The Sun. — London, England, 1858-04-07 00:00:00

ASSIZE IN PELL 'GENOA OXFORD CIRCUIT.—GLOUCESTER, APRIL 6. CROWN COURT. (Before Mr. Baron Channell.) EXTRAORDINARY CASE. Samuel Smith, clergyman, of Clifton, and Sarah Smith, his wife, were charged with ma liciously cut ting and wounding John Leech, with intent to murder him, and also with intent to d o hi m griev ous bodily harm, on Feb. 3, 1858, at Westerleigh. Mr. Skinner, Q.C., and Mr. Cripps appeared for the prosecution ; Mr. Huddleston, Q 0., and Mr. J. Symons, defended the female. The male pri soner was not defended by counsel. Mr. Skinner, in opening the case, stated the facts at great length ; but it will be sufficient here to state that the charge against the prisoners was that they bad conspired together to lure the prosecutor down to a lonely common at Yate, on the Bristol and Birmingham Railway, and there eudeavoured to murder him. This conspiracy was carried out by writing letters to the prosecutor, in which the fe male prisoner falsely pretended that her husband was dead, that she was a widow, and willing, if the prosecutor felt so disposed, to renew their former acquaintance and to marry him. The learned counsel then called the following witnesses : John Leech, examined by Mr. Grippe, now live at Shirley, near Croydon, in Surrey. I am a road contractor. In 1846 I was in the employ of Messrs. Swan and Edgar as alight porter. Dur ing the time I was there the female prisoner came into service there, and remained two years or two years and a-half. I was there all that time, and afterwards. Her name was Sarah Mills. When she left she had a situation in Tottenhem-court read. While she was at Swan and Edgar's I had 1 see on intimate terms with her; and continued my visits to her in Tottenham-court-road. Remember going to see her on Good Friday, 1849. On that oi casi..n I saw apersonthere who I was told was Mr. Smith (the prisoner). He was opposite the house where she was living, walking backwards and forwards. On that occasion I took Sarah Mills out for a walk, and from the position where the male prisoner was he could see me take her out. When I came back I saw him.again. He was still walking in the same place where I saw him before. He could have seen me on that occasion also. I understood from the female prisoner he was anxious to pay his ad dresses to her. I was aware of that before. I un derstood that his name was Samuel Smith, and that he was at Cambridge traiversity. I believe I WV her again in Tottenham-court-road in about a month. Some time after that I ascertained that she had gone away somewhere. I had not learnt from her that she was going away. After she had gone away I did not see her again for tome mouths. From what I afterwards heard I wrote a note to her at some place near Canterbury. I should think that was about the latter part of August, 1850. I received - an answer, which I have destroyed. It gave me an invitation to go down and meet her at Canterbury. I went to Canter bury, 'and met her and her sister-in law. We went together to Whitstable, to, I believe, a relative's of the sister-in-law, a private house. We all stayed at the house till the next morning. On that occasion she told me she was married before she left town to Mr. Samuel Smith, th It he stayed with her about three days, and returned to Cam bridge, and had been writing to her representing that they were not legally married. I also under stood he had offered her an amount of money not to trouble him again before he left. She said she was saying with her friends, who lived in that part of the country. I afterwards had a letter from Mrs. Smith, saying they had had advice. I have de stroyed all letters. 1 understood she had been to a solicitor and a clergyman, to have advice as to the legality of the marriage. I can't tell how she signed herself in the letter from Canterbury and the other. I believe I put both names on my first letter to her. After the interview at Whitstable I saw her in London ; I could not tell, but I should think it was I in October. I saw her more than once about Ulu time in London. I met her several times in the street. I was still in my situation at Swan and Edgar's. I as not positive that she came into the house, but I believe she came to the house when we were closing of an evening. I had also been to her mother's and seen her there. It was in Cirencester place, or somewhere in Tottenharn-court-ro id. The last time I saw her in London was in December, 1849, After that I received one or two letters from her ; but I cannot tell the time. Ii was soon after. It must have been in January or February, 1850. The last letter could not have been many months after Christmas, 1849. In 1851 I received a letter from Bristol. I should think it was in April or I May, or about that time. I believe it came from Mr. Smith. Crosi-examined by Mr. Huddleston—l never RAW Mr. Smith write in my life. Mr. Baron Chanuell—Do you appear for Mr. Smith ? Mr. Huddl , ston said he appeared for Mrs. Smith; Mr. Smith wished to make his own etAtement ; but his cross-examination would go to both. Mr. B tron °batmen said he approved that course. Examination continued—The letter had the Bristol postmark. I have destroyed the letter. I answered the letter, and put it in the post, but I forget the address that was upon it. I afterwards received an answer to that letter. I forget the name to wh;ch I addressed my answer, and I can't recollect whether it was the initials or a fill name. I had known the fenzaleprisouer's handwriting. I believed a part of the first latter, about eight lines, to be in her handwriting ; the rest was in a man's writing. The second letter was all in a man's hand. The female prisoner once showed me a letter in Tottenham-court-road as the letter of Mr. Sraili. In the letter the female prisoner merely certified to the truth of the statements made in the man's handwriting. Mr. Baron Channell held that the contents of the letter were not admissible. It was only evidence against the woman. Examination continued—l received no letters from the female prisoner from 1851. to 1858. I learnt from the lett Ts I received in 1850 where she was. I understood she was apprentice at a milliner's shop; I believe in Park-street, Bristol. I was married on the 7th July, 1852, to a young woman named Ellee. I lost my wife in March, 1857. I went to live at Shirley, near Croydon, at Michael m4s, 1853. My uncle, Mr. Leech, came to live with me at the same time and has lived with m e ever since. I received this letter. dated Jan. 23, 1858. I believe it it to be in the hind of the female prisoner. It was directed to Mr. John Leech, jun., Croydon, near Norwood, Surrey. The letter had the Clifton postwark, and was as follows :—.. "Jan. 23, 1858. "My dear Friend,—As I am now living in the coun try, near Bristol, a widow with three children, my hus band treated me more kindly towards the last, and has left us 1,0001. if you have not forgotten your promise made to me when we met and sp-nt a day and night to gether by the ermide in 1849, I shall be glad to see you once more if you are not engaged, write to S. M., care of Mr. Lasbury, bookseller, Park-street, Bristol, to say if you can come, and I will write again to tell you where to meet-me.—.l remain yours sincerely. "S . M." Mr. Baron Channell observed that the words "and night" were interlined, showing tha t it was an afterthought. Exatnination continued—l answered the letter, and directed it as requested in the letter. (Notice to produce was here proved by Mr. Burrup, the under-sheriff) I posted th 3 I , tt3r myself. I stated I would come down to Bristol, awl that I had been married and had lost my wife. I mentioned her same, Ellen. On the 29th of January I received an answer, dated the 28th of January. It had the Bristol . postmark, and I believe it to be in Mrs. Smith's handwriting. It was directed to " Mr. John Lech, jun., Shirley, near Croydon, Surrey," and was as follows : " My ever dearest Friend.—Tl nv i n /c Jan uary Nth.g come into Bristol today with my friend Mrs. Isaacs, with whom T am DOW living at a farmhouso in the country. I was pleased to find a letter from you, as I feared not having heard from you for such a long time that you might have gone from your old home to some more distant part of the country. It being market day I came in, as I often do, to buy. a few things for my dear little children, a n d I shall be coming into Bristol again on Sunday, the alst, with my friend, and shall be returning again by the 5 minutes .before 7 train by myself to Wanly, where I live, and if you still care for me, as you say, I shall be glad to meet you at the Bristol and Birming ham platforin at a cpuirttr to 7; and then you will see with your own eyes that I am your own dear old friend Sally, tihen you can come on with me and stop in the village all niabt, and we can talk over matters together, and if you still wish to be honourable to me I shall be very grad to see you and to be yours for ever; but mind there must be nothing improper. I was sorry to Lear you say your poor mother was dead, and more so Ellen. I suppose you married her. I think you might have seen by the circumstance I mentioned in my last ante that it could be no other than your old and sincere friend sally ; therefore I shall subscribe myself as be fore, s, " P.S. Same address. Please write directly on re ceipt c f this, and get it posted in London en Friday night, If you can, as I shall call for the letters as I go thr - .ugh on Sunday morning. 