The Sun. — London, England, 1846-02-06 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, Feb. 5. 1 (Sittings at Nisi Prins, Westminster Hall, before Lord DEN MAW and a Common Jury.) COWAN V. CRUMP. This was an action, brought by the plaintiff, who was a vurneyman cigar maker, living at Red Lion-street, White impel, against the defendant, who was a butcher, for the al eged negligent driving of a cart by a servant of the de endant, en the Eki of September, the result of which was that .pleinttrwo knocked down, a nd would have been killed bat fur the interference of a friend; he wai, however, very much bruised. A witness named Alexander, a cigar maker, deposed that he and plailtiff were standing in the street about a yard out side the kele-stone, when the defendant's cart came up, the shaft of which struck the plaintiff and knocked him down. Witness seized hold of the horse, and stopped him ; if he had gone on the wheel must have gone over the plaintiff's body ; es the cart was approaching the witness saw the driver reading a paper of some sort ; there was another tart paining at the time, and there was ample room ; plain was ao mueh injured that he was laid up for some time ; he could earn about 35e. a week. Several other witnesses were esiled, and gave testimony corroborative of the above. For the defence the driver of the cart WV3 called, and he deposed that the plaintiff and his companions were standing in the middle of the street ; that he called out to them, but they did not move. When the accident happened the plaintiff got up and seized witness by the collar and threatened to strike him, but was prevented 'by his companions. Defendant ap peared to have been drinking. Witness met him a few days atter, and he (plaintiff) lanced about and said, " Thank God, there is n• limbs broken.'—(Laughter.) He asked witness for an ox-tail for a little solriehment--(Laughter) — a nd that he would give him a few cigars. A woad witness gave 'evidence somewhat to the same street. The found a verdict for the defendant. COURT OF EXCHEQUEB, Feb. 5. (Sittings at Nisi Prius, in Westminster, after Term, before the Loin CILDDP Baaort and a Common Jury.) JOYCS V. /console. This was aetios of debt, brought to recover 1601. for goods sold and delivered, and board aid lodging provided on the defendant's aceount, for one Jo hn Ho p ki n son, to which the defendant bad pleaded that he never was indebted. Mr. Atkinson appeared fo r the plaintiff and Mr. Knowles for the defendant. The plaintiff was a tailor, carrying on business in tho City, and the defendant was the well-known sporting character who was connected with the Running Rein affair, in which he came off a loser of considerable sums of money. It would appear frem the evidence that some time ago the defendant was staying at the White Horse Inn, Fetter-lane, with a friend named Hqpkinson, from whom he borrowed 200/., and, as a return f6r the loan, it was agreed that Hop kinson should board and lodge with, as well as obtain clothes from, the plaintiff for a specified period, at the defendant's expense. Hopkinson accordingly lived with the plaintiff for two sears, and was amply provided with food toad clothing, and supplied with pocket-money at the rate of Bs. per week, and the present action was brought to compel the defendant to reimburse the plaintiff, in accordance with the terms of the agreement made two years ago. Mr. 11NOWLE 3 , for the defence, contended that the case involved a very improbable story, which it was impossible for any twelve men of common sense to credit for a single mo ment. One would imagine that Hopkinson was a helpless lad, unable to take care of either himself or his money, and that commiseration for his helpless state moved the defendant to superintend the disbursement of his money, and see that he was properly lodged, fed, and clothed. But the fact was not so; Hopkinson was a full-grown man of thirty years of age, and just as capable of taking care of himself and his money as the defendant. At all events, he denied that de fendant was liable for the money arid clothes supplied to llopkinson, although he was ready to admit that he ought to pay for the board and lodging. And this he had done to the fullest extent, for he had paid the plaintiff 431., which was more than the bill made the board and lodging come to. The LORD CHIEF UARON, in summing up, remarked that there was an exceedingly wholesome statute in existence, namely, the Statute of Frauds, which required that when a party undertook to pay money for another, the agreement should be in writing, and even at the risk of sacrificing a desire to do justice to a man who was money out of pocket, he thought it would be better for them to be guided by the strict letter of this law. The jury then retired, and after a rather long consulta tion, returned into Court with a verdict for the plaintiff— Damages, 681. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. OLD COURT. (Before Mr. Justice WILLIAMS and Mr. Justice CRESSWELL. ALLEGED MURDERS ON BOARD THE TORY. George Johnstone, formerly captain of the ship Tory, whose cstie has excited such extraordinary interest, was this day placed at the bar on an indictment charging him with the wilful murder of Thomas Reason. There were other indict ments, but the charge, in the first instance, was confined to the murder of Reason. The Attorney-General, Mr. Bodkin, and Mr. Clerk, were for the prosecution; Mr. Jervis, QC., and Mr. Huddlestone, appeared for the defence. The prisoner, who seemed in a better state of health than wren he appeared before the magiptrate at the Thames Police-court, was accommodated with a chair, and seemed during the proceedings to pay particular attention to the evidence, more especially where it seemed to go against himself. He is not by any means a man of unprepossessing appearance. aunty-Gestural. rose to state the case. He said —My Lords and Gentlemen of the Jury, in an important and serious case of this description, involving as it does the death of a fellow-creature, and on the issue of which the life of another person depends,l am sere it will beunnecessary for me le intrust your catered consideratien and most patient attain tien. It is possible that many of the circumstances, which have already been communicated to the public, have reached your ears; but you will not be required te be told by me to distrust these statements, and to act on the present occasion entirely on the facts which will be sworn to by the witnesses. In disposing of the anxious and painful duty which is cast upon me, I have found it extremely difficult, in considering the proper way to introduce the case to you, to extricate from a variety of facts and circumstances tkat portion of the witnesses' statement which applies te the case immediately before the Cqurt, without wandering into other and less important particu lars. I have reflected ever and over again as to the proper course that I ought to take, and with the deepest feelings of the responsibility which attaches to me, I trust that in giving you a sort of connected narration of the whole of the proceed snp, so as to enable yea to form a correct judgment on the subject, I shall not omit to mention anything which inustice ought to form part of the case ; at the same time j I trust that I shall intro duee nothing irrelevant to prejudice the prisoner in your estimation. We have selected as the first ewe to be ex amined into the serious charge against the prisoner of the wilful mauler of Thomas Reason. The circumstance took plaeo on board of a vessel named the Tory, in which the pri soner was captain, on her homeward voyage. She had, it appeared, sailed from Liverpool in 1844, for Bombay and China. Reason joined at Singapore, on her homeward voyage. She was a vessel of some 608 tons and had a crew of 26 men. She had sailed from Hong-Kong in the beginning of May, 1845, with a valuable cargo. The vessel was worth (both ship and cargo) somewhere about 80,0001.—such a charge would naturally make any man anxious to whose care it was entrusted, and this circumstance must be taken into consi deration in weighing the case. When the vessel left Hong- Kong she passed the Cape of Good Hope without touching there, but after doubling it the provisions and water began to fail. The men were put on an allowance of a quart a day of water, instead of a gallon, which was the usual quantity served out. They naturally, under these circumstances, expressed some discontent and dissatisfaction. The captain had intended to touch at St. Helens, bat, in consequence of some accident to his chronometers, he was out in his longi tude' and therefore missed the island. He afterwards ex pressed his intention to touch at the Island of Ascension, which might be five to six days' run from St. Helena, and the provisions and water began to fail more and mere. On the lgth of September it was supposed by the captain that they were near the Island of Ascension, and he hove to and remained there during the whole of the night. In the eourse of that evening Reason, the deceased, in talking to some of the men, said that if they did not make the island in the morning the captain should no longer be Captain Johnstone. I believe that from someting that will appear in the course of the trial it seri be seen that these expressions conveyed no intimation either against the life of the captain or against his command in the ship. The Learned Attorney - General then proceeded to detail the facts of the case (facts which have already frequently appeared in our columns, and which will be better understood by the evidence), from the time that the Tory passed the Island of Ascension, the in • creasing dissatisfaction of the men, the falling in with a French barque and the reception from her of some provisions and water and a cask of wine, the prisoner's increasing par tiality for intoxicating spirits, the chasing Rambert, the chief mate, and two other men with a cutlass across the deck, and the chief mate's going overboard, to the death of Reason, from wounds inflicted by the captain in the cabin, on the night of the 24th October. The Learned Gentleman then concluded, " I have endeavoured, as dispassionately l as I could, to lav all the circumstances of the case ore you. Of the death of Reason no doubt can be entertained, e lt nor of the causes which led to it. It is impossible for R the defame of the prisoner may be, nor wo ilirticipate what pt to erreateaprejudiceorprepo , session in your minds 4attempt to ssate a prejudice orprepo:session in your minds by suggest