The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-13 00:00:00

THE SUN, LOND:ON, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 13, 1848

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sta,T-I have looked for some days past in your va-
luable journal for an account of the contributions of
the " Anti-Christmas-box Bakers" to, the deserving
poor, or to some of the numerous existing charities
for the relief of the poor, but without being able to
find that such has ever appeared. Surely sufficient
time has elapsed to enable these philanthropic gen.
tlemen to give to the public the finis and result of
their very questionable movement—i. e., the suppres-
sion of Christmas-boxes; or, in other words, putting
in their own pockets,whittiediy belongs to the public.
These latter words were uttered by a baker the
other day, in answer to an inquiry made by me as to
the benefits likely t 9 result by the movement. " Oh,"
said he," it is all rubbish, I shall have nothing to do
with it ; we make it up out of the bread, so we only
give the public their own; it really belongs to the
public."
Apologising for this intrusion, I remain, Sir, &c.,
London, Jan. 10, 1848. INQUIRER.

IRISH SPECIAL 'COMMISSION.
LIMERICK, JAN. 11..—'Tie Judges sat this morning
at ten o'clock.

SENTENCE ON TIIE CONVECT RENNEHAN.—John
Rer.nehan, who was convicted for the murder of John
117'Eniry, at Adamstown, ill this county, upon the
3d of October, 1847, having been placed at the bar to
receive the sentence of the Court,
The Clerk of the Crown uked him if he had any-
thing to say against sentence of death being passed
upon him ?

The prisoner, who exhibited the greatest possible
self-possession, replied in a loud voice—l have
nothing to say but that I am perfectly innocent of
the charge.
Their Lordships having then put on their black
caps,
The CIIIET BARON, addressing the convict, went at
considerable length into the facts of the case, as they
appeared in our paper of yesterday, describing the
murder as one of the most atrocious that ever came

nder his knowledge ; and concluded by passing upon
him the extreme penalty of the law, namely, the 11th
of February, as the day upon which his execution
will take place.
The prisoner, without uttering a word or showing
the slightest emotion, walked away from the bar, and
as soon as he got into the body of the dock commenced
to eat a piece of bread, saying " We must eat while
we are here at all events, boys." There are some
circumstances connected with this most dreadful
murder which may be considered worthy of notice,
although they did not appear upon the trial. The
prisoner, of all those indicted during the commission,
was, perhaps, the most independent as regards pro-
perty, being the owner of thirty acres of land, which
was to come into his possession in a few days after
his arrest, when he attained his age ; and there was
scarcely any reason that could be assigned for the
commission of so awful a crime, attended by so many
revolting circumstances. It appeared, however, that
some cattle belonging to the unfortunate man who
was murdered were impounded by the prisoner a
short time before for trespass, which led to the
issuing of a summons by M'Eniry against him
for an assault upon a young lad in his service, whom
he sent with a request that he would let the
cattle be taken out of the pound. This is the only
assignable reason for the perpetration of this bar-
barous crime; which is borne out by the fact that
one of the prisoners, when beating the deceased, who
asked what he had done, replied, " Remember last
Court day," alluding to th• day on which the assault
against the prisoner was heard. It is further stated
that a strong ill• feeling existed between the two fa-
milies, arising out of an outrage which took place
many years ago, and in which the prisoner's father
lost his life.
CHARGES UNDER THE WIIITEBOT ACT.-ATTACKING

A DWELLING MOUSE ARMED.
Patrick Long and John Coleman, the former about
45, and the latter 30 years of age, were indicted for
having, on the 16th of July, at Ballyneal, in the
county Limerick, assaulted the dwelling house of
Daniel Shea, and stealing a gun, his property.
There were various counts in the indictment altering
the charge in a slight degree.
The prosecutor was examined by the Attorney-
General, and deposed that on the night in question
the prisoner came to his house, and demanded his
fire-arms from him ; Coleman demanded his gun,
and Long took it out of his hands. One of the two
said, " If you. don't give it at once we will blow
your brains out." The prisoner shot his dog, and
the shot went through the door afterwards ; he begged
them not to do so, but they said they would serve him-
self in the same way.
Mr. O'IIEA cross-examined this witness, who ad-
mitted that the prisoners lost a sheep, which was
found in his haggard on the Monday after this oc-
currence, and that he did not tell the police of it,
although they were in his house next day.
Honora Shea was then examined by the Solicitor..
General—(who appeared in court for the first time
since the death of Mrs. Ilatchell).—She deposed to
the facts, as far as the house being attacked, and her
father giving the men who attacked it his gun out of
the window, which she handed to him by his direc-
tions. She could not, however, swear positively to
the prisoners, although she stated that she believed
Coleman was one of the assailants.

