The Express. — London, England, 1852-12-20 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 20, 1852. ---- LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY. week ,' general meeting of the proprietors was add ce n e taniay at Eusto n -square, to consider the neaps washout of Mr. R. Stephenson, M.P., and Mr. J. It. How Q.C., upon the haute relation. of the company with tie N orth Staffordshire Compauy. The chair was taken, tot the tint time, by Major•Ueoeral Assn , the newly elected c hains to of the board. The CustsM AN read to the meeting the propositions ip rosa of by the boards of the companies. They wee, as • The proprieton were informed by the last half-yearly 7 , Ne t that the questions in difference between this aim. ny sod the North Statf“rdshire have been adhered, ea it( the common seals of both compauies, to Mr. Robert sod Mr. Jamelt„bert Hope, Q.C., so ▪ r tlat a complete union of the interests of the under ' On the Co.h throb r, Mr. 'lope sad Mr. Ste rn c .* ceimmunieated the result of their investigation of the motion referred to them, and recommended the fol s,,ao eonclosion s fee oder Om by both boards: .. 1 , lb, London and North Westero Company to se. to atuolateli the railway.. canals, and whole hard and as orea..le property of the North Staffordshire Company. The 1..m.1en and North Western Company, i n eon. • e 3 a thereof, to pay to the North Staffordshire Com t upon th.„r present paid up share capital, an anneal anlitel of 3 per cant. demise the first y asr, of 3} per eat. denim the second year, and of 31 per cent. daring the tfurl :cif all sirisequent years Provided that it shall be is of the London and North Western Company at sae :me, upon sea month.' notice, to convert the share eipqat of the North Statforoshire Company into or -4,..iry stock of the London and North Western Company at : The paid•np share capital of the North Sniff..rd.hire c, n.,. at) to be taken, u *Lard by themselves, at 2,526.000:., . nominal amount of the shares to be reduced trout I;1. 10n.. -• If has London and North Western Company to under. • . , e canal rent or dividend, the bond debt, and all r “abilities of the North Staffordshire Company pro. .1 that if the bond debt, as estimated by the North rashers Company with • view to rover all existing Jets., shell be found to exceed 1,040,000/., the London North Western Company shall be entitled to dr .., t from Coo dividend payable upon the North Star : Ydshire share emit d • yearl f sum equal to interest et 31 icr cent. on the excess. The obligation of the Loudon awl North Western p,av;iley to pay the die idenels under .trticle 2, an d t o elite g um dm liabilities under Article 4, to commence frum the use .t wlheti the transfer Cl the North Staffordshire pro perty shall be legally completed. 'the two companies to apply t parliament at joint espies,• in the innut sessien for immediate powers to the aiovettl. et, end in cue of failure to renew the applieatien iasineredeng semaing. Should parliament three tunes eg ret the +pp/lea:ion upon merits, and not merely on formal touts. the engagement between the count armies to (seam. IL iieving that both boards are deeply impressed with the espolieney of speedily determining the principles of an au:gement. we have contented ourselves with • statement dour opinion on the principal points submitted to us; but itiselel :he companies accept nor x d,,, tt , upon these pews, we shah be happy to afford them farther assistance, and to la.tween them upon every question which may g...,▪ S.I.JT, the passing of the act of parliament. •• la "morally with the advice of the Te forces, the Par -I,,seetvy notice,. have been given for a bill to amalgamate the companies on the terms above specified. Subsequently Mr ant Mr. Stephenson were requested to consider at t th, steps proper to be taken immediately, and until the meetion ul par lancet be obtained to the amalgama tors applied hir. Further conference, took place at di& the re firsts stated that they had arrived at the con e:gem exprewed in their former letter, under the conviction th o l g rood understanding between the companies was alone ateeteary to r. :lase the expected result., and that by cordial tea r at• • in in the working and interchange of traffic, the set pr.oit accruing to the North Staffordsh:re Company would suffice to SCCUIt to the proprietors, over and above slicker:es. the dividend named by them. They recent. mu t e d, ther e fore, the appointment immediately, and no. tit the pass - or of the act of amalgamation, of committees specially deputed by their re, active boards, to manage in reamsetion the traffic affected by the reference; the two h at e pledoinz themselves to give the rudest effect to the sere and ree.irumendations of the directors no de. rated, and esgagieg cordially to co-operate in car. rpm out the declared objects of the reference. Mr. Hope and Mr. Stephenson having been further re viewed to continue the ir goe.d offices ' until • complete itace of the companies be effected, they hale cepresseel their wiliingioye so to act, on the understanding that both board. enrage to abide by their decision in all matters of cerei any, arising oat of the arrangement. The fore ver recommendstions have been adopted by bath boards, red the daecters will submit them for confirmation and rlo;tion by the proprietors at the special general meeting, 114.11011C1 in terms of the notice, a copy of which is at hiked —By order, CHAS. E. STEWART, Secretary." The Co MUM AN then mid it would be his duty to aak the irlyieton to sanction the recommendations which he bad jwt nail ; but, before doing so, he trusted he should bet ;emitted to say • few words on • sebject personal to him seif, namely, the position which he had the Winner of mew snag that day. He was sure there was not a gentleman is that room, am did he believe there was a proprietor out of door, did not moat sincerely regret the absence tr.* the chair of his friend Mr. Glyn—(Loud them)—whose long experience with regard to rail way matters generally, and whose thorough know. d e rt of the peculiar interests of that company, L stamped his services with a value that could not be too Lghly intimated. (Renewed cheers.) Ha felt that, in as. ce...ag to the wishes unanimously expressed by his co. Loraine that be should take the chair, he could not expect ')attain Mr. Glyn's great knowledge of their affairs; but he weall endeavour, so long as he occupied that post, by • Ur! meets in his lower, to promote the prosperity of the c ',any. In proposing that the resolutions should be aopted. he hoped the meeting would concur with him in tan:trine it the duty of the directors to take into account e'teiniy the interests of the company, but also those of the Ansiow as they were, at all times, to carry out unmeant, that might Si r rentable to the shareholders, they telt it equally their duty to take care that the interests time putilte .}could not be sacrificed. At the am time, , f.ett ass • wide difference in the positin d the two per tee—the public and the railways. Cenesegene yin is ,aired and demanded by the ppme hew the re..ways, sometimes in en ex Ilasene. It tended even to a demand for a reinffilien d their prints. Imands were made for indlollll4 ingninnalUnin sod increased expenditure; but, as regorged the malt% be two of 1.0 point on which they eeuld he vaned egem le make coweinions or sacrifices to the railway lateness. The 11111.14100 before them that do was one of great importing, all the rules,' interestOf thekiyttam, The WOO Mr Wlnlpration generally was tbetr mein ghee they were asked to otrablier a pegged web te them ia November, and to give their amemnemee to shill te le irseeht before parliament far as between the Midland and the Loathe end Neill NOM Railway l-rapaw,e. The principle wee them se hay '4l ezplidmed and o advocated by his hind Me. &Silk whe Hem cc- MOrd the chair, that he felt It would be ea leneeseetyy gene( time to travel over that grecs& end be would Needy refer to some of the manta the. medic He (Mr. "soh) showed that this wee the mak eta series ganiaaantatime, canied dilliewli the% Peto Pod ceder different cirommelemeee. tellielffigellet • swell ett eimetirwo on an eateaded seek eel Heim& et mbidt walk' it had bees mini le Ow itsbillilgolliebra,..Amitd leente owe of the WYE =sWM In the w hew ed erhl—(hear, W 7e4 had te slum lted hominoid ho He ad aid is ell times led mho fill eircemetameek of figgProti'l ee Men had proved that the course • 4 1 1 1 1 111 1 :4 " Se of Mentage. Ile also meatiomed that the sow odsoe or the House of Cesameni, im the year kihww.r which Mr. Gladstone bed sewed im Mir Nit. and that Lord Delheuele, thee when so mem %BEM theepeglig