The Sun. — London, England, 1848-02-24 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. SOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 22. IMPEACHMENT OF LORD PALMERSTON. (Continued from our'Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. CHISHOLM ANSTEY then referred at great length to voluminous and various correspondence, on the strength of which he contended that Mr. Urquhart had been most unfairly dismissed by Lord Palmerston, to suit his own ambitious view s . He charged him in express and direct terms with making false and contradictory statements to the House in regard to the treaty of Adrianople, with garbling the truth, deceiving his country, endeavour ing to hand over Turkey to Russia, and as being guilty of conduct in all these respects which rendered him unfit to fill the high post he now occupied. The Noble Lord had refused to lay before the House certain returns moved for by that Honourable Member, because he knew that they would be in strumental in bringing to condign punishment the Noble Lord who had thus betrayed his country. He charged the Noble Lord with having be trayed the Circassians to a foreign power, with having deceived the House with false statements upon this subject, and with having practised the same deception upon his colleagues and his Sovereign. All the statements which he had made he undertook to prove in any Committee, whether select or secret. An action had been brought by Mr. Urquhart for a libel published in the organ of the Noble Lord (Lord Palmerston), the Morninr , Chronicle, and it was admitted by the counsel against the plaintiff, the present Lord Campbell, that the libel was written by Lord Ponsonby. The rule was made absolute, but further procedirrgs were dropped upon pay ment of the costs of the action. Mr. Fon blanque was another example of the disgraceful connexion of the Noble Lord with the public press of this country. The results of this policy did not fail to show itself. In the year 1839 another war was raging between Mehemet Ali and his Sovereign. The Sultan applied for protection to this country against Mehemet Ali, who was urged on by the Russians. The Sultan offered to place the Dardanelles in the possession of a British and French fleet, and the only answer of the Noble Lord to that application was :a severe censure upon the Secretary of the then legation (Mr. Urquhart) for having sent such a proposition, and, in a dispatch to the Tuileries, he proposed that the English and French possession of the Dardanelles should not take place until after the Russians had with drawn from Constantinople. The Noble Lord appeared to have resigned himself with great facility to the occupation of Constantinople by the Russians. The French Government stated in reply, that either with or without England they were determined to prevent the Russian occupation of Constantinople. In the year 1840, the Noble Lord told the House that the French Government had refused to act with England. That statement was false; the French Government had never refused to act with England in preventing the Russian force from entering the Bosphorus. All the plans submitted to France for the prevention of the Russian occupation were transmitted to the Court of St. Peters burgh. When the discovery of this perfidy was, announced in the French Chamber, it was met with a burst of execration, and he (Mr. Anstey) was surprised that the matter ended there, and that the French Government had not refused to hold any further intercourse with so perfidious a person as the Noble Lord. When the treaty of ,1840 was called for in this house, the Noble Lord said that he could not produce it, as it was not yet ratified; but he did not tell qv House that, contrary to all international law, a claße was introducei into the treaty, to the effect that fulfilment should precede ratification. Since the Noble Lord had come into office this last time he had endeavoured to carry out his objects. The annexation of Cracow was in timately connected with the question of the Spanish marriages. The question was left a perfectly easy one for him by his predecessor, the Earl of Aberdeen, who had stipulated that he would not bring forward an English candidate for the hand of the Queen of Spain, if the French Government did not bring forward on their side any person. Upon the accession of the Noble Lord to office, he was asked if he would abide by that agreement ; a whole month was allowed to elapse before any answer was returned, and in the meantime efforts were being made at Madrid to bring forward a candidate from the Coburg family. The French Government, knowing full well the former duplicity of the Noble Lord, hastened their own measures, and finally brought about the marriage of the Queen of i ppi ain in the manner which was already well known the House and to the country. He was at a loss now to know how to proceed with his details, the cases of treachery he was anxious to bring against the Noble Lord were so numerous. The Noble Lord and his Government entered into a treaty with Persia to protect her against Prussia and Russia ; but a very little time elapsed after its ratification before the Noble Lord evinced a disposition to depart from the terms of the treaty in favour of Russia. A treaty was entered into with Russia to deprive the rightful Prince of the throne of Persia, and a lengthened cor respondence took place between the Noble Lord and the British Ambassador at the Court of Teheran upon the subject, which the Noble Lord had taken good care should never find its way to the table of that House. Sir John M'Neil, the British Ambas sador, time after time sent home for instructions, but the Noble Lord never condescended to send any out till hostilities were opened by the Persian troops against an English expedition, which the Noble Lord had sent to the assistance of Russia. What had been the consequence of this do-nothing policy ? Why, for the sake of aiding the Russian Court, which had never evinced a very friendly dispo sition towards this country, the Noble Lord had sacri ficed the friendship of Persia. With respect to America, through the direct agency of the Foreign-office America had been induced to open hostilities with Mexico and Texas, and English interests had been sacrificed to the usurpations of America. The Noble Lord, moreover, broke up the boundary question, and jeopardized British interests in regard to that matter, and he now called upon the Noble Lord to afford the House and the country some reason or explanation of this gross violation of his duty as a Minister of the Crown. He would say nothing more upon the subject of the treaty of Washington, except to remark that here also they had an in stance of the Noble Lord's disposition to disregard his duty when he had an opportunity of doing so. With regard to the slave trade he had but little to say; Parliament in its wisdom had determined to make an effort to suppress that abominable traffic, but the manner in which the Noble Lord had carried out the wishes of Parliament was anything but satisfactory to him, and he should be glad if the Noble Lord would state faithfully and truly to the House the instructions he had given upon this subject, and at the same time put the House in possession of the exact state of his negotiations with the Government of Brazil upon the subject of the slave trade.— (Hear.) The Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Tamworth had stated that the treason of a Minister must be decided upon a different principle to that which regulated such decisions in the case of private individuals ; but he for one did not agree with that opinion. The responsibility of a Minister of the Crown ought to be decided in the same way as the responsibility of a private individual, and he called upon the House to adjudge the Noble Lord upon the charges he had felt it to be his duty to bring against him in the same spirit. Thanking the House for the attention they had afforded him, he begged to move the resolution of which he had given notice. Mr. URQUHART seconded the motion. Mr. SHELL said Dungarvan was so near Youghal that he could not help being acquainted with the views that the Hon. Member who had so long occupied their attention, to-day addressed to the constituency of the latter place ; and the Hon. Mem ber must forgive him for expressing his surprise that the Honourable, Member, after proving himself on the hustings at the last election to be the most true Irishman of them all, should so soon have dis missed the country of his adoption for the trammels of foreign politics. The Icon Member fos. Youghal had had handed over Ireland to the tender mercies lion. Member for Stafford, while the Hor)iNloembteer fur Stafford, who had circumvented the entire world to make himself familiar with the subject he had given up, had handed over to the Hon ourable Member for Youghal this tremendous motion upon forei gn politics. Now he could n ot hel p think ing that it wa s most unfair in the Honourable Member for Youghal, in sacrificing the Irish people and the Irish Parlia ment, to enable the Honourable Member for Stafford to make a terrific onslaught, under an amhdli, upon the character and reputation of the Noble Lord the Foreign Secretary. Coming from the Honourable Member for Youghal, the attack had lost its point, for the Honourable Member for Stafford, it was well known, had long been trying, through the agency of pamphlets and lecturers, to damage the character of his Noble Friend, the Foreign Secretary in the eyes of the English people, and it would have been more in accoriance with the old English principle of fair play had the Hon. Member for Stafford himself made the lengthened statement they had just heard against the Noble Lord now that he had an opportunity of meeting the Noble Lord face to face, rather than have taken advantage of the am bush the Hon. Member for Y oug h a l h a d a ff or d e d hi m. He had come down to fend the the Hou se , he admitted, t o de great action s of his Noble Friend---actions - which would bear a prominent don pl ace i n history— to contend th a t h e had that for his coun t ry which an English Minister should stlouald do, a n d th at in all his actions h e h ad acted ready to show that hi s h and had naeve/ soiled th e man he was great name of England, an d tlim 1 4 3 poli cy, where. Y 1 Pi E SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 24, 1848. ever it had extended, had been pacific in the extreme. ! But after he lied heard the speech of the, !Ton. I Clentltrnan--=afier he had heard him accused of fraud upon fraud, and lie after lie—after he had heard the Speaker interpose to preserve the dig nity of the House—after he had heard him wish he could call Mr. nackhouse from the grave, whom he stated Lord Palmerston had suborned to tell a lie and to commit fraud, he had come to the conclusion that the conduct of the Hon. Member deserved to be treated with apathy, not, however, without commise ration.