The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-28 00:00:00

THE FOUNDLING HOSPITAL AND

-
ITS APPRENTICES.
70 THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sta,—
I read with extreme delight your very feeling and
just remarks in The Sun of Tuesday last, on the case of cruel
treatment, tment, in which a poor friendless boy was the sufferer
by the hands of a cruel and tyrannical master, with whom
he is unfortunately placed, and quite agree with you that the
managers of that wealthy charity ought to step forward and
rescue the lad from a repetition of such barbarous treatment.
I have not perceived that any public notice has been taken
of your remarks by that respectable body, but, as you know,
all "large bodies move slowly," you need not despair of
seeing the fruit of your labours even yet.
Being officially connected with another institution of a some-
what similar character, though not for foundlings, I venture
to address you, because I know, and sometimes painfully feel,
the difficulty in which committees are placed in
relation to this very subject of apprenticeship. In
the first place, there is a great difficulty in finding
suitable situations for boys and girls brought up in these
institutions, for this reason—many of the children are so
absolutely friendless that their masters or mistresses must
not only teach them for their term of apprenticeship, but
clothe them also; this circumstance occasions frequently
heartburnings and strife between the master and apprentice,
when other things go on fairly. The second difficulty is
that arising from the premium given with the apprentice. In
many cases needy and dishonest persons are tempted to take
boys for the money, 51. or 101., as the case may be. The
indenture is no rooner executed than the trial begins, and
frequently it is the case that the commencement is cruelty,
and the end criminality; true or false the charge is made—
sometimes believed, and the victim of injustice suffers punish-
ment.

The following case will afford an illustration :—A poor
boy of weak intellects, brought up in the Orphan Working
School, City-road, was, at the age of fourteen years, when
his time had expired there, about to be handed
over to his parish, as no person was willing to
take him from that institution as an apprentice.
On the usual application being made to the parish officers,
they offered to find th boy a master if the charity would give
a premium of 5/ with him, and thus save him from the
workhouse. The committee consented, the boy was bound,
and then commenced his misfortunes. On leaving the boy
had two good suits of clothes and under clothing with him.
Frequent complaints were made respecting the boy, until
shortly before the period when it is usual for the charity to
give a money reward for good conduct to apprentices; at this
period the master sent a written character commending him
very highly, consequently he was presented with ss. Shortly
afterwards it was discovered that the boy could not learn his
trade—his sight was bad—he was imbecile, disobedient, &c.,
and on these grounds an application was made to cancel the
indenture. The magistrate saw this letter of the master com-
mending the boy, heard him read, and saw him write—ques-
tioned him closely, and told the assembly he had been well
taught at school, and was in every way fitted for the situa-
tion—his master must keep him.
A few months afterwards the secretary was informed that
the master has most cruelly beaten the boy; he recommended
his friends to take the master before a magistate. They did
not do it, and the next he heard of the boy was that he had
ran away from his master, and for so doing he had been com-
mitted for three weeks to the House of Correction. Again a
new charge was made very soon, via., that of rape, upon the
daughter of the master. it was sworn to, but no proof of a
positive character was given of the offence. The bey was
questioned by the magistrate and police, and one word which
he dropped was taken to be an admission, which sent him
for trial at the Old Bailey. The Committee of the Orphan
Working School, to its lasting honour be it spoken, took up the
case and paid all costs, believing the charge to be made up to get
rid of the boy; the master offered to abandon it if the inden-
ture was cancelled. He was defended by Mr. Clarkson, and in-
stantly acquitted by the jury. It was proved that
this man has had several apprentices—one from
Shoreditch workhouse, with 51. premium. This boy
was charged with robbing him, and was sent to the Isle
of Wight—the case referred to be got rid of ;
another lad was take* away by his friends; a fourth re-
mained only until this fellow could get a situation. This,
Sir, is profitable work ; besides this, it should be mentioned,
he never found the boy an article of clothing, but rather took
one of two suits from him to clothe another apprentice. He
appeared at the Police-court with a suit he had worn the
best part of two years as a scholar, and two years as an
apprentice.
I fear I have trespassed too much upon your columns, but
these statements will prove to you and to your readers that
the work of mercy and of charity is not done by a foundling
or an orphan institution when the child leaven the school ;
he must be cared for, and watched ever, and encouraged
and protected too, until he arrives at manhood. This, Sir, is
what the public must insist upon being done, and you stand
as a watchman to guide. The public cry aloud " Spare
not," and the friend of the friendless will aid you in your
benevolent work.
May 25, 1846. THE ORPHANS' FRIEND.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF CHANCERY, May 27.

