The Sun. — London, England, 1846-12-17 00:00:00

FRENCH AND BELGIAN RAIL WAYS. The following are interesting extracts from the ap pendix to the report from the select committee on Rail way Acts Enactments just issued, pursuant to order of the House of Commons ; they are quoted from the " Abstracts of the Regulations of the French and Belgian Railways :" FRENCH RAILWAYS. ABSTRACT OF REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL RAIL WAYS, OF WHICH THE ACTS ARE TO DATE FROJI OR AFTER THE 15TH XULY, 1845. No person or persons to be eligible to compete for the grant of any railroad unless previously approved of by the Minister of Public Works. Unless he shall have deposited, With the Accountant-General Us la caisse des d6pOts et consignations) the sum specified in the terms and con ditions annexed to the Act (Cahier des Charges) : With the Minister of Commerce two copies of the pro posed statutes of the company : With the Minister of Public Works the counterpart registers of the scrip issued. The deposit receipts cot transferable. Subscribers to be liable for one-half the full amount of their shares. Each subscriber entitled to demand from the company all the shares assigned to him in the register deposited with the - Minister of Public Works. These conditions to be printed on the deposit receipts. The projectors te be entitled to the refunding of the actual preliminary expenses only ; such expenses, duty vouched for, to be allowed at a general meeting of the shareholders after the concession has been obtained and confirmed by royal orlinance. The remuneration to the directors for their services to be fixed by a general meeting of the shareholders. All publication of the price of the shares before the final confirmation of the grant, to be punished by a fine of not less than 201., not more than 1201. Any broker who shall have been instrumental in ne gotiating the sale of bankers' receipts or promises of shares bfore the final concession, to be punished by a flee of the like amount. Unless when specially authorised by the Government, the company is prohibited (under certain penalties, ac cording to clause 419 of the penal code), from making, in favour of any carrier or carriers, arrangements, from the benefit of which other carriers are excluded. The works being of public utility, the company is clothed with the same powers and privileges as the Board of Public Works, in regard to the materials required fur the construction and maintenance of the line ; and the compensation is to be determined by agreement or ar bitration, as in the case of public works undertaken by the State. The company to be subject to the controul and super intendence of the authorities, in all that concerns the maintenance and repairs of the railway, and generally all arrangements affecting the safety and convenience of the public. Power given to the Government to provide (if need be) for the repair and maintenance of the works ; the expense to be defrayed by tile company, and reco vered by summary process. The expenses of superintendence to be defrayed by the company. If works not commenced within the time specified in the Act, the caution money to be forfeited. (In the case of the Great Northern of France, amounting to 160,0001.) The amount of land-tax to be determined according to the area of land occupied by the works of the railway ; the quota to be calculated in the same manner as for canals, according to the previsions of the law of 25th April, 1543. The buildings and war. houses belonging to the railway to be rated in the same manner as similar property in the district. The Government duty on the passenger traffic to be calculated on that proportion only of the total charge which is described as the carrying charge. All bye-laws of the company to be submitted for ap preval by the Government. The locomotives to be constructed on the best models; to consume their smoke; to be constructed in conformity with the Government regulations. The passenger carriages to be of the best construction: to be hung on springs; to be provided with seats. Three classes of carriages at least. First class to be covered, stuffed, and glazed ; second class to be covered, glazed, and to have the seats stuffed ; third class to be covered, and to close with side curtains. The goods and cattle waggons to be of approved con struction. Maximum duration of the concession fixed by the Acts. (The railway from Paris to the Belgian frontier limited to 41 years.) Government to fix the maximum and the minimum speed of the passenger and goods trains. Unless special e xe mption be given by the Government (which exemption may at any time be revoked), every passenger train is to comprise a sufficient number of car riages of each class for the accommodation of persons coming to the station, Should the company deem it proper at any time to charge either for the entire distance, or for portions of the line, fares and tolls less than those authorised by the Act, those fares and tolls cannot be raised before an in terval of three months at the least for passengers, and of One year at the least for goods. One month's previous notice shall be given by adver tisement of the proposed alteration in the charges; such charges to be confirmed by the authority of Government. Wln n a reduction is made on the fares, it is to be apportioned pro rata, on the tolls and the carrying charges. Weight of luggage allowed to each passenger without extra charge : 6Glbs. Avoirdupois (30 Kilogrammes.) The company bound to forward goods within two days from the date of delivery at the station. If consent be given by the consigner for longer delay, the charge to be less than that authorised by the Act, and according to a scale approved by the Government. Soldiers and sailors travelling singly on the public service, or on furlough, to pay half fares ; military or naval men travelling in bodies to pay quarter fares. If the Government have occasion to send to any point on the line troops, military and naval stores and mate riel, the company to place at its disposal all its carrying stock and plant at half charges. The Government engineers, and other Government officers on duty on the railway to travel free. The same privilege to belong to the collectors of rates, and the customs and excise agents, engaged on duty on the railway. All the service of the Post-office to be performed free of charge by the ordinary trains. The company to pro vide in every train a partition specially devoted to the use of the Post-office ; the size and form of the partition to be fixed by Government. Special trains may, more over, be demanded by the Government at such times as it may direct. The carriages required by the Post-office authorities, for special trains, to be constructed and kept in repair at the expense of the Government. The charges for these special trains not to exceed I per mile for one carriage ; for every additional carriage 31d. per mile extra. These charges subject to be revised every five years, and settled by arbitration ; but in no case to exceed the above rates. The company bound to convey, when required, by every ordinary train, the waggons and carriages required for the conveyance of prisoners. These waggons and carriages to be constructed at the public expense, but their conveyance to be free. The Government officers, police, and prisoners travelling in such carriages and waggons to pay half third-class fare. Power to Government to construct an electric telegraph. At any time after the lapse of fifteen years from the date of the opening of the line, Government may pur chase the railway on the following conditions, viz.:— To determine the nett revenue from the railway for the seven years next preceding the date of the purchase, and to take the average nett revenue of the five most pro ductive years out of the seven. This average to constitute tho amount of an annuity payable to the company for the remainder of the term of the grant. In no case this annuity to be less than the nett revenue of the last year preceding the purchase. At the end of the term of the concession the com pany to surrender the railway in good repair, under cer tain conditions more minutely specified ; the Govern ment then to succeed to all rights and privileges of the company in respect of the line, and the works attached thereto. Any subsequent grant authorising the construction of roads, canals, or railways, in the same or neighbouring districts of country, not to entitle company to a plea for compensation. To allow of an easy comparison of the rates authorised by the Act previously analysed, with the English rates, it is necessary to add to the rates already given ten per cent. allowed to be charged, in addition, for the Govern ment duty, this ten per cent being calculated (clause 38) not upon the total charge authorised to be raised, but upon the carrying charge only. Police Regulations applicable to all Public Railways, and having reference to the safety of Passengers and others on Railways. Punishments in various degrees, up to pain of death, for wilful damage or destruction of the railway, or im peding of the transit. Further regulations relating to wilful impediments, or threats of impediments. Whosoever shall, either by imprudence, inattention, awkwardness, negligence, or non-observance of the laws and regulati ons , h ave ( no t wilfully) caused an accident followed by wounds, or bruises, shall be punished by im prisonment, not less than eight days, nor more than six months, and fine not less than 5f., nor more than I,ooof. Engine drivers or conductors regulating the breaks who shall have left their posts during the progress of a train shall be punished by imprisonment, not less than six months, nor more than two years. Historical review of the two systems of constituting rail way companies in France; viz., by direct grant, or by grant by tender. Although the introduction of the railway system in France is comparatively recent, enough has been done to admit of a comparison of the practical working of the two systems, that