The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-05 00:00:00

FIRST HEAT.

Edward Perry and William Wilson (Yellow) 1
John Maynard and Edward Perry
James Maynard and John Wyld (Pink) 3
William Perry and Richard Wilson ~ (Scarlet) 4
William Richards and Henry Shelton (Blue) 0
George Wilson and Joseph Arthur (Green) 0
They rowed from Westminster-bridge up to Burnett's
Distillery, down the Surrey shore, to a boat off the
King's Arms Stairs, and finished off Lambeth Palace.
The winners took the lead shortly after the start, and
kept it.

GRAND UEAT.
Edward Perry and W. Wilson
John Maynard and E. Perry
James Maynard and John Wyld 3
The distance was reversed, the men starting from
Vauxhall-bridge, rowing down to the King's Arms
Stairs up to the distillery, and back to Lambeth Palace.
It was an excellently contested heat, the whole going
away together. White, yellow and pink then went a
trifle in advance, and were oar and oar, with slight varia-
tions, for about half a mile. Yellow then went into the
first place, closely pressed by white, pink being for some
distance close upon the latter's quarter. Yellow gradu.
ally went more in advance, and won by ten lengths.
This heat was rowed in the presence of upwards of a
thousand spectators.

SUICIDE IN THE HOUSE or DETIINTroIc—At
Bow-street, on Saturday, two swell mobamea, of the
names of Collett, alias Musty, and Ginger, alias Stone,
were remanded charged with a robbery at Messrs.
Cocks and Biddulph's. The two prisoners were sent to
the House of Detention, as the New Prison, Clerken-
well, is named. As is the custom, upon their arrival
they were both searched, but nothing being found of a
suspicious nature they were, as is customary, locked `up
in their respective cells. On Sunday morning, on the
turnkey of the ward going his rounds to open the sleep-
ing cells, he discovered Collett hanging, apparently quite
dead, with his coat off and his shirt sleeves turned up, and
the left arm covered with clotted blood. The deceased was
immediately cut down, and the medical attendant on the
prisoners was instantly in attendance, who pronounced
that the deceased had been dead for some hours. Upon
examining the arm, three wounds were found evidently
done with an intention of bleeding to death, for the de-
ceased had fastened his handkerchief for a ligature round
the arm, but having fixed it below instead of above the
elbow, no blood would flow; and this no doubt led to the
infliction of the two other wounds. The loss of blood
being very little, the deceased then hung himself. Upon
searching the cell to ascertain by what instrument the
wounds had been inflicted, a small penknife, which had
escaped detection, was found; while, as a proof of the de•
termination that actuated the deceased, he had, by rub-
bing the blade on the stone, reduced the termination of
the blade to a fine and sharp point, so as to act in the
room of a lancet. At three o'clock an inquest was held
before Mr. Wakley, when the jury returned a verdict in
accordance with the evidence.

DINNER TO TIIE SPECIAL CONSTABLES OF ST.
PAUL'S, COVENT GARDEN.—Monday, at three o'clock,
an excellent and substantial dinner was given to the
special constables in the parish of St. Paul's, Covent-
garden. It took place at Highbury Barn, and was at-
tended by more than 300 persons. Mr. Robert Few, who
was leader of the parish force on the memorable 10th of
April, filled the chair, and discharged its duties with
great spirit. He prefaced the different toasts he had to
propose with very sensible observations upon the
mutual dependence which existed between the master
and his workmen, and the lamentable results to which
a misunderstanding of these relations had led on the
continent, and particularly in France. Mr. Few was
supported by the Rev. J. P. Nicholson, Mr. Moseley,
and other gentlemen connected with St. Paul's, Covent-
garden, each of whom took part in the proceedings, and
endeavoured to promote the goodwill and right feeling
among all classes, which the dinner was held to cele-
brate. A very valuable addition to the enjoyments
of the evening consisted in the talents of a
well chosen band of vocalists, who, under the direc-
tion of Mr. Green, delighted the company with a suc-
cession of glees, madrigrals, and songs, sentimental and
comic. Mr. Genge, Mr. Binge, Mr. H. Smith, and Mr.
Sharpe, each in his own department, exerted themselves
to the utmost, and, judging by the applause with which
they were received, not unsuccessfully, to please. An
original comic song by the last named gentleman, in
which " the specials" were covered with a good deal of
clever ridicule, created a vast amount of merriment, and
it is to he feared went far to defeat the chairman's well •
intentioned efforts to provo that the position which the
company held on the 10th of April was a very serious
one. The room in which the dinner took place was
handsomely decorated for the occasion, and among other
inscriptions on the walls was Nelson's celebrated
signal at Trafalgar, which the men at St. Paul's Covent-
garden, no doubt, conceived to have a special applica-
tion to themselves. When "The resident and non.
resident special constables of the parish" was given as a
toast, Mr. Moseley, who returned thanks, facetiously
observed that, though they had not been at Waterloo,
they were all resolved on " the 10th" to die in defence
of Waterloo-bridge. During the entire evening the
utmost regularity and propriety of conduct prevailed,
and at an early hour the festivities terminated. It is
due to the Duke of Bedford to state that he contributed
201. towards the expenses of the entertainment. A
handsome dessert of fruit was also provided, gratuitously,
by Messrs. Israel and Webber, members of the commit-
tee of management.

