The Express. — London, England, 1862-12-10 00:00:00

MERCANTILE INSURANCES. NORWICH UNION FIRE OFFICE. Estabilahed MK, Badness of Me Moe is 470,000,000 Duty paid in 1861 88076 Duty free The BONUS SYSTEM of the office la pecultarly a kvantegeous for MERCANTILE INSURANCES, THREE-FIFTHS of the PROFITS of the CO NY being periodically distributed a. a BONUS among parties (marina, who have thus received sums amounting in the aggregate to £440,000. The NORWICH UNION fa the LARGEST OFFICE giving a BON US to Its Maurer; and In order of magnitude Is the TILLED OFFICE. In the UNITED KINGDOM. For RATES sad PROSPECTUSES apply at the Society's oMces, 0. Creseent, New Bridge-atzeet, KC., and Surrey street, Norwich. MAPPIN BROTHERS' WEST-END HOUSE 1s solely and distinctly at 222, RIORNTBTREKT. For fer years HATPIN BROTHERS Manufactures have been gaining celebrity and a good name but it is quite a ruistake to suppose that they are sold In Oxford street at all. Established in Rheffield A.D. 1810. CITY HoTBR-07 and 68, KING Wllliiim4sTßEE - r.E.C. —Writes Pura I Cumin WORKS. SIMMS/D. GEO. SMITH AND Ocvs PURE EXTRACT of CALVES' FEET, Yur lolanda and Culinary- Use. Bad fn Od.. la, ft, aad as. packets. by all chemists. grocers, stc. MANUFACTORY, 23, LITTLE PORTLAND-ST., Regent-at., W. OFFICES. HA, BUSH-LANE, Camunalreet, R.C. N.R.—Prim Medal awarded for excellence of quality. WECOND-HAND PIANOFORTES. a., MAYER, BEALL and WOOD have a large essortment of aseond-band Planorarten by the most esteemed makers, M pletty reduced prima -40E Regent-rarest. Now reedy. price WI.. SOMEBODY'S LUGGAGE, Torrelng the EXTRA DOUBLE NUMBER for CHRISTMAS ALL THE YIAR ROUND. Conducted by CHARLF9 Mews. CONTENTS: His leaving it till called for—His Boots—HG Vat breita—His Black Bag—ilts Writing Desk—His Dressing Cam— illa Brown Paper Parcel—His Portmanteau—Ells Hat Box—His onderful All the Year Round" Is published In weekly numbers, price 9.41, In monthly pate and In half.yearly volumes, price bs. ed. bound W cloth. gfte erpreoo• °ORME I'ONDINIS. Advertisements Intended for "iiieisiresa" London Evening Paper. must be at the office, 10, Bouverleatreet, by Thu o cock on the day of gabßoation. 1.10 1 731 NT GARDEN. Tnig tmitgo, THE ELBEOF aiTILLE. Yin Louisa Pre, Mn. A. Cook, sod Min Susan Pyne ; Mewl. W. H. P. elm, J. Rouse, C. Lyon. A. Cook, and W. Harrison.— Conductor, Mr. Alfred liollon.—Commence at & HAYILULIC/S. TGIS STRUM A DAUGHTER TO ItARRY. Mat K Romer. OUR LIERRICAR 00171111 f. Mama Rothman. Stickitone ; Mrs. Z. HUNTING. Mn. Wilktaa—And MY HUSBAND'S GHOST. Mr. Clark.—Comusemoe at 7. PRINCE:IIM sviewra. LAW v. LOVE Yr. R. Roxby and Mina Y. Oliver—THZ TRIPLE ALLIANCE Mr. G. Vining Wawa Aylmer, M. Oliver, and Mrs. B. Wltle.—And RAINING TUB WIND. Hewn. B. Batty and Belmar* lira H. Marston. BIUTANNIL Tun EvWIo 8011 E BMA THAT RANG AN OLD YEAR OUT AND A RIM ONE IN.--81schey by the Neap°lase Minstrels and Mr. Randall.—Dsnotag by Mdße. Stephan.— CAßT ON TEE MERCY OF THE WORLD.—And ELIZA FENNING HIGH WAY= AT MOON BBIDGE., Tim DAY—iordii.4lZls4Ti.::::Aikrrr.z.4b. $O4O. Tayougor—Morning, 40. 60g0.....Aitseaso0. 60. LONDON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10. Tim Ministerial interregnum at Turin is at length st an end. Signor FARO; who is called to the post of President of the Council, served Italy with his pen until the war of 1859, and during the inter val between the pacification of Villafranca and the annexation of the 'Ernilian provinces, rendered ger vim, to his country which will not soon be forgotten. He was for a time Minister of the Interior under Count CAVOUR. As a native of the Roman States, the history of which he has written in an enduring work, it may be presumed that be will not be outdone in devotion to the great tank on which Italy has set her mind. Signor Pasouxi, who takes the department of Foreign Affairs, has hitherto been known only in administrative offices, where, however, he has won general con fidence. Generals Della ROVERS and MENABREA, and Signor Pinuzzi, Ministers respectively of the Interior, of War, and of Public Works, were col leagues with Baron Ricesou. Signor MiNonErn, the new Minister of Finance, has a high reputa tion for ability, and was much trusted by Count Camera. On the whole the composition of the new Cabinet is one to inspire hope. It is, how ever, by the policy of the administration as a body, and not by the character of its individual members, that it must be judged. It would be easy to enu merate the immense difficulties with which the new Government will have to contend, and to sug gest courses which they may possibly take ; but to-morrow they will be in their place in Parlia ment and speak for themselves. Witesv a novelist puts into a lunatic asylum a perfectly sane victim of • family conspiracy, the matter-of-fact reader exclaims against the gross improbability of such an occurrence, and sets it down as the extravagance of fiction in search of startling effects. Yet any tolerably attentive ob server of the proceedings in the Law Courts knows only too well that the secret of the art of fiction is not only the insight into the possibilities of human nature, but the grasp of the realities amidst which men live, but which familiarity obscures from ordi nary eyes. It is the unsuspected tru th of improbable scenes and exceptional incidents thatmoves the mass of careless and indifferent readers, and makes the vast European public interested in the Woman in White and No Nome. The case of Hsu. v. SEMI.; which has occupied the Court of Queen's Bench for five days, is one of those which, presented in the form of fiction, would be deemed beyond the bounds of rational invention. We dare say Mr. WILKIE CoLuss has been ac cused of exceeding the license of imagination for inventing scenes and characters of which only the strangeness concealed the reality. It was only the other day that we were pulling a beam out of our neighbour's judicial eye for torturing