The Sun. — London, England, 1855-12-11 00:00:00

the constitution of the House of Notables, and who may be suspected of a slightly Liberal lean ing, secure an election ; Count Eberhard zu Stol berg-Wernigercde was elected First Vice-Presi dent, and Herr von Duesberg Second Vice-Presi dent. A letter from Berlin, of the 7th, says :—" The Russian ambassador had to-day a private audience of the King, to present an autograph letter from the Emperor Alexander, announcing the betrothal of the Grand Duke Nicholas. The epizootic dis ease, which had broken out amongst the cattle in Prussian Poland, still causes commercial relations to be suspended with that country. It has been finally found necessary to abandon proceedings for the taking of the letters of M. de Gerlach and M. Niebuhr, the penal laws containing no enactment applicable to the case. In consequence of the affair, no more of the telegraphic despatches known as the Gortschakoff despatches' are now sent from St. Petersburg. The repreSentatives of most of the States have already arrived for the conference of the States of the Zollverein, which is to commence on the 12th." AUSTRIA. Le Nord, reporting the reduction to a peace foot ing of the Austrian advanced army corps opposed to Russia, namely, that of Gallicia, claims the fact as a proof of the confidence of the Austrian Govern ment in that of Russia, and exhibits it as an answer to those who boast of the alliance between Austria and the Western Powers. It is a corroboration, according to the journal quoted, of a significant passage in the King of Prussia's recent speech, and a repudiation of any part or lot in the aggressive policy of France and England. THE MEDITERRANEAN. MARSEILEO3, Dec. B.—The steam-frigate Primaug guet arrived this morning from Toulon, bringiu the remains of the late Admiral Bruat. The Primauguet was expected here for the last three days, but she was forced to return to Toulon in consequence of the excessively severe weather, which has prevailed here since Monday last. The remains of the Admiral were received 'with the usual mili tary honours, and were then conveyed from the Old Port to the railway terminus ea route for Paris. Admiral Bruat was not the only victim on board the flag-ship Montebello to the climate of the Crimea. Her captain and another officer died on the passage. The steam-frigate Magellan arrived from Toulon this afternoon. She brought 1,050 of the artillery of the Imperial Guard, and a finer body of men never passed through Marseilles. They are, moreover, in excel lent health. The frigates Andromaque and Alge ria sailed for Kamiesch this morning laden with military stores. The steam-frigate Dordogne is loading muskets packed in cases and other military stores for the Crimea. This is the only movement at present going forward in the port of the Joilette. The Old Port is filled with mercantile shipping, • but all speculation has been checked by the vari ous reports of negotiations having been resumed for the restoration of peace. There has been but one sale effected of colonial sugar during the week, which was 3,800 casks of Mauritius sugar at 38f. the 50 kilogrammes in bond with discount. The purchase was made for re-exportation. A rise took place in the corn market at the beginning of the week, which was not only not maintained, but was followed by a serious decline in prices. Algerian wheat has fallen from 55f. to 53f. the measure of 167 lb. without buyers. Galatz wheat in the Cus tom-house stores is quoted at the nominal price of 47f. A further rise has taken place in the price of wine. Wines for the colonies and the Crimea are quoted at 115 f. the hectolitre, and for India at 150 f. Silks have likewise risen, in consequence of more favourable accounts from the manufactur ing towns. A private letter from Toulon states that nothing could be more imposing than the reception given to the remains of Admiral Bruat on Wednesday last. On landing they were received by Admiral Dubourdieu, the Maritime Prefect, the Prefect of the Var, the General commanding the sub-divi sion, the Admirals present at Toulon, and all the authorities, civil and military. The body, hav ing, been placed in a cenotaph at the Arsenal, Admiral Dubourdieu pronounced a discourse in which he recapitulated the principal events of the life of the deceased, from the period of his entering the naval service in 1815, to his death on board the Montebello. The fune ral procession then moved forward to the Cathe dral attended by all the clergy of Toulon. The corners of the pall were held by Admirals Lugeel and Fabvre, General Angenoust, and the Prefect of the Var. The interior of the Cathedral was tastefully decorated with military and naval trophies. On the pillars of the church hung escut cheons, on which were inscribed the names of the principal scenes of the late Admiral's glory—Al giers, Tahiti, Navarino, Kertch, Sebastopol, Kin bourn. After the conclusion of the funeral service the cortege returned to the arsenal. A detach ment from eaoh of the ships of war in the roads marched after the troops of the garrison.. The bod y was then embarked on board the Primauguet to be conveyed to Marseilles and thence to Paris. THE BALTIC FLEET. KIEL, Dec. 'T.—The Allied fleet is gone home. Both English and French ships left this bay y ester day morning, and as the weather has since been favourable and they started early, it is likely that they have already made good progress. It is ex actly a year this day since Sir Charles Napier sailed from Kid. The presence of such a fleet makes a great difference to a small town like Kiel, whose population does not exceed 18,000, as the demand for provisions greatly increases their cost. The farmers in the neighbourhood derive a rich har vest from the advance in the price of poultry, butter, and eggs, and while they and the shop keepers regret their departure, those who are neither engaged iu agriculture nor trade, and have to incur the.additioual cost of living, are rather in clined to take quite a different view of the matter. There is, however, among all ranks, the best feel ing towards both officers and crews, and they on heir part have the greatest consideration for the nhabitants. This cordiality extends also to the officers of the Danish navy stationed hero, between whom and the officers of the English and French vessels there have been interchanges of courtesy, none of which was more marked than that of the guard ship Heela getting up her steam and accom panying the departing fleet as far as the Great Belt, and after taking leave of them there, return ing to her ordinary anchorage in this bay. I have reason to know that the greater sobriety of the men of the British fleet from the improvement in discipline has in no small degree tended to pro duce this effect on the officers of the Danish navy ; as the instances in which their interference has be come necessary, on account of the turbulence or misbehaviour of the English when ashore, have so materially diminished as to render that duty,' for merly so annoying, now comparatively easy. It has on this occasion been remarked that the stragglers (for they cannot be called deserters), who have been apprehended by the police have not in general been sailors, but stokers, or others connected with the, engine department ; and this has been so decided that among both officers and men the wish.is almost universal that there should be some distinction in their apparel, which wouid not only servo to point out who are the real of fenders, but likewise encourage an esprit de corps and emulation in both classes which might be ad vantageous. A letter from Naples of the 30th ult., in the Corrifre Mercantile, says :—"The King of the Two Sicilies sontinues to make great military pre parations. New field-guns have been cast, and the corps of engineers have been considerably in creased. Orders have also been given to - build several large steam-frigates, and the Lake Averno is to be transformed into a great military port, by opening a communication between it and the sea." THE LATE BEV. ROBERT MONTGOMBRI. On Saturday last the remains of the late distinguished preacher, divine, and poet, were interred in a church at Brighton ; crowds of people, including ministers of every religious denomination, attended to witness the mournful and solemn scene. On a post-mortem examination, it ' Lad been discovered that the brain of the rev. gentleman was much diseased—a circumstance, doubtless, attribu table to the mental labours and ministerial exertions which he had undergone. On the following evening Percy Chapel, Charlotte street, was filled to excess, insomuch that several men and women were carried but in a fainting state, sn great was the desire to hear the funeral sermon, which was preached by the Rev. Thomas Dale, vicar of St. Pancras. The learned preacher eloquently, graphically, and pa thetically dilated upon Mr. Montgomery's talents and labours as a minister of the gospel, a n d on the Ch r istian's . hope the valley and shadow of death, strikingly illus trating his positions by the calm and peaceful manner in which Mr. Montgomery yielded hiA spirit to God, who gave it. The sermon was listened to with the most pro found attention by the audience, the greater part of whom shed tears.. The chapel Was i n d eep bl ac k , as a mark of esteem for its late minister. STORM Dr THE NORTH OF SCOTLAND. —The north of Scotland has been visited by a severe snowstorm. It commenced on Wednesday and continued all the week. The snow was lying to a considerable depth in the country, and some of the roads were neary impassable. The wind being from the N.W., the shipping on the coast wa4 not in danger, but a few losses have occurred. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENIPICI, DECEMBER 11, 1855, STRAHAN, PAUL, AND CO. BANKRUPTCY COURT.-(THIS DAY.) This was a meeting- for the last examination and de claration of dividend in the case of these bankrupts, who formerly carried on business in the Strand as bankers. The bankrupts were brought to the court in custody, but the balance sheet only being filed at this sitting of the court, they were not brought before the Commis sioner for examination. Proofs, to a considerable amount, were again ten dered to-day and received, and consequently the divi dend is adjourned. Amongst the claimants to prove was Dr. Griffiths, for the amount of the securities be longing to him misappropriated by the bankrupts. The following report, furnished by Mr. Turquand, the accountant to the assignees, detailing the " rise, progress, and fall" of this house, will be read with in terest : " 13, Old Jewry-chambers, 10th Dec., 1855. " To the Assignees of the Estate of Messrs. Strahan, Paul, and Bates. " Gentlemen,---I beg to make the following report of my investigation of the books of Messrs. Strahan, Paul, and Bates : g ` REPORT. " The bank of Messrs. Strahan and Co. was ens of the oldest on record, dating its origin from the early part of the reign of King Charles 11. At the time of the bankruptcy the firm consisted of William Stratum, Sir J. D. Paul, and Robert Meakin Bates. Sir J. D. Paul (then Mr. Paul) became a nominal partner in 1823, taking no share of the profits until the death of his father, the late Sir J. D. Paul, in January, 1862. The firm was composed of Robert Snow, Sir J. D. Paul, and J. D. Paul. William Strahan, who had changed his name from Snow on in. heriting a very considerable property from his uncle in 1831, joined the above firm with his brother, Robert Snow, in 1832. Robert Snow, sen., died in 1835. Robt. Snow, jun., retired from the bank in IS4I. In January, 1842, Robert M. Bates, who had for very many years been a confidential clerk in the bank, became a nominal part ner at a salary of 8301. por annum, subsequently increased to 1,0001., without any share in the profits. It is not necessary, for the purpose of elucidating the present posi tion of the bank, to go further back than the partnership of Robert Snow, William Sandby, and John D. Paul, formed in 1813. On the death of Mr. Sandby in 1816, the partners were indebted to the bank in a sum of 29,0001., which was apportioned in the following manner; — Robert Snow William Sandby 8,989 2 6 John Dean Paul £29,000 0 0 The debt of Mr. Sandby was paid off by his executors by the end of the year 1826. At that period the debt due by the remaining partners had been increased to 53,6001. which was apportioned in the following manner : - Robert Snow 36,3191. 103. 9d. The late Sir J. D. Paul 53,600/. Os. Od. " The debt waz represented by a joint note of the two, by an arrangement between themselves, and acquiesced in by succeeding partners. The amount was to be considered as a debt duo, to the bank, to be gradually liquidated by a certain portion being carried every year to profit and loss. By this means, at the death of the late Sir J. D. Paul, the debt had been reduced to 28,500/. ; and at the date of the bankruptcy had been further reduced to the sum of 23,5001. " The balance-sheet now filed commenced on the 31st December, 1851, showing a deficiency of 71,990/. 7s. 2d. Deduct the amount then standing to the credit of Mr. Strahan's capital account, 10,3301. 68 ld, lees the amounts to the debts of the present Sir J. D. Paul, 2131. 133. Bd.; an d B. M. Bates (loan) 3,6691. 4s. 4d. (3,882/ 18s.) 6,4471. Bs. ld., loft an actual deficiency between assets and liabilities of 65,5421. 19s. ld. " This deficiency appears to have been composed of the f o ll ow ing items—viz., balance due en a joint estate 28,500'., debt due by the late Sir I .D.Paul 35,4771.125.1 d., less balance of subsequent receipts and payments to the credit of his account 10,0841. 153. sd. to 25,3921. 16s. Bd., bad and doubtful d,bts not written off 2,4 led., ditto Hal ford and Co. 15,7051. Vs. Bd., estimated loss on valuation of bank assets 4,3,19/. Is. 6d., total 76,4131. 10s. 10d. Deduct amount standing to credit of balances written off or unclaimed 4,07 1. 48. lld., Halford and Co.'s alleged surplus as shown by books 3191. 19s. 7d., balance to credit of Pm:bier's account 6,447/.85.1d., making 10,870/.118.9d., and a total of 65,5421. 19s. ld. " It should be remembered that there is one item in cluded in the assets at its full amount, the actual value of which would materially affect the above partition, and that is a sum appearing to the debit of Lord Mostyn, of 92,0011. 16s. 10d. Between the years 1818 and 1850 large advances had been made, and in January, 1850, a lease of the property, known as the Mostyn colliery, was granted by Lord Mostyn to the Bank, to secure a sum of 67,5411. 14s. 8(1. then due by him. " The colliery required very considerable outlay to bring it into productive condition, and upwards of 45,0001, was so expended by the , Balak with this expenditure and arrears of interest, the amount to the debit of the account at the time of the bankruptcy was 134,9101. 17s. Id. The colliery had just been brought into a pro ductive state, yielding, however, only sufficient to cover expenses and pay the interest on the sum of 45,0001., which had been borrowed by the bank on the security of the lease to meet the necessary outlay. Taking the amount thus borrowed as an indication of the value of the assets, the deficiency of. the bank world be increased to about 110,0001. At this date, however, William Strahan was possessed of unincumbered private property to the extent of upwards of 100,0001., Sir J. D. Paul about 30,000/., and R. M. Bates about sufficient to cover his debt due to the bank, 3,0001. Taking into consideration the security thus afforded to customers by the value of their private property, it may be inferred that the bank might, with care and providence, have recovered its position. The unfortunate connection, liolever, with Messrs. J. H. and E. F. Gandell, commencing in 1852, andresultiug, at the date of the bankruptcy, in a debt to the bank of 269,382/. 3s. 5d., with liabilities in addi tion on the account to the extent of 103,8701., coupled with the already heavy withdrawal of capital in respect of Lord Mostyn's colliery, may be fairly looked upon as the causes which brought about the disastrous failure of the bank. " Messrs. Strahan and Co. were induced, by the repre sentations made to them of Messrs. Gandell and Co., to advance from time to time large sums of money for the purpose of enabling them to carry out certain contracts for the construction of railways in France and in Italy, and for the drainage bf Lake Capestang, situated in the South of France.. .The profit to be derived by Messrs. Stralian and Co., ou the transactions was 5 per cent. in terest, and one-half per cent. commission on all payments made by them, and the payment of a debt of I,SOO/. con sidered bad, due by J. H. Ganda'', due to the bank in 1850. " The debt to the bank for which no tangible security was held, soon assumed such gigantic dimensions, and Messrs. Gandell's affairs were found to be in that condition that Messrs. Strahan, Paul, and Co., imagined they had no alternative left bnt to continue their advances for the purpose of maintaining Messrs. Gandell in a position to carry on the various contracts, the completion of which was calculated as a source from which the -vast sums advanced were to be recovered. " The time arrived when the reserves of the bank were no longer able to meet these constant drains upon it. Ac ceptances were then given and other heavy and particular liabilities incurred for the purpose of providing the re quired funds. These last acts appeared to have led to the most distressing feature in this cum. Almost the whole of the property -of the bank had been pledged, and the pri vate estate of Mr. Strahan was resorted to for the same purpose. The large sums so raised had disappeared, and there was no alternative but the payment of the acceptances and other liabilities as they fell due on the bank. In the vain hope that the anticipated funds would be forthcoming in time to avert the impending ruin, re course was had to those means of raising funds the con sequences of which aro now being visited on the bankrupts. The nature and extent of the securities held by the as signees in respect of the debt due by the Messrs. Gamlen, are detailed iu the balance-sheet. The present deficiencies of the bank are as follows : Liabilities Estimated assets . Deficiency " It will be seen by referring to the items comprised in this deficiency, as set forth in the balance-sheet, that the sums involved in the transactions with Messrs. Gan dell and Lord Mostyn amount to upwards of 843,0001. of the whole amount. expenditure, 17,401/. 