The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-26 00:00:00

EXECUTIONS AT CAN [ON.

Another morning's excursion was to the execution
ground, two miles from the factories, and not far from
the river ; there is some difficulty in finding it out,
servants not liking to escort you to such places, and
actually refusing to do so. At last we came upon the
spot, which is the wide part of a populous street, with
a wall on one side, and a row of potteries on the other.
A narrow shed, about fifteen feet long and four wide,
covered with bamboos and open in front, with a plank
about a foot high from the ground, contains, exposed
to public view, the heads of the criminals, in all
stages of decomposition, up to the most recent date.
I should think that there could not have been less
than forty, as they formed two layers, filling the en-
tire space of ground enclosed in the shed. The offen-
sive smell prevented ma from making more minute
observations, but I noticed all the tails were cut off,
which is done before beheading. Half a don large
wooden crosses, for strangling, which is the punish-
ment for certain offences, were standing against the
wall, beyond the shed. Hearing from my servant that
an American missionary lived near this spot, I called
on him to know a little more about it, as so many
rumours of executions of from twenty to thirty
people taking place daily, did not appear to me to be
well-founded. The Rev. T. Ball has livel for many
years here, keeps a missionary school, and has taken
much interest in the capital punishments. Having a
converted native living with him, be has been able to
gather the most correct information on the subject,
and I am indebted to him for the following remarks.
The population of the province of Kwang-tung con-
tains twenty-nine millions of inhabitants, and all the
criminals sentenced to death must be executed at
Canton, the capital. The number averages from
three to five hundred a year. The largest number,
eight hundred, took place last year, probably owing
to the increase of piracy, and to the greater severity
of the present Viceroy, Seu. This year, up to the
present time, lit Oct., 1849, the number was two
hundred and eighty. The greatest number executed
in one day was forty-nine—the smallest, one. The
most usual number is from ten to twenty-five. The
longest interval between the days of execution, a
month : two or three times a week is not unusual.
Nearly all the men are beheaded with a large
sword : their hands being tied, they kneel down,
with their faces towards Pekin, the Emperor's
residence, and the head is struck off at one blow.
Women are strangled—of these, not more than one or
two a year suffer. One woman, for parricide, was
cut up into forty-eight pieces—the number of pieces
varies frem twelve to twenty-four, thirty-six, &c.
One man was flogged to death with bamboos—many
are beaten before execution. Most of these criminals
are condemned by the local authorities, but a portion
by order of the Emperor, doubtful cases being referred
to him for decision. The executions often take place
in the afternoon, but the time is uncertain. A man-
darin of high judicial rank is always present, sitting
behind a screen. Soldiers guard the approaches, and
the crowd of rabble is very great. The heads are
thrown under the shed, where they remain as a warn-
ing to the peoplz, until they become bleached in the
gun ; the bodies can be carried off for interment by
the friends. 4 People are found to inhabit the houses
opposite this very receptacle of two or three score of
heads, the distance not being ten yards apart, and
these sanguinary scenes enacted constantly under
their eyes.—Berncastle's Voyage to China.

• Persons condemned to death may procure a substi-
tute, who can be found on payment of a sum of money.

