The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-18 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON,' TUESDAY EVENING; JUNE 18, 1861.

THAMES EMBANIMENT.

Yesterday the commissioners reassembled for the
purpose of ascertaining the views of those railway,
companies, with reference to the proposed embank-
ment, where it is intended to carry the railways
across the river by bridges, that will abut on the
embankment, as well as to take the views of the
Benehers of the Inner and Middlo Temple on the
matter.

The LORD MAYOR said it was important that the
railway companies and other interests should know
the extent to which the intended embankment
would be carried out into the river. The commis-
sioners had fully discussed the matter, and had
come to the conclusion that the outer edge of the
embankment would be 130 feet from the face of the
existing abutment of Blackfriars-bridge. The
Bridge House Estates Committee were now having
designs made for the new bridge at Blackfriars,
and would consequently have to adopt this datum
Line in connexion with the engineering designs tor
that structure. With regard to the level at which
the embankment and the railways would have to
join, it would have to be determined and governed
by the level of the new Blackfriars-bridge itself.
Then, as regarded the embankment at Hungerford-
bridge, the idea of the commissioners was to expel
all the water there and to carry a solid embank-
ment over its whole width, as far out into the
river as the existing pier at Hungerford-bridge,
between which and the general line of the shore
there would be something like 300 feet.
Mr. HAWKSHAW said that on behalf of the
Charing-cross Railway Company he had, as re-
garded the bridge and proposed station at Hunger-
ford, been acting on the supposition that the
embankment would be extended to the pier. If the
proposed embankment could only be made simul-
taneously with the railways and bridges over the
Thames it would be a great advantage and conve-
nience, but he was afraid the embankment would
be so long about that this could not be accomplished.
The railway company was at work new. In carry-
ing out the Charing cross Railway•bridge, he pro-
posed to give three spans of openings of 100 feet
over that portion of the river to be devoted to the
embankment. He was of opinion that there would
be an objection to making an inclined road from the
embankment, terminating on the edge of the bridge,
as it would prevent the road from being extended,
under the bridge, and would disfigure Blackfriars-
bridge.

Mr. CUBITT, on the part of the London, Chatham,
and Dover Railway, intimated that the points ad-
verted to by the commissioners should receive con-
sideration in connection with the works of that
railway.
Mr. NELSON, for the Ben chers of the Middle
Temple, said that, while objecting to any embank-
ment, the Templars, if it were an unavoidable public
necessity, would wish it to be on as low a level as
possible, without a railway, and not to rise above
y
the level of the gardens.
The LORD IVIAYoR said the probability was that
the embankment would begin to rise before it left
the Temple-gardens, but not for any great distance,
possibly 100 yards, or it might be 30 or 40 yards,

so as to give as much headway as could be conveni-
ently obtained for the wharves, City Gas-works,
and other establishments.

Mr. YEATES said that at a meeting of the Benchers
just held it had been resolved ;

"1. That the construction and maintenance of a public
thoroughfare along the Thames passing in front of the
Temple, in whatever way it may be carried out, will most
injuriously affect the property of the society.
"2. That if hereafter Parliament should sanction any
such scheme, the least objectionable mode of carrying it out
would be to carry it on the lowest possible level, and at the
greatest possible distance from the present river frontage.
"3. That the continuation of a railway with the road
was unnecessary, not required by the public, and would
greatly tend to increase the injury to and depreciation of the
Temple property.
"4. That, should the scheme to be adopted be such as to
leave any space between the present river wall of the Inner
Temple-gardens and the proposed new road, such space
should not bo appropriated to docks or other public purpose,
but should be dealt with as the property of the society, in
the manner most advantageous to its interests."
Mr. GRAY, for the City Gas Company, said that
the proposed embankment would not be objection-
able, provided their works had a waterway of 70
feet and a 7-feet headway for access in and out.
The Commissioners then adjourned.

A NIGH? IN LONDON WITH THE LATE
COUR 7' CAVOUR.

