The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-11 00:00:00

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LONDON, TUESDAY. AUGUST 11, 1846.

Contrary to the established usages of Parliament,
an explanation has occurredsimultaneously
first reading of the Sugar with the
Duties' Bill in the House of
Peers. If employed as a precedent, this innovation
might undoubtedly cause no inconsiderable confusion
to the future deliberations of r Lordships, but,
prefaced as it was by a distinct apology,
tion cannot but tend to the satisfaction of an anxious
people, and the convenience of a jaded Parliament.
On introducing this measure last evening,
su the Earl of
CLARENDON took a most felicitous the
question, demonstrating by lucid argumentsrve
andof
un-
answerable statistics the necessity Of some immediate
modification of the present system. The Noble Earlate
insisted upon the insufficiency of the supply in con-
sequence of the restrictions caused by differential
duties., and his illustrations upon this point merit the
most serious investigation. If we can comprehend
the rather incomprehensible calculation of the Noble
Lord, the Member for Lynn, the clamouring about
the deficiency of sugar at a price reasonable enough
for the consumption of the English population, is as
chimerical and illusory as the potato panic is declared
to have heetigrAse\very sceptical gentlemen, the
protectionisisit then chimerical to
maintain 1114,:,. bdy of moderately-priced
irtergy consumption of that
sugar, iiifieg.--0
article gngjaud- if—. merely 16 pounds per

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annum for each individual, while the consumption at
our antipodes is absolutely 104 pounds per annum for
each individual? Is it chimerical when we find three
quarters of our community restricted to eight pounds
per annum, while the consumption of the affluent
classes is estimated at sixty pounds, and the consump-
tion even of the middle classes at thirty-seven pounds ?
Surely we must not attribute this disparity to a diffe-
rence of taste in the different classes. It would in truth
be something astonishing to be assured that a partiality
for saccharine juice is acquired by the excellence of
a man's broadcloth, that corduroy is a corrective to
acidity, that the peasant has not as voracious an ap-
petite after toothsome dishes as a nobleman, that
green gooseberries would give the cholic to
a landed proprietor, and afford nutrition
to an artisan ? Nevertheless, it is merely by resort-
ing to such dogmatical absurdities that a protectionist
can maintain that there is a sufficiency of supply in
colonial sugar. As a testimony that Government
does not consider this article merely necessary for the
wealthier inhabitants of these islands, we may allude
to the allowance of 22i lbs. to every pauper, and of
341 b. to every seaman. When the average consump-
tion of such a necessary of life is found to dwindle
down into a contemptible minim among three quar-
ters of our population, being literally, as the Earl of
CLARENDON calculated, " 180 per cent. below the
allowance made to the pauper, and nearly 200 per
cent. below the allowance made to the common sailor,"
there is undoubtedly some foundation for the conjec-
ture that additional facilities should be afforded for
the importation of fresh cargoes. That such an ar-
rangement would ameliorate the condition of the
labouring classes, no reasonable man can ques-
tion. We are persuaded that the proposed measure
is not only one of commercial reformation,
but one, moreover, of sanatory reformation. It is
of fiscal as well as social importance. It will, we
are persuaded, materially increase the revenue, while
it will promote the comfort of the community. On
this particular Lord CLARENDON has only corrobo-
rated a truism, and illustrated a fundamental
principle in political economy, when he referred to
the fact of the consumption of coffee and tea
having proportionably developed itself with the
diminution in taxation. For example—in 1821,
the former commodity, covered with an im-
post
of two shillings per lb., gave a consumption of
22,000,0001b5. ; in 1844 the duty was decreased to
sixpence per lb., and in the following year the con-
sumption had risen to:34,000,0001hs., giving a revenue
of 718,0001. instead of 340,0001. In like manner, with
tea, a consumption of 22,000,0001b5. in 1821, had in
1845 arrived at the enormous average of 44,000,000
lbs., notwithstanding, or rather in consequence of, a very
considerable reduction in the duties levied upon that
article. After having observed these beneficent results
of an enlightened policy, as testified in these instances,
it is remarkable to observe the contrary effects of an
extortionate and grasping
system. Niggardliness
repaid by meagre revenues, a generous butjudicious
is
leniency by overflowing coffers, thriving merchants, ac-
tivity in trade, increased sobriety and health in the com-
munity. While the latter has been thus magnificently
demonstrated in regard to coffee and its sister be-
verage, how vividly has the former been illustrated in
reference to the importation of sugar ! What are the
revelations of the Earl of CLARENDON on this parti-
cular? Why, that with our vastly multiplying
population the trade in sugar has been literally
stagnant—that the consumption of sugar has been
nearly stationary. That consumption was in 1821,
4,000,000 cwt. ; in 1831, 4,000,000 cwt.; in 1841,
still 4,000,000 cwt. ; in 1844, miserably improved to
4,300,000 cwt. ; and in 1845, to 5,000,000 cwt.
After a candid examination of these few
and very comprehensible facts, none but
a self-interested or ebtuse-minded man can
persist in declaring that no necessity exists
for the alteration of the existing system of differential
duties. A necessity does exist, and seeing that
the anomalies of protection have been removed
from the principal necessary of existence, the
necessity for their removal from what may
be designated the next, greOest necessary of
existence becomes too- glaring to admit of any
additional cavil or supplementary procrastination.
Bread has been cleansed of its leaven of monopoly ;
the dumplings and cranberry pies of 'the la-
bourer must be free from the acidulating
effects of the sugar duties. Brazil must be
made to correspond with China and Russia
in ministering to the repasts of our popula-
tion, Louisiana and Venezuela must compete with
Pekin and Cuba in adding to the sober nourish-
ment of our sober people. With the extension of
correspondence-between the various territories of the
earth will extend, not merely the national revenue,
the national happiness, and the national health of
Great Britain, but the civilisation, the humanity,
the christianity, the brotherly love, the prosperity,
and the general improvement of the entire human
family.

