The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-07 00:00:00

J !II N TA WELL'S CON FF:SSTON,

It will be recollected that John Tawell was executed for
the murder of Sarah Hart, of Silt, hill, at Aylesbury, now
nearly eighteen months ago, and that the subject of the con•
fession of the murderer, which was placed in the hands of
the Rev. Mr. Cox, the chaplain of the county gaol, just be-
fore his execution, and which the Rev. Gentleman has con-
tinually refused' to lav before the magistrates of the county,
has been brought. before the bench at every subsequent
quarter sessions. Various efforts have been made to induce
Mr. Cox to lay the document in question before the magis-
trates, but without success. At the last. Easter sessions the
following resolution. upon the motion of Dr. Lee, seconded
by Mr. J. P. Derrin, was carried by a majority of exactly
two to one:—"That the chaplain be required to lay on the
table at the next (Midsummer) quaver sessions, any
written document received from John Tawell previously
to his execution." The chaplain, who was present
during the discussion which then took place, admitted
that a solemn promise had been made by him to
John Tawell not to give up possession of the document
in question ; and further assured the magistrates that,
" whatever the consequences might be, nothing on earth
should ever induce him to part with the statement." At the
Midsummer Sessions, which were held on Thursday last,
the subject was again introduced, by Dr. Lee inquiring
of Mr. Acton Tindal, the clerk of the peace for the
county, if the Rev. Mr. Cox had laid the document upon
the table, relating to John Tawell, agreeably to the
resolution which was carried in April last. Mr. Tindal
having replied in the negative, Dr. Lee strongly ani-
madverted upon the uncourteous conduct of the chap-
lain, expressing his determination to propose a mo-
tion for the purpose of bringing the subject to a
final issue at the next sessions. It having been
elicited, however, that Mr. Tindal, as clerk to the
magistrates, had not officially communicated the nature of
the resolution to Mr. Cox, in consequence of instructions to
that effect not having been given to him by the bench, Dr.
Lee then gave notice that he should submit the following
motion at the ensuing Michaelmas Sessions, in September
next That the clerk of the peace be instructed to com-
municate to the Rev. Mr. Cox the decision of the magistrates
upon his conduct with reference to the statement delivered
by John Tawell to Mr. Sheriff', the gaoler; and by Mr.
Sheriff to the Rev. Mr. Cox, the chaplain of the gaol, that
the magistrates fully expected that the Rev. Mr. Cox would
have delivered up this statement to them, in consequence of
the request, or decision, to that effect, as made by the ma-
jority of the magistrates prevent at the Easter Quarter-Ses•
sions ; and that they consider his conduct, in still with-
holding that document, has been uncourteous and even con-
tumacious towards them." It is not expected that the Rev.
Mr. Cox, who was not present on Thursday last, will consent
to give up the document, after his determined and emphatic
refusal to do so at the Easter county sessions, held in April
last. However, thus the affair rests for the present.

TOTAL DESTRUC7 IGN OF A
wriALER AN!) A FRENCH EAST INDIANIAN

BY FIRE.

Letters have, during the last two or three days, been
received, communicating the Vital destruction of the
whaling-ship Helvetia, 330 tons burden, and the'French
East Indianian Nouveau Tambour, both of which, wt,
regret to say, are supposed to have been wilfully fired
by incendiaries.
The loss of the Helvetia, which was commanded b'
Captain W. Porter, occurred on the night of the 25th cif
February last, in Sandwich Harbour. Besides 150
barrels of sperm oil, she had 1,500 of seal and other
commodities on board, and preparations were com-
pleted for the homeward passage when the disco
very was made. It appears to have commenced in
the fore part of the vessel,. between decks, and ever
attempt on the part of the o.,rew to get at it proved
abortive. The alarm was given to the authorities
ashore, who instantly caused the military to he turned.
out, and directed every assistance they were in posses-
sion of to save the vessel. Long before the vessel wa-
boarded the flimes had gained the oil in the mainhold,
and burst forth in a terrific blaze, firing the rigging in
every direction, which, owing to the wind, was soon
consumed, the masts falling over the vessel's side. At-
tempts were made to scuttle her, but she still floated, and
they abandoned her. Subsequently, in the course of the
night, her cables were cut and the ship drifted down the
channel with the tide ; the guns or; the fort opened fire
on the burning vessel in ortl,.r to sink her. Several shots
pierced her bows, but had no effect; and about three
o'clock she struck on a reef, and stranded in six feet of
water, where she continued to burn for nearly two whole
days, and was entirely consumed. That she was wilfully
yet on fire the commander and the officers have not the
least doubt. They exempt the crew of the diabolical
a*t, believing it to have been committed by a native who
was employed on board, and had made his escape imme-
diately after the outbreak of the fire. The captain and
officers are sufferers to a considerable extent. The ship
was insured for 12,0001.
The burring of the Nouveau Tambour took place on
the evening of the 18th of last month, June, off Mar-
seilles, a few hours after her arrival. The fire originated
in the after part of the ship, under very suspicious cir-
cumstances, and terminated in the destruction of the
vessel. Unfortunately, one person perished in the
names; he was a son of the captain, and amidst the con-
fusion fell backward into the main hold, which was in
one body of fire, and his rescue was beyond all human
power. The ship's loss is calculated at 7,oool.—Sunday
Times.