It is admitted on all hands, evdn by those who
detest the very sound of his name, that Europe has
lost a very great man in the late Count Cavour.
The indecent manifestations that have been at-
tempted by the reactionists to evince their joy at,
his untimely death are perhaps the best proofs
of the estimation in which his talents and de-
termination were held. There can be no ques-
tion that for very, very many years, no
man's death has created so profound a sen-
sation, and, therefore, any incidents connected with
his career will be read with interest. During
Count Cavour's last residence in England the writer
of these reraarks had the honour of being his com-
panion for ten days, during which period he accom-
panied him in his pursuit of information as to the
character of the different classes with which the me-
tropolis abounds. Count Cavour appeared to have this
peculiarity, viz., that nothing was too great for his
inquiring mind, and nothing too little for his inves-
tigation. He would not dip deep into everything,
He would not recognise a fact merely, but would
understand how that fact was produced. He was to
all intents and purposes a great admirer of the prin-
ciple of cause and effect. To give him evasive answers
was needless. He would go to the root of the sub-
ject. At the period referred to he was anxious to
ascertain how far the sanitary question, then in high
favour, worked ; and whether the Public Health
Act, the Nuisance Removal and Disease Prevention
Act, and the Common Lodging Houses Act worked
successfully. He determined to test them practically.
For instance, he visited the Model Lodging Houses
and the dwellings belonging to the Metropolitan
Association during the day time and at night, and
he was delighted with all he witnessed. But this
did not suffice. He wanted the contrast, however,
and wished to place in juxta-position the condition
of the working classes under the new system and
those who lived under the old. He was much, as are
all foreigners, struck with the evidences of immense
wealth that meet the eye in the leading thorough-
fares of the metropolis, and in the aristocratic regions
of Belgravia and Tyburnia. From his position in
life he had the entree into the mansions of the
highest and wealthiest in the land. He saw how they
lived and were housed, and he desired to ascertain
how the poor were provided for in the metropolis.
Various plans, were proposed to afford him this in-
sight, until at length he'suggested a midnight visit
to the very worst and very poorest districts of Lon-
don. He said he wanted to judge for himself what
really was the position of the mass of the people of
this great city. Hitherto, he remarked, " I have
seen the outside of London, I should now like to see
the inside." Arrangements were accordingly made
with the Metropolitan Commissioners of Po:ice,
who placed three of their best officers at his dis-
posal, and who made arrangements by which he
could visit the worst districts of the metropolis
without any personal danger. A party of five
started one evening, about nine o'clock, under the
guidance of a most intelligent inspector of the
police force, and about half-past ten found them-
selves in the worst part of Bethnal Green.

Their first halting place was a low public-house
in a narrow street. The inspector said, "This is
one of the worst houses in the metropolis; it is a
notorious house of call far burglars." On the entry
of the party the landlord recognised the inspector,
and asked sotto voce," Who do you want to-night ?"
Assurances were given that no mischief was in-
tended, and after some conversation between the
officers and the keeper of the den of thieves, Count
Cavour and his party were admitted to an upper
room, in which, at a sort of free and easy, were seen
some twenty men, all of whom had beep convicted
as felons. The chairman had only two days before
come out of prison, and had the unmistakeable
prison crop. The door on entry was immediately
bolted, and a dead silence ensued, because every
man there knew the inspector, and believed
that he had come prepared for immediate
action. When, however, it was known
that no one was just then "wanted," and as the
party were prepared to stand brandy and water all
round, their bashfulness wore off, and the count was
entertained with songs more graphic than moral,
and by one or two glove fights, which seemed to
amuse him much. From thence the party wended
their way through many scenes which it would not
be advisable to describe, until they arrived at Shad-
well and Wapping. It was then verging on twelve
o'clock, and the different penny gaffs and dancing
saloons in this infamous neighbourhood were each
in their turn visited. Count Cavour was much struck
with the beauty of many of the unfortunate class of
females who frequent these places. Many of them
were magnificently dressed, and would have cast in
the shade the best of the class who infest the west
end of London. Their prey is " poor Jack." A few
hours' indulgence in one of these haunts but too
often costs him the savings and arrears of pay for
three or four years. These women look down with
contempt upon any one who does not carry about
him the characteristics of a seaman. In one of these
places Count Cavour was oo fascinated with the
beauty of some of the females that it was difficult to
get him away, and strange as it may seem, it is no
less a fact, that during the visit in question there
was no more impropriety exhibited in these dancing
rooms than in an ordinary public ball room. It would
occupy too much space to detail all that was wit-
nessed on that memorable night, but suffice it to say
that, having seen all that was to be witnessed in this
" high life below stairs," Count Cavoar wished to
see how the very poor word housed and where they
slept—that countless horde that come from we know
not where when any great occasion, festival, or fire
occurs. At the period referred to, the Common
Lodging-house Act had hardly fairly come into
operation ; some houses were registered, but the
majority were not. The houses registered were
visited first, and in these there were some sem-
blances of decency preserved. Married people
were screened off from the single, and the division
of the sex was enforced. There was also compa-
rative cleanliness and some attempt at ventilation.
Count Cavour remarked, " After all, this is not as
bad as I anticipated." " Wait," said the Inspector,
" until you go into the house in the next court, and
then I think you will be surprised." And surprised
and horrified he was. The keeper of the lodging-
house at first seemed disposed to prevent an entry ;
but the well-known face of the officer soon overcame
all opposition. The party went upeuch a staircase
as, we believe, caw only be found in Whitechapel.
On the landing was an indescribable obstacle, of
which Count Cavour, who did not see very well,
had practical experience. The door of the common
room was then thrown open, and in a space repre-
sented by 20ft. by 14ft. were counted no less than
33 men and women, the majority of them without
garments or covering of any kind, lying indiscrimi-
nately OR the floor on some sacking. To economise
space these poor wretches laid in such a manner
that the feet of the one was under the armpits of
the other. Words are inadequate to convey an
idea of the horrors of the scene, or of the frightful
effluvia that met one on entering the room. The
walls were dripping with the condensed breath of
these poor wretches. On the exit Count Cavour
remarked, " You may talk of the dirtiness of
Italians and the filth of the Lazaroni of Naples, but,
believe me, all Italy could mot allow you such A

