The Sun. — London, England, 1846-02-19 00:00:00

COURT OF ALDERMEN. A Court was held on Tuesday for the transaction of public business. Sir P. LAURIE said the Lord Mayor was represented to have stated in the Court of Common Council, in an swer to a question put by a member, that he had acted in the affair between the Corporation and the Water men's Steam Packet Company under the advice of the law officers of the Corporation. It would be desirable if his Lordship would be good enough to mention whether he acted under the advice o 6 all the law officers, or of any particular officer ? After some observation from Alderman WILSON, P. In insisted that it would be extremely impolitic, pending the law proceedings in reference to the dispute, to say any thing about the matter, The Court was cleared of strangers, and the Alder men remained in close discussion upwards of an hour. What took place while the doors were closed did not transpire. It was very positively and publicly said by severs.' membars of the Corporation that some of the law °fil ters differed in opinion from the advice upon which his Lordship acted. - A gentleman appeared at the bar, having petitioned the Court to be admitted a freeman of the Spectacle Makers' Company, anti stated that he was free of the Glovers' Company by patrimony. Alderman COPELAND objected to the interference of the Court in such a question, and asked the petitioner whether he had ever applied to be admitted a freeman of the Glovers' Company ? —The petioner replied in the negative. Alderman COPELAND said it was evident that the pe titioner wished to escape from a comparatively obscure Company into a Company which was daily becoming, through the activity of its officin.s, exceedingly popular and powerful.—(Hear, hear.) He should, upon prin ciple, oppose the a pplication. Sir P. LIURIE agreed in the view taken by Alderman Copeland, and thought the petitioner was, by such an application, using the Glover > Company extremely ill. The prayer of the petition was then negatived. The LORD MAYOR presented a report respecting the administration to the mtmbers of the Court of Common Council of the oaths of allegiance, abjuration, and supre macy, before the Aldermen at the last quarter sessions. The report was referred to the law officers. with direc tions to them to report on the legality and expediency of omitting the intermediate sessions, confining the meeting to the four Quarter Sessions. ESTABLISHMENT OF A THIRD COURT IN THE OLD BAILEY. The CHAIRMAN of the Gaol Committee brought up a report in reference to the propriay of establishing a third court at the Central Criminal Court. It recom mended that a building should be immediately con structed for such court, and that suitable arrangements should be made to effect that object. Sir PETER LAURIE sail that the third court which at present existed, considerably facilitated the important business of the sessions, but it was a plan of personal ac commodation in every respect objectionable. The con struction of a new court would be most serviceable. The more rapidly the demoralising cases which occurred, were got rid of the better, and that was only to be ac complished by the sitting of several judges at the same time. There could not, in his opinion, be worse schools' for the rising youth of the metropolis than the galleries of the Central Criminal Court. The report was agreed to, and it was referred to the Committee of General Purposes to carry it into effect, under the able advice of the Lord Mayor. STATE OF THE CITY PRISONS. Alderman Wensoet rose to call the attention of the court to a subject of the very highest importance to the city of London—the condition of its gaols. He re gretted to be obliged to acknowledge that the magistracy of London were liable to the most severe condemnation in consequence of the deplorable state of Giltspur-street House of Correction. At the meeting held on Saturday at the Mansion-house, upon the interest ing subject of juvenile delinquency, and a pro posed remedy for that dreadful evil, one of the inspectors of prisons appointed by the Government found it necessary to make some observations reflecting in the strongest manner upon the Aldermen, and des cribing the City house of correction as the most unan swerable argument of the truth of the accusation. To wipe away the odium and disgrace which were attached to the Court on account of the neglect of the necessary examination into the state of Giltspur-street prison, or the indifference to the consequence of the moral con tamination existing within its walls, should be the en- ' deavour of every man who had any regard for the present or future happiness of the species. For a series of years various efforts had been made by himself, to prevail upon the Court to proceed to the correction of the frightful moral malady of the City prisons. Since the year 1837, at which period it was referred to a Com mittee of that Court, to consider the disgraceful state of those prisons, a great variety of attempts had been made, to induce the Court to take into consideration the most advisable means of classifying the prisoners committed to the Compter. Every year a struggle was made to accom plish some improvement, but there always occurred. something to interfere with the adoption of any plan Adjournments upon adjournments took place, and after all, nothing worth speaking of was done in the way of classification. The young and inexperienced were still mingled, in horrible confusion, with wretched criminals, whose minds were hardened in guilt ; and the obvious effect of such tuition was to exclude for ever from the former all traces cf reformation. With the evidence of such contamination before their eyes, still did the Court of Aldermen, whenever the questiou of the state of the Compter was brought before them, seek mid find what they called " a respite" in adjournment, or in re ferring to a committee, or flying, one by one, out of the court, and abandoning the question ss if it had been too insignificant for them to deal with. Alderman Wilsolifiere enumerated the many occasions in which he had attempted to attract the attention of his brother magistrates to the gaol evils. He then adverted to the very able conduct of Alderman Sidney when sheriff, and the many ineffectual experiments made by that gentleman to enlist the Court in the humane office of obstructing the career of vice, by the adoption of the principle of classifica tion. But what classification could be effected in a prison of such dimensions ? There were no more than twelve wards, in which the governor could place pri soners by themselves ; and in the rooms appropriated to the general mass of prisoners there was no possi bility o . preventing the moat revolting conversation. All other gaols presented a contrast to the utter abomi nation of G r iltspur-street Compter. In Clerkenwell pri son, in the prisons of Kent, and Essex, and Surrey, advantageous systems are acted upon. In these prisons the reformation of the unfortunate prisoners was one of the most palpable objects of the system. In Paris the prisons are also conducted and regulated upon a elan of classification, which contribute:. to the service of those who had offended against the laws. Every delinquent had a room to himself, and had opportunities of escap ing. the contamination which a gaol without system and without room was sure to spread amongst individuals of tender years. In speaking of the gaols of Paris, he wished it to be understood that he alluded to those which had been recently built. As for the old gaols they exhibited the deep depravity engendered by the im possibility of classifying th , t.prisoeers huddled together for ivunt of space, and it was necssary to interfere with those through the instrumentality of an armed force. But iu the new gaols the whole character of the population was changed, and the comforts of the prisoners were not neglected. The young were taught reading, writ ing, and even drawing. Alderman FAREBROTHMR.--Ay, poverty seems to be the only crime that is punished with neglect. The thieves are very kindly taken care of. Perhaps it would he advisable to send the young thieves to France. Aiderman WILSON said that, although his observa tions might subject him to the ridicule of some, he should not be deterred, by being laughed at, from show • ing that in the scale of morals e4iltspur-street Compter, under the control of the Aldermen of the City of London, was in a more degraded condition• than any other prison of which he had ever heard or read a de- . scription. It was impossible to do justice in ordinary language to the character of so infamous a receptacle. The inmates had a language of their own, which only becomes intelligible by a regular course of training. Could the Court wish fir better evidence than that they had upon their minutes in the reference, relative to ex; a.ninations taken by the visiting magistrates at Giltspur street Compter? What was the object of the' Mayor ; and Recorder in obtaining the evidence in the manner in which they had sought it, and in referring it to a Committee ? Was it not with a view to effect a refer leation ie this prison, and to improve the morals of the prisoners ? No doubt of the object. A month had elapsed since that evidrence had been required, what had been done with it ? Nothing. What would the Com mute,, do with it ? Nothitee Would the • wait Sir dames Graham 3 upon thing. Their raham and lay it before him ? No such stati report lay at that moment upon the table, the lle iiiquthiray t, it was desirable not to proceed further in e d:y ? Beraus Why was it not presented to Court that the Town Clerk had not been able to obtain the s i gnature of a single Alderman to it. 'What gave rise to the pat a construction upon ? Why, the Chaplain from its accepted meaning the language used different amongst the prisoners. The old wary hardened thieivea tared upon oath that they did not lir:del - sand the twelve yeals oft age gave a fu i l n l g , of i th e word, but a boy the existence of a style of conrveexrpisPeaaattlieci(:f9 teonodhporrorivhelde during that, and disgusting a nature to be g oi the hours com bined with certain signs at chapel time,whulen of divine service, comprehended the evi dence. The boy who had ac q uire d the knowledgetl e scr ibed was the child of res p ec t able parents , fell into bad company, and at tile age of eleven years was committed for three m onths. He was no sooner set at liberty than he was again apprehended, tried, and sentenced. ee, then was sentenced to imnrisonnuint for nine months, and upon his return to the Compter he told them whom he had left there, that his sentence was nine months, fa- his former conviction had been pro against him. The unfortunate child was in a cell by hi ved mself when he (Alderman Wilson) went to the prisoner, his unruly conduct having subjected him to solitary confinement, and there existed no doubt as to the chance of reclaim ing him, if he were but taken away from the desperate associates by whom he had been taught to glory in the crimes he had committed. Such a state of things was not to be endured as the interior of that prison exhibited. It was impossible for any one who had the slightest claim to humanity to witness the contamination, of which he had the power of giving but a faint descrip tion, without being. shocked at the condition of the youthful prisoners, and ashamed of the indifference with which the authorities seemed to look upon the fatal mis chiefs of want of classification, Alderman Wilson was abent to read an article which appeared in some of the newspapers on prison discipline, about a month ago, when he was interrupted by Sir P. LAURIE, seho declared that of too serious a nature, and of m the question was one much too important kind, to be discussed in a court not specially called for THE SqN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARI 19, 1846, the purpose. He hoped Alderman Wilson would not proceed with his statement. Alderman WlLsorr said he hoped the Court would allow him to proceed. He had much more to state, and he thought the best course that could be pursued was to apply to Sir James Graham, or to get the matter referred to a Committee of the House of Commons, for upon a Committee of the Court of Aldermen he could place no reliance. Several Aldermen objected to the consideration of the question at that moment. Alderman WILSON persevered. If the Court refused to discuss the subject on that day, be should soon bring it on again. The immense importance of it made imme• diate attention to it indispensable. He moved that the committee to whom it was referred on the 21st October last, to confer with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the subject of Whitecross-street prison, and Giltspur-street Compter, be requested to lay before the next Court the result of their interview. Sir Peter LAURIE—I shall certainly count the court if Alderman Wilson persists. Such. a subject as this re quires a special court. This is no court, my Lord Mayor. There are but eleven members present. Alderman FAREBROTHER—I hope the Court will not break up. It may go forth that the Court cannot pro pose an efficient remedy for any defects Which may exist, or that it is unable to repel the accusations so liberally made. Sir PETER LAURIE.