The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-10 00:00:00

IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sin,—One error makes many; the vague language
of the reports on insolvency, contrary to fact, and
contrary to right reason, however conformable it may
be to certain grimgribber principles of musty law
ore, have caused much false thinking and acting
thereon. Without any regard to the general good,
without any rational sympathy for unfortunate per-
sons, and with the sole object of relieving the aristo-
cratic classes from the personal penalties due to their
extravagance, sensuality, and dishonesty, a series of
very maleficent changes in the insolvency laws are
persisted in, by which, in the end, all power over the
person of an unfortunate debtor will be removed, and
nothing left to the creditor but the effects, the pro-
perty of the debtor, the apparent increased pow( r
-over which had deluded creditors to allow without a
murmur the removal of every form of imprisonment,
while the power over the effects will be found prac-
tically a power of words, a worthless bit of parch-
ment, only a mere cheat and fraud. Bad as may be
the ill-conduct and insolvency of young divines at
Oxford, or of the gentleman class in general, it bears but
a small proportion to the total of the insolvency of the
country, which is that of merchants, bankers, manufac-
turers, tradesmen, mechanics, operatives, employes,
and the like, who in general have dissipated their ef-
fects. These remarks are suggested by the recent
debates in the Lords, as well as by the objections-
made against the County Courts Bill, because of the
11 penal clauses. Unless imprisonment of the non-
paying debtor be enacted, those Courts will be utterly
useless. The class of persons who will he summoned
therein? are those who have very few effects. Their
income 4 consist, e. g., of wages earned week by
week, and they will have no objection to a sum-
mer's full work and plenty of wages spent week
by week,4and the enjoyment increased by as many
debts as they can contract with small shopkeepers—
in riotous living, gross sensuality, and frolics to
Gravesend and Hampton Court, silk gowns and good
coats ; and then when the winter comes pro-
ceedings in the local courts will take away, for the
benefit of creditors, all of their effects, which have not
been already disposed of in anticipation, of some few
shillings or pounds' value, and so pay their debts with-
out any inconvenience whatever. Thus live many
thousands of clever mechanics and operatives, whose
really valuable effects are concealed in their fingers
and heads ; whose property consists of their ingeni-
ous handicraft, to whom the boon of non-imprison-
ment for debt, will grant complete impunity to sen-
sual indulgence, fraud, and folly. Such persons will
roam from one end of the kingdom to the other, and
victimise with impunity the tradesmen of the provin-
cial tovt ns.

I cannot hope to find the columns of a newspaper,
at this time, open to the further discussion of the in-
solvency fallacies, which are so rife abroad, im-
portant though they be. The mischievous errors of
the reports of the various Common-law Commis-
sioners, are evident in the effects they have produced
on the mind of Lord Cottenham, whose two speeches
are made up entirely of the report of 1840, which is
but a specimen of the popular reasoning on the
matters of debtor and creditor—popular reasoning,
but not of the opinions of the people, which are humane
and correct. Thcse reports are full of errors and
false reasoning, chiefly in applying the term " unfor-
tunate" to cases of insolvency, and then appealing to
the public sympathies on behalf of persons whom they
have so represented. Insolvent debtors are unfortu-
nate, just as all evil doing persons (criminals) are un-
fortunate, but not in the sense in which the Commis-
sioners (to serve the interests of this class) use the
word. This is a question of evidence, and does not
rest on mere hypothesis.lnsolvents have become so vo-
luntarily, by a course of conduct which they pursued
either before or after the contracting of their debts, or
both. They willed to become insolvent, just as, but
not with an equal degree of criminality, the pick-
pocket or the forger willed his deed. Insolvency,
larceny, felony, are each one, only the last acts, the
fruition, the social evil-doing of a long course of con-
duct more or less vicious. Let the causes of insol-
vency be honestly examined, and they will be found
to be, in nearly all cases, idleness, extravagance, spe-
culation, gambling, and dishonesty, vices in which
men will freely indulge, as theyare more or less liable
to punishment. The pickpocket obtains the products
of his neighbour's industry by creeping behind him,
and taking it unawares ; the insolvent does it by a
promise dishonestly and deliberately given which his
neighbour accepts, and then, as has been above stated,
by a series of voluntary acts, he renders himself un-
able, or he will not fulfil his bargain, a bargain which
it is of the very highest importance to society should
be fulfilled; and, therefore, all men who do not fulfil
it, but who voluntarily break it, are punishment-
worthy, and will be punished in a virtuous state of
society, wheiS the interests of the whole people, and
not the interests of a select class, are legislated for,
The censures about facilities of gaining credit are
absurd, and also much else of the report of the Com-
missioners ; were there space, it could be easily shown
to be idle nonsense, unworthy even a school-boy's
prize essay. However, folly and humanity-monger-
ing will have their course, and when millions and
more millions have been wasted, and illicitly distri-
buted—that treasure which has been, created and
hoarded, and thus made into capital by industrious,
ingenious, and self-denying men, perhaps the public
voice wilt swell with righteous indignation at this
corrupt legislation, and demand punishment due—
exemplary and sanitive— against all public enemies,
whether they be insolvents or pickpockets. •
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
A VICTIM.
Brixton, June 30.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
(YESTERDAY.)

