The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-18 00:00:00

Translated from the German of Dr. PICKFORD.

" Dr. fickford is known to English readers by his frequent
Iractical contributions to German medical literature. This

is the first time, he informs us, that he has addressed himself
to the non-medioal reader. We trust that this may not be the
last, if he shall detect any other aqually flagrant evil which it
may be in his power to correct."—London Medical Gazette.

" The editor has conferred a great boon on the sufferers
from this distressing malady by translating this little book,
and by laying bare the scandalous practices of unqualified
adventurers, who profess to cure a disease of which they
know nothing, with no other object than to fill their own
purses. The difference between true Spermatorrhcea and the
various forms of disease which resemble it are accurately de-
scribed, and thus a safe guide is offered for the treatment of
the malady."—Medical Circular.

" We have dilated so long upon the contents of the preli-
minary chapter, that we have scarcely left ourselves space for
any notice of the subject specially treated of by Dr. nckford ;
but the moderate price at which the ' brochure' is sold, places
it within the reach of every one interested in the matter."—
Dublin Medical Press.

London : H. Bailliere, 219, Regent-street.

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES.

THAMES EMBANKMENT.

The committee appointed to consider the question
Of the embankment of the Thames, re-assembled
yesterday, Sir J. Paxton in the chair. The members
present were Mr. W. H. Cowper, Lord R. Montague,
Mr. Roupell, Mr. Walter, Sir J. Pakington, Lord
J. Manners, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Alderman Cubitt,
Mr. Beamish, and Sir S. M. Peto.

Mr. Ledger, wharfinger, of Queenhithe, was ex-
amined, and said that the, plans which he had seen
for a Thames embankment, would take 30 to 40 feet
from his wharf wall, and if effected he should be
compelled to put his barges into the stream, as the
plan would deprive him of nearly the whole of his
present wharf convenience. The distance between
the pillars supporting the embankment should be
as distant from each other as would be equal to the
length of his barges, which was between 60 and 70
feet. They were taken in sideways, as they had no
rudder. His wharf stood rather more in the river
than most of the other wharves in the neighbour-
hood. As the current would be increased by the
embankment, it would require more men to navi-
gate the barges. If his barges were to be placed
outside the embankment, it would increase his ex-
penses by £BOO per annum. The grain he received
at his wharf found its way to every part of the
kingdom. There was now very little current near
to his wharf wall. The barges were aground half of
every tide. The steamboats agitated the water, and
kept the banks clear, while docks would collect mud
and be more objectionable than the present state of
the banks.

