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

GERMANY.

The Berlin letters of the 27th inst. in the Kolner
Ziitung state that Bavaria and the Grand Duchy
of Hesse will endeavour to induce the Dresden
Congress to consent to a popular representation in
the new Germanic Confederation. They will be sup-
ported by the Thuringian States, and it is asserted
that they will oppose any project to establish this
Parliamentary centre of Germany at Berlin. Frank-
fort is the city to which the South-German States
attach their Parliamentary projects.
The Weser Zeitung has some detailed accounts of
the proceedings which have taken place at Dres-
den. From the statements of this paper it ap-
pears that Prince Schwarzenberg opened the preli-
minary sittings of the Congress with a lengthy speech,
which did not, however, throw any light on the
views and plans of Austria, for the leading points of
the question were treated with great reserve and
some vagueness. Baron Manteuffel's speech was
short He endeavoured to impress his hearers with
the absolute necessity of coming to an amicable un-
derstanding—an issue which, it appears, is much
desired, but by no means expected at Dresden. Oa
the contrary, the Weser Zeitung states that although
all the delegates were well disposed to bring the Ger-
man affairs to some definitive and satisfactory con-
clusion, still that there are almost insurmountable
obstacles in the way of such an event.

BANK OF FRANCE.
The following is a return of the situation of the Bank
of France on Dec. 26:

ASSETS.

Cash in hand ... . f. 347,672,823 0
Ditto in branch banks ._. 124,214,925 0

Bills past due ••• ••• ••• 819,482 92
Bills discounted, but not yet due, of
which 16,439,0711. were received
from the Branch Banks ... ... 55,046,156 57
Bills in the branch banks ... 89,770,447 0
Advances on coins and ingots... 3,560,500 0
Ditto by the branch banks ... 1,354,573 0
Ditto on French public securities 8,936,396 10
Ditto by branch banks... ... 2,224,728 0
Ditto to the State on Bons du Tresor... 50,000,000 0
Ditto on the loan of 150 millions 50,000,000 0
Rentes of the reserve fund 10,000,000 0
Rentes, disposable funds 42,227,238 13
Investments of the new branch banks in
the public funds ... ... 12,952,725 74
Hotel and furniture of the Bank 4,000,000 0
Real property of the branch banks ... 3,444,418 0
Interest in National Discount Bank 200,000 0
Ditto branch banks ... 230,000 0

Bills protested at Paris 115,658 16
Expenses of administration of the Bank 39,203 0
Miscellaneous ... 1,740,941 7

f. 808,550,215 69

LIABILITIES.

Capital ... . . f. 67,900,000 0
Ditto of the Branch Banks ... 23,350,000 0

Reserve fund

... ... 10,000,000 0

Ditto of the branch banks ... ... 2,980,730 14
Reserve-immobiliere 4,000,000 0

Notes to bearer, in circulation ... ... 410,802,300 0
Ditto of the branch banks ... 85,372,925 0
Ditto to order (post-bills) ... 6,217,305 28
Account•current with Treasury creditor 79,080,163 52
Various accounts current 81,220,669 64
Ditto in branches ... 23,729,135 0
Bills payable at sight ... ... 3,940,000 0
Ditto at branches 2,643,287 0

Dividends payable ••• • • • 255,423 75
Liquidation of the Algiers Bank ... 8,730 0
Discounts, interest, and expenses ... 4,762,622 12
Expenses anticipated ... 424,388 73
Re-discounts of the last six months ... 155,054 53
Ditto in branch banks .. 287,620 0
Miscellaneous 1,419,840 98

f. 808,550,215 69
Certified by the Governor of the Bank of France,
D'ARQOUT.

DEATH FROM STARVATION.

