The Sun. — London, England, 1860-07-19 00:00:00

DINNER TO II ER MAJESTY 'S MINISTERS. Last night the Lord Mayor and the Lady *Mayoress entertained her Majesty's Ministers and a distinguished company at the Mansion-house. The Egyptian Hall presented a brilliant spectacle on the occasion. Besides the leading members of the Cabinet, the list of guests included the foreign Ministers resident at our Court, and many of the representatives of other States now attending the International Statistical Congress assembled in this metropolis. Among those present were the Lord Chancellor, Viscount Palmerston, First Lord of the Treasury, and Viscountess Palmerston ; Lord J. Russell, Sir G. C. Lewis and Lady Theresa Lewis, Sir C. Wood and Lady Wood, the Duke of Somerset and the Duchess of Somerset, Mr. Milner Gibson and Mrs. Gibson, Mr. Cardwell and Mrs. Cardwell, Viscount Castlerosse, Lord Wodehouse, Sir F. Currie and Lady Currie, the Duke and Duchess Fiano, Sir J. Burgoyne, G.C.8., their Excellencies M.Thorbende Bille, the Danish Minister, and Lady, Hassan Ali Khan, the Persian Ambassador, Count von Berns torff, the Prussian Minister and Countess, Count Platen, the Swedish Minister, and Baron Platen, the Moorish Ambassadors, accompanied by General Kaid el Frag, Mahommed Ben Assooz, Capt. Lynch, and Mr. Drummond Hay, Sir Fitzroy Kelly, M.P., and Lady Kelly, Major-General Sir H. Vivian and Lady, Sir Chas. Eastlake and Lady, the Earl and Countess of Cardigan, Lieutenant-General Sir F. Smith and lady, Col. and Mrs. Wood, Sir Chas. Napier, M.P., Mr. Dobree, Governor of the Bank of England, and Mrs. Dobree ; Mr. Latham, Deputy- Governor of the Bank, and Mrs. Latham ; Vice- Admiral Sir G. Sartorius and lady, Mr. Wyld, M.P., and Mrs. Wyld, Mr. H. Cole and Miss Cole, Lieut.- Gen. Cannon and lady, Lady Maclaine, Count Bap tiste Metaxa, Count Fredk. Metaxa, his Excellency Count de Toresdiaz, Chevalier Jose Savander de Zulueta, Madlle. de Zulueta, Commodore and Mrs. Drummond, Sir Geo. Burdett L'Estrange, Captain and Mrs. L'Estrange, Col. and Mrs. Tulloch, Col. and Mrs. Cavan, the Solicitor-General and Lady Atherton, Mr. S. Whitbread, M.P., Capt. Washing ton, R.N., Sir T. F. Fremantle and lady, Dr. Lush ington, Sir J. D. Harding and lady, Mr. C. S. But ler, M.P., and Mrs. Butler, Mr. Ayrton, M.P., Mr. John Locke, M.P., and lady, Mr. R. Mangles, Mr. D. Dunbar and Miss Masson, Major-Gen. Cator, the Mayor of Southampton, Dr. Farr, Alderman Sir Peter and Miss Laurie, Alderman and Mrs. Sidney, Alderman Salomons, M.P., and Mrs. Salomons ; Alderman Sir R. Carden and lady, Mr. Russell Gurney and Mrs. Russell Gurney, Alderman Cubitt, M.P., and Mrs. Cubitt; Alderman Sir H. Mug geridge and lady, Alderman and Mrs. Mechi,Alder man and Mrs. Finnis, Alderman and Mrs. Law rence, Alderman and Mrs. Hale, Alderman and Mrs. Allen, Alderman and Mrs. Abbiss, the Com lion Sergeant and Mrs. Chambers, Mr. Scott, Chamberlain of the City ; Sheriff and Mrs. Phillips, Sheriff and Mrs. Gabriel, Deputy and Mrs. Fry, Deputy and Mrs. Harrison, Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Taylor, Mr. Shrewsbury, Mr. A. J. Waterlow, Mr. Charles Gaimes, Mr. Hoppe, Mr. A. Birch, Mr. H. W. Valiance, Mr. C, Fuller, Mr. George Bone, Mr. John Wood, Mr. Edward Burkitt, Mr. Edward Hartrigge, Deputy Lott, Mr. James Roberts, Mr. Charles Young, Lieut. John Carter, Mr. Stanley Carter, Mr. Charles Carter, and the Misses Carter ; Mr. and Mrs. John Jones, Mr. A. W. and Miss Rowland, Mr. Andrew and Mrs. Lusk, Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Thorpe, Mr. Commissioner Harvey, Mr. Henry Pownall and Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Pow nall, and Mr. Edmund Stringer. The following official delegates to the Statistical Congress now being held in the metropolis were also invited : His Excellency Baron Czcernig, Aus tria ; M. M. Legoyt, France ; Dr. F. B. W. Her mann, Bavaria; M. A. Quetelet and M. A. Vis schers, Belgium ; his Excellency Senor de Carralho Moreira, Brazil; Dr. C. N. David, Denmark; Dr. C. W. Asher, Hamburg, Lubeck, and Bremen ; Pro fessor Wappaus, Hanover ; Dr. M. M. de Baum hauer and Dr. T. Ackersdyck, Holland ; Baron Maltzalen, Mecklenburg-Schwerin ; Dr. E. Engel, Prussia ; Dr. T. B. Wernadski, Russia ; Count de Ripaldi, Spain ; Dr. F. Berg, Sweden ; M. 'Vogt, Switzerland; Mr. J. Macarthur, Mr, E. Hamilton, and Mr. S. A. Donaldson, New South Wales : Mr. Marsh, M.P., Queensland; Mr. W. Westgarth, Victoria ; Mr. E. Stephen, South Australia ; Mr. J. H. Youl, Tasmania ; Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald, New Zealand ; and Mr. W. Field, Cape of Good Hope. The loving cup having circulated, the usual loyal toasts were given and enthusiastically received, The LORD MAYOR then proposed " The Navy and Army," which was drunk with much cordiality. The Duke of SOMERSET, in returning thanks for the navy, alluded to the visit of the Prince of Wales to our Canadian fellow-subjects, who, he thought, in the welcome they would accord to his Royal Highness, would exhibit their loyalty and affection to their Sovereign, and their attachment to the mother country. The Prince of Wales, doubtless, would also see those neighbouring States which, though separated in point of Government, were yet bound to us by the ties of kindred, language, and interest. (Cheers.) Adverting to the service with which he was officially connected, the noble duke referred to the gallantry lately displayed in the cap ture of a native fortification in New Zealand. He had no doubt, also, that if telegraphic communica tion existed with China, we should hear at this mo ment of fresh exhibitions of the prowess of British seamen in those remote regions. He trusted that the gallant admiral in command of the expedition would succeed in his impartant enterprise, and that having, with the co-op era ti on o f t h e m ili tary force, esta blished peace on a sure foundation, he would speedily return to this country to receive the wel come and gratitude of the nation. (Hear.) Sir J. BURGOYNE responded on behalf of the army The LORD MAYOR, in proposing " The Health her Majesty's Ministers," referred to the arduous nature of their duties, Parliamentary and official. His own labours as chief magistrate of the city were at times severe, but they bore no comparison with those imposed on the Prime Minister and his colleagues. The toast was drunk amid loud applause. Lord PALMERSTON,Who was received with cheers, said—My Lord Mayor, ladies, and gentlemen, I beg, on my own behalf and that of my colleagues, to return you our most cordial and grateful thanks for the kind manner in which the Lord Mayor has proposed and you have received the toast of our healths. My Lord Mayor, you have been pleased to draw a comparison between the daily labours we have to perform and those which fall to your own lot. It would be difficult, I think, to say which of the two, the Lord Mayor or her Majesty's Minis ters, during their respective mayoralties—(laugh_ ter)—lead the most laborious lives. But when the Lord Mayor adverts to the noxious influences which our avocations may have on our health, I beg leave to say there might be a course of life suggested to me by the entertainment now before us which might be still more deleterious ; and that would be if every day of the week, every week of the month, and every month of the year, we were to indulge in the same splendid and luxurious repasts as that of which we have just partaken. (Laughter, and " Hear.") It is the abstinence which we are com pelled to practise which enables us to get through our work. (A laugh.) I can assure you, ladies and gentlemen, it must always afford to those who are charged with the responsible duty of conducting the affairs of this country the greatest satisfaction to wit hdraw themselves from the labours, turmoil, and contes ts of political life to enjoy the social and splendid hospitality of the chief magistrate of this great city. (gear,ln4 hear.) It must always be a pleasure to f commercial centre ourselves in the greatest of and tile greatest com m er c i a l na tion in the world, trust that in addressing this assembly m, l,d o , m ay take som e credit for having sessi on in the course ck the present been able to de vise and execute several measures