The Press. — London, England, 1858-12-25 00:00:00

IMMM/INIMMMINEMMOII 1258 THE PRESS, DECEMBER 25, 1858. its capital has largely increased every year. The accounts for the year ending the 20th November last have been duly audited ; the balance of receipts over disbursements in that period is 121,069/. Ils. 9d., raising the capital stock of the institution to 1,621.550/. lls. Ild., which is invested on mortgage of real estates, government and other securities, including the sum of 101,663/. advanced on loan at interest to members, on the security of their respective policies. Tha gross annual income arising from premiums on 15,262 existing policies is 247,6931. Is. Id., and the annual abatement on the 20th November, 1857, to be continued for the five years ending in 1862, 50,112/., leaving a balance of 197,5811. Is. Id., to which must be added interest on invested capital 69,8501. 7s. Id., making the total net annual income 267,431/. Bs. 2d. The present number of members is 12,647. The report was adopted, and the meeting proceeded to the election of directors for the ensuing year. THE WESTMINSTER PLAYS, with Terence's comedy of Phormio, took place at St. Peter's College, West minster, on Wednesday esening, and were honoured by the presence of their Royal Highnesses the Prince Consort and the Prince of Wales. Amongst the gen(ral company we observed Lord John Russell, who was seated on the Prince Consort's right, and with whom his Royal Highness frequently held familar conversation uetween the acts, the Turkish Minister, Viscount Barrington, the Dean of St. Paul's, the Dean of Westminster, Mr. Mowbray, M.P., Mr. Marsh, M.P., the Provost of Eton, Vice-Chan cellor Page Wood, Lord Courtenay, Sir D. Dundas, Viscount Somerton, the Rev. Canons Jennings, Cure ton, and Repton, Sir H. Holland, Lieut.-Colonel Maxwell, Professor Selwyn, Mr. Baron Channel, Dr. R. Phillimore, dec. The acting of Balfour as Phormio, and of Shadwell as Geta, was of a highly finished character, whilst the peas of Demipbo and Chremes were capitally rendered by C. Barnes and A. T. Kerslake, and H. Salwey quite distin guished himself in the part of Nausistrata by its perfect naturalness and feminine propriety. The only alteration in the cast of the dramatis persona was the substitution of G. Grumbleton for Cope, in consequence of the indisposition of the latter. The Prologue contained some flattering references to the Prince Consort and the Heir Apparent, and was well delivered by Goodeve, the captain of the school. In the Epilogue the actors were all well up in their parts. Balfour was even more at home as the French dancing -master than on the first rehearsal, and the success achieved was undoubted. Mr. Tracy The charge is clearly defined in the statute. The charge imputed to them is belonging to an illegal secret society, and I do not want any remarks made about any other society. No other society has anything to do with it. Mr. Rea : Part of my defence is that they are no worse than their neighbours. If your worship would fix Friday for it— Mr. Tracy : I cannot fix any day. I have several matters to do in connection with it that 1 cannot explain. It is a very simple inquiry, I take it. Mr. Rea: I believe the British Constitution has left Belfast this last week. Mr. Tracy : If these people had their way in Bel fast the British Constitution would have very little to do in it in a short time. Mr. Rea: Maybe we would have a far be ter one. I have a clear duty to perform, and I like to perform it against the Crown, because I do not think it has done its duty to the people. Mr. Tracy : That exhibits a very amiable propen sity. _ _ THE BIRTHS of 890 boys and 880 girls, in all 1,770 children, were registered last week in London. 'l'he deaths, which were 1,531 in the preceding week, fell to 1,442. Scarlet fever, though declining, is still very fatal. Smallpox and measles increase. THE SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEU3I was visited during the week ending 18th December, 1838, by 5,329 persons. Mr. Rea : I do not forget their services to myself, and I intend to repay them. Ely Ottr.Q. THE SUB-DEANERY OF ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL has been conferred upon the Rev. W. C. F. Webber, M.A., incumbent of St. Botolph, Aldersgate. THE BISHOP OF LONDON, in consequence of a representation having been made by the church wardens of St. George's-in-the-East, relative to the continuance of Tractarian practices by the rector, the Rev. Bryan King, has addressed a letter to that clergyman, transmitting a duplicate to the church wardens. In the course of the letter the Bishop observes :—" As to the green vestments, stoles, or whatever they may have been, which it appears you yourself and Mr. Burn wore on the occasion of the anniversary, I very deeply regret that you should think it right