The Sun. — London, England, 1848-03-23 00:00:00

Wilk OtrN,. liOtir'AON, lift tf ItiID.A.Y IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. ROUSE OF COMVIONS, Mcuch 22., OUTGOING TENANTS (IRELAND) BILL. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. TRELAW.NY moved that the Bill be 'read a second time this day six months. The Bill excited hopes in the minds of the Irish tenantry that never could be realised, and the bringing forward of such measures; therefore did more harm than good. In fact, the Bill was founded upon a dangerous confis cating principle. He might, indeed, compare its prin. eiple to that which would justify him in crossing the floor of the House, seizing the watch of the Hon. Member for Rochdale, and handing it over to the next passer-by.—(oh, oh.) At all events, if it were not quite so bad as that, it partook very much of that character, and he trusted the House would throw out the Bill altogether. Dr. POWER gave it as his opinion that the time had arrived when it was indispensably neces sary that Parliament should do something to improve the tenantry of Ireland.—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. GentlemSn, who had just sat down, com pared this Bill to the act of a pickpocket, but for the life of him he could not see what similarity there was between the principle which actuated a thief and the principle of justice and equity, upon which this Bill was founded.—(Hear, hear.) The present state of the law of landlord and tenant in Ireland in flicted misery and degradation upon the great miss of the people, and he hailed with de light any measure which was likely to have the effect of improving such a state of things. In Ulster tenant-right was admitted, and the consequence had been that the people were happy and contented. In every other part of Ireland, however, no such privi lege as tenant-right was known ; and hence the origin of the cries of discontent which at pre sent might be heard extending from hill to hill, and re-echoing in the 'sallies thrs,ughout the length and breadth of the sister land.—(Hear, hear.) The Bill brought in upon this subject by the Right Hon. the Secretary for Ireland was a delusion, a mockery, and a snare, while that of the Hon. Member for Rochdale contained a solid remedy for the prevail ing evils of Ireland, and he had, therefore, muoh pleasure in supporting the motion for its second reading. The moral which was to be drawn from all this was, that if all the landlords of Ireland were like Lord Headley, the position of Ireland would be like Glen beg, but the fact was that the great majority of the Irish landlords were net like that Noble Lord. The people of Ireland had looked forward with the greatest anxiety to the introduction of this measure, and he had no doubt that it was the hope of this measure which had supported them through the trying circum stances in which they had been placed during the late famine. A measure of this sort had been alluded to at the opening of the session in the Queen's Speech, and foremost in the list of measures promised by the Noble Lord at the head of the Government was one for improving the relations of landlord and tenant. He most earnestly trusted, therefore, that the House would consent to pass this measure. Mr. HUME said that the Hon. Member who had last addressed the House stated very truly that in Ireland the Irish people conducted themselves like no other nation upon earth, but when placed in other situations and under different Govern• ments, their conduct became assimilated to that of both the English and Scotch. What was the reason of this ? They were badly governed, and they were oppressed by their landlords to a most grievous extent. Ile had for mar.y years lifted up his voice in favour of the fullest extension to them of the same rights and privileges enjoyed by the people of this country. If such rights were not granted to that people, then, in kis opinion, the union was nothing more than a mere parchment union. He did not think that it was any answer, in refusing the extension of those rights, to say, that the people were not prepared for those rights.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") He was sorry that there was no member of her Majesty's Go vernment present; no doubt they considered that this was a measure which might safely be left to the discussion of Irish Members, hut he thought that the time had now arrived when the subject ought to be taken up by the Government. He thought that the Government was much to blame for not having brought forward their views upon the subject. They had already been assembled about five months, and nothing whatever had been done upon this subject. They had not even the excuse of having had their time occupied by important measures. :since their last assembling theyhad done nothing that he knew of beyond passing a Bill of ledemnity to her Majesty's Government for interfering in the question of the currenoy, and voting some of the supplies.—(Hear, hear.) It was time for the House now to look around them, when they saw the hurricane which was raging everywhere about them, and endeavour to remove all abuses and causes of grievance.—(Hear, hear.) When the Honourable Baronet the Member for Tamworth (Sir R. Peel) left office, he stated in the paragraph of his address which closed his official career, " that he would be ready to support any measures which her Majesty's Government might bring forward for the extension to Ireland of perfect equality in all the rights and privileges en joyed by the people of this country." Why, then, had not some measures been brought forward by the government for this purpose ? Why was not some measure introduced for improving the registra tion ; for equalising the representation of the country ; for amending the jury -laws; for improving the muni cipal government of towns, and other purposes equally needed for the improvement of the country ?—(Hear, hear.) He had been informed by a large auctioneer, that if one million of lots of land were to be put up for sale in the course of the ensuing year, they would find purchasers at • twenty-seven years' pur chase, provided a good and sure title could be given to the purcha4rs. He had lately perused a pamphlet written by a Mr. Tuite, and he rose from that perusal fully convinced in his own mind that what was wanted to improve the condition of Ireland was a more equal distribution and allocation of the land of that country. It was because he had ever been of opinion that Ireland, like Scotland, would profit by its union with Eng land, that he was anxious to avert the consequences which might arise from a discontented popula tion, who joined in a cry for repeal or any other thing. (Hear, hear.) Let the Govern ment remove the causes of those grievances, and the agitation would cease.—(Hear, hear.) Under all the circumstances of 'the case he should advise his Hon. Friend to postpone the further c ons id era ti on o f hi s measure, in order to afford time for the Government to consider the subject, and either bring in a measure themselves, or give their support to the present one. Sir W. SOAIERVILLE said that the Hon. Mem ber who had just addressed the House could not be aware of the course which had been taken by the Government with reference to this subject, or the difficulties they had met with in the course they had pursued. The Hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. S. Crawford) had said that the people of Ire land would not accept of any measure which did nol go on the ground of the recognition of the tenant-right of Ulster. The Hon. Member had made very extraor dinary /End contradictory assertions upon this subject. On the 9th of November last that Hon. Member said that mere occupation gave no tenant-right to the oc cupier. On the 11th of the same menth he stated that the tenant had a right, upon giving up posses sion of his land, to sell his interest in it, but nothing whatever was said about money expended by the tenants on improvements. If the present Bill was to be allowed to pass, it would have the effect of turning the whole of Ireland into one vast field of litigation. With respect to the measure introduced by the Government, he begged to state that he had received from numerous persons competent to pronounce an opinion upon the subject, their entire concurrence in the principle of that measure, and suggesting some slight modificati ons in the machinery of the Bill, tending to reduce the chances of litigati on . If h e th oug h t t h at t h e Bi ll of his Hon. Friend was likely to confer on the people of Ireland those benefits w hi c h h e appeared to anti cipate from it, he would give it his most cordial support ; but it was because he thought no such good would result from the measure, that he felt bound to oppose the second readi ng o f t h e mea sure. The effect of this Bill would, if i n t ro d uced into the county of Meath , for instance, be the means of punishing all the kind and considerate landl or d s of that county. Suppose, for instance , a perso n wishing to dispose of a large quantity-of land and unwilling to sell it by public sale , being anxiousto keep his tenements as comfortable as possible, should dispose of it privately for a sum of 20s. per acre, it being worth 30s. if sent into the market. Suppose, then, the person purclias ink the land should immediately go into the market and dispose of the land, receiving for the same an immense sum as tenant-right, which he would put into his own pocket, leaving the original owner a number of rack-rented tenants, while he himself pocketed the amount of the tenant-right.