The Sun.
London, England, 1827-12-19 00:00:00

CAPTAIN CLAPPERTON.

Extract of a letter from Malta, Nov. l 5 :—" By a pri-
vate letter from Tripoli, of the 2d' inst., I learn that a re-
port had reached that place from Soodani that Captain
Clapperton died at Sackatoo. My Tripolitan correspon.
dent, however, doubts the authenticity or the report; but,
however, this may proie in the issue, it istnext to certain
(he says), that a short time will put us in possession of im-
portant intelligence relating to the geography of Central
AfriCa ; for the survivors -of Clapperton (or himself, if he
he not dead,) are on .their ;way from Sackatoo, to reach
Tripoli, by Bornou and Fezzan. They penetrated to
Sackatoo (this is certain), by the way of Dahomy, froM
the Bight of Benin; and they must, at all events, bring
with them Clapperton's notes and papers. 'Some natives
of Bornou (who' are confirmed by persons of Waday and
Begharmi), assert that the waters of the Yeou and Gam-
baron, together with several ethers of magnitude, form col-
lectively the Nile, which runs on to Nubia and Egypt ;
that the Lake Tchad, is formed in a measure by the con-
fluence of these and other great waters, including the
Sharry ; and that it has an eastern outlet, from whence
escapes, probably, as much water as runs into it. Thus
it would appear that the Arabs were right in asserting to
Denham, that the Ycou was the Nile. They say, in Mo-
rocco,'that the Hoarra (or Jollilaa) River joins the above-
mentioned streams. Other Africans assert the same, hnt
say that a branch of this latter flows behind Dahomy into
the ocean—a fact (if such it be), not unknown to I3osman
a century ago."

REMARKABLE CASE OF. CONVICTION
OF AN INNOCENT PERSON ON CIRCUM-
STANTIAL EVIDENCE.

The following very interesting; particulars, descrip-
tive of the case of ayoung man named, Gill, a native
of Sunderland, who was tried, for, and convicted of,
felony, at the Surrey Assizes, in August last, have
been obligingly communicated to us (on our appli-
cation for them) by a gentleniarr throtigh whose me-
ritorious exertions :the Young man has been released
from custody, and restored to his family and friends.
John Gill, the subject of this statement, is son of
Thomas Gill, a common carrier between Sunderland
and Nwitardeastle. He was bound apprentice to a
butcher at Monkwearmouth, and at the expiration' of
his term 'of servitude obtained employment with Mr.
Nesom, a butcher, and most respectable ruan,at Sun-
derland. In this situation he continued about a year,
when, towards the latter end of June last, he deter-
mined upon seeing London, and from thence going
to visit his uncle, who holds a situation in the King's
Pock-yard at Portsmouth. He accordingly took
his passage by sea to London, and after being there
two or three days, he pro::,cded. by coach, on the
11th July, for
,PortEmoutb. At this place he re-
mained with his uncle till the 17th of the, 'same
month; and abOut three o'clock in the afternoon of
that day he setotr on foot, to walk back to London,
his uncle accompanying him distance of about
eight miles on the mad. There, Nvitli a view to keep
up the interest of the story, we shall, leave him, till
we have 'describCd what occurred hi this 'neighbour-
hood after his departure. _ _

His father received a communication from the
young tnatlen his arrival in London, early in July,
,and heard nothing further from him till the 27th of
'August, when a.letter, hi the hand-writing of his
unhappy announced to the horror-struck father
that,he was under sentence of death in.HOrSemongcr-
lane Oaol!

The state of mind of the anxious parent may he
better conceived- than described;. his son, he was
assured—not only by his own knowledge of him, but
also by a statement which accompanied the informa-
tion of his conviction and sentence—was innocent!
Under this impression he immediately waited upon
Mr. Stephenson, a respectable solicitor iii Bishop-
wearmouth, who, actuated by those humane and ge-
nerous feelings which at all times distinguish him,
instantly made, inquiry of those persons who were
best acquainted, with the young man as to his cha-
racter and conduct, which Mr. S. haxing,ascertained.
to be' respeetable,le 'prepared a memorial, addressed
to Mr. Justice Gazelee (before whom John Gill was
tried), setting 'forth the facts as detailed by the un-
happy. Prisoner hiinself, together with such . other
'general particulars as he could collect from the senior
Gill and others. This 'memorial, accompanied by
testimonials as to character, numerously and respect-
ably signed, was forwarded by express from Sunder-
land to Durham, to meet the .mail for London the
same Hight. These doeuments were' entrusted 'to
Mr. James Griffith, a respectable solicitor in Lon-
don, and he lost not a moment in laying them-before
the Judge, who remarked, that" it Was fortunate the
papers arrived when they dicyns,he would otherwise
have sent in his report, recommending the prisoner
to be transPorted.fOr life." •The• Judge very kindly
paid immediate attention to 'the subject, and directed
several inquiries' to be made respecting Gill at the
gaol. Affidavits as to several matters were also, at
his Lordship's request„ procured from Gill's uncle
at Portsmouth, &c. &c.

