The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-23 00:00:00

kIVIORNING SUN

4114Y;AND NAVY PROMOTION.
1 There are a variety of reports in circulation re-
,atiVe tO the-, probable extent of the anxiously
Sidespromotion; that the present state of the finances of the
-;country will not admit of the Brevet being so
•::!,,Lage as was at first hoped for. In the Navy it
Its-supposed by those who believe themselves to
1,, „;,°e M the secret, that the Flag promotion will
lz ; .1' at. most
i
go below the year 1807, thus
14 i i',,llg'7,Ml Captain Charles Gordon; and that
13.'h u tP=. tither ranks it will be limited to a cer-
q) fill,*niority, together with the length of
9',9ctual services of each officer now hold-
.'i lg a -command or filling an executive situa-
j,°,o; thus, for example, promoting as it is said
Litil those Commanders who have held that rank
qi„ate4,3/ears, and who have been three years ac-
•f-:'-, have employed; and all First Lieutenants who
, lave held commissions ten or perhaps fifteen
* Years, and who have been full six years of this
1.111
1.,,
e,jr!l se.-going ships, the - half of it as First
e
ailiilant : and with regard to the Mates, that
..,-.1 those who have passdseven years, and who
.. lave been in active service two-thirds of this
--- Per!°,d, and are still serving in sea-going ships,
Aticsi "°e promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. We
!leerily hope that these predictions will prove
...c0rz.,„.,.. ~
-mthaf—L, tor though they are not to the extent
iap ' was at one time expected, yet as these ar-
..li,, Rgetnents seem founded on justice and fairness,
Ike consider that they cannot but give satisfaction
14Zift the service. One thing is certain, viz., that
'.r.ir 'First Lord of the Admiralty is most strcnu-
'''llsill his endeavours to obtain a considerable
'':_tltiotion for the Navy ; and the authorities at
fz.
ki, iii,Horse- Guards, we know, are equally. active
at,47l,iiialf of the Army. During the week Lord
06,--ton, Sir Henry Hardinv,e, and Lord
wittft„ 0y Somerset,. have had several interviews
h "he Premier and the Chancellor-of the Ex-
: e Nucl..
InAmidst the Royal favours that will no doubt
I:l.hestowed in honour of the happy event which,
'lle great joy of the nation, has just occurred,
sanguinely hoped by both Services that her
. Vesty may be graciously pleased to make pro-
ous and new nominations in the Order of the
t
::.ni and we trust the Marines will come in for
• bqlr full share of these favours ; and could our
di,,,ed Sovereign be advised to enlarge this
itguished Order to a fourth class, whereby
14:light be conferred on the junior officers of
bef-4-rmy and Navy who had gained reputation
witc'hre the enemy, it would, we know, be hailed
fess. grateful acknowledgments by both the pro-
: 14°,ns. 'At the same period the alteration which
fiti:ieen so often suggested might with equal satis-
• kielon be made, that ofcreating all the Companions
Alghts; fbr it has, we are assured, often proved
.p mortifying to many old and distinguished
4i.7- tsy more especially to those who have been
liaiiing with their regiments in Ireland, and who
43t tibeen twenty yeaN and upwards Companions
.servle Bath—the proud reward of their gallant
ArEttlfe,B in the field, in the Peninsula, and at
pre sq%oo—to find themselves' obliged to yield
Ithfedence to some Lord-Lieutenant's Knight,
Viet' had Only gained that rank for steering the
Itip.le.°Yld in a cock-boat across a river, or for hav-
hoVsome subordinate situation in the house-
lihoet Dublin! 'Tis time that these things
tills ,d be amended; and no period can be more
jihtP,Tious than the present, when England has
he thous
ti happiness of possessing a direct heir to
I -11.°11e•—.21Taval and Military Gazette.
.
IV T . ..... ~
, .8/4 HE EDITOR OF THE OBSERVER.
'a As the allusion in the Observer of this day to
114,40b1e Lord who has filled high diplomatic offices,
Ably been connected with the Exchequer fraud," might
41,i3' h" supposed to apply to me, I lose not an instant
igtiel 1114 the most unqualified and indignant denial to
Ilan imputation.
km' Observer not being again published until next
IY, I send a copy of this letter to the daily papers.
44111' Sir, your most obedient humble servant,
eY-street, Nov. 21, 1841. STRANGFORD.

