The Sun.
London, England, 1835-09-07 00:00:00

PA ALIAM

PAPERS

COUNTY RATES.

. .
- In a preliminary-Report of the Commissioners appointed to
inquire respecting County Rates,Ave see that one of the most
important subjects which 'has first engaged their attention is
the expenditure in Prosecutions.
it is ascertained that for mOre than forty years past,
there has been a-large and constantly progressive increase in
that expenditure. It appears, too, that &rig increase is in a
much greater ratio than that of the population.
Thus, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, we find that in
1814, with a population of 600,000, there was an expenditure
in prosecutions of 2,8231. 4s. In 1824 the population was
831,074, having increased 381- per cent. ; tha cost of proseeu-
tions'lo,lsol., having increased 2591' per cent. In 1834 the
population was 960,000, having increased 151 per cent. ; and
the cost of prosecutions 13,7271, having increased 351- per
cent.-
Th e augmentation of e-xpenditure is chiefly owing to the
increase in the number of prosecutions, which, as well as the
general expenditure,, is in a much greater ratio than that of
the population, and partly to an increase of the outlay in each
case, individually considered.
With respect to the actual average expense of an assize pro-
secutionthroughout the country, it amounts, so far as vve'have
been able hitherto to arrive at a precise result, to about 191.
and varies in different counties from 151. to 50/. The cost of
a prosecution at the county quarter sessions may be stated on
an average at 71. 10s., and varies in different counties from 31.
to 131.

HUNTINGDONSHIRE FAGOT

VOTES

A very large portion of the expense of prosecutions, and
that which is most capable of economical regulation, consists
of the charges for conveying witnesses to the place of trial,
and their loss of time, maintenance, and other expenses there
during the period of the assizes and sessions. "In connexion
with this fact, we have noticed with great interest, the cir-
cumstance that in those cases where an offence is cognizable. in
a court of local jurisdiction, and prosecuted there, the, costs of
the proceedings are always found to be comparatively light.
Thus from Leeds we have a Return which proves that offen-
ces prosecuted in the borough courts are tried at an average
expense of 4/. as. Gd., while the charge for prosecuting an
offence committed at Leeds, .and tried at the' York As-
sizes, may fairly may be stated on an average at 501. The
point, however, is best illustrated by the Returns we
have obtained from the exempt jurisdictions throughout the
country. These towns arc privileged to try in their own
courts exclusively, the ordinary offences committed within
their precincts, but send their capital felonies to be tried at
the assizes ; and it appearg by the Returns, that a prosecution
of the former class costs the town on an average 51. Bs. Gd.
only, and one of the latter 191."
Further on the Commissioners report, that "the principle
of trying offences on the spot by an ambulatory criminal court,
has been subjected to an experiment in the West Riding of
Yorkshire, where the quarter sessions are held at Doncaster
in January, at Pontefract in April, at Skipton and Bradford in
June, and at Leeds and Sheffield in October. At the latter
place it has further been found advisable to hold interme-
diate sessions by adjournments, one between Michaelmas and
Christmas, and the other between Christmas and Easter. The
only expense occasioned by this arrangement, has been in the
attendance of the clerk of the peace, and in the taking over
the prisoners from the house of correction at 'Wakefield, the
costs of which, however, is inconsiderable, as they are carried
in a caravan containing at the same time twenty persons. The
saving in the expenses of a prosecution thus conducted on the
spot, hat been shown to be nearly one half, while at the same
time the personal convenience of prosecutors, witnesses and
jurors, generally persons in business, has been greatly pro-
moted."
They adopt the principle that " crime should, in its pecu-
niary consequences, be a local burthen," and are therefore in
direct opposition to the plan in contemplation of throwing upon
the general revenues of the country the whole or part of the
expenses of prosecution at the assizes and sessions.
Referring to some petitions from the counties of Stafford
and Warwick, which state that thefts of a trivial nature, and
committed under a given age, should not be triable as or sub-
ject to the consequences of felonies, the Commissioners hold
it to be a dangerous refinement, having a tendency to confound
moral diStinctions ; the difference between mere trespasses and
larceny, or wrongful appropriation of property, is not accidental
and technical but real and essential; disgrace will unavoidably
and unalterably attach to dishonesty and not to mischief. The
distinction of petty larceny existed till lately in our law, but
has been justly exploded, the value of an article stolen fur-
nishing no criterion of moral guilt.
The deplorable consequences of imprisoning a young and
first offender in a felon's gaol may be remedied, the Report
states, by avoiding commitment before trial, by bailing such
off.inders to their friends, and to dispose of their cases with
the least possible delay, but according to the regular forms of
justice, and to give the judge a power of sentencing them to
confinement or correction in penitentiaries, without a previous
imprisonment in a common gaol ; or this might be accom-
plished upon the plan of local trials.
The Commissioners have suspefftied their Report on many
topics connected with the subject of prosecutions, such as the
inquiry into the receipt and appropriation of fees hitherto re-
ceived, and the preparation of new tables of fees, proper to be
taken throughout the country, till the Returns called for can
be received. It is the same with the consideration of the
expediency of the abolition or consolidation of certain offices,
and the solution of the question whether the payment of minis-
terial officers had better be by salary or fees.
CONVEYANCE.—The head of expense, " Conveyance of
Prisoners," has increased from 1792 to 1832, 525 per cent ;
yet it'most probably does not include the cost of the removal
of prisoners from one gaol to another to take their trial, or
undergo their punishments, as the Commissioners have ascer-
tained that such expense is frequently included (where it could
very little be looked for) under the head Houses of Correc
tion "

