The Express. — London, England, 1853-03-23 00:00:00

the capacity of resident and director of the Chamber if Cesac.• to! reed Commercial Ai/WHIM/CI, it woo doses. ab.e to Aston to some 'steal from what may be called more limpid,* the political aspect of the questim, sad to gooni.e themselves to questioaseubnected with the economi • sal i.sonicat of Indio. Be' still I should be wanting is Ely dote. if. being permitted to speak . here, I do ails s ay I sa.si .int viseed thet at is . our business as citisei.s--as (pies wing something to do with the formation of pu'ilic (pinion in this country, to insist upon this question not loirg shilltid over at the tail too of the session by a COStllll,l4lsa hill, psrpetuatisig a government, which, se eftl,r.i to the evilest- , of al its friends, has grossly sad maa .,;.issly neglected the common duties which every rummest owes to the pensie over whom it rules. ( L ogs applaas -.) I slur: not go into the question furtner, boson e 1-isny the cam is each Chit if one were to give esse ev.dence contaisie4 in this book—that is the book re frmi s o by Mr. II &airy. written by Mr. Diekiason, oleos. i:s tinveroment under a Bureaucracy," a work which Isloisiolneiommend every one to buy and read—it I wee, so ge thmagh all tilt evidence, it would only be, so far t h e r o t, in, I/pealing the statements made by Mr. r ai :cy sad Mr. TOM, thomfore it would be out of the gee-aims to !Age up your time with it. But I am Luis hod that the more you look into the question, the more yea will roe that we have grievously neglected our dots s:ess site male in which oar governments have always d e .,;t with thie question. (Hear, hear.) You will find that „d os , as pishlie opinion especially so long is the mass reiol opinius of this district shall not say anything ,Bast it, that we ehnli base this qus stion of Indiajnet get rid wen main in the bes• way that it may, that it may go sisep fir It) or 19 y, ors mere. India may suffer as it has ssa g e esd, s , we frigh-ful onsis may cants upon this district boo the hawed the supply of its raw material, and then sa , s aw hit ewe smother in the fate and sty, " How guilty were we is Isid. that when we had the chance of putting skis i b W s.gat, we had not got the spirit and forethought, awl the r.gerd foe our own interest, and for that of the male..o amongst ankh we lee, to insist upon the go verment 'dire its duty to this country." The hon. gen e...el resumed his seat amid loud applause. Mr. Hit trouu, m.r., seconded the motion. Mr. J. Leis, of Solilleworth, easirtsted his disappoint ment that tie mei tie; had nut given a much stronger ex pfvf.ioo of opiaima on this question, and wished to have moved another resolution. had he been in order. Mr Tlitol.l44oX. of Bolton, asked whether it was in eoatemplotion t i hold a public meeting in reference to the future cosi mond of ladia ? The CUAILLMAN (Mr. Basley) said that nothing of the sort email be originated on the present occasion ; it was left to the Mr. Titonassott—Then it will be understood that the commercial community of Manchester have not as yet given sue o; mon of the future government of India. (Applause.) the usolutOon was carried, and the procecdia's termi nated. THE FATAL EXPLOSION AT BRIGHTON. BRIGHTON, Matta( 22. The only fresh evidence adduced last night after the dep..tute of the lott train, arcs.: from the examination of (bate of the workmen on the railway, who spoke to the viol. nee of the explosion, and the collection of the fragments al the Loa* of the three deceased. _ . . . 1 Jury rttircd for two hours and then returned into nun with a verdict : • •4 Fintly, on the body of John Young, the engine driver, that his death wss caused by hie own reel.less eon. duet. In piecing a higher pressure on the engine than it was 6tted to bear ; . . , Secondly, as to John Elliott, that, by such Tackler conduct, Young did kill and slay him ; and Thirdly, that, in the same manner, Young did kill and slay Richard Thomas Baker." lhe Coroner added that the jury also drew up a paper, and signed it, in the following terms: "The jury now sitting upon the bodies of John Young, John Elliott, and Richard James Baker, the peewee unfor tunately bided at the Brighton terminus on the 17th day of March instant, unanim.usly recommend that in future a mord frequent and rigid examination be made of the loco mohee engines ; and that the directors be requested to take into consideration, whether an improved system cannot be alopted of instructions to the drivers. And the jury hope that the time is not far distant when the safety valves may be placed beyond the undue control of the driven." The bKlies of the three deceased have been interred side by side in the new extramural cemetery, on the Lewes road, near the cavalry barracks. Four thousand persons witnessed the ceremony. WHOLESALE FRAUDS OAT THE PRIVATE SOLDIER. PORTSMOUTH, MARCH 22. To day Mr. Kennard Knot, contractor for the sup ply of butcher's meat to the troops in this garrison, was summoned before the borough magistrate', charged with having a number of light weights in his poseession. The magistrates on the bcuch were the Mayor, G. Gillman, J. 0. Travers, B. Bramble, and J. F. Pratt, Esqrs. Mr. T. Field, of Gosport, appeared for the defendant. The inspector of weights and measures for the borough deposed to proceeding, on Friday morning, to the Clarence Barracks, in this garrison, and examining the weights in the defendant's stores there. They were all deficient ; a 14Ibs. weight being 61 or. light ; a 7t h.. weight b or. light, and smaller oats in proportion. The beam of the weigh iag machine had been beaten out at one end, so as to alter the leverage, and by this an alteration to the extent of ten ounces, in favour of the dealer, was effected. The practical result of serving out the meat to the troops, in the cases in which the Tiba. weight, above named, was used, would be a deficiency of 11b. 3oz in the daily mem of every tea men of the troone in the above barracks. The daily quantity sent to time barracks was upwards of 5 ewt. The inspec tor afterwards proceeded to the Colewort Barracks, where she meet of the weigh 4 were deficient, but not to the ex tent that existed at the Clarence Barracks, the chief de ficiency being one of 11 os. in the 4lbs. weight. The in spector also went to the Royal Artillery Barracks, and there the weights were also deficient; but, as they were government property, he could not seize them. For the deftness it who urged that the defendant was not at all cognisant of the weights in question being light, the nun blame noting with the men he employed at the bar racks. Evidence was produced to substantiate this argu ment, it being proved that defendant had his weights ad- Tied tame times a year by • respectable tradesman. Mee found at the Clarence Barracks, however, had not been so adjusted, having been procured by one of his men in s surreptitious manner. The bench convicted the defendaat, and fined him the fall penalty of fit, with 91. costa, together with the tee total, of the weights and weighing machine. AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS. TO Tllll IRDITOR or Till =POW. Sta,—Mr. Fitzroy's bill for empowering magis trates to enforce penalties more commensurate with tie offence en those who transgress the laws of humanity even more than they set at nought the law of the land, by their brutal mal-treatment of the weak and defenceless, suggests certain modifications which I desire to submit through your columns to the consideration of the boa. member whose inter lenses in this matter the public cannot fail to ap peeciate. propose that it should be at the magistrate's die 'whoa to award to the injured party the whole or a Portion of the fine u some compensation for the in jury that has been inflicted; and I further suggest that the magistrate should be so empowered to vary the punishment as would afford the means of com pensation to the sufferer, by a diminished fine, and at the same time vindicate the claims of out raged justice by a restricted period of incarceration : and thus, through the mingled agency . of the purse and the person, establish alaw of discrimination adapted to every clan of offence.—l am, D. W. HARVEY. Old Jewry, March 21, 18.53. TWENTY MITIIDERN.