The Sun. — London, England, 1852-12-23 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE. TICE-CHANCELLORS' COURT—DEC. 22, (Before Sir George Turner.) MONEYPENNY V. BAKER. Mr. Cairns was further heard on this motion Mr. Southgate was heard in reply, and insisted on his tight to the injunction mentioned in our impression of yesterday. His Honour said the motion sought to restrain the defendant Baker from taking any proceedings to compel the Union Bank of London to pay over to him the sum of 1,7481. His Honour, after narrating the facts which Were long and complicated, said the case made by the plaintiff was that the amount belonged to him, under a deed dated in 185'0, but the Court ought to be satisfied that the plaintiff's claim would be in danger if the money were not stopped. There might be no excuse for the Don-payment, but the Court• ought not to interpose in ,favour of a party who did not appear himself to have carried out the provisions of the deed relied on. No claim had been lodged in time in the Encumbered Zstates Court when the proceeds claimed had been realised, nor was the present demand made until January inst. It was also very doubtful whether the transaction was wholly valid at law, but he gave no opinion as to whether the deed relied upon was usurious at law. He Juust refuse the injunction. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY2—DEC. 2. Maize M. Commissioner Foublanque.) IN RE WINCH. ' This was the certificate meeting in the case of Wm. Winch, described as a licensed victualler and ivory (atter, of the Coal-hole Tavern, Strand, and of North- Wows, Gray's-inn-lane. His accounts extended over 41 7411 . v prior to the bankruptcy in July last, and showed an amount of 2,0311. due to unsecured creditors ; the assets may realise about 4s. or ss. in the pound. The profits were stated at 8331. on the ivory business ; 1,1241. on the tavern business at the Coal-hole ; and 7551. on the Judge and Jury Club ; the aggregate expenses had been AO9O/. Mr. Lawranee, for the assignees, did not oppose. He 'dated that the bankrupt had been for some years in business as an ivory-cutter ; he subsequently took the Coal-hole Tavern, paying a large sum for going in, but it had resulted in a loss. The books had been well kept, and the bankrupt had done his beat to assist the as signees. His Honour said this case illustrated the evil conse 4quences of a man quitting his own business for one that le did not understand. It seemed to be a popular delu sion that any one was competent to keep a tavern. He IN RE ROBINSON. The bankrupt, John Robinson, had traded under the .firm of John Robinson and Co., as a wholesale clothier .and general outfitter, in Commercial-road East, and Cannon-street-road. His accounts, prepared by Messrs. Harding and Pullein, of Guildhall Chambers, extended over 14 months prior to the failure in July last, and showed a considerable amount of involvement. The fol lowing are the figures:—To unsecured creditors, 8,6591.; ditto holding security, 5,6861. • surplus on the 16th of ray, 1851, 2,693/. ; p ro fit s , 4,008/. By good debtors, 890/4 doubtful ditto, 1691.; property, 1,5551.; ditto field by creditors, 4,6921.; trade expenses, 5,9711.; in terest, 990/.; law charges, 7571.; personal expenses, .6661.; losses, 2,268/.; ditto by bad debts, 5,3031. The losses of 2,268/. include 1,5381., special losses on three parcels of goods sold to Messrs. Pawson and Co., Messrs. Morrison and Co., and Messrs. Parnell and Co. Mr. Lawrance, for the bankrupt, stated that the ac counts bad only been filed last evening. Owing to their voluminous nature, the accountants had not been able to get them ready earlier. An adjournment of the exa mination meeting would therefore be necessary. Mr. Linklater, for the assignees, concurring. His Honour directed an adjournment for six weeks. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. NORTHERN CIRCIIIT—YoRg, DEC. 21. CROWN COURT. (Before Mr. Justice Williams.) John Snipe, aged 21, John Smith, aged 21, and Ann Smith, aged 20, were charged with the wilful murder of William Francis Maplethorpe, at Hull, on the 21st of May last ; and Mary Ann Robinson, aged 29, was charged with harbouring and maintaining the said John snipe and John Smith, well knowing that they had com mitted they said murder. Mr. Warren, Q.C., (who was specially retained), Mr. Yeronnet Thompson, and Mr. Pierce appeared for the prosecution ; Mr. Dearsley defended Snipe, Mr. Digby Seymour defended John Smith, Mr. Overend defended Mary Ann Robinson, and the prisoner Ann Smith was undefended. This case has created great interest, from the fact of its being the first of the garotte robberies, now so com mon, which had terminated fatally to the person at tacked. All the evidence was purely circumstantial, 'and some of the facts were so minute that the case will be better understood by the evidence, as it was detailed by the witnesses. The first witness was : Francis Maplethorpe, who said—l am the father of the deceased, who resided with me ; he was in the em ploy of Mr. Wilson, a colour-merchant in Hull, and was accustomed to return to my house to sleep, regularly at ten o'clock. He always carried money about with him, 'part of which was his ma s t er ' s . O n F r id ay, th e 21 st of May, he came home to tea, and left again at six o'clock. He wore a watch, with an Albert chain and a key, and had a tulip in his button-hole. I never saw him alive again. _ _ Aaron Sawdon—l am a police-officer at Hull, and was on duty in Prospect-place on the morning of the 22d of May, between half-past two and three o'clock. I saw something on the opposite side of the road, which proved to be a man. I called to him, and received no answer. I then pulled him from the ditch, and found that he was dead. His hair had mud on it. His hat was lying about a yard off, and his feet were towards the road. I then called Sergeant Edgecombe, and we fetched Mr. Xolter, the surgeon. On examining the flags and across the road, there were marks of a struggle, as though some one had turned round upon his heels. From the edge of the flags across the carriage-road to the place where the body was found were two marks, as though some one had been trailed across. I observed some tulip leaves upon the ground. _ Cross-examined by Mr. Dearsley—l was through Prospect -place on my beat at half-past nine, a quarter to ten, at eleven, and several times subsequently during the night. I don't think that a person standing in Powell's shop on the night in question could recognise another at the butcher's shop. The night was very dark until daybreak. Though I was up and down the street so often during the night, I only saw the body the last time, I never saw either of the prisoners that Benjamin Bolter—l am a surgeon at Hull. I was called up by Sawdon, and went and examined the body of the deceased, which was lying in the road. He had been dead, I should say, five or six hours. There were a series of marks on the face, going right round it. The race was dark-coloured and swelled, as if it had been pressed. There was a wound on the upper lip ; the tongue prejeeted between the teeth, the jaws being slightly open. I think that the marks on the face were all made at one time, and I should suppose by finger nails strongly pressed down on the face, and I judge so particularly from one mark below the chin, which was curved up, cut, and circular. Such marks would be pro duced from an arm being put round the neck and pres sure used. At a post mortem examination the body exhi bited &total exclusion from the lungs of atmospheric air by violence. 'examined the road in front of Mr. Maplethorpe's house, and found some petals of tulip flower. I observed a mark in the road as if some heavy body had fallen down and left an impression, and immediately from that were two strokes across the road to the ditch where the body was found. There were slight scratches on the flags, near Maplethorpe, which extended ten yards, and at the end was a circular mark, as if made by a boot heel. Amongst the tulip leaves I found a piece of fur of a boa, - which I now produce. I showed it to Mr. Sollit and Mr. Harrison. I examined the ditch and hedge where the body was found. The road slopes towards the ditch, at the top of which was an old straggling thorn hedge. Prospect-place was not a thoroughfare, although people have trespassed, a plank having been placed across the ditch in question, and by that means people could get into the Heddon-road. There was a gap in the hedge just where the body was found, and a very fair tread of one footmark, deeply impressed in the clay on the oppo site side of the ditch in the centre of the gap. The ditch is a common sewer of the district. It had been recently cleaned out. The smell from it on the morning in ques *i°ll was so bad that it nearly made me sick. Edward H un t er —l was f e ll ow - c l er k w ith th e d eceased, mWas with me on the night h e was mur d ere d, an d l e ft v __ l l f ouse about h a lf-p as t n i ne . I id ent if y t h e k ey w hi ch ound The deceased had a tulip an d wa llfl ower i n 'whentwtoon.