The Sun. — London, England, 1848-02-01 00:00:00

MASTERS IN CHANCERY. (From the Chronicle.) We have for some weeks abstained from further allusion to the notoriously scandalous state of the offices of the Master in Chancery, caused by the extreme age and physical infirmities of two of the existing Masters, because no duty of the pu bli c pr ess is so painful as censure up on the incapacity of the i aged and infirm public officer. lnfluenced t also by this feeling, we have refused insertion to severa l letters sent to us for publicati▪ on from legal practi tioners of eminence, detailing cases of grievous wrong to their clients caused by this crying abuse of the t en ure of judicial office. It is, however, no secret n ow, indeed it is a matter of gossip. in the robing-rooms of Westminster Hall, that one of tne Masters in ques tisn is meditating an immediate resignation ; and rumour is equally rife on the chances of candidates for the vacant office when the octogenarian shall have actually retired. Mr. Aglionby, before the adjournment of the House of Commons, gave notice of motion for a return, " Showing the date of the appointment of each of the present Masters in Ordinary in Chancery, with the annual amount of each of their respective salaries, and when paid ; also, stating whether any and which of such pre sent masters are under any and what Act or Acts of Parliament entitled, upon rethement, to any and what retiring pension ; and also, stating whether any and what Masters in Ordinary have, since the year 1830,. retired upon any and what retiring pension, and for what periods the same were respectively paid and received." This significant intimation that Par liament is about to be called upon to apply a remedy to a great public evil in the administration of the law will doubtless have a salutary effect. We have al ways advocated the important principle of giving adequate and full compensation to public o fficers affected by reforms, and sufficient retiring pensions to old public servants entitled by age or infirmity to superannuation allowance. In the case of the dis qualified Masters in Chancery above alluded to there can, however, be no pretence for their declining to re lax their hold upon the judicial office when their capa city for official duties is lessened, if not wholly i an nihilated, by the weight of years and physi▪ cal infir mities. The Masters appointed since Lord Brough ham's Act of 1833 (3 and 4 Will. IV., c. 94) are not entitled to claim the fixed retiring allowance pre viously enjoyed by masters after a service of twenty years. The former class can only now claim a pen sion in the case of permanent infirmity, under circum stances and in amount specified by that Act and subsequent statutes. But, if we mistake not, the two present Masters whose retirement the solicitors of the equity courts are so anxiously and properly seeking, are entitled to fixed and ample annual allowances when they shall choose to resign their offices. Sir Giffin Wilson and Mr. Wingfield were appointed Masters in Chancery before the act of 1833; and the statute 46 Geo. 111., chap. 128, entitles them, aftir 20 years' judicial service (or when afflicted by any permanent infirmity and " desirous of retiring"), to the ample pension of 1,500/. per annum on the order of the Lord Chancellor. More over, these two Masters have enjoyed, since 183. 3, 750/. yearly as " compensation money, i n addition to their salaries of 2,500/. per annum, whereas:all the masters appointed since Master Brougham receive only salaries of 2,500/. This " compensation money," in lieu of abolished fees, may have tempted the t wo worn-out Masters to ",hold on" to office, despite infir anities, from a natural preference of their salaries of 3,220/. a year to retiring pensions of 1,5001. Th e i r long enjoyment, however, of an annual extra 750/. is in truth a reason why they can better afford " resig nation" on pensions of 1,500/. than other Masters ; and certainly it is farcical that two judges disqualified by physical infirmities should persist in sticking to office, while younger and well qualified masters re ceive lesser gross salaries, and are not assured of any such adequate or certain retiring pensions. We trust that we shall not be again compelled, by a sense of public duty, to comment on these palpable cases of unjustifiable retention of judicial office. It is certainly the duty of a Government, or of the highest functionary of the law, to put an end to such a public scandal. Either the retiring allowances of the Masters in Chancery are sufficient, or they are not. If sufficient, the incapacitated judge ought voluntarily to resign, or to be induced to resign ; if inadequate, the Parliament ought to interfere, and increase the pension. We understand that the mem bers of the Law Institution are contemplating a movement on this subject, so important to the interests of their clients, and they will cer tainly be justified in a strong appeal to Parliament for the remedy of a gross abuse. It is generally reported that the Commons' Select Committee for inquiry into the fees in courts of law . and equity, originating in Mr. Watson's motion last year, and most expediently revived this session by Mr. John Romilly, has during its sittings in the present recess brought to light some minor abuses in the masters' offices which must also compel ulterior proceedings for a thorough legislative remedy. The whole remaining system of fee gathering and fee funding must be reformed. Much has been done within the last fifteen years for the abolition of law sinecure offices, and in the substitution of salaries for fees in the remuneration of legal functionaries; but far more good remains to be effected. The cost of our judicial establishments—part paid cut of the con solidated fund, and part provided from the suitors' and fee funds—is an unnecessary and a mischievous complexity. The State, when it receives tributary reve nue for such specific appropriation, usually cheats the contributor. We desire to see a sweeping and real reform in this important and growing department of admi nistration. All fees in courts of law ought to be carried to one account, distinct from the civil revenue of the State. The scale of feel should be large enough to defray the proper and full cost of our whole judicial establishments. We have reason to believe that, if kept out of the hands of the " State," and not partly mixed with the " consolidated fund," the means exist for an increase of judicial offices, and for a material ultimate reduction of fees. The " hop, skip, and jump" of our judges and our bar from Westminster to Lincoln's Inn and Guildhall, and thence to and fro half a dozen times in the year, is a most absurd and evil " remanet" of our old judicial reg,inie. The rotary motion of the metropolitan courts of law ought to be put an end to, and the courts ought to he permanently fixed in some central part of London. Some of our correspondents state to us that in " term time," and when the courts of equity sit in Westminster, half !the warrants of the Masters in Chancery, on which counsel ought to attend the master, are " postponed " and unattended because counsel and solicitors are occupied in Westminster hall. If the courts were fixed on one common and central site, such as Lincoln's Inn-fields or its neigh bourhood, and as designed by Mr. Barry, and ap proved by former Commons' Committees, and if they were con structed su ffi ciently lar ge an d commo di ous , many existing and abomi na bl e a b uses would at once be remedied. Among other s , th e M asters i n Chan cery would really sit in public, with the unquestion able benefits of publicity; the Masters would he under the eye of the public and of superior judges, instead of enduring their often solitary confinement in the dark and cramped dungeons of Southampton buildings, and we should be saved the duty of com menting on ithe unjustifiable retention of judicial office by octogenarians. We are glad to ]earn that the trustees of Lincoln's Inn-fields are now likely to assist in the provision of a sufficient site for the erec tion of new courts of law, and that successful exer tions are likely to provide not only an ample room for every court, but also a fee fund, " the ways and means" of meeting the cost of the buildings. We are confident that such a consolidation of the courts, as to locality and neighbourhood, will be an invalua ble approach towards " Law Reform." (From the Weekly Dispatch.) Mr. Editor,—An eminent solicitor of considerable practice was once asked what he considered the greatest abuse connected with the Court of Chancery, and he replied " the Master's Office." It is there that the delays take place of which the suitors have so long and so justly complai,ned. It is bad enough to have a suit in Chancery at all, but once let it be " re ferred to the M as t er " t o ascerta i n a someth i ng which might be ascertained in five minutes, and the chances are that it takes twice that number of years to enable the A leiter to mak e a report t h ereon. Th ere the case remains as long as a single shilling can be extracted from the pockets of the unfortunate suitor in the shape of fees, legal or illegal. There are at pre sent, I believe no less than 11 Masters of the Court of Chancery, to whom are referred all those matters aris ing in the course of a C . hancerysuit, whi c h cannot con veniently be settled public cou r t, such as the appointment of guardians for i▪ nfants, s e ttli ng allow ances and schemes for their education, cons id er i ng proposals for the marriage of infant wards, and pro posals for settlements, &c., and generally all matters which require the exercise of persona l discreti▪ on. For the performance of every one of these duties, what is called a warrant is taken out by the solicitor on one side, a copy of which is served on his opponent, and for which, of course, a fee is payable to the illaster . For the performance of thi s duty, whatever it may be, and however urgent it may be, one hour only in each day is allotted in any case. When that time has expired the parties leave, and another warrant is taken, one for the next or some following day. The number of warrants so taken out in the progress of a Chancery suit is beyond all belief. The charge for each warrant is 35., and I find that in the office of one of the Mast ers (F errer ) t h e tota l amount re ceived for such warrants, during the year ending the sth of April, 1846, was 9411. 