an innocent woman into the confession of an act of parricide she had not committed. It is now our duty to take at least a considerable mote out of our own. Tho case we are considering is extremely simple if we discharge it of a load of uselesa evi dence. The action was against a medical man for illegally causing the plaintiff to be confined in lunatic asylum. Another count was for " falsely " and maliciously, and without reasonable and pro " bable cause," giving a certificate of insanity ; but in the minds of the jury the action resolved itself into one for "negligence in giving a certiticate of " insanity without taking due and proper care, and " making due and proper inquiries." On this count the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff for 150/. They acquitted the defendant of malice, and found him guilty of negligence in giving a certificate of lunacy without due in quiry ; so that he was not protected by the Act of Parliament, under which he had acted bond - but without proper precaution. No one, we apprehend, who reads the evidence can well be in doubt of the correctness of the verdict. If it errs it is not on the side of severity. For what were the facts ? The plaintiff had led for years • life of extreme " incompatibility " with a most un comfortable partner of his bed and board. There was abundance of bad language and aggravation on both sides ; more than enough to solicit the interference of Sir C. CRISISWELL, but nothing that in the Divorce Court would be pronounced ab- THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 10, 1862. normal—rather the reverse. The huaband charged the wife with neglecting household affairs and pawning his property, and neither charge was disproved. She accused him of acts of violence and cruelty, of beating and kicking her, and waving swords at her, and sleeping with a drawn sword by his side, and other terrifying eccentrici ties, and she brought witnesses to state that he had torn down the paper from the wall, thrown slops over her, and flung a gridiron from one end of the room to the other. These alleged acts of violence, accompanied with frequentswearing,constitutedthecase of insanity. If they were insanity, half the business of the Divorce Court might be transferred to the Commissioners of Lunacy. Mrs. HALL, it appears, was willing to take charge of her husband's business, and to pay him a small weekly allowance, but he declined the proposition, and she charged him with insanity instead. His neighbours and his oldest friends pronounced him as sane and sensible as he appeared to the jury. So did the physician who had at tended the family for twenty-eight years. But the defendant to the action, Dr. SEMPLE, pro nounced him insane, principally, as he said, on the testimony of the wife, of one of her female friends, and of a charwoman ; and partly on the strength of an interview with the plaintiff, who had re sented somewhat roughly a stranger's inquiries into his domestic relations and affairs. Then there was another medical practitioner, a Dr. GUY, who was consulted by the wife in 1856, and even then was of opinion that the plaintiff was of a "monomaniacal "disposition " and suffering from a "disease of the " feelings," because he had told Dr. Guy to " go " about his business." This Dr. GUY considered the plaintiff a dangerous madman six years ago, and signed a certificate to that effect, but took nosteps to place him in confinemeut. Dr. Was was called in by the wife last September, and found the plaintiff in an excited state, but was not prepared to sign a certificate of insanity, though he considered him " under a dominant passion or feeling of dislike to " his wife." Such was the medical evidence against the plaintiff and against the testimony of the plaintiff's regular medical attendant, of hisfamily, and nearest friends. And on such evidence as this the plaintiff had suffered what has been truly described as " the most horrible of all false impri sonments" The counsel for the defendant insisted that Dr. Semriz could have acted from no bad motive in signing the certificate of insanity" on the ground that the plaintiff had " a " wild and staring look," when strange doctors came into his shop and asked him impertinent questions. After all, it was an error of judgment, not an infringement of the Act, and a night's sojourn at Munster House was no very terrible thing. Munster House was not a dungeon ; and the Visitors came round a day or two after and re leased the plaintiff. This line of defence, however ingenious and candid, may have seemed to the jury a confession of the wrong endured by the plaintiff. Looking broadly at the circumstances, we believe the com mon sense of the public will approve the verdict of the jury. Society is protected sufficiently against dangerous madmen when the signatures of two medical practitioners are sufficient to consign a man of violent temper, " or nervous restlessness " of manner, to an asylum. But according to law, the two signatures should have been ob tained without previous concert, and in this particular neither the letter nor the spirit of the Act appears to have been observed in the present case. The common sense of the public will, perhaps, consider the point, whether the de fendant signed the certificate bond _fide, according to his reading of the Act, or without due precau tion, or maliciously, secondary to the question, whether it is right that the signatures of any two medical men, without reference to their character or capacity, should be sufficient to condemn a sane person to a madhouse. The Visitors, it is true, whose visits are unexpected, may release the prisoner next morning ; but a night's sojourn even at Munster House is no joke, when it is the con sequence of a medical certificate signed &mantle, but without precaution, by two doctors ad hoc. Much has been done of late years to make our lunacy laws and administration consistent with the humane civilization of the age ; but the mode in which certificates of insanity are still obtained is a discredit to English liberty. be Coun. WINDSOR CASTLE, DEC. J. The Prince of Wales went to London this morn ing and drove to Marlborouggb•hoose, attended by Lien tenant-General Knallys and Captain Grey. The Prince afterwards visited the Duchess of Cambridge at Kew. Prince Louis of Hesse, attended by Captain Westerweller, visited the Wellington Barracks, and returned to Windsor in the afternoon. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yester day. Lord Chelmsford gave judgment on a petition for a prolongation of "Bette Patent for improvement in Cap sules," that their lordships would recommend to her Majesty to grant an extension of the patent for the total of five years. Sir J. Coleridge gave judgment on an ap peal from Agra, "Muheahrarain Sing r. Kialmanund Misr," that their lordships would recommend to her Majesty that the appeal ought to be dismissed with costs. The lords present were—Lords Chelmsford and Hinsdown. Sir J. Coleridge, Sir E Ryan, Sir L. Peel, and Sir J. Colvile. Despatches were received yesterday, at the Colonial office, from the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands, and from the Governors of the North American Provinces. Despatches were sent to the Lord liigh Com missioner of the lonian Islands. THE REMAINS OF THE LATE PRINCE CONSORT. It is expected that the remains of his late Royal Highness the Prince Consort will be removed from the Royal vault in St. George's Chapel, Windsor, before the 14th inst. to their last resting-place, which has been pre pared in the new royal mausoleum now in course of erec tion in Frogmore gardens. This beautiful building, a de scription of which has already appeared in the columns of the Express, is gradually advancing towards completion. The Earl and Countess of Carnarron left town on Monday for their nat. High Clare, near Newbury. Colonel and Lady Margaret Charteris come to town to-day, from visiting the Marquis and Marchioness of Bath at Longleaf. Sir Frederick Graham has arrived at the Bruns wick Hotel, Jermynatreet, from Netherby. A marriage ie arranged to take place between the Hoe. A'gernoo Egerton, M.P., brother to the late Earl of Elleaner., and Mae Alice Cevendieh, daughter of Lord and lady George Oaveadiah. By the desire of the government (says the Wo/rereamptois Chronicle), Lord Netherton, the Lord-Lieu tenant of this county, hoe appointed his son, Colonel the Hon. E. B. Littleton, to set as his vice-lieutenant during his illness. We (Bung and Norwich Post) regret to learn that intelligence has reached the Marquis of Bristol of the death of the Roo. Mrs. Singleton. Mrs. Singleton was sister of the late Viscount Templetown, of the late Mar alone's@ of Bristol, Sco. A letter from Naples of the let, in the Debats of to-day, wiya, in a gossiping way :—" Prince Alfred has em barked in the St. George with the rank of midshipman. His promohon to a lieutenancy has been de/ayed on account of his having allowed sans slight indiscipline amonpt the crew of his boat." making, and in exalting his own claims he is equally bitter upon the " Bourbon faction" and the " Piedniontese sect." By relying on moral force he is persuaded, he says, that the Two Sicilies will yet acknowledge him as their king. A new journal in the Bourbon interest, called the Napoli, has appeared at Naples ; but, though it is bold in tone, it does not appear to have created any alarm. A letter from Turin in the Debats says : The Minister of Public Instruction is engaged in a die cued= with the Neapolitan bishops. The ministerial de partment wishes to have the small religious seminaries in spected, whilst the bishops object, saying that such a course is an encroachment on their rights. To that the minister replied that the pupils are actuated by sentiments unfavour able to the existing order of things. Difference; of this kind will be renewed for a long time to oome, and M. Matteucci on leaving the ministry will bequeath them to his successor. The retirement of that minister is to be re petted for the sake of public inidniction. He fulfilled his teak with great energy, and in six months has effected much. In the kingdom of Naples particularly he has imparted a great impulse to primary instruction. In the province of Molise he found 108 schools, and he leaves 200 ; in the Ponilles, where there were only 150, there are now 549, and a similar increase has taken place everywhere. Primary instruction for girls has also been commenced, and normal schools organised for teachers of both sexes. For superior instruction this minister has established the normal school at Pia, which is now on an excellent footing, and reorganised the universities by a series of new regulations. Many other excellent measures have been adopted by him, which it would take too long to detail. Regret must be felt that a man who has shown such zeal and such profound knowledge in the exercise of his functions, should have been swept away so soon by the perils/watery tempest. LETTER FROM GARIBALDI TO PROFESSOR NELATON. M. Nelaton has just received the following letter from General Garibaldi : Pisa, Dec. 5. My Very Dear Friend,—l owe you a word of love and fratitude. Your appearanoe at Spada brought happiness to me, and, if any doubt of my recovery could ever have crossed my mind, in spite of the fraternal and learned care of the surgeons who attended me, at your interview, so eminently sympathetic, and at your words, so sublimely encouraging, it would have disappeared. lam much better since the extraction of the ball so ably effected by our corn patriot Professor Zanotti, and with the instruments which you had the kindness to send me. To-morrow a fixed bandage will be applied, and I hope to be able very soon to move about upon crutches. God bless you, as well as three virtuous men whose humane principles have honoured the eminent man of science and the benefactor.