MAI?LBOROLGH-STREET.

- - - _
Mary Dillon, a young and beautiful, girl, wearing a
profusion of jewellery, was placed at the bar on the
following charge:—
Police-constable John Cox, No. 63 of the C division,
stated that between two and three o'clock this morning,
as he was proceeding on duty. along Piccadilly, he found
the defendant sitting at the step of a door. near to St.
James's Church. Her head was leaning on her knees, and
at first he concluded that she wa.; sleeping, but on a closer
inspection he found she was in a state of complete stupor.
He therefore conveyed her to the station-house, where,
by the direction of Inspector Frowd of the C division, she
was attended by Dr. Tothill, of Charles-street, St.
James's-square, the divisional surgeon of the force ; but
two hours elapsed before she was restored to a state of
consciousness. She afterwards intimated by signs to the
Inspector that she was deaf and dumb, and ultimately
wrote her name and her address., at Fulham, on a slate—
but she declined giving any further information respect-
ing herself.
Dr. Tothill was of opinion that she was suffering from
the effects of some intoxicating fluid, which, of course,
might have been designedly administered to her.
Inspector Frowd said, he had no doubt of the defen-
dant actually being dumb.
Mr. MALTBY—Dear me ; is that the fact—does any
one know her ?
_ _ •

Sergeant Burnett, No. 20 of the C division, said, that
a twelvemonth ago she was living in a style of great
splendour in Piccadilly, under the protection of a
nobleman.

Inspector Frowd said a very valuable gold watch was
found in her posession, but no money.
It also appeared that about twelve months ago she
was found insensible in the street, and was locked up in
a station-house for the night, on the supposition that she
was drunk, and from that time she became deaf and dumb.
Mr. MALTBY humanely directed Sergeant Burnett to
see her home to her friends.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS.—The following
gentlemen have been elected Fellows of the Royal College of
Physicians :—Dr. Guy, of King's College, London ; Dr.
Conolly, of Hanwell ; Dr. Plenderleath, of Ramsgate; Dr.
Forbes, Dr. G. O. Rees, Dr. Cursham,-Dr. Rtunsbotham, and
Dr. Hughes.
FATAL EFFECTS OF FRIGHT ON A HORSE.—A few
days ago, a man in the act of backing a horse and cart into
the sea at Deal, near the Walmer-road, with a view, it is
supposed, of training it to draw a bathing machine, found
the animal manifest so strong a reluctance to approach the
water as to tremble from head to foot. Unfortunately the
man persisted in urging back the horse, which had hardly
reached the water when it dropped down perfectly lifeless.
The animal is said to have been worth twenty guineas.—
Dover Telegraph.
EXTRAORDINARY FREAK OF NATURE.—In the
month of May last Mr. Rolls, under-keeper to Lord Digby,
discovered, in Whitfield Wood, a pheasant's nest containing
twelve eggs; about three weeks since, on examining the
nest again, he found that the bird had left three of the eggs
behind, and feeling a curiosity to know the reason why the
eggs had not been hatched, he broke the shells, and in each
egg found a young pheasant, perfect and billed, but, singular
to relate, each bird had four legs and four feet. Mr. Rolls
cut off the legs, and has since preserved them. He called at '
our office on Saturday, when we had an opportunity of per-
sonally inspecting this singular natural euriosity.—Sherborne
Journal, •