—The following appears] in the Courrier dr Alarmlie of Saturday Some persona who have just arrived from Toulon inform us that a horrible discovery had been made by the police of the town. For tie time put pablie rumour signalised a house, occupied yen Went for ending substitutes for the army, as the theatre of a series ol atrocious demos. Minute researches having been made, about 20 corpses, buried in the cellars of tie bdwle, were found. It appears that the victims were weteseively assassinated, and that the death of the first !wit Place several years ago. The confessions of a woman ut her leap moments placed, we are assured, justice on the him of the crimes. The victims, according to the same nes. were military substitutes received by the Conseil, de 4. / 61 011, and the man murdered them in order not to have to pay the price of their enrolment." DIviIisCEPUL OVTRAGE. The magistrates of ChM hare recently been investigating a case 04 great ,ulddity. Six men—named Thomas Mills, Wm. Sparks, rawge Harp, John Harp, Stephen Harp, and Edward r,afft — were charged with criminally assaulting Mary Ann names, a married woman, apparently about 27 years of efts It appeared from the evidence that the prosecutrii had been working during the slay at a beershop kept by a leasi aimed Raison, at erewkerne, in snaking baby linen for h is wife, during which time she had imbibed sundry tul po us.ions of beer. Sh e l e f t to go h ome, i n company with . shortly before eleven o'clock. Raison left her at the . ..▪ W. and she hail no sooner entered than two of the pri 4w• w rushed in, and, seising Ler, carried her off hurriedly, wi by the others, to a lonely spot near the parsonage. There b y threw her on the ground, and tied her hands 'M- I a Peckethandkerehief, and her legs with a piece of told. • (Joe of the prisoners (Mills) assaulted her criminally. °sweat of them afterwards beat her with a belt till aho b e insensible. Oa her recovery she succeeded, after ' ft " time. in escaping from her bands ; and her impres dm Wei, that while she wee in that state all the men as s's.'ett I,r. The beach cmimizted the rat n rn :1 ial at r, a' 4%S:Le.i .61•Alls1)W AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY ' li the week ending March 19, £4,227 164.54.1. correspond 4 6 vet k last ytu, £3,77615,. had. Increase, £l4 131. , COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL. PROPOSALS FOR CORPORATION REFORM. Yesterday a court was held, the L or d K ayor in the chair. Some considerable interest appeared to be ex cited, in consequence of there being upon the novice mete, fur the day net less than three webers of motion upon thc ' eubject of the extension of the municipal franchise. Tic. following sv.re eopiee of them : 1. "By Mr. HENRY BLaca.—That it be referred to th. freedom committee to prepare a bill for extending Co tranchicse for the wardmote elections in the city of Loads,. to all persons occupying premises rated at 101. per annum, and to confer with bee 311jeecy's government thereon." 2. " by Mr. Deputy PEWTEP.ES.—To take into consilera• him the propriety of introducing into parli amen t a bill to effect suitable alterations in the corporation of Loudon, and to obtain the support of government to the measure." " By Mr. H. L. Latt.ou.—That it be referred to a committee of the whole court to consider what suitable re forms are required in the Courts of Aldermen and Common Council, for the purpose of introducing a bill into parlia ment, and to obtain the support of government to the measure." Mr. BLAKE, in introdncingliis motion, remarked that the question cf the freedom was intimately connected with the franchise of the City. Many of the bye-laws and ancient customs of the corporation had become obsolete, but there were others which still lingered, and drew on en objection able though lengthened existence among them. (hear, hear.) One of these was the practice of requiring all parties who wished to vote for their municipal representatives to purchase the freedom of the City. These men had to pay to the local rates, and if they slid so, and thus paid their "scot," they ought to be permitted to vote. Th, principle, indeed, was recognised some centuries ago ; for in M is., Charts it was seen in the fact that there provision ate male that no man should be taxed who had not the right of voting for the party qualified to make the Wits. Parliament, also, in later days, had carried out the lime principle, in the 14th clause a the Municipal Bill, which provided that the powers given to ancient corporations in this respect should be altogether abolished. This had been done in all eases, except in the city of London. (Hear, hear.) He knew that some parties hail hugged to themselves the d. fusion that the corporation of that great city was so pure that such a stringent measure was not required. this was not the fact; indeed it was quite the reverse. The corpo ration had not done sufficient to justify themselves in the opinion of parliament by reducing the hoe for admission to the freedom of the City from 251. to 51., and in making it wanes:eta. y for parties to belong to a trading company, in order to become free. After alluding to the historical de tails of the case, Mr. Blake went on to remark that if one party was compelled to take up the freedom, no doubt all ought to be so compelled. ((sear, hear-) lie also reviewed the progress of propositions El that court from 1821 to the present date, ending with expressing a hope that he should soon Get the court ready not only to unction all that had been done, but willing to agree to the motion before lt, and sanction the prepara- 1 nun of a bill fur extending the frivachiso for the wardmote elections in the City of London to all per sons occupying premises rated at 101. per annum. (Hear, hear.) It read been suggested by some that other reforms might be entertained upon that occasion as well as the one of which he had given notice; but when reform in parka. went was brought on, they did not find that the currency question, or free trade, or any other important measure, was mixed up with it. The house of Commons, wisely in his opinion, determined in the first place to reform itself ; and in the case before them he (Mr. Blake) thought they had no right to add other reforms. (" Hear," and " Yes.") Let Omni get the constituency enlarged, and other reforms would follow. (Hear, hear.) No man 'Budd reach the top of a high elevation at one step—it was by degrees that the eminence was attained. The public out of doors were anxious for this reform of the corporation as a first mea , sure ; and he, tie:ug satisfied of its necessity, and that if :hey did not reform themselves the government would soon do so, most willingly submitted his motion. Mr. AHRARAX, in seconding the :resolution, observed that he agreed entirely with the mover. He felt wildcat that if they did not reform themselves tha government would do so, by legislative enactment, before lung. Many of the men who had been compelled by the late coercive measure of the corporation to take up their freedom were very little better off than paupers, and he therefore hoped that the motion would be agreed to. Mr H. L. TAYLOR remarked that any one who had heard the two previous speakers would suppose that that was the first time the subject had been mooted in that court. The members should be aware that many impediments had been thrown in the way by the Court of Aldermen in past times, and be thought that his friend Mr. Blake had exhibited nee small degree of assurance in putting upon the paper a motion which had been discussed in that place ever and 'over again. The court had repudiated the idea of going to rirliament for an isolated part of a necessary whole. (Hear hear.) Bache proposition, again renewed, therefore, he could not but regard as au insult to the court. ("Bleu," and " No.") What ass was it for them to attempt to go to parliament for that which would be granted by the government, namely, merely au extension of the municipal franchise ? (Hear.) All of them were agreed that this was essential, but was that all? No; they must go also for a reform of the Court of Aldermen. (Hear, hear.) He for one would not be a party to their entertaining any such an abstract question, nor would he agree to go to parliament for any such a farce as the mere extension of the franchise. Such a proposition would neither satisfy the City, the public, nor the parliament. (Cheers.) Besides, the motion was impracticable. They could not go to the house this session without the sanction of the government, and they might depend upon it that such sanction never would be obtained unless they desire much more extensively to reform the eorporation. (Hear.) Believing that