— (Hear, hear.) The counsel had been heard. let the client and the witness now come forward and substantiate their charge. His Noble Friend was free from the imputations cast so plentifully upon him.—(Cheers.) Mr. URQUHART admitted if he and his Learned Friend were in the wrong they must be madmen to bring the motion forward; but though they might not now be believed—and he begged to remind the House that there had been times when Parliament had been deluded even in the face of truth—the time would come when the charge that had been brought forward to day, which he firmly believed, wont!! become clearly Palpable. The Hon. Gentleman then went on to de fend his conduct, but admitted that after he had been recalled from Turkey, where he held the office of secretary to the legation, that he addressed a letter to Lord Palmerston, stating that he had no per sonal feelings of hostility against him. It was only when he found that his (Mr. Urquhart's) conduct had been misrepresented—that he had been maligned by the Noble Lord when he was not in the House to defend himself—that he felt it his duty to come forward and defend himself. The charges that had for the first time been brought forward as a whole to-day had been long whis pered in the Courts of Europe, and even in that House ; and was it not remarkable that he had never stood up in his place and defended himself ? Not long ago the Noble Lord the Member for Mary lebone (Lord D. Stuart) stated that the policy of the Noble Lord towards foreign nations was that of a bully and a coward ; that he oppressed the weak, and was a time• server, but the Noble Lord's opinion seemed now to have undergone a great change. He was prepared to substantiate this allegation—and he called upon the House to let its utmost censure fall upon him if he failed—that changes had been made by the Noble Lord (Lord Palmerston) in the stipulations of the treaty with Turkey, for the purpose of serving the interests of Prueia or Turkey. He appealed to the Speaker in his judicial capacity to see that this charge was investigated, because it was no small matter—it was an impeachment of one of the first Ministers of the Crown. He wished to God that, in this matter, he could be proved an enthusiast and a madman. (Great Laughter.) Honourable Gentlemen might laugh ; what he meant was that he wished to God the had not these things in his mind, and that he did not feel so deeply for his injured country. He ap pealed to the Speaker not to refuse this prayer. If there was a Whig present who valued the character of that great party—if there was an honest man present—(Laughter)--who valued the alliance of Prussia as well as of France, he called upon them to support this inquiry. Nay, more, he appealed to the admirers of free-trade, for it had been said with truth that the conduct of the Noble Lord prevented its proper carrying out, and made the slave trade one great cause of contention with other countries, to grant the inquiry. But he was not moving for an inquiry—(Laughter)—he was simply supporting a motion for papers as a preliminary step.—(Hear, hear.) The papers moved for extended over sixteen years, and could not be disposed of in an ordinary debate. Lord D. STUART moved the adjournment of the debate. Lord PALMERSTON then rose amidst general cries for a division. He should not lose his temper, neither should he disgrace himself by violating the ordinary courtesies of life and the conduct usually adopted by gentlemen.—(Loud cheers.) He at once unreservedly and fully denied every one of the charges—he repelled them all. If the question were merely one between the Honourable Member and himself he did not know that he should have condescended to reply to them—nay, he did not think he should disgrace himself by even simply repeating them.—Loud cheers.) But, if it were the pleasure of the House to institute an inquiry, lie should not object to it— nay more, he had not the slightest objection to an inquiry into his conduct from the moment he entered the public service up to the moment he was addressing them, including the inspection of every document in the Foreign-office.— (Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) The Honourable and Learned Gen tlemen had so mistated facts, so jumbled them, that he considered he was perfectly justified in calling his speech not unlike a kaleidoscope out of order.— (Roars of laughter.) Mr. Backhouse was quite in capable of telling an untruth for the sake of any wau. The charge made against that gentleman he had never expected to hear in the House of Com mons.—(Hear.) He should not now enter into any foreign policy that took place before the Honourable and Learned Gentleman was born— (Laughter)—nor before he entered official life. He confessed he was utterly at a loss to understand how the Honourable and Learned Gentleman could conceive that the fall cf the diffe rent nations of the world depended upon his mere caprice.—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Gentleman appeared to have one fixed notion—first, that he (Lord Palmerston) had some magical power by which he had been able, ever since 1830, to sway the minds and govern the conduct of mankind throughout the world, and that the manner in which he had exercised that power had produced the abasement of England, and the predominancy of Russia. The result was obvious, said he—England was a Russian pro vince, and annihilated as a nation. Having once made a good speech, was made a charge of treachery against him. Now no one could lay such a charge at the door of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman.--(Con tinued laughter.) Anterior to the treaty of Adrian ople, he considered , that Turkey having violated some of her treaties with Russia, had good cause to proceed against her. Unfortunately Turkey acted under the advice of bad and evil counsellors in the matter. The Noble Lord was proceeding to enter more into detail on this matter, when The SPEAKER interrupted him, and announced that the debate must stand adjourned until to morrow, amidst some laughter. The House adjourned precisely at Six o'clock. to Swansea in the following spring. East of Chepstow, the opening of the line must depend upon the completion of the GloUcester ^nd :Forest of Dean Railway, which may be effected in the course of ti►e summer of 1849. From Swansea to Llanelly the works might be completed in the same time as those from Cardiff to Swansea. Be yond Llanelly there had been more delay, but the works were in progress to a short distance beyond the junction with the Haverfordwest branch. The CHAIRMAN, in moving that the report be received, adopted, printed, and circulated amongst the members, observed at some lenght upon its details. He said that, as the pressure upon the money market had passed away, it was time to press on the works as actively as pos sible. With that view, the directors proposed to make a call of 51. per share, which would bring into operation the borrowing powers of the company, after which the proprietors would not be likely to have further calls made upon them. A discursive conversation then ensued upon the several topics of the report, but nothing material was elicited, except an earnest protest on the part of the Chairman (with whom the meeting cordially concurred) against any Government or legislatorial interference with the accounts or business management of the corn pang. The resolution, for the adoption, &c., of the report, was unanimously agreed to. The directors retiring by rotation were reelected, and the usual routine business having been disposed of, the meeting separated. TENBY, SAUNDERSFOOT, AND SOUTH WALES RAILWAY COMPANY. The ordinary half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of this company was held yesterday afternoon, at the offices, Gresham Rooms, Basingliall-street. Thomas Chadwick, Esq., occupied the chair. The report which was read stated that, from the late pressure in the money• market, the works on the South Wales Railway had not proceeded as rapidly as had been anticipated, in consequence of which the directors of this company had availed themselves of the Act passed at the commencement of the present session of Parliament, and had obtained from the Railway Commissioners an extension of the time allowed for making the line for two years. Since the last meeting Mr. Hay, the engineer, had resurveyed the line, in order to find whether some reduction in the estimated cost of construction could not be made, and also some improvement in the gradients, and the directors were justified in stating that the capital subscribed for would be amply sufficient to complete the line. The Pem brokeshire Iron and Coal Company were proceeding very successfully in opening up the resources of their iron and coal mines, and they intended erecting blast fur naces during the ensuing summer; and as soon as the furnaces were got into working order, and the col liers properly opened, the directors believe that sufficient income would be derived from the tolls and harbour dues to balance the interest now paid by this company for the purchase of that undertaking. The directors had obtained the services of a gentlemen as secretary, in conjunction with the Pembrokeshire Iron and Coal Company, who had consented for the present to accept a very limited salary. The directors, in consequence of the works remaining in abeyance for the present, had agreed to accept only a moiety of the sum of 5001. which was voted for their services. The statement of accounts showed the receipts to be 30,4251. Bs. Bd., and the expenditure 27,4911. 