The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-02 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER Q, 1846.

Pato, an the Congo tribes ... ... 2,000 „
Mapassa, and part of the Tarabu tribes 2,000 „

Total ... ... 40,000
If we allow fur all who may remain neutral of this
ho. t, 2,000 men, it is mil, we apprehend, as far as we
go, thus leaving 33,000 infuriated savoges to be re-
zisted, driven back, and, if possible, subjugated by the
power of the colony. It should also be borne in mind,
that the principal Tar:ahu, or Tambookie Umte-
rare, is at prcsent doubtful, but should he join in the
league he will throw an additional 12,000 men into the
scalc aganst it. To raeet this large force we have, ac-
cording to the estimates made, say 20,000 men, includ-
ing 4,000 disciplined troops of all arms. But then we
have other resources. We have several ships of war
upon our coast, and reinforcements of military may be
speedily expected. We have a right, too, to expect the co-
operation of Faku, the Fetcani or Amaponda chief, and
who, if he take the field, will at least furnish full employ-
ment for Creli, and thus diminishing by 10,000 warriors
the estimated force opposed to the colony. Besides this, it
must be borne in mind that all the warriors in Kafir-
hind cannot possibly engage, any more than all the men
among us, in the active duties of the field. The wealth
of tt.e Kafir is cattle, and these must be tended, an em-
ployment in which the women and children are never
permitted to engage. Subtracting, therefore, all so em-
ployed, it is probable that the total amount of the Kafir
force which may actually take the field will amount to
30.000 men. And when we reflect that these are all
practised to the use of arms from their childhood—that
their mode of conducting warfare is extremely harassing
to disciplined troops ; when we estimate their boldness,
and the tact displayed in all their enterprises, and then
add to all this the difficulties of the country, the result
may well make our Government proceed with the most
watchful circumspection, as well as awaken a full deter-
mination to carry forward whatever measures may be
resolved on with that determined courage and persever-
ance, without which the colony cannot reasonably hope
ultimately for decided suce,:ss.—South African Commer-
cial Advertiser.

(Postcript to the South African Commercial Advertiser.)
" Cape Town, June 8, 1846.
"By the frontier post which arrived this morning in-
telligence has been received to Tuesday, 2d June.
" Colonel Somerset had successfully effected the pas-
sage of Commatys Drift, with his convoy of eighty-two
waggons, intended, it is supposed, to relieve and rein-
force Fort Peddie, and for other services. This is de-
cided su,cess, the Kafirs having gained nothing, and
being fairly repulsed in a country highly favourable to
their mode of action. Colonel Somerset had reached
and halted at Breakfast Vlei on the night of the 31st.
This is about half way from the Drift to Fort Peddle,
which he would reach by another day's march, by a
road running through Stock's (late Eno's) country to
the Fingo Settlement, on the border of which it stands.
" Colonel Somerset's force is estimated at 1,500.
This, with some troops, &c., that were expected to join
him, and the force at Fort Peddle, will enable him to
clear that part of the country, and cover Lower Albany.
The Kafirs will, therefore, probably direct their maraud-
ing parties against the upper part of the line, or the
Somerset district.
" Sir Andreas Stoetenstrom had just arrived at head-
quarters."

" We have received the following, which may be re-
lied on as a correct account of the late attack on Colonel
Somerset's division, in Fish River Bush :
" Colonel Somerset moved from Committee's Drift
with the force under his command, at daylight on the
31st, and by ten o'clock had all the waggons across the
Fish River, and formed in order about half a mile beyond.
The waggons were divided into several divisions, with
companies of troops between, and strong flanking parties
thrown out. About four miles from the river, at a steep
ascent, the advance guard was sharply attacked, and the
fire returned by Cape Mounted Rifles under Captain
Napier. The whole continued to advance under a con-
tinual fire for nearly two miles, the guns being well up
to the front, and opportunity being found occasionally
of using them with effect. The ammunition waggons
which were in front were got through the pass, and
halted on the opposite height, with a gun in position, by
two o'clock. The rest of the waggons followed, and by
five P.M. the whole train, 82 in number, was safely
formed into a camp on the height.
" During the advance the cavalry were dismounted,
and with the infantry returned the enemy's fire well and
effectually. Several of the oxen in the waggons were
shot, but by active exertions were quickly replaced from
other waggons.
" The loss of the troops was three killed and six
wounded. The latter are believed to be doing well. Six
horses were shot, among which were three of Major
Gibson's and Lieut. Stokes'.
" The enemy did not attempt to molest the camp
during the night."—Frontier Times, June 2.
"By a private letter from Somerset, we learn that a
waggon has been stopped there loaded with gunpowder,
which the person in charge was attempting to smuggle
into ICafirland, by giving out that the casks in which it
was contained were filled with brandy and tar. The
patrol, who appear to have been desirous of tasting some,
upon being refused their request, were determined to
take the brandy by force, and one of the party, there-
fore, drove his bayonet into a cask, when immediately
the gunpowder rushed forth. We have not heard the
name of the party whe has thus been found guilty of the
blackest treason against his country andagainst the pub-
lic safety. He belongs to Graham's Town, as our in-
formant states, who, however, refuses to say who he is,
as if he would not even utter the name of the base and
unprincipled wretch who could engage in such a nefa-
rious traffic. The authorities will not fail to make an
example of this party. His crime •is of the blackest die."
—South African Commercial Advertiser.

