The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-01 00:00:00

DUTCH MAIL.

THE HAGUE, JUNE 27.—The Session of the States-
General was closed yesterday by his Excellency the Mi-
nister of the Interior, who addressed the Chambers in
the following terms :-
6' Noble and Mighty Lords,—The session which is
about to close has produced a happy change in the pro-
vinces of the kingdom.
" The consequences of the disastrous events which oc-
curred in the last year gave reason to entertain the most
serious apprehensions for the financial interests of the
kingdom.
_ _

''But the perfect understanding that has prevailed
between the Government and the Chambers, when it was
necessary to agree on salutary measures, and, on the other
hand, the exemplary co-operation of the nation in car-
rying them into execution, have opened to the country
a cheering prospect.
" The budget which has been recently adopted, the
savings which have been made in the funds which were
disposable for the last year, and the suppression of a
considerable number of special funds, are so many facts
which bear witness to the zeal of the Government, not
only in providing for the regular course of the affairs
of the country, but also for the effectual improvement of
its permanent interest.
" The settlement of our financial interests has, however,
required so much time, that it has not been possible to
lay before you other important subjects of legislation.
It has been necessary to confine ourselve to some special
projects of law, most of which have met with your
approbation.
" Important matters are, therefore, reserved for you
next session, besides others emanating from Art 6 of the
Fundamental Law, and those on the tariff of import, ex-
port, and transit duties.
" If the spirit of concord continues to prevail in the
energetic efforts which we desire to make, in order to
promote the interest of the country, we may hope for the
most favourable result. In the name of the King, I de-
clare the present session of the States General to be
closed."
The Stoats Courant publishes a Royal decree relative
to the disposal of the first instalment of the capital sum
of eighty millions of florins, at 21 per cent. interest, in-
scribed to the credit of the kingdom of the Netherlands
in the Great Book of the kingdom of Belgium, conform-
ably to section 6 of Art. 63 of the treaty of sth Novem-
ber, 1842,

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
(SATURDAY.)
GUILDHALL.

Mr. I?cbert Reeves, a pawnbroker, carrying on busi-
ness in Redcross-street, Cripple ate, appeared before
Messrs. Aldermen T. Johnson and Hooper, to answer an
information filed against him by a man named M`Callan,
a common informer, for having exacted a larger amount
of interest than was allowed by the Pawnbrokers' Act, to
which offence he pleaded not guilty ; and Mr. Hum-
phries, the solicitor, attended to defend him.
James Hurst stated, that on the 27th ult. he was en-
trusted with a duplicate to redeem two books, which
were in pledge for 45., in the name of Ann Parker, from
the 15th of April, 1843. He tendered ss. as payment,
and received 7d. as change, sd. being charged as interest,
which was an overcharge, 31d. and four-tenths of a far-
thing being the legal and just amount of interest due on
the loan.

M‘Uallan having stated that that was all the evidence
he had against the defendant,
Mr. Humphries proceeded to cross-examine the witness,
from which it will be pretty well seen the kind of crea-
tures that so callously pounce upon and victimise timid
tradesmen, who prefer compromising the affair to being
dragged before the public, and their affairs made known
s:i a police-court.
Mr. Humphries—Now, Mr. Hurst, do you know this
Miss Anne Parker—did you ever see her ? Witness—
No, I do not.

Mr. Humphries—But you have redeemed several

pledges in the name of Anne Parkcr ? Witivss—Yes'
I have ; perhaps about four.
Mr. Humphries—What are you by trade ? 'Witness
—A bookbinder.

Mr. Humphries—But you don't work at the book-
binding now ? Witness—No, Ido not ; lam painting
and decorating Mr. I.ll‘Callan's house.
Mr. Humphries—Oh, indeed ; you are then a painter
and decorator, besides being a bookbinder. Pray, in
what capacity did you start in the world ? Witness—
In a little dragooning—(Laughter)—about so:.ven years
ago.

-Mr. Humphries—And you then turned a life-guards-
man, and afterwards a policeman. Witness—Exactly
so.—(Much laughter.)
Mr. Humphries—ln fact, within the space of seven
years, you have been a dragoon, a life-guardsman,
policeman, painter and decorator, bookbinder, and,
above all, a common informer's witness.—(Continued
laughter.) Witness (with an impudent air)—Just so, I
can turn my hand to anything.—(Roars of laughter.)
Mr. Humphries—Not a doubt of it, sir. You have no
regular occupation, either in the bookbinding, painting,
or soldiering ? Witness—None whatever ; I get my
living the best way I can.
Mr. Humphries—Now, how does M'Callan pay you ?
—by the job ? Witness—No, by the lump.
Mr. Humphries—How much did-you get for the day
you called at the defendant's? Witness—five shillings.
I called at foal- other pawnbrokers on the same day.
Mr. Humphries—And you go out in the hope of the
unfortunate pawnbrokers making a slight overcharge, so-
that you may lay an information against them? Wit-
ness—lf they charge too much I certainly do inform
against them.
Mr. Humphries—You have been in Mr. M'Callan's
employ some time, and given evidence in numerous cases?
Witness—l have so.

