The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-29 00:00:00

SEEING LONDON.

NeWspaper readers have, for some time, missed the
country gentlemen who periodically make their
appearance' at the metropolitan police-courts to com-
plain of the too kind attentions of the well-dressed
person who, haVing fallen into a legacy of £50,000
is unable to spend it himself ; and is, there-
fore, glad of any assistance for that pur-
pose. John Mansfield, described as a countryman
from Gloucestershire, but wearing the uniform of a
'soldier, was charged at Bow-street, on Monday,
with being intoxicated, and with having personated
a private in her Majesty's army without a proper
licence. The story told by the countryman, fresh
from the simple ways of his. rustic home, is. unique.
He had met with a soldier named White, and after
the usual kind of enjoyment, was persuaded by the
soldier that he would look very handsome in military
uniform. He consented to make the trial, and the
clothes were exchanged ; but the soldier soon got rid
of him, and his peculiar enjoyments having
had a rather deadening effect upon his brain,
he fell asleep. On waking up he found him-
self alone in a pleasure-van, and having seen enough
of London, he was advised to present himself at the
Wellington Barracks, where he was taken into cus-
tody. It is not the first time that a red jacket has
been the cause of grief and sorrow; and if AIL John
Mansfield convinces the magistrate of the truth of
his tale, it may be that, the next time he sees
London ,he will eschew the society of military
gentlemen who are desirous of admiring his handsome
military figure.

" INCREASED " POLICE PRIVILEGES.

It is quite right that the London policeman should
have his turn as " a subject " in the Telegraph after
the young man of the day, the young woman of the
day, the rascal in railway carriages, and many other
much less eligible persons have filled their columns
of correspondence. The pay of the metropolitan
force has been increased by one shilling
a week, but in return the men are
required to sacrifice two days' leave a month : the
question at issue is whether this can be called a
satisfactory arrangement. It does not look very

liberal ; and the hosts of letters from real or imagi-
nary policemen are pretty unanimous in assuring us
that it is not. The complaints are pitiable. Ons
writer begs Colonel Henderson to remember that
policemen are human beings, and not dogs—though
it is noticeable that the policemen themselves
do not always regard the distinction in
dealing with their . captives. Another says
that the force are paid like boys and treated like
soldiers, forgetting that he would gain nothing by
being paid, as well as treated, like a soldier; and a
third pathetically Fays : "At first we thought, when
Sir R. Mayne expired, that we had no occasion to
lament ; but, alas! we have cause to regret that
he died." Actually this man wishes Sir Richard had
lived because he got nothing out of his death. It
would be a satisfaction to know whether these
letter writers are all real policemen. Nobody would
imagine there were so many Irishmen in the force;
everybody is aware that there are a great many Irish
writers in the Telegraph office. However, one state-
ment is important. A writer says that the Chief
Commissioner recently put the question to the
police whether they would have the extra shilling,
a week and lose the leave. "The men did not re-
quire an hour to decide; but their decision was,
without the slightest hesitation, We will keep our
leave.' " Yet the pay was thrust upon them and the
leave withdrawn. Surely at a time when most
people are recognizing the necessity of treating the
police a little more liberally, it is a strange sort of con-
ciliation to compel them to accept "an advantage"
which they do not desire.