The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-20 00:00:00

A

MORE MONOPOLY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUIV.
SIR,—In consequence of the new bastardy-law being
Passed, forms for the use of justices' elerlif became ne-
zssary. As monopoly seems to be the order of the day,
Ir. Lumley, one of the assistant-secretaries at the
14"or.law Commission-office, has drawn the various re-
quisite forms, and none can be legally used except
,those forms, which are to be had of Messrs. Shaw and
Tn, Fetter-lane. Therefore, justices' clerks throughout
the Country, must (without regard to inconvenience or
charge) send to London for those forms whenever they
41te occa:,ion for a supply. A printer in the country
bits actually been proceeded against for printing forms
required under this new bastardy law Strange as these
circumstances may appear, they are no more strange
than true. I at.. &c.
Dec. 18th, 1844. A JUSTICES' CLERK.

LOUIS NAPOLEON.

The PreasLc publishes the following letter, addressed io
that journal by Prince Louis Bonaparte :
" Fort of Ilam, Dec. 14, 1844.

" Sir,—l am ignorant of the person, calling himself
my friend, who has called at your office to attack the
history, as yet unpublished, of the captivity of the Em-
peror which General Montholon has written under my
eyes. I feel bound loudly to disavow the step taken by
that alleged friend.
"I regret, no doubt, that a history so serious, so tragical
as that which describes the agony of the chief of my fa-
mily should appear in a feuiiieton ; I regret even that this
patriotic publication should have been accented by a jotial-
nal (La Pre.,se) devoted to the Government. Never-
theless, I am happy that the authentic account of the last
sufferings of the Emperor and his last thoughts should
be at last made public.
" To suppose that • man who has shared the captivity
of the Emperor, and now shares mine, could write by
nay side anything derogatory to the memory of the
martyr of St. Helena, is to offer me a personal insult.
This is the reason that has induced me to address you on
the subject.—l am, &c.,
" NAPOLEON LOUIS BONAPARTE."

ICE LIFE PRESERVER.
o TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
''Uti—The following simile, yet, I trust, efficacious
Plan, is suggested for saving the lives of persons from
Perishing when immersed by the breaking of the ice. It
4PPlies more especially to Li ndon, and other large cities,
where
multitudes assemble enjoy the invigorating and
healthy, amusement of skating and sliding :—Let a
,_, 7_,°ng line similar to that used for suspending clothes
dry, or such as is employed in the whale fishery, be
ProviProvided, and of sufficient length to extend from one
ded,
of the water to the other, at its greatest breadth.
ti,° one end of the line a ring is to be fastened ; it is
;",,e,,° to be carried across the centre of the pond or lake,
c7"-, to
over the summit of two strong poles, twelve
caht,
feet high, secured in the ground, then strained
ellut, 50 as to enable persons to skate or slide without
.Otis feet
obstruction. A strong rope, like a waggon rope,
.ntae feet longer than the line, will be required, to which
*llook is to be attached, and,must bevery carefully coiled
Placed on a light carriage, which is to be stationed
near the poles. As soon as an alarm is given that an
iliecident has occurred from a fracture of the ice, and that
bres are in danger, a pre-concerted signal is to be made,
Y raising a hand-flag, which will be seen on the oppo-
tl aide • or, if the weather be foggy or misty, a
loured ;amp may be substituted. The poles and line are
be immediately detached, and carried towards to the
to with the utmost celerity, and at the same moment
is e r°Pe is to be conveyed with equal speed. The hook
now to be passed through the ring, and, on a signal
T,°?n, the line is to be quickly,drawn in on the other side.
dr'la will carry with it the rope, which is then to be
it red over the persons, in the water, who having seised
ralY (which they will no doubt eagerly do), they
lb 4", be carefully and successfully brought to the nearest
►~; and in this manner their lives will, in almost
harY instance, be preserved from destruction. To pre-
IMY mistake or confusion from occurring, it may be
h;tsar to give
standhe above plan a few trials, by a little
ivatrieus training
urcua, or some time before the setting in of the frost,
Y •
area
a small boat containing a few persons. Two or
may be directed to plunge into the water, to afford
°PPortunity for the apparatus to be tested in the
er previously explained. The entire operation
ould be entrusted to the police, or icemen, with the
w
il
l
of drawing in the rope. From its weight, it
be necessary to obtain the aid of the bystanders,
re:° will very readily afford their powerful assistance in
dad should
their fellow-creatures from a watery grave.
should this invention be the means of saving but
c„e 'ire, the writer of this article will feel abundantly
tiilliPensated, in the gratification and pleasure of being
itle humble instrument of aiding the Humane Society in
Grey
endeavours to do good.
-
re: Friars, Gloucester. H. H. 'WILLIAMS.