present ociLiasTiz what course may possibly be taken on the I wish that all the facts should go before von i and simplest way, in order that you may be ena n tll i rs ° a dispassionate judgment upon them I therefore t seis f r no n portion of the grounds on which the prisoner may re defence to be occupied by any remarks on my part. Istiaye hi, endeavoured to discharge my duty faithfully, and at the s ame time fairly. I will call witnesses to prove the circurnstanices I have detailed , and without further observation or reason o n t h e f a de, I shall leave the case to your consideration and The Learned Attorney-general then sat dow n . judgment." Arthur Gilmore Spence was the first witness called, and was exa mined by Mr. Bormix,—l was on board th e s hi p Tory on her voyage from Hong-Keng to England. She be longed to Liverpool, and I was apprentice on board. The prisoner was captain of her, and the crew consisted, on an average, of 27. No unpleasantness arose on the outward voy e• W e left Hong-Kong for England in May, eg. 1843; We bad a man named Reason, an able seaman, w ise joined u.s at Singapore. The mates were Wallin Henry Rambert and William Mars. The cargo was very valuable, consisting for the most part of tea. When we hod passed the Cape the wind was favourable, and we made for St. Helena. The captain assigned as a reason for passing the island, that his chronometers were wrong, , and that he was, therefore, out of his longitude. He asked the crew if they were favourable to a run for Ascension, and theysaid they were. This might boa run of six days. The provisions were very low and the allowance of water was a a uqart. The usual a ll o wance is from six pints to gallon. I was la:d up at the time and did not hear much murmuring among the crew; but they seemed to t t hin t k: l tha i t t f le m ca d pt . ain lia,l some private rea.on passing t s o a Eva. An.er nii:sing the island ut Ascension, the mates were called do:e into the cabin, and , direr a consultation, i t was deter minedn to proceed on the lioinwaard voyage. 1 find by the Jo that: this seas on the 20th Sept. The allowance of water was, after that, further diminished to a pint a day, aid the bread to half a pound a day, till it was altogether con sumed. This was very soon after the captain had determinod to make for home. We fell in with a French barque at eight on the morning of the 23 d. I remember the fact of Itambert's jumping overboard, although I did not myself see him do so; but from tb.at day wroeywoznottoinyoprtty comfortably till we made the island of ashore, and I o' c lock o on the 22d October. The captain went pson, tra a anied him. Reason, David Johnstone, Henry Thom the boat's crew. Sa ck, and the other apprentice, were of to best of my knowledge. The captain returned onboard At this time fie, wawa same day, and we returned also. the ship. The captain was i n as was on board, in charge of ar i n e ra although he appeared to have been drinking slightly. "Dens appeared given more to drinking after the death of casion he was rather the worse for dirienrlte. On that oc ashore, and he was with the English Constra w e i r n h e,went hour and half alone, but whether lie was drii°lleinge4tTa„nl cannot say. On the day on which Reason died I was in the - captain's cabin. It was late in the evening, n ear l y bi. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY ETEN IN CI, FEBRUARY The captain, on hearing ! ted, and on the same even these reports, became very excited, captain, and that Reason and America- named Cnrteis were going to take the ship to Amer W tness did not hear the parties referred Cross-examined— 1 he only heard French and Yelver idnegekh.e chased several of those whom he suspe c t ed round the to threaten the captain ; Lee, and Cone in irons, and shackles on Witness put Reason, ~...'' captain. They were denied the e at h• 'ad ever ni heard their neck, by the order of the ..,o ton toll the captain that these threats had been held out. cut and bleeding at the time. c w ap a t s ei c n a ,e lle l d, ife, an e d rt.;a, • 4 as had been alleged. crew say that dawn, i nto the cabi n on t h e night before one that help e d t o b r i ng the body up andht e e i sgo dow he was they would take the ship to Itn threatened nlii e P s esadteewart Reason u r t next morning. On going down to fetch it, he saw the cap tain standing over the My with the point of his cutlass in the body. Cross-examined—Witness never told the captain that Rambert wanted the men to go aft and take his life. What he told him was, that Rambert wanted the men to go aft and make the captain fast. This closed the case for the prosecution. ' After some consultation, It was arranged that Mr. Jervis should address the Jury in the morning, on the opening of the Court. One of the °Meet"; of the Court was then sworn to take ch&rge of the jury till the morning, and the Court adjourned POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE. Yesterday two persorr, named John Morley and Sarah Thomas,were brought before the Lord Mayor, one charged with having in a great variety of instances t,btained goods from warehousemen under false representations, and the other with having received and pawned the goods. Each of the prisoners was said to be but nine teen years of age. Me. Waller, from the firm of Ashurst and Son, solici tors, attended for the prosecution. Richard Goodwin, a person in the employment of Dollfus, Meig, and Co., of No. 1, Friday-street, ware housemen, stated that the male prisoner called at the warehouse on Friday, at one o'clock, and said he came from Messrs. Badham and Gaunt, of Walworth, and wanted for them some pieces of goods upon approbation. Witness requested him to look in again, and it would be ascertained whether the articles he wished for could be supplied, and he accordingly called in about twenty minutes, and selected three pieces of cashmere. The firm in whose name the young man applied was known to the prosecutors, but Morley was not known, and the warehouseman who exhibited the goods was taken off his guard by the statement of the latter, that he had just been getting goods at Morrison's. The witness gave him the parcel of cashmere and the invoice pro duced, and as some suspicion was entertained of him. followed him through several streets as far as a court in Gray's Inn-lane, where he disappeared. On his cross-examination witness said he had never seen Morley before that occasion, and he knew nothing of the female prisoner. Mr. James Gaunt, of the firm of Badham and Gaunt, of' Walworth, stated that Morley had lived iu the house about three years, as an apprentice, and about three weeks ago absented himself. Witness understood from him that he had formed a connexion with a female, but did not know that the female prisoner was the person. The policeman who apprehended Morley found in his pockets several papers, amongst which was the invoice of the goods procured from the prosecutors. The policeman who apprehended the woman said be took her into custody when she called to see Morley at the Compter. He accompanied her to a house in Bell-court, Gray's Inn-lane, in which they lodged, and lived toge ther as man and wife, and found there some articles of dress, which were identified as part of the goods which had been procured in the manner above stated, by Morley. She stated to him that Morley had sent word to her to destroy all the dresses and the duplicates. The landlady of the house in which the prisoner re sided said the female prisoner rented and took the lodg ing for herself and her husband, as she called Morley, on Monday week. Both prisoners had been frequently seen returning home with parcels. The prisoners were remanded, as several other cases are to be investigated. A lad, named John Jansen, was charged with having embezzled several sums of money, the property of his employer, Mr. Waller, newsveudor, of Staining-lane. Mr. Waller had been seriously injured by the vile conduct of the prisoner, who appropriated to his own purposes the money given to him for the purchase of newspapers for the customers of the house, as well as received sums for which he never accounted, Mr. Wal ler declared that he could not guess to what an extent he was likely to suffer by such flagrant wrong, but an appeal made to his parental feelings by Mr. Duncornbe, the prisoner's solicitor, completely overpowered the poor man, and he abandoned the prosecution. The prisoner, who wept bitterly, was of course dis charged. A - sailor, named William Harper, was fined 1001. for having in his cabin twenty-two pounds weight of tobacco, on which the duty had not been paid. RAILWAYS.—The Lord Mayor regretted to say that he had received a communication relative to the deplor able condition of a number of poor men, who whatever accusation might be made against some persons who meddled with railway speculations, certainly ought not to be sufferers. He meant the surveyors of the projected lines of railroads over the country. His communicant mentioned that the contest between the condition of many of the surveyors while the mania was raging, and their present state was really horrible, for ho knew many who after the cruelly laborious work they had undergone, and the difficulties of every kind they had to encounter, could not prevail upon the engineer by whom they were employed, to nay them a farthing of what they had through much desperate hardship earned, and they were glad to get refuge in miserable rooms, and to obtain the comfort of a cup of coffee. An appeal had been made to the Chief Magistrate on the subject, and he was requested to devise some means by which the poor sufferers could be assisted in their efforts to obtain restitution. But what could the Lord Mayor do? It would appear that railroad difficulties were only just commencing, and that the responsibilities of some persons were likely to be ruinous to their credit, and carry with them a long train of calamities in which multitudes would participate. A gentleman, who stated that he was aware of the existence of a great deal of distress amongst humble tradespeople, in consequence of the speculations in rail roads made by their customers, declared, that in some places people were afraid to give credit to the amount of a few shillings. The LORD MAYOR said, that in the cases to which he alluded, he could only refer the applicants to the active offices of a solicitor, or to the society established for pretecting pat ties having valid claims. He took the opportunity of stating that he, with great pain, had seen a