sight as we have just witnessed." This new aspect
of the metropolitan poor seemed to strike him im-
mensely. He could hardly comprehend how, in the
greatest and wealthiest city in the civilised world,
such a state of things could exist. To him it
seemed an enigma, that England, which boasted
of being the most civilised nation in the world,
could permit such a state of things to exist. Had
he been spared to Italy that scene in White-
chapel would not have been lost; that night's wan-
dering would have possibly been productive of great
results. One would have thought that what he had
just witnessed would have sufficed him, but it was
not so; he wanted to see where les voleurs lived,
and the police were ready to oblige him. The party
were taken to a remarkably clean-looking lodging-
house in Bishopsgate. On the entry of the police
the landlord turned pale, and on being informed of
the nature of the visit he was all smiles. The in-
spector informed the Count that this was one of the
most notorious sleeping dens in London. On going
upstairs not more than five or six men and boys
were in bed. The rooms were clean and airy con-
sidering the locality. One notorious pickpocket
was unconcernedly cooking his supper, and looked
defiance at the police. On Count Cavour remarking
on there being so few of the beds occupied, the
landlord, with a quiet smile, said " Oh, sir, they
have not come home from work." And, on being
asked for an explanation, he stated that the majo-
rity of his lodgers were at the West End, attending
the theatres. It was now verging on two o'clock,
and all but Count Cavour were anxious to break off
in Bishopsgate. But he had not seen half enough.
A consultation was held, and it was determined to
visit the purlieus of Smithfield and Field-lane, and
to terminate our labours in St. Giles's. All this
was duly performed, and when at five o'clock in the
morning the party sat down to a sort of half supper
half breakfast, they scarcely knew themselves.
They were begrimed with dirt, and their garments
were infested with strangers that rendered it ad-
visable not to use them again. They separated at
six a.m., tired and fagged. The writer had made
an appointment with Count Cavour at eight the same
morning some days previously. Unfortunately he
forgot it, being overcome with fatigue, but the count
was there to the moment, and was very angry that
the same punctuality had not been observed by his
conzpagnon de voyage. One more incident about the
late count, and we have done. He was desirous of
seeing Messrs. Barclay and Perkins' monster brew-
ery, and the sturdy draymen who flogged Marshal
Haynau. He was delighted with all he saw, and
gladly accepted the different kinds of malt liquor
that were proffered. He began with mild porter,
and went up to the strongest stout; then renewed
the attack on mild ale, and finished with X X XX.
All went well enough whilst he was in the cool
vaults, but, like many other people who have gone
over this remarkable brewery, when he came into
the open air he saw three or four broughams in-
stead of one.

