The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-27 00:00:00

DESTITUTION IN GLASGOW.

On Saturday one of the most heart-rending spectacles
we have ever witnessed was exhibited in the Police-
court of this city. Nearly seventy individuals, of both
sexes, and of all ages, who had during the previous
night voluntarily sought protection under the roof of
the office, were placed at the bar, for the purpose of
having their cases inquired into by the Magistrate.
The party presented an appearance of filth, degrada-
tion, and misery absolutely sickening, and afforded but
too positive proof of the dreadful amount of wretched-
ness now so prevalent. Want, in its most direful form,
was marked upon every visage; the clothing of many of
the poor outcasts was scarcely sufficient to cover their
nakedness ; none of them had a home to go to ; and,
impelled by their necessities, the protection of the
Police-office was the only refuge left them in their dis-
tress. The amount of misery which these poor creatures
exhibited seemed utterly to appal the Magistrate, Bailie
Bogle, whose term of service has not been long enough
to make him acquainted with the degree of wretched-
ness so familiar to those who have been longer in
the Magistracy ; and, like every Magistrate in similar
circumstances, he was evidently puzzled how to act. Af-
ter some consultation, it was resolved to submit the case
of each to the examination of the parish-officers, with a
view to relief being granted where the parties belonged to
Glasgow, and having the others sent off to their respec-
tive parishes. This was perhaps all that could be done in
the circumstances, but we need not say that it is utterly
inadequate to meet the evil. It is proper to state
that, with the exception of two or three indivi•
duals, none of the unfortunate parties referred to
above are known in the Police-office as cri-
minals— poverty alone sent them within its precincts ;
but it requires no prophetic vision to foretel that, sooner
or later, their names .will go to swell up the list of delin-
quents who tenant its cells, unless the horrors to which
they arc subjected prevent the commission of crime, by
the awful alternative of shortening their lives. While
on this subject, we may take the opportunity of
mentioning the startling fact, that there are
at present in Bridewell no fewer than fifty-two
voluntary priSoners, who have come forward and re-
quested admission to that establishment. Many of these are
persons who have petitioned to be allowed to remain after
the expiry of their sentences ; others, after going out,
but who have been unsuccessful in procuring employ-
ment, have returned begging for admission ; but many of
them have never been convicted of crime, and have peti-
tioned to be admitted, subject to all the rules and regula-
tions of the prison. Perhaps this single fact proves,
more clearly than any other which could be adduced,
the fallen and helpless condition of our suffering poor.
Persons who have never been convicted of crime go
voluntarily forward, and petition to be' subjected to all
the rules and regulations of Bridewell, rather than
remain in the possession of their freedom, accompanied
with all the evils of starvation. This fact we can state
on the authority of Mr. Brebner, the humane and en-
lightened governor of our prisons ; and it is one of such
a startling nature, as must at once attract no small shard
of public observation. The distress, now so unhappily
prevalent all over the country, presents many features
of fearful interest, the most striking of which are the
rapidly demoralising effects produced in the lower walks
of society ; and perhaps nothing has occurred to show
more clearly the sinking condition of that class of our
fellow-citizens than the significant fact we have recorded
above.—Glasgow Paper.

STATE OF TRADE.
(From the Manchester Guardian.)
The unfavourable weather, and the great uncertainty
existing as to the financial and commercial views of the
present Government, continue to exercise an unfavour-
able influence on this Market. Yesterday the demand was
extremely limited ; and, low as were prices previously,
most of those who were under thd necessity of selling
found themselves compelled to accept lower prices
yesterday.
ROCHDALE FLANNEL MARKET, JAN. 24. There has
been another dull market to-day, with prices similar to
those of last Monday. In the wool-market there has
been very little doing at any prices.

