The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-29 00:00:00

joyous, and exhilarating as they were, contained more
than this, or tht-y would leave no permanent impres-
'
mon behind. The crowning event of the day was, in
truth, eminently significant. The opening of a new
Exchange, of a place in which merchants are to con-
greg:.te, by an illustrious Sovereign, and with a
stately ceremonial befitting the highest acts of
royalty, was characteristic of the age, of the position
and destinies of this mighty empire, and of the Mo-
narch by whom the act was performed with so much
grace and dignity. When Greiham first erected his
comparatively humble Burse, the commerce of Eng-
land was only in its vigorous infancy, but the sagacious
policy of Elizabeth afforded the merchant protection
and encouragement. Since then the child has be-
come a giant. English commerce has risen to be a
power without parallel in the history of the world.
It has made vast territorial conquests, by which rich
and populous regions have been added to the empire ;
it has sustained the nation through a protracted
struggle of life and death with the most formidable
enemy it has ever known • and, greater triumphs
than these—it has carried the language and civilisa-
tion of England to the extremities of the earth, dis-
pelling ignorance and barbarism at every step of its
advance. Commerce having thus become a main ele-
ment of the national greatness, it is fitting that its
claims should be publicly honoured and recognised.
It is time that the last traces of that old feudal pre-
judice which regarded trade as a less honourable em-

ployrnent than vvar, should be eradicated from our
minds. It is time that the habitual serftiments of

nothing could have been more appropriate than the
scene which was yesterday witnessed in the City
of London, namely, her Majesty gracing with
her presence the opening of the great Mart of
British commerce the new Royal Exchange.
Foreigners must have been much struck with the
nrignificence of the spect?:cle, which they yesterday
witnessed. They must have painfully felt the con-
trast which would be presented by any exhibition of
national grandeur which their countries could make.
There is no other city in the world that could get up
suything at all approaching the splendour of yester-
day's scene. If, then, not only the magnificent dis-
play which dazzled the eyes of her Majesty's metro-
politan people, but, as before remarked, our greatness
as a nation is mainly to be ascribed to the success of
our commercial enterprise, it follows that every ob-
struction to our trade and commerce ought to be
removed, and our national commercial resources be
allowed full play. Were this done—were the princi-
ples of free trade to he adopted in their widest extent,
and full scope allowed to the enterprise of our mann-
factureri and merchants, Great Britain would rapidly
rise to an eminence, socially as well as commercially,
which has never been attained by any other country,
in ancient or modern times. There could be no more
suitable, and certainly no more salutary measure,
than would be the following up yesterday's opening
of the new Royal Exchange, under the auspices of
the Sovereign—by the annihilation, in the coming
session of Parliament, of those various monopolies
which restrict our trade and cripple our commerce.

every class should be brought into harmony with this
stubborn and momentous reality. This truth could POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
not be more strikingly proclaimed or happily acted MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
upon than in the ceremony of yesterday. When THE POLICE AT THE PROCESSION.—Yesterday
Queen Victoria journeyed in state to open an Ex- three gentlemen, named Phillips, Hodgkin, and Smith,
change, she rendered a homage to the commercial were charged with having obstructed the police in the
power of her kingdom, and practically recognised its execution of their duty.
connexion with the grandeur and stability of her throne. The defendants, with some friends, being desirous
A struggle of long standing, however, by which of seeing the procession to the City, took up their
commerce is excluded from its just influence in the position in Trafalgar-square. The police stationed to
government of the country, still remains to be brought keep the line at that place requested the party to
to a conclusion. The aristocratic power which once stand further back on the pavement. In making a
trampled on the trader, still loads him with cramping retrograde movement an elderly gentleman was dis-
and vexatious restrictions, and the elastic force of placed, and this gave rise to a few words, but the
commercial enterprise is debarred from that almost affair was soon adjusted. The defendants and their
boundless expansion of which, under free and en- friends, mostly very young men, began laughing and
lightened legislation, it would be capable. This dis- joking among themselves, and with the police. Their
cordance evidently needs a remedy. If commerce be merriment was not very well relished by the police,
of vital moment to England, the legislation which and a trifling altercation with the inspector resulted.
affects it must become subject to commercial in- The inspector laid the case before his superintendent,
fluences ; enlightened commercial opinion must and the superintendent directed the police to remove
acquire a decisive force in the deliberations of Par- the party. The police promptly obeyed orders, and
liament. The aristocracy must follow the example as some of the party refused to be roughly handled
of the Sovereign, and acknowlege gracefully their without remonstrating, the three defendants were ul-
obligations to the founders of the Royal Exchange. timately laid hold of and lodged in the station-house.
