Star. — London, England, 1830-06-21 00:00:00

IIIPERL4t. PARLLIMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS, SATURDAY, JUNE 19. The house met, pursuant to adjournment, at 12 o'clock this day, when counsel were heard on the second reading of the Registrar at 3ladras Bill. Mr. AnnAm and Mr. Sergeant SPANIIE were heard in behalf of the claimants of Mr. Miles O'Reilly, brother to the intestate, and ethers. Counsel were then ordered to withdraw. Sir J. MACKINTOSH then addressed the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and said if, in his opinion, this was a suitable oppor tunity for the purpose, he would enter into a statement of the rea sons which he entertained why the claims of the petitioners should be admitted. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he was per. fectly at liberty to introduce the subject then, as he believed this would be as convenient an opportunity as any afforded by the forms of the house. Sir J. MACKINTOSH then proceeded to state his reasons for eupportlag the claims of the petitioners. The facts, he said, had already been repeatedly before the public. The case of the peti tioners was one of considerable hardship, and to their misfortune they had been no parties. Government itself had adopted a regula. tion under the 39th and 40th Geo. 111. far vesting the property of intestates in the registrar of Madras, which, though meant for the benefit of heirs, had, in this instance, turned out most un fortunately for the claimant, in consequence of the defalca tion, and insolvency of Mr. Gilbert Ricketts, the Registrar at Madras, who, it appeared, died in 20 months after the de cease of Col. O'Reilly, absorbing the whole of his property in his bankruptcy. Had the case been one of which the parties could have any redress at common law, he would not have been there to advo. cate the claim. But this was not a case of common law jurisdic tion; it was a case of good Government, and it became the Govern. ment to reimburse those who had on the faith of Government adopt ing the best means for protecting their interests. The Government, at the appointment of Mr. Ricketts to the office of Registrar, had neglected to take the proper securities, and they must therefore be answerable for the neglect. He then proceeded to state a number of instances to prove that an appropriation of public funds had been made to remunerate individuals for losses sustained by compliance with Acts of Parliament. About the general question there could be no doubt ; the only question was, had the Legislature the power to compel the East India Company to make good the loss ? In his opinion the Legislature had that power. The territorial revenue of India was under the control of Government; and, as a proof of this, it had, within a few years, appointed Judges and Bishops, and provided for them out of the revenue of the country. For these reasons he thought there could be no doubt that the claimants ought to be compensated, and that the compensation should come from the East India Company. He concluded, by moving the second read. ing of the BilL Mr. FERGUSSON admitted that the claimants had a right to compensation, and he felt much for them ; but, while he expressed himself in favour of their claims, he must, at the same time, deny that they had any right to look to the East India Company for redress. The territorial revenue of India ought not to be charged with making good losses which had been occa. stoned by Acts of Parliament. If the Legislature parsed Acts which injured the private property of Individuals, it was contrary to all reason to say that the particular district where the loss was sustained ought alone to be answerable. It was the revenue of the whole cm. pire, such as that of India, out of which the compensation should come. He did not think the precedents quoted by the right lion. gent. applicable to the present case ; and, though he should have no objection that the claims should be made good from the funds set apart for the administration of justice in India, he should certainly resist any proposition which went to defraud the creditors of the East India Company, who had lent their money to the Company on the faith that the territorial revenue should not he infringed. Mr. 3ROUGHAM observed that there appeared to him to be a consideration preliminary to the questions of merit in this case, which was, that of " who were to be the judges of it?" He saw, with rime surprise, himself surrounded by East India Directors, there being no fewer than seven of these gentlemen present, who, it was understood, were to sit in judgment upon this bill. Now, as this was a question between the Company and individuals, it oc curred to him that it would be just as becoming if the directors ab sented themselves from the discussion, or, at all events, from the division, if any thing should occur. The Company ha d been al. ready heard by two of their counsel at the bar, and, if there was before any doubt of their being interested parties, such an appear. ante would entirely remove it. The presence of so many of his col. !news seemed, indeed, to have made an hon. and learned member behind him (Mr. C. Fcrgusson) fancy that lie was addressing the court of directors, for it would be observed that his hon. and learned friend used the term " court" as applying to this audience (a laugh.) Ile (Mr. B.) remembered a parallel case to this, in which a late dis. tinguished individual set an example which it was to be hoped would be imitated at this moment. Upon the occasion of an appeal some years ago to the privy council, respecting the clashing rights of pa. tent, as connected with Drury-lane Theatre, Mr. Sheridan took his place among the councillors then present. He (Mr. Brougham) and Mr. Marren were of Counsel against the Theatre, and they im mediately took an exception to the. Right lion. Gentleman sitting as Judge in his own cause. Mr. Sheridan replied, as no doubt the East India Directors would now reply, that he MPS not a party to the cause, being only a trustee for others. Being pressed, however,l as to whether he had or had not an interest in the result of the pro-; cectling, Mr. Sheridan frankly confessed that he had. It was de cided that he could not sit as a Privy Councillor upon that occasion, and he very modestly and decorously withdrew from the table— (a laugh). The principle was clear, that a party having any Inte. rest, however remote, ought not to sit as Judge in his own cause; and he (Mr. B.) believed his Hon. and Learned Friend behind him admitted that it would be as well if the Directors did not vote upon this question. Mr. FERGUSSON denied that he had made any such concession. Ile saw nothing improper in the Directors voting upon this occa sion, and he asked what would be said, if upon a question of this nature, the Directors had entirely absented themselves ? He again denounced the claim as not founded on justice. Colonel LUSHINGTON defended the rights of the East India Ditectors to discuss and vote upon all questions with the same free dom as other members of that house. He saw no reason why the latter most important rights should be merged in the former acct. dental character. The interest which the Court of Directors had in this question was too remote to influence their votes. For himself, he disclaimed any bias. He protested against the claim as a hard ship and injustice upon the natives of India, who had never re. ceived any benefit from the labours of this officer. It' Parliament were bent upon compensating these individuals, a fairer mode would be to lay a tax upon the law proceedings in the superior Courts of India, than to impose a burden upon the territorial possessions of the company in that country. Mr. W.WYNN said that from the circumstance of his being President of the Board of Control when the matters to which this proceeding referred took place, he felt a strong interest in the ques tion. He felt that he was not quite free from blame himself for not having brought the case forward before ; but he thought then, as lie still thought, that if redress could be had through the medium of a court of law, it would be better, in every point of view, to refer the matter to such a tribunal than to Parliament. He was persuaded, however, that this was now the only course in which justice could be done. Not knowing any thing of the individual question, he could not be supposed to be biassed one way or the other in this case. From all that he had been able to learn, it was a ease of great hard. ship on the registrar, and he (Mr. Wynn) was deeply impressed with the justice of his claim for compensation. Indeed, the contest was not so much upon the nature of the claim as the fund out of which it ought to be satisfied. His (Mr. Wynn's) notian was, that it was not intended to satisfy these claims out of any particular fund ; but that Parliament was understood to be pledged to allow any equitable claims which might be proved. The principle, he thought, unde niable, unless we were to stultify our own proceedings in other cases, for, to give compensation to the Masters in Chancery, and refuse it in this case, would be not only gross inconsistency, but manifest in justice. The present claim arose out of the expense of our own pro. ceedings, and was therefore worthy of consideration. Mr. ASTELL saw no reason why he should surrender his privi. leges, as a member of the house, to vote upon all questions con. nected with the public welfare, because of any imputed interest which he might have of another kind. He disclaimed any particu. lei interest in this case, and, If the house should think that he ought not to vote upon this occasion, he must require every holder of East India Stock to go out with him. He opposed this bill, be cause it was not bottomed on justice; for he saw no reason why the natives of India, who were already heavily taxed, should be also called upon to make good defalcations arising out of proceedings in. stituted solely for the benefit of British subjects. It was not a question of generosity, but of justice, for the Company were not in a situation to be liberal, though they were disposed to be just. For those reasons he did not consider the petitioners entitled to compen. sation ; but if, contrary to his wish, the bill should be committed, he' hoped it would undergo material alteration in its progress as there were many points in the enactments which he considered highly ob. jectionable. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that there were two questions to be considered—first, whether the loss ought to be made good ? and, secondly, who was the party to whom it ought to be made good ? The only parties to whom responsibility could attach were the General Government, the Indian Government, and the party through whose misconduct the defalcation had taken place. tie was decidedly of opinion that compensation ought to be given, for no government could duly maintain its character if it did not satisfy every fair and even doubtfill demand upon its justice. He was also of opinion that in this case the compensation ought to come from the Indian Government, because, even as a matter of account, it shculd be charged to the territor ial revenue. lie attached no blame to the Indian Oovernment in this transaction, and thought the Directors had a right to vote upon the question. For himself, he should vote in favour of the bill. Mr. TUANT supported the bill, and put it to the hon. director whether, as the sense of the house was against him, it would not be advisable to withdraw his opposition. Mr. S. WORTEY agreed in thinking that the Indian (loran ment was liable, but thought the bill might undergo much improve ment in the committee. Mr. LOCH contended that the bill was founded on an erroneous principle, and cautioned the house against adopting a measure which might be Injurious as a precedent. Mr. ASTELL said that, though his opinion was not altered by what had passed, he would not divide the house upon the question. The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Thursday next. The Local Judicature Bill was also read a second time, on the motion of Mr. BROUMIAM, after which the House adjourned at Twenty minutes to Four. LAW REPORTS. COURT OF CHANCERY, JUNE 19. LUCAS V. 31URRELL.—The SOLICITOR GENERAL moved that the defendant might be discharged out of custody, for contempt, without payment of costs, in pursuance of arrangements by the in. terposition of Mr. Hume, a respectable solicitor, who had taken a good deal of trouble gratuitously, in behalf of the prisoner. The Loa') CHANCELLOR granted the motion, and mentioned that Boniface, the prisoner who was kept in the officer's house instead of being sent to the Fleet, on account of old age and illness, as stated a short time since, had now got safe home. The SOLICITOR GENERAL said that he was glad of it, and that he understood that he was indebted to his Lordship for the means of his support at the officer's house, and for his conveyance to his home. The Solicitor General was afterwards obliged to retire from Court, on account of illness, and as this circumstance threw all the business out, the Lord Chancellor had nothing to go on with, and rose at a quarter before twelve o'clock. VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT, JUNE 19. A poor man named Lye, from Northallerton, was brought up In the custody of the officer of the Court. Mr.KINDERBLEY moved that the prisoner might be turned over to the Fleet, for not putting in an answer to the plaintiff's bill. It was for his benefit that the answer should be put in, which was was a mere matter of form, and the plaintiffs had offered to do it at their own expense, and had done every thing else in their power to induce him to answer; but he either thought, or pretended to think, that it was a will he was required to sign, and refused to do it, in consequence of which the suit could not proceed. Attempts were then made to explain the matter to the prisoner, expio. it he was so deaf, that all the efforts of the Court were In vain. His Honour the VICE-CHANCELLOR said, that it was quite evi dent the law in this manner wanted altering ; such a scene as this ought not to occur. Mr. KINDERSLEY said he would try to make him understand out of Court, and mention the case again. The prisoner was ordered to be brought up again on Monday. COURT OF KING'S BENCH, JUNE 19. Ant v. INHABITANTS or BARNES.—.The proprietors of the Hammersmith-bridge were rated by the parish of Barnes, in respect of profits derived by them from lands in the parish. The propri ctors appealed to the sessions, and the justices confirmed the rates, subject to the opinion of the Court, on a case. The case stated the provisions of the Act of 5 Geo. IV. by which the company was enabled to erect a suspension-bridge over the Thames at Ham. mersmith, to make roads, and to erect toll-gates, at either or both ends of the bridge, and to take tolls. The Company purchased two pieces of land from different persons on the Barnes side, for the purposes of a pier and part of the road, and the preceding oe cupiers of the land had paid rates in respect of it. Mr. MESSMER contended that the Company had the option to erect a toll gate on the Surrey side or not, and they had not put a toll-gate there, but only on the Middlesex side. The bridge was one-half in the parish of Barnes, and - the other half In the pariah of Hammersmith, but the Company thought proper to 'establish a toll only at the