The Sun. — London, England, 1858-04-15 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-CIESTEEDAY.) The SPEAKILIi took the chair at 12 o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The following bills were considered and ordered to be read a third time—Aberdare Water; Liverpool Ex change ; Merthyr Tydfil Water. PETITIONS. Petitions were presented from various places in Ire land in favour of the Tenant Right Bill, and for legalis ing marriage with a deceased wife's sister. TENANTS' COM.PENSATION (IRELAND) BILL. Mr. MAGUIRE moved the second reading of this bill. The question was one of the greatest magnitude and im portance, involving not only the welfare and prosperity of the people of Ireland, but of the whole empire, because the condition of the people of Ireland greatly affected the manufacturing districts of England and through them the transactions of the Stock Exchange and the Bank of England. Ireland was an agricultural country, and when anything occurred to distress the agricultural population similar to the failure of the potato crop, bankruptcy and ruin followed, the effects of vhich ware greatly felt in England. When that calamity occurred in 1847 the social fabric of Ireland was shaken. It was insecure at the present moment, and if a similar storm to that which desolated that country in 1847 were to sweep over it again, it would be found there was neither strength nor stability in that country to resist its fury. (Hear.) it was therefore wise for the Legislature to co nsider h n o o w w to avoid, if possible, a repetition of t hat nd calamity,was held in that they were in a state of qu iet. Ireland not by lease, but by will ; an a d it had been asserted that the evils complained of in Ireland were not owing to the tenure of land in that country, but to over population and thesmallness of the farms. He considered such views imaginary—he held that at no time was the population of Ireland u nequal to the resources of that country. Supposing the population of Ireland were not fully employed, it w ould have been much better for that Country if the persons who advocated the quack nostrum of draining the country of its population had provided the real want —that of employment for developing the resources of the c ountrycontended that if the land had been properly cultivated there would nut have b een enough labourers in Ireland. The hon. member quoted from various works in proof of his assertion ; and in reference to the smallness of the holdings in Ire land, he said that in Ulster in 1841 there were over 234,000 farms with an acreage of 3,460,000 arable land ; and in Munster 162,000 farms, and an acreage of 3,874,000 arable land. In Ulster farms from one to three acres were one-third of the entire country, and from 5 to 15 acres 100,000, and in Munster 61,000, which he thought showed the miseries of Ireland were not to be attributed to the smallness of the farms, and Mr. Bluckler had said that a farmer in Ireland could live on three acres of land, and pay high rent for it, provided he followed a certain system of agricultural treatment. In 1841 the entire number of farms in Ireland was 635,000 ; but in 1351 there were only 570,000, showing a decrease of 115,000 farms. Farms from one to three acres had been reduced from 310,000 in 1841, to 88,000 in 1851 ; from 5 to 15 acres, from 252,000 in 1341, to 191,000 in 1851, showing a reduction of 60,000 ; farms from 15 to 30 acres, which .sera considered large in Ireland, had increased from 79,000 in 1841, to 141,000 in 1851 ; and from 30 acres and upwards, from 48,000 in 1841, to 149,000 in 1851. He thought these figures showed that the complaint cf the smallness of farms in Ireland had been done away with, and he presumed no:gentlemau would, in the face of those facts, assert that the cause of the misery elating in Ireland was owing to surplus population and small holdings. (Hear, hear.) The effect of the ex isting system in Ireland was tope rpetuate persecution and tyranny. Tenants were made dependent that land lords might demand their services on the day of election , and have complete control over them. Numberless acts of w:ong had been done under this system to tenants from religious motives, or by those who prostituted reli gion for their own miserable objects. (Hear, hear.) This was a state of things that ought not to exist. The persons on whom the prosperity of the country rested ought to have the fruits of their industry protected, as well as from the tyranny aud avarice of the landlords. The hon. member quoted several cases of persecution uader the present system, which be said called for pro tection. 11 changes he proposed were made, Ireland would bloom like a garden, for there would not be a single square foot of laud that would not be reclaimed, if it were possible to do so by the magic of human in dustry. (Hear, hear.) He brought forward this ques tion as a private member, because her Majesty's Government had abdicated their functions. They had played, toyed, and shuttlecocked with the question till a feeling had arisen in Ireland that would ultimately com pel her Majesty's Government to take it up and carry it successfully through every stage. The people of Ireland were sickened with the treachery of the Government and the blind obstinacy of those who could not see that their own prosperity was bound up , with that of the people. The O'DONOGHOE seconded the motion. He said that all classes in Ireland were agreed on legislation on this subject, and it was but right that the feeling of the people should be respected. lie had never heard the principle of the bill condemned in Ireland. It was ru moured they were to have, in a few months, a dissolu tion, and if it took place before the passing of this bill, he ventured to predict, from the feelings of the people of Ireland, that every gentleman who offered himself to the county constituencies, would declare himself in favour of tanani: rivht_ Tn formyr timed the ^vases of t6o soil prided themselves on the number of persons on their estates ' • but now the country was tenant less and man was considered by many an inconve nient and unprofitable animal. This bill was a political and social necessity, and he asked the house to listen to the voice of the people of Ireland, and accede to the motion. Of late there bad been three predomi nant passions in Ireland conducing to the evils com plained of. One was the acquisition of land through the Encumbered Estates Court, the result of which was that the new owners introduced richer tenants or took the law in their own hands, leading to evic tion, and leaving the Irish to one of three alternatives, starvation, the workhouse, or compulsory emigration. The second passion was the enlargement of farms ; and the third the diminution of the poor-rates. To accomplish them satisfactorily, the removal of the population was thought necessary—either by eviction or the withholding of all inducements for the labouring population to remain at home, which eventually led to emigration. He thought speculation in land should be checked, and the formation of large farms discounte• nanced. Sir J. WA LSH admitted that this was as much an English as an Irish question. He declined to follow the mover of the second reading of the bill into the par ticular cases of grievances he had referred to, many, if not all of them being cx parte statements, drawn from various parts of the country, and capable of explanation, an instance of which he gave in the case of Mr. Pulock, a Scotch gentleman, whose conduct on a former occa sien was condemned as a harsh landlord, but which, on t•rplanation, showed him to be a benefactor to the people of the district in which he resided. The honourable baronet complained that the honourable member had not given the house a sketch of the manner in which he proposed by the bill to deal with tenant:right. Lord Derby, in 1852, and the late Govern ment, were open t• the charge of having done too much in dealing with the qut scion with a view to its settle ment. In 1852 the present Lord Chancellor of Ireland introduced a measure for that object, by giving retro spective Compensation, but which he afterwards felt obliged to limit, peel it was rejected in the House of Lords. A second attempt vs as made in 1855 by Mr. Sharman Crawford and Mr. Sergt. Shee without success. In 1856 Mr. Moore took it up, but ultimately withdrew his bill. The hon. baronet sa id t h e subject ou g ht to be met in a proper manner, discu sse d and deciOed on. The course pursued was unsatn•f ac t ory . I t unsettled the tenants, and was inconvenient to landl or d s . Th e ag i ta- tion of the question engendered a spirit o f di scontent and hostility between landlords and tenants destructive of those relations and benefits that ought to and would result from a generous and cordial co-operation between them. The principle of the bill was not what its title im plied. It contained nine clauses, six of which could boat be discussed in committee. Tee principle of the bi I was contained in the first clause, by which it was proposed " that all improvements in the soil," as well as in the buildings by the tenant should be taken to be the pro perty of such tenant, subject to certain restrictions. He complained that the wording of the clause was too wide, for