The Sun. — London, England, 1849-12-22 00:00:00

lattton LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—(THIS DAY.) A special general meeting of the proprietors of this railway was held this afternoon, at the Nine Elms station ; Mr. Chaplin , M.P., chairman o f the board of directors, in the chair. The advertisement convening the meeting having been read, the following report WAS submitted to the meeting : " The directors regret to hare been obliged to trouble the proprietors by calling them together so soon after 'the recent special meeting of the 28th ultimo, bat the charges which were then preferred against them (though answered at the time apparently to the general satisfac tion of the meeting) hare been since made the subject of so much positive mis-statement, and of so much mis representation, public and private, that their own feelings of self-respect, not less than a due regard to the interests of the South-Western Company, require that these ques tions should be set at rest at the earliest possible period. "The accusation was to the effect that the directors had, during the panic, when the rate of interest was from 8 to 12 per cent., granted loans to themselves, at a lees rate of interest, out of the funds of the company to pay their own calls, in gross violation of their duty as trustees for the shareholders; and other charges more or less connected with this question have been subsequently Added. " The special object of this meeting is to enable the shareholders to appoint a committee to investigate the matter; but the directors cannot consent, in the mean time, to rest silent under imputations directly affecting their character as honourable men, and they proceed, therefore, at once to give such explanations as the limit of a report will allow. "At the special meeting of the 28th ult. the state ments made by some of the directors, in reply to ques tions put, without notice, were, in the absence of all means of reference to documents or books, necessarily incomplete. Divesting the subject, however, as far as possible, of any confusion which may thus have been produced, it is thought that nothing will be omitted if the explanation be arranged under the following heads, viz. " 1. Transactions as to the taking up, ley. some of the directors and others, of 15,000 new shares in December, 1846. " 2. Loans made out of the company's funds. "3. The arrears of cello due by directors. " Firsts—ln regard to the new shares of 1846-7, it is necessary to call attention to the report of the directors at the special general meeting of 17th November, 1846. This report embraced recommendations to apply to Parlia ment, in the next session, for the various projects which were the subject of fourteen resolutions, all of which were passed unanimously by the meeting, the reception of the report having been previously moved by the chair man, and seconded, with expressions of approbation, by Mr. Sergeant Gaselee. These various projects, if all sanctioned by Parliament, would have occasioned an ex penditure of nearly 7i- millions. "dThis report also gave a general indication of the terms on which it was proposed by the directors to raise the necessary capital, amounting to 6,028,0001., and the meeting unanimously approved of the terms, and referred it to the directors to carrying the details into effect. "Immediately after the meeting, the directors accord ingly sent a copy of such detailed plan to each of the proprietors, calling upon them to declare their option of taking their respective proportions of the New Shares prior to the 30th November. The twelfth clause was in the following terms, viz. : " That all the shares to be issued in pursuance of the above resolutions which shall not be taken according to the option offered to the shareholders, and all such of the said shares as shall become forfeited, shall be dis posed of by the board of directors for the benefit of the company.' " On the 11 th December, 1846, the directors met, and it was reported to them that the following number of shares had been, up to that time, applied for, viz : Shares of 50/., 76,014 ; shares of 401., 8,998; whilst the number, which it will appear by the first clause it had been deemed expedient forthwith' to allot, were as lot lows:—Shores of 501., 92,662; shares of 401., 12,000; and the deposits actually received were only to the ex tent of 63,850 shares, or upon about 20,000 shares less than those applied for as above. " On observing this result, it was evident to the direc tors, on whom rested the responsibility of having the subscription completed and the deeds signed and depo sited by the 31st of December, that an immediate and further allotment of shares was necessary. The conditions on which these shares were originally issued offered no great immediate or prospective advan tages, being that 5 per cent. should be paid out of capital upon the amounts called up for six years, after which time they were to rank with the general stock of the company. These conditions were subsequently altered by Parliament disallowing the payment of the interest cut of capital, end the shares (cut down from 501. each to 16/. 13s. 4d.) were afterwards registered as thirds, not entitled to either dividend or interest till after the Ist July, 1848, and then only to the ordinary dividend. " At the date in question the shares bore no more than a nominal premium (10s. to 15s. per share), and left no probability that any considerable amount could be lisp sod of on the Stock Exchange, within the very limited time then available, without injuring those pro prietors who had accepted their allotments, and the only course appeared to le.!, that the die ectors, with such parties as they could immediately influence, should take up afu ther portion of the statues. After much reluc tance to incur so large an additional liability, this course was adopted ; but as the directors had already been subjected to the deposits ors their own potion or the new scrip, and as the additional sums required were in some cases 'erase and as the parties were not to have possession of their scrip, a deferred payment (with in terest), to such as fouuei the immediate paymeest of the deposit incooveaient, became a nece , sary part of the ar rangement. The conditions on which the new scrip was alloted by the board, were as follows: " Tne deed to be signed by each party, for the shares taken. " Twenty five per cent. of the amount of the deposit - to be raid immediately, and security for the balance to be given; the company to retuiu the shares till payment of such balance; such payments to be made—one-half in three months, one-quarter in four months, and one-quarter in five months, from Dec. 11, 1846. " No party to have his scrip (even if paid for) deli vered up in less than three months, in order that these allotments might by no possibility come into competition with those of the general shareholders for that period. "On these terms, 15,000 shares were accepted. Four of tho parties paid their entire deposits immediately, and as respects the whole, the agreement was rigidly ad hered to, except as to the precise dates of the payment of the stipulated instalments, the completion of which was in some cases allowed to be deferred. The whole, however, has long since been paid up, with interest. It may to necessary to state here, that the Bank of Eng land rate of discount on the 12th December, 1846, was 3 per cent„ and remained at that rate till 14th January, when it became 3i, and was not raised to 5 per cent. till the month of April, at which rate it remained till S p tember, and that the parties were charged interest on their subscriptions, at the rate of 4 per cent., until 17th May, 1847, and at the rate of 5 per cent. from that date "In the carrying out of this arrangement the cheques of the company were issued, when required, in favour of the respective parties:—ln some instances, merely to enable the necessary transfer to be made in the com pany's books, such cheques never having passed out of the possession of the company, whilst in others the cheques were handed to the parties, paid by them to their own bankers, and cheques drawn on the latter and paid to the company for the full deposit. In all these cases the transaction in the company's books has been denominated a loan, even where the parties never had the cheques in their possession, and the whole have thus been returned as loans in answer to an order made by the House of Lords in tie last session of Parliament, though, in the ordinary sense of the term loan,' it must appear wholly inapplicable to the circumstances of this deferred payment. Alter the above explanation, it may appear unnecessary to state that these transactions have no connexion whatever with the preference (7 per cent. deposit) shares, which were created a year afterwards; but the name of thirds' having been sometimes assigned to those shares, as well as to the issue of 1846, proprietors have con founded the two description of shares, and it is therefore right to repeat that all the above matters had regard to the unprivileged shares of 1846-7, and not to the prefer ence shares of 1847-8. " The directors believe that this bare statement of the facts sufficiently disposes of the imputation, so far as this matter is concerned, of their having borrowed the money of the company to pay their calls during the panic, charging themselves with about one-half the current rate of interest; but the