The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-14 00:00:00

TEE SUN, LONDON, TRURSDAY MORNING,
_MARCII: 14, 1844.

if we had not this guide, even, we might be disposed to
eliminate some passages that would answer such a pur-
pose, from the manly and affecting letter which Lieute-
nant MUNRO, as it will be seen, has addressed to Mr.
THOMAS DUNCOMBE, M.P., giving a detailed account of
the circumstances out of which his unhappy difference
with the deceased arose.

This letter is now very generally in the hands of the
public. We do Lieutenant Mumto no manner of wrong
in declining to deal with it as evidence, for that gentle-
man will sufficiently understand the legal principle,
which precludes a statement that is purely ex parte
(although that it is so may be, as in this instance,
the unavoidable result of the facts) from being ac-
cepted for evidence, without further corroborative and
legal testimony. But we are at full liberty to own that
the letter has excited in us the deepest interest and sym-
pathy, and that it is well calculated to leave strong moral
impressions on the mind of every reader, as to matters
upon which it carries with it no legal proof. For ex-
ample ; taking the document as embodying the personal
statement of Lieut. MUNRO, verified by his own signature,
and vouched by the speech of Mr. DuNcoatna in Parlia-
ment, we may venture to assume, as admitted premises
between those who may approve, and those who may
protest against, the decision of Sir R. PEEL'S Govern-
ment in refusing to the bereaved widow the usual
pension—first, that the quarrel between the deceased and
Lieutenant MUNRO arose out of some worthless domestic
differences ; and second, that the insult given was not
offered by Lieutenant MINRO to Lieutenant-Colonel
FAWCETT, but that it was put by the latter upon Lieu-
tenant MUNRO in the most angry, coarse, and offensive
manner it was possible to conceive. A servant was in-
vited to become a witness of the insufferable affront, by
the order of the Colonel "to keep the door open until
Mr. MuNno was turned out of the house." Now it is
enough for the argument we have to offer, if it be al-
lowed that this aggravated insult was one which Lieute-
nant Muriito could not have passed over, without resort-
ing, in the usual way, to the opinions and guidance of
personal friends. On this fact (and we might be enti-
tled, on Lieutenant MUNRO'S authority, to add, fortified,
as it is, by the circumstance of his having even subse-
quently requested,
,and offered to the Colonel opportu-
nities for, explanation) we must contend that the widow
of Colonel FAWCETT was, from that moment, brought
into a position, the issue of which was unavoidable on
the part of her deceased husband, so long as he refused
explanation or apology to Lieutenant MUNRO, and un-
controllable by any effort of her own. What are
the grounds on which the Government deny her her
pension ? None that can be taken to impeach her con-
duct. How far do they impugn that of the deceased ?
Because, said the Right Hon. the Secretary-at• War,
" there were no palliating circumstances. in a case where
two brothers-in-law rushed out to shoot one another on
account of differences which might have been settled
easily in another manner."
But they " did not rush out" in this unreasoning, bru-
tal manner. The quarrel took place on a Thursday
evening, the 29th of June last. The next two days
were unremittingly employed by Lieutenant MUNRO in
consulting with officers in the army of long service, of
tried experience, of undoubted honour, of high and
sound character. Their unanimous opinion was, that
Lieutenant MUNRO had no alternative but to call Colonel
FAWCETT out. A general officer went further, and said "No
officer holding her MAJESTY'S commission could exist un-
der an unretracted insult so insufferable as the Lieutenant
had received." Even on the ground, Lieut. MUNRO asked
Mr. GRANT whether nothing could be done to obviate
the dreadful catastrophe which he seems to have antici-
pated ; but that gentleman told him that the Colonel
had received him the day before in so violent and obstinate
a manner, that all proposals of accommodation were
useless. What was the real feeling of the Colonel him-
self may be inferred from the fact, that he had proposed
to Mr. GRANT that the meeting should take place the
day after the quarrel; but to this arrangement Mr.
GRANT objected. It was, then, under these circum-
stances—under this overwholmingnecessity—that Lieu-
tenant Musno went out to fight Lieutenant-Colonel
FAWCETT.

