The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-10 00:00:00

TEE SUNi LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMB.pIR 10, 1846.

ment to Ireland, and several cargoes ' have been taken
during the week for that destination a t very full rates.
In bonded wheat the operations have not been particu-
larly extensive, the high pretensions • of holders having
checked business. The terms asked hay e been within ls. to
2s. per quarter of those at which similar qualities have been ,
offered free, the smallness of the sto ek under lock, and
the belief that no great addition can 1 low be made to the
same by fresh importations till next. spring, having im-
parted great confidence to holders. Several parchasers ,
from France have attended Mark-lan ,e, but they appeared j
to consider the rates demanded too 'o,igh, and few bar_
gains have, consequently, been close( L .
The concession made on Monday • by the millers has
been followed by a somewhat more active business in
flour; still the operations have not h een important, the
bakers having shown a determinati‘Z4l not to buy more
than required for immediate use.
Countrv-manuf- Ac.
tured flour has moved off steadray, at pmvious rixes,
and for American barrels V.,*te as much money l' is been
obtained.

The arrivals of Er;glish barley have tr eer, larger than
during any previcras week since harvest ; and we have,
besid=es, receiv,...,a liberal supplies freer abroad. This
grain has throughout the week been difficult of disposal,
without, however, any further reductif taking place in
its value. The conviction that our ow n barley crop has
yielded indifferently is quite as genera l as it was at the
time of harvest; still the maltaters ar ei very reluctant to
pay the existing high prices, and so cautiously have all
parties acted of late, that there has been no accumula-
tion of stocks in the hands of either maltsters, brewers,
or dealers.
The foregoing remarks are equa dy applicable to malt
as to barley, the operations in Nx
,hich have, during the
week, been on a strictly retail Fx ale, and quotations have
remained nominally unalterera.
At length we have to report a somewhat increased
supply of oats coastwise, 3,360 qrs. of English and
3,295 qrs. of. Scotch., having come to hand within these
eient days; meanwhile we are without receipts from
Ireland, and though 30,604 qrs. have arrived from the
north of Europe, considering the previously bare state of
the market, the total supply cannot be regarded as very
large. That the high value of oats has caused a de-
creased consumption is plainly proved by. the extreme
langour which has characterised the trade in this article
for some time past. The stocks in the hands of the
dealers have, nevertheless, been gradually reduced, and
are now less than is usually the case at the correspond-
ing period of the year. Under these circumstances it is
reasonable to suppose that they will ere long have to
buy somewhat more freely; and as wet are not likely to re-
receive any further receipt?. of Foreign of moment, high as
prices are, they must inevitably advance still further, unless
the receipts from Ireland should hereafter prove much
more liberal than:. anticipated. The factors are fully
aware of this, 'and have, therefore, shown no disposition
to press sales. Slow, therefore, as has been the de-
mand, the, tendency of prices has been rather upwards.
The cold weather has hitherto failed to increase the
demand for beans, and the trifling business done during
the week has been at about last Monday's currency.
Peas have been held with rather more firmness ; but
previous prices have not been exceeded either for white
boilers, grey, er maple.
Indian corn has been in brisk request for Ireland, and
no difficulty has been experienced in placing floating
cargoes at high terms. This article has become a great
favourite with the poorer classes in Ireland, and the
recent advance has brought the price on a level with
that at which fair qualities of wheat may be bought.

JAVA.

