The Sun. — London, England, 1848-08-25 00:00:00

~. ~- ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. - NORTHERN ClRCUlT.—Liverpool, Aug. 23. CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice CRESSWELL.) Adams, stated in the calendar to he 32 years of .age,:•slitood charged with having, on the 25th of July last,•at, 'Alanchester, feloniously and of his malice afore thought, killed Diana Adams, otherwise called Diana Thomas, his wife. Mr. J. Pollock and Mr. A. Milne appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Sowler defended the prisoner. The details of this case have already been before the public. The prisoner, when brought up to plead, said he was not guilty, adding that he was in a state of so much excitement at the time as not to know what he did.• Mc. Pol.[..uh stated that the deceased, whose Christian mane was Dinah or Diana, had been some years ago married to a man named Thomas, who was subsequently transported. She was after that married to the pri soner, who was himself at the time married to another woman. Prisoner and deceased were therefore never lawfully married, but they had for some time lived together as man and wife. She worked at the llanover Mills, in Manchester, and having had repeated differences, they separated, and during their separation she had gone to London, and there remained for some time at the house of a married sister. It would appear that she had resolved to live no longer with the prisoner, who, however, continued for some time to press her to renew their connexion, and upon her resolutely refusing, threatened to kill her. He finally, on the day stated, shot her with a pistol, inflicting a wound, of which she almost instantly died ; and the jury would have to determine whether there were any grounds for doubting that the act was done with that malice which would render the crime a murder in the eye of the law. Edward Craven, police-officer, stated that on the morning of the 25th of July he saw the prisoner in Lever-street. He was with the deceased, and they ap peared to be quarrelling or disputing, and she appeared agitated. They left Lever-street, turning into Friday street, when prisoner asked her to go home with him. She answered that she would not, and he " commenced to pull her;" they began quarrelling, and she tried to run away, He, however, took hold of her dress, and took a pistol from his pocket, presented it at the head of the deceased, and it snapped. He was then about three yards from her. Witness immediately after saw him again present the pistol and fire it. The deceased thereupon ut tered two or three screams and fell. Witness then went up, took hold of prisoner, searched him, and found the discharged pistol in his right side jacket-pocket, and a loaded and capped pistol in the left pocket. Prisoner, on his taking hold of the latter, told him to be careful of it, as it was loaded. He said, in speaking of that pistol, that he intended to " exterminate" himself with it. Ile was quite calm then, and appeared perfectly sober, though when taken to the station-house his breath smelt of liquor. He several times said, while at the station, that he had wished he was dead, that be loved the woman, and would die for her. Joseph Roughby, labourer, stated that he lived at the corner of Lever and Friday-streets. On the morning of She 25th, while preparing to go to his work, at about half-past five, he heard a woman screaming, and on going out to see what was the matter saw prisoner and deceased running. He then saw the deceased shot by prisoner, as described by last witness. The pistol was not above half a yard off her head when he fired it. Witness laid hold of him, and asked him if he knew what he had done ? and he answered, "I'm quite satis fied with what I have done." He seemed quite sensible and sober. The witness was only about five yards off when the pistol went off. Thomas Murray, a young lad, was in Stephenson square on the morning of the 25th, and saw the pri soner and the deceased together, going towards Friday street, along Lever-street. She seemed very angry, and said, " If you do not leave me, I will alarm the neigh bourhood on you." Prisoner, in answer, said, " Then you mean to die, do you ?" and then presented at her a pistol, which he took from his right-hand pocket. Wit ness proceeded to state the other facts, as spoken to by the preceding witnesses. James Sawley, superintendent of the Manchester police, stated that the prisoner, when at the station, and being told of the charge, and cautioned by him in the usual form, said, " I went this morning to meet my wife in Newton-street. I saw her there, and said, ':Dinah, love,, let us come and live comfortable together.' She said, No; a gay life I have led, and a gay l life I will lead,' I said, Then we shall die together;' upon which she called me a—. I should not have shot her if she had not called me that name. (Witness produced the pistols, a pair of pocket-pistols, about eight inches in length.) The prisoner appeared very calm. Mary Ann Smiths a friend of the deceased, bad known her for twenty-eight years. She had many times lived with the mother of witness, and witness had worked with her at several mills. Deceased became acquainted with the prisoner about five years ago, when he came to see her at the mill. She lived with him about three years ago. Witness had many times heard him threaten her. He was of a jealous disposition. Deceased went to London about ten or eleven weeks since, stopping at Stockport on her way. Witness went to Stockport and saw her off next morning. Deceased remained in Lon don a month. On her return she lodged with witness, who was then working at the same mill—Hanover mill. On the Bth of July the prisoner came to the mill, and witness went down to speak to him. It was about half-past six in the morning. He in quired after deceased, and witness said she (deceased) hail wished witness to come down to see who it was. Prisoner told her to go about her business. Hav ing left the mill about eleven o'clock with deceased, and returned to it again with her and the father and two brothers of deceased, witness saw the pri soner coming out of the Red Lion Tavern " along with" a young woman. The father of the deceased then got hold of the prisoner, and told him he had been to the mill; and he (the father) did not like it. Prisoner then pulled out a pistol from his pocket, and the father there upon called out for assistance, and the prisoner was taken to she Fairfield station. William Clare, father of deceased, was called, and stated, that the name of deceased was Dinah Thomas, or Dinah Adams. She had been married to Thomas five or six years ago, and they lived together three or four years. Thomas bad been transported since, and then she went to live with prisoner, but how soon after Thomas left witness could not say. Thought that she went to live with prisoner two years and a half ago. When she went to London she remained away about three weeks, and witness thoaght she came back about three weeks before her death. She then went by the name of Dinah Adams, but at home with her brother and sister, was called " Dinah" simply. Witness repeated the par ticulars related by Mary Ann Smith, as to their seeing the prisoner at the Red Lion, and what occurred after wards. Mrs. Parker, sister of deceased, stated that deceased was called Dinah Thomas. Witness had lived in London for some years, and returned with deceased from Loudon when she came home. Mr. SOWLER addressed the jary for the prisoner, re lying upon those circumstances of the case which went to show that the prisoner's only ill-feeling arose from jealousy, and from an opprobrious name having been at that moment applied to him by the woman. The jury deliberated without retiring from their box, and returned a verdict of guilty of murder. Sentence of death was then pronounced in the usual form. Parker Unsworth was indicted for the manslaughter of John Clarke, on the 26th of May last, by stabbing him with a knife. Mr. Blackburn conducted the prosecution; and the prisoner was defended by Mr. Sergeant Wilkins and Mr. lMair. It appeared that the prisoner is a butcher residing in Sinipson-street, in this borough, a street inhabited by some of the most turbulent of the inhabitants of Liver pool. His wife, on the day before this occurrence , had been summoned to give evidence against two youths for a breach of the peace, and at the time of this occurrence was actually at the police-office for this purpose. The father of one of these youths, a person of the name of Vallaley, came to the shop of the prisoner and created a disturbance, and a crowd, more or less great—for on this , point the evidence was very contradictory—assembled ' round the shop. Vallaley was very violent, and some of the persons assembled joined in the cry to fetch the pri soner out and kill him. The deceased (Clarke) was there also, but was, it was sworn, attempting to main tain the peace, and to persuade Vallaley to go home. The prisoner was inside his door, close to the threshold, and bad a knife in his hand used by him in his trade. Clarke came hastily up to the door, having his hand raised, and was, it was alleged, telling the prisoner he would take Vallaley home, when the prisoner, apparently under the impression that Clarke was going to seise him, struck him with a knife, inflicting a wound in the abdomen, of which he died in a few minutes. For the defence it was contended, that from the noise and tumult in the street, and the threats of Vallaley and hSa friends, the prisoner was in a state of extreme terror, acid that he had reasonable grounds for believing that his life was in danger; that the blow was given under this apprehension, believing that Clarke was seeking to carry into effect the threats of the mob. 'Verdict—Guilty. Sentence deferred. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE. Andrew Baskerviile — and Martin Rode, ick were brought up Idr final examination upon the charge of having com mitted a.burglary and robbery in the house of Mr. Rus sell, boot-maker, of 52, Fenchurch-street. Baskerville, the nephew of the prosecutor's wife, was well acquainted with the house, but had been for some time wholly discarded by the family on account of gross misconduct. On the 3d of March the house was entered by thioves, and robbed of plate and several other articles, one of which was the bowl of a meers chaum pipe. Baskerville, who had just before been discharged from prison. in which be had paid the pe • nalty of a former crime, was suspected, and, upon being :apprehended, was found to be in possession of the iden tical meerschaum bowl, which Mr. Russell had smoked on:the night before the burglary, and which was amongst the missing property. lle accounted for the possession of t h e bowl by saying that ha had a short time before purchased the pawn-ticket of it of a young man, and redeemed it, and he was remanded, th at the police might have an opportunity of pursuing the investigation. It aPpeared that Martha ltodericic called in the inte rim at the Giltspur Compter, to se e B as l cerville, and ' Lure the policeman who apprehended hi m, having Kev wy ascertained that the meerschaum b ow l had .been pawned, and soo n afterwards released, by a f emale, took her into custody . It was then found that th e two prisoners had lived together before Ba sk erville's first thehl e t r i i rn or y f o i m p r i s onment, in a houseofiand ill fame w:l4 renewed upon his discharge,thatht:aatt the p the' robbery of Mr. Russell's house they were in constant communication. T be statement made by the female prisoner was, that she 1 sad received the meerschaum bowl from a gentle man whom she had met at night, and that she had pledg vd it, and when she got money redeemed it, and THE SUN, LONDON, Corporal Leslie said he was appointed by Captain Yelland, and acting under the ordels of the Master- General of the Board of Ordnance, and the magistrate would see, by looking at his (Leslie's) appointment, and the abstract of the Act that accompanied it, that any person assaulting another under such authority, was lia ble to a heavy penalty. Mr. PAYNTER said the words of the Act were, "Any person obstructing any person appointed by justices, un der the orders of the Master-General of the Board of Ordnance, was liable," &c. It was clear there was no direct appointment here either by the justices or Board of Ordnance, and therefore, under the circumstances, he considered it a most unwarrantable act for the com plainant to have gone to the row of bricks and take one away. Corporal Leslie said the concluding words of the clause were," or any workman or other person► acting in aid of any such person appointed by such justices as aforesaid, shall forfeit a penalty of 101., or not less than 2/." Mr. PAYNTER observed that he did not consider the corporal's appointment by Captain Yelland was within the meaning of the Act. Corporal Leslie—Mullins has a written appointment, and I can produce it another day, and that justifies him going where I sent him. Mr. PAYNTER —Your opinion is that of a corporal; mine is that of a magistrate and a lawyer. Corporal Leslie—But, Sir, we must be protected, or we cannot make the survey. Mr. PAYNTER—You won't be protected if' you go into any place with such authority; and instead of the de fendant being here, I think it should have been the complainant, and the defendant had a perfect right to have given him into custody for the taking of the brick. It would have been a harsh measure, but a just one. I shall discharge the man. Corporal Leslie—We may as well quit our duties. Mr. PAYNTER—You are not to make any remarks of that sort here. ELECTION COMMITTEES. (YESTERDAY.) CHELTENHAM. At the sitting of the Committee yesterday morning, Mr. R. GURNEY applied to the Committee to substi tute the name of Mr. Gardner for that of Mr. Berkeley in the return made by the Mayor of Cheltenham. He grounded this application upon the fact, which he proved, that a notice was given to the electors some days before the election, that inasmuch as Mr. Berkeley had been guilty of treating at the previous contest, be was inca pacitated from offering himself again as a candidate for the seat. Mr. JAMES, on behalf of the electors, resisted the ap plication on the ground that as Mr. Berkeley had de clared, both in print and at the hustings, that he was not disqualified, they had no right to presume that the notice given on the other side was legal, until a tribunal had decided upon the truth of the allegation it contained. The Committee took the same view of the matter, and refused the application. They then agreed to a resolution declaring the last election for the borough of Cheltenham to be a void election, and their labours terminated. gave it to Baskerville, with whom sho had had some pre vious acquaintance. The prisoners were both committed for trial. Edward Swadling, a porter, was charged with a rob bery. Trew and Storey, of the City police, in consequence of information which they had received, watched the house of Mr. Beachcroft, of Mincing-lane. They saw the prisoner come from the cellar and go into the office and afterwards come out with a hamper and a basket. They watched him until he went into a booking• office, where he left the hamper, which they afterwards found was directed to Mr. Swadling (himself), and contained eight bottles of wine, and from thence to another place, where he left the basket, which contained 61b. or 71b. of candles. Just as he thought that all was right he Ass taken into custody. The bottles had been previously marked by the owner of the wine. • The prisoner was committed for trial. A man of decent appearance presented a shilling to be deposited in the poor-box. lie had, he said, found a bill for 1501. in the street, and, after considerable trouble, he learned that the person to whom it belonged was a solicitor, to whom he, as soon as possible , con ve y ed it. When he handed the bill to the gentleman in his office, that gentleman said it was right, and rewarded the finder with Is., which, it was hoped, would be made serviceable to some more indigent person than him who had found it, and at the same time express the sense the finder entertained of the liberality of the donor. GUILDHALL. _ _ Thomas Robotham, formerly in the employ of Messrs. Chaplin and Horne, railway carriers, was brought up before Alderman Farncomb, fur final examination on the charge of embezzlement. It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner was attached to the Hamburgh-wharf, at the foot of South wark-bridge, and his duty was to attend the various wool sales, and solicit the purchasers to send what they had bought by Messrs. Chaplin and Horne. As he al ways had to go with the carts to execute such orders that he obtained, money was supplied to him for the purpose of paying all necessary warehouse and other expenses, instead of which, some time ago, an application was made by a party for an account that had been running for some time against Messrs. Chaplin and Horne, which account the prisoner ought to have paid. He was told to go and see about it, as there was some mistake, and he went for that purpose, but at once absconded, and was not seen again until he gave himself up into the custody of a policeman, at Berkhamstead, near Tring, when he was brought to London, and remanded several times. Mr. Humphery, who appeared for the prosecution, said he should only call evidence to prove one case of embezzlement against the prisoner. Mr. Walter Faithful, from Messrs. Mandaunt and Co., of Basinghall-street, linen manufacturers, said that on ,the Bth of October, 1847, he gave the prisoner a cheque for 161. 18s. 6d., and he was about to cross it in the usual way, when the prisoner desired that he would not do so, as he had been directed by his employers to receive the amount of the cheque himself: The cheque had been paid. John William Haycock, manager at Hamburgh-wharf, deposed that the above amount had never been received. The prisoner, who declined saying anything, was com mitted for trial. CLERKEIVWELL. William Field, Prospect-row, New Kent-road, cabi net.maker, and Ann Williams, a young woman, aged 21, Goldsmith-row, Hackney, wore charged in the police sheet by a person calling himself Charles Markham, and describing himself as a gentleman residing at No. 1, Hackney-road, with having been concerned in robbing him of nine sovereigns. Mr. COOMBE (to the prosecutor)—ls your name Charles Markham? Prosecutor—No, your worship. Mr. CooMBE (looking at the police-sheet)—l see here that you are described as Charles Markham, gentleman, of No. 1, Hackney-road. Prosecutor—l did not give my light name and address; my position prevented me doing so. Mr. COOMBE—Then what is your real name and ad dress? Prosecutor—My name is William Worrall. I live at No 83, Nichols-square, Hackney. Mr. Coo3lßE—And what is your position? Prosecu tor—l am an exciseman. Mr. COOMBE—And de you think you are fit for the situation of an officer of excise to make a charge of felony against parties, and give a false name and address? . . The prosecutor deposed, that yesterday morning, at an early hour, he met with an elderly female, whom he accompanied to various houses, aod subse quently they joined the female at the bar. They all went to a house together in the neighbourhood of St. Luke's, where he found it to be the intention of the parties to ill-use and plunder him; he placed himself under the protection of the male prisoner, who pretended to take his part, until he inveigled him into a dark thoroughfare, where he was surrounded by the prisoners and others, and the male prisoner forced his hand into his trousers pocket, and robbed him of his property, and tore his pocket completely away. He was maltreated, and! whilst the robbery was effected the woman and her companions blindfolded him, and stopped his mouth. ' He, however, struggled with them, and called out " Murder," when the police arrived, and per ceiving the prisoners, they wero taken into custody. The torn pocket and nine sovereigns were found in the possession of the female prisoner. Police-constable 228 G said—At four o'clock yester day morning he heard the cry of " Murder" in Blue Anchor-alley, St. Luke's. He immediately proceeded to the spot, and found the prosecutor and other parties, who were treating him violently. He took the prisoners into custody, and found the property now produced on the female prisoner. Mr. COMBS inquired whether the prisoners wished to say anything to the charge?