The Sun. — London, England, 1842-02-05 00:00:00

-`• MORNING SUN PROPOSED CORN-LAW PLAN. We understand that the principle upon which the present Government will proceed, in modify ing the present Corn-law, is that of obtaining , with as little disturbance of the general system : as possible, that additional su pply - of bread corn from abroad Which has been required for some years past, and is likely to be required in future years. The fact, therefore, is assumed that this coun try does require some assistance from foreign countries, or from our own colonies, to provide the requisite supply of food. It probably will • not be denied that the country might be so culti vated as to produce all and more than we want. - But it is not easy to change the habits of a people in respect to the employment and cultivation of land. So fares remunerating price tends to pro duce sufficient cultivation it is deemed that the policy of the country has gone far enough ; and it is, we believe, also held that the protecting - and encouraging law of 1828 goes further now than it: was - intended to go at that time ; because, in.peint of fact, a given amount of corn can now be raised in England at a less expense than it in IS-28. Looking then, not to what is possible from the capabilities of the soil, end the efforts of expen sive cultivation, but to what is likely, from the general course and concurrence of events, Minis ters deem that we shall continue to import from abroad a not very inconsiderable portion of bread corn. The object is to obtain this portion at as little - charge to the British consumer as may be compatible with fitir attention to the interests of the British producer. We have no doubt that the Minister will be very we'] prepared with statistical facts for the establishment of his proposition, that we have required for wally years past sonic additional supply of corn beyond our. home growth, and that the average demand upon external sources has been, for the last thirty years, gradually in creasing. During this time there have undoubtedly occurredseasons, and now and then several conse cutive seasons, in which the home supply has been ample; but we believe that, if periods of seven or ten years are taken, it turns out that in each such period, for the last thirty years, some external supply has been found necessary, and that in each successive period that external supply has increased. It is notorious that in the last ten years, which comprehends several years of abundant, and se veral years of scanty, harvests, the supply from abroad has averaged something near a million quarters a year. It is somewhere between nine hundred thousand and a million. Now, if it should appear that in corresponding periods, going back some twenty or thirty years further, a supply from abroad has been also re quired, but less in proportion as the population was less, it will, perhaps, be admitted as a fair conclusion, that time Government ought to cal culate upon a future supply being necessary from abroad, not only equal to what has been obtained in the last ten years, but rather more. NVe have heard that inquiries have been insti tuted as to the increase of the growth of wheat from the soil of the United Kingdom. These in quiries have been quite distinct from any exami nation of the theoretical question whether more might have been or might be grown. We un derstand they have related to the plain fact of what has happened under the existing system of protection. And from the modifications of the scale which are to be proposed, we conclude the result of those inquiries to be, that there is not any existing practical reason for supposing that a sufficiently increased supply may be looked for from our own cultivation. We have, indeed, heard that in sonic parts of the United Kingdom, from which the public ge nerally suppose that a gradually increasing sup ply is actually obtained, the contrary turns out to be the fact. The evidence upon this point may be imperfect, but we are sure that, in the examinations set on foot regarding so important a matter, the present Government has taken the utmost pains to arrive at accurate results. Supposing - it, then, ascertained that, accord ing to all practical likelihood, this country will • continue to require upon an average of years some additional supply of corn from abroad, the next point is, how that supply may be most safely and advantageously brought into this country . Now, upon this point, we believe, the opinion of the government to be, that the most favourable mode of admission is that which is most gradual,- and most equally distributed over the whole of the year; and that the least favour able mode is that of bringing a large quantity suddenly upon the market, more especially it it be likely to happen about the same period of ' the year et which the largest quantity is gene- Tally sold by the flirmers to dealers in the country markets. The question then arises whether, - in the prac tical working of the present scale, the desidera lam of a gradual supply is as nearly attained as it may be, or is not ? We understand that expe rience shows that it is not attained by the present scale, but that, on the contrary, the interest of the British producer is frequently injured, not so much by the introduction of an additional sup ply—for that is absolutely necessary to meet the demand—as by the introduction of it Ma large lump, contrary to the ordinary course of eircum .stainces which govern the home supply. We are assured that none but those who have g iv en much attention to the subject, can estimate the serik:uslY unfavourable effect upon the inte rests of the; corn-producing trade, which is pro duced by the sudden influx of large quantities of corn—not more than necessary for the wants of the country if the whole year be taken into ac count—but far more than the natural demand of the markets at the time requires. It appears that the state of the scale, applied to the prices between 675. and 735. the quarter for wheat, is found to produce this sudden im port, and to work directly against the gradualness of the suoly. And wnether the scale of duties from one .ent.! to the other were altered or not, still it would be expedient to alter that part of the scale which hoiJe OZ. so large a temptation to withhold foreign corn wile': it begins to he re quired, and then to pour it in in large quantities when the necessities of the country, are very little, if anything, increased. Even though we look at prices with the same views of the cost of production which were justly held in IS'2B, we must allow that, when the com bined operations of supply anddemand bring the price to 6.55., some addition to the supply would be,advantageous to the public, and quite consist- . lent with fair attenth at to the interests of the home producer. But, in the present scale, so rapidly. (Ides the duty diminish when. th e. price goes above that, by waiting and straitening the supply so as to raise wheat 6s. or is. more, a difference oaf three times the amount is made to the seller lbreign corn. He, therefore, exerts. all his power of capital and of credit to hold over, : and, when he has achieved his point, being anxious to realise' his profit, he pours the foreign commodity • all at once upon the market - Then the price soon falls, and time home producer•gets far less than he would have got if no artificial augmen tation of-the supply beyond the natural demand had taken place. It is, therefore, the opinion of the Government that the interests of the public generally, and of the British producers of corn fully as much as any other portion of the public, would be pro moted by Making such a change in the scale as might seem likely to remove the temptation to "hold back the foreign supply after it is really wanted, and. then to pour it in in larger quantity than is really wanted. Another great matter to be attended to is the mode of taking the averages; but this involves separate considerations and additional details, into which our space does not permit us at present to enter. The object of the Government, how-. ever, is to . obtain such averages as shall be a re cord of the truth—such averages as will show at what price the corn actually bought, andbrought into consumption, has sold for in the British mark ets —Me re/Jig Post. The Speaker of the House of Commons corn suttees his Parliamentary dinners this day week, at his lesiitenee in Eaton-square, and, as usual, they will continue every Saturday until Easter. H E HOP TRADE•—The following is from an opulent and respected agriculturist, and confirms, we believe; the experience of most of our farmers and the public in general. Appended to an invoice of 19 pockets of hops sold at 110 s., is the following letter from the factor employed to effect the sale:— "' Sir,— \\ e could do no better for . you. We are quite .convinced we shall hav e no improvement in the value of ilopS this tpring. The working classes are not half employed neither have they been the last two months; e o nsequenty therf is b u t l ittle demand either for:Hops or Malt. The consumption of beer is very limited, and will be until trade reviN es in the populous districts. " 1.20 th, 1842." Our correspondent adds : Al In November last Sussex Hops were at vfib 1 6s : after the crop v - ga thered; and from the shortness of the vi e ld h v e ol previous b i e ous hi a .' t ' stock it wag confidently expected thatt ii t i tle;y t before ex:other crop Could be got being contpletely exhausted; but owing,to the depression of trade and manufactures, as suggested in the above fitctors' letter, the Sussex llop:•,;Towers are again doomed to suffer disapointment. This is another illustration of the injury. done to agriculture by a sy stem which checks our manufacturing and Commercial industry and enter rie- W,ithout ; pTo per'pus'eustomers the farmer cannot It.THlToits f /wolf." .i. ne pnee 'd • ~r. ,r . Barley, ev so ift w, Z ~.. i (roe Milt, and consequently' of thu d, l ess om s z: ...it . farmer; that it not even, safe, Briyhton C.,idiriqu_ '' . ; the manufactuaing classes.