Great credit is due to those who exert themselves to check such sad barbarities. If parents would teach their children the duty and the pleasure of kindness to the helpless animals within their reach, we might expect to see a feeling produced which would be of much more use than the force of law: but those who cannot be guided by right principles, must submit to such penalties as the law inflicts. (Ed).

During the last few days the following cases of wanton cruelty have been prosecuted by Mr. Thomas, the secretary to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals:

Union Hall.-Joseph May, a drayman, in the employ of Mr. Moseley, brewer, Camberwell, was charged with having violently and cruelly flogged a horse in the Blackfriars-road. The horse was drawing a dray, upon which were six barrels of beer, each weighing four hundred weight; and, while endeavouring to drag this load up the ascent to the bridge, the defendant beat the animal so excessively as to cause it to fall, and when on the ground, the whipping was continued. Finding it impossible to make the horse draw the load up the hill, the defendant obtained another horse, and the poor creature drew very well. The flogging was so wanton and cruel, that the by-standers expressed their indignation at his brutality. The defendant made a rambling statement, denying the charge, but called no witness.

He was fined 20s. and 4s. costs, which were paid.

Guildhall.-Thomas Heygate, Woolwich, a drover, was convicted upon the evidence of Joseph Willy, the society's officer, for cruelly ill-treating two lambs, near Smithfield. The defendant had a long thick stick, with which he beat the lambs in a very wanton manner; but, not content with this, he beat their heads violently against a brick wall. Willy took the fellow into custody. The defendant did not deny the charge.

Alderman Venables said that the officer had acted exceedingly well. Such brutality must be checked.

The defendant was fined 10s., which he paid.

Robert Marriott, a Hampstead donkey driver, was also convicted for wantonly and cruelly treating a donkey in

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ON DRUNKENNESS.

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Smithfield. He was showing off the animal for sale, and while so doing, was amusing himself with beating it on the most tender part.

He was fined 5s., and paid the money.

Greenwich Police office. Thomas Leefe, residing in the Broadway, Ludgate-hill, was convicted of cruelly beating a donkey on Blackheath, with a thick blackthorn stick, on the most tender parts of the leg, and on the back. The poor animal flinched from the effects of the blows, and nearly fell to the ground. The man belaboured the poor donkey in this way until Willy took him into custody, and locked him up in the station house. This man was fined 10s., which he immediately paid, and seemed to think he had got off cheap.

Samuel Smith and Henry Phillips, two donkey drivers, were also convicted for cruelly ill-using their donkeys. They were fined 7s. 6d. each.

George Bassett, another donkey driver, was also convicted in the penalty of 7s. 6d. on a similar charge.

Willy, the officer stationed at Greenwich on the Sunday, is the terror of all the donkey drivers and the cockneys who frequent this resort. As soon as it is known that Willy is on the heath, thick sticks speedily disappear, and a manifest alteration takes place in the treatment of the animals.—Morning Herald.

MR. EDITOR,

ON DRUNKENNESS.

THE greater number of those persons who are brought before a court of justice are habitual drinkers; their crimes are generally committed whilst the criminals are under the influence of liquor. I am always glad to find, in your book, any notice of the evils of drunkenness; for I feel assured, that, until this habit is corrected among the working classes, they will never be brought to any thing like a prosperous condition, however much they may earn; and they will be exposed, moreover, to every temptation to commit crimes which will lead to the destruction of character, and expose them to the severe punishment of the laws. I cannot look upon the number of beer-shops, and gin-shops, and alehouses, with which

our towns and villages now abound, without a feeling of deep sorrow, both as they throw out such grievous temptations to lead men to their ruin, and also from the proof which they afford of the vast demand which there is for intoxicating liquors. This demand is chiefly among the working classes: how they find money for it, I cannot understand; their wives and their families must starve for it. Some of the manufacturing labourers earn, at times, large sums of money: but it seems to do them no good: they spend it as fast as they get it; and many of these, in their old age, are not worth a penny,-when they might have saved money enough to have made themselves quite independent. I remember, when I was a boy, that it was the fashion for gentlemen to drink a great deal when in company. This, however, is, for the most part, over now and it would in these days be reckoned a disgrace for a person who is called a gentleman to be seen drunk; and I heartily wish it were considered so among the labouring classes. Indeed, I sometimes hope that things are, among them, better than they were a few years ago: some labourers have left off spending their money in drink, and have got a considerable sum in the savings' banks; several of them belong to temperance societies; and I am in great hopes of soon seeing that it is considered quite disgraceful to drink to excess. If there were to be this happy change, it would do more to promote the happiness and prosperity of the poor than any laws that can be made for bettering their condition. Let every young man resolve to keep out of these places. Every thing that he hears or sees there will help to ruin him: for, assuredly, drunkenness is ruin in this world, and has the condemnation of God on it, for drunkards are classed among those who shall not inherit the kingdom of God. I am, Sir,

