The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-29 00:00:00

Jflo'ri; ux4

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 1846.

Expectations have been realised, curiosity has been
satisfied, an earnest and business-like discussion has
at last transpired in the Lower House as to the re-
duction and adjustment of the differential duties upon
sugar. Lord GEORGE BENTINCK proposed his amend-
ment in singularly moderate terms and at singularly
immoderate length. Immediately afterwards the
CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER delivered his first
official harangue, redolent of statistics, and evidencing,
in its wholesale accumulation and accurate ar-
rangement of facts, the efficacy of a judicious
premeditation. Sir ROBERT PEEL subsequently
revealed his intentions with reference to the approach- ,
ing division upon this comprehensive measure, and,
in doing so, justified the anticipations of his ad-
mirers, by plainly declaring his determination not
to embarrass the Prime Minister " by a vexatious
opposition." The nearer we approach to the settle-
ment of this great question, the more chimerical do
the arguments against the Ministerial policy
appear: the farther we advance upon the road
to a Parliaraentoy divism, the less is

the progress of this Bill impeded by obstructions.
The protectionists, from the capricious character of
their antagonism, no longer have recourse to their
habitual scarecrow " the destruction of either native
or colonial industry!" They have, with considerable
ingenuity, conjured up a totally different phantom,
and one which they have foolishly expected to
scare away the followers of Lord JOHN Res-
SELL, and to awe the commercial reformers
into submission. Unfortunately, however, this same
phantom—a phantom illustrative of serfdom, and
manacles, and cruelty—has partaken somewhat of
the usual characteristics of phantoms ; it has enabled
the Legislature to walk right through it, as the
chieftain is described to have done through the ghost
in OSSIAN. Before the termination of this session it
will have " melted into thin air," and evaporated
even from the recollection of the multitude.

It is easy enough for the orator to deride with a
scornful intonation the terribiles visu forme of the
supposed famine consequent upon the disease in the
potatoes, and to enforce the necessity of affording en-
couragement to those who, to their avowed detriment,
acceded to the abolition of slavery. It is very easy
to influence the reason of a sensitive and reli-
gious people by eloquent definitions of true morality,
by vivid portraitures of the victims .of a petty
tyranny, by supposititious stripes and imaginary scenes
of brutality. It is easy indeed to speak of the pro-
posed equalisation of the sugar duties in language so
opprobrious as to risk the degradation of the pathetic
to the burlesque—by representing the sugar basin
(possibly at the elbow of some unwitting Mr.
BUMBLE) as half filled with a little puddle
of blood. It is easy, as we have already
acknowledged, to do all this, and to terminate with a li
peroration eulogistic of the joys of freedom. But,
while themselves assuming tones of such unnecessary
indignation, while it is manifest to every one else that
the suppression of slavery has about as much chance of
being realised by the rejection of slave-grown sugar
as Captain WARNER has of discharging his long
range into the moon, and thereby exploding that
celestial satellite, all the eloquence and pathos and
benevolence of the most eloquent, pathetic, and bone.
volent intellect goes for literally nothing. It is
pouring precious liquids into a cullender.

