The Sun. — London, England, 1864-01-06 00:00:00

MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK. Thereis only a limited inquiry for discount accom modation in the money market today, and were it not for the few who obtain assistance in order to pro vide for the settlement in Consols, extreme quietude would predominate. The bill brokers are, how ever, averse to making any concessions lest the ex pected outflow of gold should succeed the altera tion, and the rates are therefore maintained at 61 per cent. The only alteration in the foreign exchanges yesterday afternoon was a decline in the rates of Holland. There were no bullion operations at the Bank yesterday. The bar silver by the last West India packet has been sold at 58. lid. per oz , showing a rite of id. per oz. compared with the price realised for the previous supply. At the half-yearly general meeting of share holders of the Colonial Bank, held this day, the report, whin recommended a dividend for the past sur months at the rate of 12 per cent., was unani mously agreed to. Two O'CLOCK. At the Paris Bourse this morning (according to Mr. Reuter's telegram) the Three per Cent. Rentes Were quoted at 66f. 65c. Heavy. The market for the English Funds continues heavy, though little alteration is apparent in prices this morning. The disturbed condition of continen tal politics has been the chief cause of the depression, and the late time operations have also assisted to produce an occasional rise or fall. Consols are now 60 i 91 for money, and 914 1 for the account next February. The New Threes are 901 91 ; the Re duced Annuities, 901 I ; Exchequer Bills ss. die. to par ; India 5 per Cents., 106/ a ; do. 4 per Cents., 100 ; and the Bonds, 3s. dia. General aepress:on again prevails in the Foreign Market, and business is very quiet. Turkish 6 per Cents., 1862, are 1371- 68 ; do. Consolides, 47 I ; Mexican, 361 a ; Greek, 238 24 ; Spanish Passive, 331 34; do. Certificates, 138 14k; Italian, 671 I; Portuguese, 47i ; and the Confederate Loan, 38 40. Business in the Railway Share Market has con tinued very inactive, and the few dealings reported show a further slight decline in values. North Western, North Eastern (Berwick), and South Eastern have each receded 55., and' _North Eastern (York) 10s. The Foreign and Colonial undertakings remain vary inactive, at former quotations. In Bank and Miscellaneous Shares there is little variation to report as regards values. Lon don and Brighton have advanced to 54 55; Alliance have declined 46; London and Westminster remain firm, at 814 82 ; National Shipping Company are quoted par prem.; Pacific Steam 16 to 2 prem. ; Contract Corporation, 21 I, prem.; and Mauritius Credit, 1 to 1 2 4 prem. B RITISH FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES. GOVERNMENT FUNDS. 5 3 per C ent. Consols 901 D itto Account 3 per C ent. Reduced 903 1 1 Nev. 3 per C ent 90 New 35 per Cent. Jan. 1894 Nev 3 5 per C ent. 5 per Cent. An Annuities kunuitie s nuities, Jan. 1873 Ditto for 30 Yrs, expire eth J an., Yrs, expire sth April, 1885. Ditto (Red Sea Telegraph), Aug. 1908. ___ __ Exchequer Bills, £l,OOO, 2i k 3 per Cent: 1 5 ale Pm. Ditto .£5OO Ditto £lOO and £2OO INDIAN GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. ' shut India Stock, 1874 106 Di tto 5 p ei i Cent. 1870 Dittott 4 er Cent. 1888 Dit t° En p fao d Paper, 4 per Cent .. 100 Di " Per Cent — D itto ditto April, 1864 , tt e Bonds El.O bitto ditto Aug. 1864 or 66 3 die -‘;''oo .uitto under £l,OOO — Pm FOREIGN FUNDS—CLOSINGPRICES. Austrian Bonds, 5 per Cent Ditto 1856 1005 Brazilian 5 per Cent Ditto, 1839 and 1859 871 Ditto 4} per Cent., Ditto 1863 1852-6_B-60 -- die Ditto Scrip, 1863, £45 paid Buenos Ayres 6 per Cent Colombian 6 Scrip £l5 pd Cuba, 6 per Cent. — univan 6 per Cent. — Ditto 45 per Cent, _ _ _ Danish 4 per Cent., 183 Dutch, 25 per Cent., E a. Equador New Consolidatel2 Guilders d, 1 per Cent — Ditto, Provisonal Land Warra nt Egyptian 7 per Cent .. loli Ditto, Second Issue Greek 5 p er C ent. , 1824-6, ex-Coupons.. 23i i 45 Ditto Account Ditto Coupons Ditto Account ll 10,5 G uatemala 5 per Cent. Ditto Account • • Itaiii‘n S per Cent.(Nlaremmana Railway ) —__ Mexican 3 per Cent 3 Dit to Account.. 365 6 Moorish I mperial 5 per Cent New G ranada .. l3i Ditto 2 pe r C ent Ditto Deferred ...... Ditto Land Warrants (Hectares) — Ditto 1 per Cent. (Deferred 3 per Cent ) Ditto 3 per Cent. er Cent. i:itto Account — Ditto 45 per Cent., 1862 D itteAccount P Pedinont ese, 6 per Cent. Ex. 25f — Portuguese 3 p er Cent., t 1,853 ...... -- • • Ditto Account .. Ditt o 3 per cent., 1856, '7, '9, 1 1 Ditt o Account '6o, 62,'3 Ditto, Ipm , 1863 Ditto Scrip, £l5 pa id Russian 6 per Cent., 1822, £ St Ditto 4 3 / 4 p er Cent 1850. . „ 87 Ditto 1860 Ditto 3 p er C ent., 1859 - Ditto 5 per Cent. 1862 Sardinian 6 per Cent Spanish 3 per C ent Ditto Account Ditto New Deferred Ditto Account Ditto Passive Ditto Account ...... 33 i i _ Spanish Cert. of Coup not funded Ditto Account . l4 Swedish, 4 per Cent Turkish 6 per Cent. 1854 Ditto Account ............. Ditto 6 per Cent. 1858 £lOO Bonds ,, Ditto72s Ditto 6 per Cent. 1862 Ditto Account, DiDitto, £ lOO Bonds .. .. • 6 81 8 tto 6 per Cent. 1863 .... ................. Ditto Guararteed, 4 per Cent. ........ ---. VDitto Debentures, 4 e Ct., Oct., 1§63 -- enezuela 3 per Cent................... Ditto Account ...................... DDitto 6 per Cent., 1862 .............. itto Account Dividends on the above payable in London. Austrian, 5 per Cent.. Ex. 10 Florins. Belgian 4 per Cent., Ex. 25f... — Dutch2s per Cent. Ex. 12 G u 11..,..... Ditto 4 pe r Cent .' Certificates ........ French Rentes, 45 per Cent., Ex. 25f.... D itto Account.... Ditto Scrip (1863) £42 Bs. 3d, paid.... italian, 6 pe r C ent., 1861, Ex. 25 francs.. pm Ditto A.ocoutni... . onsols Money THREE O'CLOCK. C Ditto Account .. 9O 191 Liverpool Cotton Market—This Day, Cotton market very quiet, and full id. below Thursday. Sales about 2,000 or 3,000 bales. Im 133rt, 1,539 ; previousiy, 6,877. - - fEPITOMISED ART OBI TUARY OF 1863.—Some t he most able painters have passed away in the past year 48 . In France Horace Vernet and Eugene Dela ;ii%-atoong ourselves, Abram Nomon, Augustus Leo -TgR, Willi am M u l rea d y , Ch ar l es R o b ert Cockerell, ---tl 'fic waeld, and J. D. H ar di ng . M r . Sh eeps h anks, the ent don or o f th e co ll ect i on th at b ears h is name, has a lso beeu called from us i n th e p ast y ear . ,A CRITICAL ESSAY ON SHARSPEAR E ' S „ o 'rntu o " h as been published by Mr. F. Liiders at -tiatoburg, under th e ti t l e of " Beitr a ge zur Erklarung von Sh4 kespear e ' s Oth e ll o ." It consists of 108 octavo pages, ftttd Presents several clever conjectural readings, as well as other elucidations of the text. TILE LATE MR BURFORD'S PANORAMA in Lei tester -square has been finally closed. An explosion of fire-damp occurred two days back at the St. Paul coal mime, at Grand Croix (Loire). Three workmen were burnt by the accident. two of them ssverely. During a rehearsal of the ballet of "Fiammetta," at the prowl 'Cheatre of Trieste, last week, the dresses of V er;li of the figurantes caugh , fire, and before the flames c°4l ( l Le extinguished one poor girl, only 14 years of age, Was so dreadfully burnt that she died a few hours after. 8 HAR E MARKET S.—Thi3 day, 0 RUIN A R 'l' SHARES AND STOOKS. share Railways. Paid. j Closing Businest• Price. done. 3.14. Bir., Wol., and Str. Val. 'Lb Blythe and Tyne. '.O Rost.,Sleaf.,andMid.Uo Br'stol and Exeter ,Caledonian Il2ori. awl Bandon 3orn ri ..,ets no di. till fip c.p an. ha, , been paid to B. üblin & Belfast June ;5 Dun.,Perth,& Ab. June Edinburgh & Glasgow st Glasg. and S. Western at Great Eastern, Ord. stk at Ditto A stock at Ditto East Anglian st at GreatNorthot Scotland St Great Northern at Do A stock st Do B do at Gt. S. and W. of Irelan, at Great Western ...... at Do Str Val gua. stock at Lancashire & Yorkshire 8 B 83 81 Fad 121 122 7 7i r 0 1 1);, A 1-' .1 Do. B London and Blackwal t Lon., Bright.,& S. Coast it Lon., Chat., and Dover it Lon. & North Western it Lon. & Scr.th Western st Man., Shef., & Lincoln. 50 Maryport and Carlisle. 