The Sun. — London, England, 1854-01-28 00:00:00

tilt trb Ellition. SUN OFFICE, Six o'clock. MAILS FOR AUSTRALIA. GENERAL POST-OFFICE, January, 1854.—The next mail for Australia will be forwarded by the steam -ship Bosphorus, under a contract made between the Post master-General and the General Screw Steam Shipping Company. This vessel is appointed to be despatched from South ampton on the 4th Feb. next, after the arrival at that port of the mail from London, despatched on the morn ing of that day ; and all letters and newspapers for South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Van Diemen's Land, posted in London, or reaching London, up to the morning of the 4th February, and not ad dressed to be sent by any other vessel, will be forwarded by the "Bosphorus." The packet rates of postage, which must be paid in advance, will be chargeable on letters transmitted by the " Bosphorus," but no charge will be made upon news papers. STATE OF TRADE. ( Front the Manchester Guardian of this day.) 3 i f AN C HESTER, Jan. 27.—0 n Tuesday ou r mar k e t was very un f a vourably f a vourably affected by the darker as p ec t o f th e which is agitating the wh o l e o f E urope. The q uestion b us iness of the day was consequently very small ; and, a lthough prices were nomin a lly unc h anged, there was about them less of the previous firmness. On the pre sence of a danger so great as that which actually exists, our trade must necessarily be exposed to renewed de pression. The consciousness of this liability is now ren• dering those producers who are wanting orders willing to make some little concession in order to sell. They are further influenced to do this by the decline which has taken place in the new American cotton, amounting to id. to id. per lb., since this day week, in " fair" and upwards. HUDDERSFIELD, Jan. 24.—The general tone of the market has been rather quiet, but a fair amount of busi ness has been done in the lower priced fancy woollens. The higher qualities of broad cloths and dark kerseys have not found many purchasers. The wool trade dur ing the week has been very quiet. BRADFORD, Jan. 26.—W00l for some time has been held for prices too high to induce the spinners to buy. Noils and brokes are dull, and but few making. Yarns — The raw material being held for prices inconsistent with the price of yarns, there seems no hope of anything ex cept further curtailment. Pieces—The period is now drawing near when greater activity is usually manifested by the home trade houses for spring. Up to this time there has been but little preparation made, the mer chants generally holding a very small stock, and the transactions of this day are not distinguishable either by increased sales or altered prices. NOTTINGHAM, Jan. 26.—The condition of the lace trade is not so satisfactory as we had reason to hope it would be. A few fancy articles are inquired for, but these principally from entirely new designs. The hosiery trade is also much less active than at this time last year. The high price of provisions is acting disadvantageously to the interests of commerce throughout the country. LEICESTER, Jan. 26.—The home demand for woollen goods is dull, and but few orders are yet given out. There is more doing in cotton hose for the spring de mand. Sales of worsted yarns can only be effected by a sacrifice in price which spinners do not feel warranted in making. THE WOOLLEN TRADE. (From the Leeds Mercury of this clay.) LEEDS, Jan. 27.—There has been a good (steady busi ness doing in the Cloth-halls this week. Both on Sa turday and on Tuesday, the markets were brisk and animated, and quite an average quantity of cloth changed owners. HUDDERSFIELD, Jan. 24,—We have had a slack mar ket to-day in the Cloth-hall ; but there are so many goods made to order, and delivered directly to mer chants, that the Cloth-hall is hardly a fair index of what is going on. There have been a good many buyers about the warehouses, and on the whole there is not much to complain of. ROCHDALE, Jan. 23.—We have not had so brisk a market to-day, except in heavy and low-priced goods, whieh have met with a ready sale at former prices. The wool market remains inactive, but prices continue firm. BRADFORD, Jan. 24.—W001--The anticipation of war causes dullness. Wool is held for prices to induce busi ness. Yarns---Spinners find difficulty in running their machinery four days a week, and considering the high price of the raw material, there is no prospect of relief but in further curtailment. Pieces—There is neither increased sales nor altered prices, although this is usually a season when greater activity is manifested. LEicEsTER.--:the home demand for woollen goods is dull, and but few foreign orders are yet given out. There is more doing in cotton hose for the spring demand. Sales of worsted yarns can only be effected by a sacri fice in price which spinners do not feel warranted in making. Wools are quiet, as the uncertainty of Eastern affairs stops all speculation. 3ILATING- INTELLIGENCE. ( From the Mining Journal of this day.) With greatly increased, and still increasing, prices for metals, there is a continued demand for dividend mines, and also for some of the promising progressive ones. Tin is higher in price than it has been for many years, and both copper and lead are advancing ; indeed, if war be commenced in earnest, it is impossible to fore see what prices metals will reach. Gold shares are not so much sought after ; in fact, taken generally, the re sults of the experiments upon gossans and mundic have not been satisfactory, and have varied in such a manner as to show clearly that the plan originally adopted by the Poltimore Company, that of testing 50 tons at once, is the only one to bring the gold discoveries to a fair and proper issue. We have heard of gossans tried in very small quantities yielding at the rate of several ounces per ton, and the same gossans tested in much larger parcels showing less than half the result ; and, on the contrary, many gossans which by analysis have shown scarcely any traces of gold, have, when tried in large quantities, yielded a good result. There is still no alteration of importance to report in the Gold Mining share market. During a part of the week prices continued to show a drooping tendency, in sympathy with the general gloom of the Stock Exchange, but on Thursday and yesterday the tone was steadier ; on the whole, however, in the absence of demand prices are looking downwards. In Miscellaneous Shares, the market showed a down ward tendency the beginning of the week. In the Bullion Market—Mexican and South American dollars, 4s. 40. per oz. Bar silver containing gold, all gold above 5 grams in the pound to be paid for, ss, 1 d. per oz. standard. TRAFFIC RETURNS FOR THE PAST WEEK. Miles I Opened, NAME OF RAILWAY. ; Receipts. 1853. --.4 1853. 1854. RSITISEI. -- 72 Aberde en .................... ..... £1,413 1,524 37% Belfast and Ballymena ••-•••• • • •• .. 575 750 17 1 I Belfast and County Down.. • . • . - - .. 163 191 33 I Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire 1,400 1,929 - ' Bolton, Blackburn, and West York .... - - 85% i Bristol and Exeter - ................ 3,867 4,610 189 1 Caledonian-- -••••••••• • • • • • • • • } 11,981 13,111 894 j Edinburgh and Glas,Toor ........... 94% Chester and Holyhead. • • ............ 3,209 3,333 6 % ' Cork, Blackrock, and Passage ••• • •• 147 105 20 Cork and Bandon .................• 1.50 159 56 Dublin and Belfast Junction ..... ... 732 741 62% , Dublin and Drogheda-- - ......... 973 1,149 6 Dublin and Kingstown • • • • • • • . I 602 595 16% 1 . Dundee and Arbroath -- • • 31 Dundee, Perth, and Aberdeen Junction - - /9 I Dundalk and Enniskillen.• -•••• •• • • 151 179 68 East Ang1ian........................ 693 81 East Lanc45hire.................... 4,631 4,676 312% Eastern Counties and Norfolk.. • : :: 17,411 18,518 95 Eastern tini0n................. 78 Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee - 2,142 2,474 6 Exeter and Credit0n................ 90 75 19 Furness Railway ... ............, 204 534 171 Glasgow, and South-Western.. -•• . • 3 , 793 3 ,998 283% Great Northern and E. L........... 13,223 17,381 188 Great Southern and Western'(lreland) 4,610 5,053 819% Great Western ... 2514 Irish South Eastern ................ 203 238 90 Lancaster and Carlisle ...... ........ 4,553 5,561 26 0 Lancashire and Yorkshire •-• 16,527 17,432 Leeds Northern ...... • • • • - ...... .. --- . 18 k Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport.... 263 233 uT4 ' Loudon and North Western ... 44,033 47,201 2„ 5 % London and Blackwall • • ..... ••• - • 1,021 1108 0 London, Brighton, and South Coast.. 8,602 9 619 "a, London and South We5tern......... 9,778 10, 0 60 '" Londonderry and Enniskillen .....• • • 313 400 16 . 77-X Manchester, Buxton, and Matlock, &c. ;14 M anchester, Sheffiel€l,and Lincolnshire 6,276 6,530 Manchester and South Junction •• -.. 555 540 .., Mari Tort and Carlisle 53 580 49 . A Midland ..... -.... .• :: :: :: :: :: :: :: 21,805 22,857 126 Michaud Great Western (Irish) ...... 2f 8 3 : 3 1 un 37 Monklands 149 North British .. a r ille.• •• ••••• • • • .. 2 : lr 4 2,507 - North Staffordshir • • ..... .. •• •••••• 35 - 4,421 47 North - Western .. ... •• • 688 932 50 Scottish Central .... ~ .. . . •• • • • • " • • ' • • 32 Scottish Midland .....::::* '••• • • 1 2,574 2,504 29% Shrewsbury and Birr ningbarn •'• •: - 47 Shrewsbury and Chester ..... ......... 1, 7 5 7 6 1,6 7 27 4 29 Shropshire union •.•... ,„ .... 554 640 58 South Devon •••• • • .. .... 1,554 1,7'29 28814 South EiZtern...................... 12,181 13,016 162% South Wa les '• '• - ........ •••••• 2,579 3,f,37 77 South York., Doncaster, and Goole.. 1,279 840 40 Taff Vale ••••••• • •• •• •• ..... •-•• •• 2,445 3,212 asUlster' ••" •• " •• • • •• • • ..... 992 I ,Z4l 68 Waterfoni and Limerick .... ....... • 406 5',1 25 West C n•nroall •• •• •• '• •••••••• •••• 453 522 12 Whitehaven Junction ............... 