The Express. — London, England, 1849-08-28 00:00:00

IMF to ham been dos* by sem* Mad el hammer. With 1 uggerd to the maim, his belief was that they were blood, but t b a y &obit be trom other ceases. He sad Mr. Odling rod by • elletnic4l test if they wore vegetable or iron mould, bat the. (+end they were 'either. Mr. Odling had takes o pleat of the muslin 19 pat in distilled water, Means. to items Woad it *wild disappear by being lei tin it for unte time. Mr. Flync.—l have never men Manning, end Alamo, seta Monday, the 13th. I saw her at 3, litsver•plarie. I beard on Saturday night, the 11th kir Oat Mr. °Towner was aiming, and I went there ou M o n day to Melaka afire Mu. Me,. Minting opened the door. was secompeaied by a politest& in Wonted clothe I mid I was • farad of Mr O'Counzir, and she asked me iu • rhos was shoat a quitter to II the magaing. She desired It to take • seat in the fv•mt parlour. I asked ter if the lamer satthing of Mr. O'Cossor, and she said " No." I slid it was very odd, and she maid, " Tee, k is very strange was." She said that some friends at mine bed emu Ma so ato hedge at nine o'clock on Thursday evesieg, and Mosti^sed Mr. Yeating at one. She said he was very fickle minded, as he 'aka came into her house and only stopped a minute or two, that he would jump up abruptly and take his bet. She said them w. m some friends of his at Vauxhall, named Walsh ; that he bad gone once or twice to that place. She said Mr. O'Connor was the best fiiead she bad is Loudon. When she men tioned his name I observed a slight change in her Imo, and I mind bar if she felt the room warm. Site said vNo ;" that rho had been ill about six weeks ego, and she died B.y the MO pals, at Ma same time putting her band to her I rob ad. Nothing occurred to induce the limpid a that O'Cooune was them at dta time. I was present at the orniag of Mr. O'Connos's frank- because, having made him • pretest of the cash-box, and knowing he kept his rail way strip in it. I was auxious to me it ; sod, having seen it oyes, I cent to the sseistrotes on Wednesday and gave in flermstim. I knew Mr. O'Connor eke years in London, bat I knew hint deo in Ireland. I have heard him speak of Maria de It .ux, bat that was before her merrier. He ep sbe et her snore in • joking than affectionate tone. dome years Macs Mr. O'Cmaor 'tad me he was worth 4,000!. or 5,000/. Mr. P. Kessing —ln consequence of hearing dui' Mr. O'Connor as miming I went, with Mr. Graham, on Sans day, the 12th, to Kr. Manning's house, thinking it a likely pleas to hear or kis. I knocked, and asked if Mr. O'Connor did not dints there on Thursday, and Mrs. Manning answered nos that he did not I was mu h surprised that she did not Show any moiety upon hearing that Mr. O'Connor was =be init. I ask* lif the had not been to his lodgings at sic o'eloek on Thursday, and she said not until 7 o'clock, and that she Then went to inquire attar his health. I said that perhaps Mr Manning could tell something of Mr. O'Connor, sod she said that Manning was gone out to church. The evidince being closed here, The Cr J. net begged of the jury to dismiss from their minds eventbit g they might have read on the subject of the alleged motder, and to consider oaly the evidence. listing referred to the venire of the wounds inflicted on the de ceased, and else to the secreted position of the body, he thought that the jury would at once conclude that these wounds must have been indicted by some other person UT persons than the deceased himself. Then came the question who the person or persons were that could have been in daced to take aw. y his life. lie referred particularly to the evidence of Superintenaent Mosey, showing Mrs. Manning to be in poomseion of railway shares and Bank at England notes which were proved to have been the proper yof the deceased. It was for the jury to decide whether the ilseessed was murdered for the pupae of ob egiaing tbia peoputy, and whether there was any other per soa in the hone. at 1170. /1, Minvereplans, when the murder was committed than Mr. as d Mrs. Manning, and whether,in fact, there wrung auMcient evidence, looking particularly to that of Mr. Massey, and to that which related to the pur chase et the shovel, to bring the guilty act home to these two MIMS, The room was then cleared (half-?ant 9 o'clock), and the Jury, after deliberating for half an hour, came to the follow iog verdict : " We are unanimously of opinion that the de. Nosed, Patrick O'Connor, has been brutally murdered by Giorgi Fre lerick Manning and Maria Manning." THE CHOLERA. Return of ewes of cho!era reported to the General 'card of Health yesterday, August 27 : Attacks. D•aths. 1a Lead= and vicinity, vie. Lambeth lll 49 8 mihwark Bethnal fireoli Beesamitlsey elkortilitch Whtteehapel Massa Mciylobate West Loudon Union 9 2 Sr. (hies in-the Fields l4 3 Greenwich l9 7 Clapham 3 3 Other lc.ealtti4e In Beaten& and Wafts : Liverpool 93 28 Merthyr Tydfil l4 7 . Plyisea Goethe,ti 31 9 16 3 Brawl ll 6 Newmatbrmader-Lyme Le e ds Wisbmieh Tewkesbury York Birk. nhead 2 0 North Weide l2 14 He Word 2 3 tits. ernees Mortlake 4 1 Other towns, &e. In Scotland : Dua.l4e P. rth Hawiek Walton by Semi* Inverness 6 2 Dunbst Other town. Ike. Total 1,215 691 THE BOARD OF HEALTH AND THE CHOLERA. The Board of Health have issued a report en the saes. sues adepts' for the saccades of the Nuisances R novel sad Diseases Pr •vention Act, and the Public Health ket. Is this dicument they give an account of their proceeding up to July List, and the statement includes many interesting particulars. In referents te cholera they repent that in the great mss jority of cases this disease gives distinct warning of its ap proach, in time for the adoption of remedies capable of arresting Its progress. The report then proc.eds to state : " In order to obtain authentic information, we decided on tending our two medical inspectors to Hunburgh and Berlin, the sourest cities on the continent in which the • pestilence wee at that time prevailing. They were on their way to Ilaaborgh, what they were stopped by an outbreak of obelus a. Hull, which took place ening a Prussian crew who had pseud through Hamburgh on their way to England, whither they were coming to navigate a vessel which had bees detained in the port of Hull owing to the Danish bleskade. It appeared that then sailors had come from a healthy port in the Baltic, and that they bad teamed esly a single night near the town of Hamburgh, where cholera had been for some time epidemic. The ap parsec" of cholera in the port of Hull excited considerable apnehensioa, which seemed to be justified by the position of - the town as the east suet, in which cholera, in the year 1831, fiat broke est, namely, at Sunderland. The event appeared to us to be of so threatenicg a nature as to require a careful inquiry into the ciream•tances of the sue as well an into the state of the town. This was undertaken by Dr. Sutherland and Mr. Grainger, who reported that the gene ral unitary condition of Hall at that time, as compared to homer periods, was favourable; and they gave it as their opinion that, apart from the position of the town, it was I. no particular easier of an outbreak of cholera; the car mum of which canclosion was confirmed by the fact that these imported eu.