Last Saturday evening Mr. Wakley, M.P.. held
an inquiry of several hours' duration at the Three
Johns, White Lion-street, Pentonville, touching the
death of John Becknell, aged sixty, Who was starved
to death. The jury were horrified at the awful
spectacle which the body presented. In a room at
48, White Lion-street, there lay the body, shrivelled,
reduced to a skeleton, and cramped up on a heap of
sacks, without a particle of food or furniture, or even
a cinder in the grate. The awful spectacle not only
horrified bat actually sickened the jury.
Sarah Debank, who was half-starved in appearance,
and was in a state of semi-nudity, stated that the de-
ceased, who had been in the employ of Mr. Blake,
was, through illness, out of work for the last fort-
nignt. She saw him last alive at midnight of Christ-
mas-day, and found him dead the following morning,
when she brought him some warm milk. He was al-
lowed by the kindness of the landlord to occupy the
empty room where he died, and his master gave him
some coal sacks to sleep upon. He would sleep in carts,
cellars, or wherever he could. When she found him
dead she sent for Drs. Mann and Bayliss, who in-
stantly attended. When she saw him on the midnight
of Christmas-day he was very weak, and suffered
from a cough. He complained of hunger. For the
last fortnight he had only one meal a day, which con-
sisted of tea or weak gruel. He belonged to Barnet
parish, but was too weak to go to it. She did not
know what his wages were.—(Several persons, " Six-
pence a day.") On Monday night deceased, who
was then weak and faint, went to her room and asked
her for a piece of bread, which she gave, and made him
sit before the fire. Four weeks ago he was very ill,
and applied to the workhouse for relief, which he did
not get.

Mr. Mann, parish surgeon, examined—He was
called to see deceased at three o'clock on Christmas-
day, on a parish order. He found deceased lying in
an exhausted state in a room completely denuded of
every earthly comfort. Witness soo❑ felt the deceased
required food and not medicine. Deceased could
scarcely speak. Witness recommended his reception
into the workhouse, and on the back of his medical
order wrote the following certificate :—" I hereby
certify that John Becknell is a fit object for admit-
tance into the house, or the overseers should make
such arrangements as they thought proper. Urgent."
Deceased died from exhaustion produced by the want
of the necessaries of life. Witness wrote on the back
of the certificate, that deceased wanted food, and not
medicine. He found deceased lying on a heap of sacks.
Mr. Crowder (overseer)—l was in the workhouse
when the order arrived, but it was so illegibly written
I could not read it.

Mr. Mann—l wrote :it the best way I could in
deceased's room.

CORONER—As a medical man, you have the power
to order nourishment. Instead of writing so politely
you should have given the order.
Mr. Mann—l stand corrected on that point. I
was wrong. But being only a few months in office, I
was not aware I had that power.
CORONER—This will be a lesson in future to you.
It was your duty to order deceased every nourish-
ment. Were I the overseer your order would have
puzzled me.
Mr. Crowder—l sent deceased a shilling and a loaf.
CORONER—What the deuce use was the shilling,
when he had no nurse, clothes, or food ?—(Hear.)
Mr. Petch (overseer)—Deceased had been twice
sent back to his parish, and perhaps was, therefore,
afraid to apply for relief lest he might be punished.
CORONER—If a sick pauper enters your parish, and
you give him a medical order, you instantly acknow-
ledge him as your own pauper, and he is therefore en-
titled to relief.

A Juror—l understand that he applied for relief,
which was refused, and that he was threatened with a
prosecution if he again applied.
CORONER—The doctor's request should have been
complied with, and the deceased admitted to the work
house, as he was in a dying state.
Mr. Mann—l am of opinion that a bath and
nourishment would have done him good. When I
saw him he was rapidly sinking.
CORONER—It is lamentable to see the poor dying
in this way. In future do you (addressing the medical
officer), when you meet a similar case, order wine,
stout, meat, baths, and everything it requires.
Mr. Mann—l shall do so.
Mr. Petch assured the Court that such orders were
always obeyed.
Mary Victory, a most destitute-looking creature,
said that she was the mother of four children, and that
her husband, a plasterer, had been 11 weeks out of work.
She knew deceased, and on last Tuesday applied to
the workhouse on his behalf. The porter at the
gate said that there were no gentlemen there, and
that therefore she was too late. As she had to go
out to wash, and had to give the children their
dinner, she could not go back to the workhouse. On
Wednesday morning she went in search of Mr.
Titmouse, the churchwarden, but could not find him.
At one o'clock the same day she told Mr. Petch, at the
workhouse, that deceased was dying, and that she
could not attend him, as she had to earn bread for her
own family. lle gave her a medical order, which she
gave to Mr. Mann, who soon attended. When she
returned in the ening to her home she found in de-
ceased's room the medical order, which stated that the
deceased wanted food, and not physic. She took the
order to the workhouse, and begged the deceased
might be brought to the house. She was told
that they could not fetch him before morning.
When she returned there was a great change in
deceased, to whom she gave three penny worth
of brandy, which he took and said, " It has warmed
me ; God bless you." In the middle of the night,
accompanied by her sister, she brought him a little
gruel ; and raining his head on her arm, put the basin
to his mouth, which, ravenous with hunger, he seized
between his teeth, and would have smashed it, had
she not taken it from him. She then said to him,
" you are dying, pray to God to forgive you." He
replied, " I have done so," and she then laid him on
his side, in which position she found him dead the
next morning. A few days before his death he crawled
to 8 room where a boy was eating his dinner, and

