The Sun. — 1835-07-23 (London, England)

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.  UNION:HALL. An Englishman, named Burns, with his face tattooed like a New Zealand Chief, was charged with being drunk on the preceding night. When Burns was brought before the Magistrate, his appearance attracted a great deal of attention, and when asked by the Chief Clerk why he, as an Englishman, permitted himself to be disfigured by tattooing, his reply was, " Better be that, than eaten." Burns had been wrecked about six years ago on the coast of New Zealand, when six of the crew were murdered ; by the interference, however, of a native, his life was saved, and he was conveyed into the interior, where he adopted the manners and customs of the natives, with the exception of eating the bodies of the enemies of his tribe slain in war. Soon after his residence amongst the New Zealanders, it was determined that he should be made a Chief, and for this purpose lie was compelled to undergo the painful operation of tattooing, which was performed with such skill that it is impossible to distinguish his visage from that of a native. He shortly became inured to the way of life of those amongst whom he lived, and being a handy fellow, lie became a useful member of his tribe, and was as expert in the management ~ef the canoe as those accustomed to it from their infancy. To this may be attributed Burns's escape from his captivity amongst the savages. He had been out at sea in his canoe with several warriors, on the 100k-out for their enemies along the coast, when he espied a vessel in the distance. The moment he made the discovery he was determined to effect his escape if it was possible, and with this in view he separated from the main body of the canoes, allowing his to drop astern to give some orders to those in the rear. When, however, he considered that he was at a sufficient distance from these whom he knew to be most expert in the use of throwing the spear, he at once turned the head of his canoe towards the ship, and used the paddles with such dexterity that he outstripped the efforts of the New Zealanders to come up, although several canoes tried hard, and he got safely alongside a Spanish vessel homeward bound, and was taken on board on the Captain being apprised that lie was an Englishman, a fact which was not credited for some time, owing to his being tattooed, and dressed after the manner of a New Zealander. From Spain, Burns recently arrived in this country, and when brought before the Magistrate (Mr. Traill), he stated that he was to exhibit at the Surrey Zoological Gardens that day in the costume of a New Zealander, and to display his dexterity in the management of the lance, and perform other feats which he had acquired during a six-years' residence amongst them. Burns was liberated immediately, that the public might not be disappointed of his exhibition.  Letters from Martinique, of the end of May, announce the burning of seven or eight houses at St. Lucia, which the negroes of that English island are _said to have set on fire.—French Paper.  - Those who opened the prison for the fugitive prisoners have also opened their purses, in order to secure their flight ; this sufficiently proves that Louis Philippe had nothing to do with it.—La Charivari. The Mechanics' Magazine says that the House of Commons' Committee have recommended a grant to be made to Mr. Iloldsworthy Gurney of 16,0001., for his steam-carriage improvement.