Until commerce assumes its true place in the govern- Two P division police-constables said that when
ment of the country, there will be a constant jarring they proceeded to put in force their superintendent's
and uncertainty in the movements of society. A directions Hodgkin struck them and used some offen-
growiog power, unduly compressed, must expand sive language.
until its restraints are burst asunder. The commer• A police-constable of the C division said he took
cial class in this country may be deprived of its Smith into custody in consequence of seeing him try-
just influence for a time, but sooner or later it will ing to rescue Hodgkin from custody.
acquire what is withheld, with a movement sudden Inspector Campbell, P division, said the defendants
and violent in proportion to the delay. Far better were linked together on the pavement, pushing against
would it be to surrender at once to the merchants of persons, and applying the epithet of Peelers to the
England the regulation of English commerce, and so police. Believing that a disturbance would take place
put an end to the conquest so long kept up between at last, he consulted with his superintendent, and,
the supposed interests of an aristocracy and the intel- acting on that officer's order, the police proceeded to
ligence of the age. 'With such concessions, the open- disperse the party. Phillips would not go away; on
ing of a new Royal Exchange would, indeed, be the the contrary, he not only tried to excite the mob to
starting point of a new era in our commercial his- interfere, and the defendant Hodgkin to resist, but
tory. The, prospects of commercial enterprise, he struck witness on the body.
stirring as they were in the days of Elizabeth, when In defence, Hodgkin said there was no real occa-
the wealth of the New World was just opening upon sion for the interference of the police. The fact was
the eyes of adventurers, were in truth both narrow that the inspector, an elderly man, felt affronted at
and fallacious, compared with those which would the term " grandpepa" which one of the party applied
now spread out on every side with a system of free to him, and he retorted by calling them "puppies."
interchange between nations. This grand develop• A little "chaffing," but in a good-natured way, oc-
ment of the capabilities of commerce has been re- curred, which, however, did not tend to soothe the
served, we may trust, for the present age. The cir- ruffled temper of the inspector, who laid his case be-
cumstances of the time at once invite us, and enable fore the superintendent, and the result was a violent
us to effect it. If the opening of the new Exchange attack on the whole party by the police. More than
shall prove to be the precursor of this beneficent one constable struck at him with his staff, and had he
alteration, which it seems to foreshadow, the cere- not warded off the blows he must have been seriousle
inony of yesterday will take its place amongst the injured. lie was then seized by the collar and taken
memorable events of a reign destined, we trust, to be to the station-house. He positively denied having
equally long and glorious. struck or menaced any constable.
HERALD.—The Queen's visit to the City yes- The defendant Smith also denied having used any
terday excited an interest without example in our insulting expressions. On the contrary, his advice
time, and it presents a moral of great value ; but yet to Hodgkin, when in custody, was to go peaceably
it is much easier to sympathise with the interest than with the police.
to explain its causes; much less difficult to feel the The defendant Phillips said, when the police began
moral than to put it into proper words. Queen their rough work, the inspector seized him by the
Victoria has claims upon the affectionate respect of breast, and tore his shirt. He followed him to the
her countrymen and countrywomen, which English- station-house, and when at the station-house door he
men and Englishwomen would cheerfully acknow- was laid hold of by the inspector, and charged with
ledge, even were they not her subjects. She is a an assault.
young and a beautiful, and a good woman—a model A number of witnesses came forward and declared
mother and a model wife. These are qualities which that no assault on the police took place, and that in
are nowhere so highly appreciated as in England, fact the police acted with more than necessary violence.
because nowhere else are the most amiable attributes Mr. MALTBY was at first disposed to inflict a fine of
of womanhood so frequent, or so much a part of the 50s. on all the defendants ; but on a representation
solid happiness of the people. But, in addition to from the defendant, Phillips, that really no obstruc-
these high claims upon our veneration and love, Queen tion or insult to the police had been for a moment
Victoria is our Sovereign, and the good Sovereign of contemplated, and that all parties were sorry for what
a free people is an object of attachment more exalted, occurred, and were willing to apologise ; and from
vehement, and enduring, than any other Sovereign the inspector himself handsomely pleading for a miti-
can be. The Sovereign of a free country admits the gated fine, the magistrate reduced the amount to 20s.
