The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-25 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON., FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 25, 1861.

AMERICA.

We have advices from New York to Oct. 12, con-
taining detailed accounts of the events already re-
ported on by telegraph. Of these the most striking
is the attack of the Confederates upon the Federal
forces at Hatteras Inlet, which led to their defeat
with great loss. The following account of it is from
the New York 7imes

Commander Chauncey, attached to the Atlantic
blockading fleet, arrived at Washington last even-
ing, from Hatteras inlet, with highly important
intelligence. On Monday the rebels organised an
expedition to attack and recapture the forts at the
Inlet which recently fell into our hands. The ex-
pedition consisted of six steamboats and about 3.000
men, the steamers being armed with heavy rifled
cannon and mortars for throwing shells. The attack
was simultaneous and persistent, but wholly inef-
fectual, and the rebels finally retired, after suffering
fearfully. The forts answered their fire with shell, .
and were assisted by our vessels stationed off the
Gulf. Two of the attacking steamers are reported
to have been sunk, and judging from their crowded
appearance, it is estimated that about 700 men were
drowned, besides a large loss sustained from our shot
and shell, as our guns were served in the most effi-
cient manner.
The rebels on the coast of North Carolina have
been taught another lesson in the efficiency of the
naval arm of our public service which they will not
be likely to forget immediately. On Friday word
reached Hatteras Inlet that a body of rebels,
numbering twenty-five hundred, consisting of a
Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia regiment,
had crossed over the Sound from the main
land and attacked the Twentieth Indiana Regi-
ment at Chicomicomico, forcing them to retreat.
The Susquehana immediately steamed up on the
outside, while Colonel Hawkins, with six com-
panies of his Zouaves, set out for the relief of the
Indians, who formed a junction with him during
the night—having succeeded in passing, in the dark-
ness, a large body of rebels which had been landed
to cut off his retreat. Meantime, the Monticello,
early on Saturday morning, steamed up on the in-
side, and had proceeded but a few miles when she
discovered:a body of the rebels marching down the
narrow neck of land to attack our troops, while
others were being landed from their steamers. They
were all in easy range, and the Monticello opened
upon them with shells, 218 of which she fired in
three hours and a half, doing tremendous execution.
The rebels sought shelter in vain, and at last broke
in every direction, and sought safety on board their
vessels. Their loss is estimated at between 200 and
300 killed and wounded, among whom was Colonel
Bartow, of the Georgia Regiment, killed. Colonel
Brown, commanding the Indiana Regiment, reports
the loss of 50 of his men, as prisoners, comprising
his sick and wounded, and 20 pickets ho could not
be called in. He succeeded, however, in saving his
tents, provisions, &c., which, under the circum-
stances, may be considered a remarkable feat.
The following account is from the Baltimore
American—

From several officers of the navy who reached
Old Point by the Susquehanuah we have accounts
of two engagements which took place near the en-
campment of the 20th Indiana Regiment, which is
about 30 miles from Fort Hatteras. The entire
command at that place was confided to seven com-
panies of the regiment, in charge of its colonel, the
other three not having been forwarded there by the
steamship S. R. Spaulding, which carried them
from Fortress Munroe to Hatteras. They were
encamped on a narrow peninsula, without any more
formidable weapons than muskets, and were at-
tacked by a Confederate force of nearly 3,000 men,
consisting in part of the First Georgia Regiment,
under the command of Colonel Braisted, a graduate
of the West Point Military Academy, and one
regiment each from the States of Virginia and
North Carolina.

