The Express. — London, England, 1866-04-28 00:00:00

tion and assiduously cheered by Mr. Gladstone. Indeed it may here be mentioned that one of his traits of leadership is the marked encouragement which he gives to all the younger and newer mem bers of his party in the house. To Captain Grosvenor succeeded Mr. Butler-Johnstone, one of the rising young tories. After him there was evidence of the value of Mr. Darby Griffith's suggestion that the arrangement of seats in the house ought better to indicate the polities of speakers than is now the case ; for The O'Dono ghue, who always sits below the gangway on the opposition, rose exactly in front of Mr. Butler-Johnstone to give utterance to one of the most uncompromising speeches in favour of the government which has been delivered in the debate. Even on Irish questions The O'Donoghue is an un-Irish speaker, emphatic but calm, earnest but without a trace of passion ; he pronounces well-rounded sentences argumenta tively constructed, and, truth to say, smacking rather of preparation. On an imperial question, therefore, he might well be supposed to be almost cold ; but this time he was anything but that. Some strong feeling of faith in Mr. Gladstone evidently possessed him, and towards the close of his speech he gave it vent, in terms which were unmistakeable, and an em- phasis which seemed to be eminently genuine ; and it need hardly be said that the object of his panegyric showed more and more symptoms of grateful appreciation. The cheers from the mi nisterial aide were led with vigour by the minis- terial leader. The awkward period of the evening-7 o'clock — had now arrived ; and, contrary to expecta- tion, the house grew almost empty, and it was, as on an ordinary night, left to the ruck of memberdom to bridge over the critical chasm in the debate. It was in the midst of a parliamentary desert that Mr. Baines—who had struggled often before for a hearing—gained an opportunity of repeating in brief the statistical arguments in favour of a reduction of the fran chise, which he had on former occasions so elabor ately and successfully developed. He did not seem to be influenced by anything more than a desire to avoid the appear►nce of indiffer ence, which he might have incurred had he remained wholly silent, and he was very brief. To the new members his statements may have been new, but to the older ones they were only a reminiscence. The condition of the de- - - - - bate was now much like that which is implied when it is said that a discussion is as dull as if it was on a turnpike bill. Both leaders were absent, and so there was nothing to prevent Mr. Newdegate having his say ; and Mr. P. A. Taylor met with equal, that is no, favour, but only indifferent sufferance. It was twenty minutes to 10, and Mr. Gladstone reappeared in his place, followed im mediately by Mr. Disraeli, and they both so settled themselves that suggestions of the immediate com mencement of the great parliamentary duel which was impending, were rife. Still, possibly, because the house was only slowly filling, the high opponent parties seemed to daily with opportunity, and minor members yet had precedence. It was quite an inci- dent when Mr. Robert Harvey, the conservative member for Thetford, rose, and in a simple, but distinct way, announced that duty to his con atituents compelled him to vote with the government. The miniaterialista overwhelmed him with cheers ; and gentlemen around him looked askance, or turned on him with blank astonishment on their countenances. Yet further, and Mr. W. E. Duncombe, a veritable outsider, was suffered to utter his dis jointed criticisms on the measure until the charmed hour of 10 was reached. Then it was clear that the house desired that the reign of dulness should cease, and though for a moment they recognised Mr. Locke King's claim to say something on the subject of the lowering of the franchise, they did not bear him long, and the unanimous cry of " Divide" rang out generally till he gave way to Mr. Disraeli, who obtained an ovation from his friends, and was not able to speak for a minute or two, standing the cynosure of every eye. It was to be noticed that some of the cheers came from a little nook, somewhere about the third bench &shin(' the ministers, and near the place where Lord Grosvenor sat. Suddenly Mr. Gladstone bent his head down between his knees, as if assuming a defensive position against a pmximate, pitiless shower of sarcasm and attack ; but a very few minutes served to assure him that there was nothing in the shape of hard-hitting to be anticipated ; for Mr. Disraeli went in for one of those quasi politico-philosophic harangues, in which he seems to delight, and which delight no one else. He did not speak in oratorical fashion ; he only con versed, and even when here and there he used the argunieutum ad hominem. against Mr. Gladstone, which he did parenthetically, and by fits and starts, he scarcely rose above the level of scolding. It soon became apparent that he was physically out of order ; his voice was not at his command, it grew husky, and, contrary to his cus tom, he consumed glass after glass of water. Once he burst into something like spontaneity when he was describing the sort of parliament which would control the destinies of the country as a consequence of the extension of the franchise, and whose character he summed up when he designated it as an assembly of mediocrities only capable of mischief at the bidding of the ruling dema gogue of the hour. With effort, but successful effort, he warmed up to the proper pitch when he was ex huming the under-graduate opinions of Mr. Glad stone, and when he was what he himself would call " roasting " Mr. Mill ; and he rose to the veriest height of insolent personality when he charged down on Mr. Bright. Two hours and forty minutes brought him to the close of what may im partially be stated as one of the most laboured, and yet most ineffective speeches he has ever de livered. It was 1 o'clock ; not a section of a corner of the house was unoccupied, save the seat on which the Prince of Wales had sat for a great part of Mr. Disraeli's speech, but which he had not long before vacated ; but not to leave the house, as afterwards appeared. With alacrity and a free air of confidence, Mr. Gladstone stood by the table, while cheer upon cheer rang out from behind him, echoed and re-echoed in a