The Sun. — London, England, 1824-06-04 00:00:00

Committee up stairs, to take evidence, and to report Abereon to this House. Sir F. OMMANNEY seconded the amendment, but was inaudible in the gallery. stringers were ordered to withdraw, and the House divided. For the original Motion - - 29 Against it - - - - - - 26 Majority - - - —4 Mr. C. FORBES opposed the Speaker's leaving the Chair, upon which the House divided, when there appeared— For going into the Committee - - 33 Against it - - - 22 On onr re-entrring the Gallery ore found Sir F. 031.31AN NEY on his legs opposing the Bill. The Hon. Member moved, as an amendment, that the operation of the Bill should commence in the year of our Lord 2000.—(Bursts of laughter.) —The Chairman asked the Hon. Gentleman if he persisted in ha amendment. He replied in the affirmative, and declared that if he Wag certain of standing alone he would divide the House on it.--(Continued laughter.) The Committtee.then divided on Sir Francis's amendment— Ayes - - - 12 Noes - -- - 33 _ Illajority against the amendment -—2 l. On our re-admission to the Gallery, the Committee were considering the saving clause respecting the exemption of the .chartered Companies from the operation of the Act. On this clause the Committee divided— For the Clause A gainstit Majority - —25. Aldermen THOMPSON then proposed that the Subscribers should beliable to the full amount of their fortunes. Mr. T. WILSON supported this amendment, and Mr. HUSK ISSON opposed it, observing, that it would interfere with private contracts, as no such power existed in any Act now in force relative to chartered Companies. The clause was withdrawn. Mr. Alderman THOMPSON moved, that the names of the subscribers should be enrolled in the proper office of the Court of Chancery. The Committee divided on this amendment, Ayes . - - - 7 Noes - - - 30 Majority against the amendment - —23. Mr. BROGDEN then left the Chsir, and the Report was ordered to be received on Thursday next. SILK TRADE WAGES BILL. After a few words from Mr. F. BUXTON, in favour of the postponement of the measure, the. Silk Trade Wages Bill was read a third time, and passed. The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and _the House adjourned at a Quarter past Twelve o'clock. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF KING'S BENCH, JUNE 3. [BEFORE A SPECIAL JURY.] THE KING V. THURTELL AND OTHERS. This was and indictment against the defendants, Thomas 'Thurtcll, William Anderson (otherwise Ennison), and J. B. Snowden, for a conspiracy in setting fire to their premises, situate in Watling-street, in the year 1322, and for defrauding the County Fire Office of the sum of 1,930/. ;Ir. SCARCE TT opened the case, and began by calling upon the Jury to divest themselves of all prejudice, and to forget, for a time, and. past transactions that might attach reproach to the name of Thurtell. The case he would prove was a very simple, and, he believed, also a very clear one. One of the defendants (John Thurtell) was now no more. He had formerly been in the Navy. In 1321 he .came to London, and entered into some speculations, and, becoming bankrupt, took the 'benefit of the- Insolvent Debtors' Act. A public-house was kept in the Haymarket, in the name of Thomas Their tell, but evidently for the benefit, and under the direc lion •of his brother John. A warehouse was taken by the de fendants in Watlingsstreet, near St. Paul's, in November, 1821. Immediately afterwards John Thurtell commenced operations , on the warehouse, and altered it so as to answer his purposes.— ( Here Mr. Scarlett exhibited a model of the warehouse, and en alsavoured to shew that these alterations were for the purpose of concealing from persons on the other side what was in the ware house, and for preventing discovery if fire should break out.) — He mentioned a variety of other suspicious circumstances, such as John Thurtell refusing to get out of bed when he was in brined the warehouse was on fire ; there being no remains of intrnt goods found among the ruins ' • and persons having seen from tite opposite side that the warehouse was nearly empty.— But this he Would leave - to be proved by the witnesses he in - -tended to bring forward. Joshua Penny—Resides in Watling-street; is a wine-mer chant; let the upper part of his premises to Thos. Thurtell for - WT. • had not received payment. HILL—Had you any still on the premises, or any thing 'likely to set the house on fire ? Witness—No. Witness 'continued—Left the house on Saturday night, at ,past ten o'cloCk; came to the house daily ; saw one parcel brought to the warehouse ; no communication betwixt his xemiscs and those of the defendants ; never had any coat i • plaint from John Thurtell or his porter about smoke. By Mr. SCARLETT —Saw a parcel brought on the Saturday. There was no fire nor candle on the Saturday on my premises ; :I left my servant in my warehouse, and no other person ; -heard a noise like that made by carpenters. J. Davison, carpenter, employed by John Thurtell to alter a warehouse in Watling-street, in November last. Under stood from John Thurtell the presses were for the purpose of slizeping •goods. Saw the inside of one of the presses on the • 14th or pith December, by accident. Nothing in the inside. Knew Cason woman connected' with John Thurtell resided Ihr -some time on the premises. She left them on the day that the -witness leftooff working. All the goods witness , ever saw in the warehouse did not amount to more than eight or nine rolls of bombazine. A. Williams.was acquainted with John Thurtell in January 1823 ;he lodged at her house, Garlic-hill ; came on the Wed nereley before Christmas. A woman came with him, called Mrs. Thurtell; slept there; stopt with her till after the fire.