—(Hear.) Mr. S. CRAWFORD—There is a clause in the Bill preventing that. Sir W. SOMERVILLE—Then the Hon. Member did not intend to base his measure on the Ulster tenant-right; he had some other plan to propose. lie felt it, therefore, to he his duty to op- Pose the second reading of the present Bill ; and he trusted that the House would not consent to allow the Bill to be further proceeded with, satisfied as he was that if passe d i nto l aw i t wou ld only b e pro ductive of the most serious evils to the country. Mr. B. ROCHE f e l t much pleasure in support ing. thd second readi ng o f t h e Bill. He contended that there was no means of e n abli ng th e t enan t s o f Ireland to gain a livelihood on the land, unless they granted the tenant-right. The Right Hon. Baronet, the Secretary for Ireland, had stated th a t if thi s ' Bill was passed there would be one mass of litigation from one end of . Ireland to th e o th er ; h e denied that statement, believing that if this Bill was passed it would tend greatly to decrease litigation in Ireland and not increase it. Why was it that in Ulster and the countyof Down things were going on well while in other parts of Ireland there was the greatest confusion ? The answer was plain—the tenant-right was established there. The question they had to decide was, whether they would encourage the people of Ireland to ensure themselves comforts by their industry, or would allow their energies to be cramped and shackled as they were at the present time by the law as it at present stood. He most cordially sup ported the second reading of the Bill. Sir B. HALL did not object to the enforcement of tenant-right, but he did object strongly to the manner in which it was proposed to be enforced by the present Bill. He agreed with the Right Hon. Baronet, the Secretary for Ireland, that if the Bill became law, it would lead to the extension of litigation in Ireland. He did not think that the tenant-right was absolutely necessary for the well-being of Ireland ; nor did he imagine that its existence had produced such good effects as many persons imagined. The present discussion proved that there was something wrong .in the re lation of landlord and tenant in Ireland. In this country there was a sympathy be tween the landlord and tenant,' but such was not the case in Ireland. In that country the tenants were continually complaining of the absence of the landlords, and the moment they came among them they shot them, and then illuminated the neighbourhood, and rejoiced that they had got rid. of them. He thought that the course that had been adopted by the Lord-Lieutenant for putting a stop to these outrages in Ireland had laid that country under a far gr ea t e r d e bt o f grati tude to him than was due to many Hon. Member for speeches they had made in that House. He believed that the provisions of the Bill would not meet with the approbation of the great mass of the people of Ireland. He believed that the question of tenant-right was brought forward for no other purpose than that of keeping up agitation in Ireland. The Hon. Gentleman then referred to two speeches of Mr. John O'Connell, stating what he considered tenant-right to be, and also to the statement of Mr. Foster, The Times' Commissioner, whose statements with respect to Darrynane and other property in Ire land he believed to be most correct. The Hon. Baronet then proceeded to refer to the case of several parts of Ireland, for the purpose of showing that the greatest wretchedness had existed where tenant-right existed to the fullest extent, and that that wretchedness was removed when the custom of tenant right was done away with. The Hon. Baronet re ferred particularly to the case of the property of Lord George Hill, who on succeeding to his property in Ireland found it in a most wretched condition, and had now suc ceeded in making it fruitful, and his tenantry happy and contented, and this, too, without the exercise of any foree. Such being the case, he asked those who had property in Ireland to follow the example of Lord George Hill. As to the repeal of the Union, he believed that question would soon die a natural death if the landlords of Ireland, like Lord G. Hill, did their duty. Hon. Gentlemen had been in the habit of re ferring to Ireland in the language of the poet, and calling her— " First flower of the earth. And first gem of the sea." He thought that the time had long since gone by when she deserved such appellations.—(Hear, hear.) Her flower had faded, and her gem had lost its lustre ; they might revive the one, and restore the splendour of the other, but not by the means that her sons were now pursuing—they must help themselves, and God would help them.—(Hear, hear.) Parliament could never do that good for Ireland which it might do for itself if its countrymen would only pursue the right course. Ile felt bound, therefore, to oppose the second reading of the Bill. Mr. SADLEIR deprecated the introduction of irritating topics into the question. No one could more appreciate the efforts of Government to alleviate the distress and sufferings of the Irish people than he did, and he felt that, when the proper time arrived, they would be prepared with other measures to per manently improve the condition of Ireland. It was, in the mean time, easy for Hon. Gentlemen to get up in that House and talk largely about tenant-right, without condescending to explain what they meant by that plan. No man was more disposed to concede all that the tenant had a right to demand of his landlord than himself ; but let them look at the question with unprejudiced eyes, and not take steps in a time of excite ment to unduly relieve the tenant at the expense of the landlord. The system of tenant-right which he wished to see legalized by an Act of the Legislature was that which was already in operation in the province of Ulster, and he hoped the House, instead of agreeing to the Bill now under dis cussion, or the Bill introduced by the Right Hon. the Secretary for Ireland, would direct them to be referred to the consideration of a Select Committee up stairs. He certainly was opposed to the amendment of the lion. Member for Tavistock, because there could be no doubt that the tenants of Ireland had a right to ask for relief at the hands of that House; and although be saw the seeds of future litigation in the Bill of the Honourable Member for Rochdale, he would rather vote for its second reading than consent to a proposition to post pone til! a future day an abuse which certainly did exist in Ireland, and which ought to be got rid of without a moment's delay.—(Hear, hear.) The lion. Member then proceeded to inveigh against the exist ing Irish poor-law, but he was interrupted by Lord CASTLEREAGH, who rose to order, on the ground that the p o or-law of Ireland had nothing to do with the Bill before the House. Mr. SADLEIR would readily bow to the decision of the House, and would sit down protesting that it was the duty of Parliament to adopt some measure to put at rest the Irish landlord and tenant question. Mr. D. O'CALLAGHAN sympathised with the motives which had induced the Hon. Member for Rochdale to bring forward this Bill, and he very much feared that its provisions did not fully meet the difficulties of the question. He had had many private conversations with the Hon. Member upon this subject, and it by no means appeared to him that the Hon. Member himself was quite satisfied that his measure was an efficient remedy for the prevailing evils. He thought, therefore, it would be much better to leave the matter in the hands of the Government, and let them try if they could not devise some mea sure which should have the effect of settling the question to the satisfaction of all parties.—(Hear.) On the motion of Mr. NAPIER the debate was then adjourned till the sth of April. DERBY ELECTION. Mr. CHILDERS brought up the report of the Derby Election Committee, declaring Mr. Strutt and Mr. Gower to have been unduly elected for that borough. SUPPLY. Mr. BELLEW brought up the report of the Committee of Supply, which was agreed to. The remaining orders of the day were then dis posed of, and the House adjourned a few minutes before Six o'clock. ELECTION COMMITTEES. DERBY. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday). Witnesses were called to prove that Mr. Strutt, both publicly and privately declared that he would be no party to any corrupt practice, and that on one occasion, at a public meeting of the constituency of Derby, he explained to them that since the last general election the law of bribery and treating had been rendered more stringent and severe, and he, therefore, hoped those who professed to be his friends would abstain from treat ing, or in any shape or way bribing voters to induce them to support his claims. Mr. MEREPIETHER then summed up, after which the room was cleared. Strangers having been teadmitted, The CHAIRMAN announced that the Committee bad come to the following resolutions : That Mr. Strutt and Mr. Gower were not duly elected to serve as burgesses in the present Parliament for the borough of Derby. " That the last election for the borough of Derby was a void election. " That it had been proved to the Committee that Mr. Strutt and Mr. Gower were, by their agents, guilty of bribery; but that it was not proved to the Committee that such bribery was administered with the consent of the Strutt or Mr. Gower. " That it was proved to the Committee, that at the last election, as well as at previous elections for the borough of Derby, a practice prevailed of placing freemen on a nominal committee for the purpose of bribery, and it was also proved that the practice had extensively pre vailed at the last election ; and the Committee consider it to be their duty to report the same specially to the House." An application was then made for costs on behalf of the petitioner, which was opposed by Mr. Sergeant Wrangham, and rejected by the Committee. This closed the labours of the Committee. FIRST REPORT FROM THE COM MITTEE OF SELECTION. The Committee of Selection have formed into groups the following opposed private Bills, not being r a il way Bills, which it is, in their opinion, expedient to submit to the same Committees, respectively : Gaeta. No. I.—Clerkenwell Improvement, Leeds Im provement, Oxford Paving. GROUP No. 2.—Wigan Improvement, Walsall Im provement, Huddersfield Improvement. GROUP No. 3.—Dublin Improvement, Londonderry Improvement. Gaon/. No. 4.—Worcester New Gas, Bristol and Clifton Gas, Brighton Gas•light and Coke. GROUP No. G.—Lambeth Waterworks, Derby Water works, Penzance Waterworks. GROUP No. 6.—Stirling Waterworks, Glasgow Water works, Manchester Corporation Waterworks. GROUP No. 7.—Edinburgh Municipality Extension, Edinburgh Police Amendment, Edinburgh Police Con solidation, Leith Municipality and Police. GROUP No. B.—Torquay Market, Manchester Ceme tery. GROUP No. 9.—Liverpool Docks, &c., Barrow Har bour. _ _ _ GROUP N. 10.—Bristul Docks Transfer, East and West Looe Harbour, Dover Landing Pier. GROUP No. 11.—The several Bills relating to the Birkenhead Docks. GROUP No. 12.—New Grand Canal (Ireland), Newry Navigation. GROUP No. 13.—Norwich and Yarmouth Navigation, Great Yarmouth Coal Duties, Tyne Direct Ferry, Queensferry Passage. GROUP No. 14.—Middle Level Drainage, River Nene Drainage, Thorne floor Drainage. GROUP No. 15.—Patent Galvanized Iron Company (two Bills relating thereto), Priee's Patent Candle Com pany, Kettering Small Tenements Rating. THE HIGHLAND SOCIETY. ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF ALEXANDRIA. The Highland Society of London held a general Court of the corporation on Tuesday, at the Free masons' Tavern, to celebrate the anniversary of the battle of Alexandria. About 200 partook of the festive entertainment. A number wore the costume of their native land; and those present connected with the army appeared in full uniform. The juvenile band of the Caledonian Asylum, under the direction of Angus M'Kay, the Queen's piper, were in attendance, and played (luring the evening several Scottish airs with their pipes. The spacious gallery was occupied by a number of elegantly-attired ladies. The feast was presided over by The Chisholm, who was supported on his right and left by the veterans Lieutenant-General Sir James Macdonnell and Lieutenant-General Sir James Law Lushington. Among the company we observed— Dr. Stewart Chisholm, Dr. Power, Rev. Dr. Cum ming, Captain Lamont, R N., Captain Forbes, Captain Jay, R.N., Captain R. Guthrie, Sir Evan Mackenzie, Captain Dalrymple G. Krehner, Esq., Russian Consul; General Pereira, Lieutenant Spurgin, J. Wedderburn, Esq., David Charles Guthrie, Esq., S. M. Boulderson, Esq., Charles Lushington, Esq., James Tulloch, Esq., James Guthrie, Esq., D. Nehon, Esq., W. Rose, Esq., H. K)•d. Esq.. IV. Anwardale, Esq., Alexander R. Irvine, Esq., Henry Rose, Esq., J. Duff Gordon, Esq., J. Bushby, Esq., A. Paull, Esq., Thomas Skinner, Esq., Captain B tgue, Captain Shea, J. Bulkeley, Esq., Hector Rose, Charles Sutherland, Esq., R. R. M'lan, Esq., Dr. Este, of the army, J. liFravish, Esq., Consul, B.himore. Due justice having been done to the viands, which were of excellent quality and well served, The CHAIRMAN gave " The Queen and her Consort Prince Albert," a toast which was received with the loudest demonstrations of applause, and drunk with Highland honours. In proposing it he said loyalty was a ditinctive characteristic of every Highlander, and he should not be thought to violate that wholesome and salutary rule laid down by the society, that no political matter should be introduced into their pro ceedings, when he gave utterance to the sentiment which he believed was entertained in common by its members, that that free constitution which they en joyed under their most gracious Queen might long continue, that they might long live under the sovereignty of that Queen whose limited monarchy must ever be the best guarantee, as it had ever been the safeguard, of the continued existence of civil and religious liberty in her dominions.—(Loud cheers.) Miss Horton then sung from the gallery, in her usual beautiful mellow voice—" Bonnie Prince Charlie," and being encored, "God forgi'e for liein'." The CHAIRMAN then proposed "The Prince of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family."— (Loud cheers.) He hoped that the nation, should the Prince of Wales be spared to reign over it, would enjoy, under his sway, the same benefits they possessed under the sovereignty of his august mother. There was, however, as a recent circumatance had evinced, no reason to expect that there would be a failure of the line.—(Laughter.) They would, perhaps, pardon him if he here broke off into a short digression or anecdote illustrative of the respect entertained for monarchy in England. Upon a recent occasion— (we understood the Chairman alluded to an incident that occurred at the Caledonian fancy ball)—when the health of the Queen was proposed, a young man, dressed as a French cavalier, continued in his seat, and placed a cap of liberty on his head, bearing the inscription "Mourier pour la patrie," and refused to remove it, or to join in the toast, when called upon to do so. A Ilignlander, a member of the Highland Society, plucked the cap from his head, and dashed it from him.—(Cheers.) There were times when such an act of indiscretion would have cost the wearer his head.—(Hear.) The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm. Captain FORBES said the statement would not be complete until the Highlander who had so distin guished himself in supporting his lawful Queen and the loyalty of the society, and who was amongst them, had been named.—(Cheers.) Their thanks were due to him for the act. His name was Mr. Brown.— (Loud cheers.) Perhaps the Chairman would allow him to propose the health of that gentleman. Drank with Highland honours. Mr. liitowN (who wore the kilt) rose, and was re ceived with loud applause. He said he could not find words to express his thanks for the high honour they had conferred upon him. He was sure, however, he did no more than hundreds would have thine if they had a similar opportunity afforded them for evincing their loyalty to the throne. He begged to thank them all most cordially.—(Loud cheers.) The CHAIRMAN said the next toast he had to pro pose was that •of " Prince Albert, the Chief "of the Highland Society." He presided over them on the last occasion, and was so well pleased with the prin ciples and objects of the society, that, he understood, but for an occurrence in his domestic circle— (Laugh ter)—he would have been amongst them that eve ning. —(Loud cheers). The toast was warmly responded to. The CHAIRMAN then propose.l a toast, which he said he was sure was one peculiarly welcome to the Highland Society, namely, " The Army and Navy." —(Cheers.) He was proud, on that occasion, to be supported by a near relative of his own—Sir John Macdonnell.—(Loud cheers.) It was now fifty-two years ago since he became a soldier, and he believed there was a kick in him yet.---(Cheers.) One of his feats whilst in active service was the defence of Houguetnont—he bore upon his breast the token of his achievments, and it was unnecessary for him (the chairman) to say more.—(Loud cheers.) A little further to his right was one who served under Aber crombie in Egypt.—(Cheers.) On his left he was supported by a distinguished officer of the East India Company's service ; and with the toast he begged to couple the " Army of the East India Company." 1 he toast was received like the last. Sir JAMES MACDONNELL returned thanks, as also did Sir JAMES LUSHINGTON, who said he believed the Indian army had ever done its duty, in proof of which he need only allude to the glorious achievements of Lord Hardinge—(Cheers)—and he might add that whenever their services might be again re quired, he believed they would be found ready to support the renown they had obtained. The CHAIRMAN proposed the health of the Duke of Buccleugh, the late president of the society. He regretted that the demands upon his time prevented him from paying that attention to the society which a president should do. No one could deny him the character of an highly estimable nobleman. Drunk with Highland honours. The CHAIRMAN then said they bad met on that occasion to commemorate the victory of Alexandria, and it was the unanimous wish of the Highland Society that their anniversary should be holden that day.