The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-11 00:00:00

THE PARISIAN VENUS.

The Parisian Venus, now on exhibition at the
Cosmorama-rooms, Regent-street, is an exquiiitely
dissected wax model of the human body. It is the
size of life, and.as a work of art is perfectly unique.
On first entering the room the atteytion is attrac'.ed
to what appears to be a beautiful statue, lying in a
recumbent posture. The proprietor of the exhibition,
who is in attendance, then removes the integuments,
and the superficial muscles, vessets, and nerves are
brought into view—layer after layer is removed until
the minute organisation of the inmost recesses of the
human frame is demonstrated. The viscera and
brain are removed from the body and subjected to
the same process, so that by the inspection of this
model a more perfect general idea of the structure of
the human frame may be acquired in a few minutes
than could be acquired by the study of books and
plates during a series of years. As a work of art, it
is unique, while its accuracy in a scientific point. of
view is beyond all praise. As a proof of the esti-
mation in which it is held, we may mention the fact
that the Lords of the Treasury have been pleased to
sanction its importation free of duty as an instrument
of education.

M. MANSION'S WAX PAINTINGS.
The art of wax painting was well known to the
ancients, and, as a proof of its superiority over every
other species of paintings in point of durability, w e
may mention the fact, that while the frescos of Ra-
phael and Leonardo da Vinci are falling into decay,
the wax paintings on the walls of Herculaneum are
still to be seen in all their primitive freshness. The
art of wax painting was lost for centuries, but it was
re-discovered sonic five or six years back by a French
artist. The frescos in the gallery of Henry II.; at
Fontainbleau, have been restored in wax, and several
pictures, on a large scale, have recently been placed
in the church of .La Madeleine. The subject has re-
cently attracted much attention among artists, and
one of the successful competitors ,of the Cartoon ex-
hibition of last year is at present in Paris, engaged in
the execution of a large wax picture, the subject of
which is the Fates spinning the thread of destiny,
which will probably be exhibited during the month
of June among the fresco paintings in Westminster
Hall. We yesterday were delighted by a view of
three specimens of wax paintings, by AL Mansion,
which are at present exhibiting at Mr. Barber's, 60,
Regent Quadrant, being, we believe' the first paint-
ings of the sort ever exhibited in England. They
are exceedingly beautiful, possessing all the finish
and brilliancy of the most exquisite water-colour
drawing, with all the depth of tone of the finest oil
painting. M. Mansion, who was in attendance, ex-
plained the process, from which it appears that
colours which in oil paintings take months to dry
become dry in wax paintings in the course of
_a few
hours ; while, instead of having to wait for months
and perhaps years, for the completion of a picture,
which is the case in fresco painting, the artist can
finish his picture at once if he works in wax instead
of oil. At a time when the decoration of the new
Houses of Parliament occupies to so large an extent
the public attention the claims of the wax painting
are well worthy attentive consideration ,• and we
trust the Commissioners will come to no final deci-
sion on the subject of those decorations until they
have attentively and carefully investigated the claims
of this new branch of art. In the meantime we
would urge alt artists and all lovers of art to visit this
exhibition and judge for themselves.