which we hope will greatly contribute to the commercial prospe rity of the country. (Cheers.) It has sometimes been the fashion to say that commerce enervates the mind of a nation ; that it destroys the manly vigour to be found in nations not com mercial. The history of the world is full of examples which d e _ monstrate the fallacy of that opinion ; and if a iry further proof to the contrary were wanting; that, proof was supplied in the present year, when we saw 130,000 of the youth of this nation, most of them engaged in commercial pursuits, all of them employed in the civil avocations of life, submitting to privations and labours to which their previous habits had not accustomed them, and devoting all the energies with which nature has endowed them to the defence of their native land. (Cheers) I . think, ladies - and gentlemen, that this is the noblest spectacle ever exhibited in any nation of the world. (Hear.) Precedents are not wanting where na tions, when danger imminently threatens, when the enemy is knocking at their gates, have risen like one man, and, tearing themselves away from every thing that constitutes the pleasures, enjoyments, and business of civil life, have prepared to shed their blood in the defence of their common country. But this is not an instance of hat kind. It is said that the lion of the forest snuffs danger from afar, and prepares for resistance; and so it has been with the youth of England. An instinctive feeling has possessed them that circum stances might arise which would show that the means of defence previously existing were perhaps not equal to the emergency, and with a spirit almost prophetic—though I trust the prophecy may not be accomplished in an evil sense—they have proved their manly energy by arraying themselves in the numbers I have already stated, which, if there were need, could be doubled, trebled, or even quadrupled. ,Cheers.) It is an old saying that to preserve peace you should be prepared for war. Now, that is both true and untrue. It is untrue if it be meant that anation assuming an aggressive attitude should create larger naval and military establishments than are necessary for its defence, and which,being evidently intended for encroachment on its neigh bours, excite suspicion, distrust, and alarm. In stead of affording a security for peace, they are more likely to be a provocation to war. But far different is it when a nation acts as we are doing, and con tents itself with possessing such an army and mak ing such preparations as are necessary for simple defence, abjuring, not only by words, but by its conduct, all aggressive designs on others. I say that such preparations for a contest purely defensive constitute the best guarantee for peace. I trust we shall long continue to enjoy that security, and be in a situation to declare that peace we will have ; because he who attacks us will rue the day when he made the attempt. (Loud cheers.) What I have now said I hope will be taken in its proper sense, and viewed as a compliment to that noble body of volunteers, who, I maintain, may be regarded as most active and valuable members of the Peace Society. (Laughter and cheers.) The noble lord concluded by again returning his acknowledgments for the honour done to her Majesty's Ministers. The LORD MAYOR next gave " The health of the Corps Diplomatique," which was received with much cordiality. His Excellency Count VON BERNSTORFF, the Prussian Minister, returned thanks. The LORD MAYOR then proposed "The House of Lords." The LORD CHANCELLOR, in responding, said the nation was indebted to the barons for Magna Charta and other of its most cherished liberties. The House of Lords was a rallying point for public opinion. If at any time it forgot its duty to the community it ought to be gently reminded of it. He was confi dent that it would ever listen to the deliberately expressed voice of the nation, and be guided by the dictates of political necessity. (Hear, hear.) The LORDMAYOR then gave" The House of Com mons," coupling the toast with the name of Lord John Russell. (Cheers.) Lord J. RUSSELL, in responding, said that the House of Commons was an ancient body which had at all times deformed the liberties of the country. The corporation of the city of London was also an ancient institution which had never failed to defend those liberties. (Cheers.) There was, therefore, great sympathy between these two bodies, and he hoped that in any measure which the House of Commons adopted with regard to the corpora tion of the metropolis the services which it had ren dered in the past would not be overlooked. (Cheers.) It had been his fate to be charged with the eonduct ' of the foreign affairs of this country, and he trusted that in no instance had he tarnished the honour or 9 impaired the interests of Great Britain in the course • he had pursued. (Elear, hear.) It was our duty in the first place, no doubt, to maintain that honour and promote those interests, but in doing so we *ere bound also to remember our duty to others, and to s e y n m d e p a a v t o h u y r b t o bring about e twe en different such nations a s would ad vance the great cause of civil and religious liberty throught the world. (Cheers.) The LORD MAYOR proposed " The Foreign Dele gates to the International Statistical Congress," which was received with loud cheers. M. MURSERE LEGOYT, the delegate from France, expressed his own appreciation, and that of his col leagues, of the distinguished honour paid to them by the Lord Mayor in inviting them to that magni ficent banquet. (Hear, hear.) They rejoiced to have that opportunity of testifying their lively senti ments of gratitude for the warm and cordial hospi tality of which during their sojourn in this country, they had been the object. (Cheers.) He should ' carry back with him to France a delightful souvenir of the happy days he had spent in this metropolis. ' It would be both his duty and his privilege to report ' to the Government which had done him the honour ' of delegating him to that congress the profound . sympathy which had been evinced towards him and ' his associates in that great city. It afforded a fresh proof of the cordial esteem with which France was regarded in this country, an esteem which he yen ' tured to say France most sincerely reciprocated. L (Cheers.) " The Health of the Lady Mayoress" was then given by Lord PALMESRTON, and, after a few compli • mentary toasts, the company separated. of TELEGRAPHIC CO 111211UNI CA TIONS BEYOND SEA. The select committee on Government Packet and Telegraphic Contracts have made their third and final report, which is devoted to telegraphs ; but they have little to say, for they recognise that the whole scheme of telegraphic communication is still in its infancy, and much experience is required be fore rules can be laid down, while some risk of loss "lust be incurred in the efforts to bring it into a state of greater perfection. They observe that they are strongly convinced of the very great importance of having independent means of telegraphic com munication, free from all foreign supervision or control, with our stations in the Mediterranean and our empire in the East. The Continental lines are subject to the supervision of the police, and the control of the Governments through whose terri tories they pass. The committee also advise that the British Government should keep free from any obligations or understandings which may in any way fetter thei r ac ti on i n regar d t o a ft er proceed ings or other lines; and that all contracts be effec tually brought under th e no ti ce an d con t ro l o f Par liament. The telegraphic contracts as yet made by the Government are six in number. Three guarantees have been given to three companies for twenty-five years, but condition a lly on success, and to be operative only while the telegraph is in working order. To the Atlantic Telegraph Com pany a return of 8 per cent. is thus guaranteed on a capital of £600,000, but this has been found not sufficient to enable the company to raise the required capital, and the scheme is now in abeyance ; to the Mediterranean Extension (I sland of Sardinia to Malta and Corfu) 6 per cent. on £120,000, but failures have occurred which have interrupted the working