The Sun.
London, England, 1842-06-23 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

Their Majesties the King and Queen of the Belgians,
his Excellency Count Mensdorf and his sons, visited her
Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent yesterday, at her
residence, Clarence House, St. James's.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Gloucester
and the Duke of Cambridge, visited the King and Queen
of the Belgians yesterday morning, at Buckingham Palace.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by
his Excellency Count Mensdorf, the Duke of Welling-
ton, and the Counts Hugh, Alphonso, Alexander, and
Arthur Mensdorf, honoured Mr. Babbage with a visit
yesterday, at his residence in Dorset-street.
The Duchess of Kent visited the Queen yesterday.

The I..ince of Wales and the Princess Royal, accom
panied by the Hon. Lady Lyttelton, were taken their ac
customed airing yesterday.
The Royal Dinner-party at Buckingham Palace in.
chided their Majesties the King and Queen of the Bel
glans, his Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, M. Van
de Weyer, the Belgian Minister ; Lady Anna Maria
Dawson, the Earl of Aberdeen, Viscount Melbourne,
Lord George Lennox, Right Hon. Sir James and Ladv
Graham, Countess-de Merude, Baron de Dicskau, M. fie
Moerkerke, and Sir George Couper, Bart.
Her Majesty had afterwards an evening party. The
company consisted of his Royal Highnesl Prince George
of Cambridge, the French Ambassador and the Countess
de St. Au'aim, Baron de Barante, M. de Barante,
Baron de Nieumaan, the Austrian Minister ; the Duke
of Wellington, the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland,
and the -Ladies Elizabeth and Evelyn Gower, the Earl
and Countess of Delaware, and the Ladies Elizabeth
and Mary West, Earl and Lady Catherine Jermyn, Earl
and Countess of Jersey, and Lady Clemintina Villiers,
Earl and Countess of Haddington, Earl and Countess
Stanhope, and Lady Wilhelmina Stanhope, Earl of
Liverpool, Viscount and -Viscountess Canning, Viscount
Clifton, Viscount and Viscountess Jocelyn, Baroness
Keith, and Meddle. de Flahault, and Maddle G. de
Flahault, Lord Alfred and Lady Adelaide Paget, Mr. G.
Edward Anson, Mr. and Lady Mary Stanley.
The yearly in,pection of her Majesty's Body Guard of
the Yeomen of the Guard took place at St. James's
lace on Tuesday, when the whole of the corps was in-
spected by the Captain, the Earl of Beverley, attended
by the Clerk of the Cheque and the other Officers of the
corps.
The Lords of her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy
Council held a meeting yesterday morning in the office
of the Comptroller-General of the Exchequer for the trial
of her Majesty's coins in the Fix of the Mint. The
Lords present were—the Lord Chancellor, Lord Wharn-
ciffe, the Lord President, Right Hon. H. Goulburn,
Chancellor of the Exchequer; Lord Monteagle, Comptrol-
ler-General of the Exchequer ; the Duke of Buccleuch,
Lord Privy Seal ; Earl of Haddington, First Lord of the
Admiralty ; Lord Fitzgerald, President of the 'Board of
Control ; Sir Henry Hardingei Secretary at War ; Lord
Lowther, Post-Master-General ; Right Hon. W. E. Glad-
stone, Master of the Mint; and Lord Bexley.
The Lord Chancellor charged the Jury (composed of
Goldsmiths) relative to their assay of the specimens td
the different coinages, gold and silver, deposited in
the Pix of the Mint since the last trial. At the conclu-
sion of his address, his Loidship delivered the trial-
plates to the Jury, and appointed four o'clock, in the
House of Lords, to receive their verdict, should they
by that time have finished the assaying of all the coinages.
The Foreman of the Jury invited the Lord Chan-
, cellor and all the Privy Councillors present to cline with
the Goldsmiths' Company, in their Hall in the evening.
The French Ambassador and the Swedish Charge
d'Affaires transacted business at the FOreign-office.
A model llustration of an improved mode of stopping
and preventing collision in railroad travelling, was on
Tuesday submitted by Mr. Lee to the Earl of Ripon
and the Right• Hon. W.ll..Gladstone, at the ace of the
Board of Trade.

The Cabinet Ministers dined with Lord Stanley yes-
terday, at his residence in St. James's-square.
Captain Fitzroy had an interview with the Earl of
Ripon yesterday, at the office of the Board of Trade.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy. Council sat yes-
terday. The Lords present were the Lord President,
Lords Wynford, Brougham, and Campbell, and the
Judge of the Prerogative Court.
" Smith v. Fell," from the Prerogative Court of Can-
terbury, and "Sparrow v. Harrison," from the Dean of
Arches. were heard and disposed of.
Sir William and Lady Gomm have left Farrance's
Hotel for Chester.

MISS CHAMBERS' MORNING
CONCERT.

