The Sun. — London, England, 1834-05-14 00:00:00

l 'e e „ r l ar ; Y , It was admitted by the whole house to be due to the lions of a particular nature had been made to him (Sir J. geenntniegins.aorfi honour and justice togrant that hon. and learned Searlett)• He denied that he had been at all influenced a committee of inquiry. He (Mr. H.) con- against the hon. gentleman. Let the documents be sub- Raste ded teat it was the same in his ow n e ase, and that it matted to the house, and if an erroneous opinion had been clue to the feelings of honour and justice td. giant hitie come to he would be the first to retract any erroneous t-Le°rnmittee df inquiry. It Was dee td the character. Of °Pine:see he might beve formed. He had not personally mute house itself. He was .e.preient a Member 6 f a edlei- len , * the honourable, gpvtiri T A : i ; but he had known a , i i t e tee of that hddse in-estigating Circiiiiigiaiieci which in • gentlerain in the toted ef Ise-4es ;Zile we', eormeeted with i 6 ,',ed millidne Of money, and with what propriety could h e him by ma r r iage ; from that gentleman he had redeieed a ;'-' It t judgment in such a committee while branded with letter asking him (Sir J. Scarlett) to use his influence to ,liiteli injurious, though unjust, imputations? He had sat have him called to the bar. Sir Samuel Shepherd was h etlutt house for sixteen eears, and had eNnreseed hii (Vie ; the Attorney-General. He got him a letter to Mr. Welsh, ~) ° h's Willi fraiitnees and stith NiCries, althiiiigti, Oiliapl, I d o:ntierian of the highest honour and unblemished cha in racter, a Whig in principle, and tele' whose 13 . olitics could -3 , t i n a manner calculated to attract much sympathy in rion with him ; and he appealed to the house if, during not have made him hostile to his interests. The benchers to ,, t Period, he had on any occasion conducted himself in a heard the case, they heard his own evidence, they listened lti•'!. l r. deepgatery to the character of a gentleman. to his own speech, and they rejected his petition to be called to the bar. Mr. Welsh regretted the necessity im- C e L ea r• ) These nineteen hOnmirable men, howefer, hail yeewed that he was not fit for the society of he ; pdeed Upon him; but lie concurred in the general decision. aleshould like very much to know what right barristers Oil tof respect, to the flee gentleman's feelings the bench to arrogate an exclusive title to that elnaracten, and said if he vHtintreye his application they would think no t e eitY it to attorneys ? He Was not aware that the ifiOr6 epee the bubject i they veotikl bury the entire days of barristers in general stood so high. In con- ! action in silence. The hon. gentleman took tit° days to st,,,.!ing their causes they b frequently expressed their consider of this ; he consulted his friends, and the result 111; l e,'etY to keep persons out of the court. The effect of • was that he said he would appeal to the judges. He did i ‘. a nxiety, however, was very unfortunate, for it so so ; he had had eminent counsel, and he felt assured if the the ti ed the it etae by follifeenie their edifice that all . eve lice before the benchers had been successfully im -01 r ilienis got into court. (A laugh.) The moral Paclied tilts etittrt would have ordered a fresh inquiry. tbaracter of an attorney was of much more importance But evidence had not been cdreplained of. Mr. Brougham h ae that of a barrister. The barrister lived alone in his . and Mr. Denman were heard at great /etigth 1 but the O e lu alr ' b ers, where he might commit what grossness or judges decided that the award of the benchers was rigid, th - Tnity he chose, and had no direct communication with and recorded their high approbation of their conduct for 4- In diidttals whose caese he was called upon to advocate, the care they had taken of the honour and dignity of the k;',. ( nrney, hoeYeeer, mdst he a Men of delicacy and bar. He ( Sir J. Scarlett) had the honour of being one of t r 0„,...,. eendiscts He Naas consulted iri private ; he Wee in- 1 those benehere. They had all since gone to the grave th e ,, e , with deeds and other valuable documents. So fa r , ' except four ; but he would confidently refer back to the t o „„ - e;°re, from assuming any superiority, barristers ought time, and in his conscience say that their decision had been th e 7eavour to bring their character up to a level with I right. peninef attorneys. (A laugh.) The absurdity of com_ I Mr. HARVEY would say a few words in explanation. p ass g an attorney who wished to be called to the bar to I He denied that Mr. Welsh had voted against him, and he ste t : c ertain interval of time in perfect idleness was mon- ! could produce a letter from another bencher who declared his fre e s• Suppose ae apothecary were prevailed upon by I he had been no party in the award. So much, then, for io n nds to give up his one-horse chaiee to obtain a ! the candour of the hon. and learned gentleman who had regtaeand to,keep e carriage ghat *mild be said tif a ' made the statement just heard before inquiry. (Hear, as a - e' e n ;' , liicli should prevent him from being admitted hear.-7 The proceedings before the judges had been ap lon4"nysieian until he had suspended his medical practice . pointed for Friday, but he had not the certificate of the . ee ry ? Nis to forget all that he had known as an apothe- benchers' proceeding's b . efore . Thursday night--sit hours' role for 'ln attorney must have take his name off the time of grace. In the interim they had trumped up many le. i th r three years before he could be n l - iermitted to enter fresh charges without consulting him. There had been 'bt th,?4ideti. ceeness into the courts and become the rival nineteen gentlemen at first sitting in judgment, but they - e isractssing barristers. There was another reason had dwindled down to eleven • but of the eleven some had , Ith„ , 1 , ; _: the noble lord opposite ought to support him in been so engaged that they only partially attended; three r demand for an inquiry. The honourable and had only come twice ; some were so engaged that they fell l a med membe r for Norwich had declared, in his exceed- asleep. Some he inquired from why they had opposed, ti Ty kind speech, that there were riot Nineteen honourabl e but they had told him they could not say, but still they ( „"el in the kingd om , w h d , if they knew the facts o f hi s opposed hi m , an d suc h was the Court which the hon. th`Or. Harvey's ) cas e , wo uld not decide against him. Why member for Bu r y h a d so muc h pra i sed. Let the house, at wa s a libel on the Lord Chancellor of England. Mr. however, hear what Mr. Chitty, one of themselves, had ti. e uleham had been his counsel in his first struggle with said upon the constitution of the Court. He said although tole_, benchers. After their decision, he (Mr. Harvey) had there was an appeal from the benchers to the judges, still, tit e Mr. Brougham that he was placed in a very awkward as many of the judges were benchers, it was only an ali , c l i a t t ) io n , b y h av i n g given up his profession as an attorney, appeal ab eodem ad eundem, and that there could be thtt i Lthen having been refused admission to the bar, and no successful prayer. (Loud laughter.) The judges thoeght ef practieihe see h - es a COtiVeyancer. "Am I," dined with the benchers. They were almost one and en .e to Air. Brougham, "at liberty to refer any one to the same body. As to what had fallen from the ho eel, if Id o ~ „ ee _ , so ? The more the better," was the an- nourable and learned member for Norwi c h, there was of' " for I thi n k you have been very badly treated. " no end to what he asserted, excepting the limits of his vhee_ar, he ar .) B efore Mrs Brougham had been Lord imagination. (Laughter.) He