The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-08 00:00:00

result of this singular wager. The interval was
spent by Morelli in constant exercise, for the pur-
pose of strengthening his limbs, somewhat relaxed
by a season of rest. His friends expostulated in
vain against the apparently insane hazard, and even
proposed to return to him the amount he would be
compelled to forfeit. He seemed sure of winning,
and would listen to no one. To avoid a crowd it
was announced that the attempt would be made
upon the 14th (Monday), instead of to-day, so that
at seven this morning there were only about 30
persons by the river bank. Punctually at that
hour Morelli appeared in fine health and spirits.
" He had with him a pair of stilts about 12ft. long,
made of wrought iron, flat, sharp-edged, and ppinted
—shaped, in fact, almost precisely like a double-
edged dagger. These were firmly lashed to his legs,
and he walked towards the river with a confident
smile. The morning was clear and cold, but he
was attired very lightly, in a dress usually worn by
professional gymnasts. At 10 minutes past 7he
stepped into the water, which in another moment
was boiling, surging, and rushing beneath his feet.
The boldest of the lookers-on held his breath in
suspense as the daring man receded from the
shore. He alone seemed unmoved, and passed
on slowly and carefully, avoiding the larger rocks
which were made apparent by the eddying cur-
rent. His steps at first wore very short and
carefully made, but afterwards became bolder and
longer. The stilts, of course, were so placed that
the current struck only against their sharp edges,
and produced but little effect ; but the danger
from sunken rocks and the conviction that a
single false step would send him to death produced
a feeling which was horribly painful. Once or
twice he seemed to lose his balance, and a sicken-
ing shudder ran through each one of the beholders.
Recovering himself, he still kept on—still receded,
until, to our straining eyes, he could scarcely be
distinguished from the foaming waters.
" The middle of the river was attained at last ;
hours seemed to have fled, but it was barely 17
minutes since he left the shore.

" As he approached the deepest and most danger-
ous part of his route, the suspense became more
fearfully intense. No word was spoken, except
that one man offered another 5 dol. for a moment's
use of his lorgnette, which offer passed unheeded.
Just as Morelli reached the swiftest and deepest
part of the current, ho seemed to totter—sink—he
threw up his arms ! I closed my eyes. Opening
them a moment after, I saw that he was still stand-
ing. A few moments more, and he had reached
the Canadian bank—he was safe, and fell exhausted
into the arms of two men who were waiting to
receive him.

"At this hour (3 p.m.) he has nearly recovered,
and, though still in bed, received the congratula-
tions of dozens of visitors who came pouring in.
He left the American shore 950 feet above the fall,
and came out about 1,000 feet above the Canadian.
The money has already been handed over to him,
and all will agree that it has been fairly won. His
generous opponent is able to afford his loss, and
speaks in praise of Morelli more enthusiastically
than ever."

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.-April 8.

PUBLIC HOUSE LICENSES.