eadowhally misstated with the l 'Wq tam 1•11 - agafiwwt in at He also peianedent Slw 'Meer of the Meting railway esiberitim, Mr. hood!, m e . Eng, Mr. D o ni s ... god hi. hind Or. Glyn, sir, the one ; that they all wiwtairied the WOO opt- Lou imp nag the adverse etestaigr A • 11 ° . VAN had just b ees a p by the sem eallem• a Commas ~*sift tea lb. wljget be emexisa with the Theis ientioa or railwayMrhieliee, and he gemilmed himeett hat In was see of thew who rejoiced that the eseenresat hal tikes that anima He felt that tbeg iiit• mere kitty to et tile the tweine Imeswhich ream" ._ l 4s' to set then the/ eembilleco. Ile thowsbe Mterr •o`e the wales epee wadi the result of the inquiry was Were them._ (Mem.) Let them look for en Instant at the 'weevil* Midi the public interests had bees served since Ik swasaill'eneelem with the Grand decedent Railway. It ow Mt Maim ef that large union of railway manage * at whin had aupplied the most important commercial " .1 popialeus didriete of the country with railway anew tools**. (flee,, hear) The North Staffordshire line hod beta isemed in the heyday of r a il wa y speculation, or *Or apse the verge of the decline of that period of rail '"? Mommity ; and at that time there was • prevailing ilea that compatitio• was not only practicable, but was for lhe interest of the public Public opinion had very much dogged n that question. (Hear, hear) Experience had d that the arguments need were delimits, and every megggtlseed the esseviction that the union of manage mom um • weelgusl line or system in ens district was Mush mere esedaishe to the public convenience and me will• (Hem, .) If they looked the map the MGM lad an extent hear of line of miles at included in they /kith thatfurdshin !Railway. It wee difficult to my which lelthe mein cestineens hoe. It was like • lobster, ex- 1 " 14 .1 Al claws all around. It touched in five different 1 1505 5 the London and North Western Railway, tthe Midland l ine i n two places. It was iconl^ that any efficient traffic arrangement could mule muless hey were worked together, and it s impveible that proper economy could he practised so es to conduce to the prosperity of the shareholder,. The 11:oprieton would, he had no doubt, make allowance for ddlikulties their directors had to contend against in "oefittirthis arrangement. There appeared now to be • sew Loin dawning upon them—there was • necessity for ll•st mum of railway management which was formerly l ' 7, olereil only desirable. Some might think that they wore tailed upon to make sacrifices, and it might he so in 'ms for th e p u bli c good; but they were of opinion Ilat if some enneessions were willingly submitted to, they a yield mot be lust altogether. It had always been his opt ccioa that the union of the management of railways properly alacted w ou ld conduce to economy and the public ad slilsefe. Tb he.. guttleataa hariag thaakod the meeting I fee the kind and patient attention it had given hiss. re sumed Ida seat amidst loud cheering. TIN reaslutlisa was mooed by Mr. DIMON, the &pity 'Minim Mr. PARSONS celled the attention of the meeting to the comenatioa that had taken place a few nights previously in the Home of Lords, as being a strong indication of the intention of parliament with regard to railways. The late Postsnaster.General had intimated that there aught to be a large rtdeetion in the payments to railways fir the mail service, and also as regards the transport of troops. Mr. GLYN wished to return his very best thanks to the chairmen for the terms in which he had thought fit to in troduce his name on that occasion—terms which he ascribed to the long friendship and co•operation which had existed between them, and not to any merits of his own. He would also take the first opportunity since his retire ment loom the chair of thanking all the proprietors for the constant and kind support which he had received from them at all times, and under circumstances of much dial. calty. Ile could assure them that nothing would have in. duced him to give up a position which he hell for fifteen years except circumstances pressed upon Ann by those whose advice he was obliged to consider, and they might rely upon it that to his latest day, whatever services he could render would be al rays at their command. (Cheers.) Before he retired he saw at the board an individual on whom his eye had long been fixed, who was, he believed, fully qualified to undertake the labo rious and responsible duties of his office, and into his bands he willingly recigued his trust. (Cheers.) With regard to the rem irkablu ear/aviation that had occurred in the House of Lords, the hon. proprietor had omitted all reference to the antidote administered by the Earl of llar. rowby, in a speech which was full of truth, and destroyed the impression that had been previously made. He begged to state that a short time ago the Postulsco had renewed its contract with the Loudon sod North Western for a large number of year.. (Ilene, hear.) As regarded troops, they would be at all times quite ready to meet the requirements that might he made ; and, as regarded the Poet office service, they were nut at all assailable in that quarter. (Hear, hear.) The resolution was then put and unanimously agreed to. On the motion of Sir O. GOODMAN, 11.1'., seconded by Lient.-Ocneral 111'lnxia, a vote of thanks was Riven to the chairman, and a similar one to Mr Ulyn (the late chair men), on the motion of Mr. Cnusataato, seconded by Mr. 8. liazwint. The meeting then separated. 'Meese which occurred to the board at once, and the en deavour was at once made to remove it. (Applause.) Bat In adverting to this matter I have somewhat overshot my subject, for there is an impurtaat consideration connected with it, Rodin mentioning that I refer to the time when the agreement is to be carried into effect. (lieu.) In touching on that subject I outset do better than refer t o thi circular issued by the London and North Western board to their shareholders, that Is as 1 will read it to you. "Further conferences took place, at which the referee. stated that they had arrived at the conclusion expressed in their former letter, under the conviction that a good under. standing betwers the companies was alone aecenary to realise the expected results, and that by cordial cooperation in the working and interchange of traffic, the net profit aceruieg to the North Staffordshire Company would suffice to secure to the proprietors, over and above all charges, the dividend weed by them. They recommended, theref ire, the appointment immediately ; and until the pass ing of the act of amalgamation, of committees specially de puted by their respective boards, to manage, in conjunction, the traffic affected by the reference—the two boards pledg ing themselves to give the fullest effect to the acts and re commendations of the directors so deputed, and engaging cordially to co-operate in carrying out the declared objects of the reference. Mr. Hope and Mr. Stephenson having been further requested to continue their good offices' until a complete union of the companies be effected, they have expressed their willingness so to act, on the understanding that both hoards eugage to abide by their decision is all matters of question, it any, arising out of the arrangement." Our amalgamation bill is now before parliament, and with every disposition to pose it forward by both boards ' • bat at the same time there is no denying the fact that there is • certain feeling in parliament on the subject of these amal gamations, which may have the effect of retarding the pro mo of our bill, although we go before the house under peculiar circumstances. We have no less than five junc tions at different points with the London and North Wes tern Company ; and it is for the public good that this sili ante shield take place; in fact, it was a part of the original design that the North Staffordshire should form • pert of the great railway system from the north west to the metro polis and the south and east. There are, however, many amalgamation bills before par:iament, and a committee has been appointed to consider the whole subject, it may, therefere, nut be altogether prudent to force one bill forward, however irresistible our claim may be on the merits; but, in order that there may be no delay in carrying out an albums which is of so much consequence to the renvenicsce of the public, end liege that, before many weeks have elapeed, an arrangement will he entered into by which • large portion of the traffic from Manchester and the North will pale over the North Staffordshire line. Such an arrangement will, I trait, be not only advantageous to you, but to the London and North