he said to 'the boy, " Johnny, Johnny, I am
so hungry." The boy immediately handed him his
dinner, which consisted of four slices of bread and
butter. But deceased eat only half a slice. On the
Monday before his death deceased came into her room
and fell down. from hunger. His groans were ter-
rific. She raised him up. He said he came for food,
he was so hungry. She placed him before the fire
and gave him a piece of bread.
CORONER-4t is a most extraordinary thing that
the poor fellow should have been left to die so fright-
ful and so lingering a death in this wealthy metro-
polis.
The CORONER summed up at at great length, and
with great minuteness. At the close of his charge the
room was cleared of strangers, and the jury, after
half an hour's deliberation, returned the following
verdict :—" Johr Becknell died from exhaustion,
caused by the want of the common necessaries of life.
And the jury beg to tell Mr. Mann that he is much
to blame for not having acted with promptness and
precision, and for not having seen performed what
should have been done for deceased • and they hope
that in all future similar cases he will act with more
promptness, and immediately order admission to the
house. The jury further expect that Mr. Mann
will act on their suggestions."
CORONER—I fully concur in the verdict. _

After the inquest the learned and worthy Coroner
endorsed the summonses of the several poor wit-
nesses who gave evidence, with a certificate of their
being proper objects for parochial relief.

TAKING A GENTLEMAN'S LUG

GAGE TO IRELAND.