Thomas Connellan, the prosecutor's servant, also
proved the attack, but could not identify either of the
parties charged.
Mr. H. De Massey (a magistrate) having proved
the state of the county,
The case for the prosecution closed, and
Mr. O'HEA addressed the jury for the defence,
strongly relying on the fact that the night was dark,
and the prosecutor, the only person who swore to the
prisoners, might be mistaken.
The CIIIEF BARON then summed up the evidence,
after which

The jury retired for a few moments, and returned
with a verdict of Not Guilty.
The commission is now sitting seven days, and this
is the first case in which there was an acquittal.
ATTACKING A DWELLING ARMED.—Patrick Calla-
ghan was indicted for attacking the dwelling-house of
John Carroll, at Crean, in this county, on the 4th of
December, 1846, and stealing a gun, his property.
The prisoner was a young man about 30 years of age.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL very shortly stated the
case, as it appears in the following evidence:—
John Carroll, examined by the Solicitor-General,
deposed that on the morning of the 4th of December;
1846, a party of armed men came to his house, and
forced him to give them his gun. This witness
could not identify either of the prisoners, but he
swore to his gun, which was produced.
Thomas Carroll (an approver) swore that he, the
prisoner, and twelve other men, made the attack on
the prosecutor's house upon the night in question,
and compelled him to give up his gun—the gun
which he had identified. He said the prisoner and
the other men were drinking at his house for a long
time previously, and got him to get out of bed to join
them. There were several guns with the party, but
the prisoner had not one. Callaghan demanded the
gun after breaking the windows, and when Mr.
Carroll said it was at the police-barrack, he said,,
" You lie ; I saw you shoot a plover to-day," His
father-in-law then advised him to give it, and he
handtll it through the window. When the prosecutor
refused the gun at first, the prisoner said to one of the
men, " Give me that gun, and 'l'll soon make him
hand it out."

Cross-examined by Mr. UHEA—We are old ac-
quaintances, I believe ? Witness—We are a little.
(Laughter.)
Mr. O'HEA—Who was your " comrade man ?"--
Witness—ln what matter ?

Mr. O'HEA—Do you remember telling me at the
last assizes about your " comrade man ?" Witness—
Is it Dan Hayes you mane I
Mr. U'HEA—No. Who were you swearing against
at the last assizes ? Witness—l swore against Mike
Howard for Hourigan's murder.

Mr. O'HEA—Was he hanged ? Witness—He
was (sensation).
Mr. O'HEA—Was he your " comrade man ?" Did
you ever tell me so ? Witness—l could not say 1
did.

Mr. O'HEA—Was he on any expedition with you

Witness—ls it a" fact" you rn-ean.

Mr. O'HEA—Yes.

Witness—He asked me to go on a "fact" with him,
but I would not go.
Mr. O'HEA—Was"your house the place they used
to meet at at ? Witness—l don't say that, for I lived
at my mother-in-law's.—(Laughter.)
Mr. O'HEA.—Well, did the boys meet there before
their expeditions? Witness—Yes, they used to meet
there sometimes.

Mr. O'HEA—Was not your house the shop in which
all the murders in the country were planned ? Wit-
ness—l never heard of a murder being planned in the
place, any more than the men that went to beat Phil
Hourigan.
Mr. O'HEA—The attack on him was planned in
your house ? Witness--The first beating he got was
planned when I lived_ in my mother-in-law's house.
Mr. O'HEA—How many attacks were planned in
that house ? Witness—l can't tell.
Mr. 0111E&—Were there twenty ? Witness—l
can't say whether there was or not.
Mr. O'HEA—Used you to go out with them
always? Witness—Not always.
Mr. O'HEA—Were you called the captain? Wit-
ness—Never.
Mr. OMEA—Who was the captain of the bandits
that was in your house that night ?—Was it Cal-
laghan ? Witness—l never heard he was called
captain, but he certainly was the head of the party.
Mr. O'HEA—He was Captain Callaghan, and per-
haps you were Lieutenant or Adjutant Carroll.—
(Laughter.) Witness—l was not.
Mr. O'llEA—All your family were in bed when
this gang were there, I suppose? Witness—They
were.

The CHIEF JUSTICE—You were not the com-
mander ? Witness—No, my Lord, I never was,
Mr. 011IEA—W hose was the double barrelled gun
that was taken out of your house ? Witness—lt was
mine.

Mr. O'HEA—Who owned it ? Witness—Dr,
Bennett.

Mr. OlIEA—Did he lend it to you? Witness—
No, he did not indeed.
Mr. O'llEA—Then how did you get possession of
it ? Witness—The easiest way in the world, by
taking it.
The CHIEF JUSTICE—Did you take it by threats
or by force ? Witness—By force (sensation). I was
the man that chanced to get it of the party, but I
sent it back.
Mr. O'llEA—Were you captain that night ? Wit-
ness—No, I was not.
The CHIEF JUSTICE—When did you send it back ?
Witness--I sent it back after the taking of Carroll's
gun.

Mr. O'HEA—Had you changed your profession
hen ? Witness—l had.

