The Sun. — London, England, 1858-02-24 00:00:00

THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS. (From the Daily News.) Intrigue is busy, and at every corner fabulous tales_ salute the ear. In the resignation of Saturday last, it is hardly now disguised that there was an arriere pate.see. Lorul Deruy rums Lot ven.ure, it was supposed, to undertake the task of forming an Administration • and upon this delusion the dis comfited and dismissed tremblers at the nod of Louis Napoleon reposed till Sunday night. It then became 'generally known that the Conservative Chief had accepted the task confided to him ; but the hope remained that he might fail, and to secure its fulfilment no artifice of rumour was left unem ployed. As time wore on, however, and the hope died out, it hourly became harder to sustain droop. ing spirits and to invent new difficulties which alight even for the moment look like real. A mas terpiece, in its way, of this kind of thing, was the ungracious perversion of an act in itself every way honourable and creditable on the part of Lord Derby's son. With a generous instinct of what was due to himself and to others under the circum stances, Lord Stanley, we believe, spontaneously waived all personal claims to consideration, and ad vised his father to seek Parliamentary strength in the formation of his Cabinet beyond the circle of his own family or connexion. Any lower office than that of Cabinet Minister the noble member for King's Lynn felt he ought to take, after having been offered a Secretaryship of State by the late Premier. But Lord Stanley also felt that the Whigs had made the imputation of family cabal in tolerably odious to the country ; and he wished to take the opportunity in his own person of showing that he and his friends were capable of acting in this report a worthier part. What, then, must be the state of desperation to which the claqueurs of Lord Palmerston are reduced when they could tor ture such an incident as this into the assertion that the offers of Lord Derby had been spurned by his own son I Equally reckless and absurd seems to have been the reliance placed upon the production of Lord Cowley's dastardly and disgraceful de spatch. The minority who voted in favour of M. Walewski's insolence being mutely borne were con, fidently assured that as soon as the contents of the document in question were known the tables would be turned, and the majority would feel that they had been in!the wrong. But we cantruly say, that within our recollection no public letter of an English Minis ter, ether at home or abroad, has ever been received by such an universal cry of shame and scorn. When Lord Clarendon telegraphed to the Englishambassa dorat Paris foraletter of credit, he ought to have filled up the draft himself ; he ought to have known that Lord Cowley did not possess the intellect capable of adroitly doing the dangerous work he asked him; and for the credit of the name of Wellesley, if not for the honour of the country, which was at stake he ought to have spared him the ignominy of self: immolation. If the un-English and unmanly paper laid upon the table on Monday night by Lord Cla rendon be not torn to pieces and flung into the dust by the Commons, the voice of the country, repudi ating its base and abject terms, will make itself heard in a marmernot to be disregarded or mistaken. The conviction is forced upon all candid minds by the perusal of every craven sentence of Lord Cow ley's, that it was high time to make a thorough change in our Foreign-office. Stupid and syco phantic as it is, no man in his senses would have written such a letter to Lord Clarendon at such a juncture if he did not feel it would have been ac ceptable. 1 hat it was acceptable is proved by the fact of its uncalled-for production by the censured Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Evidence of incapa city to comprehend the national will and character can no further go. And now but one resource remains—that of back- stairs intrigue. Having failed to bully the nation into fear of the wrath of France, no pains will be spared to betray the Court into the fatal mistake of setting at nought the decision of the House of Com mons. Once before during the present reign a Mi nistry who had been left in a minority in Parlia ment were reinstated in office after another Cabinet had actually been formed. The infelicitous prece dent is now recurred to in anxious whispers, and w hat was done before, it is muttered, may safely be done again. For the sake of that which is far more precious than the temporary ascendency of any aristocratic patty, or the passing or rejection of any measure, however intrinsically important, we sincerely hope that these insidioussuggestionsmay never be listened to in high places. Eighteen years have passed since Sir Robert Peel on presenting himself at the door of the royal closet found it unexpectedly closed against him. The Queen was then very young, and had not been very long upon the throne. Parties were at the time very evenly balanced. Though a majority of five on a Jamaica Bill had led to the resignation of Lord Melbourne, upon the general of the country at home and abroad he still could claim the approval of the House of Commons. In a singularly doubtful case the youthful Monarch threw her sceptre into the trembling scale, and the Opposition leader, though surprised and chagrined, had the wisdom and generosity to acquiesce with out an audible murmur. It might, perhaps, be enough to say that in con stitutional practice a deviation such as we have referred to is all the less likely to happen now be cause it has happened before. A loyal and peace loving people are accustomed to look leniently upon the rare and casual exercise of power even when they disapprove of it ; but the same people are alt the more apt to conceive and express resentment when the exception threatens to become a rule Apart, however, from all such considerations the cases sought to be paralleled are widely different. ' The Ministry of Lord Melbourne was tripped up by a vote upon a bill of which not one man in ten thousand of the population had ever heard, and about which not one in fifty thousand cared a jet. The Cabinet of Lord Palmerston has been driven from power amidst the exultation of the great body of the people, and by the votes not only of a consi derable msjority of the House of Commons, but by a majority containing nearly every man of Par liamentary talent, statim, or experience, of every shade of opinion. It has been hooted off stage, not for a blunder in a colonial bill, but for a de liberate and conscious abandonment of the first of administrative duties, that of maintaining the honour and independence of the nation when pub licly called in question. We do not say that the Austrianism of Lord Clarendon, the impotency of Mr. V. Smith, and the effrontery of Lord Clan ricarde, had not already alienated many of its sup porters. Neither do we deny that the tendency to exclusive aristocratic jobbing in every sphere of patronage, from the highest to the lowest, had con tributed to pave the way for the event which has at length occurred. But the immediate and specific cause of that event it is impossible to mistake, and any doubt as to the national judgment in the matter • would be a fearful error. W hen the Parliaments of England contained but few representatives of the great towns ; when as yet the majority of those towns were not ; when popular education w.es a de bateable theory, and the daily and weekly press, as it now exists, had no place in the national being— . when railway locomotion, and the power of concen trating the sympathies of millions at any given mo ment by the touch of the electric wir e, were unheard of and uneuo ere—a fsud het, ,vcce t',e Pe!ace of St. James and the Palace of Westminster might be provoked with impunity. But times are altered now, and we should deeply grieve to think that any man of any party worthy of the name of a statesman should so betray the first duty imposed on him by his Privy Councillor's oath as to commit the Crown to a contest with the House of Commons. We care not for our own partovho is Minister, or of - What material the new Administration may be corn l'"d• If Lord Darby cannot form a creditable or a competent Government, there are others unques tionably wh o can. • oacde Cabinet o can rt o But the Clarendon and Clan ri nnly now be reinstated by the will of the Court, and the people will understand, that deplorable eventcoinsphalt.ake place, by what means it-has been ac (From the Morning Herald.) Theministerial crisis will B oo n n be at an end. Lord Derby's arrangements are in a satisfac tory mannerineaouf t other column, names chief e afford we are enable so much so that , d to publish a list ap pointments