—(Cheers.) If there were any who inquired the reason—and he did not think there were—he would say he need scarcely remind them of the historical claims that that day had upon all their re collections—he need not tell them that their troops disembarked in the Bay of Aboukir, in which but a few short years before, Nelson had achieved one of the most glorious victories. He exclaimed, with true British enthusiasm, when he first came in sight of the fleet of the enemy, " Now for a peerage, or 'West minster Abbey."—(Cheers.) Three years after, under Sir Sidney Smith, the army again disembarked there, and with regard to the object which he had in view, and the glorious manner in which it was achieved, and the importance of them to the nation, he need say nothing, as they were duly felt and appreciated. the expedition was under the command of their dis tinguished countryman, Sir Ralph Abercrombie, aided by Sir James Murray, a member of the society, and who had filled that chair. The gallant 42d, the Highland Regiment, stood opposed, hand to hand and foot to foot, against Napoleon's invincible legion, who gave way before the kilted warriors of their native land.—(Loud cheers.) This was the reason why they met that day.—(Hear, hear.) What they did their countrymen yet could do.—(Hear.) But they must cease their plaudits and check their pride. The path of military glory had always been a path of blood, and many victories were alloyed by the recollection that the leaders had fallen.—(Hear, hear.) So was it here, and it was well it should be so—that in the moment when human pride beat highest it should be reminded of human frailty. — Meer, hear.) Not long after a frigate, on which the standard of the gallant hero floated, bore to this country all that was mortal of Sir Ralph Aber crombie. Ile proposed that they should drink to the memory of Abercrombie, and the heroes who fell with him in Egypt. He might conclude with the words of his friend and school-fellow, General Hutchinson, who, after enumerating his great deeds, said, " but there is one comfort—thus he lived, as his life was honourable so was his death ; his memory will be enshrined in the annals of his country—it will be inscribed in the heart of every British soldier, and engravon in the recollection of a grateful posterity." I give you in silence—" The memory of Sir Ralph Abercrombie, and the gallant heroes who fell 'w $k him in Egypt." The toast was drunk in silenoc : 4 . y :10. Njtaa, MA. RC R • Sa s 1646: Mr. GUTHRIE then proposed—" The health of the Chair," a toast of peculiar interest to Highlanders.— (Loud cheers.) He paid the greatest attention to the society ; and when a man was poor, and needed as the fact of his being a Scotchman was sufficient recommendation to receive aid from The Chisholm.—(Loud cheers.) He was to the society " all in all," and filled up the vacancies of all that were absent. They owed him, therefore, a deep debt of gratitude.—(Loud cheers.) The toast was received like its predecessor. The CHAIRMAN returned thanks. He felt the deepest interest in the society, for it was the means of concentrating at certain periods the innate feelings of Highlanders who were separated, by their avocations, at other times. Mr. Sinclair then, at the request of the CHAIRMAN, sung " Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled," in excellent style. The CHAIRMAN then proposed "The Church," with which he begged to couple the name of the Rev. Dr. Cumming. Captain FORBES proposed the addition of the "Church of Scotland" The CHAIRMAN would say nothing for or against it, but, as their chairman, he called upon them to drink " The Church." The Rev. Dr. CusimiNo briefly returned thanks. Mr. Brown then sung " Roy's Wife." Th© CHAIRMAN proposed " The health of Mr. Holmes and the other Visitors." Mr. HonmEs returned thanks. Mr. Archibald M'Donald then danced the sword dance capitally. The following toasts then followed in rapid succes sion :—" The Highland Society of Scotland ;" " Chiefs and Clans" (responded to by Th e Chi s h o l m ) ; " Three cheers for the Caledonian Asylum." In speaking of the band, Captain FORBES, who had been complimented as the chief promoter of it, said this was not so, as they were chiefly and mainly indebted for the establishment of the band, and the proficiency of the lads composing it, t o C ap t a i n J ames Lamont—he was, he said, its chief promoter. " The health of Mr. George Bain, the Honorary Secretary," whose ab'ence was much regretted, and that of " The Ladies," followed ; and the company separated, not, however, we must add, before mid night, and until two or three reels had been danced. LAW INTELLIGENCE. INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, March 22. (Before the Chiet COMMISSIONER.) IN RE GEORGE ROSS. This insolvent, whose case was reported in this jour nal a few days back, again appeared. In his proceed ings in the coart he described himself as " managing clerk," but in certain printed prospectuses he was termed " manager of the Heir at Law Society." Mr. Nicholas appeared for Mr. Wilson, to claim notice—Mr. Dowse, as on the preceding occasion, for the complainants Emerson and Beanland—Mr. Sargood was for a Mr. Gough—and Mr. Duncan was counsel for the insolvent. The insolvent was examined by Mr. Dowse at some length. Of the money received for Emerson. 1041. was charged as commission, and the balance of 1251 3s. 9d. was to be set against proceedings i❑ law and equity. lie said the trustees of the society would account for the money, but it was not in the hands of bankers. Mr. Beanland was another applicant to the society. He had advanced 15/. and a fee to a barrister of '2l. 4s. 6d. The society (the insolvent said) had agreed to give a Mr. Barker 500/. as " standing comb:el." The money of Beanland had been swallms ed in expenses. Mr. NicHoLs claimed notice for Mr. Wilson, who had entered into an agreement to act as attorney at a salary. . _ _ The insolvent said he did not consider that he owed him anything. It was, after some discussion, agreed that Wilson should be inserted a disputed creditor. A point was raised whether the description of " ma naging clerk" was correct, when the insolvent had, in other documents, been described as " manager." After hearing Counsel, The Learned CHIEF CoMMISSIONEH decided that the description was bad. The insolvent had held him self out to the world as a " manager," and in his des cription termed himself as " managing clerk." The petition could not be sustained. The Court dismissed the petition. (Before Mr. Commissioner IL►RRIs.) IN RE WILLIAM BROWN. The insolvent, a baker in the Watetloo-road, had been twice before an applicant. He had contracted a debt of 501., with a flour-factor named Boulter, by re presenting that he was possessed of property, that he had leases of houses which realised a handsome income. He had a family of eleven children to support, and the Learned Counsel who appeared in his behalf (Mr. Sargood) appealed to the merciful consideration of the Court. Mr. Commissioner Maims told the insolvent that parties, by their own mi.conduct, often brought misery on their families. Judgment, four months. (Before Mr. Commissioner'tura.) IN AR GEORGE CROUCH. The insolvent, a parcels booking-office keeper, whose case was reported on Monday, appeared for adjudi cation. The Learned Commisslorma, in ordering his dis charge, reminded him, as a caution for :his future con duct, that he had had " a very narrow escape." ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. HOME CIRCUIT,—Lewes, March 22. CIVIL SlDE.—(Before Mr. Justica COLERIDGE and a Special Jury.) NEWTON V. THE LONDON ♦ND SOUTH-COAST RAILWAY COMPANY. This was an action brought by the plaintiff, wh., being under age, sued, by his father, as next friend, to recover compensation from the Brighton Railway Company for having falsely imprisoned him. Sergeant Shee and Mr. Willes were for the plaintiff. Mr. B. Gurney, with Mr. Bramwell, appeared for the defendants. Sergeant SHE, in opening the case, said the plaintiff was a young gentleman, 19 years of age, the son of Mr. Newton, a member of the bar, and of very respect able connexions, and whose name was upon the list of the Commander-in-Chief to receive a commissio❑ in the army, and he brought the present action to recover damages for most unjustifiable and, as he should sub mit, illegal treatment which he had received from the defendants, through one of the persons in their service. The circumstances under which the action was brought were these:—ln October last, Mr. Newton, the father of the plaintiff, was staving at the St&-yue Hotel, Worthing, and on Sunday, the 17th of that month, the plaintiff having been invited by his father to go and see him at Worthing, took a second-class return ticket at London, which would entitle him to go back on the second day. Accordingly, after having passed the Sunday at Worthing together, Mr. Newton and his son arranged to proceed together to town by the twenty minutes to eight train on Monday morning, and they proceeded to the station at