The Sun. — London, England, 1858-11-09 00:00:00

THE NAVY. A deputation of the leading inhabitants of Cha tham have waited upon Mr. J. Budden, the high constable of that borough, for the purpose of bring ing under his notice the p.resent alarming state of the river Medway in the vicinity of Chatham dock yard, with the view that the subject may be brought under the attention of the Board of Admiralty. From the statements made by the gentlemen forming the dep utation, it appears that the mud has been allowed to accumulate to such an extent in the neighbourhood of the dock yard and gun wharf that only very small vessels can now float alongside the dockyard, where a, few years back a 74 could be moored. In addi tion to this it was also shown that, owing to the embankments of the Medway having been neglected the river Medway is fast becoming so shallow that in a few years it will almost be impossible to take a. line-of-battle ship up to Chatham dockyard. Even at the present time this difficulty has been e xperienced, as the line-af-battle steamer Cressy, 80, which recently required some repairs, could not be taken up to Chatham, where the largest stone dock has just been completed, because, it was stated, there was not sufficient water for her. Other state ments were also made by the deputation to show the urgent necessity which existed for a large body of the convicts now at Chatham to be employed in improving and keeping open the navigation of the Medway. The high constable informed the depu tation that, as the subject was one of national im portance, he should at once bring the matter before the proper authorities. The screw steam sloop Icarus, built at Deptford, and destined for an armament of 11 guns, has been towed down to Woolwich to be brought forward for commission. She is to be fitted with a pair of engines of lairhorse power, and is ordered to be copperod and completed without delay. Her Majesty's steam store transport Dee, Master Commander T. Pullen, arrived at Woolwich yester day from Devonport, and will reload with steam gear for ships fitting out in the western yards. The 51-gun screw steam frigate Forte, recently c onstructed at Deptford, and fitted at Woolwich with Messrs. Maudslay's en . gines of 400 horse p e rsver, yesterday got up steam in basin at Wool wid:, and proceeded to Sheerness to be laid up in the aecond class steam reserve. The Meteor, 14:gun iron-cased screw steam bat tery, 150 horse power, was yesterday submitted to a test si2nilar to that applied to the 'frigate Alfred and the ixon battery Erebus, by the gunners of her Majesty's ship Excellent, on board the Snapper gunboat, which was moored at a ranee of 300 yards from the Meteor in Porchester Lake. Admiral Sir George Seymour, the commander-in-chief, &c., was on board to witness the result. The spot on the broadside of the battery selected to fire at was vnder the gangway port, about 12 or 14 feet in l e% ngth, extending down to her water line ; this was w hitewashed and " checkered," the better to serve as I target, as well as to show_ the effect of the fi r io i g. The experiments were with the 68- p ounder broa Liside gun of the Snapper, from which four shots t were fired, and one from a long 32-pounder, with . the usual service charge, and by the impression made it would appear that three out of the five shots ntriously wrought-iron and common) pene trated ti it. , iron, and one or more went completely through ,the battery, and tore away the wood fram ing or lini 't:g of the hull, and did other damage. The experiLncnts will be repeated to-day, for which on the side of the Meteor, abaft the another spac,c; gangway, has ,been whitewashed and checkered. A large number o`:' officers were interested spectators of the firing. A - k lerseant's guard of Royal Marines remains on board • ,the battery, to take charge of her. The Imperieuse, 4 51, screw frigate, and the Falcon, 17, screw sloop, in the advanced steam ordinary . at Portsmouth, were ilopected yesterday by Admiral Sir G. Seymour, K.O. 8., the Commander-in-Chief, preparatory to his re s. , s.orting them ready for com mission. Rear-Admiral t'Hooft's squadron of two frigates and three corvettes had sip. lals for sailing flying all day yesterday, but at dark they had not weighed from Spithead. The Neapolitan brig Eloisa iut in at Portsmouth starboard bulwarks yesterday with damage to her , and stanchions, from a collision with some vessel, name unknown, at 10 p.m. on ,the sth inst., off Beachy-head. The Virago, 6, steam sloop, Conn. Dunn, was under orders to leave Spithead laa` evening for the westward. -A court-martial is ordered to be held this morn ing on board H.M.S. Victory, in Portsmouth har bour, to try Commander M'Donald, and Mr... Braun& the master of H.M.S. Urgent, on a charge of negli gence in getting that vessel ashore off Chichester on the night of Monday week, already reported. The following appointments were made yetter day at the Admiralty : Mate—Allan C. Adams, to the Liffey. Master—Samuel Sibley, to the Swallow. Master's Assistant—Wm. Stowe, to the Liffey. Surgeon—John Gray, to the Osprey. THE ARMY. A general court-martial, under the presidency of Lieut.-Col. C. E. Fairtlough, commanding the 3d battalion of infantry at Chatham, was ordered to assemble at that garrison yesterday morning, by order of the Commander-in-Chief, for the trial of private Thomas Tole, of the ith Royal Fusiliers, for having, when serving with his regiment in the Crimea, in 1854, deserted to the Russian enemy, along with a companion named Moore, since dead. The prisoner was apprehended in Manchester a few months back, and conducted to Chatham barracks, whre the depot companies of the ist Fusiliers are stationed, and has since been kept in strict confine ment to await his trial. Owing, however, to the length of time since the desertion took place, and the difficulties experienced in procuring the neces sary evidence to support the charge, his trial has of necessity been postponed. After the order for the assembling of the court had been issued, certain circumstances came to the knowledge of the autho rities, on which the Duke of Cambridge counter manded the order for the assembling of the court martial until further orders, and the trial of the prisoner has been still further postponed. It is un derstood that certain important evidence in support of the prosecution has been recently obtained by the authorities. The whole of the troops stationed in Woolwich garrison were yesterday drawn up in contiguous co lumns on the barrack field fronting the Royal Artil lery quarters, anti having been inspected by Col. Bloomfield, commanding the garrison, they were ordered to commence the winter regulations in lieu of field drills, viz.," marching out." Headed by the commandant and garrison staff, and preceded by the divisional bands, the battalions of Royal Artillery and the other infantry regiments, in command of their respective officers, marched over Blackheath and returned by the Grenwich and Charlton roads ; whilst the mounted corps proceeded over Shooter's hill, through Wellin r ;, and the adjacent villages on that line of road. The above regulations are or dered to be continued until further notice, weather permitting. Yesterday morning the 31st company of Royal Engineers, under the command of Captain A. B. Fyers and Lieut. W. J. Engledue, left head-quar ters, Brampton Baryacks, Chatham, and proceeded to the Curragh, where they are to be employed during the winter in camp and barrack repairs and in engineering operations. The steam transport Melbourne, Capt. Jolliffe, arrived at Spithead yesterday, from Gravesend, with the troops on board already reported, and took in 3 officers and 50 men of the 49th Foot, after em barking whom she sailed for Cork, to complete her military freight, whom she will convey to Barba does and Jamaica. C OMPETITIONS FOR THE STAFF The follow COLLEGE. ing general order has been issued : " Horse Guards, S.W , Nov. 8, 1858. Candidates for admissi on to the Staff . College for one year only (under the general order of the 30th Sept., 1858), will be examined at the college at Sandhurst on the Ist, 2d, 3d, 4th, 6th, ith, and Bth December next. Officers desirous of competing for the three existing vacancies in the junior division of students, on this occasion, should send their names to the Adjutant- General, not litter than the 20th instant, for trans mission to the Council of Military Education, from whom_the' candidates will receixe further instruc tions. --By order of his Royal Highness the General Coni m anding-in-cLief.