The Sun.
London, England, 1842-03-04 00:00:00

MEETING OF -THE SOCIETY OF
• FRIENDS TO FOREIGNERS IN DISTRESS.
A meeting of this Society was held yesterday at the
• London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, fur the purpose of
receiving the report of the present year, and of electing
pensioners to the funds of the Society.
JOHN LABOUCHERE, Esq., was called to the Chair.
The SECRETARY read the minutes of the • last meet-
•and the Report, by which it appeared that the
funds of. the Society were in a very satisfactory state.
AtteF paying all the expenses, which amounted to
2,1391. 12s. 5d.,- including the expenses for the pen-
sioners, and for sending home 140 individuals, a balance
of 3031. 3s. 9d: remained in the Treasurer's hands.
• Since the commencement of the Society, relief had been
granted in 59,214 cases, at the rate of 1,2001. per annum.
To meet the expenditure, besides the receipts of the
annual dinner, which amounted to 1,1601., and the an-
nual subscriptions received by the Collector, the follow-
ing donations were received :
From her Majesty, 1001. ; Queen Dowager, 101. 103. ;
the Queen of Hanover 10/. ; King of the Belgians, p/ ;-
Duke of Cambridge, 25/. ; Duchess of Cambridge,
• 101. 10s. ; Duchess of Gloucester, 1.0/. 10s. ; Duchess of
Kent, 101. 10s. ; King of Prussia, 500/.
The number of candidates to be placed on the Pension
List amounted to 37, but of these the funds of the So-
ciety did not permit more than nine to be elected. The
following is the number of individuals from each
country who were relieved in the fast year :—Africa,
74 ; Asia, 18 ; Corsica, 6 ; Denmark, 71 ; France, 141 ;
Germany, incuding Austria and Bavaria, 873 ; Greece,
7 ; Java, 1 ; 53 ; lonian Islands, 1 ; Netherlands,
311 ' - Poland, 49 ; Portugal, 20 ; Prussia, 201 ;_ Ragusa
andßussia, ; and Naples,s ; Spain, 44 ; Sardinia
and Genoa, I ; Sweden, 77 ; Turkey, 2 ; Switzerland,
- 40 ; Venice, 11 ; United States, 16.
Mr. TI ARKS moved, and Mr: HENSINGS seconded, the
adoption of the Report, which was passed unanimously.
The Rev. Dr. SCHWABE moved the thanks of the
Meeting to the Chairman and Treasurer, John La-
bouchere, Esq., and that he be requested to continue in
the same office for the ensuing year. He was aware of
the many claims which other duties imposed upon his
time, and therefore they should be the more grateful for
that time which he devoted to the interests of their Society.
and the benefits which thereby accrued to it. Ile trusted,
however, that' he never would have came to regret the
sacrifices he made for the interests of the Society, and
that, while he continued to be a benefactor to the dis- .
tressed, he might obtain many valuable blessings for him-
self, and it was their wish that the Almighty Giver of
all good might long preserve and enable him to continue
to be the protector and benefactor of the Society.---(Hear.)
The motion having been seconded,
The eIIAIRMAN said that he thanked the meeting most.
warmly for the kind manner in which his name had been
received. Ile could assure the meeting he felt a
deep interest in the welfare and success of the Society.
The more he looked into the subject, the more convinced
he felt that the Institution had a strong claim upon all
who were - interested in the well-being of their fellow-
. creatures. It was at present in a very prosperous condi-
. dition ; and he was h.-.ppy to state' that they were not
obliged to, encroach upon their funded capital of 7,7501.
The reason was partly hiving to the liberal donation of
the King of Prussia.—(Loud cheering.) He con-
tributed very liberally to every. leading institution
in the country, but the largest contributiod he made was
to th at Society, which was the mere valuable, because it was
a proof of the eStimly ion iu which the Society was held
by that illustrious indilidual, who. was eminent no less
for his Leigh rank than for the anxious Cesire he mani-
fested to promote the temporal and spiritual welfare of
all.----!(Cheers.) But a, ,twithstanding that liberal contri-
bution of the King of Prussia, they should keep in
Hind that they were not able to relliNe all the appli-
cants for relief. The iminbcr %V a 3 inereasin2,- from
year to year, but he trusted that not only by their -o..yn
contributions, but also by raising up new friends in
belnef' 0: the Society, th:: woall ehabic the institution,
not only to keep the rutini.,r •usioners at present on
the list, but even to increase that number.-7(llear.)
Mr. DoxAT said h.! could iii)t avoid expr.;ssing the
grwittale he felt for the int rest tiII:JAI in the Institu!:on
by their excellent Ch.-.irman, but he could assure him
that much and highly as the; i ante of Labouchere was
respected at home, it was prized and blessed abroad by
many a foreigner who experNateed the benefits of his
ge;-v;rosty and devotion to their cauzio.—(C!teers.)
The CHAIR:v.I.N sdd it was gratifying to announec
th",.y 1:a1 received, besides the annuity of 50/. lert
by 'th,2 late Charles Pica:hell, for unsuccessful
dates, 1.01. ;runt a lady in Bath for the same purpose,
an:l that Mr. Brandt caarged himself with the support
of another candidate. •
The Aulitors of the last year were re-appointed.
The followiT, Directors were elected :—D. Meinertz-
ha!,,n, llo'Jert F. Gower, David Salomons, John '.en,
. C. A. Puller; and J. L. Le:nrne, Esqrs.
Two S,Tutineers were then appointed, and the Meet-

