The Sun. — London, England, 1849-05-10 00:00:00

12tittion SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY. HALF-YEARLY ADJOURNED MEETING. (THIS DAY.) • The CHAIRMAN (in continuation from our Afternoon Edition)said—The committee, he believed, were 100,000/. out of their reckoning with respect to the amount of their liabilities.—(lnterruption.) He was no partizan. He was there to do himself and them justice ; and if they would hear him he should prove - his case. He could not if they interrupted him thus. What were these assets and liabili ties ? The interest due to the 4th of July was • 82,1204 ; due from works performed, 108,354/. ; pur - chases made, 63,8371.—t0ta1, 254,3111. The available assets, money at bankers, and due from the Post-office, amounted to 66,4201. ; arrears (6 per cent.), 24,348/. (this stock was at a premium in the market); Eastern Union, balance of award, 11,600/.; Blackwell Railway, 4501.—total, 102,8101.; leaving the balance of liabilities, 151,5011., and not 500,000/,, as r was stated by the committee.—(Cheers.) Then, with respect to the dividends, arrangements had been made to get the money.—(Noise, and cries of " How ?") Those who cried " How ?" • were much mistaken if they thought that undertakings • of this kind could be carried on if their credit was de stroyed; it was necessary to borrow money. He then proceeded to deal with the statement of Mr. Meek, that e the dividend was held out as a bait. He utterly , denied the charge and repelled the insinuation. It was fiirther said that they could not pay the dividend because of the depreciation of their stock; that the relaying of ' the sleepers would cost 130/. a mile. The engineer who had made the calculation was, he understood, misin formed—they would not cost more than 100/.—(Cheers.) According to the account of the current half-year it would be shown that the expenditure for depreciation would be 1251. per mile. He was prepared to produce responsible contractors who would take the line for the next seven years for . 170/. per mile.—(oh, oh—" We have had enough of them.") But they must not overlook the old materials, which, when disposed of, would greatly reduce the liabilities. The 105,9061. referred to in the directors' report, was over and above depreciation, and after paying out of that a dividend of 4s. there would still be 38,0001. to carry to the next half-year for depreciation.—(Hear, hear.) He was free to admit that at the Cambridge, the Ely, and the Peterborough stations there had been an expenditure which he was not prepared to justify, but it must be remembered that much of this expenditure was incurred in the hope of keeping out of Cambridge another line, and ex tending the Peterborough line to York.—(Hear, hear.) Besides there was the Newmarket and Chesterford line, which also had to be accommodated. So tar then for the Cambridge. Now, as to Ely, he was bound to admit that . the expenditure was most appalling—(" Why did you consent to it then ?") It must be remembered, however, that they were receiving a large rent for the Ely station, and the same might be seid of the Peterborough station, from which they were receiving a very fair return.—(Hear, hear.) He now came to a matter personal to himself; but before he entered upon it, he must be allowed to thank Mr. Cash for the tone of his opening address, and to question the good taste which had induced his seconder to select this meeting as an opportunity of running down any man, be he chairman or director.—(Cheers, Oh ! and groans.) Probably this would be the last time he should address them in the capacity of chairman.—( ['re mendous cheering.) Now, he joined the board in October, 1845, when the goods traffic was V. per mile. • • The present returns would show that the goods traffic yielded 221. per mile, so that the traffic had not suffered . through his connexion with the line.—(Hear, hear.) A good deal had been said about his receiving 2,000/.—(Oh oh !) Hear him before they condemned him. He received the money in 1847, when the committee sat at Westminster on the subject, in his absence and the absence of the secretary, and all that he knew of the matter was, that a resolu tion was passed awarding him 2,000/., and he received the money.—(Yells, hisses, groans, and renewed con fusion.) With regard to the Wisbeach shares, upon that subject Mr. Hudson thought as he thought— (Roars of laughter) and when a Parliamentary Committee was appointed to inquire into his con duct he should be prepared to justify all he had done.—(" Oh, oh," and cries of "No, doubt.") He hal some cause to complain of the treatment he had met with at the hands of the committee. They had charged him with giving free pas es to the Maldon electors, but the charge was never proved. He never granted a single pass. Others did though.") He was not aware of it then. The principle upon which he voted was that of " doing to others as he would be done by."—(" Oh, oh," and roars of laughter.) Ile had now done with the personal matter, and he would leave it with simply advising the meeting to ap point a committee to inquire into his own and his col !cages' conduct.—(Hear, hear.) Having now touched upon all topics which seemed to him to require explana tion, he would entreat them to putan end to these internal squabbles. His advice was, elect a board in whom they could place confidence, and don't let them be harassed by committees out of doors.—(lronical cheer:.) It was madness to go on in the present course, as it was proving destructive to their property.—(lronical cheers.) It was annihilating their credit, and unless some change took place, the shareholders would soon see their pro perty quickly melt away.—(Renewed cheers.) A PROPRIETOR here asked a number of questions, but owing to the noise we could not catch the import. . . Mr. HART rose to propose that legal steps be taker' to obtain the repayment of the 2,0001. and 7,0001.; but not proposing it as an amendment, he postponed it until the original motion was carried. Mr. .NPLAREN proposed an amendment to the effect that a dividend of 4s. per share be declared.—(Much noise, and cries of " No, no.") He proposed this because he considered such a dividend warranted by the 103,000/. they had earned. He was ready to stake his reputation as an accountant that. this could be done. Mr. MARGRAVE seconded the amendment. An indescribable scene of confusion and tumult here ensued, which lasted for some minutes. Mr. M'LAREN complained that the committee had made a one-sided statement, and warned the share holders that the adoption of the original motion would commit them to the amalgamation with the Norfolk line. He opposed that amalgamation, because it would prove inimical to this company, and complained that the committee had not justified the course they recommended by figures. Dr. DUNN said he bad come a distance of .500 miles to attend the meeting, and representing the widow and the orphan, many of whom had a great stake in the concern, and believing the amendment based in justice, he felt it his duty to support it. Mr. FIUMPHREY BROWN, M.P., thought the meeting owed a deep debt of gratitude to the committee who had investigated their affairs; but he regretted that their deductions, and those of the directors were so much at variance with each other.—(Hear, hear.) He had heard with surprise the statement of the Chairman, that they were in a position to pay the dividend, for during the last forty-eight hours he had gone fully into th ac counts, and he would stake his reputation upon it that the line since it opening had never earned as much as 30,0001.—(Hear, hear.) The chairman had stated that the engineers had made an estimate of the depreciations of the rolling stock, and he should be glad to know whether the estimate was made at the request of the boar•d?—(llear, hear.) The CHAIRMAN made a statement which would lead to the impression that the estimate was made by Messrs. Mister and Samuel, at the request of the traffic com mittee, and it was afterwards forwarded to Mr. Hudson. Mr. H. BROWN wished to know, then, why the di rectors could propose to divide 4s. per share when they knew that a depreciation fund ought to be provided for. It was perfectly ridiculous to tell him that there could only be a depreciation of 14,0001. in a rolling stock valued at 260,000/.—(Hear, hear.) It was clear that the rock the shareholders had split upon was not to secure mere individual responsibility on the Board ; but he was glad that the errors which had resulted from that omission were errors of the mind and not of the heart.— (Oh, oh !) Had the accounts been properly kept, and the line safely managed, a depre ciation amounting to 509,7801., which was now debited to capital, would have been placed to revenue account ; and then, instead of their being now in the position of having paid 145,7801. in the shape of dividends, they would only have paid 35,9354, or Bd. per share as dividend.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. PANE rose to recal the attention of the meeting to the real question before them. It was . not a question of detail, but of principle. The question was, bad they confidence in the direc tion?—(Cries of " No, no.") Had they confidence is the Chairman?—(No, no.) Then turn him out. — (Tremendous cheers, and cries of " Move it, move it.") His stake in the concern was too small to justify his doing so.