What were the particulars, we now ask, in which
Lieut.-Col. FAWCETT, in going out to meet him, so far
transgressed the conventional rules, within which, it
seems, officers in her MAJESTY'S service must take es-
pecial care to be shot, if they would not leave their
widows and orphans in the thraldom of poverty, super-
added to the despair of their bereavement—that the
Government deem themselves at liberty to refuse to
Mrs. FavercETT the pension of a deceased field-officer?
If the principle of the refusal were, that duelling is, in
itself, a practice at once unchristian and unlawful, we
could understand it. We might admit 4—with all our
conviction of the melancholy truth that it is an ultimo ratio,
to which, in too many instances of social feuds the re-
sort is inevitable. We might say, in reference to the
immense advantages of putting down so hideous a rule,
" waive all exceptions." The legal axiom "de minimis
non curat lex," might justify us in overlooking (we do
not say it would) the cruelty of individual cases of gross
and unmerited outrage being allowed to pass unpunished
by the law of honour, because of their not coming
within the pale of municipal law. But in the
House of Commons, exceptions were stoutly
and gravely insisted on by Sir HENRY HAR-
BINGE and Sir R. PEEL which recognised, under the
" circumstances reserved" by those authorities, the
practice of duelling. Thus,—a great Aiss was made about
some future regulations to be introduced into the Arti-
cles of War, for its repression among officers ; but the
Secretary at War took great care to intimate " that they
were not to extend to half-pay officers." A lax sort of
morality this, to say the least, of which the elasticity is
so great, that it can be made to coop in officers on active
service, and let out officers on half pay ! Sir ROBERT
PEEL'S objection was eminently characteristic of the
man :-." Col. FAwcarr had selected for his second every
young man, inferior to him in rank, years, and experience."
Alas for the poor Colonel ! Had he cast about, and
prevailed on some superannuated Equerry of—" the old
days when GEORGE the THIRD was King"— as BYRON
has it—could he have assumed one of the most plausible
and most mysterious looks of the Premier himself, and
gone out, under the auspices of some Nestor " unit*.
tacked ;" then, indeed, Sir ROBERT would have
reasoned, from the " respectable sanction," in presence of
which he met his fate, the propriety of granting
his widow the pension. Lord PALMERSTON, as usual
with him in all practical questions, took the fair and
manly view of the case. "As the Colonel was the
challenged, and not the challenger," the pension should
have been granted. Lord Howien took the higher and
inexpugnable ground of the moral consistency which
should have withheld Government from making an in-
vidious distinction in this case, whilst they countenanced
the practice in others.
With Lord Howica we would willingly ezert every
energy to put down duelling altogether. Our wishes and
our fears on this subject we have explained in former ar-
ticles, and shall not therefore here repeat. Still less are
we disposed to enter into conjectural reasonings on what
may have been the terrible " suspicions" operating, as
hinted by Mr. MUNRO, on Colonel FAWCETT'S mind,
on the nature of the domestic difference that had a few day
previously arisen between them, but only broke out on
the Thursday ; or on the degree of palliation, or even the
justification, for aught we know, which might be sug-
gested for Colonel FsweErr's immovable resentment.
It is clear Mr. Monsto was cruelly insulted. It is clear
that Colonel FaweErr fell by his hand, in a duel which
he had tried to avert. It is clear that the Colonel had
rendered most eminent and heroic services to his
country in the East. It is to us still in-
comprehensible why, or with what motive, of an official
or public character, the pension is withheld from his
widow. This, at least, is certain ; that the Duke of
WELLINGTON, Sir ROBERT PEEL, and Sir HENRY HA.R.
DIRGE were not qualified, from previous personal ad-
ventures,
to sit in judgment on the guilt of duelling in
others.

The accounts from Madrid are to the 4th inst., but
they are as usual destitute of intelligence. Another
dispatch had been received from General RONCALT, in
which he attributes the small progress made in the siege
of Alicant to the boisterous weather.

