The Sun.
London, England, 1833-05-31 00:00:00

HORRIBLE ATTEMPT AT MURDER.

About a month ago, an atrocious act of cruelty
was committed at Wellington. A young widow
named Rugg, lived about a twelvemonth since in
the capacity of ntir-e in a gentleman's family at El-
worthy. In this situation, an elderly farmer,
named Withers, possessed of some property,
paid his addresses to her, and, although hi.,
suit was for some time rejected, at length mar-
ried her, having first settled on her and her issue
by him the sum of 2001. Shortly after the
marriage Withers and his wife settled at Welling
ton. They at first lived together unhappily, Withers
constantly endeavouring by threats and most artful
stratagems to induce his wife to give up her mar.
riage settlement. This, however, she resolutely re-
fused to do ; but when
,she became evidently preg-
nant, arel consequently no longer• possessed the
power of annulling the settlement, Withers desisted
from his importunities, and apparently conducted
himself with more kindness towards her ; but it is
now apparent that this seeming kindness was as-
sumed only to mask his murderous intent. About
half-past two in the afternoon, Withers was sitting
with his wife, and conversing with her in a kind
and friendly wanner. The poor woman, being near
her confinement, complained of being languid, and
her husband, with seeming affection, entreated
her to put aside her needlework, and go
and lie down on her bed for an hour
or two. She at first declined doing so, but was
at length persuaded to do so, and Withers fol'owed
her up stairs; and when she had placed tier.elf on
the bed, he drew the counterpane over her,drawing
a corner of it over her head and face. He then
went down stairs. The poor woman lay still, but
did not sleep. Some time after, Withers went
quietly up into the I ed-room, and, lifting the part
of the counterpane which covered his wife's face,
wised if she was asleep ? She said she was not
asleep, but did not wish to be disturbed. Withers
then replaced the counterpane, and went down
stairs. After a little time, the monster again
stole up into the room, and advancing to the bed,
leaned his head down close to his wife's face,
without removing the counterpane, as if to ascer-
tain whether she were then asleep. The poor
woman noticed this, but did not speak—when,
at the next moment, she received a tremendous
blow on the left side of her head. She started up,
raising her arm, partly defended by the counterpane,
and by this action averted a second blow, which
her husband was then inflicting on her with a large
hammer, kept for the purpose of breaking coal.
She sprang out of the opposite side of the bed,
staggering, and bleeding profusely from her wound.
The villain pursued her instantly, and seized her by
the throat, to strangle her. Both fell in the strug-
gle ; but by a desperate effort the poor woman dis.
engaged herself from the miscreant, and rushing down
stairs, reached the street door,but which the heartless
assassin had previously locked, and, before she could
force it open, had nearly again seized her. She, how--
ever, did force open the door, and ran into a neigh.
hour's house, to whom she detailed immediately all
ners horrible circumstances. Her intended murderer,
the moment he saw his wife had escaped, rushed
out of his house, exclaiming, " I shall be hailed, I
shall be hanged r and fled, without his hat, to the
neighbourhood of Wiveliscombe—a distance of some
miles—where he remained until he was taken up to
answer for his crime. In her examination before
the magistrates Mrs. Withers stated all these facts,
but she refused to swear to her statement, because
she would not subject her husband to punishment
unless "she should be compelled to do so," and
in consequence the villain is still at large.—Taunton
Courier.

No language can express the emotion which
almost every American feels when he first touches the
shores of Europe. This feeling must have a specie! in-
crease if it be the case of a cit.zen of the United States
going to England. Her fame is constantly before him.
He hears of her statesmen, her orators, her scholars, her
philosophers, her divine 4, her patriots. In the nursery
ibe learns her ballads. Her poets train his imagination.
er 14Pguage is his, with its whole intellectual riches past
and foe ow newly flowing ; a tie, to use BURK R'S figure,
light as air, and unseen ; but stronger than links of iron.
In spite of political differences her glory allures him ; in
spite of hostile collision, lie clings to her lineage. After
Captain DECATURS capture of a British frigate, some
one asked him if his forefathers were not French. " No,
I beg pardon," be answered, " they were English." In
that spirit mould his countrymen generally answer. Walk-
ing the deck with two of our Lieutenants, while sounding
up the Channel, " Think," said one 0f them, " that we
may be in the.track of the Armada;" and they alked of
the heroine Quern at Tilbury. These are irrepressible
feelings in an American. His native patriotism takes a
higher tone from dwelling on the illustrious parent stock.
—Rush's Narrative of a Residence -at the Court of
Zerudou. _ '

LONDON,
FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 31, 1833.