in the new Cabinet. Th e the surest guarantee of the admirable manner in which with the n which the selection has been made, —l ' Bl listance of such gifted, energetic and experienced p ,rgu blicrait es ai , the Conservative lead er w ill direct with credit to himself and advantage t 3 the tat not on account of any defi ciencysm on e l • It wa s gatinutihaeon:inbz of first-rate men to be fou n d that the Prime Minister was induced to invite tirreaic'eo-nreration of Mr. Glad stone and some of his object was to construct his the broadest possible basis , and upon • 'therefore applied to Mr. Gladstone , tahned"l-)1° earl to Earl Grey, in order to enlist teir valuabl e .fterards vices. In both instances the advance made= such delicacy and consideration for public interests failed to produce the desired result, and Lord Derby immediately confined his attention to the rich re sources available in the Conservative ranks. In paying this graceful compliment to the Peelite party, the Premier probably wished to show that the hour for the complete reconciliation between this brilliant group of political leaders, without - d fol lowers, and the great Conservative pay, ba . ar rived. Differences that would justify a continued estrangement or even separati'on have all been removed, and the opportunity certainly seemed favourable for the consideration of an alli ance that has long had a nominal if not an actual existence. The Peelites may prefer occupying an THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVILNING, sure, contributed to his overthrow. Throughout the country, in all ranks of society, and on both -ids Of both heuees, it wee felt as a public scanual —as an outrage ou public fel Lug, it has been fol. lowed by other appointments Lot less disgraceful, though less prominent, of which we shall probably hear re 070. " Within the last few months, it is useless to deny it, there has been a diminution of Lord Pal merston's popularity." How happens it then that during these "last few months " the Times never made the discovery. What could have been the cause of its not having even seemed to suspect that there was any diminution in the Premier's popu larity ? It is all the more strange that the Times never before now told us a word of the fading popu larity of the Prime Minister, when it now coolly assures us that the fact of this fading popularity "is easy to account for." The way in which our contemporary does " account " for the diminished popularity of Lord Palmerston is certainly any thing but creditable to his lordship personally. It is by charginghim with " favouritism and jobbery." And then our contemporary proceeds to adduce illustrations and confirmations of the truth of the grave accusation. But the last charge is that to which we wish to call especial attention. It is that of having ap- pointed the Marquis of Clanricarde to a seat in the Cabinet. We, of course, concur with the Times in regarding that appointment as the very worst which it would have been possible to make ; but then the difference between the leading journal and ourselves is this—that we at the time denounced it in the strongest language we could employ, and did , not cease to do so until the very day on which the I Palmerston Cabinet received the blow under which it has fallen ; whereas the Times by its silence seemed to acquiesce in the propriety of the appointment so long as Lord Palmerston - was supposed to be in the plenitude of his power, and only turns round and de nounces the appointment and condemns the Minister who made it when that Minister is prostrate and powerless. There is something un-English in this. However much we may disapprove of the conduct of Lord Palmerston in reference to that appoint ment, and to other parts of his policy, there is something in thus striking a man when he is down, by those who heaped their fulsome adulation on him when in all his glory, against which every generous feeling revolts, and from which every noble mind will turn away with abhorrence. We have been among the most uncompromising of Lord Palmerston's opponents in reference to the policy which his Government has pursued in its relationswith the Ruler of France,—because as the head of the Government, he was constitutionally responsible for that policy. But now that the noble lord is under a cloud, we deem it right to say that, morally, he has been less to blame than Lord Clarendon. We have the best reason for believing that, in our intercourse with the French Govern ment, Lord Palmerston has of late surrendered his own judgment and feelings too much to the Foreign Secretary. The truckling, ignoble, anti-English policy we have pursued in relation to Imperialism in France, has been inspired, unless we grievously err, incomparably more by the Foreign Secretary , than by the Premier. If any doubt could pre viously have existed on that point, it must have been removed by Lord Cowley's despatch to Lord Clarendon, published in our paper of yesterday. The Foreign Secretary is obviously the party responsible for not having answered the insultieg despatch of Count Walewski ; while the reasons which Lord Clarendon assigns for not having re plied to it, are the most puerile and feeble that could be imagined. A fear of offending the sus ceptibilities of the French Government, is the chief reason given by the Foreign Secretary for his silence. Did any consideration of that kind prevent Count Walewski from calumniating and assailing us ? Our silence, so far from making matters better, had a necessary tendency to make them worse. It was construed into a fear of France. It was inferred that we would submit with inglorious tameness to any indignities which the Imperial Government thought fit to put upon us. And accordingly we soon bad a practical proof furnished us, that the Imperial Government flattered itself it rni,ht insult us with impunity, by the insolent menaces from French Colonels with which the pages of the Moniteur teemed for a succession of days. As the apology of Louis Napoleon has not yet found its way into the Moniteur, we have no means of knowing whether or not the swaggering Colonels who lately figured so prominently in the plenitude of their Bebiddistn, in its columns, are aware that ho has repudiated their braggadocio, and conse quently rebukel themselves. But the fact must before long transpire, that Louis Napoleon has thrown them overboard. There can be no doubt as to the result. Their fierce animosity towards England will give place to a settled and sullen hatred of the man who has thus, in the face of Europe, affronted him. Conse quently, instead c f his continuing master of the army, the army will become his master. He will ba at its mercy; and therefore it is probable that the very army which he his petted and pampered, and on which his whole reliance has hitherto been placed, will become the instrument of his destruction. In the meantime, it is not unlikely that, with the view of propitiating his incensed army, Louis Napoleon will be prepared to do anything which he may suppose agreeable to it ; and as the inva sion of England is, of all things, that which would be most congenial to the tastes of the army, it behoves the Government and people of this country not to lose a moment in making every possible preparation for such a contit gency. HEALTH OP LONDON DURING TBE WEEK, (From the Report of the Registrar General.) The deaths registered in London, which in the previous week were 1,195, rose in the week that ended last Saturday (Feb. 20th) to 1,275. In the ten years 1848-57 the average number of deaths in the weeks corresponding with last week was 1,164, but, as the deaths of last week occurred in an increased population, they should be compared with the average, when the latter has been raised in proportion to the increase.