The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-15 00:00:00

manner :

" Africa is under the dominion of the most savage
despotism. Even its free men are, in most cases, little
more than the vassals of their rulers—and, in some,
altogether at the disposal of their merciless tyranny.
Africa is a land of slaves. Three individuals out of
every four are slaves; and, in some places, not more than
one in seventy are free. Africa trades, both within its
own borders and with foreign nations, in the flesh and
-blood of its own population, and is hourly bleeding under
the infliction of this most inhuman traffic. Polygamy is
universal in Africa. The great monopolise the female
portion of the population—the inferior classes are left
without any domestic associate—prostitution is legalised
by public authority, to meet the exigency which this un-
just and wicked monopoly has created—and the blackest
crimes, consequent upon such a state of things, are
shamelessly committed. The condition of woman in
Africa is most abject and degraded. Without a pro-
perty in herself, at any stage of her existence, she is sold
by her parents in marriage to the highest bidder, from
henceforth living only for the gratification of her tyran-
nical and capricious lord, who rules her as his slave, im-
posing upon her the most menial offices, and, in some in-
stances, deriving, in licentious indolence, his own sup-
port from the labour of -her hands. .In a word, as the
social condition of Africa is the lowest and most wretched,
so every crime which has polluted other parts of the
heathen world, is perpetrated in' it. Nor is this picture
much relieved by the view which has been taken of
African agriculture, manufactures, and commerce.
" The superstitions of Africa not only sanction and
tend to perpetuate this • state of thing', but add a
thousand-fold to the depth of her degradation and the
amount of her calamity. Here Mohammedanism and
Paganism divide the spoil. Islamism exists iu its worst
of forms. For the sake of gaining an ascendancy, it
associates itself with the superstition of Paganism ; and,
with the exception of abolishing human sacrifices, so far
from reforming any existing evil, it countenances and
gives permanency to some of the most horrid features of
African society.'

TRIALS AT THE OLD BAILEY.
We have devoted a considerable portion of our
space to an account of the proceeding. at the Central
Criminal. Court, in the case of Barber, Fletcher, and
Dorey. Barber and Fletcher stood all the time, froM
the recommencement of the trial at nine in the morn •
ing, until its adjournment at half-past six in the
evening; Mrs. Dorey, the female prisoner, was aO
commodated with a chair. Only an occasional glimpse
of her was got, as she held down her head the greater
part of the time. The effects of confinement, and of
the anguish of mind she has iuffered since her appre-
hension, were visibly depicted in her countenance.
Her eye has lost its -fire,, and her spirits seem to have
forsaken her. She sat pale and dejected the entire
day. She.did not resemble the same person she was
when first brought up at the Mansion,house. On her
various examinations before the Lord Mayor, she
wore a velvet bonnet and velvet shawl, with a boa
round her neck ; yesterday she wore a plain cap, with
a common looking light shawl thrown across her shoul-
ders. She is rather under the middle height, is some-
what stoutly made, and has a slight stoop about the
shoulders. Her face, which-Ai naturally round and
:full, has now an •altered appearance. She is much
thinner, while her eyes are sunken, and her features
strongly marked, She has the appearance of a woman
about forty years of age.
Barber, who stood in the left corner of the dock,
is a fine gentlemanly looking man. He is rather
above the middle size, but somewhat slender?), made.
Judging from his appearance, he is under, forty years
of age. His face is of an angular form, and his fea-
tures are regular and pleasing. His hair is of a
dark brown 'hue, and rather abundant. His "com-
plexion is somewhat dark, and his countenance indi-
cates the possession of excellent health. He wore a
green coat, a grey coloured silk waistcoat, and black
stock. He seemed to maintain throughout the most
entire self-possession, and repeatedly took notes.
Fletcher, who stood next to Barber, is evidently
upwards of fifty years of age—probably fifty-four or
fifty-five. Heys tall, and dresses more plainly than
Barber. His face is of an oblong shape, and has a
sinister expression. In this respect there could not
.be a stronger contrast than is afforded by Fletcher
and Barber. Like his fellow prisoner, Fletcher
evinced great self-possession, and listened attentively
to the speeches of counsel and ~the examination of
witnesses. He rested his hands on the dofic a con-
siderable portion of the time. He was evidently less
dejected than on any of the occasions on which he ap-
peared at the Mansion-house. His features are
marked. The prominence of his eyebrows is sure to
strike any person who sees him. His hair, which is
slightly grey, is rather thin on his forehead, but, is
otherwise unusually ample. The complexion of his
'countenance is sallow. This, however, may not be
its natural hue, but may be the result of his confine.
, ment for the last ten or, twelve weeks.—Observer.

A MEXICAN' BUTCHER'S SHOP.--It is about the
Size of a stall, the whole front being open to the street,
with a fine game-cock tied by the leg, on the Sill.
Suspended from the ceiling; and but two or three feet
.from• the doorway, hangs the entire carcase of a beef' ;
at.a short distance behind, is the counter ; arid in the
rear of this again is . a row of kids and delicate mor-
sels, festooned with gilt
.paper and yards .of sausages,
hung in the most tasteful limes and curves. In the
centre of this carnal show rests an image of the "Holy
Virgin of Guadaloupe," under whose 'protection he thus
places his larder and his " nu-tom." The 'most inte-
resting figure; however, in the picture is the butcher
himself ; a sentimental. looking fellow, with black eyes,
curling locks, and altogether a most captivating per-
sonage, barring a sort of oily lustre that polishes his
skin.- I invariably find him lounging romantically over
his saw and cleaver, strumming his guitar to
half-a-dozen -housemaids, .who, doubtless, are at-
tracted to his steaks by his amorous staves.
It is Tate to sec such a mixture of meat
and music, What would "be said with us at home,
to see the celebrated bones of Smith, in the Fulton Mar-
ket, mounted on his block, with a.blue ribbon about his
neck, and a dozen damsels grouped around him, listen-
ing, with rapt air, to the pet morceai of the lait opera!
Yet the suggestion might be useful, in these. days,
when invention is taxed to the utmost for new modes of
attraeting the peoplel -In Mexico,. at any• rate, it, is
charaCteristic, and I have therefore noted it.—hiayer's
' Mexico, as it 'We. and If.