—(Oh, oh.) Mr. HOWIE—Then I'll do it, gentlemen, listen to me. —(Cries of "Kick him out.") Oh, but I will be heard. And certainly he was heard, for amidst a storm of " 06, ohs," and achorus of yells which certainly must have created some wonder amongst the inhabitants of Bishops gate-street, he proceeded to use his mouth and arms in a frigntly manner; the one putting you in mind of the working of a windmill. and the other emitting sounds that very much resembled the bellowing of a bull. When the storm had somewhat subsided, seemingly from pure exhaustion on the part of the meeting, the chairman be came aware that two or three gentlemen were speaking at once, and, therefore, he called upon Mr. FnvErt, who had no objection to the amalgama tion with the Norfolk Railway it made on equitable terms ; but believing that it was not, and that there was something behind the scenes, he was oerpoecd to it. Lowestoft Harbour would swallow up all their money. He exicluded by moving a direct neg:%tive to the portion of the report of the committee with respect to the amalgamation. Ile com plained that lie had been 'old that, the Bill for the -mat gunatioti was before the House when it was not. " Had he oven informed correctly he should have moved at toe last mCettut t , , that the shareholders be c.:lled to con sider if. Mr. WADDINGTON said the solicitor, Mr. Duncan, had re isin [Orme& him sni the matter. Mr. MEER: Suid the eonemittee had been accused of not supporting the umalgamation which they recc,m mended. • The ear sings of the Eastern Counties had been 23a. a mile; those of the Norfolk 50s. 6d. This showed the advents, ee of the amalgamation. Mr. FRYER inquieed if any agreement had been made with the Norfolk Company? The CHAIRMAN calied upon the solicitor to explain. Mr. DUNCAN rose, but was received with such a volley of hisses and execrations, that he resumed his seat. Mr. Cent said the colic itor was the proper person to THE give the required reply. Mr. Fryer was entitled to a reply, and he hoped they would hear Mr. Duncan. Mr. DUNCAN then replied that the Bill referred to had passed the Standing Orders' Committee, and he be lieved it had been read a first time.---(Cheers.) It was in the same position as if it had been read a first or se cond time. He had stated that a lease had been pre pared, but he did not say it had been agreed to. Mr. HAWES said the real questiun was whether the Proprietors would be governed by one party or the other. He moved that in the opinion of this meeting the Board of Directors are unworthy of their con fidence.—(Prolonged cheering.) The Hon. Mr. GRIMSTONE seconded the motion. Mr. Box rose to move a vote of censure on the so licitor, as he had deceived them, as was shown by the committee of investigation, and was, therefore, utterly unworthy of their confidence.—(lmmense cheering.) I The committee of investigation were entitled to their warmest thanks for the labours they had performed. He did not agree with them with respect to the amalga mation, and a petition to Parliament, seeking that it be rescinded, was in the course of signature. The CHAIRMAN then put Mr. Fryer's amendment, opposing the amalgamation. The amendment was lost by a large majerity. The result was cheered Mr. FRYER demanded a poll. The CHAIRMAN then pub Mr. 11 1 Laren's amendment, proposing a dividend of 44. per share be paid to the shareholders on the books on the Ist of June next. But about half a-dozen hands were held up in favour of it, it was therefore lost by an immense majority. The CHAIRMAN then put Mr. Cash's resolution, and it was carried, there being only two or three dissentients. The CHAIRMAN then announced that the poll had been fixed thus :—To-night, from 9 till 10 ; to-morrow, from 10 till 4 ; and on Saturday from 10 till 4, when the poll would close. Having redeemed the pledge given at the last meeting, that he would be present to-day, he had now to state that this morning the board of directors came to the unanimous resolution to resign, and they would, therefore, only retain office until such time as their suceessors could be appointed. This announcement was received with a frenzied shout of applause, and cries of " A vote of censure," during which the directors retired from the meeting, as they entered, amidst the yells and execrations of their en raged constituents. A short, but still; confused and stormy discussion then took place upon the course to be adopted for the future management of the company, and eventually it was' agreed that at the next meeting a committee be selected to nominate directors as follows:—Six share holders holding shares to the extent of 10,000/. and up wards, six holding 5,0001. and upwards, six holding 3,0001. and upwards, six holding 2,0001. and upwards, and six 1,000/. and upwards, with power to add the Eight members of the committee of investigation. Three lusty cheers were then given for the committee, and the meeting broke up at half-past five o'clock. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. Their Lordships met at Five o'clock. The Bishop of EXETER presented a petition from some parish in Devonshire, praying for an additional grant to Church schools. The Earl of RODEN presented several petitions against the Rate in Aid Bill. The Earl of EGLINTON presented several petitions in favour of the Bill for the better protection of women. INDICTABLE OFFENCES (IRELAND) BILL. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE moved the second reading of this Bill. After a abort conversation the motion was agreed to. SUMMARY CONVICTIONS (IRELAND) BILL. On the motion of the Marquis of CLANRICARDE, this Bill was read a second time. BEER ACT. The Earl of HARROWBY presented several peti tions against the Beer Act. EXCHEQUER BILLS BILL. This Bill was read ; third time and passed. BANKRUPTCY LAWS CONSOLIDATION BILL. On the motion of Lord BROUGELAM, this Bill was ordered to be recommitted and referred to the Select Committee on the Bankruptcy Ltws. STANDING ORDERS—REPORTING THE PRO CEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE. Lord BEAUMONT, in moving the consideration of the standing order No. 30, said that undoubtedly the origin of the custom of excluding strangers was to secure freedom of speech to their Lordships, but latterly the attempts to enforce the order had been pro ductive of the most ludicrous scenes, and therefore of late years no attempts have been made to enforce it, and the public had been admitted. He went the full length of the opinion that their delibera • tions should be public, both for the benefit of the public and for the dignity of their Lordships' House, and if their Lordships did not go the full length with him, they must admit that it was very inconsistent in them to connive at a breach of privilege by the publica tion of reports of the proceedings. But, howsoever they might decide on that point, there could not be a doabt but that it was desireable that the reports should be correct and impartial.—(Hear.) He could put many cases in which reports had been neither correct nor impartial, in which the arguments on one side had been given and had been suppressed on the other ; in which questions put to ministers had been correctly given, while the answers had been incor rectly given. In the reports of some of the speakers on the navigation-laws he found in some instances a skeleton, a mere sketch of some of the most important speeches, It was there fore desirable that those engaged in reporting their speeches should be placed in such a positio❑ as to have no excuse for incorrect reporting. If their Lordships should refuse to reconsider the standing Order, still he should propose to place the reporters in such a situation as he had described, and in order to do that it would be necessary to move for a Select Committee who might examine witnesses, some of whom would be architects. If the standing order were considered, that must be done i❑ a Com mittee of Privilege, otherwise this question might be referred to a Select Committee, and to one of them he proposed to refer this question. The Noble Lord con cluded by moving that the House do take into coasider the standing order No. 30. The Alitquis of LANSDOWNE must say that he felt an insuperable objection to the abrogation of the standing order ; but while he objected to the repeal of that standing order, he felt that so long as persons were in the habit of reporting their debates, that standing order gave them the power of preserving their privileges ; and he was bound to say that although he might sometimes having suffared from being misunderstood, he believed that on every occasion those employed in reporting their debates did so conscientiously, and without being actuated by any motives but those of discharging their duty correctly ; indeed, he was surprised at the accuracy and the correctness with which those duties were performed, considering the difficulties under which those so engaged laboured in consequence of the confusion prevailing at times in their Lordships' House. He thought every facility ought to be given to them, and he had no objection to the appointment of the Committee. Lord BROUGHAM was opposed to the abrogation of the standing order. They connived at the publication of their debates. Ho should be very sorry if they did not so connive—the public would suffer, their Lord ships themselves would suffer, legislation would suffer, if their debates were not published, but still it would be desirable that such publication should take place by connivance rather than by direct permis sion.