it would be far better, therefore, to propose a plan of reform upon a much larger scale, he would move the " previous question." Mr. BARILLRY, being anxious to see a reform of the Court of Aldermen, would aecoad the amendment proposed by Mr. Taylor. Mr. W. Josas supported the enlarged proposition, and hoped that a well-matured messure of reform would be in trodaced, such as would be worthy of the corporation and the time in which they lived. (Hear.) Mr. Axoantox reiterated his opinion that the Court of Common Council would never reform itself. (Laughter.) Upon many occasions they had attempted to do so, but what had been the result? Why, the whole matter had turned out to be nothing more nor less than a babble, which had soon burst. (Laughter.) Every one of the pro positions had been negatived. (Hear, hear.) These • mushroom reforms" were sheer nonsense and govern meat, he was certain, would have to do the sibeessary heal sees for them. (liese, hear.) He should like to know that day what the Court of Aldermen intended to do In the matter of reform ? Were they anxious to give up their practice of putting their bands into the corporate privy purse ? Would they recognise the right of the whets body of that court to deal with the funds. (Hear, hear.) In past years applications had bean made from wards in the City, from Lord Brougham, by the Ecclesiastical Con missioners, and other authorities, for the reform of the Court of Aldermen. He would advise the court to adopt, as far as possible, the recommendations of the Municipal Act, which had worked so well in Liverpool, Manchester, Hull, and other places. Let them take the Initiative at once, and endeavour to reform themselves, and they would, doubtless, receive the united thanks of all their fellow-citizens. (Hear ) Bir J. Duna suggested the amalgamation of the mollies on the paper, wi th - the view cf saving the time of the court. The beanies, however, proceeded in the same order. Mr. Nowa smegrateleted the asias s tbs unanimity exhibited wee dist smartie. Ho Weed, that no sane person mid be opposed to th e of the mead ! cipal franchise by set of parliament. It would be ruin, in (act, to the osependes, If they were to moist a full and aeetice, thragh gradual reform; and he was sure that so lea( as they save way so far, they aged defy Bic B. Hall, or aq see elms by whom they might be throatosed with a grereigara rights. He than.' the pee gams at swag leadsmen as small retail duke% ender as amisst tge4ews was nothing less than *Weft tansy media tiles COMM Rather than peel& ammlsre trading tbey 4•llBll7 , ll l l:l s l, w ae ch alLdegrals tbeissolvee had smiessised that . 1,9 0 swasnowiss bad boos base be. visa sbeseborlain's otfiee, 156 parties bad paid the Aso; 203 hid begged to be =COMM ; 492 had taken no aegis* oda, etheasems. (Hear.) Aye, and he regarded these ms sea gases bead who be begat would succeed is the Lea of the cornet. (Hoar.) 299 had that Hey were " wholesale dialers," but surely aesh grass wield not be allowed to escape, while the poor teas_ pessisseed sad drivenfrom their houses and their homes. It bribese said by some,that if they went to parliament they wool be ruined. No such thing. The men who gave such epitome in the present day-were the worthy successors of thee", who in 1671 declared that the building of Pu tney. bridge would be a great evil. (Laughter.) If the court pursued the system of oppression they had of late put into operation, he would advise the suffering parties to go round to wealthy men in their employ, and say where they found such to be the case—" You have workmen in your employ I who are not free. You have no right to employ them. 'I have been fined for not taking up my freedom, though a small retailer, now I will infirm ag ainst you, for you arc likewise liable to a 51. penalty. " (Cheers.) He did hope the court would agree to go to parliament for a bill praying for a large increase of the municipal consti tuency of the City of London. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Bissocn declared that he regarded the motion of Mr. Blake as embodying the greatest and soundest prin ciple of reform, and he del think that they ought to endea vour to obtain that at all events. (lieu, hear.) 11e re gretted that the discussion had taken such a turn, as he hoped the whole of the resolutions would have been embo died and carried as one, lie was in favour of a special committee, which he hoped would sit from day to day until the question was fully matured. (Hear, hear.) Alderman Smear said there were three motions of re forth placed on the paper of business that day ; and though all apparently concurred in the same object, there existed a wide difference, and that chiefly consisted in the important listinction, that the motion immediately before the court pledged the court to the immediate preparation of a bill to parliament, while the ether two were for referring the whole subject to committee?, to consider what suitable alte- ration should be made in the constitution of the court. (Hear, hear.) Ile wished the court to mark that distinc tion, because as the subject had been mooted for the last 25 years, it was quite clear that the members must be prac tically acquainted with such reforms as were really needed. The reference of the subject again to a committee to re port what were suitable reforms would be to wrest a golden opportunity of doing themselves what, if they fail. •l or hest tared to do, w.uld he attempted by other and los , sperm hands. (Hear.) The time they consumed would prevent the court from approaching parliament during the present session, and afford to the opponsats of the municipal insti- THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING MARCH 23, 1853 Whims of the City the opportunity of dealing with the I (Lotion in a manner the least beneficial to the citizens tens rally, while it must be admitted by all that prolinii tory to all other reform, must be the extension of the con ditucney. Hence he regretted th at t h o 'nation of Mr. Wake should be met by an amendment of the previous' question. He trusted the court would negative that amend ment, and thus allow his Mud (Sir James Duke) to bring is • ulut intive amendment a resolution which should meet •ith the unanimous concurrecce of those around him. He strenuously advised the corporation not to incumber their aid to parliament Shy asking the legislature to do that which they could better do themselves. lie must remind the court that before parliament itself was in existence the repr sentative principle was acted upon in the City of London. The corporation had existed for centuries, and for centuries had represented,and proper:, so, pubic opinion. It was not until the year 1725 that an set, obtained iu the reign of George 1., interfered with the properly eonitituted representative principle, which for ages had worked must ad vantageously, and it was the fact that the interference of par liament by the act of the 2nd of George 1., and the further tinkering of that statute within the last few years, made it necessary now to apply in the first place for a repeal of those obnoxious acts. (Hear, hear.) Now those statutes limited the extension of the franchise, and if they were r , pealed and a m asure founded on a residency of a year and a day, the old and popular franchise, under which the city flourished for many centuries, then such other reforms as time might have made necessary would follow as a matter of course. But It had been said that parliament would not tolerate an application of so limited a nature. lie could only reply that the government of Lord John Russell sanctioned such a bill, which received tlo, approval of the House of Commons by being read a second time, and there could be no doubt that if such • bill wero again introduced it would be again approved of. (Hear, hear.) But there had escaped the lips of several speakers a charge that the Court of Aldermen had hitherto stood in the way of all reform, and that the crying evil of th day was tile want of aldermanic reform. (Laughter.) Much f .llacy prevailed upon that subject. (Hear, hear.) It was perfectly clear that any extended constituency must necessarily affect both the Court of Aldermen and the Court of Common Council. Each member of either court nowt, in the event of his continuing a member of the cor porate lody, be subject to the re-election of the new con stituency ; hut there had been heaped upon the body of which he was an unworthy member • great am•unt