-- yr, *.T4'• TRIAL OF TRE REV. W. VAN ZANDT, PROTESkTANT EPISCOPAL MINIS TER, FOR SEDUCTION. (From the New York Herald.) CIRCUIT COURT, FRTDAY, DEC. 30. n ' i. l" ORE rf lig HON NAT IIAN DAYTON, J U D GE STII CIRCUIT. i Trial of the Rev. Washington Vita Zandt, Rector of Grace Church, Rochester, for the Seduction of Miss Sophia Murdock. For the prosecution—Samuel L. Selden, Judge Samp s son, Henry R. Selden, Graham H. Chapin, and Orlando Hastings. 1 For the defence—Mark H. Sibley, of Ontario, Addison Gardiner, Fletcher M. Haight, and E. B. Wheeler. The much-talked-of case of Murdock v. Van Zandt, came off yesterday afternoon before one of the most crowded Courts we have ever seen in Rochester. There was far less anxiety and excitement in the case of M'Leod in Utica last October. Mr. Van Zandt sat be side Judge Gardiner, one of his Counsel, during the evening, and exhibited ,great firmness and composure. Miss Murdock was the only witness examined, and the 1 Court adjourned to this morning at half-past eight. Judge SELDEN opened the case for the prosecution-- stated that this was an action for the seduction of Dr. Murdock's, the plaintiff; eldest daughter, Sophia, a young lady of sixteen years of age, by the defendant, Mr. Van Zandt. On looking into the annals of our Courts of Law for the present year, it would be found that religious teachers are as liable to the grosser pas sions of our nature as others. It would be seen that Episcopalian, Presbyterian and Catholic clergymen have been brought forward ' charged with this offence ; and, if he remembered correctly the results, they were iu every case found guilty on the fullest evidence. Clergymen have more frequent and favourable opportu nities for this kind of indulgence ; their avocations bring them oftener in contact with the females of their csngregations, it being an important part of the pastoral duty to visit the members of their churches at their own dwellings; and hold religious conversations with them. These visits are chiefly to the ladies ; the clergy find them alone ; the male part of the family is generally out of doors at their various avocations. Our pastors have abundance of leisure on their limas, and it would be re markable if they were not brought into the company of females less able to withstand the addresses of men like the defendant, than others—less practised in the ways of the world. In the case before the Court, it would be found that the reverend defendant considered pastoral visits to his flock an incumbent duty, and that he paid these visits chiefly to the younger female mem bers, whom he addressed with peculiar zeal, frequency, and fervour The nominal plaintiff in this action is Dr. Murdock, but the real head of the family is Mrs. Mur dock, the young lady's mother. Miss Murdock received an excellent education at some of our best institutions— her father was formerly considered a man of ability and skill in his profession—but he fell into the habit of drinking intoxicatin g liquors, a vice by which so many able and good men have been lost to soctety—difficulties occurred in the faMily, he offered personal violence to his wife, was sent to prison a short time—came back a sick and broken down man—was nursed by his affectionate wife, and for the last year has been a re gular and abstemious man—but his mental powers had decayed—and his wife had had to support her self and family by her needle, and educate her children with the help of some friends. Miss Murdock is connected with and descended from some of the first families, in point of respectability and stand ing, in this State. A few weeks prior to the discovery of her situation, her mother remarked to a friend of the family that she now hoped to see better days, as her eldest (laughter was now capable of acting as an assist ant in a school, having completed her education. At that time the young lady had a perfectly fair and - unsuls lied reputation—the breath of slander had not injured her, not a whisper against her character was heard in this community. But Mr. Van Zandt came to this city, and has continued some years since as pastor of the Pro testant Episcopal Church in St. Paul-street. Mrs. Mur dock and her family were members of his congregation, and the young lady was frequently at his house. Ile affected a ()Teat degree of piety and benevolence, pro fessed a wish to be kind to the family—approached So phia, caressed and kissed her—and when, six months af ter he removed his wife and family to Clinton-street, only some fifteen feet distant from her mother's door, he made her and her relatives presents of dresses ; they vi sited almost daily, he continued to profess that he felt a deep interest in the welfare of the family, but continued to take more indecent liberties with her. One day, on a summer's afternoon, of 1840, defendant said he was alone in his house, and invited Miss Sophia and her sister to his study—they went—and while her sister sat reading the Mirror, in an arm-chair, with her back to them, he threw her on the bed, but she got away from him, and returned home. Some time after this—viz., about the 16th of October, 1840, one afternoon, just after dinner, Miss Sophia pre pared herself to attend a young ladies' sewing society meeting, and her mother requested her to go over and get a certain book from the Rev. Gentleman's study, &c. (The facts stated here by Judge Selden will be found in Miss Murdock's testimony, which follows. She states that she was then and there seduced.) Her child was born the 4th of August last, or forty-one weeks and two or three' days from the time she stated. Shortly previous to her delivery (21st July), she was called to state her ease to a religious Committee of the Society, and though Dr. Elwood thoutsht it would be six or eight weeks before she would be delivered, she persisted then; as now, in naming Oct. 4, and that time only, and that never after that day ha she been with Mr. Van Zandt. It will be shown in evidence that the Reverend Gentleman did not take liberties with Sophia only—he took very indecent liber ties with her sister, a girl of twelve years of age, and with young and interesting female members of his congregation—ladies of, the highest respectability—took all the freedoms that they would permit. Within a few days of the time when this offence was laid to Mr. Van Zandt's charge, he called a meeting of the vestry of his church, to make a defence before it. The vestry met, and the defendant then there made the following re markable and truly characteristic admission:—After de claring the accusation to be false, he added, " that he could not be the guilty person in this case, for that knowing his propensities in that way were so strong, he avoided being alone with females of his congregation, even for religious purposes." After going further into the description of evidence to be produced, and the pro bable course to be taken by the defendant, Mr. Selden closed an address, the manner of the delivery of which was admirable. He then called and examined Sophia Murdock, who is 16 years of age 11th of April. Is oldest daughter of plaintiff. Has been acquainted with defendant about two years. Was a member of his church, Grace Church, in this city. Became acquainted with him after lie came to reside here. Has been at his house when he lived in Clinton-street, but not fre quently, until he came to- reside near her father's, which was a year ago last April. Their families became inti mate as soon as he removed ; Mr. Van Zandt had been in the habit of coming frequently to their house. She did not go, only when she had an errand, or when he had levees, which was once a week. When they were particularly invited, she went ; but not generally other own accord. The defendant had a library of books, for the benefit of the congregation, and she was invited frequently to come and g et books. Does not remem ber seeing any one in the library but defendant. He was there. , The - library was kept in his study, in a front room, in which was a bed. When alone with de fendant, in his study, his manners were very familiar. Never said much of anything, but kissed her frequently, nothing more. He male her a present of a dress, and after, when he came to Saint Paul-street, he had given her four or five dresses. Does not remember ever being alone with him on the front steps. Does not remember at' what time it was that he made the attack upon her ; but it was in his study, and again at the front steps of her house. She recollects • that on two occasions he at tempted—twice on the front steps. It was about nine o'clock. The night was not dark.--[The evidence which follows is unfit for publication in an Eng lish Journal.] She does not recollect being at his house but once afterwards ; did not then see defendant; another time he attempted the same thing in his par lour; it was one evening, when she went to return a book. ' Her child was born on the 4th of August ; she first discovered her situation about a fortnight before the court of inquiry, 21st of July, when she told her mother. Never communicated her situation to defen dant. 114 came to their house, and her mother told him. Did not see him then, nor hear what her mother said. Has no knowledge of defendant ever having called to see her since then. Cross-examined—Her mother said that; defendant denied having any connection with her. She had in her exatnination in chief, stated all the instances in which there had been any connection with defendant. At the time that he resided in Clinton-street, when he first kissed her, she did not go for a book. The books generally were of a religious character. Does not remember ex actly what - she did when he attempted to raise her dress the first time. She believes she requested him to let her alone. She did not speak loud, but loud enough for him to hear. She re members that on the evening of the 4th of July there were fireworks in Mr: Van Zandt's yard, and she was invited. When she went into the study she sat on the bedside. Sat on the top of the bed. Cannot remember, but thinks she asked defendant to show her some sum in algebra. bookcase when she addresse d him. When she sat down He was standing wit h her sister facing the her side rested on the foot-board when he pushed her down. She resisted him all she could—as much as was in her power. Was much frightened. Cannot reMember . what she said to him, but remembers saying something. Said nothing ;:c1 her sister. Did not tell her mother of the affair, nor heir !Sister, nor any person. Does not re member what she (:. ; 'l when she came home. Does not remember how long before 54 went over again to see defendant. Cannot say how many. flays. Saw defendant afterwards. Did not s p ea k t o hi m ot 4 1- .. l sr not 7hat happened. Went to the house w h en necessar y. Proisas oftener than once a week. Sh e remem b ers h av i n g asket. defendant if Mrs. Van Zandt was going to the Society, and he said she had gone. He was in the study. Cannot say how long' she was with .him. Mother did not express any uneasiness about her stopping so hnig. 