• did not spread, and that they were not followed by any appearance of the disease among the towns people. While engaged with the authorities of the town in ad. sling on such provisions as seemed practicable for prevent ing the extension of the disease, if fresh ewe of it should occur, the attention of the inspectors was called to the sub ject of quarantioe, and particularly to the cruel position in which certain quarantine regulations, as enforced at Hull, placed passengers and crews coming from infected ports ; in stances being brought under their notice in which 'spiel enee had proved that it was Impossible to afford to vessels under quarantine medical guidance until all hope of relief had passed away. The peril in which considerable numbers of persons were thus placed, and the lass of life which had actually occurred, induced us to address a special report on this subject to the privy enact'. " Having suggested what promotions seemed available for the town of Hull, the inspectors were on the point of em• barki,g for Hamburg, when we received information that an outbreak of cholera had occurred at Sunderland. This circumstance induced us to direct Dr. Sutherland to proceed to that town and Mr. Grainger to go on to Hamburg. Dr. Sutherland was prevented from joining Mr. Grainger on the continent, his presence, after his visit at Sunderland, being urgently required at Edinburgh, and subsequently at other hewn, in Scotland, where his labours have continued up to a hunt period. Meanwhile on arriving at Hamburg, one of the first eir camstanoes which attracted Mr. Urainger's notice was the great severity of the epidemic among the crews of numerous nods lying in the harbour, a large proportion of the ships Ming English. He found that the number of English seamen emanated to upwards of 800, among whom, being in a foreign pert, sad often unable to obtain assistance until they were in • born condition, the mortality was excessive. In order toa orsi what assistance seemed available we requested Ms. Grainger to consult with the naval °Moen, and with their advice, to draw up instructions for the guidance co the , masers and crews of the English traders, to ewe proper medicines to be provided at convenient stations in Hamburg, an to circulate notices of this among the brokers and others so:teamed with nipping, as well as to the sauteing them selves. "The seats and subjects of cholera, and the seen and subteen of typhus being the name. we issued on the 3d of November, 1848, among other regulations a special order to the board of guardians requiring them to desire their clerks to make out from the register of deaths, or from the district medical relief books, and from an, public boos+ or other riuftec, front which information might be obtained within the union or parish, a list of places where epidemic, ende mic, and contagions diseases bad of late been frequent. We further requested the guardians to cause th.oir sudieal oMeers forthwith to visit and examine the localities contained is such list, and to certify is writlag all inch places as they might and in • state dangrrons to health, or which seeded frequent sad 'Lanai draining, tovther with all each nutmeg" end natters injurious to health, is ought to be abated, cleansed, salt removed. ID owl data tct cf Olugoa, oat of $96 emits of premonitory airrebot which cants under treatment, 183 care so 'ex ad traced se to have rice-water purging, yet ofthis whole num ber only tw3 wad into cholera; or one in 298. " Examples are given in the Appendix of the testimony borne by the medMl superintendents of the several dis tricts, from their own personal observation, as to the 'Stacy of this system; but it may Galilee to quote here the statement of Dr. Dempster, the general superintendeat of the Barony parish. Having served in India for a period of 23 years, where the troops under his shame fro quently suffered tram visitations of cholera, Dr. Demp ster had had ample opportunities of beaming sequaiatai with the &mac He states that the military authorities in India were so well nears of the general prevalence of pr► monitory dierrhaii, and of the greet importance of early attention to this symptom, that betides other stringent tau sures adopted by them to detest its very first eppearance, it ass their custom to plain sentries over the privies, whose duty it was isamediatrly to report any individual seen to visit them atrium than once during the day. THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 28, 1849. all destructive elements. gave their assent to that principle which they heard santrioned by the real vote* of tke German people. Therefore his Majesty's goven meat, in the circular above referred to, laid down e national representation, end • constitution emanating from the representative body, es • sene quo non of all entweque t negotiation. At that time it was rill biped that an understanding Welt be come to with the Neil teal Assembly. If the As sembly cordially met the governments half way, the problem might be solved withmt any 'either collisions. If it did not, the nation was not, on that amount, to be robbed of its right to op-operate in the great work of the constitution — the fundamental condition was oil to be observed. His Majesty's government invited the other governments to come to an understanding with it on this basis of a na tional representation. The insentient. of Bennie, 8 irony, and Hanover ac cepted the invitation; the imperial g ,vernment of Austria declared itself willing to take part in the de‘ibera tion". The rest of the Germ .n states held themselves precluded from taking part in these negotiations by the posi tion they had assumed towards the National Assembly and its constitution. This, however, was no reason why the states above enumerated should withdraw lion their at tempt to vine to an understanding. Baron Von Prokeseh Osten and Baron Von Lerchinsfeld appeared me behalf of Austria and Bavaria at the conierence ; Baron Von Best on the part of Saxony; Gr. Stu's, Minister of the Interior, and the onsinorial councillor Von Wasgenheim, on the part of Hanover. His Majesty's government accredited Lieutenant-General Von Redone: es their representative at its deliberations. But before the conferences began, the National Assembly at Frankfort had so materially altered its position by most outrageous resolutions, that its co-operation could no longer be looked for. His Majesty's wiveroment felt themselves compelled to recall the Prossiao representatives by a royal ordinance of the 14th of May. The melt of the Bavarian, Bann, and Hanoverian deputies followed. Hence it became nesseary, in preparing the draft of a constitution, to make provision for the convocation of a new diet of the empire, to mink the constitution might be presented for revision and adoption. Already, too, it became apparent front open insurrections in several German states, and from she weak manner in which they were opposed at Frankfort, how urgently et cessary was a direct union of the governments, with • view to establish unity of sedan, and afford a central point for the adoption of energetic meanur.s. To the deliberations on the constitution, therefore, the original object of the conferences, came to be added the task of making provisional arrangements, which might uphold law and order on the basis of the entire independence and freedom of the several states, until the establoihment of the constitution should define their mutual relations and the guarantees for their observance. Confidential interviews preceded the formal confers-nee, in which the representatives agreed upon the forms to be observed in discussion. At these confidential interviews the Hanoverian plenipotentiary produced a proposal for the re modelling of the chspter relating to the supreme head of the empire, which has since been published, accompanied by as argumentative memorial. Prussia gate an earnest attention arid careful examination to this proposal, but was obliged M declare that it did not appear adapted to torn • basis he negotiation, as it neither corresponded to the position et Prussia nor the wants of the nation, which were a supreme authority with its limits sharply defined, but centralised within tot se limits. Pruesia declared the idea of a direa• tory to be inadmissible, and could not see how • direetaip could appoint a responsible ministry. This repose' wee, therefore, not *Yen into consideration at the coeterencea. The Frankfort constitution and the modifications propose ] by Prussia and the other governments were made the basis of negotiation. His Majesty's government could not, however, avoid ex pressing at the same time their opinion that Austria, by its European position and the internal necessities of the no earthy, was not in a condition to incorporate itself in the federal state in the sane unreserved manner as the other governments, and that one of the first objects ought to be to define the mutual relations of Austria and the federal state in a satisfactory manner. The more weighty this con• sideration appeared, the mere desirable it was to arrive at • Clear understanding regarding it, and to speak frankly to Austria on the subject. Prussia deemed it its duty to un dertake the negotiation with the Austrian cabinet on this point, and his Majesty's government resolved Ila eeniequence to send Lieutenant-General Baron v= Canits to Vienna, to represent there the views entertained on this head, and to propose a union