The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-02 00:00:00

THE CHARITY CALLED THE CITY KITCHEN.

Mr. BOWER brought up the Report of the Coal, Corn,
and Finance Committee, to which it was referred to
take into consideration the petition from the Associa-
tion for the Relief of the Poor of the City of London
and the parts adjacent, for pecuniary assistance in aid of
the funds. 'lt stated, amongst many other facts, that
during the season ending 27th of March, 1843, the
Association delivered to poor applicants 30,290 bushels
of coals, and 424.0601b5. of potatoes; and during the
present season, to the 15th of February, 12,237 bushels of
coals, and 171,3181b5. of potatoes; and, in consequence of
liberal donations of the Court, and of several benevolent
parties, the price charged to the poor for 841bs. of the
best coals -and 141bs. of the best potatoes, was reduced
'last year from ninepence to the low charge of sixpence,
and the coals and potatoes were delivered to the poor
recipients who lived within the City free of all expense,
at their own habitations, which arrangement had proved
very beneficial, but caused great additional expense to the
Institution. That the receipts of the Association last
year amounted to 2,5571. 10s. 7d., and the expenditure
to 2,4011. 16s. Bd., and that there were at the bankers,
when the' petition was presented, 1,0101., comprising
nearly all the subscriptions of the current year, of which
4551. had been since paid for coals, and potatoes, and
much larger purchases of these articles must be made to
provide for the tickets issued for the poor, and for more
coming in. That the Association hoped to issue the
same number of tickets as last year, which would require
a further outlay of 7001. for coals, and 3901. for potatoes.
That the free delivery already cost 2181., and would in-
volve a further outlay of 2301., besides the expense of
printing and other expenses, in return for which several
sums, amounting together to 1,1001„ the Association ex-
pected by the sale of tickets to realise only about 4501.
The Report concluded with recommending the grant of
the sum of 2001.

A discussion took place which, on account of the eon:
versational noise in the Court, it was impossible to hear
distinctly.
Mr. ANDERTON objected to the management of the
charity, by which the.poor were deprived of a great deal
of the advantages intended and expected by the benevo-
lent contributors. He condemned the machinery by
which, he said, the poor were obliged to pay out of the
allowance a much larger per centage than was received
by tradesmen for their goods ; and he advised a re-
modelling of the plan, for the purpose of extending the
charity, instead of permitting it to be swallowed up by
an injudicious expenditure.
Mr. Loi-r said that no public charity could, it was
well known, be carried on without expense, and the City
kitchen was certainly regulated by a most active and
discriminating zeal for the benefit of the poor objects.
One of the lea,ding features of. the new arrangements
was the free delivery of the articles to the poor, and the
recipients were most grateful 'for a change which pro-
tected thein from the plunder to which they had been
subjected from persons who deprived them of their money,
and their tickets.

• Mr. R. TAYLOR said the question was, whether good
was done by the charity. tantamount to the expense in-
curred. Now he was given to understand that by the
delay the poor experienced in waiting for nine penny-
worth of coals they were losers of sixpence.
.Mr. Lorr declared that such a statement was part of
a system of calumny to which the charity had been ex-
posed for some time.
'Mr. PEWTRESS thought that much good might be in-
troduced by a more' ingenious system of management,
calculated to reduce the expenditure. The cost might,
he was of opinion, be reduced five per cent.
• • Deliuty CORNET' said the present cost was less than
five per cent. He strongly commended the whole plan
upon which the charity was conducted, and argued that
any change would be a change for the worse.
The Report was then agreed to.
It was, after some discussion, referred to a Committee
to consider and report whether any, and what addition
should be made to the salary of Edward Bullock, Esq.,
in respect of his services in the Central Criminal Court.
After the transaction of some business of no public
interest, the Court adjourned.

MR. O'CONNELL.ft—EFFECTB OF THE TRIAL.—The
following address (says the Brighton Guardian) has been
handed round for signature in Chichester, a cathedral city,
be it remembered, in a part of England celebrated for its at-
tachment to Protestantism. It tends to show how much the
prosecution of Mr. O'Connell has exalted him in the estima-
tion of the people of England :—" To Daniel O'Connell, Esq.
Sir—Permit -us, undersigned inhabitants of the city of Chi-
chester, to express our admiration at the manly way in which
you have asserted the rights of your native country, and at
the rare union of patriotic zeal and Christian moderation dis-
played by you in the influence you have exercised over the
large masses of your fellow-subjects who have confided their
interests to your care. Without intending in the most distant
way to hint how far we may wee with or differ from you in
your political or religidus opinions, we feel ourselves deeply
interested in the verdict just obtained against you, as we can-
not but think that if the interpretation put by your accusers
en what you have justly styled the cabalistic word conspi-
racy should be confirmed, the liberties of Englishmen will be
as much endangered as they would have been had the doc-
trine of constructive treason, attempted to be established in
the year 1794 against Messrs. Hardy, Tooke, and others, by
the then Attorney-General, Sir John Scott, not been repu-
diated by an English jury : and we cannot but regret that an
Irish jury, having had such a bright example of real
patriotism and exalted philanthropy before them, had not
possessed discernment sufficient to follow it. _ Under what-
ever further difficulties in which your noble conduct may in-
volve you, you will, have we are fully aware, the best
e ; but in addition,
support in the testintony consciene
we wish to assure you of our cordial sympathy and esteem."
Other towns in England will probably imitate this example.

