The Sun.
London, England, 1835-07-16 00:00:00

FUNERAL OF GEO. TENNYSON, EsQ.,
OF BATON'S MANOR, LINCOLNSHIRE,
FATHER OF THE RIGHT HON. C. TENNYSON.

A noble manifestation of popular feeling has taken place in
the county of Lincoln, on the occasion of the funeral of this
venerable gentleman, who died in his 86th year ; his deathbed
being surrounded by his children, grandchildren, and great
grandchildren. Having dwelt during the whole of his long
life in the same neighbourhood, he was well known to the
three generations who had sprung up around him. He
especially directed his son, the Member for Lambeth, to
bury him in privacy, without pomp or ceremony. Accord-
ingly his remains were taken on Tuesday night at twelve
o'clock from Usselby House to Bayon's Manor for inter-
ment the next day. These proceedings could not be kept se-
cret from the sympathising neighbourhood, and at midnight
upwards of 60 gentlemen on horseback, with some of the re-
sident gentry in four carriages insisted upon joining the mourn-
ful procession. The next day, the whole of the windows in
the town of Market Rasen were partially closed. The weather
was inclement—the rain poured in torrents, yet upwards of
2,000 persons walked several miles to attend the funeral. The
benevolence of the venerable gentleman filled many hearts
and many eyes; and the numerous old tenantry to whom he
had ever been a most considerate landlord attended unani-
mously to pay their last respects. The Magistrates, the Clergy,
and the resident gentlemen of the neighbourhood, were also
present, and we observed gentlemen from Grimsby, Caistor,
Lincoln, &c., iri addition to the Right Hon. C. Tennyson
and his Sons, the Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, Wm. Rus-
sell, Esq., of Brancepeth Castle (late M.P.), and other mem-
bers of the deceased's family. As the funeral procession
moved up the devious and romantic path through the grounds
of Bayon's Manor to the church, the sight was most inte-
resting. The body was carried upon a bier, and the mourners
proceeded on foot—there was no carriage—no pomp—yet the
crowd was as great as if a gorgeous spectacle was to have
gratified the eye. The people poured into the church, and
with noiseless respect, heard the Rev. Vicar of Tealby read
the solemn service for the dead. At the words " Dust to
dust, and ashes to ashes," there was a perceptible movement—
" 'Twas the Divinity that spoke within
To intimate eternity to man."
Mr. Tennyson being descended from the family of D'Eyn-
court, has, we hear, left by his will, directions that the Hon.
Member for Lambeth shall take the name of that eminent
English family.
When the crowd departed from church it was pleasing to
hear their grateful remarks upon the deceased. He was
spoken of as a good magistrate, a kind landlord, and a most
steady friend. He was the principal creator of the magnifi-
cent Dock and Navigation of Grimsby, where he has an an-
cient family estate, and which place Mr. Charles Tennyson
represented in Parliament. One circumstance in these stir-
ring times was particularly dwelt upon. Many of his tenants
relying on the kind and tolerant character of their landlord,
voted against Mr. Tennyson—they were, as they expected
to be, perfectly unmolested, and lived and died on the same
low rents. This is a trait of character the more remark-
able, for such a case was then nearly unique, and even in these
more liberal times we should be glad to see it generally fol-
lowed.—LincolnGazette.

POWER OF COMMITMENT.

BANKRUPTCY COURT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Str,—The application made by the creditors of Sternberg,
recently reported by you, and the declaration by the Commis-
sioner that he had no power to commit, although the circum-
stances of the case should seem to require it, has greatly ex-
cited the attention of the commercial and trading circles ; and
I had hoped to have found you drawing the public attention
to this important subject.
If no such power exists, it follows that we have had a Court
established, with numerous and effective officers, for the admi-
nistration of an important branch of commercial law, and that
the power absolutely essential to the beneficial exercise of its
functions does not exist.

It is impossible to expect that the commercial community
can rest satisfied with such a state of things.
Hitherto, since the institution of this Court, when frauds
have been practised, and when committed by men who are
subject to the bankrupt laws, they are generally practised to a
large and ruinous extent—the facilities which the power of
immediate examination, and if necessary of commitment, has
afforded, have been productive of immediate advantage to the
creditors, independently of the checks which detection in every
case gives to the repetition of fraud. Every case of success-
ful fraud lays the foundation of others.
The present state of things it is understood has resulted from
decisions, all of which have tended to impose additional re-
straints upon the exercise of this important power.
In a recent case where a man had been examined and com-
mitted upon a statement so extravagant and contradictory that
no one who heard it could for a moment believe it to be true,
he was brought up before a sub-division Court, and the whole
of his own statement was read carefully over to him. He was
then asked if he adhered to that statement, and he answered
he did, upon which the Court remanded him to prison.
He did not want for money ; men who have been guilty of
frauds in bankruptcy seldom do, and a habeas corpus was im-
mediately sued out. The case was laid before Lord Brougham,
and his Lordship discharged him from the commitment, not
because his account was credible, but because the examination
had not been began by the Sub-division Court de novo.

Now, it is obvious that bad the second Court, the Sub-
division Court, which, fur this purpose sits, as a Court of
Appeal, begun a fresh examination upon the same subject
matter, their questions would have been open to the imputa-
tion of an intention to entrap the witness into verbal contra-
diction. The man was nevertheless ordered to be discharged,
immediately absconded, and is now enjoying his otium cum
dignitate in America.
Surely such a state of things will not be allowed to con-
tinue. ZENAS.