subjects of that country into a partnership of each, which was immediately paid.
council and of power, which, while it leads to no WORSHIP-STREET.
degradation, gives room for those affectionate ties THE LATE SUSPICIOUS INCIDENT AT BETHNAL
that can only exist where there is some community GREEN WORKHOUSE.—Mary Todd, the wife of a porter
of condition and of end. This union of circuin- in a City warehouse, who stood charged with having
stances necessarily renders Queen Victoria the been concerned in concealing the birth of a male
most popular of Sovereigns living, or perhaps that infant, the body of which she had surreptitiously in-
ever lived. Her high personal qualities are exactly troduced into the Bethnal-green Workhouse," on the
suited to her station; her station is precisely that in admission of its mother, a young woman named
which these qualities can be developed with most ad- Martha Goffee, who is now an inmate of that house,
vantage and honour. We will not insult this beloved was put to the_ bar, before Mr. Broughton, for final
Princess by a comparison with any foreign Sovereign examination.
of her sex, because there is none such whom it would Rowland, the officer, intimated to the Magistrate
not be almost a pollution to place beside her ; but that a coroner's inquest had been held on the body of
compare her even with our own Elizabeth, whose the child, at which the jury had returned a verdict of
name is " familiar in our speech as household words" " Found dead," and that the parish officers had no
to express patriotism and magnanimity, and assuredly further evidence to offer in support of the charge
Queen Victoria will not sink in the comparison. The against the prisoner.
qualities of the two Queens are different, because Mr. BROUGHTON, under these circumstances, ordered
they lived and live in different ages, but the qualities the prisoner to be discharged.
of both are equally great; and who will deny that QUEEN-SQUARE.
those of the Princess under whose mild and affect Yesterday William Stariborough, a tall fashionably-
tionate rule we live are much the more amiable? dressed person, who drove up to the private entrance
Elizabeth had to reform a rude age, and to prepare a of the Court in his gig, was charged with an assault
people for greatness, and admirably she acquitted on John Puleston, a boy in the service of Messrs.
herself of the task assigned her by Providence—Vic- Raekstraw and Atkinson, fishmongers, Victoria-road,
toria has to rule a people far advanced in refinement Pimlico. The summons was directed to William and
and in morals, and to continue them in the happy George Stanborough, of 6, Wilton-street, Grosvenor-
course of advancement by reflecting, with the added place, but the latter did not appear.
lustre of the Crown, all their best accomplishments and Complainant said that he went on Tuesday evening
highest virtues. If we are to estimate the merit of the by direction of his employers to Mr. Stanborough's,
benefit conferred, by the required difficulty and sacri- No. 6, Wilton-street, to ask for a bill they owed. On
fices, it is impossible to give a preference to either. knocking at the door it was opened by a young gen-
Queen Elizabeth had many dangers and obstacles to tleman, and he had no sooner delivered his message
contend with, but to minds of native force action is the than a man from the other side of the street came up
highest gratification, and we may doubt whether to him, and with the assistance of the person who had
Elizabeth would be as happy in an age like ours as opened the door, dragged him into the passage, and
she was in her own rougher generation. Certain it thence to the parlour. They then asked him what he
is that if she had not considerably modified her virago wanted ? and on his replying the amount that was
habits, her exempte would be anything but conducive owing. defendant gave him a smack on the mouth,
to the " domestic' comfort (we use the word in its which sent him backwards. Another of the party
most limited sense) of the male division of her subjects then kicked him two or three times in the side, arid
in the nineteenth century. Now, though undoubtedly the third struck him a violent blow on the shoulder
it costs Victoria nothing to present the example of with a stick, and hurt him very much. Complainant
wife and mother, which she does present, she, too, has then ran into the passage and called " Murder," and
had trials as Queen, which must have cost more to a the three parties then opened the street-door and
vigorous mind, like hers, to pass through than any kicked him out of the house.
which ever confronted Elizabeth; and this, after all, Mr. BOND (to defendant)—Do you wish to ut
is the great test of strength of understanding and of any question to the complainant ? Defendant—Yes,
principle. We can all afford to be magnanimous when I wish to ask him whether he did not make a great
it costs nothing; but when sacrifices are to be made, noise at the door.