—G. A. WETH ERALL, Ad utant-Gen eral." MILITIA. On Wednesday last the Sherwood Foresters, the reg i me nt of militia now occu py in g th e e nfantry b arr acks, Glasgow , were reviewed on the green by Mojor-Gen. Viscount Melville, her public \, I a jesty's Inspector of Forces in Scotland. The corp's which,Oems to be in excellent training, c ore through the most complex field operations in a style that would have done credit to a regiment of the line. It is understood that his lordship expressed himself highly pleased with the appearance of the regiment, and with the creditable style in which th e y per formed their various evolutzons. --...••11.1.....M.11••••••••••• A telegraphic despatch from Caen announces that at eight o'clock on Friday morning Pascal and Graft, the murderers of the jeweller Perchard, we re executed. Graft went on foot from the prison to the scaffold, but Pascal was AO affected that he had to be conveyed to the cart; the for mer ascended the scaffold firmly, the latter, completely over whelmed, had to be lifted up. Pascal was executed fi rst ; who was calm to the last, addressed a few words to the people. A vast crowd, composed chiefly of females, had assembled to witness the proceedings.- PARLIAMENTARY REFORM. A public meeting was held yesterday evening in the Vestry-hall of the Maryleborte Court-house, to consider the question of Parliamentary Reform, be ing convened by thoMarylebone Political Reform League, the object of which, as sta E d by itself, is " To procure the enactment of residential suffrage, short parliaments, vote by ballot, and equitable elec toral districts, in the forthcoming Reform Bill, and to act in concert with the Political Reform League." The CHAIRMAN (Mr. J. A. Nicholay) said the question they had met to discuss was one of im mense moment at the present time, and in his opinion meetings ought to be held throughout the country to assert the privileges and insist on the rights of the people. (Cheers.) There was another association in the parish, the members of which con sidered the League premature in convening that meeting. Differing on that point from those to whom he alluded, he hailed their declaration that they intended shortly to convene a meeting them selves ; there could not be too many meetings on that subject, and if they agreed in the main, he should wish them all " God speed." They were pro mised a reform. By whom ? By the men from whom they would least have expected such a pro mise—the Conservatives. Mr. Bright said recently at Birmingham, " Let us have a real bill, a good bill, or no bill at all." He believed that sentiment would be responded to throughout the length and breadth of the land. The great manufacturing towns of Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Huddersfield had taken the lead in this movement, and ha thought that great metropolitan parish would be wanting in its duty to the country, if it did not follow their example. Let the present Go vernment be judged not as men but by their mea sures. (Cheers.) They had too long had foisted upon them the family clique, and it would be a dis grace to the country if it ever permitted that clique to resume the reins of government or to lord it again as despotically as it had done. (Hear, hear.) They had had enough of whigs—they had had enough of tories—(no, no ; keep them in)—but he should be happy to see them remain in if they would do what they ought to do. (Hear.) Mr. PHILIPPS, a working man, moved the first resolution—" That the people of England are not fairly represented in the Commons House of Par liament ; that class representation has led to class legislation, to unequal taxation, and to the bestowal of office and emolument upon privilege rather than merit ; and that these evils would be best remedied by the impartial representation of all who contri bute to the national wealth upon the principle of reg istered manhood suffrage.' He said it was a disgrace to the country that so many men had no voice in making laws which they were bound to obey, and he quoted at some length from "Cobbett's Register" in support of this view. Mr. W. SIBLEY, another working man, in seconding the resolution, said the working class, who formed the most numerous class of all, was the sole class not represented in the House of Commons. The aristocracy were represented, and the middle classes were represented.; but was there one man in the House of Commons whom working men could point to as their representative ? (Cries of "Nu, not one ;" responded to by shouts of " Cox," and " Berkeley.") Past changes in the representation had benefited others, but they had not benefited them. He was one of those who thought that the producers of wealth ought to be the sole enjoyers of the wealth they produced. If the working classes were admitted into the pale of the constitution they would send members to Parliament who would endeavour to solve one very great mystery, namely, how it was that men who were willing and able to work could not get work. (Hear.) That was a question of vital importance to the working classes. Mr. W. T. SWAN, secretary to the League, sup ported the resolution. He said the real question at issue was what kind of measure would be a satis factory. settlement of the reform question, so that after it was passed they would be left at liberty to turn their attention to agitate questions of a social or religious nature. Mr. Bright's measure included household suffrage, vote by ballot, and electoral districts. He thought most persons would prefer manhood suffrage to household, because it was the most just in itself and would be most likely to prove a final settlement. It was not householders alone who paid taxes. If a bachelor wanted an ounce of tea, or a glass of ale, he could not have it without a tax ; why, then, should he have no voice in the representation ? (Hear.) It was supposed that household suffrage would be more conservative than a registered manhood suffrage—that it would intro duce more of the democratic element into the con stituencies. He was of a different opinion. They all knew that working men generally became house holders earlier in life than men of the middle classes, marrying between the ages of 18 and 25 ; and he believed the operation of household suffrage would be to exclude far more of the latter than of the for mer. He could not understand why the Guildhall Reform Committee had selected Mr. Bright to in -I:roduce a reform bill, seeing that he was in favour of adopting the municipal and parochial franchise, while the committee in their programme proposed to give votes to all who occupied apartments. He was certain that a bill which was based on any existing franchise would be unsatisfactory to the people.• (Cheers.) Mr. 1117,ALEY, of Islington, supported the resolu tion. Mr. JAIRY hoped the meeting would take a prac tical view of the question. What was the use of going for manhood suffrage ? Would they be able to ge such a suffrage ? (Loud cries of " Yes, yes," mingled with one or two faint "Noes.") Mr. ELT, of Islington, believed that if a liberal construction were put on the working of the pro gramme of the Guildhall Reform League, it would not be found to differ very materially from that of the Political Reform League. The latter was based on the representation of the man, whereas the former was based on the representations of the rate payer. Manhood suffrage would give five million votes, and the municipal franchise four millions. He believed, however, that it was better to settle such a question on principle than on expediency; and, being infavour of manhood suffrage, he should support the resolution. The resolution was carried with one dissentient. Mr. ERNEST JONES, who came forward at the call of the chairman, said that he regarded that meeting as an augury of union between the middle and the working classes. It was the duty of both to go for the best measure that could be obtained. In his opinion, the measure of the Guildhall Reform League was far inferior to that of the Political Re form League. (Cheers.) The Guildhall Reform League were in favour of a £lO county franchise, which would, in reality, extend the powers of the aristocracy. (Hear, hear.) Manhood suffrage was especially needed in the rural dis tricts ; and with a rating franchise the great bulk of the working classes would still be disfranchised. (Hear, hear.) The working classes were, willing to leave the reform movement in the hands of the middle classes provided their measure embraced. re gistered manhood suffrage. If the middle classes would endorse a measure embracing manhood suf frage, the ballot, and triennial Parliaments the working classes