—a correction which will give 1,280. The number of deaths actually returned agrees very closely with the number ob tained by calculation. By comparing the results of the last two weeks it will be seen that the deaths caused by zymotic diseases were successively 241 and 230, the cor rected average for last week being 282 ; those caused by " constitutional" diseases rose from 208 to 257, the corrected average being 255 ; th ose f rom " local" diseases rose from 533 to 607, the average, being 539 ; the deaths from " developmental" diseases were respectively 145 and 141, the aver age being 146 ; and " violent deaths were 45 and 25 in the two weeks, the average being 33. Herne it appears that the mortality from zymotic diseases has been nearly stationary during the fortnight, and that the same remark holds with regard to those of the developmental class. The increase under two other heads :arise , : from phthisis, whie't rove iii tit( two weeks irorn 130 to 158 ; from convulsions, which rose from 34 to 43 ; from diseases of the bra* which rose from 8 to 19 ; and from diseases of the heart, which rose from 39 to 53. The continuance of cold weather does not appear to have raised the mortality of bronchial disease within the period re ferred to, for, though the mean temperature of the last fortnight was only 34 deg., or about 4 deg. below the average, bronchitis was fatal in the two weeks in 193 and 191 cases ; pneumonia in 104 and 102. But the mortality of bronchitis is considerably greater than is usual at this time, for if the dew hs did not exceed the average of corresponding weeks they would not be more than 137. The three oldest persons returned were two women 90 years of age and a man 91. The deaths from measles declined from 57 to 34. Whooping-cough has carried off rather more than 50 children in each of the last five weeks. Last week 39 deaths were referred to scarlatina, and chiefly included under this head is an unusual number of cases in which the disease is returned as " diptheria." These last amount to 15, and are given in detail in the notes. Four persons, of whom one was a man, aged 46 years, died of measles between the Bth and llth inst. inclusive, in the St. Pancras Workhouse. Last week the births of 1,021 boys and 942 girls —in all 1,963 children—were registered in London. In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1848- 57 the average number was 1,593. At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of the barometer in the week was 29.872 inches. On Wednesday and Thursday the mean reading was above 30 inches. The highest reading in the week occurred on the former day, and was 30.04 in. The mean temperature of the week was 34 deg., which is 4.2 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, and on the last three days the extent of depression was 7 deg. or more. The highest point a:tained by the thermometer in the shade was 47 deg - . on Tuesday; theFr ns e ohe r aulaeotrt meanhwl u y- r e e seata all south-east. was 24 deg. on Friday. The mean daily range of temperature in the week was 12.7 deg. ; on Wednesday the range was 18.1 deg. The dif ference windr eeerntween the mean dew point temperature the first hofallf?1 ferer c _ t . temperature was 4.1 deg. The mean tem perature water of the Thames was 38.9 deg. zee of humidity of the air was 84. from a.north. easterly point durinc , w 1 measured w thereafter as from o7 i t n Ce Thhaithe rain-falleek c occurred on Sunday. • 7 indefinite position between the Whig and the Con servative sections of the Legislature, at the same time that they give the new Government a general but independent support. For many years the Con servatives themselves have not presented a more compact array. Since the election in March they have been continually receiving aeressione whilst the bold attitude assumed by their leaders has raised them in public estimation. Ominous rumours have been for some time in circulation, and those who watched the tide of events had formed the con clusion that in their ranks alone are t g o land from be found the statesmen capable of rescuing Ens the perils with which she is surrounded. Durin g the short session the weakness of the Palmerston Admi nistration was rendered still more plainly apparent. We say this without any disrespect for the member for Tiverton, who justly enjoys a high reputation both for official capacity and his dexterity in the management of parties. For nearly half a century has Lord Palmerston taken a prominent part in public affairs, and as a leader of the House of Com mons, although he had many formidable rivals, he was for a long interval without any superior. Yet he was the Atlas upon whose shoulders the mini sterial experiment rested, and we question whether, at his advanced age, Lord Palmerston was equal to the overwhelming labours of his position. Such will not, however, be the case with the Con servative Administration. Lord Derby's name is indeed a tower of strength ; yet the noble earl will be supported and assisted in the direction of public affairs by colleagues of tried experience and ability. Even as far as the list at present extends, the ad vantages secured to the country by recent changes are evident at a glance. Lord Malmesbury re places Lord Clarendon as Foreign Secretary, and upon the salutary nature of this change we scarcely need expatiate. To the new Minister the public are indebted for the formation of that alliance with France, which though at first derided, afterwards became the sheet-anchor both of the Coalition and the Palmerston Cabinets. During Lord Malmes bury's short tenure of •ffiee our attitude towards foreign powers was of the most dignified character. Not a syllable was breathed of that Muscovite aggression which soon after burst upon Europe ; and, whilst our honour was maintained in this quar ter of the globe, our relations with the great re public beyond the Atlantic were placed upon a proper footing. Nor was this nobleman insensible to the advantages to be derived from the develop ment of our commerce with South America, and under his able direction a treaty was concluded by which many privileges were secured. At the Board of Control, Lord Ellenborough replaces Mr. Vernon Smith ; the former, one of the most prescient and diligent administrators of any country or period, and the latter, probably the most incompetent of public functionaries that ever, in any part of the globe, aspired to that lofty vocation. Of Sir Frederick Thesiger's appointment to the Lord Chancellorship we refer more particularly in another article. It is the theme of every tongue ; and we do not believe that a single member of any party could be named who does not rejoice in the honours bestowed upon this distinguished member of the Senate and the bar, and at the same time admit that a more striking illustration of the right man in the right place could not by any possibility be afforded. Mr. Walpole, as Home Secretary, will prove more efficient than Sir George Grey ' • ar d the same may be said of the substitution of Mr. Henley for Lord Stanley of Alderley at the Board jof Trade. The onerous duties of the Secretaryship of War weighed heavily upon Lord Panneure, and General Peel will prove not only more vigorous, but also, we imagine, less devoted to red tape and routine. It will afferd the public no small gratification to learn that the finances of the kingdom are once more placed under the able direction of Mr. Disraeli, whose short career of Cuancellor of the Exchequer in 1852 displayed his wonderful aptitude for de :ling with the difficult questions belonging to that depart ment. It must be confessed that Sir George Corne wall Lewis bad been thrust into a position fur which he was not in the least degree qualified. It is not our intention to insult the new Lord Privy Seal by instituting a comparison between bis lord ship and the former occupant. The Earl of Hard wicke has already served the state in various capa cities, and brings not only strength but honour to any Administration. Lord Egliuton was the most copular Lord Lieutenant that ever held his state in the Castle of Dublin. Proceeding upon a sys tem diametrically opposed to that more recently pursued by Lord Carlisle, the noble earl did more to tranquillise Ireland, and to allay the fury of party strife, than any occupant of that office. To no cliques was the smallest favour shown, and the ex traordinary impetus given to the Conservative cause in the sister kingdom may be in a great measure traced to the benefits of Lord Eglinton's firm but im partial rule. The Irish people learned to respect a Ministerabove the petty cabals and factious struggles of the time, and in his noble conduct beheld an example which theysfelt they might imitate with advantage both to themselves and their country. The Board of Works loses Sir Benjamin Hall, and, as a compensation, receives Lord John Man ners. Everybody acquainted with the new Minister will allow that the accession of this scion of the illustrious house of Manners to the vacancy, is, in every respect, a gain for the public service. Sir Benjamin, with his pomposity and inflated notions of self, might make a good member for a Radical constituency ; but Lord John Manners's devotion to his duties render him a more useful servant of the public. Without any disparagement to Eal 1 Granville, we may state that the Marquis of Salis bury will not be less popular or less efficient as President of the Council. The comparison might be carried further, but we believe that enough has been said to show that the new Conservative Ca binet contains not only some of the ablest states men of the day, but a more brilliant array of effi cient, experienced, and high-minded administrators than are to be found in any of the political parties into which