of directs grants, and that of grants by tender. C ONSIDERATIONS BEARING ON THE COMPARATIVE COST OF WORKING RAILWAYS IN FRANCE AND ENGLAND. The French ra il ways are su bj ect to several special charges heavier than they are in England. For example, th e G overnmen t inspection on the Paris and Rouen line, defrayed by the company, amounted to (207,526 francs) 8,300/. The coke is more expensive in France. The system of ch arge f or t h e passengers ' luggage, and generally this branch of the traffic requires a greater numbe r of hands in F rance, for its greater complexity. goods' traffic, a large proportion of the cost of delivery, loading and unloading, which in France is wholly. performed at the expense Of the company, is borne in England by the carriers who pertorm the work. , These observation s are made with a view to explain the greater ratio which the working expenses bear to the mett receipts in France than in England. An important element that must materially influence From Antwerp to Ghent, conceded to De Ridder and Co.. 30 Entre Sambre and Meuse, conceded to Parry, Richards, and Co.. 57 2 3 Louvain and Gentappe, conceded to Sherman - and Co 34 1-3 Namur and Liege, conceded to Spittiswood and Co 43 2 3 Mons and Manage, conceded to ditto Dendre Valley, conceded to Sir Richard Jen kins, Sir John M'Taggart and Co 37 West Flanders, conceded to Parry, Richards, and Co 37 Tournay and Jurbise, conceded to Mackenzie, Barry, and Co 30 Landen - and Hassent, conceded to ditto Charleroy to Erquelines, conceded to Neville and Co l7 Manage to Erquelines, conceded to Oppenh e i m and Co l4l _ _ There are 118 new demands for concessions, upon none of which the Belgian Chambers have yet decided. TARIFF OF TOLLS FIXED BY THE GOVERNMENT. PASSENGERS. Pence per mile. First Class—On the State railways 1.22 Conceded lines P29 The Entre Sambre and Meuse alone, on account of the small passenger train Second Class—On the State lines 0 .933 Conceded lines The Entre Sambre and Meuse line Third Class—On the State lines Conceded lines 0.644 The Entre Sambre and Meuse o'Bos LUGGAGE. On the State lines - - 0 , 183 per cwt. Conceded lines The proportion of receipts in 18 44 has been— For passengers and luggage For light and heavy goods 37'66 per cent } 41'5 Carriages, horses, cattle ... 3'84 The mileage has been in 1844 Passengers trains Goods trains The receipts have been -1843. 1844. From passengers Ist class 24 p'cent...lst class 26 p'cent. 2d class 37 " ...2d class 36 " 17 3d class 39 " ...3d class 38 " The increase noticeable on the proportion of receipts for Ist class in 11144 is due to the mean distance travelled over baying increased. The passengers' fares have not varied in 1844 from what they were in 1843; they have been : d. First class... 39 centimes per 5 kilog 1.3 per mile. Second class 29 " Third class 119 " . 6 IP The goods fares have not varied materially in 1843 and 1844. In 1844 the nett revenue from the Belgian State rail ways has been 3 . 89, or nearly 4 par cent. on the capital expended, besides giving to the public gratuitous accom modation, valued at about 10,0001. per annum, for the gratuitous carriage of the mails, and the conveyance of materials required for several lines of railway free of charge. .. _ The State lines have further saved the Treasury con siderable sums in the conveyance of troops and prisoners carried at lower rates than other passengers. aalf these sever a l it em s be taken into consideration, it will be found that the nett annual profits on the State railways in 1844 exceeded four per cent. per annum on the capital. In addition to the services above enumerated, the State railway carries, free of charge, tho goods of all emigrants proceeding to embark in a Belgian port, to encourage the emigrants to use the Belgian ports. And to encourage the export of native produce, a drawback . of 50 per cen t. on t h e carry i ng charge fixed by the tariff . ' is r em it te d on the carriage of all Belgian produce on its way to a Belgian port, and consigned to a Belgian colony. And when the numb er o f emigrants amounts to 30 per train, 30 per cent. is deducted from the usual third class fares. The goods traffic, which was scarcely thought of a few years since, has increased more rapidly in compari• son than that of passengers ; it is principally to the carriage of heavy goods that the increase in the revenue is due. The revenue has exceeded the estimates in th 4 bud get by 25,200/. The object to be attained in fixing the Belgio-Rhenish tariff, is to attract to Belgium. and especially to Antwerp, the transit of German produce, which can only happen when the charges by railway from Antwerp to Cologne shall have been reduced to a level with or even below the charges on water carriage by the Rhine from Cologne to Rotterdam. But to accomplish this it is also essential that no Custom House regulations intervene, to prevent this development of this trade by railway. The railway charges are now in most cases below, or at most, equal to the charges for water carriage. It is to the extension, says the Ministry, of the goods traffic, that the State must look for any new increase in the nett profits of the railway system. It having been found impossible to reduce considerably the charges on goods unless the waggons were fully loaded, it was necessary to subdivide the trade into that of heavy and light goods. The heavy goods to be car ried in full loads by trains specially suited to the purpose; the light goods (or parcels) to be carried in waggons forming part of the usual passengers trains. The Return of Numbers of Passengers, Expenditure, and - THE SUN, _LONDON, THURSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 17, 1846. this proportion is the lower scale of charges in France, producing for the same number of passengers or weight of goods conveyed a smaller gross return. BELGIAN RAILWAYS. Belgium is the only country which at once traced a general network of railways. In 1833, Malines being taken as a central point. lines were projected to extend east, west, north, and south; and this plan has since been pursued under all the disadvantages of political an d commercial difficulties, with a perseverance deserving of all praise. The guiding principle of the Government in designing the first railways was to make the Belgian lines the great means of transit from the Rhine to the sea. Hence the choice of Malines as a central point. But the arrangement was purely artificial, and Brussels practi cally remains the principal point from whence all the trains start, Malines being of no more importance than an ordinary station. The Belgian Government lines now completed consist of 539 kilometres, divided into sections, as follows: Kilometres. 1. The Northern Line. From Brussels to Malines and Malines to Antwerp, with two branches . 49 2. The Western Lines—Mslines to Termonde, Termonde to Ghent, Ghent to Bruges, Bruges to Ostend, Ghent to Courtray, Courtray to Tormeny and the frontier 200 3. Eastern Lines—Malines to Louvain, Lou vain to Tirlemont, Tirlemont to Waremme, Waremme to Ans, Ans to Liege, Liege to Check, ChenC , e to the frontier, Landen to St. Trond 4. Southern Line—BrusselstoTubise,Tubise to Soignies, Soignies to Mons, Mons to the frontier, Brain-fe•Compte to Naun 'The above network commenced on the sth of May ; 1835, and was completed in October, 1843. It consists of 235 kilometres of double way. 324 single way. Makin.. a total of 559 kilometres. _ The gauge of all the lines is 1 metre 50 = 4 feet S - inches. The space between tho double line is 2 metres _.--=--_-. 6 feet. The weight of the rails is 50Ibs. English to the yard. Kils. Miles. Francs. 235 = 145 of double line, cost 59,161,724 = 2,366,469 324 „ 202 of single line, cost 89,406,969 „ 3,578,679 559 „ 3t7 118,628,693 „ 5,945,144 The capital necessary for the construction of these lines was raised as follows : Effective Nominal Capital. Capital. June 18, 1836 ; Loan at 4 per cent. 24,524,164 f. • • 26,886,439 f. May 25, 1838 ; Loan at 3 per cent. 32,267,236 —45,857,439 June 26, 1840; Loan at 5 per cent. 69,472,643 ..73,857,947 June 29, 1842 ; Loan at 5 per cent. 24,000,000 • .23,484,487 150,264,063 f. 169,816,312 f. The mean rata of interest being 4 . 86 per cent. per annum. The average cost of the whole series of 550 kilo metres, or 347 miles, was 265,883 francs per kilometre, or 17,132/. per mile, which is thus divided . per mile. Frr.ncs. 4 Land and compensation • .• • . Earthwork, bridges, tunticls, &c. •• 111.227 „ „ 7,163 Permanent way ........... ..... .. „ 48,857 „ ~ 3,146 Stations and buildings Working stock ••. •• • • Miscellaneous expensts•• •• •• •••• • • .• 8,403 ~,,550 263,883 17,132 The actual.has exceeded the estimated cost by 128 per cent. The land required (estimated to cost 17,000,000 f.) cost actually 54,000,000 millions. The buildings, esti mated at 3,000,000, cost 9,000,000. The earthwork cost also three times its estimated cost. The permanent way, estimated with 3.51b5. rails to cost 24,000,000, cost actu ally 34,000,000, with rails of 501bs. per yard. The above lines have all been constructed by the Go vernment, and are worked entirely by the State. They constitute the only lines in operation in Belgium, with the exception cf short irregular lines in the coal districts of Mons and Charleroi for conveying coals from the pits to the canals, and a short single line of railway for local traffic from St. Nicholas to Antwerp. Eleven lines of railway have been conceded to private companies, none of which are yet opened to traffic. The concessions are for terms of years, and, with slight modifications, embrace conditions very much re sembling those adopted by the French Government. On the expiring of the term of the grant, the Govern ment shall immediately become possessed of all the rights of the grantees. The shares shall not be quoted, either on the exchange of Antwerp or that of Brussels, until after the entire completion of the railway. The following is a list of eleven lines of railway which have been conceded to private companies. The term of the grant is ninety years from the date of the entire opening. The Tournay and Gurbise, and Landen and Hasselt lines only, are to be constructed by the company, but the Government will work them, paying to the com pany 50 per cent. of the gross annual receipts for ninety years. Miles. Revenue, for the year ending the 21st of December, 1845, are as follows: Passengers, first class 397,808 Ditto, second class Ditto, third class 9 ,074,796 Soldiers, &c 27,612 Total passengers 3,470,678 producing £255,732 Luggage, 11,041,782 kilog = 10,867 tons, 17 cwt. 3 qrs., producing Parcels, 241, 661 single packages, at 60 cen times each. 45,061,340 41,354 tons, 14 cwt. 1 qr. large parcels Goods of all classes, 645,501,654 kilog. 