of the line; to the Channel Islands Tele graph 6 per cent, on £30,000 and the full guarantee his to be paid by the Government, for a 30 years' monopoly held by a British company from the Go vernment of France prevents this cable being em ployed for messages beyona the Channel Islands in connection with the French telegraphs. Then comes the Ragusa and Alexandria telegraph, which is to be made by the Austrian Government and leased to a company, and the British Government guarantee 3 per cent. for 25 years on a capital of £500,000, when the line is in working order. To the Red Sea and India Telegraph Company (Alexandria to Kur rachee) the Government have given an absolute guarantee of 4. : 1 , per cent. for 50 years on £BOO,OOO or £1,000,000. Lastly, the late Government deter mined themselves to construct and lay a cable from Falmouth to Gibraltar, with a view to extending it to Alexandria, so as to have An independent line of our own from England to India. The present Go vernment propose, however, to transfer that, is one to India and lay it down to Singapore. I his one of those questions which are left to be settled by the House of Commons when members are in hot haste to get away from Westminster. THE SUN, LONDON, TRIMSDAY EVENING, JULY 19, ISM. SUM3IER ASSIZES. HOME CIRCUIT.-CHELMSFOIti), July 18. CROWN SIDE. (Before Lord Chief Justice Cockburn.) James Bowtell, 23, labourer, was charged with feloniously diverting and altering a signal upon the Eastern Counties Railway, with intent to obstruct the engines and carriages travelling upon the line, and to endanger the safety of the passengers. Mr. Codd prosecuted on behalf of the Eastern Counties Railway Company. It appeared from the evidence of a signalman named French at the Chesterford station, that at '4O minutes past 11 at night, on the 13th of March, a meat train from Norwich arrived at that station, and he put on the red light, or danger signal, as a warning to all other trains not to come up while this train was at the station. The signal is worked by a wheel, and, very fortunately, shortly afterwards French heard the wheel creak, and sup posing it to be one of his mates who was moving it, he called out that he had put on the danger signal, and went towards the signal post, and he there saw the prisoner in the act of moving the signal, and he had already changed the red light, and had put on the green, which denoted caution to 'any approaching train. The proper signal was immediately replaced and the prisoner taken into custody, and, on being asked how he came to meddle with the signal, he made no reply. It appeared that within a very short time a meat train from Peterborough, a second meat train from Norwich, and also a mail train, would have been due at the Chesterford station, and if the alteration of the signal had not providentially been discovered, the most disastrous consequences might have en sued. The prisoner did not appear to have ever attempted to deny that he committed the act im puted to him, or to have given any explanation of his reasons for it. It was the opinion of the wit nesses that the prisoner intended to have put on the white, or all-right, signal, in which case any approaching train would have dashed into the sta tionary train, and received serious mischief. The jury, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict of guilty, and evidence was then given that the prisoner had been convicted upon a former oc casion of housebreaking, and sentenced to six months' imprisonment. The Lord Chief Justice sentenced the prisoner to 2 months' hard labour. OXFORD CIRCUIT—WORCESTER, July 17. (Before Mr. Justice Hill and a Common Jury). DAVIS V. BOMFORD. Mr. Serjeant Pigott and Mr. Gray appeared for the plaintiff ; Mr. Huddleston, Q.C., and Mr. Mot teram for the defendant. The plaintiff in this action, Fanny Davis, was the daughter of a journeyman shoemaker in this city, and she sued the defendant, Thomas Bomford, the son of a farmer at Westmancote, to recover damages for a breach of promise of marriage. The defendant denied the promise, and also pleaded that the plaintiff had absolved him from its performance. It appeared that the plaintiff was a young wo man, 22 years of age, of considerable personal at tractions, and in the year 1856 she was residing with her parents at Defford Lodge, the property of Sir Thomas Sebright. The defendant saw her for the first time at the Worcester Races in 1856 ; and on the 12th of July in that year he wrote her a letter, signed " T. 8.," in which he requested her to meet him the next evening near the Defford Station. The plaintiff showed the letter to her parents, and they accompanied her to the station, where the de fendant was introduced ; and from that day, the 13th July, 1856, down to the 4th of September, 1857, the defendant was the plaintiff's recognised suitor and a constant visitor at her father's house, several times a week. Distinct evidence was given by the father, mother, and brother of the plaintiff that the defendant had promised to marry her; and numerous letters written by the defendant to the plaintiff were read in evidence, containing expres sions of most devoted love. In August he addressed her as " My own Fanny," and, the lady being fair, he soon addressed her as " My own Lily," and " dearest Lily," telling her that he did not go to the picnic, because he knew she would not be there ; that she was " his life," " his all," and that " every thing else was as nought." In September he wrote that every day was as a month till he saw her again; and he begged her to think of him sometimes, as he always did of her. In October he excused his ab sence by writing that he had been " out shooting the whole of last week," bat he hoped to be home in a day or two, and promised himself the pleasure of seeing her immediately on his return, and said he woul come to see her the same evening. He added that, he knew his " own dear Lily" had too much confidence in his tried affection and untiring devotion to suspect he could avoid this, to him, " miserably long separation," but that he would still think of him with love equalled by his own, and believe him still ever and always her own " Tom." In December, he addressed her as " My own, own Lily," and assured her that few mo ments passed without thoughts of her, and that she was " always in the memory of her own Tom." In January, 1857, he was absent at the Feathers Hotel at Ledbury, whence he addressed her as " My dearest, dearest Lily," and told her that, but for the belief that she loved him. well and truly, whether absent or present, his not seeing her would be " very insupportable." As it was, he said he did not forget her for one moment, and that he should be " wretched " till they met. In March, 1857, he wrote a letter, in which he said that, when ever he was alone, his thoughts always rested upon the plaintiff, his "own dearest treasure," and fan cied he was by her side and his arms encircling her he loved best in the wide, wide world ; but some times other thoughts would intrude, and he sighed to find it was only a day dream, a fancy " instead of a reality." The next letter began "My own sweet life," and on April 14, 1857, he wrote a letter cautioning her to take care of her health, " if not for your own sake, you must for mine ; " for, said he, " to me, dear girl, you are estimated as beyond all value, more to me than all else, and nothing earthly, whether riches, fame, fortune, or position, could possibly compensate for my loss of you." He said he fancied that she looked paler on Sunday than usual, and, said he, " I must have the rose' pre dominate over the lily' in your sweet face a little more, dearest," and so he hoped to find her better next meeting. He reminded her of the lines he gave her once on the common ; when he looked upon her, though he said nothing, he thought of the words— " Wert thou to perish, so beloved, I would not weep, but—die." This letter, which was rather a long one, went on to inform the plaintiff that love was " a strange medley of hopes and fears, pains and pleasures, sor rows and joys ; " and that, amidst all, his "emo tions of unbounded love for his own dear Fan, and the pleasures attending it," he too ex perienced, like others, many a pain, many