the notices at the usual hour this day.
Colonel SIBTHORP considered that the Govern-
ment wished to smuggle the Bill through the
House, or they would not bring it forward at so late an
hour as the present.
Lord J. RUSSELL, on the suggestion of Sir 11.
Doncw, fixed the Committee for this day (Tuesday)
at five o'clock.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that, in order to suit the con-
venience of Irish Members, he would fix the third read-
ing of the Poor Relief (Ireland) Bill and the Landed
Property (Ireland) Bill for Friday, the 16th of April.
The report on the Customs Duties Bill was brought
up and agreed to.
The Marine Mutiny Bill was read a third time and
passed.
The remaining orders of the day were disposed of, and
the House adjourned at a Quarter-past Two o'clock.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS.
(From the Votes and Proceedings of the Rouse of Comnunts.)
NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL-OFFICE.
The following Railway Bills are appointed to be read a
second time on Wednesday, March 31:—
Caledonian (Edinburgh Station, and Branches to Granton
and to the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway).
Caledonian (Branches to Wilsontown, to Fauldhouse, and to
Biggar and Broughton).

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS.

:From the Votes and Proceedings of Me House of Common!.)

MONDAY, MARCH 29.
POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL.
(IN THE COMMITTEE.)

Clause (And be it further enacted, That from and after the
first day of November next, no person who shall be in the
occupation, whether under lease or agreement, or as tenant at
will, or from year to year, or in any other manner what-
soever, of any land of greater extent than the quarter of a
statute acre, shall be deemed and taken to be a destitute poor
person under the povisions of the first recited Act and the
Acts amending the same, or of this Act; nor shall it be
lawful for any board of guardians to grant ary relief what-
ever in or out of the workhouse to any such person until
they shall he satisfied that he has bona fide, and without col-
lusion, absolutely parted with or surrendered any right or
. title which he may have had to the occupation of any land
over and above such extent as aforesaid, of one quarter of a
statute acre):—Motion made, and Question put," That the
Clause, as amended, be added to the Bill." The Committee
divided :

MAJORITY-AYES, 117.

MINORITY-NOES, 7.
Crawford, W. S. 111`Carthy, Alex. TELLEILL
Escott, Bickhain Scrape, G. P. O'Brien, W. S.
Evans. Sir Be Lacy Williams, W. Cartels, IL B.
Humpliery, Ald.

Clause (And be it enacted, That, save as hereinafter pro-
vided, it shall not be lawful for any occupier of rateable pro-
perty holding under any lease or agreement to be made or
entered into after the passing of this Act, nor for any tenant
at will, or from year to year, after the Ist day of January,
1849, to deduct from the rent to which he may be liable in
respect of such property, any amount whatever in respect of
fitly rate which may be imposed at any period subsequent to
the date of such lease or agreement, or subsequent to such
Ist day of January, as the case may be) brought up, and
read a first time ; Motion made, and Question put, " That
the said Clause be now read a second time." The Com-
mittee divided :
MINORITY—AYES, 76.
Acland, T. D. Gaskell, J. M. Masterman, John
Adderley, C. B. Gladstone, J. N. Maxwell, Hon. J. P.
Antrobus, Edmund Gore, W. B. 0. Mundy, E. M.
Baillie, W. Goulburn, Henry Newdegatc, C. N.
Darkly, Henry Grogan, E. Newry, Viscount
Baring, Thomas Halsey, T. P. Norreys, Lord
Bateson, T. Hamilton, G. A. O'Brien, A. Stafford
Bennett, Philip Harris, Captain Patten, J. W.
Bentinek, Lord G. Ileatheote, Sir W. Reid, Colonel
Brisco, M. Henley, J. W. Repton, G. W.
Brooke, Sir A. B. Herbert, Sydney Rolleston, Colonel
Bunbury, T. Ilildyard, T. B. Sibthorp, Co:onel
Cardwell, Edward Hill, Lord E. Stuart, J.
Crew, W. 11. Pole Holmes, W. A'Court Sutton, 11. M.
Chandos, Marquis of Hope, G. W. Taylor, E.
Chute, W. L. W. Jocelyn, Viscount Thompson, Alderman
Clerk Sir G. Jones, Captain Tollemache, J.
Cole, Hon. 11. A. Tier, I). S. Vcsey, Hon. T.
Corry, Henry Knight, F. W. Villiers, Viscount
Cripps, William Law, C. E. Vyse,
Darner, Colonel Lefroy, Anthony Walsh, Sir J.
Disraeli, B. Lennox, Lord G. H. Young, John
Douglas, Sir 11. Liddell, 11. T.
Douglas, Sir C. B. Lincoln, Earl of TELLERS.
Emlyn, Viscount Lindsay,: Colonel Jolliffe, Sir W. G. 11.
Fineh, G. Manners, Lord J. Shaw, F.
Fuller, A. E. March, Earl of