ing :;:,paratol

SPIRIT. of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.

FROM THE EILENING
,PAPERS Of YESTERDAY.
GLOBE.—The appointment of Inspectors, whose duty
it is to visit anti examine. the state of the different pri-
sons of the kingdom, and to report the result of their ob-
servations cad inquiries, formed a pert of the pbm by
whish the late G wernment proposed to equalize the
punishment et* criminals s:nteneed to imprisonment,
a,,1 wader the cli,,ipline of gaols subservient
t Cna 4re:a lete,ese oF reforiniwg their prisolier,;.
Tfae repJrts Of the Prison I 1: pectoris,
Av1at.01.,141vi.:?,. been. by ,order el 14.: house
of_ chraivaorn-,,, twoie how.. much ttm:v
_of oji,.,crs
mesliatstiy:a•esperisitle tunsel in eonstaatt coannualcation
svitit the-Gal:en:intent, were required. It - was. scarcely
creflible-that—after so much had been said and done
within the walls of Parliament for the - improvement
of criminal prisons, and by philanthropists • who
made prison discipline the object of their 'speeial study
and constant
.aim--:these Objects, after so much care,
should have been found so far from what they oaght to
be, fNyheiher the designs of their institution be considered
with reference to the unhappy subjects of their dis-
cipline, or to the interests of sotrasy. If a criminal.
sentenced to imprisonment is ever to be liberated,
and again. permitted to mix in society, it is
obvious that nothing should be done, and least of all
done on purpose, to make him a worse member of
society morally or physically, than when, he was com-
.. mitt( d to prison. For a long series of years this obvious
truth was alMost wholly disregarded. Because punish-
ment was inflicted in prisons, it was supposed that pri-
sons were only provided fur the infliction of punish-
ment. .The means were therefore, it must be con-
fessed, ;adapted to the end. In many instances the
health of the prisoners became seriously, if . not
incurably, affected by the filthy anti crowded state
Of the wards and cells into which they were thrust. In
other 'cases, the want of employment and the absence
of• classification, confirmed habits of idleness, the in-
dulgence " of which had been the - precursor of crime.
By bringing the juvenile offender into contact with the
more expert.and confirmed dep:cdator, the latent prin-
ciples of virtue were eradicated, -and he was returned to
society more hardened and depraved than when he was
committed to prison. Hence the considerate por •
tion of the public became indisposed to prosecute the
young otfender against honesty. They shrunk from
the idea of converting a petty offender into a hardened
villain, or the visiting of a youthful failing with loath-
someness and disease. Thus criminals_ escaped, and
iiit'panity.Micouraged crime,which spread its baneful influ-
ence through society. Were prisons properly managed
--Were the refermation and punishment of criminals
provided for—and the public satisfied that such are the
objects sought and reasonably secured—instead of any
disinclination •being•felt, the laws will be put in execu-
tion against the offenders, from a conviction that to
arrest the progress of the criminal is not merely a benefit
to society, but a blessing to himself.
STANDARD.—Two amendments to the Ministerial
proposition Of the Corn-laws were offered to the House
of Commons. The first, which suggested an altera-
tion of the terms of the sliding scale, was introduced
