The Sun. — London, England, 1848-08-18 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. , WESTERN ClRCUlT.—Devizes, August 16. (Before Mr. Justice COLERIDGE.) George Pargeter was indicted for the manslaughter of Arthur Augustus Lea on the 10th of May, at Swindon. Mr. Slade and Mr. Cole were counsel for the prosecu tion ; and Mr. Stone and Mr. Cox for the prisoner. Mr. Sl.Jaan stated that ho appeared on the part of the Crown to conduct this prosecution, which arose out of a lamentable and fatal accident which occured on the Great Western Railway, at Shrivenham, in Berkshire. The prisoner was 'charged with neglect of duty on the 10th of May as a policeman on the line, by which neglect the accident occurred which occasioned the death of the deceased. If the doing a thing was a plain and ordinary duty of a man, and if the man exercising care and caution would have performed that duty—if he omitted to do that, the man would be guilty of a want of reasonable, ordinary, and proper care, and if death en sued in coneequenco the man would be guilty of man slaughter. The duty of the prisoner was to keep the line clear at this station and its neighbourhood from all casual and wilful obstruction ; and in the event of any obstruction being upon the line his duty was to make certain signals, so that the drivers of engines might have notice. The duties of a policeman were plainly expressed in printed instructions, which were given to the different servants on the line. There were day sig nals and night signals. The day signal was indicated by a policeman pointing with his right arm extended, and this showed that all was clear. If there was reason to apprehend danger, although no actual obstruction existed, he wax to hold up his hand in a vertical posi tien. If there was an obstruction on the line the orders were to hold up both hands in a vertical position. In addition, there were certain signal posts upon which was placed a round disc, and underneath that disc there was a crAs bar. When the diso was turned on the cross bar was not eeen, and when the cross bar was turned on the disc was not seen. The " all-right" signal was the turn ing on of the dise. At the Shrivenham station, when these 4g-nals were turned on at the top of the high post or mast, the driver had an opportunity of seeing them at a distance of two miles; and it was the duty of the polieeman, if there was any obstruction on the line, not only when the train was approaching, to hold up both hands, but it was his duty to have turned on the cross bar signal. There were two express trains, one leaving Exeter at half-past six in the morning, and arriving in London at eleven, and and another leavin g c , Exeter at twelve, arriving in London at half-past four. This latter train was duo at Shrivenham at a very short time of or three o'clock, and it went through that place at a speed of from 55 to 60 miles an hour. On the day in question the express-train left Exeter at twelve o'clock. It was due at Shrivenham a little after three, but in con sequence of some delay below it was a quarter of an hour later. At the time of the accident, the train being momentarily expected, it was the duty of the policeman to keep the line clear. lie ought to have kept a bright and sharp look-out, so as to take care that no obstruc tion existed. At three o'clock the " all right " signal was turned on, and continued so at sixteen minutes past three. The driver of the express train saw the " all right" signal on his approach to the station, and he saw the prisoner standing at his box makik the " all right" signal with his arm; but at that veyy time there was a horse-box on the line and a cattle trues hanging over the line. The train came with amazing violence against the cattle truck. The sides of many of the carriages were torn, and several persons were killed and a great many wounded. Mr. Lea was thrown out upon the line; both his legs were broken; he bad severe internal injuries; he lingered until the 13th of May, on which day he died. After the driver saw Pargeter, he saw another man cross the line and hold up both hands to indicate immediate danger; but it was then too late. Experiments had since been made to ascertain how long the obstruction had been on the line; and from those experiments of turning trucks on the turn-table, as had been done on that day, it was evident that this obstruction had existed for five minutes before the arrival of the train; therefore it was believed that the jury must come to the conviction that the prisoner had been guilty of gross negligence. In - the course of the examination of the witnesses, one - Of them stated that he saw the cattle-truck and horse-box placed upon the line, but that was done not more than a minute before the train came up. The driver of the express train that day stated that he saw the " all right" signal on two miles from the station; in consequence of some bridges ho lost the sight twice, but be had the signal in view for more than half a mile from the station, and had anything then been shown to indicate danger he could have pulled up. On approach ing the station ho saw the horse-box and cattle-truck on the line, and then blew his whistle for all the breaks to be put down; bi. 4 the distance was too short, and he could not prevent the collision. The engine threw the cattle-true& upon the platform; it must then have fallen back, and it completely gutted the carriages, tearing the papeengers out. It was proved that it took from a minute to a minute and a halt to move the horse-box from the goods shed to the place where it was standing on this occasion, and it would take about the same time to move tho cattle-truck afterwards to the place where that was de posited, and then it would take two and a half minutes to move a goods track as it was moved on that day. It was impossible the policeman could have helped seeing the cattle-truck and horse-box had ho been looking that Wily: He was standing 400 feet from the spot where enose trucks were standing. The down .train had only gone five minutes before the accident. It was eighty yurds from the down signal-post to the up signal-post. The prisoner had to attend to the gates of a crossing in addition to attending to the signals. The body of Mr. Lea was picked up immediately after the accident. He wee taken to the station at Swindon, and he died there. Both his legs had been fractured, and there was a severe shock to the system. He died from the rupture of a vessel on the brain caused by a reaction of the shock. The station-waster, Corbett Hudson, was called, but did not answer, although ho had been bound over to appear. Mr. STONE complained of his non-appearance. Mr. Justice COLERIDGE said that, even at this mo ment, if the Learned Counsel wished it, he would post pone the trial. Mr. STONE would not take advantage of his Lordship's offag. The Learned Counsel then addressed the jury for thb prisoner. There must be a great and undoubted neglect of duty shown before they could convict the pri soner. He submitted that this was all the result of acci dent. The duties of the prisoner were very difficult to perform. He had to watch two gates to a road crossing on a level, and these gates had not locks on them. The watching those dates, therefore, became of the utmost importance. The up-train that day was late. The down train, which was due a't 3h. 17m. name down earlier than usuoi. The station clerk crossed the line in order to at tend to the down-train, and all persons were engaged upon it until it started. The evidence of that station clerk would have be* of the utmost importance to the prisoner, but unfortunately he was not here; he did not blame the prosecutor for his absence. The evidence now was, that the obstruction was not on the line more than one minute, and it was not in the power of the prisoner to have gone the 80 yards from the down signal, which he had to regulate on the dispatch of the down-train, to the upper signal, even had he seen the obstruction. He submitted that there had not been such great negligence as to make the prisoner responsible, and to induce them to find him guilty of a felony. A clergyman, of Corsham, gave the prisoner a most excellent character as a most cautious and attentive man. Mr. Justice COLERIDGE then summed up the case to the jury. Tho public interest was best served by a strict inquiry into these matters when they arose. Ile thought the prosecution a most proper one, because it was rea sonable, when these great evils occurred, to suppose that some persons had caused them by want of care and cau tion. Such matters should bo diligently examined, and the parties, if guilty, should be brought to justice. The prisoner was charged, that, having undertaken a certain office, the performance of which affected the lives and property of her Majesty's subjects, and care and caution being necessary, he had been wanting in that due care and caution. Two propositions were involved in the question—first, that he had not used due care and cau fon ; and secondly, that the want of that care and cau tioa had occasioned the death of the deceased. If they should think ho had been guilty of a want of due care and caution, still, if they were not satisfied that the death had bees caused by it, ho was not guilty ; and if he had caused the death, but not in consequence of want of due care and caution, then he would not be guilty. Whey must be satisfied in the affirmative on both points, that he had not used care and caution, and had occasioned the death. As to the degree of care and caution that might be required in any case, that must be measured by the consequences which would result from the want of them. Let them take the case of a car penter who, with a knife or any implement, was cutting a via( ; it was not of much consequence whether he cut too deep or not, and if he did cut too deep it would not be said that ho had been guilty of want of care. But let them suppose the case of a surgeon performing an ope ration nom a vital part; they