The Sun.
London, England, 1848-10-18 00:00:00

WEDNES EVENING, OCTOBER 18, 1848.

money of' others who is not reckless with his own."
It reads like—shall we say Franklin, or Johnson, or
Bacon, or Rochefoucault ? Several suggestions are
thrown out, incidentally, in the course of the volume,
which are worthy of more than a merely evanescent
consideration, as where (p. 917) it is maintained
that the office of Coroner comes more immedi-
ately within the province of the legal than of the
medical practitioner ; or, again, where (pp. 371, et
seq.) a noble indignation is expressed at the unjusti-
fiable multiplicity of oaths. Upon the latter sugges-
tion we cannot forbear making the subjoined quota-
tion, because, in a very striking manner, Mr. Warren
hes called to our Legislature for an extension of the
statutes 5 and 6 William IV., c. ; 8 and 9 Victoria,
c. 48, whereby oaths are displaced by declarations :
" Desiring to speak with Y the greatest possible diffi-
dence, I nevertheless cannot help expressing a fear that
an oath is required far too frequently, and on utterly in-
adequate occasions, in the conduct of legal business, to
an extent which is calculated to impair the sense of its
awful character and incidents. Surely it is au act of
tremendous significance, deliberately to invoke the Deity
to witness, that what is said on a given occasion is the
truth—the whole truth—and nothing but the truth. I
have sometimes shuddered at witnessing the unconcern,
and even levity, with which oaths are administered, and
taken—so as almost to degenerate into mere irreverent
form. In Scotland the oath to witnesses is administered
with a grand solemnity. The judge rises from his seat,
and raising his right hand, requires the witness to do the
same; and then, their hands remaining elevated, the
witness repeats! after the judge the following words:—
I swear by Almighty God, and as I shalt answer to
God at the great Day of Judgment, that I will tell the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.'
What could be more calculated to solemnize the mind,
to search and quicken the conscience, than such an oath,
so administered? It might be as well perhaps if such
were to be the practice in our own courts. However
this may be, I appeal to every one present, whether
oaths are not at present taken on a vast number of the
most trivial occasions that can occur in the course of
ordinary business; administered hurriedly—taken with-
out adequate reflection on the nature of the act—given,
and taken, in fact, almost mechanically—the dread
words So help you God!' pronounced trippingly on the
tongue, while the lips touch the sacred volume with
hasty impatient action, the soul taking no part whatever
in the matter! As if God had never uttered that awful
command—Thou shalt not rake the name of the Lord thy
God in vain ;
.fer the Lord will not hold him guiltless that
taketh His name in vain. Gentlemen, if the public saw
as much of these matters as you and I see, I think they
would immediately urge upon our Christian Legislature
further steps in the direction which it has lately taken—
I mean in enacting the statutes substituting declarations
for oaths'on many occasions. Why is it that our cdurts
and judges, and often subordinate public officers, can
receive, or act upon, no statement, on even the most
trivial occasions—unless God Almighty b e first called
upon to witness that the deponent is telling them the
truth? Ought this to be tolerated? Why not take a
hint from the Heathen poet?—
'Nee Deus intersit, nisi dignus vindice nodus!'"
Heartily, cordially, earnestly do we reciprocate these
aspirations—aspirations which
appropriately emanate
from the lips that first breathed life into the ideal
form of Adam Ayliffe. As we have already inti-
mated, the whole book is suffused with the same
healthful and masculine reverence for religion. We
say a " masculine reverence," because by such ex-
pressions we would contrast the moral tone of Mr.
Warren's productions, whether as a lawyer or as a
literateur, with the puling and sentimental cant which
too frequently passes current for the zeal of Chris-
tianity. There is an unaffected awe in his very mode
of emphasis when speaking of the Holy and Invisible
that commands the respect and homage of
in the
and calls to mind that bewitching trait the
character and habits of the great Boyle—we
refer to the practice of the philosopher in unco-
vering his head whenever the awful name of the Deity
was pronounced, whether in his laboratory, his library,
the public street, or the private garden. By this re-
verent air, as well as by the eloquence and wisdom of
his present work, Mr. Warren has proved himself to
have been eminently qualified to occupy the rostrum
previously graced at intervals by Henry Nelson Cole-
ridge, by Spencer Horatio Walpole, and by John
William Smith, suitable predecessors of one who has
here afforded an additional evidence of the versatility of
his intellect by throwing aside the shafts of satire and
the garb of tragedy, to instil the stereotyped truths
of seventeen years' experience into the hearts of sol,
citors and attorneys.

AMERICAN NEWS.

LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY.
The royal mail steamer Acadia, Captain Stone,
arrived here this day at one o'clock, with the mails
from Boston and Halifax, and twenty-one passengers.
In consequence of a very heavy gale blowing from
the N.E. with great fury, the communication between
New York and Boston had been interrupted, and the
mails of the 31 had not reached Boston when the
steamer left, on the 4th. The steamboat mail from
the south, due on the second, did not reach till the
evening of the 3d, so that we have no New York
papers later than the 2d inst.

The steam• ship America reached New York on
the 29th of September, after an excellent voyage, not-
withstanding her having encountered a severe hur-

ricane.
The Cambria, which sailed hence on the 23d of
September, arrived at Halifax on the sth, and pro-
ceeded to Boston.
With respect to the Presidential election, the rela-
tive position of parties had not changed.
There is no news of moment from Mexico : the first
instalment of 1,500,000 dolls, indemnity money for the
expenses of the war would become due on the 27th
of October.
With a view to relieve the Money Market in New
York, an arrangement has been made by the Govern-
ment at Washington to purchase 800,000 dolls, of
Treasury-notes at par; this being practically equal
to a loan of that amount, was hailed as a considerate
boon to the mercantile community, who have been of
law suffering severely from the action of the Snb-
treasury Bill; and as both the departments of New
York and New Orleans had an overplus of deposits,
the measure is regarded with great favour, and will
tend greatly to alleviate the pressure of the actio❑ of
that measure.
In the Cotton Market prices have experienced little
change. The
,news from Europe tended rather to
lower prices, but holders are, for the most part, un-
willing to sell at lower rates.
In Breadstuffs prices have not materially altered
since the last report, the news by the steamer having
produced no fall of any consequence in the market.
The rate of Exchange is 9 to 9i, with little demand
on Paris, sf. 20c. to sf. 25c.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
THE BELLEROPHON'S SHIP'S COMPANY AND THE
MEDITERRANEAN FLEET.—WO have much gratification
in stating that we have been assured by those whose
watchfulness and care in keeping the few ships of the
navy afloat on foreign service, fully manned and equipped
for any emergency, entitle them to the greatest credit,
that the Bellerophon's crew of 650, officers and men,
were assigned to her according to the newly-arranged
scale of complements for ships for foreign or war ser-
vice. The Bellerophon is only 2,056 tons, or about 300
tons larger than the Hastings, with 72 guns and 600
men, and we are informed that the calibre of the guns of
the former is not anything nearly so heavy in proportion
to that of the 72's which have 50 mon less; or the 84's,
which are about 200 tons larger, and have 100 men
more. We have heard also with extreme satisfaction,
that all the line of battle ships under the command of
Sir William Parker have recently, by drafts and super-
numeraries, had their complements made up to the full
war scale.