—(Hear, hear.) He entirely concurred in the panegyric which his Noble Friend had pronounced on those engaged in giving their debates to the public. The task of reporting their debates was most difficult, and it was performed admirably, and in general in the spirit of the strictest impartiality, and those difficulties had of late been greatly increased by the construction of the magnificent hall in which they were assembled. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY thought it de sirable that the reporters should be so located as to be able to hear distinctly all that passed. Lord REDESDALE said the only remedy would be to bring the centre gallery more forward into the House, when the parties in that gallery would not be annoyed by the bums of conversation below the bar. The Earl of GALLOWAY denied the accuracy of the reports. Whrn an humble individual like himself was forced to address the House, they generally well considered what they said, and it had been his unhappy fate to find that words were put into his mouth, and that not one word of what he said bad been reported. Earl GREY thought it would he well it the old cus tom were revived, of enforcing silence on strangers by instructing the officers of the House to enforce it. The Earl of MA LM ES BURY rose, and was (LEFT SPEAKING.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. The LvEAKEit took the Chair at Four o'clock. THIRD READINGS. The following Bills were read a third time and passed: Ashton-under-L;ne Police, Markets, and Improve• ment Acts Extensional:4 Amendment, and Transference of Gas and Waterworks 'tad other Property to the Corporation. River Dun Navigation Company (Purchase of Stain forth and Keadby Canal). REPORTS. The reports upon the following Bills were considered and agreed to: — Caledonian Railway (Purchase or Lease of Wishaw and Coltness Railway). Shrewsbury and Chester Railway (('ur Branches to the River Dee ; Agreement for Joint Station at Shrews bury ; Power to subscribe towards the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway). York and North Midland Railway (Deviation and Abandonment of Part of the authorised Line of INii way between Market Weighton and Beverley and Cop mmrithorpe and Tadcaster). York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway, and Maryport and Carlisle Rilway (Lease and Amalgamation). York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway (Newcastle upon-Tyne and Carlisle Railway Lease and Arnalnuna nun). '.. PETITIONS. Mr. E. DENISON presented a. petition from the Mahon Union in favour of superannuation allowances. Admiral DUNI)AS present.d a petition from Wool wich in ftvonr of the Clergy Relief Bill. Mr. WILCOX presented a petition from Southampton praying for the extension of the suffrage to all house holders. Mr. OSBORNE presented a petition from Longford, praying that no more money might be given to Irish people until the resources of the Church in Ireland were appropriated to their proper uses ; also a petition from Cheltenham, in favour of international arbitration; also several petitions from officers connected with the poor- SUN, LONDON, law in certain districts in Middlesex, praying for super annuation allowance. Lord HARRY VANE presented a petition from Dar lington, praying that measures might be taken to pre vent the importation of the produce of Cuba and Brazils to this country. Mr. COBDEN presented several petitions form York shire praying for the liberation of the Rev. Mr. Shore, and fur the establishment of financial county boards. Mr. G. THOMPSON presented a petition from Bath praying for the liberation of Mr. Shure ; for the aboli tion of all ecclesiastical courts, and for the entire refor mation of the Established Church. Mr. C. BRUCE presented a petition from Scotland against the Scotch Registration Bill. Mr. FULLER presented a petition from Essex praying for protection to agriculture. Nir. CHRISTOPHER presented a petition from Lin coln in favour of sore measure to prevent trading in seduction. The Marquis of GRANBY presented a petition corn plai,iing of the crowded state of churchyards, and pray ing that some measures might be taken to prevent in terments in towns. Mr. THORNELY complained of certain irregularities connected with the practice of presenting petitions to the House. As Chairman of petitions, he knew that petitions were presented to the House without one signature being appended to them, and particularly re. ferred to a petition from the Archdeact,nry of Dublin. Sir R. INGLIS thought it was very desirable that the public should know that there were many petitions presented to the House the greater number of names which were attached to those petitions were illegible. Mr. AGLIONBY thought under the present system there was no means of knowing the genuine signatures from those that were signed by the authority of parties whose names are appended to petitions. Mr. HINDLEY asked from whence the petition came which was the subject matter of complaint? Mr. THORNELY said it came from the archdeaconry of Dublin. NATIONAL EDUCATION. Mr. HEYWOOD gave notice of his intention at an early day to move for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Cniversities of Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin, with a view to the improvement of national education. BOMBAY STEAM-VESSEL. Mr. URQUHART rose to put a question to the First Lord of the Treasury respecting the detention of the Bombay steam-vessel of war. He would beg to ask whether the First Lord of the Treasury would lay on the table of the House the case submitted to counsel, and their opinion thereupon? The CHANCELLOW, of the EXCHEQUER said the affidavits on both sides had been submitted to the law officers of the Crown, who had given their decision on the case. It was hot usual to lay a case and opinion of counsel before the House, in such cases, and be de clined to do so in the present instance ; but he might say (as we understood) that the opinion of counsel was against the detention of the vessel. ENTRY (F THE RUSSIANS INTO HUNGARY. Mr. OSBORNE gave notice that to-morrow he would put a question to the First Lord of the Treasury rela tive to the advance of the Russian troops into Hungary, and ask whether the Government intended to offer the mediation of this country in favour of the Hungarians, GREEK LOAN. In reply to Mr. cuCIIRANE, Lord YALNIERSTON said that communications had passed with the Greek Government, in which the Go vernment of this country pressed upon them to make good their engagement, which they were bound to do by treaty; and they had promised to apply the first funds at their command for that purpose. THURSDAY EVENING. MAX 10, 1849. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. NEW COUI?T. Tin)icon Tlasco, aged 24, described in the calendar as a labourer, was indicted for stealing 266 coins, valucd at 5001., the property of tha trustees of the British Mu-eum. The property was also laid as belonging to Sir Henry Ellis, Sir Robert Peel, and others. The prisoner, a gentlemanly-lotling man, is by birth a Greek, and of good family, and seemed but imperfectly acquainted with the English language. Upon the various indictments being read over, he pleaded Guilty. There was also a further charge against him for stealing 71 coins, valued at 1501., the property of Charles Richard Fox, in his dwelling house. To this indictment the prisoner also pleaded Guilty. Mr". CLARKSON, who appeared on behalf of the pri soner, applied to the Court to defer passing sentence until the next day, when he (the Learned Counsel) would call witnesses to show his highly respectable position in society, and also that he had not possessed himself of the coins for the purpose of either selling or raising money on them ; and, but that he, the learned counsel, thought the Court would ridicule the idea, he should say that the act was that of a monomaniac, and had arisen out of the prisoner's passion for collecting coins, there being in his possession a great number of other valuable coins besides those stolen, and which could be proved to be the prisoner's own property. Mr. Bonus, who appeared for the prosecution, said he had no opposition to offer to the application, and wished the Court to understand that the prose cution had been brought forward in strict accordance with the proper legal forms. The COMMON-SERGEANT said there was not any doubt but that the prosecution had been fairly gut up. It was the Court who felt at a loss how to pro ceed. They had but one duty to perform ; and, although the prisoner was a young man of good family he must be dealt with by the Court as all others were. After some further conversation, The COMMON-SERGEANT conferred with Sir Henry Ellis and Mr. Fox, who were on the bench, and said he should postpone passing sentence until a future day of the session. John Kibble was convicted of embezzling several sums of money, amounting in the whole to about 1301., the property of his masters, the Phcenix Gas Company. Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Bodkin appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Metcalfe for the prisoner. The facts of the case were of the ordinary nature of this class of offence. The prisoner had been a clerk, and received the money, which he had not ac counted for. The COURT sentenced him to eighteen months' im prisonment. The remainder of the cases tried during the day were entirely devoid of public interest. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. The final examination of James Locke, sen., and his three sons, for obtaining money from various Noblemen and Gentlemen under false and fraudulent pretences, took place yesterday before Mr. Hard wick. Mr. Reynolds was for the prosecution ; Mr. Parry for the defendants. Sir George Couper, private secretary to her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, was called to prove that her Royal Highness had commanded her name to be withdrawn from the prospectuses of the Royal Belgrave Lying-in Institution, and that her Royal Highness had also withdrawn her patronage from the institution. Her Royal . Highness had been a subscriber to the institution, but had withdrawn her subscription and patronage since 1843. Had written a letter to the institution to that effect. A subscription of ten guineas from her Royal Highness was not intended as a means of constituting her Royal Highness a life governor of the institution. If her Royal Highness gave permission for her name to be used as patroness, the permission would remain for years—in fact, until withdrawn. Mr. Reynolds produced a letter found in a drawer in the prisoners' house, commanding the with drawal of her Royal Highness's name from the list of patrons. Mr. Francis Hastings Russell, M.P., No. 18, Eaton-place, received a solicitation, in 1847, to be come a subscriber to the Royal Belgrave Lying-in Institution, and at the same time a prospectus. Was induced to become a subscriber from seeing her Royal Highthatness's name in the prospectus, and also on the faith the names of the managing committee were correct. Cross-examined—Wa s influence) to subscribe to the institution by seeing the name of her Royal Highness as patroness, and as at the head of the institution ; but was mainly influenced by the names stated as the committee of management. had wit ness known that a letter had been written by her Royal Highness's command, ordering the with drawal of her name and patronage from the institu tion, he should have refused his subscription, because he should have thought the institution was not a bone fide one. Air. HARDWICK said the words on the prospectus might be read two ways, the words were " The Royal Belgrave Institution, founded in 1882, under the immediate patronage of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent." Now, if a stop were made at 1832, it would create an impression that the institu tion was still under the immediate patronage of her Royal Highness. Mr. Russell said that was the way he read the ward;. The Hon. Arthur Thellusson said he had never given any authority to have his name inserted on the committee. He had formerly subscribed to the insti tution. Had called in Chapel-place to complain t,f his name being placed without leave on the committee. Cross-examined—Had subscribed for several years to the institution. Had no recollection of ever having given any verbal permission for his name to be on the committee. Had never received any notice to attend the committee of management's meeting. Sir H. Meux, No. 41, Brook-street, was induced to become a subscriber from seeing the names of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent and other dis tinguished personages on the circular, and from the belief that the institution was respectably supported according to the statement of the names of the managing committee in the circular. Had paid his subscription for several years, up to the present year. Several nurses and midwives were examined to prove that they had been employed and paid by the Royal Belgrave Lying-in Institution to attend mar ried women in their confinement, for various periods, from fifteen years up to the present time. One nurse stated that she had attended 300 or 400 women for the institution. Mr. HARDWICK said that the case throughout was one of considerable importance, and he would, there fore, take time to look over the whole of the evidence, and give his judgment on Saturday next. Mr. Ryder, chairman of the board of guardians of Chelsea, begged permission distinctly to deny a state ment made by the elder prisoner at the last examina tion, that he had invited the nurses and midwives to come forward in 1845 and speak against the institu tion, on the ground that he would get their bills against the institution paid. There was not a word of truth in the assertion. LAMBETH. John Wallace, a middle-aged man, late a confiden• tial servant in the employment of Mr. Beagle, an extensive upholsterer, in Bridge-road, Lambeth, was charged with plundering his master of property to the amount of 2001. Mr. Beagle deposed, that having two shops in Bridge-road, he confided the business of one to the prisoner, and up to a very few days ago had the mcst unbounded reliance on his perfect honesty. On Sa turday last, in consequence of something that had oc curred, he discharged the prisoner, and since that time be (Mr. Beagle) called on Captain Norcott, a gentleman residing in St. John's Wood, and ascer tained that the prisoner had for some time past been in the habit of serving the captain with articles in his business. He was shown an invoice for one trans action, for goods supplied in January last, amounting to 29/., and on requesting to see the articles supplied he was shown them, and selected from among them two dressing-table glasses, three blankets, and other articles bearing his private mark. He had no doubt that the whole of the articles included in the bill had been taken from his stock, though the bill to Captain Norcott was made out in the pri soner's name ; and the prisoner had received the money for them. This discovery caused him to look carefully through his books, and from the investigation he had made he was enabled to say that none of the articles mentioned in the bill of par cels supplied to Captain Norcott were entered. There was an entry of some trifling articles supplied to the captain, but not those he had mentioned. Police constable 57 L deposed to having taken the prisoner into custody on the charge of a person in Mr. Beagle's employment. He told him he had taken him for robbing his employer ; but the prisoner said nothing, beyond telling a person present to request his wife to send a solicitor to him. The prisoner, in reply to the charge, said that Captain Norcott was an old acquaintance and an old friend of his, and in order to serve him had given him him an order for the goods, a portion of which he would admit he had supplied from Mr. Beagle's stock; and he should have entered them (he said) in his master's books as soon as they were paid for. The prisoner complained of the conduct of Mr. Beagle in giving him into custody, as being harsh and vin dictive. Mr. Beagle said he had discovered that he had been plundered of property amounting to over 2001. since the prisoner had been in his employ; and the prisoner was remanded for the attendance of Captain Norcott. SICILY. I❑ reply to Mr. URQUHART, Lord PALMERSTON stated that the whole of the Sicilian papers would be laid before the House when the existing negotiations had terminated. INTRAMURAL BURIALS. Mr. MACKINNON stated, in reply to Mr. Henry Berkeley, that after the promises which had been made by the Government, it was not his intention to bring in any Bill on the subject of intramural interments. Mt LDA VIA AND WALLACHIA. Lord PALMERSTON, in reply to Mr. Anstey, said that he had received no official information of fortifica tions being erected in the provinces of Moldavia and Wallachia by the Russians, although he had heard, but not officially, that barracks had been erected. ADULTERATION OF COFFEE WITH CHICORY.. Mr. ANSTEY rose to move the following resolu tions:—That this House views with serious concern and disapprobation the great and growing inerease of the consumption of the plant chicory in the adulteration of coffee, contrary to Act of Parliament; such increase having been, in the opinion of this House, chiefly owing to the orders given by the Administration to the officers of Excise not to enforce the said Act. That the direct results of such orders have been the fraudulent sale of ground chicory, under the name and at the current prices of ground coffee; a corresponding depreciation of the value and decrease in the con sumption of coffee; increased depression and distres in Ceylon and other coffee growing colonies; a perma nent loss of revenue to the actual amount of some hundreds of thousands of pounds annually, and which loss in the last year was augmented by the addition of about forty thousand pounds more ; the prejudice of the fair dealer ; discontent and disaffection in the colo nies ; and the encouragement of the evil-disposed, both at home and abroad to disobey laws which must appear to them to depend upon the arbitrary pleasure of ad ministration for sanction and enforcement. He proceeded , to state that there were certain Acts of Parliament, of no ancient date, passed for the double purpose of protecting revenue and the trade of the colonies, and also of preventing the frauds of individuals. Those Acts had in view the prevention of mixing certain dele terious ingredients with tea and coffee, and particularly the adulteration of coffee with chicory powder. By the 3d George IV., cap. 53, there was a recital, that it was expedient to allow the manufacture and sale of scorched and roasted vegetable substances by persons not being dealers in coffee and cocoa ; and then it enacted that persons, not being dealers in coffee, might roast and sell such substances: and there was a clause which for bid the Excise to grant any licenses for that purpose to any person being a dealer in coffee or cocoa. The ob ject of the enactment was not to deprive the poor of the right to manufacture those substances