it laid down the principle that the owner of the soil had, no property in it, and converted him into a rent charger. (Hear, hear.) He considered, at great length, the principle of the bill. Emigration had been a great blessing to Ireland. From all the informa tion he could obtain, he believed that Ireland was im proving, that agriculture was there progressing, and that in many parts of the country people cared little or nothing about tenant right. A landholder was not a mere recipient of rests. He was an active partner, and not a sleeping partner, because the landlord's fate rest was necessarily united with the tenants, in the im provement of the land. The tenant was dependant on the landlord for improvements, and his control was ari integral and necessary part of the agri 'cultural improvements while the bill seeme I originated solely with the cultivators of the soil. The till, if passed, would be an entire confiscation of the rights of property. lie concluded by moving that the bill be read a second time this day six months. The amendment having been seconded, Mr. J. D . FITZGERALI) supported the second reading o f t h e bil l, b e li ev i ng i ts pr i nc i ple wou ld secure the rights of one and give protection to the other. He declined to enter into the details of the bill on • himself to HU its second reading, but confined that had been eieri i i ivting its principle a principle the house. In com mittee he should be prepared affi p s ir e e d d to by introduce such safe guards as would make it li e , and beneficial both to the landlord and the tenant , spoke of the oppression of landlords in Ireland towards their tenants. It had come perpetrated d in under hie notice that many of the cr Ireland were to be traced to the habit itn of ee lan lord s g i v i ng their tenants year by year notice to quit. lie traced j what had been done towards legislating on this subject, and said that all parties were pledged to the principle involved, which was based on justice , Ireland was now in a peaceful and prosperous state, affording a fitting opportunity for legislation. If the history of crime in Ireland were traced it would be found to have proceeded `from the unsettled state of the relations between land lord and tenant. The most improving and flourishing part of Ireland was where landlords granted leases to their tenants. He denied that giving compensation to tenants would confiscate the rights of property, and turn the owner of the soil into a rent-cbarger. The rynt of India enjoyed a safer holding than the Irish tenant. Lei d PALMERSTON said his right hon, friend why last spoke ha'l mistaken the leading principle of the bill. It was different to that of former bills, and appeared to him to have the effect as described by the hon. baronet who had moved the amendment, of transferring the property of one set of persons to another and very different set of persons. (Hear.) The principle he maintained was that the mutual relations between parties should be left to be dealt with by each other, and any interference was ob jectionable. In Ireland, however, there might be cases which rendered a departure from that principle neces sary, but it should be limited with conditions, and it was on that principle they had hitherto acted. The com pensation proposed in former bills had been prospective compensation limited to things visible to the eye, and capable of distinct valuation. He could not consent to such a sweeping change in the relations of parties as pro posed by the bill, and therefore he should oppose its second reading. Mr. HASSARD supported the amendment. Mr. CAIRD supported the second reading of the bill, on the ground that it proposed to protect the rights of property. Land was valueless without the application of labour and capital, and surely the latter were en titled to the respect and protection of the house. Lord N A.A.S opposed the bill, because he thought it wouldinfringe in the most direct way on the sacred rights of property without really giving compensation to tenants. The object to be kept in view in legislating on this sub ject was, that compensation should be prospective, and improvements made with the consent of the landlord. The bill contained the principle that had been on more than one occasion stated publicly, that the owners of land in Ireland were only entitled to the value of the land in its wilderness state, and if adopted would re duce the value of land one-half. It would be a gre,t breach of faith to those who had purchased estates in the Encumbered Estates Court. - Under this bill the tenants would be able to claim for buildings, improvements, kc., alleged to have been erected and carried out by them. Mr. DEASY moved the adjournment of the debate. Lord NA AS opposed the motion, which was ulti mately agreed to, i.nd the debate adjourned to the 9,h of June. _ _ The other orders were agreed to, and the home ad journed at half-past 5 o'clock. TRIAL OF BERNARD. [The following appeared in part of our impressiun of yes terday :I - _ Pierre Ferdinand Ontrequin, examined by the Attor ney-General—l reside at 277, Rue St. Denis, in Paris. lam a dealer in silks. I have known the prisoner Bernard since 1854. I recollect on one occasion the pri soner spoke to me with regard to some particular dye for silk. He asked me for a pattern to experiment upon, and knowing he was acquainted with chemistry I gave him what he required. This took place in Landon in 1854. I have since corresponded with him commercially. I recollect his introducing an Eoglish gentleman to me of the name of Hodge. He came to Paris on a visit. The prisoner also introduced another Englishman to me. His name was Allsop. I have since seen the person the prisoner introduced to me as Al!sop in the prison of La Roquette. It was Orsini. It was after hie condemna tion, one day before his execution. The letter handed to me is the one in which Orsini was introduced to me under the name of Allsop. It is in the handwriting of the prisoner Bernard, as far as I can say. (The letter was here read by the interpreter. It was a letter of introduction, speaking of the bearer as a good English friend of his who had arrived in Paris to spend a few pounds, and requested that witness would give all the assistance he could to the bearer.) Examination of witness continued—Toe person I then knew as Allsop brought the letter to me himself. It was _ Orsini. (Another letter addressed to witness was here read. It requested him to endeavour to dispose of SOlllO magnificent revolvers which he was about to consign to hire.) Examination continued Hodge delivered this latter to me personally. I received the letter now shown to me a short time before I received the parcel containing the pistols. I afterwards received a package. The oil cloth produced formed the cover. It contained two re volver pistols in cases. I can't swear that the pistols I produced are the same. Allsop (Orsini) came on the day I received the pistol , . He spoke to me of the letter in which Bernard requested that the rstols might be given to him. Orsini said I was to sell them and not pay any regard to what Bernard said about them in his letter. I accordingly kept them with the intention of selling them. Orsini called upon me about every day to ask me if I had sold the pistols. Not having succeeded in disposing of the pistols Allsop (Orsini) took one away in the case. I did not deliver the other pistol myself. It was taken away in my absence, After Allsoie (Orsini) had taken away the pistol he called on me one Sunday and we went to the Hotel de France et Campagne. It , was the Sunday before the attempt. The reason I went with him was that he asked me to direct him to the hotel, and being disengaged I went with him to show I him the place. He told me he expected to make one of 1 his German friends take the pistol , . The name of his , friends he said was Pierri. I afterwards saw Pierri at , No. 10, Rue Montabor, Allsop's (Orsini's) lodgings, but j I don't recollect the day. Previous to the attempt All sop (Orsini) called sever.l times at my house. The last time I saw Orsini was the Sunday previous to the attack on the life of the Emperor. I was repaid by Allsop (Orsini) for cavriage of the pistols 25f. 55e., and also 20f. or 25f. which I had given to the man for tink. Cross examined by Mr. James—A piece of pitch or 00.1 woo 1u tlio patuold, it was addressed to " NI. Cavaii loft.'' I don't know such a person. The pitch and pistols , arrived in the same parcel. It seemed to have been opened at the custom-house. When Orsini came to get the first box containing the pistols I was from home. He said I was to pay no attention to the directions of Bernard with respect to the destination of the pistol. I had tried to dispose of the pistols. I never refused to allow Orsini to ta'-;e ane of the pistols away. I am no judge of pistols. I am certain each of the pistols bad five chambers. I was not arrested by the police. I was not threatened with arrest. I was examined at my own house by a person belonging to the prefecture of police. Madame Outrequin—l am wife of the last witness. I knew Orsini. I saw him in December. He was ac companied by an Englishman named Hodge. Orsini came to oar house the day the pistols arrived. I remem• ber Orsini taking away one of the pistols. On the Sun