Much has already been written about this measure
of Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S affording patronage to the
slave trade, of rendering the hardships of those
already in captivity more intense and irksome,
and of reduplicating the number of such victims, by
inciting the slave-owning planters to import more
human cattle from the coast of Africa. If such were
really the necessary consequence of this measure, if
such even were the probable consequence of this
measure, the whole of this free and sympathising
nation would have revolted at its first proposition. The
people of England would long before this present
moment have arisen with indignation, and protested,
in a voice which would have found an echo in the re-
cesses of Africa and on the shores of the Brazil,
against a proceeding so dastardly and criminal. If
there were any truth whatever in the assertions of
those who oppose this measure, as one likely to foster
and propagate the infernal system of the slave
trade, that enlightened House of Legislation, which only
a few years back inscribed upon its records a solemn
reprobation of that system, which enforced that re-
probation by a gratuity to those who might suffer
from the dismissal of their serfs—a gratuity of the
most magnificent character—and which, in addition
to all this, actually overstepped the restrictions of
international law, for the purpose of preventing the
increase of slavery among other nations—that august
House of Legislation would have spurned a measure
thus likely to annul all their glorious labour, suppos-
ing any one had been capable of concocting or of in-
troducing such a measure. Is it likely, indeed, that
for the sake of decreasing the grocer's bill by
a few pence, the people of this country
would destroy the trophy which they have
purchased with twenty millions of pounds sterling ?
Does it not stand to reason that they would rather
swallow unsweetened puddings and sugarless tea than
render any dish toothsome by the woes of entire
generations ? These protectionists examine the
sugar question under the magnifying influence
of their prejudices, and are, in consequence,
incapable of considering its relations with
themselves, the colonies, and with foreign slave-
owners. The attention of the Legislature is directed
solely upon the possible woes of the African race, but
not at all to the actual miseries of our native slaves.
Our legislators are implored to consider the advi-
sability of caring for the welfare of a few Hill Coolies,
who have as yet to be found out, persuaded
to immigrate, and then to be conveyed to
our colonial plantations. But not a syllable is
uttered in behalf of those thousands of our fellow-
countrymen (the Hill Coolies of Devonshire, as we
have already called then)), who would be raised
from a deplorable state of destitution and inaction,
by finding additional customers for our manufactures,
and thus enabling them to obtain employment.
The Ministerial measure for the alteration of
the duties upon sugar would bring new customers to
our markets, the factors would require additional
hands to supply this additional demand, and these
native Hill Coolies would obtain the requisite em-
ployment. ALEXANDER POPE, more than a century
ago, under the masquerading name of MAUTINUS
SCRIBLERUS, put this rather profane problem

" Whether an existent fly or a possible angel
were of most importance in the eyes of Omnipotence?"
With greater reason, and after a different fashion, we
may put this companion problem—" Whether an ex-
istent English labourer or possible Hill Coolie had a
greater claim upon the sympathies and consideration
of our Legislature ?" The solution of that problem
will be in the division upon the sugar duties.

The coroner's inquest on the unfortunate soldier
WHITE, was resumed on Monday, and the pro-
ceedings were in the highest degree interesting, in-
volving the evidence of the medical men, as to the
cause of death, and the statements of Colonel
WHYTB and Dr. WARREN.

The statement of the soldier ELswoßTn was also
curious, illustrating in a forcible manner the quantity
of punishment in the regiment, and its
total inefficiency for the purpose for which

it is sanctioned. The witness admitted that
he had deserted twice—on one occasion, be-
cause he had been sentenced to be flogged. We do
not think a desertion under such circumstances could
excite much surprise: where is the man who, being
sentenced to death, if an opportunity for escaping
offered itself, would hesitate about availing himself
thereof? The instinct of self-preservation would
compel him to adopt such a course. The wit-
ness had been five years in the regiment, during
which period he had been flogged seven
times. He has not, however, been flogged since 1844,
and therefore the seven instances must have occurred

in about three years, or, on an average, once every
five months. Can such things be possible in this land
of liberty and freedom ? He also stated that many
men in the regiment had been tried for desertion,
and that many had deserted more frequently than he
had. We can easily credit the statement.
Few persons would willingly remain subjected
to such an iron rule, such stringent severity, as,that
to which the unfortunate soldiers of the 7th Hussars
have been exposed, with even non-commissioned
officers, so jealous of their dignity as to demand
a punishment on a private for answering in a less
abject tone than appeared suited to their dignity,
and with a commander, who conceives one hundred
lashes an adequate punishment for a private who,
having only joined the regiment a few weeks
before, on being reprimanded and punished
for such an answer, inquires for his guidance in what
manner he is to answer for the future. The great—
the important—question in the case, however, is,
what was the cause of the death of the unfortu-
nate man ?—was that death occasiofied, or was it in
any degree accelerated, by the flogging ? for if there
is even the possibility of such a result, the British
people, who have already procured the abolition of
capital punishment in almost every instance
save that of wilful and aggravated murder,
and of which a large and influential portion
are conscientiously opposed to its infliction under
any circumstances whatsoever, %i ill surely spare
no exertions, will leave no step untried, to procure
the total and immediate disuse of the horrible lash.
The medical gentlemen examined differ on this
important point, for while those connected with the
army adhere to the opinions expressed iu the certia-