(From the Hull Packct.)
(
We F Lave been favoured, by a merchant of this port,
with a
!opy of the Singapore Free Press of the 7th ult.,
from NY hich we extract the following highly important
annum icement :

" THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF NETHERLANDS INDIA, &C.
Ma, ses known—Wishing to promote the trade and in-
dustr yof the manifold islands and possessions of Nether-
land- 4 India, by the establishment of a main central point
suit ed for trade by barter, where the different articles of
Pr' Jduce from the said islands and possessions can be
r aadily realised, and where, on the other hand, all their
wants may be supplied in sufficient quantity and variety.
Considering that the capital of Macassar, from its excel-
lent geographical position, good roadstead, and the com-
mercial spirit of its inhabitants, appears destined, in pre-
ference to any possession in Netherlands India, to become
a great central point of trade between those possessions
and the neighbouring countries ; and wishing to remove
all the obstacles precluding the full enjoyment of the
natural advantages which Macassar offers, and by which
trade and navigation are impeded and obstructed, has
thought fit to decide—
" 1. That from and after the Ist of January, 1847, the
town of Macassar shall be a free port, where goods of
every description whatsoever, and without reference to
the flag, may be freely imported and exported without
payment of duties, either on the cargo or of tonnage,
harbour, or anchorage dues on the ships, and without the
traders being subject to any formalities on the score of

import or export duties. -
" 2. That therefore the regulations bearing on the
importation, the sale, and possession of fire-arms and
gunpowder, fixed by the decree of Bth August, 1828, No.
26, for the harbour and town of Macassar, are abrogated,
and consequently the free admission and exportation of
munitions of war at the place is granted by these
presents.
" 3. That the importation and exportation of opium
at Macassar will likewise be free, and subject to no
restrictive regulations, with the understanding, however,
that the traders in opium will have to conform to the
local regulations in reference to the opium farm.
"4. That, of the Chinese junks which are discharged
at Macassar, the tax imposed by article 20 of the publi-
cation of 28th August, 1818, and the resolution of the
4th October, 1839, No. 20, will no longer be claimed,
nor that on behalf of the Chinese Hospital prescribed by
resolution of sth March, 1832, No. 1.
" 5. That, on the remaining places, situated in the go-
vernment districts of Macassar, no import or export du-
ties will be levied on goods imported or exported by
native craft from or to Macassar, whilst no square-
rigged vessels will be admitted at those ports.
" 6. That the governor of Macassar will be at liberty
to admit foreigners, and to allow them to establish them-
selves temporarily at the said place for the purposes of
trade. And that no one should pretend ignorance on
this score, the present will be published and pasted up
wherever it is customary.
" Ordain, &c., &c.
" Given at Buitenzorg, Sept. 9, 1846."
This is regarded as one of the most important steps
taken by the government of Netherlands India for many
yehrs, and with good reason ; for the decision shows
what active and energetic measures are being taken by
that government to compe+e with us in that quarter of
the globe, and to diminish our commercial operations
there. Considering the vast population of the Indian
Archipelago and the peninsula of Malaya, forming one
of the richest and most extraordinary divisions of Asia,
it is a matter of great surprise that so little public con-
sideration has been bestowed in that direction. Until
within the last few months, indeed, when the publication
of Mr. Brooks's extraordinary adventures in the island
of Borneo attracted general attention, the Indian Ar-
chipelago was seldom alluded to except as the scene of
some extraordinary act of piracy ; and our commercial
relations with that quarter of the globe were seldom
heard of.
And yet there can be no doubt that the subject is ono
of vast importance, and entitled to grave consideration.
Here is a cluster of about 12,000 islands, with a popula-
tion roughly estimated at 40,000,000, nearly all of whom
are addicted to commerce, and are desirous of obtaining,
and are in a condition to consume and pay for British
manufactures. Hlre are we in England anxious to find
markets for our cotton, woollen, and hardware manufac-