TILE PENDING POST-OFFICE
C lIAN GES.
For some time past arrangements have been in the
course of preparation for the purpose of increasing the
number of deliveries in the London District Department
of the General Past, which, by command of the Noble
Earl at the head of the establishment, has been so called,
so that the " Two-penny Post-office" is now no longer
officially known.
The merchants, and others of the metropolis having
extensive correspondence, have long complained of the
delay which, under the old system, necessarily took place
in the delivery of letters which arrived at the General
Post office, after the morning dispatch of letters by the
General I'ost letter-carriers. To remedy this evil it
was suggested that more frequent, indeed, hourly de-
liveries should take place after the arrival of the mid-
day mails, so that these mails, and any other arrivals,
either from India, Harnburgh, Holland, or elsewhire.
might be forwarded to the persons for whom they were
directed without delay. The officers of the district de-
partment, whose duty would be principally affepted by
the proposed change, were consequently called upon to
report upon the practicability of the measure, when it
was urged that such a proposition, if adopted,:would in-
volve an outlay to a considerable amount, in addition to
the present cost of the establishment ; as, in order to
effect the chancre, upwards of 150 extra officers must be
appointed, and other sorting-houses taken and fitted up
for the purpose of facilitating the delivery. The propo-
sition, however, was acceded to, and the following are
the benefits which the public will realise from the opera-
tion of the new arrangements :
Ten deliveries of London local letters per diem., at the
following hours :-8 and 10 a.m. ; 12 at noon •, 2,3, 4.
5,6, 7, and 8 p.m. All letters will be dispatched from
the General Post-office as soon as possible after they
arrive through the channel thus provided.
To effect this, upwards of 100 letter-carriers have al-
ready received appointments ; also two inspectors of
letter-carriers ; and several sub-sorters and stompers
sufficient to meet the anticipated extra duty. Addi-
tional letter-carriers are being brought in daily. The
total will be about 150.
So great a change as the above has not taken place in
this department of the public service for many years.
At the corner of Old-street-road a sorting-office has
been fitted up, and another one is being prepared as
rapidly as possible in Sidmouth-street, Gray's Inn-road;
the former for the purpose of expediting the preparation
of letters for delivery in Shoreditch, Dalston, and Kings-
land ; the latter for the districts in the vicinity of Regent,
Brunswick, and Tavistock-squares.
A dal mail to Woodford and back from the General
Post-office is also established. This is well appointed,
afosrt nbottaoanllsyo• convey caonr reaspd
doint
idoennaci
ecob na kit
yw
aa
nr de e a
fad
r
ward,
passengers, having the advantage of punctuality.
a iTi)h,
onreec necessity re arrangements become
,thcaomnptatoininn,
wgas27,aloooao
of letters bronat t. -by the
to the ordinary number
apparent.tyfor theOn above arrangements become
(holy more apparent. On Tuesday morning, in addi-
tionmorning mails, inward, the dispatch from India,.
emleentttser.os,iielxb:
viabojoeus
letters. Southampton,
The
mail numberedto In d
ia3,2
0
elusive of newspapers.
made up ; there were 3; boexectseaanicml 3por,ooov
It is expected that the proj
complete by the day: appointed for the celebration of her
majesty's birth, which, it was announced yesterday to
the officers of the Post-office, would be fixed three weeks
earlier than usual.

FATAL COACllice-TDENT.---Yesterday afternoon
Mr. Baker held an inquest at the London Hospital, on
the body of James Donoughough, aged 61, a dustman, in
the employ of Messrs. Sinnott and Co., of Wapping, the
contractors, who was killed under the following circum-
stances —From the evidence of Taylor, the street-
keeper, of Whitcchapel, it appears that the dezeased had
been out with the cart collecting dust, on Saturday after-
noon, and as it was turning out of Osborne-street into
' Whitechapel High-street, on its return home loaded, he
attempted to get something out of the fore part of the
cart by jumping on to the shafts, in doing which helm-
fortunately reeled backwards and fell under the cart.
The horse was instantly stopped, when the wheel wag
found to be resting on the unfortunate man's body, and
the vehicle was obliged to be backed before he could be
extricated. On that being done he was, with all speeds
removed to the above institution, where he died in the
course of two hours afterwards, from a severe fracture of
the pelvis and other internal injuries. There being no
blame to the carman a verdict of " Accidental death"
was recorded.
Yesterday a ballot was taken 4t thik Sas t Snail"
house, for the election of six Directors, in thereto% .entleier-
General Sir James Law Lushington, Ly ell.
, -E
Esq., Elliot Macnaghten, Esq., John Pettr,Muspeaet,
Esq., Martin Tucker Smith, Esq.,and William Wigan sq..
who go out by rotation. At six o'clock the glas.settwere
closed, and delivered to the scrutineers, who reported that
the election had fallen on Sir Robert Campbell, Bart., James
V
Esti"M.P., Hon. Hugh Lindsay, Major-Gumm
Archibald
Robertson, Lieutenant-Colonel nevi
SY
Willock, K.L.S.
Neirllogg,
Court of Directors vas held at*
n d Sir henry
East India House, when the thanks of the Court were voted
unanimously to John Cotton, Esq., Chairman, and John
ke
Yesterdaya
Shepherd, Lsq., Deputy-Chairman, for their great applica-
tion aml attention to the affairs of the East India Company
during the past year,
'Melberg was expected to arrive yesterday at Patin
he passed through Rome without giving a concert them
The great pianist wilt visit London in the course of the sea.•
son, and then proceed to Vienna.
Liszt, after giving several concerts in rib)*
Dresden, and Hanover, is daily expected to arrive at V,aris.

