The Sun.
London, England, 1851-02-19 00:00:00

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GERMANY.
Several of the German journals having stated that
a body of troops was to be formed in the environs of
Coblentz, under the orders of the Prince of Prussia,
the Post Gazette of Frankfort says that this is erro-
neous ; and it adds, that several regiments had passed
through that town to new garrisons, to be dismissed.
The Vienna journals of the 12th announce that
Baron Koller, Austrian Chargé d'Affaires at London,
has been appointed Minister Plenipotentiary in
Belgium.

--
TARRING AND FEATHERING BLACK-
LEGS AT NORTH SHIELDS.
NORTH SHIELDS, FEB, l7.—The seamen of North
Shields seem to have taken the law into their own
hands. The committees of the men on strike hare
watchers on the river both day and night to ees that
none of the crews of the vessels ready for sea get away.
If they catch a man on board they fetch him on shore,
and either get him out of the town, or hand him over to
the women, to be dealt with according to " General
Lynch." On Sunday afternoon seven boats' crews went
on board the dEolian, lying at No. 2 buoy, and having
found a " halt marrerd" in the forecastle, brought him
on shore. As soon as he was landed he was handed over
to the women, who besmeared him all over with coal-
tar, a nauseous compound, turned' him into the: streets,
and hooted him out of the town. He was found by the
police in a very exhausted condition, and conveyed
to the station-house, where the filthy compound was
scraped off him, and his hair also had to be shaved
from his head, it being impossible to get the stuff
out of it. A woman was fined 54 on Monday for
having taken part in the proceedings. A young
man of the name of Metcalf was taken out
of the Spring trader, lying at the same buoy,
during the afternoon, brought on shore, and used
in the most cruel manner by a large mob of
men and women. It is expected that the ring-
leader in the last affair will be brought to
justice. On Sunday morning about three o'clock
a melancholy accident happened to one of ' the
watchers, who, went off with five others to overhaul
a vessel that was going to sea. The vessel was
towing down, and going rapidly through the water. In
attempting to hook the ship's boat the watchers' boat
upset, and one cf them, a young man named Mark Arm-
strong, was drowned. His body was picked up on Sunday
afternoon. Twenty-five policemen have been sent down
from Newcastle to assist the authorities to keep the
peace; and a number of special constables would be sworn
in at South Shields yesterday. There are a great number
of laden vessels in Shields harbour ready for sea, if they
could procure crew:.

JNDON AND BLACKWALL RAILWAY.
The half-yearly report cf the directors of this com-
pany, to be submitted to the meeting of proprietors on
the 25th inst., states that for the past half-year there
has been an increase in the passenger traffic, as com-
pared with the corresponding period of 1849, amount.
ing to 637,801 in the numbers carried, and 4,5374 in the
receipts. The traffic during the two periods, including
the gross toll from the East and West India Docks and
Birmingham Junction Railway, was as follows:-1849.
—Passengers, 1,219,508; amount, 20,268/. 1850.—Pas-
sengers, 1,857,309; amount, 24,8061. The increase
from the local traffic amounted to 3,5061., and for
the river traffic to 1,031/. The East and West India
Docks and Birmingham Junction Railway was opened
as far as Islington on the 26th of September last, and
the opening has since been extended to Camden-town.
Under the arrangement with that company the receipts
are divided pro rata, in proportion to the distance
run over each line; and the traffic derived from
this source has amounted to 187,116 passengers
and 1,195/. Considering that the Dock Junction
line was not opened until late in the year, the directors
think very favourably of the traffic so far as it has yet
been developed. The junction with the London and
North-Western Railway will, it is understood, be
effected in the course of this month, and there op-
pears to be every prospect that the passenger
traffic of the Dock Junction line, when fully de-
veloped, will add considerably to the revenue of
this company. The comparative working expenses ex-
hibit an increase of about 800/. during the past half-
year; of this sum about 400/. is in the locomotive
charges, and will be accounted for by the additional
mileage run, and 290/. in the law charges appli-
cable to revenue, which are increased by the appeals
against the parochial assessments throughout the line
now being made, for the purpose of diminishing the an-
nual charge for rates and taxes. The consumption of
coke for the half-year ending December last averaged
21.251 b. per mile, and the total locomotive charges
B.lld. per mile; and at the corresponding period of
1849 it averaged 23.011 b. per mile per train, and the lo-
comotive charges 8.34 d. per mile. Tho balance on tha
revenue account amounts to 12,6754, and after deducting
the interest on debentures there remains 11,633/. appli-
cable to dividend. This sum will admit of the
payment of 2s. per share clear of income-tax upon the
109,131 shares issued, leaving a balance of 381/. During
the past half-year arrears of calls to the amount of
21,4591. on the scrip shares, and of 7,200/. on the exten-
sion shares, have been received, and a profit of
1,5214 has been realised by the sale of forfeited and un-
issued scrip shares; the debt due for temporary loans
has been reduced from 41,000/. to 10,0004, and thus far
the estimate of probable assets and liabilities given in
August, 1849, has been fully substantiated. The No.
2 scrip, and the extension shares in the arrear on the
31st December last, have been declared forfeited, and the
785 No. 2 scrip, at that time unissued, have since been dis-
posed of at a further profit to the company. The 28,000
shares of 101. each, created for the extension to Tilbury,
have been taken up, and the deposits paid thereon. A con-
tract with Messrs. Peto and Brassey with reference to the
extension has been prepared, and will be submitted to
the meeting. The directors have also to report sl4a4

