The Sun. — London, England, 1841-06-18 00:00:00

'EVENING EDITION IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.. HOUSE OF LORDS, June 17. Their Lordships assembled at Five o'Clock. The Metropolis Improvement Bill passed through Committee. - The County Bridges Bill passed through Committee. The Western Australia Bill was read a third time and The The House of Industry (Ireland) Bill was read a third time and passed. The Insolvent Debtors (Ireland) Bill was read a third time and passed. The Militia Pay Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed to-morrow. The Dublin Wide Streets Bill was read a third time. and passed. The Earl of CLARENDON moved the second reading of the Bank of Issue Bill. The Earl of DEVON presented petitions from Devon shire in favour of the Corn-laws. Lord CLARE presented petitions to the same effect. Earl FITZWDLLIAM presented a petition from York shire, praying for a repeal of the Corn-laws. The Duke of RUTLAND presented a petition against the Poor-law Bill. PUNISHMENT OF DEATH BILL. The Marquis of NORMANBY moved the second read ing of the Punishment of Death Bill. The Earl of HADDINGTON said he should move t as an amendment to the clause relating to rape, that after the word " death," near the end of the clause, should be inserted " excepting in cases of rape where more than one person was concerned." The Marquis of NORMANBY said that her Ma jesty's Government thought the proposition of an Hon. and Learned Gentleman in the other House, was one -well worthy of their attention, and one it would be con sistent with their duty to support. He (the Marquis of Normanby) thought that, as far as number was con cerned, the offence was the same. He would call the attention of their Lordships to_ a circumstance -which happened about two years ago. He had hitherto called their attention to cases where conviction had taken place, but he would now call their attention to a case where conviction had not taken place. So strong was the case to which he was about to allude, that the neighbouring Magistrates forwarded a memorial to her Majesty's GO: wernment respecting it. The trial took place at Glou cester, and there were more than one prisoner. The cir cumstances were revolting, and there was no noubt as to the facts of the case. Nevertheless the Jury put this question to the Judge—whether, if they found them guilty, the men's lives would be spared ? The result was, an acquittal. The Jury were to blame, certainly, but this was the general feeling amongst Jurors, and the great object of their Lordships was to obtain convictions. In another case where the party was indicted for an as sault and rape, an acquittal took place, the Judge having informed him (the Marquis of Normanby) that the ex theme penalty of the law being attached to the crime pre vented a conviction taking place. He would put it to their Lordships whether, when the convictions had dimi nished in proportion to the acquittals to so large an amount as the returns exhibited, it would not be most judicious in them to amend the law so as to ensure conviction in every case where the facts warranted it. He 'believed that the interests of justice would be best pr muoted by not attempting to make the distinction pro p. Red by his Noble Friend. The practice and experience f Courts of Law had shown that juries, upon wham hey must rely for carrying the law into effect, would not convict where the capital punishment was attathed. The Earl of WINCHILSEA said it was his Intention :to propose an amendment by striking out the two last lines of clause 3, and if the amendment was re- jected, he should propose that the third clause be struck out altogether. After a few words from Lord ABINGER in support of the amendment, Lord DENMAN said he was extremely unwilling to take any part os a question relating the amendment of the criminal law, unless he distinctly saw that the House of lords was determined to pass the amendments suggested, because he felt the utmcst inconvenience, if, as a le gislator, he should oppose a law which afterwards, as a judge, he might bt hound to carry into effect. He had, therefore, abstal-i d from taking part in the discussion which took place on the measure the other night, and. had also abstained from coming down to the House because he found the House of Commons had sent up a Bill to abolish the punishment of death in cases of that sort, and he waited for the decision of their Lordships, and to bow to the law as it should be pronounced by the Legislaturo. But he must say he thought when the House of Commons had sanctioned a principle as to the offence in general, and when their Lordships also had sanc tioned a principle as to the offence in general, it was a monstrous anomaly that capital punishments :should be kept alive with regard to any particular mode si the offence that might be brought before a Judge. — (Hear, hear.) It was clear that the offence as committed `by many persons might partake of a character of cruelty and profligacy which might not be the case ;with regard to offences committed by individuals. But rapes committed by individuals might be of a far worse character than those committed by several persons. — (Hear, hear.) Ile (Lord Denman) had had experience on this subject, and he knew by experience these rapes were seldom deliberately committed. They were usually the result of some accidental communication at a fa.ir of junketing, where persons of different sexes came together, and when at a late hour -of the night :some unfortunate female whose imprudence had led her into the company, became the victim of brutal and dis •gusting outrage. But lie was sure that there were eases of this sort where their Lordships' feelings and the feelings of the public would revolt at, the inflic tion. of the punishment of death.—(Hear, hear.) Then why should one class of cases be selected in order to raise inq .tries respecting it, and to raise the most painful duties the ,t could possibly be cast upon a Jury ? His Noble lend had said for the sake of experiment ; but was tt.ere no danger—nothing revolting in such expe r anents ? Was it fit still to ai.k Juries, as an alternative, whether they would commit perjury or that which they considered murder ? He believed the principles were much too strongly urged.—(Hear, hear.) His own opinion was that the Juries manfully did their duty, and that it was as often the fault of the Judge, who contemplated with horror the depriving a fellow creature of life, as of juries, that persons ac cused of this crime were frequently acquitted. But did they warrant experiments of the case stated by the Noble Mar quis? In a case which had been tried at GloucesterbeforeMr Baron Bolland, three men were tried for the offence of rape, :and the jury returned a verdict of acquittal upon the hr at indictment, but the Learned Counsel put in the plea of autrefois acquit, and upon that objection they were released. There was no doubt that the ac quitted in that case was an improper one. Still he tt, eugla t that such questions ought not to be put repe a te ily to Jurors.—(Hear, hear.) No doubt a cc/ mkt 'dolls objection had in some cases defeated jus tice. H e confessed that it appeared to him that it would be injuri jus to make this single exception. It was one to which ,the Ministers of the law would feel the greatest objecticla. He 'ha Ino wish to press their opinions against the decizion of tfteir Lordships ; but as he had found that the opini‘ ms ene representations of the Judges had had great wei ;ht .'w th their Lordships, ho would take the li berty of s ugge , ,tine that before this clause was passed, himself at el iis Noble Friend (Lord Abinger) should have an •a - , a Aprtunity of conferring with the Judges, and ascent lining their opinion. He would have re frained frc au making those observations, had he not felt that th a general principle being once carried, no small and aceide atal circumstance should be suffered to inter fere with it. The E srl of WICKLOW opposed the amendment, on 1 t i,,,ground that there were grades of criminality in the I off rice ; fiat in some some forms it was aggravated, and in oteers of less importance. If they drew a dis eduetior.: at all, they must draw it in such a number of canes t bat it would bean absurdity to abolish this punish mat at all. rd ABINGER complained that the Bill had not ear dta,-;-one sufficient consideration by their Lordships. The Earl of HADDINGTON suggested that the clau.se should be postponed. After a few observations from the Marquis of WEST 3LEATH, The Marquis of NORMANBY said that if there was any strong feeling in the House, that the question re quir ed further reference, he should not oppose it, though at. the same time he was prepar ed to give a negative to the postponement of the question ; an d also to urge upon their _Lordships to do so. His own inclination l wast to liat a goon but still if it was the opinion of the ment should take place he should House not ou object to it. post pone TI to Earl of WICKLOW complained that they were leeis feting in the dark on the entire measure. They had taker i no opinion whatever on the subject, nor made a ay inquiry respecting this question, which w a s one of se ch great importance. ,Their Lordships were va now cr Bed on the last day , of the session to make a violent al tk ration inthe law, and it was urged , on the other side, t tha d t the me asiare h a d come u p f ro m the House of Commons. Iha certainly come up from' the Commons, but under what ciretniistances ? When there was such an ac cumulation of business before them that they could not give that due consideration to the sabject which it required. If their Lord: hips passed this law they would lower themselves in the opinion of the country. He trusted that such a viokrit alteration in the law would be rejected by their 'Lordships. I :aord BROUGHAM said, that among the reasons ivAen for postponing the measure was the great difficulty in -framing a provision of this description. He had on al former occasion, when the subject was before the House, stated those difficulties.