— Recollects some conversation betwixt John Thurtell and the roman. She (the womans said to John Thurtell, "if 1 were • you, John, I would sell all the goods and set fire to the ware house." He replied " Don't talk so, Mary." John Thurtell -came home on Sunday morning about five, the rooming the took place: he said ,to witness—" What are the rattles ,springing for ?" Witness did not hoar any. AVasherwoman -came about-nine.; said there .was a great fire. Witness knocked at Thurtcll's door, and told him there was a large fire in Wat ling-street. He asked if it-was about Friday -street. .Witness .. did not know, but sent the was!ierwornan- to inquire. Mrs. Thurtell then said to John Thurtell, the warehouse is on fire ; she did net hear the answer, but he was a considerable time, about a quarter of an hour, in getting up. . Witness was re :quested by John Thurtell to grease his boots before going out; slid not leave the house hastily. Bv My. Serjeant VAUGHAN—Did you let your rooms for -the flour or half hour ? . Witness—No. Who did it ? Witness—l don't know. You mean to swear to that ?—I don't mean to swear to Any thing of the kind. (A laugh.) Von were examined before ; did you not say " I have-got as ;much sometimes for a night as for a fortnight ?"—Never. Von swear that, very well; did you ask if Thurtell and this • woman was married ?—No; I never interefere with conversa tion between man and vfife. Mr. Serjeant VAUGHAN—No; you don't ask every couple that conic to your house if they are married; if you received ,-none but married people, you would not have many lodgers perbaps.-31r. B. Beaumont came to me and examined me about John Thurtell; could not recollect when. William Williams had a warehouse near to that of the de fendant. The tire broke out about five. Went to the ware house door and knocked, and the door was opened by Samuel - Wilkinson. Saw no fire on the ficor when the flames were issuing from Thurtell's .window. Went to secure his own papers, and canoe back 20 minutes after.; saw no fire on the floor than• Could discern the remains of almost every thing that had been burn t- Looked at Th ur t e ll' s warehouse, but saw no remains of goods. Never saw any thing In the conduct of Wilkinson to make him suspect that he was in the habit of drinking. Mr. Simoa Wilkinson.---IPenny, of Wading was porter to street, who lived next door to Mr. Thurtell at the time the fire occurred. I went to bed about half-past ten o'clock on the night of the fire. Before I went to bed I put out the fi res .. rem_ . in the house,.lighted a candle, and took it,with me up to b e d ; but that was the only light at that time on the p ise s When I went to bed I put out the candle carefully. i s eotild see into Mr. Thurtell's premises from my bedroom.l was awakened:by the watchman knocking at the .d oor. I got out of bed, went down the step-ladder, and opened the warehouse door. The warehouse• was quite dark; I saw a light in the first floor. There were a number of persons in the street. attempted to break open , . the door from our warehouse into ,Thortell's, but I could not succeed further than to break one panel.. I then went and dressed myself, and broke open my master's desk, to get out some papers. I then went anti got a light from the street. During all that time the fire Was burn ,,:rig in the first floor. Through the panel of the door I saw the fire burning on Thurtell's staircase. . When I went to 'tied there was no fire hi the coontino o house. Richard Mackay --.I am .p r i nc ip a l firem' an_at the Globe In surance Office; I have been afireman 21 years; I was on the ,premises on theanorning of' the fire, and observed the. progress ..of it. I was in about three days afterwards. sent to examine the ruins, to look after salvage stock for the - Illobe Insurance Company. Air. Penny's p r emises . were 'insured by the Globe. Mr. Williams's . premises were on the right of Thur. tell's. I examined Mr. William's premises, and saw half burnt bales of goods, but on Thtertell'tt, premises there were no such things. From my experience as a fireman, I can say, that in five cases out of six we always find some remains of the property. Joseph Jepshson—l was employed by the Globe Insurance Office to search Mr. Penny's premises, where I found some wine, spirits, ginger beer, and other goods ; there were also remains of bales of bombazines. John Cresont—l am in the employ of Messrs. Todd and Morrison, silk-mercers, in Fore -street; I knew John Thurtell about five or six years ago in Norwich, where he carried on the business of a bombazine-manufacturer. In the year 1822- he applied to Todd and Morrison, for the purpose of purchasing goods for his brother Thomas He selected the goods; but to what amount I can't say. I don't know whether all the goods which he selected were delivered to his brother. This took place, 1 believe, in December, 1822. • John Dillon—l am in the employment of Messrs. Tood and Morrison. I remember John Thurtell coming to the ware house to purchase goods ;' he always paid cash before the goods were sent to him except upon one occasion, when he gave a bill for 301. Some of the goods which are entered as returned were, in fact, never sent out of the warehouse. Mr. Barber Beaumont—l had a communication with John Thurtell respecting the invoice now in my hand ; he stated it told a true account of the purchases made by him from Leith.-- This invoice was given to me by a person who stated himself to be the clerk of .John Thurtell'a attorney. ' Mr. Leith said the invoice produced was a true copy from his books; we were paid cash for all the goods sold by us to John Thurtell. James Rigglesworth—l lived with. Messrs. Margraves, who were silk and bombazine warehousemen in o ; Breal au l-street.__ nowtreet.— I left their em pl o y men t a b out a year ag an accountant. 