Hammersmith end, and no toll was taken at the Barnes end. Any person might pus through the gate at the Hammer. smith side, paying his toll, and return, and again, without proceed. ing to the Barnes end at aU ; any person might enter on the bridge, at the Barnes end, and come up to the gate at the other end, and then return, without the payment of any toll. The advantages front the toll were therefore derived entirely from the gate at the Hammer smith side, and it was there only that the Company ought to be rated. Mr. Justice BAILEY—What do you say to the instance of ca nals, which are rated for every parish through which they pass ? Mr. THESSIGER—But here the advantage was derived from the toll, and no toll was taken on the Surrey side. Mr. Justice BAlLEY—Suppose your bridge had no Barnes end, how much toll would you take? An instance has occurred of two counties, who, being bound w erect a bridge over a river, erected each half a bridge, on distant parts of the river, but they did not draw much toll 11r. THE/HOE R—The present case was like that of a lock or sluice in a canal, which paid rates only in the place where it was situate. Mr. Justice BAILEY—The real question is, whether the Com. party derive any profit or advantage from the land on the Barnes side ; and what would be the use of their gate, if they had no road on that side ? Mr. THESSIGER—It was entirely at the option of the Company whether to have any gate at all, or to demand toll, and if they chose not to take toll, they would not be liable. Mr. Justice BAYLEY—They may make their property unpro ductive if they please. Mr. Justice PARIE—It is quite a settled case. The rates must be paid for the general subject, on behalf of the different places where the different parts may be situated.—Order confirmed. EXPARTE RAYNER V. THE CORPORATION OF RYE.—Mr. GURNEY moved for a rule to chew cause why a mandamus should not issue, requiring the Mayor, Jurats, and Burgesses of Rye, to' hold a corporate assembly for the admission of a person named Rayner to the freedom of that town. Mr. Justice BAYLEY.—IS it the customary practice to admit each inhabitant ? Mr. GURNEY—SO 1 am instructed. Mr. Justice BAY LEY —Does that appear in your affidavits? Mr. Gum it•—No, my Lord. Mr. Justice BAYLEY—This Court cannot call on the Corpora tion to admit a party to the freedom unless some specific claim be established, either by birth, servitude, or marriage, as the custom of the town may be.—ltule refused. THE RING V. NICUOL.—This was an indictment for perjury, tried at the lastt Spring Assizes, when a verdict of guilty was re turned. The present application was to reverse that judgment. The defendant had been arrested by a sheriff's officer, and in an action afterwards tried, lie swore that officer, at the time of making the caption, clasped him round the body with his arms. This was the assignment of perjury on which the indictment was founded. The Court were of opinion there was not sufficient evidence to support the conviction, and ordered the judgment to be reversed. WESTMINSTER COURT OF REQUESTS. A POLICEMAN'S CROWN CRACKED. IMBERT w. LowaY.—The plaintiff is a discharged policeman of division 8., and the defendant, Mr. Lowry, the superintendent of that division, who was now summoned for Bs. 3d. being a balance of pay due to the plaintiff at the time of his discharge. The amount was admitted by Lowry to have been due, but his objection to pay ing it arose out of a clause In the regulations of the police force, numbered, we think, 15, and which the defendant handed to the Bench ; it is there stated, that when any man is discharged, or re. signs, he shall give up all his clothing and other appointments in a good state of repair, and that if say of them shall have been wil. fully damaged, the amount of the same shall be deducted from the pay due to him. In the present case, Imbert, who had been only about seven weeks employed, had a second-hand hat served out to him, worth, when new, it seemed to be understood, about I3s. and at the time of his being discharged, the crown of this hat was cracked, and the Commissioners of Pollee valued the damage done to it at Os. but Imbert objected to receive the 2s. 3d. and thought proper to summon the superintendent for the whole amount, taking his chance as to the valuation the Commissioners of the Court of Requests might put on the hat. The Court inquired if Mr. Lowry had brought the hat with him; be said he had not, but he seemed to think the valuation of his Commissioners ought to be final; not so the Commissioners before whom he was; they hinted that it was likely they would be better judges of such a fact than their name sakes, if the hat had been produced, which it ought to have been. The plaintiff Imbcrt hoped the Court would not be hard with him, as he had even had his boots soled and heeled and toe-tipped before he gave them up, and he denied that the hat had been wilfully damaged. Be was asked by the Court if it had been done in any fray, but be could not say it had. The Commissioners eventually ordered Mr. Lowry to pay the sum of 4s. 3d. and costa, allowing 4s. for the hat, which they considered ample, as it was not new when the man had it, and had been worn seven weeks. The Superintendant prid the money into Court, but did not seem at all satisfied with the decision, because his Commis sioners, the worthy Colonel and Banister, had valued:the damage at six shillings. J tsu rre.