question still remains, were the shares thus allotted really disposed of with the view to the benefit of the company, or for the private advantage of those wino accepted them ? It may be urged, that though the proprietors at large have unquestionably been benefited by the additional capital thus actually paid up, and though the transaction shows to the parties themselves a very heavy loss, yet the point of gain or loss does not affect the question. To all eendid and unpreindiced minds, however, it will be sufficient to advert to the circumstances of the times, to the conditions under which the allottees bound them selves, and to the quotations of the Stock Exchange, to prove that for the liability they then assumed no rea sonable motive can be assigned but that by which the directurt affirm that they were actuated—the benefit of the ccmpaey. If the directors could have been influ enced by any lower inducement, they need not have waited till the close of 1846 for colourable excuses to help themselves on occasions where profit was not distant or doubtful, but certain and immediate. In the year 1837, when it was necessary to raise ca pital to finish the original line to Southampton, new shares were offered to the proprietors at 50 per cent. discount, and a considerable proportion of the subscrip tion list remained unfilled. The directors of that day (several of whom remained in the board in November, 1846, and some of whom are still members ofit)sub ecribed for the de ficiency iu addition to the proportion of the new stock which they took up on their own account; the shares afterwards rose in value, and though the risk of the transaction was borne by the directors individually, the shareholders at large had the entire benefit of the profit (21,807/. 10s. 3d.), which was carried to the credit of the company. " In 1841, 1843, 1844, and 1846, new capital was suc cessively created for the purposes of those respective periods; on each occasion there were parties who (from one cause cr other) omitted to accept of their propor tions; on each occasion the beard had the opportunity of abusing their trust, and on the two most important oc casions was distinctly invested by the proprietors with powers to dispose of the shares not accepted ; but in THE SUN, none of these instances, where profit was certain, did they exercise that power by allotting - to themselves or others any portion whatever of the surplus shares, which have remained in every case the property of the company. " 2. As to loans made out of the company's funds to ' directors and others:— " Towards the close of 1846 it was evident that, for ' some time at least, notwithstanding the considerable expenditure going forward on works, a large floating balance would remain in hand, a portion of which the directors deemed it advisable to employ temporarily in loans at interest on security. In this manner, on the security of shares of this company amply covering the amount, various sums were lent between December, 1846, and February, 1848, to seven individuals, three of whom were directors; the total amount of such loans was under 50,000 L, he rate of interest five per cent. With one exception, the whole of those sums were repaid with interest when required by the directors. The exception is that of a shareholder (not a director) largely interested in the South-Western Railway. The directors not being able to obtain re payment from him at the stipulated period, did precisely as they would have done in the management of their own affairs, they obtained payment for one half the amount, and took adequate security on real property for the remainder. " It way be here proper to remark that, in the occa rional disposition of balances in hand, the directors have been guided by no other rule than that of obtaining the highest rate of interest consistent with good security ; and whilst in the course of several years, the aggregate amount of interest thus earned must be considerable, no loss has ever been sustained by the company. The loans to members of the direction were certainly accepted at the time, under the belief that the accommodation was mutual ; but the directors cannot now be insensible to the objections to which such loans are liable ; for, how ever convenient and advantageous to the company they may be, as mere money transactions, every such advan tage is more than neutralised, if misconception and dis trust are thereby occasioned. 1 " 3. The Directors' Arrears of Call :—lt may be well. at once, to state that it is understood that the remarks on this subject, have been pointed exclusively at two mem bers of the board. These gentlemen (Messrs. Chaplin and W. Reed) have requested that there may be no re serve as to their names, or as to the circumstances under which these arrears have arisen. First, therefore, as re gards Mr. Chaplin " It is well known that Mr. Chaplin has, for the last ten years, been a very large shareholder in the com pany, that he has, on all occasions, taken his full pro portion of all new creations of shares, besides, on some occasions, purchasing shares, and that his interest as a shareholder exceeds that of any proprietor. The ex treme confidence which led him to risk so large a pro party in, and to bind his fortunes,to this company, pre vented his being a seller of shares when he might have realised very large profits, and has always made him unwilling to diminish his interest at every succes sive period of decline in pricess, whilst the repeated calls upon the large number of s hares he held have conse quently brought upon him fresh liabilities. Mr. Chaplin was entitled to rely on his other large resources to enable him to meet those liabilities; but the circumstances of the times at the end of the year 1847, followed by the French Revolution, have operated in rendering these re sources unavailable, without excessive sacrifice. "In the spring of 1845 Mr. Chaplin lent to the com pany the sum of 43,000 at 31 per cent., which was placed to his credit in the ledger ; the calls up to the end bf 1847 being:placed to his debit there. Up to the 31st May. 1846, he remaiued a creditor of the company. " The several calls and deposits for new shares at the close of 1846 brought a considerable balance against him, which was increased during 1847. The various sums paid in liquidation of these claims by Mr. Chaplin to the eompany during the distressing years 1847 and 1848, and to this date, amount in the aggregate to 106,2191. 19s. 9d., leaving him still in arrear of call 48,2451., exclusive of the optional calls. Mr. Chaplin, at this time, is a holder of stock, upon which 194,5741. has been paid. " Mr. W. Reed's arrears of calls (exclusive of the optional calls) amount to 10,0001; they arise solely on 1,500 new shares taken up by him on the invitation of the directors in December, 1846, being a portion of the extra 15,000 thirds of 1846-47 ;allotted under the cir cumstances already explained. The whole of the calls on his other shares are fully paid. Mr. Reed was not then a director of the company. but became so in February, 1847. The remarks already made in re spect to Mr. Chaplin apply in some degree to Mr. Reed ; both have been long associates with the South-Western. Company ; both have had a confident opinion of its resources, and both were peculiarly affected by the adverse turn of affairs, and especially by the unexpected revolution in Paris, in February, 1848, which so seriously injured railway pro perty in France; and it may be added, that both have been especially marked by the seal and energy with which they have devoted themselves to the service of the South- Western Company. Taking all these circumstances fairly into view, the directors are willing to abide by the judgment of any unbiassed and honourable body cf gentlemen, as to how far it was possible for them to regard these cases otherwise than as justly entitled to the same just co:isideration as was extended to the utmost to every other proprietor. To the same tribuna , they are also willing to refer the general question, of whether in any degree it can be justly alleged in regard to the accusations brought against tbem, that they have sought their own individual advantage at the expense 01 the proprietors." The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings of the day, entered into a lengthened detail of the history et the undertaking, and exhorted the proprietors ti abandon the system of bickering, which had of let , characterized their proceedings. Many circumstances had arisen to depress the value of their property, but he protested, upon his honour, that the directors had done all they could to overcome them, and advance the interest of the shareholders. The practice of cast ing obloquy upon the Executive of a railway had been too freely indulged in, and he was not surprised that his own board had come in for its share of abuse, but no matter whatever the imputations were that hac been cast upon him and his brother directors, he could assure the meeting that there was not the sha dow of a feundation for them. Ile admitted that their past policy had been some times faulty, but were not the proprietors, as well as the directors, as much to blame for this ? All the sehemes they had promoted, and some of them certainly were most de tective, and had turned out most disastrous, had been fully sanctioned by the shareholders after due delibe ration, and it was not till that approval was obtained that the