17s. This, be it re membered, was in the office of one Master only—the next in amount was 8381. 10s. The total amount of fees taken in the above year in the office of the Mas ter above mentioned was 4,3691.85. 4d. The salaries of the Masters are now settled' by Act of Parliament at 2,5001. each ; but the old Masters, by the Chancery Regulation Act, have, in addition, a compensation of 7501. a year for loss of fees, which they bad been in the habit of taking previous to the passing of that Act. No inquiry, however, appears to have been made as to the legality of those fees before the com pensation was given them. The clerks also are now in the receipt of fixed salaries ; but the old fees are still taken, and the amount paid over to the suitors' fee fund ; but whether all the money received for fees finds its way into that fund is a matter relative to which the report states some very interesting par. titulars, which will enable the public to form their own opinion upon the subject. It appears that when any documents are filed in the Master's Office the solicitors on both sides are compelled to take office copies of them, and which the clerk charges for at the rate of 4d. a folio, though he never pays the stationer more than hi., and sometimes not even that. Of course all the clerks are extremely anxious that the number of folios of which the office copies consist shall be ascertained as correctly as possible before they make their charge for them ; but in an office where a great number of people are constantly going in and out, the attention of the clerk is frequently distracted, so that he finds it quite impossible to count the folios correctly. This appears to be the case in all the Masters' offices, and what is singular, though the interruption alluded to frequently causes the folios to he over-counted, there is no instance on record, even on days when the office was more than usually thronged, of any clerk counting the number of folios less than they actually were. This extraordinary circumstance is explained by one of the witnesses, a solicitor, who says—" The Master's clerk of course profits by the over-counting, the fee fund profits by the over-counting, and the solicitor profits also, for he charges for drawing the docu ment according to the number of folios marked on the back of it by the Master's clerk." Supposing, for instance, the Master's clerk computed an affidavit at 40 folios. The Master, in taxing the costs, would allow ls. a folio for drawing it, and 4d. for the copy ; so that the suitor suffers in two or three ways where there is an improper count. ing of the folios. The witness goes on to state " that the Master's clerk merely gives a sort of rough guess of how many folios there are, and marks it on the back of the copy. He generally found them over counted, and sometimes to a very great extent. In fact, the 'over-counting was habitual. He produced a copy of an affidavit which was marked as 12 folios, which contained only four folios, and said he had half a-dozen more. In the common law courts it is usual for the attorneys on each side to hand over copies of their respective affidavits to each other, and to :rely upon each other for their correct ness ; and there is no valid reason whatever why this practice should not be introduced into the Court of Chancery. It would be a very con siderable saving, both of time and money, to the suitor. The Chancery Regulation Act, in addition to fixing the salaries of the Masters and their clerks, &c., authorises certain parties to receive the fees im posed under the authority of the Act, who are di rected to pay the amount received by them into the Bank of England, to the credit of the Accountant- General, once a month, the amount to be verified by affidavit. The fees so paid in form what is called the suitors' fee fund, and are applied in payment of the salaries assigned by the Act, and to defraying the expenses of the offices connected with the Court. The only security that the fees shall be duly collected and paid over, is that the affidavit of the officer re ceiving the money that the amount paid over is the total amount of what he has received. The public may, perhaps, think that, as so many mistakes are made in counting folios, is it not impossible that some trifling mistakes may occasionally be made in the re turns, setting forth the amount of fees received. The security is defective, because it does not insure the due collection by the officer of all the fees which ought to be paid ; because it does not provide a check for the discovery of any omission, and, lastly, because it does not afford any security against dishonesty in the officer receiving the fees. With regard to what is called copy-money, it appears that the salaries given by the Act to some of the subordinate clerks are in tentionally fixed below the amount of fair remune ration, and the amount of copy money is made pay able to them to make up the deficiency. This mode of remunerating them is certainly very objectionable, because it makes it the interest of the officer to fur nish copies, and thereby interferes with one important provision of the Act, that suitors shall not be com pellable to take copies, and by making it the interest of the officer to magnify the length, it encourages, to say the least of it, a very loose system of ascertain. ing the number of folios, and the check against this which might he expected from the solicitors is, to a great extent, prevented by the circumstance that their own charges are regulated by the length of those copies and also leads to much slovenliness and inaccuracy in the office copies, the clerks getting the copying done as cheaply as possible ; in some instances, by women living in their attics. I have already stated, that let the business be ever so urgent, only one hour is allowed for each warrant ; when that time expires the next case is called on. Now any one would sup pose that where there is so much business to do, and so little time to do it in, not a moment of that time would be wasted, but it is just the reverse ; so far from the whole hour being devoted to business, one of the Master's clerks, when asked " Is there an hour devoted to each warrant ?" replied, " No, nor any thing like an hour. The confusion that is going on in the Master's office would astonish any person. From the number of warrants granted, and the pres sure of business, one party is always trenching upon the engagements of another ; there is always a cer tain time lost before they begin, and then a discussian takes place as to what they did upon the last occasion when they left off, and more than half the time is gone before anythingis done." The witness was asked whe ther the expense of an inquiry before the Master was not very great. He replied in the affirmative, adding, " the chief expense of a Chancery suit is in the Mas ter's office." The Court, it appears, has no powe , r to accelerate the business in the Master's office, and there is no penalty for not proceeding; the Master himself has no power of compelling the parties to go on with the suit more expeditiously ; it is entirely dependent upon the solicitor whether he will conduct the suit expeditiously in the Master's office or not. The witness was asked whether he had not found that when a solicitor chooses to throw impediments in the way he may protract the investigation before the Master to a very great extent, to which he replied— " He thonght that an ingenious solicitor who cavils at everything, and excepts to every step which the Master may take, may delay the proceedings without end. He had known inquiries before the Master to last six, seven, and even eight years, which, without vexatious opposition, and with proper vigilance on the part of the solicitor, might have been completed in six months." So the Master and his clerks charge the delay on the solicitors, and the latter, as a matter of course, return the compliment. The following is a very good specimen of the manner in which some of the witnesses-fenced with questions it was not quite convenient to answer. The witness is a clerk in one of the Masters offices. Question—" You are aware that the copies made by the junior clerk are very imperfectly written. Answer—They are better than they used to be. Question—Are they very often very difficult to read. Answer—l never read them. Question — Do you know whom they employ to copy them. Answer—l do not know, they are not done in the office entirely. Question—Are they not usually done by poor men or women.