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

CASE OF MURDER.

The Court of Assize of the Haute-Loire was occu-
pied on the 21st inst., and two succeeding days, with
the following case of murder :—Francoise Servel, a
woman aged 40, wife of a farmer named Claude Cham-
blas, residing near Isengeaux, on the Loire, was ac-
cused of having poisoned her husband and their two
children. The father was taken suddenly ill, and died
in great tortures on August 7, 1840. Francoise, his
daughter, a child of five years old, expired in frightful
pain on cov. 16 ; and Christophe, a boy of 14, fol-
lowed on Dec. 2. These sudden deaths, all accompanied
with strange symptoms, gave rise to much remark.
Expressions used by the wife were remembered and
repeated, in which she declared, " how happy she
should be if she could get rid of her husband and chil-
dren, and regain her liberty." It was known, too, that
a young man, named Joseph Cheynel, professed great
admiration for the woman, though she possessed/no
beauty whatever, and had expressed his willingness
to marry her, should she ever become a widow. The
legal authorities were informed of these circumstances,
and arsenic being found in the house, the woman
was arrested on a charge of murder. At the trial,
the principal witness against her was an intelligent
little girl, eight years old, named Victoire Poncet.
She deposed that she was in the prisoner's house during
the last illness of the son, and that she saw her pour
a white powder into a cup half full of water, which
she immediately gave to the boy, saying that it was
flour to cure his sickness. The prisoner gave her
three sous, and desired her to purchase at a certain
shop some poison for rats, as a huge one had pre-
vented her son from sleeping all night. The
child, suspecting something wrong, pretended to
go and purchase it, but, on her return de-
clared that none could be found. The mother then
threw two green balls into a cup of water, and gave
it to the boy. He complained of great pain, and said
his mother was poisoning him. When the little girl
was going away, the prisoner threatened to have her
guillotined by the gendarmes, if she spoke a word of
what she had seen. During the trial, this child was
frequently examined, but nothing transpired to
shake her testimony. The scientific part of the
question was of great interest. The father's
body, when taken up after four month's in-
humation, was completely decomposed. The bodies
of the other two showed such lesions, as ge -
rally appear from poisoning, and being submitted to
Marsh's' apparatus gave out abundance of arsenical
stains. Ihe chemical experiments were first made at
Issengeaux by the local physicians, and were verified
17 MM. Orfila, Chevalier, and Olivier (d'Angers.)
'I he Jury deliberated for half an hour, and then gave
in a verdict of guilty of the murder of the two child-
ren, but acquitting her with respect to the husband's
death. The Court immediately passed sentence of
death on the prisoner, which she heard without emo-
tion. Her Counsel gave notice of appeal.

THE OFFICE or CITY SOLICITOR.—As it is gene-
rally understood that the lucrative office of City Soli-
citor will become vacant by the appointment of Mr. C.
Pearson to the office of Town Clerk, several candidates
have appeared in the field, and a strong canvass is going
on among the members of the Common Council. Mr.
Robert Ellis and Mr. Jackson, both of whom have served
the office of Under-Sheriff, are among the candidates.
Mr. Rodgers and Mr. Francis are also named as candidates.
It is understood that an effort will be made to suspend the
standing order which excludes members of the court
from office, in order to admit two or three legal members
of each side of the court to solicit the suffrages of their
brother members.