directors ventured to prosecute them with energy. True, many of their calculations had beer, negatived by results, while many of their works had proved failures in a pecuniary sense, but that conk not be charged as the fault of the directors. They re commended their plans and schemes, believing then. them to be for the interest of the proprietors; and if they had failed, which he certainly was not pre pared to deny, they ought not to be charged with having deliberately deluded the shareholders, but rather that they had simply committed au error of judgment. Now, he put it to the shareholders, did they think men of character and station like those on this board could be guilty of the offences which had been laid at their door ? Why, leaving out of the question station and character, the stake they held in the concern was too large and extensive to admit of their trifling with its affairs ; but it would be useless their attempting to recover their lost posi tion unless they had the confidence of the great majority of the proprietors. The public would have no faith in the undertaking while they conti nued to disagree in the manner they had done. Something, therefore must be done to get rid of the stigmas which bad been cast upon the board of di rectors, and, as there was no foundation whatevet for them, he and his colleagues thought that the best plan of disabusing the public mind on the subject was to have the matter fully and Impartially in vestigated by a committee of shareholders. He had therefore to move, in conclusion,,that a committee be appointed to investigate the charges and statements made against the integrity of the directors at the last special general meeting, and any other charge affecting the honesty and probity of the directors the committee might think fit to inquire into. Lord MORELY had much pleasure in seconding the resolution, being quite confident that the result of the investigation would satisfy the world that the imputations which had been made against the board of Directors were wholly and entirely groundless. Mr. JOHNSON wished to know what proportion of the falling off in their receipts arose from bad times —what proportion were from the depression in the money market, and what proportion arose from the reduction of charges? The CHAIRMAN was not in a position to give these proportions, but he did not think any great falling off resulted from the reduction of charges. The charges were reduced in 1846, but they were now at the maximum. Mr. IliNwicx did not think it necessary, after the report, and the candid statement of the chairman, to have the proposed ivestigation. The majority of the shareholders, he was convinced, were fully satisfied that the depression of their property resulted from untoward circumstances, and not from any breach of faith, or misconduct of the directors, and would therefore, with the permission of the meeting, move as an amendment a vote of confidence in the direction. Mr. Sisow cordially seconded the amendment, and protested that it was not only unfair to the directors, but highly injurious to the company that these un founded charges should be so unscrupulously in dulged in. Mr. MAYE, of Manchester, was not satisfied either with the report or the statement of the Chairman, who, he thought, had good cause to say, "Heaven save me from my friends 1" The Chairman, had, however, told them that it was necessary for the interest of the company, and indis p:nsibly necessary for the vindication of his own character th a t an i nqu iry s ho u ld b e h a d th an u p jumps one of his f r i en d s an d sa y s , " P oo h ! poo h! we don't want it." li e , f or one, Lowevtr, did Ns ant it, and until the investigation had taken place neither he nor his fellow shareholders in Manchester would be contented to allow the pr esen t b oar d to reta i n the i r existing position. Lord .I.IIORELT entreated the mover of the amend ment to withdraw it, and allow the committee of inquiry to be appointed. The directors were anxious that this course should be adopted, and he trusted the LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 22, 1849 original resolution would be agreed to, and any new charges reserved for the committee. Mr. HANWICK declined to comply with this re quest. Mr. KATE then proceeded to enter into some details connected with the loans that the board of directors had made to themselves and others, out of the funds of the company, which it would be seen he had collected from a Parliamentary return, and called upon the auditors to give some explanation of the circum stances under which the loans were made. He con. eluded by thating that at a meeting of the Manchester shareholders—those whom he now represented—came to the following resolution :—" That any investigation to be satisfactory to the shareholders at large, as cal culated to re-establish confidence in the Board of Di rection, must be full, searching, and impartial, em bracing all the affairs of the company and ma nagement and proceedings of the directors, and must be conducted by shareholders of known and acknowledged character and station, wholly un connected with and uninfluenced by the directors, tnd that the directors ought to pledge themselves to give in person such information as may be required if them, as well as to produce and show without any reserve all Woks and accounts under their care and control. Mr. R. D. MANGLES ' M.P., wished to say a few words, and they should be but a very few as his time was valuable. He had come there to investigate charges of fraud against the directors, and he pro rested against all idea of their going into investigation of the past policy of the company. Mr. KAYE protested that neither he nor his friends had made any charges of fraud against the directors. Mr. R. D. MANGLES was not present at the last meeting, but he certainly understood that the charges were charges of fraud. Now the chairman had admitted that his board had fallen occasionally into error in prosecuting some of their undertakings; but he asked at the same time what other railway board in the kingdom had not committed similar mistakes ? The Hon. Gentleman might have gone further, and asked what body of railway shareholders was there in the country that had not fallen into error ? Why, he remembered the day when the shareholders were loud in throwing out taunts against the directors for not proceeding fast enough with her schemes and as for the advice that came from Manchester, let them remember this that not a bankruptcy had taken place of late years in the north which was not attributable to the bankrupts having entered too largely in railway speculations, and he therefore could not help feeling that this advice came with a bad taste from the Manchester proprietor. A PROPRIETOR here rose to order, but before he could utter a single word, the vast majority of the meeting rose ed maw, and set up a deafening cries of " Turn him out." The proprietor, however, stood his ground for some time, but to no purpose ; the yells and shouts ultimately beat him down, and Mr. MANGLES proceeded with his address, observ ing that the present policy of railway shareholders reminded him forcibly of the conduct of a child, who, when he ran up against a chair, turned round and pummelled it. He protested against their entering upon the sea •f general policy. The question must be narrowed into a personal one, and in order to come at once to it, the best thing they could do was to agree, without further delay, to the original resolution. Mr. Serjeant GAZELEE, amidst renewed confusion, claimed the right to address the meeting, but it was some time before he could obtain a hearing. At length silence was restored, when the Learned Sergeant was understood to say, that both the sratement and the pamphlet of the chairman were capable of refutation. He would not, however, endeavour to enter upon it then, but leave it for the committee to dispose of all the questions that had been raised, either for or against Lhe directors. Let it be distinctly understood what the directors were charged with. Those who im pugned the past policy of the directors, did not attribute the falling of in the receipts to the carrying out of extension to the south, but to their wasteful expenditure upon the Waterloo-bridge, the Windsor and Brent rord and such like lines, and if the directors could succeed in satisfying the minds •f the committee upon the points connected with those lines he and those who acted with him would be the first, not only to support a vote of confidence in them, but to vote each of them 2,0001. a yevr for life if the share holders so wished it. The CHAIRMAN having heard patiently the state ments against him and his brother-directors, now wished to explain to the meeting the animus which had characterised the proceedings and actuated the feelings of the committee appointed at the last meeting. Mr. Kaye, not content with looking into his (the chairman's) own private affairs as disclosed by the books of the company, had the indelicacy to go to his bankers and question them as to the cash balance he nad in their hands on the occasion of their paying to the company on his account a suns of 50,0001. — (Shame.) But that was not all. He understood that the committee entered upon a lengthened inves tigation upon the pass-systetn, but, not content with the pass-book, they sent down an especial commission to Basingstoke to examine the station-master there upon the subject of his (the Chairman's) family pass ing olong the line tree.