day following the other pistol was taken away by another ! Jerson. I did not know him at the time. I asked his name and he said it was Pierri, and that he was residing at the Hotel de France. I have since seen this person in the Conciergerie. A lady called fur the coat but I could not find it. I afterwards found it and gave it to the police. Sergeant Williamson, of the detective police, examined by the Attorney-General—l apprehended the prisoner and took possession of his papers. There was no pass port en his person or among his papers. Sergeant Rogers—l took possession of a portion of the prisoner's papers. lam certain a passport was not amongst them. Sergeant Smith—l served the prisoner with notice to produce his passport. It was at the House of Detention. He said it was destroyed and burnt. By Mr. James—He did not say the police must have. it. I will swear he did not. The Attorney-General—l must now give secondary evidence. Mr. Weex proved that on the 7th of December a pass port was granted to the prisoner for Belgium and Ger many. Lacroix, a person employed at the Hotel de la Mon naie, proved that the prisoner arrived at Brussels on the 25th Dec., and produced a passport which was issued on the 7th of the same month. Mr. Weex, re-called—ln August, 1851, a Foreign office passport, granted to Mr. Thomas Allsop, was sent to be vised. This passport was found in Orsini's room in Paris. Mr. Wich, the Belgian vice-consul, proved that the passport was vised for Thomas Allsopp. Tbe description of this person answered in every particular with the per son of the real Thomas 111 sop, Mr. Banks, a gentleman from the Portuguese consu late, proved that a passport was granted on the 7th of Jan. to Jose Ant mio Da Silva. Da Silva did no sign the passport—some person did it for him. Mr. James—This passport is granted to Da Silva to go to Oporto. How does it happen that a person gets into Paris with it, I should like to know. lam unac quainted with the passport system. (Laughter.) Witness—l cannot tell. lam as winch surprised as anybody. (Laughter.) Mr. Weex was again r<called, and in answer to ques tions, said that many persons intending to travel direct to Spain Lir Portugal, but finding no steamer ready at the time, change their arrangements and go overland, when it becomes necessary to have the passport wised I I for France, in order that they might pass through that country to reach their destination. M. Remez, examined by the Attorney-General—l am inspector of police. 1 arrested the prisoner Rudio. Eliza Rudio, EX 'mined by Mr. Welsby—l am the wife of Carlo Rudio. I have been married to him three years. In December last I and my husband were living at Bateman's buildings, %oho. We occupied the front I room on the third floor. My husband was out of em ployment. We had no means of living except what we had given to us. We have one child. At that time we were in great distress. While we were in this state the prisoner Bernard first came. It was after Christmas. I had never seen him before. My husband was from hf me when he came. He was shown up to our room. The fir .t thing he asked W 33 whether I was Mrs. Rudio, and whether myahnudshbeantdnehnadsagidotheemwpalsovyemryeneto.tr)l, told that tn t ho had not, He gave me two shillings, and ob'celtoweeke.n ten husband. I told him lie afterwards see in g a u f i t r e e r d h a i tu b 0 . u t my twhoeunldsabide at h Le i !, and I told him he and eleven. He asked about a • e w h home a call a a l about o a u g t a in half that p a a t s tf nightour t ay, did not mmyushtursinbgantdwic,aesfotrougs,oand,ol m h n e tthoenhismai.d Nwhoetnhiand r h w e e tn a o n r n : passed on this occasion. s h a e y ar w d h t a b t e b h e e ll crainmge about. Between r : e m w y ehr 'm 'nBb‘atne a husband e rd . i ing ealvte hum n tn l e about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour. On one occa sion when the bell rang twice my husband went down and returned to our room with some money. This was about a day or two after the first visit of the prisoner. It broughtws o a n s e r at ea n tal i g ts: wuitt ht b .W hm h byeicnnh my husband came up stairs he . usb O an n d an w o a ther occasion the a t s h a e b p o r a i t - nine at night, H e came ups to ot' ' my room. He asked me if my husband had got any said not many. H e as k e d if h e c g es. I bad got stockings and shirts. I said h e h a d on l y got enough for a chloth asked if he bad a coat. I t o ld hi m he b ad, but an it - was e.He I , ledg e. He then asked if h e had trousers and in sait.tcoat. I said no ; and h e then said he e o mld get my husband some cloth es . He asked , we how my husband carried his luggage about whoa THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, he travelled ? I showed him his box, and the prisoner said it was too large, and he would buy him a carpet-bag. On this occasion he gave me half-a-sove reign, Baying it was to get coals with, and something to go on with. He told me to tell my husband, whEn he wanted money, to come to him at the Cafe Suisse, ' and that he ought to have gone to him before. My husband returned home in about half an hour after the prisoner had left. I told him what had taken place, and showed him the half-sovereign. On another evening in that week I heard a ring, and my husband went dowa to the door. I looked out of the window, and saw a man like the prisoner, but I can't say it was him. My hus band left home on a Saturday. I never Eaw him again in this country. [At this point one of the jurymen was taken ill, and had to leave the box. In a short time a medical gentle man said it would not be advisable to detain the jury man longer than the examination of the present witness occupied.] Lord Campbell—The CJurt, will readily assent to your suggestion. The court shall be better ventilated to morrow. The examination of the witness wag then proceeded with—Before my husband left England the prisoner gave me ten shillings to get my husband's coat and waistcoat out of pledge. Idi I not find the prisoner in my room when I returned from the pawnbroker's. He (prisoner) came about nine o'clock that evening, and I left him and my hu-band together fur about five minutes. When I returned I heard the prisoner say to my husband, "You'd go away in the morning." I heard them talking together in a foreign language. The prisoner told me to fetch a pint of ale, and I did so. When I returned the prisoner and my husband were still in conversation. Bernard wrote several notes, but I cannot say what they were. I did not see whether he gave them to my husband. My husband went out and fetched a carpet bag. The prisoner said he would give me 12s. a week while my husband was away. He said he would bring it every Monday night. On the evening before Bernard came we had no money, but after he left I saw some foreign coins on the table. One piece was like our crown, and the other was like a half sovereign. I did not hear the name of the street or place to which any husband was going, but I heard him say some'hing about "277." I heard the prisoner say to my husband, " when you get to the end of the jour ney you will find somebody you know." I had no know ledge of where he had gone until I saw something in the newspapers. My husband left London on a Satur day, about 9 o'clock in the morning. He took the car pet bag with him. He had only the clothes he had on. I don't know that he had anything in the carpet bag. I saw a passport in his possession. Mr. James—Can you read ? Witness—Not well. Cross-examination by Mr. Welsby continued—My husband read me some part of the passport. The docu ment shown to me is like the paper I speak of, but I cannot tell whether it is the same. I believe the word shown to me on the paper is in my husband's hand writing. I cannot tell what. it is ; I can't spell it. On the morning after my husband left I went to the Cafe Suisse. I did not see the prisoner. I left a note for him. My husband wrote it before he Id - . On the fol lowing day I saw the prisoner in Bateman's-buNinga. He was waiting for me. I told him I had been to the Cafe Suisse, and we then went up-taira. On that occa sion he gave me 10s. He told me to get plenty t f clothes and warmth, as my husband would soon be home again. He told me he had had a letter from my husband, in which he said so. On the following Monday he came to Bate man's-buildings and gave me 10e., and told ins I must leave the place. He asked me if I had not a grand mother in the country, and I said yes. He asked me where, and I said in Nottingham. He asked if there was a train to that place that day ; I told him no ; and he then asked at what hour the train left in the morning, and I told him helf-past seven. He said I must go by that time, and said if I heard anything in the papers about my husband I was to take no notice of it. He then gave me a sovereign over the railway fare, which was 10s. 83. He asked if I would sooner go to my mother at Gadalining. I said no, and he then said I was not to tell any ptr.on where I was going. He said he would send me a fortnight's money on the following Monday. He then asked what my maiden name was, and I told him Booth. He said I was to go in that name after I got down to Not tingham, and that the money orders would be made out in that name. Toe letter was to be directed to