The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-18 00:00:00

ture, Mr.II. met, and to my surprise addressed, me ; after some
conversation, in which I candidly declared my belief in the
deceit of the boys and the fallacy of the experiments, he
defied me or any one to disprove the truth of this experi-
ment, to which I replied that I would come upon the plat-
form the next evening, and disprove the experiment, or
rather the trick. As I stipulated for a forfeit of 201. from
which ever party failed, however, Mr. Hall declined, and
that experiment was no more exhibited. Though I had
never seen the trick before, reasons drawn from anatomy
and physiology at once explained it. I gave this explana-
tion to Mr. Hall, and will be glad to " test" the " fact" on
the above conditions at any time.
Such little facts as have been stated will fully account for
Mr. Hall's wrath against me ; no man, however accustomed
to exposure, likes to have the process repeated. Meantime,
notwithstanding his false accusations and vulgar abuse, I
wish him no harm ; I observe that his aim is now to convert
himself into a mesmeric practitioner in disease, and as in
this line he will always meet with patients, and need scarcely
fear detection, I expect to hear of his doing well. And,
indeed, looking on the mesmeric as more innocent than some
other popular forms of quackery, I cannot, in conscience,
wish him ill in his career. One of the greatest writers of
the present day, Thomas Carlyle, in his " Past and Present,"
has the following sentence on a similar subject :—" Quack
and dupe, as we must ever keep in mind, are upper-side and
under of the selfsame substance ; convertible personages ;
turn up your dupe into the proper fostering element, and he
himself can become a quack; there is in him the due pru-
rient insincerity, open voracity for profit, and closed sense
for truth, whereof quacks, too, in all their kinds, are made."
In his lectures here, Mr. Hall has actually brought forward
no evidence whatever of the truth of any one portion of mes-
merism. No, not even of the sleep and simple phenomena,
which are really capable of exhibition. He failed entirely in
what he promised to effect, and the proceeds, according to his
engagement, really, therefore, belong to the hospital. In-
stead of giving experiments, as his placard intimated, in the
" whole range of mesmeric practice," he has, night after
night, been obliged to confine himself to the tiresome tricke-
ries of two trained boys.
Mr. Hall mentions the names of some few distinguished
people as proofs of the truth of mesmerism. So far as autho-
rity goes, it is at least 1,000 to 1 against the mesmerists.
One professor in Edinburgh, a partial believer, all the other
professors adverse ;—one distinguished physician in London,
an ex-professor, Dr. Elliotson, an advocate for it—every other
professor, and distinguished physician and philosopher,
against it, or silent,—the argument of authority, surely, is
worse than useless.
Then Mr. H. says there are 500 persons in this country
who have exhibited, in their own cases, mesmeric pheno •
mena. How many of these were gentlemen? Was there
one man or woman of science and character, known to the
world as such, amongst the whole ? Miss Martineau, Pro-
fessor Agassiz, Dr. Elliotson, and others, of known probity,
never exhibited any but the simple, nay, the simplest phe-
nomena. The whole mesmeric squadron, if real, of 500, is
chiefly made up of barber's boys, errand boys, servant girls,
with a few hysterical young ladies scattered here and there
in the confused motley mass. I am afraid there is little help
for us here either.

It is no slight thing that Mr. Hall and his mesmeric sup-
porters ask us to do. To give up our belief in some of the
most extraordinary and important phenomena relating to life.
I say, this is no trifling matter, nor to be yielded without
the clearest, strongest, and most irrefragable proof. I would
rather a man would steal the money out of my purse, and
fill it with worthless ashes, than steal truth from my mind and
place error there. What proof have we, then, ofthese marvels?
The respectability of a barber's boy is the sole proof afforded!
We are to give up the evidence of our senses, our reason, our
experience, to that afforded by a Flibbertigibbet like this. Mr.
Hall's own evidence is, of course, inadmissible. Taking the
most charitable view of the matter, he is a mistaken enthu-
siast, the whole of whose interests, pecuniary and otherwise,
are interested in keeping up this " enthusiasm." Would any
one have taken the evidence of Irving about " unknown
tongues," or Johanna Southcote respecting the Shiloh?
Granting, then, for the sake of illustration, that Mr. Hall is
as sincere as were these dupes in their delusions, his evidence
is yet inadmissible. There remains, then, no evidence what-
ever of the truth of all these marvels, except the respect-
ability of a barber's boy, who has, for two years, been en•
gaged like
" Caterfelto, with his hair on end
At his own wonders, wondering for his bread !"

