The Sun. — London, England, 1856-05-21 00:00:00

,1.., 4 ids.; 4 Ak...sk tki STIN OFFICE, seven oTiock. 41111ERIAL PARLIAMEN T. 11 0 USE OF COMMONS.—(This Day.) The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. • c The Cork and Yougbal Railway Bill was read a third ,e told pass e d. 0 1 4 ( . 11(1 E1y Tidal Harbour and Railway Bill and the Vale ord ' l l'lci Railway Bill were respectively amended and Bred for the third reading. ip sir 'Ts BULLER presented a petition from a place evonshiro, praying that women who had property izilLight compelled to take care of their husbands. ‘44ltlliter.) THE SLIGO ELECTION. t G. BUTT brought up the report of the COM 01tee appointed to inquire into the Sligo election, re i,crti.D- a g that Mr. Wynn was duly returned to serve in fr:l 4ln cht, and that the petition of Mr. Somers was t i l i .l3, ous and vexatious. The committee further oared wisp°f ey believed ten of the witnesses had been guilty al and corrupt perjury. ;r• J. PHILLIMORE brought in his bill for vest. 4 1 d 14 ihe Lord Chancerlor . the power of appointing the firstgteismoef. the Ecclesiastical Courts. The bill was read a L 0 LOVE presented a petition from the coal dealers 116.. °4 dc0 in favour of the continuance of the Coal -rers A c t . k ad ° , T ue petitions were presented against the Scotch 8: 1- lish Pauper Removal Bill. abolition hon members presented petitions against the Bition of church rates without an equivalent. c i t 4 , 1 , 5 ,, J. DUKE presented a petition from the joiners 45( 4in ing against the City of London Corporation v i °l3l Pill io • RILDE moved the second reading of the Ad sops bill kr ' k • d; -,EAL se cond time cond the motion, and the bill was cor -11g1 ND read a se . CEIURCEI RATES BILL. It e 4 .• I'A.CIK moved the at coed reading of this bill. op7kld not for one moment wish to compel a man to ,:r i ,P his God contrary to his conscience, but in his A '°" ai man had no more right to refuse paying to lillikyrte t he Established Church than he ha f to decline to 11 04 ,"arda the country in which he was born. The bli 4 o;lnest be well aware that members of the Bla tt°, k e ", Church had to pay towards dissenting places of p k . t ''lP, and yet there was no c iniphdot upon their 0111(1 With resp-ct to one of the clauses, he ttoc !ay he believed • there were very few i 0,11 districts- in ; the kingdom n which the poor spi a .. hot afford to pay Church rates, and his pp,, i N l the government b y t h e i r - meas ure would not Nttitde for 'th e ex i genc i es o f th e po or . Again, . k i lci a Lhe the height of justice to pass an Act of lit e " l ent which would have an effect upon those pti tla 4 „P l aces of worship which were supported by t•siv rents With reg , rd to the question of rent thaZ,e it was involved in endless litigation. The rent ki 2 l;', e a ?tight fall into the hands of executors. One IV that be was a conscientious Dissenter, and aV a ; o ld object to the rate with quite as much justice relieo y , n of those whom the Government propoi-ed to Iver%the great principle of this bill was to absolve fee 410 ticonformist from paying towards the eer• of the Ch urc h, .b ut w i t h every f ee l ing o f tole fiZe, t owards those who did not agree with % u p,. t ablished Church, he could not see that G°p e rornblo into dust. There were churches coo l/44.1414g into dilapidation, and whenever such case, the parish who was too poor it- Nijd "r° te to the bishop for his assistance. How wh icii the bi shops with the limited income to Me h a t hey bad been ,reduced meet such demands ? esti: been anxious in every way to meet the stil l Nlscruples of Dissenters, and he still N l ' that they were entitled to be redeemed °l leet, o l343 lng towards any service to which they kiy I (bear, hear)—but he could not believe that No r g h toninded Dissenter, when he looked at the thek ritl ?le structures throughout the land, would allow 1 4 4 t 0 fall into ruin because of the very small pay -1"-seatedrte. hutch rates being abolished . .. ( Hear, hear.) He 41 4 . 4 that the house would give his hill a favourable I era ,. , w ,..Roa. ,ue rea d ° l. CLAY moved an amendment that the bill d id a second time that day six months, and said ka i t hot wish to enter upon the clauses of the bill, i llhi c h : P as so dire c tly a t v a r i a nce with that measure, aott at 'aci been adopted by a very largo majority of the t kr the .„,'",Aa)FIELD said he could not conceive that e'eg li i rest ch urc h i n t h e wor ld was re d u ced to the ex ihAter?„hf forci ng a ra t e upon a poor Dissenter. The 4 kei l i`2ill was a caricature. He begged to second the N, "gent. 'Red f ‘ : . GREY supported the amendment, . having yr, s Sir W. Clay's bill on a former occiasi?n. 4 T or t h iti lc i ra r A wn iK . INGTON suggested that the bill should k ai ,%blii Was ultimately withdrawn. -st ‘ J ES OF THE PEkCE QUALIFICATION BILL. N tUtes 1 ,2, 3,4, 5, an d 6 were agree d t o . tll O 118 e 7, relative to the qualification of magistrates, vuOr „.;v 'ng a -qualification to Government officers of ll‘Per annum, was agreed to, but before many hon. k u ovs were aware of it. BtFTLER wished to object to this clause, which - 6equalificatibow de r iv e d, but on to all persons pobsessing 300/. per , no matter CHAIRMAN ruled he was out of order. I the LOVAINE moved in c onse quence that t'4l:l4an report prog re s s an d as k l eave to s it a gain, be. ki k ° the cl ause h a d b een put before .h e com mittee had et.o discuss it. tt ltt t ne dismission ensued, in the course of whic h it was boded th e Chairman bad put the question so quick t hat % Th. e rn bers wer e no t aware o f it. Ni t ; "RAIRMAN said the committee could not go etip t i ll . ° a co ns id erat i on o f the c l ause, an d ex plained his k r e t with reference to his putting the clause. eziett.'4LOYD DAVIS sa id th e ques tion was put ohs ald in the usual form. qkia,," non, members expressed themseves in a similar metl. lkt e and it was understood the committee would ' 114.0 ° PPortunity of discussing the clause when the L or : 8 .8 brou g h t up. L OVAINE then withdrew his amendment. ' o4tia --ea 8 .9, and 10 were agreed to without opposi ,l4, Ze ' , lie 11 ) to prevent magistrates who resided out of N r lti ° :,, -11 tY kr which they acted as mag, s - rates. from ". n i al lY Part in raising the rates, was opposed by Sir Tll 4 - , 3 gton, Mr. Butler, and other hon. members, ti , tl th e A „ -all u was supported by Mr. CoLvILLE and others, Zef e ir r °t l ud that it was introduced to do away with 4ti e h . , ll o that existed in the country of magistrates Toti, lo l4 q but a small amount of property in the county Th a 9 the public money. elar,' all 'e was ultimately rejected without a division. A k , la ui , 812 was agreed to. ; 4 . 13 providCd for the recovery of the penalty of A eess, fr-tll persons acting as magistrates without the „K r u s qualifi ca ti on th roug h the county rate. . 41 111; - AXLES objected. and moved the rejection of t he , l ibich was cariied. ttl ati 1 : ,La tble 14, Mr. PIGGOTT moved.that the chair- Nepurt progress and obtain leave to sit again. "romitteediviand Per the motion.... 97 Against it 99 11, Majority ' 44 le t 'T AN HOPE afterwards moved that the chair ilAhm,/0 the c h a i r . a mbers a short d iscuss i on ,the committee divided, when were— Poe the motion Against it Th eq. Majority ht iN t i e- uairman then left the chair, and the house re- T h .4e'llia °t iler - orders of the day were then agreed to, and adjourned 4 o'clock. E,UGELEY POISONINGS 'l ' . .ltkL OF WILLIAM PALMER. "` I IA-L CRIMINAL COURT (THIS DAY). SEVENTH DAY. trett,e-nites.reat excited by this 'important trial has in ithitd.lll an extraordinary degree. This nrirning the ~4 1% ttrth inside and outside the Court, was,greater e t ... l .it bas ever been during the whole of the previous M tn 5 ' • t i t : this morning looked exceeding dull. vul t "'l having entered the Court,. "ay.. W etherb s called—He said on the 21st . Of 4 th;Diller rec Y 4-iv:i a a letter front the prisoner, enclosing ' 1 0404 for 300/. I wasnot asked to produce the , left e 4 14e -13 d: 41 Y first examination. I pioduce it now.-=[ The n lust r ",: r eeted that the cheque should be cashet, an tL" c htion of the money should be sent to Prattl-.- 1° 44 - 234 Nov. I received another letter frOin the pre. 14°1 i 1, 11 1 on the seine day I wrote an answt r telling blr7,,au no mosey of Cook's to pay the cheque with. not d: B atton, of the Staff irdehire police, said be had .e tett Iseovered amen the prisoner's papers any of the a eece.":" '-"Oa the 24th a notice, signed by the e n - , e ,, t . was left at our office. It was it request that v„ p, - -eYs that might be or had been received for '',;:ntis Cook would be sent to him. On rugec d I had Sent a 'letter to Cook at was returned to me through the deal t t h ti : ul t ee• t new he handwritin gf Cook. The 350/.k was signed,. as far as o I recollect. by ArS 4 l'„' cannot recollect whether it was signed I. or J. the tii ,: a Cook. I cannot say whether the body of the Zry was written by Cook. Etergeant Shee—When - that cheque arrived we fundißr' Frail enough f Cook - to meet it. Y. did Zot o pend any money from Shrews l'4° e. a i t was Eif week afttr__Mr. Cook had won the: Il litted -t , L he might ii-Ave,tibought the money was trans kop,„",lll. I informed- Mr—Patiner_.hy letter that the . uttd not been received.