the post office, and to be left till called for. He asked me if I had told anybody where he lived, and I said no. When he spoke to me about my husband's name ap pearing in the newspapers, I asked for what reason his name should be in the papers, and he did not make me any answer. He told rae if anybody asked rue about my husband to say, "I knew be was very well." I did not understand what he meant. let irted for Notting ham in the morning, as arranged. I gave up the lodgings in Batemau's-buildings, and when I arrived at Notting ham I went by my proper name, Elias Rudio. Before I left London I got a letter from my husband. Mrs. Fay, one of the lodgers, read it to me. I don't know what has become of the letter. I have endeavoured to find it, in company with Sergeant Smith, but I have not done se. The letter shown to ins I believe canoe to me at Nottingham. I had returned to London, and the letter was sent after me. I stayed in Nottingham six days. Mr. Powell wise here recalled. The letter the witness speaks of is in the handwriting of the prisoner, to tie best of my belief. Mr. James—Did you ever a -e the prisoner write like that letter I Witnes,—l cannot say T have. Mr. James-1 don't think that letter ought to be re ceived in evidence. Lord Campbell, (to witness)—What is your belief with respect to the handwriting? Witness—To the best of my belief it is in his hand writing. [The letter was then ordered to be received and read. It stated that It2s. would be sent weekly to Mrs. Eliza Booth, as long as she behaved properly, by William Thompson.] Cross-examined by Mr. Hawkins—l was married a fortnight before Christmas, three years ago. My hus band lived at my aunt's at Baldwin's-gardens, when I first knew him. I don't know that he followed any occu pation. I never made inquiries on the subject. He never said a word about his occupation. Before we were married he worked at the envelope making. He followed that occupation for about three mouths afterwards. Mr. James—My lord, I a m desired to inform your lordship that it will be dangerous to enforce the attend• ante of the sick juryman any longer. Lord Campbell—Then we will adjourn immediately. Mr. James-P , rhaps your lordsh i p will inform us how we are to proceed at the termination of the trial with respect to the points reserved. Whether we r.e to argue them at length, or merely hand in our objecteons. Lord Campbell—The objections mus t he limply handed in. They will be reserved for the considerate n of the 15 judges in the Court of Criminal Appeal. The proceedings were then adjourned till to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock. THE BARONESS, THE CHEVALIER, AND THE LIEIRESS. A case which excited considerable interest has just been decided by the civil court of Malta. The following is a condensed statement of the most pro• minent facts from the Malta Times : . . . Antonia Muscati,abarone;inher own right, the last of a very wealthy Maltese family, was in 1797 married to a military gentleman of French extraction, the Chevalier Parisio. The couple lived in happiness until the French invasion under Bonaparte came to disturb for over their conjugal tranquillity. It appears that during two years that the French were masters of Valetta, be sieged by the population of the country, the cheva lier lived at his country seat at Naxaro, and, not withstanding his French origin, occasionally took au active part against the invaders. The baroness continued to live at Valetta, where, adopting the republican ideas then prevalent about the validity and dissolubility of previous marriages, she com mitted one of those faults which are sometimes visited not merely on the sinner, but on innocent victims of other gonerations. At the expulsion of the French the chevalier returned to town, andfound his honour tarnished ; from that time he Towed to abandon his wife, notwithstanding her attractioue, his comparative poverty, and her wealth, and to all appearance?, up to the time of his death, which took place i❑ 1840, ho kept his resolve, h• having always lived at the Palazzo Parisi°, whilst the ba roness continued to live in her own hong& " About the time of the chevalier's death a girl came out of the House of Industry, an inatitution for female orphans, and was married to a young man named Saltiitro, a tailor. It soon became known to this young couple that the marriage was pre arranged by the agenis of the Baroness Antonia, and this leading the tailor to ingatiry, he began to suspect from out-of-doors information, and from avowals of his youthful bride, that she was the daughter of the Baroness Aut Alia. The tailor fol lowed up the thread, and having gathered sufli , cient information, he in 1850 brought an action for a subsidy, in the name of his wife, against the baroness, and the Court of Appeal being satisfied by the evidence the❑ produced decided in favour of the plaintiff for the maternity. " Iu the meanwhile the baroness had been mar riz d a second time to Baron Sir G. M. Depiro. She died in 1856, leavingher unentailed property t ) whilst her free estates, the whole amounting it is said o 3,0001. a-year, went to her collateral relations. The daughter was left penniless. Soon after her inothet's death she commenced a lawsuit against the iestainentary heir and her mother's relatives, and also her father's heirs de facto, asking for her legi tiatey. Her birth, she said, which had already by the Court of Appeal been established, had taken Mace during her mother's marriage with the Cho ' val er Parisi°. He was legally her father, and n3aquently she was their legitimate offoiling. The marriage which had been celebrated iu 1797 was only solved by the cheva ha l w i re e ari r ft ' eoe s .f d h e e a r th leg in itim l4o y , ; and between these dates there was n h o olllts judicial eiss,t rbuu true thatthisepa rationsthey e o n: n e between husband and deprive ep d tion of the law is strengthened ft ownasthneoctoliracilye,nsthteoconptinuesto sa b y y , c tl i i r is cu p m re st s a u n m e p e 8 - her only i _ . lmother'sinsisted. d hthisatwciafeinweastomehreetl.y kapnpoawrleendtg, tolenabthy.thTehcheesveaplaierratfioorn tbheetweeyeenotfhethcehepvuableirc,al s e and a wasel having been wronged by her in 1801, he did not consider it honourable any longer to acknowledge her publicly as his wife. But, especially towards 1819 (the time of the plaintiff's birth) a good un derstanding existed between the parties. It 'was beyond any doubt that in 1819 both lived in Va letta, and no physical impossibility existed of their seeing each other. She produced a great number of witnesses, mostly old servants and neighbours of the baroness, to prove that a correspondence existed b itween the baroness and the chevalier ; that small preAsuts were often reciprocally sent to each other, such as game on the part of the chevalier, and cona fitures on her part • that the chevalier borrowed money from her ; that she kept her carriage at his stable, and that he occasionallymade nse of it; that meeting in the street they used to say to each other on revoir ; that he been seen several times at her h :use, both in town and at Citta Vecchia, both before and some time after the birth of the plain tiff ; that the chevalier's brother and other mutual and influential friends were very pressing in their endeavours for a reconciliation ; that the cheva lier had knowledge at the time of the accouohe ment of the baroness, and that it was only a few years after that he entirely ceased his visits ; and that his wrath against his wife was observed to re kindle from reasons that it was unnecessary to relate to the Court. The plaintiff, in short, con tended that these might be considered as explana tory circumstances, that she advanced her action on the great principle of the Roman law, that the child born during the marriage is the child of the husband, and that therefore she was the legitimate child of both, and entitled to succeed them before all others. On the part of the defendants, it was argued that so early as 1801 the chevalier had separated him self from his wife ; that this separati on cont i nue d up to the time of the husband's death, and they produced evidence to the effect that none of the friends and visitors, both of the baroness and the chevalier, ever heard of a reconciliation having taken place between them, or had ever seen them together. The learned Judge pronounced his sentence, and non-suited the plaintiff. We understand that she has appealed to her Majesty's Court of Appeal. THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 131 LL. (Frain the Daily News.) When Lord John Russell resolved to attemp the rescue of the India question from the field of party conflict, he must doubtless, have made up his mind to incur the resentment of the noisy and numerous suttlers of the Palmerston camp. who looked forward to a pitched bAtle, on the second reading of the Government bill, as the one and only requisite preliminary to their resumption of the profits and perquisites of office. He cannot, therefore, feel any surprise at the vehemence or volubility of the invectives directed against him by those whose personal advantage—kit were absurd to dignify it with the epithet of ambition) —he has Momentarily marred. Their explosive rage would indeed be ludicrous if it were