-hole, and had a b ou t 171. i n hi s poc k et, and David parted he said he wished to be at home at ten. Not tingham ga.ioilsson Jackson,' am the governor of Not- Ann Smith. I know the male prisoners, and also the 3d of may lost sight of them at Nottingham on r o t, on which day the female prisoner was discharg e d custody. Snipe fetched her, and went away with her Cross-examin e d in n , n Smith—l saw a man named Macdonald that moni 4 Thomas Hayes -4 a% assistant to Mr. Jackson, a grocer at Hull. I met the deceased at th e corner o f Lowgate, on the night m . estion, at a q uar t er t o t en, going towards his home. Henry Richardson—l keep house near the North-bridge, at Hull. On t h e of May two men murr(ixeirnntes, and left came to my house and stayed a f ew prisoner IneNvent to the about nine. After I heard of the few and recognised the our spirit t oached He r a Smith as one of the men who were at my house. y me and said, "Do you say I was in that night do you know I said vaultss how do you know I keep such a place ?" At that tim or e I had not said that I kept a spirit vault, or that I had seen him. Snipe was like the man I saw in my s h op With Smith. Esther Bateman—l keep a beershop in Heddon New mad, near Popple-street. On the evening in question, at five minutes to nine, a man put his head in, and, looking round, said, " There is nothing but d— d chairs and tables here." Snipe is the man who said that. He went towards the field, by which he could get into the beck of P rospect -place. He had a companion, whom I think is the prisoner Smith. Th ey went into the field at the back of Prospect -place. Cross-examined by Mr. Dearsley—l had seen Snipe before that. I have said that I had never seen him before. Peter M‘lienzie—l live in Whiting-place, near the last witness. On the night of the 21st May I met Smith ; bo the best of my belief he was coming from Heddon. It l e e abosit half past ten. A man could come from Prospect-place the way he was coming, by jumping over the ditch and crossing the field. Peter Capes—l am a shipwright, in Church-street, Drypool. On the night in question I saw Snipe in Popple-street, from ten minutes to half-past nine. He was walking backwards and forwards, 100 yards from where the murder took place. Thomas Swift—l am a shipwright, and live at 15, Pr s ospect-place. As I was going home to dinner on the 21st of May, at half-past twelve, I saw the prisoner Smith coming out of Prospect-place into Church-street. James Powell—l am a private in the 23d Regiment, quartered at Hull, but, being married, sleep out of bar racks. On the day in question I lived at 23, Prospect place. As I was going home from the barracks, at half past nine in the evening, I saw two persons, one stand ing in Prospect-place, the other by a tobacconist's shop in Church-street. The one in Prospect-place was the prisoner Snipe. I crossed to speak to him, as I knew him, and passed by him, but he shunned me, turning his head on one side, inclined not to speak. Kis arms were folded. The other man was like Smith. When I got a little way on I heard footsteps and turned round and saw Snipe following me. When I got home he was at No. 18 or 19 in the row. He then went back towards Church,street, where he was joined by another man, and afterwards he came down again towards me. It was about 40 minutes past 9 when I got home. At 10 o'clock I shut my shutters, and when I went out to do so I saw a man like Snipe walking in Prospect-place. He was joined again by another man. I lay in bed reading, and I heard footsteps on the pavement, quite quick, on and off the pavement. On Sunday in the gaol I saw five or six persons together, and I recognised the prisoner. George W. Peck—l am a master mariner in Church street, Drypool. On the night in question I Was at the butcher's shop at the corner of Church-street and Pro spect-place. I saw a man walking with his arms folded along Prospect-place, and a second man walking to the corner of Prospect-place, along Church-street, who turned back when he got to the corner. I afterwards saw the men again in Raikes-street. These men re sembled the prisoners. Robert Button—l am a shoemaker in Bishop-lane, Lowgate, close to Whitefriars-gate. I was in the Queen coffee-house on the night in question a little after eleven, and left at fifty minutes after eleven. Two strange men were there. They left a quarter of an hour before me. Snipe was one—l talked to him. I do not identify Smith. Thomas Hewitt—l am a cab-driver. On Friday night, the 21st of May, at 11-50, I was in Tilitefiiars-gate, driving a fare, about two minutes' walk from Bishop's lane. I was hailed by two men, who asked me what I wmila +I,Pm down Beverley-road inr, and I said I would take them to tho College for ls. They then got up outside, and drove with me till I had put down my inside fare at Green Ginger-end. One then got inside, the other continued to ride outside ; but the man who was in side said that the outside man must come in, and the out side one got inside. The man outside had a speckled neck handkerchief on. I drove them to the College. We passed West-street, but they said nothing about liv ing there. When we got to the College I pulled up, but they told me to drive on, and I went to the Bull Inn. Here they asked me if any one was up, and I said yes, and they said drive on, and when I got a hundred yards on they got out, giving me 2s. I believe the two pri soners to be the men. I have no doubt in any own mind. The place where I set them down is about a mile from West-street. I gave information to a policeman from suspicions I entertained. Robert Watts—l am a detective officer. At eight o'clock on the morning of 22d May I went to prisoner Robinson's house, at No. 23, West-street. Snipe was in one bed, and Smith and Ann Smith in another bed, in a room on the third floor. They appeared to be asleep. I woke them, and observed some clothing on a chair—a coat, with scratches, as from briars, and a torn sleeve ; and under Snipe's bed was a pair of boots, which were wet, and one covered with mud. I asked him how he accounted for his clothes and boots? he replied that he had,been fighting with little Billy, whose name is Mac donald, against the Queen's Theatre, in Paragon-street, and that he hadfallen into the gutter. That he had been fighting about his woman, Black Rose(the female prisoner), and that a policeman came up and ordered them to go away; and that he got to bed at 10 o'clock that night. I then charged them with robbery, and Smith trembled very much, and Snipe broke out in a perspiration, and ap peared very much confused. I then took them to the station-house. That morning I went to Prospect-place, and took some mud from the ditch, part of which I gave to Mr. Sollit. I afterwards dipped a boot in the ditch, which I gave to Mr. Sollit. Snipe's left' arm had a bruise between the hand and the elbow, and a scratch on the back of his left hand, as if from 'a finger nail. The prisoners had shirts on, apparently about half dirty. Snipe's left hand wristband had a spot of blood on it. Mary Ann Robinson was at the house when I took the prisoners. She had no communication with them. When they said they had come back at ten Robinson was in the room. The same day I saw her again, and asked her if she could tell what time the men came in. She replied, about twenty minutes to twelve ; that if she knew anything about it she would tell us, but that she knew nothing about it. She had said in the morning that they came in at half-past ten. Cross-examined by Mr. Overend—When we went to Robinson's she said that we were welcome to search any where. William Mason—l am a detective officer, and went with last witness to Robinson's. Searched Smith, and found a handkerchief, which appeared as if it had been folded for the neck. Snipe perspired and danced about the room. I heard what he said about the fight. I afterwards brought some of the mud from Paragon -street. The prisoner Robinson subsequently stated that the men had come in at a quarter to twelve, and at another time at eleven ; and that Smith a n d A nn Smith went up-stairs together, and that Snipe went out again, and she did not know when he returned. Edward Robinson—l am inspector of police. I went to the prisoner Robinson's house. She said that the other prisoners came in about eleven o'clock ; that Snipe went out again, but Smith and the woman went to bed, and that she did not know what time Snipe re turned afterwards. Cross-examined by Ann Smith—l remember going to see you at Driffield on the 3d of June. I asked you for a victorine boa. I asked you whether it was the boa you had on your neck at Hull. You answered "Yes." I said, " Is that the one with the four tails ?" and you said "Yes." I might have said that you had it at the Nottingham House of Correction, and you might have said "Yes." I examined the victorine along with Egg, a constable at Driffield. I did not perceive anything the matter with it. Re-examined—Mrs. Egg examined the boa also. I thought it was a complete one. The boa of Ann Smith, produced in court, it was con tended had lost .two tails. Francis Johnson, constable at Hull, proved that on the night of the murder there was no disturbance in Paragon-street, and that he saw Smith a little after eleven o'clock, about ten minutes' walk from the Queen Coffee-house, in Bishop's-lane. Cross-examined by Mr. Seymour—Smith spoke to me, and made some remark, which I forget. He passed close to me, and I had a full view of him. John Hewett recalled—The handkerchief shown me very much resembles the handkerchief worn by the man who sat with me on the box, whom I say is Snipe. Eli Fletcher—l am in the Hull police, and was on duty on the night of the murder on Paragon-street beat. I did not see or hear any row in that street during the night. John Butler, sergeant of police—Was in Paragon street six or seven times during the night in question. I heard of no row or fight, and no report of one reached John DoFson, surgeon at Hull—Was at the station house on the morning after the murder, at a quarter past ten. Snipe was brought in. On the back of his left hand was a small semi-circular punctured wound. I had no doubt that it had been done by a human nail being pressed downwards into the back of the hand, and made a punctured wound which bled. His left arm had two marks, one between the wrist and the elbow, the skin being torn off; the other mark was caused by a grasp. I examined his boots, and on the right boot there was a peculiar smell. The fore part of the right boot had been put in mud, and the whole of the boot had been in water. The coat was streaked with mud, particularly the inner part of the skirts ; the mud was of a similar character to that on the shoes. The coat was as if it had been dragged through a hedge. Cross-examined—The odour appeared to be from the wet part of the boot. When I smelt these