Finding themselves somewhat hemmed in by the
attacking forces the retreat was sounded, and the
command retired rapidly before they could draw in
their videttes, The colonel of the regiment states
that his loss in killed, wounded, &c., is not less than
seventy, whilst the enemy, who pursued them for
a considerable distance, succeeded in the capture of
the military stores, a considerable number of their
arms, knapsacks, and tents.
During the retreat the party met a military com-
mand of six companies, under the direction of Col.
Hawkins, who, supposing them in danger of an
attack, was on the march to reinforce them. Learn-
ing the particulars of the case, immediate commu-
nication was had with the fleet, when it was deter-
mined to send up the United States ship Monti-
cello, under the command of Captain David L.
Braine, United States Navy ; and but a short time
elapsed before the steamer was under way,
and anchored within a short distance of the
evacuated encampment of the Federal troops. After
remaining there several hours, Captain Braine,
not perceiving any of the enemy, concluded that
they had disappeared ; but in this he was soon
disappointed, for the entire Confederate force was
observed emerging from a dense wood, and march-
ing along in columns of companies to the fort. The
steamer at that time occupied such a position that
she was enabled to give the enemy a raking fire,
and for three hours a continual broadside of shot
and shell perforated their ranks.
There seems no doubt that Col. Braisted was
killed, together with many other commissioned
officers, whilst the line was thrown into confusion
by the unexpected attack. The strip of land which
the enemy occupied was so narrow that they had
but limited means of shelter, and it is reported by
one of the escaped prisoners of the Indiana Regi-
ment, that their loss in killed and wounded was not
less than 300.
Their expedition, which steamed down Pamlico
Sound, consisted of six steam tugs, one of which
was the Fanny, the same number of schooners, and
several large flat-bottomed transports. Two of the
schooners were destroyed, whilst the force of the
Confederates soon re-embarked and left for their
rendezvous, which is Roanoake Island, about 12
miles from the scene of the action, and well fortified.
Soon as the result of the affair was known at For-
tress Monroe much rejoicing took place, and it was
determined that all exertions should be used in
order to augment the strength of the Federal forces
on the North Carolina coast.

The following official accounts of the affair at
Hatteras Inlet had been received by the NaVy De-
partment :
" United States' Steamship Susquehanna,
off Hatteras Inlet, Oct. 6.
" Sir,--Late in the afternoon of the 4th inst. I
received information that the enemy had landed in
large force at Chicamicomico and Kine Kleet, and
that the Indiana regiment posted there was in full
retreat before them. Also, that our three tugs in the
Inlet were aground or disabled. The Fanny had
been captured the day before. lat once got under
way with this ship and the Monticello, and an-
chored for the night close to the shore in Hatteras
Cove. At daylight I found our troops in and about
the lighthouse, and in distress for want of provi-
sions, which they had been without for 24 hours.
I supplied them with food, and at the request of
the commanding officer remained for their protec-
tion during th day. Learning that the enemy
were in large force at Kine Kleet I sent the Monti-
cello to drive them off, which important service
was performed by Lieutenant-Commanding Braine
with great effect and good conduct. His report is
inclose6.—l am, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,

" 'United St" J.
,L. LARDNER, Captain."
" ' Sir,—l havoeffthCe
SteamshiparapteesHatteras,
oot. Monticello,s.
L. M. Goldsborough, &c.
e order honourof this to inform
morning, you
in ''
obedienceTo slag
toOpourl stthooadt,
k.
ewepeidnigscoaverrel.
through the inner channel
of Hatteras Shoals at
12 30 p.m., and stood
bright
long shore to the
ht look out from aloft.
Reef,
several sailing vessels
ginmtahrechminidgst
to the
and at the same
lotrtlh3woaprd.m,
over the Woodland King
withe northward, carry-
also, two
rear;tiwa ran close in shatooreaandd. opened a
toga
s. many stragglers.
carry-
ing time
net:
the
rene be eefl regiment
gontinsfide, fiymg the
same flag. As they came the woods of
which fell apparently in their midst,
stphiecyulrsr
deliberate fire upon them
tollesildeulpl,
fistance of
three-quarters of a mile. At our
their flag and scattered, moving thelrin
beach to the northward. We followed theym
rapidly from three. guns, driving them up to a'clumgp
of woods, in which they took refuge, and abreast of
which their steamers lay. We now shelled the
woods, and could see them embarking in small boats
after their vessels, evidently in great confusion, and
suffering greatly from our. fire. Their steamers
now opened fire upon us, firing, howeverf but three
shots, which fell short. Two boats filled with ”ien
were struck by our shells and destroyed. Three
more steamers came down the Sound and took posi-
tion opposite the woods. We were shelling, also,
two sloops. We continued firing deliberately upon
them from half-past 1 p,m. until half-past 3 p.m.,