Allp' ress, John jun Blott, William, jun.
~
Arundell, John Brinier Barber, Thomas
Abbott, Thomas Biden, Henry Lloyd
Beck, James Osborne Brooks, George
Beard, Robert Baxter, Thomas
Bell, Leonard • Beavour, John
Bates, John Blackwell, William
Brown, Thomas Blackwell, Joseph
Beetles, William *Berkeley Rowland
Betts, James- . *Berkeley, Miles Joseph
Broker, Benjamin . *Berkeley, William
Brown, Richard *Berkeley, Maurice Henry
Those marked thus * were made by Charles Paul Berkelel
Steward to the Earl of Westmoreland.
Cross, Hayloek *Day, William, jun.
Chambers, John, jun. *Day, Neville
Child, William, jun. *Day, John Tomlinson
Colhoun, William Wratham - *Day, Charles
Cooper, Thomas, jun. *Day, George
Compton, John *Day, Lewis
Corbett,. James *Day, Robert
Cowley, James Docwra, James
Cowley, George Dobson, Henry
Cook, Constantine John Duval, John
Corbet, William Dashwood, Francis B.
Cipriani, Philip . Danell, Henry
•
Conch, Samuel Edward Drake, %bort
Collier, William Daniell, Joseph
Calvert, Thomas Darnell, Anthony M.
Calvert,. Edward Drage, William
Calvert, John Dooins, John Samuel
Compton, John Descow, Peter
Campion, John Dunkley, Thomas •
Collier, Pratt, jun. Dobson, John
Claughton, Josiah • Dunn, Thoma 4
Claughton, William . Dunn, John Carrington
Claughton, Henry Desborough, Charles
Chapman, John Desborough, William Henry
Day, John Desborough, Henry, jun.
Those marked thus * were made by their father, William
Day, who is a Tory lawyer of Saint Neot's.
The remainder of the alphabet you can have at another
time ; but I have selected a few, family knots.
Fernie, Rev. John Lindsell, Rev. Edward
Fernie, Thomas Peter Mackie, David
Fernie, Andrew, jun. Mackie, John William
Fellowes, Edward Moseley, Litchfield
Fellowes, William Henry Moseley, Litchfield, jun.
Fames, Henry Moseley, Robert Tabram
Godby, Charles Henry Newton, George, Esq.
Godby, John Hardy - Newton, Samuel, Esq.
Godby, .Henry Newton, Thomas
Godby, John Edward Pooley, John jun.
Godby, Robert Pooley, Richard
Herbert,-George Pooley, Thomas
Herbert, Dennis Peppercorn, William, sen.
Herbert., Nathaniel Vincent Peppercorn, William, jun.
Herbert, Cornelius . Peppercorn, John
Herbert, John Peppercorn, George Alennder
Lewis, Percival Stocker, Rev. Thomas
Lewis, Edward Stocker, James
Lewis, Charles Stocker, John
Lindsell, Robert B. Stocker, Luff
Lindsell, William
It was in part to counteract the influence of this Tory ma.
nufactory that several high-spirited and independent gentlemen
purchased land at Hartford and other places in this county,
bona fide, and the Whigs have made a few annuities since,
.
but they do not amount to 50/.