COMMANDER OF THE FORCES, N.B.—Lieutenant-
General Lord Greenock retires from tl- e command of the
troops in North Britain, where the admirable manner in
which he has discharged the duties devolved on him has
secured for him the utmost respect and esteem.
On Saturday the Government steamer Medina,
from Bermudas, arrived at Southampton, after a short
voyage of fifteen days. The mails will be delivered
this day.
THE FARMERS AND THE INCOME TAX.—So strong
is the feeling amongst the farmers in Northumberland
against the income tax, that a requisition is in course of
signature, requesting the High Sheriff to call a county
meeting to discuss the question. In Morpeth, on Thurs-
day, upwards of 70 respectable signatures were obtained
in the space of two hours.—Carlisle Journal.
SUDDEN DEATH.--(From a Correspondent.)—
Yesterday morning Mr. Brown, the proprietor of the
Flask Tavern, Pimlico, expired after a few minutes ill-
ness. His death was caused by the rupture of a blood
vessel. He was extensively known, and highly re-
spected by all who knew him.
EXECUTION.—Joseph Wilkes, convicted at the
Stafford Assizes of the murder of an old man of the
name of Adams, at Delves Bank, Wednesbury, was exe-
cuted on Saturday in front of the Stafford County Gaol.
His associates, James Wilkes, his brother, Thomas
Boswell, and George Giles, were acquitted of the murder
but convicted of the burglary, The two former were
sentenced to transportation for life, and Giles for fifteen
years. The wretched youth admitted that he had struck
the old man, but without the slightest intention of killing

ROBBERY AND SIIICIDE.—On Friday morning, be-
tween six and seven o'clock, a fine young man, named
John Robinson, aged 23 years, committed a most deter-
mined act of suicide, by throwing himself into the
River Thames, near Southwark-bridge. He went to
Greenwich fair on Tuesday last, taking with him
31. 10s. belonging to his master, a baker, living in Tot-
tenham-court-road. The body has not yet been found.
He has left a widow and infant child to lament his un-
timely end.

BRIGHTON RAILWAY.—It is with pleasure we an-
nounce that the traffic on this line is rapidly increasing.
The three first days of the present week, we understand,
turned in 175/. more than on the corresponding days of
the preceding week, and the receipts on Thursday ex-
ceeded those on that day fortnight by 751. No com-
parison, of course, could be made with the Thursday
before Good Friday.—Railway Magazine.
Taylor and Nall, the two men who are left for
execution at York, have hitherto maintained a most
awful hardihood of demeanour (Nall in particular, his
conduct having been very light and frivolous). If no re-
prieve arrives, the last sentence of the law will be carried
into execution this day week.—Leeds Mercury.

LORD ROLL E.—Letters, received on Saturday at
Lord Rolle's, in Upper Grosvenor-street, from Bicton
Park, state that his Lordship has passed very restless
nights, and continues in the same feeble state. Lady
Rolle remains indisposed.
BODY OF FEMALE FOUND IN TILE SERPENTINR.
—On Friday morning the body of a middle-aged female
was taken out of the Serpentine by one of the Royal
Society's men, and conveyed to the bone-house at Ken-
sington, to await the Coroner's inquest. It is in a very
decomposed state, and appears to have been in the water
at least three weeks or a month. Nothing was found on
her person likely to lead to her identity, and from there
being no marks of violence on the person, there is little
doubt she had committed suicide. . .

The Gazette du Midi states that the courier who
carries the dispatches from Villefort to Mende was
found murdered a few days back. His body was dread-
fully mutilated, the arms and head being separated ap-
parently by an axe. As neither the money nor watch
of the unhappy man were taken away, it is supposed that
vengeance prompted the deed.
Advices from Vienna of the 23d. ult. state that the
Emperor and F—mpress were, according to custom, on
Maunday-Thursday, to wash, on the following day, the
feet of twelve' poor otd men and as many women. The
oldest woman was 104, and the oldest man 108. The
Duke of Brunswick in d left Vienna for lately.