'Went afterwards to the Ladies' Sewing Society. Did not change either dress or bonnet. When she arrived there the ladies were there. Mrs. Van Zandt was there. . She remained there the whole afternoon. Staid until the Society broke up. Was taken home by Mr. l)winell. He did not stay with her that evening. Ile stopped at the gate. Other gentlemen were there. Mr. Van Zandt came to Mr. Sherman's in the evening to tea. Had . no conversation with him. Defendant's family at that time consisted of wife, three children, nephew, and mother. The nephew was about 17. Her brother of the same age lived at home. Her family was her sister, brother, and parents. Was acquainted with young Van Zandt. .litiew his age, because there was but a few weeks' difference between his age and her brother's. Does not know where he is now. Did not see him since a few days before thanksgiving. Has heard he has gone to foreign parts. They e was no intimacy more than with the other members of the fansily." No dalliance. No THE SUN, LON kissing. Never was on the bed with him, nor ever in the study with him alone. Was once in a room alone with him when writing a letter fur his cousin. The room was his bed-room. Does not recollect any other time. Thad deus was frequently at her house. When in. his room she did not sit on Thaddeus' bed. He never took any li berties with her person. Has kissed her, not very often, not every time he saw her. Has put his arms around her neck when he kissed her. Was not in the habit of doing anything. Never was alone with him. Never spoke to her brother nor any other person about the li berties defendant had taken with her. The scene in the parlour occurred in the evening. The room was not lighted. Did not mention this parlour scene to the Committee. Thought of it afterwards, and told it to Judge Selden. Direct examination resumed.—Remembers being in defendant's study, with himself and Miss Gilkinson ; it was on one of their Thursday evening levees. When they went in, she asked Mr. Van Zandt for a book ; he had promised her one of Scott's novels. She went with him to the library, and as she had on. a silk dress, . wit ness heard it rattling, and some expressions that she said to herself. She heard her say, " Let me alone." Heard no sound of kissing. Believes that lie kissed her and witness, after he came out. SATURDAY, DEC. 31. Ansel Robert ; examined by Mr. Sibley—Witness is a member of the vestry of Grace Church. Was present at a meeting called by Mr. Van Zandt, last July, in the Vestry-room, for the purpose of exculpating himself from the charge made against' him by Mr. Murdock. He made a written statement, and we had consider able conversation with him. His language was something like this, to the best of my recollection, but whether it was in the papers that he read and put in his pocket, I cannot tell. He said—" It cannot be me, for knowing my own propensities, I have invariably taken particular pains to avoid meeting the females of my con gregation alone, even for religious conversation." Mr. Sibley, for the defence, submitted a written paper to the witness, and asked him to•look over it, and see if he could tell if that was the document read by Mr. Van Zandt at the vestry. The witness having read it in the stand, said he thought that that was the paper, and the Court decided that it should be given in evidence. It was then read by Mr. Sibley. Its contents are briefly as fol lows :—On the Friday previous one of' his parishioners had hinted to him that statements were abroad about him and the elder Miss Murdock. He called on her mo ther, who refused to accept his hand offered her in friend ship. Mrs. Murdock accused him of the ruin of her daughter. He took his God to witness he was innocent, He could not then see her daughter. A nephew of his, Thaddeus Van Zandt, who was at his house, had gone to New York, gone to a house of ill-fame, and returned to my family : On a particular occasion he (Mr. Van Zandt) heard a noise in his study and. Mary Murdock, sister to So phia, came out. He (Mr. Van Zandt) had made it a point not to meet the females of his congrega tion alone even for religious conversation. He (Mr. Van Zandt) said to his vestry that he had known the two girls Murdock to be little strumpets, for some time. One of the vestry chocked him for using such language re specting members of the congregation. William W. Bryan sworn—Was present in Court, and had heard the testimony of Mr. Roberts, and was present at the vestry meeting with Mr. Roberts ; Mr. Van Zandt used the language mentioned by Mr. Roberts, viz. :—" It cannot be me, for, knowing my own propensi ties," &c. Mr. Van Zandt read from a paper before him, but he submitted nothing to us in the vestry ; with re ference to the character of the girls, he said, "it is too bad that my hitherto fair character should be ruined by those strumpets." Cross-examined by Mr.- SIBLEY—The meeting of the vestry was informal. Mr. V. Z. did most of the talking. There was no record made of anything. I never saw the paper Mr. V. Z. read, except in his hands. I paid particular attention to the passages in this conversation which I have repeated, because, it was what I had not expected to hear from our minister, but improper and unbecoming, and it made a deep impression on me. Re-examined—Witness has been a friend to Mr.V. Z. up to the time of that vestry meeting. William C. Storrs—ls one of the vestry of Grace Church, and was present at the meeting. On the Saturday previous I rode with him to Brockport, and returned. He said he was sick in body and mind ; that, on the day pre vious some one had told him that he had visited Mrs. Mur dock ; she refused to shake hands with him, and said, " You have ruined my daughter, and ruined my family." I think he said that he had asked. to see the girl (Sophia), but that her mother refused ; and, finding he could do nothing with the family, he came away. He said that at one time there had been a great intimacy between the two families, but that it had been broken off, and that he suspected Sophia was in the family way from her appearance and mode of dyes ing; that there had been improper intercourse between his nephew Thaddeus and Mary Murdock. On one oc casion he (Mr. Van Zandt) missed Thaddeus from the room, went up stairs, found Thaddeus' room locked ; went up ten minutes after; Mary came out, and he found Thaddeus within. He said he thought no improper in timacy had subsisted between his nephew and Sophia, whom he described as a modest, unassuming girl. [Some part of witness's description of Mr. Van Zandt's lan guage is too indelieate for the press.] Mr. Van Zandt drank gin and sugar at three or four different place , . It did not in the least affect his conversation. The vestry took some steps at the meeting I was at to lay the matter before the Bishop. [The above three members of the Vestry of Grace Church gave the testimony with much clearness, preci sion, and decorum; and apparently made a deep impres sion on the large and respectable audience, whose orderly and sedate behaviour was never surpassecq Mary Murdock sworn.—Examined by Judge Selden. —Witness is the sister of Sophia Murdock. Rev. Mr. Van Zandt had taken liberties with the person of this witness. The first time Mr. Van Zandt took liberties with witness was in the vestry room of St. Paul's Church, Cross-questioned by Mr. Sibley Witness did not tell either her mother or her sister. They were trimming the church. It was about two years ago. She told Miss Emily Beers, but not her mother.—[Miss Mary is intelligent—wore a dark printed cotton dress, white merino shawl, with a straw bonnet, beautifully trimmed with green silk velvet, and veil— her answers were prompt, to the purpose, and were to be heard. Mr. Van Zandt sat beside his counsel, grave and sedate, gave few if any hints to the lawyers, but looked a little careworn. He is a tall, stout made man, middle aged, with brown hair, large and black whiskers, extend ing under his chin—is rather good looking.] James K. Livingstone, President of the Bank of Mon roe, sworn—Had been acquainted with Dr. Murdock for 25 to 28 years. (It was the wish of the counsel for the prosecution to examine this witness, as to the character of the prosecutor and his family, but the counsel for the defence objected, admitting the great respectability of Mr. and Mrs. Murdock, and of their connexions, as stated by Mr. Selden in his opening. Mr. Livingston's testi mony was not taken.) Mrs. Stevens was present at Mr. Van - Zandt's room, Spring-street house, when Mrs. James S. Gregory was there, in the latter part of last July; Mr. and Mrs. V. Z., Mrs. G.