of calumny, and it was left to be inferred that the Court of Aldermen must be the most corrupt part of the corpora. lion ; and that, failing to represent the wealth, intelligence sod population of the City, it undoubtedly stool in need of a scrupulous reform. But did such a charge of corrup tion come with a good grace from members of the Common Council. for who were the member, of the Court of Alder men ? (Hear, hear.) Why, during the last ten years fifteen elections for aldermen had taken place, and out of the fifteen so elected, nine had been chosen from the Court of Common Council. Again, it had been urged, in dispa ragement of the Aldermanic body, that they die not ind olently represent the upper classes of the citizens, but not withstanding such a charge, the present court numbered no leas than 12, who either were or had been members of par liament ; but putting aside such imputation, no body of men were more more desirous of truly representing their feliuw citizens than the Aldermen themselves, and as they were desirous to stand well with their fellow citizens, they were unanimously of opinion that the time had fully ar rived when the Corporation of London should be extended on the widest bogie suitable to the age. (Hear, hear.) Alderman Copeland advised the Court to refer the con sideration of the question to a select committee, as a coin- , mittee of the whole court might prove exceedingly incon venient. (Hear.) After a few words by Mr. Town, Mr. T. HALL did not intend to be drawn into any exten-1 ' sive discussion upon the question of general reform, but still, he did think it was not expedient fo: the court to go into I one question only. He thought that to go to parliament with so bare a bill would give to Sir Benjamin Hall or other parties • larger amount of power than if they applied for' • larger measure. (Hear, hear.) Sir Benjamin might say, " This meagre measure will not do: it's all nonsense." (Hear.) He hoped the amendment would be agreed to. Mr. BAINED defended the corporation from the inuendoes which had been cut upon its members. He was in favour' of extensive reforms. He would oppose Mr. Blake's motion because it was not sufficiently comprehensive. Mr. Puts reminded the court of the prosecutions of non freemen which had taken place at the instance cf the Chem-' 'serials. He alluded to the case of a poor tradesman of the name of Gentry, who resided in Bow-lane, whose goods bad' been seized and sold to pay the fine. Kr. Cox rose to order. The Loan lfarou said that the matter had no reference to the question before the court. Mr. Cox was of opinion that the apathy of the public in the matter was such that throe was no ground for an appli cation to parliament. Deputy Coaxer defended the corporation as to the fines. The court had agreed to lower the fines on freedoms to 63.8 d. if thegovernment nould take off the 31. for the stamp; but the Chancellor of the Exchequer had said that he could not afford to do so. (Laughtrr.) Deputy &ray's!' supported Mr. Biake's motion on the ground that it was the foundation of the others placed on we business paper. Mr. Roan advocated a consolidation of the three motions, and he hoped that the whole matter would be referred to a special committee for consideration and immediate report. (Hear, hear.) Alderman LAwstancn advocated the principle of reform contained in the motion of Mr. Blake, while he was agree able to the reference of the whole of them to a special com mittee. He concluded with stating that if they obtained a new constituency he did not believe that the Court of C 312211011 Council would be better than at present, nor did he think, as some did, that bankers, merchants, or others of that clam, would ever then be found in the corpo ration. After some further discussion took place, and a variety of suggestions ware made, with the view f arriving at an uhanimetts determination, Mr. Deputy Pswgaiss rose to move the incorporation of Mr. Blake's motion with that of which he had himself given notice, to the following effect: " That it be referred to a committee to prepare and present to this court a bill for extending the franchise for the vrardmote elections in the City of London to all persons occupying premises within the City and rated to the amount of 101. rer annum ; the bill to include such other suitable alterations in the corporation as may be deemed advisable, and the committee to obtain the support of the government to the measure, and to report forthwith." Mt. BLAII 1111 d Mr. H L. TAYLOR at onee consented to withdraw the motion and the amendment, and the court unanimously agreed to Mr. Pewtrese's proposition amidst acclamations. It wu then resolved that the committee should be a ward committee, consisting of five of the aldermen present, and one member of the Court of Common Council fur each ward. The court then adjourned. IRELAND. MAIICIL 22. There is no longer any uncertainty about the pre cise time at which the Great Industrial Exhibition, of 1853 will be prepared for opening. It was feared that the many interruptions which the progress of the works encountered from the boisterous and in clement season we have passzd through, would have prevented the building front being ready, and the subsequent arrangement of the goods from being effected in time for the day (the sth of May) origi nally fixed for the opening; but it now appears that the further delay will be a very short one indeed, and that everything will mast positively be in readi ness to have the exhibition opened to the public on May 12, that is, in one week later than the day first chosen. The following particulars of the present state of the works my be interesting: Twelve nut of the fourteen great arches of the roof of the central hall are now raised, and the remaining two will be in their pl ices in the course of the next couple of days. The minor details of the framework of the roof are in rapid pro gress; and at the upper end of toe hall the process of covering in has actually commenced. The southern hell is now nearly completed, even in its decorations. These are of a graceful and appropriate character. The slender pillars which support the roof, fourteen on either hand, are painted in a deep and vivid blue, with the exception of their capi• tals, which are of the purest white. The roof is of a pale azure, relieved by tints of yellow, white, and red, in which the light framework over which it is extended is p laud. The azure colour selected f the roof harmonies with peculiar effect with the tiut of the sky, as seen through the skylight of fluted glass, which extends continuously the entire length of the hall. Blue of a similar tint is used in the other decorations of this immense interior. A remarkably pleasing effect is produced by the n troduction of large medallions u ornaments of the lower portion of the roof, containing the arms of the various cities of Ireland richly emblazoned in geld and vivid colours. In the southern gallery of the hall iu question,the counters upon which the articles arc to be exhibited are in rapid progress of erection ; these occupy the centre of the gallery, and free space is left on either si le for the current of visitors. The northern ball is also in a great state of forwardness, indeed, except in the point of decorations, which have not yet commenced there—in ucarly as forward a state as the southern one. Besides these three great halls two smaller ones have, as most of cur readers aro aware, been added to the design —one on the south for fine arts, and one on the north for machinery. These are now nearly completed. I We have the pleasing task to chronicle the introduction under the roof of the built:log itself of an article intended for exhibition—a sumptuous mirror, contributed by Mr. Sibthorp, the contractor for the glazing of the works —it measures seventeen feet by thirteen, and is pronounced by competent authorities to be the finest mirror ever introduced into this kingdom. The committee of the liberal constituency of the county of Alonaghan have just presented a compli mentary address, accompanied by a tea-service of silver, to Dr. Gray, of the Freeman's Journal, who contested that county at the late election. It is stated to be the intention of the Board of Ordnance to place a battery of guns of six inch bore at the extremity of the western pier of Kingstown harbour, and same works which have been lately commenced there arc supposed to be intended for that purpose. Such a battery, with that of the Pi geon-house