The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-21 00:00:00

R. HENRY MAYHEW'S CURIOUS C9NTINUED RIOTS AT BICLFASP, AND
CONYgtiSAZIONES with a few Odd Characters out of CONFLICTS WITH THE MILITARY.
the Streets of London.—St. Martin's Hall, July 27 to August ist.

THE GENERAL LIFE and FIRE
ASSURANCE Y.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, ThatCOMPA theN Thirty-eighth HALF-
YEARLY DIVIDEND, at the rate of Six per cent., declared on the
sth instant, is payable to the .lisreholders, at the Office of the Coin-
Deny, 62, King William-street. London-bridge, between the hours of
ten and four. By order of the Board.
July2o, 1857. THOMAS PRICE. Secretary.

r3TABLISEIED 1837.
BRITANNIA LIFE ASSURANCE
COMPANY.
Empowered by Special Act of Parliament, 4 Yict., cap. 9,

♦ND
BRITANNLi MUTUAL LIFE ASSOCIATION.
Empowered by her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent.
1, Princes-street, Bank, London.
Major-General ALEXANDER, Blackheath Park, CRAmmax,

Number of Policies issued, upwards of 11,000.
Annual Income from Premiums (exclusive of Interest'on Invest-
ments), upwards of £84,009.
Rates of Premium reduced to the lowest possible scale compatible
with security, a d computed in such variety of ways, as to suit the
.ircumstances and convenience of every class of Policy-holders.

The disturbances and faction fights which have
been already noticed as having occurred at Belfast
for several nights, after the partisan celebration of
the 12th of July, resulted, on Friday and Saturday
night, in a serious conflict with soldiers and con-
stabulary. These disgraceful tumults appear to
have originated in the old enmity between the
Orangemen and the Ribbonmen. The Belfast News
Letter says
"We have observed that on every successive
evening the course pursued by the rioters has been
invariably the same. A number of them, from
the notoriouslocality of " The Pound," meet to-
gether in an adjacent field,
if possible behind
a ditch or embankment, having previouslysupplied
themselves with missiles in the shape of brick-bats,
"pavers," and some with more genteel, but more
deadly weapons, pistols and guns. Another party
is then organised, who move out into the open field
or, if they can, take up a sheltered position like
their opponents. An irregular hedge-fire is now
commenced by both parties under cover. Brick-
bats, stones, and bullets whiz indiscriminately
through the air, but without much effect on either
side ; and it continues only for a few moments, for
a black body of constabulary and local police is im-
mediately seen to approach at 'double quick.' In
au instant the formerly opposing and apparently
irreconcileable parties co-mingle and take to flight
or shelter, which, if they can, they hold until a fa-
vourable °ppm-unity presents itself.. They renew
the ati.sek, but MIS time it Is upon the policemen,
whom they pelt right and left, and it is only a
mercy that some of them, or some of the magis-
trates, have not been struck by the random shots
which are constantly fired."
After relating what a narrow escape Mr. Tracy,
the resident umeistrate, had on Thursday night,
when a bullet passed close to his head, the News
Letter sayse:—
" The most stringent measures were used to clear
the streets, and show the rioters that they would
no longer be permitted to pursue their own lawless
inclinations with impunity. The police used their
sticks and the bust-ends of their carbines' and in
one instance the soldiers used their bayonets, which
in our opinion was somewhat reprehensihle. A
number of prisoners were captured, and one lad
brought into the police-barrack was found to have
received four slight stabs in the back."
Three of the local police were severely cut with
stones on Thursday. "On Friday," says the
Northern Whig " there was greater excitement
than duffing the previous evenings. The fields op-
posite the Pound Loaning were literally filled with
people, and the Pound Loaning itself contained a
mass of persons ready to seize on the first opportu-
nity for opening a riot. About half-past 8 o'clock
tie roll of musketry was ince•sant—not blank cart-
ridge, but heavy charges of balls and shot. It is
strange that with all this expenditure of ammuni-
tion, we have not to record loss of life, but thi4 is
more owing to the position of the crowds than
to any mercy which the rioters desired to extend
to their opponents. At the corner of Quadrant-
road the rioters appeared in force, and at-
tacked the local police with considerable severity.
in Cullingtree-road the same proceedings went on
for some time, until at length the military were
:again called out. Four companies of infantry and
troop of cavalry, under the command of Major
Hood, arrived shortlyafter 9 o'clock at the Durham-
street police barracks. The magistrates then pre-
sent were—Mr. Tracy, R.M. ; Wm. Coates, J. P. ;
and Robt. Thompson, J.P. The troops were
divided into parties for the purpose of clearing the
streets. While one of these was passing through
Cullingtree-road the mobs of both parties waited
to assail them with stones, and several of the cavalry
and local force received repeated blows. Another
party of the military charged down Sandy-row.
Hire some of the crowd sought refuge in a small
field adjacent to the Ulster Railway Terminus,
where they were pursued by the infantry, who had
been previously thrown out into skirmishing order.
We have been informed that nothing but the inter-
ference of the constabulary saved these people from
the bayonets of the infuriated soldiery."
The Dublin Freeman's Journal of yesterday has
the following :
" Belfast, Sunday Night.--The night has not
passed off without bloodshed. A girl was shot over
the left eye, and was at once brought to the hospi-
tal. She is alive this morning, and only faint hopes
are entertained of her recovery. A boy received
a ball through the calf of the leg. A girl on the
Cullingtree-road also received some
shot or a ball
in the left side. She was taken to her house, and
was attended by a medical Marl and subsequently
by a clergyman. All these people are Roman Ca-
tholics. There is no doubt that some of the Sandy-
row party also have been hurt. At one moment
last night affairs were most critical. The Riot Act
was several times read ; and as
(Mr. Tracy)
as the mobs did not
separate, the stipendiary ma
ordered all the constabulary to load. The military
had all their pieces loaded. Next came the order,
"Make ready," but the magistrate humanely ad-
dressed the rioters, and his advice, in conjunctionwith the appearance of the military
and consta-
bulary, had a good effect. The mobs disappeared,
and stone throwing and discharges ceased. In an,
hour or two fears for the public safety had disap-
peared. Fifteen persons were arrested and lodged
at the police office. This morning
it Was pitiable
to see the numbers of wives or sisterswho thronged
about the building, in the hope of seeing their
friends. They will be brought up at the police-
office to-morrow. I shall let you know the result."