QUEEN'S BENCH.—(THIS DAY.)
(Sittings at Nisi Prius at Guildhall, before the LORD
CHIEF JUSTICE and a Special Jury.)
WILES, PAUPER, V. LAWSON.
This was an action to recover compensation in
damages for a libel alleged to have been published in the
Times newspaper.
Mr. Skinner appeared for the plainti ff, and Mr.
Humphrey and Mr. Peacock conducted the defendant's
case.
It appeared that on the 27th of April last year, a per-
son named Hackett was brought up on a charge of bur-
glary at the Marlborough Police-court, and was re-
manded until the 2d of May following, on which day he
was conveyed again to the court, and placed in a cell
previous to undergoing his examination; but on the
officer afterwards proceeding to the cell, with the view
of taking him before the magistrate, ho was astonished
to find that he and another prisoner, named Mackenzie,
had escaped. It happened that Wilks, the plaintiff; who
was assistant gaoler at the court, and whose duty it was
to lock up the prisoners, was absent at the time on sick -
leave, but suspicion arose in the minds of the authorities
that some officer connected with tho office had been a
party to the liberation of the two prisoners, owing to the
circumstance of the door of the cell having been appa-
rently opened by a key, mad to the fact that three other
prisoners in the same cell had not been able to escape.
An investigation was immediately instituted into the
whole matter, and in a few days afterwards Wicks was
discharged, though it did not appear from what cause,
no direct proof having been obtained as to the person
through whose connivance the prisoners had been libe-
rated. Considerable suspicion, however, attached to
him, a messenger who bad been sent to his house having
found in a locker a duplicate key of the cell.
Hackett was subsequently arrested several months
after his lucky escape from the police office,
and became an inmate of Pentonville Prison,
from which he also succeeded in effecting his liberation.
On the 3d of December, 1850, an interesting account of
his exploits and adventures was published in the Times,
and in one passage it was stated that a turnkey had
been discharged from Marlborough police-court in con-
sequence of it having turned out on inquiry by the au-
thorities that he had received a large sum of money to
effect Hackett's liberation. This was the libel com-
plained of. The plaintiff alleged that the article had
not only damaged his reputation as a trustworthy per-
son, but prevented his obtaining employment from indi-
viduals who were, previous to its publication, in the
habit of employing him; and under these circumstances
he contended he was entitled to damages at the hands of
the jury.
Evidence baying been given to prove the application of
the alleged.libel to the plaintiff,
Mr. HUMPHREY addressed the jury in reply, admit-
ting that a verdict would have to pass for the
plaintiff, as it was utterly impossible to procure evi-
dence to support a plea of justification with respect to
the statements in the article ; but urging, in mitiga-
tion of damages, that all the injury which the cha-
racter of the plaintiff had suffered had arisen, not from
what appeared in the Times, but from the actual fact
of his dismissal, which happened many months pre-
viously. There could 'be no doubt in the minds of the
jury that the circumstances were extremely suspicious
against Wilks, and that the prisoners could not have
escaped without the intervention of a " golden key."
He contended, therefore, that the smallest possible
amount of damages would meet the justice of the case.
Lord CAMPBELL having summed up,
The jury intimated they were all unanimously of
opinion that there should be a verdict for the plaintiff,
with a farthing damages.