14s. 31 Sir J. D. Paul, ditto, 772,123/. W Strahan. for separate property held by cre ditors of bank, 70,4571. Amount required to cover tho claim, '32,673/. 4s. Total, 731,745/. 7s. 3d. Cr,- By debtors Strahau and Co., considered good, 7+b,5361.141. ; HaHord. and 2,484/. 2.. Bd. ; doubtful and bad, 23,298/. 18s. 3d. ; Co.,Aitto Gandyll and Co. 289,332/. 3s. 5•1. ; lasi purchase money of Capcstang Lake, 20,000/. ;. total, 269,382/. 3s. sd. ; ditto, Lord Mostyn, 131,940 1 . 17s. Id. ; deduct proportion of debt mortgaged, 41,967/. 3s. 41, leaving 89,97 9 /. 13s. 91 ; property, unencumbered, viz. shares, 4,8331. 15s. ; life policies, 12,315/. 13s. ; freehold and leasehold, 2,500/ ; Exchequer Bills, 3)0/. ; total, 19,449/. Bs. Copestang Lake not carried out, the expenditure required to complete the drainage and other incidental circumstances rendering the value of this property uncertain, 20,00 I ; c es's in hand, 11th June, 1,767/. 2s. 5d.; bills receivable, 9,949/. 3s. Gd. • cash at the Bank of England, 8 1. B s .- ma king 11:799/. 3e. 11d. • deduct credito rs p a id i n full (per contra), 3,5991. 2e. Id. - leaving 8,200/. 11s. 10d. Debtors, the securities representing which aro held by creditors, 69,343/. 13s. 101 ; property of bank hell by ditto, 9r;,996/. 16s. Od.; ditto for W. Strahan, hold by joint creditors ? 70,45;1.; amount requ i re d t o cov er these cl a ims, 32,6:3/. 4s. 04. ; making 191,013/. 13s. 101 Deduct amount held by creditors, partly covered, 12,680/.; leaving ditto held ditto, fully covered, 18',333/. 13s. 104.; deduct amount of claims of creditors, fully covered, 184,889/. 12s. 11d. ; balance available for estate, 1,440/. Os. 11d. Considered as a good asset in respect of one security to the extent ofl,oool.,the residue is not carried out, being subject to deduction for interest accruing due on creditors' claims. Total amount of assets considered good 127,670/. 161. 7d. By securities pledged belonging to customers of Bank, 94,9111, 7s. ; do. Jialford and Co., 12,8021. 175., making, 107,7141. 4s. Bd. ; deduct amount so borrowed, 100,1091. 17s. 44., less value of Exchequer Bills belonging to Bank, including 2,8191. 125., leaving 97,2901. ss. 4d. This balance is not carried out as an asset, being subject to the question as to the'r4ht of the assignees, and of the parties to whom the securities belonged. Deficiency 31st De cember, 1851, 71,990/. 7s. 21 ; accounts not car ried out in front sheet, namely, doubtful and bad debts, 20,293/. 18s. 3d. ; Gam len and Co. ditto, 269,382/. 3s. 5d ; Lord Mostyn, balance, 89,9731. 131 , - 9d. ; Copestang Lake, 20,0001 ; surplus value of property held by creditors as security, 1,4441 N. 11d. considered as good assets for on ly 1,000 1. -l eav i ng 44i/. Os. 11d. ; surplus value of customer,: securities pledged 10,423& 19e. 4d. R. M. Bfttes, salary, 3,7501. ; balance to his debit 4,3811. 7s. 10d. Sir J. D. Paul (deceased) -Proportion of profit credited him in 1852. written back, 4,5601., and liabilities per contra, 103,870/. ; total, 731,745/. 7s. 3d." The last examination of the bankrupts was accordingly adjourned until March 11, 1856, but another meeting will shortly be announced for the declaration of the divi dend. IMPERIAL P. '—(This Day.) HOUSE OF LORDS. This afternoon, shortly after two o'clock, Parliament was further prorogued by Royal commission till Thurs day, the 31st of January. The Lord Chancellor and the other Commissioners having taken their seats at the foot of the Throne, the Usher of the Black Rod was directed to summon the Commons to hear the Commission read. Shortly afterwards the Clerks, attended by the door keeper and some other officials of the house, appeared at the bar, when the Commission was real by the Clerk at the table. The Royal Commission commanded the Lords spiritual and temporal, and the knights, citizens, and burgesses, and the commissioners for shires and boroughs, of the House of Commons, to give their attendance at West minster, on the 31st day of January next, for the de spatch of divers urgent and important affairs. The proceedings occupied but a few minutes, and, save the parties taking part in the ceremony, few per sons were present. Naval and Military Intelligence. Capt. H. E. Yelverton, of the Arrogant steam frigate, has been offered, and has accepted, the command of a divisional fleet of gun-boats, 40 in number, for ser vice in the Baltic next year. The Arrogant will go into dock at Portsmouth to-morrow, to have her defect exa mined and repaired. Her eternpost will, it is expected, be removed, and a new one put in. She also requires new decks. Admiral of the Blue Ricbd. Thomas, we are informed, has received the serv i ce pens i on which fell in on the de mice of the late Admiral Carthew, and will be in conse quence removed to the Reserved List, thereby promot ing Vice-Admiral of the Red Sir Thomas Cochrane, K.C.8., Commander-in Chief at Portsmouth, to be Ad miral of the Blue • Vice-Admiral of the White Charles Sibthorpe John lavvtayne, to Vice Admiral of the Red; Vice-Admiral of the Slue Henry Prescott, C.B. ' to be Vice-Admiral of the White; Rear-Ad m i ra l o f the Red' Alexander Renton Sharpe C. 8., to b e Vi ce -Ad m i ra l of the Blue ; Rear Admiral of the White Wm. Walpole, to be Rear-Admiral of the Red ; Rear-Admiral of the Blue Sir Michael Seymour, K.C.8., to be Rear-Admiral of the White • Capt. Charles Graham (1830), C.B , Aid e de-Camp to the Queen, to Le Rear-Admiral of the Blue. The crew of the Royal George, 102 guns, Capt. Henry J. Codrington, C.B ; are engaged sending guns, carri ages, and all her heavy stores away in lighters, to lighten her ready for her being taken into dry dock at Sheer ness. Her engines and boilers are in good order, not even a screw having given way during the time she has been from England. Her average speed has been rated at 9i knots, with 58 revolution‘ and 151 b. pressure of steam on the square inch. Mr. Henry D. Grant, late mate of the Royal George promoted to Lieutenant, received his discharge from that ship on her arrival at Sheerness, and has left her. The Firefly, 4 gun., paddle-wheel steam-vessel, Capt. Henry C. Otter, arrived at Sheerness at 8 a.m., yester day, from the Baltic. She left Kiel on the evening of Wednesday, the sth inet., proceeded as far as Ven geance Shoal, and there anchored for the night, and waited next day for the Admiral and fleet passing, which had left on the 6th inst., at 8 a.m. The fleet consistel of the Dnke of Wellington, 131, bearing the fli t ; of Rear- Adrei , al the Hon. R S. Dundas, C. 8., Captain of the Fleet Commodore the lion. Frederick T. Pelham, C. 8., in command ; the James Watt, 91 guns, screw steam ship, Cept. G3O. Elliot ; the Orion, 91 guns, screw steam-ship, Capt. Jan E. Erskine ; and Majestic, 80 guns, screw steam ship, Capt. Jas. Hope, C.B. ; also the French Admiral's ship Tourville and the French line-of-battle ship Duquesne. At 3 30 p.m. the same day these ships all passed Vengeance Shoal. At 4 p.m. the Firefly got under way, and proceeded after the fleet. The whole fleet, except the Firefly, passed through the Gr..at Belt and the Cettegat at midnight, although ex• tremely dark. The Firefly parted company at midnight, going through the Lasso Channel, thereby saving a dis tance of 30 miles, the fleet going out through the Catte gat by the deep water channel. On the forenoon of the 7th the fleet were observed passing the Scaw, it then blowing a gale of wind from the north-east, with heavy snowstorms. The Firefly made her passage from the Scaw to Sheerness in 67 hours. On the morning of the 9th saw n line-of-battle ship distant about 20 miles east of the Lemon and Owers light-vessel. Commander Edward Burstal (late Lieutenant of the Firefl)) comes home in her, he having been promoted for the proceed ings of the Firefly near Wasa in August last, the vessel having been engaged with a number of troops, amount ing on the first day of attack to 300, which afterwards increased to 900, with a battery of artillery. Tho firing, of the field battery was highly creditable to the Rus sian gunners, many of their shells bursting imme diately over the ship, and their red-hot shot whizzing by close under stem and stern. Complete volleys of Minie rifle balls were fired by the Russian soldiers with great accuracy, and numbers of them struck the vessel. All of them were of a very large size. One of the balls passed through the standard staff, at a computed distance of 1.500 yards. Such was their precision of firing that, had it not been for keeping the vessel sometimes steaming ahead, at other times back ing and filing, so as to shift position, nearly all their shots would have told on the hull and crew, as they in variably passed at short distances, allowing for the ves sel shifting her positions: The latter part of the season the Firefly was engaged in the upper part of the Gulf of Bothnia, where the Fins were catryilig on an exten sive trade with the Russians, which was effectually put a stop to for the six weeks she was there, during which time her surveying officers made very valuable additions to their surveys for the new charts. On leaving Tomes, the extreme north part of the gulf, on the 14th of Octo ber last, the thermometer was down 14 deg. below freez ing point, and the ship being in one mass of ice it be came difficult to make use of the