paragraph, which had been copied from some Sunday newspaper into the daily press, representing that several members of the Court of Aldermen had found it necessary to leave the country, in consequence of certain liabilities arising from railway adventures. He did not believe that ill-natured report. He was constantly in the habit of seeing nis brethren in the pc rformance of their duties, and there certainly were not absent from town more than usually absented them selves at this time of the year. CLERKEN WELL. John James, an advertisement canvasser, was brought up for final examination, on a charge of endeavouring to obtain money from several booksellers, publishers, and other tradesmen, by representing himself as the agent of publishers. The case was partly entered into on Saturday, when the prisoner was remanded until yesterday for further inv , stigation. Mr. Jones, from the office of Mr. Bennett, solicitor, attended for the prisoner. Mr. Scott, bookseller and publisher in Charter-house square, gave the prisoner into custody for representing himself as the agent of Messrs. Jackson and Co., pub lishers, St. Paul's Churchyard, and attempting to obtain the amount of a bill for advertisements of Mr. Scott's inserted in the British Quarterly Review, published by Nfessrs. Jackson. Mr. Scott had previously paid the bill, and the prisoner, when about to be apprehended, begged for mercy, saying he would rather be killed than charged with such an offence. Mr. Scott added that the prisoner had, in the month of October, attempted to obtain the amount of a bill for advertise. ments of his inserted in the Edinburgh Review, by r: pre senting himself us the collector of Messrs. Longman, Paternoster-row, publishers of that periodical. Mr. Jackson, of the firm of Jackson and Co., of St. Paul's Churchyard, and publishers of the British Quar terly, deposed that he never in any way authorised the prisoner to collect money for the firm ; had seen the prisoner somewhere, but he Could not say when or where. Mr. Francis Sykes, clerk to Messrs. Longman, Pater noster-row, swore the prisoner was in no way authorised to collect advertisements for that house. He had seen the prisoner in the establishment soliciting a situation, and subsequently as a canvasser for advertisements. Police-constable 13, G said, a great number of trades men, booksellers, and others, who had been cheated out of money in the same manner, and by the same descrip tion of person, as in the case of Mr. Scott, had pro mised to attend, but they were not in court. Amongst hese was Mr. Paynter, of the Strand, Mr. Ede, of the firm of Adams and E'le, robemakers, Chancery-lane; Messrs. Hatchard, of Piccadilly, had likewise been de frauded in this way. Mr. Thomas Bowen, clerk to Messrs. Hatchard, said that be did not think the prisoner was the person who had defrauded them. Had seen the prisoner before. He represented himself as an advertisement collector, and believed he then filled such a post on the Church Intelli gencer newspaper. Joseph Langford, clerk to Messrs. Blackwood, pub lishers, Paternoster row, deposed to having seen the pri soner'before, but could not say where. Witness handed in a bill for advertisements, inserted by Messrs. Black wood:hosi head i 2ra cl o :sads t hs h l :eet e ofrrß r t, bcei p fetfg u . rea b ot mi such.fTit fraud. t tu t ehr i doee bill , Could l a ha n a d ndo p nt u .o r th p bt o iew r e t ,n ! v n e g pra, t i o ds,a co ya s it was mtheefrpormi d Mr. her, eth,house otfheMtrr.aNieichkadissebne,enpidtbe-- frauded to a very large extent in the same manner as Mr. Scott had narrated. He knew several of those par ties, and was surprised they had not attended. One gentleman had identified the prisoner as having received money from him. He went into the clerk's office; and he could not say what became of him. An ironmonger, inWigmore-street, Cavendish-square, whose name we could not catch, identified the prisoner as having attempted to obtain the amount of a bill from him for advertisements inserted in Fraser's Magazine, representing himself as the publisher's agent. Mr. J. Fraser said, the Gardener's Chronicle had been defrauded, and he believed a person from that office could identify the prisoner. Another gentleman said, the publishers of the West mihster Review had been falsely personated in numerous instances, and money obtained for advertisements in serted in that publication. Several gentlemen present, connected with the trade, expressed a wish that the Magistrate would remand the time. The captain desired me to stop in the cabin. A charge was brought against the deceased Reason by a man named Morris. The deceased had said " that he would have law when he came to England," or words to that effect. The captain then desired Reason to be sent for. He came down then. Barry Yelverton and William Dunn, the cook, were in the cabin, as well as a foreigner, Jules Cor diavello. The captain was more than half drunk. He had been taking brandy and water before. I did not remain an the cabin till Reason's death. To the best of my knowledge the captain took hold of him and shook him on the sofa, where he desired him to sit. Ha struck him over the side with the point of the bayonet. I can recollect that he spoke some words to him first. I think he said you are a d-- mutineer, sir. Reason did not answer. 1 I did not see the captain do anything more while I was there. There were bayonets always about the cabin. He had not a bayonet in his hand when Morris first spoke to him, but he took it into his hand when Reason first came down. There was a boy on board named Glover, and soon after I left he came and called me. I went down to the cabin again, and saw the c a pt ain and Dunn theree.liaal Rea son was lying down alongside t he sofa, and the fmeathathewasdeaedad. T dead. I disbelieved captain elieve looicd as if dit,bu oetafter fwu r a m r d ed found that he was d s he were more in possession of his senses th v a e n d. bef T or b e e I bad lef y I t the cabin, and he appeared calm and I m mo was carried out and buried on the following morning. reed the burial service over him. I find an entry in the log on the 24th October, signed by the captain. I made that entry by the captain's desire. He told me that Reason had died in a tit, and Dunn told me so also. I had a conversation with the captain before, and he desired me to say that he had died in a fit. I entered in the log-book what he desired me to enter, although I guessed how the man had died. I think that the other names were signed after Mars died, In general cases the captain and the two chief officers sign the log, but no others. Cross-examined by Mr. Jenvis—This voyage was the first long voyage I made under Captain Johnstone. Nothing particular occurred in the outward voyage. Rambert was a new hand. I cannot say how many new hands were shipped. I cannot say that any of the hands had shipped under false names, or that they had left their ships at Hong-Kong. Rambert leaped overboard on the 25th of September. I did not hear some days before that that there was to be a mu tiny. Rambert was in the habit of treating the men un kindly, but the captain was not. He seemed very attentive to the interests of the owners, and before this time was very quiet. The men wore at this time grumbling because they were on short allowance. Yelverton and French made some commitaieation to the captain, that the crew. or pert of the crew, heal sharpened their knives with the intention of taking the captain's lire. French accused the cook with a design on the captain's life. This communication added to the captain's excitement. A man named Cole informed him, also, that the crow intended, after taking hls life. to sail with the ship to the Contineat. Dunn told the captain, in about an hour after the previous statements, that French had sharpened his knife on both sides, and said that he would be one of the first to take his life. He also heard the foreigner tell the captain that Gair, a seaman, had come to him, and pointing a marline spike at his breast, threat ened to run it into him if he would not assist to kill the captain. The crew generally were in the habit of carrying tales to the captain of the intention of other persons. The way this was done was, the captain would call down one of the crew, and holding a cutlass over him, would threaten to cut him if he would not reveal some thing about some of the other men, and to save himself the man did so. Barry Yelverton, French, and Dunn's commu nications were voluntary ones. After Rambert's death and the arrival of the Tory at Fayal, she was boarded by the cap tain of an English vessel, who remained for about an hour and a half, having free access to the ship and free com munication with the crew of the Tory. After leaving Faye], French made another voluntary communication to the captain. When the boy Glover called for me the captain was more than half drunk, and he had been in this excited state for some time before. When Reason was called down the captain struck him on the side with the bayonet. Re-examined by Mr. BODKIN—I wrote the false entries because I knew the captain would put an end to any one's existence who refused to obey him. He said to me " that if I disobeyed him, I should not have long to live." Julian Cordiavello, examined by Mr. CLERK—Joined the ship at Liverpool for the outward and home voyage. He recollected the death of Reason some three days after the ship left Fayal on her return He remembered his being in the cabin at about midnight with others. When Reason came in the captain told him to sit down on the sofa ; he had then a cutlasc in his hand. He said, then you want law, I'll give you English law, and he struck him on the forehead with the cutlass. H 6 then seized Reason by the collar, and shoved him from side to side. The captain then threw the cutlass on the floor, and called the boy Jenning to bring the bayonet. He struck him twice with it, and the man died immediately. Mr. Justice WiemAers—Where did he strike him ? Wit ness—On the breast. He called Dunn, and the man was dis covered to be dead. The body of Reason was thrown over board. Cross-examined—He knew a Frenchman on board of the name of Morris. He was shipped at Hong-Kong. He (the witness) did not know that Morris had been on 4 oard the ship William the Fourth, or that he had been acused of mutiny. Witness had never heard Reason threaten the captain's life. The captain in his con duct was very violent, very much like a wild animal. He often exclaimed, "this is the arm that slew the Boyne at the