The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-18 00:00:00

ITALY.

The Kolner Zeitung states from Vienna that
Prince Schwarzenberg has desired the Sardinian
Government to receive an Austrian garrison into a
Piedinontese fortress. This news is corroborated by
the Turin correspondence of the same paper. To this
must be added the news from Bologna of the extraor-
dinary movements in the Austrian garrisons on either
side of the river Po. Two regiments of the garrison
of Bologna have been ordered to advance on the road
to Rome. From Trieste large detachments of troops
have sailed for Ancona, whence it is presumed they
will also march upon Rome.
The Piedmontese Gazette of the 13th quotes letters
from Verona, :announcing the arrest of several persons
of note, including the richest banker of that town.
It is believed these arrests are owing to coupons of
the Alizzini loan having been found in the possession
of the prisoner:.
In its sitting on the 12th, the Senate of Turin dis-
cussed the Bill on the judicial police, and passed it
unanimously. It then continued the discussion of the
Bill relating to the conscription. The Chamber of
Deputies continued the debate on the budget.
The military commandant of Leghorn has issued
a notification, dated the Bth, announcing the con-
detnnatton of nine persons to various terms of impri-
sonment, not exeeding a year, for having, out of mere
political hatred, burnt the clothes of several persons
with sulphuric acid, while they were listening to the
music of an Austrian band on the public square.

SPORTING NOTES.
No. CLXII.
WESTBURY STEEPLECHASE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sut,—With the solitary exception of Westbury (Bree-
wood counting as nothing), the Wolverhampton Annual
Steeplechases, &c., of last week closed the field sports
of the Turf season. The authorities at the latter place,
by some good luck, attracted this year capital fields to
the post for each of the stakes, but in consequence of
the irregular proceedings of several of the owners of the
competing animals for the principal Steeplechase hav-
ing made up their minds to run their nags to suit their
own purposes (which in this instance was anything
but winning—Vainhopet for instance, having taken only
one turn of the Course, and yet, by an oversight
of the judge, was placed third), the race altogether
was anything but a satisfactory affair. Vain-
hope never made a single effort to gain the
laurels of victory, that evidently not being his owner'
game on this occasion, the money to a considerable
amount being on Hardwick the winner. My selection,
Lucy Neal, had she not been so unlucky as to fall a
burster at the close of the race, in my opinion would
have " done the deed," or, at the least, been in close
proximity to the winner. The public will do well to keep
her in view throughout the season, as with a light weight,
that must now of necessity be planed upon her back, the
chances are considerable that she carries off one at least
of the principal steeplechases before the Ides of March.
The Young- un, as usual, blundering about, was nowhere.
Peter Simple, I fancy, was not meant; and as to the rest
they were of but little account in or out of the race, as
was evidenced by M'lon obtaining the second position
to the Cardinal's son.