—l do not know whether they are men or women, I do not see the persons." Some of the other witnesses are equally ignorant on the subject. They know as much as suits them to tell, and very little more except in those cases where the member putting the question evidently knows what is really the fact, and in that case an evasive answer would be of no avail. The truth must and would come out, whether the witness liked to tell it or not. What I have already written will give the public some idea of the manifold abuses that exist in the Masters' office; but, I shall have a great deal more to say on the subject on a future occasion. CENSORIUS. " Was PAWNS."—A novel description of theft has been for a night or two perpetrated upon a number of brokers in the Calton, in which a good deal of dexterity has been exhibited. On Wednesday night, no fewer than seven individuals %ere tricked in the following manner :—A decently attired woman with a bundle in her hand, came into the shop, wishing to dispose, it might be, of a shawl, or coat, or another article, which she unrolled out of her bundle: and submitted for in spection. The broker, after examining the goods and fixing a price, tied up the article again in a bundle, with the view of putting it in some secure corner, but while in the act of turning round to procure the purchase money, the bundle was dexterously changed, and another of precisely the same appearance substituted in its place, unknown to the unsuspecting dealer. After the seller had departed the buyer proceeded to re examine his purchase, when he discovered that a metatuorphis had taken place , and his shawl or coat had been converted, i n someinstances, into he sulitary leg of a pair of trousers not worth anything. The perpetrator of this rather ingenious method of pillaging the brokers is still at large.—North B, itish Mail. GROCERS' AND TEA. DEALERS' BENEVOLENT PRO TECTION SOClETY. — Yesterday the twentieth election of annuitants on the funds of this institution took place at the London Tavern, when three pensioners were added 0) the Lst Of fifty-two already elected, receiving pensions varying from 181. to 301. per annum. Francis Hicks, Esq., presided, and it was announced that his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge had in the kindest manner consented to take the chair at the ensuing anni versary dinner of the society in May next. This charity appears in a highly satisfactory state, the funded capital now amounting to between 11,0001. and 12 0001. ; yet, from the disastrous events of the past year, in connexion with the mercantile community of London, it is feared that the applicants for the society's bounty will be nu merous. The whole of the East and West India and colonial interest connected with the tea and grocery trade are eligible to receive its benefits. 7" - "r‘UN T ( JEWISH DISABILITIES. A meeting of the inhabitants of Westminster was yesterday held at the Hanover-square Rooms, pursuant to a requisition to the High Bailiff, for the purpose of considering the propriety of petitioning Parliament for the removal of the civil and religious disabilities of the Jews. The meeting was called for one o'clock, but the attendance . at that time was very scanty, there not being more than twenty persons present, and the commencement of the proceedings was de• layed till nearly two o'clock. The kiwis BAILIFF having taken the chair, apolo gised for the delay which had taken place, in con sequence of the inclement state of the weather, and:the disappointment in the attendanceof various gentlemen who were expected to take part in the proceedings. The object of the meeting was to discuss the pro priety of adopting measures to remove the civil and religious disabilities of the Jews. The meeting had been convened by a requisition numerously signed. It was but just to state that after he had received the first requisition requesting him to call the meeting, he had received ance her to the same effect, also very numerously signed. To the latter of these requisi tion he stated, that as the object of the two meetings was similar he thought the parties might amalgamate and make one meeting answer the purpose of the re quisitionists.—(Hear, hear.) It was not for him to give any opinion on the subject before the meeting, the different speakers would fully explain that sub• ject.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. HUGGETT then stated that he had received letters apologising for non-attendance, but approving of the meeting, from Lord Marcus Hill, M.P., Right Hon. Fox Maule,"M.P., G. Thompson, M.P., C. P. Greenfell, M.P., James Wilson, M., Lord R. Grosvenor, M.P. E. Divett, M.P., J. Matheson, M.P., Lord Dudley Stuart, M.P., G. Moffatt, M.P., Sir E. Colebrooke, M.P., E. Strutt, M.P., Right Hon. T. B. Macaulay, Wynn Ellis, Esi, Hon. E. P. Bouverie, M.P., W. P. Wood, M.P., J. L. Ricardo, M.P., E. De Year, Esq., G. Grote, Esq., B. Hawes, Esq., Dr. Lankester, &c. Mr. MACGREGOR, M.P., in moving the first reso lution, said that it afforded him great pleasure to assist, by any means in his power, in the removal of the civil and religious disabilities of the Jews. Their character and universal good conduct entitled these persons to the fullest exercise of the rights and pri vileges of Englishmen. In ether parts of the Con tinent and the United States the Jews were admitted to the full participation of the rights of citizens, and no bad result had been found to attend the adoption of this course ; and he did not consider that the admissson of Jews into the Legislature of this coun try would in the least degree unchristainise the country, as was supposed by some persons who were opponents of the measure. With respect to the family of Baron Rothschild, they bore the highest character in Germany ; the grandfather of the present Baron was entrusted, during the progress of the French revolu tionary armies, with the whole of the treasures of the Elector of Hesse Cassel. His house was, however, pillaged by the invading army, but the treasures of the Elector were preserved ; and upon the return of the Elector the whole of his treasure was returned with interest by the trustworthy Mr. Rothschild.— (Hear, hear.) lie believed that if the Baron de Rothschild were allowed to take his seat in the House, there would be no Member who would snore strenuously support the institutions of the country. He felt great pleasure in; proposing as the first resolution —" That considering the existence of religious restrictions on the exercise and enjoyment of civil rights and privileges to be at variance with justice and sound policy, and contrary to the present spirit and practice of the constitution, and that the Jewish people being subject to all burdens and obligations affecting the subjects of this kingdom, have always shown themselves willing to discharge their duties as citizens, and legally and peaceably to yield obedience to the laws and statutes of the realm, this meeting gives its best support to her Majesty's Ministers in their purpose of removing from the statute-book the remaining civil disabilities of the Jews, an obnoxious remnant of ages of intolerant legislation." Mr. Wxen, M.P., seconded the resolution, and felt it to be a great privilege to be allowed in the humblest manner to raise his voice in favour of the removal of the disabilities of the Jews • and had he been enabled to give no other vote in th e House then the one upon that question, he should have felt amply remunerated for his trouble and fatigue in the con tested election for one of the boroughs of this coun try. The persecution of the Jews had originated with the oppressors of the Catholic Church, and in an age of feudal tyranny ; and he sincerely trusted that the time was not far distant when this last remnant of superstition and tyranny would be swept from the statute-book of this country.—(Hear, hear.) Sir DE L. EVANS, M.P., said that he had never attended any meeting during the twenty years he had been more or less connected with the borough of Westminster, where he felt less apprehension of any division of opinion upon the great object of the meeting.—(Hear, hear.) As one of the mem • bers of the Sunday Trading Committee in the last session of Parliament, he had various opportunities of ascertaining the opinions of the Jews. Several members of the Jewish persuasion were examined upon the question of the Sabbath, as by the observance of their Sabbath they were compelled to give up two days of the week, while their Christian competitors lost but one day: the uniform answer of these persons was thas they felt it no hardship whatever, and wished for no alteration with respect to the laws enjoining the due observance of the Sabbath. Their treatment of their own poor also reflected the highest credit on the great body of the Jewish people.