hattle of Bannockburn." Barry Yelverton was next examined, and said he was an apprentice on board the Tory, and was in her on the voyage from Hong-Kong. He recollected the vessel falling short of water and provisions before the ship reached Ascension. The night on which they expected to make Ascension, he asked Reason if he thought they would reach land before the next morning? His answer was, he did not know; but if they did so, he would put a blue shirt on the forearm, so that some man-of-war's men would come on board and learn how the men had been treated on the voyage by Captain Johnstone. That was all that witness heard Reason say. Witness told this to the captain after the Tory fell in with the French barque, from which they obtained provisions. He believed that he told the captain the day after leaving the French barque. The captain called witness into the cabin then, and said that, ,judg ing from the mate's appearance, he concluded all was not right, and asked him if• he had heard anything. The captain had a cutlass in his hands, and said, " Tell me at once, did you hear any one threaten my life ?" The captain then sent for French, and said to him, "French, did you not hear Reason say, that if the ship did not make the Island of Ascension before morning he would have my life?" French said he had, and that the witness also had heard the same. Witness then told all he had heard, which he had already stated in evidence. French also said he had seen the men sharpening their knives on the grindstone. About an hour after witness went on deck, and saw the captain and several other of the officers armed. The men were all aft, and the captain was cutting at them. Among the men aft were Reason, Lee, and Cone, and these were the men the captain was cutting at then. They were in irons at the time at the break of the poop. They ware cut on the head, and witness saw all the three bleeding. The same night the three were hauled into the tops, but before this they had an,anchor shackle placed on the necks of each. They were hauled into the tops by ropes. Shortly after this Rambert jumped overboard. He recollected the ship being off Fayal, and the captain going on shore to the British Consul's. Witness went with him, but remained on shore by the boat till the captain's return. The captain ap peared to be rather intoxicated when he came back, and said something about the crew, but the words he did not recollect. About two days after he recollected Reason, who was now first mate, being sent for into the cabin. At this time the cap tain appeared to be very intoxicated. Morris was sent for a little before, and asked if he had heard of any plot against his (the captain's) life. He answered all that he had beard Reason, Cone, and Lee say was, that on arriving he London they would have law for him for what he had done to them. The captain, on Reason coming into the cabin, said he would have his law now, and cut the latter several times on the head. Reason was sent on deck after this, and again sent for about four hours after, and cut at in a singular manner. He also pitched him about with his hands. Reason asked the captain several times to spare him, but he paid no attention to it, and shouted out the expression about the battle of Bannockburn. The captain also stabbed Beason in the left breast twice. About ten minutes after Reason died. The dead body was afterwards placed at the foot of the cabin, when the captain thrust the cutlass into it at the shoulder, saying lie would serve the whole of them in the same way. The most of the craw were by at the time, hav ing come down to see the body. Witness the following night heard the captain say he would snake the crew walk the plank. The captain draele much more after falling in with the French barque than before. The witness, in con tinuation, repeated in substance the evidence about the entries which he made in the log-book, made, as witness declared, at the dictation of the captain, and the particulars of which were given fully at the time of the examination before the magistrates. lie made the deposition he then did, because the captain threatened the crew, if they did not do so, lie would have their life's blood. The witness was cross-examined at sonic length, but no thing was elicited that materially affected his evidence in chief. David Johnson called and examined—Said he was a sea man on board the Tory. He joined the ship at Hong,-Kong. He remembered the death of Reason. On the evening be fore Reason died the deceased came to witness's berth and said thet the captain had called him. He saw a cut across his forehead and the blood was upon it. Reason was called by Julian and went away. After that witness never saw Reason alive, bat next day he saw the dead body about 8 o'clock, when he saw four of the ship's company carrying it along the deck. Witness saw the body bare and noticed several stabs. Franklin Tucker was next examined, and deposed as to Reason. The last time he saw him alive was on the morning of the day of his death; he was going down into the cabin, and he had several cuts on his head. The next time he saw him was about two hours after, when he saw him brought up on deck dead. Witness afterwards examined the body, and it was much cut on the head and body, apparently with a cutlass. There was nothing elicited in the cross-examination of this witness. Wm. Dunn, the coo k o f t h e s hi p, was nex t examined—He deposed to the main features of the evidence already given, respecting the scarcity of provisions when expecting to reach Ascension. Th e witness, w dto i n n te e n ig t h ed t. , thle,rceanpchtainheT• arv a e ddition, said the crew were very i e n c g le r e efzed to run for a sail that , a c rming to him in the poop with his knife sharpened,sa id if the captain touched him he would run it into a m. Witness taken and pro posed that the captain shouladgliabbe Reason, • an a con E ld manage it without ia econfinedreply till to r t e h n e e y b , i r s e a a i c d h et they ey murdering the captain. The next day they f p el o i rt iiw m i e t .d h the the French barque. He told the captain ' what c234lt,abinectaluiaste he e itn ( ess tbe hweiatrodent)haittiteFordeendchabalitatdinlenfed on the poop and murdering him. The witness then went on in lathe cor roboration of Reason, Lee, and Cone, being subsequently put irons, the particulars of the death of the former, 'and as to having signed the log- book, stating that Reason had diedin a fit. He signed the log-book entirely from the threats of the cap fain. The Nyitlle';'i was or ss-examined at seine length with the objec' ht .!lowing that the , itness had freely stated that Rent . La I die t in a tie ena that he had heard the crew dlr . ~:',.,. ;11. , captain's life. Oil these heads no material point, via. ciliated, otherwise than already given, though , he Pt.tte I Le 12.1,1 some words with the captain respecting a woman on b0a..,!, whom the latter accused him of living with. James Glover, the steward, followed in examination, and deposed as to 'he cutting and stabbing of Reison on the night in question. Ilie evidence was mainly in confirmation of that of lielverton and Julian. Henry Slack was next called, who briefly deposed to hay . ing h eard evening before his death. Iv a aa boy,the son of the female examined to the •as captain passenger, • , Henry J 3 o f m rs es T Stephen,h o n' p se, did not see eason struck, but the death afte r sason. He threatening when in loyal to ' ' kill them all," and also as to breast. saw him his death. He had two wounds on his James Sinclair, the carpent er, was called, but counsel for to him, the Crown declining to put any question be which in substance was the sam e as that g - ven Mr. JERVIS examined him at s ome len g th. Hisievidence, fore the magistrate, was to the effect—that t he men were very discontented, and had threatened a mong themselves to do some bodily harm to tho prisoner, hoping that by the publicity this examination would attain, those tradesmen who had been defrauded would come forward. They added their belief that the prisoner was one of a gang who had been prp'•= - ' these frauds for a considerable time in- • the metropolis.-110.was re - Tr , - ' . various parts of —alined accordingly. GREENWICH. ...r; MURDER AT GREENWICH. —The sensation pro duced by this unparalleled case of atrocity increases daily. About twelve o'clock the police van arrived from Maidstone goal, bringing the prisoners, William and Ann Maria Richardson, who had been remanded for a week. There was a vast concourse of persons anxiously awaiting their arrival in order to get a glimpse of them. H. B. Leesom, Esq., physician and lecturer on che mistry at St. Thomas's Hospital, gave nearly similar evidence as deposed to at the coroner's inquest, and said that he had no doubt whatever as to the presence of arsenic. The male prisoner said he would ask Dr. Leesom, simply for information, what arsenic is, as he had never seen any. Mrs. Reynolds, the nurse, in addition to her former evidence, said that Mrs. Richardson fed the infant as well as herself. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson were at her house the evening prior to the death of the child. Mr. Richardson left at eight o'clock, or soon after. About nine o'clock the child was taken ill —in less than half an hour after he was gone. The child screamed all that night, until eight o'clock the next morning. She walked the room the whole night with the child in her arms the first night, and could not soothe it. Its eyes were inflamed, as well as mouth, Scc. At eleven o'clock on Friday night Mrs: Richardson had charge of the baby, and at four o'clock next morning she called her, and said the baby was dead. Witness went in and saw the infant, Mrs. Richardson was up and dressed. Miss Richardson was undressed and in bed. Mr. Richardson came during the illness of :he infant, and witness told him that its birth ought to ho registered, in case of death. Richardson went out, and on his return he said he had been and got it regis tered. Miss Richardson asked in what name, and said Theodore Horatio. After death, the body was placed in the coffin, and screwed, and placed in a tra velling bag by Mr. Richardson. Richardson took it away ; he expressed no wish for a medical certificate, although pressed by witness as to the neces,ity of doing so. Witness went on Monday and obtained one from the surgeon, in the name of Theodore Horatio Richardson, believing that the female prisoner was not married. Their conversation before the child's death was in French chiefly, but afterwards they conversed in Eng lish. Witness remarked upon this fact to Richardson. He said they were ()ply talking about the weather. Miss Richardson said her father did not understand French. Mr. JEREMY said that the certificate was very imper fect, and not as required by the Act or theLegislature.The Registrar-General should be furnished with the disease accurately described by the surgeon's certificate. It was not so. Charles Robins, of . 