—I submit, my Lord Mayor, that there is no Court. The LORD MAYOR —Then we are in committee. Here s•veral of the Aldermen objected- to going into committee. Alderrnan•Wn.sox said he did not care whether they constituted a court or a committee, provided they only took into consideration the great subject which he, now for the last time, brought forward. _ The LORD MAYOR.—YOU Can proceed in committee with the question. Sir William MAGNEY—The subject cannot then drop from a court into committee. It must te discussed in a court. I move that this committee—for we are no longer a court—do now adjourn. A court can be ap pointed for the discussion. Alderman SIDNEY rose to second Alderman Wilson's motion, and was proceeding when Alderman FAREBROTHER rose to order. They were not a court. He had, however, no objection to hear Alderman Sidney speak, and could show that the view taken by Aldermen Wilson and Sidney was grossly an error. Alderman CoPELAND.—It is quite impossible that the subject can be now further entered into. Let us have a court for this question alone.—(Hear, hear.) Alderman WlLsoN.—After the counting out of a court consisting of eleven members, I shall certainly not bring on the question again. Alderman SlDNEY.—Deptild Upon it we shall be pointed at for this proceeding. - Sir William MAGNET.—I have taken as much pains with the question as any man in the court, and I am desirous to attend upon any day appointed for the dis cussion; but what can be done now? There is no longer a court, and it is quite impossible to go into the matter. Alderman SIDNEY said he was convinced the court would suffer in the opinion of the public for that day's extraordinary proceeding. Alderman FAREBROTHER said the public opinion was that the Court of Aldermen performed their duty, and that opinion was not likely to be affected by false repre sentations. Alderman Wiascat submitted that there was a resem blance between the opinions formed by the Inspector of prisons, and expressed by him on Saturday upon the question of Mr. Pearson's plan, with respect to juvenile offenders, and the opinions expressed on the present occasion. He had drawn no exaggerated picture, and he was convinced that his words would not be thrown away. The Aldermen then left the Chamber. It is expected that an early day will be appointed for the consideration of " prison discipline," and that some decisive measures will be adopted. LOSS OF THE BENCOOLEN. INQUEST ON ONE OF THE SEAMEN. An inquest was held on Tuesday, before Mr. Heyes, county coroner of Lancashire, touching the death of George Ellis, steward of the Bencoolen, which was lost on Saturday week, on Taylor's Bank. The inquiry took place at the house of Mr. Robert Rainford, of the Blun dell Arms, in Crosby, and, owing to the peculiar circum stances of the case, excited more than ordinary interest. Previous to the commencement of the investigation, Mr. Ripley stated that he was owner of the vessel, and he wished for a most searching investigation into the whole circumstances, so as, if possible, to ascertain the cause of the unfortunate disaster. It would, he believed, bo proved in evidence that the loss of the vessel, the sacri fice of so many lives, and of so much property, had not been occasioned by the usual course of events in such cases. It would be proved that the weather was mode rate, that the atmosphere was clear, and that the ship was in good condition ; and if these pleadings were proved, it would, he believed, be incumbent that the inquiry should go further, and that they should look into the causes that had produced the disaster. It was of no consequence to the poor fellows whose lives were lost, or to him as the owner of the ship, what the result might be ; but circumstances might arise in evidence to show the necessity of adopting measures to prevent in future such loss of life and of property. The first witness called was George Grey, who de- posed as follows:-1 live at Stockton•on-Tees, in the county of Durham. I was a seaman on board the barque Bencoolen, which left Lima on the 13th of Oct., and made the west of Ireland on the 6th inst. We took our pilot on board at eight o'clock on Saturday morning, at Redwharf Bay, in Anglesea. The weather was at that time bad; it was blowing a gale of wind from the W. to W.N.W. That was a favourable wind for us. We puselithe Bell Buoy at half past six o'clock at night. The wind had then abated a little. It was a beautiful moonlight night—quite clear. The pilot was walking the deck; he was sober, perfectly sober, so far as I know. We were right abreast of the Formby light-ship when the vessel struck. The tide was flowing ; it would then be about two hours before high water. It was high water at twelve minutes past nine that night. She struck several times upon the bank, and never got off. The mizen-mast went over in ten minutes after she struck. We lovrered the quarter boat in about ten minutes after striking, and five seamen and three boys got into it. The steward was in, but he went back for something, but before he could return, the boat had broken from the vessel. She had been fastened with a three-and-a-half inch rope. We tried to get back to save our fellow-creatures aboard of the barque, but we could not—the sea and the wind drifting us away. We got into Liverpool about half-past nine o'clock, and gave every information of what bad occurred. I believe that in twenty minutes after the vessel struck she tetally disappeared. She had two boats aboard—the quarter boat and the launch, beautiful boats. The name of the pilot was James Greenwood Harding. He appeared to be about forty years of age. I have not often sailed out of Liverpool. The pilot seemed quite attentive, and seemed to understand the management of a ship — quite so. I have seen the deceased. His name was George Ellis. I did not see the cook in the boat. The boy said that the cook went back for his hat. The rope broke. I expect that some cue threw the end over. It was not the intention of the captain to go into the boat. The steward put the captain's writing desk on beard. The captain ordered the boat to be lowered. Ile and the pilot at the same time gave orders for the long boat to bo launched. We had no head-sail at all. The vessel steered well. The wind was aft. The wind was on her larboard quarter coming up the Vic toria Channel. No orders were given fur bra,eirg the yards till she struck. I heard no orders to alter our course when we came to the liT'ormby light-ship. I was forward, and heard no such orders. Mr. Rowland—May I ask you whether, from the time the pilot came on board, you had an opportunity of seeing and marking his conduct?—Yes. Did he give his orders well ?—Yes, he seemed to give them very well. To Mr. Cooke, superintendent of pilots—l cannot say how the wind was in crossing the bar. The ship's head would be about S.S.E., as near as I could tell. We had closo-reefed foretopsails and double-reefed main. Mr. Rowland—You state that the pilot etme on board at eight in the morning, and that he was then perfectly sober ?—Yes. Had you an opportunity of observing him, say, an hour befbre the disaster took place ?—Oh, yes. Was there then any apparent change in his conduct ? —None whatever. He was just as perfect as when he came on hoard. Mr. Ripley—l suppose the captain was sober ?—Oh, yes, perfectly sober. I never saw him drunk. Captain Clarributt was as nice a man as I ever sailed with. In eluding de pilot, there were twenty-one persons on board the ship, eight of whom were saved. Mr. Ripley— I believe that in coining up the channel, the course of the vessel was not altered, and that when she was on shore her head was E.S.B. ?—When she struck I ran to the wheel myself, and her head, by the compass, was then E.S.E. I believe, from the position of the red light, that her course had not been altered at all. Benjamin Sparrow, an apprentice on board the Ben coolen. was next called. Ile deposed that the cook and steward both got into the boat. The cook went back to g et his hat, and had not an opportunity of again getting into the boat. The steward, after putting ttte captain's desk into the boa', went back for something else. The boat filled almost immediately after being got out, and the people on deck hove buckets to them, so that they might bale her. When they got clear of the water, they were a long way from the ship.• The rope broke—it was not cut; by any one. He jumped into the boat without any orders. He did not hear any orders given by the captain or pilot that the boat should return to the .hip. All bands were on the poop, and the captain called out, " Cut away the long boat." After that no attempt was made by any one to get into the quarter boat. Thomas Brook s morning last, aboLt; a fisherman, stated—On Sunday i t tt s i evc 1 o'clock, I was looking at my t fi h s e hi n b g n -lines, ne:i tohne deceased, e as Crosby liberties, when I found e w d ;te It was lying on Charles's r m . I hoisted a signal for Bank. It was then low water. ea lodged itAirne ;ierrhiendustehenfbmodry. assistance, and three about a mile to shore, and liainford. 1 David Lloyd examined — l am the master of tha Formby light - ship. I recollect the night of Saturday week, when the Be ncoolen was lost. She c ame directly up the Victoria Ch annel, on our larboard side. Tti'w wind was then N.W. I was at the time on the deck of the light-ship, and expected that she would not get clear of our buoys, and I went forward, to be ready i n case we should want the helm shifted to one side or the other. She passed so close to our buoys that we could have thrown a stone aboard of her. Mr. Cooke, superintendent of pilots—How was she steering when she crossed your bows ?—She hauled up to the N.E., and steered to the N.E. for a considerable time before I heard a word to say keep her away, When there was a groat noise, and they hoisted the foretop mast staysails and then the jib ; but by the time that the jib was half-up, she was on shore. Mr. Ripley—When she passed your bows, I suppose that, if the helm had been put the right way, she would have gone up the channel ?