To make any further comment on this, is, I think, quite
unnecessary. am ashamed, Mr. Editor, of having occupied
so much of your time and that of your readers with this con-
temptible affair. I feel the disgrace of having my name con-
nected with the subject at all, but, unfortunately, was not
able, at Mr. Hall's first lecture, to sit patiently and see gross
deceit practised before my fellow-townsmen in the name of
science.—l am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
D. It. LIETCH.
Leamington, Oct. 23, 1845.

SUBSTITUTE FOR THE POTATO.
At the meeting of the Academy of Sciences in Paris on
the 3d Nov., M. Boussmgault read to the Academy a com-
munication from M. Goudout relative to an umbelliferous
plant, indigenous in New Granada, particularly in the most
temperate parts of the continent, where the average tempe-
rature is from 15 to 25 deg. R. The arracacha is generally
three feet in height, its radical leaves twelve or fifteen inches
in length, numerous, biternate, doubly incised, dentate, on
long tistular petioles. The caulinar leaves are smaller than
the radical, which they resemble in every other respect.
The flower is a violet-coloured umbel; the petals oval, acu-
minated, and inflexed ; five stamens and two styles arising
from a disc of the same colour as the flower. The fruit is an
oblong carpel marked with five ribs. The blooming season,
October. The root is the part which is used as an article of
food in the country ; according to M. Boussingault, it par-
ticipates of the nature of the carrot and potato, being a kind
of intermediate substance between them. Each plant
furnishes from three to four pounds of nutritious matter, one
hectare yielding no less than 82,500 pounds of wholesome
food. The disease actually existing amongst the potatoes
induces M. Boussingault and M. Brongniart to attempt the
introduction of this valuable plant into Europe, when it
might be advantageously employed as a substitute for the
potato.—Medical Times.

THE NEW BRIDGE NEAR NORWICIL—This bridge
(erected from a design of Mr. Bidder), below Carrow, was
swung across the river for the first time on Friday morning
last, at eleven o'clock, in the presence of Captain Lawrence,
H. Holingbroke, Esq., W. Rackham, Esq., and a number of
ladies and gentlemen. The immense weight of iron,
.nearly
130 tons, was swung round with the greatest ease. It is
expected that the trains will pass over it in a fortnight. The
company contemplate making a basin close to the bridge for
the landing of goods. In a short time the electric telegraph
will be established between Norwich and Trowse. The station
at Thorpe has been greatly extended, and the platforms
lengthened for the increase of traffic.—Norfolk Chronicle.
TUB MILITARY RIOT AT WINDSOR.—Since the
occurrence took place, the privates belonging to the 2d Regi-
ment of Life Guards have received orders not to be in the
town after dark. They are now, however, permitted to
leave their barracks after their stable duties are over, at
seven o'clock ; but they remain at Spital, and in the neigh-
bourhood, until the hour (ten o'clock) for their being in
quarters. A sergeant in the Grenadier Guards, named Gale,
who was sergeant of the guard at the Castle on Saturday
evening; and who, in consequence of having called out the
guard, upon the request of one of the magistrates, in the
absence of his officer, who was at mess, at the Infantry-
barracks, in Sheet-street, was put under arrest, upon the
guard being relieved and returning to the barracks the next
morning—was released in the course of Wednesday last. It
was expected he would have been tried before a Court-
martial, but such a step was not resorted to.
COACH ACCIDENTS.—On Wednesday last, as the
Highland mail was on its way north, near Dalwhinnie, one
of the horses shied and leaped over the pole. The other
leader was thrown down and the coach upset. Some of the
passengers were hurt, and had to be conveyed to Inverness
in a post-chaise. We learn that no blame whatever can be
attached to the driver. On Saturday the mail was again
upset near Craggie, owing to some of the traces giving way
from the bad state of the harness. The coach was quite full
at the time, and very fortunately none of the passengers were
hurt, with the exception of a gentleman who got his shoulder
slightly bruised. The driver, James Forrest, is reckoned one
of the steadiest on the road, and is wholly free from blame.—
Inverness Courier.