1, Abbey street, Bermondsey. undertaker, said that, when before the coroner, he could not tell when it was that Mr. Richardson bought the coffin. llc had since ascertained that it was on the evening of the 27th September. It was ordered of his man. The prisoner said it was for a still-born child, and must be strong, to go by railway into Yorkshire. Mr. Robins said his housekeeper ani shopman could say more on the subject than himself. Mr. JEREMY said they must be summoned to attend. Thomas .Tones, labourer, who had been examined on the coroner's inquest, and gave testimony as to digging the hole, was examined to-day, and deposed positively to doing so on the Thursday before the coffin was de posited, in which case the order to do it must have been given by Mr. Richardson before the death of the infant. The prisoner Richardson here said that the witness was wrong in a week. The witness Jones said he well remembered brick layers being at work that week when he dug the hole. Turner, another witness examined on the inquest, was called, and said that when he was at work on the premises no mention was made to him about digging fir a drain, Amelia Richardson, aged 17, daughter of the pri soner Richardson, said that she remembered the grate being dug on a Thursday. The prisoner said it was not so, and cautioned her to speak the truth. The witness replied that she did not know the day of the month, but it was on a Thursday. . Joseph Edmund Kersey, apprentice to Mr. Riches, apothecary and chemist, London -street, Greenwich, de posed that he knew the male prisoner. He had made lip medicines for him many times. He remembers Mr. Richardson coming to the shop five or six months since, and purchasing some arsenic. Witness did not serve it. It was given to the prisoner by Mr. Riches himself. Could not swear positively that it was Mr. Richardson, but believes it was. The prisoner here said that he had purchased sulphur and diluted sulphuric acid. Was the witness sure that those were not the articles ? He (Richardson) had never bought arsenic in his life. Mr. Riches said he knew the prisoner well. He had frequently been to his shop, and he (witness) entered into conversation, knowing him to be a scientific man. His decided impression was that he had served the arsenic sworn to by his apprentice, but could not swear to it. It was the turn of the year, after midsummer. It was about three-pennyworth, he believed. Should not have hesitated to serve the prisoner, had he (witness) been alone in the shop. Kersey was recalled, and said he perfectly remem bered, somo nine or twelve months ago, the prisoner Richardson talking to him about arsenic, on which occasion Richardson said he had never seen it, and asked for some. lle showed him a bottle containing a quantity. He asked what quantity would kill anybody. Witness said a very small portion would cause death. Recollects the pri soner making these remarks very well. He did not say what quantity, but a very small one. The latter would have more effect than a large one. Sergeant G. Wilson, 18 — K, deposed that he appre hended the prisoner at Pocklington, Yorkshire, on Sun day, the 25th of January last. Ile told the prisoner that he apprehended him under the warrant of the Magistrate at the Greenwich Police-court. He afterwards asked witness if there was anything more against him than what was charged on the warrant. The prisoners were now called upon for an answer to the charge. The female declined to say anything. Mr. Richardson said that he should reserve his defence until the final examination. Mr. JEradmic said the case assumed a strong suspicion of murder. Mr. GROVE told the prisoners that they stood re. mended to- Horsemonger-lane Gaol, until furth..l evi. deuce could be obtained. RAILWAY COMMITTEES Sub-Committee No. 1. LIVERPOOL, MANCHESTER, AND NEW. CASTLE-UPON-TYNE RAILWAY: (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Some other allegations of a similar character were also made out to the satisfaction of the Committee, and it was ❑ltimately decided that the standing orders had not been complied with. MANCHESTER AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY. The next petition called on was that of the Manchester and Birmingham Railway Company, for leave to brin g i n a Bill authorising th e construct i on of four important branches from their main line. The branches were respectively desig nated as the Billington blanch, the Macclesfield deviation, the Prestbury branch, and the Northwich branch. The customary proofs having been put in, the Committee declared that the standing orders had been complied with. NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE (CHITRNET VAL LEY) RAILWAY. The Committee took the formal proofs in this line, but the hearing of the allegations of a number of petitions opposed to the project was postponed till to-morrow. The Committee adjourned at Four o'clock. Sub - Committee No. 2. TNIt lIELPAST AND COUNTY DOWN RAILWAY. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) In the ease of this Bill the Committee declared the stand ing orders to have been complied with. THE mralczcztanr, CRORLEY, AND lIITER , POOL RAILWAY, Mr. Pritt appeared for the promoters of the Bill, and after calling the several witnesses to prove the plans and sec tions, &c., the Committee declared the standing orders had been complied with. THE STIRLING AND DUNPERIVILINEI RAILWAY. Messrs. Deans, Dunloppe, and Co., appeared for the pro , rooters. After hearing evidence, The CHAIRMAN said the Committee were of opinion that the standing orders bad been complied with. THE AYRSHIRE, BRIDGE Or WEIR, AND PORT GLASGOW JUNCTION RAILWAY. Messrs. Deans, Dunloppe, and Hope appeared for the pro moters. • Mr. Connell appeared for two petitions against the Bill. The petitions contained several allegations against the plans and sections. The formal evidence of the books of reference and de depositing of the plans and sections was being proceeded with, when the Speaker was announced to be at prayers, and the Committee then adjourned till twelve o'clock to morrow. Sub-Committee No. 3. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) SOUTH-EASTERN (PR.O3/ GREENWICH RAILWAY TO CHART, NEAR ASHFORD, WITH MUMMIES TO TITA BRIDGE AND RIVERHEAD) RAILWAY. This 11111 was passed, subject to future decision ; and the SOUTH-EASTERN (CANTERBURY TO DO VER) raaiLwAY Bill w,1.9 passed. SOUTII—DAST.ERN (PROM MAIDSTONE TO STOOD, NEAR. ROCRESTME) RAILWAY. This Bill was passed likewise. THE z.annrE, BELFAST, AND BALLYMENA RAILWAY Bill which was unopposed, was passed. The Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow. SUDDEN DEATH AT THE DINNER TABLE.— Yesterday Mr. Wakley, M.P., held an inquest at the Coleridge Arms, Priitcess-street, Lisson-grove, on the body of Joseph Vining, aged 59, a tobacco-pipe maker, at 12, Sandford. street. On Sunday last he sat down to dinner, and his wife having said grace, he retiponded fervently 4 , Amen." Instantly after wards, he sank down in his chair, and having moaned three times, expired. He was latterly in good health, though partly disabled by a p rev i ous paralytic attack. Verdict— " Accidental Death." The Military Secretary to the Commander-in-Chief transacted business yesterday at the Foreign-office. IMPERIAL HOrTc-' -, 1846. . - ARLIAMENT. OF LORDS, Thursday, Feb. 5. Lnere Lordships met at Five o'cl , ck. The Earl of STRADBROKE presented several peti tions from various places in Cambridgeshire, the Isle of Ely, and the county of Suffolk, against any change being made in the present protective system. Lord BEAUMONT also presented a large number of petitions to the same effect, and expressing great alarm at the measures brought forward by the Government. THE PORT OF LIMERICK. A NOBLE LORD presented a petition from the Corpo ration of Limerick, praying their Lordships to institute an inquiry into the condition of that port, and to make a grant of money to put it into an efficient condition. Lord MONTEAGLE was understood to say that the necessary amount might be attained by levying an adddi tional tollage on the ships entering the port. The subject then dropped. RAILWAY DEPOSITS.—REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE. The Earl of DALHOUSIE said that he was instructed by the Select Committee appointed to consider the mode in which the House should deal with the railway Bali expected to be submitted to the Hopse during the pre sent session to state, that the Committee, having met and considered the matters referred to them, had come to the following resolutions : " Resolved—That it is the opinion of this Committee that such portion of the standing order No. 224, as re quires a deposit of ene.tentli of the amount subscribed, should be suspended, with respect to all such railway Bills as shall commence in the House of Lords during the pre sent session. "'!'hat no such railway Bill shall be read a first time in this House unless a deposit of one-twentieth part of the amount subscribed should have been paid on or before the 6th of February. " That no such railway Bills should be read a third time until a further deposit of one-twentieth part of the amount subscribed should in like manner be paid. " Resolved also, that it is the opinion of this Com mittee that this House should not receive any petition for a railway Bill after Monday, the 23d of February." The Noble Earl added that he would tomorrow call their Lordships' attention to the subject. POOR-LAWS (IRELAND). Lord CLANCARTY moved for the appointment of a committee to inquire into the laws relating to the re lief of the sick poor and destitute in Ireland. He would lay before their Lordships the grounds upon which he would ask Noble Lords to grant him this committee. Looking at the present condition of the people of Ireland and the accounts of the agrarian disturbances, assassinations, and systematic attacks upon private pro perty which constantly reach us, circumstances which might no doubt be attributed to other causes, but which in his opinion were mainly attributable to the destitution at present existing in that