hostile sense by the opposition. He looked as if he felt that he was equal to the situation ; and he began as he continued and ended—in a tone of deep earnestness ; every word seemed to issue from his heart ; and all the powers of his mind seemed to be concentrated on the enunciation of every sentence. Here and there he descended to a playful and colloquial manner ; now and again, when his most bril liant points were met by noisy and senseless Indications of dissent by the opposition, he assumed an attitude of proud rebuke. When, as was his first task, he retorted with withering sar casm and bitterly deliberate utterance on Mr. Disraeli, lie looked sternly straight into the eyes DOB, WU liOn nut• THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 28, 1866. of that gentleman, who, however, did not wince. Nothing could have been more tender than his manner when he was dealing with Mr. Lowe, whom he treated more as an erring brother than a genuine opponent ; and probably never was pathos at once more manly and more touching than when he described himself as having no original title to the leadership of the liberal party, and thanked that party for receiving him as an " outcast" into their sympathies and their confidence. The physical sustentation which he displayed was almost as striking as the in tellectual development. His voice did not fail him a jot ; and as from time to time he ran up and down the whole oratorical scale, every tone was fitting and every emphasis appropriate. The comprehensiveness of the speech was mar vellous ; no topic was left untouched, no argument unanswered ; illustration came in with wonderful appositeness ; and, above all, a new quality was evoked which alone has hitherto been wanting to the completeness of Mr. Gladstone as a parliamen tary orator. He was eminently tactical. If he was about to use a phrase which might have been irritating—he stopped and substituted another ; he spoke to the opposition with a deference to their acknowledged position as a great pai even when he was severely rebuking, or solemnly warning them. Nothing can be conceived more impressive than the deliberate enunciation of the peroration with which he brought to a close that which the undisguised and involuntary applause of his opponents, which rang out from time to time, no less than the prolonged and enthusiastic cheers of his supporters, and the murmured opinion of every spectator of the scene--proclaimed to be the very greatest speech he has ever delivered. It was long, counting by minutes, ere the formal division could be called. At that moment the house seemed thin ; many seats were vacant, and the bar was not abso lutely thronged so that there began to be pre valent a notion that many members had gone away. In the result it appeared that they must have gone in some numbers, by anticipation, into the different lobbies before the question was put. Hours seemed compressed into minutes as the process of sepa rating the ayes from the noes went on, with appa rently unusual slowness. Ever and anon some enthusiastic member of the opposition would run in and whisper how their side was going, and before the tellers for the noes appeared there went a suppressed cry though the house that the opposition had got 313 votes. But though this seemed to be welcomed with delight, there were exclamations which indicated that there were still fears that Ministers would poll more than their antagonists hoped and expected. At this time it may be noted that the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, and Prince Teck had in a main . r evaded the order for the withdrawal of strangers, which is especially applicable to the parrs of Vie house they occupied, and enaconc themselves in a group at the door of the Speaker's gallery, which, now-a-days, is technically out of the house. At length, and when the tension of the moment was at its highest strain, the tellers for the Ayes, that is of those who were in favour of the government, with difficulty forced themselves through the throng at the bar. The lapse of time between their appearance and the entry of the tellers for the Noes was so comparatively great, that speculation arose as to whether, as the process of counting on the government side had been so prolonged, the majority might not be larger than even the most sanguine had anticipated. When the paper containing the numbers was hand.Al to Mr. Brand, the ministerialista vociferated in a way that seemed to treble their numbers in idea, and the opposition broke out with rebutting cheers, which sounded very much like yells. Ri - iht gal lantly, and in a voice as sonorous and distinct as if he were pronouncing the most unmis takeable triumph, Mr. Brand delivered the verdict which gave to Ministers a majority of five. No words can give a notion of the tumult that ensued. Each aide seemed resolved to claim the victory, and were deter mined not to be outdone in clamorous assertion of it. It was in vain that anyone endeavoured to discriminate between the noises, or to decide which aide was the most vigorous. It was during a short pause in the clamour that Mr. Gladstone, in a low voice and a hurried manner, announced that ho would fix the committee for Monday, and then state the " course of business." The opposition caught up this phrase and laughed and derided in that manner of which they are perhaps the better professors in the house. It was verging upon 4 o'clock, and though it seemed as if members were reluctant to quit the scene of so much excitement, and though they lingered for a brief while, it was not long ere every vestige of the great Reform debate of 1866 had disappeared from the house. ITALY AND VENETIA. (REUTER'S REMISS.) MILAN, APRIL 24. Advices received here from Mantua to the 20th inst. announce that the warlike preparations ini that city had assumed a more decided character. In addition to several general measures for the collection of military stores and munitions, orders had been given to increase the effective of the army. The artillery were first called out and a large number of men of this corps had arrived at Mantua in order to fill up the companies in the field batteries. On the night of the 18th inst. the police, assisted by a military detachment, went round to the houses not only of the conscripts but of the soldiers on furlough and brought them away to the barracks. This mode of making the