FRANCE.
The Courrier du Gard says—" The new Minister
of Public Works, M. Magne, appears to be resolved
to present to the Legislative Assembly a Bill for the
execution of the railway from Lyons to Avignon. For
this purpose he is making a very strict examination
into all the propositions made by the different com-
panies relative to the execution and the working
either of the line from Paris to Lyons, or of the
two separate lines from Paris to Lyons and
from Lyons to Avignon. What appears to be per-
fectly decided on in his mind is the urgent necessity
for the construction of this latter part, which is to
unite the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. He has
consequently taken into serious consideration the
propositions emanating from the united ironmasters of
the Alais, the Voulte, and the Tete Noire, which of-
fer more acceptable conditions than any hitherto pre-
sented to the Government. In the event of no ar-
rangement becoming possible with these companies,
M. Magne is decided on demanding from the Assem-
bly the opening of a credit of 50,000,0001, divided over
two years, for commencing at the expense of the State
the works of the section from Lyons to Avignon."

=
HEALTH OF LONDON b uRIIVG THE WEEK.
(From the Registrar-General's Return.)
The present return indicates some improvement in the
public health. Under the isfleence of more favourable
weather, the deaths, which in the first week in February
were 1,109, have fallen to 1,036; and this tendency of
the mortality to decline is perceived both amongst young
and old.
In the ten corresponding weeks of 1841.50 the aver-
age number of deaths was 1,050, which, if corrected for
comparison with the mortality of last week, becomes
1,145. Oa this latter result,, the 1,036 deaths of last
week show a decrease of 109 However, an important
difference is perceptible between the two classes of old
and young persons, for, while nearly as many of the
latter are now dying as usual for the period, the mor-
tality of the aged has fallen considerably below the cor-
rected average.
In the zymotic class of fatal diseases, smallpox
destroyed 26 lives; and in 8 of these cases the sufferers
were between 15 and 50 years of age. On the Bth of
February, at 16, Bishops'-mews, Paddington, a labourer,
aged 47 years, who had never been vaccinated, died of
confluent small-pox (after twelve days' illness); and on
the following day, at No. 1, in the same mews, the wife
of an ostler, aged 25, who had been vaccinated when a
child, died of the disease thirteen days after the eruption.
A boy also died of small-pox at! Church-place in the
same sub-district. Four deaths occurred on the 7th,
Bth, and 12th of February in the Small-pox Hos-
pital at Holloway, at the several ages of 29, 32,
,
33, and 39. A woman,;who was brought from West-
bourne-place, and died -of " small-pox confluent, un-
modified (14 days' illness) "had been vaccinated young,
and had " One very small cicatrix." An ostler, who
came from Bartholomew-close and a bricklayer from
Islington, were not protected by vaccination; and a sea-
man from Sweden also died in the hospital of "small-
pox confluent, unmodified (12 days' illness)," though he
had been vaccinated when young in his native country,
apd had three eicetrices. Out of the 26 fatal cases of
this disease, it is only recorded in five that the patients
had been previously vaccinated.
As regards other epidemics, measles carried off 29
children, scarlatina 19, beeping-cough 43,
and croup 10,
these complaints not differing materially from their
several averages. Typhus number' 43 victims, the
majority being of middle age; whilst, the average
number in ten corresponding weeks was 37.
Complaints of the respiratory organs are now less
fatal, and have declined to near the average. Consump-
tion, under which a greater number fall than any other
malady, was fatal to 124 persons, of whom 105 had
reached some period of life between 15 and 60. The
average of this disease, raised for increase of population,
nearly equals 150.
The births of 821 boys and 755 girls, in all 1,576
children, were registered in the week. The average
number in six corresponding weeks of 1845-50,was 1,373.
The following selections are made from the Registrars'
reports:—
In Pancras, subdistrict of Somers-town, at 23, Drum-
mond-crescent, on the 9th of February, a cab-driver, aged
32, was " found dead." The coroner's jury adds, " dis-
ease of the heart and mortal effects of the foul air of the
room where he slept." Mr. Matthews states that he
died in a back kitchen about 10 feet; three persons
slept in one room—namely, the cabman, a stonemason,
and a hair-bristler."
In Pancras, subdistrict of Camden-town, at 23, Ashby-
street, on the 13th of February, the daughter of a
labourer, aged 16 months, died of " bronchitis laryngtis,
pneumonia (7 days), produced by inhaling the steam of
boiling water." The child had attempted to drink boil-
ing water from the kettle. In the same subdistrict, at
4, iirpod'fi-place, Paradise-rote, on the 9th of .February, a ,