1 saw John Thurtell at the ware house three or four times in 1822, when lie called upon a person named Snowden, who was agent to persons at Nor_ wich. On the 21st of December 1822, Snowden and John Thurtell, having h a d some co nv ersation near the fire in the office, they applied to me to purchase some bombazines and I Norwich crapes, b u t I d ec li ne d t o have them, although they I said I might have them at my own price. John Thurtell told me that Thomas Thurtell was a manufacturer at Norwich. On the next day he brought me patterns, and the prices were so low that I agreed to purchase them. In two or three days afterwards, I found a box of goods in my warehouse; it was brought, I believe, by a porter, who delivered the goods which I had previously bought from John Thurtell. I paid for the first lot by a cheque, which I gave to Mr. Snowden. The box contained a general assortment of silk goods. On that day Snow den came to me and said the box contained another cheap lot of goods. I opened the box and saw Todd and liorrison's invoice on the top of them. I declined buying them, because I consi dered them to be Todd's prop2rty, and said I should get into some disgrace, but Snowden said he would take his oath they were paid for. I replied they must have been paid in had bills ; there must be some roguery in the transaction, .and I I I would have nothing to do with them. On the next morning Snowden came again and brought me Todd's invoice, with Todd's receipt annexed. I still objected to buying them, and said, if you were to go and lay out 1001. with Todd and Morri son, and come to me to-morrow and offer them for 75/. what must be your motive for so doing? He said it was of no consequence, that there were many people who would buy them if I did not. He then said there was a grand plan made ; the explosion would take place, but that I had nothing to do with it. lie then went away, and on the same day I got an order from Mr. Margrave to inspect the goods, and to put them to his account. Several parcels came afterwards through Snowden. The invoices now produced are the invoices sent with the goods. The first invoice is dated the 27th of December, 1822, on which day I bought the first lot of goods. The second invoice is also dated the 27th of December 1t:22. It is an invoice of the same goods of which I saw Todd and Morrison's invoice. The prises charged in this invoice are considerably less titan the prices charged by Todd and Morrison. The date of the next Invoice is the 28th day of December. In this invoice the bandanas are only charged at 19s. 2d. per piece. (The witness here read from the invoices the various description of the goods, and upon reading the invoices of Todd and Morrison, it ap peered that about the same time the same descriptions of goods were purchased from them by J. Thurtell.)—The first and second parcels appeared to hare been brought in the same pack ages in which they were purchased by Thurtell. The other parcels appeared as if they had been opened, part taken out, and the remainder packed up again. The piece of silk now pro duced is one of the pieces I purchased from Snowden. I know the piece, because it was marked by me at the cost price. Be fore I heard of the fire I did not know Mr. Beaumont, nor any person connected with the County Fire Office ; but having ac cidentally seen in a Newsp a p er a re p or t o f the tr i a l o f " Tur. tell v. Beaumont," I made an observation to a Mr. Pottery, who communicated it, as I have been informed, to Mr. Beau mont. Whilst these purchases were being made, I saw John Thurtell once or twice with Snowden, whom he asked to pay over to him the proceed. The last time I saw John Thurtell was about the 7th or Bth of January, in company with Snow den, at the Poulterer's Arms, Honey-lane-market.. The witness was cross-examined to chew that he left .I`,lr. Margrave's employ front misconduct. Re-examined--Then 1 left Mr. Margrave's service he gave tne a character which got me into employment. Mr. Barber Beaumont—l am Managing Director of the County Fire Office. The policy now produced was executed at our office. Cross-examined—l cannot say whether the policy now pro ' duced was signed by one ; it was filled up. I know all the de= fendants. About the Bth of February, last year, Thomas Thurtell made application at the office for indemnity for the loss alleged to have been sustained by him in consequence of the fire in Watling-street ; he delivered me a statement of the goods alleged to be destroyed. In consequence of some previous information which I had received, I asked him of whom lie bought the articles ; he mentioned the names of Messrs. Todd and Morrison, Dawson, Leith and other persons, whose names I don't recollect. I asked him if the goods were all on the premises at the time of the tire, and he said he was sure they were, as they had n ot begun to dispose of any goods; he said the last time at which he was at the premises before the fire, was at four o'clock the pre ceding evening, but he said his brother John was there a t a later period before the fire. I then asked him other ques tions, but he put his hand t o hi s f ore he a d—s a id his wife was at the point of death—that he would not answer any more questions,--and that lie would send his brother John to explain every thing. I said I. should make inquiry about the invoice, and the persons of whom he purchased the goods; and lie said he would furnish me with the invoices. In half an hour afterwards John Thurtell called, and I asked him similar questions to these that I asked Thomas ; and he answered them, and said he would send the invoices. In a day or two afterwards, M r. Hemstt's cleric came with the original invoices, and proposed to leave them with me, to be copied ; but after having gone to the door, he returned, and said he was not authorised to leave the originals, hut that he would send-me copies. In two or three days afterwards John Thurtell brought me those