Western Company. (Hear.) I have now touched on the principal points in connection with our meeting. If llt eve omitted anything, I am willing to give the fullest possible information to any proprietor who seeks it. I have only to say, in conclusion, that the proposed arrangement has the unanimous approval of the board ; there may be shades of difference of opinion respecting some &tails in it, but there is no difference whatever as to the desirability of carrying out this agree ment; for myself, I Cie only say that having been actively concerued to all matters connected with the undctsking from its beginning, and, having attended almost every board and committee =refill, I unhesitatingly declare it to he my decided conviction that the interests, not only of this company and of the London ar.d North Western, but, more than all, of the public, will be greatly promot ed by the carrying out of these arrangements in the spirit iu which Viey are proposed. (Applause.) I now move, " That the retommendatiens of Mr. Hope and Mr. Ste phenson, as reported, be approved, and that the Board of Director, be authorised and instructed to take such steps as may be necessary and best calculated to give effect to the Mr. CHITCHLZY (a director) seconded the resolution. Kr. HAYWOOD, of Browuhills, inquired when the tr.iffic arrangement referred to by the chairman would take place. The Cuaiaaaa—As soon as possible. Not perhaps in its entirety so early as January, because it will take some timo to acreage the alteretions in the time tables ; practi cally, however, I have no doubt it will come into operation in January as regards the goods traffic, and es regards the passenger traffic on the lit of February. (Ap plause.) The agreement as respects the payment of the dividend of 3 per cent. will take effect from the let of January. (Applause.) Mr. HAYWOOD—I am quite satisfied with that: hut what security is there that the agreement will be carried out by the North Western Compary if the act of parliament is not obtained ? TheCHAIRMAN—You will have the guarantee of the board, and the security arising out of the tact of the traffic actually going over your line. The question you put was a proper oue ; and my friend Mr. Dicey thinks it right I should say, to prevent any misapprehension on the subject, that the 3 per cent. will not accrue for this half.year's divi dend, but fur the half. year ending June 30 in next year. The resolution was then put from the chair, and carried unanimously. Mr. HAYWOOD said that be was satisfied much good would result from this amalgamation; and he was deemed by a large number of influential shareholders t. pay a tri.• bate to Mr. Bidder and the aatii.tant managers of the rail way for the most excellent manner in which it was con. ducted; upwards of five millions of passengers had passed over the railway, and not a single ambient worthy of notice had occurred. (Hear, hear.) When they 'coked at the daily accounts in the papers of the dreadful calamities occurring elsewhere, he thought is only fair that Mr. Bidder should thus publicly learn that the shareholders were not ungrateful for his exertions; and he hoped that such services would not be forgotte n by the board, but that conduct so meritorious might be suitably acknowledged es an iocentive to future exertions. (Applause.) Ihe hon. proprietor concluded by moving a vote of thanks to the chairman and board of directors. ----- The Rev. Mr. SNIZYD seconded the motion. The CliAlaxix, in acknowledging this compliment to the board, said that he had long been sensible of the ability end the seal displayed by Mr. Bidder, and he had taken care to mention it in the proper quarter. One of tho highest officials of the London and North Western Company hod borao testimony to the admirable working of the North Sta ff ordshire hne,„over which sometimes fifty thou sand persons travelled in a week, and, as yet, without 1011. of life or limb. _ _ ilita --- 11tlx-Mooits said that, before the shareholden separated, be wished them distinctly to understand that, in I the event of any occurrence to prevent the bill nesting next session, the dividend would be quits secure. The whole of the Manchester traffic passing over the line would be an abundantly sufficient guarantee ; the security would, in feet, be as good as If the bill had actually received the wades of perliament. (Applause.) The meeting then broke up. THE FLOODS IN THE TYNE.- A SERIES OF DISASTERS. — SHIELDS, SATURDAY SNORT. Another series of unfortunate accidents have hap pened in this district, caused by the Inds that hare swollen the Tyne during the past week. Au kisser's' quantity of rain has fallen di lVe his lIIIMIS days Yesterday forenoon a very Ihrppined at Wallington Quay, about three tesea this sees: a wherry had brought some heavy fron outings from New. was Quay down to Mears. Coutta and Parkinson's iron ship building yard ; and about nine o'clock, after high water, and while the freshet was running out with greet rapidity, the wherry was laid alongside of the wharf for the porpoise of delivery. A number of labourers were busily engaged at work, when a large iron frame fell over to sae aide of the wherry, canting her on to her beam end. A man was jammed by it welt tke wherry side, and a pose fellow of the name of Wink. Munson thrown overboard and drowned by the lurch. • man of hands was vet on to emirate the teas that was Jassuied, and had done so, when, with the stretch that was an the stern chain, the wherry broke it, sad the tide solidei ber heel, she mated over, and threw all the men frau abesed of her into the water, with the cargo. A fearful Mae sewed, and was thought that several more perms web' be drowsed, bat timely assistance having arrived, they were all get out of the stream, with the exception of Alexander Young, • shipwright, who got his leg under a piece of iron at the bottom of the river, the iron nipping him like &vice, and making it impossible for him to be saved, as he lay in nine feet water. His body was not got out until late last night. On. of the persons in the wherry had hiejaw-bons broken, and he and the poor fellow that was first jammed aboard the wherry, were very ill this forenoon. The other persons that got hurt were recovering. At one o'clock yesterday afternoon a large stone wall fronting the Com mercial Bank, South Shields, and keeping up an embank. meat of the York and Berwick Railway, arse away with a fearful crash, burying two persons beneath the stones and the mar of earth that fell across the read. Immediate assistanee was procured, earl both of them were extricated within half an hour. One of them, • boy of the name of Edward Arther, died shortly after he was got out, both his thighs being broken and his trtly very severely crushed. The other poor fellow, a cartman, of the name of John Wright, is in a very serious condition this evening. An inquest was held on Arther's body thisafternoon, and after wards adjourned fur a week, to give time for • survey of the wall, it being alleged that the Mayor gave the railway authorities notice arse months ago that it was is a dan gerous condition. CRIMINAL OPERNDERS.—On Saturday a parlia isentary document was printed, by which it is shown that in dart year 318,7781. Id. was voted by parliament In aid of the county rate. on criminal offenders. Of that sum 244,271/. 12e. went in the prosecution of prisoners, 16,482/. Is. 7tl. in the conveyance of prisoners, and s 69,624/. 81. in the maintenance of prisoners. A CHILD ACCIDENTALLY POISONED BY ITS FATHER —On Wednesday an inquest war held at Sheffield on view of the body of a child named Sarah Ann L ancas t er . Th e child bad been very poorly, and the parents had got a small bottle containing brandy and rhubarb to give it. On Satur day night they left the bottle In the window and retired to rest. During the night the child war much worse, and soon after seven In the morning the father, going down stairs to fetch the medicine, went to the cupboard and got a battle which he thought held the brandy, and gave the child a teaspoonful of it In some cold tea. It began to get very ill, and the parents on going down stairs found that, instead of giving the child rhubarb and brandy, they had given it laudanum.* A surgeon was sent for, but the child died at four o'clock on Sunday afternoon. Tho bottle con taining the laudanum was labelled poinnn ' b u t it was un d er . stood that the father could not read. The jury returned a verdict—. That the child was accidentally potioned.