an unwelcome thought, many troublesome fears, anxieties, and darker moments; but, he said, You, dear girl, can make amends for all the bitters by according me the sweets of your whole and entire love for ever." On the 12th of May he wrote how anxious he was again to hold her to his heart, and repeat those "vows and assurances of never-ceasing love and faithfulness" which she had so often heard; and on the 16th of May he assured her that his love had gradually but surely increased, and it- was then of such a strength that it would " defy change or anything else to diminish it." In June he wrote from Birmingham that he was going to the theatre with his sisters, but not all the gay doings or attractive sights he might see could,tempt him ever to forget his "own darling Fanny ;" and, as an inducement to her to remain faithful, and not forget him, he sent her " Ten thousands of kisses." The correspondence continued on these terms from July, 1856, to the beginning of September, 1857 ; but the last letter, dated the 4th of Septem ber, though addressed to " Dearest Fanny," was much colder and shorter than the rest. It expressed sorrow for not seeing her that week, " but it was unavoidable ;" and requested her to meet him on Sunday afternoon near the bridge, or between that and the bottom of the gravelly hill, "exactly at half-past 3." What occurred on that day did not appear; but from the evidence of the plaintiff's brother it seemed that soon after the defendant re turned the . plaintiff all her letters, and wished her to return his, in order that he might pretend to his father that h e h a d b roken off the connex i on. T he plaintiff refused to do this, saying that if she gave up his letters she should feel that she was giving him up all together. The defendant, however, wrote her another letter on th e 17 t h of September, wh i ch the plaintiff's counsel we re c h a ll enged to put i n, and which it was suggested would have shown that the engagement was put an end to by mu t ua l consent ; but this letter was not put . in by either side, though the defendant had obtained a copy under a Judge's order. AS the la iv does not allow the p ar ti es to b e examined in an action of this kind, the plaintiff'scase was proved by her father and mother and b ro th er , and the letters read in evidence. It appeared that the connexion was entirely broken off in Septem ber, 1857. The defendant married in December, 1859, and as soon as this event took place the pre sent action was brought. On the cross-examination of the plaintiff's father it appeared that the present action was not the first which had been brought for the plaintiff for breach of promise of marriage. A Mr. Skinner, a tanner, had been her suitor, and the father had brought an action against him, which lie settled at the office of Clutterbuck, the plaintiff's attorney, for £54. 'Phis settlement was not come to before the 2d of March,lBs7, nearly eight months after the acquaint- ance with the defendant had commenced ; and, as Mrs. Davis admitted that the connexion with Skinner, the tanner, had been broken off about two months before the settlement of the action, there was some ground for the suggestion that the plain tiff was receiving the addresses of two lovers at the same time. Both Mr. and Mrs. Davis positively denied that there was any truth in the suggestion, and said that Skinner had broken off his engagement before the defendant was introduced. Mrs. Davis, on cross-examination, said that Skinner had been her daughter's suitor for five or six years, the inference from which was that she was only 12 or 13 years of age when the courtship began. No evidence being given by the defendant, Mr. Sergeant Pigott summed up the case for the plaintiff, and in so doing said the only substantial question for the jury was as to the amount of the damages. The promise was proved by the direct evidence, confirmed by the acts and letters of the defendant, who had visited and corresponded with the plaintiff as his intended for 14 months. Nothing could be suggested against the propriety of the plain: tiff's character and conduct, and the jury might be well assured that if the defendant could have brought forward anything either in reduction o damages, or in support of his plea that the plain tiff had absolved him from the performance of his promise, he would not have failed to do so, He, therefore, asked for a verdict with substantial damages. Mr. Huddleston, for the defendant, denied that any promise whatever had been made, and, even if the jury should think otherwise, he contended there was evidence that the engagement was broken off by mutual consent. The defendant had returned the plaintiff her letters, but he had been incautious enough not to demand back his own, and the result was that they were all deposited in Mr. Clutterbuck's office until the defendant got mar ried, when they were brought out to sustain this action. The learned counsel denounced this as an attorney's action, and said Mr. Clutterbuck, the attorney, was the only person in court who shed tears during the pathetic speech made by the plain tiff's counsel. The action was merely a screw for the extortion of money, which he hoped the jury would prevent by finding a verdict for the defen dant. Mr. justice Hill summed up the evidence to the jury, and left it to them to say, first, whether the promise of marriage had been made ; and, secondly, whether the plaintiff had absolved the defendant from its performance. The jury, after a few minutes' consideration, found a verdict for the defendant, to the evident surprise of nearly every person in court. CRIMINAL COURT. (Before Mr. Justice Byles.) James Hutchinson, commercial traveller, was charged with feloniously forging a promissory note for £5O, at Dudley, on the 19th of June, 1857, with intent to defraud. There was also a count for uttering the same knowing it to be forged. Mr. Kenealy appeared for the prosecution ; Mr. J. Best defended the prisoner. It appears that a Mr. Joseph Nickolls kept what is called a money club at Dudley, and that in the year 1857 the prisoner was a member of it. There were 500 members, and the custom was for each member to subscribe ss. a month until the sum of £25 was raised. This sum was called a share, and was put up to auction and sold to the highest bidder. The purchaser then gave a promissory note with two sureties, and repaid the moneyby monthly instalments. In June, 1857, the prisoner bought two shares, amounting to £5O, at the auction, for which he gave his promissory note, with two sure ties, and the sum of £l2 195., which he paid down out of the £5O which he received. The note was given to the secretary of the society and locked up in the iron safe, and the prisoner paid his in stalments of £1 a month regularly for one year, but he then made default, and it was ascertained, upon inquiry, that the signatures of the sureties to the promissory note which he had given were forgeries. No charge, however, was made against the prisoner for two years, but at length, when it was found that no more money was forthcoming, and that the sureties would not pay, the prisoner was given into custody. Mr. Best addressed the jury for the prisoner, but he was found guilty of uttering the forged note, and Mr. Justice Byles sentenced bim to four years' penal servitude. James Addleton, 28, was charged with commit ting aggravated assaults upon his wife and daugh ter on the 26th May and 18th June, 1860, at Oldbury. Mr. R. Sawyer appeared for the prosecution ; the prisoner was undefended. It appeared that on the 26th May the prisoner, who was a smith's stoker, returned home from his work and began to abuse his wife, and threatened to cut her head off with a knife with which he was eating his supper. The poor woman took refuge in a neighbour's house, and as she was standing at the door lie threw a knife at her head, but missed his aim. On the 18th June he came home in liquor, and beat his little girl with a gutta percha stick, and when the mother had put the child to bed he went upstairs, and having made a ferocious attack upon it, threw his wife down, beat her violently, and took her by the throat till she became senseless. The jury found the prisoner guilty of both charges. It appeared the prisoner was a good workman and earned good wages, but he had been in the habit of cruelly assaulting his wife ever since his marriage, four years ago. Mr. Justice Byles regretted he could not pass upon the prisoner a sentence of penal servitude. This case was the worst of the kind which had ever come before him, and he passed upon the prisoner the heaviest sentence in his power, viz., two years' imprisonment with hard labour. NORTHERN CIRCUIT.