3s. 3d., leaving a balance of 2,9341. ss. 3d. After a short statement by the CHAIRMAN, the report and accounts were unanimously received and adopted. John Laurie, Esq., Patrick Andrew, Esq., and Thomas Longbourne, Esq., were re-elected directors of the company, and Lewis Pocock, Esq., auditor. A vote of thanks was then passed to the Chairman, and the meeting separated. ELECTION COMMITTEES. PEEBLESIIIRE. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The Learned Gentleman was proceeding to call a witness named Scott, who voted at the election, to prove that his vote was bad, but he was interrupted by Mr. Sergeant WRANGUAM, who objected to the exami nation of the witness on the ground that his vote was not challenged in the Sheriff's Court, or when it was tendered at the election. Election Committees, he said, in cases of scrutiny, stood in the position of a court of' appeal, and no testimony could be admitted which had not been tendered and rejected in the inferior court. The decision of this point was adjourned till to morrow. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. NORHEI?IV CIRCUIT, Lancaster, Feb. 19. The circuit commenced here to-day. Their Lord ships, Mr. Baron Alderson and Mr. Baron Rolfe, sat at ten o'clock, and proceeded with the business for the Northern Division of the county. The cause list con tains the names of six causes. There are 33 prisoners for trial. There is one case of alleged murder, one of burglary, one of cutting and wounding, and two of man slaughter. The greater number of the other offences charged are petty thefts. Mr. Baron Rolfe was engaged a great part of the day in trying a case on a builder's bill, and another on a bill of exchange, in which the defence was the alleged drunkenness of the acceptor at the time of his execu tion of the instrument. Neither case was of any public interest. (Before Mr. Baron ALDERSON.) William henry Skate and John Hamer were indicted for a conspiracy to defraud the Yorkshire Insurance Company. Mr. Jiliss and Mr. Pollock conducted the prosecution. The defendants, who wero out on bail, were defended by Mr. James and Mr. Wharton. Mr. &Ass opened the case with a very minute detail of the circumstances connected with the case, from which it appeared that the prisoner Shaw had for some time carried on business as a cotton-spinner at llaslingden, where he had, in the year 1846, taken a mill from James Ashworth. lie was assisted in his business by the other defendant, his brother-in-law. The machinery and stock in the mill was in November, 1846, insured with the Yorkshire Insurance Company, and it was burnt in April, 1847. It was alleged that false accounts had been made up for the purpose of increasing the amount of the alleged loss, and that both the present parties were privy to the making up of these false accounts and invoices. In two cases especially it was alleged that Shaw was represented to have purchased some engines from Hamer as part of the stock of the mill, and that this transaction was entirely fictitious, and that in an other instance, where he had purchased some cards from a person of the name of Whitely, Whitely's son, who kept his books, was induced to make out a false invoice to nearly three tunes the amount which had been really purchased. Joseph Hall, whose father is agent for the Yorkshire Insurance Company at Laysight, near Manchester, stated that Shaw applied to effect an insurance in November, 1846. The proposal was at first for 1,000/., but it was finally settled at 1,5001. The policy was at first made out for the date of renewal to fall in December, 1847, but after it was received from York it was, at Shaw's re quest, returned, and the date of renewal altered to Sep tember. Shaw received the policy in December, 1846. The Learned Counsel, proceeding to inquire into the contents of the policy, Mr. JAMES objected that proper evidence had not been laid for the introduction of secondary evidence. Notice to produce had been given to the defendants, but the prosecution was quite aware, as he should show, that the defendants at that time had it not under their control. Mr. Stansfield was called, and stated that he is a banker at Burnley, and that, seven or eight months ago, the policy was deposited with the firm as security. The firm held it as against Mr. Shaw. Had told the solicitor for the insurance company that it was in the possession of the bank, and that it was held by them as their secu rity, as stated. On further examination it appeared that Mr. Stans field had been desired by the solicitor for the defendant Shaw not to bring the policy with him. Had not re ceived a subpana duces tccum. The ;policy was now in Lancaster. His LORDSHIP said it must be produced. The witness could not for any possible private interests of himself or the firm defeat the ends of justice. Mr. Stansfield then left the court, and in the mean time the examination of the witnesses proceeded. The witness John Hall, stated that about the 10th of April he got the information of a fire at ilaslingden, and went to see the premises. Shaw drew up hastily an ac count of his claim, now produced. On the 14th, went with Mr. Cass, the agent of the insurance company, to Haslingden, and found in the warehouse which was not burnt down a press and carding engine, which were un injured. On the 21st, Mr. Shaw told witness he had sent in a claim to the office at York. Witness, on cross•examination, stated that when the proposal for the insurance was made he went over to Haslingden and examined the premises. Mr. Cass, cashier to the insurance company, said that about the 21st of April the claim of Shaw and a bundle of vouchers were received at York. The claim was about 1,4001., and, allowing for salvage, 1,2601. Among the Touchers were two produced, marked D. and E. Witness, on the 30th of April, went to Haslingden with the copy, claim, and the Touchers. Saw the defendants there, and examined them separately. There was a statement made by each, now produced. There are two vouchers, one for 171. 155., and another for 11. ss. There was an agent tor the company at Haslingden, Richard Howarth. From the cross-examination it appeared that the statements of the defendants were made in answer to questions put by the witness. No charge was then made against Shaw. Gave Hamer into custody. Did not re turn to Haslingden till the Bth of May. Thinks that before that time there was a letter intimating that pro ceedings would be taken by Hamer. Thomas Wright Hodgson, a valuer of machinery, stated that haying received a copy of a claim from Mr. Cass, and the vouchers, he went to Haslingden with Mr. Cass, and saw Shaw at the inn. Got from him an account of what was injured or destroyed at the mill. Witness valued the loss, according to Mr. Shaw's state ment, at 6631. odd. Shaw claimed four carding engines destroyed. lie said he had bought some cards at Man chester for 181. There were among the vouchers seine more looms than were destroyed. Witness inquired about these, and, after some hesitation, Shaw said they had never left Manchester. There was in the claim a carding-engine and press. On inquiry about these Shaw at last said they were in the warehouse adjoining the mill, which was nut burnt down, and were uninjured. There is a statement in the claim of 225/. worth of goods purchased from Hamer. It appeared from the statement of Eli Whitely that his father is a cardinaker at Rochdale. Shaw pur chased some cards in April, 1846, to the amount of 474 Hamer was present when Shaw gave the order. They were paid for by Mr. Shaw. In April, 1847, saw Hamer at Rochdale. He wanted an invoice made out for the cards which had been purchased, and told wit ness that Mr. Shaw had purchased some more at Man chester, and that they must all be put in the one invoice, and Is. a sheet or more per card added to the price. Witness made out an invoice to this effect. It is the paper now produced, marked E, which was one of the vouchers sent to the company. The gross amount was 1191. odd. Witness acknowledged the receipt at the bottom of the invoice as paid in three several sums. Those sums were not paid, only the 471. and about 101. for extras. The witness, in cross-examination, said that he and his father assisted in putting on the cards on the en gines. There were more put on than