CLEVER CAPTURE.—During last Hallowfair, Mr.
Gordon, an extensive cattle salesman, was skilfully robbed
in the Grassmarket, by two women, of a pocket-book con-
aining about 7001. The women were captured on the fol.
lo ing morning, as they were entering the train for Glasgow,
With part of the money; and aanan named Main, known to
be their intimate acquaintance, was apprehended in Glasgow
the Fame day, with a bank receipt in his possession for 240/.,
Which be had deitesited in the Union Bank there. The dis- •
covery was made at the same time that a sum nearly equal
in amount had been lodged in the Union Bank on the same
day by an accomplice of Main, by the name of Kyle. This,
with the other sum, was suspected to be part of the stolen
money, and the police made active exertions for the appre-
hension of Kyle; he was successful, however, in eluding
their efforts till last week when he was taken into custody at
Newcastle by criminal officer Milligan, of the police esta-
blishment here. The clever officer had skilfully followed up
some slight trace he bad acquired, and on Saturday appre-
hended Kyle in a house at Newcatle, where he had resided
for some time in security. The sum of 25/. was found in his
Possession, and he is now in gaol here. Edinburgh Courant.
THE ARMY.—The following changes will take
place in the stations of regiments and depots of her Majesty's
land forces early in January, 1851 :—The :10th or Cambridge-
shire Regiment of Foot will move from Weimer, near Deal,
to Gosport, and remain in barracks there until they embark
for Corfu. The depOt will remain at Widmer. The 30th
returned from foreign service in January,lBl4, and will have
been fully seven years on home stations. The 47th, or Lan-
cashire Regiment of Foot, is under orders to move to Cork,
to embark at that port for Corfu. The depot will move from
Buttevant, where the regiment is also at present stationed,
to Waterford, and remain there. The 47th also returned
from foreign service in January, 1841, and will have had
seven years' home service. The let battalion of the 91st, or
Argyleshire Regiment of Foot, is under orders to move from
Dover to Liverpool, for service at that station. The Ist bat-
talion of the Rifle Brigade is under orders to move from
Canterbury to Dover, to occupy the barracks vacated by the
91st Regiment. The depOt of the lsth, or Bedfordshire
Regiment of Foot, is under orders to move from Canterbury
to llythe, where it will be stationed.
PRAISE. WORTHY CONDUCT.—About three weeks
since, as Mr. Edward Jennings, of Stretchworth, near New-
market, was leaving the Black Horse, he gave the hostler,
as he supposed, the customary sixpence, and was about
driving elf, when the man called after him, and asked if he
knew what he had given him? "Sixpence," was the reply.
" No, sir," said the other, " it 13 half a sovereign ;" and he
returned it. The fortnight following, Mr. James Barrett,
the landlord of the same house, entered the market-room,
and inquired for a gentleman who rode a dun pony the
Tueelay b.;fore. "My reason for asking," said he, "is this
a stranger put up here last week, who rode such a pony, and
on going away gave my hostler a half-sovereign instead of a
sixpence; on discovering the mistake he immediately in-
formed me of it, and gave me the money. I thought some
Person here might know who the gentleman was."
MORMONITISH TRICKS.—A wretched-locking ob-
ject, named George Wood, a Mornionite preacher, was
brought before the Rev. E. F. White, at Stanway, on Satur-
day, charged with stealing certain sheets, blankets, and
other articles, the property of George Staite, of Gretton, and,
worst part of all, with enticing away complainant's wife.
The complainant, a little old man, scarcely four feet high,
stated that some time back his wife left him, taking with
her various articlee, his property, of which the blankets, &c.,
produced were part; he succeeded in tracing the faithless
woman to Painswick, where he found her living with the
prisoner, the articles in question being in their possession.
lie at once obtained a policeman, into whose charge he gave
the prisoner, who was accordingly removed to this place in
a cart, together with the frail fair one, Staite's articles, and
a bed belonging to the prisoner. The complainant, who
seemed to care more about the recovery of his " dear Sarah "
(as he called his wife) and his "goods and chattels" than
aught beside, declined to prosecute. The case was, therefore,
dismissed, and the prisoner, who had been grumbling sorely
throughout, at once " took up his bed and walked ;" in other
words, he raised his bed upon his head, and at once trudged
off towards his home (Upton-on-Severn) sixteen miles distant,
through all the rain and dirt. It was most amusing (says
our correspondent) to hear the account given by the driver
of the car which brought them from Painswick of the conver-
sation which took place on the road between the complainant
and his wife and the prisoner. Staite did nothing but "dear
Sarah" his wife, and coax her to come back and live with
him; while she, on the other hand, continued to threaten
how she would serve him if he dared to have her seducer sent
to prison.—Cheltenham journal.
FATAL ACCIDENT AT RAMSGATE..--011 the after-
noon of Saturday, two men, known as Bob Kidd and Jerry
Doughty, left the harbour for the purpose of hauling their
cod lines. When they started the weather looked very dull
and windy, and it is presumed that a sudden squall upset
the boat, as it was seen at sea bottom upwards. No tidings
whatever have been heard of the men, and the presumption is,
that they are both drowned. Two widows and nine children
are left destitute. —Muidsione Journal.