ROYALTY IN TROUBLE.
Mstout, well-dressed man of colour was taken to the
arlborough-street Police-court on 'Wednesday, charged
1,t,,,h having severely beaten one of his countrymen.
Leila defendant, when asked for his name, in a stentor-
-14,!1 voice, said, " I am Prince Christophe d'Hayti, broder
bQ dHine of _Hayti."
ad Complainant, John Harris, of Poland-street, said
itibiliad the misfortune to become acquainted with his
t Q highness at a time when his exchequer required
ePlee. h. ib lg, and feeling compassion for a fellow-coun-
telani of his own he was induced to take
‘,4i into his house and providep'him and his suite (among
was a female attach 4), until a debt had been
to likilett amounting to 150/. His Highness promised
atuiluitiale the amount as soon as he obtained pos-
-410,44 Of these revenues sacred to the scions of Hay-
and more particularly when he got about
llit;‘,1411 and a half of money which he declared his
tia„l"4 wiesty, his brother, had lodged in the Bank of
_ e
ow and, and left him heir to. The black Prince,
hio e'er, did not keep his word, but served him as he
hitn-• erted many others who had previously befriended
eo bei,' he Lord Mayor last year interested himself
the"alf of fallen royalty, and got up a subscription,
ebehr,°eeeds of which were handed over to the defendant.
Dion!kinant begged to have a sovereign or two of the
to t,/,,,ka he had nearly ruined himself in finding funds
tueVtf,'er his board and lodging. His royal lodger re-
the %: Part with a farthin and shortly afterwards left
g, Complainant heard nothing more of the
until yesterday, when walking in Piccadilly,
fforit to,`lirn from the residence of the Duke of Wel-
-111 °,,11:::,° Whom, having been an old soldier, he had sent
aid tPCIwn for assistance, he met his quondam lodg,er,
Prit,Pl he asked him for a trifle off the debt. Ihe
ip, -1",. at first would not know him, and threatened to
'din into custody if he did not go away, but finding
to Could not get rid of the complainant he lifted up his
1)41 Umbrella and gave him a blow on the face, which
d his cheek open. The " Prince" repeated his blows,
ticl Was at last taken into custody by the police. The
fTtaplainant said he had made inquiry at places where
175 defendant was known, ,
and had ascertained that
Was no " Prince," but TOR big bagbone and
OLle "Prince" was required to state why he had con-
-leted himself in such a plebeian manger towards his
ile factor.
kr," Sure Magistraat," said the Prince, " I only speak
me,_ Inglis dat is broke. I strike him face yen he call
pi
Hah I dat word (gnashing his teeth
rage)—very bad word in England, very bad word in
pj,Yti, very bad word for gentleman, very bad word for
';ce, very bad word for broder of a king."
1.-;4lplainant—Vy you nebber pay me ?
quotete—Dere 's de law for you in de Bench ob de
hioaeroup,leainant---lla, ha, ha. Sue him beggar, catch
tibttr• Maltby said there appeared no justification for the
oneult, and he should therefore inflict a fine of 3i, or
totem hard labour.
tot.la 1:1 gh es s, being out of cash, was escorted to an
litis...t('olll until the arrival of her Majesty's royal omi-
pc in Which
othil he was to be removed to her Majestys
Tl fields.