208 ;6 3 207 632 YoyrkorakisdanNdewNcossrthtlekiadnldanßdei•wiLeek Leeds 23,,G29 070. 23,3506, FOREIGN. 57 1 / 4 Dutch Rhenish •••• • • • ....., -•• •••• - 183% Lyons and Mediterranean .. •... 5 63 Montereau and Troyes • • ...• • • .• • • .. 1 5 7 167 63 Namur awl Liege .. •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• 854 936 443% Northern of France ...•..- .• - .. - 22,613 24,105 20 781 27,047 F Orleans and Central * .. 12 690 12 976 3 Paris and Lyons ••••••"'• • • • • • ' ** e '„... ..? Cit 4 Paris and Rouen. ••• • : : •••••••• :::::::: 2 764 17 1 6 1 9 8 Paris and Strasburgh I ,0. - Rouen and Havre • • -••••• • " • • • 2 ' 741 2,512 _14.1011 Western of France ...... •• •• •• •"• •• 3,364 4.039 #* 777 he receipts incl u d e the traffic on tho Orleansand Central, Or rr , • 104 14 CA Bordeaux, and Tour; and liAnted. 63 .S 1 - '- 63 44314 f.Y''' / . ' 2 , - - , '-• 3 :'aßi-ty ff+t , tt*j'' 14qt-1A THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 28, 1854. CITY OF LONDON COMMISSION. The Royal Commission sat again the Privy Council Chamber, Downing-street ; Mr. Labouchere presiding. The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor attended to give evi dence before the Commissioners, and was accommodated with a seat within the bar. The Lord Mayor, on being sworn stated—l have been an alderman 'of the city of London for fourteen years. I have perused the evidence which has been taken before this commission, and I now wish to be al lowed to rebut several of the statements which have been made. And first, I will begin with the evidence of Mr. Acland. Mr. Acland was asked the following question :—" You have stated that in the case of a con tested election of importance at common hall it is the practice for the committees of the rival candidates, with out the least concealment, to give money to the electors who vote for their respective candidates. Will you state to the commission some recent instance in which that system has been carried out in the city of London ?" And his answer way—"l believe the most recent in stance of bribery has been in the election of the Lord Mayor elect, Mr. Alderman Sidney. I believe it was only to the extent of 2001. or 3001." The further ques tion was then asked—" There were but two candidates proposed, were there ?" and the answer given was, " Others would have been proposed, but that a sum of money was given to a manager of the "long shore men" not to execute his threat to put in nomination two others. Mr. Alderman Sidney is generally considered to be a corporate reformer. It was believed in the City that it was not desirable that he should be Lord Mayor, and it was declared by an agent that he should not be Lord Mayor, for that two other persons would be named and elected, so that either Alderman Sidney would have been under the necessity of going to the great expense of a poll to secure his succession to the office, or two names, that of Alderman Sidney not being one, would have been returned to the Court- of Aldermen, from which to select the chief magistrate. The party who made this threat received a bonus. Un der the inducement of that bonus he did not carry his threat into execution, and Alderman Sidney was there fore elected to the office." Now, in reply to these alle gations, I wish distinctly to state that I know of no party who received any such bonus as is here mentioned, and I certainly never gave a fraction, either by promise or in any other way, to secure my election to my present office. I give the fullest contradiction to the first charge. I never gave a single penny in bribes, and I assert that the expenses of my election as Lord Mayor, so far from being 2001. or 3001., amounted altogether to only 211. 9s. 3d., and consisted exclusively of the following items, viz., 7 books, with a list of the livery, at 10s. each, 31. 10s. ; stamps, 10s. ; delivery of letters, 7s. 6d. ; hire of room at Guildhall Coffeehouse, 31. 12s. 6d. ; dinner for several gentlemen on my committee, 71. 3s. 9d. ; adver• tising and circulars, 51. 15s. ; and incidental expenses, lls. I wish also to contradict another of Mr. Acland's atatements. When asked a question relative to the late contest between Alderman Sir J. Key and Mr. Scott for the Chaeaberlainship, Mr. Acland said, " that on that occasion 19 of the aldermen, who imagine that the cham berlaincy is an heirloom to their court for decayed alder men, agreed to find 1001. a piece towards turning the scale on the side of their brother alderman. Whether they paid it (the 1001. a piece) is another question. Now I beg to say on my own part, and I think I may answer also for my brethren—l am sure I can answer for the great majority of them, because I have heard them deny it—l can distinctly state that no subscription of this kind was ever entered into, and that there was no talk of subscribing any money whatever for such a purpose. Mr. C. Lewis—l believe a similar statement was made by Mr. Sheriff Wallis, who says, " I was informed by a candidate in an election that I once conducted, that the sum of 1,9001. had been subscribed among the aldermen at the .Mansion-house, in order to secure a brother alderman's return." The Lord Mayor—l beg leave to give the fullest de nial to that statement. No such sum was ever sub scribed, or engaged to be subscribed. The Chairman—Have you conversed with your brother Aldermen on the subject. The Lord Mayor—l have. The Chairman—And are you satisfied from that con versation that the rumour of this subscription was en tirely groundless ? The Lord Mayor—lt is entirely erroneous. I also wish to touch upon some portion of the evidence of Mr. Dillon, Mr. Bennoch, Mr. Thomson Ila,nkey, and Mr. Morley, relative to the Lord Mayor's day and the Lord Mayor's show. Mr. Dillon says—" If you were to re form the City corporation, and to clear away all the nonsense and foolery of the Lord Mayor's show, you would not thereby, as I believe, create an inclination on the part of the merchants of the city of London to take part in the management of municipal affairs." And Mr. Morley says that the Lord Mayor's show is really felt to by a thing more in accordance with the dark ages than the present day." And when asked, " You do not think there is any class of the community which wishes to retain it ?" Mr. Morley added, " Reference has been made to nurserymaids and children, but I have no idea that the citizens of London look at the thing with any other feelings than those of repugnance. I should imagine that the tradesmen living in the line of streets through which it passes must be greatly inconvenienced by it." Mr. Hankey's opinion is much to the same effect, Now, in reply to these statements, I have to say that prior to my becoming Lord Mayor, I, in conjunc tion with my colleague, Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Wire, consulted my brother aldermen whether the show should be continued, and they were unanimously of opinion that it should. I then went into Lombard-street, and obtained the opinion of sevexal important banking firms on the subject, and exhibited to them the pro gramme of the intended procession, and, so far from its being received with disfavour, Mr. Samuel Gurney was highly pleased with it, said lie should bring his family to see it, and offered, as there must be considerable expense attending it, to give a subscriptiim towards it. The show had to pass through Mincinglane ; and I also ob tained the opinions of persons connected with the colo ❑ial markets, and they not only did not object, but they regarded the day as a general holiday, and invited the people from the country to see it, and gave them a ban quet. In fact, along the line of route the procession was received with flags and banners, and greeted with applause ; and not the least ill,feeling was displayed in its progress through the streets. Instead of its being considered as an idle pastime, or viewed with indigna tion, I can state from my own experience, that with my neighbours, whose shop doors it passes every year, it is very popular ; and they make the day the occasion for a general holiday. It is witnessed with pleasure by at least 500,000 persons, among whom are persons of the highest distinction, and elegantly dressed females are seen to greet it from the windows of the houses with warmth and admiration. It is, in short, as popular now as it ever was in its history. The Chairman—lt has been said that the cost of the show does not exceed 2001. a year. The Lord Mayor—Last year it cost 500/., I believe. It cost more than usual, because the me❑ in armour were dispensed with, and the allegorical procession was substituted, representing the miseries of war and the blessings of peace. lam the only popularly-elected magistrate in the kingdom, and it is my duty to con ciliate the feelings of the multitude as well as those of any other class. The corporation makes no grant for the expenses of the show, or for those of the banquet at Guildhall, which are all paid by the Lord Mayor and the sheriffs. Mr. Hankey has stated that the annual dinner at Guildhall is noisy and useless. On that point I feel that I cannot do better than read from an article which appeared in the Times newspaper of Nov. 10, 1848, the high opinion which that journal then enter tained of the Guildhall banquet. [llls lordship then read the article in question, which appeared to be very laudatory of the time-honoured civic saturnalia.] He then continued— I know that this pliblic journal has very recently attacked the whole proceedings of the 9th of November, but I have thought it best to let the press answer itself in the quotations I have just made ; and will only add that the feeling of the citizens generally remains the same as it was five years ago. The expense of the dinner is usually between 2,0001. and 2,2001., and the number of guests about 1,100. The Chairman—You have told us that