The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-06 00:00:00

CENTRAL CRIMINAL ;COURT. _of no trivial import, that a change should be made in
OLD COURT. 1 the management of our public highways. Our streets in
These sessions, the ninth of the present Mayoralty,com- ' winter are clogged with mud, and in summer resemble
menced yesterday before the Lord Mayor, the Common the th,erts for oth,t, aka):, slippery and easy—a valu-
Sergeant, Aldermen Wilson, Hughes Hughes, Sidney, able manure is suffered to remain on them, becaus, it is
Sir Chapman Marshall, the Sheriffs, &c. the duty of no one to keep them clean. The parish re-
The grand jury having been selected and sworn, ceives so many hundred pounds per annum, from a
The Comstost SL:RGEANT, in the absence of the Re- scavenger for the privilege of collecting as much as he
corder, delivered his charge to them. The calendar con- can take with a very little labour; and as profit, not
tained the names of no less than 135 prisoners, although cleanliness, is his object, the streets are always in a filthy
not more than twelve days had elapsed since the termina- state. In London, as in Paris, every housekeeper should
tion of the last session, and the probability was, that be compelled to sweep the pavement before his house
that number would be increased to 170 or ISO before the early in the morning, and the scavengers should
termination of the session. Most of the charges in thoroughly cleanse the roadway each day. There are
the calendar were of an ordinary character, but there were many other improvements to be made in our social state,
several of the cases to which he wished particularly to which would materially benefit the population. Instead
refer. There were three persons charged with rape. of, however, deman ;ing Legislative interference, the peo.
le seem determined to thwart all endeavours of the Go-
Henry Wyatt and Isaac White were charged with P
a rape on Sarah Lavin, and if her evidence was vernment. First to Exhibit this bad spirit, is the Corpora-
correct, a worse case against both the prisoners could tion of London. Foul and foetid as the City notoriously
hardly exist. There was another charge of rape against is, with scarcely a house free from noxious smells, the
Samuel Pritchard upon Matilda Langton. All the in- citizens would fain have us believe that there is not a
gredients of rape would probably be brought in evidence more sweet, wholesome place, under the canopy of
before the grand jury. Incases of this kind juries in general Heaven. No sooner is a Government measure proposed
expected, and reason demanded, that there should be than the Aldermen, scarce one of whom resides in the
evidence of cries at the time, and immediate complaints City, raise an outcry, and the City is to be exempt from
after; but all cases in criminal courts must ever depend the operation of the Government plan. As the City
on circumstances. In the present instance the object rejects purification, so every other town strives to be
of the attack was little snore than a child, only allowed to remain dirty, until none are found who care
just turned fourteen years, and threats and fears to be made clean.
might have induced silence. It was, however, he A singular instance of the bigoted opposition which
thought a case that ought to be placed before even educated men will evince towards sanatory improve-
a judge and jury. There was then a charge against ments, came lately under our notice. The Chymical
a person of the name of Edward Fox of threat- Sewage Manure Company, which is formed to work out
ening to accuse a man of an infamous crime, the ingenious patent plan of Mr. Higgs, for intercepting
the object and intent being to extort money. Such the sewage water from the Thames, and converting it
charges as these were of a most serious nature, and the into manure, in applying for their Bill in Parliament,
safety of the community required that an investigation experienced much opposition from the Dean and
should take place, in order that, if proved, such Chapter of Westminster. The Company, it ap-
offences might be severely punished. There were pears, was desirous to erect works, and to use a
several cases in the calendar of cutting and wounding sewer in Westminster. On applying to Dr. Buckland,
with intent to do grievous bodily harm. This offence, the Dean, to know the reason for his opposition, he can-
he was sorry to say, was of late greatly on the didly confessed that he had opposed the Bill, without
increase. It was right that he should iuform the knowing what Mr. Higgs' plan was, and whether in
grand jury that it was not necessary that the reality it would be a nuisance or a benefit! He had
cutting should be with a sharp instrument—wound- never inquired, and did not care to know, what
ing with any instrument was sufficient to con- the plan was, and without first informing him-
stitute the offence. The charge against Isaac Cannon self that (as the truth is) the adoption of his plan
was a case of this kind. He was an inmate of Shore- would ease the sewer, improve the drainage of the
ditch workhouse. Great violence had been repeatedly parish, and be no nuisance whatever, he opposed and
used by him, and it was in his opinion desirable prevented a trial in Westminster, leaving the company
that the case should be brought before a jury, that they to make Bermondsey the corpus vile of their experi-
might determine whether he was or was not of unsound ments. From scientific Dr. Buckland, the geolo-
mind, as in the one case he would be punished, and in gist, this could hardly be expected; had the public
the other taken care of in a proper manner. treated his effusions in a similar manner,
There was a charge against William Trade and Edward where now would be his fame ? From an or-
Harris of stealing and receiving. The pawnbroker, Mr, dinary Dean, such conduct would not be sm.-
Richardson, had dose himself great credit by sending prising ; from a scientific and withal liberal author,
for a policeman, and detaining and giving both prisoners better things might have been anticipated. It may be
into custody. These prisoners were committed confidently hoped that, notwithstanding the interested
(observed the Learned Judge) on the 21st of opposition of the bigoted, and despite the apathy of the
June, by one who hath finished ;his course. public, a strong Government may be able to carry an
Mr. Rawlinson was a magistrate to whom those con- effective measure for the better preservation in all towns
netted with this Court were ever greatly indebted. The in the kingdom, of that most precious, but most ne-
depositions taken before him were all of one character— glected jewel—Human Life.—The Patent Journal,
clear, concise, to the point. " Not slothful in business,"
he looked neither to the right nor to the left.
The rich and the poor alike found in him
the same firmness and resolution the same
integrity and mercy. Ever " ready to every good
work," justice was administered with judgment. His
loss will not easily be replaced. It is not often we find
united in one mind simplicity, decision, probity, charity,
and religion. The Learned Judge (who was deeply
affected during the latter part of his address) then re-
mitted the grand jury to the discharge of their duties ;
and the remainder of the morning was occupied with
swearing in the petty jury.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.