16,861 220,311 635,336 tons 5 cwt. 2 qrs. Specie, 32,848 parcels of money Carriages, 3,552 in number I Horses, 2,499 do. Oxen and cows, 7,597 do. Sheep and pigs. 30,005 do. .1 3,224 496,128 The working expenses, detailed as under, for 1843, amounted to 48; per cent. of gross re ceipts Nett profits for 1845 £255,691 YicMing an interest on an expenditure of 148,628,693 f., or 5,945,148 i, at;the rate of 4 1-3 per cent. per annum. The gross receipts for 1845 present an augmentation over those of 1844, of 1,154,0561. 46,1621., notwith standing which, the produco of canal traffic in Belgium for 1545 also exceeds that for 1844 by 473,6401. 18,9451. The working expencrs for the year 1844 amounted to 51 2-10ths of the gross receipts ; and for 1843, to 61 9-10ths of ditto. The working expenses are thus divided : Administration, superior officers, clerks, print. ing-office expenses, and petty charges Maintenance of road, workmen's wages, and works executed, renewal of rails, chairs, and sleepers Locomotive engines, wages, coals, oil, &c., tools, and materials, repairs of engines and carriages Carrying expenses, guards, porters, clerks, in spectors, delivering goods in towns, &c. Money department, clerks at ticket-office, and goods warehouses, rent of stations, light ing, &c. 63.165 116,480 38,060 8,252 Total as above £240,473 The working stock at the end of 1845 consisted of 149 locomotive engines, of which 106 Belgian, 42 Eng lish, 1 American, 145 tenders, 654 passengers' carriages, 2,150 goods waggons, 394 trucks, for the service of the lines ; and there were in construction 1 passenger car riage of eighty-four places, on an American model, and on eight wheels ; 118 passenger carriages ; 4 Post-office ditto ; 375 goods waggons, various kinds. The total mileage travelled was 1,702,332 miles, of which 56 per cent. was for passengers' trains, and 44 per cent. was for goods trains, For the last five years the consumption of coke has been— Kilogs. per League. 1840 96 1841 1842 first five months S last seven months 66 58 1 1 8 8 4 4 4 3 The saving effected in the last three years is due prin cipally to the arrangement by which a bonus is allowed to the ecgine drivers and foremen of locomotive stations, in proportion to the reduction effected in the consumption of coke. By an order of the Ist of January, 1843, the engine drivers are to receive a bonus of 24d. for every 73ilbs. of coke (23 centimes per hectolitre of 35 kilog.) saved upon the gross quantity allowed for consumption, by the Mi nister of Public Works. This regulation quickly showed its expediency in the result: for the consumption, which in the first five months of 1842 was 891bs. per mile, fell in the last seven months to 67 1-101bs. per mile. By an order of the 6th of May, 1844, foreman of sta tions, charged with the management of locomotives, are to receive a bonus equal to a fourth of that bef re granted to the engine drivers, in proportion to the saving of fuel allowed for their respective stations. Under these two regulations, the consumption of coke has fallen to its present amount, the lowest expenditure yet obtained, 411bs. per mile (49 kilog. per league). The saving in the quantity of coke in 1844, as com pared with 1843, represents a value of 4,127/. per annum. The total amount of bonus paid to engine drivers and foremen of stations in 1844 was 1,1151. per annum.: The greatest saving in the consumption of coke results from the before cited regulations ; but a part of the saving is attributable to the improvements made in the locomotive engines. As a reward for his efforts to that end, a bonus of 6001. has been granted to the chief engineer of the loco motive department. By the adoption of a system of contract by public l i tender, the annual saving upon the local cartage and delivery of the goods carried by the State Railway has been 1,560/. Power is given by law to the Government and to the contractors to give up the contracts, upon giving three months' notice. In examining the returns for passenger traffic at each of the various stations on the State lines, the number of travellers and the classes they occupy appear so un equally divided, that it is evident there exist many secondary causes to influence railway travelling, and in crease or diminish the receipts under similar circum stances but in different localities ; seeming to indicate that by a proper a dj us t ment o f th tariff of rates the revenue would be increased, and without materially aug menting the working expenses. It will obviously re quire much research to discover the invariable law that should govern the fixation of the fares of the three classes. It is, however, evident that they ought not to be calculated from one invariable basis for all parts of a country, traversed by long lines of railway. Thus the first-class passengers at the Belgian stations on the Prussian and French frontiers, and at Ostend and Ant werp, (the English frontiers), were respectively 16, 14, 17, and 15 per cent. of the total number of passengers from those stations, while the general average on all the lines, as has been already shown, was scarcely 10 per cent. ; and moreover, the receipts from these passengers were still more increased by the luggage that these tra vellers carry with them, which for one cwt. (and a foreign traveller would certainly bring that quantity of luggage), is charged 37} per cent., or 3-Bths of the amount he pays for second class fares; whereas the third class passengers at the first intermediate stations from Ostend and from Ghent (Hansbeke and Plaschendall) were actually 904 and 914 per cent. of all the passengers at those stations. The fares to and from the vicinities of great towns should, for second and third classes, be very low, because country people, whose business brings them habitually to towns once or twice a week to fairs or markets, would feel more severely the cost of conveyance occurring regularly, than those who travel for enjoyment. The influence of the seasons also should be taken account of in fixing the fares, and especially the greater or less agglomerated population in a particular district; a thinly populated province traversed by a railway will not sup ply a local or intermediate traffic in proportion to the number of inhabitants, as a densely crowded agricultural or manufacturing province, even at the same fares, for their industry and activity naturally leads them to travel from village to village, if the cost is but little. As to the extent of railway accommodation in various countries, and applying a proportionate standard to each, it appears that England, in the year 1843, had by no means a disproportionate extent of railways measured by its population. Taking the population of Great Britain as having been then 27 millions, of Belgium at 4,250,000, of France at 34i millions, and of the United States at 17,069,453, it is found that in 1843 there were: In Great Britain, 2,236 miles of railway opened, or 83 miles per million inhabitants. In Belgium, 347 miles of railway opened, or 83 miles per million inhabitants. In France, 1,087 miles of railway opened, or 31 miles per million inhabitants. In the United States, 6,326 miles of railway:opened. or 530 miles per million inhabitants. Thus Great Britain and Belgium are relatively in the same position with regard to extent of railways. As to the number of passengers transported in the year 1842 in England, on 1,430 miles of the principal railways, there were 13,705,000 passengers carried, or 9,600 per mile ; while in Belginm in 1845, on 347 miles of rail way, there were 3,470,678 passengers carried, or 10,002 per mile. The fares in England, as compared with those in Bel gium, must provide for the great outlay ; for the heavy parliamentary and legal expenses, to cover the interest of which there must be, of course, greater profits ; and also for the Government passenger duty, the taxes, and parochial and county rates ; from all of which, in Bel gium, the lines conceded to private companies are spe cially exempt by a clause in the :law authorising them. The difference, however, is less than is generally sup posed. Taking, for ins . ance, the ordinary mixed train from London to Dover, a distance of 88 miles, stopping at the intermediate stations, and performing the distance in four hours 15 minutes. ... s. d. First class fare from London-bridge to Dover 15 0 Deduct five per cent. for passenger duty, and four per cent. rate; and taxes Sum received by company Comparing this with the railway from Ostend to Brussels, a distance of 89 miles, performed, with stoppages, in five hours, and applying the fares as before given of the Bel gian conceded lines, of Id. 29-100ths per mile per pas senger, first class, we have:— s. d. First class fare from Ostend to Brussels 9 6 Add, lcwt. of lugga ge , a t 483 -I,oooth s o f a p e nny per mile 3 7 Total l3 Which is a very close approximation to the Dover fare. It is to be observed that the Government fare from Ostend to Brussels is somewhat less than the above; be cause the fares are rather lower on the State lines than on the conceded lines, and because also, on this particular railway, as well as on that to Liege from Brussels, the actual distance is diminished in estimating the fares by 10 kilometres, to compensate for the unnecessary. in crease of distance incurred over the ordinary coach road, by passing by Malines. LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY, HALF-PAST ' FOUR, P.M. -- The Acadia has not yet arrived. Telegraphic commu nication's from Holyhead to noon, report a moderate gale from the eastward, and from this cause the steamer's arrival may probably be delayed. Should she have left Boston on the Ist, she is now out 14 days. NOVEL IMPORTATION. The Miner, a Swedish vessel, which arrived at this port last week, as part of her cargo, had a case of skulls. and they were passed by the Custom's authorities as " One case containing human skulls, being specimens illustrative (3.' natural tittury : value 101." As " special " they are free of duty Hull Paper. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Dec. 16. VOLLANS V. FLETCHER. — LIKIIILITY OF DIRECTORS TO PAY CASH DEPOSITS. In this case Mr. Martin and Mr. Hoggins appeared for the plaintiff. Mr. Crowder (with whom was Mr. Ball) appeared for the defendant. The plaintiff in this case was an attorney, carrying on business at Hull ; the defendant was a director of the Birmingham, West Bromwich, and Walsall Railway. The plaintiff, it appeared, had made application to the secretary of this company, for an allotment of 30 shares. Subsequently 10 shares were allotted to him, the deposit upon which was 211., which sum was paid by the plaintiff into the Hull Banking Company, on account of the com pany. The number of shares of which the company consisted was 10,000, all of which were allotted, and of this number 4,840 had been paid upon. The surveys of the line in question were completed, and were deposited ; but the deposit of 10 per cent, with the Accountant-Ge neral of the Court of Chancery, never took place, and in consequence the scheme was necesarily abandoned. It was not proposed to go on with it in the ensuing session, although the company still remained in existence. The plaintiff had never received any scrip in exchange for the bankers' receipt for the deposits. In the month of February the directors of the Company resolved upon returning the sum of 7s. 61 to each of the shareh o ld ers w h o h a d paid up the deposit of 21. 2s. The plaintiff now brought his action to recover back the full amount of his deposits, upon the ground that it was paid for a particular object, viz., to make the depcsit in compliance with the standing orders of the House of Commons. The LORD CHIEF BARON, at the conclusion of the plaintiff's case, said, that in his opinion the plaintiff was entitled to recover the sum of 191. 15s. or nothing. The directors had power to reserve 2s. 6d. per share for pre liminary expenses, but they had no legal right to reserve any more. They ought not to have applied money paid for the specific object of depositing with the Home of Commons for any other purpose whatever. Mr. CROWDER, on the part of the defendant, con tended that the agreement on the part of the plaintiff was not binding, on account of its not being stamped, and that the company were perfectly ready to deliver scrip, which the plaintiff refused to take. The LORD CHIEF BARON said this case differed most materially from the cases of Nockels v. Crossly, and Walstab v. Spottiswood ; in those cases the directors refused to issue scrip. The defendants in this action were ready and willing to deliver scrip, and had cer tainly some ground for complaint of the conduct of the plaintiff in refusing to take the scrip; his conduct might in all probability have tended to endanger the interests of the company by preventing other persons from taking up their shares also. After some discussion, it was finally arranged that the plaintiff should be nxisuited, with liberty to move to enter the verdict for She sum of 21/., or 19/. 155., should the Court be of opinion that the plaintiff was en titled to recover either of those sums. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, Dec. 16. CRIM. CON.—ROBSON V. RUDING. This was an action brought by the plaintiff, a Lieu tenant in the 3d Buffs, against a gentleman residing in Bishopsgate-street, London, to recover damages for the seduction of his wife. Mr. Sergeant Talfourd, Mr. Sergeant Wilkins, and Mr. Bovil appeared for the plaintiff; Sir F. Thcsiger and Mr. Sergeant Channel for the defendant. Mr. Sergeant TALFOURD opened the case, going over the particulars he intended to prove in evidence. He said the plaintiff was a young gentleman, an officer in the 3d Duffs Regiment of Foot, and the defendant a merchant in the city of Lendon, residing at Salvador House, Bishopsgate-street ; and the action was brought to recover damages for the seduction of the wife of the former. The intimacy between the defendant and the plaintiff's wife commenced in 1841, when the plaintiff was called away to India The Learned Gentleman then went on to explain several circumstances at which the alleged criminal intercourse had been consummated. The result was a miscarriage, and a train of events through which the plaintiff became aware of the injury that had been inflicted on him. The Learned Gentleman co nc l u d e d by rea di ng a correspondence which had taken place between the plaintiff and his wife, while the former was in India, exhibiting a gradual decadence of the tone of affection in the wife's letters until the final rupture which had led to the present action. The Learned Gentleman then proceeded to call his witnesses. Mr. Theobald, clerk to Mr. Barrel, the plaintiff's at torney, produced an entry from the registry of Stoke Newington, of the marriage of plaintiff and his wife. George Shadbolt examined—l am a merchant in St. Martin's-lane, City. I know the plaintiff, Mr. Robson, well. He is a son of Major Robson. I saw Mrs. Robson shortly before the marriage, at the time the marriage settlement was made. I was one of the trustees under the settlement. The settlement was made on the 10th of October, 1837, and a few days before the marriage. I did not see them together after the marriage before Lieut. Robson went to India. I saw the latter after he returned from India. In 1841 the other trustee re. turned, and I then invested 1,6001., belonging to Miss Middleton (now Mrs. Robson), in the Three per Cents. She held the property in her own right. This was on account of being sole trustee, and it was invested in my name. Cross-examined—Plaintiff had, at the time of the settlement, no property to arrange. The settlement was of Miss Middleton property alone, and it was secured to herself after the marriage. Richard Sargent said—l was the solicitor employed to prepare the marriage settl em e n t o f M r . an d M r s. R o b son . I produce the settlement, also another subsequently executed, in 1838, securing to Mrs. Robson a certain amount of propert) there set forth, which in the interim had accrued to her. Cross-examined—Was acquainted with the plaintiff's aunt, a miliner in Maddox-street. I was paid some time arter by Mr. Freshfield, solicitor to Colvil and Co. I did not know why it was he paid me. Alexander Dawson proved the investment of various sums in the names of the trustees of Mr:. Robson, and sundry payments made out of the fund. Miss Ellen Shadbolt—Miss Middleton had been living previously with her aunt, Mrs. Kearney. After the marriage the young couple lived for a short time at Mrs. Kearney's. I visited them several times there, and they appeared to be very much attached to each other. Ido not know where they resided after leaving Mrs. Kearney's, though I saw them on visits after that time, and they still seemed much attached. Cross-examined by Sir F. THESIGER--I did not know Miss Middleton before the marriage, though I had seen her once or twice. Lieut.-Colonel Thomas Dobbin, formerly of the 19th Regiment, examined—l knew the father of Miss Mid dleton well, and also knew the plaintiff. I also have been acquainted with Miss Middleton. Before rand after the marriage I was confidentially consulted by both parties in all their affairs. They appeared after the marriage very happy, and much attached to each other. After the plaintiff procured an ensigncy, and went to India, Mrs. Robson still consulted me on all her pecu niary affairs. I was consulted on the purchase of a lieu tenancy for the plaintiff. It cost 270/., and was paid out of a moiety of Mrs. Robson's property, which was coming to the plaintiff, the arrangement being that one half of the property should be secured to each. I re collect calling, on the sth of March last year, on Mr. and Mrs. Robson, at Middleton-square. This was after the plaintiff had returned from India. I called by appoint ment. Mrs. Robson was living there at the time, but I do not know where Lieutenant Robson was staying. I was not aware before that visit that there were any differences ; but I learned there was on a second visit. Cross-examined—l have been well acquainted with the plaintiff since a child. He was, I believe, the ille gitimate son of Major Robson. Ido not know whether Mrs. Robson was illegitimate. I visited Mrs. Robson first at lodgings belonging to Mr. Dimewell, and subsequently in Edgeware-road. Th ese visits were during the absence of the plaintiff in India. I did note see Mrs. Green, the landlady of the house in Edgeware-road, at the times I called there. The first time I called at Middleton-square, after the return of the plaintiff, I did not learn of any dispute between them, but she afterwards complained of personal violence from the plaintiff, of his throwing her down and abusing her. I heard also a statement from the plaintiff accusing his wife. I tried to reconcile them, but failed in my attempts. She refused all reconciliation, and though urgently re quested by the plaintiff to go with him to Chichester, she would not. She bad been accused of having a child, and that under such an aspersion it was impossible she could again live with him. Re-examined—The plaintiff denied in toto the allega tion of violence. Colonel McDonald, examined, said—l have known the father of Mr. Robson for twenty years ; I also know the plaintiff, and have seen him and his wife