12 Do * shares... at Metropolitan at Midland AO Do New . at Do Binning. & Derby 50 Mid. Gt. W. of Ireland 25 Do. * shares 25 Mid Kent ... 10 Do Cray Line et North British at If din., Perth, & Dundee at Nth. Eastern—Berwio k 25 Do, G.N.E. purohast st Do Lecds st Do York st Do Carlisle st • orth London 10 Do New .16.4 North Staffordshire 10 N. and S. W. Junction st Scottish Central st Scot N. E., Aber. stock st Do Scot. Mid. stock 10 Shrews. and Welohpool st Shropshire Union st South Delon.. st South Eastern st South Wales st S. York. and River Dun LO staines, Wok.,and Wok . 25 Stockton & Darlington 25 Do Do New, 188(, st Taff Vale... *•• • l 0 Do B to Do C w Ulster Lh Do Do ,t Vale of Neath f , l Victoria sta. and Pim t Waterford Si Kilkenny s t West Cornwall W. Hartlepool Har.J R West Midland -Oxford Do Newport Do Hereford 127 13!I 134 108 43t 107 i 1014 50i (2t4 1322 130 10) 65) 74 444 1071 1021 110 311 120} 13) 3} 3} 96 1,0 53 64 25 t 6 104 105 '69 60 91 92 119 121 1 2 p 78i 79i It 11! 124 126 93 45 98 100 63 64 33 34 95 96 95 100 10 104 38 38 1 9 10 () 74 7 1 158 160 5 54 1 , 24 34 p 83 86 170 175 SSIONS. Closing Price. 80 c 2--- 1041 I( 6} P 1 p 6 6i 8i 9i 102 104 lot 103 106 107 1( 55 1( 61 1 5p lif• 20 21 74 I'6 6 62 68 70 53 5) 61 53 41 43 27 29 23 C 5 106 107 15 lip 15 111) 1031 104, 10 101 11 10i1 92 95 86 88 I In 10t3 W 7 too 101 to 100 57 59 3 6 82 84 104 105 106 107 I 105 i 106 P 1 101 103 T SECURITIES. 102 IC4 102 104 103 105 91 82 90 92 106 108 109 111 109 111 112 114 110 112 194 106 108 110 104 104 99 100 99 100 100 i 107 109 [o 105 08 110 108 110 lei 106 110 111 fd 356 AO 575 685 03 05 id par 27 28 71 81 5 51 8 10 41 41 14 15 44 5 47 39 3 36 I 2, 14 10 4 7 f 4 90 100 11 2 1 5 51 43 45 425 135 60 65 25 30 18} 191 11 12 20 2e IES 195 85 90 20 25 li If 12 126 145 155 21 22 3 Si BRITISH P dallways Lt.antic & Lawrenct tom.,Baroda&.Cent Inc Gu. kper cent........ Do. New . ....... !O Do. E. Shares... .06 Buffalo aua Lake Huron I 0 Uo. Preteranoe itutlalo,BrantAGodrich I d p. et. Gds. Aug. 1, 1.11! Do. do. July 1, 187:-; Juat: 1, , `1 , 14i I 'aperrown ‘l,- Dock Ser ;ock Eagtn. Bengal gu. 5 p. ocg iA:agt Indian. gu. 5 p. c. 20 Do. do. tl Do. do. H do. .. ;k Grand Trunk of Canada Do. Ist Prel . Bondy.. Do. ao. deferred...... ) Do. 2d Pret. 80110.8.. Do. do deterred...... ) Do. 3d P• ef. stock ... ) Do. do. deterred.... ) Do. 4th Pref. stock... Do. do. deferred...... 3k Gt. IndtaPenin.gua.sp.o Do. New gua. 5 p. 0... Do. January, 1882 .. 3k Gt. South.of India (I.lrn guaranteed 5 per cent. Gt. W. of Canada Sharec. Do. New • • 100 Do. 6 p.c. '73 with't opt. 100 Do. 5 3 / 4 p. C. do. '77-8.. 10 Indian Branch Limited itock Madras guar., 5 p. c. .. stock Do. 4L p. o. Extension stock Dc. 4 d 0...• .. • • 20 Do. Fifth Extension. stock Melb.Corp. 6p. o. Bnds., 50 Melb. & Hobson's Bay. , 100 Do. 7p. a Mortg. Bds. 110 Newßrunswtok dt Canda Class A and B. N.lll.C'das pc Ist pi bds stock Soinde .......1 stock Do. Delhi Yu Do. do at Do. Punjaub Do. Do. ........ s'ock Do. Indus. St. Flo.) COLONIAL DOVER: p.c.J 1877-84 Do. 6 p. c. Feb. & Aug Do. d p. c. Mar. & Sept. Do. p. c. Jan.&July. Do. 5 Inscribed stock Cape G.llope, Bp 0,1873 Do.Ap &Oct 1880 Do. 189( Do. Jan. & July, 1891 iCeylon, N0v.1t , 78, 6p c Mauritius 6 per cent Natal Gov. 6 per cent N..11.G0v. 6 p.c. J a.4tJuly 1)0. 6p. c.Ap. & Oot. N, S.W. ov. 5 p Du. G p. c.,lbei to I:7t Do. d0.,1888 &upwcl6 New Zealand 6 p cent. Nova Scotia Gov. 6p. c. sterling, 1875.. Queensland Gcv. 6p. c. - Aus Ghp.c.1870.& up iVic.liov. 6 p.c. Ja.daul) , - Do. to n.o. ANAGct.. BRITISH Mr Cambrian Consol. Gold idlord Amalgamated Devon G. Con.. aavist ) I East Bassett(lllogan) 'East Clogau Gold Ltd East Caradon ..... East Cam Brea... 4 , '1 Russel (Tavistk. ) Gam..tBt.Aubyn(Gweu , Great South 'Folgus 41. Wheal Vor(Lielston tlrenville I er;...d's- root f.lingston Downs Lady Bertha ~ d argaret (tiny Lela': arke Valley.. yndy Iron Ore (Lim New Setun North Downs N.W WI Basset ( 1110;11u North Wheal Crotty Par Consolo(st. Blaze) Providence (Uny SouthCaradon(St.Cleer, S. Carn Brea (Illogan).. W heal loran. (Mogan Stray Park ramar Silv.& Lead Kin Pin Croft West Basset (Mogan).. W C , radon (Liskeard; West Baton Wheat Basset (Illogan) Wheal Bulleratedruthy W heal Kitty (U.Lelaut) WhealLucicott Wheal Mar yAnn (Lien ) Wheal Oetell', W eal Treiswney (Lis ) Wheal Union i 4 ., 8.9.0 3.1.0 2.6.9 X 5.16. t 8,12 4.' 8.0 2.8.0 p, 1.3.1, 10.6.7 li 18.1R.91 30.17.6 17i 5} 5 2.0.6 3.0. h . 8 58} 7 3.17 PREFERENCE SHARES. Gt. Western, Wt. Midland, Oxford, 2d guaranteed stock, 120 PREFERENCE SHARES AND STOCKS. Kent Coast, 6 per cent. pref. B, 101 London, Chatham, ac., Metrop. Ext., B, 6 per cent.. 101# LINES LEASED Al' FIXED ItENTALS. Lancaster and Carlisle, 215 # London and Chatham, 46 per Cent.. 916 Ditto, Com. Fund stock. 5 per cent., 101 FOREIGN RAILWAYS. Bahia and San Francisco (Um.) gua. 7 per cent., 181 Great Luxembourg, 111 Sambre and Meuse, 81 San Paulo (lttn.), gua. 7 per cent., Ditto (ail), 21 South Austrian and Lombardo Venetian, 20j 1 FOREIGN MMES. Cape Copper, Urn., 76 Cobre Copper, 3:6 Port Philip, 11 United Mexican (lig, 51 JOINT-STOCK BANKS. • Alliance Bank of Lon ton and Liverpool (lira.), 46 Anglo Austrian, 6} Australasia, 78 Bank of Egypt, 26 Bank of London. 155/ Bank of Queensland (lim), 15_14 15 City, Ditto, new, 50 Consolidated Bank, lira., 10/ Imperial Ottoman, 17/ London and Brazilian dim.), 54 5 London and Comity, 60 16 60 1 London and Westminster, 82 1/ bletrop. and Prov. Bank (lira.), 23} National Provincial of England, Ditto, ditto, 38} New South Wales, 52i Sande, Punjaub, and Delhi 61 DOCKS. St. Katharine, 71 2 MISCELLANEOUS. Berlin Water Works, lim., 9 British Iron, 8 Ceylon Company, 10 } Crystal Palace, 21 Discount Corporation ' limited, 111 4 1 Egyptian Commercial and Trading, lim., 31 E Wish and Australian Copper, 24 Gen. Crt dit and I. inane of London, Rm., 61 Hudson s Bay, 17} International Financial Society, lim., 91 Italian Irrigation (Canal Cavour), Ditto, 6 per cent. Bonds, redem. 1870, issued 90, 84} Joint •stock Discount, 7 Ditto, new, 7 London General Omnibus Company, 21 1 London Financial Association, Hui., 241 } aladras Irrigation and Canal, 3, 5 Mercantile Credit Association, lim., 7f Natal Land and Colonization Company, Um., 51 National Discount Comp iny, lim., lob National Steam Navigation, Um., 2/ } Peninsula and ()dental Stearn, 79:80 Ditto, new, 481 9 Rio dt Janeiro City Improvements, 261 Royal Mail steam, 80 794 Universal Marine (Um.) insurance, 5} all riyl4, S 4 N. Lo - rs DON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 6, 18'.4 Admission of Roman Catholic Priests as Ch Tlams into Prisons. Two subjects of great importance and interest to Berkshire came on for discussion at the Epiphany Sessions, held in the Assize Courts at Reading, on Monday last, and drew together one of the largest gatherings of magistracy that has been observed in the county for many years previously. The first had reference to the appointment of a Roman Catho lic chaplain under the provisions of the Prison Ministers Act of 1863, and the other to the removal of the Trinity a nd Michaelmas Sessions from the town of Abingdon to Reading, thereby transferring all the business of the county from the former to the latter town, on the ground of general convenience and economy to the county funds. Mr. Benyon, M.P., presided, and there were in court among the magistrates:—The Earl of Abingdon (Lord Lieu tenant of the county), Lord 0 verstone,Lord Norreys, the Right Hon. J. R. Mowbray, M.P., the Hon. P. P. Bouverie, M.P., Sir W. G. Hayter, M.P., Mr. Walter, M.P., Sir G. Bowyer, M.P., Sir F. Gold smid, M.P., Mr. Darby Griffith, M.P., Mr. J. T. Norris, M.P., Mr. S. Beale, M.P., the Hon. J. W. Barrington, Sir Paul Hunter, Sir Warwick ',Sion head, Colonel Loyd Lindsay, Major Court, Captain Seymour, Mr. Merry, Mr. Tucker, Mr. Bros, Mr. T. L. Goodlake, Mr. Wheble, Mr. Crutchley, Mr. Hibbert, &c. Mr. MERRY, the senior visiting magistrate of Reading Gaol, read the report of himself and col leagues of that prison for the past quarter; and the portion relating to a Roman Catholic chaplain was as follows : "We feel it incumbent upon us