there was no subscription entered into by the aldermen to promote the return of Sir J. Key as chamberlain ; was nothing ever said about such a subscription by any of the alder men ? The Lord Mayor—An observation was made by Al derman Hunter to the effect that Alderman Wire at the Mansion-house had simply said, " Well, we must sub scribe ;" but the remark was not responded to by any other gentleman. The aldermen were naturally indig nant at the evidence of Mr. Wallis. Of course I do not mean to admit that there would have been any moral wrong n• in my subscribing towards Sir J. Key's election expenses ; but I say that, in fact, I did no such thing. I wish to speak of the character and standing of the al dermen of London, after the various charges that have been brought against them. I do not believe that there is any public assembly of 26 gentlemen in this country of more blameless general character, respectability, and fortune, than the aldermen of London. The Court of Aldermen possess among them between three and four millions sterling ; they occupy distinguished positions in other public bodies and associations, and many of them have been the representatives of large constituencies in the House of Commons ; and therefore I dismiss the char ge o f th e i r i n f er i or soc i a l s t an ding with a general denial of its accuracy. The Chairman—Without seeking to disparage the Court of Aldermen, is it not a matter of fact that there is now a wider separation between the corporation and the great merchants of the City than there used to be in the days of Sir Thomas Gresham ? The Lord Mayor—Circumstances have greatly changed since then. Formerly all persons trading in the City were compelled to reside in it, or they lost their freedom. Again, the desi re o f th e great, merchants now a-days is chiefly to enrich themselves by their callings, and to avoid the performance of municipal duties which the ancient charters imposed on all the citizens. Mr. C. Lewis—May it not be that the duties of an alderman have greatly increased within the last hun dred years ; and would that not account for the indis position of the merchants to take the office ? The Lord Mayor—Of course, it is difficult to make a comparison between the duties at the t wo per i ods ; but I believe that the magisterial business and the duties of prison visitation have either increased, or have cer tainly been more regularly performed than they were in former days ; and that more time is now given to the discharge of the duties of the office of alderman. Mr. C. Lewis—Do many of the present aldermen reside within the City ? The Lord Mayor—l do not think there is one of them at present who h as more th an a business conne c ti on w i th the City. Passing from that subject, I would now beg I eave to give my general opinion of the corporation of London ; but, in the suggestions which I may make, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I am only expressing my own individual opinions, and do not speak in any official capacity. lam quite willing then to admit that there are some defects in the corporation, and if this inquiry should do no more than effect an elucidation and a consolidation of the charters of the City, I think it will do a great good to the community. I conceive that the Chamberlain should be elected by the Court of Common Council, and not by the livery in common hall. I see no necessity for the retention of such useless and expensive officers as the two bridgemas ters, who receive, on an average, 8001. a year between them. Their duties are generally of a very trifling character, and they are put to great expense in contest ing their elections, which take place in common hall ; and the two last bridgemasters, I believe, have not yet been able to liquidate the cost of the contest. I would also abolish the office of ale-conner, which is worse than useless—it is mischievous. I would confine the elec tions in common hall strictly to the election of the Lord Mayor and the sheriffs alone. The Chairman—Do you see any advantage in having a compound municipal constituency, instead of a simple and uniform one ? The Lord Mayor—l would have one constituent body divided into wards for the election of common council men and the aldermen ' • but I would have the ancient body to elect the Lord Mayor and the sheriffs. I am in favour of reverting to the old system by which every resident in the city of London had a right to be enrolled as a citizen after residing there a twelvemonth and a day; and I would abolish all questions as to freedom. I reduce the number of the wards from 25 to 18, and would give the 12 larger wards 6 members each, and the 6 smaller 4 members each. Thus I would reduce the members of the Court of Common Council, who are too numerous, to 96 ; and I would, of course, likewise re duce the aldermen from 25 to 18. I would retain the Court of Aldermen for the despatch of magisterial busi ness, and have them still elected for life. I think they should also have the power of appointing two paid ma gistrates for the police courts of the City ; and I would recommend that the Court of Aldermen should not have the power to draw cash, except for the expenses con nected with their office as magistrates, the scale of pay ments to be settled by the corporation at large. lam of opinion that the paid officers of the corporation are too numerous, and I would recommend that the offices of the steward of Southwark, the three common pleaders, the secondary, the high bailiff of Southwark, the clerk of the chamber, the two attorneys of the Mayor's Court, the clerk to prepare the accounts for the auditors, and the upper and the lower marshals of the City should all be abolished. I would consolidate the offices of the comptroller of the City and the comptroller of the Bridge-house estate; I would also consolidate the office of the City solicitor with the office of town clerk; and would recommend the consolidation of the various offices connected with the navigation and conservancy committees, who are far too numerous, and their duties very conflicting. There are also several offices connected with the levying of the wine dues— there is the collector, the comptroller, and the gauger ; I doubt the necessity of all these offices. The establish ment at Newgate prison, where there are very few prisoners, costs upwards of 4,0001. a-year for salaries alone ; and the Bridewell prison has been condemned by every report presented to Parliament, and by every prison inspector for many years past. I would, there fore, suggest that Newgate and the Bridewell be con solidated with the New Prison at Holloway ; and that on the site of Newgate there be erected new and conve nient courts of Justice, which are at present very much needed. If these changes in the offices and this consoli dation of the prisons were carried out, the saving effected would be at least 14,0001. per annum. The City comp troller, Mr. Saunders, I am very sorry to say, died yes terday ; and the late Mr. Gibb's situation as bridge master is also vacant. Mr. C. Lewis—Of course we have no power or desire to interfere with the administration of the affairs of the City, but we might suggest to the corporation whether it would not be better to kayo any existing vacancies unfilled, up, or, if they are filled up, that the persons appointed should take their offices on the distinct under standing that they may be made the subject of any arrangement. The Lord Mayor—No doubt the corporation will give that matter their consideration. As Lord Mayor, I will delay the summoning of a common hall for the purpose of filling up the vacancy. The courts of law in the City are, I think, too numerous ' • and the Court of Hustings, the Mayor's Court, an d th e Sheriff's Court might with advantage be consolidated into one court. The quarter sessions at Guildhall, and the quarter sessions at South wark might also be consolidated. I believe a consider able portion of the inhabitants of Southwark desire to be incorporated for municipal purposes with the city of London; but that could not be accomplished without a special act of Parliament. I think the entire severance of Southwark from the City would be preferable, for the interests of Southwark itself, to incorporation with the City. I see great objection to the formation of very large municipalities, and I think it is a defect in the pre sent constitution of country that all boroughs for the election of members of Parliament are not also made boroughs for municipal purposes. The charities con nected with the City prisons are very large ; and those belonging to the debtors' prison amount to upwards of 1,600 Z. a year, and they are applied in the discharge of prisoners who compound their debts with solicitors. That course is, I think, open to very serious objection, and I would suggest that power should be given to deal with these prison charities in a more useful manner. I am the governor of the fellowship of porters, the go vernorship of which body attaches, ex officio, to the person holding the office of alderman of the ward. I have the honour to represent the ward of Billingsgate. Ido not think the City porters derive any very great benefit from the privileges of the fellowship. If the constitution of the body were revised and placed on a proper footing I believe, however, that the porters would generally, and even now in its decrepid state the fellowship is consi dered to be a great advantage to the great bulk of the commercial community. Mr. C. Lewis—ls it your opinion that, whatever ad vantage there is in the fellowship, that advantages ac crue to the trade and not to the porters themselves ? The Lord Mayor—That is my decided opinion. The question relating to the porters is so mixed up with that relating to the metage dues, that they can both only be placed on a proper footing by the intervention of Parlia ment. With regard to the conservancy of the