The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-16 00:00:00

actuated by loftier motives than those of mere parti-
zanship. Party, indeed, has been virtually anni-
hilated for the time being by reason of the
force of certain fortuitous circumstances. An in-
terval of uncertainty has followed almost immediately
upon the disruption of factions, preceded only
.by
that bitter and rancorous contention which was ren-
dered evanescent by its very extravagance. Up to
the present period the two great political parties
which during a series of generations have alternately
directed the affairs of Great Britain, originally under
the names of Whigs and Tories, and subsequently
under those Of Liberals and Conservatives, have con-
tinued in a state of confusion and hesitation, conse-
quent upon their separation each into a variety of
sub-divisions. Protectionists, and Freetraders, and
Economists, and Arbitrationists, and Whig-
Radicals, and Liberal-Conservatives, and a
multitude of other novel combinations have
set at naught the calculations of the most
sagacious, and have rendered the aspect of the divi-
sion-lists as chequered and as far removed beyond the
reach of conjecture as the fluctuating patterns of the
kaleidoscope. While this has been the case no grand
principle of improvement could be expected from the
Cabinet or the Legislature, though a multitude of
inestimable benefits might still be secured, either by
the one or the other, or by both united, to the popu-
lation. Such, in fact, were the hopes of the more ra-
tional part of the community on the commencement
of the session just terminated; and a glance at all that
has been actually accomplished during the lapse
of that session will be sufficient, we conceive, to show
that those moderate anticipations have in many in-
stances been realized.

It is unquestionably true, no doubt, that the admis-
sion of Jewish representatives into the House of Com-
mons has not been secured ; but it must be remem-
bered that that consummation of religious liberty has
been in a manner guaranteed,to the nation by the ex-
plicit'promises of the Government. True that the
project of education has been scarcely, if at all ad-
vanced ; but the Legislature his, to a considerable
extent, approved of the scheme of a Royal Commis-
sion of Inquiry into the two Universities. True
that one ecclesiastical question; that of marriage
within particular degrees of relationship, still con-
tinues unsolved; but another ecclesiastical question
of some importance has been settled, whereby plurali-
ties will be materially diminished, and the opportu-
nities of successful simony be inevitably lessened
with clerical peculators and sinecurists. True, that
the puritanical fanaticism of the Sabbatariana was
allowed to trick the Ministry into a movement most
injurious to the national interests; but the evils
thereby accruing to the people have been at length re-
moved by the rescinding of the intolerable
and preposterous regulation. True, again, that
much anxiety has been felt in regard to the
maladministration of the affairs at Ceylon, and in re-
gtrence to the turbulent passions prevalent through-
out certain classes in. the two Canadas ; but in both
instances those anxieties have been in a great measure
dissipated, in the first by the preremptory recal of the
Governor, in the second by the vigorous attitude as-
sumed by the local Executive. .