Mr. Gould, another wharfinger,•said he was the
largest occupier on the Thames, and his premises
were adjacent to those of the last witness. He con-
sidered that the proposed embankment would be
most injurious to his trade. The columns would be
the least objectionable. His frontage extended for
90 feet, and the barges required 85 feet. He admit-
ted that the embankment would be a great public
convenience, but it would militate against his inte-
rests. A majority of the wharfingers objected to the
embankment. His rent was about £2,000 a-year
for 90 feet. Mr. Bazalgette said that he expected
to underpin the wareholse by 4 feet to get a foun-
dation, whereas from 12 to 40 feet had been re-
quired for that purpose.
Mr. Smith, another wharfinger, about 300 feet
to the west of Queenhithe, said he had a frontage
of 60 feet, his business being principally in the
different descriptions of grain. He had a3O feet
wharf at a—ground-rent of Xl3o,—Lutd.-140-4.....1-4abtl-
Mr. Kennard said
that
tlAeey
it
nct occupieditwyrelieveotuo Idt
embankmentthhepbe rleecv mr:osi would out several tnousanas oi-poinidinpon it to make it
convenient. The embankment would reduce his
present wharfage, instead of extending it.
rodeseuenadl odtdn,
state
thepub-
lic vtdee
oagb
ftra
enttahkhtese
facilities
same
mrt
eheee
stiT:mhfseraoong,trneteshat.
convenience. It would be a great public im-
provement, and would be the best way of giving
facilities for traffic between both ends of the town.
He did not think it would injure his premises, and
all that it would do would be to increase the ex-
pense of his business. But it was the duty of every
one to give up something to effect a great conve-
nience. There would be no inconvenience in barges
lying outside the embankment, as the river was
wider there. He had driven piles into the river to
keep the barges safe and firm, and the barges were
kept there without any difficulty whatever.
Mr. Hadley, of Puddle-dock, was examined. He
said he had a frontage of 60 feet to the Thames.
He said his premises were erected in 1850 at a cost
of £30,000. They are flour mills, and manufac-
tured a thousand sacks of flour daily. A large pro.
portion of that was sent out by water carriage. If
a dock was formed in front of his premises, with
facilities for the barges going in and out, it would
be a great advantage. If there were to be a dock
of 150 feet in width in front of his premises, it
would be satisfactory, but while this embankment
was being made he wanted to know what was to
become of their trade. He should be glad to give
his assent to any scheme which would give them
greater facilities, but at present they bad all the
facilities they required. Any compensation to be
given to the wharfingers for the obstruction of
their business while the embankment was being
made should be given after the work was done, for
until that time -they.would be unable to properly
estimate the loss which had been occasioned. The
•streets would be greatly crowded or stopped during
the making of this embankment. They would also
become stopped if a sewer was made down the Strand
and Fleet-street. All they required was that their
barges should come in and go out as they do at
present. In two or three years he expected to
carry on a larger business, and to be able to grind
800 qrs. of wheat daily.
Mr. Graham, an iron merchant, said his dock was
at the narrowest part of the river between Black-
friars and. South wark bridges. He said that all he
required was a proper facility for his barges to enter
the docks. A suspension bridge near Queenhithe
would remove his objections.
Mr. -White, of Carron Iron-wharf, said the pro-
posed embankment would interfere with his barges,
and if it was made they would be compelled to lie
out in the stream. If any public benefit could be
arrived at without doing them an injury, of course
they would be ready to give their assent to it.
Their frontage to the river was 130 feet, the front-
age towards Thames-street 150 feet, and the depth
200 feet. _ _

Mr. Josiah Harvey, of the Grand Junction-wharf,
Whitefriars, said they had at present 205 feet of
wharfage, and this embankment would take two-
thirds of it. They should require space for their
barges to get in and out of the docks. If he was to
obtain by the embankment the same facilities as he
now possdsed he should not offer objections to it.
He paid a rent of £9OO a-year, and the term of his
occupation was for 31 years. This embankment
would be so limited in its advantages that he did
not think it Would be desirable. If there was to be
a fine wide roadway, which could be used as a pro-
menade, and the riverieould be restored to its former
purity, there was no doubt that it would be of great
advantage to the population in the present crowded
evidence. .
Ray
neighbourhood.
Mr. Rathbone, of Thames-street, gave similar
irent gave it as his ia.ntiownouthmathaavedit
calMtyr would be experienced in respect of the columns
h e proposed.
acerta distancen On e w har
apart,fin t e r
sßomoseeowf woulddto
be require them
o:.oth te or
effeivictr.o.fkeldaeursminagn
was examined, and said that
them to
nth') ffihe-
persons' premises.
the proposed plan would take away wholeh of his
premises. He said there was greatmisea
as to the dock entrances, and he felt assuredppre thatnsio.n
six months they would be filled up with mud. in
mechanical means could be provided for removing it
from time to time that objection would no longer
exist, but his experience of the river showed to him
that an accumulation of mud would take place.
There would be great difficulty in getting the barges
into the docks on account of the strong run of the
tide. He believed that the docks would be imprac.
ticable, as there was such a great increase of trade
that they would require a dock entrance to every
wharf. In his own case he had sometimes to un-
load or load a barge in a single night to save a ship,
and he presumed his neighbours required the
same, and to enable them to carry on their busi-

ness they ought to have a dock entrance to every
wharf. Although engineers had given evidence
that there would be no difficulty in carrying out
%Ms embankment in iefin.enee to the trade
on the river, he would rather take the opinion
of a London lighterman, who knew the dif-
ficulties of working barges on the river, which bad
not been touched upon by the engineers. The
whole of his property would require to be under-
pinned, and as he had some experience of under.
pinning his own warehouse, he knew that it would
be most expensive. Queenhithe was not an en-
croachment on the river, but was the identical dock
where Queen Elizabeth landed he... wines.
The committee then adjourned.

INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL

CONGRESS.

Yesterday the Congress re-opencd at 10 o'clock
in six sections, under their respective presidents.
In the first section (Judicial Statistics), in the
course of the proceedings,
' Lord BROUGHAM, the chairman of the section,
said the term " Judicial statistics" signified the re-
gular and constant record of the whole particulars
connected with the administration of the law in all
its branches, its administration by all courts, civil
and criminal, local and general; the state of those
courts, as to the judges and other office-bearers;
their whole proceedings through every stage,
together with every mat ter concerning the working
of the law, though not.lraving come within the
cognisance of any tribunal—in a word, the record
in minute, and for the most part in a tabular form,
of all the facts connected with the execution of our
laws. Without such information they could not
exercise their legislative functions safely, not to
say effectually. How could they know how a law
worked unless they had all the facts before them ?
It behoved them therefore to collect statistics con-
stantly with reference to the working of their laws.
Four years ago he had brought this subject before
the House of Lords. Government was too apt to
be penny wise and pound foolish.
A very interesting discussion then took place on
the subject of salaries to judges and judicial persons
in various parts of the Continent, the fees and modes
of payment, together with their qualifications, the
manner of their appointment, and the nature of
their duties. Several of the delegates gave a
variety of very interesting details. At 12 o'clock
his Royal Highness the Prince Consort entered the
section, and Lord Brougham explained to him that
a discussion had taken place on the salaries of
judges in various countries, when it appeared that
their salaries were in most cases exceedingly small,
and that in certain countries—which he very much
commiserated--the judges were elected by univer-
sal suffrage. It was agreed " that the statistics of
juries should show the number and description of
Jurors in the book, the number called during the
year for one or more times, number of days and
hours the jurors were employed, number of trials
by jury in civil and criminal cases, distinguishing
special juries, the remuneration of jurors, the num-
ber of jurors, and the cases in which trial by jury
is obligatory, eases in which it is optional, and
cases in which juries were unanimous, or have given
their verdict by a mere majority, or by some other
proportion, the number of jurors discharged,. and
on what grounds."