RE P-E-A-L—OF—THE- -INCOME
1N 1816.
In the introduction to a speech delivered in the year
1816, and contained in his collected speeches, Lord
Brougham gives an account of the mighty efforts which
t‘ ere made by the people to throw off their shoulders
the load of the old income tax of ten per cent. Terrible,
indeed, must have been the pressure which roused
them to make. such efforts ; a pressure of which few of •
the present generation have any conception, but of
which they will have a very lively one ere they get quit
of the burden about to be laid on their shoulders of
three per cent. only, which, when once laid on, will not
be easily shaken off.
-47
"The Session 1816 offered an example yet more re- ;sa-js
markable of the same tactics being attended with
equally signal success. On the termination of the war ;
the Government were determined, instead of repealing
the whole income tax, which the Act enforcing it -
declared to be for and during the continuance of the •
war and no longer to retain one-half of it—that is -
to reduce it from ten to five per cent., and thus keep
up a revenue raised from this source of between
seven and eight millions, instead of fifteen. As
soon as this intention was announced, several
meetings were held, and two or three petitions
were presented. The Ministers perceived the risk they
ran, if the former policy should be pursued, of con-
tinned
discussion for a length of time ; and they saw the
vast importance of despatch. Accordingly the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Vansittart), gave notice,
on the Tuesday, for his motion on the Thursday, im-
mediately following. The Opposition took the alarm,
and Mr. Brougham declared, on presenting a petition
numerously signed, from one of the London parishes,
that, if the hurry now indicated should be persevered in, .
he should avail himself of all the means of delay afforded
by the forms of the House. Lord Folkestone (now -
Earl of Radnor), one of the most strenuous, and, in those
days, one of the most active and powerful supporters
of the popular cause, vigorously.seconded this menace, in
which he entirely joined. On the next day more pe-
titions were flung in, more discussions took place, and
the Government postponed for a week the introduction
of the Bill. That week proved quite decisive ; for so
many meetings were held, and. so many petitions sent
up, that the Bill was put off from time to time and did
not finally make its appearance till the 17th of March.
About six weeks were almost entirely spent by the
House of Commons in receiving the numberless petitions
poured in from all quarters against the tax. For it .
was speedily seen, that the campaign of 1812 was re- .
newed, and that the same leaders, ,Messrs. Brougham
and Baring, had the management of the operations.
"At first the Ministers pursued the course of obstinate
silence. The Opposition debated each petition in vain :
-every Minister and Ministerial Member held I is peace.
No arguments, no facts, no sarcasms, no taunts could
rouse them; no expression of the feelings of the country,
no reference to the anxiety of particular constituencies
could draw a word from the Ministers and their sup-
porters. At length it was perceived, that their antago-
nists did not the less debate, and that, consequently, the
scheme had Mile(' in its purpose of stifling discussion.
The only effect of it, then, was, that all the debating was
on one side, and this both became hurtful to the Govern-
ment in the House and more hurtful still in the country.
They were forced into discussion, therefore ; and then
began a scene of unexampled interest, which lasted until
the second reading of the Bill. Each night, at a little
after four, commenced the series of debates which lasted
until past midnight. These were of infinite variety. Ar-
guments urged by different speakers; instances of op-
pression
and hardship recounted; anecdotes of local suf- •
tering and personal inconvenience; accounts of the re-
markable passages at different meetings; personal alter-
cations interspersed with more general matter—all filled
up the measure of the night's bill of fare ; and all were
so blended and so variegated that no one ever per-
ceived any hour thus spent to pass tediously away. Those
not immediately concerned, Peers, or persons belonging
to neither House, flocked to the spectacle which each
day presented. The interest excited out of doors kept
race with that of the spectators, and those who carried
on these active operations showed a vigour and con-
stancy of purpose, an unwearied readiness for the cons-
at, which astonished while it animated all beholders.
It is recounted of this remarkable struggle, that one , -
night, towards the latter end of the period in question,
when, at a late hour, the house having been in debate
from four o'clock, one speaker had resumed his seat, the
whole. Members sitting upon one entire bench rose at
once and addressd the Chair—a testimony of unabated
spirit and unquenchable animation, which drew forth .
the loudest cheers from all sides of the House.