~IO••
q,„I2,ER IN LIVERPOOL.—About two o'clock on
tla4llY morning last, two police-officers, named Fair-
Aark(,B), and Price (88), were. on duty in Toxteth
alld went into a brothel for the purpose of sup-
';',.ng a disturbance among the inmates. After they
tit,:eoeeded in their object, and when they were again
ail i 5 (111 duty on their respective beats, a fellow, named
Whi,itto Jones, 'followed them from the brothel into
held-street, where he made a fierce attack upon
110,4 with Et large poker which he brought from the
retie Fairclough closed with him and attempted to
146"e1i the poker from his grasp, but in the attempt the
a1,..41 Struck him a blow with that deadly instrument
tfiri,,eh fractured his skull, caused the brains to protrude
Ar•"atb the opening, and laid him senseless at his feet.
lishiet in endeavouring to render assistance to his c0m-
a4,21, also received a blow of the poker, which
tik—C,t'ed off a part of the bone immediately above his
eyebrow ; but he was enabled to call for assist-
• and to punt out to the officers, who speedily ar-
ia'f', the brothel to which Jones had returned after
litantl
"ing the blows. The door of the place was in-
a„,Y broken open, and the fellow was arrested and
„
off to bridewell. Fairclough was conveyed to the
%()tl Hospital, where he died yesterday. The pri•
-tea,-L•
r'as been brought before Mr. Rushton, and will be
~.eated for trial to-day, on a charge of wilful murder.
e'er/1001 Albion.Vrt,,,ltlaAanin FIRMS AT LYME REGlB.—lntelligence
lia,;"ivad in the course of Wednesday at the several fire
ti,„;''aneu-offices in the metropolis, of two most destruc-
nikVres having taken place at Lyme Regis on Sunday
occasioning a serious loss of property. The out-
-"
itral‘ happened between 11 and 12 o'clock, when on the
b •
tiai„, tang raised it was found to have originated in an
ttithabited house in Church-street, and from circum-
fsiCee6 which have since transpired, it is too sadly
a.txteti that it must have been the work of some incen-
-107. Owing to the roof of the building being thatched,
61 most of the rest in the town, and a strong S.E. wind
141"Tg at the time, the flames raged with extreme fury,
ip thgred the adjoining houses. The engines stationed
borough were quickly drawn to the spot, and as
liii(lalttlY got into active operation ; but so firm a hold
it ei.," ,qe destructive element of the property, that before
1ic,„"41 be in any way mastered, four of the adjacent
by des had fallen a sacrifice. One of them was tenanted
tos," of the name of Lynn, the oldest person in the
that a, who being bedridden, it was generally supposed
es„pha had perished amidst the flames. It was, how-
-01 6; afterwards ascertained that he had been carried out
Nne burning building. Scarcely had the inhabitants
:treattaitvied b...
vexed from their alarm before they were again
the bursting forth of another fire in the same
the w, about 60 yards higher up, on the opposite side of
The Y, at a house in the occupation of a Mr. Garland.
tq 14-tremen and their engines were almost immediately
ta,;:eadance, and notwithstanding the most strenuous
ti0,..-"°nt on their part, they were unable to stay the
to 6,ll:ess of the flames until three buildings, in addition
Thc:e one tenanted by Mr. Garland, were destroyed.
some 3econd calamity is also said to have been caused by
Wasaliacreant intentionally. The town during the summer
and 116ited by a fire which consumed tie Custom-house
I,llPwards of 40 houses.
14,11" PATRONAGE or EAST INDIA DIRECTORS.—Sir
%DnrY Willock, the Deputy-chairman of the Eaat India
eoso—Pall3', has given an Addiscornbe cadetship to be
4it jeted for by the pupils of Kensington School, which,
date 3a struggle with many other deserving candi-
ja N the has Just been gained by Mr. J. G. Medley. Thbis
ar Second instance in which this liberal Director has
erred this favour on the same school, and we are
f,x15.13eY to learn that the successful candidate on the
r_,.occasion has just been appointed to the engineers.
to th discreet exerci3e of India patronage does honour
°Mc:. Company, and, by insuring the appointment of
aa,C,,s of talent, tends to promote the welfare of our
,rirlatstern empire.
towarde Duke of Northumberland has subseribed 50/.
xiv eg the sum for the protection of the salmon in the
Gr weed. This is the second subscription which his
Itrpc,seitms given within the last twelve months for this

rHE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 20. 1344.

