The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-02 00:00:00

THE ►STATE OF THE STREETS.

There is no stronger proof of the misapplication of
money and means, than that afforded by the present
filthy state of the streets throughout this great metropo-
lis. Thousands of pounds are annually collected (we
may say fraudulently collected) under the pretence of
applying the amount fiir the cleansing of the streets, and
yet they are not cleansed. Thousands of our fellow-
creatures are wandering about all parts of this huge
town who would be glad of a day's work—nay, who
are eyen starving for want of employment—and yet
this labour, which they ; could all perform without
any apprenticeship, and so. much to the benefit of the
community, is denied them, and thereby they are
compelled to beg, to 'steal, or to starve. We are told
that in every parish, or district, contracts are made
by which parties bind themselves to cause all the
streets to be swept, and the mud and filth to be re-
moved at certain periods. Every parish has one or
two beadles, part of whose duty it is to see that those
contracts are duly performed, and to enforce the
penalties incurred by every neglect of duty ; yet, with
all these precautions, the contractors appear to en-
joy perfect immunity, and to do just as they like. If
any public •spirited individual were to employ sweepers,
and set them to work to remove the mud from the
streets, he would be stopped by these beadles, or the
police, and would be told that he had no authority to
do so, and that the mud and sweepings were the pro•
party of the contractor ; and thus the contract that was
fr.uned for the benefit of the public would be turned
again to their disadvantage. The misconduct of the
contractor creates a nuisance, and you suffer from it
daily and hourly, but you are not allowed to abate the
nui,ance. John Bull always gets the worst of a tariff,
a treaty, or a contraet.—Tinies.
[Our Contemporary might have attacked another party
infinitely more to blame than the contractors—namely,
the police. The greatest annoyance to the public is the
filthy state of the toot-pavements, yet, while the late
Police Act authorises, nay, makes it an imperative duty
on the police to inform against all householders who
refuse to keep it clean in front of their houses, no step
whatever is taken to enforce the law. The police con-
stables and inspectors are very active in laying informa-
tiuna against publicans fur supplying refreshments at
ct main hours, yet, while serious accidents occur every
day from the disgraceful stag: of the pavements, the new
Liv is trt wed as a dead letter.—En. Sun.]

ESCAPE OF.CONVICTS FROM THE
COUNTY GAOL, NOTTINGHAM.
On Sunday afternoon last several convicts made their
esc:.pe from the county gaol. .Between four and five
o'clock, on the second turnkey going down into the felons'
yard, an attack was made upon him, the key taken away,
and he was locked in the yard. Six convicts rushed up
the steps, proceeded to the outer door, where, meeting
with the head turnkey, they fell upon him, knocked him
down with great violence, and, forcing the key from his
haul, which he resolutely held for some time, they. un-
locked the door and out they ran. An alarm was given,
but the men have all escaped. We have received the
fullownw description of them :—Joseph Smith, aged 21,
stands five feet nine inches in height, fresh complexion,
brim n hair, hazel eyes, and oval visage ; Joseph Bowerw,
aged 30, five feet six inches high, fresh complexion, dark
brown hair, oval visage, and several sears on' the left
hand ; John Binns, aged 54, five feet seven inches high,
fry sh complexion, brown hair, and oval visage, lately
lived in Derbyshire. These • three men were convicted
0: the burglary at Sutton Binnington, at the house of
the Rev. Robert Muck, and were sentenced to transpor-
tation fur life, at the late special assize. Thomas Burton,
aged 36 years, five feet nine inches high, dark corn-
, xion, dark brown hair, hazel eyes, oval visage, and
under sentence of transportation fur fifteen years, bu-
sty:ding ten lamb hogs at Farnsfield, in the county of
Nottingham. Wm. Thompson, aged 22, five feet six
inches high, fresh complexion, brown hair, grey eyes,
and oval visage ; convicted at the late special assize of
burglary at Fiskerton, Nottinghamxhii e, and sentenced
to be transported fur ten years. Thomas Green, aged 24,
five feet nine WO es high, brown hair, light complexion ;
convicted of burglary. at Fiskerton, and was sentenced
at the late special assize to transportation. for life. The
convicts all had the pri•on dress, and were without hats.
A large reward is offered fur tin it apprehension. Burton
was taken in an hour and a half afterwards, within two
miles of the town, near Colwick wood.

(FROM A COHRESP6NDYNT.)—We understand that
within a few days the whole of the members of the
Cabinet will repair to the metropolis from their respec-
tive country seats. The object of this.early meeting of
the leading members of the- Government is confidently
said to be in reference to affairs in Ireland. There is
not the slightest doubt that there exists some foundation
for such statement, as at the close of the last week cir-
culars from the First Lord of the Treasury were for-
warded from Downing-street to the Duke of Buceleuch,
at Dalkeith Palace, Duke of Wellington, &c. Sir Robert
Peel, who lws Ini.n passing the Christmas at Drayton
Manor, surrounded by a select party of frierdi, is fully
expected in town by Friday next.
ACCIDENT TO FEARGUS O'CONNOR.—A fish bone
has been so firmly fixed in Mr. O'Connor's throat since
last Thursday, that all effuts have failed to remove it.
His medical attendant deems his situation so precarious
that he has ordered Lim to abstain front all conversation.
THE SALE OF LIEUTENANT 'MUNRO'S EFFECTS.—
N.tuithstanding the order of the Coroner prohibiting a
sale of the property of Mr. Munro, in Brompton-square,
the sale still continues to be advertised for to-morrow
and Thursday next. It is stated that, subsequent to the
stoppage of the sale, a communication was had between
Mr. Kirke's solicitor and the legal adviser of Lieutenant
Munro's family, and Mr. Maul°, the solicitor of the
Treasury, who, on the part of her Majesty's GOvern-
rwmt, most distinctly declared that the sale was stopped
without their knowledge or consent. It is also stated
that the furniture, &c., in questii. n is not the property
of Lieut. Munro, but of his lady, under trustees, and,
therefore, not liable to confiscation l and that, even sup-
posing it to be otherwise, the only power the Coroner
' possessed by the Act of Edward I. is to take an inven-
tory of the sale, and Li attach the amount received, until
the result of the trial has been ascertained. It is reported
, that, should the sale be attempted, Mr. Wakley will
again interfere and prohibit it, but that he will be Immo-
diat.ly served with notice of action by Mr. Kirke, &c.,
who will still proceed with disposing of the proeerty.
Itriuvr-oaER CHEMICAL CAUSE OF THE FIRE AT
LIVEP.POOL.—We have received the following from a
correspondent :—" It is known that the strong smell of
sugar, proceeding front the stoves of sugar-houses, is a
gas liable to ignition. The places about the stoves are
kept very air- tight. The particularly heavy atmosphere
1, 14!ii has prevailed for a length of time may have
assisted the accumulation and favoured the chemical
changes to which this gas is liable to a point when explo-
I sion must take place, without any contact of flamer belt
from the affinities and particular state of electricity
governing the elements composing the sugar gas, to re-
solve itself Into pew combinations. We trust the sub-
ject will be taken up by sploittfte men." It was currently
reported through the town that the zpfm were locked in
when at work, but there is no truth whatever in the
statemens.—Liverpod Journal,