The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-08 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE iiUN.

SlR,—May I request the favour of your inserting
the enclosed letter, addressed to the editor of the
Times ?—I una,
F. HENRY F. BERKELEY.
Victoria-square, May 7.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—ln your paper of to-day I observe a leading
article on the late failure to convict a clergyman for inti-
midation under the " Corrupt Practices Prevention
Act," and I venture to predict that after the case of the
"Queen v. Barnwell" no one will again be disposed to
have recourse to that act for such a purpose. Ia 1855
you pronounced the act in question to be "a pompous
profession, meant to be inoperative." In 1856, I ven-
tured to offer some remarks, founded on a similar view
of the subject, in the House of Commons, and proposed
to Lord Palmerston that the act should be referred to a
select committee, to which his lordship acceded, but I
incurred the wrath of the Times, and you let loose at
me one of your mercenaries, who from behind that
shield of secrecy, of which the Times avails itself, but
would withhold from the elector, uncourteously assailed
me. The appellations of "this Mr. Henry Berkeley,"
and a "Mr. Henry Berkeley," were after your usual
manner plentifully sprinkled throughout the article, and
I was violently assailed because in 1856 I took the same
view of the subject as yourself in 1855.
I ventured in the House of Commons to attack that
species of legislation as uncon,titutional and leading to
injustice, and I quoted the opinions of the late Sir Robt.
Peel and Mr. Macaulay, who laid it down as an impos-
sibility that you can legislate so as to punish a man for
changing his butcher or his baker, or for ejecting a
tenant, or for di-charging a servant for any or no cause,
i
and now the clause in this ridiculous act against ntimi-
dation is construed by our sound judge (Lord Campbell)
to mean that you must not threaten to get rid of a tenant
or tradesman during election time, but you may get rid
of him after the election as soon as you please. I have,
only to add that this weak absurdity, this mockery of
common reuse, was, according to your report, described
by Mr. Skinner, one of the counsel in the case, as a
law meant to supersede the necessity of the ballot,
What next ? I am, Bcc.,
F. HENRY F. BERKELEY.
Victoria-square, May 7.

SUICIDE OF THE CHIEF CLERK OF THE JOURNALS OF
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.—An inquest was held yes-
body of Mr. Gudge, who for forty two
tyearserd a
hasy on thefiilcd the office of the chief clerk of tho Jour
nals of the House cf Commons, in which capacity he
has enjoyed the esteem and good-will of all with whom
be was brought into contact. For the last 10 or 15
years he had been suffering from an irritated state of
the brain, and was liable at times to wandering of the
mind. Of late he hart been more ttnn usually irritable
and depressed, and was under medical treatment. On
Wednesday he was seen on the terrace in front of the
houses of Parliameflt by a barge builder employed at
Searle's. He was observed to get on the parapet and
lower himself down into the wattr, as if he was g ,ing to
swim. He was got out almost directly, and taken to the
Westminster Hospital, where he died yesterday morn-
ing. Mr. Newcome, surgeon to the hospital, stated that
he had no doubt deceased died in consequence of the im-
mersion, the effects of which would be aggravated by the
deceased's impaired condition of brain. 'Verdict, !` Tem-
porary insanity.",

A reward of 2/. was also granted to John M`Laugh-
hn fur his gallant conduct in wading into the surf,
at the risk of his life, to the rescue of one out
of six persons who had been capsized from their
boat off P.m Redford, on the coast of Donegal. The
boat had proceeded but a short distance from the shore,
when several successive 'teas struck her the last me
completely overturning her, with five of her crew under-
neath, who thus unfortunately perished. The other
man was thrown into the surf where 111`Laughlin
rushed to his rescue, and succeeded, when life was
almost ciutinct, in saving him—indeed some time elapsed
before he was brought to consciousness. AVLaughlin
was aided in his noble act by another man who held
him by the skirts of his coat. This man received 10s.
from the society for his services.
Various other rewards were granted to parties who
had meritoriously exerted themselves in saving life from
wrecks.

