The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-25 00:00:00

THURSDAY

accomplished, I am convinced that we shall ere long
have the satisfaction of enjoying this glorious sue-
CE 53.—(Cheers.) I have only to apologise to you for
having detained you so long.—(Cries of " No, no.")
If th,t length of my discourse were to be at all com-
mensurate with the grateful feelings of my heart, you
would have to breakfast here to-morrow morning in-
stead of returning by daylight to your homes.—(The
Noble Lord then resumed his seat amidst great ap-
plause.)
Mr. ITEATEICOAT followed in a abort address, devoted
very much to local matters. He was very cordially
cheered, and attentively listened to.
The health of the Mayor and two or three other
toasts closed the proceedings.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
GUILDHALL.

John Burke, of Plurntrec-court,nolborn, was placed
at the bar, in a state of intoxication, before Alderman
Sidney, charged with a series cf the most unpro-
voked and savage assaults upon several officers of the
City police force and the relieving officer of the West
London Union.

William Chamberlain said—l am the relieving
officer of the hest London Union. I was proceeding
down Plurntree-court this morning to visit a man
who was ill and in great distress at No. 28, when
prisoner addressed some very insulting remar ks to me,
which I, however, took no notice of. On leaving No.
28 prisoner came up to me, and seizing me roughly
by the arm, kicked me on the thigh from behind ' • the
officer came to my assistance, and I received no fur-
ther injury.
Police-constable 280 said—l ran to the assistance
of the sergeant, who was endeavouring to secure the
prisoner, and received several vary severe kicks on the
knees and legs. _ _

Police•constable 291 said—l was assisting my
brother officers when the prisoner kicked me on the
thighs and the most tender and dangerous pats of my
person. _

Police-constable 288—A gentleman stopped his
carriage in Holborn to tell me that, the sergeant was
being murdered at the bottom of Holborn-hill. I
went to the spot indicated by him and found prisoner
struggling with the sergeant and two of his men.
Prisoner kicked me in the groin and on the legs, and
afterwards bit my wrist.
Police-constable 291 said—While we were endea-
vouring to secure the prisoner a woman who is living
with the prisoner as his wife kicked me and pulled
my hair.

Prisoner—How do you know we live together ;
did you ever sleep with us ? (Laughter.)
Mary M'Carthy, the woman alluded to, was here
brought into court, having been apprehended outside
the justice-room, and placed at the bar by the side of
the prisoner, and the last witness's evidence retaken
against her,

Alderman SIDNEY —What have you to say to this
charge ? Burke—The policemen have a spite against
me, and have threatened to do for me as they did for
poor Cogan.

- M`Caithy (laughing)—lt is false, Sir ; I never
touched the officer.

Mr. Alderman SIDNEY —There are four charges
against you, Burke, of a very serious nature ; and were
I to consult my own feelings only your demeanour at
that bar would impress me very much against you—
Burke—Excuse me for interrupting you ; but I
hope it won't do that, and that you will show me
some mercy.
Mr. Alderman SIDNEY—The greatest mercy the
magistrate can show you is to remove you from such
scenes of depravity and violence. The evidence
proves four distinct assaults of the most aggravated
description, and it will be my duty to deal with each
of them separately. I therefore fine you 205., or in
default one month's imprisonment, for the assault
upon the relieving officer, and one month's imprison-
ment for each of the assaults upon the three constables
—so that, if you do not pay the fine, you will have
four months' imprisonment. You are, however, such
a violent character that I do not think I should be
properly fulfilling my duty did I not protect these
men by every means in my power. I shall therefore
require you, at the end of the four months, to find
two substantial bail in 201. each to keep the peace for
six months. Mary M'Carthy, there is only one of-
fence proved against you, for which I shall sentence
you to one month's imprisonment, and require you
to give two sureties in the sum of 101. each to keep
the peace and be of good behaviour for three months.
In default of the required securities you will both be
imprisoned for the time specified.
Burke, as he was leaving the bar, said—You might
j ust as well have ordered me to find two sureties in six-
pence each and myself in a shilling, for I could not have
obtained them.

It was found necessary to handcuff Burke's arms be-
hind him, and then he refused to walk a step towards
the prison, and a stretcher was accordingly obtained,
upon which he was strapped, and so carried to the House
of Correction.

E VENING, SEPTEMBER 25, 1851.

