The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-15 00:00:00

LOVE-MAKING IN CHINA.

(Extract of a Letter from Chusan.)
I was poking about the deserted town the day after
we were assigned our several locations, when in a street,
anything but a principal one, and at a window of a
house anything but an inferior one, I saw, or thought I
saw, a pair of eyes peeping from over a screen, and a
pair of hands resting upon the top thereof. The house
had its gable end to the street in which I was, and the
window was the first round the corner. I caught the
vision as I passed—l returned, and returned, and the
eyes and hands were still there. Somehow or other I
concluded that they belonged to a female, but, as it was
clearly possible they might not, it would have been un-
satisfactory to go away wondering. I therefore looked
over my shoulder, and no one being in sight, I very
quietly slipped round to the door, and, not think-
ing it necessary to wait till it was opened, I ap-
plied my shoulder decisively to it, and it yielded
to the persuasion. ,I had hardly got inside the
threshold, when the eyes and hands I had seen
made their appearance, in company with the rest of
the proprietor, the whole figure in a state of evident
trepidation. I believe you know I do not speak Chi-
nese, so I made no attempt to explain myself by words.
I dropped on my knees, and would have kissed the
young lady's foot, but she drew back, and I therefore
kissed the ground two or three times, after which I
placed myself on ene knee, and, concluding that Chinese
have hearts as well as other people, and probably in
the same place, I pressed mine with intense earnest-
ness, and looked—l am not exactly sure how I looked,
bat I soon saw a woman is a woman all over the
world, for her little eyes sparkled, and her little hands
put back a little veil that was worked in gold
thread, and her little feet pattered to wards me a step
or two—l cannot say my goddess walked, and alto-
gether she appeared as much impressed with my ap-
pearance as a modest man could reasonably expect.
I never was so surprised in my life at the ease with
which I reassured her, for, between ourselves, I ex-
pected, being of China, the precious porcelain would
break to pieces from very fright. I had only knelt
two or three minutes, struck my left side three or
four gentle slaps, and clasped my bands, just by the by
as you squeeze a lemon, when I saw that I was any
thing but a monster in her eyes. I would have given
all possible promotion and prize money just to have
been able to say a thing or two in Chinese, but it was
out of the question. I had, therefore, but one resource ;
I spoke English, and told her, of course, she had nothing
to tear, that no one living should harm her, and that I
considered she was a celestial of the first water, and no
mistake, left for the express purpose of striking into
dazzled bewilderment with her radiant beauty the
without savages. All this 1 have no doubt she fully
comprehended. In return she told me, in Chinese,
that all her family had fled in terror, she supposed,
for that on coming home late one evening from a
tea party, she found the house empty—she was pre-
paring to follow, and had got nearly out of the Western
gate, when her heart failed her at the sight of some
of our men, and she returned. She added that there
was not a soul in the house but herself, and that
she had been very frightened, bet that she was not
frightened any longer. Have you ever seen La 'Mate
di Partici? Of course you have. Very well then,
you know how I got at all this. The house was a
very neat affair, indeed it looked like a large toy ;
there were five or six apartments leading from one
another, and up stairs, not exactly what we mean by up
stairs, but yet above the others (the ascent was little
more than a gentle plane) as many more. My little
friend refreshed me with a luscious liqueur, which she
gave me in a small glass globe, covered with gold fila-
gree work, and standing on a carved ivory stem, in shape
not unlike our modern champagne glasses. I think it
must have been decidedly intoxicating in its effects, for,
though I took but two glasses, I felt en alloverishness
very soon after. I might have gone to sleep, but the
curiosity of my fair hostess kept me awake ; and find-
ing that I really was a very harmless thing to play
with, she pulled rue about almost as much as if I bad
been one of their own puzzles. I think I re
mained nearly two hours with her, ransacking in a
quiet way everything in the house, which she
allowed me to do, seeing the pleasure the novelty gave
ene. This whole affair appeared to me when I returned
home like a dream. If women all over the world are
not riddles, what are they? The girl made me un-
derstand as perfectly as if she had been brought up
in a finishing academy near London, that I was not
to tell a soul of her existence. She showed me pro•
visions, dried fruits, and cokes, and wines, that would
last her ten years ; and seeing that I understood I wits
to be mum, which I made her do by pretending to sew
my lips together, at which she laughed heartily aid
clapped her hands, she invited me to call again, to
which I said yes, by slipping behind a screen, spring-
ing forward, and seizing her foot, which this time she
did not withdraw, but rather allowed me to examine, t.nd
I cxn confidently say it was more like a small bag of
%rainuts than anything else. I intend to keep my pro-
mise, and if I am not " found out" I don't think she
will be, while things stand as they do at present. I
have hardly time to add that I am, my dear —,
your's very sincerely, —.