THE CONVICT JOHN SMITH.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—The case of the convict John Smith is one in
which every one, even an advocate for capital punish-
ments, may interest himself, because there were ex-
tenuating.circumstances in his case which induced the
jury to recommend him to mercy. Why, as is the case
in France, is that recommendation not considered deci-
sive ? Sentence of death is never passed there after the
jury have pronoiinced that there were extenuating cir
cumstances in the case. How is it that we who
boast of that palladium of British liberty, trial by
jury, allow a judge to unite in his own person
the judicial and executive powers, for it comes to that
if the solemn and ever-to-be-respected recommendation
of twelve English jurymen is to be overruled by the
opinion of one man. Now, how has Baron Platt's mind
been influenced in this case against Smith? It is said
he was leaning to the side of mercy until the use of the
knife was urged as a reason for hanging Smith. No
doubt that cowardly weapon has been too much used of
late, and ought to be put down by the most stringent
measures, but I deny that Smith comes under that accu-
sation, even although he did kill Sarah Tolleday with a
knife, because the knife is almost the symbol of his
occupation. He carried it about his person for
necessary use—for professional purposes. He did
not go in search of it. He used it in the
heat of passion, finding it at his side or in his
hand. He did not think or pause to meditate the rash
act; it was the result of a sudden outburst of wrath,
which the constant provocation and annoyance to which
he was subjected naturally excited. Besides,t et us
take into consideration Smith's occupation. He, as a
cook, was necessarily exposed to a scorching fire, con-
fined in a steaming atmosphere, and no doubt anxious
about and harassed with his duties. I may say confi-
dently, as a medical man, that the occupation of a cook
must produce a greater amount of cerebral irritability
than almost any other trade; indeed, it is notorious
that cooks are extremely irascible ; their occupa-
tion is the cause. Combine, then, the provocation
with constitutional irritability, and the furious passion
is easily accounted for, and ought to be considered as an
extenuating circumstance, especially when it is remem-
bered that the knife was Smith's legitimate weapon, and
was neither sought for, snatched up, nor unclasped with
premeditation.
Lord Tenterden sentenced a gentleman to be hung for
shooting a fisherman on the banks of the Thames, be-
cause he went home for a gun and came back and shot
the poor man. His Lordship said that act was the main
thing which constituted the murder, for it proved malice
right with p ,:memethdiattatico
ans. e If,is therefore,arun
rl
l tLiosr LordrTenterdenoug
iu
thlas.
for he ought, according to that interpretationur
a the
.law, to have recommended the '
to bring in a verdict of manslaughter, because Sjea
seized a weapon which he was compelled to carry about
his person, and without premeditation or malice, but after
sufficient provocation, committed the rash deed; therefore,
I maintain that he is only guilty of manslaughter; and,
in my humble opinion, if he should be hung a legal
murder will have been committed to all intents and
purposes.
I think, Sir, in conclusion, that the solemn recommen-
dation of a British jury should, at all times, affect a
sentence. Their powers want extension. If the
chances of death were left in their hands none, save such
monsters as Burke, Greenacre, or Tawell, would suffer.
Justice would be administered with mercy, rather than
with vengeance. We would cease to be accused as a
people of possessing the most sanguinary code in Europe.
The demoralising and barbarous scaffold would be re-
moved with horror and disgust, and that dark and foul
feudal stain, capital punishments, be for ever blotted out
of the criminal code of a powerful, civilised, and commer-
cial peorle. Sincerely trusting that public opinion may
at least save one scandalous scene, I beg leave, Sir, to
subscribe myself your obedient servant,
P. M. M`DOWALL.
6, Wellington-plaDe, Newington Butts.