MAJORITY-NOES, 79.
Aglionby, H. A. Evans, Sir De Lacy O'Brien, W. S.
Aldam, William Fitzroy, Lord C. O'Connell, M. J.
Anson, Colonel Gore, Robert O'Couor, Don
Archbold, Robert Grey, Sir G. Ogle, S. C.
Arundel, Earl of Hall, Sir Benjamin Paget, Lord A.
Bannerman, A. Hawes, Benj. Pechell, Captain
Baring, F. T. Heneage, Edward Perfect, Robert
Barron, Sir 11. W. Hobhouse, Sir J. Philpotte, John
Berkeley, Captain Holland, Robert Rawdon, Colonel
Berkeley, H. F. Howard, C W.G. Rich, Henry
Bodkin, J. J. ~: Howard, E. G. Russell, Lord J.
Bon-ring, Dr. Howard, P. li. Russell, Lord H.
Brotherton, Joseph Howard, Sir R. Scrope, G. P.
Buller, Charles Jervis, Sir John Sheridan, R. B.
Christie, W. D. Labouchere, Henry Somerville, Sir W.
Collett, John Lambton, H. Stanley, W. 0.
Cowper, W. F. Macaulay, T. B. Stuart, V.
Craig, W. G. M`Carthy, Alexander Struts, Edward
Crawford, W. S. M'Donnell, J. M. Thornely, T.
Dickinson, F. F. Maitland, Thomas Warburton, R.
Dodd. George Mangles, R. D. %Ward, H. G.

Dull, James Mar;hall',lVilllaua 'Wilshere, T. W.
Duncan, George 3laule, Fox Wyse, Thomas
Dundas Admiral Mitchell, T. A.

Dundas, Sir David Moffatt, George TELLERS.
Dundas, J. C.: Monahan, J. H. Hill, Lord AL
Escott, Bickham Morpeth, Viscount Tufnell, 11.
Evans, William Morris, David

AMERICAN WHALERS.

MR. BROWNING'S EVIDENCE BEFORE THE

NAVIGATION-14ANS COMMITTiE,
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sits,—ln The Sun of the 24th insCAr. Browning is
reported to have said, before a Parliamentary Committee
on the Navigation-laws, that " the .American whalers
wero generally of an inferior class of vessels, and could
not follow the whales into high latitudes, or huok on to
them in rough weather."
Happening to be an American myself, and, indeed,
to have been " raised"—to use a Yankeeism—in a little
town called Nantucket, which is somewhat famed
for its enterprise and success in the prosecution of the
whale fisheries ; and being, moreover, familiar with the
modus operandi of the whaling business otherwheres, the
above statement somewhat amused me.

Now it so happens that the one thing for which our
American whalers are pre-eminent, is strength, a quality
more necessary than any other to success. In fact, the
length of their voyages (averaging over three years), and
the great cost and inconvenience of getting repairs while
abroad, makes it of prime importance that such should be
the case. I can assure the Committee aforesaid, that
the Nantucket and New Bedford merchants (and they
do seven-eighths of the whole business) never send a
vessel from their ports until, after a thorough overhaul-
ing. she is found to be every way seaworthy. The com-
monest self-interest would warn them from any other
course. The statistics show that fewer vessels are lost on
other. As for the difficulty
whaling voyages than any
of " hooking on to whales " in stormy weather, one
scarcely knows what Mr. Browning means. The whale
is always attacked, captured, and " hooked on to," from
comparatively small boats—of which every ship carries
from four to eight—and is not brought alongside till he
is in a state of most harmless quietus; and it must be a
" stormy " time indeed, when either an American or a
British whaler loses an opportunity to " hook ou to
him. Really, testifiers before such Committees should
be more cautious in their testimony.
On looking at another part of Mr. B.'s statement, we
find the following :