The present week sports only one steeplechase of any
note, and on that I now intend to give the public the
benefit of such information as I possess concerning it. It
is the Westbury Free Handicap Steeplechase of 10 soya.
each, h ft, with *0 added; it closed with 20 nominations,
of whom one more than a moiety have cried " content"
with the handicapper's handiwork. Thurgarton heads
the list with eleven and a half stone on his back; Baptist
also figures at the same weight; of course Thurgarto
will have the best of the journey so far as the other
is concerned, but I cannot altogether fancy, from his
past performances, that he is capable of giving away the
weight successfully to several of his opponents in the
field, which he has to do; he will, however, be close up,
probably third or fourth. The sporting owner of the
General I believe has made up his mind to land the stake
for himself on this occasion if possible. I consider his
chance is first-rate, and had his nag been weighted
a few pounds less, the race would have been as near a
certainty as certainties can be in steeplechasing. The
Forest Lad is reported of very favourably; he is said to
he doing good rough work, and, bar accidents, will be
near the mark, as his weight (10et 121 b) is not too
heavy for such company as he will travel in. His past
performances have not been altogether the most brilliant
on record, but yet in some first-class company he has
once or twice disported himself respectably. Hinton,
upon the strength of his running so close a second to
Proceed a short time since, at lOst 31b, is a very awkward
looking customer, and no doubt will prove a very dan-
gerous opponent to everything in the race; whether he
is quite good enough to accomplish the task of winning
or note I cannot at the present moment, on
the strength only of the above-named spurt, and
a very diminutive amount of private informa-
tion, determine, notwithstanding I have every reason
to believe, from what has come to my ears in the
last three or four hours from irregular sources, that ho
is good enough to be one cf the placed. Fifteen-pounds-
no-object, together with Everton. Flirt, and Kate
Kearney, all at ten stone, form a quartette decidedly
inferior to those I have already commented on, possess-
ing, in my humble judgment, no chance whatever of
winning—Kate probably the best of the lot. Roebuck
(late Bobby), left in at the steeplechasing feather of nine)
stone, is as likely to pass the judge first tae the an-
nouncement of the settlement of any portion of the
Spanish debt is to take place. Last of all—though by
no means considered as the least in many persons'
imaginations—Mr. Vever's Venice, ten stone, was is
great demand at the list houses at short odds until
this morning ; he is reported to be as good
as Vengeance, and, according to the accounts
fhating about the metropolis, is destined to do
wonders, but when or where I calculate will defy any
body to say. Looking over the list, then, I fancy that
Tom Oliver on Thurgarton, Land on the General, the
Forest Lad, Hinton, and Venice, will form the moiety
of the acceptances that the race will lie among; and
that the first that will go to the wall will be " Beautiful
Venice," followed next by Thurgarton, and Forest Lad,
THE GENERAL, and HINTON being left to fill the first
and second places.
The latest betting concerning this Steeplechase (up
to one o'clock) is as follows:-7 to 2 agst the General,
4,5, and 6 to 1 having been taken freely last night and
this morning, in all probability including the stable
money; 9 to 2 agst Thurgarton, 5 to 1 taken; 5 to 1
agst Hinton, taken; 6 to 1 each agat Forest Lad and
Venice; 10 to 1 agat Baptist.
In answer to numerous correspondents, I have to in-
form them that the Derby article will appear next week,
being the earliest period that I shall find myself in pos-
session of the necessary materials for its manufacture.
I am, Sir, yours, &c.,
THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF.

Dec. 17, 1851.

THE IKON TRADE.

---
This great staple trade of our district has retained
an unchanged aspect of dulness and depression. If
any alteration can be noticed, it has been a further
tendency to decline rather than to improvement; and
the trifling transactions of the last fortnight appear, in
several instances, to have been concluded upon some-
what lower terms. It would be difficult, however, to
define any actual limit of variation in the prices of iron
either at the present moment cr during the last six
months; but while the first makes are commanding
something near the nominal figures, it is not going too
far to say that others are now to be had at 15s. per ton
lower. Among the purchasers of pig•iron a strong dis-
inclination is shown to forestall the requirements of the
approaching quarter; while holders of materials are
everywhere endeavouring to press forward their sales.
From the Scotch market accounts are gloomy, re •
porting 3d. per ton decline. The unusually short
supply of water in the various canals is also inflicting e
serious injury, increasing the expense of transit both
upon iron itself and the materials for its manufacture.
Notwithstanding these adverse symptoms, it is gene-
rally7re e agaotissfoac far
satisfactory expected that there will be no declaration of red
duction at the approaching quarterly meeting, but that
existing prices will be maintained at Christmas
,• and
8
yasptoosietniotneretaarinly in hopeathes
porfiangcr
Among
gnga
m
other reasons for such an opinion, it is statEd that the
first-rate works are tolerably well supplied with
oT•
that no accumulation of
orders, and maintain theirstkocks, .either in wrought or
abtdte m
quotations with firmness ;
un wrought iron, has t,,
placeth during the last
twelve months of depression;
that
It is rather the impossibility' of theobtaining principal evil
remunera-
tion than an abs ;lute scarcity of and ; and that
while it is impossible that the home consumption the
should suffer further, commencement of the 1

spring trade will bring an additional accession to the
continually increasing amount of export demand
sufficient to warrant higher pretensions. It is also
naturally expected that the iron trade will participate
in the beneficial effects resulting from an abundant
and growing supply of the precious metals, which
will not only insure low rates of discount at home,
but will have a tendency to enhance the value of
articles of commeice, both here and among all our
foreign connexions. Of the correctness of such views
those who are interested must, however, form their
own judgment—Birmingham Gazette.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT:
OLD COURT.
THE TRIAL OF ISAAC BOYD.
(Continued from The Sun of yesterday.)