" At length came the 17th of March, the day appointed
for the decision ; but it was soon found that this had
been, with the debate, wholly anticipated. The usual
number of petitions, and even more, were poured thickly
in during some hours ; little or no debating took place
upon them ; unusual anxiety for the result of such long
continued labour, and such lengthened excitement, kept
all silent and in suspense ; when, about eleven o'clock,
Sir W. Curtis, representing the City of London, pro-
ceeded up the House, bearing in his arms the petition,
which he presented without any remark, of the great
meeting of the bankers and merchants, holden in the
Egyptian Ilall, and signed by twelve thousand persons.
'limo division took place after a debate that did not last
half an hour ; no one could, indeed, be heard in an as-
sembly so impatient for the decision ; and, by a majority
of thirty-seven voices, he tax was defeated for ever, and
the wholesome principle, as Mr. Wilberforce well ob-
served, was laid down, that war and income tax are
wedded together."
On AI

. .onday a woman, 71 years of age, residing in
the Rue St. Jacques, set fire to her clothes in ►ising a
small brazier to warns her feet. Before her cries brought
assistance, her person was so much burnt that she was
carried to a hospital Nv ith little hope of recovery.
SPRING.—At this period of the year Cutaneous
Diseases very frequently occur, and thereby shows the
absolute necessity of preserving the skin in a pure nod ,
healthy state, so that its functions may he duly per-
formed.—Obstruction of the Fluids through the pores of
the skin very often take place, and i'rom the acrid and
ponderous particles which are left behind, the disordered
state of the secreting office is disturbed, and thereby
produces symptoms of great virulence, which are not
only distressing, but most unpleasing to the sight ; and,
above all others, when the face is attacked, the► suffering
is often eitremely great. In stating this well known
fact, we beg to call the reader's attention to that admi-
rable and unique discovery—RowLAND's KALYDOR, a
mild and most efficacious preparation, that dispels all ir-
ritability from the skin, gently assists in opening the pores,
relieves the secretions, and gradually establishes a white
and perfect shin of transparent beauty
The law relating to the canals of France was voted
by the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday by a majority
of 146 votes against 116. It places at the disposal of
the Government a sum of from 50,000,000 to 60,000,000
francs, for the purpose of purchasing the shares, the pro-
perty of the societies and individuals who provided
funds for the construction of canals in 1821 and 1822, on
condition of becoming joint proprietors of those canals.
It appears, by recent accounts from Trieste, that,
notwithstanding the efforts made to improve the trade
of that port, it is still declining. It is ceasing to be the .
principal depot for the supply of Austria, and the ex-
ports and imports for 1841 show the same progressive
decrease as they did in 1840 and 1839. The falling off
in the last, year, as compared with the preceding, was
29,000,000 f. in the imports, and 6,000,000 f. in the ex-
ports. In 1840, as compared with 1839, the total de-
ficit was between 14,000,000 f. and 15,000,000 f. This
has arisen chiefly from the depot of colonial produce,
and from merchandise in transit for consump-
tion in Europe. To these losses by Trieste must
be added a decrease of the Austrian coasting •
trade with Dalmatia and the Venetian States, to
the amount of about 8,000,000 f. The principal ar-
ticles of depot, such as sugar, coffee, cotton, gums, wax,
silks, and wools, are put down in the deficit of imports at
about 19,000,000 f., without including dried fruits, which
are reckoned at 6,000,000 f. at the least. The corn
counts for but a small portion. The relations between
Trieste and the Levant and Italy are the most important ,t
to her, and those with France, England, and America,
are becoming annually less and less important. France
and Algeria reckon in her imports and exports for about
8,000,000 f. ; England counts for at least double this sum. 't
The imports at Trieste, from France, restrained as theyo us
are by the Austrian prohibitive system, have been re- :
duced by nearly 2,000,000 f. They are composed of
articles for local consumption and foreign produce, I
partly destined for re-exportation. The exportations, t%
though under restraint, have increased in a slight degree.:v
They consist of seine of the natural produce of Austria,
but they are susceptible of great increase, if the duties
were more favourable to exchange of commerce.