GERMANY.
The Journal du Francfort of the 21st instant says,
that with regard to the alfAirs of Schleswig-llolstein,
the contending interests which surround the question
induce the apprehension that it will not be settled so
promptly; for it is a question in which the German
Confederation watches the interests of Germany, as
contrasted with those of Denmark.

THE NETHERLANDS.
From the Dutch papers of the 231, it appears that
the Second Chamber has voted the address in reply
to the speech from the throne. The address is a para-
phrase of the speech, with the exception of a single
phrase, viz.:—" The Chamber expects during the
present session, and without any further delay, the
presentation of several laws commanded by the consti-
tution, and especially the law on public instruction,
in which the welfare of the whole nation is so com-
pletely involved."
M. BONEEL VAN HOGENLANDEN has been ap-
pointed by the KING President of the Second Cham-
ber. M. BONEEL possesses the entire confidence of
the Chamber, of the press, and of the country, and
has accepted the high oftice as?igned to him in an
eloquent speech, in which he manifested moderate
liberalism, and his desire to preside with impartiality.
Prince lIENEY is gone to Luxemburg to open the
session of the Chamber of Deputies.

TURKEY.
Intelligence has reached Constantinople of the re-
cent doings in Daghistan. Au armistice has been
concluded between Prince Ilroacqszorr and Sheik
SIIAMIL, by which the Russians abandon all their
conquests and forts, and withdraw beyond the line of
the Kouban ; SHAMIL, on the other hand, guaran-
tees to disarm his warriors, and not to molest the ca-
ravans trading to Azerbaijan. The armistice is fur
one year, at the expiration of which a treaty of peace
will be concluded.

The Turkish Government has just announced offi-
cially to the foreign missions that the fleet will not go
out on its customary cruise this year.

THE SEIZURE OF THE LEVENSIDE.
In copying the following from the St. Helena
paper, we should remark that it appears anything but
an impartial report of a law case :
(From the St. llelena Advocate of July 17.)
This interesting and, from the peculiar circum-
stances attending it, exciting case, came on at an early
period of the day, and drew together an unusual num-
ber of spectators in the court. Taken altogether, it
is one of the most extraordinary cases ever tried at
St. Helena. More interest wLs felt in this trial than
would otherwise have been in consequence of the
marked and highly improper interference of the Go-
vernment.
It will be in the recollection of our readers that on
the 22th May the Levenside arrived in charge of the
first mate, the captain being in chains, a prisoner in
the hold. It will also be borne in mind that as soon
as possible after the arrival of the vessel CaptainVesey,
an officer in charge of a detachment of artillery,went
to the police-court and laid an information against
the captain for assault with intent to murder Captain
Vesey. A w arrant was granted for the ap-
prehension of the master of the vessel,
and put into the hands of Hayes, the
police-sergeant, who immediately went on board
and found the captain a prisoner in the hold, with a
chain fastened around his wrists with two padlocks,
and also with a sentinel over him. On giving a re•
ceipt to the soldier, Sergeant Hayes received Captain
Campbell in charge, and took him in custody to the
police-office, where, after a long investigation, he was
committed for trial, but immediately bailed out by the
agents for his vessel.
As soon as Captain Campbell reached the police-
court, and had obtained the assistance of a solicitor,
he wished to lay an information against Captains
Vesey and Neill, and others, for piracy ; but the
magistrates would not proceed in the matter at that
time.