boats. It is expected that the Firefly will be taken into dry dock at Sheer ness, to ascertain if she has been injured by the burst ing of one of the enemy's infernal machines under her, at which time fore and aft and thwartship bulkheads were displaced by the explosion, and the vessel consider ably shaken. The Fire fly brings hume two Russian soldiers, who deserted and came on board her when off Brandon, one bringing his musket with him, which is of very large bore. One states his name to be Jefine Drafiuoff : the other Hallo Somenoff. They earnestly solicited to be allowed to join her in any capacity, and are doing duty at present as ordinary seamen. The Cressy, 80 guns, screw steam-ship, Captain Richard L. Warren, was put out of the fitting basin, Sheerness, yesterday, and moored at harbour moorings. The Thistle gunboat was also put out of the basin, hav ing had her defects repaired. A new steionedomp, named the Victoria, arrived at Southampton on Saturday from Limehouse. This vessel, which is commanded by Captain Norman, late of the General Screw Steam-Shipping Company, has been built at the sole expense of the Colonial Government of Aus tralia, under the sanction of the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The duties for which this vessel is in tended will chiefly lie in the inspection of Government coastworks. She is also fitted with accommodations suitable for the occupation of the governor, and can be treed by hitu as his State yacht. The Victoria is a hand some vessel, constructed of mahogany on the diagonal principle, by Messrs. Young, Son, and Maguey, of Limehouse, upon designs furnished by Mr. 0. Laing, Master Shipwright of Pembroke Dockyard. She is of 580 tons burden, 'with direct acting trunk engines by the Messrs. Rennie, of 150 nominal horse power. The Vic toria has been fitted and armed as a sloop of war, under the immediate superintendence of Commander Leckey, R.N. Her dimensions are 172 feet over all, with 27 feet beam, and she is propelled by Moresby's improved feathering screw. The Victoria left London on 'Wed nesday, but on account of heavy weather and strong N.W. winds was obliged to put into Dover Roads. The weather having moderated she left on Friday, ar.d ar rived at Southampton on Saturday morning. Upon passing the measured mile her speed was tried, when she accomplished 131 knots per hour, with 84 revolu tions of the engines, and tin indicated horse-power of 670. During the other portions of the voyage the ave rage of speed, with from 60 to 65 revolations, was from eight to nine knots. Mr. Scott, of the firm of Rennie and Co., in superintendence of the engines, Mr. Braith waite, Government Inspector, and Commander Lockoy, R.N , accompanied the vessel to Southampton, where she has called for the purpose of taking in live stock for tale voyage. The Victoria is very heavily rigged, and it is intend e d t o ma k e th e voyage to Australia solely under canvass. There are two broadside guns and one long 32-pounder, on a traversing carriage, on board. The sailing transport Sir George Pollock, with troops for the West Indies, and the Castle Eden, with convicts for Bermuda, sailed from Plymouth on Sunday. The American merchant ship Golden Gate, Capt. Dewing, ' from Marseilles, Nov. 16, for New York, which sprang a leak in the Mediterranean, and split all her sails in the Atlantic, put into the Sound on Sunday, with eight feet of water in her hold. Her Majesty's ship Alban, Lieut. Fisher, arrived at Cuxhaven last Wednesday afternoon, having been obliged to run for shelter from Heligoland, where she made an unsuccessful attempt to land recruits on the 4th inst., and, owing to a sudden shift of wind during the gale, was for some time in imminent danger of being lost. On the 3d inst. the Alban and her consort, the Pigmy, were frozen in eight milss above Gluckstadt, and with some difficulty extricated themselves from the ice, which in a, few hours had assumed a firmness dangerous to any but iron vessels. In the list of naval appointments given in the Times of Saturday Paymaster Allen was mentioned as having hien appointed to the Leveret. The ship to which he has been appointed is the Transit. Lieut.-Colonel Chas. Pelham Beauchamp Walker, from the 7th Dragoo❑ Guards, is about to exchange from the unattached half-pay, with Col. the Hon. Cecil Forrester, of the Royal Horse Guards Blue. It is stated that army agencies are to be abolished and their business transferred to the War Department. The saving to the Government will be very great. The first transmission of warm clothing from the Cri mean Fund arrived on Saturday at, Brompton, Kent, to be disposed of by Second-Olass Surgeons Robert Bat teraby and Henry C. Reade, and Staff Captain T. A. Rawlins, who form the committee for such distribution to the wounded. A few invalids arrived yesterday at _Chatham front Balaklava, in charge of Staff Assistant-Surgeon Herbert C. Miles, from the ship Calcutta. The standard far recruits for the Royal Marine's Light Infantry has been raised to 5 feet 6 inches for growing lads from 18 to 20 years of age, and 5 feet 51 iuches for grown men. Second-class Staff-Surgeon George M'Cullock, sth Dragoons, is ordered to preceed to New Tavern Fort, Gravesend, to relieve Staff-Surgeon Jonas K. Carr, M.D., in medical charge of troops at that station. Capt. J. Stawell, temporary barrack master, Chatham, has been appointed to Devonport, vice Capt. J. Buckley. A notifica'ion has been made to the colonels of the household regiments of cavalry, that officers, half of each rank, who are entitled to furlough at this time of the year, may volunteer, if they wish to see foreign service, as supernumeraries te the different cavalry corps at Scu tari. MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, Two o'CLocic. The Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday closed with much animation. Compared with Friday's rates prices of American and Surat were id. per lb. dearer. The sales were 12,000 bales, including 140 Pernam and Maranham, at 60. to 6id.; 50 Bahia, at 6d. to 6d.; 100 Egyptian, at 5/d. to 6d.; 300 Surat, at 3id. to 4id.; and 80 Sea Islands, at 10d. to 18d. All other kinds were unchanged. The Rail way Share Market was animated, and a large amount of business was transacted. Opinions in favour of peace are less confidently expressed on the Foreign Bourses, and the general rise in all securities last week has not been main tained. At Paris the 3 per Cant. Relates fell 65 centimes for money and 70c. for the account, and it was expected that there would be large losses amongst the speculators at the morning settlement. All the principal railway shares have fallen. North of France 5f., Eastern Old Scrip 3f. 75c., do. New 7f. 50c., Lyons 10f , Mediterranean 10f., Midland lf. 25c., Western 5f., Grand Central 2f. 50c., Geneva If. 28c., St. Rambert 2f. 50c., and Aus trian Society sf. Bank of France Shares rose yes terday as much as 30f., while Credit Mobilier fell 40f. Other shares without variation. The activity exhibited in the continental import markets recently i 4 on the decline. Accounts from Antwerp and Havre state that all speculation in sugars is at an end, and dealing prices have re turned to the old-established range. At Antwerp 75,000 loaves of refined sugar were held at reduced prices for want of purchasers. Coffee, however, at the same market, maintained its improved quo tations with firmness, and ordinary Brazil brought from 60c. to 66c. per kilogramme. Stocks on hand were considerable, and sales were limited. The Cotton Market there is without animation, and there is an uncertainty in the prices from the principal manufacturers' districts adjacent. good middling American sells from 70c. to 71c. per kilogramme. At Havre the cotton market is ' firmer, and best qualities are in• request. The receipts of the principal French railways during the last week continue to improve. On the Northern line this amounted to 1,020,516 francs against the corresponding week in 1854 at 781,703 francs, and from the Ist January to 2d December of this year the total was 45,767,702 francs, being an increase of nine million franca over that of last year. The advices received yesterday from America mention that the movements in the wheat trade had, for some time previously to the sailing of the steamer, excited considerable interest. Extensive supplies were arriving from all quarters, the greater portion of which was consigned to one party who, it was believed, acted on behalf of the French Government. The demand for all descriptions of breadituffs, considering the large quantities on hand, exceeded that of any for mer period, but at the latest date the markets had assumed a quieter appearance. The orders which arrived out from this side, however, were sufficient for a time to prevent any redtiction in the quota tions. Letters from Birmingham state in reference to the iron trade that more animation prevails, and some large orders have recently been given out. The quotations for iron of all descriptions have advanced, and it is expected that the upward movement will continue. Pig iron is ss. per ton dearer than it was a fortnight since. At the commencement of business the English stock market assumed a heavy appearance, but since then there has been more firmness and an ad vance of to per cent. has