The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-19 00:00:00

frfIE__ST.JIN, LONDON, sATURIYA_Y_ „EVENING, OCTOBER 19, 1844.

bentilting the British sugar colonies theniselves.
'ln considering the cothparative claims of different
portions of the empire, we must) take into account
the claims of the agsregate population of each por-
tion, not the claims of any particular class in it. The
question, therefore, lies between the social condition
of the British islands and the sugar colonies, each in
integro, and it comes to this—are the mass of the British
population in so much better a condition than the mass
of the population of the sugar colonies, that it is just
to raise prices, or to sustain high prices, against
the former, for the benefit of the latter ? ought
we to require from the British labourer, for
example, who rarely commands 12s. a week, a
high price for one of the necessaries of life (for
such sugar has now become), in order to pam-
per the West Indian negro, who can command
2-ts. a week, and who resides in a country where
the demands of house-rent, fuel, clothing, and even
food, do not, on the whole, amount to one-half of
these demands in England ? This is the plain
question, and the answer to it is so very plain,
tbat it is unnecessary to go into the examina-
tion of the thousand artifices by which a very high
protecting duty, operating against the produce of
many countries, might be and would be evaded.
If any one bjects that it is not the con-
dition of the negroes but that of the planters we are
to take into the comparison, our answer is that in the
present state of the West India sugar colonies, the
negroes are so completely masters of the market,
that whatever advantage is conceded to the colo-
nies, must devolve to them, and to them ex-
clusively. The supply of labour is notoriously
deficient, and they who are to furnish that
supply can, therefore, command the terms ; but
they will, of course, adopt no other measure of
wages but the ability of the employers to pay, and
whatever is given to the employers, by consequence,
comes to them in the end. This is the explanation
of the monstrous rate of wages at present in the
West India colonies generally —an abuse which
operates more than any other cause to ruin these
colonies, and which, if some corrective be not
applied, must go on aggravating itself until
the colonies shall be ruined irrecoverably. In con-
sidering the sugar colonies, we must constantly re-
member that we are considering regions in which
the sustenance of mere animal life hardly de-
mands a moment's care. When, however, you
throw high wages into the hands of the igno-
rant population of such regions, it is plain that
you give them more money, much more money, than
it is possible for them to consume in satisfying their
moderate wants ; this money must therefore be
expended in excesses fatal to health and morals,
or hoarded with a view to obviate the necessity of
future toil ; but it is hard to say which of the two
processes is the more efficacious in diminishing
a labouring population, that is, in exasperating
the disease by which the sugar colonies are already
sinking. This is a subject of deep importance, to
which we have often before referred, and to which
we shall again refer fully ; at present, however, we
allude to it only to show that it is not by high pro-
tecting duties the sugar colonies can be saved.

hood, from the circumstance that the family of the un-
fortunate deceased had suffered considerably in conse-
quence of offending against the game-laws, a brother
of the deceased having been hung at Chester, about fif-
teen years ago, for an attack upon one of Lord Stam-
ford's gamekeepers at Dlinham Massey 4 in this county
During the present inquiry many questions were pat
the witness by the coroner and jury as to the observ-
ance of the Sabbath by the families of the labouring
population among whom the deceased lived, and whe-
ther the clergymen, of whom there were two
(the rector of Northern, and the incumbent of Ringway
Chapel of ease), were in the habit of visiting the houses
of the inhabitants for the purpose of instructing them
as to their duties on the Sunday. Tho resident mi-
nisters of the Wesleyan body of Christians were alluded
to with the object of showing a neglect of their spi-
ritual duties amongst the labouring poor. It was ad-
mitted that the deceased's father had resided in the
township near forty years, but had been visited only
once by either a clergyman or a minister of the gospel ;
and that none of the family bad been in the habit
of attending a place of worship. We extract the follow:
ing evidence :—" David Pilgrim, a small farmer, said—
I was at Henshall's house on Sunday morning last, and
went out with deceased, who said he would look
if he could see a hare. I told him where I had seen
a bare, and he said, ' I'll take thy gun and fetch
the hare.' We were at my house then, and my
wife said, Dunna take it, Joe, there'll be
summat amiss ; ' and my daughter also desired him
not! to take it. Deceased replied to the latter, Do
thee hold thy noise, it's neut to thee.' He pulled the
gun in pieces, gave the stock to me, and put the barrel
ue the side of his jacket. We then went across a field
of mine, where I gave him the stock, and left him. I
met Broadhurst, the gamekeeper, and walked with him.