tures. How is it, then, that we do not carry on there
a far more extensive trade than now ? Nearly the whole
Archipelago is abandoned to us and the Dutch ; and to
our shame it must be said that the latter have quietly
and unenostentatiously, yet industriously and gradually
outstripped us in commercial operations in that quarter.
And their superiority is entirely attributable to ourselves.
As we have said, the natives are willing and anxious to
accept of our woollens and cottons, and hardware goods,
in exchange for their rice, coffee, palm-sugar, antimony,
camphor, gold, pearls, diamonds, gums, spices, shells,
mother of pearl, and the thousand other useful and beau-
tiful productions of these highly-favoured islands ; and
yet we have taken no pains to cultivate this extensive
market, and to avail ourselves of this predilection in our
favour.
The Dutch, it is evident, are fast arriving at a true
appreciation of the importance of the matter, and the
vigorous step which they have just taken to divert the
vast traffic carried on by the Booghiese, or Bugis, as
they aro usually called in Singapore, is calculated to in-
flict a vital blow on British commerce in that portion of
the globe, unless counteracted by similar determined and
enlightened measures on the part of our own country.
This step of the government of Netherlands India is the
more to be apprehended from its being a total departure
from the commercial policy which the Dutch have
hitherto observed in that quarter. The footing which
they obtained by treachery and violence they have per-
petuated and confirmed by a system of policy rigorously
exclusive. In the hope of enticing the Bugis to their
ports they have recently, in some instances, set aside the
rules of their exclusive commercial policy, yet it was
never thought that they could so speedily throw off the
habits of centuries, and adopt that wise and liberal policy
which has raised Singapore to such great opulence. The
establishment of Macassar as a free port shows, ho,vever,
that the prejudices in favour of commercial exclusivenes4,
have not been so firmly rooted as not speedily to give
way to a prospect of commercial advantage.
Macassar, a fortified town, favourably situated on the
south-west of the island of Celebes (the country of the
Bugis, whose periodical trading excursions to Singapore
constitute the chief wealth and commercial importance
of that free port), possessing great natural advantages,
watered by tmo rivers, one of which is so broad as to al-
low vessels to sail up within half-cannon-shot of the town
walls, must, ere long become a formidable competitor to
Singapore, unless the British Government take vigorous
counteractive measures. These measures should be the
opening of free commercial ports in various favourable
points. That such ports aro a source of gain, the exam•
ple of Singapore fully shows. By a statement of the
receipts and disbursements of that flourishing port for the
year ending April, 1846—published in the Singapore
Free Press—we find the gross receipts are 530,040
rupees ; and the disbursements 497,186 rupees, leaving a
nett excess of receipts of 32,854 rupees. By all means,
then, let our British trade have due encouragement there.
Let us have more Singapores. The Sultan of Borneo has
ceded to us recently Labuan, on the north-west coast of
Borneo. It is proposed that it should be a naval station
for this country. Let it also be a free port for our com-
merce. In all likelihood the chief houses of Singapore,
Hong-Kong, and Manilla would establish branches
there ; as also they and others would in other favour-
ably selected free ports. By the vigorous, yet judicious
pursuance of such a system, the commercial interests of
this country could not fail to be greatly benefited ; and
our goods would no longer be confined to such a limited
portion of the vast market open for their reception, as
can be supplied by the adventurous Bugis, who come
periodically in their prahus to Singapore, and having
obtained commodities as they can purchase, carry them
in their irregular manner to the very eastern extremity
of the Archipelago, where they establish a mart for their
sale. With these few remarks we dismiss the subject
for the present, trusting before long to see it taken up in
better-informed and much more influential quarters.

