The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-13 00:00:00

AUG UST 13, 1846.

place. I believe he was teaching singing. She had been
living in Worcester, where she met Mr. Barker. They
lived after their marriage in Cheltenham, and at Brompton-
square in London. He was not a rich man, and was occa-
sionally in difficulties. He lives now, I believe, in Bromp-
ton-square. I last saw him performing at the Princess's
Theatre, London. lie is a singer. I believe her family
were not agreeable to the marriage, at which none of them
were present. There were none present but myself, the
clergyman, and the clerk.
• Mr. WH.tTELEY addressed the juryfor the defendant. He
said it was now quite obvious that it was not by her husband,
a poor player, that the prosecution was maintained. She
had married a man much beneath her in rank, and who
clearly could not support her in the luxuries of a carriage
and four horses, in which it appeared she usually, and in
fact, always but on one occasion, travelled. It was alleged
in this indictment that the defendant had wickedly, wilfully,
and maliciously published a libel, with the intention to
injure Jane Barker, and to deprive her of her good name. It
was quite clear that her good name was lost long before
these alleged libels had been written. It was asserted that
under a recent Act of Parliament the defendant might
have pleaded that the charge was true, but this would
have availed him nothing, unless he could also have
pleaded that it was for the public benefit. Why had not
the prosecutrix taken a different course ? She had two
others open to her. An action might have been brought,
and then the truth alone of the libel would have been a de-
fence. An information might have been filed, but then to
obtain it the prosecutrix must have negatived on her oath
the charge against her. Why had not the prosecution called
Lord Fitzharoinge, as a witness, to prove that the intercourse
between him and the lady was of a pure and innocent cha-
racter? To show that he visited her, and dined with her,
twice a week, and remained with her till eleven or twelve at
night during the absence of her husband, to comfort and
console her, and to guide and instruct her in the paths of
morality and virtue? The defendant was, it had clearly
been proved, a most exemplary pious clergyman, who had
not only attended zealously to the spiritual wants of his own
parish, but had mainly been instrumental in building a new
church in his neighbourhood. For one season he, a married
man, with the charge of young men whom he was preparing
for the university, had endured the scandalous conduct of
his neighbour the prosecutrix, one calculated to corrupt
the morals of pupils, and disturb the comfort of his wife.
He found that she was about to return, and then that in
spite of the friendly, but perhaps injudicious admonitions
be had sent her, she actually had returned; he, no doubt
irritated by her conduct, and desirous at all risks to get
rid of such an intolerable nuisance as her residence within
three doors of his house, sent the letters in question, in-
tending to drive her away. He did not know the prose-
cutrix personally; he could have entertained no malice
against her; he, in fact, acting perhaps most injudiciously,
had merely wished to guard the morals of his servants and
pupils against the contaminating influence of the mode of life
of the prosecutrix, and to restore comfort to his wife. These
were the real facts. No malice could have existed; and he
(Mr Whateley) was sure that the jury would understand,
what is hopeless to expect such people as those who were the
instigators of this prosecution could understand, the high and
the pure feelings which caused a zealous clergyman, at all
hazards, to interfere, and abate any nuisance which threatened
to injure the morality of the neighbours, and more especially
to corrupt the morals of those young men who might be
under his care.

The LORD CHIEF JuirrlcE then summed up to the jury. His
Lordship said that the questions for their consideration
simply were whether the defendant had published the super-
scriptions in question, and whether they were libels? The
facts relied on by the Learned Counsel for the defendant
formed no excuse. No imaginary or fancied sense of duty,
no high-flown regard for the general moral conduct of
society, could justify even a clergyman in setting himself up
as a censor of his neighbours, and publishing anonymous
libels respecting them. His Lordship most fully and clearly
stated the law of libel and the evidence to the jury, who re-
tired, and in thirty-five minutes returned into Court, and
delivered a verdict of Guilty.
The defendant will have, if brought up, to appear in the
Court of Queen's Bench next term to receive sentence, and
may file affidavits of any facts he considers may induce that
Court to mitigate his punishment.