—(Cries of Hear, hear.) Ie thought that the subject, from the difficulties which surrounded it, required further consideration, and that their Lordships should pause before they proceeded to introduce a change in the present law. He was not aware that it would be impossible to revert to the capital punishment in aggravated cases, if it should be found free from the objections to which he had alluded, and if the difficulties could be overcome. He could not agree with the doctrine that if they remitted a severe punishment in any case they had not a right, after haying had greater experience, and after having further considered the subject, to retrace their steps and resort io the severe punishment again, if it should be found necessary; and he should think that in making altera tions in the criminal law he should incur a great risk if those alterations were to be considered as final, conclu sive, and binding, and could not be altered after further experience. He thought enough had been said to show that it would be better to postpone the further conside •fation of this enactment " The Martinis of NORMANBY4ad no objection to adjourn .the debate unt il to - morro w . It would be ex tremely inconvenient to postpone ite beyond to-morrow, because must be, yet e. ther were urn ed tA: 1 ;le eiany amendment s m a d e , th e Bill The Earl of WlCKaAn'irmocnoU s id see no reason for : postponing the Whole : ta li - the clause at once, and :tali should .They could divide uponeedd h o t b e rejected theft the considerations of the Proposition befor e t h e i r Lord h ships could be postponed until to-morro iv. Ile hoped his Noble Friend would persevere in his motion for ex punging the clause. The Marquis of NORMANBY explained. The Earl of DEVON saw no occasion to postpone tho debate. There was at present a full attends nce of Peers, which it might not have on another occasion.. He tho :light the division of their Lordships should n Jaw h e taken upon the amendment of the Noble Ea rl . inchilsea). He had always been an advocate for the " - c 4 ‘;;i ga ti on o f t h e criminal code whenever it was calcy' A i te d to l ea d to a certainty of prosecution and cony Action ; but he did not think the alteration proposed 13,y the present measure would produce that effect, and his should therefore give his vote in favour of the amendment. The Earl of HAREWOOD thought that the House ought not to be bound by the opiruoas of the Judges, however valuable they !night be, when they were taken in private. Whether juries would, do their duty or not, he thought the crimes enumeratr e d i n the clause were worthy of death. The Earl of RADNOR s• a id t h e w i s h of all good citizens must be to repress crime, and if Juries would not convict, if they woulr l A commit perjury rather than find persons guilty w 1• -en the punishment was death, it was their duty , -r.r.Tto the law. The Earl of _aiDDINGTON said he saw no reason why there sr-ould not be as full a House to-morrow as to-day, a•-% he felt convinced that every Noble Lord must take an interest in this matter. He thought they ought *herefore to adjourn the debate. The Earl of WINCHILSEA said he thought it would nave been advisable to have consulted the Learned Judges in the matter. Lord DENMAN said that had he been aware that such an amendment as had been proposed had been con templated, he would have taken an opportunity of con sulting the Learned Judges on the point, for the purpose of the House having the advantage of their experience ; but not for the purpose in any way of dictating to the House, but that their Lordships might have the opi nio ns of parties who must naturally be well a cquainted with the subject After a few words from Lord ABINGEII, Lord BROUG RAM, and the Earl of DEVON, The Duke of WELLINGTON said he thought there could be no difficulty in adjourning the debate till to morrow, as all the questions involved in the Bill would still remain open for consideration. It appeared to him that those questions required for their consideration time and opportunity. But he was afraid if they did not ad journ the debate, that they would neither have time nor opportunity.—(A laugh.) - The Earl of WINCHILSEA said that he should move to-morrow that the clause be expunged. The motion for the adjournment of the debate until to morrow was then put and agreed to. The School Sites Bill was read a third time and passed. BRIBERY AT ELECTIONS BILL. The Marquis of NORMANBY having moved that the House should resolve itself into a Committee upon this Bill, Lord BROUGHAM said he thought some measures should be taken to abolish that detestable practice, which bid fair to destroy the elective franchise of the country — he meant the system of wholesale bribery at elections ; but he did not think that the present Bill was calculated to produce the desired effect. He confessed that he did not see any objection to the last clause of the Bill. Lord ABINGER said that many attempts had been made in the House of Commons, to put an end to the practice of bribery at elections. He could not but think. from the very history of the subject, that the measure was one of that nature that demanded the most delibe rate consideration, which could not be given on this, the last day of the Session but one. He could not think that the framers of the Bill ever intended that it should pass. He would, however, in consequence of what had fallen from the Noble and Learned Lord opposite (Lord Brougham), abandon his original intention of moving that the Bill be committed that day three months. The Marquis of NORMANBY repudiated in the strongest manner the idea of the framers of the measure never intending that the Bill should pass. Their Lord ships might dissent from the introduction of a novel principle in the law of evidence ; but he could not for a moment imagine that the framers of the Bill never in tended that it should pass. The Bill then passed through Committee, on the un derstanding that it should be amended on the third reading. The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at Eight o'Clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS, June 17 The SPEAKER took the chair at the usual hour. Sir MONTAGUE CHAPMAN presented a petition from a place in the county of Westmeath against the repeal of the Corn-laws. Lord BARRINGTON presented two petitions from Brighton and another place, against the proposed mea sures of her Majesty's Ministers for the alteration of the duties on timber, sugar, and corn. Sir C. BURRELL presented two petitions from places in Sussex against any alteration in the Corn-laws. Mr. MACAULAY presented a petition from Edin burgh against Church patronage in Scotland. Mr. IfAYTER presented several petitions from va rious districts in the metropolis, praying for the abolition of the Corn-laws. _ _ Mr. WYSE presented several petitions from the Tower Hamlets, Camden Town, and other parts of the metro polis, to the same effect. Mr. A. CIIAPM-A.N presented a petition from the Chamber of Commerce of Greenock against the timber duties. _ Mr. BAINES presented a petition from Leeds, pray ing for the abolition of the Corn-laws. Mr. VILLIERS presented petitions for the repeal of the Corn-laws from the following places,:—Thame, Oxfordshire ; Great Marlow ; Woburn ; Leighton Buzzard ; Wolverton ; Maids Moreton ; Thornborough; Foscott ; Chesham ; Stowe ; Westbury ; Stoke Ha mond (2) ; Great Hampden ; Loughton ' • Brickhill ; ' Buckingham ; Missenden • High Wycombe ; West Wy combe ; Taplow ; Fifehead Magdalen, Dorset ; Mayor and inhabitants, South 31olton ; Hatters, at Stockport ; five frOm Methodists, Teetotallers, and Females, from Northwich, in Cheshire ; Baptist Congregation in Walsall ; from the town and parish of Cricklade, (Wilts) ; Wellington, in the county of Somerset ; from Tibscheff, in Derbyshire ; from Bailey, in York shire ; three from Newcastle-under-Lyne ; forty-one from workmen and others in the neighbourhood and manufactories in Rochdale, not included in a petition before presented, signed by 12,000 persons ; twenty two from different districts in and about London ; from Lossiemouth, Scotland ; from the Stewarton mem bers of Kirk Session, in Kirrimuir ; from Kirkaldy ; two from Kilmarnock ; from Bervie and New Marnock. Wyatt's Divorce Bill, Hall's Divorce Bill, Dutton's Estate Bill, the Abingdon Glebe Estate Bill, and Lord Glamis' (Earl of Strathmore's Trust) Estate Bill, were severally read a third time and passed. The Bills of Exchange Bill, and the Loan Societies Bill, were severally read a second time, and ordered to be committed to-morrow. The Highway Rates Bill was read a third time and passed. Sir W. FOLLETT presented a petition from the Solicitors of Exeter, praying the House to take measures to remove the inconveniences attendant upon the present Courts of Law at Westminster. _ _ Colonel PERCEVAL presented a petition from the landowners of the Barony of Erris, county Mayo, against the repeal of the Corn-laws. Also a petition from Cork to the same effect. On the motion of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL the Order of the Day for the Committee on Offences against the Person Bill was read for the purpose of being dis charged. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman stated that the enactments in the Bill were embodied in another measure, which bad previously passed the House.—The Order was then discharged. FOREIGN FACTORIES. Mr. WODEHOUSE moved "That an humble Address be presented to her Majesty', praying that she will be gra ciously pleased to give directions, that there be laid be fore Parliament, through the medium of her Ambassadors or other Diplomatic Residents abroad, copies of all re gulations established in foreign factories, together with such explanations in detail as the nature of the cases will admit ; describing the character of the food used therein, the wages paid therein, whether in specie or in kind, &c. &c., in order to enable Parliament to form a judgment as to the degree in which the usages of other countries are at variance with the tastes, habits, and enjoyments of the manufacturing population of Great Britain." The Hon. Member said that he had, a few days ago, called upon the Noble Lord, the Secretary for the Colo nies, to press upon his attention the advantages which would result from the proposed inquiry ; and he had understood that the Noble Lord would not oppose the motion. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER did not wish that the motion should be agreed to in the absence of his Right Hon. Friend, who had, he believed, some suggestions to ma k e upon the subject. He was anxious that the motion should be postponed until the usual time for public business, as had been just done in the case of the Court of Chancery Bill. Mr. BAINES did not wish that the question should be carried at that early period of the evening, in the absence of his Hon. Friend the Member for Kil kenny, who had a motion upon the paper upon the same subject. Sir E. KNATCHBULL said that he had not wished that the Court of Chancery Bill should be proceeded with in the absence of his Right Hon. Friend the Mem ber for Ripon, but as he had understood his Right lion. Friend did not disapprove of the measure, he should not any longer oppose its committal. COURT OF CHANCERY BILL! On the motion of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL this Bill went through Committee, was reported without amendments, and was 'ordered to be read a third time to morrow. PRINCE EDWARD'S ISLAND. Mr. HUME presented a petition from the Speaker of the House of Assembly of Prince Edward's Island. It referred to certain printed documents which accompanied it, but which of course could not be laid before the House, but only before a Committee. He should move that it be printed, and he hoped that the new Parliament would cause inquiry to be made into the grievances complained of by the Assembly of Prince Edward's Island. One of the principal grievances of which they complained related to the tenure of lands. They contended that the persons to whom the lands had been originally granted had not fulfilled the conditions of the grant, and that consequently the lands ought to be es cheated, and the cultivators enabled to cultivate them in such a manner as should be most beneficial. He had pre dented a petition on a similar subject two years ago. The Government had investigated the subject, and had sent out instructions to the island in consequence ; those instruc tions, although they had been excepted by the Council, had been rejected by .the Assembly, so that there was at present a difference on the subject between the two branches of the Colonial Legislatiire. The petition under these circumstances prayed the interference of theliouse. He hoped her Majesty's Ministers would take the subject into their serious consideration. The petition was signed iinE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 1841 by W. Cooper, and was dated April 27, 1841. The Hon. Gentleman then presented twelve petitions, signed by 1,940 persons from various parts of the county of Mid dlesex, praying for a repeal of the Corn-laws, and an al teration in the tariff. Mr. WODEHOUSE then brought forward his motion, the Hon. Member for Kilkenny having previously entered the House. " - .. , '. 21 11111101 Mr. LABOUCHERE said the information sought for by the Hon. Member was already before the House, having been procured from the Foreign Consuls, for the use of the Poor-law Commissioners. He was not aware that any new information could be obtained. Mr. HUME said he had given notice several days previously of his intention to move an amendment, which would have raised a general discussion on this subject, but in the present state of the House it appeared to him that no advantage would be derived from such a course. It was his intention to have brought the subject before the House this Session, and he would suggest to the President of the Board of Trade that he should do as was done by the Government of the United States, where the tariffs were collected, and a copy of them distributed among the Members of Con ' gress. He thought that it was the business of her Majesty's Government to collect the tariffs of every country with which we had commercial intercourse. We ought to know at what rate our manufactures were received in every country with which we dealt. This ought to be the business of some department or of some individual officer, and he knew no one better qualified for it than the Board of Trade. When he (Mr. Hume) was in Holland, he found they were publishing a quadruple tariff of the principal nations with which they dealt, and he did not see why England should be backward on the subject. is object was that the House should be put in possession of the tariff of every State with which we traded, and that authentic copies of them should be in the possession of every Member of that House who felt interested in such subjeets.—(Hear.) Mr. WODEHOUSE felt almost disposed to withdraw his motion, as the Hon. Member for Kilkenny had made a statement far beyond it. Mr. HUME wished to know whether the Hon. Mem ber opposite would have any objection to amend his mo tion so as to give the tariffs of all States ? Mr. LABOUCHERE could assure the Hon. Gentle man, the Member for Kilkenny, that some of the offi cers connected with the Board of Trade had been employed in collecting information on the present sub ject, and as some of their labours were concluded the result should be laid before the House. If the Hon. Member thought that any information could be obtained by acceding to the present motion he should have no objection to it. After a few words from Sir Jon); GUEST and Mr. BAINES, Mr. VILLIERS said he had never heard of such a motion in his Parliamentary experience. The House had as much right to call upon our Ambassadors to in quire into the private affairs of foreigners as to call upon them to make the inquiries suggested in the motion. After a few words from Sir C. BURRELL, Mr. WILLIAMS said it would be desirable to receive information with respect to the management of the fac tories in the United States. He believed, on inquiry, it would be found that the working men in the fac tories of the United States did not receive more wages than the persons employed in the factories of this coun try ; but they were in a better condition, because they could buy provisions nearly by one half cheaper than could be had in this country. The motion was then agreed to. Mr. WODEHOUSE then brought forward the follow ing motion of which he had given notice :—" To reprint Despatch from H. H. Addington, Esq. to Mr. Canning, dated Washington, the 30th day of May, 1824, pub lished in pursuance of an Address the 12th day of July, 1828 (see Papers relative to American Tariffs, and re ferred to by J. B. Smith, Esq., President of the Chamber of Commerce,_ Manchester in his evidence before the Im port Duties Committee, the 27th day of July, 1840, p. 161, 2,043) ; together with an Extract from the Report of W. E. Hickson, Esq., Commissioner of Inquiry into the state of the Handloom Weavers, presented 11th August, 1840, p. 30, s. 59 ; showing whether any and what expressions are to be found in the concluding paragraph of the Despatch of Mr. Addington, different from those which are cited in the Report of Mr. Hickson relative to Ame rican Tariffs, regarding other States of Europe as well as that of Great Britain." The Hon. Member, after having complained of the inaccuracy with which the despatch was quoted in the report of Mr. Hickson, con cluded by expressing his determination not to persevere in the motion. . Mr. LABOUCHERE admitted that the words had not been accurately quoted, but the difference was not very important, and the error was such as any one quot ing from memory might easily have fallen into. Mr. HUME said the Hon. Gentleman in his motion had alluded to the statements of the Chairman of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce. Now he (Mr. Hume) had investigated the subject, and he could take upon himself to state that the statements of Mr. Smith were perfectly correct. The quotations of Mr. Hick son were perfectly correct in substance, and to say that the statements of Mr. Addington referred to the Berlin decrees, as had been stated, was perfectly ridiculous, for the despatch of Mr. Ad dington had been written 14 or 15 years after the Berlin and Milan decrees had ceased to be in operation. (The lion. Gentleman was here interrupted by loud cries of " Order, order.") The SPEAKER said the Hon.ltlember was clearly out of order, as there was no question before the House, the Hon. Member not having proposed his motion. Mr. lIUME said the whole proceeding was irregular. It was quite as irregular for the Hon. Member to have made a speech without concluding with a motion, as it was for him (Mr, Hume) to reply to that speech. The SPEAKER said that if he had known that the Hon. Gentleman would not have concluded with a motion, he certainly should not have allowed him to make a speech. The Lords' amendment to the Tinsley and Doncaster Estate Bill, the Salisbury Small Debts Bill, and the Kentish Town Paving Bill were then agreed to, and the House Adjourned at a Quarter before Six o'Clock. we must say a very promising commencement it is, al though, under any circumstances, first appearances are en titled to very charitable forbearance. Here is the extract alluded to. "An eloquent address to the electors of the City of London, to which the very first names in point of wealth and importance are attached, will be found under the head Elections.' This document cannot fail to pro duce a powerful impression on the electoral body of the first City of the empire. And we need hardly observe, the decision of London must powerfully influence the re sult of other elections throughout the United Kingdom." Never in the least suspecting our heavy contemporary of being a wag, and that this was his initiatory probate in the school of Joe Miller, we turned to the address of mighty import with something like the same solemn cu riosity as of yore the ancients waited for the fiat of fate from the lips of the Delphic chronicle of their day. Great was, not our chagrin, but our delight, on discovering the fantastic cheat with which we and the public were taken by surprise, and our readers will participate with us in the feeling when we present the key of the riddle or rather the glossary of the mysterious text of the oracle. Know, then, that the document in question, elevated with burlesque gravity into the stilted dignity of an Ad dress to the " Electors of the City of London," purports to be signed by some fifty-eight persons or firms, the number of the latter being five, out of some fifty-eight thousand persons and firms, who may be found in this great metropolis of fifteen hundred thousand souls, equally qualified by station, by wealth, by electoral