taken place. Prices within the last day or two have been depressed by heavy sales of New 3 per Cents. and Reduced Annuities, and the market is now exhibiting some slight symptoms of recovery. Various rumours are circulated in connection with the reported negotiations for peace, but very little importance is attached to them. Consols for ac count have been 884 to 89, and are now about 891 to 891. The New 3 per Cents. have been 89 to 892, and the. Reduced 881 to 89k. Bank Stock is 210 to 2101.. Exchequer Bills are 6s. to 2s. dis count, and India Bonds 6s. discount. Foreign Stocks aro generally rather firmer, and Turkish 6 per Cants., which opened at about 832 to 84, have risen to 841. The Now Scrip is heavy, however, at 32 to 31 discount. Dutch 21 per Cents. are per cent. lower, viz., 632, and Vene zuela Bonds have ruled flatter, the Active being 25i and the Deferred 114. Spanish New Deferred are supported at 202, but Sardinian are not higher than 83. There have Leen transactions in Brazi lian 5 per Cents. at 99, the Small at 99i. Grenada Active at 19, the Deferred at 6i, ; and POTUVI3.II per Cents. at 751. The following are the nominal prices of foreign stocks: Grenada Deferred Bonds, 64 to 7 ; Mexican, 19,3 to ; Peruvian, 74 to 76; ditto Three per 63nts., 52 to 54; Portuguese Four per Cents., 41 to 46 ; Russian Five per Cents., 97 to 99 ; ditto Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 88 to 90; Spanish Three per Cents., 39 to 40 ; ditto Passive, 7 to 7i ; ditto Deferred, 20a to ; ditto Certificates, 41 to A. Railway Securities are without any general change of importance, but in some lines the deal ings have been rather more numerous, especially in Midland. Brighton, however, and a few of the other principal lines, are at nominal quotations. Great Western of. Canada rule weaker. The Mining, Banking, and miscellaneous under akings are quiet but steady. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.—CLOSING PRICES. Nrcrt. 44:! OFfeics Ust. nu4trio, Bank Stock 3 par • Keduced ~e l flrnt "on,ole Anuaitiea N 3 per Cent. Annuities . 891 9 Long Annuities, expire sth Jan. IS6O 31 DiVo 30 Yews, expire sth April, 1885 DI In tla 3onds, LlO6O . .„ ;o,sols for Account . 89 81 9i 1 Si Excliequor Hillp, :1000. ......... G a 500 • a , ' Ditto Bonds, 1 , 58, 3i per Cent 98,; 7,3 ~ 1859 7 98 11 PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cant. Ditto Small Buenos Ayres Bon;ls, 6 per Cent 57 Grenada New Active, 1 por Cent. Ditto Deferred 6 Peruvian Bonds, 44 per Cont. Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent., 1822, £ St 9SI S.,rdinian Bonds, 5 per Cent. ipinist, Bdxds, 3 per Cent — Ditto Yew Deforred, 3 per Cent. Spani-li Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun 4i p c rurkith Bowls, t; per cent — Ditto for the Adrount ............... ....„... 84 3g 41 4 Ditto Small . ... Ditto New ' , "crip, 4 per Cent. - Ditto for the account..... Venezuela Bonds„ 41 per Cent 2si Ditto Deferred, 1; per Cent. . . lll Dividends on the above eayable in London. Dutch Exchange, 2i per Cent., 12 Guil... C3i THREE O'CLOCK. Consols __ Ditto for Account Jan. 10 MARKET NEWS.—(This Day). HAY MARKETS. g~srrrll~tFLD,_ meadow hav, 4/ 5s to 61 0 ; clover ditto, 41 15s to 71 Oa ; and straw, 1/ 4s 0(1 to 1/ lOs Od per lout. A moderate supply, an.l a steady trade. UTIMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, 41 83 to 6/ 6s: clover do., 41 15s to 7 ' 03 ; and straw, 11 53 to 11 103 per load. Trade tolerably fi rm. WHITECIIAPILL.—Afeadow hay, 41 5s to 6/ Oa; clover .10., 4/ 12e to 71 7a • and stray.% 1/ 4s to 1/ 104 per load. Supply moderate, and trade firm. COLONIAL. TEA.—Tho market has been dull, but prices remain un altered. SUGAR. — There have been no transactions in this article o f a ny importance, buyers waiting the result of the public sales, which take place to-day. COFFEE.—Plantation Ceylon continues in fair demand, at previous rates. Other sorts aro dull of sale, at rather lower quotations. RICE. —This article is rather lower in value, being af fected in a slight degree by the fall in the corn market yesterday. TALLow.—The market has beon exceedingly dull, not withstanding considerable purchases have been made for spring delivery, and although prices receded to a large extent, few purchasers could be found yesterday ; towards the close, however, a better feeling prevailed. The latest quotations wore 67s 3d ; for the year, 67s 9.1 to 68s ; j ai ,. to March, 67s 6d ; new Y.C. on the spot, 67s ; old, 69 5; south American, 6;.55; Australian beef, (Asper cwt. "URGENT PiIVATI AFFAIRS." The following is an extract of a letter from an officer with the army : Camp before Sebastopol, Nov. 21. In spite of General Simpsou's order regarding leave of absence " urgent private affairs" continue to take away a great number of our officers since General Codrington took command. During the last seven days —from the 13th to the 20th inst.—no less than seven colonels and lieuteuant•colonels, three majors, five cap tains, two lieutenants, an adjutant, and an assistant sur geon, have foand "urgent private affairs" sufficient ex cuse to obtain leave from the camp fur longer or shorter periods, some for two, sonic for three months. The cavalry division appears to have fewer of these marvel lous " private affairs" than the rest of the army ; the brigade of Guards unquestionably the most. So much so is this the case, that what with officers absent on sick leave, on staff employe - rent, and on "urgent private affairs," one battalion of Guards, that of the Coldstrearns, has hardly soy officers on duty with it. A lieutenant in the regiment (although of course a captain i❑ the army), Thelluson, who only entered the service in 1847, is in orders to act as a field officer with his cores, so few effec tive officers of rank are there present. This is the case with almost every regiment, and the unfortunates who remain doing duty with their corps instead of st4rring it at Christmas parties in England are very hard worked indeed. Still the evil is continued, for, as I said above, 19 officers have in seven days got leave of absence on " urgent private affairs." All this causes a great deal of discontent and grumbling, as you may suppose. There are only huts for about one•third of the men as yet, and for two-thirds of the officers. The rest of the army aro mostly its very comfortable double-roofed tents, and all have gained many wrinkles in making themselves snug since last winter, partly by digging out holes under their tents, and thus getting more spate and more warmth together. The winter clothing of the men is most excellent — nothing could be better. We officers have to pay very highly for ours ; mine has cost me 61. 10e,, and 1 am not yet complete. What I have told you about the great number of officers obtaining leave of absence will, and does, tell upon the discipline of the army. Every regiment is full of recruits, and the services of all are required to get them into something like order before the spring. But how can this be done if so many officers are allowed to rush back to England whenever the fancy takes them ? And what makes this worse is, that whilst many officers who haVe been out here from the very first have been refused leave to England, others who came out twelve months later have obtained the indulgence. But here, as in London and everywhere else, Horse Guards inte rest does everything When refused leave (by either his colonel, his brigadier, his commander of division, or eve❑ by the commander-in-chief of this army) the man who " has good interest" writes home. His father, brother, cousin, wife, aunt, mother, or sister, manages to " get at some one in the Horne Guards." Out comes a letter to the camp (a private letter, of course, but considered demi official, and something more), saying that Cap tain So•and so may have leave home upon " ur gent private affairs," provided General Codring ton or Simpson, or whoever may be the commander, " has no particular objection" —a hint, in short, that " there is no compulsion, only you must." Of course the obstructive out here sees " no objection" directly ; and so, as Mr. says, "matters are pleasant" forth with, Thus it is that the Guards get so much leave, notwithstanding the very few officers present for duty with each battalion. If a general officer goes home, all his personal staff go with him, and the officer who takes his place takes more officers away from regimental duty to make up his staff, and thus the number of working men is farther reduced. No matter. The old game of interest is kept up, an l the plebeians taught their "pro per places." LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—(This Day.) •ONDON, Doc. cilia day at noon, N.W., light breeze. DovFn, Doc. 10.—Wind N. to S.S.W.--Arrived—Su san G. Owens, from callao ; Nautilus, Demerara. PLYMOUTH, Dee. 10.—Wind N.N.E.—Arrived—Golden Gate, from Marseilles, for New York, leaky ; Hibbert, Monte Video, for Newcastle; Europ a (s.), Portsmouth for Malta and the Crimea. Off the port—Heidelburg, from Havre, for New Orleans ; Cumberland, Havre, for New York. PORTgMOUTH, Dec.lo.—Wind N.N.E.