—A return has been presented to Parliament of the notices or statements which, pursuant to Geo. IV. chap. 7, have been delivered to the several clerks of the peace in Great Bri tain and Ireland by Jesuits. The return has been ordered, to be printed. INSOLVENT DEBTORSTOURT, Joss 19. Lieut. W. C. Harris, R.N, was opposed by Mrs. Mary Ann Quilter and Mr. A. Palmer. The insolvent is a half-pay Lieusenant in his Majesty's Navy, on ss. per day ; and in consideration for the lois of art eye in the ser vice, he also receives a pension of 504 per annum. He had a wife and three children, the eldest w .4 lb, the second 8, and the youngest 4 yews; and he is also soon lively to have an addition toll's family. —His debts amounted to about 400 L of which he owed his agents, Messrs Maude and Co. t 211. He owed Mrs. Quitter a debt of 591. which was contracted by his wife, for clothes and remnants of silk, without his knowledge. Mrs. Quilter, the insolvent said, forced his wife to have the goods, and said she should have her own time to pay for them. She, however, arrested him for the amount, and he had no other alternative but to go to prison. The insolvent, who is of respectable appearance, has been up wards of thirty-one years a Lieutenant, and is still on the bs. a-day list, the promotions taking place only on the completion of every thousand candidates on the three lists, when those who have been re. cciving ss. per day arc transferred to the Gs. list, and those who have been receiving Gs. per day are transferred to the 7s. list. If, how ever, a candidate has been for a long time in the receipt of the ss. per day, he is at once transferred to the 7s. list. In two yean, the' insolvent said, he hoped to reach the 7s. per day list. The insol vent added, that he did not trouble himself to get upon the Gs. per day list, seeing that youngsters were placed over him. He added, that he should ever lament the situation he was placed in, and con-1 sider his appearance in this Court as a disgrace to him during the rest of his life. Mrs. Quilter, who Is an assistant to a dress-maker, said the In solvent owed her 551. 2s. for furniture and dresses supplied to his wife. She had looked forward to this money to pay her passage out to Calcutta, where she was engaged as head dress-maker in a mantua-maker's establishment. Mr. Commissioner BOWEN said it was the opinion of the Court that 401. a-year should be taken from the insolvents half-pay to wards the gradual liquidation of his debts. They would give the insolvent until this day to consider whether he would agree to ft. POLICE REPORTS. AL►xstox.HousE.—Saturday Mary M'Lean, a vender of po. tatocs and other vegetables, was brought before the LORD MAYOR, charged with having stolen a turbot, the property of Mr. Benjamin, a fish-salesman, in Billingsgate Market. Mr. Benjamin stated that he had purchased a quantity of turbot, at 12s. each, at an early hart in the morning, and soon afterwards missed one of the largest size. He was informed that the defendant was the thief; and, upon taking her into custody, he found a turbot, which he had no doubt was his, in her basket. The LORD MAYOR asked the defendant how it happened that the turbut was found in the basket ? She said she couldn't tell for the life of her, except it was Peg Delany that had done it: Peg and she had gone to market together, and as she couldn't kcep her eyes all the while on her basket, why Peg might have slipped the fish in " unknownst."— (Loud laughter.) Mr. Benjamin said it was evident that it was meant to conceal the turbot, for, when the woman was taken into custody, the fish was covered allover with potatoes. The LORD MAYOR said he supposed Mrs. Peg Delany was present to give an account of the appearance of the fish in the basket. The prisoner said he supposed Peg was striving to get an honest bit for her children ; but her own husband, Jack 11I'Lean, was pre sent to speak to the fish and her character. Mr. lioatca- -Well, Mr. M'Lean, how did the fish find its way into your wife's basket ? Mr. 111 4 Lean—In troth I don't know how the d-1 it got there, only I'm sure she never put it there. If they went the right way about it, your Honour, they would soon find that she wasn't the thief. The Loan 3f/wn—Why, I think that finding the fish in her basket was pretty good proof that she stole it. Mr. 3PLean—Stole it ! Oh Lord ! your Honour, is it Mary ? You didn't steal it, jewel, did you ? Tell God's truth !—(Loud laughter.) " I never seen it, jewel, upon ray sowl, jewel," said she, "until they pulled it from under the fruit." Mr. M'Lean—" I thought so, darlint ; but smell her fist your honour, if she's a thief, she'll smell of fish, and not of prides." (Excessive laughter.) Here the husband held up his wife's hand in triumph. Mr. Hoar.za said they were not in the habit of judging of peo ple's honesty by the organ of smell, and it was very well for most of the visitors to that room that they did not depend up that organ.