—Your devoted G. GARIBALDI. (REUTER'S rxrcassme.) AMERICA. (Per Etna.) NEW YORK, Nov. 29, Molunwo. No movement has taken place at Fredericksburg. The railway is completed from Acquia Creek to the headquarters of the Federal Army. The Confederates have driven in the Federal pickets pt Newbern, North Carolina. They endea voured to capture three companies of Federals, but were repulsed. The Confederate force is said to number 4,000. The Confederates have abandoned Holly Springs. Hudsonville (liississippll.haa been occupied by the Federals. The Confederates are massed at Tulla homa (Tennessee) in order resist the advance of Rosencranz from Nashville. The New York Tribune asserts that it is reported, on high authority from Washington, that the British Admiral Milne is in pursuit of the Con federate steamer Alabama. A large Democratic meeting has been held at New York. Speeches were made urging the unfalter ing prosecution of the war to re-establiah the constitution throughout the Union. Hopes were expressed that the North and South would again be united in order to attack England. irl`Clellan's removal waa denounced. Denunciations against England continue to be poured forth from the press and the pulpit and by public speakers on all occasions, which seem to elicit popular approbation. Numerous attempts to burn Memphis bare been made by incendiaries. Another foraging expedition by a Federal coloured regiment has been male from Beaufort, South Carolina. The Nassau Guardia,' aseerta that Admiral Wilkes had threatened to enter Nassau without the permission of the Governor, but that he afterwards bore away, and lay at the distance of a marine league from the shore. The Guardian expresses fears that Admiral Wilkes' hasty conduct may embroil America and England in war. The same journal likewise states that the captain of the Federal steamer Octovora had infringed the Queen's proclamation in capturing a schooner within the Abaco Reef, near Allen's Cay. The steamers Herald and Leopard have arrived at Nassau from Charleston. SPAIN. SPEECH OF GENERAL PRIM. MADRID, Disc. 9. In to-day's sitting of the Senate General Prim spoke on the general policy of the government, to which he said he had no intention of offering any opposition. At the proper time he would reply to the attacks which had been made against him by the Spanish and foreign press. He com plained that M. Billauli, in his speech in the Corps Legislatif, had attacked him in a manner which is considered unallowable, and said that he would answer with loyal weapons. General Prim added that he Was not and had never been an enemy of France. His mission in Mexico had been to put forward certain claims in the interest of Spain. In connexion with the repre sentatives of France and England he had roused the political spirit of Mexico. The first conferences passed off satisfactorily enough, but when he saw that France intended to inaugurate an extensively French policy in Mexico, he resolved upon with drawing, as he would never consent to become the tool of any foreign nation. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (now on ows PARIS, TUESDAY EVENING. The Prance, referring to rumours which some time since found their way into print, and which I regret to think are much too good to be true, stig matises as false the following three pieces of news given by the /fa& in its number of Dec. 7 : 1. The deviation marked by the accession to power of M. Drouyn de Lhuye will not be of long duration. 2. The Emperor has sent for M. Lavalette, and after conferring with him, has modified the instructions of de la Tour d'Auvergne. 3 The France was about to reply to the pamphlet of Prince Napoleon's secretary, but it abstains in pursuance of an officious notification. To all this the France replies, first, that the Emperor called M. Drouyn de Lhuys to office, not to "change," but to "rectify" the direction of his policy, and it does not think that the honourable minister is likely to receive his calve from Italian journals. This barren verbal dis tinction, this pure Gueronnibrism, of course means nothing at all. K Drouyn de Lhuys must well know the Emperor's habit of carrying on by-play contemporaneously with his action through avowed ministers, and cannot certainly be under the delu sion that better faith will be kept with him than with K Thouvenel and other predecessors. But I so far agree with the France as to think that the time for throwing him over is not yet. The France next says that "the idea of making K de Lava lette the inspirer of K de la Tour d'Auvergne is too ridiculous to be seriously refuted." I must take leave to say that whatever the fact may be in this instance, the " idea " is not ridiculous at all. The Emperor constantly sends private instructions both to foreign ambas sadors and generals on foreign service, the which instructions often cause chagrin to the Foreign Minister and Minister at War ; but they are obliged to put up with it. Why should they not According to the imperial constitution they are only responsible to the Emperor. The feeling of responsibility to the country is never strong upon them until their confidence in him begins to waver. Lastly, the France demurs to the charge that it has not sufficiently replied to Prince Napoleon's pamphlet, denies that it has received any officious warning in "that respect," and protests that it will never be found wanting in any duty towards the government and will never abdicate any right. There is a negative pregnant in this last traverse which challenges notice. Let us o%serve, in pass ing, that the " rights" of the French press being nil, it requires no great courage to refuse to abdi cate them. I believe that the France has received " an" officious warning, though perhaps not pre cisely in reference to Prince Napoleon's pamphlet. It is not long ago that it announced in gigantic type the advent of a series of articles by Viscount de la Gueronnibre on the