The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-30 00:00:00

excellent pretext for those whose interest or whose
prejudices led them to oppose reform; for, besides
thus exciting alarm at the new doctrines, the novelty
of the proposal had at the same time the mass of the
re partkularly of the business and wealthy
clas:es, to win over to it. It was amidst these disad-
vantages that the Convention commenced its sittings
in Edinburgh ; and therefore it is impossible for pos-
terity to pay too high a compliment to the bravery
of those who threw themselves into the breach, sub-
mitting, rather than bAray their principles,
to be
arraigned before the arbitrary, uncontrolled judges of
the day, who unhesitatingly declared the British con-
stitution to be perfect ; that it required no reform, and
that it was grossly criminal to propose amending it.
After having seen so much of the success of the
principles urged by the early reformers—after having
seen the Legislature and the Crown fully acknow-
ledge the truths they contended for--one would na-
turally suppose that with every class of Liberals, it
would now be a subject of congratulation that so de-
serving a tribute was to be paid to the memory of
the first patriots. In the countenance given by one
Member of the Legislature, and the Lord Provost of
the metropolitan city of Scotland, to the proceedings
of Wednesday, we have certainly proof so far of the
changes in opinion which have occurred, and of the
advantages that have been obtained by the partial re-
form that has been effected ; still it cannot but be a
subject of regret, and it proves how far practice
stands aloof from profession, when out of the majo-
rity of representatives from Scotland, now returned
to Parliament in the Liberal interest, only one came
forward to identify himself with the first deeds of the
champions of the cause on this occasion. It is also a
subject which we think deservedly calls forth both
surprise and sorrow, that while a majority of the
municipal authorities of Edinburgh are decidedly
Liberal—while their Chief Magistrate fully acknow-
ledged the merits of the martyrs of ninety-three, and
-itiD soundness of their principles, the same municipal
authorities who have so much in their power, declined
to grant a suitable site for their monument. It is
certainly somewhat unaccountable, that while the
streets and public places of Edinburgh have been
freely given up for monuments to the memory of Lord
Melville, of George IV., and of Sir Walter Scott,
no proper public site could be obtained for a monu-
ment to these memorable sufferers for freedom, and
the erection has accordingly to take place in such an
obscure quarter as the Calton burying-ground—a
place incapable of accommodating even one half the
people who accompanied the procession on this oc-
casion.
We cannot conclude our notice of this interesting
occurrence without expressing our gratification at ob-
serving the name of Mr. Moffat, the venerable soli-
citor, recorded as having taken part in the proceed-
ings. Mr. Moffat gave his services gratis to Mr.
Muir at the time of his trial, and he has zealously
adhered to the defence of his memory and the cause
for which he suffered from that period to the present.
Wednesday must, therefore, have been a memorable
day to one who has rendered so much good service to
the cause. Mr. Moffat has been a principal means
of obtaining the just•national compliment to the me-
mory of the early reformers which is now paid them,
and in his declining years it must be no small subject
of gratification to see the principles he espoused in
his youth so far triumphant, and the fame of the
friend he loved and defended so far venerated and
done justice to as it has been.—Glasgow Saturday
Post.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
(YESTERDAY.)
MANSION-HOUSE.
A young man of respectable connexions and good
previous character, named George Hay, was brought
before Alderman Wood, charged with several acts of
embezzlement and larceny.
Mr. Clarkson appeared for the prosecution, and
stated that the prisoner was a clerk in the house of
Melville, Wise, and Co.' of Broad-street, merchants,
and also clerk to Mr. Melville, of that firm, as an
underwriter, on his own account, and he contrived
to appropriate considerable sums by under-casting in
the books the amount of moneys received upon the
part of the firm' and over-casting the amount of pay-
ments. The books were produced, and the in-
genuity of the prisoner was described, and it appeared
that he had contrived for some time to carry on the
deception, sometimes keeping 9/. or 101. out of 301. or
40/. which he had received for the firm.
Mr. E. S. Biddome, clerk to Messrs. Cruikshank,
Melville, and Co., Austin Friars, stated that Mr.
Melville, of that firm, and the firm of Broad-street
also, acted as an underwriter. The prisoner re-
ceived moneys due to Mr. Melville on his under-
writing account. Witness knew Mr. John Young,
who owed an account to Mr. Melville. The prisoner
was in the habit of attending at Lloyd's, and accus-
tomed to receive cheques to the account of Mr.
Melville, to be taken to the firm of Crookshank,
Melville, and Co., and to be carried to Mr. Melville's
account in that house. The book produced was
called the bank-book of that firm, in which was
entered the receipt of every cheque received, and it
appeared that there was no account of a cheque of
221. 2s. 91 entered by the prisoner, as paid by Mr.
