The Press. — London, England, 1857-05-09 00:00:00

454 was whether or not it was possible to redeem those beings who seemed to have no sense of what was due to themselves--either in regard to their present or their future state—or what was due to the Almighty who created them ? There might be objections made to the efforts of such societies as those they were then advocating, and it might be said that, although in some particular instances, arising from certain peculiar influences, a few hundreds of people might be thus rescued, and some might find refuge in these schools and temporary burnt s, yet the great moss would still remain unaffected by all the efforts of these institutions. That argument might be good at the present moment. hilt there was no reason to think it would be the case at all future time. On the contrary, there was every reason to believe that if the efforts now making were to become general, and if, not individuals only, but the whole community and the State itself, were to take proper methods to insure that education should everywhere he extended, at some future time, not very remote, they might rescue society in general from those dreauful evils which, whether they were looked upon as physical, or as moral, or as political, or, lastly, as religions calamities, were of the gravest and most serious kind. Sin WILLIAM MAGNAY'S position as Alderman of the City of London was discussed at the Court of Common Council held this week, by ➢lr. H. Blake, who moved the following resolution : That this court has learned with astonishment and regret. that by a decree of the Court of Appeal of Brussels, dated 27th February, , Sir William Magnay, Bart., an Alderman and Magistrate of this City, has been adjudged, by default, guilty of fraud, and condemned to three years' imprisoninent and a fine of 3,001) francs. That this court has learned from its law officers with equal astonishment and regret that the London Corpora tion Act, 1819, 12 and 13 Vie., cap. fit, framed with the especial view of securing the purity of this corporation, by d.lelaring any of its members disqualified who shall be convicted of fraud, is in this case inoperative, because the conviction has 1).-en by a foreign court. That Sir William Magnay not having taken any steps for the revocation of the judgment against him, this court feels bound to express its opinion that he ought no longer to occupy the position of an alderman of this city, and to request that he will relinquish that office. Mr. J. G. Millard moved a comprehensive amend ment, and the question was adjourned. THE NEW CHARTER OF THE LONDON UNIVERSITY was discussed ou Tuesday, at a meeting of graduates, at Freemasons'-hall. A resolution proposed by Dr. Foster, and seconded by Dr. Stark, approving the new charter, after an animated debate, was defeated by an amendment, proposed by Mr. Waley and seconded by Dr. Quoin, declining to accept the charter as proposed by the Senate, on the ground that the renunciation by the Senate of the principle of colle giate education in arts and law, would be a serious blow to regular and systematic education, and calculated to lower the value of London degrees. THE reported reinstatement of the Rev. F. D. Maurice in his professorship at King's College is without foundation. THE EXHIBITION OF GOVERNMENT-OFFICES DESIGNS, now open on alternate days in St. George's-hall, Westminster, presents some beautiful specimens of architectural drawing. The number of plans sent in by the 219 competitors amounts to upwards of 800, and these are arranged on the walls of four compartments or parallel avenues, into which West. minster-hall bas been divided, the works of each separate artist being kept distinct from the rest, one common number being extended to efl the produc tions of one hand. Many of the designs are remark able for beauty of conception and ingenuity of detail. Some of the pen and ink drawings are marvellous even as works of art, and it seems almost incredible that they could have been executed in the compara tively short period of seven months since the specifi cations were delivered. The majority of the designs are certainly of the Italian, or rathet what is termed the Anglo•ltalian, style ; but there are somo beautiful specimens of the classic, of the Renaissance, and of the Gothic, both of the simple and florid schools. But all kinds of arehitecture—Dorie, lonic, Corin thian, Composite, Saxon, Norman, Gothic, and modern Gothic, in all their classes and subdivisions —are represented in the exhibition. The names of the artists are of course unknown, and will remain so until the important question of merits is decided. A motto is attached to each set of designs, and this, with the accompanying number, is the limit of the individuality at present revealed. It is understood that the judges on whom will devolve the delicate duty of selection will be five in number, and that of these five one will he a peer, and another a member of the House of Commons. None of the judges have as yet been publicly named, but the five have been actually appointed. The decision will probably be given within a month or five weeks from the present time, so as to allow Parliament to decide whether the a o:k should be commenced next autumn. THE DEATHS RFAIISTERED IN LONDON, which in tl me previous weeks in April were on the average Loth), declined in the week that ended on Saturday to 1,038. The present return furnishes very clear THE PRESS. indication that the public health is unusually good. Las( week the births of 896 boys and 819 girls, in all 1,743 children, were registered in London. In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1847.56 the average number was 1,563. 