—They denied it, but they were fully committed for trial. WORSHIP-STREET. Two well-dressed persons named John and Agnes Murphy, were placed before Mr. Arnold, the former charged with having obstructed and used threatening language towards James Kinneally, an officer in the ser vice of the Eastern Counties Railway, in the execution of his duty, and the latter with attempting to rescue her husband from custody. The officer stated that as the Broxbourne train was about to start from the terminus in Shoreditch, upon the preceding afternoon, his attention was called to the de fendants, who had just entered one of the carriages, and as soon as they had taken their seats he went to the window and cautioned the passengers to take care of their pockets, as one of the swell mob had got into the carriage. He did not point any one out at the time he made the observation, but the male prisoner instantly started up with an oath, and shook his stick in his face. The train then started, and witness remained on the platform until the arrival of the return train at eight o'clock in the evening, when the prisoner and his wife got out, and the former advancing towards him ex claimed, " Well, I am with you again, you see ; I have not done with you yet, you - hound." Witness walked away in the direction of the steps leading to the outer gates, but was closely followed by the prisoner, who pointed him out to the passengers, with the excla mation, " This fellow is now an officer on the railway, but he was once a - thief, and used to go out with me picking pockets." Witness repeatedly urged him to leave the station, but he persisted in the same scandalous observations, telling the bystanders that he had plenty of money to support him, as he had made his own har vest by thieving, whilst witness had his still to make, until a crowd of 200 persons had collected, and he was then taken into custody. He was about to remove him, when the prisoner's wife assailed him with scurrilous epithets, and made such persevering efforts to rescue her husband, that it was found necssary to give her in charge also. In answer to questions from the magistrate, the wit ness stated that he had known the prisoner for the last six years to be a notorious member of the swell mob, in whose company he had seen him several times within the last three months; and that the prisoner himself, to his own knowledge, had been in custody for felony. Ile also, in cross-examination, indignantly denied having had the slightest connexion whatever either with the prisoner or any of his associates. Mr. Robinson addressed the magistrate for the de fence, and said that, though he could not but admit that the imputations upon his client's former connexions and practices were well founded, he had lately used his best exertions to retrieve his character, and obtain an honest livelihood as a shoemaker; but his laudable efforts to ob tain a reputable position in society were constantly thwarted by the vindictive conduct of the complainant, who was in the habit of publicly proclaiming him as a thief wherever he saw him, and the repetition of which had given rise to the retaliation which had resulted in the present charge. Mr. ARNOLD considered that it was the bounden duty of the officer, when he had reason to believe that a re puted thief was in the carriage, to warn the other pas sengers of their danger, and, as the charge against the prisoner had been clearly established, he should convict him in the full penalty of 5/., or two months' imprison ment; and further require him to put in substantial bail to be of good behaviour for the succeeding six months; and he should order the wife to pay a penalty of 405., or in default to be imprisoned for 14 days. Both penalties were immediately paid out of a sum of 40/., which, together with a gold watch and appendages, and massive neck-chain, were found in the prisoner's possession. WANDSWORTH. James Watson, a brickmaker, was brought up on a warrant, charging him with having violently assaulted John Mullins, an assistant to Corporal Leslie, of the Royal Sappers and Miners, who, with a private in the same regiment, is engaged in carrying out the Ordnance Survey in this district. The complainant, a young Irishman, of rather ragged exterior, and to the back of whose coat a large lump of clay was adhering, stated that on that morning, about ten o'clock, he was sent into a brick-field below West hill Villa Lodges, and requiring a level standing, took ono of some bricks he saw in a row, for the purpose. The defendant, without saying a word, rushed up to him, caught hold of the collar of his coat with both hands, and when complainant told him to let go, he said he should go and fetch the brick he had been standing on. Complainant brought it back, and defendant, after pressing the brick, which was newly moulded, against his breast, and dirtying him, told him to throw it into the mill, which the horse was then walking, and as he (complainant) was stooping to do so, defendant threw another brick, which he had just made, at his back, and there f most of it stuck. The defendant threw a second time,oto _but complainant, who made the best of his way u thedefendant that field,hweas was n emothiptlob)ed y it. hy ll t e he ha n d os n r o d t o to f ld or th d e . nhaand h ce, ee b n u fi t l e e d h i a n thddie fi reced.tled his attention to a pule which employed Air.l. NTER thought mark t . quitetor dress, necessaryh o irs 4os t er h v a he t yoh persons wo eurlde bLG tin o e v t e i r v n e Government in making t have som e to n under wthiesyhedtotobke tow reated oth er t h an as trespassers? He acted. whose authority the complainant HORSHAM. This Committee were engaged the whole day in re ceiving rebutting evidence of the alleged briberies com mitted by Mr. Fitzgerald, the sitting Member, and his agents. NORTHERN COUNTIES UNION RAILWAY. The usual half-yearly general meeting of the prowle tors of the Northern Counties Union Railway was held yesterday afternoon at the London Tavern; Major Beres ford, M.P., in the chair. The report expressed the regret of the directors at their being unable to obtain Parliamentary sanction to remove the restriction which their original Act imposed on the outlay of capital. A' large amount of arrears still remained due on the first and only call. The call was made in April, 1847, and the arrears now due amounted to 37,395/., out of a sum of 89,5051. Under these cir cumstances, the directors deemed it prudent for the pre sent to curtail all further outlay, and to economise every expense. With this view the office establishment had been reduced, the engagement with the engineer had been terminated, and it was intended that the remuneration hitherto paid to the directors should hereafter cease. The balance-sheet showed that the expenditure of the last half-year amounted to 18,711/. ss. 6d., while the ba lance in hand was set down at 76,791/. I Is. 7d. The total receipts of the company from the commencement up to the present time amounted to 206,470/. 3s. 4d. The report was adopted, after which the directors were aut:iorised to forfeit 162 shares upon which the calls had not bee 7 1 paid. Thi s c ia,ed the business of the half-yearly meeting. The shareholci,,rs then resolved themselves into a special general meeting, for the purpose of deciding upon the future proceedings o: the company, Major Beresford still retaining the chair. The CHAIRMAN said it w - as the general opinion of the board that there were three courses open to the adop tion of the shareholders, name! s!. to authorise the direc tors to make a heavy call and p l 'oceed with the works; 2dly, to dissolve the company; or, Odly, to suspend the works till the arrival of better times. In the existing state of things the two first courses were impolitic, it not absolutely impossible, and he therefore recom mended the shareholders to rest upon their oars, and wait till they had an opportunity of seeing what other companies would do. After a lengthened discussion it was proposed and carried unanimously, that the directors be invested with full powers to treat with all parties for the suspension of the works, and to enter into agreements for the sale or leasing of the line, such sale or lease not to be fully carried out without the sanction of a special general meeting of the shareholders. Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, and the meeting terminated. EAST AND WEST INDIA DOCK AND BIRMINGHAM JUNCTION RAILWAY. A meeting of the shareholders in this company was held yesterday at their offices, 12, Old Broad-street, when Mr. Thomas Young the deputy chairman of the com pany presided. The advertisement convening the meeting having been read, a report was submitted by the directors, from which it appeared that though some difficulty had been experi enced in obtaining possession of the property necessary for the formation of the line, contracts had been let advan tageously for three portions, and six miles and a half in length is now in the course of rapid construction. A conditional agreement has been entered into with the Blackwell Railway Company, by which the traffic of the junction line will be carried over that line, and in consideration of the formation of a branch of about half a mile in length by the Junction Company, so as to meet the Blackwell extension line at Bow, the company is to obtain the free use of the termini both in Fen church-street and at Blackwell. The balance-sheet showed that the receipts from calls, interest, transfers, and other sources, were 242,1861. 