The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-17 00:00:00

;on, on Wednesday, a committee was unanimously

appointed to consider and report upon a plan for the
adoption of a rural police in the hitherto neglected
districts, where the habitual violators of the law car-
ried on their nefarious operations without fear of dis-
turbance or detection. That this step has not been
taken without an urgent and pressing necessity may
be gathered from the fact stated by the mover of the
resolution, that since March last " there had
been no less than eighteen cases of burglary, accom-
panied with violence, in the Godelming district." It
is painful to reflect that the offenders
in any of these cases would, by an easy transition,
have become murderers; that they were prepared for
any degree of brutality to have ensured the coveted
booty ; and yet, during that entire time, while the
more remote localities were handed over to the tender
mercies of gangs of lawless ruffians, nothing prac-
tical was done, no suggestion was offered calculated
to bring this untoward state of affairs to a conclusion.
It was as if a well-stocked preserve were thrown open
to a. body of poachers, the caretakers and game-
keepers being prudently sent out of the way.
What materially enhanced the danger was, that
there was no such negligence in the adjoining coun-
ties of Hants or Sussex. An efficient body of police
were maintained in these more distant shires; while
the wealthy inhabitants were left without protection,
The plunderers were thus induced to carry on their
depredations in this favoured district, where they were
at the same time assured of a handsome booty and
reasonable time to make their escape before aey im-
pertinent inquiries would be instituted as to their
innocent amusements. If they trespassed in this
quarter, patrolled by the Metropolitan Police, it was
certain that there would be a speedy and energetic
pursuit, that the scent would be actively followed up,
and every point in the trail closely observed, so that
if they even escaped conviction they would still be
marked men, kept under close surveillance, and subject
to arrest on every occasion when any reasonable sus-
picion could be entertained. The same might be as-
serted of Sussex and Hampshire, but it was very dif-
brent in the lower portion of Surrey; that was the
land of promise, to which the gallant souls who
scorned to be bound by legal trammels flecked when-
ever the neighbourhoods which they had previously
patronised became too warm to hold them. The
number and magnitude of the offecces are, therefore,
by no means so surprising as that the inhabitants
should have so long remained contented, without
meking some effort to obtain the much-required pro-
tection. A simple fact in connexion with the Frimley
murder will explain the entire state of affairs—
"from the want of proper authorities on the spot, no
less than sixteen hours elapsed bYore any policeman
was engaged in endeavouring to detect the guilty
parties." Under such circumstances the refusal to
appoint a rural police on the ground of expense
must be acknowledged to be of a piece with that
policy which is generally denominated "penny wise
and pound foolish."
It must not be supposed that the appointment of such
a force would alone be sufficient to protect the inhabi-
tants. Offences will occur in the best-watched districts
Reckless and desperate men will seize on every op-
portunity that may offer for crime; even in the busiest
and most carefully guarded localities outrages of the
most formidable character will be attempted, and fre-
quently with SUCCESS. All that can be done is to en-
sure prompt attention to every case, and a strict and
vigilant search after the offenders, so, as f4r as prac-
ticable, to abridge their chances of escape. No pains,
no expense; should be spared to detect the criminals,
and make certain punishment attend on guilt. But
this is the duty of the authorities, and not of the par-
ties injured—of the public generally, and not of indi-
viduals. It is too much the habit to consider that the
whole duty devolves on the person previously ag-
grieved. He is expected, whatever may be his cir-
cumstances, to offer a reward for the apprehension
and conviction of the offenders, and to take
upon himself the onus of their prosecution
If any deficiency should occur, he is censured ; and
what should be regarded as a great act of public
ustice, degenerates into the gratification of private

vengeance.
It may be said that in cases of magnitude tl., re will
be public prosecutions. Undoubtedly so, where in-
dictments for murder or capital felonies are preferred ;
but petty cases of robbery and offences against pri-
vate property are comparatively disregarded, and the
offenders are but too frequently suffered to evade the
penalties due to their crimes, through the apathy,
incompetence, or careless good nature of those whom
they have injured. Many, alas! too many, persons
have become practised hands, going through the
several gradations of crime, until society has been
horrified by some sanguinary murder, which
can only be expiated by an ignominous
death upon the scaffold, through the impunity
that followed their earlier offences from the want of
an efficient public prosecutor. For this society is
often nearly as much to blame as the wretched cri-
minal who may be strangled in due form of law, upon
the scaffold.
Who can say that Mr. HOLLEST would not now
have been in full vigour of mind and body, in the en-
joyment of health and strength, if the Surrey magis-
trates, dreading an additional farthing rate, had not
reported against the appointment of a rural police.?
May not the fearful event that has harrowed up the
feelings of the community, deprived Mr. HoLLEST of
life, and converted ordinary robbers into blood-
stained murderers, be owing to this fit of economy on
the part of the worshipful justices ? Did they place
the temptation in the way of the burglars, and must
they not in some degree be responsible for the result ?