—Shame.) Now, he put it to the meeting, were such men fit to govern this company. Mr. Locke, M.P., the former engineer of the com pany, amidst some confusion protested that the statement of the chairman was unfounded. He had sat on the committee referred to, and he had no hesitation in stating that the statement he had just made as to the pass system was entirely unfounded. The fact was there had been whisperings out of doors as to the manner in which the chairman distributed his passes, and the investigation referred to by him was insti tuted by himself, and at his own request, to get rid of the insinuations that were indulged in out of doors.— (Hear, hear.) Now with regard to the immediate question under discussion, he would at once state that he did not believe the resolu tion moved from the chair would be pro ductive of no good, nor would it result in clearing the characters of the directors. He was free to admit, with the Chairman, that he had frequently advised policies that had proved most suicidal ; and with the same frankness he would confess that he had no confidence in the existing board. He did not mean to impute to them any misconduct— they had been only guilty of errors of judgment, like himself, but in the altered circumstances of the time and the undertaking, they are not fit men to manage this groat company. Who: be wanted was a thorough change; but no personal inquiry of this sort could produce that change ; and if the directors, for whom ee entertained the highest respect, were really desirous of receiving the confidence of thcia 'shareholders, and the respect of the world, they would at once adopt the course hehad suggested. The CHAIRMAN accepted the explanation of the Hon. Gentleman, and expressed his deep regret at hav:ng misunderstood the matter relating to passes . After some further discussion, Captain MOORSONE, who stated that he represented 34,0001. worth of stock, announced his intention to vote against the original resolution, believing with Mr. Lock, that the only method to establish the stability of the company was a thorough change in the system of management. Mr. HAYES was at a loss to know what charges had been made against the directors. He certainly had heard none, and he, therefore, could see no reason for enquiry. Mr. SMITH replied, that at the last meeting the directors were charged with mis-appropriating the funds of the company during the panic, and that was the charge to be enquired into. Mr. BAKER, who was accused of making this charge, repudiated any thing of the sort. He made no charge, he simply asked the Chairman, at the last meeting, whether it was true or not that such and such snms had been appropriated in such and such a manner. Mr. Under-sheriff WIRE supported the original resolution, believing that the directors would come out of the inquiry with clean hands. After some further discussion, the amendment was negatived, and the original resolution carried by a large majority. The re• election of the committee was then entered upon and proceeding when our reporter left. EXCHEQUER.—(THIS DAY.) (Sittings in Nisi I'rius, at _Guildhall, before the LORD - - CHIEF BARON and a Common Jury.) The Court was occupied during the greater portion or the day with the case of "Johnson v. Boulcott," which possessed no feature of interest, the only question lacing as to 1611, which it was alleged belonged to a bankrupt estate. The Learned Judge thought there was no evi d?nce to go to the jury, and accordingly a verdict under his direction was found for the defendant. ASPREY v. DELAHIY . The plaintiff was an attorney and solicitor, carrying on business at Furnival's Inn, and the defendant was a gentleman residing in Hertfordshire, and the action was brought to recover 3001. upon a mortgage dated 25th November, 1842, and interest, at the rate of 51. per cent. The defence was that the deed was for 4001., while, in reality. the debt was only 3001.; and this being so, it was contended flat the deed was a corrupt bargain and con trivar ee to t‘ et more than 5/. per cent. interest, and thus to avoid the oper pion of the usury law. The CHIEF BARoN in summing up, said there could be no doubt that interest above 5 per cent. was illegal where the security was upon land, but the present deed was free from any defect whatever and no evidence had been given of usury, therefore their verdict ought to be for the plaintiff. The Jury accordingly returned a verdict for the Vaintiff 3001. debt, and 1051. interest. Mr. Yira . son appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Cham bers for the defendant. IRELAND. (FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.) DUBLIN, FRIDAY EVENING.—There has been a fierce discussion in the corporation these two days, on a motion of Mr. Reynolds, M P., for the reduction of the town-clerk's salary from 5001. to 2501. per annum —that functionary at the same time to give up his entire attention to the business of the office. This would be putting on the screw to some purpose, for Mr. Ford, the town clerk, who holds no less than eight situations, gets the business of town clerkship performed for 1001. a year, and pockets the other 4001. The "discussion" to-day approximated very closely to a pugilistic contest—five or six members essaying to speak at a time, and all sorts of pugilistic gestures exhibited by the disputants. Of course, Mr. Reynold's motion will be defeated for this reason he is a director of the Hibernian Bank, to which establishment there are but very few of their honours indebted for accommodation. The Protection movement is still reaching. At a meeting called for Tuesday by the landlords of Long ford, and presided over by the High Sheriff, a son of Baron Lefroy, one of the judges, the assembled mag nates were completely foiled by an amendment pro posed by a gentleman named Fleming, to the follow ing effect : " Resolved,—That the first and most important step towards enabling all classes of the community to meet the difficulty of the preseet times rests with the landlords of the country, who, by a prtnipt and sufficient reduction of their rents, combined with the privilege to their te nents of a long and secure tenure, can at once promote the improvement of their own estates, the employment of the labouring population, and the welfare of all." This amendment, which was received with im mense cheering, was seconded by the Rey. Mr M‘Gayer ; and tho alternative being given to Mr Lefroy to put it or leave the chair, he adopted the latter course, when it was carried with tremendous acclamation, all the Protectionist landlords quitting the Court-house. The truth of the matter is, the farmers of Ireland are 'willing enough to go with the landlords in an attempt to re-imposela tribute on the manufacturing industry of England ; but they must have a qutd pro quo, and that to such an extent as would involve the loss of many landlords' rights of reversion. Thus selfishneas combats with selfishness ; and the bitterness between both parties is becoming daily more intense. The tone of some Liberal journals which had been wavering, has become far more firm against any food-tax, from the events of the past week ; and even those which had declared for " some protection," give it up as hopeless, and revert to the only other mode of relieving Ireland a sweeping reduction of the rack-rents. Amongst the reverses of fortune which improvidence and bad times have produced, there is scarcely one more striking than the case of a western peer whose ancestor came to this country under William the Thirh, and whose magnificent mansion, built at an expense of some one hundred and !twenty thousand, now stands tenantless, except by the keepers of a receiver. The late owner is about to emi grate to Australia ; and I understand so reduced is this once princely family, that the young ladies have been compelled to enter other houses as governesses, &c. Another instance is that of a baronet, ostensible owner of a large property, being a poor-law collector on his own (formerly) estate, and another baronet is acting, at this moment, as turnkey in Cork gaol. THE FUNDS, DEC. 21.