York Minster was re-opened on Sunday last,
hiving undergone a complete restoration. The Very Rev.
W. Cockburn, D.D., the Dean, preached on the occasion.
ACCIDENT ON THE EDINBURGH RAILWAY.—This
morning (Saturday), shortly before six o'clock, an accident
occurred at the station here of the most alarming kind, but
most providentially, and it.was like an especial interpontion
of Providence, no lives have been lost. About half-past five
o'clock in the morning a great number of trucks, loaded with
large stones and bricks, were prepared at Cowlairs to be
brought down the incline by three breaks. By some great
misfortune, either seven or nine of the trucks were shoved
forward and on to the incline. They immediately began to
move downward, of course, and although, as we understand,
one poor fellow leaped on a break, which was forward, to try
to stop their ownward course, all his efforts were unavailing,
and the carriages came rushing down the incline with an
appalling speed which no one can describe, the rails, as they
neared, being actually on fire. There was no human power
now to stop them, and down they came, three of the fore-
most running right through the centre of the large station-
house, through both walls, and out at the front, into the door
of the bar of the North British Hotel, on the opposite side
of the passage. There was no person in the station-house,
and no one was hurt. The breaksman leaped off, we believe,
and was injured, but how he escaped with life in such cir-
cumstances, is more than we can understand. There were in
all nine or ten waggons, we learn, came down the incline, six
of whit4f Weie -srbashed to atoms. The gratitude of every
person in witnessing the effects of the accident was that no
lives were lost.—Glasgow Constitutional.

MARKET NEWS.-(YESTERDAV

saw MAILIEETS.
SMITHFIELD.—Coarse Meadow Hay, 3/ lOs to 4/; ust.
ful ditto, 4/ 4s to 4/ 8s ; fine Upland ditto, 4/ lOs to 4/ 155;
Clover Hay, 5/ to 6/ lOs • Oat Straw, I/ 12s to I/ 14s
Wheat Straw, 1/ 14s to 1/ les per load. Both Hay and Stray
moved offslowly, at barely last week's quotations.
CUMBERLAND.—Coarse Meadow Hay 31 15s to 4/ 4s ; user
ful ditto, 4/ 53 to 4/ 12s ; fine Upland ditto, 41 14s to
Clover Hay, 5/ to 6/ ; Oat Straw, 1/ 14s to 1/ 16s; Wheat
Straw, 1/ 16s to 1/ 18s per load. Supply but moderate, an
trade steady.
WHITECHAPEL.---Coarse Meadow Hay, 3/ lOs to 41;
ful ditto, 4/ 4s to 4/ 8s; fine Upland ditto, 4/ lOs to 4/155.;
Clover Hay, 51 to 6/ 12s ; Oat Straw, 11 12s to 1/ 14s ;
Wheat Straw, 1/ 14s to 1/16s per load. A fair average suppli,
and a sluggish demand. New Meadow Hay was selling at
from 31 to 4/ per load.