right, by education, by intellect, or by private and public worth, to address the electors of the City, and dictate the choice of a candidate. Some people may see fit to challenge this memorable enterprise as an act and a proof of the direst desperation of the party driven as a last shift to embark in it, and assuredly the reasons for such an assumption are by far too plausible to admit of an attempt at refutation. We incline, nevertheless, to view the matter in that more cheering and amusing light shed on it by the sportive rays of our Contempo rary's wit, when so glibly assuring us that " the very first names in point of wealth and importance " are attached to the instrument, in incontestable proof of which we may add, that the list winds up with the for midable name of little " D. W. Wire " himself, mem ber of the Common Council, ex-ex-under Sheriff, attorney at law, and ex-counsellor of the late Hebrew Legation to the Courts of Grand Cairo, Tyre, Sidon, and Damascus, where so nobly he fleshed his forensic and diplomatic blade in the pure idiom of Cockaigne to the utter route of terrified Turks and barbarously ignorant Tartars. It might seem an unkindly cut of the Chronicle to thrust little David, " the first and foremost man of all" the City, into the tail and as the very last joint of this portentous agglomeration of great names, but in this consists the exquisite touch of the enchant ing Chronicle's art, by which, with a noble sim plicity. more effective than ten thousand rhetorical flourishes, the beautiful accuracy of that eccentric pos tulate is thrown into bolder relief, according to which we are taught that " from the sublime to the ridiculous there is but one step." This achievement alone suffices to establish the surprising progress made in so brief a space by our right merry Contemporary, who is clearly qualifying, and bids fair to distance all competition in the race, for the long obsolete but shortly to be, re vived post of " Master of the Revels," when will hap - pily recommence the jocund reign of quips and cranks, and gibes and jeers, and masques and mummery, with— " Laughter holding both his sides"— and happily putting to flight the—if we may be allowed to borrow from the magnificent imagery of the " eloquent address" of the addressers, which is greatly in the heroics of Mr. Samuel Jones Loyd—" demon form" of free trade flummery and Russell roguery. REPRESENTATION OF MARYLE- BONE. Notwithstanding that the " Ballot" of Wednesday puts it out of the limit of probability that the Tory candidates can have the least chance at the approaching election, or that disunion can again be raised in the ranks of the Reformers, a new de vice has been resorted to to effect the purpose of the Conserve fiver, by detaching a few Chartists from the Liberal body to vote for a candidate professing their peculiar tenets. The number of those who can be influenced by the artifice must be insignificantly small, and can u not pos sibly affect the election. . It :s acknowledged this morning on all hands, that the supporters of Mr. Young included all the extreme Radicals, from whom a division could be appre hended, and that they polled yesterday almost to a man. Now it is not to be supposed that many of them will violate the pledge in which they most warmly engaged last night with Mr. Young, at the close of the poll, to give every support to Sir Charles Napier and Sir Benjamin Hall. That pledge was this morning renewed, in the most earnest and hand some manner by Mr. Young, who called at the Committee room of the Marylebone United Reformers, at the Cafe Co losseum, New-road, and offered his most zealous and active service to promote the return of the two candidates. The vast importance and conclusive character of the Ballot last night may be inferred from these considerations. The ex tent of the borough is four Mdes from Westbourne, Bayswater, to Maiden-lane, Islington, and four miles and-a-half from Ox ford•street to Highgate. Now it is to be observed that the poll ing was at one particular spot, not very central in this extensive and populous area, the object not being considered by a large pro portion of the Liberal electorsto require the same degree of exertion and sacrifice, as they would be prepared to make out the actual election, for many of them thought too little of the force which hp. Young's perseverance could draw from the good cause. It Is not, therefore, too much to calculate, that when they will have polling-booths in each of the nine districts into which the borough is divided, and when the object of the poll will be the actual election, at the very least double the number of Liberals will vote. This would give full six thousand votes to the Liberals, and 4,500 is an ample num ber to carry the election. We say six thousand, for the number who came to poll was nearly three thousand—the dif ference above 2,876 who did actually poll being caused by impediments of various kinds, impatience of delay, the loss of balloting cards, and other unavoidable accidents on such an occasion of haste and bustle. It is, however, of vital importance that the Reformers should not make the matter too sure. The enemy is rich, prodigal, united, and numerous ; and it will even in this happy state of our prospects, and with so imposing an array of our forces as the manifestation of last night presented, constant activity and energy on the part of the influential Reformers is indispensable to preset ve the victory, which seems already to be half won. Every man who can influence his neighbours should impress on them constantly, from this to the grand day of battle, the necessity there is for every man to go up early to the poll, and not to loiter, on the supposition that there were enough without them. The unbounded gratification which prevails throughout the borough at the splendid exhibition of yesterday, ald its imme diate result, may beget a dangerous confidence, through which all might be lost. The Tory ladies are canvassing this morning in all direc tions with great skill and profuse liberality in purchases, at the shops of the smaller tradesmen. LAW INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF LORDS, June 17. Their Lordships sat in a Committee of Privileges this morning. The Peers present were the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Shaftesbury, Lord Brougham, the Earl of Rosslyn, the Duke of Rutland, Lord Sidney, Lord Bel haven, the Earl of Roseberry, and the Bishop of Wor cester. 2s. per cent. for his trouble. Gave the prisoner most of the checks produced, to take up dishonoured bills with. Would not swear that he had not given him checks 30 times to take up bills with. His property at Norwood he purchased for 1,000/., of a builder of the name of Plaskett, and paid him cash for it. Had had bill trans actions with Plaskett to the amount of about 10,000/. or 12,000/. Did not engage the prisoner for the purpose of carrying on his bill transactions. Never sent the priso ner, in 1839, to take up any over-due bills. Witness at present had three or four over-due bills of Boulton's in his possession. He produced 47 bills, which he had re ceived from the prisoner. Never told the prisoner,when he applied for money, that he had not any, neither did e ever offer him his watch and appendages to raise money upon. But on one occasion when there was an arrear for commission due to him, and he pressed for money, he (witness) certainly offered to sell him his watch if he would take it at a certain price. The prisoner absconded on the 19th of February, and want abroad. The last check he gave the prisoner was on the 17th of Febru ary. Never recollected giving him a letter to a Mr. Cooper, of Baldwin's-court, but went himself to that person to get some bills discounted. He banked with Messrs. Williams and Co., of Birchin-lane. The first letter he had from the prisoner after he absconded was in the month of April • it was not signed with any name. On the 12th of February witness's affairs were not in a desperate state ; he then believed that the bills were all good, believed the body of the bill in question was written by the prisoner. He stopped his account at his banker's on the 17th of February, after he gave the prisoner the last check; had given the prisoner a few checks to take bills up with: gave him a check for 601. on the 24th of November to take up a bill in the possession of a Mr. Brown, of Sunderland. The prisoner said that nearly all the bills were drawn by tailors upon fashionable young men, who did not care about drawing bills upon bankers, although thAv kept no account. Made no inquiries about the persons named in he bills he received from the prisoner. Mr. Brown had received about 3,000/. worth of bills from him. Had not changed his bankers, but had not had any transaction with them since the 17th of Fe bruary. A check was sent in on the 18th, but the account was overdrawn ; his bankers still held two of his overdue bills in their possession. The pri soner had borrowed checks of him to the amount of 470/., but that was previous to the account with his bankers being closed; they were all but one dishonoured ; they were given for the accoinodation of Fletcher. An action had been commenced against him for some of the dishonoured checks. Had frequently given checks for the purpose of taking up bills, and received the bills in payment. Had also given the prisoner occasionally post dated checks. Had given two or three such checks at one time. Was never aware that any of the bills had been refused to be given up in consequence of a suspicion being entertained that they were not genuine. A person of the name of Stevens had commenced an action against him for the amount of one of the disho noured checks. The prisoner called at his office after he had heard that the bills were forgeries, but he did not give him into custody, because he did not like to prosecute a man who had five children to support, and he also thought that his evidence might be of service to him in the action brought against him by Hemans. Was aware that the prisoner owed a person of the name of Henet the sum of 30/. At his (witness's) suggestion a sheriff's officer was placed in a picture-shop opposite his office, and he also had Forrester, an officer, in the office. He expected the prisoner to call upon him on the day alluded to. Had funds to meet some of the overdue bills, but would be compelled to dispose of some property to raise money for the purpose. The property he intended to sell was already mortgaged for 1,200/. Re-examined.