by Mr. Esßuller in a speech of some length, in which
the Honourable Gentleman recommended his plan as
a compromise that was to give general satisfaction.
It was opposed by Sir Robert Peel on the ground
that he had held out no encouragement to further com-
promise, and, as little likely to be so universally satisfac-
tory as the mover thought ; and the event curiously
• #erified the Right Hon. Baronet's prediction, for Mr. E.
could not -find on either side a single member to
'we'd his proposition,. which acecordingly fell to the
ground. "The second amendment was offered by Mr.
Mastic.; it proposed the admission annually of a
million quarters of wheat at a shilling duty, the prefer-
ence to be given to the earliest arrivals. Sir Robert Peel
bestowed some pleasantry upon the race for corn ships
that siould be thus instituted, and remarked., upon the
undue advantages that it would give to Rotterdam,
Antwerp, and the other nearer ports. Mr. Mastic
then withdrew his motion; but not until the expo-
sure Of its necessary effect had` produced a little
mirth. The motion was,.. no doubt, an absurd one ; but
its objects, and the arguments by which Mr. Mastic
supported it, suggeSt some useful considerations.
Tito object is to secure at all times a suf-
fiCient supply of foreign corn in the country
in aid of the domestic supply ; and this supplemen-
tary -- supply Mr. Mastic estimated at a million of
quarters, by insuring which the manifold evils of large
purchases abroad would be obviated. These evils, in
relation to the exchange find the currency, Mr.
Mastic described very forcibly, and as we think very
truly. It might, however, have occurred to the
honourable Member for Paisley, that there is
another and a safer, and a perfectly practicable mod of
obviating the evil of large purchases abroad—at least of
greatly mitigating that evil. What would he think of
augmenting the domestic supply, so as to render such
purchases altogether unnecessary on the average of
years, or at least necessary to aNery small extent ?
COURIER.—Being fully satisfieti that there is no
more effectual way of giving the go-bye to any question,
hawever intrinsically important, than by referring it to
a Select Committee of the House of Coiuinons to be re.
ported upon, we-rejoice at the result of Mr. Duncombe's
motion-on the subject of prison discipline, and at the
eXposurd of the gross abuses by which it was accom-
panied. Now, there is no subject upon which the
executive Government can act with greater freedom—
none on which it will encounter less stiMl:orn resistance
—than in its endeavours to render the sentence of the
law equable, and by the establishment of an uniform,
system of prison discipline. . Heretofore it oFten hap-
4pened from a diversity in prison repdations, and other
ircumstances that parties convicted of similar offences
and sentenced ta a similar amountof puniskonent, under-
went in reality very different degrees of'punishment
thereby prejudicing the administration of justice in
public estimation, and inflicting upon persons equally
guilty in the eye of the law u totally different measure
,or,punishment.. That. great improvsment in the regu-
littiona affecting prisoners has- taken place within . the
last few years, and 'that considerable progress towards
the introduction of a uniform system of discipline has
been made, was admitted on all hands, and in no

