The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-25 00:00:00

BARRACK CANTEENS.

The following circular relates to the new regu-
lation prohibiting the sale of spirits in barrack
canteens :

" Horse Guards, Sept. 27.
" Sir,—l hare the honour to express the Commander-
in-Chief's desire that you report to rue, for his Grace's
information, the. result of your observation of the effects
of the regulation which prohibits the sale of spirits in
regimental canteens. You will be pleased to state dis-
tinctly your opinion as to the effects (prejudicially or
otherwise) of that measure upon the habits and disposi-
tions of the men, and, above all, upon their general
health; on which last-mentioned point you will, of course.
obtain the opinion of the medical officer of the regiment
under your command.

(Signed) "J. MACDONALD, Adjutant-General.
"To the Officer commanding --- Regiment."
Answers to the foregoing circular have been for-
warded to head-quarters.
The following opinion comes from one of the most
aristocratic commanders of a highly distinguished
regiment

My opinion is, that no real benefit, either as regards
health or habits of the soldiers, has been gained by pro-
hibiting the sale of spirits in regimental canteens; and I
arts further of opinion that it tends to induce the soldiers
to resort to the public-houses in the neighbourhood
where spirits are sold, and the men are thus thrown
more into the society of the civilians.
" Crimes resulting from drunkenness have not de-
creased since the introduction of the new system, and
the medical officer has found no difference in the health
of the men."

MORTALITY IN THE ARMIES OF EUROPE AND
THE UNITED STATES.—In a force of 105,000 men, the
Prussian army has lost from 1821 to 1830, annually
11.7 in a thousand. This is the lowest rate of mortality
in the armies of Europe. This army, however, is com-
posed of young men, who are only engaged three years
in active service, and they suffer little by being removed
from place to place. The mortality of the civil popula-
tion of Berlin, from 20 to 25 years of age, is ten in 1,000.
The British army counts 15 deaths in 1,000 men in the
United Kingdom ; 57 in the troops which serve
abroad, making an average of 37 in 1,000 of all the
forces. In the French army, numbering 387,687 men,
the mortality is 34.2 per 1,000; and, if the officiers were
deducted 46.5. The greatest number of deaths has taken
place in Algeria. The Russian forces lose 50 men in
1,000; and, if we are to believe M. Dennis, the mortality
rises to 160 and 180 in the army of the Caucasus. It is
not only in European armies that the mortality is so
great; in the United States of North America, in a
force of 5,515 men, it has been computed, that from 1829
t 0,1838, there were 44 deaths in 1,000. It is necessary,
however, to remark, that the mortality has not been more
than 18 per 1,000 in the Northern States, while in the
Southern it has reached 49. It has been observed that
the rate of deaths has not been the same in different
kinds of troops. Thus, in Prussia the infantry reckons
1219; the cavalry, 9; the artillery, 10 per 1,000. In the
British army, from 1830 to 1836, the dragoons lost an-
nually 14; the infantry, 26.6 per 1,000. The total loss
for seven years was 41.6 for the dragoons, 31.5 for the
horse-guards, 58 for the foot-guards. Marozzo reports,
that from 1778 to 1792, the Piedmontese forces expe-
rienced a mortality of 18 in 1,000 of cavalry, and 34 per
1,000 of infantry.—Medical Times, Dec. 23.
CHARGE of FELONY AGAINST AN ATToRNET.—
Atl the New Bailey, Manchester, on Friday, Mr. Wil-
liam Ambler, an attorney, and Peter M'Lean, a bailiff's
assistant, wore charged with fe:ony. Mr. Gibson, the
town clerk, said that a man, named Robert Birch, re-
siding at Pendleton, and who was in embarrassed cir-
cumstances, had applied to Anibler for advice, and the
course adopted with reference to him was one which
the investigation of the case would show to be of
the most serious character he had ever. known.
Birch, who was thus in difficulties, unfortunately ap-
plied to a person named Hopwood, who obtained busi-
ness for attorneys, who at that time was acting as a
clerk for Ambler, and he recommended Mr. Ambler
to : him. Birch engaged Ambler to defend him in
some proceedings against him in the county court. In
accordance with advice given by Mr. Ambler, Birch made
an' assignment of his property to Mr. P. Newton for the
benefit of his creditors; but, after Newton had taken
possession, a quantity of the goods were taken
from Birch's house, carried into Manchester, and
there sold, by Mr. Ambler's direction, under a
pretended claim of a bill for preparing the deed of
assignment. Goods to the value of about 1001. had been
sacrificed in that manner. If these facts ware proved,
he should deem it necessary to ask for such punish-
ment as would tend to check any such practice by others.
Mt. Gibson then inquired if there was a person in
court named Joseph Hopwood. Ambler said he was not
near him ; but Inspector Bullock apprehended him at the
door, and he was placed in the dock. Witness having
been heard in 'Lippert. of Mr. Gibson's statement, Mr.
Trisffard said there was no proof that Hopwood had
taken any part in the affair, and therefore he must be
discharged. M'Lean appeared to have acted under the
authority of Mr. Ambler, and probably was not aware
helwas acting illegally. He should, however remand
the case, and allow M'Lean and Ambler to find bail for
their appearance.
SINGULAR OCCURRINCE.--On Monday morning as
the mail train upon the Newcastle and Berwick Railway
wag proceeding north, and when near to Cramlington
station,`* party of horned owls, being disturbed in their
rodstty the noise, made a furious attack upon the engine
and those in charge of it. The fireman, William Gilbert,
while seated in a comfortable position in the flying loco-
motive, was furiously assailed, and before be `could dis-
coier the character of his foe was seriously pecked in the
face, and had one of his teeth forced out of its place.
Such an assault at such a place, and during the dark,
was rather alarming, especially considering the extra-
ordinary visage of the assailants, when seen only by the
glare of a fire. -One of the -birds was captured, and a
sturdy fellow he is. The. engine-driver, Edward Col-
lins, is preserving him as. a curiosity.—Berwieh Ad-
vertiser.

HOSPITAL roz CONSUMPTION, &c.—On Friday
etviiinra meeting of 'the committee of management of
this
hospital was,held in the Board-room of the Institu-
tion, at Brompton tEdward Speer, Esq., in the chair.
The ordinary routine business being gone through, it
was announced that Mi.. Disraeli, M.P., had consented
to preside at the seventh anniversary festival, to be held
in the ensuing spring.
WEST RIDING ELECTION.—An amusing scene oc-
curred at the Pontefract polling booth during the elec-
tion. A farmer went to give his vote, and was asked
whom he voted for ? He replied, " Mr. Bland." He
was told there was no candidate of that name, and the
question was repeated, " Who do you vote for ?"
" Why," said he " Mr. Bland, my landlord. He asked me
for my vote, and I shall give him it." Of course it was
recorded. About half an hour afterwards, Mr. Bland
went to give his vote, when Dr. Brook, magistrate, who
was .acting on Sir Culling's behalf, said, " Mr. Bland, I
must put the question or oath to you, if I don't to
another to-day. The Doctor then told Mr. Bland that
he, being a candidate, was not entitled to vote. Mr.
Bland denied that be as a candidate, but when told
there had been a vote'recorded for him, and that, there-
fore this own vote could not -be taken, he left the *out
quail discomfited.—Leeds Mercury.
BOusTor, SUGAR-MARKET, DEC. 22..--The offices
havci been so scantily supplied with samples that the
transactions of the week-are only of a limited character,
prieds being, however, fully supported in the few salsa
made. The refined market is rather dull, but priaegiare
steady. In rum there is nothing doing.—Bristol MK p,,