The Sun. — London, England, 1867-08-09 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence. Yesterday morning the whole of the military forces at Chatham garrison were formed on Chatham Lines, at 10.30, in review order, for the purpose of going through a course of field-day manoeuvres. On the arrival of General Murray, attended by the garrison and personal staff, the line gave a general salute, and after a few preliminary movements ar rangements were made for continuing the field-day evolutions which the rain on Wednesday prevented being carried out. About noon, however, the rain again descended in a torrent. This again interfered with the contemplated manoeuvres, and orders were issued by General Murray for the troops to return to their quarters. The 2d battalion of the 7th Fusiliers arrived at Spithead yesterday in the hired steamship Belgique, from foreign service at the Cape of Good Hope, &c. The troops will disembark this morning, and march into quarters in the detached ports in advance of Gosport. The Cygnet, 4, screw gunvessel, which arrived on Sunday at Spithead front the North American and West India station, on Tuesday discharged her am munition into ordnance lighters at S,fithead, and will go into Portsmouth harbour to be dismantled and paid out of commission. Her Majesty's screw corvette Scylla, 21, 1,467 tons, 400-horse power (nominal), Capt. Richard W. Courtenay, was paid off into the third division of the Steam Reserve in the Medway yesterday, under the superintendence of Capt. the Hon. A. C. Coch rane, C. 8., commanding the Steam Reserve, and Capt. W. K. Hall, C. 8., superintendent of the dockyard. The following petty officers were re commended to the Admiralty to receive good con duct medals and gratuities for long service and ex emplary conduct—W. Strood, captain of the hold, and 11. Lightfoot, master-at-arms, each a silver medal and gratuity of £l5; and R. Wingfield, ship's steward, a medal without gratuity, he being a naval pensioner. The Scylla has been nearly four years in commission, Capt. Courtenay having hoisted his pennant on board in September, 1863, shortly after which she proceeded to the East Indies and China, where she has since been stationed, until, ordered home. Only a comparatively small number of the officers who originally left England in the Scylla have returned in her, and a large number of the original crew were either transferred or invalided home. On being paid off the petty officers and seamen were granted the usual period of leave of absence, at the expiration of which they will rejoin the flag ships of their respective ports. From the length of time the Scylla has been in commission she will require t.ome heavy repairs before being again despatched to sea. The order for the change of the Ist Battalion Grenadier Guards from the Tower to Aldershott Camp was cancelled on Tuesday, consequently the battalion will remain at the Tower till the half yearly change of quarters. Yesterday new colours were presented to the 70th (the Surrey) Regiment, now stationed at Aldershott, iit the presence of a large assemblage. In consequence of the incessant rain which prevailed during the whole morning the ceremony was postponed until nearly 4 o'clock, when, the weather having cleared up, the presentation was made on the regimental parade ground. The regiment, under the command of Lieut.-Col. W. Cooper, formed up in line and received Lieut.-General Sir James and the lion. Lady Yorke Scarlett with the customary salute. The ceremony commenced with trooping the old colours, which were borne off the ground, the band playing " Auld lang sync." The drums of the regi ment being piled in the centre of the square the new colours were unused, the consecration prayers being read by the Rev. E. J. Rogers, principal chaplain at Aldershot, the bands of the 68th and 70th Regi ments singing the hymn used on such occasions. The benediction having been pronounced, Lady Scarlett advanced and handed the Queen's colour to Ensign F. H. Maturin and the regimental colour to Ensign the lion. P. 11. C. Plunkett. Lieut.- Gen. Scarlett briefly addressed the regiment and was replied to by Col. Cooper. The new colours were then trooped, and the regiment marched past in open column, then formed line, and advanced is review order and gave a general salute. In the evening the officers gave a dinner, and the whole regiment was entertained at the expense of the officers. The sth (Princess Charlotte of Wales) Dragoons, under the command of Col. the Hon. S. J. G. Cal thorpe, will arrive at Colchester from Ireland soon after the departure of the Inniskilling Dragoons, and will be stationed in the cavalry barracks until further orders. The Commander-in-Chief has granted leave of absence to Capt. Wilson, 84th Regiment, from July 27 until retirement from the service, and to Lieut. the Hon. J. B. Ogilvy, 32d Regiment, from August 1 until his retirement from the service. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. LONDON AND BLACKWALL. The report of the directors states that the rent from the Great Eastern for the half-year ending 30th June had been received, and that a dividend for that period at the rate of £4 10s. per cent. per annum might be declared payable on 11th inst. A clause saving the rights of this company had been inserted in the Great Eastern Finance Bill. The total expenditure on capital account amounted to £2,251,303, leaving a balance of £3,312. GREAT NOP:DIEM AND WESTERN OF IRELAND. The 20th half-yearly meeting of this company was held yesterday at the offices, Park-street, West minster—the Earl of Lucan, the chairman, presided. Mr. B. Room, the secretary, having read the notice convening the meeting, the report vas taken as read. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said he hoped they would consider it satis factory. The traffic had increased progressively since the first half year ending June 30, 186 J, when only 18 miles were open for traffic, and the net receipts were £876 ; in the next half year 341 miles were open, and the net receipts amounted to £1,827 ; end ing June 30, 1861, they amounted - to £3,080 ; Dec., 1861, 46 miles open, to £4,188 ; ending June, 1862, 57 miles open, to £4,071 ; Dec., 1862, 711 miles open, to £5,463 ; thence from June, 1863, to Dec., 1865, the net receipts were respectively £7,624, £7,660, £7,878, £7,285, £7,495, and £9,085. End ing June 30, 1866, 83 miles were open, and the net receipts amounted to £10,476 ; ending Dec., 1866, to £10,402 ; and ending June 30, 1867, the net re ceipts were £12,034, and the gross receipts £18,961. Of course they would perceive that the receipts in the past half-year were considerably larger than in any previous half-year. With respect to the divi dend, they would agree with the directors that in the present state of the money-market and the diffi culty in raising motley it would be most unwise to pay dividend on the ordinary stock at such a time, when it was necessary to raise money to pay their debts, and which could only be raised at an exorbitant rate of interest. The directors hoped that the ex tension of 111 miles to Foxford would be completed for traffic in the autumn. It was not the intention of the directors to recommend any furthur works to be constricted—(hear, hear)—and they felt that the condition of the company would be sound and good when that was done and the debts paid. It had been found impossible to increase the capital so as to pay off the floating debt of £30,000 in conse quence of the total distrust that existed in all rail way securities. A portion