tOvr,
ENTRATION OF THE WEST
...•LA STEAM-FLEET AT SOUTHAMPTON.
This (Prom the Greenock Advertiser.)
tlepa large fleet is rapidly assembling at the port of
everftute, and the Southampton river will soon present
teased
the most splendid scenes that has ever been wit-
the ri any of our harbours ; foul teen steam-ships ofthe gent size
and power all of the same dimensions,
I,44l3l,::roPerty of the Royal' Mail Steam Packet Com-
Itr.v are rapidly
corning forward to this station as they
eir, succession completed. Three of them, the
estivgei the Tweed, and the Solway, have already
tt Soed if,rom the place of their construction in Scotland,
the /.1; amPton, and others are soon expected from
the.. lames. the Mersey, and other ports, where
-7 are ra
tapabilitV taPluilY Progressing. Already, however, the
the -• the Company's ships has been shown by
The fog
ti,67
ue fonowin base made.
Ati on her trials
earn-
arethefastest trips yet made by each yes-
'to betdiltal3ney show the speed of these. large
43dA measured d that of any vessels of a similar
distance of rather , more than
St 8 statute Miles has been performed on a trial
as follows •
the Clyde, 1 hour l 1 mid., 13015*:;iit the rate of
res an hour.
10. the Tweed, 1 hour 13 min., being at the rate of
i;':sths miles an hour. _
1281 the Solway, 1 hour 17 min., being at the rate of
siting an hour.
Tay, 1 hour 9 min., being at the rate of 133-.
Thltia hour
trial's are the more interesting on this
.accot.innets,
,N,4,,...three of these ships have precisely identical engi
the ,Tay, the Tweed, and the Clyde ; and there-
the difference of speed is to be attributed solely to
alight' differences in the form of the ships theme
Itit; The chief peculiarity in the form of the Tay
titre introduction, to a considerable extent, of the
141 ,Prineiple at the bow. The differences of these
Spt:4 going round loaded from the Clyde to South-
(lt1-4 "e equally remarkable. The distance of 15
tefolt!tatute aides was performed by the loaded ships
esti,
Ailey e, with 425 tons of coals, lh. 17m., being 12
Dour•
iw'o d:, with 265 tons of coals, lh. 16m., being
tdo
•
no.
411 waY. With 250 tons of coals, lh. 24m., being
10-ittO. do
kas lite men
rtea
s. ner, the passages of the ships to South-
-110,
ft Pa of a speed which is the greatest attained by
South-
ft th this class. The Clyde completed t e p
Zhats eikelyde to the Needles at Southampton in 6
'e Tweed in 56 hours, and the Solway in 73
5
°
134:` distance of 650 statute miles; in weather by
,111,4 favourable.
rmances of the ships give grounds for the
4YstLie Ca"lne hopes of the success of all the other ships
trib-e 410fibiPanY, and augur well for
the prosperity of a
tb tieuter-colonial communication, which will. con-
e
lest nTo ordinary degree both to the prosperity t
1, lndies and of the mother country.
tlit w JI.M.VNIMMINONMII,MO
11411:111g the b,,,4THER. IN THE METRocoPOLIS,.—
iht;' it bi,,,,"u01e of Saturday night and thrOughout Sf.
1/414 anetC„ 4 strong gale with heavy squallsi