18s. 2d. The disbursements were for the pre liminary expenses of the company, 11,2201. 11s. Id.; for the purchase of land, 182,0831. Bs. 3d. ; expended upon the works, 18,9001. ; making a total, with some addi tional minor items of 2 34,9301. 2s. Bd. • which left a balance in hand of 7,256/. 15s. 6d. The CHAIRMAN, atter a brief recapitulation of the several heads, and having pointed out the advantages which must accrue to the property from working har moniously with the Blackwell Company, moved the adoption of the report. After some conversation the resolution was adopted, and thanks having been voted to the Chairman and di rectors, the meeting was dissolved. NAOgßenFerOalLmKeetinito A of l t L his W co A m Y pany C w O as iVl he l l 3 d A je N vst Y e: day at their offices in Guildhall-buildi ngs; Mr, Do e in the chair. The report, which was very brief, stated, that in accordance with the resolution passed at the special meetingene ral of the proprietors of this comp any , o nt f, e May last, the agreement with the Eastern Counties Com pany was duly executed and exchanged; and upon the 7th May all the lines belonging to this company were placed in the hands of the Eastern Counties Company. A j oint committee, composed of three directors of the Norfolk board and four directors of the Eastern Counties board, has been appointed, and the traffic continues to be fur ther developed, while the expenses of working the line have been considerably reduced. The amount to be re ceived from the Eastern Counties Company on traffic account, added to the receipts up to the 7th of May, enabled the directors to dsolare a dividend at the rate o f 4 per cent. per annum, being at the same rate as that payable by the Eastern Counties Company for the past c h o a m l f- p y a e n a y r w a i nd l l r t be e nt he i tl e future. e v h e ep t he r s op am r i e e t d o i r v s i d o e f h nd t is as shall from time to time be declared upon the Eastern Counties stock. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, stated, according to the terms of the agreement, the Eastern Counties Company had guaranteed a dividend upon capital to the extent of 2,300,000/. The motion having been seconded, Mr. YATES was proceeding to express his want of confidence in the management of the company, and to show that the lines had been constructed at a far greater expense than was originally contemplated, it having been held out to the public, on first starting the project, that the line could be made for 10,0001. a mile, that afterwards, when under contract, the directors had stated that it would not, at the outside, cost more than 15,000/., when the real fact was that it required more than 23,0001. a mile for its construction. He was going on to impugn the conduct of the directors, when Mr. CUNARD interfered, and put it to the meeting whether the matter was not altogether irrelevant to the object of the meeting, sad a motion was almost unani mously passed to prevent any further discussion. Mr. I''ro, who quite agreed in the propriety of the resolution just passed, did not however wish Mr. Yates's assertions to go forth uncontradicted, and asserted that no increase of outlay had been decided upon by the directors until they had first obtained the sanction of the shareholders, and he eulogised in th e hi g h est terms the co nduct of Mr. Hudson, and those who acted with him, on the part of the Eastern Counties Company. The guaranteed amount of 2,300,0001. was sufficiently ample, for that sum was never likely to be expended. In answer to questions, Mr. PETo stated that with the exception of two accounts, which might amount to gether to about 18,0002, all the debts of the Norfolk Company had been discharged; that it was not intended hard , c a w l l h s c f o h r m any h t other dur purposeduring th ep r t e h s a e n n t t 3 e . e p a a r y: r o e ff q u d i ree at if the times wereand the a b t o b e no make u tu t r 2 e 5 s mortgagees fo c r h t o h s a e t to pu r r e p n o e: e • . The report was then adopte d, their loans, no calls would be d ,000/., and that a p n a d sse tw d ofoarhitlhliengpsaaymshenarteoofnathdetvnidowenshaorfe; 21 . p ., ece7ntth., FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST of September, and thanks having been voted to the Chairman and directors, the meeting separated. THE EXPLOSION IN ALBANY STREET. Last evening the inquiry, adjourned from Monday last, concerning the death of Mary Bentley,. one of the suf ferers by the explosion in Albany -street, was concluded by Mr. \Vakley, at the Chester Arms, in .the above street. A model was fixed in the inquest-room of nearly the same dimension as the meter destroyed, and the Co roner and jury here viewed the situation; and the mode adopted by the boy Lucas in putting in and taking out the shutters was explained to them. S. May said he was a gas• fitter, and worked for Mr. in Albany-street, and had le en frequently to \o. 60, Albany-street, to take water out of the as pipes. Th e r e was sometimes too much water in the meter. lie thought dry meters the best. H. Larkin, an inspector of the London Gas Company, said—l have been twice to Mr. Loten's to inspect the gas; the first occasion was in June last, and I went to take the register of the meter by order of the office. No complaint was made. I went again on'the 20th of July in consequence of an order from the office on account of want of light. I found there was not sufficient water in the meter. I put some water into it, and the gas in the union burnt very well then, but the; light of the side burner jumped. I sent Mr. Cogan, gas-fitter of Mun ster-street, to see what was required. By the CORONER—I made no complaint about the position of the meter. We use both wet and dry meters. The choice of them generally depends upon the tenants. The most modern invention is the dry meter. I should recommend the water meter myself. There are more of the latter used by the company than dry meters. When I was at Mr. Loten's the second time no complaint of the gas escaping was tmade. If there had been an escape I must have discovered it, because I had a candle with me. W. Cogan, a gas-fitter, examined—Went to No. 60, Albany-street, at the request of the last witness, to ex amine the meter and repair the pipes. That was about three weeks before the accident. The complaint made was that the gas-lights •at the side of the shop jumped. That was caused by the collection of water in the pipe, which was corrected. Nothing was said about the gas escaping. Mr. Hinde, the secretary of the London Gas Com pany, put in a letter received from Mr. Loten, complain ing of being nearly without gas for a whole week, but in it he made no remark about the escape of gas. Cogan was directed to examine the model, and in answer to a juror said that it was perfectly possible for shutters drawn in and out against the meter and the main gas-key to turn the gas off; a violent blow might break the cock. In answer to the Coroner, the witness said that he never complained to Mr. Loten of the dan gerous position of the meter. Knew plenty of places where there were meters situated as Mr. Loten's, but he could not say if the shutters were placed there in the same way. _ _ _ By Mr. Hinde—l am positive there could not have been any escape of gas at the time I was there, because I tried all the pipes, and used my blowpipe to solder a part where I took water from. Mr. Hinde begged to observe that the company were desirous of showing that there had been no complaints made of an escape of gas. Mr. Wm. Douglas, collector to this company, proved that he called on the 28th of July for payment, but no complaint was then made. It was his custom, if com plaints were made, to make a memorandum of them and report them to the board. George B. Petitt deposed to fixing up the gas fittings at No. 60, Albany-street, about nine years ago. He fixed the meter under the shop-board by direction of Mr. Hatfield. He had fixed many meters like it, but could not say whether the shutters were taken in and out of the shutter-box. When Mr. Hatfield suggested the placing of the meter, he told him that some protec tion of wood-work would be necessary, and he said he would do it himself. Mr. Richardson, the superintendent of the Imperial Company, said he had caused the main pipes of the London Company and also the imperial to be uncovered, and he could assure the coroner and jury that there was not the slightest escape of gas discernable. This being the whole of the evidence, The CORONER addressed the jury. He trusted that the melancholy event would teach a useful lesson to those who were in the habit of burning gas, and that the moment an escape was found means would be imme diately taken to remedy any defect. With reference to the fixing of the meter, it was a matter of congratulation —if, under the circumstances, they could congratulate one another—that although strict search had been made, no other meter similarly fixed could be found in the neighbourhood. The jury, after an absence of half-an-hour, returned the following special verdict—" That the death of Mary Bentley was caused by a mortal fracture of the skull, oc casion by the accidental explosion of an admixture of coal gas and common air in the house No. 60, Albany street ; and that whether the said coal gas escaped into the said shop in consequence of an accidental blow given to the meter or fitting thereof, by the removal of a cer tain window shutter, there is not before the jurors suffi cient evidence to show." ' COMMITTAL FOR CONSPIRACY. LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY.—This day a highly re spectable young gentleman of the name of Martin Boshill, who for a length of time has been manager of the firm of Orr and Barber, well-known merchants of this port. was placed at the bar, before Mr. Rushton, the stipen diary magistrate, under the following circumstances:— In the book found at the house of Murphy, who was committed for conspiracy 'nu Monday last, amongst other names appeared that of the prisoner, and this circum stance, taken in connexion with other information in pos session of the authorities, induced them to issue a war rant for his apprehension. The warrant was executed Yesterday at the office of his employers in South Castle street, and be rema ined in cu s tody until he was brought before the magistrate this morning, when the evidence against him was produced. Mr. Rushton said that the prisoner must be com mitted for trial , and stated tha t he much regretted to e a society younguchmaiioccupyingsuch a position as he did circumstances. He had been connected with e which had for its object an ex t ens i ve an d placeds siet y deeply laid scheme of conspiracy. His handwriting had also been spoken to, which proved that he had been a member of the society up to the time he was taken. He did not doubt that he had been made the dupe of older and more designing men; but he (the magistrate) had no alternative but to commit him for trial, and he did so upon the evidence which had already been brought for ward against the prisoner Murphy. The prisoner was then fully committed for trial at the present assizes. There is a rumour in town to-day that Cuddy, who was last week committed for conspiracy, has deter mined to turn approver, and some curious disclosures are expected. Preparations are now being made for the trial, which is expected to come on at the latter end of next week. CAPTURE OF PIRATES. Her Majesty's sloop Scout, on her way to Foo-chow foo on the Ist inst., when opposite Chimmo Bay, fell in with a fishing boat, the crew of w hi c h p o i n t e d out two sus picious-looking junks standing off the land, which they stated had that morning attacked some trading ves sels working up the coast. The Scout immediately gave chase, and fired at the smaller junk, which tacked in shore. Three boats were then dispatched under the command of the senior lieutenant, E. G. Blake, which took possession of her. She wa s f o und to be armed with a two-pounder, gingalls, matchlocks, firepots, &c., and carried a crew of 32 men, several of whom jumped over board and were drowned. Four men were found in her hold bound hand and foot, who said they had been taken out of a fishing boat two days pre viously. The Scout having secured her prize, tacked in pursuit of the larger junk, which she hailed, and ordered to lower her sail, but as she still kept her course the forcastle guns were fired from the Scout, which being returned by the junk, a running fight was kept up for nearly three hours, when the junk got into shallow water and the wind fell. Two boats were dispatched under Lieutenant Josling, who commenced firing as soon as he got within range. The boats pulled alongside under a shower of bullets and stinkpots, by which one seaman was killed, and Lieutenant Josling, Mr. Midshipman Stanley, and four seamen were wounded. The wind having again sprung up, the Scout ran alongside the junk, under a heavy fire from gingalls and matchlocks, while numbers of firepots fell on deck, wounding Com mander Johnston and two of the crew; another sea man was wounded by an explosion of gunpowder on board the priz3, which on being taken possession of was found to have a crew of 120 men, with four 6-pounder guns and an immense number of gingalls, matchlocks, and other Chinese weapons. Shortly after she was captured she fell over on her beam -ends and went down. Only thirty-six of the pirates were secured, the rest having been either shot during the engagement, jumped overboard of their own accord, or gone down with the vessel when she sank. The sur vivors were handed over to the mandarins at Amoy. It appears these two pirates were lying in wait for the Amoy su gar junks, now daily going northwest; and the destruction of them by the Scout is said to be considered by the native merchants at Amoy as a most acceptable service. ---China Mail, June 15. PERTH.--MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—FOUR LIVES LOST. — Shortly after three o'clock on Saturday after noon a most melancholy scene was witnessed at the wooden bridge of the Dundee and Perth Rail way, now being constructed here. It appe ars that eleven of the men engaged at the building, after receiving their wages, were leaving for the week, and, as Is usual, they went into a boat for the purpose of being convoyed from Moncrieffe Island to the Perth shore, when seeing they could not effect a landing above the bridge, as was their intention, in consequence of the swelling of the river, from the rains which fell on the previous night and Saturday m orning and the bois terous action of the waves, lashed into fury by a tem pestuous wind, they went th rou g h the opening for the dra w . Here, however, there were some floating logs of wood affix e d to the piles, swinging t o and fro w ith the Stream, on which their fragile barque struck, and, turning round, shipped a quantity of water. Becoming alarmed for their safety, from the fact that the boat was already overloaded and rapidly filling with water, three of the party leaped out. One succeeded in reach ing the shore in safety, but we regret to state that the other two perished, while the boat itself went down with the remaining eight, six of whom were saved, though not without difficulty—a carpenter of the name of Campbell, an expert swimmer, having succeeded in rescuing one man, of the name of Bradley, while on the point of exhaustion.—Dundee Advertiser. Dispatches were sent off yesterday evening from the Colo nial-office for the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands, and also for the Governors of Hong-Kong and Ceylon. A HANDSOME OFFER TO ORI) JOHN. (From Punch.) 85, Fleet street, Aug. 22. My dear Russell,—l perceive that Lord Hint°, your estimable father-in-law, has brought in his Bill for tra velling expenses to Rome, Naples, and Sicil: (a journey patriotically undertaken for the abiding go( id of the em pire), a little bill to the amount of 2,000/.. The suns, even for a nobleman and a Minto, is rather large; but then, possibly, his Lordship—for the bet ter dignity or the English name—was very liberal to bow s and wait e r s . Now, my dear Lord, your guide, phil osop h er, and friend, Punch, feels that he has sonic private business to transect somewhere upon the contiv ent. And being (14 , sirous of combining public p:ttrio'isin with person :A afiairs---he P,o,ch, will have 111 t4jection to undertake Li»y little mission fur the - Whig Goveruniii-lit, by whi;;11 he may be enabled to lessen--or rather entirely to cover '—the travelling expenses of himself; Mrs. Juditha Punch, and family. Be it understood, my Lord, Punch places himself entirely in your hands. So that you send him a suffi. eient letter of credit, you may send him to any part of Europe (Russia excepted, Punch having no desire to catch weazels in Siberia)—any part in which the affairs of this country may be a little out of order, demanding a delicate hand in the diplomatic art of dove-tailing. My dear Lord, let us take a glance at the snap of Europe. Ido feel that I might do something in Paris— (Juditha, who has never been there, and is at this mo ment at my side, sewing on a shirt-button, says " she is sure of it")—l do think that the country would feel the benefit of any dinner I might be empowered to give to Citizen Cavaignac at the Trois FriTes. It is my opinion that I could employ, say a couple of hours after dinner, in a manner that would serve the interest of England—at least in my own person—in the article of French wines. And then for our iron ; I do think that, sheathing the sword, I could induce the French Ministry to take a knife and fork. Leaving Paris, it strikes me that something very bene ficial to our interests might be effected in Belgium. At all events I feel that I could pass, say three days, very well at the Court of Leopold. With our present pros pect of a limited harvest, is it wise, is it politic, to leave the question of the tariff unsettled in the matter of Brus sels sprouts? • I am told that the discipline of the railway service throughout Prussia and Austria is worthy the attention of an observing mind, with a view to a probable improvement of the railways of England. It may not be generally known to the people of Great Britain, that—in Germany the trains start to the sound of a trumpet, and not to the ring of a bell. Now, my dear Lord, as I have no objection to take a few of, the German cities—(Juditha will now consent to visit Vienna, " the dear Emperor," as she says—poor woman!—" having gone back to make it respectable")— as I have no objection to Frankfort, Berlin, Dresden, and so forth, I think a settlement—once and for ever—of the bell and trumpet question, would be a considerable boon to the railway interest—(and you know its strength in the House)—bringing a harvest of gratitude to any Minister. However, should your Lordship see nothing to be done in Germany, surely myself and family may be made very useful in Italy. I shall be very happy to go into the thick of the Austrian garrison (my wife and daugh ters are delighted at the notion) in Milan or elsewhere. Again, an advantageous visit might be made to Genoa (Juditha having resolved upon a plum-coloured velvet for next winter), for it is now pretty well known that Mr. Abercrombie has lamentably failed. My patriotic ad vice therefore is very brief.