home policy of France. The puff preliminary has disappeared, and the articled are not forthcoming. That there is a hitch about them !is notorious, and the Charivari has a pleasant skit upon the subject, entitled " Where is the Viscount r' The telegram in the London papers on Monday, giving an account of the inauguration of the Bou levard Prince Eugene, makes a mistake in connect ing the name of Richard Lenoir with a loan society for the poor. It was apropos of a society quite recently founded by the Empress that the Emperor said, "The proverb, On ne prfite qu'aux riches,' is no longer true." The explanation, which M. Gueroult thought he should be able to give of the statement about M. Augier's piece, La Fits de Giboyer, which the Muni teur of yesterday contradicted, appears already in the shape of the following letter from the author himself : My dear BL Queroult,—ln substance the rectification of the Moniteur is but a question of words. It is true in this sense that my play was not " prohibited," it was only "re tained" by the committee of censure on account of modi fications which it wished to force upon me, and which -I would not submit to. After twenty-one days' delay, I was tired out, and withdrew the piece ; the next day it was authorised unconditionally and without examination, by a liberality which was good enough to think me capable of bearing the responsibility of my works—Aooept, &e., E. Amuse. This letter can have no other meaning than that the Moniker said the thing which was not. Marshal the Duke of Malakoff has arrived in Paris, to take part in the labours of the military commission of marshals ; during his absence Ge neral Martimprey remains in charge of the govern ment of Algeria. The Bourse has lost the rise of yesterday. Ru mours that General Foray requires large reinforce ments in Mexico produced a depressing effect. The Rente fell 20c. for cash, and 30c. for account, closing at 70fr. 55c. and 70fr. 65c. Mobilier fell 22fr. 50c., and the Italian Loan sc. In railways the decline was considerable ; Orleans fell 10fr. ; North ern, 6fr. 25c. ; Southern, 7fr. 50c. ; and Eastern, 3fr. 75c. The Droit contains the report of a lawsuit be tween M. Lambert Dennery, who was manager of the French plays at the St. James's Theatre in 1861, and Mdlle. Alice Tlit. , ric. This lady was en gaged by M. L. Deanery from May 20 to July 31, and one of the terms of the contract was that she was not to take part in any private theatricals without the written consent of the manager. In the course of July Mdlle. Alice Thric was requested by Lady Molesworth to play with Fechter at her house on July 20, in the Caprice of Alfred de Muaset. She asked leave of the manager, who told her that as Macbeth was in the bills for the theatre on that day, and she had no part in it, she was at liberty to go. A few days later—on the 17th, as M. Dennery says, but only on the 19th, according to Mdlle. Theric—he wrote a letter positively prohibit ing her from playing at Lady Molesworth's. There upon she demanded an interview with the manager, and very warmly reminded him of his promise. He denied that he bad made any promise at aIL A " scene" ensued, and Mdlle. Thdric left the manage rial presence, declaring that come what might she would fulfil her engagement with Lady Moleaworth. In this state of circumstances M. Deanery brought an action against Mdlle. Theric before the Tribunal of Commerce for a breach of her engagement, and laid his damages at 6,000 fr. The tribunal dis missed the case, and now the Court of Appeal, pre sided by M. Anspach, has confirmed the judgment, holding that the verbal leave arid license, which it takes to be established, was a sufficient waiver of the stipulation in the contract that any such leave must be in writing. The Daily News is seized. A correspondent, writing from Rome, says : " Yon remember how the Italian Bourbons used to despise newspapers, and their effect on public opiruon ? Wall, Etch a change he taken place ! The European reaction is now collecting funds to establish papers like La France in Italy. Whenever any needy writer who knows Italian attain, whether Englishman, Frenchman, or German, can be got hold of, he to to be ' engaged.' A sort of political agency is established at Rome for sniffing letters to any journals in distress, whether English, French, or German, inclined to print falsehoods about the oonstitutiosal rale in Italy." LAW INTELLIGENCE (THIS DAY.) . COURT OF COMMON PLEAs. SECOND COURT. Sittings at Nisi Prins in Loodoo.—(ittfurr Mr. •Jurt i wurre r. ... Wills. sad Common Jury.) LAWltlitet. —BLANDEIi The plaintiff in this case was a lioeoaed viclu• er oil : busbies; residing in Newleadirtreet, Kensington ; defendant kept a riding school in the same neighlannl.,: The action was to recover damages for slander. Mr. flerjrant Banalities awl Mr. Sleigh appeared plaintiff, and Mr. Serjeant Parry and Mr. Lloyd for tl.. defendant. It that on the 26th June last both parties w „. at the Baoltrupees Court, attending in retinae to c affairs of Mr. Dyir, a ban k rupt, and in the course of words which peered between them the defendant said brother, "Come away from that thief White. lie stoi c: atah-box at Finchley some year. ago ;" and tl,i. u nputa; ,, he repeated some short time afterwards. Mr. Serjeant Parry, at the coueluaiou of the arm, said that his client regretted that he ehuuld, in tl. beat and anger of the moment, have uttered words whi..h could not support ; and be now withdrew all impulaii upon the plaintiff, and consented to a verdict lif damages, Verdict scoordingly. COURT OF PROBATE AND DIVORCE. (Before the Judge Ordinary.) DAVI r. COMBER AND WIFE. Dr. Deane, Q.C., and Mr. H. C. Ward appmu-ed plaintiff ; Mr. Serjeant Ballantine and Dr. Spinks fur th defendants. This was 11. MUM of proving the will of Mr. Allen who died at Worthing on the 3rd of October, I leaving a family of six children, fire chiughhr and a son, and also property worth about 1,474/. The tator had formerly been a grocer and draper at N ewiagto a , Sussex. In 1853 be became lunatic, and was placed HI :a asylum for two years, the business being in the nes. time carried on by his eldest daughter Stkennah, sri, 1856 was married to Mr. Comber, the defendant. Th e a d s , dispute was executed on the 25th of February, 1.