public men aro at present divided. Reputation, after all, has more to do with these matters than people are wont to imagine, and a Cabinet composed of men of honour and integrity will win its way in spite of factious opposition. In some of his appointments Lord Palmerston cer tainly committed himself, and we are now assured that this error materially accelerated his fall. Be that as it may, Ministers must feel all the more comfortable and secure in not being put to the blush en account of their colleagues. The mem boi s of the new Administration may challenge the world in this respect. The effect is already ap parent. Lord Derby has shown that his principal aim is to promote the best interests of the stats, and in order to do this in the best manner the noble earl has secured the co-operation of some of its most illustrious members. Signs of increas ing confidence appear on every side. Assur ances of support have already been recei red from quarters that the public would hardly anticipate. In fact, the conviction gains ground hourly that Lord Derby, at the head of a Conser vative Government, can alone restore the healthy tone of the constitution, and rescue the state from the numerous perils by which it is environed. The Conservative lea :er it clearly master of the situa tion. The new administration will commence its career with courage and confi _knee, and we feel il.:$111 3d that su-cers will ..rowa a C-aii.ZU I.lllderta;fen in this spirit. The best hopes as well as the warmest sympathy of all good c.tizens attend these distin guished statesmen, and from one end of the king dom to the other a reverent and an affectionate prayer will be uttt red that the efforts of Lord Derby and his true-hearted colleagues may be blessed to the maintenance of England's honour, the advancement of England's glory and the de fence and the dissemination of Christian principles throughout the whole world. (Front the Morning Advertiser.) Whether or not Lord Palmerston will politically profit from the lesson he has just received, time only can tell. But if ho do not personally learn wisdom from it, he will be one of the dullest seholais that ever occupied a seat in the school of experience. If he fail to discern from what is hourly transpiring, who are his real friends and who are not, he is the only man among her Majesty's subjects who does not make the distinction. Thoso who were his parasites on Thursday last, before he sustained his fatal discomfiture, and while in the full swing of Ministerial success, are his foes to-day. With the loss of bis power has gone their fidelity. But, bad as that is, worse remains behind. Not content with deserting him, now that his power and prestige are gone , som e of those who, eight clays ago, exhausted language in the fulsomeness of their adulation, now turn round and assail him in t - r T m a s k of f a u n n i m n s e t a a s n u c r e e d i nabt the abuse. one knows how that 'our.nalahsessoflattheelyTliemalse.dEzoerrdy P da a y lm i ers . t , o vi n i w thi ith n i , t , s j pratse. What said it yester day last . remarked our contemporary, few 'months there deny it, a dimunition, is esAY to account for. to trium phant abroad, successful great iMinister , able to withstand the almost to lead every public b ve ery ry . ill-advised—advised to many of his recent of his popularity. This it L a oi: 1 : s Dictator,bPalmerston, has as i t ins ouselesst beeia repeat, has neon ,ai and honoured at home, nial-alder influences which derv,isawent toratasisat:ouritiatai and) t tend appointments.viuilil.in respect may indeed be men of piety and good i nt en ti ons, but but how is it that they have been chosen almost I universally from the narrow class clergy ? More than one of his military of aristocratic appoint ments has been exceptionable. But the chiet error was the introduc ion of Lord Clanticarde into the Cabinet. All the late Premier's friends agree in thinking that this act, more than any public mea- POLICE INTELLIGENCES—Feb. 23. GO-16DH A.L.L.. rePQrt ca fey: - days a,z - charge proferi ed agAit_st a Spanish merchant, Mr. J. Bailey Davis, by a friend of his, Mr. Curtis, a civil on qineer, cf Great George-street, Westminster, for the abduction of a young girl, land evidence was given of the intention of Mr. Davis to take the girl with him to Spain as his housekeeper; but from the testimony of the young lady herself, it appeared that she left her friends voluntarily to accompcny Mr. Davis, with whom she had been ale more than a week. She most positively denied that she was under 17 years of age, and added that she had no wish to leave Mr. Davis. Alderman Copeland expressed a very strong opinion upon the conduct of the parties, and dismissod the case, when Mr. Curtis intimated his intention of appealing to the Foreign-office to prevent Mr. Davis getting a passport for the girl ; since which Mr. Davis applied to Mr. Alderman Copeland for a recommendation to obtain a passport for himself and wife ; and on being interrogated, he said he wanted the passport for the same young lady whom he had that day married, and he produced the mar riage certificate in support of his statement. Alderman Copeland expressed great pleasure upon hearing that the affair had terminated so hap pily, and with every. wish for the comfort and pros perity of both, he willingly granted the certificate required to procure the passports. Mr. Davis said it was his intention to marry the girl from the first, but he did not c h oo s e to be in ' terfered with by his friends, or to allow them to meddle in his private affairs. WORSHIP-STREET.--A care-worn, middle rMaaptrrioniteoentijanlgC Causes Act. middle aged woman, of respectable appearance, applied to order against her The applicant was in such agitation and nervous Mr. husbandD'E exc it e ment that she was unable for some time to ync undero u r t the f for state her grievances, but, with considerable diffi culty, these facts were elicited from her : Accord ing to her statement she had been married upwards of 20 years to a commercial traveller, and had given birth to 14 children, several of whom were now dependent upon her for support. For many years she had been most cruelly treated by her husband, who had been in the habit of subjecting her to brutal personal violence, and depriving her of the common necessaries of life. Finding that it was necessary to resort to some means of obtain ing an independent livelihood for herself and chil dren, she applied herself to the business of an em broiderer and artificial flower maker, by means of which she would have been enabled to acquire a sufficient subsistence for her family but for the ra pacity of her husband, who deprived her on three occasions of the produce of her hard-earned labours, and left her each time in a state of absolute desti tution. The last time she saw him was about 18 months since, when he returned home after a pro tracted absence, and remained a week with her, during which brief interval he basely seduced a young girl who assisted her in her business, with whom he absconded in the night, taking with him the whole of her jewellery and every portable article of value which remained in her possession. She had since ascertained that lie had proceeded to Scotland with his paramour, but having recently received credi.,le information that he was about to return for the purpose of again dispossessing her of the property she had acquired during his last absence, she had been advised by her friends to apply at this court for protection under the act. After some observations from the landlord of the applicant, which went fully to corroborate her statement, _ Mr. D'Eyncourt said that it was certainly a most painful case, an d f rom th e ev idence he had heard he sh6uld certainly gra,it the complainant an imme diate order for the protPction of her property. LAMBETH.