4. Good bye for the present. If this does not reach you in time to write again, coins the following Sunday, Feb. 7, or fix some other ti me , and I will endeavour to meet yoq." I again wrote an answer to that letter, and directed it to the same address as before. I put it in the post. I said it was not convenient t o me to come on the Sunday (Feb. 7). I then received this letter (latel tram 3 0/ . I believe on the Monday (Feb. 1). I believe this letttr also to lie in Mrs. Smith handwriting. It was directed in the same way as the lac', and like both the precA3ing letters, was written on black-bordered paper, and in an enve lope of the same kind. The letter was as follows : "January 31. "Dear John,—l was glad to receive your kind letter this morning, though I must say 1 was disappointed that you did not come to-day. I long to hear the romancing stories you have to tell me, and to talk to you about our future prospects. I have not time to write to day, so shall only say that I wish you very much to come by the one o'clock train from Paddington next Wednesday, 3d of February ; it gets here at half-past five, and I will meet you at a quarter before seven at the Bristol and Birmingham station. As I said before, the trains on Sunday will be ill convenient, and they may be altered in February, so you must inquire about that ; and, be sides, next Sunday all the Isaacs will be at home, but on Wednesday next they will drive into the circus, and won't be back in the c mntry before 12. I can come with them and return by the' train I told you of, and we can have a chat to ourselves over all we have gone through since we last mot. If you wish you can get something at the hotel by the station. Dear John, as you don't say anything about marriage, and you know we have had a great many troubles before, I shall be glad if you would bring my letters with you, and we wi lat once settle it one way or the other, as we must nob trifle any more. You will get this to-morrow. Write directly, and I shall get it cn Wednesday, as before.—Yours ever affectionate, in baste, a s . I wrote a reply to that letter, and addressed it as before and put it in the post. I st ated I would go . by the train at 1 o'clock from Paddington, and would be at the Bristol and Birmingham station at the time appointed. I came to Bristol by the 1 o'clock down train oa Wednesday, the 3d of Feb ruary, and arrived at Bristol at 5 p.m. I brought with me an umbrella and small parcel. I went to the Bristol and Birmingham station about 20 minutes or a quarter to 7. When I had been ou the platform about five minutes I saw a gentleman go into the waiting room, who I thought was very mach like the person who had been pointed out to me as Mr. Smith. After waiting a few minutes I saw Mrs. Smith. When I saw her she was coming up the stairs to the platform, and I was looking over the top. The window of the waiting-room looks towards the stairs. The platform can ba seen from the waiting-room. Mrs. Smith was dressed in a dark grey shawl, and with widow's weeds. She was dressed as a widow with a grey shawl over her dress. I went part of the way down the steps to meet her. We then came back to the platform. Aft , r asking after her health, for I thought she looked very unwell, I asked her how long Mr. Smith had been dead. She said, "Six weeks. ' I said, "It is very s'range. While I was waiting on the platform, I saw a gentleman go into the room who I thought was so much like what I remembered of Mr. Smith." She ,aid, " How could you think that ? He has been dead six weeks." Her face was open. I don't remember seeing a veil. Her face could be plainly seen. I asked her where I was to get tickets for, when she said, "Yate." I had never been is Bristol before. When she said "Pate," I went and got two first-class tickets for Yate. I left her on the platform, and was away, I should think, five minutes. I was waiting fot the tickets, and she came down and sto )d near the bottom of the stairs. I then went with her into one of the first-class cat sieges. The train went to Tate without stoppage. After leaving the carriage, I was following the rest of the passengers. There were several others got out. Mrs. Smith was with me. I passed out with her through a gate where the other people were going. When she got out I was going the same way as the other persons, and she said there was another gate she wanted to go through. There was a fri 'nd named bases coming to meet her, in case I did not come by the train as was expected. We went to find the gate, but could not find it, for it was very dark. We had got close to it when the station master brought a light. She had net then said anything about the common. When the station master came up he said it would be impossible to cross that way across the common on so dark a night. I asked if there was no conveyance there we could get. I asked them both. Mrs. Smith said she was sure she could find her way ac oss the common, and expected a friend. She said she should know her way by a bridge, which was a little dis tance. The stationmaster showed - his light till,we got on the common. He then left us and went back. I continued to go on with her along a com mon. It was very dark indeed. It was not raining, but very dark. We had not gone I should think more than 150 yard, woen something occurred. I several times asked if she could find her way, and she said she could as soon as she could find the hedge. When we had got aboat 150 yards she called out, " We're lost." At that time I was feeling for the hedge with nay umbrella in front of me. I heard another voice, a man's, say, " I am lost, too." When I heard that I just turne I my head half round, and could see the shadow of some one ap proaching. When he came near me I received a very heavy blow on the back of nay head. I saw the man, but not his features. I saw something of rather a light colour in his hand about 15 or 18 inches in length. It was as thick as my wrist. I also received two or three blows on the front and other pa' to of my head with the same instrument. (The witness here exhibited several scars, one on his forehead, and the others on other parts of his head.) My hat got off, but I don't know how. It was not marked. The largest cut was the first. When I received the blows I closed with him, and caught him by the collar with my left hand, and his left wrist with my right. The last time I saw Mrs. Smith, before I was attacked, she was three or four yards off. When I closed we both fell ; he was undermost and I fell upon him. I kept my hold upon him, with my left hand on his collar, and I held his left band out straight with my right. At that time I noticed something in his left hand. I supposed at the time what he held in his hand was the bludgeon I was struck with. I called out " Murder," and " Help," and two or three men came from the station. Two lights were brought. Ore of the men lilted me off the prisoner. When the man was going away the light was going away, and my impression was that it was the same person whom I bad seen go in'o the waiting-room at Bristol. I cannot tell what Mrs. Smith was doing at the time I was attacked. I believe the man to have been the male prisoner, but I will not swear. Mr. Huddleston said there could bo no question about the identity of tin. prisoner. Examinaticn continued—When I was lifted up I could not stand. The blood was flowing from me. The man got up and went away almost directly. I said, " Stop that man ; he has nearly killed me." I saw him go to the woman, and put his hand to her back, as if h e p us h e d her •, and they went away off the common. At the time I had the parc?l with me, and lost it at the time of the struggle. I have since seen the articles which it contained in the possession of the policeman Wind mill. I have got the umbrella still. I dropped it in the struggle, but found it afterwards with the handle broken. I was afterwards attended by a surgeon for these wounds. I was taken to the Rail way Inn, at Pate, and remained there under medi cal treatment about eight days. I was ordered to keep my clothes on, and did so till the next day. Cross-examined by Mr. Huddlestan—l walked to the spot on Friday