when two men were seen on the seabeach making
signals to us. Supposing them to be two of the
Indiana regiment, we sent an armed boat and crew
to bring them off, covering them at the same time
with our fire. Upon the boat nearing the beach
they took to the water. One of them was success-
ful in reaching the boat—Private Warren C. Haver,
Company H, 20th Regiment of Indiana troops.
The other man, private Charles White, Company H,
20th Regiment Indiana troops, was unfortunately
drowned in the surf.
" Private Haver informs me that he was taken
prisoner on the morning of the 4th ; that he wit-
nessed our fire, which was very destructive. He
states that two of our shells fell into two sloops
loaded with men, blowing the vessels to pieces and
sinking them. Also, that several of the officers were
killed, and their horses seen running about tie track.
He had just escaped from his captors, after shooting
the captain of one of the rebel companies. He states
that the enemy were in the greatest confusion, rush-
ing wildly into the water, striving to get off to their
vessels.

" Private Haver now directed me to the point
where the rebels were congregated, waiting an op-
portunity to get off. I opened fire again with suc-
cess, scattering them. We were now very close, in
three fathoms water, and the fire of the second shell
told with effect.

" ' Six steamers were now off the point, one of
which I recognized as the Fanny.
At 2.25 p.m. we ceased firing, leaving the
enemy scattered along the beach for upwards of
four miles. I fired repeatedly at the enemy's
steamer with our rifled cannon, a Parrot 30-pounder,
and struck the Fanny, I think, once. I found the
range of this piece much short of what I had anti-
cipated, many of the shot turning end over end, and
not exceeding much the range of the smooth-bore
32-pounder.
" ' I enclose herewith the memorandum of the
amount of ammunition expended to-day. I am, re-
spectfully, your obedient servant,
" D. L. BRAISE, Lieutenant, commanding
U. S. S. Monticello.'

" To Capt. J. L. Lardner, commanding U. S. S.
Susquehanna, off Cape Hatteras, N.C."

General M'Clellan is working his way cautiously
in the direction of the rebel position. On the night
of the 9th Gen, M'Call's division crossed the Poto-
mac and occupied Langley, five miles from the Chain
Bridge. The rebels did not show themselves any-
where in considerable numbers. The New York
Times of the 12th says :
The intention of Gen. M'Clellan seems to be to
strengthen the position of his army as he proceeds
further.into Virginia, so that he may have entrench-
ments to fall back upon in case a retrograde move-
ment should, to any extent, become necessary.
Heavy works are being constructed at all the new
points recently taken possession of by our troops,
in which they have not been interfered with by the
rebels. The pickets of the enemy are again in
sight along our lines, but they make no hostile de-
monstration. Affairs on the Upper Potomac con-
tinue quiet. Several movements of regiments have,
however, recently taken place, which are supposed
by some to be preliminary of something of more
consequence.

The New York Times reports that the rebels are
still suffering reverses in Western Virginia, not-
withstanding the new energy which has been at-
tempted to be infused into their operations by rein-
forceinents and a change of commanders. The
Federal general, Reynolds, has succeeded in driving
the main body of Lee's army to Greenbrier Springs,
20 miles beyond Big Springs, their former rendez-
vous. In their retreat they destroyed hundreds of
muskets, their tents, camp equipage, &T., and several
waggons fell into the hands of the national troops.
Advises from Gen. Rosecrans are also encouraging.
He is reported to be at Mountain Cave, a strong
position 25 miles beyond Gauley. It appears he made
an advance 10 miles further, to Little Sewell, but
finding the enemy too well intrenched, and too
strong at Big Sewell, he fell back again to his pre-
sent position. There is no expectation that he will
be attacked, and it is likely that when he receives
the reinforcements which are now on their way
from Ohio he will again advance and seek an en-
counter.