—(Hear, hear.) He could not understand by what hallucination of mind the prelates in the House of Lords had in the year 1830 so far stultified their expressions of high respect for the Jews by their votes against the mea sure for removing their civil and religious disabilities. In 1833 another Bill for the same object was carried triumphantly through the Commons, and rejected by the Lords, and in 1836 the hereditary branch of the Legislature again nullified the measure passed with a great majority in the Lower House. It was sur prising that upon these three occasions the Lords should have acted with such obstinacy, and it would be a subject of deep regret if that branch of the Legis lature should again, for the fourth time, place itself in opposition to the wishes of the Commons and the rights of the electors of this great empire. —(Hear, hear.) It was intended by the Prime Minister to bring forward the measure on Monday next, when he trusted that the majority upon that occasion would he even larger than it had been upon the former divisions.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. C. LUSIIINOTON, M.P., regretted that he was not able to catch the S peaker's eye upon the occasion of the late discussion on the measure in the House of Commons, but he did the next best thing to that—he gave his most hearty vote in support of the measure. —(Hear, hear.) It appeared to Mm equally ridi culous and insensate to deny one man civil rights because he read Scripture with a different construc tion than another.—(Hear, hear.) The intelligence and literary abilities of the Jews were universally acknowledged, and yet, with the greatest incon sistency, they were considered as unfit to take a share in the government of the country. A. large debt of compensation was due to the Jews for the calumnies which had been spread by Christians respecting them, and it was a disgrace that the Jews were not now entirely freed from all disabilites.—(Hear.) Charles Cochrane, Esq., and Sir C. Aldis having addressed the meeting, the resolution was put and unanimously agreed to. The HIGU BAILIFF then read a petition which had been prepared for presentation to Parliament in con formity with the resolution. The Hon. F. BYNG then moved, "That the petition now read be adopted and presented to both Houses of Parliament; that General Sir De Lacy Evans be re quested to present that to the House of Commons, and Charles Lushington be requested to support the same ; and that the Most Hen. the Marquis of Lans downe be solicited to present that to the House of Peers." .-- PROUT, Esq., seconded the resolution, which was also unanimously agreed to. The thanks of the meeting were voted to the High Bailiff for his conduct in the chair, and the meeting broke up. MEETING IN SUSSEX BALL. A public meeting of thejeWs7residintcriLondon was held last evening in Sussex Hall, Leadenhall street, with the view of adopting a petition to Parlia ment upon the subject of the disabilities, civil and religious, under which the Jews of this country still labour. The hall was crowded with a respectable audience. Mr. Mitchell, President of the Jewish Association, in the absence of Mr. Alderman Salomons, occupied the chair; and on the platform we noticed, amongst other friends of religious freedom, Dr. Bowring, M.P. ; the Rev. Abraham Belais, late treasurer to the Bey of Tunis ; the Rev. David Meldola, chief rabbi of Portuguese Jews ; Rev. 1)r. Raphall, Rev. Aaron Levi, Rev. A. Barnett, Rev. S. Ascher, Rev. B. 11. Ascher, Rev. D. Barnett, Rev. Lindershall, Rev. —Dessola, Rev. Pisa, Rev. Ileltzell, Mr. J. 11. Parry, Mr. D. W. Wire, Colonel Gawlor, the lligh Bailiff of Southwark, Mr. A. Pellatt, The CHAIRMAN briefly opened the proceedings of the meeting, stating its objects as detailed above, and expressing his regret at the absence of Mr. Alderman Salomons, who was to have presided. The Rev. Dr. RAPilAr.r. proposed the first resolu tion :—" Resolved, That as the essential principles of the Jewish faith are founded on a revelation which is acknowledged by all Christians to be divine ; and as the practice of that faith is perfectly compatible with the well-being of society, and with its dearest in terests; the continual exclusion of her Majesty's subjects professing the Jewish faith from a full, fair, and equal participation in those political rights which every other denomination of Britons enjoys, is not , only unjust in itself, and ia 'absolute contradiction to the true spirit of the British constitution, but is like wise highly oppressive, injurious, and degrading to her Majesty's Jewish subjects." The first principle enunciated in that resolution was of too high a cha racter to be discussed at a meeting like the present; but to the second declaration, that the practice of their faith was perfectly compatible with the well-being of society and with its dearest interests, he rejoiced to think that no denial, even by their opponents, could be given. There was no one who had the slightest regard for his own character who had presumed to asperse the character or conduct of the Jews, or to charge them with any breach of principle, for which the practice of their faith was chargeable.—(Cheers.) On the contrary, many of their opponents had been noble and liberal enough to admit the blamelessness of their conduct, and that was a highly important circumstance, for history conveyed no lessors more wholesome than the great truth that actions, not opinions, were alone amenable to man's tribunals. Man was answerable for his conduct to the society of which he was a member, but for rsligi • ous faith he was responsible only to his Go I.—(Loud cheers.) It was, therefore, not less important than gratifying that they should have from those who did not support their cause the admission that the British Jews had rendered themselves liable to no accusation that could he traced home to their religious faith—a faith which for centuries had been the target for every calumny, but which, at the eleventh hour, had emerged untarnished from the fire, unscathed front the conflict.—(Cheers.) He would not attempt to go through all the matters included in the resolution, but there was one subject on which he must touch, because whilst he thanked from his soul those Chris tian friends who, in and out of Parliament, had ad vocated their cause, yet there was one point on which Jews alone could speak with propriety or with confi dence. They were told that they were a nation distinct and apart—that really and honestly they wished to lay no claim to the birthright of Britons—that all their efforts and activity were directed to far different ob jects. To that let them answer, that they formed now a great religious community, teaching one prin ciple throughout the world--their duty to their God. Let them tell them, that the political communion of the Jews ceased on the plains of Jerusalem—ceased under the persecuting hand of Adrian—ceased 1,800 years ago, and that now that they formed a religious community alone, there was no noble aspiration in which the most patriotic Briton might indulge in which the Jews did not fully share.—(Great ap plause.) Did they doubt the Jewish word ? Let them remember that the Jew never denied his prin ciples—when all that mew. hell dearest, when life itself was at stake, the Jew disdained to deny his principles. Let them believe them when they told them that they were ready to prove their love to their native land, ready to devote their best energies to the protection of their Sovereign, and, if necessary, to shed their best blood in her defence.—(Loud and protracted cheers.) In conclusion, he called upon them not to be too sanguine, but to be hopeful. They had with them the voice of reason, the opinion of an enlightened public, a good cause, and the protection of a good God. Mr. S. SAMUELS secunded the resolution, and read the oath which is proposed to be substituted for the oath at present in use. It appeared to give general satisfaction. _ Colonel GAWLOR supported the resolution. lie was not a speaker but an actor, and, as a Christian, he was willing to shed the last drop of his blood in pro curing the removal of those disabilities and degrada tions under which the Jewish people for centuries had laboured. He looked upon this as a religious ques tion, and warned them against identifying it with politics, when intelligent men of all political views concurred in desiring the removal of their disabilities. Dr. BOWRING, M.P., in further supporting the resolution, said he could not consider this as a Jewish question alone, but as a national one. It belonged to the Jews indeed, but to the British community. also. If the Jews were injured, he also was in lured, and he would tell them how. They belonged to a great commercial community. The electors of London, of whom he was one, had looked around for the best and ablest man to represent them, and they had found him amongst the Jewish people. Let them re member that it was the Christian electors who had sent Baron Rothschild to Parlia ment; and were they the Christian electors to sit in silence and see the bigots at the door of the House of Commons denying entrance to the man of their choice? —(Loud applause.) He declared that to be an in tolerable wrong, and one which could not be endured. He felt that he owed to the Jews a deep debt of grati tude, and not a debt of gratitude alone, but reparation for a long list of grievances. The Jews had been tested by adversity, and had everywhere obtained the respect of their fellow-countrymen. Looking around the nations of the world, where had the Jews failed either in their duty to the state or to the country ? Had they not furnished their contributions to poetry, to science, to literature, to art, and to every branch of knowledge.?