FUrther information was forwarded by Mr. Ste-
phenson t 6 the Judge on the 10th September, and
his LOrdship's report on the case was finally given
in on the 12th or 13th. On the-29th of the same
month, Mr. Stephenson received a communication
from the Secretary of State on this subject, to which
he replied, and 'soon afterwards' received a further
communication 'friim his Lordship, which was of
course also answered. The result of these procee&
ings was, that Gill receiVed,.On the 30th October, a
full and unconditional' pardon, and he was, of course,
instantly liberated. He was detained in Lowlon a
short time for want of a ship, and he reached his
father's house at Sunderland on the 15th of last
month.

The. reader is,. doubtless; anxious, after this di-
gression, to knoW the nature of the charge against
the young nian, and we now hasten to gratify his
curiosity :—We left young Gill 8 miles from Ports-
'mouth, on his road to London. The weather being
hot he pursued his journey through the night, and
rested the following day (18th of July) till 4 o'clock
in the afternoon, when he again proceeded. He had
walked about 8 miles on the road from Guildford to-
wards London, when about 3 o'clock on the follow-
ing morning he overtook a mini riding upon a pony,
and driving two oxen. The man enquired where he
was going, when Gill replied " to London ;" and
after some further conversation, he asked Gill if he
would drive the oxen for him to London, which,
after considerable persuasion, he agreed to do for
the sum of five shillings; the man engaging to
meet him -at Westminster-bridge. When Gill,
however, arrived at Wandsworth, he was over-
taken by a person (who afterwards turned out to be
the prosecutor's son), and being- charged by him
with having stolen the two oxen, he.was appre-
hended and handed over to a police officer. He
was subsequently taken before a Magistrate, and
by him .committed to Horsemonger-lane gaol, for
trial at the ensuing Assizes for the county of Surrey,
and was tried at Croydon accordingly, on the 6th
August, " for feloniously stealing two oxen, he pro-
perty of Mr. Thos. Drewit," who lives at Ketton-
hill, about 45 miles from London, and was convict-
ed, and sentence-of death recorded against him.
It should be remarked that Gill, • after his ap-
prehension, assumed the name of John Wat-
son, under which name he was tried. His reason,
as he said, for so doing, was to prevent the distress
which he knew would befal his friends if they were
acquainted with his situation,. and which he Was
afraid they would be through the means of the press;
and, feeling conscious of his innocence, he calettla-
ted upon an aequittal—.-and so, perhaps, keep the
circumstance from his faMily and friends altogether,
reason was assigned in the Memorial to the
Judge.

Ire *as convicted on the testimony of the prose-
cutor's son; n servant' of the prosecutor, and the
police-officer. • 1%,;., main circumstance against him
was, of 'course, the fact of the stolen property being
found in his possession ; and
the account given by
Gill not• keing satisfactory to the Jury. It would
seem that. Gill in-this business has been the dupe
of the thief, who -probably finding, or supposing
that he Am- closely pursue-d, thnS got quit 'of the
cattle..—Duritain Advertiser. •

THE ARMY•

LORD FITZROY SOMERSET'S LIST.

Lord Fitzroy Somerset, as Military Secretary to the Com-
mander-in• Chief, went through his List yesterday, at his
Office 'in the Horse Guards.

A few General, and about forty other Officers, transkted
military' business with his Lordship.

A Detachment of the 4th Regiment of Foot arrived in town
yesterday morning from Bristol, on route to Tynemouth.
Detachmenti belonging to the , 13th, 26th, 40th, 46th,
and 57th Regiments of Foot, and the East India Company's
Services, arrived in town yesterday morning, from Bristol,
on route to their respective Corps and Depots.