A despatch from Fortress Monroe states that on
the night of Oct. 10, it being very dark and stormy,
two rebel steamers ran down the James River, with
the intention of attempting to pass the blockade,
but, being discovered, put back again. It is well
understood at Old Point that the rebels have for
some time been awaiting an opportunity to get the
Yorktown to sea, and probably the Merrimac.
Both are iron-clad, and, once at sea, they might do
incalculable mischief; but it is hoped there is little
probability of their • sides being able to withstand
the heavy metal which could be thrown against
them by the Federal ships of war at Newport's
News and the Fortress. The Minnesota and Cum-
berland there have rifled guns throwing a solid shot
180 pounds in weight ; and, besides, there is the
" Union" gun, mounted on the Rip Raps, throwing
a shot weighing 430 pounds.
Advices from Missouri are confirmatory of the
report that Price and his army are in full retreat
southward, without waiting to give battle •to
General Fremont. A correspondent of the St.
Louis Denzocrat, writing from Lexington, states
that it was Price's intention, after he captured
Lexington, to remain there and operate on the
north side of the Missouri River, and that he
actually crossed over on the 28th ult. with 4,000
mounted men, for the purpose of destroying the
railroad and comiitting other depredations. On the
evening of that day, however, word reached him
that General Fremont was preparing to advance
against him, with a force of at least 30,000 men, and
he immediately returned with his men across the
river, and the evacuation of Lexington commenced
that night. The correspondent of the Democrat
states that the force of Price at Lexington was very
large, but that many of the men were only there
for the occasion, and have since gone to their homes.
He marched southward, with a force of only 15,000
or 18,000 men, which was likely to be still further
decreased as he proceeded. Nothing is yet known
of the movements of General Fremont's army after
leaving Jefferson on the route to Sedalia. It was
thought doubtful whether he would be able to over-
take Price, as the latter had probably too much the
start, and the advantage of a light baggage train.
It was thought likely, however, that General Fre-
mont would at least follow him to South-west Nis-
souri, reoccupy Springfield, and clear once more
that section of the State from the rebels. A scout
who had arrived at Jefferson City from Springfield
reports that there are only one thousand rebels left
there.

The news from Kentucky grows decidedly more
encouraging for the Union cause, as the situation
of affairs becomes more thoroughly understood.
The accounts of Buckner's strength are found to
have been much exaggerated. Many of his men
are understood to be without arms and shoes, and
but few of them are uniformed. Zollicoffer, who
recently invaded the State from Tennessee, by way
of the Cumberland Gap, is known to have returned
to his position at the Gap4—his original purpose
probably being only the procurement of supplies in
the section of country invaded by him. Ou the
other hand, the national forces are rapidly increas-
ing, not only by the accession of regiments from
Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, but by the enlistment of
the Kentuckians themselves, who, now that the
occasion calls for prompt action, are flocking to the
national standard by thousands. In u skirmish
which took place near Hillsboro', in Fleming
County, 91 miles east of Frankfort, a body of 300
rebels were attacked by 50 Home Guards, who com-
pletely routed them, and captured a numbe?of En-
field rifles, sabres, pistols, and other articles of war.
The following semi-official notification appears
in the journals :
-

" WASHINGTON, 9th.—The policy of the Govern-
ment in regard to employing foreigners in the mili-
tary service is as follows, the statements being made
on good authority—

"-First, no one 'has been authorised to enlist or
raise troops in Canada, as has been affirmed to be
understood there.

