of money, with which he was entrusted to pay into the bankers. The prisoner, it should be stated, is not twenty years old, and in the course of a few days he had squandered 1167. The letter in question was addressed to a young man with whom he was on terms of great intimacy. It was as follows:-" My dear H.,-You will no doubt think me very unkind for not writing to you before, but I do so now to tell you that I have been having a jolly good spree. I have been staying with a jolly nice little woman all the week—in fact, ever since I took my hook. I dare say you all consider me a

fine fellow, but the temptation was too great. I have never been out of London, and I will tell you the whole spree I have had. On the first night to the Oxford, then supper, then home to a regular palace. Saturday, the Oxford in the afternoon, then dinner, then to the Alhambra, then to Scott's to supper. Sunday, made everybody drunk on champagne. Monday, boozing all the morning and afternoon; in the evening, went and took a box at the Oxford, and had two or three ladies-made them all drunk with champagne. We all went to the Argyll Rooms, and then to supper. Tuesday, boozing all day; went to dinner, then to the concert at Covent Garden, then to the Argyll, then to Scott's to supper-all jolly drunk. Wednesday, went for a walk in the morning, in the evening had a box at the Oxford, supper, &c., &c. Thursday, went to Pavilion first, and then to Argyll to have a dance; then, of course, supper, &c., &c. Friday, went to Argyll and Oxford, then supper; and Saturday, to Oxford in the morning, and Alhambra and Argyll in the evening-of course, supper afterwards; then every day have had dinner, &c., served in first-rate style at the house; of course, champagne to further orders. So you see I have not been concealing myself. In fact, I have passed the governor's house several times, and have been living in the next street all the time. Any amount of cabs, you know. I have not walked a single mile all the time. I can tell you I have had a fast time of it, and no kid. I have had the best little woman in London, bar none. She had one of the girls confined here on Saturday-such a lark. I was going to

ask you to come and spend Sunday with us, but thought you would not like to come and see such a scamp. I suppose they are all in a nice stew about me. Do you know what F. and Co. [his employers] intend to do in the matter? but it is a caution to think that I have had my run so long. Remember me to I dare say they have a good opinion of me, but I cannot help that. Talk about fast life, if you had been with me for the last week, it would have opened your eyes. What with the Haymarket night-houses, &c., &c., it is a place. You can tell that he will find his ring pledged at Arnold's, in the Broadway. If they had not made such a row about it, I should have got it out, but now he can do it himself. I feel very much obliged to him for the loan. It was all through that ring that I have done what I have done, but by the time you find this you will no doubt hear of my death. Look in papers carefully for 'Suicide at an Hotel.' I cannot say where

the

it will be, but somewhere up West. I shall not do it where I have been staying. Give my last and best love to Aunt and Nelly, and tell them they will never see me again alive, and I extremely regret causing them all the trouble I have; but I have always said that I would have a jolly spree before I died, and I have kept my word. God knows I have had a spree, but it is all over. I should like to

see your face again, but all the coin is gone, and I must go tooonly spent 1167. on women and wine in ten days. Very moderate, don't you think? I must now conclude with kind respects to all, and love to yourself. Don't forget me, old boy.-Yours for ever, "GEORGE HAYMEN."

THE RAILWAY ACCIDENTS of the month have been as frequent as ever, but there has been no remarkable holocaust.

DECEMBER.

7. THE POLICE AND THE PUBLIC.-During the last few days very serious charges have been brought against the metropolitan police, the result of which amounts to the imputation of a widely-spread system of perjury among certain members of the body. In one instance the victims were a small party of officers who visited the Argyll Rooms one night, and were recklessly charged by the police with assaults, drunkenness, and various offences, which they clearly disproved. Another case was that of Mr. Bell, a barrister, which led to an inquiry before Sir Thomas Henry. Mr. Bell's account was as follows:- On the 27th of October I had my luncheon at home at about half-past one, and left at about two o'clock for the purpose of going to my chambers at Stone's-buildings, Chancerylane. I was perfectly sober. As I was walking on, when on the steps at Warwick-place, two young men, arm-in-arm, pushed me and laughed out. I saw it was done for the purpose, and walked through the gates, and told them to behave themselves. The stouter one said, 'I will thrash you.' Not accustomed to this behaviour, I raised my umbrella with the intention of striking him, but I thought better of it, and asked him for his name and address, which he refused to give. I then offered my card in exchange. He still refused, and said I was drunk, and had better go home. I looked for the police, and in Bedford-row saw a policeman, and walked towards him. When I reached him, I told him to be good enough to take the names of the young men. The defendant is the policeman. The young men were in sight when I spoke to the constable. He told me I was drunk and causing an obstruction. I told defendant he had no right to say so, and that I was a barrister. I walked slowly on my way, and the constable walked behind me. Some twenty or thirty boys followed me, and echoed the cry that I was drunk. The constable said, 'You know you are drunk.' I said