-and self were present ; the servant came and said a gentleman wished to speak with Mr. Van Zandt, who left the room, and in fifteen or twenty minutes came back and said that good news had come--that Mr. Stringer said, that Mr. Williams said, that he -could produce two gentlemen who would . come forward if called on, and tes tify—[This, also, is unfit for publication in an English Paper.] Miss Elizabeth Atkinson sworn—Mr. Selden stated that he proposed to prove by her that Mr. Van Zandt had taken such liberties with her, that it caused her to avoid the congregation. Miss Gilkenson, (a handsome, modest, young lady) was one evening at Mr. Van Zandt's levee; went up to his study to get some books ; witness and Sophia, and other ladies wont up. They left. Miss G. and Sophia remained. Mr. Van Zandt kissed witness, who told him.to let her alone. lle also kissed Sophia. This was in 1841. Thinks it was in the fall. Since this matter became public, Mr. Van Zandt has called at our house, and said it was not necessary she should come forward as a witness, and asked if she saw him kiss Sophia. Witness said she did. [The reporter was absent fifteen minutes, and on his return found Mr. F. M. Haight addressing the Jury for the defence, the case for the prosecution having closed.] Mr. Haight—We expect to show an intimacy between the principal witness (Miss Sophia) and a young person, from which this pregnancy may have arisen. —[Also unfit for publication in an English paper.] A.number of ladies who had attended on subpoenas to testify as to Mr. Van Zandt's indecent conduct, returned home, the Court having determined that evidence of his ,misconduct in cases beyond' the circle of the family of the prosecutor, and unconnected with that of Sophia Murdock,:is inadmissible. TESTINONY FOR THE DEFENCE. Rev. Thomas S. Britten sworn.—Examined by Mr. Sibley.—Called on Mr. Van Zandt on the 10th-of Oct., that month, m and o n , rpep l e lnl y iae t idn h e e hdi c s a w r pi stl place heo Cg,ttillha e rt ht the e e a a t t u h r a d lafy -1840.. Went over to Coburg. R e t urne d on t h e 16th of pulpit on the Sunday p f a o s l t l o w ten o'clock.succeeding the 16th. He left home on Saturday to preach in Batavia for Dr. I home on my return from Canada.found .w Mr. Van lan took r a walk in t the city and returned f or di nner. We sat some time in his study. Dinner was not ready, for which Mrs. V. expressed her regret. I remained with him . to dinner, and Mrs. V. excused herself from not rem: L i: l ung longer, saying she was going to a sewing party, bly beyond her time—two o'clock. She did ennotnsi t er , After dinner we sat about half an hour, and tan n i r i l : . - cended into the study—the front room up stairs --a large room. We remained together (he and I) till about foal o'clock. He then took out his watch and begged to be excused, as he had a party to attend at which he was expected to be present. He asked me to accompany him. I did as far as the door, and there We parted. Cross-examined by Mr. S. L. Seldon—A paper was handed to witness, and lie was asked if that was his -?aclaration made to I am sure that Mr. Van Zandt :lid not leave his study after our walk till dinner —we had wine at dinner on that day, and on the other day a domestic, tsc,rnale, cam day, thIJ 101)1 of October,,, am e l t o o n th n e o d t: l t i h in e g r days. -d O oo n r e , and said that a yoiln i tla d d l y nin wantedoom to at speak the mtoomheinmt —Mrs. V. was - leaving —he was absent ten or fifteen nonuto4 01' more—l stopt . at the table with his mother that evening till h e pimp ' back. I cannot tell what day this occurred, but it was one day that week. His mother asked who the young lady wass—lie pold her that she only wanted a book—l do not remember her nay t e : I cannot positively swear that the young lady dice not f 9F phi; kyoks on the 16th; but believe not, .1 related this matter 14 . and on another occasion Japkson. I thin I said nothing about the young lady)s AA to these gentle men or to the Committee of the Church. I burg PERVI-1 many sleepless nitchts trying to recollect what took place at Mr. Van Zandt s J was there. Here Mr. Seldon read a letter from this witness to Mr. Van Zandt, dated last September acknowLeding past favours, and stating that he could fix no date to show that it was not on the 16th he (Mr. V,) was absent wit LON, *SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1842 young lady, and that in the meantime this witness's evi- • dence would do defendant no good, Alexander. Hall sworn—Knows Mr. Van Zandt and Sophia Murdoch. In- the autumn of 1840 resided with the. defendant. Knew Thaddeus, who resided with his uncle. Bas observed intimacy between Sophia and Thaddeus, and wiled he saw them-. together they were always using . familiarities. Saw him with his arms round her kissing her. Saw nothing further but his arm around her. Cross-examined — Is brother-in-law to the defendant. To the best of his recollection, it was in the month of May or June. Was at one of the levees, on Thursday evening, at defendant's house. Two rooms were full of people. Were about thirty persons present, chiefly la dies. When he saw the familiarity witness was present. Cannot say how many others were there. Was in the hall. Mrs. Van Zandt, mother of defendant, sworn—ls the. mother of the • reverend defendant. Thaddeus was the child of her son, who resides in the city of New York. Has seen l'haddens .and Mary Murdock come out of a bedroom together. John Marden sworn—Lived in St. Paul-street. Lived next house •to plaintiff. Houses on a line, and not dis tant more than 25 feet. Knows Sophia and Thaddeus Van Zandt. Has seen him at plaintiff's house six or seven hours a day. Seen him with both sisters. The table at which he worked faced the window. He is a glover. Has seen improper familiarities between Sophia and Thaddeus. Has seen him put his hand under her dress. On another occasion he saw him put his hand around her waist, and fall down together in the wood shed. Saw no further, but saw them get up again. On another occasion lie saw them playing in the garden. Had seen him kiss Mary but not Sophia. Does not re member having said, within these last few days,, in Mr. John Hay's store, that he •saw Thaddeus more than a dOzen of times have connection with Sophia. Does not remember having said to Mr. Benjamin, a dealer in hats, that he knew nothing, nor had ever seen Thaddeus and Sophia. Charles 11. Briggs—Knows Marden. Has had a con versation with him in the store. Said he was acquainted with the girl Sophia, and knew no hurt of her, that she was a fine little girl. Always heard him speak in her favour. Never heard him Say anything about Thaddeus Van Zandt and Sophia. Mary F. Gray, stir orn.—Knows Marden, and was pre sent at the conversation related. He came in to get some work done, anclsaid he had a job to do which he dreaded. Mentioned something about their playing in the garden, but does not remember any thing more. Was not pay ing much attention. George -13. , Benjamin sworn—Knows Marden. Has had conversation with him in his store. One evening that he was there alone, asked him if he did not think that report was too bad. He said he lived near them, and that she was a fine little girl, and they were all a fine family. This conversation took place within four weeks. Mr. Sibley summed up the evidence for the defence ; said he could see nothing in this cause on which it was pleasant to dwell, either on the one side or the other. lie (Mr. Sibley) was not here to defend the - holy order of the priesthood. Let them stand or fall by their con duct. But he would appeal to the discerning public, when, in this neighbourhood, this county, this region, has a similar offence been charged on a member of the clerical profession ? No such case has occurred in man's memory. The records of courts of justice furnish, it is true, some instances ehere clergyinen have been found guilty of offences of this kind, but the counsel for the prosecution forgot to state that in a far larger number of instances, such charges are found to be false— conspiracies,- attempts to extort money. Mr. Sibley here alluded to the case of the Rev. Dr. Phelps of New York, who had been' condemned to infamy and disgrace by the public mind, willing to pay a sum of money to stop a prosecution against him, proved to have been in situations in which circumstances might have occurred, and, by the confesSion of the female herself, afterwards admitted to be innocent. He is now pursuing there a career of public usefulness. The plaintiff here charges that the defendant, in 1340, se duced his daughter. This is an action for seduction—it means anything but force—it means that her lusts have been invoked, or her affections captivated. This is the charge, and it is denied. A charge like the present was easily made and hard to be disproved. If the female could not be a witness in a case like this, there would be a wrong without a remedy, but the law directs that if her story is improbable, and if it be not corroborated, but contradicted in an essential point, it shall not be credited —the law looks equally . to the rights and liberties of both defendant and plaintiff. He would now introduce the principal_ and only witness to prove this case, the daughter of the plaintiff. It is not enough that she may have been proved to be with the defendant on the day stated, on the oath of others—she must be sustained by the 'testimony of credible witnesses in some essential particulars in support of the . accusation of guilt. That she was virtuously brought up as far as the instruction of her mother would admit, he would freely admit—she had been intelligently and worthily reared —and his client had been a pains-taking agent in enlightening the mind of this young female, and in improving her intellect. The Learned Counsel dwelt long upon what he considered the improbability of Sophia's statement, as to what took place upon the stoop at her mother's door. He considered that the kissing her was no evidence of lust—that men kiss the little daughters of their neighbours, as innocently as they kiss