The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-29 00:00:00

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Total •••
being a saving of 20} miles.
We have not yet heard any day fixed for Prince
Albert's visit to Grimsby, but presume it will be
after the opening from Lincoln to Brocklesby.—
Eastern Counties Herald.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
am a constant reader of your paper, and
have often been astonished at the continual alterca-
tions in the Criminal Courts in England and Ireland
in political trials for copies of the indictment and list
of jurors. I do not profess to be acquainted with
English law, but the remarks in your paper of Tues-
day appear to show that some alteration is necessary.
I think that, on consideration, you will be of opinion
that the law of Scotland may be copied with advan-
tage in all criminal trials in your country.
One law is—that a prisoner shall, fifteen free days
before that on which he is to be tried, be served by a
messenger or macer (bailiff) with a printed copy of
the indictment, to which there is annexed a list of
articles (if any) to be produced and founded on in
the trial, such as articles stolen, instruments by which
murder has been committed, forged documents, &c.—
a list of the witnesses against the prisoner, and of the
jurors, out of whom fifteen are to be selected by
ballot to try him—and a citation for him to appear
at the time and place mentioned in the indictment.
This list is composed of persons from three coun-
ties, and is divided into special and common. The
prisoner has the power of challenging absolutely two
special and three common, and of course, on cause
shown, any number. The Crown has the same
power.
The jury is cited by a maser, from a list made up
by the sheriff clerk of each county, who takes the
names in rotation from a list of all the jurors in his
county.
A majority of the jury convict and we have three
verdicts—Guilty, Not Guilty, and Net proven.
The Court regularly appoints agents and counsel
for the poor, out of whom a prisoner is entitled to
supply himself, and the agent is bound to cite wit-
nesses for the defence, and, in fact, take the same
charge as if he were paid.
You are aware we have no private prosecutor in
criminal causes, the Crown, in all cases, by the
Lord-Advocate or Procurator-Fiscal, being prose-
cutor. If the Crown delay trying a prisoner, he
can " run his letters ;" that is, adopt proceedings
bearing that name, compelling the prosecutor to put
him on trial within sixty days, by indictment, or in
forty days further by criminal letters. If he does not,
the prisoner is liberated.
I am sorry to trouble you with so long an address,
but perhaps you will think with me, that the Jaw of
Scotland deserves to be known at a time when the
merits and demerits of jury trial are so much can-
vassed, and the system itself likely to be put on its
am, Sir, Sm.
A SCOTCH SOLICITOR.
-,11, Sept. 28, 1848.

Edinburi

THE REFUGE FOR JUVENILE DESTITUTE DIS-
CHARGED FROM PRISON, &O.—Yesterday a meeting of
governors and general committee of the above institu-
tion and asylum for the destitute of both sexes, who, on
their discharge from prison, or from having lost their
character by dishonest practices, are unable to procure
an honest maintenance, was held its the board room of
the male establishment at Hoxton. The report stated,
that the want of more adequate accommodation, espe-
cially for the female establishment, has been long felt.
A resolution to erect a new asylum at Dalston has been
passed, the cost of which for the purchase of the ground
would be 3,0001., and for the building, 6,0001. During
the past year, 359 males and females had been received,
making a total of about 7,000, since its institution in
1805. The boys are employed in shoemaking, tailoring,
and cutting firewood; the girls in sundry needle and
household work ; and both receive a daily course of re-
ligious and intellectual training. The former are pro-
Tided for by apprenticeship, emigration, &c., the latter
by servitude or other employment.
The Ocean Monarch was insured in the Neptune
office for 5,00 dollars; Hope, 1,000 dollars; Suffolk,
10,000 dollars ; Franklin, 10,000 dollars; Tremont,
11,000 dollars ; Equitable, 30,000 dollars ; Boylston,
8,000 dollars ; American, 10,000 dollars ; and New
England, 4,000 dollars. Oa her cargo there was an
insurance in the Equitable Office for 3,000 dollars ;
Boylston, 2,000 dollars ; New England, 7,500 dollars ;
National, 5 000 dollars; Lexington and Kentucky Me-
rine, 10,000 dollars ; also 13,000 dollars on her freight.
The total loss is estimated at 200,000 dollars. The re-
mainder of the insurance on her cargo is mostly here,
but is not yet ascertained.—New York Paper.
'THEATRE ROYAL LYCEUM.—This elegant theatre
opens for the season next Monday, the pieces on this oc-
`casion being Planche's Court Beauties, the ever-entertain-
ing farce of Box and Cox, and Sheridan's Critic. In
addition to Madame Vestris and Mr. C. Matthews, the'
list of the company includes, among others, the names of
'the following talented artistes : —Mrs, Fitzwilliam, Mrs.
C. Jones, Mrs. H. Gilbert, Miss K. Fitzwilliam, Miss
Howard, Miss J. Coleman, and Miss Marshall; Messrs.
Harley, Buckston, J. Reeve, F. Matthews, Roxby, Selby,
and Meadows.