Your constant reader,
D.

KEEPING SERVANTS FROM THE TEMPTATION OF THE

MR. EDITOR,

ALEHOUSE.

I HAVE lived for a long time in the country, and it is a great pleasure to me to observe the manners and habits

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of the working men among my neighbours; and there are some whose good conduct, and industry, and prosperous condition it is quite a pleasure to behold. There are some few who are in a very wretched condition; and these are all in the habit of frequenting the alehouse: this always leads to rags and wretchedness, and the destruction of every religious and every moral feeling. I have seen this misery spreading to such an extent, that I am often disposed to wish that there was no such thing as an alehouse or a beer-shop in the parish. I dread the thoughts of any one of the people belonging to me ever going into one of those places, for I know they are in danger of learning every thing that is bad there. I live a few miles from a large town, and I have occasion frequently to go thither in my carriage; and there is a very respectable and quiet inn on my side of the town, very convenient for me. But, such is my dread of ever obliging a servant to go into a tap-room, and to mix with the drinking companions common in an inn-yard, that I have hired a private stable in the town to prevent this mischief. I cannot help considering it a sacred duty to watch over the habits of those about us, and to take care that we do not ourselves lead them into such temptations as may in the end be their destruction.

Your constant reader,

N. R. K.

EFFORTS TO PUT DOWN BARTHOLOMEW FAIR.

THE market committee, of which Mr. Hicks is the chairman, are bent upon doing all in their power to put an end to this annual scene of rioting and blackguarding. They have this year exactly doubled the charges upon their fugitive tenantry, so that the exhibitions are reduced to a few of the capitalists. The fair, it has been ascertained beyond a doubt, is not only greatly injurious to the business of the market, but it is prejudicial to the trade of the whole neighbourhood. Even the publicans are willing to sign petitions for the purpose of stopping it altogether, as the wear and tear of their property and their constitutions, and the insults and robberies to which they are subjected, are by no means recompensed by the

profits. Never was there a larger assemblage of the worst characters of both sexes, than in Smithfield at the last fair. In consequence of the high price demanded by the market committee, there was not one show on Cloth-fair side, and no more than one (Wombwell's) on the hospital side, and but four or five were ranged on the west side.-Globe.

A number of pickpockets and other thieves from Bartholomew Fair, were examined before the sitting alderman at Guildhall, and committed to prison-some for trial, and others for re-examination.-The same.

One of the police serjeants, (Mason, 15 G.) was nearly killed by a mob of ruffians from " Bartlemy Fair." He and three other officers were endeavouring to prevent an affray among them in West-street, Saffron-hill, and they were taking two of the ringleaders off to the station, when a cry of "Rescue" was raised, and the serjeant was struck on the back of his head with a heavy stone, which rendered him insensible; and he still remains in a state of great danger. Several of the ruffians are in custody.— The same.

PUBLIC HOUSES.

"WHAT do they sell?" They should sell what is good for food and refreshment. A public house was meant to be an accommodation to the public, a place of rest, and repose, and refreshment to the hungry, the thirsty, and the weary traveller: and, if carried on upon this principle, a person who keeps a public house may be a most useful member of society; and, whilst he is benefiting himself, he may be offering a safe and grateful and useful welcome to his guests. Some time ago, the keeper of a public house, who had become seriously impressed with the importance of religion, said he felt it to be his duty to give up that course of life, for he considered it to be quite contrary to the feelings of a man who saw the value of religion, and who must, therefore, be grieved to see the sinful profligacy which was constantly going on in a public house. A friend, whom he consulted, told him that he saw no need whatever for him to give up the house; that the sin was not in keeping the house, but in allowing what was