THE LATE M.E. GERMAIN LA VIE.

morninghT3utestduaisyeminkilled by
(From the Solicitor's Journal.)
eutit solicitor was
la:
a fall from his horse on Constitution-hill, while
had begin
in the
taking an early ride preparatory to the business of
CitOynt
the day. It is but a few weeks since that we had
to lament the death of Mr. James Freshfield, whom,
together with Mr. Lavie, most persons would have
agreed to name as th• two highest authorities on
commercial law existing in the City of London. It
will not have been forgotten that Mr. Freshfield
died at the age of 56, of a c )inplaint which was
probably induced or aggravated by excessive appli-
cation to his professional duties. Mr. Lavie has
died at about the same age, leaving a great reputa-
tion, and a void which it will be difficult to supply.
The deceased gentleman was not only a solicitor
in large practice and thoroughly master of his
work, but he was also gifted with many talents and
accomplishments which enhanced the influence due

to his professional position. He was educated at
Eton, where he was highly distinguished as well
for industry and capacity as for general good con-
duct. -From Eton he went to Christ Church Col-
lege, Oaf. ,rd, and took his degree in 1823, having
obtained a first class in inathemat•cs. At this time
he was intended for the bar, but the sudden death
of his father, who was a member of the old firm of
Crowder, Lavie, and Co., induced him to change
his views. In order to supply as far as possible his
father's place, he entered the office as clerk to Mr.
Oliverson, then and now a member of the firm, and
after completing his articles, was admitted to prac-
ticewas a
as
satudso
elinctitoofrcinhrEisatsctehruTreehrmt
a,nldB2it was at one
time probable that-he would have been elected to a 7. Mr. Lavie
fellowship at Merton College. Up to the time of
his death he held the office of auditor of Christ
Church, and under this title was the professional
adviser of the college ; and he enjoyed in a high de-
gree the friendship and confidence of that distin-
guished body.
Ability and industry had won for Mr. Lavie
high academic honour, and when he had taken his
degree at Oxford, and turned his thoughts to the
bar, his own powers, and the position of his father,
as an eminent solicitor in London, appeared to
promise him an early and great success. But on
his father's death he sacrificed whatever hopes he
may have cherished of the more splendid triumphs
of the bar, and devoted himself to supply to his
family, so far as possible, the heavy loss they had
sustained. To this duty he was constant through-
out his life, and we have been informed that he
remained unmarried in order to discharge more
completely the obligation he bad taken upon him-
self of providing for those whom his father's death
had left in embarrassed circumstances. To the
profession which he thus adopted, rather under a
sense of duty than from choice, Mr. Lavie brought
the same assiduity and the same capaeity which he
had displayed at Eton and at Oxford. For many
years past he has been the professional adviser of
a large number of the leading commercial estab-
lishments of the city of London, and also of many
of the great mercantile firms of Scotland, Ireland,
and the provinces. He was a member of the coun-
cil of the Incorporated Law Society, and always
attended the discussion of, questions which were
deemed to lie within his peculiar province. He
also acted in his turn as an examiner of the candi-
dates for admission.• • - c-- - - • •
Mr. Lavie was a member of the royal commis-
eioa appointed is 1854 to inquire into the anaege.4-