" Second, no commissions have been offered or
other overtures made to military men in France or
other European States, as has been affirmed there.
6"rhird, the Government has not tended the

command of the army to General Garibaldi, as has
been represented in Europe.
" What is true ?—First, that every foreigner
who has come with a good character and offered
his services to the Government in support of the
Union, has been accepted, and no other is in the
military employment of the United States.
" Second, General Garibaldi being a naturalised
citizen, it was reported to the Government by one
of our consuls that the General was contemplating
a visit to this country, and that he had intimated
conditionally a disposition to engage in the service
of the United States. He was informed that if this
was the case his services would be accepted with
pleasure, and be would receive a commission as
Brigadier-General, being the same rank which was
conferred on General Lafayette in the war of the
Revolution.

~ General Garibaldi, npon consideration of the
subject, has concluded not to offer his services at
present, but thinks he may by and by visit the
United States,"

The New York Tinges complains that the achieve-
ments of the navy are not on a level with its old
reputation :
We have no desire to speculate on the projected
naval expeditions, and the journals, animated by
an admirable patriotism, have generally refrained
from any revelations on that score. But it is obvious
that these movements cannot be much longer de-
layed. The seizure of the chief Southern cotton
ports is fast becoming a military necessity. The
rebels are fully alive to their danger, and are indus-
triously employing their season of grace in strength-
ening their coasts and forts. It is well known that
at the time of the Hatteras victory Fort Macon,
which commands Beaufort,4N.C., was almost de-
fenceless. It is well known that they have now
168 guns mounted at that fort, with a force of some
3,000 men. It is thus extremely doubtful whether
the increased efficiency we get by delay is not more
than outweighed by the additional obstacles we
shall ultimately have to encounter. Besides, every
day brings us nearer to stormy November, when
the onshore gales make maritime or coast operations
difficult of execution and uncertain of success. Ad-
vantage should be taken of these halcyon October
days to strike a succession of telling blows on the
enemy's flank, if we would not wholly lose our
great opportunity.

The New York Chamber of Commerce had re-
ceived a formal visit from Colonel Romanoff, of
the Imperial Russian Engineers, accompanied by
Mr. Collins, the United States commercial agent at
the Amoor River. The object of the interview
was to bring before the American public the sub-
ject of the great Russian telegraph now in course
of construction from St. Petersburg via Eastern
Siberia and Behring Strait to Nicholisk on the
Amoor, with special reference to the project of ex-
tending the same to the United States.
Californian advices by the overland route are to
the 2d inst. from San Francisco. The steamer
Uncle Sam left on Sept. 28 for Panama with
1,115,000 dols. in specie. There was no change to
report in the markets, and the news generally from
the Northern Pacific was unimportant.

Havannah advices are to the sth inst. Thehealth
of Havannah was much improved. The crops looked
well, and except in parts of the country where there
has been a severe tempest, they will be large.
Markets steady. Sugars, Nos. 11 and 12, at 9to
91 dole, per arroba. Stock in Havannah, 65,000
boxes. Exchange on London, 161 to 17 prem., 60
days' sight.
It was reported at Havannah that Gen. Serrano
was to leave for Spain on the 20th inst., and that
Gen. Prim is on his way to Cuba to assume the
Captain-Generalship. It was conjectured that he
would have absolute command of the expedition
against Mexico.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL C,O URT— Oct. 24.

OLD COURT.
(Before Mr. Baron Martin.)

Samuel Cave was charged with misdemeanour in
having sent a quantity of diseased meat to be sold
for human food in Tyler's market.
Mr. Poland conducted the prosecution, which
was instituted by direction of the Corporation of
London.

It- appeared that the prisoner was a jobbing but-
cher at Salisbury, and that on the day named in the
indictment he sent the carcase of a cow to Mr.
Greatorex, a salesman in Newgate Market, for sale.
There appeared to be no doubt that the cow was in
a very diseased condition, but it was proved at the
same time that the defendant sent a note in the
hamper containing the carcase, addressed to Mr.
Greatorex, in which he stated that, if he found the
meat not to be good enough for the market, he was
to do whatever he liked with it.