levy was adopted in the neighbouring communes, as well as in Mantua itself, and was regarded as an evidence of the dis trust in which the Austrian authorities hold the men recruited in her Italian dominions. Work men were busy in the forts and the greatest activity was displayed in all the military esta blishments. FLORENCE, APRIL 25. The Italia Militare estimates that the calling in of the reserves and of the men on furlough, has augmented the Austrian army in Venetia by one third. It confirms the intelligence received from various quarters respecting the activity recently displayed in arming and provisioning the fortresses and the constant movement of troops. Verona and Venice are the two great centres from which war material and provisions are continually being despatched, particularly by night. The Naples Italia publishes a despatch from Florence dated 22nd instant announcing that the Minister of Marine has forwarded a circular to the heads of the maritime departments ordering them to suspend all works of secondary importance and only to proceed with those that will render the royal war vessels ready for service in the shortest possible time. The same paper states that the Italian govern ment has despatched an order to England for Arm- I strong guns. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. AUSTRIA AND ITALY. FLORENCE, APRIL 27, 9.25 P.M. Very great astonishment prevails here at the un doubted and extensive military preparations in Venetia on the part of Austria. There have been no Italian military preparations to justify such demonstrations. There is now a general especta tion of war.—Time (second edition). (REUTER'S TZLEORAM.) ITALY AND AUSTRIA. PARIS, APRIL 28. The Conatitutitoe/ of this morning says : " The danger of war beereen Austria and Prussia appearing to be removed, Austria should not main tain her armaments in Venetia. It is not probable that Italy would alone attack Austria." The Constitutionnel proceeds to deny that Italy is arming, and adds :—" Under these circum stances, it is io be supposed that Austria will not delay replacing her military arrangements upon their former footing in Italy, as well as in Ger many. This is necessary in order to restore to Europe real confidence in the maintenance of peace, and that tranquillity and liberty of action needed for the development of her prosperity." AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN. LIVERPOOL, APRIL 28. The extra Inman steamship City of Dublin, Captain Eynon, from New York on the 14th inst., has arrived here. Her news has been anticipated. LAW INTELLIGENCE. (THIS DAY.) COURT OF COMMON PLEAS. (Sittings in Banco.—Before Lord Chief Justice Erie and Justices Willes, Keating, and Smith.) STANHOPE, APPELLANT V. TFIORESET, RESPONDENT. This case was disposed of yesterday afternoon. The appellant, Mr. Banks Stanhope, M.P., wrote a note to a neighbouring magistrate stating that the cattle plague had reached within two miles of the place, and asking for a license to remove some fat cattle, in order that they might be slaughtered. The magistrate granted the license, and the cattle were removed. The orders of quarter sessions authorised a magistrate to grant such a license if he was satisfied that the cattle plague was not within a mile, but it turned out that in the prrcent cave the plague wax within about half-a-mile, though the owner of the affected cattle did not believe at the time that they had the plague. Under these circumstances, Mr. B. Stanhope was summoned for having in fringed the orders of quarter sessions, and the magistrates who heard the summons tre..thil his licence a • a nullity, and convicted him of hxtv'ng removed the cattle without a license. This conviction was row appealed a,ga'ast. Mr. Bovill, Q.C., and Mr. Hannan appear e d for the ap pellant ; and Mr. Manisty, Q.C., and Mr. Stephens for the respondent. The Lord Chief Justice said that the justices who hail convicted Mr. Stanhope found that there was nothing like intentional deception or violation of the law on his part, but they considered that they had a right to inquii e into the quant;ty of evidence upon which the magistrate acted in granting the licence. The court, however, were of opinion that they had no such right; and, therefore, that the conviction must be quashed. Thi3 cowl wished also to say that while Mr. Stanhope had no intention to do any wrong, the ma gistrates who c invicted him had acted under a determina tion to do their duty in • tine of considerable danger, when prompt and decisive action was of the highest im portance to the public interest. Conviction quashed. COURT OF PROBATE AND DIVORCE. (Before the Judge Ordinary.) GIBSON T. 'item. Dr. Twins, Q.C., and Dr. Swabey for the plaintiff ; Mr. It. &Make, Q.C., and Dr. Spinka for the delendant. This was a question relative to the will of William Brocklebank, late of Silecroft, in Cumberland, who died in June 1364, leaving property worth about 3001. By the instrument in dispute he gave a life interest to his wife (who only survived him till the April following), and then a lire interest to his sister, Agnes Gibson, with remainder to another relative named Walker. It was drawn by an attorney named Myers, who was a coroner and a clerk to a board of guardians in Cum berland, and who was appointed executor. Probate had been taken out in common form, but it was called in ques tion by Gibson, who alleged that the will was a spurious one. On the one side Mr. Myers swore positively to the ex ecution of the document, but the attesting witness, Henry Myers, a publican, and his (laughter, swore with equal positiveness that their alleged signatures were forgeries. The cane has not yet concluded. THE POLICE COURTS. (THIS DAY.) CLERICENWELL. A BAD riTORT. Margaret Paekreall,; res --- pecta dressed person, whose hair and features plainly showed that trouble had done more than its fair share of work, and who described herself as a married woman, residing at No. 2, Hastings-street, Somers-town, was charged with taking a quantity of poison (precipitate powder) with intent to destroy her..elf, at the Crown public-house, Goldington-cmcent, St. Pancras-road. It appeared from the evidence that Police-sergeant George Parry, 11 was on Tuesday, the 17th inst., called to the above public-house, where he found the defendant appa rently in a dying state, being attended to by the Miss Greaves, who managed