cate signed by them previous to the inquiry before the
Coroner being instituted, and assert that the cause of
death was in no wise connected with the corporal
punishment, although they stated a totally different
cause from that assigned by Dr. WARREN in his cer-
tificate to the registrar of deaths for the district,
Mr. WlLsort positively and distinctly states his de-
cided opinion, that there can be no doubt that the man
would be alive now had it not been for the corporal
punishment he was subjected to.
Under these circumstances, it will be for the jury to
decide between the learned gentlemen, and many
points will, of course, be taken into consideration
before the conclusion can be arrived at. The weight
and character of the witnesses, the opportunities they
have had for post-mortem examinations, and the proba-
bility, the verisimilitude of the reasons assigned fur
the opinions arrived at. Now, Mr. WiLsoN states that
he has been a lecturer on anatomy for more than twelve
years, and that during that period he had opened
from 500 to 1,000 bodies. This would certainly,
without taking into consideration his surgical testi-
monials, which are of the highest character, entitle any
opinion of his to the greatest weight. It must, too, be
recollected that Mr. WILSON had not previously ex-
pressed an opinion which he must naturally have been
anxious to maintain, nor could he be supposed to have
any prejudice or feelings on the subject of military
punishment, save those in which be must be supposed to
participate with every man of common humanity. On
the contrary, he states that if he had been pressed at
the time of his examination to give his opinion with
respect to the corporal punishment, he would have
agreed with the other gentlemen that it was not the
cause of death. His opinion, therefore, is based on
the appearances he observed during the post-mortem
examination —an advantage not enjoyed by the
military surgeons, who might, had their attention
been attracted thereto, have agreed with Mr. WILSON
in opinion. During his long practice Mr. WILSON
had never observed similar appearances. Ills entire
evidence is worthy of the closest perusal and most
serious consideration ; his explanations are so per-
fectly simple and plain, that, although couched in
medical terms, they can be most easily understood
by the non-professional reader. He states that in
the spine there were no indications of disease. The
muscles were disorganised by corporal punishment,
and he had no doubt that this induced the inflamma-
tion which occasioned his death ; and he gives the
following as the result of his observations, viz. :

" On raising the muscles or flesh off the ribs and spine, I
found a part of the deepest layer of muscles—namely, that
which lay in contact with the bones—in a state of dis-
organisation, and converted into soft pulp. In medical
language, I should call this a pulpy softening of the muscles.
Its seat was the sixth and seventh ribs, near their attach-
ment to the spine, together with their intervening space, and
the hollow between the sixth and seventh pieces of spine.
The extent of the disorganisation was about three
inches in length by about one inch and a half
in its greatest breadth, and between half an inch and
a quarter of an inch in thickness. In the space be-
tween the ribs the muscles had undergone this pulpy alte-
ration, even so deep as the lining membrane of the chest, the
softened muscles being in absolute contact with the lining
membrane. That portion of the flesh which occupied the
groove of the spine, and had undergone similar disorganisa-
tion was one of the little muscles known to medical men
under the name of multifidus spline. In addition to the
softening of this little muscle, it was partly surrounded with
blood. It was in a state medically called ecchymosed. The
interior of the spine was in a state of extreme decomposition.
The tissue between the spinal canal and the spinal sheath was
filled with a dark-coloured fluid, resulting from decomposition.
The sheath itself was smooth and polished on its internal
surface, a state indicative of health. It was perfectly devoid
of nervous substance, which had been converted into fluid by
decomposition, and had flowed away. The nerves remained,
and presented a healthy appearance, so that as far as the
spine is concerned, I discovered no indication of disease. Two
questions naturally arise out of the preceding examination—
first, what was the cause of the pulpy softening of the
muscles? second, could the state of disorganisation preceding
the pulpy softening influence the disease existing in the
chest? The cause of the pulpy softening I believe to have
been the excessive contraction of the muscles taking place
during the agony of punishment. This excessive contrac-
tion would produce laceration, and subsequent inflamma-
tion of the muscles, and the inflammation being repellative,
would, in consequence of the depressed state of the powers
of the nervous system of the sufferer, be of the disorganised
kind which results in pulpy softening. Had the man lived,
disorganisation of the muscles would in time have been re-
paired. As regards the second question, there can be no
doubt that, although the cause of inflammation of the con-
tents of the chest is cold, acting in conjunction with physical
or moral depression, and might have been the cause in the
case of the deceased, yet, the presence of a portion of muscle
in a state of disorganisation and inflammation, in close con-
tact with the lining membrane of the chest, ought to be ade-
quate to the same effect. Certainly no surge( n would feel
comfortable with regard to the state of his patient if he were
aware of such dangerous proximity."