would require that in the use of his knife he should exercise a much greater degree of tare and caution than they would expect from the car penter cutting a stick. They must look at the conse quences of tbr want of caution in order to estimate the degree necessary. it was a part of a man's undertaking. He must look to the duties he had to perform, and he undertook to bring a proper amount of skill and care and elution in the exercise of his duty, in proportion to what that office reasonably required from him. A person in the prisoner's situation ought to be a very careful an d a very caut i ous man , b ecause th e e onsequenees of the want of it were so very fright ful. he prisoner knew that upon that line carriages were ' Carried at a rate of sixty miles an hour, and that they came with suc h a force hat they would destroy a house if they came against it. He knew it would re quire a cectaiti space of time to . stop the carriages ; he therefore knew t requiredn him to be very c aut i ous t o keep the lin e . clear, that a dtih it were not cl e ar t o g i ve th e earliest intelligenceere was an obstruction; there fore they had a rigih3ttoexect from the p r i soner great list, on care and caution. the other h an d , t h ey must re member-that they were trying a m who was an i n fi rm and fallible! creature and therefore they would d ea l with conduct candidly. They would but th e y wou ld not require f rom hi m prisoner absolute pert( ction of care and caution,.lieit riad used d ue gay, upon the facts, whether theege of oi and proper caution in the discharge duty; and then to determine from the evidence whether, supposing that he had done all that lie could from the t have seen the obstruct i o n—whe ther , even then, e ought to the train corning at the rate it was coming at, could have been ate' pet]; because if h e had not such time that doing a ll be could the train uld not have been stopp e d, and the accident would have happened though he had been dili gent, then it could not be said that his want of dilige nce had occasioned the accident. The jury found the prisoner Guilty. Mi. Cox then moved, in arrest of judgment, that the evidence did not support the indictment, and that the indictment ought to hare set out the duties required of the prisoner. The averment was, that the prisoner was to perform certain dutiee according to certain rules and regulations. Those rules and regulations were not stated. Secondly, it was not alleged that the prisoner had knowledge of the obstruction. Thirdly, it was averred that it was his duty to make certain signals, without stating what those signals were. Mr. COLE was heard in answer. Mr. Justice COLERIDGE decided against the motion, and sentenced the prisoner to three months' imprison ment. His Lordship, in passing sentence, observed that he had a difficulty in passing a lenient sentence from a fear that it would be misunderstood, and that persons might imagine they could be negligent with impunity ; but he wished all to understand that should anything of the kind again occur, parties might be assured their punishment would be very severe. He trusted that should the prisoner, after suffering his i m prisonment, be reinstated, he would never be otherwise than most dili gent in the discharge of his duty. James Weyhury and William Willoughby, the porters, were indicted for the same offence. Mr. COLE, on behalf of the prosecution, said, that these parties were the porters by whom it was alleged the horse box and cattle truck had been put upon the rail. They had already been tried on the charge in Berk. shire, and had been there acquitted. As the facts were precisely the same he should not offer any evidence. The prisoners were consequently Acquitted. As soon as these cases were disposed of, Mr. Justice Coleridge set out for Bristol. Bristol, August 17. Mr. Justice COLERIDGE opened the commission in this city yesterday afternoon. The causes were entered very slowly in the evening, and at the sitting of the Court this morning the causo list came out with twenty three cases in it. ROME ClRCUlT.—Guildford, Aug. 17. The business of this assize progresses very slowly. Mr. Justice Coltman finished trying the prisoners on Tuesday evening, and proceeded to town without taking any of the causes, a number of which still remain to be disposed of. The Lord Chief Baron has been engaged during the last two days in trying common-jury cases, but none of them possessed any feature of interest to the public. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MARLBORO UGH-STREET. Mary Ann Edwards, a girl about sixteen years of age, was brought before Mr. Bingham for final examina tion, charged with stealing a quantity of silver plate, the property of Mr. Rees Silvanus Bamfield, Percy-street, Itathbone-place. The prosecutor stated that he lodged at Mr. Tate's, Percy-street, Rathbone-place, and the prisoner was servant there until the 22d of July, when she left in consequence of some disagreement. On Sunday morn ing, the 23d of July last, witness missed from his sitting room, two silver salt-cellars, twelve silver spoons, a butter-knife, and various other articles, his property, and worth about 101. He had seen the property safe in the sideboard drawee the previous night. Eliza Clifton said she was servant to Mr. Fred. Henry Tate, Percy-street. On the 23d of July last, a little after seven in the morning, the prisoner came there and asked if she could see Mrs. Piper, a person who lodged on the second floor. Witness said " Yes," and let her in. She went up stairs, and in about ten minutes she (witness) heard some one run down stairs, go out and shut the street door. About a quarter of an hour after that witness went into Mr. Bamfield's room, on the first flpor, and missed the articles named by him, which she had seen safe there the previous night. Emma Boughton said she was servant at 23, Percy street. A little after seven, on the 23d of July, she was in the drawing-room, and saw the prisoner looking down the area of Mr. Tate's house, on the opposite side of the way. Witness then saw the prisoner go into the house, and in about ten minutes afterwards she saw the prisoner come out with a large bundle under her shawl, and im mediately run up the street. John Sergeant, 65 E, said, on Saturday last he took the prisoner into custody, and took her on suspicion of having stolen a quantity of plate from 18, Percy-street. She denied all knowledge of the robbery, or having any idea where Percy-street was, but when she arrived at the station witness heard her state that she lived as ser vant with Mr. Tate, 18, Percy-street. Witness saw her in that street at about twenty minutes before six on the morning of the robbery, and he spoke to her at the time. The prisoner, who protested her innocence, was fully committed for trial. SOUTHWARK. James Stevens alias Parrott was brought before Mr. ' Cottingham for re-examination, charged with stealing upwards of 2001. worth of Daguerreotype portraits, the property of M. A.:Claudet, King William-street, Strand, and of Mr. J. E. Magall, of the Daguerreotype Institu tion, West Strand. Mr. Frederick Claudet stated that tho mahogany case and 13 daguerreotype pictures, with cases,' frames, and glass (produced), are the property of his father, and were placed in a case which was daily exhibited outside their door, for show as specimens. That ho missed the the frame and pictures about half-past ten o'clock on Saturday morning last, and Lin the course of the same day he saw the prisoner in custody, and the case, con taining 13 pictures, in the possession of Moy, the po liceman. William Barton said he was in the employ of Mr. Claudet, and that he was in the habit of hanging out the case containing the pictures, and fastening it .to the door by a padlock. He added, that he missed them from the situation in which he had placed them in an hour af terwards, on Saturday last. Moy, the policeman, stated that on Saturday morning, between eleven and twelve o'clock, he took the prisoner into custody at a pawnbroker's-shop, in Blackfriars road, and at the same time received one of the pictures, which the pawnbroker said the prisoner had offered to pledge. Ho (the policeman) searched the prisoner, and found in his pockets two other pictures, and some brass fittings, claimed by Mr. Claudet; also the duplicate of another picture, pledged at another pawnbroker's shop. The prisoner refused to give his address, but witness subsequently ascertained that he lived in Back-court, Bear-lane, Blackfriars-road. On going there, he found a woman who answered to the name of Parrott, and in the room he discovered a mahogany case, also nine other pictures claimed by Mr. Claudet, and some others of a similar description, belonging to another artist. Mr. John Edwin Magall stated that he resided at No. 433, West Strandland that he is a daguerreotype artist; that on Friday last he missed from the front of his house a mahogany case of daguerreotype portraits, - ,value 1001. The lock had been forced from the frame where it was fixed. It was the custom to put out that case, as speci mens, between eight and nine o'clock daily. The five portraits and view produced are part of those he missed on the day in question. He added, that he never re membered having seen the prisoner until he was taken into custody, and also that he was of opinion that another man must have assisted the prisoner in remov ing the mahogany case from the situation where it was taken from. Frederick Cobden stated that he is in the service of Mr. Magall, and remembered putting out the specimen case and pictures on Friday morning, between eight and nine o'clock. He placed out two cases, and they were fastened together with a padlock, and ho missed them in about an hour afterwards. Joseph Hodges stated that he is shopman to Mr. Fol kard, in Blackfriars-road, and that on the morning of the 11th inst., the prisoner brought a Daguerreotype minia ture and pledged it. He told him that he had it to make a case. The next day the prisoner called again and brought another protrait, but witness having previously received information of the robberies committed on the complain ants, sent for a policeman and gave the prisoner into custody. Mr..CorriptcHais asked the prisoner if he wished to make any statement on the subject of the charge, but his reply was, that at present he declined saying any thing, and that he should reserve his defence until he was put on his trial. The MAGISTRATE then committed him for trial to the Central Criminal Court. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. Rear-Admiral Sir C. Napier, K.C.8., is expected to return to Cork immediately, and, collecting the squadron placed under his command for particular service, to proceed on a cruise in pursuance of original orders. The Frolic, 16, Commander Vansittart, had arrived at Cork, from Waterford, and had been ordered to take on board three months' provisions. The Recruit, 8, Com mander Cracroft, screw-schooner, had arrived at Kings town, from Cork. Colonel Irvine, C. 8., chief director of engineering and architectural works, has proceeded on an official visit to Devonport. Mr. R. Martin, master sailmaker in the Russian ser vice, is at Portsmouth Dockyard, on a visit to the estab lishment by permission of the Admiralty, to make him self acquainted with the improvements which of late years have been made in sailmaking in the British service. APPOINTMENTS. Midshipmen.—Arthur Day, to the Wellesley, 72, flag. ship in the West Indies; Edward Hardin ge , to t h e Caledonia, 120, in Plymouth Sound. Naval Cadets.—Osmond Brock, to the Tweed, 18, at Waterford, for the Brazils; Seymour Curtis, to the Southampton, 50, flag-ship, for the Cape, fitti ng at Chatham. DEYONPORT DOCKYARD BRIGADE.—We have heard, from good authority, that some of the statements attri buting insubordination to the Royal Dockyard Brigade, Devonport, on being requested to salute officers of the nary and army, have been much exaggerated, both as to the number of the insubordinates and the character of the insubordination. The Spy, brigantine, Lieutenant Commander W es . tern, is fully manned at Chatham, and is ordered, when ready, to proceed to Devonport to receive her advanced wages. The Southampton, 50, is progressing very fast at Chatham. She is ordered to leave the port by the Ist of September. Captain Corry joined on Tuesday, as did also the chaplain. The following workmen have been superannuated from Chatham yard:—Joseph Munns, leading man of ship wrights, 34/. per annum; Robert Harland, Wm. Nichol son, Wm. Webster, and Samuel Dunstan, shipwrights, 24/. each; Thomas Juffs, painter, 24/.; and Wm. Woods, bricklayer's labourer, 151. The Diligence transport, Tozer master, left Devonport on Monday morning, with stores for Pembroke. The Hamoazo ligher, Jan'e master, sailed from Devonport on Tuesday, with stores for Holyhead and Liverpool. The Ajax, 56, screw guard-ship, would be taken out of dock into the basin either late y esterda y evening or thia morning, when she will go under sheers to receive her crew, which is made of mixed metal, and weighs near' patch and se e r h v e ice 7il a will be the fi h t e t l e e d basin y a eig d ht tons. Her engines will be tried in the for wi her I se screw possible i h b a l been opt in the dead wood and run of the slip; the screw a broad square tuck, so that when ‘"' s hip baB , any way through the water, the princi pal part of it will work in dead water, the extremities of the fan will only be the moving power. She is not expected to make a greater speed under steam than four or five knots. She has a most beautifully-fitted and compact engine, telescope funnels, and a mechanical ap paratus for hoisting the screw entirely out of the water when under the canvass. The Cyclops discharged her temporary crew yester day, at Portsmouth. The coast-guard men, 150 in number, are to proceed in the Vulcan, revenue steamer (now alongside the coal depit), to their respective sta tions along the coast to the eastward. The Phoenix, at Portsmouth, is shipping her old screw, she having attained more speed with it than with one she has recently tried. She will come out of dock to-day, and be tried some day this week with the Sharp shooter, now nearly ready. The latter vessel has been taken out of the basin and anchored in the stream. Captain Crispin and several of the officers of the Royal yachts went to London from Portsmouth on Tuesday evening, to attend the opera. They returned to-day in time to receive her Majesty, Prince Albert, and Court, on their arrival at Gosport. THE ARMY. Lieut.-General Lord Hardiuge, G.C.8., accompanied by his Aide-de-Camp, Lieut.-Colonel R. Wood, 80th Regiment, has arrived in Waterford from Kilkenny, to inspect the camp at Piltown, consisting of a battery of Royal Artillery, one troop of the Ist Light Dragoons, four companies of the depot 7th Regiment Fusileers, and six companies and head-quarters of the 3d Buffs. ORDNANCE —James Kearney, Esq., barrack-master of Armagh and Monaghan, has received a month's leave of absence. Six houses in Great Ship-street, Dublin, lately occu - pied as barracks, have been pulled down, and large bar racks will be built there, so as to accommodate a full re giment of infantry. The hospital at Arbour Hill, Royal Barracks, occu pied by two troops of cavalry, is ordered to be vacated and given up to the medical staff, for the use of the sick soldiers. An additional 12-pounder gun has been mounted on the north-east angle of the Magazine Fort, Phcenix Park, Major Burnaby, of the Royal Artillery, 6th battalion, commanding, with 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, 1 bombardier, and 20 gunners. 74th Highlanders.—)Head-quarters and five companies (a wing), with the band and staff, Lieutenant-Colonel Fordyce commanding, marched from Thurles to Bailin garry 9th August, detaching three companies, under Major the Hon. J. O'Grady, to Callan, to complete the two companies to a wing. A detachment, under Brevet Major Tinling, proceeded by the Great Southern and Western Railway, at twelve o'clock A M., August 13, to Thurles, by special train, to join the head-quarters. 75th Regiment.—Lieutenant-Colonel Hallifax com manding, a detachment proceeded from Dublin to Thurles by railway, by special train, on Sunday, August 13, to join the head-quarters. 83d Regiment, Kilkenny.—A strong company marched from head-quarters to Graignenamanagh, August 11, and arrived same day, there to occupy billets. Strong detachments are stationed at Carrick-ou-Suir and Wex ford, Castle Comer. Lieutenant-Colonel B. Trydell is in command, Lieutenant Spring is recruiting at Clonmel, Ensigns Cochrane and Hall are on leave of absence. 85th King's Light Infantry, Camp at Thurles.—A company, under Captain Knox, proceeded from Dublin by the Great Southern and Western Railway, on Sun day, August 13, at twelve ex., to Thurles, to join head quarters. Captain Day is on leave of absence, in Eng land, and Ensign Bayley till his removal to another corps ; Lieutenant-Colonel Brook Taylor commanding ; Lieut. Keyt is superintending officer of the recruiting department at York. Pay master Captain G. A. Thomp son is the only Peninsular officer in the regiment. Royal Marines.—A detachment of two officers and 104 men, with noncommissioned officers and drummer, embarked at Waterford on the 9th August, on board of a small steam-vessel for the Cove of Cork. A detach ment of 17 officers and 564 men, with non-commissioned officers and drummers, embarked at Waterford, on the 10th August, on board of her Majesty's steam-frigates Birkenhead and Rhadatnanthus. Royal Marine Artillery.—Captain Henry and First Lieutenant W. K. Ireland, 2 sergeants, 2 corporals, 1 bombardier, and 57 privates, embarked same day at Waterford, on board of her Majesty's steam frigate Rhadamanthus. AQUATICS. RICHMOND AMATEUR REGATTA. The Riehmond Amateur Regatta, to the funds of which his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, Lord G. Chichester, and others of the nobility and gentry sub scribed, took place on Wednesday. As regards sport, it was altogether a very tame affair, and we cannot say much in favour of the manner in which it was con ducted. _ _ _ Gentlemen Amateurs' Scullery Match, for a Silver Pre sentation Vase. First Heat. Mr. W. Berry, Cloanthus Club (Red and white) 1 Mr. J. S. Walford, Fulham (Pink) 2 The distance was from Sion House up to Richmond Bridge. For a short time they were scull and scull, and then the winner went away and won easily. Both were impeded by craft passing, Walford particularly so, just as he was overtopping his opponent in the early part of the race. Second Heat. Mr. Stewart,St. George's Club (White andßed Cross) 1 Mr. J. G. Chillingworth (Light blue and red) 2 Distance as before. Mr. Stewart came to the win ning-post twenty lengths ahead or nearly so. Mr. Chil lingvvorth claimed, in consequence of a foul, as he al leged, from his adversary, at the early part of the race, and declared that he had not, in consequence, exerted himself towards the end of the race. The umpire, how ever, decided i❑ favour of Mr. Stewart. Third Heat. Mr. G. C. Harpour, Richmond ... (Crimson) 1 Mr. C. Clifford ... (Light Blue) 0 A very hollow race. Won with the most perfect ease. Grand Heat. Mr. G. C. Harpour, Richmond ... 1 Mr. Stewart, St. George's Club ..• 0 Mr. Berry, of the Cloanthus, was entitled to row in this heat, but it was started without him. He stated that it being nearly high water he applied to some of the committee, who told him that the race would be started up; and he, accordingly, went down to the station, where, after remaining for some time in the pouring rain and finding the tide turned, he of course considered the race would be started downwards, and as his opponents were not with him he determined on going to the other end. The Herne Club very kindly conveyed him, but the other two had started before he arrived there. Mr. Ilarpour won easily at the latter part of the race. Gentleman Amateur? Pair-oared Race for a Silver Cup. Messrs. T. Sydney and A. Baldry, Thames Club, (Light Blue) 1 Messrs. Kilpatrick and Ewen, London ...