WESTMINSTER REFORM SOCIETY.—On Monday a
general meeting of the members of this society, whose
object was to extend the franchise, and to send to Par-
liament two representatives who advocate their principles
as reformers, was held at the York Hotel, Upper 'Wel-
lington-street. Mr. W. Geeson took the chair. The
minutes of the proceedings which took place at the
last meeting were read, and on the question of their
confirmation being put, Mr. Prout said that he wished
to propose an amendment on the following grounds,
that he thought it would not be prudent to confirm the
minutes of the last meeting, as no notice was given to
the members that at that meeting it was intended to re-
vise and alter the general rules on which the society
was founded. Ms amendment was " that the society
having at their meeting of the 19th ult. materially
changed its principles and mode of government without
having given any previous notice thereof to the mem-
bers, and as a large majority of them must have been
ignorant of such an intended alteration, the present
meeting refrain from confirming the minutes, and con-
vene a special meeting for the reconsideration of the
alteration made in their rules and principles."—Mr•
Cribb seconded the amendment, which was put and lost
by a large majority.—The minutes were then confirmed.
—Mr. Pouncey thought that if the resolution which he
would now propose was carried, perfect satisfaction
would be afforded to all the members f
society. He moved "That a special general meeting
to
ng
of
of jo the
this society be called for Monday, the 17th _
reconsider the rules and principles adopted on the 19th
of June." Mr. Lagram seconded the motion. Dr. Brett
moved, and a member seconded, an amendment, that it
be not entertained, which was carried, and the original
motion lost. It was then agreed that 1,000 copies of the
revised rules be printed and circulated, and
his deter-
mination letter hav-
•
hav-
ing been read from Sir De Lacy Evans, stating
to support the petition, which the meeting sent
to Mr. Lushington for presentation to Parliament, the
meeting separated.
THE LATE Isieglzst.—The long protracted inquest
on Mrs. Hill terminated on Wednesday last, and resulted
in a verdict amounting to wilful murder against the hus-
band. The unhappy man has, by his own act, placed
himself before a
higher tribunal and the judgment of
his fellow-men is now
of no effect as regards him per-
sonally ; but this inquiry has involved a matter which
concerns society at large upon a very important point.
It was shown that Hill had, in June, 1847, effected an
insurance on the joint lives of himself and his wife for
2,999/., to he paid to the survivor on the death of either,
and it was the death of the wife in the October following
(the certificate of her ;previous health, and the medical
and surgical examinations, instituted before the office
allowed the policy, havingbeen of a most satisfactory
nature) that led to the particular inquiries which first
roused the suspicions of the officers of the Insurance
Society, and occasioned the investigation before
the Coroner. The proper use of Insurance Societies,
as affording the
providingh for a
family on
the death omfeaansfathoefror
portovenrisohosnfowrhom
its support may depend, or of making any
of the many other events to which they are legitimately
applicable, render them a blessing to society ; but they
might become its curse if allowed to be perverted to the
purposes of crime, such as that developed in the case
before us. Insurance offices are generally most unwill-
ing to dispute a policy, because a reputation of too great
particularity in adjusting claims would operate to their
disadvantage, by preventing business ; and we think
that the courage displayed by the Insurance Office in the
present case has been most praiseworthy, and entitles it
to the commendation of society at large. Acting on
strong convictions of justice and propriety, it has in.
curred a risk which might have been most detrimental
to its interests, had the inquiry turned out otherwise
than it has done ; but wo are convinced that by all right-
judging and well principled persons its conduct will be
duly estimated, and that its character will be enhanced,
as it is evident that the funds for settling just and ho-
nest claims must be more certainly adequate to that le-
gitimate purpose if not unhesitatingly allowed to bo
diminished by attempts at fraud and imposition.—Bristol
Mirror. _ _ _

TIIE WEATHER.—We have had heavy falls of
rain every day and night in the past week, and a strong
desire is now entertained for more seasonable weather.
Vegetation is exceedingly luxuriant. Our correspon-
dents, in all parts, speak well of the grain crops; the
potatoes also promise well—exceedingly well; but the,
turnip crop,in Cumberland, is to a great extent a
failure. Some persons have sown seed three times. WI
in vain.—Carlisle Patriot.