A MONEY-DIGGER.—An inquisitive Yankee, seeing
a labourer digging on a retired spot, inquired what he was
digging for. " Money," was the reply. The fact was of
course duly heralded to the curious in such matters, and the
money-digger was visited by three'or four credulous fellows,
when the following dialogue ensued :—Visitors—" We are
told that you are digging for money." Labourer—" Well,
I aint digging for anything else, and if you're wise you had
better take hold also." Visitors—" Have you any luck ?"
Labourer—" First-rate luck. It pays well." No sooner
said than done, the four fellows, thanking the generous
delver for giving them an invitation to share in the golden
harvest, off coats and went to work in good earnest, throw-
ing out many loads of earth, till at length, getting very tired,
the following colloquy took place :—Visitors—" When did
you get any money last !" Labourer—" Saturday night."
Visitors—" How much ?" Labourer—" Four dollars and a
half." Visitors—" That's rather small business." Labourer
—" It's pretty well ; 6s. a day
.is. the regular price for digging
cellars all over town." The visiting loafers dropped spades
and vanished, quite put out with the man who dug money at
the rate of 6s. a day.
Last week we gave the particulars of a distressing
casualty at the powder mills, Kerry, Argyleshire, when, by
the explosion of the store, six men were instantaneously
killed, and two others received serious injuries. One of these,
we have since heard, died shortly afterwards, and the survivor
was brought to the hospital here on Tuesday, where he re-
mains in a precarious state.—Greenock Advertiser.

DERBY ELECTION.
DEEBY, TUESDAY AFTERNOON.—The Tories have
been very busy canvassing and publishing lying hand-
bills, and they seem to be tolerably confident of a ma-
jority of 150 votes. We must bcLy in mind, however,
that in trusting to the division in the ranks of the Li-
berals on the Maynooth question, they are depending on
a broken staff: Mr. Strutt has alr,ady succeeded in
smoothing away some of the rough of the opposition on
that sc,xe, mild will yet succeed to a still greater extent.
The subjoined handbill has been circulated in reply to
the one put forth as from a meeting of Prete:twit Non-
conformists:—

" As a wrong impression is abroad relative to the
character and proceedings of the meeting of Protestant
Nonconformists, held in tLe Baptist Chapel, in St.
Mary's-gate, yesterday morning, it has been thought
right that a brief explanatory statement should be pub-
lished. It has been reported, and ,zeerns to be generally
believed, that this meetit:g was comprised of several
hundreds of Nonconformists, that the proceedings were
perfectly unanimous, and that it was resolved, if possible,
to prevent the return of Mr. Strutt, in consequence of
his vote on the Maynooth question. Neither of these
assertions is correct. The meeting consisted of about
fifty persons ; and so far from the proceedings being
unanimous, a difference of opinion was loudly expressed;
the original proposition, as published, was met by an
amendment of unqualified support to Mr. Strutt, which,
after a protracted discussion, was lost by a majority of
not more than ten or a dozen votes. Several parties did
not vote either way. No authority was given by the
meeting for the publication of its proceedings.
" W. M. COOPER.

" W. H. JONES.