— (Laughter.) 3lr. 3l'Lean—" If your honour will let her come home along with me, she shall stick to her own market, and never go to that thieving place again. I'm sure, it's a place where no respectable woman ought to be seen." Mr. lloin.zst—" If you ever let her go to Billingsgate again, don't let her take potatoes in her basket, for if you do, all the Irish fill: in the market will be after her. I have no doubt myself that this turbot leaped into the basket after the new potatoes."... (Laughter.) Mr. Benjamin's foreman—" Please your votship, that's impost. ble for the head and tail was tied together, and she couldn't leap; and besides, your vorship, turbots vots.catched in France never eats no tatoes."—(Loud laughter.) Mr. M'Lean—" Please your Honour, this boy knows nothing at all about it. How can he tell what countryman the fish was; and as for praties, if your Honour would expose a couple of sacks of I 'em in Billingsgate. the d—l fire the one you'd see in half an hour." Mr. Benjamin said that as M'Lcan had promised never to let his wife tempt the fish again, he should not prosecute. Mr. M'Lean—" Anal:, then, the Lord bless your Honour ! Now, Mary, let this be a lesson to you : if you go among 'em again, upon my cowl they'll make a rogue of you, and I won't conic forward to tell any more d—d lies about you ; you know well it's not the first time, and be d—d to you." The husband wife then departed amidst the laughter of the room. HATTON-GARDEN.—Andrew Glee, a gardener, was charged on suspicion of being a participator in a robbery upon Mr. Cubitt, builder. A man named Miller, employed by Mr. Cubitt, was en trusted with 6111. in gold and silver, to pay workmen, with which he absconded. Mr. Jennings, solicitor for Mr. Cubitt, discovered that Glee had taken his place on the coach for Liverpool, from the Angel, Islington, and had sent his boxes to that house. Glee was taken into cust ody, and in the boxes were found 321. and some silver. It had also been ascertained that a few days previous to Miller ab. sconding, Glee had been without money. A person was despatched to Liverpool after Miller and his wife, but no vestige of hint was to be discosered.—The prisoner was remanded till Monday week. BlALaYzEzowr..-11i/liam Cooke, coachman to Sir Henry Hal. ford, Bart. appeared to answer to an information that had been laid under the following circumstances :—The defendant being acquain. ted with a Mrs. Jones, who was indebted to her landlord, took his master's carriage several mornings as early as five o'clock, and re. moved the portable goods, as It was suspected that they would be seized for her rent. . The Magistrates having valued the property at 30L convicted the defendant in a penalty of 601. being double the value of the property. The defendant's solicitor remarked, that Sir Henry was deter mined to protect his coachman, and the matter would be carried into another Court. QUEEN- SQUARE.—George Jordon, who described himself as a jeweller, residing at Harp-alley, Shoe-lane, was placed at the bar, charged with an assault on Henry Stride, a police constable of the A. division. The prosecutor stated the nature of the assault, which took place about three o'clock on Thursday morning, while he was on duty near the King's Mews, Charing.crosd. The prisoner put in • written defence, denying the charge altogether, and attribnting the ;police constable's complaint to an expectation of extorting money from him. The prisoner was fully committed for trial. Lssuirrw-rriwzT.—A number of wretched individuals were u usual in attendance to get relief from the overseers, but there was nothing of interest in any of their cues. DlAar.aoaouoH•STlEET.—Dorothy Fenn, the woman charged with extensive robberies in the houses of the Nobility, where she was engaged as nurse, underwent another examination. Lord In gestre again attended, and persona also appeared from Earl Howe, Earl of Cardigan, Duke of Buccleuch, Lady Augusta Chichester, and others of the Nobility, all of whom it was represented, would establish clear cases against the prisoner if the noble owners of the property were disposed to proscute. It appeared that the prisoner had attended on Lady Isabella Cust, the Duke of Buceleuch s sister, during the illness of her Ladyship, which terminated fatally, in Oct. last, and about the period of her ladyship's demise, several costly publications and China vases were stolen from his Grace's library, and have since been found in the prisoner's possession, and were identified by the Duke's librarian. On Sunday last, during the absence of Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds, of Tittenhanger.green, a son of Mr. Reynolds, a youth about 11 rears of age, took a gen front the fire-place, and said he would frighten some of them. At the moment a labouring lad, of the name of James Howell, about 17 years of age, entered the door, a distance of between three and four yards, when the youth Imme diately presented the gun, and said " bang I" the gun at the same moment discharging, lodging the contents in the face of the unfor tunate lad, taking part of the lower teeth, cheek, and the left eye. Surgical aid was immediately procured, and the unfortunate lad was conveyed home to his father's cottage, at London Colney, where he still continues in the must precarious state.