LIVERPOOL, JULY 5.

STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Ambergate, Notting-
ham, and Boston, I.l‘ dis.—Birkenhead, Lancashire, and
Cheshire Junction, 1 dis.—Blackburn, Clitheroe, &c.,
dis. ex int.—Ditto, Preference, 3 p. ex int.—Chester and
Birkenhead, 401q—East Lancashire, New (scrip), par—
Edinburgh and Glasgow, 70—Ditto, Quarters, 17%—Glas- ,
gow, Paisley, and Greenock, Preference, 1/2 p.—Huddersfield
Canal and Railway, 2% p.—Ditto, Extension, ys p.—Lei-
cester and Bedford, 1/13 dis.—Liverpool, Crosby, and South-
port, 1% p.—London and North-Western, 180—Ditto, New,
Quarters, 11% p.—Ditto, Quarters (G. J.), 18 p.—Man-
chester and Leeds, Fifths, 5 p.—Ditto, 32/. Shares, 1% p.—
Ditto, Halves (late L. and B.), p.—Ditto, Fifths (late
West Riding Union), Os. 3d. p.—Blanchester, Sheffield, and
Lincolnshire, Eighths, I'4 dis. ex int.—Manchester and
Southampton, 1714 dis.—Midland Stock, 12914—Ditto, New,
414 p.—Newcastle and Berwick, New, 3 p.—North Staf-
fordshire, 3 p.— Shrewsbury and Chester (late N.W.M.),
p.—Ditto, New, 2% p.—York and Newcastle, Prefer-
ence, 41/ p.—Northern of France (Constituted), 258 p. ex int.

TILE SCARCITY and HIGH PRIG.

OF MUTTON.
'From a Wiltshire Correspondent of the Sherborne

Journal.)
Under the present circumstances, without taking into
consideration the possibility of some additional causes,
acting in conjunction with that now existing, there is no
prospect either of an increase of supply to meet the
fearfully rapid increase of the population of this country,
or a reduction of prices. on the other hand, the main at-
tributable cause is more and more evident—almost in
every market, and at least every fair an augmentation of
prices ensues. The writer has directed his attention to
this subject, for a considerable period, and finds that
among the farmers there is now a prevailing custom to
have what is called, " a dry sheep farm," that is, to
graze ('Pegs principally) on artificial food—say oil cake
for instance, and this for two reasons—the chief of which
is, that sheep fed on oil-cake produces manure of a very
strong character—the effect of which may, for several
seasons, be traced to the very inch. The other reason
is, that the land can be otherwise employed when not re-
quired for grazing purposes. Now, saying nothing of
the other causes of scarcity, which may also be partly
traced to disease—there is then a prevailing custom
in full nine parishes out of ten, which will, if it
cannot be prevented, have a most injurious tendency
on the community at large. In order to keep prices
at a standard, so as to place this nutritious food
within the reach of all classes, the number pro-
duced should increase in proportion more rapidly than
the population, because provision should be made for a
drawback produced by the havoc of disease. It must
here be remembered that artificial food which produces
this excellent manure, cannot be used for fattening pur-
poses. The writer has made diligent inquiry in many
parishes in Wiltshire, a county proverbially excellent for
' its grazing downs, and finds the result to be, that the
number of lambs bred in 67 parishes the last three years
has been 34 per cent. less than in 1844 I ! and this
! while the population of the country has been increasing
' at more than 400,000 daily. This prevailing custom in
Wiltshire extends to the neighbouring counties, and it is
to be feared is national.