In Sussex and Somerset it is said that large sums might
be saved under this head of expenditure.
One instance, calculated to show'the operation of the pre-
sent system, is selected from the Return from the former
county. When the Assizes for the county of Sussex are to be
held at Lewes, prisoners committed for trial at the Assizes
must be sent to the common or Sheriff's gaol at Horsham, 25
miles ; they arc brought hack to Lewes fur trial, 25 miles ;
being sentenced to death or imprisonment, they are returned
to Iforshara gaol, 25 miles; and if the punishment be com-
muted for imprisonment, they are returned to Lewes House of
Correction, 25 miles, making four times 25, or 100 miles, tra-
velled by such prisoners at the expense of the county. The
luaolivenieupc is the same in the case of transports, who are of
necessity sent to the common gaol, though in the opposite di-
rection to the port on the coast where they are intended to
embark.

With reference to " ALLOWANCES TO DISCHARGED PRI.
SONERS ON ROUTE" to their settlement by vagrant passes, some
curious information is furnished :

" In the Durham treasurer's account for 1833, it is said,
The number of discharged prisoners passing through this
county last year, under Vagrant passes, does not fall short of
1,000.' A great part of them are discharged from Coldbath-
fields, Brixton, and other southern prisons ; they commit acts
of vagrancy, get sent to prison, on their discharge claim a pass
to a pretended settlement in a northern county, and traverse
the length of England at 1,141. per mile for adults, and Id. for
children; so, south from llorpoth to Cornwall and Somerset.
In the examination of the treasurer for the West Riding of
Yorkshire, he states that he has known instances of cads coming
down to the Yorkshire horse-fairs who have got people to take
them up, and send them to gaol, where they have been` for a
day or two, a hen the gaol being fullthey have been discharged,
got a route-pass, and have gone to Northallerton at the ex-
pense of the county."—[ Here we see a humane provision scan-
dalously abused.]
On the subject of " VALUATIONS," the Report admits the
undeniable hardship of charging on the realty all the expenses
attending the invasion of personal property; but the Commis-
sioners, at the same time, state that it is impossible to raise a
fund by taxing other kinds of property, and that the anTicul-
turists must seek and will find relief from this bonbon be; new
and periodical valuations :

During the last year there has been an increase in
the Methodistbody of 423 in Ireland, of 4,618 abroad, and a
decrease of 951 in Great Britain, leaving a net increase of 4,090.
TIIE DUBLIN AUDIENCE.—TiIe visitors of the
galleries in the Dublin. and indeed all the Irish theatres, differ
in conduct from the natives of any other country. They single
out individuals whom they know in pit or boxes, and keep up a
fire of interrogatories by no means pleasant, and not always
decorous. On one occasion a Mr. C----, a wine-merchant,
about whom some delicate affair was then murmured, was
in the pit : a lad in the gallery began to inquire of Mr.
C—, " How's Mrs. So-and-so, Mr. C—? Why wouldn't
you bring her along wid you, Mr. ?" Sze. &c. Mr.
C-- bore this for some time with great good humour, but Pe'..
last rose and said, " As the gentleman wishes to have
with me, will some of ye just throw him over
then we shall be able to converse at cur the pit, and
a chat
SHOCKING ACCIDENT AUTION TO SER-
VANTS —On Friday evenig, between six and seven o'clock,
the following shocking aceidout Occurred to a remarkably fine
young woman, of thQ "Arne of Elizabeth Hills, 18 years of age,
a ser.vant:giri, Zq tha employ of Mr. Topple, a gentleman,
retidelg in Broad-street, Oolden-sqnare. It appears that the
unfortunate sufferer was employed in cleaning the back second-
flour windews, when, by some unforeseen occurrence, she let
she lay, tot
go her hold, and was instantly precipitated into the back area
Ilyinousible to her sufferings, when by accident a
a height Of between 4(1 Atli) 50 feet. In this dreadful situation'
looking out c f his window, discovered the unhappy
female. An alarm was given of the circumstance, and assist-
ance being immediately procured, she
was removed with all
possible
despatch to Middlesex Hospital, where, on examine-
WM by the surgeons of the.injuries she had sustained, it was
discovered that she had received a severe coneuFsion on the
brain, attended by a dreadful fracture of the skull, with other
ones of the arms, besides internal injuries of so serious a conse-
quence, that she lies enduring most excruciating sufferings,
Without the slightest hopes of recovery.
COMMITTAL OF AN ENSIGN FOR HOR:iE
STEALINd.—Mn Saturday, et the Brentford Petty Sessions,
Frederick Robinson, formerly Ensign in the 9th Regiment of
Foot, and who stated himself to be the only son of Lieut.-
Qerieriti Sir Frederick Robinson, Bart, late Governor of
the island of Tobago, was charged with horse stealing. Mr..
J. Warner, basket maker, of King-street, Hammersmith,
stated that on Thursday morning, about six o'clock, the pri-
,soncr Qiiirio to. his residence, accompanied by the ostler of'
the 'Chaise and Horses public-house, and stated that he had
Chat morning come up with the Hampshire waggon, the
driver of which had lost his bill of parcels at Hounslow, and
reqtiested a horse to go back and find it. Witness agreed to
let him have one for Bs., the prisoner promising to return as
soon as possible, but he did not come back with the animal.
Other witnesses proved that the prisoner endeavoured to sell
the horse the same evening to a man named Taylor, at the
Crown public house, Gunnersbnry-place, near Brantford,
where he was taken into custody by policeman Pascoe, of
the T division. On the first examination, on Friday evening,
the prisoner stated himself to be the only son of Sir F. Robin-
son, Bart., Lieutenant-General of the 59th Regiment of Foot,
whose town residence was in Portman-square, but who was
at present At Paris. Ile also told a most contradictory ac-
count of his brine- purchased the horse at Tattersall's for
251., which he had reeeived from his cousin, the Rev. Mr.
Cross, of Thornborough, in Gloucestershire ; but •
lie simply denied the facts, saying he had
say. Ha had not gem, •
Bsitte_ • •