Mr. O'HEA—What was your profession then ?
Witnesi—lt was certain that I went on that business.

Mr. O'HEA—You---;;;e—a Whiteboy, in short?
Witness—Yes.

Mr. O'lTEA.—What is your profession now ? Wit-
ness—My profession is not to carry on any more of
that business.

Mr. 01-.IEA- —ls your present procession that of an
informer? Witness—Yes.—(Great sensation.)
Mr. O'HEA—Was it after you changed your pro-
fession that you sent back Dr. Bennett his gun ?
itness--N o, before that. It was before I commenced
this business that I sent it back—before I " gave
down" the prisoner.
Mr. O'HEA—Did you " give down" any other
party before you sent it home ? Witness7--I did.
Mr. O'HEa.—Was it remorse of conscience that
made you change your life ?—The witness made no
reply to this question.
Mr. O'HEA—You had only one double-barrelled
gun—one single-barrelled gun—and a blunderbuss
amongst you that night, you said? Witness—Yes,
that is all.

Mr. O'HEA—You are positive of that? Witness
—I am.
Counsel here read the witness's informations, in
which he swore that all the party were armed.
Mr. O'HEA—Now, let me ask you, was the pri-
soner armed? Witness—No, not leaving the house.
Mr. O'HEA—Had any of the others guns, but
three ? Witness—Not one.
Mr. O'HEA—What made you swear they had?
Witness—If I did, I swore wrong.—(Sensation.)
O'HEA—Did you not swear that it was in
your house that they planned stealing the gun ?
Witness—Yes.

formations that it was outside they told you they
And did you not swear in your in-
gun t°akilleEthAe--gun ? Witness—Yes, but they told
me in the house also.
Mr. 0
place? Witness--I did always, " when I could."—
'HEA.—You prevented any mischief taking
(Laughter.)
The Nv itn ess here left the court, and a child of his,
a little girl, not more than ten years of age, was ex-
amined, and swore to having seen the prisoner at her
father's house on the night the prosecutor was robbed.
A man named

John Fitzgerald was then put:on the table. He
deposed that he purchased the gun in question from
the prisoner for 10s.
Mr. O'HEA—Are you a relation of Thomas Car-
roll's ? Witness—l am.

Mr. HEA —The gun was found with you ? Wit-
ness—lt was.

Mr. O'HEA—By whom ? Witness—The police.
Mr. O'HEA—What did you want with it ? Wit-
ness—To shoot crows.—(Laughter.)
Mr. O'HEA—Did you shoot many that season?
Witness—Well, then, 1 did, for I am a bit of a
shot.—(Laughter.)
Mr. O'HEA—Did you ever mistake a man for a
crow ? Witness—Never.

Mr. O'HEA—I hope not.
The case for the prosecution having here closed,
Mr. O'Hea addressed the jury for the prisoner.
The Solicitor. General then replied, after which
The CHIEF JUSTICE charged them. They found a
verdict of conviction against the prisoner, who was
sentenced to ten years' transportation. His lordship
in sentencing him, alluded to his address to the con-
victs on the previous day, in which he pointed out in
such feeling language the fact that criminals were fre-
quently the means of bringing each other to justice,
observing that the moment the law showed a deter-
mination to punish severely, it generally happened that
there was a race between the accomplices in guilt to
see which of them would reach a magistrate, first to
swear against his companions and save himself.
ROBBERY OF ARAIS.—John Shaughnessy and John
Hassey, both young men under 25 years of age, were
indicted for attacking the dwelling house of Mr. J. C.
Meade, of Ballyegna, upon the 4th of November,
1847, and stealing several guns, his property.
The prosecutor deposed that on the morning in
question a party of men broke into the house and
stole those guns; when he heard them he went out
of his bed-room into the parlour, and took a double-
barrelled gun to protect himself; and gave another to
a Mr. Darcey, who was in the house; two men
rushed in after him, after firing a shot in, and he at-
tempted to fire, but the gun missed ; the moment that
happened, he was knocked down by a blow on the
forehead, which stunned him, and he was subse-
quently wounded by a gunshot, and beat in the most
cruel manner. Mr. Meade could not identify the
prisoners.
Mr. J. Keane, jun., deposed that he slept at the
prosecutor's house on the night it was attacked ; he
was there, he said, with a shooting party, and went
to bed about ten o'clock at night; in the morning at
an early hour the house was attacked ; three men
rushed into the room in which he slept with ter o
others, discharged a gun in it, and swore they would
shoot them all if they did not give up their arms ;
the men all this time kept cocking and uncocking
, their guns to frighten them ; this witness, who is a
most intelligent gentleman, positively swore to both
prisoners, and stated he identified them in custody
amongst several others ; there was a third man in the
room, and he believed in custody, but he would not
undertake ti;) swear against him because he had a
doubt; all the party had their faces blackened in some
degree, the prisoners very slightly.
To Mr. 0 Hea-..1 said I could recognize two of
the men ; I never said I knew one of them ; I know
the Rev. Mr. M'Mahon, the parish priest ; I don't
believe I ever told him I could only identify one of
them.

