The Press. — London, England, 1856-12-13 00:00:00

DECEMBER 13, 1856. the singular discovery by an American whaler of the Resolute at sea 1,200 miles from where she was left baud and fast—lux purchase of the whaler's crew by the American Government—and the presentation of the vessel, entirely refitted, to her Majesty's Govern ment, are fresh in the public mind ; and we have no doubt that the American officers will be warmly received upon their arrival. THE SUNDAY MOVEMENT QUESTION gave rise on Monday evening last to one of the most exciting debates ever known, in the rooms of the Cambridge Union. The proceedings were of more than ordi nary interest, inasmuch as the subject of discussion was a resolution brought forward by Mr. Bell, of Trinity College, one of the standing committee, to the effect that the rooms of the society should be entrely closed on Sundays, instead of being open, as at present, from three p.m. till ten p.m. To carry into effect this change the concurrence of three• fourths of the members present would have been necessary ; but, after a long and spirited debate, the motion was negatived by a majority of 187 to 78. Jous COLLETT, formerly M.P. for Athlone, and residing at Arnewood house, near Salisbury, on Friday morning week blew out his brains. It ap pears that Mr. Collett, who had for some time past been in an ill state of health, so as to excite alarm for his safety, succeeded, early on the morning in question, in eluding observation, and, armed with a pistol, repaired to the library, where the sad event took place. A female domestic, having occasion some time c.fterwards to repair to the spot, found her master lying dead on the floor. At the coroner's inquest on Saturday a verdict was returned of " Tem porary derangement." Mr. Collett was a man of considerable wealth, and was, to all appearance, sur rounded with everything calculated to secure hap.. piness except good health. LORD PANMUHE has signified his intention of ac cepting the invitation to the public banquet to be given in his honour by his county, and has fixed Tuesday, the 30th instant, as the day on which it shall be held. DR. MACBRIDE, principal of Magdalen, was on Tuesday elected Hebdomadal Councillor, in the room of the late Professor Hussey. The Rev. W. Wall, Pilelector of Logic and Fellow of Balliol, con tested the election. At the close of the poll the numbers were—Dr. Macbride, 87 ; Mr. Wall, G 9— Majority, 18. MEMBERS OF THE OXFORD WORKING MEN'S EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION had their first annual dinner at the Town .ha' on Monday ; Mr. Thomas, the trea surer, presided, and the Mayor of Oxford, the Rev. Professor Maurice, of London, the Senior Proctor of Oxford University, with Professor Maskelyne, and other gentlemen of soma position, took part in the proceedings. In the course of the evening Professor Maurice compared the satisfactory results of the London institution with those which he had been so much pleased at witnessing in Oxford. In one respect the Oxford institution beat the London one, and that was in its financial position. THE ROYAL MAIL STEAMER " AMERICA," which left Liverpool for Boston on Saturday with the usual mails, a large cargo, and fifty.nine passengers, put back on Thursday morning, having received consi derable damage in the heavy gale of Tuesday. One of the second cabin passengers gives the following account of the accident. He states : About ten minutes to ten o'clock on Tuesday morning, when off Cape Clear, the ship, which was then going slowly ahead, was struck by a very heavy sea. He was at the time lying in a forward cabin berth, when he heard the water gushing through the saloon deck and down the com panion, and rushing forward. He thought at the time the vessel was sinking, and gave himself up for lost. He left his cabin and waded up to his middle in water towards the stairs. At the moment the vessel pitched, and imme diately he felt the water up to his armpits. The bulk of the passengers were sitting in the saloon at the time of the acciihnit, and they most have been inevitably swept over board had not the mainmast stayed np the wreck of the saloon (a house built on deck) and acted in some measure as a breakwater. They had reason, he said, to thank God that, the ship was so strong, and that she was manned by such able officers. Captain Lang especially displayed the greatest intrepidity and coolness, and his orders were executed by his officers and men with promptitude and without the least confusion. The vessel was immediately put about, and she arrived in the Mersey on Thursday morning without farther accident. It is the impression of some of the hands on board that if another such sea had struck her she must have gone down, as they assert that at least 1 1 10 tons of water came on board. The engine l'^Vm was filled with water, but the uninjured pumps being got well to work it was kept under, although consi derable difficulty was experienced in keeping the bilge from being choked by the splinters which were washed be low. The shock stopped the engines for a moment, but they resumed working