shipwrights repairing her (meaning the Ameri-
can ship), and other artisans fitting her with stores, take
their chance of the profits arising from her fishing. The
same arrangement was made with those who navigated
her, the ordinary seaman receiving one-sixtieth part of
her net prcfits, and the captain about one-twelfth."

The whole of this is wrong. The shipwrights and
artisans have nothing to do with the voyage, and the
" lay" (as it is called) of the sailor and captain is net a
given proportion of the profits, but of the cargo. The
owners may sink thousands of dollars, and yet the sailor
make ono or two hundred, and the captain much more.
Dundee, March 26, 1847. C.
[The writer of the above has sent us his name and
address.—ED.]

LONDON AND NORTII-WESTERN RAILWAY OF-
FICERS, &c.—The officers and servants of the London
and North-Western Railway Company having, much to
their credit, opened a subscription for the relief of the
distressed Irish and Scotch, have collected the sum of
two hundred and eighty-three pounds, which has been
paid to the account of the National Relief Fund.
Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the Governors of Hong-Kong, Ceylon, the
MauritiuF, and Gibraltar.

COURT CIRCULAR.

The Queen held a Court yesterday afternoon at Buck-
ingham Palace.

Senor Isturitz, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenii otentiary from her Catholic Majesty the Queen
babella 11. of Spain, had an audience of her Majesty to
present his credentials.
Senor Mora, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Ple-
nipotentiary from Mexico, had au audience of the Queen
to present his credentials.
Their Excellencies were respectively introduced by
Viscount Palmerston, G.C.8., her Majesty's Principal
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and conducted by
Colonel the Hon. Sir Edward Cust, K.C.H., her Ma-
jesty's Master of the Ceremonies.
The Queen was attended by the Marquis of Ormonde,
Lord in Waiting, and Mr. R. Ormsby Gore, Groom in
Waiting.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited her
Majesty and her Royal Consort yesterday.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on horse-
back yesterday, attended by his Equerry in Waiting,
Colonel Bouverie.

The Royal Family took their accustomed walks and
rides yesterday.
The Earl of Lincoln, Lord Edward Howard, and Mr.
G. E. Anson, had the honour of joining the royal circle
at Buckingham Palace at dinner yesterday evening.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited the
Queen Dowager yesterday. His Royal Highness the
Duke of Cambridge also visited her Majesty yesterday,
at Marlborough House.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester
visited the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge yesterday,
at Cambridge House.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge
and the Princess Mary, attended by Baroness Hammer-
stein, left town yesterday evening for Kew.
A meeting of several of the Cabinet Ministers took
place yesterday at the residence of the Marquis of
Lansdowne, in Berkeleysquare (the Noble Marquis
continuing indisposed). There were present—Lord
John Russell, Sir George Grey, Viscount Palmerston,
Earl Grey, the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Earl of
Clarendon, and the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere.
Count Schimmelpenninck, Minister of the Nether-
lands, left London last Sunday morning for the Hague.
His Excellency is expected to return in about a month.
During his absence M. Stratenus, Counsellor of Lega-
tion. will act as Charge d'Affaires.
Mr. Bancroft, the American Minister, left town: cn
Monday, on a short visit to Paris.
Baron de Brunnow, the Russian Minister, transacted
business yesterday at the Foreign-office.
Sir John Pelly had an interview with the Earl of
Clarendon yesterday, at the office of the Board of
Trade.

Mr. IL Galt had an interview with Earl Grey yester-
day, at the Colonial-office.
Lord John Russell had a dinner party on Saturday, at
his residence in Chesham-place. Among the company
were M. Van de Weyer, the Belgian Minister ; Baron
de Moncorvo, Portuguese Minister ; the Chevalier
Bunsen, Prussian Minister ; Senor Isturitz, Spanish
Minister ; the Duke of Norfolk, the Duke of Bedford,
the Earl Fortescue, Viscount Torrington, Lord Lilford,
the Earl of Minto, Mr. Villiers Stuart, and Lord
Wriotheslev Russell.