A Madrid Correspondent of the Quotidienne
states that tho Regency has ordered all the possessions of
the Infante Duke of Lucca within the Peninsula to be se••
ques'ratcd.

IRISH REFORMERS.—The Dublin papers arc
nearly filled with the names of the requisitionists for the
coming aggregate meeting. In a supplemental requisi-
tion the names of the Duke of Devonshire and the Earl
of Fitzwilliam appear.

At the meeting of the Hertfordshire Magistrates
Quarter Sessions, at HAAford, on Monday, a scene of
a rather singular character took place, and from the vio-
lence and excitement that were exhibited by the lower
orders of the town, who had crowded the Hall, it was
feared at one time that a serious disturbance would have
taken place. The Court, it appeared, were about to take
into consideration a report of Mr. Russell, the inspector
of prisons, in reference to two cells that have been made at
the bottom of the Town Hall for the reception of male and
female prisoners while awaiting their trials at the Assizes
and Quarter Sessions. The report of Mr. Russell was to
the effect that he had examined the cells, and he consi-
dered that they were fit for the reception of prisoners.
The moment this was said, a tremendous volley of groans
and yells issued from all parts of the Town Hall, amid
such cries as " Shame on you for attempting to put men
into such dens"—" They are not fit for dogs"—" He ought to
be kept in one himself," &c. An almost indescribable scene
of confusion and uproar ensued, and the business of the Court
was completely suspended. Lord Dacre, the Chairman,
at length addressed the people in the gallery and the body
of the Court, and told them their conduct was most dis-
graceful, and could not do them any service, and be begged
them to be quiet and to allow the business to proceed. The
uproar still continued, and at length the Marquis of Sails:.
bury suggested that some of the parties who were disturb-
ing the Court should be trken into custody. Lord Dacre
said he was unwilling to act with severity, but he would
not sit there as Chairman and see the Court insulted.
The uproar and confusion still continuing, the police were
called upon to interfere, and one of those who was most
active in making the disturbance was taken into custody
and lodged in the station-house of the Hertford police.
The question
ohu irsts
et wsh
aaa
tsn
dtthlayeeeni
cells
se Iput,ds e
claanr de
shouldd
btt he ea
used
Csi
ethdawi
arf mso
rta
htnhe,
eoapmi
recep-
tion di
o na
ovorlltehey ofc
of prisoners as was proposed.
BANKRUPTCIES IN 1840.—The total number
of bankruptcies in England and Wales gazetted the last
year, was 1,425, being an excess of 342 over the year
lig% Of these the greatest number (or 148) occurred
in March, and the least (or 89) in October. In persons
connected with manufactures there were, in 1840, no less
than 336 bankruptcies. being an excess of 113 over the
previous year. In the pursuits of agriculture there were
126, being an excess of 21 ; and in miscellaneous pre-
fessions and trades, there were 963, being an excess of
208. In manufactures connected with the cotton trade,
there were last year 38 bankruptcies, being 13 less than
in 1839 ; and in the silk trade there were 7, being a
decrease of I. There were in manufactures connected
with the woollen trade 46, being an excess of 20; in the
linen trade 14, being an excess of 10; in iron foundries 29,
being 25 more than last year; in various iron wares 24,
beingl29,anbecinxg
an excess of 65. In agriculture there were 46 farmers
bankrupts, -
manufactures
trades 49,
cb
ee
si
sn g
of a
2n
;e xa ac
ds s
ionf
m 5
iscienllbaunieloduinsg
department under this head there was an in every other in.
whilst in the previous year, there viere:s ; but
crease. Of corn, hay, and hop dealers and millers there
and wool
were 43, being an excess of 2 ; of cattle
dealers 31, being an increase of 8; of dealers
in coaches and horses 12, being an increase of I ;
and of brewers, malsters, and distillers 36, being
an increase of 11. In miscellaneous trades there was
a decrease only amongst innkeepers and victual-
lers, of
which the numbers were 106, being 8 less
than last year. In the comprehensive class of merchants,
bankers, warehousemen, agents, brokers, shipowners, and
wholesale dealers, there wero 247 bankruptcies, being an
increase of 70 ; in tradesmen, shopkeepers, and retail
dealers there were 524, being 103 more than last year ;
and in miscellaneous pursuits there were 86, being an excess
of 43. In the three counties of Westmoreland, Rutland,
and Huntingdon, there were no bankruptcies. The
largest number of 277 was in Middlesex, being an increase
of 18; in Lancashire there were 261, being an increase of
15 ; and in Yorkshire 194, making an increase of 5. In
the whole of Wales there were 52, giving au increase of 35.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, JAN. 14.