the business. They informed him that the defendant had taken poison, and in proof of it pointed to an empty paper by the side of her labelled " Poison," that Mr. Watson had gone for a surgeon, and that in the meantime they had admi nistered to her an emetic. On the arrival of Mr. Butt, the house surgeon at St. Pancras Workhouse, he also ad ministered antidotes, and gave it as his opinion that had the Miss Greaves not acted in the prompt and kind man ner they had the defendant would have died. As soon as the defendant had sufficiently reoovered she was taken to the infirmary at the workhouse, where she had remained until this morning,' when she was brought to this court. The defendant had stated that she was in duced to take the poison as she was tired of her life in consequence of her husband having deserted her and gone away with another woman. He (Sergeant Parry) had made inquiries, and had ascer tained that the husband was cohabiting with a young female, that since this occurrence he had left the neigh ' bourhood, and at present no trace could be found of him, though, if a remand was granted, he had no doubt that he should be able to get some tidings of him. . . The defendant, who see.neeoverwhelmed with grief, said that she now deeply regretted that she should have attempted so foolish and wicked an act as that of destroy ing her life. It very much preyed on her mind that her husband should have deserted her and left her to starve whilst he kept another woman. Hers had indeed been • life of trouble, but she would never let trouble any more lead her into such a dilemma as she then was in. Mr. D'Eyncourt said that the defendant's was a sad story, and remanded her to the House of Detention for a few weeks, and directed that she should be seen by the chaplain. ---------- _ GREENWICH. EXTRAORDINARY CAREER OF A FEMALE SERVANT. Sarah Meade, a respectable-looking young woman, who stated her age to be 25, but who appeared much younger, was brought up for final examination, charged with rob bing her master, Mr. Barger, an architect of 22, Circus street, Greenwich, of money and a large quantity of mis cellaneous articles, including 31 water-colour drawings. The particulars of the case, as disclosed in evidence, and from inquiries instituted by the police, are of an extraor dinary character. At the age of 11 years the prisoner was found by the police in the streets of Whitechapel in a de plorable state of destitution, and as it appeared she had neither father nor mother living, the Society for the Protection of Young Females was communi cated with, and she was sent to the society's training school in the neighbourhood of Brighton. 1 There she remained until of sufficient age to enter service, and a situation was obtained for her in the family of a lady at Brighton, where she remained for some considerable time. She received a character on leaving, which enabled her to obtain another situation, but from this period she appears to have remained but a few weeks at different situations she filled at Finchley, and other suburbs of London. In November last she entered the service of the prosecutor as nurse, a written character being received with her. In consequence of various articles being missed, including between 6/. and 71. in threepenny and fourpenny pieces , contained in three linen bags, she had notice to leave, which notice ex pired on the 31st March. On the evening of that day, prior to leaving, the prosecutor expressed his intention of having her boxes examined ; and on this being done the water-colour drawings named in the charge and a variety of other articles, including one of the three bags which had contained the threepenny and fourpenny pieces were found ; and a grocer in the neighbourhood deposed that two months since he exchanged three , penny pieces to the amount of 10 s. for the ' prisoner. Whilst the prosecutor was consulting a friend what he should do, the prisoner abruptly left the house, leaving her boxes. On the following Mon day she applied at this court for the magistrate's advice as to the beet course to pursue to obtain possession of her boxes, and was referred to the County Court. Nothing more was seen of the prisoner until a few even ings since, when she called at the prosecutor ' s house and demanded her boxes, and was given into custody. Mr. Illackett, draper and outfitter, of 31, West Smith field, City, now attended, and identified a large quan tity of articles, consistilj of silk dress pieces, children's clothing, books, ke., found in the prisoner's boxes, as his property, the prisoner having been six weeks in his service, out leaving in August last. The ruaais, tmte declined to deal with the cage sum marily, and the prisoner was fully committed for trial at the next Old Bewley Sessions. WANDSWORTH. CONVICTION OF PISHPOACHERS.—ACTION TO ANGLERS. William Whitby and Charles Thwriton appeared be. fore Mr. Daytnan, to answer two summonses taken out by Colonel Beres:ord, of Lowcr.park, Putney, under the 24th and 2ith Vic., cap. 96, sec. 24, for attempting to take fish from his pond adjoining his dwelling-house between sunrise and sunset, whereby they had each incurred a penalty of 51. Mr. A. Haynes appeared for Colonel Beresfonl, and seated that the complainant was not desirous of pressing the case heavily, his object being to prevent a repetition of the intrusion upon his private property. Mr. Wilson, who defended, pleaded not guilty. The evidence went to prove that shortly after 11 o'clock on the morning of Sunday, the let inst., the defendants were seen by Colonel Levet 'ord's servanta in the park. Whitby was fishing in the pond with a rod and line and Thornton was near him watching. When they saw the men they made off, Whitby carrying his rod with him. Mr. Niil.on addre-scd the bench on behalf of his clients, and intimated that he bad witnesses to prove an alibi. Mr. Haynea reminded the ma3fstrate of the evidence of Colonel Beresfonl, wbo was examined on Saturday last, when he sta...