in the centre of the bay, would undoubt edly present a formidable defence of the entrance by sea to the Irish capital. BRIDONORTH ELECTION. The farce of the election of a bargees to serve in parliament, to represent the "free and independent" of thin notorious little borough, took place yesterday. The affair pelted Win dumb show: there had been some talk of as eggneltien t bet notwithstanding the number of per sonsvbeans ambitious of a seat in parliament, nobody ap pmrs t• have Mies bold enough to attack immaculate Bridgmetk, with Apley Castle frowning in the distance. In feet the plain has acquired such a very bad name that the premat proprietor is likely . to have and to hold it all to himself until parliament steps in and rescues the unfortu nate mten from territorial inflames. Why Bridgnorth was permitted even under the Reform Bill to continue to send &couple of members to parliament nobody can tell the placehas declined in importance, and consequently in the spirit and independence of its people ever since, though with the addition of Ironbridge, Coalbrookdelc, Madeley, and Broseley—all close by—a large and really independent constituency might have been created. Let us hope that the new Reform Bill will do something in this way as re gards Bridgnorth. Oa this—the morning of the election—the town was astir unusually early, the people all intent on the little fever and bustle incidental to an election. A banker in a small town has always a great deal of influence in it, as everybody knows—Bridgnorth has the good fortune to poe ms a gentleman of this sort in Mr. John Pritchard, who is " qualified in every way " and possesses even a larger amount of claims on the constituency than usually falls to the lot of a person in his position. This morning he =Wolin " triumphal entry " into Bridg north; it occupied very little time to escort him from the entrance of the town to the Town-hall, and scarcely more before he was declared "duly elected." Mr. T. P. PARTON, banker, proposed, and Mr. 8. H. RICHARDS, a magistrate of the borough, seconded the nomi nation of Mr. Pritchard. There being no other candidate, "the declaration" fol lowed of course. Mr. PRITCHARD addressed the electors briefly—be avowed himself a conservative in every sense of the word, and promised to promote the interests of the borough. Very little was said about the late petition and exposure of the bad practices at the last election for the borough, and the whole affair passed off tamely—more so than some of the people appeared to like, for the Shropshire folk are fond of good ale, and we were informed that " there was to be no treating at this election :" judging by the number of sober people about the streets—unusually so at an election is Bridgnorth—probsbly the information we received was correct. ANTIQI:ITY OF TILE POLKA.—The description of the lavolta, in Sir John Davies's poem on dancing, the " Orchestra " (1.596), shows that it must have closely resem bled the dance which we fondly bout of as one of the great inventions of the nineteenth century. It runs as follows : " Yet is there one, the most delightful kind, A lofty jumping, or a leaping round, Where arm in arm two dancers are entwined, And whirl themselves with strict embracement/ bound ; And still their feet an anapest do sound ; An anapest is all their music song, Whose first two feet are short, and third is long." The "anapest " is conclusive ; it points exactly to the peculiar nature of the polka, the pause ou the third step. Moreover, it appears, that as there is no especial figure for the polka, so there was none for the lavolta ; fur it is classed among those dances " Wherein that dancer greatest praise has woo, Which, with best order, can all orders shun ; For everywhere he wantonly must range, And turn and wind with tinespe-Ved elionge." Who can doubt after that I The polka was certainly danced before Queen Elisabeth.—Flosi " Notes and Queries." HEALTH OF LONDON. Tho effect of sudden changes of temperature (says the weekly report of the Regis:rar-Oeneral) does not im mediately bee me perceptible to its full extent in the register of deaths. A period of more genial weather suc ceeded the low temperature that marked the month of February, and the mortality at length appears to have yielded slightly to its influence ; for the deaths in London, which had continuously risen daring six weeks till they numbered 1,436, fell in the week that ended last Saturday' to 1,274. Row far the sadden severity that changed the' character of the weather last week has affected human life »males to be ecea in future returns. The following aro the principal meteorological facts of last week : On Sunday, 13th instant, the highest tempera ture was 60.6 deg., the mean was 49.8 deg., or 7.8 deg., above the average. The mean daily temperature was be low the average on the three following days • and on Thurs day the highest temperature was only 34.8 ' deg.; the mean was 29. 2 deg., or 12.8 deg. below the average. On Friday the meaawas 28 5 deg., or 13.3 deg. below the ge ; on Saturday it was 10.2 deg. below the average. The lowest temperature of the week occurred on Saturday, and was 24.2 deg., showing a range of temperaturg in the week of 38 deg. The mean dew point temperature was 30.1 deg. In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1813.52 the average number of deaths was 1,095, which, if raised in proportion to increase of population, gives a mortality for last week of 1,205. The 1,274 deaths actually registered last week therefore exceeded the estimated amount by 69. Fatal cares arising trom symotic diseases decrees, d from 244 in the preceding week to 229 in the last, though the mortality of hooping-cough, which is considerable, remains at nearly the same amount. Phthisis decreased from 167 to 131 ; other diseases of the respiratory organs from 391 to 332. lathe latter class are included bronchitis, which declined from 233 to 174, and pneumonia which was fatal to 101 persons, or about the same number as in some pre vious weeks. In City-road sub-district, at 11, Ratcliffe-row, on 16th March, a cooper, aged 29 years, died of " disease of lungs, kidneys, and heart." (Post mart.) Mr. Hamlin, the Re gistrar, observes:—" There is a grating over the sewer in the street in front of this house, of which the inhabitants are continually complaining. When passing the spot I have repeatedly been °bilged to cover my mouth with my hand to avoid the smell." In Pentonville, at 20, White Lien-street, on 14th March, the son of a lock-smith, aged 5 years, died of " hooping-cough (8 weeks), scarlatina (4 weeks)." Mr. Upjohn, deputy registrar, says: "I have twice before referred to the great mortality in this hoass, in which five deaths have now occurred from hoopiog-cough within a period of five weeks. In the present case hooping-cough wee followed by scarlatina, and the child was taken to the Fever Hospital; but as the medical attenuate gave no hope, of its recovery, the parents had it removed home again. There are now two children suffering from hooping-cough in the same house, whose recovery is considered hopeless by the medical attendant. There does not appear to be any local circumstance to account for so unusual a fatality." In St. George, Bloomsbury, at 3, Russell-mews, on the 16th of March, the daughter of a servant, aged 1 year and 9 months, died of " derrhosa some months since, and sub sequently broncho-pneumonia." With regard to this case, Dr. Richards writes that " it was treated homeopathically, under which system the complaint was allowed to progress, and he was called in just at the finale to witness a life lost, in all probability, from want of active treatment." In the subdistrict of St. Paul, St. George-in-the-East, at 20, Martha-street, a child, the son of a mariner, aged 10 hours, died of " convulsions from premature birth," on the 30th of January. Mr. Chatwood, the registrar, mentions that " the mother of this boy, who came to register the births of twins, states that the deceased was buried at a chapel ground as still-born, although the medical certificate given at the time stated that he lived 10 hours." The Mewing el: deaths occurred at the London Fever Hospital between the 9th and 15th of March inclusive : A girl, aged 4 pion, from the Newington Workhouse, measles (duration unknown). In hospital 2 days. (Post most.) A man, aged 56 years, from Holborn Union, typhus (duration unknown). In hospital 6 days. A woman, aged 19 year., a servant from Wandsworth, typhoid