—(Cheers.) After the great Euro pean contest, and the constitution of the United States was to be settled, when Catholic Belgium had ' nominated twelve Catholics, and Protestant Holland had nominated her twelve Protestants, and some diffi culty occurred in finding a secretary on whom reliance could be placed, had not both concurred in unani mously n )minating Mr. Myers, a distinguished Jew —(Cheers.) And now that the French people had sent Jews to the Chamber of Deputies, men who had reflected credit on the chamber of which they were members, and on the constituency who had elected them, he asked why should not the Jews of England have extended to them all the privileges possessed by the most enlightened Briton ? —(Cheers.) He had travelled much, and he had seen Jews engaged in every occupation of life, discharging in all cases their duties in en exemplary manner, exercising a wide expansive benevolence, as merchants excellent, as friends and fathers inestimable, as citizens in every respect, worthy of confidence.—(Loud cheers.) In the land of their fathers he had seen them—in the land in which they had been subjected to incredible sorrows he had witnessed their noble anxiety to justify them selves from the accusations which bigotry had directed against them, and he had witnessed the triumphant manner in which they had met those accusations. In conclusion, he called upon them to persevere. Let them be assured that their cause was good, holy, irresistible, and that another generation would not pass away without seeing the people of the ancient faith admitted to every political right. The Honourable Gentleman was rapturously applauded on resuming his seat. D. W. Witte, Esq , who was received with loud cheering, said certainly one of the most extraordinary scenes of the present age was at that moment exhi bited —the citizens of a free state assembled to demand for men who had been for centuries domiciled amongst us, and after they had shown their desire to uphold the institutions of the country, that they should be admitted to the enjoyment of their civil rights, and if they were not aware of the tenacity with which men clung to old prejudices, they might be astonished that thy were now met to ask that justice should be done, and that conscience should be free.—(Hear.) But how was this great object to be effected ? The meetings which were now being held throughout the country, the voice of the people at the last election, all proclaimed that the reign of injustice was at an end, and that their Jew fellow-subjects should be free —(Cheers)—free to enjoy every right and to fill every office which the British constitution gave to any other class. Their duty was to make that voice be heard and responded to by the Legislature, and thus place the rights of conscience beyond the power of the bigot or oppressor. It was almost a shame to repeat the argu ments which had been made use of on this question. It had been said that if s ix o r seven J ews were a dmitted into the House of Commons, Christianity would be endangered. Why, what an opinion these people must have of the divinity and power of their religion, when six or seven Jews could endanger or destroy it. —(Cheers and laughter.) But not only had that been said, but also that the Christian character of the House of Commons would be destroyed.—(Loud laughter.) Why, who ever heard before of the Christian character of the House of Commons ? (Hear, hear.) It was a fiction in law, like that other fiction they had recently seen exhibited at the election of Dr. Hampden as bishop.—(Hear, hear.) The law said, come and make your objection to the e lection, . and when they do so, it w a s th en s aid, " ° can ' t hear you."—(Hear, hear.) So it was with the Christian character o f th e H ouse o f C o mmons, as the Attorney-General h a d sa id w ith re f eren ce to the form of electing a bi s h o p, it was a s h am — a fiction, which had no foundation in fact, and which ought, therefore, to be abolished .-..(Cheers.) But suppose it was Christian in its character, did they believe that Baron Rothschild would be able to proselytise it—(Hear, hear)—or that hi s wor th y friend Mr. Salomons, if he got there, would circumcise the Members — (Loud laughter) —or that if 'th a t best of men, Sir Moses Montefi ore , was sent, h e would establish a Jewish synagogu e i n St. Stephens ?--(Continued laughter.) Why, they all knew it was a sham—a delusion,insulting to the common sense an d the jus tice of the community, and he repeated, it ought to be forthwith abandoned.—(Cheers.) The Learned. Gentleman then, in eloquent terms, referred to t i .te antiquity of the Jewish nation, which boasts an vAn cestry nobler and more ancient than the proudest of our Norman bar ons , t o th e b eau ty and sublim . tty of its literature, which existed before Homer sur,g, De mosthenes thundered, Cicero persuaded, We Virgil wrote. The songs of Moses and Deborah we re before them, a literat ure i ns pi re d by God, and :which yet formed the hope and the joy of those Jewish friends as well as professors, the love and reverence of the Christian.—(Hear, hear.) If they took men as men, the heroes and heroines of Jewish history were far beyond all that Greek or Roman history could show. But it might be said they bad since degenerated. Admit the statement for the sake of argument ; he had yet to know on what gro u n ds those who hadin flicted degradation and misery should make it argu ment for the continuance of the evil.—(Cheers.) The • SIG, ... ... _ ... i '~A.e~~ R 1, 1848. The COURT granted the application. James Shaw Forster surrendered to answer a charge of obtaining money by false pretences. Mr. Ballantine and Mr. Robinson prosecuted, and Mr. Metcalfe was for the defendant. The prisoner, it appeared, was in the service of the Eastern Counties Railway Company, and when goods brought by the railway were sent out to the persons to whom they were directed, it was his duty to give the carman a ticket for the amount of the carriage, and it seemed that the prisoner had altered the amount in ditierent instances charged by the com pany to a larger sum, appropriating the difference to himself. 'The jury returned a verdict of Guilty. Mr. BALLANTINE said that there was another in dictment of a similar character against the prisoner. The COMMON-SERJEANT inquired the a nount of money which the prisoner had by this means appro priated ? Mr. BALLANTINE said they had no means Of as certaining this, bLcause the fraud was nut upon the company, but the public. The prisoner WllB sentenced to six months' impri sonment and hard labour. Kay Hardy surrendered to answer a charge of riot and forcible entry. Mr. BALLANTINR, in opening the case for the pro secution, said, the object sought for was not to inflict punishment upon the defendant, but in order that Mr. Pigott, who was the prosecutor of the indictment, might obtain possession of his awn house, from which he had been dispossessed by the violent conduct of the defendant. The Learned Counsel then explained that the defendant was the assistant of a Mr. Baker, a surgeon, who occupied a portion of Mr. Pigott's house in Doctors'-cominons, and whose tenancy expired in December last. Instead: however, of leaving, he re mained in the house, and Mr. Pigott having by a contrivance got rid of his servant, and thus obtained possession, the defendant afterwards came and with great violence forced open the door, and regained possession, and, with Mr. Baker, still remained in the house. All that Mr. Pigott wanted was to get his house, and if possession were given up he should be content not to proceed with the indictment. Mr. CLARKSON, who appeared for the defence, said that as far as Mr. Hardy was concerned he had no desire to interfere with the dispute about the posses sion of the house, but he had no control over Mr. Baker. The only share he had in the transaction was, that finding the servant had been got out of the house by a stratagem, and that he was prevented from going into his master's place, he being at the time engaged in attending to the patients, and requiring medicine for them he had forced his way in. The COMMON-SERGEANT expressed an opinion that the charge of forcible entry against the defendant could not be supported, because the prosecutor was not justified in taking the steps he did to obtain pos session of his house. It might be very inconvenient to have a person keep a man out of his own h )use, but he must enforce his rights in a legal manner. Mr. BALLANTINE argued that after the notice had expired the parties were trespassers. Mr. Pigott only wanted to get his house to himself, and it was very hard upon him, as he was going to be married, and could not bring his wife home till lie had his house.