The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-08 00:00:00

GERMANY.

The Kolner Zeitung has an electric dispatch from
Erfurt of the 4th inst., stating that the committee of
the Lower House, appointed to inquire into the state
and prospects of the Charter of the Constitution, held
the concluding sitting on the 3d inst. In this sitting
Baron Bodelsohwing separated from the party he
himself had formed (Bahnhofs partei) and from his
own programme of the 22d of March. In conse-
quence of this step there was no majority of votes,
either for the immediate acceptation of the Charter or
for a revision of the same by the Parliament ; and the
committee, instead of bringing in a report to the
House, must confine itself to two contradictory state-
ments of the opinions of its members.

THE ARMY AND NAVY.
(From the United Service Gazette)
STAFF, &c.—The abolition of the North Eastern
Counties and the Athlone districts have deprived
Major. General Thorne, C. 8., and Major-General
Wemyss, C. 8., of their commands. The staff ap
pointmena of Lieutenant Kennedy, 36th Regiment,
Colonel W yndyard, unattached, Colonel Sir M.
Creagh, Brevet-Colonel C. C. Johnson, Lieutenant
Wemyss, and Lieutenant-Colonel Williams, have like-
wise ceased.

Lieutenant-Colonel Williams, K.H., succeeded to
the office of Assistant-Adjutant-General of the Kil-
kenny district.
Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson, late of the Athlone
district, has succeeded Lieutenant-Colonel T. F. S.
Clarke, as Quartermaster-General of the Kilkenny
district.

Colonel Cox, K 11. of the Limerick district, has
been appointed Acting Assistant Quartermaster-
General.

Some changes have taken place in the Recruiting
Department. Lieutenant Cureton, 3d Light Dra-
goons, has succeeded Lieutenant Cooke as Superin-
tending officer of the London Cavalry Recritting
Sub-division. Lieutenant Platt, 13th Light In-
fantry, has replaced Lieutenant Evans, 69th Foot, at
Gloucester, and Lieutenant Grant, 2d Queen'', has
relieved Lieutenant King, 21st Fusiliers, in the Li.
merick Recruiting District.
CANDIDATES FOR COMMISSIONS.-37 young gen-
tlemen were examined at Sandhurst Military College
on Thursday, as to their fitness to receive commis-
sions in the British army, four of whom only are sup-
posed not to have passed the ordeal.
THE ROYAL YACHTS.—As we anticipated, the
royal yachts were not complete for use by the Ist of
April. The Victoria and Albert, although ordered to
be hastened, will not be ready for the sea until the
31st of this month. The Fairy is complete, with the
exception of painting.
REDUCTIONS IN THE COAST GUARD.—It is esti-
mated that the reductions which have recently taken
place in the Coast Guard Service amount in value to
about 45,0001. per annum. The principal reduction
has been effected in the diminution of the number of
revenue cruisers. There are now only 48 remaining in
commission. The next great item of reduction hats
been in the mounted preventive men, and in the re-
formation of the Irish Branch of the Coast Guard
Service. About 1,2001. a year has been saved in office
salaries, &c.
THE COAST GUARD RETIREMENT.—Since the pass-
ing of the Order in Council for the retirement of
Coast. Guard Lieutenents, eight out of the ten officers
of the first class have been superannuated on 301. per

annum, viz.:—Lieutenants J. Conjuit (1821), John
Heed Jeffries (1815), John Roth!ry (1815), John
Macnevin (1810), George GAan (1815), J. S. M.
Watson (1826), Thomas E. James (1815), Thomas
Jackson (1815). Thus there are two vacancies in
the first class; and the entire twenty of the second
class, at 201. per annum, remains to be filled up.
Circulars have again been issued, calling upon the
pensioners to register their names for service as
Gaards for convict ships proceeding to the Austra-
lian colonies.

Colonel Campbell, late 9th Dragoons, whose sudden
death we announced last week, had forwarded his
papers to the authorities at the Horse Guards, for
permission to retire from the service by the sale of
his commission.

Major Lethbridge, of the Royal Artillery, Assistant
Fire Master at Priddy'6 Hard Magazine, Portcinouth,
has resigned that appointment, and we understand
that Mr. Jenkins, the storekeeper, is about to be re-
moved to another station.