" Derby, Sept. 1, 1846."
Mr. Strutt has been cross-questioned by the Rev. .1.
Gawthorn (Independent) on various matters. We subjoin
the discussion, as it is of public interest :
Mr. GAWTHORN said that he quite approved of the
reasons which induced Mr. Strutt to accept the office to
which he had been appointed, and he thought the con-
stituency of the borough would be unanimous in that
respect.—(Cheers.) Mr. Strutt bad referred to a gen-
tleman, who, it was said, was to be put forward as
a candidate, chiefly on the ground of dissatisfaction
with Mr. Strutt's vote on the Maynooth endowment.
The Baronet alluded to might be a very good
man, but ha was not in Parliament when that grant
was made ; they had had no experience of him, and
could not certainly know how he would have voted cn
that question, as not only a large body of Whigs, but a
great number of Tory Churchmen also voted for the
measure.—(Hear, hear.) But while Sir Digby Mack-
worth thought it was very unjust to tax Protestants for
the support of Popery, he had no objection to tax
Catholics and Dissenters for the support of his own sect.
—(Loud cheers.) Ile wished to keep up the Irish
Church in all in its extent, and Mr. Gawthorn feared,
in its enormous abuses too.—(Hear, hear.) A man of
such °Resided justice was not entitled to our confidence
and support.—(Cheers.) But Mr. Gawthorn felt it
was a duty he owed to himself, to Mr. Strutt, and to no
small number of the electors, honestly to declare his
own entire disapproval of Mr. Strutt's vote on the May-
nooth endowment—a disapproval in which millions—he
repeated, in which millions coincided. But as that was
past, he thought we had a right to make some inquiry
respecting the future ; and he took the liberty to ask, if
it was proposed to Parliament to endow the Romish
priesthood from the public finances, would Mr. Strutt
support that unjust measure?—unjust, because it would
be taxing one man to maintain the religious opinions
and observances of another.—(Hear, hear.) Govern-
ment had no money to give to the Romish priests,
without taking it out of our pockets ; was it right,
then, that we should be taxed for such a purpose ? No
man was more sensible than he was that the Irish
Catholics are shamefully oppressed.—(Cheers.) Great
injustice is done by forcing them to support a church of
which they conscientiously disapprove, and they ought
to be relieved ; but the method proposed was opposed to
religion and equity. We ought not to attempt justice to
them by doing injustice to others. The only way to do
them justice without wrong to others, was to free them
from ail forced contributions to a church of which they
conscientiously disapprove.—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. STRUTT was extremely obliged to his friend Mr.
Gawthorn for having given him this opportunity of ex
plaining his vote on the Maynooth grant, and would be
happy to answer the question which Mr. Gawthorn had
put to him. The College of Maynooth had been es-
tablished about half a century ago by the Protestant
Parliament of Ireland a Parliament in which no
Roman Catholic could hold a seat, although an im-
mense majority of the Irish people were of that religion.
That Protestant Parliament having experienced the evil
arising from the Roman Catholic priests being edu-
cated abrcad, where they became disaffected to
the institutions of their own country, determined
to establish a college for them in Ireland. Being Protes-
tants themselves, they would, no doubt, have been glad
to render the It ish people Protestants also ; but as this
was impossible, they wished (so far as they were able)
to render their priests good subjects. The College of
Maynooth was instituted on these grounds, and has ever
since continued to receive an endowment from the public
purse, having been supported by all the successive Go-
vernments, of all political parties, which have existed
during that time. In consequence of the great increase
of population of late years, and the additional number of
priests required, the sum which had been annually voted
had become quite insufficient for the support of the col-
lege in a state of common comfort and decency, and a Bill
was proposed by Sir Robert Peel to make the necessary
increase in the endowment, and to put the college on a
better footing. It was admitted on all sides, either that
this Bill ought to pass, or that the college should be
abolished altogether, and no choice was given but be-
tween these two alternatives. Under these circum-
stances he had to consider the effect of his Tote upon
the condition of Ireland. lie could not look upon the
grant as a new and detached question. He had to de-
termine whether, considering the immense revenues pos-
sessed by the Protestant Church of Ireland (revenues, be
it observed, which had been taken away from the great
body of the people and conferred upon a small minority),
whether, considering the grants which were annually
made by Parliament for the support of Protestant Dis-
senters in Ireland, it would be just and wise to deprive
the Roman Catholics (being the great majority of the
people) of the small pittance which they had possessed
for more than half a century. He knew that those of his
friends who were attached to the voluntary system would
say that they were guilty of no injustice, inasmuch as
they are equally opposed to the endowments of the Pro •
testant Church, and that they would treat both on an
equal footing. But they must recollect that they bad at
present no power of putting an end even to the grossest
abuses existing in the Irish Church ; and if he and the
rest of the Liberal party had joined Sir Robert Inglis
and other enemies of religious liberty in defeating the
Maynooth Bill, they would afterwards have found these
men the most strenuous supporters of the endowments
of the Church.—(Cheers.) Acting on the Christian
principle of "Do as you would be done by "
i --(Loud cheers)—he would place himself in the
situation of a poor Irish Catholic, and he
I could not but feel that if he were told
that a regard for the voluntary principle required that
the small allowance made to Maynooth College should
be taken away, whilst the immense revenues of the Irish
Church and the votes to Protestant Dissenters remained
untouched, he should be treated with gross injustice.—
(Loud cheers.) Acting, therefore, on this principle, and
having a due regard to the feelings of the Irish people,
and to the maintenance of the connexion between the
two countries, he had felt it his duty to support the May-
nooth Bill.—(Hear, hear.) He came next to Mr. Gaw-
thorn's question, which he had much pleasure in answer-
ing. lie wished, however, first to state, that he had al-
ways been, as Mr. Gawhorn well knew, opposed to
pledges as to particular votes. He thought that every
candidate was bound to make the fullest explanation of
his opinions to his constituents, and if they had so low
an opinion of his character as to believe that he would
be likely to change his opinions without sufficient reason,
it was their proper course not to elect such a man.—
(Loud cheers.) Without, therefore, pledging himself
on any particular vote, he entirely agreed with Mr.
Gawthorn as to the injustice of taxing one man for the
support of another man's religion—(Cheers)—and his
opinion was, like Mr. Gawthorn's, entirely adverse to
any measure for taxing the people of England for the
endowment of the Roman Catholic priesthood of Ire-
land.--(Loud cheers.)
Mr. GAWTRoItN—If money was to be given to May-
nooth, why was it not taken from the superfluous reve-
nues of the Irish Church, as Mr. Ward proposed? The
grant of nearly 40,0001. per annum to the Presbyterians
in Ireland is not to Protestant Dissenters; the recipients
are advocates of a church establishment. They are now
begging for further grants from the public purse—will
Mr. Strutt comply with their re quest ? As to what is
in England called the Regium Donum, it is an annual
grant of about 4,0001., voted for the descendants of the
French Protestant refugees, some of the poor of St. Mar-
tin's-in-the-Fields, and Protestant Dissenting ministers.
The dissenting ministers of the Congregational order,
and the Baptists, have repeatedly protested against this
grant, and prayed that it may be discontinued. Mr.
Hume has given notice that the next time it is proposed
he will move that it be not allowed; will Mr. Strutt sup-
port that motion? No denomination has a right to re-
ceive a shilling from the national taxation. I therefore
inquire, in brief, whether Mr. Strutt will oppose all
grants from the public purse to any religious body, and
for any religious purpose whatever?
Mr. STRUTT spoke again shortly, in reply to Mr.
Gawthorn, explaining that he had himself voted for Mr.
Ward's amendment for taking the funds for the endow-
ment of Maynooth out of the surplus revenues of the
Irish Church—(" Hear, hear," from Mr. Gawthorn),—
which he thought would have been the proper course ;
and it was only on this amendment being rejected by a
large
enlaiority that he consented to this payment being
continued to be made out of the general revenue of the
country. Mr. Strutt also explained that -Presbyterians
,
actually were Dissenters in Ireland. With respect to
Mr.on cu Gawthornrredin
Al'sr. last question,
s general principle, but that
(for reasons which he had already stated) he must i?n he must repeat that be
de-
cline giving an absolute pledge which would bind him
ulider circumstances which he might not at present be
able to foresee, and would send him to a deliberative as-
sembly without the power of deliberation.
Mr. Strutt's answers gave great satisfaction, and were
loudly cheered.
The nomination will take place at nine o'clock to-
: morrow morning. The contest is expected to be a severe
one, but the result will be in Mr. Strutt's favour.
er