country—looking at these things, he thought that the Committee ought to be granted It was important for Noble Lords to inquire into the operation of such laws as wero designed for the benefit of the poor of Ireland. The Medical Charities and the Poor-law Bills, he considered, deserved their mostseriouscoasideration. The Poor-law Bill, in order to be efficient for its purpose, should not only afford relief to the destitute, but should also place persons above destitution. And in such a country as Ireland it might ex ercise, if properly conducted, a most beneficial influence. If their Lordships would turn to a report which had been laid on the table, they would see the abuses and defects of the existing law for the medical relief of the poor. They would see in that report abundant argu ments for legislative interference. He would likewise refer their Lordships to the report of a committee of the House of Commons, which had laboriously investi gated the subject of medical charities. That Committee was appointed through the instrumentality of the Hon. Mem for Roscommon. His Noble Friend, the present Post master-General, who was then a Member of the House of Commons, was upon that Committee, and he would correct him (Lord Clancarty) if he were wrong in stat ing that the Committee were unanimous in their opinion as to the importance of legislative interference with re spect to the medical charities of Ireland. They were unanimous upon that point, but unfortunately they could not agree upon any other. A reference to the poor-law statistics of Ireland would show their Lordships that the workhouses though formerly designed as receptacles only for the destitute had practically become hospitals for the treatment of chronic and other disorders, and boarding schools, as it were, for the children of the paupers. He trusted that their Lordships, in looking into the abuses or rather the inefficiency of these iustitutions, would legislate in such a manner as would remedy the evils he had to complain of. In Ireland there were three institutions for the benefit of the poor. There were the iafirmaries, the fever hos pitals, and the dispensaries, but they were so scattered apart that they were not of that advantage to the poor which the necessity of cases demanded. Now these institutions were partly supported by grants from the counties, and subscriptions from the chari table. There was also a grant to many of those charities from the Government, but the amount at dig. posal was not only insufficient, but it was not so advan tageously disposed of as it could be under a well-ma naged system. In. 1843, a gentleman spent much of his valuable time in looking into the present state of the medical charities of Ireland; he meant the Hon. Member for Roscommon. He could assure their Lordships, that that Hon. Member would give all the assistance in his power to any reform which legisla tion on the question would bring about. He (the Noble Lord) was of opinion that a rate should be paid by all parties who were rateable, for the support of their re spective districts. He would have the means of medical relief within the reach of every poor man's cabin in Ire land, and this would be attended with the double advantage of affording a speedy recovery in slight and easy cases, and of saving the valuable time of the medical men. This object could be effected by establishing a number of fever hospitals, and so placing them in every poor-law union, that they should be, as it were, at the door of every poor man. The jurisdiction of a poor law union in Ireland, ranges from within ten to twelve miles ; he believed twelve miles was about the average radius, and it would not be doing too much to establish a local fever hospital in each of these unions. And he would suggest also that each union in Ireland should have an infirmary. Now, with regard to the building of these establishments, it might be done in many ways. He had already alluded to an Irish Act of Parliament, which gave the medical practitioner in each union workhouse a salary of 1001. a year. and he would propose that the sum of 100,0001. should be raised partly by public, partly by private subscription, for the building of infirmaries, and that their medical officers should be transferred to the new establishments. This he thought was the best mode of placing the medical relief of Ireland on a safe and sure footing. It only remained for him to state the manner in which he proposed that these infirmaries and hospitals should be governed. At present the local dispensaries were under the control of the medical officers appointed to them by the local autho rities. Now he would propose that the power of governing the new hospitals and infirmaries should be trans ferred to a board, to be constituted of the largest rate-payers in the parish in which the institu tions were situated; and that a donation of 201., or an annual subscription of a smaller sum, to the institution, should entitle the donor to be elected on this Board. This Board, conjointly with the Board of Poor-law Guardians, he would suggest, should have the power of electing medical officers as well as of auditing the accounts ; and when it was necessary that a patient should be admitted into the infirmary, the board of rate-payers should decide whether his treatment should be at the expense of the institution, or of the- patient himself, Having disposed of the principal matter of detail, he now came to the consideration of the propriety of establishing a central medical office, for the purpose of laying down regulations for the guidance of the local authorities, and for the inspection and auditing the accounts, and confirming the general proceed ings of the local boards. An officer of this sort would have ample information and suffi cient means for reporting from time to time upon the sanatory condition of the country. He could not conceive a subject of more importance than that of the appointment of a general board of health in Ireland, and he would suggest that a central institution of this sort should be established in Dublin. He was sure, however, that the subject would receive every at tention from those who would be called upon to serve on the committee, and that proper means would be sug gested of affording proper medical relief to those who stood so much in need of it. He did not think it neces sary to refer to the lunatic establishments of Ireland, because they were under separate and distinct laws, and did not, in fact, come within the compass of the sub ject with which he was dealing. He did not, however, agree with the opinion of the Noble Lord (Lord Mont eagle), who was an able advocate of the poor of Ireland, and who did everything in his power to alleviate their sufferings, because his plans would entail, he believed, unnecessary expense on that country. Lie would, how ever, take that opportunity of saying a few words with respect to the Irish population. He did not believe that there existed in Ireland at that moment, notwithstand ing the unpopularity of the Act amongst certain parti sans of the people, and notwithstanding the strong terms which had been applied to it, a reckless dispose. don in favour of its abolition. He had taken means to inquire into the date of opinion in Ireland with respect to it, and had received several letters on the subject, which he should submit to the Committee, not one of which was in favour of the repeal of the law. He had before him a report of a meeting held in Dublin in 1843, under the presidency of- the Duke of Leinster, and attended by real and influential land owners, and at which resolutions were passed calling for a Parliamentary inquiry, in order that the law might he carried out in a more official manner, but not objecting to the principle on which it was founded. It had been said, with much truth, that the poor-law had been pro ductive of drying up all the sources of charity and be nevolence to the poor ; but they should recollect that this was the natural consequence of a law having for its object the efficient support of the poorer classes, on whom such charity might, in the estimation of some, be mis applied. A Right Rev. Prelate had stated that the col lections in the churches for the- benefit of the poor had materially fallen off ; but he (Lord Clancarty) was abie to state that collections for other charitable objects had increased instead of diminished. There was no doubt about the law bei ng l oo k e d upon with a great d ea l o f prejudice ; but it would appear from this that the state ment that the law had dried up the springs of Chris tian charity was without foundation. He considered that the poor and destitute s h ou ld not b e thrown as outcasts on society, or be left as mere objects for the casual display of Christian benevolence. He considered that the proper field for the exercise of charity ' was outside the walls of the workhouse. There would be ample opportunity afforded for the performance of the duties of Christianity in a silent and unosten tatious manner, even though these institutions did exist. He did not think it right that the country should be covered with the sick, the maimed, and the destitute ; and for that reason he considered these asylums were perfectly necessary. In a country like Ireland, where the sustenance of the people was chiefly dependant upon manual labour, and where the relation between the em ployer and the workman was only of a temporary nature, he admitted the full force of the argument, that the idle should be supported by the industrious. He thought that true policy, as well as humanity, would suggest that a provision should be wade for the sick, poor, and desti tute of Ireland, as well as for those of England. And the only question now for their Lordships to consider was, which was the best mode of affording that relief, and most consistent with the interests of the community. Happily the case of England was a warning against in flicting upon the Irish people . a system calculated to demoralise the people of that country. It had been urged against the poor-law that no state of destitution would dispose a man to resort to the work house; and on the other hand, it had been observed, that no extent of workhouse accommodation would be sufficient for the numbers that would demand admission. Both those objections had certainly been met by expe rience. Experience had always shown that the wot khouse test of aestitution was as available in Ireland as it was in England. He could state from his own observation, that the workhouse did afford to the infirm, the aged, and the destitute, a comfortable asylum. The pauper children were trained and educated in a manner to fit them for an after-life of usefulness, and the destitute able-bodied poor found the means of refuge in the time of their distress. He only regretted that, as it had been found necessary to have a central beard of Poor-law Commissioners in Ireland as in England, they had not obtained the confidence of the Irish people. Great allow ances should be made for the gentlemen who were sent over to Ireland to introduce and to administer a law such as the poor-law, when it was considered that, as Englishmen, they were wholly unacquainted with the people of that country. With respect to the difficulty of collecting rates in Ireland, their Lordships would remember that the reports laid on the table of that House showed that the collection of those rates was frequently resisted. This difficulty was owing to the fact of the rate-payers having been disappointed in their expectations of the effect of the law. 