—Drr bysAire COMTiff. DRAMA. PRINCESS'S. On Saturday the stage lost one of its veteran., in the person of Mr. Bartley, who for the last half century has been one of the clever re spectabilifies of our theatres. Mr. Hartley selected Faistoras the last part he would play, and at the close of the performance addressed a very crowded and enthusiastic &liaison as follows: " Ladies and Unstlemen,—This night, fift ran aro— this very night—the n i g ht o f t h e wee k , and t he date of the month—l had the honour to appear in London, and to make my bow before your sires and grandairea. Believe me, it in something more than mere vanity that induces me, now that the longs play in over, to offer one parting word to their children. The years behind me are very many, those before me are few indeed; and I quit the mimic scene to prepare, as is the common lot, for another, a more real, and a final leave-taking. As I stand before you here, 4rateful for the kindest appreciation of the poorest services, it is im possible for me nut to recal vividly the expectation and hope with which my boyi s h h eart , half a century ago, beat when I first trod the London boards. The hopes I entertain now is that whatever may have been my imperfections le an artist, I have not thrown dirredit upon my art. The ex pectation that I feel—not, I trust, an unwarrantable wir— es that I may at length retire into privacy with the good wishes of my latest, but certainly not my coldest and least indulgent patrons. " A few yearn agn ladies and gentlemen, soldiers were still living who co u ld tell of their deeds when they were out in 'the I ant one of an old company, made up of names which s nand traditional in your ears. John lian• nister mu my broth er actor; Mrs. Jordan played ifosalind at eld l)rury when my youthful ambition was gratified to the top of its bent, and l was permitted to act the part of Or:orido. I will not weary you by reference to other worthies—and I mention these two because, whilst to my latest hour it will be a source of the deepest pride to ins : that I have acted with some of the most renowned of English players—it is also my highest pleasure to fuel that I was honoured with their confidence and friendship to the last. That I have been so favound that I have furthermore received here, from Mr. and Mrs. Kean, at the close of my labour', tokens of personal regard and esteem to which I cannot be insensible—is matter of little moment to the public ; but my fellow-players, whom, on retiring this night, I leave behind me, will, I am sure, value at its fall worth, the parting legacy which assures them that no position in a theatre is too hatable to exclude a man from respect, if he will only persevere, take pains, and respect himself. " For the gracious and Mutations patronage which has cheered my declining dam and which sheds happineu on this parting moment, I have only to present the offering of a most grateful and overflowing heart. At such aas :mint I may crave pardon fur referring with pride to the toyal countenance which has been bestowed upon my art, albeit through the medium of the very humblest of its votaries. "Ladies and gentlemen, I have no right to presume upon your indulgeoce by detaining you for souther instant. I could not deny myself the satisfaction of saying good bye,' and having said it, I have only further to thank you most heartily and sincerely for your kind remembrance of one whom you might easily have been pardoned for for getting; and to wish you all happiness and pr..sperity. Farewell." Loud applause followed this address; and It is clear that Mr. Hartley carries with him into retirement the respect of a numerous body of admirers. ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE AT PLYMOUTH.-COMMITTAL OF THE PRISONER. An enquiry took place on Friday before the magis trates of Plymouth into the circumstances of an attempted ernassinatiou of a young woman in that town. The prisoner's name Is Pierre Adolphus Augustine Sebire, the young women's name is Emma Hillyer. Sebire is the owner of a smack named the Medians, lately trading between this port and Jersey,and about three months since advertised his vessel for sale. His intimacy with the proeecutrix ap pears to date from Thursday the 26th of November, that being the day on which ho first became acquainted with her, be being then introduced to her by her mother, at the house of her uncle in Devooport, where she resided. The prisoner described himself to her as a captain, and an un married man, and expressed a strong desire to have her company in a walk, to which she consented, accompanied by the mother, whose character will not, it is said, bear the strictest investigation. From that time a de. tided understanding seemed to have been come to between the girl and her suitor—who is a robust looking fellow, apparently about 36 years of age. On the day of his first introduction, the prisoner, without further parley, asked " whether she would lite to have him for her husband ?" to which she replied in the affirmative, and the Yargaia being thus struck, he gave her a gold watch and chain, with a proviso that he should redeem it on condition of marrying her, saying,to her •. I will make you my wife on Tuesday next, or 171 forfeit the watch." 'The condition, however, was not fulfilled, and on the following' Monday, intimated his inability to perform the ae.. rent, assigning as his reason a disappointment in s elling his vessel. Matters went on smoothly until Saturday, the 11th inst., when the prisoner visited the girl at her mother'. residence, in Bath-place, and induced her to accent- I pony him for a walk, saying he had " bought the ring," and said something about going to church to bay the license. After calling at several places, he called at Stephenson, Brothers, in Old Town-street, Plymouth, where it sub'cquently transpired that he bad purchased the pistols and ballets—the girl waiting outside the door the while. Subsequently, she accompanied him to his lodging in Park-street, but in cousequence of a sus picion that he had some design upon her person, she escaped from the house. The mother and daughter re turned and took up their abode at the prisoner's lodgings ou the same night, with the intention of staying there until the prisoner and her daughter were married. The outrage, to which the inquiry more immediately refers, appears to have taken place in the front parlour of this house, whilst the prisoner, the girl, and a female friend were assembled at the tea-table, about 8 o'clock on the tenoning (Sunday) evening. The girl, we would observe, had meanwhile become acquainted with the tie- I eumstance of the prisoner being a married man • and, therefore, on his then ukiog her to go to wal k with him, she refused to do so, whereupon he mid, " I am not ashamed to look at you," to which he received a similar answer. The prisoner sat opposite her, on the other side of the table, facing the window ; and, upon . her refusiag, ' said, "Tha n ', one for you and one for me.' On looking up, else peresiesti that be bald a pistol in his head, whisk he pedaled twee& ler heed, mad inneedisiely feed at her ; bet his diabsibd peeps.. w frustrated, fee he missed We aim, and the belief, loretad of striking her pared dila over her bead, and easseitiag Weigh the blind and window pea', lodged is the shutter. hats which it Bemuse's' obese es We bop The did Armand, reshot hem the mem. ea& wegielj the pump, heard the report elf a emend hem whist' woe subsequeetly discovered Ca n t ik i the wen. The primmer shortly afterwards left the hat lehematien was o ven at the statism-hoe" end fie p dearer wee apprehended on Maeda by Impulse Demerol at She King's Arms, Lower Natter street. He at Let &Med, but eventually aeltamd, that he wee the rem bei were seeking, and on en: k r is p 4 him two Odds leaded - with powder sad ball, awl were fouled la bit wheal sewed pews, and a War ad dressed to his will, were dee hand, and a Wetly 'Halms tory letter wee emeleed is.. him by Miss Hillyer ft Mon !matt ins =bedeliseded the prisoner, instituted a severe oldie witeesess with a view of showing that the Owner was addicted to habits of intersperses,. In a leap end lagettions defence, be seatendsd that medical stisoay Gould_ be positing to th ew that the prisoner had been—only by medied Wileament saved from all the horrors of Minim tremens, and muted that no prods had been predated te skew tat prisoner intended to shoot the girl. The Booth said they felt it their painful duty to commit the primmer far trial at the neat Devon assizes. ILp • pl motion for bail was refused. Tan CONVICT Hou.r.a.