The Three per Cents. were done at 30 3-16 for
cash, and 30i at 60 days ; and the Five per Cents. at
22} at 60 days.

Long debates took place in the French Chamber of
Deputies on two important questions—the rejection of
M. CIIARLEB LAFITTE, who had been returned a second
time for the town of Louviers, and the fortifications of
Paris. A third election, of course, must be made, and
from all accounts, the inhabitants will return the same
Member by a larger majority. This contest between
the Chamber and the electors, which is in many respects
similar to the Mums' contest, has caused an excite-
ment both in the Chamber, and out of doors, difficult to
describe. M. C. LAFITTE belongs to the Ministerial
party. M. ARAGO began the discussion on the fortifica-
tions. He called them the palladium of Paris, but was
opposed to their being mounted in time of peace. M.
PAncHANs and other Ministers addressed the Chamber,
when the question of discussing the law passed in 1841
was rejected by a large majority. The subscriptions for
a sword to be presented to Admiral DUPETIT 'fuouAßs
are still going on, and the slight punishment inflicted on
tits 'boys of the Polytechnic School has only incited
other boys to imitate the example, and even double the
amount of subscription. According to accounts from
Brest, uo doubt remains that Admiral DVPSTIT THOt7ARs

is to be superseded forthwith.. Adpairal HAMELIN is
mentioned as his successor.
The Three per Cents. were quoted at TORTONI'S, on
Sunday, at 82f. 80c.

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM PARIS.
The following intelligence was received on Monday
by the French Government:—
TELEGRAPHIC DISPATCH.
" BAYONNE, MARCH 11.

" Alicant and its garrison have risen against the chief,
Bonet, who has taken to flight. The town and the fort
are in the hands of the Royal troops."

Accounts have been received in Paris announcing the
death of the Duke of Angouleme.

In the Committee on the Secret Service Money Bill,
the President of the Council, the Minister for Foreign
Affairs, and the Minister of the Interior, were heard ;
and their explanations were considered satisfactory by
eight of the Commissioners out of nine. M. Guizot
announced that Mr. Pritchard, the English Consul at
Otaheite, had been recalled.

MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS.—The total number
of deaths during the week ending Saturday, 9th March,
was 1,030, showing a decrease, as compared with the
previous week, of 25, and being only 23 above the ave-
rage. There has been an increase in deaths from
diseases of the lungs, the number being 375, while, in
the week ending March 2, it was 366, average 330. In
' including measles,
scarlatina,epidemic asnmd a
Icl
pnot contagious oaund s diseaseshopping
ping cough, there is a
de-
crease, as compared with the previous week, of 24
measles 32, average 19 ; scarlatina 40, average 25:;
hooping-cough 43, average 42 ; small-pox 16, average
21. In nearly all the rest, with the exception of diseases
in the lungs, there is a decrease. The following is the
analysis of deaths under that head :—Bronchitis 37,-
average 19 ; pneumonia 113, average 91 ; consump-
tion 150, average 146—total 375, average 330. Old
age 63, average 88 ; violent deaths 12, average
25. Of the 16 persons who died of small.
pox 11 had not been vaccinated. The analysis
of deaths by violence is 4, from contusion, burns,
and scalds 4, suicide 2, suffocation by meat 1, and 1
from a wound. The thermometer was lowest on the
6th, 24 3 degrees, and highest on the 9th, 38.2 degrees.
In the register kept at the Greenwich Observatory, the
mean height only of the barometer each day is given, so
that we have no means from this table of ascertaining
the great and rapid fluctuations which it has undergone
during the last week. It was highest on the Bth, 30.1
degrees, and lowest on the 4th 29.2.

ARRIVAL OF THE EAST INDIA AND CHINA

MAILS.

