The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-23 00:00:00

SUMMARY OF NEW

AND

Vubltt Optitton.

" Who runs may read."

CEZILELIVEOI7II.
The Presbyterian marriage question is causing great ex-
citement ;:n the north of Ireland, and meetings are in pro-
gress all over that part of the country. At a meeting held at
Londonderry on Wednesday, the Mayor in -the chair, the
speakers denounced the insolent and oppressive encroach-
ments of the State Church, and the system of base deception
practised against the Presbyterians since the unfortunate
alliance between Prelacy and Presbyterianism, announced at
the Orange meeting at Hillsborough, for the promotion of
the scheme for turning out the 'Whigs.
We find from a Return made to the House of Commons,
for the last year, of offences committed against the Fac-
tories Act, that the total number of convictions in the four
districts of Messrs. L. Horner, T. Howell, Saunders, and
Stuart, amounted to about 192. The offences were princi-
pally the over-working of children or the employment of
children under age, and at night, &c. From a summary ap--
pended to this Return it appears that the total number of
convictions under the provisions of the Factory Act from
1834 to 1843, both inclusive, amounted to 3,401, being an
average of 340 a-year ; that the gross total amount of penal
ties inflicted for the said offences during the above decade
was 6,895/. ; and the total amount of costs 2,1231.
By the annual report of Professor Moseley, Inspector of
the Greenwich Hospital Schools, and addressed to the Lords
of the Admiralty, it appears that the number of boys in the
a present 379, who are
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigono-
metry, and other branches of nautical knowledge. The
taught Upper and
geography,Nut ical Schools, is at
number of astronomical observations made by the pupils
during the past half-year, amounts to between 10,000 and
14,000. _ -

- During the whole of the week a very considerable sale,
under the orders of the Commissioners of Customs, has been
proceeded with at the Commercial Sale-rooms, Mincing-lane,
of property which has come into the possession of the Cus-
tom-house by forfeiture from attempt to evade the duties.
There were above 1,200 lots, the produce from which will be
above 15,000/.

THE FACTORIES BILL.
(PROM AN OPERATIVE CORRESPONDENT.)
The debate on the Factories Bill has excited universal
attention, relating to interests as varied as powerful, im-
portant alike to the high Minister and humble operative,
and concerning the cause of humanity and the commerce of
England. The House ef Commons, feeling the vast importance
of their decision, gave the subject due consideration and regard,
but, unfortunately, failed in perceiving that humanity
and commerce may go hand in hand, and, fearing to en-
danger the one, hardly dared to assist the other.
Three times did they "resolve and re-resolve," and at
last remain uncertain and undecided, regardless of the
expectations awaiting their decision, and the various
emotions the debate had called forth. What hopes
and fears have alternately cheered and depressed the
hearts of the poor and suffering during the discussion of
this, to them, all-important subject. The majority of
Monday brought joy and thanksgiving to expectant thou-
sands, who hailed the decision of the House as the certain
triumph of their fondest hopes—all ignorant of the
power of that House to change its decisions in five
days—nay, even in as many minutes ! The Govern-
ment, with perseverance worthy of a better cause,
refused to believe themselves defeated by a ma-
jority of nine, and brought the subject again under con-
sideration, till last night's division took the victory from
their opponents, but without awarding the triumph to them-
selves—once again must doubt, and uncertainty be the por-
tion of the poor, and their condition will now be even worse
than before ; pain and sorrow are evils in themselves, but
how much is their bitterness augmented by first inspiring
hope and promising relief, and then dashing the cup of joy
from their lips, and leaving them to toil and suffering, with
the added pangs of " hope deferred." Five days have
elapsed since the House decided in favour of "justice and hu-
manity." In that time the news has been spread
far and wide through the manufacturing districts, cheer-
ing the desolate and diffusing universal satisfaction through
all classes. Will the Government, in the face of popular
feeling, use their influence in turning the poor man's joy to
mourning? Will they only employ the power vested in their
hands, in compelling the wearied child and suffering woman,
to pursue their hard laborious tasks two hours after the toils
and trials of the day have rendered rest necessary both to
mind and body? Will they do this? We know they will.
They have proved, by their untiring opposition, that
their will is not wanting in the cause of oppression ; that
they can is another question. The struggle will be renewed
on Monday, and let the House then show itself superior to
the Ministry alike in power and inclination to do good. The
general feeling was with Lord Ashley, when he commenced the
subject, by appealing to the judgments and hearts of his
hearers—that feeling was with him when the Ministry sus-
tained their first defeat—and that feeling will be with him,
and with the thousands depending on his motion, when next
"Monday shall decide the contest. When the depression which
now weighs down the spirits of the suffering shall give wayto
certainty and joy—all the doubt and apprehension they now
entertain shall be forgotten, on that " holiday for broken
hearts," and the Government will be compelled to own that
even the power of office, and the force of perseverance, must
give way before the dictates of " justice and humanity."