An inquiry has, we are happy to say, been directed
into the truth of several allegations made with re-
spect to the Millbank Prison. A commission has been
appointed, with powers to take evidence on oath, and
to examine in the fullest manner into the whole
management of the prison, and into every charge that
has been brought against the governor and the other
officers.

The Home Secretary deserves the greatest credit
for the manner in which he has acted in this case. On
the former occasion, when it was brought forward
by Mr. DUNCOMBE, we expressed our regret that
the asked-for inquiry should be refused when charges
of such magnitude, impugning so severely the con-
duct of the prison authorities, and expressly charging
the governor with acts of the greatest cruelty and
oppression, were brought forward by a person whose
character and motives were unimpeached, who, from
his position, as an officer of the prison, had an oppor-
tunity of being fully cognisant of the truth of the
charges, if correct, and that the public mind should be
permitted to remain in suspense on such a subject
until the next session of Parliament.

Much indulgence, however, was claimable by Sir
GEORGE GREY on the subject. He had recently
succeeded to office—questions of the greatest
consequence to the nation remained for
discussion, and a serious and difficult task
awaited the several Cabinet Ministers, in se-
lecting from the enormous quantity of business
before the Legislature measures that required an im-
mediate decision, that were intended to remedy
serious and pressing grievances, and which could not
be postponed until the ensuing session without great
public inconvenience. The petition, too, had been
presented when Sir JAMES GRAHAM presided over
the Home Office, and had to a certain extent
been adjudicated on by him, he having referred it to
the Inspectors of Prisons, with a request that they
I would institute a full and searching investigation into
the several statements contained therein. A report
had been made, with respect to which the new Secre-
tary had little time to prepare himself. He, there-
fore, asked the House to suspend their judg-
ment, promising that nothing should be withheld,
and fully and honourably has he redeemed that
pledge. He required that the Prison Inspectors
should renew their inquiry, and investigate the ad-
ditional charges then brought forward. He now
admits the necessity of a further investigation, con-
ducted under the auspices of persons against
whom no charge of partiality or bias
could possibly be preferred, and we are
ready to admit that at this late period
of the session a Committee of the House must
necessarily be greatly hurried, and unable to give the
time necessary for so important an inquiry. The
entire subject of prison discipline is one that de-
serves the fullest consideration. The horrible prac-
tice of corporal punishment is still resorted to—
persons are frequently sentenced to receive a number
of lashes, which it is now clearly proved may
produce the most fatal results, at the mere will and
pleasure of the prison authorities. The public feeling
has most properly been directed against this descrip-
tion of punishment, and its infliction even in the pri-
vacy of the prison-house is strongly objected to.
We may hope that the report of the newly-appointed
Commission will fully enter into this point, and that
measures may be suggested for the total abolition of
the practice, or, at least, the adoption of better regu-
lations with respect thereto. There must be some-
thing radically wrong in the system which leads to
so fearful a number of suicides as those effected and
attempted in the prison within the last three years.