LONGEVITY.-Mr. R. Hanis, registrar of births
and deaths at Totnes, registered in the month of De-
Cember last, the deaths of four persons successively,
Whose united ages amounted to 333 years (viz., 76, 90,
90, 79,) and in the present month of March, registered
four other persons successively, whose united ages
amounted to 313, (viz., three of 77, and one of 82 years.)
;Plymouth Journal.
A lefter from Rome, 17th instant, says :—" The
Pope this day went to the Church of Santa Maria Ma-
jora, to join his prayers with those of a crowded congre-
gation, on the occasion of the jubilee which has been
ordered relatively to the misunderstanding between the •
Holy See and the Spanishy Government, on account of
the Church of Spain.
Letters from Berlin of the 23d ult. mention that
disturbances had occurred at Schwerin, after the death
'of the Grand Duke. The people, who were much at-
tached to him, imagining that he had not been properly
attended to during his illness, attacked the house of his
physician. whose life was saved only by the timely in-
terference of the authorities.

The vibrations of an earthquake have, some little
time back, been felt at Anapa, the Cossack towns of
Nikolajewsskaja and Witiasijewa, and on other places•
on the shore of the Black Sea. They lasted three se-
conds. and were accompanied by subterranean rumbling,
but caused no other damage than some slight fissures in
the walls of a few houses, and the falling of some chim- •
'neys at Anapa.
The following is a progressive statement of the con-
sumption of sugar in France since 1815 :—ln that year
it was 10,000,000 of kilogrammes ; in 1816, 34,000,000 ; •
in 1818, 36,000,000 ; in Is2o, 48,000,000 ; in 1822,
55,000,000 ; in 1826, 61,000,000 ; in 1827, 62,000,000 ;
in 1829, 67,000,000 ; in 1831, 80,000,000 ; in 1833,
86,000,000 ; in 1837, 92,000,000 ; in 1840 it amounted•
to considerably more than 100,000,000 kilogrammes; and
,the consumption in 1841 is stated to have been 120,000,000. •
In the reign Of Henry IV., about two centuries
and a half ago, sugar was so rare in France that it
was sold only at the apothecaries by the ounce. In 1700
the consumption of this article did not exceed 1,000,000
kils., which in proportion to the then population was, at
the average, 8 kils. and 1-100 for each person, the num-
ber of inhabitants being 16,000,000. It was only from
the commencement
to increase,ncementoft the 18th
in 9
theellsury thatthe
m
consumption
etifeonr
sugar
was up to 23,000,000 kilogrammes.

INCOME TAX.-MEETING AT

LEEDS.

M. r. Alderman TROTTIE, at the Leeds meeting of
whichwe gave a summary notice on Saturday, gave the
following account of the operation of the former income
tax :—lt happened that in the year 1815, and also in
1816, he took a very prominent part in this town in en-
deavouring to obtain a repeal of what was then called a
property tax, but which, in reality, was an income tax,
and along with others of his fellow townsmen, they aided
in accomplishing that object. On that occasion he had
in his possession some minutes which he would refer to
now, for the fact was that sentiments he entertained then
be entertained still.—(Hear, hear.) The officers by
whom the old law was enforced were, first, the Local
Commissioners. They were very important personages,
and their powers might be exercised either partially or
impartially, and he must say to the memory of all those
who did exercise them at the period to which he referred
that, so far as his knowledge extended, they were exer-
cised in a very just manner.—(Hear). He never heard the
slightest imputation against them, but to the contrary.
Their duty was to make the most of the tax, and per-
haps they were not always very scrupulous as to the
means by which they brought individuals before the
commissioner".—(Hear, hear.) Besides these, there
were assistant collectors to the commissioners, referees
to settle the contributions, and third referees
to superintend what the others had done, and lastly,
there were commissioners for general purposes.—(Hear,
hear, and laughter.) Tnere were separate oaths in the
Act of Parliament for every one of them, and he believed
the present machinery was intended to be the same.—
(Hear, hear.) lie had it in his power to detail to them
specimens of the kind of inquisition to which the people
would be subjected by an income tax, for he was some-
what suprised to find in his possession a•minute of some
of the questions which the commissioners he had named
had proposed to some of the inhabitahts of this town.—
(Hear, hear.) He held in his hand a copy of two pre-
cepts issued by them, and he would take the liberty of
reading the whole of it, lest he should be charged with
having garbled it.