In Section 11. (Sanitary, Lord Shaftesbury pre-
sident) a lengthened and interesting discussion took
place, the result of which will be consolidated and
reported formally to-morrow."
In Section 111. (Industrial, Sir Roderick Mur-
chison president) an interesting discussion took
place, which chiefly referred to the questions re-
lating
to mines and mining, in which Mr. Hunt, of
the Mining Record' Office, and M. Visschers took
part.
On the entrance of his Royal Highness the Pre-
sident of the Congress,
The CHAIRMAN explained that Mr. Hunt had
made some interesting statements on the important
question of coals, and had shown that we might
with advantage apply to our country the Belgian
system, and render our mines more profitable by
the employment of engineers who had the confi-
dence of the Government of the country. These
gentlemen would have no direct authority or influ-
ence over the mines, but would give their_counsel
sand advice, 1-10 isayinst- as ILOYALt
Highness entered, that they were doing the best
they could to instruct such a class of gentlemen,
and when it became known that they were. fully
qualified to go Qut and give advice on these subjects,
no doubt their services would be more generally
called into requisition, and this would prevent the
upper beds of coal being totally destroyed for the
sake of getting at the richer beds beneath them.
In Section IV. (Commercial Statistics, presided
over by Mr. Nassau William Senior) the whole
morning was occupied with the discussion of a
paper by Mr. Newmarch, on " The Statistics of
Prices and Wages in the Principal Trades."
In Section V. (Naval and Military Statistics,
over which Earl Stanhope presided) a paper by Mr.
J. T. Hammack was read by the author, on " The
Census," referring to the means of 'obtaining the
necessary information as to the enumeration of the
population, and the existing methods in connexion
with the recommendations of the Congress to ob-
tain the most satisfactory results.
The discussion on this paper occupied the whole
of the morning. •
In Section VI. (Statistical Methods, over which
M. Quetelet presided), a paper on the statistics of
literature was read by MO.:MINTER, JONES, of the
British Museum, in which the following general
propositions were put forward. The literary sta-
tistics of a country ought to embrace all that is the
result of the exercise of the human intellect, so far
as the same is manifested through the Press. The
most ephemeral street ballad must find a place in
its details, no less than the work of the highest
scientific character. The Press affords an index to
the material, intellectual, and moral condition of a
nation ; and, if carried sufficiently far, will show
the special character of the industry of every coun-
try. The several points of inquiry ought to be—
The number of new works and volumes published
annually wider the several classes of theology,
jurisprudence, philosophy, and science (pure and
applied), history, geography, and biography, fine
arts, general literature, the classical writers of
Greece and Rome, dictionaries, grammars, and
educational works, periodical publications, includ-
ing the transactions of learned and scientific socie-
ties, newspaper literature, and ballad literature.
After some discussion, a vote was taken, affirm-
ing the general principles laid down.
The propositions were then discussed in detail,
and, with the exception of that referring to the
number of copies printed, which several gentlemen
practically acquainted with the subject showed it
was impossible to get at, were accepted.
The Congress assembled at two o'clock under the
presidency of the Right Hon. W. F. Cowper, M.P.
The first business was to read a list of the repre-
sentatives of departments and societies in foreign
countries not actually deputed by their respective
Governments, attending upon the Conference.
Belgium—M. Corr Van Der Maeren, President
of the International Customs Reform Association.
France—M. Chatelain, of the Statistical Depart-
ment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Prussia—Dr. S. Neumann, delegate from the
Central Society of Prussia for the Improve-
ment of the Condition of the Labouring
Classes, and from the Society c f Scientific
Medicine of Berlin. Russia—Captain Siera-
korski, delegate from the Russian Minister of War-
Professor Kaponskine, representative of the Uni-
versity of Moscow, and M. Gregorief, Fellow of the
Imperial Geographical Society, and member of the
Central Statistical Committee. United States—Dr.
Jarvis, delegate from the Government of the United
States, and President of the American Statistical
Society. James Wynne, Esq., and Sheppard No-
mans, Esq., from the Geographical and Statistical
Societies of America. The British Association, the
National Association, and the Manchester Statisti-
cal Society were also represented.
M. LE CHEVALIER L. DEBRAUZ DE SALDEPENNA
urged that the whole of the proceedings should
be in French, which was the international lan-
guage.
The CHAIRMAN said it was optional at these
Congresses to speak in French, or in the language
of the country in which the Congress was held. In
this they followed the precedent of the Congress at
Vienna.
M. Debrauz, M. Chatelain, and M. Carr Van der
Maeren were appointed foreign secretaries.
A variety of foreign delegates, Russian, Prus-
sian, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, and others read
addresses, mostly in French, the MSS. of which,
owing to the confused method in which the busi-
ness was managed, were given unfairly to one re-
porter; he of course, went off with them, and thus
gentlemen representing other journals were de-
prived of the opportunity which had been pro-
mised them of summarising their contents.
Dr. C. N. DAVID (Denmark) gave an account
of the progress of statistical science in Denmark,
and stated the nature of the contents of the
volumes, 21 in number, published under his di-
' rection. He deplored the want of one uniform