§pl the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
FROM EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERDAY.
GLO BE.—T wo highly important questions connect-
ed with thcadministration of public justice have been
mooted within the present week, in two of the courts
having jurisdiction within and in the neighbourhood
of the metropolis. As these questions are of general
application, they seem to justify a distinct allusion to
the practices to which they relate, in order that
the attention of the proper authorities in other
places may be drawn to them ; and thus customs
at varience with public rights, and which have
no authority from the law may be abolished.
The Central Criminal Court, at its opening on Mon-
day, became the scene of a somewhat acrimonious,
and certainly undignified, controversy between the
Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs, respecting the right of
the, public to admission to the gallery of the court
during its sittings for the trial of prisoners, without
the payment of fees for admission. It was evident
that the subject had been previously discussed in
private ; and that the difference of opinion between
these functionaries had excited a feeling which
had not subsided when they entered the court.
The interest which the trials of the parties
connected with the will forgeries are expected
to excite, and the numerous applications to the
Civic authorities for admission to the court on
the occasion, have, it is understood, given rise to the
question as to the particular functionary with whom
the regulation of the court resides. The Lord
Mayor, who had been previously engaged in an
animated conversation with Mr. Sheriff Moon,
raising his voice so as to be heard throughout the
court, said, " the public had a right of admission
without the payment of fees. He understood it
bad been customary to charge a fee of .ss. and
upwards, even as much as 205., for admission."
The Recorder—who evidently desired to bring to a
termination a dispute which portended an open rup-
ture—remarked, " So long as the gallery was not
inoonveniently crowded, and the people conducted
themselves properly, the public had a right to be ad-
mitted gratuitously. He wished that rules could be
laid down for the more convenient admission of the
public." The presence of an officer at the gallery-
door to keep order, as the Lord Mayor observed,
would prevent confusion. By regulating the admis-
sion of persons to the gallery, and thus preventing
s greater number from entering than it can ac-
commodate, the respect due to the administra-
tion of public justice from the auditory would
be preserved. The present system of admission, by
payment of fees, so far from effecting this, actually
has a contrary tendency. The object of the fee-
takers is to make the gallery productive of gain.
Hence, every one who will pay the price is thrust
within the door ' • and, having paid for a place, fights
his way forward to the best he can secure by dint of
physical exertion. Whoever has been present in the
Central Criminal Court when any trial of great public
interest has been proceeding, can testify to
the confusion which Las existed in the gallery..
" Silence!"—" Silence in the gallery !"—is fre-
quently bawled out by the stentorian lungs of
the ushers, who have observed the eyes of the pre -
siding judge raised wrathfully to the part of the
court whence the confusion seemed to proceed. The
altercation between the civic functionaries seemed to
arise from an exclusive ex-officio claim which the
Sheriffs make to the arrangements of the court, and
under which they found their right to regulate ad-
mission to the gallery, as well as to enforce the obser-
vance of order and regularity in the court. Mr.
Sheriff Musgrove evidently alluded to this asserted
and controverted c'aim :—" He had no wish that any
fees should be taken directly or indirectly for the ad-
mission of the public to this court. He considered
it the duty of the Sheriffs to preserve order and
regularity in the court, and he thought the Lord
Mayor had no concurrent authority in the matter."
Again the Recorder interposed between the official
belligerents, and suggested that the public court was
not a fit place for a discussion of the kind. The
Lord Mayor rejoined—" Ho thought it a very fit
place; the question very materially affected the in-
terests of the public." We refer with considerable
pleasure to the opinion which the Recorder now felt
himself called upon to deliver on the points at
issue. It clearly explains the relative position
of the parties to the controversy, defines their
duties, and limits their powers ; it at the same time
settles the question as to the illegality of the
practice out of which the controversy had arisen.
The late Justice Park, while engaged in the trial of
a prisoner at one of the Assizes, gave a pretty signifi-
cant opinion respecting the practice of demanding
fees for admission to courts of justice. Being in-
terrupted by a noise at one of the doors of the court,
he demanded its cause, and was answered that a
person insisted upon coming in. " And who pre-
vents him ?" said the Judge : " there is plenty of
room. Open the door, and admit all who wish to
enter, If any one makes a noise in court, I shall
know what to do with him. Your refusal to let the
person in," continued the Learned Judge, looking
significantly at the door-keeper, " caused the noise.'
The subject was dropped in the Central Criminal
Court at the close of the Recorder's observation, and
the regular business was proceeded with. It was
resumed, however, about noon. The second act in
the drama was yet more illustrative of the folly
and mischief of entrusting a corporate body with the
powers which that of London exercises in the appoint-
ment of judges, and the regulation of courts of
justice. The public knew some of the anomalies
connected with the system ; but were not prepared for
anything so positively disgraceful as was disclosed.
The fact is, that the sword-bearer to the Lord Mayor
for the time being, is, in part, paid out of these admis-
sion fees. The gallery is rented of the Sheriffs ; a
portion of the rent is appropriated to support the
gingerbread splendour of the chief magistrate's ephe-
meral dignity ; and the present contest between the
Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs, respecting their official
rights, has brought the practice into public view, and
will result in the extinction of fee-taking for ad
mission to the Central Criminal Court. The other
question to which we allude is of equal import-
ance, if not a more serious infraction upon the
rights of the subject. At several quarter sessions a
practice yet prevails—it was general within the last
quarter of a century—of demanding from persons tried
and acquitted of misdemeanour a fee upon their dis-
charge. The amouet varies in different courts.
The question as to its legality was raised yesterday at
the Surrey Quarter Sessions ' • and, certainly, the
" Great Unpaid" cut but a poor figure in the discus-
sion. A petition from a person named Ward, who
had been tried for misdemeanour, aid acquitted,
was presented by Mr. Jeffrey. It set forth, " that
• being arraigned upon a charge of raisietneanour
and acquitted, he was compelled to pay a fee
of los. 6,1. for his discharge. The petitioner com-
plained bitterly of this proceeding, and of the hard-
ship of a poor man being compelled to pay a heavy
fee after he was declared innocent of the charge made
against him." These fees, it appeared—having no
plea but that of a custom, the ori,ria of which no one
could explain—were divided am mg the jury, the
summoning-officer, and the crier of the court !
The practice of demanding fees from such persons
prevailed in Middlesex, but was abolished some years
since—when it was found they could not be enforced.
A person arraigned upon a charge of inisderneanour,
and acquitted. had the customary demand made upon
him, with which he promised compliance. This led
to an investigation. On the discovery being made
that, although sanctioned by the court, it had no legal
authority in its favour, the practice was dropped. If
the Bill which the Government has promised to
bring in on the subject of fees to clerks of petty ses-
sions, were to comprehend every description of fees
in courts of criminal jurisprudence, and sweep them
away by a clause declarative of their illegality, the
question, which is one of great public moment, would
be set at rest.
STANDARD.—Many influences co-operated to
render inevitable the passing of the unfortunate " Bill
of twenty-nine," but among these
and influences we be-
lieve the first place is due to indolence
to avoid trouble.the desire
The self-indulgent fops, who, before
many
the Reform Bill, occupied soseats inthedhlbouse
of Commons, found the long emancipation
which so often retained them from the opera ad broke'
in upon their evening parties, an intoleraVe bore. The
self-seeking politicians as frequently met the stubborn
Protestant constitution obstructing their pleasant and
profitable combinations. These two classes made up a
great majority of the old House of Commons—they made
" the settling of the question" an inevitable condition
of enabling any administration effectually to govern
the country; they fancied, in their transcendent
folly, that by concession only could the question be
"settled," but that by concession it would be settled
effectually. They had their way—with what effect
at home we need hardly tell, with the remembrance
of eleven years of Whig government fresh in memory,
and with the shouts of monster meetings still ringing
in our ears—with what effect abroad nearly every co-
lonial and foreign newspaper of the last few years
will tell. Concession, in fact, has been so far from
"settling the question," or limiting it even locally,
that we have it among ourselves at this hour in aug-
mented vigour, and have the satisfaction of seeing that
sve have presented a share of it to a good portion of
the world. The Canadas Newfoundland, and most
recently Ceylon, have had their Catholic ques-
tions; France, Prussia, have not been
less happy in this respect ; and the comfort
seems to be extending generally over Germany
under the patronage of the
ex-Liberal King of
Bavaria. According to the la test intelligence
from the dominions of this Monarch, he has pub-
Reif signified his determination to confiscate
and to apply to the support of Roman Catholic
monasteries, all money contributed by the Pro-
testant inhabitants of other German States to the
support of the Protestant ministers and the repair
of Protestant temples in his kingdom. The Protes-
tants in Bavaria are about a million and a half, or six-
sixteenths of the whole population, but they are, as