river, my opinion is that it would be more advantageous to the commerce of the port if that duty were entrusted to a permanent board instead of a fluctuating body like the navigation committee. I certainly think that it would be better to place members of the Trinity-house on that board than members from the different dock companies. I believe that such reforms are n-.)cessary for the corpo ration as those which I have mentioned ; but one great stumbling block in the way of reform hitherto has been the act of the 11th Geo. 1., which was passed against the feelings of the citizens at large, and gave to the livery alone the power of voting at the common-hall elections, I would not abolish the franchise of the livery, but I would throw in with their votes the votes of every resident occupier for 12 months and a day. The Chairman—Do you think that the coal-tax is a good mode of raising revenue ? The Lord Mayor- - -I certainly would net myself have originated such a tax, but I do not believe it felt as a grievance, I am opposed to centralisation, and think the principles of municipal self-government require the ratepayers to have the control of the police, lighting, and water supply of their own localities. I would pre serve all the existing powers and privileges of the Court of Aldermen, except their right of drawing upon the City's cash, which, as I have said, I think requires limi tation. I consider that the private and secret manner in which the consolidated committee conducts its busi ness, and carries on conferences with the Government is opposed to the general spirit of municipal govern ment, and adverse to the welfare of the citizens at large. I think the consolidated committee often pledges the whole corporation to proceedings which arc unwise. His lordship then withdrew. Mr. Alderman Farebrother examined : He said he at tended there that day in pursuance of a resolution of a committee of the Court of Aldermen, for the purpose of expressing their entire approbation of and concurrence in the statement delivered to the commissioners by the learned Recorder. He was also prepared to answer any question which the commissioners might please to put to him connected with the court of which he was a mem ber. He must take leave to state that he could not but express his surprise that the right hon. the Lord Mayor should have volunteered to offer the suggestions which he had just made without any communication with his colleagues and without their sanction. What his lord ship had recommended might or might not be very good and very correct; but the resolution to which the corpo ration had come was to conclude their answer to all the charges and accusations which had been brought against them in the first place, reserving to a subsequent occa sion, when all the evidence which the commissioners wished to take should have been closed, the task of sub mitting to the commissioners any scheme or any sug gestions for alterations in the corporation which a review of the whole of the evidence taken might justify. The Chairman stated that it was not the wish of the commissioners to urge any member of the corporation to make statements which he did not voluntarily and freely. offer ; and they had distinctly understood that the sug gestions which had just been made for a reform of the corporation by the Lord Mayor were simply the opinion of his Lordship individually, and not as the representa tive of the corporation. Alderman Farebrother might take the liberty of ob serving, in reference to the recommendation of his lord ship respecting the appointment by the aldermen of two police magistrates for the City, that by the Police Act passed in 1838 power was already given to the Court of Aldermen to appoint a police magistrate when it was rendered necessary by the inability of the aldermen to attend to their magisterial duties. Some misapprehen sion appeared to prevail with regard to the Irish Society That society did not interfere in the management of any estates which were the property of different livery com panies. He might inform the commissioners that a committee consisting of members of both courts of the cor poration was now sitting to watch the course of that in quiry, andlby whom the statement presented by the Recor der had been drawn up, whenever that inquiry was termi nated, and the witnesses on both sides had been fully heard, the corporation would endeavour to submit to the com mission such a plan for effecting improvements in its own constitution and practice, as in its judgment might acceptable to the commission as well as to the citizens at large. He could, therefore, in the meantime, only assure the commission that the anxious desire of the corporation was to consider every matter, not as a ques tion affecting that body individually, but as affecting the interests of the public at large. The Chairman said that it would be the duty of the commissioners to receive with attention any suggestions emanating in the manner indicated from the corporation I itself. The commissioners only wished that the corpo• ration would lay its scheme or plan before them as speedily as possible. Alderman Farebrother said that the corporation only awaited the conclusion of the evidence in order to do so. Mr. Sergeant Adams, assistant-judge of the Middlesex Sessions, examined—l understand that the learned Recorder has stated to the commission that the restora tion of the old jurisdiction of the Middlesex Sessions has been injurious in its effects. Now, on the con trary, I believe that the public have been very much benefitted by the change. My court sat 153 days last year, and tried 2,653 cases, of which only 40, from special causes, were not tried on the days on which the bills were found. The cost of each trial at the ses sions of my court amounts on an average to 30s. ; while the cost of trying a similar case in the Central Criminal Court averages 5/. ; and the saving therefore yearly effected to the public by my court is 8,000/. The arrangements of my court are such that no counsel takes a brief without knowing, when he takes it, the day when the case will come on. The Recorder stated in his evidence that the court of quarter sessions sits at the same time as the Central Criminal Court, but this is not quite correct. The Middlesex sessions are held from thirty-six to forty weeks in each year, and the Central Criminal Court but twelve. If, therefore, the Central Criminal Court sat regularly every fourth week, there would be no difficulty in making arrangements for my court to sit the other three weeks. The sittings of the Central Criminal Court are, however, very irregular, and upon that account it is extremely difficult to prevent the two courts occasionally sitting simultaneously. The learned Recorder, I under stand, also recommended the concentration of the criminal jurisdiction of the whole metropolis into one court. Such an arrangement, I believe, might be advan tageously carried out ; and if a central court of that na ture were established, the Recorder, no doubt, would be its head, than whom, I hope I hope I may be permitted to say, a more efficient, more upright, or more excellent man could not be found to occupy such a position. Mr. F. Southgate, solicitor for the defendant in the case of Simmonds and Lillystone, respecting the filling up an inlet, or lay-by place, on the bank of the Thames, near Gravesend, appeared before the commission, and gave further evidence respecting the point in dispute. He stated that the navigation committee of the corpora tion gave their consideration to the subject when placed before them, but refused to interfere in a case of litiga tion between private individuals. Mr. Tyrrell, the City Remembrancer, again attended and read to the commissioners lengthened documents i detailing the origin and history of the coal-tax. Mr. John Wood examined—l am the chairman of the consolidated committee of the corporation. The corpo ration are desirous that the commissioners should exa mine every one of their officers whom they may wish to call before them. The commissioners have, it seems, not required any members of the corporation to appear before them ; but it has been thought only respectful to the commission that certain members to tender them selves for examination on any point which the commis sioners thought they might be able to elucidate. After the statement which the Lord Mayor has made to my surprise to-day, respecting the proceedings of the conso lidated committee, I wish to state that, by a resolution of the 22d of May, 1846, that committee was constituted of the chairman of the several committees of the court and other members, with full power to confer with the Government and other bodies from time to time on such matters as are specially referred to the several commit tees, and to report to the court as they think necessary. The committee consisted of sixty members, and the ob ject of placing the chairman of every committee on the consolidated committee was, that if any matter of im portance was the subject of conferences with the Go vernment or other bodies, it might be discussed in the particular oommittee to whose department the matter specially related. The Chairman—ls not sixty a very large number of members for a committee ? Mr. Wood—When subjects of importance to the public are being made . the subject of interviews with the Government, the commissioners will see the convenience of the corporation at large, through so numerous a com mittee, being made acquainted with the proceedings of a committee like this, without the formality or necessity in all cases of a report to the Court of Common Council ; but in all cases of deputations to or communications with the Government, the substance of the proceedings is invariably reported to the court. The working of the committee is exceedingly satisfactory. It has been said that the committee has spent large sums in the purchase of a