to look at the place. I did not go out on the Teurslay. I was engaged to my wife abDut 15 months before I was married to her. I can't tell when I was first engaged to he married to her. I should think it was about 1845. I first knew Sarah Mills (Mrs. Smith), I bel eve, in Dec., 1846. She was not a young creature of 10 at that time. I believe she was 17. I was three years older. It was a week or a fortnight before I went to Canterbury that I wrote to her. I believe I put both the rt lanes (Mills and Smito) in the letter, but I will not be sure. She proposed Can terbury as the place of meeting. It was she, not I, who proposed to go to Whitstable. I was not known at Canterbury, but she was. Her broth-r's wife was with her. It was at Canterbury she told me her husband had left her. I went to a private house at Whirwable. I went. oat fur a walk with Mrs. Smith. I are not sure whether I took a return ticket. I might have C:)2 - 114 home from the walk too late for the last train to Canterbury. We spent that night in the house. I shall decline to answer the question whether I had intercourse with her. I do debline. I have no particular reason, but Ido not wish to do so. I might have said that I would marry her at the end of seven years if she had no thing more to do with her husband. I don't re member saying it. I was as likely to say it at Canterbury as while I was on the walk. I will not swear I did not say it, hot I don't remember the conversation. This was in August. About a month or two after I met her in London. I went to her brother's hou se , a p )licerc.an. She cam e out and met rue several times about that time. She went down with me once to my house at Shirley to tea. My father and mother were present. I could not tell how many times I met her in October. I did no t have intercourse with her there (at Shirley). I s h all decline answer ing whether I had intercourse with her in London. (SQnsa,tion.) Her fat!ier lived at Waltham, about four miles from Canterbury.. Re-examined by Mr. Skinner—These matters about which I have declined answering took place in 1849. When I wrote to her at Canterbury I did not know she was married. Ido not know it now. Thomas Suffolk, tie station master at Yale, was called, and stated th a t th e pr i soner ' s f a ther was formerly Vicar of Sudbury, and that the male pri Boner Smith had long lived in the neighbourhood. The witness confirmed the evidence given by the prosecutor as to the arrival of the parties at Yate ; tar, as it was not disputed that the prisoners were but 1h re, and the only question was with what intent the, prisoner struck the .blows, itis unuecei:- sary to give his evidence at length. The witness said he lighted the prosecator and the lady over the stile, and that he saw a man going over the common in a different direction. The night was so dark that the witness wanted the prosecutor and the woman to go along the road. For some reason he listened, and in a few minutes heard a voice, and then another. He then heard a "crash," as if they had got on to the railway fence and broken it. The witness sent a man with a lamp to see if the fence was broken, and just afterwards the express train passed without stopping. The fence was not broken. He then went up to where the man Tilley had gone with his lamp on the com mon, and saw a man going away and the prosecu tor supported in a fainting state by a man named Heaven. A woman went away with the man over the common. The next morning he received the revolver from Heaven. It was in the same state in which it now is, capped and all. On the com mon there was a fox cover. Cross-examined by Mr. Huddleaton—lt was so dark I do not think t'ecy cr uld fled ''se cevcr. The pellet now there was on the revolver, under the hammer, where it now is. By the Judge.—They appeared to be going by the hedge. The fox cover is in another direction. Charles Heaven, examined by Mr. Cripps, gave similar evidence.—ln consequence of what the stationmaster said he listened, and heard a cry out on the common. There was a noise like some one breaking the fence, which he heard twice or three times. He took the light up to the spot, and was the first who got there. He saw two men on the ground, the one on the other, and a woman about ten or fifteen yards off. The top man held the other down on the throat by one hand, and his hand with the other. Leech was the man at the top, but I am not quite csrtain who the other was, but I believe it was the male prisoner. They were i n a very bloody state both of them. I could not see the blood flowing from the upper man. I threw myself at the top of both of them. I could not see that the under man had anything in k's hand. The woman came and tried to pull Mr. Leech off. A man named Owen came up, and soon afterwards a man named Tilley. When Leech the prosecutor was got off the other man got up and searched about the ground with his hand and foot. He had a great bludgeon stick in his right hand. When he got up the woman ran up to him. Leech kept hold of me, and said, "Hold this man, he has almost killed me." The other man was near enough to hear that, and said, "The first man that molests me I'll blow his brains out." I made a move towards him as if to arrest him when he said this. The st.ck was about as big round as my arm, and tapered down to the handle. He was holding it by the small end. The man and woman then went away. The night was very dark, and I did not see them again. The woman had hold of the man's arm. They went towards Westerleigh. Going in a line from the station to Waply a person would go near the fox cover. The next morning I found this revolver on the common in the same state in which it now is, with six caps on it. Cross-examined by Mr. Symons—The fox cover was about 200 yards from the gate. Henry Tilley, examined by Mr. Skinner, said, —After the parties (Leech and Mrs. Smith) went on the common I saw the other man go on the com mon. I noticed that he held his head rather down ward,. One of the men had a bludgeon in his hand. I tried to take it from him, but could not succeed. It was the prisoner (Smith). I saw him search on the ground with his hand. 1 held my lamp to the face of the woman, and saw it was the prisoner (Mrs. Smith). She was one or two yards from the man. I saw them go away together. Before they went away I saw him pick up a parcel. I did not pick up the umbrella. Charles Beak, examined by Mr. Cripps, said—l am a coal merchant living near Yate station. I saw the Rev. Samuel Smith (the prisoner) come from the station. I heard the call of " Murder." The next day I found some widow's weeds on the common ; I mean a cap. That was about 300 or 400 yards from the spot where the struggle was. I know the neighbourhood very well. There is no family named Isaacs who live at Waply ' • but there is some one of that name at Y a te, which is in quite An opposite direction to Waply. Cross-examined by Mr. Huddleston Mt. Smith's father was vicar of Chipping Sudbury. Elizabeth Aplin, examined by Mr. Cripps, said— In February last I was a seryant in the employ of the Rev. Mr. Smith (the prisoner) at Clifton. On the 3d of February they were at home to tea together. They went out between five and six o'clock. I took the tea in. I saw them bath take tea together. I did not see my mistress with a bonnet on that evening. The next time I saw them was in the morning. B-fore my maser went out ho told me to go to bed at ten o'clock. He said he was going out, and he did not know what time he should be at home. There is a latch to the door, and I think my master had a latch-key. The prisoners seemed to be on good, terms together before they went out. I had of - served that they seemed very happy togetker for two or three days or a week before Before that they did not live so happily together. About a month before I observed a change. I did nor hear them come home. It was not a u sual thing for my master and mistress to go out of an evening. I had been there nine months. Before the 34 February I had seen a stick in the house. It was rather a d irk red stick, about a yard long or more. I have seen it in the umbrella stand. It was a walking-stick. The other was rather larger round than the handle of the pistol. On the Gth Feb. I saw it in the garret. Cross-examined by Mr. Huddlestou—lt was a dark red stick. I have spoken to the policeman, Windmill, since I was examined. By the Judge—The other stick was of a light colour, and was a common light walking-stick. Emma Waller, examined by Mr. Gipps, said—l was nursery maid to Mr. Smith. On the evening of the 3d February the prisoners were at home at tea, and went out between 5 and 6. On the day before I heard my master say to my mistress, " You and I have an invitation out to-morrow night." They did not very often ge out together. I observed that a little before the 3d of February they