The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-31 00:00:00

A ROW AT MALTA.

Three officers of her Majesty's 44th Regiment, and a
youngster of the Powerful, are now lying in prison on a
charge of having premeditatedly assaulted William Lamb
Arrowsmith, Esq., on the night of Thusday, December
19. From some events that have taken place—not,
however, in which the present party is at all mixed up—
there may appear some reason to have induced a
belief that the assault was premeditated; but the fact is
far otherwise, as I have the firmest conviction.
The parties are Lieutenant Bercherd, Lieutenant and
Adjutant Colpoys, and Lieutenant Micklethwaite; Mr.
Vaughan is the middy. It seems that Mr. Arrowsmith,
returning from the opera with his lady in his caleche,
had the window of his carriage broken; the carriage
proceeded on till Mr. A. reached the police-station, and,
getting out, he made his complaint, took a police-
man with him, and stopped the gentles en. The
language on the occasion seems, on both sided,
to have been strong, and Mr. Arrowsmith
received from Lieutenant Barchard a blow—
slight hided, but intended to mark his sense of Mr. Ar-
rowsmith's language. Air. Arrowsmith, however, ap-
pealed to the police, and Mr. Barper, the magistrate,
remanded them till next day, but as the fact of preme-
ditation has been sworn to, he holds out the fear that
his duty will compel him to commit thorn for trial.
It becomes necessary to explain upon what surmise the
charge of premeditation is grounded. It is this:—
About the 12th or 13th instant Mr. Arrowsmith made
a complaint to the governor that some sixteen lamps at
Florian had been broken by some officers of the 44tb,
and the conclusion is jumped at that the officers now in-
carcerated took this mode of revenge. Now, the high
character they bear for gentlemanly conduct, and the
absence from all former rows, to which may be honestly
added the fact that they were not the lamp breakers,
renders it improbable they would have avenged the
simple act of Mr. Arrowsrnith's having reported them;
but it is moreover due to them to affirm that, had they
known a lady was in the carriage, the act of breaking
the windows, however stupid and unjustifiable, would
never have been committed. The prisoners are re-
manded; the proceedings are looked forward to with in-
tense anxiety, for the prisoners are much beloved, and
cannot by the laws be held to bail should the magistrate
resolve on committing them. The professional services
of Dr. Dingli, a young advocate of high promise in his
profession, are engaged by the gentlemen thus placed in
so unenviable a position.
WOOLWICH, DEC. 30.—Master-Commander John E.
Petley, of the Lightning, and the men who navigated the
Advice steam-vessel from Woolwich to Cork, left her
there as a tender to the Ajax steam guard-ship, and re-
turned to Woolwich yesterday.
The Rosamond, 6, steam sloop, of 287. horse power, is
ordered to be made ready for sea, and will proceed down
the river on Monday next to Greenhithe, where she will
have her compasses adjusted by Captain Johneon, and
on Wednesday leave the river for Devonport in charge
of Lieutenant Robertson, of the steam reserve, and will
remain at that port as an advanced war-steamer ready
for commission. _ _

The Argug, 6, steam-sloop, fitting at Deptford with
engines by John Penn and Son, will be taken down the
river at the latter end of the present or i❑ the course of
next week on trial, and when found perfect in her ma-
chinery will proceed to Portsmouth to be fitted at that
port fur sea.
The African steam-vessel has arrived from Sheerne3s
to be repaired at Woolwich.
The Black Eagle steam-vessel, Master-Commander
S. B. Cook, has taken on board a supply of coals, and
had her steam up to-day to ascertain the working condi-
tion of her engines.