ANTIQUARIAN DISCOVERIES AT LEWES PRIORY.—
The discovery of interesting relics in the ruins of Lewes
Priory, by the railway workmen, still proceeds; and every
care is taken to preserve them with as little injury as pos-
sible. On Monday the workmen came to another grave,
formed, like those previously found, of large stones placed
one on another; but in this instance chalk had been used
instead of Caea stone. On Tuesday afternoon the grave was
opened and found to contain the bones of a full-sized human
body, without any appearance of a coffin or any other ma-
terial. On the same day, in another spot, the workmen met
with an obstruction which, on examination, was found to be
a pavement of Roman tile. The clearing of this occupied
more than a day. Its centre-is plain ; but there appears to
have been a border of enamelled tiles, some of which are in
a very fair state of preservation, and are ornamented with
the De Warren arms. In the course of clearing this pave-
ment, a doorway was found, which proved to be that of a
stone cell. The side stones are perfect, and there is also a
good stone foundation, which the workmen are still following.
These foundations are most interesting to the antiquarian, as
they develop the site of some of the moat important portions
of this once-magnificent building, concerning which much
doubt has always existed. On Thursday afternoon the ca-
pital of a column was found, which is in a good state of pre-
servation, and very beautifully ornamented.—Brighton
Herald. . -

+V
---
CHELMSFORD FAlR.—This fair took place on Wed-
nesday last, and was well supplied with stock. Of beasts
there were about 1,200, the largest number ever shown in the
fair, chiefly consisting of Herefords and North and South
Wales, the latter including several lots forward in condi-
tion, part of which realised upwards of 151. each. The
Herefords, which were not in so forward a condition, sold at
from 91. to 131. ss. The supply of cows was moderate, but
what there were went off' readily at high prices. Lean beasts,
Welch heifers, &c., were much in demand, and were nearly
all sold at an advance upon the rates at the late fairs.
Messrs. Pollett, of Stapleford Hall, showed a useful lot of
South Wales beasts, for which 121. per head was refused, and
they were sent on to Epping fair. The show of sheep was
not so large as on some former occasions, there being about
7,000 penned ; the quality was very good, but the high prices
asked operated materially against the sale; and about one-
third were turned out unsold. The following are the prices
of the day :—Down ewes, 265. to 355. ; lambs, 20s. to 325. 6(1. ;
wethers, 325. to 425. Amongst the purchasers were the fol-
lowing :—Mr. B. Revett, of Kelvedon, a lot of South Wales
beasts, of Mr. Crooks, at 151. 15s. ; Mr. Lithgow, of Stanway,
a lot of Herefords to Mr. Stock, at 131. ss. ; Mr. Stannard, a
good lot of down lambs, of Mr. C. Packman, at 325, 6d. ; Mr.
K. Vial, a lot of Hampshire ewe lambs, of good quality, of
Mr. T. Crooks, at 31s. 6d. ; Mr. Perry, of Weathersfield, a lot
of polled Somerset ewes, of Mr. Crooks, at 375. ; Mr. Tweed,
part of the same, at the same price ; and Mr. Stock, of Mark's
Hall, 100 superior down ewes, allowed to be the best in the
fair; Mr. Ransome, 100 good Hampshire ewes, of Messrs.
Howard and Simmons, at 325. • Mr. W. Webb, of Bently, a
very superior lot of half-bred Leicester lambs, of Mr. Wake-
ling, at 325.; Mr. J. Addy, of Rolstons, eighty forward down
ewes, of Mr. Crooks, at 31s. Amongst the sheep were twenty
very superior Devonshire ewes, very forward in lamb, for
which Mr. Crooks refused an offer from Mr. J. Wenden, sales-
man, of Colchester, of 50s. per head. Of nag horses the show
was moderate, if we except a beautiful grey hunter, the con-
dition of which was much admired, shown by Mr. S. Adams,
of Waltham, and sold to Mr. P. Dowsstt, of Pleshev. Good
cart colts and horses met with a ready sale.—Chelmsford
Chronicle.