COLONIAL.
SUGAR.—There has been rather more business doing 'II
British Plantation, at previous prices; 600 casks have been
sold, inclusive of those brought to auction. The public
sales have consisted chiefly of 113 casks Barbadoes, B,og
bags 86 casks Mauritius, 3,913 bags Manilla, 275 baskets
Java, and 901 boxes Havannah and Cuba. The Barbaioei„
went off very heavily, but mostly sold at a further decline of
ls viz., mid to fine yellow, at 58s Gd to 65s 6d. Nearly all tbe
Mauritius found buyers at 55s to GOs fur low to very getrt
yellow, and low to fine ditto at 46s to 54s Gd, being in nips
instances a reduction of fully Is. The Manilla and Java sold,
the former at 13s 6d to 16s for very low soft to mid dry brown'
18s 6d for mid greyish yellow ditto, and the latter at 17s 6t1..,
23s for mid brown to low strong white, all of which s"
about previous prices. All the Havannah were also disposf.
of (excepting 160 boxes low to mid white Cuba; which were
taken in at 27s 6d to 30s Gd, being above the value )at 17e.0
~".
20s 6d for good brown to fine greyish yellow, which are like',
'
about former rates. The quantity of British 'sPlantation landen
last week at the East and West India Docks was 1,098 lib_.„,.dh
101 trcs, 417 brls. The imports of British Plantation OK
into Loudon this year, to the 31st inst., are 38,022 Jib
4,458 tres, against 32,279 hhds, 3,801 trcs at this dins
last year. The stock in London is 16,231 hhds, 2,455 t„,rt
against 10,443 hhds,. 1,887 trcs at this time last year. "'-
stocks of East India are larger.
COFFEE.-1,526 bags Ceylon and 70 bags La GuaYrra;
offered by auction, were nearly all taken in at 50s to 52s
good or Ito very good ord. Ceylon, 63s to 93s for fine ord
..A
pale to mid coloury. Ditto, Plantation kind, and fine ord
even palish La Guayra, at 465. The. stock of British Plan;
tation in London on the Ist inst. was 4,294 lihds, 4,005 bi
and bags, against 3,082 hhds, 1,966 brls and bags at the sarniii
time last year. The import this year have increased abs
half.
ten
COCOA.-174 bags Grenada at auction were chiefly ta-
in at 36s to 42s for mid to good red, being about the call'''.
rative value.
Rum.—Tbe quantity landed last week at the East .fie
West India Docks is 73 puns. The stock in London on 1";
Ist inst. was 11,683 puns 3,211 hhds, against 16,010 P
5,444 hhds at this time in 1843.
RICE.-3,600 bags Madras, all sold at a decline of near
ly
6d, viz., at 7s 6d to 8s 6d for ord to good. , to
SALTPETRE —1,226 bags Bengal found buyers at gds.
25s 6d, one lot 26s for 10 to per cent. refraction, be'''.
the extreme value.
TALLOW.—P Y.C. is 41s to 41s 6d per cent. on the ei
and Town 43s 6d per cwt.
TEA.—The market is quiet, but the consumption is tale
rably good.
INDtGO.—The public sales of 13,146_ chests, comment&
this morning, but as they will last several days, it is
early to give an opinion.