of the debt had cost the com p a ny a serious amount for interest ; in fact, so much, that the directors recommended in the strongest manner that every effort should be made by the shareholders to meet that charge, and thus place the finances of the company in a perfectly sound condition. To do this holders of ordinary stuck to the amount of £5OO and upwards were told in the report that it would greatly serve the interests of the company if they would rateably accept the 6 per cent. preference stock according to their respec tive holdings, and thus liquidate the present floating debt of £30,000, and remove all difficulties in the payment of future dividends. Mr. J. PARSON seconded the motion for the adop tion of the report, and it was carried unanimously. On the motion of Lord Crofton, seconded by Mr. Hank ey, a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum on the original preference stock, at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum on the new 6 per cent. preference stock, was declared payable on the Ist of October next. Mr. J. PARSON, a director, proposed that a circular be sent to all the shareholders holding £5OO stock and upwards, requesting them to take up their pro portion of the 6 per cent. stock, and thus provide the requisite funds. The CHAIRMAN seconded the motion, urging the importance of clearing off the floating debt of the company as soon as possible, and it was carried unanimously. The Proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman. LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE. The report of the directors of this company states that the, amount of capital on the 30th June last on which dividend or interest was paid out of revenue was as f0110w5—i12,693,594 consolidated stock, £1,046,025 guaranteed and preference stocks, £5,510,906 loans, and £94,076 advanced on calls ; total, £22,374,601. The expenditure charged to capital for the past half-year amounted to £299,510, of which £101,455 was for land and for enlarge ment of stations, £59,937 for rolling stock, and £138,118 for 16 new and branch lines. The revenue account for the half year showed that £1,201,538 had been received, against £1,157,358 in the same half of 1866, showing an increase of £44,180. The disbursements amounted to £516,894, against £481,167 in the same half of 1866, showing an in crease of £35,727. The balance of revenue applic able to the payment of dividend on the ordinary stock of the company was £429,044, out of which the directors recommended the proprietors to de clare a dividend at the rate of 61 per cent. per annum, less income tax, payable on Sept. 2, carry ing forward £16,493 to the next account. The addi tional capital now chargeable to revenue, together with the high rate of working expenses, prevented the directors from recommending a higher rate of dividend. The expenditure on capital account was less than had taken place for some time past. The directors had confined the outlay during the half year to the absolute necessities of the company, and they hoped, looking at the present and prospective wants of the company for the current half-year, to be able to limit the expenditure on capital account for general purposes to £lOO,OOO. The shareholders were not likely to be called upon to sanction the issue of any additional capital during the current half-year. The capital account showed that £22,475,855 had been expended, leaving a balance of £35,906 against the company. seem to have been held very cheaply by the Roman ladies, for they have been found in great variety lying about in all sorts of places. They are, as may be supposed, very different in fashion from those at present in use, consisting of a single and extremely substantial pin, generally made of bone, but occasionally of bronze, and set off by a massive head curiously carved. The funds raised for the purpose of carrying on the excavations in 1859 were soon exhausted, and after bringing to light a considerable portion of the buricd city, the archanlogists were fain to rest from their labours. By the liberality of Mr. Meyer, of Liverpool, however, who has given a sum of £5O for the purpose, excavations have been recommenced within the last fortnight, and a small band of men, under the direction of Dr. Johnson, are now busily engaged in digging out fresh portions of the ruins. Of course only a very small proportion of the whole extent of the city his yet been cleared, and it is expected that a considerable addition to the store of arclimplogical knowledge will accrue from the works now progressing at Uriconium. With the proceedings of yesterday the annual congress of the British Archaeological Association finally closed, and the majority of the members and visitors left Shrewsbury last night. The Trade Outrages at Sheffield. Mr. Overend and his co-examiners--Mr. Chance and Mr. Barstow—have just made a report to the Trades' Union Commissioners of their inquiry into the Sheffield outrages. They say : " The first subject which engaged our attention was that of rattening. Rattening is a mode of en forcing payment of contributions to and of com pliance with the rules of the union. The wheel bands, tools, and other materials of a workman are taken and held in pledge until he has satisfied the society by payment of his arrears, or by submitting to the rules which he has infringed. At first it was denied that the unions connived at this practice, but we had not proceeded far with our investiga tion before it was admitted on all hands that ratten ing had been for a long time prevalent in the grind ing trades and in all trades connected with them. It is fair to the unions to say, that in the majority of cases where the demands of the union have been complied with, and a payment of a small sum for the expenses of rattening has been made, the pro perty taken has been restored. Rattening is always done in the interests of the union, and very com monly by the direction of the secretary, who nego tiates with the party rattened for the restitution of his property. In some cases a member of the union, without express authority, rattens another member who is known to have incurred the dis pleasure of the society, and takes his chance of having his act adopted by the union. Recourse is seldom had to the police to recover property so taken away, but application is almost always made to the secretary of the union immediately the loss of tools, &c., is ascertained. The practice of rattening is well known to be illegal, and persons detected in illegally taking away property have frequently been convicted and punished. The excuse offered by the unions for this system is, that in the absence of legal powers rattening affords the most ready means of enforcing payment of contributions and obedience to the rules of the union. Many articles of Shef field manufacture require for their comple tion the labour of various clases of work men. For example, the manufacture of a saw re quires the work of the saw-grinders, the saw makers, and the saw-handle makers. All these workmen form separate branches of the saw trade, and are in separate unions. They are, however, all amalgamated together for mutual support. In case of default by any member of any of the branches, or in case of a dispute with the masters, as the grinders' tools are most easily abstracted, and as stopping the grinding stops the whole saw trade, the course commonly adopted is to ratter the grinders, although the dispute may be with the sawmakers or saw-kindle makers, and on the matter being arranged the other branches indemnify