knew the astuteness of . te e Teellor 24 hotirs, lie Milt for him (Mr. Harley) to his mind and the extent of his skill; b u t even t h ey s h ould .. I notss e of Peers, and there he received him very kindly. not daunt him. He had published his case, it was true, Ss ei . w ish (said the noble and learned lord) to make you and circulated three hundred copies among the members of I eo ns etar Y of th e Ch ar i ty C omm i ss i on ; not only because t h e house. It was as large nearly as th e report o f t h e eaose ifier yo u as peculiarly fit. for the situati on , b u t b e - poor law comm issioners . B u t h ow many h ad been read? yo u e _ v wish to show my opinion of the treatment which He feared not scarcely more than twenty. On looking aee receivedin being refused admission to the bar." into the title page hon. members would Harvey;sa " Oh, Harvey leists ec u t l ylY the noble and learned lord's Secretary was again and Scarlett ! Searlett and y ; oh, we'll none Peiere e h " t° write to the Treasury to that effect. The of it." (Hear, and laughter.) In fire, he was glad - ''neehot afterwards determined to chane the a p- that the hon. and learned member concurred in the amend nttnent t t PlAied t ° that of solicitor to the commission; he then ment for inquiry. v ey)ll _,o the Treasury on the subject, and he (Mr. Har- Sir J. SCARLETT would still assert that Mr. Welsh to m r. a n., seen a letter, signed " Edward Ellice," written had voted against the hon. gentleman. The hon. member in th e Mauls, the solicitor to the Treasury, who was then for Dublin said no twelve men could agree to the decision. ' 'reas e '''' u 'itry, informing him, " that the Lords of the If so lie would most gladly retract his previous opinions, t° the r Y had that day appointed Mr. Harvey Solicitor and give the hon. member the full benefit of his conversion. (Al e e, c a ll u arity Commission, and desired to place him The motion as amended was then agreed to, and the Am see le) in communication with that gentleman." following Select Committee was then appointed. . tee s , .Y did he not obtain that situation ? Be- O'Conneil, D. l'hillpotts, J. A ttWOOtl, M. that h e letter had been received from Mr. Maule, stating Abercromby, Right Baring, A. Robinson, G. IL t tie Spankie, sergeant Evans, Colonel Hon. J ' , Lig e l o ok not a proper person to hold it. Now let the p • S ir C. Leonard, T. B. Bulger, E. 1.. dare,at the meanness of his accusers. They ' did not Fe eP rg Y s g isson, K. C. Agilonby, H. A. Pryme, G. k ..0 f a ., had , o , , e a parliamentary inquiry into the subject. Why Peel, Sir H. i enntson, C. Grote, G. corded ' the hon. and learned member for Norwich se- Horne, Sir W. Tyrrell, Sir J. Roche, W. th ii th e . , Sincair, G. Lloya, J. H. Wilks, J. e co „, Motion .He (Mr. Harvey) cared not of whom Peel, Colonel J. Jervis, J. Hill, M. D. ennittee were composed, provided they were honest Hume, Joseph Dare, Hall Haleomb, JAc not selected by the hon. and learned gentlemen. ll..rdinge. sir H. h t !!' he found that he was denied admission to the bar. Sir. J. SCARLETT then moved t:„,"bt to the Court of King's Bench, _and claimed to be before the Select Committee so appoi, i t :utrtitted asanattorney. To be re-admitted, however, relating to the case of Mr. D. W. Har e l ;i 4 e necessary that his name and i n t en ti on s h ou ld b e put viously been laid before the be nc h ers o f h e ar a whole year, and that a special application should — Agreed to. ha v r .' l , ade upon the subject by Counsel. This circumstance CAPITAL OFFENCES REPEAL BILL. fitt o ; ii n g attracted the notice of the secretary of a society of Mr. LENNARD, in rising to move for leave to bring Itaa e Y , lte called a meeting of the soc iety, by which it in a bill to repeal so much of two acts of the reign of un in i exi sted t he determined that no objection whatever George IV. as related to the punishment of death for cer tifier:ere ? t ne 01r. H.'s) re-admission. As a further tee- fain descriptions of theft, and that so much had been al victual's' e he ld in his hand a letter signed by 290 indi- ready done in mitigating the penalty of death for some Zliole ,constituents of . his at Colchester, who had read the offences, and the general propriety of the principle so fairly te "Pres d Nidence in his case, from beginning to end. established, not only by the dictates of reason and hu lin tesui s t e e their . indignation at the flagrant oppression, manity, but by the testimony of actual experience, that his e el be en , i _ ch ' Political and personal motives, of which he task in the present instance was neither a difficult ' nor a ' ill ee ,.`ae victim, but the only effect of which had been tedious one. All the evidence since the partial abolition writ er "ass the number and attachment of his friends. The of the punishment of death went to show that the number t he b en d eclared that they considered the resolutions of of committals had decreased, whilst the number of actual t ieatie n e "re to be of no weight • that they trusted an inves_ convictions, and, consequently, the practical efficiency of P 4 144; °I the ease would be entered into by a reformed the law, had materially increased. It appeared from the returns which he held in Isis hand that the number of The talentse and that th felt grateful for the integrity mittals for offences, of robbery, &c., in London and Mid ee(tle ibvehnicehhehe leaveh d ad . eY e ed vin t ced as th ir representative . . him e no locus Beni- dlesex, during the three years from 1827 to 1829, was t he c i: ce ' 11() h ack -door )to escape 672, whilst in the three subsequent years, 1830 to )833, e frorntheir condemnation— the committals were 618, being . a decrease of 54. .0n the ‘v ' r e tre l " atid penalties were to fall heavy on him— other hand, the convictions during the former period had excuse t h' e r ni , his honour, and . to . ruin his character No th en if h e , - Luruitted--no palliation they allowed. Surely, ' been 382, whilst during the latter period they had been gui y, they should have has"at sve, had b 'lt • considered - -.Pathbeen 387, being an increase of five. There was only one other particular offence to which he begged to th b ee , Y was due to youth ; that the faults alleged to draw the attention of the house, and that was forgery. th ee' w ere r e e Ttnitted were the faults of early life; that a t chant de emed by the practices of after years ; and It had been stated, that since the mitigation of the punishment for this offence the number of cases had been , eel bet w e' aud Christian benignity should have inter th's life h at i e t !' him and the stern mandates of their rules. found to increase. Such was not a true statement of the h e se na te been one of active exertions ;he had looked to fact. Under the former state of the law the number of e tete ).country as the reward of his exertions ; convictions in England and Wales were fifty per cent. ; ens f o a d the „. high hono ' ur of being a member of Parlia- now they were sixty-eight per cent. ; and in Lon thei:l,d, a r n '" d a t ny years ; his conduct had been before the don and Middlesex alone, whilst the convictions were Demo 0 the world's verdict he would look. Should formerly only thirty-three per cent., they were now ' t ellers ruin no t , , then, shut their eyes to all that? Should seven , ty-four per cent. He thought that these facts were e hf,,,'.ave paused, before the , had sought wholly to sufficient to warrant him in asking the house to lend their 4Pors °f youth. '.. Age might have thrown the shield over the assistance in revising the state of the law in reference to er e e , douth. But he (Mr. H.) required not such the offences he had alluded to. (Hear, hear.) 1, ,,1ia,V, he had done nothing which he was afraid or Lord HOWICK