"in both Lancashire and Yorkshire, owing in part to the
praiseworthy liberality of the great commercial towns, the new
Valuation has been well received: throughout she county and
riding respectively, and no appeals have been brought against
it ; the re4ult is, that Leeds, in Yorkshire, where a new Villil4-
tion has taken place, nneasicris to the riding 44 e4pcn.s of
2,9471., and contributd .1,0721., while Birmingham, in War-
wiekshire, where there has been no new Valtttign, fnrni:lheg
about three-fourths of the presocutkns, and contributes little
pore than one-fourth of the rent.

Thia ineltiality is explained when we perceive that in
WarWickshire the arnoml; levied upon the land for Poor,s Rata
and County Rate in 1833 was 107,144 18s., and upon mills
and faotoFie4 not more than 2,7201. Qs. Again in Leicester-
shire, a niarmfactlYlng district, the finimint levied upen the
land in the same year was 08,04 a as., nOd upon mills and
factoriac only 7831. 2s. And, notwithstanding the oxamplet
of Lanc.asbirc, Yerhshiret and Cheshire, the moderate expense
attending the new Valuations in those counties, and the encou-
raging yo4ult, the disproportion between the sums levied upon
land, and upon mitts, fziPtgrles4 AP./ Oirntiffhq4 EiVl4ll4 Arid
Wales, is strikingly manifested when it is seep that, of the
total moniaa levied by 4ssessplent fur Nora Rato and County
Rate in each county In the year ending 25th of March, 1833,
which make 8,606,5011. Bs.; land and dwelling houses contri-
buted 8,00,147/, 1.91,
f, While a new Valuation is thus found to supply, so far as is
practicable, a defect of principle in local taxation, in reaching,
if not stock in trade or profits of trade yet the buildings In
mills and factories, &c., in which trade is carried on, its.rnorP
direct operation is obviously to correct the inequalities result-
kg from the extensive changes in the value of rateable pro-
perty occurring since a former Valuation was made, either by
the creation of the. property, or by towns having arisen into
importance, or having greatly advanced in prosperity with
out any revision of the County Rate. Thus Weymouth and
Leamington furnish instances of newly-risen flourishing places,
which have not as yet been charged to the County Rate upon
the increased value of the property."

Bftinizitv.—A memorial has been addressed to the Trea-
sury, soliciting the payment of the expenses incurred in pro-
secuting the inquiries into the Elections at Great Yarmouth.
TIDE Sm.Ninig PftEsE4vAMN HII.t,S (ScomANn), having
been found inadequate to the purposes for which they were
passed, a new Bill has boon prepared and brought in by Mr.
Stewart and Mr. Loch, and is now, with its amendments,
printed.