The depositions of the witnesses in the case of Mary Hunt
having been read, the prisoners were taken back to the
Compter in custody of the Foresters.
Mr. Goodman (the chief clerk to the Lord Mayor) began,
as soon as it was intimated to the prisoners that they were to
be again brought up, in consequence of the application of the
Learned Counsel for Barber, on the 23d instant, to read over
the depositions in the several cases.
Fletcher paid the most intense attention to the entire of the
evidence, but left the whole management of his case to Mr.
Humphries, his solicitor. Barber occasionally wrote as Mr.
Goodman proceeded, and communicated with Mr. Parry,
who was understood to be in attendance as the representative
of Mr. Chambers, the barrister employed in the early stages of
the proceedings for that prisoner. •
The case in which Mary Hunt was alleged to have been
personated for the purposes of fraud, was the first upon which
the depositions were swam to and signed. .
The depositions in the case in which Eliza Burchard was
' alleged to have been personated by Mrs. Dorey, at that time
Georgiana Richards, were the next read over, sworn toland
signed by the several witnesses, and in neither case was Any
comment made by the prisoners or those who attended for
them.
In the case in which John Stewart was alleged to have
been personated, when Mr. Goodman arrived at the evidence
of Mr. Pott, of Doctors' Commons,
Mr. Pott expressed a wish that the following words should
be added to the evidence he had given upon his examination
relative to the prisoner Griffin : ' Griffin said, in his state-
ment, that the affidavit had not been read over to him, pr if
it had been read over to him he did not understand) the
nature of it. Now I declare that it was read over to him,
twice at least, and the draft of the affidavit is now in !the
hands of Mr. Freshfield, with the word " approved" upoil it,
axidzigned 'T. Griffin.' " The witness stated that the addi-
tion of these words, would prevent the continuance of a inis-
larffiebension as to the evidence he had given. He had, in
fact; received several communications upon the subject. '
Mr. Humphries—l think it necessary (seeing, as Id, in
what character Griffin is to be a party) that the st te-
ment now made by Mr. Pott should be added to his de osi-
tion. It refers to a statement made by Griffin to Mr. 1 eir,
and deposed to by Mr. Weir on a former day.
The Loup MAYOR directed that the addition made by, Mr.
Pott should be added to the deposition of that gentleman and
expressed a hope that publicity should be given to it.
Mr. Humphries asked the witness whether the draft o the
affidairit had been read over to Griffin? Mr. Pott—l ave
I no doubt at all that the draft was read over to him by my
clerk ; but I can only swear as to the original haiing been
read over to him. .
When Mr. Goodman read the deposition in the case
in which the property of Anne Slack was alleged to have been
drawn out of the hands of the Commissioners for the Rerluc-
tion of the National Debt, by means of a fabricated will,
signed " Emma Slack,"
fa
Mr. Humphries said he observed that the evidence of liss
Slack was stated in the depositions to have been tak n in
the presence of the prisoners. Now such was not the se.
The evidence of Miss Slack was taken when in fact no ody
was in custody but Mr. Barber. He noticed the fact, n t to
put it forward as an objection, but to show the proprielty of
adopting the course recommended by the Judges to have the
words taken down at the moment from the mouths of I wit-
nessess in every case.
Mr. Goodman wished that it never became necessary to
depart from such a course, but in some cases the system was
impracticable.
Mr. Humphries—The departure is an evil in the opinikin of
the first. authorities. 1

• The depositions of all the witnesses examined, with the
exception of Cuckson and his daughter, in the case desig-
nated the case of John Stewart, having been read, swo to,
and signed,
Mr. Weir (of Messrs. Freshfield's house) stated that hese
two witnesses would, no doubt, reach town in the course of
the dal, and would attend upon his Lordship at the moment
of their arrival, in order to be formally sworn to their state-
ments.

The LORD MAYOR—I shall most willingly attend at the
Giltspur-street Compter.
The following is an account of the sums of money stated to
have been obtained by means of the wills alleged to have
been forged upon the evidence which has already appeared
in detail before the public:—
IN THE CASE OF ANNE SLACK-3,5001. Consols ; 1,131/.
10d. dividend.