-.4.3 that Thorrton afterwards called on him and begged him not to press the charge, at the same time tell ing him that he did not fish, but that Whitby was the man who had the rod. Mr. Wilson said that the defendant now, through him, denied be ws in the park. Witnesses were called for the defence, and they stated that they met Whitby by appointment shortly after 11 o clock, and that he had no fishing tackle with him. Mr. D..yman thought the case proved, and amd he saw no difference between stealing fish out of a gentleman's pond, or poultry from his yard. The defendants had taken the opportuniq of going into the park whca they suppoccd the family were at church. It was very disgraceful to trespass upon other persons land in this way, and he fined each defendant 405., and 2s. costs. The money was immediately paid. ELECTION PETITIONS.-(THIS DAY.) NORTHALLFIITON. The committOenetthis morning (Saturday) at 11. Mr. Serjeant Ballantine, on the part of Mr. Johns, the petitioner. said that he did not propose to go into a scrutiny with a view of claiming the seat for the petitioner, and, therefore, ho had nothing further to lay before the commi-t-e. The counsel on the other side then consulted, and, at the clo.:e of the del;b:iraaon, Mr. Price said it was not his intention to make any applica.ion to the oommittae, with a view to disqualifying the petitioner for claimin; the seat. The Chairman said that the committee had not formally completed their re.,olutions, and they 'would now consider whether they had any to add to them. The room was then clewed. On the readmission of the public, The Chairman said the resolutions had been varied but slightly from what he read la , st evening, and he then read them. The second resolution was the only new one, and it was that the last eleet'on for Northallerton was null and void. The other r.rmlutions, as already rzported, we•e that Mr. Mills was not duly elected, that by his agent he :mil been guilty of bilbery ; that the agent, ?Ir. Fowle, had offered valuable con..iderations for their votes to Thomas Lightfoot and James Archer, that it wag not proved that these ac:x of bribery were committed with the knowledge and consent of Mr. Mills, and that it was not Proved that corrupt practices prevailed extensively. This terminated the inquiry. HUDDERSFIELD. The committee resumed this morning at 11 o'clock. Counsel for the petitioners Mr. Temple, Q.C., Serjeant Atkinson, and Mr. Mamaniars.; for the sitting member, Mr. Rodwell, Q.C., Hr. Harmer, and Mr. Waddy. John Stanley examined by Mr. Temple—l remember the Tuesday before the election. I met Parish that day. In consequence I went that night to the Gorge Hotel. I saw there a person I cl;il not know. Captain Learoyd was there, and gave me a ticket marked with a private mark, which I could not make out, and told me to go aail watch Naylor's house. I was to have ten shillings. Two others were also employed with me. Parish and Woodhouse care there next day. We had some thing to drink. Woodhouse asked Naylor to go to the Albion. We went and had whisky there all round. Naylor was aalcsil to take a dive. I went and got a cab. Northrop was the driver, and brought the cab to the back i 100... After some pressing Naylor •and Woodhouse went off In it. Cro -..examined by Mr. Hannen—l cannot swear that I saw Cap.ain Learoyd at the George. I know him welL He did no:. give me the ticket. By the Committ e—Naylor went voluntarity. He war not drunk, but getting on. Thomas Naylor—l was canvassed by both parties. I meant to vote for Leathern. On the polling day Parish and Woodhouse asked me to go to the Albion as I was going to work. I had two glasses of whiskey. Woodhouse asked me to drive out. 1 refused at first. I had more whiskey, and at last agreed to go in the cab. We stopped first at the Warren House, on the Manchester-road. A mile off Parish got out. Woodhouse and I had a glass of brandy in the cab. We stopped next at Slaithwaite, four miles further. I had morn brandy, and wanted to go back. I said if we want on, I would go to see my sister at Ash ton. I fell asleep and recollected nothing till we got to a public house at Ashton. I never saw the cab any more after that. I had more brandy. I had had nothing to eat up to that time. I asked them to go to my sister's, but found myself at Staley bridge. We went to a public-house and had more brandy. I lay down on a long settle and went to sleep. This was the nomination day. We stopped there all night. Wood house slept with me. I was very bad all night. Next morning I had a red herring and some coffee and brandy. Woodhouse propo-ed to go and see a woman walk 1,000 miles in 1,000 hours. I never saw a woman. We then went to a skittle ground. We played with the landlord. We lost but then went to Guide-bridge and other places. I wanted to go back to Huddersfield. We had plenty to drink, and I got back to Huddersfield at ten minutes to 4. I could not get to the poll. Nothing was elicited in the cross-examination of the witness except that he was a beer-house keeper, but never drank his own beer. He liked whrnkey best. George Northrop, the cab driver, confirmed the evidence of previous witnesses with respect to the drive to Ashton. Cross-examined by Mr. Hannen—There was no force used to Naylor. At the Warren Naylor said he should like to go to Ashton. [Left sitting.] CHELTENHAM. The committee appointed to try the merits of the petition against the return of Charles Schreiber on the ground of bribery, treating, and undue influence, met at 11 o'c. cL. The committee consists of the following members : Mr. Ayrton (Chairman), the Hon. J. L Cole, Mr. R. W. Crawford, Viscount Holmesdale, and Sir Colman O'Loghlcn. Counsel for the petitioners—Mr. Powell, Q.C., Mr. Fitzjames Stephen, and Mr. Fallon ; counsel for the sitting member—Mr. Cooke, Q.C., Mr. Price, Q.C., and Mr. Lopes. Mr. Powell opened the case for the petitioners. [Left sitting.] BANBURY. The committee appointed to try the merits of the petition of Charles Bell against the return of Bernhard Samuelson. on the ground of his being incapacitated by reason of his being an alien, met at 11 o'clock. The committee consists of the following members : Right Hon. W. Mowbray (Chairman), Mr. Wm. Bovill, Mr. G. C. Glyn, Mr. John Locke, and Lord R. Montagu. Counsel for the petitioner: Mr. Rodwell, Q.C., Mr. Milward, Q.C., and Mr. Williams. For the sitting mem ber: Mr. Phinn, Q.C., Mr. Vernon Harcourt, Q.C., and Mr. Raymond. Mr. Rodwell, in opening the case on behalf of the peti tioner, said he should ask the committee to declare that the last election for Banbury was a void election, on the ground that Mr. Bernhard Samuelson, the sitting mem ber, was wholly incapacitated and disqualified from sitting in parliament, by reason of his being an alien, and not entitled to