the grinders for their loss of time and for expenses incurred. An attempt is often successfully made to saddle the whole course of the rattening, as well as the cost of supporting the men while out of employ ment, upon the masters, even where he is no party to the dispute, on the ground that he ought to have compelled his workmen to comply with the rules of the union. The system of rattening generally proved successful in effecting its object. If, how ever, the person rattened continues refractory, he commonly receives an anonymous letter warning him of the consequences of his obstinacy. If this warning is disregarded, recourse has been had to acts of outrage, the nature of which will be under stood from a perusal of the cases actually investi gated takennum b i n e r t h o e f by us." o c r a d s e e r s , of a s t ra t h e e y of a t ff h e e c i t r e o a c c c h a r u r c u t ! c o e n are A With regard to the Saw-Grinders' Union the ex a miners say : " The fact of these outrages having been done in the interest of the trade was well k own to the union, and although in one or two instances • individual members had protested against them, yet no thing like an investigation had been demanded, nor had there been any general vote of con demnation of these acts until the case of Fearne - hough occurred, when public indignation was aroused, and then the outrage was denounced, and a reward was offered by the union for the detection of the offenders. The whole of the concerted by Broadhead, and sums amounting to nearly £2OO had been taken by him out of the funds of the union to pay the parties who committed them. Although these acts were not proved to have been directly authorised by the union, there must have been a knowledge, or at all events a 11 we -crrounded belief amongst its members that they were done, not only in the interests of their society, but through the agency of some one or more of th • eir governing body, and we report that all the were promoted, encouraged, and connived at by the Saw Grinders' Union; and that the Hereford-street outrage was promoted and encouraged by the Saw - grinders', Saw-makers', and Saw-handle Makers' Unions. The following members of the Saw-grinders' Union have been engaged in the concerting or per petration of outrages :—Broadhead, William; Clark, Dennis; Copley, Joseph; Crookes, Samuel ; Dean, Phineas (dead); Hallam, James ; Pearce, George : Shaw, George ; Smith, Elijah (dead); Taylor, John (dead)." In conclusion the examiners say : " We have now given an outline of all the cases of importance which were submitted to us for inves tigation. Mr. Thomas Thorpe, managing clerk to Mr. Albert Smith, clerk to the magistrates for the West Riding of Yorkshire and borough of Sheffield, prepared for us a list of cases supposed to be con nected with trades unions, and which had been brought before the justices within the last ten years. It comprised, in addition to the outrages mentioned in this report, 166 cases of rattening and 21 cases of sending threatening letters. A very small propor tion, however, of the persons rattened give informa tion either to the police or to the justices. Most of the outrages we have investigated were brought be fore the justices, and although in several cases large rewards had been offered for the detection of the perpetrators, the offenders have with two or three exceptions remained unknown up to the period of the inquiry. We believe that there are about 60 trades' unions in Sheffield, of which 13 have pro moted or encouraged outrages within the meaning of the Trades' Union Commission Act, 1867. W e have to report there has not occurre 1 within the lass ten years any act of intimidation, outrage, or wrong promoted, encouraged , or connived at by any association of employers. We point to the year 1859 as the one in which outrage was moat rife, and we notice with pleasure that it has di minished since that time. During the course of our investigation matters connected with trades' unions (such as the number of apprentices allowed to each workman, and the class from which they may be taken, the remuneration of labour, the restraints exercised upon voluntary action, and the rules and general policy of trades' unions) have frequently been brought before our notice. These, however, are questions for the consideration of the Royal Commission sitting in London, and we purposely avoid making any observation's upon them. At the BELGIAN EASTERN JUNCTION. The adjourned special meeting of this company was held yesterday at the London Tavern ; Mr. C. Waring, M.P., in the chair. The Cumr.mAN.stated that the object of the meet ing was to consider an agreement concluded between this company and the Societ?, Generale d'Exploita tion, by which the entire property of the company would be handed over to the Societe on the let of January, 1868. The railway was to retain its sur plus lands. The result of the agreement would be that in 1868-69 the rent would be sufficient to pay the interest on the various loans, and 2s. per share; in 1871 to pay 2s. 4 id. per share, and in 1872-73 to pay 2s. B,d. per share ; from and after 1874 up to the end of the concession to pay the shareholders 3s. 3d. per share. The agreement, after a short discussion, was adopted, and a resolution was passed recommending the meeting to be held at Brussels on the 12th inst. to approve and sanction the agreement with the Societe Generale d'Exploitation, and a vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings. The British Archaeological Association a Uriconium. SHREWSBURY, Wednesday. When the programme of the annual Congress of ,he British Arcl,m logical Association was drawn up a special day was reserved for an examination of the ruins of the old Roman city of Uriconium at Wroxeter, near this town, and the visit was made yesterday under the most favourable circumstances as regards the weather. The members of the Asso ciation and their friends arrived at Shrewsbury shortly after 10 o'clock and drove direct to Wroxe ter, where Mr. Wright, M.A., F.S.A., assumed the guidance of the party, and a most interesting exa ruination of this unique relic of the Roman occupa tiou of Britain was commenced. _ _ From Mr. -Wright's explanations i t appeared the first organised and successful excavation of the ruius in the interests of arcbge9logy was made in the year 1859, the Duke of Cleveland, upon whose estate Uriconium stands, having given the necessary permission, and added a donation of 50 guineas to the excavation fund. At the time of commencing operations all that was visible of the city which tra dition said was hidden beneath the earth was a massive stone wall running east and west, on either side of which was a cornfield. Beginning to exca vate on the northern side of this wall three other walls running almost parallel with what for conve nience sake is called the old wall were brought to light, the whole evidently enclosing and forming part of a large building. This portion of the ruins has now been filled up again, but the excavation was continued for some distance to the south of the old wall, and the results formed the subject of inspection yesterday. Without describing in detail the several apartments which have been brought to light since the work of excavation was commenced, it may not be uninteresting to particularise one which attracted considerable attention yesterday. The room in question served in the building of which it formed a part the pur pose of a hypocaust, a contrivance whereby the Romans, who do not appear to have used fires, com