H

he had no right to turn me out of my way. At the corner of Bedford-row he made a stand and said, 'Will you or will you not go?' I said I would not. He then seized me by my right wrist, and placed it under his arm. Before he laid hold of me numbers were calling out that I was drunk. I said, 'Who charges me?' Defendant said, 'Never mind, you'll find out.' I said, 'Do you charge me on your own responsibility?' He said that did not matter. I took out a card and wrote his number down, E 368. He took me off at the rate of four miles an hour. I was not in good health, and it tired me. At the Foundling I asked him to stop a cab. He said they never took their prisoners in cabs. We went on to Hunter-street. I told him who I was. At the station he let go of me for the first time. He pushed me into a back room, and said the sergeant was not ready to enter the charge against me. The defendant eventually beckoned me into the next room, saying that the charge was ready. I said, 'Very well; I'll go quite quietly,' for I saw he was about to put his hand on me. He said he should

see that I did do so. He laid hold of me by the wrist and collar of my coat. I said, 'Take your hands off; you are exceeding your duty.' As he persisted, I said, 'If you don't take your hands off I will throw them off.' He held on, and I, by a sudden twist, threw his hands off, pushed him aside, and stepped into the dock. I said, 'I will do that every time you exceed your duty. I know what your duty is, and what my rights are." Sergeant Clifford was at the desk. He asked me my name and address, &c., which I told him. I gave him my card. The charge was given by the defendant -viz., that I was drunk and disorderly, and caused a crowd to assemble in Bedford-row. The sergeant said, 'Don't you also charge him with assault?' and defendant said that he did, and the charge was entered. I was told to follow the defendant to be locked up. One constable said, 'Where are we to put him?' and the sergeant (Clifford) replied, with a laugh, 'Oh, in the drunkards' cell.' When I was in the cell, I said, 'You are not going to put any one else in this cell?' and he said 'No.' I had previously asked to be allowed to communicate with my friends, and Clifford said I could send for one of them, but it was not usual to send for more. I said, 'Then please send to Mr. Statham, 50, Woburn-place. He is my doctor.' Clifford replied, 'We never send for doctors.' I said,Medical evidence is everything in a charge of drunkenness.' He said, 'We never send for them unless the prisoner is too drunk to stand, or unconscious. I asked them to send for their own police doctor. He refused to do so. I asked them to send for my friend, Mr. Ellis, of the Chancery bar. I gave the address. Clifford then said, 'You'll have to pay for the cab.' I said, 'Of course; you will send it on directly?' and the sergeant said he would do so. The cell into which I was placed was like some dog kennels I have. There was a thick stench round of a nasty smell which came from the closet. I was visited occasionally by officers. I asked to see the inspector several times. About half-past six o'clock he came to see me. I said, 'Do

you intend to keep me here all night?' He replied that no one had come to bail me out. I said it was because the men had omitted to send the card as they promised. The inspector then said that he did not know what he could do, but, although not strictly in the rules, he would let me out on my own recognizances if I would engage to be at Bow-street the next day. I said I would give any security, and I left the cell with the inspector. I was taking out my purse. They told me there was no necessity to pay anything, and I merely signed a paper, and was liberated. I spoke of the doctor, and the inspector said that he was a better judge than a doctor when a man was sober or not. On the following morning I came to Bow-street. I was charged, and called Mr. Statham and Mr. Stock. The defendant and Clifford gave evidence, and I was discharged. I complained to the Commissioners of the Police, and I am here to-day as a witness only." The defence of the police was that the excitement of Mr. Bell led everybody who saw him to believe he was drunk; and on the ground that the belief was honest, though entirely mistaken, Sir T. Henry dismissed the charge against the police, but commented very strongly on their conduct.