not lamentably mis taken for more than it is worth by the undiscern ing, who looking on from a di s t ance are so m e ti mes misled into confounding eager and angry talk for sincere or solid argument, because the echo of what is said comes from Westminster. In the Press, moreover, there are always to be found ready organs of reverberati on , by which the sordid complaints and cavils o f selfish men are reiterated, until at length the unthinking grow perplexed and puzzled as to the real merits of the matter. One of our contemporaries does not scruple, indeed, to insinuate that Lord John has disentitled himself henceforth and for ever to the confidence of the Liberal party, as if the Liberal party actually con sisted of the hungry and precipitate hangers-on of the late Premier. A more scandalous libel on the principles anti purposes of a great party never was peuned. Conscious of its Inherent strength in numbers, wealth, intelligence, anti patriotism, the Liberal party has long since become tolerant of the brief and feeble efforts of decadent Toryism to re gain permanent power. They know that, as Tories, neither the preswst nor any other men whom acci dent may temporarily thrust into office can ever govern this country ; and that, were they seriously to make the attempt, they would be driven from Downing-street in a week. If Liberalism be worth a thought, and if its predominance in the Parliament, the Press, and the People of this country be a fact indisputable, it is the most impudent and barefaced swindle to raise a cry of country or constitution in danger be cause a succession of faults and blunders on the part of the last (-to-called) Liberal Administration has forced for a few NN eeks into office a set of noblemen \and gentlemen who fraakly own that they have no party strength which can enable them permanently to retain it. _ If the largo majority whose power and position is so indecently paraded as the the all-sufficient justitica•ion for the present outcry against the noble member for London were really of opinion that, regardless of all the exigencies of the public service, every questi en, however grave, should be converted into a faction fight until Lord Clarendon and Clanricarde were restored to power, what is to prevent their doing so ? or what is the pretext for the shameful howl now raised against the best and truest statesman that has in our tim e b e l onge d to the party ? If the intrinsic justice and w i s d om of the course recommended by Lord John R usse ll regarding the future government of India doe s no t commend eci po i itself of the Liberal thel o fto j L udg e nae l nt of a large an d in fluential party, it is bo o tl ess and ineffectual, and the grievance of the infuriated hacks falls to the ground. If their leading organ be correct, Lord John is a mere pretentious ob truder of counsel upon a party devoted in its alle giauce to other chiefs. Well, but if he does not possess their confidence to any great extent, as our contemporary avers, what great harm can h e d o By what conjuration is it that the old and t r i e d leader of the party can, by the utterance of a few aisation in its rank s — ranks Cambridg e H ouse Cabal clear and calm sentences in his place as a private at the House of Commons, suddenly pro twhichhclei juotuterrnadlissoorf the duce su g still pretend to be enthusiastically loyal to its flag, and to its flag alone ? It cannot be pretended that Lord John has ever striven to form around himself in Parliament a personal faction, nor can it be al leged with a semblance of truth that he has relied for the maintenance of his independent position upon the organised support of relatives or personal friends. In the most remarkable transactions that have cccurred in Parliament during the last tw o years he has assorted his authority and influence without such aid ; and more than one remarkable instance might be cited where the votes of members of his own family have been recorded in favour of a prosperous rival. To what, then, is it owing that in a Parliament notoriously and unscrupu lously packed by that rival, Lord John has been able successively to veto one act of rashness and folly after another, and that at the present mo ment the adherents and organs of Lord Palmerston are full of weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, because they are not allowed to make party piey of the greatest question which the present house of Commons has been called upon to discuss ? Another contemporary professes to write pri ' vately and confidentially on the subject of the re cent suggestion made to the Government and promptly acceded to by them. Lord John Rus sell, we are told, has acted in thin business unoan didly ; and what is the proof ? Neither more nor leaa than this—that feeling from the first a strong repugnance to Lord Elleuborough's Bill, he de- Glared ter servedly that he could not support it on the second reading. Far from being a secret, it is perfectly well known that such was his lord ship's opinion from the outset ; and such being his opinion still, he has succeeded to all appearance in vindicating it ; for all the world is now agreed that Lord Ellenborough's Bill is a burst bubble of which we shall hear no more. But then, sobs our contemporary, he did not put an end to it in the proper party way ; and he misled the simple minded Claneicardea and Claieudous, Woods and Palmerstons, by telling one of them in writing how much he disliked Lerd ' Ellenbereugh'B craz y pro ject and how willing he was to initiate a proposal for its rejection. And has he not kept his word ? Does any one seriously believe that, in Committee of the whole House, the main features of the abor tive project of the Minister will not be, as the Par liamentary phrase goes, "resolved in the nega tive v' Can any one doubt that wiser and sounder principles, as the bases of a better India Bill, will not be "resolved in the affirmative." But then we are told that Lord John committed another crime by letting Ministers understand all along that lie meant to oppose their bill. What un fsirness or disengennousness there was in this it passes our cempreheusion to discover. Had the noble member for the City shut himself up at Pem broke House for the holidays, communicating with no one on either side of the Howie what he meant to d o , there might indeed be some f a int colour for the insinuation of want of candour. But his slan derers have contrived amongst them to inakeit clear that not wily independent members above and be low the gangway, but both the present and the late Cabinet, were thoroughly aware of his opinie ns, generally, on the subject ; and the sole point on which malignity can perch is this, that it does not seem to have been understood exactly, when lie rose to speak on Monday last, whether he would move a string of resolutions, in the first instance, of his own, or invite the Minister to do so, and then propose such amendments as he might deem requi site. Practically the difference between the two courses, in its effect on legislation for India, is APRIL 15, 1858 utterly inappreciable ; nor can we see how even for party purposes it could signify which of the two were adopted ; althou2h, as a matter of parliamen tary rule and minislerial responsibility, it is certain that Lord John decided rightly in forcing the ini tiative in the proceeding upon the official advisers of the Crown. From first to last it is plain that Lord J. Russell has acted in a manner in every way worthy of his eminent position as the first constitutional states man of the day. He has refused to allow the future Government of India to be made the sport of con tending faction ; and he has refused to be made a tool of by either, in spite of the private solicitations of the one and the public flatteries of the other. He has shown himself able and willing to think and act for the lasting interests of the country, re gardless of the spleen and spite of the worthless portions of his own party, and of the momentary relief which his wise magnanimity has afforded to the leaders of that which he has all his life op posed. Faction may for the hour misrepresent and revile him ; but the nation will comprehend his motives, and render him gratefully the honour which is his due. EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE AGAINST A TRADESMAN.