system as regards weights and measures, and ex-
pressed his conviction that in no country were
suicides noted with sucficient accuracy and fulness.
Dr. AS HER (Hamburg) spoke in English. It was
impossible that any Legislation could proceed with-
out an arithmetical knowledge of the factors that
come into competition in forming a law. They
could least of all dispense with this knowledge in
all questions of financial legislation. He laid
before the Congress valuable tables relating to
the gross revenue of Hamburg from 1818 to 1859,
both inclusive, with the average of every five nears,
and a variety of other matters. The value of the
imports subject to duty had increased about 117 per
cent., forming one-fourth of the entire value of im-
ported goods. The value of the imports for the
last three years was about 58Th millions of marks
banco—an increase of about 709 per cent. as com-
pared with 1815. The export duties had varied,
and as many of them as remained were abolished
in 1857. lie referred to a general asylum for the
poor, supported partly by voluntary contributions
and partly by the State. During the last seven
years the State had provided 80 per cent. of the
expenses, or 356,500 marks currency out of 447,000
marks a year. There had been a decrease of pau-
perism in the septennial period ending 1859, as
compared with the septennial period ending in
1852, of 7 2-sths per cent., though the number of
births had increased 9,27 per cent.
Mr. L. K. DAA spoke in English, and described
the official statistical publications of Norway
which he represented. From 1815 to 1855 there
had been decennial censuses, which had been gra-
dually im:.roved and enlarged, embracing (a) the
number of the people, arranged according to
age, sex, marriage, and employment ; (b) the do-
mestic cattle—horses, oxen, sheep, goats, swine,
and •reindeer ; (c) seeds of different kinds sown
annually. Every fifth year since 1830, the county
maoistrates collected statistics as to agriculture,
fisheries, trade manufactures, mines, poor-rates,
rate of wages. savings banks, &c. He laid on the
table these reports from 1851 to 1855, and stated
that reports were also made by the clergy and
others.

Numerous other delegates having spoken, the
proceedings were adjourned till this day at ten
o'clock, when the Congress will reopen in sections,
and afterwards reassemble in its collective capacity
at two o'clock.

SUMMER ASSIZES.

WESTERN CIRCUIT.-WINCHESTER, July 17,

CROWN COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice Keating.)

MURDER OF,A WIFE AND SIX CHILDREN IN THE

ISLE OF WIGHT.

William Henry Whitworth, a soldier, aged 39,
was indicted for the wilful murder of Martha, his
wife, and Frederick, William, Robert, Mary Ann,
Elizabeth, and Ellen Whitworth, his six children,
at Sandown, in the parish of Brading, Isle of
Wight.

Mr. IV. M. Cook appeared for the prosecution ;
Mr. Cole for the defence.

It will be remembered that Whitworth, who was
a sergeant in the Royal Artillery, was the master
gunner at Sandown Fort, in which his quarters
were situated, there residing with his wife and six
of his children, the seventh being absent. On the
18th of May Whitworth ran across the parade
ground, and threw himself upon his knees before
Captain Robinson, and exclaimed, " For God's sake,
sir, save me !" He handed to Captain Robinson
his watch, some papers and money, and added,
" He's used me dreadfully ! He's held a pistol at
my head, and swore he'd shoot me if I didn't cut
my throat." He then opened the collar of his coat,
exhibited his throat cut and covered with blood, and
said—" There's awful work down there ! Pray go
down !" He was sent to the hospital. On entering
the house the whole of the inmates were found
murdered.

The prisoner, when placed at the bar, stared
vacantly about the court, muttered some incoherent
sentences, and was apparently eating something.
A jury was empanelled to try the question whe-
ther the prisoner could understand the pleadings to
an indictment, and

Dr. Lyford, the surgeon to the county gaol at
to r,0t...t0d that the prisoner's mental
powers were almost entirely extinct, arising from
the softening of the brain, a disease which had
apparently been going on for some time.
The prisoner, who had placed his arm round the
neck of the turnkey who had him in charge, smiled
at and pointed to his lordship, and appeared to be
much amused at the appearance of the court.
After an explanatory address from his lordship,
The jury found that the prisoner was unable to
plead.
His Lordship said then he should direct the usual
order to be made.