WESTERN CI RC CI IT.—W ells, August 11.
(Before Mr. Justice ERLE.)
Alfred Green was indicted for maliciously setting fire to a
stack of hay, the property of Nathaniel Hodder, at Frome
Selwood.
Mr. Bayley was counsel for the prosecution ; and Mr. Ed-
wards for the prisoner.
The only evidence that really affected the prisoner was
this, that two days after the stack had been burned the pri-
soner, a lad only seventeen years of age, met a constable in
the town of Frome, and told him he wanted to speak to him
concerning the rick that was burned. The constable asked
him if he had any information to give? The prisoner an-
swered, " A little." The constable said to him, " I sup-
pose you are aware there is a reward offered?" The pri-
soner said, " It was a bad job, but no one would ever have
it, for he had done it." The constable said, " What could
induce you to commit such an act ?" He said, it was
through a disturbance he had had with his friends on the
Saturday night; he wished to get transported and to leave
the country; he had done it with a Lucifer match—he had
two in his pocket—with one he had set the rick on fire, and
the other he had thrown away; and he had twice thought
on the Sunday of giving himself up. The boy bad alwa)
been considered a good boy.
The jury found the prisoner Guilty, but recommended
bins to mercy on account of his youth and his previous good
character.
Mr. Justice EALE then sentenced the prisoner to be im-
prisoned for six months, with Nord labour.
L 0.;.. Harvey and IVilliaN Brown were inAt.ted for
stealing several silver spoons and other articles, the pro_
perty of Joseph Hoddinott, and burglariously breaking out
of the house.
Mr. Prideaux was counsel for the prosecution, and Mr.
Edwards and Mr. Salmon defended the prisoners.
This was a sad case of profligacy. The female prisoner
was a very pretty, delicate-looking girl, only fourteen years
of age., She was the granddaughter of the prosecutor, who
was in too infirm a ',tate to attend at the assizes, and had
been brought up by him. On Saturday evening, the Bth of
April, the house of the prosecutor was locked up, and the
next morning it was discovered that six silver spoons had
been taken out of the cupboard of the parlour. It was
proved that on that evening the prisoners, together with a
girl named Caroline Smith and a man named Daniels, were
at a public-house called the Pineapple, which was in the
neighbourhood of the prosecutor's house. The two pri-
soners went out about eight o'clock, and returned there
again about half• past ten o'clock the same night. Harvey
and Smith had been sleeping at that public-house for two
or three nights, but on that evening the landlady said she
would not allow them to remain there that night. Daniels
then went away, and shortly afterwards the two prisoners
and Smith followed together. About live o'clock the next
morning Harvey and Smith called at the house of Mary
11 Bishop, who lived at Frome. She got up and let them
in, and they remained there a good part of the day.
This part of the case was established beyond any
doubt, but the whole of the evidence to connect the pri-
soners with the robbery was given by the woman, Caroline
Smith, who gave the following extraordinary account:—" I
was in service at Frome. I was about to leave my place,
and had another place to go to, in Bath. I did not know
the prisoner, but one day she called upon me and made her-
self known to me. She asked me to go with her to Taunton
assizes. I consented to go with her. I had upwards of 31.
and Harvey had 1/. We went by cart to Bath, and from
thence by railway to Taunton. We went to a public-house
and took beds. I slept with the woman servant, and
Harvey slept with the landlady's daughter. We accidentally
saw John Daniels at Taunton. I had known him for
twelve months. I had not passed as his wife. William
Brown, who was a stranger to us, came into our room.
Daniels frequently came, but he did not sleep with me. We
stayed at Taunton about a fortnight. We then all four started
for Frome. We walked all the way—forty miles. We were a
day and night doing it. Harvey and I went to the Pine-
apple public-house. On the night in question I recollect
the two prisoners going out of the Pineapple, at eight
o'clock. They returned again about half-past ten. As the
landlady would not allow us to sleep there that night, we
left the house. Daniels left us. The three then walked
about during the night. Brown said, l'he steam is up,
and I must be off.' Harvey said, Pin afraid the spoons
will break the glasses of the spectacles.' Brown then pulled
some spoons out of his pocket. He asked Harvey if she
would meet him in the morning, and she promised to do so.
She said to him, Mind, Brown, I shall expect a pair of
boots out of the money the spoons fetch.' Brown then
went away. Soon afterwards she told me she had been to
her grandfather's house that night. The door was open, she
pulled off her boots, and went through the house. Her uncle
was there paying some rent. She waited till the servant
went to bed. She then went to the parlour cupboard, ex-
pecting to find some money, but there was not any. She
took the spoons. She then went to the door and opened it,
and called Brown, who was standing outside. He came in,
and she asked him to put the spoons in his pocket, which he
did. She then gave him some bread and cheese, and took
some herself, and then they went away and returned to the
Pineapple. After she had told me this I took her to Mary
Bishop's. After Brown was in custody, he said he had been
led into a pretty scrape through two b—s. Harvey had
gone into the house, and had brought out the spoons and
given them to him."
For the defence, it was urged upon the jury that the whole
case rested upon the evidence of the woman Smith, and that
it was impossible they could believe her.
Witnesses were called who gave Brown a good character,
and it was stated, with regard to Harvey, that she had been
living with her grandfather and had conducted herself well
until just before the Taunton assizes.
Mr. Justice ERLE, in summing up, told the jury that there
was no evidence upon which they could convict the pri-
soner, except that of the woman Smith; therefore the whole
question was whether they could place any credit in her
testimony.
The jury, after a very short consultation, returned a ver-
dict of Not Guilty.
Thomas Collard was indicted for cutting and wounding
Thomas Burston, with intent to kill and murder him, or to
do him some grievous bodily harm.
Mr. Salmon conducted the case for the prosecution.
Collard and Burston were inmates of the Wellington union-
workhouse. On the 18th of April Burston asked the prisoner
to give him up a steel which belonged to him, but he refused
to give it up. Burston then took the prisoner by the collar,
and gave him a good shake. The prisoner then drew a
knife from his pocket; another man, who was standing by,
had a stick, which Burston took from him, and gave the
prisoner a couple of cracks below the knee. Burston went
indoors, but returned again, and met the prisoner at the door
still holding the knife. Burston begged him to put it up,
but he said he would not, as he would try to do for him ;
and then he commenced an attack upon him with the knife,
and inflicted several wounds on his arms, head, and shoulder.
The knife was a dinner knife, which all the paupers carried
with them. The prisoner was nearly 80 years of age.
The jury found the prisoner Guilty with intent to do
grievous bodily harm.