Did not hear any report of a gun. I have got my gun
back; it was found in the same field where I parted with
deceased. I don't go regularly to any place of worship;
but my family sometimes go to Ringway Chapel."

COURT OF SEWERS.
A Court of Sewers for the City and Liberty of
Westminster, and part of Middlesex, was held yes-
terday evening, at the Sewer's-office, 1, Greek-street,
Soho, T. L. Donaldson, Esq., in the Chair.
Thd orders of Court of the 4th, 11th, and nth of
October having been read, and some payments
ordered, the Court proceeded to consider the objection
against the Messrs. Bennett being again appointed
contractors for works required by the Commission.
The objection was taken last Court day under the
13th bye-law, which enacts that no person having a
relative within the first or second degree, sitting as a
Commissioner, shall be qualified to construct any work
for the Commission. It was then argued, on the
contrary, that the gentleman in question, Mr. Hunt,
(Mr. Bennett's brother-in-law), although his name
was upon the Commission, had not qualified by oath
for a seat in that Court—that therefore he was, in
fact, no Commissioner, and that in consequence the
objection taken fell to the ground. The further con-
sideration of the matter was ultimately postponed till
that day.
The CHAIRMAN having introduced it as the next
thing upon the paper,
Mr. HERTZLETT, the chief clerk, proceeded to read
a letter from Mr. Hunt, in which that gentleman ex-
pressed his determination to qualify, and said that
only absence from town bad prevented his doing so
sooner.
Mr. WILLOUGHBY, having briefly explained how
the discussion upon the matter had arisen on last
Court day, expressed his regret that an objection of
this kind, which was quite apart from the spirit of the
thirteenth bye-law, should deprive the Court of the
services of the Messrs. Bennett—gentlemen who
had proved their fitness for the °Mee of con-
tractors—whose tenders were at least 1,200/ be-
neath any of the other candidates, and whose
respectability and responsibility were above all ques-
tion.—(Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Willoughby) did not
find fault with the gentleman who filled the chair on
the last occasion for the part he had taken in that
discussion. The time had then not arrived for dis-
cussing the question fully; but now he thought it
had ; and that question was simply—were the Messrs.
Bennett disqualified because this relation's name was
upon the Commission ? Let them closely examine
that rule ; let them look at its proper spirit, and he
would say that no one, more than himself, had a
greater opinion of it, as far as its bona fide
applicability went. The learned speaker thee
went on to observe that the circumstances which
the law was intended to remedy could not he re-
peated in that case. On looking over the constitution
of the Court, he found it apparently coinciding with
his opinion in that particular. The Learned Com-
missioner quoted the statute of Elizabeth, and argued
upon it at considerable length. Were they to lose
the services of those gentlemen merely because of a
technical objection—an objection quite at variance
with the spirit of the rule ? lie could not see that
any loss could accrue to the Commission from again
placing their works in the hands of the Messrs.
Bennett, but he did see a great loss that would un-
questionably arise by the rejection of their tender.
With these views upon the subject, he would put
into writing a resolution,
.and he hoped that some
Hon. Commissioner would support him on the occasion.
Mr. WILLOUGUBY then moved, and Mr. KENDALL
seconded, a resolution, " That 11. A. Hunt, Esq., is
not a Commissioner within the meaning of the 13th
bye-law, not having taken upon him the oath of the
Commission."
Mr. BARRY BALDWIN, M.P. said the objection
was a valid one. Mr. Hunt had the power at any
time of qualifying, and of taking his seat at that table.
He (Mr. Baldwin) thought the rule completely ex-
cluded the Messrs. Bennett from any works ordered
by that Court. He did not know who raised the
objection in the first instance, but as Mr. Hunt, he
repeated, could take the oath at any time, it was every
way a valid one.
Mr. P. LAURIE said that a great deal of the matter
advanced by Mr. Willoughby had no bearing upon
the subject. They had no right to say how much
cheaper the Messrs. Bennett could perform the con-
tract. They had no right to advanee the respecta-
bility of these gentlemen as a reason why they should
again be accepted. All that the Court had to inquire
was, did their connexion with this commission dis-
qualify them from taking the contract ? He (Mr..
Laurie) maintained that Mr. Hunt was a Commissioner
in every sense of the term; and the Act of Parliament
said so also. What could prevent that gentleman
coming down to the Court and taking the oath at any
time ? Nothing. He had a perfect right, and he
could'do so; and then he could audit the account of
his relatives. He did not mean to say that either of
these gentlemen would do anything dishonourable,
but if the Court deviated from that bye-law, could
they be expected to pay greater respect to any other?