PREVALENCE OF FEVER.—In consequence of the
prevalence of this fearful epidemic among the poor of our
city, and in order to provide a proper convalescent fund to
prevent relapses, the Mayor, it will be seen, in compliance
with a most respectable requisition, convenes a public meet
ing at the Commercial-building, for Tuesday next. The
safety of the citizens at large depends on sustaining this
r.lief fund, and thereby prevent t'cas spread of the con-
tagion. Over 6,000 fever patients have been admited into
the fever hospital during the past season. Tu insure public
safety, the convalescent fund must be kept up.—Limerick
Reporter.

THE ST7li, LONDON,

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
GUILDHALL.
Samuel Snow. the gatekeeper of the East London Union,
was summoned for refusing admission, at two o'clock that
morning, to Henry Williams, a destitute person.
Inspector Chadwick stated that having satisfied himself
that the young man Williams had travelled up from St.
Alban's, and had been seeking shelter in different parts of
the metropolis unsuccessfully, he gave directions to the police
to take him to the poor-house, and if admission were refused
to bring him back to the station. Admission was refused,
and he permitted him to lie down in a cell, and gave him
a breakfast in the morning. As this was not the first in-
stance of the improper 'refusal of destitute persons taken
by the police, he determined to bring the case before the
magistrate.
Williams, who was ragged enough to be presumed to be
very destitute, stated that after knocking, the porter came
and asked how far he had come since the day before. He
told him St. Alban's, upon which the porter replied he might
have found his way there before the middle of the night,
and he should not let him in.
The porter said when he asked Williams where he came
from he laughed. Defendant therefore concluded he could
not be destitute, and shut him out.
The Master of the Workhouse said the 'porter had acted
according to his general instructions. Williams, who was
able to work, had come to London to live by begging in the
day, and sleeping in the different workhouses by night. Such
characters ought to apply for admission at an early hour of
the night. If they would not comply with that, they could
hardly be called so destitute as to require admittance in the
middle of the night. The Poor- law Commissioners had or-
dered him to admit destitute persons brought by the police,
but it was for him to say who was destitute and who was
dissolute.
Mr. Alderman SIDNEY apprehended that such a discre-
tion could not be deputed to the gate porter. All who asked
for mere shelter for the night should have it, and if the work-
house-keepers did their duty, there need be no other places
of refuge for the poor. He thought there should be no other.
A rate for the relief of the poor was raised on the house-
holders all over the country, and it ought to be sufficient to
afford help to all who needed it. He recommended attention
to all cases brought by the police, and should there be an
improper refusal of the destitute at any hour of the night in
future, he should inflict a fine upon the party offending.
The master promised obedience for the future.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
Carrunz OF GAMBLERS.—At two o'clock on Sunday
morning, a party of the C division of police, under Super-
intendent Beresford, proceeded, on the authority of the Po-
lice Commissioners, to the house No. 5, Bennet-street, for-
merly occupied by Mrs. Edmonds, of bill-discounting fame,
and having gained an entrance, proceeded to take all par-
ties in the house into custody as gamblers, and as being found
in a common gaming-house. In the exercise of the addi-
tional powers vested in the police by the Games and Wagers
Bill, some of the parties captured were searched on the
spot, in order to ascertain whether they had any gambling
implements concealed on their persons. It was the want of
this power of search, in case the party to be searched ob-
jected to the operation, that was supposed to operate as a bar
to the conviction of the parties taken into custody on suspi-
cion of being gamblers, as it was alleged that such parties,
by concealing the implements of gambling on their persons,
in general prevented the police from obtaining a material
portion of evidence. The police, however, find that this new
power will not assist them to the extent anticipated, as the
practised gamblers are too wary to have now anything more
than dice and dice-boxes in the house, which may be effec-
tually got rid of in a few minutes in case of attack.
Mr. Wilkins attended for the defendants, who gave the
following names :—Charles Wislon (real name Henry Old
field), John Morris (real name Jones), John Humphrey (real