would. be with them to a man ; if the middle classes went only for a ratepaying fran chise or household suffrage, they would never be able to rally the amount f power which would enable them to carry any measure whatever. The Chartists had waved their demand for payment of members and annual Parliaments, and it was for the middle classes now to meet them ; the working men of this country certainly should not be deluded by the cry, " Take an instalment." (Cheers.) He did not believe every step was a step in the right direction ; it might have the effect of swamping the working classes still more than they were swamped already. He concluded by moving the following resolution :—" That a more equal arrangement of the electoral districts is highly desirable, and must be one of the distinctive principles of any new Re form Bill." Mr. SAVAGE seconded the resolution, which was put and carried. unanimously. Mr. E. C. WHITEHuitsT, vice-president of the Ballot Society, moved, and Mr. BRINSMEAD se conded, the following resolution :—" That this meeting desires to record its conviction, that no extension of the suffrage will be satisfactory, unless accompanied by the vote by ballot." Mr. VERY, a licensed victualler, contended that the ballot would in the end be subversive of public liberty, and refered to Grecian and Roman history, and to the operation of the ballot in the United States in support of his argument, which was re. ceived with great impatience by the meeting. He concluded by moving the following amendment : " That this meeting, deeply deploring the extent to which brib er y an d int i mi dation exist,are of opinion that the only preventative is the establishment of a pi t iad er:ant-right ; th a t th e b a ll o t wou ld b e no pre ventative —th a t it i s a li en to t h e B r i t i s h c h aracter, a iiifaininentit'odzouldianto the election of members of seriously endanger their liberties." The mr. resolution viiiTEnu having its,r been seconded, a cy d lied, and on the question being put, about half- hands were held up resolution was for the amendment, and originaltteil L, seconded carried by an immense majority. On the motion of Mr. R. M.lto by Mr. J. HOPPEY, it was further w it s " That this meeting approves of the determination of the genera l council of the Political Reform L ea prepare a bill , based u po n re g istered manho oe suf frage, vote by ballot, triennial Parliaments, and a more equal arrangement of electoral districts, and pledges itself to support 13 y petition the introduc tion of the bill in the House 3 of Commons." A vote of thanks to the .: hairman terminated the proceedings." STEAM POSTAL CO gIMUNICATION WITH AUS TRALIA. (From the Melbourne !rgus of Sept. 15.) In our last summary we briefly acknowledged the receipt of the intellirie ice that the European and Australian Company ?aad become bankrupt, and that the service ha.d been temporarily undertaken by the Royal Mail Company. It may be interesting to our English readers to know what has been done in the colonies in consequence of that event. Previous to the arrival of the mail the Syd ney legislature had taken action in the matter. Tlae Assembly had declarcd in favour of the Panama route, and had resolved, by a large majority, that they would not become a party to any fresh contract to be made by the British government unlers the same was previously submitted to the colony for approval: After the arrival of the mail conveying the intelligence of the failure of the contractors, an additional impetus , was of course given to the movement in favour of ' the Panama route. This movement was all the more active as the opinion of the Governor-General and the Executive was strongly in accordance with the popular feeling. The Governor-General appears to have taken a warm personal interest in the matter, and to have, in fact, devised the scheme to which the colony now stands pledged. Immediately after the adoption of the resolution by the Assembly in favour of the Panama route, the Governor-General prepared an elaborate and very able minute, em bodying a scheme of steam communication, which was afterwards submttted to the Executive Council of New South Wales. The principal points of the minute are the following—The Go vernor-General states that the Government of New South Wales never contemplated the establishment of a separate. and distinct line all the way from . England to Australia—a plan which he evidently considers impracticable. He is of opinion that the line to Suez is too long for one steamer ; and he is by no means certain that the work could be done with regularity were the vessels to.sail from Suez and Sydney independently of each other. The voyage of each would then be from 44 to 46 days, which is longer than a steamer can be fairly ex pected to work without a thorough inspection of her machinery. His suggestion, therefore, is that Ceylon should be the termination S of the direct v=oyage from these colonies, in place of Suez, and that the vessels employed should be in good order and thoroughly competent for their work. Then, with reference to the general scheme which should be adopted by the colonies in the new arrange ment, he sets out with the axiom, that the advan tages of a rapid, frequent, and regular communica tion with Europe, Asia, and America, are enough to justify the payment by the colony of a much larger sum than the amount of postage, He ob jects to Governments at both ends of a line of 12,000 miles being parties to the contracts, and thinks that the work would be much more satisfac torily performed by a more simple arrangement. He is of opinion that the object of a frequent and regular communication would be best attained by maintaining a line to Ceylon, and from thence to England and India, on the one hand ; and another to Panama, and from thence to England and North and South America on the other. To avoid the multiplication of parties to the contracts, he pro poses that the Imperial Government, in considera tion of the receipt of the postage paid in England, should engage to deliver the Australian letters at Point de Galle on the first line, and at Panama on the second line. This, the Governor-General ob serves, would add in a very trifling degree to the amount of the subsidies already paid by the Home Government, under existing contracts with the Peninsular and Oriental Company and the Royal West India Mail Company, and would, on the other hand, effect a saving of the share of the subsidy, paid under the contract with the European and Australian Mail Compano. On the other hand, the Governor-General proposes that the Australian colonies should meet the expense of conveying the mails between Australia and Point de Galle and Panama respectively, each colony receiving as at present the postage on its letters, and contributing in proportion to the number sent from each ; the contract for the line via Ceylon to be made by Vic toria, and that via Panama to be made by New South Wales, each charging a fair share of expense to the other colonies that may wish to send mails ; the communication on each line to be monthly, with an interval of 14 days between the starting of the mails. As the temporary arrangement with the ltoyal Mail Company terminates in six months from the Ist of July, the Governor-General recom mends that no time should be lost in endeavouring to effect an agreement on the subject with the various colonies, and suggests that New South Wales should despatch a special envoy to Victoria —and, if successful here, that the envoy should pro ceed to Tasmania, while Victoria might communi cate in a similar way with South Australia, for the purpose of obtaining the concurrence of those colo nies. The executive council at once adopted the minute of the Governor-General, and embodied his proposals in a series of resolutions, which were passed ; and it was resolved that a sum not exceed ing £50,000 a year, for seven or ten years, should be placed on the estimates, for the purpose of car rying out that of the service allotted to New South Wales. The council likewise advised that, in order to secure the co-operation of the imperial govern ment, his - Excellency should transmit to the Secre tary of State an explanatory despatch, with a copy of the bill for appropriating the subsidy. Finally, it was resolved that tenders should at once be called by public advertisement, for performance of the Panama service, and that copies of the advertise ment should be forwarded to the Secretary of State, with a request that, if her Majesty's government were prepared to co-operate with the colonies in the matter, they would publish the