to notice the circular o: the Rev. Canon Ringrose which has been sent to us, in common with the magistracy of the county, because the court has a claim on their visiting justices for any informa tion in their power to afford on matters connected with pri son rule. Mr. Ringrose's application to us, under 26th and 27th Victoria, chap. 79, had reference only to the second paragraph of section 3, which directs as follows : " The visiting justices of any prison may, if they think fit, without a special request being made by, but not against the will of, any prisoner of a religious persuasion differing from that of the Established Church, permit a minister of the church or persuasion to which such prisoner belongs, to visit such prisoner under such restrictions imposed by them as may guard against the introduction of improper persona and improper communications, provided that any prisoner shall, on request, be allowed to attend the chapel, or be visited by the chaplain of the gaol.' The above section, it will be seen, leaves the ques tion of admitting strangers entirely at the discre tion of the visiting justices, and we accordingly gave that question the grave consideration due to a pub lic principle. Mr. Ringrose, in contending for free dom of conscience,' applies a just argument, which must not, however, be exclusively limited to his own position as a Roman Catholic. The act re quired us to consider the like claims of every mini ster of every persuasion differing from the Church of England, and we could not, consistently with the equal justice due to all, comply with his re quest. It is just within the compass of a prisoner's cunning and ingenuity to 'declare himself of any persuasion that would afford him occasional relief by out-door visitors from the punishment of the separate cell. To exclude the improper com munications' contemplated by the Act, if not the improper persons,' would be impracticable, even if the supervision of a largely increased number of wardens were provided. Safe custody would be endangered, and the discipline of the gaol rendered nugatory. The opinion we have expressed to Mr. Ringrose remains therefore unaltered. The court is not responsible for that opinion. All we could do consistently with the prudence resulting from experience has been done. Prisoners are made aware of their option, and if they decline the ministration of Mr. Ringrose the Act is clearly against coercion, whether actual or virtual. But as that gentleman now applies to be recognised as chaplain, with contingent remuneration, it is for the court to decide not the visiting justices. The Act provides for no such appointment as chaplain. The first paragragh of section 3 directs that where the number of pri soners belonging to some religious persuasion differ ing from the Church of England, &c., is so great, as in the opinion of the justices, &c., to require . the ministrations of a minister of their own church or persuasion, the said justices may appoint a minister of their own church or persuasion to attend at such prison, &0., and may award him a reasonable recompense out of the county rate.' As this section involves the question of numbers, it is our duty to inform the court that the average number of Roman Catholic prisoners annually has been about five, and of these a large propor tion have declined seeing Mr. Ringrose. It seems of some importance to remark that the fact of a prisoner not desiring to see a minister of any parti cular persuasion by no means infers that ho is thereby isolated from religious or moral instruction. Ignorant as heathens, as some prisoners commonly are, as regards Christian motives and responsibility, there is a vast field for instruction, quite apart from doctrinal points, which the gaol chaplain, as the appointed officer of the county, can properly and _ profitably inculcate. We recall, for example, the two excellent formularies of Christian precept, ' our duty towards God and our duty towards our neighbour.' It a man loved God with heart, mind, soul, and strength, and his neighbour as himself, doing unto all men as he wond be done unto, kept his hands from picking and stealing, did not covet and desire other men's goods, but laboured truly to get his own living'—if this were learnt and laid to heart, by whomsoever taught, the cost and anxiety of repressing crime would be won. derfully lightened, and we certainly need no extra neous ministration for this and similar instruc tion." Mr. MERRY then moved that the report be re ceived and adopted. Mr. GIBSON had given notice of the following motion : " That referring to the provisions of the Prison Minis ters' Act, 1863, this court doth resolve that the Rev. Ringrose, Roman Catholic priest, be permitted to visit such prisoners in the Reading gaol as shall be registered ulder the 4th section of the said Act as Roman Catholics, with out any special request being made by, but not against the will of any prisoner." Mr. T. L. GOODLAKE seconded the motion for the adoption of the report and contended that it was entirely in the discretion of the visiting justices to say "yes" or "no" to the demand or petition of Canon Ringrose. The visiting justices had delibe rately and advisedly rejected it, and stated their adherence to the resolution. He venturned to think that the relation of visiting justices to the court on this question was like that of Cabinet Ministers to Parliament. The court must support them or turn them out. (Laughter.) Looking at it for a moment on the semi-polemical side of the controversy, it occurred to him that there was no possible hardship in the case—there was not even the shadow of a pretence of hardship. On an average in a year there were only five Roman Catholic prisoners, and all could at any time time send for the Catholic priest, if they pleased, so that there was not much to complain of. He thought that the hardship was the other way if they enforced a pastor on an un willing people. He might be told that the prisoners would not send for the priest, and therefore they would be left without instruction. For his part, he thought that the discipline of the gaol was cal culated to convey more effe3tually lessons of refor mation than any lessons of dogmatic theology which they might receive. But the strongest objection to the appointment of a Roman Catholic chaplain was that if they did so they must on every ground of equity and justice admit ministers of other denominations. (Hear, hear.) If this were done, judge of the emotions of his friend, Mr. Merry, on approaching his kingdom to see the effect of this synod of theological sages. (Laughter.) These were all rival sects, and every thing connected with them was progressive. The establishment had its chapel and chaplain, but how long would Canon Ringrose be content to remain robeless and altarless ? (Laughter.) A Bethel tent must be erected in which he should conduct his forms of worship, and provision mast be made for others; so that " contusion worse confounded" would reward the justices for "straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel." (Laughter,) Mr. WALTER, M.P., said he thought the court was not quite aware of the difficulty in which Mr. Gibson's motion placed them. He had no hesitation in saying that he disapproved of the decision of the visiting justices. That, however, was not the question they had to discuss; but what appeared to him was, that they could not make Mr. Gibson's motion harmonize with the Act of Parlia. ment. The third section of the sot contemplated two distinct things. First, the appointment by the court if they saw fit, of a Roman Catholic chaplain, and the payment to him of a salary—that was if there was a sufficient number of Roman Catholic prisoners in the gaol to warrant such a course ; and the second part of that section enabled the visiting justices, if they thought fit, without a special request being made by, but not against the will of, any prisoner differing from the Established Church, to permit a minister of the church or persuasion to which such prisoner belonged to visit him at proper and reasonable times. It appeared to him (Mr. Wal ter) that Mr. Gibson's