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

THE SUN,

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 uncerhinty 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 realize-d.

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 has, 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 Sabbatariens 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-
ference to the turbulent passions prevalent through-
out certain clams 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 1850 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 fur 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
for arranging the redistribution of official salaries
has given promise of aiding in the work of large and
judicious retrenchment. The operation of the County
Courts has been somewhat extended, with a view to
diffuse its advantages yet more generally
throughout the population. The revenue pre-
cents the cheering evidences of yielding for the
last financial year a surplus of no less than two mil-
lions strling ; 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,
thd other through the extension of the
elective frimthiae among its different constituencies.
As 'to our foreign relations, the most memorable inci-
dents may be briefly and readily enumerated. Diplo-
matic intercourse has again been happily resumed
with the Spanish Government. A difference arising
from the double-dealing of M. LE Gems, and from the
petulance of M. LA HITTE, has been dissipated through
the conciliatory yet manly bearing of Lord _NOR-
MANDY, 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 are 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-
collection of those two discussions alone would be
sufficient to render the remembrance of the past session,
agreeable to her 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.

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 Bun's, who was
tried at Gloucester on Monday for the murder of
MARIA Hoox, a child aged only four years. Indeed
since the well-known case of ELIZABETH 13nowstam,
who was executed for the murder of her female ap-
prentice, the criminal records or the country do not
contain anything more 4. atrocious than was clearly
brought home to the prisoner, and of which the jury
toil' a very lenient view, acquitting the prisoner of
the capital charge, and bringing in a verdict of
"aggravated manslaughter," 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, who was married to a man named lticuartp
Hoos, a woodman, living about four miles from the
town of Gloucester. About two years since Mrs.
noos died, having three children; of whom MARIA
Iloox, the subject of the present trial, was the
Youngest and most helpless. The husband, whose
daily avocations rendered it impossible to attend to
youthful family, was but
the domestic affairs of his

LONDON,

too happy to obtain the services of his sister-in-law,
who accorcrmgly went, to reside with him as his house-
keeper, bringing wich her her own children, two
boys. Froln that period until her committal to stand
her trial for the murder of the wretched victim
of her craelty and negligence, she assumed
the charge of the lou'eaved orphans, taking
upon hers,:f 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
without 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 mcrrtem examination showed the frightful state
to which the tnkerable victim had been reduced. He
said—

" The child wag four years old, and of the proper
height; but with the cloth on it weighed only six pounds;
whereas a full-grown new-born infant weighs from five
to eight pounds. The body was a mere skeleton; the
eyes sunk in their orbits to an unusual depth; the skis
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 exception of a little fiscal 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 com-
forts. 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; upon which she said, Why,
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 Howes 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 :
" Acne Bishop, the wife of a labourer at Tibbertoa,
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 food 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, &tend, 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
death, with scarcely any clothes on, looking like a
skeleton; and within a shorter period of her death bad
seen her lying on the ashes of the fireplsee with scarcely
any clothes on. She used sometimes to be locked in the
house all day, when the prisoner wont out to work. Had
seen all kinds of filth in her head. 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 Houk's house, and had seen Bubb's chil-
dren sitting at the table eating bread and butter and
drinking tea, and the deceased child under the table
picking up the crumbs from the flo;,r. Sae looked ill,
starved, and filthy. The other children looked very
well. Never saw anything given to her to eat, but alter
the others had dune she continued picking up the
crumbs. Heard Bubb say, a Get up you nasty
little --, or I'll kick thee is two in the middle.'
Also that she used to tell her father every thing ; but
sooner than the nasty little -- should tell her father
she would kill the dirty little--.' Babb 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 siz3 of. her (witness's)
three fingers." _

Another witness, Emma. 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. BIM/ was not, however, satisfied
with such acts of omission. Even when the child
had become so weak that she was creeping about on
all-feurs, 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-
pression, " little better than skin atid bone—a mere
living :keleton."
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
ith the greatest contumely—the attention of the
neighbouring magistrates was never directed to the
case, and Mrs. Bunn 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 Buns, 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-
pears 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 he ascertained how far such persons are worthy
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.

The officers to be attached to the Board of Trade
as assistants for carrying out the provisions of the Mercan-
tile Iklarine 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 he published an interesting account; and 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
Blackwell.
Mr. Northcote has resigned his appointment of
Legal Assistant to the Board of Trade. The place will not
be filled 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 Raaft.wAvs.—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 Shrewsbury and
Birmingham, and Shrewsbury and Chester, so as to give to
all parties a competition in public accommodation.
METROPOLITAN SANITARY A SEOCIATION.—At
meeting of the General Committee of this Association, held
at their Committee-rooms, 10, Craig's-court, Charing cross,
on the 14th inst., it was resolved, that the association would
during the Parliamentary recess apply itself in organizing
an effective movement to obtain, in the next session of Par-
liament, an Act for the improvement of the present dwel-
lings of the peor, for the repeal of the window-tav ; an Act
to provide an improved supply of pure water to the metropo-
lis; an arnendmer,t of the Nuisance Removal and Centagious
Diseases Act; and that the association will shortly hold pub-
lic meetings on these subjects; and the association appeals to
the public for support and aid in the necessary efforts to oh-
tain these objects.
MORTALITY IN THE CONNAUGHT WORKHOUSES.—
The total number of deaths in nineteen union-houses, in the
province of Cei.naught, during the half-year ended the 25th
of Match. 1847, was 4,41;6; 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, 18;0, 3,277—t0ta1, 19,803.
COPIAPO MINING COMPANY.---At a half-yearlyzldon
Wednesday, a dividend of 89. per share,
general meeting of the Copiapo Mining Cm
tax, was declared out of the net p
amounting to 4,1461. 16s. 7d.
ret s f forroe e Pit'arhonel:l,
ahi lnfc- re &er,