We present our readers with a correct report
(up to the time of our going to press ) of the
proceedings that took place at the Batik
Meeting held this clay at two o'clock, by which
means we anticipate Lord ALTHORP'S propo-
sitions in the House this evening.

We are able to state, from good authority,
that the most gratifying accounts have been re-
ceived by the agents of Don PEDRO from Lis-
bon. Everything is ripe there for an explosion
against the usurper, and nothing but a renewal
of the disgraceful and melancholy intrigues
which have hitherto impeded the operations of
Marshal SOLIGNAC, can prevent the speedy
establishment of the Constitution in every part
of Portugal. Proclamations in favour of the
young QUEEN are freely and almost openly dis-
tributed in Lisbon.

It is said that shortly after the arrival of the
Marquis of PALMELLA at Oporto, there wil
be a material modification of the Ministry of the
Regency. The wish of the true friends of Don
PEDRO is to form a Ministry, the principal
Members of t‘hich should be the Marquis of
PALMELLA, the Marquis of LOULE, M. CAR-
VALHO, and M. BERNARDO DA SA. A
Ministry thus composed would offer equal gua-
rantees to the friends of liberty and moderation.
M. CARVALHO and BERNARDO DA SA are
liberals, rather more strongly pronounced, than
the Marquis of PALMELLA, and some of
the constitutionalists are apprehensive that they
would, unless controlled by a moderate
and experienced statesman, such as PAL-
MELLA, go too far. The Marquis of PAL-
MELLA commands the confidence of the
moderate party without being the object of dislike
to any but the Republican party. The Marquis
of LOULE is a young man of true patriotism
and great aptitude for business. He would
be a valuable colleague to M. CARVALHO and
the Marquis of PALMELLA.

It will be seen from our Parliamentary report
that Mr. STANLEY last night announced the in-
tention of his Majesty's Government to make cer•
tain modifications in their proposed plan of Negro
emancipation. The earnings of the apprenticed
labourers, instead of being made to form a fund
for payment of a part of the loan advanced to
the West Indians, is to he entirely their own,
and they may if they choose redeem themselves
from their bonds before the expiration of the twelve
years by paying their masters their registered
value out of their earnings. This is a material
improvement in the plan, as by it the slaves
most worthy of freedom and best prepared fbr it
by habits of forethought and industry will be
first emancipated, and be engaging themselves
in independent employments in a way to set
those more tardily emancipated the best
possible practical example of the course
they ought to take. The only other ma-
terial announcement made by Mr. STANLEY
was that the duty on sugar is to be raised from
245. per cwt. to 275. per cwt. It having
been found that the reduction of the duty
from 275. to 245., has not increased the
consumption, but simply occasioned a loss
to the revenue, it is presumed that re-
imposing the duty of 275. will not occasion
any falling off in consumption. The additional
revenue thus raised is, in effect, to be handed
over to the Planters as their compensation. This
ought to content men whose estates are now,
according to their own account, cultivated at a
loss.

We learn, by a letter from Staffordshire, that
Mr. LITTLETON is not quite so sure of
walking over the ground at the next election as
he expected. Lord INGESTRIE has been ap-
plied to by the Tory interest of that county to
contest the election, and as his Lordship's poli-
tical principles are supposed to be more liberal
than his connection with the Tory interest would
seem to imply, the Radicals, and many of the
moderate party, have signified their intention of
supporting him in the event of a contest. The
family influence of Lord INGESTRIE added to
this support would render him a formidable rival
to Mr. LITTLETON, notwithstanding the slur
that attaches to him from the inquiry into the
Hertford election. Under the present system
of voting, however, the notoriety which Lord
INGESTRIE has acquired by his connection
with the pure and enlightened constituency
of Hertford, may rather promote than pre-
vent his chance of success in Staffordshire.
Were the election to be conducted by bal-
lot, neither Lord INGESTRIE nor Mr. LIT-
TLETON would be returned for Staffordshire.
One would be rejected on account of his Tory-
ism, and the practices which he allowed to be
practised in his name at Hertford ; the other
because he is the instrument of a Ministry to
which the independent portion of the consti-