(From the Manchester Guardian of this day.)
MANCHESTER, TUESDAY.—The continued inability to
dispose of their productions, at any concessions pre-
viously made in regard to prices, has induced a willing-
ness on the part of spinners to accept terms to-day which
they would not have agreed to last week, within i 3 d. to id.
per lb. In some', articles, particularly warps and
cops, the difference rather exceeds id. This
has led to inquiries from the buyers, appa-
rently indicative of an impression that they are
now perhaps nearer the point at which it may
be advisable again to' operate more or less; and
some purchases have been made, both for shipment and
for home consumption, though the whole business of the
day has been extremely limited. The impression above
referred to has shown itself rather more among the
buyers of goods than -of yarns; and the maneacturers
have been able to effect some sales, without generally
submitting to lower rates than they would have taken
towards the latter end of last week. There has been
a rather more general inquiry in this department, with
some increase of purchases, and more of a disposition
for business than has been observable in yarns. In both
departments, however, there is much irregularity
amongst sellers, with touch unsettledness of pur-
pose amongst buyers. It appears from the accounts
brought by the overland mail, that the depres-
sion in the Boinbay market has increased;
but from Calcutta the advices are better than the
previous telegraphic ilotice had led people to expect.
The market was very'quiet, 'but there was little altera-
tion in prices; and stocks and arriving supplies were
light. At both places there was a monetary pressure,
which had led the banks to raise the rate of interest.
Letters from the United States also show an increased
tightness in money matters, and much rates for loans.
The accoants from China, we are happy to say, are
more favourable than fir some time past, and caused an
increase of business in fabrics suited fur that market.
ROCHDALE, MONDAY.—WO have had an extremely
dull market in flannelsi very few buyers have attended,
and the business transacted has been of a very limited
nature. The wool dealers complain of the limited de-
mand for the raw material, but prices remain stationary.
MACCLESFIELD, TUESDAY.—Tho manufactured goods
trade remains exactly' 'in the same state as reported in
our last, scarcely 'anything worth notice having
taken place in the interim ; and production
is going on, though to a more limited ex-
tent than has been the caso for some time
past. Many manufacturers, however, anticipate a re-
sumption of business in the course of next month.
The throwing mills generally continue to be well em-
ployed, and in this branch there exists a demand for
hands; very little business has, however, of late been
transacted in the thrown material; this, no doubt, being
caused by purchasers waiting the result of the public
sales of raw silk in London. The dyers are rather
better supplied with work. We regret to have
to noto a failure of 'a tbm here, engaged in silk
throwing and manufathiring, whO stopped payment the
latter end of last weele.."The liabilities are said to be
upwards of 5,0001., buttikere is every appearance of the
greater part being paisliiip, if time be allowed. The late
failure of a firm in Minchleiter, engaged in buying and
selling wholesale mantalic;ured.goods, will not affect the
Macclesfield manufactuOri very much.
HUDDERSFIELD, TUEOAY.—We have no new feature
in our market to-day:.-' Business has been generally
slack, there not having.:', been many buyers in the town.
There has not been much 'doing during the week in the
warehouses. The wool ftade is quiet.
.HALIFAX, SATURDAY.--"=There has been scarcely so
much business done in ditrlPiece Hall to-day, and the
merchants are rather m6r6 shy of giving orders, espe-
cially for those fabrics which are partly made of cotton;
but for damasks and loW"lastings there is still a good
demacd. The yarn market Continues, languid; and the
merchants are bidding lowCtl'prices, to which the spin-
ners are unwilling to acekte. The wool trade is quiet,
and, owing to the slacks` of the demand, wool is a
little easier to buy.
LEEDS, TUESDAY.—Thefe is no change to notice in the
woollen trade since last week. The market has b6n
dull to-day, but a fair quantity of goods continue to he
delivered to order. Prices keep very firm, and stocks
are lighter in the cloth 'halls. There is rather more
doing in the warehouser; both for the home trade and
for shipping.