then we are fairly tried. Queen Victoria was called Complainant—No, I did not. I knocked and it
upon by her people and her Parliament to make sacri- was opened to me directly, when I asked civilly for
fices. We all regretted that they were sacrifices; but the the bill.
safety of the empire demanded them, and the Queen Mr. BOND—What answer hare you to the charge ?
made them, promptly, cheerfully, and ingenunusly, Defendant—His account is not true, nor near true,
and yesterday she had the reward, which certainly Mr. BOND—Have you no explanation to offer for
she did not seek, but which cannot be on that account such conduct ? Defendant—There's no exp!anation
the less grateful. The reception of Elizabeth, 270 to offer. I don't reside there. Its too improbable, I
years ago, could not be more enthusiastic., and sure should think, to be true.
we are that it was not so affectionate. We give else- Mr. BOND—How is it that the second person who
is out of town, and had been so for a week be-
where the particulars of the ceremonial upon this is summoned is not in attendance here ? Defendant
isnpolesitrd di,rlaawndopomo theirostdeliogv,h,tofuhl
hearts for
fobrutaorueralreraedperers. —He
fore this occurred.
sentation of the feeling that animated the millions Mr. BOND—You could have produced the third
wrho spectators.bore a
part party here to have contradicted the boy's statement if
o
re never saw such a consent of untrue.
inl ‘ the ceremony, whether as actor.
of affectionate loyalty, and we hardly thought the Defendant—He is certainly wrong as regards me.
thing possible.
From what I understand he was not treated as he de-
ADVERTISER.—The spectacle which was yes- scribes. I am told that he came frequently and
myriads who had the gra- street-door. I deny the assault.
terday exhibited in the City of London, will not soon knocked and rung violently, and made a noise at the
be forgotten by the many
tification of witnessing it. Nor will it, we are sure, Mr. BOND—It seems to be extraordinary conduct
ever be obliterated from the memory of the illustrious on your part. The attack of three persons on a boy
personage who was the principal performer in it. like this is very cowardly. You must pay a fine of 4/.
the enthusiastic reception which her Majesty met Defendant was locked up, but the penalty was sent
with, as well as the extent and brilliancy of the pre- for and paid before the closing of the Court.
parations made to give her a welcome worthy of the Jane Smith, a girl not more than sixteen years of
great city she honoured with her presence, must have age, was placed at the bar charged with fraud.
inspired the royal bosom with feelings of profound She went on Saturday evening to Miss Catherine
gratitude for so striking a display of devoted loyalty, Meyer, a lady residing at 4, Burton-street, Pimlico,
as her Majesty's metropolitan subjects then afforded. I and representing that she was the daughter of' a re-
Nothing could be more appropriate than the pre-1 spectable tradesman, named Smith, who was known
sence of the Sovereign at the opening of such a to the lady, solicited a loan. She stated that her
place as the Royal Exchange. That magnificent reason for making the application was, that her mother
building is the fruit of the boundless wealth was lying dead, and her father was too unwell to
of the City of London, and that boundless wealth is ! come out, and he wanted thirty shillings, as it would
the result of our extensive commerce. It is to the ' enable him to draw some money out of the funds.
commerce of Great Britain that we are, in a great As Miss Meyer knew Mr. Smith to be a very re-
measure, to attribute the superiority of this country spectable man, and believed the story, she gave the
to every other on the face of the earth. Destroy the ' girl thirty shillings, lent her her purse that she might
trade and commerce of England, and the axe is laid carry it with more safety, and gave her sixpence to
at the root of our national greatness. With her ride home in an omnibus. On the following day the
commerce crushed, this country would inevitably , lady communicated what had occurred to her land-
become a secondary power. The chief source of our lord, who was in the habit of' employing Mr. Smith,
wealth would be impaired. And an impoverished ! and on inquiry, it was ascertained that the whole tale
country cannot possibly long maintain its social or was a tissue of falsehoods, and that Smith knew no-
political influence. Her Majesty is therefore deeply thing whatever of the prisoner. Monday the accused
and directly interested in the prosperity of English again made her appearance to endeavour to obtain
trade and commerce. No one, indeed, has greater some more money, when she was given into custody.
reason than the Sovereign to rejoice in the corn- I Mr. BOND asked her what she had to say ? PH-
:Wrenn Well-being of these realms. Conseiuently l Kotler-1111 tell the truth, your worship.. I wet that