for themselves if they chose, and it had in view the prevention of grocers making money at the expense of the public by selling cheap substances roasted and ground in that manner under the name and at the selling price of coffee. The Lords of the Treasary he said, had, in a minute, allowed the sale of chicory, and by doing so, had taken a most extraordinary view, which was opposed not only to eta of Parliament, but also to be principles of finnnce and to public moralty. After that minute there were no more prosecutions with regard to the use of chicory; and the consequence was that ground chicory was sold under the name and at the current prices of ground coffee, thus producing a great depression in the coffee market. That, however, was not the only evil, for a great loss resulted the revenue; and supposing that one pound of chicory was sold for every pound of coffee, the difference annually in the re venue would be 600,0001. Ile did not complain of the growth of chicory: the Legislature sanctioned it; but the Legislature, whilst it did not forbid, regulated the sale of chicory; and he called upon the house to enforce its own laws on this subject. The amount of coffee brought into our market in 1848 was greater than in any former year, and the price was much less ; and yet the con sumption of coffee hal been gradually declining for years. Down to the 21st April, 1848, the amount of coffee entered for consumption in the port of London, and five of the principal outports of the United Kingdom was 9,721,618 lbs.; whereas at the same ports the amoudt entered for consumption down to the same day in 1849 was 9,224,879, showing a decrease for that short period of 496,7391b5., or in round numbers about 221 tons below the already depreciated amount of last year. It that were so, why was not the law imme diately enforced against those frauds which were carried on in direct violation of an act of the Legislature? The properties of chicory were not of a nature to make a wholesome beverage, much less to justify its being safely used as a substitute for coffee, for it was nothing more than the cultivated root of the dandelion. It ap peared from a memorial which was presented to the House that the dealers in it were in the habit of ;mixing at least one-Third, and, in many instances, a half with the coffee which they sold. So profitable had this nuisance be come, that parties had already begun to adul terate it, and dealers were now selling to the poor of this country, burnt and ground biscuits, burnt and ground clay, burnt and ground rags, and burnt and ground rope yarn, for chicory.— (A laugh.) The amount of coffee imported being greater than in any preceding year, and the amount consumed in 1848 being so much less, was not affected by any statement made :up to the end of last year, much less by any statement made up to the period of the last returns; because the result would simply be, that at coffee prices that coffee scarcely had any sale at all ; and what sales had been effected, had seen at the expense of the unfortunate party who was permitted to sell by the chicory laws. Now, he put it to the ifooe whether any statement of the Right Hon. Baronet founded on the apparent increase during the past year in the consumption of one or two descriptions of colonial coffee could out-balance the fact that the supposed increase bore no proportion to the in crease in the import ; and the fact that there had been a decrease in the amount of colonial coffee consumed in that period ? The most obvious course which could be taken to avoid all these evils was to ascertain whether the existing law, the 3d of Geo. IV., which was found sut• ficient in 1832, was not sufficient now. But as the Right Honourable Gentleman (the Chancellor l o f the Exchequer) did not seem disposed to a d o pt ibg g v ursa there were Om e others open to him; fi rst, to pra;iik4i,FliG sr.wth of chicory , altogether in this country; 1.4,0 4 4 the customs duty of 4d. which Few and, thirdly, operated second,ntO d l i o gcourag ~,,,i;jk l imption of colonial eo thirdly, to impose au eii K , f w duty upon Britisic.grown chiccory, equivalent to the cus:uaus,-,;;Lty upon cease, hid optllton, tL,e f,ll, ,i e u li e T o , n a . o uGers was man, th e a m f t e o r s t s t a a d t v i t i t s g a t b h l t, e i one is b y pioy p iz ifoolntion which is f t r o i v A a e l d i r t:a P l3 t t' l e'9p h i e r, c c r j oc u m s tied otritienccoentlean t o o lo t r h e i s a o s hi p , '.1.h0C1:41 aAsNCELLOII of the EXCIILQUEit then ro.o, ones CLEFT SPEAKING.] CLERICAL VELIN4IJEZCY.—The other day we met with a paragraph in a newspaPz:. tiPltled " Alleged murder for the sake of burial tees." The ease turned out to be that of a woman supposed to have poisoned her husband and children, in order to obtain funeral money from a benefit club, We expected to find the murder for the sake of burial fees was the wholesale destruction of human life which is caused by intra-mural interment—Plinth. ALARMING STATE of GERMANY. The German jouenals represent that th e p u blic agitation is increasing in nearly all parts of Ger many. At Frankfurt the excitement on th e 6th was so great that the authorities had to take military precautions. At Darmstadt the democratic asso ciations resolved on the 6th to form a f ree cor p s to defend the Constitution, and a great number of the inhabitants had published an earnest appeal to the soldiers not to oppose the people. Ihe Constitutional Associations of the Rhenish and Westphalian provinces at a meeting, held at Cologne on the 6th, resolved that the German C ons tit u ti on could only be legally modified by the National As sembly, and declared that the present Prussian Minis try ought to be dismissed. At Hoffenback, Hesse, and Brunswick, popular meeting had declared that the National Guard ought to defend the Constitution against the attacks of the princes. In the Grand Duchy of Baden, meetings of nineteen different towns were convoked to make the like declaration. At Linden, Osterode, Burgdorff, and other towns of Hanover, demonstrations in favour of the Constitution had taken place. The National Guard of Alfeld and Weisbaden had declared themselves ready to defend the Constitution. At Carlsrhuhe, the Baben officers had declared that they would defend the Constitution at all risks, and had invited their brothers in arms of all Germany to do so likewise. In a ll p ar t s o f B avar i a , and especially the Palatinate, the agitation was very great, and the Central Governments had considered it necessary to send off troops. The Bavarian Govern ment had published a proclamation stating that it intended seriously to take part i n t erm i nat i ng t h e Constitution, but with modifications; and adding that it would maintain the laws by all means in its power. PRUSSIA - . On the Bth May, at Cologne, upwards of 500 members of all different municipal corporations th roug hout Rhenish Prussia met in private sitting at the Casino, where the foll ow i ng reso l ut i ons were carried by acclamatior. A copy of them was for w:rded to Frankfort by express, and likewise official notifications to the authorities at Berlin. Mr. Zell and Mr. Werner, who presided, are both members of the Left Centre in the Frankfort Assembly : The Prussian Government having dissolved the second chamber after that chamber bad voted the unconditional acceptance of the German Constitution of the 28th March inst., and the said Government, having by that measure deprived the said Prussian people of its repre sentation and voice in the present decisive moment, the undersigned dele ga t es of the cities and d i str i cts o f t h e Rhenish provinces have assembled to consult about the steps to be taken t o t h e salvation of the country. This Assembly h as thi s day cons id ere d t h e f o ll ow i ng motion, and adopted the same as their resolutions, viz.:- 1. This said Assembly makes declaration and pro tests that the constition of the German empire such as the Parliament proclaimed the same on the 28th of March inst., is to the said Assembly binding and con clusive, and that the said Assembly takes the part of the said constitution in the conflict which the Prussian Government has commenced with the Parliament. 2. And this Assembly calls upon the whole population the Rhenish countries, and especially upon all men the, are fit and proper to carry arms, to assemble in their respective districts, and thence to issue joint decla rations, testifying their resolution to stand by the Ger man Parliament, an d t o yi e ld i m plicit ob e dience t o its decrees. 3. This Assembly humbly petitions the German Parliament, praying that the said Parliament will speedily adopt more energetic measures, so as to consoli date the pepular opposition in the individual German States, and especially in the Rheinish countries, and to impart to that opposition that strength and singleness of purpose, which alone can prevail against the attempts of the organised counter-revolution. 4. Andthis Assembly furthermore humbly petitions the Cabinet of his Highness the Regent, praying the :aid Cabinet to cause the German troops to be sworn on the Constitution, and to provide a concentration of the said troops. S. The undersigned take the solemn engagement to use all legal means in their power to promote the effec tuation of the German Constitution in their respective districts. _ . _ 6. The said Assembly is of opinion that the dismissal of the Cabinet of M.M. Brandenburg and Manteuffel, and the issuing of %rite for a general election, without any change or alteration of the electoral law, is an impe rative necessity. 