21 DECEMBER 1850, Page 2

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At a Court of Common Council on Thursday, the Lora Mayor an- nounced his receipt of a letter containing the admiring sentiments of 1713 persons in the parish of Glossop, Derbyshire, at the noble example of Protestant vigour set by the Corporation of London in presenting me- morials to her Majesty against the Papal measures. The address was communicated with a joint letter of compliment from the Vicar, the Weir- leyan minister, and the Independent minister, of Glossop. Sir Peter Lau- rie with extreme delight hailed the event, and amidst general signs of satisfaction it was ordered that the address and letter lie entered on the minutes of the Court AI Deport to the Court of Aldermen by the Reverend John- Davis, Ordi- nary of Newgate, expresses great thankfulness at the material alterations andimprovements that have been made in the prison during the year now substantial changes bearing upon the discipline and effi-

ciency of the gaol have not for a-vei Omer pesied-tat-dlinlat;eas;-:: nd. all the members- of the worshipful Co= 4dininreedeessi Is tea, viditexperiionenaisich et the results. visiting tlbit ihrievalK have been lighted and warmed. Large-and extee weft-ramps ]1aveUsenittd up for transports, after, the

moskitof MillbootPrisoin. ' -Quiets aisle° to wear the prisen-dresa, an rabour conformitr1Mb their sentisneere The whole infettifbrthe

prison has been furnished wi üpãids of two hupdred gas-lights, kepthurn- nag during the night wherever nemerary; and-anireproved eight-wati has been constituted over the transports and throughout the prison, so fliet,in- tervention when required, can he afforded once effectually and prOtiiiitly. . . . . The convicts era kepteat lightrand easy work, picking oaktiteielY6n- vice dress; and 'they labour-in silence under the supervision of an offieer during the day, who is relieved at night by another officer, whose duty is to prevent all irregularities in. the- period, assigned to rest: The altered- manner of these depraved men since they liami been so occupied in these wards in private .interviews I have hattesith'theM- when necessary, isv theprisorr. s- pat and elsewhere, iste.me most striking I could not base .beliete.d, 'had I not witnessed its results, how very important an effect is'preduced'iii

pisçn- discipline by the mere introduction of light As a matter net of luxury to the prisoner, but of supervising influence; its effects are mad. striking. - Mr. Davis gives some interesting statistics. on juvenile crime-

" A great decrease continues in the number ofboys committed to Newgate. In 1650 we have had 37 less than in 1849; and in that year 73 less than in 1848; making a total decrease of 110 in two years. The total number ler the three yearswas 284 in; 1848, 211 in 1849, and 174 in 1850. There were 58 boys addicted to crime sea-means of 'subsistence who could read fluently ; 24 were addicted to crime as a means of living who could read imperfectly ; 19 madecrime a means of livin,g in part only; •who • could read fluently; .and 5 who readimperfectly were addicted to crime in part as a means of. living. Here are 97 boys out of 174 a real pest and nuisance to society when they are not in confinement; and all have received souse measure, quits:van average for boysin their condition of life, of the usual education of poor children. The extensive corruption that is going on in the Metropolis of boys by boys is much beyond what is imagined ; and boys are extensively used by thieves for>. purposes of' plunder, 'Seth.; to induce them to steal witlethe hope of sharing the spoil, and to obtain an entrance into their masters' premises to steal for themselves. Boys who are adepts at dishonesty are amongst the most dangerous. criminals in London. They present in confinement one of the most difficalt features in the whole range of penal discipline. Offenders subjected-to Ding periods of confinement, whether bays or men, want gradu- ated lebour. Except at some of the hulks and on the breakwaters, where the ayatem in adopted, really' hard work is not employed as a means of re- formation whererefbrniation is possible, and of deterring others where that object is unattainable."

The business show of cattle and' sheep in Smithfield Market on Mon- day—the "great day " before Chriatmas--wroi fully worthy of the fine display of prize animals-at the Baker Street Bazaar last week. Of sheep 26,800, of beasts 6720; of calves 284, and ofpigs 300, were driven on to the-area. of Smithfield; and its convergent streets,—for the herded mass extended in distant radiations far from the market itself. The weather was fine, hut not sufficiently•frody to please the. dealers in Christmas meat; of which the seasonheshow was excellent.

The general-meeting of the RoyaltAgriculturd Society of England, on Saturday, was in its- tone a- congratulatory one, "For the first time in the records,of the Society," there had been chronicled a country meeting, at Exeter in July last,,which. gave receipts equal to or exceeding the pay- ments it caused. In consequence of the more healthy state of the sub- scription-list, under the influence of vigorous measures, the balance at the bankers increased from 10421. on the lat of January 1850 to 24351. on the 1st of June. The number of menrhersis about stationary : there are 90,1ife governors 167' annual governors, 648 life members, 4315 an- nual members, and' 19 honorary members—in all- 5239.