•l - 18. E, it the testator gave his daughter, Mrs. Comber, eV., and directed the rest of his property to be dividel eyaally amongst his other children. Probate was now reekkd • a the ground that the instrument had been improperly etc. rated, and that it had been procured by undue influence, the testator at the time it was signed not being of sound mind, memory, and understanding. The plaintiff's case was proceeding when we went to press, THE POLICE COURTS. (THIS DAY.) CLERICEN WELL EITILAORDINARY STORY. Christina Istainson, a respectablynttired young Ica. tied woman, residing at 6, Hargrave-place, Jameostrvia, Camelen-town, wascharged before Mr. Barker with attempt. ill to commit mucide under the following extrionliaarry circumstances : Last night, as one of the witnesses was proceeding .J..eg the Camden-road, he heard the screams of a female, .ml heartening to the spot he found the defendant lying ou the pavement in en exhausted state. She had tied tightly round her neck a white pocket handkerchief, and she was getting black in the face. With the assistance of a ',diet. constable he undid the handkerchief, and conveyed d o d,. fondant to a surgeon. She stated that home had robbed her and attempted to kill her. Police-constable Hackett. 386 6, said that when the pri• sonar was at the surgeon's she told several stories, mu: said that her husband had deserted her. She said that tin handkerchief that was tied round her throat had had some money in it, which she had lost, but the exact amount co (min in her pocket at the station. She denied that she had tied the handkerchief round her throat, and said that she bad been attacked and robbed, bat she did not know lit whom. When he took her to the surgeon she was le an en. haunted state, and restoratives had to be applied to umber life. Mr. Mould (chief clerk)—Did the defendant own the pocket handkerchief! Witness—Yea ; end stated that it was one that she had dropped in Camden-road Villas, with some money in it. The prisoner said that the handkerchief that was tied round her neck was her own —was the one that she lost and was tied round her neck by some one whom she not know. The defendant's mother said that her daughter had Orin been married about eleven month., and her husband haviu; deserted her, she had for the past six weeks been at he, with her. She was afraid that her daughter was going of her mind about her husband having deserted her. would takelier daughter homeif the magistrate wouldellow it. Mr. Barker said he should remand the defendant untd Tuesday next. It was apparent that many of the cues )3 which it was stated that persona were garot rod were feta.. canoes. Had the defendant not been charged it wu root likely that she would have lost her lifo, or if she had reen rued she would have repeated her story that she had berg attacked and robbed, and that without the least foundati:.t. In remanding the defendant he thought that her husband had better be present at the next examination. The defendant, who was in tears, was then removed t the House of Detention. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. 110811/210 • COMMIT VISITOR TO THI CATTLE SHOW. Janes Denman, a well-dimmed yonrg fellow, was charged before Mr. Tyrwhat with stealing a gold watch, of the value of 171., the property of Mr. John Morris, farmer, of Oak ham, Rutlands. IPMr. Edward Lewis, of GreatMarlbotoughatreet, appeared for the prisoner. Mr. Morris sai d he was in London for the purpose of visiting the Cattle Show, and on the previous evening seat to the Haymarket Theatre. He had paid for one ticket, and while paying for the other felt a push from behind, awl at the same moment a tug at his watch chain, and his watch WA drawn by the priamer's hand from underneath hie (Mr. Morris's) Inverness cape. Mr. Lewis put several questions to the prosecutor, Lot he was positive the prisoner was the person who took Lis watch. Kelly, a linkman at the Haymarket Theatre, proved packing up the prosecutors watch, which had been broken the chain, at the pit entrance of the theatre. Speschley, 573 A, while on duty at the Haymarket Theatre saw the prisoner standing at the entrance, and bowel Mr. Morris ray prisoner had taken his watch. Prisoner said he had not done it, and that he was a gentleman, and it was impossible ha could have done such a thing. Mr. Lewis said the prisoner acting under his advice scald plead guilty. Sergeant Cole, 23 C, said he knew the prisoner, but did not know whether he had been convicted. Committed for four mouths with hard labour. WORSHIP-STREET BOBISTRO CBIIUBL7. Louisa Hollingsworth, having the appeararce of a respect able servant, was charged with the following robbery : Mr. Vann appeared for the prosecution, and three pretty little girls, daughters of a tradesman named Kreppel, is business in the City.road, were brought into court to idea tify the prisoner. The eldest, apparently sheet eighty ears of age, did so, although in a state of great alarm et the sight of the mimeo. Mr. Kreppel said—Yesterday morning the children were sent out for a walk, and about 1 o'clock, in co:atrium:o of ' a message sent to toe, I proceeded to a public-house mar Pitheldatrest, Old-street, Si. Luke's, where I found them under the protection of the landlord, but without any boots. The publican alluded to said—There is a puma by the side of my house, and at the time mentioned I found these little girls there ; they were all crying, very cold, nod • on a step without any boots. I immediately took them indoors, and, learning their name, sent for last wit nets. The eldest child was taken to the