projected newspaper ; and there seems to have been an impression in the mind of Mr. Scott that the com mittee gave directions on that subject ; but the fact is, the committee, as a committee, never gave any such directions. Perhaps individuals may have thought the matter one proper to be encouraged, but the committee did not. The Chairman—But did not the committee ultimately sanction thestep? __ _ Mr. Wood—they did ultimately, but they had no thing to do with the getting up of a newspaper. The Chairman—Mr. Scott told us that this expendi ture, which may be almost called irregular expenditure, was of very rare occurrence—that in fact this was almost the only instance of it—is that so ? Mr. Wood—lt is so. It has been said the committee bribed the press with 1,0001. a-year, and I was at first a little indignant at the statement. It has, however, been explained. Pave and except the repayment to the officers of the item of about 480/. on one occasion, the average yearly expenditure in the purchase of news papers has not been more than 1601. or 180/. - The Chairman—Ought there to be any concealment in the expenditure of any committee of the corporation ? Mr. Wood—l am not aware that there has been any concealment ; it appears in the accounts. The Chairman—From the manner in which the items are lumped together, could any one tell that the money had been spent in the attempt to establish a newspaper ? Mr. Wood—There was no attempt ou the part of the corporation to establish a newspaper. The Chairman—l am not questioning the propriety of the expenditure, but am speaking of it as a matter of account. Ought there not to be a stricter manner of rendering the accounts than by describing an item of 2,7001. as " miscellaneous expenditure." which was spent in opposing the removal of Smithfield Market, but which, for all that appears in the accounts, might be equally taken to have been spent in any other manner ? Ought not those who contribute the money to be made aware on the face of the accounts of the precise manner in which it has been expended ? Mr. Wood-2,7001, does seem rather a large item ; but it was expended under the authority of the com mittee. The item is stated generally in the accounts, but the details are given to the committee and to any body who chooses to ask for them. The committee have laborious duties to perform, but they receive no allowance. The committee had been anxious to settle the dispute with the Crown respecting the soil and bed of the Thames, and large sums of money would have been spent in improving the river before now, if such a settlement had been obtained. The inquiry was then adjourned till Wednesday next THE BALTIC FLEET. We have not seen any ships specifically mentioned as intended to form this fleet. That there will be a Baltic Fleet we have no doubt, and that it well very speedily be organised. Among the ships and vessels available and speedily to be made available for such an expedition we are in possession of the following : SCREW SHIPS. Guns. Duke of Wellington l3l Royal George l2l St. Jean d'Acre Princess Royal Cesar 9l James Watt Cressy Blenheim Hogue BAILIN( Guns. ; Neptune St a ter Wterloo orge l2O Pique Prince Regent London Cumberland 7O Frolic lO All the foregoing ships, both screw and sailing, are in ccimmisaion and on the home stations, except the Cum berland, which is ordered from the West Indies to form one of the fleet. Guns. Ajax Edinburgh 5B Imperieuse 5l Euryalus Arrogant Am phion Tribune 3O Dauntless Desperate SHIPS. Guns. 70 40 40 LAW INTELLIGENCE.—Jan. 27. BAIL COURT. (Sittings in Banco—Before Mr. Justice Crompton.) THE DERBY ELECTION. THE QUEEN V. BERESFORD AND OTHERS. Mr. Edwin James on the part of the prosecution, showed cause against a rule which had been obtained by Mr, Whately to allow a rule for a special jury, ob tained on the 9th of November last, on behalf of Colonel Beresford, one of the defendants, to be superseded by a subsequent rule for a special jury obtained on the part of Mr. Cox, also one of the defendants. It appeared that at the time when the first rule had been obtained only two of the defendants had appeared, but since that time seven other defendants had appeared, and therefore the defendants had thought it necessary to obtain a rule for another special jury. He (Mr. E. James) now con tended that the second rule could not be granted until the former rule had been discharged. The prosecutors had no objection to the rule, but they wished that no question should arise after the trial as to the regularity of the proceedings. Sir Frederick Thesiger, in support of the rule, con tended that, as the first special jury was struck only to try some of the issues in consequence of only two of the de. fondants appearing, it was necessary that a new special jury should be struck to try the whole of the issues in consequence of the seven other defendan is appearing. He, therefore, submitted that the rule ought to be made absolute. Mr. Justice Crompton said that the only question was whether the first rule ought not to be discharged before the subsequent rule could be made absolute. He thought that the second rule ought to be amended, and made to discharge the former rule. On looking at the rule, the learned judge said that it did discharge the former rule, and therefore it would be made absolute as it stood. Rule absolute. THE LONDON GAZETTE OF LAST NIGHT. WAR-OFFICE, JAN. 27. 4th Regiment of Dragoon Guards—Henry Ponatford, Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Bankes, who retires, Jan. 27. 3d Light Dragoons—Surgeon William Ord Mackenzie, M.D., from the 82d Foot, to be Surgeon, vice Henderson, who exchanges. Jan. 27. 9th Light Dragoons—Assistant-Surgeon John James Clifford, M.D., from the 96th Foot, to be Assistant• Su rgeon, vice Jephson, who exchanges, Jan. 27. 10th Light Dragoons—Charles Hill Uniacke, Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Hathway, promoted, without purchase, in the 14th Light Dragoons, Jan. 27. 12th Light Dragoons- -Lieut. Arthur William Coape, from the 84th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice St. George, appointed to the 80th Foot, Jan. 27. 14th Light Dragoons—Cornet Henry William Macallis ter Hathway, from the 10th Light Dragoons, to be Lieu tenant, without purchase, vice William Boyd, deceased, Jan. 27. 7th Regiment of Foot—Lieutenant Thomas Uniacke, from half-pay. Rifle Brigade, to be Lieutenant, vice P. S. Young, promoted without purchase to an Unattached Company; Ensign G. W. Wallace Carpenter, from the 41st Foot, .to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Uniacke, who retires, Jan. 27. 9th Foot—Assistant-Surgeon John Coote Ovens, froin the Staff, to be Assistant-Surgeon, Jan. 27. 14th Foot Surgeon William Denny, from the 34th Foot, to be Surgeon, vice Batt, who exchanges, Jan. 27. 16th Foot—Lieutenant George Barehard, from the 44th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Bailie, who exchanges, Jan. 27. 27th Foot—Lieutenant George Glascott Newton, from the 66th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Gore, who exchanges, Jan. 27. 34th Foot—Surgeon Edgar Dumaresq Batt, from the 14th Foot, to be surgeon, vice Denny, who exchanges, Jan. 27. Foot—Ensign Richard Longfield Craster, to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Digby, who retires ; Clif ford Waterman Chaplin, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Craster, Jan. 27. 41st Foot—James Alexander Hamilton, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Carpenter, promoted in the 7th Foot, Jan. 27. 44th Foot—Lieutenant Robert Bailie, from the 16th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Barchard, who exchanges, Jan. 27. 49th Foot—Charles Fitzgerald, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Adams, who retire•, Jan. 27. 62d Foot—Ensign John Hart Dunne, to be Lieu tenant, by purchase, vice Becher, who retires ; Herrick Augustus Palmer, Gent., to be Ensign by purchase, vice Dunne; Assistant-Surgeon John Eldon Young, M.D., from the Staff, to be Assistant-Surgeon, Jan. 27. 66th Foot—Lieutenant Charles James Knox Gore, from the 27th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Newton, who ex changes, Jan. 27. 80th Foot—Lieutenant Hamilton Charles Smith, to be Captain, without purchase, vice Bowler, deceased; En sign and Adjutant Erasmtis Borrowes, to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Smith, May 1; Lieutenant Thos. Clement Belmore St. George, from the 12th Light Dra goons, to be Lieutenant, vice Wolseley, appointed to the 84th Foot, Jan. 27. 82d Foot—Surgeon James Henderson, M.D., from the 3d Light Dragoons, to be Surgeon, vice Mackenzie, who exchanges, Jan. 27. 81th Foot—Lieutenant Garnet Joseph Wolseley, from the 80th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Coape, appointed to the 12th Dragoons, Jan. 27. 95th Foot—Lieutenant James Christopher Grant Kings ley, from the Cape Mounted Riflemen, to be Lieutenant, vice Clerk, who exchanges, Jan. 27. 