-YORK, July 16. (Before Mr. Baron Martin and a Special Jury.) SMITH V. PIGGOT. This was an action brought by the plaintiff, who had been for many years the manager of the wire drawing establishment at Halifax of Royston and Co., to recover from the plaintiff, the personal re presentative of the late Mr, Royston, damages for dismissing him from his employment, and also a third of the profits for salary up to the time of his dismissal. The learned Judge held that there was no evi dence of any employment by the defendant, and directed a verdict for the defendant accordingly. (Before Mr. Baron Wilde.) James Richardson, a respectable looking man, was indicted for having by false pretences obtained from John Kay, as agent to Mr. W. B. Beaumont, of Bretton , hall, M.P., various sums of money. Mr. Hall and Mr. Wortley appeared for the pro secution; and Mr. Overend, Q.C.. and Mr. Serle were for the prosecution. _ _ From the evidence adduced it appeared the pri soner had been upwards of 40 years in the employ ment of the Beaumont family, and that since the present Mr. Beaumont had succeeded to the estates, about nine years, he had acted as overlooker to the masons and other labourers upon the property at Bream The pay-day was once a fortnight, and it was the prisoner's duty to present a time-bill at the office some days previously, with the amount due to each man stated in such bill, and also the num ber of days' work done by him during the preceding fortnight. On the 19th of May last the prisoner took in a time-bill for work done ending the 19th of May, and the total amount of such bill was £4O Bs. In that account the prisoner charged for one Charles Moorhouse 12 days at 45., Henry Ogden 12 days at 45., Joseph Haigh 12 days at 45., William Norton 12 days at 3s. 101, and Edwin Richardson 12 days at 4s. All these persons were called on behalf of the prosecution, and proved that they had not worked the number of days charged, and had not received that amount of money from the prisoner. Mr. Overend, on behalf of the prisoner, con tended that there was no intention on the part of the prisoner to defraud, that be had a multiplicity of business on his hands, without any office of his own, and was obliged to trust much to his memory. It was hardly likely that a man who for such a number of years had borne an irreproachable character would commence in his old age such a system of fraud. It was a mistake on the part of the prisoner in the keeping of his accounts, and as such he hoped the jury would view it. The learned Judge, in summing up, put it to the jury whether such a mistake could have been made by the prisoner. The jury, after having retired for a short time, brought in a verdict of guilty, with a strong recom mendation to mercy. Sentence was deferred. Thomas Wilson was indicted for forging a cheque for £35 10s. on the Sheffield and Rotherham Bank, purporting to be drawn by Mr. Thomas Swann, of Morthen-hall, on the 7th day of July, with intent to defraud. Mr. Maule and Mr. Wortley appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Campbell Foster for the de fence. It appeared that on Saturday, the 7th of July,' the prisoner entered the bank of the Sheffield and` Rotherham Banking Company, and presented a cheque purporting to he drawn in favour of Messrs. Rhodes and Smith, coal merchants, by Mr. Thomas Swann, of Morthen-hall, o r bearer, and tendered it for payment. Mr, Swann had an account at the hank, and after some in quiry the cheque was cashed by a clerk named Calvert, he having submitted it to Mr. Turner, his superior i n th e b an k. The prisoner endorsed the name of " John Rodes" on the cheque, and after- wards placed in it the letter " h." The cheque turned out to be a forgery, and the prisoner was taken into custody on the following Monday. At the time when he presented the cheque he had much hair under his chin and large whiskers, and when iapprehended he had small whiskers and no hair under his chin, and both Mr. Calvert and Mr. Turner, though they expressed their belief that he was the man who had presented the cheque, would not swear positively to him. A witneis named" Lees, who had known the pri soner several years, stated that on the Saturday afternoon the prisoner had changed a £5-note of the Sheffield and Rotherham Bank, which was cut in two at his beer-house, and that he then had a beard under his chin. This was the evidence against the prisoner. The defence was that he was not the man who presented the cheque, that the note which had been cut, and which he changed, was not likely to have been reissued by the bank, that the bank would in the ordinary course of business take the numbers of the notes paid out, and there was no proof that the note changed was one of those given for the cheque, and that in other respects the identity of the pri soner was not satisfactorily proved. His lordship having summed up, The jury retired, and on their return found the prisoner guilty. Sentence was deferred. (Before Mr.;Monk, Q.C., in the Magistrates' Room.) Four men, named Charles Smith, Jas. Marshall, William Thompson, and Joseph Stott, were in dicted for a highway robbery on Richard Marsden on the night of the 9th of May last. Mr. Shaw and Mr. Cummings prosecuted ; and the prisoners were severally defended in their order by Mr. Campbell Foster, Mr. Blanshard; Mr. Wheelhouse, and Mr. Waddy. It appeared that the prosecutor had had to at tend an inquest at two o'clock on the day in ques tion at a village near Bradford, and set out with £5 in gold and a few shillings in his pocket. He was drinking at several public-houses during the day, and at midnight found himself in a drunken state in a beer-house, called the Fox and Hounds, near Bradford, in which were the prisoners and several other men. There he drank more ale, and was with the other men turned out at 2 o'clock in the morn ing. On his way home he swore that the four pri soners took him through a lonely place, called Peckover Park, and knocked him down and robbed him of £4 15s. The several learned counsel engaged for the de fence addressed the jury for their respective clients, contending that the prosecutor was so drunk that his evidence could not be relied upon, and that he was not corroborated, but in several points contra• dieted in his testimony. The case occupied All day. The learned Judge having summed up, The jury acquitted all the prisoners. PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES. THE METROPOLIS GAS BILL. This bill, which occupied the attention of the select committee for several weeks, having been re ferred back for further consideration, the com mittee, consisting of Mr. Sotheron Estcourt, Lord H. Cecil, Mr. Packe, Mr. North, and Mr. Turner, re-assembled yesterday—Mr. Estcourt in the chair. Mr. Wyatt appeared in support of the bill, and Mr. Baxter on behalf of the London Gas Com panies. At a former meeting Mr. Baxter said the great objection which the companies entertained to the bill was the repeal of certain clauses of the Gas Consolidation Clauses Act of 1847, under which clauses the companies were entitled to divide 10 per cent., subject to certain reservations. The effect of the repeal of those clauses would be to reduce the rate of dividend from 10 to 8 per cent. The next objection was to the repeal of that part of the Act which made the reduction of price only commen surate with the excess of profits. 