As a companion Count Cavour was delightful.
Full of humour and anecdote he caused the time to
pass lightly and pleasantly; and although possessed
of deep learning he never paraded it, but seemed as
if he were only desirous of acquiring information
instead of imparting it. Few at the period referred
to had any idea of the depth of his understanding,
or of the indomitable perseverance of character that
in after years he displayed. Perhaps even he him-
self was unaware of how much sterling worth there
was in him, and it was only as the stirring events
occurred that it became apparent. However ambi-
tious, he could hardly have hoped that what he so
desired and was working for would be brought
about in comparatively so short a time. The mid-
night visitor to the haunts of the wretched in the
metropolis could hardly have believed, if any one
had told him, that ere long he was destined to hold
one of the most prominent positions in Europe, and
that he should be cut off in the zonith of his glory.
—Examiner.

THE MfSTERIOUS MURDER AT
KINGS WOOD RECTORY.

REIGATE, MONDAY NIGIIT.
Up to this morning the police authorities enter-
tained confident hopes that they would be enabled
to.secure the apprehension of the perpetrators of
this barbarous murder by tho aid of the extraordi-
nary evidence which fell into their possession by the
discovery of a highly important packet of papers
accidentally dropped by the murderers before they
left the Rev. Mr. Taylor's house. Their secret
machinery having failed, the police now appeal to
the public, through the medium of the press, to
assist them in their endeavours to bring the
guilty parties to justice. With this view the
reporter has been made acquainted with the
precise nature of the contents of the documents
referred to, with a request to publish only those
portions which were previously withheld under
the impression that their publication would be
unadvisable, as tending to inform the mur-
derers of the movements of the police. It is now
hoped that the public will carefully peruse the de-
scriptions given of the murderers, and that conse-
quently they will soon be apprehended.
It may, therefore, at once be stated that among
the papers referred to was a book with which each
working German is provided by order of the State,
and in which he is minutely described by name,
age, height, complexion, marks on person, &c., for
the purpose of keeping a proper record of the
movements of the individual. Upon going into
any service this book has to be produced, and the
employer then inserts his name, occupation, resi-
dence, and other particulars respecting himself, as
well as the date at which the engagement com-
menced, when it terminated, and the conduct of
the employe during the period of such service. By
this book it appeared that the owner was named
Johann Carl Franz, of Konigstein, in the kingdom
of Saxony ' he was 25 years of age, and of middle
height, he had light brown hair cut short, and no
whiskers, brown eyes, and no distinguishing
marks about his person. He was last in
the employment of Wilheim Gotthelf Biemer,
timber merchant, as a raftsman, and was discharged
on the 19th April last, having only Cledhis engage-
ment for ten days. In the book was the register of
his birth, which was fixed as having taken place in
1835, and another certificate showed that he was
the illegitimate son of a soldier named Gotlaib, and
that he himself had entered the army, but was dis-
charged from the recruiting depot in April, 1855,
as being unfit for a soldier.
There were also several letters in the book. They
were all written in the German language, and the
following was addressed to Madlle. Tietjens, the
eminent singer :

" London, June 4, 1861.
"Honoured Madam,—You will kindly excuse a poor
German, who solicits your kindness. lam a native of
Breslau, in Silesia, and am by profession a horn turner. I
have recently worked in Hamburg, where, business becom-
ing slack, I was recommended to go to England, work
being well paid in that country. I have been already five
weeks here, and unfortunately am unable to procure work,
as I can't speak English. I find myself in London in the
greatest want, as I am entirely without means, and have
already sold my best clothing. lam longing to get back
again to Germany, as I have no prospects here. I have been
inormed that your ladyship is one of great compassion,
and that you will assist a poor German.
" In expectation of the successful result of this applica-
tion, I remain, with the greatest respect, yours humbly,
"ADOLPHE KROHN."
- _

Madlle. Tietjen's answer to they above was also
found in the book. It was dated from that lady's
residence at St. John's-wood, on the 7th June last,
and was addressed to Mr. Krool, the proprietor of
the Hamburg Hotel, America-square, City. She ex•
pressed her deep sympathy with the bearer, re-
ferred to his privations, and requested Mr. Krool
to carry out what she conceived to be the most
beneficial scheme for his welfare, viz., procuring for
him, on her behalf, a passage to Hamburg by the
first opportunity. She promised at the same time to
defray all expenses, and urged Mr. Krool to take
the necessary steps for the comfort of the unfortu-
nate person immediately on receiving her commu-
nication.
Mr. Superintendent Coward, with Sergeant
Robinson, have waited upon Madlle. Tietjens. She
at once identified her own letter, which was shown
her by the officers, and stated that a young man
called upon her and made a verbal application for
assistance. He mentioned all the circumstances
referred to in the above letter, which was shown
to her, and added that he had slept two nights in
the streets, and had no means to procure either
food or bed. Commiserating his position, but not
wishing to give him money, as she was waited upon
by so many similar applicants, she penned the let-
ter which the officers produced, requesting Mr.
Krool to send the young man over to his native
country. Mdlle. Tietjens was then requestee to
give a description of the person in question.
She said he was a young man, apparently about
21 years of age, about sft. 4in. or sft. sin in
stature; had black curly hair, Was of dark •
ark com-
plexion, had no whiskers or beard, and seemed
never to have been shaved; he was dressed in a
dark cloth coat and trousers, and had on a common
blue striped shirt with a turned-down collar and a
black neck tie. It also transpired at this interview