Some witnesses were examined to show that, du-
ring the period between January and June, 1851,
the defendant had obtained a large quantity of silk
from the other firms, the whole of which had been
pledged.
Mr. Josiah Robinson was next called as a witness.
He deposed that he carried on the business of a silk
merchant in partnership with a gentleman named
Drakeford. He knew the defendant, and had sold
him goods in his trade, and they bad had many trans-
actions together. He believed the defendant was in
their debt at the present time, but they bad not
proved under the bankruptcy. The last time their
firm sold anything to the defendant was in January
of the present year, and after that period, from what
they heard of him, they should have declined to give
him credit if he had applied for it. Between the
months of January and June, 1851, the defendant
deposited silk with them, for which they ad-
vanced 2,8001. On the 17th April he gave the
defendant 5001. as an advance. On the same day
he deposited three parcels of silk with them. This
silk was all in the state in which manufacturers
of the article obtained it from the merchant. The
money was advanced upon the general account of the
silk that had been depesited with them for sale. On the
20th April they received two hundred weight of silk
from the defendant, and advanced him 2001. On the
17th May a further sum of HU was paid to him, and
he deposited another parcel of silk. On the 11th
June the defendant deposited two other paresis of silk
weighing 266 pounds, and he was paid 2401. Wit-
ness remembered
,purchasing a quantity of silk from
Mr. Attenborough. The defendant came to them,
and represented that he knew a person who had a
quantity of silk for sale, and that he should be paid a
commission for selling it. The defendant produced a
sample of the silk, and after some negotiation they
agreed to purchase it. A person named Pawley acted
as the agent of Mr. Atten borough, and received the
money for the goods. Witness could not say posi-
tively when this occurred, but it was certainly
before the bankruptcy of the defendant in June.
Witness could not say whether it was in April,
May, or June, as he had not got his books, and
he would have produced his books if he had been
required to do so. He could, therefore, only give
en opinion as to the time. It was certainly more
than six weeks before the bankruptcy whsn the
transaction with Mr. Pawley and the defendant
took place. He could not say the exact amount that
was paid, because he' had not got his books ; but he
believed it was from 2,0001. to 2,500/. (A book was
here handed to the witness.) lie saw by the book
he had just examined that the transaction took place
on the 27th of May. The quantity of silk he pur-
chased from Mr. Attenborough appeared to be 2,259
lbs., but no price was mentioned. The whole of this
silk, as well as all that he received from the bank-
rupt, had been sold, and no portion of it had gone
back to the bankrupt.
By Mr. CLAIMON-Thir firm was in the habit of
advancing money in this manner upon unmanufac-
tured silk.

By the COI/ET—lt was their custom to receive the
silk, and sell it on commission, advancing money
upon it in the first instance. The whole value of the
silk was accounted for to the defendant. _

John Fawley deposed that he was in the service of
Mr. Attenborough, a pawnbroker. The defendant
had been in the habit of depositing silk with them for
some time, and advances of money were made upon
it, for which, by agreement, 15 per cent. per annum
interest was cbargEd. The silk that was sold to Mr.
Robinson belonged to the defendant, and was sold by
his order, and he acted as his own broker in the mat-
ter. The amount for which the silk was sold was
2,1681. 43. 91. The sum of 1,7181. had been ad-
vanced upon it to the defendant, and there was 901.
due for interest. The balance was handed to the de-
fendant. _ _