municated artificial heat to their houses and public buildings. These hypocausts were a description of flue built under the floors of the house, fires being lit at the entrances, and the hot air thus generated being driven under the door and up through the walls of the building. The hypocausts were, of course, hollow, the floor of the house being supported on pillars, ranged at regular distances, and usually standing from 2ft to 3ft high. In the hypocaust referred to the excavators came upon the skeletons of three human beings, one being that of an old man, who appears to have died in a crouching posi tion up in one of the corners of the hypocaust, the other two lying full length by the side of the wall. Near the skeleton of the old man was found a small heap of coins, 132 in number, mixed up with which were a few small nails and traces of decomposed wood, clearly indicating that the coins had origi nally been carried into the hypocaust in a box or coffer. Bearing in mind the history of the city of Uriconium, which, as far as it can be compiled, shows it to have been assailed and plundered with other Roman strongholds when the power of the early conquerors waned, Mr. Wright advances the very plausible theory that these remains ate those of persons who sought to escape from the barbarians by hiding in the hypocaust, and that here they met their death either by suffocation or by the rubbish of the ruined building falling at the entrance to the hypocaust and obstructing their only means of exit. Be that as it may, the finding of the skeletons has endowed this hypocaust with a special human interest, and the old man's coins have proved a welcome addition to the treasures of the museum at Shrewsbury, where they are now stored. Iluman remains have been found in other portions of the ruins, some accord ing to Dr. Henry Johnson, having been decently buried, others having, to all appearance, been slaughtered at the time of the sacking of the city, and left to moulder where they lay. It was curious, in exhuming the remains of the old Roman settle ment, to come upon such evidence of human occu pation as the ashes of charred wood in the hypo causts, just as they had been left when the last fire was kindled there many centuries ago ; and in another apartment to find particles of burnt wheat, garnered when this island was still a tributary of Rome. Other relics of a more enduring character were found in abundance ; a square space at the bottom of one of the rooms, which seemed to have been used as a dust-bin, proving a very Golconda to the arcbssologist, who found there, buried in dust to the depth of 16 or 17 inches, scores of coins, nails, bone needles, hair pins, broken pottery, and various articles in iron, bronze, lead, and glass. Hair-pins THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 9 1867. commencement of our inquiry, and frequently during the course of it, we explained the provisions of the Trades' Union Commission Act, 1867, with regard to the powers conferred on us of granting certificates of indemnity to witnesses who should by their evidence inculpate themselves. We are con vinced that the most material disclosures made to us were so made in reliance on our promise of in demnity made in conformity with the Act of Par liament. had no such indemnity been offered, we are satisfied that we should never have obtained any clear and conclusive evidence touching the most im portant subjects of our inquiry, and that the system of crime which has now been disclosed, as well as the perpetrators, would have remained undiscovered —we have therefore granted certificates to all wit nesses whom we believe to have made a full and true disclosure of all offences in which they have been implicated." ASSIZE IN7ELLIGENCE. NORFOLK CIRCUIT. 7 -Normicu, August 8. CROWN COURT. (Before Mr. Justice Byles.) Hubbard Lingley was indicted for the wilful murder of Benjamin Black, at Barton Bendish, on on the 17th of May, 1867. He was charged upon the Coroner's inquisition with the same offence. Mr. Metcalfe and Mr. Drake conducted the case for the prosecution, the prisoner being defended by Mr. Sims Reeve. _ _ _ The facts of the case, which rested on circum stantial evidence for its proof, were as follows : The prisoner, who is the nephew of the murdered man, Benjamin Black, was employed as under woodman by Sir llanson Berney, at Barton Ben dhiisshu.ncliel,iswhwades (12s. a week) were pa id hi m b y addition to the place of woodman, filled that of gamekeeper there. • On the 17th of May, very early in the morning, in consequence of being roused by the report of a gun from a wood near the cottage where he resided, the uncle got up at 4 a.m., and went in the direction of the shot. li© was never seen again alive, for at 6 o'clock some ,abourers who were-going to their work in a neigh bouring field discovered his dead body lying near a gate forming the entrance into the wood, with the left side riddled by shot, and in such a situation as made it clear that the shot which had caused immediate death had been fired into that side from the wood, and as the victim was walking up to open the gate for the purpose of going into the wood. Now, in the wood at a spot about 15 or 16 feet from the place where the body lay were the evident marks of some person having knelt down some four or five feet from the hedge as if on the watch, together with other marks, showing that this person had retired to this place from the gate, and the leaves of the hedgein this direction were scorched as if by gunpowder. Now, who was this person by whom this shot had been fired ? As to this the following details were given in evidence :—lu the first place, several pieces of what was called by the learned counsel in his opening coarse white sugar paper, stained with gunpowder, lay between the spot from which the shot was fired and that where the body was found. In the next place, at a short distance in the wood, were seen fragments of a broken bottle, so broken as to have been apparently thrown down with great violence and ground to powder, and near these fragments also were found a piece of the same sugar paper and some gun powder. In a shed, which was used for keeping tools, the key of which was held by the deceased, some broken bottles and some straw were found, and it was also discovered that the lock had been broken. It was the prisoner who drew attention to these things, and he suggested that there had been a drinking party in the shed, that the lock had been forced, and the bottles broken by them, and that by them also was his uncle's life taken. It was the prisoner's duty to work in that wood, and on the discovery of the dead body by the labourers one of them called out to him, and in about four or five minutes he came from the direction where he should have been at work, and from a spot about 320 yards from where the body lay. This was about a quarter past 6, and, though the tips of the fingers were cold, the hand was warm ; the body was then lying on the kit side, with shot marks on that side and on the left eye, and, in answer to the remark of one of the labourers, saying, "Hubbard, doyou know what has happened? Your uncle is shot and is dead," he replied, " No, I don't ; who could have done this ?" appearing at the same time affected at the sight. On s earching the body Black's watch was found pro truding o f from the pocket, and showing an appear ance a wrench having been given to draw it out, but owing to the pocket being small the watch re mained, but a chain attached to it was broken ; a purse with money in