—Yes ; but I suppose she got into shallow water, and then she would not answer Eo soon to the helm. _ _ _ But when she was passing the floating-light, if the helm had been put apart, she would have answered it ? —Yes, she would. - Mr. Cook—How must her helm have been put ?—lt mutt have been put to the starboard. I heard them say on board, " Port the helm!" " Hard up with the helm !" That was after she passed the buoy ? —Yes. Mr. Ripley.—She was in danger then?—l considered she was. She was abhore when the jib was got up; but, _ when the foretopmast staysail was lor.sed, she was not ashore. lam perfectly satisfied (continued the witness) that the helm must have been put to the starboard when she crossed our bows, or she would not have gone to the N.B. Mr. Ripley.—When the order was given to port the helm, where was she?—To the eastward of the light ship, nearly abreast of Taylor's buoy. Do you think she had struck then?—No, not then. She kept her course to the N.E. till they hoisted the foretop. mast staysail and shivered the maintopsail, when she seemed to take off a little; but she did not go very rapidly, and then I saw the jib go up, when she stuck fast. After I perceived she was fast, in about ten minutes she disappeared altogether. The surf was mak ing a fair breach right over her. Mr. Ripley—Do you think the pilot was at any time in fear of the ship coming in contact a ith the light-shits, and that the course was altered to avoid that? — l don' think there was any danger of that. He could hav e gone on either side of the light-ship with a N.W. wind. Mr. Cooke— How was her head when she stuck fast? —S.W.; but she might have caught the ground before that. Did you observe whether there was a sea on the Vic toria Bar when she came up?—There was a heavy sea there at daylight. I cannot say what there was at dark. You have been at sea a long time?—Yes. Do you fancy that a man competent to bring a ship over the bar could have made such a mistake as starboard for port, at such a critical period? The Coroner—Oh, he heard the order given to poft the helm, and it was rot obeyed. George Grey re-called—There was no order given to hoist sail till the vessel struck. Then there was an order to hoist the foretopmast staysail, and afterwards the jib. Georg e Spencer was at the helm. He was lost. The last witness says right about the orders given. They , were, "Hard up with the helm!" and "Port the helm!' but then the vessel had struck. After she struck I rushed to the helm, and put it hard up. When we were passing the light-shik I was forward. The word " Put up the helm!" might then have been given without my hearing it. " Hard up!" said the captain and the pilot. It was hard up when I received it. Mr. Ripley—When was the course altered? It was when she got close into the light-ship. She went on considerably ahead, and then there was a great deal of noise abroad—cries of " Keep the helm hard up," &c., as if some mistake had been made. The ship went along some time after the hoisting of the sails, but she was thumping all the time. Mr. Ripley—lt is clear that the vessel had struck when the order to port the helm was given. Mr. Lloyd—Yes. Mr. Ripley—Now, as a nautical man, Mr. Lloyd, what is your opinion of the cause of the loss of that vessel ? do you think it was the fault of the pilot I could not say it would be the fault of the pilot ; but I think that the ship might have kept away sooner. Was she under proper sail ?—She was not under pro per sail at the time. She ought to have had her head sails on, the topmast staysail at the least. And if she had had - her head-sails on ?—The ship would have been more liable to keep away more quickly. She would have been more manageable ?—Yes, sir. The sails are always set and taken in by order of the pilot on board ?—Yes, as soon as a pilot goes on board a ship it is under his command. Your light-ship was in its proper position?—Yes, quite correct. Lieutenant Lord—And all the buoys were in their right places? Was there not an American ship passed at the same time? Witness—Yes, in five minutes after wards. Which way did she return?—Sbe gave the light-ship plenty of sea room. She did not come on one side of it, and then lull to the other. She came straight in, and one course would have taken her the whole way. George Lewis examined—l was on board the light ship at the time the Bencoolen came up. She bore to the northward of us, with her two topsails set, and the master said, "She will be sure to go on that way." We heard shoutings out, and saw the foretopmast staysail got up, and she shivered her mainsail, and presently she loosed her jib, but before that was up she was aground. Ten minutes after she was on her broadside. She passed us, and came to on account of having no headsail. In coming through a narrow place like that, she should have had her head sails set. Mr. Wm. Lord examined—l am the marine surveyor to the Dock Trustees, and produce a chart of the dif ferent channels to the port of Liverpool. I was down there yesterday afternoon surveying the banks. There has not been any alteration for the last seven years. The buoys are in the same positions as they are laid down in the chart. All the lights are in their proper positions. Mr. Ripley—l would ask you, Lieutenant Lord, as a nautical man, whether the Bencoolen came in under - proper canvass?—l should have preferred more head sail on the vessel. If ohc had had head sail, wnultl oho have answered her helm better ?—The probability is that she would. What number of vessels enter the port of Liverpool through the Victoria channel ?—Last year, 28,861 ves sels entered. Since the channel was first opened in 1836, there „have come in and gone out through that channel, 141,680 vessels. That is pretty good evidence that the buoys and lights are not bad. Mr. Cooke.—You have heard the evidence given; what is your opinion as to the cause of the loss of that vessel, going as she was six knots an hour, and altering her position to the N.E. when she should have gone south and east?—l thought at first that she might have broached to; but I am now of opinion that the helm has been put the wrong way. Mr, Cooke.—Nothing could have brought her into that position without the helm having been put to star board?—l am inclined to think so. Mr. D. Rowland.—Mr. Ripley, in opening the case, intimated very distinctly that there was an ulterior object in conducting the investigation in this way; and at the same time he made a very broad and strong statement, involving the general practice of the pilotage establish ment of the port. In reference to that statement, I wish to propose one short question to Lieutenant Lord. Dur ing his connexion with the port of Liverpool, I should like to ask him what is his opinion as to the general efficiency of the establishment? Lieutenant Lord—l think, taking the Liverpool pilots collectively they must be a very skilful set of men ?—I have no doubt about it ; for it i 5 impossible that so many vessels could enter and quit the port in safety unless they were so. Mr. Ripley—Of course there are exceptions ? Yes, there are exceptions. Mr. D. Rowland examined—l am the Secretary of the Pilots' Committee. Before giving my evidence, permit me to make a preliminary remark. The Pilots' Com mittee, yesterday, on having an intimation from Mr. Ripley of what would, in all probability, form the cha racier of this investigation, instructed me, their secre• tary, to furnish on this occasion, the fullest and most complete information that could be given relative to the pilot who had charge of the Bencoolen. I have accord ingly extracted from the books everything in reference to him. His name was James Greenward Harding. He was hound apprentice to No. 7 pilot-boat on the 19th of February, 1827. On the 22d ef June, 1830, he obtained his license. From that time up to the 16 , h of Marsh, 1840, nearly ten years, no complaint against him appears on the report of the proceedings of the Committee. He was a particularly sober man. No charge to the con trary has on any occasion been brought against him. On the 16th of March, 1840, he was for the first time brought before the Pilots' Committee on a complaint of Pile St. Croix, forgetting the ship Ceres on Iloylake bank, on the sth of February in that year. The judgment of the committee on that case was—" James G. Harding is found to have been wanting in judgment, and is hereby severely reprimanded, and admonished to be more care • ful in future." On the 3d of Feb., 1842, he was again brought before the Pilots' Committee on a complaint of Captain Jackson, of the barque Jackson, for grounding the said vessel OR Burbo, on the 80th of January in that year. The judgment of the committee in that case was —" That ho should be re• examined by the examinin g committee, that that committee should report, and that in the meanwhile he should leave his license with the secretary." On the 19th of August, 1e44, having been reexamined by Messrs. Nickels and Atkinson, two of the examining committee, he was found fully qualified, and was recommended tor a full license, which was granted to him. On the 12th of May, 1845, on a complaint of Holderness and Chilton, for getting the barque Lady ConstaVe on shore on Burbo Bank, on the 6th of that month, the judgment of the committee was—" That his license should be withdrawn on the score of gross inattention to the critical position of his vessel, which ought to have been brought immediately to anchor." On the 23d of June, 1845, ho petitioned to have his license restored to him. That was granted; but he was told that if he was again brought before the committee on a charge of inat tention, he would be dismissed the service. Unfortu nately for him, he would never again have the opportu nity of appearing before them. A good deal of conversation having taken place, arising out of the evidence of Mr. Rowland, George Grey was re-called, and stated that the tiller ropes of the Ben coolers were in perfect order, and the ship answered to the helm very welt The Coroner briefly summed up, and the jul re turned a verdict of accidental death. LOSS OF THE TRIAL, OF GLASGOW.--A letter has been received at Lloyd's, from the Admiralty, (nclosing, a copy of a letter received through the Foreign Office, from the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs at Lisbon, re porting the wreck of the Trial, of Glasgow, on the 13th ult., near Villa Real de St. Antonio, Monte Video. Crew saved. MAIDSTONE FAlR.—This fair was held on Friday last. The supply of cattle was limited, and the prices ob tqined good. Well. fatted beasts sold quickly at Bs. 6d. per stone ; much cows, large-framad, with a small calf, made from 121. to 16/.; and lean and stock beasts sold readily. Good wethers realised 505., and stock lambs 245. a-head. In the hors e mar k et (except among prime young cart horses adapted for farming purposes) very little trade was trans acted, and the best quality made 28 guineas each. Pigs sold at Bs. Bd., and small porkers averaged 4s. Bd. per stone. There were several samples of hops offered, but there seemed but few buyers; some pockets sold as low as 61. per cwt., and the choicest description reached 8/. 