4rtiant. THE REPLY FROM LORD CARLISLE to the address forwarded by the Protestant Association to his Ex cellency, by way of explanation for the offensive passage in the late memorial, is as follows : Dublin Castle, April 30. . . Sir,—Having laid before the Lord Lieutenant your letter of the alt., with its accompanying address, 1 am directed to acquaint you that his Excellency, looking upon the address as a withdrawal of the obnoxious imputations in the communication addressed to his Excellency on the 13th ult., will not at present think himself called upon to depart from the course he has previously pursued.-1 am, sir, your obedient servant, TimmAs A. LARCOM. \V. R. Furlong, Esq. The letter was read at the meeting of the association on Monday, awl orderad to be printed. THE appointment of Irish Secretary still excites lively discussion in Dublin. THE ARGUMENTS IN THE COLCLOI.7GH WILL CASE to change the venue from Wexford to Dublin in the new trial ordered by the House of Lords commenced on Tuesday morning before the Lord Chancellor. It is computed tbat the trotracted proceedings in this extraordinary case have already cost the litigant parties a sum of not less than 30,0001. There is a formidable bar engaged on both sides—indeed, nearly all the leaders in Chancery hold briefs. THE EMIGRATION FROM THE SOUTH, says one of the Limerick journals the Reporter), in a tone of alarm, still continues. The people, it is said, are literally flying in thousands from the Irish shores. If emi gration proceed at this pace the Limerick journal fears there will not be hands t..) till the soil. A Dublin letter in one of the country papers ob• serves:— Notwithstanding the " prosperous state " of the country it is astonishing the numbers that daily arrive here (en route for America) by the trains of the Midland Great Western Railway. Many of them appear to be of the better class of farmers unable any longer to hold out against the present increasing rents. The majority come from the county of Galway, and present a somewhat picturesque appearance in our streets Ihy their gaudy apparel. il',,itlu an gotta. THE ROYAL BRITISH BANK. Mn. LINKIATER attended before Mr. Cimmissioner Holroyd on Monday, and announced that he had brought the labours of the assignees to a close, with the exception of the examination of Mr. Owen, when he should think proper to come from abroad. Mr. Linklater also observed:— There appears to he some apprehension in the mind of the public that these examinations have been without object. I may take this opportunity of stating that not only have they not been without object, but I trust they will not be without beneficial result. I say advisedly, as a lawyer, that I believe there is already quite sufficient upon. the records of this court to insure a certain conviction if a prosecution be instituted. It remains with the Government alone, and I have no reason to suppose that the Government is not quite alive to the great necessity and importance of insti• Luting a prosecution—l say, sir, it remains for the Govern. ment alone to determine who shell be the objects selected for the punishment which undoubted) / some of the persona implicated in this inquiry merit. It is not for me to dilate now upon that question; but I think it is exceedingly im• portant that the public should be aware that it is the opinion or more than one of the profession that the disclosures which have taken place in this court show abundantly sufficient ground for instituting a criminal prosecution, and that the law is adequate for the purpose. I believe that the day is not very far distant when we shall find the Government, having its attention called to the subject, as it will be by your Honour's valuable report upon the result of these pro ceedings, adopting measures the effect of which will be to satisfy the public justice of the country. The ComitissiosEa : After what you have stated, will it be necessary to examine Mr. Valiant at all ? Mr. LINKLATER : 4 Possibly not.; he is one of those directors whose examination, your Honour sees, we are entitled to take and entitled to use elsewhere. If it shall not be found necessary we will not trouble your Honour any further with the evidence, except that which is of a mere formal character. The COMNtisstoxea : There is some documentary evidence. Mr. LiNKLATEIt : Yes, sir ; and also some more formal evidence, with which we need not occupy the public time, and which may be put upon the proceedings. I shall be prepared with that in the c )urse of a week or en, and