ENLARGEMENT OF SMITHFIELD MARKET.—A fur-
ther enlargement of Smithfield market is about to take place,
in consequence'of its area not being sufficiently capacious for
the accommodation of the numerous beasts. &e., brought on
a market day. For this purpose it is intended to remove
about twenty houses, which ‘7lll give an additional space of
nearly an acre of ground. The enlargement will take place
at the north side, near Charterhouse-lane.
The Marquis of Anglesey had 4U interview with Lord
John Russell yesterday.

PRICE SD.

LAUNCH OF THE HADDINGTON.
The enterprising and extensive firm of Messrs.
Thomas Vernon and Co., launched, on Saturday last,
from their new yard at the south end of the town, a
very tine iron steam=Ship, called " The Haddington,"
built for the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation
Company, being the fourth iron vessel launched from
this yard since the removal of the firm from the north
shore about two years ago.
The dimensions of this noble vessel are as follow :
Length between perpendiculars... 121 feet.
Length ON er all
Breadth of beam 35 feet.
Depth of engine-room 2l feet.
Tonnage, old measurement 1,303 18-94ths.
new measurement, about 2,000 tans.
She is to be barque-rigged, and will be propelled with
paddles ; her engines are in the direct acting principle,
of 450-horse power, by Messrs, Bnry, Curtis, and Ken-
nedy.
-