were a great deal kinder to each other than they. generally were. In the afternoon of the 3d of February I heard my mistress tell the children she was going out to tea. The children mentioned several name , and she said " No." They had tea earlier than usual. The children asked her why she was going to have two teas. She answered that they would not drink tea till 8 o'c'ock. I saw her bonnet on the bed. All the family are in mourning. On the morn ing of the 3d Feb. I saw my mistress sew a piece of crape on her veil. She put it over her face, and asked me if I could see her face much through it. I told her no. Before my master went out he came and told me I was to go to bed at 10 o'clock and take the baby with me, and stay there in hie bed till they came home. I heard the front door shut between 5 and 6, but nearer G. I ob served my master was dressed in a blue flannel shirt and a black neck-tie. I had never Sat n him in a black neck-tie before, nor in a blue flannel shirt. Between 1 and 2 o'clock the next morning my mistress came and knocked at my door and awoke me, and told me I was to go upstairs. She went down and I prepared to go up. She came back again, and said I h a d b e tt er s t a y a li t tl e w hil e longer. While I was in that room I heard Mr. Smith go upstairs to the garret. He came down in five minuses. After he came down my mistress came and toll me I was to go upstairs direc ly. I heard him cough. I then went to my own bed and heard the clock strike 2. The next morning I went into their room about half-past 7, as usu-tl, to dress the children. I then saw my mistress's petticoats on the bed. They were very dirty and splashed with mud. One of the children said, " Mamma, how dirty you have got your petticoats l" She said papa and she kept slipping about last night. On the 6th Feb., Saturday afternoon, I saw my masers great coat in the garret. It had been put into water. There was black dirty water at that time in the bathing-tub. The coat was hail-mourning. On the 4th Feb. I saw my mistress washing her petti coats and pocket handkerchief and master's neck tie and pocket handkerchief in the kitchen. I had not known her wash things out before. I saw the blue shit t when the policeman came, and observed it had a spot of blood on the shoulder. Cross-examined by Mr. Huddleston—The other servant was upstairs. There are four children, the eldest seven, and the others younger. Mr. Smith had 16 or 17 pupils—three boarders, and the o' hers day scholars. The pupils sat in the schoolroom in the evening. There was no assistant. Mr. and Mrs. Smith seldom went out together. Chas. Gale, examined by Mr. Cripps, said--I am a cooper at Wickwar. There is a station at Wick war,:, about 4i miles from Tate, and further from Bristol. On the evening of Feb. 3, about half-past 9, the male prisoner and a woman came to my house. He said his wife was with him, and wan ted a convey ance to take him to Bristol. He said he had heenat tacked by two men about half a wile from a turn- pike. There is a turnpike about half a mild from Wickwar, on the road to Yate. I took them to Mr. Robinson's. Smith had a paper parcel with him, covered with blood. At Robin .on's I saw blood on him. I asked him how he got it. Ile said he had got off without a scratch. 1 saw blood on his face. Re said he had been attack e d by tw o men , b u t h e got two stones , an d th rew one , w hi c h he iippozed stunned on e man , as he saw no more of him, and that the other seized him immediately ; that a scume ensued, an d h e f e ll b ackward on the top of him ; that be kept one of the stones in his hand, and bruised his head with it. I offered to go for t!.3 police. Ile said he did not think it was worth while, as he had come off so well, and it would cause extra expAise. The woman was prew,r t all the while, and said she had never witnessed such a scene before. He said if he had a pistol he would have shot him as soon as he would a fox. Elizabeth Franklin, examined by Mr. Cripps, said—l am an assistant in Mr. Robinson's shop, at Wickwar, and was present when the conversation between the prisoner and last witness took place. The account he has given of it is correct. The woman had a black veil on. The man said they were bound to get into Bristol that night, and that his name was Henry Johnson, and lived at No. 7, Wilson-street, St. Paul's. Tue prisoners are the same persons. Thomas Webb, the servant to Mr. Robinson, proved that on the night in question he drove a gentleman and lady to the White Hart, in the old market, Bristol. They arrived there at one o'clock in the morning. Oliver Lasbury, a bookseller in Park-street, Bristol, said he knew the prisoner, and that on the 25th of January last a card was brought to him by a boy named Locke with some writine on it in the prisoner's handyvritiug, as foltows :—" M.S., Mr. Lasbury's, Park-street,, Bristol." Some surprise was here occasioned by its ap pearing that the letters were not " 5.M.," as in Mrs. Smith's letters, but " M.S." I received 10 or 12 letters altogether from Mr. Smith. On one day I received three. I received no other card. The card was brought by Locke, a pupil of Mr. Smith's. f had lett Ts firma him before with initials. Some letters came for Mr. Smith with letters "S. M." and "M. S." One lot of three came, which I gave to Locke, one addressed in fell and the others with initials. Others came two or three days afterwards, which I gave to Mr. Smith. I also sent two to him. I know one or two were addressed " S. M." G. M. Locke said, in January and February last he was a pup lof Mr. Smith. He took the card produced to Mr. L .sbury's by Mr. Smith's direc tion. It was on the 25th of Jan., the Princess Royal's marriage d-ay. Mr. Smith said if any letters came there they were to be left, and witness would call again. He called in a day or two, and there were no letters. He called again and there were three—one for "S. M.," one f "M. 5.," and another for the Rev. Samuel Smith. It was on a Saturday. fie gave one to Mre. Smith, and sent the others in to Mr. Smith by one of the boys. She took all three, and chose one, and put it in her pocket, and gave me ter) back. Robert Neville said—l am assistant to Mr. Gibbs, gunwale r, Csrn-street, Bristel. I remems her on Jan. 26 a gentleman called to look at some pistols. It was about half-past 7in the evening. I believe it was the male prisoner. He called again on the Monday evening, Feb. 2. On the second occasion:he purchased a pistol similar to this one. He wished me to load it for bins. I loaded all six chambers with powder and ball. He purchased a box of caps. I did not put the caps on. I said it was unsafe to carry them, and he had batter put them ou himself. I put a pellet under the hemmer and told him it was to keep the hammer off the nipple while it was loaded. The pellet might be knocked out by pulling the trigger, and a pusu with the finger would send it out. I made out an invoice for the pistol, and he gave a name, I think Hicks, but am not certain. I am certain it was not Smith. I thong t he was a clergyman, and I said— ci R ae . ?" and he said, "Oh, no," and I wrote " Esq ' after his name. The witness added that in the state the pistol was now in it was not ready for use, but the wadding must be removed. Downton Lemon, a surgeon of Sorlbury, proved that he was called to attend the prosecutor, and found him with two wounds, one oa the fore part and the other on the back part of the head. The hair was saturated with blood, but he was not faint ing. Directed him to remain on the sofa during the night, and not to take his clothes off. That was to prevent fainting. Attended him for eight days. Cross-examined by Mr. Huddlestoti—l know the prosecutor went out on Friday. The wounds were not dangerous to life, and would not indicate any thing serious. I knew the prisoner's father, the vicar of Sodbury. The prisoner had been teacher in a school before he went to college. He support ed himself at college, took a cVtgree in honours, and obtained a scholarship. _Re-examined—l have known the prisoner. William Wiadmill, police man, produced some articles which he found at the prisoner's house on Feb. 4, in a wardrobe in a room. The prosecutor was here recalled, and identified the things as his property, which he had in the par cel on the nigat he was attacked. Edwin Russell, another policeman 2 said he ap prehended the p r i soners at their houseeuse on this charge. After they were apprehended the male prisoner said to his wife, "If they ask you any questions don't say anything." Or oss-examined—Teat W4B on Thursday, Feb. 4. He was taken before the aragiara es on the 11th, and was out on bail in the meantime. By the Judge—Mr. Mirehouse, the magistrate, admitted him to bait. This wa+ the case for the prosecution. The Rev. Mr. Smith then addre.sed the jury from a written statement