He should feel it his duty to oppose the resolution.
Captain BAGUE—Who took the objection ?
Mr. LESLIE said that he did. At the last Court
day every Commissioner was expected to come for-
ward to examine into contracts which would involve
about 30,000/. of the public money, and yet such was
the paucity of members, that it was with great diffi-
culty a Court was formed at all. The Hoo. Com-
missioners present did him the honour to appoint him
to the chair. He filled the office as well as he could,
and opened the contracts without, of course, preciously
knowing the names inside. After havini'e• gone
through the whole, he suggested that the Messrs.
Bennetts' tender could not be received, on the ground
of their relationship to Mr. Hunt. He had called on
Mr. Hertzlett to read the bye-law bearing on the
subject. He had asked Mr. hlertzlett to read also the
law which called upon him to summon Mr. Hunt as
a Commissioner, and a summons had always been sent
to him in terms of that law.—(Hear, hear.) After
these laws had been so read, Mr. Willoughby thought
it was desirable to take the opinion of a full Court on
that day. ~11e,(Mr. „Leslie), regretted it, because he
had himself an importaPkra4ion.to come on respecting
Mr. Bei At.

r. !nnett.
Mr. WILLOUG HET—Oh, not respecting Mr. Bennett,
Captain BAG TJE—Pray speak to the question.
Mr. LESLIE was speaking to the question. He was
detailing, as chairman of last Court, the course pur-
sued tl en.
The CHAIRMAN—Mr. Leslie's notice does not refer
to Mr. Bennett.
Mr. LESLIE could prove that improper charges had
been made, and iinprorrly allowed, too.
The CHAIRMAN—a he question is--
Mr. LESLIE —The question is, are those gentlemen
qualified, under the 13th bye-law, to put in a tender
or contract.
The CHAIRMAN—That is not the question. The
question is whether Mr. Hunt is, or is not, a Commis-
sioner under the bye-law, he not having qualified ?
Mr. LESLIE—Then it narrowed the matter very
much if Mr. Hertzlett would produce the Commission.
The CHAIRMAN—His name is in the Commission.
Mr. FLOOD—It has not yet been proved that any
such relationship exists between Mr. Hunt and the
Messrs. Bennetts.—(Laughter.)
Mr. BARRY BALDWIN said that Mr. Willoughby,
in opening the case, had been allowed every latitude,
and it would be but an act of justice to allow the
Hon. Commissioner near him to go on with his
statement without interruption also. He did not see
why Mr. Leslie, because he touched upon the subject
of Mr. Bennett's accounts, should be cried down.
Mr. BAYLIS—I rise to order. What question is
now before the Court ?—(Laughter.)
Mr. BA RAT BALDWIN—You may rise to order, Sir,
but I will not sit down the sooner.
After some further remarks of a stormy character
had been bandied about the Court,
Mr. LESLIE continued. He went upon the broad
principle then, and the impression upon his mind
was, that the Messrs. Bennetts' was not the lowest
contract, but he would not go into that matter then.
The Hon. Commissioner then proceeded to urge that
Mr. Hunt was a Commissioner to every intent and
purpose. The thing he contended did not admit of
doubt, and therefore put the Messrs. Bennetts' tender
completely out of Court.
Mr. Lu BRETON thought that they ought to take
legal opinion upon the question, and he would move
an amendment to that effect.
Mr. BAYLIS would second it, as it met with the
very views he had expressed on last Court day.
Mr. LESLIE opposed the amendment. It would be
401. or 501. wasted for an opinion which, the moment
Mr. Hunt qualified, would be so much waste paper.
They were quite able themselves to come to a decision
upon the subject without saddling the rate-payers
with such a sum.
Mr. WiLtouonrir replied, and the amendment was
then put, and lost by ten. The original motion was
then read, when it was supported by eleVen Com-
missioners, thirteen voting agaiti,t it, the Messrs.
Bennett thus being put out of the field by a majority
of two.
After a long discussion upon the propriety of se-
lecting a contractor from the other candidates then, or
of deferring it till a future Court day, it was moved
by Mr. `WHITE, and carried, that Mr. Jay, of
London-wall, be accepted for the eastern and western
divisions, and that the Ranelagh and Counter's Creek
districts be again thrown open for competition.
The Court was then, upon the motion of Captain
BAG E, adjourned.