THE STAR STEAM-PACKET COMPANY.—The an.
nual general meeting of the proprietors of this company
was held yesterday at Gravesend. The meeting was uu-
merously attended. James Harmer, Esq., the chairman,
said that he had great gratification in being able to conira•
tulate the proprietors upon the prosperous condition of their
affairs during the season just passed, notwithstanding the
great difficulties they had to contend against. The audi-
tor's report was then read, from which it appeared that the
gross receipts for the year amounted to 19,7291. 17s. 2d.,
and that the gross expenditure was 17,806/. Os. 5e1.. leaving
a balance to the credit of the company of 1,923/. 17s. 9d. for
appropriation by the proprietors. Mr. W. F. Dobson, secre-
tary to the company, read the directors' report, which, after
referring to the difficulties before alluded to, recommended
payment of a dividend of 3/. per cent. out of the balance
to the credit of the company, and that a further payment of
1,0001. out of the same be made in liquidation of the balance
of 3,0001. still due by the company for their new boat the
Jupiter. After those payments had been made a balance
would still remain to be carried over to the next year's
account in favour of the company. The reports were
adopted unanimously. The existing board of directors, the
auditors, and the secretary were re-elected, and votes of
thanks were passed to those officers respectively. The meet-
ing then separated, in evident good humour with the pros-
perous condition of the company's affairs.
Loss OF THE SHIP CORSAIR.—We are sorry to
state that the fine ship Corsair, of 700 tons 'Ruffin, Nance
master, of this port, belonging to Dlessrs. Price and Co.,
timber-merchants, has been totally lost. The intelligence
which has reached home is meagre; but it would appear that
the Corsair Teas laden with iron rails, and hound for Quebec.
In leaving England the weather was thick, and no sights
could be taken until the vessel was found to be close to the
Azores islands, and of course considerably out of her course.
On investigation, it was ascertainedr that the compasses of
the ship had been deflected 21% points by the attraction
of the iron forming the cargo. The vessel was boarded by
a pilot at the entrance of the river St. Lawrence, and at that
time the compasses were wrong, but on nearing the land
they got right again. In the narrows of the river, how-
ever, the attraction returned, and a course was shaped
ahead, but during thick
The helm was
which
weather
it was
breakershou thoughtwere
would c
discoveredleart hae.
immediately put down 'bout ship, but before the vessel's
sails filled she struck violently, and stuck fast. The vessel
was bilged by the shock., and it was believed would even-
tually go to pieces. The sails mad great part of the stores
had been saved, and it was thought the cargo would be also
saved. It is stated that two other vessels laden with iron
are also on shore within thirty miles of the wreck of the
Corsair, and the master of the latter reports that he passed a
brig laden with iron in the same predicament that led to the
loss of his ship. The ship we hear was uainsureti, but the
cargo was insured.—Gloucester Journal.
A
zANOTHER DARING BURGLARY AT A CLERGYMAN'S.
—Yesterday evening information was received at Scotland-
yard, that the parsonage-house of the ltev. W. Nudge, at
Pertinhall, near, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, had on Tues-
day night been burglariously broken into by a gang of
armed ruffians, disguised with their shirts over their cloth -
iuss,oeipl iiteseearr,aar3 rooms,
bombooormtexet
inef, and their faces blackened. The fellows made use of
d
;I::flawsPloer‘fie:tpe.hhoefhatmeat eoisltnuiNon'ene,cts
horrid threats, and having secured the family in one of the
s
recauawnbrnirsektyahencinnlobcgNsfro.tenoth:ff)nde,:i2panori
dlna.
tan
liw,iseeco;rirc.littiuiliturtTcorphefhihese,lti.iia:lf,,einresidd-r-
-broken open and rifled of it* contents. The thieves effjcted
their entrance through the larder window.
THE DUKE or NEWCMITLE.—The health of' his
Grace continues in much the same state. Great anxiety is
manifested by all the members of the Noble Duke's family,
who still remain with him.—Derby Mercury.