advertisement ex tensively in England and America. This scheme, it will be observed, did not provide the colonies with a through line to Great Britain. Consequently, at the termini at Ceylon and Panama passengers would have to take their chance in re gard to passage by the steamers of the companies that convey the mails to England. The scheme was proposed, and was adopted by the executive council on the principle that the grand object to be attained was the conveyance of mails. The next public movement was by the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, of which body a meeting was called, and was held on the 3d inst. By that meeting the subject was remitted for consideration to a special committee, consisting of those members of the chamber who were supposed to be best ac quainted with the overland route and with the ques tion of steam communication. On the 10th instant another general meeting was held, at which the re port of the committee was read and unanimously adopted. That report embodied a totally different principle from the scheme of the Governor-General. The committee evidently considered that the con veyance of passengers is of great impottance, and they insisted on the necessity of having a through line. They, in fact, altogether ignored the proposal of the Sydney government, and did not in any way allude to a route via Panama. One of their conclu sions was to the effect that the colonies are not in a position to undertake the conveyance of the mails either for the whole or a part of the distance to England. But, on the other hand, they think the colony of Victoria ought to undertake the responsi bility of providing half the amount of the subsidy. They agree with the Governor-General in the pro priety of dividing the voyage, and recommend that a separate steamer should be employed to convey the mails between Galle and Suez. Finally, they propose that a longer interval should be allowed between the time of arrival of the steamer in the colonies and the departure of the homeward mail ship, in order to give more time to answer the in ward correspondence. It will at once be seen that each of the above schemes has its advantages. Those who con sider it of vital importance to provide com fortable accommodation for passengers overland will agree with the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce. On the other hand, the scheme of the alarneaed expense Governor-General provi des a ra p id and regular conveyance of mails fortnightly, e i n e s e e ur i r n ed a very trifling degree abovetha at that for the existing through line. This plan see m s to be the most advanta g eous to the interests of the Australian colonies, and wo uld, in all probability , be most generally acceptable. In South Australia, the eyes of the colonists have been turned towards the Island of Mauritius, but no definite proposition has been brought forward. These separate movements indicate the intense feeling felt by the colonists on this important sub ject,.upon which the decision of the British Go vernment is anxiously looked for. EXPLORATION BY BALLOONS.—It is grwely pro posed by a correspondent of the Melbourne Aiyus to explore the interior of the vast continent of Australia by means of balloons. [ADYERTISEMENT.]—BiIious Disorders, Headache, In digestion, Low Spirits, and Nervous Debility.—ln an arti ficial state of life these complaints are peculiarly common. They do not affect the labouring classes, with their plain food and exercise in the open air, half so much as the higher orders, who patronise French cooki, and turn their a daYe'rBeit'tille'r, nights into days. Some of Mr. Holloway's best customers are amongst the idle and luxurious of the upper ranks, who have discovered that his pills save them from many of the secret ow pains and penalties of a fashionable life. Thus Hol sthough a favourite medicine of the poor fer the palaces of the wealthy and the high born. ROYAL COMMISSION ON AR MY STORES AND CLOTHING. Yesterday, at 12 o'clock, the Commissioners appointed by , the Crown to inquire into the state of ,the principal depots for military stores awl clothing assembled again at the Arsenal, Woolwich, and continued the investigation. For an hour afterwards they were occupied in inspecting the more interesting operations in the laboratory, which were shown to them and explained by Mr Oram, the principal clerk in the department. Mr Turner also paid a visit to the gun factory. This over, they repaired to an apartment at the head quarters of the military storekeeper—now Mr. Gordon, who has within the last few days been transferred thither in the capacity of principal from Weedon—and proceeded to take additional evidence, Mr. Selfe presiding as chairman. Mr. Howell, the Director-General of Contracts at the War-office, attended before the Commissioners specially to make a reply to a statement which he said had been made by Captain Clerk, assistant superintendent of the Royal Carriage Department, in his examination on Friday last, to the effect that certain timber offered by Messrs. Bolt and Co. to the War-office for use in the carriage depart ment at 85s. a-load, and recommended for purchase by the officers of the department, was refused by, the authorities at the War-office, and subse quently bought by them at 955. a-load. The circum stances he (Mr. Howell) said were these :—On the 3d of April last Rolt and Co. offered a parcel of fir timber (150 loads) at 85s. per load. On the 6th of April that offer was referred to Col. Tulloh. On the 7th of April Col. Tulloh said he should require 100 loads by the middle of May, and recommended that the quantity should be taken if found accord ing to specification and the usual conditions of the department. There being then no special demand for timber of that kind, and no requisition, a letter was written to Gol. Tulloh on the 14th April, in forming him that it was not deemed expedient to accept the offer of Bolt and Co. for the supply of Dantsic fir. OR the 16th of April Col. Tulloh re turned the letter, stating that if a supply of fir timber was not made immediately the construction of platforms must cease, and he requested that steps might be immediately taken to obtain a supply. On the 6th of April Col. Tulloh wrote to the Under- Secretary of State requesting that 100 loads of fir timber might be bought out of the 300 loads esti mated for in the year's supply. This letter was received on the 22d of April, and on the 24th of April instructions were given to Churchill and Sim to buy the 100 loads of fir, referring them to Mr. Bolt's proposal, communicating to them the price at which it was offered, and suggesting also to them that it might possibly be obtained upon more rea sonable terms. On the 28th of April witness called the attention of Churchill and Sim to a cargo by the Harriet, which he understood contained timber of the quality required. On the 30th of April Churchill and Sim reported proceedings as follows: —" That on the previous day Mr. Jones, the timber master in the carriage department, had been with them to the docks to survey the following parcels, from which they thought the quantity required could be obtained, the timber offered by Rolt and Co. not having arrived in London. The cargo by the Harriet contained a large proportion of smaller dimensions than the service could receive. The importers offered to sell any floats selected by the officers at 80s. per load, but it was thought that only 40 or 50 loads could be obtained of proper size. Memel Crown timber of superior stock was sur veyed, but pronounced too small for the required purposes, being from 12 to 13 inches square. The cargo of the George Link was surveyed. That por tion offered at 85s. was found to be of the required dimensions, but only,lB pieces were pronounced by Mr. Jones to be of the required quality. The other portion of this cargo viz., the Crown quality of 350 loads—was surveyed and found to be of the re quired quality and dimensions. The importers offered the parcel at 925. 6d. per load as lying in the docks ; or 100 to 120 loads, to be selected in floats, at 958. ; or they would sell 120 loads, to be marked by Mr. Jones, at 675. 6d., subject to the rejection of a quantity not exceeding 2*sads. On the 3d of May Churchill and Sim 's letter was referred to Col. Tulloch for his reeommendatirn as to the timber which was best suited for the service. On the sth May Col. Tulloh recommended" that 120 loads, at 975. 