their own ; a good kind man will be kissed by the chil dren, whether he is willing or not—kisses, in cases such as had been described, was innocence itself. if a man tell him that he cannot kiss a couple of very playful girls, for fear of a fall, lie (Mr. Sibley) would say that man stands upon a very insecure foundation. The Learned Gentleman next referred to Sophia's statement Of the occasion when Mr. Van Zandt asked her and her sister to go over to his hoMe, he being alone ; alleged that if Mr. Van Zandt had a vicious purpose of de bauching Sophia, he would not have also asked Mary to accompany her, seeing she could be an evidence of his guilt, which, if exposed, would to him, the father of a • family, the husband of a lovely wife, the pastor of a Christian church, be utter ruin. Who can believe such a story ? And yet you must believe it all or none ; there is no half way in this case. You can't take part of her (Sophia's) testimony, and reject the rest ; it must be the whole or none. -- A.journed till half-past two. When we ,entered the Court, Mr. Sibley was giving the Jury the view he took of Sophia's statement of the occurrences in Mr. Van Zandt's study, on the afternoon of the 16th of October, 1840. Unpleasant and disgusting as the circumstances in this case are, they would have to talk and think about them. The Counsel argued as to the probability that it was not defendant, but his nephew Thaddeus, now in China, who was the father of Sophia's child. The Counsel took much pains to show that the Jury must not take into account anything that might have, been stated by witnesses, as to indecent liberties taken .by the Reverend Gentleman with Sophia's sister and other females. He apologised for Mr. Van Zandt's assertion that the Misses Murdock were strumpets, made secretly to his vestry. Mentioned the many stories that were afloat about them—commended his goodness of heart, his charity, in giving Sophia, her mother and sister, all dresses alike. Asserted that the defendant's benevolence and charity had extended far and wide. Insinuated that as Sophia allowed Thaddeus Van Zandt to . put his arms round her neck and kiss her, it might be inferred that greater liberties were allowed him. Gave some weight to Marden, the glover's statement, but admitted it had been successfully impeached, and that he wss shown to be a garrulous, intemperate man—if his testi mony could not be believed, let it be cast out. If the de fendant is guilty of this outrage, he, Mr. S., was not here to plead 'in mitigation of damages. No, in that case take ample damages—take all he has and give to the family he has wronged ; abate nothing, he will not mourn over it. The Jury could not say' the plaintiff was guilty ; they could not find a verdict on evidence which they had reason to believe to be untrue. Mr. V. Z. values not money ; but he desires to leave no stain on his family to descend to his children; had he desired to settle this with money, ample time and opportunity were given him to do so, but knowing his own innocence he comes before the country and confidently expects an ac quittal. Mr. Sibley concluded a really able, interesting, shrewd, and eloquent speech of nine hours, at a quarter to nine o'clock.—Verdict for plaintiff—Damages 3,000 dollars. The following are the remarks of the Editor of the New York Herald on this singular trial The late trial of the Reverend Mr. Van Zandt, for the seduction of Miss Sophia Murdock, has been re markable in every point of view. The plaintiff and de fendant were remarkable persons--the circumstances of the seduction were remarkable—the birth of the child and its crooked finger were remarkable, and the verdict of the Jury was remarkable, and their subsequent conduct still more remarkable. In addition to the 3,000 dollars, the Jury have unanimously agreed to present Miss So phia Murdock with the full amount of their pay, in to ken, as they say, "of their sympathy for her misfor tunes, and of respect for her conduct as a witness." This case, it has been said, is without a parallel. We sincerely hope it is, and that it will ever be so. Indeed what an alarming state of things would be presented were the contrary the case. Here is a reverend clergyman— the head of a large and wealthy, and beautiful floek_a leading member of the Episcopal Church—going about seducing young single 'ladies of his . flock and kissing many of the most beautiful married women therein—or taking various other liberties with them ; at least so it is stated. And if this be true, all that can be said about it is that he has had the run of a very beautiful kitchen. But, is it not our duty and the duty of every one to in quire seriously into these matters? Is the case of the Rev. Mr. Van Zandt, an isolated one ? (which we hope and trust it i s) or is it but a sample of the conduct of the clergymen of that or any ether denomination? Th is is a m atter that every father, brother, and parent, sh ould think seriously of, and see se ttl e d t o hi s own satisfaction without loss of time. If o th er clergymen do such things, . wh ere i s t v the mis c hi e f t o s t o p, and who is to be trusted ? Here we all freely a ll ow o ur wives, our daughters, to go to places of worship every Sabbath , and sev eral week days, when we are una bl e t o accompany and protect the m , trusting peaceful confidence ac t thus, what, unde r Heaven,onfidence in: the hon our o f the clergyman, ith A p i e ld ac , if are we io do ? Our churches are filled with lovely wo men. It is true that it may be replied to this, that such things could not be without some one suspecting it ; hilt who ever suspected the Rev. Van Zandt, until the situation of hi s un f o rto4te victim was seen ? Again, we say, we hope for the best ; but wo also say again, that all parents should seriously inquire into this matter. It has been recently asce: l ta k i:e l d eo t i h ,e a fo t r a t n he im ma m nu e i n a s c e . PlRally of excellent peat exists in the marshes of Oyannax Cio4rliensOf th.,,,Teligdtrt4,v3.enrdY,VoyYeer4l, Mr the !Om - fors of the 4ura, ft' 14 peat ig free frond sulphur, end will t m h a u lt s e li g d op ri d r :: . him, clergyman iii this county, a few days since, muting 4 boy whose face he knewf but of 8 :1: l os P e n S a l m 4 e P h L e lC w i a r s T ig ?-4 " Wat's your name?" " Rgn."—" How old a re you 7 ,, _..4. I wor Sit m i n *when/xi'? toted l"—Chelmsibrcl Chronicle. DUKE of CAMBRIDGE'S BANQUET On Wednesday evening their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge gave a state dinner to his Majesty at Cambridge House. The band of the Coldstream Guards attended in the entrance hall, and received the King on his arrival with " God save the Queen." Their Royal Highnesses' foot men, in State liveries, lined the entrance hall, and the pages wore their state uniforms. , The King arrived at five . minutes past seven o'clock, attended by his suite. His Majesty wore the ensigns of the Most. Noble Order of the Garter. The party pre sent on the okasion consisted of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duchess of Inverness, the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, Count Stolberg, Gen. Natzrnar, Gen. Neumann, Baron Meyerinck, M. de Brauchitsch, Baron Von Humboldt, M. de Conseillvr .Muller, Chevalier Bunsen, the Earl of Hardwicke, Earl and Countess of Jersey, Earl and Countess Delawarr, Earl and Countess Westmorland, Earl of Liverpool, Earl of Aberdeen, and Captain Meynell. The King remained at Cambridge House until twenty minutes before ten o'clock, when his Majesty, attended by his Excellency the Chevalier Bunsen, Baron de Humboldt, the Earl of Hardwicke, Capt. Meynell, and the gentlemen of his suite, went to Covent Garden Theatre. _ _ _ A very numerous party had been invited in the even ing to Cambridge House, to have the honour of meet ing his Majesty, and the entire suite of state rooms, on the first floor, were thrown open, and brilliantly illu minated with a profusion of chandeliers and candelabra. At the top of the grand staircase, the Coldstream band performed a number of choice pieces in the course of the evening, introducing " A March composed by Frederick the Great," and the "Landes Vater.' _ __ _ . His Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar arrived at half-past ten o'clock. The noblemen and gentlemen, who had attended the official dinners appeared, most of them, in their respec tive costumes. The 'King of Prussia and suite returned to Cambridge liouse, from the theatre. Among the company present, were— The French Ambassador, the Austrian (special), Greek, Wirtemberg, Sardinian, Belgian, Hanoverian, and Saxon Ministers ; the Bavarian Minister and Ba ronness de Cetto, the Russian Minister and Baronness Brunow ; Madame Bunsen, Lady of the Prussian Mi nister ; the Swedish Charge d'Affaires and Baronness Rebausen, the Prussian Charge d'Affaires, Baron Lel> zeltern, Baron Bertouch, Count Revel, Baron Charles de Canitz, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Mrs. How ley, the Bishop of London and Mrs. Blomfield, Duke of Wellington, Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, Marquis and Marchioness of Exeter, Marquis of Normanby, Marquis of Anglesey and Lady A. Paget, Marquis and Marchioness of Douro, Marquis of Clanricarde, Marquis of Worcester, Earl and Countess Dowager Clare and the Ladies Fitzgibbon, Earl of Uxbridge and the Ladies Eleanora and Con stance Paget, Countesa of Tankerville, Earl and Coun tess of Surrey and Lady Mary Howard, Lady Clemen tina Villiers, Earl of Ripon, the Ladies Campbell and Lord Evelyn, Earl and Countess Cadogan and Lady H. Cadogan, Earl of Beverley and Lady Louisa Lou vaine, Earl of Haddington, Earl Brownlow, Earl of Denbigh and Lady Mary Fielding, Countess Euston and Lady Fitzroy, Mr. Fitzroy, Countess of Hadding ton, Earl and Countess Wilton, Earl and Lady K. Jermyn, Earl of Lincoln, Countess de Clifford and Lady Augusta Onslow, Countess of Glengall, Countess of Charleville, Earl and Countess of Claren don, Earl of March and Lady Caroline. G. Lennox, Lord and Lady Ernest Bruce, Lady Wharncliffe, Lord and Lady Blooinfield, Lord Forester, Lord and Lady Mahon, Lord and Lady Granville Somerset, Lady Keith, Lord Fitzgerald and Vesci, Lord Redesdale and the Hon. Miss Mitford, Lord and Lady Jemima Elliot, Lady Fitzroy Somerset and MisS Somerset, Dowager Lady Clinton, Lord and Lady Hawarden, Lady and the Hon. Miss Willoughby, Lady Lyndhurst and the Hon. Miss Cogley, Lord and Lady Marcus Hill, Lord Foley, Lady Stuart de Rothsay and Hon. •Miss Stuart, Lord Villiers, Lord Claude Hamilton, 'Lord Wiltshire, Lord and Lady de Roos, Lord F. Egerton, Right Hon. Col. Dawson Darner, Right Hon. Sir John Beckett, Right Hon. Sir Rob:. Adair, Right Hon. W. and Mrs. Glad stone, Hon. Miss Elphinstone deFlahault, Hon. W. Cow per, Hon. Cecil Forester, Hon. Sidney Herbert, Hon. .Stuart Wortley, Lady Gordon, Sir John Macdonald, Mr. Norman Macdonald, Sir Edmund and Lady Antro bus, Sir James and Lady Reynett, Lady Shelley, Sir George and Lady Clerk, Baron and Baroness Lionel de Rothschild, General Sir Henry Bailly, Colonel Shawe, • Colonel Grant, Colonel Scott, Colonel and Mrs. Come wall, *Colonel Bentinck, Captain Macdonald, Captain Glunder, Captain and Lady Emily Seymour, Captain Frederick Villiers, Mr. Mellish, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, Mr. G. W. and the. Hon. Mrs. Hope, Mr. George Banks, Mr. T. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. J. Totnline, Mr. Vincent, Mr. E. Drummond, Miss • Burdett Coutts, Mr. Mac donald, Mr. Culling Smith, Mr. Talbot, and MrS. de Rothschild. LLOYD'S SHIPPING. LONDON 4. — Wind this day at noon N. E. FEB.. DEAL, FEE. 3.—Wind easterly, light.--Arrd. Princess Royal, India. Arrd. from the River, Sealeby Castle, for Bombay ; Careb, for Demerara. LIVERPOOL, FEB. .3.—Wind variable and moderate.—Arrd. Hampden, Spooner, New Orleans; Samarang, Savannah. Sld. Pursuit, New Orleans; Verginian, New York; Jenny Jones, Constantinople. PORTSMOUTH, FEB. 3.—Arrd. Toronto, London, New York. OFF DARTMOUTH, JAN. 2. —John Romilly, Kendall, Bahia. BRISTOL, FEB. 3.—Arrd. Spec, Malta; Aristides, New foundland. DUBLIN, FEB. 1. —Sid. Garonne, Antigua ; Carlton Savannah. BERWICK, FEB. 2.—The Zealous, M'Kenzie, from Wemyss to Perth, sunk off Coldingham Bay on the 30th ult., crew saved. Some of the stores have been saved ; her foretopmast is seen at low water. GLOUCESTER, FEE. 3.—Arrd. Mersey, Green, Leghorn. Sid. Alexandrina, Messina. SHIELDS, FEB. 2.—The Ocean, of Hartlepool, bound to London, on the rocks near Tynemouth, has been sold with her cargo. _ _ VESSELS SPOKEN WlTH.—Ellen, bound to Trinidad, sth ult., lat. 18, lon. 40 ; Sophia and Elizabeth, bound to La Quayra, same day ; Highbury, London to St. Vin cent, 7th, lat. 22, lon. 41, by the John, Romilly, arrived off Dartmouth. Rayo, Hamburgh to Havanna., 19th Dec., lat. 36 N., lon. 33 W., by the Correo de Cadiz, No. 1, arrived at Cadiz. Cleostratus, Clyde to Charles tonAl9th ult., lat. 36, lon. 34, by the Princess Royal, ar rived in the Downs. China, Liverpool to Charleston, 22d ult., with loss of sails, boat, &c., by the St. Lucia, ar rived off Portland. EAST INDIA SHIPPING. Arrivals—Beulah, James, from China, off Brighton, sailed Aug. 28, St. Helena, Dec. 15 ; Princess Royal, Newby, from Bengal, off Dover, sailed Oct. 11, St. Helena, Dec. 22 ; Candahar, Keir, from China, at Liverpool, sailed Sept. 15, St. Helena, Dec. 13; 141edora, May, from Mauritius, in the Downs, sailed Oct. 24 ; South Stockton, Coreken, frum New Zealand, in the Downs. Arrivals in Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope—Dawson, Price, Dec. 7, from Lond , n ; Indian, English, 9th, from London. Arrivals in Algoa Bay—Hero, Nor. 28, from Table Bay ; Adelaide, Wharton, from Mauritius, and sailed Dec. 2, to Table Bay; Couch, Dec, 3, from Table Bay; Rainbow, Winn, from Mauritius. Arrivals at St. Helena—Mary Hartley, Webb, Dec. 17, from Calcutta and Cape, and sailed 22d to Demerat a ; Mar tha, Rogers, 19th, from Mauritius, and sailed 22d to Cork ; Tregarthen, 20th, from Mauritius, and sailed 21st to London ; Patriot Queen, Hoodless, 21st, from Calcutta, and sailed 22d to Liverpool; Simo n T ay l or , B rown, 22d, from China ; Eleanor, 141‘Pherson, 22d, from Bombay. Departures from St. Helena---Singapore, Hamilton, and Janet Boyd, Topping, Dec. 14, to London ; Fairfield, Dec.l7, to Liverpool. Arrivals at Valparaiso—Anna Sophia, Tudor, Oct. 12, from Port Nicholson, and sailed for Huasco ; Malcolm, Malcolm, 19th, from Sydney ; Earl Durham, Cabell, 26th, from Talca huano, and sailed 28th to Sydney. Departure from—Earl of Lonsdale, Peire, 17th, to Callao. CORN LAWS. EDINBURGH, FEB. 2.--At the meeting of the Town Coun cil held yesterday, Mr. BCACK moved " That a petition be presented by the Town Council to both Houses of Parliament, praying for a total and immediate repeal of the Corn and Pro vision -laws, and for the repeal of all protective duties imposed on commodities for the purpose of raising their price above their natural level." Mr. 11 EtviLLE said he was not prepared to go the whole length of Mr. Black's motion, and therefore begged to pro pose the following amendment :—" That the Council, taking into consideration the great evils attending the present Corn laws, and their severe pressure on all classes, particularly those least able to bear it, the poor and labouring portion of the community ; resolve to petition Parliament for an immediate modification of these laws by the imposition of a moderate fixed duty in the meantime, preparatory to a total and gradual abo lition of all duties on the necessaries of life." On a division the amendment was carried by a majority of only one, the numbers for the original motion being 12, and for the amendment 13. THE WEATHER.-The thermometer at the Zoological Gardens, in the Regent's Park, which on Tuesday morning at two o'clock was 27 deg. F., was at the same hour yesterday morning 41 deg., being the minimum point of the 24 hours. Nearly every vestige of ice has disappeared in the neighbourhood of the metropolis. MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE.--On:Tuesd a y as a private of the 12th Lancers, who had been in custody at the station-house of the C division of police for intoxication, was being led home by a sergeant and three of his comrades to the barracks, the unfortunate man, when close to the Metal Bridge, made a race from his companions, and either flung himself or was precipitated over the Liffey wall. The police man on duty ran for ropes and a boat, and every effort was made to save the wretched sufferer, but in vain. The body has not yet been found.—Dublin Mail. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.—On Wednesday night, between twelve and one o'clock, a report of a pistol was heard in Samuel-street, Woolwich, by Tyndal, 41 tt, who imme diately repaired to the spot, when lie discovered that. Pay master-Sergeant Hale, of the Royal Marines, had shot himself in the mouth with a pistol. On throwing the light of I,is lamp on the unfortunate man's face, he observed a torrent of blood running from his mouth, the flesh of which was frightfully torn. With assistance, he removed him into the house No. 5, and sent for the hospital surgeon, who attended, and de clared that the wound was of so serious a nature, that he was not tit to be removed at that time. About five o'clock he was taken on a stretcher to the General Hospital, when it was discovered that nearly the whole of his teeth and the roof of his mouth had been driven in by the bullet with which the pistol was charged. Medical as well as surgical aid being ren dered, he vomited the bullet, and it is supposed that the teeth and flesh torn trom the jaw were driven doww his throat, as nothing but the bullet has been discovered. The unhappy man has not been able to utter a word since the commission of the deed. His wife informed the doctor that he had been drunk during -the evening, and it was also stated that he had threatened to destroy himself while in a state of intoxication. It is singular, that he took the pistol from a marine who had shortly before threatened to commit self-destruction. The poor fellow lies without hopes of recovery. An extraordinary instance a the uncertain effects of lightning occurred a few days since, at Meuvaines, in Nor- Bundy, wh en th e e l ectr i c fl uid struck a sma ll cottage, and shivered to pi eces most o f t h e f urn i ture ; b u t though all the living things in it received a most violent shock, no man, or animal experien ce d th e s li g ht es t i n jury. The cottage was roofed with thatch, and this was not set on fire. THE WINE TRADE. The following are extracts from a Circular of Messrs. Shaw 1 and Maxwell, wine merchants, showing that the stagnation of trade begins to touch the Aristocracy : " Owing to the generally depressed state of trade in this country, and in all parts of the world, the consumption of wine has fallen off within the last year upwards of 300,000 gallons. One effect of this has been, by increasing competition, to de luge our docks with wines of every denomination, and from all quarters ; but much of this, not being worth the duty, has been shipped off to India and the Colonies—the markets of which are now glutted with what is called Sherry, Champagne, &c. A very remarkable change has taken place in the use of port, which, fifty 'years ago, con•Aituted 70 per cent. of all wines consumed, but has fallen to I.ttle more than 32 per cent. Sherry, on the contrary, has risen from 16 to upwards of 40 per cent. This is chiefly attributable to the quantity of white wine now drank during, and even after dinner ; and to the fa shion of remaining but a comparatively short time at table. Another cause, however, is undoubtedly, the prejudice which has arisen against Port,. owing to the introduction, ever since the famous vintages of 1820 and 1821, of rich wines, requiring to be kept in bottle much