— Arrived—Prin. coss Royal, from St. Domingo, for Hamburg. Sailed— Telegraph (a. tpt.), for Southampton, (PER BLICTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SOUTHAMPTON, Tuesday Morning. Arrived—Lecoq, from Cherbourg ; Despatch (0, j er Z y Alliance Is.), Havre ; Manilla and Telegrap Portsmouth. Sailed—Wonder (s.), for Jersey ; Atalanta (s.), Havre. LIVERPOOL, Tuesday morning. Wind N. Ari ived, Carrick, from New Orleans ; City of New York and City of Brooklyn, New York ; Sophi a , New foundland ; Volante, St. Michael's ; Niagara (s.), Kings. town. Sailed—Bloraingo, for Arica ; Avon, Barbadoe s •; Echo, Vera Cruz. " ALICH GREY" AT WOLVIIRHAIIMON.-013 Satur day, at the close of the proceedings at the Wolverhamp ton Police-court, which were conducted before Messrs. J. Leigh (stipendiary) , J. Underhil l , G. Ilolyoake, W. l'arr b t a ,anjasdttV Warner b . r,,og bt from fr (n li agi strate), Ali ce G rey, w h o h a dßirmingham, was again brought up, charged with committing perjury in that court, on the occasion of the committal of the boys Randle and Perry, and also with a similar crime in the Sessions Court at Stafford, when the boys were con " Yours, &c., victed. The proc eedin g s occu p i ed only a , very few W. TURQUAND, Accountant." m The following is the joint balance sheet elucidat3d bywwa•hsorseenelaindedeodse, the prisoner, who was in good to fo r r eg a a w d r ee t k he whole matter as a i n t t l spiriue minutes and. At their c the above report, without which the general re a d er will goo L d E j v o E k a e i 'Wen Paisos.—The order for the exclusion of not be able to understand the real position of the bank- visitors from the prison, consequent cn the disorderly rupts : conduct of the Finnish soldiers about a month since, has "To creditors unsecured, 411,210/. 15s. 4d. ; creditors be9n rescinded, and strangers are again admitted. The . audtbe wonderfully improved du k r: of Halford and Co., 26,600/. 168. 4d. ; creditors for securi- prisoners,. e ncouraged b by l this improvement in their of ties sold, 15,9611. Gs. ; do. pledged, 94,911/. 7s. Bd. ; do. fairs, are once , . n i l l o t r i e us b t a y ve engaged in the manufacture do. belonging to customers of Efalford and Co., 12,802/. 17s. Deduct accounts for which certain of the above par ' i b o o g xes the a i • r ate l h stands, and various they other nosy and work 17s. o r r r 1 a - ties are debtors holding security, 13,2211. 12s. id. ; total, menta ' l articles, carving them out of pieces of deal with 110,456/. 18s. 4d. Creditors-holding security fullycovered, ]arse clasp knives, ! of to)'''' in 'i l i v ca n :cera l t e io y n, which are so sharp that they fre per contra, 184,8891. 128. ltd ; partly covered, 12 , 9351 . ss. ! quently shave themselves with them. The demand for Deduct estimated value of securities held, 12,6801. = 2551. ' th e i r toys is still very brisk, and large parties from es. Creditorsforadvances on pledged se cur iti es , per con t ra , B r i g hton arrive by train or in private carriages daily, 100,1091. 178. 4d. ; creditors who issued extents, and were much to the benefit of the hotel keepers, confectioners, paid in full, deducted from assets, per contra, 3,599/. 2s. ld. and others of the town. During the Brighton season Liabilities on account of Messrs. Gandell 103,8701. ; profit the traffic between that town and Lewes on certain days nett 31,304'. ls. 9d. W. Strahan, balance to his credit , is three times as much as it was previous to the estab after deducting amount drawn out by hini for private ' lishment of the prison. "Time has not permitted the completion of the balance sheets of the separate estates, but they will bo filed as ex peditiously as possible. The position of the bankrupts' personal account with the bank, at the time of its failure, is, however, shown on the face of the joint balance sheet now filed. MILITIA. The following changes took place .n the Fifeshire Re giment of Artillery on Friday last :—Two companies, under the command of Captains Simeon and Forrest, proceeded from head-quarters, Cupar, to Dumbarton Castle, to relieve those under Captains Knox and Han nay ; the latter being ordered to Leith Fort. Captain Maconochie and Captain Rennie's companies, from Leith Fort, join head-quarters. The Royal Glamorganshire Light Infantry, now quar tered at Cardiff, has volunteered for service in the West Indies, to relieve one of the regiments ordered thence for the Crimea in the spring. The Galway Militia (the Marquis of Clanricarde, colo nel) have received orders to embark for England on Thursday next. ! The Sinai Cork Light Infantry Militia have arrived :n Dublin, there to be stationed for the present, The S)uth Cork gave 15 vo:untecra on 'rhursclay to the line —viz., 11 to the 9L1 , , 3 to the 40th, and 1 to the 53th. On Saturday S 5 volunteers from the Cavan Militi=a tQ regiments of the line embarked under the command of an officer at Dublin, fur Liverpool. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. HOME CIRCUIT. CLIELIESFOnD, DEC. 10. The commission of assize and gaol delivery for the county of Ewes was opened in this town to-day. Mr. Justice Crompton came down by the 12 o'clock train, and his lordship at once proceeded to the Shire-hall to open the commission. He afterwards attended Divine service, and at 2 o'clock the business commenced. There are 15 prisoners for trial, not one of whom ap pears to be able to read and write. The offences charged are of a serious character, and comprise arson, highway robbery with violence, shooting at with intent to murder, and burglary. William, Cary, 22, was indicted for burglariously en tering the dwelhng-house of John Pilgrim, and stealing a bottle containing a quantity of home-made wine, some money, and other property. . Mr. Rodwell prosecuted. The prisoner was defended by Mr. T. Cbambere. It appeared that the prosecutor left his cottage about half-past five o'clock on the morning of the 11th Jan. but, and when he returned at hal-past six he found it had been entered, and that a stone bottle, containing seven or eight pints of bullace wine, and some other articles, bail been stolen. About half-past seven o'clock the same morning the prisoner was found lying in a field about a mile from the prosecutor's in a state of stupid intoxication, and the stone bottle, which he had nearly emptied, was by his side. It appeared that he after wards absconded from the neighbourhood, and he was apprehended at Ipswich, and upon the constable taking him into custody, he said he knew what it was for, and Le might as well go back and make it all comfortable, as he knew that, at all events, they could not hang him for what he had done. The jury returned a verdict of Guilty, and the pri soner was sentenced to four months' hard labour. NORTHERN CIRCUIT. DORIIAIf, DEC. 7. (Before Mr. Baron Martin.) TISE EXTRAORDINARY lIIIRDER BY BLOW POISONING. [We briefly noticed this case in The Suit yesterday. We subjoin a more lengthened report :—] Mr. Edwin James, Q C., Mr. Leofric Temple, and Mr. Davison appeared for the prosecution ; the prisoner was defended by Mr. Sergeant Wilkins, Mr. Overend, Q.C. and Mr. Laurie. The prisoner was indicted for the wilful murder of his nil's, Jane Wooler. Mr. James, in stating the case, commenced by ear nestly entreating the jury to dismiss from their minds all they had previously heard of this extraordinary case. He should produce all the evidence in the power of the prosecutor, whether it made for or against the prisoner. Mrs. Wooler, the deceased, was the daughter of a medi cal man, and married the prisoner 18 years ago. They resided in different place-, and for some time in India. About seven years ago they took up their residence at Burdon, near Darlington. She was never of robust health, but experiei,c , ..d no serious illness till the Bth of May last, when she was seized with vomitings. Mr. Jackson, a medical man, was then called in, and at teuded her till her death on the 27th of June. His as sistant, Mr. Henzell, saw her on the 16th of May, but not again till the 4th of June, and thence continually till her death. Her illness continued, accompanied by diar rhoea. On the 3th of June Dr. Haslewood, of Darling. ton, was called in. Consumption being apprehended, her lungs were examined, but nothing wrong could be discovered in them. Dr. Jackson treated the case as one of influenza. The three medical men continued their attendance till her death on Wednesday, the 27th June. For 14 days before her death their attention was at tracted by certain indications. Oa Friday, the 29th, a post ntortern examinati, n took place, from which they con cluded the cause of death to be an irritant poison. A por tion of the viscera was tested by Dr. Richardson, and he detected the presence of poison. An inquest was held on the 30th of June, and, by adjournment, on the 13th of July. The conclusion of the inque-t jury was that the deceased died by poison, but no person was charged with administering it. Soon after Mr. Wooler was ap prehended on this charge. The body was exhumed on the 4th of August, and a portion of the viscera was sent to Dr. Taylor, of London, who would say that he had no doubt of the presence of arsenical poison in it, and apparently administered from time to time in small por tions in solution. Dr. Richardson, of Newcastle, also tested a portion of the viscera, and detected the pre sence of arsenic. The evidence of Dr. Haslewood, Dr. Jackson, and Mr. Henzell, who attended the deceased, would