Another instance of attempted strangulation on' a passenger in the street* with intent to rob him, is added to those which were, practised on Mr. Cure. ton Mills rooms and' on Mr. Miller in Long Acre. Mr. Adolphe Dubois, a dentist in Princes Street, was the' complainant; at Worship Street Police Court, on Thursday, against William Thompson; e swarthy fellow known among cabmen as the Black Diamond. W..Dubois was panting through Norton-Street, near Portland Place, about half-past nine o'clock. at night, when he noticed, three men in a doorway,, as if they were there to get out of the rain. As he was-passing, one of them ran down, the steps and 'rushed against him, at the same-time-throwing-a rope or' gag- Over his head: The rope or gag was instandr forced roundlis neck, and tightened so as nearly to choke him.. The prisoner was the man who committed this outrage. Mr, Dubois endeavoured to give an alarm; but the rope, was,twisted tighter, the prisoner being at his hack, using something. like a. lever to effect this com- pression. lle contrived; however, to cal lout ; upon which the other two men ram down the steps and held his hands. By the time be had nearly lost consciousness, he- felt the' pressure removed, and- then saw the three men -running off by different ways. He called out "Murder!. Police ! " and he theranoticed that his. outside coat was torn,. and. thathis watch and chain had been taken from' bins. In a:minute or two afterwards. the prisoner was brought to him, and, he instantly identified him as the man who had used the gag-or rope -to him. The watch was soon afterwards produced in a shat- tered condition- haying been found in, an area close to where the prisoner was stopped. He ha stopped. on his neck from the violence to which:he had been subjectedi and he suffered .a kind of spasm- every five minutes-from-the same cause. Thompson is to be committed, -hut he: was.remanded on a statement by the Police that they expect to capture-his accomplices.

The masters are not the only or the most relentless of, the tyrants ever labour. A labouring cooper complained at the Thames Police Court;: on Tuesday, that his trade association has fined' him 101. for entering a 'Work- shop where death is employed; and that they now persecute him and--Aet him turned out of work, to such. a degree thathe must starve. Mr: Yardley could only hint that the association might beliablato an indictment..

A mill-sawyer was charged at Lambeth Police Officer on Saturday, with leaving his' employment under threats by fellowsworkmen, because the m,as- ter, Mr. Weeds at NiiraElms, employed' men not members of the Sawyers Society.: The man was engaged to work eleven: hours a day for 24s. a week ; but after working a. few houre, went "pale and trembling' to' Mr. Woods, and_prayed to be free,, or his society would scratch him- of' their roll. Mr.: Norton found that one rule.of the society is—" That if any member • of the society shall introduce his son into a situation as a saw-;sharpener, thereby depriving another member who is qualified, or out of employment, of taking- the same, he shall be excluded." ['his rule would prevent a man from per- forming his first natural.duty of providing forilis.own child ; and it. must- be wrong in morals. But it is also in clear contravention orthe 6th George IV. commonly called Mr. Pfunie's Act, which declares, 'That if any person shall', by threats, intimidation, or by molesting, in anywayob: stauctanother, force, or endeavour to foreman, iourneyrnan, workman, *votive per.

son hired or employed, from his work orbirsdall snob peril:ma so uffend‘ngwre liable to be seat to the house of correction fur three calendar months." After oonversation„ Mr. Woods °Need the sawyer constant work if he would give up the society ; and-the sawyer consented to stick by his master. On that understanding, Mr. Norton allowed the summons to stand over for a - fortnight.

Three lives have been last in Metropolitan tuneelling operatiens.

To divert, or suppress, the stench of a sewer discharging- itself near the New Rouses of Parliament, a sluice-grated sewer has been in tome of exca- vation at the bottom of Northunsberiand etreet, Charing Cross, vthich would carry the sewage into the Thames below the low-water-mark. On Monday there was a springetide; extra precautions bad been taken to keep out the water, and they were theught to be enflieient. Bet While sixteen persons were employed an the aubterranean works, the river suddenly made a breach throueeh all oh.structiens, and flooded- the works. The men strove hard for life - brit two of them, Edward Gorman and William Greiner, were over- whelmed by the rush of waters, and drowned. The drowned men have each• left widows and families destitute; but for these poor creatures it is said that the contractors, Messrs. llumphreys and Thrist, will provide. At the inquest held on Wednesday, It appeared that the contractors, with- out consulting the Sewer officers, for a temporary facility to their works made an extra tunnel under the Regent Street sewer, with a roof of from four to six feet thickness of mud and earth, resting on timber supports. On Monday morning the men went down to work while a high tide was in the dock; the earthy crown of the tunnel could not bear the pressure, and the water rushed in. The inquiry- was adjourned till Monday : the Commis- sioners of Sewers have directed a fall investigation to be made by their officers.

While some men were employed in forming a tunnel through a dry day at King's Cross, for the Great Northern Railway, a mass of earth fell in' and buried several of the workers. Abel Wynne was taken out dead, his head having been crushed ; the others were but slightly hurt.

An inquest was held on Wednesday. The most notable point in the evi- dence was a statement that the man was lulled by a very small mass of earth—half a cubic yard, falling five feet ; and there is no reason to doubt the truth of the assertion. The sufferer seems to have been in a stooping posture when struck : his head was frightfully crushed. Every precaution had been taken to prevent disasters. Verdict, " Accidental death."