which would place the whole Austrian monarchy in a close and in dissoluble relation to the Germanic union. Prussia declared I its willingness, in conformity to the expressed wishes of several governments to undertake the management of Ger man affairs till the federation and the union alt- old be com pleted, and expected the acquiescence of Auntie in this arrangement. Baron von Canstz set out for Vienna on the 10th of May. The conferences of the plenipotentiaries began on the 17th of May. Their progress is recorded in the protecols print d ad longunt at the end of this report. The explicit statement) of the views of the governments and of the arguments by which they were supported contained in these papas lease no doubts as to the views of the governments. The Austrian ambassador withdrew from the deliberations after the first meeting, because the relations of Austria had been changed by the proposal of a union, on which it was tor his government to decide. In the course of the deliberations Hanover brought for ward a proposal which was accepted by the other govern meuts defining the relations of the governments during the iaterval that must gapes before the final sanction of the federal union. The final protocol of the 20th of May gave for the term of a year the form and force of law to the draft of a constitu tion and electoral law for the rest of Germany, as far as Prussia, Saxony, and Hanover were concerned. Bavaria has postponed its decision. • With a view to guard themselves against miarepresenta does, the Saxon and Hanoverian plenipotentiaries appended specific explanations to their set of acceptance, which the Pennon government accepted in full reliance upon the honour of the contracting states. The allied governments communicated their agreement to the other states in the circular note of 28th May, and ap pended to that document their convection respecting a court of arbitration, and their declaration regarding the fundamen tel principles of the constitution. The ratifications of the treaty were interchanged a few days later by the governments of Prussia, Saxony, and Hanover. In the meantime, the negotiations with the Austrian go vernment had led te no result. They will be found in the documents relating to Baron von Canite's mission, which are appended to this report. The Imperial cabinet was of opinion that it could not at once accept the proposals made to It, reserved its decision with regard to the federal states, and hesitated to give its consent to the provisional vesting of the management of German affairs in the hands of Prussic, Consequently his Majesty's government had no alterme.ve but to wait till the further progress of negotiations should offer another opportunity to invite Austria to declare itself explicitly respecting its relations to the federal state; and till that time came to maintain the relations with Austria and with all the states that stood aloof from the federal unions settled in the net of 1815. Prussia had laid no claim to the provisional exercise of the central authority, except in so far as it might be conce led to it by the common con sent of the other states, it remained content with the first voice in the management of affairs conceded to it by the alliance of the 26th of May. The difference of opinion between Austria and Prussia, respecting the proposed union, which it remains for future negotiations to remove,could have no influence either on the definitive settlement of a German constitution or the provi sional arrangements for immediate objects. His Majesty's government, therefore, taking into consideration the pecu liar position of Austria, communicated the resolutions of the three allied states to the imperial cabinet, in a despatch to their ambaseador at Vienna, which distinctly defined their position, and had appended to it a copy of the treaty. These negotiations with Austria, on the one hand, with the allied governments on the other, being thus completed, his Majesty's government ere in a condition to submit them, as • whole, to the Chambers. Sines the 26th of May the alliance has made all the pro gress that could be desired. The executive council appointed in the convention for the direction of he common concerns, began to act on this 18th of June. Its members consisted of the plenipotontiarica of the three powers:—Oa behalf of Prussia, Lieut.-General Baron von Canitz; on behalf of Saxony, the Minister of State, Baron von &Ileitis on behalf of Hanover, the Con sistoriel Councillor Von Wangenheim. The provisional council of arbitration has also been in augurated, in conformity with the treaty. There have been appointed members of this body :—By Prussia, the Minister of State Von Diiesberg, the First President of the Royal Court of Appeal at G:tigan, Count RittlYrg, and Prefesior Dirksen; by Saxony, Privy Councillor Gunther and Execu tive Councillor Von Weber; by Hanover, the Councillor of the Supreme Court of Appeal Von Pape, and the Muni. cdpal Judge Franke. These members of the council of arbitration have met at Erfurt, and are busy making the necessary arrange ments for bringing the tribunal into active operation. The actual relations of German governments to the alliance of the 26th of May are es follows: A. The following have adhered and ratified their adhe sion: clads's, Electoral Heise, Nassau, Sege-Weimar, Anhalt-Bernburg, Brunswizk, Saxe•Oltenbourg, and Meek lenbourg-Strelits. B. The following have adhered but not ratified:—Grand Decal Reese, Mecklenbourg-Schwerio, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Meinuogen, Oldenburg, Schwarzburgh, RtOolstadt, Reuss, Hamburg, and Bremen. C. The following have announced their intention of adher ing :—Deesau, listhen, Szodershausen, Waleeck, Lippe, Ilesee-Homhurg, Lubeck. D. The following have not yet declared :—Wurtemberg, Hohensol:ern, Hechingen, Sigmaringen, Lippe-Detniold, Lichtenstein, and Frankfort. Negotiations are pending with Bavaria. The relations to be established with Holstein and Latten burg are is reserve, pending the negotiations of pesos with Demuth. The governments named under C and D have engaged to make known their definitive resolves with the least possible deity, " in order that the Administrative Council of Alliance may be in a position to give an account of its extent, and to take ;Le measures necessary for the convocation of the diet" (Signed) Count BILLIIDENBIMO, And seven other Ministers. Berlin, August 23, 1849. are a few days later dates in Liverpool frogs Bahia, bet no news. Rio Janeiro advice.' to the 7th July have also bees received. A rumour was there current that the Meats Videos loan was not likely to be arranged, se niffieient guarantees were not forthcoming. Trade, generally speaking, was exceedingly dull. Exchange 25 to 261. RAILWAY MEETINGS. FLEETWOOD, PRESTON, AND WEST RIDING JUNCTION. Y•s'eriey the half-yearly general meeting was held at Freston, T. B. ADDISON, E q , in the chair. Tie report of the directors briefly 01101 thet " they bays proceeded in completing the line included in the fret con tract, as far as the program made in colluding calls and ar rears has permitted. A considerable nee hav lately been nettle t to reduction of the arrears, it is hoped that the week will be completed, and the line put into hall operation before the next half-yearly meeting.' Fiera the general statement of capital amount made up to June 30, it appeared that the total amount paid up was 125.3701. les; deposit on forfeited scrip, 681. 4s ; interest, 2,1771. Is. 7 d.; registra tion fees, 201. 3e. 2d. ; balance due to Pedder and Co., 2.5381. Is. 6d. ; receipts from the Preston and Lospidge Railway, 3,2961. 12.. Ild.: total, 133,5281. 19.. 24. Ti. elpenditure (including the Burnley branch and Preston and Longridge Railway) was repor : e el to be 133,2011. ss. 2d.; balance in the hands of London and country banker'', 861 lle 6d. ; securities for calls held by company's solicitors, 2021. 18a. ; cash in secretary's handy, 3EL 42. 6d.: total, 133,5231. 