it which his widow proved the deceased had taken with him, something more than Bs. 6d., when he left his house, was carried away, and on looking at the gate entering into the wood it was found that it had been lifted from its hinges and left hanging, as if, so it was suggested, to fur ther the object of the person by whom the shot was fired and the purse taken. The prisoner was the first to notice the loss of the money, and as sus picion was directed against him very early in the investigation of the cause of death he was kept in close view all day, a detective officer having, as soon as intelligence was forwarded to Norwich, gone over to Barton Bendish. The rest of the proof against the prisoner will appear from the fol lowing evidence. The motive for the crime, as Mr. Metcalfe opened to the j ur y , was that the prisoner, being dissatisfied w ith his o wn work, wished to get his uncle's place , and ha d been to Sir 11. Berney's agent tryntntd g et it, while, as would b e s h own, therecontinual quarrels bet ween hi s unc l e an d t o were co himself, and so late as the Saturday before the uncle's death he had uttered strong threats against him. The first important witness who was called was the policeman, William Balls, stationed in the dis trict, who, after stating that he went to examine the wood and the place where the body had been found, said that he picked up fragments of a broken kneltplac e , behind where a here g bottle and pieces of coarse white paper near the ah face towards the dead rks is of a person having body and his toe-marks in a line behind it, and t ked were hedge w t marks also in the shed above mentioned; that the leaves of a maple bush five yards from the body, and in a line with the knee marks, were scorched ; and that the prisonerbrought him the dead man's broken watch chain, which he said he had found on the body. He went on to say that, having asked the prisoner where his gun was, and being told that it was at his uncle Henry Barton's house (the dead man's brother), he went with him to that place, and on their arrival, Henry- having joined them, the pri soner looked round a room, and saying, " It should be somewhere here," his uncle said, "My gun is in a shed ; it is not here" (for it had been taken away and was being used for frightening birds) ; and, having sent for it, the prisoner said, " That is the gun," to which the uncle replied, " W hy, you know you never were allowed to take that gun away. What is the good of bringing these people here upon this fool's errand?" They then went away, and the prisoner having been apprehended on the charge of murdering his uncle, he said to this witness, " I should think there are fifty persons who know I have a gun. I hid it while they were gone to follow the trail." (This was a trail of 1,000 yards which this witness and two other men had traced from the gate near the body to another gate in the wood, but as it led nowhere they did not pursue it. The im portance of this statement, however, will be seen in the next witness's evidence)• The prisoner then went on to say to Balls that he hid the gun because he thought he should be su spected, and having shown the witness where it was (in a thicket o f blackthorn in the wood, about 150 yards from the body), be went to the place and found it covered over with dead leaves, and showing marks of hav ing been recently discharged, there being a piece of the ell) still on it. Balls on further search also fuund an empty powder flask in a hollow tree in the wood about iOO or 400 yards from the body, and about 70 from the place where the prisoner had been working. George Reed, a farmer in the neighbourhood, . proved that he went into the wood and came back • to the body just a 3 Balls and th 3 others came up; the prisoner was close to the body 41 the time that these persons were away following up the trail above-mentioned ; that he (the witness) went away with Balls for a little distance, and that on his re turn the prisoner was standing near the body, and could not have gone away to the tool shed or to the place where the gun was found or where the powder flask was found. In the course of conversation the prisoner said, " My uncle had been uneasy about a pheasant's nest ; this is the way he always came first," upon which they two walked up the path way tp look for footmarks, but could not find any. George Black, the son of the deceased, a little boy ten years of age, was called to show that he was with the prisoner and near him all day on th e 17th, going with him to a shop in the neighbour hood and to two publichouses, where he had some beer. This witness said, in cross-examination, that the prisoner, who had gone to buy some things for his mother, was very kind to him and hi 3 sister. The surgeon, William Cator, who made a post mortem examination of the body, proved that he took 15 shots from the body, which were produced in court, and were No. 2 shot. Henry Scott, a shopkeeper at Fincham, a village near Barton Bendish, though not so near as Swaff ham, stated that he sold the prisoner, on the 15th of May, half a pound of No. 2 shot and some caps, which he put into what he called sugar paper (a coarse whitey-brown paper) ; he did not pay for them then ; and that the prisoner came again on the 16th, bringing with him a shot charger, capable of holding two charges. There was shot in it. The prisoner asked for an ounce and a quarter weight to put into the scale and weighed the shot. John Hudson, a detective attached to the police force at Norwich, said he went from Norwich on the day of the murder (Saturday) and accom panied the prisoner into the wood in the afternoon. He asked him if he had a gun, to which the pri soner replied he had not had a gun for two years, having sold the last one he bad to Mr. Richardson, a tailor, at Fincham. He had borrowed one the year before, at harvest, returned it, and had never had one since. " I took him," said Hudson, "into custody on Saturday, at 6 or 7 in the evening, when he said, lam innocent of that job. Do you think I could do such a thing and walk about with you in the wood as 1 have done ? Besides, I told you I had no gun.' " " Yes," said the detective, " but I am told you have one ;" when be replied, " It is no use telling any more lies. As soon as I heard my uncle was murdered I got frightened. I thought I should be suspected and get into trouble, so I went to the shed in the wood, which had been broken open, and got the gun. I will go with you and show it you." Upon which they went together and found it. Sir H. Berney's agent stated that the prisoner had no right to carry arms; this person, however, did not show that the prisoner had been seeking to get his uncle's place, as was opined ; and three wit nesses (two labourers and the wife of one of them) spoke to his having uttered some very strong, coarse, and threatening language against his uncle, to the latter of whom he declared he would finish him up one day, for, - him, he hated him The case was not con'auded, and is not likely to be over to-day. The Business of the House of Lords. - - -* - - The select committee appointed to inquire into the expediency of making such arrangements as shall enable the House to meet at 4 o'clock, instead of 5 o'clock, for the despatch of business, and to consider if any and what changes may be desirable for the better transaction of the business of the House, report that the committee have met and con sidered the subject-matter referred to them, and have agreed to the following report 1. The committee first directed their attention to the proposal that the House should meet at an earlier hour than at present. Iu making any such change care must be taken that it will not interfere with the morning sittings, or afford temptation to shorten the time now given to judicial business. It is also necessary to pay attention to the convenience of the Lord Chancellor, who, after having presided there from half-past 10 to 4 o'clock, has frequently other official business then brought before him. The committee having taken these circumstances into consideration, do not recommend any change in the present arrangement. 