Among the principal advantages secured to the em-
pire during the session of 1860 are those comprised
in the following enumeration. The Australian Colo-
nies Bill ' has at length been passed •• through both.
Houses of Parliament, after undergoing the ordeal of
the most severe and pertinacious opposition, and has
been perfected into a law by receiving the assent of
the SOVEREIGN. The Metropolitan Interments Bill,
having been pushed through similar stages, has secured
to the country the most efficient guarantee of yet
greater_ sanitary improvements, by requiring to a
certain extent the gradual abandonment of the sys-
tem of intramural, sepulture. That this measure is
flawed in'more than one particular, it would be need-
less for us to reiterate after our repeated strictures
demonstrating the fact; yet we have throughout been
equally ready to acknowledge the merit of the under-
taking
in the abstract as a veritable step in the advance
movement. The Factory Question, it is true, has been
set aside by a compromise ; still, that circumstance
does not in any way preclude the Commons from the
chances 'of its reconsideration. The Ecclesiastical
Commission has been modified so as to render'its in-
fluence less prejudicial than hitherto. The Committee
, fur arranging the redistribution of official salaries
has given promise of aiding in the work of large and
judicious retrenchment. The operation of the County
Conrts has been somewhat extended, with a view to
diffuse its advantages -' yet more generally
throughout the. , population. The revenue pre-
sents the cheering evidences of yielding for the
hat financial year a surplus of no less than two mil-
lions sterling ; and, although the satisfaction of the
community at this announcement was somewhat
damped by learning at the same time the absurd nature
of the Brick-dust Budget, the circumstances of the
present Government securing any surplus at all
remains a matter for undiminished congratulation.
With reference to Ireland, it is satisfactory to remem-
ber that besides the renewal of the Act relating to
party processions, two great boons have been se-
cured to that country, the one through the
amendment of the Encumbered Estates Act,
the • other 'through the extension of the
elective franchise among its different constituencies.
As to oar foreign relations, the most memorable inci-
dents may be briefly and readily enumerated. Diplo-
matic intercourse has again been happily resumed
with the Spanish Governtrient. Adifference arising
from the double-dealing of M. LE Gaos, and from the
petulance of M. LA HrrTE, has been dissipated through
the conciliatory yet manly bearing of Lord Nos-
MANBY, and the most cordial understanding again es-
tablished between ourselves and the Cabinet of the Ely-
see. The Greek question has been fortunately brought
to a satisfactory settlement through the medium of naval
force in the Mediterranean ; and the protracted
struggle in the north of Europe between Denmark
and Prussia, in reference to the duchies of Holstein
and Schleswig, appears to be rapidly drawing to-
wards its close under the assuaging influence of our
mediation between the belligerents.
Foremost among the Ministerial triumphs in de-
bate arc those by which the assailants of their Irish
policy were overthrown, in the Lords, by Lord
CLARENDON, and by 'which the assailants of their
foreign policy were for ever discomfitted, in the
Commons, by Lord PALMERSTON. The re-
colle.etion of those two discussions alone would be
sufficient to render the remembrance of the past session,
agreeable to ber MAJESTY'S Government.
A multiplicity of shortcomings on the part.both of
the Cabinet and of the Parliament, might be enume-
rated ; but the knowledge of these flaws in the
session of 1850 is altogether absorbed in our sense
of the supreme calamity of the political year—the
sudden and premature demise of our greatest, wisest,
bravest, most patriotic statesman. With all our
satisfactory remembrance of the benefits arising to the
country from the Parliamentary labours of 1850,
the memory of the year must always remain darkened
by the recollection of the death of Sir ROBERT
PEEL, one of the severest afflictions that could by
possibility have befallen England.

too happy to obtain the services of his sister-in-law,
who accordingly went to reside with him as his house-
keeper, bringing with her her own children, two
boys. From that period until her committal to stand
her trial for the murder of the wretched victim
of her cruelty and negligence, she assumed
the charge of the bereaved orphans, taking
upon herself the duties of a parent—duties
which were so shamefully neglected—and to all
intents and purposes acting as mistress and manager
of the household. From that ill-omened day, however,
everything was altered. The ill-fated children, who
had previously been well taken care of, and who were
described as being " very healthy-looking," languished
and pined away under a course of systematic, and, as
it would appear, predetermined neglect. Poor MARIA,
however, was the chief sufferer. Her tender years
prevented her from struggling for herself, as those who
were older and stronger were enabled to do ; and,
although the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, corn-
passionating her sufferings, often gave food to the
wretched infant, she was literally " starved" and kept
v‘ithout the actual necessaries of life until the 24th cf
May last, when death put a period to her sufferings.
The evidence of the professional gentleman (one of
the medical officers of the union) who conducted the
post mortem examination showed the frightful state
to which the' miserable victim had been reduced. He
said—

" The child was four years old, and of the proper
height; but with the cloth on it weighed only six pounds; 1
whereas a full-grown new-born infant weighs from five
to eight pounds.. The body was a mere skeltton; the
eyes sunk in their orbits to an unusual depth; the skin
attenuated; the various prominences of the bones easily
recognizable; two ulcers over each trochanter, caused by
pressure and debility. On internal examination found
the stomach perfectly empty, and all the intestines, with
the excention of a little !kcal matter; the gall bladder
full of bile, the bloodvessels containing very little blood,
the heart ensanguined, and the lungs full of air; and the
other organs also presenting similar indications. It was
his decided opinion that death was caused by long-con-
tinued insufficient food, clothing, and necessary cara-
t*. 'as. Bubb asked for a certificate as to the cause of
death, but he refused to give it, as- he had not seen the
child for several months; upo❑ which she said, Why,
I you told me the child was consumptive.' Witness denied
this, as he had never said so. The child was not con-
sumptive."