—Had received upwards of sixty bills from the prisoner, all of which he discovered to be for geries. Received a note from the prisoner, dated Feb. 14, in which he stated that he was going into the country to get 300/. and he would call on him the following morning. He did not call, and witness saw nothing more of him till May. Several letters that had passed between the parties were then put in, and in one of them the prisoner wished the prosecutor to advance some money to his wife, and promised to return it as soon as he came to England. Mr. Boulton was then called to prove that the bill in question was not in his handwriting, neither did he ever authorize any one to draw such a bill. The card that had been produced belonged to him, but he could not tell how the prisoner became possessed of it. Several other witnesses were then examined. Mr. CLARKSON addressed the Jury, and commented upon the facts of the case, and called witnesses who gave the pri soner a good character. Chief Justice TINDAL summed up, and the Jury re turned a verdict of Not Guilty. There were two other indictments against the prisoner, but Mr. PHILLIPS declined to offer any evidence upon them. Arthur Woodroffe, a youth aged 18, pleaded guilty to a charge of forgery, and uttering a bill of exchange for 100/., with intent to defraud Messrs. Glyn and Co. Mr. PAYNE, on behalf of the prisoner, said he had been in very respectable employment, but latterly it had been observed that he had got acquainted with some showily-dressed females, and it was supposed his connection with them had been his ruin. Mr. BODKIN, who appeared for the prosecution, said he believed this to be the case, and he would leave the prisoner in the hands of the Court. The CHIEF JUSTICE ordered the prisoner to be transported for seven years, but his Lordship said he should recommend that he should be sent to the Peni tentiary. The business of the Court was again delayed for a considerable period yesterday in consequence of the non attendance of any Aldermen. THE ARISTOCRACY AND THE CORN-LAWS. It was shown by competent persons before a Commit tee of the House of Commons, that the average rental of land throughout Great Britain had been trebled during the war ; but the whole power of legislation was in the hands of the aristocracy, the House of Lords was theirs, the Members of the House of Commons were their no minees and dependents ; the really independent men who were Members of it were too few to form a party. The aristocracy, thus possessed of power over the people, used it as all such bodies ever have used power—for their own advantage. In 1814, it was intended to pass a law. fixing the minimum price of wheat at 90s. the quarter ; from this, however, they shrunk as from a step which, notwithstanding all their power, they dared not to take. In 1815, they proposed, carried their proposal, and en acted, that 80s. the quarter should be the minimum price. They declared their purpose to be to prevent fluctuations in the price of corn, which they said would, by becoming steady, regulate the price of every other article of human food, and keep those prices steady ; they declared, that keeping the price of wheat at or above 80s would be much more for the advantage of the people than an unsteady price, sometimes high and at other times very low. They fully believed that the average price never would be lower than 80s., and consequently, that the price of the quartern loaf, weighing four pounds eight ounces, would never, upon an average, fall below a shil ling. The subject was new to the public, and they made less resistance to the measure than they otherwise would have done ; but it should never be forgotten that the approaches to the Houses of Parliament were barri caded, and that troops in large numbers were constantly kept ready in the vicinity ; that it was truly said at the time, that the Act was passed under the swords and bayonets of the Guards. How well the aristocracy were disposed to do service to the people by the pretended equality to be produced and maintained by a monopoly price of food, was clearly set forth before the Committee of the House of Com mons, by a Member of that House, Mr. Benett, of Wilt shire, who said that a gallon loaf a week for feed, and three-pence a-week in money, was enough for a la bourer, and each member of his family ; and he added, " It is what we, the Magistrates, give them." The power to regulate the wages of labourers under the then exist ing Poor-laws, being wholly in the Justices of the Peace in the pauperised counties. Thus were the farmers' labourers doomed to a bare subsistence—to a gallon loaf a-week, and three-pence for clothes ; nothing for rent, nothing for fuel, nothing for sickness, nothing for casualties, nothing for any purpose but bread and water; yet this declaration was cordially received by the aristocracy, and has been acted upon to the utmost of their power ever since. It is, then, against the pretences and practices of the aristocracy, in relation to the food prohibiting laws, that the active energies of the whole people should now be di rected, and there can be no doubt that if they be directed perseveringly and discreetly, they must succeed, and this, the master monopoly, that which sustains all other monopolies—this, the worst of all monopolies ever esta blished in this country—this monopoly, which acts as by far the heaviest tax ever imposed upon the people—this monstrous monopoly, which makes food dear, and tends to starve great numbers of the people, that the landed aristocracy, the rich, may still be more rich—this terribly extensive monopoly, which hinders trade, commerce, and manufactures, and cripples enterprise—this mono poly, which reduces employment for the people, while it increases the price of their food, compels other nations to manufacture fer themselves, or to go without the ma nufactures of this country, which they are most desirous to receive. This absurd, mischievous, cruel monopoly, will be abolished whenever the people shall, by their conduct, show that they comprehend its iniquity, and demand that it shall be put an end to without delay.— Address of the Metropolitan Anti-Corn-law Association. DEATH OF THE EARL OF FORTESCUE..-- The death of this venerable and respected nobleman took place on Tuesday, at his seat, Castle-hill, Devon shire. The Noble Earl was in his eighty-ninth year, the day of his birth having been the 12th of March, 1753. He succeeded to the title of Baron in his thirty second year, and married, in May, 1782, Hester, third daughter of the celebrated Right Icon. George Grenville, of the Buckingham family, by whom he has left a large number of descendants. His eldest son, the present Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, is now Earl Fortescue, who has several children, the eldest of whom, now Viscount Ebrington, is candidate on the Liberal side—that which the consistent Fortescues have ever supported—for the borough of Plymouth. The other surviving children of the late Earl are—the Dowager Lady King , mother of the Earl of Lovelace ; Lady Catherine Fellowes (Ports mouth) •, Lady Anne Wilbraham, wife of the Member for Cheshire ; the Hon. George Fortescue, who married a daughter of the Earl of Harrowby ; Lady Mary Ham lyn Williams ; the Hon. and Rev. John Fortescue ; Lady Eleanor Fortescue ; and Lady Courtenay. The lion. F ox Maule Will succeed Mr. Sheil as Vice-President of the Board of Trade ; the office of Under Secretary of State for the Home Department will be filled by Lord Seymour, now Secretary to the Board of Control. The General Steam Navigation Company 's ves sel the Columbine, Norwood, from Rotterdam , arrived off the Custom-house at nine o'clock A.M. yesterday, with the Dutch Mail, after a favourable passage of 24 hour;. OUTRAGE ON THE COAST OF AFRICA. (Correspondence of the New York Expr( ss.) HANTANNAR, MAY 1. It is with feelings of the deepest sorrow that I have to add another to the already too long list of outrages and insults to our flag by British cruisers. The brig A. E., of Baltimore, Captain C. F. Driscoll, sailed from this place in the month of September for Ca binda, with a cargo of dry goods, tobacco, and powder. Having met with bad weather at sea, he was obliged to put into Charleston to repair, whence he sailed on his voyage. ' Nothing material occurred until he arrived off Cabinda, when he was boarded by two boats' crews (fifteen in number), commanded by an English officer, but without a flag flying or any visible sign of nation ality, armed to the teeth with cutlasses, pistols, carbines, and daggers, or long knives, who insolently demanded his papers, declaring at the same time that he would take command of the vessel. Captain Driscoll pointed to the American flag, which he had flying, and averred that she was an American vessel, engaged in a legal trade, and in proof thereof produced his papers, which the Eng lish officer tried to obtain possession of, but not being permitted by Captain Driscoll, he said, " Never mind, I will take you for a scoundrelly Yankee negro stealer, and have you all strung up at the main-yard if you offer the least resistance." They then shaped the course of the vessel for River Congo, and commenced break ing out the cargo to get at the rum, and carried on so outrageously that Captain Driscoll's lady was taken violently ill, tad for some time her life was despaired of, the English crew never for a moment ceasing their out rageous conduct. They continued at River Congo twelve days, pillaging the negro canoes that passed, taking from them their beads, looking-glasses, paddles, and every little thing, leaving the poor negroes no alternative but to swim on shore and abandon their canoes to the tide. This conduct they continued for some time, often taking in their boats some of the American crew, until at last the negroes becoming exasperated, assembled in force, and attacking the boats, killed an American sea man belonging to the A. E., and wounded several Eng lish. They then returned precipitately on board, and getting the brig under way, set sail for Cabinda. They found her Britannic Majesty's brig-of-war Persian, Lieu tenant Commander Symmes, with the American flag flying. Lieutenant Symmes then came on board with an additional boat's crew, and commenced breaking out the cargo, without asking to look at the brig's papers, or paying any attention to Captain D.'s protestations. After ransacking the cargo four days, bursting open bales and boxes, and knocking open the kegs of powder, finding nothing they took what they pleased, each man select ing what he most fancied, and then tumbling the cargo into the hold, took to their boats, leaving the brig at liberty. " For 15 days," says Captain D., " I had 17 men on board, eating and drinking the best they could find, and for four days more the Commander and nearly all of his men pillaging my stores and drinking my liquors, they being on very short allowance on board their owu ves sel." The English brig kept the American flag flying all the time, and went off with it flying at their peak. The English officers declared they would seize every American vessel they came across, and break up their trade entirely ; and, from the late accounts from the States, it seems they are determined to put their threat into execution. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM THE DAILY PAPERS OF YESTERDAY. GLOBE.—What the Tories want, and what we have got, in the present contest, is a good cause—a rallying cry which can procure them unpurchased supporters. They will find this want expensive ; and find it already embarrassing. When any Tory, anywhere, can excite such an honest enthusiasm as greeted Lord John Rus sell, both inside and outside the London Tavern—when any Tory, anywhere, can command such an address, so signed, as that which we publish in our to-day's columns, pledging its authors, " individually and collectively, to shrink from no sacrifices, and to spare no exertions by which we can promote the triumphant return of Lord John Russell," then they may hope more from the un stinted and unscrupulous exercise of those other means in which we admit their undoubted superiority. But with this utter want of a watchword—this utter bankruptcy, not of purse, but of principles—we have good hope they will have to exclaim, after all, " Truly our fine gold hath perished ! It might as well have been ' fructifying' in our pockets as spent on bribes and bullies. Lord John and his colleagues have found out a bribe for the unbribeable —they have bought, with a word, better efforts than money can buy for us. And that word is one which we dare not openly to contradict." Was ever " a great na tional party" so hard put to it for a cause or pretext ? The Address to the City electors states as follows the dilemma of the Tories :—" If the opponents of the existing Government are thrust into power, either the present measures will, under some specious disguise, be carried by those who are now the loudest in de nouncing them, in which case not only the efficacy of the measures themselves will be impaired, but all confi dence in public men will be utterly subverted ; or, in place of the wise and beneficial policy now recommend ed to you, we must look for a heavy increase of direct taxation, accompanied by the retention of those com mercial- fetters by which your power of sustaining even your present burthens is seriously crippled." The same document asks forcibly, " Why is it, with the multiplied advantages which this country possesses—skill, capital, machinery, coal, means of communication by land and by sea, intelligence, industry, and a moral tone of feeling superior to most other countries—we are still thus dis tressed ? It is because, in the vain hope of serving a few favoured interests, we interfere with trade, and make that, which can only exist in a healthy state when left free to pursue its own objects, the subject of restrictions equally absurd and unjust." STANDARD.—It has been subject of complaint against the Conservatives that there were but twenty four members of the House of Commons in attendance to discuss Mr. Scholefield's motion ; and the fact is used as an argument to show the unwillingness of the Conserva tive party to meet an investigation of the Corn-law question. Such a charge against one-half the House of Com mons, where,if there be guilt, all must be equally guilty, is at the least absurd. If it was criminal for 317 Conservatives to be absent, was it not equally criminal for 317 Whig- Radicals to neglect their duty ? or, rather, was not the negleet much more criminal on the part of Ministers specially charged to watch over public interests, and for a party professing to agree in Mr. Scholefield's views. to desert that gentleman, than for Conser vatives, who have no official obligation to be present at all debates, and who have no political relations with the Member for Birmingham ? Be sides, Conservatives had been told by the Ministerial leader that the Corn-law question, or any other ques tion affording a pretext for " hustings speeches," iS not to be raised during the remnant of the Session ; and on the faith of such an en gagement they might very well absent themselves, though as much cannot be said for the members of the party who sent down the President of the Board of Trade with a prepared speech in violation of the engagement. When, therefore, it is said, as the Morning Chronicle says with reference to the thin House of Tues day night—" What a party to have the assurance to lay claim to the Government of this country, without having the manliness to meet their political opponents on the very question at issue between them ! Matters are come to a strange pass, indeed, if conduct like this finds favour in the eyes of the people of Eng land"—we can retort, with a very slight change in the words, " What a party to have the assurance to retain the Government of this country, in defiance of multiplied defeats and of a distinct vote of condemnation, without having the manliness to meet their opponents, though officially bound to be present, upon the very ques tion at issue between them—nay, having the meanness to skulk from the fair discussion of that question upon a false engagement. Matters are come to a strange pass indeed, if conduct like this finds favour in the eyes of the people of England." CO (JRIER.—The Ch ron i c l e , which has notoriously long been complained of by its own party as intolerab l y dull when not ridicul ous l y ran ti ng , has, we are glad to see, taken to diversify the scene with a little fun and foolery. In the very first paragraph of the first leader this morning this first appearance of a new line is made, and LORD TRIMLESTOWN'S CLAIM. Counsel were heard and witnesses examined on behalf of Lord Trimlestown, who claimed the right of voting at the election of Representative Peers for Scotland. Their Lordships resolved that the Noble Claimant had made out his claim.—Claim allowed. TIIE EARL OF STAIR'S CLAIM In this case the Earl of Stair claimed the right of Tot ing at the election of Representative Peers for Scotland. Counsel were heard, several witnesses were examined, and several documents read, to prove the descent of the Noble Earl, after which the Committee resolved that the claim ant had made out his right to vote.—Claim allowed. EARL OF ATHLONE'S CLAIM. The consideration of the claim of the Earl of Athlone to vote at the election of Representative Peers, was ad journed to Monday next, in consequence of some defect in the evidence. The House then proceeded to hear appeals. FOGO V. MATUIE. The further arguments in this Scotch appeal were pro ceeded with, but were not concluded when the Lord Chancellor rose to attend the Drawing-room. His Lord ship, before leaving the House, intimated that he would sit to-morrow (this day,) at half-past twelve o'clock, to hear the remaining arguments in this appeal, and also to give judgment in the case of Kay v. Marshall. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. (Before Chief Justice TINDAL and Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN.) Christopher Smith, a middle-aged man, was indicted for feloniously ,forgine• and uttering a bill of exchange, for the sum of 851., with intent to defraud Wm. Moss. Mr. Phillips prosecuted, and Messrs. Clarkson and Chambers defended the prisoner. The prosecutor, a solicitor, residing in the Old Jewry, stated that he had been acquainted with the prisoner for some years, and had been in the habit of discounting bills for him. The prisoner, who described himself as a tailor and draper, in February last gave him the bill produced purporting to be drawn by a person of the name of Boulton, whom he represented to be a gentleman of property, residing at Staines ; he at the same time gave the card produced, on which was printed, " Mr. Benj. P. Boulton, Staines." The prisoner was desired to make inquiries respecting Mr. Boulton, and went out of his office for that purpose, but returned in a short time, and stated that he had met Mr. Boulton at Morley's Hotel, Charing-cross, and that it was all right. During his transactions with the prisoner the name of a Mr. Fletcher was mentioned, and that person was said to have had an extensive connection amongst the west end tailors. The prisoner refused to give him Mr. Fletcher's address, alleging that if he did so, he and wit ness would get dealin; together, and then he (prisoner) should lose his commission. The bill in question was dishonoured when it became due. Subsequently the pri soner told him that Mr. Fletcher resided at 22, Old Burlington -street. The witness was subjected to a most rigid and search ing examination by Mr. Clarkson. There were two other indictments against the prisoner. When before the Magistrate he did not make any mention of Fletcher's name. In the year 1838 he had some land at Norwood, which he wished to dispose of, and suggested to the prisoner, that if he could raise enough money to purchase it, it might answer his pur pose. Did not recollect about that time sending for the prisoner, and expressing a wish to have a confidential communication with him. Had been an attorney about fourteen or fifteen years. During two years has had bill transactions with the prisoner to the amount of 20,0001. The first bill he received from the prisoner in Fe bruary, 1838. Was not then aware that his circum stances were bad. The bills were discounted some times by checks, and sometimes by cash. The bill• in question was discounted with various others, amounting to 2801. Could not tell how they were discounted. Sometimes he discounted them by giving other bills in exchange. On referring to this book, he found that four other overdue bills were given. Wit ness's commission on that transaction amounted to the sum of 451. Allowed the prisoner a commission of LONDON ELECTRICAL SOCIETY TUESDAY, JUNE 15.