—Three per Cent. Consols, for opening, 161 * ; Three-and-a-Quarter per Cent. Stock, 961; Hibernian! Bank, 25; Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway, si; Great Southern and Western, 30; Mining Company of Ireland, 5; Dublin and Belfast Junction, si; Midland Great Western Railway and Royal Canal, 23f. to her chargeability she swore that she was the wife of Mark Smith, and was married to him in Sculcoates church. This was disproved, and Mark Smith him self swore that he was never married to her. His LORDSHIP said, if the jury could rely on the evidence of Mark Smith they must find the prisoner guilty. The jury found the prisoner Guilty, and she was sentenced to two months' imprisonment. This case concluded the business of this court. NISI PRIUS COURT. (Before Mr. Justice WILLIAMS). William Hanson was indicted for perjury, for having sworn at the last winter assizes at York, in a prosecution against five men, named West, Leigh towler, Clifford, Hall, and Jowett, charged with a highway robbery upon him, that he had not said " that he could not swear to any of:the parties that robbed him " to two policemen, named Routh and Wright immediately after the robbery; and that he had not said that the men that robbed him had blue smocks on, and he could not identify them. Mr. Blanchard and Mr. Shaw prosecuted, and Mr. hardy defended the prisoner. It appeared that the prisoner had prosecuted the five men named in the indictment for a highway rob bery, at the last winter assizes, committed upon him very early in the morning of the 25th of July; and after a great many witnesses had been examined on their behalf they vi ere convicted and sentenced to be transported for ten years. On that trial the prisoner swore that he had never said to two constables, to whom he made a complaint immediately after the rob bery, "that the men who robbed him were dressed in blue smocks, and he could not identify them." Wit nesses were called to prove that he said this at the trial ; and one of the constables was called to prove that he had used those words after the robbery. The witnesses, however, differed so much in their account of what took place at the trial, and also as to what the prisoner had said after the robbery, that the counsel for the prosecution said there was so much discrepancy in the evidence that they could not go on with the case. Mr. HALM', on the part of the prisoner, thought it right to say that he was prepared with evidence to show that the prisoner was materially confirmed in the statement which he had made at the trial. His LORDSHIP, in directing the jury to acquit the prisoner, said, the case turned on the recollection of conversations, and the very witnesses called to prove the conversations contradicted each other, and also gave totally different accounts of what had happened at the trial. This case showed how dangerous it was in this, and also in other cases, to act conclusively on the reports of conversations. - • The jury immediately Acquitted the prisoner. This case concluded the assizes. MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, Dec. 21. (Before Mr. Sergeant ADAMS, Assistant• Judge, and a Bench of Magistrates.) William Squires and William Weehes wore in dicted for an assault committed upon a gentleman named Hardwick. Mr. Parry conducted the case for the prosecution. It appeared that the prosecutor is a gentleman who is extensively engaged as a shipper of goods to the colonies, and lives at N 0.12, South-street, Finsbury. In the course of the last month the prosecutor entered into an arrangement to buy two pianofortes from the defendant Squires for the sum of 461. One of these instruments only was delivered in due course of the agreement on Saturday, the 24th ult, ; and for that the prosecutor at once gave the defendant a cheque for 231. The second, however, was not delivered until late in the evening of the following Saturday, but on its being tried by a professional friend of the prosecutor it was found to be of a very inferior character. Upon this discovery being made, the prosecutor called upon the defendant Squirts, and told him to fetch the instrument away, as he would not keep it at any price. He also desired that he would give him the average price of the two, so that he might at once pay him any difference there might be in the price of the pianoforte which had been in the first instance delivered and the amount of 231. which he had already paid for it. Squires ac cordingly put the average at 251. for the bettermost instrument, and 211. for the inferior one ; but he at the same time said that he would fit up another, which should be of an equally good quality with the first, the prosecutor offering to make up the differ ence by paying in the whole 4sl. instead of 461. as originally agreed upon. Thus they parted, with the understanding that Squires was to send for the in ferior instrument. Accordingly, on the 3d of the present month, Squires, in company with the other defendant, Weekes, proceeded to the house of the prosecutor. Weekes is the proprietor of some vans, and had conveyed the pianoes to the prosecutor's. When the two defendants had entered the house, the prosecutor, having been called down stairs, pointed out to them the inferior instrument us that which was to be removed. After they had taken that out of the house the defendants commenced making preparations for the purpose of taking the other one also, where upon the prosecutor interfered, remarking that that pianoforte suited him, and, as he had paid 231. towards its value on the delivery, he should keep it. Squires would appear at once to have flown into a rage, tx i claiming that as he was to take one he would take both; he laid hold of the prosecutor by the coat-col lar and swung him round to Weekes, who then held him by the collar with both hands until the defendant, with the assistance of four or five other persons, had managed to accomplish the removal. In consequence of the noise which was made, a Mrs. Pettifer, to whom the house in question belonged, came into the room where this scene was being enacted, when, seeing the prosecutor in the rough handling of the defendant Weekes, she went up and told the latter that he ought to be ashamed of himself for his conduct. Weekes, instead of expressing any symptoms of re gret, said that if she had been swindled out of her property she would have adopted just the same steps for its recovery as those which they were acting upon. Several witnesses were called in support of the case for the prosecution, all of whom spoke in the most positive and distinct terms as to the violence of the treatment the prosecutor had received from the two defendants. The defendants, however, in their defence, denied that the slightest violence had been used in the affair ; indeed they asserted that the prosecutor had not only pointed out the instruments to them, but that he had stood by and looked on as they were removing them. Trey then called two sons of Squires, and one of his apprentices, who maintained that there had not been any violence shown towards the prosecutor, but that, on the contrary, he had himself taken up a piece of iron, with which he had threatened to strike one of the defendants. The Learned JUDGE having summed up, The jury returned a verdict of Guilty against both of the defendants. The Learned JUDGE said that this was a very serious case in itself, but it had been rendered doubly so by Squires having put his own sons into the witness-box for the express purpose of their com mitting wilful perjury. There were many matters to be taken into consideration, and therefore he should respite the sentence until a future session, and in the mean time something must be done by Squires in respect of the money which the prosecutor bad paid for one of the instruments. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. GUILDHALL. Sir P. Laurie called at the justice-room in the course of the morning, to state that he had received a very pressing letter from a poor man at Dundee, who was anxious to ascertain the ftte of a missing brother, and Sir Peter would feel obliged if any one would take the trouble to give him any information on the subject. The brother had heard that such a person bad been found drowned in the Thames about six months ago, but the newspaper file had been searched in ♦ain. The name of the missing person was James Petrie, and, though a gilder by trade, he was reduced to selling newspapers about railway stations when he was last beard of. He is represented as being a man of middle stature, and thin, and as having rather reddish whiskers, blue eyes, a some what elongated face, with a nose three inches long, and rather thick and prominent, especially towards the point. Mr. Alderman HUNTER begged to announce the receipt of 20/. in aid of the poor-box of Guildhall police-office, the annual donation of the Goldsmiths' Company, and requested an acknowledgment through the public press. THAMES. James Dailey, a fish hawker, was brought before Mr. Ingham, as he was about to leave the bench, charged with assaulting Police-constable Charles Rowbery, 347 K, in a most brutal manner. The prisoner and the policeman appeared to have been engaged iu a severe conflict, and were covered with mud. Rowbery stated, that about halt past two that afternoon he saw the prisoner in the Broadway, Stratford, Essex, very drunk and disorderly, and sur rounded by a crowd of turbulent characters. Witness said to him, " Dssey, go home." The prisoner im mediately seized him by the collar, threw him on his back_ in a heap of mud, and fell upon him, exclaiming, " You --, you tried to rob me on Saturday night. I wish it was dark for your sake; if it was, I - would servr you as one of your was served twelve months' ago." The prisoner, in his defence, said he 'was drink ing at the Angel public-house, and went out in front of the place .with a pint pot in his hand, when the poli.43eman interfered, and said, "If you don't drink the porter very quickly, I shall lock you up ;" ar,d, be cause he would not swallow his porter immedHely, laid hold of him. The prisoner then called the ma gistrate's attention to the state of his clothes, which were torn, and to the bruises on his face. Mr. INGHA3I—I have no doubt those 17ave been caused by your own violence. James Brown, 308 K, said he was called upon to extricate Rowbery, who was in the prisoner's grasp. Dasey was kneeling upon Rowbery, and had hold of his throat, and was punching him as hard as he was able. Be heard the prisoner say he would have Rowber)'s life. Waller, the messenger of the court, said that while he was an inspector of the K division the prisoner savagely assaulted two police-constables, bit one on the thigh, which he severely