Mr. Humphries—ln fact, you are paid for swearing,
are you not? and are also paid before you do swear.
Witness—l am generally paid before I give evidence.
Mr. Humphries then in a very spirited manner ad•
dressed the Bench, and submitted that the defendant
could not be convicted upon the evidence of a man like
Hurst. They proceeded quite in a systematic manner
to ensnare their victiniF, and in the hope of convicting
them, it was evident that they would strain their con-
sciences to the utmost to answer their purpose.
The Magistrates then consulted together, and after a
few minutes

Mr Alderman JOHNSON said that they fined the de-
fendant los., hut remarked the worthy Alderman, not
one fraction of it will be allowed to the informer.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
Inn. Dunn, Esq., of Tredegar-square, and Henry Nor-
ton, Esq., of Russell-square, gentlemen, were brought
before Mr. Ilardwick, charged with having assaulted
Mr. Willshire, confectioner, 332, Oxford-street. There
was a, second charge against Dunn fur having also as-
saulted the police
From the statement of Mr. Willshire, it appeared that
the defendants brought two females. into his shop the
previous evening to treat them to some pastry. The
conduct of the defendants while in the shop was noisy
and unbecoming, and when one of them began beating with
his whip upon the table, it was necessary to make an ap-
peal to them to behave themselves with more propriety.
The defendants demanded to know what they had to pay,
and when told the price of the delicacies they -had con-
sumed was 4s. Gd., one of them told Mr. Wiltshire he
was a liar. Mr. Willshire was eventually paid, but was
subjected to great abuse, and ultimately he was struck
by Mr. Dunn with his whip. Assistance was called,
and some of the journeymen came to protect their mas-
ter, but they could not interfere time enough to prevent
Mr. Willshire from being again beaten with the whip,
and also struck by Mr. Norton. In consequence of this
iiolent outrage the police were called, and then the de-
fendants made their escape out of the shop, but they
were pursued and taken into custody. When police-
constable C 68 laid hold of Mr. Dunn, ho was asked
.vliether he had any charge against him, and on being
told he had none, but that Mr. Willshire had insisted
0n being released, and gave the constable a smart push
r blow in order to effect his object. It was further
stated that the defendant did not appear to be sober.
The defendants said they were quite sober. They had
been dining at Verrey's, and had drank not more than
about two bottles and a half of wine, and this would
not make them drunk, as Mr. Verrey would prove, if
sent for. With respect to the charge, they said the
affray had arisen in consequence of some remarks having
been made on the behaviour of the ladies who wore then
under their protection, and whom they had just met
with in Regent-street, and at their solicitation treated to
some refreshment.

Mr. Hannwicx. said the evidence to establish an
assault on the police was sufficient to satisfy him, as
well as that a gross assault had also been committed
on the complainant. The law gave magistrates a power
to commit at once to the House of Correction, where a
charge of assault was proved on a constable, and in
the case of a poor and uneducated man this power was
frequently made use of. Persons of station and educa-
tion, guilty of the same misconduct, were less entitled to
forbearance, for they had the means of knowing their
duty to society, and the necessity for respecting the
laws, which persons in an humbler station had not. If
the defendants had been assaulted they would have ap-
plied for protection to the police, and it was therefore
but right that the police should be protected in their
turn. Taking the whole of the charge into account he
was very much inclined to think that a money penalty
was an inadequate punishment, and that it was his duty
to commit at once to the thuse of Correction.
Mr Dunn exhibited undisguised alarm at this intima-
tion, expressed his sorrow for what had occurred, and
added that if any assault had been committed on the
police, which he certainly never intended to commit, it
was of a very slight character.
Mr. HARDWICK said the slightness of the assault was
the only circumstance of mitigation in the case. He de-
sired it to be understood that when the police were sub-
jected to ill-usage in the execution of their duty, it was
his determination to inflict the punishment of imprison-
ment, and not to impose a fine, and neither the rank or
station of parties should shield them from the penalty of
their misconduct.

Mr. ITAanwicK then adjudged Mr. Dunn to pay 5/.
for the assault on Mr. Wiltshire, and 5L for the assault
on the police. Mr. Norton was fined 51 for the assault
on Mr. Willshire.-7—The fines, 15/. in amount, were im-
mediately paid.
The parish authorities of St. James's brought John
Horne Diamond, a person dressed in handsome sailor's
clothes, before Mr. Hardwick, for having deserted his
his wife and children.

It was stated that the wife was the daughter of a
clergyman named Pascoe, who died suddenly a few years
ago in the pulpit while preaching a charity sermon ; up-
wards of 9,0001. was collected for the support of the
widow and her children, one of whom was the present
complainant, who having picked up the defendant, a
common sailor, married him, and gave Lim the control
of some hundreds of pounds, which eel' to her share.
Her husband soon squandered the while of the money
by the most reckless profligacy, and he then abandoned
her and went to sea. The wife had suffered very great
privations, and had been obliged to have recourse to the
parish. The husband, who had never contributed a
farthing towards the support of his family, recently re-
turned from sea, and took up his quarters in the next
street to where the wife lived ; but he mever made the
smallest inquiry about her, though he was very particu-
lar in inquiries about the mother, who lived on the pro-
ceeds of part of the charitable fund, at whose death a
portion was likely to come to his wife.
The defendant said he had not the means of supporting
his wife.

Mr. Buzzard, the vestry-clerk, said the man came
home with money, spent it upon himself., and then went
another voyage. _

Mr. HAitnixcic said no punishment coruld be too great
for such unprincipled and unfeeling conduct. He should
go as far as the law allowed, and send the defendant at
once to the House of Correction for three months.

GORMANDISING EXTRAORDINARY. - The other
week, a person resident in Walton, with a stomach of no
ordinary capabilities, undertook for a wager to eat three
pounds of bacon, and drink four bottles of ginger-beer; and
two quarts of buttermilk, which he performed to the great
astonishment of a numerous assembly of spectators.—Lan-
caster Guardian.