e
This was the case for the prosecution.
Mr. CLARKSON then addressed the jury for the
defendant. He said that although he was aware,
from the prejudice that must naturally be excited in
the minds of the jury by a case of this description,
that he should have a very difficult task to perform,
yet he trusted he should be able to satisfy them that
the defendant ought not, in law, to be convicted of
this offence. In a moral point of view, he should
not insult them by attempting for a moment to deny
that the defendant had conducted himself in his
trading transactions in a most reckless and improper
manner, and for that conduct he would be justly ame-
nable to punishment in the Court of Bankruptcy ; but
the question the jury now had to decide was, whether
he had been guilty of a misdemeanour under this
statute; and whether the evidence would justify them
in saying that he was guilty of thit offence. The
Learned Counsel then called the attention of the jury
to the terms of the statute, and contended that there
was no evidence of the defendant having obtained the
property from Messrs. Fordasti by the false pretence
required to support such an indictment; and that,
and colourably carrying on his trade,
on the contrary, instead of there being any proof that
article was required for a particular
thheewevasidfeanlcseelyshowed that he really was so engaged,
Clarkson observed upon the facility that
exist in the metropolis for the disposal of
at the same time, that he feared, in
appeared
pan
pdr
ep thataers
eed.
mt
o ther .
property and turnii?g it into money at a ruinous sacri-
fice
pressure, such proceedings were
compelled to pawn goods shortly after
frequently resorted to, and that it would be a
obtained possession of them for the purpose
to punish criminally those persons
gthfii
racmeet
aets
too ro efhfmaciadmr
ski:
to meet a particular case, and said
ofwhoth es
ha d mighte hbt a
supplyingie.
their temporary necessities. The
Learned Counsel concluded by entreating the jury not
were not satisfied that the specific
charge had been legally established, it was their duty
tthoasttraifin
tthheeslaw
might think of the proceedings of the defendant
to declare that opinion by their verdict, whatever
they
in a moral point of view. ,

Baron DERSON summed up. He said that the
Court were clearly of opinion that the count in the
indictment referring to the case of Messrs, Allepson
could not ba supported, and than jury would therefore
only have to i
ed with obtaining the property of
consider the other, on which the defend-
antmessrs. Fordasti. His Lordship called the attention
of
the A
jury to the terms of the statute, and said that
was charged
ed the defendant had no intention of using
if they could be of ()Pinion that at the time the goods
purposes of his trade, but that he in-
tended to pawn them, in that case they would be jus-
tifiedin ending him guilty upon this indictment.
He must, say, however, that the evidence to support
view
of the case appeared to him to be rather
slender,rut the jury were the judges upon the ques-
tionsac such
t af
i fact,
the subject.
, upon and it was for them to form their own
conci)tsfimt
The fury retired, and were absent about an hour,
when tai©y returned into court and gave a verdict of
Against the defendant.
ALDERSON, it, passing sentence, told the de-
fendant GuiGui Guilty
Baron
that he had been convicted by the jury, after
full deliberation, of the offence of obtaining the goods
of Messrs. Fordasti by false pretences. Although
some doubts might exist whether he committed the
specific offence alleged against him under the statute,
there could be none on the mind of the Court, or any
one else, that he had been trading in a very reckless
and fraudulent manner, and that he had become
bankrupt after defrauding his creditors to a very large
amount. The jury having returned a verdict of
guilty, the Court had now to pass sentence upon the
whole case. The offence was a very aggravated one
in a commercial community, and the sentence must
therefore necessarily be a severe one. He then or-
dered the defendant to be kept to hard labour for one
year.

THIRD COURT,
(Before Mr. RUSSELL GURNEY.)
Robert Matthews, 24, labourer, was indicted for
cutting and wounding
liarriet Donnow, with intent
to murder her.

Mr. Thompson prosecuted, and Mr. Giffard de-
fended.

It appeared that the prosecutrix had for two years
cohabited with the prisoner, who is an itinerent coke
vendor, and in the early part of last month they had
some quarrels, and she then expressed her determina-
tion to leave I and it would appear that on the 13th
of November she did so. The prisoner, on that day,
was at Greenwich selling his coke, and upon coming
home and finding her gone he became enraged, and
finally traced her to Duke of York public-house. He
went into the tap-room where she was, and said to
her " I want to speak to you," and putting his arm
round her risck, drew from his jacket pccket a large
table knife and drew it across her throat, inflicting a
wound three inches long and one deep, from which
the blood flowed most. rapidly. She was immediately
taken to the London Hospital, where the wound was
sown up, and for some time her life was despaired of.
The prisoner had stated that he was determined not
to let any one else have her.
The jury acquitted the prisoner on the count
charging the intent to murder, finding him guilty of
wounding with intent to do bodily harm.
lie was transported for ten years.