The case did not, however, rest solely on the me-
dical testimony. Many of the neighbours proved
habitual ill-usage by the prisoner, and that they had
themselves repeatedly relieved HOOK'S children, the
sons of the prisoner not requiring such assistance, as
they ".looked well fed." 'We extract a portiOn of 'the
evidence, which was abundantly corroborated by
other unimpeachable witnesses :
. " Anne Bishop, the wife of a labourer at Tibbertou,
said that Hook and Bubb lived close to her up to Lady-
day, 1849. Since then she had frequently seen the
child. Up to her mother's death she was healthy, but
after Bubb came to live with Hook she was neglected.
Had given her fond scores of times, because she believed
she wanted it. The child used to cry for food very
much, and was starving in appearance. Had seen the
child in her father's house with nothing on but a skirt—
without shoes, stockings, flannel, or chemise. Could
count every rib and joint in her body. Had seen her
' lying by the side of the road, within six months of her
dea,b, with scarcely any clothes on, looking like a
skeleton; and within a shorter period of her death had
seen her lying on the ashes of the fireplace with scarcely
any clothes on. She used sometimes to be locked in the
house all day, when the prisoner went out to work. Had
seen all kinds of filth in her bead. The prisoner's chil-
dren looked well fed. Had often given cabbage, pota-
toes, and bread to Hook's children. They wanted it.
'• Mary Easthope. a labourer's wife, had gone often
last summer to Hook's house, and had seen 13ubb's chil-
dren sitting at the table eating bread and butter and
drinking taa, and the deceased child under the table
picking up the crumbs from the fie, r. She looked ill,
starved, and filthy. The other children looked very
well. Never saw anything given to her to eat, but atter
the others bad done she continued picking up the
crumbs. Heard Bubb say, ' Get up you nasty
little --, or I'll kick thee in two in the middle.'
Milo that she used to tell her father everything ; ' but
sooner than the nasty little -- should tell her father
she would kill the dirty little --.' Bubb went to
work with witness, and used to take out cakes for her-
self, saying she could not eat the bread she left at home,
and used to :put in the cupboard for the child's dinner
a piece of dry bread about the size of her (witness's)
three fingers."
Another witness, Lame JACKSON, proved that she
had seen "the prisoner and her children sitting at
breakfast and eating buttered toast, whilst the de-
ceased was on the floor picking up the crumbs and
devouring them with the greatest greediness." The
kind hearted Mrs. BUBB was not, however, satisfied
with such acts of omission. Even when the child
hail become so week that she was creeping about on
all-foure, unable to stand upright, the prisoner had
been seen to catch her with one hand and beat her with
the other, when she was, to use the witness's own ex-
presion, " little better than skin and bone—a mere
living skeleton."
Strange as it may appear, although many persons
gave food to the deceased, and some* even remon-
strated with the prisoner on her infamous
conduct—remonstrances that were invariable treated
with the greatest contumely—the attention of the
neighbouring magistrates was never directed to the
case, and Mrs. Bums was permitted to continue the
course of heartless and unrelenting cruelty on which
she had entered until the death of her victim, when
many indignant witnesses came forward to detail her
infamous conduct. The relieving officer of the dis-
trict had heard of the case, and, on visiting the chil-
dren, saw that• they had not sufficient food. He
mentioned it to Bunn, but " she made light of it." He
then " reported the case to the guardians, but as there
was no application for relief, and the children were not
deserted, they did not interfere."
Is it possible that the hearts of men, many of whom had
children of their own, could have become so hardened
as to disregard such a report of their official, merely be •
cause there was." no application for assistance," and the
children " were not deserted ?" Such, however, ap-
rears to be the usual routine in the administration of
the laws for the relief of the distressed poor. 'We
hope that this case may be fully investigated, that it
may be ascertained how far such persons are worthy 1
of being continued in office. It may be that the full
particulars of the case were not brought under their
notice. Such may be the fact, and, if so, we trust
that it may be clearly explained, so that the guardians
may be exonerated from the imputations otherwise
necessarily cast on them.

We only hope that all persons who may become
cognizant of similar transactions, whether in or out
of authority, may receive a salutary lesson from this
melancholy occurrence, and, recollecting that " pre-
vention is better than punishment," that they will not
wait for the death of the victim before the guilty
party is called upon to render an account of his or her
transgressions.