invoices, which he said were exact copies of the originals. Both the Thurtells told rue distinctly , that none . of the goods had been sold. Snowden, whose in voice of goods sold was given to me, called on me, and I asked him if he had sold the goods mentioned in the in voice to Thurtell ; and he replied that he did, and that he received in payment a bill for 1001. and the. remainder in cash. I asked whose agent he was in negociating the sale, but he re fuced to tell me, I asked hi m i n what way the goods were de livered; he said they Were sent to Watling -street. I asked him by whom they were sent ; but he seemed to be confused, and could not give a distinct answer. Ile said some of them had been left by himself, and he did not recollect who took the other parcels. I asked him where his warehouse was, and he said I would hear of him at the Poulterer's Arms; I traced some of the goods to Mr. Margrave's warehouse in consequence of what I learned at the Poulterer's Arms ; I made inquiries about Snowden at Mr. Margrave's warehouse. This was be fore the trial which took place in the Common Pleas. On the day after I made the inquiries at Mr. Margrave's, Snowden called upon ace, and seemed very indignant at my having made any inquiries; lee then said that he never sold any goods to Mr. Alargrave, nay ever acted as the agent of the Thurtells, except. -in one instance, in which he purchased .for them goods to the amount of between 2001. or 3001. from a person named Daw son, at Leeds; I frequently afterwards saw John and Thomas Thurtell, and their account of the transaction was always the same. Jelin Thurtell said all the goods which came from -Norwich, amounting to 7001. or 8001. came through Dawson; that he received two boxes of goods in Novem ber 1822, some in December 1822, and a small paper parcel in January 1823. I told John Thurtell that I had traced some of the goods from Norwich to the Cock in die Haymarket. He said it was so, but they were afterwards sent to Watling-street. I the n refused to pay the .demand, and Th u rtell brought his •actioal- On the day after the trial in the Common Pleas, a gentleman named Pottery called upon me, and-through him I was introduced to Mr. Rigglesworth. Mr. &ABLE T T said, this vsas- the ease for the prosecution.' Mr. Sergeant Vann RAN. addressed die Jury. After a long and painful inyestigation:for nearly eight hours, it became his duty to address them on behalf of the defendants, Thurtell and Anderson, upon the merits, or rather the demerits, of this prosecution. Ile w as sure t h a t th e J ur y wesotarlar d d i i v n e a s r ttheneselves of all the prejudices with which it was endeavoured to , taiut their minds. .The only question before did. the defend a nt s enter intoconspiracy to Barberde frauda Beaumont arid th e ot h er membe r s-of the C ftrh o ae u uj a d s tl y 7lr. Fire ic lnsurance. Company ? The Learned Serjeant then commented at .considerable length upon the evidence for the . prosecution, and concluded by expressing his firm conviction, that he should be able to offer such evidence as would at once justify them in finding the defendants.not guilty. Mr. Gun NEI' then addressed the Jury on behalf of the other defendant, Snowden. ' • . Several witnesses were then examined to shew that Thurtell, from time to time, received a considerable .quantity of goods. Wm. Reeves—l was foreman •at the Beacon Fire-office; I examined the premises of Mr. Thin-tell in Watling.street shortly after the fire . ; found near'the door about a bushel of pieces of burned bombazine s and silk velvets ; I was near the premises whilst the fire was raging ; there was a great explo sion, and in consequence of the fire the flames were very high, quantity of spirits which took Cross-examined—l gave evidence on the trial in the Common produC e d i s not i n my h an d- wr i t i ng , ne i t h er directions ; I n e v er told Mr. Beaumont tw P h: l at e st a it . pwo nrTi tcertainletterym:t con, ditions I would blow up the case of the Thurtells and enable him to resist that claim : I was astonished when Mr. Beaumont called upon me in Whitecross-street Prison I did not acknowledge to Mr. Beaumont that I had ehrism ; I nev er 't o ld th e t urn k e y Baldwin to on who mi g ht com e to i nqu ire for I. I. referse nt this to m l e e t a t e n r y t o p Re-examined--When Mr. Beaumont called upon me, he said, if I could give him any assistance about the fire, he would see if he could not do something for me when I should get dis charged from prison. Another fireman belonging to the Phcenix Fire-office said, that he went to the fire in Watling -street about five o'clock on the Sunday morn*, and the fire was then burning fiercely. A. Windsor, a fireman Of the Phenix Fire-office, swore that when he first came up, about a quarter before five o'clock, he saw the smoke issuing from the lower part of Mr. Penny's premises ; the back part of Mr. Penny's warehouse was burnt. Mr. Thomas Margrave_The witness Rigglesworth was for merly in my employ. I remember purchases having been made in December, 1822, from Mr. Snowden. There was not any communication made to me that - the goods were purchased from Todd and Morrison. Rigglesworth never told me that the goods had been offered to him at 20 per cent. less than the cost prices; if he had I would not have bought the goods. I am not a judge of such goods, and I therefore employed a buyer. The goods were afterwards sold in small lots to country , shopkeepers, and the gloss profits was only 12 per cent. 1 dis charged Rigglesworth bec au i e I ' was: i n formed by goodjudges that he hat made injudicious purchases for me ; in consequence of having been informed tliat he borroWed 301. in my name, without my consent, from a Mr. Lenney Smith, of Paternoster row, to pay, as he said, a returned bill; I mentioned that to Mr. Rigglesworth. The tale about the returned bill was a false hood. I had sufficient funds to meet my bills. John Taylor—l buy Manchester silk and woollen goods on my own account; I also buy for those who employ me; I have known Rigglesworth for 15 years ; from what I know of him I would not believe him on his oath. . . Mr. Lenney Smith was called to prove that Rigglesworth bor rowed 30/. from him in Mr. liar; rave's natne. .'