things, I had heard of the murder, but did not know that it had been by strangulation. I stated in the station-house that the coat had been injured by thorns. The wound on the hand might have been done by anything with a circular or semi -circular edge. Elizabeth Swift —I live at 15, Prospect-place. Went the morning after the murder to the spot, and picked up a piece of fur, part of a l a d y ' s b oa. Benjamin Bolter recalled-_I received a piece of fur from the last witness, which I put in my waistcoat pocket and lost it. Alfred Sheppard, Governor of Driffield House of Correction—l took the boa produced from the prisoner Ann Smith. Cross-examined by Ann Smith—The boa and the piece of fur produced appear to be of the same kind, but I think there is a difference in the colour, I think that it does not belong to the boa, but I have no knowledge of furs. John Dawson Sollit—l am head-master of the Gram mar School, Hull. On the 29th of May, Mason and Watson brought to me a pair of bootsand a coat now produced. I took mud from the boot and coat, and Watson showed me some mud in a paper ; also some mud from Paragon-street, examined the mud from the boots, and m made a mi croscopic analysis of it. It was mud fromlt contained infusorial s h e ll s , an d rema i ns o f vege t a bl es , ditch. a and a particular kind of blue fibre, an aquatic vegetable which is exceedingly rare. I met it before in a ditch in Lincolnshire four years ago. It also contained hairs of the common nettle, and globules of soap, and also a small aquatic plant called confervw, also hairs from the seed of groundsel. I produce a drawing of the appearance of the different objects of which I have been speaking. The mud on the coat was identical with the mud on the boot. Th e mud on the boot which had been dipped by the office r in the ditch was also identical. The mud from Paragon-street was as widely different as it was possible for any two substances to be, and was such as would be found in a street with a large traffic. I have examined every ditch in Hull I could meet with, and I can't find the same mud. I have examined the piece of boa pro duced with the microscope and the boa itself, and they are identical. The piece of boa did not appear to have been dyed. I think that the naked eye can see where the piece of fur comes from the boa. Cross-examined by Ai r. Dears , ey : I have not made any chemical analysis ; it would be of no use. It re quires long practice to use the microscope with proper , ' , et. I think that there were a greater number of in fusona eft ` -1 shells in proportion on the coat than there were on qt or in the ditch. i T arrison, a surgeon-dentist in Hull, corrobo- R th ob e e bo r t -`` -fitn ess rated the last N. • Nn—l lodged at Mary Ann Robinson's. Elizabeth idged there too, and also a woman. Casa. Smith and Snipe Two women came w i t itt them the day before the murder. nn on the second floor, and the I lodged in the back - ro o men and woman in the garret. Between two and three o'clock in the morning of the night of the murder, I was awoke by hearing the front and the back doors slam. I got up and listened, and heard men and women talking on the landing in Robinson's room. After they had been talking ten minutes I heard them go up stairs, and Robinson's door close. I then heard them talking in the garret. After the murder Mrs. Robinson appeared to have more money. Ann Balderson-1 was tried and acquitted at Beverley for stealing a visite. Before my trial I was in that gaol, and I and the prisoner Ann Smith, who was there, were before the matron to have our ages taken. The matron said to her, " It's a good thing for you that you left Snipe on the night of the murder." She re plied that she did not think it was, as she should be transported, and that she would as soon go with Snipe as any one else. When we got into the yard, I asked Ann Smith if she had anything to do with Snipe ; and she said that he was her man, that she had left him on the night of the murder, and that she wished to send by me a message to the Leeds Arms, in West street, Hull, to tell the landlady (Mrs. Wood) that they had offered her (Smith) 501. and a free pardon if she would • confess about Snipe, and that she would not turn round upon him if she was transported. After I was acquitted I went to the Leeds Arms, and asked for the landlady, and the prisoner Robinson followed me out and said, " It's a bad job it happened so ; it was Snipe that did it all ; Smith was watching until Snipe did it." Edward Moon—l was in Beverley House of Correc tion on a charge of shooting a woman, but it was only with a ginger-beer bottle. I was in the same cell with Snipe, who was taken out to be seen by one of the witnesses. When he returned, he said to me, " What are you in for ?" I said, " Oh, for shooting a woman." He asked me what was said about young Maplethorpe's murder. I said that whoever did it deserved hanging. He said to me, "'Tis a pity the poor man was hung too tight. What an awful thing it would be if he was topped for it." _ _ Mr. Dearsley then addressed the jury for the prisoner Snipe, contending that the evidence was purely circum stantial, and that the jury could not convict without it excluded every reasonable conclusion of innocence ; and even admitting all the faota suggest:or - 1 by tho prosecution, the evidence would not be sufficient. The learned coun sel then went through the evidence, and submitted to the jury that no portion of the case was conclusively proved. Mr. Digby Seymour followed on behalf of John Smith, and warned the jury against being influenced by public rumour. He contended that no policeman had seen any of the prisoners under suspicious circumstances on the night in question, and strongly commented on the ab sence of all proof that any of the property taken from the deceased was traced to the prisoners. Mr. Overend then addressed the jury for Mary Ann Robinson, and contended that the case as against her was a fabrication. The prisoner Ann Smith then addressed the jury, and said that from 9 to 11 o'clock on the night in question she was with Snipe, but that she never saw the deceased, and did not know Prospect-place ; they left West-street at half-past 9, and she then went into a detail of several spirit vaults they had been in, which had occupied the time from 9 to 11 oclock, and described a quarrel which had taken place between Snipe and Macdonald in Paragon street, when the former fell to the ground, and a police man came up and told them to go home. His Lordship then summed up, going carefully through the evidence, As soon as his lordship had concluded, one of the jury was seized with an epileptic fit and became totally un conscious. He was immediately attended by two medi cal men, who gave it as their opinion that he would not be able to attend to his duties for some hours. One of the medical men having been sworn as medical bailiff, the jury retired, and his Lordship adjourned the Court. Th l ll SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 23, 1852. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. GUILDHALL.—The summons issued on Monday last, at the suit of Mrs. Holly, against Mr. Edward Meeser, a clerk in the employ of Messrs. Jansen ' the solicitors, of Tokenhouse-yard, charging him with hav ing unlawfully administered to the complainant some deleterious substance, came on for hearing before Mr. Alderman Wilson. Mr. Messer attended with Mr. Bagley, his counsel. Mary Holly said—l am a widow, living at 49, Old Bailey. I was laundress to the chambers, at 4, Token house-yard, in 1849. In the November of that year the defendant gave - me, at my request, 1 lb. of arrowroot. I wished to pay him for it, but he would not allow me. I locked it up in a drawer, and on the 24th of the same month I gave some to my sister, and took some myself on the 27th. I was taken ill about half an hour after wards, with a feeling of sickness and a swimming in the head, accompanied by violent perspirations. Mr. Powell was called in, but by whom I don't know, for I was too ill to notice. I remained ill for two months, during which time Mr. Holding and other medical gentlemen attended me. My sister was very ill after taking the arrowroot, and was taken on the 20th of Nov., to the lunatic infirmary at Peckham-house. I saw the defendant on the 26th and 27th, and he inquired after my sister. I told him I thought there was something in the arrowroot, and he asked me to take it back to him and he would get it analysed. He also said, "Do you think I want to poison you ?" I said I did not think any one had so much animosity against me, and he then proposed that I should let him have some of the arrowroot, and that we should both have some for our supper on the same night, and by that means be convinced that nothing was the matter with the arrowroot. He asked me if the water I mixed it with was bad. I said I was not aware it was, and then went home, and subsequently returned with some of the arrowroot to the defendant. I believe I complained at this court about a week after taking the arrowroot, but I was so ill and unconscious that I remem bered nothing of it until told by others. I asked the defendant where he bought the arrowroot, and he refused to tell me. He afterwards said he had it from Messrs. Cqrbyn's ' of Holborn, and subsequently that he did no t have it from that establishment. I inquired last summer -at Mr. Corbyn's, and saw the defendant's father, who assured me the arrowroot did not come from their firm. Cross-examined—l was discharged from the service of Mr. Jansen shortly after I was taken ill, and when I resum ed my duties as laundress to the offices in Tokenhouse yard it was in the service of another party, who held the chambers on the ground floor. Three of my sisters and two children besides, were also partakers of the ar row-root, and rendered very ill. About a week after that I took it again, as defendant had requested, and became sick during the night, and quite insensible, and