The Sun. — 1851-04-23 (London, England)

EXTRAORDINARY SCENE AT GLOUCESTER.— Some of the good citizens of Gloucester, perambulating the docks on Good Friday morning, Were marine „by a terrible noise cn board a Greek ship lying in the middle of the basin. The captain and others appeared to have one of the crew amongst them, around whose neck a rope was attached, and before any interference could be offered the body was run up to the yard-arm, and after a few apparent struggles, so far as the victim was concerned, all was still. The noise had hardly subsided, when a similar scene appeared to be going forward on board another Greek vessel lying alongside the first-mentioned, the body in this case being lowered over the side into the water, and then, as if the murderous wretches had changed their intentions, it was hauled on deck— severely belaboured amidst shouts and execrations, and speedily hauled up to the yard-arm. The excitement on seeing two bodies dangling high in the air was most intense; some of the crowd assembled were -calling out for the police, and two or three, more courageous than the rest, got on board one of the ships to demand au explanation, and with the determination to take the culprit into custody. The explanation was duly given, and a hearty and general laugh was the result. The seamen were only performing a custom of the Greek Church, usual on Good Friday, by stuffing an effigy with straw, with a bag in its ht h rig and, to r resent Judas Iscariot, and hanging it, expressive of their abhorrence of the conduct of that worthy in betraying our Saviour. The next morning the effigies were hauled down, and treated with great indignity, amidst renewed shouts and the discharge of muskets. TEE SEX OF JOHN SMlTH—Domestic critics were last week smitten with wonderment that the Government should require them to state, in their census papers, whether John Smith or Mary Jone was a male or a female. But we have known freaky parents to give the Christian names of men to their daughters, and vice versa ; and the Sheffield Times told us, only last Saturday, of an Irishman 'who got his child-called Peter before he discovered it to be a girl.— Gateshead Observer. GLASGOW, Arxu.l9.--Cotton—ln cotton wool we have had another very dull ;week, and prices have receded from 1/sd. 'to !„id. per lb. Middling Orleans barely realises 741 d. per lb. Goods and yarns partake of the general depression, and prices continue to decline. Dealers complain generally of the dulness in the home trade, or at least of the difficulty of dojng business with a profit. Several establishments are lessening the amount of their production, and in the Paisley district upwards of 1,200 weavers have been thrown:out of employment during the last few weeks. Pig iron—The market for pig-iron hss been less animated this week, and prices are scarcely maintained. Sales have been made at 40s. 6d., cash, and the current value is from 495. 6d to 41s. per ton, free on board. The shipment from the beginning of the year till the 12th current have been 137,74 tops, against 86,632 tons for the same period last year—showing an increase of shipments of 50,742 tons. At the close of 1850 the stock in Glasgow was estimated at 230,000 tons; it is now estimated at 203,868 tons.  --Virtue is not so versatile in its nature us to be irepracticalYe lu any possible condition of human life.—Eliza Cook's Journal.  ESCAPE OF CONVICTS FR,ThI DARTMOOR PRISON  Two of the convicts, named John Cotton and Jahn Jones, escaped from the prison on Tuesday. Information was received on Thursdpy that they had committed a highway robbery near the Rev. 11. Strangway's, on the road to Tiverton, by plundering a labourer in the employ of Mr. Rowe, of what he possessed, together with his smock-frock and jacket, for which they gave him their convict jackets, on which are the letters" 1). P." They found a knife on his person,which they placed across the throat of the man, at the same time threatening to deprive him of life if he failed in:giving up to Acria all ho hid.- -