tuency of Staffordshire would, if they could,
give a similar lesson tiz that which was lately
given by the electors or Westminster. It is a
sad illustration of the corrupt state of the pre-
sent system of election, when we see that the
only person who is looked up to as likely to
compete, with any chance of success, with the
nominee of the Government, is a Tory deeply
stained with the odium (whether deserved or
not, as regards his own share in them, we
do not pretend to say) of former mal-
practices. Were vote by ballot established, an
independent man would step forward, and by
an overwhelming majority, convince the Govern-
ment that it could not hope to prolong its exist-
ence by despising the voice of the people ; and
at the same time show to the Tories, that how-
ever dissatisfied the people may be with the con-
duct of the Ministry, they had other resources,
in the event of the resignation of Ministers,
than a Tory Administration. Nothing but the
defective and corrupt nature of the present sys-
tem, gives encouragement to Mr. LITTLETON
or Lord INGESTRIE.
We understand that the friends of Lord IN-
GESTRIE are waiting till the hour of nomina-
tion, to ascertain the degree of support that his
Lordship may expect. Should it equal their
wishes, his Lordship will declare himself; and
it is expected that Sir CHARLES WOLSLEY
whose influence with the Radicals has been ac-
tively exerted for some days past, will throw his
weight into the scale of the Anti-Ministerial
candidate.

We are glad to find that the price of the shares
in the Liverpool and Birmingham railways is
fast rising in value. This is no more than we
had expected, for so invaluable a commercial
speculation cannot but prove successful.

The French papers of Wednesday are barren
of important intelligence. The Augsburg Ga-
zette mentions that the condition on which the
SULTAN has consented to give up Adana, is,
that the Pacha of EGYPT shall pay him a yearly
tribute.

FRENCH FUNDS.—PARIS, MAY 29.
Five per Cents. 103 f. 55c. 65c. 60c.
Four and a Half per Cents., —f. —c.
Four per Cents., 941 75c
Three per Cents. 79f. 70c. 75c. 60c.
National Loan, —f. —c.
Bank Actions, 1,805 E 1,8 Of.
Bente de Naples, 034 90c. 941. 934 80c.
Roman Five per Cents., 90tq
Rente d'Espagne, Fiveper Cents. 16 15T 16
Rente d'Espagne, Three per Cents. 4654
Royal Spanish Loan, 9! 4 91
Rent, Perpetuelle d'Espagne, Five per Cents. 781 4
Belg an Loa., 91 `a
Haytian Loan, 065. 2,604

EXCHANGE ON LONDON,
On'• month, paper, 25f. 75c.; money, 25f. 70c.
Three months, paper, 25f. 65c.; money, 2.5 f. 60c.
—Cours Authentique.

In the present declining state of the legiti-
mate dratna—if indeed we may he still said to
have such a thing—we hail IN ith satisfaction
every proposition that holds out the slightest
prospect of restoring it to " its high and palmy
state." For this reason we cannot but cordially
approve of Mr. BUNN'S address (it will be found
in another column) in which he strikes boldly
at the root of the star system, and proposes to
reduce the present preposterous salaries paid to
actors, to a just and fitting level. Till some-
thing of this sort be done, there can be no
hope for the drama. The excessive sa-
lary lavished on one fashionable performer,
keeps at least two good ones in the back-ground,
by crippling the financial resources of the lessee.
But the evil, like all evils, having attained its
crisis, now bids fair to work its own cure. Let
Mr. BONN then proceed boldly on his task,
and, we answer for it, he will be successfhl. To
a certain extent he has the game in his own
hands, for, by being the lessee of both
Covent-garden and Drury-lane, he wields
a two-fold power, to which even the
most cross-grained actor must submit, on
pain of loss of fame, by " rustication" from
the boards of a national theatre. Mr.
BUNN'S proposed plan is admirably adapted (if it
be not now too late) to retrieve the legitimate
drama. By a more equitable distribution of sa-
laries, it will at once bring into the field a
vast variety of histronic talent. The fifty
or sixty pounds a night hitherto wasted on
a cleverish tragedian, or a grinning buffoon,
will henceforth be divided among some ten or
twelve equally efficient performers, who, till now,
have had, comparatively speaking, little or no
chance. Why should an actor like ELTON—
who, whatever may be said of his del very, has
at least a quick and intellectual apprehension
of his author—why, we repeat, should
a man like this be compelled to " star"
it at Whitechapel because Mr. BUNN
pays such enormous prices to BRAIIAM,
MACREADY, or LISTON, that he cannot afford
to engage him ? This crying evil must be put'a
stop to—and the sooner the better. While on
this subject, we may just hint by the way that
Mr. BUNN would find his account in lowering
the prices of admission to the national theatres.
Cheap amusement, like cheap government, is
now the popular cry.