came from wit ness's place. Some of them were new. They would be about as valuable as those supplied by witness. There were also filletings put on, and the other things men tioned in the invoice. There were four engines covered in all. They were worth more than the amount of the invoice. It is a common practice to bring cards to Man chester to sell. llamer said they had no invoice of the cards which were bought at Manchester, it had been burnt; 4s. 6d. would be a fair charge for the sheets which his father had supplied. In the invoice made out by Hamer's direction they were charged at ss. 6d. The greater number of sheets put on were old. About fifty were new. his LORDSHIP said he had received a note from Mr. Stansfield, declining to abide by the direction of the Court as to producing the policy. He desired that one of the bailiffs of the court should go to Mr. Stansfield and desire his attendance in court. Mr. Stansfield, however, did not appear, and it was intimated that he had not been at the Royal Oak (where he was stopping) for more than an hour. His Lordship strongly censured the course pursued by Mr. Stansfield, and after consul tation with Mr. Baron Rolfe, admitted secondary evi dence of the policy, intimating that Mr. Stansfield had probably rendered himself liable to an attachment. Evidence was adduced to show that in the latter part of 1845 Shaw had purchased a number of cards at a bankrupt's sale at Manchester, which it was supposed had formed part of those put in by Whitely. They were claimed for separately, and the invoice given at the sale to the amount of 171. ss. was among the vouchers sent to the company. It appeared from the testimony of other parties that in their opinion the machinery in the mill was worth about 5401., exclusive of the cards, straps, &c. William Dale, a machine broker at Burnley, deposed to Shaw and Hamer having, in November, 1845, pur chased three carding-engines. Showed them two. They purchased them at 441. Hamer brought a deposit of 201. Shaw was the purchaser. Hamer said he was to work the engines. They were not purchased by Hamer, but by Shaw. Shaw got an invoice. The several documents were then put in, including the fictitious invoice from Whitely, the invoice of the cards purchased at the bankrupt's sale by Shaw, and the claim made by Shaw, amounting, with salvage, to 1,2601. Mr. JAMES addressed the jury for the defence, and his Lordship having summed up, The jury retired, and after being absent a considerable time, returned a verdict of Not Guilty. Feb. 22. (Before Mr. Baron ROLFE.) RAMER V. CASS. This was an action of trespass and false imprisonment. The plaintiff was one of the defendants in the indict ment for conspiracy tried yesterday, and which resulted in an acquittal. The present action arose out of the same circumstances which led to the indictment. The defendant pleaded " Not guilty" by statute. Mr. James and Mr. Warton were for the plaintiff, Mr. Bliss and Mr. Pollock for the defence. It appeared that the plaintiff, Mr. Hamer, 'is the brother-in-law of Mr. Shaw, who some time since occu pied a mill :at Haslingden, where he carried on the business of :a cotton spinner. The machinery in the mill had been insured in the Yorkshire Fire and Lifo Insurance Company in the latter part of the year 1846. The mill took fire in April, 1847, and the greater part of the machinery was destroyed. Mr. Hamer, the plaintiff, had assisted him in conducting the mill, and on Mr. Cass, the defendant, who is cashier to the insu rance company, coming over to llaslingden to inquire into the particulars of the loss, he had an interview with Mr. Hamer. Mr. Shaw had before this sent in his claim to the company, with a bundle of vouchers, and on an examination of these as compMar.e rd with was induced to suppose that some parts of the claim were fictitious, and he finally gave Mr. Ilamer into custody as a party implicated in this attempt to defraud. Mr. Hamer was taken by the constable to the lock-up, and kept in a cell for the night. The cell was warmed with hot air, but the only place of rest was a sloping wooden bench raised a short way above the ground. This was on the 30th of April, seine weeks after the fire. On giving Mr. Hamer into custody, Mr. Cass left llaslingden, and did not return for several days. In the meantime Mr. Hamer was bailed out, and it would seem before Mr. Cass re turned to llaslingden some intimation had been con veyed to him that proceedings would be taken by Mr. Hamer to recover compensation for a false imprisonment. On Mr. Cass's return, however, Mr. Shaw and Mr. Ilainer were both included in a charge of conspiracy to defraud the insurance company, and were committed for trial. After a long investigation yesterday a verdict of "Not guilty" was returned. At the close of the plaintiff's case, Mr. BLISS contended that the defendant was entitled to a month's notice of action under the provisions of the Bth and 9th George IV., c. 30, by which the owner of any property was entitled to take into custody any per son found committing any of the offences specified in the Act ; and in any action brought against any one for anything done under the provisions of that Act the de• fendant was entitled to a month's notice of action. He submitted that in this case the plaintiff by making any false pretences as to the amount of the goods destroyed in the mill was " committing " an offence specified in the Act, namely, the obtaining money by false pretences, and that it was sufficient to bring the defendant within the privilege of the Act if he bona fide believed he was acting under it, and that an offence forbidden by the Act was actually being committed by the plaintiff. His LORDSHIP, however, overruled the objection. Mr. Buss then addressed the jury on the question lof the amount of damages, and a verdict was finally re turned for the plaintiff—Damages, 301. (Before Mr. Baron ALDERSON.) William Myers was indicted for the wilful murder of William Johnson, at Dalton, by stabbing him with a knife. Mr.l Pollock and Mr. Sowler conducted the prosecu• tion; the prisoner was defended by Mr. James and Mr. Maule. The prisoner and deceased were, it appears, both persons employed as railway excavators, and on the day in question, which was the 2d of October, they had, with a large number of others, received their fortnightly wages. In consequence, many of them became intoxi cated. It appeared from the evidence of John Pick thorpe, that he and the deceased were between nine and ten o'clock at the White Horse public-house, in Dalton. They left together, and went for some distance along the street, when they parted to go home. The witness went a short way, when he heard voices in the direction the deceased had gone, as of two persons quarrelling, and in going in the direction indicated by the noise, be found the prisoner, the deceased, and a man of the name of Lewis together. It appeared from Lewis's evidence, that in the interval the deceased had come up with two others, and while they passed on deceased and Lewis went up the street. They had gone some way, when they were passed by the prisoner, who was whistling, and, after some foolish jest ing on this matter, the deceased became Irritated, and threatened to strike the prisoner. They went some dis tance along the street, and several times squared at one another. They finally came to blows, and prisoner was knocked down. lie got up again, and they closed a second time. He was again knocked down, and while on the ground, deceased stooping over him, seven or eight blows were exchanged. The deceased then cried out he was stabbed, and prisoner got up and went away. Deceased was assisted into a house, and was found to be bleeding copiously from a wound in the arm. The con stable, who apprehended Myers, said that he had seen him about eleven o'clock coming out of the Queen's Arms entry, in Dalton. He had not his hand tied up then, nor was it bleeding. This was before the scuffle with the deceased. On going to apprehend him, which was after twelve o'clock, he found him in his own house in bed, very much intoxicated. His hand was then cut and tied up with a pocket-handkerchief. On being told the charge against him he said he wanted to see the deceased and make it up with him. From the statement of the medical man, it appeared that, when he was called in to see the deceased he found him bleeding very much from a wound in his arm, which had divided the brachial artery. He had also a wound between the 11th and 12th ribs, penetrating in an oblique direction for about four inches. There was some air appearing at the orifice, showing that the lungs were touched. There was also a wound in the back. He lingered for a considerable time, but gangrene came on in the arm, and amputation became necessary. On a post mortem examination it appeared the immediate cause of death was inflammation of the pleura and the adjoining parts in consequence of the wound. His LORDSHIP having intimated that he thought in this evidence the charge of murder was not made out, Mr. James admitted that he could not hope to contend sue eessfully against the evidence on the charge of man slaughter. Verdict—Guilty. To be imprisoned two years. Thomas Scarborough and Mary Scarborough, who lived with the former as his wife, were indicted, the male prisoner for a rape on the person of Alice Brace well, and the female prisoner with aiding and abetting. Mr. Overend was for the prosecution, Mr. Monk for the defence. . . The case, as opened, was of a most revolting kind, but depended almost entirely upon the testimony of the prosecutrix. She, it appeared, was so deaf that it