To the Court--I heard that the police took up a
party of men on
the morning I identified the two
prisoners.
Mr. N. Meade, brother to the prosecutor, deposed
that he slept with the previous witness on the night
in question but he could not undertake to identify,
as the party who
attacked the house obliged him to
keep covered in bed, as if they feared his identifica-
tion, threatening to shoot him if he looked.
To Mr. o'ses—The last witness was sitting up
and speaking to the men.
To Mr. Bennett—He had a full opportunity of
seeing them.

Mr. William Keane was next examined by the
Solicitor-General—lie swore that he was awoke by a
shot, but did not see the assailants, as they obliged
him to conceal himself also.
The case for the Crown here closed.
Mr. O'llea addressed the jury for the prisoner, for
the defence, stating that he would not only prove an
alibi, but also examine a clergyman to prove that the
only witness to identification had told him he could
only identify
Meade's house. one of the men who attacked Mr.

The examination of witnesses for the prisoner had
not concluded at post hour.

ADJOURNMENT.
The Court at its rising will adjourn to Wednesday,
the 19th instant, I believe, as their Lordships will be
obliged to open
the Commission for the county Clare,
at Ennis, to morrow, at twelve o'clock. During the
sitting of the Court, a period of seven days, there have
been no less than
three capital convictions, and up-
wards of five arid twenty cases tried in which the
parties charged were sentenced to transportation, in-
cluding the case of William Frewen, who was sen-
tenced to banishment from his country for life, for
harbouring Ryan
the murderer of Kelly—
perhaps the most important of all the convictions
which took place since their Lordships sat, not even
excepting the charges of murder. It was generally
supposed that Frewen, who was a most comfortable
farmer, would not be transported, in consequence of
its being the first conviction ever had for harbouring
a criminal ; but we have reason to believe that such an
impression is erroneous, which is borne out by the
fact that he was one of the persons who left for
Kingstown to be put on board the convict ship. Wo
believe, however, that the Crown will not proceed
with the case against his two brothers, who are
the house, and the party who should not have shel-
teredßyan—at least the most culpable party. The
,ounger than him, inasmuch as he was the owner of
convictions also included ten or twelve cases in which
the prisoners were sentenced to two years' imprison-
ment each.

tlheaatrndufrioningthe past summer a great scandal
SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST THE VICAR OF MOT-
the Manchester Guardian of
was thrown upon the Church by a charge of adultery
made against the Rev. David Seddon, Vicar of Moment,
in Lancashire, who, beg a married man, was charged
MOT-
TRAM.—We
by the daughter of a lahourer in his parish with being
Wednesday that
the father of a Child ot which she was then e.zceinte.
Mr. Seddon asserted that this charge was the result of a
conspiracy against him; and, accordingly, he me-
morialised the Bishop of Chester for an inquiry. The
Bishop issued a sort of ecclesiastical commission,
consisting of the Rev. Chancellor Raikes, the
Venerable Archdeacon Wood, and two other
clergymen. The high,,character of the Chancellor, and
the " odour of sanctity which attaches to his unblame-
able life, and earnest zeal in the diocese of Chester,
were a sufficient guarantee for the justice and impar-
tiality of the commission of inquiry, and, after two days
of patient investigation, they came to the conclusion
that the charges were false and malicious. Air. Sed-
don's enemies, it, appears, have not been defeated by this
decision, for, the child oeil.-g horn, an order of affiliation
against the Rev. Gentleman was applied for at the Hyde
petty sessions on Monday. The hearing oeeupied nine
hours, and the magistrates made the order upon Mr.
Seddon. Notice was immediately given of an appeal to
the quarter sessions.
AMENDMENT 01' THE BUILDINGS ACT.—The pri-
vate Committee appointed by Lord Morpeth to consider
the defects of the present Act, and to suggest remedies,
are now completing their report, and, if rumour speaks
truly, will advise (what we have always urged must be
done), the preparation of au entirely new Act, rather
than any patching of the old one. Whether or not the
Government will act upol this advice, of course remains
I to be seen.—Builder.