side of the inagia • trate and stated—She came to us and asked it we would have some sweets, and when I told her that 1 di not kno what she meaut, she said we were to go with h d er w trO some other boots. She took us into a dark place and went away with those she took off our feet. Mr. Kreppel—The boots were just new, and co.t Police-constable 103 N From a description given to me by the children, I kept a look out for her, and loot night saw her listening to a man who will singing a song itheut children being robbed. She had a hearty laugh. aim thee told her that I wanted her. She denied the charge. o '.l.ek drew.nee —I am not the person. I did not se e the ‘.d. Emma Purelow—About 20 minutes past - iMdrva is yesterday I met the prisoner and the three young Tabernacle-row. She was leading the youogea and g.sn; towards Old-street-road. fur .evert yeara. Smith' 99 0 n Nth—el ha ve . she wee charged at this court with stealing money from a dell in Mturayatreet, New North-read. For that edema she bad three months' imprisonment; at that tato t h e k a now Bc u i Lhe mbe, prisoner tw there were numerous cease against her of stealing. mantles. ' boons, collars, cloaks, or any article she could readily " from child ren of such tender yearst it was alwa cult to fix her with the theft, and in most instanced ys ees she eie Gaped conviction. Prisoner (who has a most peculiar appearance in the i .iye) here said—l admit that I have done this sort of thing before, but indeed I am quite innocent of the robbery now- They are all mistaken in . supposing that I am the person- Remanded for trial. - - - - SOUTHWARK. DEATH OP A PRISONER IN A POLICE CELL.-11ELAN etioi CANE. Among the names of the prisoners placed before Mr. Combo on the charp-abset this morning was that of AP , ' Johns, 2.5, married woman, charged with being Arum( sal of taking care of herself. The mai:rut., 0 4 It= h t that charge, said he perceived the . word " against her trine. Inspector Mackintosh, M division, the officer on duty st the Stones-end police - station, informed his worship thit the dressed woman was brought in by two coritables 5 1 4 quarter past three yesterday afternoon is a state of iota. Bible drunkennees. She we placed in one of the lord rd' and in about a quarter of an Lour partially recovered so si to LATEST INTELLIGENCE. GREECE. ACTION OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. FRENCH CIRCULAR, The Nerd of to-day gives the following as the substance of a communication made on the 3rd inst. by Lord Napier ' the British Ambassador at the court of St. Petersburg, to Prince Gortchakoff The English government, in agreement with the two other powers who signed the treaties relating to Greece, intends to conform to the stipulations which forbid the Hellenic throne to the members of the reigning families of the three guaranteeing courts. However, it does not believe it to be a right or a duty to maintain that clause which imposes orthodoxy upon the sovereign of Greece in the event of the Greek people wishing to rid themselves of it, and deeming it tit to choose a king of another religion. This claim the English government regards u binding only upon the legitimate heirs of King Other Now as there is a change of dynasty this clause is de facto annulled, and Greece is perfectly free to modify the article of the constitution which imposes it. The Morning Herald (which, according to the Indlretalanee of yesterday, has for some time acted as the " officious " organ in England of the French government) publishes exclusively this morning a French circular ou the Greek question, which K Drouyn de Lhuys has just sent to each of the re presentatives of the French government abroad. The substance of the note is as follows : After having acknowledged the moderation which the Greek nation has exhibited in the presence of the grave air. cumstances arising sot of recent events, the minister declares that the government of his Imperial Majesty has not remained an indifferent spectator of what has passed, but did not think it right to offer any opposition. Two considerations presented themselves : on the one side the treaties that established Greece, to which France was a party; on the other the unanimous movement of • people desirous of modifying its government. Between these two opposite facts France h►d but one line to follow —to leave the Greek people free to elect the assembly representing the nation, and to adhere, in accord with the co-protecting powers, to the engagements jointly signed by them. This is the line the Emperor has faithfully fol lowed. The note adds, that, requested to point out a candidate for the throne of Greece, the government of his Majesty the Emperor of the French did not feel itself at liberty to comply, convinced that in acting thus it would be causing a moral pressure restricting the full liberty of the Greeks, and violating treaties. The crown of Greece could not, in fact, be considered vacant by France any moro than by Eng land or Russia, until the Hellenic nation bad designated a new sovereign, and the three protecting powers had agreed to recognise him. Up to that time the existing engagements would preserve all their force. M. Dronyn de Lbnys then goes on to slue with regret that whilst the government of his Imperial Majesty fol lowed in perfect good faith the line it bad traced for itself, the name of a prince belonging to one of the three powers was brought forward, and that this candidature was supported rather than discouraged in Greece. Whilst rendering full justice to the eminent qualities of Prince Alfred, sad appreciating the lively sympathies of which he is the object in Greece, the French government is not disposed to admit that his elevation to the throne will assure the security and happiness of the country. Would not Europe accopt with reluctance the increase of influence which would result therefrom to England! Would not the two lother powers see in it