19s. 2d. The engineers reported that. tines their last report, " the operations have been confined to the tunnel through the town, the excavations consequent thereon, the ballasting, and the permanent way. The tunnel between Fykle-road and Adelphi-stre et is built ; from this to Moor lane it is intended, for the present, to have an open cutting. There still remain 100 yards of tunnel, with the excavations for the same, to he mode between Moor-lane and Harrison hill, before the communication with the Preston and Wyre Railway will be completed. The only permanent way re maining to be laid is in the unfinished put of the tunnel, and the commusicatinn with the Preston and Wyre Railway. Witn ropocl to the stability of the completed works, we beg to inform you that they remain in a very estisfactory state." On the motion of Mr. H. P. FLEETWOOD, seconded by Mr. TAYLOR, the report was adopted. The seal of the company having been stilled to the report of shareholders, a vote of thanks to the chairman and directors clued the proeeediop. THE GERMAN CONSTITUTION AND THE ALLIANCE OF MAY 26. The " blue book" (or rather the " yellow book," for Prussian ministers array the papers they pree nt to their chambers in a yellow livery) attack(' to by our Berlin correspondezt in his letter, published in yesterday's impression, contains a brief narrative of the negotiations which resulted in the " alliance of the three kings," as it is called in Germany, and of the progress made since the 26th of May in obtaining the accession of German governments to it. This paper we subjoin. Two appendices of documents are subjoined to this memoir: the first contains the protocols of the con ferences which led to the alliance of the 26th of May; the second, the documents relating to Baron Canitz's mission to Vienna. The first appendix consists of 20 papers :-1. The circular of 28th April, inviting the German govern ments to send ministers to a conference at Berlin on the affairs of the German constitution. 2. A despatch from the Prussian ministers to their plenipotentiary at Frankfort of the same date. 3-11. Protocols of conferences from the 17th to the 26th of May. 12. The final protocol of 26th May. 13. Draft of a con stitution for the German empire. 14. Draft of an election law for Germany. 15. Circular note to the German governments, communicating the resolutions of the 26'h of May. 16. Treaty of union of 26th May. 17. The explanation appended by the Saxon ambassador to the protocol of the 26th of May. 18. The explanation appended by the Hanoverian ambaa sidor to the protocol of the 26th of May. 19. Circu lar note to the German governments relating to the provisional court of arbitration instituted by the three allied governments on the 30th May. 20. Justifies ty memoir prefixed to the constitution of 11th June. The second appendix contains nine documents :- 1. Instruction■ for Baron Canitz dated 10th May. 2. Memoir of the Prussian Government to accompany I the preceding. 3. Outline of a t►eaty of union, Memorial of the Prussian cabinet dited IGth May. & Supplementary memorial dated the same day. 8. Memorial addiessed by Baron Canitz to Prince Schwartzenberg. 7. Reply of Prince Schwartzen berg. 8. Desp.itob of the Prussian Government to Baron Canitz. 9. Despatch of the Prussian Govern ment to their ambstszdor at Vienna, inelosing the resolutions of the 26th of May. The narrative addressed by the Prussian Govern ment to the Chambers, which contains a resume of these documents, is as follows All the German governments were invited by the circular of the 3rd of April, which was laid before the chambers at the time it was lamed, to express their opinions respecting the position in relation to his Majesty which the resolutions of the national assembly proposed they should assume, as also of the draft of a constitution prepared at Frankfort, and to send plenipotentiaries to that city to deliberate on the modifications it might eventually be found necessary to make in that constitution. His Majesty's government entertained hopes at that time of bring able to come to an understanding with the national assembly with regard to these Illiaddications. His Majesty's plenipotentiary was summoned to Berlin to assist in preparing detailed arrangement* for the conduct of the deliberations. A hope was then warrantably entertained of obtaining an unanimous decisien of a majority of the German states in j favour of an arrangement having for its basis the Frankfort j constitution modified to meet the views of Prussia and the other _governments between the first and second readings. His Majesty's government deemed it possible that, in the f was states refusing to secede to the constitu tion, the National Anembly might vote itself the parliameat of the more limited federal state, com posed of the governments who accepted the constitution, sad that the constitution of this federal state might be defi nitively ended by the co-operation of the parliament. The ehambers had expressed their approbation of the proposal to emestitute such a state. Bat in the meantime affairs at Frankfort bad taken a turn which maned the execution of this plan impossible. The National Assembly had on the Ilth of April puled a resolution declaring that they would stand or tall by the un modified constitution. The plenipotentiaries of 28 states had assembled, and bad declared in a note, dated the 14th of the same mouth, that their governments also recognised the constitution ; they added that this recognition was condi tiomil upon its becoming law for the whole of Germany. These 28 states also recognised the imperial dignity con felled on his Majesty, but ea the same conditions ea the National Assembly; viz : on the basis of the constitution of the 28th of March. On the contrary, the more powerful German states refraieed from explicitly declaring their' views, but gave it to be understood that they would not acquiesce in the Frankfort constitution, and would not sub mit to an emperor. There, therefore, remained for his Majesty's government but to choose whether they alone, of all the German states, would acquiesce in the resolutions of the National Assembly, or whether they would riject these ; to decide whether the duty they owed to Germany and Prayed% were reconcilable with the acceptance of the imperial title in conjunction with the Frankfort constitution ? The councillors of the crown, after a conscientious investi gation, announced to the chambers on the 21st of April, that they could not advise the King to accept the constitution and the imperial title. The second chamber dissented from ministen. and passed a ri rduti , n declaring that it regarded the Frankfort muesli. tution as having the force of law. This was one of the reasons why ministers deemed it no cem te appeal to the country by dissolving the secondsec ond chamberar on the 21st of April. At the same time his Majesty's government publicly an nounced his Majesty's final determination not to accept the imperial title or the imperial constitution in its then form,and stated in detail their reasons for coming to this decision in a despatch to his Majesty's plenipotentiary , dated the 28th of Vs Majesty's government did not attempt to conceal from themselves the decisive importance' of this step ; they did not attempt to deny that many and just hopes would be thereby disappointed. t became, therefore, their duty to seek to meet these wishes in some other way. Al though they could, with a tranquil conscience, say to them sues, that it was no fault of Prussia that the envy of Ger many could not be obtained in the way originally con templated, they were not on this account entitled to held Prussia, liberated by its innocence from its vocation to carry out that unity. Pramia's especial vocation was to offer to the German nation the means of unity; its duty was only rendered more imperative by its rejection of the imperial title and the Frankfort constitution. His Majesty's government recognised this duty incumbent on them in its full extent. They, therefore, in a circular, issued en the very day on which the declinature of the 101 peeled title was announced, invited the German goverameata to place themselves in direct communication with Prussia by sending plenipotentiaries to Berlin, to take counsel hew the ezigeocies of the time and the demands of the German people might be complied with. It was an anxious moment-41 of Germany. Our common country contained in every part the most heterogeneous elements which were in violent fermentation. Alongside of the honest and truly patriotic aspiration after unity which had taken possession of the noblest minds, might be seen the most confused and dishonest aims, which proposed no less than to subvert all social order, an