we are informed, the poorest class ; the State makes
no provision for their ministers or religious edifices,
and we need not say that the Protestant Church, un-
like the Church of Rome in this respect, does not
permit its ministers to " make merchandise cf men's
souls" by driving a retail trade in charms and spells,
and so-called religious rites and ceremonies—a retail
trade which is often, as in Ireland, worth more than
the richest endowment that any State would confer
upon a church. Thus the Protestant Church in
Bavaria is extremely poor ; so poor as to have been
lately in danger of expiring altogether cs a col-
lective body, and the sympathies of the Protestants
of the other German States, awakened by its
danger, have been making moderate contributions
for it; the admirable King of Prussia, " the fore-
most in every good work,' having by his example
and patronage aide I the pious and benevolent design.
It is to intercept and appropriate the bounty intended
for the religious use of his Protestant subjects, that
the King of Bavaria declares l.is dignified purpose
Whether the proceeding is legal according to the kind
of constitution that Bavaria possesses we know not,
but that it is neither a gentlemanlike nor honest
proceeding there can be no doubt whatever. We
freely admit that the Government of a country
has a clear right, and indeed owes a duty, to
seize upon and confiscate all money remitted to
its subjects for any political purpose whatever,
not expressly sanctioned by the Government it-
self. We say for any political purpose whatever,
because the interference of the citizens of
one State in the political concerns of another is
a plain act of hostility against the Govern-
ment, the concerns of which are intruded upon
by those who owe it and pretend to owe it no
allegiance. Money contributed to political objects,
is justly" forfeited as the money of enemies.
Money, however, passing from one State into
another for purposes not political, is surely
free from the danger of confiscation by the law of
every country at this side of Turkey, except the
kingdom of Bavaria. It is, no doubt, a monstrous
abuse of the abundant liberty enjoyed by the people
of this country, and exercised certainly to its fullest
extent in Ireland, that persons engaged in a con-
spiracy for the dismemberment of the United King-
dom are allowed to draw large subsidies from the
enemies of the British empire in every part of
the world; and there can be no question that
upon every principle of justice and of public law,
these subsidies, as well as the money collected at
home for the same illegal purpose, ought to be con-
fiscated, as the money of enemies ; and we hope that
ere long it will be confiscated by a law passed for
the purpose. The error of allowing such abuse is,
however, an error on the opposite side from the
error of the King of Bavaria ; his Majesty
proposes to confiscate money contributed from
the purest motives of charity and religion, not to any
political, not to any illegal or immoral object, but
merely to enable his subjects to worship their Crea-
tor " decently and in order, and to hear the Gospel."
Compare the conduct of the intolerant Protestant
Saxon with that of the liberal Romanist Bavarian
It is thus that " the Catholic question," which
we let loose fifteen years ago, is working all
over the world. We believe that it is working for
good in the end, and that the end is not distant; but
that we may secure the happy consummation, and
bring it nearer, it is necessary to expose from
time to time, the progress of the great Romanist fer-
mentation.

