The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-22 00:00:00

GALLANT CONDUCT of a BRITISH

OFFICER.

On the 12th of August, in 1at.15 S., lon. 11 30 E.,
when off Fish Bay, Mr. John F. Tottenham, mate of
her Majesty's ship Hyacinth, was sent in a four-oared
gig, with one spare hand, to communicate with the
Portuguese Governor. The weather having become
thick, he missed the port, and being unacquainted
with the coast, anchored the boat for the night. On
the following morning he pulled again to the south-
ward, and, about noon, discovering a suspicious-looking
brig without colours slip and make sail, he gave
chase. There being but little wind, and the vessel en-
tangled with the land, he was enabled to get within
musket shot of her, and fired wide of her to induce
her to show her colours. This, however, was dis-
regarded ; and the officer observing them trim up a
post, and run a gun out, pulled into her wake. Some
of the brig's crew immediately commenced firing
musketry, whilst the others got the gun on the poop
and pointed it at the boat. Mr. Tottenham upon
this fired as fast as the spare hand could load for him,
and with such coolness and precision (as was after wards
proved) that almost every bullet expended was traced
to the gun-carriage or its immediate vicinity. Four
of the crew having been wounded, to avoid being
boarded they ran the brig on shore and abandoned
her—to the number of 18—leaving one man behind,
who soon after died of his wounds.

Mr. Tottenham immediately took possession of the
brig, which proved to be a fine vessel of 200 tons, and
fully equipped for carrying 1,000 slaves. Her decks
were strewed with muskets, swords, and bayonets, a
barrel of gunpowder, and a quantity of ball-cartridges,
besides two four-pounders, loaded.
In the course of the afternoon she was discovered
from the mast-head of the Hyacinth, which stood in
and hove her off. The astonishment of Captain Scott
and his crew at finding so large a vessel captured by
his four-oared gig may be easily conceived.

BONDING IN MANCHESTER.—We believe we may
now say that all that depends upon either the corporation
of Manchester, or the authorities of the Customhouse
here, to prepare for the introduction of bonding into Man-
chester, has been done, and that everything is now in state
of readiness to commence immediately. We understand
that several buildings have been licensed as bonding ware-
houses ; and, as will be seen by articles elsewhere, the
corporation have adopted a tariff of town dues upon the
various commodities to be bonded, and also fixed a rate to
be paid to them by the owners of bonding warehouses,
from which source a fund will be raised for the purpose
of defraying the salaries and expenses of the staff of
Customs' officers, all of whom are now at their posts at
the Custom-house in Mosley-street. We have not heard
of any goods being, as yet, actually bonded, but believe
that notice has been given of a quantity of wine, on its
way hither for that purpose.—Manchester Guardian.
The General Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the
city of Salisbury were held on Monday last, on which
occasion the calendar contained the name of only one
prisoner for trial. The Learned Recorder congratulated
the grand jury on this circumstance, which he considered
highly creditable to the city, and expressed a hope that
it might long be so honourably distinguished. The
Learned Gentleman further remarked, that during
recent journeys into various parts of the country, he had
observed the excellent effect of the rewards given to
labourers by agricultural associations; and it appeared
to him that industry might be encouraged, and crime
diminished by similar institutions in towns and cities,
to provide rewards for the most faithful servants and
workmen. The single bill sent before the grand jury
having been ignored, the only business which occupied
the court, was the trial of an indictment for assai It, pre-
ferred by Mr. Phillips, toyman, against Mr. Clayton,
saddler, both of Salisbury. It appeared that the plain-
tiff had made use of some scurrilous language to the
defendant, which the latter revenged by horsewhipping
him in the public streets. The jury accompanied their
verdict with a recommendation to mercy ; and the de-
fendant was sentenced to pay a fine of five shillings, and
to miter into recogniaances to keep the peace.—Devizes
Gazette.

An anecdote has been related to us of the King of
the French, on the authority of an ear-witness, which
cannot fail of proving of interest to our readers. On the
occasion of his Majesty's late installation as a Knight of
the Garter, when the Chancellor of the Order, the Bishop
of Winchester, arrived at that part of the ceremony at
which the knight is called upon to declare that he " will
not make any unjust or unholy war upon the Sovereign
of the Order," the King interrupted the Prelate, and em-
phatically exclaimed more than once, " No, I never will."
his Majesty afterwards desired to be furnished with a
copy of the oath, in order, as he remarked, that he might
observe minutely its injunctions.
AN IMPUDENT HOAX.—On Monday last, a great
number of the citizens of York assembled on the Malton
high road, near to the first toll-bar, to which place they
had been invited by handbills, extensively circulated in
the city during the early part of the day, containing the
following announcement:—"RAlLWAYS SUPERSEDED.—
The nobility and public of York are respectfully informed
that Hamer. and Pigott's novel and extraordinary road
engine, with curricle attached (proceeding to Hull for
immediate shipment for Hamburgh), and which met with
the unqualified approbation of her Majesty and Prince
Albert, from its performances in the Grand Quadrangle
of Windsor Castle, will exhibit its powers, under the
guidance of Mr. Boyd, R.E., on the level line of road,
between the Ship Inn, and the first turnpike on the
Malton road, between the hours of two or three P.M. this
day. A limited number of seats on the engine, ss. each;
seats of the curricle, 3.—Oct. 7th." The anticipated
novelty of the exhibition produced great interest in the
public mind, and the hundreds of people who had as-
sembled waited patiently till an hour had elapsed from
the time announced, when a feeling of suspicion that the
whole was an impudent hoax, pervaded; and such
turned out to be the case, for neither engine, nor any re-
presentative of the above firm, ever made their appear-
ance.— York paper.
The Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital have given
200/. in aid of the erection of a parsonage-house at
Scremerston, near Berwick-upon-Teed. They have
also promised a similar sum towards the building of a
new church at Nenthead, in Cumberland.
FATAL COLLIERY AOCIDENT. -. An inquest was
held, at the Leeds Court-house, on 'Wednesday last,
before G. T. Harrison, Esq., Deputy-Coroner, on view
of the body of John Thomas, a coal-miner, aged 18
years, lying dead at the infirmary. The deceased, who
worked at the colliery of Mr. Rogers, at Beeston, was
at the bottom of the shaft, on the 4th instant; and a
heavy piece of wood, which was being sent up on the
top of a corve, came in contact with a descending corve,
was knocked off, and fell upon the head of the deceased,
and fractured his skull. Re was removed to the Leeds
General Infirmary, where he expired on Tuesday last.
Verdict—" Accidental death."—Leeds Tines. _