96th Foot—Assistant-Surgeon William Holmes Jephson, M.D., from the 9th Light Dragoons, to be Assistant-Sur geon, vice Clifford, who exchanges, Jan. 27. Cape Mounted Riflemen—Lieutenant Godfrey Clerk, from the 95th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Kingsley, who exchanges, Jan. 27. ADMIRALTY, JAN. 21. Admiral of the White James Carthew has boon ap pointed to receive a pension of 1501. a-year, as provided for in her Majesty's Order in Council of the 25th of June, 1851, vacant by the decease of Vice-Admiral Robert Elliot, and the name of Admiral Carthew has been re moved to the reserved half-pay list accordingly ; and, in consequence of this removal the following promotions, dated this day, have taken place : Admiral of the Blue Sir Robert Howe Bromley, Bart., to be Admiral of the White. Vice-Admiral of the Red Sir James Alexander Gordon, K.C.8., to be Admiral of the Blue. Vice-Admiral of the White the Hon. George Poulett, to be Vice-Admiral of the Red. Vice-Admiral of the Blue Hyde Parker, C. 8., to be Vice• Admiral of the White. Rear-Admiral of the Red Sir Phipps Hornby, K.C.8., to be Vice-Admiral of the Blue. Rear-Admiral of the White Sir George Rose Sartorius, to be Rear-Admiral of the Red. Rear-Admiral of the Blue Armar Lowry Corry, to be Rear-Admiral of the White. Capt. Sir George Robert Lambert, K.C.8., to be Rear- Admiral of the Blue. • The following captains on the retired list have also been promoted to be retired Rear-Admirals on the terms pro posed in the London Gazette of the Ist of September, 1846, without increase of pay : Captain John Gore. Captain Charles Bowen. PADDLE-WHEEL VESSELS. Guns. Guns, Odin Leopard lB I Bulldog ( 16 Dragon ( Magicienne Vu lture 6 1 TROOP TRANSPORTS. Guns. Guns. Simoom lB I Vulcan . In the course of a few months the force of screw ships of the line will be increased by the addition of the— Guns. Guns. Royal Albert l2l Exmouth 9l Hannibal 9l Algiers 9l Nile 9l Colombo . 81 Several of the ships and vessels enumerated have but just been commissioned ; they consequently have no crews, but they may fairly he expected to have them, however, before the time a Baltic Fleet could act, espe cially with the present wide-spread exertions to obtain sea men and volunteers for the navy. A Baltic fleet would be of no use until April. It was about that time in the "olden days " when the fleet under Sir James Saumarez used to rendezvous in Wingo Sound, the outer road of Gottenberg, and the entrance of the Kattegat, and thence proceed up the Baltic, the larger ships by the Belts, the smaller craft by the Sound, through which, by-the-bye, our present heavily drawing line-of-battle ships could hardly pass, even lightened, for if our memory serves us there is only twenty-four feet water on the "grounds," a sort of bar after passing Copenhagen. In the Belts, Gtreat and Little, there is, we believe, ample depth, and in them in the last war we brought down twice a year convoys of 300 and 400 sail, in spite of our brave and enterprising enemies the Daneg. We believe Earl Dundonald will be offered the chief command of the Baltic Fleet, having under him Vice- Admiral Sir Charles Napier and Rear-Admiral Corry, but of these selections we may possibly know more posi tively very shortly.—From the Hampshire and Ports mouth .Herald. THE ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL.—The following are the changes in the medical staff, consequent upon the recent dismissal of Dr. Gay as a surgeon to this hospital :—Mr. Thos. Wakley, jun., of 33, G uil ford- street, Russell-square, takes the place of Dr. Gay, and sees patients on Tues days and Fridays ' • Mr. Thos. Weed on C oo k e t a k es the place vacated by the promotion of Mr.Wakley, and sees patients on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Dr. Gant is, we understand, appointed to the post of Assistant-Sur geon, 0, t 149 place of Mr, T, W. Cook. COURT OF EXCHEQUER. (Sittings at Nisi Prius.—Before Mr. Baron Platt and Common Juries.) The causes disposed of today were devoid of public interest. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS. (Sittings in Banco.—Before Chief Justice Jervis, Mr. Justice Maule, Mr. Justice Cresswell, and Mr. Justice Williams.) OWEN V. ROI7TH.-DEPOSIT OP SHARES. The plaintiff in this case some time ago deposited with the defendant 50 shares in a mining company, and the defendant placed in his hands 5001. as security for the shares. The value of the property increased, and it was arranged that the plaintiff should bny 40 shares in the company with the 5001., but the remaining 10 shares were still kept by the defendant. Under these circumstances the present action was brought to recover the value of the 10 shares ; and the defendant, in answer, pleaded that he had been discharged by the Insolvent Court. The parties went down to trial, and it was then agreed that the facts should be put into a special case for the opinion of the court. The matter accordingly came on to-day for argument, and two questions were raised for their lordships' opinion ; first, whether the discharge by the Insolvent Court had freed the defen dant from the cause of action stated in the declaration, and if not, at what time the value of the shares was to be taken for the purpose of estimating the damages. Mr. Serjeant Byles and Mr. Pollock appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Lush for the defendant. Mr. Lush, in the course of the case, admitted that the value of the shares must be estimated at the time of the The Chief Justice, upon the other point, was of opi- nion that the judgment of the court must be for the plaintiff. Judgment for the plaintiff. BUSINESS OF THE COURT. The Chief Justice said that the judges of this court would sit to-morrow in the Court of Criminal Appeal, and therefore no business of the ordinary kind would be done. COURT OF EXCHEQUER. (Sittings in Banco.) The court was occupied the greater part of the day in hearing arguments upon a demurrer, after which the new trial paper was proceeded with, but no point of any public interest arose. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY. (Before Mr. Commissioner Holyrod.) IN RE CHARLES GEAL. This was a certificate meeting. The bankrupt was a grocer, &c., of Kensall-town. The accounts prepared by Mr. Hutton show, the debts to be 1,298/. ; assets in good debts, 681. ; property, 471. Mr. Robinson supported the bankrupt. Mr. Ambrose for the assignees, offered no opposition. His Honour awarded a second class certificate. (Before Mr. Commissioner Fano.) IN RE HENRY SOLOMONS. The case of this bankrupt, a furniture dealer of Holborn, which has been frequently before the court, and noticed in our journal, to-day came before it (the court) upon the consideration of certificate, the assig nees, as upon the former occasions, being represented by Mr. Bagley, Mr. Lewis, of Ely-place, supporting the bankrupt. After a brief examination of the bankrupt explana tory of certain items in the balance-sheet, also as to whether he had received or seen any letters from his brother-in-law, one Myers (to whom he had consigned a large quantity of goods for sale in Australia on commis sion), other than those received by the official assignee, and having replied that he had not ; and admitted the pledging some jewellery for 301., to enable him to pay his rent, and Mr. Bagley and Mr. Lewis had respective ly addressed the court— - His Honour said he did not think there was the slightest ground for the imputation of fraud ; and the substantial charge, it appeared to him, the bankrupt had to answer was, the having engaged in an inordinate spe culation, the loss upon which, if any should have arisen, would have fallen on the creditors. Mr. Lewis said there was a great rage for speculation at the time the bankrupt engaged in the consignment of goods, but he had a very large capital when he did so, and he had kept a regular consignment book. His Honour slid the speculation the bankrupt had entered into was one which, if there had been a loss, would have fallen on the creditors ; but under all the circumstances of the case, seeing that the assignees had received upwards of 2,0001., that the bankrupt had been in business maintaining a respectable position for 25 years, and believing him to be a respectable man, who had been led into the speculation by a general delusion, he might now have a certificate of the second class. Second class certificate accordingly. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION -HOUSE.—George Manning was brought up, charged with having fraudulently obtained a cask of white lead from Messrs. Robertson and Co., of Old Swan Wharf, Upper Thames-street, plate-glass merchants. The clerk to the prosecutors said, the defendant came to us on the 17th of August, between 5 and 6 o'clock in the evening, and asked if we could send a cask of lead that night to Mr. Bowick's. I said the carts were all out, and he must get a cart or truck for the purpose, and he accordingly procured a truck and man, I knew the prisoner as a person employed by Mr. Bowick, who is a customer of ours, and I told him to write an order, which he did, and I then wrote a receipt note for the lead, which I delivered to him, and he signed it. I pro duce that receipt. I placed the order on the side of the desk, but when I subsequently looked for it, I could not find it. Mr. Bowick, of Paul-street, Finsbury, said, the de- fendant was in my employment, off and on, for two years, and he left me the latter end of July, or beginning of August, I did not authorise him to obtain the lead. The policeman who apprehended the defendant said, when I took the prisoner into custody, he did not deny that he had obtained the lead, but declared that he had intended to pay for it when able, and that he had dealt in a similar way upon former occasions. The defendant said he had nothing to say, but to repeat that he meant to pay for the article. Committed for trial. GUILDHALL.