(Before the Loan CHANCELLOR.)
MAIM V. DAT.—APPI4LB ON DEMURRER.
This came on to be argued before his Lordship to-day, on de •
murrer on both sides for want of parties. It is an appeal from an
action raised in the Queen's Bench by Day, who obtained a verdict,
at the assizes in March, against the present plaintiff, with re-
servation, however, of points of law. It will be recollected that
the plaintiff was one of a provisional committee of eighty-three on
a contemplated scheme called the East Riding Junction Railway,
which became defunct by a resolution of that committee In
November last year. No shares had been issued, no money
had been collected, but expenses were incurred to the
amount of 1,5401., t•s pay which the members of the com-
mittee agreed to make a voluntary contribution. The plaintiff,
however, declined to contribute, and Mr. Day, the temporary secre-
tary to the committee, made a claim of 451. against the committee,
and entered a suit in the Queen's Bench against the plaintiff.
Mr. Bethel, Q.C., and Mr. Follett are retained for Day and others,
Mr. Parry, Q.C., and Mr. Kenyon for Mr. Sharpe and others.

'ROLL'S COURT, May 27.
Lord Langdale eat to-day at ten o'clock.
POWELL V. BAILEY AND OTHERS.
This was a motion on the part of the plaintiff for an injunction to
restrain the defendants from acting upon a judgment which they had
obtained in this cause. The case had reference to a policy of insurance.
The defendants were the Directors and Secretary of an Insurance
Company, and set forth a plea that a fraudulent representation had
been made, which vitiated their liability.
Mr. Finney opened the case yesterday, and Mr. Kindersley was
heard to-day for the defendants.
In the course of the Leased Counsel's observations,
His LORDSHIP said that he was surprised so much time had been
wasted in proving the liabilities of the parties, when that point was
admitted, under condition.
Mr. KINDERSLEY then resumed his arguments.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, May 27.
(Sitting iu Banco.)
The Court renamed its sittings in banco to-day, for the purpose of
disposing of the cases remaining on the Crewn paper, in which ap-
plications were to be made for rules for new trials. None of them
were of such a nature as deserve any notice, as they all arose out of
actions between private parties, or upon allegations against vestries
for making illegal parish rates, which involved only technical law
points.

BAIL COURT, May 27.
This Court sat but for a very short time, and disposed of one or
tw•o unimportant cases.

SECONDARIES' COURT, May 27.
(Before Mr. Secondary Form).
CHAMBERS V. ROT, BLUNT, AND co.
The plaintiff in this action claimed fifteen guineas for attendance
on the defendants, who are well-known solicitors, and serving
notices, &c., for the proposed Eastern Counties and Finsbury Rail-
way Company.

Mr. Simon appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Parry for the
deendants.

The facts of the case were these :—The plaintiff had formerly been
in the service of Messrs. Witherby, railway agents, and whilst with
them had served notices for the Birmingham and Wolverhampton
.nd Stour Valley Railway, the Eastern Counties and Epping, and
the Eastern Counties (Finsbury Branch). He afterwards called on
Messrs. Roy ar d Co., and asked when he would be wanted to go before
the Standing Orders' Committee, and Mr. Ross, the managing clerk in
the business, with Messrs. Roy and Co., told defendant he should have
a notice ; and he, accordingly, received one on the 26th of February.
Previously to that, however, he called five or six times, but Mr.
Ross said that on those occasions ho was tipsy three or four times.
On the 26th ho attended the Committee on the Bir-
mingham and Wolverhampton and Epping Railways, and
proved the service of the notices, and was paid a guinea a day for
the two. He now charged one guinea a day for thirteen days,
and two guineas for expenses for attendance on the Finsbury,
namely, from the 11th to the 25th of February, although all the
witnesses conearred that it was notorious that the
Finsbury branch had been abandoned in January ; and, at all events,
before the 16th plaintiff was told that he would not be required. Ile
had been paid by Messrs. Witherby for the service of the notices.
The SECONDARY expressed a strong opinion that there wag no evi-
dence to go to the jury of retainer or services by defendants on the
Finsbury branch, but Mr. Simon claimed a right to go to the jury.
Mr. PARRY, for the defendants, was extremely anxious to have all
the facts before the jury, as they would never have resisted a just de-
mand, but this was a mere experimental action, and if it prevailed
there would be no end to such unfounded demands.
The jury gave a verdict for the defendants.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
BO W-STREET.