IMPUDENT TIIIEVEB.—On Tuesd morning early,
a labouring. man on going to work at a barn in the occu-
pation of Mr. Tyler, on Bardfield-end-green, Thaxted'
found it had been broken open during the eight, and on
entering saw two men, apparently tramps, with a large
ferocious dog. They offered some matches for sale, but on
his refusing to buy, they deliberately took his bag
containing bread and cheese, and proceeded to eat the
provisions. They then tried on his great coat, and re-
mained in the barn about two hours. Ile managed to
fret back his coat, but was afraid to give any alarm, and
the fellows made off across the green. . Information was
subsequently given to Inspector Marme, and the offen-
ders, we trust, will soon be in the hands of the police,—
Chedatiford Chronicle.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
(YESTERDAY.)
MANSION-HOUSE.
A tradesman, named Henry Bottle, was summoned
before the Lord Mayor and Sir John Pirie under the
following circumstances :
Mr. Prince, an omnibus proprietor of Peckham
Rye, stated that he gave the defendant an order for
an omnibus apron, and wished it to be made of a
certain depth. The defendant, however, thought that
it ought to be shorter, and made it according to that
opinion. Witness, upon receiving the apron, paid for
it, and got a receipt, but, finding that it would not an-
swer, sent it back to be altered. The agreement was,
that the apron should be altered to suit the intended
purpose without any additional charge, but the de-
fendant demanded an additional sum of five shillings,
and refused to deliver the article until the money was
forthcoming. The price agreed to be paid was Ti.
The clerk to a merchant in Austin-friars stated
that he was present when Bottle measured the om-
nibus for the apron, and said he would alter the apron
if considered necessary, without any expense.
Sir JOIIN PIRIB said the conduct of Mr. Bottle
was very untradesmanlike, and advised him to settle
the matter.
The defendant sulkily contended that he was right,
and said, that as a proof of the correctness of his con-
duct, he had refused to let the complainant have the
apron without payment of the additional five shillings.
Sir Jona PIRIE—You have just strengthened the
case against yourself, for you let the complainant
have the apron in the first instance before he gave
you the twenty shillings, and your refusal to let him
have it in the second instance without first paying the
additional five shillings, showed that you knew he
had a right to it. You must return the apron to Mr.
Prince.
The defendant—l can't. I have taken it to pieces,
and can't return it.
Sir Joust PIRIE—That won't do here. You are
fined twenty shillings and costs.
The defendant stated that he could not pay.
Sir JOHN PIRIE—Then a warrant shall be issued
against your goods.
The defendant, who had been bragging in the out-
side office that he knew the law better than the Lord
Mayor or any other magistrate, said he had neither
money nor goods.
The LORD MAYOR—Then we shall see if we can't
find a law that will suit your case. I have it here.
If you don't pay the penalty and costs, you must go
for fourteen days to prison.—(Laughter.)
The defendant showed great symptoms of dissatis-
faction at this intelligence, and was about to make a
reply, when
His LORDSHIP ordered the commitment to be
made out.
The defendant then slipped his hand into his pocket
and produced the amount of the penalty and costs, and
Mr. Prince was presented with the money he had paid
to his tradesman.
His LORDSHIP observed to the defendant that such
conduct would not be likely to increase the number of
his customers.—The decision pleased all but one.
BOW-STREET.
A man, dressed in the garb of a sailor, and who
gave his name as Richard King, was placed before
Mr. Jardine, charged on suspicion of stealing a piece
of ham.
Police-constable Richard Habbert, 82 F, stated
that he was on duty in Long-acre on the previous
night, when be saw the prisoner with something under
his arm. He' questioned the prisoner, and he pro-
duced a pice of ham, which he said a person had
given him. As he did not believe the man's story,
he brought him to the station-house!
The prisoner said he had had the ham given to
him by Mr. Roberts, of 22, New-street, Covent-
garden, who, on being sent for, said that the ham in
question had been given to the prisoner. It had
been found unfit for sale, and he directed his shop-
man to give it away.
Mr. JARDINE, upon hearing this, immediately dis-
charged the prisoner.
Neither the policeman who took the prisoner into
custody, nor the inspector (Mullins) who took the
charge, were reprimanded or spoken to.
WORSHIP-STREET.
An elderly, decent-looking woman, named Mary
Todd, was brought before 111 r. Broughton, in the
custody of Mr. Christie, the relieving-officer of Beth-
nal-green, charged under the following extraordinary
circumstances:—
Mr. Christie stated, that between seven and eight
o'clock that morning the prisoner arrived at the
workhouse in a cab, accompanied by a young woman
named Maria Gofee, for whom she requested imme-
diate admission, as she was then in the pains of labour.