lacerated, and kicked the other on the mouth after he had knocked him down. For this offence the prisoner was committed to prison for one mouth by the Ilford Bench. INGUAM said it was perfectly clear the priso ner was a most brutal ruffian, accustomed to such outrages as these, and the expression he made use of to Rowbc.ry, that if he caught him in the dark he would do for him, required no explanation. He should not be doing his duty to the public if he did not pass a very severe sentence on such a vagabond as the prisoner. He should order him to pay a fine of 305., and in default of payment commit him to the flowe of Correction at Ilford for 14 days. The prisoner was sent away to gaol. FRANCE. The National Assembly voted yesterday the Bill presented by the Minister of Finance granting the three provisional twelfths of the budget by a majority of 453 to 158. SWITZERLAND. The Federal Assembly of Switzerland elected, on the 17th inst., M. Druey (of the canton of Vaud) President, and M. Mun!zinger Vice-President of the Federal Council for the year 1850. AUSTRIA. A mutiny is said to have broken out in one of the Austrian regiments in garrison at Comorn. The Austrian Government since the conquest of Hungary has lowered the pay of the soldiers, which has occa sioned much discontent in the army, and in the Houh and Deutschmeister Infantry regiments, composed of Viennese, this discontent broke out in murmurs and complaints, which were considered a sedition. These men were summarily condemned to be shot. At the hour fixed for their execution the whole regiment broke out into mutiny. An officer of the staff and several superior officers were killed by the exasperated soldiers. The regiment has been ordered into Lower Austria. PRUSSIA. Intelligence bas been received from Berlin to the 19rh. The Ministry had received from both Chambers the revised draft of the Constitution. There are several points on which the two Chambers have not been able to some to an agreement. These differ ences, it was believed, would be arranged by the Government itself. At the close of the sitting of that day the Secon d Chamber was adjourned for the Christmas holydays till the 4th of January. The Kolner Zeitung of the 21st inst. contains a lengthy dispatch, which the Prussian Cabinet ad dressed to the Austrian Government on the 12th inst., in which it is stated that such is the organiza tion of the Prussian league that it contains the germs of further development ; that by means of voluntary adhesions it is calculated to embrace the whole of' Germany ; and that it would place an alliance with the Austrian States in the place of the former federal union. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Dec. 21. (Sittings at Nisi Prius before the LORD Cnicr BA- Ron and a Special Jury, at Guildhall.) BOSANQURT V. 811ORTRIDGE. The Attorney-General, Mr. Martin, and Mr. Un thank appeared for the plaintiff; Sir F. Thesiger : Mr. Knowles, and Mr. F. Robinson were counse for the defendant. The plaintiff is the representative of the London and Westminster Bank, and this was an action on a scire facias on a judgment for 30,000/. recovered by the bank of the plaintiff against the Newcastle, Shiels, and Sunderland Union Joint Stock Bank. The question raised between the parties was whether on the day the scire facias issued, the 11th of Jan., 1848, the defendant was a shareholder in the New castle Bank, which it is perhaps needless to say is now reckoned among the things that were, the whole concern having suddenly gone to pieces in October, 1847, after having paid for several years, and up to the last moment, a dividend of ten p( r cent. to the fortunate shareholders. It appeared that the defendant was one of the trustees of the bank, and an original shareholder, but that, after selling out from time to time, he parted with his last 100 shares in July, 1847, to a gentleman named Thew, and it was contended by the plaintiff that the transfer con nected with that sale not having been effected accord ing to the terms of the deed of partnership, the defendant had .not thereby divested himself of his connexion with the bank, and that he was accordingly responsible for its debts. On the part of the defendant it was shown that his trusteeship was merely nominal, and that having become dissatisfied with the conduct of the bank he had applied for information to Mr. Chapman, the managing director, to whom the direc tion of the concern had been left by the directors, and that not having received any satisfactory answer he determined to part with his shares. This he did in the usual way adopted at the bank—the assent to the transfer being given verbally by the managing director alone, though the deed required the assent of four directors to any such business. This was admitted to be an irregular mode of proceeding; but it was the only course open to the defendant, the directors holding only quarterly meet ings, instead of those required by the deed. Under such circumstances, Mr. Thew became possessed of the last 100 shares of the defendant, by contract, on the 6th and 13th of July, 1847, at 51. 10s. per share, on 51. paid up; it being agreed that the money should be paid on the 20th of August, and that Mr. Thew should receive the dividend, which would be declared in the interval, at the general meeting; that meeting took place in due course, when a flourishing dividend of 10 per cent. and a " sound business" were reported to the shareholders. On the 20th of August the money passed between the defendant and Mr. Thew, and in the October following the bank was declared to be in insolvent circumstances, and ultimately these proceedings were taken against the defendant. After much discussion it was agreed that a special case should be stated for the opinion of the Court above as to the operation of these transfers upon the liability of the defendant. A verdict was therefore taken for the plaintiff, subject to a special case. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—Yurh, Dec. 20. CROWN COURT.—(Before Justice CRESWELL.) Hannah Smith was indicted for perjury in having falsely sworn that she was married to Mark Smith at Sculcoates church, near Hull. Mr. Thompson prosecuted. It appeared that the prisoner had lived with a man named Mark Smith, at Hull, for some time as his wife, and that he, getting tired of her, left her, and she and a child six months old became chargeable to the parish of Hull; and on an inquiry before the magistrates as THE COUNTRY MARKETS. WAKEFIELD, DEC. 21.—The arrivals this week are moderate, and a fair quantity offering near at hand. The demand to-day is not very extensive for wheat, but holders are firm, and the prices of last week are fully maintained. A betttr inquiry for barley, and the best samples make rather more money. Nu alteration in the value of oats and shelling. Beans sell slowly. New. - Old. WHEAT, per qr. 601bs per bushel:— s. a. s. s. Suffolk, Essex, and Kent, red ... 40 to 43 40 to 43 Ditto, white ... 45 48 45 48 Norfolk and Hunts., red ... 38 —4O 39 —4l Ditto, white ... ... 42 45 43 46 LincoliNhire and Cambridge, red ... 35 —3B /13 41 Ditto, white ... 42 —45 42 44 Yorkshire, red .., ... 35 38 38 40 Ditto, white .. ... 42 45 42 45 Dantzic and Konigsburg, white .. 43 _46 42 —45 Lower Baltic and Hamburgh, red... 38 40 38 40 Mediterranean, red ... 34 37 BARLEY, per quarter of 8 bushels: Norfolk and Suffolk... ... Lincolnshire and Yorkshire .. 29 - 31. .. 25 - 27 Scotch ... ... •• • _ ___ _ Grinding per 30 stone ... ... Foreign ... ... ... ... 23 25 22 24 BEAN,per quarter of 8 bushels 631 b :7 Small, fine ... Ticks ... Foreign ... OATS, per stone : Mealing . Feeding ... ... 29 30 30 32 ... 28 30 28 el ... 27 29 26 30 ... 9d to 10,1 841 to 10i 8d to 9d 8d to 9d Foreigii —d to —d SHELLING, per load of 2611 b ... 22 —23 MALT, per load of 6 imperial bushels PEAS, per Imperial Quarter _ _ 8d to 9d 21 22 34 36 Blue - and white boilers Grey and Feed ... ... 29 - 31 - - - ... 26 - 28 26 - 23 A R RIVALS. Qrs. Wheat ... ... ••, 10,578 Barley ... ... 3 748 Oats •••• ... ... ... 1,324 Beans... ... 658 Peas ... ... ... ... 374 Tares ... ... ... Qrs. Rapeseed ... ... ... 140 Shelling ... ... ... 372 Linseed. .. ... .. Malt •• • ... • • ... Flour •• • .• • •• • ... ...... LIVERPOOL, DEC. 21.—At this day's market there was a fair attendance of the town and country trade, but only a limited demand was experienced for wheat at last Taesday's prices for foreign, and an advance of Id to 2d per 70.bs on new Irish. Oats and oatmeal were in moderate request, and realised f d per 451bs and 3.1 to 6d per load advance. For barley, beans, and peas there was a fair retail sale at lull prices, Fine qualities of flour were held for rather more money, which clucked the sale, but common runs awe quite ne6elected. There was not much inquiry for Indian corn, but holders were firm at 30s per qr fur white, and 28s 6d to 29s qer qr fur prime yellow. EXETER CHRISTMAS MARKET, DEC. 21.—The show of fat meats of every description to-day has probably been the largest ever witnessed in this city. Uo duly chronicle the catering of each particular butcher would occupy an amount of space which at a time like this is out of the question. The thousands of burly yeomanry who have crowded our streets to day cannot but have been struck at the immense quantity of native agricul tural produce, which has met their eye at every turn. The natural consequence of a cheap loaf has been a greater demand for animal food, some of the spare bread being appropriated to the purchase of a bit of meat as well. Pork was also in abundance. There was such a supply of poultry, that it is almost a mystery what will be done with it. Pannier—Turkeys, 5s to 12s each; geese, 4s 64 to 8s do.; ducks, 4s to 6s per couple; fowls. 