The Sun.
London, England, 1824-09-29 00:00:00

WINCHESTER, SEPT. tB.

CONVICTION of O'NEIL, the Bruiser, for Robbing A It-
ERE w, one of his own Countrymen, of a Sovereign.
At the City Sessions, held this day before the
Mayor and a Bench of Aldermen, Thomas O'Neil was in-
dicted for robbing an Irish labourer, of the name of Andrew,
of a sovereign. Andrew's story was this :—He had been work-
ing at Mr. Woodham's farm, and had that day (viz. the 24th
of August last) been paid off, and had also been regaling him-
self with Mr. Woodinun's beer, so as to make hint a little
drinky, when, during the course of the evening, he went into
the City Arms and called for some more beer, and also some
bread and cheese ; soon after walked in O'Neil and Goulding ;
fighting was then talked about, and Andrew said that he
would tight Goulding for a sovereign, which he (Goulding)
declined; some one then said that Andrew could not produce
a sovereign ; Andrew on this pulled one out of his pocket and
threw it on the table; O'Neil took it up, rung it, and said it
was a good one, and that Andrew should have it again in the
morning if he won the battle. A hubbub was now made, and
the landlord eventually was obliged to clear the house, when
poor Andrew lost sight of O'Neil, and the sovereign with him.
In the morning Andrew went to O'Neil's lodgings, when it
appeared that all the party had got out of their lodgings in the
night and had gone off; forgetting to pay for them. A con-
' stable was dispatched after them, and they were brought back,
but O'Neil only was detained. O'Neil in his defence said
that he had given the sovereign to Goulding, who had shared
it with two others, and that he had none of it except part of a
reckoning which it was changed to pay. The Jury found him
Guilty, and the Court sentenced hint to two months' imprison-
ment, and to be kept to hard labour, so that in all probability
he will come out in good wind front the exercise of the tread.
mill. The speech of the Mayor was most eloquent and im-
his s fighting habits
andtsai vkee :t
oh
iemexhortedoou
ctiol vfreat
and bulk appeared
to be so well fitted to sustain.
At these Sessions a man was convicted of hawking about tea
for sale in the penalty of 101. tine and 40s. costs, which his em-
ed of robbing his master of a small
Jotkrneyinan was convicted
ployer pitying for him, welt immediately dischaiged
can and qitintity of oil in it, but as he received a very good
; ,also
character front many of his neighbours, he was recommended
to mercy by the Jury; he was sentenced only to une month's
imprisonment.

TUE DEPLORABLE EFFECTS Olt SUPERSTI-
TIOUS OBSERVANCES. I have been grieved since I
came back from Meliphilla by the state of a beautiful
and amiable girl, which has arisen from a misunderstood spirit
of devotion. Before I went away she was gay and'cheerful,
the delight of her father's house. Her music and her poetry,
and her reading aloud while others worked, formed the charm
of her home. But her mother, though a clever woman, is a
bigot; and Maria's mind, of a high and lofty nature, is pecu-
liarly susceptible of religious impressions. Under these, the
tender-couscienced girl, to punish herself for an attachment not
favoured by her house, which she still felt, though at her pa-
rent's bidding she had given up its object, resolved-to go for ten
days to a Cosa de .Exereisio. There, under the guidance of an
old priest, the young creatures who retire thus, are kept pray-
ing night anti day, with so little fixed and sleep that their bodies
and minds alike become weakened. All the intervals between
the Masses, which are of the most lugubrious chants, are passed
in silence; no voice is heard above a whisper, and the light of
heaven is scarcely admitted. A young married woman, who
went in with Muria, came out even gayer than she entered;
doubtless her heart had rested on her husband and their home.
Rut what was to occupy the thoughts and affections of the girl
whose best feelings were to be crushed ? Could she harbour
there " a wish but death, a passion but despair ?" anti she has
returned as it were to earth,—on it, but not of it. The sight
of friends throws her into fits of hysterical weeping • and. only
prostrate before the altar, and repeating the masses ofl her house
of woe, does she seem soothed or calmed. Such are the effects
of the house of exercise. I might have thought that my young
friend's peculiar disposition alone had caused this ; but I know
a youth who was, I am told, once all that parents could wish,__.
accomplished and enlightened, anti possessed of honour and
spirit. Ile is now little better than a drivelling idiot. He went
into a house of exercise a man,—he came out of it what he is.
Oh ! if I had power or influence here, I would put down these
mischievous establishments. Even when they do not cause, as
in this instance, a derangement of the intellect, they are nurse-
ries of bigotry and fanaticism. To have been in one is a source
of vanity, to conform to the sentiments inculcated there a point
of conscience; and as it is easier to be a bigot than a virtuous
Mau, great laxity of conduct is permitted, so the spirit is bent
to maintain the Church, and to persecute, or at least keep down,
those who are not of it.—(Mrs. Graham's Journal of a nezi.
denge in Chili.)

The following is the proclamation of mar-
riage between Darnley and Queen Mary, extracted from the
register of Cannongate parish, Edinburgh " The 21 of
July" Anno Domino, 150. The quhilk day, Johne Brand,
myntster, preaentit to the kirk one writting, writtin by the Jun.
tice.Clerk hand, denyring the Kirk of the Canogait, and my.
sister thereof, to pmclaim Hanle fink of Albanie, Erie of
Rohl, &c., on the one part: and Marie, by the Grace of God,
Quecne, Soverane of this itealme, on uther part : the quhilk
the Kirk ordinis the mynister to do, with invocation of the name
of God."
Professor StnazwicK, of Trinity College,
Cambridge, visited Whitehaven last week, on a
geological survey.