Young; but the prisoner had entered it on the 31st
of October, 1843, in the insurance-book, as having
received it on that clay.
Mr. E. Serle, boat-builder, stated that he knew the
prisoner. In October last, the prisoner owed him
between 61. and 71. for the hire of boats, and he re-
ceived the cheque for 221. 2s. 9d. from a waterman
of the name of Elliott, and the witness's brother
wrote the name of Cocks (his banker) upon it, and
the difference between the amount of the cheque and
the demand upon the prisoner was paid about six-days
after, as the cheque was paid.
John Elliott stated that he was coxswain of the
Neptune Club, of which the prisoner was a member.
In October he received a cheque from the prisoner,
who requested him to pay Mr. Serle his account and
bring him the balance, and afterwards witness re-
ceive the difference from Mr. Serle, and paid it to
the prisoner.
Mr. W. Ward, clerk to Messrs. Cruikshank, Mel-
ville, and Co., produced the bank-book of the firm,
and said that no cheque was brought to him on the
12th of October, or at any other time, by the prisoner
for 221. 2s. 9d.
Some other cases were gone into, but in conse-
quence of the absence of some persons who had posi•
tively refused to come forward,
Alderman WOOD directed that summonses should
be issued to those parties to attend on Tuesday and
give evidence.
Joseph 11. Clarbourn, a City policeman, stated that
he took the prisoner into custody on Wednesday
week at Richmond, at the Whitecross Hotel. He had
a man with him who appeared to be his servant, and
he had two horses at the Talbot. Witness told him
what he was charged with, and prisoner said he
thought it would be better to tell the whole truth.
It appeared that the prisoner, who is but twenty-
two years old, had been living ftr beyond his means,
and that the amount of which he had plundered his
employer was about 4501.
A person here stated that he had a horse and gig
which the prisoner had left at his stable.
The prisoner stated that ho had no property at all
in the horse and gig.
He was remanded till Tuesday next.
BO W-STRE ET.
Jules Bolder, a tall dark Frenchman, was placed at
the bar, charged before Mr. Hall with having as-
saulted Auguste Trion, a fellow-countryman, by
striking him several blows with his fist in a most
anti-G allican manner.
The complainant, who appeared much excited, and
..was not much more than half the size of his assailant,
stated his case in a patois of bruken English inter-
larded with French expressions, which was scarcely
intelligible. irom which it appeared that the two
" compatriots" had been talking over the events of
Otaheite, Tunis, and Mogadore, until two o'clock that
morning, when they turned out thirsty and irritable.
" He then want me to give him some biere. Eh Lien
I refuse. He then begin box ma. Ino fight—l no
box like one blaggad; and he hit me des coups de
poing in de face."
The prisoner here raised his eyes to the ceiling in
horror at the statement of his accuser.
Mr. HALL (to complainant)—Did he hurt you?
Complainant (looking vacantly)—l no mosh speak
An,e,./ish. ne comprends pas, Monsieur.
Mr. HALL—You say he struck you. Where did
he strike you? Complainant—Oh, comme 9a, comme
ca—intimating by gesticulations that he had received
a blow under the eye.
Prisoner (turning towards complainant)—Where
did I strike you ? Complainant (disdainfully avoid-
ing all parley with the enemy)—Oh c'est egal, c'est
egal.
The police proved that there had been a quarrel
between the two Frenchmen, but stated that, as they
spoke in. French, they knew nothing of the origin of
their dispute.
Mr. HALL—What have you to say, prisoner? Pri-
soner—He has nussin on his face, but (patting his
thigh) I have somesin here.—(Laughter.)
Mr. HALL—Do you mean that he kicked you ?
Prisoner—Oui, Monsieur, yas ! dat is it. Ino speak
Anglish. Ino able to say all he do. But I tell as
I can.—(Laughter.) He bad man ; he been in de
prison ;he men tss his wife wid de knife. He " keek"
me ; I give him des coups de going. I can't receive
somesing for nussing.—(Laughter.)
Mr. HALL--You are countrymen, and if you can't
meet without
you had
ut civarrellibneguryeounhoat speakif dbett
to eachernotmect; or
youother.
(To Monsieur
prisoner)-
nsielirßouiyu are
et
moakeshis
discharged.
best bow,
and retires,
while M. Trion looks chagrined at the result.
UNION-HALL.
Two ill-looking young fellows, named William
Taylor and Matthew Smith, were brought before
Mr. Cottingliani, charged with breaking into the
Pagoda-tavern, Bermondsey New-road, and stealing