Worthing• with that intention. It appeared that they were rather late, and when they arrived the train was about to start. Mr. Newton, the father, however, succeeded in getting in to one of the carriages, and the plaintiff also endeavoured to get into one, and he admitted that at this time the train was in motion. While in the act of so doing, one of the persons employed at the station, named Joseph Wood cock, called the plaintiff towards him, and, as he sup posed his intention was to put him into another carriage, he went up to him, when Woodcock seized him, and held him until the train went away, and he then in sisted upon his accompanying him into the station, where he demanded his name and address, and on th , plaintiff giving him his card he was allowed to depart. The Learned Sergeant said that if the matter had ended there, probably no further notice would have been taken of the matter; but after all this had happened, and while Mr. Newto❑ was on his way back to the hotel, where he intended to breakfast, preparatory to starting by the next train, Woodcock again met him, and in sisted that he should accompany him to the Town Hall The plaintiff demanded his authority for such a pro ceeding, when he was informed that if he did not go quietly, he would be taken by force, upon which he accompanied Woodcock to the Town Hall, where he was kept in charge of a policeman for nearly two hours, and was then marched through the town, accompanied by two policemen, and conveyed to the magistrates' office, where he was charged with vio lating the by-laws of the company, by attempting to force his way into one of the carriages while the train was in motion, and the magistrates, after hearing the evidence and looking at the by-laws, and referring to the Act of Parliament, dismissed the charge. The plaintiff upon this made a communication to the com pany upon the subject of the indignity he had suffered, and after several letters had passed between them, the defendants, through their secretary, justified the act of their servant, at the same time informed the plaintiff that there was no doubt of his having committed an of fence under their Act of Parliament, and expressed an opinion that he had been dealt with very leniently by the magistrates. He concluded by stating that he did not deny that the defendants were, perhaps, justified in stopping the plaintiff from getting into the trails under the cir cumstances, and of that act he did not complain; but he did say, that when the plaintiff had been allowed to depart, and was walking quietly along to his hotel, that the conduct of Woodcock i❑ again interfering, and his subsequent proceedings, were quite unjustifiable, and gave the plaintiff a right to demand damages from the company for this illegal act on the part of their servant. Mr. Bennett, landlord of the Steyne Hotel, proved that he remembered the plaintiff's father being at his hotel in October last, and also the circumstance of his son coming to meet him on tho 17th. He had occasion to be on the platform of the railway station the next morning, as the twenty minutes to eight train had started, and he saw young Mr. Newton on the platform, apparently in conversation with Woodcock, the station master, and they both walked into the station together, and he saw no more at that time, but he shortly after wards saw Mr. Newton going away from the station. As witness was walking towards his home, Woodcock came up, and asked him if he had seen Mr. Newton, and he told him he had just gone round the corner, and in a short time he saw the plaintiff and Woodcock walking together up the steps of the Town-hall, and Woodcock told Mr. Newton to go in, but he did so in a courteous manner. By Mr. R. GURNEY—Witness was waiting in the Town-hall, on the morning in question, purposely to see Mr. Newton before he left the hotel, as he had not paid i his bill.—(A laugh.) Mr. Newton did not leave the ,Isotel in that way, but " escaped" through a window. an he followed them down to the railway station, to tr y ~‘nd get his money. They were a little too quick fur hi m, h •r a l he was obliged to go to London, to sea Mr. Newton about his bill. R e . exa ;nined—Mr. Newton came down to Worthing a day or two afterwards and paid his amount. Jenkins, the superintendent of the Worthing police. deposed that Woodcock came to the station, accompanied by the p-laintiff, and he gave him into custody for ob. structim 4 an officer of the railway in the execution of his duty, at id attempting to force his way into a first-class carriage while the train was in motion, and the plaintiff was left. in his charge. Woodcock at the same time handed 'him the plaintiff's card with his address upon it, and told him that it was some time before he could gat it from bim, and that at first he had given another name. The plaintiff remained at the station-house for nearly t in hour, when he was taken by a policeman in uniforms to the magistrates' office, which was about two huadrei 3 yards off. Woodcock then gave his evidence, stud produced the by-laws painted upon a board, and the DI agistrate, after hearing the case, dismissed the plaint i By .kir. GURNEY—At the time the charge was given witness had been informed that Mr. Newton had left the hotel without paying the bill, and also that one of the partie 4 had jumped through the wind ow of the station, and al so that they had not paid the cabman who drove them ) and he, therefore, thought that he would take care of • the plaintiff.--(A put Ala in laugh.) Seri ;rant SHEE S the letters to which he had z e ferred, and said that this was the case for the plaint if y. Mr. GURNEY submitted that there was no case at all to go t A ) the jury. He referred to the pleadings, and said t' sat the defendants were charged with a trespass aed false imprisonment of the plaintiff, to which they had plead eti a justification, the plaintiff having committed an often' ee under the Act of Parliament, for which they were justified in detaining him, and the defendant, by his r eplication, admitted the justification. b u t pleaded thii.t a fresh trespass had been committed by his subse pre t) arrest. He submitted, however, that this was all par t and parcel of the original transaction, and that the evil lence only made out the original plea, which admitted the defendant's justification. •orgeant SHEE said he contended that the defendants hat i condoned the original offence by suffering the plain tin • to depart, and that his subsequent arrest was alto ge then illegal. 1 fr„ WILLes, on the same side, urged that the statute clew ,intended, by the use of the words " then and there s ," mat a person offending in the manner described shoe id be at once taken into custody, and he said that if th e definition given to the statute on behalf of the de feat ants was th© oorreet one, it would give an indefinite power of arrest, and a person might be apprehended is London a week after for such an offence. Mr. GURNEY was about to reply in support of his ob jection, when he was stopped by Mr. Justice COLERIDGE, who said it was unnecessary, as it appeared to him to be quite clear that upon the pleadings the plaintiff was bound to prove a distinct trespass independent of the one which it was admitted the defendants were justified in committing, whereas he bad only made out the original one. It appeared clear that the company had made a rule for the management of their railway, which the plaintiff had attempted to break, and their servant was therefore justified in de taining him until he could be taken before the nearest magistrate, and this was all that was proved to have been done. Sergeant SHEE reminded the Learned Judge that Mr. Newton had left the railway station, and was alone when he was met on the second occasion by Woodcock. Mr. Justice COLERIDGE—Yes, but there is no doubt that Woodcock was after him, for the first thing he does when he meets Mr. Bennett, is to ask if he had seen Mr. Newton? COURT OF ALDERMEN. On Tuesday a Court was held for the dispatch of business. Alderman \Vu.sos moved for a return of the amount of fines received from the prisoners com mitted to Giltspur-street Compter during the last seven years, stating to whom such fines were paid, and the dates of payment ; and a similar return from the keeper of Bridowell Prison.--Ordered accord ingly. Sir P. LAURIE gave notice of a motion, that it be referred to the Gaol Committee to consider the pro priety of recommending to the sessions of the Central Criminal Court such regulations as had been adopted at Middlesex for trying male prisoners on the first, and female prisoners on the second day, as had been sanctioned by the Secretary of State. Upon the motion of Alderman CHALLIS, applica tion was directed to be made to the Secretary of State for the removal of such prisoners as he should think fit to the Borough Compter, that prison being prepared for their reception. TUE QUEEN'S ACCOUCHEMENT. The LORD Mayon stated to the Court that he had received a letter from Sir George Grey, announcing her Majesty's safe delivery of a Princess. Sir P. LAURIE, as the Oldest member of the Court present, moved that an address be presented to her Majesty upon the joyful occasion. It was, at the present moment, essentially important that the Court should show its strong feeling of loyalty, and respect, and attachment to the throne.