10s. per cwt., and the hop trade was considered very fiat. FEMALE SERVANTS' HOME SOCIETY. A public meeting of this Society was held at the Hanover square Rooms on Monday, Lord ASHLEY took the chair at two o'clock, and called on the Rev. Mr. Keane to open the proceedings with prayer. Lord ASIILEY said he thought it would be unnecessary for him to trespass long on their time, as all of those present must be aware of the importance of that Institution. From the report he had read he was deeply impressedc hat it was of the greatest importance to the peace, the welfare, and the honour of every family in the kingdom. In that he was borne out by a letter from Chel tenham, sent him by a gentleman connected with an instltetion for the same object, which had existed seven years in that place, with the very best results. He ( Lord Ash ley) was aware that young women were exposed to great dangers in coming up to the metropolis in search of situa tions, and were exposed to dangers and difficulties not only when in that condition, but after they had actually obtained places, since, from harsh treatment and extreme exactions, they might in a moment of excitement throw up their situa tions and leave themselves friendless in the midst of society. The police reports gave them too many instances of the bad results which often issued out of these casualties. Thei own comfort depended intimately on the welfare , of that class of society. After their wives and children, their comfort depended on no class so much as on their domestie servants. Great fraud was used in intro ducing bad characters into their families. An individual of respectable appearance would take a lodging at some hotel, and there would furnish characters suited to the highest situations, or merely adapted to the humblest menial ser vice. It had been found out that so much as a guinea was the charge for the most common character, but, for those ascending to the higher flights, the amount exceeded any thing they could imagine, sa that vast sums of money were amassed by these means. At a time when-they were review ing their whole social system (and for which he thanked God) he hoped that a larger share of consideration would be given to that class of society for whose interests the Society existed. His Lordship, after sonic more remarks, called oa The Rev. JOILX BROWN, secretary, to read the report of the Institution. It appears that 2,000 female servants had used the advantage of the Society's homes, 4,714 had been regis tered free, and 1,580 applications had been made, to the So ciety for servants. J. PAYNE, Esq., moved that the report read should be adopted. He shortly remarked on the evil effects of the hasty dismission of servants from situations coming within his own sphere of observation in corroboration of what had fallen from the Chairman. The motion was seconded by the Rev. Mr. DIBDIN. It was moved by the Rev. Mr. KEANE, and seconded by the Rev. Mr. PIZEY, that gratitude and praise to Go,' should be recorded by the meeting for his blessing on the Society. The thanks of the meeting were moved to Lord Ashley, the chairman, by the Rev. S. JONES, which was seconded and caried unanimously. His LORDSHIP, in replying, referred the supporters of the Society to the happy effect which had followed his efforts. Twelve years ago, he said, out of the thousands of childrenlfrom six to eight years old, working from twelve to fifteen hours a day, not one hundred had had one hour's in struction, but now thirty thousand of them wrought but six hours a day, and had three hours of good education.—(Hear, hear.) He would give them his own rule—first, they ought to consider whether the cause they took up was good, and if so to stand by it, though alone, till they grew grey headed, arid they would have the happiness to hear, if it were on their death-bed, of the good resulting from their labours.—The meeting then separated. THE BANKRUPT and IN LAWS. A large public meeting of merchants, bankers, and traders in the City of London, w as held, at one o'clock on Monday, at the London Tav ern , Bi s h o p s gate-street, to receive a report of the proceedings of the Committee, appointed on the 27th of May last, to consider the Small Debts Act and the Act for the amendment of the Law of Bankruptcy and Insol vency, brought into the House of Commons at the cloee of last session; and to det rmine on the measures to be adopted with respect thereto. On the motion of T. BaßraG, Esq., M.P., R. J. MASTER MAN, Esq., M.P., was called to the chair, who briefly stated that he bad been requested to preside, as he had the honour to represent the City of London in Parliament. The Secretary, Mr. TRAVERS, read letters from Lord Ash burton and Commissioners Goulburn and Fane, regretting their inability to attend the meeting, and expressive of their opinion that the present laws were defective, inasmuch as they afforded the dishonest debtors the means of preventing their property from being divided amongst their creditors, and did not afford them sufficient protection, and suggesting various remedies. Lord Ashburton stated that it had been his fate to sit on many Committees respecting these laws with several great lawyers, who appeared to him much more occupied with views connected with their profession than those which had reference to the great material and moral interests of those over whom these laws were practically des tined to operate. The report, after pointing out the hardships to which creditors were exposed under existing Acts, proceeded to point out the remedial measures contained in the Act introduced into the House of Commons last session under the auspices of Mr. Hawes and Mr. Mastennan. The object of this Bill is to perfect and extend the Bank ruptcy Amendment Act of 1842, the object being to afford greater facility for bringing insolvent persons into the Court of Bankruptcy; to obtain additional security against their property being dishonestly made away with; and to render exposure and just punishment more certain for those whose improper conduct shall have deserved them. To accomplish these objects, improvements are proposed in the first steps in Bankruptcy, relative to the summons of the debtor, and for the protection of his, or, rather, of his creditor's property, during the period which now properly elapses between the day of appearance before the Court upon the summons and the completion of the Act of Bankruptcy, and the taking possession of the property by the messenger under the fiat. The Committee, aware of the extreme im portance of providing against the possibility of abuse of this power, had endeavoured so to frame the provision as to preclude reasonable complaint on the part of the honest debtor. The Bill would alsoempower the Court of Bankruptcy at any time in its diserAti.ft suspend its protection from bankrupts and insolvents, and.to make the withdrawal of such protection compulsory, when ever the bankrupt or insolvent shall fail to satisfy the Court that his bankruptcy or insolvency shall have arisen otherwise than from fraud, wilful mis conduct, extravagance, or gambling, as well as in all those cases now punishable as felonies or misdemeanours; thus put ting the proof of honesty upon the debtor, not throwing the proof of fraud upon the creditor; the creditor being, by , the failure of his debtor, the injured party, and the impossibility of proving fraud being to well known to require expla nation. It proposed to give to the assignees, as well as to individual creditors upon the admission of their claims, the rights of judgment creditors against the person of the bankrupt or insolvent, which might be enforced immediately upon the protection being withdrawn; thus making the withdrawal of protection a previous step to punishment at the discretion, not of the Court, but of the creditor, who then, and then only, may seize his debtor's person. The Bill provided security also to creditors against the wasting and loss of the effects of deceased traders, in default of the appointment of executors or administrators, and for the distribution thereof by means of the Court of Bankruptcy after the lapse of a certain period. It rendered securities by bills of sale, and mortgages of goods, and personal chattels and effects, in operative against creditors unless filed within 21 days after execution. The Committee were strongly opposed to the proposition for uniting the Bankruptcy and Insolvent Courts. They consider that a very different course should be pursued in the dealing with the insolvency of traders and non-traders, under which latter description they include that numerous class of persons who, whether traders whose debts are under 3001., or non-traders, avail themselves of the protection granted them by the Court of Bankruptcy by the Acts of 1842 and 1844, as it must be borne in mind that the object of the creditor in making his debtor bank rupt is the distribution of his estate among his creditorsuwly pAcrocnttits,retcttlioineft; effects. B t J a n) tir,elofifptn trailersst itcy. nsolvent he e o nen passing ; e os,oa t ,ls,u i \rie t ,nei tg o enl n ot ansaenfsrd,l the multitude ini i tnal s otfni nios o ttr n ;et odrc n eueeodl r ru. o e nrf l h i ft e rNit, f d, te a ,teea n is,sl d eeet chiefly with the other class. The effect of these two statutes u a e n s a t , i ct o tho n i appli cationsis t o bring frfrom intope persons s Bankruptcy hnsed eh cases ere nearly all of a petty and trivial nature, involving portahnecien;g,t individually-, i e v ff i t e i c u t a s of ll for trifling amounts, and without the slightest hope of a divi othrdeitnteahritlLsfehwei org n n o il 11 , divi dend. From their number alone they occupy a very u re t to h , g e t r wr e i inetiei being arnen, large portion of the time of the Commissioners, arid t no hin o avail amffih.arlcedi a s l a sts4 a ee s t s s ir e xt e ph e e s enys ; es n a fe n f d nothing therefore, to wholly borne by the creditors of the bankrupt traders. The petitions of these small debtors for protection might be dis posed of quite as efficiently for them in the Insolvent Court, and the Court of Bankruptcy reserved for bankruptcy cases alone. The accounts showed but a small balance in the hands of the Treasurer. THOMAS BARING, Esq., in moving the first resolution, stated that he could bring no arguments from practical ex perience to bear upon the question which they had met to discuss, for it was well knows that hankers and general merchants had not that every-day experience of the opera tion of the bankrupt and insolvent law which was obtained by those moving in a different sphere of commerce. They were not certainly free from the disagreeable misfortune -of bad debts, but the application of those bad debts did not come so frequently before them as those engaged in other branches of trade.—(Hear, hear.) He had stated this because—although he agreed with the sentiments contained in the report—he did not wish to pledge himself as to the course he should pursue with resoect to hose laws until he had had a further elucidation of their effect upon the public, and of the sentiments of the Legisla ture with respect to them. He was saved from entering at length into the whole bearings of the question by the very able and comprehensive letters which they had heard read from those whose experience and official position entitled their opinions to the greatest respect.—(Hear.) Although the banker and merchant had not so many opportunities of ob serving the effect of those laws as the general trader, yet he was, nevertheless, as deeply interested in the issue, for every thing which rendered one portion of the trade of the country unsafe must endanger the other that that question affected the merchantile classes more than they were inclined to believe. It was a mistaken notion to , believe that creditors had any wish to oppress their debtors; as justice could 'he obtained without imposing unnecessary hardships. He must say, however, that there was a morbid sensibility created in the minds of the public, for the hardship which occurred under the old system of imprisonment for debt, and it was right that such feelings should be generated, in order that distress might be alleviated; but that law most be bad, and an undue advantage to the debtor, arid did not protect the operate injuriously upon the whole community, whi c h gave honest creditor from injury and fraud.