the rights and privileges of natural born subjects of the crown within the meaning of statutes. He should put in a certificate from the resister of births in the German Israelite community of Hamburg, which showed that in the year 1820, on the 22nd Novem ber, at 3 o'clock in the morning, in that place, a male child was born to Samuel Hermann Samuelson, a native of Petersburg, in Virginia, and his wife, and that child, I afterwards named Bernhard Samuelson, was the present ! sitting member for Banbury. Having done that.the onus ! of proof would lie upon the sitting member to show that I he was entitled either by statute or by any other mode to sit in parliament. The learned counsel then called, Mr. Naylor, the clerk to the Crown, who produced the return of the Banbury elections, with the poll books, &c. The certificates of Mr. Samuelson's birth and of his father and mother's marriage were also put in. This was the case for the petitioner. Mr. Phinn contended on behalf of the sitting member, that there was no cue whatever against his client. Assuming that Mr. Samuelson was born abroad, and that he was the son of a person who was also born abroad, that would not be sufficient to constitute him an alien, as the law upon the subject was that the son or grandson of • natural born subject of the crown, inherited all the privileges of a natural born subject him self and was in fact no alien. It had not been proved that Mr. Samuelson was not the grandson of a natural born subject, which indeed he was, his grandfather having been born in London, and his learned friend having failed in that point he (Mr. Phinn) contended that no ease had been made out. The learned counsel cited • number of cases in order to bear out his view of the law upon the subject. [Left sitting.] RING'S COUNTY. The committee resumed their inquiry at 11 o'clock ; Mr. Stephen Cave in the chair. Mr. Longford, Q.C., Mr. Cooke, Q.C., and Mr. O'Hara appeared for the sitting member. Mr. O'Malley, Q.C., Mr. Serpent Ballantine, Mr. Coffey, Q.C., Mr. Biron, and Mr. W. Gray for the siding member. The Chairman said with reference to the point which had bent under consideration when they rose last night, that they had determined that the second entry of Mi chael Brown's vote should be considerad sa not on the poll. The following evidence was then given : Richard Willis ezamined—l was deputy-sheriff at last election for King's County, for barony of Clonliss. I stiperinAnded the polling there. (Poll-book produced.) I see the name of J. Healy as having been entered for King and O'Brien. I see an entry made under the bead of " Observations." I made the entry. The voter came up. Mr.O'Malley objected to the vote being dealt with, no list having been furnished. Tl4 . cominittee said they would hear the facts before deciding on the objection. Examination continued—James Nerdy, when asked who he vot id for, said " King and Hennessy?' I repeated the words to the poll clerk ; and I saw him r ec or d th e vo t e f o r King and O' Brien. I sa , d, "That is wrong," and Sir Patrick O'Brien, who was pre-ent, said, " Oh, that is all very weg." Sir Patrick preventid me correcting the matter then. I -ent for the sheriff or his asse7sor, but neither was to be found. I then made the entry, " This vote given in error." [Left sitting.] HOLDERS OF SPANISH CERTIFICATES. (THIS DAY.) A meeting of holders of the Spanish Certificates was held at noon, at the London Tavern, Mr. D. ROBERT SON, M.P., in the chair, " to consider the exped;ency of requesting the committee of the Stock Exch.rnge to open the market for the nevtia:..on of Spanish securities." The CHAIRMAI: commenced by expressing his deep con cern at the unavoidgile absence of many bondholders of the Jewi h no :minion in consequence of the day being Saturday. Yesterday week a Spanish gentleman called upon him. he said, and told h'm that the Spanish government were determined to settle th's debt ; but that Spanish pride would prevent such a settlement until the Stock Exchange had opened their doors. After this interview he consulted several members of the Spanish committee with • view to the meeting, and it was found that for various reasons Saturd .y was the first and only day on which it was practicable to hold a meeting. In such a matter delay was a great evil, and a telegram just received from Madrid showed the necessity of acting at once. Never did he feel greater pride than at that moment, when, after the exertions of many years, he saw a pro-pect of the object of those exertions being aciasm plished. There were several parties who stood in the way of a settlement. Among these were certain great houses which had been accustomed to make a large profit by the present state of things, and the great financial corn , ponies, who wanted a large percentage. Having been I • Spanish bondholder for five-and-thirty years, be had always felt satisfied that • day would come when the debt would be settled, knowing the honour and integrity of the Spanish nation. (Laughter.) •He repeated the words, " the honour and integrity of the Spanish nation." (" Hear, hear." and renewed laughter.) O'Donnell and Narvaez had both said to him again and again, " You are I:ght in your demand, but you wilt never get the debt settled till the ban of the Stock Exchange is removed." They all knew how ready the British House of Commons was to set up its back when it felt itself aggrieved ; and, on the other hand, he believed Spain never had a better finance minister than M. Martinez. He then referred to the attempts made some years ago to get the debt set tled by the payment of 20/. for every 103/. ; and, after say ing that he himself fully determined at that period not to accept less than 25/., he read a recent communication to the Spanish Cortesby the Spanish Finance Minister to the effect that .h-re should he a settlement of the debt, provided the English Stock Exchange did away with the exclusion. He (the Chairman) admitted that they owed a deep debt of gratitude to the Committee ofd the Stock Exchange ; but he hoped they would con ant to regard this question not simply as one of justice, but as also one of expediency. Even if the pa.sing of a resolution requesting the opening of the Stock Exchange was not attended with success. they would be in no worse position than they were before The Finance Minister of Spain asked them to give I the power of