41; hfreb,"fl'ert, accompanied at intervals with heavy
done to -elle accounts received from sea of
orm,.
in-
41y er,a,‘ t° the shipping, particularly on the
yels-
bee
gloomy in the extreme, several _
been lust with all their crews. .ot.v% ith-
;me violence of the gale throughout Saturday.e
li;31; ,egrio4l3:: ndoue of the shipping ovnesstheLßlnverti3,unstaLioind.
it4fitc, St. liataliZt's Docks were ready fur seea, 12p_t
the tempestuous state of tshceonwsztobevrestshel3srm,d,eirde
t,"‘" eir departure. Nuomnero
bothu sides 'of the River
Is.lll4,`_Lltied at the wharvesle moderated on Sunday night
on
c,use.
‘l74ly7tLithilitteianvued tolebrow strong from S.S.W., (wee-
squalls. - Such boisterous weather at
1441,4°4 of the yyear has not been experienced for many
. •
lok.-Pntation from Kensington, consisting of
Ilt'44lsilts,,,bltrY, Chairman ; the Rev. Mr. Penny, Mr.
' 41. ganson, Mr. Davies, Mr. Hymill (Vestry
14.1 tie (
tr t4llll Mr. Bird, had a long interview with Sir
t` lam at the Home-office yesterday morning,l,•cs.
t,e recent discontinuance of lighting the road
ms.
of Dalhousie and Mr. Blakemore,
mi ,P-'`iicliences of Sir James Graham on Saturday
4.111111 t the Home-office.
tti,`
rill of RouAton and Co., at Lisbon, has
e PaYinent.
44;t4,ratdiL"ther of Exchequer Bills examined and
lttri, the holders as genuine, up to Friday evening
is 2,1'134, and their value 18,769,9001.
th rd pou-!1 extraordinary fact that a cuckoo was
th2d inx,..l.lng forth its: well-known note on 1 uesday,
tisl4vlr. -I'l'l'4, in the parish of Tolpuddle, near Dor-
-44-niiv he d
s obSerVed by three individuals, who dis-
Iv-v-_the CT about a dozen repetitions of the note, and
ea.Ar 1,!4----borset County Chronicle.
tr:lititti7e been informed, on good authority, that
tip,Lllllotlittl, a fine vessel of 1,400 tons burden, sailed
ifjee el\alln about the 29th of October, for the coast
~ea,
was to purchase of the King of Ashantee
Ilird Of :In. blacks, to reinforce the Dutch troops in the
hilt4litys "'a, and was to take in fifty soldiers at Hel-
-411,1 buta„s a guard. • We mention this fact with great
Dash all probably find another opportunity of
li.b
e StitntillWntS 011 it. —Anti-Stt very Ileporter.
104dirIttlristruction of Oldham Branch Railway is
Ohilrqbpith such unremitting energy and spirit, that
l.ge the line, by extraordinary exertions, may
*;*••••Z/}:, Pened the course of July or August,
tot -"Pool Chronicle.
1.4 k
lit- Sum IReetFaq, PARKES AND WEBB.
% '44Y the
,bodies funfortunate men,
killed ies 0 these
411 • 111,St at the late fire in Blackfriars -load, were
Gerge's Burial-ground, in the Borough co'h£ tl,eneourse of people ussembled to witness
fill-nenrtiland ceremony. Previous to the starting
thq. xi, a, Superintendent Murray (M division)
14.4e°listih'itte ofo Mr. Braidwood, informing him that
t-ritiones the above division had entered into a
tlittc?.di wil.f°r the benefit of tee widow of Webb ; the
taah,triars°o4 amouuting to C/- 13s, ld., he also put