A new carriage conveyance company is about to be
started, called the Economic Brougham, Cabriolet, and
Carriage Company. The carriages will be of a uniform
colour, and the drivers will wear a respectable livery.
The rate of fares will be sixpence a mile.
FOREIGN CATTLE.—The Sir William Wallace
steamer has made a second voyage from Boulogne, with
a cargo of live cattle, the production of France, having
35 cows and heifers, and the very large number of 354
I .tinol)awl 242 lambs ^Wu rorlimmeuiaf€
delivery to theft'-destination, the vessel taking her de-
parture without delay for the same French port, having
been specially chartered to convey another cargo of
cattle from Boulogne to some port on the Sussex coast—
Rye, we believe—in addition to the supplies to the
metropolis, which, in the space of a fortnight, have com-
prised nearly 3,000 of the various kinds of live stock.
This great influx of cattle from France is, we believe,
attributable to the enterprise of a house in Boulogne,
whose wishes and interests are seconded and attended
to by a London agent, under whose superintendence the
management of the affair has been placed. We under-
stand that these shipments form portions of a parcel of
about 5,000 head for horned cattle, and about as many
or more sheep and young stock, which have been pur-
chased and collected inland, and brought up and herded
in the neighbourhood of Boulogne, for the purpose of
being exported to this country ; and as the speculation,
if it may be so termed, or experiment, has been found
fully to answer the expectations of the parties, the stock
will probably be speedily followed by a further supply
from the came quarter. These extensive supplies of
cattle from France, in addition to those frequently al-
luded to and enumerated in our columns, as having taken
place from the numerous other continental states already
more or less concerned in the traffic, which has not until
now been the case, render these details of especial in-
terest, and give them a character of great importance,
both in a commercial and domestic point of view. A
principal feature in these supplies is the large number of
lambs, especially at this very late period of the season.
RAILWAYS v. TURNPIKE ROADS.—SALE OF TOLLS.
—Yesterday, a meeting of the trustees of the New Cross
Turnpike Roads, consisting of Messrs. Jackson (chair-
man). Brandram, Lewen, &c., was held at the Green
Man Tavern, Blackheath, for the purpose of disposing
of the same by auction. The road extends from Peck-
ham-lane Gato to Deptford-hill and Bromley-common
Gates, and were let last year for the sum of 12,5301.
above the expense of their collection. They were offered
a few weeks ago at the same price, but, in consequence
of the competition by railways, there was no bidder.
They were now to be let from twelve o'clock at night of
the 31st of December next, for one year. The chairman
proposed to put them up at 12,000/., which was objected
to by Mr. Levy and other trustees ; when, after a con-
sultation among the trustees, they were offered for
11,0001. The biddings were between Mr. Levy and
Mr. Robinson, and they were bought by the former for
11,4704

WINTER ASSIZES.
NORTHERN ClRCUlT.—Liverpool, Dec. 8.

The trial of the prisoners under the special commis-
sion commenced here to-day. The commission was
opened yesterday evening, and to •day their Lordships,
Mr. Baron Rolfe and Mr. Justice Wightman sat at
twelve o'clock for the dispatch of business. The calen-
dar is not so heavy as usual at the winter assize. There
are 60 prisoners for trial. Of these 8 stand charged with
murder, 5 with manslaughter, 7 with stabbing, 7 with
rape, 2 with burglary, 6 with bigamy, and 6 with
forgery.

several hundreds of children had been summarily con-
victed without the world knowing anything at all about
the cases, and, of course, without any benefit either to
the prisoners or the public ensuing?
The juryman—But it would save juries a greal deal
of trouble if it were done.

