The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-23 00:00:00

PRICE SD.

2

MEETING OF MIDDLESEX
MAGISTRATES.
THE USE OF THE TREADWHEEL.
A very numerous meeting of the magistrates for Mid-
dlesex was held yesterday, at the Clerkenweli Sessions
House, for the transaction of " county" business. Mr.
H. Pownall in the chair.
The greater part of the day was occupied in the dis-
cussion and consideration of a motion which had been
placed on the paper by Mr. Walesby, for the abolition of
the use of the treadwheel in the case of females. In
consequence of this notice of motion it appeared that the
visiting justices of the House of Correction, in their cus-
tomary report, which was ❑ow read, had obtained the
opinions of the several officers of the Coldbath fields
Prison, as to the advantages or injury which the appli-
cation of the wheel to female prisoners had produced.
These opinions were all read, and they concurred in
stating that the experience of the governor, the chaplain,
and the matron had led them to the conclusion that nothing
detrimental either to the health or morals of female pri-
soners arises from their employment on the treadwheel;
on the contrary, that, as regulated in the prison, it
is a salutary c xercise, and varies the monotony of
their confinement; that female prisoners have repeatedly
importuned the authorities to allow them to be placed
upon the wheel, and shed tears of disappointment when
refused. They admitted, indeed, that it might net ho
undesirable to confine this species of punishment, to the
more hardened criminals, and to ex wept from it those
females who are committed for the first time and for
comparatively trifling offences. In this opinion as to the
absence of any injurious eff,c: the surgeon entirely con-
curred, as far as regarded the health of the women; and
the matron, in corroboration of this testimony, streed the
remarkable fact that with 266 prisoners in the guise,
there is not one in the infirmary.
The report was, as usual, received, and ordered to be
printed and circulated.
Mr. Winxs, the chairman of the visiting justices, asked
the Hon. and Learned Magistrate, whether, afler the
opinions which had been given by the governor and the
other officers of the prison, he did not think it advisable
to withhold his motion ?
Mr. WALESBY declined to act upon this suggestion,
and after some other business had been gone through,
proceeded to move " That the treadwheel be disused is
case of female prisoners at Coldbath-fields llouse of
Correction." He considered it the better course to place
the matter before the public at once, rather than it
should be allowed any longer to remain in abeyance.
The treadwheel had been abolished in every other prison
tht:n that of the greatest metropolis in the world.—
(Hear.) Why then should it be allowed to remain ?
He should move its abolition in the terms of hrs notico
of motion.
Mr. ROTCH seconded the motion, and suggested that
the prison should be sold to a railway company as a
City terminus.
Mr. Wilke opposed the motion, as did Messrs. Fresh-
field, Tulk, and S. Wilson.
Sir P. LAURIE said the question could not be allowed
to remain as it was after the statement of the officers.
Mr. Simpson, Mr. Sergeant Stocks, Mr. Halswell, and
Mr. Arms:rorg spoke in favour of the motion, which
was eventually lost by a majority of 25 to 15.

STAR STEAM-PACKET COMPANY
On Wednesday the annual General Court of Pro-
prietors was held at the Literary Institution, Gravesend,
to receive the annual report, &c.
Mr. CRUDEN, the Chairman, in opening the business
Said he had to congratulate the shareholders on a most
successful termination of the year, a fact which they
would find confirmed by the auditors' report.
Mr. ROBERTS read the report, by which it appeared
that the earnings of the company during the past year
amounted to 17,493/. 17s. 3d.; and after making the
usual disbursements, the balance in hand amounted to
1 983/. 18s. 3d.; besides which there was due from the
Blackwell Company 1,299/. 14s. 10d. and 171. Is. from
the Government for the conveyance of troops. The
directors, he added, had relinquished half their pay.
Among the items he stated there remained unpaid
2021, 9s. 6d., due to Mr. Matthews, their solicitor.
Mr. MATTHEWS observed that he shold exceedingly
regret to be placed in a hostile pition with regard to the
company in taking unpleasant proceedings for the re-
covery of the debt, but as it had already stood over
from their 'last general meeting, he thought the pre-
sent a fitting opportunity to have the matter fairly
discussed with a view to arrangement. He was quite
►willing to have it referred to any competent person,
or the directors might have it taxed in the usual way.
Mr. ROBERTS said he quite agreed with Mr. Matthews
that the account ought to be arranged, but he would ex-
plain how the costs bad originated. There was an action
brought with respect to the sinking of the Vesper, in
which the lawyer got all that could be desired—verdict
and costs—but to their surprise there was an unpaid
bill of costs brought in amounting to 754 3s. Id. There
were then two oth ,r causes tried—the touting question
and another—in which the solicitor, not content with
charging mileage upon one or two occasions only, but
every time he made a journey to Maidstone there was
" mileage, mileage," su that the account amounted to
upward: of 2001.

