The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-15 00:00:00

cording to his means, to the liquidation of the
public liabilities, and the maintenance of the
national establish] nents. The settlement has been
too long deferred to admit of such a compromise.
It is " too late" ft such an arrangement. The
inequalities of the tax must be rectified, but it
must be a fair and bona fide effort to do so—
not merely one t hat " keeps the word of pro-
mise to the ear to break it to the
hope." Sir J. PLKINGTON compared the position
of the man possessed of money in the funds, or
real estate, with one who had to earn his liveli-
hood. The one t eft an ample provision, the other
was compelled to save or insure. The latter was
in duty bound ta, save or insure for the benefit of
his family.

This is truly valuable testimony. It will be
recognised in Downing-street. It indicates a
coming storm, a:nd Sir G. C. LEWIS will have to
trim his sails in accordance with the warning. It
only requires that the people should still display
the same zeal and energy, and the victory will be
a:ccmpli-hed, and 1857 will be renowned as the
year of fiscal reform, when the true principles of
Reform were recognised by the Legislature.

We have had enough lately of Ticket-of-Leave
liberations, and remission of sentences after short
imprisonments. A quite new difficulty has lately
been placed before the public—what to do with
wrongly-convicted prisoners. The irreclaimable
seem likely to give us trouble enough, and more
than enough ; but those whom we have put under
the discipline of Newgate, Milbank, and Penton-
villa for crimes they are as innocent of as we are,
ought to trouble our national conscience in the
opposite direction. They have a heavy demand
upon us for redress, and we must give it. At pre-
sent we can only pardon convicted innocence ; the
absurdity is so glaring that it has always been
felt. It has been submitted to as the only prac-
ticable legal mode of releasing the innocent from
punishment ; but we doubt not her MAJESTY'S
fingers must have tingled a little, when, having
been advised by her Home Secretary that a per-
son prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced in her
name had never committed the alleged crime at
all, she had to sign a pardon for the wronged in-
dividual. She must have felt that, as Head of the
Executive, she had rather pardon to ask than to
bestow, and must have reluctantly applied to
proved innocence the language appropriate to guilt.
We have all of us
,admired, too, the firmness of
the KING of Naples' guiltless victims, who, when
offered liberation on condition of asking for a
pardon, preferred their load of irons and their
damp dungeons to the ignominy of pardon for no
crime whatever. Can we, then, insult lenger
those who have nothing to be forgiven with that
which we praise Pozaro for refusing.
In The Sun of Saturday, a case of the kind
referred to was stated in a letter by Mr. J. AN-
DERSON Rosz, ex-Under-Sheriff of London, which,
from the peculiar clearness of the evidence and
the sufferings of the victim, has deservedly
attracted no little attention. JOHN MARKHAM
was arrested one Saturday morning last April in
Oxford-street, ou the charge of forging a banker's
cheque, was examined and remanded for six weeks,
finally eommitted for trial, tried, and convicted.
The case was one of mistaken identity. The real
culprit, JAMES ANDERSON, is now himself in the
hands of justice, and confesses to the entire inno-
cence of MARKHAM. He had even, it seems,
unable to see unmoved the distress and want
of Mrs. 11,1ARKEIAM, knowing her husband to be
innocent, actually sent her, in a way to avoid
detection, a five-pound note ! After six months of
inconceivable mental agony, in addition to prison,
fare, prison companions, and "the horrors,"
as he termed it, of solitary confinement, JOHN
MARKHAM is informed that he is proved innocent,
therefore pardoned, and is now a freeman. The
first joy of freedom of course hid the shame of
pardon from him, but, practically, he finds on
his emancipation that Society is but too ready to
regard him not as one to whom it has to make
atonement, but as one who has been to prison.
Now, surely, let legal pedantry and ingenuity
hunt up what difficulties it may, all this ought to
be redressed. A man brought to trial, and told
by the Judge in open court that he is
not merely acquitted through some techni•
cal casualty, or through doubtful evidence,
but that no stain rests upon his character, rejoins
the world, as if nothing had happened. Hence
an accused map, conscious of integrity, demands
a fair trial, and an officer of the army in like cir-
cumstances a court-martial. This seems to point
to one mode of remedying the mischief which would
retrieve character, namely, a new, public, and
impartial investigation. Pecuniary compensation
to the full extent of the injury sustained in that
way, none would object to, and further it is impos-
sible to go. No compensation can be offered
for six months of heart-wearing, bearing up
against
g punishments, the proper lot of
felons,retchedness of being looked on as
and degrading
haedi wretchedness
guilty of that which the inmost heart loathes by
all who surround us.
It is rather remarkable that MARKHAM'S is not
the only case of the kind with which Mr. ROSE
and the excellent Ordinary of Newgate had to do.
Another man of the name of MARTIN was rescued
by their praiseworthy exertions in the same man-
ner. They after several days' labour established
his innocence, and even found out the real crimi-
nal. It is also remarkable that Mr. ROSE heard
both the trials, and was satisfied at the time of
Maltszam's innocence, and strongly doubted the
guilt of MARTIN ; although he states that the
witness who swore positively to MARKHAM'S iden-
tity was a most respectable and honest man. It
is difficult to explain this, the more so as
ho was ably defended by Mr. BALLANTINE, who
was thoroughly satisfied of his innocence. These
cases do an injury to the administration of justice
generally. In the next trial for murder, where
identity is at all a question, what jury will not
be afraid to convict when the prisoner's counsel
has made the best use of MARKHAM'S erroneous
conviction. The opponents of capital punish-
ment will, of course, lay no little stress on such
cases ; and it may easily happen that thus villains
may be left at large, again to commit fresh mur-
ders, whom no jury would have hesitated to
confine for life.

