The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-07 00:00:00

THAMES.

DESPERATE HIGHWAY ROBBEEY.—Williatft Brown,
powerful and active fellow, well known to the police, and
who was described as a costermonger, of 27, Star-street,
St. George's-in-the-East, who was brought to this court
in irons on Friday afternoon, in consequence of his having
made a desperate resistance and injured the officer who
apprehended him, was again brought up this morning on
remand before Mr. Selfe, charged with assault and high-
way robbery.

Mr. David Robertson, an elderly mariner, and lately
mate of a ship, residing at 2, Dian-street, Shadwell, said
that on the 25th of March last, about a quarter-past four
o'clock in the afternoon, he was on his way to the city, and
when he was in the High-street, Shadwell, nearly opposite
Shadwell-market, the prisoner ran against him and
dragged his silver watch from his pocket, separating it
from the chain to which it was attached, and
then struck him a tremendous blow on.. the face,
which knocked him down. He got up, and was
knocked down again. The prisoner ran away. He got up
and pursued him close to Shadwell Dock-stairs, where the
prisoner got among the ruins of some small houses and
made his escape. The watch stolen was worth at least £5.
'l'homas James Painter, a salesman, saw the last witness
attacked and robbed in the way described, and he pursued
the prisoner, who managed to get away with the watch.
Inspector Allison, of the K division, said a description of
the watch had been circulated all over London, but it could
not be found The prisoner was a most desperate thief.
Mr. Yardley yesterday ordered the depositions to be
taken by the second clerk, and said he should commit the
prisoner for trial for a highway robbery.
The prisoner—Will you settle it now, sir ?
Mr. Yardley—l shall not, indeed. You will be com-
mitted for • trial for highway robbery, attended with very
aggravated circumstances. You are remanded, and then
proof will be given of a former conviction.
This day the prisoner was brought before Mr.
Selfe, the case was again entered into and the deposi-
tions of yesterday repeated.
Thomas' Harris, a police-constable, No. 380 K,
stated that the prisoner had been summarily convicted
several times for stealing watches and purses, and the last
conviction was in August, 1858.
Mr. Selfe said he should not again convict the prisoner
summarily,*and the depositions having been completed by
Mr. Pyn, the chief clerk, he was committed far trial.

ITALY, THE LAND OF GENIUS.—M„ Legouve of
the French Academy, has written a letter to the Sleds,
recommending a subscription to be raised for the purpose
of enabling Italians in Paris to proceed to the seat of war
and take part in the military operations: After dwelling,
on the advantages of that course, the writer says :—" I
will leave antiquity out of the question, and speak only of
modern times. Is it not a striking spectacle to see Italy
always give the signal to the world, always open the way
for great things ? The first modern epic poet is an Italian
—Dante ; the first lyric poet is an Italian—Petrarch ; the
first poet of chivalry is an Italian—Ariosto ; the first mo-
dern novelist is an Italian—Boccaccio ; the first painter in
the world is an Italian—Raphael; the first statuary is an
Italian—MichaelAngelo ; the first vigorous statesman and
historian of the revival is an Ttalian—Machiavelli ; the first
philosophical historian is an Italian—Nico ; the discoverer
of the New World is an Italian—Christopher Columbus;
and the first demonstrator of the laws of the heavenly
world is an Italian—Galileo. You will find a son of Italy
standing on every step of the temple of genius ever since
the 12th century. Then, in times nearer to our own, while
all all other nations are working at the continuation of this
immortal gallery, Italy from time to time collects her
strength and presents to the world a colossus surpassing
all. Now, even now, the greatest of living artists—the only
one, perhaps, who deserves, solely as an artist, the title of
a great man—is he not an Italian ?—Rossini 1 And lastly,
was he not also a son of Italy—that giant Who towered
above the whole century, and covered all around him with
his light or his shade—Napoleon? In fact, it would seem
that when" Providence wants a guide or a leader for huma-
nity, it sttikes this favoured soil and a gream roan springs
forth." The writer concludes by deolaring that he wishes
his name to be put down for I,ooof. This passage is re-
markable for its liberality as coming from a Frenchman.
The French generally claim the first place for themselves.
—Literary Gazette.