•
PLAYING WITH FIRE.—A most disastrous fire oc-
curred at Dynaock, in this county, on Wednesday last ;
the origin of it was somewhat singular. It appears
that two little boys were playing at killing pigs in a
barn, when the one who mimicked the butcher pro-
ceeded to singe the other, and lit a lucifer match, by
which the straw in the barn ignited, and the place was
soon in a blaze. The boys ran away, being too frightened
to give an alarm, and the wind fanning the flames, they
communicated to some stacks of hay and corn, and we
regret to state that property to the amount of 800/. was
destroyed. The premises are the property of Mr. Thack-
well, but now in the occupation of Mr. Cummings, of
the George Inn, Dyinock.—Cheltenham Free Press.
OUTRAGE AT ALBANY BARRACKS.—A special
Court Martial was held at Albany Barracks, Isle of
Wight, on Wednesday and Thursday last, on Thomas
Mills, a private of the 45th depot, under the following
circumstances i—A fortnight ago prisoner was placed in
confinement in the dry-ruom for drunkenness and ab-
sence from duty, and being afterwards informed that he
was to prepare for afternoon parade, he said he could
not as he had sold his kit and everything except
what he had on. At the same time he asked the
corporal on duty if he could see the paymaster-
sergeant ? The corporal took the message, and re-
turned informing him that he was to go on parade
as he was. This he refused to do, and using some
very threatening language, demanded again to see the
paymaster-sergeant. The corporal then left him, and
in a few moments after the prisoner fired his musket off
through the window, it is supposed at some parties at a
distance from the spot, but happily it did no injury. lie
was then taken into custody, and on Thursday he was
found guilty ; but sentence is at present deferred. It is
expected he will be transported for fourteen years.
Another court-martial will be held in a few days on
James Munns, a private of the 97th depot, who a few
days ago, whilst on guard, fired at another private, who
was also on guard. He likewise fired at the " relief"
as they came up to him ; the bullet struck one of their
muskets, and slanting off, grazed the ear of one of the
men, fortunately without doing further damage.--flamp-
shire Advertiser.
THE LICENSING SYSTEM IN SOUTH WALES.—A
CURIOUS AND A CRUEL CASE.—We have just heard of
a case of magisterial tyranny and oppression in this
neighbourhood—we really can give it no milder name.
The object, or rather the victim, is a woman-Ftatlrescpoecnt-
able widow, who has for many years kept aTihe eeaseuas.
try inn not many miles from Carmarthen.
of such an
we have already intimated,.
exemplifi-
cation of Justices' Justice," it is, altogether.f
br
h.
abominable character, that
supplies such
we
abstain
ne
rom publishing
ing
have made
the names of any of the parties until
as
_relwate.d to us on. un-
doubtedhe widow applied to
tratos for the renewal of her annual license,
further iunaihnorryi.ty,Tahree
these :-7
«hic
two rnagis
h was granted without remark or objection, but it
afterwards withheld from her, because she refused
was
to comply with the extortionate demand of half-a-crown
'1 an
in addition to the regular fees. The half-crown was to
have been spent at a public-house, of which one of the
magistrates is owner or landlord.— Welshman.
We are happy to hear Sir J. Beckett is improving
in health and strength, and takes airings when he is
equal to it. The Hon. Baronet is visited every evening
h) some branch of his family and intimate friends. The
Duke and Duchess of Norfolk and Lord E. Howard are
constantly with Sir J. Beckett.

The lion. Cecil Forester, M.P., has left England
fur a lengthened period fur Italy.
Lord de Manley and C. C. Greville Esq., Clerk of
the Council, have left London for Bessborough, Ireland,
the beautiful seat of the Earl of Bessborough, who en•
tertains there a distinguished party of friends.
AN ABUSIVE MISSIONARY.—A Baptist missionary
at Trinidad, named Cowan, was in September ordered
to find security fur his keeping the peace towards a
" teacher." The "reverend" gentleman had, it appears,
called complainant " a nasty filthy beast," and shook his
fist at him ; while " his lady" had been equally violent
in her abuse of complainant's wife, to whom she had ap
plied equally offensiTo epithets.