6d., shoulz be bought, subject to the rejection of not more than 20 loads upon its arrival in the Royal Arsenal. which he considered a safe arrange ment. On the 7th May he (Mr. Howell) telegraphed to Col. Tulloh to know if the 50 or 60 loads of best timber offered at 80s. were suitable for the depart ment; he replied, that it was not so suitable for the service as that recommended in his minute of the sth of May. On the same day witness directed Churchill and Sim to be written to, to make the purchase as recommended by Col. Tulloh, but that they should endeavour to arrange for the supply at or under 955. per load, as he understood there was a cargo expected shortly which could be bought at 955. On the 10th of May Churchill and Sim re ported they had bought the timber required at 955. The CHAIRMAN said, what they wanted to know was whether the timber offered by Bolt at 85s. a load was timber which Churchill and Sim afterwards purchased for the Government at 955. The impres sion produced upon his mind certainly, and that which had gone forth to the public, by the evidence of Capt. Clerk was, that a certain number of loads of timber had been offered by Bolt and Co. to the Government, that the Government declined to pur chase it, and afterwards bought that identical tim ber at a higher price through the intervention of their brokers. Mr. TURNER said that was his impression also ; and he wanted to know whether Bolt's offer at 85s. a load was for timber actually accessible at that time ? The letter of Messrs. Bolt implied that the timber was in port and ready for inspection. Mr. Howell thought if Capt. Clerk had known the whole circumstances of the case, as he (Mr. Howell) had just related them, his evidence would have_ a created a different impression on the minds of the Commissioners and the public. Mr. John Sim said, in reply to Mr. Turner's question, that the timber offered by Bolt and Co. to the War-office in April was not in this country at that time, and that it did not arrive until some time after the actual delivery of the timber in the Royal carriage department, which he (Mr. Sim) had received instructions to buy, and which was stated in his instructions to be imperatively wanted there for the public service. He found that the timber Messrs. Bolt and Co. offered was a cargo they ex pected to receive by a ship which was then on her voyage to Lonelon. INlr. Turner said the fact appeared to be that Bolt's timber, not having arrived, was not available for the pressing service for which it was wanted in the department at that particular time. Mr. Sim said that was so, and had it arrived when the pressing demand existed for timber of that kind, it would have been inspected by . him (Mr. Sim) and his partner in the interests of the Government. He added that his attention was particularly called to Mr. Bolt's cargo, when it did arrive, as he (Mr. Sim) had by that time received a second order from the Government to buy fir tim ber suitable for the arsenal. He was, therefore, scrupulously careful to look at Mr. Bolt's timber, and he found that its dimensions were not suffi ciently large for the requirements of the service. The Chairman said, besides the evidence given by Capt. Clerk, Col. Tulloh, the head of the carriage department, had stated in his letter to the Commis. sioners that " instances had, indeed, occurred where parties had offered timber at a less price, which, although recommended, had been afterwards ordered through a broker at an advanced price, with charges for brokerage and lighterage in addition— as in the-case of Messrs. Bolt's fir (April 7, 1858), offered at £4 55., which cost £4 155., through a broker, exclusive of charges." Surely (said the chairman), no man who read the English language could have come to any other conclusion than that the fir timber which the Government bought through their brokers at £4 15s. a load on that occasion was the identical timber which had been previously offered to them at £4 ss. and refused. Mr. Sim said he was glad to have the opportunity of entirely contradicting the statement. The truth was, that in April Messrs. Rolt's timber, so far from its being then in this country, was in posse and not in esse. If it had been ever so suitable the Govern ment could not have got it. Mr. Turner said he wanted to ask a question affecting the commercial class especially. Was it proper of a man offering timber for sale to say he hadit on hand and invite aninspectionlof it, when in point of fact it had not then actually arrived in this country ? Mr. Sim said it would certainly have been much better if it had been stated clearly, when the offer was made, whether it had arrived or not, Mr. Turner—Was it, in fact, a false statement for a merchant to say that he had in hand, and invited inspection of, a cargo which did not actually arrive until a month afterwards ? Mr. Sim said Messrs. Rolt's letter clearly con veyed the impression that the timber was in Lon don at the time, but he was sure a firm so respect able would not wish to throw dust in the eyes of the public ; and the officers in the carriage depart ment might have been under the impression that the timber had actually arrived. Mr. Turner—Military men make a point of stand ing upon their honour ; I am happy to say there a• e commercial men who stand as much upon their honour ; and I think that is not a correct statement of anything they had to propound to the depart ment. Mr. Sim said he was not a censor niorum. Mr. Turner—You say you are not a censor morunz ; but it is one of the incorrect statement, THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 9, 1858. made by Messrs. Rolt that Colonel Tulloh and Captain Clerk have been led into making observa tions for which there is really no foundation. Capt. Clerk said the case was materially altered by, the statement whiph had been made by Mr. Sim as to timber not having actually been in London when the offer of it was made to the War-office ; but it should be borne in mind that the firm of Messrs. Brocklebank and Rolt was one of the largest in London, and he thought it would be only fair that the Commissioners should hear any ex planation they might have to give of the transac tion. The Commissioners had assumed, as had also Mr. Howell, that in the evidence he (Capt. Clerk) gave on a preceding day, he had stated that it was the identical timber Messrs. Brocklebank and Roll had offered to the War-office that was afterwards purchased by the authorities there, through their brokers, at a higner price ; but what he really said was that it was the same description of timber and that he could not say it was the identical timber. The Chairman said the Commissioners did not for a moment believe that Captain Clerk had the smallest intention of creating an erroneous impres sion in their mind; but on reading the letter of Col. Tulloh a person would arrive at an erroneous impression, after the statement which Mr. Sim had made. Mr. Howell said he bought the timber at a lower price than the officers in the carriage department recommended him to pay for it. Capt. Clerk said if Mr. Howell had told the offi cers in the department that inquiries had been made, and that Rolt's timber was not in the market, they would have been satisfied, and the mistake could not have been made. Towards the close of the sitting Alexander M'Cloud, a sergeant in the Royal Artillery, who did duty in the trenches before Sebastopol, was called at the instance' of Colonel French, and bore testimony to the inferior quality and utter useless ness in many instances, of the pickaxes, spades, billhooks, and tools in general with which the troops were furnished during the war, until towards the close of it, when a much better supply arrived. He created considerable merriment on stating that the tools furnished to the French troops were even worse than ours, and those used by the Russians worse than all. Corroborative evidence was given by Sergeant Dixon, of the Royal Engineers, who also served in the Crimea ; and several of the axes and billhooks now in store at Woolwich were, at the request of the Commissioners, brought into the room and sub mitted to a severe test on a block of very hard wood by a stalwart mechanic and likewise by Sergeant M'Cloud, the result being that the axes were equal to the ordeal, but the billhooks repeatedly failed. Colonel French remarked that as they had been taken from the store of tools that might at any moment be issued to troops doing dut y in the field before an enemy, it was a matter of the greatest importance that our soldiers should never again be subjected to the same inconveniences from defective tools which were experienced in the Crimea. The subject will undergo further inquiry. REMARKABLE TRIAL IN MADRAS. (From the Madras Atheneum of Sept. 29.) Turning