The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-02 00:00:00

THE LATE THOMAS PROUT, ESQ.

Our columns lately recorded the decease of this
gentleman, an event which causes a vacancy in the
ranks of radical reformers not likely soon to be
filled up. Mr. Prout was a native of Launceston,
Cornwall, which place, however, he left at an early.
age and settled in London. His business was that
of a patent medicine vendor. Early in life Mr.
Prout became a radical reformer, and the opinions
which he then adopted he held to the last day of his
life without variation or shadow of turning. It was
in conncction with the elections for the city of
Westminster that Mr. Prout first gave practical
effect to his political convictions. In common with
the late Francis Place and others he aided the re-
turn of Sir Francis Burdett, then the parliamentary
leader of the radical party, and at a later period
the election of Sir John Cam Hobhouse. He ren-
dered quite as efficient service to the cause of radi-
oal reform when at later but different periods the
two baronets deserted their radical principles, on
which Mr. Prout as actively aided their rejection
from Westminister as he had before promoted their
return. Up to the last Westminster election, he
took an active part in the contests for that city ;
and, indeed, it was chiefly, if not entirely, owing
to his vise and temperate counsels, that the elec-
tions of 1857 mid 1859, union prevailed amongst
Westminster liberals of all shades of opinion, and
no sign of a Tory candidate appeared. His coun-
sels and assistance will be much missed in future
contests for Westminster. On the formation of the
Metropolitan Anti-Corn-law Association, which
preceded that of the Anti-Corn-law League, Mr.
Proud became one of its members, and took an
active part in it proceedings. After the free trade
struggle was over, the National Parliamentary and
Financial Reform Association was formed, and into
this agitation Mr. Prout, now advanced in life,
threw himself with great zeal and energy. He had
ever been a great advocate of the ballot, of the ne-
cessity of which his experience as a leading elector.
of Westminster had given him practical proof ; and
on the formation, of the Ballot Society Mr. Prout
became one of its treasurers. He gave more in
time and labour, and though last not least, money,
to this than to any of the other organisations we
have previously mentioned. At the earliest and
most critical period of the society's existence he
daily attended at the offices, and never missed the
weekly sittings of the executive committee, until
latterly failing health compelled him most reluc-
tantly to be more frequently absent, If absent he
was in constant communication with the secretary
and other officers. This was the case until within
a few days of his decease. The loss of his zeal,
his matured experience, and his liberality, will be
felt as an irreparable injury by his colleagues. Mr.
Prout's pecuniary liberality in aid of any move-
ment for political reform was remarkable; his
purse was always open to the claims of such move-
ments, not only to the associations of which he
was an office-bearer, but to others, such as the As-
sociation for the Repeal of the Taxes on Know-
ledge, with which his only connexion was that of
a sunscriber. Nor was his pecuniary aid confined
to public objects ; his private benevolence was
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charge of the duties of citizenship ; to the old he
leaves an example of unflinching consistency in
opinions and perseverance in maintaining and ad-
vocating them.

A report has been circulated from New York of
the floating of the steamer Paramatta, lately stranded on
the Anegada Reef. This statement, it is feared, is with-
out foundation, no intelligence to that effect having been
received at the Royal Mail Company's office.

--
Letters from South Australia reach to June the
Ist. The Legislative Session was opened by a speech from
the Governor on May 18th, in which, in reference to the
mining industry of the colony, ho expressed his hope that
'the recent discovery of extensive and valuable mineral
deposits to the north of Port Augusta will, at no distant
date, add new sources of wealth. The The financial and com-
mercial state of the colony he declared to be satisfactory.
An interruption in the telegraphic communication. between
The mines in work
a Ilurra Company had declared their 38th
dv
Adelaide and Melbourne had occurred, through damage
from a severe storm. , The South Australian _Register of
al\)iialYiyd'eln 8d ofh says
e 1: 1 3-0
01 :I
.‘
.are going on favour-
Ter cent. The price of shares was £145.
Copper was at £lOO per ton.
THE INDIAN ARMY.—The total sums charged
against the Government of India on account of her Majesty's
troops (exclusive of her Indian forces) since the Ist of May,
1857, up to the date of the returns received, amount to
£4,614,568. For 1858-9 statements have not yet arrived
from India. The above sum includes claims in respect of
disbursements in India on account of Queen's troops serving
in India and retiring pay, pensions, &c.