-MISTAKEN IDENTITY. Yesterday, at the Clerkenwell Police Court, Mr. Frederick Redford, the landlord of the Golden Fleece public-hou9e, 8, John-street, Old-street- road, appeared bofore Mr. Tyrwhitt, in answer to his recognisances, charged with attempting to pick the pockets of two females in Goswell-street-road. Mr. Wontner appeared for the defendant. Police-constable George Harvey, 161 G, said— On Thursday night las+) about five minutes past nina o'clock, I was on duty in Goswell-street road, where I saw the prisoner. I noticed him for some time following two females on this (the right hand) side of the road, and saw him lift their dresses and put his hand in their pockets, but I did not per ceive him taking anything from them. After that I saw the plisoner turn back, when three females passed him, and he followed them in the same way. I saw the prisoner lift the ladies' dresses with his left hand, and put his right hand into their pockets, but I did not see him take anything. I watched him as far as Powell-street, when I him into custody. At the police-station I searched him, and found upon him 21. Is. 2d. The prisoner gave a correct address, and said he had just come from his tobacco merchant's, where he had paid a small ac count. Cross-wainned by Mr. Woutner—Before I to:,k the prisoner into Custody, a waggon laden with coal passed between us. It was five minutes past nine when I first saw him lift the pockets of a lady. When I took him into custody he told me he was the landlord of the Golden Fleece, but I did not believe him, and thought it was a hoax. When I saw his wife she said her husband was not at home, and she believed he had 'ono to his club. I have since made inquiries, and have found that the de- fendant bears a most excellent character, and is a very respectable tradesman. I have been in the police force about 15 months. Inspector Cole, G division, said—l was on duty at the Old-street police-station on the night in ques tion when the charge was brought in. It was brought in at 20 minutes to ten at night. I asked the constable the nature of the charge, and he then told me it was ono of picking pockets. The con stable said he ha I seen the prisoner loitering about, and when he went near the prisoner tried to evade him by turning down a short street. The constable also said he had watched him for about half an hour. I have ascertained that the defendant has been a licensed victualler in the neighbourhood for ome time. When the defendant was brought into the police-station he said the charge was a false one, but I do not know if he said the man was mad. When it was found that the defendant was a trades man in the neighbourhood, bail was taken for his appearance at the police-court the next morning. Mr. Wontner said that this was a case which he was of opinion the magistrate would discharge ; but still he felt that it was his duty to offer some evidence, for the defendant did not wish to leave that bar on the plea of want of evidence. That he was the victim of a mistake there could be no doubt, but he did not wish to say that the constable had committed wilful and corrupt perjury, but was mistaken in his identity of Mr. Redford. Menolder in the force than he was had been mistaken. The defendant was a very respectable tradesman, and had carried on the business of a licensed victualler for the last ten years. Mr. Redford wished the ems to be fully gone into, and to leave that court with out a stai❑ or a slur upon his character. He then called Mr. Clark, who said—l am a compositor, and re side at 4, Wellington-street, Pentonville. I am the chairman of a friendly society, called the Friends of Labour, held at the house formerly kept by the defendant, the Rose and Crown. The defendant is a member of the society, and has been so since its commencement. I was at the society on Thursday last. I called at the defendant's house at ten mi nutes to nine to get him to accompany me. Ho was very busy, an at nine o'clock finding that he was still serving customers I left, and the church clock then struck. The defendant is a very respectable man. Lucy Newman said—l am in the service of the defendant. At ten minutes past nine on the night in question my master came into the kitchen for the purp , se of hiving his boots cleaned. I under stood that he was then going to his club. Mr. W. H. Babart said—l am a tobacconist and vesicle at 132, Goswell-street. The prisoner has dealt with me for some time. On the night in ques tion the prisoner c:slled and purcha , ed of me a pound of tobacco. I look at my watch every night at nine o'clock for the purpo3e of closing my ac counts. The defendant's account is the first entered on the next day's account. It was quite half-past nine before the defendant came, because I hat to get him change of half a sovereivs after I had closed my till. Mr. J. Davis said he had known the defendant for two years and a half, and considered him to be very respectable and strictly honest. About a year and a half ago he accidentally dropped a 501. note in his bar, and when he went back Mr. Redford had picked it up, and asked him if he had lost it. Mr. Wontner remarked that there were several other gentlemen in attendance who were ready to give Mr. Redford a character, but Mr. Tyrwhitt said there was no necessity for his doing so. It was too much to say the constable could not have been m istaken in the identity of the de fendant. He exceedingly lamented the mistake the constable had made, but, like other men, a con stable was just as liable to mistakes, although some persons thoug ht otherwise. One thing the de fendant gained, and that was that he left the bar without any stain or slur upon his character, as everybody must see it was a case of mistaken iden tity. The defendant had been locked up only a short time, and had, theretore, not suffered much, for la la was taken, and that very properly so, for his apppearance the next morning. One thing also was in the defendant's favour, and that was, that although he had been allowed to go at large he did not attempt to alter his dress or appearance, which a practised thief would most assuredly have done. In discharging the defendant, he would say that he left the court without a stain upon his character. I , Tau Two BROTHEREL" By the Author of " The Discipline of Life," &c. 3 vols.—There is a truthfulness and rectitude about Lady Emily Ponsonby's writings which are especially characteristic of the present. The workings of affection under doubt and difficulty have been often pourtrayed, but seldom more successfully than in this excellent tale. It breathes throughout a spirit of gentleness and goodness which it really does one good to feel. Both the scenes and the characters are drawn with a force and skill which makes the pre sent one of the best productions of this very cleve r authoress. —Chronicle. ADvE :TISXMBET. jr- 11101 IT AND lIKARING SPECTACLES— POWILRFUL TELESCOPES OPERA, RACE, AND PERSPECTIVE GLASSES.- 5 . and B. Solonions, opticians, 39, Albemarle street, Piccadilly. Observe--opposite the York Hotel, W. By her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent for v a l ua bl e an d ex traordinal improvements in the most powerful and brilliant Telescopes, Camp, Race-course, Opera, and Perspective Glasses, to know the distances. These Telescopes possess such extraordinary power that some, three and a-half inches, with an extra eye-piece will show distinctly Jupiter's moons, Saturn's ring, and the double stars ; with the same telescope can be seen a person's countenauce three-and-a-half miles distant and an object from 16 to miles. For the waist coat-pocket, and are of larger, and all sizes, with increasing, powers accordingly. The Royal Exhibition, 1851. A valu able, newly-invented, very small, powerful, Waistcoat-pocket Glass, the size of a walnut, by which a person can be seen and known one and a-half mile distant, They answer every pur pose on the Race-course and at the Opera-houses. Country scenery and ships arc clearly seen at 12 to 14 miles. They are invaluable for shooting, deer-stalking, yachting:, to sportsmen, gentlemen, gamekeepers, and tourists. Opera, Camp, Perspective, and Race-course Glasses, with wonderful powers. - Invaluable preserving Spectacle Lenses of the greatest transparent power. The great advantage derived from this invention is, that vision impaired becomes pre served and strengthened and very aged persons are enabled to employ their sight at the most minute occupation—can see with those lenses of a much less magnifying power—and they do not require the frequent changes to the dam geroas effects of further powerful assistance. Persons can be suited at the most remote part of the world by send iu of the glasses out of their spectacles in a letter, and stating the dist %nee from the eye they can read small print with it, and those who have not made use of spectacles by stating their age. Deafness.—New Discovery.—The Oigunic Vibrator, an extraordinarily powerful, small, newly-invented instrumeut for deafness, entirely different from all others, surpassing anything of the kind that has been, or probably can be, produced. Being of the same colour as the skin, is not perceptible. It enables deaf persons to hear distinct ly at church and at public assemblies; the unpleasant sensation 01 singing noises in the ears is entirelv removed, and it at:lords all the assistance that possibly could be desired.