—For a considerable time after the wretched man fierier, who was convicted at the Central Criminal Court on Thursday of the murder of his wife, had bees removed to his cell. he continued in a state of the greatest excitement, similar to that he exhibited when the sentence of death was passed upon him. He states that, after his mother-in-law had left his apartment, with the understanding that ale was to come the next morning, at ten o'clock, to fetch her daughter, and take her into the country with bar, he and the unfortunate de ceased talked together in a very friendly and affectionate manner; but, although he repeatedly urged her to forego her determination to go with her mother, she would not listen to him. H. also states that he and his wife went to bed about eleven o'clock, and that the unfortunate de ceased very soon fell asleep. Neither of them were un dressed; and the prisoner states that during the night he got up several times and paced about the room, considering what he should do to prevent h i s wif e f rom being taken away, and suddenly the thought came into his head to destroy her; and he went to the place where Is kept his razor, and while his wretched wife was fast asleep ho drew the razor violently same her throat; and he mays that she did not utter a souad, but appeared to be dead almost in stantaneously. The prisoner, who is only twenty-three years old, appears still to entertain some hope that his life will be spared. Should no reprieve be granted, the elocu tion will take place on Monday, the 3rd of January. FATAL ACCIDENT.—By the Camilla, one of the Irish steamers belonging to the Waterford Company, which arrived on Friday night at Milbay Pier, Plymouth, we learn the particulars of a most distressing accident, by which Captain Newton, the commander of the Camilla, has loot his life. It appears that the Camilla, on her voy age from Dublin to London, via Plymouth, encountered a heavy sea off Longehips yesterday morning about half-past 2 o'clock. Captain Newton, who was staading alt, and watching the compass, was washed overboard, the unfor tunate man striving in vain to catch hold of something to prevent his quitting the vessel. Several of the crew were on deck at the time of the accident, but no sail was in sight. The eaglets were not backed owing to the weather. The Canine, who has from 30 to 40 passengers, has lost her quarter bulwarks, gangways, skylights, and one boat. Captain Newton was a marled mac, and had a family in London. DEPARTURE OP TUE AMERICAN MAILS. —On Saturday afternoon, shortly after oae o'clock, tho British and North American royal mad steamship Asia, Captain Lott, took her departure from the kteriey, with the usual United States and Canadian mails (which were placed under charge of Lieut. J. (leant Raymond, R.N., Ad miralty agent). In addition to a large general canto on I freight the Asia took oat CO prawn. NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. A special general meeting of the shareholders in this railway was bald at the station at Stoke.upon-Trent on Saturday. W. lia01)111ca, the deputy-chairman. pre sided, Mr. Ricardo, u.r., being absent from indis position. The purpose of this meeting, like that of the London and North tVestern, was for couaideriog end approving or otherwise, the recommendation of Messrs. J. It. Hope and Robert Stephenson upon tho future relauon between the two companies. The CUAIMMAM commenced his speech in reference to the business of the day lry expressing his regret that he had been placed in that position by reason of the dangerous illness of Mr. Ricardo, wl.o had not been in a fitting state for sumo tints to be communicated with on business matters. This was, he said, to be regretted, and, apart from the per sonal interest which they all felt in the hon. gentleman, hi. illness espeeisll y . to be regretted, because the 'moire lions in conaexiou with this day'. business had been under taken and carried on by him; if the hon. chairman had been present, he would doubtless have entered into a review of the circumstances attendant upon the origin of this line of railway ; how far the hopes of its precut& n had been realised—how much there Led been of disappointment— the cause which had contributed to it, and the actual re sult. (Hear) That, however, which would have been a very proper course for Mr. Ricardo to take, would scarcely be so as regatds me. I therefore pus on from that question to the present one, and refer you to cell sin passages in the last report of the board, which refers to the subject in reference to which wears met today, and of which the proprietary approved. We had, last year, bills before pietism , sit for extensions of various kinds, the object being the protection of the interests of this company ; well, • stop was put to our promotion of these by Mr. Stephensoo, who stepped in u • mediator, with the view to prevent the expense of litigation and a parliamentary contest. The offer of that gentleman was accepted in the terms set forth in your let report ; that reference proceeded, but after the break-up of parliament, when members were mattered, as usual, end with the m, others interested in parliamentary proceedings—Mr. Stephenson left this country for Sweden ; bat be fore he did so, both he and Mr. Hope bad inspected the company's bookie, they had familiarised them selves with its traffic, and, accompanied by Mr. Ricardo, they had had access to and been attended by the different officers of the company. The result was that they agreed as to a principle, but upon • principle only ; and nothing mild be more erroneous than to eupposs that at that time any agreement had been come to and the details withheld from the proprietors. (Hem.) The fact was that it was intimated to the board that the award would be ready about the Bth of October, in time for the board meeting on the 9th. Well, the board met on that day, and after three o'clock in the afternoon the seal of the award was reinoeed, after the Stock Exchange was closed, so that no advantage should be taken of any priority of information to the disad vantage of any shareholder ; and by eatraordinsay exer tions on the part of the official., en that very Saturday, the 9th of October, • circular was sent to the shareholders con taining information which he would now, for the informa tion of the public as well as again to draw shareholders' attention to it, read to the meeting. (Hear.) It was as follows : " Oentlemen,—ln purvuence of the authority given to us by the resolutions of your respective boards of the dates 3rd and 6th May, 1832, we have considered the questions in difference between the London and North-Western and North Staffordshire Companies, sad have tome to the fal lowing conclusions, which we recommend for adoption by those companies: "1. The London and North.Westarn Company to acquire absolutely the railways, curds, and whole fixed and moveable property of the North Stafford, lire Corn- PadY• " 2. The London and North Western Company, in con sideration thereof, to pay a the North Sta ff ordshire Com pany upon their present paid-up share capital an annul dividend of 3 per cent. during the lint year, of 31 per cent. during the second year, and of 31 per cent. daring the third and all Ilibielpitat yearn, provided that it shall be in the option of the London and North Wisteria Company at any time, apes sin months' notice, to convert the share capital of the North Staffordshire Company into ordi nary stock of the London and North Western Company at Par. "3. The paid-up Mara capital of the North Staffordshire y to be taken, u stated by themselves, at Coo ~ and the nominal esteem of the Maros to be re keen 201. to 171.105. 