motion, of which he had given notico, did not come within the scope of that Act. At the same time he felt bound to say that he differed from the visiting justices. As far as he read the Act, it did not a pp ear to him that the Court had any power to int erfere with the visiting justices in this matter. T he Court had no power but to express an opinion, which, if it was as he felt, would be one of regret that the visiting justices had not complied with the request of Canon Ringrose. Whether the Court Lad any power to discharge the visiting justices he knew not — (laughter)—but at all events they had a right to give expression to their opinion on the matter. He (Mr. Walter) had a decided opinion on the subject, probably in a different direction from that of Mr. Merry, as he was satisfied that t he court had no power to interfere with the discret ion of the visit ing justices. The court had po wer to a pp oint and pay a Roman Catholic chaplain, but did not possess the power to interfere with the visiting justices when the Roman Catholic priest was not paid. (Hear, hear.) The Hon. P. P. BOUVERIE, M.P., thought Mr. Gibson's motion might be altered by the insertion of a few words to meet the Act of Parliament. He did not hesitate to express his wish that something should be done to meet the views of Canon Ringrose. The Right Hon. J. R. MowneeT, M.P., observed that the Act of Parliament vested a discretion in the visiting justices, but he thought it competent for the court to ex press an opinion upon any motion as to what they thought It discreet for the visiting justices to do. If the visiting justices did not act in accordance with the opinion of the court, then, at the next sessions, the court could appoint fresh visiting justices. He thought it was hardly intended, although the Act no doubt states it, that the whole discre tion should be thrown upon the visiting justices. It was a proper subject upon which the court should express an opinion ; but he must say that he concurred in the decision of the visiting justices, and on the reasons which led to that decision. While, however, what had been done in the past was what he approved, still it occurred to him whether for the future a different course might not be adopted. (Hear, hear.) Sir W. G. HATTER, M.P„ said, on looking at the Act of Parliament it struck him that the opinion which his hon. friend Mr. - Walter had expressed as to the second branch of the third section was quite correct, and that the visiting justices were the only persons who could prevent a priest or minister of a different persuasion from that of the Estab lished Church to attend prisoners of such different persua sions in the gaol. But then he thought there was a way of obviating the difficulty. The first part of the third section stated that the court migbt appoint a Roman Catholic or other chaplain with or without a salary. Now, if any one were to move an amendment to Mr. Gibson's motion hav ing reference to the first portion of the section—that was, if instead of the motion made by Mr. Gibson it was proposes that Mr. Ringrose should be appointed chaplain, without a salary—the same effect would be produced, except that he would stand in the capacity of a chaplain instead of not holding an office of a specific character. It seemed to him desirable that the opinion of the court should be taken upon the matter. He was not prepared to move that amendment, although he would give his ast ent to it if it were moved by any magistrate. (Hear, hear.) Sir G. BOWYER, M.P., said he wished to know what was meant by adopting the report of the visiting justices. Did it mean that the Court concurred in everything stated in it ? The difficulty in the matter might be got over by a motion being made that the report be received only, and then it would be open for the Court to proceed with the considera tion of Mr. Gibson's motion. A discussion upon this point ensued, and it was ulti mately unanimously resolved that the report of the visiting justices of Reading Gaol be received and filed, and entered with the orders of the sessions. Mr. R. GrasoN then brought torward the motion of which he had given notice, namely—" That, referring to the pro visions of the Prison Ministers Act, 1863, this Court re solves that the Rev. J. Ringrose, Roman Catholic priest, be permitted to visit such prisoners in Reading Gaol as shall be registered under the fourth section of the said Act as Roman Catholics, without any special request being made by, but not against the will of, any prisoner." He said it was much to be regretted that the visiting justices should have refused permission to Canon Ringrose to attend upon the Roman Catholic prisoners. And he could not help thinking there was a little feeling in the matter ; for he recollected that immediately after the breaking up of the Court at the last Quarter Sessions at Abingdon, Mr. Merry met him and remarked, " Halloo, Sir, you have stolen a march upon us." From this he thought that Mr. Merry must have fancied that he (Mr. Gibson) had done something underhand. If Mr. Merry entertained any such opinion, he (Mr. Gibson) desired to assure him that he must be greatly mistaken. On the Saturday previous to the sessions already alluded to he met Canon Ringrose at Reading, and he spoke to him on the subject of being permitted to visit Roman Catholic prisoners in the gaol. He certainly had no intention of doing anything that could in any way b© con strued as "stealing a march" upon any one, neither had he any disposition to be a party to an act that could fairly be regarded as unfair or unreasonable. He knew that in the garrisons, both in England and in the colonies, Roman Catholic priests were admitted. As in garrisons, where there were many Roman Catholic soldiers, no danger was apps ehended nor difficulty experienced, he did not think that anything of the kind would be experienced where the prisoners there were only few in number. He therefore much regretted that the visiting justices of Reading Gaol, in the exercise of the discretion vested in theta by the Act of Parliament, should have thought fit to deny Canon Ringrose the admis • sion he sought. Nor did he regard it as fair towards their brotherjustices that they should have done so, several of whom were RomanCatholics,and the representatives of some of the most respectable families in the county. On the former occasion when Mr. Merry met him he said, " If we gran t this, we must do so to all sects of religion." Now, in refe rence to this, he would observe that it was comparatively few Dissenters that were sent to gaol. He had been a magistrate in a neighbourhood where there were more than 3,000 Dis senters for above 20 years,and from that district he had not known a single Dissenter committed to gaol. He wanted to know, then, where could be the danger of admitting the ministry of a Dissenting persuasion ? (Hear, hear.) From the letter sent to Mr. Ringrose,by the visiting justices he understood that it would be inconvenient to allow him to visit the gaol, because there had only been on an average five prisoners ; but he could not understand this, since there had been a difficulty in finding labour for the prisoners. He regretted extremely that it was solely in the power of the visiting justices to receive or reject Roman Catholic priests. This, he conceiv ed, was unsatisfactory. because it might so happen that three Roman Catholic magistrates might be appointed as visiting justices, and they would, of course, take care to have a chaplain for prisoners of that persuasion; but then, when their terms of office expired, they might be succeeded by gentlemen holding different views, and the arrangements made by their predecessors would probably be set aside. It was not right that things sheuld be left in this way. Since it was clear that his motion could not be put to the vote , he trusted that some amendment might be proposed to effect the same object, and hoped that the visit ing justices wou ld co n sider their dut y to the Legislature and also towards Roman Catholics. Major COURT said it was of importance to the Roman Catholic prisoners in Reading Gaol that they should