Baron Martin said it appeared to him that the
charge against the defendant could not be supported
upon the facts before the court. The defendant ap-
peared to have called the attention of the salesman,
who was a man of experience, to the condition of
the animal, and left it entirely upon his responsi-
bility what was to be done with it ; and under such
circumstances he could not see how the jury could
convict the defendant of sending the meat for sale.
The jury accordingly returned a verdict of Not
Guilty.
The learned judge said he should be very sorry to
make any remark that might be supposed to have a
tendency to discourage the prosecution of persons
who were guilty of sending diseased meat to a pub•
lie market to be sold for human food, but care
should be taken to select proper cases, and that a
man should not oe put upon his trial without suffi-
cient grounds for such a proceeding.
William Burwood Baldray, 38, mariner, was in-
dicted for the manslaughter of John Riley upon the
high seas and within the jurisdiction of the Admi-
ralty of England.
Mr. Beasley and Mr. Orridge conducted the pro-
secution on behalf of the Treasury ; Sergeant Bal-
lantine was specially retained with Mr. Metcalfe
on behalf of the prisoner.
The charge originally made in this case was one
of wilful murder, but the grand jury ignored the
bill preferred for that offence, and retained one for
manslaughter only. It appeared that the prisoner
was the captain of a British ship called the Shan-
tung, and the deceased at the time of his death was
a seaman on board the vessel. He shipped at Ba-
tavia, and at that time he was in a bad state of
health, and the crew complained of his dirty habits
and turned him out of the forecastle on that ac-
count, and compelled him to sleep on the deck.
The immediate cause of death there was very little
doubt was dysentery ; but it was alleged in support
of the prosecution, that the death was accelerated
by a punishment that was inflicted upon the
deceased about a fortnight or three weeks before
it happened.
Sergeant Ballantine made a most able address to
the jury on behalf of the prisoner, and said that
before they could find the prisoner guilty upon this
indictment they must be satisfied that the beating
—which for argument sake he would admit—that
was inflicted by him upon the occasion spoken to
by the witnesses, accelerated the death, which did
not appear to have taken place until three weeks
or a month afterwards. It was a very natural
thing that landsmen should feel indignant at cor-
poral punishment being inflicted on a person in the
position of the deceased, but he was sure that
they would see that it was a very different thing
at sea, where it was absolutely necessary that the
captain of a ship should prevent skulking or sham-
ming in order to avoid performing the necessary
work, and thus endangering the safety of the vessel
and all on board. The learned counsel then pro-
ceeded to argue thatithe evidence as to tho character
of the beating inflicted upon the deceased had been
very much exaggerated, and that in any case there
was nothing to show that it was at all connected
with the death.
A man named Wedge, who was mate on board
the Shantung, on the voyage home, was called as a
witness, and he stated that the deceased was a dirty

lazy fellow, and that he had himself struck him for
having neglected his duty. He also stated that
the beating was not at all of a serious character,
and that I.IC saw the deceased stripped shortly after-
wards, and there were very slight bruises on his
person.
A great many respectable witnesses, several of
whom were captains in the merchant service, were
examined, and they gave the prisoner an excellent
character for humanity and kindness, one of them
stating that he .would not, in his opinion, " touch
a worm."
Baron Martin, in summing up the case to the jury,
explained the law relating to manslaughter, and
said he was clearly of opinion that the beating the
prisoner inflicted upon the deceased was illegal, and
that he had no right to inflict it.
The jury, after a short deliberation, Tetuzned a
verdict of guilty.
' The prisoner, when the verdict was returned, en-

PRICE 4d.
STAMPED

tered into a statement of the constant misconduct of
the deceased during all the time he was on board
the vessel, and said he was continually shamming
illness, and upon one occasion threatened his life.
Baron Martin said he thought it was very pro-
bable that what the prisoner had stated about the
deceased was true, but that was no justification for
his using violence towards him. He believed at the
same time that when he inflicted the beating upon
him he had not the slightest intention of doing him
any serious injury, and if the jury had acquitted
him of the charge of manslaughter he should have
directed an indictment to be preferred against him
for an assault, as in his opinion an aggravated as-
sault was the true character of his offence, and he
shouldinflict a punishment as though he had been
convicted of it. He then sentenced the prisoner to
nine months' hard labour.