This evidence may safely be left to the public to
form their own conclusions on; for our own part we
cannot hesitate for a moment in expressing our con-
currence with the deductions of Mr. WILSON. We
do not mean to say that the other gentlemen were
influenced by improper motives in the evidence they
gave, far from it; but we must say that their state-
ments do not carry with - them the same conviction
which is forced on the mind by that of Mr. WILSON.
We cannot doubt but that, after this investigation,
active steps will be taken to abate this nuisance,
to do away with the atrocious and abominable system
in toto. Under any circumstances, it has been proved
to be most injurious in its effects, ruining to all in-
tents and purposes the unfortunate victim. All au-
thorities concur in stating that there is no hope for
the reformation and amendment of the man who has
once been subjected to the lash ; his self-respect is
gone for ever, and he finds at once his bane and anti-

dote in habits of intoxication. Nay, more, he becomes
anxious to reduce others to the same level with himself.
lie becomes the tempter, the seducer of the young
soldier. He laughs at the cat, and exhibits a
hardened and reckless indifference to all the influences
by which he might be acted on, if not so thoroughly
abased and degraded. The system cannot continue ;
justice, humanity forbid it. But the public attention
must still be directed to the subject,—the interest
which has been excited must not be suffered to
subside until again awakened by the death of another
victim. We doubt not that the exertions of
our brethren of the press will be devoted to the sub-
ject—our own shall not be wanting. Let these but he
aided and assiYted by some benevolent and zealous
philanthropists, and the stigma will be removed, the
stain will be blotted out from our naval and military
code.

Madrid papers of the 21st have arrived. The In-
fante Don FRANCISCO D'ASSIS had obtained leave of
absence from his military duties at Pampeluna (where
he was serving as brigadier in command of the
cavalry regiment of La Princesa), and was expected
hourly in Madrid. He has been invited to the magni-
ficent court banquet, which is to be given on the 24th
at the Casa del Campo, in honour of the fete day of
the Queen-Mother.
The Herald() announces that a conspiracy hal been
discovered at Pampeluna, and that several non-com-
missioned officers, and also some of the inhabitants
of the town, had been placed under crrest. The
same journal gives, shat may be considered as an
official contradiction of the report, that the Mar-
quis of MIRAFLODES would supersede 111. MARTINEZ
DE LA Rosa at Ambassador to France.

MADRID BOLSA, JULY 21.—The Three per Cents.
were done at 344, for cash; Five per Cents., at 214 ;
the Debt without Interest, at 6a ; the shares of the
Bank of San Fernando, at 390; and those of Isabel,
at 203.

We have received the Paris papers of Sunday,
which are still almost exclusively occupied with
electioneering matters.

On the 20th of July terrific storms ravaged many
parts of France. A letter from St. Jean Pied de
Port states that it burst in the gorges of the Pyrenees
at Baigorry, utterly destroying the harvest and the
vineyards. The standing corn remaining is not
worth harvesting, and that which was cut was com-
pletely thrashed out by the hail, and the straw broken
to pieces.

On the same day a terrific hurricane burst on the
first plateau of the Jura, destroying churches, houses,
vineyards, trees, and fields of corn. "An earth-
quake," says a letter published in the Journal des
Debuts," would have (lone less damage. The ravages
of the storm extended as far as Coligny."
_ _

Letters from Macon give terrible accounts of the
ravages of the storm in that district. So completely
have the hailstones destroyed the vintage that there is
scarcely a bunch of grapes left in the commune.
The vines are entirely stripped of their leaves, and
whole fields which had promised a rich harvest appear
as if they had fallen a prey to a conflagration. The
damage done is incalculable and many families are
utterly ruined.
Several incendiary fires have taken place in the
neighbourhood of Troyes. At Bouilly seventeen
houses and barns have been burned down.
A letter from Toulon, dated July 20th, from
which the following is au extract, is published iu the

E -V tt
10.1. vft% e• e1t,31? A, ,N.
.. 1..,,,tt-z-2 ' )
SCI
. 0
-7,,--7:- - ' - -
• ?„,,,,z-r.,...4.„,
„,.. wqf ~,m---.: •- • i. '..1 ,?? ,
ROIT • -r-,•
' ' ',.' •dco S " ' .1, i Li'. ---
1 • ' 41,...
e-..5.,4f4t.e•
..-_,... „