receive their religious impressions from those who were devoted to that purpose. lie did not think it possible for a Roman Catholic priest to enter that gaol with any notion or im li p ress ion upon his mind to crea te what we re called prose lytes, or to do anything els e than inculcate those high Chris tian principles which were accordant with the Protestant faith. He could not instruct them in any other way than their own chaplain. He (Major Court) regarded it as the positive duty of the Court, so far as lay in their power, to make provision for th 3 entrance o Mr. Ringrose to in struct the Roman Catholic prisoners f . He had known Mr. Ringrose for 30 years, and always observed in him every feeling and conduct of a perfect gentleman ; therefore he did not think it would at all endanger the discipline of the gaol to allow him to perform clerical duty for the benefit of thosa particular prisoners who were ready to receive in structions from him. Mr. TUCIER said he had no desire to interrupt a full and free discussion of this sort; but, according to the version which had been given of the Act of Parliament, the motion could net be taken into consideration by the Court. The Act of Parliament did not give the Court power to do what the motion asked it to do, (Hear, hear.) That was as clear as possible from tie explanation of the Act given by Mr. Walter. If Mr. Gibson had come before the Court and asked them to appoint a Roman Catholic chaplain, or any other chaplain, he would have been in perfect order, and it would have been competent for the Court to consider and determine the question; but he submitted that Mr. Gibson came and asked them to do what the Act of Parliament did not give them power to do. He regretted that they had to discuss a religious question of this sort, for, say what they would, they could not divest it of its religious aspect. (Hear, hear.) The Hon P. P. BOUTERIE, M.P., said he agreed with Mr. Tucker that he did not think it possible for the Court to carry out Mr. Gibson's motion, but by the alteration of a few words they might give effect to the intentions of the Legislature. The reformation of the prisoner was the great object of prison discipline, and as it was found that many pri soners exempted themselves from attendance upon service on account of declaring themselves to be either Roman Ca tholics or members of other religious persuasions, this Act of Parliament was passed sothat religious instruction might be provided for all such cases. He, therefore, was anxious that a chaplain for Roman Catholic prisoners should be pro vided— that he should be an officer of the county, properly paid, so that he might be subject to the regulations of the Court. He should propose the following amendment : "That, referring to the provisions of the Prison Ministers Act, 1863, this Court requests the visiting justices of Read ing Gaol to obtain the services of a priest of the Roman Catholic Church to vi,it any prisoners under their charge (who, by declaring themselves of that creed, exempt them selves from the visitation of the chaplain of the gaol), at such moderate salary as may be agreed upon by them, and to report what they may do thereupon to the Court from time to time." The ien. gentleman was here reminded •that the amend ment could not be put, because, involving an expenditure of money, it was necessary that notice should be given. Upon this some of the gentlemen conferrred together to modify the amendment, during which time Mr. WALTER, M.P., rose and said it was much to be re gretted that the gentlemen who concurred in this matter had not met to determine the form in which to put a propo sition to the Court so that it could be adopted. He listened to the amendment of his hon. friend (\lr. Bouverie), and it appeared to him to be open to the objection of the original resolution, because it was drawn up under a misapprehen sion of the Act of Parliament. The Act had two objects. No doubt it was the intention of the Legislature to empower county justices to appoint Roman Catholic chaplains and to pay them in certain localities. He (Mr. Walter) took part in the discussion in the House on the Bill, and paid great attention to the whole matter, so that he felt satisfied he was correct when he stated that the first clause of the third section had reference particularly to Lancashire, Liverpool, and places of that kind, where there were large numbers of Roman Catholic prisoners. In those places it was intended that the county justices, if they thought fit, appoint Roman Catholic chaplains and pay them. But that was not the whole of the Act. The second part of the third section had a totally distinct purpose—that, where the Court of Quarter Sessions did not exercise the power of appointing a Roman Catholic chaplain, visiting justices should have the power of relaxing the rules of the prison so as to admit Ro man Catholic priests or other ministers, and then eby com ply with the Act. He wished to state to the Court his strong opinion upon this subject. It it had been proposed by Mr. Gibson, or any other magistrate. that this Court should ap point a Roman Catholic chaplain and pay him a salary, he should have opposed it. He did not think that this county was one contemplated by the Act of Parliament for the appointment and payment of a Roman Catholic chaplain. There was not a large number of prisoners here, and there fore he did not think that the first part of the act applied. But the second portion of the clause was to meet the cir cumstances of a county like this. The Roman Catholic pri soners were few in number, and the Roman Catholic priest should have the right or privilege of visiting such, subject to the regulations laid down, and provided that no objection was made to it by the prisoner. That he took to be the meaning of the act, and, with the view of carrying out its meaning, he had framed an amendment, viz. : " It is the opinion of this Court that the visiting justices would do well to carry out the provisions of the Prison Ministers' Act contained in the second part of the third sec tion of the act." He submitted this amendment because, while, on the one hand, the Court only had the power of appointing and paying a Roman Catholic chaplain, they had no power to enforce visiting justices to make any such arrangement. He was therefore anxious to collect the opinion of the Court as to whether the visiting justices had done wisely in refusing Mr. Ringrose the permission asked for. When he listened to Mr. Merry's string of objections as to the difficulties, impossibilities, confusion, trouble, and want of discipline that would arise supposing they attempted to carry out this act, it struck him that they were very much the same sort of objections they would hear if we were at • tempting to obtain justice for Protestant prisoners in Roman Catholic prisons in Spain. They would not hear a word about conscience or matters of that sort. But he believed that there was no difficulty in the matter. He believed that the half dozen Roman Catholic prisoners in Reading gaol could be visited by Mr, Ringrose (providing that they did not object) without any breach of prison discipline whatever—e(hear) ; and if there happened to be any prisoners of the Wesleyan, Baptist, Independent, or Jewish persuasion, the same pro vision should be made, and there should be no difficulty in carrying out this Act of Parliament. He would undertake, if he were a visiting justice, to carry out the law without giving to Mr. Ringrose. or any other minister, any undue license. (Hear.) He was as anxious as any one to main tain prison discipline, and he did not see that it would in any way be affected by giving effect to the now law. His object in proposing this amendment was to collect the sense of the Court as to the expediency, or otherwise of carrying out that modified or limited provision in the second part of the third section of the Act, believing it to be their duty to promote every means for the religious instruction of the pri- soners. Sir GEORGE BoweEn, M.P„ said—ln the course of the discussion this had been spoken of as a religious ques tion. He denied that it was