'The bill as it now stood would have the effect of reducing the to 4 per cent., and the companies would be unable to raise the dividend again beyond that amount. With respect to the price of gas, the companies considered that there ought to be a maximum beyond the charging price, and they suggested that the maximum should be ss. 6d. per 1,000 feet, leaving a shilling margin beyond the charging price, so as to allow for rises in price of coal and other increases on the cost of pro duction. As a security against any improper exercise othis power it was proposed to give the consum!rs an appeal to the Secretary of State, who would have authority to disallow the increased charge. Considerable objection was felt to the power possessed by the Metropolitan Board of Works, who could prevent the gas companies from laying down their mains, although they would be liable to penalties if they did not supply gas when demanded. After pointing out several minor ob jections, Mr. Wyatt was heard on behalf of the promoters of the bill, contending that under the operation of the Gas Clauses Consolidation Act it was quite im possible for the consumers to obtain a reduction in the price of gas. If the committee should think proper to fix the maximum dividend at 10 per cent. there would be no difficulty in adapting the clauses of the bill to that view of the case. With respect to there being no means of raising the dividend in case it should happen to be reduced to 4 per cent., he should have no objection to an alteration of the clause if such was its affect as it now stood. The guaranteed dividend was fixed at 8 per cent. So far as regarded. the laying down of new mains, it was most important that some control should be exercised over the gas companies, and that mere trading companies should not have the power of bnaking up the streets whenever they choose to do so. Various amendments were then handed in, and Mr. Wrangham said if they were adopted all further opposition to the bill would cease. Mr. Wyatt expressed his belief that if the com mittee adopted the bill as amended it would not be accepted by the parishes which he represented. The Chairman said the effect of the first amend ment was to include the whole of the gas consoli dation clauses—to take as the standard of profit the rate prescribed by the several local acts, and in default of such prescribed rate to take 10 per cent. _ _ --- A discussion took place as to the mode in which the accounts of companies should be inspected, so as to ascertain the amount applicable to dividend, and a clause was inserted authorising the Secretary of State to call for such returns to be presented to Parliament. A clause was also inserted giving a margin of ls. over the 4s. 6d. per 1,000, subject to reversal on appeal to the Secretary of State. Mr. Wyatt said that as the companies appeared unwilling to make any concession, he trusted the committee would take upon themselves the respon sibility of adopting the suggestions which he had thrown out. The room was then cleared, and after the com mittee had deliberated about half an hour, the parties were readmitted, and the clauses were gone through seriatim. A proviso was introduced to the effect that any company not charging for meters on the Ist January, 1860, should not be allowed to do so until after the Ist February, 1862. The committee also decided that the price per 1,000 cubic feet of com mon gas should be any sum the company thought fit, not exceeding ss. 6d.; and that the price of cannel gas should be any sum not exceeding 7s. 6d. per 1,000 feet. Mr. Wyatt intimated that after these decisions of the committee he should no longer detain the committee by appearing in his professional capacity. The remaining clauses were then passed, with amendments. The Chairman said the committee had agreed to make a special report to the house, stating that it is their opinion, in case no legislation shall take place during the present session on the subject of the metropolitan gas supply, it is highly desirable that the whole subject should be brought under the consideration of the Government, and that the Go vernment ought to be prepared to introduce a mea sure for the settlement of the question at the com mencement of the ensuing session of Parliament, with a view to regulate the conditions under which the gas companies shall supply gas in their several districts, with a due regard to the interests of the public. The proceedings then terminated. GUN AND MORTAR BOATS. The select committee appointed by the House of Commons to inquire into the manner in which the contracts for the construction of the gun and mor tar boats had been carried out, met on Tuesday Sir F. Smith in the chair. Mr. Penney, one of the government inspectors appointed by the Admiralty to inspect the progress of the work at Messrs. Green's yard, and see that it was being carried out according to the terms of the contract, spoke of the enormous pressure of business at the time, which was so great that he could not give more attention to each boat than about half an hour a day, and th'tt some days he was obliged to be at Woolwich all the day. So far as he could see at the time things were all going on right, but many things had been subsequently pointed out which, if he had had more time to inspect, he should possibly have discovered, and certainly not have allowed. He never authorised the driving of any bolts after the boilers were in. He was certain that ho had never given an order to drive bolts under the boilers. He knew it was in evidence that only a few of the bolts were found clenched. He should be responsible if he knew of anything wrong such as that, but if he did not see it he could not be answerable for it. When the master shipwright of Portsmouth stated that the bolts were short he did not mean they were short in number, but that they were cut too short. It was possible that the workmen might cut them afterwards, and a piece of bolt was worth 6d. to ls., but he was more inclined to believe that the driving of the short bolts resulted from carelessness. At the same time he might say that men were constantly stealing pieces of copper which were lying about. Some of them were detected, and punished by im prisonment. He was employed for the sole purpose of seeing that there was good workmanship and good materials used in the construction of the boats; but it was impossible for him to be present night and day at every one of the boats inspecting every bit of work as it was being done. Some men were dismissed for bad work at his suggestion, but he had to be very careful how he made too many ex amples, because there was great danger that if he did all the men would leave. The shipbuilders were obliged to humour them a great deal. He was aware that the men in her Majesty's dockyards were not allowed. to use sappy timber. Maiden sap is the sap next to the heart of the tree, and the white part, the outer sap, was not so valuable. The two saps were the outer case of the heart. He had time to see the nature of the wood which was used when he was there, and if he had found out that anythin g wrong he would have directed more f ore m e n to have been put on the particular vessel ; but he fancied all was going on right. He was obliged several times to be absent at Woolwich, and therefore could not inspect the work as it went on. If he had seen any sappy wood being used he should have ordered it to have been taken off. (Apiece of wood was here shown to witness with maiden sap on it, which, he said, he should have ordered to be cut off.) He was not aware that that wood formed part of a vessel which had been 21 voyages to India; but he was not much surprised at it, for he had known such wood to be in good condition after 30 or even 40 years. The committee then adjourned. TUE NEW B 4 NKRuPTCY BILL TRADERS AND NON-TRADERS. Perhaps we do outspend ourselves a little, but we end by paying our just debts. It does seem a little hard, in a country where the system of deal ing upon credit prevails so extensively, that an y man who owes another £2O should be liable to be made a bankrupt unless he can satisfy some judge or another that he is actually in a solvent condition. No doubt the Attorney-General who in his new Bankruptcy Bill obliterates the old line which separated the trader from the non trader, simply considered the provision with regard to the status of the trader. An enor mous proportion of the community, however, is not engaged in trade at all. In this very town of London, where the rule of half-yearly pay ments mainly prevails in the dealings between private customers and tradesmen, it is to besloubted if there