SOHTNAIRPTON, MARCH 12, EIGHT P.M.—The Oriental Com.
pany'a steam-packet Grcat Liverpool, Captain M'Cloud, arrived this
afternoon from Alexandria at the Motherbank, after experiencing
the most dreadful weather, such as prevented the possibility of any
sailing vessel coming nearer. She left Alexandria on the 24th of
February, where she was deiained fourteen hours and a half after
the mails were on board, in consequence of the boiler springing a
leak and stopping to repair. She has landed her mails, which will
be dispatched by this night's mail. She brings home sixty-five
passengers, including nineteen ladies, and twenty-eight children
and servants, in all ninety-three.
Ships lying at Alexandria—Her Majesty's ship Tyne, and several
men.of.war belonging to his Highness Mehemet Ali. At Gibral.
tar—Her Majesty's steamer Locust, and Company's ship Royal Tar.
The Peninsulapacket Montrose, due yesterday, is hourly expected.

SOUTHAMPTON, Maacts 12.—The Montrose Peninsular steamer
arrived this morning at eight o'clock, bringing eight bags. The
Montrose brings •18 packages of specie and a large quantity of
oranges. The Montrose experienced very bad weather, both out
and home; this accounts for her arrival after her usual time. She
brings no news of importance.

JOURNEYMEN TAILORS' BENE
VOLENT INSTITUTION.

The anniversary dinner of the above most excellent
institution took place at the Freemasons' Tavern, on
Tuesday. Upwards of 250 supporters of the charity
were present. Lord Ashley was to have taken the
chair, but owing to pressing business in the House of
Commons his Lordship was obliged to send an apolo-
getic letter. Mr. Walesby, Barrister-at Law, and De-
puty-Chairman of the Middlesex County Magistrates,
presided. The usual loyal toasts having been drunk,
the Learned Chairman passed a feeling and most elo-
quent eulogium on Lord Ashley's character, and re-
ferred to his Lordships' well-known philanthropic
questions in terms which elicited from the crowded
assembly the most rapturous applause. The health of
the President, Mr. Stultz, who has devoted immense
funds (we believe already above 14,000/0 to the benefit
of the Institution, was received in the way-whieh it well
deserves. " That excellent individual,' observed the
Chairman, "had not bequeathed his •means for the sup-
port of the poor and needy waiting till the portal of the
grave had rendered them to himself superfluous, neither
had he, having exhausted the resources of luxury, fur-
nished merely what he was unable to enjoy but in the
full vigour of manhood; he had appropriated to those
who in this life could give him no recompense, a fortune
which his own severe exertions were acquiring, and
which he had the option of applying to his own self-
gratification." A variety of songs and glees were sung
in a very spirited and effective manner by Messrs.
Young, Machin, and other performers. Mr Toole
officiated as toast-master, and discharged the office in a
way which contributed much to the merriment of
the evening. The company dispersed at about half-
past eleven o'clock. Upwards of 5201. was subscribed
in the room during the evening.

CITY OF LONDON SCHOOL.
The Corporation having devoted the fine of 4001. paid
some years ago by Mr. Thomas Tegg, the eminent book-
seller and publisher, to be excused from serving the office of
Sheriff, towards the establishment of an exhibition to one of
the Universities, for the benefit of pupils of the above school,
Mr. Tegg has manifested his approval of such an appropria-
tion by recently snaking the important addition to the fluid
of lOW., and in return for so distinguished an act of liberality,
the Committee of the School have agreed that the exhibition
shall in future be designated " The Tegg Scholarship, or
Exhibition." Mr. Tegg has also accompanied his gift with
a number of valuable books for the library of the school.
The Corporation has lately caused one of the principal win-
dows in the building to be enriched by the insertion in stained
glass of the armorial bearings of the following benefactors of
i
theth e school,i
etlate
sr James Saw, Bart., Mr. Tegg, and Mr. W. S.
:—..The Corporation of London, Dr. Conquest,
Hale, the Chairman of the Select Committee. In addition to
which an elegant statue will shortly be put up, which is in
preparation by Mr. S. Nixon, of the original founder of the
establishment, John Carpenter, Town Clerk of London in
the reign of Henry VI., and one of the executors of the
&mous Sir Richa*l Whittington.