—(Hear.) The Le gislature, in his opinion, had been rather precipitate with respect to these laws, and the mercantile interests had not been sufficiently consulted with respect to their operation. He then instanced the case of New York, in which the law, which was similar to our own, was abolished about 20 years ago, but three or four years after an attempt was made to renew it, as it was found that the new enactments did not give the credi tor sufficient control over the property of the debtor; thus showing, that in every commercial country it was highly in cumbent that the creditor as well as the debtor should be protected. He had a perfect reliance in the opinions of those by whom the report was prepared, and a knowledge of his Honourable Friend the Chairman, and his Honourable Friend the Member for Lambeth (Mr. Hawes), who had taken charge of the Bill, and he was perfectly convinced of the necessity of commercial men tak ing the matter into their own hands, and with the aid of the learned profession, devising remedies for the existing laws. He, therefore, begged to move that this meeting approve of the report, that it be printed and circulated, and that the com mittee be empowered to take such measures as may be ex pedient to give practical effect to its recommendation, and also to raise subscriptions to defray the expenses incident thereon." Sir GEORGE LARPENT seconded the motion. He mid there was a general opinion amongst the mercantile ulfserr i(sr)Coemfo creditors" classes that these laws required alteration, and that they were willing to lend all their aid to further that object.— (Hear, hear.) It was very easy to be benevolent with other people's means, and to obtain a character for philaetrophy for relieving the imprisoned debtor, whilst the unfortunate creditor might be suffering in obscurity. He admitted that a different mode of legislation was necessary before the pre sent laws were passed, but the great and main ooject was not to give an unfair advantage to either party,but to obtain an equal distribution of the property of the debtor amongst his credit ors, and to compel them to give a guarantee for the payment of a portion of their future proceeds to their creditors before obtaining their final discharge. No little consideration was giyen to creditors who might perhaps suffer from the altera tion of tariffs, which might reduce the value of articles in which they had wisely speculated. They cught to give every party the facility of coming forward and to devote as much of his assets as possible to the benefit of his creditors, and protect him from the operation of vindictive or malicious feelings. These laws should take especial care that the honest debtor was dealt justly with, and that the dishonest debtor should be punished.—(Hear ' hear.) The language of the Learned Commissioners of Bankruptcy was even stronger than the language they had used. Mr. MITCHELL, M.P., expressed his entire concurrence in the opinions which had just been expressed by the previous speakers. He would state an instance within his own ex perience. He had in one case been offered a composition of 2s. in the pound, which he had refused, because he thought no honest man ought 'o offer so small a composition. He had caused the individual to be made a bankrupt, but the result was, that instead of obtaining any assets, he had had to pay 301. towards the expenses. He thought the law of debtor and creditor had not been sufficiently felt, and he conceived that the measure of Lord Brougham had been a crude, imperfect measure, worthy of its author. Tn his opinion the commercial greatness of this- country was owin to the good faith which was observed in its trading transactions. He had seen something of the trade of France, and the con sequence of the bad faith observed in that country led to a great,, restriction of the dealing there. He thought that every one who became insolvent was bound to show how he became so, and in all cases of fraud that a power of punisla ment should be placed in the hands of an impartial tribunal, and he should therefore with great pleasure propose the fol lowing resolution :—" That the laws affecting the relations of debtor and creditor are of vital importance to the well being of the mercantile community, and deserve the serious atten tion of the Legislature. That the present laws relating to bankruptcy and in , olvency in this country are unsatistsctery and injurious, neither protecting the estate of the really un - fortunste. debtor from wasteful costs and unnecessary delays nor affording prompt and efficient means of coercing the . reckless or fraudahnt trader, whereby a most mischievous influence is exercised over the commercial character of this country." Mr. B. HAWES, M.P., rose with great pleasure to second the resolution as proposed by his Hon. Friend, the Member for Bridport. When Lord Campbell, about ten years ago, brought his Bill into Parliament tO abolish arrest on mesne process, he had done him the honour to consult him on its details, and to place his name on the back of the Bill, and he could assure the meeting that it was never intended to de• prive the crediior of the power of punishing a fraudulent debtor. Let it rot be said that this was any attempt to return to the old system of imprisonment for debt, for it was nothing of the kind. But their objet was to remedy a great and acknowledged • evil. and that was to render the confidence between the several members of a trading community as certain as possible, for on what, in fact, was that confidence based ? Why on this fact—that whereVer credit was given, it was only, in truth, the transfer of capital from the hands of the proprietor to the hands of another for the advantage of both parties ; and were this confidence then broken down, there would be a great impediment imposed upon that interchange of commodities which was the very vitality of trade. At the close of the last session, a Bill had been brought into the House of Commons, with the consent of the Minister, not with any vies to carry it into a law, but with the intention to circulate it through the country, and obtain the opinion of mercantile men in different parts of the country, add he might say that in all the numerous communications which they had received they had met with no objection from practical men of any moment whatever. They had found the most ready co-operation, and among other individuals they had obtained the approbation of the Learned Solicitor- General whose high legal authority was so well known, and whose present high position gave additional weight to that authority, and though he could not commie that high func tionary to any part of the Bill, but still he might say that that gentleman had expressed his approval of the several provisions of the Bill. Now the object was to obtain the sanction of the Legislature and obtain a permanent Act, - and having these grounds to stand upon, he (Mr. Hawes) felt assured that if the Hon. Chairman and himself were empowered to carry the Bill into the House of Commons they would experience little, if any, opposition in that assembly. One of the chief objects of this Bill was to throw the onus probandi upon the party who ought always to have borne it —the debtor who failed to fulfil his engagements. It was well known that, as at present constituted, there was the ut most difficulty of reaching a case of fraud. There might be matter for suspicion nay, almost a certainty—that .the deepest villany had been committed, and yet there was no means whatever of arriving at the truth. For his own part, he would be one of the last individuals in the world to visit any man's misfortune with harshness, but he did feel that it had become necessary to take some active steps for the amendment of the bankruptcy and insolvency laws, and he should, therefore, readily second the resolution which had just been submitted to the meeting. The resolution was carried unanimously. Mr ELLIOTT, in proposing the third resolution, after some observations respecting the necessity of supporting the good faith of the trading community, asserted his opinion that, without an efficient bankruptcy law, the middle classes of the community must be destroyed. He had looked deeply into the matter, and it was his decided opinion that the injury imposed upon the solvent portion of the population by those who failed in their engagements was equal to the whole taxation of the country. Indeed, he was sure that this loss was not less than 50,0007., and if they failed to carry out this object, out of either carelessness or a f1iva.3.,,...t.L. tion for the feelings of the debtor, they would only have to carry their philanthropby another step further, and legalise the circulation of forged bills of exchange. With these i-npres _slownhs.hbeimu,T,gletaintigly n a r c o ce p p os t e t t h i e ip p r r e o s v ol i o si t o i n on s toefththeen Billieet intro duced into Parliament last session by Mr. Masterrnan, M.P., meeting and Mr. Hawes, M.P., as an important amendment of the present law, which it is desirable to obtain at once; but this meeting is aware of the necessity of further legislative provi sions affecting credit and its protection; and is of opinion that a Government Commission, composed of practical and experienced merchants and traders, to inquire into their pre sent condition and effects, would be attended with the most beneficial results." Mr. GROCOCK briefly eeconded the resolution, which was immediately . carried without any dissent. Mr. HAYWARD, in stating that the business of the meeting was drawing to a close, expressed his complete concurrence in the proceedings of the Committee. With great pleasure, therefore, he would propose "the thanks of the meeting to the gentleman who had so ably presided over them on the present occasion, and that John Masterman, Esq., and B. Hawes, Esq., M.P., be requested to introduce the Bill to the Legis lature, and take charge of it in the House of Commons." Mr. NICHOLSON seconded the resolution, which was unani mously adopted. Mr. MASTERMAN returned thanks; and, after several sub scriptions bad been handed in, towards defraying the necessary expenses, the meeting separated. THE WHITEH A YEN and FURNESS RAILWAY. The first half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of this Company was held at one o'clock yesterday, at the offices of the Company, No. 1, Guildhall Chamber* Lord Lonsdale in the chair. The seal of the Company having been affixed to the register of proprietors, The SECRETARY read the report, which stated that the directors had applied to Parliament for power to extend their through Furness to Ulverstone and Lancaster, which had been surveyed by Mr. George Stephenson, and was in their opinion superior to an opposition project, entitled the " Ulverstone, Furness, Lancaster, and Cerllsle Railway," which was laid before Parliament, and had been projected under the auspices of parties deeply interested in the Lancaster and Carisle Railway, but the di rectors I t ' h a e r ., l , ia c m a e a n td t would that give a inasmuch u it was the best adapted to t he wants of the district through which it was designed to pass ; that i t would facilitate a lar g e preference had the to thet utmost lt a c e local traffic, and form the connecting link of a great coast line, economical in construction and working expenses, and practicable.at all seasons of the year. They had abandoned the intention of carrying the line direct across Morecombe Bay, and had adopted a slightly cir cuitous route along the head of the Bay, in order to obviate the ob jections which might have been raised by the Admiralty against a direct line. Notwithstanding this, it would be more than eight miles shorter than the opposition line between Ulverstone and Lancaster, would have better curves and gradients, and would be constructed at mach less expense. 