believed that the gradual mitigation of 'lig „," 1 to disavow, nothing which he would not do again. the criminal law of England, which had of late years been Illie tt i' e me life he was anxious should be scanned ; let every introduced, had produced gratifying results, not only on note . ~Particular be surveyed ; let him stand or fall by his the score of humanity, but of p u bli c expe di ency . eit e ' "et let them alone be brought in judgment against The motion was then agreed to. w hich l i et him not be made the victim of accusations CIVIL BILL COURTS—IRELAND. tey e deni e d , of c h arges w hi c h were as monstrous as Mr. LITTLETON sa id t h e bill which he now proposed he h oe er e fails,. He besought hon. gentlemen, no matter to introduce was in substance the same as that which had last session been proposed by the hon. member for Louth, L: se a to °r e „ t ueir parte, no matter how they might be op to whom all the credit of its enactments were due. He -:, to d il- h - ; , ti matter upon what side of the house they (Mr. Littleton) had been requested to take the bill under cz t i-n ,: t y, ° nekin matter to adopt the benignity of Chris ' - they to - -eY th e •' • injunction, -,, do unto others his charge on the present occasion, and he would very l e ey w oot ,, 1%.. e divine to brieflystate that its provisions were compiled with the them "L wish to be done unto them." (Hear, hear.) sheet again• • threefold object—first, to regulate the nature and amount to ni d o j„ . , he would say, examine his conduct ; let th n , T a tiee to him. By 't they would be doing justice i of actions ; secondly, to regulate the administration of AI:, ie se ' v es. (Hear,'h assets and legacies ; and thirdly to facilitate the obtaining kelee "'CONNELL made some ) remaek, which was in- of probates of wills and letters of administration. The e , ein the gallery right hon. secrtary concluded by moving for leave to in s o SOLICI ' ,s o I. ___ . TO R- GENERAL commenced speaking bring in a bill to e extend the jurisdiction atid regulate the et iee lout a tone that his observat* proceedings of the Civil Bill Courts, etc., in Ireland. is "rfectly heard. H onsidereir h s sometimes were most P , e said, that (..„ Colchester e c e e eeo er for Colchester should hay the hon. Mr. FITZGERALD most heartily approved of the bill e s 'red, in order to remove to puirigeehtlioiseif, e every investigation he proposed to be introduced by the right hon. secretary, as s t ,:'Y charges made against l ' iim. from the one calculated to be beneficial to Ireland. bee' investigation going forward, but tl'ide no objection to Mr. O'DWYER said a few words in favour of the bill. a all an' den called upon to go into it. Nothing had, had not Mr. SHEIL also approved of the general principle of . however, the bill. t hat a sked which the house could grant to A br f i t n e g r a i n fe t se b • o w b -o i r ll ds . from Mr. LEFROY, leave was given ' 1,1 4: Why bad not the hon. member for the s t ° for "'ember for Colchester himself conic down ~.( 4, 1),•••_ . .. and asked DUTY ON BRICKS. ; ti e mission to call evidence to the bar to rebut the case Mr. PEASE 1 for leave to br• g' a bill for the ftf,sgee p r osecution? The house, he was sure, would not repeal of th d t m" b e' • •k • but he &d in- i t n -• h't t tak uy on re. s , i no wis i o e w °ele tne request. (Hear.) Nay, he was confident they effect till M t ; lire n... n. i rt. y next. i nber . k [war. ) If such a motion was made the hon. Lord .A.LTHORY op osed the motion. He questioned st ead of % ould have his support. (Hear, hear.) But in- if the house would -13 this .. • 1 ed • e 'ent re . ti eing so he had attacked an establishment of the even if it had determinedons ont tao reduction fortr artuarr of uctio a n, ' b e ll he', and therefore he the Solicitor-General) felt him- tion.—Motion withdrawn. - eetl in ed to _, I._, oppose him The entire course pursued had SABBATH OBSERVANCE BILL. he th er e ' eu rnost extra . cl . or . may. One hon. member had Alr. POULTER obtained leave tobring inbill to a give t her had b ' tending effect to the '29th Charles in e 1 „.,„ . een no individual case, another eon the Sabbath es 11., as regards the observance of anal of "'; He could make y llowance for the feel- • Lena' n tne hon. member f ever a His were per- REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, or Colchester. MARRIAGES, 'esid; n es, and conse taken into AND DEATHS Sued gyration. ratio __ quently were to be duly Mr. BROUGHAM rose to m . o. He had co 1 • Ti4i:vetit into a w Imp wiled of grievous wrong, a bill to insure the general registratione for leave to bring in ‘eC o ed, not of ii•staternent in his defence. He com- H had originally intended to include of births and deaths. I t 1 - `"ae the houseiln, but he did of other hon. members. He t • nof marriages in this bill a provision for the t _ m... 0 . to do? Was it to proceed in the dark ? registra io ._ , but was the by •'' tsnt knowledge of the facts stated. (Hear. ) In jus 'ne th the introduction of the measure of the noble lord (Russell). fr earl , e hon, member himself he said so. Much had, had objected to The dissenters, however,. . the noble lord' s °ln hi,ren heard of his case, but that much h a d come ess e bill; Ipr 0,,,1L j Hear. ) Why not move ? and rendered it necessar h the established church, y t at they :: 4 'etl `' (3 -L'i NELL would interrupt the honourable and should pay the certain fees. These objections might Iss eule ,Renderoan He nreasonablethought it might be Inl end 'nest • • uld dtle wo aop is suggestionwisedreasnale or u d • the members of the Church hot v re embody his words. He would move as an afore house, an in este. Cat all . .. whether it would not be better for all D an t.e all at a select committee be appointed to in- England, to consider tha n t le. w . i th e , circumstances respecting the case of parties to have a bill that would not be obj n e o c t te i ti nv t o o lv b the Arra JERK ey, Esq., that- evidence be heard, and dissenters, care being taken that b t did of the established e„ e i he e made to the house on the same. outrage to the feelings of the mem . ers. this , _ felt "I : ,N A I,T t r,seconded Mr. O'Connell's amendment. churcle He had then prepared a bill with the noble lord alet eo ° ,und i n ; "RP —After what he had just heard he if the house thought it preferable to that of dove-e. ` 0 th Justice to the hon. member for Colchester to and were pleased to adopt it, they could, as it were, t . 'r J e 'alien lon • Se, „ dment just proposed. (Hear.) tail it with the Registration Bill which he now proposed 'l' ' not 'ettLETT .had objected to the .original mo- to bring forward. His Dissenters' Marriage Bill wools %it 01l th 14,1 e h ad he ground that the benchers of the Middle provide that buildings for the performance of the religious aed ,he , shrunk from inquiry. He denied that they ceremony should be registered ; that the ministers re eot ''e aw n denied that he admitted they had acted so ; should be registered as qualified ; that any person tr ke ,,, ( ,7_aled to the house for the verity of his state- so registered must celebrate such marriages with the ee t ',.,ner „ y e ar) He was far from denying the hon. religious observances peculiar to his own sect ; that par seeZ for e„„SY facility which he sought • __• and if lie then ties wishing to be married might obtain from the justice of siej s e_l a her investigation he (Sir J. Scarlett) would the peace marriage licenses ; and he made no distinction mem ber so ertl, nto that effect. (Hear.) But he con- between lay and clerical magistrates, because the latter, as h eo glber f o ' r ?!1?n. gentleman, some friend of the hon. well as the former, would then act only in the capacity oi "eer s to ester, should move that the