The Press. — London, England, 1856-02-16 00:00:00

FEBRUARY 16, 1856. commanding thought it very desirable that the army of Omer Paella should be transported to the Crimea, and I was asked uliether I could find means. I saw that there was great difficulty, but I had entire confidence in the men with whom I had to deal, and I unhesitatingly accepted the responsibility. The result was that 56,000 men, 11,000 horses, and 170 pieces of cannon were embarked in Bulgaria, and all landed safely at Eupatoria with the loss of only one horse. The work was done entirely by our transports, and I maintain it to be an achievement which ..t rredit on Iw:A reflects the high _ navy of this country. In conclusion, Sir Edmund spoke feelingly of the kind forethought evinced by those at home in send. ing out ample supplies this last winter, and related a little anecdote on that subject:— One morning when it was blowing very hard cff Sebas topol, it was reported to me that a steam transport was approaching under very peculiar circumstances. On examining her it turned out to be the Colombo, with her lower yards strung with turkeys, and her upper ones with geese and smaller poultry, forming the good cheer which had been sent out by friends in England to give the soldiers rid sailors a merry Christmas. In short, concluded the gallant admiral:— Both soldiers and sailors have been made to feel that they are held in affectionate remembrance by their country men at home, and the consciousness of that remembrance nerves the arm of the one in the battle-field and supports the other amid the storms and vicissitudes of the ocean. THE ASSOCIATION IN AID OF THE DEAF AND DUMB held a meeting on Wednesday evening, at Fitzroy-hall, Marylebone. About two hundred of these poor creatures, in the middle and lower ranks of life, were present on this occasion. The meeting was addressed articulately by Mr. Shirley Woolmer, Mr. Smith, the agent of the society, interpretin g the address. Mr. Woolmer, in his remarks, gave an outline of the objects of this association, which has been originated with a view of aiding the adult deaf and dumb in struggling with the disadvantages to which they are subjected, by giving lectures on subjects of gent ral interest, imparting religious instruction, and giving advice and friendly assistance when required by the deaf and dumb. At the comlusion of Mr. Woolmers address, the meeting was addressed digitally by several deaf and dumb gentlemen, including Mr. Barry, a city merchant ; Mr. Bather, a clerk in the Admiralty ; and Mr. Hazard, a clerk in Somerset house ; and the proceedings concluded by a lecture on Sir Thomas More, delivered by Mr. E. Harle audibly, and interpreted to the meeting. AT A VESTRY MEETING OF THE ST. PANCRAS On Wednesday, the report of the committee upon the state of the workhouse was read. From this it appeared that the most disgraceful want of morality and decency characterised' the internal ar rangments of the wards. The place was over crowded, ill ventilated, and wanting in all the essen tial requisites and commonest necessanes looked for in such institutions. The report was ordered to be printed, and resolutions p assed to remedy the rank evils of the institution. THE CONTF.ST BETWEEN THE GREAT NORTHERN AND THE NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY still continues. Mr. Denison, chairman of the former company, has published his statement, denying in the most posi tive terms, that Mr. Seymour Clarke, the manager, had any authority to enter upon any negotiations for a renewed treaty on the principle of the Gladstone award . I repeat distinctly (says Mr. Denison), that whatever may have been said, or written, or agreed to by the general manager of this company to the contrary effect, and whether he has said that he had, or thought he should get, authority for the purpose froln the board, it has been said, written, or agreed to, without any authority whatever. and shall not be confirmed or adopted by me. If the share- holders of this company prefer his views to mine they have only to say so at the ensuing meeting, and the result is perfectly simple. THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL'S RETURNS for the week show a mortality of 1,151 persons, being still below the average, but 202 above the number of last week. The births for the week amount to 1,788-102 above the average. A DEPUTATION OF DIRECTORS OF THE UNITY FIRE INSURANCE waited upon the Chancellor of the Ex chequer on Monday, to request a reduction of the duty payable by insurance companies in England, on the plea that the duty on policies issued by the French offices was only 7id. per cent on the policy, while the English duty was 38. per cent. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said that the only check upon foreign companies issuing such policies in England was the want of confidence which the people of England had in such companies. Although he could give no pledge when the deputation would receive any fur ther communication, still there could be no doubt they would shortly be informed of what step the Government might think it necessary to take for the protection alike of the revenue and of the English companies. THE PAVILION THEATRE, in the Whitechapel road, was totally destroyed by fire on Tuesday morning. The fire broke out at about eight a.m., and in a short time, despite the vigorous efforts of a powerful body 6 ! the Fire 13rigade, bad seized the whole body of THE PRESS. the theatre. Shortly after nine o'clock the roof fell in with a loud crash, and by ten o'clock the build ing was reduced to a heap of ruins. The fire is believed to have originated from the piece of the previous night, where the burning of a tavern was represented on the stage. The building was insured, but the present lessees were uninsured, and have lost a vast amount of property. A TREMENDOUS FIRE occurred On Thursday, in Clerkenwell, at a wood-turning and timber factory. The fire broke out shortly before six a.m., and in a few minutes burst forth with such tremendous violence as to threaten the whole neighbourhood with de struction. The various divisions of the fire brigade, alarmed by the bright light in the sky, turned out with haste, and guided by the flames, proceeded with all haste to the spot. The supply of water was abundant, but in spite of every effort of the firemen, the flames seized upon stack after stack of the large reserve of timber, and breaking out on all sides, set fire to the neighbouring houses, ultimately de stroying no less than fourteen, before they were got under. The loss of property is immense. ('H ull Voila. THE CASE OF DR. VAUGHAN. THE trial of Dr. Vaughan, on three indictments, for feloniously falsifying the bur;al registers, and appropriating to his own use a portion of the burial fees paid to him, commenced on Frith . ) , last and terminated on that day in his acquittal upon the first indictment. This indictment included the case of Jane Webb, who died at Park-place Park-road, in Clapham parish, for the burial of whom it was stated double tees had been paid through Maltby and Plummer, the witnesses for the prosecution, to Dr. Vaughan, and single fees only recorded in the entry. In cross examination, the charge broke down altogether, the witness Maltby contradicting himself so grossly and repeatedly that, without waiting for any evidence for the defence, Mr. Justice Wightman briefly summed up, and the jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty. On Saturday, a second similar indictment, in the case of William Raven, was preferred against Dr. Vaughan. From the statement of Mr. Sergeant Wilkins, who, in laying the case before the jury, alluded to the disgraceful conduct of the witness Maltby the day previous, it appeared that in Septem ber, ltis4, Mr. William Raven died of cholera at his residence, Stockwell grove, Kennington, and his death was properly registered. This was out of the district of St. Matthew, Brixton, but a child of the deceased, who had died some few weeks previously, being buried there, it was the wish of deceased and his relatives that he should lie there also. This fact was made known to the Rev. Dr. Vaughan at a per sonal interview at the rectory at rulso hill, between the rev. gentleman and Hayden, the undertaker. Hayden stated in evidence that he saw Dr. Vaughan, and told him the wish of the deceased and his friends, in'orming h m 'bat the child had been buried there a short time previously. Dr. Vaughan said he could not take the burial, as it was out of the district. Hayden again pressed it upon him, and he said if be took it he must take double fees. Double burial fees had been paid in the case of the child. Hayden gave to Dr. Vaughan 21., and Dr. Vaughan immediately went in and wrote a receipt for 355., and gave Hayden ss. change. This receipt he (Hayden) had umortunately lost. The evidence of Maltby, who acknowledged having in a previous examination made a false statement, was then heard. Dr. Vaughan, he asserted, when paid by Hayden, said, " If any one asks you where the funeral comes from, or what fees were paid, tell a lie and say Robert-street." He beard the money chink in Dr. Vaughan's hands. 3 The Attorney-General then gave a brief outline of the case he intended to lay before the jury, and called his witnesses for the defence. Mary Smith, the house maid to Dr. Vaughan, and Miss Lydia and Miss Decima Vaughan, were then examined. In their evidence they unhesitatingly stated that, when Hay den and Maltby came to Dr. Vaughan to make ar rangements for the funeral of Raven, he referred them to the churchwardens, that no conversation like that spoken to by Hayden and Maltby took place, that no money was given to Dr. Vaughan, and that he did not give them a piece of paper. Mr. Sergeant Wilkins, at this stage of the proceed ings, rose, and addressing the court, said that, if any doubt had before been entertained with regard to the sincerity of his statement in reference to the objects of this prosecution, it would at all events be removed by what lie was now going to state. He withdrew from this prosecution. The evidence of the servant and of the young ladies appeared to him to be so overwhelming, and it was so evident that they were speaking the truth, and they contradicted the wit nesses for the prosecution so distinctly, that he had felt compelled to state the conviction that was created in his mind to the churchwardens, and they at once sanctioned the course he had