was almost impossible to make her understand what was said, while her own articulation was so imperfect that her sister alone, who appeared as an interpreter, could understand what she meant. It was evident also from her demeanour in the witness box, that her:intellect was very weak, and, alter a very long endeavour to ascertain whether she was sensible of the obligation of an oath, his Lordship intiurtted that he thought it would be very dangerous to rely on such testimony—an opinion in which the jury concurred. Though the evidence was not gone into, even on the depositions as they stood it seemed very doubtful, how- ever shocking the conduct of the prisoners appeared to be, whether the offence of rape had been committed. Verdict—Not Guilty. a clerk in the employ of the same firm, was charged with embezzlement. The prisoner reserved his defence, and he was fully committed for trial, SOUTH WARK. Mrs. Elizabeth Letton was charged with administering to her husband, Mr. Edwin Richard Robson Letton, of Chislehurst, in Kent, a certain drug, with intent to poison him, or do him some other serious bodily harm. Mrs. Elizabeth Moore stated that she lived at No. 5, Montague-terrace, Trinity-square, and that the prisoner and her husband occupied apartments in her house for eleven months previously to their removal to Chislehurst; that while they were lodging withher Mr. Letton was in the habit of drinking to excess, and while in a state of intoxication she has frequently seen t he prisoner give him powders, :either mixed in rum and water or milk ; that after taking the powders she observed that Mr. Let ton:was seized with violent sickness and retching, aed has seen him vomit quantities of blood ; and the witness spoke to the prisoner on those occasions and told her that they seemed to do him more harm than good, and said that if she continued to administer them, she should acquaint Mr. Letton of the fact when he was sober. The prisoner then informed her that a Mr. Goodall had sup plied her with the receipt for the powders. and added that she gave them to her husband for the purpose of doing him good, and carrying of the effects of what he drank. Witness had seen the prisoner give her husband two of the powders in the course of the day, and both she (witness) and her servant had fetched the powders 1 from the shop of Mr. Preddie, in the neighbourhood, at the prisoner's request. It was here explained that the powders consisted of tartar emetic, and that the quantity administered on the above occasions was attended with great danger, and that Mr. Letton was in a very precarious state of health at present. The witness, upon being recalled, said that it was about three months ago that she saw the powders ad ministered to Mr. Letton, and that he was always under the influence of liquor when the prisoner gave them to him, and that he seemed to be totally unconscious of what he was taking. The witness also reminded the magistrate that Mr. Letton had been brought up to that court some time ago for setting fire to some articles of furniture in her house while he was intoxicated. Esther Moody, servant to the last witness, stated that while the prisoner and her husband lodged at her mis tress's house the former was in the habit of sending her to the shop of a Mr. Preddie for the powders. A Mr. Percival, who stated himself to he the brother in-law of Mr. Letton, put some questions to the witness with the view to show that Mr. Preddie hud cautioned her not to let it be known that he served her with two of the powders the same day, but she replied that he (lid not caution her on the subject ; but the witness added !hat the day on which she fetched two powders from Mr. Preddie's the prisoner desired her to tell him, if he in quired, that the former one was lost, and therefore had not been administered. Mr. Preddie was next examined, and he stated that he had supplied the last witness with powders, which consisted of tartar emetic, each paper containing four grains of that article; that he had given the last witness two of the powders in one day, on its being represented to him that the former powder was lost. Mr. COTTINGUAN — Did you, as a medical man, con sider that it was safe to administer two powders such as those described in one day to a patient ?—The witness replied that he should not have sent two powders in one day if it had not been represented that the former one was not administered. _ . Mr. COTTINGIJAM said that he considered the con duct of the witness highly censurable in sending pow ders of the description to Mr. Luton by a girl like the witness. Elizabeth Moor, the daughter of the first witness, stated that while the prisoner and her husband were lodging at her mother's house, she went into their apartment one day, at a time when he was drinking a glass of rum and water. When he put the glass to his lips and tasted the contents, he said, addressing witness, his wife being out of the room at the time, " Betsy, taste this; I think my wife is trying to poison me." She added that she did not see the prisoner mix the rum and water, and after Mr. Letton had used the above words she (witness) left the room without making any remark. Policeman Wild, 94 M, stated that ho apprehended the prisoner that morning at Chislehurat, in Kent, and that having stated to her the nature of the charge, she merely said she was innocent, and wi►lingly accompanied him to town. Mr. COTTINGHAM said that he should, under all the circumstances, admit the prisoner to bail in two sureties of 501. each to appear again on Monday, and that in order to secure the attendance of Mr. Preddie, who acted so incautiously in selling the powders, he should call upon him to enter into his own recognisance of 401. The Magistrate, then addressing the accused, who is a very lady-like woman, told her that it was of the utmost importance to her that she should produce the recipe or prescription she mentioned to Mrs. Moor she had got from a Mr. Goodall, recommending the powders for her husband. The prisoner's father and another geatlemln at once entered into tho required sureties for her attendance, and she was liberated, and left the court with them. FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE OF TUESDAY. DIVIDENDS. At the Court, Basinghall-street. J. Shirt, Broad-street, Lambeth, grocer, March 16, at two—G. Clarke, Isham Mills and Burton Mills, Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire, carpet manufacturer and worsted spinner, March 14. at eleven—C. Stuart, Her bert-street, New North-road, wholesale milliner, March 14, at twelve—W. Reeve and R. lt,eve, New Bond street, upholsterers, March 14, at two—S. Street, Bedford, draper, March 14, at eleven. In the Country. J. Edwards, Allington, Dorsetshire, sack twine and shoe thread manufacturer, March 15, at eleven, at the Court, Exeter—G. D. Ewens, Axminster, Devonshire, butter merchant, March 15, at eleven, at the Court, Exeter—G. Bradford, Bridport, Dorsetshire, baker and confectioner, March 15, at eleven, at the Court, Exeter —W. 11. Pine, Honiton, Devonshire, maltster, March 15, at eleven, at the Court, Exeter—T. Howarth, Roch dale, Lancashire, chemist and druggist, March 14, at twelve, at the Court, Manchester—T. Slater, Burnley, Lancashire, pawnbroker and salesman, March 15, at twelve, at the Court, Manchester—J. J. Flitch, New castle-upon-Tyne, leather dresser, March IG, at one, at the Court, Newcastle-upon-Tyne—T. Hunter, Bishops wearmouth, Durham, grocer, March 16, at eleven, at the Court, Newcastle-upon-Tyne—R. Peck, Newcastle-upon- Tyne, grocer and tea dealer, March 16, at twelve, at the Court, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS. A. 11. Chambers, sen., New Bond-street, and South Molten -street, banker, 4s. 6d., on Saturday, Eeb. 19, and three following Saturdays, between the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Groom, Abchurch-lane. 'l'. Carter, Reading:, jeweller, 4s. 6d., en Satur day, Feb. 19, and three following Saturdays, between the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Groom, Abchurch-lane. W. Quincey, Old street, St. Luke's, tin plate worker, Bd., on Saturday, Feb. 19, and three following Satur days, between the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Groom, Abchurch-lane. J. Rawlins, Foley-place, coach maker, 4s. 11(I., any Wednesday, between the hours of eleven and three, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, Basinghall-street. J. Imray, Old Fish- street- hill, stationer, and Minorics, chartseller, 2d.. any Wednesday, between the hours of eleven and three, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, Basing hall-street. J. H. Shanklin, Liscard, Cheshire, landing waiter, ls., on Thursday, Feb. 24, or any subsequent Thursday, be tween the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Cazenove, Liverpool. G. Baker, Newport, Monmouthshire, grocer, 2s. 6d., on Wednesday, Feb. 23, or any subsequent Wednesday, between the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Miller, Bristol• - . E. J. Staples, Bristol, surgeon, as., on Wednesday, Feb. 23, or any subsequent Wednesday, between the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Miller, Bristol. J. Andrews, Llantrissant, Glamorgaushire, grocer, 2s. 9d., on Wednesday, Feb. 23, or any subsequent Wednesday, between the hones of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Miller, Bristol. J. Judd, Brvnmawr, Breconshire, shop keeper, sd. (together with the first dividend of 4s. on new proofs), on Wednesday, Feb. 23, or any subsequent Wednesday, be tween the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Miller, Bristol. E. Coweher, Bath, apothecary, 