At the Chester County Court, on the 20th instant,
Mr. Bower, barrister-at-law, of Birkenhead, brought
an action against the Chester and Holyhead Railway
Company for compensation in damages for incon-
venience and detention at Holyhead, in consequence
of the negligence of the servants of the defendants.
It appeared that the plaintiff, Mr. Bower, was an ex.
tensive cotton-spinner at Manchester, and that he
brought the present action not for the sake of damages,
but on public grounds. Mr. Bower, with a friend
named Griffith, his wife, and a party of ladies, were
on a tour in North Wales in August last. On the
13th of August they booked themselves at Bangor by
the express train for Holyhead, and before starting
saw that their luggage was properly placed for transit.
When they arrived at Holyhead, the plaintiff and
Mr. Griffith got out of the carriage to look after
their luggage, intending to proceed with it at once to
the hotel at Holyhead. A portion 9f the lug-
gage was on the platform, and the remainder
on the luggage van. Mr. Bower and Mr. Griffith
advanced to the van, to get the remainder of their
luggage, when Mr. Massingberd, the station master
at Holyhead, told them to stand out of the way, or " he
would hurt them," or " they would be hurt," as all
the luggage must go down to the pier. Mr. Bower
remonstrated, but ineffectually ; and the luggage was
taken to the pier. The plaintiff and Mr. Griffith fol-
lowed it, and when they got to the pier the luggage
had been stowed in the packet amidst a great
deal of other luggage. Mr. Bower got on board
the packet, and endeavoured to find his own ; but
while doing so the landing stage was pulled away,
acid the packet was set in motion, and Mr. Bower,
finding himself on his way to Ireland, got
on the paddle-box, and with some difficulty managed
to jump on to the pier, and save himself the journey.
Mr. Griffith and the plaintiff then went to the station,
where they saw Mr. Massingberd, with whom they
remonstrated on the impropriety of his conduct. He
told them, after some rudeness, that if they would
describe the luggage, he would send for it, and they
should have it the next day. At six o'clock the
next evening the luggage was returned. Mr. Bower
and the parties had been much inconvenienced. Mr.
Bower had no change of linen, Mr. Griffith had
to lie in bed while his shirt was washed, and
the ladies of the party had neither combs, brushes,
or anything else, in consequence of their luggage
having been taken away. Had the luggage not been
taken away, it was probable that the party might
have returned home the same night, as Holyhead was
soon found to be a very inconvenient place, and in-
stead of the sight of a fine open sea (as was expected)
there was nothing but a mud bank. For this deten-
tion, and the inconvenience consequent- thereon, the
plaintiff laid his damages at 201. For the defence, it
was sworn by the witnesses that the express train on
the 13th August was from 40 to 60 minutes late ; that
there were about 60 passengers, all of whom except
plaintiff and his party were going to Ireland, and
many having luggage there was necessarily mueh con-
fusion : that when the plaintiff -asked for his luggage
out of the van it was so covered up that it would be
impossible to remove it then without great delay and
inconvenience, but that Mr. Bower had been told by
Mr. Massingberd that he should be conveyed to the
pier by an omnibus free of charge, and himself and
his luggage brought back (this Mr. Bower denied :)
that when Mr. Bower returned he was very abusive;
and threatened Mr. Massingberd that an action should
be brought, when the oaths of his eight witnesses
would put out cf court his unsupported testimony;
that Mr. Massingberd behaved most civilly, and that
the greatest diligence had been used in obtaining the
restoration of the lost luggage. A porter was called,
who deposed that he had received instructions to give
up a portmanteau at the pier to a gentleman who was
to apply for it, but that no such application was made,
or it would hi've been given up. His Honour, in sum-
ming- up, said it was clear there had been negligence
on the part of the servants of the company; fur they
had no right to take the luggage to the steamer,
when it was only going to the station. The verdict
must be for the plaintiff, but the damages the jury
must assess themselves. Verdict for the plaintiff—
Damages 201.

LAW INTELLIGENCE:
COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, Dec. 30.
(Before Mr. Commissioner FANE.)
IN EE RUS;ELL AND DOYLE.

Mr. Robert, Waller Russell and Mr. John Henry
Doyle are proprietors of the Weekly Chronicle news-
pa:)er.

Mr. Lloyd, of Bloomsbury-square, now appeared
in support of a trader debtor summons, calling upon
them to give security for a sum of 851. due upon a bill
of exchange held by Mr. Dives.
Mr. Doyle admitted the debt.

Mr. BAGLEY, on behalf of Mr. Russell, prayed that
the summons might be dismissed. The bill had been
given by Mr. Doyle, without the knowledge or con-
sent of his partner, after proceedings had been taken
before Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque with a view to
obtain a dissolution of partnership. His client was
able to pay all his debts in full, and he had a good
defence to the action.

His HONOUR said that, having regard to the cir-
cumstances, he should leave the matter to be decided
by another Court before he adopted any proceeding
which might bring Mr. Russell under the law of
bankruptcy.