report of the civil officers ; and to confirm the power to granthcenses to thedges should be laid on the table, Allu- lay magistrates would, in some parts, produce great incon- that there be laid Lted the documents vey, which had pre the Middle Temple. vehleito, n Stlffolk, in consequence of the greater pro portion of the magistrateir being clerical, it would be neees sary to travel 30 or 40 miles to find ri lay magistrate. The whole principle of his measure would be, to distinguish between the religious and the civil part of the operation. The minister was not to celebrate the marriage till a fort night after he received the certificate, which was to con tinue in force for three months. He thought this a better security against fraudulent marriages than bans afforded, the riddles' being often published with fifty or sixty others, and even where the rtsr!ies were unknown. The mar.. riages having been performed, would be registered ac cording to the provisions of his bill. He thought that the principle on which they ought to legislate for registration was, to make it as much a civil and as little a religious ceremony as possible. (Cheers.) He proposed to pro vide in every parish, or in every sufficient district in Eng land, a civil officer, vtbo should register every birth or death, and transmit that record to a'superintending officer, who should have charge of a larger district, and he, at a stated period, would have to transmit the certificates of the register from time to time to the central office in London. It had been objected that the necessity for an officer in 15,000 or 16,000 districts would render the machinery so costly, that the expense was a serious obstacle to the ar rangement. A great number of officers would be required, since it was obvious that to hare a registry - complete, the register should only act within narrow limits. The expense of the machinery would amount to nearly 800,0001. ayear ; therefore, unless he could exhibit some . device b 7 which the objects could be attained at far less cost, the question could not be entertained by that house. The population of Englandand Wales, according to the census of 1831, was 13,897,187. These were distributed nearly as follows : Parishes or places con- No. of Persons. Poiinlation. taining inhabitants. Parishes. Less than Dm 1 407 averaging 50 95,250 From 100 to a,o 4,77) ‘3'o 054,800 From 300 to 5'•1) '3,121 .100 1,248000 From 50e to 1,000 3,craS —711 t, • , ,12(1-,0011 From 1,000 to 10,000 2,567 containing -- 6,1:3 -,:±99 Above 10,000 129 containing 1.5,536 13,593,110 True population :3,597,1b7 Error of the average 4,077 Thus it appeared the minimum was 100 ; the maximum was not 1,000 ; the average number of entries in the year, then, would be thirty-five. He had constructed a table of births and of deaths ; and he had ascertained that there were three per cent. of births to the population, and two per cent. of deaths. Therefore this gave an average of five per cent. of entries of both deaths and births upon the population. There was a less per centage of marriages on the population. From Rickman's estimate of baptisms, registered and unregistered, it appeared that the proportion was 1 in 34 ; the proportion of births deduced from the table of mortality, fo rme d f rom Ri c k man ' s t a bl e o f burials, was 1 in 334 ; the births might therefore be taken at 3 per cent. ; the deaths are nearly 2 per cent. : the marriages 1 in 128 ; births and deaths 5 per cent. on 13,897,187- 694,859, nearly 700,000; marriages, 110,000-810,000. Now, the parishes in which there was the largest amount of population, were not the greatest in extent. In some the population were scattered over a large surface. The number of officers accordingly required for parishes, with a population above 10,000, would not be so great in pro portion as would be required for parishes with a population below 10,000. Therefore he had only to deal with the more populous parishes ; there would be no difficulty in providing proper officers, and paying them ; but the difficulty of a general registration was to provide, say twelve thousand officers for the various parishes throughout the country, and thus put an end to any project which should have for its basis the actual appointment of officers for the purposes of registration. The next question was, how were officers to be provided to answer the purposes of the bill ? His opinion was, that the best way would be to take the pre-. sent machinery which existed in all parts of the country, which would only entail upon them a small additional ex pense. England and Wales were already divided into dis tricts, for the more convenient collection of the taxes. The number of these districts was 190. In every parish and township in England and Walesthere were an assessor and collector. In general the arrangement was, that he who was the assessor one year was the collector next; but in many instances both offices were united in one person. Now it appeared to him (Mr. W. Brougham), that if the collectors of the taxes were made use of for the registra tion of births and deaths, and were allowed a small per centage in addition to their salaries as collectors, there would be this advantage from the management, that part of the machinery already in existence for the purposes of the state could be made available for this, without subjecting the country to any material additional ex pense. His proposition, then, was to make in the collec tor of taxes in every pari s h an d t owns hip England the registrar of births and deaths. He proposed pro riding him with books and duplicates of sheets of paper for the purpose. The entries would have to be made in the duplicates of the sheets of paper, and also in the books. One of the sheets, with the entry made, he would give to the clergyman of the parish the first time he met him, and the other would be transmitted to the gene ral office in London. The entries would be likewise made in the large book, which, for its more safe custody, would be deposited in an iron chest in the church, provided for the purpose. When this book was full of names, it could be transmitted to London. The reason why he preferred putting the books under the care of the clergy in preference to dissenting ministers was, that the parish churches af forded a greater security for their safe custody. It might be said that dissenters might have conscientious scruples to apply to the clergy of a church from which they differed in opinion. He did not see that they could have any tena ble objections to making such application ; but if so, they could apply to the office in London, where no such reli gious differences could by possibility interfere. The next question for consideration was, how were the officers to be paid? In those districts and places where the population were but limited, the entries would be but few ; and in order that their duty might be performed in an efficient manner, he would propose that their remuneration should be greater than in populous places. If not sufficiently paid, it would be found in a short time that the registrars would perform their duty in a defective manner. He, therefore, thought that the best plan would be to give them a certain per centage for every entry they made. The scale which he had fixed on, after expending much care and calculation on the subject, was the following :—ln each of the first ten entries he would allow 55., for each of the next ten 2s. 6d., and for all above twenty Is. The general result of this scale would be as follows : £ 0. d. .. £. s. d. 1,907 4,774 3,12! ,034 , 567 -, 2 4OO or 120 12.9 places, above 1 , ,100 supplied with 150 registrars, each hav ing 22,000 or 11,000 entries...s7 15 0 ...... ... 