my mind has been deranged at intervals ever since. I never complained to any of the other clerks in the offices, nor do I remember ever having said that they were deal ing in incantations to ruin me, and throwing chemical substances about to poison me, I had a black eye re sulting from taking the arrow foot, but I never said it was caused by a black smell in the offices. I applied three or four times to this court, and the same number of times at the Mansion-house, but could not get the case inquired into. On one occasion I was told at this court that my case was remembered, and that I was mad. In 1850, I wrote to the Lord Mayor, and saw him at the Mansion-house on the subject, but still with the same result. I have always experienced the greatest kindness from the defendant, and I cannot suppose any reason for his giving me any deleterious compound. He was also exceedingly kind, also to my husband, who died in June, 1849. Jane Pearce, a sister of the complainant, was examined, but her evidence was immaterial to the charge. Harriet Hurst, the sister who had been confined in Peckham-house immediately after partaking of the arrow root, was then brought into court to be examined. She appeared excessively weak and afflicted with nervous tremblings, which increased as she proceeded with her evidence, till she at length sank back in the chair, unable to articulate another word, and she was carried out of court and her further examination adjourned. The evi dence she was able to give merely went to confirm the part of complainant's statement that she took the arrow root given her by Mrs. Holly, and was shortly after taken ill. She was rendered insensible, and was totally unconscious as to who attended her and how she got into the infirmary at Peckham-house. Anne Hurst, another sister, said—My sisters Eliza and Harriet mixed the arrowroot they took on the 24th, and I mixed it on the 27th, on which night we all par took of it—my two sisters and two children. My sis ters Harriet and Eliza were rendered quite insensible within an hour after. On the 24th they became insen sible within five minutes, after taking the arrowroot. My legs and arms were quite black and swelled, and I experienced violent pains in my chest. The children were affected with similar pains in the stomach, a n d continued ill for a week after. _ . vv Eliza Hurst, also a sister of the complainant, said—l took some of the arrowroot in question, and was taken ill about an hour after with violent heats in my stomach, and a feeling of sickness. I took it again on the 27th , and within two hours after I became insensible. My sister Anne mixed it, and we all had some, but Harriet had the most. I remained unconscious for several days. In the absence of the medical gentlemen who attended the complainant and her sisters in their illnesses, the evidence of the following surgeons was taken : Mr. H. Hine Salter said—l was house physician at King's College Hospital in 1851, when the complainant came to me for advice. She appeared in a state of tremulous agitation, very feeble, pale, and cadaverous looking. She complained of frequent vomitings, almost constant, whenever she took food ; faintness and sore ness of throat, tenderness of the region of the stomach and continual pain. Lumps appeared in her groins and the armpits, but were not confined to those parts, and discoloured spot over her person similar to marks produced from blows. I examined her person, and found her in the state she described. I should have been at a loss to ascribe a cause for the appearances alone ; but from the symptoms also that she felt I should say she had taken sOn/e irritant substance Alderman Wilson—What would you call an irritant substance ?—Witness—Arsenic, and any of the vege- ;able poisons, would produce such symptoms. Alderman Wilson—But would the effect of having ;aken any of those irritants last for any length of time ? —Witness—Yes ; it might last for several years ' • hut he time varies in different cases. Ido not think such symptoms would be produced without the aid of poison. I have seen the complainant lately, and the same symp . toms were still perceptible, although she was much better. I have seen Harriet Hurst ; she is at present labouring under violent hysteria, which may be produced by almost any cause, I have also seen the children, and they are occasionally afflicted with vomitings and the same symptoms. I know the firm of Messrs. Corbyn and Co. to be most respectable, and I think it extremely unlikely that any improper parcel would come from their house. Mr. William Baker, a surgeon and apothecary, of Blackiriars, said : Mrs. Holly came to me about eighteen months ago very ill, and said she had been so ever since she took some arrow-root. I gave her some medicine, and she recovered, but frequently called upon me after, and always greatly excited. When poison once enters the system, it will sometimes remain there for life. Vegetable poisons affect the brain, and will overturn the reason, and produce convulsions, tremors, and derange ment for life. Mrs. Holly brought me some arrow-root, and I tested it for arsenic and corrosive sublimate, but found neither in it. I tasted it, and found it extremely bitter, and it left a great heat on my tongue that I could not get rid of for some time. If it had been genuine arrow-root, it would have had no taste. I washed some of it and discovered a brown sediment, which I compared with nux vomica, and found it precisely similar. Alderman Wilson : That is not a dangerous chemical, for there is an immense quantity of it used in beer. Witness : I am aware it is so used, but I do not think it quite so harmless, for I had the cramp in my arms and legs all night from only drinking a glass of pale ale. I wished to try the effect of the arrow-root on some of the animals that are born blind, as nux vomica, kills that class of animals instantly, and Mrs. Holly said she would try it on a bird, and in a few days she brought me a sparrow which she stated the arrow root had killed. The effects of mix vomica might last for years in the system. I mixed some nux vomica with some pure arrow-root and then tasted it, and the simi larity between that and the arrow-root brought to me by the complainant was such that I could not tell one from the other. The two children were then called, but their testi mony was of little importance, as their memory was scarcely sufficient to speak with certainty to what little they remembered of the circumstances. Mr. Bagley proposed to call witnesses to prove that the complainant was of weak intellect, and therefore her testimony would be inadmissible. Alderman Wilson said it did not appear to him that Mrs. Holly was weak-minded prior to the time of her taking the arrow-root, and therefore to prove that she was so after that would not tend in any way to strengthen the defendant's case, or weaken that of the complainant. It had gone forth to the public that four applications had been made at the Mansion-house, and also at this court, one of which was stated to have been made to himself, but of which he had not the slightest recollection, without the complainant being able to obtain a hearing. He was rather surprised at it ; and on hearing of the case from a lady in his own ward he determined at once to have the matter investigated, and therefore sent for all the parties on Monday last, when the complaint was at length entertained. Under all the circumstances, he thought it was due to the public, to the complainant, to the defendant, and to himself, that all the witnesses who could throw any light upon the subject should be examined ; a great deal of mystery was attached to the case, and he did not think he should be doing his duty were he to dispose of the case in its present stage. If it should turn out that poison really was in the arrow root, it would amount to a felony, and the charge would, therefore, be a very serious matter to the defendant. The summons was then adjourned, the defendant entering into his own recognisances in 1001., and giving bail to the same amount, for his appearance. SOUTH CAROLINA AND GREAT BRITAIN. IMPRISONMENT OF COLOURED SEAMEN. Governor Means, in his late message to the Legisla ure of South Carolina, has the following paragraphs relative to the imprisonment of coloured persons arriving at Charleston from other States or countries :-- - " I feel it my duty to call your attention to certain pro ceedings which hare grown out of the enforcement of that law of our State which requires the Sheriff of Charles ton to seize and imprison coloured seamen who are brought to that port. You will remember that the British Consul addressed a communication to the Legisla ture in December, 1850, on the subject of a modification of this law. A committee was appointed by the house and Senate to report upon it at the next session of the Legislature. These committees reported adverse to any modification. On the 24th of March, 1852, Manuel Pereira was imprisoned in accordance with the law alluded to. The vessel in which he sailed was driven into the port of Charleston, in distress. This was looked upon as a favourable case upon which to make an issue, as so strong an element of sympathy was con nected with it. Accordingly a motion was made before Judge Withers for a writ of habeas corpus, which was refused by him. These proceedings were instituted by the British Consul, it is said, under instructions from his Government, to test the constitutionality of the act. I think it here proper to state that Pereira was at perfect liberty to depart at any moment that he could get a vessel to transport him beyond the limits of the State. In truth, in consideration of the fact that his coming into the State was involutary, the Sheriff of Charleston, with his characteristic kindness, procured for him a place in a ship about to sail to Liver pool. Early in April, Pereira was actually released and on his way to the ship, having himself signed the ship , ping articl6s, when, by