a religious question. It cer tainly was not so. Mr. Goodlake had used the word polemical, but it had nothing to do with polemics ; it had nothing to do with theology. The Legislature in passing that Act was not actuated by any sectarian or religious motive whatever. The Act was passed en general public grounds. It was an Act for the improvement of discipline in the gaols of the country, and for securing to prisoners in those gaols who did not belong to the Established Church that instruction and religious assistance according to their own persuasion, without which it was utterly vain to expect any amendment in those prisoners. That was the object of the Act, and he hoped that no one would after this say that it had anything to do with a religious question. He under stood that the chief objection of Mr. Merry to any proposi tion of this sort was that if they appointed a Roman Catholic chaplain they must do the same with regard to prisoners of other persuasions differing from the Established Church. In answer to this he would say that he did not ask the Court to give to prisoners of his own religious persuasion that which he was not willing should be given to prisoners of other persuasions. (Hear, hear.) But he must mention this circumstance to the Court, which had not been suffi ciently considered. It was that the Roman Catholics were placed in a very peculiar position with reference to this question. He believed he was correct in saying that there was scarcely any instance of a Dissenter objecting to the ministrations of the Established Church. The Established Church was Protestant : they were Protestant, and they did not object to the ministrations of that Church. But with regard to Roman Catholics the case was different. They did object to receiving the ministration of any persons except they were priests in the Roman Catholic Church. Such was the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church, and one reason was no one but a priest could administer those sacraments according to the tenets of Roman Catholics that were absolutely essential. Therefore, as a matter of fact, the Roman Catholics were placed in a different posi tion from Dissenters. Yee, Dissenters might receive the ministrations of the gaol chaplain, but Roman Catholics could not receive those ministrations in a reli gious sense without violating their duty to their Church. In Ireland the principle of having different chap lains was carried out without any difficulty, and he could not understand why the same should not be done in this country. (Hear, hear.) And then with regard to the fact of Roman Catholic prisoners here being only about five annually, he did not understand why that should make any difference. Why should those five be placed under more disadvantageous circumstances than 50 or 500 2 The rights of five were the same as 50 ; they had the same right to the ministrations of their own clergy, and if they wanted to do them real good they could only do it through the religious instruction and appliances given them by the ministrations of their own religion. The policy of the law was not to neglect the reformation of prisoners because they were few. If only five their reformation was as much the object of the law, and the Legislature intended them to be taken as much care of as if they were 500. The question of numbers was only to be taken into consideration when the payment of salary had to be determined. (Hear, hear.) On that morning he had a conversation with Canon Ringrose, and he stated that salary to him was perfectly immaterial, and he was quite willing to give his ministrations without any salary. He could not help remarking that it had been said in the House of Commons and other places that the Roman C a th o lic clergy had a secondary ob j ect in view in getting admission into gaols. Everybody was not so fond of being in a gaol, or of a gaol, as Mr. Merry. (Laughter.) Most people considered it anything but an agreeable thing to have to go to a gaol. The Catholic clergy could have no object in going but to do their duty. It was a painful duty, and they were only anxious to do it. As for proselytizing, it was perfectly absurd. How could they do it I Look at Reading Gaol, and they saw it was a place of separate confinement. The priest had given to him a list of the names of the prisoners belonging to his church ; he goes into their cells and sees them separately, and then goes away. How could that be proselytising ? It was a most absurd thing to mention. He was quite certain there could be no difficulty whatever in the visiting justices so regulating the visits of Mr. Ringros to prisoners of his persuasion that no inconvenience to prisoners could occur, no improper communications could take place, and no im proper persons could get into the gaol. He hoped that the Court would agree to the amendment of the hon. gentleman, Mr. Walter. Mr. MERRY, a visitin g j ustice, said he should be g lad to save the time of the court and to clear away a vast quantity of misapprehension. The Rev. Canon Ringrose was a gen tleman whom they had met on the most respectful terms, and they had told him that they would inform all Roman Catholic prisoners he would attend if they desired him. Mr. Ringrose had not been denied access to prisoners when they had requested to see him. A suggestion was made th at the discussion was proceed.. ing while the amendment had not been seconded. As it w as found that Mr , Gibson's motion was illegal it was ruled that Mr. Walter's amendment Should beceme a substantive !notion. Lord ONERSTONB rose and said he would avtil Virnself of the opportunity of seconding the motion of the hon gentleman, Mr. Walter. He was sure that the Court would be glad to come to a speedy decision on the question. The hon. baronet (Sir G. Bowyer) who had addressed the Coast, stated that this was not a religious question. Upon that point, and that point alone, must he disagree with him. He (Lord Overstone) looked upon this question as religious, and exclusively religious, (Hear, hear.) He felt himself jus tified in seconding the motion of Mr. Walter, because he,was perfectly convinced that that motion was strictly in accord ance with the act of Parliament, whether they looked to the strict letter of the act, or went further and looked at the intention of the act. (Hear, hear.) The act of Parliament opened first of all with a liberal intention, and gave to jus tices in quarter sessions the power„ if they thought proper, of appointing a Roman Catholic priest to attend the gaol, clearly showing by that provision that they recognised the sacred doctrine of religious instruction in this country being earned to every person as far as possible, and in that form of instruction that would be most accessible to him. (Hear, hear.) But, failing the appointment of a Roman Catholic chaplain, would be a measure too strong for the condition of things in most parts of the kingdom—the acts proceeds to give permissive powers to the visiting justices, and the clause of the act was specially appropriate to the condition of Berkshire. The act says —" The visiting justices of any prison may, if they think fit, without a special request being made by, but net against, the will of any prisoner of a church or religious persuasion differing from that of the Established Church, permit a minister of the church or persuasion to which such prisoner belongs (if no appointment has been made under this Act) to visit such prisoner at proper and reasonable times," Ste. That was the proposal which his hon. friend, Mr. Walter, had submitted to the Court. It appeared to him that this proposition was strictly in ac cordance with the letter of the Act. It was impossible to look at the two provisions of the Act without seeing the obvious intention of the Legislature. The great and clear principle which the Legislature intended to realise was that religious instruction in this country should have every facility given to it to reach the parties in the form in which that instruction was most accessible to them, and was most likely to produce its great and holy results. (Hear, hear.) That was the great principle which