immediately. The officers and men with great difficulty closed up the rents in the saloon deck and elsewhere with spars an. canvas, an operation attended with the greatest danger, as it continued to blow a hurricane. The chief officer, Mr. Grace, while assisting in this perilous work, was nearly washed overboard. At the time the sea struck her some of the passengers were Playing at cards in the fore cabin ; and it is said that they Immediately fell on their knees, imploring the Almighty to save Um% THE PRESS. The passengers and mails were forwarded yester day by the Canada. ptlant. THE MURDERER OF AIR. LITTLE remains undo teetad. THE ACTION, " Walker v. M'Dowell," between the Newcastle and Tipperary Banks for 51,0001. interest due by the Tipperary to the Newcastle Bank, has resulted in a compromise for 25,0001. and costs. ARCHBISHOP CULLEN has issued a pastoral upon education. He denounces the Queen's colleges as founded altogether upon a wrong principle—" The teaching adopted resting upon no definite religious belief." He acknowledges that advantages are to be derived from the national schools ; and thus treats of the dangers of mixed education and its remedy : Prom mixed education we can expect nothing but evil— we should not acquiesce in it or encourage it. It is highly dangerous to give over the instruction of Catholic children to a Protestant Government ; we are bound to oppose encroachments on this head. 11'hile giving a thorough Catholic education to Catholic children, we have a right to insist on participating in every public grant, without consenting to any clog on the freedom of educa tion. The influence of the great Catholic population of Ireland should be exercised in asserting their rights, and even our electors should use their votes to return men to Parliament determined and able to support unmixed education for Catholic children, and freedom of education from State control for all. Our Catholic brethren in Eng. land have obtained a separate grant for their schools from the nubile funds, under Catholic management. They have Catholic inspectors, Catholic books, and Catholic training-schools. We rejoice in their success ; but ought we, whose numbers and influence are so much greater, to be satisfied with anything less than the measure of justice they have obtainel ? The remaining paragraphs of the pastoral refer to the establishment of a hospital under the auspices of the Sisters of Mercy, and to the exertions of those ladies in the Ea.t during the Into war, and other topics of no particular importance. THE DEATH OF FATHER MATHEW took place last Tuesday at Kingstown. elution nteltigente. GREENWICH.—A crowded meeting of electors took place in the public Lecture-hall on Monday evening, for the purpose of adopting measures to secure the return of a Liberal member of Parliament and a supporter of the ballot, in the room of Mr. P. Rolt. Mr. R. A. Bristowe occupied the chair. Mr. Alder man Wire moved a resolution pledging the meeting to use their utmost endeavours to secure the return of a thorough-going supporter of the ballot. Mr. G. Bennett seconded the resolution, which was ultimately carried. CARDIFF.—CoIoneI J. F. D. C. Stuart has issued an address to the electors, soliciting their support in the event of the retirement of Mr. Coffin. He pro mises to support all " well-matured measures calcu lated to provide for an enlarged system of education for the children of our poorer brethren ; the exten sion of the elective franchise in full proportion to the increased numbers and the enlightened progress of our fellow-countrymen ; the relief of those who con scientiously object to the burden of Church rates ; and the reform of our civil, military, and naval administrations, with a view to the full development of educational tests and personal qualifications in the several services of the State. On the question of foreign policy Colonel Stuart observes As I believe that no Minister of the Crown has more ably vindicated the honour and power of England than has Lord Palmerston, I am prepared to give a hearty support to his foreign policy, calculated, as it is, to insure the pro gress of free trade principles in our intercourse with other nations. SOUTHAMPTON.— There are now f ,ur Liberal can didates in the field, viz., Mr. R. Andrews (Mayor of Southampton), Mr. Weguelin (Governor of the Bank of England), Mr. Carden, and Mr. T. R. Beste. The latter candidate has issued his address, wherein he announces that should the Liberal electors wish to go to the poll for the sake of principle, he will be with them. The liberation of all rcligi .ns from State control is the only principle he thinks worth contending for. Ile cares not to stand on any other. Sir Edward Butler is the only candidate in the Con servative interest. cialu anb TilE GOLD ROBBERY. THE further examination, on Wednesday, of the prisoners Pierce and Agar received fresh interest from the surrender of Tester, the clerk. The court was crowded, and several aldermen and gentlemen 1 3 04 seats op the benohes around the Lord Mayor. 