The account Mr. Rose gives of the interior of
Newgate is somewhat startling. Pirates, mur-
derers, garotters, burglars, thieves from birth,
receivers, putters up of robberies, and
the perpetrators of unmentionable crimes, all
picking oakum together, and all solacing them-
selves under the monotonous task by " holding
high discourse" on the edifying topic of their
knaveries, and deeds of villanous daring. The
temptation is to make theknselves worse than they
are, the most outrageous tale of horrors or of

wicked cunning being the most interesting, and

perhaps the most instructive to the younger

scholars. It seems to be a perfect pandemonium,
and poor MARKHAM was an object of relentless

persecution among these wretches, because " the
countryman," as they termed him, could but per-

severingly assert his innocence. What a hell on

earth must Newgate be ! Surely if half all this be

,rue, no ono who has served his apprenticeship to

oakum•picking M Newgato ought to be liberated to

practise on society the infernal arts he has learned
there. We certainly agree with Mr. HILL,
that it is the very climax of absurdity when once
we have laid bold of a practised thief to let him
loose on society again : work him, transport
him, confine him, do what you like with
him but spare us his presence in our
towns and villages. Neither reason nor jus-
tice demand that a man who has proved he can-
not be trusted to respect our property and lives
should ever have the chance of injuring either.

THE PANTOMIMES.

MORNING PERFORMANCES.

The experiment of morning performances, which was
last year tried on a limited scale, and which proved so
successful, has this year been adopted by nearly the
whole of the managers of the principal theatres. At
Drury-lane Theatre, Mr. E. T. Smith has fixed Wednes
day as the day on which a morning performance of the
magnificent pantomime of " See Saw, Margery Daw,"
is to be given. Mr. Bucketone, the talented lessee of
the Haymarket, has selected Thursday for a similar per-
formance. Mr. Charles Dillon, of the Lyceum, has
chosen Saturday for a morning representation of his
Christmas tribute ; as also has Mr. W. Cooke, of the
" world-renowned Astley's Amphitheatre." At the
Princess's, Adelphi, and Olympic, although a certain
day has not been permanently fixed upon, morning per.
formances are frequently announced ; so that it is in the
power of pater familias to give his juveniles a whole
week's treat without the inconvenience of exposing them
to the night air or the expense of " cabs home." To one
or both of these circumstances we attribute the great
success that has attended the experiment of " morning
performances."

THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.—The impression in
well-informed circles is, that her Majesty will not open
Parliament in person in consequence of an interesting
event being expected towards the end of the month fol-
lowing that in which the Legislature will re-assemble.
—Morning Chronicle.
EXTRAORDINARY EXPENSES OF MINISTERS AT FOREIGN
COVRTS.—Iti the year ended March the extraordinary
expenses of our Ministers were 25,0001.
THE WAR WITH Russti.--In the year ended March,
1855. the vote of credit for the war with Russia was
1,800,0001., and in the following year, 4,200,0001.
THE PRIVY PURSE.—In the year ended the 31st
March last the salaries of the household and tradesmen's
bills were 371,8001.
The Paris advices refer to rumours that the Great
Central of France Railway has been purchased by the
Paris and Orleans Company.
The directors of the Commercial Bank of London
have declared a hal'-yearly dividend at the rate of 7 per
cent. per annum, fl-!e of income tax, payable on the
24th instant.
The fiat ordinary meeting of the National Discount
Company is called for the 6th February; and the second
half-yearly meeting of the Anglo-French Steam-ship
Company for the 14th February, at Grimsby.
An extraordinary general meeting of the Wimbledon
and Croydon Railway Company is called for the 30th
inst., to consider the draft of the proposed lease of the
line to the London and Brighton Railway Company.
Advices received from Cape de Verds mention that
the steamer European, Captain Parfitt, arrived at St.
Vincent from Southampton on the 25th of December,
and sailed again on the 27th, on her way to Australia.
The commercial advices from New York this week
describe an improvement in most descriptions of stocks,
notwithstanding an increased pressure for money at the
close of the year.
The Senates Academicus of the University of Edin-
burgh have conferred the Degree of LL.D. upon Pro-
fessor James Stephen, of King's College, London.
The serious symptoms of Alderman Farebrother's
recent indisposition have subsided, and his medical
attendant states that he has " strong hopes of his ultimate
recovery."
ILLNESS OF MR. BARON ALDERSON.—We regret to
learn that the learned baron is labouring under severe
indisposition at his residence in Portland-crescent, the
disease being a determination of blood to the head.
FUNERAL OF MR. BROTHERTON, M.P.—The funeral
of the late Mr. Brotherton, M.P., took place yesterday
morning, when his remains were interred in the new
cemetery in Eccles New-road, Salford. Amongst mem-
bers of the Legislature present were noticed Mr. W.
Brown, M.P., Mr. Hadfield, M.P., Mr. Barnes, M.P.,
Hr. Kershaw, M.P., and Mr. Cheethare, M.P.
A MAGISTRATE SUMMONED BY A CABMAN.-- On Tues-
day Mr. G. W. Donnithorne, of Twickenham, a Middle-
sex magistrate, was summoned at the Lambeth police
court, by the driver of a hackney carriage, numbered
2777 for refusing to pay him 6d. It was a question of
distance. Mr. Elliot decided in cabby's favour, and
ordered the defendant to pay the 6d. and 4s. 6d. costs.
MADAME TIIESAUD'a EXHIBITION.—One of the latest
additions to this establishment has been the portrait of
the Archbishop of Paris. lately assassinated in the church
of St. Etienne-du-Mont. The prelate is represented in
similar robes to those worn when he fell by the knife of
the as-assin. The portrait is an excellent likeness, and
will prove, no doubt, a- source of much interest to the
visitors.
AUSTRALIAN MAILS.--The European and Australian
Company's steam-packet Columbian left Southampton
yesterday with the Australian mails. She took out about
sixty passengers. The mail consisted of about 220 bags
of letters and papers.
THE AMERICAN MAILS.—The screw steam ship City
of Manchester, Captain Petrie, belonging to the Liver-
pool and Philadelphia Steam-packet Company, sailed
from the Mersey at noon yesterday for Philadelphia, with
a mail and about 100 passengers (20 of whom occupy
cabin berths), and a fair amount of merchandise on
freight. The screw steam-ship City of Baltimore, Capt.
Robert Lead., with advices from Philadelphia to the Ist
_inst., and the United States mail-steam-ship Baltic, Capt.
Corns'oek, with advices from New York to the 31 inst.,
are now fully due and hourly expected. The Royal Mail
steam-ship Arabia, Capt. Stone, sails on Saturday after-
noon for Boston and Halifax, with mails, passengers,
and cargo.
THE Loss OF THE LYONNAIS—SAFETY OF ANOTHER
OF THE BOATS.—LIVERPOOL, Tuesday.—A telegraphic
despatch, received at. Halifax, reports that one of the
boats of the ill-fated French screw steamship Lyonnais,
wrecked by cc'hion while on her passage from New
York to Havre (on which occasion all the passengers
and crew took to the boats), had been picked up, Dec.
9, lat. 40 N., by the brig Beauty, from Halifax, at
Montego Bay, Jamaica. The number of souls saved is
not mentioned.
THE COAST OF KENT AND ITS LIGHT BEACONS.—It
appear, from what one can gatuer from the letters of
the ablest correspondents, that the commander of the
Violet was carried out of his course, in the direction of
the North Foreland, and getting sight of the Gull Stream
Lights, he mistook them for the South Foreland Lights,
and then steered his unhappy vessel unwittingly upon
the fatal sands. No error, even in the foulest weather,
could again arise, were the three lights at the South
Foreland, the Gull Stream, and the North Sand Head,
coloured red, green, and blue, and made to reflect in the
most intense and brilliant manner.
ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.—The annual general meet-
ing of this soc.ety was held yesterday; Mr. B. B. Cahlae!l
in the chair. It appeared, from a reprt of the proceed-
ings of the society during the past year, that, in addi-
tion to bronze medals, testimonials, and pecuniary re
wards, 13 silver medals were awarded by the society to
persons who had risked their lives to save others from
being drowned. Last year 201,000 persons bathed in
the Serpentine River, and 47 casualties (including at-
tempted suicide-) had occurred, of which number four
proved fatal. During the skating season 40 persons had
been rescued by the society's icemen in the parks and
Kensington-gardens, and no fatal accident had oc-
currel The number of skaters and sliders was esti-
mated at upwards of 40,000. The officers of the insti
tution were re-elected, and thanks were voted to the
chairman.

