The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-11 00:00:00

ber of ten p,,rsons, upon penalty for each offence not- e
ceeding 1001. and three montheimprisonment ; such °genet'
to be prosecuted in the King's Bench, or at the assizes of
quarter sessions, within six months, -and proved by Who
credible witnesses. It was contended in Lord George.
Gordon's case (Doug. 571), that this statute was im—
pliedly repealed by the Bill of 'Rights, which declares..
" all commitments and prosecutions for petitioning:
illegal ;" but Lord Mansfield said, it was the unanimous.
opinion of the Court of Queen's Bench that the 13th.
Car. 2 was in full force.: Perhaps the next statute in.
order and importance is the Ist of George 1., statute 2,.
c. 5, which is generally known as the Riot Act. It
perhaps, scarcely necessary to add, that, although read-
ing the Riot Act, as directed under this statute, renders
offences liable to more severe penalties, the meeting may
be riotous and illFgal at common law, without reading
any proclamation, and without any reference to the
Riot Act.

The next statute in point of order is the 39th of .
George 111., cap. 79, against secret societies, which, .
after declaring that certain societies named shall be -
suppressed, proceeds to declare societies, the members
of which take unlawful oaths, or where the names of
the members shall be kept secret, or where there are
divisions or branch societies, unlawful ; and persons
corresponding with such societies, or aiding them, are
declared to be guilty of an unlawful combination and
confederacy.
The 57th George 111., C. 19, contained many enact-
ments of a temporary character, together with provisions
of a different nature, still in force.
The 25th section declares, that societies taking unlawful
oaths; &c., and electing committees or delegates, shall be
deemed unlawful combinations and confederacies, and (by
section 28) persons permitting unlawful meetings of such
societies, or of any division or committee of them, to be
held on their premises, are subject to a penalty, and, if
licensed, to be deprived of their license.
The 60 Geo. 111., and 1 Geo. IV., c. 1, prohibits
meetings and assemblies for the purpose of training,
drilling, or practising military exercise without lawful
authority, &c.

The latest of the statutes to which we deem it neces-
sary to call attention, is the ith and Bth Geo. IV., c. 30,
which enacts (by section 8), that persons riotously
assembled, and unlawfully demolishing, destroying, or
pulling down, or beginning to demolish, &c., any
church, chapel, house, building used in trade or
manfacture, or machinery proposed for or employed
in any manufacture or mine, shall be guilty
of felony, and suffer death as a felon. The beginning
to pull down, as mentioned in the Act, means
a demolition of a part with intent to demolish the
whole ; and it seems it must be proved that
some part of the freehold was destroyed ; and
it is not enough to prove that witrdow-shutters or
doors were demolished. Attempting to destroy a house,
by setting fire to it, is within the Act. Under this Act
(by sec. 26), principals in the second degree and acces-
sories before the fact, are punishable in the same manner
as principals in the first degree; and accessories after the
fact are liable to be imprisoned for any term not exceed-
ing two years.

The statutes above briefly enumerated, and others of •
more ancient date, to which it does not seem so
necessary to direct attention, are merely in aid
of the common law, which authorises proceedings,
not only by magistrates, iheriffs, peace officers,
constables, and others, but by private persons, for
restraining and suppressing riots. llagistrates are,
of course, peculiarly required and expected to restrain
riots and take the rioters into custody, and for this purpose
they may call upon any or all of the Queen's subjects to
assist them, which they are bound to do upon reasonable
warning. The duties of private persons, as well as of public
officers, in cases of this nature, were stated with much
ability and precision by the late Learned Chief Justice
Tindal, in his well-known address to the Bristol grand'
jury, after the riots of 1831.
[lt is this Act which is referred to in tho Police
Commissioners' notice, issued on Thursday.]

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.
CAUBRIDGE, APRIL 8. —The gold medals given an-
nually by the Chancellor of the University to the two
commencing Bachelors, who having obtained the degree
of Senior Optime, at least prove themselves the greatest
proficients in classical learning, were this day awarded
Chas. Brodrick Scott, Trinity College. 2.
Brooke 'rost Westeott, Trinity College. Old Trinity
has, since the institution of these prizes, in 1751, an
immense majority over the other colleges in the number
of its scions who have borne them away, and among
whom may be found some of the brightest ornaments of
the University, and their respective eras.
hJaovseepbheenNeelveicllte edWhite,schol anarsodf
Charles
cui jesat ym.. es
COLLEGE.C:arr":

The Rev. W. Dickson, 8.A., 1846, has been presented
to the perpetual curacy of Goostrey, county Chester.
CATHARINE HALL.—The Rev. Thomas Henry Lister,
8.A., 1847, has been appointed to the living of Ludding-
ton, Lincolnshire.

CHRIST COLLEGE. - The Fellows of o'4:lt College
have agreed to and presented an address of congratula-
ti)n to Dr. Graham (master) on his promotion to the
bishopric of Chester. The Bishop's reply has Since been
received and read in the College Hall.