2s 6d to 4s 64 do; eggs, 12 for Is; butter, is per lb. Pork Carcases—A large supply, which sold at 6s 6d to 7s 9d per score. BRISTOL, DEC. 20.—There was a short supply of English wheat at an advance of is per quarter, with a good demand. English wheat, new, sold at 353 to 42s per imperial quarter. In foreign wheat the transactions were not important, but prices were firm, with an upward tendency. Foreign white sold at 41s to 48s; foi eigti red, fine qualities, 40s to 445; ditto, ordinary qualities, 38s to 40e; ditto, hard, 36s to 396 per 4801bs. For malting barley there was more inquiry, and previous rates fully supported. English malting sold at 27s to 30s per im perial quarter; ditto and foreign grinding were in mode rate demand, sold at 206 to 23s per 400ibs. Oats were of slow sale, though a turn in favour of the seller, Devon and Welsh oats sold at 143 to 15a pv'r imperial quarter ; Irish white sold at 17a to 18s per 3301b5; Irish black sold at 14s 6,1 to 153 6d per imperial quarter. In foreign there was none. Beans were less in demand, and cheaper. English beans sold at 28s to 32s per imperial quarter; foreign ditto, 25s to 283 per 4801bs. The flour trade showed a slight improvement. English seconds sold at 28s to 30s per sack; and American sweet, 23s to 25s per BIRMINGHAM, DEC. 20.—This week the quantity of wheat offering has be-n limited, but our buyers submit to any rise with extreme reluctance, and on the few sales made we believe none has been realised. Barley could only be disposed of by accepting reduced rates. Small parcels of oats have changed hands at former prices. Peas and beans 6d to is per quarter lower. At this day's market there was a fair supply of wheat, and the turn on all qualities (more particularly fine) was in favour of the seller, but we make no alteration in our quota tions. Barley firmly held for the currency of this day se'nnight. In oats no alteration. Beans and peas again 6d to Is per quarter lower. BRISTOL Snout MARKET. Dee. 21.—There has not been any large business done here this week, but the market is extremely firm, and in some instances an ad• ranee of 6d to Is per cwt. has been paid; there is bat a very poor supply at marker. Refined goods are very badly w ,rated, and freely command an advance of is per cwt. Runt is very dull.—Bristol Mercury. RIPON, DEC. 20.—White wheat, 5s 3d to 53 6d, red do 4s 3d to 58 3d; beans, 4s 3d to 48 9d per bushel; barley 22s to 26: ; oats 14s to 21s per quarter. NEWBURY, DEc. 20.—The quantity of wheat in offer to-day is rather small, for which there exists a good demand, end sales were readily elf! cted at an advance of Is to 2s per quarter from the rates of last week. Barley large supply, the demand for which is slack, and although lower race were not generally submitted to, still some quantity remains over 'unsold. Beans, short supply, and fully maintained late rates. Peas and oats, moderate supply, and exceedingly dull in sale, without muon va riatton from the rates of last week. WETHERBY, DEC. 20.—White wheat 163 Od to 18s 03, red ditto 15i Od to 16s Od; barley 24s to 265; beans 12s Od to 143 Od; oats, 8d to 93. KNARESD.ROUGH, DEC. 19.—Wheat, 4s 6d to 5s 63; beans, 4s 3d to 5s 03 per bushel; barley, 24s to 265; oats, 16i to 21a per quarter. SALFORD CATTLE MARKET, DEC. l9.—There was a larger show of beats, but of inferior quality. A fair amount of business was done, and good beef sold at a small advance. Beef, 4d to 54d; sheep, 5d to Sid. Beasts, 1.745; sheep, 4,600. • • • INymouss, Dso. 18.—Wheat, per quarter, weighing 641 b per bushel, 36s to 40s; new ditto, ditto, 00s to 00s ; old barley, per quarter, weighing 541 b per bushel, 20s to 23s ; new ditto, ditto, Ot's to 00s ; oats, 421 b per bushel, 16s to 181 Od. Oatmeal, per imperial boll, 15s ud, second, 14s; barleymeal, 1 Is 8d ; peasemeal, 14: to 15s; bran, per stone, 8d; first flour, per 2EOlb, 34s to 36s ;_seerud, 26s to 28s ; oatmeal, best, per stone of 14Ib imperial, Is 6d to Os Od ; second, is 4d; barleymeal, Is 2d; peasemeal, Is 4d; first flour, 2s 4d cash, 2s 8d credit; second, 2s cash, 2s 3d credit. Pota toes, per stone, 4d to Od ; beef, per pound, 4d to 7d; veal, 4d to 6d; mutton, sel to Ed; pork, 4d to 6d; fowls, each, 00d to 00d; chickens, per pair, 00d to 911 ; ducks, each, 00d t• 00d ; eggs, pm. dozen, 9d to 10d ; butter, fresh, per lb, 8d to 00d; salt, 9d to 10d ; croudie (curds) 2id to Od ; four-pound loaf, cash, 5d to 6d, credit, 5Ad to 61d; coals, per cwt, 9d I hay, per stone, Bcl to 9d. ,T.--.YENTEEDAY. 'Bell Belmont l7B 6d Braddyll Hetton .... lBs 6d Haswell lBB 9d Hutton Heselden ..... ... Jonassohns I Lambton Lumley l7s Id N. Iletton Lyons .. Russell's Hetton Stewart's Whitwell ..... Caradoc ..... Cassop 17s 9d Denison 165 Id lleugh Hall iiartlepool lBs 6d iielloe lB5 Od North Hartlepool l6s 3d South Kelloe l7B 6d ISouth Hartlepool West Hartlepool West Hetton l7B 3. : Brown's ... 165 co Whitworth l5, Od Brown's Gas Bensham ...... .. ...... 155 :41 Brown's Deanery l7s 6d Bea 'eke and Co. Bell and Brown ...... , l7s Odj Maclean's Tees l6. 3d Buraton Killingworth 17s Od!Old Ducks l7s Od Gitt.,,on ........ ......... 16s od Richardson's Tees l6s 3d COAL MARKE' Bate's West Hartley 15s Od! Buddle's W. Hartley 15s 6d Carr's Hartley Chester Main l6B 3d Davison's West Hartley 15s bd East Adairs Main l4B Od, Hasting's Hartley l ss 6 d i Hedley's Hartley Holywell Main ... l7s Od North Percy Hartley lss Od New Tanfield l4s 6d Old Tanfield Ord's Redheugh Ravensworth'sW.Hart 14s 9d South Peareth Canfield Moor Tanfield Moor Butes l4s Cu Townley l6s Od Walker's Primrose West Adairs 14s Ou ". est Hartley West Wylam Wylain Windsor's Pontop.... W all's End, &c 6„,:t or tij ......... 17s Out Se) rtiottr "lees Iledtry tiarton Hotspur ............ 3u lieaton t. Helen's Tees ..... 16s 6d ft,ef ....... 18- 6c Hilda Vest Tees ... 16s 6d Killingworth l7, Uu Alorrison Northumberland Original Gibson Peareth Riddell's l6s 9d Walker ...... iVoi),!ythdd Juwp n Hartley 1:/erwentwAter Hartley 15: , (id 'loward's W. H. Nett! l s 6d Nixon', Merthyr mud Cardiff ... '2 1 s 3 Hartley ...... 15s Gd Wharne ...... 17s Ou Eden Main Lambton PriMro3o 176 6d, Silapethorpe l6s 9d WhitworthCoke 21s Od Ships at market, 601. CALEDONIAN ASYLUM. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sin,—l read the r e p or t s which appsappeared i n Th e Sun, containing the proceedings of two meetings of the guardians of the Caledonian Asylum, in reference to corporal punishment to the children of that insti tution—and also the forcible leading article which you devoted to this cruel mode of punishment ; and I am more than gratified to observe in the Sunday Times of yesterday, the 16th, an able, an enlight ened, and an impartial letter, addressed " To the People of England, on the Flogging of Females in London," by its popular correspondent, Mr. Greville Brooke. His name is sufficiently known, and his comprehensive views on various subj•ects too fully admired and appreciated, to require any comment. lie hanci!es the subject with so much force and elo quence, that it will re quire all the judicial knowledge of " one Mr. Hector Rose," all the theological end rience of the Rev. Doctor Cumming, and all the military tactics of the Hon. Fox Maule to answer it. At the first of these meetings a motion, moved by Captain Lamont, and seconded by Mr. Strickland, for utterly abolishing corporal punishment was nega tived. Some of the humane guardians thought that if a motion was put or moved at a second meeting, to abolish corporal punishment so far es the girls were concerned, it would be carried ; and accordingly, at a regular meeting of the general Court of Guardians, it was moved by Mr. Craigmyle, and seconded by Mr. Tul!ock, to abolish corporal punishment so far as the girls were concerned—which met with the same tate as the former. I appeal to you as one of the leading journalists of this country, is such a system of cruelty to be toler ated in this enlightened age ? The guardians of this institution would not even abolish corporal punish ment in the girls' department. Now, Sir, I believe, of all the journalists in this country (and I say so with out disrespect to any of your contemporaries), that you are looked to and expected to represent the wishes of the people in,this country, " neither to give nor to take quarter, but to go on fearlessly in defend ing the rights of the people." I have attended meetings in London, and in various parts of England and in Scotland, where the present deplorable state of that glorious people, the Hunga rians, was discussed. I have heard it discussed aboard steamers, in clubs, in hotels, a n d a t ra il way stat i ons ; and on all occasions I have heard favourable mention made of The Sun newspaper for the energy, the talent, and the philanthropy displayed in its columns for fearlessly exposing the cruelties and alleviating the sufferings of that crest-fallen people. I know well the feeling that exists in the army and navy in regard to the able manner in which you defended the soldier and sailor in your noble endea vours to mitigate the torture of the lash in both services. You succeeded in reducing the number of lashes in both. You fearlessly, and very properly, exposed the cruelties perpetrated by despotic naval captains and commanding officers in the army. You have been instrumental in a very great degree in raising the indignation of Great Britain against Austria and Russia, for having crushed, but not subdued the noble Magyars. Having effected so much in the cause of humanity, I appeal to you to come forw and with all your energy, your power, and intelligence, for the purpose of abolishing corporal punishment. Captain Lamont, the venerable mover of this re solution, is, I understand, grown old in the naval service of our country," and he seems desirous to devote the close of his life in endeavouring to alle viate suffering, and to relieve distress among his fel low-men. I fear I have trespassed too much on your valuable time and space, but if you succeed in removing this mode of punishment, not only from the Caledonian Asylum, but from all the institutions of Great Britain, the mothers of England, and, the intelligent of all classes in the community, will owe you a debt of gratitude. I am, Sir, &c., Dec. 17, 1849. A HIGHLANDER. RAILWAY SHArtt, MARKETS. BRISTOL, Dec. 21. SToce Excimigca.