The quarterly reports of 47 of the life-boats of the in-
stitution were, as usual, of a very favourable character.
The boats were in a state of great efficiency, and their
crews had much confidence in them. Indeed, so much
so, that they never hesitated at the call of duty to
go off in them either day or night, and in the most
stormy weather. In consequence of the superior charac-
ter of the new life-boats, toe care which the institution
had taken to supply their crews with every available
security to their own persons, and the encouragement
which the higher scale of payments and rewards had
afforded ',them, had; secured the willing and efficient
services of the boatmen on our coasts, who, in the hour
of danger and amidst the tossing tempest, display bravery
worthy British sailors in any age, as the annals of this
institution abundantly testify. Let the public then
extend its liberal support to an institution which
has been instrumental, by its life-boats and other means,
is rescuing upwards of 10,000 shipwrecked seamen, and
which is now making such strensoes efforts to extend its
sphere of operations in the cause of humanity.
A beautiful lithographic coloured working drawing
on a large scale, of Mr. Peake's plan of life-boats, which
is now adopted and successfully used by this institu-
tion, was exhibited at the meeting. The Duke of Nor-
thumberland had intimated his intention to have a large
number of copies of the same struck off and circulated
throughout our colonies and in foreign countries.
This suggestion originated with Captain Washington,
hydrographer of the Admiralty, to whom the
community is much indebted for the zeal and intel-
ligence which he has, for many years past, displayed in
assisting to mature a plan of life-boats which may fairly
be c;nsidered the first in the world, and with which his
name will over be associated as the chairman of the
Northumberland Life-Boat Committee.

An interesting report was read from the inspector of
life-boats, respecting his recent visit to the life-boats of
the society stationed on the south and west coasts of
England.
About 8001. having been ordered to be paid for various
lift-boats and life-boat houses, the proceedings closed.

THE TIPPERARY BANK.—DUBLIN, Thnrsday.—A call
of 2501. a share has boen made by the Master on all
liable in the first degree.
The whole of the 195,000/, in gold ex the Angles
has been purchased by the Bank, upwards of 100,0001.
having been sent in to-day.
SINGULAR DISCOVERY.—A few days since as an old
brick oven at the back of a house in Philip,street, Bath,
was being pulled down the workmen found a cat with a
rat in its mouth, both reduced to skeletons, though
covered with the remains of their skins. It was apparen t
that the cat had pu:sued its prey through a hole and
caught it between the top of the oven and a rafter above.
From this position it was unable to return, and there it
remained and died of starvation. It is remarkable as
showing the tenacity of the cat that it had never dropped
its pray, although it was evident that the rat had twisted
its bead round and gnawed the shoulder of its captor.
DEATH PROM EXCESSIVE DRelNß:hore bodyis:4.—Yesterday even-
emantdheCrown,evidence
n Mrs.eD e r
Anauthrya-t
l Si
an
Sadler,
ae
rnb: inquest
aged
grea disr3.. wasßedford,ltp
helda atp e
at
on the
f
the deceased was married, but owing to her intemperate
habits had been separated from her husband several
months. On Monday evening. last she was brought
home by the police intoxicated, and went to bed, and
on the following morning she was discovered a corpse.
Dr. Bainbridge, who had made a post mortal?, examina-
tion, having shown that her death was the result of the
excessive use of ardent spirits, the jury returned a ver-
dict to that effect.
At the Court of Bankruptcy yesterday, the choice of
assignees under the estate of Colonel Waugh, late the
chairman of the Loudon and Eastern Banking Company,
was perfected. On behalf of the general creditors it was
stated that the principal question to be considered is the
valid.ty of the securities given to the London and East-
ern Banking Company fur their large advances. It was
mentioned that although Colonel Waugh is still absent
he will surrender to his bankruptcy. A petition was
also heard yesterday for winding up the London and Bir-
mingham iron and Hardware Company (limited), and
an order was made for that purpose. This is the first
case in which the Court of Bankruptcy has exercised
the powers possessed under the Act of last session,
called "The Joint-Stock Companies Act, 1856." Messrs.
Linklater and Hackwood are the solicitors ; and Mr.
Edwards, the official assignee, has been appointed offi-
cial liquidator.
The Second Chamber of the States General of
Holland, at its last sitting, closed the discussion of
the bill for the regulation of the colonial press.
The assembly, after havino• successively rejected
two amendments, adopted by 6 a majority of 56 to 6
a proposal for referring back the bill to the Minister
of the Colonies, but with the opinion of the Cham-
ber that the regulation ou the colonial press should
undergo a revision.

irb Uttitizin
I) 4

SUN OFFICE, Eeve,n o'Clock.

CHEiTER RACES.--(This Day.)

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPEI.)

ETON STAKES.

Genirna di Vergy
Fisherman

Two ran. Won by a head.

HANDICAP STAKES.