I to delude the masses under pretext of seeking the unity of Germany by legitimate means. The task imposed upon government was to separate these incompatible elements of the great movement, to rally j around them the pare and high-minded and openly to combat the bass and anarchical ; and this task could only be soma ! plished. not by mere resistance to unreasonable wishes, but by positive action, by earnestly and perseveringly seeking to call into existence • sew creation. The aspiration after the unity and greenness of Germany, had been too lone identified with a revolutionary spirit, which respected no rights. The time was come to reconcile this aspiration with reverence for justice, with the sacredness of compacts, and with the liberty of the individual. Impressed with this conviction, Prussia appealed confi dently to the other German governments for their co-opera tion. While it solemnly pledged itself to these powers to sain ts:act the revolution with all its might, and offered \sip to all German states who might stand in need of it, Prussia I looked for their evidence in the great work of giving Gan many a constitution, such as could alone avert the cello which threatened to shatter the nation. His Majesty's g , vernment deemed it indispensable to de clare frenkly, at once, the principles upon which this task was to be taken in hand. As a groundwork for the consti Lotion, the result of the deliberations held b_y the representatives of the several states at Frank fort, a year before, naturally offered itself. Al; though the other states had receded from the point of an incorporating union, at which they at first ar rived, his Majesty's government resolved to take up their stand upoa it, This was done at the time when the Gene= j governments again returned to the task, and, throwing sib for the whole future WILTS, SOMERSET, AND WEYMOUTH. Yesterday the half-yearly ordinary general meeting of the proprietor. of this company was held at the White Lion Hotel, Bath Sir J. W. Ass DRY, vice•chairman of the com pany, presided. The attendance of proprietor was far from numerous. The directors' report steted that in consequence of the de pression to which all railway property hu been lately sub jected, the directors had thought it advisable to reduce the present expenditure an the line to the lowest rsaible The works between Westbury and Frome were being prate cuted without intermission, but on all other parts they had been checked or temporarily suspended. This has been done with the advice and concurrence of the Great Western Nail way Company,who, says the report, have urged upon the board the propriety of disoastinumg every expenditure, excepting that which might be required for finishing the line—first to Fromm, nest to the collieries, and afterwards to Warminster. The directors had thought it right to bring to the notice of the Great Western board that the time wee approaching when some arrangement should be made as to to the mode in which, under the altered condition of railway prospects, the agreements between the two companies were to be carried into effect. This question had been mentioned in the report made by the Great %Vestern directon to their proprie tors and pending the consideration it would receive from that company, the directors of the Wilts, Somerset, and Wey mouth Company state that they would not at present enter further into the matter, but would be ready to receive from them and attentively consider any proposal that might be made on the basis there indicated. No arrangement, how ever, could he concluded without being brought before a special meeting of the shareholders of this company, with whom, rather than with the directors, after full considera tion the deeision must rest. The report concluded by observing that the shareholder would remember that there were a number of shares, the calls on which the registered owners had, from various misfortunes, become unable to dis charge, and which it was the inter.tion of the board to take the first opportunity of declaring forfeited. These shares, 494 in number, and on which 3,2701. had been paid, had nos been forfeited, and a special meeting would be sum moned, according to the provisions of the act of parliament, to confirm the f.,rfeiture. The whole of the remaining arrears on the company's shares, would, is due course of time, be recovered. _ The engineer's report stated that the works upon the southern portion of the line, in the neighbourhood of Weymouth and Dorchester, had advanced very slowly during the put half-yeu,—nevertheleas, the heaviest portion and the most important works had been brought nearly to a state of completion. The tunnel between Weymouth and Dorcnester was, with the exception of the tunnel fronts and entrance lengths, all but finieht d, end a few weeks would suffice for its entire completion, with these exceptions. North of Dorchester, the Frampton contract was also far advanced, the covered way at Frampton finished, and the short tunnel at Poundbury, and the viadulta and bridges in the adjoining valley, are amongst theprincipal works remaining. Thence to Yeovil and U Frome nothing had been done but what was absolutely necessary to complete the covered way at Holywell, which had been commenced, and some of the road bridges and culverts which could not be left unfinished. Similar ne.easary works was all that had been dose between Salisbury end Warminster. Upon the Devises branch the works had been totally suspended. Be tween Warminster and Westbury some progress bad been made, but principally upon that portion of the contract which affected the completion of the extension from West bury to Frome. The principal works executed during the past half year had been upon this extension, and the line to Frome was now rapidly advancing. About 80,000 yards of earthwork had been executed during the last three months; the masonry of the several bridges was in a forward state, and the work proceeding satisfactorily. - - The general statement of receipts and payments to the 30th Jane, 1849, showed the amount received on calls and pay ments in advance of calls up to that date, to have been 1,150,0751. ; by loan account, 32,5001. ; and, on account of interest payable by the Great Western Railway Company, in respect of the line opened to Westbury, for the hall-year ending 31st December, 1849, 2,5641.8 x. ; making the total receipts 1,185,1391. 13s. The expenditure has amounted to 1,168,3331. 15s. 4d. ; leaving a balance in the hands of the c impany's bankers of 18,8051. 12s. Bd. - - - - - - fhe C H AIRMAN moved that the report be adopted, which haTitlN been unanimously agreed to, the proceedings ter minated with a vote of thanks to the chairman. SOUTH DEVON. The report upon the affairs of this company, by Thomu Rennie Hutton, E q., official assigns* of Bristol, together with comprehensive accounts prepared by that gentleman, and to be presented at the forthcoming meeting, has been Baud. - . . . It states that up to the 30th June last, 1,957,843/. had been received on capital account, including 474,9861. on loan at an average interest of 41 per cent. per annum; the ex penditure to the same date 1,927,6851., including 29,2501 expended on shares in other companies; leaving an appar. nt balance of 30,1581. The outlay on account of the atmos pheric apparatus is stated to be 398,2431., and the receipts for the sale of the atmospheric materials amounted to 42,6661 , leaving a balance against this account of 355,5771., and a liability of 21,2001. The liabilities of the company for land and works for the 'upended breaches to Devespart and Torquay amount to 124.8001. The account for the heftiest ending the 30. h of June skews that 41,2.55/. had heen received, and 26,78.51. expended, leaving a profit of 14,4701., of which 10,8311. is absorbed for interest on deben tures, leaving a balance of 3,6381. for the shareholders. Besides the debenture debt of 474,9661. (which it is pro posed to pay off by the creation of a new stock, to change places with the debenture debt bearing interest at 5 per ant. per annum in perpetuity), there is a sum due by the company of about 104 ' NU • of which there is due to the holders of preference share: for interest at 5 per cent. per annum, up to the 30th of June, 1849, the sum of 27,3031. The remainder, or balance, is due for land purchases and to contractor', 