- ,ettZll. Butler said -I Woo at Shrewsbury races, and a ',"nuni. to settle tf•ere ixth 'Palmer. I bed to t ile tic 'r ow a un about 7001;=; and it was in respeCt . to 14 4 "'Tool races, o n had paid bets for him. 453;12 Q 11 °Y to rectiittroatibutor the s4rew'buri THE SON, LONDON,- WEDNESOA Y EVEN MAY 21, 185 U. races, I endeavoured t) get my rnoney_at.. Shrewsbury. I got 401. The rea ou Palmer gave for not payingany Mer.f wa5.4, that he had not received any more. He did not tell me how much be had to receive. He afterwards gave me a cheque en the Itugeley Bank for 2501. It ba-i never been paid. I know Mr. Cook's Pole star ; after' ehe won the Sbrewsbury races she was worth 7001. _ _ _ Mr. Stevens WAS.•II er6 re called, and stated that Pole- Star was cold en the 10 ti of March last by public auc tion. She fetched 7501. guineas. This closed the case fur the prosecution. Mr. Sere , ant Shee then rose amidst interim interest to address the jury for the prisoner, but he spoke so inaudibly that it was with difficulty be could be heard by the reporters, who, by the had arrangements of the court, are placed at. a coneVerable distance behind the coun-el. Ile said—ln rising te perform the tack that devolves on Ole to defen l a fellow-creature for hi s lin e I cannot but he overwhelmed with a sense of the onus which reefs in me, and in discharging that duty I am afraid it must necessarily oc upy con- , iderable time. If, under ordinary circumstancee, it is a difficul t task both for an advocate and a jury to perform, how much mere so must it he when after six long days my unhappy client has been stanCing on the brink of the scaffold, and any error of judgment on my part must cnnsign hiM to a mur derer'sclootn. It cannot be denied but the prejudice of the public has imperiled the cairn administration of justice; and it is useless for me to conceal what you know per fectly well, that with all your endeavours to keep your minds free from prejudice you cannot wholly efface it from your recollection. .You know that for six long months, that under the sanction or upon the authority of science, an almost unaniinoue opinion had prevailed on the case throughout the country, and there bad been RR almost universal cry for blood to avenge the death of John Persona Cook, and that it was made under the impression and conviction-of the guilt, of the prisoner. It is not to he doubted but that you have entered on your duties with the endeavour to efface from your memory all that you have read and heard of this case, and uninfluenced by that cry which has been raised with reference to the guilt or innocence of the prisoner, and that you know that whatever opinion you may have formed on it, it is now your duty to attend only to the evidence of both sides of the case, and upon it form your opinion. The circumstances under which we meet in this place are of a character to excite mingled feel ings of encouragement and alarm, and those whose duty it is to watch over the safety of the Queen's subjsct felt themselves so much apprehensive lest in this case the course of justice might be disturbed by the popular pre judice that has been excited against the prisoner, and that an unjust and adverse verdict might thereby he passed against him, that they resalvecl on the passing of an Act of Parliament to prevent the possibility of, the ordinary form of law being affected by that popular pi ejudica and which received the unanimous consent of the Legislature a short time since. The Crown, under the advice of the responsible Minister, resolved also that the conduct of this prosecution should not be left in private hands, but that its own law officer, the learned Atterney•General, should take upon himself the responsibility of conducting it in a proper manner, and consistent with his duty to the public ;- and that learned gentleman, when the duty was intrusted to him, did what I must eay, in my opinion, will ever redound to hie honour—he resolved that, in a case in which so much prejudice had existed,all' the evidence which it was the intention of the prosecutor to call against the prisoner should, as soon as he bad seen it, be com municated to the prisoner.. Everything I must say (turning to the prisoner) and I must tell my unhappy client that the constituted althorities of the hoed, everything which the Legislature and the law officers of the Crown c oild do to secure for him a fair and impartiel trial in this place, has been done by them, and tip- responsibility of any injustice being done to him must rest alone on the law and the jury. One of the greatest calamities 'that c have befallen any man, circiane-tanced as my unhappy client is, hay befallen him in being deprived of the services of the able advocate by illness, who weeks since was engaged to defend him, and I have endeavoured by nay humble ability to supply that loss, and the circumstances to which I have already referred relative to the conduct of the Government that the prisoner should have-a.fair trial, is to me a cause of ereat encouragement. I cannot for a moment deny that I am awed and almost overcome with the great importance and magnitude of the case, but at the same time I am not discouraged, and I have this further cause for not being altogether overcome by the duty I have to discharge in defending the prisoner.and in discussing the mass of evidence that has been laid before you, and which assumed a different character to that loose inquiry at Rugeley before the coroner, that after reading it I formed no opinion on it with regard to the guilt or innocence of the prisoner, and my mind was consequently free to form on the evidence now produced what I trust will ,be declared by you to be a right judgrnen' on his case. I commence his- de fence, and I state it in all sincerity, with an entire c•m viction of hiS innocence; and I believe there never were truer words pronounced by any man than those pro nounced by him when he said "Not guilty " to the indictment on which he was now being tried ; • and. if I fail in establishing the prisoner's innocence, I shall be under very grave misgivings that tbat failure is to be attributed more to my inability to do justice to his case than to any weakness of, his case itself. And as a proof of my sin cerity of my conviction of his innocence, I will state to you that-it is my intention to meet the case for the pro secution foot by foot, and at every stage grapple with every difficulty that has been presented to you so ably by the learned Attorney-General, that you shall see that I avoid no point because I fear to approach it ; and if you find that I deal fairly with the beginning, I hope I tnay be sure—nay, I know am sure---of obtain- MI your approval. The propositions which the Crown undertook to establish in this case against the prisoner, And which they have endeavoured to support entirely by circumstantial evidence, might beoshortly stated to be this. They say that the prisoner, in the second week in November, made up hie mind that it was to his interest to get rid of John Parsoos Conk, and that he deliberately perpetrated his death by the deadly aid of poison —first, by the slower poison of antimony, and afterwards that he destroyed him by the more rapid and deadly poison of strychnia. No jury, I feel satisfied, would venture to convict a man of the crime imputed to the prisoner by the Crown, unless, in the first place, it was made clear that the person so committing the act had some motive for the commission of the offence—some strong reasons for' wishing -to get riff of the person a and, secondly, un7 less it were made clear that the symptoms of the deceased before death, and the appearance presented by the body after death, were inconsistent with the theory thatdeath arise from, other and natural causes ; and, thirdly, that it was quite clear that the circumstantial evi dence was such as to be indisputable on the supposition laid down. Now it ip under these three heads that I in tend to discuss the evidence that you have heard ; and it must be perfectly cletti• to you that if I adhere to that order and niethed of treating the vast amount of evi dence that has been laid before you, I must exhaust the whole argument arid leave mys ?.If no chance without im mediate detection of avoiding any d fficulties in the case. Before, however, I proceed tograppof m grapple with' th y e address case for the Crown, allow roe a t - mice to sa y what will be the: ,whole scope to you—viz., to ' restore to its proper place in the discussion the fact, which has by no means been concealed from you by the learned. Attorney- General, in that addreis` of his, by' which be at once seized upon your judgments by drawing your attentien so much to the details of his case—the fact that strych nine was not found in the body of the deceased John Parsons Conk. If the' deceased died of strychnine, he died within two hours of the adminieration to him of a very strong dose of it ; and it was stated that be died within a quarter of an hour or twenty mioutes after the effects of the dose was said to become visible in the cinvuNions of which he diee'. Wi'llin six days of his death a post rnortern examination of the body took place, and never were there circumstances so favourable, unless the science of chernical analysing is altogether a failure in the detection, of poisoning by strychnine, in which it ought to have been so easily de tected. Now, the fact is beycinct all