4. TM Landes sad Mail WOWS Cowley to under take the mg sent es Melds* the bead debt, and all esker NANO@ of the Matti IkaSerabke Queasy= vide! thee if tbe bend debt, as selbestsi by dee Stalbribire Custom with s view le ewer ell mann liabilities, &eV be heed ei mese i,oikes4 do leeks sad Hort! Wadies Oemmeny ob eli be 111 Inielnat I from the dividend pereble less the Nerds Ilkelbedaldre share capital a pent ma equal to Merest at 34 par sent as the ,:met -- - - _ _ 6. obit Miss of tbe Lamas sal Nett! Waists Cemputy to lir aviinas and Al tide I, oat to die chap tho osier Article 4 to esursisse lbws die time at white ea tesedit of the North Sielledaire po verty shall be Waft empleted. "6. TM two sompesles to apply to palliated at Nat ripsaw la the ant omelet for nantodlses powers to the three sere, sad ia sees of failure to renew the applieation is towswilog esaiess. Mead prams* am times rasa the egvNietios spa merits, eal set amok es formal plats, the appoint balms the anvesies to .woe :11•11ming that both Weeds en the impotent with the eapeikeey el speedily iluesenthig pried*, of an arreneweent. we hem eveletheillelliehll• with a etatemet amt. eginisa w me the pe e k ep ethe pekes sehmittod to so ; het should the sempenist eer advise upset these pans we shall be happy to rased this tenths eseistame,ewd to mediate between them upset limy opmeles will& my arise MMus the ming ef the eth el pelfmmt—Teer Oaks' MI ME% JAMES H. Mom Unica Ilemetheso x. —T. the Meth= of the Labium sed IllertMWeetern and North Staillarellee Cempuies.l4ll4lll4 Ott. 6." New, with sithethes to the emehinte of that circular or nerd, es it rat ig with mere propriety be embed, it woe mew he sny thei the board felt that doers were mum naliikeliene white might with aim; be moth is it, whilstdiseithetege M the eoa poetise ea thew die e a r the ether ; we of them lei referees, te the senior earrying Late Wiest el the es , nagentat pregestedi, width it was premed *We be made depethet en dr egg of the set ef pathement, Omit it might be deilmei At Mew weer end ultimately re ject. Ups this stedest Mr. Remit undertook to tee Mr. Stephens's for the pepper of drawing his ebestiset to that rabjeet, and to each mitlilleediees el the teems re commended b (Hem, bum) Well, Mr. /Ricardo did see Mr. sale sumeetheL (Hoer, bear.) Another objeetieleble Nig in the meth wee that the Lesion and Meth Weems Cowpony no to be allowed to month the Nee* thetheishire Mesh et par at any time the former mespeny disse to select ; s, be me related to this, Mr. said rat the proviso mom with the arbi omen It heing neither eggweeell ma disap proved byelaw y, hat Mr. litoplineen dithered his loaminess Mame his *forts to include the Landen and North Wester. Company to abandon it. The Ws. gentia ns& has thee so, for (Said Yr. Bredriek) wily yesterda y y Mr . Dicey std myself saw Mr. Stephenson, who expresse d regret that this particular proviso was an the award ; het he aloe expressed hie belief that a small pram ally of the board of the North Woolens Cempemg was I. favour of adhering to it ; and subsequently I baton faterview with General Anson, the chairmen of the Lenien and North Western Company, and with Mr. less.., Mr. Stalwart, and other omen. Garaged AMMO assonsi Is Mr. Stephenson's view, and Mr. Bowen roproasul the snow sentiments; hie they said that as the award was a thing which It as the result of cer tain proceedings takes is em elt by the two bused', they could not in any particular eleadon at ; but they ooscsrred in the opinion that they could ioduce the bawd to depart from it an this puns alas, mud they gam M to mead= this fact at Me meeting here to-day. (Applause.) That is se; and I am glad to Sad such an expression of the approbation of the proprietors; bet let it be understood that the board hes been drirtn to seek It neither by advertisements in the Tones, nor by pamphlets on the 'object in the rotted's; the objection JAW intelligence. EQUITY COURTC-SATURDA Y. 11001/1 TSUI LAID CRANCOLLON, WITS WOOD YDa LIMA !MIMI jet'. Km V. MIDDLESSX HOSPITAL.- ANNUITT IV/ISTIIEH POI Lll■ OR PzarervL. --- This was an appeal from a decree of the Master of the Hons, by which be decided that Eliza Burn, an annuitaat under the will of Mr. Joseph Kerr, was entitled ouly to an annuity for life, and not a perpetual annuity. The wstator, by his will, left aE his property to three trustees, for cer tain uses and bequests, and then bequeathed en annuity of 1001. a year each to his two sisters, of whom Elsa Burn was one. He directed that certain landed property should be sold, and the proceeds invested in the British funds, in order to provide for the annuities , and if that was not found to be sufficient for the purpose, he decreed that the ennui. ties should be made up out of his personal property; and the residue of that he bequeathed, under certain regula tions, to the Middlesex Hospital. Ina codicil, however, he ►eft to another person, to whom, also, ho had left an MM ity, the landed property, which he bad before directed to be sold, and the proceeds applied to providing for the an nuities,__ Mr. Elmsley and Mr. F. J. Riddell, for the appellant, contended that the annuity was given without any words of limitation, %propel:lied with words referring to the pro perty out of width it was to be derived, and that it watt, therefore, a perpetual annuity, where there wu •dedicat ion of a particular fund (or the purpose of an annuity, it was a perpetual annuity, and that was tits ease here ; nor did the withdrawal of part of the property by the codicil hese any effect in altering its ch a r ac t er . Mr. Roupell and Mr. Cairns, for the respondents, urged that the direction to purchase property in ties British funds was only intended to secure the amount necessary for the annuity. The gift of [annuity " semplicator" would only create an annuity for life, which must, of course, be secured in some way. The testator had tto ul . jeets in view : firstly, to give 1001. a year to his sisters ; end secondly, that his executor. should take proper step. to secure annuities, which were only for life. Their lordships said they would take time to consider their judgment. At • later period Gf the day, however, their lordships gave judgment, reversing the decision of the Master of the Rolls, and granting the appeal. Bono Eva Loam IVITICIVI Sr Amur. IN RN TUE PENNANT AND CE.AIO WEN CONSOLIDATED LEAD MINING COMPANY EX PARTE FENN. The wan an appeal from an order of Vice•Chaneellor Stuart, directing the name of Mr. Fenn to bo struck off the list of sostributories, upon which it had been placed by the rare in respect of 90 sharea in the company. The affairs shin innipany, it appeared, had been cooducad upon the innPilersk principle, the shareholders not being liable bc ps.d their proportion of a certain amount of capital to be real up. By one of the rules of the company, it was provided that coy shareholder might determine Lis million sibility or liability with respect to the affairs of the mines, by giving notice to the parser of the company of his inten• lion to retire and depositing with the purser a transfer of his shares, and lastly, signing a relinquishment of all claims and demands on the company in respect of hie shares. The muter had held that the document purporting to be a transfer deposited by Mr. Fenn with the purser was not proper formal transter, and therefore had placed the name on the list. The Vice-Chancellor had held the transfer sufficient. Mr. Daniell aml Mr. Roxburgh, for the official manager, called the attention of the court to another rule of the corm ' patsy, providing that before the shareholder could escape from liatnlity Must:wet of the debts of the company incurred prior to the transfer he must settle his account with the purser and also furnish a sati s f ac t or y trans f eree. T hey alleged that this provision bad not been complied with. Mr. Selwyn, for Mr. Fenn, contended that the account with the purser had been settled, and that the provision as to finding a transferee wu not binding. Lord Justice Knight Bruce said be and his learned bro ther doubted whether this last rule had been brought to the attention of the Master, as it certainly appeared nut to have beets to that of the Vice-Chancellor. They were of opinion, therefore, that the parties should her.: an opportunity of taking the case back to the .!este., so as to be totally un fettered by anything that had as yet taken p:ace. f hey then discharged both the order of the Master and that 01 the Vice-Chancellor without prejudice t. any qutstion. Bayou VICIC-Cll \ Moao.so o. HOLVORD. This was . • special case stated fir the opinion of the court on behalf of the trustees of the nvirriage swimsuit and will of the late C.,10n0l Hulford. It appeared that in the month of Auguq, 1636, Colonel (then major) Holford entered into negotiations for the porch use of on estate in the county of Breton from Mr. Crespigny. A coirespen deuce ensued. On the 6th of October Major Rodent wrote to Mr. Crespigny in the following terms: " I will there fore take you at your word and agree to give 66,000 f., and as Ido not wish to take any unhandsome advantage if your omission respecting the timber, tither on that occasion or in your letter when you first wrote to me proposing terms fur sale, I will take that at a valuation." Mr. Crespigny's anima of the 7th of October teamed 4,0001. as the puce of the timber, and upon the 11th of the same month Mr. Crespigny wrote to his solicitor thus: " My friend:Major Holton, has arced to purchase our estate in this county for 60,0001., including timber. Wall you have the goodness to settle an agreement on the basis of the above for us to sign." Some further cor respondence passed relative to the leases existing on the estate and the obligations which Mr Crespigny con sidered that he was under to grant other leases, and as to the jointure of Mrs. Crespigny, the mother. On the 21th of November, Major Holford wrote to Mr. Crespigny's solicitor thus : " 1 beg to know then you will forward me the agreement relative to the purchase I have ror,cluded with Mr. Crespigny." In Decemb x, the proposed agree ment was sent to counsel to be settled, with instructions for bum to insert such (if any) stipulations as, upon perusal of the abstract, he might thiuk proper. On the 9th of January, 1837 (before 7 Wen. IV. and I Vic. c. 26) Major 1 Holford made his will, giving to the plaintiffs, Sir C. Morgan, 11. Morgan, and George Stevenson, his perms' estate (furniture exeepted) "on trust, in the first place to complete the purchase which I have recently made, and held it upon the trusts of my marriage settlement, noon trust to secure thereout the annual sum of 2,0004 for my dear wife." On the 18th of Fel. ruary, 1837, the draft agreement was signed and the estates were subsequently conveyed to Colonel Holford in fee. In August, 1846, Colonel liolford died without having altered or revoked his will, and leaning John Owynne Pries Holford, his eldest son and heir at law, who now deemed in opposition to the widow and younger children ad his father. The principal question for the opinioa of the awn was, whether the equitable estate or interest In **purchased estate passed by the will to the plainti ff s, the Imams of the will, to be held by them on the trusts of the will. — Mr.hdalins and Mr. Ou. Like Russell, for the testator's widow, and Mr. Elnuley, for his younger children, con tended for the affirmative of the question. Mr. Higley and Mr. Greene, for the heir at law, sub mined that the estates did not pass. Mr. Glean was for the trustees. The cue occupied a long time in the early part of the week, when his Honour promised to give judgment today. The Vice-Chancellor now said it had been contended on behalf of the heir at law, that the true construction of the acts of the parties antecedent to the will of Major Holford, and to the execution after the date of that will, of a formal nt for the purchase by the contracting parties, no agreement gagreement for the purchase of the estate had been made, but that a basis only had been agreed up on f or t h e Coco:Won of terms on which the treaty for a contract was to proceed, and that it was understood between the parties that until a formal agreement was perfected and executed neither party was to be considered as bound. On the part of the widow and younger children of Major Milford it had been contended that the basis of • mere formal agreement wee en actual agreement in general terms that Major Holford should purchase, and Mr. Crespigny sell to him the estates for 60,0001., and that the formal agreement to be prepared was merely to settle the necessary details upon points relating to the tenancies on the estates, the title, and other matters upon which the parties by emaing to a distinct agreement might save adverse litigation. His Honour then read the letter of the 11th of October, 1897, and proceeded to say that it had been *et tied on Wand principles that if the main terms of an agreement for the sale of an estate had been concluded and these main terms expressed in a letter signed by the party sought to be charged it made a binding contract, although there might be an arrangement between the par ties to have a formal contrast prepared for their signature. In the present case in none of the many subsequent letters or acts of the parties was anything to be found to alter or vary the menet of that agreement. The subsequent dis cussions were entirely on minor point,. His Honour then referred to the subsequent discussions and letters between the parties, and referred to the letter of the 29th of Novem ber, 1837, which his Honour thought contained clear evi dence to bind Major Helloed to the agreement. His Ho nour then referred to the observstions of Sir T. Plomer in " Martin v. Mitchell" (2 Jac. and Wal., 126), and, after remarking on that case, said in the pis sent ease it was his opinion that the letter of the 29th of November, 1837, must be construed on • fair view of the evidence as referring to the agreement and transaction stated in the letter of the 11th of October, and therefore to the memorandum referred to in that letter, and could not be held as referring to any thing else, the difficulty which might otherwise hue occurred did not arise, and he must hold that there was a valid contract for the purchase of the estate by Major Holford before the date of oil will, and that hie equitable interest under that contract passed by his will. In the case of" Broome r. Mona" (1( Yes. 511), the difficelty vote from the title to the estate having, after the testator's death, been reported to be • bed title, which puts an end to the contract ; any ordiaary c. Direct for the , purchase of an estate might fail on that ground. But the testator might in his lifetime have agreed to accept the title however defective, and no argument seemed to have been suggested for the devisee in " Broome o. Muck " as to how far the direction in the will to complete the contract could be held to amount to an acceptance of the title. The ease of the devisee there failed from his attempt to inforce a right to have the purchase money invested for his benefit in other real estates. Upon the whole his Honour said he came to the conclusion that the right of the heir at law was excluded by the devise in the will of 91sjor Holford. The questions stated in the ;cage would be answered ac cordingly. COURT OF QUERN'S BENCH.—SATURDAY. *num' ar Non Pairs is Iseasos.—Karoas LAID curlew. Asa Cosmos Alma. GARNER V. GOLLOWAY.—ACCOUNTANT'S BILL. This was an action brought to recover the sum of 891., the amount of an accountant's bill for endeavouring to ob- --es I taro a loan of 2001. f ur th e purposes of t h e Bantry Silver and Lead Minn. It appeared that the defendant was one of the parties In. tereeted in the mines above mentioned, and that, tether more than a year ago, a rum of 2001. was required to enable the defendant end some other gentlemen associated with him to take up a lease of the mines. As arrangement was therefore made with the plaintiff, who wail to endeavour to obtain the necessary sum ; he did endeavour to do so, and the present claim was for his charges in the matter. The plaintiff wee called in support of this case. On the part of the defendant, it wee alleged that an ar rangement was entered hits with the plaintiff, ender which ho was to receive one thirty second part of the mine as • remuneration for his trouble, and that he was accordingly now in possession of that share. The defendant, the engineer, and the solicitor to the proprietors ut the mines, were called in support of the de fendaut's case. Lord Campbell, in summing up, said it was a caoo which depended entirely upon the credit which tho jury gave to the parties. The atamements of the plaintiff and ut toe wit nesses on the other side were coutraeictory, nod it was for the jury to say which gave the correct version of ti e affair. Ile (Lori Campbell), howe err, could not but call :attrition to the amount of the plaintiff's claim ; people were in the habit of exclaiming against lawyers' bids, but the plaintiff's demand was more excessive than any attorney's bill his lordship had ever seen. He hod reel of a s dicitur's bill containing a charge thus : " Dining with you, when your cause was much discamed, CPC 81. ;" although time plaintiff's bill did not contain a charge life this, Acid it contaleied charges which were unequeilcil in any lawyer's bill that bad over came under his observation. Ills lordship then adverted to the principal points of the evidence on each aide, and left the question of credibility to the jury. The jury at once returned a verdict fur the defendant. MILLIR V. GARDNEII.