His Majesty the King of the Belgians, attended by a
limited suite, is expected to arrive at Buckingham Palace, via Ostend,
on Tuesday or Wednesday next, on a visit to her Majesty, and is
expected to remain (with the exception of a short visit to Clare-
mont) during the contemplated short absence of his Royal Highness
Prince Albert in Germany,

FOREIGN.
On Tuesday afternoon the Bing of the French, accom-
panied by General Gourgaud, Colonel Dumas, and two or-
derly officers, visited St. Cloud, but returned to the Tuileries
to dinner.
The Moniteur Parisien states that Lieutenant-General
Count Pajol has been for the last two days in an alarming
state from the consequence of the fall which he experienced
some time since on leaving the Tuileries. Another paper says
he expired on Thursday.
The Courrier Francais mentions a rumour that Made Sal-
sandy is to be appointed Ambassador at St. Petersburgh or
Constantinople.
The Sieele states that the Committee of the Chamber of
Deputies on the Budget has had the conversion of the Five
per Cents under its consideration, and that in the report
which it will submit to the Chamber it will not only main-
tain the right of the State to make the change, if considered
desirable ; but will point out, in a marked manner, the ad-
vantage of the measure, and recommend to the Ministry to
take it into consideration without delay.
A letter from Beyrout, dated Feb. 17, in the Courrier
Franfais, says :—" The Albaniah troops commanded by
Abbas-Aga having entered the Lebanon, some of them met
at Ouadi-el-Delab two farmers and a woman with a child in
her arms. They killed one of the men, and quartered the
child. The other man escaped, and it is not known what is
become of the woman. On a complaint of this outrage being
laid before the Pacha of Beyrout, he observed—'There is no
great harm done—it is only a trifle 1' "
In execution of the rules for granting gratifications to such
drivers of fiacres, cabriolets, and other public carriages in
Paris, as have shown the greatest honesty, the Prefect of
Police has just awarded this mark of approbation to several
drivers. The property which these men have restored to
their owners, who left it in their carriages, during the year,
amounts to 22,719 f. 30c. in. cash and bills, besides a great
number of valuable articles.
The Manheini Journal states that the Russian army in
the Caucasus has recently experienced many reverses,
arising principally from the improved state of discipline
amongst the hardy mountaineers who are defending them-
selves against the invaders. It appears that several Poles, of
military experience, have succeeded in joining the Circas-
sians, and giving to them the aid of their tactics.
LAW AND POLICE.
The Assizes at Cambridge were opened,on Thursday-, by
Lord Abinger. There were only seven common jury cases,
and a calendar of fifty prisoners.
At the Assizes at Exeter a man, named Walter Smith,
was indicted for a burglary in the house of Captain Hare, at
Stonehouse. The evidence against him being only that of
an accomplice, and unconfirmed, he was acquitted. For the
same reason, he was acquitted on four other charges. At the
same Assizes two men, named Denham and Crocker, were
indicted for sacrilege, in having broken open the church of
Exminster, and stolen two surplices, the gold fringe from the
pulpit-cushion, and other articles. The surplices were cut
up in order to make shirts, and the gold fringe brought for
sale to the house of a Jew. When Denham was asked by the
Learned Judge if he wished to say anything to the jury, he