'I hey were led to believe that a oor-law would remove the miserable objects who crowded the streets and highways, but the contrary was the result. At this moment Ireland pie sented as much misery as before the introduction of the poor-laws ; and, indeed, the objects which presented themselves to excite the feel ings of the charitable were in many instances more degrading to the country than they were fur many years before anything like a poor-law existed.—(Hear.) The system of rating land its Ireland for the poor-rates was, he thought, greatly to be deplored, but only one class of men had had the courage to complain of it, and that class, being poor clergymen of the Established Church, were, in his opinion, very seriously injured by the system. The value of the land, when rated for paiish tithes, was always under estimated, but the land loftl took care to increase it when his doing so tended to relieve him from a portion of the poor-rates. lie hoped, however, before long to see the carriers which had been raised up between the landowners and their tenants on account of difference of creeds would be broken down, and that no more of those scenes of bloodshed and violence which disgraced' the country would occur. He hoped the proprietors of property would do all in their power to alleviate the sufferings of the people of that country. There was another point to which he wished to call their attention. It was this—that persons of the Protestant religion, who were compelled to go into the unions, were molested by the other inmates on account of their faith—that fre quently there were no Protestant clergymen in them, and that many of the children of Protestant parents were handed over to the tuition of those who professed the Catholic religion, without any reference to those who alone should exercise parental control over them. The Noble Lord then read a statement from a Protestant clergyman, setting forth that numbers of children were thus removed, and calling on the Protes tant religion to put an end to such pracices. In South Dublin Union Workhouse there was an evil existing, which he would bring under their Lordships' notice—he alluded to the classification of the inmates by their religions. Roman Catholics were separated from Protestants. He could not consider a more lament able consequence could possibly arise, than the separa tion which exists in this otherwise well conducted asy lum. He considered it necessary, that in all workhouses where there was a Catholic chapel, that there should be also a Protestant chapel. He considered the duty of the guardians ought to be more defined than at present. The Noble Lord concluded by moving the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the operation of the Ist and 2d of Vic., cap. 16, and the other laws relating to the relief of the destitute poor in Ireland ; and also to inquire into the operation of the medical charities in Ireland, which are supported wholly or partially by grants from the county cess. Lord BROUGHAM said, the Noble Lord had made an unfounded charge when he said his motion had not been sufficiently attended to. Why he had himself been listening to the Noble Earl for the last hour and three quarters, and what was the motion after all ? Why he had made an unopposed motion for the appointment of a Committee, and was it likely that a motion for a Com mittee would draw their Lordships together in large numbers ?—(Hear, hear.) And what had the Noble Lord done in moving for the Committee ? Why, he bad stated everything he intended to bring forward in the Committee. Why the Noble Earl had defeated his ob ject in letting out there what he intended was to be issued from the Committee. He would urge the Go vernment in the strongest words he could use to bring forward those measures which were really necessary for the peace of Ireland, which werealladed to in the Speech from the throne.—(Hear, hear.) He hoped and trusted that they would be brought forward at once, now they had ample time and opportunity to discuss them, and he was sure they would meet with full attention ; and he ventured to say they would pus without opposition. Every body seemed to be of opinion that these measures were absolutely necessary, and he had merely risen to say that he was quite confident they would pass without any opposition, if framed as he had no doubt they would be, in a spirit of wisdom and mercy. The Duke of WELLINGTON said he had not the slightest objection to the appointment of the Committee, or to the appointment of any other Committee for the same purpose. The motion was then agreed to, and the Committee appointed.____ PUBLIC WORKS (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was brought up from the Commons,and read a first time. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Thursday. Feb. 5. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock pre cisely. Tire Sheriffs of London (Messrs. Chapman and Laurie) presented petitions from the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, and Common Council, for certain alterations in the corn-laws, and for the regulation of Billintsgate market. NEW MEMBER. Mr. FREWEN took the oaths and his seat for East Sussex, in the room of Mr. Darby, resigned. NEW WRIT. A new writ was moved for for the town of Bucking ham, in the room of Sir Thomas Fremantle, who has accepted the office of Stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds. RAILWAY BUSINESS.- Mr. MASTERMAN presented a petition for leave to bring in a Bill for making a railway from the West India Docks to the Birmingham Railway. Mr. S. O'BRIEN presented a petition for the Leicester and Bridport Railway. Lord COURTENAY presented a petition for the So merset and Southampton Railnsy. Mr. BROTHERTON presented petitions for the Man chester and Chester, the Manch es t er an d L ee d s. the Leeds and Rugby, the Dumblane, and the Leedt - Direct Railways. An Hort. MEMBER presented a petition in favour of the Wolverhampton Railway. Mr. OS WALD presented 9. petition in favour of the Glasgow and Kilmarnock Railway. Mr. FITZSTEPHEN FRENCH presented petitions from several places in Ireland, praying that the Great Munster Railway Bill might pass into law. Sir JOHN YARDE BULLER brought up the report of the Glasgow, Paisley, and Kilmarnock Railway, and presented also several petitions for railways. Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET brought up the report of the Sub-Committee on Railways. Mr. DUNCAN presented a petition in favour of the Dundee and Perth Railway. The Hon. MEMBER also presented a petition in favour of the Dundee and Arbroath Railway. Mr. ASTELL presented a petition in favour of the Direct Manchester Railway. Sir R. H. INGLIS presented a petition against the Direct London and Portsmouth Railway. THE DIRECT MANCHESTER AND SOUTH AMPTON RAILWAY, Mr. HOPE presented a petition from the Town Coun cil of Southampton in favour of the Direct Manchester and Southampton Railway. The petitioners, he stated, prayed that the House might order the petition to be re ferred to the consideration of the Railway Committees. Mr. GISBORNE, in rising to move for a Committee to inquire into the conduct of 'certain parties who had fraudulently inserted a sheet in a petition which referred to this railway, while it was in the offices of the Go vernment, said that he did not intend persisting in his motion, inasmuch as the parties offending had made a sufficient apology and explanation. He had much plea sure in being able to do this ; for had not the re quired explanation been given he should cer tainly have called upon the House to visit the interpolation with the most severe condemnation. He in consequence thought the House might waive the matter, feeling th e fullest confidence, now th a t it was i n their bends that all the necessary steps would be taken to prevent a recurrence of the kind. The SPEAKER said that the petition msy be taken before the Committee, provided the sheet which was added to it after its presentation to that House was withdrawn. In reply to a remark from Mr. H. JOHNSTON, Mr. GISBORNE said he did not bring any charge against any person whatever. Mr. F. FRENCH said he could call the attention of the House to a case very nearly similar, but that it would not be necessary for him to do so, as he presumed the matter in question would be referred to a Select Committee. It appeared that these petitions were interpolated, and that words were subsequently inserted in them. In some places these words were written in ink, and in other places in pencil. After the petitions were pre- seated to the House it turned out that the additions were made without the knowledge of some of the parties who signed them. He (Mr. French) thought it right to cull the attention of the House to this subject, as it was nearly similar to that which had been just detailed by the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Gisborne). The order was then discharged. Mr. BLEWITT presented a petition against the corn laws, but from what _place could not be ascertained in the gallery. TEN HOURS' BILL . Mr. CHRISTIE presented a petition in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill. SMELTERS OF LEAD. Mr. THORNLEY presented a petition from the smelt ers of lead on the banks of the river Dee (q we under stood), praying for certain alterations in the law affect ing their trade. CORN LAWS. Mr. BANKES presented petitions from Dorchester, and a place in Dorsetshire, praying for a continuation of the laws protectin— g corn. ROMAN CATHOLIC