- -
ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB
At the monthly meeting of this club, on Thursday
night, the members were occupied until a very late hour
in making alterations in the club laws, and other matters -
of interest to the yachting world; Lord A. Paget took
the chair.
After the transaction of some routine business, in the
course of which Mr. Wheeler, the treasurer, communi-
cated the gratifying intelligence that the club lied
upwards of 275/. .in hand, besides 5001. vested inAhe
Consols,
Lord A. PAGET briefly explained that in consequence
of a larger class of vessels having been rendered eligible
to contend in their future matches, it had been found:;
necessary to make considerable alterations in conformltY:
with the new arrangement, in the club laws. The sail=
ing committee had bestowed great attention upon glue
matter, and had suggested the alterations which he wits
about to submit to their consideration.
The Commodore (Lord Alfred) then went throuat
the whole of the laws, which it had been found necessary
to revise, putting each to the vote separately, afte?
affording every gentleman an opportunity of expressing
his opinion. Thera was, however, but very little discus-
sion, and very trifling alteration, the whiste having been
so admirably framed, as to meet with general approval.
The substance of the alterations are xs' follow: —ln
accordance with the vote of the special meeting, con-
vened about a fortnight ago, the maximum tonnage
of yachts eligible now to sail for ctub prizes is
increased from 25 to 50 tons, half a minute time
being allowed. The value of the prizPoe. the first
class is 801. The second class consists of,yechts from
12 to 25 tons, the prize being 601. The third class
consists of those under 12 tons, and the prize for which
is 301. In neither of the two latter is there any time
allowed to compensate for deficiency of tonnage. Should
a boat of the second class come in ahead of all
those of the first class it will receive the most valua-
ble prize, and in that case, the first of the largest
boats which comes in after it, will take the price
intended for the second class, the same rule will apply
with reference to the third and second class, unless
there are four of the first and three of the second
classes enter, and two start, the prize for that class will
not be given. Should it occur that from this reason
there is no race with the largest class, then there will be
a prize, value 30/., given as a second prize for the second
class, provided five enter and start. With respect to the
small class (under twelve tons) if two enter and start,
the prize will be given. •
It was also determined that the Strangers' Prize be
increased to 1001., open to all yachts belonging to Royal
Yacht Clubs, and instead of being limited to .50 tons,
half a minute per ton being allowed for difference of
tonnage ; vessels of any size to contend.
The first Match of the season was appointed for
Monday, the 29th of May. Entries to close a week
previously.

FIRE AND EXPLOSION.--EIGHT HOUSES BURNED.

—Yesterday morning;-fearft7lfiTe,
Con-
siderable destruction of valuable property,
of ....
.J.
shortly after three o'clock, uponthepremo.s33,
Goewell-
street,nar
R. Kendall, coffee-shop-keeper, situate N
attended
brokewith out
confine the flames to the premises then
extensive back ware-
houses Clerkenwell. The firemen exertedhen themselves
hseultv.etshetyo
speedily communicated with the
to
Mthre
and drysalter. To this property
and lofts belonging
n were there engaged
were carried, and whilst the
character,fireme
which blew the roof
Shcehseel eenfc
tkheer ,
enginesoi lm an
an explosion of a terrific
dhouses to their founda-
tionslencker's
off, and shook the surrounding
inflammable
• ted of articles of . .
warehouse consisted thel 1 Mmro; t8che
f turpentine, oils, saltpetre,
spirits o
occurred. The stock 9finggoodsi
character, such as
tsuch a powerful auxiliary to the fire
with the swiftness of lightning, and the
house occupied by Mrs. Flemming, milliner, No. 34, in
the same street, next became ignited; from thence the
.
that i i which
travelled proved
work of destruction extended to the premises in the
in of every exertion the flames of
occupancy Mr. Bobblett, preparer of engravers'
wood, andspite
pene-
trated the premises in the occupation of Mr. John
Cherry, carman, in Middle-row. This property con-
tained an immense quantity of timber in its construction,
which made the fire progress with still greater vehe-
mence. The whole of the firemen continued to labour
for some hours, when they at length got the mastery
over the flames, but not until the majority of the above
houses were nearly destroyed.
KING'S COLLEGE HOSPITAL.—On Sunday morn-
ing a sermon in aid of the funds of the above charity was
preached by the Right Rev. Lord Bishop of Lichfield at
St. John's Church, Clapham-rise. In the course of a
very eloquent appeal, the Reverend Prelate warmly
advocated the interests of the charity (which since the
foundation in 1840 had distributed its manifold blessings
to upwards of 106,250 destitute creatures), and at the
conclusion of Divine service a collection was made
amounting to 59L 9s.
THE UNEMPLOYED IN GLASGOW,—We regret to
learn that the list of unemployed is increasing, and the
total who have enrolled now amount to upwards of 2,400,
with the usual average of dependents. Of these,
perhaps, a half have been set to stone breaking, weaving,
railway work, &c., and the remainder are assisted by
daily rations of soup and bread. A large number who
have no claim on the city have been sent to Ireland.
Generally speaking, tho patience and endurance of these
poor people are above all praise ; but a feri of them have
resorted to the plan of holding meetings and speechify-
ing on the Green, with no sane attempt that we can
discover. After what has already occurred, the
authorities have wisely resolved to put down these
assemblages, which gather round them all the thieves
and vazabonds in the city.—Glasgow Herald.
ARRIVAL OP SPECIE.—The steam-ship Columbine,
from Havre, has brought two boxes of igold coin, ad-
dressed to two individual firms in the metropolis.