interposition of the British Con sul, he was again consigned to the custody of the sheriff. A few days after this the British Consul insisted no longer on his detention, but voluntarily paid his passsge to New York. This was looked upon as an abandon ment of that case. The statement of Mr. Yates, to gether with the letter of the British Consul, are here with transmitted. " While these proceedings were pending, the Sheriff 'of Charleston had my instructions not to give up the prisoner, even if a writ of habeas corpus had been granted. I considered that the `Act of 1844,' entitled, An Act more effectually to prevent negroes and other persons of colour from entering into this State, and for other purposes,' made it my d u ty t o d o so. "On the 19th of May, Reuben Roberts, a coloured seaman, a native of 1 assau, arrived in the steamer Clyde, from Baracoa. The Sheriff of Charleston, in conformity with the lam of the State, which has been in force since 1823, arrestel and lodged him in the district gaol, where he was detained until the 26th of May, when, the Clyde being ready to sail, Roberts was put on board, and sailed the same day. "On the 9th of June a writ in trespass, for assault and false imprisonment, from the Federal Court, was served upon Sheriff Yaea, laying the damage at 4,000 dollars. " The Act of 1844, I take it, was intended to prevent all interference on the pert of any Power on the face of the earth with the execution of this police regulation which is so essential to the peace and safety of our com munity. Had the Legislature which passed it ever dreamt that the sheriff Ntas to be subjected to the annoy ance of being dragged before the Federal Court for doing his duty under a law of the State, I am sure it would have provided for his protection. As no such provision has been made for so uneected a contingency, I recom mend that you so amen this Act of 1844 that it may meet any case that may ar i se . "It is certainly wrolg to tolerate this interference with the laws enacted fot the protection of our institu tion. In the general distribution of power between the - Federal and State Governments, the right to make their own police regulations was Clearly reserved to the States. In fact, it is n6thing more nor less than the right of self-preservation —a right which is above all con stitutions and above all laws, and one which never was, nor ever will be, abandoned by a people who are worthy to be free. It is a right which has never yet been attempted to be denied to any people, except to us. " The complaint agaiast this law is very strange, and Government on account o f it i s st ill more remar k a bl e, g w th h e en at s t o em fa p to brin g far from from n Is in confl ic t w ith the General its being at v ar i ance with the laws of the United States, it is on l y requ i r i ng the St a t e authorities to enforce an act of Congress, approved February 28th, 1803, entitled an act to prevent the importation of certain persons into certain States, where, by the laws thereof, their importation is prohi bited. By referring t 4 this act, you will see that the plaintiff in the action tlluded to was prohibited by it from entering into this State. I deem it unnecessary, however, to enter fully into the argument. If any doubt should be entertained by you as to the constitu tionality. I beg leave to refer to the able opinion of the Hon. J. 3/Pherson Berrien, delivered at the time he was Attorney-General of the United States, which I herewith send you. "Ou the subject o/ the modification of this law I am free to say, that when her Britannic Majesty's Govern ment, through its Consul, made a respectful request to our Legislature to that effect, I was anxious that it should be made. It was with pl easure t h at I transm itted his fi rs t com munication to the l as t L eg i s l ature. I wo uld have mad e a r ecommendation of its modification a special point in my first message, but th l t I thought it indelicate to do so, as the matter was alretdy before the Legislature, and com mittees had been appointed to report upon it. Another reason for the neglo c t o f t hi s recommen dation was th e th e n exciting state of party politics, which might have precluded the possibility of a calm consideration of the subject. But for theproceedings instituted in the premises, I would even now recommend a modification of the law, so as to require ca pt a i ns to conf i ne th e i r coloured seam en to their vessels, and to prevent their landing under heavy penalties. For while I think the State has a perfect right to pass whatever laws on this subject it may deem ne cessary for its safety, yet the spirit of the age requires, that while they should be so formed as to be adequate to our protection, they should be, at the same time, as little offensive as p oss ibl e t o o ther nations, with whom we have friendly relations. But since an attempt has been made to defy our laws, and bring us in conflict with the Federal Goverment, on a subject upon which we are so justly sensitive, our own self-respect demands that we should not abate one jot or title of that law, which wit's enacted to protect us from the influence of ignorant incendiaries." THE FARMERS AND THE MALT TAX.—Monday last was the annual rent audit at Harewood, when the tenantry of Lord Harewood dined together at the house of Mr. Sturdy, at the Harewood Arms. After dinner, the proposition of the late Derby Ministry to reduce the malt tax was freely discussed, and from the general ex pression of opinion by the farmers it was quite clear that they did not cart one straw about the reduction. THE IMPRISONED MADIAL—The Corriere Mercantile states from Florence, 13th inst., that Madame Madiai has been ill for some days past, and that the Grand Duchesses, moved by her miserable state, have exercised their influence to exhort her to return to the Catholic religion, hoping thus to obtain her liberation from the Grand Duke. It is added that hitherto they hare been unsuccessful. SOCIETY OF ARTS. EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHS. A soiree, last evening, in the rooms of the Society of Arts—Lord Monteagle officiating at the lecture as chair man, and afterwards as ambulatory president, and a numerous and distinguished company of ladies and gen tlemen participating—inaugurated an exhibition, which is to remain open for a week, of " recent specimens of photography." Four rooms were filled with pictures ; but we do not know why the generic term "photogra phy" has been used, since all these pictures are calotypes, there not being one daguerreotype. The specimens are French and English, in about equal proportions, and are in every sense most interesting, as evidencing the pro gress which is being made in this one branch of photo graphy, both as an art in itself, and as an aid to the general artist who approaches nature in a manner more indirect. We have seen better isolated specimens, both in Paris and London, than any here shown ; but, no doubt this, as the first exposition of the kind, is to be re garded as, on the whole, the most perfect collection which has yet been made. And we think an examination of this exhibition will demonstrate the soundness of the view ori ginally taken in reference to calotypes—setting aside con siderations of cheapness of material and facility of copying —that the process cannot present anything to compete with the Daguerrotype in the rendering of the human coun tenance, or of delicate copying of minute work of any kind, but is simply successful, and with widely beneficial results to art and artists, in giving broad outlines and masses, landscapes, sculpture, and ar c hit ec t ure . Com pared with the works of Beard and Claudet, the calotype portraits shown last evening are very inferior. The following names and pictures may be mentioned as most worthy of notice—at least on a hasty survey, as most likely to fix admiring attention :—H. Owen's, a statue, by Foley ; the same artist's, "Lord Falkland," a statue, by Bell ; F. Marten's "Louvre ;" Sir W. New ton's ";Ventnor, the Beach ;" P. H. Delamotte's " Cellini shield ;" R. Fenton's " Windsor Forest ;" E. Constant's " Roman. R u ins ; A. Rosling's "Southwark Bridge ; H. Owen's " Street views in Bristol ;" and a group from the Arc d'Et o il e —(alto-relief, though de scribed in the catalogue as bas relief) singularly fine— by Lodoisok. The lecture was delivered by Mr. Roger Fenton, one of the exhibitors ; and we give passages as stating broadly the general objects and results of the exhibition. Speaking of the technical progress in the art, he observed. —"New deoxidising agents have been brought into ge neral use, and the surface of the paper has been rendered smooth and more glossy, so that it will take a sharper negative impression. Means have also been adopted for keeping it in a sensitive state for a longer time uninjured. A new medium, collodion, variously modi fied, has been adopted, on which to receive the sun pictures—a medium which possesses three most valuable properties, great rapidity of impression, excellence in the picture produced, and the capability of receiving either a negative or positive picture, according to the intention of the operator, balanced by two disadvantage—the necessity of employing so heavy and fragile a material as glass to receive the collodion film, and of performing consecutively all the different parts of the process. A gradual but slow improvement has been made in the construction of lenses, principally consisting in the use of a kind of glass, that, in the passage of light through it, absorbs less of the chemical ray. In spite of many attempts to improve the camera, it is still the same clumsy unmanageable affair that it has always been. The improvements that have been made are, with one exception, that of collodion, rather those of detail than of first principle, and have been obtained more by rough experiment and by accidental discoveries than by scientific research." In reference to the differ ences between the French and English specimens, his remarks were :—" The best pictures received from France have been taken, by means of albumen, upon glass ; and certainly nothing can surpass the brilliancy of the views near Lyons, or the harmony of tone and .minuteness of detail of the ceilings of the Louvre. The best productions of English craftsmen, without reference to portraits, have been taken upon paper ; and upon this medium, there has been nothing, it is believed, pro duced which can surpass in delicate beauty or in gran deur some of the specimens exhibited. This conclu sion is the more satisfactory, because it is admitted that the perfection of the paper process is the true point to which our efforts should be directed." The practical uses made of the art are pointed out in this way : " The present scientific and industrial applications of this art are as yet little more than indications of what will hereafter be done. We hear of ;the collodion plan being transferred from the glass to the wood en graver's block ; of attempts being made by means of sensitive paper to record the pathways of the heavenly bodies, or to delineate in legible and lasting characters the minute wonders of microscopic creation. Among the pictures exhibited there is a remarkable specimen of suc cessful effort in this direction. It is also being used at this moment for the advancement of geographic research; photographic apparatus having been supplied to the ves sels dispatched to the arctic seas under Sir Edward Bel cher, and to the Herald, sent out under the command of Captain Denham, to examine the unexplored islands of the Pacific." On the other hand—" Its commercial and industrial use has hitherto been very limited ; and be fore much progress can be made in this direction, more attention must be paid to a part of the process at present treated as one of secondary importance --namely, the ' positive picture. According to the method generally employed, and which seems at present to give the best results, negative pictures can be copied with sufficient rapidity only on days of strong sunshine : and, in order to produce rich tone and agreeable colour, each proof re quires careful watching during the after process of fix ing. To say nothing of the risk of injury to which the negative picture is exposed by careless manipulation, it is impossible at present to trust the reproduction of the positive proof to less skilful hands than those who ought to have been employed in the creative branches of the art. Before sun pictures can be extensively used in the production of letter-press, some method of copying them must be discovered, which shall produce as good or bet ter results than the present one, which shall be so simple in its manipulation that a workman of ordinary intelli gence may be trusted to perform it—and which shall not depend upon the state of the weather for its succes. Of these conditions, the last is already fulfilled by the use of the negative Talbotype process in printing." INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS. At the annual general meeting, on Tuesday, Decem ber 21, James Rendel, Esq., President, in the chair, for •the election of president, vice-president, and other members of council for the ensuing year, and for re ceiving the annual report of the retiring council, the medals and premiums, which had been awarded, were presented. The report attributed the present extraor dinaty activity in public works and private enterprises, in a great degree, to the discovery of those auriferous deposits of the other hemisphere, which had been, appa rently, beneficently designed to bring into active utility the humbler, but more permanently useful, minerals of the parent country. It alluded to the general demand for the improvement of the sanitary condition of towns, the completion of the branch lines of railways, the ex tension of the electric telegraph to the Continent and to India, and the vast revolution it was producing in com mercial and social relations. The augmented size of steam-vessels, and the creations of docks of proportions to receive them ; the rapid accomplishment of the rail way across the isthmus of Panama, with the recent sur vey for a projected ship canal, in the same region ; and the numerous other works, in all parts of the world, confided to the skilful conduct of English civil engineers, were briefly alluded to ; and the good wishes of the pro fession were demanded for the re-establishment of- the building, in which the specimens of the world's wealth had first been exhibited, and which was now to be devoted to the recreation and instruction of that valuable portion of society, the productive classes. The principal papers read during the past session were recapitulated and commented on, and the following premiums were then presented :—Tel ford Medals —To Captain Mark Huish, Colonel Sam Colt, Messrs. Braithwaite Poole, Frederick Richard Window, Charles Coles Adley, Eugdne Bourdon (Paris), Pierre Hippolyte Boutigny (d'Evreux), and George Fre derick White. Council Premiums of Books—To Messrs. John Baldry Redman (for the third time), Wm. Thomas Diene, William Bindon Blood, George Donaldson, Christopher Bagot Lane, and William Bridges Adams. Many presents of books for the library were mentioned, and two valuable donations from Mr. H. A. Hunt and Mr. W. Radford, were particularly noticed. Attention was directed to a portrait of the past president, Sir John Rennie, painted for and presented to the institu tion, by Mr. James Andrews ; and also to a bust by Mr. E. H. Bally, R.A., of Mr. Robert Stephenson, M.P., one of the vice-presidents ; a cordial vote of thanks was offered to these artists for the truthful portraits of two valuable and highly-esteemed members of the institu tion. The condition and progress of the institution were described as most satisfactory, the expenses dimin ishing, so as to enable more volumes to be published, and the new members increasing fast—the number of members of all classes being now 746. Memoirs were read of F.M. the Duke of Wellington, Major-Gen. Colby, and John Geo. Children, honorary members ; Messrs. John Barnes, David Bremner, Robert Brunton, William Tierney Clark, Frank Forster, Thos. Grainger, and Wal ter Hunter, members ; Sir John Josiah Guest, Bart., M.P., John Sylvester, and Henry Vint, associates ; and Henry Charles Rawnsley, graduate. The main characteristics of the civil life of the duke were pointed out, and the cordial assistance he had frequently afforded to engineers and their works was alluded to with feelings of warm gratitude ; the valuable services of General Colby on the trigonometrical survey were detailed, and the scientific skill of Mr. Children recognised. The great talents, theoretical knowledge, and practical professional skill of the other deceased members and associates were alluded to with pride, and the untimely l oss o f M r. F orster, under peculiarly distressing circumstances, was feelingly noticed. The resignation of Mr. J. Miller from the council, in consequence of long-continued ,illness, was accepted with regret ; and at the ballot the following members were declared to form the council for the ensu ing year :—James M. Rendel, president ; I. K. Brunel, J. Locke, M.P., J. Simpson, and R. Stephenson, M.P., vice-presidents ; G. P. Bidder, J. Cubitt, J. E. Erring ton, J. Fowler. C. H. Gregory, J. Hawkshaw, J. R. M'Clean, C. May, J. Penn, and J. S. Russell, mem bers ; and T. Brassey, and T. R. Crampton, associates. Votes of thanks were unanimously offered to the presi dent, vice-presidents, members and associates of the council, and to the secretary, and the meeting adjourned until Tuesday, the 11th of January, 1853, when it was announced that the following paper would be read : "On the nature and properties of timber with de scriptive particular of several methods now in use, for its preservation from decay," b y M r. H. P. 'Burt, Assoc. Inst. C.E. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN.—It is understood that this company has just extended its traffic arrangements with the Lancashire and Yorkshire to the East Lanca shire Company. SOUTH - WESTERN.—This company have advertised for contracts for works at the terminus at Waterloo, which would seem to bear out the truth of the rumour that the company have, for the p resen t, at a l l events, abandoned all intenti on of any extension of the line into the city, and will make Waterloo the final terminus, and which would, indeed, seem to answer every public purpose. The mean wooden stairs forming the entrance to the temporary premises were, during the autumn, displaced by a stone staircase and entrance of a more substantial and appropriate character ; but, if it be determined to make this spot, even for the present, the permanent me tropolitan terminus of the line, a considerable number of improvements and additions will be required to afford the necessary accommodation for the service of the com pany, and the convenience of the public. RAILWAY AMALGAMATION.—A meeting on the pro jected railway amalgamation was held at Birmingham yesterday; Mr. Alderman Van Wart in the chair. After some discussion a committee was appointed to watch the amalgamation bills in the House of Commons. In the course of the proceedings the chairman said there was no doubt of the fact that the railway companies occasionally made mistakes ; but he had always found them ready to correct them. It must never be for gotten' too, that they were o f great pu bli c usefulness, and that they had the effect of reducing charges two thirds between Birmingham and London and Liverpool. In the present state of affairs, he thought the appoint ment of a committee to watch all proceedings in refer ence to the proposed amalgamations would be advisable. The same would probably be done in other large towns ; and the object should be to get such clauses introduced as would protect the just rights of the public. GREAT NORTHERN.