(Black) 0 It was a race to the point, after which the winners went boats ahead. Gentlemen Amateurs' Four-oared Match for Four Silver Presentation Cups. Isleworth Syon Club 1 Messrs. F. G. 11. Smith, M. Stanbrough, W. F. Watson, W. Johnson, - steerer. Westminster Aquatic Club ... 0 Messrs. J. Blackburn, J. Dalton, W. Dalton, B. H. Andrews, G. Scott, steerer. The Cloanthus Club, London Messrs. J. T. Cosser, J. Browning, Routledge, W. Berry, stroke, C. Watson, steerer. The Westminster got a slight lead ; the Syon then gallantly went in advance, retained it, and won by some lengths. The two others formed a d as hi ng race through out, the Cloanthus picking up their boat beautifully at the last, and losing the second place by scarcely half a length. A " scratch" match with fours wound up the sport. SALE OF THE DUKE OF BUCK. INGHAM'S PROPERTY AT STOWE. Bucimortem, WEDNESDAY. —This sale was recom menced at noon to-day, Mr. Christie officiating. The attendance was again much more numerous th an m i g h t have been expected, including a very great many of the surrounding gentry. There were also several arrivals from London, among whom we observed the Earl of Scarborough, Lord Hastings, Lord R. Clinton, & c . The first 50 or 60 lots, consisting of china and Raf faelle-ware, call for no particular notice ; as on the preceding day, the sale went off exceedingly well, an d the prices realized by the various articles were most sa tisfactory. The latter portion of to-day's sale included some very magnificent articles of furniture, of which the following were the more remarkable : Lot 227. A magnificent repository for china, of ebony, with pillars and or-molu ornaments, the centre door pa nelled with buhl work and masks in ormolu, and the side doors glazed. This superb piece of furniture w as secured, after some sharp competition, by Mr. Nathan, for the large sum of 89 guineas. Lot 228. The companion repository sold for 42 gui neas. a..... 1.•• Lot 236. A Gothic robe-chest, of Gophir-wood, the surface carved and gilt, with borders in imitation of pre cious stones. This chest, which is from the Fonthill collection, realised 20 guineas, and was purchased by Mr. Redfern, an agent, of Warwick. Lot 238. The companion coffer, of sandal-wood, sold for the same amount, to the same agent. Lot 239. A pair of beautiful jars, of the rarest old j span lacker on porcelain, with branches for five lights, each of or-molu, was bought by Mr. Owen, of Bond street, for 171. Lot 240. A beautiful tazza, of Limoges enamel, painted inside with the history of Adam and Eve, the top having a hunting subject thereon, with arabesques. This beau tiful vessel, the height of which did not exceed six inches, was purchased by Mr. Redfern, of Warwick, for Mr. Mark Philips, the price being 30 guineas. Lot 242. An ancient state settee, the frame and back very richly carved with lions' masks and gilt, covered with crimson velvet and cloth of gold, 211. Lot 248. A magnificent pier -glass of unusually large dimensions, 126 inches by 78 inches, in a richly orna mented gilt frame, sold for 66 guineas, to an agent. Lot 254. A Florentine cabinet, with 11 slabs of mosaic and two marble columns to the door, which en closes four} drawers, fronted with marqueterie. This lot realised 271. Lot 255. A very handsome table of buhl manufacture, with masks and other ornaments of or-molu, and six drawers, sold for 391. 7s. 6d. to Mr. Nathan. Lot 256. A smaller table of marqueterie, the borders and legs inlaid with white metal. This lot was pur chased by Mr. Redfern for 591. Lot 259. A pier-glass in two plates, the larger 70 inches by 48 inches, with open work, gilt frame and glass border, sold for 65 guineas to an agent. Lot 260. A pier table, carved and gilt, with a slab of very fine Florentine mosaic, 45 inches by 30 inches. This lot was purchased by Lord Hastings for 43 guineas. There were two lots in this days sale, which, although no mention was made of the fact in the catalogue, pos sessed considerable interest to those who were acquaiuted with their history. These were the two state chairs made expressly for, and used by, her Majesty the Queen and his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, on the oc casion of their visit to the Duke of Buckingham two years since. It is gratifying to be able to announce that both these chairs were purchased for the Marquis of Chandos, at a price considerably under their real value, viz., only 8 guineas each. A Tourney carpet of great beauty, and a pair of Dresden baskets, were also bought for his Lordship, respectively for 211. and 31. The amount realized by the day's sale exceeded 1,060/. We have been requested to contradict a most un founded report, published originally in an evening con temporary, to the effect that members of the swell mob had visited Stowe and purloined several valuable articles. We have the best authority for saying that the state ment is utterly false. BOCINGELAM, TEIURSDAY.—The importance of this sale Was greater yesterday than on either of the previous days; and a proportionate increase of visitors took place. At one period of the day the room, notwithstanding its capaciousness, was somewhat inconveniently crowded. There was also a fair sprinkling of persons of quality present; among whom we observed Viscount and Vis countess Barrington, Viscount Eastnor, Lord llastings, Hon. D. Astley, Hon. S. PierrepoLt, &c. Lot 274. This magnificent lot consisted of a jewel, designed for a benitoire, in the most exquisite taste of the period of Cellini. The vessel for the holy water is formed of a single almadine, supported by two angels of gold enamelled ; on the lid is a bust of the Virgin and Cameos ; above is a relief of the Virgin, in a glury, supported by angels, with the Trinity above. The whole jewel is thickly studded with rose diamonds and turquoise. This beautiful work, which is of the most elaborate cinque cento design, was bought, after a very spirited competition, by Mr. Russell, of New Coventry street, for 101 guineas—a sum stated to be far below its real value. Lot 288. The Fonthill Cabinet. The friezes of this beautiful .abinet are composed of lapis lazuli, the fronts of the drawers are formed of slabs of hermolite, set with coloured stones; in the centre are groups of Neptune and marine deities, with figures and animals in relief in the niches of a temple, supported on four columns of rosso antico. The whole is richly ornamented with chasings of or- molu, and is designed in fine architectural character. This cabinet was purchased at Fonthill by the late Duke of Buckingham, for 157/. It was to-day sold for 85 guineas to Mr. Walesby, an agent resident at Northampton, who h purchased largely at the sale. Lot 293. A pair of solid ivory round-backed arm chairs, partly gilt, on five legs, the arms and backs with pierced panels of solid ivory, with a tiger's head of Tippoo oa the extremity of the arms. These unique objects of decorative furniture, which were presented by Warren Hastings to the late Queen Charlotte, sold for 42 guineas. Lots 294 and 295. A toilet-table of silver, chased in the boldest and most beautiful taste, with the toilet-glass in silver frame to correspond, were purchased by Mr. Ryman, of Oxford, respectively for 61 guineas and 81 guineas. These superb pieces of furniture were pre sented by George Villiers Duke of Buckingham to the Countess of Shrewsbury, at Avington. The amount realised by the day's sale was upwards of 1,6001. ELECTION COMMITTEES. (YESTERDAY.) DUBLIN. This Committee was engaged the whole day in re ceiving evidence to show that the incumbrance on Mr. Reynolds's property in Ireland reduced Ida annual in come below the amount of qualification required by the statute. CHELTENHAM. Further evidence of bribery and treating was adduced before the Committee this morning. One of the witnesses who, at the time of the last election, in 1847, was the proprietor of the Worcester Arms, proved that he sup plied a number of Mr. Berkeley's voters with refresh ment, to the extant of 411., but Mr. Williams, the party whom he had always considered liable, had re fused to pay the amount. The witness had since given up the Worcester Arms, and taken to driv ing a coach from Bewdley to Worcester. A few days ago ho was visited by a person named Wheeler, who took an active part in the management of Mr. Berkeley's election, who offered him 101. down, and a promise of a future 101., if he would abstain from ap pearing on the Speaker's warrant, but ho refused to agree to the proposal. This closed the case fur the pro secution. HORSHAM. This Committee was engaged the whole day in re ceiving evidence of treating against the sitting Member, Mr. Fitzgerald. A person named Sandford, who kept the Richmond Arms at the time of the election in 1847, was called to prove that Mr. Padwick gave the orders for the refreshments distributed to Mr. Fitzgerald's supporters who met at the Richmond Arms, but it was contended on the part of the sitting Member that his evidence could not be received, inasmuch as suf• ficient proof had not been put in to show that Mr. Pad wick was an agent of Mr. Fitzgerald. The Committee, however, decided it otherwise, and the evidence was pro ceeded with. One other witness was also called to prove treating, and the Committee adjourned. DEATH WHILST BATHING AT SEA.