—(Hear, hear.) He was convinced that an address upon such a subject would be received with the utmost cordiality and gratification by the Queen, and he should move that an humble address be presented on the occasion to her Majesty.—(Cheers.) Alderman KELLY felt great pleasure in seconding the motion. After a few observations from Alderman SIDNEY, relative to the loyalty which had been recently dis played, Alderman SALOMONS said the feelings of loyalty extended to the whole population, and there did not exist a doubt that if there had been any disposition to commit violence, it would have been immediately and effectually checked.—(Cheers.) The LORD Ms.vos said he had good reason for saying that the address would be most cheerfully re ceived by her Majesty.--(Cheers.) The Court was then cleared of strangers, and an 'address of congratulation was, we understood, unani mously agreed to. The Conn AIAYOR appointed the Bishop of Chichester and the Rev. Mr. Hooper, chaplain to the Lord Mayor, to preach the Spital sermons at Easter. CONDUCT OF THE CITY POLICE. The LORD Alaron said he had received the fol lowing commuication from Mr. D. W. Harvey, the Ccmmissioner of the City Police : " Old Jewry, March 21. "My Lord and Gentlemen,—During the recent movements of the people I have considered it a means of just precaution to have bodies of the City police constantly in reserve by day and night, an arrange ment which could only be carried out by imposing a considerable amount of extra duty upon a large por tion of the force. " I have the honour to enclose a return of the number of officers and men who have been so en gaged, and the number of hours during which addi tional duty has been discharged. " It is correct to state that no charge is suggested for any period not exceeding two hours in any one day, as I consider occasional excess of duty inci dental to the service ; nor have I made any special charge for the inspectors, as I prefer that their con duct upon occasions of public emergency should rather be the subject of your commendation than of stipulated reward. " I feel it due to the superintendent, the officers, and constables of the force to add, that throughout the recent period of excitement (I wish I could add— end which has so happily passed away), their conduct has been judicious, temperate, and exemplary, and in all respects conformable to the orders I caused to be read to the several divisions when their special ser vices were first required, via,.— " The Commissioner of the City Police force hereby orders that no obstruction be made to persona peaceably passing to and from the meeting on Ken nington•common, on Monday, the 13th inst., but in the event of any attempt whatever to disturb the public peace, the officers and constables are ordered to take the most effectual means for dispersing and appre hending all offenders. " To be read at each division.' " I hare the honour to be, my Lord and gentlemen, " Your most obedient servant, " D. W. HARVEY. "The Court of Lord Mayor and Aldermen." Alderman CnALLis (the Chairman of the Police Committee), and other members of the Court, spoke in high cornmen.lation of the skill and activity of the Commissioner, and of the general excellent conduct of the officers and constables, and the communication was referred to the Police Committee. OMNIBUS REGULATIONS. Alderman JOHNSON brought up the report of the General Purposes Committee, recommending that no omnibus, or other metropolitan stage-coach, should, from and after the 25th of March, stand or remain at any part of the plying places in Gracechurch-street for a longer period than 5 minutes at any one time between 8 in the morning and 11 in the forenoon ; nor for a longer period than 10 minutes between 11 in the forenoon and 3 i n t h e afternoon ; nor for a longer period than 5 minutes between 3 and 6 in the after noon ; not for a longer period than 10 minutes from 6 in the afternoo n till n i g h t. The report was unanimously agreed to.—Adjourned. WHEAT FROM THE EAST INDIES.—A vessel has arrived at the port of Liverpool, from,Caloutta, having on board, ita addition to 6,900 bags of rice, 500 bags of wheat, consigned to order, which articles comprised the entire cargo. This arrival of wheat from Calcutta is of much interest. IVe had occasion some time back to make especial mention of an arrival of the kind from the Eon Indies, but which, if we are not mistaken, was very trifling in extent compared to the arrival in the present instance. The present importation is of importance, sit!il we have no doubt that this notice of it will be read with interest by the numerous persons concerned in the importation of grain from foreign and distant parts of the world. We find also that a vessel arrived from the same place has broutht, in addition to some thousand packages of rice, 250 sacks of flour, the produce of the East Indies. The alterations in Westminster Abbey Church, in the practised hand of Mr. Edmund Blore, are nearly completed, and, however much we may differ from the authorities as to the mode in which additional room for the public should have been obtained, we must bear tes timony to the goodness of the work. The new stalls which surround tho choir are exceedingly well executed by Ruddle, from Peterborough. The canopies and finials present considerable variety. The stained glass in the south transept is finished, but the windows are at present covered up, and will remain so until the church is again opened for service. The ancient monuments in the abbey call loudly ones for rein° for conservation, and the modern val. The chapter-house continues in a dis. graceful, not to say dangerous condition.—arilder. FISHERIES (ScomAND).—By a return just issued, it appears that the sums allowed by the Commissioners for the British Fisheries for building or repairing piers or quays in Scotland, from April :5, 1829, to the present time, amount to 42,1381. We have learned that Mr. George Hudson, M.P. has in the most liberal manner headed, with a donation of 501., the subscription opened at the Railway Times office, for the suffering railway labourers who have been expelled from Franco. plaintiff was then nonsuited. MIDLAND ClRCUlT'.—Leicester, March 21. (Before Mr. Justice NIALTLE slwl a Speeird Jury.) BAILEY AND ANTHER V. MACAULEY. Mr. Whitehurst, Q.C., Mr. 11,0 es, 4nd :dr. Mellor f ,r the plaintiff ; Mr. Huintrty, Q.C., Mr. Waddington, and Mr. Macauley fur the defendant. The plaintiffs are stationers and advertising agents in London. The defendant is a surgeon practising in Leicester. The action was to recover 9721. ss. 6.1. and interest. In the year 1845 the Midland Union Railway Company was projected. The defendant was one of the provisional committeemen on the 17th of October in that year, and so continued till it became defunct. He was also one of ten who formed a committee of management. When the panic came the Midland Union Railway scheme was abandoned, and its liabilities hav ing been ascertained, it was found that if each of the provisional committeemen now paid MI, all charges could be defrayed. Some did pay, and others did not. A sub-committee was then formed, of which the defendant was one, Mr. Griffiths. of Birmingham, being its legal adviser; the principal object bi in to compel payment from some of the reluctant committeemen, and in compliance with its request. the present plaintiffs allowed themselves to be put forward as the suing par ties. Under threat of such proceedings, some paid, others determined to go to trial, and as the proceedings against some who stood out were ultimately abandoned, the Messrs. Bailey paid 221. Bs., the amount of their costs. The sum of 9721. ss. 6d. was therefore composed of three items, namely, stationery, advertising, and costs paid in suits abandoned. As mere committeeman, the law (said the Learned Judge) was now clear that a man was not liable ; but us a sub-committeeman he might have pledged his credit jointly, or severally, to the Messrs. Bailey, to indemnify them from loss in bringing actions against the refractory committeemen. The jury found for the defendant. The Judges proceed to Witham on Thursday, where there is an unusually large calendar for the small county of Rutland. In the list there is one for murder, one for stabbing, and charge ef riot and assault, &c. WESTERN CIRCUIT.—Exeter, March 21 . CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Baron PUTT.) Jane Jenkins, who was found guilty yesterday on an indictment charging her with having forged a marriage certificate, and who was not sentenced, in order to enable the Learned Judge to consult Mr. Justice Wightman on a point taken by her counsel, Mr. Slade, in arrest of judgment, was placed at the bar. Mr. Baron PUTT said that ho had considered the objection taken by Mr. Slade, that the indictment was bad, for not averring that the forgery was done with in tent to defraud any one. He had examined the Act of Parliament, and availed himself of the wisdom of ➢lr. Justice Wightman, and neither of them had the least doubt but that it was unnecessary to allege any intent to defraud. The offences predicated in the former part of the clause under which the prisoner was indicted are those effected by forging documents in order to sustain a claim to wages, and, when used, no ono can say that forging with such au intent is au innocent act; it is within the meaning and intent of the Act of Parliament, and therefore the indictment is abun dantly sufficient to support any judgment that may be awarded on it. The Learned Judge then said, that he had considered that portion of the Act which awarded the punishment, and found that he had power to miti gate the punishment of transportation to imprisonment; and, taking all the circumstances into consideration, as the prisoner had been seven months in gaol, he thought that justice would be satisfied by passing a sentence of imprisonment for one month, without hard labour. NORFOLK ClRCUlT.