Many fearful crimes, many heartrending occur-
rences are brought to light at the periodical visits of
the Learned Judges to the various country towns
throughout the length and breadth of the land. It
has however seldom, if ever, been our painful duty to
direct the public attention to a more revolting and
horrible case than that of ELIZABETH BUBB, who was
tried at Gloucester on Monday for the murder of
MARIA HOOK, a child aged only four years. Indeed
'since the well-known case of ELIZABETH BROWNRIG,
who was executed for the murder of her female ap-
prentice, the criminal records of the country do not
contain anything more atrocious than was clearly
brought home to the prisoner, and of which the jury
took a very lenient view, acquitting the prisoner of
the 'capital charge, and bringing in a verdict of
" aggravated mauslanahter," on which the presiding
Judge (Mr. Justice 'WILLIAMS) justly sentenced the
convict to the utmost punishment in his power—per-
petual banishment from her native land.

It appeared in evidence that the prisoner had a
sister, Rho was married to a man named RICHARD
Hoag, a woodman, living about four miles from the
town of Gloucester. About two years since Mrs.
1:1001E died, leaving three children, of whom MARIA
HOOK, the subject of the present trial, was the
youngest and most helpless. The husband, whose
daily avocations rendered it impossible to attend to
the thauestio affairs of his youthful family, was but

The officers to be attached to the Board of Trade
as assistants for carrying out the provisions of the Mercan-
tile Marine Bill are Captain F. W. Beechey, R.N., .F.R S.,
and Captain Walker. Captain Beechey distinguished him-
self in the expeditions to the North Pole in 1818 and 1819, of
which be published an interesting account; avid he has since
raised his name high as a navigator and an author by his
survey of the coast of Africa and his voyages in the Pacific
and Arctic Oceans. Captain Walker was formerly an officer
in the East India Company's Marine, and since the expira-
tion of their charter has for many years been in the command
of the largest of the ships belonging to Messrs. Green, of
Blackwall.
Mr. Northcote has resigned his appointment of
Legal Assistant to the Board of Trade. The place will not
be tilled up. •
Lord John Russell leaves by express on Monday
for Glasgow.
Sir George Grey leaves London for Castle Howard
to-morrow by express train.
LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN AND SHREWSBURY
AND BIRMINGHAM RAlLWAYS.—Memorials have just been
submitted by the directors of both these companies to the
Railway Commissioners, on their mutual misunderstandings
and disputes. The Shrewsbury and Birmingham allege that
the London and North-Western are using their powers to
injure and destroy their line, while the London and North-
Western represent that they are still willing to offer equal
rates, irrespective of distance, to both the ghrewsbury and
Birmingham, and Shrewsbury and Chester, so as to give to
all parties a competition in public accommodation..
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tain these objects.
MORTALITY IN THE CONNAUGHT WORKHOUSES.—
The total number of deaths in nineteen union-houses, in the
province of Connaught, during the half-year ended the 25th
of March. 1847, was 4,466; during the half-year ended the
25th of March, 1848, 5,163 ;
the half-year ended the 25th
of March, 1849. 6,757; the, half-year ended the 25th of
March, 1850, 3,277—t0ta1, 19,803. •
COPIAPO MINING COMPANY.--At a half-yearly
Wednesday, a dividend of Bs. per share, free from income-
Len,erawlams edeetinclagreodf theou C
out
oofpithapeo
nMetinpirng Company,
.held on.l
outs for the half-year,
amounting to 4,05/...165. 7d!

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EV

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris journals r.f yesterday.
It appears that the reception of the PRESIDENT on
his tour has not been quite so flattering as the Con-
stitutionnel and the other journals of the Elys6- would
fain have us believe. At Sens the National Guards
refused to turn out, and at Dijon the cry of " Vive la
R‘publique" completely drowned the cries of " Vive
le President! Vive Napoleon!" while some persons
who attempted to get up a shout of "Vive l'Empe-
reur" were at once silenced. The majority of the
Municipal Council of La Guilloterie have resigned
rather than take part in the manifestations which the
Mayors of Lyons and La Guilloterie have been getting
up for his reception, and at Strasbourg the Mayor re-
commended the Council not to grant anything from
the corporation funds for the reception of the PRESI•
DENT, and merely to pay the amount of deference to
him which is quite compatible with the democratic
regime.
On Wednesday the PRESIDENT reviewed the
troops in garrison at Dijon. General CASTELLANE,
the commandant of the sth and 6th mi►atarV divi-
sions, was presented to the PSE:IDENT at Dijon, as
were General VESCO and the Bishop of DIJON.
In the meanwhile the Legitimatists are gathering at
Wiesbaden. M AI . BERET ER, LAFERONNAYSi and several
well-known members of that party have already ar-
rived ; their presence was to have been expected, but
the presence of two new recruits to the Legitimatist
ranks has caused some sensation— the first ot these is
N. VESIN, formerly known for his intense attachment
to the House of Orleans, and the other is M. DE
LA FERTE, the son•in-law of Count MOLE.
It would appear that Generals CAVAIGNAC and
LANIORICIERE are determined to resist by force, it
necessary, any attempt on the part of the PRESIDENT
or his friends to violate the Constitution, and it would
appear, from a letter published in the Concordia ot
Turin, that General CRANOARNIER will follow this
example, and lend to . them the weight of his au-
Ithority. The Paris correspondent of the Concordia
, writes as follows :