The petition was then ordered to be dismissed, after
Mr. Doyle had remarked that the bill bad been only
issued for the purpose of averting an execution by the
landlord, and for which debt his partner and himself
were equally liable.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MANSION-HOUSE.
Two men, named Brown and Goldsmith, were
brought before the Lord Mayor upon the charge of
having attempted to impose upon a gentleman by a
tale of fictitious distress.
The complainant said the men walked into his
counting-house, and Goldsmith, pointing to Brown,
said the poor fellow was suffering from a severe in-
jury caused by a fall from a scaffold, and many per-
sons connected with the building-trade were contri-
buting to his support in consequence of his inability
to work. Brown, who had hobbled into the counting-
house, put on a look of misery corresponding with the
statement ; but the complainant had witnessed cases
of imposition, and believing the present application to
be of that character refused to give any contribution.
" Oily look over the list," said the pretended injured
Brown, " and you will see the names of several gen-
, th men whom you know." " I see there are," replied
the complainant, "but I don't know that their writing
is there, and I think more injury than good is done
by ,giving money under these circumstances."
Brown then made some insolent comments upon
the illiberal treatment he had received and both
prisoners left the house, the lame one having, in the
course of the short interview, completely recovered
the use of his legs. Perceiving that the .fellows were
impostors of the most audacious description, the com-
plainant followed and gave them both into custody.
Goldsmith (who had a clean white apron upon him,
and a rule in his hand, as if he had just left his busi-
ness to recommend Brown to the notice of the hu-
mane), made no resistance, but the would-be cripple
made a resolute but ineffectual attempt to escape from
the grasp of the policeman.
The LORD MAYOR—Are these men known by our
officers ?
Horsford, one of the officers ofthe Mendicity Society,
said he knew them both as most notorious impostors
and cheats ; that Brown, whose real name was Clare,
belonged to the Westminster gang, who were con-
stantly practising upon the generous and unsuspect-
ing, and had not done a stroke of work for the last
six years, and that Goldsmith generally accompanied
him to detail the multitude of his grievances.
Brown declared that he was really suffering from
the consequences of a fall, as he had represented, and
that he was willing to work.
Horsford—Where was the scaffold from which you
fell ?—Brown was struck silent by the question.
Several officers proved that the prisoners had been
for a series of years sturdy and well-fed beggars, and
that they generally dined in coffee-houses at fashion-
able hours after they had done business.
The LORD MAYOR said he should, at all events,
prevent the prisoners from pursuing their trade for
some time, and sentenced each to be imprisoned for
three months in Bride well, and to be kept at hard
labour.
The LORD MAYOR said he thought it necessary to
expose another system of imposture. He had re-
ceived a letter from Redding, by Falkirk, in Scot-
land, from which he would read a few sentences in
explanation :
" About three weeks ago an advertisement appeared
for two or more weeks in one of the Stirling news-
papers, stating that the advertiser would be happy to
supply several of the London newspapers, on the
evening of their publication, at half-price, and
the following at so much less. Upon seeing
this we sent to know their terms for the
Illustrated London .News. To this we received
the enclosed letter in reply. Upon this coming to
hand we enclosed them a Post-office order for 165.,
payable at St. Martin's-le-Grand, London. This was
done on the 12th inst. Up to this date we have got no
acknowledgment. This we would not have noticed had
it not been for an exposure in the same newspaper in
which the advertisement first appeared, and from which
it is evident that a regular system of swindling is going
o. 1; and we may add they stated that their business was
of fifteen years' standing, leaving no doubt upon our
miads that all was right. We don't mind about our 16s.
which they have got, if you will take such steps as may
bring the part'es to justice and prevent further mischiet.
" Should you be able to punish the aforesaid, we shall
be most happy to hear of it at your convenience."
The following is the note alluded to in the letter by
his Lordship's correspondent :
" Winchester court, Falcon-square, London, Dec. 7.
" Sir,—Yours of the sth inst. reached us yesterday,
but press of business delayed us replying. The Illus-
trated News is a sixpenny paper. The full price per
year is 263. We give it out to reading rooms, &c., on
Saturday morning. Collect all out by the evening, and
then post it for the country. The price is by half-year
by the year 16s. These prices are for the paper
posted on Saturday evening, so as you will get it next
day. We could post you a copy on Monday at half-price,
that is 13s. per year. The cause we are cheaper for the
year is, we contract to large reading societies, &e. Please
to make your post order payable at St. Martin's-le-
Grand.—Yours, &c., "C. and J. JACKSON."