question that it was not found, and whatever we may think of Dr. A. Taylor's judgment and great ability; there can be no , doubt but that he is a skilful and practical analytical chemist. We have not the least reason to eupeose—in fact, we know to the contrary, that be and Dr. Rees, who assisted hirn, did not do aillhat the science of chemical ana , ysis cold enable Abein to do to detect strychnia, yet they did not detect it, but that they did antimony. From the incormation which they received from the relations of the deceased, and from his solicitor, their attention was called to the suspicion that existed of the cause of Cook's death being by poison, - and yet in Decemb,r, a few weeks after death, they were unable to find any poison but antimony. Having, how ever, attended the inquest, and heard the evidence of Mr. Jo, es, the female Mills, and celers, and that of the witness Roberts, who spoke to the purchase of strychnine by Palmer on the morning of.the decetweVe death, 'Dr. Taylor came to the conclusion that the pills tat were administered to Cook on the Monday and Toes lay contained strychnine, though he had previously given his opinion in writing that the deceased must have died from antimony; from traces ef it having been found in the body and 11.3 traces of strychnine. I am not about to diecivis that point of the 'case now, but I call your attention to it. It will claim a proper place in the dis cussion, and I mention it now that you might know at the commencement of my address what the c ourse is I intend to pursue ' - awl that you may not be under the impression that I don't under the three heals to whica I have directed your attention refer to it, and that con sequeotlyl intend to pass it over. I have, therefore, told you what the case for the defence will be e with re ference.to.strychnine not being found in the dr;ceased's body, and the medical gentlemen who have c >me to the conclusion thatstrychnine might have been there, though they lid not find any, have arrived at these conclusions by experiments of . a.,. i. .yeiy pa.teial kind r indeed ; and they eentind that'th6 poison of strychnine is of that nature that when once it has done its fatal work, and becomes absorbed in the, system, it ceases to be the thing wlioh it was when it was taken into the sys tem, becaiese it became decomposed, and its elements separate& from each' other,' and therefore it was no longer capatle of Je'ipen ling to the tests which, etc cordin to them, would certainly detect the presence of unties , mposed strychnine. They can't, however, vary the fact that it .was not found in the body, but they 4111 rretaiOed'the belief that Cook was destroyed accoriing, to that hypothesis, which was an hypotheses unsupported by any eminent toxicologists but them e_lvee-. But it was fair to them to say, and to Dr. Tayl e. in particular—because it 'Tout of : My power to speak of. Dr. Chriatison except with the respect due to a man of bis jealinerce and tigh: Standing—it is due to Dr. Tayl•ir - to'. , ay that he had - p - romitioded his theory in a Ihunk be had publi,hed on that subject. Atter refer ing to the' experience of Dr. Taylor and to this poison ma a miniber of rabbits, tho loariaod gentlem an paid, I will call,,on.this pint, before you many gentlemen of the highest eminence in 'the profession,—analytical chemists, who will state to you their utter renuncia tion of that opinion. I will call before you Dr. Nunnely, a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, a professor of stirrry at three schools of medicine, and who attended the late strychnine case at Leeds ; Dr. Williams, professor of Materia Medica in Ireland, an.l surgeon f r eighteen years at the Dublin Hospital_.; Dr. Letheby, one of the ablest and most distinguiShe , l men of science in the great city, a professor of chemistry and toxicology in the medical school of the London Hospital, who rejected the theory of Dr. Tayler as a heresy, and unworthy of the belief of scientific men ; Dr. N. Parker, pr .fessor of medicine at the London Hospital ; Dr: Robinson, of the C.)llege of Physicians ; Dr. Rogers, professor of chemistry at St. George's School ; and, lastly, I will call bettire you probably the most eminent chemical analyst in the country, Mr. W. Herenath, of Bristol, all of Whom rej-ct the theory. of Dr. Taylor as totally unworthy of belief, and are ready to prove that not only could half a grain of strychnine, or the 50th part of a grain of strychnine, but the sth, 10th, or 20'.h part of that quan tity, if it had erit,red into the human frame at al!, it could and must be detected by the proper tests, and that ' no degree of putrefaction or fermentation of the human body c raid prevent its being found. I now apply my self to what in my judgment is of equal importance to the above in the case, if n it a wits imp . irtant question, and which I approach with no diffi fence whatever, . • except toe distrtist which I have, under the circumstances which I have sated, of myself ; and if it were possible fir me to write what I think of it, and then 1%44 it to you, I don't entertain the smallest doubt myself but that ,you would be convicted of the innocence of the pri soner. And that is the question whether in the second week in November, 1855, he had a motive for the nom- mission of the murder—any strong reasons for desiring that Cook should die, and unless it is made clear to you that it was his interest to get rid of him, I never will believe you will come to the conclusion that he com mitted the act. It appears to me, by the evidence laid before you, that it Le abundantly clear, that not only was it not the interest of Palmer that Conk should die, but that his death was the worst calamity that could happen to him, and that he could not possibly be ignorant that it must immediately be followed by his own ruin. At the tune of the death of Cook he (Palmer) wag in extreme embarrassment, but that state was in Rome de gree remitted by the per4oa whose name he had forged —his own mother, a lady of very large fortune. The Attorney-General stated that the case against the pri soner was this, that the vrisoner, with ruin staring him in the face—when Cook was in possession of a larze sum of money—did wilfully deztroy him. I beg the jury to careful:y scrutinise the evidence, and then to say whether it was the prisoner's interest, in the second week in November, to destroy Cook ; if not, they would decide accordingly. A. great mimber lettsrg had been read — yesterday, but although it was thought that this 'dil not in the least affect the case, I firmly believe in that correspondence the in- noc-nce of the prisoner lies concealed. Allow ice to call Jour attention to the state of friendship which existed between tho deceased and the prisoner. They jointly owned race-horses, or were always seen together on the race-courve. It had been remarked by Cook, before the witness Jones, that they (meaning himself and Palmer) bad lost a good deal of money together of late. That would prove they were in the closest intimacy. In May, 1855, Paliner wanted 2001; to pay some debts, and he applied to Pratt for the. sum, hut it was refuted without he gave some uooci„ security, and he accordingly offered his friend, John P. Cook. Now Cook was not possessed of a very large fortunJ—such a fortune as, he heard, might have been thrown down in a week._ It was not likely that anybody would go to DrlC6Ore Cotntuoas to ascer- tain what sum Cook received on his grandfather's death before the sum of 200/. was advanced to him, for the position he had attained seemed of itself quite sufficient security for the repayment of the money. As long as there was a vestige of property Pratt continued to lend the prisoner money at a rate of about 60 per cent. A person paying such a sum for interest could have nothing but utter and irretrievable min staring hitn in the, face. I beg the jury to observe that I anl not defending the 'prisoler against the charge of forgery ; that has nothing to' do with the present pro- needing. I shall read a certain number of letters that have been put in evidence, which will show that Palmer • and Cook •were • ontly benefitted by the money received from . Pratt on certain occaBions; The learned counsel here read some of the corre.pondence, which went to show that in November he (Palmer) was being pressed in such a manner by Pratt for money, that at that time Cook's life was of the ut ;lost . imdortauce to him; and also a letter from. Cook to Fisher, telling him to pay bOO/. to Pratt); it was of the greatest importance that he should do so, and he (Cook) had sent up 3001. towards that sum. At this moment, therefore, it was clearly evident Cook was doing all he could to assist Palmer, and it was not at all to be supposed that he would at that u3otrent destroy him, In the spendthrift way in which Cook and Palmer were living, it clearly showed that Cook was doing all he could for Palmer. and on the 16th of November, when it was alleged Palmer was poisoning him, he was acting 'towarcts him with the greatest kindness. The evidence of Fisher, who wag no friend of Palmer's, stated that on the Monday aq Well us the Taesday Cook was comparatively well , and the inference was that that was so because Palmer was absent It would presently be shown how very gross and simple that inference was. was the interest of Conk that Palmer should not be arrested by Pratt, and it was to