At an early hour in the morning the Haddington was
thronged with a number of the workmen, and the yard
was crowded with spectators ; a great number of ladies
were also accommodated on a stage erected immediately
in front of the bows of the vessel. At about a quarter
to eleven o'clock the last support was knocked away,
and the huge fabric rested firmly upon the ways, though
her towering height gave to her such a toppling appear-
ance that some slight fears were entertained amongst
the uninitiated lest. she should come down on her side.
The word to remove the daggers was given, and in a
moment the vessel glided smoothly and swiftly away to
her destined element, the baptismal ceremony of break-
ing a bottle of wine across her cutwater being performed
in the most graceful manner by Miss Curtis, the amm-
plished daughter of one of the firm. The Haddington
made her plunge stern foremost, in gallant style, amidst
the most enthusiastic cheers and amiable good wishes of
the persons assembled.
We are happy to say that no accident beyond the loss
of sYfishing boat occurred to mar the rejoicings on the
occasion, and this happened as follows :—the way of the
vessel was so great, and she floated so lightly on the
water, that she went out a considerable distance into the
river, and unfortunately came into contact with the boat,
in which were two men, who were unable to avoid the
collision, in consequence of having a net down at the
time. The boat, though partially swamped, was held
up by the rudder of the Haddington for a short time,
during which a rope was thrown down and laid hold of
by one of the men, who waa at once drawn up in safety.
The boat then disappeared, but happily the other man,
being a swimmer, was enabled to sustain himself until
drawn into the Haddington, through one of her port-
holes. The vessel was shortly afterwards taken in tow
by a steam tug-boat, and was soon safely moored in one
of the adjacent docks.
After the launch, upwards of three hundred ladies
and gentlemen were entertained at luncheon in the
mould-room, which was tastefully fitted up for the occa-
sion, being lined throughout with national flags and
evergreens. The repast was provided by Messrs. Fisk
and Son, and was of the most sumptuous description.
Mr. Vernon, senior. presided. The usual loyal toasts
were given and pledged with the heartiest applause, and
the healths of the various individuals connected with
the firm were also enthusiastically drunk. The com-
pany, which was composed of the elite of our merchants,
with their ladies and daughters, were entertained for a
considerable time with remarks very appropriate to the
occasion from Mr. S. Holme, Mr. Curtis, Dr. Tatter-
shall, and other gentlemen, and separated, highly de-
lighted with the morning's diversion, a little before one
o'clock.

Messrs. Vernon and Co. have now on the stocks, in a
forward state, two other iron steamers, the one being in-
tended to ply between- this port and Cork, and which, it
is expected, will turn out to be the fastest vessel yet
built, and the other is to go to Bombay.

LAUNCH OF A SPLENDID IRON
" LINE-SHIP" WITH AUXILIARY POWER.
On Tuesday afternoon, about half-past one o'clock,
there was launched from the building-yard of Messrs.
James Hodgson and Co., south end of the Brunswick
Dock, a large and beautiful iron ship " The Sarah
Sands,"—named after the lady of Thomas Sands, Esq.,
one of owners, intended to run as a regular " liner,"
between this port and New York, and with a steam-
worked screw propeller as an auxiliary to her sails. The
day was fine, and the concourse of spectators was very
great and of high respectability, including many of the
" merchant princes" of our town and their fair wives,
dau;hters, and relatives. There were various stages
and stands erected for their accommodation around the
ship, so as to afford a good view of the launch.
The ship is of very fine model, built from drawings by
our talented townsman, Mr. John Grantham, and ap-
pears as if she would turn out " a regular clipper."
Tire following are her dimensions :
Length of keel . . ISS feet.
Ditto over figure-head and taffrail 220
Beam
Depth of hold 29 6 inches.
Tonnage, old measurement ...about 1,000 tons.
Ditto, new ditto ...... 1,350 ditto.
She is clencher-built, and double-rivetted throughout,
th4a strongest system in iron ship-building, When
loaded, she will draw about 18 feet of water, and,
though of beautiful form, will carry, in addition to her
required fuel, about 1,000 tons of goods. Her after-
cabins ail comfortably accommodate 60 passengers, and
there is ample room for second and third class voyagers.
The screw will be turned by a double condensing en-
gine, of 200 horse-power, working directly upon the
shaft, on the principle patented by Mr. Grantham. The
diameter of the screw is 14 feet, and is on the principle
patented by Mr. Woodcroft, of Manchester. The en-
gines and boilers are all some feet below the load
water line, and, in place of causing top-heaviness, will
serve as ballast.
Captain W. C. Thompson, formerly of the Stephen
Whitney line, is part owner, and will command her.
Her rig will be peculiar. She will, from her great
length, have four masts, the two in the middle square-
rigged, (with yards,) and the two at the extremities
with fore-and-aft-sails. The vessel is divided into six
compartments, by five water-tight bulk-heads, giving
great safety in case of collision at sea, or of stranding.
The :ship has a fine fiddle-head, with delicately carved
donated on the trail boardi.
The launch was beautiful. The vessel, on being re-
leased by the daggers being struck down, glided beauti-
fully down the ways; but, as if impatient of her prolonged
restraint, before her whole bulk reached the water, she
kicked out the fore part of her cradle, as if she fancied
she would have rocking enough on the ocean hereafter.
She scraped the top of.the river wall with her fore foot,
but so slightly, that no damage resulted. The cheers,
on her floating offend darting towards the Cheshire side,
were loud and enthusiastic. Her name was given by
Miss Sands, the accomplished daughter of the principal
owner, and the young lady performed the ceremony in
the most spirited manner. We noticed present, on the
platform near Mr. Sands, Dr. Tattershall, Messrs. James
Tyrer, W. Jevons, Joshua Edwards, W. Drury, Kerr,
Mould, Foster, Moulds, Prestman, and many others of
our mercantile tiwnsmen, whom we could not distinguish
in the crowd.
Immediately after the launch, which took place at
about half past one o'clock, the invited company, to the
number of upwards of 400 ladies and gentleman, sat
down to a substantial and superb dejeun r in the mould-
room of Messrs. Hodgson's establishment. The apart-
ment, which is of great size, was celled and completely
lined with British and American flags—even the
windows on all sides covered by them, as with fancy
gauze curtains. There were ten tables across the room,
and one long table uniting them on the east side, at
which the Chairman, Mr. Sands, sat, with his more im-
mediate relatives and friends near him. The appearance
of this temporary banquet-room was truly splendid ;
and Mr. Lynn. of the Waterloo, who provided the ro-
la• ast did himself quite as much honour as at the dejeuner
given to Prince Albert. Ho excelled all his former
doings in this way, if we may so speak. The viands
were excellent, and the wines of the best quality, In
the confectionary line he exhibited his usual taste and
tact ; there being amongst them pyramids of sweet
things, surmounted by beautiful flags of pastry, banners
of silk, with gold fringes, emblazoned or representing
the national colours of England and America. All of
these were minute and beautiful. On several of these
little emblems were inscribed " The Sarah Sands."
After the repast, which all seemed to enjoy,
Mr. SANDS successively gave the usual loyal toasts,
which were drunk with enthusiasm. He afterwards
proposed the health of our worthy diocesan, 44 The
Bishop of Chester," which was received with equal good