(From the London New Price Current of July 9•) vel
SUGAR.—To. day importers of Colonial Sugar manifes at
more firmness, and refrained from offering any descriptiousit
public sale. There was more inclination shown on the P$
of Grocers and Refiners to operate in West India. 3130 J
large business
,was transacted at the rates of Frldan, '136
in some cases a small advance was paid for good and
yellow. •
ifete
REFINED.—To-day several parcels of Refined Sugar
taken by the home trade, but at lower rates--brown luni
selling at 71s to 725, standard lumps 73s 6d to 74s per co'
Bonded Crushed Sugar is wanted at 26s per cwt, but
much is to be had.
MAuurnus.---Importers continue to be anxious sellers, iii!3.
having supplied the market largely, has produced a decoooi
on previous rates of is to ls. 6d per cwt. This after' r.
there was no public sale, but 8,000 bags will be brought t
ward on Friday; the business transacted privately was
former rates.
EAST INDIA.—By private contract several parcels of 13,61;1
gal Sugar have been sold; but fin-porters are •compelleo.mt
submit to rather lower rates: This afternoon the prin",a
feature in the Foreign free labour Sugar market wasva,
public sales of 1,294 baskets Java, and 1,548 bags of 1110 i 0
the former all sold at good prices, fine dry grey at 213 t° .0
6d, mid yellow 17s 6d to 18s, good 18s 6d to 19s 6d, tirie,4 'to
to 21s 6d, good white 22s to 235, damp and washed 16afo
22s ; the latter of sound quality all taken in at 185 b,"_,lies•
few lots of damaged sold at 13s to 17s 6d per cwt. Fer
gal to-day stiffer rates paid.
FOREIGN.—This afternoon 460 brls Pernambuco, at for
were all taken in at 18s 6d to 19s for yellow, and 185 ea
brown, being above the value. By private treaty an bier; two'
desire was shown to purchase yellow Havannali, ar'"id at
floating cargoes, amounting to 4,000 boxes, were e°
19s 6d to 20s 6d per cwt. 55 IO
MOLASSES.
—West India at full prices; Antigua std P
275; St. Kitt's 22s to 235; and low Montserrat 203
cwt. Bengal Molasses 16s to 17s per cwt. and
COFFEE.—West India has been less in request,doced,s,
porters still supplying the market freely, has P1.,..-2sto7
declined on former rates of 2s per cwt. Mocha atll,is aft.o"
for good, and 68s to 71s per cwt for middling. goo!
noon ordinary Ceylon at 50s to 51s per cwt. Jan
alts low
middling fetched 102 s to 108 s, middlin." 85s to 86s 6d'
middling 80s, fine and fine fine ordinary 60s to 74s 6 ,
34s to s 6d er cwt.
greenT EA.MT—eTa earp has
and holders
b een onlyexp a e
ri
elimceiteddi
difficulty
n dinfosrubppolacj.iiicel
former prices. To-day there was no variation in the Pri
of Tea, and few purchases were made in any description.i
to
COCOA.—For British Plantation, importers are ultabh- er
obtain any advance in prices; Grenada taken in at 425je
cwt. for good red. Foreign Cocoa is dull of sale, itud ~aaJ
be purchased. upon easier terms. This afternoon, Trine
sold at 40s. for fair dark red. (of
SPICES.—This afternoon there was to public sale
description of Spice. By private treaty small pare"; lb'
common Sumatra Pepper' were sold at 2.1c1 to 2id Per
For Cassia Lignea there was rather more inquiry. A pot
Rum' BRAIk.IDY, AND HOLLANDS.--LeeWard 'Sian. pita
at 2s 2id to 2s 3d per gallon proof strength ; Jamaica iloot
38 per cent. over proof, part faulty, sold at 3s 4d per,,,g;to
Demerara at 3s to 3s 4d per gallon for goodto fine.. t-i:"0to
Rum at Is ltd to is 115 d per gallon proof, with cert'ol3°
For Brandy, prices are drooping. Cognac, first brands °si
vintage of 1838, hlids 5s 4d, puns 5s 2d ; ditto 1839 hhds It -
puns 5s ; ditto 1840, hhds ssld, puns 4s 11d; ditt° 7cli
hhds ss, puns 4s 10d; ditto 1842, hhds 4s 9d, puns 49. 51
and other descriptions 2a 8d to 4s 6d per.gallon. .Geneva
Is 9d to is 10d, and fine for home consumption 2s6d to Jo' 9tl
To-day, Cognac, best, brands óf the vintage of 1842, st, 044
for hhds, and 4s 7d far puns. English Corn Spirits Iwo
per gallon for cash. Geneva at is 103 to Is 11d per pa
for shipping. Leeward Island Rum at 2s 2d to 2s
gallon proof.
tos
RICE.—In cleaned Rice several purchases made - 21Thif
26s for Carolina, and 13s to 16s per cwt for Patna- ntoil
afternoon Bengal Rice went rather under former rates, tit
mid white Ils to Ils 6d, and sea datnaged first class lO''otia
to I Is. Java taken in at 9s ad to lOs per cwt for bold 5
yellow.
$Ol
SAGO.--Prices have further declined for this article' oft.
not much demand exists. Sago Flour 19s to 20s per
Bermuda Arrowroot 5d to is lid, and Tapioca 5d per, , to'
INDIGO.-The quarterly sale of East India comtnellco
day. 826 chests have passed the sale. The biddings
been very brisk throughout the day for all qualities, e,.
the goociand fine, for which the demand was but limit 0.00
Oils.—Sperm Oil 801 15s to 831 lOs per tun. 10 C°l3 00;
descriptions of Fish Oils the advanced rates previouslYd coo
blished are well sustained ; Pale Seal 35/10s to 365, a.,,nig la
331 15s to 341; Southern at 311 5s to 33/ 5s for inicluitero
fine ; Cocoa Nat Oil is not offered at lower gape
Ceylon taken in at 30s per cwt for good quality. F°r-s pet
Oil prices are not so firm, pale at ,2
38s, and brown pot'
cwt. Linseed Oil at 25s 9d to 26s per cwt on theed for
Olive Oil at further reduced rates. 461 to 471 accepts et
n,
Gallipoli ; 441 to 451 for Spanish ; and 431 to 431 '—
tun for Barbary ; Palm fine 28s to 29s per cwt. sieel
TALLOW.—For Russian Tallow on the spot a good bug fo;
has been transacted, P.Y. Candle 41s to 41s 8d per 0'7703
delivery in the last three months of the year 42s 6d to 'gootll
South American 37s to 40s for mid to good ; and Nov !spec
Wales 37s 9d to 41s 3d ; ToWn Tallow at 40s 6d to 41
cwt. net cash.