Mr. MArrnEws said he would not attribute inten-
tional misstattment on the part of Mr. Roberts,- but he
wished to correct what had been said, as that gentleman
had nct stated the facts. The amount claimed was upon
two suits at the aisizes, and a case of referance atter-
w•ards, uron which upwards of 159/. had bran paid for
the actual expenses of witacses, and that the whols of
the law charges we is ooly 261. 12a.
A SIIIIIRUOLDER t xpressed his (ipieion that it was a
question w Ilia ought to be arranged by the directors,
sud not by the proprietors, who plac. d every confidence
n-that body, and jar. Matthews either had cr had not
their con tid tnce.
Mr. CRUDEN reminded the meeting that they were
assembled either to hpprove or not approve of tae audi
tors' report, which, on being_ put, was uranimously
carried, The AP. xt question, he said, was to know their

opinion e ith respc-ci to a dividend, it being proposed to
pay five pug cent., ard for the convenience of those
living at a distance, they could receive it at ( nce, they
having brought tleir money b,.x with them fur that
purpose. And it was also proposed that they Lhoulti
have, in lieu of the Star, a packet of superior construction
4nd ligh!er expenditure, by which they hoped to secure
a successful reLult for the season of 1847.
Mr. ANDERTON said he had heard that some of the
boats had been mortgaged ; he wished to know if such
was the case?

Mr. ROBERTS acknowledged that 2,0001. had been
borrowed, and upon which the proprietors had ba•l the
advantage. He expressed himself favourable to a new
vessel.

Mr. ANDERTON though it was not right to create a
new debt : he had read their deed, and he would take
the bull by the horns and say, that the directors had no
power to build a new boat, which, it appeared, would
cost 6,250/ ; he would rather be for shutting the con-
cc'rn up, and dividing the property. He then moved as
an amendment, " That, atter paying a dividend of five
per cent., the purchase of'a new boat was unnecessary,
and that the surplus should go towards defraying their
debt."

Mr. G. C. REDMAN said, if no proprietor would second
the amendment he, as a director, should feel great plea-
sure in so doing. He considered it very detrimental to
the interests of the company to re-elect the same direc-
tors year after year, but he thanked the shareholders for
the confidence they had placed in him. With respect to
a new boat, he did not consider they were in a position
to have one, and such resolution had been come to at a
meeting at which he was not present. He would say
more, there was not one of the directors who knew what
kind of boat they intended to have. He held in his hand
two letters, which he had intended to have sent to a
former meeting. One was addressed to the chairman,
and which he would take the liberty to read. This letter
set forth that if he (the chairman) did order a new boat,
it would be entirely at his own risk. The other was
addressed to Messrs. Milner and Ravenor. the engineers,
saying, if they constructed a vessel it would he at their
own individual risk. He had done so, ii.t rifling to
wait until the matter could be discussed at ti:; general
meeting.

The"CHAIRmAN said he must protest against Mr. Red-
man introducing letters which had never been sent, in

order to support his own hypothesis. Among the ten
directors, if eight of them came to the determination
.

which they deemed the most judicious for the benefit of
the company, he thought it too much for them to be