SANATORY MEASURES.

There are men to be met with in the world, who,
possessing high intelligence, have, nevertheless, the mis-
fortune to labour under a species of mental delusion,
which never tails to manifest itself whenever allusion is
made to a certain subject. There are some who enter-
tain the most extraordinary opinions in religious matters,
whilst altogether rational on other topics. Again, many a
man distinguished for talent will be found to have such
peculiar political ideas as almost to amount to insanity.
Converse with such a one on general topies, and he
will be found to be a sensible man, but should the
cranky string be touched, the harp will at once be out
of tune. These idiosyncracies are not confined to in-
dividuals—each nation, each age, has its own. Our
present national idiosyncracy is a hatred of all so-
cial sanatory measures. Talk of commercial matters,
on scientific progress, on literature, and none can be
found more sensible, or well-informed than the English;
the proposal of sanatory measures will be certain, how-
ever, to disturb the equanimity of the whole nation,—the
most ridiculous notions will be willingly entertained,
the most strenuous opposition made to the contem-
plated improvement. To embody the national sen-
timents on this head in a few words, would
be to express an opinion, that "if we can
get plenty to eat and to drink, what more do
we want—that if a graveyard is in the middle of a
crowded city, it has been there for years, and nobody
was ever the worse for it—that the Thames water is as
sweet now as ever it was, and our forefathers drank it
without finding fault that the sewers discharge into it—
that crowded alleys and lanes without drainage always
did exist, and always will exist, to what use then making
a fuss just now," with divers other important reason for
leaving things as they are. Nor is John Bull to be
argued out of his notions about social evils—he exhibits
not merely a sullen dogmatism, but an active spirit of
opposition. He declares his health to be very good—
his house to be very clean—his rivers unpolluted—andlit
say and
the drainage of towns he pronounces excellent; 9
yet what man of observant mind,
will ehxecsitaeten to
that England does not require great social ameliora-
tions? Look at the state of any large town or city—
the imperfect drainage—the detective water supply—
the horrible graveyards—the poisonous miasma—the
unhealthy habitations, and who can doubt that legisla-
tive remedy is imperatively required? There is one
class of inventions which is always heavy in the market,
and unprofitable to the inventor—we mean fire-escapes
and life-belts. No house is furnished with the one, and no
sailor thinks of the other. Life is to be protected in
either case, and who thinks his own to be in
danger? rue, after a dreadful fire and loss of life,
some few " nervous" persons will inquire for an escape;
no sooner, however, is the danger forgotten, than the
protection is also abandoned. Much similarity of con-
duct holds with respect to the social state of,,England,
which is a reproach to a civilized country. Go where
you will—among the habitations of the wealthy, or the
rookeries of the poor—travel from city to town—from
county to county—and the same evils present themselves.
Intra mural interment, the fruitful source of disease
is still permitted. The dead are suffered to poison
the living, to pollute the atmosphere, to carry fever to the
dwellings of the poor. The abolition of city burials should
be the first of sanatory measures; all churchyards in towns
should be closed, and planted with trees, and cemeteries
provided at proper places. Religion and decency, as
well as health, require this. Universal drainage in
cities is the next thing required. There should be
alley, no lane, without an effective sewer, into whip.,
all
houses should discharge their soil. No cesspoefi &c.,
should be suffered to be open ; the gully-lnkos should
be properly trapped, to prevent the emission of
noxious vapours, whilst provision should be made
that at high-water-level the mouth of the sewer
should not be stopped. The control of sewers
should be vested in a Government commission, or,
at any rate, in one general board; not, as at present
divided into sections of opposite interests. The sewer
commissioners, at present, are mere dispensers of jobbing
patronage and public money. Another most important
want is the better supply of water. Without cleanli-
ness the people can never be healthy, and the restricted
supply of water denies this cle4u/iness to hundreds of un-
fortunate individuals. Whe‘vo water can only be obtained
from a great distance, the labour of fetching it prevents its
tree use. We have often remarked how ill the poorer
quarters of the towns are supplied with water. In poor
streets a pump is seldom visible, many have been removed,
but none are replaced ; whereas, in the richer auarters
of the town pumps eie abundant—we could name more
than one square wherein are two pumps. Parishes
should be compelled to sink artesian wells in poor
neighbourhoods, and monopolising water companies
be regulated in their charges. We believe that two-
thirds more than the present quantity of water
could be usefully employed, was there a proper supply.
Not the least among the required improvements, is that
of compelling factories to consume their own smoke.
This could and would be readily done, were it made
imperative—it is a disgrace to the science of the age,
that huge chimneys should vomit forth their volumes of
carbon, to blacken the atmosphere, to destroy our
lungs, and to waste profusely a valuable fuel ? It is