The Sun.
London, England, 1869-06-05 00:00:00

MAGISTRATES' CLERKS.

Mr. BRUCE, in reply to Mr. R. Gurney, said it was
most desirable that all justices' clerks should be paid bi
salary, but as 30 counties had availed themselves of the
act which had been passed, he did not think there WAS
any reason to bring in a bill to make its provisions
compulsory.

PROPERTY AND INCOME TAX.
Mr. STANSFELD, in reply to Mr. Pollard-Urquhart
said a tenant or cccupier could not deduct any paymeo
of income tax from the landlord's rent before the tax Lad
been actually paid. They could only ba deducted after
the amount had been actually paid, and then the whole
." " .--ument he
was called upon to pay his landlord.
THE CONVICT O'DONCTVAN ROSI.

Mr. BRUCE said he was very much obliged to Sir
John Gray in giving him the opportunity of making
a statement relative to the treatment of the treason
felony convict O'Donovan Rosa, who, it had been stated,
had been treated with undue severity by laving his hands
manacled for 30 days and nights,and that he had been coin'
pelled, to escape starvation, actually to take his food like
a beast of the field, on all fours. (Laughter.) It Wag
most important, if the statement was true, that it
should be explained, and if false that it should bi
denied. The O'Donovan Rosa was convicted of treason
felony in 1865, and in usual cases convicts were general
sent to Pentonville, but in these particular casee it area
thought best for the health of the prisoners that they
should be at once sent to Portland, which was, if he might
use the term, one of the most pleasant of the convict
prisons, but in April, 1866, his conduct became se
violent, and had such a bad effect upon the
other prisoners, that it was thought advisable
to send him back to Millbank. Messrs. Knox and 1901-
lock had reported that Rosa was one of the most dan-
gerous of men, and that it was not safe to leave him to-
guarded for a moment ; as a day never passed without bi/
being guilty of some act of insubordination. Since ltosa.
removal the conduct of the treason-felony prisoners
Portland had greatly improved. After lie had been 100
12 months at Millbank he was sent to Chatham in the ref
1868, and then he began to repeat the conduct to
had been guilt; of at Portland ; on the Ist of June he Wee
reported for refusing to clean his cell, which was then ie
a very filthy conditiou ; on the sth of June he sve°
again reported for insubordination and wilfully de-
stroying the prison property ; on the 9th of June
he was again r, ported as refractory and insulting
conduct towards the Governor of the prison, but on the
15th of June, on the Governor visiting him in his cell/
Rosa threw the foul contents of his cell utensil into
the face of that functionary. N,w, for such an AC',
ordinary prisoners would have been flogged, but be
was only ordered to be kept in another cell out 1 his On'
duct could be brought before the directors of the prison.
A person at this period obtained an interview with tlie
prisoner on the slowing that he was about to defend
his claim in some law suit ; and it was thus, that
the statement got publicity about his b ping confined for
35 days„ in manacles, which were never removed del
nor night, and that he had been kept in a dark cell for e'
number of days and his food given to him as though 11
were a dog. Now, it was not the fact that he had
been kept for 35 days in a dark cell, but he had been se
confined for part of a day in consequence of his outrageoe°
conduct. With respect to the manacles being kept on
the whole of the long period both night and day, the truth
was that the handcuffs were removed always to allow Ws:
to take his food, and that they were never kept on s;
night ; and instead of its being true, as had been stated'
that Rosa was broken down in bodily health in coos
sequence of the inhuman treatment to which 17
had been subjected to, he had actually increased in weight
very sensibly since his admission to the prison. (Hest,
hear.) He could not imagine that any one, excepting
Irish member of Parham entconld believe thatsuch treatinee
as that stated had been inflicted by the writer of the letter
upon which the hon. baronet had evidently founded hie
question. Rosa had nobody but himself to blame for the
hardships he had had to undergo, but lie had the satis-
faction of stating that he had improved in his condor"
which had formerly exercised such a baneful iuflunali
upon his fellow prisoners.

THE PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENT. ij
Mr. OT WAY, in reply to Mr. Dalglish, said he en "d
not say what course the Portuguese Government propnBe,
to pursue with respect to tho claims upon it. In on
t
ease Mr. Lindsay, who had formerly been a member of 0;0
house had a claim upon it, and a proposal had been 0.„
for its liquidation. Sir G. Murray had been instructed 't
urge the settlement of those claims, but with what elle°
he could not yet say.

