The Sun. — 1839-08-29 (London, England)

CRIME IN FRAN CE.  The Monilcur contains a report to the King on the administration of justice in France during the year 1837, which shows that crime was considerably on the increase in that country. It appears that in the course of that year the number of criminal cases brought before the Court of Assize amounted to 5,873, thus exceeding by 573 that of 1836 ; in 2,630 of these, full conviction followed ; in 1,516 cases, modified verdicts were returned ; in 1,727 the accused were acquitted. The number of crimes against the person remained stationary in 1837, having amounted to 1,555, or three cases less than in 1836 ; but the crimes against property had increased 15 per cent. There was a falling off, we are told, in the crimes of " murder" and " assassination," of 21 and 11 per cent. respectively ; but " poisonings" increased 42 per cent. _  The number of prisoners tried by the Courts of Assize was 8,094, which gives one accused for every 4,638 inhabitants ; of these, 1,425 were females ; 4,601 of those 8,094 accused could neither read nor write ; 2,530 read, but wrote imperfectly ; 709 could read and write ; and 254 had received education ; 33 were capitally convicted ; 177 were sentenced to hard labour for life ; 782 to the same penalty for limited periods, and the remainder to various terms of imprisonment. Had not the Jury brought in a verdict of " attenuating circumstances" in 150 cases, 183 would have been condemned to death ; 25 were executed.  The Tribunals of Correctional Police tried in 1837, 140,247 affairs, comprehending 193,06.5 individuals, or 11,758 affairs more than in the preceding year. The Courts of simple police decided, in 1837, in 137,737 cases, or 9,455 more than in 1836. There were 206,093 citizens inscribed on the Jury list in 1837. The number of suicides committed in the whole kingdom, in 1837, amounted to 2,443—viz., 1,811 men and 632 women ; the single department of the Seine offered 437. The greatest number of suicides occurred in the spring and summer months, as will be seen by the annexed table : In December, January, and February 490 In September, October, and November 514 In March, April, and May 683 In June, July, and August 756 'The tragedy of Laurent de Medicis, so long in pre. paration, and interdicted by the police, was at length produced, and with success, at the Theatre Francais, last night. The author, M. Bertrand, was proclaimed usualwith the eclat.  The half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of the General Steam Navigation Company, was held on Tuesday at the office of the Company in Lombard-street. The chair was taken by Mr. W. Attwood, M. P., at 1 o'clock. The report and half-yearly accounts were read, and very full explanations were given to the proprietors, upon the present and prospective state of affairs, which appeared to give great and general satisfaction. The dividend was declared, and, after voting the thanks of the proprietors to the Chairman and Directors, the meeting separated. «'e regret to learn that within the last few days one of the largest cotton manufacturing houses in town have dismissed about four hundred of their hand-loom weavers. In previous cases of dulness of trade this Companylik ely only put presenttheir dulness hweavers Glasgow Chronicle. VALUE OF PATRONAGE IN shortlßELAND.—Theontiue for Borne time.— n time, so that it is introduction of the Poor-law into Tuatn has already put the candidates for situations, particularly the professional men of the town, on the qui rice in real earnest. No less than from eighty to one hundred gentlemen, for the most part men of influence, eligible to act as Guardians, were entertained by two medical gentlemen alone on the one evening—Limerick Chronicle.  ['GUST 25, 1i!.39