to the affairs of our own Presidency we have first to notice the proceedings of the Scotch Free Church Mission in a recent case of conversion. From the peculiar circumstances connected with the case, and from the fact that it has been before the Supreme Court, much attention has been drawn to the matter. The facts, as disclosed in the Supreme Court on the 29th inst., were shortly as follows. A respectable native of the Chetty caste had a son who was being educated at Patchappah's School, one of the bait native educational institutions in this Presidency. The son appears to have attended school for upwards of a year, when in some way or other he was led to the Scottish Mission, and, there re quested to be instructed in the doctrines of Chris tianity. Thereupon one of the missionaries appointed an instructor, and the youth appears to have gone to the mission premises for a period of about three months. In the beginning of this present month the boy's father went on business to Pulicat, and the boy took this opportunity of running away from home to the mission premises. He was re ceived by the missionaries, and lived at the mis sion. This took place on the 13th instant. On the father returning from Pulicat, a day or two afterwards, he immediately made inquiries, and found where his son was. He instantly went to the mis sion, and applied for the restoration of his child ; he was told by one of the reverend gentlemen con nected with the establishment that his son was at perfect liberty to go away if he chose to do so. On the son being appealed to, he refused to accompany his father. The latter then obtained a writ of habeas corpus, and on Friday the case was argued. Affidavits were read on both sides detailing tl.O facts mentioned above. The question for the court to consider was of course whether the youth was of an age to act for himself. The father and other members of the family swore that the boy was a little over 13, giving the Tamil month and year in which he was born. The son, in his affidavit, swore that he believed himself to be 16, because his mother (now dead) three years ago had con sulted his horoscope when he was ill, and told him that he was 16, and because some members of his family—who were not specified—had said at cer tain times that which induced hint to believe he was 16. The Advocate-General and Mr. Mayne ably argued the case on behalf of the mission, and Mr. Branson as ably conducted the part of the father. The two former gentlemen contended that the boy's statement as to his age ought to be credited, and urged that even if he had not attained the legal age of discretion he was old enough to act for himself in a matter of this kind. They likewise urged that it would be a hard case to send him back to his parents, seeing that the boy had become an outcast by eating food prepared by pariahs and by cutting off a tuft of hair, the sign of his caste. They contended that no member of his family could, under these circumstances, hold the slightest communication with the boy, and urged that his dread of being treated by his father "as a tiger would a sheep," should have weight with the court. The Chief Justice, Sir C. Rawlinson, called upon the learned gentlemen to show that an infant could make him self an outcast. They were unable to do so. After lengthy speeches on both sides, the Court delivered judgment nearly as follows : Rawlinson, C. J.—ln this case a writ was ob tained ordering Mr. Braidwood and others to pro duce Narrainsawmy Chetty, who was detained in their custody. The return was made in which it was suggested that there was no desertion at all. From the affidavits on both sides, and forming his conclusions from them, he could not say that he was not satisfied that restraint had not been used, and he could not refrain from observing that it was "a matter of much regret and deserving of strong re probation that, without giving notice to the parent, persons in the position of the defendants should con sent to break asunder the ties which bound father and son together—ties of the dearest nature, and which were recognised by every civilised nation since the foundation of the world. It could do no good to the religion to which they belonged, and which he publicly professed—this taking advantage of an in clination of a runaway schoolboy, or of youths not emancipated by their parents, or the law of the country in which they resided, to throw off the parental control. The question on which the judgment of the court must turn is, was the boy of an age to be considered eman cipated, or to throw off the control of his parents — to act for himself at the time that he left his father's house for the Mission Institution ? His lordship was not competent to form an opinion from the appearance of the boy. He did not doubt that there were boys of 14 considerably bigger than the, child before the court. Others no doubt of that , age were considerably smaller. Putting aside, therefore, the inference to be drawn from the ap pearance of the boy himself, he referred to the affi davits. In support of the age of the boy being 14, years, he found that the father, uncle, and brother of the boy fixed the month, and day of the month and year in which he was born. On the other hand Mr. Braidwood stated his opinion of the bay's age. What did the boy undertake to swear ? He said that three years ago when he was dangerously ill his mother took his horoscope, and then made the observation that he was 13 years old. How many mothers could read horoscopes ? Why was it re ferred to ? He was supposed to be dying. In contradiction of this, there were the three state ments fixing the month and the year of the boy's birth. The next time he hears about his age is the time when it was proposed to give him in mar riage. Ho was then told that he was one month under 16 years. He does not say by whom he is told. Weighing, therefore, both pieces of evidences, and the means possessed by the friends of the boy for fixing his age—they swore exactly to the day—the age stated to be his by , his father appeared to be the correct one. The Mission House might be a proper place for young men to go to, but it was not the proper place for boys to be received into who it was told were under age, or who were in capable of forming a judgment for themselves. Of this description was the boy before the court, and he ought not to have been taken into the institution without inquiry. The learned counsel had cited a case decided by his lordship in 1853. From the principles enunciated in that case he did not retire, but a case had been since decided in England which had authorised the exercising of larger powers under writs of habeas corpus in cases h !re the rights of parents and children were concerned. Acting upon the authority of that case, he felt no difficulty in coming to a conclusion on the pre sent one. Taking the case of Alicia Race as his POLICE INTELLIGENCE..—( Nov. 8.) MANSION-HOUSE.—CarI Areskog, a respect ably•attired young German, was charged with assaulting Harriet Reynolds, under the following circumstances : The complainant said she was 16 years old, and was servant to Mr. Hadlow, surgeon, of George street, Minories. On Wednesday evening, about 9 o'clock, she was on her way home when the defen dant, who was standing in George-street, put out his legs before her so as to prevent her passing, struck her on the bosom, and said something which she did not understand. He did not hurt her par ticularly, but he had annoyed her in the same way several times before, and she spoke to her master about it, in consequence of which defendant was taken into custody. Her only object was to pro tect herself from future annoyance. A friend who accompanied the defendant said the latter could. not speak English except in a very imperfect manner, and being requested to act as interpreter, he told the defendant the nature of the evidence. _ The Lord Mayor—Now ask him what he has to say. Interpreter—He says he only put his hand upon her shoulder, and said " Good evening." The Lord Mayor—Tell him that in English law that is an assault. Interpreter—He says if he had known that he would not have done it, He did not intend to annoy her. _ _ _ The Lord Mayor—Tell him he must not annoy her or speak to her again. • Interpreter—He says that on the Continent ladies do not consider it an insult for any one to say " Good evening" to them, and if he had known it was regarded as an insult here he would not have done it. Lord Mayor—Well, ask .him if he will promise never to speak to her again. Interpreter—He says, yes. Lord Mayor—Then tell him if he breaks his pro