ROYAL YACHT PROMOTIONS.
The usual annual promotions of the officers of the
royal steam-vacht Victoria and Albert have been pro-
mulgated. They are—
Lieutenant—Edward James Bedford (1838), to the
rank of Commander.
Mates—William B. Elphinstone (1847), Thomas B.
Lethbridge (1848), and Thomas D. Atkinson (1848), to
the rank of Lieutenant.
Of Lieutenant, or rather Commander Bedford, we
may state that as an officer of comparatively long stand-
ing, no promotion has been more deservedly obtained.
Commander Bedford was bargemato of the Hastings
when the late Earl of Durham was conveyed to Canada
by that ship, and subsequently was bargemato to the
Queen Dowager, on her Majesty's visit to Malta. Ho
failed, however, to obtain his promotion from Lord
Mint°, and was not made a lieutenant until after a fur-
ther period of two years' service as a mate. In his new
rank, then, he served as flag-lieutenant to Sir Edward
Owen, at that time Commander-in-Chief, and was
universally respected by the officers of the Mediterra-
nean force for his kind and conciliating manner, as ho
was esteemed by 'his superiors for his strict attention
and efficient discharge of the responsible duties of his
office. On Sir Edward Owen striking his flag, Lieut.
Bedford was appointed to the household of the Queen
Dowager ; and in 1847 was appointed to the Victoria
and Albert, of which vessel ho became first lieutenant
in January last, In this last capacity he discharged
once more the duties of the executive office, with
the credit and satisfaction to his superiors, which,
as a junior officer, so highly recommended him in his
early career, and has left his late messitnates with
the same regret for his separation and good wishes for
his future welfare which have ever accompanied him,
once more to resume the duties appertaining to his non-
professional appointment in the household of her
Majesty the Queen Dowager, whose distinguished favour
and confidence we believe he has the high and dis-
tinguished honour most deservedly to possess.
APPOINTMENTS.
Lieut. Stephen S. L. Crofton (1842), who has com-
manded the Rifleman, screw-schooner, as tender to the
Powerful, has been re-appointed to the Rifleman, as a
separate command.
Mate—George W. Watson, to the Rifleman.
Midshipman—C. K. Lindsay, to the Prince Regent,
90, at Spithead.
Boatswains—John Wallace, confirmed to the Blen-
heim; Oliver Paul, acting, to the Wellington.
PRIZE MONEY FOR THE STYX.—The navy, and more
especially that portion of it which has been serving on
the coast of Africa, will be gratified at seeing, in the
following announcement, the dispatch with which Mr.
Woodhead, the agent of Captain Chads, has brought the
prize -money due to the ship's company of the Styx,
steam-sloop, lately paid off, into the registry of the
Court of Admiralty, preparatory to immediate dis-
tribution. The promptitude of Mr. Woodhead in this
business affords an example to other agents worthy
to be followed:--" Notice is hereby given, that the ac-
count sales of the proceeds arising from the capture of
the slave-vessel Nietheroy by her Majesty's steam-vessel
Styx, Henry Chads, Esq., commander, on the 26th of
February, 1847, will be registered in the High Court of
Admiralty, on or after the 27th instant."
Mr. Atherton, chief engineer of Woolwich, has been
recalled from leave of absence, in consequence of the
Admiralty requiring information respecting boilers con-
structed upon his plan.
The in achincry of the Snap, slaver, seized on the coast
of Africa, and which was brought home by the Devasta-
tion, is ordered to be sold at Portsmouth.
The Myrmidon, steam-vessel (one of the half dozen),
requires new boilers. She has not been built above three
years, and she has certainly not been under steam 100
days during that time.
The Teazer, screw-vessel, is ordered to have a set of
tubes provided for her at Woolwich.
PORTSMOUTH, TUESDAY.—The Cuckoo steam-vessel,
Commander Henry Dumaresq, sailed last night for
Jersey.
The Lightning steamer, Pctley master, sailed for
Woolwich last evening.
The Gramsus, 50, Captain H. Martin, C. 13., has had
her masts taken out to-day:
It was a mistake of our informant yesterday as to the
Bellerophon's books not being received. She was paid
yesterday, and will sail to-morrow.
The Coale.; steam-vessel, Lieutenant-Commanding C.
G. Riggs', was paid off to-day into ordinary.
The Plumper steam-schooner had her lower masts put
in to day.
The Fearless steam-vessel arrived to-day with seamen
and marines from Sheerness.
The Quail lighter arrived this afternoon from Mil-
ford

Wind, N.N.E., strong breezes and dark cloudy
weather, with rain at times.
WOOLWICH, OcT. 17.—The Lightning► steam-vessel is
ordered round from Portsmouth to Woolwich, to convoy
his Excellency Count Reventlow, his Danish Majesty's
Ambassador at the Court of St. James's, on a diplomatic
visit to Copenhagen.
The Sharpshooter steam-vessel, Lioutenant Comman-
der Miley, is under orders to leave Woolwich on the 20th
instant, for Portsmouth, where she will receive further
instructions.

The Garland steam-vessel, Lieutenant Commander
B. A plin, is ordered to leave Dover immediately for
Woolwich, to have new boilers, as her old boilers are

to worn out.

- The Iphigenia, Marine Society's vessel for boys. is to
be tewed to Woolwich from Deptford to-day, the Venus
being now ready for their reception at this port.
The Torch steam-vessel, Lieutenant Commander Mor-
ris, has arrived at Woolwich to have her defects made
good.
The Llewellyn steam-you'd was taken to the East
India Docks yesterday to have her defects made good at
that place.

Tho Driver steam vessel conveyed Major James's
Company from Southampton to Jersey, and returned
with Major Hennis's Company, 4th battalion, on being
relieved, and the latter joined the garrison at Woolwich
on Saturday last.

Mr. Nash, whose name is familiar to our readers,
as associated with almost every point of practical utility
to the railway in!erest, is a candidate for the offiee of
secretary to the Waterford and Limerick Railway Com-
pany, about to be vacated by Mr. Saunders. Mr. Nash's
letter to the directors we give in another place, and we
bag to tender him our best wishes for the success of his
canvas. His unbending exertionin the defeat of the May-
nard and Garrett gangs, involving him in great expenses
for the public benefit cannot be torgotten—nor his con-
duct in declining the testimonial from private individuals
which several gentlemen have set on fuot.—Railway
paper.

DEATH OF THE RAILWAY PIONEER.--TllO public
will read with r.,gret the announcement of the sudden
death of Thomas Gray, author of the railway system.
lie VPIS the son of Mr. Robert Gray, of Leeds, and had
been in ill health for some time, but was much better
and out of doors on Saturday. On Sunday morning, at
a quarter past six, he expired of disease of the heart,
aged GI years.—Dcvonport Chronicle.