---
INGENIOUS CONTaIVANCE.—Among the articles
seized by the police in connexion with the late robbery of
1851. from a commercial traveller in a notorious house in
E it St. James's-street, was the door of the apartment in
which the theft was eficted. Its peculiar construction may
serve to explain in some measure the frequency and success
of this species of theft for some time back. In an upper
panel a circular hole has been formed, with a movable cover,
so as to enable the partics in the passage to watch the pro-
ceedings of these in the apartment ; while one of the lower
panels has been so constructed as to enable a party to insert
his hand from the outside, and unlock the door, or, by its
entire removal, to enter by the orifice, and rifle the clothes
of those inside. The success of these robberies, effected in
this manner, has lately been remarkable; but it is hoped
that the detection of the modes operandi may operate in fu-
ture as a check.— Seots»atn.
ACCIDENT TO Site WILLIAM NEWBIGGING.—We
regret to state that a serious accident occurred to Sir Wm.
Newbigging on Saturday forenoon. The venerable gentle-
man, who was at the time proceeding towards Castle-street,
Was suddenly seized with faintness, and before assistance
could be procured he fell to the ground, causing a dislocation
or fracture of the hip-bone. Sir William was immediately
conveyed to his residence in Heriot-row ,• and we were in-
formed, on inquiry last night (Monday), that he was pro-
gressing favoitrably.—EdinbtoWAtlcertiser.

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, DEC. 25.

The Queen and his Royal Highness Prince Albert
walk:d this morning in the Slopes and Windsor Park.
The Royal Family took walking and pony exercise
in the grounds around the Castle.
Ihr Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Al-
bert, her Royal Highness the Princess Royal, the
ladies and gentlemen of the Court, and the domestic
household, attended Divine service in the private
chapel. The Hon, and itiv. G. Wellesley officiated.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent also at-
tended the service.

The Royal dinner circle this evening will include
her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, Lady
Fanny Howard, Baroness de Speth, Msjor-General
and Lady Isabella Wemyss, Lieut.-Colonel Hon. C.
B. and Mrs. Phipps and Miss Blthurst, Hon. Mrs.
Charles Grey, Mrs. Bouverie, Mr. Birch, and Mr.
Glover.

The band of the Hoy al Horse Guards attend during
dinner. The Queen's private band will afterwards
attend. _ _

Her Majesty's private band attended in the Castle
after dinner on Tuesday evening, and performed the
following selection :
Overture "La Reine d'un Jour"
Trio, " Overture,
Tell"
Triumphal March.. • .
Selection, Ballet, " Masaniello"

PRIVATE THEA TRICALS AT
WOBURN ABBEY.

The Duke and Duchess of Bedford, as customary
at this festive season of the year, are dispensing their
princely hospitality at the ancient family seat, Wo-
burn Abbey, Bedfordshire, to a distinguished circle
of relatives and friends.

