The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-14 00:00:00

k'V ittniug .')liit

LONDON, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1848.

Summonses have been served on the several gen-
tlemen from whom the grand jurors for the South
Riding of the County of Tipperary are usually
selected, requiring them to attend as jurors at Clon-
inel on Thursday, the 21st instant, on which day the
Special Commission will be opened for the trial of
the prisoners implicated in the recent outbreak. A
just and impartial jury will thus be obtained, who
will honestly and eonscientously discharge the grave
responsibility imposed upon them, and who will
return true verdicts according to the evidence, un-

biassed by any prejudice or partiality, and unde-

terred by intimidation or terrorism. The manner in
which the jury of the county of Tipperary acted
upon the occasion of the Special Commission last
spring was the theme of universal approbation, and
deservedly called forth the warmest eulogium from
the Learned Judges who then presided. We doubt
not that they will exhibit equal firmness and judg-
ment in the forthcoming trials, and that they will
again entitle themselves to the public thanks
and the public gratitude for their efficient
and valuable services. Their task will be an arduous
one. On the one side they must divest their minds
of every impression that by any possibility might
prove prejudicial to the unfortunate persons whose
future fate must in a great degree depend upon their
decisions, they must forget the various reports and
rumours that had been circulated throughout their
respective districts, and decide solely upon the sworn
testimony that may be adduced before them as sworn
jurors. If any reasonable doubt may be entertained
as to the guilt of the parties on trial, it will be their
unquestionable duty to give the prisoners the benefit
of that doubt, remembering the humane precept of the
British law, " that it is better that ninety-nine guilty
men should escape the punishment due to their crime
than that one innocent man should be unjustly con-
demned ;" but if the case should be brought clearly
home—that no such doubt can be felt—no alternative
will remain ; the solemn obligation by which they
are bound enforces a true verdict, which must be
returned, however painful may be the result, how-
ever deeply they may sympathise with the families
and friends of the unfortunate men in their heavy
affliction, and lament the fearful consequences of the
offences that have been committed.

Having, however, discharged that painful duty,
and returned a honest verdict, they may, if they think
proper, give expression to their desire, that the
brightest prerogative of the Crown should be exer-
cised in favour of the convicted prisoners—that justice
should be tempered with mercy, and that the lives
of the criminals should be spared. The majesty
of the law may be sufficiently vindicated without the
spilling of human blood. The almost unanimous
opinion of persons of every shade and variety of
political or religious feeling, of every class in society
from the most exalted to the humblest, at either side
of St. George's Channel, has been clearly and unequi-
vocally expressed in favour of a mild and humane
decision by the responsible advisers of the Crown ;
and we firmly believe that the most unwise and
impolitic course that could be adopted would be the
carrying into stringent execution the fearful penalties
prescribed by the law for the very grave offences
charged against the prisoners. The future tran-
quillity of Ireland will, in a great degree, depend
upon the determination that may be arrived at.
A lenient and moderate punishment will have far greater
effect as an example in deterring others from the per-
petration of similar crimes, than the infliction of the
most sanguinary death upon the scaffold, accompanied
byare lythme heaviest marks of ignominy. If the prisoners
transported;,. they will :speedily be for-
gotten, merely
rremembered only with feelings of contempt
and ridicule for their abortive and feeble attempt;
.
but if they should, in
accordance with the sentence
which the Court must pronounce, be hanged by the
neck until they are dead, their heads be subsequently
cut off, and exhibited to
the disgusted spectators, and
their bodies cut into
quarters, which, with their
heads, should be disposed of
regarded
to the Royal
a
pleasure, they would be
martyrs, their follies and bee g
ss would be lost
heroes and
sight of, and they would be
k
memories of their countrymen as-consecrated who unhe-
sitatingly sacrificed their lives
happiness of their native land. N freedom the
ew rebelseedom and
would
spring from their ashes, the cause for whichthe
bled would gain additional strength from the
veryy
means adopted to crush it, and the struggle would
again and again be renewed, and perhaps might not
be so speedily and bloodlessly repressed as in the pre-
sent instance.