11 d., on Wednesday, Feb. 23, or any subsequent Wednesday, between the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Miller, Brist,d. J. Collins and J. Collins, Bath, jewellers, Is. I Id., on Vednesday, Feb. 23, or any subsequent Wednesday, be tween the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Miller, Bristol. C. Malpus, Manchester, victualler, 7id., on Tuesday, Feb. 22, and every following Tuesday, between the hours of ton and one, at the office of Mr. Hobson. Man chester. coach builder, 2s. 104, G. Shuffiebottom, Macclesfield, on Tuesday, Feb. 22, and every following Tuesday„ be. tween the hours of ten and two, at the office of Mr. Hob son, Manchester. T. Bowser, Morpeth, draper and mercer, 12s. Gd., Saturdays, between the hours of ten and three, at the office of Mr. Baker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. W. Ferguson, Liverpool, tea dealer and draper, 2d., on Thursdays, between the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Turner, Liverpool. W. J. Ward, Bermondsey-street, Southwark, wine and spirit merchant. sid., on Wednesday, Feb. 2:3, and two following Wednesdays, between the hours of ten and two, at the office of Mr. Turq9nd, Guildhall-chambers, City. I. Aldebert, C. C. Becher, and J. Hargreaves, Cop thall-buildings, City, merchants, Is. lid., on Wednesday, Feb. 23, and three following Wednesdays, between the hours of ten and two, at the office of Mr. Turquaud, G uildhall -chambers. NOTICES OF CERTIFICATES. At the Court, Basinghall-street. J. Morrison, Cheapside, tailor, March 15, at twelve — W. Gribblo, Boston-street, Dorset-square, builder, March 15, at twelve—C. Skingley, Malden, Essex, commission agent, March 15, at eleven—W. Tiley, Reading, common brewer, March 15, at one—R. N. Reeve, Clerkenwell-green, licensed victualler, March 16, at twelve—A. I'. Owen, Aylesbury, surgeon, March 14, at half-past eleven—T. M. Inchbold, Ludgate hill, sta tioner, March 16, at eleven—W. Flick, Oat-lane, City, and Trafalgar-terrace, Mortimer-road, De Beauvoir square, hosier, March 15, at ono—J. Knight, Waltham at. Lawrence, Berks, brewer, March 16, at eleven—G. Clarke, Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire, carpet ma nufacturer, March 14, at eleven—T. Richmond, Peter borough, Northamptonshire, builder, March 17 ' at twelve—J. Artus, Pall - mall, cigar importer, March 17, two—W. U, Stray, Lambeth-walk, hat manufacturer, March 17, at one—J. Clarke, Conduit-mews, Padding' ton, job•master, March 17, at eleven. In the Country. C. 'Wade, Willabridge, Gloucestershire, miller And corn dealer, March 28, at eleven, at the Court, Bristol —ff. Keddy and T. Reddy, Bridlington, Yorkshire, prin ters, March 29, at halt-past ten, at the Town-hall, Kingston.upon-Hull—F. Marshall, Sunderland, chemist, March 16, at half-past ten, at the Court, Newcastle upon-Tyne—J. J. Flitch, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, leather dresser, March 16, at one, at the Court, Newcastle upon-Tyne—W. Henshall. Frestbury, Cheshire, mineral miller, March 14, at 12, at the Court, Manchester---E. Briggs, Castleton Mills, Lancashire, hatter and silk spin' ner, March 16, at eleven, at the Court, Manchester -- A. Clarke, Longton, Staffordshire, china manufacturer , March 21, at eleven, at the Court, Birmingham—s Hansor, Hanley, Staffordshire, hop merchant and druggist, March 18, at twelve, at the Court, Bir miugham —J. Thompson, Tamworth, Stafford shire, stationer, March 16, at eleven, at the Court, Birmingham—J. D. Blake, Honiton, Devon shire, March 23, at one, at the Court, Exeter—W. 0. Pine, Honiton. Devonshire, maltster, March 23, at one , at the Court, Exeter—D. Watkins, Abergavenny, shoe' maker, March 14, at eleven, at the Court, Bristol—G. Baker, Newport, Monmouthshire, grocer, March 16, at eleven, at the Court, Bristol—J. Lea, Cheltenham , brick and tile-maker, March 21, at eleven, at the Bristol. At the Court of Review, March 14. J. Brittan, Redlynch, Wiltshire, market gardener and nurseryman—J. Jordan, Coventry, brewer and maltster —E. Ellanson, Liverpool, wine merchant—J, White , Coventry, brewer and maltster—j. L. Aldridge, Coven' try, brewer and maltster-11. Price, Waterloo, Lanes' shire, dealer in coals—W. Evans, Derby, lamp manu• facturer—T. Howarth, Rochdale, chyrnist and druggisl —G. Bradford, Bridport, Dorsetshire, baker and con• fectioner—W. H. Pitcher. Guildford -street, Russell' square, dealer—J. Hudson, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, dealer in marine stores—J. Smith, Suuth-place, Finsbury' square, surgeon and apothecary--W. Harris, Aberyst' with, Cardiganshire, mineral agent—T. Morley, Oxford street, jeweller—S. 13. Moody, Fenchurch-§treet, City and Georgetown, Demerara, civil and colonial engineer PARTNERSHI PS DISSOLVED. F. G. 0. Taylor and J. Tirgey, Hardingham, Nor folk, merchants and millers—W. Hall and r. Yeat K , ngston- upon-Hull, commission agents—J. Part too J. Blackstone, I3ayham-terrace, Camden- town, surgeons —S. J. Heilbut and R. A. Ruben, Prince's-etuare, S. George-in-the East, clearers in leeches—R. Langford and W. F. Russell, West Smithfield, beast and sheep salesmen—J. Midgley and A. Midgley, Huddersfield , cloth manufacturers—W. Beale, J. Beale, and Beale, Jefferey's-square, City, br o k ers —W. J. Turner and T. Houghton, Southampton, grocers—E. Taylor ara 11. W. Taylor, Colchester, Essex. upholsterers and auctioneers—R. W. Ashley and W. Ashley, Liverpool, ship brokers—Anne Naish, W. Naish, H. Naish, and J. Naish, Bristol, hosiers and glovers (so far as regards W. Naish) —J. Davis and W. Walker, builders —E. Gosden and J. Gosden, Midhurstt Sussex, harness makers—T. Parkin and E. Steer, brush manufacturers—J. M. Lovell and W. White, Bed ford, curriers and leather sellers—J. Leadbeater, Butterell, S. Leadheater, and A. Leadbeater, coal miners —J. Andrews and W. Cooper, Milk-street, Cheapsidet silk warehousemenS. J. Stafford and T. Francis, Brighton, cheesemongers—J. H. Taylor and J. Todd, Preston, Lancashire, cotton spinners —W. Saber and I" Saber, Liverpool, watchmakers and jewellers—J. Wrir ley and W. Birks, Hackney, linen drapers—J. Wheatlel and W. :Ingram,; Southwell, Nottinghamshire, drapers and grocers—R. Plant, F. Plant, J. L. Plant, and Fe Plant, East Retford and Worksop, Nottinghamshire , linen and woollen drapers (so far as regards F. Plant)S. Alcock, C. Keeling, and R. E. Alcock, Buralem , Staffordshire, and New York, china and earthenware manufacturers. INSOLVENT PETITIONERS. John Fenby Parker, West Derby. Adam Snodgrass, Liverpool, warehouseman. Robert Scott, Lymington, Hampshire, grocer. William Fletcher, Sedgley, Staffordshire, farmer. William Phelps, Ilminster, Somersetahire, tailor. James Tennant, Salford, Lancashire, provision dealer. James Hall Farmer, Fearnal-heath, Worcestershire, painter. William White Thompson, Warwick, tobacconist. Charles John Chambers, Leeds, clerk. _ _ Hugh Morrison, Leeds, commercial traveller. John Moorhouse, Leeds, plumber. John Cox, Leeds, scribbling miller. William John Bartlett, Wood's-corner, Sussex, licensed victualler. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. J. Macarthur, Glasgow, merchant, to meet, Feb. 291 and March 21, at twelve, within Comrie's Hotel, Glasgow. W. Dick, Dryhurgh Mains, Berwick, banker, to meet, Feb. 29, and March 28, at three, within Hownam's Inn, Dunse. It. and G. Dick, Edinburgh, merchants, to meet, Feb. 28, and March 27, at two, within Stevenson's Rooms, Edinburgh. T. Wright, Glasgow, fruit merchant, to meet, Fab. 25, and March 17, at two, within the King's Arms Inn, Glasgow. W. Hunter, Glasgow, merchant, to meet, Feb. 28, and March 20, at two, within the Globe Hotel, Glagow. B. and J. Crosbie, Edinburgh, ale and spirit mer chants, to meet, Feb. 28, and March 20, at one, within Ferguson's Ship Tavern, Edinburgh. J. Hamilton, Blackland-mill, merchant, to meet, Feb. 28, and March 20, at one, within the Saracen's Head Inn, Paisley. Jarnes Bridge. Glasgow, coal merchant, to meet, Feb. 25, and March 17, at two, within the Prince of Wales Tavern, Glasgow. . . . M. INPLeod, Glasgow, commission and provision mer chart, to meet, Feb. 26, and March 18, at twelve, within the Eagle Hotel or Inn, Glasgow. A. Jamieson, Stirling, upholsterer, to meet Feb. 26, and Nlarch 18, at twelve, within the Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling. W. Chalmers, Edinburgh, land surveyor, to meet, Feb. 28, and March 20, at twelve, within Stevenson's Rooms, Edinburgh. J. M'lndoe and R. Bell, Glasgow, commission mer chants, to meet, Feb. 28, and March 29, at two, within the Star Hotel, Glasgow. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, FEn.:23. STOCK EXCITANGIL—The Share market Las been rather flat to-day, and quotations a shade lower. The sales are— Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire (late C. and B.), 16 1 / 2 —Glasgow and Greenock, 16:Y 1 —Lancashire and York shire, Sixteenths, 1/2 p.—Ditto, Fifths (West Riding Union), 2/. Bs. 9d. dis.—London and North-Western, New Quarters, 5 p.—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Quarters, No. 2, 17% Ditto, 10/. Preference, IA p.—Ditto, 20/. Shares, s%dis. Midland, 401. Shares, 45 1 / 2 —Shropshire Union Rail way and Canal, 2/. 11s. 3d. di,.—South-Eastern and Dover, 31 1 / 2 —Ditto, No. 4, 1% dis.—York, Newcastle, and Berwick (G. N. E. Purchase), 2% c. MANCHESTER, FEB. 23. STOCK ExcirmiGn.—The sales are—Birkenhead, Lanca shire, and Cheshire Junction, 5% dis.—Lancashire and York shire, Fifths, 9-16 p.—Ditto, 32!. Shares, 5 dis.—Ditto (West Riding Union), 2 1 / 2 dis.—Nianchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln shire, Preference, p.—North Staffordshire, 3 , 4 p.—South- Eastern and Dover, N0.„1,.3V i dis.—Ditto, No 4, 19-16 die. SOUTH WALES RAILWAY. The sixth half-yearly general meeting of the share• holders of this company was held yesterday, at the Pad• dington station of the Great Western Railway; Mr. C, Russell in the chair. The SECRETARY (Mr. Armstrong) read the report of the directors, of which the leading points were, that during the late period of monetary pressure the board had given their most careful attention to a prudent out lay of the funds at their disposal, so as to maintain their engagements, and at the same time refrain from making heavy calls upon the proprietors. They congratulated the company upon their success to this extent, that they had been able to meet all liabilities without stoppage of the works in progress or delay of the final completion of the line. The call payable in July last furnished the means of such progress, and the directors were enabled to postpone any further call until January, and then they limited the demand to 31. per cent. The engineer's report showed in detail the course which had been adopted for these purposes, but, briefly, the directors had thought it prudent to promote the steady construction of the heaviest works, to the east of Swansea, so that the line from Gloucester, ,in continuation of the Great Western Railway should be finished at the earliest time. The works between Swansea and Carmarthen, and even be yond Carmartheu,lhad proceeded, although somewhat slowly, with such progress as the finances of the corn. pany would justify. The directors were not unmindful of the advantage which would accrue from the early completion of the line, and the proprietors might rely upon their keepting that object steadily in view, whilst they felt it their duty to make the calls as little onerous as possible, especially in times of commercial embar rassment. As the time limited by the Act of Incorpo ration for the construction of the line and the com pulsory powers for the purchase of land would expire in August of: this year, a memorial, in the form prescribed by the General Act of Parliament, passed for the purpose of enabling railway companies to extend the period fixed for the completion of their works, had been presented to the Railway Commis sioners, praying to be allowed the privileges of the general Act, and there was no doubt that the application would be complied with. In pursuance of the assurance given by the directors at the meetings in February and August last year, application was being made to Parlia rarent this sess i on f or power to raise, during the con uction of t h e line,tho rate of interest, on calls p a id p, film to 4 pm. cent This was the solo object of the n o vr in progress; and in justice to the reasonable expectations of the proprietary, the directors would omit no exertion to accomplish it. The engineer' s (Mr. Brunei's) report was also read. It stated generally t h at circ umstaces had concurred materially to retard the progress of the wor k s . E very endeavour had been mad e to keep do wn the expenditure with equal with the least possible derang ement of the - proportionate advance of the different portions ; but in 9 a line of such extent, and comprehending works of such varied character, some parts would unavoidably be in arrcar, and some would be completed before they could be rendered available. Generally speaking, th ose works upon which the most chance of contingencies or unforeseen difficulties might be supposed, were pro ceeded with sufficiently to render their completion cer tain, and to remove any doubts of the Swansea Tunnel, about one-third had been completed, and no new diffi• culties or expenses could be anticipated. The Newport Tunnel and the adjoining works were also nearly com pleted. The works between Chepstow and Cardiff were tit a gate to In opened this yeas if desirable, tiad those LYME REGIS. (Continued from our Afternooa Edition of yesterday.) The Committee adjourned, without coming to any decision, till to-morrow. LANCASTER. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) William llartley, a freeman of Lancaster, proved that he was present at the festivities referred to by the Learned Counsel. He was brought into Lancaster on the night before the poll with a number of other freemen, who, like himself, were rather fresh, and that on the following day he received 355. from Wyse, upon the understanding that he should vote for Mr. Gregson. He voted for Mr. Gregson and Mr. Greene. John Wasey, a freeman of Lancaster, deposed that he had charge of the voters at the Victoria Hotel, and on the day of the election he remembered hearing Hartley say to another voter, " See, I am going to vote fur Greg son, and I have got this," exhibiting some gold and silver. John Capon, another freeman, proved that before and during the election, ho was sumptuously entertained at Dobson's and the Victoria Hotels free of expense. Ile received a sovereign from some person whom he did not know before going to the poll. He voted for Mr. Greg son, and after he had polled he received 50s. from the same party who gave him the sovereign. He also got a ticket for 55., which he afterwards exchanged for a bottle of rum. Some other evidence of a similar nature was put in, and the Committee then adjourned till to-morrow. VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER AGAINST A MEDICAL OFFICER. On Tuesday an inquiry, adjourned from Saturday week last, was resumed at the Millbank Prison before Mr. Bedford, the coroner, concerning the death of Patrick M'Ginty, aged 26, a convict. A short time ago the attention of the Home Secre tary, while on a visit of inspection to the prison, was directed to the state of the deceased, then a patient in the infirmary, where he had been taken immediately on his reception from the Glasgow gaol. The deceased was then in such a dreadful emaciated state that Sir G. Grey gave ()filers for the fullest inquiry to be made into the circumstances of his removal to Glasgow. Captain Williams, one of the inspectors of prisons, with a shorthand writer, appointed by the) Home-office, and Mr. Miller, the governor of Glasgow gaol, were pre sent at 3, esterday's proceedings. The following was the substance of the evidence given at the first meeting of the jury on Saturday week : Captaie John Richard Groves, governor of Millbank prison, said the deceased was received on the 21st of January last from Glasgow gaol, having been convicted at Glasgow on the 28th of the previous September, of assault and robbery, and sentenced to seven years' trans portation. The medical certificate, which accompanied the deceased and the prisoners who came with him, stated that they were free from mental and bodily disease, and that their healths would not be endangered by removal. Two hours after admission, Dr. Bailey, the physician, gave a certificate that he was in the last de gree of debility, suffering from internal scrofulous disease, and the deceased was immediately taken to the infirmary. The deceased complained to him (the gover nor) of the treatment he had received in Glasgow gaol, regarding diet and medical treatment. Anthony 11I‘Ginty, a prisoner, but no relative of the deceased, said, that they were chained together all the way from Glasgow gaol. When leaving, the deceased seemed very ill and weak, and said he thought he should die. They travelled by steam-boat and railway. In the boat the deceased was so ill that he was obliged to keep his bed the whole way, witness being chained to him. At this stage of the inquiry the proceedings were ad journed in order to obtai❑ evidence from Glasgow. On the re-assembling of the jury, Malcolm Clark, warder i❑ the Glasgow prison, was examir.ed. He said that he had charge of the deceased until the day he left for London. There was no regular infirmary iu the prison, but only a ward in which the sick prisoners were put. The deceased was not in that ward. He was under the treatment of Mr. David Gibson, the surgeon, and was taking medicine up to the time of leaving. He told witness he thought he should be better when he got away from Glasgow. Witness saw him the day before his removal, and thought him in a fit state to undergo the journey. The surgeon examined him the day before he left. The morning he left ho came down stairs assisted by a prisoner or a warder, who held him by the hand because lie was so weak, and was chained by the ancle to another prisoner. No direction was given by the surgeon as to the manner in which he should be re moved. No medicine was given him for the journey. The Cortoxxx produced the certificate signed by Mr. Gibson, the surgeon, and asked the witness whether that was the document sent with the deceased and the other prisoners?—The witness replied that it was. The following is a copy of the certificate:— " I hereby certify that the prisoners are free from contagious disease, acute inflammatory attacks, fever, insanity, or idiotcy, and that their healths will not bo endangered by removal. (Signed) "DAVID GIBSON." Mr. Edward Hall, resident surgeon of the Milbank prison, said he saw the deceased on his reception on the 21st of January, and found him pale, thin, and extremely emaciated. It was soon ascertained that there was scrofulous disease of a very decided character in the bowels, and in a less marked degree in the lungs. Dr. Bailey, the physician, immediately pronounced him unfit to be removed to the prison, and he was at once taken to the infirmary. He gradually grew worse, and died on the 10th of the present month. A post mortem examina tion was made, and the cause of death found to be scrofulous disease of the lungs and bowels. The CORONER then summed up the evidence, and the jury, after a short deliberation, returned the following verdict:—" That the deceased died from natural causes, and the jury are of opinion that he should not have been removed from Glasgow, that the surgeon should not have permitted him to take the journey, that death was accelerated by the journey, e.nd the jury find David Gibson, the surgeon, guilty of manslaughter." The CORONER said he wou:id acquaint the Lord-Advo cate of Scotland with the verdict the jury had returned. A BL UNDER-Bus.