DREADFUL NIURDER and SUICIDE
(Abridged from the Hull Rockingham of Saturday.)
Two inquests were held last night at the Scul-
coates Tavern, Wincolmlee, betore John Thor-
ney, Esq., Coroner, and a respectable Jury, on
the bodies of Robert Hickson, and Sarah Hick-
son, his wife. After having been sworn, the Jury
proceeded to view the bodies. They were found
lying side by side on a slight raised platform, in a
small, neatly-furnished room in Owens-square,
New George-street. The sight was a most
appalling one, the throat of the -man being cut
from ear to ear, whilst the woman's skull was
literally smashed to pieces. The floor was deluged
with blood, but partly covered with saw dust.
Immediately over the corpses was a portrait of
Hickson, painted in oil by himself, and said to
be a correct likeness. In another part of the
room was a painting of Christ, in the same style
as the portrait, and most likely done by the de-
ceased.

The Jury then returned to the tavern, where
an inquest on the body of Robert Hickson com-
menced.

Selina Hickson, a child seven years old, the
daughter of the deceased, having been told the
nature of an oath, which she appeared perfectly
to comprehend, was sworn and said,—l am going
of eight years old, and lived with my father
and mother. They quarrelled yesterday about
marrying. I got my breakfast with them this
morning. My father went out soon after break-
fast. He was -deaf and dumb. He came back
at twelve o'clock to-day to his dinner. He came
in dripping wet, and mother said she was so poorly
she could scarcely wash for him, when he
took a razor and cut his throat. He was angry
because there was not a dry waistcoat for him to
put on. Mother talked to him with her fingers.
Father seemed in a passion when they were
quarrelling, but I have seen hint worse before.
We were getting our dinners, and so was mother
when he came in. He took up a poker from
the fireside and struck mother four or five times.
She fell down on the hearth, and I never heard
her speak again. Father took a razor from the
cupboard top and cut his throat : then f ran out.
Mary Lee was sworn, but her evidence- was
unimportant.

Francis Lee deposed—l am a mariner, and
live in Owen's-court, near the deceased. Between
twelve and one o'clock to-day I was getting my
dinner, and I heard a screaming in the square.
I heard a woman say, " Oh dear, Mr. Hickson
has cut his throat." I went in and found him sat

on the floor against the drawers with his head
knocking about and his throat cut. His wife was
laid on the hearth bleeding. He was bleeding
from the throat. I saw a razor lying on the floor
partly covered with blood. I have known Ro-

bert Hickson four or five years. Never saw any
thing to induce me to believe he was not of
sound mind.
John Binning deposed—l live in Lucas-square,
No. 9, and am a dealer in coals. Robert Hick-

son has been in my employ off and on more than
seven years. Was in my employ to-day as a
coal-porter. He was at work to-day till half-
past twelve. He left Charter-house crane at
half-past twelve or twenty-five minutes to one.
I observed that he did not look as usual, and
he made a sign to me that his depression was
caused by his wife having; committed adultery.
He said he would shoot the man. I understood
his signs, and made him understand he must not
do so. This was sometime before dinner. He
helped me to deliver four half chaldrons, and
was as keen of working as ever.
By aJuror—l first saw him depressed on Wed-
nesday last. He never mentioned any thing re-
specting being jealous of his wife till that day.
Have heard a man, named Charles Richardson,
say that he had walked with Hickson's wife, and:
would do so again. I told him he might be
ashamed of himself. Richardson worked for me
as well as deceased. He is about 20 or 21 years
of age, and not married.
Charles Richardson was sworn and said—l live
in Aldborough-street, and am a coal-porter in
the employ of Mr. Binning, Have known Ro-
bert Hickson eight or ten years. Have worked
with him about twelve months. He made
a great noise in the street either on Tues-
day or Wednesday, and seemed angry; but I
could not tell what he meant by his signs. - He
accused me of having been connected with his
wife, but very little. Has never repeated the. ac-
cusation. He appeared quite lively this morning
when he came to our stable, smoked his pipe,
and offered me his tobacco box. I saw him at a
quarter to one this afternoon at the corner of
Charter-house-lane.

By a Juror—Was never at Hickson's house
but twice; last time was a fortnight ago. Never
met his wife at Mr. Binning's stables. Have
spoken to her in the street, but nothing more. I
never met her by appointment, and have only
walked the length of a street.with her when we
met accidentally. Will swear that I never knew
whether she was man or woman.

Several Jurymen expressed,theniselVes as per-
fectly satisfied that.t.his:•:anitaras was morally
guilty of the deaths of the deceased . -•: •
;Sohn Binning was recalled, and questioned by
tl~e„Jury. He said—l taxed Richardson' with
being too kind with Robert Hickson's wife, the
morning after she had been at the stall. He
said that was not the first time she had been
there.

Charles Richardson—l told Mr. Binning that
was of no use her going to the stable, as her
usband was in bed.

The CORONER—You, Richardson, are guilty in
the minds of the Jury, and have had recourse to
perjury to cover your crime. I have no power
over you, and you may retire. If you have
caused the deaths of these two persons, I hope
you will repent, for the offence is of a most hor-
rible description. The matter rests within your
own conscience.