grudging spirit, especially by Sir J. Graham, who availed
himself of that opportunity to bear testimony to the
success of the efforts made by Lord John Russell to
correct abuses, supply defects, and otherwise improve
the system of prison regulations. One great object
should never be lost sight of, and that is, that
no arbitrary rules of visiting justices—no stub-
born adherence to previous regulations—should be
allowed to interfere with the due enforcement
of the law, either in the way of diminishing or aggra-
vating the punishment awarded to criminals ; but, above
all, especial regard should be paid to the condition of
untried prisoners, the safe custody of their persons, and
not the hardship of incarceration, being the sole reason
for their being detained in prison.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
VICE-CHANCELLORS' COURT, March 3.
(Before Vice-Chancellor WIGRAM.)
SULTEEL V. LORD ABINGER.
In this case Sir T. Wilde, Mr. Coleridge, and Mr. Milne
appeared for the plaintiff; the Solicitor-General, Mr. Simp-
kinson, and Mr. Loftus Wigram for the defendant; and Mr.
Sharp, and Mr. Romilly for Sir Edmund and Mr. Benjamin
Currie.

Sir T. WILDE said he appeared in this case as counsel fer
the plaintiff Mr. Bulteel, who had filed a bill against Lod
Abinger, Sir Edmund Currie, and Benjamin Currie, for the
specific performance of an agreement for the sale of an estate,
called the Bagshot Estate, which belonged to his late Royal
Hiehnesa the Duke of Gloucester. The defendants
were, the executors of the Duke of Gloucester,
under whose will they were trustees for sale, either by public
auction or private contract. The Duke died on the 30th of
November, 1834. - It appeared that the trustees, under the
advice of Mr. Benjamin Currie, who acted as their solicitor,
offered the estate for sale by auction, in July 1835, and again in
June, 1836, but upon neither of those eccasions was there any
bidding, though every means was taken to effect a sale. On the
I2th of June, 1838, the estatelwas put up a third time, and
upon that occasion there appeared to have been an arrangement
that the reserved bidding should be 25,000/. No bidder coming
up to that sum the estate was bought in. Ultimately,
under circumstances which he would state, there was
an agreement made by the defendants, Sir Edtnund Currie and
Mr. Benjamin Currie, acting on their own behalf, and on be-
half of Lord Abinger, with the plaintiff, for the sale of the
estate for the sum of 25,000/. On the 26th of July, the de-
fendant, Mr. Benjamin Currie, wrote to his co-trustee, Lord
Abinger, a letter, communicating the fact of that sale ; and
that letter was the contract for the sale of the estate, upon the
validity of which his Honour would be called upon to,decide.
The general nature of the question in the cause, was the autho-
rity either of Sir Edmund Currie or Mr. Benjamin Currie,
to make a sale of the estate ; \end he believed it would be con-
tended first, that they never had any authority, it being revoked
before the agreement for the sale was executed. The cir-
cumstances of the case as discovered in the pleadings were these.
The estate was charged with considerable legacies, and among
others, Sir Edmund Currie was very largely interested in the
proceeds. From July, 1835, to July, 1838, ineffectual endea-
vours had been made to procure a purchaser. At last an ar-
rangement was made which would have terminated in a convey-
ance of the estate but for the objection which was the subject of
discussion in that suit. Both before and after the sale by auc-
tion in June, IS3B, there had been a treaty on foot with the
Woods and Forests, who were desirous of purchasing the estate
if they could agree upon terms. It appeared also that
Mr. Robert Scarlett, the son of Lord Abinger, was nego-
tiating for the purchase. Whilst these negotiations
were pending, Lord Abinger went the Oxford circuit. On
the 23d of July, his Lorthip either from a knowledge that his
son was, or from an anticipation that he would become, a ne-
gotiator, wrote to Mr. Benjamin Currie to this eff ct :—" My
dear Sir,—Having heard that my son has made some proposal
to you and Edmund," that was Sir Edmund Currie, who it
appeared was Lord Abinger's son-in-law—" about the Rapley-
estate "—that was a name sometimes applied to the Bagshot
