The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-03 00:00:00

CHINA

We find in the Chinese Olio of Captain Pidding trans-
mitted last week, a mass of curious information respect-
ing the country with which, apparently, he is so well
acquainted, and such as one could hardly suppose it
would be.in his power to extend from week to week.
Doubtless, however, as indeed professed, there are ample
materials, or the task would not have been commenced.
The following items respecting the position of Russia,
with reference to China, are of some interest :

" Since the conclusion of the treaty at Nankin, an extra-
nrdinary defalcation bad become apparent in the commerce
carried on at Kiakhta, and along the line of Siberia, with
China. It was calculated that the defalcation would be
equal fully to two-thirds of the average traffic of late
years. Russian textile wares were entirely without de-
mand among the Chinese merchants, and the conse-
quence was that the manufacturers were encumbered
with stocks which, for other markets, were not generally
available. The cotton velvets, especially black, for
which Riga had acquired a, certain reputation, and
hich were a sort of standard article for the Chinese
trade, were quite unmarketable, to the great consterna-
tion of mazuf4cturers of that port. , The same was
the case with,cotton goods, and nearly so with the wool-
lens of Moscow. Under such circumstances the manu-
facturing interests of Russia were in the utmost dismay,
Many parties are stated to have stopped their works alto-
gether, and more to have partially suspended, or much
contracted their operations. It was apprehended that
the stoppage of the works would become more gene-
ral still.

"It appears beyond question, therefore, from these re-
results, that the opening of the north-eastern ports of
China to British enterprise has already been the means
of accomplishing a veritable revolution in the course of
commerce.

"We may be assured, however, that the policy of
Russia is not more asleep now in reference to China than
it has been for the last century. In view of the important
consequences which might be expected to flow both
politically and commercially from the treaty of Nankin,
betwixt Great Britain and China, a sort of diplomatic
army of observation was organised and dispatched last
year from St. Petersburgh to the frontiers, or rather to
range along the frontiers, of China. We are enabled,
in addition, to state that a Prince of the Tolstoy family
is at the head of this mission extraordinary, whose object
it cannot' be difficult to comprehend, and whose station,
in consonance'with the pursuit of those objects, may be
regarded as of permanent establishment."

THE 'MARQUIS OF LONDONDERRY AND ISIS COL-
LIERIES.—We are informed, by a correspondent, that
the Marquis of Londonderry has had a meeting with
some of the workmen•lately employed on his collieries,
but who are now out on strike, in obedience to the com-
mands of the union. We are given to understand that
at this interview the Noble Marquis expressed the
kindest feelings towards the pitmen, whom he earnestly
recommended to return to the paths of industry, but
at the same time signified, in the most decided terms,
his determination not to allow hi§ collieries to remain
idle. He would, he said, give his former workmen a
short time to consider whether they would resume their
labour ; and if they did not within that period intimate
their intention'to do so, he would repair to his Irish
estates and bribg ovor a sufficient number of men, who
were able and desfrous to work for an honest and re-
spectable livelihood.—Durham Chronicle.
Street-begging by the pitmen, their wives, and
children, is increasing to such an extent in this city as to
demand the interposition of the civil authorities. The
fact is painfully illustrative of the deep distress in which
they must have been involved by their misguided con-
duct, in throwing up their employment ; but misfortune
wilfully courted, and perversely hugged as men would
cherish a blessing, merits no sympathy and will receive
but little commisseration. It is to be feared, too, that
the alms occasionally bestowed, sometimes fall into the
most- worthless hands. An instance in point occurred a
manifesti
gains,l l
theythey
h
etyhe
day or two ago. Three fellows began to beg at the en-
trance to the town, and continued their perambulations
theya commondhg
ad r
a 4ces
it
untarddee.
eachthey ;
when, dividing their
went
_and
whereupon,a
gotto
drunk out of the money. tagain.—
Bounty thus abused is not,
we should think,
Durham Chronicle
TILE
r/very likely to be conferred ain.—
N.
RAISING VIND.—A most ingenious l'act
imposition, attended with a forgery upon a highly respect-
ableeed a few days since
enacted solicitor's firm in the city,
in the legal neighbourhood yof was
Lincoln's Inn. It appears
some rogue " learned in the law," prepared a fictitious case
in the usual terms of legal technicality, and which was
duly
endorsed " Case for the opinion of Mr. Bethell
2 guineas."
The names of certain clients of Mr. Bethell's, usa w
endorsed at the bottom of the " case," and a cheque fu'rleorte
purporting to be drawn by them upon Messrs. Lubbock, the
bankers, was presented to the clerk, who, unsuspecting the
fraud, at once handed over the difference between the fee and
the 10/. Upon the cheque being presented for payment, the
forgery was at once discovered. The delinquent, of course,
pocketed the change with inward glee at the adroitness of
the imposition; but it is a question whether he will success-
fully play the same game again, as we advise the profession
to be on the alert.