the Parliament declared —they carried it by the voice of the country, and it was upon that principle the Quarter Sessions were called to act. Would they give their sanction and concurrence in aid of the intention of Parliament on this great and important subject? He felt so strongly upon it that were he a visit ing justice and a proposal of this kind came before him he should tremble in his conscience if he offered any impedi ment to facilitating the intentions of Parliament. He put it, tken, to the justices solemnly assembled in Quarter Ses sions, with this Act, recently passed, before them, that they were called upon to express an opinion—not offen sively to the visiting justices—that they did concur in this Act of the Legislature ; that, even if they had to contend with some difficulties, they should not be deterred in conveying instruction to prisoners in that form which they might reasonably hope would produce good results. (Hear, hear.) That was the question, then, before the Court, and he entertained no doubt as to the decision they would come to. Mr. MERRY said it was an extraordinary thing that so much should have been said when everything which Mr. Walter proposed was actually done in the gaol at the pre sent moment. Gentlemen seemed to have run away with the idea that access to Roman Catholic prisoners was for bidden to Canon Ringrose. So far from that being the fact, every facility was given to him. The prisoners, when ascer tained to be Catholics, were informed that Mr. Ringrose would attend upon them if they wished, and when they gave their assent to it that gentleman was sent for. All that Mr. Walter asked for was being done at the present time. Mr. WALTRR said Mr. Merry was under a misapprehen sion on the subject. The old law, as he understood, en powered visiting justices to permit Roman Catholic priests or any ether ministers, at the request of a prisoner, to visit a gaol; but the new law enabled visiting justices, without a special request being made by a prisoner, to permitßoman Catholic priests or any other ministers to visit the gaol. Mr. MERRY---.l3tH then the Roman Catholic priest, or any other miuister could not visit any prisoner against the will of such prisoner. That was the point. Tnere must be first the consent of the prisoner before and Roman Catholic priest could be admitted to the gaol. The visiting justices were careful to make known the Act of Parliament to the prisoners, and every facility was afforded them to see the ministers of their own religious persuasion. (Hear, hear.) Sir WARWICK MORSHEAD, a visiting jastice, remarked that exactly what Mr. Walter stated was being carried out in the gaol. Mr. MERRY said the motion was perfectly harmless, and he had no objection to it. The CHAIRMAN read the motion—" It is the opinion of this Court that the visiting justices of Reading Gaol would do well to carry out the provisions of the Prism Ministers Act contained in the second part of the third section of that Act," and on putting it to the Court it was carried cent, con. A motion was afterwards submitted by Mr. Merry that the Trinity and Michaelmas Sessions, hitherto held at Abingdon, should in future take place at Reading. A long discussion ensued, and the motion was strongly opposed by Sir G. Bowyer, M.P., Mr. Norris, M.P., and other magis trates; but on a division it was carried by a majority of 27 to 19, so that all the Quarter Sessions will hereafter be held in the new Assize Courts at Reading, Disgraceful Scenes in a Church. The St. Augustine petty session on Saturday was occupied nearly two hours (says the Kentish Gazette) in the investigation of two charges of assault alleged to have been committed in Seasalter Church on Sunday, the 27th ult. In the first case George Hayward, jun., ropemaker, was charged with assaulting George How, grocer, and in the second George How was charged with assaulting Miss Fanny Hayward, sister of the defendant in the first case. I\lr. Allen Fielding appeared for the defendant in the first case, and for the complainant in the second. The assaults arose out of the dis puted right to certain seats in one of the pews in the parish church of Seasalter. Mr. How deposed that he went to church on Sunday morning, the 27th ult., but was prevented by the defendant George Hay ward from going into a pew in which he claimed two seats. As he attempted to enter the pew, which was then occupied by Hayward and two ladies, the defendant pushed him back several times, and on one occasion pushed him nearly do wn. This con stituted the assault complained of. Mr. Fielding, on behalf of the defendant, contended that Mr. How had no right to the pew, the seats in which belonged to the Hayward family, and that no assault had been committed. The alleged pushing was denied, but the defendant admitted that he prevented Mr. How from entering the pew. Mr. Nichols, churchwarden, was called, and deposed that two seats in the pew in question had been alloted to Mr. How, and that the remaining three only belonged to the Hay ward family. The magistrates held that an assault had been committed, inasmuch as the defendant had, by his own admission, prevented the com plainant going where he had a right to go. They therefore fined the defendant Is. and 14s. costs. The case of the alleged assault by Mr. How on Miss Hayward was then proceeded with. It appeared that in the evening Mr. How, accompanied by his wife, again attended church. On entering he found the pew occupied by Mr. George Hayward, Miss Fanny Hayward, the complainant, and two other ladies. Mrs. How was permitted to go into the pew and take the seat furthest from the door, but Mr. Hayward prevented Mr. How from accompanying her. Mr. How then went into an adjoining pew, jumped over the partition to join his wife, and, as was alleged, sat himself down on the knees of the complainant, who was next to his wife. He con tinued to sit on Miss Hayward's knees for five or six minutes, though repeatedly requested by her to get up. This constituted the alleged assault, and the circumstance was distinctly sworn to by the complainant and another young lady who was in the pew at the time. The defendant denied sitting down in Miss Hayward's lap. He said there was plenty of room for six in the pew, and that he only sat down between his wife and Miss Hayward. In doing so he might, perhaps, have sat on Miss Hay ward's dress, but nothing more. The magistrates deliberated a few moments, after which Mr. Delmar said they were unanimously of opinion that an assault had been committed. It was very ungallant as well as very unseemly to sit down in a lady's lap, at any rate without her consent, and the magistrates would fine him 10s., and 12s costs. Mr. How wished to say that the occurrence in the evening would not have happened if it had not been for what took place iu the morning. PRESERVATION OF CORN.—An experiment was lately made in Paris for the preservation of corn from fermentation and the attack of insects by enclosing it in a metal vessel and exhausting the air. The experiment was made in the presence of numerous persons, and is said to have succeeded perfectly. Ten hectolitres of wheat were placed in a metal vessel, and the air was exhausted. The vessel was cpened after 15 days, and the weevils, which were seen quite lively when the wheat was placed in the vessel, had quitted their cells and were dead. They were warmed, but did not stir. Being placed on white paper, they were crushed cud reduced to powder without leaving any stain on the paper. From various experiments made ou wheat under glass, it was found that the weevil retains life longer than auy other insect when deprived of air. 63} I 1111 11 i 73 1 0 71 I I 1021 2 50 noi i 1041 } 91} 1 331 4 95h t Business don. loa 110 a d 27} 7f SECOND EDITIO SUN OFFICE, HALF-PAST 4 o'CLocK. SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN. The Ostdeustsche Poet publishes a letter from Paris, stating that the 'Danish complications have drawn France and Engivnd closer together, and that the Emperor is averse to allowing the Duchies to be wrested from Denmark for the purpose of being incorporated in the Ger manic Confederation. THIRD EDITION SUN OFFICE, SEVEN O'CLOCK. THE POLISH INSURRECTION. (RI.UTER'S TELEGRAM.) WARSAW, Jan. 6.