►lr. SCARLET t• objected to that species of evidence. His lionnsntP held that the evidence was inadmissible. Mr. Sergeant VAUGHAN—That is the case for the defendants. Mr. SCAItLETT then called Mr. Barber Beaumont.—l went to Whitecross-street prison, where I inquired of the turnkey for J. J. or 'l'. T., in consequence of having received this letter ; I was introduced to Reeves, who admitted that he had sent this letter to Mr. Barber Beaumont, whom he believed to be my father. The letter wag then put in and read. It was dated August 8, 1823, signed ." A Fireman," and directed to Mr. Barber Beaumont. - The writer wished Mr. Beaumont to call upon him, and stated that he could elucidate many things which were connect ed with the trial which had just taken place at the Common Pleas, where a verdict was found against the proprietors of the County Fire Office. When I went to him, he said he could lay open to me the whole of the plan, if he could get appointed foreman at our Office ; as he had lost the situation which he formerly held. I refused to comply with his request. In con sequence of having received another letter from him, I called again, but I refused to give him any money or employment, or any promise of money or employment: Cross-examined.—lt is not true that I told him if he did any thing to elucidate this business I would see what could be done for him ; but I said that if he could refer me to any persons whose evidence would be useful, _we would reward them for their trouble. An inhabitant of the neighbourhood was called upon by an individual, who said he could give important evi dence about the fire; and an advertisement was put into the newspapers, requesting that person to call on me - but I did not, through the medi u m of th e news p a p ers , apply for any other information. Mr. Serjeant \rational( said, at this late hour of the night he would abstain from making any observations at length, but he could not help saying that Mr. Barber Beaumont would stand on higher ground if he had disregarded anonymous let ters, and had manifested rather less zeal in the discharge of his duty as Director of the Insurance. Office. At a quarter to ten o'clock Mr. SCARLETT rose to reply. The Learned Counsel, in support of his argument that this fire was the result of conspiracy, relied mainly upon the fact, that although the warehouse in which, if there were no fraud in tended, the invoices would have been deposited, was destroyed, yet the invoices of the goods wsre preserved. The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE, at II o'clock last night, began to sum up the case to the Jury. He first gave a de scription of the offence, as stated in the indictment, and then called upon the Jury to banish from their minds every thing they had heard before they came into the Court relative to this important proceeding—important as it affected the accused, and important to the public gene rally. They would, therefore, not allow the decision which had taken place in another Court to prejudice their minds; for he was well convinced that the Jury who tried the case in the Common Pleas, returned a conscientious verdict according to the evidence then adduced before them. — In this proceeding other evidence had been brought forward by Mr. Beaumont, and it was very important'evideace, because, if it was true, there was some fraudulent scheme in concoction by the defendants, just prior to the conflagration taking place .— , Upon the present occasion, he was satisfied the Jury would Weigh well, and with a deliberation due to the nature and con sequences of the inquiry, every fact important to the issue, for the offence was very penal, and would give such a verdict as was the result of their calm, dispassionate, and unbiassed judgment. His Lordship , then read the evidence, making such comments thereon, as he proceeded, which appeared to be important. He said, it was by no means essential to a conviction that it should •be proVed to have been a wilful fire, for if they (the Jury) Were even of opinion it was ac cidental, and were convinced that the accused had con certed to defraud the Fire Office by false representa tions, fictitious invoices, &c. they were not less guilty of the offence imputed to them. The case was not that goods were . not conveyed to Watling-street or removed front thence, or that goods were not destroyed there, or that the fire wa s or was not wilful ; but the gist of the case .was, that the. defendants made a claim at the Fire Office for com pensation. for losses, which the; knew never had been sustained by the conflagration. His Lordship adverted to the evidence of Wrigglesworth, as confirmatory of the charge against the defendants, if credit shoUld be given to that witness's evidence. The Jury would take all the circum stances of the case into their consideration, and say, if all or either of the three individuals who had appeared to take their trials, were or were not guilty. The charge being of ii criminal nature, be was sure that they would as he had before desired them, dismiss from their minds all they had previously. heard respecting the case at issue, and upon a fair and mature unbiassed verdict. If t h ey enterta i ne d a doubt as to th e gu il t judgment upon the evidence, give a just and of any one of the accused, a nd there did appear less to affect Anderson than the other two he was sure they would give the party the benefit of such doubt ; if on the contrary, they should be of opinion that the whole or any of the defendants were . guilty, they would unhesitatingly pronounce that verdict. Verdict—Thurtell and Snowden Guilt y, and Anderson Not Guilty. The trial continued till twelve o'clock, and the Judge and Jury appeared much exhausted. On Monday morning, the 31st ult., about four o'clock, a slight concussion was felt by a number of persons in this town and neighbourho o d, which they compare to the shock which would be oc casioned by the falling of a house at a distance, but which cannot otherwise be accounted for than by supposing it to 'have been an earthquake (Bury Post.) PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. MOUSE OP COMMONS. 