— CharIes Bennett, lately a clerk in the service of Messrs. Hutton and Co., of Newgate street, was brought up on remand before Alderman Salomons, upon a charge of embezzlement. It appeared that the prisoner had been discharged by the prosecutors about ten days or a fortnight, and that ho subsequently sent for one of the clerks and told him he had received various sums of money, in all about 7/. or Si. from several of Messrs. Hutton's customers, while in the employ of the prosecutors, and had not accounted for them. Evidence was given of the above statement, and a solicitor attended and said the prosecutors had no wish to press the charge any further, and produced a medical certificate, that the prisoner's father, who was a highly respectable man, was in such a precarious state of health that any sudden excitement would be exceed ingly injurious to him, and might prove fatal. Under these circumstances Messrs. Hutton would rather not offer any further evidence, and hoped the worthy alder man would deem the few days' imprisonment the pri soner had suffered since the hearing of the case, a sufficient punishment. Alderman Salomons said if the Messrs. Hutton were willing to take the young man back into their employ, he would have no difficulty in entertaining their view of the case ; but he thought, as they charged the prisoner for the sake of example to others in their employ, they ought not to seek to throw the whole responsibility of discharging a prisoner upon the magistratel Mr. Hutton said they could not take the prisoner into their service again. The solicitor said the father would send the prisoner abroad if the alderman would liberate him from the pre sent charge. Alderman Salomons said a similar case came before him on the day previous, and although it was extremely painful to his feelings to act in opposition to the recom dation of the prosecutors, he felt it his duty to send the unfortunate prisoner for trial. The same difficulty pre sented itself to his mind in this case, and the only way he could see of mee ti ng i t was by the father undertaking to carry out the arrangement proposed, and to take care of him in the interim. An undertaking was readily given to that effect, and the prisoner was accordingly discharged. COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY LORD LIEUTENANTS. County of Lancaster—Robert Baynes Armstrong, Esq., to be Deputy-Lieutenant, Jan. 17. County of Derby—William Pole Thornhill, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant, Jan. 21. Shropshire Regiment of Militia—William Hold Midgley, Gent., to be Ensign, Jan. 23. [This article is substituted for that which appeared in the Gazette of the 13th instant.] - - West Kent Regiment of Militia—Edwin Balfour Wim terley, Gent., to be Ensign, Dec. 30. KENT—Her Majesty has been pleased to approve that the East Kent Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry shall be made Mounted Riflemen, and that the title of the said regiment shall be changed, and that the corps shall henceforth be styled " The East Kent Mounted Rifles.' BANKRUPTCY ANNULLED. Edward Sumner, innkeeper, Liverpool. BANKRUPTS. Henry Chancellor, tailor, Great Yarmouth, to surrender, Feb. 7, at eleven, and March 9, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Moorgate-street ; Storey, Holborn ; Chamberlin, Great Yarmouth. Lucy Martin, baker, Teignmouth, Feb. 8 and 27, at one, at the Exeter District Court. Hernaman, official assig nee, Exeter ; Willesford, Exeter. Jacob Stone, coachmaker, Little Moorfields, Feb. 7, at two, and March 7, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Lee, official assignee, Moorgate-street ; Neale, Trinity square, Newington. Henry Hudson, cattle dealer, Huddersfield, Feb. 10, and March 3, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Young, official assignee, Leods ; Bond and Barwick, Leeds. Thomas Proctor, engineer and millwright, Feb. 8, and March 1, at twelve, at the Leeds District Court. Carrick, official assignee, Hull; Tweed, Lincoln. INSOLVENT PETITIONERS. G. C. Steel, Deptford, Kent, market gardener—R. Ed wards, Ladd's-court, Southwark, labourer—W. Byron, Southampton-street, Fitzroy-square, lodging house keeper —C. Edwards, Cbeshunt, Hertfordshire, beer shop keeper —H. Smith, Yore-street, Clare-market, licensed victualler —J. T. Connor, Old Chapel-row, Kentish-town, school master—R. Aslin, jun., Drury-lane, Holborn, shoemaker —W. T. Bainbridge, Uxbridge, Middlesex, butcher—T. Smith, Waltham Abbey, Essex, corn dealer---T. Bonsor, jun., Devonshire-terrace, Islington, assistant to a meat salesman—W. Alten, New-road, Commercial-road East, labourer in the London Docks—J. W. W. Evison, Belvi dere-place, Southwark-bridge-road, clerk in the office of the Clerk of the Papers, Queen's Prison—G. C. Skilton, Athol-place, Pentonville, boot maker—C. Robinson, High street, Kentish-town, shoemaker—R. Lindsay, Richmond, Surrey, licensed brewer G. Smith, St. Swithin's-;ane, City, and Clapham, Surrey, appraiser— L. Delorme, Cur tain-road,' Shoreditch, mercantile clerk—H. Askham, Ar lington-street. Camden-town, foreman to a tailor—T. J. Boardman, Wandsworth-road, Surrey, teacher of music— s. Austen, Dover-road, Southwark, coffee house keeper. DECLARATION OF DIVIDENDS. William Miller, Dorking, Surrey, auctioneer-Ist div. of 25., any Wednesday, at Whitmore's, Basinghall-street. William Gosling, Woolwich, Kent, ironmonger-2nd div. of 2id., Feb. 2, and three subsequent Thursdays, at Graham's, Coleman-street. John Thomas, Little Stanhope-street, Mayfair, builder —2d div. of ls. 9d., Feb. 2, and three subsequent Thurs days, at Graham's, Coleman-street. John William Hawlock, Lawrence-street, Chelsea, licensed victualler-Ist div. of 3s. 4d., Jan. 28, and three subsequent Saturdays, at Edwards', Sambrook-conrt. Charles Hitchman, Addle-street, City, warehouseman -Ist div. of 16s. Bd., Jan. 27, and three subsequent Satur days, at Edwards', Sambrook-court. DIVIDENDS. Feb. 21. J. S. Samuel, Hatton-garden, watch manufac turer—Feb. 21. J. B. Crocker, Sheffield, draper—Feb. 21. T. 1). Stearn, Ipswich, Suffolk, plumber --Feb. 22. W. Salmon, Manchester, leather seller—Feb. 10. J. Hall, Wooden-box, Derbyshire, earthenware manufacturer-- Feb. 20. J. Gray, Chester, engineer—R. Williams, Ches ter, engineer. CERTIFICATES TO BE GRANTED. Feb. 23. S. Cooper, Reading, Berkshire, and Brighton, builder—Feb. 20. F. J. Hensley, Moutague-place, Russell square, apothecary— Feb. 18. C. Tipple, Baldock, Hert fordshire, apothecary—Feb. 18. R. Tredinnick, Haymarket, mining broker. PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. J. C. Nazer and D. Nazer, Dover, Kent, hatters—S. Griffiths and T. Thistle, Liverpool, tailors —P. Bancroft and J. Matthews, Liverpool, drysalters—W. Unwin and F. Earle, Liverpool, merchants—T. B. B. Stevens an d B. Bon nor ' Marlbor oug h- c h am b ers, Pall- mal atiorney Ballard and N. B a ll ar d , Farringdon, Berkshire, wool staplers—T. P ee t and T. Paine, Manchester, accountants — James Gladholm, W. Gladholm, and John Gladholm, Sunderland, Durham, brassfounders, so far as regards James Gladholm—C. H. M. Frech and I. Lang, Plymouth, Devonshire, merchants—G. Benson, C. Benson, sen., J. Birch, and C. Benson, jun., Ripon, Yorkshire, saddle tree makers, so far as regards G. Benson—J. Halliwell and T. Halliwell, Rochdale, Lancashire, card makers —H. Butters and J. Neal, Bradford, Yorkshire, wholesale confe ctioners —C. Norri ng t on an d J. C. Sk a r'don, Plymouth, Devon shire, coal merchants—G. Cook and A. Ward, Bradford, Yorkshire, haberdashers—J. Plant, J. Gimson, and B. Gimson, Leicester, engineers, so far as r e g ards .1. Plant— T. Batty a nd J. Welch, Manchester, bone flat cutters—J. Goffi and A. Lanfle, New Oxford-street, confectioners— Ellen Ayre and Frances Martha Powell, Terrace, Upper Clapton, proprietresses of a ladies' seminary—W. H. Per ritt and J. SA ithinbank, Leeds, attorneys—J. C. Water fall and T. Bromley, wharfinger—C. L. Cornish, J. J. Cornish, 3. E. Cornish, and T. S. Cornish, Birmingham, booksellers, so far as regards J. E. Cornish and T. S. Cor nish—J. Mullins and W. Mullins, South Wharf-road, Paddington, victuallers —M. Matthews and C. V. Payne, Market Drayton , S hro p shire, veterinar y sur g eons—R. Chandler and A. Brown, Manchester, grease manufac turers—G. W. Clark and Jane Allpress Horry, Spicer street, Mile-end New-town, drapers—J. Hamilton and J. Weems, Johnstone, Scotland, ventilating apparatus manu facturers. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. Gilbert Mackenzie Scott, Wilton, Hawick, baker, Feb. 7, at the Tower Hotel, Hawick. John Rae, Edinburgh, hat manufacturer, Feb. 3, at Dowell and Lyon's Rooms, Edinburgh. Alexander Thomson, Edinburgh, deceased, Feb, 9, at Dowell and Lyon's Rooms, Edinburgh. William Williamson, Pultneytown, baker, Feb, S, at Leith'a Caledonian hotel, Wick, BIRTHS. OF A SON. On the 27th inst., at No 4, Harley-place, Upper W I ley-street, th e w i fe of Matthew Richard Scott, Esq. OF A DAUGHTER. On the 2tith instant, at the Priory, Cheltenham) the wife of the Rev. W. Boyce. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE' CUSTOM HOUSE, JAN. 27. ENTERED INWARDS.—The Wyvern, from St. Michaell; Despatch, Rouen; Dolphin, Rio Janeiro; Industry, vine ; Jinskea, Antwerp ; Brazilian Packet , Cadiz ; Ernes t ," Bordeaux. ENTERED OUTWARDS FOR LOADING.—The Gertrin for Bilboa ; Solider Jylland, Rio Janeiro ; Given Jut' Malta ; Odessa, Demerara ; Minima, Wormerven ; Melbourne ; Guanche, Teneriffe ; Richard Cobden, I '4 York ; Queen of the Teign, Rio Janeiro ; Goldfinder, bourne. , for CLEARED OUTWARDS WITH CARGO —The WaverieY , d . Sierra Leone ; America, Geelong ; American Lass, ~.,4 8 1 ney Cecilia, Launceston; Skiold, Ri o J a neiro; -""'" Ebrington, New Zealand. LIVERPOOL, JAL 27. The Crisis, from Shanghai, in docking this morning)r an into a flat, and stove the bulwarks, &0., of the latter. The Lauriston, Williams, hence to Ancona, was totew destroyed by fire in Holyhead harbour last night. t . The John and Albert, fr om Nei O r l eans , a t this Pe i ., r 4 the crow mutinied on Thursday, and stabbed the e ' m mato in several places. A flat and schooner were driven ashore this foren° ll ' near Dove Bank. Tho Constantine l e ft B e lf as t f or thi s por t yesterday, in tow of the Independence steam-tug. The Margaret, for Newfoundland, the Zetland, for Udell' and the Margaret Ridley, have put back. The Euphrates, hence, at Melbourne. The George Foster, hence to New York, has put back eo ' The Tit Bit, fr om Li s b on , h as arr i ve d , h avin g be ashore at Southport. BERWICK, Jan. M.