—A decree has been issued by the Government ordering the sequestration of all the moveable and immoveable property of the higher clergy participating in the insurrection, in addition to the former contribntion of 6 per cent. recently imposed upon the bishops, and upon 18 canonries. _ _ BRESLAU, .Tan. 6,—Advices received here from Poland state that an Imperial ukase has been pub lished, recalling to their standards the old soldiers of the Kingdom of Poland, now upon unlimited leave of absence. An engagement ot the insurgents under Kock has taken place with the itassians, but the result was indecisive. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.—This Day. OLD COURT. (Before Mr. Baron Martin.) CHARGE OF :MANSLAUGHTER. A married woman named Waterfield, residing in Union street, Maryiebone, surrendered to an indictment charging her with causing the death of her husband . The parties, it appeared, hai a violent quarrel, and eventually blows were struck; when, it was slleged, the defendant struck the deceased with an iron bar. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty. NEW COURT. (Before Mr. Justice Mellor.) Ellen Keefe was indicted for mansltaighter. The death of the deceased man, it was alleged, was caused by a blow from a pair of tongs alministered by the prisoner. The jury found her guilty, but strongly recommended her to mercy. The learned judge sentenced her to two months' impri sonment. . POLICE INTELLIGENCE—This Day. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. GENTLEMEN CHARGED WITH DISORDERLY CONDUCT —ASSAULTING THE POLICE.—TWO gentlemen, named Johnlßack andpeorge Thomas, both residing at Shooter's hill, Woolwich, were charged before Mr. Tyrwhitt with being drunk and creating a disturbance in Piccadilly, and Buck was further charged with assaulting Sergeant Henry Atwell Allen 20 C, • Henry Hyatt, night constable of Burlington Arcade, said the two defendants came to the Piccadilly end of the Bur lington Arcade, yesterday evening about half-past eight, the gates at the time being closed, and his orders being not to let any persons in after eight o'clock except the inhabitants The defendants, who were ;very fresh and riotous, tried to force their way into the arcade, notwithstanding he told them they would not be permitted to enter, and that drunken persons were not permitted to enter at any time. As they caused a large crowd to assemble, and were very unruly, evidently being out for an evening's spree, he sent fur a constable and gave them in charge. He had been the constable for eight years, and it was the first job he had brought to the court, though he had often had to threaten young gentlemen. (Laughter,) Sergeant Henry Allen, 2) 0, said on going to the arcade he found the two defendants there, both of them in a state of intoxication. The last witness wanted to keep them from entering the arcade, but they persisted in trying to do so and refused to leave. After some persuasion he (the ser geant) got them to leave, and they went a short distance and got up a crowd, Buck saying he would not leave the place, but would be locked up ; and on taking him into cus tody, finding all persuasion useless, he became very violent and struck him (the sergeant) in the face, and took hold of him by both thighs and tried to throw him over his head, and all the way to the station was very violent. Hyatt said that Thonris tiled to persuade Buck to leave. Buck said he did not think it was so late. He wanted to see his boottuaker, and he was pushed violently, as he thought. Mr. Tyrwhitt fined Back 40s. or a month, and discharged Thomas, at the same time stating that the inhabitants had a perfect right to shut up the arcade even in the middle of the day if they thought proper, and if they did not close it at night they would have all sorts of persons there. THE WEATHER AND THE PARKS, Tho frost still continues, and, judging from the state of the glass, is likely to last for some time longer. During Monday night the thermometer registered 28 deg., showing 4 deg. of frost. At nine o'clock yesterday morning the mercury did not rise beyond 29 deg., and even at noon it was only 30 deg., showing that the frost was still continuing. The various parks were largely patronised. In St. James's-park 1,500 persons disported themselves upon the ice, and several became immersed, but were rescued with— out inj ury. In the Regent's-park there were about 6,000 skaters and sliders, although the ice was only two inches in thickness. Under D t puty-superintendent Parsons the endangered. persons were rescued, and they were attended to Iby Mr. Norton, the society's surgeon. About five o'clock not fewer than six persons were floundering in the water at one time, but they were happily speedily rescued. Mr. Young, al e secretary, and Mr. Williams, the superintendent, were pre sent and gave instructions to the icemen in each park as to the treatment of the immersed. The Long Water in Ken sington-gardens had about 2,000 skaters and sliders, but only two boys fell into the water. They were attended to by,Mr. Williams, of the receiving house. SHIPPING—This Day. LONDON, Jan. 6.—Wind this day at noon—North ; moderate breeze, and fine weather, with severe frost. FALMOUTH, Jan. s.—Wind E.—Sailed—Oriental, for Gibraltar. CLYDE, Jan. 4.—Wind S.E.—Arrived—Camilla, from New York. PLYMOUTH, Jan. s.—Wind N.E.—Arrived—Roman, screw steamer, from Southampton for the Cape:of Good Hopes (BY MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Wednesday Morning. Arrived, Jan. s—Catherina and Eliza Johnson, from Gothenburg; Magdalena Sophia, from Aalborg. Arrived, Jan. 6—Concordia, from Boulogno; Pax, from Gothenburg. DEAL, Wednesday Morning. Passed—Thedosia, for Brigham; Electra, for Grenada; Victoria, for St. Kitt's—ail from Loudon. NEWSTEAD PRIORY.—Near the site of this once famous place there have been discovered the portions of a statue ot a warrior ot the time of Henry 111., in chain mail of the period ; an ancient freestone flour, probably at an ambulatory ; a great quantity of window tracery of the 14th, and Some jamb-shatts of the 13th, centuries. THE ST. HELEN'S TRAGEDY.—The alleged mur derer, James Ciitheroe, still lies at the police station on the bed the awful deed was committed upon, and the surgeon in attendance has now good hopes of his recovery. The man himself is anxious to survive. Re converses freely with the constables and with his wife, who occa sionally visits him. He still adheres to the mutual suicide story, and in his allusion to the crime speaks of it as a piece of romantic foolery. The wound has a healthy look, and his only complaint is that his neck feels very sore. — Liverpool Mercury. THE "GRAND PRIX CUVIER," founded in honour of the il:ustrious naturalist, and which is given triennially by the French Institute, has been recently awarded to Sir Roderick Murchison, Directcr-General of the Geological Survey, author of " The Silurian System of flocks," Bre., &c. This is the first occasion on which that honour has been conferred on a geologist, it having previously been granted for advance made in the other branches of science in which, as well as iu geology, Cuvier was preeminent. DOUBTFUL IRRESPONSIBILITY.—Th all titres there has been the fiction of some necessity for invo.lutti-o tary crime. In antiquity there were the Fates tshurmiliodrd e the gods in ruling the destinies of men. bestir says Moliere's Argaute in reply to the plea monde. On ages the stars had to answer for all human inlinques Well " Ah! Ala! Voici une raison la plus . belle inda_ _estramper, n'a plus qu'i commetre tousles CIIIIICSIII:gon y bl a i:6 voler, assassiner, of dire, pour escusee latterlyq discovered the par sa destinee." The French sternal for the inter- And our mad doctors, y allowed to the prime cause of offence, force of circumstances to be the nal, call it uncontrollable imp multiplied crimes of which is too certain to appear in un controlled impulses. the impunity ISSE 100 OU 100 100 10, all 100 (100 100 2 all , 100 klOO 'ME: 10C, 100 100 100 100 106 51 100 1001 1041