is any household of moderate position which does not owe £2O in more than one quarter. Felix qui potuit—happy is the man who does not owe £2O to his wine -merchant, or his tailor, or his corn dealer, or his butcher or baker, or to his wife's milliner, or the last half-year's little account for his son to the College tutor or schoolmaster. We end by paying up at last ; but how many families are there which could leave London to-morrow simply by getting in and discharging their last week's bills ? Of course, it would be better if this were otherwise, if families never antieipated income, and if the dealings of the country could be reduced to a ready-money system. But it is not so. The system of dealing on credit is far too deeply rooted in the habits of the people to admit of cure by the introduction of a summary remedy for debt. Like all laws which militate against the customs and wishes / of a nation such an enactment would either be evaded or abused. If it is to be evaded, why introduce it at all,—for to enact laws without serious purpose is to bring laws into discredit ? If it is to be abused, why sacrifice one class of the community to another ? Look at the laws against smugglers,—what was the use of them ? Look at the Maine Liquor, Law; —is not that constantly evaded in the country where it nominally prevails ? So it must always be. There is no use in contending with the will of the majority, who will in the long run trample under their feet any legal enactment which has not their full and hearty assent. There can be no doubt in this case as to what the feelings and opinions of the debtor class will be; but will the class of creditors be at all more satisfied ? Through out the kingdom, and in London more especially, the tradesmen are ever anxious to thrust credit upon any family which is supposed to be in a sol vent condition. The difficulty is to get your bills in. Every one who, has tried it must know what an amount of sternness and resolution it requires to induce the ordinary tradesmen who serve a household to send in monthly, and a fortiori, weekly books. The thing can be done, and with a little ready money and a great deal of firmness you may succeed in eliminating the element of credit• from your life, but the tradesman will not be much obliged to you for your pains. From the very earliest moment when a young man enters upon life he is pursued by the spectre of Credit. What pleasant songs the softly-breathing syren whispers into the ears of a youth who has just gone up to one or other of the Universities ! When he marries and furnishes his house, save in the case of the happy individuals who begin the world upon a good store of realised capital, he does it upon credit, and is very fortunate if in the course of three or four years he has discharged the debt. When you die, all the undertaker's fondest hopes will be crowned if he gets a good order out of your representatives, and positively the poor dead Briton runs in debt for his coffin. There is, however, some comfort in the thought that one will then be out of the jurisdic tion. Fiats, declarations, and summary remedies will vex the unfortunate no more. It is well the Attorney-General has declared that he does not consider the maintenance of this prin ciple in its integrity as essential to the bill which he has introduced. The bill is in most respects an excellent one as far as concerns the trading classes, and, in point of fact, embodies most of the provi sions for which they have been struggling for years. There is the more reason why it should be purged of all blemishes and adapted in all respects to the wants and habits of the community. If,we come to consider and count up the many attempts which have been made within the last few years to bring this subject of the bankruptcy Law into shape, we must be thankless indeed if we do not recognise the merits of the Attorney-General in this matter. We, acknowledge freely that if he endows the country with a good Bankruptcy Code he will have rendered no inconsiderable service to the public. The whole system had got into such inextricable confusion that the commercial classes in the long run had made up their minds to settle their affairs in all important cases without invoking the assistance of the Court at all. Under these circumstances, and when the commercial community had fairly explained their views; it seamed a great thing that the acutest lawyer in the country should take them up and embody them into law. Sir Richard Bethell will have done well, even when he has availed himself of the friendly criticism of the -House of Commons. Certainly, neither Mr. Henley, nor Sir H. Cairns, nor Sir F. Kelly attacked the bill on Monday night in a hostile spirit, when they urged upon Sir Richard Bethell the necessity of still maintaining in certain respects the distinction between the trader and the non-trader. Let them all pass under one Bankruptcy axe at last—at least, those who have violated the law—but let there be different forms of liability to the jurisdiction. Why, if this measure had passed into law, any one of us who was absent from the country on his summer trip of six weeks might have been adjudged a bank rupt. This provision may apply well enough to traders, who, by the very conditions of business, are bound to be always at their post, and always ready to give satisfaction to their creditors. But as ap plied to private individuals not in trade the rule would be preposterous. There is also another clause which would be productive of monstrous injustice to non-traders (Section 173), unless it were hedged round with various conditions and safeguards ; and that is the one which assigns limits of time within which the debtor must appear and give answer. A creditor by this section may file an affidavit in a district Court against a debtor, and thereupon the Court may issue a summons to the debtor to show cause why he should not be adjudged a bankrupt. This summons is to be returnable within four days from the date of issue. The upshot of the whole matter is, that if arty man owes another £2O he may be made a bankrupt in a sli_r 4 : l- mary way within four days. It is admissible that a trader is at all times bound to be prepared against his liabilities. A flaw of £2O in the case of such an one is like the error of a farthing in his balance-sheet—it may show that he is all wrong_. at least, it shows that he is bound to prove himself right. But with persons not ourinuotd tradeeal a it is s not so, The equitable condition private individuals is not that we are bound to m eet all our liabilities instantly. We ate s ubject to the usual leg d proceedings for debt, which —espe c i a ll y since the institution of the Courts --are County stringent enough. It is only right to add that the landed proprietors seems to have taken as much alaim as the small peo ple who are simply concerned w i th tradesmen's bill s . The land is heavily mortgaged i n d ee d an d o v f T he ch la a n rg d es in ef a a pt l s e e creditors di enforce tors or Ishol ladende r inte restedlia- bility i c f h choose it fair to put such a weapon this • • o p l h s ee k i ri t rs i i n oo ndna ssb,osbeneficially which leave the as 173 d section in leane fircji• immediate the hands of such persons, many of whom might be inclined to use it in an oppressive way P Of course, when money was dear, it would be an excellent thing to call the landowner to account. When he had accounted, you could buy in other securities of the like kinds on more favourable terms, by taking advantage of the distress of the moment. This was never intended, and ought not to become law. — Times. BBALTH OF LONDON DU.RING THE WEEK. (From the Registrar-General's Report.) In the week that ended last Saturday the num ber of deaths registered in London was 1,015, ex hibiting an increase on that of the previous week, which was 919. For the corresponding weeks of 10 years 1850-59 the average number of deaths after correction for increase of population is 1,104. The deaths in the present return are therefore less by 89 than they would have been if the average rate of mortality for the second week of July had pre vailed. Measles carried off 61 children. This disease is at present the most fated of those that