The statements, too, that prisoners had been
removed to the hulks in a dying state, to avoid the
inquest before the coroner, which would be neces-
sary in the event of their dying within the prison—
that persons had been so removed while unable to get
up from their beds, and in so weakly a state that
brandy and water was administered to them
during their journey to keep up their sirength
require a searching and ample investigation.
The extraordinary number of cases of insanity, deaths,
or pardons of prisoners on medical grounds, must
be fully explained, if the causes can possibly be
traced. We know nothing of the governor of the
prison ; we should be the last to condemn him with-
out full evidence of the truth of the statements.
It is a very different thing investigating charges
so brought forward, and acting on them
as if they were fully proved. The more
serious they are the less willing should we
be to admit their accuracy. Captain GROVES ap-
pears to have met the charges in a manly and indt -
pendent manner. It appears that he wrote to Sir
GEORGE GREY, stating his anxiety to meet the
charges and his desire that they should be adju-
dicated on by persons other than the Prison
Inspectors. This is certainly very creditable to him,
and affords a certain presumption against his guilt.
Under any circumstances, the result of the inquiry
must be beneficial ; and if it should not be conducted
in a fair and proper manner, it will be open to any
Member, in the early part of next session, to move for
a Committee of the House, to inquire not merely into
the charges, but also into the manner in which the
Commissioners have exercised their powers. Mr.
DuricomßE, therefore, acted with much discretion in
resting satisfied for the present with the promise of
the Home Secretary, and awaiting the result of the
promised inquiry.

The treaty of Navigation between Austria and
Russia was signed on the 20th July.

The Agnates of AUGUSTENBOURG and of OLUCKS-•
BOURG and the Grand Luke of OLDENBURG have
protested against the letter patent of the King of
DENMARK on the subject of the succession to the
Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein.
The police of Hesse Cassel have orders to make
out a list of all the German Catholics, and to report
periodically on their conduct. •

Madrid papers of the 4th have arrived. The ru-
mour that GONZALES BRAVO had been recalled from
Lisbon was again prevalent in Madrid. The Spanish
Government is giving every encouragement to
General FLORES, late President of the Republic of
the Ecuador, to raise troops in Spain, nominally for
the service of the Republic, but it is shrewdly sus-
pected that their destination will be Mexico, and their
mission the establishment of a monarchy.

MARID, BOLSA, AUG. 4.—The Three per 6ents, were done
at 33% for cash, the Five per Cents. at 2234, the Four per
Cents. at 21 9-16, the Debt without Interest at 694, and the
Coupons at 20.

We have received the French papers of Sunday.
The question of the Spanish marriage is the subject
of discussion in the National and Courrier Francais.
They both oppose the project of a Coburg alliance,
contending tbrt such must be essentially an English
one.

Accounts from Algiers, of the 2d, state that ADD -
EL. FADER was meditating a new movement against
the tribes in alliance N%ith France. He was on the
frontiers of Morocco, issuing proclamations, levying
tribute, and making every preparation for an advance.
Count RODOLPH HEINRICH DE REICHEN BACH, a
Prussian, has been arrrested at Flemcen on a charge
of corresponding with ADD-EL-KADER, and tamper-
ing with the French soldiery.

Rear-Admiral HAMELIN visited the Sandwich
Islands in April last, and there was an interchange
of presents between the French and Sandwich Islands
authorities. The KING visited the Admiral's ship,
and was highly gratified by his reception.
The Three per Cents. were done on the Passage de
l'Opera on Sun,!ay at 83f. 80c.

The following are the quotations for new lines
LvoNs, AUG. 7.—Paris and Rouen, 963 f. 75c.; Avignon
and Marsedles, 883 f., 75c.•' Vierzon, 612 f. 24c. ; Northern,
708 E ; Paris and Lyons. 5131. 75c.; Orleans, 1,273 f. 75e.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT TUE

LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, AUGUST 10.

Boulogne and Amiens. I2!4—'Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Cette
(Mackenzie), I%—Central of Spain, 'N,--liutch Rhenish, 6% —East
Indian, I —Jamaica Soutfi Midland Junction, 4—Luxembourg, I%
—Namur and Liege, 274—Orleans and Bordeaux, 8% —Paris and
Lyons Constituted, 5% —Paris and Rouen, 37%—Sambre and Meuse,
4—Tours and Natitei Constitute, 414.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-(THIS DAY.)

COMMITTEE FOR PRIVILEGES.

Their Lordships sat to-day in Cotnntittee for Privileges.
The Peers present were—the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of
Shaftesbury, Lord Mountford, the Earl of Kingston, Viscount
Strangford, Lord Sondes, and Lord Longford.

THE EARL OF CARBERY'S CLAIM TO VOTE AT THE ELEC

TION OF REPRESENTATIVE PEERS FOR IRELAND.

Counsel were heard, and witnesses examined, upon the
claim of the Earl of Carbery to vote at the el‘ction of
representative Peers for Ireland ; after which,
Their Lonnsnirs declared that the Noble Earl had made
out his claim.—Claim allowed.

The House then sat to hear appeals, and their Lordships
were occupied the remainder of the morning with hearing
arguments in the case of Robertson v. Paterson, which came
before their Lordships upon an appeal from the decision of
the Court of Session in Scotland.

THE LORD MAYOR'S TRIP TO OXFORD.--The caterer
for the Lord Mayor'. party from Oxford to London was Mr. Thomas
ounghusband, or the Gerard's Hall Tavern. At the conclusion of
the banquet at Hampton Court on Saturday evening, the Lord
Mayor expressed himself as being highly pleased with the manner
in,which Mr. Younghusband had executed his task.
ALARMING ACCIDENT TO SIICCHARLES WETHERELL.
—We deeply lament to state thtit a very severe and alarming acci-
dent hap; ened to ,ir Charles Wetherell, in the neighbourhood of
Maidstone, yesterday (Monday) morning. It appears that the
learned gentleman had arrived at Maidstore by train, and was de-
sirous of going on to Rochester, for which purpose he had engaged a
one-horse phaeton, with a driver, and proceeded.towards the latter
place, taking what is called the Lower-road, skirting the river Med-
way, for tne purpose of passing through the village of Wouldham.
On arriving near the seat of Charles Milner, Esq., Preston Hall,
some trifling circumstance, said to be the horse's tail catching the
reins, caused the animal slightly to mend its pace, on which Sir
Charles, who was sitting on the box with the driver, unhappily
caught hold of the reins, and the horse, dartin, to the side of the
road, dashed the carriage against a heap of stones, which caused it to
upset, throwing Si, Ch rles to the ground with great violence. The
learned gentleman, on being rased, was found to be most alarmingly
injured. Thc driver and Sir Charles's valet escaped unhurt. Sir
Charles was immediately conveyed to Preston Hall, and was attended
by Mr. Dennis, of Aylesford, and Dr. Taylor, of Maidstone ; but so
serious did these gentlemen consider the state of their patient, that
the valet was soon atter dispatched to London to procure the attend-
ance of an eminent physician. The precise nature of the injury sus-
tained by Sir Charles we have not been able to learn ; but doubtless
the shock sustained by his system at his advanced age, 76, must alone
be suffielent to create the most painful apprehensions.

THE LATE MURDEROUS ATTACK AT MAIDENHEAD.—
Yesterday morning Anthony Thomas Ryves, a police-sergeant in the
service,owf
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Wednesday last, upon a charge of having inflicted a serious wound
with a knife upon the body of Mr. Henry Plumb, an articled clerk
to Mr, Ward, solicitor, of Maidenhead, was brought up for re-
examination betbre the magistrates of Burnham, by Mr. Larkin, the
' superintendent constable of the Bunthain and Stoke district. The
magistrates present were—Mr. Calcdon George Dupre. M.P., Mr.
Rice Richard Clayton, M.P., Major Bent, and the Rev. Thomas
Carter, Mr. J. J. Williams, barrister-at-law, and Mr. W. R. Ward,
solicitor, appeared on the part of the Crown. Mr. Williams stated
that he had to apply for a further adjournment of the case, in con-
sequence of Mr. Plumb being unable to be present, from the nature
of the severe injuries lie had received, to attend to give his evidence.
Be handed to the bench the following certificate front his medical
attendant
0 I am of opinion that Mr. Henry Plumb is too weak to attend
the magistrates to-day. He is, however, going on favourably.
" 13. BELLIS, Surgeon.