mise, and is brought here again, ho will be sent to prison. Mr. Hadlow, the complainant's master, said he had been informed that the prisoner was in the habit of insulting every woman who came in his way, and, if his hirdship would take some further evidence, perhaps he would think differently of the case. The Lord Mayor said he was ready to hear any further evidence that might bear on the case. • Mr. J. Batley, a gentleman residing near the spot, said he was passing through George-street on Wed nesday, evening, when he t-aw defendant put out his legs before complainant, as she had stated and attempt to push his hand down her bosom. Ile told him he was a dirty beast, and that if a policeman came up he would give him into custody, upon which defendant walked away ; but witness stayed there till Mr. Hadlow came up, and then told him what had occurred. Witness had frequently seen the defendant standing precisely on the same spot, and had seen him serve other females in the same way. The Lord Mayor—Tell him what the witness says. Interpreter—He says he never done it to any one else. The Lord Mayor—But tell him this gentleman says he has seen him do it. Interpreter—He says he only touched them on the shoulder and wished them " Good evening." He only speaks a very few English words. The Lord Mayor—Do you know anything more about this case, o ffi cer ? Officer—Only that I took him into custody on Sunday. The Lord Mayor—Have there been any com plaints of hia conduct made at the station-house ? Officer—There have been several complaints of such conduct against him, or a man like him, and several letters have also been received at the station house calling attention to this practice. The Lord Mayor—Ask him how long he has been in this country. Interpreter—He says about four months. The Lord Mayor—What is his occupation here? Interpreter—lle is only here to learn the English language. The Lord Mayor—Well, he will learn something of English customs as well, I think. (Laughter.) Tell him he must conform to the laws of the coun try, and that I shall fine him 20s. for the assault, which Will teach him that he must not annoy Englishwomen as they pass along the street. Interpreter—But there are so many common women about that part, my lord. shallgirl ; sendantelld him him to thatif he bro ught p riso n The Lord Mayor—Unfortunately there a re , b u t this respectable here a o u i ti n gi without a fine. Defendant paid the penalty and was discharged. William Morrison, labourer, 22 years old, was charged before the Lord Mayor with smuggling brandy. , _ N. Smith, constable—l met the prisoner at the corner of Arthur-street, King William-street, on Saturday night. Observing his bulky appearance, I asked him what he had about him, and he pro duced a• bottle o f b ran dy. I searc h e d hi m , and found two other bottles in his pockets. F. Lewis, a Customs officer, said—The last wit ness delivered the brandy to me. It is foreign brandy, the duty on it is 185. Smith—The prisoner told me it was smuggled brandy. Prisoner—No, I did not. I said I had it from a friend. I did not inter 1t) make any money cn it, I paid 4s. 6d. a bottle for it. The prisoner was fined 20s. Charles Lebeck, a seafaring man, was placed at guide, he could come to no other conclusion than the bar. He kept walking about the dock, and that his father was entitled to the custody of his had a wild vacant look, and was evidently insane. child. The father here came before the court with- W. Turner, constable, 641, said—Yesterday, out any slur on his character—he was shown about 12 o'clock, I saw the prisoner in a very excited to be bringing up his child in the way he should go, state in Bishopsgate-street, with a large crowd sending him to one of the most excellent educa- around him. He pulled the bells of many houses, tional institutions in Madras—his lordship had struck several ladies, and knocked some hats off visited the school frequently since his arrival in the gentlemen's heads. I proceeded to the assistance country—and a father was not to be deprived of of another constable, and took him to the station the custody of his child because the child in mo- house. He has knocked to pieces the cell in which ment of irritation or other hasty feeling chose to he was confined. run away from his father's roof. On a considera- Two surgeons in attendance havin cortified that tion of all the circumstances of the case, his lord- the unfortunate man was of unsound mind, an order ship felt bound to order that the child must be re- was made for his removal to a luiritic asylum forth stored to his father. with. Bittleston, P. J.—The only question of fact is The Lord Mayor, before quiition the bench; at as to the age of tho boy. On the one side the affi- the close of the 'business, addressing himself to Mr. davits of the relations fix the day of the birth, and Goodman and the other clerk s, said—ln taking prove the boy to be under the age of 14 ; on the leave of you, gentlemen, at the. expiration .of my other hand Mr. Braidwood says that he believes the year of office, I feel bound VI express my great boy to 16 ; but it is noticeable that the native satisfaction at the way in whi ch the duties of those person who joins in Mr. B ra idwood's affidavit does around me have been discharged, and my thanks not pledge any belief with respect to the age, which for the very able advice which you, Mr. Goodman, Mr. Braidwood fixes at 16. If the boy is 16 years have been always ready to give me, and of which old he has attained his majority, and is entitled to I have been so often glad to avail myself. The be allowed to go where he pleases. In the case of year has been quiet and free from excitement; but Alicia Race, the Court came to the determination in the discharge of such dillies as these which dur that at all events up t o th e age of 14 the right ing the last 12 months I have been called on to of the natural guardian was absolute, unless he for- perform, there are alway s some littl e diffi cu lti es feited it through some misconduct. Accordingly in arising in which it is at thrice a gratification and a that case, against the will of the child, the Court necessity to have able ansl cordial co-operation and ordered her to be delivered to her mother. There- advice. That co-operation an d th a t a d v i ce I have - fore, it is to be as s umed that if this was the case of had here, and I thank you for it. With regard to an English boy brought before the Queen's Bench, my year of office gene rally, I may say that I have he would be ordered to be delivered to his father. heard no one word o; L ' asperity towards myself from It is said that the case does not apply to Hindoo any one belonging to or connected with the cor parents. But the duty of this Court to administer poration ; and I - retire from this court with the English law, with due regard to the habits, ens- satisfactory reflection that I have at all events en toms, and feelings of the natives, and we are spe- dcavoured to act with justice and impartiality. cially directed by statute to preserve the Hindoo Mr. Goodman, on behalf of himself and the other father's right of parental control. We are satisfied clerks, gracefully acknowledged the many kind that this child is under 14, and here more than in nesses a nd cou r t esies o f th e L or d Mayor, who then, England we are not to interfere with the control of bowing to each, retired from the court. the father. We should be very sorry if anything in the order made should subject the. child to ill consequences—we may be permitted to express a hope thatthe childwillnot be subjected to any ill-treatment, that it will be treated with affection and regard ; but when it is said that we ought to take into consideration the Hindoo law of caste as a reason for refusing the writ the argument cannot be acceded to, because in Alicia Race's case judgm' entproceeded in part upon the authority of similar cases decided in India, the court having approved of the dictum of Mr. Justice Patteson with reference to those cases. He could not see, therefore, that the consequences arising from the law of caste, even if they were such as had been suggested, which was by no means made out, afforded any ground for refusing the writ. The gentlemen who had acted in the matter did so from the highest and best motives. It did, however, strike him that when the boy, who 'was under age, came to them first, before they put him under in struction they might have told his familv what was going on. It would have been better had this been done. Had it been done most probably the case would not have gone so far as it had. His lordship concluded by observing that the court had nothing to do with the question of religion which was mixed up in the case. After the delivery of the judgment an extraordi nary scene took place in court. The father approached his son in a supplicating attitude, and with tears in his eyes asked him to come home. The boy remained firmly seated in his chair, and refused to move. Two officers of the court were ordered up, to assist the father in carrying off the refractory youth, who then declared that he feared ill-usage. The Chief Justice informed him that if he received any ill-treatment he might apply to the court for protection. The boy then quietly walked away with his father. A large number of Chetties had assembled to hear the case tried, and the greatest excitement prevailed among them at its conclusion. As far as we can learn, the general feeling of the public is decidedly in favour of the decision passed by the Supreme Court. BOW-STREET.