LITERATURE.
Sr ROCHE. Edited by J. Morier. 3 Vas.
This novel is, we are informed, a translation from
the German, but it is almost entirely devoid of the
horrors and mysteries in which German literature so
often abounds, and which, however appropriate they
may be for a ghost story or fairy tale, would be quite
out of place in an English novel. " St. Roche" is,
however, sufficiently mysterious, though in a different
way—its mysteries are chiefly genealogical. In
this respect it bears some resemblance to the "Castle
of Otranto," the " Old English Baron," and other
fictions of thrt class, in which the histories and affairs
of different generations and various branches of a
family are all involved together in most delightful
and bewildering confusion. So great is the intricacy
which surrounds the family affairs of " St. Roche"
that the author or translator has deemed it necessary
to append to the close of the tale a genealogical
table showing the various degrees of parentage ex-
isting between the different heroes and heroines of
his tale. The lovers of the marvellous, the romantic,
and the perplexing, will consequently find abundant
food for interest and investigation in the memoirs of
the inhabitants of St. Roche. But the novel as a
whole possesses more attractive and valuable qua-
lities than these. About the middle of the first
volume the narrative is interrupted to introduce a
history of the grand-parents of the heroine, and here
the author courteously informs his reader, that he
may pass over the inserted memoirs if he please,
but that they contain the kernel, as it were, of
the whole tale. Let the reader forbear from passing
over, without perusal, this portion of the narrative,
which fills nearly two volumes, and in which lies the
chief beauty and interest of the whole work. These
attractive qualities are due to the peculiar characters
of the hero and heroine, and the very effective man-
ner in which those characters are portrayed. The
epoch to which this part of the history refers is
during the grand days of the Grande lllonarque.
Lionel, Count Crecy, the hero, is the only son of a
French Marshal, and heir of a proud and ambitious
family. His character is undecided and wavering ;he
is one of those " in whom two natures are contending,
neither of which has yet come uppermost." His family
position,but more especially the influence of his ambi•
tious and imperious mother, incline him to the Court, and
tend to render him merely a brilliant and superficial
worldling. But while his character is as yet unde-
termined, mad the germs of good qualities not quite
eradicated from his heart, he travels to England, and
thence to Scotland, where he meets with a village
clergynsen, living in great retirement with an only
daughter. This daughter, Flora, is the heroine of
the tale, and is a most beautiful and admirable cha-
racter—brought up in the strictest retirement, she
is a Miranda in purity and simplicity, but edu-
cated by a zealous clergyman, she is a Theresa
in faith and devotion. With all the strength and
tenderness of her nature she loves Lionel, and he,
ever carried away by external influences, becomes,
under her gentle teaching, a sharer in her noble and
unworldly aspirations. To come to the point of the
tale, however, they are married, the father of the bride
dies, and the orphan accompanies her husband to his
native land. But Lionel dares not present his ple-
beian bride to his haughty mother ; he conveys her to
his castle of St. Roche, and there leaving her, repairs
to Paris, to inform his parents of his marriage at a
fitting opportunity. His mother, however, has been
already informed of the whole affair, but with con-
summate adroitness she affects a partial ignorance,
allows her son no opportunity of explanation, and en-
deavours, by every possible means, to play upon his
vanity and ambition, and render him a self-satisfied
courtier and king's favourite. In various ways also he is
given to understand that his marriage is illegal, and con-
sequently null and void. This is the turning point of the
story and is full of interest. The hesitation of
Lionel, alternately yielding to contending influences,
and the various ways in which his mother's machina-
tions overrule his best intentions, is most effectively
portrayed, and is fraught with a deep moral. But
the character of Flora is the gem of the whole work.
We would gladly see " St. Roche" in the hands of
every reader, merely for the sake of making them
acquainted with its delightful heroine. The contem-
plation of a thoroughly religious character, in which
religion is revealed in all its beauty as the source of
continual happiness, is better than a sermon, for the
good example of a happy individual is most contagious.

TOWN AND COUNTRY. A Novel. By Mrs.
2'rollope. 3 Vols.
We take up a new work of Mrs. Trollope's with
feelings of doubt and curiosity. We expect to be
either very highly amused and delighted, or consider-
ably shocked, and perhaps disgusted. For we know
by experience, from her " Widow Barnaby," " Mrs.
Roberts," and other works, that she can delineate
nature with a master band, and reveal the secret
workings of human passions with marvellous skill and
fidelity; but also we know, alas 1 from her "Vicar of
Wrexhill," " Father Eustace," &c., that she can em-
ploy her pen—a woman's pen I—in depicting charac-
ters more despicable than are, happily, ever to be met
with in real life. And not only does she depict such
monstrous exaggerations, she attempts to bring
them forward as types of the classes in which it has
pleased her to place them. It' is, however, un-
necessary to dilate on this unpleasant topic.
We are grieved, inexpressibly grieved, when we find
one possessed, like Mrs. Trollope, of great abilities,
misusing or abusing those abilities, instead of em
ploying them for the benefit of the community, and
so earning a sure and glorious celebrity. "Town and
County" is, however, almost entirely free from the
serious blemishes which mar some of its authoress's
former productions. " Town and Country " is ra-
ther calculated to teach a moral lesson. The heroines
of the tale are two sisters, the daughters of a clergy-
man in a retired village ; one marries a farmer, and
becomes the representative of " country " life, the
other, against the wishes of her family, marries a man
older than her father—a rich, courtly, gentleman,
whose superficial graces and constant flatteries
have won her heart, or rather, captivated her
fancy. She becomes the heroine of the " town."
The various adventures that befal Harriet, the town
lady, and indeed the whole tenour of the story,
tend, as we have said, to enforce a moral lesson
by showing how productive of misery and pregnant
with temptation is a course of life embarked on from
entirely worldly motives. Some portions of the nar-
rative, however, are exceedingly distasteful, not to
use a harsher expression. For instance, the intro-
duction of Harriet and her husband to the private
circle of the Prince Regent, and the details respect-
ing the great admiration conceived by the Prince for
the fair parvenue, and the anxious efforts of her hus-
band to encourage that admiration, in ;the hope of
obtaining a coronet, is in the very worst taste.
These three volumes, of course, do not lack
animated descriptions and accurate delineations
of individual character, enlivened by occasional sar-
castic toilettes—among others, the aristocratic pro-
pensities of a very exclusive old lady, are cleverly
exemplified. " Town and Country," as we have
already said, though not entirely, is in a great degree,
free from the faults which Mrs. Trollope's sincerest
admirers must lament to find in many of her writings,
and its improvement leads us to hope for some new
work from her practised pen which shall be greatly
superior in matter, and in manner not 'inferior, to
any of her former works.