2. The use of proxies next engaged the attention of the committee, and as the question is one which has attracted much public notice lately, they con sider it desirable that they should communicate to the house the result of their inquiries into this very important subject. The privilege which Peers have enjoyed of being represented by their proxies in Parliament when unable to attend in person is so ancient as to have become a prescriptive right as inherent in their peerages as that of being summoned to Parliament, and one, consequently, of which no vote of the house can alone deprive them. The use of proxies has, however, been controlled by the house in seve ral particulars. A peer cannot hold more than two. They may not be used in committee, or on any judicial proceeding. They must be entered be- fore 3 o'clock on the day on which they may be called fer, and are vacated by any attendance after entry. 4. Proxies are not used so frequently as many suppose. From 1830 to the present year, both in clusive, they have, as will be seen by returns in the appendix to this report, been called only 73 times in 38 years, and with less frequency in the latter than in the earlier part of that period. For the first ten years proxies appear to have been used 30 ti m es ; in the second, 22; in the third, 19 ; and in the last eight years only twice. On eight occasions only out of those 73 have proxies overruled the votes of those present. 5. The committee are of opinion that the exer cise of the right of voting by proxy by Peers who have had no opportunity of hearing the debate is objectionable. It diminishes the attendance of Peers i❑ the House, and tends to weaken in the public mind the authority of the decisions at which the house arrive. they therefore recommend that the practice of using them should be discontinued, and that a standing order should be agreed to against their being called ; and that, to prevent such order being lightly suspended, twice the usual length of notice should be given for the suspension of such order. 6. The attention of the committee has been drawn to an increasing practice of asking questions on pri vate notice only. The advantages which arise from the license which the House is able to allow for de bate on questions are materially lessened by the ab sence of public notice appearing ix the minutes. Those Peers who may be the most qualified to ad dress the House on matters so brought before it may be unprepared to discuss them, or absent on occa sions most interesting to them. Sometimes, indeed, they are questions which do not admit of delay; but the committee desire to express• their decided opi nion that notice of question should in all cases be given in the minutes when there is no such urgency, and in the event of the House confirming this re commendation they trust that it will be supported by those to whom questions are proposed to be put, by their declining to reply to any without such notice is given, except where delay would be inju rious, or the answer is of a character not likely to lead to a debate. 7. The committee have considered the system of appointing Peers to sit on committees on private business. They are of opinion that it has secured committees which have generally given satisfaction to the public. They believe, however, that it has some disadvantages which might be removed, and they recommend that the House should order the Committee of S. Jection to exercise their discretion in calling for the service of Peers, although they may be absent from the House. 8. The attention of the committee having been called to the manner in which the proceedings on the reception of the reports of bills amended in corn , mittee of the whole house are recorded, they recom mend that, instead of the report of such amend ments being entered as made formally by the Chair man of Committees, the name of the Peer who moves the reception of the report and takes charge of the bill in that stage should be substituted, in order that it may appear in the journals. And the committee have directed the minutes of evidence taken before them, together with an ap pendix, to be laid before your lordships. Parliamentary Deposits of Railways. The select committee appointed to join with the select committee appointed by the House of Lords to consider the Act 9 and 10 Viet., c. 20, and the standing orders of both houses in relation to par liamentary deposits, and the completion of railways within a prescribed time, and to report what altera tions it is expedient to make therein for the present and for the ensuing session, have made further pro gress in the matters to them referred, and have agreed to the following second report : " The committee recommend that the following standing orders should be adopted by both houses : "ln every railway bill, whereby the construction of any new line of railway is authorised, or the time for completing any line already authorised is ex tended, promoted by an existing railway company which is possessed of a railway already opened for public traffic, and which has, during the year last past, paid dividends on its ordinary share capital, and which does not propose to raise under the bill a capital greater than its existing authorised capital, there shall be inserted a clause to the following effect, viz.: " (A). If the company fail within the period imited by this act to complete the railway authorised . _ to be made by this act, the company shall be liable to a penalty of fifty pounds a day for every day after the expiration of the period so limited until the said railway is completed and opened for public traffic, or until the sum received in respect of such penalty shall amount to five per cent. on the esti mated cost of the works ; and the said penalty may be applied for by any landowner or other person to be compensated in accordance with the provisions of the next following section of this act, and in the same manner as the penalty provided in the 3d sec tion of the act 17 and 18 Vic., c. 31, known as "The Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1854," and every sum of money recovered by way of such penalty as aforesaid shall be paid under the warrant or order of such court or judge as is specified in the said 3d section of the act 17 and 18 Vict. c. 31, to an account opened or to be opened in the name and with the privity of the Accountant-General of the Court of Chancery in England (the Queen's Re membrancer of the Court of Exchequer in Scotland, or the Accountant-General of the Court of Chan cery in Ireland—according as the railway is situate in England, Scotland, or Ireland), in the bank named iu such order, and shall not be paid thereoul except as hereinafter provided ; but no penalty . __ shall accrue in respect Of any time during which it shall appear, by a certificate to be obtained from the Board of Trade, that the company was prevented from completing or opening such line by unforeseen accident or circumstances beyond their control ; provided that the want of sufficient funds shall not be held to be a circumstance beyond their control. "In every railway bill whereby the construction of any new line is authorised,or the time for complet- ing any line already authorised is extended ; if such bill be promoted by an existing railway company which is not possessed of a railway already opened for public traffic, or which has not during the year last past paid dividends on its ordinary share capital ; or by an existing railway company when the capital to be raised under the bill is greater than the existing authorised capital of the company, or by persons not already incorporated, there shall be , nserted a clause to the following effect, viz. : " (B.) Whereas, pursuant to the standing orders of both Houses of Parliament, and to an Act of the 9th and 10th years of her present Majesty, c. 20, a sum of £ , being 5 per cent. upon the amount of the estimate in respect of the railway autho rised by this Act, has been deposited with the Court of Chancery in England (or with the Court of Exchequer in Scotland, or the Court of Chancery in Ireland, as the case may be), (or Ex chequer bills, stocks, or funds to the amount of , have been deposited or transferred pursuant to the said act, as the case may be), in respect of the application to Parliament for this act : be it enacted that, notwithstanding anything contained in the said recited act, the said sum of £ (or the said Ex chequer bills, or other funds as the case may be) so deposited (or transferred) as aforesaid, in respect of the application for this act, shall not be paid or transferred to or on the applic etio❑ of the person or persons, or the majority of the persons named in the warrant or order issued in pursuance of the said act, or the survivors or survivor of them, unless the said company shall, previously to the expiration of the period limited by this act for completion of the rail way hereby authorised to be made, either open the said railway for the public conveyance of passengers, or prove to the satisfaction of the Lords of Commit tee of her Majesty's Privy Council for Trade and Foreign Plantations that the said company have paid up one-half of the amount of the capital by this act authorised to be raised by means of shares, and have expended for the purposes of thisact a sum equal in amount to such one-half of the said capital ; and if the said period shall expire before the said company shall either have opened the said railway for the public conveyance of passengers, or have given such proof as aforesaid to the satisfaction of the Lords of the said committee, the said sum of money (Ex chequer bills, stocks, or funds) deposited (or trans ferred) as aforesaid, shall be applied in the manner hereinafter specified ; and the certificate of the Lords of the said committee that such proof has been given to their satisfaction as aforesaid, shall be sufficient evidence of the fact so certified ; and it shall not be necessary to produce any certificate of this act hav ing passed, anything in the said recited act to the contrary notwithstanding. " In every railway bill whereby the construction of any new line of railway is authorised, or the time for completing any lino already authorised is extended, the following clauses shall be inserted, in the order in which they are here placed, immediately after that one of the two last preceding clauses which shall have been inserted in the bill ; viz.:— " (C.) The said sum of money (Exchequer bills, stocks, or funds) deposited (or transferred) as afore said (or, every sum of money so recovered by way of penalty, as aforesaid), shall be applicable, and, after due notice in the London Gazette (or Edinburgh or Dublin Gazette, as the case may require), shall be applied towards compensating any landowners or other persons whose property may have been inter fered with, or otherwise rendered less valuable, by the commencement, construction, or abandonment of the said railway, or any portion thereof, or who may have been subjected to injury or loss in conse quence of the compulsory powers of taking pro perty conferred upon the company by this act, and for which injury or loss no compensation or inade quate compensation shall have been paid, and shall be distributed in satisfaction of such compensation as aforesaid, in such manner and in such propor tions as to the Court of Chancery in England (or Court of Exchequer in Scotland, or Court of Chancery in Ireland, as the case may be) may seem fit ; and if no such compensation shall be payable, or if a por tion of the said sum of money (Exchequer bills, stocks, or funds) (or of the sum or sums of money so recovered by way of penalty as aforesaid) shall have been found sufficient to satisfy all just claims in respect of such compensation, then the said sum of money (Exchequer bills, stocks, or funds) (or the said sum or sums of money re covered by way of penalty), or such portion thereof as may not be required as aforesaid, shall be paid (or transferred) to or on the application of the per son or persons or the majority of the persons named in such warrant or order as aforesaid, or the survi vor or survivors of them (or the company from whom such penalty was recovered) : Provided that until the said sum of money (Exchequer bills, stocks, or funds) shall have been repaid to the depositors, or shall have become otherwise applicable as hereinbe fore mentioned, any interest or dividend accruing thereon shall from time to time, and as often as the same shall become payable, be paid to or on the application of the person or persons or the majority of the persons named in such warrant or order as aforesaid, or the survivors or survivor of them. N.B.—lf the clause lettered (A) is inserted in the bill, the proviso at the end of the clause (lettered (C) shall be omitted. " (D.) If the railway authorised by this act shall not be completed within the period limited by this act (such period not to exceed five years in the case of a new line, and three years in the case of the ex,- tension of time for completing any Hue), then, on the expiration of such period, the powers by this act granted to the company for making and completing the said railway, or otherwise in relation thereto, shall cease to be exercised, except as to so much thereof as shall then be completed. " In any railway bill to which the preceding pro visions are not applicable, the committee on the bill shall make such other provision as they shall deem necessary for insuring the completion of the line of railway." FIRE A T A BLEACIIIVORKS IN PREST- TV/ CH. Early on Wednesday morning a destructive fire occurred on the premises of Messrs. J. and 11. Bleackley, dyers and bleachers, of the Myrtle Grove Works, Prestwich. The works are situated in the valley, a little beyond the church on Kersal Moor, and consist of a number of contigu pus build ings, containing the various kinds of machinery em ployed in the processes of bleaching, dyeing, caleudering, and making up. A few minutes after twelve o'clock yesterday morning, a private watch man discovered that a fire had commenced in a three-storey building, about 40 yards long by 30 yards wide, which was partially divided from the dyehouse by a wall. He immediately gave an alarm by ringing a bell. A number of the work people and others quickly arrived, and a messenger was despatched on horseback to Manchester for the fire engines. There was a small fire engine on the premises, and an abundant supply of water in the reservoirs adjoining ; but from some cause the engine