3Q die Junii, 1824. Mr. SPEAKER reported the Royal Assent--to Customs (Cnals and Linens Bill, Assessed Taxes Composition Bill, Four • per Cents. Repayment Bill, Transfer of Stock Bill, Wool Importation and Exportation Bill, Land Revenue Sale of Stock Bill, Plymouth Victualling Office Bill, Hull Dock Lands Bill, Newfoundland Fisheries Bill, Assize of Bread Bill, Welsh Coals Bill, Burrow Bridg , .. Bill, Dingwall Har bour and Police Bill, Littlehampton Ferry Bill, Hulme Im provement Bill,lland Outfitll Drainage Bill,—Bridport, Langport, Stokenchurch, Cheltenham, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Radnor and Hereford, Durham and Tyue Bridge, Halifax and Sheffield, Bolton and Chorley, Godley Lane Head, and Glasgow and Paskhead Roads Bills,—Brighton Chapel Bill, 13incombe (Dorset), Swanland (York), Sutton Colack' (Warwick), and Sturminster Newton Castle (Dorset) Inclo sures Bills. M ARKErs—Canterbury IN CLOS UR E—Potterne (Wilts) ESTATE —Castle Island Roane—Renfwwshire, and Commercial Cuunca—Harwich WAREHOUSED WHEAT ARTIZANS EMIGRATION PAROCHIAL STIPENDS (Scotland) SILK MANUFACTURERS WAGES GENERAL TURNPIKE (Act Amend ment) Warzaironxs.-"Canterbury—Bill repi Bolton—Bill read a third time, and pv DOCKS—St. Katherine's—Minute s of th fore the Committee to he laid before th Woor.-•--Petition from Ross-shire, to all Long Wool, to lie on the table. DEBTs:ACT (Scotland)—Petition from Ross-shire, for extension thereof, to lie on the table. GRAND JURY P RESENTMENTS-- Petition from Drogheda, for the regulation thereof, to lie on the table. LINEN YARN—Petition from Belfast, for a Duty on the im portation of, to lie on the table. LAw I..+XPENCES (Ireland) NEWFOUNDLAND MARRIAGES HORSES SLAUGHTERING EAST INDIA TRADE SALT DUTIES REPEAL PUBLIC CitrDlT (Ireland) MARINE INSURANCE—BiII considered in Committee; to be reported next Thursday. ROMAN CATHOLIC MARRIAGES BlLL—Committee put off for six months. MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS—That they hare agreed to Beer Duties Bill, Maidstone Markets Bill, Leeds Gas Light Bill, Glasgow and Yoker Bridge Roads Bill, and Bromp_ ton-square Improvement Bill, without amendment; and to Teignmouth Bridge Bill, with amendments. That they have passed a Bill, intituled, " An Act to authorize the proprietors of entailed estates in Scotland to grant provisions to the wives or husbands, and children of such proprietors." FISHERY BOUNTIES ACTS—The following . Resolutions re ported and agreed to, and Instruction to Committee on Fisheries Bill to make provision accordingly : • " 1. That for every barrel of Herrings caught and cured, un der certain regulations and directions, there shall be allowed a Bounty of 4s. in the year ending the sth July, 1826 ; of 3s. in the year ending the sth July, 1827; of 2s. in the year ending the sth July, 1828 ; and of Is. in the year ending the sth July, 1829. " 2. That for every Cwt. of Cod, Ling, or Hake, dried or cured in Great Britain, and of Cod, Ling, Hake, Haddock, Glassen or Conger Eel, dried or cured in Ireland, under certain regulations, at any time before the 4th July, 1829, there shall be allowed a Bounty of 4s. " 3. That for every barrel of pickled COd, Ling, or Hake, taken and cured in Great Britain, and of pickled Cod, Ling, Hake, Haddock, Glassen or Conger Eel, taken and cured in Ireland, under certain regulations and dire c ti ons, at any time before the sth July, 1829, there shall be allowed a Bounty of 2S. 6d. " 4.. That there shall be allowed, under certain regulations, for every cask or vessel of Pilchards, or Scads, containing 59 gallons, which shall be duly exported from Great Britian to Foreign parts at any time before the sth July, 1826, a Bounty of 75.; and in the year ending on the sth July, 1827, a Bounty of Gs. ; and in the year ending on the sth July, 1828, a Bounty of 4s. ; and in the year ending on the sth July, 1829, a Bounty of 2s, Bills read a 3d time. and passed. mud, to bo ingrossed used. le Eridenee taken be. le liouse. low the exportation th Bills read a second time, & committed. 5. That there shall be allowed under certain regulations, to the owner or owners of certain decked vessels, or to the persons hiring or chartering such vessels, fitted out from any port in the United King('Om, for taking Cod, Ling, Hake, or other white Fish, a Bounty of 20s. per ton of such vessels, in the year ending on the sth July, 1826 ; a Bounty of 15s. per ton in the year ending on the sth July, 1827; a Bounty of 10s. per ton in the year ending on the sth July, 1328; and a Bounty of ss. per ton in the year ending on the .sth July, 1829." ORDERS OF THE DAY FOR THIS DAY. 1. Lind Tax Redemption Bill—Committee. 2. Newfoundland Judicature Bill—Xommittee. 3. Saving Banks Bill-Third Reading. 4. Impounding Distresses (Ireland) Bill—Third Reading. 5. New Ch urc h es Bill — R eport. 6. V.agrants,Bill—Report. 7. Combination Laws Repeal Bill—Committee. 8. Law Expences (Ireland) Bill—Committee. O. Qualification of Jurors Bill—Further Consideration of Report. 10. Examination of Witnesses Bill—Report. 11. Masters and Workmen Bill—Committee. 12. Newfoundland Marriages Bill—Committee. 