HENRY DOMVILLE ; or, the Adventures of a
Younger Son. By Himself. 2 Vols..
This novel bears, as a motto, on its title-page, the
following sentence from Macaulay The great
principle that societies and laws exist only for the
purpose of increasing the sum of private happiness is
not sufficiently recognised." The principles and ob-
ject of its author are thus set forth at the conclusion
of his work :
" I am a Reformer, a friend of progress, and an
enemy of finality. I wish not to destroy but to repair
the social fabric; I respect and maintain the rights of
property, but also assert its duties, which appear to me
perpetually violated by the operation of the law of pri-
mogeniture. If happiness is the object of nations as it
is of individuals, our feudal system, conceived is an
aristocratical spirit, is not the most fitted to attain that
result."
His avowed object in these volumes is to set forth
the evils arising from the law of primogeniture, and
consequently his hero is a "younger son." But,
having this object in view, *he has erred in the con-
struction of his story. When a writer of fiction
aims at the demonstration of any particular fact he
should make the whole, or at least the chief, interest
of his story turn upon that particular point,
thereby not only illustrating his position but impress-
ing his opinion more forcibly on his reader's mind.
Now in " Henry Domville" the chief interest is con-
tained in descriptions of the hero's travels in Ireland and
France. The mention made of Ireland, as it was in
the last century, is interesting as having reference
to matters unhappily too often exciting public atten-
tion. But the pictures of France and French life
during the early days of the revolution, form
decidedly the most attractive portion of the work.
And these glimpses of the camp of Doumourier, and
the salon of Madame Roland, would appear yet more
attractive were it not that Lamartine's ' History of
the Girondists" has so recently preceded them. How_
ever, while he has detailed to us his hero's wanderings
in foreign countries, the author of " Henry Domville"
has said little to demonstrate the evil effects of the law
which he so utterly condemns, except, indeed, in the
following instance :—The father of Henry is himself
a younger son, but is possessed of a moderate fortune,
which he purposes sharing between his two sor.s,
when, by the death of his elder brother he becomes
himself the head of the family, and consequently
his eldest son, as heir, must inherit all or
nearly all his fortune. Thus, by his father's
aggrandisement, Henry becomes almost disinherited.
4, Thus," he emphatically observes, " it was the
Pride, not the Poverty of my father, which drove
me from the place which nature in her bounty had
assigned me 7" Before dismissing those volumes, we

have one very serious fault to find with them, namely,
the unpardonable levity and flippancy with which
passages from Holy Writ are frequently introduced
in their pages. There is little wit and no taste
evinced by such a play upon words as can institute
a comparison between " Jupiter" and the " Jew
Peter," and still less in such a remark as that which,
falling from a lady's lips ! accounts for there being
" no marriages in heaven," because no priests will
ever get there to pertizm them. These and many
similar observations, are, to our thinking, sufficient
to counteract the attractions pf a more attractive
book than " Henry Doraville."

BRIAN O'LINN ; or, LUCK IS EVERYTHING.
By W. H. Maxwell. 3 Vols.
These volumes record the wanderings arid adven-
tures of an Irish youth, who under the borrowed
appellation of Brian 0 Linn, is travelling, like
Christopher Tadpole, in search of a home, a family,
and even a name. He is accompanied by one Francis
Elliott, a Borderer, who is also the supposed imliter
of these memoirs. Although only one of these gen-
tlemen is an Irishman, both seem to be endued, in a
most extraordinary degree, with that tendency to get
into difficulties, and that dexterity in getting out of
them, which, in novels at least, seem peculiar attri-
butes of the Hibernian. That Luck is everything is
asserted on the title-page of these volumes, and fully
demonstrated by the fortunes of their heroes. The
plot contains little novelty, being on that old and
hacknied theme which tells of an heir of large for-
tune brought up in ignorance of his rights, while his
inheritance is possessed by some wicked relation.
Many of the incidents of the tale are exceedingly
improbable, but the best light in which to regard this
work is as a series of amusing, and marvellous, and
•ven ridiculous adventures, narrated in the pleasant,
and humorous, and interesting manner which cha-
racterises the writings of the author of " Stories of
Waterloo."