77,2591. The last-mentioned item for liabilities, say the sum of 77,2591., he conceives to be the grand dif ficulty which embarrasses the present position of the com pany, inasmuch ea these amounts are due and pressing. The total loss upon the atmospheric experiment, after deducting the estimated amount to be realised from the sale of the materials on hand, appears to be about 351,0001., which =must, added to the subscriptions to other lines abandoned, the debt due to the South Devon Railway Company from Mr. Charles Stevens, and the arrears of calls on shares not recoverable, making t ogether an aggregate loss of upwards of 406,0001. out of a capitol of 1,500,0001., it a proportion of more than one-fourth of such amount. The South Devon Railway proprietors, while they justly com plain of the non.productivenem of their capital, should not lose sight of the fact that this is not to be attributed altogether to the want of resources of the line itsel', but in a gnat mea- SOTO to a very large proportion of their capital being irre trievably sunk. The receipts upon traffic account have shown, since the opening of the line into Plymouth, a considerable augmentation, and there is a fair tight to anticipate that they will continue to do so. PARLIAXENTAST AND LEGAL CHAILGEB.—Under the above head will be found in the balance-sheet a sum of 71,1391 , composed of the following items :--B,liciton and parliamentary agents, 36 9261. ; parliamentary surveys, 9.4601. ; subscriptions to abandoned lines, 16,9511. ; Mr. Chadwick, bonus for subscribing for 1,000 shares, and the non-acceptance by the directors of his tender for a contract on the permanent way, 2,4501. ; Mr. Charles Stevens, as bonus on his giving his promissory note for the deposit on 600 shares, 2501. ; proprietors of projected lines, 3,3601. ; travel ling expenses, 2,742/. In addition to the parliamentary ex pease., a sum of 36,0391. 19s. 2d. has been incurred in con veyancing and for general law business ; of this amount 2,8551. has been paid for stamps, and 2,5601. for agency charges and other disbursements, leaving a sum of 30,6241. for legal expenses. Wils regard to the system of amounts he states that the hooks of tha company are very far from being clear and intelligible, and recommends that as entire new set of batiks be framed. To illustrate the necessity for this step, in the purchase of land and compensation, amounting to the sum of 225,0171., there are no accounts opened in the ledger for each purchase separately, but all is entered to the land and compensation account, so that it would be impossible for any stranger to ascertain what was the amount paid to A or B, for land purchased of him. After entering at some length on the duties of auditors, he states that there has been no instance of such gross mismangement as has per rich d the direction of many other railway companies, but that much money would have been saved, and the position of the company very different from what it now is, had the operation of a stringent audit been always in force. From the enormous losses of the company, the property demands, in future, a most prudent and systematic management, to make them eventually some return for their capital. LONDON AND BLACKWALL. The directors' report to be presented at the half-yearly meeting of proprietors to-day, 'taus that the line has been worked Ay locomotive power since April last, and that the working expenses, as e :mp.red with the corresponding period of the last year, when the line WSJ worked by ra tional,' power, exhibit a reduction of 3,2071 , nearly the whole of which is to be attributed to the change in the mode of trac:ion. On the other hand, there has been a diminution in the receipt, consequent upcn one Hue only during the alteration, working half-hour time, being in operation for at period of throe months. The comparative passenger traffic was as follow,: January to Joan 1848, passengers, 1,273,969; receipts, 22,0221. January to June, 1849, pas sengers, 995,137 ; receipts , 17,65 N. A large aug mentation of traffic is expected, from the extension to Bow, and the East and West India Docks Junction line. The of 3,1821., which is plated at the disposal of the proprietors. A sum of 1,9881 has been paid, under a decree of the Court of Chancery, for tithes. The payments on the extension line account amount to 236,6861. ; but to this is to be added 18,3781. due for works, and deducted 39,0081, value of surplus property, showing the actual east of the line to be a' ore 216,0001. The cost of alteration of gauge and of the line to the locomotive system will, after sale of stationary engines and materials, have amounted to 33,2841. The statement of assets and liabilities shows that 81,9451. will be the probable sum required beyond the present share capital of 1,266,0001., to provide for the wet cf chanting the system of working, the parliamentary charges, and the excess of the cost of the extension line beyond the original estimate. The directors recommend that this sum should be raised by the issue of debentures, which will ultimately be the only mortgage upon the undertaking. The statement of accounts, of which the figures in the report form a summary, are very copious in details of receipts and exper dkurt. EAST The half-yearly meeting of this company is to be held to day, when the following report will be presented : "In convening the proprietary for the half-year:y general meeting, the directors have the gratification to report that, since they last met the proprietors, they have concluded a contract with the East India Company, based on the terms and conditions submitted to, and approved by, the special meeting of proprietors held in April last, and which they treat the proprietary will feel places the interests of this atimpany on a sound and satisfactory basis. This coatract has been printed, and a copy will be delivered, on application at the cffices of the company, to each shareholder. The in terest of five per cent. per annum, guaranteed by the East India Cempany, will, on and from the 17th of August inst., include the preliminary deposit of ss. paid on the existing shares in the company, and upon which hitherto no interest has been paid. During the past session of parliament, the act of incorporation, by which the liability of each share holder is limited to the amount of his or her shares in the company, has received the royal assent. In pursuance of powers conferred by that act, the Board of Directors have, in accordance with the pledge given to the proprietary, re duced the shares in the company from 501. to 201., and have made • re-distribution of the capital into 50,000 shares of 201. each ; of the arrangements consequent on which due notice will 1* given by advertisement. In consequence of an intimation that it was the feeling of the authorities that the number of directors should be reduced, powers for that object were inserted in the act, and the directors have now to recom mend that their number be reduced from thirteen to nine, of which it is proposed that three be a quorum. Your directors have received a tender from Mr. Jackson, of Pimlico, for the construction of the first line of railway to be undertaken by the company. This tender embraces the construction and completion of the railway within two years from the commencement of operations, and its maintenance for three years after completion, at • cost, including a double line of rails and stations, of 8,5001. per mile. Mr. Bendel, your consulting engineer, has recommended the acceptance of this tender, and your directors are disposed to concur in en arrangement on that principle; but they fee l the question to be one of great magnitude, and they have submitted it to the Court of Directors of the Bast Ind's, Company for their consideration. On • review of ell the circumstances of the past history of the company the board cannot close this report without congratulating the share holders on the measure of menus which, after so great a lapse of time, and so many opposing obstacles, has at length attended the efforts of the company. If expense has ne cessarily been incurred, in advocating and introelucing • new principle, under circumstances of great difficulty, the present proplieton are, by the nature of the ar rangement effected, relieved from any of its bur den by having the full amount subscribed by them allowed