The Learned JUDGE —Would the juries, then, rather
than devote a comparatively few hours and put up with
a little personal trouble occasionally, with the view to the
amelioration and improvement of the condition of these
children, wish that the old system of summary conviction
should go on, and thereby continue to cast a heavy burden
on the county at large?
Another juryman thought it was high time something
was done with regard to these young criminals. There
ought to be some alteration in the system.
The Learned JUDGE—No doubt there should; but the
alteration that was called for was in the law itself. A
law was required that should affect their cases and con-
dition, and so prevent the vast mass of increasing juve-
nile offenders. With regard to summary punishments,
he could assure the juryman who had suggested that
that method should be continued, that it had done end-
less mischief. It was only the year before that tribunal
had been established that there had been 1,600 cases
where summary convictions had taken place of children
between the ages of seven and fifteen. All of these
children had been thus sent to prison, from the police-
court, without coming before a jury. Their circum-
stances were thus unknown, the world was altogether
ignorant of their condition, or indeed of their convic•
tion, and therefore nothing could be done to improve or
ameliorate their condition. If the jury were to ask him
whether he approved of such scenes as they painfully
witnessed, as in the present instance of this mere baby,
in that Court every session, his reply was, that he did
not. But even that was very far better than the system
of summary conviction, where the child was sent to
prison, and the world knew nothing of his case, or its
causes; whilst, when he was brought before a jury,
the matter became one for close inquiry, the cir-
cumstances and the condition of the child were ascer-
tained, and the whole went out to the world ; so that
in the end, doubtless, something would be done for this
class of offenders. It was manifest that things could not
go on as they were. In the present session, as he had
occasion to tell the grand jury on the preceding day, he
had a list of 24 children, whose ages did not exceed 12,
and there was at that moment one at the bar who was
seven, and not more than three feet ten inches high. Was
it not heartrending that such a baby must be sent to a
common gaol ?
The father and mother, both in the utmost dittress,
here rushed forward, and entreated the judge to let them
take the boy home. If his Lordship would allow them
to have him home, they would take care that he should
never get into such trouble again. If he had done that
which was wrong, they were sure it must have been at
the instigation of other boys.
The Larned JUDGE—Yes, that was it, no doubt; for
it was hardly possible to conceive that so mere a baby
could of himself have arranged and committed this act.
There were two older boys with him. and they had set
him on to the commission of the act ; but that was part
of the system which was adopted. Here he had been
laid hold of by two older boys, who had made him their
tool. He was aware of the whole plan, for he had spent
hour after hoar in the prisons of the county, and had
ascertained from many of the boys the manner in
which they carried on their occupation. A little boy
was enlisted into the service of young but yet old
thieves, who, upon the promise of a penny, in some in-
stances, would become an acting party. A theft was ac-
complished, and then the article stolen, if it was not
money, was taken to certain persons who were in the
habit of giving small sums for these things in the street.
Such persons did not keep a shop, to which the boys
were to go to them. These were the receivers of stolen
property from boys, who usually spent the money so ob-
tained in the purchase of gingerbread or some such thing,
and at other times in going to the penny theatres.
The father again implored that he might take his child
home. If he were permitted to do so he and his wife
would adopt every means in their power to prevent him
from again mingling with strange boys. Indeed, they
would not lot him go out alone.
The Learned JUDGE—Then let the responsibility rest,
as in truth it ought to rest, upon the father of this child.
There he was, not more than seven years old, a mere
baby, convicted of having picked a pocket. There stood
the parents, upon whom the whole responsibility of that
child's behaviour and future happiness in life depended.
Do not let him bo told, as he had been, that there was a
state for the children, and that the children ought to be
sent to the state for correction. The parents had now
sought to be allowed to have their child. They should
have him, and on their heads rest the responsibility; but
they, with their child, must take also this warning, that
if they did not keep such care over him as should pre-
vent his being brought again to a criminal bar, and, by
their neglect, he was brought to that bar, they might
rely upon it that they would never see that child again.
The sentence of the Court was, that the boy be impri-
soned one hour, and then delivered into the care of his
father.

The parents, having thanked his Lordship, quitted
the Court with countenances that betokened the removal
of an overwhelming load from their minds.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MANSION-HOUSE.

ROBERIES BY SERVANTS.—Henry Morgan, a young
man, employed by Messrs. White and Co., of No. 108,
Cheapside, warehousemen, was charged with having
robbed the firm.

Mr. White, jun., having been informed by one of the
servants of the establishment that a shawl was found,
wrapped up in a piece of brown paper in the dust bin,
suspicion fell upon the prisoner, who was occupied in
the shawl department of the warehouse, and who was
placed in the custody of Furnell, City policeman, No.
32, after a short investigation. The prisoner, on his
way to the station-house, confessed to the officer that he
had secreted the shawl, and said that as it was his first
offence, and it was caused by the illness of his wife. and
his great poverty, he hoped Mr. White would forgive
him. The officer found in the prisoner's pocket 21. Bs.,
and in his lodgings a piece of satinet worth 31. 10., which
had been missing since last May, from Mr. White's
warehouse.