TEL L I GE N CE.
VIVE-CITANCELLGSII' S COURT JuOe 1.

(Before Sir J. WaanAm.)
• The Court was Occupied, during the morning, with the
hearing of short causes and unopposed petitions. When the
latter had been gone through. the Court proceeded with the
part-heard cause of Benson v. Hadfield, which was the first
cause set down on the paper.
(Before Sir J. K. L BRUCE.)
Several cases were disposed of in the course of the morn-
ing, bat none of them involved any feature of public interest.

BAIL COURT, June 1.
. . (Before Mr. Justice WroaTmAx.)
THE QUEEN V. THE CORPORATION OF WEYMOUTH.

Mr. KINOLAKE applied to the Court to quash the return
made by the mayor and burgesses of Weymouth to the writ
of mandamus in this case. The mandamus was directed to
the mayor and burgesses to elect two revising assessors. By
the Act of the sth and 6th of William IV., c. 76, sec. 18,
the mayor and assessors for the time being were to revise the
burgess .list ; but, to get rid of the inconvenience that arose
from the words "for the time being," a subsequent statute
directed that the revising assesors should be elected on the Ist
of March every year, in the same manner as the auditors of the
borough, but if no assessors were elected, the old burgess-list
was to continue in force. No assessors had been elected on
the, Ist of March, and therefore on the 9th of November,
when the list was to be revised, it was found there were no
assessors to revise it. The mandamus issued to compel them,
and the return they made, was, that there was no assessor,
which was not a proper return ' • because, if there was no as-
sessor, it was competent to the Mayor to hold a meeting and
elect them, under the 11th of Geo. I. Another objection
against the return was, that it was vague and uncertain.
Mr. Wrearriumr—By the late Act it was necessary that
you should proceed by demurrer.
Application refused.

~The prisoner uttered not a word, but appeared to be
*ery desirous to get out of the roam.
The LORD MAYOR—From several inquiries which I
have caused to be made, I find that the character given
of you by the gentleman who wrote the letter is in every
respect accurate—that you are a convicted thief, a com-
mon prostitute, and an imposter of considerable skill.
I shall now convict you as a rogue and vagabond, and
sentence you to imprisonment for three months, in the
Giltspur• street Compter ; and I assure you that the next
time you make your appearance here, I shall, if possible,
send you to the Old Bailey.
The prisoner then retired, covering her face with her
hands, without making once an experiment of her skill
with the Lord Mayor.
. . . BOW-STREET. • • -
Mrs,- Evans landlady of the -Old brury.Tavein, in
Brydges-street,-- Covent garden, was summoned before
Mr. Twyford, for permitting prostitutes to assemble in
her house. From the evidence of Inspector Black, it
appeared that on the the 24th of May he
went into Mrs. Evans's house at half-past four in the
morning, and saw four females drinking at the bar. Ile
remained in the house a few minutes, when Mrs. Evans
ordered the potboy to turn the women out.
Mr. Clarkson, who attended for Mrs. Evans, inquired
how long the females were in the house ?—lnspector
Black replied that he only remained in the house three
minutes, and that was all he knew of the time they were
there.
Mr. TWYFORD said he did nOthink that was sufficient
time to bring the case under the Act of Parliament ; he
was of opinion that it could not be considered harbouring
prostitutes.
Inspector Black said he -was bound by his duty, on
visiting public-houses, to report fo his superintendent
when he saw any improper characters in public-houses.
Mr. TWYFORD was not finding fault with the witness.
He knew he had only done his duty. He should order
the present summons to be dismissed.
Mr. Clarkson then rose and said, he knew he was out
of order, but he hoped the Magistrate would allow him
to say a few words respecting the case in question. He
thought it perfectly absurd that such a case had been
brought forward at all. The Commissioners of Police
and,superintendentswemed to him as if they were en-
deavouring to stretch the Act of Parliament to its
greatest extent. They knew that Mrs. Evans's tavern
was a night house, and that such persons as she was
summoned for 'harbouring were in the habit of going
there to get any refreshment they could require. It was
not to be supposed that such persons could live without
refreshment. They must have some house to go to,
and yet the police, although there was no -noise
or disturbance, or indecency, must summon Mrs.
Evans, and put her to an immense expense to
defend herself, for what ?—for allowing four unfortunate
outcasts to drink a glass of ale or gin before her bar.
He was sure the Legislature never contemplated such
cases when they made the Act of Parliament, but he
really thought the Act would never be construed pro-
perly. His object in taking up the time of the Court
was merely in order that his statement might meet the
eyes of influential persons, and show them the manner in
which the licensed victuallers were persecuted by the
misconstruction of a simple Act of Parliament. He did
not find fault with Inspector Black for doing his duty to
his superiors in reporting the case, and he thought there
was much credit due to him (Black) for the straight-
forward way in which he had given his evidence, and
not attempted to stretch the case. He must say, how-
ever, that his superiors must be very inferior persons,
II hen they determined that this was a proper case to be
brought before a magistrate. 'The learned counsel then
thanked Mr. Twyford for the attention which he bad
paid to his remarks, and withdrew.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

