The Sun. — 1822-12-03 (London, England)

SIR—I have only this day seen a paragraph in the Morning Chronicle of the 21st instant, in which, amongst various injurious reflections on other officers, there is the following on me :  " Sir GEORGE COCKBURN is likewise quite au fait at the appointment of the African station Commodore, whose exploits I confess myself quite unacquainted with. Pray was not Sir GEORGE once returned Member of Parliament for Portsmouthr  The insinuation that I owe my appointment to political support given to Sir GEORGE COOKHURN, at his election at Portsmouth, is obvious. I feel it due to myself, and still more to Sir GEORGE COCKBURN, to state thus publicly, that it is utterly and scandalously false. I have no vote in the Borough of Portsmouth, nor the slightest interest there, directly or indirectly. I flatter myself, that Sir GEORGE COCKBURN' did indeed contribute to my being. appointed to the African Command, but he must have done so from a consideration of my length of service, and standing on the list of Post Captains„, for I had no private acquaintance with him nor any private introduction to him, nor any other personal recommendation than the loss of my right arm, and other wounds in battle, which have perhaps procured me a consideration my, humble merits would not otherwise have deserved.  Having repelled in my own case this defamatory attack, I think it due to my brother officers, who are assailed in the same manner, to remind the public that they are both on foreign stations, and have not the good fortune which I have of being able to meet so early the reflections cast upon them; but I know enough of their public services and characters to be able to state, without fear of contradiction, that the imputa= tions cast upon them are as wanton, false, and scandalous as those against me.  I am, Sir, your obedient servant, R. MENDS, Commodore of his Majesty's Ships on the Western Coast of Africa.  MURDER took place a.t Middle Rainton, near Durham, on' the evening of Saturday last. A husbandman, 'of the name of Spraggon, belong. ing to' Durham, and another man, entered the kitchen of the public-house, kept there by Mr. Robert Dawson, and in the course of conver• sation•accosted a pitman, of the name of John Stanwick Newton, by asking him if he was not " Stanwicki" The latter replied he was, and insisted upon Spraggon's disclosinghis name, which he declined to do, and Newton seized him by the neck, and drew his handkerchief so tight as nearly to strangle him. Spraggon succeeded in cutting his neckcloth in two, and a battle immediately took place, and they fought- out of the kitchen into the passage, where Newton struck Spraggon with knife, which: penetrated two inches and a half into his left temple. Spraggon escaped from the house, and, with his companion, proceeded on to East Rainton. Growing faint from the loss of blood, which had flowed from his wound in -a very copious manner, he was there put to bed, and died in the course of a few hours. A. Coroner's Inquest was held on his body on Monday, when the Jury returned a, verdict of" ful Murder a,s,rt.inst Newton, and against Robert H ild ," another pitman, who was ,drinking in company with Newton,and who struck Spraggon a tremendous blow on the head, whilst he was in the. kitchen. Spraggon has been buried in Pur. ham, and Newton and Mild lodged in the Saul in that city, to take their trial at the ensuing Assizes.  DREADFUL AFAI R AT THU it M