also be given. The symptoms exhibited during her illness also indicated death by slow poison. Assum ing, as the learned counsel said he was entitled to do, that the cause of death was poison, the next question was, who administered it ? The prisoner himself had said, " It is stated that the body exhibits traces of poison —if so, it has been contained in the medicines adminis tered by the medical mein" It would be supposed that if poison had been in the medicines it happened other wise than by carelessness only. Yet, as their attention was directed to symptoms of poison so early as the 17th June, was it possible that such care would not have been subsequently - need as to prevent the possibility of the accidental further introduction of poison ? Toe bot'.les containing the remains of medicine which had been ad ministered were also submitted to competent persons, and in those remains no trace of poison could be disco vered. The peieon must have been administered by some person of skill. The deceased objected to the attendance of a curse, and none was engaged. Two friends, Miss Middleton and Miss Lanchester, frequently saw her due ihg her illness. These two ladies, with the exception of the prisoner's brother, were the only persons about the flecoesed during her illness. It would be shorn by meth eel evidence that to use poison in the way in which it must have been administered to the deceased required skill and knowledge in the subject of poisons. It would be shown by the evidence of Mr. Wooler's own con versation that ho possessed this knowledge and skill. He was about her during the whole of her ill ness, with the exception of one day, the 20th of June. His hand administered the injections and other medicines. Her stomach would nut retain medi cines ; .injections were therefore necessary. On two occasions the prisoner produced to Dr. Hazlewood and Dr. Jackson a small basket containing bottles, one of which was labelled "Fowler'e arsenic," a well-known preparation of arsenic. They spoke to him on the sub jest of this arsenic. What had become of the bottle? At the inquest it was sent for from the prisoner's house. Several bottles were brought back. This could not be found. There was another important circumstance. Ene mas were employed for administering injections. The prisoner bad a syringe of pewter, which was used. On one occasion the elastic pipe got stopped up. The pri soner borrowed a syringe of Mr. Fothergill, a medical man. No other syringe was used till her death. Pother gill's syringe was then returned to him. Some time after, when this matter became talked about, Mr. Fothergill examined this syringe. The pipe was stopped up. It was carefully examined by hire, and in his opinion arsenic was there. His test, it must be admitted, was not a safe one; but a further and more accurate examination showed a greater quantity of arsenic than the test could oontain. The conduct of the pri soner was next to be considered. He apparently evinced the utmost solicitude for his wife during the whole of her illness. It was not, however, until several times urged by Dr. Jackson that he consented to further ad vice being called. Then there is this book (said the learned counsel, exhibiting a book),contaiuing entries be the prisoner of the medicines administered to the de ceased down to the 14th of June, after which there aro no further entries. Among other undoubted symptoms of puieon there is tingling of the hands. On the 23d of June Dr. Haslewood ascertained from deceased herself the existence of this symptom. It was not till the same day that the prisoner, who had seen the deceased after she had told the circumstance to Dr. Haslewood, told them. In his presence the medical men asked her how long she had had this tingling. She answered, " Three or four days." He remarked it was not so long. She replied that it was, and that she had requested him to inform the doctors, but he had forgotten it. Mr. Hen zell examined the deceased's stools and urine before the 22d and after the 23,1 of June. On the former day Mr. Henzell went to the coachhouse ' where the urine was usually kept fur examination, but he could find none. He asked prisoner for some. A bottle of urine was sent on that day, but it differed in character Irons what he had examined previously or subsequently. The servant girl on the 22d brought the urine from the coach house into the kitchen, whence prisoner himself con veyed the bottl e t o M r. Henzell. He sent a letter with it. He had th ere f ore t h e opportun i ty of changing ti d. the an contents. Another circumstance must The symptoms were the s ame every day except 'ne one ePt o n the !' 20th of June, wh en sire On e was much better. On that day the prisoner was from home. Just before tihnegdweciethaseid),:rs death the clergyman who had been Came to the prisoner's dressing-room, and told him d ssede and said, his wife was dying. was The u clergyman threw "A.m I to come in this way ? and took him to her something over his shoulders,omeut that she was dying bedside. At the very if 'f he was going to Darling he asked the clergy ton. He did not attend the funeral. After her death, and before the medical m en had left the house, a bell whichhe invited them into the garden to see th e hiving rang, upon „, - b ees , in which operation the bell wa s seasofesoc-Orrespon donee took place durin g M rs . rWunogoier's illness. On the 29th of May, when she was se riously he wrote to a Mrs. Vint stati ng th a t hi s wifehad bade slight illness. On the 9th o f J une h e writes that her illness was considerable. On the 12th of he writes that she had a tendency to consumption. juOnntehe 14th of June he writes to a Mrs. Rymer that hi, w if e was in a very critical state with disease on the chest, and that the doctors told Lim they could not hope to delay God's verdict, and that the upper part of her lung w as diseased. The doctors never told him anything of this sort. On June 16, he writes to her brother, Mr. Buck nell, stating that she was fast sinking, and that it was only on the Bth that he ascertained from the doctors that her disease was in the upper lung. He expressed great desire to see Mr. Seymour Dixon at Burdon. To Mr. S. Dixon himself the prisoner writes, on the 11th, that the doctors thought there was a favourable charge in his wife, and that Mr. Dixon need not come. On the 23d of June he writes to his nephew, a pupil of Sir John Fife, that, if tho deceased's case were mentioned to Sir to John,if he might give an op i n i on. Ile then deta i ls s y s tems (i -ferent from w h a t h e stated to others , ption. s t o the effect that the doctors app re h en d e d s li g h t e meum should nephew would seem to hav e su gges t e d that Sir John Fife be teleg ra ph e d f or, s i nce i n ano ther letterhis nephew he says th a t th e c l erg y man and me dical men in Sir natßurdon had said it wo uld h a ve been of no use to call John. The clergymen and medical men will deny having ever said so. On the 231 he details her symptoms in writing for Sir ,T. Fife, but omits the tingling of the hands. On the 27th he announces her death in a letter to his bro ther, who was at a distance, inviting him to her funeral. To her brother, who resided nearer, he allo wrote, but did not invite him to the funeral. On the 20th of June the iegistrar called to learn the cause of death , and was informed by the prisoner it was ulceratio n of the bowels. On the same day prisoner received a letter from Dr. Jackson stating that a further examination of th e body was neces=ary before he could give a certificate to the registrar other than that of which a copy was en closed, the purport heir) , that the symptoms indicated death by poison. Pris Oner exclaimed tl the servant Ann Taylor, " Why, they say that my Jane was poi soned. I had better gather up all the bottles." Ann Taylor accordingly placed them in her box. Prisoner then left the house, and never returned until after the funeral. On the 11th of Juno he makes a will, which we have given notice to be produced. It may be asked what motive could the prisoner have ? The learned coun sel said that he could not suggest any. Of that, as well as the other p inti in the case, the jury must judge after hearing the evidence. A number of witnesses were examined, aid the evi dence was not concluded when the Court rose on Satur day evening. MIDDLESEX SESSIuNS. The December General Sessions of the Peace for the County of Middlesex commenced yesterday morning, at Clerkenwell, before Mr. Witham kin the ab ence of the Assistant-Judge) and a bench of magistrates. There were for ttial 43 prisoners charged with felony, and 5 with misdemeanour. M'Arthur and Joseph Rose, convicted at the last session of stealing a vast quantity of slates, to the value of about 500/., the property of a slate merchant named Sheffield, were brought up to receive sentence. The Assi.stant Judge referred to the case, and saidthat it appeared that M'Arthur was the greatest offender of the three who were tried. One of thorn he sentenced at the time. •-• Mr. Sleigh said Le was instructed on behalf of M'Arthur, who had hitherto borne a good character, and the fact of his having pleaded guilty would not be taken into consideration against him. 111 r. Metcalfe, for the prosecution, said the prisoners were remanded for judgment on the suggestion that M'Arthur might make some disclosure as to the remain. der of the stulen property, but Le had done nothing of the kind. Mr. Spiller, a slater, spoke to the previous good cha racter of 'Arthur. He had known him 30 years, and be was apprenticed to the witness. Tee Assistant-Judge said a more daring or impudent robbery he had never heard of. There were collected on a wharf from sixty to seventy thousand slates, and the person having care of them went to Brighton fer a law days. During his absence M'Arthur, and others who acted as his agents, set to work right and left, and sold them as his own, and so got rid of property amount ing in value to near 500/. It was impussible to treat such a case with anything but the utmost severity, and the sentenca therefore on WA rthur was that he be kept in penal servitude for four years, and up on R ose t h at he be kept to hard labour ler 18 calendar months. Charles Symons, a tali, powerful man, was charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding James Kerr. Mr. Clarkson appeared for the prosecution, Mr. Coo per for the prisoner. The facts were these :—The prisoner was a labourer at the London Ducks, and on the 17th of November he was turted out for some misconduct. He had been drinking, and on b.