7. This Assembly considers the late partial sum moning of the Land wehr as a measure which is not warranted by the circumstances of the conntry, but which cannot but endanger the country. The Assembly expects the immediate revocation of that measure. S. In conclusion the undersigned expres s their convic tion that the non consideration of the contents of this declaration must be fraught with the greatest dangers for the country, and that by it, even the existence of Prussia in her present composition, would be placed in jeopardy. Resolved at Cologne, May 8. Signed by the delegates of the cities and districts of the Rhenish countries. The above resolutions were immediately followed by the following proclamation of the Chief President of Rhenania : " The declarations made by a certain meeting which on this day was held in the Casino Saloon, makes it incum bent o❑ me again to point out to the inhabitants of the Rhenish countries that this meeting has no claim whatever to any representative or official character, and that the said declarations onght to be considered as merely ex pressing the private opinion of those that signed them, At the end of these declarations I see, to my great sor row, a threat of a violent secession of the Rhenish pro vinces from the Prussian monarchy, or, to speak more plainly, a threat of civil war and rebellion. I find comfort in my confidence in the loyalty of the inhabitants of the Rhenish provinces, and trust that they will turn with hor ror from such resolutions, that they will nut stray from the path of legality, the glory of the Rhine Province, and that they will not place the Government into the lamentable necessity of making use of those means of force which are at the disposal of the Government. " The Chief President of the Rhenish Provinces, " Cologne, May 8." EICLIMANN. AUSTRIA. The Emperor unexpectedly arrived at the Palace of t. chombrunn, near Vienna, on the sth. In the evening he set off to join the army at Pressburgh. FOREIGN FUNDS. AMSTERDAM, ALLY 7.—lnland funds, after an upward tendency, closed as yesterday. Spanish Debt in both kinds of stock offered at reduced exchanges. Austrian and Russian without variation. French funds closed full i lower than at the opening of the Bourse, without any assignable cause. Of South American, the Peru vians kept up. Greek Debt i n d eman d . DUTCH FUNDS. — AMSTERDAM, MAT 7. Money. Bills Actual Debt, 2 3s per Cent.-- •• •• . 49M 49v 4 Ditto, 3 per Cent .....„, ~ ~ _ .... 58 58% Ditto, 4 per Cent...... . . . Amort Syndic, 3% p er C ent. Commercial Company, 4% per Cent .. Spanish New 5 per C en t s . .... . .... Ditto, 3 per Cents.....'„ .. ... ~ _ -- East India Loan, 4 per Cent Excbangeon London, at s i g h t ...... 11 97 - Two m0nth5............, „ 11 92 011 Hamburgh, at sight .... 35 Two months...—. „ „ .... 34 87 On Paris, at 5ight.......... Two months..... „ „ ...... _ _ BELGIAN FUNDS.—erßeßetlnS Cent E . t . a . ,. MAY 8 : Actua l Debt, 2% per Cent .... „ .... .. _ Loan, i Five Millions, FourparCent —• • D i t t o Thirty-seven Millions,ditto ...... Ditto,ditto, l B4B.. •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• 91 5 Ditto,ditto, lB42 —•••••• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• 91 4 Ditto, Ditto, 1838 ... ...••••••......• •, 58% ••••••"• • • • • • • • • 58 % Ditto of the City, 1832 ................. - Ditto, Loanßo D t 11 1 t s to c of h T 1 T 1 d ili : ri a reseype l Bank of Belgium.. •• . • ~.. •. •••••• •• • • • • 7036 Issue of 1841 .. „ „ _ „ ...... „ ...... 102 Exchange on Landoll, 25.4236. PRUSSIAN FUNDS.—BxIII.IN, MAY 7. Bills. Money. St.Schuld Sch., 3% per Cent —••• • •• 78 T 4_B_ 56612%: 71 — Prussian 5 per Cent ...... - 10 0% Foreign Exchanges— On London, three months ... 6 24 3 ' On itn i laiisit m ibatuon b r :rgh, two months .... ••• • 150 th 150 On Paris, two months.. —.•—.•• • • • • • 81 ;4 HA.MBURGII FUNDS, MAT 5. Bills. Motley Hanoverian New Loan,s per Cent:.... 104 Prussian AAB llne lgggiiiooa ...snsßtw:e s oosg .asli, Loan, per a,st ,zhn 2L. .00.paa Cent.. enn r. . C . . ... . e.. • .. .. • . t.. • .... • .... • ... ‘ 1 ... 1 ... .... ".... ' ....1 ... 1 ' .......: flank Certificateg3 per Certificate,C cn. Cent. . . 11 .. .. .. .. .. .. 11 •• .. •• •• 1:01% 3 R d a and ssi a n 4 4th per SeriesC e ri, hope . . 0 . p •. 0 . 5 a . I .: e . d r . C0.C.C.0e..n. t .. :•• 9536 95 Ditto A D n, Ditto, Norwegianloo ~ DT Transport loan, ,aLnl.B, per Loan :: Cent ....l .. .. : .. • . • .. • .. • • ..• 9 8 7 .7. 4 Ditto, in lOW. shares .... ••••'' • • 6,1;4 36 Spanish New 5 per Cent ••••••• • • • • • • • 10 a i . . . . Ce nt .. .. .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . .. .. .• . . .. : i 59:: : 2350 4%, 4 57_51% 22% D , D t l e t: , eA3c Actual Cent., Debt Inland National Bank Shares Angi n o - it l t 'o o r 3 tu p g e u r e c se en L t o 2. l 4. n . , 2% per Cent • • American, 6 per Cent. .... 104% 101% Hamb. Bergd. —..—••—••• • • • • • • • • • 53 ;4 ( Cologneieup,l i Ditto, iktnsota,a, a,didn,Prioritytrd Priority o.3rii hamburgt!.y:d.se. t Shares in.a. B r...... ' ,. ... L1: . •• • : .. .... ir .. : :: . ..... 7. .....: : • • • Ditto, Priority Shares .. ••• • . Mecklenburg...—. 3014 3014 Allows and Kiel ..... • ...... • Rendsburg.......... - Hanseatic Steam Company ••••• • •• •• Prpps in the neighbourhood of Wells present a very healthy appeargnce, The frosts have disappeared, and their effects have not been so serious as many par ties inr.gined they vould be. They have tendod to check the tQO fprward state veg tation generally was in, Very sanguine e;rectations are entertained of the potato crop; indeed, at p event, dune are sufficient grounds for anti cipating at !east an average. — Taunton Couriir, FIATULA INFIRMARY.—The annual dinner of this charity took place yesterday at the London Tavern, and was very well attended; the Lord Mayo: r p e re a s e i n d o e u d, ne a e n d d t a o bo th u e t IN frie n d s an d patrons of the infirmary were p resen t . During tin e eircoug r ana it wigs statea that amount of more thap 1,0U14., ar rangements had been made for the erectien of a hospital in the parish cif St. Andrdw's, Holborn, the site of which hod been obtained through the liberality of Mr. Benja. D 144914 SOUTHWARK. Charles Hunt, town-traveller to the firm of Messrs. Hart and Cu., extensive trimming-manufacturers in Union-street, was charged with plundering his em ployers. _ _ - The above firm had missed property to a consider able amount from their stock, but no suspicion was excited against the prisoner, in whom the utmo , t confidence was reposed, the more particularly as he was supposed to be of a religious turn of mind, and was class-teacher of a Sunday-school, to the duties of which he strictly attended. On the preceding day, however, during the absence of the principals of the firm, he was observed by one of the clerks to leave the warehouse with a large package, which he took out into the street, and the latter suspecting that it was property which he intended to steal, went after him and requested that he would return, which he reluctantly did, when it was found that the package contained a large quantity of superfine cloth. On this discovery the prisoner begged for mercy, declaring that it was his first offence, but when his lodgings were subsequently ex amined other property belonging to his employers, and which he had purloined from their warehouse, was found. The prisoner was then given into custody. One of the prosecutors said that although they had no doubt they had been robbed to a considerable extent, yet they had no wish to press the charge against the accused, as he was respectably connected. Mr. COTTINGHAM said that he could not consist ently with the discharge of his duty, listen to any appeal on behalf of a man holding a confidential situation such as the prisoner filled, when upon other occasions be was compelled to send poor miserable wretches for stealing a loaf of bread for trial. The circumstance of the prisoner wearing the outward garb of religion, such as being a class-teacher of a Sunday-school, aggravated the charge against him, and he was bound, therefore, to send him for trial. The prisoner was accordingly committed. ATTEMPT OF A HUSBAND TO MURDER HIS WIFE. BANBURY, MAY I.