—Yesterday a most distressing case was Lrought under the notice of Mr. Elliott. A young wom an a d vance d i n p r egnancy, and accom panied by a little girl about three years of age, applied for some relief from the poor-box under these circumstances :—Her name was Flora Au gusta Nolin, and at one time her father carried on business at Cambridge as an optician. After the death of her father she came to town with her mother, and they resided together near St. George's-road, Southwark. Nearly 5 years ago M. Chas. d'Hasle, a French gentleman, was introduced to her mother, and soon after she (applicant) be came acquainted with him. Their acquaintance was n)t of long duration before he commenced paying her attentions, offered her marriage, was accepted by her, and a day fixed for their marriage. M. d'Hasle had always acknowledged that he had been brought up in, and professed, the 'Roman catholic religion, but made no scruple of accompanying her (applicant) and her friends to the protestant place of worship, and their marriage was solemnised in the parish church of St. George the Martyr, by bans, on the 22d day of May, 1854. From that time until about Scptember, 1856, they had lived very happily, but about that time the pupils to whom her husband had been a French teacher hav ing fallen of, her husband and herself proceeded to Paris, where the applicant had a cousin in an influen tial position. After a little time her husband made an application to her cousin to procure him a pub lic situation, and her cousin promised to do so, but in the course of inquiries discovered that he was a catholic priest, and being so, his marriage, as re garded the laws of Franca, was null and void. When taxed with the fact, Mr. d'Hasle did not deny being a priest, but said ho should seek the sanction of his bishop to get married, and he should, in case of such sanction, marry her (applica n t) accor di ng to the prescribed order in France. For some cause or other, which he had not explained, ho deserted her and her child for a period of nine months, which period she had every reason to believe thehhee r i had na of La Trappe. In kept at the house of monastery sy the end of the nine aa t rp h i sp e ,l i m eaa o hn n dt a s wa t months she was joined by her husband, who pre vailed on her to accompany him to England, and t u ensr spent m e inntt Pans, they proceeded to Scarborough, where her husband obtained a situation as teacher of languages at a public school. Two months ago her husband without any previous notice of his intention, again deserted her, and she had no doubt, from letters she had received from him, that he had returned to La Trappe for the purpose of joining that order of monks. She stopped at Scarborough as long as she could, and had been compelled to dispose of almost ever} thing s he possessed tosupport her self and child and pay her way. Unfortunately she had not a friend in London, except her mother, who was obliged herself to exist on a small pittance, and therefore totally unable to assist her, so that she was obliged to part with almost every article of apparel she possessed, indeed everything but what she then appeared in, to provide necePaties for herself and child. The applicant, in confirmation of her asset tion, drew a bundl e o f p twitbrokerg duplicates from her p ocke t , and exhib ted them to -the bench. Sore als) handed Mr. Elliott for his pe rusal some letters which she bad received from her heartless, hypocr.tical husband. The first of these letters read by the maatstrate was without address or date, and commenced—" Poor Flora, I am now !n. 1 7 r I,:0. 11 had gre trouble to pit form my journey, but still I succeeded." After giving the name of a notary through whew she can address him, the letter concludes—" Good bye, God bless you an d m y beloved child. Do not forget to have her brought up in the Catholic religion, as you pro mised me. Good bye. I hope God will lead us all to a good end.—Yours t ru l y, C . D 'H AsLE ." The next letter, which was dated the sth of January ran thus : 4 , My dear Wife, —The troubles I see before us are more than I can bear, and I see no hope of ever being better. Thus it is no use to keep you in misery any longer. I hope, my dear Flora, that your friends will take more notice of you by being without me. I return to follow my own profession. I n my conscience I think I am tight in doing so, and I leave you to the mercy of God. I hope that he will provide for you and my dear child Alice, as well as for the one I am sorry to say is coming, and is mine. Good by e . G o d bl ess you and my little dear child. Yo u w ill never see n or bear from me any more.—Your very • un happy husband, " C. n'llasLE." Mr. Elliott having ailed the unhappy applicant several questions., widch she answered iu the most satisfactory ramme r , he (Mr. Elliott) directed that sufficient should be advanced to her from the poor box for present want:, and desired her to call on a future day. The poor woman seemed overwhelmed with gra titude, and expressed her grateful thanks to the magistrate for his kindness. At a meeting of the General Steam Navigation Com pany yesterday the dividend was adopted of 14?, per share, being at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum, and the usual Lonna of 2s. 6d. per share was also declared. THE COAST DEFENCES.— Cunsiderahle activity now prevail 3 at Woolwich Arsenal in the completion of an order given about two years since for the manufacture of ordnance for the coast - defences. Since the Russian war, such vast additions have been made to the royal gun factories dep ar t men t , t h at w i t h t h e a id o f t h e power . ful machinery n ow i n we, an almost unqmited supply of heavy guns can be produced at a short notice. rrevious to the erection of the new foundries, a large number of guns were supplied by contractors, but the contract sys tem is to be entirely abolished. The large portion of marsh land at the east end of Woolwich Arsenal is now studded over with new buildings connected with the laboratory and gun foundry departments ; and the Royal Standard Foundry, for the casting of heavy ordnance, which was opened last week, now in full operwion. FEBRUARY 24, l.gNB THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF THE FRENCH EMPEROR. ~.~ E. , ;.A.M.LkfATION OE BERNARD AT BOW. STREET. required in Paris for the trial which is to commence the day after to-morrow, a remand for a shorter time than eight days would not be of any use. On that occasion another part of this case will be opened. Mr. Sleigh. then made a very forcible appeal to the magistrate to admit the prisoner to bail. Mr. Bodkin strongly objected to the application. Mr. Jardine—l objected on the first occasion to admit the pr:s:ner to bad. I ff,el doubly justified now in refusing the application. The prisoner was ultimately remanded to this day week. [The following appeared in our late edition of last evening :—] This afternoon, at three o'clock, Simon Bernard, who stands charged with being concerned in the late at tempted assassination, was placed at the bar. Nir. Bodkin appeared, as before, on the part of the Treasury, and Mr. Sleigh defended Bernard.. The first witness called was M. Estieu, who produced a dagger and the oilcloth covering of the parcel sent by the prisoner to M. Outre quin. The witness stated that he brought them from the Cour Imperial. Jean LeopoldFavre—l am Inspector of the French police. I was near the opera on the evening of the attack. I saw ten men wounded and one killed. I heard three explosions. M. Ontrequin—l am a commission agent in Paris. I deal in silks. I made the acquaintance of the prisoner in October, 1856. I first saw him in a cafe in Tichbourne -Btreet. The prisoner spoke about some dye for silk. This was the commencement of the acquaintance. I TRIAL - OF THE ROYAL BRITISH BANS DIRECTORS. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH GUILDHALL. (Sitting at. Nis► Priu4, botore Lord Campbell and a Special Jury.) TR& QUEEN V. BROWN AND OTHERS. NINTH DAY. was in London for about ten days. I saw him every day. I returned to Paris, and had some communication with the prisoner about the dye for the silks. I returned to England in March, 1857. I again saw the prisoner I at the Cate Suisse ; he was always accompanied by a Frenchman. There was some conversation about a person named Hodge. I went to see Hodge. Esrly in December a letter was brought to me in Paris. I can't tell the date exactly. I don't know the handwriting. I have had correspondence with the prisoner. Mr. Bodkin—Do you believe that the letter is in the handwriting of the prisoner ? Mr. Sleigh objected to the question. Mr. Bodkin—ln whose handwriting do you believe the letter to be ? ' Witness—All make me believe that it is the hand writing of the person who signed it, but I can't say. Mr. Bodkin—Who brought that letter to you ? Witness—Mr. Thomas Allsop. Mr. Sleigh asked to see the letter before it was read. It was accordingly handed to him. After having perused it, the learned gentleman objected to the letter being read, as there was no proof of who wrote it. The Magistrate ruled that the letter ought to be read. Mr. Sleigh still objected without he was allowed to cross-examine the witness. Magistrate—You have a right to do so. Mr. Sleigh—Very well.