-ing ejected he called out for a knife, swearing he would do fur somebody. In a short time he male his appearance in the Dock, with a table knife, which he brandished over Lie bead, and when requested to go by the constable, he made two thruts at him. The gatekeeper fetched his staff, which the prisoner snatched from him, and dealt the prosecutor, the watch man, two violent blows on the head with it, causing a considerable flow of blood. He then got outside, and stood challenging any ore to corns near him, holding the knife in one hand, and the staff in the other, when Jas. O'Connor, 177 11, closed with him, and with the assist ance of three soldiers wrested the weapon from him, and took him into custody. The prisoner withdrew his plea of not guilty, and pleaded guilty, by the advice of his counsel. Mr. Cooper then addressed the court in mitigation, and urged the prisone r ' s s i ncere sorrow for what had occurred. The Assistant• Judge sentenced the prisoner to six mouths' hard labour. COURT al? BAN RRV PTCY—Dec. 11. (Before Mr. Cornmisioner Evans.) IN RE STRAHAN, PAUL, AND CO.- IMPORTANT QUESTION Ap TO THE ASSETS OF THE BANK AND OF MILFORD AND CO. A special sitting took place to-day, for the purpose of hearing the arguments on the question of a proposed di vision of the assets of the two estates. The bankrupts carried on business as navy agents, under the style of " Halford and Co," in addition to their banking busi ness in the Strand. The former firm, it may be reinem b,:red, was nearly in insolvent circumstances at the time of the bankruptcy. The question was raised by Mr. Bagley, on behalf of Capt. W. Ilerringbaul, a creditor of Halford and Co., whether the assets of that firm ought not to be kept separate, and distributed exclusively amongst the creditors of the house. Evidence has since been taken as to the mode of. conducting the two busi nesses, and the matter n lW came on for argument. Mr. Bagley, for the claimant, stated that previous to 1835 the banking business was carried on by Mr. Snow, Mr. Strahan, and the late Sir J. Paul. The navy agency busi ness was carried on down to 1836 or 1837 in the names of Cook and Halford, and Halford and Co., when Mr. Raiford becoming incapacitated for business, the late s:r John Paul undertook the management for him. Air. 'Telford died in 1837, and the late banking firm then be came the managers of the busiue-is, intimation of the change being given to several of the customers. In 1842, Mr. Bates became a partner in the bank, regular articles being entered into which also provided for his admission into the navy agency business. The articles clearly con: templated that the business should be kept distinct, and provided for their being carried on in separate premises, and that separate books should be kept, and this agree ment had been strictly carried out. Mr. Bates's position was peculiar—he brought in no capital, and had a fixed salary, in the first instance, of 500/. a•year, without par ticipating in the profits. Mr. Stralian was to have 5 9the and Sir J. D. Paul 4-9 tbs. 'Acre were provisions in the agreement exempting Mr. Bates from any liability to loss, and also excluding him from any interest in the business on the death of the partners. Mr. Justice Storey laid it down that a community in profit and loss was the very essence of partnership, and the same view was taken by Mr. Collier. Mr. Collier was undoubtedly held out to the world as a partner ; but that was a very cilerent thing from his being a partner as between them selvee. In the case of Reay and Reay, and numerous others, the distinction was drawn between these two kinds of partnership. In the present instance Mr. Bates wa s clearly not a partner, in the true sense of the word, in either business. He had certainly held himself out to the world as a partner in the banking business ; but in the navy agency business he had taken no part whatever beyond occasionally selling stock when desired to do so. His name had also been inserted in powers of attorney given by the customers of Halford and Co. to the house ; but even this did not constitute him a part ner, nor did it give any information- relative to those customers who did not make powers of attor ney. There was no evidence whatever that Mr. Bates had held himself out t o th e wor ld as a partner in Hal• ford and Co. ' s ; in fact, he never went there except when . he was sent, and no customer of the house was etverbiand troduced to him. But assuming_ that Mr. s i nes still t good acted as a partner in both houses, there g ci r p o l u e n w ds hi f c o h r a u distinctionutho riauthor i sed the Oe.f distinctionthe as s . ctse,roeofnw jointt saanmde sepa rateprin it aboratrhdi other rdb thoughee on n eitirdtehr that b n ta t ) tabusi nesses estates. Where distinct estate might prove againsdt I J e r n a e s s i g g e n n e t e l s e , m a a d n in c i i t t t e e d d s t e b v e e r p a r l i a c i s p e l s e . IVhe p r r e en . i l ls r e t s le ,: b i ' ate estates belonged to the separate creditors, were ld r. identical. H au ueu , T f h o e r that but observedßePDar that the question here was, what were se parate estates F The deed of partnership con s tit ute d M r. Bites a partner just as much in one business as in the other, in fact the two were spoken of as one, the " busi ness of bankers and navy agents." It was sa id th ere had been no communication to the cu s t omers of the f ac t o f Bates's partnership in Halford and Co., but Captain Her. ringham himself admitted that he had received a circular announcing some change in the firm. It was also in evi dence that after Strahan and Co. took the business the cheques were headed in their names, and though the change in question did not show the introduction of Mr. Bates's name, it showed that the banking firm, whoever they might be, were in reality the principals in the other business. In all cases cited there bad been firms con sisting of different members. Here the firms were the same, and even the businesses to some extent ; for the house of H a lf o rd and Co. had a l so carried on a banking business. His Honour said, in this case it was of great impor tance to the creditors that no delay should take placers the decision of this question, as they were, of courstee, anxious t ) come to a d iv id end ; he should therefore state his opinion on it at once. There would , beah good deal g and deal in what had been said as to . Paul being the only real partners,. of Halford and Co. had not 0 that style or firm conveyed no e meaning nr e t l u e fS di r e t ; i ; e b b o u d e t y a , rn a i s t e „,h o were the part was everybody's business to inquireepartner in both con cerns No doubt Mr. Bates w ) a a g rtner in either. and the cerns ; if not, he was no h t e a question l was, whether the result was the same. separate The accounts to be taken, when Court could order li same in each concern. In the case the partners would it be said that separate accounts of an individuwaeiret should be taken.the e ecause they had carried on two sepa. same town ? A general merchant rate trades in t ra ding in sugars, s epara ships, and a variety of thi ngs, opene d a his books . _ to acco unt on c h an dle°. In the event of his failure, could a creditor who had sold him a ship come in and say, "That ship wh i c h I sold you has been profitable, your accounts prove it ; pay me for it ;" thus claiming an advantage Over the other creditors ? Such a principle can never be admitted. And in this respect there was no difference between the case of three partners and that of an in .. cik vidual trader. Il e h ad looked carefully at allthe llf. that ferent autho r iti es w hi ch had been cited, and found they all, w ith out a s i ngle except i on, referre d e no t the l' re to cases where the p ar t ners i n the d i fferent fi rms same, Under all th e c i rcums t a nces it , pr: e ati th e creditors there must be a joint account, and that red to him must come in under it. The costs of the present hearing were allowed. MIMI