—This town was horrified last night by a report that a man had murdered his wife, about three miles from this place, on the Southam road, by shooting her and afterwards cutting her throat. The report proved to be too true, except that the woman was not dead. The parties are both natives of Banbury, and have been for some years resident in Leamington, where the husband, James Layton, has carried o❑ the busi ness of a builder, and has accumulated some property being the owner of nine or ten houses in that place, They have a family of six or seven children, and a son of the wife's, previous to her marriage with Layton, resided with them. There appears to have been some disputes recently about the property, and Layton accused his wife, her son, and one of her brothers, with conspiring to defraud him of it. A solicitor of Banbury had been employed in the matter, and had written to Layton, making an appointment to be in Leamington to-morrow, on the business, and for the purpose of showing that his suspicions were groundless. Unfortunately for all parties, he did not wait for this visit, but on Monday set off with his wife to walk to Banbury. They were seen toge ther upon the road six or seven miles from Banbury. One man who saw them thought they were sweethearts, as Layton had his arm over his wife's shoulder. When they reached the spot above referred to Layton put a pistol close to his wife's forehead. The poor woman says he put it quite under her bonnet, and fired it. The piece of lead with which it was loaded—not a bullet, but an oblong piece of lead— struck her on the forehead, and the powder burnt her face. He then took out a large table knife, with which he cut her throat, and also wounded her hands. She screamed, and several persons being within hearing they ran to her assistance, and some of them went in pursuit of Layton, who ran into the fields, and dodged in and out of the hedges. He was captured, and taken to the Bell at Great Bourton, a village about a quarter of a mile distant, to which place also his wife was conveyed in a ve hicle, which came up shortly after the dreadful occurrence. Dr. R. J. Wise, of Banbury, was sent for, who extracted the ball and sewed up the throat. He also, seeing the dangerous condition of the woman, proceeded to take her deposition. On the following morning the Rev. W. Lloyd, a county magistrate, attended and took the declaration of the woman, which was as follows : "I, the undersigned, being convinced that I shall not recover, declare that my name is Martha Layton, and that my husband, James Layton, did fire a pistol at me yesterday afternoon, about six o'clock, and that after wards he cat my throat with a knife; that he was not in the habit of carrying a pistol with him, but that he has carried one on two or three occasions to Banbury. I do not know why he fired at me. We had not been quarrelling; but he had been going on with me, swear ing dreadfully. He has many times threatened to mur der me, and did so on Sunday. He several times sharpened a knife on Sunday, and many times before, for the purpose of cutting my throat. I did not see the knife. He has threatened to shoot me many times with a pistol. I never said anything to him to offend him, but begged of him not to swear so, and to be quiet. He had three pints of ale at the Harp, at Southam, at two o'clock. I did not wish him to have m ire than one pint, but he would have more. I had a little of it, and he had the rest. He struck me when near the Victoria, and made my mouth bleed. He had some brandy and water at Fenny Compton-wharf. I am not sure that my husband sharpened the knife for the express purpose of cutting my throat, but I thought so. I saw a girl and a woman going home from work o❑ the road, and I wanted to keep up with them, for I was frightened, but my husband pulled me back. I was coming to Banbury to get some advice from my friends about being separated from my husband, but he did not know that. He said he was coming to Banbury to get work. The knife which is now shown to me I know to be one of ray husband's knives. I make this declaration, firmly believing that I shall not recover, and that I am on my death-bed." . The Rev. J. Ballard and Mr. John Loveday, two other county magistrates, having arrived, they pro ceeded to take the depositions of the witnesses in the presence of Layton, who was in the custody of the parish constable. The prisoner is a good-looking and well-dressed man, about forty years of age. W hen he was first brought to the house he ,was very talkative. He slept soundly for some hours during the night, and ate a hearty breakfast; Atter that he became taciturn, and scarcely spoke to any one. Before the magistrates he exhibited no signs of regret for what he had done, nor any trepidation ; the few words he spoke were in a firm tone of voice. The first witness said he met the prisoner and his wife on the road. The prisoner was holding her up; her face was discoloured, and she was bleeding from a wound in the forehead. He thought she must have had a bad fall. Neither of them spoke. He looked after them, and atter they had got out of sight he heard a scream. He then went back, and met the woman holding up her hands, and bleeding from the throat. She sunk to the ground just as he and another person got to her, and sail her husband had done it. This witness and some others proved the cap ture of the man. Some of them heard the report of the pistol, and saw the prisoner moving backwards and forwards, and raise his wife from the ground and force her along the road. The surgeon said he found the woman in a state of collapse, with the windpipe quite severed, and a wound from a bullet or a piece of lead in the forehead. He produced the shot ;it was evidently a piece of thick sheet lead, rolled into a round shape, about three-quarters of an inch long, and cut with a knife to fit the barrel of the pistol. This was so firmly embedded in the skull that he was obliged to get a pair of forceps from a blacksmiths to extract it. The woman had revived from the state of collapse, but she was still in a most precarious and dangerous condition. One or two witnesses not being in attendance, the magistrates adjourned the inquiry to eleven o'clock tomorrow, then to be resumed at their clerk's office in Banbury, to which place the prisoner was removed for safe custody. The prisoner made no remark upon the evidence, except an expression of dissent when one of the wit nesses deposed that he said when taken, " I meant to do it, and that will end it." lie appeared to regard the knife (a large table knife, which was bloody, and was found in a ditch near the spot) and the piece of lead with some curiosity. The pistol has not been found, although diligent search has been made for it. We understand the woman says, that after he shot her he reloaded it. THE SEA SERPENT AG AlN. — Captain Adams, of' the shooner Lucy and Nancy, which arrived at Jackson ville, Florida, on the Ist of April, from New York, had sight of a monsta r in many respects resembling the sea monsters described by many others. Captain Adams states that on the morning of Sunday, the 18th of Fe bruary, about nine o'clock, when off the south point of Cumberland Island, about twelve miles from the St. Johns' (Florida) bar, the attention of himself; crew, and passengers was suddenly rivetted upon an immense sea monster, which he took to be a serpent. It lifted its heal,which was that of a snake, several times out of the water, seemingly to take a survey of the vessel, and at such times displayed the largest portion of its body and a pair of frightful fins or clans several feet in length. His tail was not seen at any time; but, judging from the dimensions of the body, the captain supposes the levia than to be about 90 feet in length. Its neck tapered small from the head ;to the body, and it appeared to measure about seven feet across the broadest part of the back. The colour was that of a dirty brown. When first seen it was moving towards the mouth of the St. John's. The monster moved from the side of the ves• sel, and placed itself athwart its track, in front of her bows; but Captain Adarni, not feeling partial to an en counter with his snakesbio, ordered the vessel to be kept off. A boy on the deck, not knowing his anta gonist, had seized a harpoon, and was in the act of striking, when he was prevented by the vessel's moving off.—Boston Atlas. TURNPIKE TRUSTS IN THE COUNTY Or MIDDLESEX. —A return, moved for by Mr. Forster, M.P., shows that the length of the turnpike trusts in the county of Middlesex, north of the 'Thames, is 108 miles. The debt and unpaid interest due from the trusts amounts to 266,653/. NA VAL INTELLIGENCE . . PORTSMOUT EDNESDAY.—Commander Alex ander _Murray (1840), who was midshipman of the Sophie during the Burmese war, gunnery lieutenant of the Prinevss Charlotte (flag ship), at Acre, and who had just brought home and paid off the Favourite, IS, after three years' service on the West Coat of Atriea, is promoted to the rank of captain. Lieutenant William Keigwin Nicolas (1809), first of the Impregnable, flagship at Devonport, who was midshipman of the Malta in Calder's action ; and of the Defence at the destruction of the French frigate 3 at Sables D'ollonne, and employed in boat service; lieutenant of the Ville de Paris in Basque Roads in 1809; senior lieutenant of the Pilot, and wounded at the defeat of the French frigate L6gere in 181.5 ; brother of Captain Toup Nicolas, Superintendent of the Royal William Victualling Establishment, Devon port, is promoted to the rank of commander. Lieutenant Arthur MeDent (1837) irst of the Superb, 80, at Si.ithead, is also promoted to the rank of commander. Lieutenant Vashon Baker (1839), late first of the Espiegle, 12, recently paid off, to the rank of com mander. The ship Kent, 659 tons, leaves Deptford for this port on the 17th inst., to embark detachments of the 45th and 91st Regiments for the Cape of Good Hope. The ship Fifeshire, 463 tons, leaves Deptford on the 12ch for this port, to embark detachments of the 20th Foot for Canada. The Elfin, royal dispatch boat, was tried to-day at the measured mile in Stokes. bay by Commander Crispin, of the royal yachts, when her mea n s p e ed after four runs, was recorded as 12.572 knots; steam gauge, 81b. ; revolutions, 57. She was also tried several times at full speed, and made the complete circle in 2 min. 25 sec. This result corresponds with that obtained in the different trials in the river, but when certain alterations have been made it is not at all improbable that a greater velocity, than the above may be recorded. The Sphynx steam-sloop, one of the reserve squad ron, which received partial orders to be prepared for service on Saturday, was to-day ordered to be manned from the Excellent, and taken to Spithead by Com mander Hewlett, of that ship. It is also reported to us that a North Sea pilot was ordered to go on board. Orders were received at the Royal Clarence Vic tualling Establishment, Gosport, this morning to superannuate 10 first class labourers, and to discharge 211 second and third class without superannuation, and to superannuate one baker and one carpenter. The Echo steam-tug embarked troops from Hasler wharf this morning, and put them on board the Constantine freight ship at Spithead, then proceeded to Cowes to embark a detachment on board the Apolline for Halifax, after which she brought another detachment from Cowes, and put them aboard the Constantine. Wind—N. by W.; moderate breezes and fine weather. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. BRISTOL, Dist 9. STOCK Excuanon.—The Share Market was lather flat to-day. and prices somewhat lower. The sales are—Great Western, Quarters. 6 dis.— Ditto, New 171. Shares, 4% dis.—Bristol and Exeter, Thirds, 11% dia.—Midland, 64%. LIVERPOOL, Max 9. STOCK EXCHANGE. —The markei was very dull to-day, and prices rather lower than yesterday. The sales are—Caledonian, Preference, 11/. Bs. 9d.—Lancashire and Yorkshire, Preference, 1 llt —London and North-Western, 127—Ditto, New Quarters, 3 p. — Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire. l'reference, 10%—Midland, 64 3 4—Ditto, Halves, 12N, dis.—South-Eastern and Dover (No. 4), 6%—York, Newcastle, and Berwick (Extension, Kos. 1 and 2), 5% dis. Ditto (G. N. E. Purchase), guaranteed 6 per cent. till 1850, 3% dis. MANCHESTER, Mer 9. STOCK EXCHANGE.— The transactions to-day were as follows: — East Lan ashire, 1531 —Great Northern, (A), 4% Dover (No. 4), 6 11-16—Ditt• (No. 4), Registered, 6 9-16—Manchester and Bir mingham (C), Quarters, 2 15-16 p.—Sheffield, Preference, 10% Ditto (No 1), 7% dis.—North Staffordshire, 5 7-16 dis.—West Riding Union, 5% dis.—Eastern Counties, 7 11-16—London Stock, 127 — Grimsby, Old, 20—Sheffield and Lincoln, 14 9-16. BIRMINGHAM, MAT 9. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The following are to-day's transactions : Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Stour Valley, 1034—Caledonian, 261% London and North-Western, New, 3 1 4 p.— Manchester. Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Preference, 1 0%—Midland (Con. Bir mingham and Derby), 43—North British, Quarters, 3% —North Staffordshire, 51. I Is. 3d. dis.—Shrewsbury and Birmingham (A). Oi dis.•—Ditto (B.), 4c. dis.— South Staffordshire, 4% dis, youth Eastern, 20 YORK, MAT 8. . ' STOCK EXCHANGE —The busniesi transacted to-day was as PA' lows :—Great Northern, 101. Os. 3d.—York, Newcastle, and Berwick (Newcastle Extension), 14%—Ditto (G. N. E. Purchase), 4%. GLASGOW, MAT S. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The business done in the Stock Exchange to day has been as follows :—Clydesdale Junction, 613—Glasgow. Kilmarnock, and Ayr, Halves (No. 2), 6% —North British, Prefer. ence, 225, GENERAL GILBERT..—This officer, to whose energy and skill is attributed the recent victory in India, is the same General Gilbert who was examined and personally interested in the great horse cause tried some two or three years since in Bristol. The General was a great steeple-chase and racing man.—Bristol Times.—[This is correct. The General who has so gloriously distin guished himself in bringing to a close the late memorable campaign in India, is indeed the same individual who rode his own horse at the Taunton and Exeter races, about nine years ago. At Hardown he was beaten by only halt a neck.— Taunton Courier.] A HINT FOR CONSUMERS OF " POLONIES." -- "T b. Liverpool Mercury says, on Tuesday an application was made to Mr. Rushton, the circumstances of which, if proved, would produce rather a distat e for an article of food usually looktd upon as a dainty, and commonly known as the German sausage or polony. Inspector Jones, of St. Martin's Market, said he had good grounds for supposing that a certain polony manufacturer in Dr)th.u-street was in the habit of making up such articles from horse-flesh, which he procured from the knackers' yards. The polonies were made by the person alluded to in his own dwelling-house, the horse flesh being chopped up with a machine, then mixed with bread, and seasoned, to make it savoury. He (the in spector) wished to know if he could have a warrant to go and search the premises. He knew the horse flesh was taken there, but it was speedily disposed of, and nothing could then be found except the sausages.—Mr. Rushton: Have you obtained any of the polonies? In spector: We got a sausage maker to compare thew with others, but they are so spiced it is difficult to fords any idea as to the composition after being made up.—Mr. Rushton: If they are bad, I should think the parties who make them may he proceeded against for selling what is unwholesome food? Inspector: They are so peppered and spiced we cannot decide as to the quality.—Mr. Rushton: Then they are good sausages, I suppose. In spector: I should not say so when it is known from what they are made.— Rushton: We have no power to interrere, it people like to eat horse flesh in sausages; the Act of Parliament does not prevent them making sausages of horse flesh; but if they expose that which is unfit for human food they may be brought up under the Act. In• Spector: 'I here is about fi ve cw t. a wee k of h orse fles h got from the knackers' yards at Vauxhall-road and Kirk dale: it is made into sausages. and supplied in twenty or thirty shops in Liverpool and other parts of the country'. —Mr. Rushton: This exposure will damage the polony trade. Inspector; They pay a farthing a pound for the horseflesh, and get a large shoulder for 15d., weighing about 701bs. They are thus enabled to sell the sausages at a cheap rate; they have purchased it for years from the knackers' yards, and the sellers were given to under stand it was taken to the boarding houses resorted to by captains, to feed dogs.—Mr. Rushton: You can only deal with it as unwholesome food. Inspector: It cannot be recognised; I have had a person in the trade to examine it, and he could not say the polonies were unwholesome. —Mr. Rushton: All you can do is to be on the alert; you cannot, under present circumstances, enter upon the pre mises; but if you Snd anything which is unwholesome as food, the Act may be brought to operate. The in spector then lett the court. PROTECTIONIST PETIT ION•M A XING. —A corre spondent of the Brighton Guardian states that in the neighbourhood of Piecom be several signatures —or r a ther cro>ses—were obtained last week by representing the prayer of a petition to be in favour of a repeal of the malt duty, whereas the petition also prayed for the re storation of a protective duty on corn. [ADVERTISEMENT.] —A most Miraculous Cure of a Bad Leg of Sixty Years' duration by Holloway's Ointment and Pills.—Mr. Barker, of 6, Graham's-place, Drypool, at the age of 18, had a breaking out on one of his legs, which ulti• mately formed into an ulcerous sore, and increased in severity until he was &CI years old, when it entirely took away his power of walking; at last, after seeking relief in vain for so many years, he had recourse to Holloway's Ointment and Pills, and these invaluable Medicines have cured him so coo, pjetely, that he is now enabled to walk as well as most men of 60 yegrs of age.—Sold by all Druggists, and at Professor Hollo way's Est:4llisinnent, '244, Strand, London. BIRTHS, On the 3d inst , at Leamington, the wife of the Rev. F. Dawson, of a son. On the 6th inst., in Eaton-place, the lady of Lieutenant- Colonel Campbell, of a son. On the 6th inst., at the Rectory, Bradfield, Berke, the wif• of the Rev. Thomas Stevens, of a daughter. On the 6th inst., at Redbourn, Harts, the wife of the Ref. W,Scrocat Wode, of a son. At Beauchamp-house, Leamington, on the 6.h inst., the lady of R. M'Alpine, Esq., of a soa. On the 6th inst., in Montagu-street, Portman-square, the wife of Major Henry Farrant, 81st Regiment, of a son. On the 6th inst., at St. John's -terrace, Notting-hill, the wife of Stephen Cracknall, Esq., of the Middle Temple, ° a son. On the 6th inst., at Upper Southwick-street, Elisabeth , wife of Dr. R. G. Latham, M.D., of a son. On the Ist inst., at Mount Pleasant, Marden, Kent, al l Henry Brown, of a daughter. MARRIED. On the Ist inst., at Henllan Church, Reginald Rober t Walpole, Esq., eld es t son o f t h e Rev. Robert Walpole, recto r of Christ Clud), St. Maryi e b one, L ondon, to Anne Eliza' third daughter of John Heaton, Esq., Plas Heaton, Den bighshire. On the sth inst., at St. George's, Hanover-square, Georg e Hall, Eq.. of Brighton, and of Portalade, Sussex, to Mu l l Isabella Viscountess Hood, daughter of the late Hon. Air s. Stopford. DIED. At Brighton, on the 3d inst., aged 67, Joseph John We st ' N. D., formerly of Blackheath. On the sth inst., at Hampton -court Palace, Mrs. F"' Gerald, aged 83. On the 6th in,t., at Portsdown-lodge, Cassandra Eliza Austen, eldest daughter of Admiral Sir Francis Austen. On the 6th inst , Christopher Rawson, Esq , aged 72. On the 6th inst., at Southampton, Richard Webber, Esq" son of the late W. Webber, Esq., of Binfield-lodge, Berks. _, On the 7th i ns t., H anna h, w if e o f M r. J. Atkinson, "'• Park-terrace, Highburv, aged 83. London: Printed and Published by MUIWO YOU N64, ° No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the count, of Middlesex, Thursday, May 10, 1849.,