Among the guests of the Noble Duke and Duchess
staying at the Abbey are Lord and Lady John Rus..sell
and the;Hon. Miss Lister, Viscount Anson, Viscount
Maldon, Viscount Valletort, Sir John and Lady
Georgians Romilly, Lady Frances Hope, Lady
Frances Russell, Lady Elizabeth Bulteel and Miss
Bulteel, the Right Hon. T. B. Macaulay, Mr. Corne-
wall Lewis, M.P., and Lady Theresa Lewis, Lady
Foulis, Mr. and Lady Caroline Sanford, General
Hare, Captain Brooke, the Hon. G. Byng, Mr.
Augustus Stafford, M.P., Mr. R. W. Grey, M.P.,
Mr. Arthur Russell, Mr. H. Grenfell, Mr. Bulteel, &c.
In addition to the above personages of rank most of
the neighbouring nobility and gentry have enjoyed
the pleasure of congregating at the ducal seat to par-
ticipate in the gaieties.
On Monday last " Woburn Abbey Theatre " (ac-
cording to the programme) was opened for the first,
we believe, of a series of amateur dramatic entertain-
ments, for which the Abbey has long engrossed a
high reputation. The performances, to use the
before-quoted authority, were under the patronage
of Lady Frances Hope and the Right Hon. T. B.
Macaulay.
After the noble host and hostess had given a grand
banquet to a numerous circle, a large number of
visitors arrived from the surrounding neighbourhood,
gathered to witness the theatrical display. Lord and
Lady Charles Russell, Viscount and Viscountess En-
field, and a host of fashionables, were of the audience.
The piece selected was the well-known favourite farce
of Turning the Tables, and the following was the
cast of characters, named in the order of their
appearance :
Old Knibbs

Miss Knibbs
Edgar
Jack Humphries
Thornton .. Viscount Valletort.

Patty The Hon. Miss Lister.
Bumps
Mrs. Humphries
Mr. A. Stafford, M P., long known to the public
from the ability of his performances on that popular
political stage, the House of Commons, has an equal,
if not greater, reputation, in the large circle of his
friends for his talents on the private stage, and the
lion. Gentleman has for several years past had an
engagement at "Woburn Abbey Theatre." Among
the dramatis persona were several debutants, who
were perfect in their part, and acquitted themselves
most respectably, and elicited general applause from
the friendly audience. Lord Maldon and Mr. R. W.
Grey, M.P., rendered considerable service on the
occasion, the former as " prompter," and the latter as
" stage-manager."
At the conclusion of the farce the company partook
of refreshments in an adjoining saloon, the gaieties
being prolonged to rather an advanced hour.
We understand that the Noble Duke and Duchess
purpose to welcome a succession of guests until about
the middle of the ensuing month. Lord and Lady
John Russell and the Hon. Miss Lister will remain
on a visit at the Abbey until the close of the ensuing
week.

CUMMI2VGS' SOUTH AFRICAN EXHIBI-
TION, HYDE PARK-CORNER.

This museum of sporting trophies has been so often
mentioned in terms of commendation in these pages,
and is so well known to the London pleasure-seeker,
that it is almost unnecessary to advert to it again.
For the guidance of the many parties visiting town
at this festive period, who may be anxious to Eee all
the wonders of the modern Babylon e'er their return
home, it will, perhaps, not be considered inexcusa-
ble to devote a brief space to the Exhibition at Hyde-
park-corner, more especially as Mr. Cummings' work
on South Africa must have had an extensive circu-
lation in the provinces, and induced some people to
imagine that he has baen guilty of exaggeration,
or indulged in overdrawn sketches of the animated
nature of the extreme east. A. visit, however,
to his museum will go far to remove
that unfavourable impression, for certainly there is not
in London, if indeed in any other part of the world,
so vast an accumulation of the remains of animals
which have fallen by the hand of one man. On the
walls and tables of the room are displayed in immense
profusion tusks of elephants, sea-horses, &c. ; skins of
lions, tigers, jackall, and leopards; tails of, hippopotami
and the rhinoceros ; besides au endless variety of
stuffed specimens of monkeys and such like creatures,
which are found in the wilds of Africa. The collec-

tiou, too, is not only extensive, but equally interesting
to the geologist as the curiosity hunter, since it em
braces every species of animal abounding in those un-
explored regions; and those who are seeking pleasure
blended with instruction will not omit Mr. Cummings
from their Christmas list.

FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE RIVER.—On Christmas
eve,:Mr. Bedford held an inquest at the Charing-cross Hos-
pital on the body of Henry Scarlett, aged 54 years, who lost
his life under the following singular circumstances. It ap-
pealed from the evidence of Inspector Woollet of the Thames
Police force, that on Saturday morning last deceased had the
charge of a sailing barge, which was drifting down the
river with the tide. Deceased was on the after-part of the
barge, and his son had the management of the oars. Nu-
merous accidents are constantly occurring at Westminster-
bridge, in consequence of so many of the arches being
blocked up. The tide sets to the centre of the bridge, and
watermen have considerable difficulty in passing through
the two channels of the bridge on the north and
south shore, and often the force of the current carries their
vessels against the arches that are blocked up, and they are
upset. On this occasion deceased was steering for the north
channel, and as ha reached the bridge the barge appeared
to incline towards the centre arch ; upon which he became
much excited, and left the rudder in haste, for the purpose of
assisting his eon at the oars. His foot caught the iron bar
to which the sails are fastened, and he was thrown violently
upon the gunwale of the barge. He never moved; a little
blood issued from his nostrils, and he was carried to the hos-
pital, but was fund to be quite dead. There was only a
small cut upon the nose, and no other marks of violence
which could indicate the cause of death. Mr. Tingham, the
house-surgeon, bad not made a post motion examination of
the bedy, but he was of opinion that the deceased had re-
ceived a dislocation of the neck, which caused instantaneous
death. Verdict,—Accidental death.
DISTRE4SING :7`,IJICIDE IN THE SERPENTINE. —On
Tuesday evening the body of a young man, named George
Barton, was found in the Serpentine River, opposite the
Exhibition building in Hyde-park, by some of the Humane
Society's dragsmen, who received information of the suicide
of the deceased under the following very distressing circum-
stances:—lt appears that on Saturday last one of the park-
keepers, while walking along the Serpentine, saw a hat and
stick lying together near the edge of the river. He at once
gave information to the superintendent of the Humane
Society, who instantly gave directions for the river to be
searched. The men dragged the river, but were unable to
discover any body. The deceased's father in the course of
Tuesday called at the receiving-house, and said lie had re-
ceived a letter from his son. It stated that he had thrown
himself from the bridge facing the Exhibition into the Ser-
pentine, and that if they wanted to find his body they must
search for it near the bridge. The letter also stated that he
had been unable to get any work as a groom, and that dis-
tress led him to do the deed. The father identified the hat
and stick as his san's property. The deceased was only 18
years of age, and during the last few weeks he had been
very low-spirited, in consequence of his being out of work.
THE POPISH PRIESTHOOD.—We stated, ten or
twelve days ago, that in consequence of some of those
clerical Puseyites, who intend leaving the Church of Eng•
land, being prevented from joining the Church of Rome, be-
cause that Church does not permit her priests to marry—
they were about to form a new church, under the name of
the Primitive Church of England, in which marriage would
constitute no disqualification for the priestly office, and in
which they might use as much of the Romish ritual as they
thought lit. We can now state, on the best authority, that
in order to supersede the necessity of forming any such
church, and with the view of inducing Tractarian clergymen
to go over at once to Rome, "it is in contemplation to do
away with the law of the Church which requires the priest-
hood to remain single." The words we quote are none °tinr
than those of 15r. ‘Viseman himself, addressed a few days ago
to one of the most popular of our Protestant divines. After
the new regulation has been adopted by the Church of Rome
it will be competent for the Popish priesthood to marry or
remain single, just as they pleae. There can be no doubt
that the result will be the accession of large numbers of the
Tractarian clergy, who have been deterred from joining the
Romish Church, solely because, being married, they could
not become priests of the Church of Rome while they could
not reconcile themselves to the loss of ecclesiastical position
consequent on becoming mere laymen.—Advertiser.
HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE, K.G.—
We are happy to state that we have been informed the
Noble Duke's health still continues to improve. His Grace
got down stairs on Wednesday last, and sat in his study.—
Derby Mercury.

SUN,