to assume the unusual gar ments you described to me. I am convinced there is no sufficient warrant for it, and if you continue it this is against my express order. Surely, if in any matters a bishop is entitled to require the canonical obedience of his clergy, it is in such a case as this.. . As to Mr. Burn's wearing such garments, I am glad to have been assured yesterday, both by you and him, that he will discontinue them, and I shall be truly glad if you will resolve to do the same yourself. I have only allowed him to officiate on his probation under very peculiar circumstances, and require obedience as one of the conditions of his probation. As to matters brought before me by others, and not by the churchwardens, it was very satisfactory to me to be assured by you that the catechism complained of as teaching Romish doctrine had never been dis tributed in the parish, or used in the school, with your knowledge or sanction. I understand your curate, Mr. Lowder, to have given me before the same assurance as to his district of your parish. I take leave to advise, that you should let your people understand that you disapprove of this catechism, if it is still circulating among them through any dishonest influence of those two of your curates who ately joined the Church of Rome. I was glad also to be assured by Mr. Burn that he was not in the habit of distributing the Manual of Confession ' which was complained of. 1 understand him to say that he had only given it in one instance, and that only because he was requested to give some such book to a person who was troubled in mind, and that he very incautiously gave this book without having read it, and that he has not read it even now. I would strongly urge upon him, through you, the impropriety of his giving to any of your people a book on such a subject without having satisfied him self that its contents are accordant with the word of God." Williams, and other distinguished officers of various branches of the service, then proceeded to inspect the cadets, who were drawn up in review order, and his Royal Highness and staff subsequently took up a position at the finstaff, when the several classes of cadets went though a series of evolutions in a masterly style, the manual and platoon exercises being under the direction of Gentleman Cadet Anderson, who performed his task with such tact and skill as to elicit the marked approbation of his Royal Highness. After performing a series of gun. nery exercises, the gentlemen cadets assembled in the spacious dining hall, where it was arranged that the distribution of prizes should take place. His Royal Highness, in appropriate terms, presented to Gentleman Cadet Anderson a handsome sword for exemplary conduct; and also to Gentlemen Cadets Woodward, Johnson, Haig, Caroll, dc, prizes, consisting of mathematical instruments and valuable books, for marked proficiency. His Royal Highness then addressed the officers, professors, and cadets in most impressive and instructive terms. His Royal Highness observed the duties which the cadets now assembled might hereafter he called upon to perform were of a nature which demanded the highest consideration and required the utmost perseverance and energy with ugard to their present studies. He was happy to find that these qualities had been evinced in no small degree by the gentle. men cadets during the past half-year. He would strongly impress upon the cadets that it was cnly by persevering in their scientific studies, even after they had obtained their commissions, that they could hope to turn to good account the education they had received at that institution. He was certainly gratified by his visit on that day, and should look forward with pleasure to future visits. His Royal Highness and staff then proceeded to the residence of the governor, and partook of refreshments; and after a subsequent brief inspection of the Royal Fuot Artillery, returned to town. TIIE CJILIRCH RATE CONTEST at Greenwich has been brought to a close, after a poll of two days, by the rate being carried by a majority of 594. The numbers were, for the rate, 820 ; against it, 231 gain! an rtilitarg ittelligtact THE EXAMINATION OF CADETS of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, took place on Tuesday. The event was more than usually interesting, Colonel E. L. Wilford, R.A., the governor of the institution, having previously received an intimation to the effect that his Royal Highness the General Commanding in Chief intended to be present on the occasion, and the usual arrangements were also carried out for the inspection of the troops in garrison. His Royai Highness, accompanied by his aide de camp Lieu. tenant Colonel 'Afton, Major General Cameron, C. 13., vice president of the council of military education ; Major General Portlock and Colonel Elwin, of the council of