—Cambridge, March 22. (Before the CHIEF BARON.) George Jaroria, aged 21, was convicted of having felo niously stolen a pair of cloth boots, the property of William Clements. The prosecutor begged to recommend the prisoner to mercy on account of his previous good character and of this having been his first offence. The Clams BA/tort—Why did you prosecute ? Had you refrained from prosecution, you might yourself have shown him the mercy which you now ask for him from me. The prosecutor replied that it had been his wish to let the prisoner go, but he had informed the constable of his loss, and the constable had insisted that the matter should be brought before a magistrate, who had thought it right to commit the prisoner. The CuIEP BARON—I feel very strongly on this point, and taking every fitting opportunity for making my views on it known. I think that it becomes a prosecutor in the case of an offender of tender years, or just entering into life, to consider whether he will not best discharge his duty to society by overlooking a first offence. Public justice does not require that every man shall be punished for every offence which he may commit, and a magis trate 'nay, nay ought, to ask a prosecutor, before a charge has been pressed so far as to leave the magis trate no choice, whether he will persist in pressing his accusation. I commended on a recent occasion at Bed ford a constable who had had the good sense and hu- manity to seek out the prosecutor of a trifling charge against an offender, not theretofore known as such, and ask him whether he intended to persevere on it, instead of doing his utmost, for the sake of the small reward, to bring the ease to the assizes. In that case the prose cutor had been subjected to losses, and was compelled to proceed; but it continually happens that prosecutors are urged on by the constables to prosecute when they would rather yield to the suggestions of humanity, and extend indulgence to a first offence. This is done for the sake of the few !Amy pence which are allowed for the attendance of constables. I have now no choice, and must do my duty. The prisoner having made no answer to the demand of the officer, whether he had anything to say why judg ment should not be passed — The CIIIEP BARON said—l think that no man does credit to his own views of his duty to society who, for a petty loss, cuts off from him by whose act he is a loser— if that act is a first deviation from the paths of honesty —all chance of returning to society without the stigma of a conviction for felony impressed on him for ever. That this has been done in many cases, as in this, through the meddling officiousness of constables, greedy for the small gain of the addition made to their ordinary payment when they go to assizes, is clear; and I invite the attention of magistrates to the fact. The verdict of the jury cannot be disregarded; aid I trust that when the prisoner comes out of prison, he will justify by hi s conduct the kind recommendation of his master. The sentence of the Court is, that he be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for six weeks. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE. A great deal of interest was caused by the accusation of a person of very respectahle appearance and address, named John Dol4in, charged with having been concerned in forging a will. Mr. Wuntner appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Humphreys tor the prisoner. Mr. Wontner said he appeared at the instance of Mr. Richards, Deputy-Lieutenant of the county of Pem broke, against the prisoner, who was concerned with Captain Peregrine Bowen, half-brother to the testator, in forging a will, purporting to be the will of W. Mus grave Bowen. Captain Bowen had been some time ago examined before the Lord Mayer on the charge, but he put an end to the case, as far as he was concerned, by hanging himself in the Giltspur-street Compter. fled ington, the officer, subsequently apprehended the pri soner, who was suspected of having forged the signature " John Bell," as attesting witness to the will, which purvirted to bequeath considerable property to the late Captain Bowen, to the prejudice of Mr. Richards, the sole legatee under a will lodged in Doctors' Commons. l The following was the principal evidence adduced : A clerk in the Prerogative-office produced the authen tic will of W. Musgrave Bowen, dated 2d September, 1845. Tho probate was granted to W. Richards, Esq., sole legatee, and the property was subject to an annuity. lie also produced the will alleged to be forged, purporting to bear date March, 1846, and bearing the attesting signatures "John 801 l and John Wood. Mr. G. Sterling, clerk to Messrs. Walker and Grant, or King's-road, stated that he was attesting witness to the first will, which was signed by the testator in his presence, and in that of William Walker. Mr. W. Richards : I am a deputy lieutenant of the county of Pembroke, and executor of W. Mus grave Bowen, deeesied. lie left England in Sep tember, 1545, and sent me this will of that date, in a letter, wishing me health and happiness. I WAS acquainted with him from my earliest youth. fie was the son of a Aentleman of some property, who had children much older by a former wife. My father brought him up, and he was very much attached to me and my sister. He had a predilection for the sea, and went to China iu 1845. I am perfectly acquainted with his handwriting, and this will is all, with the ex ceotion of the attestation, in his. The will of March, 1846, is not in his handwriting, neither is the signature. It appears to be written in a teigned hand. I believe it to be all in the handwriting of Peregrine Bowen, except the name of " John Bell." By it the whole of the pro perty purports to be bequeathed to Peregrine Bowen; and the postscript, which says he considered himself obliged to Mr. Richards as his representative, but he had no idea of cutting off his brother Peregrine, seems to be an imitation of his handwriting. I am familiar with the phraseology of the postscript. Miss Harriet Richards, sister to the last witness, con firmed his statement in all the essential points. Mr. W. Holland, agent to the London end N or th- Western Railway at the Edge - hill station, said—The poisaconer is a clerk at that sta tion, and I am in th e d a ily habit of swing his handwrit ing. j believe the signature " John Bell," to the will of March, 1846, to be -in _his band Writing. William Brown, a mariner, said—l was examined at Doctors' Commons in the case of Bowen against Richards. I was acquainted with Pere:rine Bowen, and issued notices at his desire to discover two persons named "John Bell" and " John Wood." After I issued the notices I received a letter signed " John Bell" by post, and I produced it at Doctors' Commons, where it was deposited. Joseph Hedington said—l went to the Edge-hill station, and saw the prisoner collecting cheques. I fol lowed him alter he finished his business, told him I was an officer from London, and that he was charged with having forged the name of " John Bell " to a fictitious will. He said it was a very hard thing for a man who was quite innocent and knew nothing at all about it to be taken into custody. I went with him to his house, and I found amongst his papers two letters addressed by Lieutenant Bowen to John 8011. I was outside the office at Doctors' Com mons when Peregrine Bowen went there on the 2d of last month, and I accompanied him to Liverpool in the same carriage. When he arrived at Edge.hill station, Peregrine Bowen gave a letter to the cheque-taker for the prisoner, and when I apprehended the prisoner I asked him for that letter, and he said he did not know what became of it. Patrick Coulon, of the revenue p lice at Kilbeggan, steted that he was under the prisoner for more than six years, and knew his handwriting. Ile considered "John Ball " in a letter produced, and " John Bell " in the will, to he his. Jane s Ryan, also of the revenue• police, gave similar evidence. Mr. J. Jones, superintendent of the London and North Western Railroad, said—l have known the prisoner eighteen month or two years. I hive seen Lieutenant Bowen frequently with the prisoner, and I heard the prisoner often speak very highly of Lieuteaunt Bowen. I once heard the prisoner say he had been security for Bowen to a loan society, and had done raore for him than for his own brother. Mr. Humphreys very closely cross-examined all the witnesses, but admitted that the case was one for a jury. The LORD MAYOR said he should certainly send the prisoner for trial, and