The Sun. — 1836-11-08 (London, England)

THE POOR LAW AMENDMENT BILL.--The Commissioners of the Metropolitan Police have within the last fortnight directed the superintendents of the vari nos divisions to institute immediately the following inquiries, and report thereon at head-quarters in Scotland-yard How many infants have been found murdered in each district from the commencement of 1833 to the end of Aug4lst last ? Has the mother been detected ? What was her calling ? Was she independent, in service, or an applicant' for parochial relief ? The residence of the mother is also required, and the sex of each infant discovered as above. A return of the number of living infants found deserted and exposed is also, by the same order, called for, and the report in question is to be delivered in to the proper authorities on or before Wednesday next.—Morning Post. Yesterday morning, about ten o'clock, the greatest consternation and alarm was created in consequence of a fire breaking out at the residence of the Rev. Mr. North, No. 1, Connaught-terrace, Regent's Park. The whole of the family, with the exception of Miss North, had retirekd to rest, but that young lady, who was in.the drawing-room, perceiving a strong smell of tire, proceeding from below stairs, ran thither, and found the back parlour or library in a blaze. She screamed aloud " Fire, fire !" which alarmed her parents, and the rest of the family, who, in the greatest affright awoke, and, running down stairs into the street, pry' ceeded in their night dress to a friend's house, No. 39e Upper Baker-street, where they were instantly admitted, and remained till the fire was extinguished. Several engines shortly arrived, as well as Superintendent Lincoln, of the D division of police, Mr. Wiggins, inspector, old several of the men, when, by their united exertions, and a plentiful supply of water, the fire was got under, being confined to the room in which it broke out, all the furnitore, books, and other valuables it contained, being entirely consumed. The fire, it appeared, had originated in a cupboard adjoining the fire-place. The damage done is estimated ttt 2001. The property is insured in the Norwich Union. A question of great interest in the dramatic world, involving property to a considerable amount, will shortly come under the notice of the gentlemen of the long roe. The parties are Moncrieff, the dramatist, and Cumberlan3, a bookseller. It may be remembered that by a recent Act: of Parliament the right of performance of all dramatic pieces was secured for the future to the several authors of those pieces, their heirs, or assigns. The same right was also vested in all printed pieces published within ten years previously to the passing of the Act. Cumberland having previously printed a great number of dramas of different authors, for many of which he had given scarcely anything, while others had been given to him, or the stereotype plates purchased of other publishers, Cum' berland, as in the case of " Richardson and Dobbs," •contends that in all instances the bare act of his printing the piece entitles him to the right of performance of it ; that the right of printing and performing are one and the same ; that a letter authorizing him to print is as good at., a receipt for copyright ; and that a receipt is an assignment. Moncrieff (who, we believe, was bred a lawyer) argues tho contrary, inferring, that if the right of printing and performing are the same, there was no occasion to have passed an Act of Parliament expressly to create the latter. He also insists that a receipt cannot be an assignment, as the Le-. gislature, aware of the sweeping nature of an assignment, has fixed a 30s. stamp to it, while a twopenny one may serve for a simple receipt. Cumberland is realizing an immense income out of the brains of the poor " play-wrip;hts," which (under the peculiar circumstances) appears to be a hard ease.—Observer.