•
feeling.
Dr. TATTERSHALL having been alluded to in con-
nexion with the toast, said be knew it did not apply to
one individual, but to the whole body of the clergy, and
he felt the compliment the more highly on this account.
He had reason highly to esteem the Bishop under whom
he officiated as an excellent man and a Christian. With.
out religion they could have no sound morality ; and
without morality no nation could enjoy true prosperity.
He concluded a feeling address by proposing " the
health of the lady after whom the vessel had been
named."

The CHAIRMAN called upon his eldest son to reply,
which he did in brief, appropriate, and feeling terms.
The CHAIRMAN, in a neat address, complimentary to
the brotherly feeling towards the " old country," evinced
by Brother Jonathan, proposed "The health of the Pre-
sident of the United States," which, as were the other
toasts, was received with three-times-three hearty cheers.
Mr. OGDEN replied.
A gentleman, whose name we did not ascertain, after
some remarks on the progress of steam navigation, steam
power, &c. (in which he instanced the possibility of the
Queen shortly visiting, on a pleasure trip, her brother
potentate, the Emperor of China!) proposed success to
" The Sarah Sands," and all connected with her.
Mr. SANDS returned thanks in feeling terms; and
after stating that Captain Thompson, who was to com-
mand her, was a gentleman of groat nautical experience,
and he doubted not would do justice to the ship, pro-
posed Captain Thompson's health, which was of course
drunk with repeated cheers.
Captain THO3IPSON returned thanks.
The health of Mr. Grantham, the architect of the
ship; of Messrs. Hodgson, the builders; and others,
were received with equal enthusiasm; but we have to
regret that there was a difficulty, from the crowded state
of the room, in hearing much that was said, so that we
cannot report it.

. 7-
7 '
______--------

i~
~' ~-

Warm, rf thi, r.;-1-11“1 to the
toast of " The Press," which was proposed by the
Chairman in a most complimentary manner. Ile con-
cluded by proposing " The Lancashire Witches."
In the course o the proceedings, Mr. BLAIN expressed
his opinions on steam navigation, and the progress of
commercial and nautical science, in a manner highly gra-
tifying to all present.
We understuut the firm of J. Hodgson and Co. built
the first iron ship to trade between this port and Chins,
and the East. They are also the builders of the first
iron steamer to connect Liverpool with the continent of
South America, and likewise the first iron screw steamer
that has ascended the River Plate. The Sarah Sands is
the first liner that has been built in Liverpool for a con-
siderable time, and, being of iron, we have reason to hope
that Liverpool will have in time a fair share of Ameri-
can building trade.—Liverpool Courier.