The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-04 00:00:00

INDECENT ASSAULT.

Charles Manning, a tall young man of respectable ap •
pearance, and dressed in deep mourning, was charged
before Mr. Maltby, at Marlborough-street, yesterday,
with committing the following gross and indecent as-
sault upon a respectable married female, named Anne
French.

The complainant stated, that between seven and eight
o'clock on Monday evening, she called at No. 14, Sack-
ville-street, Piccadilly, where her husband is the foreman
of an extensive business, and, while speaking to the
female servant, a mere child, who opened the door, the
defendant carne up, and thrusting his head over her
shoulder, a,de,rvssed to the girl some very improper
words, and, on complainant telling him he ought to be
ashamed of himself, he suddenly turned round and
assaulted her, in a very indecent and violent
manner, She indignantly repelled him, and asked him
how he dared to so grossly insult a respectable married
woman, upon which he laughed derisively, and repeated
his offensive behaviour, and also attempted to draw her
clothesup over her person. Complainant screamed out
for assistance, and the defendant then desisted and walked
on. At the instant no person was in sight, and com-
plainant, determined that he should not escape, followed
him into Regent-street, and for some distance along the
colonade of the Quadrant, whon meeting with a police
constable she gave him into custody.
Mr. MALTBY (to defendant)—Pray what are you ?
Defendant—l have been a butler in a nobleman's family,
but am now out of a situation.

Mr. MALTBY—I must say that the assault is a most
gross one, and I shall inflict on you the greatest amount
of punishment the law allows. You are therefore fined
51., or two months' imprisonment.
The defendant said he had not the money about him,
and was conveyed to the lock-up cells, but in a short
time afterwards the fine was paid.

SPONTANEOUS COMHUSTION.—As there has been
much said and written on this subject, it is of great importance
that we should know, especially as the Lucifer
aey
nature;
umg gaet es
tt iaas ndh oi
es
nwt
used so extensively, what mischief is likely to result from its
use, and from the use of substances of a k
the following letter from Professor Booth
to lucifer match makers, it deserves public notice :
" Gentlemen,—l have seen so much of the disastrous effects
arising from substances containing ingredients liable to sponta-
neous ignition in producing fires, that as I looked upon the in-
troduction of your Self-lighting Sealing Wax with Jealousy, I
have tested and analyzed it with great care. By this I find
all my objections to its use removed, as, from the absence of
sulphur in its combination, it is impossible that spontaneous
ignition can take place with them, as has occurred with Con-
grevo matche,, and other pyrotechnic componnds. The com-
bustible elements are perfectly free from danger, and I have no
hesitation in pronouncing yours as safe as ordinary sealing
wax, as smart friction alone will cause their ignition.—l have
the honour to remain, your obedient servant, ABRAHAM_
BOOTH, Lecturer on Chemistry, late Lecturer at the Royal
Adelaide Gallery, &c.—London, April 23, 1842.—Messrs.
Davis, Brothers, and Co., Patentees of Self-lighting Sealing-
wax, Poultry."
THE NEW CORN-LAW.—Some doubt was felt at
first, whether the duty of 275. Bd., declared on the same day,
would not remain in force until a fresh declaration of the
averages and duties ; but yesterday morning it was intimated
at our Custom-house, that the new duties of 13s. on wheat, and
on other grain iu proportion, would be received. Some wheat,
we understand, was liberated at that rate of duty in the course
of the day, so that the Bill is now at work, as far as the duties
are concerned.—Lieerpoot Times.
OPERATIONS 01. TIIE striking illustra-
tion of the magnitude of the transactions of the British empire
may be drawn from the recent records of the Mint. Between
the years 1816 and 1836, the money coined in it amounted in
round numbers to a quarter of a million of copper, twelve
millioas of silver, and considerably- above fifty-five millions of
gold, making a total of between sixty-seven and sixty-eight
millions of money sent into circulation within twenty years.
The clam for coining this enormous amount of precious metal
was pearl'', four hundred and twenty-one thousand pounds, and
the actual cost about two hundred and fourteen thousand
pounds, leaving a profit to the company of moneyers not much
less in amount.
STOPPAGE OF IRON-WORKS.—We regret to learn
that a large number of forges in this neighbourhood (Wolver-
hampton) have ceased work, whereby a great number of hands
are thrown suddenly out of employment. Among the exten-
sive forges closed are those of E. and G. Thorneycroft (Wed-
nesbury), Russell Brothers, George Jellicoe, and G. B.
Thorneycroft (Shrubbery Iron-works). Several other exten-
sive works are daily expected to cease operations ; indeed, we
believe there is not a single forge-owner that does not con-
template the necessity of stopping.—Staffordshire Examiner.
iVhsS KELLY'S:- :'I7IIEATILE.—This neat little theatre,
fitted up in a new and commodious manner, opened on Monday
night. The piece of Captain Stevens commenced the enter- „ ,;:,
tainments, after which, in the Sister of Charity, Miss Kelly
resumed her old character of the Scsur de Charite, displaying -, ;A
in its performance, her accustomed vigour. A new debutante
.4h,0,
in the person of a Miss Isaacs, enacted the part of Nanette. The Sul
Irish Tutor concluded the evering's entertainment.

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