" Maidenhead, Monday morning, August 10."
Mr. Ward said, in reply to a question from the bench, that, from
what Mr. Bellis had stated to him before he left -Maidenhead for
Burnham, he cx; ected Mr. Plumb would be able to appear against
the prisoner in the course of three or four days. Ihe Rev. Mr.
Carter thought it would be advisable that the remand should be for
as short a time as possible, taking into consideration the state of the
prosecutor. Mr. Ward observed that he was not able at present to
leave his bed. The magistrates having oonsulted together for a few
minutes, the Chairman informed the prisoner that in consequence of
Mr. Plumb being still in too weak a state to attend the inquiry, they
had come to the determination of again remanding him until Friday
next. The prisoner, who made no re nark, respectfully bowed to
the magistrates, and 11,11,4 taken away in custody of the constable,
and conveyed to Beaconsfield. Summonses, upon the application
of Sit . Williams, were then issued fez the attendance of the witnesses
on that day.
DREADFUL ACCIDENT IN THE TOWER.—Yesterday
morning, about seven o'clock, a most distressing occurrence took
place in the Towet•to a man named Joseph Heffernin, aged thirty-
five, a bricklayer, residing at No. 7, White-street, Spitaltlelds, which,
it is feared, will end fatally. It seems that the unfortunate man had
been employed for some time past at the new building in the Tower,
which is intended for the soldiers' barracks. Ile proceeded to his
work, and on reaching the third tier of planks en the upper part of
the scaffolding, one of the putlocks, or cross beams, gave way, where-
by he was precipitated a depth of sixty feet to the basement, where
he tell on a girder. He was extricated with much difficulty, and was
found to have received the most fearful injuries, the bones of the right
leg were broken, protruding through the flesh ; the left thigh and
hip were seversiy injured, and various parts of his body had sustained
several contusions and bruises. lie was acen by a surgeon in the
Tower, but he ordered his removal to the accident ward of St. Tho-
mas's Hospital, where, upon examination, it was found that the only
means of saving his life was the amputation of the right leg, which
the poor fellow at first refused to accede to, bat when seen by a cler-
gyman he consented. The operation was forthwith performed by
Mr. Le Gros Clarke, one of the assistant, surgeons, who was attended
by Mr. Travers and Mr. Solly.
REPAIRING THE STREETS OF LOWDON.—A notice
has been issued by the Commissioners of Sewers that some of the
great thoroughfares will be impassable to every description of
vehicle. The carriage-way is to be repaired in Old Fish-street,
Long-lane, Upper Thames-street, and Fleet-street. The latter was
closed yesterday, and will remain closed for six weeks or two months,
owing to the great length of time required to mako a new bottom of
concrete, in which the stone is to be laid, the present bed having
been cut up and partially destroyed by the formation of the new
sewer, and the laying down of gas and water-pipes. The carriage-
way is to be relaid with the three-inch cube granite, similar to that
which was laid down last year in Ludgate-hill, Holborn-hill, and
Snow-hill. At present there exists a great difficulty in getting good
workmen, as well as stone from the quarries, in consequence of the
demand for the railways. When finished, it is alleged that Fleet-
street will not require any great repairs for the next twenty years,
the three-inch cube Aberdeen granite being estimated to last for
following
forty years In places where only an ordinary traffic takes place. All
large thoroughfares are in future to be paved with this atone, as soon
placesas the existingar eto
leave new
ts forse wood pavement:
—Laurence
renee p expires.ouia
nle
afno lelr
Laurence Pountney-bill, Ducksfoot-lens, Cloak-lane, Bell-yard,
north end of Shoe-lane, Bouverie-street, and the
Hosier-lane,, Graceehureh-street, Little Bush-lane, Bride-lane, Poplin's-court,
precinct of whitefrinn, the whole, of which are to commence within
the ant month.

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