They were instantly admitted into the vestibule of
the building, and being informed of the nature of their
visit, witness immediately went and spoke to the pri-
soner, who repeated to him the same statement she
had already made to the gatekeeper. He accordingly
sent for the matron, whom he desired to conduct the
young woman into the lying-in ward, and pay her
all the attention that her situation demanded. While
giving these instructions, he tam the prisoner place a
bundle, which she had previously under her arm,
upon one of the seats in the vestibule, and conceiving
that it contained baby•linen, he ordered Cooper, the
gatekeeper, to take it up stairs to the room into
which the young woman had been removed. Imme-
diately afterwards, hearing an exclamation of horror
and surprise, he turned round, and perceived that
Cooper had opened the bundle, and that in contained
the body of a dead infant. The prisoner had, in the
meantime, turned away, and was hastening across
the yard, on her way out, when he pursued her, and
caused her to be secured.
After some questions, Mr. BROUGHTON said that the
prisoner had involved herself in a most serious re-
sponsibility, as it-was manifestly her intention to get
the body of the dead infant smuggled into the bed of
the sick
,troman, efad by that means induce a belief
that she had been delivered of it after her reception
into the house. The matter required the most rigid
investigation ; and, to give the parish authorities the
necessary time to pursue their inquiries, he should
remand the prisoner on the charge of being concerned
in concealing the birth of the child, and should order
her to be brought up again next week.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
Martha Lipscombe, the young woman who at-
tempted to commit suicide by drowning herself in the
Serpentine last week, and who had been sent to pri-
son for a week in the hope that a short confinement
would produce in her a proper sense of her heinous
offence, was yesterday brought before Mr. Maltby
for further examination.
The young woman, who apparently had not been
able to command her intractable temper, said all she
wished now was to get her clothes and her character
from her last place, and go into the country away from
her sisters, whom she never wished to see or speak to
again.
Mr. MALTBY said she did not appear to show a
proper feeling towards her sisters, the married one
having even ran into debt to keep her when out of
place.
The girl replied that was true, but she had always
repaid her sister as soon as she got in service.
Mr. MALTBY inquired if she now repented of her
wicked attempt on her own life ?—The girl said she
would not tell a falsehood about the matter. She did
not repent of what she had done.
Mr. MALTBY said he had hoped that a few days'
imprisonment would have produced in her a better
state of feeling; but he found that no beneficial effect
on her mind had been produced. The attempt on her
life which she had made rendered her liable to be sent
for trial for the offence.
The girl said that she would promise thus far, that
she never would attempt to take away her life on ac-
count of a stupid boy. It was because she had been
knocked about by this boy, and treated with con-
tempt by her sisters, that she had attempted to destroy
herself.
The sister said the defendant had never been ill-
treated lay any one. It was her violent and intractable
temper which was her only enemy.
Mr. MALTBY said he could not think of discharging
the girl after what he had just heard. He should re-
mand her for another week, and then determine how
he would dispose of the case.
An elderly man, of extremely respectable appear-
ance, who gave the name of John Williams, but who
refused to say what he was, or where he lived, was
charged with stealing two books, worth 15s. 6d.,
from the shop of Mr. Sharp, book-dealer, No. 14,
St. Martin's-court.
George Young, shopman, said he saw the prisoner
watching the shop in the morning. About seven
o'C luck in the evening he saw the prisoner come to
the window in which the books were placed. and take
down the books and put them on a shelf. The pri-
soner went away, but returned almost immediately,
and took up the books, placed them under his coat,
and walked away. Witness fullowed and stopped him
in the street with the books in his possession.
The prisoner, who was very reserved during the
whole of the proceedings, declined to say anything,
and was fully committed.
MAR YLEBONE.
Yesterday, Count Grabouski, residing at No. 11,
Bentinck-terrace, Regent's-park, was charged by
Fitzgerald, 178 1), who stated that on the previous
night, about twelve o'clock, he found the prisoner
drunk in Oxford-street. He was reeling from one
side of the pavement to the other, and as he seemed
incapable of taking care of himself, w itness conveyed
him to the station-house.
The Count—l was not drunk ; what you :state is all
false.
Ovenden, 80 D, here stepped forward and said that
the prisoner was quite drunk when charged at the
station. Prisoner ordered the first witness to fetch
him a cab, and exclaimed, "You rascal, what did you
bring me here for ?"
The Count (emphatically)—There's not a single
word of truth in what he says, and I can produce
witnefata to prove that I was quite sober.