together on several occasions, but cannot speak as to anything be tween them. During the plaintiff's absence in India I called twice on Mrs. Robson, at the house in Edgeware road. I called there as a friend of both the plaintiff's father and himself. Harriet Kearney said I am the sister of the late Major Robson. Major Robson died in 1836. He married Miss Patten, the aunt of Mb s Middleton. I was present at the marriage of the plaintiff and his wife. She was then living with h er aunt, the widow of Major Robson. The Missl lo latte rbso:: Middleton had d n l al v o p na 3. rtt l hm r e s Qr. there, She s i Cox, n Rh Regent-street, e i s n no g t -vsi m tsri a et e r e r dt i , since.e ma d ned o ucas es ido tn M oasl r el y s e . at Stoke Newington. I knew some time before the mar riage of their engagement—l think about August. The marriage took place in October. Just before the mar riage Miss Middleton came to my house, and she lived there after the marriage. I think they lodged with me till the following January. They seemed very devoted to each other. After that they went to live at Mr. Time we ll' s, in Edgeware-road. I often saw them there, and th ey seemed greatly attached to each other. They had a dispute with Mr. Titusewell, and removed to another lodging in that neighbourhood, from which they subsequently removed to my sister's, in Maddox-street. In November, 1833, M rs . R o b son h a d a child, to which she became m uc h attached, as did also the plaintiff. I saw them from ti me to time down to his joining the regi ment, and they st i ll seemed very much attached to eac h other. On p art i ng with her husband at Chatham, s h e showed much feeling, an d a dd resse d a letter to me, in which she expr essed herself in that manner. The letter w as put in and read. Witness, in cont i nuation--I expected she wou ld h ave remained with m e d uring her husband ' s a b sence , but she left. At any time she might have had a home at my house. I knew she went to lodge at Mrs. Greene's, in the Edgeware-road, and she remained there, as she stated, because they treated her kindly. She, some time after went to another lodging. I did not see any thing more of her till my nephew's return in March, 1845. In the m eant i me Mrs. Ro b son h a d been t o Italy and return e d. My nephew wen t to lodg e a t Hampstead, and sh e e as lodssine. in Islington. Abetthis time she esh_d 0 , m ., out sne could not be pre vailed on to com e i n . She said s h e m i g ht be s e en at t, Middleton-square. I su b seqUent l Y called on her with my nephew, and had tea there. Her conduct on that oc casion was very strange, as after tea she said to the plain tiff, "Are you not going to Hampstead, sir?" He seemed much distressed at this, and left the house along with me. I saw her at Hampstead shortly afterwards, and her husband was there. Her manner there also was quite changed towards the plaintiff. After that her husband went to join his regiment at Chichester, and he wished her much to go with him, but she refused. I was not present at any time, either at Middleton-square or Hampstead, when letters from the plaintiff were foiled. Cross-examined—Knew that some time prior to the marriage Miss Middleton clandestinely left Mrs. Robson, end came to live with me. I admit also that Mrs. Robson came to me about three weeks before the marriage, inquiring for Miss Middleton, and that I said I did not know anything about her. She was at the time under my roof, and said that the banns of marriage were ordered to be proclaimed. I never at any time commu nicated with Mrs. Robson about the marriage of her ward with the plaintiff. I received after the marriage a sum of money for the board and lodging of the plaintiff and his wife, but I cannot say whether the board for Miss Middleton prior to the marriage was included. I recollect, in settling the property of Miss Middleton before marriage, that it was agreed she should live with me, and that I should be allowed 801. a year for board. Both plaintiff and Miss Middleton were under age at the time of the marriage. Captain Blair, of the 31 Buffs, examined—At the time the plaintiff joined the regiment it was in India. He joined it the latter end of 1839, as ensign. The regiment was not on active service at the time, nor till some time after, though it had orders from time to time to be ready. In 1842 the regiment was en • gaged in Sinde, and was present at Ferezeshah. It was not possible, during this time, the re giment being in the upper provinces, for an ensign er lieutenant to save much out of his pay. I know this as a married man. In 1840 I recollect the plaintiff ob taining leave of absence to go to Calcutta, in expectation of his wife coming out. The distance is one thousand miles, and is considered a three months' journey. He rejoined the regiment at Karnaul, and continued with it till it was ordered home. Mary Ann Green examined—My husband is Thomas W. Green, a rope and matting warehouseman, in Fen church-street, and resides at 'Michael-square, Hackney road. We formerly lived at 10, Portman place, Edge ware-road. Mrs. Robson, the plaintiff's wife, came to live with us in 1839. Her husband came with her, and arranged to pay 501. a year. Mr. Robson left in about six weeks. I and my husband eccompanied them to Chatham on the embarkation of the plaintiff to India. Their parting was very affectionate. Mrs. Robson con tinued with me up till June 1840. While residing with me her child died, while she was on a visit at Roeharnp ton. It was buried from our house in February, 1840. She was, during the time she lived with me, visited by a family named Allan, also by a Mrs. Boldon, from Pad dington. She livea at first a very retired life. On leav ing us she went to lodge with Mrs. Kearney. During ell this time Mr. Ruding never visited. Mrs. Robson came back to lodge with us in January, 1841, and took the first floor, consisting of a sitting. room ar.d bed room, communicating by a single door. She partially boarded with us. Shortly after her return Mr. Ruding began to visit her. His visits commenced, I think, in April. He visited about twice a week, and generally in the evening. He often took tea with her, and Inever knew the hour that he left. We usually retired to rest about 11 o'clock, and I never knew him leave before. The room we occupied as a parlour was below Mrs. Robson's bed room. I cannot recollect having heard the footsteps of two persons in the bed-room at the same time. The ser vant, Smith, generally opened the door for the defend and showed him up stairs. I do not recollect haying remonstrated with Mrs. Robson in the presence of the defendant. I had a letter from Mr. Ruding's solicitor, but I have had no interview with any one on his account. I have seen the person who called himself Mr. Ruding a great many times at my house, perhaps a hundred times in all. I recollect Mrs. Rob son being very ill one night in 1841. A pair of addi tional sheets were ordered that night. Emma Smith, the servant, ordered them. Prior to that I had noticed a great increase in the size of Mrs. Robson, but I did not, however, make any ob servation to Mrs. Robson about it. A nurse was called in. Some time before this a surgeon, named Mr. Rugg, had attended her, but on the present occasion Mr. Pearl, Lisson-grove, was called in. He was sent for at two o'clock in the morning. The gentleman named Reding called next day. So I was told by the servant. Shortly after this illness Mrs. Robson had a fainting tit ; the defendant had just come in, and he assisted me, with the servant, in undressing her and getting her to bed. He called her by the name of Marian at the time. After she was put to bed I and the servant went out and left him there. I remarked at the time, to the servant, in de fendant's hearing, that " I did not consider him a proper person to attend a married lady, and that I wits a more fit person to do so." He made no answer. Shortly after he went out, and returned with some medicine for her. He visited her after during her ill ness. She kept her bed for about nine days, and he visited her in her sleeping apartment. On other occa sions, when Mrs. Robson was well, I have seen him from the garden standing at her bed-room window, I have seen him often there. Once subsequently to the illness Mr. Ruding invited me to accompany him, with Mrs. Robson, to the theatre, but I refused. Mr. Rudiug continued his visits till the latter end of 1841, when Mrs. Robson left. About a year after this, when Mrs. Robson had gone to Italy, we received a letter from Mr. Ruding about a portrait that was in their poeaession, and wishing it to be forwarded. I know the handwriting of Mr. Ruding, and have a note from him in my pocket) it is an answer about an application made fcr a situation to my nephew. The postcript in answer to the first letter was addressed to Mr. Meeting, Salvador House, Bishopsgate-street, and the letter of application, to which the second letter is an answer, was also addressed in the same way. My servant cannot read, but I have seen letters lying on Mrs. Robson's table addressed to Mr. Ruding. I have afterwards seen those letters in the hand of my servant, she having brought them from the drawing-room to the parlour, in order to be posted. They were in Mrs. Rob son's hand-writing. Emma Smith, the servant, proved the posting the letters. Cross.examined—l believe that on several occasions Mrs. Robson gave lessons in music. I was also told that Mr. Ruding was very fond of music. I never knew Mrs. Robson to be very short of money, though I knew that she sold an outfit she had purchased to go out to India. I do not recollect Mr. read or Mr. Wilkinson visiting. Mrs. Green re•examined—l have heard Mr. Ruding speak about the Buffs, and state that Mr. Robson was expected home in March in the year following Mrs. Robson's illness. I often heard Mr. Ruding speak about the five baths he had in Nottingham-place. Mr. Ruding represented himself to be Mrs. Robson's friend and benefactor, and had nursed her when a child. The case, it is expected, will occupy the Court all ,his day (Thursday). SECONDARIES' COURT, Dec. 16. JONES V. BEULIENIER. The plaintiff in this case, is a cabinet-maker, in Duke street, Aldgate, and the defendant is a tradesman resid ing in the same place. The action was brought to recover the amount of goods sold and delivered. Mr. Thomas appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Wilde for the defence. The facts were these :—ln May, 1845, defendant or dered furniture to a considerable amount, which was delivered. A dispute arose, however, about some chairs, and, eventually, they were delivered fifteen months after wards. The chairs were tmdered on a Sunday morn ing, and refused. The goods previously delivered were paid for at the time, the question for the jury was, whether defendant had by his own act caused any delay. Several witnesses were called, those for the plaintiff making out the plaintiff's case " beyond all doubt (as Mr. Wilde said), unless defendant's witnesses beat them."