directed that the depositions should be al:1,0e out. GUILDHALL. George Thornton, a watchmaker by trade, was charged with attempting to destroy himself, by leaping from Blackfriars-bridge into the river. WildanhoNeary, one of the men employed at the Black friars pies, stated that about; a quarter past eleven o'chck that morning he suddenly heard a splash in the water and a cry from several persons on the bridge that a man had leaped from it. He got into a boat kept for such emergencies and succeeded in saving the prisoner's life. Alderman Jormsom asked the prisoner what he had to say fur himself ? Ile replied that he was a native of Bristol, and had only arrived in London about nine days back, in the hopes of getting into a situation, but the gentleman on whom he depended had gone to Liverpool. lie in consequence was driven to such a state of destitu tion that he certainly made up his mind to destroy him self. For some years he had been unable to work at his business, through his eyesight failing him, and had beau getting his living as assistant-warehousemen in a corn factor's at Bristol. Alderman JOHNSON said that destitution was no excuse for such a crime as self-destruction, and he should there• fore remind the prisoner until Saturday, to make some inquiries, when, if his story was found to be incorrect, he should certainly send him for trial, as a great many of these attempts were only made for the purpose of excit ing compassion.—The prisoner was then remanded. SIXTEEN PERSONS DROWNED. We are this week called upon to narrate the occur rences of two most melancholy events, by which not fewer than sixteen individuals have met their grave under the billowy deep. The first of these events oc curred at Latheronwheel, on Friday last, on which day several boats from the different stations had been prosecuting the fishing as usual. They returned about eight o'clock, but upon nearing their re• spective shores, found that a heavy swell had arisen since their departure, au as to render landing extremely dan gerous. Two Latheronwheel boats, after consultation between the crews, resolved to attempt their own shore; and the one having the strongest crew—eight men—took the lead, telling their companions to follow, provided no al irm was heard from the shore by the time they reached it—meaning that if any accident befel them. the cries from the people on the shore would warn them of their danger. The little barque and her despairing crew drove forward with its broadside on the beach, when the crew were speedily rescued, to the joy of all present. By the glimmering light of the moon, just disappearing, the other boat was seen at a little distance, overtopping the bobubo swell. Every preparation was ma d e to rec eive her, though under the most distressing foreboding!. for the swell had now become heavier; when, in a mi nute or two, she got into the middle of the broken sea, owe man standing in the stern with a rope in his hand, ready to cast it on shore, and in a moment a tremen dous wave broke over her, sweeping the whole crew, seven in number, into the foaming surge. Soon thereafter the body of one of the men was got hold of, but life was quite extinct. Then appeared the mast of the boat, with a man grasping it so firmly as with difficulty to be severed from it. This was David 11•Grigor, who was seen in the boat with a rope in his hand, of which he held fast until catching hold of the mast, along with which he reached the shore. At first he was insensible, but gradually recovered. The names of the sufferers are—William Finlayson,married; Robert Grant, ditto; Alexander Meliay, ditto; George Ross, ditto; William Sutherland, unmarried; and Angus Suther land, ditto. The first three have left widows and young families, consisting of fifteen children in all, and in very indigent circumstances. The fourth less left I widow, only one month married ; and the two last had widowed mothers, also in great poverty. Another boat was upset at the same hour, when entering a fishing creek west of Duebeath, and' three of the crew taken from under her when thrown upon the beach. Letters have been received, with the information that, last week, while a boat's crew, on the west coast of Sutherlandehire, consisting of seven men and three women, were engaged in gathering ware, the boat Wal upset, and all on board her perished.—Abridged hens John o'Groat Journal. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, MAacit 22. STOCK EXCIIANGS.—The following were the sales to-ds7: —Edinburgh and Glasgow, 36 1 4—Great Northern. 81 —Lancashire and Yorkshire, 32/. Shares, 7% dia—Ditto. Fifths (West Riding Union), 3N, dir.—London and 'North ‘Vestern, 123 c.—Ditto, Quarters, 1% p.—Ditto, 40/. Shari. (L. and M.), 4 3 / 4 p.—Ditto, Quarters (A and B), p•" - .Midland, 98—Ditto, Halves, c. dis.—South-Eastern and Dover, 23%—Ditto, New, No. '2, 10% c. dis.—Ditto, No. 4. 3 1 / 2 dig. . MANCHESTER, MARCH 22. STOCK EXCIIANGE.—The sales are—Birkenhead, Lanca shire, and Cheshire Junction, 6% di s .—L ancash i re an d Yurishire, Fifths, 1 1 4 dis.—Ditto (West Riding Union), 3 7-16 dl3.—Ditto (Preston and Wyre), Halves (A), 2% p. —London and North-Western (Manchester and Birming ham), Quarters (C), 2 1-16 p.—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Eighths, 434 dis.—Ditto, Preference, 1 4 North British, Thirds, 1 11-16 dis.—North Staffordshire. 1% c. dis.—South-Eastern and Dover, 25—Ditto, No 4, dis.—Yerk, Newcastle, and Berwick (N. and B. Ex tensions), No. 2, 1 ,4 p. BIRMINGHAM, 111.sacn 22. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The business transacted to-day is sit follows:—London and North-Western, 127—North British. Extension, . 4 - 8 dis.—Soutk.lia.stern and Dover, Thirds, No. 4. 665. 3d. dia.—York, Newcastle, ar,d Berwick (Original N. and B.), 27w—Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Stour Valley, VI I clis.—Let.ds and Thirsk, 22 1 4 dis.—Ditto, New. 19 1, ,4 ° dia. = North Staffordshire, 31s. 3d. dis.—Shrewsbury and Birmingham (A), 86s. 3d. dis.—Ditto (B), 51A 3 die.—South Staffordshire, 3 dis. _ YORE', MARCH 21. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The following were the quotations this day : —6reat Northern, V. &I.—North British, Thirds, ss. 9d. n.—York, Newcastle, and Berwick, No. 2 (late New Berwicks), 10%, GLASGOW, MARCH 21. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales aro—Caledonian, New, 19s. —Glasgow, Barrhead, and Neilston Direct, New, 305.-- Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr. 82/. Ditto, Halve', No. 1, 4 3 4—Ditto, eitto, No. 2, 91. 143—Glasgow Harbour Grand Junction, as. 6d.—Great Northern, 935. 6d.—Manchester and Southampton, 4s. 6d.—North British, Thirds, 245. 9d. Young Phutnby's boy was chasing some chickens away froth his door. " Look here," said aKR ighbour'll child, " don't do that ; you'll break 'em—they're made of eggs."—American Paper. FADVERTISEMENT.]—Tme EARL OF ALIPBOROUGS AND HOLLOWAVA PILL!.—An • *mounding cnro by this miraoulous medicine, after every other means had failed. See extract front his Lordship's letter, dated " Villa Messina, Leghorn, Feb. 91, 1145. Professor Holloway—Sir : I bog to acquaint yen that your pills have effected a cure of a disorder in may liver and stomach all the most eminent of the faculty, at home hnd all ever the continent, had sot been able to effect; nay, not ever the waters of Carlsbad or Ma rienbad. (Signed) " ILnuosotroa.” These wondertil pills wilt. cure any disease of the liver or stomach.—;told (also Holloway's Ointm.nt) at Professor Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, and t. sit medicine venJors throughout the shill/ea world. BIRPHS. On the 17th inst., at Fairfield, Hambledon, Hants, the lady of IViMain J. J. Higgins, Esq., of a son. On the 18th inst., at - Wiinpole-street, the lady of John Bright, E►q., M.P., of a son. On the 18thinst.,. in Argyll-place, St. James's, the wife of Joseph Toynbee, Esq., F.R.S., of a daughter. Oa the lath Inst., at Gloucester-road, Hyde-park-garden'', ;the lady of J. R. Robertson, Esq., of a son. On the 18th inst., at Langford-place, St. John's-wood, the wife of John Taylor, of a daughter. On the : 19th inst., at Park-terrace, Brixton, Mrs. John Jones, of a daughter. On the 19th inst., at Bayswater, the wife of G. E. Hicks, Esq., of a daughter. On the 19th inst., the wife of G. A. Fripp, Esq., of a son. On the 18th inst., at Westmeon, the wife of the Rev. N. J. Ridley, of a daughter. • MARRIED. On the 21st inst., at Trinity Church, Islington, Thomas Figgie, Esq., of Islington, to Georgians, second daughter of John - Vanderpant, E.q. DIED. On tho 14th inst., Captain William Wilkinson, late of the Ed Royal Veteran Battalion, aged 75. On- the 16th inst., at the Rectory, Fawkham, Kent, the wife of the Rev. W. Cresswell. On the 19th inst , at Brighton, Patrick Dingwall, Esq. On the 20th inst., at Bray bury-end, Herta, John Green, Esq.,aged 79. On the 21st inst., at Grove-place, Hackney, Mrs. Nelme, widow of the late S. Nelree, Esq. On the 21st inst., George Knox, Esq., aged 53. - London: Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, at No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112. Strand, in the Precinct of the SaYoy, in the chanty et 111h.Wleaex, Thureday, March 23, IE4B. of 40 ,-- c r .1 ai V