8. SIR SAMUEL BAKER'S EXPEDITION.-There was a crowded and brilliant assembly at the meeting of the Geographical Society, held in the theatre of the London University, to welcome Sir Samuel and Lady Baker on their return from Central Africa. Sir Bartle Frere presided, and among the audience were the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Lord Chancellor, Lord Houghton, Sir Henry Rawlinson, Sir Rutherford Alcock, and many other distinguished persons.

ever.

Sir Samuel Baker said that after an absence of four or five years it was with mingled feelings of regret and pleasure he again met the Fellows of the Society-pleasure at seeing so many old faces, and regret that so many whom he used to know were departed for Sir Roderick Murchison he especially mentioned as an everready friend in time of need. Before giving an account of his African experiences, he wished to fully explain the object of his mission. There were some ten or fifteen thousand slave-hunters all around the dominions of the Khedive of Egypt. It was determined to put a stop to this trade. He believed a conversation between the Prince of Wales and the Khedive had a considerable share in this determination. Certain it was, that the Prince of Wales's influence had led to his being appointed to conduct the expedition, and induced him to accept the appointment. To put an end to the slavetrade the annexation of a large part of Central Africa was necessary, and an armed force was needed to accomplish it. The Khedive was a full century in advance of his people; and there were indeed but two officials, Nuba and Sherif Pasha, who sympathized with him. To attempt to put down the slave-trade was to attempt to put down one of the most cherished of the Mohammedan institutions. One thousand seven hundred was the number of men placed at his

on.

disposal; and his staff consisted of Lieut. J. A. Baker, Mr. Higginbotham, Dr. Joseph Gedge, of Caius College, Cambridge, and six mechanics. There were many delays, and in the meantime the native officers fraternized with the men, and intrigues to frustrate the scheme were numerous. He finally started with 800 men, and found many natural difficulties to contend with. Heavy rains had altered the condition of the country since he formerly knew it. Continuous rains led to the loss of many of his men, and he found he must return for the season; but, instead of returning to Khartum, he went back only so far as the River Sobat. The traders, believing he was gone to Khartum, came down with several boat-loads of slaves, and fell an easy prey into his hands. The next year he pushed on, having to pass four months in mud slush. Everything had to be carried by his men-ammunition, arms, and all accoutrements. In time he reached Gondokoro, where he explained to a chief the object the Khedive wished to accomplish. This man appeared to approve of stopping the slave-trade, and then suddenly offered to sell his son for a spade. Finding he could not get any co-operation, he founded a station at Gondokoro and went Sir Samuel recounted the numerous attempts at conspiracy among the officers to abandon the scheme. The few Englishmen with him determined to die rather than go back, but his aim was for them to go on rather than die. The officers wrote to him explaining their intentions. He replied by ordering six companies to be under arms at midnight, with eight boats, and at once to attack the Baris. They captured much corn, and this checked the conspiracy. The great difficulty of transit remained, and this he overcame by getting 500 carriers from a tribe beyond (the Loberas). He returned with these men to his force, and then got on to Fatiko. There was a charming climate, and they made pleasant headquarters. Here again he had to guard against treachery. The natives, however, refused to assassinate him; but still he had only 500 men to accomplish the annexation of Central Africa. After detailing many of their difficulties, and giving an account of some sharp engagements, Sir Samuel described how he gained the alliance of Rionga. Soon after this the force was attacked, as the rumour had been spread that he was dead. He had 140 men against 270. The 270 made the attack, but were swept away by a bayonet charge. This engagement ended all warfare. The slave-traders were driven off, 30,0007. of ivory was confiscated, and the natives gladly agreed to annexation. He then had to establish a Government and to arrange taxation. This he did, and happily accomplished all he had undertaken to do. At Cairo this step of the Khedive was looked on with displeasure. The people did not like a Christian being employed, and the Khedive was charged with being not a true Mohammedan. Sir Samuel was afraid a Turk might be appointed to his post on his leaving, but he was glad an English officer had succeeded him. To the meeting with the Prince of Wales and with the Fellows of the Society he had looked forward all through his campaign, and he was now proud in the realization of his wishes.