—The directors of this company have determined to raise the additional share capital of 750,0001., authorised in the resolutions of the last half yearly meeting, and also the 60,000/. for the communi cation with the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, by issuing at par, rateable to the proprietors, 81,000 scrip shares of 101. each. WORCESTER AND HEREFORD.—At a meeting of the Worcester Chamber of Commerce, just held, resolutions were passed with reference to these rival lines, express ing their opinion that the interests of the competinc, companies, as w e ll as o f W orcester and the district, ° would be most effectually promoted by the companies agreeing to sink all minor differences, and unite their efforts to obtain from Parliament powers to construct the best possible railway for the district. OXFORDSHIRE, WORCESTER, AND WOLVERHAMPTON. —Captain Galton, the Government Inspector of Rail ways, has looked over the second section of this line from Stourbridge, the present northern terminus, to Dudley, and has certified that it is fit for opening for passenger traffic. Accordingly, that portion of the line was opened on Monday last. Although the length of the additional railways is comparatively small, 'it will form a most important item in traffic, passing, as it does, through a thickly populated district, and running in juxtaposition with other railways to the north. It is understood that a further opening of the line from Evesham to Oxford will take place within a month. The 15th of January is at present mentioned.—Wolver hampton Herald. RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS. LONDON AND SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY. —Traffic re turn for the week ending Dec. 18, 1852 £12,329 3 2 Corresponding week last year 10,913 12 7 Increase in 1852 £1,415 10 7 LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST RAILW.A.T.— Traffic return for the week ending Dec. 18, 1852 £lO,OOl 4 2 Corresponding week last year 8,344 5 5 Total of the half-year to this date, 1852. 315,408 17 8 Total of the half-year to this date, 1851 320,064 010 THE GREAT NORTHERN RAlLWAY.—Traffic return for the week ending Dec. 12, 1852 (285 i miles) £14,402 5 11 Corresponding w ee k l as t year (241 i miles) 11,163 12 5 LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY. —Traffic re turn for the week ending Dec. 19, 1852 £17,478 0 7 Corresponding week last year 16,299 12 3 GLASGOW AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY. —Traffic re turn for the week ending Dec. 18, 1852 £3,832 10 5 Corresponding week last year 3,756 12 10 Increase in 1852 £7s 17 7 CORK AND BANDON RAlLWAY.—Traffic return for the week ending Dec. 18, 1852 (20 miles) £l4l 13 7 Corresponding week last year (20 miles) ?8E WOMERSLEY POACHING CASE. All doubts about the real delinquents in this case have been set at rest by one of the parties in custody turning approver. At the re-examination of the pri soners at Pontefract yesterday (Wednesday), George Kemp, one of the prisoners, gave the following tes timony : "I have been living in Doncaster three or four months. For the last six or seven weeks I have been lodging with William Andrews, one of the prisoners. I remember the night (Nov. 24) when Mitchell was shot on Lord Hawke's estate at Womersley. I left Don caster that night between seven and eight o'clock. Be fore I left, Norfolk Bob (the prisoner Drew) and two other men (whose names it is not deemed prudent to publish at present, as they are at large) came to Andrews' house. Drew and these two persons went out first. I and Andrews followed shortly after. We overtook them between Bentley and Owston. I had a single-barrelled gun. Drew and Andrews had double barrelled guns. One of the others had a single-barrelled gun. We also had an air-gun amongst us, but I don't know who carried it. We all proceeded together through Askern to a wood of Lord Hawke's at Womers ley. Before we got into the wood we picked up some stones from the turnpike road. When we got into the wood, Norfolk Bob (Drew) tried the air-gun at some pheasants as they sat on the trees. He tried about half a dozen times, but, though the gun went off, he could not shoot anything with it. We all began then to shoot with the other guns. We shot at the pheasants in the trees. We had been in the wood about two hours when, just as Drew was going further into the wood to shoot, we heard somebody coming. One of our party said, "We must meet them, I reckon ;" and we then turned round and met them. Mitchell came up first, and he said to his men, " Come up, lads." One of the keepers said, " Now, my lads, be men and don't shoot." Somebody in the party said, " It's not a bit of use ; we don't mean t o b e ta k en. " Mitchell came running up to me, and I threw several stones at him. I heard one rattle against his gun, and another against a peculiar sort of cap he wore. Mitchell raised his gun at me, and said, " I will shoot thee." I threw another stone at him, and told him not to spoil his mind. One of Mitchell's party came up to him, and said, " Come back, or there'll be somebody shot." Norfolk Bob then ran across the riding, and got behind a tree. He cocked his gun and shot, and he afterwards told me he saw one of the keepers put his hand to his head and heard him say, " Oh, he's done for me." Drew fired two barrels. Andrews shot one shot at the keepers, but I saw no others fire at them. After this we went one way and the keepers another. As we were going away I said I thought we could have shaken them off without shooting. Drew said it was their intention to shoot. We then returned to Doncaster by way of Askern, and got home between four and five o'clock in the morning. After the above evidence had been given, Mr. Collin son, for the prosecution, said that Kemp's statement had given such a new complexion to the case that he must ask for a further remand of the prisoners, D -few and Andrews, for one week. The prisoners were remanded accordingly. A man named Marshall who had been apprehended since the last hearing of the case was discharged. It may be stated that but for the unexnected disclo sures of Kemp (who has been prevailed upon by his parents to make them) all the prisoners would have been discharged. OF MISS STRICKLAND'S LIVES OF THE QUEENS OF - ENGLAND. --We observe that a re-issue of this popular work in eight monthly volumes, at 10s. 6d. each bound, is announced to be commenced on the Ist of January next, comprising all the important additions recently made and embellished, with the portraits of all the Queens, vignettes, &c., constituting a very elegant addition to the drawing-room, as well as a valuable standard work of experience for the library. It has been justly observed that "Miss Strickland's works af fords a proof that in the weighter investigations of history, as well as in the more delicate portraiture of character and appreciation of motives, the feminine genius is no respect inferior to the masculine, and that the most difficult and abstruse research is quite com patible with the sprightliness and graceful ease that dis tinguish all the works of this accomplished woman." THE NEW NOVEL, " CASTLE AVON," by the author of " Emilia Wyndham" "Two Old Men's Tales," &c., 3 vols.—A new story, by the author of ' Two Old Men's Tales,' (says the Examiner) ought assuredly not to be overlooked by readers in search for entertainment proper to the season. This writer has most of the requisites for a companion by the Christmas fire. She is fond of placing the lights and shadows in startling juxta-position, has the habit of making confidences with the reader, while she tells her story, holds that even the lightest fiction should have its moral lesson, is active to enforce the charities, and pleases herself with the thought that while she amuses she may also improve. The volumes abound in delicate and passionate writing. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—DEAFNESS—NEw DISCOVERY. 39, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly, observe, opposite the York Hotel. The Organic Vibratos-, an extraordinary powerful, small, newly-invented instrument for deafness, entirely different from all others, to surpass a n ythi ng o f the ki n d th at has been, or probably ever can be, pro duced. Being of the same colour as the skin, it is not perceptible ; it enables deaf persons to hear distinctly at church and at public assemblies ; the unpleasant sensa tion of singing noises in the ears are entirely removed; and it affords all the assistance that possibly could be desired. The Royal Exhibition Valuable newly-in vented, very small, powerful Waistcoat-pocket Glass, the size of a walnut, to discern minute objects at a distance of from four to five miles, which is found to be invaluable for yachting, and to sportsmen, gentlemen, and game keepers. Telescopes, possessing such extraordinary power that some, 34 inches, with an extra eye-piece, will show distinctly Jupiter's moons, Saturn's ring, and the double stars. They supersede every other kind, and are of all sizes, for the waistcoat-pocket, shooting, military purposes, &c. Opera and Race-course Glasses with won derful power; a minute object can be clearly seen from 10 to 12 miles distant. Invaluable newly-invented Spectacle.—S. and B. Solomons, aurists and i 39, Albema r l e - s t ree t, Piccadilly, observe, opposi optte th cians, e York Hotel. MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS• rgTFA NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REG-- IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, DBC' 81 • Zymotic Diseases Diseases of Uncertain Seat Tubercular Diseases Diseases of the Brain. Nerves, and Senses..... Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels ............. Diseases of the Lungs and other Organs ° I 16 1 Respiration ............ . ...... ......................... .• • • • Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organ 40 of Digeston ................... . ........................... • Diseases of the Kidneys, &c. Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus , &c. - Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles .• ..... Diseases of the Skin, &c. Malformations Premature Birth and Debility Atrophy Old Age ................................................. .. 5u dden........................................................ Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance...... 19 Causes not specified ....................................... DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES ..................... 1,041 til Population Deaths in corre - Des Enumerated. eponding week w e elt. 1851. of 1851. 146 West Districts North Districts 490,396 Central Districts 393,256 2 2 5 1 7 0 ............ 2 30 ° 6 East Dist r i c t s 4 85,522 South Districts LOA' Totals ..... .............. 183 11 8 45 .......... 9 3 Males Females.. ............ .. i 5 BIRTHS IN THE WEEK. Males.... Females. Total .. 555 486 _---- .. 1,662 RACING FIX' ME Liverpool Spring 2 Coventry Spring 8 Doncaster Spring 8 Salisbury AP: Croxton Park 6 Newmarket Craven ll York Spring ........ Chester Newmarket See Sp lO Shrewsbury Ju. Ascot... Hampton. Beverley, I3ull, &c l5 Bibury Newmarket.. Worcester.... Carlisle (3)... Liverpool._.. Brighton. Brighton Club Wolverhampton 8 Reading lO Warwick . 1 Y.CI 6 Doncaster Bedford Leicester OCTI Chester Autumn 4 Newmarket S. 0 lO 'RES FOR 1853. 1 5 Warwick Spring ......... 17 Kiplin Coates ............ sp Northampton (2)......•" Abergavenny ............. " ,IL. Malton .................... 26 Newmarket F. 5....••••• 1 8ath........................ 1 1 8 Manchester (3) .......... • n i Ep50m..................... rNE. 0 Stockbridge ............... 04 Winchester ............... Newcastle ................ 'i LY. i g Stamford .................. 9 1 Nottingham .............. 96 Goodwood ................ . 13 1 ATJG DST. Y0rk....................... 04 Derby 24 .... b. or gham :MEM. Lanark .................... 0 0 Manchester .............. • ~ 3 7 Newmarket F. 0 ...... • ‘ , 9 Northallerton .......... )BER. 1 9 I Richmond ............. ••• Newmarket .............. COUNTRY MARKET& EDINBURGH MEAL MARKET—DEC. 21' seb There were in the market to-clay, 5 sacks oatmesl9 4t 5 weighing 2801b s i m p er i a l , w hi ch sold thus :-1 at 11 at 1114 s Od. and 1 at 11 13s. EDINBURGH HAT AND STRAW MARKET.-- DEC. 21. Supplies of all kinds these last six days again large. ~0 0 Oat straw, fr o m 7 s Od t o 8s Od per kemple of 16 %woe!, ,ron ; wheat do., 5s Od to 6s Od ; barley do., 4s 6d to 6 0 Hay from 8d to 10d per stone. DALBEITH MEAL MAR KET—DEO, W. a There were in the market to-day 74 bags oatmeal, l ie 14 bags of barleymeal ; sales were dull for oa tmeal, i ,, f , barleymeal met a ready d eman d. Th ere was no pot-bar''''ci Oatmeal on the t o p th e same as last week. and the 00 0 price 6d per bag up. Oatmeal, per sack of 2801bs imperial Barleymeal, per ditto Peasemeal, per ditto Floltr, per ditto Pot-barley, per ditto First. Second. Th irt o . ct 33s Od 32s 6d 31s 0:1 23s Od —s Od Od - Od —s Od - --0 —s Od —8 Od Od OPAL MARKET—Dsc. 22. Prices of Coal per ton at the close of the market s. a. 9 15 0 Russell's Hetta ..17 Tanfield Moor Eden Main 17 3 Stewart's ...)n 15 0 Wall's End, &c. Caradoe lr 6 Harton l6 6 Cac a o 0C lr $ Lawson l5 9 Heugh Hall.. 9 lr Riddell l6 6 Tees.. 11 6 Belmont 17 OCo en Hartley Braddyll 17 6 Nixon's Merthyr& Cai:durz 0 Haswell 18 0 Powell's Duffryn Steam 23 Pensher 16 9 Ships at market, 51 Sold, 48. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. BIRMINGHAM, DEC. 22. STOCK EXCHANGE.—There w as little variation m frol ii yesterday's quotation s , an d b us i ness, more especially'- the early p ar t o f th e day, was very quiet. Binninglit,ol3ll Wolverhampt on , and Dudley (calls duly paid) were tr'' acted at 301 per share. BRISTOL, DEC. 22. vflln t STOCK EXCHANGE.—The mar k e t t o-day was some inactive, and Vale of Neath was transacted at 131 to SEABORNE MAILS. (N* signifies that the mails are sent from the General post- 00. by the night—and Mby the morning--dispatehl COIJNTRIES. Day when made up in General Post- Office, London. From what Port Dispatched. Whe n due. America (byllrit.pack.N America (by United Sts.l IDec. 24. packet) ...... ...N Amefica (by U :States Dec.2B . - - packet) . _ .........N -Australia_ (*via South Dec. 22 . ampton) ...... —lf Ditto (via Marseilles N *Ditto (via Cape of Wed Hope) .......... Africa (West Coast)..N l Alexandria* . . Belgium ...... • ... ..N Brazil .......• M Buenos Ayres .. M California .. ......M tCape of Good Hope ..N Cape4de Verds ......N Constantinople. — Central America ....M Channel Isles ........N Chi1i................ France ....... Di& N Greece* ...... ..N Hamburgh ..........N Holland ....... Honduras .......... N Ireland ........M ReN India (viaSouthampt.)M India (via Marseilles) N India (via Cape of Good' H0pe)....... Mauritius .N I Mediterranean (via Southampton .. Ditto (via Marsellies).N Mexico .. Madeira ............M Malta*.. ....N 20th of each month 24th of the month 2d of February.... 23rd of the month. 19th&30th of mon. 9th of the month.. 9th of the month.. d & 17th of month 14thof the month. hi thof the month.. 7thl7th27thof zno.. , nd & 17th of mon. Mon.Wed.BoFrida M & 17th ormonth Twice daily 7th I 7th27th ofinon. Tuesday & Friday Wednesday & Sat 17th of the month. Twice daily ...... 20th of the month.. Bth& 24t1cof month Liverpool . Liverpool . Isonthamptonl 14th of the month. 4th of the month. 20th of the month , sth & 24th of month 9nd of the month. 9th&23dof the mon. 7 th, 1 70,19th,27th, &30th of the month s thl s th2sthofmon. sth I sth2sthofmon. Southampton Dover ...... Naples* .. • .....N Papal States* ......N Peninsula Tuscany* West Indies Pan Diemen's Land (see Australia) .. • ••• • . Plymouth . Plymouth . Dover ~... Dover . , thl7th27thormon 2d & 17th of month' sthlsth 25thof mon, 2d & 17th of month Southampton Southampton Southampton Southampton Southampton Dover Southampton Southampton southampton Dover [Dover .. London. London. Southampton Holyhead ... Southampton Dover ...... Southampton Southampton ISonthampta 'Dover:— ... Dec. 98 Dec. 14 Dec. 0 Dec.l 24 Jan. I . Daily Tan. 1 6 Jan. 1 6 Jan. 1 , r Dec. 2.„ r Dec. 2 0 Dec. 30 • " Jan' 1 SO Twill.. Jan I of Tvileed.t Tjos. nuw fue e nec e sc.. . Th..„421 0: 646 , ;. 4 Jan. 1 Dec. 22 Dec. 2' Southampton Southampton Dover Dover ...... Dover'...... Southampton Couthampton Dover Southampton Dec. 4l j'att. 1 Jan. 1 Jan 16 Den. 28 Jan. 2 Jan. 3 t Dec. 26 [ Jan. 1 Jan. 21 t Jan. 1 * The mails for Australia via the Cape of Good Hope are made OP on the 2d of every alternate month. Those made up on the 20t and 24th of each month via Southampton and Marseilles are gent hi sailing vessels at present from Singapore, but next year they will sent In steamers. * The mails to those countries thus marked (*) are convoyed 1-1 French packet to Marseilles. t Mails are also made up on the 2d of every alternate month fa the Cape of Good Hope. BIRTHS. OF A DAUGHTER. On the 20th inst., at Victoria-square, the wife of J. 13 ' Woolmer, Esq. On the 21st inst., at New Brompton, the wife of 1 41011lic Orme, Esq. _.... MARRIED. On the 21st inst., at St. George's, Hanover-square, ..,,, the Right Hon. Lord Erski ne , t o Anna, widow of Th°' C. Durham, Esq., of Lar go and Porton. On the 18th inf at Mountnessing Essex, A. Bingha m ' Esq., of the Stock Exchange, London, to Mary 4-- eldest daugther of G. Fulcher, Esq., of Mark-lane. Oh the 18th inst. DIED. , W. B. Worthing, Esq., of B°W6l°2l' near Manchest er , aged 80. s, On the 19th i ns t ., at Savile-place, Halifax, J. .„,wao ,1 Esq., of Ash-grove, aged 70, a deputy-lieutenan t magistrate for the West Riding. for On the 13th inst, at at Southsea, C a pt a i n Ralston' 4th merly of th e 25th ' Light Dragoons, and late 1 1 . 361 ' Dragoon Guards. On the 21st October, at Shanghai, in China, Jane' 'e of F. H. Hale, Esq., of the British Consulate, a ged 2 1,1 01 At 1 3albirnie, N. 8., Harry, infant son of Mr. and Georgians Balfour. da O ug n h t t h er e 1 0 9 f th w in . s H t.., Co ag x e , d E l7 Bq , ~ E lio fz abß allie th,a me l, d es s u rret Great Queen-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO I :vr y 11 2 ; of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun O ffi ce, •'“ty Strand, in the Precin c t o f th e S a'roy, in the On° Middlesex, Thursday, Doatuuber 23,1852. jg °.xii - Or b4iill ci z zE keilllkrwli e , al Maw IttAT ISSUE;6 rrorated b ~ ..1 0„ - n e 72 and nantlyPteseut , eat ons A 11'' tollo w i l 41,, art ,1 , Gond e4 her of w and Mai -fto 4413:0ria1ly Ilurke, • i), r 1 1; 1 I ; : 1:. it 4 , 1a111 I i.Ptll ' ,k' lree;,.•[l •,,.'l-41.. hit . • ' k it' , l 11,.,t is', 11 ' 2 Srg. Llilde aVTIN G EN Whitby, I ll's. Law, tress; s, II( c t s Roo , ii 4, 1rn07;7, tiailway , e t r i'led at ;( 11 4re. length , of h Y t atal Rol -iron g i, heeli acceE ~ ailwv 1473'ed fror , 1 4,r,° ,11 all i , ,oadway :,l'Art e L k es , ,, tlia of also th t q‘'here the 1 i'n l h , : 4. i ''l 14: 4 : 1 openl:'": ' l i ' l : I f and al ae elll tta :s t; t :n in t e t l u i ort ( 11itrn h: lelli tYa e e nhar , lY i n :ra l ° e 'pe t g l Plvt: , ' , 'i !I,,,lneeessory t u 'it not foi It h Ueeessary i,tt,,,o4talnect. 14' 881 011, the , 1 11,,,, 4, 4 1 4-..atiOr l I 4 1m , a lens 1 I 'Mg or, . the E kft h :Tent, th e ' he 30th eiii rectoi ntle Men,— the abo tt7 r r .of , sitar( t eti , Contra Lae depo Dated thi AEAN _ _ It it,,77 Mines 1441 e tr :h e e d ' t4 at "14 James kb'in ere aSe Neale, E t ° , ldon_3 k ti li Qston _ etrols__3,l For t 44 For t t, e44 4 Cterw a Te In sub hp,,e Share th''"lnt two go out vAlicatioi htp°nlmit‘ k t irs of ti of 0 for Ns "veins, , .4.rtzburgt 4441 , £IC On the t4elther deli t ik .ract d el knat It in -Inis of si r r ton . T he e ll i S o t s r t „Dark A ' 4 . l oll'n (ie rottrle 1 1. 1eant gohard hous e 4tattue,' Itessr4. ' ~~I9~LTI~ pi e • l k_llialica QutaerdY Tc getti i t ll% .4 1 ItN i i % St boon ' O .------ Ir - Tlll Dec. 1u ho st , amtttex