settling the d ht ; and he (the Chairman) re peated that nothing in the world would induce him to consent to any settle nent which did not involve the pay.arnt of tig. for every 1001. of bonds. He then moved the follossingresolution,observing that the Spanish Finance minister was waiting at that moment to hear the re-sult:— " Resolved that this meeting having heard the statement made by its Chairman, and 'eerie." the advice tendered by him for its tuloption—havin g heard also the letter of Mr. Bell, who was appointed on the Bth of December last the commise.hrrr at Madrid, receives with great satisfaction the assurance and pledge of the Finance Minister of Spain, and most co'slially accepts his solemn declaration of the inte.ition to settle this long-pending ques tion on terms satisfactory to those interested, and, desiring to give a new and substantial proof of their con fidence in the Spanish nation, hereby withdraws all opposi tion to the opening of the quotation of new Spanish secu rities ; and that this resolution be communicates' by its Chairman, by telegram and letter, to the Finance Minis ter of Spain, and also to the committee of the Stock Ex- I change." The CHAIRMAN added that Mr. Caned, who was ablent, was in favour of the resolution, and that Kr Fitzroy Kelly, who was a large certificate holder,badauthorised him to tell the meeting that he would strongly recommend them to adopt his proposal. He was convinced that if the question were not settled now the youngest man among them would not see the settlement of it. The letter of Mr. Bell, referred to in the resolution, having been read to the meeting, Mr. MILNE HOME seconded the resolution, remarking that he was not at all surprised that the Spanish govern ment and Cor'..ci would not settle the question until the stigma of which they compla'oed, and which had branded them in all the capitals of Europe as dishonest, had been removed. (Hear, hear.) It was at the instance of the bondholders that that stigma was imposed, and at their instance it should now be done away with. (Cheers.) Mr. GERSTENBERG said he rose to move an amendment. The meeting bad no actual proposal before it for a settle ment, and, for aught they could tell, they might be offered some Spanish castles for their bonds. (Laughter.) The CHAIRMAN observed that the resolution spoke of the payment of 2.5/. and &deed that a second resolution set forth the terms of settlement distinctly. Mr. GR.ITENBERG was proceeding to refer to the state of the question some years ago, when The CHAIRMAN protested against such an allusion as irregular. Mr. GERRTENBERG then contended that by doing what they were asked to do the bondholders would give up their only protection. The law of the Stock Exchange on this subject did not apply to Spain only, it was a general law. and he maintained that it was against the interests of the bondholders that it should be abrogated. It was con trary to their dignity and honour to submit to such a con dition on the part of any government. If they submitted to this demand on the part of the Spanish government, they would be made to eat the leek again. What did Lord Clarendon say to this proposal The CHAIRMAN — He approves of it. (Cheers.) I agree with all that Mr. Gerstenberg says about honour; but even the Duke of Wellington and Sir Robert Peel yielded I on the ground of expediency. Mr. GERRTENBERO moved an amendment making the opening of the Stock Exchange dependent on the actual settlement of the Spanish debt. Mr. MoxoN seconeed the amendment, and contended that the proposed step would be an encouragement to other governments besides that of Spain to repudiate their debts. Three times had Spain robbed this country to the extent of 70 or 80 millions. (A Voice : They want to pay.) (Hear, hear.) If the bondholders wanted their throats to be cut, the sooner they laid their heads down for that pur pose the better. (Laughter.) A BoNDnoi.nee was surprised that under such circam tances Mr. Moxon should be a holder of Spanish Certiti sates. (Hear, hear.) Mr. VII.LEBOISNET doubted the disposition of the Cortes to settle the debt, and thought it could only be settled by a royal decree issued in the recess. Mr. J. J. ELLis said he had recently had interviews at Madrid, not only with the Spanish Finance Minister, but also with several members of the Cortes, who told him that there was a strong feeling in the Cortes in favour of the proposed settlement, and it was his belief that if the resolution was passed the debt would be settled. (Hear, hear.) After some remarks from the CHAIRMAN in reply, Mr. L. HAZLEWOOP said he had recently learnt at Madrid that the Spanish cabinet was unanimously in favour of the proposed settlement, and that they had a majority of three to one in the Cortes. After some further discussion, the proposal of the Chair man was adopted by the meeting. The Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to return to Sandringham in June or July, to witness a great cricket match, which is to be played in Sandringham Park, and for which the greatest efforts are being made to prepare the ground in front of Park aomie, Gen. Knollys's residence. The death is announced at Livonia, on the 12th inst., of Count Moltke, who was Miniler of State in Den mark from the death of Christian 111. to 1848, minister for Holstein in 1851, and for Schleswig from 1852 to 1854. MONEY MARKET. ---(THIS DAY.) ONZ O'CLOCK. The stock and share markets are flat to-day, and the general course of prices is unfavourable. Consols have receded k to I per cent. Foreign stocks are heavy, especially Italian Bonds of 18451, which have fallen per cent. consequent upon the unsatisfactory tenor of the news from abroad. The shares of several of the financial companies are also lower, the chief decline being in General Credit. British railways show comparative steadiness. The demand for money is moderate to-day, and the supply larger. The rate for the beat paper is 51g to 6 per cent. Consols are now quoted 861 to i for money, and 861 to i for the account (May 9). Foreign stocks are flat, and prices have again given way. Italian Bonds of 1861 continue promi nently heavy, and have expereinced a fresh fall of 11 per cent. Spanish Passive and Certificates have also declined i ; Brazilian scrip, 1; and Turkish of 1865 and Mexican, 1. The prices aru as follows: —Greek, 121 to 13 ; Mexican, 20 to 1 ; Spanish Passive, 25i ton ; ditto Certificates, 151 to i ; Turkish, 1862, 65 to 66/ ; ditto, 1865, 331 to i ; Brazilian scrip, 3} to 2,1 dis., ex div. ; and Italian, 1861, 49 to 1. American securities are rather lower. 