—The port of Whitehaven has just witnessed a sad catastrophe in the death of a professional gentleman, named Dick, who is supposed to be related to the Scotch family of Dick Lauders—a name familiarised to the literary public by the series of interesting papers on the Scotch rivers, inserted in Taii's Magazine—and it is to the circum stance of his being a stranger in the town, added to the impossibility which exists of communicating his melancholy fate to his family connexions by any other means than that of a newspaper paragraph, that his case has excited a more than ordinary share of interest and sympathy. The deceased gentleman, who was about 35 years of age, had been practising as a surgeon-dentist, and from his professional skill had recommended himself to the favourable notice of many highly respectable families in the neighbourhood. He is supposed to have lived at Cheltenham previous to his visiting Whitehaven, where, on Tuesday morning, he was bathing in a dan gerous part of the sea, near to the west pier, and was drowned within sight of many persons who were unable to render him any assistance. One gentleman, who had warned the deceased on the day before as to the hazard ous nature of the sea at that particular spot, bravely attempted to save the life of Mr. Dick, whose body was rescued from the water after a search of half an hour. A coroner's jury returned a yerdict of " Accidental death." The rer, incumbent of St. James's kindly undertook that the remains of the unfortunate gentleman s h ou ld meet decent interment. TAIT VALE RAILWAY. --B RISTO L, A U G. 10.—Th e half-y ear ly general meeti ng o f t hi s company was h eld proprietors that revenue, as compared with this day in the assembly-room of the White Lion Hotel, Walter Coffin, Esq., chairm an o f t h e b oar d o f di rectors, pr e siding. The chairman bri e fly o p e n e d th e proceed ings, after which the secretary (Mr. Kenway), read the half-yearly report. In this document the directors set felt much satisfaction in an nouncingthat there was a small in creaseo ut b y in statingttho ethe gross that ap t l h rf that of the half-yearly revenue immediately preceding. This increase, though small, yielded a very gratifying proof of the soundness of the undertaking at a time when the convulsions in almost all the states of Europe had so paralyzed the exports both of coal and iron. The in come and expenditure of the Aberdare Railway were brought nearer each other by an increase in its gross receipts of 5631. in the past half-year. Tho directors recommend a dividend of 41. (free of income-tax) on each original share of 1261., and a dividend in the same proportion on the quarter and 101. shares, and, further, that 7501. be carried to the credit of the depreciation fund. The works on the eastward were so far advanced that very satisfactory trials had been made of the effi ciency of the shipping straits and of the steam , cranes for landing ballast. The proceedings which followed were of the ordinary character, and the meeting separated. P ATNE 's PATENT FOR PRESERVING WOOD, &C., AGAINST FIRE.--On Tuesday forenoon a series of expe riments was exhibited on the shingles, at low water, in front of Whitehall-wharf, Cannon-row, in the presence of Lord Auckland and several Lords of the Admiralty, the Speaker of the House of Commons, and many scientific gentlemen, to test the efficiency of the invention of /lessrs. Payne to prepare wood in such a manner as to render it capable of with standing the force of fire and perfectly uninflammable, though exposed to the heat of flames or burning masses of wood or coal. The experiments were as favourable as could be wished for. Three cottages or miniature buildings were ignited, two of them constructed of the wood prepared by the patentees of the invention, the other of unprepared wood. The cottage built of unprepared wood was speedily consumed, whilst these of which the wood had been prepared by the invention, although par tially charred from the terrific heat of the fire, never be came absolutely on fire, and resisted the utmost effort of the flames. The expense of preparing timber under the patent of Messrs. Payne is small, and by it many trees hitherto considered as of little importance may be hat , dened and made into the most elegant pieces of furni ture. The timber prepared against the " dry rot" is im pregnated or imbued with sulphate of iron decomposed by muriatic acid. That which is prepared against fire is prepared with sulphate of iron, and with alum decom posed by muriate of lime, and that which is prepared against worms is composed of sulphate of bariam, . composed by sulphate of iron. This invention is very important in many respects. It renders all kinds of woods capable of resisting fire ; it hardens them, and produces on them a beautiful surface. The invention may be applied to the sleepers on railways, on which, from its tenacity of fibre, it is likely to be generally employed. For ship-building, for beams and rafters in house building, and for all purposes in which timbers that will ignite, and in which heretofore iron has been employed, it will be used with good results. The in vention is one of great usefulness, and should be gene rally encouraged. AWFULLY SUDDEN DEATH. —Yesterday afternoon, about three o'clock, as the Brunswick steamer, which plies between Gravesend and Blackwall, was on her pas sage to the last-mentioned plate, a sudden death occurred on board. A young man who had been with his mother spending the day at Gravesend on a pleasure trip, w as observed, when the boat had nearly reached Blackwall, to turn deadly pale, and to stagger, and suddenly fall down. His mother immediately called for assistance, imagining that her son was merely in a fit, but when lifted up item the deck he was found to be a corpse. Upon finding that her son was dead, she began raving in such a manner as to alarm all on board, but, after much persuasion, she became more co m p o sed , and attended with m uc h maternal care to the dead body of her son. When the vessel reached Blackwall, the body was con veyed on a stretcher, immediately, to the railway office, where it is supposed it will remain till a coroner's in quest is held upon it. The young man was apparently about 25 years of age, and, until the fatal occurrence, had been particularly cheerful both at Gravesend and on board. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. ROUSE OF LORDS, August 17. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the Wool sack at Five o'clock. FREE CHURCH SITES BILL. Lord CAMPBELL presented petitions signed by 7,718 persons belonging to the Free Church of Scotland, iu favour of the Free Church Sites Bill. Lord, BROUGHAM thought the Bill - was a violation of the rights of property. Lord CAMPBELL considered that as they interfered with the rights of property in favour of railroads, they had an equal right to interfere with those rights in the present instance. The Duke of ARGYLL hoped that the Scottish pro prietors would give sites, and thus spare their _Lordships the pain of discussing this Bill. Lord BROUGHAM thought that Catholics, Quakers, and all other sects had an equal right to legislative in terference to procure for them sites for their places of worship. The Earl of MINTO hoped the complaint would have ceased before the Bill came on for discussion. Lord REDESDALE considered there was no analogy between :this and other railway questions; railways were for the advantage of the whole of the community. Free Church sites were only for the benefit of a dissenting portion of the community. Lord BEAUMONT said the question resolved itself into this, via., whether or not the Flee Church of Scot land was such a' great public goof as that the laws of property ought to be abrogated to favour it. After a few words from the Earl of RODEN and the Duke of ARGYLL, the petition was laid on the table. CASE OF MR. WILLIAMS. . Lord BROUGHA id moved for the examinations taken before the magistrates on the prosecution of Mr. Williams against his cook, for doing that which he hoped the cooks of every one of their Lordships did every day, for giving away broken victuals to a beggar, for which, after undergoing three months' imprisonment, she was discharged by Mr. Justice Coleridge. The motion was agreed to. Lord BEAUMONT presented a petition from the guar dians of Boston against granting superannuation allow ances to poor-law officers. POOR-LAW UNION CHARGES BILL. The Marquis of LANSI)OWNE moved the second reading of this Bill, and also the second reading of the Bill for the better education of the poor. These Bills had come up from the other House, where they had already be n fully debated. The Noble Marquis then proceeded to de scribe the nature of the two Bills. After a short conversation the motion was agreed to, and the Bills read a second time. FISHERIES (IRELAND) BILL. The Marquis of CL ANRICARDE, in moving the second reading of this Bill, said that this was a subject which had for a long time occupied the attention of the people of Ireland. Ho thought that this Bill treated the question in the only manner in which it could be suc cessfully treated, and he hoped that it would be unani mously agreed to. The fisheries in Ireland were of con siderable value, and furnished employment to several thousands. The increased value that would be given to them under an improved system of management would be immense. The fisheries in Ireland did not belong to individuals, but for the most part to the public. The proposition of voluntary assessment had been tested, but had failed, and it therefore became necessary fur the Government to take up the subject. The fisheries were to be placed under the guardianship of a board of con servators, to be elected by such persons possessing the qualifications set forth in the measure. Lord MONTEAGLE was sorry to be obliged to op pose the motion of the Noble Marquis. He believed that if this Bill had been proposed for any other part of the empire but Ireland, it would not for ono instant be entertained. He concurred with his Noble Friend that it was of the greatest importance to preserve this great na tional interest. Considering the advanced period of the session, and the important interests involved, ho thought the measure proposed a most unjust one. Heretofore, when dealing with property, property was considered to be the first qualification. In the Bill proposed the qua lification was simply the possession of a single fishing rod. Any person choosing to register a fishing-rod and to take out a license for 1/., became qualified to