450,0001., the amount of the ca pital, would be amply sufficient for the construction of the extension line. An arrangement has been made with the Furness Railway Cons-. pany respecting that portion of the line between Dalton and Ulver stone, which will be mutually beneficial to both Companies. The directors had also applied for an Act to enable them to extend their original line from the terminus at Whitehaven to a junction with the Whitehaven and Maryport line. That Bill also con tained powers for a short deviation from the main line near Kirksanton. All the Parliamentary requisites with regard to the extension, had been complied with. Nearly the whole of ;he line was staked out, and a contract had been entered into for the construction of the line, some part of the line had been purehased, and they had reason to believe that in a very short time the cos:- tractor would be put into possession of sufficient length of land to enable him to commence actual operations. The accounts showed a balance of 4,9581. Bs. sd. In favour of the Company on the 31st of De cember, after paying engineering, surveying, and legal expenses, The CHAIRMAN said, as the report embraced every point of in teresteltwesild be unnecessary fOr Him to address them at any length. He was aware that there might be some disappointment felt at the slow progress of the works, but this was owing to peculiar circumstances, over which he had no con trol. They all knew that during the last autumn there was a great scarcity of •engineers and surveyors. It was true that they had appointed two gentlemen in whom they could place the utmost confidence, but they had been so much occupied in the extension line, as not to have been able to give all the attention to the original line which it required. All the plans and sections of the extension line had been prepared: He believed they were perfect, and that she Bill would pass through the Standing Orders' Committee ; and as it offered more advantages to the locality, they had ever:s hone that it would meet with the sanction of Parliament. ,It would facilitate communication with the west of Yorkshire, the north of England and Scotland, and reduce the distance betweErt the metro polis and BelfaSt. After a short discussion the report was adopted, and ordered to be circulated amongst the shareholders. A vote of thanks to the Chaim - lan and directors was passed, and Lord Lonsdale having retuned thanks, the meeting separated. • - BLA•CK WALL RAILWAY. ellng the The first half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of the Blackwell Extension Railway was held, at twelve o'clock on Ttt4sda.l - , at the London Tavern. A great number of proprietors were present. J. M. Darnell in the g as a m m a a t d h e l g s e P • e l nth ecsoemopfandoyn,s chair. pro T p h r :Ln ty lee o t f it a ig m w al , he fo ß r i t ae he k, p r u a r u p The report, which was read by the secretary, Mr. Kennel!, stated that the original design of the promoters of this Company wa4, that the line should form a part of the London and Blackwell Railway. In conformity with this design, the shares in the capital were allott,,l amongst the proprietors of the Blackwell Railway, by which meal is an union between the two Companies has already been establishc,% and it only remains to ratify that union in the wanner directed by the provisions of the Act of Parliament. The accounts showed a balance of 17,999/. 7s. 9d. A resolution assenting to the agreement, on the understanding that one share in the extension should represent three in the original line, was adopted. • The eighth half-yearly meeting of the directors and shareholders of the Blackwell Railway was then held, Mr. Darnell also prest ling. The report set forth that the result of the half-year enabled the directors to congratulate the shareholders on the prospects of the undertaking. The net profits of the past year had exceeded those of the previous year by upwards of 4,3001„ so that the dividend which they would declare would be Is. ltd. per share more than that for , merly declared. The passenger returns showed a falling off in num bers during the past half-year, but that falling off was almost con fined to the new traffic ; but there had been an increase in the re ceipts from the stations, or business traffic of the line. Annual and season tickets had been issued since the commencement of the year. Two Bills for railways were before Parliament ; one was the London and South Essex, and the other, the East and West India Dock and. Birmingham Junction Railway. The last, passing through the ."densely populated subu, bs, Camden-town, Islington, Holloway, and Hackney, is intended to join the Blackvvall Railway near the West India Dock station, and will thus give great facilities to the inhabi tants of those districts for communicating with the City and the river. The London and South Essex Railway i 3 intended to join the Blackwell Railway at Stepney, and there call be no doubt that a large additional traffic must by this' means be obtained. Inde pendently of the different populous localities ht the vicinity of the metropolis which would seek this channel of communication, this route between Gravesend and the City will be the shortest and most accessible, a steam ferry being established across the Thames at Tilbury; and the facility of communication, afforded by this line, will make Southend a favourite place of resort. They had agreed with the directors of the Eastern Counties Company that passengers n n i goods should he conveyed to their station at ,lio7e ditch. when the junctii D. with tom railway at Bow should take place. The directors, acting under the advice of 31r. Locke, had applied to Parliament fur power to widen the line from Stepney to Fenchurch street ; the shareholders would not be called upon to contribute the capital necessary for this purpose, unless the directors were satisfied that they could obtain such an increase of traffic as would amply remunerate the outlay. The revenue account exhibits a hala:ce available f,r distribution of 6,552/. Is. 3d., out of which the directors recommend the declaration of a dividend of Ys. Gd. per share, clear of income-tax, leaving 363/..105. to the credit of the present half= year. The net balance was 636/. 3s. 10d. The report, and a resolution assenting to the amalgamation with the Extension line, were agreed to. _ . The CHAIRMAN, in reply to a .humber of questions, stated that the directors had done all in their power to reduce the working expenses to the lowest rate; that the accounts had been carefully audited and that they were doing all in their power for the benefit of the shareholders. In his address he stated that, viewing the line as an isolated one, with a terminus close to Greenwich and Woolwich, they never could expect it to remunerate them for the large capital which they had expended ; and even the traffic from these places, on account of the cheap water conveyance, had greatly diminished, and its total withdrawal was threatener;. However, he anticipated great results from their june ion with the Eastern Counties, and for the extension of which they had sought the sanction of Parlia raent. The South Essex line would be most beneficial, inasmuch as k would bring a great amount of traffic on their line. After referring to other minor topics, he concluded by expressing his belief that their prospects were now more favourable than ever. • Several gentlemen having addra<sed the meeting, a dividend of 2s. 61L per share for the half-year was declared, and made payable on and after the sth day of March next. A vote of confidence and thanks to the directors for their exertions was carried, and after the transaction of some other business, the meeting separated. RAILWAY CONIMMEES. (I ESTEIt 'AY.) Sub-Committee No. 2. This. Committee met to-day shortly after twelve o'clock. There were present—Sir J. Y. Buller (Chairman), Mr. Tlramston, Mr. Walker, Mr. Elliot Yorke, Mr. Gibson Craig, and Mr. K, mb e. COVENTEY, NUNE ‘TON, mammalian, ANT) EICESTEM The hearing of the petitions against this Bill was resumed. Mr. Coates represented the promoters, and Mr. Thomas appeared on behalf of the petitioner, Mr. Charles Banbury. The first allegation was, that there was an inaccuracy in the datum line in the second furlong of the first mile. Mr. ltanford examined—The length of the datum line was eighty eight chains, and the inclination was one in 299. The Committee considered that in this case the standing, orders were complied with. There was an Cher allegation to the same effect, which was ad mitted by the agent for the promoters. The next allegation was, that the plan deposited in the Private Bill-office was not the same as that deposited in the office of the clerk of the peace in Warwick. This allegation was admitted likewise. - The next allegation was, that the book of reference deposited in the Private Bill-office did not contain the names of the owners in sections 41, 45, and 46 A, in the parish of Folshill. The Committee considered the allegation sustained. It was also alleged that notice had not been served on the owners of the property in tile sections Thomas Harris was examitleti, and proved that he had not been served: Other evidence to the same effect was given. The Committee were of opinion that the standing orders had not been complii d with in some of the cases adduced. One of the petitioners had revoked his consent to the petition, and a document was read by Mr. Coates which was dated the 1 ,th r. COATES contended that the ease in question was analogous to that decided in 111 r. Strutt's Committee. Mr. TuomAs contended that the revocation produced could not be taken. After some ffirther discussion, the Committee decided that a party petitioning was entitled to revoke his consent. Several other alleg ations were abandoned. It was alleged that on the third furlong of the seventeenth mile the embankment was not marked. The Committee found that the standing orders had not been com plied with in this case. • There were similar allegations with respect to the sixth furlong of the nineteenth mile, and the second inrlong of the twenty-second mile. which were net sustained. It was also allezed that the extreme depth of the cuttings in dif ferent points was Apt marked, which was abandoned, as well as several other similar allegations. There was ante her petition from George Wheeler, alleging that so much of the • plans and hook of reference as related to the parish of Aston-Plaubil, had not been deposited with the parish clerk. Mr. J. PAUKES supported tee petition. The parish clerk was called, and proved that the plans, &c., were deposited, but not till January last. The allegation was not sustained, as well as several others of the same nature. ..... The Committee found that the standing orders had not men corn. plied with by the Company. Engineer, Mr. Addison; Parliamentary agents, Messrs. Dysor and Co. ; solicitors, Messrs. Bridges and Mason. L7.lEn5 AND YORE• There were three petitions against this Bill, in support