13. Horses Slaughtering Bill— Committee. 14. Lancaster County Courts Bill—Committee. 15. Cocoa Nuts, .&c. Bill—Report. it;. Warehousing (Ireland) Bill—Further Consideration of • Report. 17. East India Trade Bill—Committee. 18. Salt Duties Repeal Bill—Committee. 19. Usury Laws Forfeiture Bill—Second Reading. 20. Fisheries"Bill—Further, consideration of Report. 21. Gr a nd J ur y Presentments 13ill—Report. 29. Connor Benefices Bill—Third Reading. 23. Dublin Police Bill—Report. 24. East India Goods Bill—Third Reading. 25. Transportation of Offenders Bill—Committee. 215. Tenants Relief (Ireland) Bill—Third Reading. 27. County Gaols Bill—Third Reading. 20. Highland Churches Bill—Third Reading. 29. Duchy of Cornwall Bill—Report. 30. Public Credit (Ireland) Bill—Committee. 31. Exchequer Bills (Public Forks) Bill—Second Reading. NOTICES GIVEN YESTERDAY. Wednesday, June 9. 1. Mr. Humeßeturn of Commitments by Magistrates in England, Scotland, and Ireland. 2. Mr. flume—Coroner's Inquest at Lewisham. 3. Mr. Martin (of Galway),—Bill to abolish Bear-baiting and other awl sports. Tuesday, June 15. Mr. •Hume—Compensation to Slave-holders in case of emancipation of their Slaves. BOW-STREET.--(T His DAY.) SmAsnErts.--Three men, named Barnett, Sim monds, and Collimore, were brought up for final examination, charged with uttering base and counterfeit coin. The prisoners, it appeared, had gone to Fulham for the purpose of carrying on their deception, in which they were success ful, and then proceeded to Putney to renew the scheme, but information being given to a dismounted patrole, he finally apprehended five of them in company. On searching the pri soners there was a gambling apparatus discover ed and several counterfeit shillings and sixpences. The prisoners, however, not being identified were discharged. Sir RICHARD BIRNJE observed, he had no doubt they would still pursue the system, and he should have the pleasure of see ing them brought there again. The following is the motto to the Hydra Jour nal, taken from Aristotle :—" If a man, when perfected by education, is the best of animals, he is also the worst of all when not governed by laws and justice." There are three other Jour nals in Greece : there is another to be soon pub lished, under the title of the Gazette of Athens. STATE PAPERS. [Delivered to both Houses of Parliament last night, by ools• wand of his MAJESTY. SWEDEN. DECLARATION of SWEDEN for the Abolition of eertaiil Dues affecting British Commerce in the Ports of Sweden.- - Signed at Stnaliolin, April 24, 1824. (TRANSLATION.) The undersigned, Minister of State and of Foreign Afr a irs of his illajesty the King of Sweden and Norway, having received the Declaration of Sir Benjamin Bloomfield, Envoy Extraor7 dinars and Minister Plenipotentiary of his Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, of this date,' containing the assurance of a perfect reciprocity, declares by these presents, in virtue of the authority to that effect with which he is invested, in the name and on the behalf of the King his most gracious Soverei gn : • That English merchant ships arriving in the ports or waters of the kingdom of Sweden, shall in futur be placed upon the same footing as national vessels, with respect to pilot, light' house, and tonnage dues, and, in general, wiih respect to all those duties which are included in the denomination of Port' dues payable to the Crown (Skeppsumgaider), of whatever description they may be : That English merchant ships shall be equally auintilated_t l national vessels with respect to Salvage dues, without an y re striction or difference And that, as Swedish commerce is already in the enjoymeo c of reciprocal advantages in the ports of Great Britain, the abovementioned arrangements in favour of English commerce shall be put in force, in all the ports of the kingdom of Sweden, without delay, and with as much expedition as possible. In witness whereof; the undersigned has signed the present Declaration, and has affixed thereto the seal of his arms. Done at Stockholm, the 24th day of April in the year of our Lord 1824, (Signed) LAURENT COUNT D'ENGESTROM. DECLARATION 2.—(TRANSLATION.) The undersigned, Minister of State and of Foreign Affairs of his Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway, having re ceived the Declaration of Sir Benjamin Bloomfield, Envoy Ex traordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of his Majesty thet; King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, of this date, containing the assurance of a perfect reciprocity , delares by these presents, in virtue of the authority to that effect with which he is; invested, in the name and on the behalf of the King his most gracious Sovereign That all articles the growth, produce, or manufacture of the kingdom of Great Britain and of Colonies, which, according to the existing regulations, may . be imported into Sweden on board of Swedish vessels, may be imported into Sweden in English ships direct from the port s o f G reat B r i ta i n, without being sub ject, on their entry, to other or higher duties to the Crown, than if imported on board a Swedish vessel. • That all articles, the exportation whereof is not prohibited, may be exported from the ports of the kingdom of Sweden on f, board of English vessel s , t o any p l ace w h atever, without being . subject, on their export, to other or higher duties to the Crown, than if exported on board a Swedish vessel. But that, as Swedish merchant vessels do not enjoy the liberty of visiting the ports of the Colonies and Foreign possessions of England, it is understood that the privileges above specified are not applicable to goods imported into the ports of Sweden, in vessels belonging to the said Colonies and Foreign Posses sions, or in vessels strictly English, coming direct from the English Colonies. _ _ And