—Did you ever see the person , write who signed this letter ? . . [The following appeared in successive editions of The Sun of yesterday :--j The trial of the information against the directors and manager of the Royal British Bank for conspiring by false pretences to defraud the s'narehoiders and cus tomers and the public, Ras this day resumed. The same counsel appeared as before. Lord Campbell, on taking his seat ow the bench, an nounced that the prosecution would be deprived of the further assistance of Sir F. Thesiger. Ile candidly con fessed that he should have been well pleased to have bad the assistance of that learned gen.leman till the con clusion of the trial ; but, at the same time, he must ' express his satisfaction, which he felt assured was shared in by the bar and the country, on his elevation. (A.p plause.) Mr. Sergeant Ball intine said the bar concurred in congratulating the learned gentleman on his elevation, and the prosecution much regretted his loss in the com pletion of the trials. • Mr. Crawford was recalled, and said that during Cameron's absence from illness during January and May, 1855, Mr. Esdaile took the general management of the bank. The green ledger, general ledger, share ledger, and diary and bills book were frequently before him, and they were also before Mr. L. M. Valiant and Mr. Stapleton. Witness prepared the periodical balance sheet in the mode adopted when he joined the bank by his predecessor, in the course of their preparation he got out details in a tabular form of the assets and liabilities of , the bank which were extracted from the balance and Witness—l have seen the person whose name is to that letter write, but I cannot positively say this is the prisoner's handwriting. I have never paid particular attention to the handwriting of the prisoner and I can ntit say whether he wrote it. The letter was then read, it was from Bernard, and stated the bearer (Allsop) was a friend of his visiting Paris and desired the witness to give him every attention it was in his power to do. Mr. Bodkin to witness —Have you been lately to the French prison to see a person named Allsop ? Witness—l saw a person whom I knew as Allsop. Mr. Bodkin—ls that person detained under the name of Orsini ? ledger-book. He held in his band three proof impres sions of the balance-sheet for the half-year ending Dec. 1855, but each is different. The first is a printed form filled in by witness in red ink of the balances in the books, and delivered to Mr. Cameron, the general manager ; after that, by Mr. Cameron's direction, he prepared a second balance-sheet, which was a printed balance-sheet, in Feb., 1855 ; in the first, the paid-up capital was called 127,0001., and the new shares were put in the inner column alon'g with the deposits ; in the second form the pair'-up capital was raised to 150,0001., by applying that portion of the deposits for new shares that had been paid in full. Whe❑ Mr. Cameron gave this direction to make the alterations, witness thought he said the balance-sheet had been under the consideration Mr. Sleigh objected to the question. answerln to further questions the witness said—Tbe officer of police who went with me wai M. Estieu. M. E Alen was here recalled and said—l accompanied the witness to the French prison and pointed out Orsini to him. The examination of the witness was then proceeded I with—l received another letter (produced), but I don't know when. I can't find out by the envelope, but it was after the letter just read. I believe it to be written by the prisoner because it is similar to the other. The htter was read, it related to " placing in con signment" some magnificent pistols (revolvers) in Paris. Examination proceeded—That was the first time I heard anything about pistols from the prisoner. Another letter dated " Saturday, London," was here put into the wi' ness s hat d. I believe this to be the earns handwriting as the other. The letter was one from Bernard. Is thanked the witness for the informetion about the pistols, and went to ask what sort of handkerchiefs would best sell in Paris. It also thanked him for the attention he had given his friend Allsop. Another letter was subm tted to witness. It announced that two pistols had been sent as patterns. The witness then proceeded— I received a parcel immediately after the letter arrived. The oil-skin cover now shown to me is the same that was on the box. It contained two cases, each having a pistol and the neces sary apparatus. The boxes before me are like those I received. The person who I knew as Allsop called on me the same day as the packet arrived. He spoke about the pistols. Mr. Bodkin—What did be say ? Mr. Sleigh objected. The Magistrate overruled the objection. Witness—Allsop examined the pistols after having asked me if I had received them. Allsop gave as a reason for coming that he wanted to know whether I bad received the pi-itols, but I did not attach any im portance to the conversation. The next day Alteop called again and took away one of the boxes containing a pistol. I recollect being at home the Sunday before the attempt. Allsop called that day in the morning, and I accompanied him to a hotel in Paris. It was the Hotel de France et de Champagne, Rue Mont martre. I did not go in. !Ir. Bodkin—Did Allsop say anything about another person a friend of his who would buy a pistol ? Mr. Sleigh again objected, but the question was put. Witness—Allsop said that a friend of his, a German ' would take one. I think he said his name was Pierry. I left Allsop at the door of the hoterand returned home. I have seen the man Pierry since, but it was dark, sa I can't recollect. It was at Allsop's lodgings at the Rua Montaba, but I can't remember the day : but it was before I accompanied .Allsop to the hotel. In the course of that Sunday I discovered that the pistol had been taken away. Allsop paid me the amount of the carriage ; 251. 25 centimes for carriage. Mr. King was recalled, and recognised the seal of the South Eastern Railway Company on the oilskin cover. —That enables me to say that the parcel produced is the same as I received from the prisoner. Cross-examined by Mr. Sleigh—l have had converses tions with Frenchmen when they have arrived at the office. I never had a conversation with the prisoner on any other occasion than the one I have alluded to. I am positive of it. The reason I spoke about it on the day when be brotight the parcel was because he asked me so particularly about the trains that I thought he was going back. By Mr. Bodkin.—l perfectly recollect that the parcel to which I have alluded was not secure, and that I affixed the seal thereon. Cross-examined by Mr. Sleigh—l don't know that the expression about going back " when the Emperor comes here" was a common one with Frenchmen. I never beard it before. The prisoner here handed a small piece of peer to a person in court to give to the witness, Outrequin, but Mr. Durkin, the superintendent, took the paper, and before it was given he wished the magistrate to know the fact. ' The paper was not handed to the witness but was given to Mr. Sleigh, who said the prisoner was un acquainted with the forms of the English Court. Madame Outrequin said—l am the wife of the witness Outrequin. I know a person of the name of All-op. I first saw him at our house in Dec., 1857. I have also seen an Englishman there ; his name was Hodge. Allsop and he came together. Mr. Allsop brought a letter of recommendation to my husband. I only saw Hodge once ; it was in December. I have seen Allsop frequently at our house since that time. He usually came alone. I' recollect a parcel containing pistils arriving, and was present when it was opened. It was in a cover like the one produced, It contained two boxes, in setch of which eas a pistol. It also con tained a bit of coal, or pitch ; nothing was done with that. I think Mr. Allsop carried away one of the boxes of. pistols. I was at home when Allsop first cane. I think it was in the month of December. All-op came to our house the same day the parcel arrived. He said nothing, bat the boxes were shown to him. He did not say what he came for. They spoke about pistols when Allsop said they had arrived at the house. He said there was a German, a friend of his, who was to buy one. I did not hear him mention the name of the person. I recollect All 4 ea coming to the house on the Sunday before the attack on the Emperor. My husband went out with him. Whilst my husband was out some one came and took away the other pistol. I never Saw him before, and not knowing whether my husband had sent him, I asked his name and address. Mr. Bodkin—What name did he give? Mr. Sleigh objected to the question. The Magistrate said the question ought to he answered. Witness—He gave me a card. It had only " Hotel de France" on it. He said his name was Pierry, and he wrote that name in my presence. By Mr. Sleigh—Some time after a person came tome, it was a lady I did not know. I have been taken by M. Estieu to the prison in France, and there I saw the person I knew as A. , lsc•p, M. Estieu was here recalled—l pointed out to her Orsini. 