IN THE CASE OF ELIZA BuRoHARD-300/. Consols ;162/.
dividend-7001. • Three-and-a-Half Reduced ; 4461. ss.
dividend.
IN THE CASE OF JOHN STEWART-51/. per annum ong
Annuities; 7391. 10s. dividend.
IN THE CASE OF MARY HUNT-1,210 Consols ; 435/. 12s.
dividend.

It has been stated in some of the newspapers that a clerk
in the Bank of England had been discovered to have been an
accomplice in these transactions, and that he had made corn-
munications which completely involved Barber in the
guilt of forging the wills. The report, as far as regards,
evidence affecting Barber, is incorrect. There has been no
statement made, we are given to understand, by any person
in the establishment relative to the participation of Barber
beyond that with which the public has been made acquainted
through the medium of the press, at the several exammations
which have taken place. It is true, however, that a clerk in
the Bank has acknowledged that he had supplied the prisoner
Fletcher with inforrnation from the Bank books as to the
amounts, and other particulars, in every one of the cases on
which the prisoners are to be committed. It is understood
that the individual we allude to gave the information to
Fletcher corruptly, but it is understood that he was not at all
cognizant of the object of Fletcher, which was not, as he con-
jectured, to find out the existing representatives of deceased
parties, but to- create representatives by false wills and false
personations.
Some statements have been also made relative to Mrs.
Dorey, which it is necessary to notice. Paragraphs have
appeared, representing that she made a confession of all the
circumstances in the transactions in which she has been
charged with having been concerned, several days ago. She
has made a statement, which she declares to be correct, but
it certainly was not made until Thursday, the day before the ,
examination, included in the above account. The particu-
lars of her statement are kept strictly private. One circum-
stance, however, we believe, has appeared in the midst of her
representations. In the case of Eliza Burchard, whom she
represented, when she went to perform her part in that
piece, she found upon entering the room that everything had
been put in a state of complete preparation by barber and
Fletcher. We are not aware what degree of credit is at-
tached to the communications which shelas made, but it is
very currently reported that she had previously expressed
great anxiety to make statements, and that they were found
to have been concocted in such a manner as showed that her
only object was to serve herself
It will be remembered that Mr. Freshfield stated on a
former occasion, that where a party impugned the transfer
by the Commissioner for the Reduction of the National Debt
of stock to another party, a duty was imposed by Act of
Parliament on the party defrauded to follow the person who
wrongfully obtained the money as well as the money itself,
and that Mr. Baxter, the solicitor of Miss Slack, was pre-
parink a bill in Chancery for that purpose. We understand I
that a bill was yesterday accordingly filed in the Court of I
Chancery by Miss Slack, claiming the twe stuns of 1,0001.

Quintals.
French native coal, 30,033,820
Belgian, .
English,
We had here an important, and rapidly increasing,
export trade with France, in almost the only article
left open by her. Tariff; and this has been spoiled by
Sir Robert Peel's most injudicious and obnoxious
export duty. Since 1842, the decline is stated as having
been even more rapid than the previous increase, and
Rouen is again being supplied with coal from Bel-
gium. Many of our readers may not be aware"of the
great consumption of coal in France. The native
mines began to be worked in 1719 : the quality of the
coal obtained from them is inferior both to our own and
the Belgian coal. On a rough calculation, the propor-
tion of coal to wood used in France as fuel is one
sixth, or, in calorific power, about one-third. We
now come to the threatened new tax on coal in
the port of London. Sir R. Peel must surely have
mistaken the sturdy (some of them grimy) people in-
terested in the sea-borne Coal Trade for officers'
widows ; or he never would have ventured thus to
aim blow after blow at their existence. We tell him
very respectfully that they won't stand it. The Thames
is not quite the Neva yet, and must be contented, as in
the days of the Critic, to flow between its own banks,
without expecting stone ones from Imperial tyranny.
London will not have an additional coal-taxcoal-tax; erpetuated
upon all its poor, as the Minister thinks to perpetuate
his income-tax on all who are just above the poor.
Two such presents are quite too much of a good thing
from one minister. We are content with the one ; we
do not mean to submit to the other.