—llerle Mercury. SCINTILLA; OR, SPARKS. We have given this portion of our Paper a new general title, because it is prudent to look original, whether we are able al. ways to be so or not ; and we find the word " Miscellanea" in con. stint use by other journalists. When puzzling ourselves what titlt • to adopt, a friend archly suggested " Rubbish shot here," as pro. bably what might be appropriate ; but indignant at the remark. wt fortunately recollected that the venerable Bede had given the tit!: of "Scintilla" to a miscellaneous portion of his voluminous works, and we think it well suited to our purpose. In future, this depan. mint of our Journal is to have the above title, and we hope ou. readers will find our sparks those which proceed, not from a common smithy, but from a STAR of the first magnitude—Bah! tut po, trop fore, Mow. ETOILE AG alc u u RE.—A preparatory school of agricul ture has been established at Paris. Among the proposed objects of Instruction are, the French, English, and German language s . linear, topographical, and descriptive drawing, the elements of ma thematics, general notions of natural philosophy, and minetal and vegetable chemistry, the principles of vegetable physiology, gene. ral notions of mechanics, hydrostatics, and hydrodynamic+. rural architecture, the elements of manufacturing and commercial econo. my, &c. &e. HOLLY.—The largest holly known in Europe, grows a' t in the garden of Richard Armstrong, Esq. o f B a ll ygan l y ; rt ree 4ir s iwards of sixty feet In height.—/avernms Courier. TREES.— A tree eats neither clover nor corn ; it sucks nourishing moisture from the earth as quietly as a babe suck.. its mother's milk ; it receives warm life from the sun, and treslines from the air, and shakes its hair in the storm. A cow might hap. pen to die; but a tree lives and bears its blossoms, its bird's nests. and its blessings, for our children and our children's children. Trees would be the happiest of beings if they knew how fie:: anti gay they are, bow beautiful they look in spring —what a protection they afford when clothed in the full.leafed glory of summer how men atop to admire them, and thank Gon for the pleasure they af. ford—how gratefully the weary traveller rests beneath their shade, to smoke his pipe or cat his crust of bread. In short, how they deal out benefits to all around them, and confer happiness on young and old. Even in winter, trees give us no trouble, for they do not require to be housed ; no, they brave the chilling blast, and guide the traveller on his way, when roads and paths arc buried beneath the snow; directing him first to the right, then to the left—now a little more to the left, and over the y Mug. CIILORINE AN ANTIDOTE FOR HYDROCYANIC ACID.—Mr. Simeon's report on this subject has been confirmed by the experiments of M. M. Person and Nonah. Hydrocyanic acid was applied to the eye.ball of a dog in three cases, and the effect of the chlorine tried at different periods of the symptoms in each case. To one dog the antidote was applied before the poison had produced any symptom but general distress ; the relief was immediate, work. ing by regular respiration, vomitting, and alvine evacuation. In the second case tetanus had commenced, the anxiety and convul sive motion were more prolonged, and a longer time was necessary, but the cure was effective. Next day both the dogs were submitted to the poison without the antidote ; they died in a few minutes. In the third case, the chlorine was not applied until respiration had been suspended during twenty.five seconds ; this dog was oho per. fectly restored. Similar experiments were made by applying the poison and its antidote to the crural vein, with the same effecrs.— Fite chlorine entered into the circulation. Its effects were instar,- tancous, and it neutralized the acid afterwards applied as well as that before administered. Chlorine introduced into the system, des. troys the virus of organic poisons, and probably of hydrophobil.— Annalcs de Chink. A SCORPION SUICIDE.—On Wednesday, the fol. lowing singular illustration of a fact mentioned in natural Iti.tary occurred. A gentleman connected with the Custom-house found in a ease of sugar, in the London Docks, a small scorpion, mea. suring about two inches from one extremity to the other. He tock it home, and placed it on a cold plate under a glass, where 0: little reptile appeared to be almost torpid, but on warming the glass it became full of life. It was then stated by a gentleman present. that he heard that the scorpion, if it found itself in danger of meet. ing with a painful death, would sting itself, and cause its men int. mediate destruction. To ascertain the fact, a circle of about titre, inches in diameter was drawn round the scorpion. and covered with cotton dipped in spirits of wine. This being ignited, the scorpion made every possible effort to escape; but finding escape impracti. cable, and beginning to feel the effects