NEW BANK CHARTER.

(From the Times.)

Of the reports current this afternoon on the subject of
the new Wink charter, that which appears best entitled to
attention gives the following as some portion of the terms
agreed on bettveen the Directors and the Government :-
1. A new charter for 10 years from the expiration of that
now existing to be granted.

2. The old monopoly to continue, so far as regards the
numbers of partners in private banks, which is not to exceed
six, and joint stock banking companies, which are not allowed
to be formed within 6.5 miles of London.

3 Bank of England notes to be declared a legal tender to
any amount for the purposes of banking in the country, and
gold only to be demanded for them either at the Bank of
England, or at the various branch establishments in the country.
4. A portion of the debt of the Government to the Bank,
amounting to 3,500,0001., to be paid off.

5. The payment of the dividends and the management of
the other public business to continue with the Bank, but a
deduction of 100,0001. to be made from the remuneration at
present assigned for that purpose.
6. Country bankers will be allowed to circulate bills of ex.
change, at present not permitted below 501., as low as 201., or,
as some say, 101. only.

I No legal rate of interest is to be fixed on bills of ex-
change not having more than three months to run.
8. A communication is to take place weekly to the Govern.
ment on the state of the Bank issues, the quantity of bullion,
&c., which will be published in the Gazette once a quarter, or
oftener, as the Government may see fit.

Such are the items of the new charter circultted to-day
on very good authority in the city, some of which have
been received wi h no-4nall .s•urthi,„„

„
CHARACTER.—Tne Infamous Col. CHAR-
TERS, who bas been immortaliz d by ARBUTH Nor's epi-
taph on him, u.ed to say, ” he would give 20,0001. for a
good character, because he could make 20,0001 of it.
The body of a man (a mulatto) was found
eq gourd ly last in a planration, near the seventh mile-

xone on the North•road, by a boy who was looking for
irds' nests; near to him wag a bottle which had contained

,wlanum, ~nd another containing nitric or vitriolic acid.
He had been observrd in the neighbourhno for two days
previously, and hsd a sum of money in his pocker ; also a
s ver watch, msker's name, " JOHN Woof)," Livervol.
His form was that of a very stri,z4 man, of the middle
.tarure, apparently about 30 years of age, and he had the
•ppa,rsuce of a steward of a ship. A Coroner's inquest
will ire held this day, at the Red Lion public-house, at
Alashull,—Liverpool Albion.

PERIAL PARLIAMENT

THIS DAY, FRIDAY, MAY 31.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The SPEAKER took the Chair this morning a few minutes
after 12 o'clock.

Mr. BRISCOE moved the second reading of Hutchin-
son's Claim Bill. He would content himself with
simply moving the order of the day ; and would reserve his
observations on the subject till another opportunity.
The order of the day having been read,
Mr. R. GRANT rose. He said it gave him pain to oppose
any individual claim, but in this case a sense of duty obliged
him to oppose the further progress of the Bill. Ile was afraid
that many Hon. Members were not well acquainted with the
Bill then before the House, which would oblige him to go more
into detail than he would otherwise have done. The object of
the Bill was to oblige the East India Company to pay a large
sum of money to the representatives of the late Mr. Hutchinson,
which it was alleged had been due to him by the late
Rajah of Travancore. Between the years 1780 and 1790
Mr. Hutchinson was the Company's commercial resident
at Travancore, and had entered into large money transac-
tioi.s with the then Rajah. In 1800, both parties being
then dead, an accountwas taken between the representa-
tives of both parties, and a balance was found slue by the
Rajah of '24,000 rupees, and an arrangement was entered into
that it should be paid off by instalments. Now, up to
that period the Company had nothing at all to do
with the transaction, as indeed it did not appear that
the authorities were at all aware of it ; but in 1803, or
1804 the Company appointed a political agent for Travancore,
and the Rajah having got into such embarrassments as to be
unable to continue the payment of the instalments towards the
reduction of Mr. Hutchinson's debt, his representatives applied
to the Company's agent to become the medium of their com-
munication with the Rajah respecting it. This he at the time
refused, but he did not in any manner preclude them from
carrying their claims to the Courts of the country, or interfere
in any way. There was no interposition at all between
the parties on the part of the Company. The failure of the
payments had begun before the arrival of the agent ; in fact,
the embarrassments of the Rajah were such that it was utterly
impossible that he could pay, therefore there could be no pre-
tence for calling upon the Company to make good such pay-
ments ; and he must, in the name of the people of India, on
whom, if allowed, the burden would ultimately fall, protest
against the present attempt. The political agent being again
applied to, made a communication to the authorities of Bengal,
and they again did so to the authorities at home, who in 1809
sent out an order to have the claim fully inquired into before it
was paid; and what else could they have done, having been so
urgently pressed upon to become the medium through which
the claim was to be urged, especially as the Rajah was
then most deeply indebted to the Madras establishment P
The Company had, for some time, been ignorant of the claim ;
and the House ought now to expect that a strong case should
be made out before such a Bill was passed.—(Hear.) After
the Hon. Gentleman had gone into a detail of the circum-
stances connected with the case, and referred to several docu-
ments in elucidation of the accounts, and of the transactions
between Mr. Hutchinson, the Rajah, and the East India Com-
pany, he concluded by declaring that he thought it to be his
duty to oppose the Bill, and moved that it be read that day six
months.