a violation of treaties! Finally, would not the overthrow of the balance of power in the East and in the Mediterranean bring about inevitable complications! M. Drouyu de Lhnys thinks that, under these circum stances, the government of Great Britain has perhaps occu pied itself too much with a candidature which it believed it had reason to fear, and has been desirous of obtaining guarantees which ware not necessary. He trusts that the uneasiness to which these circumstances have given rise will soon be terminated. Relying on the "'Mom of the British government, and informed by its representative at Paris that England is ready to disavow the rantlidcaure of Prince Alfred if Kumla on her side will consent to the exclusion of any prince be longing to the imperial family of Kuria convinced, more over, that the latter power is ready to make this declara tion, the French minister seee no further obstacle to an un derstanding between the three powers, and concludes with the expression of • hope that the three powers will agree to point out for the choice of Greece • prince who will be able to ensure her prosperity without compromising that of Europe. The Morning Post believes that King Ferdinand of Portugal will receive the joint support of the three powers : His Majesty (says our contemporary) is in the prime of life, being only forty-six years of age. During the minority of his eon he governed a constitutional kingdom as regent for some years. He is a prince of much capacity, and, by the excellent education ho gave his children, emulated the great qualities of our own Prince Albert. The King is, moreover, a cousin of the young priors who is forbidden to avail himself of his Battering election. Thereis butone draw back to King Ferdinand. He is 'Roman catholic. The feeling' of a Greek rival those of the strongest protestant in dislike for that faith. But it is impossible to find a candidate who is totally unimpeachable, and it is to be hoped the Greeks will be content to accept a prints of such lofty connexions, honourable reputation, and tried ability, as King Ferdinand. We may not unreasonably expect that the Greeks, when the excitement of the present moment has passed away, will lend not an unwilling ear to this suggestion of the great powers, whose countenance and aid must be of vital consequence to them iu their present attempt at regeneration. FRANCE. It is dated that the session of the two great bodies of the date in France will commence on the 12th of January. The debates are expected to be very animated. The chiefs of the party opposed to the temporal power of the Pope, and who are there fore at war with the policy at present pursued by the French cabinet, intend to expound their views. Prince Napoleon will make a speech on the subject in the Senate, and speeches; are also expected from MM. Pietri and De Lavalette. PRUSSIA. The following official letter of the King has been published : . . . It is fifty years ago next March that the Prussian people, on the appeal of my father, took up arena in the great contests of the war of freedom. I believe it right that a fête should be instituted to celebrate the commencement of the noble deeds of arms of that period, which has fur nished the history of Prussia with its brilliant pages, and to commemorate the establishment of the Lendwehr. It will be 100 years in March next since the Seven Years' War was ended by the glorious peace of Hnbertsburg, which esta blished the position of Prussia as a great power, and for which we ought still to thank God. I invite the minister to submit propositions to me as to the manner in which these fetes should be celebrated. (Signed)_ WILLIAM. A Prussian clergyman named Schiukel has pub lished in the Gazette of the Protestant Church a re markable article upon the late addresses to the King. He argues that these addresses have nothing in common with religion, and that the clergy ought carefully to abstain from signing them. " Tho addresses," he says, "do not confine themselves to existing rights ; all of them by allusions, more or less clear, incite the King to use against the Cham ber of Deputies not his right but his power. What is the true meaning of these invitations 1 It is that the King should break by force the resistance of the Chamber ; and does not this lead, if pursued to its legitimate consequences, to the wish that the King should violate the constitution ? And whoever de sires this, does he not urge the King to violate his oath?" NAPLES. Prince Murat has addressed another letter to the unknown prince who has been the channel of his precious communications with the Neapolitans. The Bonapartist pretender professes to have received information of the progress which his cause is THE BOMBAY MAIL The following telegram has been received at Mr. Reuter's office front the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company : ALEXANDRIA, DEC. 9. The Euxine and Pere, with the above Malls, left at noon this day for Marseilles and Southampton respectively. The Pere may be expected at Southampton abcut the 22nd inst. . . The Jeddo brought the mail to Suez, arriving there yesterday. The Bengal and Sultan left Suez on the 6th for Calcutta and Mauritius respec tively. The Vienna journals mention a project of sending several officers of the Austrian navy to England to study the institutions of the naval service. They would serve • certain time as volunteers on board English vemels of war. A company is being formed at St. Petersburg for the construction of • harbour there. After so many un suocessful attempts to realise this important design, • me tropolitan port remains as great • desideratum as ever, the larger vowels being still compelled to unload at Breastadt, and the greater pert of the cargoes having to be conveyed here in barges. Yr. Gladstone, the beaker, has •lose sub scribed 1,600,000 roubles towards the capital required, an owl amount being gaanudeed by Sweaty Moscow Arms. 1