— (A laugh.) After some discussion of a technical character, during which The COMMONSERJEA NT repeated his opinion of the law, but said he would reserve the point if it should be necessary to do so, Mr. BALLANTINE insisted upon going on with the case. Mr. W. P. Pigott was accordingly examined—He said that he was a mathematical instrument maker, and resided in Ward ro b e - p l ace, D octors ' -commons. In 1844 he let a portion of the house to Mr. Baker, a surgeon, for a period of three years, which expired at Christmas, 1847, and he gave him notice to quit, and he had no right to be in his house after that period. Mr. Baker still, however, remained there, and the defendant acted as his assistant. On the 2d of January Mr. Riker was absent from home, and while the defendant was out in the morning witness sent their servant out upon an excuse to fetch a pot of porter, and when she returned he refused to admit her. Some hours afterwards the defendant came and forced the door open with a crow-bar and again took possession, and had remained there ever since with Mr. Baker. Mr. CLARKSON said, he should not occupy the time of the jury in cross-examinati on , or i n argu i ng the point of law, but should submit that it was impossible for them, even upon the statement of the prosecutor, to convict the defendant of the off ence o f f orc i bly en tering a house from which his. employer' s servant had b ee n removed by a trick, and where under the circum stances, he might have very well considered that he had a perfect right to be. The jury immediately returned a verdict of Not Guilty. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. M ANSION-110 USE. Thos. Schack was brought before the Lord Mayor, charged with having uttered a forged checque for the sum of 1001. upon the house of Messrs. Rothschild. Mr. F. G. Kirchem, clerk to Messrs. Rothschild, of New-court, St. Swithin's-lane, stated that the pri soner presented a bill of exchange for 1001. and received the amount. The acceptance (that of Messrs. Rothschild) was genuine ; but the signature at the back, purporting to be that of Lawrence WHber, was fictitious. The prisoner I - Lal acknow ledged that the endorsement was a forgf•ry. The firce received a letter afterwards, in relation to an other bill which was forged, advising that the person who should present it should be detained. The pri son, r was remanded. The LORD Miroa, said he had to acknowledge the second half of the 10/. note from " A. 8.," and a 51. note from " W. S. 5.," and 10s. from " D.," for the poor•box. I VORSHIP-STREET. ¶two miserable-looking men named John Baines and George Downes, the latter of whom stated that he had carried on business az a master butcher in the district fur upwards of thirty years, and paid all the rates and taxes to which he was amenable, and the former described himself as by trade a tripe dresser, applied to Mr. Hammill for his interference in their behalf with the parish officers of the IVhitechapel Union, by whom, as they alleged, they had been in sufficiently relieved. Baines, who was so ill that he had been obliged to rest his head upon his hands for support, and was so deaf that it etas with difficulty the magistrate could make him hear him, stated that about five or six weeks ago, his children, of whom he had then four, were seized with the smallpox, and that his wife, who had been anxiously attending upon them, suddenly dropped down in a fit of apoplexy and expired. The death of the mother was followed in three or four hours afterwards by that of one of the children, and, being reduced to extreme distress and privation fur the sub sequent weeks, without any provision for his three remaining children, one of whom was deaf and dumb, and all of them in had health, he was compelled on Satur day at two o'clock to apply at the workhouse foradmis sion. There he saw the overseer, who told him to come again at six in the evening, which he did, and after being detained there till eight, r ece i ve d a small piece of dry bread only for each of them and an order for one night's lodging. On presenting this, he and his children were taken down a gateway into a kind of long shed, apart from the workhouse, where about 40 other outcasts were admitted, and lay huddled toge ther in a row up on th e ground, with nothing but some straw to serve for a bed. The place, which was ex tremely wretched, had two skylights in the roof, but so many of the panes in these were broken that the wind and rain poured down upon them throughout the night, and they were almost paralyzed with the cold and damp, which produced in him a severe attack of rheumatism, and had so affected his hearing that it was only with great difficulty that he had been able to hear and understand anything since. The place, too, was so infested with rats that they were unceasingly annoyed by them until the next morning, when they were all turned out, without any food being given them, and went to the residence of the overseer, to whom he represented the illness of himself and children, and requested that they might be permanently admitted into the workhouse. This was positively refused by the relieving officer, who would give them no other accommodation or relief than that they had previously had, and feeling too ill to again endure this, he was standing in the street considering what he should do, when a gentleman who was attracted by the grief of his children, who were all crying around him, came up, and on hearing his statement, presented him with 64. to purchase some food and procure a lodging for the night, which he was at last able to do at a place in Flower-and Dean-street. He had lived for 40 years in the parish and been for four years in the service of a Mr. Bar ton, of Tabernacle-square, who was now willing to again employ him ; but, with his recent deakess, and the rheumatism in every bone, it was impossible for him to work, and as he should be put into the same dangerous place he was before put into if he went to the workhouse again, he was obliged to lay his case before the magistrate. Three of this man's children were shivering on the floor round the fire of the outer office, and the eldest, a boy about 11 or 12 years of age, who was resting his body on the coal-scuttle, manifestly v ery ill, and whose naked skin was visible in several places through his scanty clothing, the father stated that he was afraid he should not have alive in the morning. Downes stated that he was sixty-one years of age, and having purchased the house in which he had car ried on business for the period above mentioned, sus tained such a severe relapse in his trade, that he had lost everything he had, and, being reduced to the greatest poverty, was obliged at last to apply to the parish. They lodged him in the workhouse for a week, and he was there as comfortable as could be expected, but they discharged him last Thursday , morning, with an order for one night's lodgings, and on presenting it in the evening, he was put into the same place as the last complainant, with a piece of bread the size that Baines had described his; but thinking it prudent to save his bread till the morning, lest he should not get any more, he placed it in his hat, and on awaking found that it had been devoured by the rats, who had also carried ca the handker chief in which it had been wrapped, and which he had some difficulty in extricating from the hole down which it had been carried His description of the lodging was much the same as Baines's, with the ex- . ception that he had been partly covered during the night he slept there with a sack filled with straw, but the place was so damp he was afraid he should lose his life if he again slept there; and upon applying anew at the workhouse, he had been presented with an order to break stones or pick oakum ; but this, from his age and ill health, he was incapable of performing, and as he could get no other relief he also thought it moat expedient to apply to the magistrate. Rowland, the warrant officer, having stated that he had known the last witness for many years as a well to-do tradesman in the district, and that he be lieved his description of his misfortunes to be true, Mr. Hammtm. expressed some surprise at the state ment of the applicants, and having said that he con sidered their cases well worthy of more consideration than they had received, and his astonishment that they had not been better attended to, directed Row land to present each of them with is. from the funds of the poor-box for their immediate exigencies, and then proceed with them t* the office of the relieving officer, with a representation of his opinion of their claims, and a request that they should be at once attended to. The applicants thanked the magistrate for his kind ness with great gratitude, and left the court with thh• officer