ing the charges of conducting the establishment,
together with a donation of 101. 10s. presented to the
Master Mariners' Asylum, South Shields, a balance
remained in the treasurer's hands of 121.
The attendance of the examiners was constant and
regular, and their services entirely gratuitous. The
applicants are examined on trigonometry and navi-
gation, without the assistance of any schoolmaster or
other person. Up to this time the Society had made
four donations to the Mariners' Asylum out of the
surplus balances of their fund, amounting to 541.95.
The board had observed with feelings of gratifica-
tion that a variety of good effects had been produced
in the locality by this voluntary institution—the
nautical schools were better attende3, a gradual and
marked improvement was apparent in the seamen
who presented themselves for examination, not only
in the theory and practice of navigation, but also the
higher branches. The young mate as he proceeds
along the coast sets himself earnestly to work, in
order to become acquainted with its dangers and its
difficult navigation, so that he may he able to obtain
a certificate, and become a master. Thus a path to
promotion is open to the talented and enterprising,
without being obliged to wait for it from chance, or
favour, or delay. The same incitement stimulates
them to learn the use of charts and nautical instru-
ments. These are the practical results; and the moral
influence which the board exercises cannot of course
be ascertained, but it is certain the effect has been
acknowledged by many.
The report alludes to the case of the ship Earl
Vane, which put back in July last, on 'a voyage to
Archangel, in consequence of the master attempting
to scuttle the vessel, which, having created much
interest in the public mind, is of importance. The
master being quite unacquainted with the rudiments
of plain navigation, his duty devolved entirely on the
mate, who, feeling by this means his own importance,
appears to have treated the captain with much
tyranny and harshness, and brought on temporary
insanity. Independent of the great danger to which
this vessel was exposed under charge of so incompe-
tent a commander, it is easy to perceive how a master
on a voyage to the White Sea, ignorant of his most
essential duty, must quickly cease to retain over his
crew either respect or subordination, and affords a
convincing proof of the necessity that both masters
and mates on such voyages should be duly qualified in
navigation.
The report recommends that on all occasions of loss
or stranding of ships a continuation of the system of
inquiry into the causes and circumstances, the same
as is practised in the navy, will always strengthen the
good effects sought to be obtained by the establish-
ment, and that whether such misfortunes be caused
by neglect in the use of the lead, or other remissness
of duty on the part of the officers, to punish them by
suspension or dismissal from command.
At the time the board presented its report the pre-
vious year, the shipping interest was threatened with
a Bill, having for its object the compulsory erection of
Parliamentary Boards for the examination of seaman
intended to be masters and mates, and likewise to
found and maintain schools at the expense of the
shipowner. The Government, however, have since
stated that it is not intended to pass that measure,
but, on the contrary, have notified that all seaports
desiring the establishment of voluntary marine boards
will be encouraged and assisted by a legislative
enactment in preparation for that purpose. This is
quite in accordance with a resolution passed at the
annual meeting of the managing underwriters last
year, and will allay the apprehension that improper
persons would obtain the situation of examiners.
The report concludes by the examiners expressing
their readiness during their continuance in office to
carry out the objects of the institution by a strictly
practical system, free from all useless and theoretical
interrogations, and influenced by a conviction of the
beneficial results of voluntary establishments, such as
the present, on the seamen and maritime popula-
tion. They also desire to place it on record that
every seaman who has obtained a certificate from the
board was competent to fulfil the duties of a master
mariner in the class to which he was rated, whatever
his after conduct might be, and that no examiner
who had not himself been actively engaged in the
difficult and dangerous navigation of the coast of
England, could undertake the examination of seamen
intended for command in that trade, and the same in
respect to many other branches of maritime experi-
ence and knowledge.
The shipping interest is deeply indebted to the
shipowners at South Shields for originating so laud-
able an institution, and there is no doubt it will be
invaluable to the masters and mariners, and improve
their welfare and general happiness.

INQUEST ON MISS CLARA

WEBSTER.

. Mr. Wakley, M.P., Coroner for the county of Mid-
dlesex, and a jury composed of the most respectable
householders in the neighbourhood, held an impost, at
half •past ten yesterday morning at the Green Man Tavern,
New-road, on the remains of Miss Clara Webster,
aged 21, who, it need scarcely be said, died upon Tuesday
last, from the injuries which she had z teeived, her dress
having taken fire while performing on the stage of
Drury-lane theatre on Saturday evening.
The jury having gone to No. 54, Norton-street, to
view the body of deceased, returned, and the first witness
called was