of which no one appeared. The formai evidence was then gone through, from which it ap peared that the estimate was 585,0001. " ' The Committee found that the standing orders had been complied with, with the exception of the certificate of registration. The Committee adjourned shortly after four o'clock till twelve o'clock on Friday, Sub-Committee N 0.3, (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) WITZEPOOM AND IEESTON, AND MAN. CLIESTEZ AND SOUZZPOILT. The petitioners in this case sought for power to maize a railway commencing at a point on the Liverpool and Bury Railway, near Liverpool, to the North Union Railway, near Preston, also another railway from Southport to Manchester, with various branches. The total estimated cost was 1,600,0001. The CHAIRMAN stated that in this, as in the case of another rail way (the Waveney Valley and great Yarmouth), alternate sections had been deposited, which caused great uncertainty and confusion to the persons who would be affected by the Bill. In the present case the irregularity complained of was in the plans and sections of one of the propoked branches. The Committee also took an objection to the non-service of a notice within the proper time. The omission had been caused in consequence of the notice being; ent to Newcastle-on-Tyne, whereas the party for whom It was intended was residing at New castle under-Lyne. In both these cases the Chairman decided that the standing orders had not been complied with. sHnEwsnumr, OSWESTRT, AND CHESTER 7LINCTION. The object sought by the promoter= of this Bill was the power to connruut a zatra _ Tha antimafaa cact was 208,000/. Standing orders complied with. SIIIMIITSBITIZY, 0 SIVES TM, AND (MESTER. JUNCTION I.IXTENSIONS AND DEVIA, . This case was precisely the same as the former one, with the ex• ception of the extension and deviation. Standing orders complied with. EAST LOTHIAN CENTRAL AND TYNE VALLEY. In consequence of an omission in the number of furlongs in one of the plans, The Committee deeided'that the standing orders were not com plied with. The Committee then adjourned, at five o'clock, till Friday next at the usual hour. Sub-Committee No. 6 This Committee re-as.embled at twelve o'clock. Present, Captain Jones (iu the chair), Mr. Forbes, Mr. Hope Johnstone, and Mr. Acland. GLASGOW, .11 1 AISTMY, Afi D GMEENOCIE, (POLLOC AND GOVAN BRANCHES), The object of this line is to construct a railway,, formitn4 a junction between the Paisley Railway and the Polloc and Govan branches, its length is very short, being no more than three furlongs. The estimate cost is 15,0001., and the amount subscribed 11,250/. The engineers are Mt ssrs. Locke and Errington ; the Parliamentary agent, G. 11. Lang, Esq. ; and the solicitor, John Turner, Esq. The standing orders were declared to have been complied t , ith. - SCOTT'S EL MIDLAND 317 CTION 1L0211.- WAY BRANCHES• The object of this Bill is the construction of various branch rail ways from the above-named line, near Kerremuir, to Dunkeld ; length about ten miles. From the main line near Co par Angus to Blairgowrie —length five miles; and from the main line nesr Forfar to Kerreinuir—length three miles. Total length,lB mites. Estimated cost, 2 0,009/. Amount sn'scribed, 210,0001. Engineers, Joseph Locke and J. E. Errington, Esqs.; Parliamentary. agent, Mr. G. H. solieitors,.Messrs : C. and J. Kerr, Dundee. Stlriding ordris compliea with. GX,1213 9 10,1XT, ICII.WEARNOCIC., AND .A.ZL- DMOESIIT.T. The route of this railway is from the Glasgow and Barrhead Rail way, near ICeilston, to theKilmarnock, Ardrossan, and Irvine Rail w iy. The length of the main line , and its branches is thirty-one miles, , the estimated cost 540,0001., and the amount subscribed 700,0001. Engineer, Neil Robson, Esq. ; Parliamentary agent, J. 11. I:ang, Esq.; and the solicitors, Messrs. Campbell and Tenneuts, Glasgow. Standing orders were declared to he complied with. scol MESH Mannalavn JUNCTION (SOUTH INCH 011 PERTH snANcH). The route of this line is from the Scottish Midland Junction Rail way to the general terminus on the smith side, of Perth. The length about half a mile The cost teas included in the estimated cost of the old line. Parliamentary agent, J. H. Lang, Esq. ; engineers, Messrs. Locke and Errington ; solicitors, Messrs. C. and J. Kerr. The stanhing orders were declared to be complied with. LYNN AND ELY, AND ELY AND HUN TINGDON, AND LYZI:Eir AND DEILEIIIAsEd AMA G.A.11113.- TX 0 . Mr. ELLICOMBE, the Parliamentary agent, stated these Compa nies nad not a,reed to amalgamate by the time that notice should have been given of the Bill. The standing orders were, therefore, declared not, tp be, com plied with. . . IVIANCIIESTEE. AND M.' ZEDS EXTENSION. The object of this Bill is filo extension - of stations and branches to. Middleton and Baena ; and also the formation of two coal lines. otal length, seventeen miles, estimated cost 400,0001. Amount subscribed, 300,0001. Engineer, John Hawkshaw, Esq. ; •Parlia-• uientary agents, Messrs. Ellizombe and Co. - ; solicitors, Messrs. Dar bighlre and Lewis, Manchester. • • • , An objection was raised that the datum , line on one of the coal lines was not written, but drawn, and referred to a fixed point by figures. The Committee decided that they Would report that the standing orders had been complied with, except" as regarded the above objection. - GX.611300174", PAXSZET, AND GILEEDTOC= BRANCII). The route of this line is from Greenock to the river Clyde, east, parish.of Greenock. Its length is one futiOng, and the estimated cost 25,0001., which includes the construction of .a pier. Amount sub scribed, 18 0751. 'Engineers, Messrs. Locke and Errington, Paisley; agent, J. H. Lang, Esq. ; solicitor, JameS 'turner, Esq. Standing orders complied with. The Committee then adjourned until to-morrow (Thursday) at twelve o'clock. Committee-Room No. 12. ZEILLAANEIr 7UNCTION. The Committee on this line assembled at twelve o'clock. The Members present were Mr. Home Drummond (Chairman), Mr. Compton, and Mr. J. O'Connell. Messrs. Burke and Kemp, Parliamentary agents, appeared on be half ettliis line, and Mr. Murrell, en;:ineer, opposed it. Before the petition was read, the agents for the line contended that, in compliance with the standing order,. the petition could not be received, inasmuch as that order made it necessary that the party pe titioning should be a party interested in the line, and that Mr. Murrell was not interested, he being merely the engineer to a competing line, Mr. Murrell's agent contended he had a right to be heard on the grounds that the public ought to know the bona fides of the line. The Co - nmittee, after a short consultation, postponed their decision until twelve o'clock to-morrow. We ascertained that the chief objection set forth in the petition is, that in proving the service of notices, widows were not so designated. 71r../17/MRICIE, ENNIO, AND Itrzamaxam. The engineer to this line proved that there was no tunnelling or viaducts neces , ary ; and Messrs. Murphy and Gaffers, solicitors, proved compliance with the necessary regulations. A petition against the line was withdrawn, and The Committee declared that the standin; orders were complied with. DONIZETTI.—This eminent comp“ser left Paris Trio week in a deplorable stage of health. He wanted to proceed to Vienna, where he is expected, and fancied ne was repairing to Aui tria whilst his p; ysiciau was conducting him to Nice. Here he will sojourn sometime, and next be taken to Pisa. M. Donizetti is in a very sad state of mind, but which, though depriving the patient of the free exercise of thought and will, at least permits of his receiving nvalical assistance, wider he would perhaps rej, et if he enjoyed the whole faculties of his intelligence. Hitherto his friends had been unable to make him t some months of indispensable repose, and spend his winter in the mild climate of Italy, Gifted whit prodigious activity, and abusing Lie f rtility of his imagination, Donizetti was at the same time emploYed on fetir grand oi , eras for Vienna, Madrid, the Italian Opera of ParLi, and the London theatre, Drury-lane. Ills heal h has given,way ura' -- exertions, and his reason has sunk under the efforts of genii we hope, with all'his friends and admirers, that Donizetti lost to the musical world. The blow that has struck him is parable. Enlightened care, rest, and the influence of a cli ., ate, aided by a powerlhl orgarlization will remove the I visitation his physical and mental forCes have sustained ; shall behold the revival of that brl liant mind, that fertile tion, and those vigorous and bright talents, which have reached the middle of their 'careirr, and still promise, and, will still yield more than one chef d'oeuvre.—Paris print of Si 5, atill LUC ‘ ins. a t d ro e a rt beneficialssi Bir tt er e , c l t.t Esq . , late On the 12th inst., at Laversto , ill not be stoke notice, Hants, aged 91. n _ , _ . ,,..0, St. J t ° . W n : e .,. _,.,.. • ,l • , 0 o o , l e . .111:altslott,hia,itie,set.., pitliCt'in:ivnevitlit.:sl:4,. ,f,..,,E.ye..gti:,tivee.00.01.:„..•":0f ii.:r.,,,iii;.401 t ,It I ''' , ll ,44, t t (4, ll 4 :::y,;: a riir Y ci, St Swan,ea, mouth V% ales, .... - .01* ,°- " • tile ~1)1 1' li kr % it kk kft2 l e p and we , r po t , ,t, /o w I , ),,?:q r4 i ll iiki t , iinaina. London : Printed and Publighd bi Z l O 0 2, :-. 1 !:',, 0 rd 0 4 ,, , t t t :+t. i . t Y li k„, 4 , l L'vs , se ,re S rand, P inter, at The SUA Oftluee,:kicticeses, P. , i . tl Y 44 e1 IY eo i r t r , q4 we trust, of the Savoy, la the Connty f I"' ittoday. 19, 184(. k4lN klik4rrk44,,thortb_ll sk sk x.t e , t.:_.,,,,,,,, • It 4 ,-1,1,,,, • 1 1 4 1 ,_441, . ' • - , ~:-.4- i - ' :". ~.0 . , :--„, • .., , i* -•., . . ....,- •• .: ---,....---- • --, ~ e ;._,.- r--;-•-:'- " -- .Z, --- - - WESTMINSTER ELECTION. STATE OF THE POLL• (Continued from our Afternoo❑ Edition yesterday.) THREE O'CLOCK. EV.ktiS... .. 3,85 5 ...... ,635 ROUS CLO' , E OF TILE POLL. -FOUR O'CLOCE. EVANS ... 3,70 3 ROUS 765 MAJORITY TOR► EVANS ••• • Evaes, the ,uceess'ul emendate. appear. it on: the bt u , r e , l . to.,l.4:stit; 7,anssilLEd.-ei rtkienutv,itnnetiavriTrutnlioefafiinsailr rie)sLeti.o,s,,,,-v ing ; but the vast multitude which !pal been at.elai tilting, as the time of decision thew on, and ldra, have numbered less than 10.000, waited with a e'l l tience for his arrival. Mr. Jf M. O'Coanamr., M.P., in the ineantitre;e4; dressed the crowd by way, as he said, of ke , Ping tc quiet till the General came; and this he f elt binnalfe ia snore fit to do as he had kis-ed - the blaroey , ell . Ireland: (We were quite unable to hear the Hn. "' tiercan's address ) General Sir DE LACYEVANS arrived on,,,,tl:egrhetelte.itC,,;:alb: Covent-garden at about five o'clock, and immense cheering. When this had subsided, he t''' ° s o was extremely sorry that they had been detained t..e,40, long, which was entirely owing to an accident. if,' knew that he was under tho orders o f the gettlo, committee. The committee desired that he sh",,iere dress the people from the front of the central eei n l bite room, and when he had done so, they th en ordere. that to go home.—(Laughter.) . He was extremely err l eo he had complied with their orders, but a Mend h . '", 110 after, him and brought him there.—(LaughEeri to: was, he said, extremely gratified—he was delight° Jet he had r -turned ameng.t them again, for he , '''', l l , l ,,rtle i result that those political feelings still lived an" ~ter in their bosoms, and 'would lead them on to He er 1 . 01 4 -ictories in the cause of liberty.