military education ; Colonel Wilford, governor of the institution ; Major General Sir W, F. ptlanb. THE BELFAST ARRESTS. IN the Belfast Police court on Monday, Mr. John Rea, solicitor for the persons under arrest, applied to the stipendiary magistrate, Mr. Tracy, to know when there would be a public investigation into the charges preferred against the seventeen prisoners now in Antrim gaol, and auggested that Friday would be a convenient day. Mr. Tracy, however, declined firing any particular day, and would make no promise as to time. The following conversation ensued : Mr. Rea : I hope the magistrates of the county or the petty sessions district will get notice of the time of bolding the inquiry, for I should consider it my right to address them, for the purpose of showing that these persons should not be returned for trial. From all I hear I do not think there is evidence to warrant it. Mr. Tracy : You cannot have heard anything of the case. Nobody knows anything about it except myself and the parties with whom I have communi cated. Mr. Rea : I would not address you now, only that it is the current opinion that the Crown has had sufficient time to investigate the matter. Mr. Tracy : They are not prepared at present to investigate the case. I cannot. be hurri e d i n t o i t , and there is time enough between this and the assizes. It is in my power to remand them day after day as long as I consider necessary for tha ends of justice. I cannot have any personal interest in the matter, one way or the other. Mr. Rea said, be was sure his worship was just as much opposed to the Orange system as to the Ribbon system. Mr. Tracy replied that the Orange system had nothing to do with it. Mr. 110 a saidhethought it was a counterpart of the Orange system, and was surprised to find that it hOid iloy connection with the Phcenix Club. Yaiv nub Volta. GEORGE WILLIAM SAUNDERS, Esq., of Rolls-yard, Chancery lane, London, has been appointed Com• nnssioner of the Birmingham Court of Bankruptcy, in the place of the late Mr. Balguy, Q.C. The new Commissioner was called to the bar in June, 1820, and has for several years filled the office of secretary to Loid Justice Turner. COMBINATION AIIONST PRINTERS has been exem• plified in an action tried on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Court of Exchequer. The action was brought by the proprietor of the Sheffield Times, and two other papers, against the proprietor of the Sheffiell Daily Telegraph, for publishing a libel, consisting of attacks nropagated by the l'rinter's Union of the town. The trial resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff, with 500/. damages. MR. JOHN TOWNSEND, described as an auctioneer and late M.P. for Greenwich, has at the Court of Bankruptcy applied for a certificate. After a lengthened bearing the Court deferred judgment. TRIAL BY JURY has received a somewhat rude shock in the refusal of Lord Campbell to receive a veraict. On Friday, in the Court of Queen's Bench, in the case of Smith v. Great Northern Railway Company, arising out of an accident in a fearful storm, Lord Campbell, in summing up, directed the jury to find a verdict for the defendants, it they the train was not proceeding at excessive speed. If, however, they were of opinion that there was neg ligence on the part of the company, they would find a verdict for the plaintiff with adequate but moderate damages. The jury, after being absent more than two hours, returned into court, when the foreman sail they had agreed to a verdict for the plaintiff—damages, one farthing.—Lord Campbell: Gentlemen, I really cannot in the discharge of my duty receive that verdict. It is impossible it can be right. It cannot stand. The Court of Queen's Bench will set it aside. If you find a verdict for the plaintiff you are bound to give him reasonable damages, and if he is not enti tled to a verdict you must say so. I must, there. fore, beg you to retire to your chamber and recon sider your verdict.—A juror: There is no chance, my lord, of our agreeing.—Lord Campbell : I hope that by consultation and deliberation you will be able to agree.—Several jurymen said it was quite im possible.—Lord Campbell: Trial by jury has long flourished in En3land to the great benefit of the land, but it has done so by reason of jurymen delibe rately and calmly consulting each other, and coming to a conclusion on one side or the other. Now, it is quite clear you have not done that. 1 must beg . of 3 on to withdraw and deliberate upon your verdict. I should be guilty of a dereliction of duty if I were to receive a verdict which is unquestionably wrong.—The jury then left the Court.--At halt past five o'clock, after they had been absent about two hours, they came into Court again. — The Foreman : My lord, there is no chance of our coming to an agreement.—Lord Campbell : I can