WATERFORD AND MILFORD POSTAL COMMUNICATION.
—The Irish mails are to be conveyed across the Channel
by the Neyland and Waterford steamers, for which pur-
pose arrangements are being entered into by the Post-
office authorities. In the first instance the conveyance
will be three times a week—doubtless hereafter to be
extended. This arrangement will effect the saving of
considerable time in the interchange of correspondence
between the south of England and the south of Ireland.
The present Admiralty pier at Hobb's Point will once
more be used for the embarkation of the passengers and
the mails. At Neyland terminus the works are pro-
gressing well ; the double line of rails is being laid down
from Ila.verfordwest' and the shipping conveniences are
being carried out to meet the great traffic which is so
rapidly developing itself in the haven.
Locr, SHIPPING DUES ON THE DANTJBE.—" The exe-
cution of the regulations which are to be drawn up by
the European Commission of the Danube,"says a Galatz
letter, " will meet with numerous difficulties on the
part of the pilots and other inhabitants of the Sulina,
almost all of whom are pirates, who have ne other object
in view than to rob the unfortunate captains who are
compelled to have recourse to them. Last year some
English vessels having a cargo of 2,000 quarters were
co=mpelled to pay enormous
sums for being taken over
the bar. Competition has since then, it is true, led to
a reduction in the charges. It is said that the owners
of the local steam tugs and the pilots have pledged
themselves reciprocally to resist, even by force, the
execution of the regulations which may be drawn up
by the Danubian Commission.
ELECTRICTELEGRAPH COMPANY'S STOCK.—The follow.
ing communication, announcing additional precautions
against fraud in the registration and transfer of the Elec-
tric Telegraph Company's stock, was yesterday posted
in the Stock Exchange :

" The Electric and International Telegraph Company
(Incorporated 1846).
" Lothbury, London, Jan. 13, 1857.
"Dear Sir,—l beg to acquaint you that the board of
directors of the Electric and International Telegraph Com-
pany having deemed it necessary to take additional precau-
tions, with a view, if possible, of giving greater security
for the due registration and transfer of the company's
stock, have passed the following resolution, which I am
instructed to forward to you : 'Resolved,—That all deeds
of transfers of shares be examined and compared with the
stock ledger by a director in attendance, who will add his
signature to the same.'—l am, &c.,
" (Siciaed) "J. S. FOURDRINIER, Skcretary.
Mihill Slaughter, Esq., Secretary Railways
Department, Stock Ezonange.",