—Try Punch. Leaving Milan and Genoa, I feel that the country could lose nothing were I to put up for a fortnight or so at Florence. I have no doubt that I might pick up something useful in the galleries there, for our National Wigwam in Tratalgar-square. However, should it be thought otherwise, I will push on for Naples ; and (hav ing taken a bath of rose water before and after the inter view) confer with his Perjury the King. It must, how ever, be distinctly understood, my Lord, that, on no account, I am to be expected to dine with him. • In the present feverish state of our Lucifer trade, I may venture to suggest a visit to Sicily, with the view of taking stock of the sulphur of Etna. My daughter Juditha (a promising but timid artist) is quite prepared to illustrate her papa's report with a watercolour of the crater. Rome, of course we must see. It is not for me to brag of the private friendship of his Holiness the Pope; but if Minto has failed (and, indeed, my Lord, such is the general impression), it is only that Punch might triumph. Pio Nono has a yearning love for my Italian origin, and will not consent to take the hand of Sir Robert Inglis but from the hand of Punch. To serve my country, I should have had no objection to become resident Ambassador at Rome. But, alas! what would Fleet-street do without me? And now, my Lord, as I must leave England for a few weeks—(for here we are upon the threshold of Sep tember)—dispose of myself and family as you will. I don't know that I should even object to Turkey; though Juditha insists, for safety sake, on lodgings at the Bri tishEmbas!y._ _ _ _ My Lord, lam aware that—in this application—l suffer under disadvantages. I am not in the Peerage; my name is neither HOWARD nor STANLEY—names ex pressly made to denote a race of politicians—it is simply Punch. I have, nevertheless, one recommendation— I'll go very cheap; I'll travel at " an alarming sacrifice." MINTO sends in a bill for 2,000/. Punch will go for half that sum. Yes; for 1,0001. Punch feels that—for a month—say a month—he can, in himself and family, support the credit of England abroad, and smuggle a few things to cut a dash with at home. I remain, my Lord, yours with esteem (and carpet bag), PUNC 11. P.S. Please send an early answer. Because, in the unlooked-for event of Government refusing to pay my expense to Rome, I shall be compelled to go at my own cost to Herne Bay. TIIE MURDER OF A WOMAN, AND ATTACK ON A CLERGYMAN IN WILTS. PEWSEY, WILTS, AUG. 22.—The coroner's jury empannelled to investigate the circumstances attending the murder of Eleanor Laurance, near Collingsbourne, have been placed in rather a difficult position as regards their closing the inquiry, by the suspected murderer, John Smith, having been transported for seven years at the last Devizes Assizes, for a murderous attack on the Rev. George Hadow. The evidence against the prisoner touching the crime of the murder will be apparent from the following summary of the prin cipal points :—lt appears that the murder was com mitted at Luggeshall, on the morning of the 9th in stant. The prisoner was proved to have been directed towards the place where the body was found a short time previous to the murder. About two hours after the oc currence, he presented himself at the door of the reverend gentleman, and committed the assault for which he has been convicted. He appeared agitated, and to have been running. He had been seen coming in haste from the direction in which the murder had been committed. When apprehended for the assault, on being asked if he was not ashamed at what he had done, he replied, "No; I have lately committed murder, and you will soon hear of it." The police afterwards found a bundle belonging to him in a field of oats close by the mur dered woman. He further made an admission to the policeman who had him in custody, to the effect that he had committed the murder, but that he did not violate the deceased's person. Why the prisoner was forthwith committed for trial for the attack on the reverend gentleman, instead of awaiting the close of the coroner's inquiry relative to the death of the woman, has not transpired. As before stated, however, he was tried, convicted, and sentenced to seven years' transportation, and the difficulty now experienced is, the identification of the accused by the witnesses. It has been at length arranged that the coroner shall communicate with the Secretary of State as to the necessity of directing the prisoner to be pro duced before the jury, and the investigation has been accordingly adjourned to await his reply. THE STORM ON TIIE EAST COAST Or SCOTL AND.— ABERDEEN, MONDAY, AUG. 21.—T0 the disastrous results of the terrific gale of Friday morning, as realiz2d on the east coast, we have now to add at least as deplore able an account of the effects of the storm at Wick and other seaport towns on the opposite shores of the Mur ray Frith. From letters received_ here tonight, it appears that the stor m overtook the fishermen when at sea, about two o'clock in the morning, and there being upwards of 1,000 boats exposed__ to the fury of the ele nts, ma ny of them well lad en with herrings, the los s could not be otherwise than great. At the break of day the coast was literally strewed with wreck. At the port of Wick four or five boats crews perished within sight of their relatives and friends, and altogether more than 50 fishermen were drowned within a short distance of the harbour. At all the other ports along the coast wrecks have been cast ashore, and at the date of the last ac counts no true estimate could be formed of the actual loss of life that had been occasioned by the storm. O ne tlairg appears certain, that by the gale of Friday morn ineoo fishermen have perished, about 150 boats have been wrecked, and, taking into account the value of the nets and other fishing gear, as well as the herrings de stroyed. 20,0001. would u not cover the damage done by this awful gale. From A. eterhead we learn that 70 boats aro wrecked or missing, and the estimate of the sad con sequences of the gale is fully as large as was at first reported. FATAL ACCIDENT.--A melancholy accident oc curred in the neighbourhood of Dairy on Monday morning t last, by which Mr. James Patrick, o f T h i rdpartfa o Captain W. F. Blair, of Bl a i r , l ost his life. Mr. Patrick had r . e v had left his home for a day' s grouse-shooting, accompleantiNo ed by his cousin, Mr. David Patrick, banker, Dalry gentlemen had reach e d Bl a i rpark moor, and were' Tt walking in company with the gamekeeper and another individual, when Mr. Patrick, crossing hastily before the party, his leg came in contact with th e muzz l e Of h i s cousin's gun, whereby the deadly weapon was discharged, and the contents lodged in the calf of his right leg, a little below the knee joint. The main artery was fatally lacerated, producing violent haemorrhage, followed, of course, by a thorough prostration of strength. Mr. Patrick was carried to the Park farm, on the estate in a very exhausted condition. Messengers were dispatched to Largs and Dairy for medical assistance. Dr. Caskie, of the former place, arrive I in about an hour, and was joined by Drs. Peebles and Young, of Dairy ; but the sufferer was beyond the reach of their skill. Lockjaw supervened, and he survived only four hours. He has left a widow and four children to lament his fate.—Ayr Advertiser. TIIE HIGHLAND MOORS. —The coaches, driven off the south roads by the railways, have found abundance of work on the Highland roads, no less than nix plying daily between this and Dunkeld. independent of those in con nexion with the Midland Railway. The accounts front the moors continue to be favourable for the sportsman, especially on the higher grounds; and the Inverness-shire shootings are expected to give the highest return they have made for many seasons. On the lower range of the Grampians the epidemic last year thinned the parent birds so much that the coveys are less plentiful. They are, however, healthy, and so tar advanced that the young birds nearly equal the old in size, and second broods are not uncommon, so that this year's crop is likely to be divided into the two extremes of wag birds and cheepers.—Perth Paper. 25, 1848. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS, August 24. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS w-rrii THE COURT OF ROME BILL. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Sir J. TYRELL believed that the House of Commons was sitting at the present late period of the year in consequence of the lung speeches of the Hon. and Learned Member for Youghal, added to which it was popularly considered that the Noble Lord the M. tuber tor London was not indisposed to protract the session. It was also generally considered that it was the intention of the Government to rule Ireland through the Bishop of Rome, and that, he believed, was the reason for the introdue,ion of th . s Bill. (The Hon. onet here a letter he had reeeived from friend in Ireland, which contained severe reflections on a Roman Catholic priest at Rename River.) Mr. JOHN O'CON.NELL rose to order. Sir J. TYRELL said that the Hon. Gentleman was so seldom in the House that he was probably ignorant now of its rules.—(Laughter.) lie thought the best course for the Hun. and Learned Gentleman to adopt would be to return to Conciliation Hall. Mr. J. O'CONNELL—I intend to do so.—(Laughter.) Sir J. TYRELL, after some further observations, stated his determination to oppose the further progress of the Bill. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, if the Hon. Member for Youghars statements were unintelligible, those of the Hon. Baronet were far more so. 