prevent that eircum- stance happening that Cook desired Palmer to go to London and arrange the matter with Pratt himself. Cook died on the in rning of the 2 let, apd if we want to know anything further abonf Palmer we must get it from Pratt, as Cook had never passed from the scene. It has been proved that Palmer had acted in the most affeqtlonate manner to Cook, and the circumstance of his wishing to secure the horke Polestar went . for nothing, and he would show that the five hundred pounds obtained froM Pratt was obtained for Cook alone, but on his death Palmer wat4 saddled with the payment . The learned Sergeant went on to'say that it was to the highest degree improbable that Cook did not have that money upon that transaction of 5001. with . Pratt. Would Cook, who knew he had executed a bill of sale, and wanted the money, and wanted that immediately, have waited for two days ? The signature of Cook to the cheque was net even an imitation of Cook's handwriting. It was probable that from the correspondence, and he state of Palmer's banking account, that as Pratt bad sent a cheque which could have been cashed through a London house, that Cook wanting the money, Palmer let hire have the money. Was it likely that Cook would have let the matter rest for the time he did before his death, when it was shown that he had wanted Money ? Was it likely that Palmer clvsi:ed Cook's death ? Cook had signed the cheque upon the day before his death for 3501., and bad to be sent up to be paid Now, if the news ce Cook's death reached be fore, which it was more than probable it would, where would be Palmer's chances of getting the cheque paid ? Ceok had no effects to meet that cheque, and it was most likely that Cook's executors would dispute any c l a im. What would he gain by Cook's death"? No thing. A l the evidence showed that Cook was his only resource, and what would Cook's death bring him pro pel ty that would now clear him of his forgeries upon hie mother ? Would it not deprive him of the assistance of Cook, and bring about an investigation of Cook's ac counts with the executors. Was it likely that Cook was rot a cloae-tisted, penurious man ; and yet the th eor y o f the Crown wad, that Palmer killed Cook because he thought he could better settle with the executors, whom he would find shrewd men of business. Such a theory was an .absurdity. Would not all the forgeries have then fallen upon himself? The. manual upon chemistry which had been put in, bearing the prisoner's notes made upon the margin, clearly showed that he well know what effects the poison would have had upon Cook. Lord Campbell said that the prosecution had not made a ny . great point of. that fact, but admitted that the pri soner was studying to qualify hiniself as a practitioner.. The learned Sergeant knew that, but it would show that the prisoner knew well tile effects that strychnia would produce. What did the note fix attention to ? , Why, that the death of any one dying of strychnia would I be a most fearful scene, and he (the learned Sergeant) put 1 , it to the jury whether a man (who knew well what would result from such poieon), and was in the position in which the prisoner was, would have run the risk which suc h a death would have created; and with regard to the evidence of that stupid fellow Newton, be should speak at a Mere time. What was Palmer's position at the time, both with regard to his affairs and the extrica: tion from them which the prosecution . say led him to con)! mit this act ? T he p risoner a p osition was this— why at . that very time he was in the expectation of a claim which he had against the prisoner of bills with relation to the insurance upon his brother being settled, and was it likely that the prisoner, who knew that such a death as that which be was charged with causing would, is a place like Rugeley, lead to much specu lation, have done that which would cause the utmost discussion and lead to enquiry, which, if it went no farther, would prejudice those claims from which he anticipated to clear himself from his difficulties. He refused tho off -r of the premium from the Prince of Wales Insurance Office, which was a strong fact in favour of the prisoner, and had he bad the least fear OR the sub ject he would not have acted in the manner he had done. It was not until the office had disputed the policy on Walter Palmer that Pratt began to move in the matter. That circumstance Pratt said entirely altered the psi tion of Palmer, and at the same time he intimated to the prisoner that he must be prepared to cover the accept ance of his Mother for the four thousand pounds. el great deal had been said about the policy of insurance on the life of Walter Palmer, but he felt convinced that, as sure as the prisoner was saved— and saved be would be —that policy would be paid. He bad not the slightest doubt but that would be the the case, and the effect of such a proceeding would be t h e payment of the whole of the prisoner's debts. Tee company had no defence, and immediately the prisoner was acquitted the office must pay the money. It wao not to be supposed that Palmer would endanger the likelihood of his receiving the 13,0001. by putting Cook to death, as it was the only means he had of meeting his liabilities. He entirely o f before respect f u lly submitted to the Court and jury that Hew t ?o h f a d t portionoosv proceed o o the symptoms of : h eca'ebad sleeted contrast the medica l evidende, and, in order to death and his appearanc e after. Under this bead he do so, he should for a short t ime refer to the evidence that had been given during the course of the trial. Thelearm d counsel then proceeded .to allude to Mr. Stevens' evi dence; and naentioned the meeting of - him and the pri soner, when Stevens- told him that he euseeeted him, etel that he was deterniined to have the matter probed to the bottom. He (the learned counsel) then described the symptoms of Cook previous to his death, and dated that big fatt i er dm goat the ogo of $O, big mother also died at a comparatively early age. He then went on to state the appearance of the body when it was opened for the post mortem examination, and also the state of Cook's throat at death, and alluded to the circumstance of the deceaed as to health, and said he thought that without being an utterly depraved person he had led 3 very loose lite. He stated he should show that Cook was in the habit of appearing on the raae course ,with large epots about him which plainly indi cated disease. The state of Cook was only partially discovered at' the'first post mortem examination, which was not of the most satisfactory neture,. The interior of the body was therefore sent to Landon to be analysed' and tha result of the analysis was, that death might havebeen caused by antimony, but after hearing certain evidence at the coroner's inquest Dr. Taylor had altered his opinion, and instead of antimony being stated a. the cause of death, that was raid to be a mistake, and he had the immense imprudence to state in his evidence before the jury that the pills which Palmer delivered to Cook' con tained strychnine, and that that was the cause death. Upon that evidence a verdict of wilful murder was returned, and Palmer was consigned to a prison. If the opinion of medical men upon certain doubted points was to consign persons to prison, he trembled for the eafet, , of society. No person would be safe in whose family a sudden death occurred. The medical man who attended Cook attributed death to apoolexy, and rt upan the vtaternent of a gentleman with a very iwerfect knowledge on the i t ubjct of strych this to,namony waq vet amide and-death declared to _ - result from that powerful pois on ,_ strychnia, ad ministered in pills by the prisoner to deceased. Great trouble had been taken to show that Cook had died from tata.nus ariAiug from strychnia, and a great deal of Jiscusion followed about the meaning of idiopathic tatanus, but he denied that it was proved that it was tattnui, or that it was otherwise than nmvu!sions. Evideno. from milicAl men sp ke of the deceased's attack as convulsions. We are not called upon to show the exwit cause of death, but we are only called upon to prove our denial of the theory laid down by the prosecution, but it will be enough for 11l to prove to you that out of the numerous variety of convulsions with which the human frame may be attacked, asphyxia might have taken place from ordinary disease. it is enough for as to prove the possibi ity of such a cause of death, with- out proving that it is irreconcileahle with the evidence of poisonin - fc by Rtrychnine. Tne learned Sergeant, said that he would go through the medical depo.itions up m the state of Cook, as it was only fair to those gentlemen whose opinions he disputed, that they might know upon what they formed these opinions. Lord Campbell said this Would be the best time to adjourn. Upon the reassembling of the Court the learned ser geant said he proposed to read the depositions of Eliza beth Mills and Dr. Jones upon the state of the deceased upon the Monday and Tuesday night, and he thought they would go to show that the death had not arisen from tetanus either by strychnine or otherwise, but that he died from convulsions. He would ask them to take into consideration the state of - COVIi 7 s ;;;mind aTti; time he went to Shrewsbury. He was in a desporate state— his feelings must have been that he