8,662 10 0 69,583 7 6 The sum total of the fees which this registry would cost the country would be 69,5801. This was but small when it was recollected that 12,000 officers, being one for each parish, were to be paid for their services out of it. He now came to the question as to w h a t wou ld b e the best way of raising this sum. It had been suggested that it would be the most advisable way to pay it out of the Con solidated Fund, as the general complaint was, that rates were already , too large, and that it should not be paid out of them. Ile (Mr. W. Brougham) had an objection to the payment of the amount out of the Consolidated Fund, because if paid out of the rates, as he humbly conceived it ought to be, each registrar would receive it from the hands of the parish-officer, who, as he had an interest in making the entries as few as possible, would take care that no im proper entries were made ; while the registrar, having an interest in making the entries as numerous as possible, would see that none were omitted that ought to be made. In this way they would act as a check on each other. The expense would he very trifling. Assuming the number of families in England and Wales to be what had been given in the last census—namely, 2,182,400, the amount which each family would have to pay yearly for the registry would be only sd. each. ( Hear.) This was a mere trifle, and he would, therefore, propose, that the expenses of the Registry Office should be paid out of the rates, and that each registrar should be paid by the parish officer. With regard to the London office, and the expenses which would be necessarily incurred by it, he thought the general registrar should be an under-commissioner of taxes ; and that, as he held that office, a salary of 5001. or 6001. would be sufficient. It would, of course, be neces sary to have clerks under him, but the amount of their salaries would be but trifling. With respect to the Lon don office, it had been suggested to him (Mr. W. Brougham) that entries might be sent up to him from the country, written in a legible hand ; and that, therefore, to insure accuracy, it would be p ro p er t o h ave th em co pi e d over in a plain hand into a volume, before they were forwarded to the metropolis; perhaps the suggestion was worthy . of adoption. These were the principal ideas he entertained on the subject of a registry of births and deaths. The question now was, how the objects he had stated could be ,completely carried into effect. He was aware that it was not possible, as in France, to compel people to forward a statement of the births and deaths which occurred in their families ; at the same time, he must say he saw nothing like the prospect of a perfect registration, if left to the voluntary principle. His duty was to make his bill as per- Sect as possible ; and, therefore, he would propose that the talacyctsireto the rs of be of any birth o equiredtogive nor death that tiee,‘vithin may three .)acichunrgvitiothdion s t o h , e t i r he p y r e a m h o i suelsd; be d an that, t in to t a he pe e n v a e l n ty t o o f f_ th s e a i y r 40s. which th e j udge could either modify or depart from fromf mu b dna e cebgc a s ei dg e s ueinmlntyaepleel negligence, it as t r ot c r ucwpemoadsas.st He possible. would oonur ß ttl u adhn t epe i re f eoa s t pt h ohe e sa,t o o i ft n ht ihaas that birth,to ee a r n aeol en tries altogether, p rov i ded he thought the omission had occurred would strhioe suffice to give the time, the sex, the names of the parents, and where born. In the case of death, the name and residence of the deceased, and the time the person lied. He would not propose that any penalty should be ,nflicted on those who would give false information. Hi herto he had spoken only of births and deaths ; he now same to marriages. He knew it would be inconvenient for the registrar to move about and watch every marriage that took place in populous places, and there would, be- siees, be great danger of losing the book. He therefore proposed abandoning that part of the plan. He thought it would be sufficient if the celebration of a marriage were inserted in the marriage record, at the time it took place, by the Roman Catholic priest, the Baptist minister, •or other dissenter, by whom the ceremony had been performed. With regard to the church of England, he wished mar riages to be continued on the same footing as that on which they stood at present. In the case of the Jewish child, the name first given need not be the same as that given at circumcision. Any expense attendant on the plan would fall only on the upper classes. It was but a trifling fee at the registry, which, as the humbler classes seldom changed from the first name, would not affect them. To introduce the measure to the public, a printed formula of the manner of proceeding would be left at each house by the tax-gatherer, and thus accustom, and perhaps even tually induc e a f u ll comp li ance w ith the regulation. He would then move for leave to bring in a bill to establish a registry of all births, marriages, and deaths, throughout England and Wales. Lord ALTHORP said the plan of the hon. and learned gentleman had been explained in a very clear and intelli gible manner, and it appe-.red to be one which held out a greater promise of Success than any which had been before Proposed. The expense, too, did not appear to be so great as in any of the other plans which had been suggested, and, bi having the details attended to, would be likely to be useful. To the general, principle of the measure there would be no objection; but he was not satisfied how that Portion would be accepted which compelled communica tion with the clergy. With regard to the practicability of the measure, he concurred with the hon. and learned gentleman ; and on application being made at the Tax "Mee, Mr. Wood was of opinion that the measure could be adopted without disadvantage. , Any other observations which lie (Lord Althorp) had to make, he would reserve until the measure came more regularly before the house. Mr. MARSHALL supported the motion. Mr. BAINES also approved of it, and thought it free from the objections which lay to the measure proposed by • Lord John Russell. Mr. PETRE said it would give satisfaction to the class With which he was connected. Mr. WARBURTON thought the name of the tax gatherer would prove obnoxious. Some people were of opinion that there would shortly be no tax-gatherers, as there would be no taxes to collect, and he saw no objection to providi ng them with this new employm en t. ( A l aug h. ) Sir G. STRICKLAND, though he had paid close at tention, thought some parts of the plan were imperfectly made out. Unless great attention was paid at the office in London the plan would fail. The hon. baronet instanced a case in which ecclesiastical parchments forwarded through the Post-office, the postage not being paid, had accumulated to such a degree as rendered it necessary, for convenience, to commit them to the flames. Mr. PorTEK and Mr. WlLics approved highly of the plan, applauding the industry which was exerted upon it, and eulogizing the principle on which it was founded. Lord JOHN RUSSELL concurred in its approval, and said, that if any sacrifices were to be made, they were such as the country ought to undergo, for the benefit which would be conferred by having the present imperfect system I done away with. (Hear, hear.) In that nart, however, which related to marriages, he did not think sufficient se curity, in the way of publicity, was provided against im proper ones; but this was an objection which could easily be provided against in committee. Mr. BROUGHAM replied—As to the apprehended danger from the transmission by post he had sufficiently provided, as he proposed to adopt the plan used in the tax office. The motion as then agreed to. Sir T. TROUBRIDGE obtained leave to bring in a bill to alter and amend the laws respecting Cinque Port Pilots. Mr. NICHOLL moved for leave to bring in a bill de claring illegal the continuance of the Glasgow Lottery beyond the third drawing, proposed to take place on the 22d of July next, or any addition to the number of tickets comprised in the scheme thereof already announced.