The LORD MAYOR having given instructions upon
the subject to Spittle, one of the most active of the
police force, that officer informed his Lordship that
he had ascertained that the two Messrs. Jackson had
just left a top-room, in the house No. 3, Winchester-
court, upon compulsion; that they had lived with a
woman in the single room, which had two beds in it,
and that there was no doubt as to the system of de-
ception carried on by them.
His LORDSHIP then gave the officer further direc-
tions, and expressed his thanks to those who favoured
him with communications so likely to be serviceable
to the public.
His LORDSHIP said be felt much gratification in
stating that he had received 201. for the poor-box from
the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths.
BO W - STRE ET.
James Clarke, a carman, and James Collins, de-
scribed as a commission agent, were brought before
Mr. Hall for re-examination, charged with being
concerned with others in stealing several bags of coffee
from the London Docks.
Mr. Beverley and Mr. Weale, from the office of the
solicitor to the Commissioners of Customs, conducted
the prosecution.
At the last examination it was arranged by the
Court and Mr. Ballantine, who appeared on the part
of the Custom-house authorities, that the prisoners
should be merely brought up, and that further evi-
dence would be postponed to a future day, to give
time for summoning several other witnesses.
Mr. Lewis, on behalf of Collins, submitted that his
client was entitled to be admitted to bail, on the
grounds that, so far back as July last, be made a
written disclosure to the Dock Company, of the vari-
ous robberies that had been committed, and had done
everything in his power to assist the authorities in
enabling them to prosecute the real offenders.
Mr. Beverley said it was the first time he had
heard of any such declaration, and considered that it
should be put into his hands to see how far it corre-
sponded with the statements made by the prisoner to
Inspector Bridges, of the Thames Police, by whom he
was apprehended.
Mr. Lewis said that the document produced had
been submitted to Mr. Humphries and the solicitor of
the Dock Company, after which he never absented
himself, as he might have done if he thought the
Custom-house authorities intended to take proceed-
ings against him.
Mr. Beverley felt it his duty to object to any bail
being accepted.
Mr. HALL said that the subject of the prosecution
involved so many interests of the greatest importance
to the commercial world, that he could not consent
to accept of bail, and ordered the prisoner to be
brought up on Thursday.
SO U TH TV ARK.
An elderly man, named Gale, living in Saunders-
street, in the parish of Lambeth, applied for the
magistrate's advice relative to his wife, who recently
died in one of the Borough hospitals, and whose body,
he being destitute, he was unable to bury.
The applicant, who is 74 years of age, stated that
his wife, who was one year older than himself, died in
St. Thomas's Hospital a fortnight ago, and that he
vs as made acquainted with the event, with directions
at the same time to remove the body. He, however,
owing to his poverty, having received relief from
Lambeth parish, was unable to comply with the above
directions,, and he therefore called upon the parochial
authorities, and explained to them that his wife was
lying dead in the hospital, and applied to them either
to bury the corpse, or to give hi,mn the means to en-
able him to do so. The parish officers, however, re-
fused to help him in this emergency, and being afraid
himself that the body of his poor wife, to whom he
had been married upwards of half a century, would
be used for anatomical purposes, to which he had a
strong repugnance (the old man cried bitterly), if it
was not brought speedily away from the hospital, he

therefore called at this court, in order to have the
magistrate's advice how to act upon an occasion
which so concerned his peace of mind. He had ap-
plied at the Lambeth Police-court on the subject, but
was referred to this court for information how to act
on the occasion.

Mr. Edwin, the chief clerk, said that the appli-
cant's wife having been removed from Lambeth to
the hospital in which she died, he was of opinion
that that parish was bound to bury her, and not St.
Olave's, in which parish the hospital is situated ; that
it would be an enormous expense on the latter parish
if they were compelled to bury those patients that
died in that institution, and whose bodies were not
owned by relations, or who were unable to pay for
their interment.

A'BECIEETT said that the woman having died a
fortnight ago, it was quite time that measures should
be adopted tor depositing the body in a grave by one
or the other of the parishes mentioned, instead of
permitting the old man's feelings to be lacerated by
the fear that the corpee would bc disposed of in a very
different way. The magistrate directed Guest, one
of the summoning officers of the court, to proceed
without loss of time to ascertain the cause of the
refusal of the parish officers to have the body of the
applicant's wife buried, in order that other steps might
be taken if it was not speedily carried into effect.
The applicant, who expressed his gratitude for the
magistrate's interference, then left the court with the
officer for the above purpose.