5-20 Bonds are now quoted 691 to 70 ; Erie Railway shares, 51; to 52; ; and Illinois Central, 791 to 801. International Financial shares are now quoted Ito dia. ; General Credit, ; to din. ; London Financial, 41 to dis. ; Imperial Mercantile, 4} to 4 dis. ; Credit Foncier and Mobilier, par to a prem., ex div.; Overend, Gurney, and Company, to dis. ; and National Discount, ai to prem. Two o'CLocic. Console are flat, at 86i to g for money, and 862 for the a 7.ount. It is stated that the Austrian government have drawn on Paris for an advance of about one million sterling, lately made to them, and hence the fall in the Austrian exchange. An instalment of 15 per cent., making 50 per cent. paid, falls due on the Ist of May on the Egyptian Government Railways Loan, a large por tion of which, however, has been paid up in full. About 15,0001. in gold was withdrawn from the Bank yesterday for exportation. The foreign exchanges showed no variation of importance yesterday, but the rates for bills on Italy wore again slightly higher. The weekly return of the Bank of France shows the following changes Coin and bullion lncrease £288,000 Bills discounted Government deposits lncrease 570,000 Notes in circulation Private deposits Advances The bills discounted have increased, but so have e coin and ludlion, thus this return cannot be considered an unfavourable one. At Paris the rate of discount in the open market is 3,1 per cent. ; Hamburg, Turin, and Berlin, 6 ; Vienna and Amsterdam, 6.1 ; Frankfort, 41 ; Brus . ;Is 4 ; and St. Petersburg, 6-1 per cent. it the meeting yesterday of the Ottoman (Smyrna to Aidin) Railway Company, it was an nounced that the directors are no: in a position to pay off the bonds which fall due on the Ist of May, and is was accordingly resolved to renew them for a period of twelve months, at 10 per cent. per annum interest, instead of 6, ashi;lierto. The th;ril annual meeting o" the Imperial Otto man Dank will be held on the 27th June, at the London Tavern, "to receive a report from the c»oloittee, with the accounts for the calendar year ending December 31, 1865, and to declare a dividend on the old shams (the new shares only .wing entitled to participate in the profits accruing t') the bank from the IstJanuary, 1866, agreeably t'..) the resolution o 7 29th November, 1865, which created them)." A petition :or the winding-up of the Railway Finance Company (Limited) by the Court of Chan cery is to be heard before Vice-Chancellor Wood on the 6th of May. Mr. John Parson, chairman of the Metropolitan Railway, has joined the direction of the Metropo litan and Provincial Bank (Limited). The first drawing for the redemption of the Vice roy of Egypt a mortgage loan took place yesterday at the offices of the Anglo-Egyptian Bank (Limited), in the presence of Mr. J. W. Larking (representa tive in London of his Highness the Viceroy of Egypt), and of Mr. W. W. Venn, notary public. A branch of the London Joint Stock Bank will be open_d at 124, Chancery-lane, on the Ist May. We are informed that Mr. E. Pullein has retired from the firm of Harding, Pullein, Whinney, and Gibbons, the accountants, and that the style of the firm will in future be Harding, Whinney, Gibbons, and Co. The Emigration Co-unissioners will receive ten ders on the 3rd of May for the hire of a ship to carry passengers to Adelaide, South Australia. [For Mines, Share Lies, and Commercial Intelligence, see page B.] The second courersazione for the present season of the president of the Royal Society will take place, at Burlington-house, this evening (Saturday). The May exhibition of flowers at the Royal Hor ticultural Society will n.ke place on Thursday, next week, May i. Mr. Beresford Hope, president of the Architec tural Exhibition Society, has issued cards for an evenin g reception on Tuesday next, May 1. A public meeting in support of the Association for the Blind will be held in St. James's-hall, May 15. The Archbishop of York will preside, and many of Miss Gilbert's influential friends will address the meeting. A stall will be furnished with the works of the blind, and the articles sold for the benefit of the institution. There is to be a festival at Hanover in when Hadyn's Seasons, Handers Cecilian Ode and Halle lujah, and Beethoven's Choral Symphony will be performed. To-day (Saturday) the private view of the Exhi bition of the Society of Painters in Water-Colours took place ; on Monday the Gallery will be opened to the public. The private view of French and Flemish pictures (French Exhibition) will take place at 120, Pall-mall, on the sth of May ; the Gallery will be opened to the public on the 7th of that month. Fraulein Mehlig is announced to play-at the Philharmonic Concert of Monday next. Mr. W. Cusins promises a new pianoforte con certo for his own concert. We (A rmy and Nary Gazette) regret to hear that Mr. E. J. Reed, the Chief Constructor of the Navy, has undergone a very painful operation, and is now in the Isle of Wight, with a view of recruiting his health. The A rmy and Nary Gazette states that the Ad miralty have resolved to have a powerful armour plated ship permanently stationed at Queenstown, and their lordships have decided that Rear-Admiral Frederick shall transfer his flag from the Hastings to the Black Prince, the crew of the former being turned over to the latter. The Hastings, until further orders, will also remain at Queenstown. The Star understands that Mr. Lefevre, the member for Reading, is about to accept office as one of the Lords of the Admiralty, and that it is not improbable that anew writ for that borough will be moved on Monday or Tuesday next. SUDDEN DEATH OF LADY KNIGHT BRUCE. Yesterday (Friday) afternoon, about 4 o'clock, Lady Knight Bruce, wife of Lord Justice Knight Bruce, while in the shop of Mr. Peter Robinson, silk mercer, 257, Regent-street, was taken suddenly ill, it is supposed, with a fit. Dr. Tucker, of Great Marlborough-street, and Dr. McOscar, of Argyle-street, were immediately sent for, and promptly attended ; but on their arrival her ladyship had ceased to exist. In the course of the evening the body of her ladyship wus removed to the residence of his lord ship, Roehampton Priory, Surrey.