THE STATUTE LAW. nsa
Mr. HADFIELD then called the attention of the to- y
to the condition of the statute law, which he said was in
most objectionable state.
Mr. GLADSTONE said all the attention that at tbli
period could be given would be given to take steps f°l.
revision of the statute law. 10
Mr. GREGORY then brought forward his model'
favour of the opening of the national museums on Stalcil4i
the debate on which continued for some time, till a COull
out took place during the speech of Mr. Chambers.
The House then stood adjourned till Monday.

a
LITERARY ITEDlS.—Senator Wilson is Writ,Ogro
history of Congress during the war.—A publishing fey
recently wrote to Mr. Spurgeon, and made him e '
liberal offer for a life of the Saviour. Mr. Spurgeon po
plied, " Such a work is beyond my ability ; I have n,f",
,te;
time at my disposal; and thirdly, it would not be to DV
The only life of Christ worth a cent is the New Testalneque
—ln 75d libel suits pending against American editore,„oo.
aggregate damages to character are estimated at $47,500•;‘,4
—The annual meeting of the New York State Asencii'tel.
,
Press commenced May 19 at the Metropolitan ill"-
Twenty-nine papers were represented out of the thil:
four composing the Association. The following or tion was effected for the ensuing year : President, JO-'l.,
Warren, of the Buffalo Courier; Secretary and Treasilqt,
Ellis H. Roberts, of the Utica Herald; Executive Cornclid
tee, Henry C. R. Tucker, Troy Times; J. C. Cuyler, Al`M.
Express ; Carroll E. Smith, Syracuse Journal ; George Ad,.
Cooper, Rochester Union; James S. Thurston, Ebrdra_tiqw!
vertzser.—The New Fork Tribune scandal. with Nyilic.u"g
was so intimately associated, has resulted in some c tod,
to the management of that journal. Hereafter, we are Reid
Mr. Hazard will have charge during the day and 111 r•
at night, while Mr. M'Connell will act as city editor.
right to employ and discharge is vested solely. in op
Greeley and Mr. Sinclair. The office of managing gr,
tor is abolished, and the late occupant of the chniF, ig
Young, has resigned the position. The follownlog
the material portion of an order, in the handwrl the
of Mr. Horace Greeley, which has been posted invia
Tribune editorial rooms :—" John Russell Young 11n is
resigned the position of managing editor, that posilt° ep
henceforth abolished. Mr. Whitelaw Reid will railAecy
the schedule, and will take care that my orders goal; it
are obeyed. Those who are in doubt as to their duo,.
any time may, in my absence, inquire of him."--4
—Thurlow Weed has retired from journalism and pol3o
—The Grand Army of the Republic will bring out a g 700-
monthly magazine called the Grand Army Record. ',iris!
rado R. J. Hinton is to edit the new volume of " by
Services" authorised by Congress, and that prepare 0
Frank Moore is going through the press.—The A'eir tett
Citizen has become altogether the property of Mr. B? it 4
B. Rosevelt, a well known sportsman and writer og
columns. The Citizen announces the change in a lea
tsifl
article, and we hope that the new proprietor will nial° hed
the independent Democratic tone which has distingo ett
his journal and always made it so readable a paper °lll
of all shades of opinion.

BIRTIk. 0 g
GUTHRIE—On the 3d inst., at 30, Portland-plac",,
Guthrie, of Craigie, of a eon. /jag
SPEIRS—On the 3d inst., at 14, Eaton-place, the
Anne Speirs, of a son.

AIARRIAGES. , stir
FLETCHER—BARRON— On the 3d iust , at Richinoeu,,,„os,
rey. Captain Charles W. Fletcher, Bengal Staff real
to Clara, widow of Edward Barron, Esq., of the oe-r
Civil Service.
LuNAu—EfAYTON —On the 3d lnst., at Holy Trinity,
o fia
Hill, Frederick Win. Lunau, of Elderslie Villa,tpDr
No. wood, to Ifalen, youngest daughter of Danl. WI
Esq., of Oakland Rouse.

DEATLIS.
CHURCH - On the 3d inst., at Colchester, John H. CL
Esq., solicitor, aged 72.
caber
HODGSON —On the 3d inst., at Nowby Grange, Cti-
land, Mary, wife of W. N. Hodgson, Esq. M.P. f 49,
WALKER—On the 4th inst., William Adam Walker,
Fulham-road, aged 69.

London: Printed and Published by WILLIAM AND° t3J,
of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE SUN Office, No. 11'l.
in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the Cuunty of laieldie3c
Saturday, June 5, 1809.