fever (duration unknown), incipient ulceration of Piyar's glands. In hospital 2 days. (Post more.) A woman, aged 24 years, from Neptune-court, St. 9 George-in-the-East, typhus (shoat 17 days). In hospital days. A man, aged 35 years, a labourer from Hartshorn-court, Fore-street, pleuro-pnetimonia (9 days). In hospital 6 days. A man, aged 22 years, a labourer from Catherine-wheel alley, East London, phthisis (long standing), pleuritis (10 days). In hospital 5 days. The following additional cues are selected from the re turns:—On 10th March, at 3, Artillery-place, Finsbury, • 1 drawing-muter, erred 51 years, died of " the Croydon fever (3 months), ulceration of the small intestines" (post more.). The son of a shipwright, aged 5 pore, died of "enlarged tonsils (2 years), exciaion of tonsils (2 months ago), croup (2 days)." A baker, aged 18 years, died of " phlebitis of ophthalmic veins" in Ciuy's Hospital. In Herne-place, Water-lane, Brixton, on 17th March, a gardener, aged 43 years. died of " furunculus (8 days), debilitated constitu tion." There were four deaths from abscess :—ln Charing Cross Hospital, a woman, aged 61 years, "chronic abscess (6 months), debility (3 months) ;" in St. George's Hospital, a Chelsea pensioner, aged 47 years, " amputation of toe of right foot, abscess in left leg, diseased heart;" in Middlesex Hospital, a man -servant, aged 53 years, " abscess of thumb, inflammation of arteries (poet niort.);" at 4, Elm-terrace, Brompton, a female servant, aged 32 years, " cerebral effusion from fever occasioned by extreme inflammation and abscess of the thumb." Two fatal cases are ascribed to privation, and registered thus the Workhouse, Westminster, on 18th March, a single woman, aged .30 years, " destitution ;" at 1, Three King court, Aldgate, on 12th March, the wife of a cooper, aged G 2 years, " want of proper food in sufficient quantity ; typhus." Last week the births of 835 boys and 812 girls, in all 1,667 children, were registered in London. The average number in eight corresponding weeks of the years 1845-52 was 1484. At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of the barometer in the week was 29.68.. i in.; on Saturday it was 39.034 in. The mean temperature of the week was 36.6 deg., or 5 deg. below the average of the same week in 38 years. The wind blew from the south on the first three days, and from the north-east during the remainder of the period. BREAK-DOWN OP THE AusTRALIAN.—The New S2:011 Wales and Port Poi Hip portion of th 2 mails ditem'etrked from the *tomer Anon,lion has been de spatched from Plymouth is the sailiug ship Albemarle, and the South Australian portion has been despatched iu the sailing chip Unites, from GrAnnul METCALF'E AND GENERAL MINING COM- PANY OF JAMAICA: --- An extraordinary general meeting of the 'ban:- holders of this company was held yesterday at the London T to take measures for increasing the capital of the company and for other purposes. Mr. 'l'. Wtoat N presided, and explained the circumstances under which the proposed increase of capital was required. He aid the company had been originally formed upon the faith of an agreement between Mr. Taylor of Jamaica, aed Mr. Ripley, the discoverer of the mines, and which trans ferred under two leases the mining rights on the two estates of Job's hill and Pembroke. The lease, however, of the Job's hill mine, where the company had commenced working, and with result+ that had occasioned great excitement in the public mind both at home an.t in the colony, was repu diated by the proprietor* of the estate, who contended that the trustees who granted it had exceeded their powers. The directors of course might have stood upon what they considered the rights of the company, and contested the validity of the lease in the Court of Chancery ; but being not altogether certain of their legal position and not liking to risk a pro perty which had risen in such en rxtraordivary degree iu value to the uncertain issue of a Chancery suit, they bad thought it better to close with an oiler on the part of the freeholders to sell the fee-simele of the estate, includinat mines, surface, and royalty, and every thing bt bilging to the nroperty for 20,0001. As to the mode of raising this money the director* had to decide between issuing 20.0 1 0 new shares—their deed of settlement not permitting a lur2er amount to bo called upon new shares than was already paid up upon the old, vie, V. a share—and issuing a smaller number at a premium. They had determined upon the latter course as being the one calculated to interfere least with the present value of the shares in the market; and they proposed to issue 2,0i.0 new 1/. shares at 91. premium. (hear, hear) They hod already received assents rerresenting 14,500 shares to that course, and the other 500 might be cousidered also as assenting. Mr. Wigiin then read a report received that day by the packet from Mr. Lean, the captain of the mine, stating that in the Ns. 1 lode of the Job's Hill mine they hid found a splendid course of rich grey copper ore act surface, at the side of the hill, worth 70 or 80 per cent. ; that the workings below were mast promising; and that la the No. 2 alit, and the Na. 3 south lode, the indication, were equally favourable ; and that the workings at the Pembroke mine were satisfactory ' and encouraging, producing rich grey copper ores ef much the same quality as that at J o b' s Hill. It was also stated in a letter front Mr. Taylor, that they were getting the ores down to Kingston, and expected soon to have a cargo ready for shipment to England. A report embodying the statements and explanations of the chairman was then put anal adopted; and after passing a resolution authorising the issue of the extra capital in the manner proposed—the new shares to be apportioned pro rata to the proprietors of the old shares—and making some formal alterations in the rules regarding the order of retire ment for directors, and the number of trustees, the meeting passed a vote of thanks to the chairman and separated. SHROPSHIRE UNION RAILWAY. The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders in this railway was held yesterday at the Lion Hotel at Shrews bury, Earl Powts in the chair. The following are the most important pis sages in the report of the directors : " The dividend declared by London and North West- CM Company at their last half-yearly general meeting having been at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum, the pro prietors of this company are entitled to, and will receive a dividend at the rate of 1/. 59. per cent, for the past half year, the warrants for which will be issued in the course of the present month. Since the last meeting of tho proprie tors, the promoters of the Shrewsbury and Aberystwith Railway have deemed it inexpedient to proceed with their bill in this session of parliament. The provieturs will have observed the various parliamentary notices of proposed new lines of railway in the counties of Shropshire and Montgo mery. The directors will not fail to watch the progress of such bills as affects the interests of this company. A com mittee of the House of Commons has been appointed, to which has been referred the difficult question of railway and canal amalgamations, but which has not yet made its re port ; end, in the meantime, the second resoling of all bills involving amalgamations, or arrangenents with other com panies, has been postponed until after Easter." The statement of accounts showed that the canal revenue for the half-year was 47,495/. 15s. 10d. ; and the expenses under that branch of the concern were 36,549/. Ss. leaving a balance to credit of 10,9461. 7 s . 10d. The railway re ceipts Ibr the half-year were 16,7451. Ils. 41 , and the ex penditure 13,306!. 14.. 3d., leaving a balance of 3,438/. 17s. Id.; in addition to these two sums, an amo unt o f 18,7421. 