The more important business of the Commission
cannot be proceeded with in the first instance. A
week, at least, must be consumed before any of the
trials for high treason can take place. Although the
same privileges are not afforded to prisoners charged

with that offence in Ireland which are allowed in this
country, still certain delays are necessary, after the
finding of the bills of indictment, which are not re-
quired in any other case. In England, the prisoner
is entitled (under the statute 7 Anne, cap. 21), in
cases of treason or misprision of treason, unless the
overt acts shall be directed against the person of the
Sovereign, to have a list of the witnesses to be pro-
duced on the trial and of the jury delivered to him
at the same time with the copy of the bill of indict-
ment, which copy, together with these lists, must be
delivered ten clear days, at the least, before the trial
can take place. Our readers will recollect that the
argument in the case of the Monmouthshire Char-
tists, FROST, Jonas, and WlLLiems, aroee upon these
provisions of the statute, the copy of the indictment
and of the jury panel having been delivered several
days before the lists of witnesses, and the Judges
ultimately decided, by a majority of nine to six,
although the trial was not had for more than ten
days after the list of witnesses were handed to the
prisoners ; " that the delivery was not a good deli-
very in law," although it was also decided " that the
objection was too late after plea pleaded." This
statute, however, does not apply to Ireland, and all
that a prisoner under charge of high treason in that
country is entitled to is, that he should receive a
copy of the indictment five clear days (exclusive of
the day on which he is served with the copy, and of
the day on which he is arraigned), before he is called
upon to plead thereto.
This will, however, necessarily delay the proceed-
ings until the latter end of the week after the Com-
mission is opened, and the earlier part of the sittings
must, therefore, be devoted to the trial of prisoners
for more vulgar and common-place offences, of whom,
however, there is no lack at any time in the county
of Tipperary.

The numerous accidents that have recently oc-
curred on different lines of railways, even of those
where the most careful management exists, have
created a strong feeling in the public mind that
some mode should be adopted by which the pas-
sengers should be able immediately to commu-
nicate with the guards or driver in the event
of anything wrong being observed. Repeated
instances have occurred of passengers being kept
during the entire period while the train was per-
forming its journey from one stage to another in a
state of the greatest terror and alarm, occa-
sioned perhaps by the intrusion of some im-
proper person placed in the same compartment
of the carriage, either an actual lunatic, or one excited
by intoxicating liquors into a state of temporary in-
sanity. A fire might perchance occur, which might
be fanned into the fiercest flame, before it was observed
by those who could stop the progress of the train
and extricate the affrighted travellers from the fear-
ful danger in which they were placed, or perhaps a
fellow-passenger might be seized with an apoplectic
fit, or some other attack, in which his life might be
saved if speedyassistance could be obtained, but which
would be inevitably lost, if even a few minutes should
elapse before the fitting remedies were administered.
These things have already occurred, and it is im-
possible to say that similar events may not again
take place. The late melancholy accident, by which
Lieuenant- Colonel BAIRD was deprived of life, might
have been prevented, if the passengers who clearly
felt the "bumping, rolling, and oscillation" of the
carriages for some time before the accident happened,
had been enabled to communicate with the driver so as
to make him sensible that something was wrong which
should immediately be inquired into, and that the
train should be stopped for that purpose. A valuable
life would thus have been preserved, and the
company would have been spared much
expense and annoyance. Many timid persons
have been deterred from travelling by rail-
ways from the occurrence of such accidents, who
would feel re-assured ifsome means of communication
were opened to them. An efficient signal that might
be made use of in cases of emergency would be most
valuable to the several companies, and to the public
in general. It would save the latter the heavy ex-
penses of repeated accidents, any one of which would
cost many times the amount of the outlay that would
be necessary for the adoption of precautions that
would most probably have averted the danger, while
the public in general would have their apprehensions
allayed, and travel with much greater satisfaction,
to say nothing of the additional, safety that would be
thus obtained.

Many signals have already been devised, but a
formidable objection exists to every one that has as
yet been promulgated, which render them compara-
tively worthless. It is essential that the attention of
the driver and the guards should be attracted simul-
taneously, that the signal should equally act by day
or night, or even in the thickest fog ; and its utility
would be greatly increased, if it was of such a
character that not only the persons in charge
of, and travelling by the train, but also any
approaching train, or pilot-engine, or any per-
son obstructing the line in the way of the danger,
might at the same time be alarmed, and enabled to
adopt the necessary precautions. But by what means
is this great desideratum to be attained P that is the
question which should be answered.
We believe the problem has been solved, and that
at length a signal has been constructed that will
answer every purpose, and enable all parties, whether
drivers, stokers, passengers, or guards, immediately
to communieate with each other in a manner im•
possible to be misunderstood, and which
will also warn every person within a con-
siderable distance of something being wrong or
defective, which would even act of itself in the event
of any of the carriages getting off the line of rails,

a spring axletree, or the linkchain connecting the
different vehicles breaking, or other accidents hap-
pening, which the most prudent forethought, and
careful supervision might be unable to avert. It will
be equally efficient by day or by night, in the brightest
light or the thickest fog.
This most important signal, a model of which was
yesterday exhibited to us by the inventor, is the dis-
covery of a young man named FRANCIS JOHN
ANGUS, a workman in the employment of Messrs.
CUBITT and Company, Gray's Inn-road. It can
easily be fitted to any carriage at a very trifling ex-
pense. Nothing can be more simple, or at
the same time more effective for the purposes
which it is intended to fulfil. The model, which the
inventor is most desirous of exhibiting and subjecting
to any test that might be desired, will show the
peculiar merits of the invention more fully than any
mere letter- press description; we may, however, say
that it consists of an alarm of a very powerful cha-

racter, which is intended to be fixed in front of each

carriage, and also on the engine with the driver. A

light frame is to be carried under the carriage, with
arms of iron fixed in various parts, so that in the