form the zymotic class, Three deaths from it are returned. for the rectory sub-district of Marylebone, 3 for Gray's-inn-lane, 3 for St. Botolph, 3 for the north sub-district of West London 4 for the Leather market, 3 for the west sub-district of Greenwich. Only 9 deaths from smallpox were returned in the week, showing a clear decrease in the mortality of this complaint. Scarlatina was fatal in 29 cases, diphtheria in 5, diarrhoea in 21. The daughter of a labourer, aged 15 years, was burnt by her clothes taking fire. A child was fatally scalded. Two infants were suffocated in bed. A labourer, aged 30 years, was suffocated by carbonic acid gas from a brick clamp at Islington: Two widows died at the ages of 95 and 96 years. With reference to the death of a child, aged nine months, the son of a stableman, which occurred on the 29th June at 12, Brick-street, Mayfair, from " teething; foul air of drains into kitchen (six weeks); hydrocephalus," Dr. Druitt writes as fol lows :—" It may be well to put on record, that al though a house may be well drained as regards the removal of refuse water therefrom, yet the ground on which they stand may be utterly undrained and nothing more than a marsh. This is the case with the house in question, No. 12, Brick-street, and its neighbours. Underneath the kitchen floor there are pools of water, which are kept down by bailing every day. The site is at the bottom of a hill, and on a bed of clay ; and, as I am advised, the nearest sewer is on too high a level to carry away the water which comes to the surface. Last year there was a severe case of ague in one of these houses. I enclose a report, by which you will see that I endeavoured to call attention to this four years ago ; and I ven ture to call your attention to the fact that, although. houses may be drained, yet the land on which they stand in various parts of London may be totally undrained." • Last week the births of 935 boys and 819 girls, in all 1,754 children, were registered in London. In the 10 corresponding weeks of the years 1850- 59 the average number was 1,488. At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of the barometer in the week was 29.870 in. The readings fell from 3014 in. on Sunday to 29.66 in. on Saturday. The mean temperature of the air in the week was 57.4 deg., which is 4.3 deg. below the average of the same week in 43 years (as determined by Mr. Glaisher). The mean daily temperature was below the average throughout the week. The thermometer in the shade fell to 44.2 deg. on Sunday, the lowest point in the week, and it rose to 74'3 deg., the highest point, on Saturday. The extreme range in the week was therefore 29.7 deg. The difference between the mean dew-point temperature and air temperature was 4.8 deg., showing the degree of dryness of the air. The mean degree of humidity was 85, complete satura tion being represented by 100. On Sunday and Thursday the thermometer on the grass fell to 38.8 deg. The mean temperature of the water of the Thames was 62.6 deg. The wind was generally in the north-east till the last two days, when it was in. the south and south-west. No rain fell in the week. COUNTRY MARKETS. SHEFFIELD-JULY 17. There was a small supply of grain, and millers bought more freely, at an advance of Gd to ls. Flour and other articles maintained late prices. Red wheat, per load of 3 imperial bushel's...2ls 6d to 23s Od White .23s 6d to 24s 6d New red • • • .17s Od to 18; ad New white Beans • .•-- _ ...18s Od to 19s 6d 19s Od to 21s Od Peas per qr • If 7, •••... _ __ 60s Od to 52s Od Grinding barley, per qr 33s Od to 36s Od Malting ditto, „ 3Bs Od to 43s Od Oats „ 2Bs Od to 33s Od Millers' prices for flour-2s id, 2s 2d, and 2s 4d per 141 b. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE-JUNE 18. --- At this corn market there was but a moderate show of wheat for the season, and recent prices were exceeded is per qr. on the week. The samples of barley shown were held firmly. Oats and other articles were also firm. DUBLIN- There was rather an increa trade of our market to -day, b able improvement in prices. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. € l ,t Wheat, white 33 oto 3 0 Do., new ..... —ot o -- u Do., red 3l oto 33 0 Bere . l3 otol4 0 Do., new Barley Oats Do., black l5 oto 15 6 Indian corn .. 37 oto 38 6 —JULY 17. led sharpness in the general it we cannot report any qua- COAL MARKET—JULY 18. (rrioes of Coal per Ton at the close of the market.) Walls End. 8. d. Howard's West Hart ley 16 0 Holywell 15 9 Hastings Hartley l5 9 Wylani l6 0 Cowpen Hartley 16 0 s, d• South Hartlepool. 17 ‘ , 3 Acorn Close.. Heaton.... Kelloe l7 0 Cassop .. 17 9 Horton l6 9 Thorpe Carway and Duffryn Malting 22 6 t, 21—Sold, 18. Walls End. Eden 17 3 i Haswell..... 18 9 Ships at market TILE MAILS. MAILS DUE. Australia, Ceylon, and Mauritius (via South ampton).. .. .. Aug. 10. - Do. (via Marseilles) Aug. 4. Bahamas and Havana (via New York) .. Aug. 2. Canada, &c. (via Londonderry) .. July 18. Cape of Good Hope, &c. .• • • .. Aug. 1. China, Penang, and Singapore (via S'ampton) July 19. Do. (via Marseilles) July 27. Gibraltar (via Southampton) July 19. India (Calcutta), Ceylon, &c. (via Southampton) July 19. Do. (via Marseilles) July 27 . India (Bombay), (via Southampton) .. July 2 8 . Do. (via Marseilles) .. .. July 19. Lisbon, Brazils, Buenos Ayres, &c. Aug. 1. Lisbon, Vigo, and Op or t o July 21. Malta, Egypt, and Aden (via Southampton) .. July 19. Do. (via Marseilles) .. July 19. United States, California, &c. (Oa Cork) July 25. Western Coast of Africa, Madeira, Teneriffe Aug. 10. West Indies and Pacific, Carthgena, Cuba, &c. July 30. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—HoIIoway's Ointment and Pills ''" Pleasure to the Healthy.—There are many ailments, w hich without endangering life, sadly prevent its enjoyment. The patient says he " is neither ill nor well," things once pleas ing to him now cease to be pleasurable. Let such an in dividual try the corrective powers of Holloway's medica ments. When this Ointment is rubbed over the stomach, liver, or kidneys, it penetrates and regulates each function that is disordered ; expels all noxious matters, and adjusts the secretions of every organ respectively so as to secure happiness to the healthy. Nausea, bilious attacks, sick headache, and diarrhoea all succumb to this treatment, aided by the proper use of Holloway's Pills ; the appropriate doses of which are printed to accompany each beg. BIRTHS. of a daughter. COOPER.—On the 18th inst., at 36,pper Gower-streety Mrs. Brougham, BROUGHAM.—On the 18th inst., 36, Hertford -street, May fair, the wife of Lieut.-Col. Cooper, Grenadier Guards, of a son. w EBB .—On the 15th inst., at Donnington Hall, Hereford' shire, the Hon. Mrs. Frederick Webb, of a son. MA RRIAGES. CHOLVIONDELEY—SPENCER.—On the 17th inst., at St. G e orge's, Hanover-square Henry Vere CholmondeleY, Esq., second son o f Lord Henry Cholmondely, to Frances Tsabella Catherine, second daughter of Lieut.-Col. the Hon. George A. Spencer. FORBES—SPENCER.—At the same time and place, by spa' cial license, the Hon. Charles Murray Hay Forbes, of Brux, Aberdeenshire, the second son of Lord Forbes, to Caroline Louisa Elizabeth, third daughter of Lieut.-Col. the Hon. George A. Spencer. • bATH S. BLI JNDELL.—On the sfh inst.,' at Chelteuhs.m, M a jor: General Frederic Blundell, C. 8., Madras Artillery, aged 62. ELsTox.—On the 7th inst., Mr. Henry Elston, of Linse" grove, Shepherd's-bush, and, on the following day, Maxi/ wife of the above. HUME,—On the 14th inst., at his residence, The Mano r House, Marshfield, Gloucestershire, Robt. Hume, Esq•' aged 53. SANDYS.—On the 16th inst., at his seat, Ombersley Court, Worcestershire, Lieutenant-General the Lord Sandy* Colonel Royal Scots Greys, aged 69. TUFNELL.—On the 13th inst., at Horkstow, aged 96, Ann, widow of the Ia . () Colonel Tufnell, and previously relict of the late Admiral the Hon. Thomas Shirley. WEBB.—On the 16th inst., the infant son of Mr. and th e Hon. Mrs .. Frederick Webb. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUN G of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Bun Off ce, No. 112 ; Strand, in the Precinct of th e S avo y, i u the oozy" I'. bliddiesu, Thursday, July 18, 18E0.