NEW COURT.
(Before Mr. Baron Wilde.)
George Clift, 27, and Frederick Clayton Clift, 24,
both described as quill merchants, were indicted for
feloniously setting fire to a eertain dwelling-house
in the possession of the said Frederick Clayton Clift,
with intent to defraud the Globe Insurance Company.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine (who was specially re-
tained), Mr. Clerk, and Mr. Metcalfe prosecuted ;
and Mr. Sleigh, Mr. Thompson, and Mr. C. Smith
defended.

The case, which involved the examination of a
vast number of witnesses, and occupied the Court
from its sitting until a late hour of the evening,
exhibited the following facts :—lt- appeared that
some few days previous to the 20th July last the
prisoner Frederick Clift applied to Mr. Fuller, a
builder, and took of him a house, 2, Lansdowne-
villas, Albert-road, Peckham, at a rental of £3O per
annum. The house had a stable attached to it, which
the prisoner Frederick said he especially required
to put his horse and trap in. This stable, having
been added by a previous tenant to the house after
it was built, had no communication with the house,
and could only be entered from the garden at the
rear of the premises. The prisoner took possession,
but did not make use of the stable for the purpose
he said he wanted it for. On the 20th July both
prisoners went together to the offices of the Globe
Insurance Company, and the prisoner Fred. Clift,
who described himself as a quill merchant, inti-
mated to the clerk that he was desirous of effecting
an insurance, in the first place on his stock to the
amount of £2,500, and on his household furniture to
the amount of £3OO. He was asked if he had ever
insured before, and he replied in the negative, but
added that a fire which had recently taken place at
Cotton's-wharf, near London-bridge, made people
frightened, as he knew a person who had lost con-
siderably from not having his property there pro-
perly insured. He then supplied the clerk with the
particulars, and gave the address of his residence
and premises, and it appeared that in the house
adjoininc, that occupied by the prisoner Frederick,
and on whiche' ho sought to effect a policy, there re•
sided another clerk of the company, a gentleman of
the name of Collis, and to whom the company en-
trusted the duty of inspecting the premises prepa-
ratory to the completion of the policy. He accord-
ingly visited the premises, and the condition and
character of the furniture in the lower rooms of the
dwelling-house convineed him that the policy sought
for on that part might be granted by his employers,
the Globe Company. The prisoner Fred., the one
with whom Mr. Collis had the interview on the pre-
mises, conducted him to the stable, which was found
to be filled within a very short space from the roof
with large sacks filled with quills, as he ascer-
tained on the inspection of a few of them. Mr.
Collis particularly asked the prisoner Frederick
whether there was any communication between the
house and the stable, which was described in the
policy as a warehouse, as he could see none, the sacks
being closely packed on each side, with a passage in
the middle. The prisoner Frederick assured him
there was not one, that the stable could only be en-
tered by going rpund to the rear of the premises.
The result was that the policy was granted, and the
prisoner Frederick paid the premium, amounting to
£7 14s. Between nine and ten o'clock on the even-
ing of the 2d August a fire broke out on the premises
thus insured ; but in the interval it has since trans-
pired that the prisoners had removed at different
times sacks containing quills. Shortly before the
fire broke out the wife of the prisoner Frederick
Clift was seen by some neighbours quitting the
house with her child in a perambulator, and, in
answer to some questions put to her at the time
she said the child had met with an accident by fall-
ing into a tub of water, and that she was going to
take it to a medical gentleman, whose name she
gave, and whose residence was about two miles from
Lansdowne-villas. Nothing more was seen of her
until 12 o'clock at night. About 9 o'clock the same
evening the prisoner George Clift was seen at a public
house, the Nunhead Tavern, at Nunhead-green, by
a brother of Mr. Collis (whose name has already
been mentioned in connexion with the insurance),
who had gone there for the supper beer. The pri-
soner, George Clift,-after partaking of some brandy,