that Mdlle. Tietjens' mother, on Tuesday morning
last (about the time the murder was discovered),
proceeded to America-square for the purpose of re-
compensing Mr. Krool in the sum he had paid in
providing the passage to Hamburg for the person
sent with the letter by her daughter. Mr. Krool
expressed his ignorance of any such letter, and said
that no one at all had waited upon him with any
such request. The officers have also waited upon
Mr. Krool, and he makes the same statement. It
is clear, therefore, that the application to Mdlle.
Tietjens was only made in the hope of procuring
money, and that the -wish to return to Germany
was fictitious. No doubt the party upon receiving
the letter opened it immediately, found the contents
were opposed to his wishes and expectations, and
determined at any rate to postpone, for a time at
least, putting it to any practical use.
The application to Mdlle. Tietjens for the assis-
tance took place on the Friday prior to the murder
on Monday night, and as two men, answering in
every particular the descriptions contained in the
book and that given to the officers by the lady in
question, were seen in the neighbourhood of Kings-
wood on Friday evening it is clear that soon after
the receipt of the letter, they must have left town
and have proceeded to the locality indicated.
The police, entertaining no doubt that the
person referred to in the book, and the
other, whose name was signed to the letter,
were the perpetrators of the murder, their
full descriptions were circulated throughout the
country, and on Saturday evening a young man, a
foreigner, bearing a close resemblance to one of
them, entered a public-house in the village of Ripley,
six miles from Guildford. He called for some re-
freshment, and while it was being prepared, the
landlord, feeling confident that he was one of the
probable murderers, sent for a police constable. Ant
officer of the name of King soon arrived, sat down
by the side of the person in question, and entered
into conversation with him. Shortly after, much
to the consternation of the individual, he was in-
formed by the constable that he must consider him-
self in custody as being concerned in the murder of
Martha Halliday, of Kingswood Rectory. He said
the officer was mistaken, as he knew nothing what-
ever about it, and expressed his willingness to go,
with him wherever he liked to take him. He was
then taken over to Guildford, and kept in close cus-
tody until this morning, when he was brought to
Reigate byMr. Superintendent Parr, of the Surrey
Constabulary, and lodged at the station. Upon
being searched, only fourpence was found upon
4im. He said that he had come from Portsmouth,
as could be at once ascertained at that place, and
had walked to the place where he was apprehended,
on his way to Brighton. Immediately after his
apprehension the persons who bad seen the strange
men about Kingswood, and the policeman who had
met the same persons at Sutton at a quarter to two
on last Tuesday morning, were brought over to
this place for the purpose of proving the
identification of the accused. He was placed
amongst several other persons, and none of the
witnesses could recognise him as either of
the two men they had seen. Still, as a
matter of course, he was taken at eleven
o'clock this morning, before William Street, Esq.,
one of the local magistrates, and after Superinten-
dent Parr had expressed his opinion that he was
not one of the guilty persons, he was at once dis-
charged. He was supplied with sufficient money
to pay his fare to London where he wished to go.
He was very little disconcerted at the peculiar posi-
tion in which he found himself, and promised that
when he got to town he would endeavour to his
utmost to trace the murderers, and if successful to
furnish information to the police. He afterwards
rendered essential service to the police by giving;
them a literal translation of all the documents width
the murderers had left behind them. Of course, as
the result proved his innocence, it would be unfair
to mention his name, but it transpired that be was
a native of Dantsio, was a clerk, 2G years of age,
and of superior education. No blame can be attached
to the officer for effecting the apprehension, as his
resemblance to the description of Franz was very
close.