POOR IN IRELAND COMMISSION. --Tile expenses for seven
quarters endinfr. June 24, 1835, as furnished to the Treasury,
exclusive of the charge from English Assistant Commissi'
"iutsilsenvnincinattewdilcobe
is 11,8471. 19s. 2d. It is probable that th" —• '" - ..,lersst,
required for a further period of nine months,
for that period is set at 3,7491,
PILP IN 78 1d,,Q.a,r74,---Vin,l"ll ercelve by a Return dated the

—.amp; further to
iatner for many years. Mr.
said that accounted for his (Nil-. Millie) never hav-
ing heard Sir F. Robinson (with whom and his three
daughters be was acquainted some years since, when Sir 1•.
Robinson was Inspecting Officer of the Volunteers) men •
tion his having a son. The prisoner cvas then fully committed
to take his trial, and the parties were bound to prosecute.

TOE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER. 7, 1835

27th August, 1835, that within the last three years nearly 100
Bills which had passed the Commonr. had not been returned
from the other House of Parliament.
'BazAdnEs OF PRIVILEGE.—It appears from an official Re-
turn, that 19 persons have been committed by the Speaker of
the House of Commons for breaches of privilege between the
Ist of January, 1825, arid August 22, 1835.

TO THE EDITOR OF.THE SUN.
SlR,—The Tory journals have, week after week, written
much that is untrue respecting what they call the Fagot Votes
of Huntingdonshire„ If they. had known anything of the po-
litical history of this county, they would never have agitated a
question which has involved their party in .so much odium and
disgrace. The Tories of Huntingdonshire, indeed, to talk
about Fagot' Votes! They, who kept this county in vassalage
for years by Fagot Votes alone ! They, who rejected Lord
John Russell by a majority of 53, entirely and exclusively corn
posed of Fagot Votes !! If shame gad they bad not shaken
hands and parted, they never could have attempted to deceive
the public on this subject. The votes at Hertford were unso.
lieited by and unknown to the Duke of Bedford, purchased of a
Mr Butt. The purchase-money was really paid, and the rents
are duly received. The Tories have made hundreds of votes
in this county, for which not a farthing consideration was ever
paid, nor a sixpence in the shape of rent or annuity ever re-
ceived !! One Tory magistrate Of this county in one day
made 29, which did not cost the parties 6d. (not included in
the list I have sent.) I an. afraid of occupying too much of
your paper, or I would give you a full list.. I, however, give
you a selection. The following persons were made electors of
this county by the grant of 403. a year for life. The whole
quantity of freehold land which the majc.rity,pf thorn possessed
in this county at the time of the grant was not, I believe, suf-
ficient to grow wood enough to make a utot ! !
A RESIDENT OF HUNTINGDONSHIRE.
Sept. 1, 1835.
The following were made by Benjamin Welstead: Esq. (the
Steward of the Duke of Manchester), and his brother :
Baillie, Evan Martin, Nathaniel
Baillie, Frederick • Porter, George
Evitt, Thomas Welstead. George
Montagu, Lord Frederick Welstead, .Tames •
Montagu, Hon. William Francis Welstead, Daniel
Martin, Charles Welstead, George Richards
The Earl of Westmoreland made electors of his horsekeeper,
his gardener, his gamekeeper, and others.
Lord Brownlow made the following
Cast, the Hon. Henry Cust, Hon. and Rev. Richard
Cost, the Hon. John Cust, Hon. & Rev. H. Cockayne
Cust, Hon. and Rev. H. C.
The following Tory clergymen were also made :
Akehurst, Rev. Buckland, Herefordshire
Beauford, Rev. Henry Walter, Bedfordshire
Bonney, Rev. Henry Key, Cliffe Regis, Northamp.
Clay, Rev. Benjamin, Hockerton, Notts
Fernie, Rev. John, Cambridge
Fowler, Rev. John, Huntingdon
Good, Rev. Henry, Hockerton
Holworthy, Rev. Charles, Bury St. Edmunds
Rowley, Rev. George,. Bridgewater, Somerset
Sitopson, Rev. Francis, Oxford
Stocker, Rev. Thomas, St. John's College
Whitehouse, Rev. John Bedford, Cambridge
The following are taken from the Alphabetical List before
me, as far as the letters A, B, C, D :
Allen, John Bond, Samuel
Arundel], John Bond, Robert John, jun.
And, ews, Henry Bartlett, William, jun
Ainslie, Robert . Beckingham, Stephen
Agutter, James Barley, Daniel
Abbott, John Farr Billinghana, James
Alipress, John Bartlett; John