of the fire, it instantly turned up its tail, and, with considerable force, struck the sting into its head. It was dead in an instant. Obeah, or the detestable practice of spells, formerly existed to a great degree among the negroes, but it is now fast dis appearing. It was first introduced into our colonies by the Africans, who have their minds filled with superstition. The many who once executed these spells were called Obi people, and pretended to be able to cause the death of all those who offended them, by catching their shadows. Had they only pretended, it would have been well; but their pretensions were often fatally put into practice, and the number of negroes lost on the various estates, in the different islands, rendered it necessary that the Legislature should take it into con. sideration. There is no doubt but that the catching the shadows of their victims, or holding them spell-bound, was only a false pre. tenet invented by the Obi men for murdering them by sinister means. Mr. Barclay, who was present at the trial of a notorious Obeah man on a plantation in Jamaica, tells us that ‘' one of the witnesses, a negro belonging to the same estate, was ask tl, you know the prisoner to be an Obeah man ?" Ees, Al ism, shadow. catcher true.' What do you mean by a shadow-catcher?' Him ha coffin' (a little coffin produced)' him set for catch dem shadow.' What shadow do you mean ?" When him set Obeah for sum mary (somebody) him catch dem shadow and dent go dead : and too surely they were soon dead when he pretended to have caught their shadows, by whatever means it was effected.' When this practice was found to be attended with such dreadful con.eqiiences. the go. vernment of the several islands, after discouraging it by every means in their power, made it punishable by dead,. This salutary Lw has effectually limited the occurrence of Obeah : the yearly ticcreac of Africans in the colonies lessens the prevalence of sllpt TNiitit , ll; and the light of religion, which is everywhere dispelling tlh: gloom cat ignorance, among many other evils, will remedy this.—Four Year. in She West Indies. HEBDOAIADARY. Tots DAY—Summer quarter begins 50 min. past 11 night. This is the first day of the Blussulman year 12411. It is the longest day—its duration 16 hours 54 min. 5 sec. Battle of Vittoria, 1813. To-stoaaow—First day of the Jewish month Tliammus. Manz rises 48 min. put 11. Battle of Blackheath, 14:1. WioxEsDAY—The evening of this day was peculiarly interestin:; to the young maidens in old times, when they ohs) various spoil. to learn who were to be their future husbands. Jupiter rises at min. put 8 evening. THURSDAY—HoIiday at the Bank. Midsummer Day. Nativit) of John the Baptisi. FRlDAY—Battle of Bannockburn, 1314. Surunmor—Sun rises 34 min. past 3—sets 17 min. pact 0. Saturn sets 31 min. past 10 night. BIRTH. The 19th inst. Mrs. Archer Upton, of Guilfortl.cract, of a son. MARRIED. At Stoke church, J. Beer, jun. Esq. solicitor, of Devon shire, to Elizabeth, eldest daughter of R. Rundle, k;sq. Mont pelier—ln Annan, G. Buchanan, Esq. of Arden , to Elizabeth Grace Bogle Smells, youngest daughter of the late J. Stuellie. Esq. of Torbanhill—ln Booterstown church, John Arthur, Evq• deputy inspector of hospitals, to Lucy, relict of the late Captair. H. F. Barry, of Rathmines.cantle, county of Dublin —At Chat ham, Lieut. R. Bolton, of the 13th Regiment of Foot, to Marla, second daughter of J. Arthure, of Seafield, county of Dublin. Esq. barrister.at-law—At Killincoocl church, H. S. Deceluzeau. C. C. of the barony of Ardcc, to Margaret, daughter of J. Booth, Esq. of Mullacheloe-lodge, county Louth—At Mortlake, W. Oil. pin, of East Sheen, Esq. to Helen, youngest daughter of J. Tur. ncr, of the same place, Esq.—At Marylebone church, the Rev. M. James, B. D. rector of Pembridge, Herefordshire, to Char. lotte, widow of T. Inglis, Esq. late of the Bengal Civil Service.— The 17th inst. at Richmond, the Rev. Charles Edward Kennawma, ay, second son of Sir J. Kennaway, B art. of Escot, Devon, to Em fourth daughter of the Hon and Rev. OtrartlT. Ntsel—On the 4th inst. at Christ Church, St. Marylebone, the Rev. Henry Farrish. M.A. Fellow of Queen's College, Cambridge, to Jane, only daugh ter of the late H. Farms, Esq. Comander of the Truc Briton Eas: Indianian. DIED. Thursday, universally respected, Dr. James Mitchell, of Lai:- caster-place, Waterloo-bridge. Lady Charlotte Stopford, fourth and youngest daughter of tic Ead of Courtown—ln Wataford, J. Mariam, Esq—ln Southamr• ton-row, Russell-square,'o. Banda, Esq.-1n FinAbury.squart , J. Jones, Esq. aged 66—At Barnwell, in Northamptonshire , AO 47, Jane, daughter of H. H. DeWitt, Fsq. of Sussex—The 19th inst. at his house in Welbeek.street, 0. Henekell, Esq. aged 77 — The 17th inst. at his residence, York-row, Kennington. aged 7 8 . Mr. J.Willls, formerly of High-Mat, Borough—On the 10th at Lambeth, Colonel B. Jackson, Member of his 31ajesty's Council for the Island of Bt.Yineent, and a very distinguished officer durinr the invasion of that colony by the French and Charaihs in 179. Lennon : Printed and Mislaid by Jons Narita. at tit* Ss"' Omen No.l, Plekett-plioe,Temple Bar.