—The share market was tolerably firm to-day. The transactions were as follow:—Eastern Counties, G per cent. Stock, 1 p.—Great Western, Fifths, 10 7 4 —North Staffordshire, 10 dis.— Taff' Vale, New to!. Shares, 1 / 2 p. LIVERPOOL, DEC. 21. STOCK EXCHANOK.—The transactions t -day were as fol low . Caledonian, Preference, ir - London and North- Western, II l Ditto, New Quarters, % p. —Birkenh , ad, Lancashire, and Cheshire (late C. and B. ), 221. 6 per cent. till 1850, 9 1 4—Lancashire and Yorkshire, Futile, 61. 16s. :5(1. -- Midland, Halves, 22 dis.—North Staffordshire, 9"c; dis. South-Eastern and Dover, Consol. (No. 3), 18% —York, Newcastle, and Berwick (G. N. E. Purchase), 6 per cent. till 1850, 4 1 A dis. MANCHESTER, Dac. 21. STOCK EXCHANGE.--The transactions to-day were al follow :—London and North-Western, Manchester and Bir mingham. Quarters (C 1 5-15 p. —Lancashire and York shire, Fifths, 6 11-16 rt. dis.—Ditto, West Riding Union, 20/., 6 3 x i dis. —Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Quar ters (No. 1), 10 7-16 n.— Ditto, Preference, 8 1-16—Ditto, 5 per cent., 3 9-16 n.—North Staffordshire, 9Ty. dia.—South- Eastern and Dover (No. 4), Scrip, 6 7-16.—Birkelhead. Lan cashire, and Cheshire, 20/. Shares, 94! 1 die. Caledonian, Preference, B—Exeter and Exmouth, 3s. BIRMINGHAM, Dxc. 21. S!oci ENCAANCE.— The only transactions to-day were-- London and North-Western, Fifths, N p.—North Stafford shire, 91. 16s. 3d. dis. YORK, Dxc. STOCK EXCHANGE.--The transactions to-day were $8 follow Eastern Counties, Great Northern, 714 York, Newcastle, and Berwick (New.astle Extension), 11 1 ,‘" York aid North Midland, 17. GLASGOW, DEC. '2 O. STOCK EXCHANGE.-- The transactions to-day were Aa' follow: - Aberdeen, Preference, 7/. 14s.— Glasgow, Dumfries/ and Carlisle, 4%—Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr, Prefer ence, 10% - Great Northern, Preference, 5 per cent. Oa' ranteed,B—Monkland, 6 per cent. guaranteed, 13% —Witsbalf and Cultn , s., 40. " The Wilmingtons," a new novel the author of " Emilia W 3 ndham," " T wo Old Me na Tales," &C.. is to be published we understand in a few days. Our readers will no doubt feel a real pleasure at the an': ntuncement of a new work from the pen of this gifted' author, whose writings have been so w(11 characterised by the Dublin University Magazine. "It argues well (says the reviewer) for the character of a people, OK' in their popular literature the good is ever found In association with the beautiful; and we regard the eminent success of this author's works as a very favour able attestation of the soundness of our public opinion. The author is indisputably a writer of true genius and of great power, but is also one who dedicates high en dowments to the service of Him who hes given them. The popularity of such a writer is creditable to a people. Her productions all bear the impress of sterling English morality—all minister to generous emotions, generous scorn of what is base, generous admiration of excellenc' and all inculcate respect for principle, by which emotie o ought to be governed." CLERICAL ONTHOGRAPHIC.—The following is 6 copy of a bill posted on the walls of this town last week.- [ Die parts in italics were written in the blanks of the printed bill.]—" A lecture will be delivered in—The Bridy In Counsell Room—by a Minister of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one Sabath— th At 11 clock furnon 4 Afternon past 6 Lveniny. Subject:—fitrnon Faith a fter:, noon 7he Resurrection Evening 14 hat is Good. Is it credible—is it possible that the impudent clown who had the presumption to issue such a palpable de' monsirationor his gross ignoran ce , s h ou ld rea l ly b a le got one auditor to hear him on S un d a y? W e may w ell blush for our town when it is replied, Yes; he had as audience (though small). And it is no want of charity' that leads us to conclude that such as the minister o' o so we believe his auditors to have been.—lorde 4dvertiser. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—An. Ulcerated Arm cured bi, Holloway's Ointment and Pills.—Mr. R o b er t G regg , j u n., °` Clerkeeland, Clowes, Ireland, was sorely afflicted with a s evere gathering in his armpit, and which discharged very copiousil for nearly three years ; another wound also broke out in 10 1 shoulder. His father felt alarmed, having consulted the most eminent surgeons to no purpose, while his son continued to waste away. At this juncture a friend advised a trial of Hol" loway's Pills and Ointment, which was mad., and in six week. they perfectly cured him. He is now getting fat and hale, the i sinews are restored to their wonted pliability and no discolora tion is visible.—Sold by all Druggists and Professor HollowaP Establishment, 244, Strand, Landau. On the 16th i ns t., at Mon AIRTELL peer-terrace, Cheltenham, th ° lady of W. H. Hooper, Esq., M.D., of a son. On the 16th inst., at Montpellier -cottage, Pancras-valo Camden -town, Mrs. Mardon, of a son. On the 16th inst., in Goswell-street, Mrs. J. H. Whi t. church, cf a daughter. On the 18 , h inst., in Alfred-place, North Brixton, Mrs. . 1. • R. Unwin, of a son. On the 19th inst., at Barnsbury-villas, Mrs.W W. Penton, of a son. On the 19th inst., in York-place, City-road, Mrs. Jobs Bishop, of a son. At B , ulogne-sur-Mer, the wife of the Rev. J. Bewaber, of a daughter. MARRIED. On the 10th inst.. at the Church of St. Mary, Islington; Henry I, avis, second son of the late Richard P oo l e , Esq., °` Gray's Inn, and Great Ealing, Middlesex, to Eliza Ann, on l y daughter of W. Jecks, Esq., of Islington. On the 20th inst., at St. Bride's, Fleet-street, Mr. Willi g° Gibson, eldest son of Mr. W. Gibson. of Aveley, Essex. t ° Martha, only sister of Mr. W. Smalley, Secretary, to the Incorporated Society of Licensed Victuallers. On the 20th inst, at St. Mary's, Bryanston-square, rio A. J. Silk, to Isaly Ila, only daughter of Mr. H. be-Brun Austin. DIED At Anglesey-ville, on the 14th inst., a ge d 25, J an e SOP-hie d Elizabeth, eldest daughter of th e l a t e C omman d er Edwar d Charles Earle, Ro , , al Navy. At Brighton, on the tHti t inst., Sophi a M arr i ner , d a ug h te r of the late F. Hurlbatt, Esq., late of Newington, urrey• At Canaan-lodge, near Edinburgh, on the 18th inst., I % o ' . garet Crauturd Gregory. wile of 1)r. W. P. Alison, Pro lessor of the Practice of Medicine in the University of EOP' „. burgh. ••1 On the V'th inst., Mr. J. Lascelles, of Great Guildfor d ' street : Southwark, aged 58. on the 19th inst., in 0 ford-street, Hyde park. Clo rie6 Comerford, Esq., aged 6T. On the 19th inst . at Taun on-place, Rtgent's-park, the wi!e of W. 0. Lucas, Esq. London : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNO:, ° : No. 1.12, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office. No. 'Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy in the van' ALiddleeei, SAturday, December 22, 1849. The notice, ntende specter cement Ae w .—.,—.. h the 1 a►ud 1 Corm JO of this No. 73, ger of tt Dat& C° The I take pla 28th Del The C , With tht Other Ge Ticket the Comi and at tb The fa enable tb tlaraen The M , EETI3 3d Janua Portant b o'clock ro The Pr Pay the before thc for the tot 111ent In tl r. t .R C) Shares, al Western The Loh Meeting, 1 ParHamm' en 251. sill Western N respective •f January tit, and t 211. to eitl London- Western X Bri.tol— and Co. ; S 80.1 k Wal Liverpoe Cheltent Rending London ' . Just pub'li for Uri; !grail Law Dirscl Directory ; .torY ; Assu latermatiii ion Direett 334 ult.; Si 1411. 24th t Patk's Jim lilt.; Era, 1 Zell] ELEG, R IMN Work-boxes, Bent on reef tioners, or c Street, Soho THE The First !it the Philo to tk• Eve 'nava of 1,2 ' a Descriptli rots at a ( Views of the Nts, are si brilliant exp , said Diving bhinery, Me H A Medal. Stilted to eve latnni style The Bu The Ps Chest° The Al of 0 Shootii Leung' lutum Ditto Ditto Alack I Dress Frock Youths from Hussar Boys' A Hamar Sipe* Men's a Elegant from A Large g ha new b i t `roottons for t r d 6 d, post 1 otioe—Tke we lesson. k O beerre—Ai ' 4l4 ltre, if not It• MORES 1: 4 13,4 1. Fent 15 6. and Ip a i t Ton; all cc blishment aution.—E *Mit be keod of be -- 0 been rem ? bog to its htgr out of LI Shafdeld t l ho4o Wh , iOr goad to ltriusch Es t o Late Notice Pato