STANDARD.—The subject of harbours of refuge,
and let us add of rendezvous, for armed vessels, which
carve under the consideration of the House of Cominons
last night, is one of the most important that can occupy
public attention. This is not the first time that we have
said so, as will be seen by the following extract from a
number of this journal published some years ago. which
we find in Mr. Stewart's report addressed to Captain
Brandreth, of the Admiralty:—
" CHANNEL HARBOUR OF REFUGE.—We rejoice to see
that the subject of a refuge harbour in the Channel has
been again revived. This is a project of Mr. Pitt, which,
but for the demands of the war of 1793, would have been
realised almost half a century ago ; and it is a project, the
importance of which it is impossible to over-rate. A refuge
harbour in a prominent position in a frequented part of the
Channel, and in deep water, would obviate nine-tenths of
the wrecks that annually occasion so much sorrow and such
great losses. To such a harbour all vessels would in threat-
ening weather boldly direct their course, without looking to
the doubtful security of bad ports, that prove so often
treacherous and fatal. The value of such a harbour is,
therefore, not to be measured by the losses that have oc-
curred in its immediate neighbourhood ; it will be the means
of safety to the whole Channel navigation. Dover is the
site which we have heard preferred by most naval* men,
and a refuge harbour at Dover would at once render harmless
the Goodwin Sands, except in cases of gross mismanage-
ment or indiscretion. We prefer to dwell upon the pacific
advantages of such a harbour, but its uses in time of war
would be so great' that it were injustice to the subject to
omit them. A dozen line-of-battle ships, and a dozen first-
4tAss war steamers, with transports, &c., riding deep
NM,* at-Dover, with the facilities of rapid approach, now
about 'tot-be secured by railroads, would leave the whole
west coast of Europe, from the Baltic to the Tagus, abso-
lutely at the mercy 6f Great Britain. Had we possessed
these advantages at an3r time in the twenty years from 1793
to 1813, how promptly could we have terminated the war
that so long tormented Europe, and cost this country
2,000,000,0001. Such an easy outlet to the incalculable
power of England presents a prospect which it would be the
extreme of rashness even to sketch in outline," _

This passage expresses what is still our opinion, with
regard to a Channel harbour, but we confess that what
Sir Robert Peel said last night considerably extends our
views. It is not the English Channel alone which
calls for such a means of safety for commerce and
of defence for the country. Every side of
England ought to have the advantage of a capa-
cious deep-water harbour in a salient position, not
only for the • security of our commercial marine,
but for the purpose of national defence in the time of
war. The expense ought to be no consideration, for
the difference of costs between the wear and tear of
fleets riding at anchor in smooth water, and cruising in
all seasons and all weathers, would cover the expense
in two or three years of war, and this without
taking into account the security against such fright-
ful casualties as the loss of Admiral Christian's. fleet.
The misfortune is, however, that in this country,
as •in every other free country, great efforts will
rarely be made, even for the most useful objects, except
under some feeling of high excitement, or in cases of
imminent necessity.- Hence our wars are more frequent
than they would be if we were better prepared ;
they last longer, and are immeasurably more
expensive. As we have lately had occasion to
remark, wars among civilised countries are now
scarcely ever undertaken with a view to con-
quest— they are generally resorted to as a means
of extorting some advantage by a process of . com-
paratively small injury and temporary annoy-
ance ; but the' nation which is best secured from
this vexatious molestation must plainly be the
nation least subject to attack,,, especially when her
ultimate power is known to be invincible. Napoleon,
in the plenitude of his power, and in the most
frenzied stage of his ambition, never fancied more from
his projected invasion of England than a run to London,
the utmost effect of which would be to detach England
from her allies, and thus leave the Continent at his
mercy, We need scarcely say, however, that
a stout fleet riding at anchor 'at Dover would
have expelled even this dream. How much in
pounds, shillings, and pence would the country
have thus saved by the possession of a capacious deep-
water harbour at Dover, another at some salient point in
the North Sea, and another in St. George's Channel ?
The possession of three such harbours must,- while
England shall maintain her maritime superiority, ren-
der -for ever ridiculous any attempt to molest her,
even in a slight degree; and then, what could lead any,
nation to the folly of engaging in a quarrel, when all the
injury must fall to its own share? Steam, it is true
has greatly modified war, and given to this
country immense advantages ; but still sailing-
vessels of large size must he empoyed, and in a military
view such harbours as we speak of are necessary to give
full scope to their efficacy. The reasons for establishing
harbours of refuge for the commercial marine are soon
told-700 or 800 annual shipwrecks, with a miserable
waste of human life.

CAMBRIDGE, FEB. 2 8 .--The following appointments
have taken place :—The Rev. C. Tucker, M.A., of St. Peter's
I College, to the rectory of Washford Pyne. The Rev. Na-
thaniel Robert Dennis, .8.A., of Corpus Christi College, to
the rectory of East Blatchington, Sussex. The Rev. Edward
Franks Hodgson, M.A., of St. John's College, to the rectory
of Holton-cum-Beekenng, Lincolnshire. The Rev. James
Akroyd Beaumont, 8.A., of Trinity, College, to the
perpetual
curacy of St. Mary, Quarryhill, Leeds. The Rev. George
Farley, M.A.,. of Trinity College, to the perpetual curacy
of Cherhill, Wilts. The Rev. Thomas Westmorland,' M.A.
of Sidney College, to the vicarage of Sandal 1.1
Wakefield. agult, near

HIGH WATER AT LONDON-BRIDGE TI&IS DAY.
Morning .. 0 minutes after 0 I Evening .. 12 minutes after 0,