estate—" I write to advise you that it is exclusively his own
offer." He then stated ' that he would not, either directly or
indirectly, interfere in the matter. It appeared that a com-
munication had taken place, first between Sir Edmund
Currie and Mr. Robert Scarlctt, and afterwards be-
tive.m Mr. Robert Scarlett and Mr. Benjamin Currie,
upon the subject of the purchase of the estate. Mr. Pen-
jamin Currie told Mr. Scarlett, that if he would state expli-
citly the utmost he would give, he would apply to the Words
and Forests, to know whether they would bid higher ; but Mr.
Scarlet t, disliking, to use his own expression, " tieing bandied
about," declined making any advance upon his previous offer.
Thus matters stood, the Woods and Forests having offered
21,0001. and Mr. Robert Searlett abort the same sum, and
the latter disela;ming any intention to advance. At this time
the plaintiff, Mr. Bulteel, who bad attended the auction, entered
into a treaty. with Mr. Benjamin Currie and his partner, for
the purchase of the estate. lie had at first offered only 00,000/.
but continued advancing until the 23d of July when, being
about to go abrord, and having already sent his car. iae,es,
he offered 23,000/. and requesteitan immediate answer. Mr.
llenjainin Currie dealt with him in the same manner as he
had dealt with Mr. Robert Scarlett. Application was made to
the Woods and Fothts who declined to snake any advance upon
their previous offer, and to Mr. Robert Scarlett. at his own-
hott.e, who was discovered to have left town. Under these
circumstances, a verbal agreeni. nt was made on the 25th of
Ju'y, by Sir E. Currie and Mr Benjamin Currie, for the sale
of the estate to the plaintiff. for the sum of 25,0001.: nd Mr.
Buicel, being considered the purchaser, accompanied ' Sir
Edmund to Bagshot. On the 26te, the following day, Mr. B.
Cur is communirated the fart of the sale to Lord Ahitiger, with
the amount for which the estate had been sold. On learning the
fact of the sale, Mr. Robert Scarlett wrote to his father, ex
pr. s inn his" indignation at the conduct of Edmund and Benja-
min Cur ie, at their want of plain dyeing and folly." 'I he
letter concluded by praying that, if possible, his Lordship
would " prevent the sale from being carried into effect."
That prayer was unfortunately too successful, and its success
had occasioned four yews' of expensive litigation. On the
27th of July Lord Abinger wrote to Mr. Benjamin Currie as
fellows :—" My dear Sir—l have received your letter, but hav-
ing by the same post received communications wl.ich lead me
to think that a higher price may be obtained for the estate
than the sum of 25,000/., 1 cannot for the present
consent to the sale of Ilagshot foe that sum.
1 think you should inform Mr. Bulteel of this
without delay. As we :ill as truste, s, we are
bound to get the highest possible price berme we sign a
contract. fshall he in town towards the end of next week."
It rhould be observed that this letter did nut state that a higher
price had been offered, but that he thought, from communica-
tions he had received, that a higher one might be obtained.
The Learned Counsel then proceeded to state, that notwith-
standing this letter, Mr. Benjamin Currie and Sir Edward
Currie considered themselves bound to complete the contract
wit is Mr. Bulteel, and accordingly it was signed by them on the
30th of July. He contended that they were fully authorised to
de so, and that a Court of Equitrwould, under all the circum-
stances, decide in favour of the purchase by Mr. Bolted.
The Learned Counsel then proceeded to read a number of let-
ters, which passed between the various parties to the suit sub-
seq-Jent to the transaction. It appeared that Mr. Robert
Scarlett subsequently offered 26,000/. ; and that, at the sug-
gestion of Lord Abinger, a sub-contract was entered into be-
tween Mr• Scarlctt and the trustees, which was to take effect
only in ease a Court of Equity should decide against the right
of Mr. Bulteel to have the contract completed. After com-
menting at great length upon the correspondence, and upon all
the circumstances connected with the transaction, the Learned
Counsel concluded by submitting that the plaintif was entitled
to a specific performance of the agreement.
Mr. COLERIDGE followed on the same side.

