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

MEETING OF MIDDLESEX
MAGISTRATES. '
THE USE OF THE TREADWHEEL.
A very numerous meeting of the magistrates for Mid-
dlesex was held yesterday, at the Clerkenwell Sess4ors
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 now 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 treaelwheel;
on the contrary, that, as regulated in the prison, it
is a salutary exercise, and varies the monotony- ef
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 riot he
undesirable to confine this species of punishment to the
inure hardened criminals, and to ex,-mpt from it those
females who are committee for the first time and for
c')mparatirely trifling offences. Li this opinion as to the
absence of any injurious effect the surgeon entirely con-
curred, as far as regarded the health of the women; and
the matron, in cerebration of this testimony, stated the
remarkable fact that wiih 266 prisoners in the house,
there is not one in the infirmary.
The report was, as usual, received, and ordered to be
printed and circulated.

Mr. Midis, the chairman of the visiting justices, asked
the Hon. and Learned Magistrate 1% hether, after 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 suf.Y.,gestion,
and after some other business had been gone through,
procceded to move " That the treadwheel bo disused in
case of female prisoners at Coldbath-fields house 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
than that of the greatest metropolis in the world.—
(Hear.) Why then should it be allowed to remain ?
Ile should move its abolitionjin the terms of his notice
of motion.
Mr. RoTcrt seconded, the motion, and suggested that
the prison should be sold to a railway company as a
City terminus.
Mr. Wilks opposed the motion, as did Messrs. Fresh-
field, Talk, 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. lialswell,, and
il% Armstrong spoke in favour of 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,
w receive the annual report, &c.
Mr. CRUDEN, the Chairman, in opening the business
said he had to congratulate the shareholders on a most
succes,ful 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. 3.1.; and after making the
usual disbursements, the balance in hand amounted to
1 983/, 18s. 3d.; besides which there was due from the
Blackwall Company 1,299/. 14s. 10d. and 17/. .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. MATTREWS 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 he arranged, but he would ex-
plain bow the costs had 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 751. 3s. ld. There
were then two oth r causes tried—the touting question
and another—in which the solicitor, not content with
;liarging mileage upon one or two occasions only, but
every time he made a journey to Maidstone there was
mileage, mileage," so that the account amounted to
upward of 20e/.
Mr. MATTHEWS said he would not attribute inten-
tional misstatement on the part of Mr. Roberts, but he
wished to correct What had been said, as that gentleman
had act stated the facts. The amount claimed was upon
two suits at the a7sizes, and a case of reference after-
wards, upon which upwards of 159/. hid been paid for
the actual expenses of witnesses, and that the wheks of
the law charges were orly 26/. 12s. 4d.
A SHAREIIOEDER expressed his opinion that it was a
question which ought to be arranged by the directors,
ind not by the proprietors, echo placid every confidence
•u that body. and Mr. Matthews either had or had not
,heir confidence.

Mr. CRUDEN reminz:ed the meeting that they were
assembled either to vpprove or not approve of t'ze audi-
tors' report, w hien, on being put, was unanimously
carried; The next question, he said, was to know their
,pinion with respect to a dividend, it being proposed to
pay five per cent., cud for the convenience of those
hying at a distance, they could receive it at trice, they
having brought their money-box with them fur that
purpose. And it was also proposed that they should
have, in lieu of the Star, a packet of superior construction
ar:d ligh!er expenditure, by which they hoped to secure
a successful result for the season of 1847.
Mr. ANDERTON said he had heard that tome of the
boats had been mortgaged ; he wishei to kcow if such
was the case?

Mr. ItonEnTs acknowledged that 2,0001. had been
borrowed, and upon which the proprietors had had 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 6,2501 ; he would rather be for shutting the con-
cern up, and dividing the property. Ile then moved as
an amendment, " That, alter 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 fed 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, it they constructed a vessel it would the at their
own individual risk. He had done so, irt nling to
wait until the matter could be discussed at the 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 b,netit of
the company, he thought it too much for them to be
open to a most pugnacious opposition from the remain-
ing two.
Mr. HENRY BURN, a director, said he was as anxious
about the affairs of the company as any person could be
—he had no other interest to look to—he had no local
advantages to serve. He was independently employed,
and his only object was for the Star Company. He
shou!d regret the boats getting out of the hands of the
company into those of private individuals, and he quite
agreed with 11r. Redman, and should dissent from their
having a new boat.

The amendment having been put and rejected,lthe
original proposition was carried by a large majority.
On the motion of Mr. ANDERTON, it was resolved
that the sum of five guineas be presented to each :of
the captains for. the judicious manner in which they con-
ducted the vessels during the season, the expenses at-
tendant on the repairs of the five boats amounting to
only 161.
The directors, auditors, and chairman baying been re.
elec tedp,asat efsterr,iaeveso, the
eoef
meetingthanks
,p
stoatrhaetagentlemen for
their

NEWSPAPER CURIOSITY.—It as not generally known
that there has been, for the last eleven years, a news_
s
news-
paper in Harrovrgate, which, in reference to the periods
swallows,of i publication, resembles rietss eamppb leeasrabni rcdes
each
h passage.su ccesive season Like the
with the commencement of the summer months, and with
the swallow it disappears at the close of the season. Its
existence each year varies according to the state of the
weather, from four to five months. As a few fine days
in the beginning of the summer summons it from the
sleep of winter, so a few unpropitious days towards the
close of autumn consigns it anew to the grave. The
earliness and long continuance of the fine weather have

given to the Harrowgate Advertiser an unusually pro-
tracted existence this year. Its term of life in the year
of grace 1846 extended to five months. The broken
weather of last week put an abrupt termination to its
days, the " Visitors" to the celebrated watering place in
which it is published having suddenly taken flight on
the setting in of the heavy rains. The proprietor, at
the close of each season, gives a farewell address to his
supporters, in imitation of the lessees of theatres, thank-
ing them for past patronage, and bespeaking future fa-
vours. The editor closes his valedictory address on
Saturday last in these words:—" We sincerely regret
to part with so many kind patrons and supporters, but
we are cheered during the winter months of separation
in the hope of meeting them again, should Divine Pro-
vidence spare us to renew our acquaintance and pur-
sue our humble labours." This newspaper curiosity
consists of a small single sheet. It has five columns in
each page, is published at fourpence, and is tastefully
got up.