TEMPERANCE MEETITIG.—A public meeting, which,
grew out of the proceedings of the World's Temperance
toann,dthmeo:eteve:pi\eicri.alulyralivniethrdS,
Convention, took place last evening at Bishopsgate Chapel,
Bishopsgate-street. Its
Gob.jcec.tAwtatws
otovac,oEmsbqi.ne the benefits of
the most eminent of the American
un-
sip:4la.a)t'mong whom we observed Dr.
dtdeeeTeleaerataecniii
teaching.
rev.riet hspeervde
esurecanaltt
The Beecher,chair thewas Rev.
taken Ibry.

THE REGISTRATIONS.
CITY OF LONDON.
Yesterday the notices of claims and objections to the
list of voters were posted on the church doors, and it
would appear from them that the Registration Court of
the City of London is chosen as the grand arena for
politiecd warfare fcr the metropolitan districts. The
claims and objections are more numerous than on any
former occasion, owing, no doubt, in a great measure, to
the belief that the new Parliament will be elected from
the next registry. The partisans and agents en tither
side are busily engaged in making preparations for the
ensuing contest, and great expectations arc felt for the
result. The objections are as fellow :
LIVERY LIST.

Liberals
Conservative s

Total livery objections. 843
It must be observed, however, that several of those
are objected to by both parties for misdescription, change
of residence, &c. The objections to the householders'
list are unprecedently numerous.

lIOU-SEHOLDERS' LIST.

Liberals
Conservatives

1,515
2,800

Total householders' objections 4.315
The claims on the livery list were never before so
small, being only two Liberals and one Conservative. On
the householders' list of claims the Liberals have made
304; the Conservatives have made none whatever.
It is believed that the revision will commence on the
earliest day allowed by law, viz., the 15th of September,
in consequence of the great mass of business to be trans-
acted.