SHORT OR LONG HOURS OF
LABOUR?

After three distinct decisions against the twelve
hours' clause, Sir James Graham has withdrawn the
Ministerial Factory Bill, and introduced another as
nearly as possible resembling the one at present in
force. Lord Ashley has given his consent to this
course, promising to " take the discussion on the ten
hours' clause after Easter."
Lord Ashley, it appears to us, was terrified at his
own success last week, and determined to take the
first opportunity of retreating—at the same time pre-
serving, if possible, his reputation for philanthropy
and benevolence. As Mr. Bailie Cochrane—one of
Lord Ashley's own followers—observed on Friday
night, the Ministry were really in earnest in their
opposition to the ten hours' clause; suggesting, at the
same time, that Lord Ashley was not in earnest in
proposing it. We leave the Noble Lord himself to
settle this question with his own followers.
In the meantime the country will have time to
study the proposal of a Ten Hours' Bill, and to speak
out upon the subject. As yet there has been no ex-
pression of opinion worthy of notice. We do not yet
hear of any public movement either for or against a
Ten or a Twelve Hour's Bill. We should like to
know what the operatives themselves say as to the
shortening of the hours of labour for the women and
children.

It is very easy for Members of the House of Com-
mons, as well as editors of newspapers, to say—" Oh !
let there be a Ten Hours' Bill by all means." This
costs them nothing, and looks very philanthropic. But
it is a very different thing to the operative himself,
whose weekly income (already too scanty) it may
cut down by one-sixth. We should, therefore, wish
the working classes now to speak out, and lose no
time in declaring their opinions on this important
question.
We can easily imagine an operative thus arguing:
—" You propose a Ten Hours Labour Bill, and I
hail with delight the prospect of working ten instead
of twelve hours a day ; but at present I find that my
weekly wage is not more than sufficient—and some-
times very insufficient—for the maintenance of my
family. What with dear sugar, dear tea, dear bread,
and everything dear because taxed, I find that my
wage is altogether swallowed up in simply subsisting,
and that a reduction of my weekly income would only
drive me into a lower abyss of pauperism. Now,
will you assure me that my wages shall not In
lowered by a Ten Hours' Bill—will you guarantee to
me that I shall obtain for the short period of labour
the same amount of remuneration that I now obtain
for the longer ?"