'rho Hen. Baronet not having a villa at Richmond, which he considered it a crime for him (Lord John Russell) to have —(Laughter) —could not attend the discussion on the second reading of the Bill, and he wanted now to he.ve that discussion renewed; and therefore it was that I :4e opposed the com mittal of the Bill, while he asked, with the same breath what were its objects. The Hon. Baronet had read letters that recommended the extermination of the Catholic priests in Ireland. For his own part, he be lieved, and it must be known to many, that the Roman Catholic clergy had used the utmost exertions to prevent their flocks from joining in the late rebellion in Ireland. He deprecated the course adopted by the Hon. Member for Youghal and the Hon. Baronet, and trusted that the House would not hesitate to go into Committee on the Bill. Mr. R. SPOONER opposed the committal of the Bill, believing that they had not been dealt fairly with by her Majesty's Government with respect to this Bill. He thought this was an occasion on which they ought to tell the Government that they had deluded the Members of the House with respect to this measure. It was an attempt to force, in a most unconstitutional manner, this measure upon the House. He would put the Noble Lord to the test of his consistency upon this measure. He asked him to delay the measure for a week, have a call of the House upon it, and if Hon. Members did not respond to that call he could assure the Noble Lord he should have no factious opposition from him. Lord J. RUSSELL denied that he had taken the House by surprise in persevering in the Bill. Mr. MACGREGOR would cordially support the fur ther proceeding with this Bill in all its stages, notwith standing the uncalled for, and, as he believed, the impru dent opposition that had been made to its further progress. - Mr. FORBES opposed the committal of the Bill. Mr. J. O'CONNELL had been charged with being absent from the House. He admitted that he had been, but the reason for his being so was his anxiety to do all in his power to preserve the peace of Ireland— (Hear, hear) —and he b e li eve d th a t th ere were very few Members present who would not be ready to admit that he had done all in his power to accomplish so desirable an object. He opposed the further progress of the Bill as paltry and impolitic.--(Hear, hear.) With out the intrigues proposed by the present Bill the present Government might govern Ireland satisfactorily if they would only do justice to Ireland. He believed that the Sovereign Pontiff of Rome would not accept the measure, but should he unfortuately be persuaded to do so it would be rejected by the whole of the Catholic popu lation of Ireland. The Government might depend upon it, if they alienated the Catholic clergy of Ireland from the people, the worst results would follow, and as evidence of that he might state that in those parts of Ireland where the late disturbances had taken place the clergy were estranged from the population. He could not con sider the opposition factious that was put forth to prevent the further progress of the Bill. Lord DRUMLANRIG supported the further progress of the Bill, believing that its passing would be produc tive of the best results. He supported the Bill be because he wished to act in conformity with the two undoubted champions of the country, common justice and common sense.--(Hear, hear.) Sir C. BURRELL had such objections to the Bill, that he was determined to give it every opposition in his power. Sir R. INGLIS then moved that the debate should be adjourned, and stated that if he succeeded in that mo tion, he should move that it be adjourned to Wednesday next. Lord JOHN RUSSELL had no objection to the de bate being adjourned, but could only consent to its being adjourned to half•past five o'clock. Sir R. INGLIS then moved, as an amendment, that the debate should be adjourned to Wednesday. The House divided on the motion, when there ap peared— For Sir R. Inglis's amendment ... 28 Against it Majority against the amendment ... —45 The debate was then adjourned till six o'clock. Sir J. TYRELL wished to know if the Government intended to bring the priests to WllOlll he had alluded to justice for hiving torn down the Lord-Lieutenant's proclamation. Lord J. RUSSELL said that such matters were left to the discretion of the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and if the Hon. Baronet sent the necessary proofs to his Ex cellency, there could be no doubt proceedings would be instituted. SUPPLY. The report on the Committee of Supply was then brought up and agreed to. BANKRUPTS' RELEASE BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. POST-HORSE LICENSES (IRELAND) BILL. The Committee on this Bill was postponed till after the other orders of the day were disposed of. POSTAGE ON NEWSPAPERS (CHANNEL ISLANDS). The Committee on this Bill was postponed until the other orders of the day were disposed of. DISTILLING FROM. SUGAR BILL. The Committee on this Bill was postponed until after the other orders of the day were disposed of. RENEWABLE LEASEHOLD CONVERSION (IRELAND) BILL. The Committee on this Bill was postponed till to morrow, at twelve o'clock. TRANSFER OF LANDED PROPERTY (IRE LAND) BILL. The report on this Bill was received, and the Bill was ordered to be read a third time to-morrow, at twelve. BATTERSEA. PARK BILL. This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed to-morrow, at twelve o'clock. LOCAL ACTS BILL. The report on this Bill was received, and the Bill was ordered to be read a third time to-morrow, at twelve. SLAVE TRADE (EQUATOR) BILL. The Committee on this Bill was ordered to be pro ceeded with atter the other orders of the day were dis posed (BMiIUIS wCasATer)deßrel posed of. ordered The be pro• p os ed of. ceeded w ith after the other o r d ers of the d Committee SAV E day were dis. DUBLIN POLICE BILL This Bill was ordered to be read a third time after the other orders of the day were disposed of. FEVER (IRELAND) BILL. The report on this Bill was received, and the Bill was ordered to be read a third time to-morrow, at twelve o'clock. WESTMINSTER IMPROVEMENTS BILL. This Bill went through Committee, and the report was ordered to be received to-morrow, at twelve o'clock. MONEY ORDER BILL. The Lords' amendments to the Post office Money Order Bill were considered and agreed to. The House adjourned at Four to Six o'clock. The House resumed at Six o'clock. CHELTENHAM ELECTION. Sir WILLIAM CLAY brought up the report of the Cheltenham Election Committee, declaring Mr. C. F. Berkeley to have been unduly elected, and the election to be a void election. POOR REMOVAL (IRELAND) BILL. Mr. CLEMENTS stated that it was not his intention to persevere with this Bill, and the order for its committal was directed to be discharged. PETITIONS. Sir C. LEMON presented a petition against the re moval of the duties on copper ore. Mr. MUNTZ presented a petition from the Reform League of England, praying for Par liamentary reform, and complaining that many of the evils the country was at present suffering from arose from a defective Parliamentary representation of the people. The petition also prayed that the House would be pleased to address the Throne, praying that her Majesty would not prorogue Parliament till the House had provided means to remove the distress which prevailed throughout the kingdom. Mr. WAKLEY presented a petition from the medical officer of a union in Pembrokeshire, complaining of the conduct of the Poor -law Commissioners. The Honourable Member also presented a petition from four medical men of Worthing, praying for the abolition of the Act of Charter to the College of Surgeons. VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. Mr. ANSTEY withdrew his notice of motion respect ing Van Diemen 's Land till next session. IRISH DISTRESS. In reply to a question from Sir L. O'BRIEN, Lord J. RUSSELL observed that in the event of ex traordinary measures being required for Ireland, owing to the visitation which appeared to threaten that coun try, her Majesty's Ministers would feel it to be their duty to advise her Majesty to call Parliament together again at a later period of the present year.--(Bear.) TRIENNIAL PARLIAMENTS. Lord D. STUART gave notice that early next ses sion he should move for leave to bring in a Bill to limit the duration of Parliaments to three years. DERBY ELECTION. On the motion of Mr. NE WDEGATE it was ordered that Mr. Speaker should issue his warrant to the Clerk of the Crown to make.out a new writ for the electing of two burgesses to serve in this present Parliament fur the borough of Derby, in the room of the Right Lion. E. Strutt and the Hon. E. F. L. Gower, whose election bas been determined to be void. MAURITIUS. Mr. HAWES, in ansys - er to Lord G. Bentina, said that the expenditure of the Isle of Mauritius in the year 1846 was 27,870/, and in the year 1847, 9 89,193/.; that the disbur sement ma d e for emigration in 18-16 was 46.4981., and in 1847, 50,2071.; that the rerltiction of taxation eff e ct u d i n 18 47, to the extent of 60,000/, was an absolute r e d uc ti on an d not a mere commutation o f taxes; that the balance in the island treasury on the lit January, 1847, was 139,4911.; that the funds now in the hands of Mr. Baidie, the colonial agent in London, amounted to 1,671/ cash, and 4 9 ,000/. Exchequer-bills; that Irepeated instructions had been 'sent out to the Governor of Mauritius for further reduction of f -!N penditiirt.; that Mr. .Mixanlay NYE, the only gentle• matt reoeiving a salary connected with the Government Bunk of Mauritius, his salary being 1,000/. a year, mad that the bank was not yet in operation; and, finally, tha t the late Auditor-General of Accounts at Mauritius had been allowed to retire on his full salary, after arduous service, ever since 1815, his successor being Mr. lier , who, he believed, was, as the Noble Lord suggested , brother-in-law to Sir William Gomm. Mr. Ker's salary was 8001. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Lord J. RUSSELL gave notice that to• morrow (this day) his Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Ex' chequer would at five o'clock make his annual statement of the income and expenditure of the country. He added that it would be co nven i ent if , at a subsequent perio d o f the evening, the House would allow the Government to take a resolution respecting a loan of 500,000/. to the West Indies, reserving the statement on the subject until the second reading of the Bill for the purpose. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ROME BMX The order of the day for the House to go into Coin' mittee on this Bill being read, Mr. MOORE said that the Hon. Baronet the Meraber for Essex had grossly libelled the Irish Roman Cat boll(' priesthood, but the Hon. Member for Limerick bed still more grossly maligned them. That body hwl ever been the strenuous advocates of order in Ireland, and it was very unjust to speak of them in other tetras than those of respect. He hoped the House would riot con' sent to protract the discussion on the present. Bill, but would affirm the decision already come to with respect' to it. Sir J. TYRELL explained that he had only stated facts respecting the Roman Catholic priests. -which bed come to his knowledge, and which he was really to prove at the bar. Mr. MOORE rejoined that the language 'used by the Hon. Baronet was that the " vagabond priests ought 1 0 be exterminated," and if that was not libellous language he did not know what words would be so considered. Mr. URQUHART opposed the Bill, and maintained that the Noble Lord (J. Russell) had given the House to understand that th e Bill wou ld not be proceeded with during the present session, and upon that un d erstan ding numbers of Memb ers had left London. Lord J. RUSSELL said that the Hon. Member for Warwickshire had already denied having imputed to him the conduct now brought forward as a charge by the Hon. Member. Mr. SPOONER said the words he used were, that the course taken by the Government led the House to infer they did not mean to proceed with the Bill We session. Mr. URQUHART said that the objections which be took to the Bill were so strong, as to determine him to oppose and to retard its progress by every means in hie power. The Noble Lord opposite had not condescended to notice the arguments of the Hon. Member for Youghal against the Bill, but had contented himself with saying that he had heard the opinions of Lord Campbell and the Lord Chancellor, and they had Bois' fled him with respect to the measure. That was not h constitutional way of meeting the opposition offered ill that House to a Bill so important in principle as the pre' sent. For the reasons he had stated he should oppose the further progress of the Bill. Mr. P. HOWARD said that the Bill had been brought forward long before the events in France :had shake°, Europe to th e centre, and therefore any objection Wee upon such arguments fell to the ground. The cardinal Secretary of State at Rowe, on receiving a copy of 0 6 Bill from Dr. Wiseman, had written to that Right Ref. Prelate stating the agreeable impression which its rusal had left on the Pope's mind. It was not right , therefore, to state that the Bill was not acceptable to the see of Rome. He regretted the introduction of the se* cond clause in the Bill, which imposed on a not veil powerful state a condition not exacted from the most powerful states of Europe. What would be thought et a law forbidding the Emperor of Russia to send a ge" neral officer as ambassador to this country, lest be should attempt to tamper with the army ?—(Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Howard) hoped that hostility to the old faith had so much died away as to prevent any great hoe' tility being exhibited towards this Bill throughout the country. Dr. POWER supported the Bill. He had the honour to represent a constituency of 800,000 persons, 700,000 of whom were Roman Catholics, and although the Bill had been five months before the public, he had not re ceived a single communication expressive of hostility to it. Mr. H. DRUMMOND complained of the conduct of the Hon. and Learned Member for Limerick in reopen ing a debate on a question, that of the principle of the Bill, which had been already settled. As to the charge of adding to ecclesiastical power, from some of its oppo nents, it should be remembered that from the days of tle Constantineclergy doofwn all to d denominations present oatio n day, s had beenthe t o constant osini ha bite coerce the laity by every means in their power' an Bill had also been objected to as a means of The Ireland through a foreign power. No difficulty would arise in that direction; the real di ffi culty in' governing Ireland arose from the agitation which so long had pre vailed in that country. The Hon. Member here read several extracts from speeches and letters of Irish eccle siastics and laymen, illustrative of his assertion, and cone governing eluded by saying that the true way of curing these evils was by taking every fair and constitutional mode of at taching the Roma n C a th o li c port i on of our fellow-su b jects, and more especially their clergy, to the State. With these views he should support the Bill. theSirß.Governmentl N G L I S hadsaid, of pretty Lord the o f r eo d si ere at onuit enn t dt h t ir o n iri il i h otf e inao a vn d ot i o erf f_ subject.wha t was Not the o ne petition Protestant r been presented by The Noble Lord could 500 of the parochial clergy. . p f e ee ti l t l i i n o g n b s e been d p of the Bill, while hostile hardly hopife he dpiads,s was hßoillodourermigt wthoeuplarehesenatocseepstsaiohnio; a to nd th e e , , ,e Sovereign Pontiff, for whose service it was in hear.) Or had th e N oble Lord any when Bill becam e l aw R ome would have a ruler in a condition to avail hi mse lf of its provisions? Looking to the merits of th e Bill i tself, looking at the s tate of Europe, and th e p er i od of the session at which hopetende in tended?—(Hear, h / ot (ile it was sought to force the Bill through Parliament, he felt bound to give it every opposition in his power. Lord H. VANE considered that it was highly expo' dient that this country, looking at the number of the Roman Catholics amongst its population, should have an accredited agent at Rome. For this reason he should give the Bill his cordial support._ . Mr. NEWDEGATE believed that the object of the measure was to obtain the influence of the Pope with the Roman Catholic clergy of Ireland in favour of W e Government, an object which they had the best auille; rity for say i ng i t would not effect. The authority o the Crown should be maintained in accordance with the principles of the constitution, and not by the intervention of any foreign power whether temporal or spiritual. ic ie should oppose the measure. Sir H. W. BARRON supported the Bill, and denied that it would give any power to the Pope in te mporal matters in Ireland. • Mr. ROBINSON, as a merchant, denied that Oil measure was necessary for commercial purposes, as bad been stated by the Noble Lord. As the law stood the commerce of the Roman States was as muck open to British merchants as i t would be under this 8 11 1 Though it might b e d eemed factious to oppose the principle of the measure after the second reading, 0 4 fault lay with th e G overnment, who had delayed a .131 brought into Parliament in February till this late pe' riod of the session. If Government could show apt practical inconvenience that would result from po ol : poning the Bill till next session he would forego his opposition; but in the absence of any such explan a tion, and looking at th e present state of the affairs in Rom er he felt ju s tifi e d i n appealing to the H ouse to carr y tur amendment. Mr. NAPIER u rge d th e propriety of postponing t h e measure until another sess i on . It was most unfair, when other and more imp or t ant measures, as far as Irela n d was concerned, had b een d e f erred merely because the y might occasion some di scuss i on, to insist upon a ow sure which he contended was useless for any good vi pose, and in favour o f w hi ch the only argument ad vanced was, that it was necessary to give railroads to Italy.—(Hear, bear.) Preferring as he did the inter ests of Ireland to those of Italy, he must protest against whilewas and almost generalwh en measures concurrence,i n av o our o f Irish Members b e i ng k ept in town to discuss such 1 Bil which laa there this, being calculated to con f er b ene fi ts on their country, had bees abandoned f or want of time. Lord PALMERST ON said that the Hon. and Learned Gentleman was d efeating the object ho declared he bad in view by standing in the way of going into Coo " mittee on thi s Bill , b ecause if he succeeded in putting fa it off till next session, there would be the less dial of those oth er measures in which he was interes ted being passed.—(Cheers.) Of all the extraordinary debates he (Lord Palmerston) ever heard in that House' the present was the most so ; for almost every Me °2 7,, who opposed the Bill did so upon grounds not on ly different from, but absolutely conflicting with. the et ments of the Hon. Gentleman who preceded him in o r position to it.—(Hear, hear.) If there could be_ r. proof more strong than another that nothing coul d said against the Bill, it WAS to be found in the cir e c ve _ stance that Hon. Gentlemen had discussed almost ever y imaginable question but the one involved in musty theology, feudal history, Irish distress, landlord and tenant, grievances of the Irish clergy—evernn y ws_ in fact, but the poor Bill itself, which was rea lly s o plain and simple that no one had ventured to say m ° Member for it.---(Cheers and laughter.) The Hon. w for Yough a l sa id i t wou ld d estroy t h e independ encei Owould of the Pope. A no th er H onoura bl e M em b er, that destroy the p reroga ti ve o f th e Cro wn . O ne H onourable Member cont en d e d that it would b e d es t ru ct iv e of the dation ,and with of the Protestant institutions of the . the opinions he adjured the House in ea- Protestant religion, that it would uproot the foun those n e vi another Honourable Gentleman al leged that while lis blow to the Catho name of Protestant England not to pass such a iti that it would prove a . fatal . gun l aw s ag Government they ought to re-enact the penal n na _ ...9 and effect t Church, he downtal of that church by ope e ' L L observing thtlt if that were the object of .p. H e wenn d they those two Hon. - Gentlemen and the parties the leave their bottle a ft er and not by such an insidious measure as this. represented in that House to fight I, Pol Ills fi le Jot Fo Wa fin we