The Sun. — 1846-08-11 (London, England)

GROSS IMMORALITY IN THE  LEWISHAM UNION WORKHOUSE.  The usually quiet village of Lewisham has for some days past been in a state of considerable excitement, in consequence of certain very prevalent rumours rospect. ing the conduct of Mr. Burroughs, the master of the union workhouse, towards the female inmates. On the reporter proceeding to Lewisham o❑ Saturday morning, and making inquiries on the spot, the following was related as the iacts  On last Wednesday month, on the application of tl,e master to the board of guardians, permission was gr.-tilted to himself and his wife, the matron, to spend a month at Ramsgate, and parties were named to attend to the duties of the establishment during their absence. The business of the matron was most efficiently per. formed by Mrs. M'Callum, the schoolmistress, the mildness and attention of that lady having long since won the good opinions of the whole of the female inmates of the establishment. A short time after the departure of the master and matron several of the females, freed, no doubt, from apprehension by the absence of .their superiors, made a communiottion to Mrs. M'Callum et such a character that it was evident scent a of the greatest immorality had existed fir a long time in the union. Mrs. M'Callum immediately communicated with the board of guardians upon the subject, and a special meeting of the board was called to take the same into consideration. A second meeting was appointed to pursue the investigation, and notice was given to the master, Burroughs, that his presence would be indispensable on the day named, to I hear, and, if possible, to defend himself from the charges that had been preferred against him. In the evening, before the day of investigation, Burroughs arrived at the workhouse, and stayed about half an hour. He then 1.4 t, and has not been seen since, although it has been erroneously stated that he was seen walking down the village on the day after the board was held. According to adjournment, the board re-assembled on the Thursday, when it was attended by J. Thackeray, Esq., Chairman of the Board, the Hon. Major Leg:. e, Captain Foster, the Rev. A. Drummond, Captain Gossett, J. Paul, Esq., &c. The inquiry was then pursued in the absence of the master, and several female witnesses were examined at great length, and at its conclusion, so satisfied were the members of the Board of toe validity of the charges, that the clerk to the guardians, Mr. Parker, was instructed to communicate with the Poor-law Commissioners upon the suttjett. to It is stated that some time since, the schoolmistress whom the above statements were made,dehbaydtrhea believe that improper advances were moanstetor toe ards a poor girl who is deafanddnivamsbh, eaancdcoern,glianggei,d, by her at needle-work in the schoolroom. kept a strict watch upon her, and there can now be no doubt,that, but for her care, he same insults would have been repeated, and her complete ruin and degradation eventually accomplished. An answer to the statement sent by the board of guardians was received on Saturday evening from the office of the Poor-law Commissioners, and it is believed, although matters are conducted with great secrecy, that an Assistant Poor-law Commissioner will be sent to investigate the serious charges that are involved. In the meantime, the master will remain under suspension, the duties being executed as before, by Mr. Atkins and Mrs. M'Cullum. An order has also been given, that after divine service on Sunday, the whole of the inmates shall remain at the establishnent, and the usual liberty on alternate days for men and women, has for the present been suspended. It has also been intimated that, should But roughs come to the union house, he be on no account permitted to enter the establishment at the principal or front entrance, but be passed in at the back of the workhouse, until such time as the investigation into his conduct is concluded. It would be premature to allude further to the charges until an official investigation is instituted, bat it is reported that gross improprieties have existed in this establishment for upwards of three years.  A letter from Rome, of July 16, says, " A picture of Michael Angelo, and another of Raphael, have just been discovered here; the first, representing the placing of Christ in the tomb, arid the other the portrait of the celebrated Cardinal del Monte, similar to the fresco in the Vatican. Both works were purchased amongst a number of old, valueless pictures, one by Mr. Wean, a young Scotch painter, and the other by M. Cardeni, a broker," Patrick Mannion received sentence of death, in Galway, on Thursday last, for the murder of Bridget Barrett on the high seas,