1185 As soon as the prisoners were placed at the bar, Mr. BODKIN rose and said : May I ask if Mr. Buchanan is here! Mr. BUCHANAN : ; Mr. Bonkts : You have given the prosecutors notice of the intention of Tester to be present? Mr. BuctiAsst; : I appear as solicitor for William Tester, a person supposed to be connected with this robbery. He is in the immediate vicinity of this court, and, as it may be desirable that he should be here to be dealt with as a wit ness or in some other way, as the prosecutors may think fit, upon their pledging their word that he shall not be mo• lested on his way to the court I will send for him. Mr. Bonsts : What do you mean by his " not being molested?" He will be taken into custody and brought to the bar. Mr. BUCHANAN : He can be here in five minutes. I expect that faith will be observed. and that he will not be pounced upon by an officer in the street, but that he may come and surrender. If it is desired I will send for him immediately. Mr. BODKIN : Tryon please, Mr. Buchanan. Mr. Buchanan then sent a messenger for Tester, and, after a lapse of neatly ten minutes, the latter made his appearance in court. Mr. BUCHANAN: Mr. Tester is here. Mr BODKIN : Then he must be taken into custody, and put by the side of the other prisoners. Tester, who is a tall, gentleman-like man, with bushy whiskers and moustache, and in fashionable at'ire, vas then placed in the dock by the side of the other prisoners. He looked exceedingly pale. Mr. BODKIN then proceeded to recapitulate that part of the evidence which immediately affected Tester, in connection with some of the notes for which a portion of the bullion had been exchanged. The banking clerks of Messrs. Roberts and the Bank of England were then examined, to prove the exchange of the following bank notes for gold, &T. On the 28th of May, 1855, at the Bank of England, 600 sovereigns were exchanged for six !001 notes numbered 45,420 to 45,425 inclusive. They were exchanged in the name of " Edgington, Duke street." 45,422 was brought into the Bank on the 10th of September, 1555, in exchange for ten 10/. notes, in the name of "Tester." These notes were numbered 21,558 to 21,567, and dated the sth of June, 1555. Numbers 45,421, 45,423, and 45,424, with the name on the face of each, " J. Burgess, 84.56," were brought in on the 9th of January, 1856, through Messrs. Roberts, the bankers, as part of a total of 7,6191. 15s. sd. On the 19th of February last twenty Bank of England notes were paid in by Messrs. Currie, namely, two for 1001. each, numbered 39,538 and 42,255, dated the 9th of August, 1855 ; five of 501., numbered 19,324, 21,858, 26,249, 26,711, dated the Bth of November, 1855 ; two for 201., numbered 73,624, 73,625, dated 7th of August, 1855 ; and one for 101., numbered 21,558, and dated the sth of June, 1855. They were paid in a total of 7401., with the name of Stearn on all. Mr. W. White, a clerk to Messrs. Robarts and Curtis, bankers, of Lombard street, deposed that on the Bth of January last lie received a parcel of notes from Messrs. Hutchinson, stockbrokers:— The total paid in on that occasion was 6454, and wax composed of three 1001.. four 501., one 20/., eight 101., and nine 51. notes. The 1001. note numbered 45,421 was the first note of that amount. and the 64:51. was paid into the Bank of England on the following day. Messrs. Hutchinson deposed that the cash-book showed an entry on the Bth of January of 6451. re ceived, consisting of four 501. notes—namely, 2001. ; also, 4051. and 401. : The 4051. consisted of Bank of England notes, from Mr. Lee, on account of Burgess. The 6401 was paid into our bankers the same 'day as part of a larger sum. The other portion consisted of cheques and dividend warrants. The total amount of notes paid in was 6451. Mr. C. Cousins, clerk to Messrs. Hutchinson, ac counted for the money : On the 4th of January last we bought, for a person named Richard Lee, a .510/. Turkish Six per Cent. bond, for 4071. 10s., for the 16th of January account. On the Bth of the same month he paid us 4051. in notes and 21. 3s. 9d. in money. Mr. Lee wns known to us. Tho notes were paid to our bankers—Messrs. Robarts and Co. —on the Bth of January, in a total of 7,6191. 15s. M. On the Bth of February we cold the bond, at a profit of 4641. 7s. 6d., which we pail by a cheque on :Messrs. Robarts. The cheque was given to Mr. Lee. Mr. Ellis, clerk to Messrs. Robarts, stated that this cheque was received and paid on the 13th of Feb., in two notes for 100/. each, numbered 42,235 and 39.538, dt.ted Ath of Angust, 1855; five notes for 501. each, numbered 26,761, 19,324, 28,489, 21,858, and 26,249, dated Bth of November, 1855; nee 51. note, numbered 71,929, dated the 11th of January, 1856 ; and 91. 7s. 6d. iu cash. Mr. Richard Lee identified the prisoners. He bad been employed by Burgess in the early part of the year to effect a purchase in Turkish bonds. He paid down 4071. 10s., of which 405/. were in notes, sideration of the 5001. bond, and he received money from Mrs. Burgess, at Burges2's house, New er6c:4. Mr. Smith, es-shier to Messrs. Reid, the proved the payment by Mr, Stearn, on the ;, in eon- eived the louse, in brewers, D 19th el