The Court sat to-day to hear appeals against the
refusals of justices in petty sessions to grant and
renew public house licenses—Present : Mr. Pashley,
Q.C., Assistant Judge, presiding; Mr. Pownall,
Mr. Kemshead, Mr. Goodhart, Mr. W. P. Bodkin,
Mr. Pearce, Mr. Griffiths, Mr. Baylis, Mr. Burslem,
Mr. Healey, Mr. Simpson, Baron de Bliss, Sir J.
Scott Lillie, Sir John Hansler, Capt. Hansler, Mr.
C. Woodward, Col. Elsey, Mr. Arthur Ballantine,
Mr. Halswell, Mr. T. Cotterell (ex-sheriff) Mr.
Valentine Knight, Mr. Hill, Mr. Storey, Mr. Wyatt,
Mr. S. Phillips, Mr. H. Warner, Mr. 0. B. B.
Woolsey, Mr. Reed, Mr. Baker, Capt. Hamilton,
Mr. Marshall, Mr. Bird, Major Reed, Capt. Morley.
Mr. Henry Dunne appealed against a refusal of
the Marylebone division to renew a license under
the 9th Geo. IV., c. 61, to the house called the
Three Compasses, in Little Marylebone-street. Mr.
Cooper was counsel for the appellant; Mr. Bodkin
supported the decision of the Court below. After a
long discussion as to the grounds upon which the re-
newal of the license was refused at Petty Sessions the
Court reversed the decision and granted the license.
Mr. Samuel Hill appealed against the refusal of
the justices of the Finsbury division to grant a new
license to the Albert, in St. Paul's-road, Canonbury,
Islington. Mr. Bodkin, in a lengthy and able ad-
dress, set forth the claims of Mr. Hill ; Mr. Poland
supported the original decision. The Court dis-
missed the appeal by 11 to 6.
The refusal of the justices of the Finsbury divi-
sion to grant a new license to the Whittington
Stone, Holloway-hill, was reversed, and the license
granted. Mr. Bodkin for the appellant ; Mr.
Poland supported the decision of the magistrates.
The refusal of the justices of the division of St.
James', Wesininster, to renew a license to the King
of Prussia, Lower John-street, Golden-square, was
confirmed, the house having, it was alleged, been so
misconducted as to become a nuisance to the neigh-
bourhood. Mr. Bodkin for the appellant ; • Mr.
Poland for the respondents.
Mr. Frederick Frampton appealed against the
refusal of the justices of the St. Pancras division
to grant a license to the Lord Nelson, Duke's-row,
New-road, St. Pancras. Mr. Bodkin appeared for
the appellant; Mr. Metcalfe for the magistrates.
After a long discussion the court granted the
license to Mr. Frampton.
Mr. W. Smith appealed against the refusal of
the St. Pancras justices to grant a license to the
house and premises situated at 78, Park-street,
Camden-town. Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Poland sup-
ported the appeal ; Mr. Metcalfe was counsel for
the magistrates. The license was granted.
Mr. G. Griffiths appealed against the refusal of
the justices of the Holborn division to renew a
license to the Union Arms, Union-court, Holborn.
This house was complained of as grossly miscon-
ducted by the late tenant ; that it was the resort
of thieves, smashers, and every other class of bad
characters, for which the locality of Field-lane is
famous ; and there was a recommendation from
Mr. Tyrwhitt, the police magistrate, to the licensing
justices below, that this house ought not to have
the privilege of a license. It was urged that a new
proprietor was now in, that the court had the
guarantee of .its being is Meux's trade, and that in
future it would be very differently conducted by
the present applicant, a very respectable and
responsible person. Mr. Cooper appeared for the
appellant; Mr. Metcalfe in support of the decision
of the petty sessions. The license was unanimously
refused.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.-April 7.

GUILDHALL.—Don Juan Floran, Marquis de
Tabuerniga, Consul General for Spain, and Mary
Drayton, a disreputable and repulsive-looking
woman, were charged with indecent conduct in a
court in Paternoster-row, on the previous night,
between 11 and 12.
After the officer had made his statement,
Mr. Freeman, on behalf of the Marquis, called
the alderman's attention to the discrepancy between
the statement made by the girl to the inspector and
the evidence of the officer, and asked the court if
they could rely upon such testimony, particularly
when a gentleman holding a high position in society
like the Marquis gave a total denial to the whole
charge, He submitted that the time of night and
the relative positions of the parties implicated were
quite sufficient to render the identification of per-
sons under such circumstances extremely doubtful,
and the indecent posture described most impro-
bable. He therefore urged the alderman to take
into his most serious consideration the Marquis's
rank and position in society, and Five him the
benefit of any doubt which might arise, supposing
there was a case strong enough against him to
admit of a doubt.
Alderman Rose (addressing the Marquis)-....I
have considered the matter very anxiously, Of
course, it is a very painful thing to see a gentleman
of your station in society in such a position ; but I
am bound to say the case is proved, and,
decision,that
being
so, position must make no difference in
and I must deal with you as I would with any other
case. I observed some discrepancies in the officer's
evidence at first which have since been cleared up,
and his testimony has not been shaken in the least.
The case is therefore proved, and I must bind you
over in your own recognizances in £lOO to be of
good behaviour for the next six months.
The Marquis (rather excited)—But you have not
heard me yet. I have not said one word.
The Chief Clerk—Your solicitor thinks it better
you should not make any statement.
The Mar
I am innocent.
cluL'But I wish to make a statement.

Alderman Rose—The law of this country allows
every one accused to make a defence in person or by
counsel. I have heard your advocate, and I
cannot therefore hear you. With regard to you,
Mary Drayton,
I shall require you to find one
surety of .£5 to be of good behaviour for one
month.
The Marquis then retired into an adjoining
room, where he entered into the required recogni-
zances, but the prisoner Drayton not having given
any address, her friends were not aware she was in
custody, and she was therefore locked up in de-
fault.

WORSHIP-STREET.—George Still, describing
himself as a sporting man, frequenting all the
races, and residing in Arlington-street, New North-
road, way charged with bon concerned with two