CASE OF MR. OWEN.
We have received a long letter from Mr. Henry
Owen, of Marchmont-street (the gentleman who was
incarcerated in Warburton's asylum as a supposed
lunatic), contradicting certain statements contained
in the letter of his brother, which appeared in The Sun
a few days since. Mr. Owen says,—
" I would willingly and from my heart give my
brother credit for good feeling (any that the case is
susceptible of), but I cannot suffer his explanatory
letter, as published in The Sun, to pass unnoticed.
He therein states that ' finding when I was brought
up on the habeas before Mr. Justice Erle, this gen-
tleman recognised my having been confined as legal
and proper;' and, again, that from the judicious
treatment to which I had been subjected I was much
improved.' Also, that when I was taken to Messrs.
Warburton's lunatic asylum the manager thereof
confirmed the decisions of the two or. four 1 medical
men under whose advice and authority he acted.'
" Now all this is positively absurd. Mr. Justice
Erle declined emphatically entering upon the merits
or demerits of the case. There was no occasion ;
my brother, who placed me under restraint, con-
sented to my immediate discharge. It is a fact that
his solicitor stated that appearing as he did on be-
half of Messrs. Warburton, he felt bound to say (in
justice to all parties) that I was considered by the
manager thereof to be a proper subject for their
asylum."
In another part of his letter Mr. Owen states that
two of the medical men who signed the certificates
authorizing his incarceration as a lunatic had both been
in the habit of having their medicines made up and
prepared by him up to the very time of his incar-
ceration, and that one of them has applied to him
since his liberation to dispense for him again, which
of course Mr. Owen declined to do. The letter goes
into a variety of other matters, but as we understand
the case will probably be investigated either before a
legal or a Parliamentary tribunal, we do not feel
justified in publishing any ex parte statements.

MR. GRAY AND THE LATE PRO-
SECUTION FOR SWINDLING.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—The patriotic conduct of Mr. H. T. Gray,
of Stepney, noticed in your paper of Saturday, de-
serves something more than a favourable mention of
his persevering and successful efforts in exposing and
dispersing an extensive gang of swindlers, and prose-
cuting three of them to conviction.
I find by a statement made in the Thames Police-
court on Friday last, that the expenses of the prose-
cution cost Mr. Gray 4001., besides the sacrifice of
his time and loss of trade for three months, and the
loss of the rope of which he was defrauded, amount-
ing to 3001. more. The three culprits, Gardner,
Holliday, and Seager, were, after a lengthened trial,
found guilty of unlawfully conspiring together to
defraud manufacturers, warehousemen, and trades-
men of their property, and obtaining their goods
under false pretences.
The prosecution will doubtless be of essential ser•
vice to the trading community of London, and of the
kingdom generally. The gang dispersed by Mr.
Gray were living upon the credulity of the public,
keeping respectable-looking offices, with all the
ap-
pearance of legitimate business, in various "parts of
the City, and they obtained large consignments of
goods by a systematic method of fraud.
The lot to prosecute unfortunately fell upon Mr.
Gray, an old and respectable tradesman, but not a
wealthy man. He was plundered in the early part
of the year, and his premises were burnt down and
property to the amount of 1,0001. sacrificed in May
last, by the carelessness of some persons attending
Stepney fair, held in a field adjoining his rope ground,
and lastly he was victimised by the swindlers.
During the prosecution of Gardner, Holliday,
Seeger, and Loup, 6001. were actually offered to Mr.
Gray not to proceed with the trial, which offer, with
many others of a similar nature, he rejected, prefer-
ring the benefit of the mercantile community to en-
riching himself. Mr. Gray can ill afford to bear the
heavy loss he has sustained. Let them, the merchants,
manufacturers, and warehousemen, who have been so
greatly benefited by Mr. Gray's exertions come for-
ward in a liberal spirit, and by their subscriptions
make good the great loss he has sustained. About
1501. only has already been collected towards this
object from forty respectable firms in the City, but
Mr. Gray is still minus 5501., and I do trust, for the
credit of the City, that he will be borne harmless,
and receive, as he deserves, some lasting testimonial
for the ability, integrity, and perseverance he has ex-
hibited throughout the proceedings.—l am, Sir, your
obedient servant,
A SUFFERER BY THE SWINDLERS.
January 3, 1848.

JEWISH DISABILITIES.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE Sti.N.