which - he held in h's hand. He said he should have to tell the jury of his shame and of his wrongs, and to give the history of his marriage. He would not c)nceal the truth, but would reveal every circumstance that might lead the jury tr a relit conclusion. Ho hoped the jury would net be led away by the calumnies which had been so industriously fabri cated and circtrated against him, and that they would deal justly by him in the dis charge of their sacred duty. In September, 1843, he first met his wife and proposed marriage, being told that she had been in service at Swan and Edgar's, and was going to another situation. He would have married her at once but for his circum stances ; but he had been obliged to labour for his support since the age of 15. Me had gone to Cam bridge, where 'he gained a scholarship, and lso , came senior optima iu 1848. He married his wife in July, 1819, but did not take her home, because, as master of the 131, hop's school at Bristol, he had but 1001. a year. He therefore thought it better to leave her for a time with her friends in Kent, where he engaged to pay far her boar 1. His wife wanted to come to him ; but as he was still read ing for holy orders, he could not receive her in his lodging, and proposed that she should go to boar d at a milliner's at Bristol. After stating some more circumstances, the prisoner went on to state that ultimately his wife came to live with him it Clif ton, in lodgings which he took for her. In 1851 she was confined in her friend's house in Kent, and again in 1852 ; and then she took a house, when a third child was born, in 1854. He then resigned his situation at Bishop's College, and opened a school of his own, when ho had a fourth child born. He did duty in several places in the neighbour hood, and was making about 4001. when ten cala mity came upon him, and a terrible dis dosure was brought to his knowledge. He had often observed that there was a melancholy about his wife, and she would sigh on his bosom and tell him that she was not worthy of him. He had of ten complained of her staying so much in Keut, and there must be some reason for her melancholy, though he could not tall what it was. She once told him of a letter she had received from the man Leech, and men tioned other circumstances which tended rather to excite hi. je dousy. But lie overlooked it as she contieue.d to bear him children and managed the house welt. At length, on the 22d of January last, she told him something which made him very un happy, but he said lie would forgive her it she would take an oath that nothing had happened since their marriage. Sae then knelt down and told him of the circumstances under which the prosecutor Leech induced her toj meet him at Canterbury and committed adul tery with her, and that Leech afterwards met her in London and promised that if she would go and live with aim he would marry her in seven years. The prisoner then proceeded to give a graphic description of his wife on her knees with her child en round her, imp o f eg.v,ness. The idea racked his mind that perhaps the children were not his own. His wife, however, assured him that she had never done anything wioug since she had been living with him, and as he believed she had told him the truth, he promised to forgive her afrer that discovery. He dwelt upon the wrongs which had been done him, till he forgot everything but himself. But he told his wife that he would forgive her if slle Would Ining the man to Bristol, iu order that li might retaliato. He &signed, as ho (Leech) had lured I.ls wifi, to Whitstable for his lu , t, he (the prsom,r) would lure the pcosecutor to Yate, and there give him a sound thrashing. It was under his direction hid wife wroto the letters, . _ which he dictated. liethen;tated how he h~Ld in sisted on his wife writing the letters, and disguising herself, as she had do!ie, on the promise which he made her that he would not do Leech any serious injury. He bought the revolver for his own protec tion in o Ise the prosecutor siiould draw a knife upon .... .. . Lite ; but Lie solemnly denied that he had ever in fix., had he done so, he would not have acted as ho tended to ue th© had, so as to Lad. to his detection. his only oh Pivol ag , ressively again; t Lerch, ject was to do what he had dons—Viz., to give Loch a good hewing, in order to solace his ,out raged mind. He owned that he could Lot justify his conduct, which he should a l wa ys deeply lament; but he hop d his condu c t wou 'd Le justly appre- eiated by the judge and jury, who could not Glame over come his wholo being. He implo:ed the jury to him fur the burning indignation which Lad put themselves in his place, and ask themselves what redress the laws of the land and courts of jnwie3 could have giveu him. Ho took the law into his own hand, but who could d..thy that he had sinned against human nature, or that Leech had had mord th.au he deserved? • Tha jury might find him guilty of an assault if they would, but he implored them not to find him guilty of a felony, which would ruin his prospects in life, and deprive his children of their bread. Mr. Iluddleston then proceeded to address the jury on behalf of the female prisoner, whom be des cribed as the victim of the seducer(Leech), when but a child of 16 or 17 years. After the marriage the prosecutor had still pursued her, and would not allow her to take a respectable position in life. Ile found her out when she was staying with her friends in Kent, and, though it pleased him to decline to answer the question, the jury could not for a mo ment doubt that he had committed the crime of adultery wits the young woman. At that very tine he knew she was a married woman, for he admitted that he had addresseda letter to her in her marrir d name, and the fact that he promised her, if she would live with him, he would marry her in seven years showed the same. It was all very well for the prosecutor to enjoy the immunity of the w t ness-box, while the prisoner's mouth was closed in the silence of the dock ; but the posi ion of the prisoners was preferable to the infamy of that man. who did not dare to deny his guilt, because there were people in th tt house at Whitstable who could have contradicted him. The learned counsel pro ceeded to contend that the male prisoner never in tended to murder the prosecutor, for if he had done co he could have done it without difficulty. At the most, his offence only amounted to unla ft.lly wounding, as there was nothene to show that he intended to inflict grevious bodily harm, or to do more than give the prosecutor a good thrashing. With respect to the female prisoner, the learned counsel observed that the law presumed that in a case of tris sort the wife was ac ing u .der the coer clot' of her husband, though th tt fact might b 3 re butted if she was found acting alone. He then commented on the facts of the case, to show that in writing the letters and in everything she did she was acting under the authority, and even in the eyesight of her husb Ind, and upon that ground he contended she was entitled to acquittal Tee learned gent' , man then said that he asked nothing from mercy, but he believed the jury would yield nothing to prejudice; and he called upon them , o do justice to titter feelings as men by saying that she was not guilty. Mr. Baron Channell having summoned up the evidence, the jury found loth the prisoners guilty of cut ing and wounding with intent to di.digure and to do grievous baddy harm, hut they added that the female prisoner hal committed no actual vio lence, and that she had acted throughout under the coercion of her husband. His L irdship deferred passing sentence till the morning, and said he would adwit the woman to bail, and rt serve the point in her favour. HOME CIRCUIT.