vote at the election of conservators. Although a man possessed, the right of fishery under a grant from the Crown he might be subject to a tax of 151., under this Bill, for every weir he used. It wa? true that that sum was only mentioned as the maximum, but by this Bill they would be leaving to the representatives of fish ing rods the great power of declaring what the sum to be paid ought to be. He objected to the power proposed to be given to the conserva tors over the weirs and the rivers, the beds of which might be altered in any way they might think fit to order. He would abandon his opposition to this Bill if it were shown that it was authorized by the Commis sioners. He asked their Lordships to suspend their de cision upon it until early next session, for the purpose of procuring the opinion of the Commissioners upon its This delay could causo no inconvenience, inasmuch as the first meeting of conservators ,was appointed for the Ist of July, 1849. The Earl of GLENGALL believed that there was not a single proprietor of a fishery nor lessee who did not give his cordial assent to the Bill. A deputation com posed of Members of Parliament, had waited some time ago on the Primo Minister upon this subject, entreating him to introduce this Bill into Parliament, however late the session might be. He (Lord Glengall) thought the measure a most valuable one, and hoped his Noble Friend would not persevere in his opposition to it. The B;11 was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed. The Constabulary (Ireland) Bill was read a third time, and passed. The Money Order Department (Post-office) Bill was read a second time. The other Bills on the table were advanced a stage, and their Lordships then aljourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, August 17. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday, RENEWABLE LEASEHOLD CONVERSION (IRELAND) BILL. The House then went into Committee on this Bill. Clause 4 was agreed to with a few verbal amendments. On clause 5 being put, Mr. LAW objected to the irresponsible power given by the clause to the Chief Remembrancer of Ireland. Mr. NAPIER supported the clause. Mr. LAW said, unless the clause was altered or with drawn, he should move that the Chairman report pro. gress. Sir W. SOMERVILLE would consider the objection of the Hon, and Learned Gentleman, although he thought the course pursued was most objectionable. Mr. LAW thought that the Bill was most objection able. In his opinion it was the middle man's Bill, and not calculated for the benefit of either landlord or tenant. He must have an undertaking that the Remembrancer should act under the orders of the Court, or he must press the motion to a division that the Chairman should report progress. Sir W. SOMERVILLE would consider the proposi tion of the Hon. and Learned Member between the pre sent time and the bringing up of the report. Mr. LABOUCHERE could assure the Hon. and Learned Gentleman that his Right Hon. Friend was sincere in what he had stated, and trusted that the Hon. and Learned Gentleman would not throw any obstacle in the way of passing the Bill. Sir W. SOMERVILLE thought the Honourable and Learned Gentleman's proposition was worthy of con sideration, and he would give his best attention to it. Mr. LAW said upon that understanding he would withdraw his amendment. Clause 5 was then agreed to, and ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 6 was agreed to, with a few verbal amendments. Clause 7 was agreed to after a short discussion. m eTn thse. CIauseCH AIRMAN was also agreed th e n to, reportedwith progress,few tamed leave to sit again to:morrowat twelve o clock. FEVER, (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Monday next. TAXING MASTERS COURT OF CHANCERY (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was ordered to be read a second time a twelve o'clock to morrow. ECCLESIASTICAL PATRONAGE SUITS COAL iROMISE (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was ordered to be committed after the other orders of the day were disposed of. TRANSFER OF LANDE 1) PROPERTY (IRE- LAND) BILL. This Bill was read a second time and ordered to be committed to-morrow, at twelve o'clock. DUBLIN POLICE BILL. This Bill was ordered to be committed after the other orders of the day were disposed of. UNLAWFUL OATHS (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed to-morrow at twelve o'clock. LABOURING POOR (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was ordered to be committed after the other orders of the day were disposed of. POOR REMOVAL (No. 2) BILL. This Bill was ordered to be read a third time after the other orders of the day were disposed of. COMMONS INCLOSURE ACT AMENDMENT BILL. This Bill was ordered to be committed after the other orders of the day were disposed of. The House then adjourned till Five o'clock. The House resumed at Five o'clock. PETITIONS. Mr. WYLD presented two petitions from Cornwall against the Copper Ore Bill. Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition from the Odd Fellows of Rochdale against the Odd Fellows' Society Bill. Mr. COBDEN presented a similar petition from a place in Yorkshire. NOTICE OF MOTION. Sir J. WALSH gave noticc, that he would to-morrow ask for an explanation of the reason why the 13riti,41 fleet was stationed off Nsplcs. CONDUCT OF THE MILITARY IN TIPPERARY. Mr. N.V. MAHERWishedt6asi the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Home Department whether he had received any communication relative to the con duct of General M'Donald and the military under his command, or in reference to outrages which it was alleged had been perpetrated on the inhabitants of Tip perary under his direction? Sir G. GREY said, in answer to the question of the Hon. Gentleman, he could assure him and the House that her Majesty's Government had received no infor mation of way outrage committed by General M‘Donald or any of the troops or officers under his coin mand.—(Hear, hear.) He held in his hand a letter, which had been received from General M`Donald, on the subject of the arrest of Mr. Smith O'Brien, and in that letter it Was stated that the only foundation which could exist for the statteu Pent that any of the officers under his command had:.' been guilty of an out rage on the inhabitants of Tipper, try, was to be found in the fact that Captain Mackenzie, after the arrest of Mr. Smith O'Brien called upon th.s d river . of a locomotive at the Thurles railway sta tics I to hold himself in readiness to convey a trail 1 to Dublin, and to see that no train delta' ted in the mean time. The engine -driver,' ,'however, refused to obey any other orders but th os4 i of the superintendent, who not being in the way, CaptB in Mackenzie felt it to be his duty to present a pistol him to compel obe dience to his instructions. G'ei feral M'Donald added, that he perfectly approved of th is proceeding,. for: bad not Mr. Smith O'Brien been igoi `, off tci,Duhlin by:the train thore might have been a g ood deal of bloodshed, and he had therefore no he lit. stion iii adopting - ,tbe responsibility which attached; to the conduct Of Captain Mackenzie.—(Cheers..) Such was the pur- - port of the letter which h id' been received from General M'Donald, and ho Iva is happy to say that the conduct of both the G-eneral and the officers and troops under his command be met with the entire approbation of the Commander -in-Chief.—(Cheers.) Mr. MAHER expressed him se lf dissatisfied with the explanation of the Right Hon. :Baronet, and intimated that he should institute an inquiry into the matter when he returned home. Mr. FOX MAULE said, as ' isis name had been men tioned, he felt it necessary to se If a few words, the more especially as some corresponde see had passed between hina and the Honourable Gen. 'lmam The Honour able Gentleman wrote him a. letter from Brussels, dated the sth of August, .complaining of the conduct of Colonel Taylor, e( +mmanding the sth regiment, for erecting a cai np within 30 yards of his house, within a mile of Tim; ries, which he stated was " one of the most peaceable j ol aces in the county of Tipperary."—(Laughter.) The, letter of the lion. Gentleman was referred to Get +oral M`Donald, who requested an explanation from . Colonel Taylor. His explanation stated that the esl ate of Mr. Maher was pointed out to him by the . police-inspector as an eligible place for an encamp:mai t, as being within a mile of Thurles, and as affordieg: an excellent sortie for the troops. They encamped in a field separated from the lawn, to which the agent mad .e no objection; in fact, instead of doing so, he offered the (:-.;'( donel accommodation in the house, it raining heavily at. the time. The troops entered the field through a space opened in a wall, not wishinc , to go through the perk k gate, which could be rebuilt in an hour. He (Mr.. Fox Yank) did not believe General M'llonald w ld stoop to carry a pistol about him for his person.sl protection ; and if he did carry one, he did not believe th at he would have used it in the way mentioned. Mr. MAHER said, with respe+t to the statement that the encampment was not upon his .l awns, he begged to say that it was totally false. The :ia..f3t was tha — i' Colonel Taylor came to his house, in the absence of his agent, and formed an encampment w}►ii3h was distant only twenty or thirty yards from the house, and in view of of his dining-rooms and drawitc-reom window. On the arrival of hia agent, he ank ed Colonel Taylor whether he had his (Mr. Maher's)' leave, and he replied that he had not. He thought he had good reason to complain of an encampme at being formed at his very hall door, it bei'ag known that it was sure to be accompanied by scenes of obscenity. They took possession of his stables, and when he wrote over to have them cleared, the officers said they should not do so, except at the point of bayonet. He had no right to have military billeted u/ , on him, and he there fore considered he was perfectly jtu.tified in complaining of the grievance to which he had been subjected. SUGAR DUTINS. Lord J. RUSSELL said that the Sugar Duties Bill was fixed for a third reading on Dto nday. lie found that it would be impossible to take the, third reading on that day, and if it met with the approbation of the Noble Lord opposite (Lord G. Bentinek),' be would take the third reading on Tuesday, at,twelv6 o'clock. Lord GEORGE BENTINCK, :after acceding to the Noble Lord's request, wished to asA him whether it was the intention of the Government to fill up the vacancy that had occurred in the office of President of the Mixed Court of Commission with respect to the slave trade in the island of Sierra Leone. As he understood, the office was a complete sinecure, although its emoluments were 2,5001. a year. Lord JOHN RUSSELL was not aware of the vacancy alluded to by the Noble Lord, but he would answer the question of the Noble Lora on Monday. POST-OFFICE. Mr. GOULBURN complained of the inaccuracies of certain returns with respect to the :Post-office, and called upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer to explain them. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that it was entirely the result of accident, and that ac curate returns would be furnished to the House. NEW WRIT., Lord JOHN RUSSELL trusted:the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Warwickshire would not press his motion for issuing a new writ for s Derby, seeing that Government would have no objection to its issuing after the Corrupt Practices at Elections •Bill had passed, which was likely to take place in a few days. Mr. NEWDEGATE was sorry that the Noble Lord still felt it necessary to oppose the issuing of this writ, but be really could not consent to delay the matter any longer, and with the permission of the House he . would proceed to move that Mr. Speaker do issue his warrant to the Clerk of the Crown to make out a new writ for the electing of two burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the borough of Derby, in the room of the Right Hon. Edward Strutt and the Hon. E. Frederick Leveson Gower, whose election has been determined to be void. Writs having been issued for Aylesbury, Carlisle, Hor sham, Harwich, Leicester, and Cheltenham, the Members of which had been unseated for treat ing, ho could not see any just reason why Derby should be excluded from having representatives. No valid reasons had been urged why that town should be excluded from the category; and he, therefore, urged the Government to consent to the issuing of the writ. Lord J. RUSSELL thought the best course would be to move the adjournment of the debate to Thursday next, and the adoption of that Bourse would enable the House to dispose of the Corrupt Prac tices at Elections Bill. The Noble Lord concluded by moving the adjournment of the debate to Thurs day next. Mr. HUME seconded the motion. Mr. NEWDEGATE was surprised at the course the Noble Lord at the head of the Government had pursued, and was in the hands of the House, whether he should divide upon the question or not. Mr. BANKES did not think there was any justice in withholding the writ from Derby. He could see no principle in the proposition of the Noble Lord at the head of the Government for adjourning the debate on the question. There was no certainty of the Bill to which he had alluded passing in the present session. If it went through the House it was more than probable that it would not go through the Lords, unless there was an adjournment instead of a prorogation of Parliament. If his Hon. Friend the Member for Warwickshire divided the House on this subject he should certainly divide with him. Mr. BRIGHT felt disposed to vote for the motion of the Hon. Member for Warwickshire; but, as the propo sition for an adjournment was only for a week, he thought it would not make much matter, and he would, therefore, advise him to agree to the proposition of the Noble Lord. But, while he was prepared to do that, he should certainly insist on the writ being issued during the present session, and if that were not dune he should support the motion. Mr. HENLEY contended that in the case of Derby there was no ground for its disfranchisement, and he had always voted for the issuing of the writ. The reason assigned for the postponement was to him a most unsatisfactory one, and he should therefore support the motion. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said that his Noble Friend, when he moved a postponement, did so to see whether the Bill should pass through that House, and not until it had passed in the House of Lords. When that House came to a determination as to what it should do, and the Bill passed, then the writ should issue. Sir R. H. INGLIS observed that, if the Bill passed through that House, how could that effect the decision of the House of Lords. In his opinion, the Bill was a mere piece of waste pnper, for it would never pass the House of Lords, at least in the present session; and, therefore, it was unjust to deprive their fellow-subjects of their constitutional right. There was no case shown that Derby should be disfranchised, and tho writ ought, therefore, to be issued withuut delay. It was, then, more than three months since the Members for Derby were unseated, during which the town was kept in a continual state of excitement, and consequent de moralisation. He, therefore, pressed the House to come to a decision on the subject. Mr. R. PALMER was most anxious to check bribery in every instance, but he saw no connexion whatever be tween the passing of the Bill to prevent corruption at elections, and the motion then before the House. There were eight or nine boroughs included in that Bill, and yet writs were issued for all, except Derby, which he believed was the least criminal among them. Mr. P. WOOD contended that the passing of the Bill before the House with reference to elections had a great deal to do with the present motion. Derby was placed in the schedule, and if the Bill passed through the House, the freemen of Derby would know, that if the practice of head-money were continued, their conduct would be rigidly investigated. Lord G. BENTINCK reminded the House that in the case of Great Yarmouth, a Bill was actually before the House, and yet a writ was issued for that borough. The House then divided, when the numbers were— For the amendment Against it 43 Majority in favour of postponing the writ —42 CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS BILL. The order of the day having been read for bringing up the report on this Bill, Sir 11. HALFORD again brought forward the case of a person, named Leehy, who was appointed postman in the borough of Leicester, and complained that the appointment had been placed in the hands of Mr. Gar diner, who had been unseated for the borough on the ground of bribery. It was said that the appoint ment of Leehy had nothing to do with the late election for Leicester, but it was a fact that Leehy's brother was a freeman of Leicester, and voted for Mr. Gardiner. Now, this appointment ought to belong to the Members for the county, instead of which it had been placed in the hands of a gentleman who had been unseated on the ground of bribery. He thought it right to bring the subject under the consideration of the House, in the hope that such an occurrence might not take place in future. Lord J. RUSSELL said he knew nothing as to the circumstances under which the recommendation of Mr. Leehy to the Postmaster-General had taken place ; but he had no hesitation in saying that, under the circumstances of Mr. Gardiner's position at the time he made the recommendation, it was one which ought not to have been attended to. The person recom mended by the Hon. Gentleman referred to, was, he understood, in every respect suited to the place ; but it was a mistake to suppose that Lord Clanricarde had given the patronage of the appointment to Mr. Gardi ner, he merely received that gentleman's recommenda tion. He could not agreo that the Postmaster-Gene ral was to pay greater attention to the recommendation of his political enemies than to that of his political friends. Colonel SIBTHORP said he could not swallow the , explanation just gi ven by t h e Noble totd, and as to the Bill before the House he denounced it as a most ini quitous measure. Sir G. BURRELL complained of the patronage of the Post-office being conferred upon a new resident in the borough of Shoreham, instead of its being given to a person in whose behalf a strong recommendation had been forwarded to the Postmaster General. Mr. H. DRUMMOND could not understand why Hon. Members on his side of the House should com plain that patronage was bestowed on the supporters of the Government. He had been asked to recommend a person for a situation in th e P ost - o ffi ce . H e to ld t h e man he had no influence with Lord Clanricarde, whom he had never, to his knowledge, teem He however did write a recommendatory letter to the Noble Lord, and he received exactly such an answer ai be expected, namely, that the appointment had been already made. — (A laugh.) Mr. MULLINS wished to ask Lord John Russell whether any person had been appointed by the Govern ment Sub-distributor of Stamps at Cirencester since May last, and whether such appointment had not been placed. at the disposal of the Hon. Charles Ponsonby, or his solicitor or agent in that borough. He understood that a Mr. Harris, who was clerk in the bank there, had been appointed by Mr. Newmarch, solicitor fo the Hon. Mr. Ponsonby, who would therefore know the number of stamps which other solicitors in the town used. He hoped some inquiry would be instituted into the _ _ _ TUFNELL defended the general principle upon which appointments were made by the Post-oEce, as regarded local postmen. They were usually the re suit of recommendations from persons acquainted with the respectability and character of the party recom mended. With respect to the appointment of Mr. Harris, h• really did not know till that moment what position Mr. Harris occupied inCirencester. After a few words from Mr. C. Burrell, Mr. Tufnell, and Mr. Newdegate, Sir H. HALFOIiD explained. The 'notion was then agreed to, and the report was brought up. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL then moved the fol lowing clauses:—Clause B to be substituted for sections 17 and 18, " And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for the Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury, out of any moneys which may have been provided by Par liament, to make orders for the payment of the neces sary expenses of the inquiries under this Act ; and every Commissioner acting under this Act shall be paid at the rate of five guineas for every day that he shall be actually employed in conducting any inquiries under this Act, over and above his travelling and other expenses; and each such Commis sioner shall from time to time after he shall have made s report, or his final report to her Majesty, under this Act/ in relation to the city or borough for which he shall have been appointed, lay before the ,Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury for the time being a statement of the number of days he shall have been employed under this Act, with respect to such city or borough, together with an account of his travelling and other expenses ; and the Commissioners of her M ajesty's Treasury may order the payment to such Commissioner of thaiamount due to hint in respect to the number of days he shall have been se employed, and in respect of his travelling and other et' penses. And be it enacted, that" the Speaker of the House of Commons may appoint an agent or agents to prosecute before the Committees appointed under this Act, or any of them, or any Commissioners appointed under this Act, any inquiries or inquiry to he made under the provisions of this Act ; and ever/ • such agent is hereby authorised from time to time to certify under his hand to the C omm is s i o ners of her Majesty's Treasury, what sum or sums of money is or aro required to meet the necessary expenses for effectually prosecuting such inquiries or inquiry as such agents may be appointed to prosecute, including the sums proper and necessary to be paid to and for the witnesses who may be required to attend under this Ad; and the Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury may advance to such agent, from time to time, such sums 0 shall be needed for the purpose aforesaid out of any monies which may have been provided by Parliament ; provided always, that in every case the amount required for such expenses shall be examined and allowed by : some person appointed by the Speaker for that purpose.. Mr. ANSTEY wished to know if the Speaker viola Bare the same power over the allowance to be made to the Commissioners, that he would have with respect t° the agents ? The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said there was at pre' sent a control sufficiently effective. The clause was then added to the Bill. The LORD ADVOCATE then proposed to insert the following clause :—" And be it enacted, that where it shall be necessary to institute in Scotland any furthe r inquiry or investigation regarding corrupt practiot either under the report o f any C omm i ttee a ppointeu under this Act; or of any Election Committee as afore said, the Speaker shall certify such report to the senior Lord of Justiciary who shall have gone the preceding circuit in that district in which the county ' wherein such inquiry or investigation i s requ i re d to be made is situated; and failing such senior Lord of Justiciary, or if such inquiry or investigation is required to be made in any county not included in any circuit, then the Speaker shall certify such report to the Lord Justice General , _ or President of the Court of Session, and such senior Lar! of Justiciary, or Lord Justice General, shall appoinv an advocate, of not less than seven years' standing► and who shall not be a Member of Parliament, to be 7 . Commissioner, for the purposes of such inquiry or ie„ vestigation, who shall thereupon p ossess ' an d e x e rcises; the powers, and shall discharge all the duties conferral and imposed upon the Commission er t o b e appoin,n under this Act, as hereinbefore se t f ort h. A n d it in be lawful for such senior Lord of J us ti c i ar y o r L e Justice General, in case by re ason o f t h e d eat h, ingest or absence of any such Commis s io ne r appo i nte d in sc o land, such inquiry or investigation cannot be proceed" with by him, to appoint an ad vocate qua lifi e d as s tbr' said, to be a Commissioner in pl ace of the C om missione r whose death, illness, or absence, renders such new ap pointment necessary. And every Commissioner to 1 1 appointed in Scotland, s h a ll take the oath by this 4°,, required to be taken b y C ommissioners, before Judge of the Court of Session in Scotland." The motion wa s agreed to, and the clause ad d e d to the Bill, which was ordered to be read a third time S °. morrow (this day). —DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE Coll— OF ROME BILL. Viscount PALMERSTON, in rising to move t be , second reading of this Bill, said—Sir it is not my ie t° o ll Win 01 to detain th e House by going into any histori 01 detail with r e f erence to t hi s measure. In point of f! r the grounds, it app ears to me, f or th i s change, or owed declaration of the law, are necessarily so plain O D simple, and li e so ent i re l y upon the surface, tha t _„/ cannot be requisite for me t o h ave recourse to • abstruse or refined argument, in order to show the el o diency of the mea sure w hi c h I now b r i ng before , 0 Ilouse. Sir, do u bt s — an d d ou b ts on l y —h ave e xiste d to whether, under the interpretation which is t o . put upon words in anci en t A cts o f P ar li amen t, , 0 or is not lawful for th e S overe i gn o f t hi s coun try ; hold diplomatic interco u r se w i t h t h e C ourt o f EoUl; The chief doubt (arises upon the construction of r • word " communion," and under the interpretation of a section of an old law, the Sov ere i gn o f t h ese rea lms prohibited from holding communion with the Court " 0 , Rome. In my opini on th e on l y o bj ect of such tt 1 1 0 must have been to enfor ce th a t principle, which no doL is a fundamental pri nc ipl e o f the constitution, that the 50 ; ;;; vereign of this country mus t b e o f t h e P rotestant re ligte • and the communion contemplated by that Act I hold to ti o spiritual com mun i on , an d not what in vulgar parlaneed commonly viewed as intercourse, and the interchange tg the ordinary relations b e t ween diff erent nations. Bu t this as it may, as great doubts have arisen upon the 0 ,, ject, it is now expedi e nt t o app l y to Parliament to h;ja move existing uncertainty, and make lawful diploalti intercourse and relation between the Sovereignty Of it , country and - the Sovereign of th e R oman States. DT!„• Sir, two questions here arise. Fi rs t : what objectico can be urged against such a course ? And next, advantages are likely to accrue from it? Now the objections which present themselves to my mind as o r pable of being started against thi s m easure , wou ld it to jections founded upon that principle of the constitutteld which I have already advert e d ; v i z., objections folio t o upon the presumption that to legalize diplout o , intercourse between the C rown o f E ngland and t he SO vereign of the Roman States, would tend to endse.tio the observance of the f un d amental Protestant prio9're of our constitution. I confess that lamat a loss to O ro gine how any rati ona l person can suppose that t . he ter should be anything in the presence of a British 0 0 at Rome, or in the presence of a Roman Minist_e r r o f London, which wou ld ten d to shake the religious.m of the Sovereign of this country. It is in my opilue ° oo o absurd and ridiculous a supposition, that it does .not iv for the slightest argument to refute it. Diplomatic Ino twos cannot be considered as having any connexion 71 0 , religious faith; the Sovereign of this country has k dj , P , r o• matic relations with P agans , w i t h M a h ometans , of fessors of the Soonee, of the Sheeab, and, indeedc i d , every form of belief except th e R oman C at h o lic be r ' e s. which is in fact only a modification of the Christi o o o gion. We are not to suppose the Sovereign of . ies , realms becoming Mahometan in consequence o f her 12 0 ` 0 .• change of diplomatic relations with a M a h om etan P .l reign; and I, therefore, cann o t conce i ve o f an y ra ncor person founding an objecdon to this measure upon any m 1 sumption of this kind. Well then, Sir, the question l oo o. opinion is, whether there is any m eans f or diplonistl c t os• munications between this country a nd R om e, and ;1 „ er they any advantage will arise fr o m au th or i s ing the nt , 1 tablishment. The onus probandi u p on this Pe' r od think, must lie with those who dewy t hi s , b e cause f old facie, there is no reason why th e R oman states s o ro e form an exception to our general r u l e —th er e is 13 t he son why, if this House is not just y e t converted to our opinion of the Hon. Memb e r f or S ta ff or d, that 6 13 1 1 ; oo ltl diplomatic relations with every for e i gn country os th e cease—there is, I svy, no reas on w h y , if t h i s is 1 , 3 ,„„ 3 01 1 opinion of Parliament or the country, that the states should form a solitary or iovidious exceptle% deed such an exception, unless it be founded ulVi c i es ci• reasonable or substantial grou n d, mus t operate m en tally and injuriously t o our i nter ests ' j o uti commercial sad trading c ommun ity. The la states may nut constitut e one o f the powers of Europe—it may not rank suil 6 rt be' highest class of foreign s t ates ; but, eeeri4 less, it is a state of considerabl e importance sad xse o hi and, as compared with the o th er states, co of ml trl sic DI, fe: nc ' a THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY, EVENING-, AUGUST 18, 1818. IMI