Guiseppe Gatti and Dcmc;ico Miasti, two Italians,
were charged with procuring and encouraging children
to wander about the street to beg ar.d gather alms. The
prosecution had been preferred by Mr. Horry, of the
" Society for the prevention of the importation of Italian
boys and other foreigners for illegal purposes." The
boys were found by the officers of the Mendicity Society
and a person named Lucioni, in the act of begging in the
streets with their instruments, and Mr. Hardwick had
granted a summons that Gatti and Miasti, the masters,
might be brought to answer the offence.
Stiffano Dominica, the first lad, appeared to prove the
case against Gatti. He was iterags, and carried a dila-
pidated hurdygurdy. Ills story was, that he had been
seven weeks in England, having come from Genoa
through France. Not finding Andrea, a man to, whom
he had been. directed in this country, Gatti gave him
the instrument he bore, desiring him to go and play it
in the streets. Gatti received from him the money he
collected by this means, which fluctuated from 10d. to
13d., and on some rare occasions to 16d. per day; and
in exchange for which he received his lodging and food.
He was neither beaten or maltreated when, after an un
successful day, he brought home little money. Seven or
eight other boys were similarly employed by Gatti.
Mr. Robinson, on behalf of Gatti, entered into legal
equivocation, contending that by Dominica's own state-
ment, that person merely acted as agent for Andrea ;
and in reply to other remarks,
Mr. HARDWICK said, that the fact of Gatti's " encou-
raging" the lad to procure alms was clear. The state-
ment that no ill-usage had been resorted to, only miti-
gated the aggravation of the case ; even as the agent,
Gatti, would be amenable. It was a notorious fact, that
a class of persons in this metropolis entrapped foreign
boys, preserving them in a state of vagrancy, and under
the pretext of playing instruments, or exhibiting animals,
employed them to beg. On the receipt of scanty earn-
jugs these boys were often mercilessly maltreated. The
boys were the mere instruments of the master's cupidity,
and punishment ought to alight on the real offenders,
who generally retreated into the back ground. Gatti
evidently kept a lodging-house for these poor wretches,
and made market of them. To repress and crush this
system, he should sentence Gatti to two months' im-
prisonment, and order the conviction to be returned, so
as to inflict the full penalty, in case of a repetition of the
offence ; nor should he accept bail except on due notice.
Mr. Robinson said he should appeal.
anRiT.
t htaht
o ifs the n
Domenico Miasti, the master of the other lad,
leiintroduced
;remarking,
7i dE Ales-
sandro Diboli, there being mitigatory circumstances in
t
his case, was sentenced on his charge to one month's im-
prisonment,painful circumstance of this system was, that hundreds
Mldlrwrineo.nanHtothus
v'
ps cuomunb numbers
d only be most
WORSHIP-STREET.
en fates t
o
cwoofeurfloereneverig nh
ckni
surmised.
known
stylishly dressed
_young men, named Daniel
Rodriguez, alias Rogers, a Portuguese Jew, and Charles
Stewart, a Scotchman, who. described themselves as
surgeons-chiropodists," were brought before Mr.
Broughton for re-axammination, charged on suspicion
of having been concerned in the commission of an exten-
sive burglary at the house of Mr. Peter Hay, watchmaker,
&c., in Leith-street, Edinburgh, and carrying off plate,
watches, and jewellery, to the amount of 1,5001 The
Ciairt was crowded with a countless swarm of Jews
from the purlieus of Petticoat-lane, who manifested the
warmest interest in the proceedings. Intelligence of
the robbery, which was committed on May the 2d, was
received in town, about three' weeks ago, and a list of the
stolen property was pnblished in the Nike Gazette, a
reward of 3001. being offered for the apprehension of the
thieves. It was believed that the robbery had been per-
petrated by two men, named Daniel Rogers and Charles
Stewart, a minute description of whose dress and persons