aewwfnhtAieetrnrnseetnahlte
tsrhueeid.Taylor,adaosye,
o'clock,
ilisskageendh,nditt:l
diedady ofo then
T uh
co
sudsae
y,ni 54,0 No r
ni Norton-street,
tog, nt
shortly
- se et,
whenpt
hr presence seln4et he deceased oof Dr,
w. La
si sbt or no u
gnhsd
tu offht
ehor emi
nr
home
f
from injuries by burning. She was perfectly sensible.
The first application used was spirits of wine, and flour
and wadding. Witness continued to attend upon her
till her death. She was free from pain throughout.
She seemed to be recovering till the Monday evening,
when, at seven o'clock, a difficulty of breathing was ob-
served. She got worse, and was insensible sad deli-
rious for some time before her death. She gradually
sunk, and never described how the accident had hap-
pened, and did not once blame any one.
Mrs. Webster, mother of the deceased lady, was asked
if she herself blamed any one ? and she answered-in the
negative.
Dr. Robert Liston, of Clifford-street, was next exa-
mined. I first attended the deceased on Saturday night
last. I found her much burnt in the upper extremities,
about the arms and neck. I applied spirits of wine, wad-
ding, and flour repeatedly. She appeared to be in much
pain. This treatment was not changed that night. I
saw her again on Sunday, but she did not appear then
to be in much pain, though suffering from low spirits.
I did not again see her till three o'clock on Tuesday morn-
ing, wheel was sent for. She expired just as I entered
the room. Sho gave no account of the accident, nor did
she blame any one in my presence.
Mr. WAKLer —Were stimulants of any kind given to
her ? Witness—Yes ; wine from time to time, and
other fluids.

Mr. VALLEY—You did not see her on Monday morn-
ing ? Witness—Oh, yes, I did. She was not then so
well, and breathed with difficulty.
Mr. WALLET—YOU have no doubt, I suppose, death
was occasioned from the injuries she received Wit-
ness—Oh, none. She died from the effects of the
burning.

Mr. WARLET—From appearances there could hare
been no hope from the first of her recovery.
Mr. Taylor, the husband of the first witness, remarked
that Dr. Liston had represented, on Saturday night, that
the injuries were not so serious as a scald.

Mr: WAKLBY—No doubt. Medical gentlemen are in
the habit of saying such things to inspire hope in the
relatives and friends of sufferers.

Daniel Coyle, 29, Crown-street, St. Giles, stonemason,
was in Drury-lane Theatre on the night of Saturday.
Saw the deceased about eleven o'clock, and her clothes
were then on fire.

Mr. WAILLICY—Is there no one who saw her clothes
take fire ? The Beadle—No one could say they saw
her clothes take fire.
The witness—l saw her about the time her clothes
took fire. She was then supposed to be in " the bath."
Mr. WAKLEY—Oh, that must have been immediately
after her clothes ignited.
Witness—Yes, I was standing in one of the side open-
ings on the stage ; the deceased was about four yards
from me, and I saw her clothes on fire at the bottom
part. iihe came up some steps out of the bath and on
to the stage. She came towards me, and then ran across
the stage, and I ran after her and caught her, threw
myself on my back, and rolled over ker. Another
man threw his jacket over her, and so extinguishes the
flames. Some of the other ladies' dresses, Madame
Plunkett's, I believe, was set on fire. There was no-
thing unusual in the disposition of the lamps that even.
ing. There are two baths, one before the other, and
six or eight glasses in each. The performers go down
about three feet, and the glasses are about two feet six
inches below the boards, and partly below the stage.
Mr. WAKLEY—If there was a wirework to cover the
glass, could this have happened ? Witness—No ; I
think not.

Mr. WAKLEY—It's a pity, thee, there is not some
sort of wirework protection. There ought certainly to
be something of this sort for the protection of performers.
Mrs. Mary Webster was the next witness. She is a
widow, and resides near Euston-square. Was in the
theatre, but not near the stage. I heard screaming.
She ran down stairs, and her daughter was then in the
green-room, and quite sensible. She did not explain
any circumstance connected with the accident. Witness
said to her, once, " Clara, Clara, if some one had come
to your assistance sooner—oh, if I had been near you
I could have saved you." She said, " Yes, mamma, you
could."

Mr. ISrlimEr (to Coyle) —ls there no water
kept near the stage in case of accident ? Coyle
—There was water near, but not on the stage,
as no accident was apprehended.
By the CORONZR—She might have ran about 13 yards
while her clothes were on fire.

Mr. WAKLEY made some observations on the unfor-
tunate want of presence of mind exhibited by those
whose clothes are set on fire. It they would drop on
the burning clothes they would at once be extinguished;
and the second best mode was for the individual so situ-
ated to lie down at length.
This being the whole of the evidence,
Mr. WA LEY then addressed the jury. An occur-
rence like this might easily be averted if simple and pro-
per precautions were taken. In most of the cases of a
similar natare that came before him, he generally found
that fatal results might have been prevented if ordinary