-39, Alto marlo-streot, Piccadilly—Opposite the York Hotel, W RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN, AND GREAT NORTHERN AND MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, AND LINCOLNSHIRE COM PETITION. It appears that meetings of the deputations from the Midland, North-Eastern, Lancashire and Yorkshire, and E ist Lancashire Railway Com panies, Mr. Wickham, M.P., in the chair, have been held at Leeds on the Bth of April ; at the Eneton Hotel, Mr. G. Leeman in the chair, on the 10th of April ; and at Fendall's Hotel, Westmin ster, Mr. Leeman in the chair, on the 13th of April, with an earnest desire to conclude the long pending and reckless competition between the above companies ; but, owing to the refusal of Mr. Denison on the part of the Great Northern and Sheffield Companies to submit, at the eleventh hour, the question of fares and rates to the arbi tration of the deputations their commendable exer tions have been frustrated. The deputation, after reviewing the whole of the proceedings, state that the withdrawal of the settle ment of rates and fares from the deputation neces sarily brings their labours to a close. They further state : " It is a satisfaction to the deputation, in the discharge of a not agreeable duty, to find that what they undertook they have, so far as it depended upon themselves, success fully a ccomplished. They have arranged a mode of settling every question in dispute on which the parties were willing to admit their mediation, and all the points of this arrangement have, though at different dates, being assented to on both sides. The London and North- Western Company are prepared to carry the arrangements into effect, and no obstacle would now exist had the depu tation also received the formal concurrence of the Great Northern and Manchester and Sheffield Companies ; but those companies, while agreeing to four out of the five points, have now withdrawn from the deputations any authority to arbitrate on the remaining question—that of rates and fares. " With regard to the proposal to refer the rates and fares to the consideration of the traffic managers of the respective companies, without any mode of determining a difference of opinion, the deputation, remembering that this particular question was referral to their decision, in consequence of those gentlemen being unable to dispose of it themselves, consider the suggestion illusory, and calcu lated to postpone any settlement for au indefinite period. "This question, however, involves the whole subject of unrestricted competition, and is of such paramount im portance as practically to prevent any settlement !c, long as it is kept open. The deputation are unable to discover any valid reason why, if this important question has throughout these negotiations been deemed a proper sub ject for the decision of independent parties, it is not so at the present time when all other points are agreed. " It is not for the deputation, however, to press their mediation after the decision of the Great Northern and Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Companies ; and though, being largely interested in the prosperity of rail way property, they regret that decision, they can do no more than record that regret, and leave the solution of the present difficulties in the hands of those on whom more immediately devolves the responsibility attending them." The document, of which this is the conclusion, is signed H. W. Wickham, T. Dugdale, W. E. Hutchinson, and G. Leeman. RAILWAY COMPETITION BETWEEN MANCHESTER AND LONDON. On Monday a meeting of the General Purpose 8 Commidee of the Manchester Town Council was held, at which it was resolved— " That without desiring in any way to enter into the disputes which have arisen between the competing com panies, this committee is of opinion that a second railway communication, with undivided responsibility, between this city and London, would be a graat public advantage, and they recommend the council to present a petition in favour of legalising th e un i on b e t we en the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire, and Great Northern Railway Companies," SOUTH-EASTERN. The gross traffic receipts on this line for passen mails, goods, cattle, &c. (less expense gers, parcels, of collecting and delivering goods, &c.), amounted for the four weeks ending March 27, to 53,1871., the rents and sundries to 1,9161., and receipts from steampackets to 2,4191., making a total of 57,5221. The expenditure, including rates, taxes, tolls, Go vernment duty, and expenses of steampacket ser vice, amounted to 33,9201., leaving a balance of 23,602/. The total receipts for seven weeks and six days ending March 27 amounted to 114,9741., and the expenditure to 68,8291., leaving a balance of 46,145. MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, AND LIN COLNSHIRE. The total receipts (including rents, &nit.) of this comnany's railways (less the cost of collegtion and delivery) amounted from Jan. 1 to April 4, 1858, to 111,941/. ; and the total expenses (including rents, tolls, duty, (ix.) to 68,2701., as against 65,6591. at the corresponding period of 1857, leav ing a balance of net profit of 43,6701. The propor tion of South Junction, dr,c., re ceips accruing to this company from Jan. 1 to April 4, 1858, amounted to 5,6871., as against 5,3851. for the corresponding period of 1857 ; and the expenses for the same period amounted to 3,2831., as against 2,8041. for the corresponding period of 1857. The total re ceipts (including rents, he.) of this company's canals for the three months ending March 31, 1858, amounted to 13,791/., as against 17,797/. for the corresponding period of 1857 ; and the expenses (including rates, &e.) to 9,5261., as against 9,9801. for the corresponding period of 1857, leaving a ba lance of net profit of 4,2651. as against 9,817/. for the corresponding period of 1857. ROYAL SWEDISH. A general meeting of shareholders in this com pany was held on Tuesday, at the Loudon Tavern —Mr. W. J. Chaplin in the chair. Mr. G. A. Hillier, the secretary, read the report, an abstract of which has appeared in The The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said its issue was delayed in cons equence of their proposition for the disposal of the line to the Swedish Government having been referred to a committee of the Swedish Diet, and their final dee cisien was not known until the 15th of March, after which the directors lost no time i n preparing and submitting the report. It informed them of the un expected failure of the intended sale of the line. He said unexpected, because he thought no one could have contemplated such a result. Under those circumstances the directors suggested that an explanatory memorial should be at once pre sented to the Swedish Government, complaining of the treatment the company had experienced at the hands of the Diet, which had declined to pur chase the railway even at a valuation, refused the alternative of granting a guarantee, and actually (contrary to the understanding on which the origi nal subscribers came forward and took their shares) passed an act authorising an opposition trunk line to the south of the Malarn Lake. The Government might suffer from want of means, but it was in their power to keep faith with the company by making their line a part of the main line between Stock holm and Gottenburg. He thought they would consider it a breach of faith on the part of the Go vernment for not having done that. It was not for the directors to say what their future course would be. They had received a letter from Mr. Waern, chairman of the company in Sweden, to the effect that the general opinion was that the proposal of the company must he sooner or later entertained, but, owing to the falling off in the revenue, it was deemed inexpedient at present to increase the lia bilities of the Government. He then explained that the nine miles from Arboga to Roping would have been completed if the subscribed capital had been taken up. It would, however, require 15,000/. or 20,0001. to complete that portion ; but, under the circumstances of the traffic being unsa tisfactory, the directors thought it advisable to wait and see the result of the traffic on t he p o rtion opened before raising or spending any more motiey. The MIDI he mentionoi would enable them to bring 45 miles of railway into operation. The pass nger traffic amounted to only a fourth of the receipt , , and the remainder consisted of goods and mineral traffic. The district was well supplied w ith water carriage ; impossible to was a thin population, an d it was to say how far the people would use the railway. Their manager expected much more traffic than the means at his disposal would enable hint to carry. It was proposed that they should wait and see the result of the traffic up to July next on the 35 miles open before they raised or expended any snore capi tal, and that a committee of some of the lar g est shareholders' should be appointed to confer with the directors as to what should be done. Mr. HARTRIDOR, a director, seconded the motion for the adoption of the report, explained that every economy had been adopted, and they had no cone plaint to make with respect to either their con tractors, engineer, or lawyer. The Chairman, from his experience, Lad rende r e d them great service. The losses arising from M r. Sailleir s misconduct would fall on the old shareholders. A traffic of 20/. per mile per week would pay all the preference charges, and he hoped something would be obtained for the old shareholders. Mr. MOCATTA. had no confidence in the liberality of the Swedish Government, and suggested that the directors should exercise the utmost economy in ever thing. • After some ob3eivatione from Mr. Austen, Mr. Miller, and Mr. Seymour as to the policy to be adopted, and the probability of some arrangement with the Government,resolutions were passed adopt ing the report, confirming the forfeiture of 1,000 preference shares, on which only 11. had been paid, and of 895 shares on which only 21. had been paid ; request ing the dirt. etors to prepare and present me morials to the King of Sweden and to the Diet In reference to the treatment the company had re- ceived, and explaining the views of the shareholders in English with respect thereto. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings. ANTWERP AND ROTTERDAM. A meeting of English shareholders in this corn was held yesterday at the office in Cannon-street ; Mr. S. Laing in the chair. _ The CHAIRMAN explained that at the meeting in Belgium last year he had Induced the Belgian board to offer to resign, with a view to enable the Eng lish shareholders to improve the management, but they found that the qualified shareholders in Eng land were not willing to take office, and so the matter fell to the ground. They agreed, however, that Captain Shaw should he the managing director to look after the traffic. That agreement was to be in full force for one year, and he had given a r e p or t full of details, and he (the Chairman) thought the result of his management was very satisfactory. The traffic had been increased and the expenses had been kept down. He thought the proposed dividend of 7f. per share for the year 1857 should be declared ; for it was clear that it was honestly earned, and there was nut one penny charged to capital. It wat perfectly clear they had 11,000/., and were it not for the deficiency of 4,000/. in their capital stock, which sum had not been raised, they would now have had 15,000/. at the bankers ; but there would be no diffi culty in borrowing the difference for a few weeks to enable them to pay the 71. per share. It s?emed desirable that the dividends should be paid half-yearly —namely, in the months of November and May—(hear, hear)—say at the rate of 3 per cent. per annum in November, and the remainder of the sum available for dividend in May. They would thus diminish the floating debt, and do with borrowing a less sum from the bankers. In reply to a question, he stated that one-fourth or one fifth of the shares were held in Belgium, and that they could command a majority at the legal meet ing in Belgium unless the English shareholders used extraordinary exertions to attend the meet ing. No shareholder could give more than a cer tain number of votes, so that it required a large attendance of shareholders to carry a measure if there were anything like hostility. But there had been no disposition in Belgium to oppose anything that was reasonable. Thera was a sum of 4,000/. locked up in payments to the Custom-house on ac count of traffic ; they were, therefore, that much behi lhand at the end of the year. The water ser vice would require some steam- tugs and barges to enable them to carry coal and heavy traffic with regularity and economy ; but however desirable it was to have sufficient working stock, he thought they should adhere to the principle of a closed capi tal account. The custom of continually increasing the capital account rendered such companies unable to sustain a reverse in their traffic without a heavy falling off in their dividend. He thought they had better not raise additional capital for the pur pose further than to place the 4,130/. bond' that had not been issued. The deficiency in the the goods traffic had been the cause of their failure in obtaining 5,6, or 7 per cent. They must there• fore try and got the heavy traffic, and ho believed the sum of 5,000/. would be sufficient to provide the vessels to carry it. They would close the capital account at 580,000/., and provide the 5,0001. by setting aside one franc per share per annum out of the dividends for two years and a-half—(cheers) —or until the debt was distinguished. With re gard to extending the line to Rotterdam, they did not propose to find any capital, or to enter into any liability, but merely to have the power to make some arrangement for conveying the traffic to Rot terdam over a portion of the proposed line from Rotterdam to Liege. The Dutch Government were fully impressed with the importance in a national point of view, of connecting Holland with the continental railway, and although it might take eight or nine years to make the necessary viaducts , and bridges, yet it was believed they would be made and the proposed line of railway constructed. With regard to leasing the - Turn hout line at 800/. a year, it was a question now whether that should be continued, as the object of it bad been frustrated to a certain extent. The actual expense to the company was about 600/. a-year, and the agreement might be put an end to on giving three months' notice on either side. It might be worth while to continue the arrangement provided it was for a period of 10 or 12 years. A discussion then ensued on various matters of detail, in the course of which it was stated that the proposed railway would shorten the time for con veying heavy traffic, as compared with boats, from three days to five hours. Several shareholders would rather forego the dividend to provide the boats than to increase the capital. Resolutions were passed approving the dividend of 7f. per share, and of payments h a lf-y ear l y , i n November and May ; ordering the capital account to be closed and not re-opened ; authorising the directors to place the 4,130/. of unissued bonds, to raise 5,0001. and pay it off out of dividend, as pro posed; and approving arrangement with respect to the proposed new line, but not to incur any lia bility with respect to it. A vote of thanks to the chairman and Captain Shaw concluded the proceedings. Country IVlancets EDINBURGH BAY A 1 ,411 STRAW MARKET APR L 13. Supplies of all kinds these last six days large. Oat straw, from 8s Od to lls Od per kemple of 16 stenos tron ; wheat do., 8s Od to 103 Od ; barley do., 7161 to go Od. Hay from 10d to 12d. EDINRIJEGFI MEAL—APRIL 13. Thore were in the market today 12 sacks oatmeal, each weighing 2801 b imperial, which sold at 38s Od and —4. DALKEITH MEAL MARKET—APRIL 12. There were in the market to-dap 17 bags of oatmeal, oof barleymeal, and 0 pot barley. Sales dull. Oatmeal, per sack of 2801bs First. Second. Third. imperial - Od —s Od 363 6d Barleymeal, per ditto -s Od —s Od —s Od Peasemeal, per ditto Flour, new, p e r ditt o — s Od —s Od —s Oa Pot-barley, new, per ditto —s Od s Od --s OA :--APRIL 14. the close of the market Witlleend, &c. 3 15 6 IBraddyll l2 6 South Kelloe 18 3 Brown's Moor Haigh Main 14 6 Framwellgate l7 6 Haswell 20 0 'South Hetton 20 0 Eden Main lB 0 Hartlepool l9 0 Powell's Duffryn Steam 20 9 Toes 2O 0 Cowpeu Hartley l7 et, 45 ; sold 35. COAL MARK Prices of Coals per ton al s. d. Tanfield Moor l3 0, Tanfield Moor Buts 13 0' Bobside's Hartley 17 6 Wylam Howard's West Hartley Netherton 18 91 Walker Primrose l3 31 Wslleend, !sc. Eden 18 Acorn Close lB 0 13ennson l6 9 Kelloe., 14 6 Whitworth l4 6 Ships at mark 4 [ADVERTISEMENT]. Singular Cure. Holloway's! Ointment and Pills.—Mr. J , ,hn Smithson, of Batley Carr, writes to Professor Holloway, March 9, 1858, thus: Mr. Win. Walker and his wife, who reside at Batley Carr, were about seven years since thrown out of a gig. Mrs. Walker was severely injured about the legs ; after trying every medicine that could possibly be recom mended during the whole of that time, without the slightest amendment whatever, was at last induced to try Holloway's Ointment and Pills, these completely cured her in a few weeks, and she is now as well as ever she was in her life.—Sold by all medicirie ♦endors throughout the world ; and at Professor Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, London. BIRT 8. ILtricirrr —On the 13th inst., the wife of Sir Arthur lialkett, of Pitfirrane, Bart., Captain 3d Light Dre• goons, of a daughter. KENT—On the 13th inst., at Ludford•park, near Ludlow, the wife of the Rev. Charles Kent, of a daughter. LEARY-Ou the 13th inst., at Clapham-common, Mrs. C. Leary, of a son. Wrsn—On the 10th Fob. last, at Enmore Lodge, Newton, Sydney, N.S.W., the wife of Edward Wise, Esq., barrister-at-law, of a son. MARRIAGES. R ICKETTS—THORNE—On the 13th inst., at St. Martin's in-the-Fields, Thomas, the second son of the late Charles Ricketts, 5, Agar-street, Strand, to Mary, eldest daugh ter of James Thorne, Esq., Ma.wley-house, South Lam both. THOMPSON—PIfROY —On the 13th inst., at Oaihani Church, Edward Percy Thompson, Esq., 7th Hussars, to Char lotte Alice, youogeit daughter of the late Vice-Admiral the Hon. Josceline Percy, C.E. DEATHS. CHIPMAN—On the 12th inst., at Godmanchester, %Tau Chapman, Esq., late of Whitby, aged 45. Ciltnten—On the 11th inst., James Church. Esq., formerly of Palk-street, Windsor, Bells, aged 75. COBDEN—At Sir George Carroll's, 31, Cavendish•square, Herbert, fourth sou of the Rev. Halsted Cobden, rector of Lambley, Notts, aged 6 years. HANOOOK On the 13th inst., Charles Hancock, Esq., of Mount Pleasant, Upper Clapton, and of the firm of Barn', Hancock, and Co., aged 65. PARVIN -On the 13th inst., Richard Parvin, Esq., of the Baqk of ton, aged 64. p. land, an d Champion-place, Upper Clap Rix- Ou the 12th inst., Mr. John Rix, of Watling-street and late of Trump-street, city, aged 49. WEDDERBDRN—On the 12th inst., at Inveresk Lodge, Mmselburgh, Miss Mary Vi r edderburn, daughter of tl • late Sir John Wedderburn, Bart., of Blackness and Balendoan, aged 75. LONDJN : Printed and YubnaLed by u, .N. of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the county of Middlesex, Thursday, Apia 15, 1868,