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat
yesterday to give judgment on au appeal, " Sidney
Stephen v. the Judges of the Supreme Court of Van
Diemen's Land." The Lords present were the Master
of the Rolls, Lord Brougham, Lord Campbell, and the
Judge of the Admiralty Court. Judgment was given
by Lord Brougham.
The Lord Chief Justice Wilde and Lady Wilde
arrived at Farranco's Hotel, Upper Belgrave-street,
yesterday, from Lewes.
Her Majesty the Queen has been most graciously
pleased to :appoint Mademoiselle Dezboroff (successor to
Madame Thomas), of 35, Rue Neuve du Luxembourg,
Paris, to be her Majesty's milliner in that capital.
Mdlle. Dezboroff has also the honour to hold the
appointment of milliner to the Princesses of the French
Court.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
TATTERSALL'S-MONDAY.

The Newmarket Handicap excited a good deal of
attention, its interest being chiefly derivable from the
business done on the three favourites. We have quoted
Vanish at 7 to 1 ; this was her closing price, but in
the course of the afternoon she was backed at all sorts
of prices, from 10 to 1 up to 6 to 1, from which she
receded near the last to 9 to 1, was backed at that
figure, came again and settled finally at 7to 1 : 9to 2
was at one time taken currently about each of the two
favourites, but offered at the finish. Some other horses
were backed for small sums. Nothing fresh on the
other Spring races, and not much done on the
Derby ; we should mention, however, that 9 to 1
was taken freely about Planet, 30 to 1
to about 1001 about Liberator, 2,500 to 100 about Glen-
tilt, 1,400 to 50 about Conyngham, 50 to 1 to 2001. about
Bingham, and a few other bets of minor importance.
Glentilt and The Liberator, although backed, were not
in good odour, and Epirote was entirely friendless.
Latest prices :

NEWMARKET HANDICAP.
9 to 2'agst Mr. Gregory's Euclid colt
9 to 2 agst Lord E. Russell's Sting
7 to 1 agst Sir C. Monck's Vanish
10 to 1 agst Lord Orford's Footstool—taken
12 to 1 agst Lord Stradbroke's Lynceus—taken
14 to 1 agst Mr. Wigram's Keslieng— taken
20 to 1 agat Sir .Shellev's Campanile
20 to 1 agst Col. Anson's Tom Tullock
100 to 6 agst Sir J. Hawley's Iliumll um—taken
Watch-dog is scratched.
THE PORT STAKES.
Offers to back the field at even, or take 6 to 4 about Sting.
METROPOLITAN If ANDICA P.
18 to 1 agst Mr. John Day's Bourton—taken
20 to 1 agst Mr. G. H. Moore's Wolfdog—taken
25 to 1 agst Mr. Herbert's Odessa filly—taken
25 to 1 agst Mr. liainsbottom's Fire Apple
Finvarrigh is scratched.
TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES.
5 to 2 agst Mr. Mostyn's Planet—taken
7 to I agst Mr. O'Brien's The Liberator—taken
8 to 1 agst Nr. S. Conway's Christopher.
CHESTER cur.
20 to 1 agst Mr. Gully's Mendicant
25 to 1 agst Lord E. Russell's Dulcet—taken
25 to 1 agst Mr. B. Green's The Lamb
25 to 1 agst Captain Pettat's Newcourt
28 to I agst Mr. Wilson's Punch
40 to 1 agst Mr. Skerratt's Intrepid—taken
1,000 to 15 agst Mr. A. Johnstone's Annandale—taken
750 to 25 agst Lord Eglinton's two—taken
600 to 20 agst Mr. Collett's two—taken.
DERBY.
700 to 200 agst Kent's lot—taken
14 to 1 agat Forth's lot—taken
6 to 1 agst Lord Eglinton's Van Tromp
9 to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's Planet—taken freely
13 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's Epirote—no backers
25 to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's Glentilt
28 to 1 agst Sir R. Pigot's Conyngham—taken
30 to 1 agst Mr, O'Brien's Liberator
40 to 1 agst Mr. Irwin's Horn of Chase—taken
50 to 1 agat Colonel Anson's Bingham—taken to 2001.
50 to 1 agst Mr. Stephenson's Black Dwarf
50 to 1 agst Mr. Holmes's Pavilion
2000 to 40 agst Mr. Payne's Sister to Cobweb colt—taken
60 to 1 agst Mr. Bouverie's War Eagle
66 to 1 agst Mr. Fuller's Oxonian—taken.
OAKS.