John Hickson examined—l am brother to the
deceased, Robert Hickson. About eight or nine
years ago, he was very fresh and knocked two
young men down in the street. We got him to
bed and thought he was all right, but he got up
and seized an old sword, with which he got upon
a wall. We secured him, and he was quite sane
in the morning.
The Jury returned a verdict of temporary in-
sanity, caused, in their opinion, by the improper
conduct of one of his fellow-workmen, with re-
ference to deceased's wile.

Immediately afterwards, the inquest on Sarah
Hickson, the wife, was held, when the Jury re-
turned a verdict of " Excusable homicide."

DARING HIGHWAY ROBBERY

NEAR KENDAL.
(Abridged from the Kendal Mercury.)
A daring highway robbery, accompanied with extreme
acts of violence, was committed on the evening of Satur-
day last, on the Kendal and Sedbergh road, about three
miles from the former place.
Mr. John Benson, who has travelled that road, as a
carrier for upwards of 30 years, was passing along, on
horseback, about half-past six o'clock in the evening, when
he was suddenly attacked in a furious manner by some
ruffians, who sprang out of a plantation by the road side,
pulled from his horse, and savagely beaten on several parts
of his body. They then robbed him of all the money which
he had with him, and which consisted of 451. in bank
notes, eight sovereigns, three guineas, and some silver,
with which they decamped, leaving Mr. Benson lying
senseless in the road. In the struggle the horse made
off; and was not found until next day. Soon afterwards-
a person proceeding home from Kendal market found the
sufferer in this deplorable condition, and he was con-
veyed to the Greyhound public-house, not very far
distant from the scene of the robbery, to which
place medical aid was promptly despatched. Infor-
mation of the robbery was speedily conveyed to Ken-
dal, and Mr. Wright, the Superintendent of Police, being
told that one of them was tall and well-dressed, attended
with policeman Grimes, went with all speed to the rail-
way station, to watch the travellers as they booked.
Presently, a tall and fine-looking gentleman arrived,
and on the sight of Mr. Wright seemed to hesitate
about booking.. He was muffled up, and had every ap-
pearance of a commercial traveller. Mr. Wright imme-
diately suspected him of being one of the highwaymen
who had robbed,Mr. Benson, and went up to him for the
purpose of speaking to him. As soon as Mr. Wright
touched him, he made a terrific spring, and at one bound
cleared the whole of the steps at the front of the Railway
Station, but stumbled a little from the very heavy shake he
received on alighting. As soon as the gentleman in
disguise sprang ofPlr. Wright, determined to secure him,
also cleared all the steps at a bound, and seized him,
when a dreadful struggle ensued, during which both
were on the ground. Policeman Grimes came up, and,
with the help of others, he was, though with great diffi-
culty, taken to the station, and from thence was conveyed
to Kendal on Sunday evening.
It has been ascertained that he is a person of the name
of Christopher lon, who for some years kept the Black
Bull public •house in Kirkland, Kendal, from which he
removed to Li7erpool about twelve months ago, where
it is understood he has been keeping a low beer-shop.
lon had formerly lived as a servant with Mr. Ben-
son' and knowing his habit of generally proceeding.
'
from Kendal on Saturday evenings with a quantity of
money on his person, it is presumed he had gone to
Kendal for the especial purpose of committing the rob-
berg. Mr. Benson was so far recovered as to be able to
visit Kendal on Wednesday. In consequence of so many
alarming and desperate robberies in the neighbourhood,
the Secretary of State for the Home Department has
been requested that a Government reward might be
offered, and a pardon held out to any accomplice.

TORY REVERENCE FOR CONSECRATED
G BOUND.—The Shropshire fox hounds had a fine roll,
on Saturday last. Reynard made his way towards High
Ereall, and finally entered the churchyard there, and
made repeated attempts to gain the sanctuary of the
sacred edifice, by jumping at the windows to gain ad-
mission. The sportsmen and dogs entered the church-
yard, pele-mele, galloping over the graves, and poor rey-
nard was torn piece-meal,—Staffordshire Examiner.