LAWS. Mr. WATSON gave no ti ce o f hi s i nten tion to bring in a Bill to modify the laws affecting Roman Catholics- CORN-LAWS. Mr. ESCOTT presented a petition from an in dill o . ° dual, a large l a nd e d p ro p r i e t or , pray i ng f or t he ressf,:: of the measures affecting the corn-laws proposed by Robert Peel. EDUCATION IN WALES. Mr. WILLIAMS gave notice that on the 19th be should move that a humble address be prese nted to her Majesty, p ra y ing h er M a j esty to direct that en should be made into the present state of education 2. — \Vales. JUVENILE OFFENDERS. Mr. LIDDELL gave not i ce t h at to - morrow he should f put a questi on t o t h e Ri g h t H on. B aronet the Secrete, State for the Home Department, as to whether Govern ' ment intended to t a k e any s t eps towar d s i m p r oving te e condition of juvenile offenders. POOR 14A.TES - AND MEDICAL RELIES 0 Mr. WODEHOUSE gave not i ce t h at h e wou ld rue v for a return co nnec t e d w i t h t h e quest i on of P°°r , 11.9 rates and medical relief h i un i ons . Th at re t u rn be p rebound to say had b een p repare d w i t h gr eat et ie and expedition by the Poor-law Commissioners. would wish to put two questions to the Right Pee; Bart. at the head of the Government, if he would all? him to do so. One of the questions was—whether thei l lii ; tended to take into c ons id era ti on t h e expe di enc y of ing the whole sum of medical relief on the same footing 'The Poor-law Co mm i ss i oners h a d i ntimated t h a t t he'' in the agricultural parts of the country, ga ve - less liberal salary to that class of officers they did in the manufacturing districts. Now 1 . "3 these parts of the cou n t r y were b roug ht an t° unhappy collision, it see me d fit t h at a question of thii in teresting character sho u ld b e definitely settled. 1 " other question which he would put referred to the Poor rates, and local taxation generally. It had more inuee" diate reference to a person with whom the Right HI Baronet was intimately acq ua i n t e d ; t h at gen tl e man edited works in the Spanish, German, French, and Ira' lien languages--(Laughter)—he meant Mr. Rowbothalo; He had directed his attention in an especial he (h d manorto.the consideratio n o f th e severa l b urdens wh i c h Wodehouse) had re f erre d. N ow the question h e wise' to ask was, whether the Right Hon. Baronet had n°, some time employ e d th a t gent l eman as a teac h e r in minor branches of mathematics ?—(Loud l a ughter.) Sir R. PEEL said that, in answer to the first questil put to him by the H on . M em b er, h e had to sta te th e her Majesty's Government, in proposing that the 0 16- ries of medical officers should be borne by t ile Treasury, felt very anxious to establish a cheque any system of improvident expenditure under this bee He wished also that it should be a subject of annual re' vision in Parliament. 'A part of it wo u ld f a ll upon th e Consolidated Fund, A na it would be partly local. l b ; operation of that would prevent undue expenditure, ae would secure better and more e ffi c i ent me di ca l A tte°d . once. Mr. O'CONNELL gave notice that he should the attention of the House to-morrow to the state of disease and famine in I re l an d. H e wag awar e th at there were already perso ns i n D u bli n making incluir'e l 0 on all matters relati ng t o thi s su bj ect, b ut he w i s hed I to come under the attention of the House. Sir J. GRAHAM said that he had received from 6 11 1 to time several comm un i ca ti ons f rom the Lord-Lieutenan t of Ireland on this subject. Mr. O'CONNELL. asked if the Right Hon. Barone t would bring the communication under the notice of th e House ? Sir J. GRAHAM said that if the Hon. Gentles" : would postp one hi s request until to-morrow, Seine ' further information could be given on the subject. HARBOUR DUTIES. Dr. BOWRING moved for a return of the liart,ol° Duties. He said that these returns had been ordeold t o be laid on the table of the House on the 16th of AP last. It was found th a t t h ey were very imperfect, 111, they were withdraw n . A n or d er was then issued tnss they should b e re t urne d i n a complete state on the 131 h of July. Since that ti me not hi ng h ad been heard on t oe subject. He would a l so t a k e t h at opportunity of aski.,,,s l g d question of whi c h h e h a d a l ready given notice. 1-14 the Right Hon. B aronet rece i ved any communicat ion from the Spanish Government notifying their intention to use any inimical measures to the commerce of Eng: laud, in consequence of the unfavourable position thest sugar held in our tariff, and had any instruction bet given to the Spanish colonies which would prevent sni indirect communication between them and British vessels? Sir R. PEEL said he had received no communication from the Spanish Government indicating any intention= of the kind intimated by the Hon. Gentleman; on the contrary, the tone adopted by the Spanish Governineut was most satisfactory. Lord JOHN RUSSELL begged that the Right Hon: Baronet would i n f orm hi m whether the Government WI had any further correspondence with the Spanish 0 0- ernor on the subject of CUBA SUGAR. Sir ROBERT PEEL said that he had to state that there had been a further correspondence, which he won` on a future day b r i ng b efore the House, but that a t the present moment there would be some inconvenience i n discussing the question. Mr. WODEHOUSE moved for a return o f the 0, amount of mon e y l ev i e d i n the years 1813, 1824, 1; 1834, in the sh a p e o f poor-rates, showing th e ratio if bore to the p o p u l at i on, and distinguishing the A mmon' levied on landed property. THE BRAZILIAN PIRATES. Mr. HUTT wished to ask the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite whether he cou'd lay upon the table of th e House the ground upon which the Judges of the land formed their decision that the Brazilian pirates wer e not legally convicted ? lie also wished to kne vi whether it was the intention of the Government to p_r e ; pose the rep ea l o f t h e Brazilian Slave Trade Act pas'''. last session ? Sir. J. GRAHAM—The Hon. Gentleman and the House is aware th a t i n cases of felony there is no aPPelw by law provided to a court of error; but that the pro,: rice is, that th e j u d ge, entertaining any doubt as to the legality of th e conviction, grants a respite until be !lo an opportunity o f consulting his learned brethren--the other judges. That consultation is not usually in open k court, but is h e ld i n private, and after consultation, t ovnion that the verdict cannot stand, is communicate ( ' verbally by the judge who presided at the trial to th e Secretary of State. The judge accordingly advises bet . Majesty's Government to recommend to her Majesty th ° propriety of granting a pardon. In the case, however, t ° which the Hon. Gentleman has referred an argument Wa s heard in the Exchequer Chamber, and in all other re spects the ordinary practice was observed. I had an in terview with M r . B aron Pl att, and by him I was advise' to recommend to her M a j esty to grant a pardon. Jul'. cially, therefore, the legal grounds upon which th e Judges arrived at thei r decision, were not brought be fore me, and I cro:inot inform the Hon. Gentleman or th e House what those grounds were. In answer to the other question put to me by the Hon. Gentleman, I beg to 5 % that tilere is no intention on the par Quvernment to repeal any part of the of' Br h az er ili M an aje s s i t a y ve I'rade Act. Sir R. PEEL.—The Honourable Member for Man chester has given notice of a motion for the productio n of correspondence—in continuatition of the corresP° °. denco already laid before the House —relating to the conduct of the Brazils as to the convention of 1826, and as to the slav e t ra d e. I hope the Hon. Gentleman " • not press hi s mot i on. The last dispatch from L°rd, Aberdeen to the Brazilian Government concluded With the expres s i on o f a des i re that the Brazils would ente r into such a convention as would preclude the necessity of her Majesty's Government acting upon the severre measures contained in the Act of last session. There 1 3 sail some communi ca ti on go i ng on upon that subject, 5,11 I am not witho u t h o p e o f a treaty b eing concluded w h i ch will enable U 3 t o f orego t h e power placed in our han ds by the Act of last session. Under these circumstance' , the Hon. Gentlema n w ill, I am sure, feel the propr i et y o : not pressing his motion at present. SIR ROBERT PEEL'S POLICY. In answer to a question from Mr. PATTISON, Sir ROBERT PEEL said that the reduction con!" not take place on se e d s un t i l t h e month of June net.': The reduction would take place from that day, in e,°,o. fortuity with the resoluti on come to b y her Majesty's Lx verernent. Mr. ELLIS said that he had occasion to make epee sentationa to his constituency on the subject of the changes proposed to be introduced by the Right 1 1 ° 11 * Baronet, and he could state, that after the manifestati on of some anxiety, which was perhaps not unnatural, they generally concurred in the measure which the Right .11 0 e° Gentleman proposed to bring forward. At the same thT they sent a m emor i a l pray i ng that the reduction w ig" not take place till the Ist July. Sir R. PEEL doubted whether the suggested alterritiodh would be pr o d uc ti ve o f any a d vantage. Ile was On however, that the constituency of the lion. Gentle man evinced a concurrence in the contemplated reductions, and such a readine*entitled them to great credit. d Sir 1.1. PEEL, iii re pl y to a quest i on f ro m 1-4 4)1 ,. John Ru s s e ll, sa id that he proposed the reducti on . 0 corn, should t a k e place immediately after the reso lution u was passed and reported. Mr. HUTT wished to ask the Right Honourable Gen_ t . lei,;a,n (the Home Secretary) whether it was the inters' tree of Government to bring in a Bill to improve tii_r measure passed last year, affecting the naturalisation 0 foreigners.' Sir JAMES GRAHAM had no difficulty in etatiP-g -that ther e was no such intention entertaine d by the wren - tent. Very many applications lead been inane unde r 0 the late measure, and it had been found to wo rk we' satisfactorily. IRISH SPIRIT DUTIES. Sir 11. W. BARRON wished to ask the Right Baronet opposite whether any a l terat i on was to be fir__ posNI by w hi c h t h e landed interest in Ireland wo uld the benefit of the British market for Irish spirits? Ilact seen ha reason he asked th e quest i on was, because „,„$ that it was th e intention of the Goverpl!t7