's,lse recognised him immediately. M Morond said—l live at No. 10, Rue Montmartre. A person named Allsop resided there. I have been to the prism', and there saw the person I knew as Allsop. M. Estieu here again stated that he pointed out Orsini to the witness, who immediately recognised him as Allsop. Witness—The passport shown is the one I received from the person I knew as Allsop. It was dated Aug. 16, 1851, and I afterwards sent it for registry to the proper authorities. It was made out in the name of Thomas Allsop. Mr. Bodkin said that this passport was originally granted to the real Thomas Allsop, for whose apprehen sion a reward has been offered, and that it was the practice of Orsini to travel on the continent under the assumed name of Allsop. By Mr. Bodkin---ine person I knew as Allsop lodged with me up to the time ha was taken into custody by the police. On the evening of the attempt ho left my house between 7 and 8. He had somebody with him, but I don't know who. I knew his servant Gomez. Allsop returned about 9-o'clock in the evening, covered with blood. I got a washbasin and bathed his fade. There was a wound on the temple. The police arrived between two and three the next morning, and took him into custody. Gomez was aloe taken into custody. The police also took possession of the passport. I recollect the names of two persons who used to visit Allsop prior to the attempt. One was named Pierry, the other De Silva. When I went to the French prison I did not see Siva. I have not seen him since. I recollect that Allsop kept a horse, Ile hired it about of the board. The third balance-sheet contained the 24 days before the attempt, and occupied a stable The affidavit set out the different debts that ha( •adjoinipg the house. y nc I, ' . c.;,,ciLita—f dc.,‘ notintsnci to proceNl further with the case *.c-day, and as several 'r ot the tr Gii , D r,h--rerce to them, it also referred to the additional charter and the issue of new shares in consequence. It stated also the appointment of various committees of the board before whom, almost every day, questions arose relative to past-due bills and loans ;it further stated the principle on which the balance-sheets were male up, and the system of banking carried on. The cor•Bento to the is ue of rew shares, in th 3 hope that by doing so they would increase the capital and prevent the run on the shareholders. The applica tion for issuing new shares did not arise from the want of money, but to strengthen the bank and allow them to recover their lost position. He bad no idea when the application was made for a new charter. He had no knowledge of the 71st clause of the charter, making it nets-nary that the bank should stop when one-fourth of the capital was lost He denied that he had been actuated by any sinister objf.c - , and his whole timo and attention had been devoted to furthering the success of the bank. Mr. Peter Brown was called, and proved what took place at a meeting of directors and shareholders, held on the lit Feb., 1856. He took a report of the proceedings at the reqcemt of the directors, and he now produced an accurate abridged report of the meeting. It was handed in and read by the associate. The pur port of it was that the directors of the bank represented the bank as being in a prosperous condition. Mr. Gstherer was reealled. He proved the certificate of application to the Board of Trade for the supplemental charter, on 15th January, 1856. The certificate stated that 100 0001. worth of new shar, , , of 1001. Each, had been su ,, eri bed for ; that 50,0001 had been paid up ; and that the subscribers had executed the necessary deed. Witness then detailed the circumstances in con nection with the issuing of circular advertisements, &c., and the application for shares in consequence. He stated that theshares of the second issue were transferred to the third issue. Mr. Crawford was then examined at great length rela tive to the instructions he received from Cameron. to take necessary steps for the purchase of shares that were known to be going into the market, to prevent which a broker was employed to purchase them (at the average price Gf 501. par) in the name of Henry Empson, whose account at the British Bank was debited with the amount. As dividends were due on these shares they wore placed to the profit of the cotnpauy. There were many transactions of this sort, amounting in the aggre gate to 9,0001. At the end of 1855, Ernpsou's private account stood at 6,4031. 10s. That amount was carried into the balance sheet as part of the assets of the bank. Mr. Scott (broker) proved making the purchase by order of the Bank, for Mr. Henry Empson. Mr. Crawford, in answer to Sir F. Kelly.—On the face of it Ernpson's account wallet show him to be the bona fide purchaser and holder of the shares. Empson applied to the board for an indemnity, but Mr. Staple ton refused anything of the sort. This was just before the failure of the bank. Evidence was then given to the purchase of the shares by the hank in the name of Empson. The next witness examined was Mr. Thomas Dakin— He *stated that he joined the directory after the represen tations of Mr. Alderman Kennedy, an old friend of his t who said the bank would become one of the leading institutions of the country. lie said the bank had one or two " lock-ups" of capital, which had retarded its progress, brat he thought so well of the bank that he had introdueed Mr. Valiant, his hrother-ie-law. Witness paid 1,0001. for twenty shares and joined the board, but finding after war s that the bank were iron manufac turere, and other matters cccurrine, he resigned the direction and insisted repayment of his money, which was done by direction of Mr. Esdaile. By Mr. Sergeant Shee—He hfci the highest opinion of Alderman Kennedy's integrity ; such was his general character. alterations in the second and some other trifling ones, and was the last he prepared previous to the final balance-sheet which was read to the shareholders at the meeting. Tae tabular statement on which the final balance-sheet was based was put in. The witness then detailed the amount of the suspense acc mut, past-due bills, &c., &c., inserted as assets, which have already been given. The balance-sheet wae audited in his pre sence. Ho preducat before the auditors statements of the assets and liabilities similar to those he; had spoken to. There was a difference in them to those he handed Mr. Cameron. The accounts were differently described. In the statement of assete, as first shown, the bill account was headed in the precise term in which they stood in the bank books, but in the copy before the auditors they were simply entitled bill account, No. 1, 2,3, and so on. Tne loan account was similarly named. Convertible securities being called loin account No. 1, and past-due loans, loan account No. 2. Mr. Cameron, with his own hand, altered the titles of the account before they went to the auditors. An alteration was first made, so early as 1853, in the statements produced for the auditors, and they continued to be made down to 1855. The auditing usually occupied three or four bours e ., In 1853, after the accounts had been altered, he said to Mr. Cameron, Mr. Page, one of the auditors, appeared to consider that he was entitled to see _all the bills and securities of the bank. Mr. Cameron replied it was no portion of the duty of an auditor to go into those matters, or into the personal accounts. He also raid Mr. Page mistook his duty, and were he to carry out his views, he should sit at the board-room table, go into all the traesactions of the bank, and there, de die in diem, revise and comment on all the bank's transac tions. Such a duty would entirely take away the ' functions of the directors. If the auditors required to see anything in the books he showed it - to them. He read the accounts off to the auditors. The balance sheet of 1855 contained in the assets all the proved bad debts, such as Welsh works, &c. In the ledger these accounts were ranged under different heads. The Welsh mines were ruled under the suspense account and convertible securities, cash credit account, adjusting interest account, amount ing in the gross to 108,0031. 2s. 51. up to December, 1855. Witness then detailed the manner in which the others were more or less spread over the above accounts. The Islington Cattle Market debt amounted to 8,6001. ; Mullens', 10,6461 16'. 3d. ; Brown's, 79,4371. 3s. ld. : Oliver's, 14,162/. 4s. 51. ; Macgregor's, 7,369%. 83. 3.3. ; Blacker's, 4,518/. 2d. ; Gwynne's, 13,415/. 19s. 11d. ; Cochrane's, 9:5331. 