When the police magistrate and the summary judge
had taken their seats to proceed in this case, the public
were much surprised to see the Colonial Secretary, an
unpaid magistrate, take a seat also, it being gene-
rally understood that he had so done at the request of
the Government. This was an unusual circumstance,
as this gentleman rarely takes a seat on the bench ex-
cept at the request of the other magistrates in cases of
emergency. Suspicion was immediately excited in the
public mind that Government influence was busily at
work, as the sequel ultimately proved. The consequence
of this step was that unusual interest was felt in the
issue of the trial, as it was immediately seen that
the case bad altogether assumed another aspect, and
the whole proceedings were, therefore, watched by the
public with very unusual jealousy and mistrust.
Another feature in the cause was that the police ma-
gistrate, who had only been appointed a week or two
before to that responsible office, was the colonial se-
cretary's clerk ; and, therefore, immediately under
his influence. In the course of the investigation an
objection was started to Captain Campbell's solicitor
(who acted for his father) on the ground that he was
the judge's clerk ; but this objection was for a time
overruled, and he took an active part in conducting
Captain Campbell's defence.
Immediately after the committal of the captain a
short narrative of the seizure of the Levenside, with
the proceedings of Captains Vesey and Neill, ar-
peered in our columns, on which Captain Vesey im-
mediately wrote to his Excellency the Governor, and
complained that the article in question gave a one-
sided account, and that it was not altogether true. On
the receipt of this letter the Governor sent for one of the
Government servants, and said that Captain Vesey
had accused him of being the author, which was in-
stantly avowed, and the truth of the article defended.
After the authorship had been avowed and fu;ly ad-
mitted, the judge's clerk was also sent for, and
closely questioned as to whether he bad not some
connection with the paper, which was instantly and
truly denied. Immediately after this the judge's
cleric was prevented from acting on behalf of Cap-
tain Campbell, which placed him in a very difficult
and critical situation.
Two of the magistrates, the Colonial Secretary,
and his clerk, acted together in everything, and only
consented to go on with Captain Campbell's informa-
tio❑ for piracy till after he had been committed for
trial, and then declined to take any further steps i❑
the matter.
Soon after this it was rutnoure3 about that the
sworn depositions taken in the police court were ac-
tually in print and about to be published in the
Government Gazette, by, or at least with, the consent
of the Colonial Secretary and his clerk, thus taking
away from Captain Campbell the only means be would
have when on trial of testing the memory and vera-
city of the prosecutor and his many witnesses. This
unjustifiable act was, however, protested against, and
his Honour the Judge of the Supreme Court caused
the publication of these documents to be stopped, but
not until after some copies had got into circulation,
although the prisoner and the clerk of the peace
alone have the right to demand copies of such docu •
ments.
Captain Campbell entered an action against Cap-
tains Vesey and Neill for false imprisonment, when
it soon became known that Captain T. B. Knipe, the
colonial aide-de-camp and coroner, had undertaken I
to defend them.
From the general proceedings and tactics of the
prosecutors, it was seen that they were aiming at a
conviction, apparently for the purpose of reducing the
damages laid against them in Captain Campbell's
action, and to obtain this conviction they strained
every nerve, but they were defeated. The charge of
the judge to the grand jury was eagerly expected,
and as eagerly listened to; for it was felt by all par-
ties that upon that charge materially depended the
finding or non-finding of the bill of indictment.
The Judge's charge was plain, clear, and to the
point. He explained how the law generally bore
upon the case, and instructed them to consider the in-
tentions of Captain Campbell when he threatened to
use his pistol against Captain Vesey.
The jury then retired to examine the witnesses;
and after a long and protracted investigation they re-
turned to the Supreme Court, and it was found they
bad ignored the bill of indictment, which appeared to
give great satisfaction to every one not connected
with the military. The indictment actually con-
tained no less than seven counts, so that the Govern-
ment gave the prosecutors every chance of securing a
conviction, and thus made their failure more signally
marked.

The result of the civil action appeared to excite as
muchinterest as the finding of the grand jury in the
criminal case.
The plaintiff, Captain Campbell, laid his damages
at 2,000/. It was tried before a special jury, obtained
after a deal of challenging and re-challenging between
the amateur advocates who conducted the respective
cases; for as the opinions of the jury in the long run
are generally known in a small and isolated commu-
nity like that of St. Helena, this is a matter of the
greatest importance, as indeed it is in all cases;
but here it is, perhaps, the most critical part of the
business.

Captain Campbell's solicitor, Mr. Fowler, being in
feeble health, applied to the Court to be allowed the
assistance of a friend to examine the witnesses, and
finally addressed the jury, which was horn( diatply
granted; but no sooner had the party named by Mr.
Fowler taken his seat and commenced operations,
than a letter was sent by the defendants to the Go-
vernor, who immediately sent for him (he being a
Government officer), and threatened him with imme-
diate dismissal if he presumed to plead in the case.
Thus was Captain Campbell thwarted and deprived
of the only one who knew all the bearings of the case.
In this critical emergency, however, Captain 11. A.
White, of the William Gibson, then in the bay, volun-
teered to conduct the trial, although he had not seen
a single document connected with the matter, and
was utterly unacquainted with the details of the case
till he picked them up as he proceeded.