name Sowden), William Johnson, Ennis Martin, and Richard
Seyford.
superintendent Beresford—l am superintendent of the C
division. I produce papers containing the report to the
Commissioners of the house No. 7, Bennet-street, being a
common gaming-house, and the order of the Commissioners
to enter the house. In obedience to that order I went with a
division of constables at two o'clock on Sunday morning, and
I rang the bell at the house No. 7, Bennet-street. The door
was opened by Johnson, and I took him immediately into
custody, and handed him over to Inspector Squire,.who ac-
companied me. I went forward and took two other persons,
who gave the names of Humphrey and Seyford. Humphrey
I have known before by the name of Oldfield. I went up
stairs into several rooms, but found no persons there. I
came down stairs and found two more of the defendants,
Wilson and Morrison, in a room before a supper table which
had refreshments on it. The other defendants I did not see
taken into custody. Some of the defendants were searched
in the house, and others at the station-house. I searched
the house all through, and on the second floor I found two
rooms, one of which was fitted up as a billiard room. The
door leading to the inner room was made of iron, and re-
markably strong. It was 'provided with a sort of lever
machinery, by the help of which the five bolts at the top,
bottom, and sides were all shot at once. The door was open
u hen I entered the room. The window-shutters were also
cased with iron. I searched about, but I could not find any
implements of gaming. No implements of gaming were
found on the defendants. Five of the parties I have known
for a length of time as the associates of gamblers and the
frequenters of gaming-houses. Two of them have been here
before, and one of them has been convicted.
Mr. Wilkins—l do not think it necessary to ask any
questions at present.
Police-sergeant Gray, C 10, corroborated the superin-
tendent's statement, and added that he took Martin. into
custody.
Mr. Beresford—There is other evidence, but it is all to the
same effect. I cannot carry the case any further.
Mr. Wilkins—Then it is unnecessary for me to say any-
thing, as there is no case whatever against the defendants.
Mr. MALTBY—The evidence does not go far enough, there-
fore the defendants are all discharged.
QUEEN-SQUARE.
AFFIXING NOTICES ON THE DOORS OF WESTMINSTER
ABBE Y.—A case of considerable importance with respect to
public companies, as also with reference to the prte-ileges of
Parliament, occupied the attention of the magistrates.
A very respectable-looking young man, named Gunn,
clerk to Messrs. Bebb and Rose, of Argyll-street, solicitors,
W. 23 charged with affixing a printed notice on thee doors of
Westminster Abbey.
Richard Lefe, one of the officers of the abbey, proved that
defendant posted a notice, which he produced, on the doors
last Sunday morning.
In reply to questions from Mr. Rose, who attended, wit-
ness said that defendant declared that he had placed the
notice there in pursuance of authority from Parkiament. Wit-
ness had received instructions from the dean and chapter
clerk to take every person into custody who should affix
notices on the abbey doors.
A gentleman, who attended from the dean and chapter,
said it must be well known, from the recent 'publicity given
to a case which bad occurred, that bills were not allowed to
be posted on the abbey doors, and that a person had been
only a few days before taken into custody for doing so.
Mr. Rose—Do you think, sir, that there 'is any necessity
for me to make any reply to this charge?
Mr. Boer—Most certainly I do.
Mr. Rose then contended that the parfres, in giving the
defendant into custody, and obstructing hies in affixing this
notice, bad committed a breach of the pi vileges of Parlia-
ment. The notice stated that it was the intention of the
promoters of the National Gas Associatio a to apply to Par-
liament for an Act for better lighting wit'n gas the metro-
polis, and that by the said Act it wasi intended to take
powers fur the purchase, by compulsiciat or otherwise, of
such lands and houses as might be ne ssary for effecting
the purposes, and to vary or extinguish ,all rights and pri-
vileges connected with them. It tk er efore became most
important, that where a company SOll ght to obtain such
powers, that the fullest notice should I,e given of such an
intention.
Mr. Bost—The notice is to be afixel on the doors of the
parish church. Westminster Abbey is. extra parochial.
Mr. Rose—There can be no doubt, sir, that Westminster
Abbey is a church, and that the Leg of ature has in all cases
considered the church doors the most. prominent and proper
place to affix notices relating to the 'public at large. The