was either a beggar, or Polest,ir winning gave him a ohance of retrieving his fortunes. What had been the state of his excitement? The wan was in this state, Mr. Jones tells you, th'st he could not speak for three minutes, and what was his state after ? Why, that he would be enabled to retrieve his name, his honour, and his engagetnentf, and not be looked upon as a black-leg. This operated upon a pre viously diseased frame, which he (the learned stirgeant) should not again enter into. What did they next hear of Cook ? A. champagne dinner followed. He was seen with the trainer and a woman. What took place upon the next day ? He went to the course; it was wet ; he wal ill. What effct didall this have xipin a man whose condition was weakened by excitement and disease? Let the jury look to .hi-; conduct when he spoke of the quarrell he thought he heard in the str , et. We that _ what persons of sound constitution would experience ? Did it not bespeak a disordered stomach and general disarrangement? Alter that, although deceased was welt enough to see his trainer and jockeys, he did not have any appetite. Del he refrain from drinking brandy and water ? Cook was not well ; Palmer was not with hire then. [The J L arned Sergeant h- re read the statement of Eliz3T)eth Mills as to the state ot Cook upon Sunday and M. )nday night.] He should also read the statement of Dr. Junes. Pahnqr had pent for Jones Jones was C.)ek's best friend. CO tic and Jones were together from 3 to 8, and there was the opportunity of Cook teUing Dr. Jones if he had any cause to complain of Palmer. Pal'ner said to Dr. Jone , , "I an glad you are come." Dr. Jones h,td Co ik to himielf from 3to 7, Mr. Baron Alderson--Palmer was in and out of the room. Sergeant Shee—Yes, but we have a right to infix. that, Dr. Jones npt having stated Cook raids a .y C3fll- plaint of Palmer'i conduct, that Co tk had not made any. Was it not very strange that Co.k. should not have given to Dr. Jori4s, his - friend anaConfiilant, the same account as he hid given to EOzabeth Mills, the cham bermaid, as stated by her upon the first examination before the Coroner F The inference is that, in all proba bility, the first statement of Elizabeth Mlle was the cm.- reet - One. Mr. Joue% said that he visited Cook the whole of the afternoon, and Palmer brings up two pills which are supposed to have poisoned Cook, awl actually forced the pills down the man's throat, in the presence of Jones—at the same time knowing that if they had been composed of the deadly poison which it had been stated they were, Cook would have expired precisely in the same manner as the rabbits, which had been spoken about. In the evidence of Dr. Jones, given before tie coroner's inquest, although tetanus Biagi have occurred to bun when he read over his deposition and signed it, although the word tetanus had been erased, the inference, therefore, was, the,: his attention must have been draw* to the fact, and that he did not think that the death of his friend had been (mused by tetanus. The learned _ getlernan was , about to read an extract ffoin a work publishel by Dr. Copeland when, The Attorney-General rose and said if ybu read that extract I shall challenge you to produce Dr. Copeland. He is still alive. Mr. Sergeant Shee—Does your lordship object to my reading the extract from the book in question ? The Lord Chief Justice—Do you intend to call Dr. Copeland as a witness ? Mr. Sergeant Shoe said he did not propose to adopt such a course, although the' learned At torney General could have had Dr. Copeland in attendance had he thought the evidence necessary. Mr. Sergeant &lee then proceeded to. read extracts from Dr. Copela,nd's work upon convulsions, and said he felt convinced that, had Dr. Taylor read this, h would not have so boldly stated hiS belief that strych nine was the cause of death. The evidence of the chambermaid differed as to the state of Cook upon the first tine of her giving her evidence, and Dr. Jones somewhat differed in the statements made by him as to the state of the body. The learned Sergeant read Dr. Watson's work upon tetanic diseases, and argued that they went to Drove that the tetani'.• sy up toins in Cook were attributable to other cau es tor , -strychnine; but he was inclined to thick that Co-,k ha suffered from general convukions, .He th en w ent u, to read the work of Dr. Taylor upon tetanus from strychnine, which did not agree with the symptoms exhinited by C iok. Dr. 'Paylor spoke of a person at first attacked from strychnine as unable to speatc. Did Cook exhibit these symptoms ? He sat up in bed ani spoke. Dr. Christi!-lon's work also did not agree with the sympt.ins s ate.' i• ale been exhibit-d by Cook. Toe learned sergeant then went on to explain some ex periments which he had seen perf9rtned for the pur poses of this defence. It was upon a dog and two rabbits, and the result of these experimeats proved to him that Dr. Taylor was not correlt io his work upon the question. The animals each evioced the greatest fear of beiog touc',ed. Conk did not evince these symp toms. All these cases showed that in no instance had there been so much command over the muscular sys 4 era as in Cook's case. Every instance, and the experiment which ho had seen, showed that anything labouring under the effeCt of strychnine was most sensible of the slightest touch, and dreaded it. 'Ellis was not so in Cook's case. Cook was not afraid, but when labouring under what was said to be strych nine actually asked to base his neck rubbed. The learned gentleman then proceeded to contrast the evidence given by the medical gentlemen who have been examined, and also to read a number of cases in which strychnine had been taken, in all of which instances the symptoms Caine on in a much shorter time than was the cise with Cook. In one case 2or 3 drachms of mix votnica taken by a young woman about 17 years of age, the symptoms first appeared in about half an hour, arid death occurred in 40 minutes. Another case was that which was [neatened by Dr. Watson in his I book, and which he had himself witnessed. It occurred at tne Middlesex Hospital. It was a case where the strychnine, intended for a paralytic patient, bad been administered by mistake to another person. A grain was the quantity taken, and the time the accident oc curred was about seven o'clock. In half an hour the symptoms came on, sod the following incident took place which did not occur in Cook's case at all. The slightest touch of the patient brought on the spasmodic convulsions. Comparing the one case with the other, the space of time between the spasmodic at tacks which took place in Cook's was three times ton long to indicate that the cause of death was the administration of strychnine. In all cases where the body of the animal he had seen killed by this deadly poison had been opened the heart was invariably found full ; but if the op3ristion was performed in a clumsy manner the beast wo mid then be found empty. He hoped and trusted the jury, before they gave their verdict, would insist that a number of dogs or cats should be brought into one of the yards adjoin ing the Court, and strychnia should be administered to the animals, and that by that means from actual obser vation they would be enabled to arrive at certain con clusions, which would be of the utmost importance to them in coming to a verdiet in this important trial. He did not wish to impute perjury to the witness Eliza beth Mills, but she had given two different accounts, w which might not b e w ilf u lly wrong, but still they would have to receive her evidence with the utmqt caution. In a court of civil law her testimony would ecsrcely be received, she baying told two difbrent stories ; and ho w much more important was it for them when it was a case of life depening on not relying on her watement. The learned Sergeant then commented at some length upon the man ner in which the inquiry took place before the Coroner, and agued that the evidence given i y the girl Mills upon the first occasion was whattheyshould alone relyupon. This statement was made before she knew what Dr. Tay lor was to state, and before she knew the theory of Dr. Taylor, and that it was part of the case that the pri soner had by antirnonial doses so prepared the stamach of the deceased by repeated rounds so as to absorb the L p Ol5 OO of strychnine. Now upon tits point sh e bad i stated at first that she had tasted the broth, and thought ; it very good ; but she 4 ki not WV 00 s i n g l e wsard at that examination about being iH fiom the effectenf tast ing that broth: It Was doubtless true she bad been spoken to by the prisoner, and she perhaps, having been sick at the same time, attributed it to that, and had now come formarl and said that it had been caused by the broth. Was it likely that a man of Palmer's sense and shre - wdness would have so laid himself open to be suspected as to send broth over from his own house to the Talbot whehhe knew that it contained an antimonial preparation. Would he have sent it over there, to have found its way into the kitchen, where it was sure to have been tasted by the cook. Again, in her evidence as to the coffee, she had dif fered in - her statements, and one strange thing was that her evidence now as to the state of Cook agreed in many particulars with the statements which appeared in the papers about the symptoms exhibited by a per son at Leeds who had