The gaoler motioned to the prisoner to leave the
bar, but he appeared quite unable to comprehend
the meaning, and when he was led away by the
arm, he exclaimed in a loud tone of voice, " Gracious
God, look down upon you all, miserable sinners."

LOVE AND SUICIDE.-EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF
ATTEMPTED DOUBLE MURDER.

Robert Simpson, aged 23, was indicted for
wounding Sophia Rowe, with intent to murder her,
at Winchester.

Mr. Gunner prosecuted.
The circumstances of this extraordinary case
formed one of those recurring instances that "truth
is stranger than fiction." It appeared that Rowe,
who had been a domestic servant. is the daughter
of a brickmaker, named James Rowe, residing at
Stowmarket, in Suffolk, and on the 24th of last
December, being out of a situation, she went
to the Painters' Arms, a public-house in Sussex-
street, Winchester, to assist the landlady, who
was in ill-health, and there she remained until
the morning of Saturday, May 12. Previously to
this she had become acquainted with the prisoner ;
the Thursday and Friday nights preceding the
12th they slept together; and on the Friday morn-
ing the man said he was tired of soldiering, he
should cut his throat, and requested that Rowe
would obtain him a razor. She told him that she
would not borrow one, upon which, according to the
girl's account, he became so unhappy that she gave
him ls. 6d. to purchase a razor. He bought one, re-
turned to the Painters' Arms, and remained there for
the rest of the day, giving the razor to Rowe, who
locked it up in her box. At night, when they went
to bed, at the prisoner's request, Ro we took the razor
out of the box and placed it under the bolster.
Another girl, Rachel Welby, also got into the bed,
being accustomed to sleep with Rowe ; she arose
at seven o'clock the next morning and went down
stairs. About five minutes afterwards Simpson took
the razor from under the bolster, and Rowe desired
him to cut her throat. He replied that he had not
power to do it, and Rowe declared that if he did not
cut hers he should not cut his own. Simpson asked
her to lay her arm down for him to put his head on,
and she then laid her arm down and he laid his head
upon it. At that time he had the razor in his left
hand, and with it he first cut Rowe's throat and
then his own. Mrs. Watlen, the landlady, heard
some noise, and on running up stairs found them
both lying on the bed with their throats cut and
bleeding. Rowe held out her hand, and said
" Good bye." Simpson said, " This is love," and
Rowe added, "I shall die happy."
Mr. Buckle, a surgeon, was called in, and on an
examination of the wounds discovered upon Rowe
a very large incision in the neck, dividing a por-
tion of the trachea, attended with much hemorrhage.
The prisoner's neck was not so seriously lacerated.
The jury convicted the prisoner of the attempt to
murder.

His Lordship characterised the conduct of the
parties as a foolish and wicked act--an offence
against morals, religion, and law ; and ordering
sentence of death to be recorded against the pri-
soner, told him that he would have to suffer a long
term of imprisonment.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.—LEICESTER, July 17.
(Before Mr. Justice Wightman.)
Hannah Holmes, 16, domestic servant, was in-
dicted for the wilful murder of Samuel Wells.

Mr. Mereweather and Mr. Sargeant for the pro-
secution ; Mr. O'Brien and Mr. Palmer defended
the prisoner.
Prisoner had been a domestic servant to the de-
ceased Samuel Wells, and they had had daily dis-
agreements. She had been heard to say that she
hated him (deceased), and that "she wished the
old devil was dead." Prisoner was sent by her
master to the house of Henry John Wells, a son of
deceased, for some wheat and some arsenic. A
small bag of wheat was given her, and a packet of
arsenic containing lb. Afterwards the packet
was returned to the son's house, and it was found
that the packet then contained 21 ounces. On the
following night Samuel Wells wished to have
so.i'e gruel for supper, and prisoner made him
some. On taking it he remarked that it was
thick, and he could not "get through it."
Shortly afterwards he was seized with vomiting,
which continued all night, and he kept his bed next
day. On the evening of that day his daughter-in-
law ordered prisoner to make some thin gruel, and