and children. LAMBETH. William Hancock, and Mary Elizabeth Hancock, his daughter, were placed at the bar before Mr. Elliott, on a charge of stealing a gold watch and a quantity of plate, the property of Mrs. Burrows, a lady residing at No 6, Canal-grove, Old Kent-road. The prisoner admitted that he had been in the deepest distress, but accounted for his possession of the money by saying he had disposed of a chest of drawers for three guineas, and that the money found upon him was part of the produce of the drawers. Mr. ELLIOTT remanded the prisoners. SOUTH IV A RK. Thomas Barnash, a pugilist, was brought before Mr. Cottingham, charged with committing a violent assault on policeman 137 L, and rendering him unfit for the performance of his duties. The policeman, who appeared to be very seriously injured, stated that on Saturday night, while on duty near the Surrey Theatre, he interfered to prevent s fight between the prisoner and another man. The moment, however, of his interference, he was struck by the prisoner and knocked down, and while on the ground his assailant knelt upon his breast with such force as to deprive him for some time of the power of breathing; in addition to which he was also kicked in the side, but he could not undertake to say posi tively the prisoner was the person by whom it was inflicted. The policeman here handed in a medical certificate, describing that he had received some serious internal injuries, which incapacitated him from attending to his duties, and adding that it was impossible as yet to ascertain the extent of them. The prisoner, in defence, said that some time ago he received a wound in the head, from the effects of which he suffered much, particularly when he drank; that on the night in question, while drinking at the bar of a public-house near the Surrey Theatre, he was insulted by a man, and that they went out to settle their difference, when the policeman interfered, and that it was by accident he (prisoner) fell upon him in the way described, which he should not have done if he had not been in liquor. Mr. COTTINGIIAM, in strong language, denourced the conduct of the prisoner, who, he said, had evinced great brutality on the occasion. The men following the avocation of pugilists, he must say, generally displayed much courage, and even if insulted by those over whom they knew they possessed much advantage in point of skill and science in the art of boxing, yet instances were rare in which they used them against such persons. The Magistrate added that, as it was impossible to predict what might be the consequences of the prisoner's violence towards the policeman, he should commit him to prison for one month instead of inflicting a penalty, and that in the meantime if the policeman died, ho could be brought up again from the gaol to answer for the more serious charge. The prisoner's wife, with a baby in her arms, soon afterwards supplicated for an alteration in the magis trate's decision, saying that imprisonment would be the ruin of him and his family, and that she would endeavour to raise the money to pay any fine that might be inflicted. Mr. CorriNGllA.Ni refused to listen to the applica tion, and the prisoner was committed. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOL, JAW. 31. STOCK EXCHA NG E.—The O lites are—East Lancashire, New, 3 a dis.—Great Northern, 5% c. dis.— Great Western, 171. Shares, p.—Lancashire and Yorkshire, Fifths, t tz p.— Ditto, 32/. Shares, 5 c. die.--London and North-Western, 152 c.—Ditto, New Quarters, 6ts p.—Ditto, Fifths, 9 1 ,‘ 2 p. —Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Preference, . 1 %; p.—Ditto, Quarters, No. 1, p.—Midland, 40/. Sh ares , 44 3 4 —Ditto, halves, dis.—North British, Quarters, 1 4 c. —North Statl. , rdshire, :1/ 4 p.—North union (A), 209 c.— Shrewsbury and Chester (late N. W. M.), New, P-7- S4.uth-Eastern and Dover, 31'4 c.—Ditto, New, No. 1, 3 1 / 1 dis.---- Ditto, No. 4, 1 1 4 dis.—York, Newcastle, and Ber wick (N. and B. Extensions), No. 2, 3 1 1 c. p.—Ditto (G. N. E. Purchase), 2% p.—Ditto, Preference, 2N, p. MANCHESTER, Jaw. 31. STOCK EXCH ANO E.—The sales are—Birkenhead, Lanca shire, and Cheshire Junction, 5 1 ,(--East Anglian, New Pre ference 1 ,4 dis.—Great Northern, 5% dia.—Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal, Thirds, % dis.—Lancashire and Yorkshire, 321. Shares, 4 3 ,4 dis.—Ditto (West Riding Union), dis.—London and North-Western (Manchester and Birmingham), Quarters (q), 4 p.—Manchester, Shef field. and Lincolnshire (Sheffield and Lincolnshire), 54 die. --North Staffordshire, 13-16 p. — South -Eastern and Dever, No. 4,1% dis.—York, Newcastle, and Berwick, Extensions, No. 2, 3 5-16. p. HULL, JAN. 31. STOCK EXCHANGE —The sales are—Blackburn, Damen, and Bolton, 10 R. dis.—North British, Quarters, Is. 61 c. dis.—llitto, Extension (scrip), 9d. dis. AN INFERNAL MACHINE AT SIIEFFIELD.—TIIO Sheffield Iris states, that early y es t er d ay morning week an attempt was made to blew up the premises of Mr. Marples joiners' t oo l- ma k er. The infernal machine used for the purpose was similar to others used in that town for like diabolical (Alecto; being formed of an iron tab. of great thickness, and plugged at each end with lead, while a kind of touch-hole was left in the middle of the barrel for tho insertion of the patent fuse. The villains gained access to the premises by scaling a high wall, and had placed the loaded tube under the warehouse, through a door which opened into the yard. When the explo sion took place no further mischief was done than the blowing down of the door. Mr. Marples had not been a member of a trades' union for two years, and had had no dispute with any of his men. CMRIST CHURCH, SURREY.—A few days since the trustees of Mr. Marshall's estates assembled for the purpose of electing a rector of Christ Church, Surrey, rendered vacant by the death of the Rev. Mr. Mapleton. The Rev. T. M'Gill, 8.A., curate of Clapham, and the Rev. G. W. Lewis, M.A., minister of fit, Peter's, Southwark, wore nominated; and the votes of the trustees were found to be—in favour of Mr. M‘Gill, 5; and in favour of Mr. Lewis, 5. Neither party would give way; and as it was found impossible under the cir cumstances to proceed to theielection, it was agreed that the matter should be referred to the Bishop of Win. Chester, and that his decision should be final. A state ment of the case was laid before his Lordship, who forth with appointed Mr. Lewis to the benefice. '''HE HERRING FISHERIES.—The Lords Commis. sioners of her Majesty's Treasury having had under consideration a report of the Commissioners of Customs, have just issued orders for the admission, without pay ment of duty, of fir wood hewn, not exceeding 'three feet in length, nor exceeding eight inchos square, equally with birch wood of the same dimensions, when imported for the sole purpose of making herring barrels for the use of the fisheries.—Scotsnian. [ADVERTISEMENT.] Debilitated Constitutions, Disordered Liver, Bile, and Indigestion, cured by Hol loway's Pills.—The good effects produced by this salutary medicine are really extraordinary, and speak 'volumes is favour of its excellence in the cure of impaired Digestion. Bile, diseases of the Liver and Chest. The benefits de• rived from the use of Holloway's Pills in these com• plaints are permanent, as the whole system is completely renovated, by inducing a healthy action of the liver, strengthening the organs of digestion, and promoting a free respiration. Persons suffering from any of these disorders should immediately have recourse to this esta blished remedy, to ensure a safe, certain, and speedy cure. —Sold by all vendors of medicine, and at Professor Ilol• leway's Establishment, 244, Strand, London. BIRTHS. On the 24th ult., at Turuharn-green, Mrs. John Fletcher, of a daughter. On the 24th ult., at River Hill, near Seven Oaks, the lady of.J.ihn Rogers:, Esq., of a daughter. On the 26th ult., at Teignmouth, the lady of Captain F. T. Meik, h. p. 16th Lancers, of a daughter. at the 27th ult., at ;Chester-terrace, Regent's -park, thi lady of Charles Gould, Esq., of a son. (in the 27th ult., in Beutinck-street, Mrs. Frederick Nichol!, of a son. MARRIICD. On the 29th nit., George Faish, Esq., of Brixton, Sump to Elizabeth, relict of the late William }feline, Esq., of City terrace. City-road. DI SD. ^ _ On the 29th ult., after a few days' illness, Mr. William Andrew Bain, of 2, Duke. street, 'Westminster, newspaper agent, in the stlth year of his age. On the 25th ult., at Putney, Mrs. Hussey, aged 82. On the 25th ult., at Southampton, Sir William D'Arey Todd, KR, aged 77. London: Printed and Published by MUBDO YOUNG, it No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 111. Strand, in the l'recinct of the Savoy, is the malty 01 bliddluez,Tuesklay, February 1,184 S. true Christian would give liberty to all, and extend to all the blessings of citizenship, until the earth should become a scene of happiness, and men, and angels, and God himself rejoice in the spectacle. The Learned Gentleman sat down amidst continued applause. The resolution was then put and carried unani mously. Mr. HYAM HYAMS proposed the second resolution, which was seconded