8 to 1 agst Mr. J. Day's The Farmer's Daughter—t.
Hornet is disqualified for the Derby, Oaks, and St. Leger,
and some other engagements, by the death of the owner, Mr.
Corbet Smith.

MANCHESTER RACES.
The Master of the Horse has been pleased to transfer
the Queen's Plate from the old course to the new one,
and it will be run fur, as usual, at the forthcoming
meeting.
NEWMARKET CRAVEN MEETING.—FIIIDAY.
Mr. G. H. Moore's Wolfdog, 9st, agst Lord E. Rus-
sell's Reminiscence, 6st 71b; A.F., 200, h ft.

SECOND OCTOBER' MEETING.—FRIDAY.
Duke of Bedford's Leopard, Bst 9lb, agst Mr. G. 11.
Moore's Watchdog, 7st 71b; D. 1., 200, hft.

It has been stated in a Marseilles paper that the
Government of Great Britain had definitively decided
upon adopting the route to India by Marseilles and
Alexandria, and had abandoned all efforts to procure an-
other mode of transit. This statement has been copied
into the London papers. The mistake of the French
journals has arisen from the fact of the Ardent (Govern.
ment steamer) having been taken from the other
route, and ordered back to Malta. But, in fact, the
Ardent had been only lent to our enterprising country-
man, Lieutenant Waghorn, fora series of experimental
trips, six in number, which have now terminated. A
sum of money was also placed at his disposal by our
Government to
.carry out the remaining portion of his
experiment, which is now for the present concluded. No
opinion as to its working has been come to. Indeed
there has not as yet been time to arrive at a conclusion.
But oven should that conclusion be adverse to the route
by Trieste, in the present state of road travelling, it by
no means follows that the way by Marseilles is to be de-
finitively settled upon as the best, or that our Govern-
ment should be debarred from seeking another—and if
possible a better—mode of transit tor our Indian mails,
or from giving all due encouragement to every enterprise
calculated to establish so desirable a result.—Observer,
28th March.

SCHOOLS FDIC THE DESTITUTE AND NEGLECTED.—
A very numerous meeting to forward the above object was
held last evening in the school-room, Chapel-place, Suffolk-
street, Borough. Lord Ashley occupied the chair. After a
report had been read detailing the operations in connexion
with a school lately established in London-street, London-
road, his Lordship congratulated the promoters of the meeting
in having, to some extent, met the claims of this large and
unfortunate class, and expressed the hope that in connexion
with this effort a daily industrial school might be established,
as the best means of counteracting evil associations. He
encouraged the committee to persevere in their labours,
assuring them that his experience in the working of ragged
schools warranted him in telling them that success was cer-
tain, if the work were carried on with benevolent intentions
and in a kindly spirit. Resolutions were passed setting
forth the claims of this hitherto uncared-for class, and calling
for the increased co-operation of the Christian, the philan-
thropist, and the patriot. The meeting was addressed by
the Revs. C. Wall, J. Branch. and J. Stevenson ; J. Payne,
Esq., J. Browne, Esq., and other gentlemen After a vote of
thaks to the Noble Chairman, the meeting separated.
ROBBERY AT KNAPTON.—On Saturday, Inspec-
tors Scott and Aldis apprehended W. Lark and George
Lark, both of Knapton ; the one for stealing, and the
other for receiving, a quantity of linseed, the property
of the Rev. W. L. Barnes, of Knaptun. George Lark
was stopped with a quantity of linseed in his possession;
and the house of the other prisoner being searched, a
quantity of linseed meal was found concealed there, which
corresponded with that found on the prisoner George.
' They were brought before the magistrates at Cromer,
and fully committed by W. IL Windham, En., to
walsingham prison.—Norfolk Chronicle.
GLASGOW PIG IRON MARKET, MARCH 23.—The
market is firmer this week, mixed Nov. having been sold as
high as 71s. cash, and little iron on Glas-gow Saturday
fast.