as part of the capital of the company, bearing interest at five per cent. If time has been consumed, its lapse has nct only been attended with the advantages of in creased experience, but still more of cost diminished in an extraorelinsre degree. Without all the ihformatien which has been the result of the measures already adopted, the company could not have been in a position to receive a ten der from a contractor, so satisfactory in proof of the suffi ciency of their estimates, as that of Mr. Jackson ; nor could they have approached the execution of the work with that confi fence which they now feel in its issue. From hence forth they consider the undertaking to be under the direct auspicies of the East India Company. No step can be taken, as to the construction of the railway, until possession of the land has been given by the government of India, and all the ulterior proceedings of the company are subject to the controul of the East India Company, and dependent for success on the cordial conetteresee and co-operation of the authorities, both at home and abroad." CALEDONIAN, The report of the London Central Committee of Share holders states, that there will be no dividend on the or dinary 'hares this half year, unless paid out of the capital. That in defiance of the assurance given at the special meet ing of May 29 la*, the Barrhead hill, involving an annual rent of 16,6001., has metered for the directors gool interest on 4.5,0001. of their own liabilities. That all the shareholders able to attend at the next general meeting should make a point of doing so, as it will Se then shown that above 600,0001. of the funds have been most inexcusably wasted. The report of the directors will be met by an amendment in fav , ur of a full inquiry into the past management and en. peaditure ; five new directon will also be proposed ; and, as every effort will probably be made to defeat such amend ment, or to render inquiry abortive, the shareholders are re. quested, when they receive prosy papers, to draw their pens through the directors' names, and substitute those of the Ron. Captain Plunkett, Mr. Copling, and Mr. hi'Dlicking. THE FAILURE OF THE GRAND LAND SCHEME OF Ma. O'Corthoe..—At the last county court 10T Northampton final judgment was given in the long-pending case, Oubbins o. O'Connor. Some months since, it will probably be re membered, an action was brought against the defendant as promoter of the " grand land scheme," for expenses incurred, the scheme being a failure. The defendant relied for ade Bees on the fact that the whole system was in contravention et the law, and that no mousy paid could be recovered back, unless there had been actual fraud, which was denied by him; and he urged that he had acted in perfect good faith, and without deriving any pecuniary benefit or advantage. A verdict was given against defendant, who applied for a new trial ; and aft[ r bearing arguments, his Honour now said that the position taken by defendant was un tenable. Much stress had been laid upon the grandeur and benevolence of defendant's scheme, the perfect goad faith with wh-ch all the proceedings had been conducts d and to tal absence of all pecuniary benefit to defendant ; but de fendant had been endeavouring to carry out a scheme against a statute with reference to such undertakings. As to the good faith between the plaintiff and defendant, as to the expenditure of the money, his Honour said those who at tempted in defiance of law to carry out schemes, however grand and benevolent, widest the law, mud do so at their own ride. There were a multitude of difficulties and etc ',armaments besetting the scheme and all con nected with it until placed on a footing recognised and sanc tioned by the laws of the land. Defendant could not get rid of the liabilities which attached to him as promoter of the scheme, and he (his Honour) saw no reason to alter: the decision he had first coma to.—Defendant was then ordered to pay the amount without further delay. PRISON DISCIPLINE.—On Friday evening last, Charles Pianos Req., M.P., delivered an interesting lec ture, which last ed for three hours, on prison discipline, at the Royal Subscription Rooms, Exeter. John Rillifsat, E.g., a magistrate, and late Hi gh Sheriff of the County of Devon, took the chair. In introducing the honourable member for Lambeth to the meeting, he said he was pleased to see so many of his brother mag istrates present, for the subject on which they were about to hear a lecture was second to none in importance. The lecturer said the cause of crime was self-indulgence, and the want of self-denial. He illustrated his system of prison discipline by means of twenty-six large diagrams, with 'sui , able incriptions on each, uncovering one at a time, thus gradually developing his plan, and fixing it on the minds of his hearers. He drew a comparison of the system adopt d at the Model Gaol, at Reading, which he designated as the indolent and Lapin. sive system, and contended, with great force of argument, that the farm prison would be more economical, and reformatory than the enervating system at the " Reading Castellated College." A correspondent says : " Mr. Pear son's enthusiasm in speaking of the criminal's reformation by the plan he would recommend, convinced his audience that his mind was thoroughly imbued with this most important subject. He is an earnest and determined opponent to the solitary and idle system ; yet, by his plan, he would enforce silence. His plan should be a training school of industry— he would keep the prisoners at work for eleven hcure, and allow only seven hours for sleep, except on Sundays,when ten should be allowed. He would have them receive religious instruction, he would improve them physically and morally, and was convinced that by his system a disposition to labour would be excited—that a prisoner would feel that his liberty and independence depended entirely on his own exertions.' The consideration of the subject stands adjourned until Thursday next, when the Rev. Mr. Osborn, chaplain of the Bath gaol, will answer some of Mr. Pearson's objections, t' which Mr. Pearson will be allowed to reply. FREAKS or A FURIOUS BuLLocx. —Yesterday alwesour, one of is drove of exec, being shims from Smith leld to Carnaby market, when near the end of Hatton-gar den broke sway from the herd, and Nude off at a rapid pace up Holborn and down Gray's-inn-lane. The beast selected the footpath for its flight, gristly to the alarm of the nume rous pedestrians and shopkeeper., knocking down several persons who were masterly bruised and contused ; an immense crowd of boys and men, accompanied by dogs barking and yelling, followed at his heels. In the King's-road he knocked down • vendor of earthenware, named Callum, residing in Agar-town, St. Pancras, whom he severely gored, toning the poor fellow's goods, which were all destroyed. 110 continued pis flight through Brunswick-equare and Judd-street: Labia career several other persons were knocked down, and Mr. Tr* !ironing, of Burton-crescent, so severely injured that no hopes are entertained of his recovery. He pursued his flight to Tottenham-court-road, where he WY secured, and lodged in Richards's slaughter-house. OUR REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM CHELTENHAM—(CoNCLUDED). The mode in which the battle of 1847 was fought was explained to a commi tee of the House of Com mons appointed try the merits of a petition against Sir Willoughbi . Jones's return. Before this :out mltee the petitioners produced an informer from the tory camp. He stated that the town of Cheltenham wee divided into eight canvassing districts, each of which was placed under the general control of a paid solicitor. The informer was appointed to districts 7 and 8. He accompanied the district committee on their canvass. When they met with voters who would not promise their votes this man received a hint and dropped behind the canvassers. He then offered the doubtful voter to employ him u a messenger at be. a day during the election, provided he would poll for the conservative. An immense number of this class of men were employed. One or two of them told the whole story of their employment, and we can scarcely do borer than give it in their own words. Hero is the condensed evidence of a man named Pitt, who describes • SCENE IN • COMMITTEE ROOM. Previous to the election