Mr. BRISCOE replied to the observations of the Right
Hon. Gentleman who preceded him; which he described as
being very far short of conclusive against the propriety of
proceeding with the Bill ; and impressed upon the House the
necessity of allowing the Bill to go into committee, that counsel
might be heard, witnesses examined, and the accounts referred
to more accurately examined. In support of that opinion the
Hon. Member went through several of the accounts which had
been produced, some of which evidenced that a variation in
the price of the goods contracted to be supp ied to the company
would put the statement much more favourably for Mr.
Hutchinson than had been assumed by the Right Hon. Member
(Mr. Grant). All that Mr. Hutchinson wished was, that there
should be an opportunity afforded for a full, fair, and impartial
inquiry in Committee, when he could be heard by Counsel at
the bar of the House.

Mr. MACAULAY opposed the Bill on two grounds; first,
because he considered the debt altogether fictitious; and se-
condly, because, if not altogether fictitious, it was altogether
an illegal and immoral transaction.
Mr. O'CONNELL supported the claim.

Sir E. WILMOT deprecated the Bill going into Committee;
the claim was unfounded in justice, unsupported by evidence,
and it would be most dangerous, he considered, in principle, for
the House to sanction such a transaction.
The gallery was then cleared for a division.
For the second reading 6
Against it
Majority against the second reading 32
_

After the presentation of some other petitions, of no public
interest, the Speaker left the chair.

THE FUNDS.-(THIS DAY.)

CITY. TWELVE O'CLOCK.

The only arrivals this morning are mails from Rio Janeiro
of the 16th of April; and Buenos Ayres of the 28th of March,
brought by a King's ship.
It appears by the private letters from Rio Janiero, that some
disturbances had taken place in the province of Mina. The
lettere add—" There has been no more fighting, therefore we
may conclude that order has been established. Exchange on
London 36/. Stocks 46 to
From Buenos Ayres a private letter of the 28th of March
has been received at the North and South American Coffee-
house, which is not of much importance, being chiefly filled
with the preparations for the troops marching against the
Indians, which we had by the last arrival. The letter states
that an expedition, all cavalry, is to proceed against the
Indians, and the troops forming are composed of contingents
from the different provinces of the Republic, the whole to be
under the command of General Quiroga ; and that the Indians
are a most terrible scourge to the country. They are brave
and well mounted, and occupy a vast extent. Little is said of
the Falkland Island affairs, but all are anxious for the news
from England on that subject.
Trade was very dull there. Exchange on England 61d. to 7d.
paper dollar each. A great deal of specie had been lately sent
away from Buenos Ayres in order to purchase wheat and flour
in Chili, Brazil, and Cape of Good Hope, as the harvest had
failed. Another attempt at a revolution was expected at
Montevideo. Lavalleja is said to be supported by a strong
party in the Brazils. Civil war seems pretty certain in the
Oriental Republic.
Accounts from Bordeaux state that great enthusiasm pre-
vails there for the cause of Donna Maria. The Indicateur
says that 5,000 men have been raised in the department of
Midi.