longer than theprices now usually quoted justify a wine-merchant in doing, to which must also be added the comparatively small ttocks Lid in by consumers, who, con sequently, drink their Port of less age than formerly, and, for getting this, imagine that the quality of the wine has become deteriorated. French wines are gradually becoming better known, and last year there was an increase of 7 per cent. ; the greater part of which consisted of Champagne, and various cheap sparkling wines under that name ; but many of the light, agreeable second and third growth red wines, as well as the finest first growths, have taken the place of Port. Madeira has fallen about 2 per cent., and not withsta tiding that there is now very fine old wines to he had, does not regain its former reputation. Rhenish has fallen about 15 per cent. Marsala, a good mo derate-priced wine, has risen about 6 per cent. Cape has fallen 5 per cent , and nothing but the temptation it holds out by paying only half the duty of any other v. ine, would induce the importation of a single pipe. The average quantity, duty paid, is about half a million of gallons per annum • but it is no torious that a large proportion of this is sold under the deno mination of Sherry, &c., either in its original state, or mixed with other inferior wines ; and, in the latter case, is fregliently exported and a larger amount of drawback claimed and re ceived than had been paid in the first instance to the revenue. Nothing but equalising the duty with other wines will prevent these frauds, and such unfair competition.—We have the ho nour to be, Sir, your very obedient servants, " SHAW and MAXWELL" STORM IN THE NORTH. PERTH, JAN. 27.—The thaw which prevailed through out last week had hardly cleared away the snow of the previous week when a fresh storm set in. It commenced' on Saturday with a drifting wind from south-east, and continued for the next two days falling slightly, but con stantly, till Monday. evening, when it.again lay about six inches deep on the average, but drifted in many places to three times that extent. As usual, with a storm from that direction, travelling is most impeded on the east coast roads, although in this case the obstruction his extended over , all the North Highlands. The Inverness Mail and Aberdeen Defiance pushed through on Monday with difficulty, particularly the latter, on the stage betwixt Stonehaven and Laurencekirk. On Tuesday travelling by the Strathmore road in that direction was entirely stopped, and the De fiance due here that afternoon has not yet appeared. The North Mail by the east-coast road the same night was also greatly impeded, and most of the road 'from Aberdeen to Perth had to be driven with six horses. A very melancholy and fatal accident occurred that night on one of the stages north from Dundee. The additional pair of horses put on for those occasions are ridden by a postilion, and his horse slipping, fell with him, and the rapid rate at which all were going, prevented the possiW lity of the coachman pulling up, the horses and coach went over him, and killed him on the spot. Monday night is described by the Inverness mail-guard as one of the most fearful he had ever travelled in. Major Hall, the Post-offiee Surveyor for the north of Scot land, happened to be in Inverness that day, and left with the mail for Perth. They had hardly gone a stage southward when it was found necessary to leave the coach, and Major Hall and the guard pursued their jour ney with the mail-bags on horseback. Fortunately the storm abated with the adVancing day, and Dalwhinnie was at length reached, where the north guard was re lieved by Stewart, with whom Major Hall pushed on to Dalnacardoch, over Druininochdir Hill, where the wreaths of snow reached sometimes to the middles of the horses. Here a drosky was obtained, in which all arrived safely in Perth by midnight, the surveyor and guards have ridden upwards of sixty miles on horseback. A singular circumstance occurred to Major Hall and the guard to break the monotonous dreariness of the ride. During the height of one of the gales on the high grounds in Inverness-shire, a covey of grouse were carried, by the violence of the storm, right upon the horses and riders. One was killed y the shock and brought on by the guard to Perth, and some of the others might have been easily caught had the party wished. STATE OF PAISLEY. The following is an extract from a letter received this morn• ing from a Lady in Paisley:-. Paisley,,3lst Jan., 1842. " Enclosed is a very valuable little tract, written by Dr. Burns, to be circulated in every house" in town, inculcating the relative duties of rich and poor in this season of calamity and suffering. The Doctor is unwearied in his exertions to mitigate the distress. Since his wife's death he has been known repeatedly to leave his house before breakfast and not return tilt evening, and nokhaving broken his fast all day, de nying himself even the common necessaries of life, that he might be ab'e to give to those who have been wanting for days. There are many cases where, from extreme delicacy, the par ties are unwilling to let their case be known to the public. These ai e in his own parish, and for supplying these cases the Doctor is much out of pocket. Last ss'undly several of his hearers were offended. They say he is now as bad as Brews ter, for he insists that the poor have a right to demand bread, and if refused, to take it ; and that they are not to be blamed in the sight of God if they help themselves; that fathers of fami lies are not in the midst of •plenty to submit and see the wives of their bosom and tender offspring dying of want. In his prayer he alluded to the mummery And extravagance goinc , on at Court—so much so, that two of hi s e ld ers expressed them selves astonished at the Doctor having gone' so far astray.' " A. has, ust finished the distribution of the proceeds of the bazaar in her, district. She and Miss S. have had two of the worst districts in the town. She generally sets out at nine in the morning, and she returns at six to tea, quite worn out and overcome with the scenes she has witnessei.. Y mentioned to you before that the to wn was di v id e d i nto th i rty-one districts. fhe one that A. and Miss S. visit is inhabited by those who, once in a day, were beene ' weavers. But, oh, what desti tution now ! A. says they generally, have a tea-caddy on the mantel-piece, filled with perhaps 200 and 300 pawn-tickets, and this tells how well plenished their houses once were. She sa ys you can scarcely see a stool to sit on, having parted with everything to keep them from starving. Blankets are what they are -most anxious for, as the bits o' weans' can do well enough when running about during the day; but " in tha cauld frosty nichts,' what wi' the cauld and care the gither, they can harly thol through the nicht.' Next to blankets, shoes and stockings, and flannel petticoats, are most in derriand. A. wants six dozen pair of shoes for her district alone. This is giving trade to the shoemakers in the district, although they are restricted in their profit." " THE SUN."—Our evening Contemporary, The Sun, has recommenced its spirited system of ex presses, by which it frequently far outstrips the other Evening Journals. We are indebted to it for the very early receipt of the Queen's Speech ' which re ac h o d our office before six o'clock.—Chelmsford Chronicle. OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.—Thursday was the flit% occasion upon which her Majesty has opened Parlia ment in person since her accession to the Throne of Great Britain. The first Session of the present Parliament, which only lasted about six weeks, was opened by commission, in con sequence of the state of her Majesty's health at that period. CUPAR-FIFE.—On Tuesday, while the Pres bytery of Cupar were considering the presentatiiin to Kettle, which had been laid upon their table, the Bev. Mr. Birrell, of Cupar, feeling himself unwell, retired into the Session-house, and, we regret to say, almost instantly expired. Medical aid was procured, but without avail. The Presbytery, in consideration of this melancholy event, adjourned their proceedings. Mr. Birrell, previous to his appointment to Cupar, had been minister Of Westruther, and in both places was greatly , beloved. On the death of the father of the late Attorney- General, now Lord Campbell, who had for many years the first charge in the parish, Mr. Birrell succeeded to the second charge. TH TRADE.--We had anticipated that the first month of the new year would have enabled us to furnish our friends with a more pleasing account of trade than we have been enabled to do for a long time past ; but we are compelled to say that we are disap pointed, as we cannot perceive - or learn that any actual revival has taken. When January comes, and the ac counts are all arranged. and the profits of the last year reckoned up, we expect to see merchants and dealers come into the market and buy and sell with renewed spirit and energy. We are, however, disappointed, and we much fear the reason of it may be—that the balance of profit has not been so large as on former occasions, which will at once account for the want of a display of the usual January Spirit.—Sherbourne Journal DUNFERMLINE.—There have been remitted from this parish to the distressed operatives in Paisley, in different sums, 207 L, raised by subscription, which, considering the distress here, is very creditable to the liberality of the community, DEATH OF THE . " BRISTOL STANDARD."-- ' The final number of this journal was published en Wednes day last. The editor, in his farewell address, says that " the Standard was called into existence by the expressed wish of the Conservative party in this city ;" and gives as a reason for its discontinuance, that it has not met with that support which under the circumstances it had a right to expect, or which would warrant the proprietors in continuing to publish it. SINGULAR MESMERIC INFLUENCE.