Catharine L3gie
Well=
Lady Florence -

Ten ran.
GRAND STAND CUP.

Peeping Tom
Lord Nelson
Cardsharper

Eight ran. Won by a head.

LADIES' PURSE.

Cripple

Sorceress

WIRRAL STAKES.

Polly Peachuna

CHESHIRE STAKES.

Special License
Bracken

Keuerdy

.0 1

0 2

..walked over.

Five ran. Won in a canter.
TRIENNIAL.

.1
~ 2
3

Delaine filly
Kingsland

LATEST BETTING.
6to 1 agst Skirmisher (offered)
10 to 1 agst M.D. (taken)
100 to 6 aget Strathnaver (uffered)
100 to 6 agst Arsenal (offered)
100 to 8 agst Anton (offered)
18 to 1 agst Zuyder Zee (taken)
20 to 1 agst Mamas (taket,)

GRAND SrAND CUP.
Lord Nelson the only horse enquiNd after.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—(This Evening.)

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at 5 o'clock. _ _

The Earl of ALBEMARLE presented a petition
from a person named Williams, who took an interest in
institutions for the I:onefit of the poor, praying for an
extension of the tlsctive franchise to persons who bad
purchased a Government annuity to tha amount of
101. The noble lord called the attention of their
lordships to the act 16 and 17 Vic., chap. 45, for the
facilitating the purchase of annuities to the smallest
amount for IL up to 301. Ha believed it was cue of tha
measures calcniated to confer great bele6t4 on those for
whose benefit is was mainly passed. Ha thou4ht that
the person.who possessed a Government annuity was as
much entitled to vote as those persons who possessed
the 40s. franchise.
THE DEBATE LAST NIGHT.

The Earl of CARDIGAN rose to put a question to
the noble lord the Secretary of State for War. He
regretted that be was absent last evening when
the subject of China incideotAlly arose. Certain
charges bad been made against a gallent officer who was
in command of a important expedition that was now on
its way to China. He wag very glad that the noble lard
opposite bad made such good remarks in reply, highly
condemnatory of the conduct of those officers who had
made themselves parties .to anonymous statements re-
fleetieg upon the character of an officer who was not in
a position to defend himself. lie entirely concurred
with the opinion expressed, that such officers, who were
guilty of such attacks, should not be further employed
by the Government, arid asked if, in the present state of
affairs it would not be advisable to institute proceedings
When an officer publicly avows himself to be the author
of such statements, he should be compiled to prove-
them, and in the event of his not being able to :3o so,
whether he ought not to be dismissed from her Majesty's
service. It was high time that some check should be
put upon conduct of that character, for he
seilievad if it was allowed to continue much
longer the discipline of the army would be destroyed.
Lord Re.NINIURZ said in the case where junior offi-
cers, anonymously or otherwise, made att.eLs upon ?u-
-peeler officers, he should feel it his duty to give the
Cornma.nder-',n-Chief every assi-tance to maintain
the discipline of the werny. With respect to the
charges that had b,en made against the
noble earl himself, who bad been made the
subject of some attacks in a book published in
the first instance anonymously. lie (fiord Pau-
morn advised the noble earl to have confidence
upon the honour and gallantry of his own coo-
duct and character and to treat such charges
with the contempt they deserved, but if the noble earl
wished to take any steps in the matter, he (Lord Pan-
inure), would afford him every assistance in his power
to brine; ttie libellers to justice. He would take
that opportunity of setting himself right with the public
press. It was reported that be bad said that he did not
think it wa' right for public journalists to criticise the

appointments titai had heel' made by Government. Now,
he never bad the folly to make such a remark. On the
contrary, he held it to be the proper vocation of the public
press to make such remarks as they thought necessary
upon the appointments made by this or any other Go-
vernment, because the tress was supposed t) be the
organ and guide ;of public opinion. He did t com-
plain of the manner in which the attacks had been
made upon General Ashburntiam, namely of wlaviing
the appointment to be wade, and then three weeks after-
warils to elapse bef,A3 the General left.the country with•
out saying a word against that uffiecr, and only bringing
fonyard th.hse accusations when the General had left
the country and had arrived at Malta on his way to the
scene of his important labours were to be trought into
action.

A fter a few word 3 from the Earl of CARDIGAN,

The Earl of HARD vVICKE said it was most un-
seemly for any parson to make such anonymous attacks.
Wheu such charges were made, it was most disgrac,Aui
that the • parties did not append their names to Cie
statements.