3s. 3d. ; Cameron's, 24,5901. Is. sd. (deducting 693/. Bs. 10d., balance of his drawing account). By Mr. Sergeant Shee-The balance-sheet, was drawn out on the recognised principle of book-keeping. The accounts showed appear in the balance-aheet as they were in the books. A debt, uules4 it was entirely hope less, ought not to be written off, and, of course, it must come into the ba'anee-sheet in the character of an asset until that was done. By Sir. F. Kelly-The reserve fund for meeting bad debts was fertned on a calculation of 5 per cent. on the net profits, and that was the meaning of the item 3071. for that purpose in the balance-sheet of Dec., 1855. No calculation or examination was then made of the actual amount of bad and dcubtful debts, but there was in June, 1855. The balance sheets of June and Dec., 1855, did not include specific items of bad debts. On one occasion witness hazarded a remark to a director, when b'lr.Cameroncameto him and said " I understand you have been speaking to Mr. Cochrane. I think it extra iY+3 bad taste on your part, and any recurrence of it will meet with my most severe displeasure." By Mr. a Seymour - Witness became general manager after Kr. Cameron left, on 22d July, 1856. A. balance-sheet of June, 1856, handed in, had corrections on it in Mr. Munro'a handwriting. Up to August, 1856, he believed the bank would be able to dispose of their interest in the Welsh Works satisfactorily, and be no substantial sufferer by it. It was Mr. Cameron's policy to keep up a bad debt fund. By Mr. Atherton-After June, 1855, no interest eau; computed on 42 0001. of bad debts included in the subsequent balance-sheets or toilette, Out of 70,0001. odd, Mr. Brown's discounts 8,060/. 14s. lid. was for current trade bills. During the last few days of the bank deposits did not come in very fast, and it had sold "ut nearly all its stock. Air. Williamson stated that he was assistant -account ant of the bank. Mr. Crawford informed him on one occasion that it was Mr. Cameron's wish Mr. L. M. Valiant, a director, should not be assisted is his exami nation of the books, and witness gave him as little assistance as possible in prosecuting his inquiries. (Laughter.) By. Mr. Seymour--He did not know if it was stated that Mr. Cameron's object was to preceent one director examining the account of another director. By Mr.' Atherton -The cash book showed on the cash credit side, including m oney trans f erre d f rom one account to another. It stood as follows within a few days of the stoppage :-.27th August, 1856, 18,1391. le. sd. ; 28th August, 117,092/. 18s. 41. ; 29th August, 75,921/. Os. 13. ; 30th August, 131,0241. 10s. ; let September, 157,672/. 194. 43. ; 2d September, 109,485/. 18s. ; 3.t September, 56,918/. Bs. lid. ; making a gross balance of 665.261/. 17', 41.; a balance In hand then remained of 18,039/. ss. 7d. Mr. Duncan was called, and stated that the bank was never pressed for wion9y, anti when the bank stopped there was a balance of 35,0001. in the till at the principal office, and a similar amount in the Bank of England. Mr. Sergeant Ballantine then read a portion of Mr. Eidaile's affidavit before the Vice-Chancellor, which applied to his knowledge of the state and condition et the bank; from its commencement to the time of its stop page. It stated that Mr. Esdaile war not aware the capital was not paid up when the charter was obtained, I and his impression that the bank did not make, in a I commercial phrase, sufficient provision for bad debts. Mr. W. Nichol', of Eccleston-square, merchant, was induced to become a shareholder on the representation of Mr. Alderman Kerne iy. He had 20 shares, for which he paid 1,0001., in 1855 ; from information he subse quently ontaioed he refused to become a director. In February following he gild his shares ; ten of them were first sold in the market for 5001., and they were trans ferred to . Mr. Erupstin. Later in the month he sold the remaining 10 shares ; which were also transferred to Empson for 5001. By Mr. Soee—He first knew Alderman Kennedy, in Bombay, in 1811 ; he understlod. Alderman Kennedy was the pbysiman-general—he al says bore a high cha racter for integrity and honour. By Mr. James—Witness was a director of the Lou' d-n and County Bank. He did not know if that bank commenced with a capital of 34,0001. After some further evidence of a similar character, the court adj turned at a quarter past five o'clock. The case for the pro-ecution is expected to finish early to-nuerro w morning. Country Markets. LIVERPOOL. FEB. 23. This morning there was an unusually small attendance of country buyers, and in the ab ,, ence of all demand for wheat scarcely any change was made in quotations. Flour a very slow sale, and Tuesday's prices barely supported! Oats quiet, and meal in more request. Barley dull, and beaus (d to is dearer. Indian corn a ivanced ls perqr., but was difficult to sell at that ; Black Sea 3 1 s, mixed and yellow American 34s 6d; white 34a 6d per 4801bs. LEEDS—rm. 23. Sewn al vessels having arrived from the coast there is a good show of wheat and barley this morning. Wheat in slow sale, and prices not equal to the extreme rates of Fri• day by is per qr. Barley also dull. Beans steady. Other articles as before. Averages for the week : Wheat, 44s lu d Oats, —s —d Peas, 41s Barley, 32s lld I Beans, 38s 9.1. l Rye, —s Od. I NORWICH CATTLE —FEB. 20. There was a tolerable show of store cattle to-day, and some of the lots in superior condition. Only a limited business was done. Fat beasts, 7s to 75 6d. ; prime, 85 Od per stone ; being about same as last week. Sheep, 15s to 48s per head, and good store pigs 205 to 255. Fat pork, 6s to 6s 6d ; prime, be 6d per stone of 141bs. COURSE OF EXCH. msterdran ........ 11 15 Ditto, three months .. 11 17 Rotterdam ............ 11 17 L 4 Antwerp . • • • •• •• • • .• • • 25 85 Brussels ............ 25 35 ilamburgh 13 5% Altona •. • • •••••• 41 • • • • &NG& -YESTERDAY. Gibraltar •••• •• •• •• •• Leghorn .. • . Genoa ..... 25 5736 Milan • • •• •• • • •• •• •• •• - Venice Naples ••••„.„.....• •• sins Palermo •••• •••• \lessino ....... • •123/9 504 Lisbon . Oporto ...... •• 52 Rio Janeiro ....... ....• "". iluenos Ayres ..... • •• •• New York,6o days'sight Philadelphia .......... PRICES OP BULLION. psis Foreign Gold In Bars £3 17 Portugal Gold Coin _. 0 u 0 \lexicon Dollars •••• 0 a 0 New Dollars ..•• 0 0 ° 0 Silver in bars ...• •• 25 10 Do. Car:4 months • • • 25 35 staral3. 25 37 ys Bourdeaux Ft ankfort-on-laine .... 118 1 4 Berlin Vienna .• •• •• •••• • . •• 10 . 33 10 34 Petersburg 35 Cadiz . 4974 Bar,elons 5evi11e......... . LOO4L SLIARB biARKAV LIVERPOOL —FHB. 23. STOCK EXCHANGE—There was a fair amount or In3liioss , the market opening firm, a d closiu , 4 a‘eady, Holyhea d . I 9,;—Canadas, 20 i—Eastern Counties, 12 9-16—Ems Lane ishire, 934 4—Birkenhead stock, 72i --Bervric ks t 24 [ool.—llovers, 2l 6—North British, 1 - 3 k, i --Londons, 00i- -Leeds Northern, 26 i—Sheffields, 391 1 —Grand Trunks, I'4. UttAINGRA FEB 23. STOCK EXCHANGD. —This market was slatioaary to -day. Birthin(rh „ arn Fire Office shares 90—Midlands, St3ffortis, d. 99,!—North LEEDS—FEU. 23. STOCK EXCHANGE.—'Midlands, 9)A AA NCH KST Eh, FEB. 23 STOOK EXCHANGS.—A very fair business doing in 4 11 e . share market to-day. The following are the transactionsi Lora„fon and South Western, 9:il —Midlands, 100—B6° Lancashire 91 1--Doves, z 2 i —Shefelds, 5/. pref, i V* —Birkenhead, 72 --Trunks, 12 15.16—Leeds, 954 North Staffords, 31 d—Eastern Counties, 12 546* B I R Tll. S. • CAMPBELL—On the 21st inst., at Knipton Rectory, Hon. Mrs. A. Campbell, of a daughter. DOn i E —On the 21st inst., at Clifton, the wifeo;S:rt P. lie Doyle, Blrt., of a son. RUSSELL—On the 1 ,th inst., at 8, Eaton-place West, La"' Elizabeth Russell, of a son. TAYLOR —On the 22d inst., at 51, Carnberland•stret Hyde-park, the wife of Taybr, jun., Esq., G a f sons. MARRIAGES. 101 MATHEWS—HARTLEY—Oa the 20th inst., at ° c oop thew's, Denmark-hill, Davii G. D. Mathews, s e ,, to sou of Henry A. Mathews, Esq., of Dencuark-ili'" Susanna Hartley, of Cheltenham T mos% PuROELL—RAsCH----On the 13th inst., at St. ut - id ale Spanish-place, Lyndsay Dillon Purcell, Esq., of ''',, a est Temple, barrister-at-law, to Mary Elizab3th, d4uehter of the late John Peter Rasch, Esq. , of .IkLe'"" Surrey. - DEATHS. BARNETT —On the 19th inst., Anne, the wife of 136" Barnett, of H.M.' Theatre. ee, HOUSELEYOn the s 21st inst., at 11, Glocester-terj-,i Beguiles park, Thomas George Houseley, of the X aged 21. SMI THETT —On th e 22d inst., at Hon,grave, near garg 4tet R. M. S m ithett, Esq. SNEYD— On the 21st inst., the Rev. Louis Sneyd , I NC-de of All Souls' College, Oxford, aged 70. SPINNEY —On the 21st inst. at Holland Cott a g e, siog ton, Robert Spinney, inst., aged 44. ega til; W ODE HOUSE—On the 9th inst. at the British L St.Pletssbu: agg,eAd 1 Alfred, onemd,steh. eo s z:d son of Lord And j'a. wodoiie oNnox : Printe-i and Publimhed by MUItDO YOUN,O 14 et 0, 112, Strand, Frinter, at The Sum 01-11c' 112, &rand, in the Precinct of Ow Savoy, in the COColin," of bliddlesex, Wednesday, February 24, 1858.