5.. sd. has been paid by the London and North Western Company, in compliance with their agreement, to make up the sum required for the half-years' interest on the deben ture bonds, and the dividend now payable. The report was adopted. The retiring directors and auditors were re-elected ; and the motion for the declaration of a dividend at the rate of 21 per cent. was carried with the usual and corresponding unanimity attendant upon all similar resolutions. This terminated the business of the meeting. LONDONDERRY AND COLERAINE RAILWAY. The half-yearly meeting of shareholders was held yesterday, at the company's offices, Coleman-buildings ; Mr. Weuatx:sr in the chair. The directors, in their report, say: " From the unexpected delay which took place in the ! commencement of passenger traffic to Newtown Limavady, the through opening to Coleraine, which your directors ! still confidently look for in May next, will follow so close as to render unadvisable the measures contemplated for arrangements which had reference solely to Newtown ! Limavady. The same cause has prevented the Postmaster- General placing the mails upon the line, sod the coaches consequently still run alongside the railway. This, how ! ever, will be remedied immediately on the completion to ! Coleraine. Your directors stated at the last meeting that' they had under their consideration the question of carrying out the through communication between Londonderry, Coleraine, and Belfast; and they have now to report that, after mature consideration, and the most careful inquiry as to the course of traffic, and the local requirements of the several intermediate and adjacent districts, they came to the conclusion that this important object would best be effected by a line from Coleraine, on the west side of the River Bann, through Kilrea to Castle Dawson, which, while Riving; 1 by means of the Cookstown extension of the Belfast and , Ballymena, the desired direct railway connexion between Londonderry and Belfast, will open up to your line the highly fertile country, and the thriving towns along the valley of the Bann—two objects which could not have been united by the adoption of any other route. The bill for this junction line having passed the second reading in the House of Commons, now awaits the appointment of the select committee, and at the proper time a special meeting will be held for the purpose of submitting its details for your approval. The rapid manner in which the London derry and Enniskillen Railway has been extended, and the sertalnty of its being completed to Enniskillen before the close of the present year, will secure a meat valuable feeder from the surrounding counties. A bill is now before par. liament for the construction of a railway from Loogh Swilly to Londonderry which will give access to your line from one portion of the county of Donegal ; and measures are now in progress, which, by means of your railway, will most advantageously.serve another part of that county, and add materially to your traffic resources." The total receipts up to the 31st December last amounted to 421,9251., and at the same date there was a balance of , 2,3141. The report was adopted and a vote of thanks passed to 1 the directors. - - MARIA ANTONIA RAILWAY. Yesterday a general meeting of the shareholders resident in England was held at the London Tavern, Mr. W. JACKSON, 31.1'., in the chair. From a translation of the report of the general meeting held at Florence on the 14th ult. it appeared that the calls due in October last, had been paid, and arranged for, on all the shares between the Marla Antonia Company and the Anglo-Italian, and that the board had been enabled to discharge 20,000/. of the de bentures to Mr. Bressey, due Ist November last, and a fur ther sum of 3,0001. not yet due ; and that from the net re venue of the nine months to 30th June last, amounting to 3,6821. 4s. 5d., there was a deduction of 2,1861. 3s. for in terest, leaving a balance of 1,493/. 19s. 55. for dividend. The works for the completion A the line from Pecia to Pistoja were, it was stated, in full progress, and the Maria Antonia Railway would soon be united with the Lucca and Pisa lines, while the more extensive line of Central Italy, already commenced, would connect it with the States of Rome, Modena, Parma, Lombardy, and Venice. A new railway from Areal° to Florence was projected, and could not fail to be productive of many advantages. The receipts et the half-year ending December, 1652, were—for goods, 7121. 13s. ; for passengers, 5,548/. 81. ; rent of houses, 801. ; total 6,3411. 10s. The expenses amounted to 3,3331. 15e. The balance was thus disposed of : Debenture interest to Mr. Brassey and others, six months, 1,4031. ; dividend of Is. on old shares and Is. on new, 1,6001. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, expressed his regret that the amount of traffic was so small, contrary to the expecta tions of the English committee. Though the line had been doubled, the number of passengers carried over it had not increased in consequence, and this was only to be accounted for by the prostration in which recent political events had I placed the country. lie had no doubt that the line would ultimately prove remunerative. The report was adopted. In reply t 5 a question, the chairman said that there would be a call of 21. in December next, and another of the same amount in September, 18.5.5. Thanks were Toted to the board in Florence ; a rcsoluaon was carried for reducing the management in England to the form of an money ; and the meeting terminated with an acknowledgment to the committee. LOUIS BONAPARTE AND QUEEN HORTENSE.—A work called the "Album de la Iteine Hortense" has just been published. It contains some of the unpublished mu sical compositions and private letters of her Majesty. Amongst the latter i+ the following addressed to her son, now the Emperor, shortly before her death : " 1 send you this letter with my blessing. We shall meet again, shall we not, in a better world? In quitting this world, I only regret you and your tender str,ction, in which alone I have found some charm. It will Ix a consolation for you, my ileac son, to ,ty how your ntiou you htvc ren , ilvre•l your meth a harpy 1 , 01.. c , tll I U 5. You will think of all my t.-ndermss, and you will hive courage. It is quite sure that we shall meet again. Believe in tLat sweet idea ; it is too consolatory not to be true." 1 UAW lintelitgence. EQUITY COURTS.-YESTLEDAT. &groan aza Loans 'minces or AtPUT.. . ... •••••• Saw,[..'. C. ASIILEY.—PRACTICE tNI/ER THE CHAN. AMINDMEN r ACT, :6 and 16 V:c., c. 86, sec. 4.` at , application by an initial legatee, by her next friend, a ~a t, :innia under the 4.5 th sec. of the Ch ancery Pr 're a b c h t ai i : ce 7r"' Arnendnu. at Act, requiring tl.e executors of a de ceased testatrix to att.'ad b?tore the Master of the Rolls, at Chambers, for the purpose of showing cause why an order for the administration of the personal estate of the deceased should not be granted. It appeared that the de ceased testatrix in this case was, at the time of making her Will and of her death, a married woman ; and that the will in question was made in exercise of a power of appoint ment. notwithstinding corerture, girth to her by a deed of settlement made upon her marriage. Mr. W. M. James and Mr. Kinglake appeared in sup port of the application, anal said that the question whether a summons under the 45th section was applicable in the drew:l43nm of the prelatic case, was submitted to their lorpsnii;is Sy desire of the Master of the Rolls, wh was in favour a.f &training the summons, but had declined doing so ns a similar application under similar circumstances had been refused by Vice .Chancellor Kindersley, on the ground of want of jurisdiction under the act. Mr. Roundell Palmer and Mr. Prenderpst, for the exe cutors, opposed the application en the grvund that the 45th section of the statute was inapplicable to a case like the present. That -action, they said, was meant to apply ' only where the general personal estate of a testator was to be administered, and not to the case of a will of a mar ried wc,nan, who could have no general personal estate. The estate now sought to be administered was simply the property over which the power of appointment given to tile testatrix extended; and did not include any chows in action not reeluced into possession to which the deceased mig:.t be entitled, and which cash not be administered in tile ab sence of her husband as her general personal representative. This was shown by the fact the the probate granted to the executors in the present case was limited to the property affected by the power. The administration so ught to be obtained woo an adtuinist ation of the tru,ts of that deed, and not of the general persoual estate of the deceased, as required by the statute. Their lordships were of opinion that the 45th section of the statute applied both in letter and in spark to such • case as the one before them, au.l that the court had juris diction, to grant a summons, and they remitted the to the Master of the Wills with this intimation of