The prisoner made no defence, and was committed for
trial.

Thomas Johnson, porter to Messrs. Chaplin and Horne,
carriers, of Hamboro'-wharf, in Thames-street, was
brought up for re-examination, on the charge of having
stolen a truss of silk, value 1251., which, with other pro-
perty, he was intrusted to deliver. The justice-room
was crowded during the investigation, a statement having
been made that three thieves had received the truss from
the prisoner in Charterhouse-square, and driven off with
it at full speed in a cart.
Mr. Riches, clerk to Messrs. Chaplin and Horne, in
answer to a question from the prisoner's solicitor, stated
that the house had received a very good character of the
prisoner from Messrs. Pickford and Co., and never before
had had cause to suspect his integrity.
John Fry, a lad in the employment of Messrs. Chap-
lin and Horne, stated that it was his duty to attend the
waggon, to watch the goods taken out to be delivered
to the various consignees. On the 24th of November he
attended the waggon to several places with the prisoner,
who kept the book. He saw the truss safe in Bishops-
gatc•street, but after they left that street he never saw
it. They then went to Ratcliffe Highway, and from
thence to Charter-house-square, where they were to
deliver some property. Upon going into the square the
prisoner ,said he had forgotten the book at the last
glace they visited, and he sent the witness for it. The
delay was considerable, and when witness returned they
went to Bunhill-row, where the prisoner told him to put
out the truss, but the truss was nowhere to be found,
and the prisoner said it must be lost or dropped off.
The LORD MAYOR desired to be informed whcther
anything had been said to the prisoner about the value
of the truss.

Mr. Riches—No; but the mark " Silk " was on the
delivery ticket, and he, of course, must have known that
it was of considerable value.
In his cross-examination the witness said he had
never left the prisoner except when he went back to the
place in which the book had been left, which was
at a chemist's shop where they had delivered some
hampers.
Inspector Woodruffe said it was evident the book had
been left at the chemist's shop in order to give an ex-
cv 5(3 I, the prisoner for sending away the boy from
uharterhouqe-square, as the prisoner must have heard a
person from that shop call out to him to return him
his book.
The pi.l4vuer was ordered to bc otougub up for final
examination on Friday, when he will be committed.

SINGULAR HALLUCINATION.—A respectable-look-
ing man, past the middle age, was placed at the bar of
the Court-house, on Saturday last, charged by Edward
Smith, with having committed an assault upon him.
The defendant, whose name is William Horne, and his
residence at Holbeck, appears, by the statement of Mr.
Naylor, solicitor, and the complainant, to have imbibed
the extraordinary notion that a lady residing near him
has defrauded him out of considerable property ; and he
takes every opportunity of annoying her, by shouting
after and assaulting her servants and work-people, and
other species of annoyance. Early last week the com-
plainant was employed to repair some railings for the
lady in question, when defendant rushed from the house,
armed with a poker, claimed the rails as his property,
and dared the complainant to repair them, and by way
of enforcing his commands, he " helped" Smith to a
" crack" with the weapon. Mr. Horne, in defence, still
persisted that the property had belonged to himself, and
unjustly taken from him, and for the truth of his aver-
ment appealed to a gentleman in court, who protested
that it was an idle chimera. The consequence was, that
Mr. Horne was bound over, in his own recognisance of
y charge
20/., and two sureties in 10/. each, to answer an
preferred against him at the sessions. But the matter
home,
when not end here; Mr. Horne had scarcely reached ho
when he renewed his attack upon poor Smith, who ims,
especially fallen under his displeasure ; and on Monday
morning he again made his bow to the bench, this time
in the character of a prisoner. Mr. Sanderson, solici-
tor, defended him, and the bench bound him over in
two sureies of 25/., and himself in 501, to keep the
peace.—Leeds Times.