"M. Bastide, former Minister for Foreign Affairs,
said to me yesterday—'l authorize you to declare and
to write, it you think proper, that Generals Cavaignac,
Lamoricrefe. and others, as well as Colonel Charms,
are determined. to place themselves at the head
of the people and army, not only in the event of
a military coup de main, but also in that of a simple
prolongation of the presidential powers.' M. Bastide
then added—` If the people do not rise, we five
(he here named the Generals) will erect a barricade and
offer our lives for the de fence of the constitution.' M.
Bastide is the intimate friend of General Cavaignac.
Yesterday I was assured by a person entitled to credit
that General Lamoriciire had, a few days ago, a long
conference with General Changarnier, and that on part-
ing the two Generals were seen cordially shaking each
other by the band. It is said that General Changarnier
has pledged himself on his honour to uphold the consti-
tution and oppose all attempts at a coup d'etat. It is not
astonishing, consequently, that rumours relative to a
coup detat, and even the prolongation of the powers of
the President, have of late ceased to circulate. Bona-
parte perceives, and says to-day, that all ho has to do is
to maintain until 1852 the existing status quo."
'We find the following in the Bulletin de Paris :
" The tranquil quarter of the Villa Beaujon was on
Sunday placed in agitation by one of the most
striking incidents. Mine. Lola Montes had taken
for fifteen years a magnificent hotel belonging to
M. Rosa. She caused it to be furnished with
extraordinary splendour. Turkey carpets of
great value ornamented all the apartments during
the winter season. The most curious and rare furni-
ture was bought of a tradesman, who, seduced by the
reputation ut the great fortune f the romantic adven-
turer, had had sufficient confidence to give credit for
six months. On Sunday, the day on which a large
sum fell due, the furniture man presented himself, but
Madame Lola begged him to call again at the end of the
week on account of the absence of her husband, who
had forgotten to leave the money. During this time
Madame Lola made preparations for leaving, and
caused vehicles to be sent for to remove her goods. The
upholsterer inforiyed of this, hastened to the Villa Beau-
jon, and found himself in the midst of the confusion
caused by the removal of his furniture. A great up-
roar took place, and the Commissary of Police and some 1
of the other creditors, who had been apprised of what
was going on, arrived. Among the creditors was M.
Jacquand, a celebrated painter, to whom a large sum
was due for portraits of the lady. Surprised in the
midst of these preparations for flight, the lady was not
disconcerted for a single instant : she pretended that
she was disposed to pay—that her husband bad sent
her the money for that purpose, but that she had lost
the key of her cash-box. She begged the creditors
to wait for a moment whilst she went for a locksmith,
but neither locksmith nor lady appeared. Madame
Lola had entered a vehicle which was waiting for her
in the Avenue de Chateaubriand, near the Barriere
de I'Etuile, and bad disappeared like a shadow, with-
out saying when she would return."
M. DE LAMARTINE on Sunday left the lazaretto at
Marseilles, on his return from the East; and was to
proceed on the next day to the baths of the Prado.
The Courrier de la Drome announces that several
persons charged with being connected with secret so-
cieties have been arrested in the south of France.

On Tuesday evening several persons were arrested
in Paris, among them wss the gerant of M. PROUD-
IION'S journal, the Peuple, the office of which was
searched.

The French squadron, commanded by Vice-
Admiral PAIIPEVAL-DEtCHENES, arrived at Cher.
hourg on the 10th. The division under the orders of
Rear-Admiral DUBOURDIEU was expected to arrive in
a few days.
This being th 3 Festival of the Assumption, the
Bourse remained closed. A few speculators, however,
assembled at the passag, of the Opera, and the Five
per Cents. were done at 97f.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK-E XCHANGE , Auo. 15.
Boulogne and Amiens, 7 LA—Central of France ( Orleans
and Vierzon), 141,4—Luxembourg. 14¢—Namur and Liege,
6%—Northetn of France, 14A—Rouen and Havre, 9!4.