Now, we believe this to be the present dilemma of
the operative classes. They feel that their hours of
labour are already by far too long ; but they fear that
the reduction of the hours of labour would only lead
to a proportional redaction of their weekly wages.
It is necessity which compels them to work long
hours—it is necessity which compels them to send
their wives, sons, and daughters, into the factory—
and if you take them out, or reduce their hours of labour
by one-sixth, there is unquestionably also the immi-
nent risk of cutting off the sixth of their weekly in-.
come. It is possible, therefore, that in passing a Ten
Hours' Bill the Legislature might be acting a philan-
thropic part at the cost of the suffering operative
themselves. Indeed, Lord Ashley himself stated, in the
House of Commons, that some workmen had declared
to him that they would accept the change with terror.
We confess that, much as we desire to see the time
of working in factories greatly curtailed, so as to af-
ford to the operative classes the opportunity of moral
and intellectual cultivation, as well as for the enjoy-
ment of the social and domestic pleasures of life, we
do not look upon these compulsory regulations of the
hour; of labour without considerable apprehension
and alarm. We are really reduced to so lamentable
a position as a nation—the competition in the race of
manufacture has grown so intense, and the commer-
cial rivalry between nations so keen—that it is quite
possible that such a reduction as that contemplated,
might inflict a great blow on the manufacturing
prosperity of Britain. Sir James Graham and Sir
Robert Peel both assert this. Then, our whole social
system is so artificial—one part so hangs upon
another—the soundness of one portion of the capitalist
system is so necessary to the soundness of the whole
—that such an injury to manufacturers might prove
the immediate forerunner of the most extensive and de-
structive mischief.

" Whilst property," says the Nonconformist, "is
distributed as it is, poverty must be the lot of the
many ; and so long as the many are close pressed by
1 destitution, the universal scramble for employment
will put the workman at the mercy of his employer.
In the case of factory labour, master and men will be
driven by the same relentless necessity. The first
effect of Lord Ashley's interference would be to raise
the price of goods—the second, to close against them
every neutral market—the third, an incalculable
diminution of employment—the last, a permanent de-
pression of wages beyond their present level. Then
come panics in the money market—failures of bank-
ing_. establishments —increase of poor-rates—general
discontent, and, in all probability, social insurrection."
Well, then ; and is the fate of these poor women and
children of the factoriesb inevitable ? Is there no
alternative for them
ofut consuming toil and bondage ?
Does the integrity thel empire really depend
ion
their two hours' extraandabour per day ? Are our
institutions in Church State all worthless, with-
out this twelve hours' labour,tbe for factory women and 1
children ? Is -England, pride of the world and
the envy of surrounding nations,'orfrom
unable to rescue its
poor overtaaked and helplessconsuming toil,
without the risk of a general overturn Surely, such
were not the excuses made, when it was proposed, a
few years ago, to rescue 800,000 human beings from
slavery ! It was decided that justice ought to be
done, whatever the consequences.
Is it just, is it fair, on the part of the Legislature to
interfere to prevent the physical, moral, and intellec..
tual deterioration of the people? If so, it is just and
fair, on their part, to interfere in the inordinate work-
ing of women and children in factories. The principle
has been established—it has been already acted upon ;
all that is asked is, that it should be carried out to
its legitimate extent. And if it be proved that the
consequences of the interference of the Legislature
has been to diminish the gains of the factory opera-
tives, why, they must themselves be prepared to con-
cede such measures as will amply make up for the loss
they may have sustained. The repeal of the corn-laws,
the reduction of taxation on articles of consumption,
would far more than repay the working-classes for any 1

diminution in their weekly wages by the enactment of a
Ten Hours' Bill. It will not do for the landowners
to cast the burden and th 3 blame on the manufac-
turers ; both must be prepared to make sacrifices to
avert the evils of our present social position, but es-
pecially the former. The manufacturers have already,
in numerous instances, been sacrificed and crippled
by the Legislature ; heavy taxes have been imposed
upon them; their places of production have been
subjected to the strict supervision of the Govern-
meat, and have been repeatedly interfered with by
Legislative enactment; instead of being "protected,"
they have been burdened and restricted in all
conceivable means ; and, though so essen-
tial to the welfare and prosperity of the
country, they have been treated as if they
were its greatest enemies. Now, the landowners
have been called upon to make no such sa-
crifices, to bear no such burdens, to suffer no such
restrictions on the employment of their capital or their
property. They have possessed the exclusive power
in the State, and have done everything for themselves
at the expense of others. They may now—and we
hope they will (for the sake of our common humanity)—
diminish the hours of labour for women and children;
but we warn them that they must themselves be pre
pared to make the necessary sacrifices before such a
measure can be regarded as "a boon" by the indus-
trious classes. They must be prepared to give up
their bread-tax—to give up the taxes on consumption
—and to abolish most of the existing restrictions on
the trade and industry of the country.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
NORTHERN ClRCUlT.—Liverpool, April 9.
CIVIL SlDE.—(Before Mr. Baron RoLFE and a Special
Jury.)