— Granted. Mr. GUEST moved that a select committee be ap pointed to consider how far it may be practicable to di minish the number of houses and apartments now occupied by public officers, and others, at the public expense; with out detriment to the public service. The following committee was then appointed : Gu , st, J. J. lElliot, Captain Stanley, E. Russell, Lord J. Aglionby, H. A. Romilly. E. Hume, Joseph Fszakerley, J. N. Hawes, /3. Lowther, Viscount Divett, E. Colborne, R. Ewart, W. Ma , ,erly, W. L. Hutt, W. Dillwyn, 1.. W. Gisbilrne, 'l'. Rumbold, C. a 'fenny on, C. Verney, Sir IL Walter, J. Ord, %V. Hall, B. Yorke, Captain Wabini, R. The report of the Bribery at Elections Bill was brought up, and ordered to be further considered on Friday next. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the house adjourned at a quarter-past two. COURT OF KING'S BENCH, MAY 13. ST. MARTIN'S SELECT VESTRY.-SIMPSON V. HOLROYD AND OTHERS. This action to try the right of the selc-Jt vestry in the parish of St. Martin in the Fields Wil:3 continued this day. Lord DENMAN, having read through the whole of the evidence, left the jury to consider whether this select vestry had continued from the earliest time,' namely, the reign of Richard the First. If they should find it had continued from that time, the de fendants would be entitled to their verdict. The Jury retired from the box, and on their return negatived the validity of the select vestry by finding a verdict for the Plaintiff. The decision was hailed by the ,opposers of the select vestry with apparent satisfaction. Many evinced their joy by clapping their hands. SHERIDAN RAPHAEL. This action was brought by Dr. Sheridan, to re cover 101. for an address to the electors of West minster, written for the defendant, who was desirous, some time since, when it was expected Sir F. Burdett would be called to the peerage, of standing as can didate for the honour of representing the city of Westminster in Parliament. The jury, after hearing evidence, found a verdict for he defendant. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, MAY 13, Sittings at Guildhall before the Logo CHIEF JUSTICE and a Common Jury.) EICHE v. NOKES. This was an action brought to recover the amount of an attorney's bill of costs. Th e on l y question was whether the plaintiff had complied with the statute which regulates the delivery of attorneys' bills of costs one month before any action wa s b roug h t. T he statute required the delivery to be made at the then residence, or the late place of residence, of the party. The plaintiff failed in the proof, and the jury found a verdict for the defendant. HOLLOWAY, CLERK, V. GRIFFITHS, CLERK. This was an action brought to recover a sumo] 0681. for furniture sold and delivered to the de. elidant Mr. Sergeant r , t _ ADDY with whom was Mr. BALL, conducted the plaintiff's case ; Mr. Sergeant TAL FOURD the defence. It appeared that the plaintiff, the Rev. Mr. Hol loway, was the proprietor of Gordon House, Kentish town, a seminary for the education of young gentle men. In December, 1832, he sold the furniture and fixtures of the school to the defendant under a valua tion for 1,3681., subject to a revision, to be paid for in the following manner :---.5681. cash, and the defend ant's bond for 800/. ; 600/. was paid in cash down, and the defendant passed his bill at a short date for 268/., which he ultimately paid. The defendant lodged 2201. in Court to meet the present action. The appraiser's valuation was put in, as well as the agreement to pay 1,368/. For the defendant it was contended, that the agree ment which was executed by the parties for the valua tion was to be subject to a revision, and to be made by two valuators, with a reference to an umpire if necessary. After much discussion between Counsel, it was u ltimately agreed t h at a ver di ct f or 6211. should be en tered for the plaintiff, subject to a reduction by a reference. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. GUILDHALL. John Cleave, the publisher of the Weekly Police Gazette, attended before Sir P. LAURIE and Mr. Al derman COWAN to answer two informations filed at the instance of the Stamp-office, for exposing to sale and selling an unstamped newspaper called the Police Ga zette, on the 26th of April, and for a like offence on the 4th of May, Daniel Buckley, an inspector from the Stamp-office, proved the publication. Mr. Wire, for the defendant, repeated the argument he urged a few days since, that, as the defendant's pa per contained chiefly police and that sort of matter, and did not contain the information which a man of busi ness would require, such as foreign news, the Gazettes, parliamentary n ews , & c ., it was not a newspaper in the sense the legislature contemplated. Sir P. LA nut said he and his brother magistrate were of opinion that the paper was a newspaper, and that it contained. the sort of news most attractive to a very large body of. readers, the police intelligence. He, therefore, sentenced .the defendant to pay a fine of 5/., or be imprisoned three months in the Giltspur street Compter. Mr. Cleave should not pay the fine ; and, if any body offered to pay it for him, he should onsider his foe. Mr. Cleave was then taken away to the Compter. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. Jean Francois Boutant, a respectable looking man,. a native of France, was yesterday evening charged with stealing, under the following extraordinary cir cumstances, diamonds to the value of 17,0001. The prisoner on Saturday last went to the prosecu tor, Mr. Desvignes, a diamond merchant, in Golden square, and pretended that he wanted to purchase a suit of diamonds at the price 'of 40,000 f. for a lady in Paris who is about to be married, and that she wished them to be of English manufacture. The prisoner, after looking at several suits, chose one, and called yesterday afternoon, about two o'clock, for the' pur pose, as he said, of taking the prosecutor to his banker's for payment of the jewels. When the pro secutor declared himself ready to accompany the pri soner to his banker, the prisoner requested a glass of claret, as he was very thirsty. Mr. Desvignes was about to hand him a glass from a decanter on the sideboard, when the prisoner observed he thought that would be too warm, and requested Mr. Des vignes to fetch a bottle from the cellar. He then left the prisoner for that purpose, having first accompanied him to another room from that in which they had previously been, and left him where the prosecutor's daughter and her Italian master were. As soon as the prosecutor had left them, the prisoner said, " Oh, I' m a f ra id I i n t ru d e ," an d left the room ; and upon the prosecutor coming up from the cellar, he observed the prisoner leaving the house. He then proceeded in pursuit of the prisoner, but could not overtake him ; and upon returning to his ware-room, he observed that the prisoner had stolen the very va luable suit of jewels,in question. A constable found the jewels under the prisoner's arm. A Mr. Holmes, a butcher, was standing at his shop door in Sil ver - s t reet , w h en fie observed the prisoner leave the prosecutor's house, and that he had some thing under his arm, and from the circumstance of his very hurried manner, he was induced to follow the . _ prisoner, who was running at full speed, although no alarm had been given. He continued to follow him