—ACTTfiN roll FAL6E 1)11.11.15.M- MENT. This was an action brought to recover damages for an alleged false imprisonment. Mr. Reid said that hie client, the plaintiff, wits a highly respectable widow, who had ' , tattled for many years, Oath before and after her husband's death, in Bermuda. ..tree'. The defendant was a checaerconseer melding a ~hurt dis tance from the plaintiff. The alleged false imprbonment arose under the following circumstances. The defendant had asserted that the plaintiff had peered a bud Os. piece at his shop ; on her denying it, and refusing to pay to the de fendant ss. in exchange for the had crown piece, he had given her into custody. The inspector at the police station did not take any charge, but recommended the parties to go to the County Court, as no felonious intent was im puted. The defendant accordingly did go to the County Court, and the mutt of the app::cation was, that the plain tiff; Mrs. Miller, was exonerated front all liability, the de fendant not proving hie case. This action wan btought to recover damages for what was felt to he the unjustifiable rashness of the defendant in giving Mrs. Miller into cus tody, a proceeding of necessity highly detrimental to her good character. Mr. M. Clambers, Q C., on the part of the defendant, contended that his cliff nt was jeeditied in taking the course lie had, and that the plaintiff voluntatil accompanied the police•constuble to the statien.heuse. No imputation was cast by the defendant upon the plaintiff's character. Lord Campbell, in summing up, said this was not one of these frivolous and vexatious actions, which were some times got up by attorneys ; but there appeared to hi a bona tide cause of complaint against the defendant. It was of course fur the jury to decide between the statements of the parties. The jury, after a rhurt consideration, returned a verdict for the plaintiff; damage s—.il. Mr. Reid asked his lordship to certify that this WAS a proper action to he brought in that court. Lord Campbell said he was certainly of opinion that be ought to Cart fy. COURT OF EXCHEQUER.-SATURDAY. SITTIPOI AT tilsl PILIVI AT GCILDMALL. BI FOLIC Ttlt LORD Crll/7 .... B•wom AND • Yner•• TIII GRT.At CZNTi/A - 61;. • L : 0;;U - 11 - i1111 . • COMPANT O. Z ALLI 3 This was an action to recover the sum of 2241. Pis. 5d., the bilance of an account due to the plaintiffs for gu sup plied to the defendant, a printer in the city. The real de tendants, however, were the Chartered and other gas com panies ; and the object of the action, on the port of the defendant, was to prove the inferiority of the gas supplied to him by the plaintiff., he having been previously supplied by the Cluttered Gas Company. The plaintills case only was concluded when the court MSC. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.—SATURDAY. COIIIIIIOIoPIM F0N11.A1 , 11,11. IN RE KEITH AND SHOMMIDOE. The consitleratiouoFthe cCriiiicate• —• OFtiese bankrupts was resumed, by adjournment, from Wednesday last. Oa that day, the case azitinat the bankrupts was gone through by Mr. Reed, and Mr. Lawrence was beard on behalf of the banks apt Simahridge. Mr. Linklater now addresatil the court on behalf of Keith. Ile contended that in the charges made against the bank rupts jointly, his client was not more culpable than the other bankrupt. Mr. Keith lid for some years carried on • successful business as gauze manufacturer, before enter ing into partnership with Mr. Wilson; they were then joined by Shoobridge ; and when Mr. Wilson retired in 1845, the capital of the firm was found to be upwards of 8,001. Of this capital 5,0001. belonged to Mr. Wilson; he chose to settle this &meant on the children of Mr. Keith, in which there was nothing extraordinary. Mr. Reed said if this matter was to be gone into, he should require the examinations relating to it to he read. Ilia Honour said it was immaterial how this property came into the bankrupt'slamily ; the only question was how it was dealt with. Mr. Link'ater said the result had been to place a large sum to the benefit of the estate. Ile merely mentioned thi circumstance to chow the successful nature of the business that had been carried on up to that period. In June, 1847, there appeared to be a small deficiency. This was known to Mr. Bboobridge, as well as Mr. Keith ; so wu the state of the firm in 1848. At the former relied, extended credit being necessary to the amount of 20,0001. or 30.0001., they hail tho assistance of their largest creditors to that extent. But for that circumstance they might hare been induced to stop then, or at all events in 1819. The loss of 3.0001. in 1818 arose on the purchase and sale of goods; but Mr. Keith was not to be singled out as mainly responsible for that. On the separation of the business Keith went into partner ship with Mr. Goode, who hod been most unjustly described as a pauper, whereas he bad an independence hit him by his father, and was now living on the rents of his freehold and leasehold property. The bona fides of the partnership between Keith and Goode were undou'ited ; there was a regular deed of partnership; and it was stipulated that Goode should bring in 2,0001. The Commissioner.-11a agreed to bring in 2,0001.; but what did he bring in ? Mr. Linklater said it appeared from Keith's examina tion that Goode had actually brought in 2,0001. at first, and afterwards capital to the amount of 5,0001. in all, but of this 4,0001. was trust money, Goode being one of the trus tees for Keith's children. Mr.lteedrefe;;;F; the balance-sheet to show that Goode brought in no capital. The 1,0001. was merely an accumulation of profits. Mr. Linklater submitted that the establishment of the separate business of Keith and Co. was evidence of steps being taken by the bankrupts to relieve their own business, on the Imes o(1848 becoming known to them. But the new firm was not made a mere machine for the accommo dation of Keith and Shoobridge ; on the contrary, Mr. Keith protested firmly against it. There was every pro- sped of the desired relict being obtained; but in 1849, the sales were still less productive (end this was the exclusive department of Mr. Shonbridge), leading to • further loss of 3,000!. To meet this en arrangement was made, on the sug geation of Mr. Shoobridge, for having their goods printed in Scotland, whereby they anticipated saving one-half the ex pense. Though it might now appear, on a review of the whole of the transactions, that they ought then to have stopped, it should be remembered that a single year's suc cessful trading might have brought them entirely round, and some allowance should be made for the sanguine hopes of traders themselves. Se far from seeking to defraud their creditors, it was evident their sole anxiety was to be able to meet all demands upon them. In 18.50 a large por tion of their stock being in the hands of the Scotch printers, their regular annual stock taking could not be made. They then anticipated great advantage to themselves and their creditors from the results of their display at the Great Ex hibition, and considerable expense was incurred with a view thereto. They obtained several prizes; they were placed on the royal committee; and the fame of their firm was considerably raised. During the Exhibition Mr. Shoo bridge was almost in daily attendance ; the result was that the stock taking was again omitted. That this did not arise from any fraudulent design towards their creditors was evi dent from the fact that every one of their transactions were carefully recorded in their books. There had not been the slightest attempt at misrepresentation or concealment ; the only charge against them was that they had gone on trading at a loss. During their trading they had paid 133,0001. to one creditor alone—Means. Ilar greases; these gentlemen were naturally anxious that the bankrupts should be enabled to continue their business; they and other creditors had assisted them in doing so; end the bankrupts ought not now to be condemned far that. Between 1847 and 1852, the debt of Messrs. Hargreaves had been reduced from 8,0140/. to between OW/. and 6,0001. Even so late as the beginning of the present year, Messrs. Hargreaves had assisted them, by taking their note of hand for a large amount - 3.50 1. Unfortu nately, the sanguine hopes of the bankrupts from the Great Exhibition were not realised. They were not singular in this; for the tilts of that court were filled with records of similar disappointments. In the firm of Keith and Co., Mr. Keith was the principal mana ger ; h e b a d con d ucte d that business carefally and successfully; the accounts bad been kept with perfect accuracy ; bow then could he be chug, das more guilty than Mr. Shoobridge ? There was no evidence whatever to justify this conclusion. It had been originally charged against Mr. Keith, even before his accounts were filed, that the firm was insolvent in 80, when Mr. Wilson retired from it. Mr. Keith bad no op portuaity then of refuting that charge ; he bad labuured under it ince. Now it appear-d that the firm had, at that time, an undoubted capital of 8,0001. This was suffi cient to account fur Isis apparnit estrangement from the assignees. The Commissioner—You cannot mean that he was justi fied, from souse fancied Ofence on the part of the assignees, in not doing his duty to his creditors ? Mr. Li dtl3lar was fir from c.m•ending that. On the other hand, the bankrupt had done all in his power to serve the estate i but he referred to this eireuni.dance in 'Soot of the feeling that had existed. On the question of the general trading there was nu discoverable difference between the bankrupts, except that Mr. Shoobridge had 4 1