The plaintiff's case was not concluded when the Court rose.
The hearing will be resumed to-morrow (this day).

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, March 3.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took hi 3 seat on the Wool-
sack at Five o'Clock.

MESSAGE FROM. THE COMMONS.

A Messzge from the Commons, by Mr. GREENE and
others, brought up the Spirit Duties' Bill, and the Mar-
riages (Ireland) Bill, which were severally read a first,
and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow.
Mr. LEACH presented some papers from the Court
of Chancery in Ireland.
EXC II EQUER BILLS.

Lord MONTEAGLE begged leave to give notice
that he should defer. his motion relating t.) Exchequer
Bills till to-morrow.

PRESBYTERIAN MIXED MARRIAGES.

Earl ENNISKILLEN presented petitions on the
subject of Presbyterian Marriages in Ireland, from
several places in the counties of Enniskillen, Donegal,
and Kilmarnock.

Lord MINTO presented a petition against the Corn-
laws, from Hawick.
LorcYCAMPBELL presented several petitions from
the counties of Down and Antrim, in Ireland, praying for
the legalization of marriages between Presbyterians and
members of the Established Church. _ _

Lord BROUGIIAM presented a petition from the
congregation of Independent Dissenters in Newport,
Monmouthshire, praying for a repeal of the Corn-laws ;
also apetition from a place in Essex, praying for a change
in the system of taking the averages according to the
sliding scale ; also a petition from South Shields, pray-
ing for the entire and immediate repeal of the Corn-laws ;
and another petition from Pontefract,. to the same effect ;
also a petition from the congregation of Glenelly, county
of Tyrone, to the same effect. All those petitions were
from congregations in connexion With the Pres-
byterian Church of Ireland. He was anxious to
learn the result of the meeting of the General
Assembly of Ireland, which was about to be held on the
subject, before their Lordships proceeded to the dis-
cussion of the Bill which had berm introduced into the
other House ; but he was anxious that this should be
done with as little delay as possible.
The LORD CHANCELLOR suggested that both
objects-might be met by taking the second reading of the
Bill, and discussing it in Committee on Monday
NATIONAL EDUCATION (IRELAND).
The Earl of ENNISKILLEN presented several peti-
tions from places in the diocese of Tuam, against' the
present srtem of National Education in Ireland.
REGULATION OF APPRENTICESHIPS.
On the motion of Lord WHAUNCLIFFE the Regu-
lation of Apprenticeships Bill was read a first time.
'Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COI-MONS, MARCH 3.
The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before sour
)'(' (wk.

Mr. BARNARD presented a petition from St. Mary
Magdalene, Bermondsey, against the Greenwich Rail-
way Bill (No. 1.)
BIRMINGHAM AND LIVERPOOL CANAL BILL.

Mr. CLIVE brought in the Liverpool and Birming-
ham Canal Bill (Nos. 1 and 2), which were read
a first, and ordered to be read a second time.
C ORN•LAW S.
Major BRYANT presented a petition from Mallow,
against the Corn-law Bill.

Mr. BLEWE'rr presented petitions to a similar effect,
from Newport, Salford, and several other places.
Colonel GORE LAN G'I'ON presented eight petitions,
having t similar oltjee, from places in Somersetshire.
12r. STOCK presented similar petitions. from Tip-
perary.
• CHURCH OF
-ENGLAND_

Sir B. INGTLIS presented a petitio 1 from the Bath
(itureh of England Association, praying for the protec-
tion of that Church from the unhallowed machinations of
her enemies.

CORN-LAWS.
Mr. RICARDO presented two petitions from various
parts of the Metropoli.= praying for a repeal of the
Corn-laws.

Mr. G. BANKES presented a petition on the sub-
jc,2t of the Corn-laws from the bankers, mer-
chants, shipowners, and other men of the highest
respectability of the borough of Poole, stating