OLIVERSON AND ANOTHER V. BRIGHTMAN AND OTHERS

The hearing of this cause was resumed at the sitting
of the Court this morning. Mr. Byrn, the resident
partner of the house of M'Viccar and Co., at Macao,
was examined at considerable length, respecting the
state of relations between this country and China at the
time the Penang reached the country. Ho stated, in
effect, that it was impossible to land the cargo ut Hong-
Kong, as there were no warehouses there, and that it
would have been imprudent, as it was not a place of
trade. The only port where the goods could have been
disposed of was Canton ; but a large portion of the
damaged cargo was sold at Hong-Kong. At the time
the goods were transhipped to the James Laing, there
was no intention of again putting them on board the
Penang.
Captain Joseph Lyas, the master of the Herald, a
Queen's ship, which went out to China in 1840, was next
called. He stated that there never was any declaration
of war, on the part of England, against the Chinese—
that Hong-Kong was a more preferable place for lying
up than Macao, and that in May, 1840, the vessels of
war were withdrawn from the Canton river ; but that,
in the latter end of August or September following, the
witness returned with the Herald.

This closed the plaintiffs' case.
Mr. KELLY said that the few observations he had to
make were in substance addressed to his Lordship.
Having attentively considered the whole of the evidence
beforehand,!he was quite satisfied that no real question
of fact would arise or be in dispute between the parties
which could properly be loft to a jury; and now that the
plaintiffs' casts had come to an end, he begged to say that
there was not one single point which, with any benefit
to either party, or with any view to the administration of
justice, could be submitted to a jury. They had had
direct answers on every question from Mr. Byrn; and
though he was an hostile witness, he (Mr. Kelly) was
content to take literally and substantially as true every
answer that witness had given, and upon those questions
and answers to raise the question of law. The law was
clearly settled in favour of the defendants, by the case of
" Brown v. Vean," in 12 East, page 293, which was a
decision of Lord Ellenborough in the Court of Queen's
Bench. There an insurance had been effected on the
Ann to certain ports in the river Plate. The vessel
proceeded to Monte Video, and, having stopped there,
it was intended to proceed and finish the voyage at
Buenos Ayres. The fact and intention of the parties
were stated. At the time the vessel arrived hostilities
were going on at Buenos Ayres; and this was exactly
analogous to the present case. Hong-Kong was here
(lamed as one of several places mentioned in the policy;
but the intended place of discharge was, in the one case,
Buenos Ayres—in the other Canton. There was a state
of hostilities between Buenos Ayres and the English;
and here there was a state of hostilities between Canton
and Great Britain. Though he was quite free to admit
that in putting the goods on board the James Laing,
it was intended, if circumstances afterwards permitted,
and if hostilities should cease, to send them on
to Canton, and there dispose of them, still he contended
that when a vessel arrived at one of the places men-
tioned in the policy, intending to proceed to another, and
that if, from existing circumstances, which prevented the
parties from proceeding further, they landed their cargo,
or put it into any other place, in order that it might re-
main in safety, on the chance of that state of things
ceasing, so as that afterwards it might be sent elsewhere,
the parties made that place the ultimate port of dis-
charge, and the risk was at an end. If he were wrong
on this point, the plaintiff would be entitled to recover ;
and if he were right, he apprehended then, that the voy-
age was at an end, and the risk determined. In the
case already cited, the verdict was for the defendant.
Some discussion followed between the counsel on both
sides ; and at length it was agreed to make it a special
case. and to leave it to the Court of Queen's Bench to
decide the question upon his Lordship's• note, with the
understaading that if the plaintiffs should be entitled to
recover, interest should be calculated from the Ist
March, 1842.

A verdict was accordingly taken for the plaintiff's, by
consent, for 2,870/, subject to a special case.

CRUICKSHANK AND OTHERS V. WELLS AND ANOTHER.

Verdict for the plaintiffs, by consent, for 3,255/. 7s. 9d.
with interest, subject to the special case in the last.

BOLD AND ANOTHER V. ROTHERHAM.

Verdict for the plaintiff, by consent, for 1651. 3s. 4d.
with interest, subject to a special case.