I warn working at a place called Brockworth, six miles tram Chel , enham. I wan cativaistd on nehsl; of Mr. Berkeley by Mr. liasell, and I promised him to vote for him. 0.. the Sunday before the election, I saW George Hawkins and Joseph guasel on the Hato road. Hassel inked me to vote fur Sir Willoughby. I told him I had promised to tote for Mr. Berkeley. He told me if I would vote tar Sir Willoughby he would put me down as a messenger at 53. a day. Hawkins then told me to go to the King William, and have whatever I liked to drink. On the next day Hawkins came to me at Brockworth in a fly. He 11101) me a strip of paper, and told me to take care of it, and I should be paid for my time. He said it did not matter whether I attended as a messenger or not. I had no need ,to come ; it I went to the c mmittee-room and had my name put down, I might go where I liked. I then returned to Cheltenham with Hawkins in the fly. We went first to the King William and then to the committee room. I went into the room where Mr. 0 winnett was (Sir Willoughby Jonts's principal agent). I said to Mr. Ciwinnett that some few of my things were in pledge, and if he would get them out for me I had no objection to voting for Sir Willoughby. Mr. Owionett said, " 1 cannot promise that." He asked me if I knew icy of Sir Will. u4hby Jones's friends who would do it for met 1 said I did not. I was coming away, but there was a tallish gentleman sitting at the table. He save, "We never forget our iriends." I then said I was losing a great dell of time, and he said, "Oh, you shall get paid for that." I then told Mr. Owinnett to put my name down. I voted for S.r Willoughby Jou!! ; and I was induced to do so by this promise to pay for my loss of time. This man subsequently received 21. 10s., which the committee declared to have been a bribe, as be never performed any duties whatever as a messenger. force similar cases were proved. In one of them the man employed as a " messenger " was ea ill that he says he could not put on his own coat, much less perform the duties of the position for which he was paid. This man swore he should not have voted for Sir Willoughby Jones if he had not been put down and paid as a " meseenger". He had never seen Sir Will eigtiby in his life ; he was ill, took no interest whatever in the election, and says—" I eon't know whether I should have voted or not ; but I am sure I should not have voted for Sir Willoughby Jones." He was paid 11. Se. But the strongest cue of direct bribers wis the case of a man named Isher. He met Sir Willoughby Jones personally, in the street. Sir Willoughby shook hands with him. Sir Willoughby did rot ask him i for his vote himself; but, when he left, Hawkins came up to him. latter then told Hawkins of " one or two trifling little things,"—that he was "in diffi culties," Do you remember what be said to you ?—No, I do not remember; not jest that time. Come now ?—lie prornisel me 51.: there Who did ?—George Hawkins. What for ?-13ecause I was in difficulties. Isher voted for Sir Willoughby, and after the elec tion received 21. 10s. from a man in Mr. Gwinnett's office. lie said he expected 51. ; whereupon Hawkins told him "that. he was aware he was an injured man, but that they would make it up to him in some way or other. At present they could not, they had so many demands." Against these cases there was no contending. Sir Willoughby Jones's counsel accordingly resigned tho seat without delay. The petitioners applied for costs, but the committee decided, curiously enough, that, " in order to make the sitting member liable for costs, there must be a clear proof of the knowledge of the circumstances on the part of Mr. Owinnett, his agent." They declared Sir Willoughby Jones, however, to have been, by his agents, guilty of bribery, though without his knowledge or consent ; and they declared the election a void election. It should be stated that Hawkins, who seems to bare got up the case for the petitioners, was promised 1001. to give information of what he knew. It was not until 1848 that this decision was given. It then become the duty of the electors of Cheltenham to choose another representative. Mr. Craven Berkeley took the field. The conservatives were at some loss tor a candidate to oppose him; for, of course, Sir Willoughby Jones was disqualified. At length, however, Mr. Agg Gardner, the candidate of le4l, was induced to permit himself to be put in nomina tion. He did so unwillirgly and only to serve his party, who on their side undertook that he should be put to no expense. Tho tories, in fact, anticipated success on this occasion lees upon the poll than at a subsequent investigation. They had "a retaliation case" against Mr. Craven Berkeley, and they gave notice to all the voters that that gen tleman wee ineligible and incapable of being elected, in consequence of " having been guilty by himself and his agents as well of bribery as of treating an d other corrupt practices" at the election antecedent. Mr. Craven Berkeley on the hustings denounced this notice as " false," and said those who put their names to it " were guilty of a cold-blooded falsehood." On this gentleman's side this election was conducted far more energetically than the last had been. It was felt to be of vital importance to his house that he should win. Every energy was strained. Former opponents were neutralised, and others brought to vote in favour of him, and the result was his return by a large mority, the numbers being, for Ber keley, 1,024 ; Gardner, 848. Now came the turn of the conservatives to open their budget concerning the doings at the 1847 elec tion. They alleged against Mr. Berkeley's friends wholesale treating, employment of messengers, that they bad breakfasted their voters antecedent to the poll, and that they had been guilty of an act of bribery. The two first charges were not proved. There was no doubt that public-houses were open on both sides during the election, but there wee nothing whatever to show that any orders had been given by any one to open them. With regard to the messengers, it was proved that very large numbers of men were so employed, bat it was also shown that their employment was bona fide, and not colourable. The committee heard a va riety of evidence on this point, and decided that it was conclusive. It met, indeed, every isolated case in which colourable employment could possibly be presumed. In respect of the other charges the rebuttal was not so satisfactory. With regard to the breakfasts it was shown that Mr. Berkeley had three times expressed in his committee-room his decided abjec tion to any sort of treating, and tits determination not to pay a farthing for it. It was also shown that at a meeting of his agents on the day before the poll, the subject of giving breakfasts to the voters was dis cussed. The agents were divided as to its necessity. The solicitor on whom the responsibility mainly rested was shown to have set his face against the system, and to have declared that he would never sanction anything of the kind. Other members of the committee, however, determined to take this responsi bility upon themselves. They did order breakfasts for a large number of voters. Some of them took the whole end sole responsibility of having done so. They urged that they must follow the practice of the other side ; that they should never get the voters up without breakfasting them; t% at the expense was only half a-crown a-head, &c. Some of these gentlemen de clared that the liabilities of this proceeding were in curred by themselves, and that they expected perso sally to defray the whole amount. One of them, a Dr. Robinson, averred that be expected to pay, and that he certainly should pay for all the breakfasts be had ordered. Other witnesses, however, did not pledge themselves quite so strongly, and were rather shaken in their evidence, when it came to render them under personal liabilities for all the breakfast bills. One of them was asked: What was the understanding you came to ?—That we were to give the voters breakfast. At your own expense I—Yee , if we should have to ray for it ourselves. Did you expert to pay for it yourselves?—Yes. Why did you say "U" then ?—lt was a mistake of mine. t r 4 '.. 1 i• ", . d 764 21 41 I . ..,.•.. ./ .":".. { 7 s ,• 4 111 t ( A • l ' .".; , :".,g, 4- in is. NS lo- - 10 is. 0 no 0 ri's ii. lir. ea Os