died from strychnine. This was. since the death of Oook, and her statements new upon that point differed from what she had first stated, more particularly about the taitchings of Cook's frame. Ha did not mean to say that she had perjured herself, but that she had been questioned and -tuteured to give an account which was more in keeping with the theory of the Crown, and that the story she now told was not so much to be re lied upon as the statement she gave when the matter was first fresh upon her mind. He was not going to enter int detail upon the medical and clynical evidence which he intended to call, but merely to state that they were of the highest eminence who would disprove the theory laid down by thy+ prosecution, and would even, if the Bench thought fit to e..110w it, perform ex periments in some of the yards of the gaol upon animals, and demonstrate to them what they in evidence could state. Lord Campbell and Baron Alderson said that such a course could not be pursued. The learned Sergeant said the next point he should touch upon was the circumstantial evidence, which he con tended was not such as would justify a conviction in this case, and under all the circumstances it would be im possible to arrive at any other conclusion against the pri soner than a verdict of not guilty The circumstance of tbe pushing at the inquest was of itself exceedingly trivial, and it could hardly be conceived that anything serious occurred, although the room was crowded to excess. Notwithstanding the pushing nothing was lost, and the jars were, according to the evidence, received in London in precisely the same state as they left Ingeley. The circumstance of Palmer expressing his satisfaction at Dr. flatland having been appointed to perform the post mortem examination was of itself no thing. It was merely the expression of gratification on the part of Palmer that a person who:n he thought competent was appointed. The post boy's evidence was pressed into the case, but it amounted to nothing. Steven's behaviour towards Palmer was cer tainly calculated to cause him much annoyance, and it was nothing surprising that there should not be a very good feeling on his part. It was also quite natural for Palmer to feel great anxiety that the jar should not go out of the possession of Dr. Har land. The expression, "I'll give ten pounds to upset them," could not have applied to the jars, as there was but one, and therefore 'it must have applied to the persons who were in the carriage, namely, Mr. Stevens and Boycott. That Palmer felt much vexed at the conduct of Stevens could not be a matter of wonder, when he (Stevens) had hinted at suspicions which would utterly destroy him. Palmer after this met the post-boy, and asked him if he was going to drive " them," and this must have bad relation to the passengers. The learned gentleman then referred to the examination in chief of the post-boy, and also his cross-examination, and the construction he• put upon the same was, that to gratify a personal pique he offered the money to upset Dr. Stevens. He submitted that this was a fair version of the story. On the other hand, he held that it was highly improbable that a medical gentleman 'would attempt to upset the jar or hire Any other person to do it, when there were so many members of the profession in the room at the time, with some of whom he was on terms of intimacy. He now passed to the evidence of Newton. Newton swore that he gave Palmer three grains of strychnia. This witness did not bring this fact to the knowledge of the Crown till the night before the trial was com menced. He carefully concealed the important fact till a very late moment, until concealment became dangerous to him, and then he mentioned the circumstance. The witness was perfectly worthy of credit. Is a witness who takes an oath and keeps back a part of the evidence until a second oath is administered, worthy of belief ? The buying of the strychnine signified nothing on the part of Palmer. It was used to kid dogs and other vermin, of which he bad much need, as would be seen on referring to the evidence of Bates. It was to the last degree impossible for Pal mer to have purchased the strychnine for any other purpose, and if 'soy other , notiv,* influenced him it was not at all likely ho would have bought the poison at a chemist's shop in a country town where be resided, and purchase or obtain 3 grains of strychnine. Why the thing was improbable to a degree. Besides, he should be in a position to prove that it was utterly impossible for Palmer to have been in the shop at the time Newten deposed to. A witness, Herring, stated that-- he saw Palmer in London on the day that Newton fixed as the day on which Palmer came to him at 9 o'clock to get the strychnine. Now it was absolutely impossible for Palmer, had he left London by the earliest and fastest train, to have been in Rugeley at the time deposed to by the witness. Strychnia must have been found in the prisoner's house after the death of Cook if he purchased the quantity stated by several of the witnesses. Was It possible that Palmer would have went and consulted Newton on the effect of strychnine. He did not think for a moment that the jury could entertain the idea. So improbable ' did it appear that he would not trouble the jury further on the subject. Fisher's evidence went to prove that Cook killed himself,' The only thing extraordinary in Fisher's evidence was that Palmer said Cook complained to him of putting something into his brandy and water. Then with regard to the evidence of Mrs. Brooks there was nothing extraordinary in it.' She says that when he held the glass up to the light she thought it had not the appearance of anything being mixed with thebrandy. After the races at Shr3asbory, Cook and Palmer both saw ruin staring them in the face, and provided for the temporary difficulty by procuring a loan of 2001.; and considering that they were both joint owners of the same horses, there was nothing extraordinary in theirconduct. It is said that the very attentiveness of the prisoner is an evidence of his guilt. Here was a young man, an utter stranger, in the room, and being a friend of Palmer's, he did not think it was anything but what one friend would do to another. Cook had no other friend in the room, and because Palmer laboriously devoted himself to alleviate the sufferings of his friend, he is accused of the most insidious and wicked designs. The learned Sergeant then implored the jury to dismiss all the preju ( ice which they may have previously had from their minds, and at some length contended that if Palmer had intended to murder Cook he would not ,have chosen the time and place where death had ensued when Conk was with his friend, a medical man, and to kill Cook by means most likely to create suspicions and bring about an ex posure of those forgeries which so much stress bad been 1 -id upon. The learned counsel, after referring to some further evidence, said that he did not believe that the jury could find the prisoner guilty upon testimony which left so much room for doubt. He (the learned sergeant) felt that a jury could not or would not find . him guilty. The learned Sergeant then sat down, after speaking from half-past 10. The Court then adjourned. BATH RACES —(This DayD (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPII.) SWEEPSTAKES. Weathercock Sextus Seven ran. BATH HANDICAP. Speed the Plough. Alonzo Fourteen ran. ARISTOCRATIC HANDICAP. Sirocco Anthracite Five ran. WESTON STAKES. Pomona Lamlourn Fourteen ran. GOLD CUP. Fisherman King Cob 2 Seven ran. LATEST BETTING. K DERBY. sto 2 agst Wentworth (take 3 to 1) sto 1 agst Fazzoletto (offered) Bto 1 agst Cannobie (offered) 10 to 1 agst Artillery (offered) 20 to 1 agst Yellow Jack (offered) 25 to 1 agst Rogerthorpe (offered) 30 to 1 agst Ellington (offered) 66 to 1 apt Astrologns (taken) MALTOZT.—Fiznletto, Fly-by-Night, and others left this morning for Leatherhead, and Siohaeus for Har penden. THE LYCETIII THEATRE.—This theatre has been let for three years to Mr. Conquest, the proprietor of the Gre cian Saloon, who takes poseessinn immediately after the clo=e of the Italian Opera reason. THE MOUNT OF OLIVES.—The Mount of Olives near Jerusalem has been purchased by a Madame Polack, the widow of a wealthy banker of the Hebrew persuasion at Konigsberg, iu Prussia. This lady intends to beautify the place and improve the whole neighbourhood, at her sole exoense. The first thing she has done was to plant the whole area with a grove of olive trees, and thus to re store it to the original state to which it derives its name. The olive tree thrives well in that locality, and though it t',:ces many years before arriving at a state of maturity and 16 years before bearing any fruit at all, it requires but little or 110 tending, and last for several hundred yearn. STAMP ,DUTIES PAID BY FIAE INSUR ANCE COMPANIES. A state went wa3 gin on Monday of the amount of stamp Lint iers pail during the pa.:3t year by each of the London fir !a• insurance uffices, arranged in the order of their respE,zt lye amounts. Subjoined is a similar table with regard to country offices : DUTY 9.1.1 a ;BT THI COUNTRY FIRE INSURIXCE OFFICES DURING TEM YEAR 1855. Norwich ITni'on West of E. tgland Manchester • Royal Liverpool & London 21,057 York,hire Lancashire Leeds and 1 1 ..arkshiro ¶8,141 Birmingham. Kent Birmingham ..Diitrict 7,"42 Essex and S niTilk „, 6,026 Newcastlo.c n-Tyne 6,098 North of Er tf ;I a Essex Econo 'Laic Of the va'lxte of the farming stock insured at each of the country olffices, and which is exempt from duty, the following ar e the totals : VALUE OF IP.A.P.MING STOCK (EXEMPT FROM DUTY) IN 5.1,10 p , 3,833 Nottinghaua & Derby 3,735 Sheffield Norwich Equitable 2,693 Kent Mutual Provincial .... . 