—(Laughter. Defendant's - witnesses swore in support of his case, but the jury found for the plaintiff for the amount claimed, 44 Hs. SHERIFFS' COURT, Des. 16. A notice was posted this day at the Sheriff's Court, Red Lion-square, that the Court will not sit on Thurs day next, but the cases not tried that day, will be tried on Saturdaay at 10 o'clock, the Court sitting by adjourn ment. There is the unusually long list of 35 cases already exhibited. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. OLD COURT. fifty additional yes terday morning, there were the names of for this prisoners, making the total number committed session a hundred and fifty-six. dealer, residing in Abraham de Freeze, a generalfor receiving a large In the second edition of the " Calendar,''issued the value of 464, the quantity of silver-plated goods, hi rm ingham agent, know property of Mr. S. Atkins, Goodman's-fields, ing it to be stolen. llantine were retained for the Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Ba defended the prisoner. Ir. Bodkin prosecution, and A - owner of the stolen property, stated Mr. S. Atkins, the the 26th September, two persons came that on Saturday, - purchased 0 o f whom the extent of 461., under the pretence of was indicted fur being about to openassistant to Mr. Atkins, stated that he took S. Tagg, the place to which they were ordered to be the to goods Miller, the person who had brought them on sent by d He was accompanied by the son of Mr. At to his warehouse, ono a shop. kins, and his orders were not to deliver the goods t p h l i a s t plated r g a o n o d . s , t o without the money. When he arrived at the p l ace , ho found it to be an empty shop, which Miller soon after entered, and was joined almost imme diately by another person, named Scott. By one of these he was induced to go to a public-house in the neighbourhood, leaving young Atkins in the shop with the other, and in care of the property. Hi s compan i on soon left him, and not returning his suspicions was ex cited, and on going to the shop he found the other man gone away, and the goods missing. Miller and Scott had since confessed to the robbery. R. Davis, a policeman, having learned to whom the goods were sold, went to Mr. De Freeze's shop, and inquired whether he had bought any plated articles ? He said that he had, on the 29th September, and had given 481. for them. That was three days after the goods were 1 stolen. J. Pike said that he bought the goods of the prisoner for 21/. De Freez-'s shop was an open bhop, like a broker's, and he saw them exhibited in the window. After a week's negotiation he agreed to purchase them acid p:Liti 21/. for the lot on the. 9til , 410 , ,,1,0be1. ale aft; wards sold several of them to different parties. Henry Bull, jeweller, of Goodman's-fields, stated that he had bought part of the articles produced in court of the last wither, Pike. When brought to him they were in excellent condition. Mr. Atkins being recalled, said the :marks had not been obliterated, and in some cases the wrapping paper had not been changed. He, witness, paid for them in jewel lery the prime cost. H. J. Wing, assistant to Mr. He rbert, of Queen's buildings, Brompton, identified two ,of the spirit stands, some nutcrackers, and a pair of candlesticks, and stated that they were purchased of Pike fix 51. 10s. S. Holly, shopman to Messrs. G ant, pawnbrokers, of 42, Albany-gate, also identified part of toe property, and proved that they had been bought of Pike for six teen shillings. Mr. S. Atkins, on being recalled, said that part of these goods were of his own manufEte ture. He estimated the value of the goods at 461. Mr. BODKIN addressed the jury fo r the prisoner, con tending the probability there was ,ot the goods being bought in the ordinary way of trade He would show by the open way in which they were exposed for sale by the prisoner, who had been, in the first instance, sum moned as a witness, and in that cap.scity had appeared two or three times before the magistrate, and also had given every information in his power. Several witnesses were called to char acter, all of whom had known the prisoner for fourteen years, and several of them more than twenty years, and, who spoke iu the highest terms. Mr. Justice P AITTESON summed up. '1 he - jury, after a very brief consultation, returned a verdict of Not Guilty. There was a loud expression of approbation at the ver dict, but it was instantly suppressed. The goods were ordered to be given up to Mr. Atkins. At the conclusion of the trial Mr. Romrsote made an application to the Court in favour of Miller, under the plea that he had given all the information he possessed, and had been very instrumental in the recovery of the property. The JUDGE replied that he would take the matter into consideration, and consult the Recorder, before whom both Miller and Scott, his accomplice, had pleaded guilty last session. John Orchard, aged 23, a drummer in the Coldstream Guards, was indicted for stealing a gold -watch, the pro perty of the lion. Captain Gritnston, from the guard house; at Buckingham Palace, on the 26th of November. Captain Grimston deposed to having left his watch in the barrack-room, about eight o'clock in the evening, and on his return, shortly afterwards, found it was gone. The corporal of the guard and the sentinel on duty at the time deposed to the prisoner haying been seen about the guard-room, and the girl with whom he coha bited unwillingly allowed that she had se en a gold watch in his possession on the night the robbery was com mitted, and stated further, that he had requested that it might be pawned. 'Thomas Walton, a pawnbroker, stated that the watch had been pledged with him for 41. 10s., by a young man whom he had never seen before, who gave the name of Thomas Wilson. The policeman stated that the prisoner had confessed the robbery when he was apprehended. Captain Grimston identified the watch. _ _ Mr. Justice PATTESON summed up, and. the jury im mediately returned a verdict of Guilty. The prisoner was sentenced to one year's imprisonment, with hard labour. At the close of the case, Captain Grimston said that, by Mr. Jardine's advice, ho applied to the Court to ascrtain to whom he should give the reward which he had offered for the recovery of the watch. There were three persons claiming it—the policeman, a gre nadier, and the pawnbroker. His LORDSHIP intimated that he did not sit there to give advice on such points as this. Captain Grimston—l only obey my orders, my Lard, POLICE INTELLIGENCE. CLERKEN WELL. The Court was occupied during a considerable time yesterday morning in hearing a counter-charge pre ferred by a female against Constable 240 G, under the following circumstances : The constable charged her with being drunk and dis orderly, and in answer she said the charge was false, and had been preferred by the constable, because, after treating him and anothE r to gin at the Pewter Platter public-house, in Charles-street, Hatton-garden, she re fused to allow him to take improper liberties with her. She stated that she was a person of respectable conduct and character, and worked for Mr. Winkes, of No. 4, North-place, and other extensive shopkeepers. Mr. CO2IBE said this was a case which required in vestigation, and he should adjourn it to get the evidence of the other constable, and some person from the public house. In about an hour those .parties arrived, and their evi dence having been taken, Mr. COMBE said he considered that the policeman had made out his charge against the prisoner, while she had failed in substantiating her's against him, and he should consequently fine her ss. for being drunk. John Orton was chargeo Hith stealing a quantity of grains from the Izewery of Messrs. Reid and Co., of Liquorpond street. It appeared that latterly the system of pillage going on by lads like the prisoner, who were continually on the watch at the grain-shoot when the dairy-carts were loaded, had very much increased, and several complaints had been made at the station-house. The prisoner was observed last night in the act of taking away a large hamper, which he had filled from the shoot in Liquor pond-street, when he was apprehended. Mr. CommE said he understood all these grains were contracted tor, and inquired whether the contractor was in attendance. Sergeant Boyce replied that he was not. I,lr. COME said if people made complaints, and then when the thief was discovered, did not choose to attend to prosecute, the system was encouraged by themselves only. As no one was present to prosecute, he should discharge the prisoner. Mr. Malle:t, the chief clerk, stated that a benevolent individual, under the initial signature C. V., had transmitted a donation of St for the relief of such de serving objects as the presiding magistrate might select. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. Joke Burke was ,charged with committing an assault on James Corbet. The complainant, apprentice to a collier, said he went on Tuesday night to the Queen's Theatre, Tottenham street, Tottenham-court-road, and arrived there before the doors were opened; but the prisoner, who was late, got upon the rails at a private door in the neighbour. hood of the theatre, and jumped down on his shoulders, and when the complainant refused to bear him on his shoulders, the prisoner, still standing on them, lifted his hob-nailed shoe and stamped upon his head so as to cut it open. The prisoner said he was thrown off the rails by another, and could not avoid getting upon the boy's shoulders. Myers, the officer of the theatre, said it was a conti nual practice followed by the young lads who were late in coming, to jump off these rails on any one, woman or man, no matter whom, in order to get in first. It was impossible to prevent it except by severe punishment. Mr. HARDWICK sentenced the prisoner to a fine of 205., or ten days' imprisonment. Lithe Farrell, a most miserable looking wretch, was charged with stealing a pint pot. Joseph Silk, stableman, Mason's Arms-yard, proved the taking of the pot by the prisoner. The prisoner said, when asked why he had done so, that his life was miserable, that he had been a soldier, and was discharged. He was born in the Isle of France; his father was there in the 87th Regiment. He had been two years in London, and during all that time he had been gathering bones and rags, and trying to live ; but he was both naked and starving. His clothes were such, and his dirty appearance, that no one would now em ploy him or trust him ; and so wretched was he, that he would prefer being shot to continuing the kind of life he had been compelled to live. The Mendicity officers said they had seen him about the streets begging and gathering rags Mr. HARDWICK sent him for a month to the House of Correction, for the unlawful possession of the pint pot. THE STATE OF THE RIVER. —The Th ames already up by exhibits vast floating ing masses of ic e , and a fall of snow, followed existing severe frost will, in the opi nions of old and experienced watermen, render the navi gation of the river above bridge impossible. On Tuesday numbers of men had to be employed in clearing away the drift ice that had collected round the various steam boat piers before the vessels could touch. The damage done on Tuesday to the floats of the paddle-wheels in the above bridge steamers, by collision with the ice, was very great. The Putney boat was obliged to lay up on Tuesday afternoon, not being able to pass through Putney-bridge. Above that structure the river is a field of ice. COLUMEWS Sourrr.---Tuesday a numerous meet ing of persons interested in geographical inquiry was held at the London Library, in St. James's-square, for the formation of a society under the above name, the object of which is the re-publication of ancient works and travels illustrative of geographical research. The chair was taken by Sir R. I. Murchison, the late Presi dent of the Royal Geographical Society, and several re solutions for the formation and conduct of the society wen!. adopted. THE FROST.—The thermometer during the night of ,Monday stood, at the Royal H umane Society's Re ceiving House, Hyde Park, at 19, being 13 degrees below freezing point. This caused the ice to attain far greater solidity than on the preceding day. During Tuesday the sliders and skaters upon the various orna mental waters in the several parks were very numerous. We are happy to say that, •owing to the precautions taken by the society, not a single accident occurred. Detention of Mails—ln consequence of the bad state of the roads and the weather a great number.of mails were overdue on Tuesday morning, particularly on the north road. The Edinburgh mail of Saturday arrived nearly forty-eight hours after its proper date, leaving three still due; in fact, nothing beyond Carlisle has reached town later dated than Saturday. The whole of the bags due from the north is fifty-one, and ten by the mail from Swansea due on Monday. In the north the delay arose from a heavy fall of snow. The Dutch mail, due on Sunday, had not arrived on Tuesday, and the Hamburgh mail of Monday is also overdue. EXPERIMENTS AT WOOLWICH :.‘rARSITES.—Mr. Lancaster, jun., carried on experiments on Tuesday (December 15th), with the rifle °all, submitted by him, in the form of a sugar loaf. The experiments were made in the presence of Lieutenant Colonel Dundas, C. 8., who appeared highly satisfied w ith t h e result. About 40 rounds were fired, some at 1,200 yards, some at 900 yards and 600 yards. The whole of the firing was very good, and, at 1,200 yards, the balls entered the target to the depth of an ineb. The first three rounds, at 900 eaeo, rntertA the i;oll's eye, - the sins being so correctly taken, and the fora, of the bull ensuring a correct course, at that considerable distance, for small arms, rmr.........E............+.agr...ae.........""""N"n"n....0°6 .....7, MARKET NE W S.-0; ESTERO I ) COR,AT-EXCIIABT LS. beell Since Monday the arrivals of Eng lish Wheat balitions s nail, and the show of samples was tr iflin g . All deb moved off readily at fully the late improvement it! „jos In Foreign Wheat a good business was doing at fire„,,,,:l rates. For inferior bonded Wheats , owing to an Ono demand having sprung up for Fra nce and Irelauct, The money was asked, and in some instances obtaine d :. o de Barley trade was firm at extreme fig ures. The hle• ' o s to, was dull, yet we can notice no alt ration in rre va es' Beans, Peas, and Flour were held at higher cunci ARRIVALS. ootg B ar ley. Oatg 1440 ok' 940 elm 40 qrS. 1 3,220 1 ....... 4,790 Wheat. English .... • . I 1,210 qrs. Irish ........ Foreign ...... 1,00 I 7.050 fait. 70 qrs. 1113.1'X. EC Beef, le here at o ur quotatio - os. awl, 3s 8d to 49 8d; T to 4s 8d per 81)3. by t he car— We had a from 2s 8d to to 4s 8d ; and WHIT steady trade 3s 8d; ➢tut Pork, 3s 6d -----------,---. P IVOICKS by it.OfART J. CULVERWELL, 0 IL ILIt.''.- One Shilling eseh. by Doat o w , ga it rliII). 10. I) id F ON SINGLE andMARRIE '' (An Original Medical Illitory.' gil CONTENTS: Analysis of the Affections —Early Conver.tional bTimernitt (lir CctiC n Marital Ailticipatlons and Itei-lities—L,,v44lelicitoll:',.' Maternal Inlinenee—i'lle,omena of Gestation —On + fog a ._, Infertile Unions —Incongruous Alliances - Late 3 1 . t• gotit'e 4 " -- Matches—Curiosities of Twenty-three Yeilre e ilic*. Lc. &c. 2. 'NFRINGEIiENTS On CHASTITY and its H.- l‘- -- , (An Essay for 1845.) " Of human ills and frailti es I discourse , ule ,„ Those taught by nature, a nd by art 'Ttten. Of griefs conceal'd, and disappointme . ..,d o gf. Which young and gentle, the maturea s. The lonely and the mated —all sustain. , ~. In kindly spirit, herein CO'nsel's Vs ". to 0414 How health, how hope, how Vv WHAT to EAT, DRINK. and AVOW tg. et PS With Diet Tables for all Complain _ ..mt o f _ a Contents :—How to ensure perfeet digestion, tr Pl ,,'d. IV I.' t rated in ' a s AA good night's rest, a clear head, and a con ent te sle, .0.--- servance oft he instructions herein contaluer th ado , insi; t e vously delica e, even to the most shattered consei t est s DI b the greatest amount of physical happiness , and full period of life allotted to man. ~ min k , vhni a " How we should live—what eat, svil s ` 4 ten.. To reach in health full threescore years and go o lees' These interesting little volumes, although bead- 21 0 ( 1 04 c . t o ierer very delicate import, as their titles implY, `matterbe efe rfli rO d° 1 surable and general utility, for they tel of nio Jut, ova ture able t, understand ought to know', but 19:fet'et08 vt: these enlightened times. except u e l"Y t. questionab e hannels, is at a veryterrible dlscoan. b idden it is a - In the exposition hereby offered of the till 0.fr0',1210,011 nature, c t human disappointments and their OO:, o wn Post W e contended that every reader shall become his °L o d 00 0 0. 1, 1 any more than their own lawy , ''.;t It is ins,,rganizei°%loll - know the simple principles of whereby our existence and the issue thereo,l of c o 111 . ... - oat. our onhistbareev.rrio..ftiosas states depend, the duties that are elPect'-o„- ' Mehl...! 0 fo l _, t d capacities in the family circle, and the terlass' an - laud ...aw ns"' - 10P*1 0 4 happiness of the present and future race of V t. -- filth y A s itdillo4 By such knowledge, and which Is h el '"eink "'JP OM health will be found to be in our aw n Yee A beoPost• a" la within the attainment of all ; by the avail ln . o c 7eges ei . blet i i f oj our duty to ourselves, we secure the lit e ad/ 1 " - , a ultles , ir Nei 0 to follow, and finally by the cultivation st our , an 0 fan o olg consistent with degenerate health, them.. Is 11. 03e1 be exalted to the summit of perfection , .. 7 - ' he 0 )0° itri t ore ...4 410 0 s 0" ot God's creations. .ng oul o g / ..t ir , that tit' The author's justification for this seems ... . ose , sa.- to o ings, and the avowal of their integrity of nu'r -- guar o ' 141, by their perusal—his accredited ualificationS a wl ~0 ..i topics broached involve his 1 110Inciate study' an d 2,,,.• OP"-,,,,enw; of To be had of :nherwood,cs23, Paternoster -1.- • ' 3 9, v- 00 010 0 , Fleet-street ; Hannay, 63, Oxford. street ; g enn ot :oree t k ell, m til f) , direct from the Author, 10, Argyle-place, nege_.,- beesnsilll"- Marlborough-street), who may be a r u sitS B matters daily till Three, and in the Evenings.' yjag ra and 10' (so 0 0/64 A POPULAR TREATISE on the IIEALTII, , s ri g. s of the BODILY ' , ifi r er P NINETEETH EDITION, price 2s. 6d. • Free mi 1‘ ,41 A ar Envelope) 3s. 61, , Meal-- f r e , -.. THE SILENT FRIEND. i',,,„nesto ' t ortsl;t. wers if'-:,,,f - ok' i 0 .. f. on the loss of the reproductive Pe- - ,: ‘ ,¢leo , - -- , te` - ‘ 0:1 tion. The baneful effects of Indulgence , "'''' 1110 -i g. - comiary Symptoms, &cfully pointed out. 01 srarrisg e ' ,add gravings ; followed by 'observations en ---- es. PERRY and Co., Consulting Surgeons, London., at ilielti o d±i at o Published by the Authors, and may be„,,.t1' a u,1 46, d 3, UNCT10...:..,.. rot u Sold by Strange, No. 21, Pat'ernoster•rosir ; ur..,7 0 - d CO. A . are street ; Purkis, Compton-street, Soho ; n ann- • .561."