THE MURDER at CHESTERFIELD.
OIONFESSION OF PLATTS.
This criminal, since his conviction, has been placed in
the condemned cell of the county gaol, under the cus-
tody of Mr. Sims, the governor. He was visited by
the Rev. George Pickering, the chaplain of the
prison, who urged on the convict the propriety of
making a conkssion of his guilt. On Sunday he
attended Divine service, and in the after part of the day
he wrote to his mother, sister, and brother, previous
to which he made an unreserved and full confession
of the murder. He stated that he was present when it
was committed, and that he was the principal party
concerned, althsug,h he did not strike the blow by which
the unfortunate man, George Collis, was stunned and
rendered insensible. He next proceeded to implicate
Morley as taking an active part, and divulged the name
of a third person, which, as a matter of course, has not
been suffered to transpire.
The circumstances he narrated were as follows :
Platts and Collis, the deceased, spent the Sunday after-
noon with Morley, Collis was plied with drink and in-
veigled into Platt's shop in the shambles under pretence
of settling the account, and he was then murdered. The
object of Platts and Motley was plunder, for it was
conjecture d that as Collis was about to marry Ellen
Beresford in the West Bars, I:e had saved a sum of
money for this purpose, which he carried about
with him. This young woman gave testimony on
the trial. After the perpetration of the murder the
body was mutilated, and on Monday night was de-
posited in a sack by Morley and the convict, and
carried across the market-place to the cesspool, where
s ay
it was accidentally discovcreu. Muir,g. the d Platts
had proceeded to the house of Mr. Franks, the land-
lord of the Old Angel, and not many yards distant
from the shambles, and told Mrs. Frank, at the
time the corpse was lying in the shop, that he fully
expected to meet Collis at the Angel, in order to settle
their partnership accounts. This statement, made
by Platts on Sunday, would make it appear that after
the blow inflicted on the victim, he was strangled
to prevent the moaning noise, and which noise, it
may be remembered, was sworn to as having been
heard by several persons on passing through the
shambles on the Sunday evening of the murder, and
which attracted the attention of the passers-by. The
convict admitted that he then proceeded to rifle the dead
body of his victim, and divested it of his shoes and part
of the dress. Platts then went into lengthened details
of the part he had sustained in the murder and the cir-
cumstances. After this confession the prisoner appeared
more sociable in his manner, and conversed with the
attendants. He was then, at his request, furnished with
writing materials, and wrote the following letter to his
mother:—

" Derby County Gaol, March 21, 1847.
" My dear Mother, Sister, and Brothers,—With
trembling, i rite these few lines to you—i hope you will
not fret about your unfortunate son, for i hope we
shall all meet in u better world than this ; i hope
the Lord will forgive us all our sins ; i am shure he
will if we due ask the Lord (jeus) jeues Criced our
Savor dear mother ; i hope you will pray to the
Lord to pardon your sins i am sure be will if you
pray to heaven for pardon my dear sister remember
what i say to you pray to heaven to pardon all your
sins dont delay my dear Brother remember what i
say dont delay pray to hevon to pardon all your
sins; bles the Lord for it and i hope he will forgive
me for i know we bay all to die therefore i will not
lose no time i have praid nite and day to the Lord
Jeseus our Savor to forgive me all my sins and to blot
out all my old offences my dear mother pleas send word
if you are coming to see me for I should like to see you
all I am going to rite to my dear friend Mr. Hotham
rite to me with speed pleas to show this letter to Mr.
H. Ilotham and you will oblige your unfortunate son,