George Price, 20, was indicted for stealing two
silver spoons, &c., the property of William Daniel
Hawes, in his dwelling-house, 154, Cambridge-
street, Pimlico.
He pleaded guilty.
The grand jury, when the hill was brought in,.
called the "attention, of the Court to the conduct of
one of the witnesses, a nurse-girl in the service of
the prosecutor, who seized the prisoner aw he was
coining up the area of her master's pouse, and after
a sharp struggle, gave him into, custody. They
hoped,, if the Court had the power, it would direct
some reward would be given to her for her praise- ,
worthreoncluet.
The Assistant-Judge said he had read the•depiP.
sitions, and had particularly noticed what the grand
jury alluded to, and the girl's conduct was .very
laudable and praiseworthy. The 'prisoner got into
her master's house, and was carrying off the plate,
when she caught him cowing Un thearea steps With
his boots in his hand, and with these he beat her
about the head, still she kept her hold, and the pri-
soner was secured. Phe Court had. the power of
Ordering. .her a •rewardj and he should direct that
she receive .£2 in'addition to her ordinary expenses
as a witness.
The prisoner, who 'was not known' to the officers,
was then sentenced to 12 months' hard labour.,
johri 'West, a police-constable 114 B, was indicted
for stealing a watch, value £2, the property of 'J.
,Green, from his.person.
Mr. Foot was for the prosecutioni..Mr. Metcalfe
defended'the prisoner:
• The prosecutor stated that he lived in Horseshoe-
Smith's-rents, Westminster, and on the
morning of the 2d of July, about two, o'clock, be
-waslsitting at hii.,own Cior, hall'-dozing, when the
prisoner, who was on duty, carne up to him and
snatched his watch from the guard chain, and then
roused him, up and wanted to know why he did not
go up to bed. He said to him, " Why, you've taken
my watch'," and called his wife down. The prisoner
then said it was a -- lie that he had taken the
watch, and that the prosecutor was a rogue,
and walked off. He and his wife followed him, and
detired another policeman to take the prisoner into
custody, but he would not, and witness's wife called
out " Police." The policeman then put his hand
into his right-hand coat pocket and took out the
watch,' and gave it to her. A person named Quin
came up, and the policeman told him not to say
anything about it and he would give him a shilling.
He told witness that he was a poor man, and he
would do something for him if nothing was said.
He worked for Mr. Alderman Lawrence.

The witness was cross-examined as to his respect-
ability, but the facts were not questioned. His
answers were quite satisfactory. The ring or bow
of the watch was broken off, and was found loose
in the prisoner's pocket.
The witness Quin was then examined. He fully
bore out the prosecutor's evidence.
In cross-examination he was asked how it came
that he was wandering'about the streets, and he
said it was because he could not sleep.
Mr. Metcalfe—.lVas it the heat that prevented
you from sleeping ?
Quin—Yes ; and ' something else, the bugs.
(Laughter.) The witness said lie was an invalided
seaman, had served in India, and was sent-home on
account of having broken his leg. He was in the
Company's service three years and nine months,
and was discharged without a pension. He now
earned his living by sack-making. The prosecutor
was an entire stranger to him.
The prosecutor's wife also gave evidence,. but
Mr. Metcalfe declined to cross-examine her, and
then said it would be useless to attempt to resist
the evidence. It was a charge fully borne out by
the clear evidence of three persons whose respecta-
bility could not be questioned, and he had done all
that his duty to his client permitted hith to do. Of
course he could not impute perjury or conspiracy
to the witnesses, when there appeared not the least
foundation for either, and he should offer no de-
fence.

The Assistant-Judge told the jury that he was
quite sure the learned counsel would take no course
but the best for the interest of his client, and he
quite concurred in the one he had adopted in this
case.

The jury said they did so too.
The prisoner was then found guilty.
Mr. Metcalfe said he was instructed by the friends
of the prisoner, who were very respectable, and
lived near Canterbury. They could not account
for this extraordinary conduct of his, his character
hitherto being good.
An inspector of the 13 division stated that the
prisoner had been reported occasionally for infringe-
ments of police discipline.
The Assistant-Judge asked if the policeman who
refused to take the prisoner in charge was present?
The inspector said he was not, but he had been
reported to, and reprimanded by, the commissioners, li
for not taking the prisoner in charge.
The Assistant-Judge directed that he should be re-
ported again, now that the charge had been fully sub-
stantiated and the prisoner convicted. Three persons,
of humble position, but of respectable character,
charged the prisoner with a robbery, and another
policeman refused to take the charge, because the
accused was, like himself, a policeman. Such con-
duct was intolerable, and the Inspector must report
to the Commissioiers that the case had been proved,
without contradiction by the prisoner. The offence
was a very bad one in itself, but it was aggravated
beyond all measure by the circumstance that the
prisoner was a pblicernan—a man kept and paid to
protect the public and their property. At first he
had thought that it would be the duty of the Court
to pass a sentence of penal servitude for a length-
ened term, but after well considering the matter
he thought, and he had the concurrence of the
bench, that a milder course might be taken, and
the sentence upon him would be 12 months' hard
labour.