—KINGSTON, APRIL 6. (More Mr. Justice Williams and a Common Jury.) BAKER V. FANCITTT. This was an action to recover damages for a ma licious prosecut on. Mr. Pearce was counsel for the plaintiff ; Mr. Montagu Chambers, Q.C., and Mr. A. H. Siuton for the defendant. The case was of rather a peculiar character. The plaintiff was a young woman in a humble position of life, a domestic servant, and she sought to re cover damages from the defendant for hiving falsely accused her of perjury, under these circum stances :—According to her evidence she met the (I ,, fendant, who is an elderly man, married, and living with his wife at the time in the Regent's park, one eveeing in the mouth of June, 1854, and he entered into conversation with her, and, find ing she was out of a situation, he promised to get her a place. After they had talked to 4 ether some time he proposed that they should have some re freshmcut, and he took her to a public-house, where she had a glass of wine, and he eventually induced her to assent So accompany him to a hou-e of ill-f tine, and the plaintiff all , iged that this was the first time she had b ien gui ty of similar mis conduct. It appear e d th t t ater this the defend ant introduced the plaintiff to his daught,T, and reconimen fed her as a servant, and she continued in her service for some time, and in F. b. 1855, she was &livered of a male child. The defendant, who, it appeared, carries on the business of a builder at Camden-town, for some time gave the plaint ff money ; but upon his failing to do so, she summoned him before the magi,tra,tes at Wands• worth, and they made an order that he should pay half-a-crown a week for the child. He complied with this order for several won hs, but at length he be3atne iu arrears, and upon his being pressed for payinenr, lie &Amu° i a summons against the plain tiff; calling upon her to appear before the Wands worth Bench to answer a charge of having com mitte 1 wiliul and corrupt p-irjuy on the evidence given by her to support the order of affiliation. This summons was dismissed by tile magistrate, and the present action was brimght to recover damages from the defendant for having, as was alleged, maliciouvly pref•rred this charge against the plain tiff. The plaintiff, a young woman f•f* very ordinary appearance, wa4 examin-d, and she proved a great many of the above fac•s, and swore po=itlvely that it w:ts in the month of June, 1854, that she first met the d , fendAnt, and she also stwed that after he hLd obtained he , the situlti.m as servant to his dau4hier he visited her, and ihe illicit intercourse be wean them was o)nt'nuA in the daug,hter's house. The defend int, a man over 50 years of age, and of scantified appearance, was called as a wine=s, and h admitted having belt) " irapru !ent" in his mtsexion with the pl,intiff, but ho asserted that the intercourse first commenced in the iinonth of September, and therefore he could have had no right to claim paternity to the infant. The cross-examination of tha witness caused a great deal of laughter. He denied having given hiniself out t ) b: , a man who went about trying to reclaim young girl, but he admitted that it was his practice to endeavour to induce young women he met in the streets to leave off their evil courses and go to some penitentiary. Mr. Justice Williams inquired whether was to understand that the witness was in the habit of asking every prostitute he met to do this ? The witness said he did not refer particularly to prostitutes, but his observation principally applied to girls whom na..,t without any shoes on. Mr. Pearce (to the witness)—Theo your practice i s , if you meet a girl without any shoes on, to ac cost her and advise her to go to a penitentiary. The witness s lid it was. In answer to further questions; defendant ad mitted that he had continued the illicit intercourse with the plaintiff after she was in his daughter's service, but denied that it took place in the house of his daughter, and said it only occurred on two occas i on s, and - then she went out with him. Another witnesi swore that the first interview between thio defendant and the plaintiff occurred in September, and it also appeared that the defendant had paid 351. to settle an action for seduction that had been b. ought against him by the plaintiff's father. Mr. Chambers, in summing up the defendant's case, admitted that he had acted immorally and improperly in regard to his contiexion with the plaintiff, but urged that he had already bet-n suffi ciently puni-hed, aid that the present action was merely an endeavour to extort more money from him. He then called the attention of the jury to the evidence that had beeri adduced on behalf of the defendant, and contmde 1 that it had pt en clearly established that he c not have been the father of the cLiild iu question, and that there were per fecly leg,d ground.; for the charge he-bad preferred against t:ie plaint ff. _ The learned Judge having summed up, the jury after a short deliberation, returned a verdict for the defendant. THE RED SEA TRANSPORT SERVICE. At the beginning of last month the course of the transport service on the Red Sea was inter rupted by an incident which brought the military authorities; into collision with the Peninsular and .Oriental Company. Statements of the case on bith sides have beer; pub!istied, and considerable official corr« sp ndence has passed on rho subject. From that eerresponclonee the facts as they appeared to the military officers may be briefly stated. A det-Ichment of the 92d fligohnders, under the command of Lim enant-Colenel Mackenzie, bad arrived at Suez, en route for Aden and Point do Galle, and on the Ist of March had been embarked on hoard the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Pottinger to proceed on the voyage. The Pottinger is also a passenger steamer, and the extent of accommodation required on that account appears to have lessened tLe space allotted to the troops, and otherwise to have rendered it unavailable. An inspection of the provisions on hoard also proved very unsatisfactory, as the inspecting officers declared the biscuit and, in a less degree, the pork to be of inferior ,quality to what the troops had a right to expect. (Jul. Mackenzie tberefere resolved to transfer the detachment to another steamer, the Columbian, duly •reporiieg the step taken to the Deputy-Quartermaster-G2n oral at Alexandria. The report states that the waist of the Pottinger was small, filthy, and encurnb,Ted with live stock for the passengers; that the men could be placed there for the voyage was impossible ; this deficiency of space, added to the inferiority of the provisions, determined Col. Mackenzie to transfer the troops to another vessel. _ Previous to doing so, however, he took the opinion of the senior naval officers and Admiralty agent on the station, Captain F. H. Stevens, as to the condition of the Potting Er. The officers of that vessel and some of the uon-railital y pauengerpi were diasatified with the inspection, also with the consequent detention, and raised some reports re specting the conduct and discipline of the detach ment, which Colonel Mackenzie declares to have b:en wholly without foundation. ' Captain Stevens, the Admiralty agent of the Columbian, at the request . of Col. Mackenzie, in spected the Pottinger. It should be stated that the Columbian belongs to the European and Australian Company's line of steamers, while the Pottinger is one of the Peninsul.trand Oriental ships. Cap ain Srevens,'as a naval officer, assisted the military au thority with hismarine exp:rience and the inspec tion of a vessel of one company by au officer from the ship of a rival line seems - to have occasioned some amount of ill-feeling, which tie correspond ence no ices, but without giving any details. Ensign Hope Johnstone alleges that Leut. Morrell, the Admiralty agent on board the Puttinger, did not behave to him in a manner becoming a gentleman bearing her Majesty's uniform. But the main point is that the inspection made by Cipt. Stevens con firmed the conclusion of Col. Mackenz e that the Pottinger was not in such a sta e of preparation as to justify him in commencing the v..yaee with the 235 men under his charge. Uapt. Stevens descr-b the deck of the steamer as too small, fr om the space occupied by cattle pens, cabins, and the large en gine room hatchway, that it was in a very filthy stato ; the little space available was very im perfectly protected from ra n by awn'ng4 that did not meet. The only me .n of cooking pro vided wore not sufficient even fit 50 men. With the ordinary passenkrs, the large native crew, and above 200 troops, the vessel would have b en too crowded for such a voyage—a fait the master admitted—though the Pottinger had during the Persian war conveyed doub'e • - the number of men ; but on that service she carried no other passengers. Captain Stevens coudenans the stare of the steamer decidedly, but as to the quality of the provisions he states that the biscuit only was bad ; the sale meat, on examin ing half-a-dozen casks, was found very good; he declares, in justice to those who supplitd it, that " he had never seen better in 2t years of naval ser vice." As the Columbian was not prepared for the emergency, the master of the Puttinger was requested " for the g•)od of the service," to supply the vessel so suddenly put in requi sition with some extra stores. This was pro mised, but not effecte , Lieutenant Morrell, as Admiralty agent, refusing to detain the Po finger for the tine required to trans-snip them. Daring the neg ttiatioris on this point the instances of Lieu tenant Morrell's disrespect to his supetior officer and to Ensign H. Johnstone are alle;ed to have occurred. Finally, the Pottinger pr. ce .ded on her voyage, leaving the military commanders and the troops on board the Columbian in " a remark ably awkward position ;" but the agent of the Pen insular and Oriental Company was induced to supply the wants of the Columbian from the shore, and she left Suez with her unexpected freight, with the loss of only 1.2 i hours beyond the time of her ord:nary departure. From the London Gazette of I. - st Night. LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, APRIL 5. Notice is hereby given, that her Majesty will hold Levees at St. James's Palace on the following days, at two o'clock : —Wednesday, the 11th inst., and Wednesday, the 28th inst. LORD CHAMBERLAIN' i OFFICE, Arrar. 