"JOHN PLATTS."
The above letter was forwarded, at the convict's re-
quest, to Platt's mother, at Chesterfield. At an early
hour on Monday, upon being visited by the chaplain and
governor, his conduct was very indecorous. Shortly
before noon Platts had an interview with several of the
visiting justices, and was then interrogated relative to
the confession which he bad made on the preceding day,
and was asked, if the confession was reduced to writing,
he would sign the document ; to the great surprise of
all present the convict contradicted the statement made
on the preceding day, and denied that he had any part
in the murder, but implicated other individuals. He
made another statement to the justices, which was full
of inconsistencies. On Tuesday it was communi•
cated to the convict that the High Sheriff bad fixed
Thursday, at neon, April the Ist, for the sentence to be
carried into effect. On the announcement by Mr. Sims,
the convict turned deadly pale, but evinced no emotion.
During the week the relatives of the convict had an in-
terview, and his mother and sister will take their final
leave on the Tuesday preceding the day of execution.

RUBlNL—Thirty years past, at Bergamo, by a
singular contrast, the Opera company was very mediocre
and the chorus excellent. Amongst the chorus-singers at this
period there was a young man, very poor, very modest, and
much beloved by his companions. This young man (to aid
his aged mother), added to the functions of a chorus-
singer the more lucrative one of a tailor. One day, having
taken a pair of pantaloons to Nozari, this celebrated singer
looked at him earnestly, and said to him, with kindness,
•4 It seems to me, my boy, that I have seen you some-
where ?" " That is very probable, Sir ; you might have
seen me at the theatre, where I sing in the cholusses."
" Have you a good voice ?'' "Not particularly, Sir; I
ascend with difficulty to G." "Let us see," said Nozari, at
the same time approaching the piano; "sing the scale."
The chorus-singer obeyed, but, having sung G, he
stopped, quite out of breath. " Sing A—courage ; go on."
" Indeed, Sir, I cannot." " Sing A immediately, I say, un-
fortunate." The A was sung. " Now sing If." "Really,
Sir—" " Sing 11, I say, at once, or by my—" " Oh, do
not be angry, Sir, and 1 \\ill try." GAI; C was sung.
" You perceive," said Nozari, with a triumphant voice, "and
now, my boy I shall only say to you, it you will work, you
will brews() the first- tenor of Italy." Ni.zari Was not de-
ceived. The poor chorus-singer was the renoveued tenor
liebini, who now possesses a colossal fortune.
A few days ago the following tnaeeacre was com-
mitted at Nedonchel (Pas de Calais). A father strangled
his two children, one six and the other only four years old,
in order that he might become the uncontiolled possessor of
some little property which they inherited.
OBJECTION TO THE TAKING OF AN OATIL—A tall,
stout man, rather respectably dressed, appeared before Sir
Joshua Walmsley, on Saturday, to make a charge against
James Welsh, of having stolen a pair of picks, being
utensils used in making roads and excavations. The
prosecutor, on being handed the book, preparatory to
being sworn, slid,—l refuse to he sworn ; I cannot con-
scientiously take an oath. Sir Joshua Walmsley—What
are you? Are you a Quaker? Prosecutor—l sometimes
go to the Quakers' meetings. Sir Joshua—What religious
denomination do you belong to? Prosecutor—l believe
in Christ, and have been told not to take an oath. Sir
Joshua—Who told you ? Prosecutor The Word of
God. Sir Joshua—Are you a member of the Society
of Friends? Prosecutor—No. Sir Joshua—Are you a
Moravian ? Prosecutor No. Sir Joshua Are you
a— What are you? Prosecutor declined to answer.
A Voice--lie doesn't know what ho is. Sir Joshua—ls it
lon religious grounds that you object to be sworn? Prose-
, cutor—lt is. Sir Joshua—Well, it is very wrong that the
ends of justice should be defeated in this way. I feel that I
have a power to send you to gaol, but I hesitate to act upon
that power. It may be that your repugnance to take an
oath is based upon conscientious scruples, but I certainly
doubt it. lam obliged to discharge a man who, in the face
of the public, is all but proved to have been guilty of
stealing your property, and he must now be let loose upon
society to practise the same deeds with impunity. You see
the result of your refusal. Prosecutor—l do, but I cannot
help it. Sir Joshua—Let the prisoner be discharged.—