—The Zephyr, from London a : Shields, which w a s s t ran d e d behind ' the pier on the San., was sold, and h a s thi s d a y b een go t off ; she 1 ceived very much damage. The Lancaster, from r 4,1 castle to London, which was on s h ore on R oss San d s the 6th Jan., has been got off a n d t a k en i n t o H o ly Isly harbour, having received a grea t d ea l o f i n j u ry; " e ,l greater part of the cargo has been saved in a very damag e state and will be sent back to Newcastle. The .Tio' 6tb, Sophie, from Archangel, which put i n h ere on the 1 (vs, was bound for Rotterdam, and h as b een obliged to " charge her cargo. ANTWERP, Jan. 26.—The Cecile (French barque), of 61 1 bound to Bordeaux, from Vera Cruz, w as l os t o n the coast of the Island of Oliron, about 22d or 23d inst. ; P 3 o f of crew saved ; the vessel is full of water. A quantity 6 unsalted hides, supposed to be part of the cargo of 7, French vessel Franc ois , Af r i ca t o B or d eaux, wre cked '- December last, have washed ashore in the Pertius. NEW YORK, Jan. 14.—The Borneo (American WW l— York to London, was fallen in with Jan. 1, 40 04 60 W., in a sinking sta te , : and crew taken off by the `' j , den arrived at Boston. The Salisbury, London to Bos ,„ a went on shore, 12th inst., 1 mile S.!of Scituate harbour , ,l o t was assisted ff next day. The Fillmore (brig), of 0 0 4 Baltimore, from Malaga, which put i n t o St. Thomas'st n a ult., had been previously dismasted in a h u iricane, would have to tranship cargo. The United (brig), Pe:L, to Valparaiso, with loss of rudder, and slung with tae.'"" was spoken Oct. 28, 46 S., 86 W. A t e NEWRY, Jan. 26.—The disabled ship reported by Blake, from Callao, arrived in the river, to have been S',4 on the 15th Dec. in lat. 36 N., long. 32 W., was a Oio between 700 an d tons, and was some four or fiver i ' l ,i distant, steering about east ; she had painted ports ans figure-head, and appeared in a most crippled state, hal e j, lost mizenmast, her main-topmast, and her for e mast he'l l She never signalised the Blake during the time she vies sight. If she continued the tract she was taking ° O9 , would make Lisbon, but afterwards came on very bad w oo ther, the barometer fell to 28, and from the 16th to m 31st• there was a continuance of treme n d ous ga l es from F" u north-east, which in all probability would drive her 1 0 ,4 again, and when the gale a b a t e d s h e m i g ht ma k e for Western Islands. VESSELS SPOKEN WITH. Tho Delia Cahpin, from London to New Orleans, 964 27, lat. 25 N. long. 74 W. The Arendal (Norwegian b arque ), D ec. 12 , l a t. 7 5 $' long. 32 W. Oi l An American barque, showing red flag, with black , in in the centre, standing S. Dec., 27, l a t. 27 N., l on g, -0 . A ship, showing white signal, with red diamond, ow' ing S.W. Nov. 11, let. 48 N. l ong . 56 W. The Thos. W. Sears (ship), Dec. 15, let. 11 S. The Ealing Grove, from London to Algoa Bay, Nov' 3°l let. 19 S., long. 29 W. „ The Anne Sophia (scho o n er ), f rom Falkland Iv° London, Nov. 20, let. 41 S., long 48 W. Of An American clipp er , s t eer i ng N.W., w ith C.H. in topsails, Dec. 16, let. 5 N. i c l The Bureau Inte gr it as , f rom D un ki r k t o Martin " 31st, let. 22 N., long. 43 W. The Fingal (barque), of London, steering S., De c ' let. 11 S. The Vivid (schooner), Jan. 21, let. 11 N., long. 49 The Brazilian Packet (brig), of Newcastle, steering 22d, in the Channel. The Lord John Russell (barque), Dec. 1, lat. 2 N., 21 W. The Rainbow, from Glasgow to Melb ourne; Dec. 10 3 N. long. 22 W. The Atalante, from Liverpool to Melbourne, same Tho Octavia, from Newcastle to Calcutta, Dec. 5, l ie N.,long. 22 W. 1 14 he Sultan (ship), of Liverpool, Dec. 30, let. 20 long. 43 W. The Farmers, for Falmouth, lat. 51, long. 6. to The Belie de Zyland (Peruvian ship), from NW Liverpool, Nov. 3. The Hibernia (ship), from Liverpool to Australia, P .* 23, let. 4 N., long. '2O W. - The Bonita (ship), from Live r p oo l, D ec . 20 , let . long. 32 W. lat 9 1 The Mohawk, from Manilla t o L on d on, D ec. 29, - N., long. 34 W. The Aurora (English ship), bound to Sydney, Oct. t. The Meteor (American ship), Nov. 26, let. 35 S., 27 W. The Cumberland (ship), from Callao, Jan. 2, lat. 2 6114 long. 65 W. t* The Duke, from Now Z ea l an d, D ec . 7, l e t . 14 N., to 30 W. COUNTRY MARKETS. LIVERPOOL—JAN. 27. A less attendance of buyers this m or ni ng th an for %e.Ol rr ral months past. The price of wh ea t 2d p er b us hel, c od flour 6d per barrel, lower th an on T ues d ay . I n dian c os was in better demand, and fully is per qr. dearer 00 week. There was no change in the value of oats, oath beans, and peas. WAKEFIELD—JAN. 27. There is great firmness in the wheat trade hero t°: (1 , but the business passin g i s no t so ex t ens i ve as l ast Fri There is no change to make in our quotations, a lthea o f little concession in some cases from the extreme pyie 6s i last week has been yi e ld e d t o clear sew wheat, not in g, A ,Oi , condition. Barley dull sa l e , an d ra th er cheaper.ln l,O oats, and shelling no alteration. EXETER—JAN. 27. .10 CATTLE.—Primo beef, 10s Gd p er score ' • cows and pal 91. to W. ; butchers' ca lv es , 6d t o 0(1 per lb., re a ' i tl calves ON to 00s each. Sh ee p, 6d t o 7(1. Lambs 0(1 per lb. Store hogs, large si ze , 40 s t o 50 s each; „ 8 ' lb, 20s to 263 ; small, 16s to 18s. Rough fat, 5d per Pork carcases from Os Od to 9 s Od per score. n CORN.—In our market wheat m a y b e quo t e d from d 5 to lOs Od. Malting barley, 4s 6d to 5s 3d ; grinding do . , 3d to 5s Od. Oats, 25s Od to 30s Od. Beans, 528 Od to per qr. Prices of Flour to-day— Fine, 63s to 645; secondk 611 to 62s per sack. INVERNESS.—JAN. 24. MEAL. — Oatmeal, per imp. boll 22s Od to 23s Od dl od; second, 00s Od t o O s Od.; barleymeal, 15s Od to Os od; peasemeal, 15s Od t o O s Od ; b ran , per s t one, O s 7d to 0 ,;i 4 to Ist flour, per 2801 b, 54 s Od t o 56s Od.; 2d ditto, 470 u "'62(l 49s Od ; oatmeal, best, per st. of 141 b imperial 2 9 4CI to 2s 4d ; ditto second, Os Od to Os Od ; barley-meal 1 14 to is 6d; peasemeal, is 6d to Os 04; Ist flour, 2s ga 3s Od credit ; 2d ditto, 2s 3d cash, 2s 7d credit. BRISTOL SUGAR—JAN. 27. A good demand has this week been experienced for ar ,s ll descriptions of raw produ ce . I n th e sales effected theceil rencies of this day week were well supported. The re o ' o . market is rather better as regards business, while fal l facturers hold firmly. C.—JAN. 27. close of the market :-- Walleend, &c. u i Memodsley 33 0 1 Eden Main 39 0 IBelmont 38 o 1 Braddyll 3B 1 Helton 4O 0 ° Haswell 40 6 s R L e us u a Ini ,. s b e o ll:s u ll g h e tt o n ! ) 3 0 2 .6 11 8 0 ' Stewart's 42 o Whitwell . 40 0 I Cassop 4 lO Hartlepool 3B 40 IHeugh Hall 0 Kelloo 38 0 n „ South Hartlepool .... .—ay 0 Whitworth . 39 0 4 Tees Son',h Durham DerwentwaterHartley 40 I Sold 42. COAL MAR: Prices of Coal per ton at s. d. Abby Hurtley 3O 0 Burnhope. 34 0 Carr's Hartley 3l 0 Hasting's Hartley 4O 0 West Hartley .... 34 0 Holywell 42 0 Howard's West Hartley Netherton 36 0 Pelton Main 34 0 ltavensworth Hartley 34 0 Stol)art's Hartley 35 0 , Walker Primrose ... 32 6 West Wylam 35 0 Wallsend, Sze. Bell and Brown 40 0 Gosforth 36 0 Barton '7 0 Lawson 33 Northumberland E. 35 0 Riddell 36 0 Killingsworth E. 35 0 wharneliffe 4O Ships at market 57 MAERIF,D. On the 26th inst., at Melton, Win. Morden Carthew, Esq., of Carisbrook, Isle of Wight, to Matilda Sophi 3; only survi v i ng c hild of the late John Hayward Bucking ham, Esq., of Melton, in the same county. On the 26th inst., at the parish church, St. Marylebon e, J. T. Akerman, Esq., to Ellen Augusta, eldest daughter of Egbert Steor Cossens, Esq. DIED. On the 11th of August, at Bendigo, Port Philip, At.tr alia, Henry George, son of Mr. David Burwash:. of St. John's-villas, Upper Holloway, and of the City 01 London, notary public, aged 21. At Sherburu house, Durham, on Friday, the 27th inst., the Rev. George Stanley Faber, master of Sherburn flov pital, Durham, and Prebendary of Salisbury. LONDON : Printed and Published by WIRD° YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at 2 Sun Office, N 0.112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in th e county Of Middlosez, liaturcl47, January 28 i 1864 G"' THEC given, that on by the 6 a.m. Mouth, will or Birmingham, I Passengers I be conveyed b, _ _ Paddington, 11 . .ONDO JLA —The OF rilE POS Mary, the DI quarter before ford, Wolverta The UP NI( at 4.40 a.m., v Tring. The calling at liar A NEW TII the intermedie The train le 4.m., wiltleav and the eorres For other al General Ma FIFTEI Sharet are informed RIG II I'S of DAY, the I It Norfolk•streel the final num tights in the respectfully r, to be sure tha the drawing. MR. Ina EVERY EV Tuesday, Thi Which can IN is.; gallery, EGYPT au_ is open o'clock. TN has been ivi BROOKS. LAUR (Less , The ahoy and will c, CELEBRAT Dancing to ( ROYA FIRST EXI GRAPHIC tints of nt GRAPHIC Monsieur 1 sand squat SOLVING ings at a LECTURES UNIVER. LECTURE 1 TION, wit Open Mot Children nn( Annual Si Members of Guinea per lI UNI i Adelaide-str renowned such Intense programme ancient and tional Melo Indy, condi Augarde; Brougham. Three. Introduct my Love), (Fantasia Liehtensteil Cavatina (I Mies Elizale Quadrille (I Selection Glover; PI Bearer), M Wallace, M Heart with (Radetzky) First aim Tenor. Q . 13 Would be d —foreign r having ma all these e vast amour preof of wl have been with the 1 1 condition z for the pea kingdoms. What at to detenn► and fashlot by E. IdO It is a s. charged ni Sow, have and Shoes felt by the blisbmenb street, Fib I mom will,fit the and every this basil and exper parcels m: to imitate name, pla CAUTI public ago falsehood the same obvious ri No COIN London 84, 85, an( London and Brad toi Shortie] Colonlg Merch: Shoe M IMPOI exchange Without t price, tro The E 011 Saturn A new tug full I May be 1 A ham on applic id Hier ON THI Cc Mustrat New Ed TH i excessii inereur3 lowed b prevent PERU) Street, 1 :ow, an don, 141 Bow CI PART organs, . PARA dulgenc mental ineapac Peal the prii their ti lags. rim^ simple PAS! The ca subicel DE. Docto result stueed tare I. eageg In the elleC exist( Debt ages. endle It 1 prine Incur the 1 may and 1 that devil