5. Notice is hereby given, that her Majesty will hold Drawing-Rooms at St. James's Palace, on the following days, at two o'clock : —Thursday, the 22(1 instant, and Thursday, the 6th of May next. FOREIGN-OFFICE, APRIL 6. _ _ _ It is hereby notified that the Loris Commissioners of the Admiralty have received a despatch from Rear-Admi ral Sir M. Seymour, K.C.8., commanding her Majesty's naval forces at Ca, ton, dated from on board her Majest%'s ship Calcutta, at Hong Kong, 11th February, 1858, in which he states that the blockade of the port and river of Canton was raised by the allied forces of her Majesty and of his Majesty the Emperor of the French on the 10th Fe bruary, 1858. _ WHITEHALL, APRIL 3. The Qneen has been pleased to grant unto the Rev. Wil liam John Chesshyre, M. A., the place and dignity of a Canon of the Metropolitical Church of Canterbury, void by the cession of the Rev. Arthur Panrhyn WHITEHALL, APRIL 5. - The Queen has been pleased to present the Rev. Adam Inch Ritchie to the church and parish of Fettercairn, in the presbytery of Fordoun, and county of Kincardine, vacant by the death of the Rev. lexan ter Whyte. DOWNING-STREET, APRIL 5. The Queen has been pleased to appoint George Samuel Woodley Wattley, Esq., to be Colonial Secretary for the Island of Nevis ; Henry Nicholas D. Beyts, Esq., to be ono of the District Magistrates for the Island of Mauritius, and Elenry Von Schellebeck, Esq., to be one of the Dis trict Clerks for the Island. - REDUCTION OF THE NATIONAL DEBT. The Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury having certified to the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, in pursuance of the Act, 10 Gen. 4, c. 2,', sec. 1, that the actual surplus revenue of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, beyond the actual exp,nditure thereof, for the year ended the 31st day of Decernb!r, 1857, amounted to the awn of thirty-six thou sand and ninety-seven pounds eight shillings and four peoce. _ _ The Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt hereby give notice, that the sum of nine thousand and twenty-four pounds seven shillings and one penny, being one-fourth part of the said surplus of thirty-six thou sand and ninety-seven pounds eight shillings and four pence, will be applied, under the provisions of the said Act, between the 6th day of April, 1858, and the 30th day of June, 185'8, to the following purposes, viz. : To be applied towards the reduction of the NatiOt::ll Debt £9,024 7 1 Add Interest receivable on account of Donations and Bequests, to be applied to the purchase of stock £12,502 9 8 A. Y. SPEARMAN, Comptroller General. National Debt Office, March 29, 1853. WAR-OFFICE, APRIL G. 16th Regiment of Foot—General Sackville Hamilton Berkley, from the 75th Foot, to be Colonel, vice Major- Gen ,, r,l Cecil Bisßhopp, C. R. deceas€d. 75th Regiment of Foot--Major General St. John Augustus Clerke to be Colonel, vice General Berkeley, removed to the 16th Foot. COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY LORDS LIEUTENANT WiltAire—Wm. Arthur Heathcota, Elq., to be Deputy Lieutenant. 4th or Duke of Lancaster's Own (Light Infantry) Regi ment of Royal Lancashire Militia—Ensign Edwin Rickard Lloyd to be Lieutenant, vice John Robert Leigh, resigned; Henry Edward Butler, Gent., to be Ensign, vice James Hardcastle, resigned. Warwickshire Militia, 2d Regiment--George Dixwell Grimes, Gent., to be Ensign, vice Charles Atty, promoted. lit or Western Regiment of Norfolk Militia—Ensign Wm. Herring, to be Lieutenant, vice Tegart, resigned. 2d or Eastern Regiment of Norfolk Militia —James W. Crow, Gent., to ba Assistant-Surgeon, vice \Vil ism Jay, appointed to her Majesty's Regular Forces. . . - sth Regiment of West York Humby, Gent., to be Ensign ; William Waddington, Gent., to be Enziffn. _ _ Tho following article is substituted for that which ap peared. in the G azette of 231 March last : Prince Albert's° .vn Leicest-rshire Volunteer Cavalry— Cornet Hugh Stratford S , tz afford to be Captain Lieutenant, vice Brooks, resigned ; John Bainbrigge Story the younger, Gent., to be Cornet, vice Stratford, promoted. BANKRUPTS. Chal Fisher Itichsrds.)n, victualler, Stoke Newington, to surrender, Apr2lls, at twelve, and May 14, at half-past twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Thomas Dove, chemist and druggist, Clay Cross, Derby• shire, April 17 and May 29, at ten, at the Leeds District Court. Thomas Plu.nmer Cfaven, painter, Scirborough, April 2) and May 11, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Henry Morris, iron merchant, Tipton, Staffordshire, Awn 19 and May 10, at ten, a t the Birmi ng h am Di s t r i ct Court. John Powell and Thomas Powell, awl bade makers, Birmingham, April 17, awl May 6, at half-past eleven, at the Birmingham District CJurt. George Bennett, outfitter, Whitechapel, April 19, at two, and May 14, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Charles Phenix, brewer, Ruabon, Denbigh, April 20, and Mar 10, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. lt,bert Frost, stationer, Teignmouth, April 14, and May 13, at eleven, at the Exeter District Court. Willatt and Williams, earthenware manufacturers, Stoke-upon-Trent, April 17 and May 6, at half-past eleven, at the Birmingham District Court. Jacob Wicks, broker, Bristol, April 19 at twelve, and May 17 at eleven, Bristol District Court. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. Andrew Gardiner, farmer, Foulsykes, Lanarkshire. Archibald Young, merchant, Leith. Duncan Wilkie, farmer, Howdeu, Roxburghshire. Robert Jack, tinplate worker, Glasgow. John Martin Banks, auctioneer, Dundee. Laurence M`Laren, plumber, Stirling. John Morrison, painter, Perth. Robert Ilamilton, grocer, Stonbouse, Lanarkshire, Robert Ross, farmer, BroAtnire, Aberdeenshire. White, Fairweather and Company, silk mercers, Aberleen. NAVAL PRIZE MONEY. Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy, Admiralty, Somerset-House, April 1, 1858. Notice is hereby given to all persons interested therein, that preparations aro now makinz for the intended distri bution of proceeds arising from the schooner, Name tin captured on the sth August, 1857, by her Ma jesty's ship Myrmidon. Agents or other pr.rsons having any just and legal dem and unliquidated againat the said proceeds, are required to transmit the particulars of any such demand to the Regis trar of time High Court of Admirilty, in order that the same may be examined, taxed. and allowed by that Officer, and paid under the sanction of the Judge of the said Court. Agents and all other peons boldin; powers of Attorney, prize orders, assignments, or other instruments, by virtue of which they may be legally entitled to claim the share belonging to any captor, aro requested, with as little d e lay as possible, to transmit the same, accompanied by the usual documents, to the Priz 3 Branch of the Depart ment of the " Accoun , aut-General of the Navy, Admi ralty, Somerset-house." Due notice will be given, by futura advertisements in the London . G'a.:(tie of theda,re proposed for the commencement of distribution ; at the same time, the amount of an iudividua's share in the respective classes will be an nounced. BIRTHS AND DEATHS IN LONDON. The total number of deaths registered in London in the week that ended on Saturday, April 3, was 1,374. In the t , ri years, 1848 57, the average number of deaths in the weeks corresponding with last week was 1,392, but as the deaths of last week occurred in an increased population, they should be compared with the average, after the latter has been raised proportionally to the increase, a correc tion which will make it 1,531. The deaths now returned are, therefore, less by 157 shall the nnna ber which the average rate of mortality would have produced. - The registration of last week exceeds that of the previous week to the extent of 106 deaths ; but the excess arises from deaths, on which iuquests had been held, having been enter, d in the registers in more than their due proportion, at the end of th e quarter, and no t f rom an increased 'ate of mortality. This will he evident when it is stated that cases in which rone itis, `pneumonia, and asthma were fatal, declined in the two weeks from 271 to 258; whereas deaths produced by mechanical or chemical injuries increa-ed from 50 to 113. The