REGIMENTAL FRACAS —lt appears that the ap-
p)intment of an old Captain, who lately joined from
half--pay a regiment stationed at Portsmouth, has
given much umbrage to the junior officers of the
corps. They have, in consequence, been in the
habit of annoying him in every possible way
and occasion. On Wednesday evening, the
27th of March, the regiment give a dinner, and
some of the juveniles being elevated wish wine,
took it into their heath to break open the door of the •
Captain's-room, who, on appearing• to inquire what
they wanted, was saluted with the contents of a tub
of water in his face, and otherwise insulted. Two
of the ringleaders were placed in arrest, and the whole
affair fully investigated. The Captain, however, not
wishing to press the matter further, the officers were
released from arrest with a severe reprimand.
REVISION OF THE NAVAL UNIFORM.--We hear
from good authority that it is the intention of the
Admiralty to revise the present regulations for the
uniform of the Royal Navy, with the view of reduc-
ing the costly expenditure of the junior officers. It
is said that epaulettes are to be altogether abolished ;
and it is a question whether the antiquated cocked
hat will be retained for use on board ship.
THE VETERAN'S COMFORTS.—The Commissioners.
for the management of the affairs of the Royal Mili-
tary Hospital, Chelsea, have caused an evening meal
of one pint of tea to be issued to the pensioners. The
rations at the institution are excellent, now consisting
of four meals per day.
11TH Hussars.—Major Jones has been released
from arrest, and has returned to his duty.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
GUILDHALL.

Edmund Woodland, the son of a highly respectable
and extensive brewer in Twickenham, was summoned
before Alderman Challis for refusing to support his
illegitimate child.

From the statement of the complainant, who is a
very interesting young lady, and whose connexions
are exceedingly respectable, it appeared that the de-,
fendant paid his addresses to her about four years ago,
since which time his attentions had been so marked
that all her friends and relatives considered him in the
light of her future husband, and treated him as such.
About 12 months ago defendant took her on a plea-
sure trip to Richmond-park, and there succeeded in
removing all her scruples, urging that it could make
no difference to her as he would marry her in a few
days. He afterwards repeatedly promised her mar-
riage, until the birth of the child, when he discon-
tinued his attentions altogether, and engaged himself
to a young lady possessing some fortune. When he
was called upon by the complainant to fulfil his pro-.
mise of marrying her, he said he could not do so
without consulting his " papa" on the subject.. Find-
ing she could obtain no satisfactory redress from him,
she applied to this court in the hope that the Alder-
man would order him to support the child.
The order was then made upon the defendant, who
did not appear to the summons.

BOW- STREET.
Oa Tuesday last a serious quarrel toook place at
the Strand Theatre between Joseph Mathews, the
stage carpenter, and a man named Lepridge, a
scene-shifter. They had been engaged in the boxes
and Lepridge, being intoxicated, seized Mathews by
the collar and threw him into the orchestra, falling
on him. Mathews was so seriously injured that he
was taken to King's College Hospital. Lepridge
was given in charge to the police, and lodged in the
station•house. He was brought before the magistrates
at this office next day, but was remanded, as the
injured man was incapable of attending.
Lepridge was this day brought up, and Mathews
appeared, although suffering severely from the in•
juries he had received. His left arm was in a sling,
his face covered with contusions, and he was evi-
dently suffering from other injuries.
William Wray, the painter's assistant, stated that
on Tuesday last he was in the act of setting the
scenes, when the prisoner and Mathews entered the
theatre ; both appeared to have been drinking.
Mathews desired witness to complete some work
which the prisoner was incompetent to execute, and
this excited his anger (he was naturally ill-tempered•
when affected by liquour), and he endeavoured to
pick a quarrel, first with the gasman and then with
witness, but they both evaded him. He then turned
to Mathews, who ran into a box to escape his fury,
but he entered the adjoining box, climbed over, and,
seizing Mathews by the neck, threw him over into
the orchestra with such force that part of the fittings
was torn away. He fell with himon the kettledrum,
and Mathews was so much injured that it became
necessary to convey him to the hospital in a state of
insensibility.
Mathews, who was scarcely able to stand, now said
that the prisoner was an excellent workman, and when
sober an extremely inoffensive man. On the day in
question, while in a state of intoxication, he was en-
raged at the last witness being directed to finish his
work ; and being desired to leave the theatre became
still more violent, and committed the assault, from
the consequences of which he was now so pain-
fully suffering. Feeling persuaded that the prisoner
now deeply felt the impropriety of his conduct, and
was sincerely sorry for 'it, and considering that he
acted under the maddening effects of drink, with the
magistrate's permission he did not desire to proceed
further against him.

Mr. Norton, of the theatre, also spoke to the
general good conduct of the prisoner, and attributed
his violence to the cause assigned.
Mr. HENRY said, that but for the interposition of
Mathews, it was his intention to have sent the case to
the sessions. Drunkenness was no excuse for such
violence, but rather: aggravated the offence. It was
impossible to pass over such conduct without punish.
ment, and as a warning to restrain his conduct in
future, he should fine him 51., or two months' impri-
sonment.