through several streets into Jermyn-street, where he gave the prisoner into the custody of the police con stable. The prisoner denied the charge, and was then fu committed to Newgate for trial. LAMBETH-STREET. Yesterday John Edwards, alias Thomas Edwards, alias W. Heathy, who is stone blind, Peter Leccasser, Jeremiah Weedon, and Mary Leccasser, were charged with being concerned in the extraordinary outrage on the person of Mr. William Gee, the solicitor at Bishop's Stortford, and extorting from him a check on his banker for 8001., as described in our paper of yesterday. Thorrias Shelswell, an officer,stated that about eight o'clock on the evening before he saw the prisoner Ed wards come out of the house of Mrs. Canning at Old Ford, and suspecting that he was one of the parties concerned in the outrage on Mr. Gee he followed and kept him in sight. The prisoner, who was accom panied by a little girl, proceeded in a direct line to York -street, and as he ( Shelswell) had no doubt, was going to the house No. 27 in that street, had he not heard the remark of a female who was talking to others in the street, and who said, " They have appre hended the men, and taken them, the chain and all, away." The prisoner, though he was at the time quite close to the house, hurried out of the street, and had crossed the Commercial-road, when he ( Shelswell), his former suspicions being confirmed by his conduct, went up to him and stopped him. On doing so he asked him if he knew a person named Gee ? The prisoner Edwards, after some hesitation, replied that he did. He then asked him if he had seen Mr. Gee on that day ? The prisoner smiled and said, " I'll tell you the truth—l have been with Mr. Gee, but have not seen him, for a good reason, that I am blind. " He ( Shels well) then took him back to the house in York-street, where ho was identified by the persons residing next door as being frequently seen going in and out of the house since Saturday. On their way from York-street he asked the prisoner who the persons were who were concerned with him in the transaction, and if he would give him their names ? The prisoner replied that he certainly would not, as he would be sorry if they were taken, adding that he was the person who had planned the whole affair; that the other persons were only employed by him, and knew nothing of what the place they assisted in fitting up was for, and he was the only person that ought to suffer, if any one did. The pri soner further stated to him ( Shelswell) that all legal means had been tried for six years past to get the mo ney, and as they could not get it in that way, he was determined to see what he could do by main force. He also acknowledged that he had sent the letter and coach for Mr. Gee, for the purpose of getting him down to the house, and asked if it was not an excellent plan of his to accomplish his object. He ( Shelswell) asked him what was meant by putting earth about the cell or building, and if it was not to prevent any per son in it from being heard? The prisoner replied that it was ; that he did not mean that Mr. Gee should he heard ; and the only thing that puzzled him was how Mr. Gee could have made his escape. The prisoners were remanded to await the attendance of Mr. Gee. HATTON-GARDEN. Monday, James Byrne, a journeyman tailor, was brought before Messrs. LAING and ROGERS from Ro samon-street station-house, charged by his wife with having committed a violent assault. The wife deposed that she resides in Noel-street, Clerkenwell. On Saturday night last the prisoner returned home in a state of intoxication, and com menced abusing and beating her in a violent manner because she had not been able to procure money or necessary comforts, and he continued maltreating her until her screams and cries of " murder" brought a policeman and some neighbours to her assistance, and he was taken to the station-house. The miserable woman exhibited several bruises. Police-constable 32 G stated that on Saturday night last at a late hour he was passing through Noel street, Clerkenwell, when his attention was arrested by the cries of " murder," and on entering the house he found the prisoner ill-using his wife in a brutal manner, and he took him into custody. Mr. LAING asked the prisoner, who is a slovenly, dissipated looking man, what he was? Prisoner—l am a journeyman tailor, your Worship. Mr. LAING—Are you in work? lam not, your Worship ; I can get none to do. Mr. LAING—What ! do you mean to tell me that a journeyman tailor cannot now get work if he feels dis posed to do it ? I suppose you are connected with the trades' union, and are not willing to work ?—I am not an unionist, your Worship. Mr. LAING—I don't believe it ; how long have you been out of work ?—I had a job last week. Mr. LAlNG—Where did you get it from ?—Would not tell. Mr. LAING (to the wife)—How long has he been out of work ? Wife (crying)—Eight or nine weeks, your Worship ; and during that time I have only re ceived 7s. 6d. from him. He joined the union, and ever since he has been in the habit of beating and kicking me, at all hours of the day and night, and coming home intoxicated, all because I remonstrate with him, and advise him to go to work for the regular wages. The policeman here stated that the prisoner was an unionist, and he was in the frequent habit of ill treating his wife. The fact was that a great number of journeymen tailors, who had wives and large fami lies, lived in the neighbourhood of Noel-street, and the whole of them belonged to the trades' union. Their wives were opposed to the union, because their husbands were never at work, and what money they procured they spent at the alehouse, and they were continually in the habit of beating their wives, and keeping the neighbourhood in constant uproar. Mr. LAING consulted with Mr. ROGERS, and after admonishing the prisoner, they ordered him to find bail ; in default of which he was committed to prison. Another journeyman tailor was charged with having committed an assault upon James Martin, a vagrant, under the following infamous circumstances : It appeared in evidence that on Sunday night last the prisoner was found drunk in the street by a police man of G division, and taken to the station-house, and while confined in the cell he entered into conver sation with the prosecutor, who was apprehended on a charge of vagrancy. He asked him whether he be longed to the trades' union, and on being answered in the negative, he beat him in a most unmerciful manner until his cries for help brought the officers to his as sistance, when they found him bleeding profusely from the nose and mouth. Mr. LAING asked the prisoner whether he was an unionist ? He said he was not. Mr. LAING—I don't believe it. You are fined 10s. He discharged the man who was assaulted on account of the severe thrashing which he received, and advised him to leave London immediately. A third tailor was charged by a policeman with lying in the open air drunk and incapable of taking care of himself. -The constable stated that on Sunday morning, at an early hour, he found the prisoner lying on the flat of his back in Coppice-row, with a bunch of matches in his hand. Mr. LAING asked him whether he was in work ? Prisoner—l can't get any work. Mr. LAING—I don't believe you. I suppose you are one of those unionists, and will not work ? Pri soner—l am not ; but if I try after it they threaten me, so I sell matches. Mr. LAING—You say that he was not able to move? Policeman—l do, your Worship. Mr. LAING—It is my opinion you are an unionist ; you shall find bail. A brazier was next charged with being drunk, and incapable of taking care of himself. He also said that he was out of work, and could get none to do ; and a glazier, who was found drunk, made a similar state ment. Mr. LAING would