was also transmitted. Upon this a policeman immediately
proceeded to Petticoat-lane, where the father of Ro-
driguez resided, and where he found the prisoners,
whom he took into custody, Upon one of them was
found a gold watch, two gold chains,,a gold pin, three
gold rings; and various other articles, and on the person
of Rodriguez was found two cases of surgical instru-
ments, a gold pin, and a bill 'relating to the conveyance
of two boxes from Edinburgh, which were consigned,
on the 21st ult., to the care of a man named Martin,
residing' in Petticoat-lane. The house' in which Ro-
driguez lied, in Devonshire-terrace, Cambridge-road,
was then searched, end two large, boxes, corresponding
with those Mentioned in the bill, *were discovered, and
in one "of which was found' an immense quantity
ef wearing 'apparel, together with six gold breast pins,
the duplicate of a brequet gold chain, and other articles
of jewellery, similar to those in the advertised list of the
stolen property. There were also found amongst the
wearing apparel a light-coloured coat, and a blue cloth
cap with gold band, both answering the description of
similar articles stated to have been worn by one of the
robbers. It was.also ascertained that the prisoners had
carried on business in Edinburgh as " surgeon-chiro-
podists," and that they left 014 city about the period of
the robbery.
In answer fo the charge, both the prisoners stoutly
declared their innocence, and paid.that,it wits manifestly
That theY', cotall terve been. imlißcated in the
robbery, as they left Edinburgh two days before it was
alleged to have been committed, namely, on the 2d ult.,
and. that. on their arrival in town they put up at the
house of Abraham Belasco, the Gun and Star, Petticoat-
lane, who would be able to corroborate their statement.
On being examined, however, Mr. Belasco stated that
the, prisoners took lodgings at his house on the 13th ult.,
and he had seen nothing of them for at least six months
before that time.
The,prisoners were then remandedati enable the police
to give notice of their apprehension to the prosecutor
and the police authorities at Edinburgh.
The MAGISTRATE now read a letter which had been
subsequently received 'from Superintendent Haining, of
the Edinburgh police, who stated " that he had desired
in a previous letter that the prisoners were only to be
apprehended in the event of some of the property being
n
traced to their possession, and as he felt satisfied that
of the articles described as having been found upon
them' formed any portion of the stolen property, it
would be quite unnecessary to detain them any longer
in custody."
Mr. BROUGHTON, after perusing the letter, observed
that a more extraordinary document, emanating as it
did from an officer of justice, had never come under his
notice since he had held a seat on the bench. It was
quite manifest that the sole object of the superintendent
was to obtain the restoration of the property without re-
gard to the imperative demands of justice. Mr. Hurl-
stone, the clerk, was desired by the Magistrate to ad-
dress a letter to Mr. Hay, expressive of his sentiments,
and requiring his attendance to prosecute the case.
Mr. Robinson, who 'attended for the prisoners, said
that he was able to adduce undeniable evidence that'
every article found upon them had been honestly ob-
tained, and that they left Edinburgh two days before the
commission of the robbery.
The prisoners were then remanded until Wednesday
next, but the Magistrate agreed to accept bail for their
appearance on that day.
Mrs. Mary Ford, a fair specimenof an Irish wash arwoman,
was charged with riotous and irregular conduct at a most
unseasonable hour this morning, in College-walk, Chelsea.
QUEEN-SQUARE.
A policeman found her in the society of two of her sisterhood,
all of whom were apparently endeavouring to have the best
of an argument on some matter of domestic import. The
disturbance which they thus created in the almost deserted
street, disturbed the inhabitants from their repose, the most