—TiIis town (Southampton) has recently been the theatre of an operation equally novel in nature, and interesting and import ant in its results. We allude to the extraction of a tooth and several stumps, from a patient in the state of mesmeric trance, which took place vest. rday morning at the residence of the operator, Mr. Prideaux, before a select party of medical men, who had been invited to bepresent. It appears that Mr. Prideaux usually entrances the patient who was the subject of this ope. ration in about five minutes ; but on the present occasion, from the presence of strangers, the slight interruption caused by the arrival of some of the spectators after the entranc ing manipulations had commenced, the process occupied about twenty minutes. Shortly after perfect sleep- Aalking was in duced, the patient, at the request of the operator, arose from her seat by the fire and walked to the operating chair at the other end of the room, when the teeth ant stumps were removed by Mr. P., without the slightest manifestation of sensibility to pain on the part of the patient, whose hands were quietly re posing in her lap during the whole time ; indeed, on being re stored to consciousness (an operation effected in a few seconds), it was not till after an examination of the mouth with the tongue that :he could credit the reality of the painless release from her tormentors. At a subsequent part of the day a similar operation was performed by Mr. Prideaux on another patient, with similar results ; and he informed us that on one occasion he had operated on a lady for three hours, total insensibility ta pain being evinced during the whole peripd, M r . Prideaux expresses his confi dent expectation, tbas in the course of a few years the production of the mesmeric trance will be generally resorted to in all cases of severe surgical operations, and also that as the science advances means will be discovered by which all per sons may be certainly subjected to - its influence; and should these expectations be realised, great indeed will be the boon, I which this at present embryo science, is destined to confer , upon suffering humanity.-.-Hampshire Telegraph. MORNING - SUN THE FIRST VOLUME OF R 4 MADAME DARBLAYS- MA AN:, LETTERS, IS NOW READY AT ALL THE BOOKSEL!LED ' Henryrice 10s. 6d. bound. with Portrait a nd Fac street' H Coburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough- Just ready, in 3 vols. post Bvo., with Portrait, a s SIR HENRY MORGIII THE BUCCANEER. By EDWARD HOWARD, Esq., Author of 0 to. "Battliu the Reefer," ~ Outward Bound," " Jaen A s hore, Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, G eat Marlbcrough-stree lI[IIS MAJESTY the ENIPbROR 01 AUSTRIA, naving AUTHORISED and GUARANTEED sever l al og b S ' TRIBUTIONS of MONEY DIVIDENDS , which ( 6 40 they are NO LOTTERIES/ oiler many ibilities Qf ° pOSS , in LARGE FORTUNES, a nd at HEINE BROTHERS, at HAMBURG H LUBECK, 10 Are now SELLING ORIGINAL BONDS for the ssla 5' ritIBU FION& ; Oat° Persons desirous to purchase for the Neit 1 10 , --1 FRO nay reeive, PREVIOUS to giving any orders, w e Do i BPECTUS and PARTICULARS, upon addressing HEINE BROTHERS. OSd The NEXT DISTRIBUTION contains DI M "' i7 O £25,000 4:b°° £llO 60 5,000 400 100 5 0 1,500 200 90 Sterling . 1,000 150 80 800 120 THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANS. THIS EVENING, FEB. 5, de pi AC co Will be produced, arranged as a Drama, ri gn Aci9, 3 ' l AND GALATEA.—Polypheme, Mr. H. Philips' TO P. Horton • Galatea, Miss Romer. till.- r• After which will be repeated the New Farce,. entitled WINDMILL.—The Marquis de Roueville, P i r e eleY', d , nett ; Sampson Low, Mr. Keeley ; Marian, " 3 a otter, l 3. To conclude with the Grand Comic Christina!, c y'Sni called HARLEQUIN - AND DUKE HUMPIIiI" NER ; OR, JACK CADE, THE LORD OF 1- • STONE. Perf (gw- 6 4 ' Doors u.be opened at Half past Six, and the , ce, 21. j to begin r t Seven o'clock. Boxes 55., Second 1 " 1. 1. Se' Pit 35., Second Price 23. Lower Gallery I s. Pr ce Is. Upper Gallery Is., Second Price 6d. . „ tr ift, THEATRE ROYAL, COVENT-GARDE O PI.S,P UNDER the MANAGEMENT of MADAME 0, THIS EVENING, FEB. 5, „.„.01 ,- ;., 0 1 Will be repeated the Opera of ELENA U"' • t Character of Elena Überti by Miis Adelaide Ko l be: Cos i Übaldo, Mr. W. Harrison ; Sigifredo, Mr. It i f t ;; Guido, Mr. Stretton ; Boemondo, Mr. Clement tiero, Mr. Wigan ; Imberga, Miss Grant. d cl°Of After which will be re rested the New Grall ic ; Pantomime, entitled GUY EARL OF WAR Us to tIABLEQUIN AND THE DUN COW. old fort° '' Doors to to opened at half-past Six—the per : 3i. „,; commence at Seven. Dress Boxes, 7e. ; Second Fr, 4 'pit, "ibi First and Second Circles, ss. ; Second Price, 10 5 1 . 5 5 Second Price. '2s.; Gallery, Is. Tickets and P's' fri s . 00 , Boxes to be taken of Mr. Grogan at the Box-office till Four, where Season Tickets may be had eV' W e ' Do Private Boxes to be had solely of Mr. Andreas, 167. New Bond-street. oe r ROYAL SURREY THEATRE . ter , The only Pantomime on the Surrey side of th e by a Quarter past Eleven. Attraction beyond Crowded Houses nightly. Great hit of " Nor° . ' THIS EVENING. FEB. 5 oak JO Will be acted Haines' wonderfully successful IN foos7 tied ELIZABETH LAZARUS, THE JEWE S, V on Captain Glasscock's " Land Sharks and Sea ~„ After which, MRS. NORMA, with Bellinee 00 0- ,0 To conclude with a Grand. Christmas. Pantogin HARLEQUIN AND THE ICE QUEEN; cbs sr FROST AND KING THAW —With gorgeousi teristie Scenery, splendid Properties, ludicrous by O f ,r Dresses, ingenious Tricks, magnificent Panorame het ; fling, &c. Harlequin, M. Huline ; Patch, M. Rc 'e c lo o taboo, M. Lehman ;Flip, Signor Feliz Carlo; - Buc Private ; Columbine, Miss Share. f' 5. and Public Boxes can be had p of Messrs. S a b i]r Mitchell, Andrews, and Seguin, during the run 01 lar Pantomime. " ROYAL VICTORIA THEATRE.. UNDER THE DIRECTION OF AIR. Continued triumph of " Geraldine!" Immens e ( I goa t ,;; " The Wild Irish Girl !" and revival of the Gren o o3 o of " Ivanhoe," with all its original splendour---' Twelve, Conlagrations, and startling effects. tr y THIS EVENING, FEB. 5, T hree? Will be performed, a New Domestic Drama, in n yl,, a entitled HE STORY OF GERALDINE , TWIN ORPHANS OF ST. PRE.—Henri, . J`V vine; Huntin g d on , M r . D a l e; Cl au d, M r . Seains n ilo Cottle, Mr. Gardn er ; D avy , M r . P au l ; G e raldine' . ,40 , tent, the acknowledg e d H ero i ne o f D omes tic Dranirb 0' o r After which, THE WILD IRISH GIRL.--Sh ela ar e° ,? Miss Vincent, in which she will dsnce her celebra te d ; brook Rant, and sing several humourous chauntS. ,/ Medley Epilogue S 00 9 %1 To conclude with the Grand Romance of I.- 'be j3l srAP Ivanhoe, Mr. - E. F.-Saville ; Isaac, Mr. Dale; Knight, Mr. Seaman ;; Warnba, r. Gardner; Mrs. Lee. Boxes, 2s.—Pit; 13 '.— Gallery, 6d.—Half-pric e t° the only, at Ha lf-past Eight, THE VERY LATES ti3O" PARLIAMENTARY N,- WILL BE GIVEN AS I_ st. AL v , THE SECOND, 11111//' AND EXPRESS EDITIO O OF THE EVENING SO THE IVIORNING CONTAINING THE WHOLE OF THE DEft-- WILL BE PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING AT FIVE o' ,l-19 In time for the Six o' Clock Trains to 'to North of England, i nc l u di ng the grea t '1 01 : of Manchester, Liverpool, Birminglia l w it ' el verhampton, Dudley, Worcester, S i r fr , Chester, Rochdale, _Halifax, Ihitl' e.r, 's Wakefield, Leeds, York, Hull, 3114 e on-Tune, Durham, Darlington, - I) °, llt heit efi Rotherham, Sheffield, Nottingham, field, Mansfield, Derby, Leicester, '3 . ri C Vor if And by the Western Trains to Reading) l c h ifi Salisbury, Portsmouth, Gosport, "pu t ton, Bath, Bristol, Gloucester, O ldie and other places. *„* Orders will be supplied by 0 14. agents; and should any difficulty occur I ° , ati e : my .the Latest or an y o th er Editi o n, ag.l. I.d" to the Sun-office di rec t w ill ens ure joT attention. Sun Office, 112, Strand. i THE RAILWAY lS NOW RE-PUBLISH-' PRICE SIXPENCE. 14 1, THE CHINA S 1 AND THE 4 cisl PARLIAMENTARY '-' ARE STILL ON SALX' PRICE SIXPENCE EACH. Sun Office, Feb. 4, 1842. . 0, 1 11 THE WEATHER.—N ooN , FEDnt" s orit' r ROYAL GALLERY OF SCIENCE , ADELA ll3 , 4 s l.vicj a eg . Thermometer... 34 Hi g h est 44 I 14°4'70 Barometer 30.05.—Wind E.—Freezing PO Morning.,.... WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE 21 minutes after 9 1 Eveniin.i. • • ... s oy' 0. " .4 4 e AFIO° ,0 4 kezz,-olkw. titg LONDON' SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1842. There is a prevailing opinion both a...-Ilvbie- , i) ----....------ ,A 0 g li beral and T • my Members of Parliament t°,: e ly t ° began ol urs a ie ti s o t r a .. tem H e i n s t L l ( r ) ' d we must beg attention, because it seems 11 7, 0 0 the evening, adopting a very of foundation. Thursday injury d to our cause. Lord .1111:1.notre:e'iielt , old A . ; It was • decidedly his opinion that no m easur e -° 5 . fr", too'eth . fully Lev prevent the recurrence of such distr.iste oh o , Maris onc•tirred with the Noble Lord °Pr: c oon! of Abereorn that in a manufacturint, ,edify like his having a large mass of population d e l 01 ° upon taste and fashion b forei___ , and t..e uncertain 1 t aau c' l Kucountries, it would be a delusion to 1 10 re ( ' promise of measures rec ur 0 / of distr which could prevent the id is „ wages -e54'.----qf great fluctuation in employment, i a., 7 41 5 0c5 ef the working people,—(Bear, hear.) ' 7t c ri blite ll to distres s recurred it was, at different periods, , c ot , , be vario u s .r causes, to which he never thought they co t 1, ri I ,a Qr:--, 'Thus it was now attributed to the Cc' tt: laws, which he did not believe to be the case. niovi irldicsiiili;vesareidg_.aredtli:ZsPtiti uncertain nature of Jie employment, or its beirlK 1 -. • het'X'' tably ' • subject to periodical depression.---(001' eoi iiii Such an admission was of course eat ~rse l d ofe ° " 4 hold of by the Tory Earl of R1P02.4 anigs . . 00 was loudly cheered by all th e -Peer6'i•Wh 1