finally, that the abovementioned stipulations, founded upon the promise of an exact reciprocity in the ports of Great Britain, in favour of Swedish Commerce, shall be put in force , in the ports of the Kingdom of Sweden, from the first of Juno of the present year (1824.) In witness whereof, the undersigned has signed the present Declaration, and has affixed thereto the seal of his arms. Done at Stockholm, the 24th day of Apiil, in the year of our Lord, 18'24. (Signed) LAUREN T COUNT D'ENGES TR OM, PRUSSIA. CONVENTION of COMMERCE between HIS BRITAN NIC MAJESTY and the KING of PRUSSIA, Signed a t LONDON, April 2, 1824. His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Bri tain and Ireland, and his Majesty the King of Prussia, being equally desirous of ex t en di ng an d increasing the comtnercia intercourse between their respective States, and of affording every facility and encouragement to their subjects engaged is such intercourse ; and being of opinion that nothing will more contribute to the attainment of their mutual wishes in the respect, than a reciprocal abrogation of all discriminating and countervailing duties which are demanded and levied upon the ships or productions of either nation in the ports of the other, have appointed their Plenipotentiaries to conclude a Conven tion for that purpose, that is to say,__ His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Bri. , tain and Ireland, the Right Hon. George Canning, a Member of his said Majesty's Most Hon. Privy Council, a Member of Parliament, and his said Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs ' • and the Right Hon. W m . H us ki sson , Member of his said Majesty's Most Hon. Privy Council, * Member of Parliament, President of the Committee of Privy Council for Affairs of Trade and Foreign Plantations, and Treasurer of his said Majesty's Nairy : And his Majesty the King of Prussia, the Baron de Worther; his Majesty's Chamberlain, and his Envoy Extraordinary anti Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of his Britannic Ma jesty :—who, after having communicated to each oth er their respective Full Powers, found to be in due and proper form, have agreed upon and concluded the following Articles : ARTICLE I.—From and after the Ist day of May next, Prussian vessels entering or departing from the ports of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and British vessels entering or departing from the ports of his Prussian Majesty's dominions, shall not be subject to any other or higher duties or charges whatever, than are or shall be levied on na tional vessels entering or departing from such ports respec tively. ll.—All articles of the growth, produce, or m anu f ac t ure of any of the dominions of either of the High Contracting Parties, Which are or shall be permitted to be imported into, or ex ported from the ports of the United Kingdom and of Prussia, respectively, in vessels of the one country, shall, in like man ner, be permitted to be imported into, or exported from those ports in vessels of the other. lII.—All articles not of the growth, produce, or manufacture of the dominions of his Britannic Alajesty, which can legally be imported from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland into the ports of Prussia, in British ships, shall be sub- - jest only to the same duties as are payable upon the like articles, if imported in Prussian ships; and the same reciprocity shall be observed in the ports of the United Kingdom, in respect to all articles not the growth, produced, or manufacture of the do minions of his Prussian :Majesty, which can legally be imported into the ports of the United Kingdom in Prussian ships. IV.—MI goods, wares, and merchandize which can legally be imported. into the ports of either country, shall be admit; ted at the same rate of.cluty; whether imported in vessels of the other country. dr in national vessels ; and all goods, wares,. or merchandize which can be legally exported from the ports of either country, shall be entitled to the same bounties, draw backs, and allowan ces , whether exported in vessels the' other country, or in n a ti ona l vessels. V.—No priority or preference shall be given, direcey er in directly, by the Government of either country, or by ee y com pany, corporation, or agent, acting on its behalf, or eeder its authority, in the purchase of any article the growth, produce,' or manufacture of either country, imported' into the other, on account of, or. in reference to the character of the vessel in which such article was imported ; it being the trite intent and mean ing of the High Contracting Parties, that no distinction or dif ference kvhatever shall belnacle in this resect. Vl.—The present Conventio n shall be g in force for the terns of ten years from the date hereof • and further, until the escl of twelve months after either o f the nigh Contracting: Parties shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the same; each of the High Contracting Parti es r eserv i n gto itself the right of' giving such notice to the oth er , a t th e e nd of the said term of ten p.ars ; and it is hereby agreed between them, that, at the expiration of twelve months after such notice shall have been received by either party front the other, this Convention, and all the provisions thereof, shall altogether cease and determine.. Vll.—The present Convention shall be ratified, and the rad fications shall be exchanget4. at London, within one month frnt ,, the date hereof, or sooner, if possible. In witness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have sign ed the same, and have affixed toereto the seals of their arms. Done at London, the second day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-four. (Signed) - GEORGE CANNING, W. HUSKISSON. (Countersigned) WERTHER. Bar 31 , , e a I) , 3i K 1 C I Nvl trli dc de at