WESTERN ClRCUlT.—Taunton, April 9.
(Before Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN.)
Mary Ann Sealey (sister of Faith Sealey, who was
yesterday acquitted of the charge of administering white
arsenic to William Sealey, her father, at Pinckney, in
the parish of Kingston, near Taunton,) was this day
placed at the bar, charged with this offence, and no
evidence being offered, the jury were directed to acquit
her.

This prisoner, who is but 21 years of age, was next
charged with the wilful murder of her aunt, Betty
Sealcy, who lived also at the same place, by strangling
her, on the Bth of December last.

Mr. Carey and Mr. Merewether appeared for the
prosecution, and Mr. Kinglake for the prisoner.
The decease", Betty Sealey, aged 79, lived in the
right-hand wing of a dilapidated farm-house, at Pinck-
ney, under which roof the prisoner lived. This farm-
house stands in a line with the village road. The
prisoner lived in the front part of this wing, and
the deceased aunt in that of the back, to which there
were two ways of entrance, the one from the village
road, and the other from a foot-path leading to
Bishop's Lydiard; and at this back entrance there was a
small barkin, occupied by cattle, and a barn in the rear,
which formed three sides of a square. Betty Sealey had
from time to time money and things stolen from her, and
in such a manner as to convince her that it must be the
act of some. person, who well knew the locality, entering
by means of false keys, or in some other clandestine
manner. Deceased received parish support from the
Kingston parish, which money was payable every Friday.
On Friday, the Bth of December, she deputed some per-
son to receive her money for her, being determined, if
possible, to detect the thief. Accordingly, she left her
home, as usual, on pretence of going to Kingston, when
she pursued the road leading to Kingston, till out of
sight of the prisoner, who was at home when she left.
She then returned by a footpath through the barn
and barkin to her own door. She must have taken her
arm-chair and placed it in a dark closet opposite
her entrance-door, and then remained there in it
till the robber arrived—for in this chair she was found
dead the next Saturday, the 9th of December, at eight
o'clock in the evening, by her son, John Sealey, his
wife and son, who had been fetched by the woman
who went for the parish pay on this Friday, and
in consequease, too, of her having repeatedly failed in
gaining admission that day. These witnesses found that
the old woman's throat was pinched, for finger-marks
appeared thereon. Her hands and arms were scratched.
Her tongue protruded from her mouth, and other ap-
pearances, which led the medical gentleman, Mr. Welch,
surgeon, of Taunton, to say that she died by strangula-
tion. Her bonnet and clothes clearly indicated some
foul play. It also appeared that her daughter-in-law
had sent her, some few days before, an Octagon phial-
bottle, the marks of which were visible on her clothes,
hut that the bottle was gone. Evidence was given,
that shortly after the time when it is supposed that
the old woman had left, the prisoner insisted on some
young man leaving her house, as though she wished
to avail herself of the supposed absence of the old
woman. In the earlier part of the day Gabriel Porter
was in the prisoner's house with her when Mr. Far-
thing, the landlord of the premises, passed in his car-
riage. That on this occasion the old woman hailed him,
and he stopped, and as she was speaking to him prisoner
said she was talking about her, and that she had taken
some sticks from her own garden hedge that day, and
had the old woman seen her she would have told Mr.
Farthing of that too. It was then alleged that she said
to a young girl, with whom she bad been picking apples
at Mr. Farthing's, that all old women, such as Betty
Sealey, the deceased, ought to die, and that she for one
would help. Evidence was next given to prove, that as
soon as it was supposed that she had committed the
offence, she went to a place called Etheridge, to Jane
Bond's, the mother of her young man, where she re-
mained some hours, and went again next day. That
when the policeman searched her box on the following
Sunday, a bottle, like the said octagon phial-bottle, was
therein found. It was attempted to be proved that a
trap-door was discovered in one of the prisoner's up-
stair-rooms opening into the deceased old woman's apart-
ments, and that the opening was free from dust.
Several prisoners from Wilton gaol were then brought
forward, who deposed to some strange statements made
by the prisoner, confessing her guilt.
The Jury, however, having retired for half an hour,
returned a verdict of " Net Guilty."

•
TEST OF MESMERISM.—A strong proof of the in-
fallibility of this much-disputed science was adduced the
other evening at a lecture on the subject. A boy bei:ig
asked, whilst in the mesmeric state, whether " The income-
tax would be discontinued after the third year, as Sir Robert
Peel had promised?" replied "Certainly not !" This, upon
being mentioned to the Premier, was declared to be the
strongest instance of clairvoyance that could be brought for-
ward in favour of the science.—Punch,