_ .
event of anything going wrong—for instance, the
carriage going off the line, a spring or axle breaking,
or the connecting chain being broken—the catch by
which the alarm is fastened will at once be

raised, the alarm itself instantly set in motion, and
a continuous noise of a most powerful description
will be immediately occasioned, that must attract

universal attention, and which is of a character so

different from any of the ordinary noises incidenta'

to railway travelling, that it cannot for a moment be
mistaken therefor ; it may also be set in motion by

any person in or on the carriage. The noise which
is occasioned by a wheel, worked by a heavy weight,
which strikes on very powerful springs, may be

increased to any extent that might be considered
desirable merely by increasing the number of these

springs.
We understand that a trial took place on the South-
Western Railway a short time since, and that the
alarm occasioned by the model was distinctly heard
by the driver and every person in or on the train,
although at several carriages distance, and that the
experiment was of the most satisfactory description.

We most strenuously recommend this inven-
tion to the notice of all railway directors and
others interested in the introduction of an
additional element of safety for travellers by
the iron roads by which our island is intersected.
The inventor states that it might also be fixed in
banks, warehouses, shops, or factories, where valu-
able property was kept, and where it would be de-
sirable that any undue tampering with locks or
windows should immediately be made known. It
might also be made use of in case of fire, to warn all
within a reasonable distance of their danger, and to
call for immediate assistance.
We trust that the young man by whom it has been

planned may receive that encouragement which the
simplicity and merit of his invention so eminently
deserve.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris papers of yesterday.
The discussion of the "right of labour" question
continues in the Assembly, and is likely to continue
for some days, as there are not less than fifty Depu-
ties yet to speak on it.
The ouvriers are making every effort to return

Resren, MORE, and CADET to the Assembly, and,
in consequence of the divisions among the other par-
ties, their success is considered not improbable. They
are also busily engaged in the organization of clubs
and secret societies. General CAVAIGNAC, however,
is acquainted with their designs, and has caused the
strictest watch to be kept pn their proceedings. There
is a unity of action among the ouvriers in every part
of France, and in several of the provincial towns they
have demanded an increase of wages and a decrease
of the hours of labour.

There was a report current on the Bourse on
Tuesday that General CAVAIGNAC had been fired at,
It appears that there was some foundation for the
rumour, as an officer, who was walking in the garden
of General CAVAIGNAC'S residence on Sunday even-
ing, was fired at from the window of a house in the

Rue de Babylone.
The Patrie of Tuesday says, the club of deputies
of the Rue de Poitiers having been much excited by
the announcement that M. PASCAL DUrBAT was ap-
pointed envoy to Vienna, General CAVAIGNAC de
Glared to-day to several Members that M. PASCAL
DUPRAT is sent on an extraordinary mission to Hun-
gary, and not to 'Vienna. Hungary, it is said, is
about to send an ambassador to Paris.

M. GELLE, sub-prefect of Boulogne, who was by
mistake ordered to be transported, on a false accusa-
tion of having been concerned in the insurrection,
has been restored to his post, and has returned to
Boulogne to recommence his duties.
In the course of the discussion of the right of
labour question, which was resumed at the sitting of
the National Assembly yesterday, M. Timm made a
most eloquent exposure of the dangers and absurdi-
ties of the doctrine of the right of labour. The
Alontagnards several times endeavoured to inter-
rupt him, and to cough him down, but by the
majority of the Assembly he was listened
to with great attention and deference. At one
part of his speech M. TRIERS having pronounced
the word factieuz in rather a marked way, M.
FLOCON, rising in his seat, exclaimed that M.
TRIERS was a Royalist. This created an im-
mense sensation, which stopped the speaker for some
minutes, but no further notice was taken of it. M.
TIIIERS was particularly eloquent in defending the
principles of property, liberty, and competition, which
have brought society to the degree of prosperity
which it has reached. He attacked also, with much
success, the Communist and Social theories, showing
their absurdity, and the danger of them. He was
followed by M. CONSIDERANT, who was speaking
when the post left.
The masons and carpenters of Paris refuse to work
more than ten hours a day. The masters, as autho-
rised by the recently passed law, insist upon twelve,
and the consequence is a general strike.