;rot
DUDE AND A NCIENT PLOUGH.—A plough
Of
simple and original construction was the other ay 0,
out of peat moss in the island of Liel, near Easdaier,' • et:
consisted entirely of one piece. The lower
°
trunk of the tree was formed into a stilt, with a IR, ,
cut out of the solid timber wide ensugb to reeeit
hands, something similar to a garden spade, ow/ Oil•
coarse and clumsy. The handle was horizontal, bepta
the plough was upright in working position. The tpe
was a branch of some length, and the share wit two
stump of another, as the tree had branched in,tegtli#
something like the y, with one of the branches 'et
ened. It did not appear to have had any iron au°ooo
It is evident from its simple form that it could .o,tor
turn over the soil, but merely stirred it like a Colts the
or grubber. It was so decayed that, on exposure /
air, it crumbled into fragments.—Glasgow Nation!..›,

DAY•)

) 4/; uSC
to 4/ 155;
to 1/ 145;
and Stray,

114 s ; Ilse"
14s to 51;
3s; 'What
Berate, and

to 41; use-
to 41155.;
;o 11 14i ;
age 01)0',
S Selling tit

;s doing in
have be
floe puu
toes, 8,00
!75 baskets
Barbadois,,
r decline 0
!lady all 0,1
very gc"",`;
lln
sold
.I—av a sold,
dry brow',
at 17s exit°
which sre
so disposed
vhich were
at 17st°
are like wise
tion 11014
1,098 bbcih
ation BUg°
3,022 bbd.q,
this tiro!
2,455 ttc-',
year. 1"

",a GuaYrta'
to 525 Or
'or fine OP
nd tine au
ritish Plar
4,005 brIS
at the OAe
eased abou"

hiefly takels,
the collir

e East 0,4
I don on tr
16,010 P

of ne'3rif

s at 245, t:
belft

on the sPQ4

ion is OW

006
conun
st it is

fuly 94 04
manifes ,
scription.
on the In
dia a
Friday, 6
>od and

were
Sfigar 0,5
rown .„
'4s Per not
vt, but "
sellers, 9,°
je
d a deco„
is aftero?'„
ht si
Brought t
st
,ely was

.cels of 13c11,
Drn pe 11 e
,he princl
c.ef vlB9O
of Alawigv
t 215 to 2006!
6d, fine , a to
ed 163 v, ,11
it 183 60r.,
For j 3,

• •
), at ape
and 1850e4,
an incl.!
to
aouid 0
vere so

cua
61 Pet

,st, cd
t'Pr7°-9-staite7srg-
Lnllhisod
aica A.
868 6d,
is 6d, trop

for blacil
supporter
n the 101
ritiopn• e „,
e unabl
at 42s r,
3, and
,n, VD"
sale of Asit,
!}drcel
2i Per

P
slon
inaica 11111;;.,
per gl":,,ta,
Caic- te.
• titles
cer ith!
rands 0.0,
s's4l,
ditto 1,..a;
puns
Genes :A.
6d to 36 491
p at 4'S
nq .-
irits
.1 per pe,r
o 2s 3'

,erf.
of 11: jog
day
odale• of
arV
P dle
b tot)
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only rile
The lietbe
wastivo,
into
'es lea it,
abOljt 4e
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ld Ile or
ci 16'1' o
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tioso

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3uclo,
peon'
1416
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dy- Of
•
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11011'5°
or
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of 81.
t'o Iglti;
oalthe
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litteif
7,5 q.,

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the la

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