replied " Yes ;" and forthwith commenced addressing them,
which lie did with great effect, pointing out ix a forcible and
almost oratorical manner, the points in the evidence which
made in his favour, whilst he recapitulated the story he had
before told the policeman. Crocker said nothing. The jury
acquitted Denham, and found Crocker guilty; sentence was
deferred.
Mrs. Mary Keene, a widow, about fifty years of age, the
landlady of the Lord Kendal public-house, Cambridge-street,
Edgeware-road, was brought before Mr. Long, at Marvle-
bone, upon a charge of stealing, from a Paddington omnibus,
in which she was a casual passenger yesterday morning, a
piece of Irish linen. On missing the parcel, the conductor
went after the prisoner, and found it in her possession, when
she apologised, and begged that nothing would be said about
it. At the station-house she alleged that she had been
making purchases, and mistook the parcel taken for her own.
She was remanded. bail being refused.
A court-martial has been ordered by the Lords of the Ad-
miralty to assemble at Portsmouth, for the trial of the en-
gineer of the Prometheus, on charges of neglect of duty,
whereby the boilers of that vessel were damaged and the
machinery deranged.
George Gumm, the young man who was some days ago
brought up on suspicion of having been concerned in the rob-
bery of the City of Boulogne steam-vessel belonging to the
Commercial Steam-packet Company, was put to the bar of
the Mansion-house, in the custody of Daniel Forrester, for
re -examination. He was again remanded.
James Stokes, a man having all the appearance of a steady
servant, was charged at the Guildhall with having systema-
tically plundered his employers of various kinds of paper,
Messrs. Weadon, Smith, and Co., wholesale stationers, in
Paternoster- row. He had enjoyed their confidence for the last
fifteen years. He was committed for trial.
COURT—FASHIONABLE.
In consequence of the several deaths in the higher circles
of society, the ball at Almack's, which was to commence the
season on Monday next is, by general approbation, postponed
until after Easter.
The Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch had a dinner party on
Friday, which was attended by the French Ambassador and
the Countess de St. Aulaire, the Russian and other Foreign
Ministers, and their ladies, Sir H. and Lady Emily Hardinge,
Lord and Lady Marsham Lord and Lady Emlyn, Lord John
Manners, Baron Gersdord, Capt. and Mrs. Cust, Mr. and Mrs.
Rice Trevor, Capt. Hood, R.N., Captain Duncombe, &c. &c.
The family will leave Montague House on the 27th inst. for
Boughton Hall, Northamptonshire.
The Duke and Duchess of Beaufort and the Ladies So-
merset are expected to arrive at Beaufort House, Arlington-
street, on Wednesday next, from Badminton, for the season.
The Earl and Countess of Wilton are expected to leave
Egerton Lodge, Melton Mowbray, on Wednesday next, on a
visit to the Duke of Rutland, at Belvoir Castle, during
Croxton Park Races, which commence on the 28th inst.
The Noble Duke's party will close the hunting season in
Leicestershire.
The Right Hon. Selina Viscountess Milton, accompanied
by her daughter, the Hon. Miss Fitzwilliam, returned to
Aldwarke Hall, near Rotherham, on Monday.
General the Hon. Sir Alexander Duff and Lady and Miss
Duff left the Brunswick Hotel, Jermyn-street, yesterday, for
their new mansion, at Rutland-gate, which the Gallan
General has just engaged for the season.
The Marquis of Westminster, who has been slightly indis
posed at Eaton Hall, has recovered.