taken. At the same time he could not refrain from expressing his opiio9{} 165 that the churchwardens had only done their duty, in instituting the inquiry, and that now the matter had been set right. He would now, with his lordship's sanction, withdraw from the prosecution, and he felt a great deal more satisfaction at so doing than in obtaining a verdict against truth. _ _ _ The Attorney-General then said that it appeared to him that the course that had been taken was honourable to all parties. Mr. Justice Wightman observed that it appeared to him all along that there was this difficulty on the part of the prosecution, that there was no proof, even supposing Dr. Vaughan to have made the entry, that he knew at the time that Robe:t•street was a false address. It appeared to him that the prosecution had been instituted under a mistaken notion on the part of the churchwardens as to the facts. The jury then returned a verdict of Not Guilty. No evidence was then offered upon the third in dictment, and his lordship ordered Dr. Vaughan to be immediately discharged. THE ADJOURNED EXAMINATION OF STIIAHAN, PAM, AND BATES took place in the Bankruptcy Court on Tuesday, before Mr. Commissioner Evans. Sir J. D. Paul was the principal witness examined. A ques tion having arisen as to whether certain securities deposited in the bank were the property of the assignees or of Sir John Paul and Mr. Strahan in their capacity of trustees, under the marriage settle ment of Sir John's daughter with Captain Fitzgerald, from the evidence of Sir John Paul, it appeared that about 15,0001. were transferred to him as co-trustee with the late Lord Alvanley. This money was lent to the bank, and afterwards advanced on security of four bonds in various sums to general Cavendish, Lord Normanby, Lord Newport, and Mr. Broadwood. As these bonds were paid off others were substituted in their place, and the money credited to the trustees, but applied to the uses Df the bank. In September, 1852, Lord Newport's bond was paid off and another substituted, and transferred to the security-box of the trustees. Some furtner evidence was given with a view to trace the other bonds, and the sitting was adjourned. The last examination of the bankrupts was adjourned till a future day. A dividend of 18.9 d. is in course of payment under the joint estate, and a further dividend is expected to be paid in June next. A dividend of od. in the pound is also payable under each of the separate estates of Strahan and Paul, and ld. under the separate estate of Bates. THE REv. ALFRED Lusa, Curate of Greywell, Hampshire, has been fully committed for trial at the next assizes for a violation of the law legalising dis senting marriages, and for falsifying the parish register—first on re marrying a couple who, sixteen months previous, had been married in an Indepen dent chapel by publishing the banns as between bachelor and spinster, and secondly by making an entry of the sante. The rev. gentlemen was ad mitted to bail in two sureties of 1001. each. A VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER has been returned agains - , Mr. Beauchamp, of Chertsey, the well-knoin cricketer, for causing the death of his wife by strikirg her with his fist. Mr. Beauchamp was committed for trial and removed to Horsemonger-lane Gaol. Two ASSISTANT SURGEONS Of the 15th Regiment, at Chatham, Mr. Augustus Turner and Mr. Henry ,Bedwell, have been convicted of manslaughter, and committed to take their trial for causing the death of a private by administering to him a dose of opium instead of seuna. It appeared from the evidence given at the coroner's inquest, on Thursday, that the deceased was ordered a purgative by Mr. Turner, who went into the surgery to mix the same, and by mistake took down the bottle of tincture of opium instead of senna, and pouring out six ounces gave it to the orderly for two patients. In the course of the night the deceased became very ill, and Mr. Bedwell was sent for. Mr. Bedwell, •in his evidence, ad mitted that the orderly showed him the medicine the man had taken, but witness "bad a bad cold and could not smell it." He thought the deceased was in a fit, and prescribed sulphuric ether. The patient rapidly became worse, and died in the night The evidence of other military surgeons went to prove that if pr per precautions had been taken in time the life of the deceased might have been saved. The coroner summed up with great core, and, after an absence of two hours, the jury returned a verdict of "Manslaughter." The prisoners were at once com mitted to Maidstone Gaol. The second patient, to whom a dose of opium was administered, lies in it dangerous state. THE INVESTIGATION into the cause of the collision between the Josephine Willis and the Mangerton, Limerick steamer, commenced on Thursday, at the Town-hall, Poplar, before Mr. Yardley and Captain Robertson, R.N. Mr. O'Dowd appeared on behalf of the Customs, Mr. Ballantine for the London and Limerick Company, and Mr. Parry for the owners of the Josephine Willis. The evidence of Mr. %Wei. Clayton, the chief mate, of the seaman Sheen, and Mr. Ray, one of the passenger° saved, and of two et the seamen of the Josephine Willis, was heard. pa inquiry was continnad on Friday,,