their opinion. They olserved that it was admitted that the ob ject sought by the legatee could be obtained by the more tedious and expensive course of tiling a bill or a claim, and that it would be a Wry narrow construction of the statute to hold it inapplicable to such a cote. Berns VICC•CIAPCCIIDD SID W. PAOI WOOD. lliucna O. LANZ. • Thu was was a bill filed by the representative of a deceased partner, seeking an account of the partnership property. The partner had died in 1926, leaving his residuary estate to his widow and mother in equal moieties for their lives, with provision fur the accumulivi•m of the share of the ene first dying fur the testator's children, in case he had any (which he had not), and if not, then for his brother: and sisters. On the death of the testator, Thos. Lane was admitted into the partnership. and (or some time 2001. per annum was paid out of the business to the widow and mother, af terwards the payment was r e d uce d t o 1401. I n July, 1831, the mother died. Thomas Lace died in 1832. Joseph Lane was then admitted into partnership, and afterwards Charles Lane came in. In 1939 Joseph ceased to be a part ner ; in 1841 the widow, who had married one Moore, a defendant, died; and then the brothers claimed to be en titled to some share of the property, and tiled the present bill for an account of the propA•ty of the testator in the hands of the partners, and for an inquiry as to what had become of the assets. _ ..... . Mr. Holt and Mr. Prior fir the plaintiffs. Mr Tollett and Mr. James, for tt:e defendants, contended that there was no case for an account. The plaintiff might have come to the court immediately after the death of the testator, and was now barred by the statute of limitations. Mr. Bazalgette, Mr. Bacon, and Mr. Kinglake for other parties. The Vice Chancellor now gave judgment, and after com menting upon the difficulty of the case from the lapse of time and the want of evidence, and after recapitulating the facts, said that property of the testator certainly had come to the hands of Lane, and there was no evidence of any dis charge. The ordinary rule was that any party having trust funds in his hands, and knowing that they were trust funds, was liable to account, and lie (the Viee•Chancellor) could not admit that in the present case there was a mere debt due to the testator's account. It was property in the partner's hands, and he became a trustee just as much as the administratrix. That view of the cast: got rid of any difficulty arising from the statute of limitations. lie must therefore direct an account of the testator's estate left in the partnership business, and how much of it had been ac counted for, and how much had not. COURT OF BANHRUPTCY.-YESTERDAY. Berms Ma. COWITISIOXaII EVAXA. I t RR SRAW.—REMOVAL OP FIATS. --- The bankrupt was a bookseller, stationer, and dealer in musical instruments, at Lincoln. The circumstances of the case were peculiar. The petition had been filed, and the proceedings opened in the district court at Leeds. An application was shortly afterwards made to Mr. Commis sioner False (in the absence of thu senior commissioner, who is empowered by the Consolidation Act to entertain these applications), fur an order removing the proceedings to this court, on the usual ground, that the majority in number and value of the creditors resided in London. The order for removal was made; but w • afterwards set aside on being brought before the senior commissioner for confir mation. Thereupon an appeal was made to the Lords Jus tices, who affirmed the decision of Mr. Commissioner Fent+, and reversed that of the senior commissioner. This was the lest examination meeting. At the meeting for choice of assignees, His Honour refused to sign the choice paper, stating that the decision of the Lords Jus tices was a sufficient confirmation of the choice, and that he had nothing to do with it. Mr. Goddard, who represented the assignees, said that as the accounts had not been filed, the bankrupt could not pass ; and he was instructed to examine him as to some property which he had not given up to the assignees. Mr. Linklater (for the bankrupt.)—l am told that your Honour has already decided in this case that the present solicitor, Mr. Goddard, is the solicitor to the assignees, although the confirmation has not been made by your Honour. The Commissioner—l hive nothing to do with it. Mr. Linklater—Wdl your Honour not give any direc tions ? The Commissioner—Not a bit. The superior court has said that he shall be assignee. Mr. Liniclater—Your Honour observes the terms of the order are, that the parties already named to he assignees should not be removed, but by your Honour's directions. Mr. Goddard—That is a su ffi cient direction. Mr. Linklater—We were ouly desirous of obtaining your Honour's directions. The bankrupt was examined and stated that in August, 1832, he had stock in trade worth about 1.0001., also furni tare of the value of 501., and 2001. in book debts. He had no property at Bradford, in Yorkshire, except a debt of 1501. owing to him by Mrs. Cross ' which had been reduced to that sum from 3251.; since January, 1851. Ile took back some goods from Mrs. Cross about August, 1852, to his own shop at Lincoln. Ile had three sales of stock at Bradford between August and November, 1832, which produced 1801. clear of expenses. Mr. Linklater asked for an adjournment of six weeks, the bankrupt not having had time to prepare his accounts. It was quite clear he could not do so while the question was under discuuion where the fiat should be worked ; for until the assignees were appointed, he could not tell from what period he should be required to commence his accounts. An adjournment until the 9th of May was ordered, at the expense of the estate. Mr. Linklater asked for an allowance for the support of the bankrupt and his family. The order of the court above already provided for his necessary travelling expenses. His debts were 1,4001. or 1,5001.; the assets were large, and, at cost price, would have yielded nearly 20s. in the pound. The Corsmissioner—Hu he had any allowance ? Mr. Bell (the official assignee) said that the official as signee at Leeds had charged 31. a week for his allowance. The whole amount of the debts collected in the country had been expended down at Leeds, and the official assignee brought in the estate debtor. Mr. Goddard objected to any allowance. The bankrupt had had a considerable sum already. liis Honour granted 21. a week for six weeks. BMOCS Mt. COUNIMIONIS HOLIWYD. IN as PLlMMlB..—Extureivz FAILIJAN IN THI _ - - BREWING TRADE. This was the meeting for choice of assignee., in the cue of John Plimmer, brewer, of the Anchor Brewery, Brit ten.street, Chelsea. The failure is a considerable one. The preliminary statement of accounts shows a total liability of about 10,0001.; the assets arc not yet accurately ascertained, hut there are book debts to the amount of 2,000/. Debts to the amount of 2,5001. were proved at the meeting; and the following gentlemen were chasen trade assignees : Messrs. Charles Speller, malster, of Bishop's Stortford ; and Mr. John Hill, insister, of Battersea. Mr. Groom is the official assignee; Messrs. Lawrence, Flews, and Burr, are the solicitors under the bankruptcy; and Messrs. Glover and Son, of Backlerobury, are the account ants engaged in winding up the concern. %SOLE yes CHIT/ COIIRLIR IORZR . INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT.—Y EBTERDAT. IN TILE MATTER OP WILLIAM CIIIPMA This insolvent, who had carried on business in the leather trade, as Chapman, Brothers, and Co., applied to be dis charged from prison. Mr. Nicholls opposed for a Mrs. Johnson, and Mr. Duncan for Meters. l'eto and Bryan, army clothiers. Mr. Cooke and Mr. tiargood supported. The ease was a peculiar one. The insolvent had let Mrs. Johnson, who was stated to be a widow, a furnished house in James-street, Buckingham -gate. She paid 1001. on ac count, and in a day or two the insolvent turned her oat forWSPAPER possession. Soon afterwards he parted with the properly, and with about 1701. started to Amerlea, where he re so ceel r.s. a short time and then cause to this co u ntry. Il e h a d s p ec k all the mI ney. An action was brought for asoialt and 11,1 trc•si ass by Mrs Jo! u•oa, th.• VOL , ..—rsaft+ was proceeded with whilst the insolvent was oil his trip to Cii America. On the present occa s io n , Mrs. Johnson was calltd, and on being pressel rsfused t.' sly whether ehryrne 4 SS :4:1,1X3 I t I i I I