SlR,—The friends of civil and religious liberty
will find themselves greatly disappointed in perusing
the provisions of the Bill for the removal of Jewish
Disabilities, by which certain offices of a purely civic
or political character are not to be granted to her
Majesty's Jewish subjects.
1 venture to say that no one anticipated the mag-
nanimous mover of the Bill to blemish by such
clauses the monument which history will, no doubt,
set him for:his love for civic equality ; and I cannot but
help thinking that these exceptions will be regarded,
by friends and foes of religious liberty, as a manifest
indication of his insincerity,. for they will naturally
e
ask why the very sane principle which declares th
Jews entitled to one degree of State services, the
not be held good when applied to another degree ?
Put the question pointedly to Lord John, and you
will soon perceive that his answer implies an incon-
sistency not at all to be expected by his previous
speeches:—" Hobe and Gluth der Seele sind ewer
sehr verschieden, aber nur in Vereinigung bilden
sie den wahrhaft grossen Mann." If the Bill were
to pass in its present shape, it would be but a
botchwork, betraying neither the true spirit of
modern legislation, nor removing the anti-
quated principle of human inequality ; and other
countries equally inclined to emancipate their
Jewish subjects, but waiting for the result in the
British Parliament, might probably be more or less
influenced by that decision. I, at least, apprehend
it, for I have often noticed in the discussions about
this subject, that men are but too apt to allude to bad
precedents, instead of referring to, or be guided by,
the prototype of a good action.
I hope, therefore, Mr.' Editor, that the members
of the Jewish persuasion in the metropolis will ap-
point a deputation to wait upon the noble mover of
the Bill, in order to prevail upon him to rescind,
before the second reading, the clauses alluded to, and
to represent to him the mischievous effects which are
likely to accrue from their remaining inserted in the
Bill.--I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
EIN RHEINLANDER.
Manchester, Jan. 10, 1848.

MR. WARRENNE, THE MEDICAL PRACTITIONER.—
We are requested to state that the Lew novel under this-1
title, by the author of " Margaret Capel," &c., is now
ready, and may be had at all the libraries, in 3 vols.
post Bvo.
DEATHS OF FLAG OFFICERS.—We have to an-
nounce the deaths of two more flag officers:—Admiral
of the White Sir Robert Laurie, Bart., K.C.8., and
Rear-Admiral of the White Pringle Stoddart. It will
have been noticed that the mortality among the flag
otlicers has been very great lately; but this will not ap
pear surprising when it is remembered that the average
age of the whole 150 is not under seventy years. Since
the general flag promotion in November, 1846, no less
than twenty admirals have died, and three retired rear-
admirals. Nine admirals on the active list have died
within the last three weeks.
Grocer—Well, Augustus, you have been appren-
ticed now three months, and have seen the several
of
departments ofourtf therade business
. I ws h todo you
you like best ?
Augustus 3ou a choice
g
occupation. Apprentice—ThanVee sir. Grocer—Well.
now, wh a t part of
(with a sharpness above his years)—Shuttin'
up, eir.
•

JEWISH DISABILITIES -
Sir Robert Harry Inglis demanded th
proceeding with this Bill should he p
after the recess, in order to give time
to express its opinion on the subject of lioartliMlpflet:lAA4,
vent to "the indignant evengeliim 0 tiik<*itii?".l.,„,...;27:'
This challenge has been accepted. Edi
tested public opinion by a crowded puPartatillicAt
unanimously in favour of the Government measure. 4-i743
Southwark is the first English borough which has
adopted the same course by calling ipublic meeting
for to-morrow, and, we understand, the example will
be generally followed. Therefore, Sir Robert; " since
thou call'st for justice, be assuredthou shalt have
justice, more than thou desirest."

MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS.

NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED IN
TEE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, JAN. 8, 1848.
Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious Diseases ... 420
Diseases of Uncertain Scat 30
Turbercular Diseases... 170
Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses... ... 164
Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels ... 23
Diseases of the Lungs, and other Organs of
Respiration ...
Piseases of the Stomach, Liver, and othe.r"Orga.n.s. 288
of Digestion... ,
_.•
Diseases of the Kidneys, &c.
ChiMbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c.
Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles
Diseases of the Skin, &e.
Violence, Privation, Cold, or Intemperance
Sudden ... •••
Malformations... •.,
Premature Birth ... ..•
Atrophy .•• ••• •••
Old Age
Causes not specified
DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES

Population
Enumerated,
1841.
West Districts... 300,711
North Districts.. 375,971
Central Districts 373,653
East Districts ... 392,444
South Districts .. 501,190

T0ta15........ 1,948,425
Males
Females

... 70

... 36
... 14

... 36
... 67

1,364

Average weekly Deaths
Deaths, 1843-7. in the
Five Winters. Week.
. 161 ... 167
. 209 ... 257
. 203 ... 213
. 235 ... 334
. 299 393

". 1,107

-. 1,364
... 683
... 6SI

~;~