2,583 Hants, Sussex, and Dorset Shropshire and North Wales Midland Counties Lincolnshire 6IS Durham and Nor thumberland SURED BY COLTNRY OFFICES. Norwich Un'itqa —.9,652,715 Yorkshire . 3,276,015 West of Eng la ad 1,352,278 Essex airi Su golk 1,332,682 Keut . ... 1,123,631 Midland Cott nties 99:3,951 Manchester Birmingham... 726,5'20 Provincial Leeda and York shire Salop Newcastle-on -Tyne IShropsbire North Wales 362,590 Essex Economic 349,325 rNorth of England 332,797 ' Birmingham Dis , trict• Royal 276,2 ) ,9 Norwich Equitable 262,916 L'pool and London 250,131 Hants, Sussex, and Dorset Lancashire Sheffield 79,068 and 554,835 524,918 450,829 Nottingham Durham and Nor- Derby The totals ,of the entire returns thus furnished show that the duty• paid by London offices during the year 1855 was 860 3 ,.138€7., being an increase of only 8,9031. on the previous year ; while by country offices it was 346,397/., bei tr; an increase of 10,1171., the business of the latter co of inning to exhibit relatively the greatest augmentation.. The value of the farming stock insured, and which is exempt from duty, was 37,951,8281. in London, and 24,334,148/. in country offices, showing an increase of 1,925,9191. in the former offices, and of 1,457,7001. in. the latter. With respe ct to Scotch and Irish insurances, the fol- lowing is the return both of the duty paid and the sums insured on fa.r.ming stock exempt from duty : and Duty. Snm Incnred on Farm ing Stock. Scorch OFFICES. Scottlsh Union North British • • ..... • • .. • • ...... • • North , rr Calellnian . • • • .. • • • • Scottish Provincial .. • National Forfarshire and Perthshire.. 26,040 19,533 10,030 9.814 6,380 5,341 2,260 1,572,240 1,015,132 740,199 708,948 675,750 421,507 190,730 5,224,507 39,485 69,078 539,947 648,510 Ir 1611 OFFICES. National Patriotic .•• • • In English Ofile4 ks • • 79,502 5,609 4.99; 48,171 58,7G6 Subjoined 2.re the aggregate figures : AN ACCOUNT Ca THE GROSS AMOUNT OF RECEIPTS FOR INSURANCE DUTY IN THE YEARS 1850, 1851, 1852, 1553, 1851, 1555. Years. England. Scotland. Ireland. Total. s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. s. d. 1850 1,042,395 15 1 85,875 12 7 51,258 10 0 1,159,530 17 8 1851 1,070,727 16 2 G 7,229 16 2 52,548 2 4 1,190,505 14 8 1852 1,098.457 13 11 68,099 1 2 53,824 14 9 1,220,381 9 10 1863 1,111 315 17 1 71,600 18 1. 56,478 15 1 1,269,426 10 3 1854 1,‘78,016 10 1 76,782 10 4 5 4 ,424 3 9 1,313,223 4 9 1855 1,203,861 11 0 78,613 5 9 58,765 10 0 1,341,242 12 9 LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—(This Day.) LONDON, 21.—Wind cnie .dap at noon, S.E.; light breeze and fine. Amongst the vessels which grounded on the eastern beach at Gibratar, previous to the sailing of the Indus ou the 15th, were the Countess of Durham, front Malta to Quebec, and the Victor Jacquemont, from Marseilles to the coast of Africa • both got off at high water without damage. The Lary Wilson, from Alexandria to Liver pool, was extriciated front the rocks at Europe Point, in a very leaky state, PORTSMOUTH., May 20. —Wind S.—Arrived.—Margaret Evan, from London, for New York. Sailed—H.M.Str. Sampson, for the East Indies; ILM.Str. E uryalns, West Indies. PLYMOUTH, May 20.—Wind S.S.E.—Arrived—East Anglian (tpt. IS2), from Woolwich. Sailed—Victoria, for Qushec; Augusta, Paimbcenf. CARDIFF, fay 20.—Wind S.—Sailed.—Catharine, for Singapore ; Mattapan, New Orleans. YARMOUTH, May 20.—The Isabella, of Colchester, from Hartlepool, for London, sprung a leak between Cromer and the Dudgeon on the 18th just., and was abandoned ; crew landed hexe. DA.I37IIOUTX, May 23.—Wind S.S.W.—Sailed—Scout, for I.4brador.__ SWANSEA, ?ivy 20.—Wind S.W.—Arrived.—Juanita, from Rivs do Sella. Sailed—Albert Franklyn, for Sin gapore. PER ELEOTRTCt TELEGRAPH.) LIVERPOOL, Wednesday Morning. Wind S.S.E. Arrived—Demerara Empire, front New York. QUEENSTOWN, May 19. Wind S.S.W. Arrived—Thetis, from Buenos Ayres ; Basileia, lehabo. Sailed—Albert, for Barbados, ____ WATERFORD, May 19. Wind W.N.W. Arrived—Ees, from Baltimore. (BY SUBILS.RINE AND firtlTD:lll TELEGBAPTO GRAVESEND, Wednesday, 10.15 a.m. Wind W., tide, two hours' flood, fine. Arrived, May 20.—Excelsior, from Santa Cruz ; Mel bourne, Aalborg : Era, Bremen ;Matilda, Aalborg ; Ame rica, Grenada ; Victoria, New York ; Crown, Memel. Arrived, 21.—Lively, Joseph, Marshall, and Lightning, all from Guernsey. Sailed —Lord G. Bentinek, for Antwerp. Wednesday, 10 a.m. Wind S.W. ; light , and fine. Passed, 20th— C;anills, from Sunderland, for Ports. mouth. Sir Henry Barkly is to be the new Governor of Vic toria. After having passed seven years in the West Indies anri conducted the government of two important colonies with eminent success at a critical period, he will almost immediately return to England and receive his appointment to the charge of the new and wealthy society which has lately sprung into existence on the shores of Australia. IRISH CONSOLS.' MINING COMPANI.—I❑ this concern, under g oing the proce-s of winding up, Master Litton gave judgment on Monday, deciding that Sir Charles Chatterton, Sir James Darnbrain, and Mr. Macartney are to be held liable to the full extent, and Mr. Perrier to the extent of 630 of the ehares. The town of Dunso (Scotland), which contains a popu lation of between 3,000 and 4,000, does not possess a single public-house ! THE REPRESENTATION OF CLARE.—We understand that a strong popular desire exists in Clare to return W. Smi.h O'Brien, Esq., as one of the representatives at the next opportunity. A gentleman of influence in the county informed us yesterday he was offered 80 votes in one locality, in behalf of the distinguished Irishman. — Munster News. GOVERNMENT PATRONAGE IN IRELAND.—The salary of each of the three new Crown solicitors for the North West Circuit is fixed at 8001. per annum. Two of the situations have, it is said, been already diTesed of. Mr. Geale, a connexion by marriage of Earl Fortescue, gets one of the appointments, and the second goes to Mr. D. Fitzgerald, brother of the Lttorney-General. THE SUNDAY BAND QUEBTION.—MEETING IN WEST MINSTER. —Last night a public meeting of the inhabi tants of Westminster was held in the Great Hall, Broad way, for the purpose of taking into consideration the discontinuance of the music in the parks on Sundays. Sir John V. Shelley, M.P., presided. The large hall was crowded. A resolution expressing the regret and indignation of the meeting at the withdrawal of the bands was almost unanimously adopted ; as was a reso lution in favour of a proper organisation to carry the wishes of the meeting into effect. TEE LAW AND EQUITY COURTS. —To•ulorrow (Thurs day), the law and equity courts will be opened on the commencement of term. There is a good deal of bug- There are 132 rules nisi in the common law nesg. courts. ROTATORY STORMS.—OiI Monday evening last a meet ing of the members of the United Service Institution wag h, , ld, when Captain Fishbourue, R.N., read a paper on " Rotatory Storms in the Chinese Seas." After de scribing the well-known phenomena of the trade winds, 1 he explained the now well-accepted theory that hurri• canes, typhoons, and other such storms move in a cir cuit, the centre of which advances on a tract generally well known in different seas and different latitudes. In each such case there was a centre c,r vortex of greater danger, of a diameter in the China Seas, of about 250 miles. The influence of this revolving centre extended in widening circles to about 1,200 miles. It was most dangerous for any ship to get into the centre, whil e , b y reaching the outer edge of the circle, she mi ;ga, 1,4 have fine weather, sail round the storm with a fair wind, and actually make her passage quicker than if the cyclone 1 or storm had nit occurred, and with no inconvenience. From ignorance of this rotatory character of storms, I however, a ship would cfteu run into the very focus of danger, or else heave-to and wait for the danger to ap proach her. The indications of the barometer were of great importance—the fall of a quarter of au inch in the mercury was sufficient to warn the seaman of approach ing danger. By attention to other phenomena, the veering of the wind and the presence of a swell, he might easily ascertain in what direction the ttorin was , moving, and avoid the dangerous centre and ascertain ' which was the path of safety. A discussion followed, in which Mr. Martin, Professor Tyndal, Admiral Sir George Sarforius, Captain Ingram, R.N., and others to9lt part. . The chairman (C,:lonel Lindsay), in con clusion, announced that at their next meeting Mr. Oliphant would road a paper " On the Battle of the Ingour, gagged by Omar Paella over t4e Ras:lane." LITERATURE. The Sorrows of Gentility. By Geraldine Jews bury, author of " Constance Herbert," d-c. 2 vols. Hurst and Blackest. This is an excellent production, full of spirit, energy, and right feeling. It brings life before int in a natural manner, and demonstrates successfully the varying grades of folly, affectation, vanity, and selfishness ; at the same time we are shown the bright