—Peter and Elizabeth Stacey, alias Chesterfield, alias Leightmein (husband and wife), and William Elsom, alias Scott, alias Hayes, alias Ashe, were charged with conspiring to obtain goods by false pretences from Mr.. Hird, a furniture dealer, in Tottenham-court-road. Mr. Ablett appeared for tim prosecution ; and Mr. Lewis (of Lewis and Lewis, Ely-place) for the defence. Early in October the female prisoner, who then called herself " Mrs. Chesterfield," drove up to Mr. Hird's shop in a pony chaise, and gave instructions that some one should be sent to a house in Grosve nor-road, Regent's -park, which she had just taken, in order to look at the rooms, and consider what furniture would be most suitable. The foreman, Thomas Smith, accordingly attended next day, when she told him it w ould not be convenient to pay ready money, but should be prepared to give one-half the amount . in the course of that month, and to settle the balance on the Ist or 2d of Noy. He said that would do if she gave a respectable re ference. She said laer husband was a retired malt ster, from Weymo ath, and she had between £4OO and £5OO a year herself. Subsequently she called at Mr. Hird r s, arid selecttd goods to the amount of £39, including a couch, six chairs, 43 yards of carpeting, a chimney glass, &e. She referred to Mr. Scott, 48, Alma-street, Hoxton: The foreman called at that address, and saw the prisoner Elsom, who said Mr. Chesterfield was a highly respectable man, and confirmed the details already set forth by Mrs. Chesterfield. The goods were accordingly supplied, but on the 2d Xov., the day fixed for payment, it was found that Mr. and Mrs. Chester field had disappeared, and the goods with theM. They were traced to a house in the Lyndhurst-road, where Smith called and demanded the restoration of the goods, which Stacey. refused. That night they again disappeared. On Saturday, however, the foreman and a constable went to a house in Copenhagen-street, Caledonian-road, found the pri soners there, and took them into custody on this charge. The glass and arm chair were identified by Mr. Hird as part of the property obtained from him. Elsom had obtained possession of the house in Alma-street by referring to 'Stacey, at a house in Dame-street, which he had taken under the name of Leighman, referring to himself, in his real name of Stacey, at another residence, which he had ob tained in a similar manner. They quitted each of these residences suddenly.. Sergeant Hervey said he had known Stacey for eleven years as one of a gang of swindlers. There were a number: of tradesmen in attendance from whom they hart obtained goods on credit, which they immediately disposed of. A Solicitor statecl that he was at present con ducting a charge at another court against two persons who were connected with the prisoners. He should be able to identify the female prisoner with that charge by direct evidence, but he feared he could not show that the men had anything to do with it. Mr. Lewis contended that there was nothing to connect Stacey with any representation whatever, unless the magistrate thought the woman was act ing under her husband's direction. In that case she must be discharged, otherwise, he submitted, Stacey must be discharged. Mr. Jardine should not come to that de cision till he was satisfied that no further evidence was forthcoming, especially as there seemed to be several more charges against them. He should remand all the prisoners for further examination. COUNTRY 21,1AltKETS. NORWICH—Nov. 6. The eastern counties markets have been dull, and in some instances a decline of is to 2s per qr. has been noted in wheat. At this exchange to-day wheat was in fair supply, but the millers were not free buyers, and the sales made were in favour of the purchaser. The best samples about supported last week's rates. The show of barley was pretty good, and former prices were supported for all descriptions. Very little other grain on offer. Flour a trifle cheaper. COLCHESTER—Nov. 6. At this day's market there was a fair supply of wheat / and we reduce our quotations is per qr. on all qualities. Barley and beans tending downwards. Oats 6d, and peas is to 2s per qr. cheaper. Wheat, white 46s to 50s Beans, Mazagan.. 36's to 40s I red 40s to 46s Middle & small 40s to 46s Barley 3os to 465 I White peas 44s to 46 0 Oats 24s to 30s I Grey.. 42s to 45s YORK- At this corn market' to-day wheat and a fair attendance of to 2s below •the rates of last w —Nov. 6. :here was a tolerable show of farmers. Wheat sold at is )ek. White wheat, new, 44s to —s Barley, grinding.. 30s to 34s Red do. 3BB to 42s Oats, old, 3os to -- 11 Old white 44s to —s New do 30s to —s Red do.. Ms to 42s Beans. 449 to — 1 Barley, malting.— 30s to 34s Malt, , —s to --i; NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE—Nov. 6. The supply of wheat from the growers was good, and although an attempt was - made to buy at a reduction, the farmers succeeded in qbtaining last week's prices. Barley of fine quality maintained former rates ; indifferent sorts nearly unsaleable. Oats easier to buy. There was very little alteration in beans. KIRKALDY—Noy. 6. There has been w limited show of wheat to-day, which was sold at fully last week's prices. Wheat (0). Barley - (0). Oats (0). First.... 38s -Od • —s Od --s Od Second.. 46s' Od —s Od —s Od Third .. 50s Od —s Od —s Od Wheat (N). Barley (N).. Oats (N). First.... 34s Od • 26s Od 22s Od Second .. Od 31g 7d' 24s Od Third '4Bs Od 335 Od 26s 6d CORZ—Nov. 6. The following were the quotations this morning wheat, 168 Od to 225; white, 20s Od to 21s Od; barley 103 Od to 16s 6d; oats, 9s 6d to is Od. In the butter market upwards of 2,000 firkins were on sale. Prices—First quality, 1048; second, 100 s; third, 916 fourth, 86s ; fifth, 705.; . sixth, 60s. BIRTHS. BUTT.—On the sth inst., at Layston Vicarage, Bunting" ford, Herts, the wife of the Rev. John Henry Butt, of son. DE LALAING.—On the 4th inst., at Stewart's Hotel, Bel' gravia, the Countess do Lalaing, of a son. PErnAceni.--On the 26th Oct., at Alexandria, Egypt, the Viscountess Petracchi, of a daughter. WYNN.—On the sth inst., at Cefn, St. - Asaph, N.W., the wife of Lieutenant-C o l one l Williams Wynn, of a daugh ter. MARRIAGES. CARTWRIGIIT—MELVILLE.—On the 2d inst., at Melville' house, Thomas It. B. Cartwright, Esq., son of the late Sir Thomas Cartwright, G.C.H., of Aynho, Northamr tonshire, to Lad Elizabeth J. Leslie Melvile, the eldest daughter of the Earl of Leven and Melville. CLARICSON—WICKS.—On the 6th inst., at Stockwell, Tho mas, third son of Luke Hall Clarkson, Esq., South Lain" both, to Sarah, the third daughter of the late Mr. Wicks, Stockwell. DEATHS. BARNE3.—On the sth inst., at 10, Portland-terrace, Re' gent's-park, Thomas Fryer Barnes, Esq., aged 84. BAnnETT.—On the sth inst., George Barrett, Esq., lately of the firm of Perry and Barrett, Kates-grove IronWorki! Reading, aged 88. CRAPLIN.—On the 4th inst., at Kentish-town, the Ref• Edward Chaplin, M.A., many years reader to the Non. Society of Gray's-inn, aged 88. GIFFAUD.—On the 6th inst., at Folkestone, Stanley Lee ° Giffard, Esq., LL.D., barrister-at-law, aged 71. HomAN.—On the 6th inst., at Chatham-place, Blackfrial Mr. Chas. J. Homan, of the firm of Rownson, Drew, an Homan, 217, Upper Thames-street, aged 39. LATHAM.—On the 7th inst., at Upper Harley-street, JohlA William Latham, M.D. NICHOLSON.—On the 6th inst., Benjamin Nicholson, el the Minories and Mark-lane, aged 75. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG' of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112 4 Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the count , ' " Wdelesex, Tuesday, November 9, 1869, A-