The Sun.
London, England, 1869-07-05 00:00:00

THAMES.

THE GAMBLING NUISANCE.—This day the usual gang
of juvenile gamblers were brought before Mr. Benson for
playing at pitch and toss on Sunday. Some were playing
at halfpence, and others were playing at " put," cribbage,
all fours, and a mongrel game called " all fives," in which
"every five" is counted.

Mr. Benson—ls it possible the spirit of illegal games is
carried on so far as to permit the infamous practice to be
carried on in the streets on the Sabbath morning ?
The police said it was, and that the gambling was ac-
companied with fighting, swearing, and blasphemy.
The boys said they were only looking on.

Mr. Benscn said the police saw some of the prisoners
with coins and others with cards in their hands. It was a
most infamous practice, and should and must be put a
stop to.

The parents of tho boys vindicated them.

Mr. Benson—The parents are worse than their children.
In many cases out of the small earnings of their children
they have given them money to go out mad gamble with
other boys. The parents ought to be punished with their
sous. Mr. Bensonit hen read the now Act of Parliament,
and sail he should have to sentence boys three months'
imprisonment and hard labour before he could put a stop
to this. He sentenced three of the boys, who wore under
14 years of age to six days' imprisonment and hard labour.
If any o: the prisoners were ever charged with a similar
offence before him and it was made out he should pass a
more severe sentence without regard to age.

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

Rear-Admiral G. Wellesley hoisted his flag pro
tem. on Friday on board her Majesty's ship Excel-
lent at Portsmouth, under the customary salutes, as
Commander-in-Chief of her Majesty's ships on the
North American Station. It was subsequently
transferred to the Revenge, and hauled down at
sunset, the Admiral going on leave.
The unarmoured plated screw ship Revenge, in
charge of Capt. Moriarty, Assistant Master Atten-
dant of Portsmouth, arrived at Spithead on Friday
afternoon from Plymouth. She went iuto Ports-
mouth harbour in the evening, and was on Satur-
day commissioned by Capt. R. Wells as temporary
flagship of Rear-Admiral lx. Wellesley for the
Royal Alfred. A number of the officers and men
have already joined, and the Revenge will shortly
leave, returning with the officers and crew of the
Royal Alfred to be paid off.
The troopship Crocodile, Captain G. Watson,
arrived at Spithead yesterday morning from Hali-
fax with troops, comprising the 4th battalion of the
60th Rifles, under the command of Colonel R.
Hawley, and a battery of the Royal Artillery. She
will come into Portsmouth Harbour this morning,
when the troops will disembark and proceed to
Aldershott and Woolwich.

His Danish Majesty's screw steam corvette,
Thor, Capt. Stnit, left Plymouth Sound on Satur-
day afternoon for the West Indies.]
The Duke of Cambridge, as Field-Marshal Com-
manding-in-Chief, held a levee on Saturday after-
noon at the Horse Guards. Nearly 150 officers
attended.

Navigating Sub-Lieut. E. H. Cunningham was
tried by court-martial on Friday, in Hamoaze, for
playing cards with Mr. Ross, an invalid midship-
man, in the saloon after the lights had been reported
out, he being officer of the watch at the time. Capt.
G. J. Napier presided, and Mr William Eastlake,
Deputy-Judge-Advocate of the Fleet, officiated.
The prisoner admitted his guilt, and was adjudged
to be severely reprimanded, and to be discharged
from his ship, the Himalaya.