terms of the orders of the House .roe Lords are " that no-
tices shall be affixed to the outer el.) ors of the churches of
every parish" to which the applica t ion about to be made
relates.
Mr. Bonn—Westminster Abbey i,s not a parish church.
Mr. Rose—The order of the Lord a Spiritual and Temporal
does not say the parish church, or the church of every
parish, but the churches of ever3r parish. We, therefore,
consider we are bound, and permit. -me to say we are so ad-
vised by counsel, that it is necesf ca ry to affix the notice to
every church, end the Abbey Church of St. Peter's, West-
minster, amongst others. I cons;.d,er the opposition to these
notices being affixed an interfere:a• ce with the administration
of the standing orders.
Mr. BOND—I believe these we tices ere not required for
railway Bills.
Mr. Rose—The Houses of P a eliament have made a dis-
tinction between the standing ors lers relative to railway Bills
and to private Bills. They arev 'in fact, quite distinct in their
nature; for instance, a railw a! Act may be most unques-
tionably for the general ben of it of the whole of the com-
munity, whereas a gas comp a; ly may ask for powers to take
a man's land and property oar npulsorily, and, although con-
ferring great public advanta,ge 3, may erect a nuisance. The
highway of towns and cif ses .is specially referred to in the
standing orders, in compl:sanco with which the notices have
been affixed.
Mr. BoND—I am clearly of opinion that this is an
offence under the Police Act. I cannot consider that the
standing orders of Ur; house repo al the Act of Parliament.
Mr. Rose—l contend that this Act of Parliament does not
reach the case • hut if you think ibt does, I must bow to your
decision ; but I must then submit that to convict this de-
fendant will Will be a breach of th e• privileges of Parliament,
as he has only obeyed the express directions of the Legisla-
ture, whose standing order in thi s respect is framed most
carefully for the express benefit of ' the community; and I
would beg to remind you that th e House of Lords com-
mitted to prison a man who, hay ing been libelled by a
person before a Committee of the 1 rouse, brought his ac-
tion, and, moreover, committed the :attorney, who sued out
the process for him, and I certainly :shall, on the assembling
of Parliament, present petitions std ing the circumstances of
the case.
Mr. BOND—Westminster Abbey 3s not the parish church.
Mr. Rose—lt is a cathedral chits. ch locally :situated in a
parish, and has a congregati-so to whom notice should be
given.
Mr. BOND repeated that,, vn looting. at the 10th article of
the 54th section of the Police Act, he "was clearly of opinion
that an offence had bean committed. Westminster Abbey
was certainly extra pa ; it was not the church of any
parish. There was a parish church (St. MargareV:s), which
had
de
beenthe gproperiveti placewt:a
in-
tended by the Legislature for that purpose: Ample cantion
r' owe:Hee:
to
authese
notices,n a
tnotices;
se d the, place
and. le should
fine defendant 40e,.
Mr. Rose again submitted that defendant s, Taa not liable,
and pressed the whole of the circumstances most
Mr. BOND consulted with the clerk (Mr. Taylor
• earn.estly on
the Magistrate's consideration.
observed that as there might arise a doubt as to w teethe.- the
days
The t to
ge
e 0
nn
tsli
edme ra
nb e
ffor
or emh et
hgea veehjudgment.
chapter
Police Act reached to this case, he should take tea
•Vantl then
s) or I,firee
(understood i to be the
clerk) said 'Westminster Abbey was private props srtse
Mr. BOND—Oh, no ; that cannot be contend ed-for a mo-
ment.
Rose—lt was founded by King Egbert, n Ati its dead-
nation and constitution has been changed sever
times. In
Queen Mary's time it was an abbey. Queen ' LBW heels sup-
pressed the abbey, and constituted it a college ite chins :h.
Mr. Borer repeated that he would take te
sithdrew.
to consider the matter, and the parties then nor thre :days
Vi
SOU% HWARK.

Henry Kill”rby, the young man char ged with tiend.
ing
threatening letters, some of them con+
..aining poison, Iv as
brought before Mr. Cottingham for re- •examivation on th e
charge. Several of the indviduals t:a whom letters of the
above description had been sent att.,endect the investigation,
as well as some of the parochial "Authorities of St. George's,
Southwark, in the event of its -oeing necessary to institute a
prosecution against the persGn in custody.
I; will probably be recollected that some months ago an
application was made at this court relative to anonymous
letters hiving been tran mitted to several of the inhabitants
of St. George's parish, some of them containing poison..
One of these epistles, which contained threats of the most
diabolical description, was addressed to Dir. Stead, the-