same ex piauationapplies to an recreaseof "sudden" deaths, of whi.dr the cause is unascertained or not defined, from 14 to 27. The mor ally from hooping-cough has declined in the last three weeks according to the fol owing numbers-83, 72, and 66. The mean temperature rose in the third week of March to 43 d-g. ( , hich is higher by 15 deg. than it had been in the earlier part of the month) ; but in the last two weeks the air has not been so warm, the means having been 47 deg. and 45 deg. Measles, from whirr 59 children died, of whom 31 were under two years of age, is exceedingly fatal in the Royal Military Asylum, Chelses, where six boys, whose ages varied flour six to ten years, died from the complaint, 2 on the 26th ult., 2 on the 27th, lon the 28th, and lon the 29th. A young man aied in the same institution, on the 25th, of rheumatic fever. Three children died of measles in the sub-district of Christchurch, Marylebone, 3 in Bow, and 3 in St. James, Bermondsey. Two persons died of destitution on the same day, March 31: a seaman, aged 56 years, in St. Bar tholomew's Respite], and the wife of a labourer, aged 40, in the workhouse, St. Margaret, West minster. Of 113 violent deaths included in the present return, 100 occurred accidentally, 3 were by murder or manslaughter, and 10 by suicide. The three olde-t individuals who paid the debt of nature, were aged respectively 93, 94, and 96 years. _ _ Last week the births of 872 boys and 863 girls, in all 1,735 children, were registered in Loudon. In the teu correipondiug weeks of the years 1848-57 the average number was 1,801. Country Markets. LIVERPOOL, APRIL 6. During the week our imports have been moderate of ail articles, still the trade continues very inactive, and prices remain unaltered, though the tendency is downwards. There was a fair attendance at our market this morning, with a better general demand for wheat at prices of this day se'nnight. Flour was rather neglected, but cannot be quoted cheaper. Oats the turn dearer, and meal steady. Barley, beans, and peas firm without change in price. lodi,n corn in poor demand, and the turn in favour of buyers. Black Sea, ;,;44 to 34s 6d; American new, mixed and yellow, 33s 6d; old, 33s 9d to 345; white, 338 6d. LEEDS—APRIL 6. Farmers' wheat in very short supply, and Saturday's prices fully supported. South country and foreign wheat in better demand, at a slight improvement on Saturday's prices. Flour firmer. Barley scarce and higher. Oats steady sale, and more - money paid. NEWCASTLE —Aram 6. The supplies of grain are limited. There is a good attend. al) ce of buyers, and all useful wheats are in fair demand, at fully Is per quarter a d vance f rom F r id ay ' s rates. The inquiry flags for barley, and sale slow at former prices. Beans and oats fully as dear. Other articles before. Averages for the week : Wheat, 413 4d Oats, 25s 2id I Peas, 42s Od. Barley, 35s 10d I B eans , 39 s 60 Rye, —s Od. NORWICH CATTLE—Arm 6. The show of f.•t beasts were small and the sales were dull, fully one fourth remaining unsold Fat beasts, 7s to 7s 6d ; prime, 8s Od per stone ; being about same as last week. sheep, 42s to 41e per head, and good store pigs IBs to 245. Fat pork, 5s to 6s 6d ; 8s 6d per stone of 1411 a. COURSE OF EXC HAN GE. -YESTEEDA.T. .insterdam.. . . 11 16 Gibraltar •• •• •• Ditto, three months 11 174 i Leghorn .. •• . • 29 80 gotterdim .......• .. 11 17% G enoa ..... 26 57% Antwerp 25 Han ......•• ....... 3 russels 25 37'i Venice .........• ............ 13 614 !Tapia , • ...... ........ 41 Alicna ..•• • • Palermo .... .... 125 Paris•• ........ 215 10 Messina .. ..f. Do. three months .. 25 37% Maus'lles ... ...• .• 25 40 Bourdeaux ..•• ...... Frankfort-on- vlaine ..., 118% Lisbon .......... .... 51% Oporto •• •• •• •e •• •• •• 51% Rio Janeiro ...... •• -- Buenos Ayres...• •• .• .. New York,6o days' sight Vienna ..........•• .... 10 33 Trieste.... 10 30 Petersburg 3556 Madrid .. 49 Cadiz •• •• •• ••• 49 % Ilt‘reelona . Seville.• •••• .• •• . •• Philadelphia .......... PILICRA OR BULLION, PER OZ; Foreign Gold In Bars £3 17 9 iPortugal Gold Coln 00 0 mexican Dollars ..... 0 0 0 New Dollars 0 0 0 Silver ui bars 0 5 1 k LOCAL SHARE MARKIITA LIVERPOOL-APRIL 6. STOCK EXCHANGE—The market opened quiet and be. came firmer, closing at the best, with little doing. Birken heads, 69. 70—Caledonians, 434 A —Chester and Holy heads, 184 fi —Eastern Counties, 111 13-16 —East Lan cashire, 864 7 i —Great Western. 584 8 4—Lancashire and Yorkshire, P , 84 London and North Western, 94 Shefields, 363 —.s.lidlands, 934 4—N or th British, 12i 4 Berwicks, 22, 34 York and North Midland, 361 7 Leeds Northern, 234 A—Dovers, 214 3-16—Dutch Rhenish, die.—Grand Trunk of Canada, 11 13-16 15-16 --Great Western of Canada, 19i. et IN, APRIL 6. STOCK EXCHANCIR BIRM . —Thi GHAM nr s iTk was tolerably brisk to-clay, and prices Arm. South Staffords were done at In London and North Westerns closed at 93A—Shropshire Unions at 46Great Westerns, 57 to 58,i—Great Western Birmingham Guaranteed Stock, 74. mANCHESTER, APRIL 6. - - STOCK ExCHANGE.—The market opened firmer, aed a fair business was done at the improvement. Prices, how ever, were a shade e 'Bier at the close. Sheffields, 36a Ditto Preference, 121—Dovers, 21—Midlands, 93d--Lon dons, 94—Eastern Counties, 111-Leeds, 88 f —Great Western of C ana d a , new , 2 I-ithi.—caledonisni, 86h —Grand Trunks, 11 13.16—Birkenhead Stock, 79. LEEDS, APRIL 6. STOCK EXCHANGE. North- Westerns, 8} North Eastern, Yorlo 7 4—Midlands, 931 4 i—L eeds, 884 — North-Eastern (Berwick), 91k. BIRTHS. GORRINGE—On the 17th ult., at Port Louis, Mauritius,, the wife of J. Gorriuge, Esq., M.D., Surgeon of H.R.'s 4th (the King's Own) Regiment, of a son. Bitommow—On the 23d Jan., at Almorah, the wife of Capt tin Charles St. George Brownlow, 8.N.1., of a sou. SHUBRICIL—On the sth Feb., at Sydapett, Madras, the wife of Charles Shubriek, Esq., M.C.S., of a son. DRAINER—On the 21st Feb., at Haltier, near Irizagapa tarn, the wife of Captain A. H. Drayner, 431 M.N.1., of a son. BATTYE —On the 28th Feb., at Bombay, the wife of Captain Montague J. Battye, Fort Adjutant, of a son. PAGET - On the 21 March, at sea, off Vingorla, on her way from Bomb•iy to Belgaum, tho wife (.1 Captain Leo pold G•imzton Fagot, Royal Artillery, of a son. BRODRICK —On the sth inst., at Dalston-rise, the wife of Thomas Brodrick, Esq., of the Duchy. of Cornwall office, Buc&ingham-date, St. James's, solicitor, of a daughter. NOURSE—On the Gth init., at Eltharn, Kent, the wife of Win. E. C. Nourse, Esq., F.R.C.S., of a daughter. MAAR lAGES. JONES -rUCHAN3I7 -On the Ist Dec , 13:7, by the Right Rev. the Bishop of New Zealand, Humphrey Stanley Jones, Esq., of Llynon, Anglesea, Assistant-Commis sary-General, to Emilia, eldest daughter of Andrew Buchanan, Esq., M.D., formerly of the Commercial road, London. STANLET—CHAPMP.N—Oa the 3d inst., at Broadatairs Church, by the Rev. E Newell, Wm. B. Stanley, eon of Mr. W. Stanley, of Margate, to Mary Ann Poole Chap man, niece of Ms. Poole, of tiroadataire. REID —IILIXHAM On the sth inst., at the parish church, Gloucestershire, by the Rev. George Ridout, vicar, Samuel Reid, Esq , of Swansea, youngest son of John Reid, Esq., Valley House, Newland, Gloucestershire, to Edith, youngest daughter of the late George Fl ax . ham, Esq., toruaerly of the Rhyddings, Swansea. , - 11UXH.,13.1-MTORQUODALE At the same time and place, ifortensius Huxnsto, Esq., of Cwm Rhondda, Ponty pridd, Glamorgansaire, eldest son of the late George n - uxha . E s q., formerly of the Ithyddings, Swansea, to Eleanor deiE Glasgow.sl'l" DEATHS. GErr----On the 12th Feb, last, In the 22.1 year of Lis age, at Hulwanee, near Nynee Tal, Lieutenant Thomas Syd ney Gepp, 6 , th Ghoorkas, eldest son of Thomas Morgan Gepp, of Chelmsford, from the effects of wounds rec e i ve d in action en the 19th of the same month, at the battle of Chumpoorah. CURRIE—On the 17th Feb., at Quilon, Malabar Coast, William Frederick Currie. M.D., eldest surviving son of the late Claud Currie, Physic-an-General, Madras. irvinMgaiseosnf Majesty's Hoskin, E sq ., HOaIIIN— On the 27th March , at Gibr al 3 ta l r s , t W ß i e ll g i i a m m en T t ho o s f . .road, Kingsland, of Stamford F il u o o s t tin ag , ed Sig , M AR TIN --On the 30 th March, in hi s 39 t h year, Francis e o " n n ly o s f ur li s e : Martin, Esq., surgeon, Nottiug-hill, Kensington, third son o f the late Mr. Henry Martin, of North-street, Btighton. LONDON: Printed and Published by MIIRDO YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No, 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy. in the county of Uichilesex, Wednesday, April 7, 180; THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY E V ENING, APRIL 7, 1858 ME adn intro nun com Bacl SIO Aft dept ss. Prtl Libr Act dud MOT Mr. The ♦atf Roo mar BID Bea Dr. Ulu ICsa onl