Liverpool Mercury.
LIVERPOOL—DISGRACEFUL CONDUCT OF A CAP-
TAIN.—On Tuesday, Captain F. Brown, of the ship Bemires,
appeared in answer to a summons charging him with ill-
treating and placing John Duff; a seaman, in irons. From the
complainant's statement it appeared that during the voyage
from Calcutta, for some alleged misconduct, he had been put
in irons and placed in the water closet for ten days, where
there was neither room to lie down, nor, when the door was
closed, scarcely sufficient air to sustain life. During this time
he was fed on bread and water only. From this he was
removed, and fastened down under one of the hatches,
where again he had great difficulty in breathing from
the insufficiency of air. The defence was, that he had
neglected the captain's orders, was careless and in-
dolent, although at the end of the voyage he had
exerted himself to the utmost. Mr. Rushton said he never
heard a case of greater hardship. For a slight offence the
man was placed in irons, and kept in solitary confinement
for ten days : this in a tropical climate, and in a place where
he could scarcely breathe, and sufficiently close to put an
end to life in twenty-four hours, or to produce a fever. Cap-
tain—We had no other place to put him. Mr. Rushton—l
do not think I should be doing my duty if I did not make an
example of you, and send you for trial. Had such a thing
occurred in the army or navy, we should never have heard
the last of it. Let the evidence be taken. The case was ad-
journed, and the captain held to bail. The defendant, who
was held to bail, appeared yesterday, when Mr. Rushton said
that the magistrates had gives the matter their serious con-
sideration ; and, while they thought that the punishment
I intended to be inflicted was not so great, still they could not
but consider that that kind of punishment in the tropics was
calculated to do serious mischief—it was highly reprehensible
—and there was great doubt whether
him to trial. They would, however,
otnhi7
inflict
d anpoetnsaelntyd
of sl.—Liverpool Mercury.
steamer mo ;e
Leghorn,belonging
iihaving
i nt
go
the French Government,
On the 17th the
of London. The two steamers Lad
Navigation Company,.
Rhamtesreesd tlaie
in tow the Tiger, one ofen the vessels of the Oriental Ste
previous night, owing,"
it
't in watching of the crew of the Tiger,
is said, to the neglect
was somuch broken that she
run against each other during the
and one of the Tiger's wheels .
was obliged to be towed to Leghornfor repairs. Her pan..
sengers took their departure for Naples the same day, by the
Ville de Marseilles.
FUNERAL OF COLONEL GORE UNGTON, M.L.
.-_.
(Abridged from the Bath Herald. )—Thursday being the day
appointed for the lying in state of the deceased gentleman.
Newton Park was the resort of many thousands of persons
anxious to obtain a view of the ceremonial. The chamber
in which the earthly remains of the:lamented deceased lax
was hung with black cloth, in the form of a canopy, from
the centre of which depended a chandelier with ground-
glass shades, which, together with six flambeaux on either
side of the entrance to the room, cast a sombre gloom over
the whole, presenting a scene at once solemn and imposing.
Friday was the day fixed upon for the interment of the body,
and long before the hour appointed for the procession to
start from the house, a vast concourse of persons, the ma-
jority of whom were habited in complimentary mourning,,
assembled to pay their last tribute of respect to the memory
of the departed estimable gentleman. At about half-past
one o'clock, everything having been arranged with the ut-
most regularity, the procession moved from the house. Oa
arriving at the church, which was hung with black cloth.
the corpse was met by the Rev. C. Holland, the curate, who
read the appropriate service in a very impressive manner,
during which the body was lowered to its last earthly tene-
ment in the presence of the deceased Colonel's relatives,
friends, and tenantry only. At the conclusion of the service
the mournful cortege returned.
JAMES SHERIDAN KNOWLES.—During the pact few
days a memorial to Lord John Russell has been ill course of
Mr. James Sheridan Knowles, as a reward
signature in Leeds, in favour of a pension being granted to
and iel, b tfillts Or
for his geniusth
talent as an author. The memorial has received A
' signatures of many of the most respectably ...a 1......
the bucligh, —Leeds Xercuri.