John Farr was placed at the bar for final examination,
charged with stealing a white deal-box containing a variety
of articles, the property of Mr. Joseph Woodhead, of Mon-
tadue-square ; and lEfarg Ann Newland, with receiving the
same, well knowing them to have been stolen.
Mr. Ballantine conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Robin-
son attended for the prisoners.
Some further evidence in corroboration of that given on j,he
previous examination having been heard,
Mr. Mathew Blackiston, an engineer, residing in Trafal-
gar-square, stated that he also was travelling on Good Fri-
day by the snail train, and left the Euston-square station at
about a quarter before nine o'clock, having the case of en-
gineering implements which he left on the platform ; and on
arriving at Birmingham he missed it, nor did he again see
it until it was in possession of the officers.
The property having been proved by the officers to have
been found in Sloane-street, the prisoners were fully com-
mitted, bail having been refused for their appearance.
FINAL EXAMINATION OF GRAHAM ON THE CHARGE OF
arlysornoerr wfinasalplexacaedmaintatthwenb.ar bellifsoremmanrn.ieirenryandat
appearance
MANSLAUGHTER.
yeThsteerdp
n o'clock
[ were the same as on the former occasions, and he was perfectly free
from the appearance of agitation which he exhibited this day fort.
M
r. Mr. Humphreys again defended the prisoner.
All the witnesses were again examined, but their evidence was for
the most part the same as on previous occasions, and which has
been published from time to time at great length in The Sun.
Mr. Buncombe, who was house surgeon of King's College Hospital
at the time Blewitt was brought there, added the following particu-
lars to his former evidence :—Blewitt died on Sunday, the ilth of thi
month, after lingering for eleven days. I assisted at the postmortem
examination the next day, and perceived the course which the ball
bad taken. It entered the cavity of the chest at the right side, and
Passed through that cavity, and wounded the right lung. It passed out
opposite the blade-bone, at the back, having fractured two ribs.
There was a large quantity of matter in the cavity, and that was the
Immediate cause of death,
Mr. Her:ay—Have you no doubt that that gunshot wound caused
his death ? Witness—I have none whatever.
Mr. llzessr--Was the body healthy in other respects ? Witness—
[ was.
Cross-examined by Mr. Humphreys—Which of the ribs was frac-
tured? The fifth rib was fractured in front and the seventh behind.
HENRYMr. questioned the witness, Louisa Cook, minutely as to
the exact expression made use of by the prisoner when he threatened
her with the pistol,
to-night she said It But for one thing, f
would do for you g" He said nothing more.
The whole of the depositions having been taken,
Mr. iinN •
av asked if the prisoner wished to say anything?
The pn
• [sor ter—l will only say
_what I said before, that it wasan
accident, and I deeply regret it.
This was taken down by the clerk, and
Mr. HENRY said—You are coniunitted to take your trial on a
charge of manslaughter.
The prisoner was then removed, and the witnesses bound over to
prosecute.

THE PROGRESS OF FREE-TRADE PRINCIPLES IN
FOREIGN COUNTRIES.—We trust the triumph of our principles at home
will shortly bring our labours to a close ; but our joy and rejoicing on
that account are not confined to the happy results achieved In our
own country. The honest pursuit of truth and justice has attracted
the sympathy of the wise and good of all nations, who see, in the
great principles advocated by the League, the dawn of that millen-
nium of peace and brotherhood of liberty and civilisation, for which
they have hitherto sighed in vain. Our communications with our
brethren in America, France, Germany, Holland, and Spain, all
breathe the same spirit—all are animated by our example, and re-
joice i❑ our success as the harbinger of their final triumph in the
same course. We have already had the pleasure of recording the
formation of a Free-trade League in France. Spain has followed the
example set by her neighbours, and has established a "'Mercantile
coLf4cleratioh' for the same purposes.—League,