side of the case, and some examples appear of kindness, thoughtfulness, and generosity. The heroine presents a striking instance of the sin, as well as the shame, of leading the young mind astray by false notions of their station, and its merit. Gertrude was the more to be pitied, as she really possessed good qualities, and was endowed with many mental gifts, as well as personal attractions. If she had been rightly instructed, she would have been an honour, as well as a pride, to her family, and a blessing to her immediate circle, instead of a cause of excitement and anger, now the theme of their envy, anon the subject of their scorn. How ever, the bitterest retribution that befell the proud Gertrude was her own reflection, "as she had sowed, so must she reap," and the harvests that she gathered were enough to break a harder spirit than was hers, and might have crushed the powers of endurance in any mind, not so buoyed up with youth, and unshadowed by experience. After her elopement her life was begun in earnest ; she stepped at once into the struggles of the world in the most uncomfortable and profitless manner. The scenes that follow on her immediate introduc tion to the family of her husband are artistically sketched, and display an insight into human cha racter, and a knowledge•of the inner recesses of the domestic domain that are considerable and remark able. The extremes were matched. Gertrude was ashamed of her family, who had not station to adorn their wealth, while Mrs. Donnelly was nervously susceptible as to the prejudices of her position, and ever solicitous to hide the scanty ways and means she could muster to support the dignity of her ancient family. Miss Donelly was even more supercilious than her mother, and the climax of her horror at the mesalliance was at tained, upon the first evening of the arrival of her sinter-in-law. She produced a small work of her own compilation, in which she had chartered the arms of the Donnelly family. She demanded of Gertrude what was her father's crest, what arms he bore ? She did not know that her new relative was the daughter of an innkeeper. In some trepidation Gertrude answered " The Mettringham Arms," alluding to the sign of the inn. For a moment Sophia Donnelly imagined that she was a distant connexion of a noble family of that name ; but when undeceived, and informed that the nobleman in question was her father's landlord only, she was confounded. Augustus Donnelly, who had been struck by the beauty and intelligence of the young girl—(he had met her on a visit to a schoolfellow of higher rank than heiself)—had never once thought of his duties in regard to her. He was well-meaning enough if she did not come in his way ; but as to studying her comfort in preference to his own, or in addition to it even, was not to be thought of. He uncere moniously left her with his mother and sister, whom she had never seen till that day, and hurried away to London to amuse himself. In the miser able magnificence of Mrs. Dannelly's house, Ger trude learned the first of her bitter lessons, but it was not the hardest. The volatile Augustus con trived to obtain some appointment in London, and. summoned Gertrude. She hurried up, delighted at the prospect of emancipation from the present disagreeables of her position. For a few months she was tolerably contented. Misfortune super vened, in the shape of Mrs. Donnelly and her daughter taking a fancy to see a little of London, and, of course, they took up their quarters with their son. It was not likely that an experienced tactician, as the old lady certainly was, would long be held at bay by the weak manoeuvres of an inex perienced girl, and that a meddling disposition would be inactive while an opportunity for making mischief presented itself. Worse than the time in the country was now the life in town. The do mestic sceptre wrested from her grasp, the amuse ments she had enjoyed put out of her reach, because Augustus' friends, who admired his pretty and gentle wife, would not be troubled with his over bearing mother and conceited sister. Of course they would not hear of her going without them, and the result was that Augustus went alone, and the last tie that kept the ill-assorted husband and wife together was broken. He became wild and reckless, she discontented and morose. Some time after this the establishment was broken up, and the unsongenial elements of its social structuree were dispersed far and wide. Augustus fled by nightfrom bailiffs to a foreign shore. Mrs. Donnelly and Sophia returned to retirement, and Gertrude with her infant, was fetched away by her mother. It was not " home," however, that she went to, although under her parent's roof, and although the dreaded inn was no longer their abode. It would not have concerned her what the place was if she had been at peace within, but doubts arose, diffi culties presented themselves, and poor Mrs. Mor ley's ideas of happiness at her daughter's return were now laid low. It was her father's invincible repugnance to her husband that induced her to leave his house for that of her brother, who was now settled at the "Metringham Arms," of famous memory. Augustus announced his intention of returning for a " change." He wished to enjoy a little of the far-famed wealth of his wife's relations. Simon Morley, jun., was well disposed towards his sister, but he had married since her departure, and Mrs. Simon was a different mistress to what Gertrude remembered in the home of her child hood. A dreary season was passed here, and a welcome change was that which removed them from the old place. A more tranquil time ensued for the distressed heroine. Augustus, discovered by his creditors, was glad to profit by the chance of a situation abroad that he had before spurned, and. went off to Africa. It was not feasible for his wife and child to accompany him, nor was it desirable ; and the new life that Gertrude led was, for the first time, an independent one. A kind friend, who had before promised to help her, now came forward, and bestowed upon her the greatest kind ness in her then harassed state—the means of useful employment, and of honourable support. This calm was not to endure, and the last scenes of Gertrude's sufferings aro more painful than the earlier ones. It was not outward irritation now, but inward torments that she endured, and above att was the consciousness hourly dawning upon her that she was wrong, not only in having first run contrary to her duty, but in her after acceptation of its results. Wisdom can never be too late learnt to effect some good, and thus she, as' its votary, grew more con tented. After some months suffering her husband. became a confirmed invalid, and thus the patience of Gertrude was fully tested. It was a satisfaction to her that they were enabled to part in peace after so stormy and chequered a career. It is not by the events themselves, so much as by the way in which they are described, that the reader's at tention is rivetted, and interest sustained. A few of the chief persons are most admirably delineated, and the filling up of the portraitures evinces judg ment and skill. The fine shades of opinion, the minute degrees of difference, the various and tri vial points seem as nothing to a casual observer, but the reflecting mind will kuow, and see, that it is the influence of these lesser evils, these small be ginnings, that create dissensions, divisions, and sorrow in a household. " The Sorrows of Gen tility" exhibits human nature in its true aspect, little most depressed by petty annoyances, mosthux t s r m o a u l b l e n s! k i nldta domestic nes ses , and dramsmost presents various b v y a l ri i . t a and degrees of rank, for the m ost p art equal in one thing—false pretences. Th e stra it s subterfuges to which they h ave recourse are sun. ciently absurd to be sometimes ridiculous i n th e the mortification they u n d erwent ' hialwlyhloelds out a powerful warni ng f or t h e e o x e tre i m on e would-be and the make-believe. The style which is adopted is a sparkling and brilliant one; and from its merit in design, and skill in execution, its interest as a tale, and its deduction as a moral, this novel will doubtless be welcomed as a favourite. MARKET NEWS.—(This Day.) CORN EXCHANGE. The show of English wheat in to.day's market was mo. derate, and chiefly composed of Monday's unsold samples. Very few large buyers were in attendance, and the demand for all kinds of wheat of home produce ruled heavy, at Monday's prices. Thera was very little inquiry for foreign wheat, yet no change took place in the quotations. The supply of barley was moderate, and the trade was heavy, at barely stationary p r i ces . Malt was dull, but not cheaper. There was a fair demand for oats, at very full prices. B ean s, peas, and flour realised Monday's currency. 1 AI3.IIIVALS :Ma WEEK. Wheat. t Bari . 1 7 . Malt. Oats. , Flour. 1 ,111?lis •• 1 . 140 l9O 610 _ 1,360 riz;h • • • 2,250 I i 4820 brli F ore ign 1 1 1,E30 1 010 3,V0 1 ,OlO l 1 as There is a> moderate demand f' Inforior kinds, however, are a d 'or fine hope, at full prices• lull sale. BOROIJG: WHITECHAPEL. Beef, from 3s 4d to 4s 4d; mutton, gs 8d to 4s Sd ; lamb 43 10d to 5s 103; veal, 3s 8d to 4s 8d ; pork, 3s 4d to E'd per Sibs., by the carcase. ---- C RYSTAL PALACE.=O ne Shilling Day, May t&—Ad. missions oh payment, 4,702 j do. by season tickets, 667 ; total visitors, 43,`460.