there. fore it will not be necessary to trouble your Honour with the matter any further. On Saturday la.st Mr. Commissioner Goulburn, at the same court, delivered judgment at the adjourned dividend sitting in the case of John Greig, and SATURDAY, declared the call of the official manager of 751, per share to be unjust, illegal, and contrary to the bank ruptcy law. It was therefore rejected. The case involved a question of the utmost importance—viz., whether orders might be made, and judicial acts done by the chief clerks of the Vice-Chancellors, in the absence of the judges themselve4, and whether the subsequent assent of the Vice-Chancellors, not even signified by their signature, was sufficient to give validity to such orders. THE WRIT OF ERROR in the case of the condemned prisoner Mansell was tried, and disallowed on all points, this week by the Judges at the Court of Queen's Bench. Mansell, it wilt be remembered, was tried and convicted last winter assizes at Maidstone, for the wilful murder of Alexander M‘Burney, but pro testing against the manner in which one of the jury was allowed to stand by, on the prayer of the Crown, without cause of challenge being shown. Lord Campbell maintained the right of the Crown to challenge without cause till the panel was called over and exhausted, and then to call over the names of the jurors peremptorily challenged by the Crown, and to put the Crown to assign cause, so that if there are twelve of those upon the panel as to whom no just cause of objection can be assigned, the trial may proceed. The prisoner was then fcrmally condemned to be hanged on the 18th of May. THE TRIAL OF BACON AND HIS WIFE for the murder of their two children is fixed for Wednesday morning next. MR. JAMES GUDGE, who for the past forty-two years has held some important office in the House of Commons, and for the greater part of that time has filled the responsible position of Chief Clerk of the Journals, endeavoured to put an end to his existence on Wednesday last, by deliberately attempt. ing to drown himself in the river. Though rescued at the time, he died shortly afterwards from the effects of immersion. This melancholy affair has thrown a complete gloom over the whole establish ment, as perhaps no officer was held in higher respect and esteem than the deceased gentleman, who, during the many years that he has held various posts of responsibility, has assiduously and honour ably performed his duties, being courteous and kind to those with whom he came in contact in business, and, in fact, was a marked favourite for his general suavity of manner. An inquest was held on Thurs day afternoon, before Mr. Bedford, coroner, at Westminster Hospital, in presence of a large number of the relatives and friends of the deceased, when, amongst other evidence, the following was adduced : Mr. E. J. Newcome, resident medical officer of the hospital, said he saw the deceased when he was brought in. He was suffering from immersion, was cold and insensible, but breathing tolerably well, and had a fair pulse. He was put into bed, the usual remedies applied, and at four o'clock he be came conscious, and spoke a little. Soon after, however, an unfavourable change came on. Ile became insensible, and embarrassed in breathing, and continued to get worse until half-past sevel on Thursday morning, when he expired. The jury, after some deberation, returned as their verdict, " That the deceased destroyed his own life while in a state of temporary insanity." Corresponittnce. THE NEW REFORM BILL. Letter It. TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS." Sir,—ln my last I pointed out some of the con se• quences which will necessarily ensue from a five pound qualification. The logical foundation of niy reasoning was, the great cardinal fact that, since the lower orders of society are more numerous than those above them, the five pounders would constitute the immensa majority of the electoral body. This fact being admitted—and no one with any perception can deny it—the rest followed as necessary consequence. That mankind will follow their sup posed interests, is a principle of human nature as old as the time of Cain and Abel ; and that it is as potent now as then, needs only an appeal to the ten • pound conscience itself. For, is it not the case that the whole tenor of our policy since the Reform Bill has been in favour of the consumers ?—a class to which three•fourths of the present electoral body belong. Allow that it was patriotic and wise to abolish protection of native and colonial industry. and that it was humane and consistent to take off the differential duty on slave sugar, it is at lea't a striking coincidence that this policy coincides with the interests of the teu-pound householders; and though the income tax does strike against a large number of our voters, it was submit ted to only under the exigencies of the war, and is to be got rid of altogether in 1860. By that millennial era ten pound householders will be able with impunity to indulge in the natural feeling of complacency flowing from the possession of average incomes of 1001. a year,