KING V. CHAPMAN.

This was an action for assault and false imprisonment
brought by the plaintiff, a seaman on board the ship
Mermaid, against the Captain, for having flogged him,
on the voyage from London to Bombay. The plea was
that the plaintiff had conducted himself in a mutinous
and disorderly manner, which justified the defendant.
The Jury found a verdict for the defendant.
Mr. THESIGER now moved for a rule to show cause
why the verdict should not be set aside, on the ground
that it was against evidence. H• contended that the
evidence completely negatived any charge of mutinous
conduct, neglect of duty, or inciting the crew to
mutiny. Mere disorderly conduct would not justify the
infliction of so severe a punishment as flogging, because
any trifling breach of discipline might be termed disor-
derly, although it certainly would not justify the de-
fendant in having recourse to flogging.
The COURT thought there was no ground for dis-
turbing the verdict.—Rule refused.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, J 414. 14.
(Sittings in Banco.)
ALEXANDER V. BIRCHFIELD.

The plaintiff in this case is an auctioneer, and
brought this action to recover the sum of 471., the
amount of a check given to him by the defendant, in
payment for two horses bought at an auction in the
Horse Repository, Barbican. The check was drawn
upon the bank of Young and Co., Smithfield, on the
10th of March last. The plaintiff at the time made
some objection to receive it, on account of the lateness
of the hour, it being then nearly five o'clock ; upon
which the defendant said, according to the statement of
two witnesses, that ho would take care it should be all
right. The plaintiff the next day (the 11th of March)
paid the check over to his own bankers, by whom it
was on the next day, the 12th, presented to Young
and Co. at half-past nine o'clock, when these bankers
had stopped payment. The defence was that the plain-
tiff had suffered by his own laches in not having pre-
sented the check, at some time in the banking hours
of the next day, as the Lord Chief Justice at the trial
decided that he was bound to do, unless specially in-
demnified by the alleged undertaking of the defendant
to make it all right. His Lordship said, moreover,
that if the Jury believed the evidence of the plaintiff's
son, that, after the failure of Young and Co., the
bankers, the defendant said " It is fortunate I had not
much money there, but tell your father, I will make it
all right," they must find for the plaintiff. They did,
however, find for the defendant, and the Solicitor-Ge-
neral now obtained a rule to show cause why a verdict
should not be entered for the plaintiff.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.