-, to street, and 37, Ros al Exchange , and all books led t o tb 7.0 e 1 ... to Part I. of this Work is particularly addr ess weal' :OW' prevented from forming a Matrimonial Al bit W U r- 00 tain disqualifications, and will bet mind an a _ v _,enbee d. eiers .1 0 the means of perfect and secret restoration forte af die? ru oe ta it Part 11. treats perspicuottsl; upon thos e f °r infe cti l 00 3 in their primary or secondary state, arising no m __, ,ftedis _ m d 0 coui peteab - how numbers who neglect to obtain Ay dif e ' v 'ssr upon themselves years of misery and suileringo6ol7oooo4ll. The CORDIAL BALM OF SYRIACUM is fix ity, f t . and DO the cure of nervous and sexual debility, irr e en", e hn i liss. renuess, loss of appetite, indigestion. een s p u ,,T, P o - I f Is• 1°- - ties arising from venereal excesses, gce• ''' — us'. a• 1112 r A ~ ra sn i t i. tie. The Five-pound cases may be had as us .5 ~.A _Ay V. 55.. D 10 .1,4 W . ,. The CONCENTRATED DETERSIVE - die fee, .-__ stem' syphilitic remedy for searching out and parif in f fead, -.„. 0 0. - lit nereal contamination, scurvy, blotches on the frain Her i ulcerations, and those painfulaffections ar oma Weil l°. .. Os eru ptions ° I V' went, secendarysymptoms, and all gd. ir and 335. per bottle. TLS Pr ice iriet oo4 TERRY'S PURIFYING SPECIFIC ri— ~, tor s ~.3 4 0 -a rercww t awl' and 1 ls. per box, are the most effee t ' - , 1 , 4 0c° or fiatxmation, irritation of the bladder , -.1 de ° Iti • business. Dilat e *.li their f eage r ° I° l o Consultation fee, if by Letter . ,2 . , l • a ttooltlL -- ; t ie s till t lll4 cessary. Messrs. Perry are in daily stain ~ ~, tw elve. 19, Berners-street, Oxford-street' s"',, -- 1 ,,, ° 1 4:1 us five till eight; and on Sundays fran yOUTI I TIM (1 TIES . ON THE SECRET INF.- - y, CO• pe WITH TWESTY-FIVE RE P. s al l4Ta gd itAenc . Bl - 1651°. Just published, Twentieth Thousand, in poem" 2e. fid. Jr post paid, to any addre"' for 3 S• • Vel g ye tr direct from tho Author's residen ce. A a l_ ( 1 ;1 ELY PRESERVATION : fugl ders of U. on the Secret Infirmities and DWI on 0 8 0 1;0 Dius.rated with Twenty-are Colouredweproduc 0/10,0 Physiology, and Diseases of the Urinary an",„:7,„0 0 0, 10 ,01 explaining their various structures, uses, and Rl"' b ogs , '4o'4 the Injuries that are produced in them, by solitarY (30 t• excesses. With Practical Observations on the Trenlist Debility, Local and Constitutional Weakness, and - the Urethra. tOs' By SAMUEL LVMERT. CONSULTING Su" a Matriculated 9M"rdmbrerdr -ostreet, U n ni ed v fb e rd rsir l y n o ar t e' E L d O ill O b d Og °ll o; l4 Member of the London Ilc4pital Medical Society, Apothecaries' Hall, London, Lee., &c. CONTENTS OF THE TREATISE. .. ....- a iiot 4 l . CulFrtta 1. On the Philosophy of Marriage, with I.', 11 , 6 0' 4 and 0 bligations, and on Infelicitous and Unprodg e t t i ff i Olt Co CHAPTER 2. On the Anatcmy and Physiology of_ sy inw eitiO Organs, their ftmctions, structures, and secretions , P„ . ,,w oo ltw o; : sol l Mental and Physical Power are dependant upon th..%' effec tS J O —CHAPTER 3. On Solitary Habits; their "vgri°l/ the ,POO Animal Economy; the concealed cause of Debility _ o pt I , of the Stomach, Lungs, and Brain, and general 4 0 1 00 Men al Faculties. CHAPTER 4. On the Secret Do u .n a,1:: 0 6; 0 0 and Maturity, and the Treatment of Nervous and 1 W - • Mental Debility, and Premature Decay.—Ctal the Disorderr arising from indiscriminate }-A l " -- At Alf Gleet, Strictures, and other Diseases of the Ureter' 1. - 4 -goat. 1780:11I EEVIEWS OF TEE WO- k is ~, "The author of this singular and talented "1.,..b1ee' - 1071: fled medical man, who has evidently had cans' 340 $1 3. 0 00":00r the trr Atment of the various disorders arising.,.. 01 01 0100 .1 frailtlea of early indiscretion. The engravings " — G osh ~ OS OSr dition, by demonstrating act as a salutary warning to youth and maturitTz.t the consequences • , -" f e X A nkit's 1 many questions may be satisfactorily replied to __ , 1 . - . ....0 07 0 ' 0 vie peal, even to the most confidential triend.", --Br :t Itil l jasi d , 0, t 44 from Kent and Richard:, 52, Published by the Author, and may be 1 "`", - 00 - VOr ° 01. 1 Oxford-street Start r hbo e-streels Ch an A d t by n all om ß e oo fo ks r eilers iam b tre A mi L id tte ill Leadeuhall-sireet's,PaternosterN W ' ti 1,1 London; ic Newton , 1., -- 4 4 .0,_,00 , .e. fro 24 106 , 4 0 te, g o Consultation daily, ----„,„ rep .. .,..g.. 111 ; 11 . -7-I°'' Five till Eight ; and all letters immedia,.;-,`" sTo'' the Ice of 11., for advice , & c.-9 BEDFL" -- NITA RM. LONDOY pineus ua Y l ___---.•" "-.'----- the lrj. ; 7..... —"'" .... :Tuesd r l lw e st I ti t, • applesE c. s e T e t 1 . ~.r rNteopnofekAe placea t P t i h N i Es at sea eAaKr, Keeling i E no s gt : aosati, a l e )11 0 t l als ti , .. ,de,r0 :: : : ., ,," i 0 0 ment-yard, ex Royal Mail Packe t njrcrs pf about 500 of the (.1.. seri • Inca P. " fair r - Soll'll is, ve , ry good condition, and Pt t i h ° e n y t b ° r r olig ht "r a Y t th e 'ne ' 5 of l l ' d, h ,ig e nigc s a l ; r a t Gn e c r ai s rdth vi e: 'e s re very nurne r°ll3 "Li" be'.ael 1- s Z ta oo n laydieessterpdraoya,ienVadesintihgliad:l3,lolt Plc the lake, and the ornamental bridges, - CT - r• in g effect. 195 15 , 14 ;e 4 i 4,00,0 (ADVERTISEMENT...I —DEAFNESA AN D ?, , L if ''' l' VISION RBLIEVED, No, 39, AtßEitmA aLE - S T l_Se r- od r ier; —Sent into the country free, by plea fr o& i o bg, ljes: o acoustic tubes, for relief of ex trona u e- ,,, -- e ar e ,,,," A ll 0 ; 0 0 ' inserted n the ear cannot be perceived by th e „ the e -- ,/ se," Or; they are entirely different from all others, and l ' - orte r ,,; eiP' rot ing instruments constructed—measuring ofdY e t : d in t 4 '; c tlitl; 0 0 their widest part ; they may be securely adj",: g ftle l ,to A eel served, an removed therefrom with as great a1ie.. 1 ,1 e° , 4 5 , '„,f' sons are enabled to join in general conversat,ol ooty 0 Pip r s . distinctly in a place of worship, &c., and tuba the e a. ,.. i ces,,s ° if s ' • considered, a natural expansion of the cavity 0 : y ja5t ,9 1,050 d o —a thickening or contraction of which in n is li l e al 0/' de tially the cause of deafness—and by their se e b yistei4j). ftv, i f cation of singing noises in the ears is entirely ° nnill_ fe ct• ors proved hearing trumpets of every descriptiee,:re itoPel,iell of 1 6 1 newly-invented spectacle lenses are placed be,tii n ess 11 0 el ,pf . d. either by day or candlelight, that mist and a t be cora t b rig,, i tl',j before the eyes is at once removed, every ° , 3 , l l. j h ee t - beef o e rig l o l; 4l lf 4 ,, distinct, so that the most aged defective A 210 gl ,ii , s e brilliant, and is brought to its youthful, natar—,,era de w , , t t Also the most powerful achromatic telescope, • ; iO , 0 ro e , ;, - 4. microscopes. Caution—Messrs S. and B. Solo same 0 3 To I l og not in any way connected with a person of the ~,a t rl•k i pot d immediate neighbourhood. nor in any part of the c ` , l At 3 ,, - cO' 0 as mistakes, be cautious, and observe—only to be '''''' .ne ll ,calli o street, Piccadilly, opposite the Turk Hotel. nr A — Or r .0 r A DVERTISEMENT.] —THE EARL , ---,,, Otte ~,, fr- i11,,e, AND HOLLOWAY'S I'ILAn astounding car c z 7 e : est r ‘ tb. $„ l 'o 1° , 7 0 medicine, after every other means had failed• ' 1 i .,,, ;,, - i .r,. t0,, - t Lordship's letter, dated " Villa Messina, Leg that 1 ° 741 t li „ - A rr Professor Holloway—Sir z I beg to acquaint Yo u ," gael' a rit, ,"r. ~ ,411 effected a cure of a disorder in my liver and,: -1 010, - 4 /70 6 ,4 , 1 eminent of the faculty, at home and all over ti , ' Car7.,l p , , - ,4 , :„ ' 4 been able to effect ; nay. not even the waters 0 0 0 1 .001 1 1 v rienbad. (Signed) " ALDBOROUGH." These ‘ c (Also graf i cure any disease of the liver or stomach. —Bola 2 44, ' Ointment) at Professor Holloway's Establisln eet lortd• by all medicine vendors throughout the civilised " l e, 4 13, 81147715. H ) •cle'E in . ell , On the 12th inst., at Westbournc-street, ,iii J. Williams, of a daughter. f Caption irP On the 12th nist., at Windsor, the Fife ° til e rane, late Rifle Brigade, of a son, st ill-born. ~ u{ G' ra , On the 13th inst., in Oxford-terrace, IlYdel' jolf of Frank Milne, Esq., of a daughter. the f , " On the 13th inst., at Clapham New park , 5, A lifr Laurence, Esq., of a son. n d ' '1 00 J On the 13th inst., at Surrey-street, Stra rceP of 1 I nett, of a daughter. les ' " I lia , ' „ On the 14th inst„ at Hornsey, Mrs. Char st , Jo On the 14th inst., at Finchley New - r ead ' Mrs. Gates, of a son. TfARRIED. t ton b or. , to y On the 12th inst., at Trinity Church , SOoe ' W. Griesbach, of Wollaston, Nort haniPt°— bath, widow of the late W. Cheesman, Es(l' --------- 069 ite /11° ( ( p i l l the l, 8 9 t t l i i i iinnsstt.,,inatßAedttliol/AnliEs:/iiare, Thom se ' f eti .f Hussars. On the 9th inst in Chelteu ji ~ Suffolk-square , l ig' o l/ 5 Maria, • wife of John Sparrow Stovin, E s q . EA" ift 34/ On the 11th inst ,at Dover, Claude Benezett ,f relict v 100 On the 12th • . inst., at Oxford, Ann e, 0 1 A , Bridges, Esq., aged 92. ter ° On the 12th inst , Julia Travis, eldest daug geed 16' gv Herbert Smith, of hark-hall-grove, Clapliamiogo' On the 13th inst., in Hi hbury-placep ' Jobe' Maysey. ‘1 A O On the 4th inst., at I; df ld Su-se -c Mrs. in le , - , , A OP son, aged 71. e s ce.. , e j On the 6th inst., at Clifton, Bibs I'ary Ann 0 0 daughter of Joseph Weld, Esq., aged 21. , , te nsil t " do James BobertsObstlo, , recl, s , I , i e On the Bth inst., at Peckham, Surrey , l' i Le 4 Fountain Elwin, K.C., 44th Regiment, ageuj i ,,lpou t- ' ,„•0 tenant Oii t hwerlleirinGsrto.,,ieatttSEoi:etrhesDt,evon-place, ''d GP' - inst., Miss Eliza stre et ' On the 12th • veno-- , cpiare R s . N:‘,,,agageedr3g3rx. . .................................,........_.....„..........„,,.. ), ___—....--- •0',,1f. I,— - ed ;,nd Pu'ulk , l“;.! by A11171:1)0 • ili OW 12, str "les' O of of Trani, the Savoy, in the Couoty of lkildwAl— 17, 180, 1-! ~1