not believe them, and expressed his conviction that they were idle and disorderly per ms belonging to the trades' unions, and would not work if they could get it to do, and lie otdercd them to find bail, in default of which they were Cinlimitted. WORSHIP-STREET. Monday a young man, named John Jones, who' stated that he was a carpenter in the employ of a Mr. Chancellor, of Bow-lane, Cheapside,was brought before the Sitting Magistrate, Mr. BROUGHTON, charged under the following circumstances : Eliza Hale, a person of prepossessing manners, was a dressmaker, just entered into business on her owu account. On Saturday night, between ten and eleven o'clock, she and a female friend were returning home through Whitecross-street, when they were both met by the prisoner, who said he would kiss her. He followed them some distance, when, feeling alarmed, she and her friend took to their heels, and ran away. The prisoner ran after and overtook her opposite St. Luke's church, where he again declared his intention of " having a salute," but which she repulsed by striking him several blows, upon which he seized her shawl and ran off with it. This statement was confirmed by her friend, who said that they were in such a state of alarm that for some time they could not move from the spot. Police-constable 43 G saw the prisoner annoying the prosecutrix, and in consequence watched him, when shortly afterwards he saw him snatch the shawl and run away. Witness, however, pursued him, and succeeded in overtaking him with the shawl in his possession. The prisoner told him that what he had done was " merely a lark." Mr. BROUGHTON (to the prisoner)—What have you to say for yourself? Prisoner—l have nothing to say, only that I am guilty of taking liberties with the lady. Mr. BROUGHTON—Ah, but what do you say to taking liberties with the shawl thought that by taking her shawl she would, perhaps, come round. I had no idea of stealing it. Mr. BROUGHTON—Why then run away ?—No reply. Police-constable—l have no doubt but his inten tion was to have stolen the shawl. The prisoner here called several respectable wit nesses,ots a t excellentken the shawlcha - ranter, alladdin g whom mat while under the influence of drink. gavee must him have a m Mr. BROUGHTON—No person of " excellent" cha racter would have the audacity to stop and !Liss a re spectable female in the public street. To the prose cutrix—Did he say anything to you when he took your shawl ? The prosecutrix here became so agitated and so nervous that she was unable to speak, until a flood of tears in some degree relieved her. On re covering, she said he ran off without saying a word. Mr. BROUGHTON told the prisoner that he felt very much disposed to commit him for trial for the felony ; but as there was a doubt he would, on the arrival of the second magistrate, consult with him, when they would either commit him or try him for the assault. On the arrival of the second magistrate (Mr. Hos kins) it was agreed to treat the case as one of assault, and in consequence the prisoner was amerced in the penalty of 405., or two months' imprisonment. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. Monday, John Duggin, an athletic Irish labourer, was charged by Peter Molloy with having assaulted him, assisted by several other persons, because he would not join the trades' union. The complainant stated to Messrs. CHAMBERS and HALLS, the sitting magistrates, that on Sunday even ing, about ten o'clock, he was in the Golden Lion, St. James's, when the defendant came in, and entered into conversation with him, asking him if he would join the unions. Previous to this, the defendant with others, had been at him, asking him to join their so cieties, but complainant had always refused. On Sun day evening, when the request was again made to him, he answered that he had no wish to join the unions, because he had plenty of work, and he did not wish to plunge his wife and family into distress. The defen dant said if he did not he would find some means to make him, and the 'other persons who were in the company of the defendant also said if he still held out it would be the worse for him. Complainant still re fused, and in order to maintain peace, asked the de fendant to drink with him ; the defendant answered that he would rather drink his heart's blood, and then raised his fist to strike him. Complainant answered, " Talk as much as you please, but don't ill use me ;" upon which the defendant struck him in the face a violent blow, which knocked him down. Complainant was then attacked by the other persons, and had his wife not at that moment entered the room, he would have been very badly used. Mr. CHAMBERS asked the complainant if he could identify any other persons who had assaulted him ? The complainant mentioned one of them. Mr. CHAMBERS immediately directed that he should be furnished with a warrant against that individual. Mr. HALLs--What is the defendant ? Complainant, he is a labouring man, a stonemason. Mr. HALLS—And what are you? Complainant—l am a porter, in the employ of Mr. Nash, a floorcloth manufacturer. I have been in my situation more than seventeen years, and I did not want to have any thing to do with the unions. Mr. CHAMBERS—Are you positive that the defen dant was one of the men who assaulted you ? Com plainant—Yes, I am. He said to me, rather than drink with a " blackleg" like me, he would have my heart's blood. Mr. CHAMBERS—He meant by a " blackleg," that you would not become a unionist, I suppose ? Com plainant—Yes, he did. lam afraid to go about my work, because I have been threatened by several men who belong to the unions that I should be served out if I don't join them. Mr. CHAMBERS assured the complainant that be should be protected to the extent of the law against any person or persons who should attempt to intimidate him, and then called on the defendant for his answer to the charge. The defendant denied that he had made any obser vations to the complainant about joining the unions. The quarrel began between their wives, and when the complainant implied an improper expression of his (defendant's) wife, he struck him. The defendant proceeded to call several witnesses to corroborate his statement, but all of them admitted they were not present at the "commencement of the disturbance. Inspector Abraham, of the C division, said when he went into the house where the disturbance was going' on, the defendant made great resistance, and attempted to excite the other persons who were in the room to make a rescue. Upon the defendant engaging not to hold out any further threat, or to molest him on the subject of the unions again, the Bench decided upon dealing with the matter summarily, and accordingly inflicted a fine of 205., or 21 days' imprisonment. ANCIENT GOLD COINS.--A Sa poor man was recently turning over some rubbish dug from the mound of earth near the rampart at Booth Bar, York,. he found a half-florin, or noble, of Edward This is one of the finest specimens ever discovered, being as beautiful and perfect as it was the day it was coined. It is now in the possession of Messrs. Wat son and Bell, goldsmiths and jewellers, of that city. In consequence of a fortunate discovery, Greece is likely to make a much greater and more rapid improvement than it could otherwise have done. Very rich coal mines have been discovered. One of these mines is situated at Cumi, in the island of Negropont. Captain Fortenbrach has just received orders to procecd to the spot with a detachment of miners, to commence immediately the working of the mines. The wl ole mountain abounds in coal, which' is so near the su face that the. working of the min e , will be neither difficult nor expensive. Two other beds of coal have been found, one near Cape Sunium, and the other near Gastrini.