—(Cheers.) I le t i t l e ' they. were aware that the official returns wee "4 1 1 made, but they had reason to expect that the are ith e , which had declared in favour of the best inter girt h city of Weetminster, and of the cause of th e P e '? this country, would• not be 'less than 8 0 ° .-- •: cheering.) He thought, that taking considerable attempt had been made to take li''''''%-t lb,' prise, the result would teach them a lesson fis:-'oll' occasion when they might have the opportunity a t!..,, / 0 party; they would not then confine the'r tn , li' r e ol , 800; they would douhle that number.- - (L '''`" ` a nd ll into 'woad/tout His honourable epponent yesterday told tlien3, r.Ol (Sir De Lacy Evans) wss amused at it, that ''''' - t r i l l 0' that election woutd he a great moral Jess e " ° fr! lf‘',, people at large. lie (Sir D. Lac) Evans) ve i s o ut that there was one pint, thontrh they disatr iee ,,,, ` gr, f others, the' yet there was en, whieh theY w e ' - , , r.t,'d upon. Ye, it would b., a 'nor .1 lesson to th e , ° , 0; respecting ,the character and conduct of r.h . :„` , A .- eenerally.—(Ctieers.) He had not much rein' . ' . ' ,. ' r,,,,, " him of the strength of life, but whatever iw,F., ° ,.'t. , r e , he would spend for them in a continued en'''',,' atlij found faithful to the trust which they had irnr„oll,, him. 'With these few and brief ex prcssione 1010', conclude by telling them that they would Ini re e ia„ there again to-morrow, at, he thought t e elve °,-, ‘.7 1 ) (A voice, " Two o'clock." Mr. J. NI. O'Conntl 'ete, twelve o'. lock, and ' ou'll be quite sure," ~L e, u l ;o,.l ` o In the mi antime he beeged a Ain to then" t ' e y ~ ,Pj the high and honourable distigtection which h 'i e v . ,' conferred upon him ; the more honou e e v ' the ir t' f ' L lto; it was not his first eh ction, for now pressed their confidence in - him for tig be e and their judgment on his past conduct ~..L fd eo° congratulated them on the victory w hich he n t : i be their exertions.—(Great cheering.) He 5 ,, 5 ',';f if. reminded of one thing, and he was file “,. if they had at that mement upon the thr 4 " t re r , .country a sovereign—a Queen—(Cheer s) " ° : &Vet perhaps, in all the relations of private life, ° 30 1' generous and patriotic in public feeling---s he ° ln. " 11 trader. He proposed three cheers for the V i be ti was responded with three hearty rounds frets mass which crowded the square. The meeting then separated. ---- 1 0 0. THE INVERNESS it— ~, t b INVERNESS, FEB. 11.—Peace may now be sal ".",.10t ., , lished. There were no potatoes to-day in the ta,,% e e c.„4 1. cargo has been shipped while no obstruction he ": 0 0 , , , , , When down at the pier only two censtables we re n - f tte d .'', ground; but we afterwards saw that merobe rs „ - gre, e 'o,' were stationed at convenient intervals alon4 r''L e tilanii; thatin case of an attempt at rising by to rrro" 0' alarm might be conveyed, as by telegraph, to the a d too where the whole constabulary were in attendance'. .P een .:ti Castle, where the military were also kept in rea if , there was not a symptom of movement, and t P" i . went on without molestation. tt e tl 4 4, 5 to ,I All the prisoners taken are yet in custodP,_ lag •„ l i , , will necessarily be high, and as the prisoners n e „ .- co Lo humblest grades of society, very likely fc'r eau the ''lll' this privilege till the time of trial. ProbablYthe o ,o' Advocate will not indict the whole, but selec t _ to ice od persons, to make them an example to their fella ( nc ict The evidence of the rest may be necessary to e - e , o ut, ,! associates. h et). e'' Ths test of the feelings of the people has now ',bog ~ the result is on the side of peace. Yesterday' o° , r er °,,' be said, as there was nothirg ta call torth the a,it t bu . :, populace. To-day the event, which always brag", its ", in hostile opposition, recurred without pvidn cip t riat il l e . ;il end o7 : 7liiQo u lZtr an petted to be under hatchespro7gtiir, The aua wg eb v e i ti i l s e t d iio it is hoped with truth , i .gce: o cleared out immediately, as too dangerous to ~ iv vi , neighbourhood. The next communication PrA'„, I ' l vey intelligence that peace is establisheJ, the --,',' ''''' away, and that an eventful period is ended in !'",'' Inverness. Already everything bids fair for order, t— order, and the final suppression of its enemies. ___..... _ 1 ----,„,- STATE OF ,- TRAD f . ' ri l ' , fullY `F7 MANCHESTER, JAN. 17.--This mar k et apt! i , pates in the flatness and absence of der° 9 7,l - ce P .i e , Vail at the present time in all the princirttie bs e ' i oe' commerce throughout the coutyry. very I o p, i i , has been done during t' - e last three or fou r va rtie v il" in yarn or goods ; but, though some fe w ,',,ers l ',,ot f . ; submitted to lower rates, prices are, in `010 4 ` . ., r f ably well maintnined ; the pine rs and ' 11 0 . i " ,00cd evidently believing that the p,culiar cir c i a ro uo i .f.cting- the money market will not be °' 0 1 " continuance. d 11 11l I ' e r ROCHDALE, FEB. 16.—We have bad a 1: 11° ,fill to pay ; a very limited gentility of flanronol sold at last week's prices The wool mark uh r gone no change sine LEEDS, FEB. 17.—At the percent ju nc ,„ e as 1 , 1 `4A affairs, it can hardly he expected Ora h ° ....iluof,ficio sal should resume anything like activity °` 0 40 ftt) our markets do n , , t offer an exc .ption; 0001100,0111 quiet. with steady price. Th, latest l' e ti - i cl, e t ( e itr A i` America are considered more satisfa,ctoryl : 0 16,, v with the anticipations of a telling ma jori , i. l it O r I t r the Ministerial measure, infuse a better - co risl d il trading community. be en ,t: t; HUDDERSFIELD, FEB 17.—There ha s - i n " "''' rable demand for goods adapted for the ; ] shpt- ( e r s l ",l4l . but there is a great scarcity of this q uo vi diPi, manufacturers being deterred from P r° a ra n c her tthtil the present corn debate is settled. 1'a.,,,i1i of the approaching wool sales is kno t ' s ' / Guardian. of,e ACCIDENT ° cc ON "---"---------"-- - THR GREAT wEsTr o I l t i rf /P : 0 ;: i , i V •• On :Monday morning an accident of a serious natlljcpilijilior4, Great Western Railway, between Box and 3 11 " ret i ; ~, vi ri ,,,i which the lives of several persons were endangeth t to 0 " tP,P moored that one person was killed. It tv.:Pea rs . ge i vri ' ic ) leaving Bath had an open truck, containing A -vitl ,, 01 , 101$ attached to the train ; and when between BoX an u c i fl e' pe r pet the tire of one of the leading wheels of the trd o ilooll t oi..; czuscd such an oscillation, that either through fltiotb,ttl!'„'eed out, or were thrown from the truck by the 0 ' sty n o l'',e.d engine -driver nor the guards were cognizant of, ti ,,,, ,, z 0 . pi t ? entering the tunnel, the echo of the streams ° L c , file t , t tl' o ' t , 0 00 alarmed the engine driver, who instantly stell' e sv ete „ tl' e i , piing back it was discovered that nine person' tp tOi v iek PA' i f ' seriously injured that it was considered necessarYijoec'Deill9 hospital at Bath, and one of them, it is said, 1 0 ' , H ellr o ..11, 1 ,0„ , " stoppage the mail.wa3 nearly three-quarters of a 1. 0,, J.; V ii 7 Another detention took place the same day t( 9 t l '„`"oll yr t; 4 1,1 1 V, but, fortunately, unattemied with serious con' e " c orli t it ! Orr was propelled by the Proserpfne engine, which , % s So., or 4 ,1),V lingford-road and 'Reading. broke one of its crall io o, t i :',0 0 . ;,, 0 0 0 was totally disabled. On striving at Reading !!'' re olifi„' 11'0' 'train happening to be there, its engine the (the ne s , ( o , lo , 0 , 1 ahead of tile Proserpine, and conveyed it t°,, i ldr g 1 ,4 r ? .1 " s' , station the disabled engine took the train to . ittl 9 1 1 , ti arrived nearly an hour behind time. c„ turd 9 Y 40 1 - le dte"A thenNOTHERN LIGHTI4OusEs —On 0 , . -- r 0 0 c - i of reeeipts and payments on account 0 , ..,4 p .or o ti rla t 0 1/ 11 1 1 for the northern lighthouses for the yea r f a 1 ° 1 3 l i Parliament, was printed. The receipts b poce to te, 46,632/. 6s. 5d.,. to which was aided 3 ,, T e o 2 9 V (.. 0 32,904/. 6s. 4d., making 79,5361. 1- 3. balan ce - -' inents were 40,0251. 16s. 3d., leaving 3 16s. 6d. _........-..........--m---- 0 , f a e BIRTHS. ~,,, ilia .„0 1- , On the 15th of December last.-at Calcutta, '‘'; 500' o f the 1- Esq., of the Bengal Medical Establishment, ° ,' l ii, law o ff , On the 14th , inst., at liumington, Sutolk, ' i let ii Miller, of a daughter. .On the 15th inst., at Aldbolough Lodge , t ie" Yo1" 011111 ; ' 1 1/le , T. Woodd, Esq., of a daughter. Live o, 059040 On the lf , th inst., at St. James's-terrace, - , o, Bourne, Esq., of Heathfield of a daughter . tits 1017 On the 16th inst., at the'Terrace, ratneY , ' .bn" . Ce 4 Middbrfon, Esq.,.of a son. ~ ,,,re, .„ ' ~..quan- s s. lir' _,• On the 17th inst., in Baker-street, F O4 " ~,otl, of a son. On the 17th list, at it. George's terrace, g el ' Sit4. cie u4 9 :4 li• 14S P is of a sett. On the 13th inst., at Herne -bay, the wife of V. 4 , 1" . A i of a daughter. ~,. of ° el' ,14 4 7, On the 13th inst., Mrs. Thomas purn-;' el e itt di , 6 asiN Wandsworth . road, of a daughter. gantSt On the 13th {DM, at .Chatxton House , ~ J oel , ' Knight, jun., Esq.', of a son. ' On the 1t th inst., at Lavender -hill, the ...' ~,,dy 0+ 0 1 4" 'd I. sq., of a son. , 0., t oil . . NAV-WED. dr,i, O, ; t tie. • 4 ,, Anderson the 9th of December last, at the athe . sop lea , cy , C.kl., t3engal Artillery, to•Emner.c s. . A .otiri o l•el e daughter of the late 'l'. t'. Plowden, F:sd., Our the 12th 'inst., at the uarisli Archer, 4th Drageon Guards, to e.... — ' e e , to';10 ''' 0 , bWetellbalD, Esq., of Somerford, Cliest i r w • yer se s!r tue 1 ou e Oa th., 12th inst.. at :-.t. Gecege's, 114 aug eter cd a l, O f ° Y e e Blunt, to Charlotte Mary, second daug hter .cle ,4 ' •cl, t lit' Daniell, Esq., of Little lierkhaim.tead. . ..,, A . 31 ~,,,lalt.A., ~, Oa the 12th inst., Lieu, enant.Colouel v , : s e w ;jot, .v Antrim Deputy Quart er-31aster ~ J. Case to 1) 0 111‘Gih'own , , youngest dangi tUr ot the L. 6 , 1• , , , ,,.5 011 ' , more, Antrim. Filatt ° ', 0 Nu t De At Bunton, Kent, Thomas liuncoMb_ere, ve cto CO P Mary, daughter of the Rev. Robert 1,1° " ..„„„elinedDe'stl,ati.;l'...te:ret,r,l4o,,,,, In6A5 911;1 Dir: /) 0 ThOrgas s . 15 eli. r i' On the 6th inst., in London, Cenn.,,ed 7 9, . 0 ,,, oo f ~,,,, r,,, late of to r'A ajt,sty's 50th Reg.at pt , : . . 3 l : iry , s c . , a t , 0 4te On the 1 , th inst., at Ashurst, 1.!-,1,1:,0),,,,,, w t,, 000. On the 15th inst.. at Hastiogs It , Infa nt Farley, Rector of Ducklhe.ton, Oa the 16th lust., lit New Millti n of J ,:ide•• of l ' ill' I K. Garland. Esq. 1-lutchinien, 0 ...op, ilii; On the Ith list., Rach,.l ..,•,. port ' x' - '1.4, rte late of t tigh!alry•park, RP II ".,,iniain " ,rstolce, i , 'S -Nce— ONLf tt;tshire, the ..n ,O 'tit—street,: Jo,. J. Matey, If, ! ,,, E: E R Is R , A LE L R, PANy, IntoLoad° " 40,1 "' MEETING to, the COM PAls Act o pe 24th istal Parliamentn t, °tdend for the Intlf- Lond ou WILLIAM I..„Rtrl 13 trldtleed 1 LEATH ER itpp4ILITY), in e , 1 4to Beneral satisf Nta s ' T S, &e., ° INntee wireadth easy on e 'No• 130 s. * rt t A i tp ,!outr: ‘ e lei de : Dt!Et OR] : STORY , , 62, -.1 be w „„ 1(14 e. !tad ( iver or suit, ?2rerti the al l s t i n vEPPE 144. 8. andzlers-stre, 44e ; G 1113 ;e7a .e .l tk'tioll,tirinoUrvards of s rtntg ti __stoek of F Itt.k of R'l ea 3t Ca Itt ) 0 I nn quot l ,lV-lall3 tai h :est iprice, t of prices w at w ALL sE phSll--re To TI Lll, •e , qll, t h at ui Z. l turou 1,4t4341244 Scree! , Est 238 W. with inferior l 4 40 irllesne(l ; 4 279, lligA n CHI tir e , ar e d 8 ecld P. 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