A CONTRACTOR'S ENTERPRISE.—MX. J. Gordon,
contractor for the extensive drainage at Poyntzfield, near
Invergordon, has purchased a very superior set of
vehicles, with horses, for more efficiently performing the
task. Four draught horses were selected by Mr. Davie,
of the Royal Hotel, Elgin, and have since been fitted
with very superior harness by Mr. M'Bean, saddler. In-
deed, the whole turn-out is highly creditable to the en-
terprise and perseverance of Mr. Gordon, who employs
upwards of 100 workmen in Ross-shire. The horses and
carts left Elgin yesterday for Poyntzfield, and were very
much admired fur their uniform appearance —lnverness
Journal.

The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England h Id a
general meeting yesterday at their office, is Whitehall-
place.

GREAT RIOT IN CUPAR.

A riot, accompanied with assault on a magistrate, was
raised on the evening of Tuesday last. Mr. Crichton
had on that evening assembled a meeting about what he
is pleased to call county reform. The meeting, during
the greater part of the evening, was miserably small.
He congratulated the whole of Fife that they yet pos-
sessed him—that they had yet one magistrate and one
gentleman who looked after the public interest. Hitherto
there had been nothing worse than words, but now Mr.
Crichton, galled by the .thinness of the meeting, pro-
ceeded to handle the delinquencies of the Herald. He,
therefore, proceeded to called the editor of that paper
an infamous liar, a low drudge, a dirty tool, a filthy
calumniator, &c., &c., till Mr. Brown, of the Herald,
who was standing in the end of the hall, said he would
go up to the fellow, and stepped forward. As be was
doing so, some of the ruffians in the meeting endeavoured
to hold him, while others were calling out, " Put him
out," " Knock him down." On this Bailie Tullis, along
with the quiet portion of the meeting, passed in behind
Mr. Brown, who got sale up to the platform. The
pressure was now so great that some of the stage
scenery was overturned ; and Mr. Crichton himself
knocked over, and dashed to atoms, the decanter out of
which he drank his water. When Mr. Brown, in the
heat of the fray, ventured to take a little out of the
tumbler, Mr. Crichton turned fiercely upon him, called
him " a dirty dog," and ordered him to " let alone my
things." Mr. Crichton now began to call Mr. Brown
and Bailie Tullis " dirty dog, filthy blackguard, low
scoundrel, infamous liar, dirty drudge, low blackguard,
Aberdonian, mean hound, too bad for kicking, too dirty
to be touched with a tongs," &c., &c. ; grinding his
teeth all the time, and beating Bailie Tullis on the head
with- a copy of his own Fife Herald. The row now got
pretty hot, on which Bailie Tullis, as a magistrate, re-
quested the town-officers to take Mr. Crichton into cus-
tody. This they refused to do, and Bailie Tullis took
witnesses. The riot now got better and better, but Mr.
Crichton was the first and only man that drew blood,
which he did from the Bailie's countenance. After Mr.
Brown had concluded, Mr. Crichton commenced again,
and showered another fresh storm on Mr. Brown, Bailie
Tullis, and Mr. Tullis's shopman, who created a good
deal of amusement by popping up his head above the
screen behind Mr. Crichton, and quietly warning him to
take care what he said about him, as he would perhaps
not be inclined to let him off. He concluded by making
a challenge to all the three, to come forward and reply
to what he said. This challenge was readily accepted
by Mr. Brown. In the end the deputy-lieutenant and
magistrate was led off by the town-officers. At the
door he gave directions to them where to carry the col-
lection ; on which a gentleman, who had annoyed him
considerably during the evening, remarked that this
would not be a burdensome task. The rent collected at
the door on this occasion, we are told, was 3s. 6d. ; but
deduct for bioken decanter (exclusive of its contents),
say 9d.-2s. 9d. And thus ended the proceedings.—
Fife Journal