Assisted by the first talent of the Opera, this
lady's concert
.took place yesterday morning at her
Majesty's theatre. Madame Frezzolini sang in very
brilliant style the duetto " Serba i tuoi segreti," with
Signor Poggi. The barcarole " Bel piacer quando
sereno," and a subsequent duetto from Mercadante,
exhibited Guasco's voice to fine effect. Strength was
linked with sweetness, and some passages in the latter
were softly tremblottante and beautiful. Madame Per-
siani dispatched her portion of the duet " Oh Guardate,"
in a glitter of high sharp notes, and her pleasant
archness was in excellent contrast with the robust tone
and manner of Lablache. Blagrove performed on the
violin a concerted piece from William Tell, with Mrs.
Anderson. This lady's instrumentation on the piano-
forte can scarcely be said to grow more perfect, since
long ago she appeared to have reached the summit of her
art ; but the rich retiring melody that rises up beneath
her hand, altogether unob. truding, but laden with a
depth of harmony—fits it . for the highest and re-
closest places—a shrine, a sanctuary,or a palace-vestibule.
Mademoiselle Multini sang an Italian aria in a Very
expressive manner, and with great purity of tone ; and
the romance " La Pea di tutti i cor," by Signor Mario,
breathed fully, as is its purport, a heart adoring. Ma-
dame and Signor Ronconi executed the " Fonte d'amare
lazrine" in passionate'and sparkling style ; the'voice of
the Mao; is possessed of great power, and capable of
immense energy ; while that of the former is dulcet with
lute tones. Miss Chambers herself graced the concert,
which was fully and fashionably attended, with many, of
her own vocal and instrumental performances.

FOREIGN STEAM-VESSELS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIB,—I have been much pleased with the manner in
which you have exposed the unjustifiable hostility shown
,by the Belgian Government, under cover of the Antwerp
Company, to English steam-vessels. This is very dif-
ferent conduct to what is experienced by Belgian steamers
in British ports. Indeed I consider the indulgence shown
to these steamers, in many instances, most unfair to-
wards the vessels of our own country. By what autho-
rity, .for instance, does the British Queen, now Belgian
property, call at Southampton and take in passengers for
New York, having Made her clearance at the port she
belongs to ? and thus, in a manlier, robbing the British
sh!powner of his Nr freight. What, I would ask, would
become of an English ship were she to attempt to call at
a foreign port under similar circumstances ? The owners
would be made to pay dearly for their trial. Again, by
what arrangement are these foreign ships brought higher
up the River than Limehouse, that being the limit
wisely laid down and adhered to until it became the
fashion to give up the interest of British shipowners for
distribtaion among foreigners, in which they have been
in nowise backward of availing themselves ?
I really hope something will be done to check the un-
due support afforded to the enemies of the British ship-
ping interests.
I am: Sir, your obedient servant,
June 22, 1842. AN ENGLISHMAN.

MURDER OF A 'POLICEMAN.—BRISTOL, JUNE 22._
Immense excitement has prevailed throughout thif city since
Monday, in consequence of its being known that a party of
Jrishmen had attacked some of the police on Sunday, and
beaten one of them in so brutal a manner that there was very
little prospect of his surviving the effects of the ill-treatment
he had received. The poor man was conveyed to the infirmary,
where he received every attention that medical skill could de-
vise, unfortunately, however, without success ; as, after lin-
gering in intense agony until yesterday evening, he expired.
From the facts elicited upon the inquest, which was proceeding
when our report left, it appeared that the injuries, from which
the deceased met his death, were inflicted by a party of Irish-
men in an attempt to rescue a prisoner whom the deceased had
in charge. He was first knocked dhivit by a brick thrown by
one of the party, aid then beaten, while on the ground, by six
or seven persona, all armed with bricks, until an accession of
force enabled the police to save their comrade from further vio-
lence. Six Irishmen, all of whom are positively identified as
having been of the party who attacked the police, are in custody.
The Journal du Loiret states tlr.t a Polish officer,
Who had fought in the army in Algeria, was bathing this week
in the Loire, not far from Orleans,
when he suddenly disap-
peared. Some persons rho saw him go down gave assistance,
and brought him to land. He still breathed, but the bystanders,
acting upon the mistaken ry,l.tion that thy. first thing to be
done was to snake him throw off the water which he had
swallowed, held him with his head downwards, and thus
actually caused his death. It is astonishing that, although this
:error been, so frequently pointed out,
,it persisted in.
Th has-fii'stbing to be done in cases of drowning is, to place the
,:body 1 Itorisontal position, with tl9 head slightly rimed,

PETITION OF THE FATHER OF
FRANCIS TO THE QUEEN.