—Received a letter from Martyn Roberts, Esq., Mem. Elec. Soc., describing some experi ments which prove that radiation, a property of heat, is not a property of electricity. The author conceived it possible that electricity might radiate between the mole cules of non-conducting bodies as heat does ; but upon testing this idea by means of a Barret's electrometer, in the neighbourhood of a charged conductor of an electric machine, he found " that the electric fluid cannot be trans ferred from one body to another by radiation, but that actual connection must take place." " A translation of a paper written by M. Jacobi, on some remarks made by M. Becquerel on the comparative measure of the action of two voltaic jars, one copper and zinc, and the other platinum and zinc"—M. Becquerel had attributed the su periority of the nitric acid battery to the fact that the reaction of the concentrated nitric acid on the acidulated water gives birth to an electric current much more con siderable than that resulting from the solution of sul phate of copper on the same acidulated water. M. Ja cobi says that though recent experiments have proved that this reaction does not occur, yet " the result is so in considerable that the superiority of the platinum and zinc must be attributed to a cause entirely distinct from this." He here gives some interesting illustrations in proof of this, e together with certain formulae in illustration of the general rinciples laid down in his former paper. " A Descriptive Memoir of an Atmospheric Electrical Ap paratus erected over the town of Sandwich, by H. H. Weeks, Esq."—This apparatus consists of three hun dred and sixty-five yards of copper wire, attached to the spires of two churches, having midway a support erected on a tall chimney. A wire proceeds from this' into the laboratory 'of Mr. Weeks, and, with proper precaution, the experimenter is enabled to operate upon the products of the formidable thunder-cloud in perfect safety. The whole of the arrangements for insulation and protection were so distinctly described, .that on reading the paper we could almost fancy ourselves on the very spot, where the whole is. Appended to the communication were some very excellent sketches, which are in the engraver's hands, for illustrating the first number of the Society's proceedings. "A letter addressed to J. P. Gossiot, Esq., F.R.S., Mem. Elec. Soc., by H. Collen, Esq., describing some experiments in Daguer reotyping an Electrotype Plate."—The experiments were made as far back as March 10, 1840, and were so far successful, that on one plate could be traced the faint representation of a cathedral. It is remarkable that the figure on this was not visible till it had been exposed to the sun. After submitting to the Society a register for the month of May on the electric state of the atmos phere, from observations made by Mr. Weeks's appa ratus, the Secretary stated, that amongst the papers which are received, but must be deferred to the next meeting, is one from Andrew Crope, Esq., Mem. Elec. Soc. WHAT MUST THE MONOPOLISTS GAIN TO GET OFFICE?—The House of Commons about to be dissolved contains a majority of fifty in favour of free trade and cheap bread among the Members sent from Ireland and Scotland. The monopolists do not hope to alter this state of things as it regards these portions of the kingdom ; but, say they, " We will more than counteract this majority in England, and so place our selves in power." How is this to be done ? The mono polists have already every vote that they can get from the counties, and, therefore, their only hope must be from the towns. How utterly vain such a hope is, the following figures will demonstrate : Members for England and Wales, 500. The counties and two universities return 163 Cities, towns, and boroughs 500 To produce a tye in England, therefore, the monopolists must carry two hundred and fifty votes. To reach this number:— Estimating their power over the counties to yield them l3O It is still necessary that they should carry more than one-third of the towns -250 This task, if accomplished, would leave the majority afforded by Scotland and Ireland untouched.—Pro vincial paper. A dvices from the Havannah have been received to the 15th May, and these give a statement of the ex ports of produce from the Ist of January up to that date. The total amount of sugar was 223,230 boxes ; Coffee, 473,7674 arrobas ; molasses, 27,4484 hogsheads ; honey, 962 tierces ; wax, 13,7561 arrobas ; tofia, 2,754 pipes; sugar, 52,5561 thousands; and tobacco, 571,36241 b. The imports of goods from the Ist of January to the 30th of April had not been large, and the principal were 82,863+ quintals of jerked beef ; 4,321 3 4 - quintals of tallow candles ; 10,536+ quintals of codfish ; 53,990 bar rels of flour; 17,0121 quintals of lard ; 5,8881 quintals of sperm and whale oil ; 37,213 quintals of Spanish oil ; 39,7681 quintals of rice ; 7,8071 quintals of nails ; 9,9951 feet lumber ; 1,950 pieces of Britannias ; 676 pieces of canvas ; 351,297 various drills ' • 300,960 Osna burghs ; 14,803 pieces of sheeting ; and 15,765 dozens of stockings, various. The trade of the place did not appear to be brisk, and was chiefly confined to the ex ports. Sugars of middling and fine qualities were in good demand for shipment to the Baltic. The new crop of tobacco was coming in : white wax was scarce. The exchanges were as follows :—London, 9 to 94 premium; Spain, 3 to 5 premium ; and Paris, 2to 3 discount. The 1 ships in port were numerous. A statement is also given in these advices of the exports from Mantanzas, from the Ist of January to the 12th of May. They consisted of 144,7802 boxes of sugar, 80,934 arrobas of coffee, and 14,1464 hhds. of molasses. A Madrid journal states that negotiations have been opened with Mlle. Rachel for some represen tations in that capital, and that, if successful, she will appear in September. It is added that a subscription is being formed for a fund with which it is hoped to in duce Rubini and Tamburini to perform six nights in Madrid. Mlle. Taglioni is shortly expected in Paris, on her way to the Queen's Theatre in London. Her visit to Milan seems to have been one long triumph. Among a hundred notices of the sensation she created we find the following in the Milan Pirata :—" Maria Taglioni appeared, and since the time when Milan was visited by the incomparable Malibran, we never wit nessed a reception equal to it. Maria Taglioni has the form attributed by the Grecian artists to the Muse ; she is lively, easy, elegaM, light to an incomprehensible ex tent. All is naturald spontaneous, true, inspired. Her dance is airy, touching, noble, quiet, modest ; the graces of the master-hand covered with a veil. She is not only a dancer but a refined artiste, always in harmony with the music. The Polish dance, with its delicate, gallant, lively inspiration—the Spanish, with all its passion, gal lantry, coquetry, pride, vanity, and love—all are ex pressed by Taglioni with matchless perfection."—Ga lignani's Messenger. The last length of the Patcham tunnel on the London and Brighton Railway was keyed on Wednesday by Mr. Statham, the engineer, in the presence of about 200 persons, who were conveyed to the spot in a train of seven carriages, which also proceeded to Clayton tun nel, six miles from Brighton. Clayton tunnel will be entirely finished, so as to allow the passage of a train in about a fortnight ; and the line will then be, completed to about nine miles from Brighton. The road from London to Hayward's Heath is to be opened at the end of this month, and the remaining portion of the line in August.—Brighten Gazette. The Antwerp Company's steam-ship, Princess Victoria, Captain Jackson, arrived yesterday morning at eight o'clock ; the passage from Antwerp to the Tower VMS performed within 19 hours. THE LATE COURT-MART ROYAL ARTILLERY. Wconwrcir JUNE 17.—The o ffi cers of the Ordnance Corps assembled at ten o'clock this forenoon, in. the mess" room of the Royal Artillery, to hear the decision in thesW case! of Lieutenants Scott and Dance read t o them, as promulg in general orders. " GENERAL ORDER, JUNE 16, 184 1 . " Horse Guards, Julie 9, 18 41 . " 8 ir,—Having had the honour to lay before the Queer,,e held at proceedings of a general Court-martial , Woo h a djourn: b ar racks on the 14th of May, 184 1 , and continued: by ment to the 17th of the same month, for the trial of Second Lieutenant Percy Francis Gother Scott , of f o e Royal Ar tillery, who was arraigned upon the under-mentioned charges s-- " For having, in a public billiard - room at Woolwich, on or about the 31st of Marcb, 1841, struck Second Lieutenant Ed. ward William Dance, of the Royal Artillery, a blow with lets fist, and for having then and there entered into a personal con flict with the Second Lieutenant Dance by kicking him co i l his, said Second Lieut. Scott , receiving a blow from Sit Lieutenant Dzi.nce with a billiard-cue ; all sncit conduct beleg disgraceful, and unbecoming the character of an o ffices. sod 6 gentleman. " Upon which charge the Court came to the following de" cision:— " The Court having maturely weighed the evidence bhrout is forward on the part of the prosecution , as well as w hat that been urged by the prisoner in his defence, is o f o p inion he, the prisoner, Second Lieut. Percy Francis Gother Scot! , of the Royal Artillery, is Guilty of having, in a public billiar; room at Woolwich, on or about the 31st of March, 184 ...,! , I r Ar Second Lieutenant Edward William Dance. of the sue t :, tillery, a blow with his hand, but not his fi st, and also Ji` c "" him ; and of entering into a personal con fl ict, by bis strihiog and kicking Second Lieutenant Dance, but not upon reconivil a blow from Second Lieutenant Dance with his cue, sal, t u , a- r conduct of the said Second Lieutenant Percy Francis u°,"; Scott being disgraceful and unbecoming the character o f officer and a gentlean. The Court havi m ng foand the prisoner guilty of the vo•rl preferred against him to the extent specified, being in g ~.br eld of the articles of war, does, therefore, sentence him, °'c° ' Lieutenant Percy Francis Gother Scott, of the Royal Artllierl' to be dismissed her Majesty's service. " I am to acquaint you that .her Majesty was pleased to s r prove and confirm the finding .and sentence of the Court. rt, transmittede,o‘ I i , s ß il u t p in l e a cs Witt;eodn t. t i G e t eh r x a et e t iponrntoi proceeding's, t eed nße.g:iy,.ealchoenscrlmemmeneajnd.ecasyttiyotonwtoahsf theeostnC:nti by permitting Seeond Lieutenant Percy Francis Gotber to return to his ditty, being first July admonished as t° future conduct in such manner as yoat way think proper. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient h umble: se rvant, (Signed) " HILL, General Columander-in-Chief. • " The Right. Hon. the Muter-General of the Ordnance, &c." _ _ _ "3ENERAL ORDER, JUNE 16,. 1841 . " Horse-Guards', June 9, I " l * ths " SlR,—Haring had the honour to lay beose the Quee n sr , proceedings oft general Court-martial, held ait Woolwiah 13 racks, on the I)th May, 1841, and continued by adjourntos len to the 17th of he same month, for the trial os` Secon d ' u bo tenant Edwarc William Dance, of the Royal Artilletl, - was rrraigned on the undermentioned charges : • " Ist. Fornaving, in a public billiard-room, • t wool' ere/ on or about tie 31st March, 1841, said to Lieutt P , e Francis Gotlsr Scott, of the Royal Artillery, in t Pre — s s e ona Li eu and hearing if the persons there assemble, that be, tenant Scott told a " d—d lie," or words to that effe et • t he " 2d. Fothaving, at the time and place mentionis 3 to slid first charge, entered into a personal conflict with i he b l ot Second Lieuenant Scott, by then and there returning s i n g he had receied from Second Lieutenant Scott, by as 7,„ t0 , him, SecondLieutetiant Scott, on the arm with a batiste all such comuct of the said Second Lieutenant Dance u ` !. , disgraceful, ind unbecoming the character of an officer ,an ' gentleman. ebt " The Cart having maturely weighed the evidence bec" , ', o forward on he part of the prosecution, as well as what has , l e " urged in de t nce, is of opinion, with regard to the first clAff b e e ; that he, thesaid Lieutenant Edward William Dance, Royal Artibry, is Guilty. " With rgard to the second charge, the Court is of 11 , „in i ,r r that he, theprisoner, Second Lieutenant Dance, is iski tow' and acquit km thereof. EfO' " The Curt having found the prisoner guilty of the - charge, beig in breach of the Articles of War, does, therefor!' sentence bn Second Lieutenant Edward William Dance, '4; be publiclytn ' d severely reprimanded, at such time and P l r f t as may be irected, and to be placed at the bottom of the of Second Acetenants in the Royal Regiment of Artiller'' standing nexOelow Second Lieutenant George Neville. " I am to equaint you that her Majesty was please d to m , prove and corarm the sentence of the Court ; but in c°.ttpct, deration of tie recommendation of the Court, tra nsin ! with the proeedings, in the prisoner's favour, her 00. 5 ( 4 was graciousllpleased to remit so much of the sentence , el the Court, s adjudged him, Second Lieutenant Ed., vni „ c' " f William Dane, to be placed at the bottom of the ne" , ge second lieutcants, next below Second-Lieutenant G eAr gt Neville.—l have the honour to be, Sir, your most obewe humble servot, (Signed) " HILL, . " General Commander-in-Chier• " The Rigit Honourable the Master-General of the Ordnance, &c." " True cojes. (Signed) "H. D. ROSS, ~ " Colonel, Deputy Adjutant-Genet...4,, After the r oceedings of the Court bad terminated, 1.0;1 nants Scott aid Dance received their swords and sashe g ' were ordered to return to their due. THE MARKETS. COUNTRY MARKETS. V 1., 11-1 ~ s a L.. ace sa aft ..a.a. a -- .......................„ 7 - ,. - ., I Wheat . Barley. Oats. cleans. L . ....... , ~...r.----. to Per Quaiter.l sto s. s. to s. a. to a. s. to s. !,,* 56 Bath ......! 56 64 30 35 27 32 44 50 ." .... glandford.....l 52 62 31 32 23 26 46 -- --- .•'_ Bridport ...........1 - ~ 4a Chard ................ 01 62 22 32 le 26 31. 42 4 u .. Exeter ,,-; ..... 40 70 2 7 34 21 251 40 , 4 4 Dloucestet *B 62 28 32 22 30 40 50 IN 4 4 Guildford ;62 77 30 35 t 4 30 40 ~"' 40 \ Newbury 'so 70 26 t. 2 22 90 :38 46 ;w_. 0 Reading,,..,., , 50 74 26 tli 10 30 40 45 u. .... Salisbur 152 62 .27 34 20 26 .. , .10 50 ....- ..„. Shtrborne 56 St 3 28 31 26 32 40 42 irn • • SheptonMallet %6 61 30 34 21 27 38 50 1 ,,v . Uxbridge —. - :r 43 23 28 -- V. ...• Warminster 46 65 25 30 25 27 4O 44 --* ..• Winchester i4s 66 —j —1 40 ieovil 148 56 23 34 24 24 142 50 -"' LEEDS CORN MARKET. Wheat, Norfolk and SuffOlk, 011 b.......•••••••••• York. and Lincoln. 601 b. York. 4 Barley, Norfolk and Suffolk Sus • to Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Grinding Beans 63lb. ni to 261 ' ne flats, Potatoe '... ............. ?:2 ; : s t.: • 1::°° : 913": c 1: s: : ::°,11 A ; —Mealing, For. —d. to d Eng. MI. to 12d• l' ri" ^ to 29. i. re Shelling -. .. - Asi. DEVIZES CORN MARKET. 5 , 0 Per Sack. L d. s. d. Per Quatter .., A n • d i i t 0 1 tt First Wheat 9 3t 0 to 32 0 Oata... ...... ........ ;ff 0 0 Second 2B ft 3 , ) ( Beans (per sack)... 15 0 44 0, Third Barley 27 0 . 30 0 Bread (pergallon). A - - CHELTENHAM MARKETS. Per Bushel. s. d. to s. (1.1 Pet lb. Wheat 6,- 6 1 6 0 6 10 Barley 3 0 3 9 bllitton .—... .............. Oats 3 0 3 9 Veal ...... ... ................. Beans . Pease 5 0 et 0 Lamb ... ....... ....• Hay 41.5,. to 51. 10s. o. [. per ton - CHELMSFORD Mi.R.KET. 2 3 0 4 Wheat, White 60 to 12 Oats ..................••••••"' 39 4 Red Barley 32 35 White .......--" 3.3 51 Chevalier `V, 36 beans, Tick ...... ••••••••,** 34 Grinding 27 91 Mazagan ....-....• CANTERBURY MARKET. ....5 Wheat, 58s. to PBs. • 60s. to 61s. --s. Barloy, Malting 283, to 325. Grnding.. Oats 255. to 275• 1(!, Beans ............,..... 34s to Ni 5...... ... Pease ........—.—.... 425. to —5.....- Grey .:...» 30 5 . t° .. - • 0 Several changes will take place at the c lot , de in 01 the Session. Among others, we believe we inaY x otet Mr. Sheil's appointment to the office of Judge Alan a as successor to Sir George Grey, who will h ave pointment, with a seat in the Cabinet. .. _.--- - -- ---- 7,1,00' PLATE--A. B. SAVORY and SONS 0 .,,tb.0 r facturing Silversmiths, No. 14, Cornhill, London, 01'4.640,'„ Bank of England. The best wrought FIDDLY'. P. l O . l''', SILVER SPOONS and FORKS, at 7s. 2d. per oull' ele i TO' following are the weights recommended, but that ar ti d , be had lighter or heavier at the same price per °unit... X. t 0 oz. s. 0 :, 10 l a " 4 12 Fiddle Pattern Silver Table Spoons.... ........ ...30 at 7 4". I ; 0 12 ditto Dessert ditto 20 7 2- ' - 0 l'i 4 12 ditto 'fable Forks 30 7 2 *" 1 'O3 12 ditto Dessert ditto 20 7 2 .. - 2 i 8 2 ditto Gravy Spoons lO 7 2.- 3 1 1 8 I ditto Soup Ladle 10 7 2 '.•" .5 1 "0 0 4 'ditto Sauce ditto.. lO 7 '"' 1 il 0 4 ditto Salt Spoons (gilt strong) ..... .. ....... ..• 1 1 6 1 ditto Fish Slice . ...... t re ....... '.3 !,,, 0 12 ditto Tea Spoons lO 7 '''' . D a te d 1 pair ditto Sugar Tongs (strong) ................. r, - , igi t, lo N. B. A Price Current, stamped as a Newspaper, .' , to ~,,, by drawings, and containing every information relab / o pill' ig purchase of silver or Sheffield plate, may be had ° l . l it 11 0 0 tion, or will be sent into the country, free of postage, I „.,.. to a paid letter. ----- ilreo r TABLE CANDLESTICKS, su perior to t . - 10, , for durability, equal in appearance. Table caudirboo )14, inches high, 7s. per pair ; 9.inches high, 93. ;. 1 0 es 1 0 , per pair ; ditto, with rich shell mountings, 9 ink o° b;0 1 °f t i per pair; snuffer trays, with shell mountings and t h ei r a n. o tre, 4s. each. The particular metal of which to o fr° great variety of ether articles are made, can .01 11 Y. be silver by reference to the stamp. Catalogues frato s t et' RIPPON and BURTON, Wells -street, Ox erd- 00 I C. RTHS. On the 13th inst., the la d y of Randal Plunkett' si:l. ' Vue; Dublin, of a son and heir. , e gest. On the 14th inst., at Ramsgate, the lady of t he o tt o Lenny, of a daughter. f CO On the 14th inst., in Tavistock-square, the 10 4 1 ° , t ile Reade, Esq., of a son. ro te, 1 On the 16th inst., at St. John's Rectory, Wes t:°' of lady of the Rev. J. Jennings, of a daughter. tile ' fi" d On the 16th inst., in the Precincts, Canterbury, P. the Rev. G. Wallace, of a daughter. r imito i On the 16th inst., at Rochester, the lady of m•-• oi ° C. M. Hawkey, Royal Marines, of a son. On the 16th inst., at Piccadilly, Lady Julia Lo -"P' A .— o f * son and heir. gst' On the 17th inst., the lady of Edmund Dick e ' - or daughter. of P e On the 17th inst., Mrs. Robert Frederick Gower', bor. shire-place, of a daughter. On the 17th inst., at Aveliae,of $(11°15 —ll. MARRIED. r.,,`"iter On the 16th inst., at Abergavenny, by the Re v dS.P Vicar, Amos Parr Middleton, Esq., to s ee ped Vicar, of William Margan, Esq., of the Hill, Monmout s 4 o f On the 15th inst., at Newfield, George al,lSughter . Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, to Emma, sec ° ''' WI bb 6 Colonel Crawfurd, of Newfield, Ay rshire, Nort h p• 0;03 On the 16th hest., at Harford Church, Mr. fl 4 . of Cannon-street, to Sophia, fourth daught er Esq., of Stowford House, Devonshire ------ la te DIED. ~, of t l ' e od On the 13th inst., at Broadstairs, Anna, ww,„°‘l,itorot,.l of Captain E. Simpson, of the Madras European 'eliodse)' only daughter of the late Lieutenant Colonel Joh n peg. the Madras Army, aged 25. c s , .. the ferf i* On the 14th inst., at the Parsonage, Ca in s - IVO"' o t f li p aralielingsFtr o a n n , ei ssse s u Ferr x i , ag s,se e e d o 2 n 9. d s on of the Rev. : in, slifrait t o b e s , On the 14th inst., at Kingstown, near I ) ,° fis rbou wife of Thomas Shearman, Esq., of Col a f i e nd Camberwell, and of the Custom House, 1 -nn u ie la te On the 15th inst., Catherine, the widow of , Cooke, Esq., of Waltiamstow. 131ac k. ti ghbi On the 15th inst., at Clapham. rise, Miss Arlo. will° On the 17th ind., at Lewisham, Mr. Franc is Legge Richards, aged 47. London; Printed and Publish e d by UreY-SttiOlt No. 112, Strand, at Vie Sun Office, N I. the county of Middlesex.—Triday, EVENING EDITIQ AL•