THE ANTI-CORN-LAW BAZAAR.
(Abridged from the Manchester Guardian.)
Since our last, every thing has been progressing in a
way that promises well for the complete success of the
bazaar ; at least, so far as regards its immense stock in
trade. The consideration of customers—purchasers,
will doubtless be the great one ; and every facility should
be given in the way of attraction, railway conveyance,
&c., to induce distant friends to visit Manchester on the
occasion. The opponents of the Corn-laws, in this town
and neighbourhood, are giving their contributions most
liberally, both in abour, time, materials articles, and
money. The articles deposited in the house in Foun-
tain-street, occupied by the bazaar committee, are insured
against loss from fire. The receipt of packages, hampers,
boxes, chests, hogsheads, &c., containing articles for the
bazaar, has been very considerable, especially during
Monday and yesterday. Amongst the contributions
one extremely curious and valuable series has been
presented by Mark Phillips, Esq., M.P. It consists of a
collection of the letters and signatures of French Minis-
nisters, statesmen, savans and litteraires, and is peculiarly
rich in the autographs of the Marshals and Generals of
Napoleon. Amongst the Marshals are two Royal per-
sonages, Joachim Murat, King of Naples, and Berna-
dotte, King of Sweden ; also Ney, Soult, Augereau
(Due de Castiglione), Maret (Due de Bassano),
Massena (Duc de Rivoli and Prince d'Essling), Ber-
thier, Junot (Duc d'Abrantes), Suchet (Due d'Al-
bufera), Bethune (Duc de Sully) ; Generals Toy,
Gourgaud, Condorcet, Petion, &c. Amongst states-
men's autographs are those of Cardinal Richelieu, Car-
dinal Mazarin, Necker, Turgot, and Guizot. Amongss
other distinguished characters there are attograph lettert
of the Countess de Geniis, Madame Campan, the Count
de Polignac (we believe father to Prince Polignac, the
Minister of Charles the Tenth, late a prisoner in the
Castle of Ham), Bernardin de Saint Pierre (author of
" The Studies of Nature"), L'Abbe Sieyes, President of
the National Institute during the Republic • J. B. Say,
Talma, the French tragedian ; and David, the painter.
Nor are there wanting valuable English autographs of
various periods. Some liberal contributions have
been received; from Lord Brougham, and various
others, in addition to those noticed last week. There
is also an original poem by poor Lander, the African
traveller. Amongst other autographs of literary
and other characters are those of Mrs. Somerville,
Miss Adelaide Kemble, Hon. Mrs. Norton, Miss Agnes
Strickland, Mrs. Bulwer (" Rosina Lytton Bulwer,")
Mrs."C. F. Gore, authoress of " Mothers and Daughters,"
&c. ; Rev. H. H. Milman, author.of " History of the
Jews, and of Christianity ;" Profes`sor Babbage, Samuel
Rogers, Morier, author of " Hujji Baba," &c., Richard
Monckton Milnes, Samuel Lover, Sir John Ross, the
Polar navigator, &c. There are the autographs of
Lord John Russell, and a great number of his contem-
poraries, on both sides the House of Commons. One
autograph will be looked at with great interest. It is a
piasectele, Jan. 19, 18
o f paper, bearing the words, "Albert, Windsor
Castle,
This evening Wednesday, the theatre closes for dra-
matic entertainments till after the bazaar. At twelve
o'clock to-night, the various parties employed by the
Bazaar Committee commence their work in the theatre,
to fit it up for the occasion. Mr. Edwards is the builder
and joiner; Mr.:Doveston, the upholsterer and decorator.
The extreme interior length of the theatre, from Foun-
tain-street to Back Mosley-street, is 125 feet; its width,
65 feet inside measure. The stage is very nearly a
square; being 66 feet wide, from side to side; and 65
feet deep, from the back wall to the orchestra.
It extends as far back from the " foot-lights,"
as the centre box-door of the dress-circle is
distant from them in front. The dimensions of the pit
are 38ft. 5 inches, by 36ft. 6 inches. We described on
Saturday the proposed disposition of the stalls, of which
there will be 30 to 35 altogether. Of these, 23 extend
round the walls of the stage, or occupy the dress circle
of boxes. The smallest stall on the stage will be loft,
by Bft. The centre double range of stalls, extending
across the floor from the back of the stage to the centre
box, so as to form the space ,for the promenade into a
sort of circle around it, will be 70ft. in length, 10ft, wide,
and will comprise eight double stalls—the frontage of
each stall being seven feet nine inches.
It is intended, in the week after the bazaar, to have a
grand ball in the theatre ; and doubtless there will be
other amusements announced in due time, for the other
evenings of that week.

STAGE-COACH ADVENTURES.—On the even-
ing of Thursday, the 13th, as the Gainsborough
coach was proceeding to Lincoln, and had passed
Tillbridge Inn, the wind blew off the hat of
the coachman, who, indiscreetly resigning his hold
of the reins that he might recover it, the horses set
off and left him behind. There were no outside pas-
sengers, and only two inside; one of whom shortly after-
wards putting out his head, the door was forced open, and
he fell and was left too. The horses proceeded without a
driver until they arrived at the usual halting place, the Lion
and Snake, above hill, where they stopped, having tra-
velled seven miles and turned four or five corners without
any accident. The coach was then driven down hill to the
Queen's Head, and a chaise was despatched in search of
the coachman, who, it was expected, had fallen from the
box, but who was met trudging homeward, safe and
sound. There was a female inside the coach with the
person that fell out ; she fortunately sat still, not know-
ing otherwise than that the coachman was driving. --
Lincoln Mercury.