The following petition from the father of Francis was
yesterday transmitted to" her Majesty through Sir James
Graham:—
" The petition of John Francis, of No. 14, Tottenham-
court-road, in the county of Middlesex,
" Humbly showeth—That your petitioner is the un-
happy father of the wretched convict now lying under
sentence of death, and waiting the awful execution of
the law in your Majesty's Gaol of Newgate, for having
treitorously fired a pistol at your Majesty, on the even-
ing of the 30th of May last.
" That your petitioner yields to none of your Majesty's
subjects in devoted and affectionate loyalty and attach-
ment to your Majesty's person and family, or in abhor-
rence of the abominable, wicked, and wanton conduct of
his unfortunate son.
"That your petitioner is 51 years of age, and has
• through life borne an irreproachable character for
honesty, sobriety, and loyalty.
" That your petitioner has a wife and four other chil-
dren dependent on his exertions for their maintenance
and support, and that to the utmost of his humble means,
and by the best possible example that they could show,
your petitioner and his wife have ever endeavoured to
bring up and educate their children in the soundest prin-
ciples of morality and religion ; and, above all,. to im-
press upon their minds their duty to ' fear God and ho-
nour the King? •
" That in corroboration of the excellence of your pe-
titioner's character, he humbly begs to submit the fact
that he is one of the artisans of your Majesty's Theatre
Royal Covent-garden, and has been so for more
than twen!pthree years ; during all which time he
has discharged his duties to the entire satisfaction of
the successive lessees and managers of the said theatre.
" That your petitioner's wife is most ardently at-
tached to her ill-fated child ; and, on hearing of the
horrible crime he had committed, she was seized with
the most alarmint illness, and has ever since remained
in the utmost bodi y and mental distress, so much so
that her life. is wholly despaired of ; and your petitioner
dare not intimate to her the melancholy doom that
awaits her best beloved son. _ .

"That your petitioner most respectfully and humbly
begs to assure your Majesty of the horror and detesta-
tion felt by every member of the convict's family at
the wicked and impious outrage he has committed
against your Majesty's most sacred person, and of your
petitioner's recognition of the necessity for the inflic-
tion of some severe punishment, to deter others from
similar attempts ; but at the same time believing that
the pistol was not loaded with any destructive material,
and that the real motive of his misguided child was
nut to inflict any serious injury upon your Majesty,
much less to make any attack upon your Majesty's
valuable and precious life, your petitioner ventures
must humbly to make this appeal to your Royal grace
and mercy, and most earnestly and fervently to im-
plore that your Majesty will most graciously, listen to
the prayers and supplications of an afflicted father on
behalf of his guilty and wretched son, and mercifully
spare his life.
"And your petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever
pray the Great. King of Kings to bless your Majesty,
"and every member of your illustrious family, with lung
life, and every earthly and heavenly blessing. -
(Signed) " JOHN FRANCIS."

THE WORKING CLASSES AND
THE AItISTOCRACY.
TO THE EDITOR OP THE SUN.
Sin,--When Members of Parliament and the Press
of all parties are so loud and unanimous in praise of
Lord Ashley's humanity, it would ill become a hum-
ble individual like myself to express any doubts on
the subject. But if, Sir, you will allow these few
lines a place in, your ialuable columns, I will most
respectfully inform Lord Ashley how he may do an
effectual service to the poor, and one for which they
will feel deeply grateful to him. Let him, in the
first place, endeavour, by the abolition of Peel's star-
vation Corn-law Bill, to procure us cheap bread, and
enough of it to support our wives and families, with-
out compelling them to the alternative either of severe
drudgery, or beino starved. You must recollect, Sir,
that upwards of three years ago Sir George Strick-
land,
in his place in Parliament, told the landowners
that they were grinding the faces of the poor, and
that rent-rolls could be maintained at their present
rate only by the continued misery of the working
man.

I see the Duke of Richmond lately stated in the
House of Lords that " the wages of agricultural
labourers have already been reduced." No doubt
they have, and so they will continue to he, if the
landed aristocracy persist in screwing enormous war
rents from the farmer, thereby compelling him
in his own defence, to higgle with his labourers
for the smallest possible amount of wages that will
keep body and soul together. I see some of these
landed gentlemen have been very free in their abuse
of us poor working men, and amongst other things
accused us of gross cupidity, in making our wives
and children earn their bread by their labour. Are
not these gentlemen unable to " see the mote in their
own eye ?" If they were, they would find that lay-
ing a tax of 2d. upon every loaf the poor man eats
might be called by a worse name than cupidity. I
should like to ask these gentlemen, who tax our
bread to keep up their enormous rent-rolls, what was
the sum their fathers or grandfathers received for the
rents of their estates, and what they are now receiv-
ing? Depend upon-it, Sir, we poor fellows are not
more heartless than our betters ; and if we could by
our own labour earn a sufficiency of bread to support
our , families, their would be less cackle about our
cruelty to our children and wives. I cannot conclude
without asking, whether it is not enough to make a
cat sick to hear men, bearing the names of Gladstone
and Goulburn, eternally prating about the horrors of
slavery, whilst we poor devils of white slaves are
obliged to pay from id. to 2d. a pound more for a
little sugar to sweeten our coffee, that the West India
proprietors may pocket two millions a year of our
hard-earned money. So long as the Corn and Sugar-
laws continue, professions of humanity made by their
supporters will by me be considered as little better
than " fudge." A WORKING MAN.