could not be got to work, and the rapidity with which the flames spread in the three storeys rendered the efforts of the men unavailing. In about three quarters of an hour from the discovery assistance arrived—one engine from Manchester, another from Salford, and a third worked by the Broughton volunteers. On their reaching the place, how ever, there was no hope of saving the contents of that portion of the building, and it required their utmost efforts to prevent the fire communicating with the other parts,some of which did become ignited, but the fire was quenched. The fire continued to rage until about three o'clock, but at four was sup pressed beyond fu.ther danger, although water was being discharged into the ruins during the whole of the forenoon. Of the portion de stroyed, the lower storey contained the bowk house, and comprised a wash-wheel, two pair of squeezers, one stiffening mangle, and a large calender not in use. The remains of these are covered with the burned floors, roof, and some of the brickwork of the walls. The two storeys above contained a pair of drying cylin ders, a damping calender, two making-up rooms, in which were tables, hooking frames, and goods• Some portion of the goods were saved, but the other, with the various machines, were either seriously damaged or consumed. COUNTRY MARKETS. BItiISTOL—TiruRSDAY. On our market to-day business rather increased, and few samples of English wheat on offer realised is to 2s pe r qr over previous currencies. In foreign wheat, which met a good inquiry, prices were is higher. Barley, with a fair sale, again advanced 6d per qr. Indian corn in active do" raand, and quotations fully is dearer. Oats sold at former prices. Beans and peas quiet. MANCIIESTER—TmatsDAv. Our market this morning was well attended. English wheat, being comparatively scarce, commanded the quo tations of this day se'nnight, but in foreign we note an improved business at rather over late prices. Only fresh' made parcels of flour were inquired for, at late rates. Oa and oatmeal also ruled at former prices. BURY ST. EDMUNDS—WEDNESDAY Tho supply of wheat at this market to-day was q uite sufficient to meet the demand, and trade ruled dull, at tb° quotations of last week. Barley, oats, beans, and Pe' ls unchanged. Average prices : Wheat, 69s 3d ; barley, 36s 2d; oats, Od; beans, —s Od. BIRMINGHAM—THURSDAY. At this day's market there was not a large supplY " wheat, for which there was little inclination to buy, no quotations were the same as last week, although in some instances is more money was obtained. Foreign higher. Beans slow. Barley, oa.s, and peas were ten diut; upwards. rather EDINBURGII—WEDNESDAY. Wheat on the top, is Od down average, is 4(1 up. Barley on the top, 3s 34 up average, Os rid up. Oats on the top, is Od down average, Os 7d (1,0 ,0 ' Beans on the top, 6s 6d down qvcrage, 3s 6d dowo. Total supply and sales. Wheat B4B qrs sold 698 Barley l3O qrs sold 74 Oats BB7 qrs sold 370 Beans 26 qrs sold 11 Average prices. Wheat, 64s 4d I Oats, 'l9s Od Barley, 3Bs 2d 1 Beans 47s 5d Town-made flour sells as follows :—White, 53s Od; OW' superfine, ols Od; superfine, 49s Od; fine, 47s Od. GLASGOW—WEDNESDAY. To-day's market was thinly attended, and tho bus iness done in wheat and flour was firm, at former quotstionei but only a retail inquiry. Barley in small supply, % malting sorts asked for. In both beans and peas the trau limited, at previous rates. Maize 6d dearer. Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. Australia and New Zealand, via Southampton..... Aug• 21 ' • Ditto, via Marseilles ' Aug. 18 ' Ditto, via Panama && ••••• • • • Brazil, Buenos Ayres, and Monte Video SePt. 3', Ditto, by French packet . Aug'. '`" Cape Verds, by Brazil packet . _ Sellt• ' A ~,, 2 Cape of Good Elope. Ascension, and St. He1ena......-- , • 7. ~„4 . China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton Aug'..' Ditto, via Marseilles .. Aug. 18 ' Faikland Islands E ellt 3 Gibraltar, via Southampton Aug. 14 ' India, via Southampton Aug. 24 ' Ditto, via Mandl es Aug. ll ' Malta, Egypt, ,to. 18 4. Ditto, Marseilles Aug Mauritius, Cape of Good lope, and Natal, via !' Southampton Aug. 2 '' Ditto, via Marcel les Aug. „Au g. 11. Newfoundland ' Portz al Sept. 3 Ditto, by private ship to Oporto .. • Ditto ditto to Lisbon United States, Canada, California, Ste., by British packet - A u g . 14. Ditto, by United States packet Ditto ditto (New York) Ditto ditto (New York) Ditto ditto (Baltimore) •• • ...... ••• Ci• Ditto, by Canadian p toket A u g '. West Coast of Africa, Madeira, and Tenerin Aug. 1 7. West Indies and Pacific (except Mexico and Balla- Atig' 11 ' mss) —Aug'. 26 * Cuba and Mexico Bahamas, via New York S. Bermuda, via ditto rest(ADVERTISEMENT.] —Holloway's Pills.—Nervou s bility.—Persons who feel weak, low, and nervous niutY assured some serious ailment is looming in the distaa';6 against which instant action should bo taken. Nel l fi c tion pills present the ready means of excLing ener g etic oco on the liver, liberating accumulated bile, and lif tin g at °ova a load from the spirits and expelling a poison frou t the body. This simple and nat iral method of reinedY!' ls , u •e 0 first tendency to disease gives present ease and la,„%i'v" future safety. The pallid and all those who so jy hou flesh should try these pills, which are specially usefa t , ,„ e a the digestive and other functions are imperfectly Perl°l:ther and demand immediate correction, or in after ye ars nel mind nor body will he developed. Birts. „ I „piE4 MicHEL—On tho 7th inst., a h t St. Ives, Ringwood, J-I" the wife of Major-General C. Michel, of a son. w ife) PRATT—On the 3d inst., at Cawthorno Parsonaget tli , (3 ter. of the Rev. C. T. Pratt, of twins—a son an d dauga i i e o f WINDIIAM—On the 7th inst., at Woburn, Beds, 0 0 Capttdu G. S. Windham, Rifle Brigade, of a sop. Marriages. . . rOli COCHRAN-110DG—On the 7th inst , at the Scotch Cat' t v. Regent-square, Robert Cochran,. jun., second soda°ol - Esq., of Verrevillo , Glasgow, to Grisel 99, son, second daughter of Robert flow*, LL.D. F•L''' l lib Susses.St.aeorge's-road, Pamlico, and aithons, 'lleatbile r cb, COPE—ATKINSON— On the 7th inst ,at St. Georges (-iu „ s- „f 0 , Leeds, the R , ,v. Charles H. Cope . , M.A., eldes t sen - of W. Cope, Esq., ILA., to Mary Hey, eldest daugbt ei. c o, the late John Atkinson, Esq., Little -Woodhouse, Loco, Deaths. CO' COLDICOTT —On the 3d inst , Mary, the wife of g• cott, of Tansleyhill House . , Dudlpy. ie s , DAviEs On the 4th inst ,at Stonehouse, Robt. S.. - ce s- Esq., a Deputy-Lienteijant and Magistrate for liloll tershire, aged 90. li I S ; G B S N 1,,, I 0 0 ' HARRISON—On the 23d ult., at Toronto, Canada, t"' -I 0 1.1 R a T r i r t i — 'so o n ri , o t f h t e he 2d Mi i d n d s l i e Temple , aged 65. , st . l., r ington, Kent, aged 4 1 7. on ortu, Kenca d . illas Lov , ELA.ND —On the sth inst., at 62, Penabridge Bayswater, John P. Loveland, Esq., J.P., ag ed -- 0. LANGDON—On the 6th inst., at Bude, Cornwall, 5°,211 Joseph Kin Langdon, Esq., of S. Stephen's, Launceston, age d „ n il!, MACNEILL —On the 2d inst at Montrose, Arch. 3,13c ` - Esq., J.P., late Captain 91st Regiment, aged 83. doll, P E j A u S h e a 0 D p — e a O s n e 0 t d h , O E 7 s t t i h . , i a n g s e t d a n t . l Milner • 7 - 7 __...... __,..•••••:''''*•'''''. -6(lw-ire, Lon London : Printed and Published by WILLI:N.)I 0 tu f No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tr, SUN Oftl oo 7 a :, 'trawl, in the Precinct of the Se vey, in the C ° - I , littalt:SeX.-_--Friday, August f, 107.