by Mr. DAVID HESSE, sup ported by Mr. PARRY, and carried unanimously : " Resolved, That the electors of the city of London, by the return of the Baron Lionel de Rothschild as one of their representatives in the Commons House of Parliament, have expressed forcibly their convic tion of the inutility and injustice of such exclusion, and of its incompatibility with the spirit of the age and the institutions of the country." Other resolutions, expressive of gratification at the Bill which Lord Jord John Russell has introduced into the House of Commons ; conveying the thanks of the meeting to that portion of the press, and to those Christian gentlemen who have furthered the principles of religious emancipation ; and adopting petitions to the Legislature embodying the first two resolutions, were also carried unanimously and with acclamati' , n. Several gentlemen of eloquence and ability ad dressed the meeting in enforcing these resolutions, and at the conclusion a vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman, when the meeting, which had beon throughout most unanimous, and will not probably be without its effect, separated. CAMERON'S COALBROOK STEAM COAL, AND SWANSEA AND LOUGHOR RAILWAY COMPANY. The usual annual extraordinary general meeting of the above company was held yesterday, at the offices in Moorgate-street—Colonel Cameron, chair. man of the board of directors, in the chair. A dividend of 8 per cent. for the past half year was declared upon the colliery account. The Railway Report was read, from which it. ap peered that the company was prepared to proceed with the line, but the directors recommended that the works should be delayed for a short time. The cut of coal in the company's collieries had increased during the last half-year as compared with the previous half-year, by between three and four thousand tons ; and in order to render the price of their coal less de pendent upon the fluctuations of freightage charges, the company had determined to purchase a fleet, and become their own shippers. Mr. B. SoLomoxs suggested that the dividend had better be postponed till the next meeting. Two calls had recently been made, and he strongly sus pected that the proceeds had been applied to the pur poses of this dividend. The CHAIRMAN said the Honourable Proprietor was mistaken, the dividend was paid out of profits. The balance-sheet would be laid before the next meeting, a copy of which he would undertake should be sent to each shareholder a week before the holding of that meeting. The report was adopted, and a vote of thanks having been passed to the Chairman, the meeting terminated. WEST CORNWALL RAILWAY. A special general meeting of the proprietors of the West Cornwall Railway w as held yesterday at the offices of the company in Broad-street -buildings, for the purpose of deciding whether the works of the line should be proceeded with at once or postponed for two years ; Captain Moorsoin in the chair. The CHAIRMAN stated that the company was under certain liabilities, which could not be met if they were inclined to postpone their works, and therefore the directors proposed to ask the shareholders for power to proceed with so much of the line as lay between Hoyle and Penzance, a distance of about 17 miles, which could be made for 80,0001., and which it was estimated would yield a return of between 8 and 9 per cent. After some discussion, the meetinh proceeded to vote upon the question for which it had been con vened, when there appeared — For proceeding. Against it . The assents being more than three-fifths of the shares delivered in, the directors were empowered under the Act to proceed with the works. The meeting terminated with the customary vote of thanks to the Chairman. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, Jan. 31. (Before Mr. Commissioner SHEPHERD.) IN THE BANKRUPTCY OF CALLOW AND TF.YRRSHAM. The bankrupts were stockbrokers in l• inch-lane and Cornhill. This was a meeting for the last examination, which was adjourned by direction of the Commissioner, in order that the bankrupt Callow may be enabled to furnish the assignees with a sepa rate cash account. The main items of the joint balance sheet, which begins January, 1846, and ends December 9, 1847, are as follow :—Creditors, 42/. ; creditors holding security, 9,9221.; amount received from Mr. Teversham's private estate, 1561.; capital of Mr. Teversham, the younger, 1,350/. • amount of commission, 2.7131.; amount received from Mr. Smallbone, 925/. ; amount received from Mr. Tever sham, being paid by them as security to the Stock Exchange. The credit side of the balance sheet has the following :—Doubtful debts, 7,7201.; security in the hands of creditors, 2901.; losses, 5,5921.; ex penses, 5351.; amount drawn out by Edmund Callow, 1,1841.; ditto by Mr. Teversham, 6811. IN THE BANKRUPTCY OF THE SALISBURY BANK. On Saturday last Mr. Abrahall, the registrar of Mr. Commissioner Evans' court, together with the principal officers of the same court, sat in the White Hart Inn, Salisbury, for the purpose of taking the proofs of debts in this matter. About 200 proofs, amounting to about 6,0001., were received. The convenience of which this arrangement is produc tive to the small creditors is shown by the fact, that the great majority of the claims averaged under 201. The next meeting under the fiat is fixed for the 3d proximo. INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, Jan. 31. The cases heard in this court offered no materials for a detailed report. In the case of .lo , eph Freeman, a rent collector, who was opposed for a breach of trust in not paying over rents which he had received to the extent of Mr. Commissioner PHILLIPS refused to make any final order. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. OLD COURT. Louis Francois Bacent surrendered to take his trial upon an indictment charging him with. committing wilful and corrupt perjury. Mr. \Vilde prosecuted; and Mr. Metcalfe appeared for the defence. From the statement of the Learned. Counsel for the prosecution, and the evidence addueel, it appeared that the prosecutor is a Frenchman named Chilman, who kept a shop in Exeter 'Change for the sale of foreign fancy articles, and the defena ant, who is also a native of France, had been in the ha bit of transacting business with him in the sale of suck articles. About the month of September there had been some dis puted accounts between them, and the prosecutor was sued by Bavent npon a bill of exchange for 231., and in the course of the legal proceedings the latter went before the Learned Judge at chambers and made two affidavits, in which he stated that: the prosecutor had expressed his intention to leave the country, and upon this he was arrested. It was upon these affidavits that the allegation of perjury was founded, and the prosecutor, who was the principal witness, swore positivelir that he never had any such intention as that imputed to him by the defendant, and never represented se to him. Upon being cross-examined, however, he staid that upon one occasion he did tell the defendant 'chat he might be compelled to go to Paris to make arrangements to get the goods he sold in his busines s, if he (the defendant) would not act as his agent, and he said that it was possible he might have in ferred that it was his intention to go to France. Sot ae of the other allegations made by the defendant in liis affidavits were negatived by the par ties to wh(Jui they referred; but it appeared that whereas th'. affidavits were made in English, the de fendant wa.•i entirely ignorant of that language, and therefore r..ould only have bee n aware o f their onteuts by having them explained by other parties. The Cos datox-SeeoeanT, at the close of the case for the pm - .secution, inquirecbwhich of the allegations of perjury• the Learned Counsel for the prosecution consider( :d to be negatived by the testimony of two witnesse s ? Air. .. ,, VILDE said, he must admit that it did appear to him that, although the_ whole of the allegations wen, contradicted generally by the different witnesses, no tone oft hem was disproved by the poiitive oaths of two witnesses. CiJMNION-SERJHANT said, as this was the case t,oe indictment must fall to the ground, the Act of Parliatner ,t requiring that on charges of perjury the evidence suf the party accused of thnt offence should be contradicted by two witnesses at least. The jury accordingly returned a verdict of Not Guilty. Mr. WILDa made an application to the Court in re ference to a charge of misdemeanour, preferred by the Comrni. ssioners of Lunacy, against a surgeon, for having i . inproperly signed a certificate of lunacy. The bill was found by the grand jury at the last sessions, and the Learned Counsel stated that the indictment was a very special one, drawn under an Act of Par liament t hat had only very recently passed, and in re ference to , - which no prosecution had ever yet been instituted. He therefore intended to move the Court of Queen's . Bench for a writ of certiorari to remove the indictmt •nt into that court, and his present appli cation was„ • that the case should stand over to give him an opplA dimity of taking that proceeding. BR • t 4:: • N,