--00ne that takes you to Holborn when You wont to go t o tho Bank ,—Punch. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-110USE. Edward Rowe, Elizabeth Rowe, his mother, and David Ogylvic, who were some days ago charged—the first with having stolen a 50/. note, a 201. note, and other notes for 151., on the South-Eastern railroad, from a box in one of the company's vans, and the other two with having re ceived the notes, well knowing that they had been stolen —were brought up. The LORD MAYOR, having stated that he found the case did not come within his jurisdiction, directed that the prisoners should be handed over to the au thorities of the county in which the robbery had been committed The several witnesses summoned to appear to give evidence in the case of Lieutenant Bowen who was some days ago charged with having forged a will, attended before the Lord Mayor and Sir J. Koy to give additional evidence. The LORD MAYOR stated that he had received a let ter from the keeper of Giltspur-street prison, briefly re presenting that the unfortunate prisoner bad destroyed himself. The report about the Mansion-house was that the prisoner had contrived to twist his shirt into a sort of rope and tie it tightly round his throat. There was no doubt whatever of his guilt as to the charge of forging the will. GUILDHALL. IVilliam Edwards was finally examined, charged with knowingly getting a bill for 251., bearing a forged in dorsement, discounted at Mr. Tucker's, in Nicholas lane. Mr. Alderman GIBBS, believing from the complexion of the whole of the evidence that the prisoner uttered the bill knowing Underwood had indorsed the forged name on it, committed him for trial. WORSHIP-STREET. _ Yesterday a young woman nanTeddeorgiana Hall, stated to be of very respectable connexions, was charged with having stolen 481. 10s. in gold and silver, and other property, from the house of her late master, Mr. James Orgar, in Ward's-row, Bethnal-green-road. The prosecutor stated, that in consequence of the death of his wife he engaged the prisoner to superintend the management of his household affairs about two months since, and that she remained in his service until the evening of the 18th inst., when some words arose between them, in which she expressed dissatisfaction with her situation, and sh,irtly afterwards absconded. On the following morning, hav ing occasion to go to a trunk in his bedroom, he was surprised to find that the lock had been wrenched off, and that the whole of the money in it, together with six silver spoons, some articles of jewellery, and three shawls belonging to his late wife, had been stolen. The prisoner had produced the most satisfactory testimonials as to her respectability and integrity at the time of her engagement, but, to his extreme surprise, he had since received authentic information (the prosecutor here handed a letter up to the beneh),that she Lad been known for years as a notorious thief in the city of Bath, and that she had been there convicted upon no less than five distinct occasions. Inspector Tipper, of the Bath constabulary, stated, that upon receiving the particulars of the robbery, and learning that the prisoner, with whom he had been pre viously well acquainted, had returned to Bath, he traced her on Saturday last to a low lodging-house in that place, where he took her into custody. Upon searching her lodgings he discovered two large boxes, closely packed with articles of haberdashery, and corresponding invoices and bills, from which it appeared that the whole of them had been purchased since the date ot the rob bery. It was hero intimated by Sergeant Teakle, that after an unsuccessful attempt to destroy herself that morn ing at the station-house, the prisoner had declared she would not live three hours longer; and on her being removed into the clerks' office for the depositions to be taken she was therefore closely watched. Some tim e after she displayed great anxiety, and it being noti ce d that she was fidgetting with both hands beneath her shawl, the officer seized hold of her and detected hor in the act of tearing open a vein in her arm with a largo pin. This was forced from her with some difficulty, and, as she repeated her determination to renew the attempt upon her life at the first opportunity that presented itself, the magistrate gave directions that a strict surveillance should be kept over her whil e in pri s on to defeat hor intentions. She was fully committed for trial upon the charge. CL ERKEN WELL. George Burton, a respectable-looking young' man clerk to Messrs, Ranken and Co., solicitors, of 4, South square, Gray's Inn, was finally examined, charged with having embezzled various sums of money the property of his employers. The prisoner reserved his defence, and he was fully committed for trial. The prisoner seemed much affected. Frederick Hillyer, an elderly man with gray hairs, also H ULL:Flili. 23. STOCK EXCHANGE —The sales are—Ambergate, Notting ham, and Boston, 17s.—East Annan, Preference, s s . p.— Great Northern, 4 1 / 2 —North Britian, Thirds, 4s.dis. —North Staffordshire, 15s. p.—York, Newcastle, and Berwick, No. 2 (New Berwicks), 31.45. 6d. p. "'A letter from Malta of the 14th states that the British squadron which was lying in that port left suddenly on the 12 , h, partly for the coasts of Naples and Sicily, and partly for the Adriatic. The departure of the squadron was so precipitate, that some of the ships left without completing their repairs. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN PICCADILLY.—Last even ing, between seven and eight o'clock, the neighbourhoods of Piccadilly and Regent -street were thrown into a state of considerable alarm and confusion by the sudden out• break of a serious fire upon the range of premises known as the White Bear Hotel and old Coach-office, situate at 219 in the first-named thoroughfare. The flames com menced, from some unexplained cause, in one of the sleeping apartments over the tap, and were not disco vered until they had gained too firm a hold to be easily extinguished. The well-known premises of Mr. Salis bury, termed Webb's Hotel, and the Spread Eagle booking-office, adjoined the White Bear, on the western side of the street, and so rapidly did the flames extend, that every house from the corner of Regent-circus to the Haymarket appeared doomed to destruction. The County engine arrived, closely followed by numerous others belonging to the London Brigade. There being plenty of water at hand, the engines were called into re quisition ; but the fire, in the mean time, had broken through the roof, and several of the back windows of Webb's Hotel were wrapped in flames. The firemen carried the hose of the engines up the staircase, and by standing on the corridors obtained a commanding posi tion over the flames ; but they were unable to get them completely extinguished until several rooms in the upper part of the tap were burnt out, the roof and lofts under destroyed, and a great number of windows burned out of the back of Webb's Hotel. The property was in• sured in the Union Office. rADVERTISEMENT.]—TILE EARL OF ALDDOROUCOI AND lloLLowar's Ilm.s.—An astounding cure by this miraculous medicine, after every other means had failed. See extract from his Lordship's letter, dated " Villa Messina, Leghorn, Feb. 21, 1845. Professor Ilolloway—Sir : I beg to acquaint you that your pills have effected a cure of a disorder in my liver and stomach all the most eminent of the facnity, at home and all over the continent, had not been able to effect; nay, not eves the waters of Carlsbad or Ma rienbad. (Signed) " ALM3014,01:1011. " These wonderful pills will ours asy disease of the liver or stomach.—Sold (also Holloway's Ointment) at Professor Ilolloway's 7, stabliahment, 244. Strand, and Iv , 911 me,4leine vendors throughout the civilised world. BIRTHS. On the 10th inst., at Clarendon:square Leamington, the wife of 11. Montgomery Campbell, Esq., of a son. On the 19th inst., at Donnington, Berks, the lady of Cap tain Hayes, 1Z..N., of a son. On the 19th inst., at Miserden Rectory, Gloucestershire, the wife of the Rev. Yarnten Mills, of a son. On the 20th inst., at Highgate, Mrs. Francis Rivington, of a son. On the 21st inst., at Maidstone, tho lady of Captain Rud• stop Read, 9th Lancers, of a daughter. MARRIED. On the 14th of February, at Malta, Mr. Edwin Baker, t. Margaret, eldest daughter of Mr. E. Goodenough. DIED. On the 20th inst., in Guildford-street, W. Dean, Esq. On the 20th inst., at Windsor Cottages, Haverstoek-hills Mr. Patrick Holmes. On the 21st inst., at Richmond, Surrey, Charles Lewis, Esq., aged 78. On the 22d inst., in Aldersgate-street, Mr. Frederic:Edivard Lestourgeon, aged 33. London: Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, a No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112. Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy. in thi color of kLiddloaox, Thursday, Fobraary 24, 1544. •44,..., _, ~....i..f, • ... 4 lir 'O4 S.: • 4 lit . '►