left the tavern, and went in the direction of the
house that was destroyed, and in a few minutes after-
wards, as a police-constable of the name of Cox, was
on duty in a place called Nunhead-passage, which
runs into the main road, by the side of Lansdowne-
villas, he saw a man resembling the prisoner George
Clift come through a gap in the hedge from the direc-
tion of a piece of ground at the back of the house in
question. He was walking sharply, and was seen by
other persons besides the constable, and no one else
was in the lane at the time. As he was passing
along some person from one of the gardens
he passed called out " Hallo," on which the man
the policeman had seen quickened his pace, and on
coming into the road was observed by the son of a
Mr. Goodwin, grocer of Nunhead:lane, to emerge
from the passage and cross the road. That man
was clearly identified to be the prisoner George by
young Goodwin, who had known him for some time,
and who had a full view of him close to a bright
gas lamp. By this time it was seen that the stable
was on fire, and on the alarm being given the pot
boy at the Nunhead Tavern, thinking there was a
horse in danger, rushed down to the spot, and on re-
moving some tiles from the roof was enabled to look
in, when he saw that there was no horse there, that
the place instead of being full of goods was compa-
ratively empty, and that the stable was on fire in
two places. The engines did not arrive until the
house and premises were entirely gutted. Nothing
was seen of the prisoners during the remainder of
that night, and on an examination that was sub-
sequently made by the firemen, it was ascertained
beyond all doubt that the place had been set fire to
in two places, and it was also discovered that' a door
had been broken through, from a part of a pantry
under the staircase, by which a communication had
been obtained to the stables, and that it was at this
point that the fire had begun. The extent of the
fire in the stable or warehouse had never exceeded
three feet from the floor, and a great number of
bundles of quills of the commonest and least valu-
able description were found, though they had been
described in the policy as being of the best quality.
A larger number of swan quills than was over known
to be held by one merchant was described in the
policy as being on the premises, but of them not the
slightest trace was discovered, though it transpired
in the course of the trial that quills and feathers aro
most difficult of destruction ; indeed, a fire bad never
been known at which a bed was entirely destroyed.
In the dwelling house there was no trace of any
furniture or bedding, but a quantity of flocks was
found. The prisoner Frederick subsequently put in
a claim, setting forth his lossei at £4,000, and on
fire,
he questioned as to the circumstances of the
he stated that he could not account for it ; that he
had been since the afternoon at Waltham, and that
he left there by the ten o'clock train, and arrived at
Peckham at half-past 11 o'clock, when all was over.
The claim was refused, and the prisoners given into
custody.
Air. C. Smith addressed the jury at considerable
length on behalf of the prisoner George Clift, con-
tending that the evidence on which it was attempted
to prove he was near the spot on the night of the
fire was too uncertain and unsatisfactory for the
jury to act upon.
Mr. Sleigh made an energetic appeal to the jury
on behalf of the prisoner Frederick Clift, submit-
ting that there was no evidence to connect him with
the fire at the time of the outbreak.
No witnesses were called on the part of either of
the prisoners.
Mr. Baron Wilde briefly went through the load-
ing facts of the case, pointing out how they bore
upon each of the prisoners.
The jury then retired, and after an absence of a
quarter of an hour returned into court with a ver-
dict of guilty against both prisoners, who were at
once called up for judgment.
The prisoner Frederick Clift cast up his eyes r.nd
and stretched forth his hands in a very impressive
manner, declared that he was innocent, that Christ
and His angels had got their eyes upon him, and
when he was at the Throne of Grace then would
his innocence be made known. This was delivered
with. an air of great apparent devoutness. The
prisoner than added in a more subdued tone that
they were unjustly judged; his brother thatwn hie
cent; and they had 60 witnesses to prove i